Lincoln Kids! Newspaper Spring Edition 2019 by Lincoln Kids Magazine

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r 26 a e ,Y n o i t st Edi 1 • 10 a re A g n i und o r r u S oln & the

Your Family G uide to Linc

Spring 2019

Learn more on page 6!

“Colorful Castle” by Taylor Oltman, 8 Copic Markers, Art Academy Lincoln Special thanks to Community

Action Head Start

FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL

Lincoln Kids! Newspaper Spring 2019 FREE! Please take one!

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A note from the publisher

CHIROPRACTIC FOR A HEALTHIER

EASIER DELIVERY AND SAFER TRANSITION FOR BABY INTO THIS WORLD

Chiropractic Prior to Pregnancy May: • Promote regular menstrual cycles • Help optimize uterine function • Prepare body for healthy implantation • Ensure proper nerve supply to reproductive organs Benefits of Chiropractic During Pregnancy • Pelvic alignment and balance • Promotes healthy natural labor and delivery • Less back pain and discomfort • Shorter labor times • Reduced need for pain medication • Less back labor • Encourages optimal fetal position • Greater production of breastmilk • Less incidence of postpartum depression • Healthier pregnancy, healthier baby Newborn Babies Benefit from a Chiropractor’s Gentle Approach as well. Please have your infant’s spine checked in their first weeks of life!

(402) 615-6022 | ThriveLincoln.com Page 4 • LincolnKidsInc.com

Karla, Kennett, and Bennett, Sunken Gardens, July 2018 Photography Credit: Genesis Photography, www.genesisphotog.com

A Toddler Parenting Hack

am not a professional parent by any means. I get a lot of motivation from inspirational memes (and a lot of laughs, too), I Google way too much when I encounter something new (all the time), I lay awake, dead-tired, reading the news on my phone instead going to bed, and although most days (or hours) are good, sometimes I find myself lacking patience. I am human. And I have a toddler. Most of the time though, even on the un-super days, I find myself impressed with how natural this whole parenting thing is. Granted, I’m only 2.5 years and one kid into the journey, but as I play with my kid, I often find myself in awe, saying, “Wow, you are really cool and so smart,” and I’m so proud and thankful. I love it when I come up with a parenting hack (I feel like a genius!). I had one just the other day, although I’m sure I’m not the first one to think of it. See, Kenny is really into Paw Patrol. I’m not even sure how it started, as we don’t have cable or satellite, but for whatever reason, Paw Patrol is life right now. Kenny is also in his “terrific twos,” so simple tasks he used to master with ease, like washing his hands, now come with a small, life-altering tantrum. So we have a lot of Paw Patrol books, and practically all of the paperback ones

have a sheet of stickers in them. One day, before getting Kenny from school, I knew the impending I-don’t-want-to-wash-myhands meltdown was coming, and an ah-ha! moment struck. I flipped open the nearest Paw Patrol book, grabbed the two biggest stickers left, and slapped ’em on the bottle of hand soap. On the car ride home from school, I really hyped up his “new” Paw Patrol soap. And guess what? When we got home, he was SUPER EXCITED to wash his hands. It was the same ol’ soap, version 2.0. It was so simple and just required a couple of stickers. So that’s my toddler parenting hack. If you can find stickers of your kid’s favorite characters, maybe give it a try. Right now it works for us, although I am sure he’ll get smart about it sooner than later. But in the meantime, we’ll be here, brushing our teeth with Paw Patrol toothpaste, washing our hair with Paw Patrol shampoo, and drinking out of our Paw Patrol water bottles. I hope you have a paw-some spring!

Kenny

Bennett

PS: Check out our NEW FEATURE, the Kid’s Activity Page on p. 46!

LK!

Contents Articles & Columns A Note From the Publisher..................................................................4 Meet the Cover Artist..........................................................................5 Cover Sponsor: Community Action Head Start.......................6 LPS Department of Early Childhood..............................................7 Prosper Lincoln: Early Childhood Family Fair..............................8 SCC & NE AEYC Early Childhood Celebration............................9 Allison’s Book Bag.............................................................................10 Nebraska Family Dentistry................................................................11 Star City Nannies.................................................................................13 Partnership for a Healthy Lincoln...................................................14 Local Bzzz: Spotlight on Competitive Edge Sports..................16 Lincoln Irish Dancers.........................................................................19 Morrill Hall............................................................................................20 Spark Summer Learning..................................................................23 LUX Center for the Arts....................................................................24 Local Shout-Out Page.......................................................................25 Bright Lights Summer Learning Adventures.............................26 Birdnerd Blurb with Jason St. Sauver..........................................27 Lindsay Rogers, Game & Parks Commission.............................28 Pioneers Park Nature Center..........................................................29 Capital Humane Society...................................................................30 Close to Home with Gretchen Garrison......................................3 1 Lincoln City Libraries.........................................................................32 Nebraska Dyslexia Association.....................................................33 The ArtReach Project Update........................................................44

Directories Spring & Summer Camp Guide...............................................34-35 Birthday Fun & Party Places.........................................................36 Children’s Lessons & Activities.....................................................37 Child Care & Education Centers............................................38-39 Little One’s Activities........................................................................39 Support & Social Groups.................................................................40

Calendar of Events..............................................41-43 Youth Art Gallery..............................................44-45 NEW! Kid's Activity Page .....................................46 ublisher, Editor in Chief, & Sales – Karla Goerl P Website – Joshua Thorne Distribution - Bennett Martin Printer – Page 1 Printers Copy Editing & Proofing - Handersen Publishing Design Elements – Local Youth, Ron Wheeler, Pixabay, GraphicStock, Unsplash, Brusheezy, Dreamstime, Shutterstock, Creative Market, One Pixel, Vecteezy, Dafont, Typekit, and LK original & proprietary designs

Lincoln Kids! Newspaper is operated by Bennett & Karla, Inc. We are a quarterly family newspaper published in February, May, August & November. Copyright ©2019 by Bennett & Karla, Inc. All rights reserved. We are not responsible for errors and omissions. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission prohibited. Lincoln Kids! encourages your feedback and submissions of feature articles & ideas. We reserve the right to edit all submitted material. All submissions will be considered for publication. Materials will not be returned unless prior arrangements are made. Advertising and information is accepted at the discretion of the publisher. Current and past issues may be viewed online at www.LincolnKidsInc.com.

Up Next!

Summer '19

MAY • JUNE • JULY

Reservation Deadline: April 10 Advertising • Articles • Artwork • Calendar • CAMPS! Inquiries & Submissions:

karla@lincolnkidsinc.com lincolnkidsinc.com

Meet The Cover Artist

Taylor Oltman, 8 Taylor is a third grader at Adams Elementary School. Taylor has enjoyed creating art for as long as her family can remember, and she can often be found doing various arts and crafts projects at home. She created Colorful Castle at The Art Academy Lincoln, where she has been taking lessons from Dawn Connelly for the past two years. She is also fortunate to be part of the art mentor program at Lincoln Public Schools. While she enjoys any type of art, her favorite mediums are sculpting clay and painting. Taylor lives by Denton with her family, including her older brother and sister and two dogs. When she is not creating art, she enjoys playing sports, especially volleyball, spending time with friends and family, and playing outside. Taylor also loves to travel, especially when she gets to go skiing with extended family in Colorado or visit a lake in Minnesota with her cousins.

Art Academy Lincoln

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ArtAcademyLincoln.com

Want to see your kid’s art in Lincoln Kids? Send it to us for consideration!

karla@lincolnkidsinc.com Look for more art throughout LK and in the Youth Art Gallery on pages 44-45! Spring 2019 • Page 5

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There’s No Such Thing As Being An “Expert Parent” But Community Action Head Start Can Help You Get Pretty Close!

By Community Action Head Start

f you’re a parent of a baby, toddler, or are expecting, you may be feeling a bit…overwhelmed. And rightfully so—there is so much you need to know! From feeding to sleeping and establishing routines, everything you do (or don’t do) impacts your child’s development. After all, your child’s brain is developing at a rate faster than it will for the rest of his or her life. It seems like every day you’re witnessing your child doing or saying something new, from sitting up to saying those beautiful words, “mom” or “dad” for the first time. You can read parenting guidebooks and ask questions on Google for the rest of your life and still not have all of the answers. And that’s okay. The truth is, it’s probably impossible to know everything there is to know about parenting. It is, after all, the most important job you will ever have. But Community Action’s Early Head Start Home-based program can

Photo courtesy of Community Action Head Start

help you make sure you’re on the right track; Head Start will support you in becoming your child’s first— and most important—teacher. Early Head Start Home-based, a program option that is part of Community Action Head Start, serves children ages birth to three

years, expectant women, and their families. The program is unique in that learning takes place in the comfort of your own home. Instead of dropping your child off at an early care center, the program’s Family Educators visit you and your child for an hour and a half each week. The support you receive from Family Educators is tailored to your family’s needs. While lessons always focus on core areas of your child’s development (cognitive, language, physical, and social-emotional), Family Educators also support in addressing specific questions or concerns you may have about your child’s development—after all, no two children are exactly the same! Family Educators additionally provide empowering support to you in achieving your personal goals, whether they’re related to continuing your education, getting a better job, or something else. And

if living a healthier lifestyle is on your New Year’s agenda, you might be interested in the added program offering of working with your very own Nutrition and Wellness Coach. In addition to weekly home visits, there are great opportunities throughout the year to socialize with other children and families in the program. Twice monthly, the program hosts fun and educational socialization events. Each event has a different theme and planned activity. In the spring, for example, you might be invited to a gardening-themed event where you and your child can start seeds for your home gardens and help the program plant their raised beds. And then, during harvest time, another event might focus on using the produce you planted to create a delicious new recipe. Participation in Community Action’s Early Head Start Homebased program is completely free! The program targets families with income at or below 100% of the federal poverty guidelines (currently $25,100 per year for a family of four). Additionally, families without a permanent home or who receive ADC/TANF or SSI are automatically eligible. If you’re interested and think you may be eligible, call (402) 875-9328 to set up an appointment to apply. Parenting is simultaneously the most rewarding and challenging journey you will ever experience. We’d be honored to be a part of it! Learn more about Early Head Start and other programs of Community Action by calling 402-875-9328 or visiting communityactionatwork.org.

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LPS Early Childhood Preschool Program Accepting Applications for 2019-2020 By Lincoln Public Schools, Department of Early Childhood

incoln Public Schools provides a high-quality, half-day Early Childhood Preschool program for children who reside within the Lincoln Public Schools area. Our preschool program is located in many of the elementary schools across the district. Children who are at least three years of age on or before July 31, 2019, and who have not yet turned five as of July 31, 2019, are eligible to apply. Our application process begins on February 1st, at which time information will be available on the Department of Early Childhood website, https://home.lps.org/ earlychildhood. Please check our website for updated information on the application process for 20192020. Applications will be available at all elementary schools, on the Lincoln Public Schools Early Childhood website, and at the Early Childhood Office located at Hawthorne (use door #2).

Completed applications must be submitted in-person at the Early Childhood Office at 300 South 48th Street. In addition to the application, the following items will also be collected: •• Certified copy of the child’s birth certificate, with the raised seal •• Up-to-date immunization record •• Proof of income for 2018 (e.g., Copy of W-2, income tax return) The Department of Early Childhood will begin accepting preschool applications for the 2019-20 school year on February 1st. Please bring your child with you to complete a pre-enrollment activity as part of the application process. Our office is open from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday. We will have extended hours on: •• Saturday, February 16th from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm •• Thursday, February 18th from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm •• Tuesday, March 4th from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm •• Saturday, March 30th from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm

Mrudhulaa Vallieppan, 10 “Mermaid” 5th Grade, Adams Elementary, Made at Home

Specially-trained children’s stylists All the latest styles for your family Fun play area & video games Adult haircuts & facial waxing, too! Specializing in squirmers!

M-F 9:30am-5:45pm Sat 9am-2:45pm

(402) 484-7866 | 237 S. 70th Street, Ste 106 Spring 2019 • Page 7

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Early Childhood Family Fair

Wee Wisdom Christian Preschool and Academy

A Ministry of Citylight Church

Family Fun Night April 12th, 2019 • 5-8pm A fundraiser with carnival games, prizes, food, clowns & balloons, face painting, bounce houses, & Silent Auction

Now enrolling ages 3-5 for Fall 2019!

Summer Camps Register this Spring for our fun & educational summer camps!

Submitted on behalf of Prosper Lincoln

hen you think of going to a fair, it’s likely that a summer state or county fair comes to mind. But families can attend the EARLY CHILDHOOD FAMILY FAIR in February. No worries about the winter weather, it’s being held inside Gateway Mall on February 17, from 2:30 to 4:30 pm. Like traditional fairs, there will be booths with information for parents, fun activities for children, multiple opportunities for families to play and learn together, and prizes to win. But unlike the typical fair, the EARLY CHILDHOOD FAMILY FAIR is free! The Lincoln Early Childhood Network’s goal in sponsoring the EARLY CHILDHOOD FAMILY FAIR is to connect families with young children to a wide variety of resources and programs related to early childhood development and healthy parenting. An equally important goal is to provide a fun time for families to interact with each other—

to play and learn together. Children from birth to age five will be delighted with activities, story times, games, music, dancing, and books. Current studies have found that parents and caregivers of young children want to know more about parenting and child development, yet are uncertain where to find clear and trustworthy information. The amount of information available to parents—from the Internet, social media, magazines, friends, and family—is overwhelming. Where can they go for quality information and answers to their many questions? The EARLY CHILDHOOD FAMILY FAIR will allow families with young children to… EXPLORE opportunities for early childhood education, preschools, parenting classes, English classes, healthy activities, summer camps, and cultural centers. PLAY in activity areas, read books and listen to storytellers, dance, sing, create and build things, and learn about activities that can be done at home.

LEARN about programs, agencies, and resources related to health care, nutrition, early childhood literacy, shelter, basic needs, mental health, and crisis situations. CONNECT with providers, services, organizations, medical facilities, educators, museums, libraries, and businesses that can answer questions, entertain, and provide information to families with young children. The EARLY CHILDHOOD FAMILY FAIR booths and activity areas will be in Gateway Mall between the playground area and Scooter’s Coffee. In addition to information and fun activities, there will be raffles, prizes, and free books for children. The Lincoln Early Childhood Network is sponsoring the EARLY CHILDHOOD FAMILY FAIR on behalf of Prosper Lincoln. Lincoln Community Foundation is sponsoring the event whose partners include WellCare/Heritage Health, Partnership for a Healthy Lincoln, Educare, Children’s Center for the Child & Community, Lincoln City Libraries, Cedars Home for Children, Read Aloud Lincoln, and Nebraska Children’s Home Society. Being a parent means continual learning, and this event is the perfect place for that to happen. Mark your calendars today to attend the EARLY CHILDHOOD FAMILY FAIR at Gateway Mall on Sunday, February 17, from 2:30 to 4:30 pm. It will provide multiple opportunities for families with young children to EXPLORE, PLAY, LEARN, and CONNECT together.

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Activities, Education, Entertainment & More! At The 32nd Annual Early Childhood Celebration!

By SCC Early Childhood Program in partnership with Lincoln Chapter, Nebraska AEYC

o you like to play with kinetic sand? Dance? Sort and count? Make creative art? Or maybe you want to build the tallest box tower in the WORLD! If hands-on activities appeal to you, please consider joining in the fun at the 32nd Annual Early Childhood Celebration on Saturday, April 6th, from 9:00 am to noon, in the Southeast Community College Gymnasium. For over thirty years, child care providers and community agencies have been combining forces at this event to provide fun learning activities and stage presentations geared toward families with children ages birth through eight. Many of the ideas can be repeated at home, in a child care setting,

or a school with little or no cost involved. The purpose of the event is to kick off the National Week of the Young Child (WOYC)—an annual celebration sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. We want to not only celebrate children, but also focus public attention on the needs of young children and families, and recognize and promote local early childhood agencies and services that meet those needs. This event also features live entertainment. Past celebrations have included The String Beans, The DMNV Lion Dance Team, and Kokyo Taiko Japanese Drummers. There is always plenty to see and do! Did I mention, this event is FREE to attend? Come play with us on April 6th!

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EGG STRAVA Grace Lutheran Church

GANZA Saturday, April 13 1:00-3:00 pm

GAMES • CRAFTS • PRIZES FUn and REFRESHMENTS

Grace Lutheran Church

Gymnasium (enter from East lot)

2225 Washington Street 402-474-1505 • egrace.org Follow us on Facebook!

Facebook.com/glclincoln

Come Join Us for Our 32nd Annual

Saturday, April 6th, 9 a.m.–Noon.

Free to the public! A celebration for children ages birth – eight and their families!

This annual event is fun & educational with hands-on activities, live entertainment, artwork displays, information and more!

Enjoy performances throughout the event!

Held at the SCC Gymnasium 8800 “O” Street Sponsored in part by: Lincoln Chapter, Nebraska AEYC Spring 2019 • Page 9

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FAMILY READS

YOUNG READERS

INDEPENDENT READERS

Red Sings from Treetops: A Year in Colors

Joyce Sidman • Pamela Zagarenski

Sunshine Makes the Seasons

Franklyn Branley • Michael Rex

Odd and the Frost Giants

Red Sings from the Treetops: A Year in Colors by Joyce Sidman is a delightful poetic romp through the seasons with colors as our guide. In spring, “red sings from the treetops.” In summer, “yellow melts everything it touches.” In fall, orange “ripens…thick with pulp and seed.” In winter, green “stiffens into needles.” Primary, secondary, tertiary colors, tints, and shades all get their turn. For example, observant readers may discover that “red whispers along my finger with little beetle feet” refers to a ladybug. In this Caldecott Honor book, illustrator Pam Zagarenski brings the colors of the seasons to life through mixed media painting on wood and computer graphics.

Sunshine Makes the Seasons is part of the “Let’s Read and Find Out Science Book” series. In the first half of his easyto-read picture book, Franklyn Branley explains the importance of the sun to the Earth. The amount of sunlight determines the seasons. To demonstrate his point, Branley provides readers with a hands-on activity that represents the Earth with an orange, the Earth’s axis with a pencil, and the sun with a flashlight. In the second half of his colorful book, Branley explains that the change of seasons is also due to the tilt of the Earth’s axis, and he provides readers with a follow-up hands-on activity. The book has been redesigned since its initial publication in the 1970s. Branley is an astronomer and the illustrations were checked by an expert for accuracy.

From best-selling author Neil Gaiman comes Odd and the Frost Giants, a short and charming tale inspired by Norse mythology. The past few years have been rough for twelve-year-old Odd: his father died while saving a pony, he broke his leg when a tree fell on it, and his mother’s new husband doesn’t like him. To top off everything, an endless winter has caused the villagers to turn on one another. Odd escapes to his father’s cabin in the woods where he encounters a fox, an eagle, and a bear, which he soon discovers are gods and are to blame for the endless winter. He solves each new problem with ingenuity, a positive attitude, and the help of his new friends.

A llison’s BOOK BAG Recommended reading for your Lincoln Kids! by Allison Hunter-Frederick

SEASONS As I watched the snow fall outside our bay window, I chose the theme of seasons for this edition’s book review column. Allison Hunter-Frederick is a reader, pet blogger, therapy cat handler, and former educator and children’s book reviewer. She regularly contributes journalism content to Neighborhood Extra, Lincoln 55+, & Lincoln Kids! Newspaper. Allison runs Lincoln Pet Culture in partnership with Lincoln Animal Ambassadors. Her current work can be found at lincolnpetculture.wordpress.com.

Page 10 • LincolnKidsInc.com

Neil Gaiman

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Vitamin D And Dental Health: How Are They Connected? By Nebraska Family Dentistry

he most common dental problem among kids is dental decay or cavities. Did you know that vitamin D and childhood cavities are often connected? The sun helps our body make vitamin D. One way children can get enough vitamin D is to be outside for at least 30 minutes daily, even during the winter. Vitamin D helps kids grow strong, healthy bones by helping their bodies absorb calcium and phosphorus properly—two of the most important minerals when it comes to children’s teeth development. The white part of teeth that we can see, called enamel, is made of calcium and phosphorus. When kids get enough vitamin D, they absorb calcium and phosphorus better, leading to stronger bones and teeth. Vitamin D also helps immune systems to function at their best. When it comes to kid’s teeth, the immune

system plays an important role in defending them from cavities. The inner part of a tooth is called dentin. This part of our tooth has living cells that help to protect the tooth’s blood supply. The area of the tooth where the enamel and dentin meet is an important barrier between the inner and outer portions of a tooth. The cells that live in this barrier help defend the tooth against cavity-forming bacteria that tries to get inside. These cells help to repair the dentin layer and protect the nerve inside the tooth. When kids do not have enough vitamin D, these cells may not get the strong immune response needed to help defend their teeth against cavities. Kids who do not get enough vitamin D are more likely to have more cavities. Children who get a lot of cavities may benefit from taking a vitamin D supplement. A pediatric doctor can perform a test to check a child’s vitamin D levels.

Kids can get vitamin D by eating a diet that includes things like salmon, eggs, and some fortified dairy products. Eating lots of fruits and vegetables every day can also provide other essential vitamins and minerals that help their tummies stay healthy and absorb these nutrients efficiently. Children’s dental health is connected to the health of their entire body. Doing the following things will help kids (and adults) to stay healthy and cavity free: •• Brushing and flossing daily •• Eating a healthy diet •• Avoiding too much sugar •• Staying active and spending time outside every day This article is written by Dr. Kelly O’Hara, family and children’s dentist in Lincoln, NE. Dr. O’Hara, a mother of four, was a teacher before becoming a dentist. She is passionate about educating busy parents and children about how best to practically optimize dental health in growing children. Dr. O’Hara is kind and compassionate toward her young patients. She practices at the central location of Nebraska Family Dentistry. Learn more at nebraskafamilydentistry.com.

Office Hours Mon-Thu 8:00 am-7:00 pm Friday 8:00 am-4:30 pm Saturday 8:00 am-12:00 pm Kay Anderson, M.D., F.A.A.P. Philip Boucher, M.D., F.A.A.P. Jeffrey David, M.D., F.A.A.P. Jason Davis, M.D., F.A.A.P. Carrie Dell, M.D., F.A.A.P. Heather Dews, M.D., F.A.A.P. Kurstin Friesen, M.D., F.A.A.P. Michael Germer, M.D., F.A.A.P. Kate Gogela, M.D., F.A.A.P. Joel Greisen, M.D., F.A.A.P. Amanda Knapp, M.D., F.A.A.P. Shelley Nelson, M.D., F.A.A.P. Maureen Garvin, PA-C Dallas Schlegel, PA-C Julie Timme, PA-C Valerie Vernon, PA-C Becky Waegli, PA-C Amanda Goddard, NP Mikala Geisert, NP

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New Premier Nanny Agency! Star City Nannies realizes how important it is to have an ideal nanny-family match, which is why we work with both the families and nannies during and after the placement process to ensure a perfect fit. Star City Nannies will only consider highly qualified nannies, and we take pride in working with the best in the business. Nannies must be at least nineteen years old, have at least one year of childcare experience, be CPR and first aid certified, and pass a thorough background check. We personally interview every nanny so that you can have confidence in your decision. We offer both full-time and part-time placements in order to meet the needs of all families, with three different placement packages to choose from: Gold Star, Silver Star, and Bronze Star. To find your perfect nanny, or if you would like to become a Star City nanny, please contact Jennifer at Star City Nannies today!

By Jennifer Harter, Star City Nannies

et Star City Nannies take the stress out of searching tirelessly for a qualified, fully screened nanny! Let us do the hard work so you don’t have to! Star City Nannies is the premier nanny agency in Lincoln, Nebraska. Owner and Director Jennifer Harter utilizes her Early Childhood Education, fourteen years of childcare experience, and broad nanny expertise to perfectly match families with qualified nannies.

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The Power Of Unplugged Play By Partnership for a Healthy Lincoln (PHL)

ometimes the word “play” is used to mean a less than serious effort or activity, like when we tell kids to stop “playing around.” “Play” seems to have gotten a bad reputation, but, particularly where kids are involved, play is an essential verb. Play is the foundation for success. The scientific community recognizes the benefits of play. Experts say play “nourishes every aspect of children’s development,” calling it a vehicle for learning and the wellspring for developing creativity, problem-solving skills, language, and literacy. Even more strongly, they say play “develops the foundation of intellectual, social, physical, and emotional skills necessary for success in school and in life” (Several Perspectives on

Children’s Play, Scientific Reflections for Practitioners, Jambors & van Gils, 2007).

Since the 1990s, the amount of time kids spend in unstructured, active play has steadily decreased. The result, researchers say, is that

creative thinking scores, as well as literacy and language skills, have also decreased. What is the importance of creative thinking? In a global study of over 1,500 top CEOs, the majority claim “creativity” as their most important asset (Capitalizing on Complexity, IBM, 2010). What is meant by “play”? It seems that our modern idea of play for children is screen-based. Kids as young as 2 or 3 can be seen “playing” on tablets and smartphones instead of exploring their physical world and interacting with other children. In recent times we have rushed to put our kids in front of a screen because we have assumed that the earlier we started them on technology, the more successful they would be in school. Has that turned out to be the case? Not so much. Screen time is mostly sedentary, and inactivity is making kids less fit, while fitness is linked to higher academic performance. Screens and Silicon Valley kids. There’s a reason most people in tech

Continued on next page

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The Power of Unplugged Play (cont’d) From page 14 industries don’t want their young kids exposed to screens at an early age. Silicon Valley consensus: “The benefits of screens as a learning tool are overblown, and the risks of addiction and stunting development seem high” (Nellie Bowles, NY Times, 2018). Studies say that smartphone addiction affects the same areas of the brain that cocaine does, and it’s a hard habit to break.

The importance of active play. The most beneficial play for kids involves physical activity, social connections, exploration, and tactile interaction with the world around

them. Kids now spend drastically less time playing outdoors or engaging in active play with their friends. But to be healthy, kids need at least 60 minutes of vigorous physical activity each day. With fewer minutes of physical education and recess in schools now, active play time becomes even more important. Leading by example. Play isn’t just good for kids, it’s good for adults as well—and it’s hard for your kids to take you seriously about getting more active and spending less time on screens if you always have your head buried in one. So where’s a good place to start? Here are some tips that can help both you and your family spend more time in play and less time on screens: •• At home, put a bowl near your entryway and have everyone drop their phones in it at dinner time, then take a phone-free walk or bike ride together after dinner. If dining out, designate one person to carry a phone for emergencies. Park a few blocks away and walk to and from the restaurant.

•• If you can’t go outside, get creative! Throw a living room dancea-thon or hula hoop contest. •• Check into afterschool programs that include sports and other fun, active options for both kids and families. There are no-cost and low-cost options through the Community Learning Centers, the Salvation Army, and the YMCA, to name a few. •• If you feel your child needs a phone for emergencies, consider a flip phone. Active unstructured play lets kids hone the skills needed to be healthy, vibrant adults and lets adults remember the best part of being a kid, so… play on! Partnership for a Healthy Lincoln (PHL) is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the health, wellness, and fitness of our community. We collaborate with other organizations on joint projects to improve health by increasing physical fitness, promoting healthy weights and good nutrition, supporting breastfeeding, and improving vaccination and cancer screening rates.

Spring 2019 • Page 15

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LOCAL

BZZZ

family-friendly

bzzzness spotlight

Bonnie at Genesis Photography produces Local Meet & Learn, short & sweet videos about cool local businesses, published on Genesis Photography’s YouTube channel. Each issue, we select one of the featured business owners to participate in a fun interview. This season, we invite you to buzz on over to:

CES • Competetive Edge Sports 3515 N 25th Street • (402) 404-5510 2012 LincolnEdge.com • Est. _________

Meet the brains behind the biz: Josh Gannon, Founder & Head Coach ____________________________ If you were to wrestle on TV, what would be your My old M�A one: entrance song?_____________ Remember The Name by Fort Minor _______________________

In grade school, what did you want to be when you grew up? A_______________________ family man with lots of kids! I have 2 (4y & 16mo) + 1 in the oven! ______________________

If you had to eat one meal for breakfast for the rest of your life, what would it be? A nice salad with fruits & nuts _______________________

Describe CES in 5 words. Growth • Community • Mindset • ______________________ Integrity • FUN! ______________________

COMPETITIVE EDGE SPORTS

Do you believe there is other intelligent life in the universe? Sure, based on its size _______________________

Do you offer programs for ages Yep, ages 3+. Mini 5 & under? ________________ Champs Wrestling is for beginners ______________________ ages 3-6 who are new to wrestling. ______________________ We work on listening skills in a _______________________ group setting & learn fundamental _______________________ athletic skills through fun games & ______________________ techniques! _________________________

WRESTLING | MARTIAL ARTS | GYMNASTICS

What is your favorite. . . 24 Blue Color? __________ # ? ____ Monday! Fresh Start! Week Day? ________________ Movie? Armageddon ___________________ a Man Thinketh’ & ‘From Book?‘As ____________________ Poverty to Power’ by James Allen ______________________

Is CES taking on anything Yes! We have new in 2019? ____________ revamped our popular summer day ______________________ camps. Ages 6-14, that run Mon______________________ day through Friday, 8am-5pm, ______________________ during three weeks this summer! ______________________

If your life were made into a movie, who would play you? Chris Hemsworth (THOR!) _______________________

Lincoln’s premier athletic training facility

summer camps

JUNE 3 – JULY 26 | 8 AM – 5 PM Ages 6-18 |

June 3-7 | TAKEDOWN CAMP (YOUTH & HS)

Ages 6-14 | June 17-21 |

YOUTH WRESTLING DAY CAMP

Ages 6-14 | July 22-26 |

YOUTH WRESTLING DAY CAMP

CES also offers year-round classes for ages 3+ in wrestling, gymnastics, & martial arts. Learn more online!

You can learn more about CES & other local businesses by subscribing to Genesis Photography on YouTube!

Want your business interviewed? Contact Genesis Photography for availability!

Genesis Photography GenesisPhotog.com @GenesisPhotog 402.413.0129 What’s your edge?

LINCOLNEDGE.COM Page 16 • LincolnKidsInc.com

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YMCA Camp Kitaki has summer camp programs for kids ages 7-17. One week sessions all summer long! • Summer Camp programs • Ranch Camp programs for kids who love horses! • 1/2 week Adventure Mini Camps for young campers age 7-9 • Two week Leadership Camp programs for teens age 14-17

YMCA Camp Kitaki strives to provide a safe environment where participants can grow in their: • Relationship • Positive Identity • Values • Skills We do this in a unique natural setting

YMCA Camp Kitaki has activities for all interests. Here is a partial list! • Archery • Crafts • Swimming Pool (with Slides!) • Nature • Horseback Riding • Natural Playground • Lake (Canoes, Kayaks, & Paddle Boats) • High Challenge Course • Ziplines

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Get Your Jig On With Lincoln Irish Dancers! By Lincoln Irish Dancers

Lincoln Irish Dancers for Kids & Adults

ou don’t need to be Irish to enjoy lively music! Lincoln Irish Dancers has THREE upcoming opportunities for you! If you are seven years or older and can move freely, try Irish Step Dancing for five weeks with dance-friendly people. Irish Step Dancing is the solo dance style. We will learn the basics of beginning step dance and work them into easy reel and jig step combinations. The class may be taken by those age seven up, so sign up your child and yourself for a fun family activity! Next class begins April 8, 2019, preregistration is required. Irish Social Dance is done in groups for those 12 years and older (or younger with instructor permission) and is the inspiration for square dancing. It is not done as ‘couples’ so individuals can easily participate. All classes are held at Eastridge Presbyterian, 1135 Eastridge Drive. Come at 6:30 pm on April 1st and try it for free!

Annual Ceili March 10, 6:30-9 pm $10 adults, $7 ages 6-18, ($35 cap) FREE Basic Step session at 5:30 pm St. Patrick’s, 61111 Morrill Ave. FREE Try-It Class • April 1st 6:30 pm at Eastridge Presbyterian

A group of students practicing Irish dance. Photo courtesy of Lincoln Irish Dancers

We invite your family to join us on March 10th for the Annual Ceili, held at St. Patrick’s Church in Havelock. Participate in Irish Social Dance with live music and a caller to tell you what to do throughout the dance. There will be refreshments, a raffle, and dance demonstrations! Information is available online at lincolnirishdancers.org, or email lincolnirishdancers@gmail.com.

Irish Step Class Ages 7+ Mondays, 6:30-7pm Beginning April 8 $20 • 5-week session Preregistration required Irish Social Dance Class Ages 12+ (younger w/instructor permission) Mondays, 7-8pm Beginning Apr 8 $40 • 5-week session 5-week classes held at Eastridge Presbyterian 1135 Eastridge Dr. LincolnIrishDancers.org lincolnirishdancers@gmail.com

- Auditions for -

2019-20 Choirs Friday, April 12 Saturday, April 13 Appointment required Register for a time at:

lincolnboyschoir.org or call 402-499-4446

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Elephants, Dinosaurs, And Rhinos—OH MY! By the University of Nebraska State Museum–Morrill Hall

C Beginner Chinese classes for kids. (as a second language)

Winter Session starts January 22 Late registration ends Feb. 5

• Classes at UNL & UNO • Ages 6 and up • Weekend classes • Adult Chinese classes, too!

Visit our website for info & sign up to receive updates!

confuciusinstitute.unl.edu (402) 472-5370

confuciusinstitute@unl.edu W205 Nebraska Hall | Lincoln, NE 68588-0542 facebook.com/ConfuciusUNL

@ConfuciusUNL

Page 20 • LincolnKidsInc.com

hildren journey through time this summer during half-day camps at Morrill Hall. This summer, children can explore insects underfoot that often get overlooked, take a look at some giant creatures that used to call Nebraska home, or investigate the phases of the moon and come face-to-face with larger-than-life meteorites in Mueller Planetarium at Morrill Hall! Offering programs for grades 1st-6th, the Museum provides a unique, hands-on, week-long learning experience that is loads of fun! As part of each camp experience, young scientists will get to tour the Museum’s new 4th floor: Cherish Nebraska! They can crawl through a rattlesnake den model, see swift fox pups, and investigate parasites at the Museum’s 8-foot digital touch screen table.

Mini and Mighty Grades 1st–2nd Look Out Below! Mini and Mighty will be exploring insects underfoot that often get overlooked. Campers

will be examining our crawly invertebrate friends and their importance to the world around them by interacting with live specimens, collecting samples, and even creating their own mini-exhibit. Elephants, Dinos, & Rhinos— Oh My! Grades 3rd–5th Nebraska has a rich fossil history from sea monsters to elephants in our backyard. We will lead young paleontologists on a journey through time, taking a look at some of the gigantic creatures that used to call Nebraska home. Campers will have opportunities to work with actual fossils as we use them to investigate these great beasts and what they can tell us about how the creatures lived. Space Expedition Grades 4th–6th Join us on a voyage through the solar system and the universe beyond. Campers will investigate phases of the moon, explore Earth’s rotation and revolution, and come face-to-face with larger-than-life meteorites in our planetarium.

Photo courtesy of The University of Nebraska State Museum—Morrill Hall

Each day campers will explore natural history and science topics through hands-on activities. Museum camps are half-day and led by experienced educators who guide your children through a variety of activities, exploring the natural world around them. Register your camper today! Go to museum.unl.edu/camp or call 402472-2637 for more information.

on stage

this summer sing! dance! sing! dance! act! act! Opportunities for ALL AGES! Rising Stars Ages 3-8 June 17-21 • 9:30-11:00am • $100

June 24-28 • 9:30-11:00am • $100

Fairy Tale Forest

Candyland Adventures

Informal Performance: Friday, June 21st, 10:30am

Informal Performance: Friday, June 28th, 10:30am

Join Cinderella as she encounters the fairy tale characters who helped—or hindered—her journey home from the ball!

Join us for this SWEET story set in the town of Candyland!

STAGE Stars Ages 7-15 June 3-7 • Ages 7-15 9:30am-3:30pm • $200

June 17-21 • Ages 7-15 12:30-3:30pm • $150

June 24-28 • Ages 9-15 12:30-3:30pm • $150

M-F July 8-19 • Ages 7-15 9:30-3:30pm • $400

Total Theatre Experience

Broadway bound! Sing! Dance! Act!

Create & Relate!

Disney’s The Lion King, Jr.

Held at Kloefkorn Elementary Sing, dance, & act your way through this workshop featuring scenes from your favorite musicals!

Informal Performance: Friday, June 7th, 2pm

All classes held at 4325 Sumner Street unless otherwise noted

Set the stage with choreography, acting, singing, stage combat, stage makeup & more!

Informal Performance: Friday, June 21st, 3pm

Improv and script writing Theatre workshops and classes lead by Judy Hart!

Informal Performance: Friday, June 28th, 3pm

Take part in an unforgettable musical experience based on Disney’s The Lion King!

Performances: Thursday, July 18, 7pm Friday, July 19, 2 & 7 pm

TAFK.ORG

info@TAFK.org

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At Spark Summer Camp We Believe In The Power Of Questions By Spark Summer Learning

sking a question may seem like a small thing, but it is sharing your curiosity, and that is powerful enough to change a life. Spark’s purpose is to help young people ask a question, and it is our duty to give them the skills to explore their answers. A Sparkler’s (aka Spark student’s) curiosity spans all spheres of knowledge, so we study STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math). This combination of fields allows Sparklers to follow their question anywhere it leads. Our BIG question is: What will you make today? Every week Sparklers come up with answers like screen printed electronics, a 3D printed crane that mimics the adaptations of a giraffe, nano-treatments for a disease, a robot that draws pictures, pterodactyl inflatables, and so much more. Nobody has all the answers, so we ask others to join our explo-

ration. In 2018, Lincoln Electric System helped students design circuitry to accomplish tasks. To do this, Sparklers learned CAD. BVH Architecture helped Sparklers create structures a bee would enjoy living in, and thought about how their bee strucOwen Ludvik, 6 "The Monster Driving" Crayon & Colored Pencil ture might look different from a tortoise’s dream in virtual reality, robotics challenges house. While doing this, Sparklers in The Career Academy’s Robotics explored biology and the architecture Lab, the physics of food, and many of the Lincoln Children’s Zoo. The more. And every week at Spark, Nebraska Innovation Studio helped students will use ten all-new Maker Sparklers grapple with failure on the Skills to come up with ideas we can’t way to conquering different types of even imagine...yet. 3D modeling, using tools like Adobe At Spark, we believe that making Illustrator and laser cutters. is thinking with your hands, and if This summer, we are preparing for you can’t wait to join the maker-fun, all new explorations—like sculpting

here are five 5-minute ideas to get you going today: •• A note written on a double Mobius strip for your most confusing friend •• A paper airplane that tows a banner with a zesty message •• A horn made from a straw to celebrate the next time you drop something •• A cardboard cutout of the Loch Ness Monster for your loved one •• A ring made from paper clips for your arch enemy The Spark magic happens from 9 am to 4 pm and offers FREE before and aftercare (7-9 am and 4-6 pm). All meals and transportation to our 20+ field trips are included in our registration fees. Spark registration is open until we are full. Currently, we are accepting registrations for our full-time program. Spark offers scholarships and accepts the federal childcare subsidy. Register now to play your way through STEAM this summer at SparkSummer.org

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Teach Kids Creativity By LUX Center for the Arts

week-long camps are offered for kids ages 5-8, 9-12, h e n and 13+. We chilalso have a dren new drop-in are making mommy-andart with their me clay class hands, they called Mud are explorClub. Mud ing the world Club meets every around them in a r a, fo r 8 Wednesday from multi-sensory way, ," te L il en yP a d " , C lay, LU X C 10–10:45 am through all while learning to the end of March. plan, experiment, and Everyone quickly immerses problem solve. Giving children themselves in hands-on art-making the opportunity to make decisions without having to commit to a and learn from the results allows multi-week class. Mud Club is only children to feel a sense of pride, $8/person and lots of fun! originality, and self-expression. You can always find our current There is no right or wrong path, nor list of classes, camps, and workshops is there a right or wrong outcome. at www.LUXcenter.org, or visit us in Art can be abstract or realistic, big historic University Place at 2601 N. or small, complicated or simple— 48th Street, near Nebraska Wesleyan just as each individual artist wants University. Check out the back page it to be. for our lineup of creative Summer Here at the LUX, we provide Art Camps! For more informaclasses that help develop artistic tion contact Director of Education skill sets for different abilities and Lindsey Clausen at 402.466.8692. age groups. Saturday classes and ie

E ll

eA r ts

Now Enrolling!

Premier Education & Child Care 6 weeks-5th Grade

Creative Curriculum®

Half-Day Program

Handwriting without Tears™

M/T/W/F • 9am-12:30pm

Full-Day Program M-F • 6:30am-6pm

M-F • 6:30am-6pm

teacher-directed and child-initiated learning

automatic & comfortable skills for Kindergarten readiness

Pyramid Model

social-emotional development

ASQ-3

Ages & Stages Questionnaire for development assessment

8310 Wendell Way • (402) 483-4769

worldofknowledgeNE.com Page 24 • LincolnKidsInc.com

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Summer FUN! At Aimee’s Premier Dance

Add A Creative Touch To Any Event With Butterfly Kisses Face Painting!

Join us for our Summer Dance Camps and Workshops! We have something for every age & ability level. Summer Themed Dance Camps are for ages 3-8 and include: Princess Party, Magical Unicorn, Super Hero Hip Hop, and Wild Wild West. More details are featured in the camp guide. One Day Sampler Workshops are for beginning, intermediate and advanced level dancers, designed to experience a variety of styles in one fun-filled day of dance!

Planning a special event, birthday party, festival, or wedding? Butterfly Kisses Face Painting will add unique fun to the celebration!

At Aimee's Premier Dance, we are building self-confidence and encouraging kindness in each dancer. All our classes use ageappropriate music, choreography and costuming. Space is limited. Check out our website or call to register today!

Face painting is magic for kids of all ages—adults love it, too! It’s not just painting—it’s creating a smile, sparking a child’s imagination, and making memories. Tammy, the owner of Butterfly Kisses Face Painting is a professional, trained, experienced, award-winning face painter who loves to add her artistic touch to any event. From belly bump painting to glitter tattoos to colorful sugar skulls and everything in-between, there are so many ways to create unique, walking works of art. Contact Tammy at Butterfly Kisses to customize a party or event just for you!

FACE PAINTING

h face paint, embellishments, & tion wit glitter a n i g a tatto Tammy Rosecrans rk im a os! p Award-winning face paint artist • Body & belly art available, too! S Perfect for birthdays, showers, company events, festivals & more!

402-730-7197 • ButterflyKissesFacePainting@gmail.com www.ButterflyKissesFacePainting.com • Follow us on Facebook & Instagram!

Yard Cards Are Perfect For Spring Events! Card My Yard Lincoln

More Than Just Great Books @ Handersen Publishing

When planning your spring events, don’t forget about Card My Yard to make those BIG events even BIGGER!

Looking for a creative celebration for your school, troop, or church event? We combine author readings, crafts, & live music into a variety of events that can be customized to fit your needs. You can even purchase signed books or activity packs for special giveaways.

We’re ready to help you surprise someone special for birthdays, Mother’s & Father's Days, graduations, sporting events, and more! Skip the card and stake the yard! Choose from several font colors and over 100 big graphics to personalize your yard card. We jazz it all up with free coordinating balloon and star graphics. We LOVE making each yard card look amazing and we enjoy personalizing it for your special someone! All you do is order! We deliver, set it up, and pick it up after your rental period is over. Easy!

GRADUATIONS

BIRTHDAYS

We are Lincoln’s premier yard greeting rental service that makes your big day even bigger! We deliver customized messages to your front yard. You pick the message, font colors, graphics, and we do the rest!

Share your celebration in a BIG way! Book online today!

www.CardMyYard.com/Lincoln

Follow Card My Yard Lincoln on Social Media to see more!

★ SPORTING EVENTS ★

GOOD LUCK

★

TEACHER APPRECIATION ★ WELCOME HOME

★ SWEET 16’S ★ THEMED PARTIES ★ RECITALS & MORE!

Skip the Card, Stake the Yard!

See our ad below for $2.00 off your online purchase!

★ VALENTINES ★ ANNOUNCEMENTS ★ ANNIVERSARIES

★ YOUTH & ADULT BIRTHDAY PARTIES ★ EGG HUNTS ★ GRADUATIONS ★ BABY SHOWERS

Have a house full of bored kids on a rainy day? Check out our website for FREE printable coloring sheets & activities. Star in your own at-home performance of Thumb Theatre. Build your own mini skateboard ramp or puppet show. You can even dance along to our great music videos. While you’re there, check out our great selection of books for kids of all ages.

Spring 2019 • Page 25

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Bright Lights

Summer Learning Adventures By Bright Lights

chool personnel does an amazing job of teaching, guiding and interacting with students during the school year. They pour hundreds of hours into their students to give the best academic edge possible.

But what happens during the summer? According to a report from the National Summer Learning Association by Duke University Professor Harris Bright Lights students show off their impressive Cooper, “We found that kids card tower! Photo courtesy of Bright Lights Summer Learning Adventures do forget over the summer. Across the board, all kids lose some…skills.” His suggested solution? “Summer affords more Do you have a budding ukulele freedom to digress from a prescribed player in the family? Our Uke Can curriculum, so you can study at a Do It class is a perfect fit for any more leisurely, individualized pace.” beginner. Students in grades 4-6 will Bright Lights, a local summer learn chords and melodies and can learning program over 30 years continue the learning by taking home strong, is an ideal way for elementary a ukulele of their very own to keep and middle school students to maxibusy through the summer. mize the fun of summer vacation and Having a quick wit and funny make a “summer stride” rather than a reply may not always be valued summer slide. Students pick a subject in our middle school students, but that appeals to them and then spend a it is celebrated in our Intro to week delving into it through a variety Improv class geared to students in of teacher-led activities. As one pargrades 6-8. Games and exercises will ent said, “My six-year-old thought help students learn improvisational she was spending a week enjoying skills in a group setting, which will Dr. Seuss, but it was so much more be showcased at a performance held than that! She learned about science, the final day for family and friends. math and other subjects in a fun A detailed schedule of all of environment. I don’t think she even Bright Lights full-day camps and realized she was learning.” half-day classes will be available Here’s a peek at some new classes at BrightLights.org beginning in offered in 2019: mid-February, with registration Students in grades K-1 will be able starting March 23. to step into a magical world when taking Magical Creatures. From unicorns to mermaids to trolls, the week will be filled with projects, pretend, and perhaps even some teamwork. Our popular Build Like an Engineer class has expanded into a full-day camp! Students in grades 1-2 will be able to do so much more investigating and building with materials like spaghetti, straws, and play dough for full-day of designing, questioning, and learning. Paige Lamarque, 8 "Fluffy Bunny" Acrylic Art Academy Lincoln

Page 26 • LincolnKidsInc.com

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Spring Bird Count

enroll now for a summer of play!

Birdnerd Blurb

By Jason “the Birdnerd” St. Sauver Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center 402-797-2301 • scp@audubon.org springcreek.audubon.org

n February, the weekend before and including President’s Day is the Great Backyard Bird Count. This fun and family-friendly bird count always reminds me of the coming spring and all the great things we as humans can do for our feathered friends as they prepare to migrate and build their nests. One of the best ways to help our birds on their journey is to be good community scientists and count them! The Great Backyard Bird Count is a great way to start and to learn more about identifying and counting birds. There are also some great tools to use as well, including Audubon’s bird identification website and app, and Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s amazing Merlin Bird ID app. Once you get excited about the birds you are seeing and are proficient at counting them, consider entering your daily sightings into eBird—the biggest birding database in the world. Making a kid-friendly bird list to have by your window or to take with you to a local park is a fun activity—you can even design one for the kids to use as Bird Bingo as you drive. Remember our feathered friends this Spring. Participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count in February and consider participating in counting birds all year round. It’s fun for families and good for the birds!

Upcoming FREE Events at Spring Creek Prairie Great Backyard Bird Count! Friday & Saturday, Feb. 15 & 16 10 am–12 pm • FREE!

Fun for all ages! SCP will have binoculars to borrow. It’s a great way for families to spend time outside in February.

Paws on the Prairie! Saturday, Apr. 13 2-4 pm • FREE!

Our 2nd annual event for people & pets to experience the prairie! Join us and the Capital Human Society for this once-a-year event in which you CAN bring your dog or pet to the prairie. Learn about pet safety, pet adoption with CHS, and why pets aren’t usually allowed at Spring Creek Prairie. There’ll be prizes for people & pets, and the event ends with a pet parade!

Words for Birds Sunday, Apr. 28 11-2:30 pm • FREE!

Celebrate National Poetry Month and the return of migratory birds at this special event with poetry writing fun for kids & adults. The event includes a bird walk, poetry workshop, and public poetry readings inspired by the birds and prairie of Nebraska!

Happy Birding!

Did you know we offer evening & weekend sick visits? Evening & weekend appointments are held at our West A Street location M-Th after 5:30pm • Saturday: 9am-4pm • Sunday: 10am-2pm

Ages 4 years - 4th grade (completed) NEW! Extended camp hours: 7:30am – 5:30pm NEW! Half-day option for all ages: 7:30 – 11:30 am

Day Camps May 24, 28-31 Holiday Hullabaloo july 1-3, 5 Freedom Fest august 12

Mysteries of the Universe

ch 17 r a m u r h t t n u o c is d Early bird ll week camps! save on full day, fu

june 3-7

Fossil-tastic

Week Camps

june 10-14 lego Robotics

july 15-19 LCM Comic Con

june 16-20 Say “YES” to the Mess

july 22-26 Ooey Gooey

june 24-28 Pathfinders july 8-12

A Week at Hogwarts

Gadgets july 29-aug 2 & gizmos august 5-9 Shark Week

Check out LCM’s Spring Day Camps, too! February 18 • March 11-15 • April 19 & 22 Schedule your child’s school physical today!

(402) 465-5600 • CompleteChildrensHealth.com

3262 Salt Creek Cir. • 8201 Northwoods Dr. • 4020 Hohensee Dr. • 1336 West A St.

Learn more & register

lincolnchildrensmuseum.org Spring 2019 • Page 27

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Enjoying Nature For A Better Community By Lindsay Rogers, Wildlife Education, Nebraska Game & Parks Commission

want many things for my children. I want them to excel in school. I want them to be safe and healthy. I want them to be happy. And, I want them to be kind and productive members of society. To achieve these goals, I do many things—I take them to the library, I insist they wear their seatbelts, I provide them with healthy meals (and sometimes dessert to assist with the “happy” goal). But when it comes to being kind and productive members of society, research shows my children and I need to enjoy nature and play outside. A University of Rochester study found that people who were exposed to nature not only had increased happiness and lower levels of stress, but they were also more social, had better feelings about their community, and were more generous and more caring to others (Weinstein N, Przybylski AK, Ryan RM, 2009). The study (actually a combination of four studies) focused on expos-

Page 28 • LincolnKidsInc.com

ing some participants to nature or nature images and other participants to man-made environments or images of urban areas. Those who were exposed to nature were more likely to exhibit pro-social behaviors and had better feelings about their community. They were more likely to show kindness towards others and were more generous in donations to others. Additionally, participants who were exposed to nature had more autonomy and were more in tune to

their own feelings. Consequently, we see that these people were more sensitive to the feelings of others. I have highlighted some health benefits of spending time in nature before—reduced blood pressure, increased immune strength, lower stress levels, better sleep—but this is the first time I've talked about the benefits of nature on your behavior. In the end, this study proves that, yet again, nature is the solution. If you want your children to be more kind to each other (and to you), if you want your children to be more generous, if you want your children to have a greater sense of autonomy, encourage them to get outside. Go for a walk through the park, look for five plants that are just starting to bloom. Venture to Pioneers Park, look for birds migrating back north. Visit an area State Park, look for six things in nature that begin with the letter P (or S…or A…). What you do outside in nature is not important, it is simply the act of being outside, exploring, enjoying the calm, and, of course, making memories.

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“Whoa, That Is So Cool!” Making Memories In 2019 By Jamie Kelly, Pioneers Park Nature Center

ne of my favorite things to do when exploring nature with kids is to roll over a tree branch or stump that has been lying on its side. Why? Because hidden beneath the log, “snuggled” in the rotting wood and damp soil, are usually tiny creatures—a miniature world of insects, larvae, and other invertebrates! I never know what will be waiting, but there is often something wonderful. One day as I rolled over a log with a group of students, a centipede emerged. It zigged, then zagged, and disappeared again in between the pieces of the decaying wood. “Whoa, that is so cool!” a child exclaimed. While I knew that there might be something to observe, I couldn’t have planned for a centipede to come out just as the group of students peered down at the log. It was a delightful surprise for all of us. Nature is cool. There is always something to see, something to listen to, something new to explore.

Nature is then a whole always changflock of 40 ing, and you or maybe 50 never know geese took off when somefrom the pond! thing will I stopped. I happen that listened. The will make you geese flew stop and say, over me, honk“Whoa, that ing and vigoris so cool!” ously flapping These “whoa” their wings. moments are As I stood great because there, I was they stick. able to hear These are the the ‘whoosh, moments that w h o o s h , will be talkwhoosh’ of ed about long their wings as Photo courtesy of Pioneers Park Nature Center after the hike they rose up is over. The off the water “whoa” moments get retold and and flew by. I couldn’t help but become stories and memories. The think, “Whoa, this is so cool.” best part? There is always another Geese and centipedes are not exot“whoa” moment waiting for us to ic to Lincoln. These experiences I discover. share are not unique to the Nature Just like the other day when hikCenter or me, but that is why I share ing down a trail, all of a sudden I these examples. “Whoa” moments saw one goose, then another, and can happen almost anywhere in

nature—you do not need to travel far and wide to be amazed at the natural world. Have patience and enjoy the experience. It is amazing to me how big of an impact the smallest of creatures can make. The “whoa” moments can be as small as a centipede, as loud as a flock of geese, and anything in between. This year, go outside and enjoy all that nature has to share. The “whoa” moments are out there waiting for you. We hope to see your family at the Nature Center this spring; there are many opportunities to make memories here. The Nature Center is located on the west end of Pioneers Park, open Monday through Saturday, 8:30 am–5 pm, and Sunday noon–5 pm. Admission is free; donations are encouraged and appreciated. Check out our upcoming programs in the calendar section of Lincoln Kids!, and stay up to date about what’s happening at the Nature Center by following us on social media, search for the Pioneers Park Nature Center, @LNKnaturecenter.

Spring 2019 • Page 29

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Moments Of Happiness ♥M y dog’s tail goes round and round like a helicopter, and she lifts her front lip to smile. My heart always feels lighter when she greets me with her silly grin and spinning tail.

By Charleen Engberg, Dir. of Education & Volunteers, Capital Humane Society

or Christmas, I received a happiness jar filled with colorful pieces of paper. The idea is that each day you write down something that made you happy and place it in the jar. At the end of the year, you can look through all the messages as a reminder of all the happiness you experienced. Pets adopted from Capital Humane Society are wonderful companions, and we love hearing stories about what they do to make their adoptive families happy. Our staff is often sharing stories about what their pet has done to put a smile on their face and make them happy. Here are a few examples:

♥ Our adopted dog never really knew what to do with toys. Then one day, at the dog park, she found a ball. Another dog’s owner called her to bring the ball to him, and she did. He then threw it again for his dog. Our dog watched that dog bring the ball back and the owner throw the ball over and over. That was it. After catching on, she played fetch with that man for an hour.

♥M y cat loves my dog. He likes to rub his head against her and sleep with her. At first, this made my dog nervous. Now she just accepts it and will even toss a leg over him as they nap.

Now she wants to play constantly and gently lays toys in my lap. She’s so crazy about it that she even brings toys to my five-month-old daughter. It’s a delight to watch her.

♥M y rabbits make me happy because they get so excited for a treat. They stand on their hind legs and eagerly accept their healthy snack.

♥ My cat is very vocal and makes a variety of sounds. He has a loud, nasally meow when calling out to us from another room. He uses a trill when announcing his presence and when running to his favorite place, which is the water bowl. He plops down there and demands belly rubs.

♥M y cat sleeps curled up in the crook of my husband’s arm. She sometimes gets impatient when it’s getting late and he isn’t in bed yet. She makes a fuss and circles on the bed until he lies down, and then she quickly snuggles up next to him and purrs extra loud. Her insistence and satisfaction keep us both entertained.

♥ My dog watches TV, and when she sees other animals, she runs to the screen and barks at it. It’s very funny.

♥M y cat thinks she is a dog. She has a favorite ball that she plays fetch with, and she also likes to chase her tail.

As these examples show, a pet’s companionship and unique personality can be the source of numerous reasons to be happy. I’m sure you can think of many instances when your pet helped you to have a better day. Whether you write them down on a piece of paper or simply acknowledge the moment, take the time to be grateful for the joys in your life, including those that are a result of your pet’s presence and unconditional love. Capital Humane Society 402-441-4488 www.CapitalHumaneSociety.org Pieloch Pet Adoption Center 6500 S. 70th Street Admissions & Assessment Center 2320 Park Boulevard

We supply the food. You provide the love. Become an animal foster parent with Capital Humane Society! To ﬁnd out how: Call 402.477.3270 or email foster@capitalhumanesociety.org.

Pet T lk

We'd like to take a moment to say farewell & thank you to our column Pet Talk, and its columnist, with Allison Hunter-Frederick, Allison Hunter-Frederick. Pet Talk Reader, Pet Blogger, and Cat Therapy Handler featured step-by-step training suggestions for common tricks & behaviors in cats & dogs. Pets are a beloved part of families, and we encourage you to continue reading Allison’s work via her blog at https://lincolnpetculture.wordpress.com. Allison runs Lincoln Pet Culture in partnership with Lincoln Animal Ambassadors. LAA is committed to preventing pet homelessness through low-cost spay/neuter vouchers & an income-based pet food bank. Allison assists with their cause by providing pet education.

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Close By Gretchen Garrison, Mother, Teacher, Blogger, Author, Nebraska Enthusiast. www.OdysseyThroughNebraska.com

‘T

is the season for giving gifts. Before you double check which edition you are reading, let me reassure you that I know that this is the spring issue. May and June brings about teacher appreciation week (May 6-10), Child Care Provider Appreciation (May 10), Mother’s Day (May 12), graduations (mid- to late-May), and Father’s Day (June 16). Figuring out gifts can be somewhat challenging, especially after the winter holidays, so below is a small list of thoughtful gift ideas to get the ball rollin’. Some of the best gifts of all don’t require purchase, just a little time and thought. A personal note is incredibly valuable, especially if written by your child. In this digital age, handwritten, encouraging words rank high on the list for teachers, parents, and grandparents. Homemade cards, poetry, and artwork are also keepsake-worthy.

Home: Spring Gift Giving

Cash and gift cards, as simple as they may seem, are often greatly appreciated, no matter the amount. If possible, research to figure out the best choice for the recipient, like where they like to eat or shop. Consider gift cards with specific possibilities: teacher supply websites for educators; sporting good stores for athletes; gardens and nurseries for those with a green thumb; gas cards for students; certificates for classes for someone who mentioned a desire to try something new, like knitting or photography. Sometimes, if you’ve put thought into what they’ll use the gift card for, you may end up saving money on something meaningful as opposed to a last-minute, non-specific gift card (like giving a $5 coffee card as opposed to a $10+ general gift card). Parents & grandparents appreciate personalized gifts, like a photo album full of memories, or a handprint t-shirt from your children (Pinterest has dozens of simple, low-cost ideas for shirts & kid-made art gifts). Graduates are often easy to please,

especially with cash or gift cards, but other popular gifts include personalized towels, laundry bags, shower caddies, and laundry quarters & detergent. Movie tickets and rental codes can provide an evening of entertainment. There are many fun ways to spin a graduation gift. Memberships or day passes to area museums, botanical gardens, and other areas of entertainment are great for grandparents and teachers with children. Consider teaming up with other parents to provide a membership to the zoo or children’s museum for a teacher with young children. Other teacher gift suggestions include: •• Personalized basket of favorite snacks to help the teacher get through the end of the school year •• A picture book signed by the class yearbook-style. •• A small plant (opt for one that is easy to maintain, like a succulent, air fern, or air plant). I also received feedback on several gifts to avoid, like lotions and toiletries (due to allergies), coffee mugs,

and neck ties. Treats like chocolate and baked goods can also be a miss, unless you know the recipient’s allergies or dietary restrictions. One teacher mentioned that ornaments are also not always the best gifts, but if they are personalized, I think this can be sweet. My two favorite student gifts happen to be ornaments— one is a pearl ornament because that is what my name means, and another is a world ornament for being her geography teacher. Although a little thought is required, giving gifts that are appreciated is possible and gratifying. Thank you to the members of the Facebook group “Teacher Deals and Freebies” for your input and for sharing some of the favorite student gifts you’ve received. Author Gretchen Garrison is a longtime teacher and homeschool mom. She is behind the blog, Odyssey Through Nebraska, and the book, Detour Nebraska. Not surprisingly, some of her favorite gifts often have to do with Nebraska.

We've Expanded!

New Infant Room

Immediate Openings • Ages 6 weeks+ Space Limited • Apply Today!

Now Hiring for New Positions Seeking experienced, friendly childcare providers & educators. Full & part time. Submit your resume and apply within.

Krayon Campus Childcare & Education Center

Providing Care & Education for Infants & Toddlers, Preschool & Pre-K Before & After School, and School-Age Summer Programs

KrayonCampus.com • (402) 486-4847 • 60th & Normal Spring 2019 • Page 31

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Fine-Free Youth Materials At All Lincoln City Libraries By Lincoln City Libraries

t the end of 2018, Lincoln City Libraries was poised for the new year. We had visions of noses tucked into books, trips to the library to load up, and of course, lots of cozying up and reading aloud. How are we helping to make these visions a reality? We’ve eliminated overdue fees for youth books! That’s correct, as of January 1, 2019, Lincoln City Libraries will no longer charge overdue fees for youth materials. Like many good ideas, this one wasn’t ours originally. Libraries across the nation have been studying the age-old practice of charging overdue fees with an eye toward the future. The punitive practice was originally conceived as a way to encourage library users to return their materials promptly so that the items become available for others to use. Studies as early as 1981, and as recently as 2017, have shown that overdue fines have only a negligible impact on how soon items are returned. Most libraries that have instituted no-overdue fines policies have seen significant increases in

circulation, a win-win situation for the libraries and their communities. There is a growing awareness of the importance of early literacy in a child’s education and future achievement. Lincoln City Libraries has fully embraced this knowledge by holding over 30 Library Learning Times each week, and by promoting the valuable practice of parents reading aloud to their children 15 minutes a day. Reading aloud every day is something that should happen in the child’s home. To facilitate this, parents need books in their homes. Some children come from literacyrich environments, where reading materials are abundant. For those families, and the ones without means to purchase books, the public library fills a vital and consequential role. We were concerned that overdue charges created a barrier for families who struggle to make ends meet. In an in-depth study conducted by the Colorado State Library, a significant correlation was demonstrated between literacy and access to a public library. They state, “Libraries

Time spent reading to your children is important. If you need to borrow books for a few extra days, don’t worry! Youth materials borrowed after January 1, 2019, are no longer assessed late fees if returned after the due date. Damaged or lost materials will still result in fees. Visit us at lincolnlibraries.org for information & locations.

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in economically disadvantaged areas of the community had significantly lower circulation rates than middle-class neighborhoods.” Similar outcomes can be seen in our community. The researchers go on to say, “The traditional practice of charging late fees has left a lasting impression on the very people who most need libraries: community members who are economically disadvantaged, many with young children at home.” In order to continue to be responsible with taxpayer dollars, materials not returned three weeks after their due date will be considered lost, and the customer will be charged a replacement fee, which will be eliminated when the items are returned. Prosper Lincoln has a community agenda that focuses on critical needs

in our community. One is in the area of early childhood, with the goal to nurture every child on the path to success. The library takes our partnership with Prosper Lincoln seriously and strives to be a resource for every family in our community. You can learn more about Prosper Lincoln at www.prosperlincoln.org. We hope that the new overdue fines-free policy for youth materials (birth–high school) will encourage families to make reading a priority and a regular practice in their homes.

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Components Of A Dyslexia Assessment By Kathy Johnson, Nebraska Dyslexia Association (NDA) President

ith the passing of LB1052 in the state of Nebraska in 2018, there has been an increased focus on the topic of dyslexia, particularly in the area of assessments and evidence-based interventions. Early identification of dyslexia is key to success for students, and individuals can receive screening as young as four years of age. Early dyslexia risk factors may include any combination of the following: •• History of language and learning disabilities in the family •• Delayed speech •• Mixing up the sounds or syllables in words •• Articulation difficulties (i.e. r-l, m-n, s-sh-ch) •• Past or present speech therapy •• Stuttering •• Chronic ear infections •• Directionality issues (left versus right confusion) •• Late establishing a dominant hand •• Difficulty learning to tie shoes •• Difficulty memorizing names of letters and the sounds they make •• Trouble memorizing the spelling of name, address, phone number, or the alphabet •• Cannot create words that rhyme by the age of 4 •• Extremely messy bedroom •• Dreads going to school (complains of stomachaches or headaches, etc.) •• Word retrieval difficulty when speaking

An accurate and thorough screening requires a trained professional and should take approximately 1 ½–2 hours to complete. Only a licensed educational psychologist or trained specialized professional can give a formal diagnosis. A screening or assessment is an indicator to determine if an individu-

al fits the dyslexia profile, and serves as a good measure to provide effective and appropriate interventions. A comprehensive battery of tests should be administered to accurately determine if an individual exhibits these specific characteristics. According to the International Dyslexia Association, the following components should be included in a dyslexia assessment: •• Phonological Awareness: the awareness of and access to the sound structure of his/her oral language •• Phonological Memory: the ability to recall sounds, syllables, and words •• Rapid Automatic Naming: the speed of naming objects, colors, digits and letters •• Receptive Vocabulary: understanding of words that are heard •• Phonetic Skills: understanding symbol to sound relationships •• Decoding both Real Words and Nonsense Words: ability to use symbol-sound associations to identify words •• Oral Reading Fluency: ability to read accurately at an appropriate rate with comprehension •• Spelling •• Writing: both at a sentence level and paragraph level •• Educational and Background History

Research indicates that administering accurate screenings at an early age (kindergarten through third grade) is the first step in identifying and providing the necessary steps required to prevent reading failure. Once an assessment has been administered, a report should be compiled to include documentation of test results, as well as a recommended evidence-based, structured literacy program and classroom accommodations to support the student’s individual needs. For more information, please contact Nebraska Dyslexia Association at www.ne-da.org or (402) 434-6434.

It’s never too early A SMALL ADJUSTMENT NOW CAN MAKE A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE IN A CHILD’S LIFE.

Signs & Symptoms in Children • ADHD • Allergies • Anxiety • Asthma • Autism • Bed Wetting • Behavioral Issues • Colic • Constipation • Ear Infections • Eczema • Frequent Colds

• Growing Pains • Motor and Speech Delays • Nursing Diﬃculties • Plagiocephaly • Reﬂux • Seizures • Sensory Disorders • Sinus & Respiratory infections • Sleep Issues • Torticollis

Please join us for NDA’s upcoming FREE workshop Dyslexia Workshop for Parents February 23, 2019 8:45am-11:30am Apples Way Community Room, Cornhusker Bank 6100 Apples Way, Lincoln, NE

Call today to learn more & schedule a chiropractic evaluation for your family.

(402) 615-6022 | ThriveLincoln.com Spring 2019 • Page 33

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HOSTED BY

SPRING & SUMMER CAMPS & PROGRAMS PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

AACDC offers summer programs designed to excite children and encourage learning through field trips (typically 1-2 per day!), games, weekly themes, fun events, sports, arts/crafts, science, reading, math, & more! For more info on the Summer Program for kids 5-12 years old, call one of our 3 Lincoln locations: (402) 465-4769 • (402) 421-7301 • (402) 420-5440 • See our ad below to learn more about Academic Advantage!

Academic Advantage

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CONTACT 3 Locations! www.AACDC.com

Aimee’s Premier Dance

Ages 3-5: Princess Camp, June 18-20, 5-6pm • Magical Unicorn Dance Camp, July 16-18, 5-6pm Ages 6-8 Coed: Super Hero Hip Hop Dance Camp, June 18-20, 6:30-7:30pm • Wild Wild West Dance Camp, July 16-18, 6:30-7:30pm Saturday Mixed Dance Sampler Day Camps also offered for ages 9 & up! June 29 • June 22 • July 13. See our ad on page 25!

6760 Woodland Blvd. (Hickman) 402-440-8770 www.apremierdance.com

Art Academy Lincoln

Have a Creative Summer with hands-on Art Workshops at Art Academy Lincoln! Ages K-5, M-F from 9am-12pm, Session 1 June 3-7 & Session 2 June 10-14. All supplies included! Class size limited—register early! Visit website, call, or text for details. See ad page 5!

5921 Berkley Drive 402-499-7754 ArtAcademyLincoln.com

Bluestem Montessori

Join us for summer fun—Montessori-style! Grades K-5. July 15-19: Pirates on the High Seas; July 22-26: Adventures in Outer Space. Registration opens February 4 at www.bluestemmontessori.com. See our ad on page 28!

6300 A Street 402-735-0987 www.bluestemmontessori.com

Bright Lights

Learn while having fun & making friends! Five weeks of half-day classes & full-day camps for students in K-8th grade. Hands-on, STEAMbased classes cover a variety of fun, unique, & engaging topics. Summer 2019 classes run June 3-7; June 10-14; June 17-21; June 24-28; & July 15-19. Before care, lunch care & scholarships avail. See class schedule at BrightLights.org. Registration begins March 23. See page 26.

402-420-1115 BrightLights.org

Camp Kitaki

Fantastic Summer Camps: 3, 7 and 14-day experiences for ages 7–17. Spring Camps too! One week sessions begin in June through midAugust. Ranch camp for horse lovers, 1/2 week adventure mini camps for ages 7-9, & leadership camps for ages 14-17. See ad on p.17.

402-434-9222 YMCACampKitaki.org

Camp Sonshine

Spring Break Day Camps for K–9th grade: March 11-15, 9am-5:30pm, extended mornings available. $40/day or just $175 for the full week! Summer Day camps for K-6 grade & Leadership training for 7-9th grade. Go-karts, archery, nature, crafts, cooking, swimming, inflatables & more! Just minutes south of Lincoln in Roca! Go to CampSonshineMemories.org. See our ad on page 3!

13440 S. 25th St. (Roca) 402-423-8746 CampSonshineMemories.org

Spring & Summer Camps

Camp Sonshine’s overnight facility, Camp Solaris, offers programs for 3rd–12th grade. Activities include Aerial Park, archery tag, stand up paddle boards, go-karts, water activities, nature, challenge course & field trips! Located just south of Firth between Lincoln and Beatrice. Go to CampSonshineMemories.org! See page 3!

Camp Solaris

This summer, give your child The Edge. Full-day wrestling camps for ages 6 & up, June 3rd-July 26, 8am-5pm. Takedown Camp for ages 6-18, June 3-7 • Youth Wrestling Day Camps for ages 6-14, June 17-21 or July 22-26. Details & registration at LincolnEdge.com. See the CES ad & interview on pg. 16!

CES • Competitive Edge Sports

2349 State Hwy Spur 34b (Firth) 402-423-8746 CampSonshineMemories.org 3515 N. 25th St 402-404-5510 LincolnEdge.com

Dimensions Education

Two 5-week summer sessions offered May 28-June 28 & July 1-August 2, 7:30-5:30, full & part-time availability. Register for one or both, 2 locations! Certified Nature Explore Program with outdoor fun & learning in the Nature Explore Classroom! Registration begins mid-February. Learn about Dimensions Education’s programs & education on page 28.

Family Service Lincoln

We take PRIDE in our kids summer camps. Our camps are about fun & choices and focus on Positivity–Reliability–Innovation–Determination– Experiences. Art, Wellness Adventure, & STEM themes, including swimming & field trips! Choose the location closest to you: Hunnington, Hill, Meadowlane, Beattie Elementary. May 29–August 2. $125/week plus a $20 deposit/activity fee. Week by week registration is allowed. See p.4!

402-441-7949 www.familyservicelincoln.org

Spring Day Camps: Double Reed Day, February 2 • Flute Day, March 30 • Midwest Clarifest, March 30. See ad on page 19!

arts.unl.edu/music/camps

Glenn Korff School of Music

Spring Musical: Saturdays March 16-May 4, 9am-4pm, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Summer Musical Camps M-F 10am-4pm: Beauty & the Beast May 27-June 14 • The Hobbit June 17-28 • Willy Wonka July 8-26 • Darts of Glory July 29-August 9. Before/aftercare available • See the lineup on page 24!

Haymarket Theatre

Flexible Spring & Summer Camps that works with your schedule! Fun weekly themes. Pick your days & pay as you go. Never pay for days when you are gone & all activities are included in our hourly rates. Come as little or as much as you’d like. As always, no reservation required! Drop in for a tour & hourly childcare—nights, evenings, & weekends as you need it! See pages 16 & 42!

KidsPark Lincoln Children’s Museum

Summer Camps for ages 4y–4th grade, 7:30am-5:30pm; half-days 7:30-11:30am. Spring camps offered, too! Kids explore Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, & Math through the power of play! All camps include playtime in the museum, weekly field trips to downtown destinations, and exclusive programming on the museum’s top secret 3rd floor designed for making messes, friends, & memories. Limited space. See pg. 27!

Lincoln Children’s Zoo

Summer camps for all ages! 3-4 yrs +parents: 8:30-10:00am or 1:30-3:00pm • 4-5 yrs & 6-7 yrs: 8:30-Noon or 1:00-4:30pm, full days available! 8-10 yrs & 10-12 yrs: 8:30am-4:30pm. Learn from Zookeepers & meet your favorite animal friends from May 28 - August 2. Space is limited!

LUX Center for the Arts Makit Takit

Art Camps! Clay, pottery wheel, painting, drawing, illustration, metalsmithing, STEAM, & sampler art camps for youth ages 5-8, 9-12, & 13+. Morning sessions 9am-noon, afternoons 2-5pm. Make it a full day & register for both w/optional lunch care (12-2pm)! Before care avail. (8-9am). Spring Break Art Camps March 11-15 • Summer Camps June 3-Aug 9. Info & registration online. See our schedule on the back cover!

Get crafty this summer at Makit Takit, Lincoln’s Craft Studio! Fun and creative camps for ages 8+ during LPS spring, summer & winter breaks from 9am-12pm. Splatter paint, slime, and more! Info & registration online. See our ad on page 36!

Teaching, nurturing, and developing the future... 6wks–12 yrs

one child at a time. 8215 NORTHWOODS, STE #100

402-465-4769

We have summer programs too!

7301 S. 15TH ST.

402-421-7301

6021 S. 56TH ST.

402-420-5440 WWW.AACDC.COM

Page 34 • LincolnKidsInc.com

Monday-Friday 6:30am–6:00pm Video Surveillance & Secure Entry Year-Round Preschool

2045 E St. -or- 7700 A St 402-476-8304 DimensionsEd.org

402-477-2600 HaymarketTheatre.org 5633 S. 16th St 402-413-8849 kidspark.com/lincoln 1420 P St. 402-477-4000 LincolnChildrensMuseum.org 1222 S 27th Street 402-475-6741 www.LincolnZoo.org 2601 N. 48th St. 402-466-8692 luxcenter.org 4720 Prescott Ave. 402-483-4232 makittakit.com

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HOSTED BY

SPRING & SUMMER CAMPS & PROGRAMS

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PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

CONTACT

Exciting hands-on camps for grades 1-6! Mini & Mighty: July 15-19, 1st-2nd grade. Elephants, Dinos, & Rhinos, Oh My!: June 17-21, 3rd-5th grade. Space Expedition: July 29-Aug 2, 4th-6th grade. $95 members/$105 non. Register at museum.unl.edu/camp. Learn more on pages 20-21!

Morrill Hall

645 N. 14th, UNL 402-472-2642 museum.unl.edu 2755 Jamie Lane 402-802-9982 MyGym.com/Lincoln

My Gym’s Summer Camps provide nonstop fun all summer long! Children play energizing fitness games, noncompetitive gymnastics, arts & crafts, music, and more! Ages 2.5-10 (potty trained, please). Offered to members & nonmembers! Details & registration online. See ad pg.13!

My Gym Nebraska Writing Project Workshops

Summer Writing Workshops for ages 7y+ June 17-22 held on East Campus. Form new friendships doing what you love! “I Love to Write” 9-11am or 11:30am-1:30pm, 7-11y, $75 • “I Love to Write2” 2-4pm, 12-14y $75 • We Love to Write (family workshop ages 7+) 6-8pm, $90. See ad below!

xlove2writex@gmail.com unl.edu/newp

Oxbow Vet Camp

Explore a day in the life of a veterinarian! Camps available for 2nd-5th grade M-Th & 6th-8th grade M-F, 8am-4pm, in June & July. Learn about animal behaviors & nutrition, interact with live animals, & perform a simulated exploratory surgery—you keep your scrubs & stethoscope! Camp dates & registration online or contact 800-249-0366, VetCamp@OxbowAnimalHealth.com. Save $25 w/ ad on p. 30!

800-249-0366 OxbowVetCamp.com

Pottery painting, glass fusing, & clay projects galore! Join us for camps this summer at either store! Give us a call for more info & a brochure: (402) 486-1010. Three delightful locations! In the Haymarket at 7th & P • Pioneer Woods at 70th & Pioneers • South Lincoln at 14th & Pine Lake. See our ad on page 23!

3 delightful locations! 402-486-1010 PaintYourselfSilly.net

Paint Yourself Silly Parks & Recreation

Nature Explorer Camp for elementary students during Spring Break! Pioneers Park Nature Center, M-F 8:30am-5pm, extended care avail. Week-long Wilderness Nature Camp for ages 6-13, June 10-Aug 2, $185/wk • Leadership Camp for ages 14-17, June 3-7, $150/wk. Camp Discovery for ages 3-6 offered M-Th weekly June 3-July 18, 9-11:30am, $90. Need-based scholarships available. See ad page 29!

3201 S. Coddington 402-441-7895 parks.lincoln.ne.gov (Nature Camp)

Parks & Recreation

NFL Flag Football • March 18-April 25. Division K-1, 2-3, 4-5, & 6-8. $80/child, $75/add’l child. Register by Feb 24 @ teamsideline.com/lincolnne. Archery for All in February & March! Learn archery skills, open to anyone ages 7+. Sundays 12:30-1:30pm, $20/person/month. See ad page 29!

Air Park Rec Center 402-441-7876 parks.lincoln.ne.gov (NFL/Archery)

Parks & Recreation Summer Camps

Summer day camps focus on group games, skill building & individual exploration through a wide range of activities; site-based activities and citywide field trips. Register for just a week or the whole summer! Need-based scholarships are available. Title XX eligible. Locations include: Air Park, Belmont, Bethany Park, Calvert, ‘F’ Street, Goodrich, Irving and McPhee. See above for Nature Camps! Registration forms online. See ad page 29!

8 Locations! parks.lincoln.ne.gov (KW: Summer Day Camps)

Pine Lake Junior Golf Academy

Youth Golf Camps for ages 5 & up, 9am-noon, $135. Girl’s Golf Camp: June 17-19 • Learn to Play: June 24-26 Learn to Compete: July 8-10. Adult-Child Golf Camp, July 29-31, 5:30-7:30pm, $180. Youth clubs available at no charge! See ad page 14.

6601 S. 84th St. 402-560-3371 Pinelakejuniorgolfacademy.com

Nature Camps

Spring Programs

Prairie Hill

Country Day Camps

17705 South 12th St 402-438-6668 Prairiehill.com

Country day camps at Nebraska’s first wind-powered school! 1 & 2-week sessions, June-August. Ages 3-13 years. Have fun learning about nature, animals, and more! Just 7 miles south of Lincoln on Hwy. 77. See our ad below!

SAC Aerospace Museum

Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum Camps are OUT OF THIS WORLD! Children entering grades 1-6 can explore exciting themes like Aviation, Technology, Robotics, Space, Engineering & more! Register for one day or several! Before/aftercare available. See our ad on page 20!

SPARK Summer Learning

Explore. Play. Create! Spark’s STEAM Maker program is for children who have completed K-5th grade. M-F 9am-4pm with FREE before/ after care from 7-9am & 4-6pm! Our engaging & exploratory curriculum includes hands-on fun & learning and over 20 field trips! Pool! Fun! Scholarships available! Flexible enrollment offers 10-week, 4-week, and weekly drop-in sessions! Learn more on page 23!

28210 W Park Hwy (Ashland) 402-944-3100 x 204 SACMuseum.org www.SparkSummer.org

Swimtastic Swim School

Swimtastic offers swim camps during the summer semester, where children come every day for two weeks. Select swim camps are available for one week periods. Summer swim camps provide consistent and focused teaching for all ages while having fun. Daily swim lessons allow for faster growth and development through consistency and repetition. Call or register online! See p.15!

7911 Pioneers Blvd 402-489-7946 Swimtastic.com

Theatre Arts for Kids

Sing! Dance! Act! Rising Stars (ages 3-8): Fairy Tale Forest, June 17-21; Candyland Adventures, June 24-28. Stage Stars: Total Theatre Experience (ages 7-15), June 3-7; Broadway Bound! (ages 7-15), June 17-21; Create & Relate Improv & Script Writing (ages 9-15), June 24-28. Summer Musical: Disney’s The Lion King, Jr. for ages 7-15, M-F July 8-19. See page 22!

4325 Sumner St. TAFK.org

Trinity Lutheran School True Dance & Co. Wee Wisdom YMCA Lincoln

1200 N. 56th Street 402-466-1800 Trinityoflincoln.org

Are you looking for a terrific summer camp? Check out Trinity Lutheran School’s Summer Day Camps for children 18 mos.–6th grade. Offered M-F, May 22-Aug 7, 7am-5:45pm. Weekly & daily themes with engaging activities, daily devotions, chapel, reading, field trips, outdoor swimming, water play & activities, library visits, cooking, optional swimming lessons, and fun times with friends! Call or email mgreen@trinityoflincoln.org for info!

5445 Red Rock Lane 402-423-8838 TrueDanceLincoln.com

Let the magic begin! Enchanting summer dance camps await dancers ages 2-6. Register online for a magical summer! Princess Camp June 3-7 • Superhero Camp June 24-28 • Unicorns & Dragons Camp July 22-26. See the magic on page 18! Fun & educational Summer Camps offered at Wee Wisdom Christian Preschool & Academy, a ministry of Citylight Church. Children will play, learn, and make friends & memories while honoring His presence in our daily lives. See our ad on page 8 and please join us for our Family Fun Night fundraiser on April 12 from 5-8pm!

5201 Old Cheney Rd 402-420-7111 weewisdompreschool.org

Happy kids play at the Y! Keep your kids healthy, active, and safe all summer long with YMCA’s Summer Day Camps! Little Explorers (ages 3-K) • Little Adventurers (5y+ & entering Kindergarten) • Summer Adventure (entering 1-8 grades) • Running Creek (1st grade through age 10) • Creative Camp (entering 1st-7th grades) • Counselors-in-Training. Title XX accepted. Register online! See ad page 15.

PRAIRIE HILL Learning Center www.prairiehill.com

(402) 438-6668

Summer Camps

Nature-centered day camp programs for children ages 6-15 & mini-camps for ages 3-6. Various dates & themes all summer • Overnight options & pony rides, too!

Offered at 4 local Y locations! ymcalincoln.org

Love to write?

Space limited, register early!

June 17 – 22 • UNL East Campus

7-11 years: 9-11am or 11:30am-1:30pm { Youth Youth 12-14 years: 2-4pm

$75 $90 {

Saturday: presentation

celebration !!! Family Workshops: 6-8pm Info & registration forms: www.unl.edu/newp Or email Sandra: XLove2WriteX@gmail.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Spring 2019 • Page 35

LK!

Birthday Fun & Party Places Prices & Specials subject to change without notice.

CONTACT • LOCATION

FUN FEATURES!

NAME Butterfly Kisses Face Painting

402-730-7197 info@butterflykissesfacepainting.com www.ButterflyKissesFacePainting.com

Add fun sparkles & color to your party with professional face painting & glitter tattoos! Unicorn, dinosaur, fairy princess, tiger & more! So many options & so much fun!

Card My Yard

We are Lincoln’s Premier yard greeting service that specializes in making your BIG occasion even BIGGER! We deliver custom messages that you pick! Choose from over 100 fun graphics!

www.CardMyYard.com facebook.com/cardmyyardlincoln

Cheer Xpress

Have your next birthday party at Cheer Xpress. Open Gym parties including trampoline, tumble track, spring floors and lots of fun equipment. Come to play, jump, and tumble. Cheer theme parties available too! Let us do the entertaining, setup, and clean up, so you can enjoy the party!

1130 Aries Drive (SW side of 14th & Pine Lake) 402-489-5111 CheerXpress.com

Private birthday parties available! Invitations, balloon favors, a gift for the birthday child, face painting, art, and games are all included. We do the cleanup when the party is over! Sundays 10:30am-12:30pm or 6:30pm-8:30pm. Book your date online at kidspark.com/lincoln today!

KidsPark Larson Lifestyle Center

5633 S. 16th St. 402-413-8849 KidsPark.com/lincoln

Have your next pool party at Larson Lifestyle’s warm water pool! Variety of birthday party options to fit any budget. Join us for swimming and bring your gifts and cake for our party room. Call us today for more information.

52nd & Stockwell 402-486-2525 Ucollege.edu/larson-lifestyle-center

Lincoln Children’s Museum

Lincoln Children’s Museum sets the perfect stage for a fun and memorable birthday party for your child. The Museum offers a party room for birthday festivities, hours of play in its interactive exhibits & your choice of eight fun themes. Parties start at $40. Visit LincolnChildrensMuseum.org to pick the perfect party for you.

1420 P Street, Lincoln, NE 402-477-4000 LincolnChildrensMuseum.org

Lost In Fun!

Your outdoor playland...indoors! Fun for all ages! Private party rooms, playsets, foam pit, inflatable jumpers, fun maze, laser maze, video games, jumping pillow, Ballocity, and snack area with yummy food & drinks! We do company parties, too! Book your next Fun-tastic party online at lostinfun.com!

8431 Cody Drive (15th & Yankee Hill) 402-261-0440 LostInFun.com

LUX Center for the Arts

Real art taught by real artists! Guests can each build and paint their own clay mugs, bowls, or plates. Other popular projects include canvas painting, fused glass sun catchers, and custom projects. Parties for 8 participants start at just $150! Pottery wheel parties are available for kids ages 10+.

Madsen’s Bowling

Host a Bowling Party! Kids love our bumper bowling. Includes a “personalized” bowling pin gift for the birthday child! Special ramps for the young bowlers. Ask about Jr. Pool Leagues!

Makit Takit

Lincoln’s Craft Studio

2601 N. 48th St. 402-466-8692 www.LUXcenter.org/PARTY 47th & Dudley 402-467-3249 2 blks south of 48th & Holdrege

SPLATTER! SLIME! PAINT! We specialize in custom craft parties for school-age kids and adults. Our space can accommodate groups from 1-25. You bring the guests & treats, we’ll handle the rest! Parties start at $175. Book online today or stop in and check out the studio!

4720 Prescott Avenue 402-483-4232 MakitTakit.com • Christy@MakitTakit.com

Morrill Hall

Be a paleontologist, discover some of the most bizarre creatures to inhabit Earth, or go on a treasure hunt exploring the museum’s rocks & minerals! Guided museum activities including a hands-on fossil dig in the Marx Discovery Center & gifts for every child! Six party themes to choose from. Private party room!

My Gym

Your Child is the Star! Supervised age-appropriate games, fun activities, rides, songs, puppets and more! Your birthday party can enjoy exclusive use of our facility! MyGym.com/Lincoln

2755 Jamie Lane, Suite 4 (near 27th & Yankee Hill) 402-802-9982 www.MyGym.com/Lincoln

Unleash your inner artist and party arty at Paint Yourself Silly! We offer several pottery painting party packages in a fun, creative environment, perfect for celebrating your child’s special day! 3 delightful locations!

701 P St. • 402-474-1010 4101 Pioneer Woods Dr. • 402-486-1010 1501 Pine Lake Rd. • 402-423-1030

Paint Yourself Silly! Pioneers Park Nature Center Swimtastic Swim School YMCA: Cooper, Fallbrook,

Northeast, & Copple Family

West end of Pioneers Park 402-441-7895 parks.lincoln.ne.gov/naturecenter

Owls, snakes, bugs, and the great outdoors are eager to make your child’s birthday a special one! Starting at $125, parties include a guided hike or activity, party favors, & special gift for the birthday child. Swimtastic Swim School takes the stress out of party planning & replaces it with 2 hours of fun for the whole family! Become a mermaid or a pirate for a day with our themed parties or enjoy a get-together in the warm water pool! Parties include private use of the indoor pool, tie-dye t-shirt for the birthday child, invitations, paper products, balloons, family swim passes for each attendee, setup and tear down! Call or click to register!

Have your next birthday party at the Y! The YMCA offers a variety of birthday party options to fit any child. Join us to swim or have one of our themed birthday parties. Parties start at $65. Call for more information, or visit YMCALincoln.org

Makit Takit Parties RULE! Pick a project for your party!

• Unicorn Theme • Button Art • Slime Making • Acrylic Pouring • Princess Party • Elastic Art • Splatter Room • Metal Stamping • Design-Your-Own Socks Have a new project in mind? Let us know! NEW themes debuting throughout 2019! Ages 6+ for up to 25 people! Adult party options, too! Packages start at just $175. Call or book online today! Makit Takit is an open studio where kids & adults can drop in to have fun & get crafty! We also offer after school clubs, camps, date nights, and more!

Page 36 • LincolnKidsInc.com

Morrill Hall on the UNL Campus 402-472-2637 museum.unl.edu/birthdays

MakitTakit.com 402-483-4232 Located at 4720 Prescott Ave

7911 Pioneers Blvd 402-489-7946 Swimtastic.com Cooper - 6767 S. 14th St. 402-323-6400 Fallbrook - 700 Penrose Dr. 402-323-6444 Northeast - 2601 N. 70th 402-434-9262 Copple Family - 8700 Yankee Woods Dr 402-327-0037

SWIMMING & FITNESS MEMBERS SAVE

BIG ON SWIM LESSONS!

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC! DAILY RATES & AFFORDABLE MEMBERSHIPS YOUTH SWIM LESSONS FOR AGES 3+ | DAILY LAP & OPEN SWIM WARM WATER POOL & FITNESS CENTER | BIRTHDAY PARTIES, TOO!

SPRING SWIM SCHEDULE SESSION DATES

FEB 11 - FEB 28 MAR 11 - APR 4 APR 8 - APR 25 MAY 6 - MAY 23

JAN FEB MAR APR

29 26 26 23

(402) 486-2525

WWW.UCOLLEGE.EDU

AT UNION COLLEGE–CONVENIENTLY LOCATED IN CENTRAL LINCOLN

LK!

Children’s Lessons & Activities NAME

INSTRUCTION

Aimee’s Premier Dance

CONTACT • LOCATION

PROGRAM

Dance

Aimee’s Premier Dance in Hickman offers a variety of dance styles for ages 3+, including Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Pointe, and Boy’s Classes. All classes use age-appropriate music, choreography, and costuming.

Guitar, Strings, Voice & more!

Guitar, Drums, Bass, Piano, Dobro, Lap Steel, Mandolin, Banjo, Violin, Viola, Ukulele, Group Bands, & Voice instruction for all ages. Fun, positive learning environment. Reduced rate guitar & ukulele classes for kids ages 5-9.

Speech Therapy

Personalized, caring speech-language assessment & therapy. We treat autism, apraxia, speech errors, tongue thrust, language, reading/writing, stuttering, social communication, and more.

Competitive Edge Sports

Wrestling & Gymnastics

CES • Competitive Edge Sports Lincoln’s Premier Athletic Training Facility Group & individual wrestling classes for ages 3-18 • Gymnastics for ages 2-14.

Confucius Institute

Chinese Language

Learn how to listen, speak, and read Chinese! Engaging classes for ages 6 to adult held on UNL Campus. Evening & weekend options available. Register online!

Larson Lifestyle Center

Swimming Classes

A fun, healthy way to meet new friends, learn water safety, and gain confidence in water—and in life! We offer year-round lessons for youth & adults ages 3+. All levels are welcome to enjoy our warm-water pool!

Fun Learning Activities

The following all-ages activities are FREE with admission or membership! 10:30am Wednesdays: Oh Snap! Science. Short 10-20 minute demonstrations to amaze & engage kids with science and encourage kids to ask “Why?”. Now open late ’til 8 on Thursdays with fun, rotating activities scheduled at 6pm!

Lincoln Irish Dancers

Irish Step Class Ages 7 & Up

Irish Step Class for ages 7y-adult Mondays from 6:30-7pm beginning April 8. $20 for the entire 5-wk session. Pre-registration required: Lincolnirishdancers.org/home-2/classes-2

Lincoln Irish Dancers

Irish Social Dance Ages 12 & Up

Irish Social Dance Class (like square dancing) Ages 12y-adult. Younger accepted w/ permission. Mondays from 7-8pm beginning Apr 8. $40 for the entire 5-wk session. More info at Lincolnirishdancers.org/home-2/classes-2

Lincoln Music Teachers Association

Music Lessons

Find a Music Teacher! Access www.LMTA.info for a Teacher Directory. Scholarships available for those who qualify!

LUX Center for the Arts

Art Classes

Weekly art classes, one-time family workshops, spring/summer camps, and private lessons for all ages. All classes are taught by professional artists. Popular topics include clay, pottery wheel, painting, drawing, metals, glass, and more! Small class sizes for personalized learning.

Dance

Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Tap, Lyrical, Hip-Hop and 2-Gether. Studio directed by Melissa Prettyman Meranda, B.A. in Dance. Come and experience your child’s passion for dance!

Gymnastics & Sports Skills

Your child will have fun while building confidence & self-esteem in our beginning gymnastics & sports skills classes. Games, relays, dances & rides. Age appropriate classes. MyGym.com/Lincoln

Blue Raven Music Studios Communication Works

Lincoln Children’s Museum

Motions Dance Academy My Gym Nissa’s String Studio

Violin, Viola, Guitar, Piano, Cello, & more!

Bring your kids to a place where music is learned, not taught. All-inclusive membership, no contracts or surprise fees. Three yearly recitals. Relax in our modern waiting area during your kid’s lesson!

Paint Yourself Silly

Fired Arts

Kids in grades 1-8 are welcome to get silly with us every Thursday after school from 4-5:30pm. We explore different techniques & mediums, making memorable masterpieces! Classes cost $20-35, please register 24 hrs in advance.

Swimtastic Swim School

Swimming Lessons

Experience the Swimtastic Difference! Swimtastic Swim School offers small class sizes with individualized attention, warm 90° water, professional and passionate instructors, family first convenience, exceptional curriculum, and unparalleled customer service! Call or check out our website to register.

After School Art Club

YMCA of Lincoln

Swim, Dance, Gymnastics, Youth Gym & More!

With a focus on developing the potential of kids, the YMCA offers youth programs in a small group setting. Instructors work side-by-side with each child to teach safety and to develop their skills while keeping them moving, healthy, and active.

6760 Woodland Blvd. (Hickman) 402-440-8770 www.apremierdance.com 3835 S. 48th St. (by Union College) 402-486-0599 BlueRavenMusic.com 1540 S. 70th St 402-480-3152 speechtherapylincolnne.com 3515 N. 25th St 402-404-5510 LincolnEdge.com

W205 Nebraska Hall (UNL) 402-472-5370 ConfuciusInstitute.unl.edu

52nd & Stockwell 402-486-2525 Ucollege.edu/larson-lifestyle-center 1420 P Street, Lincoln, NE 402-477-4000 LincolnChildrensMuseum.org

Eastridge Presbyterian, 1135 Eastridge Dr. LincolnIrishDancers.org lincolnirishdancers@gmail.com Eastridge Presbyterian, 1135 Eastridge Dr. LincolnIrishDancers.org lincolnirishdancers@gmail.com www.LMTA.info 2601 N. 48th St. 402-466-8692 www.LUXcenter.org

8200 Cody Dr., Suite L (1 block N of 14th & Yankee Hill) 402-420-0579 www.motionsdance.net 2755 Jamie Ln, Ste 4 (near 27th & Yankee Hill) 402-802-9982 MyGym.com/Lincoln 8535 Executive Woods Dr, Ste 100 (near S.14th & Yankee Hill Rd) 402-440-1473 StringStudio.com

South Location: 1501 Pine Lake Rd. #24 402-423-1030 PaintYourselfSilly.net

7911 Pioneers Blvd 402-489-7946 Swimtastic.com

Cooper, Copple Family, Fallbrook, & Northeast YMCAs ymcalincoln.org/youthprograms

See page 39 for Little One's Activities geared towards ages 0-5! Follow Lincoln Kids! on social media for local shares, humor, & fun updates! Facebook.com/lincolnkidsnewspaper

@lincolnkidsnewspaper

Interested in advertising? We offer 4x discounts & free ad design! karla@lincolnkidsinc.com Spring 2019 • Page 37

LK!

Child Care & Education Centers NAME

AREA OF TOWN

PROGRAM

CONTACT • LOCATION

Academic Advantage

East South

Educational childcare facilities offering care for ages 6 weeks to 12 years. Also accepting students for summer programs, as well as fall school transportation to these schools: Kahoa, Pyrtle, Meadowlane, Calvert, Humann, Zeman, Maxey, Hill, Cavett, Wysong, and Adams. Visit our website for more info: www.AACDC.com

8215 Northwoods, Ste. 100, 402-465-4769 6021 S. 56th Street, 402-420-5440 7301 S. 15th Street, 402-421-7301

Belmont Community Center Preschool

Northwest

NEW! EXTENDED HOURS Licensed, quality early childhood education preschool program for 3-5 year olds. Monday-Friday 8:30-12:00 or MWF 8:30-12:00. Title XX accepted.

3335 N. 12th Street 402-477-8854 BelmontCommunityCenter.org

Bluestem Montessori

East

Urban Montessori! Currently accepting grades K-4, expanding one grade per year through 6th grade. Now accepting applications for immediate enrollment.

6300 A Street (402) 735-0987 www.bluestemmontessori.com

South

Our preschool program consists of fun early childhood activities to help support the learning and development of children ages 3-5. 2-, 3-, and 5-day/wk sessions available.

Calvert Rec Center, 4500 Stockwell 402-441-8480 parks.lincoln.ne.gov/calvert

Education Programs at 7700 A St.

East Central

Quality early education program for children 6 weeks–preschool. Summer programs for children ages 6 weeks–1st grade. Visit DimensionsEd.org for information & online forms. Call for availability.

7700 A Street 402-476-8304 www.DimensionsEd.org

Education Programs at First-Plymouth

Central

Quality early education program for children 6 weeks–preschool. Summer programs for children ages 6 weeks–1st grade. Visit DimensionsEd.org for information & online forms. Call for availability.

Located in First-Plymouth Church, 20th & D 402-476-8304 www.DimensionsEd.org

South

Our thematic content supports language development in both English & Spanish and allows preschoolers of all language backgrounds to have fun while playing & learning kindergarten readiness skills. Openings currently available! M/W/F, 9-11:30am.

Fingerprints

Child Development Center

Northeast

Featuring an educational curriculum for all ages in a loving Christian environment! Open 6:30am-6:00pm. 6 weeks–10 years. Enrolling now for part-time PreK morning program. M–F from 9am–11:30am.

Highlands Academy

Northwest

Child Development & Family Resource Center. Ages 6 weeks–12 years. Full time care. Preschool curriculum.

South

Hourly childcare. Fully licensed, no reservations required! Ages 1.5-11 years. Hours: Mon-Thu: 7:30am-10pm. Fri: 7:30am-Midnight. Sat: 10am-Midnight. Sun: 1pm-6pm. Pick your days for our flexible preschool program & schools-out camps!

Central

Child development center that cares for your child’s individual needs. Ages 6 weeks–12 years. Curriculum based. Nutritious hot meals. Transportation to LPS area schools. Open Mon–Fri, 6am-6pm.

Northeast

Full & part-time licensed developmental learning center using Creative Curriculum program for ages 6 weeks-13 years, located in the historic Havelock district. Summer programs & before/after school Community Learning Centers in Norwood Park & Brownell schools. Title XX welcome. Visit NFCLincoln.org for more info.

West

Animals + Plants + Hikes = Learning through discovery & creating a lifelong connection to nature! Preschool and Pre-K classes. lincoln.ne.gov/city/parks/naturecenter/preschool.htm

West end of Pioneers Park 402.441.7895 parks.lincoln.ne.gov/naturecenter

Far South

Ages 18 mo-8th grade. Open 7am-6pm. Montessori Education in a farm setting with a family atmosphere. Certified Montessori Teachers.

7 miles South of Lincoln on Hwy 77 402-438-6668 PrairieHill.com

East

Nestled on 80 gorgeous acres east of Lincoln, we offer your child a special and unique experience. New facility. Spacious accommodations, developmental learning centers, and the natural setting of a country school all provide for a wholesome atmosphere.

We come to you!

NEW! Lincoln’s Premier Nanny Agency—Let us come to you! We provide top-of-the-line care & respect for infants & children of all ages. Excellent nanny-parent communication. Screened & matched to fit your family.

Child Development Center

Calvert Rec Center Preschool

Dimensions Dimensions

Dual Language Preschool

KidsPark Krayon Campus Northeast Family Center Early Learning Center

Pioneers Park Nature Center Preschool Prairie Hill

Learning Center A Montessori School

Prairieview Preschool

Star City Nannies

★ Top-Rated Step Up to Quality Provider ★

Enroll now for 2019-2020! Children enjoy a developmental learning program in a safe, nurturing environment with a small 1:8 teacher-to-student ratio. Art, stories, songs, large motor activities and learning centers allow children to grow spiritually, emotionally, socially, physically and intellectually. AM Classes: 9am–12pm • PM Classes: 9am-3pm • Pre-K: 9 am-3 pm • Extended care avail. Nationally Accredited NAEYC Program

Quality-Rated NE Step Up To Quality

Irving Rec Center, 2010 Van Dorn, 402-441-7954 parks.lincoln.ne.gov/irving 7800 Holdrege 402-467-4503 CapitolCity.org 5901 NW 1st Street 402-476-2223 highlandsacademy.com 5633 S. 16th St. Ste. 100 402-413-8849 KidsPark.com 6001 Normal Blvd. 402-486-4847 KrayonCampus.com 6220 Logan Ave. 402-471-3700 nfclincoln.org

143rd O St. 402-488-0012 Kitra Deger-Director Jennifer Harter - Director starcitynannies@gmail.com StarCityNannies.com

For a Refreshing Alternative to Daycare:

Thea Child’s View Montessori School 3341 Pioneers Blvd. Lincoln 402-484-8277 For Ages 18 months to 6 years Suzuki violin lessons

Certified Professional Montessori Teachers

Kindergarten Program Certified through Nebraska Department of Education

Director Suzanne Schneider: 402-475-6702 ext. 103 suzanne@westminsterlincoln.org • wpslincoln.org

Honoring Dr. Montessori’s Vision of the Child’s Potential

Conveniently located at 2110 Sheridan Blvd.

Open 7:30 am to 5:30 pm – Part or Full Time Care Available

Page 38 • LincolnKidsInc.com

LK!

Child Care & Education Centers NAME

AREA OF TOWN

PROGRAM

Central

Educational program and activities for ages 18m-12y. Experienced teachers. Curriculum based program with weekly themes. Mon–Fri, 6:30am-6pm. Title XX Welcome. Child Care & Adult Food Program.

3900 Vine St 402-466-6341 www.ChildrensPlaceChildCare.com

The Child’s View

South

Open 7:30am to 5:30pm. Ages 18 months to 6 years. Part-time or full-time. Certified Montessori Teachers.

3341 Pioneers Blvd. 402-484-8277 www.thechildsviewmontessori.com

Trinity Lutheran School

Northeast

A fulfilling Christ-based education center. Our Early Childhood Education Program accepts children ages 18 months through Pre-K with extended hours from 7am-5:45pm. Also offering K-5 classes. Call to learn more or visit our website.

True Knowledge Preschool

South

A new premier preschool in Lincoln! We offer a fun & exciting academic approach that will prepare your 3-5 year-old for kindergarten & beyond. Small classroom sizes. Engaging teacher. Contact us today to learn more!

Westminster

South

NAEYC accredited Christian program for ages 3-5. Rated (5) for Step Up to Quality. Five different AM & PM classes, plus all day classes from 9am-3pm. Extended care 7:30-9am & 3-5:30pm. School year and summer classes available.

Southeast

Ages 6 weeks–12 years. Preschool curriculum beginning at age one. Before and after school care. A Step up to Quality Program. Open 6:30am–6:00pm. Sign language, soccer, dance, & taekwondo lessons available.

8310 Wendell Way 402-483-4769 WorldOfKnowledgeNE.com

Multiple Locations

Preschool & Before/After School child care at the Y is about more than looking after kids. We nurture their development by providing a safe place to learn foundational skills, develop healthy, trusting relationships, and build self-reliance through the Y values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility.

Available at 4 YMCA locations plus partner CLC schools throughout Lincoln ymcalincoln.org

The Children’s Place Child Care Center Montessori

Preschool

World of Knowledge

Child Development Center and Preschool

YMCA of Lincoln

CONTACT • LOCATION

1200 North 56th Street 402-466-1800 www.trinityoflincoln.org

5445 Red Rock Lane 402-570-1252 www.trueknowledgelincoln.com

Westminster Presbyterian Church 2110 Sheridan Blvd. • WPSLincoln.org 402-475-6702 ext 103

Little One’s Activities Fun group activities geared towards infants & toddlers NAME Itty Bitty Gymnastics Competitive Edge Sports

PROGRAM Ages 2-4 will learn fundamental gymnastic skills on gymnastics equipment! Parents are welcome on the floor, but our goal is for this to be the perfect class to transition students from parent-taught activities to instructor-taught activities! 30 minutes per class, $35/month.

Kindermusik of Lincoln

Days, evenings, & weekend classes for ages birth to 7! It’s more than just music— it’s development for the whole child, from physical to emotional to musical and more! Just $67/month for unlimited age-appropriate classes (some exceptions may apply).

Library Learning Times

Free drop-in storytimes with interactive play! Grouped by age from birth to preschool & almost every day! View schedule online & on page 32. Family & teen events, too! Follow @Lincoln.Libraries on FB for events & info! NO GROUPS in August, December, or during inclement weather.

with Shawna Gordon

Lincoln City Libraries

Mud Club

at LUX Center for the Arts

My Gym Paint Yourself Silly Pioneers Park Nature Center Pop-In Storytime Morrill Hall

Super Sprouts

Lincoln Children’s Museum

YMCA of Lincoln

Drop-in family clay class meets every Wednesday at 10:30am, February 6 - March 20! Toddlers & children ages 2+ work with clay to learn, explore, & get messy! In 45-minutes, students immerse themselves in hands-on art-making. Only $8/person to build & glaze your own clay project. Baby & toddler exercises, songs, dances, infant & child-safe rides, unique swings, and many other parent + me adventures in age-appropriate classes starting at 6 months. We also have independent classes for kids ages 3¼ through 10 years! Preschool Paint and Story Time! We’ll read a story and create an art project together! For 2 to 6 year olds at Paint Yourself Silly’s Pioneer Woods location. Every Thursday at 10:30am. Cost varies, under $15, no registration necessary—just come on by! Bring the family to explore the outdoors! Dig in the sandbox in the Natural Play Area, smell flowers in the Children’s Garden, and visit our live animal exhibits. The Nature Center is open Mon-Sat, 8:30am-5pm, and Sun noon-5pm. Admission is FREE! Pop-into the museum for storytime with Lincoln City Libraries on the first Thursday of each month at 4pm. Through stories, songs, and movement we’ll learn more about the natural world. Regular museum admission. Museum members attend for free.

CONTACT • LOCATION 3515 N. 25th St 402-404-5510 LincolnEdge.com Classes held in East Lincoln Christian Church (70th & Edenton Rd,) 402-770-1486 KindermusikOfLincoln.com

For schedule, visit: LincolnLibraries.org Kids & Teens > Kids > Storytimes 2601 N. 48th St. 402-466-8692 www.LUXcenter.org 2755 Jamie Lane, Suite 4 (near S 27th & Yankee Hill Road) 402-802-9982 MyGym.com/Lincoln 4101 Pioneer Woods Drive, Ste 106 (70th & Pioneers) 402-486-1010 PaintYourselfSilly.net

3201 S. Coddington (West end of Park) 402-441-7895 parks.lincoln.ne.gov/naturecenter Morrill Hall on the UNL Campus 402-472-2637 museum.unl.edu/storytime

Little Ones are invited to discover the power of play! Tuesdays at 10am. Super Sprouts features fun & educational activities designed for toddlers & preschoolers with their caring adult. This drop-in event is FREE with admission or membership.

1420 P Street 402-477-4000 LincolnChildrensMuseum.org

The YMCA offers parent-with-child water discovery classes, as well as swim lessons that are designed to teach children, ages one to three years old, potentially life-saving techniques to keep them safe in and around water.

Cooper, Copple Family, Fallbrook, & Northeast YMCAs ymcalincoln.org/aquatics

Spring 2019 • Page 39

LK!

Support & Social Groups Info & dates subject to change. Please call or email ahead. NAME

CONTACT • LOCATION

FOCUS

DESCRIPTION

Adaptive Recreation Programs Parks & Recreation

Special Needs

Various programs & special events for children and adults with special needs. Ability-appropriate play groups, social clubs, sports, arts, & more for ages 6mo to adult. Add’l info, costs, topics, & contact/registration info can be found online.

Answers4Families

Special Needs

When there is someone in your family with special needs, you may find yourself looking for answers. Answers4Families offers State & National resources, email dialogue groups, support organizations, service providers, and helpful information.

Autism Family Network

Autism

A volunteer support organization which provides a safe place for families who have children with autism to share their smiles, stories & tears. Find help amidst frustration and connect among others sharing similar life challenges and joys.

American Cancer Society Nebraska

Cancer

A resource site for local programs, services, and community events to support cancer patients, survivors, family, & friends, as well as research.

CapitalMOM by Bryan Health

Online Parent Community

Parenting is life-changing, rewarding & filled with excitement. Join our online community for Nebraska parents and grandparents to connect, learn & grow with one another through all stages of life.

Down Syndrome Advocates in Action Nebraska

Down Syndrome

DSAA NE promotes inclusion & acceptance of those with Down Syndrome. We provide IEP Support, mentoring, & events to help families socialize & learn from each other.

Food Pantry & Donations

100% volunteer-run program to feed the hungry & reduce food waste. No proof of income required. Mostly perishable foods, some non-perishables. Two or more distribution sites, 7-days/week. See schedule online. Please consider donating & volunteering!

FoodNetLincoln.org

Basic & Emergent Services

Assistance for low-income, non-duplicated individuals after initial interview: Food distribution • Housewares & clothing • Grandparents’ Holiday Shop • MENA Hope Project • English, Computer, GED, & Women’s Classes • Taxes • Bus Passes • SNAP outreach

402-477-4173 GNCCLincoln.org info@gncclincoln.org

Heartland Home Schoolers

Home School Resources

Providing encouragement & support for home school parents. Offering activities for home schooled students, including skating parties, spelling bee, science fair and more.

La Leche League of Lincoln

Breastfeeding

Mother-to-Mother support & education. Being around other breastfeeding mothers offers insight & answers. Connecting with other mothers gives you confidence in your mothering journey while discussing breastfeeding, motherhood, nutrition, & weening.

Various local leader’s contact & meeting info available online: www.LLLofne.org

Families of Multiples

For families welcoming multiples into their lives, and the joys and challenges that come with them. Monthly newsletter, new parent meal train, and social opportunities.

LincolnMultiples.org lafmgroup@googlegroups.com

Makit Takit

Craft + Social

FREE weekly crafting & social hour, everyone is welcome! BYO arts & crafts project, meet some new friends, have fun & get crafty! Mondays 11am-1pm • Thursdays 6-9pm • Food & drinks welcome. FREE!

4720 Prescott Avenue MakitTakit.com • 402-483-4232 Christy@MakitTakit.com

MilkWorks

Breastfeeding

Lactation consultations, nursing & pumping supplies, newborn gifts, education, support, & more! Support groups help mothers adjust to motherhood. MilkWorks offers support groups for mothers of infants & toddlers. Please visit our website or stop by for more info!

Lincoln MOMs (Mothers on a Mission)

Catholic Social Group

Fellowship, hope, & joy for Catholic moms. 1st Saturdays, 8:30-10:30am, Gianna’s Java & Gelato. Hear inspiring speakers, socialize, & enjoy coffee/snacks. Free will donations help pay for snacks & child watch. Learn more & pre-register for free babysitting at Facebook.com/groups/LincolnMOMs.

SAHM Support

Several events each month for our members: breakfasts, book clubs, play groups, mom’s night out, etc! We support each other through friendship, activities, & projects in the Lincoln area. Activities are often free or low-cost. Annual dues are just $25. Chapter of the international MOMS Club®.

MomsClubLincoln.weebly.com

Preschool Parenting

For mothers of children ages birth to kindergarten. MOPS provides a welcome break for moms to make new friends & share in the struggles & joys of raising young children. Several local groups meet on various weekday mornings and evenings. Child care provided in a nurturing environment.

www.MOPS.org (Zip search) NebraskaMOPS@gmail.com.

Grief Support Group

FREE 10-week family support group Thursdays, 6:30-8pm. Email kholman@mourninghope.org. Mourning Hope offer youth, teen, and family grief support groups, events, education, and resources for those who are living with grief.

Fostering & Adoption

Our mission is to empower, support, and advocate for Nebraska families by promoting safety, permanency, and well-being of our children. We offer information, resources and support available to Nebraska’s resource families (foster & adoptive families or caregivers & relatives).

(402) 476-2273 www.NFAPA.org

Racial Identity

Monthly support group for parenting transracially, interracial relationships with bi-racial children, or adults who grew up transracially. Learn how to help children develop healthy racial identities. 4th Mondays, 6:15pm at Newman Methodist. Light meal. No fees. Please register by 3rd Friday.

402-476-2273 laurie@nfapa.org

Addiction

PAL provides hope and support through addiction education for parents dealing with an addicted loved one. Join us every Tuesday, 6:30-8pm, Lincoln City Church (5001 S. 1st St).

Youth Gender Identity

Monthly coffee & conversation group for parents and primary caregivers of gender fluid, gender creative, or transgender children, youth, & young adults. Second Saturdays monthly. Please email for more info.

Pathways Connect Mom’s Group

Natural Wellness Social & Support

Establishing the wellness community. Empowering parents to make conscious choices. Join us at Thrive Family Chiropractic every 2nd Tuesday of the month. No cost. Children welcome. Coffee & water provided. Guests receive a complimentary copy of Pathways Magazine.

Safe Talk Support Group

Communication Challenges

For parents, caregivers, & professionals associated with children who have communication challenges. Provides a venue to share frustrations, resources, friendship, and mutual encouragement. Join our Facebook group to get information on meetings.

facebook.com/groups/safetalk Sponsored by Communication Works toni@comworkslincoln.com

Star City Stroller Moms

Mom Fitness & Social Group

FREE weekly fitness classes curated for moms of all fitness levels = an active social hour for you & kids! You will quickly meet new friends and gain confidence with this fun group of gals. We also plan play dates, crafting, mom’s night out events and more! We meet weekly—message us for info!

facebook.com/starcitystrollermoms starcitystrollermoms@gmail.com

FoodNet Good Neighbor Community Center

Lincoln Area Families with Multiples

MOMS Club of Lincoln

(Mothers Offering Moms Support)

Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) Mourning Hope Grief Support Nebraska Foster & Adoptive Parent Association (NFAPA) Parenting Across Color Lines (PACL) Parents of Addicted Loved Ones (PAL) Parents of Gender Fluid Kids

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Easterday Adaptive Programs parks.lincoln.ne.gov Helpline: 800-746-8420 Answers4Families.org 402-421-0874 AutismFamilyNetwork.org autismfamilynetworklincoln@gmail.com Helpline: 800-227-2345 Local: 402-423-4888 Cancer.org (Nebraska) CapitalMomNebraska.com 402-413-0199 www.dsaane.org info@dsaane.org

Homeschool-life.com/ne/heartland lincolnhsr@gmail.com

5930 S. 58th St (402) 423-6402 Milkworks.org A non-profit organization Facebook.com/groups/LincolnMOMs lincolnmoms@outlook.com

402-488-8989 mourninghope.org hope@mourninghope.org

402-560-3486 palgroup.org (find a meeting) brenda.moes@doane.edu parentsofgfkids@gmail.com. Thrive Family Chiropractic & Acupuncture 2917 Pine Lake Rd • 402-615-6022 www.ThriveLincoln.com

FEBRUARY S

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F 1

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LK!

Snafu!

We published an inaccurate listing in the Winter 2018 issue for Solid Rock Gymnastics’ Pre School Play Day. Please note that this recurring activity is not offered on Wednesdays as printed in the last edition. Available times are Tuesdays & Fridays from 9:30-11:30 am during the school year, Oct-May. We strive to provide you with fun activities for your family and we apologize for any inconveniences this caused.

MEMOS

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23

Follow Lincoln Kids Newspaper on Facebook for giveaways & more local fun! Calendar Listings are FREE to send in! Submit yours at LincolnKidsInc.com.

24 25 26 27 28 DATE & RATE CHANGES/CANCELLATIONS ARE POSSIBLE, PLEASE CALL IN ADVANCE, ESPECIALLY AROUND MAJOR HOLIDAYS.

DAILY

• FREE Library Learning Times & Events for all ages. Over 30 held each week: storytimes, game days, social clubs, art clubs, & more! See schedule on page 32 & learn more at LincolnLibraries.org (kids/events). • FREE Daily Admission to Pioneers Park Nature Center, 8:30am-5pm Mon-Sat, 12-5pm Sun. Trails, exhibits, animals, & interactive learning displays. 3201 S. Coddington. • FREE Daily Admission to the Nebraska History Museum. Family-friendly activities & exhibits. M-F 10-5:30, Sat: 1-5:30, Closed Sun. Centennial Mall & P st. History.nebraska.gov. • FREE Daily Admission at the Railyard Ice Rink in the Haymarket. Skate rental extra ($6 under 12, $9 12 & up) or skate 1-hr FREE if you bring your own! Open T-Th 5-9pm, Fri 5pm12am, Sat 12pm-12am, Sun noon-9pm. Canopyst.com. • FREE Daily Tours of the Nebraska State Capitol Building. View the art & architecture & learn its history! Tours begin at 9, 10, & 11am, 1, 2, 3, & 4pm. Please schedule large groups in adv. Open M-F 8-5, Sat 10-5, Sun 1-5. Capitol.nebraska.gov. • All-Day Indoor Fun at Lost in Fun! Open M-Th 10-9, F/S 10-9:30, Sun 11-8. Grab the coupon on page 6! • Dinosaur Uproar at Lauritzen Gardens, Omaha, thru May 12. Open daily 9-5. Life-sized dinosaur installations, prehistoric plants, plant fossils, discovery stations & activities incl. with reg. admission: $10 adults, 6-12y $5, free for 5 & under! Special events for evenings & adults, too! Lauritzengardens.org. • Drop & Go Child Care at KidsPark, 14th & Old Cheney. No reservations. Flexible preschool. Pay only when the kids are here! Ages 1.5-11. Hourly rates. Open till midnight Fri/Sat! KidsPark.com/lincoln. • Drop-in Play at Lincoln Children’s Museum! Dozens of fun (and NEW!) stations, exhibits, activities & exploration! Closed Mon during school year. Lincolnchildrensmuseum.org. • Morrill Hall - Explore & engage with natural history. Several exhibits & features, plus a kid’s Discovery Center! Mon-Sat 9:30-4:30, open late Thu till 8pm, Sun 12:30-4:30. $6 adults, 5-18y $3, free 0-4y; Family Pass $13; Memberships available. Planetarium tickets cost extra. Current features: • New Floor! Cherish Nebraska, opens on Feb 16! • The Museum Builders thru summer 2019 • Natural History Mystery Escape Room (ages 14+) $15 members, $20 non • Thu 6pm, Fri 3pm, Sat 10:30am/2:30pm, Sun 1pm. Call 402-472-2637 for tickets. • Visit Spring Creek Prairie in Denton. Trails open sunrise to sunset, interactive visitor center M-F 9-5, S/S 1-5. Admission donation $4/adults, $3 seniors & kids 3-17y, 5 & under free. Free admission Tuesdays!

WEEKLY • MONTHLY

MONDAYS • Daily Deal at Defy Gravity. Defygravitylincoln.com! • Monday Madness 4-8pm at Urban Air on LPS school days. Visit urbanairtrampolinepark.com or FB for info! • Toddler Time at Defy Gravity, 10am-12pm on LPS school days. Defygravitylincoln.com. • Kids Yoga at Lincoln Yoga Center. Ages 4-8, Mondays 4:15pm. $10/class. Lincolnyogacenter.com. • FREE Los Cuentos! Bilingual preschool storytime at Gere Library, 6:30pm. All are welcome! TUESDAYS • Carseat Install/Checks 2nd Tues & 4th Sat monthly by appt. only. Spots fill quickly! 402-441-8045, safekidslincoln.org. • FREE Admission at Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center, Denton. Trails open sunrise-sunset. Visitor Center 9-5pm. Springcreekprairie.audubon.org • Members-Only Hour at the Children’s Museum, 8:309:30am. Lincolnchildrensmuseum.org. • Preschool Play Time at Solid Rock Gymnastics, 9:3011:30am. Drop in to explore equipment & have fun! Waiver req. Participating kids 0y-preK $7/kid/visit, $5 w/10-visit card. Up to 3 kids/adult, elem. siblings $12/ea. Solidrockgymnastics.com. • Super Sprouts at Lincoln Children’s Museum Tinker Theatre, 10am, for toddlers/preschoolers, & their adult(s), incl. w/ reg. admission or membership. • FREE Storytime+Activities at Indigo Bridge Books & Cafe, 10-11am. IndigoBridgeBooks.com. • Jumparoo at Urban Air, 10am-12pm, on LPS school days. The entire park is open just for kids 5 & under! $8/kid, mom/ dad FREE! urbanairtrampolinepark.com • Little Kids Yoga at Lincoln Yoga Center. Ages 3-6, Tues 10:45am. $10/class. Lincolnyogacenter.com. • FREE Pathways to Connect moms support group at Thrive Chiropractic, 2917 Pine Lake, 2nd Tuesdays monthly, 11am12pm. All parents & kids welcome! Casual, friendly discussion & support. Snack & coffee provided. Thrivelincoln.com. • PLC Day at the Children’s Museum, last Tuesday monthly, 1:30-5pm. Activities for LPS elem. students w/PLC early dismissal. LincolnChildrensMuseum.org. • Daily Deal at Defy Gravity. Defygravitylincoln.com!

We made a boo-boo...

• TShirt Tuesday at Urban Air, 4-8pm on LPS school days. Wear your Urban Air Tshirt for 50% off your attractions pass! Urbanairtrampolinepark.com • Beginners Knitting Class at Makit Takit, 4:30-6pm, & Sat at 10:30am, $10. All ages welcome, adult supervision please for knitters under 8. First project supplies must be purchased on site ($18-30). Come once or often! Sign up at MakitTakit.com. • FREE Preschool Play Club at Calvert Rec Center, 6-7pm. Structured activities for ages 2-7 with special needs. Snack provided. Kids of all abilities are invited & encouraged to join the fun! Preregister: 402-441-7948, sconnett@lincoln.ne.gov. WEDNESDAYS • Daily Deal at Defy Gravity. Defygravitylincoln.com! • Preschool Read Aloud Storytime at MAMA, 1935 Q St, 10am-12pm. Interactive & African-themed! Mamamuseum.org. • Oh Snap! Science at Lincoln Children’s Museum, 10:30am. Kids engage w/ a short science demo at Tinker Theatre. Incl. w/ admission or membership. Lincolnchildrensmuseum.org. • Mud Club at LUX Center, Wed 10:30am thru Mar 20, $8pp, ages 2+ w/adult. Drop-in & learn, explore, & get messy as you build & glaze a project! LUXcenter.org. • Dodgeball Night at Urban Air, 6-8pm. $10/p. Individuals or teams of 5-8ppl! Urbanairtrampolinepark.com. THURSDAYS • Preschool Paint & Storytime at Paint Yourself Silly, 70th & Pioneers location only, 10:30am. Just drop by! Always under $15. Paintyourselfsilly.net. • TShirt Thursday at Urban Air, 4-8pm on LPS school days. Wear your Urban Air Tshirt for 50% off your attractions pass! Urbanairtrampolinepark.com • All Ages Read Aloud Storytime at MAMA, 1935 Q St, 3:305:30pm. Interactive & African-themed! Mamamuseum.org. • After School Art Club at Pine Lake Paint Yourself Silly, 4-5:30pm, grades 1-8, school days. $20-35. • FREE Admission to Morrill Hall Thursday nights throughout February from 4:30-8pm! Museum.unl.edu. • LCM Late Nights! at Lincoln Children’s Museum, now open late till 8pm every Thursday with fun, rotating activities beginning at 6pm. Lincolnchildrensmuseum.org. • Family Night at Urban Air, 5-8pm. $45/family includes 5 basic passes, a pizza, & bottled waters! Tons of FUN! • FREE Family Support Group for friends & family of those struggling w/ substance abuse. Thursdays at 6pm, Bryan Independence Center, lower level. 402-481-4895. • FREE Craft Social Thursdays at Makit Takit, 6pm. BYO project & socialize! Food/drink welcome. Just stop by! Makittakit.com. FRIDAYS • Preschool Play Time at Solid Rock Gymnastics, 9:3011:30am. Drop in to explore equipment & have fun! Waiver req. Participating kids 0y-preK $7/kid/visit, $5 w/10-visit card. Up to 3 kids/adult, elem. siblings $12/ea. Solidrockgymnastics.com. • FREE IndiExplore at Indigo Bridge Books & Cafe, Haymarket, 10-11am, 2nd Friday monthly. All ages are welcome to engage & explore multi-sensory activities! Indigobridgebooks.com. • Toddler Time at Defy Gravity, 10am-12pm on LPS school days. Defygravitylincoln.com. • Jumparoo at Urban Air, 10am-12pm, on LPS school days. The entire park is open just for kids 5 & under! $8/kid, mom/ dad FREE! urbanairtrampolinepark.com • FREE Storytime at Circle Me, 1st & 3rd Fridays, 10:30am. More events every month! Follow us on FB for updates! • Drop & Dash at My Gym, 10:30am-12:30pm, during LPS school year. $15 members, $17 non. Pack a lunch & drop off the kids ages 1 & up! Mygym.com/lincoln. • FREE Children’s Storytime+Activities at SouthPointe Barnes & Noble, 11am, with hands-on fun & learning! • Parent’s Night Out at My Gym, 1st/3rd/5th Fridays, 5:309pm. $30 members, $35 non, $10 sibling, ages 1+ (diapers OK!). MyGym.com/Lincoln, 402-802-9982. • Friendy Fridays 6-9pm at all 3 Paint Yourself Silly locations. 2 paint for the price of 1! Paintyourselfsilly.net. • Prismatic Explosion at Defy Gravity. Neon glow jump & dance party. 7-11pm. Reg. admission. • Air456 at Urban Air, 1st & 3rd Fridays, 9-11pm, grades 4-6, Lasers, pizza, & fun included! $18.99pp. SATURDAYS • Carseat Install/Checks 2nd Tues & 4th Sat monthly by appt. only. Spots fill quickly! 402-441-8045, safekidslincoln.org. • Family Escape Rooms at Lincoln Children’s Museum every hour, Saturdays in Feb & Mar! Sat opens at 9:30am. $7pp members/$15pp nonmembers, $35/$70 full room (up to 6). 3 options: Peter Cottontail for ages 4+, Night Sky for 6y+, Sliming for 8y+. Can you escape in 45 mins? Register 24+hrs in adv. • FREE Bilingual Storytime+Activities at Indigo Bridge Books & Cafe in the Haymarket, 10-11am. Indigobridgebooks.com. • Kids Club at Michael’s, most Saturdays 10am-12pm. Themed crafts for ages 3+! $2-5. Michaels.com. • Beginners Knitting Class at Makit Takit, 10:30am, & Tue at 4:30pm, $10. All ages welcome, adult supervision please for knitters under 8. First project supplies must be purchased on site ($18-30). Come once or often! Sign up at MakitTakit.com. • FREE Children’s Storytime+Activities at SouthPointe

Barnes & Noble, 11am, with hands-on fun & learning! • FREE MAKEbreak at Michaels, most Saturdays 1-3pm. Arts & crafts for kids & families! Some events are free, some require supply purchase. Michaels.com. • FREE Teen Night at Downtown Y, every last Saturday, 6:3010pm. Open to all youth grades 5-9. Nonmembers welcome to join the fun at NO COST! ymcalincoln.org. • FREE Hyde Memorial Observatory Holmes Lake, 7-10pm thru Mar 14. Telescope use & programs about the moon, sun, & stars! HydeObservatory.info. • Prismatic Explosion at Defy Gravity. Neon glow jump & dance party. 7-11pm. Defygravitylincoln.com. • Teen Night at Urban Air, 1st & 3rd Saturdays, 9-11pm, ages 12-16, Lasers, pizza, & fun included! $18.99pp. SUNDAYS • Sunday Funday at Jolly Beans Magic Castle, 2332 Cotner, 12-5pm, $1 wristband for games, snacks & refreshments, bounce house (weather permitting) & magic shows at 1 & 3pm! Bingo extra. Excludes holidays. Jollybeanmagic.com & on FB! • FREE Lego Sundays, 2-4pm, Feb 10 & 24 at Walt Library, Feb 3 & 17 at Eiseley. Come build & play! Lincolnlibraries.org.

EVENTS

FRIDAY, FEB 1 • Parents Night Out (PNO) at LCM from 5-9pm. Full schedule of fun for ages 18m-10y. $15 members, $20 nonmembers. Lincolnchildrensmuseum.org. SATURDAY, FEB 2 • Groundhog Day • Double Reed Day Camp, Glenn Korff School of Music. See p.19. For info email wmcmullen1@unl.edu. • Dinosaurs & Disasters! at Morrill Hall, 9:30am-4:30pm w/ reg. admission. Hands-on activities & planetarium shows all about weather & dinos! Museum.unl.edu. • FREE Family Fun Day celebrating Black History Month at Nebraska History Museum, 1-4pm. Activities, scavenger hunt, stories, & performance. History.nebraska.gov. • FREE Groundhog Ball at St. Paul UMC, 1144 M St., 6-8pm. Dance in costume, fancy attire, or come-as-you-are! Featuring DJ Joe Cruz & Say Cheese Photo Booth! SUNDAY, FEB 3 • Super Bowl Sunday • Adventures of Melvin the Explorer, Lincoln Symphony Orchestra at Wesleyan Auditorium, 1pm, $10 adults, $5 youth. Face paint, musical petting zoo, & crafts, w/performance at 2pm. Lincolnsymphony.com. See p.19! • LMTA Student Recital & Fundraiser at SouthPointe Barnes & Noble, 1-5pm. www.LMTA.info. • FREE Lego Sunday at Eiseley Library, play from 2-4pm! TUESDAY, FEB 5 • Chinese/Lunar New Year • FREE Family Activity Night at Belmont Rec Center, 5-7pm. Call 402-441-6789 for info! parks.lincoln.ne.gov. WEDNESDAY, FEB 6 • FREE Pop-Up Dental Shop for Kids at Anderson Library, 10am-12pm. Free dental health kit w/ brush, paste, floss, & gum for Nat’l Children’s Dental Health Month! CHElincoln.org. • FREE Eat & Explore community event at Dimensions Education, 20th & D, 5-7pm. Free nature-inspired activities for all ages. Meet the teachers! Pizza for purchase. Dimensionsed.org. THURSDAY, FEB 7 • FREE Pop-Up Dental Shop for Kids at Bethany Library, 10am12pm. Free dental health kit w/ brush, paste, floss, & gum for Nat’l Children’s Dental Health Month! CHElincoln.org. • Pop In Storytime at Morrill Hall w/ Lincoln City Libraries, 4pm, reg. admission. “Hibernation.” Museum.unl.edu. • LCM Dietz Music Exhibit Grand Opening! 6pm, general admission. Come early—giveaways available for the first 100 guests! Lincolnchildrensmuseum.org. SATURDAY, FEB 9 • National Pizza Day • Investigate: 2nd Saturday Science Lab at Morrill Hall, 10am-12pm w/reg. admission. “Lights & Lasers” with SPIE. Activities & exploration! Museum.unl.edu. • In-Person Registration for Jr. Salt Dogs summer baseball league, 1-3pm, Auld Pavilion, ages 5-17. All physical, intellectual, & skill levels. Cost varies by division. Jrsaltdogs.com. • Snowflake Secrets at Arbor Day Farm, Nebraska City, 1-3pm. Explore a winter wonderland, learn about & create a snowflake! Incl. w/Tree Adventure admission. Arbordayfarm.org. • Family Dance Party at Copple Family Y, 6:30pm, $15/family members, $25 non. Snacks, games, & glow dance party! Preregister at front desk. Ymcalincoln.org. • Father Daughter Dance at Northeast YMCA, 6:30pm, $7/ child members, $15 non. Reg. at ymcalincoln.org. • An Evening with Anton, Anton Miller, Violin, at the Lied Center, 7:30pm, $15/35 adults, $5 youth. Lincolnsymphony.com. • Girl Scout Lock-In at Gateway Mall, 9pm-9am, $35, grades 2-HS. Reg. in adv. eventbrite.com. Discover all that Girl Scouts has to offer w/an all-night party! Includes annual membership. SUNDAY, FEB 10 • Pianist Emanuel Ax at the Lied, 7:30pm. LiedCenter.org. MONDAY, FEB 11 • Registration fully open for Spark summer camps, 7am. Full summer, month sessions, & weekly drop-ins. Flexible hours from 7a-6p for all. Sparksummer.org. • FREE Create a Card! at Eiseley Library, 6-8pm.

TUESDAY, FEB 12 • Lil’ Chef’s Cooking Class at 70th & Pioneers Hy-Vee, 4:30pm, $12, ages 3-11. “Valentine Party” Dietitian-led, 2-3 recipes! Register 24+ hrs in adv. at eventbrite.com or in store! • Take 5 Certification at Lincoln Yoga Center, 6-9pm, $89. Adults learn techniques for helping youth manage stress & violent behaviors. Take5program.com. WEDNESDAY, FEB 13 • FREE Create a Card! at Williams Library, 6-8pm. THURSDAY, FEB 14 • Valentine’s Day • Valentine’s Day Party at KidsPark, celebrate all day, open till 10pm! Incl. w/hourly childcare rates. Kidspark.com/Lincoln. FRIDAY, FEB 15 • FREE Backyard Bird Count at Spring Creek Prairie, Denton, Fri & Sat, 10am-12pm. Be community scientists & count the birds! Binoculars avail. See p. 27. Springcreek.audubon.org. • Valentine’s Kids Night by Camp Sonshine at Lincoln Berean, 2-9:30pm, $20, K-9th grade. Fun games & activities! 402-4238746, Campsonshinememories.org. SATURDAY, FEB 16 • Morrill Hall Grand Opening of 4th Floor: Cherish Nebraska! Experience state-of-the-art, interactive exhibits detailing Nebraska’s natural history! General admission, free for members. museum.unl.edu. • Cabin Fever at Camp Kitaki, overnight camp for ages 7-14 for Valentine’s weekend! $65. Info/reg. at ymcacampkitaki.org. • Nebraska Robotics Expo at SAC Museum, Ashland, 8:30am-3:30pm, w/gen. admission. Student competition & robotic-themed art expo. SACmuseum.org. • Great Backyard Bird Count at Pioneers Park Nature Center, 9-11am, sugg. donation $5. Bird walk & count for birders of all levels. Reg. by 2/13. Parks.lincoln.ne.gov. • Annual Train Show at Lancaster Event Center, Sat 9-5, Sun 10-4. Door prizes, raffle, exhibits, & Thomas the Train play area. $7pp, $5 Seniors & ages 12 & under (at the door). • FREE Backyard Bird Count at Spring Creek Prairie, Denton, Fri & Sat, 10am-12pm. Be community scientists & count the birds! Binoculars avail. See p. 27. Springcreek.audubon.org. • In-Person Registration for Jr. Salt Dogs summer baseball league, 1-3pm, Auld Pavilion, ages 5-17. All physical, intellectual, & skill levels. Cost varies by division. Jrsaltdogs.com. • Snowflake Secrets at Arbor Day Farm, Nebraska City, 1-3pm. Explore a winter wonderland, learn about & create a snowflake! Incl. w/Tree Adventure admission. Arbordayfarm.org. SUNDAY, FEB 17 • Random Acts of Kindness Day • Sunday with a Scientist at Morrill Hall, 12:30-2:30pm. Engaging education on natural history & science topics for all ages. Gen. admission. Museum.unl.edu. • FREE Lego Sunday at Eiseley Library, play from 2-4pm! • FREE Early Childhood Family Fair at Gateway Mall, 2:304:30pm. Fun activities, games, & great resources for parents & children (ages 0-5)! Explore•Play•Learn•Connect. See p.8! WEDNESDAY, FEB 20 • LMTA Membership Mtg, 10am, 8601 Holdrege. Donna Gunn presents “Music on the Trail.” www.LMTA.info. THURSDAY, FEB 21 • FREE Pop-Up Dental Shop for Kids at Eiseley Library, 10am-12pm. Free dental health kit w/ brush, paste, floss, & gum for Nat’l Children’s Dental Health Month! CHElincoln.org. SATURDAY, FEB 23 • Winterfest Flea Market, Antique & Junk Festival at Lanc. Event Ctr., Sat 8-5 & Sun 10-4. $5pp, 12 & under free w/paid adult, valid both days. 200+ vendors. Fireworkguy@hotmail.com. • FREE Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day with LCM at Innovation Campus, 8:30am-12pm, Tickets are free w/a $3 processing fee. Hands-on engineering, maker space, STEM playground, giveaways & more! Lincolnchildrensmuseum.org. • FREE Dyslexia for Parents Workshop at Cornhusker Bank, 6100 Apples Way, 8:45am. Nebraskadyslexia.org. • FREE Lunar New Year Celebration presented by the Asian Cultural Center at Lancaster Event Center, 1-4pm. Asian cuisine, activities, games, music, performances, & more! SUNDAY, FEB 24 • 91st Academy Awards (Oscars) • Final Day for NFL Flag Football spring registration, K-8. Each kid receives an official NFL jersey! Parks.lincoln.ne.gov (NFL). • Winterfest Flea Market, Antique & Junk Festival at Lanc. Event Ctr., Sat 8-5 & Sun 10-4. $5pp, 12 & under free w/paid adult, valid both days. 200+ vendors. Fireworkguy@hotmail.com. TUESDAY, FEB 26 • PLC Party at KidsPark! Early release day for LPS, special activities from 2-6pm, included w/ hourly rates. Kidspark.com. THURSDAY, FEB 28 • Don & Millie’s Fundraiser for Lincoln Irish Dancers. Dine today to donate by mentioning Lincoln Irish Dancers! • FREE Resilience film & discussion, 6-8pm, at Child Advocacy Center. Learn about treatment & prevention of childhood toxic stress. Light refreshments. 6pm presentation open to the public. Registration req. Eventbrite.com (KW: resilience).

Spring 2019 • Page 41

LK!

MARCH

DATE & RATE CHANGES/CANCELLATIONS ARE POSSIBLE, PLEASE CALL IN ADVANCE, ESPECIALLY AROUND MAJOR HOLIDAYS.

DAILY

• FREE Library Learning Times & Events for all ages. Over 30 held each week: storytimes, game days, social clubs, art clubs, & more! See schedule on page 32 & learn more at LincolnLibraries.org (kids/events). • FREE Daily Admission to Pioneers Park Nature Center, 8:30am-5pm Mon-Sat, 12-5pm Sun. Trails, exhibits, animals, & interactive learning displays. 3201 S. Coddington. • FREE Daily Admission to the Nebraska History Museum. Family-friendly activities & exhibits. M-F 10-5:30, Sat: 1-5:30, clsd Sun. Centennial Mall & P. History.nebraska.gov. • FREE Daily Admission at the Railyard Ice Rink in the Haymarket. Skate rental extra ($6 under 12, $9 12 & up) or skate 1-hr FREE if you bring your own! Please contact the Railyard for the Rink’s season closing date. Canopyst.com. • FREE Daily Tours of the Nebraska State Capitol Building. View the art & architecture & learn its history! Tours begin at 9, 10, & 11am, 1, 2, 3, & 4pm. Please schedule large groups in advance. Open M-F 8-5, Sat 10-5, Sun 1-5. Visit capitol.nebraska.gov for info! • All-Day Indoor Fun at Lost in Fun! Open M-Th 10-9, F/S 10-9:30, Sun 11-8. Grab the coupon on page 6! • Dinosaur Uproar at Lauritzen Gardens, Omaha, thru May 12. Open daily 9-5. Life-sized dinosaur installations, prehistoric plants, plant fossils, discovery stations & activities incl. with reg. admission: $10 adults, 6-12y $5, free for 5 & under! Special events, too! Lauritzengardens.org. • Drop & Go Child Care at KidsPark, 14th & Old Cheney. No reservations. Flexible preschool. Pay only when the kids are here! Ages 1.5-12. Hourly rates. Open till midnight Fri/ Sat! KidsPark.com/lincoln. • Drop-in Play at Lincoln Children’s Museum! Dozens of fun (and NEW!) stations, exhibits, activities & exploration! Closed Mon during school year. Lincolnchildrensmuseum.org. • Gnome Hunt at Arbor Day Farm, NE City, March 8-21, MonSat 10-5, Sun 11-5, w/Tree Adventure admission. All-ages hunt w/map & clues! Rain, snow, or shine. Arbordayfarm.org. • Morrill Hall - Explore & engage with natural history. Several exhibits & features, plus a kid’s Discovery Center! MonSat 9:30-4:30, open late Thu till 8pm, Sun 12:30-4:30. $6 adults, 5-18y $3, free 0-4y; Family Pass $13; Memberships available. Planetarium tickets cost extra. Current features: • New Floor! Cherish Nebraska, the entire 4th floor! • The Museum Builders thru summer 2019 • Natural History Mystery Escape Room (ages 14+) $15 members, $20 non • Thu 6pm, Fri 3pm, Sat 10:30am/2:30pm, Sun 1pm. 402-472-2637 for tickets. • Trips to the Lincoln Zoo—now open year-round! Season open date Mar 8, expansion grand opening in May! Please check Lincolnzoo.org & follow on FB. • Visit Spring Creek Prairie in Denton. Trails open sunrise to sunset, interactive visitor center M-F 9-5, S/S 1-5. Admission donation $4/adults, $3 seniors & kids 3-17y, 5 & under free. Free admission Tuesdays!

WEEKLY • MONTHLY

MONDAYS • Daily Deal at Defy Gravity. Defygravitylincoln.com! • Monday Madness 4-8pm at Urban Air on LPS school days. Visit urbanairtrampolinepark.com or FB for info! • Toddler Time at Defy Gravity, 10am-12pm on LPS school days. Defygravitylincoln.com. • FREE Los Cuentos! Bilingual preschool storytime at Gere Library, 6:30pm. All are welcome! TUESDAYS • Carseat Install/Checks 2nd Tues & 4th Sat by appt. only. Spots fill quickly! 402-441-8045, safekidslincoln.org. • FREE Admission at Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center, Denton. Trails open sunrise-sunset. Visitor Center 9-5pm. Springcreekprairie.audubon.org • Members-Only Hour at the Children’s Museum, 8:309:30am. Lincolnchildrensmuseum.org. • Preschool Play Time at Solid Rock Gymnastics, 9:3011:30am. Explore equipment & have fun! Waiver req. Participating kids 0y-preK $7/kid/visit, $5 w/10-visit card. Up to 3 kids/adult, elem. siblings $12/ea. Solidrockgymnastics.com. • Super Sprouts at Lincoln Children’s Museum Tinker Theatre, 10am, for toddlers/preschoolers, & their adult(s), incl. w/reg. admission or membership. • FREE Storytime+Activities at Indigo Bridge Books & Cafe, 10-11am. IndigoBridgeBooks.com. • Jumparoo at Urban Air, 10am-12pm, on LPS school days. The entire park is open just for kids 5 & under! $8/kid, mom/ dad FREE! urbanairtrampolinepark.com • FREE Pathways to Connect moms support group at Thrive Chiropractic, 2917 Pine Lake, 2nd Tuesdays monthly 11am-12pm. All parents & kids welcome! Casual, friendly discussion & support. Snack & coffee provided. Join us every 2nd Tues! Thrivelincoln.com. • PLC Day at the Children’s Museum, last Tuesday monthly, 1:30-5pm. Activities for LPS elem. students w/PLC early dismissal. LincolnChildrensMuseum.org. • Daily Deal at Defy Gravity. Defygravitylincoln.com! • TShirt Tuesday at Urban Air, 4-8pm on LPS school days. Wear your Urban Air Tshirt for 50% off your attractions pass! Urbanairtrampolinepark.com • Beginners Knitting Class at Makit Takit, 4:30pm & Sat at 10:30am, $10. All ages welcome, adult supervision please for knitters under 8. First project supplies must be purchased

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Follow Lincoln Kids Newspaper on Facebook for giveaways & more local fun! Calendar Listings are FREE to send in! Submit yours at LincolnKidsInc.com. on site ($18-30). Come once or often! MakitTakit.com. • FREE Preschool Play Club at Calvert Rec Center, 6-7pm. Structured activities for ages 2-7 with special needs. Snack provided. Kids of all abilities are invited & encouraged to join the fun! Preregister: 402-441-7948, sconnett@lincoln.ne.gov. WEDNESDAYS • Daily Deal at Defy Gravity. Defygravitylincoln.com! • Preschool Read Aloud Storytime at MAMA, 1935 Q St, 10am-12pm. Interactive, African-themed! Mamamuseum.org. • Oh Snap! Science at Lincoln Children’s Museum, 10:30am. Kids engage w/a science demo at Tinker Theatre. Incl. w/ admission or membership. Lincolnchildrensmuseum.org. • Mud Club at LUX Center, Wed 10:30am thru Mar 20, $8pp, ages 2+ w/adult. Drop-in & learn, explore, & get messy as you build & glaze a project! LUXcenter.org. • Dodgeball Night at Urban Air, 6-8pm. $10/p. Individuals or teams of 5-8ppl! Urbanairtrampolinepark.com. THURSDAYS • Preschool Paint & Storytime at Paint Yourself Silly, 70th & Pioneers location only, 10:30am. Just drop by! Always under $15. Paintyourselfsilly.net. • TShirt Thursday at Urban Air, 4-8pm on LPS school days. Wear your Urban Air Tshirt for 50% off your attractions pass! Urbanairtrampolinepark.com • All Ages Read Aloud Storytime at MAMA, 1935 Q St, 3:305:30pm. Interactive & African-themed! Mamamuseum.org • After School Art Club at Pine Lake Paint Yourself Silly, 4-5:30pm, grades 1-8, school days. $20-35. • LCM Late Nights! at Lincoln Children’s Museum, now open late till 8pm every Thursday with fun, rotating activities beginning at 6pm. Lincolnchildrensmuseum.org. • Family Night at Urban Air, 5-8pm. $45/family includes 5 basic passes, a pizza, & bottled waters! Tons of FUN! • FREE Craft Social Thursdays at Makit Takit, 6pm. BYO project & socialize! Food/drink welcome. Just stop by! FRIDAYS • Preschool Play Time at Solid Rock Gymnastics, 9:3011:30am. Explore equipment & have fun! Waiver req. Participating kids 0y-preK $7/kid/visit, $5 w/10-visit card. Up to 3 kids/adult, elem. siblings $12/ea. Solidrockgymnastics.com. • FREE IndiExplore at Indigo Bridge Books & Cafe, Haymarket, 10-11am, 2nd Friday monthly. All ages are welcome to engage & explore multi-sensory activities! • Toddler Time at Defy Gravity, 10am-12pm on LPS school days. Defygravitylincoln.com. • Jumparoo at Urban Air, 10am-12pm, on LPS school days. The entire park is open just for kids 5 & under! $8/kid, mom/ dad FREE! urbanairtrampolinepark.com • FREE Storytime at Circle Me, 1st & 3rd Fridays, 10:30am. More events every month! Follow us on FB for updates! • Drop & Dash at My Gym, 10:30am-12:30pm, during LPS school year. $15 members, $17 non. Pack a lunch & drop off the kids ages 1 & up! Mygym.com/lincoln. • FREE Children’s Storytime+Activities at SouthPointe Barnes & Noble, 11am, with hands-on fun & learning! • Parent’s Night Out at My Gym, 1st/3rd/5th Fridays, 5:309pm. $30 members, $35 non, $10 sibling, ages 1+ (diapers OK!). MyGym.com/Lincoln, 402-802-9982. • Friendy Fridays 6-9pm at all 3 Paint Yourself Silly locations. 2 paint for the price of 1! Paintyourselfsilly.net. • Prismatic Explosion at Defy Gravity. Neon glow jump & dance party. 7-11pm. Reg. admission. • Air456 at Urban Air, 1st & 3rd Fridays, 9-11pm, grades 4-6, Lasers, pizza, & fun included! $18.99pp. SATURDAYS • Carseat Install/Checks 2nd Tues & 4th Sat by appt. only. Spots fill quickly! 402-441-8045, safekidslincoln.org. • Family Escape Rooms at Lincoln Children’s Museum every Saturday, every hour, Feb & Mar! Opens at 9:30am on Saturdays. $7pp members/$15pp nonmembers, $35/$70 full room (up to 6). 3 room options: Peter Cottontail for ages 4+, Night Sky for 6y+, Sliming for 8y+. Can you escape in 45

mins? Register 24+hrs in adv. • FREE Bilingual Storytime+Activities at Indigo Bridge Books & Cafe, Haymarket, 10-11am. Indigobridgebooks.com. • Kids Club at Michael’s, most Saturdays 10am-12pm. Themed crafts for ages 3+! $2-5. Michaels.com. • Beginners Knitting Class at Makit Takit, 10:30am, & Tue at 4:30pm, $10. All ages welcome, adult supervision please for knitters under 8. First project supplies must be purchased on site ($18-30). Come once or often! Sign up at MakitTakit.com. • FREE Children’s Storytime+Activities at SouthPointe Barnes & Noble, 11am, with hands-on fun & learning! • FREE MAKEbreak at Michaels, most Saturdays 1-3pm. Arts & crafts for kids & families! Some events are free, some require supply purchase. Michaels.com. • FREE Teen Night at Downtown Y, every last Saturday, 6:3010pm. Open to all youth grades 5-9. Nonmembers welcome to join the fun at NO COST! ymcalincoln.org. • FREE Hyde Memorial Observatory Holmes Lake, 7-10pm thru Mar 14; Sundown to 11pm thru Aug 31. Free telescope use & enjoy several programs about the moon, sun, & stars! HydeObservatory.info. • Prismatic Explosion at Defy Gravity. Neon glow jump & dance party. 7-11pm. Defygravitylincoln.com. • Teen Night at Urban Air, 1st & 3rd Saturdays, 9-11pm, ages 12-16, Lasers, pizza, & fun included! $18.99pp. SUNDAYS • Sunday Funday at Jolly Beans Magic Castle, 2332 Cotner, 12-5pm, $1 wristband for games, snacks & refreshments, bounce house (weather permitting) & magic shows at 1 & 3pm! Bingo extra. Excludes holidays. Jollybeanmagic.com. • FREE Lego Sundays, 2-4pm, Mar 3 & 17 at Eiseley Library. Come build & play! Lincolnlibraries.org.

EVENTS

FRIDAY, MAR 1 • Nebraska’s Statehood/Birthday • Registration begins for Hop, SCIP, Jump, & Run! 1-mi fun run, booths, prizes, live music & more at Antelope Park: Fri, May 10 at 5:30pm. SCIPnebraska.com. • Masterpiece Arts Weekend at Camp Kitaki, 3 days/2 nights for ages 11-15, $125. Choose a focus & make take-home pieces. Led by artists/teachers/counselors. ymcacampkitaki.org. • Nebraska Birthday Party at KidsPark. Party games & cake from 5pm-midnight incl. w/ hourly childcare rates. SATURDAY, MAR 2 • Dr. Seuss’s Birthday • LMTA Master Class with Dr. Larry Jones, 10am, Wesleyan University. www.LMTA.info. • Marvelous Maples at Arbor Day Farm, NE City, 1-2pm, $15pp, incl. admis. to Tree Adventure. Learn about maples & syrup making, taste sap right from the tree! Arbordayfarm.org. SUNDAY, MAR 3 • FREE Lego Sunday at Eiseley Library, play from 2-4pm! TUESDAY, MAR 5 • Mardi Gras • Registration begins for Bright Lights class assistants. Volunteer opp. for grades 9+ & adults. Brightlights.org. THURSDAY, MAR 7 • Pop In Storytime at Morrill Hall w/ Lincoln City Libraries, 4pm, reg. admission. “Weather.” Museum.unl.edu. • Peter Pan performed by Haymarket Theatre, 7pm. Haymarkettheatre.org. FRIDAY, MAR 8 • Lincoln Zoo opening day! Now open year-round! Expansion opening in May. Follow FB for updates! Lincolnzoo.org. • Peter Pan performed by Haymarket Theatre, 7pm. Haymarkettheatre.org. SATURDAY, MAR 9 • Investigate: 2nd Saturday Science Lab at Morrill Hall, 10am-12pm w/reg. admission. “Species Invaders.” Activities & exploration! Museum.unl.edu. • Marvelous Maples at Arbor Day Farm, NE City, 1-2pm, $15pp, incl. admis. to Tree Adventure. Learn about maples & syrup making, taste sap right from the tree! Arbordayfarm.org. • Peter Pan performed by Haymarket Theatre, 2 & 7pm. Hay-

markettheatre.org. • Superhero Day & grand opening of Ninja Warrior Kids temporary exhibit at LCM! Come in costume for a hero-filled adventure! 6-8pm, members only at 5pm. $5 members, reg. admission nonmembers. Lincolnchildrensmuseum.org. SUNDAY, MAR 10 • Daylight Savings • Daylight Savings Time begins! “Spring forward” 1 hour at 2am & please replace batteries in fire/smoke/CO alarms! • Annual Ceili (KAY-lee) with Lincoln Irish Dancers at St. Patrick’s Church, 6111 Morrill Ave, 6:30pm, $10 adults, $7 kids 6-18, $35/family. Live music, raffle, refreshments & dance—no experience needed! Come an hour early at 5:30 for free basic step session! Lincolnirishdancers.org. TUESDAY, MAR 12 • Spring Break at Mueller Planetarium, Morrill Hall, 10am1pm Tue-Fri. Planetarium shows all week long! Tickets are in addition to Museum admission. Must be 4y to enter planetarium, with the exception of “The Little Star that Could” at 10am! View the lineup on FB! • Lil’ Chef’s Cooking Class at 70th & Pioneers Hy-Vee, 4:30pm, $12, ages 3-11. “St. Patrick’s Day Party” Dietitian-led, 2-3 recipes! Reg. 24+ hrs in adv. at eventbrite.com or in store! WEDNESDAY, MAR 13 • Spring Break at Mueller Planetarium, Morrill Hall, 10am-1pm Tue-Fri. Shows all week long! Tickets at the door! • Shrine Circus at Lancaster Event Center, Wed-Sun! THURSDAY, MAR 14 • National Pi Day • Spring Break at Mueller Planetarium, Morrill Hall, 10am-1pm Tue-Fri. Shows all week long! Tickets at the door! • Shrine Circus at Lancaster Event Center, Wed-Sun! FRIDAY, MAR 15 • Summer Enrollment starts at Intermix! Intermixdance.com. • Spring Break at Mueller Planetarium, Morrill Hall, 10am-1pm Tue-Fri. Shows all week long! Tickets at the door! • Shrine Circus at Lancaster Event Center, Wed-Sun! SATURDAY, MAR 16 • Star City Buddy Walk w/ Down Syndrome Advocates in Action Nebraska, Gateway Mall, 8am-noon. Registration required. Come anytime to walk laps at your own pace, Wear a Buddy Walk Tshirt & get 1 free raffle ticket w/ each lap. • Shrine Circus at Lancaster Event Center, Wed-Sun! • Pot O’ Gold Weekend at KidsPark. Wear green & enjoy dances, activities & more! Incl. w/ hourly rates. • LMTA Membership Mtg, 10am, 8601 Holdrege. Dr. Sokasits pres. “Teach Me to Play Jazz.” www.LMTA.info. SUNDAY, MAR 17 • St. Patty’s Day • Final Day for Early Bird Discount on full week, full day Summer Camps at LCM! Lincolnchildrensmuseum.org. • Pot O’ Gold Weekend at KidsPark. Wear green & enjoy dances, activities & more! Incl. w/ hourly rates. • Shrine Circus at Lancaster Event Center, Wed-Sun! • St. Patrick’s Day Fun at Arbor Day Farm, NE City, 10am5pm, w/Tree Adventure admission. Celebrate St. Patty’s with a wee stroll through Tree Adventure & search for gnomes. Leprechaun crafting from 1-3pm. Arbordayfarm.org. WEDNESDAY, MAR 20 • March Equinox—it’s Spring! SATURDAY, MAR 23 • Registration begins for Bright Lights Summer 2019, 8am, completed K-8. 100+ options. Brightlights.org. • Saturday w/ Our Naturalist at Pioneers Park Nature Center, 2pm, $5pp. Guided hike, dress for the weather. Please reg. by 3/20. Parks.lincoln.ne.gov/naturecenter. • FREE Live Happy Day of Happiness at Gateway Mall, 10am-2pm. Spread happiness w/ art, music, food, dance & more! • The Little Mermaid performed by TAFK, 2 & 4pm, 4325 Sumner St. TAFK.org. • Music with Mar at Lincoln Children’s Museum, 5:15pm. Performance included with admission/membership! Mar is an internationally-known song writer/performer & educator, who’s unique, catchy music is engaging & brain-researched! SUNDAY, MAR 24 • LMTA Composition Contest Winners Recital, 4pm, Grace Lutheran, 2225 Washington. www.LMTA.info. TUESDAY, MAR 26 • PLC Party at KidsPark! Early release day for LPS, special activities from 2-6pm, included w/ hourly rates. FRIDAY, MAR 29 • Monster Jam! Monster Trucks, Pinnacle Bank Arena, 7pm. Loud, family entertainment! $15-47, ticketmaster.com. SATURDAY, MAR 30 • Flute Day & Midwest Clarifest with Glenn Korff School of Music. See p.19. For info email jbailey1@unl.edu (flute) or dbarger1@unl.edu (clarinet) • Nebraska Brick Days at Mid America Center, Omaha, Sat 10-6 & Sun 10-5. $8/day ages 9+, $5 2-8, free under 2. Awesome Lego structures & activities. Brickdays.com. • FREE Wild Adventures at Pioneers Park Prairie Building & surrounding area, 12-4pm. PPNC’s Annual Spring festival to learn about nature with games, crafts, animals, booths, vendors & more! Parks.lincoln.ne.gov. • FREE UNL NanoDays educational festival at Gateway Mall, 12-4pm. Experience, create, & investigate Nanoscience! Designed for elem/middle grades & families. SUNDAY, MAR 31 • Nebraska Brick Days at Mid America Center, Omaha, Sat 10-6 & Sun 10-5. $8/day ages 9+, $5 2-8, free under 2. Awesome Lego structures & activities. Brickdays.com. • Sunday with a Scientist at Morrill Hall, 12:30-2:30pm. Engaging education on natural history & science topics for all ages. Gen. admission. Museum.unl.edu.

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DATE & RATE CHANGES/CANCELLATIONS ARE POSSIBLE, PLEASE CALL IN ADVANCE, ESPECIALLY AROUND MAJOR HOLIDAYS.

DAILY

• FREE Library Learning Times & Events for all ages. Over 30 held each week: storytimes, game days, social clubs, art clubs, & more! See schedule on page 32 & learn more at LincolnLibraries.org (kids/events). • FREE Daily Admission to Pioneers Park Nature Center, 8:30am-5pm Mon-Sat, 12-5pm Sun. Trails, exhibits, animals, & interactive learning displays. 3201 S. Coddington. • FREE Daily Admission to the Nebraska History Museum. Family-friendly activities & exhibits. M-F 10-5:30, Sat: 1-5:30, Closed Sun. Centennial Mall & P st. • FREE Daily Tours of the Nebraska State Capitol Building. View the art & architecture & learn its history! Tours begin at 9, 10, & 11am, 1, 2, 3, & 4pm. Please schedule large groups in adv. Open M-F 8-5, Sat 10-5, Sun 1-5. Capitol.nebraska.gov. • All-Day Indoor Fun at Lost in Fun! Open M-Th 10-9, F/S 10-9:30, Sun 11-8. Grab the coupon on page 6! • Dinosaur Uproar at Lauritzen Gardens, Omaha, thru May 12. Open daily 9-5. Life-sized dinosaur installations, prehistoric plants, plant fossils, discovery stations & activities incl. with reg. admission: $10 adults, 6-12y $5, free for 5 & under! Special events for evenings & adults, too! Lauritzengardens.org. • Drop & Go Child Care at KidsPark, 14th & Old Cheney. No reservations. Flexible preschool. Pay only when the kids are here! Ages 1.5-12. Hourly rates. Open till midnight Fri/Sat! KidsPark.com/lincoln. • Drop-in Play at LCM! Dozens of fun stations, exhibits, & exploration! New Runza Restaurant exhibit debuting this month! Closed Mon during school year. Lincolnchildrensmuseum.org. • Morrill Hall - Explore & engage with natural history. Several exhibits & features, plus a kid’s Discovery Center! Mon-Sat 9:30-4:30, open late Thu till 8pm, Sun 12:30-4:30. $6 adults, 5-18y $3, free 0-4y; Family Pass $13; Memberships available. Planetarium tickets cost extra. Current features: • New Floor! Cherish Nebraska, the entire 4th floor! • The Museum Builders thru summer 2019 • Natural History Mystery Escape Room (ages 14+) $15 members, $20 non • Thu 6pm, Fri 3pm, Sat 10:30am/2:30pm, Sun 1pm. Call 402-472-2637 for tickets. • Trips to the Lincoln Zoo—now open year-round! Expansion grand opening will occur in May. Please check Lincolnzoo. org & follow on FB. • Visit Spring Creek Prairie in Denton. Trails open sunrise to sunset, interactive visitor center M-F 9-5, S/S 1-5. Admission donation $4/adults, $3 seniors & kids 3-17y, 5 & under free. Free admission Tuesdays!

WEEKLY • MONTHLY

MONDAYS • Daily Deal at Defy Gravity. Defygravitylincoln.com! • Monday Madness 4-8pm at Urban Air on LPS school days. Visit urbanairtrampolinepark.com or FB for info! • Toddler Time at Defy Gravity, 10am-12pm on LPS school days. Defygravitylincoln.com.. • FREE Los Cuentos! Bilingual preschool storytime at Gere Library, 6:30pm. All are welcome! TUESDAYS • Carseat Install/Checks 2nd Tues & 4th Sat monthly by appt. only. Spots fill quickly! 402-441-8045, safekidslincoln.org. • FREE Admission at Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center, Denton. Trails open sunrise-sunset. Visitor Center 9-5pm. Springcreekprairie.audubon.org • Members-Only Hour at the Children’s Museum, 8:309:30am. Lincolnchildrensmuseum.org. • Preschool Play Time at Solid Rock Gymnastics, 9:3011:30am. Drop in to explore equipment & have fun! Waiver req. Participating kids 0y-preK $7/kid/visit, $5 w/10-visit card. Up to 3 kids/adult, elem. siblings $12/ea. Solidrockgymnastics.com. • Super Sprouts at Lincoln Children’s Museum Tinker Theatre, 10am, for toddlers/preschoolers, & their adult(s), incl. w/ reg. admission or membership. • FREE Storytime+Activities at Indigo Bridge Books & Cafe, 10-11am. IndigoBridgeBooks.com. • Jumparoo at Urban Air, 10am-12pm, on LPS school days. The entire park is open just for kids 5 & under! $8/kid, mom/ dad FREE! urbanairtrampolinepark.com • FREE Pathways to Connect moms support group at Thrive Chiropractic, 2917 Pine Lake, 2nd Tuesdays monthly 11am12pm. All parents & kids welcome! Casual, friendly discussion & support. Snack & coffee provided. Thrivelincoln.com. • PLC Day at the Children’s Museum, last Tuesday monthly, 1:30-5pm. Activities for LPS elem. students w/PLC early dismissal. LincolnChildrensMuseum.org. • Daily Deal at Defy Gravity. Defygravitylincoln.com! • TShirt Tuesday at Urban Air, 4-8pm on LPS school days. Wear your Urban Air Tshirt for 50% off your attractions pass! Urbanairtrampolinepark.com • Beginners Knitting Class at Makit Takit, 10:30am, & Sat at 10:30am, $10. All ages welcome, adult supervision please for knitters under 8. First project supplies must be purchased on site ($18-30). Come once or often! Sign up at MakitTakit.com. • FREE Preschool Play Club at Calvert Rec Center, 6-7pm. Structured activities for ages 2-7 with special needs. Snack provided. Kids of all abilities are invited & encouraged to join the fun! Preregister: 402-441-7948, sconnett@lincoln.ne.gov. WEDNESDAYS • Daily Deal at Defy Gravity. Defygravitylincoln.com! • Preschool Read Aloud Storytime at MAMA, 1935 Q St, 10am-12pm. Interactive & African-themed! Mamamuseum.org. • Oh Snap! Science at Lincoln Children’s Museum, 10:30am.

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14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Follow Lincoln Kids Newspaper on Facebook for giveaways & more local fun! Calendar Listings are FREE to send in! Submit yours at LincolnKidsInc.com. Kids engage w/ a short science demo at Tinker Theatre. Incl. w/ admission or membership. Lincolnchildrensmuseum.org. • Dodgeball Night at Urban Air, 6-8pm. $10/p. Individuals or teams of 5-8ppl! Urbanairtrampolinepark.com. THURSDAYS • Preschool Paint & Storytime at Paint Yourself Silly, 70th & Pioneers location only, 10:30am. Just drop by! Always under $15. Paintyourselfsilly.net. • TShirt Thursday at Urban Air, 4-8pm on LPS school days. Wear your Urban Air Tshirt for 50% off your attractions pass! Urbanairtrampolinepark.com • All Ages Read Aloud Storytime at MAMA, 1935 Q St, 3:305:30pm. Interactive & African-themed! Mamamuseum.org. • After School Art Club at Pine Lake Paint Yourself Silly, 4-5:30pm, grades 1-8, school days. $20-35. • LCM Late Nights! at Lincoln Children’s Museum, now open late till 8pm every Thursday with fun, rotating activities beginning at 6pm. Lincolnchildrensmuseum.org. • Family Night at Urban Air, 5-8pm. $45/family includes 5 basic passes, a pizza, & bottled waters! Tons of FUN! • FREE Craft Social Thursdays at Makit Takit, 6pm. BYO project & socialize! Food/drink welcome. Just stop by! FRIDAYS • Preschool Play Time at Solid Rock Gymnastics, 9:3011:30am. Drop in to explore equipment & have fun! Waiver req. Participating kids 0y-preK $7/kid/visit, $5 w/10-visit card. Up to 3 kids/adult, elem. siblings $12/ea. Solidrockgymnastics.com. • FREE IndiExplore at Indigo Bridge Books & Cafe, Haymarket, 10-11am, 2nd Friday monthly. All ages are welcome to engage & explore multi-sensory activities! • Toddler Time at Defy Gravity, 10am-12pm on LPS school days. Defygravitylincoln.com.. • Jumparoo at Urban Air, 10am-12pm, on LPS school days. The entire park is open just for kids 5 & under! $8/kid, mom/ dad FREE! urbanairtrampolinepark.com • FREE Storytime at Circle Me, 1st & 3rd Fridays, 10:30am. More events every month! Follow us on FB for updates! • Drop & Dash at My Gym, 10:30am-12:30pm, during LPS school year. $15 members, $17 non. Pack a lunch & drop off the kids ages 1 & up! Mygym.com/lincoln. • FREE Children’s Storytime+Activities at SouthPointe Barnes & Noble, 11am, with hands-on fun & learning! • Parent’s Night Out at My Gym, 1st/3rd/5th Fridays, 5:309pm. $30 members, $35 non, $10 sibling, ages 1+ (diapers OK!). MyGym.com/Lincoln, 402-802-9982. • Friendy Fridays 6-9pm at all 3 Paint Yourself Silly locations. 2 paint for the price of 1! Paintyourselfsilly.net. • Prismatic Explosion at Defy Gravity. Neon glow jump & dance party. 7-11pm. Reg. admission. • Air456 at Urban Air, 1st & 3rd Fridays, 9-11pm, grades 4-6, Lasers, pizza, & fun included! $18.99pp. SATURDAYS • Carseat Install/Checks 2nd Tues & 4th Sat monthly by appt. only. Spots fill quickly! 402-441-8045, safekidslincoln.org. • FREE Bilingual Storytime+Activities at Indigo Bridge Books & Cafe in the Haymarket, 10-11am. Indigobridgebooks.com. • Kids Club at Michael’s, most Saturdays 10am-12pm. Themed crafts for ages 3+! $2-5. Michaels.com. • Beginners Knitting Class at Makit Takit, 10:30am, & Tue at 4:30pm, $10. All ages welcome, adult supervision please for knitters under 8. First project supplies must be purchased on site ($18-30). Come once or often! Sign up at MakitTakit.com. • FREE Children’s Storytime+Activities at SouthPointe Barnes & Noble, 11am, with hands-on fun & learning! • FREE MAKEbreak at Michaels, most Saturdays 1-3pm. Arts & crafts for kids & families! Some events are free, some require supply purchase. Michaels.com. • FREE Teen Night at Downtown Y, every last Saturday, 6:3010pm. Open to all youth grades 5-9. Nonmembers welcome to join the fun at NO COST! ymcalincoln.org. • FREE Hyde Memorial Observatory Holmes Lake, open sundown to 11pm thru Aug 31. Free telescope use & enjoy several programs about the moon, sun, & stars! HydeObservatory.info.

Lincoln Southwest High School Presents

• Prismatic Explosion at Defy Gravity. Neon glow jump & dance party. 7-11pm. Defygravitylincoln.com. • Teen Night at Urban Air, 1st & 3rd Saturdays, 9-11pm, ages 12-16, Lasers, pizza, & fun included! $18.99pp. SUNDAYS • Sunday Funday at Jolly Beans Magic Castle, 2332 Cotner, 12-5pm, $1 wristband for games, snacks & refreshments, bounce house (weather permitting) & magic shows at 1 & 3pm! Bingo extra. Excludes holidays. Special event Easter Sunday: $2 w/ even more fun! Jollybeanmagic.com & on FB! • FREE Lego Sundays, 2-4pm, Apr 7 & 21 at Eiseley Library. Come build & play! Lincolnlibraries.org.

EVENTS

MONDAY, APR 1 • April Fool’s Day • FREE Try-It Class w/ Lincoln Irish Dancers, 6:30pm, Eastridge Presbyterian, 1135 Eastridge Dr. Lincolnirishdancers.org. TUESDAY, APR 2 • FREE Family Activity Night at Belmont Rec Center, 5-7pm. Call 402-441-6789 for info! parks.lincoln.ne.gov. THURSDAY, APR 4 • Neat Repeatz Children’s Consignment Sale Apr 4-7. Thu 9am-7pm. Dates, times, & location at neatrepeatz.com & on FB! Gear, clothes, toys & more! See p. 9! • Pop In Storytime at Morrill Hall w/ Lincoln City Libraries, 4pm, reg. admission. “Earth.” Museum.unl.edu. • My Fair Lady performed by LSW, 7pm. See ad below! FRIDAY, APR 5 • National Walk to Work Day • Neat Repeatz Children’s Consignment Sale Apr 4-7. Fri 9am-7pm. See p.9! neatrepeatz.com & on FB! • Mother of All Garage Sales 5-9pm at Lanc. Event Ctr. • My Fair Lady performed by LSW, 7pm. See ad below! SATURDAY, APR 6 • Mother of All Garage Sales 8am-3pm, Lanc. Event Ctr. • FREE Early Childhood Celebration 9am-noon at the SCC Gymnasium, 8800 O St. Celebrate kids ages 0-8 with activities, live entertainment, displays, & more! Learn more on p.9! • FREE Annual Family Weatherfest, Time TBA, Innovation Campus. Celebrate weather & science w/ activities, demonstrations, exhibits, symposium, & more! Weatherfest.unl.edu. • Lincoln Gem & Mineral Club Annual Show! at Lancaster Event Center, 2 days: Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 10am-5pm. $6 adults, free for kids 11 & under. Bring a canned food donation for $1 off! Gem dig, exhibits, youth booth, displays & more! Lincolngemmineralclub.org. See page 20! • Neat Repeatz Children’s Consignment Sale Apr 4-7. Sat 9am-5pm. See p.9! neatrepeatz.com & on FB! • FREE Bunny Arrival at Gateway Mall, 10am. Kid’s dance party, art project, & more! Photo packages for purchase thru April 20th! • SciPop Interactive “Harry Potter & Comic Book Heroes,” SAC Museum, Ashland, 10am-2pm, w/gen. admiss. SACmuseum.org. • My Fair Lady performed by LSW, 7pm. See ad below! SUNDAY, APR 7 • World Health Day • Lincoln Gem & Mineral Club Annual Show! at Lancaster Event Center, 2 days: Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 10am-5pm. $6 adults, free for kids 11 & under. Bring a canned food donation for $1 off! Gem dig, exhibits, youth booth, displays & more! Lincolngemmineralclub.org. See page 20! • Neat Repeatz Children’s Consignment Sale Apr 4-7. Sun 11am-5pm. See p.9! neatrepeatz.com & on FB! • Take 5 Certification at Lincoln Yoga Center, 1-4pm, $89. Adults learn techniques for helping youth manage stress & violent behaviors. Take5program.com. • FREE Lego Sunday at Eiseley Library, play from 2-4pm! • Star City BaconFest at Cornhusker Marriot, 4:30-7pm. Live music, sample chef’s bacon cuisine! $25 adults, 12 & under free! Raffle tickets for $1. Starcitybaconfest.com. WEDNESDAY, APR 10 • National Siblings Day • RESERVATION & ART SUBMISSION DEADLINE for the Summer Edition of Lincoln Kids! Newspaper, May–June–July. THURSDAY, APR 11 • FREE Dig into Preschool: Garden Adventures at Calvert, 6-7pm. Crafts, story time, & garden fun! Learn about Calvert

Six performances over two big weekends!

ern er &

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My Fair Lady L

SCHOOL EDITION | PILOT PRODUCTION ˜

preschool & celebrate Week of the Young Child (woyc). • Seussical, Jr. by TAFK, 7pm, 4325 Sumner. TAFK.org. • My Fair Lady performed by LSW, 7pm. See ad below! FRIDAY, APR 12 • Lincoln Boys Choir Auditions by appt, 402-499-4446. • Neat Repeatz Adult Consignment Sale Apr 12-14. Visit neatrepeatz.com & follow on FB for updates! • FREE Bunny Hop Kids Dance Party at Gateway Mall, 5-7pm. Party held in Center Court! • Family Fun Night & Fundraiser at Wee Wisdom Christian Preschool, 5201 Old Cheney, 5-8pm. Carnival games, food, face paint, bounce houses, silent auction & more! 402-420-7111, weewisdompreschool.org. See page 8! • Nature Center at Dusk, Pioneers Park, 7:30pm, $8.50. Experience nocturnal nature w/a 2-mi guided hike (not rec. for under age 8). Reg. by 4/10. Parks.lincoln.ne.gov. • Seussical, Jr. by TAFK, 7pm, 4325 Sumner. TAFK.org. • My Fair Lady performed by LSW, 7pm. See ad below! SATURDAY, APR 13 • Huskers Spring Game, Red-White, time TBA. • Lincoln Boys Choir Auditions by appt, 402-499-4446. • Neat Repeatz Adult Consignment Sale Apr 12-14. Visit neatrepeatz.com & follow on FB for updates! See p.9! • FREE Dig into Preschool: Garden Adventures at Calvert, 11am-12pm. Crafts, story time, & garden fun! Learn about Calvert preschool & celebrate Week of the Young Child (woyc). • FREE EGGstravaganza! Family Event at Grace Lutheran Church, 2225 Washington, 1-3pm. Games, crafts, refreshments, prizes, and FUN! Egrace.org & follow on FB! See p.9! • FREE Prairie Pines 2nd Saturday, 3100 N. 112th St (Lincoln), 1-4pm, trails open 8-5. Activities & exploration. Children must be accompanied by adults. No pets. Prairiepines.org. • FREE Paws on the Prairie at Spring Creek Prairie, Denton, 2-4pm. Bring your pets to SCP today only! Learn about pet safety & adoption w/CHS, partake in a pet parade, & win prizes! Springcreek.audubon.org. This only happens once a year! • LMTA Spring Recital, 2pm, Calvary Lutheran Church, 2788 Franklin. www.LMTA.info. • Seussical, Jr. by TAFK, 2 & 7pm. TAFK.org. • My Fair Lady performed by LSW, 7pm. See ad below! SUNDAY, APR 14 • Palm Sunday • Neat Repeatz Adult Consignment Sale Apr 12-14. Visit neatrepeatz.com & follow on FB for updates! See p.9! • FREE My First Egg Hunt at Gateway Mall Federal Credit Union Play Space, 11am, geared to kids 4 & under! • ArtVenture for Girl Scouts NE, Embassy Suites, $15pp. Girl Scout family reception 12:30-2pm, adults art auction & cookie + beer tasting from 3-5:30! Girlscoutsnebraska.org. TUESDAY, APR 16 • Lil’ Chef’s Cooking Class at 70th & Pioneers Hy-Vee, 4:30pm, $12, ages 3-11. “Spring in the Garden” Dietitian-led, 2-3 recipes! Reg. 24+ hrs in adv. at eventbrite.com or in store! THURSDAY, APR 18 • NE Sci-Fest at SAC Museum, Ashland, 10am-2pm. Activities, nature, exhibits, performances & more. SACmuseum.org. SATURDAY, APR 20 • Holy Saturday • Passover Begins • FREE Entrance to all US National Parks in celebration of Nation Parks week (Agate Fossil Beds, Homestead Monument, etc.). Visitor info/trails/maps/contact at NPS.gov. • FREE Spring Cleaning at PPNC, 9-11am. Volunteer opportunity in honor of Earth Day! Dress for weather & gear up for physical labor & walking. Reg. by 4/17. Parks.lincoln.ne.gov. • Sock Hop! at KidsPark. Easter Bunny left treats & tunes to dance to! Wear crazy socks & hop on in! Kidspark.com/Lincoln. • Spring Fling! at SAC Museum, Ashland, 10am-12pm. Egg hunt, make-&-take activity, Easter Bunny visit, face painting & more! (Unsure if free or w/gen. admission, please check ahead for info). SACmuseum.org. • Saturday w/ Our Naturalist at Pioneers Park Nature Center, 2pm, $5pp. Guided hike, dress for the weather. Please reg. by 4/17. Parks.lincoln.ne.gov/naturecenter. MONDAY, APR 22 • Earth Day • Earth Day Party at KidsPark! School’s out & we have eco treats, tree-hugging crafts, & Earth Day experiments. Kidspark.com. FRIDAY, APR 26 • Arbor Day • FREE Arbor Day at Arbor Day Farm thru Sunday. Free admission to the Lodge Mansion (Tree Adventure reg. admission). Tree climbing, activities, & more! Free tree seedling w/Tree Adventure! Weekend getaways avail. for purchase w/lodging, indoor pool, restaurant, & spa. 402-483-8717, ArborDayFarm.org. SATURDAY, APR 27 • Last Day of Passover • FREE Arbor Day at Arbor Day Farm—see details above, 4/26! • LMTA District Festival, all day at Vance D. Rogers Fine Arts Bldg, 50th & Huntington.www.LMTA.info. • FREE Public Science Expo, NE SciFest, 9am, Durham Museum, Omaha. Follow NE SciFest on FB! • FREE Healthy Kids Day at Fallbrook YMCA, 10am-1pm open house. Kid’s fun run & community booths with activities, info, handouts, & more! Ymcalincoln.org. • FREE Lincoln Earth Day at Jane Snyder Center, Union Plaza, 10am-3pm. Performances, hands-on demonstrations, food trucks & more! Lincolnearthday.org. SUNDAY, APR 28 • FREE Arbor Day at Arbor Day Farm—see details above, 4/26! • FREE Words for Birds at Spring Creek Prairie, Denton, 11am2:30pm. Poetry writing workshops for kids & adults, readings, & bird walk. Springcreek.audubon.org. • LMTA Honors Recital, time TBA. www.LMTA.info. TUESDAY, APR 30 • PLC Party at KidsPark! Early release day for LPS, special activities from 2-6pm, included w/ hourly rates.

Box Oﬃce

April 4, 5, 6 | 7pm April 11, 12, 13 | 7pm $15 adults • $10 students For tickets & info: 402-436-1335

Spring 2019 • Page 43

LK!

LK! Art Gallery Mrudhulaa Vallieppan,10 “Galaxy Girl” Adams Elementary

Hope Dowdy, 8 “Sunset Flowers” Acrylics, Art Academy Lincoln

Finn Jenkins, 8 Clay Mug LUX Center for the Arts

Lucy Kam, 6 Clay Sculpture LUX Center for the Arts

By Tamara Kay Creative Director and Founder

force its way into your day and boss you around. It simply waits for you to discover it. It’s quiet and solitude. It’s a generous dose of friendship between yourself and your imagination. It begs you to spend time with it like a puppy at your feet. How do you find the time to nurture it? Here are some suggestions:

n college, I had a poster on my wall titled, “How to be an Artist.” It was really colorful and whimsical and, in a sense, having it there made me feel more like an artist, even though I was in art school at the time. I mean, should an artist really need a reminder of how to b ean artist? I think so. It’s too easy to forget sometimes. It’s too easy to get busy. Creativity is not pushy. It doesn’t

• Find what you enjoy and do MORE of it. • Learn a new thing; an instrument or a language. • Stand still in nature....barefoot • Explore and enjoy the journey; maybe even get lost. • Eat tasty foods; try new colorful flavors. • Embrace opportunities; embrace people too. • Listen to people. • Soak up some sunshine...or a rain shower.

How To Be An Artist

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• Stare up at the sky. • Laugh out loud.

Take a look at that list again. I’d like to suggest that kids do all of these things naturally. Is it possible we spend too much time teaching them NOT to do these things instead of letting them remind us to DO them? Is it possible we simply don’t give ourselves the joy and pleasure of paying attention to the kid that remains inside ourselves? Go ahead, take the hand of a kid in your life and enjoy a day discovering something together. Make time to be creative again. And if you need a reminder, hang an inspiring poster on your wall. I still have mine.

Titus Armstrong, 8, “The Tree” Mixed Media, The ArtReach Project

Please stay in touch & see what’s new. Follow The ArtReach Project on FB & IG.

artreachproject.org

LK!

we We support youth art! send Send in your creations! Upload online at www.LincolnKidsInc.com • Email direct to karla@lincolnkidsinc.com • PO Box 67203 | Lincoln | 68506 Brielle Braunsroth, 11 “Alaina’s Miracle” 5th Grade, Homeschool

Cesar Hosey, 11 Untitled, Related to Healthy Habits & Exercise Pencil & Color Pencil 6th Grade, Schoo Middle, Created at Home

Cora Avery, 8 “Colorful Waterfall” Paint & pastel on canvas, The ArtReach Project

Mariano Atanassov, 6 “Dinovember” Printmaking, Art Academy Lincoln

Beau Dyer, 6, “Buster” Acrylics, Art Academy Lincoln

Adrianah Campbell, 10 “The Spring Day” Colored Pencil, 5th Grade, Homeschool

Spring 2019 • Page 45

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Page 46 • LincolnKidsInc.com