April 2016 • Moms Just Know • Free
Special Section!
The ShortCuts Of Spring Cleaning Managing Your Allergies
7
Habits
of Highly Effective Parents of Children with Special Needs
Serving: Granger • Mishawaka • Elkhart • South Bend • Goshen • Niles Edwardsburg • Middlebury & Surrounding Communities
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Contributors President & Publisher:
Sue Heinrich Sue@MichianaFamilyMagazine.com Managing Editor: Jessica Haviland
Jessy@MichianaFamilyMagazine.com
AD COORDINATOR & INSIDE SALES MANAGER Amanda Oiler
Amanda@MichianaFamilyMagazine.com
GRAPHIC DESIGN Manager: Zuzanna Zmud
Zuzanna@MichianaFamilyMagazine.com
Medical Editor: S. Jesse Hsieh, M.D. Distribution ManagerS: Taylor Horein Family Magazines of Michiana would love to hear from you! Please submit press releases, event information and inquiries to: Jessy@Michianafamilymagazine.com The FAMILY Magazines P.O. Box 577 Granger, IN 46530 PH: 574.387.5420 • FX: 574.217.4700 www.MichianaMom.com The FAMILY Magazines April 2016 Established in 2006. All rights reserved. Permission from the publisher is required for any reproduction or reprint of this publication.
On the Cover:
Thank you so much! Dharien (10), Armani (8), Edahi (5), Yetzel (4) of Cassopolis, Michigan
Read The FAMILY Magazines online each month! Go to www.MichianaMom.com and flip the pages, cover-to-cover the organic and green way! Volume 10: Number 3
Find the Hidden Acorn! For your enjoyment and fun!
cover photographer
TheFamilyMagazineOfMichiana
Ann Reiff is one of Michiana’s Premiere Real Life
@FamilyMagazines
Photographers. Her heart and soul define her style, as she is able to capture the moments we wish to always remember. Ann shoots all varieties of sessions at her studio in Southwest Michigan and also loves doing shoots on location. Contact her at: www.studio513east.com ann@studio513east.com 269-228-0373
Have an Upcoming Event? Check out www.MichianaMom.com and post your events to our online calendar for FREE!
FamilyMagazine TheFamilyMag www.MichianaMom.com Please use the information compiled by Michiana Family Magazines for your research. Michiana Family Magazines recommends that parents and families interview each business or organization to make sure that it is safe and a good fit for your family. The information presented here and provided by Michiana Family Magazines is for informational purposes only and although every effort has been made to present accurate information, Michiana Family Magazines does not, in any way, accept responsibility for the accuracy of or consequences from the use of this information and/or for the businesses and organizations presented herein. We urge all parents and families to confirm any information given herein through additional research. The views and opinions expressed by the writers, event organizers and advertisers do not necessarily represent those of Michiana Family Publishing LLC, its officers, editors, staff or contributors. THE
FAMILY MAGAZINE | APRIL 2016
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F R O M T H E PU B LI S HER
A
pril usually means Easter, spring break and those pesky showers that bring May flowers. This year, Easter was unusually early, coming in March, but spring break is still in the picture, and so, hopefully is spring itself. I never put much stock in the tradition of Ground Hog’s Day and the prediction of six more weeks of winter or an early spring depending on whether he sees his shadow. Living in Michiana, it seems like we always have six more weeks of winter, whether he sees his shadow or not. In fact, my first winter in South Bend, the only snow day of the entire school year happened in the middle of April. But, that was obviously an anomaly. This year, with the wonderful warm weather we have been having, I am beginning to believe in the ground hog. The warmer than usual March weather has been wonderful! The snow is gone, the ice on the lakes has melted, the grass is beginning to turn green, the crocuses are blooming and the trees are beginning to bud…I think spring is nearly here and I can’t wait! And, I can’t wait for you to see our April issue of FAMILY Magazine! This month there is a special section on Child Care and Preschools including an article on 10 Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Daycare. You will also find helpful articles like Shortcuts of Spring Cleaning and Managing Your Allergies, plus many more interesting reads. I hope you enjoy the April issue. Happy spring!
Things We
Love Right Now! (at FAMILY)
1. Spring Showers – HELLO SPRING! 2. Buds On The Trees 3. TULIPS! 4. Building LEGO Sets With The Kids 5. Spring Break Trips 6. Brainstorming Staycation Ideas 7. Grilling Out 8. Weekend Strolls Around Town 9. Cleaning Out Closets & Junk Drawers 10. Healthy Energy Smoothie Drinks 11. Pastel Nails/French Manicures 12. Kool-Aid
Check it Out!
APRIL 2016
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FAMILY MAGAZINE | APRIL 2016
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4Keeps
By: Casey Kiel
Like '4Keeps' on Facebook or visit CaseyKiel.com
FAMILY contributors
Meagan Church is married to her high-school sweetheart and is the mother of 3 kids. She is a writer and children’s book author. She is also the brainpower of the online resource Unexpectant, exploring the realities of birth, babies and beyond.
Noelle Elliott works in publicity. She is a writer and has been published on several websites and print publications. She is the owner and creator of the esteemed bowchicabowmom.com where she humorously shares the triumphs and failures of raising her four young sons. She is also the creator of the succesful local staged production, The Mamalogues. She happily lives in South Bend.
Reader Testimonials “I love how FAMILY incorporates trending topics into their magazine. It keeps it fresh and conversational.” – Nicki T.
Jill Lebbin is a wife, mother, craft fanatic and DIY blogger at www.EveryDayisan Occasion.com. She and her husband Marcel have been married for five years and love living in Granger with their two spunky kids, Marcel Jr. and Lilly.
Lara West completed her degree in Elementary Education and has spent the last several years working as a ghost writer, completing manuscripts, children's stories, research papers and article rewrites.
We’d LOVE to hear from you! CONTACT US AT....jessy@MichianaFamilyMagazine.com
“The Summer Kids Camp & Day Care is so useful and helpful for myself with three active kids!” – Lydia A.
“I love the Product Testing articles in the FAMILY Magazine. It’s nice to know what brands are best for the price.” – Brandy M. THE
FAMILY MAGAZINE | APRIL 2016
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the FAMILY magazine table
Of
contents
18
Live Your Best 4 From The Publisher
Special Section!
4 Things We Love Right Now 5 4Keeps Comic 5 Contributors 8 The FAMILY Month Calendar 16 Centerfold Calendar
Family Book Reviews 7 Fairies At Bedtime
By Karen Wallace & Lou Kuenzler Reviewed By: Carolyn Jones
7 Eleanor & Park
Reviewed By: Ryan Drew
Family Recipe
9 Fruit-Filled Snack Bars By: Katie & Theresa Slott
Family Fun
10 Keeping Your Kids Safe This Spring Break By: Lt. William Redman
Family Movie Review 13 Zootopia
By: Cole Pollyea
12
Family Craft
15 Monogrammed Spring Eggs By: Jill Lebbin
Mommy and Daddy
12 Dear Mom, You Are More Than Ordinary
24 What Is A Montessori Education? By: Noelle Elliott
26 10 Questions To Ask Before Choosing A Daycare By: Sandra Gordon
By: Meagan Church
14 Product Review: Solar Yard Lights By: Lara West
18 The Shortcuts Of Spring Cleaning By: Emily Zander
20 How To Help A Friend Move By: Meagan Church
22 7 Habits Of Highly Effective Parents Of Children With Special Needs By: Judy M. Miller
FAMILY Health
28 Managing Your Allergies By: Jamie Lober
FAMILY Fiction
30 The Diary Of A Modern Mom: Date Night By: Meagan Church
22
FAMILY book review
Fairies at Bedtime By Karen Wallace and Lou Kuenzler Reviewed By: Carolyn Jones, Children’s Librarian Assistant Mishawaka-Penn Harris Public Library-Mishawaka Library Photo courtesy: Amazon.com
F
airies at Bedtime is a useful resource for parents who would like to make bedtime a calmer experience. It contains three sections. The first is a guide for parents. This includes a brief background about fairy lore around the world, the importance of learning to use our imagination and tips for making bedtime reading an experience that your child looks forward to each night. The second section contains 20 stories. The stories feature both male and female main characters. They take place in a variety of settings. The third section focuses on meditation. It begins with information on how to meditate, and the benefits it can provide. Three guided meditations are included.
The stories are only about four to five pages long, but include descriptions that evoke images in our minds. Each one begins with a gentle direction, such as: “Close your eyes and imagine that you are lying in thick, green grass above a mountain pool.” They go on to provide a short synopsis of the story to come: “This is the story about a fairy named Cera, who lived behind a waterfall in the mountains, and who once helped a young shepherd boy called Claus learn how to look after his sheep.” A colorful illustration accompanies each story. These can be used to extend the story, as a basis for craft programs or play, or as the basis for your child to tell their own story.
Each story ends with a few positive affirmations, neatly listed in a little box. Parents can use these as a guide to choose the right story if your child is having a problem that you would like to address. They include: being kind to wild animals, working as part of a team, remaining positive through adversity and much more. Fairies at Bedtime is ideal for an audience of five to eight-year-olds, but could appeal to younger or older children. If you would like to create a calming bedtime routine, and help your child learn to relax at the end of the day, you may find this book to be a wonderful resource.
FAMILY kids book review
Eleanor & Park By Rainbow Rowell Reviewed By: Ryan Drew, Edwardsburg Middle School
E
leanor & Park, by Rainbow Rowell, is the story of two misfit lovers, taking the reader on a roller-coaster ride of emotions. Park is viewed as the kid with the neutral reputation. Eleanor has no reputation whatsoever. In fact, if she had one, it would be at the bottom of the school’s list of reputations. Eleanor purchases clothes from Goodwill®, mainly men’s wear. She was kicked out of her dad’s and step-dad’s house, but now she is back and starting over at a new school. Eleanor is alone, family wise and school wise. She feels as if she has nobody to talk too. She lies to her mom to protect her secret love affair. Her step-dad, Richie, yells and upsets Eleanor’s family making her feel as helpless as ever. Eleanor may keep her
head down, but Park is observing. Park has a nice family unlike Eleanor’s. His dad works early in the mornings and his mom is an “at home” beautician. Park is curious. Park isn’t popular but he’s not unpopular. He always has his eye on Eleanor, waiting for the next clue. On the first day of school for Eleanor, Park hates sitting next to her. He simply can’t figure her out. But, through passing of comics and kisses, Eleanor and Park become closer and closer. They happily share feelings for one another...that is until everything changes. Eleanor is accepted into Park’s household by his mother and father for dinner, yet still manages to hide her secrets from him and his family. But now, change has come knocking
at her door... again. Richie is coming and this time for good. Photo Courtesy: www.recentmoviepo sters.com As Eleanor runs and hides, Park’s world is falling apart. Park resorts to eyeliner, reflecting the way he feels, and Eleanor is just plainly confused on which direction to follow… her heart or her head. Rowell reels you in, and you can’t let go of the bait. Unlike any other romance novel, this one is different in the best of ways. Join Eleanor and Park on their journey. This roller-coaster ride will leave you in awe and begging for more. THE
FAMILY MAGAZINE | APRIL 2016
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1
April Fool’s Day!
18
5
Meditation Yoga,
11:30 A.M., Robinson Community Learning CenterSouth Bend
7
5:30 P.M., Elkhart Environmental City
No Housework Day! Enjoy Mamas!
2
2016 Breast Feeding Class,
11
Talk With Your Baby Class,
Autism Awareness Day Second Chance Small Dog Rescue Adoption Day, 10:00 A.M., Pet Supplies Plus-Goshen
6:00 P.M., Lakeland Health-Niles
15
Tax Day! SBCT Presents “1776,” 7:30 P.M.,
10
22
Earth Day
South Bend Civic Theatre
22-24
19
Wakarusa Maple Syrup Festival,
Talk With Your Baby 11:00 A.M., Downtown Wakarusa Class, 11:30 A.M., Robinson Community Learning CenterSouth Bend
21
National Siblings Day
28
MercyMe,
7:30 P.M., The Lerner-Elkhart
27
29
Arbor Day
Little Black Dress Fashion Show,
10:00 A.M., Hilton
Garden Inn/Gillespie Rescued On The Center-South Bend Runway, 5:00 P.M., Lerner Theatre-Elkhart
3 4 6 8 9 12 13 14 16 17 20 23 25 26 30 31 F Sa Su M Tu W Th F Sa Su M Tu W Th F Sa Su M Tu W Th F Sa Su M Tu W Th F Sa Su
Fun Springtime Outdoor
Activities -
Have A Picnic In The Park
-
Ride Bikes
-
Visit A Farm/Zoo
-
Fly A Kite
-
Find A Four-Leaf Clover
-
Plan A Spring Break Vacation
- Hopscotch -
Horseback Riding
-
Start Planting A Garden
-
Make Outdoor Planters/Birdbaths
Earth Day Crafts
Earth Day Crayons www.frogsandsnailsandpuppydogtail.com
Bird Food www.babble.com
Earth Day Suncatcher www.learningandexploringthroughplay.com
BOOK GIVEAWAY:
The ABC’s Of Yoga For Kids
On April 8th, 36 states and 12 countries will be celebrating the youth and their physical/mental fitness by practicing five minutes of yoga associated with #KidsYogaDay created by Teresa Anne Power, avid yoga practitioner for over 30 years. The ABCs of Yoga for Kids written by Teresa is the perfect guide for parents and teachers to introduce yoga to their children! AND the FAMILY Magazine is giving away a copy to ONE lucky winner!
Check out our Facebook page on April 8th to enter-to-win The ABCs of Yoga for Kids. 8
THE
FAMILY MAGAZINE | APRIL 2016
FAMILY recipe
Fruit-Filled
Snack Bars Recipe & Photos By: Katie & Theresa Slott
Time:
30 Minutes Prep + 1 Hour Chilling + 35 Minutes Baking
Makes: 18 servings Ingredients: Crust: • 1 ¼ c. Whole Wheat Flour
Steps:
• 1 c. All-Purpose Flour
For The Crust: 1. In a food processor, pulse all the dry ingredients together until the oats turn to a fine powder. Add the butter tubes and pulse until coarse crumbs form.
• ½ c. Old-Fashioned Oats • ½ c. Brown Sugar, Packed • ½ c. Granulated Sugar • ¼ c. Wheat Bran • 1 t. Baking Powder • 1 t. Kosher Salt • ½ t. Baking Soda • ½ t. Cinnamon • 1 Stick Unsalted Butter, Chilled And Cubed • 1 Egg • 1/3 c. Milk
2. In a measuring cup, mix the egg, milk and vanilla. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and pulse until just combined. 3. Immediately press 2/3 of the crumb mixture into the bottom of a 9”x13” baking dish, using the well-floured flat bottom of a measuring cup or drinking glass. Place the baking dish and the remaining 1/3 crumb mixture (in a sealed container) in the refrigerator to chill for at least one hour.
• 1 t. Vanilla
To Finish The Bars: 1. Preheat the oven to 325F.
Remaining Ingredients: • 2 c. Jam, Any Flavor
2. Remove the baking dish from the oven and spread jam over the top of the crust, almost to the edges.
• 1-2 T. Milk
3. On a well-floured surface, roll out the remaining crumb mixture into a 9”x3” rectangle and place it over top of the jam.
• 1-2 T. Wheat Bran
4. Working quickly, brush the top of the crust with milk and sprinkle with bran. Katie and Theresa Slott are sisters-in-law who write the food blog, Cooking for the Fam, where they share lots of tips, family-favorite recipes and meal plans. For more recipes like this one, or to see step-by-step photos of this recipe, check out their website, www.cookingforthefam.com.
5. Bake for 30-35 minutes. Cool completely before cutting into 18 bars.
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FAMILY MAGAZINE | APRIL 2016
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FAMILY fun
Keeping Your Kids Safe This
Spring Break By: Lt. William Redman, St. Joseph County Police Department
For students, spring break is one of the most exciting times of the school year. For parents, it means worrying about your children and their safety. Whether it's heading on vacation with family or friends, or staying home alone, we must remind our children how to protect themselves.
Here are a few reminders to discuss with your children: • Obtain the address and contact information for the place your child(ren) will be visiting.
“use debit or credit cards instead of carrying large amounts of cash.”
• Become familiar with the destination; spend time learning about the area, potential hazards and places to avoid. Share this information with your child(ren). • If your child is traveling with a group of friends, request the contact information for each person and each person's parent(s). Create a contact list to share with each other in case of an emergency. • Remind your child(ren) to utilize the "Buddy System.” Encourage them to never go anywhere alone. • While they are gone, encourage them to call or text every day at a designated time. This will help ease your mind knowing they are safe. • Talk to your child(ren) about the dangers of drugs, including alcohol. Remind them about the obvious health concerns and how drugs/alcohol greatly impair their judgement and could potentially put them in dangerous situations. Discuss the fact that certain environments may attract strangers and/or predators who may attempt to slip harmful substances into their drinks. • Encourage your child(ren) to use debit or credit cards instead of carrying large amounts of cash. If it's necessary to carry cash, urge your child not to carry all of it with him/her at one time and to keep the cash in a safe place.
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FAMILY MAGAZINE | APRIL 2016
If you’re leaving your home vacant for the week: • Have someone trustworthy check on your home frequently. • Suspend all newspaper and mail delivery, or have the trusted person(s) collect these items daily. • Leave your home to make it appear that someone is still there, such as; leaving lights on, leaving a radio or television on. Placing these items on timers is helpful.
“Leave your home to make it appear that someone is still there.”
• Contact your local police department to have your home placed on a "Vacation List,” which notifies patrol officers to also check on your residence during your vacation.
If your child(ren) are staying home during spring break, please consider these reminders: • Find local activities that would interest your child. One of the best ways to keep your child(ren) supervised and safe is attending community or recreational programs taking place during spring break. • Connect with other families to make plans and/or attend local events together. • Provide child care providers with fun activities for your child(ren) to participate in throughout the week. • Childproof your home before other children visit while you are away or at work. • Consider a "no-friend over rule" while you are away or at work. This will help keep your home and child(ren) safe.
“Consider a ‘no-friend over rule’ while you are away at work.”
Overall, the most important thing to do is discuss all concerns you have with your child(ren). We want everyone to have a safe and great spring break. THE
FAMILY MAGAZINE | APRIL 2016
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FAMILY mommy & daddy
What mom can’t use a bit of encouragement?
Dear Mom,
You are More Than Ordinary By: Meagan Church Dear Mom,
“This is the important work.”
Recently a friend told me that one of her high school friends is now in the CIA. How awesome is that?! Of course I could relate because I just started watching “Madam Secretary” (thank you, Netflix) and Tea Leoni’s character is a former CIA analyst. So, yeah, I totally understand the world of top-secret, saving-the-planet-before-nine-in-the-morning types of careers. Or, maybe what I need to understand a bit more is how to turn off the TV, but I digress. The more my friend and I chatted, the more we felt, well, ordinary. Our days look nothing like her friend’s, though we don’t know exactly what her days look like since much of what she does is classified. And, I’ll be honest, “classified” makes it sound “exotic,” like what she is doing is way cooler than what I’m doing. What am I doing? Well, my days are filled with dragging, I mean getting, the kids out of bed in the morning and to the bus stop, so we can wait anywhere from five to 40 minutes for the bus to show up. Then I get to do exotic tasks like empty the dishwasher, fill the dishwasher and feed the cat, so he will stop meowing. At other moments, I can be found getting beaten in the memory matching game by my four-year-old or reminding her that when gerbils squeak it is their way of saying, “Don’t squeeze me so hard.” Before getting dinner on the table in the evening (every evening), I find some time to put words on paper. Well, paper isn’t really accurate. I find time to type words onto a computer and wonder if they will ever be read by anyone else.
Basically, it all seems fairly simple and ordinary, especially when I compare my days to others’, both fictional and real. Is anything I do classified? No. (Well, the infrequency with which I dust should be classified information.) But, that doesn’t really matter. I need to remind myself of this and thankfully there are wise people such as C.S. Lewis to do just that. He once said, “Children are not a distraction from more important work. They are the most important work.” They are the most important work. Because, let’s face it, when I start feeling jealous of other women’s exotics lives and careers, what I’m really saying is that what I’m doing doesn’t matter. At least not enough. In other words, more important work exists and I want to be a part of it. But, what I fail to realize is that raising, nurturing and guiding three little people is important work. According to Lewis, it is the most important work. So getting (dragging) those little ones out of bed in the morning, getting them on the bus to school, getting down on the floor and playing (losing) games with them, preparing meals for them…all of this matters. This is the important work. This isn’t the distraction from something cooler and more exotic. This is more than just ordinary. This is what matters!
FAMILY movie review
Zootopia By: Cole Pollyea
I
read somewhere that 2016’s early release, Zootopia, is this year’s Inside Out. Almost, but not quite. With that said, it is one of the finer animated pictures in recent years. It’s likely that this exceedingly entertaining family movie is going to be a contender for best animated feature in 2017’s Academy Awards for its bright screenplay, insightful political allegory and most effective voice performances in recent memory. In terms of outside-the-box thinking, February gave us Hail Caesar! and, now in March, we have Zootopia. It exerts a genuine craft and ascends in its own league due to its original storytelling and its ability to truly entertain every member of the family. I went with my own, ages 3, 5, 11, 17 (myself) and my parents; all were satiated. Zootopia chronicles the unlikely endeavors of bunny Judy Hops (energetically voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin) who refuses to be “settled” by the traditional lifestyle that her parents, community and co-species pressure her to adopt: carrot farming. Contrarily, she wants to make a difference in the world and feels that by becoming a police officer, she’s sure to do just that. When old enough, she enlists in the police academy, completes her training and is assigned to the heart of Zootopia (the Chicago of Illinois). Enter Jason Bateman as a sly fox who makes his living by tricking innocent passersby into paying for his “child’s” large popsicle because he forgot his wallet at home. Once out the door, he takes the popsicle, turns it into smaller popsicles, sells them for a profit (because he has no explicit costs) and reuses the popsicle sticks from his customers’ nearby recycling bin. He then bundles the sticks up, sells them as infrastructure to smaller species and calls it a day. It’s all a part of his “hustle.” This, at least, is as much as he tells one of his innocent passersby, officer Judy Hops, who chases him down to see what he’s up to. Bateman’s voice work done here is pivotal, and so spot on. So, when she is made responsible for finding a missing otter, she enlists his help (blackmail, she threatens to expose his tax evasion) and uncovers a conspiracy that may compromise the civility that defined what animals of Zootopia had based their coexistence upon for years. At a time in our lives when all we see when we turn the TV on is the face of Donald Trump or scathing political debates, Zootopia ’s timely release provided a unique, underlying perspective on heroism, underdogs and the generalization of demographics. While it doesn’t stuff it in our faces, it’s there, and it’s intelligent. A few more notable things about Zootopia can be chalked up to its wonderful costume design, aesthetic CGI work, and its ability to capture this period of American culture. The mafia polar bears
Photo Courtesy: disney.wikia.com
sport black coats with white shirts and black ties, our sly fox wears a Hawaiian shirt with a yellow tie and Hops herself always has a cute police uniform. It’s crafty through and through. It also boasts exuberant CGI and brings the world of Zootopia, and all of the characters in it, to a sort of life we’ve never before seen. Lastly, the movie employs a relatable usage of technology that shows the screenwriters’ grasp on today’s culture–Hops uses her iPhone camera, everybody’s using a Faceswap app, Hops “FaceTimes” her parents back home. Zootopia is almost perfect except that it stumbles along the way. It gets needlessly strange in its final moments, yet it manages to recollect itself and celebrate at the finish line. With a million different hilarious, reference worthy scenes–sloths working at the DMV, confronting a childhood bully years later, parents casually telling Hops that she’ll never accomplish her dreams, small rodents imitating Don Corleone– Zootopia has all of the vision, voice work, meaning and entertainment value of Inside Out . What it doesn’t have is the potency and the sentimentality of it. Nonetheless, of course, it is a marvelous film and I certainly expect it to be one of the best animated movies of the year!
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FAMILY MAGAZINE | APRIL 2016
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FAMILY mommy & daddy
Product Review:
Solar Yard Lights
By: Lara West
Spring has finally arrived, and now is the time to start sprucing up the yard for the beautiful new season. One way to really make your property sparkle is by having a lighted pathway to the front door or trailing up the driveway. Sure, you can do this by burying a wire and tapping into the electrical grid, or you can buy a handful of solarpowered LED lights that you just push into the ground.
I chose the latter for my yard because they are quick to install, easy and convenient with the potential to be pretty inexpensive. I purchased a set of the cheapest and more expensive basic yard lights at a big box store for comparison. The cheapest set was a pack of eight for $18. The more expensive ones were two for $38! That’s a major price difference, so let’s find out how they measure up to each other!
Appearance: When you handle these two products, you will notice that the cheaper lights are plastic versus the more expensive ones being metal on top. They are similar in size, but there is a noticeable difference in the weight of the two products. The metal lights were fully attached, while the plastic lights were separate pieces. The top did not snap or twist on, it just rests snuggly on top. The metal ones have a plastic stake that is equivalent to the stake of the plastic lights. Installing: Both lights have a similar plastic stakes that need to be driven into the ground. Of the eight plastic lights, there were two posts that cracked and one that broke completely off. The metal lights are extremely top heavy for the plastic stake and it felt like they would break while getting them into place but they did not. Performance: With full sun exposure, both lights worked very well. There were mornings when both lights would still have a faint glow at 4:30 A.M. There were strong winds one night that actually blew the tops off the plastic lights. 14
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FAMILY MAGAZINE | APRIL 2016
Recommendation: Both lights worked well, but the simple plastic black ones had a few more mishaps than the more expensive ones. However, there are a few inexpensive tips I discovered that make the cheaper lights just as trouble free as the expensive ones. Using a screwdriver to help start a hold for light’s stake helps with getting them safely into the ground without damage, and putting a little glue on the top of the plastic lights stops the lids from popping off. For the price, especially if you are looking to have numerous lights in your yard and garden, you can save quite a bit of money by buying the cheaper solar lights. If you want to light with a more visual appeal for your yard, then you should plan on spending more money for that.
FAMILY craft
Monogrammed Spring Eggs By: Jill Lebbin
Materials: • • • • •
PAAS Monogram Kit White Plastic Eggs From Walmart (12 in pack $1.98) Ribbon Flowers Screwdriver
Steps:
1. Use a screwdriver or drill to put a hole in the top and bottom of the egg. This is going to take some muscle. It’s not a super quick thing. You are going to have to work at it. Please be careful on this part. Make sure to place your egg in the carton and twist the screwdriver around and around. It is not easy. It might actually be better to use a drill but I’m not experienced with that so I just used a screwdriver. Whatever works best for you. 2. Cut ribbon at the bottom to create the “v” shape at the end and place Photo Provided By: Jill Lebbin
inside the egg until you can see it at the bottom. Then use a toothpick or pin to grab onto the ribbon and pull it out. 3. Pull the ribbon out of the bottom of the egg and tie a knot. 4. At the top make a loop, tie and cut off excess ribbon. 5. Add additional ribbons or flowers at the top. For the flowers I just stuck them inside the hole. 6. Add your monogram from the kit. 7. Enjoy!
For more spring craft ideas visit www.everydayisanoccasion.com.
Yar, ADEC Case Coordinator, runs with Kyle during the 2015 Chicago Marathon.
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3
2:00 P.M., South Bend Museum Of Art
Family Day: Play,
National Walk To Work Day
School Librarian Day
4
Snite Museum of ArtNotre Dame
4th Annual Poetry Slam, 5:00 P.M.,
Robinson Community Learning Center-South Bend
Talk With Your Baby Class, 11:30 A.M.,
5
6
O’Rouke’s Public HouseSouth Bend
Fleet Feet Sports Mishawaka Social Run, 6:30 P.M.,
4:45 P.M., Elkhart Public Library
Fun Family Movie,
7 No Housework Day! Enjoy Mamas!
– Hal Borland
“April is a promise that May is bound to keep!” 8
1
12:00 P.M., St. Mary’s School Gym-Niles
Four Flags Trade-O-Ree,
Concord Mall-Elkhart
12th Annual RaceA-Rama, 10:00 A.M.,
April Fool’s Day!
Second Chance Small Dog Rescue Adoption Day,
Concord Mall-Elkhart
Michiana Aquarium Spring Auction, 9:00 A.M.,
Autism Awareness Day
9 10:00 A.M., Concord Mall-Elkhart
12th Annual Race-A-Rama,
10:00 A.M., Pet Supplies Plus-Goshen
2
April
2016
Get connected to our online calendar at MichianaMom.com to see additional events and submit events of your own!
Want to check out even more things to do in Michiana?
2:00 P.M., Rum Village Nature Center-South Bend
Naturalist’s Choice,
MAY 1
6:00 P.M., Sorin’s-Notre Dame
Sorin’s Wine Academy: Chateau Belle-Vue,
A.M., St. Joseph County 4H Fair Grounds-South Bend
Pioneer Auto Association Car Show And Swap Meet, 6:30
A.M., Downtown Wakarusa
Wakarusa Maple Syrup Festival, 11:00
24
3:00 P.M., Morris InnUniversity Of Notre Dame
Morris Inn Culinary Academy: Make Your Own Sushi,
17
Concord Mall-Elkhart
12th Annual RaceA-Rama, 10:00 A.M.,
National Siblings Day
10
Lakeland Health-Niles
25
Brothers & Sisters Day!
World Penguin Day
2016 Breast Feeding Class, 6:00 P.M.,
18
2
Meditation Yoga,
5:30 P.M., Elkhart Environmental City
11 Talk With Your Baby Class, 11:30
Talk With Your Baby Class,
3 National Teachers Day
11:30 A.M., Robinson Community Learning Center-South Bend
26
4:00 P.M., Elkhart Public Library
Movie Scavenger Hunt,
Robinson Community Learning Center-South Bend
Talk With Your Baby Class, 11:30 A.M.,
19
8:30 A.M., Notre Dame Center For Arts & Culture
Reflections & MeditationsRetrospective Of Photography By John Pinderhughes,
A.M., Robinson Community Learning Center-South Bend
12
4 May The 4th Be With You!
St. Patrick’s County Park South Bend
Women Experience The Outdoors: Dandy Dandelions, 5:30 P.M.,
10:00 A.M., Hilton Garden Inn/ Gillespie Center-South Bend
Little Black Dress Fashion Show,
27
6:30 P.M., O’Rouke’s Public House-South Bend
Fleet Feet Sports Mishawaka Social Run,
South Bend Civic Theatre
Watercolor Paintings By The St. Joe Valley Watercolor Society, 6:30 P.M.,
20
7:30 P.M., DeBartolo Performing Arts Center-Notre Dame
Theatre Performance: Pride & Prejudice,
13
5
The Lerner-Elkhart
5:00 P.M., Snite Museum Of Art South Bend
3rd Thursday Paint Me A Picture A Picture Tell Me A Tale,
Lerner Theatre-Elkhart
Rescued On The Runway, 5:00 P.M.,
The Round Barn Theatre At Amish Acres-Nappanee
Forever Plaid, 8:00 P.M.,
Forever Plaid,
2:00 P.M. & 8:00 P.M., The Round Barn Theatre At Amish Acres-Nappanee
7:30 P.M., The Lerner-Elkhart
Disney’s Beauty & The Beast,
6
Arbor Day
29
11:00 A.M., Downtown Wakarusa
Wakarusa Maple Syrup Festival,
7:00 P.M., Morris Performing Arts Center-South Bend
Earth Day
Red Green-I’m Not Old, I’m Ripe Tour,
22
9:00 P.M., Silver Creek Event Center AT Four Winds New Buffalo
The Band Perry Live,
SBCT Presents “1776,” 7:30 P.M.,
Tax Day! South Bend Civic Theatre
15
Talk With Your Baby, 6:00 P.M., LaSalle Branch Public Library-South Bend
MercyMe, 7:30 P.M.,
28
21
IUSB Wiekamp HallSouth Bend
Talk On Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream-One Book One Michiana, 7:00 P.M.,
DeBartolo Performing Arts Center-Notre Dame
Theatre Performance: Pride & Prejudice, 7:30 P.M.,
14
Wakarusa Maple Syrup Festival,
Elkhart Environmental Center
4:00 P.M., Hannah & Friends Neighborhood-South Bend
Kentucky Derby BBQ,
Cinco de Miles 5K,
9:00 A.M., Central Park-Mishawaka
Walk MS: Michiana 2016,
7:30 A.M., Indiana University South Bend Administration Building
Mountain Bike Class,
10:00 A.M., Bendix Woods County Park-New Carlisle
Elkhart Civic Theatre-Bristol
Comedy Criminals Improv Festival, 7:30 P.M.,
City Of Elkhart Celebrates Trees With Community Arbor Day Event, 10:00 A.M.,
30
10:00 A.M., Paw Mart-Granger
Second Chance Small Dog Rescue Adoption Day,
The Stanley Clark School-South Bend
Integra Secured Document Shredding Event, 9:00 A.M.,
11:00 A.M., Downtown Wakarusa
23
7
Free Youth Fishing Derby,
8:00 A.M., St. Patrick’s County Park-South Bend
16
FAMILY mommy & daddy
The Shortcuts
Spring Cleaning Of
By: Emily Zander
Spring is almost here. You may be dreaming of the flowers, sunshine and a
chance to get out in the fresh air. But, it's also the traditional season for some hard core cleaning. Sounds like a nightmare? It doesn't have to be if you keep things simple. Your idea of spring cleaning may be what you saw your mother doing around the home when you were a child. In an attempt to get rid of the dust, dirt and grime winter has left behind, she may have spent hours dedicated to spring cleaning. But, there are plenty of short cuts and ways to save time if you know where to look.
Changes Over Time Amy Lay of Elkhart knows a bit about cleaning. She's been running her business "Amy Lay's Cleaning Service" for five years. And, Amy says there's plenty that has changed over the years." Our mothers loved bleach and ammonia because they are tough on grime," she said. "Our generation now knows how harmful those two things can be to our families' health." Amy prefers to do a complete wipe down with a simple solution of water, hydrogen peroxide and lemon juice (see recipe below). She says it cleans up any surface while ensuring a safe environment. But, 18
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FAMILY MAGAZINE | APRIL 2016
there are still some areas Amy said you should keep it old school. She says the bathroom requires deep cleaning with bleach and bleach products. One of the biggest changes in home cleaning is all of the options available to get the job done. Nearly every large store has several aisles dedicated to cleaning products. For time savings, Amy says her go-to products are Magic Erasers and Swiffer dusters. "Swiffers can reach places your hands and a rag can't. The Magic Eraser cuts out the elbow grease needed to clean tubs and sinks," she said.
Work Your Plan Products will help wipe away winter's mess, but the rest comes down to you. And your process. The American National Cleaning Institute says the key to spring cleaning is planning your work and working your plan. It's about finding a schedule that works for you.
Most cleaning experts agree on a few things. When taking on spring cleaning, it's best to break it down into more manageable tasks. Pick one room to start with and finish before moving on. Amy says her spring cleaning philosophy in each room is to purge, clean and then organize. She first goes through drawers, closets and piles of clutter to determine what she needs to keep, throw away and donate. Then, while the storage spaces and surfaces are clear, she cleans them thoroughly. Finally, all items that will remain in the room are organized in a specific place so all members of the family know where it belongs. She also says it's important to always remember to clean from the top of the room to the bottom of the room. Remove items such as knick-knacks and frames before cleaning up high to prevent dust and dirt falling on smaller items. It's also smart to cover furniture with an old sheet so you don't create more work for yourself.
“purge, clean and then organize.”
Keep Up With Cleaning All Year Both Amy and the Cleaning Institute encourage you to find ways to clean on a regular basis so spring cleaning does not become the end-all-be-all in your house keeping approach. The bottom line is this; few of us have large blocks of time we can dedicate to only cleaning.
DIY Eco Friendly Cleaning Solution
2 Cups of Water
1 Cup Hydrogen Peroxide
1/ 4 Cup Lemon Juice
So, keep a container of antibacterial wipes in your bathroom to wipe down surfaces each day. Use a daily shower cleaner to prevent mold and mildew. And, refuse to toss things down in an ever-growing pile on the counter. "Most things can save you time and hard work overall if you keep up with your house as you live in it," Amy said. "If you consistently involve your kids in this, life is a lot easier on everyone." After all, wouldn't you rather actually get outside this spring than spend all of your time cleaning?
The American Cleaning Institute's ABCs of Spring Cleaning A-Asthma and Allergy Triggers One room at a time, launder bedding and curtains. Dust and vacuum and carefully clean window sills and frames. Be sure to mop floors with a wet mop. B-Bacteria Clean every surface: door knobs, telephones, remotes and countertops. C-Clutter Take everything out of the closet, dressers, shelves, under the bed and off the furniture. Sort items and discard things you no longer use. THE
FAMILY MAGAZINE | APRIL 2016
19
FAMILY mommy & daddy
How to Help a Friend Move By: Meagan Church
Moving is one of the top five most stressful situations in a person’s life. HGTV has tried to distract us from realizing that—as far as stress levels are concerned—finding a new home ranks up there with experiencing the death of a loved one, divorce, major illness and job loss. Tune into shows like “Fixer Upper,” and the sweet Gaines family will do their best to distract you with open concept potential, apron sinks and, if you’re really lucky, shiplap! While moving does also have plenty of excitement to go along with it, the truth is that it really can be stressful, especially if you are buying and selling. And, if you are moving many miles away, the stress meter can hit a new high, especially when the move also entails balancing people’s emotions and saying goodbye to loved ones. So when a friend breaks the news to you that she is moving away, try not to focus on the sad emotions and get stuck thinking about how much time you won’t get to spend together. Instead, consider how stressful (and exciting) this process must be for her. Then roll up your sleeves and help. Don’t just make a vague, blanket statement like, “Let me know how I can help.” Chances are that her mind is too full of various details to pinpoint an exact need she has.
Instead, be proactive and offer one (or more) of these six specific ways to help your friend during one of the most stressful times of her life: Pick Up A Paintbrush If your friend is preparing her house to list on the market, there is work to be done. Often that means freshening things up with a coat of paint. So, grab a paintbrush and get to work. The time you spend painting together is another memory you will have to hold on to once she moves.
Bring Her Dinner When the kitchen is being packed up, she won’t want to be cooking. Yet, the kids will still insist on being fed. So, whip up something quick and easy, or hit the drive thru. It doesn’t have to be fancy. Just about any sort of sustenance will be appreciated.
Babysit With working on the house, packing up and house shopping, there will be plenty of moments when she will need time to focus on something other than the kids. Be a lifesaver and give her an opportunity to get things done without having to worry about child care.
Bring Boxes Packing an entire house takes lots and lots of boxes. Finding good ones can be difficult and time consuming, especially when her checklist is already full of other details. So, help your friend out by bringing her boxes. Try grocery, liquor and clothing stores. Call ahead to save them from the compactor.
Pack Boxes Since you brought the boxes, you might as well fill up a few, while you’re at it. As you go, sneak in a few funny or heartfelt notes for her to find when she unpacks.
Little by Little
Be Encouraging
Make sure they’re ready to pay for college. CollegeChoice 529 is a SMART way to save because: • Your contributions can grow tax-free. • Your savings can be used for tax-free qualified expenses at ANY eligible post-secondary school. • Indiana residents may receive a state tax credit of up to $1,000 a year!
Remember, moving is stressful, but it is also exciting. Even if you don’t feel the same sort of excitement as she does, still be happy for her. Chances are, if the move is a big one, she is already negotiating the negative emotions of others around her. Instead, be a source of positive encouragement for her. Ask her about her new place. Talk about what you can do together when you visit. Find ways to turn the process into a celebration.
And, continue the encouragement after the move. Text her, tweet her, send her some #throwbackthursday pics along the way, so she still feels connected with you even when you are miles apart.
They Grow…
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Learn more at collegechoicedirect.com For more information about the CollegeChoice 529 Direct Savings Plan (“CollegeChoice 529”), call 1.866.485.9415 or visit www.collegechoicedirect.com to obtain a Disclosure Statement, which includes investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses, and other important information; read and consider it carefully before investing. Ascensus Broker Dealer Services, Inc. (“ABD”) is Distributor of CollegeChoice 529. If you are not an Indiana taxpayer, consider before investing whether your or the beneficiary’s home state offers any state tax or other benefits that are only available for investments in such state’s qualified tuition program. CollegeChoice 529 is administered by the Indiana Education Savings Authority (Authority). ABD, the Program Manager, and its affiliates, have overall responsibility for the day-to-day operations, including investment advisory, recordkeeping and administrative services, and marketing. CollegeChoice 529’s Portfolios invest in: (i) mutual funds; or (ii) an FDIC-insured omnibus savings account held in trust by the Authority at Sallie Mae Bank. Except for the Savings Portfolio, investments in CollegeChoice 529 are not insured by the FDIC. Units of the Portfolios are municipal securities and the value of units will vary with market conditions. Investment returns will vary depending upon the performance of the Portfolios you choose. Except to the extent of FDIC insurance available for the Savings Portfolio, depending on market conditions, you could lose all or a portion of your money by investing in CollegeChoice 529. Account Owners assume all investment risks as well as responsibility for any federal and state tax consequences. Not FDIC-Insured (except for the Savings Portfolio). Savings Not FDIC-insured (except for the Savings Portfolio). No Bank, State or Federal Guarantee. May Lose Value. * Indiana taxpayers are eligible for a state income tax credit of 20% of contributions to their CollegeChoice 529 account, up to $1,000 credit per year. This credit may be subject to recapture from the account owner (not the contributor) in certain circumstances, such as rollover to another state’s 529 plan or non-qualified withdrawal.
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FAMILY MAGAZINE | APRIL 2016
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FAMILY mommy & daddy
7 Habits
By: Judy M. Miller
of Highly Effective Parents
of Children with Special Needs
Many parents of special needs children appear to parent with grace, balance and energy. In addition they also seem remarkably stress-free and organized. How, in the face of all of these challenges and more, do they keep it together? What habits do they embrace that allow them to be highly effective parents for their children?
1
Habit One:
They are proactive and advocate for their children and educate others. Parents become experts about their children and their needs. They conduct ongoing research; ask questions of therapists, doctors, specialists and other professionals; and keep an organized binder full of notes and important information. They create and add to their at-home special needs libraries. They are knowledgeable about vernacular, treatments and services. They are well versed in the state and federal laws that regulate services for their children. Because of their knowledge parents are effective educators of their child's faculty and staff. They are powerful advocates for treatment, services and support-in and outside of school. 22
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FAMILY MAGAZINE | APRIL 2016
2
Habit Two:
They maintain a sense of "normalcy" within the family. Effective parents realize that although everyone in the family is affected by their child's disorder, they are not defined by it. Parents work to ensure that siblings have childhoods and do not take on adult responsibilities. They encourage siblings to spend time with their friends. Parents are proactive about training other family members, friends and sitters about how to care for their child so that they can have time for themselves-individually and as a couple, perhaps going out on weekly dates. They also spend time in the company of other adult friends.
3
Habit Three:
They take care of themselves. Parents nurture their needs, and recognize that doing so is important for themselves as well as their children. Effective parents address themselves holistically, meaning they take care of their physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual needs. They eat nutritious unprocessed food and don't skip meals. They make sure their bodies are properly hydrated.They schedule time for regular exercise, by themselves or with friends. They engage in activities that offer creative or intellectual enrichment.
4
Habit Four:
They manage their stress Effective parents are intentional about reducing stress in their lives by setting time aside each day to promote calm and centering. They adopt practices such as prayer, deep breathing and meditation to replenish their inner reserves. Rebecca, a mom of a son who has a diagnosis of autism, says, "When in doubt I choose grace, to forgive people for letting me down or for rejecting my son, for whatever reason." When parents lead lives that are stress-free and balanced, all family members, especially children, win. Research, by the Gottman Institute supports that children fare better emotionally, socially and academically when parents manage their stress properly.
“When in doubt I choose grace, to forgive people for letting me down or for rejecting my son, for whatever reason.�
5 6 7
Habit Five: They make rest a priority.
While any parent can tire in their parenting responsibilities, parenting a child with special needs can elevate fatigue to a whole different level. Sometime parents don't realize the extent of their exhaustion. I didn't. My child's physical therapist pointed this out to me. Effective parents realize the importance of getting to bed as early as possible, or taking naps to offset the sleep they lose due to their child's irregular sleep patterns-up and down throughout the night, late to bed and/or early to rise.
Habit Six:
They surround themselves with energy givers. People are either energy zappers or energy givers. Effective parents opt to spend time in the company of people who lift them up, make them feel confident, positive, and happy. They realize energy givers help them to feel energized, inspired and motivated. Parents of special needs children appreciate and need this energy.
Habit Seven:
They have a support group. Parenting a child with special needs can be lonely, however there is no need to be alone in the journey. Effective parents are part of or have created a group of parents whose parenting journeys are similar to theirs. Christy, a single mother of a child with mental health issues shares, "I've found that meeting and sharing with people who have raised children with similar issues helps me. They understand what I deal with without me having to explain it. Their support helps me to be calm when I'm with my child." THE
FAMILY MAGAZINE | APRIL 2016
23
Special Section!
What is a
Montessori Education?
By: Noelle Elliott
W
hen I was a child, my parents sent me to a private school. They had their reasons, one of which was that they liked the idea of having all my siblings and me in the same school from Kindergarten through eighth grade. Back then there weren’t as many options as there are now. When it was time for my child to start Kindergarten, there were several, private, parochial, public, magnet, Montessori and home school to just name a few. With so many choices, it was challenging.
So, what is it about a Montessori education that is so different? At first glance, the first thing you notice is that the classroom materials look different. There are no desks and the traditional materials
My husband is a teacher and was teaching at one of the South Bend magnet schools. He enjoyed his job very much, and our oldest son attended the same school. As our son grew, we noticed that he had lost the enthusiasm he once had for learning. There are several reasons this can happen, but we began to look elsewhere to find the best fit for him. We researched and returned to a method of teaching that we were familiar with. Our son had attended Montessori for preschool. That is where his love of learning began, and he had blossomed into an inquisitive young boy.
Montessori is a systematic approach to the child's My husband had started his teaching career in a Montessori school and academic and developmental needs. Because "school" decided to return to it. Now, our four sons all attend Good Shepherd for most adults was most likely experienced through Montessori School in South Bend. worksheets and textbooks, sitting in desks with a teacher in front of the classroom, the Montessori environment can appear to be disordered. Children move about the environment, choose where they will sit and with whom and work on the materials they select at that time. However, the Montessori method is highly structured. Focused on the development of the whole child, every lesson contains a direct and indirect aim, teaching a current concept and preparing the child for future learning. The adults in the environment use observation as a major tool of their work, as a scientist would, and they use words sparingly, deliberately and only in service to the child's greater learning needs. Every action and movement are well thought out though children sitting silently in desks listening to a teacher might appear more ordered and structured. "We chose Montessori because the respect for the child permeates everything. The materials (and the fact that all learning is done in context) allow for fewer struggles, and fostering a love for learning is of primary importance, but it is the dignity with which the child is held that is most convincing. When children are treated with such respect day in and day out, naturally they will grow in their respect for others." said Dan Driscoll, head of Good Shepherd Montessori School.
One concern that is common to a Montessori education is that it does not prepare students to take traditional tests when they move on to high school. Julia McKenna, a former Montessori student, who is now a freshman at Adams High School, said, "For me, I love Montessori because it allowed me to learn beyond a book and explore the real world. It was a hands-on personal approach to learning, and my world would never be the same without it. From learning how to care for the environment to using physical materials to represent math, I was truly able to excel and learn in the most beneficial way possible." Her mother, Maria McKenna a professor at Notre Dame said, "I appreciate Maria Montessori's philosophy of education and what it means for our society today. It was inclusive in every way. Montessori understood the goal of education as developing the full potential of each child. Her ultimate goal? World peace. Kindness, love, respect for one another are a part of our children's every day experiences. Some might think it's pie in the sky, but I wish that this was the goal of every school for every child." "We were impressed with the Montessori teachers who understood children to such depth they could teach them without homework and rewards. Research on the Milwaukee public Montessori schools is astounding for the academic and social maturation of students from a cross section of socioeconomic backgrounds. The science behind Montessori helped us know we were doing the right thing." explained, John Petersen, PsyD whose three children were Montessori educated. What is wonderful about living in the Michiana area is that are so many options for children when it comes to their education. There are several Montessori schools in the area as well as other types of schools that you can explore that will benefit your child and help them reach their maximum potential.
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Special Section! By: Sandra Gordon
10 Questions to Ask Before Choosing a
I
Daycare
f you’ll be returning to work after your baby is born, you probably know that open daycare spots can go faster than ice cream melts on a hot day. Still, for your child’s wellbeing and your own peace of mind, it pays to get picky. Starting about a few months before you’re ready, “visit three to five daycare programs,” says Kris Murray, author of The Ultimate Childcare Marketing Guide and a consultant to the childcare industry.
To narrow your selection, here are the top questions Murray suggests asking daycare providers that can help you know if you’ve found the right place--or if you need to keep looking: What activities will my child do?
The code word to listen for is “curriculum.” With emerging research about early brain development, top childcare programs aren’t glorified babysitters. They’re full-featured learning environments, even at the infant level because learning starts from birth. “There are all sorts of age-appropriate curriculums available now, from baby sign language in an infant room to early reading, nature, science, art, technology and drama programs for toddlers,” Murray says. Each program is typically organized into themes. If the theme is insects, for example, your toddler might be asked to dress up as his favorite bug for the drama unit, paint a bug for the art unit and learn about insects in the computer lab for the technology unit. To you though, it may all just look like fun and games. But that’s the idea. “Children learn best through play,” Murray says.
What’s the teacher to child ratio?
It’s important for your child to get plenty of attention, especially the younger he/she is. Babies and toddlers 12 months old and younger need an adult to child ratio of no more than 1:4 (one adult per four infants). For toddlers 12 to 28 months old, the ratio should be 1:3, one instructor per three children. Small class sizes of 10 to 12 children or less 26
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FAMILY MAGAZINE | APRIL 2016
is preferred too. Even if there are plenty of adults to children, a larger group of toddlers can feel chaotic.
What’s your policy about unannounced visits?
The best answer is, “No problem. We have an open door policy.” Impromptu parent visits should always be welcome, Murray says. After signing your child up, you should be able to drop by anytime.
How will I know what my child did all day?
Some daycare centers will distribute a daily activity sheet detailing what each child experienced that day, such as what she had for snack and how often her diaper was changed. Even better is paperless communication. Many daycare centers offer e-mail or texting messages two to four times daily. It’s a big plus. Imagine sitting in a meeting and getting a text from your child’s daycare or preschool with a video or photo of a picture he just painted. “Real time streaming helps you stay connected to your child’s day,” Murray says. When you pick your child up, you can say “Look at the cute pictures I got from you today” and talk about them together.
What are the qualifications of your caregivers?
“Ask for a list of the teachers, which includes the number of years of experience they’ve had in the field, their degree (in early childhood education for the lead teacher) or the training they’ve had,” Murray says. Lead teachers should also have five to seven years of experience. With practice comes the competence to handle challenging issues, such as fighting and other behavioral problems or potty training in a toddler program.
Are drop-off and pick-up hours flexible?
If you work from home sometimes or need a half-day help here and there, look for a daycare option that works with your nontraditional schedule. Daycare that’s less than fulltime is a growing trend. “For a monthly membership fee, many daycare centers will allow you to drop off your child whenever you want,” Murray says. What’s the security situation like? Most childcare programs are safer than they were five years ago. Some now, for example, have biometrics at the entrance. Instead of punching in a code at the door, you’re be required to place your finger on a pad to enter the building. “Stricter regulations on safety and background checks are now required in many states,” Murray says.
When touring a daycare center, ask whether the children are monitored by a secure webcam. Is the feed distributed to the director’s office so there’s oversight of what’s happening in the classroom? (Good.) Can you have access to the feed as well? (Double good.) Not only does camera surveillance provide peace of mind because you can see what’s going on, it allows you to engage in your child’s day (“I saw you help Sam pick up his crayons. That was so nice of you.”) “You get to spy with a positive purpose,” Murray says.
A tiny little division of Granger Community Church
How often do the kids get to go outside?
Beyond extremely hot or cold weather, “there’s no excuse for children not to get outside every day,” Murray says. Your childcare center should support the full health of the child, which includes spending time in nature and being active.
What’s your disaster recovery and emergency policy?
If there’s a fire or disaster at the school, you want to know that teachers have been properly trained to respond quickly and effectively to get every child out. Every teacher should be trained in CPR too.
Ask yourself: Am I comfortable with the environment? After you’ve narrowed it down to your top picks, spend an hour or two observing a classroom when the kids are awake (not at nap time). What’s the vibe? The daycare center should feel open and warm-hearted. Teachers should look like they’re happy to be there and engaged with the children. If you get a good feeling about the place, chances are your child will like it too because he’ll pick up on your satisfaction. Finally, confirm your selection by finding out what everyone else has to say. Review testimonials from other parents on the daycare center’s Facebook page and review sites such as Yelp. “Sometimes there are disgruntled employees or an occasional unhappy parent,” Murray says. If you see 10 great reviews and one negative one, you’re probably fine. Look for a preponderance of positive.”
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27
FAMILY health
Managing
Your
Allergies By: Jamie Lober
“You should start pre-treating yourself in the month of April.”
W
hen it comes to allergies, there are bothersome triggers nearly year-round. “Michigan ranks as one of the top states for allergies due to its high count of weeds and pollens,” said Dr. Susan Mithoff Quade, optometrist in Trenton. You want to wear glasses instead of contacts and cool your eyes down with a wet washcloth to avoid inflammation. Hoosiers face the same inescapable culprits such as ragweed, tree pollens and grass pollens. “Allergy season in Indiana is mostly the pollens and usually ends after the frost in the month of October or November so it goes almost all summer long,” said Dr. Rodney Guimont, family medicine doctor at LaPorte Regional Hospital. For most people, the key is finding a way to tolerate symptoms while allergies run their course.
What happens is that your body is reacting to its surroundings. “It is called a histamine response and the body is releasing a substance called histamine which causes local inflammation which is why your eyes itch and nose runs,” said Guimont. This produces the symptoms of congestion or runny nose and itchy, watery eyes. “That is caused when pollen is presented in the mucus membranes of the nose and the upper airway,” said Guimont. Though a cold is a virus and separate from allergies, allergy season often causes worsening of symptoms in people with asthma. Fortunately, some people can be proactive. “If you know you have seasonal allergies, you should start pre-treating yourself in the month of April,” said Guimont.
Do not overlook indoor allergens like dust mites, pet dander and mold. There are some things you can do to make your life easier at home. “Change your air filter frequently or every three months in the summertime,” said Guimont. Some air filters target people with allergies and have smaller pores in the filter to catch more of the pollens. The
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America said that the goal is to keep humidity below 45 percent but below 35 percent is better. “Vacuuming your carpet gets rid of the dust mites that are also an allergen and you can change your pillow case and bed linens frequently,” said Guimont.
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America recommended limiting your outdoor activities when mold counts are high and to wear a dust mask when picking up leaves or cutting grass in order to reduce your exposure to mold spores. Pollen counts are highest between 5 A.M. and 10 A.M. and warm and dry mornings are the worst. Days that are dry and windy also have high pollen counts, so you want to stay indoors if possible. It is a good idea to keep your windows closed.
Know when it is time to seek medical evaluation. “People who should come see us are those who have tried over-the-counter allergy medicines and are not getting any relief with those and people who in general have symptoms that they feel are out of control and decreasing their quality of life,” said Guimont. There is no reason you cannot enjoy your summer, feel better and breathe better. The allergist may do a test to see what the person is allergic to and come up with an action plan accordingly.
There are simple over-the-counter things the doctor may recommend like using nasal saline wash or a netty pot. “Those help wash out any allergens that have accumulated in the nasal passage and flush them out,” said Guimont. A nasal saline wash is particularly helpful for people who have grass allergies, mow the lawn and come back and have watery eyes and sneezing. There are some prescription medications for allergies as well. In some cases, allergy shots are indicated. “Allergy shots are usually reserved for those people whom we cannot help with oral medicines and whose allergies are severe enough that they cause other physical problems,” said Guimont.
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Unfortunately, doctors remain unsure why some people suffer from allergies and others do not. There is believed to be a small genetic component. “We see people who move from a dryer climate like Arizona who would not have any problems otherwise come to Indiana and start having allergies to the different plant species we have here,” said Guimont. The reason behind this is that allergies are specific to regions and we tend to do better than folks in drier climates. “It can happen to anybody,” said Guimont.
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FAMILY MAGAZINE | APRIL 2016
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11/5/13
12:31 PM
FAMILY fiction By: Meagan Church
The Diary of a Modern Mom:
Dear Jo, Last night was a date night, or what your before-kids selves referred to as a Friday night. Here’s the irony about wanting to go out after having kids: you still need your parents’ permission. Mom and Dad came over to watch Emerson and Lyla, which means Emerson got McDonald’s and more fruit snacks than you’d like to consider. Perhaps that is why he didn’t sleep well last night and then woke earlier than normal this morning. You went to that hole-in-a-wall Thai place in downtown. You ordered the Pad Thai so spicy that your mouth was on fire and your nose was still running when you grabbed frozen custard afterwards. Remember when you used to tone down the spice level because you didn’t want to embarrass yourself with a runny nose at dinner? That was years ago. Now you order it full-on spice and last night you even blew your nose at the table instead of excusing yourself to the bathroom. Who says the romance is gone after two kids? But, you weren’t in the mood for romance last night because you know what today is: departure day. In a few hours, you’ll leave for the airport. Then you’ll return home without Paul. As he jet sets off to Miami of all places, you’ll be home changing diapers, breastfeeding and negotiating bedtimes. Alone.
“It’s only for four days,” he reminds you. You wonder if you’ll even shower, while he’s gone. Of course you will. The good thing about Paul being gone is that Iris and your mom have both made plans to keep you busy. Your mom even wants to keep Emerson overnight tonight and then have you over for dinner tomorrow. Who are you to say no to a sleepover offer? What will it be like for Lyla to be an only child for 24 hours? Maybe you will get a shower when she naps. When Paul first told you about the trip, you so badly wanted to go with him. You even contemplated it all in your mind. If your mom could keep Emerson, you could take Lyla. She can fly for free. All you’d need to do was pay for your airfare and food. The company would foot the bill for the hotel room since they are already paying for Paul. You knew you would basically be locked in that hotel room, while he attended the conference, but at least that hotel room came with a view of blue skies, sunshine and maybe even a peek at the ocean, if you were lucky. You thought it might actually work. Then you checked the airfare. Who knew it would be so expensive? If only Vegas were the destination. Then you realized you wouldn’t be on Paul’s flight and you’d have to fly alone. You imagined security and bags and finding gates with Lyla and no one else. You thought of the flight with a baby. Would she sleep? Cry? Nurse? What if others were offended by her breastfeeding? Well, that would be their problem, but it would also be yours. As if flying isn’t stressful enough and then you have to think about your baby’s needs and the sensitivity of those around you. The planning became overwhelming. So, last night, you ate your Thai noodles and sipped your Thai tea, appreciating the oneon-one time with Paul, but wishing it didn’t mean there would be a good-bye (and more importantly, a good luck) that would have to be said today.
“Even now, whenever you catch a hint of bonfire in the air, your heart still skips a beat.”
It wasn’t until the bill came that you remembered your first date was at a Thai restaurant. You’d never had Thai food before, but when Paul suggested it, you went with it. You wondered how you had gone your whole life without ever tasting those spice combinations before. You fell in love immediately with both the food and the guy. That was over a decade ago. Over 10 years ago, you went to a graduation party. You had planned to say hi, offer congratulations and move on to the next party. You had three others you hoped to get to that night. As you congratulated James, he introduced you to his friend. Then he walked away to talk with other guests. You meant to make your exit, but when this guy asked if he could get you a drink, you said yes. With each refill, the night got later, the other parties came to an end, and the two of you sat around the bonfire talking until the fire waned to embers. You didn’t want to wash that shirt for weeks because you could still smell the smoke on it. Even now, whenever you catch a hint of bonfire in the air, your heart still skips a beat.
The following weekend, he picked you up and drove you to the Thai place. You ordered your noodles mild that night and got lost in conversation. You were nearly late to the movie, arriving as the previews ended and the opening credits began. Afterwards, you walked outside and there on the sidewalk in front of the theater, he kissed you. You missed curfew that night, but neither you nor your parents noticed or cared. Paul raced you home as quickly as he could. Even in the darkened car, you could see his ears turning red with stress, nervous about the impression he was making on your parents. You smiled. His ears still turn red when he’s stressed, tired, angry or turned on. You didn’t notice if his ears were red last night. When you got home, you put the kids to bed as he packed for the conference. You fell asleep nursing Lyla. You woke when he took her from your arms, placed her in the bassinet beside the bed and covered you with the blankets. Your eyes were too heavy with sleep to notice his ears.
THE
FAMILY MAGAZINE | APRIL 2016
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