FAMILY Magazine July 2015

July 2015 • Moms Just Know • Free

Keeping Summer Simple Back-to-School Shopping Summer Water Safety Serving: Granger • Mishawaka • Elkhart • South Bend • Goshen • Niles Edwardsburg • Middlebury & Surrounding Communities

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Family Fun • Baby & Maternity • Education Doctors & Family Health • Kids’ Programs • Services Childcare • Birthday Parties • Summer Camps • Events Contests & Giveaways • And So Much More!

IN THE NEXT ISSUE:

Back to School Guide If you would like your business and/or service to be included in the next issue, call The FAMILY Magazines at 574.387.5420 to reserve your space. Space is limited.

Contributors President & Publisher: Betsy Tavernier

Betsy@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: Mike Trentacosti Kevin Reynolds 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 July 2015 Established in 2006.

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Permission from the publisher is required for any reproduction or reprint of this publication.

Read The FAMILY Magazines online each month!

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Volume 9: Number 7

On the Cover:

Find the Hidden Acorn!

Special thanks to this adorable family of sisters from Bristol.

For your enjoyment and fun!

Ann Reiff is one of Michiana’s Premiere Real Life Photographers. Her heart and soul define her style, as she is able to capture the moments we wish to always remember. Ann shoots all variety of sessions at her studio in Cassopolis Michigan and also loves doing shoots on location.

Visit her website at www.studio513east.com, email ann@studio513east.com or call 269-228-0373

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TheFamilyMagazineOfMichiana @FamilyMagazines 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 Magazines LLC, its officers, editors, staff or contributors.

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FAMILY MAGAZINE | JULY 2015

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F R O M T H E P U B LI S HER

Things We

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(at FAMILY)

Love

Things

Right Now!

We Learned Making

Photography: Classic image photography Makeup: Camellia Maalouf, Camellia Cosmetics Granger

The July Issue

1. America!

2. Freedom

1. Don’t let ticks ruin the summer fun! Visit page 26 to learn how you can protect your children this summer!

2. Choose a car for the safe factor, not the cool factor! Get a few tips on what to look for when buying your teen their first car on page 16.

4. Being an American can mean something different to everyone!

Turn to page 24 and see what some children feel what an American truly is!

3. Red, White & Blue 5. Lake Time 6. Summer Salads 7. Strawberry Shortcake 8. Sundresses

3. Have a blessingway instead of a baby shower!

Learn more about blessingways on page 28.

9. Sand Boxes 10. Bicycles 11. Sparklers 12. Warm Nights

5. Establish pool safety rules for your children!

Learn more on water safety this summer on page 14.

6. Start preparing your child for Kindergarten!

Turn to page 30 to learn what areas your child should improve on before school starts!

13. Fishing with Grandpa 14. Sleeping In 15. Family

7. Back-toschool shopping doesn’t have to be expensive!

Visit page 32 for some tips on how to save some money this year!

Check it Out!

Don’t forget to pick up your copy of the NEW SASSY & Boom Mag azine!

JULY 2015

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4Keeps

By Casey Kiel

Like '4Keeps' on Facebook or visit CaseyKiel.com

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FAMILY MAGAZINE | JULY 2015

5

the FAMILY magazine table

Of

contents 14 24

Family Craft

22 Squirt Gun Art By: Jill Lebbin

Family Recipe

39 Summertime Fruit Smoothies By: Katie & Theresa Slott

Live Your Best

4 7 Things We Learned Making This Issue 4 Things We Love Right Now 5 4Keeps Comic 7 Contributors 8 The FAMILY Month Calendar 20 Centerfold Calendar

Family Book Reviews 38 Book Review: Ways To Help In Your Community

By Claire O’Neal Reviewed By: Tina Emerick

38 Student Book Review: The Extraordinary Education Of Nicholas Benedict

By Trenton Lee Stewart Reviewed By: Layla Rosales

Family Movie Review 23 Jurassic World By: Cole Pollyea

10

Family Fun

10 Keeping Summer Simple By: Noelle Elliott

12 Make Your U-Pick A Healthy Family Trip By: Lara West

Family Kids

14 Summer Water Safety

SPECIAL SECTION: Backpack Giveaway!

30 Kindergarten Readiness: How To Help Your Child Prepare By: Jennifer Long

By: Lt. William Redman

16 Wheel & Deal: Buying A Car For Your First-Time Driver By: David Palmer

18 4 Fun Ways To Teach Your Child About The Alphabet By: Jennifer Long

24 Kids Say The Most Patriotic Things By: Meagan Church

26 Ticked Off! By: Kenya, Martinez, M.D.

32 Back-To-School Shopping

By: Jennifer Long

Family Pregnancy

28 Blessingway: A Sacred Alternative To A Baby Shower By: Meagan Church

Family Mommy & Daddy 34 Dear Mom, I’m A Book Jacket Judger By: Meagan Church

36 Product Testing: Bug Repellent By: Lara West

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.

Lara West completed her degree in Elementary Education and has spent the last several years working as a ghost writer, completing manuscripts, children stories, research papers and article rewrites.

Noelle Elliott works in publicity.

She is a writer and has been published on several websites and print publictaions. 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.

Lt. William Redman has been a police officer with the St. Joseph County Police Department for nearly 21 years and 18 years as a D.A.R.E. officer. He currently teaches D.A.R.E. in several local schools and is a patrol supervisor of the afternoon road patrol division. Lt. Redman is married to his wife Kim and has fours daughters, Kenzie, Kaitlyn, Kara, Kami and a grandfather of his twoyear old grandson Zeke.

Reader Testimonials “I love this magazine! It has wonderful articles for newbie moms!”

– Natalie R.

“I have learned so much from the product testing articles! Thank you for letting us know which products are the best to buy!”

– Leslie B.

“The centerfold calendar is always full of local events happening in the area! It’s a great resource for the summer!”

– Claire S. We’d LOVE to hear from you! CONTAST US AT.... jessy@MichianaFamilyMagazine.com

Advertise With Us! The Family Magazine celebrates today’s family and champions the women at its center. Every page provides smart, practical solutions to help moms raise happy, healthy families. With a particular emphasis on the concerns and issues faced by all mothers today, The Family Magazine fills a need as the only familyfocused magazine in the three-county Michiana area.

Call us for rates and more info!

574 387- 5420 THE

FAMILY MAGAZINE | JULY 2015

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16

2

11

Meet Me On The Island, 5:30 P.M., Century CenterSouth Bend

Family Campout,

Happy 4th Of July!

7

1

3 5 6

Superhero Vehicles, 3:30 P.M., Pierre Moran Branch-Elkhart Public Library

Shanklin Park-Goshen

6:00 P.M. – 8:30 P.M., Frederick S. Upton Education Center-St. Joseph, MI

8:00 A.M., Gridiron Plaza At College Football Hall Of Fame-South Bend

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Kids’ And Teens’ TryAthlon, 8:00 A.M.,

Breastfeeding Class For Moms And Dads,

Summer Fitness Series,

7:00 P.M., Shanklin Park-Goshen

4:00 P.M. – 10:00 A.M. (Following Day), St. Joseph County Park

4

25

Outdoor Movie In The Park,

19

13

Meditation Yoga,

5:30 P.M. – 6:30 P.M., Elkhart Environmental Center

23

Vanilla Ice Cream Day & National Hot Dog Day

Legally Blonde,

7:30 P.M., The Lerner

28

Family Drop-In Activities,

1:00 P.M., Wellfield Botanic Gardens-Elkhart

Picnic In South Bend City Cemetery, 6:00 P.M., South Bend City Cemetery

Zombie Prom,

7:30 P.M., Bristol Opera House

8 9 10 12

14 15

18

20 21 22

24

26 27

31

SBCT Presents “Fiddler On The Roof”, 7:30 P.M., St. Patrick’s County Park

29 30

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 M Tu W Th F

The Do’s And Don’ts of

Family Portraits Do’s:  Coordinate Family Outfits & Accessories (But Not Identical)

Don’ts:  Don’t Forget Make-Up  Don’t Forget Snacks For The Kiddos

 Take More Photos Than You Think You Need (Especially If You Have Younger Children)

 Don’t Relay On A Single Pose (Be Active)

 Make Sure Everyone Is Rested And Fed

 Limit Amount Of Props In Photos

 Incorporate Props That Are Meaningful To The Photo

 Moms Are In The Picture Too! Feel Good About Your Self In The Photos!

 Include Your Animals If Well Behaved  Plan Ahead & Research Photo Ideas

 Don’t Over Think Each Pose (Let The Kids Be Themselves!)

Kid Approved Desserts Advertisers In The News

Chocolate Banana Pops

Cookie Monster Ice Cream

(www.thecomfortofcooking.com)

(www.raininghotcoupons.com)

Jello Cookies (www.iheartnaptime.net)

Growing Kids Learning Center Expands To Bristol Growing Kids Learning Center and Elkhart Community Schools are partnering up and expanding child care services to the Bristol area in Michiana. The school district will lease a space at Bristol Elementary School to Growing Kids to help serve families with quality preschool classes as well as evening child care options.

Also, families with children of Bristol Elementary School will have the option of a before and after school child care program. These new programs will help parents when school is not in session.

This includes the Before and After school care, school days off, snow days and school vacations (summer, winter and spring breaks)! For more information about the program, please visit their website at www.growingkids.com!

Back-To-School…

Backpack Giveaway!

The FAMILY Magazine is making this year’s back-to-school shopping a little less hectic by giving away not one but THREE backpacks full of back-to-school supplies provided by K12!

Includes:

Notebooks Folders School Box Pens Pencils Glue Stick Eraser Scissors And More!

Contest Begins:

July 20th

Winners Announced:

July 27th

Scan this QR code or visit the website at http://my.info.k12.com/ HAOnline20150701-Granger_ONRReg.html to get your name entered to win one of THREE backpacks!

Brought to you by...

FAMILY fun

Keeping

Summer

Simple

By: Noelle Elliott

I

t started in January, summer camp emails, brochures and flyers finding their way into my inbox. Athletic camps, adventure camps, music camps, even magic camps. The more options that were presented to me, the more stressed out I became and summer was four months away.

Like most parents, I have a hard time preparing for next week, planning for next season is out of the question. For the past few summers, I have signed my boys up for several camps. They had fun, but I found that I spent most of my summer driving all over town. Plus, the camps were expensive.

Originally we had arranged for our sons to be in camp because we both worked in the summer. Now we are in a situation where my husband and I have the summer months off. It didn’t make much financial sense, or otherwise to overschedule our summer. We made a decision to simplify our summer.

What does it mean to simplify your family’s summer? For us, it was looking at our own childhood summers. We were children of the 80’s. My summer was spent roaming around 10

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our neighborhood. Riding my bike, swimming in friend’s pools and late nights around a backyard fire pit. I went to summer camp for a week, but my fondest memories of summer were spent closer to home.

What is challenging for parents today is the convenience of electronics. If I allowed, our sons to play with their iPods or gaming systems all day every day they would do it!

But, they would be missing out on the best part of being a kid, the summers.

“Outdoor play has been proven to make children smarter and even healthier.”

“Children need the freedom and time to play.

Play is not a luxury. Play is a necessity,” according to author and clinical psychologist Kay Redfield Jamison. What better time to play, than the summer?

Outdoor play has been proven to make children smarter and even healthier.

Spending time in nature is a multi-sensory activity. Kids are able to use all their senses.

Even a simple summer takes some planning.

Below is a list of ideas that can keep your children happy and help create a memorable summer for the entire family: Lemonade Wagon

Try Something New

We live in a very tight knit neighborhood but our children seem to only know the kids on our block. This summer we are going to take a walk around the neighborhood with a portable lemonade stand. This way we can engage with other families as well as meet new adults and children in a nonthreatening way.

This summer we are going to take a canoe ride down the St. Joseph River.

Not only will this be a new experience for our sons, but for me as well. Trying new things brings a family closer. In the case of a canoe, we will be forced to communicate and work together as a group. An added bonus is that our preteen won’t have many options if he wants to leave the conversation.

Create a Schedule of Fun Things Ask your children to make a list of twenty things that would like to do this summer. Then try and schedule them in your routine. This way the child can take ownership in the summer plans and fun.

Explore the Backyard Turn your backyard into a campground. Show a movie outside on a laptop or camp out in a tent. Cook hotdogs and s’mores on a backyard fire pit. When it gets dark lay out a blanket and look at the stars.

Make a Local Scavenger Hunt How about an epic family selfie with a lion? Or a trip to the oldest building in South Bend followed by ice cream. You can find out interesting facts about your city and make it fun to discover things you never knew.

Let Them Be Bored Part of what made my childhood summer fun was having to figure out what to do each day. Allow your child to create his or her own entertainment. Let them discover what they like to do. My son spent a good portion of an afternoon creating an ant bridge across the sidewalk. I could have never dreamed up that activity and he loved it.

I hope by the end of the summer you will be able to reflect on the previous months with fondness and the old warm feeling of what summer days used to feel like. The best part about most of these suggestions is the time you will spend with your family. Hopefully you will find a way to carry your simple summer traditions throughout the entire year.

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FAMILY fun

Make Your

U-Pick A Healthy Family Trip

By: Lara West

There are many blogs and cookbooks out there that teach you inventive ways to sneak fruits and vegetables into your children’s diet.

It’s possible that flavorful tricks are the only way to get those valuable nutrients into your child, but one of the best things about living in the Michiana area is the growing enjoyment of U-Pick farms and farmers markets. Frequent visits to both of these places have helped make it easier for vegetables to disappear off my daughter’s plate and into her mouth (not under the table).

U-pick farms and farmer’s markets are a great and affordable way to inspire healthy eating habits. It’s only by living here that my family has been introduced to our favorite family activity of harvesting the fruit and vegetables on our dinner table. We like to frequent area U-Pick farms, but even perusing the farmer’s market and letting the children pick from the tables and tables of delectable fresh produce encourages them to eat better.

Here are few tips to letting your children develop their own healthy eating style: • Discuss healthy foods. It’s not enough to simply say, “Vegetables are healthy; chips are not.” Being sure your children know where food comes from and why it’s healthy or not is very important to their inquisitive minds. This is why we love the u-pick. It lets us get our fingers into the dirt. We’re looking right at the source of fresh foods and plucking the nutrients right from its roots.

• Let them decide. Just like adults, children love options. Even if every option is a healthy one, the fact that they get to decide on it is reward enough. Each family member picks out a different produce or two to have with dinner that week, and everyone tries it because they want everyone to try what they have chosen. This is another good reason for u-picks and farmer’s markets. Most farmers’ markets only have fresh produce available, so there is less chance of the children spying a brightly colored cereal box and begging for that.

• Don’t discourage their curiosity. Saying things like, “You won’t like that,” hinder your child’s natural curiosity. I battled this last year, but I managed to regroup and babble my way back to telling my daughter she made a good choice. Of course, my daughter sees this big dark purple thing at one of the market stands, and she giggles, “I can’t wait to eat this cool thing!” My knee-jerk reaction was to tell her that it’s not very good. Talk about your all time OOPS moments. She tried it, and liked it.

• Practice what you preach. I’ve never been a fan of “Do as I say, not as I do.” If there is a rule in the house then everyone abides by it, unless practical cause is given. For example, I really didn’t want to eat the eggplant my daughter picked, but the rule is everyone takes at least one bite of everything that’s been made. I could have said, “I have tried eggplant several times and I know I don’t like it,” but regardless of having had something before everyone takes a bite.

Farmer market stands and u-pick farms are rich with healthy options, and seeing the amount of goods all around is encouraging to exploring new foods.

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Tips Before

You U-Pick: • Call ahead and check hours of operation, availability and payment methods.

St. Thomas A Distinctly Catholic Education Our Mission

• Wear a hat, comfortable shoes and clothes you don’t mind getting dirty.

• Bring sunblock, a small snack pack and water.

To provide children

• Have boxes or bags for carrying what you harvest.

to develop their God-

with the opportunity given talents through

• Take cash to tip for any free services, such as tractor rides into the fields.

academic excellence and co-curricular programs as well as to empower them to develop zeal for their faith with a commitment to prayer and service.

Check Out a Few Local Places: Big Head Farm, Inc. 3835 Pier Rd. Benton Harbor, MI 49022 (269)-605-9527 Frank Farms 8249 Deans Hill Road Berrien Center, MI 49102 (269)-461-4125 South Bend Farmer’s Market 1105 Northside Boulevard South Bend IN 46615 Search for other local u-pick farms and farmer markets at www.pickyourown.org

• Named a 4-Star School for 2013 • State of the art iPad and Smartboard Technology • School Choice Indiana Option • Outstanding Academics

• Safe Environment • Before and After School Care • Christian Family Atmosphere • 21st Century Learning Facility • Recently Renovated and Expanded

We received an “A” on the state accountability report card!

For a tour call (574) 264-4855

www.stselkhart.com THE

FAMILY MAGAZINE | JULY 2015

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FAMILY kids

Summer Water Safety D “Kids need

By: Lt. William Redman, St. Joseph County Police

uring my past two decades as a police officer, I have witnessed my share of tragic accidents involving water; from a drowning at Potato Creek State Park, to a near drowning at a daycare facility swimming pool. Kids need constant supervision around water. Supervision is imperative not only around swimming pools, but also in bathtubs, wading pools, fish ponds, the beach or a lake.

constant supervision around water.”

Young people are especially at risk, they can drown in less than two inches (six centimeters) of water. This means drowning can occur when you least expect it, including in any standing water around your home. You must always watch your children closely when they’re around, or near any water.

Pool Safety

Having a pool, pond or hot tub on your property is a tremendous responsibility when it comes to safety. Having a fence around your property and pool is the perfect safety investment to make to help prevent pool related drownings.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), fences should meet these standards:  Fences should completely surround the pool and stand at least four feet high with no foot or handrails for kids to climb on.  Fencing should also include a lockable, self-closing and latching gate.

For more information about pool laws and requirements, please refer to the Indiana Register, Section 675 IAC 20-2-26.

It’s important to teach children proper pool safety. Kids should know to report any emergency to an adult or life guard immediately. Kids shouldn’t run or push around a pool, and should never dive into a pool not marked for diving. Above all, supervise your kids at all times.

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What to do in an Emergency If you find a child in the water, immediately get the child out of the water while yelling for help. If someone else is available, have them call 911. If you’re alone, calling 911 is even more important. Begin CPR immediately (if you’re trained) and follow the instructions provided to you by the emergency dispatcher.

If you believe the child has sustained a neck injury from diving, keep the child on his/her back and brace the neck and shoulders. Try to keep their neck from moving to minimize further injury to the spine. It’s best to have someone who is trained perform this technique. Keep the child still and speak calmly to keep child comforted. Continue to monitor his/her breathing. Provide as much information to the emergency dispatcher and as they will be arriving as soon as possible.

Each Donation…

Inspires Hope

With the long days of warm weather finally here in Michiana, the temptation and desire to be around water almost undeniable.

Protecting your child and educating your child on proper water safety will help ease your mind and ultimately keep your kids safe!

donatetogoodwill www.goodwill-ni.org FOLLOW US! FAMILY_SASSY 14024 donate ad.indd 1

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FAMILY kids

By: David Palmer

Buying a Car for Your First-Time Driver Since the creation of the automobile every teenager has waited with white-knuckled anticipation for the day when they could finally get behind the wheel of their own vehicle. With a freshly-minted license in hand, nothing spells freedom to a teenager more clearly than open windows, a blaring radio and long stretches of empty highway. But before any teen can truly call him or herself a driver they need a car to drive, and likely you, the parent, will be assisting in some way with purchasing said vehicle. Baring this in mind, here are a few tips on how to purchase a vehicle for a first-time driver that will be safe, reliable and budget friendly.

Safety First

When it comes to buying a car for your young driver, safety is paramount. A car may look good and run well, but if it is not top-quality as far as driver safety is concerned, it is not worthy of your child. Nearly all modern vehicles come equipped with safety belts and airbags as standard, but not all vehicles are created equal. While some have the bare minimum of driver and passenger front airbags, other models can have up to 12 airbags in both the front and rear of the vehicle, as well as along the sides of the car’s interior. Choosing a model with the most available airbags will greatly reduce the possibility of harm or death to a driver in the event of a crash. If you are buying used, it will behoove you to ask if the car has ever had the airbags deployed and, if so, if they were properly serviced by a licensed mechanic to replace them to like new and operable condition. To find answers to any questions you may have concerning a vehicles safety ratings, there are a slew of website—such as Edmunds. com and Safecar.com—that feature a vehicle’s IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) ratings as well as vehicle recalls and common mechanical and safety-related issues. Beyond the safety of a vehicle itself, driver training is another factor to consider a part of driver safety. Luckily, programs such as Tire Rack’s Street Survival are available to teens and teach safety lessons in how to control a skid, proper breaking and all-around accident avoidance.

In these programs, teens are encouraged to learn how to control a vehicle rather than merely drive one, which lends to keeping your child safe behind the wheel.

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“Driver training is another factor to consider a part of driver safety.”

Something to Rely On

Reliability is another central concern for parents buying their young driver a first car. Really, what good is a safe, good-looking vehicle if it leaves your child stranded on the side of the road every other week? To avoid this, Alex Pancheri, a hobbyist racecar driver and auto-industry professional suggests you learn how to properly look over a car for mechanical issues before purchasing it. “Start up the car and give it a few good revs then let it rest at idle,” Pancheri says.

“After that, open the hood, look and listen. If you hear anything like metal scrapping, clunking, ticking—or see any liquid suddenly appear where there wasn’t liquid before—something is probably wrong.” Furthermore, Pancheri urges prospective buyers to ask for as much service history as an owner or dealer can provide. With a service history, available through sites like Carfax.com, a buyer can check any damage reports a car may have and can find the number of miles on the car when it was last sold or serviced. “Another trick,” Pancheri notes, “is to always check the peddles if the miles seem too good to be true. If a car’s odometer has ultra-low miles, but the peddle covers are worn to pieces, it may have been illegally rolled-back and they simply forgot to change the worn out peddles.”

Keeping tips like these in mind can save the headache of buying a car that seemed perfect on the surface, but was actually a lemon hiding below a good polish job.

“If you hear anything like metal scrapping, clunking, ticking—or see any liquid suddenly appear where there wasn’t liquid before— something is probably wrong.”

Buy with a Budget

Hard fact: All sellers want the most money they can get from their vehicle. It is not an indictment of the car selling trade, but rather a fact as old as time itself. If you shop with a clear budget in mind, however, you can make sure that you are not biting off more than you can chew for the vehicle you want. Jason Bryant, a former car dealer, advises parents to look into privately sold used cars before heading to the dealerships. “A dealer’s number one priority is to get you to pay as much as possible,” Bryant says, “and they know the ways to make you do that. If you only want to pay, say, 400 dollars a month, but they want you to get the car that costs 600 dollars a month, they know how to convince you it isn’t so bad.” For this reason, Bryant suggests that parents avoid the lots and never finance through a dealership that offers it. He says that the best approach in any situation where financing is needed is to go directly to your own bank and try and get the financing through them directly. “The dealer doesn’t want you to pay what you want, they want you to pay what they want, and they’re good at getting it.” While dealers are trained professionals at selling cars for the top-tier of their value, a private dealer will likely be more inclined to deal and bargain with a buyer, ensuring that you get the best value for your buck when buying your teen their first vehicle.

Keeping these simple tips in mind, you too can be sure that your son or daughter will have the best experience with their first vehicle and will themselves be apt to make smart vehicle purchases later in life. So be confident that, with a little legwork and elbow-grease, you can find a vehicle which will provide years of enjoyable, reliable and safe driving pleasure for your teen.

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FAMILY kids By: Jennifer Long

Fun Ways

to Teach your Child about the

1. Talk about Letters

Talk about letters you see when you are out with your child. For example, if you are shopping for Cheerios. Tell your child, “now we are looking for Cheerios. C is for Cheerios.”

Making simple statements like this whenever you are out in the community helps your child focus on letters, promotes their awareness of print and helps them learn the names of some letters. My daughter learned lots of her alphabet from my shopping habits. She knew T-Target, W-Walmart, C-Cheerios, M-McDonalds and much more! Children are always watching and learning. A simple trip to the store can be a wonderful learning experience.

2.Go on a Letter Hunt

There are many ways to go on a letter hunt. You can pick a letter and go for a walk to look for it. You may see signs, flyers, cars and other items with the letter or you might find objects that look like the letters. For example, if you are on a letter hunt for O you could see a Toyota and identify the Os or you might see a cut tree trunk that looks like an O. Your child might amaze you with the letters he/she finds.

3. Make a Name Puzzle

You can use index cards, Popsicle sticks or cardboard squares to create a name puzzle for your child. Write one letter on each card or stick. Then mix up the letters and have your child put them in order. As your child works with the ‘name puzzle,’ help them identify the letters in their name and help them learn to put them in order.

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Learning Begins e r e h W

NOW ENROLLING for Fall 2015

My Preschool St Pauls.org

St. Paul’s United Methodist Preschool 405 W. Beardsley Ave. Elkhart In 46514 574-293-0482

4. Create a Name Collage

Write your child’s name on a piece of paper. Then provide your child with a newspaper/magazine, scissors and a glue stick. Encourage your child to find the letters of his/her name in the newspaper or magazine. When he/she finds a letter, have them cut it out and glue it on top of letter on their piece of paper. When they are done they will have a great name collage. You can do this with your child’s name or with sight words like mom, dad, the, and, etc.

It’s a great way for children to learn about letters and to begin spelling familiar words.

Teaching your child about the alphabet in fun ways like these four ways is much more meaningful than doing worksheets or flashcards.

When a child is having fun while they are learning, they not only learn more they also are more likely to retain the knowledge.

Sponsored by Alfred H. and Martha J. Choitz, Merrill Lynch Kahn Associates, Nyloncraft, Tuesley Hall Konopa, LLP and Villing & Company

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FAMILY MAGAZINE | JULY6/5/15 2015

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12:11 PM

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All Day, Downtown South Bend

Summer Restaurant Week,

Infant Time,

9:00 A.M. – 11:00 A.M., Free Time Kids PlaycareMishawaka

Summer Restaurant Week,

9:00 A.M. – 11:00 A.M., Free Time Kids PlaycareMishawaka

Infant Time,

Century Center-South Bend

Meet Me On The Island, 5:30 P.M.,

All Day, Downtown South Bend

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1:15 P.M., Jon R. Hunt PlazaDowntown South Bend

Friday’s By The Fountain, 11:45 A.M. –

8:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M., Lakeland Hospital-Niles

Farmer’s Market,

11:00 A.M., Free Time Kids Playcare-Mishawaka

Infant Time, 9:00 A.M. –

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Happy 4th Of July!

~William Faulkner

“We must be free not because we claim freedom, but because we practice it.”

JULY 2015

Scan this QR Code to get connected to our online calendar at MichianaMom.com!

Want to check out even more things to do in Michiana?

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9:00 A.M. – 12:30 P.M., St. Patrick’s County Park

Beginner Canoe And Kayak Lessons,

7:30 P.M., Bristol Opera House

Zombie Prom,

7:30 P.M., The Lerner

Legally Blonde,

10:00 A.M., The History Museum

Pieces Of South Bend,

All Day, Downtown South Bend

Summer Restaurant Week,

Five Star Life Golf Outing, 7:00 A.M.,

– 11:30 A.M., Peace Lutheran Church And School Granger

Vacation Bible School, 9:00 A.M.

Harris Branch-Mishawaka Public Library

Music On The Courtyard, 6:30 P.M.,

Downtown South Bend

Lunchtime Concert Series, 11:45 A.M.,

National Lollipop Day

Embrace Your Geekness Day

5:30 P.M. – 6:30 P.M., Elkhart Environmental Center

Meditation Yoga,

10:00 A.M., The History Museum-South Bend

Pieces Of South Bend,

Comic Book Cups,

2:00 P.M., Osolo BranchElkhart Public Library

Warren Golf Course At The University Of Notre Dame

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Family Drop-In Activities, 1:00 P.M.,

7:00 P.M., Essenhaus Heritage Hall-Middlebury

Steel Magnolias,

9:00 A.M. – 11:30 A.M., Peace Lutheran Church And School Granger

Vacation Bible School,

Wellfield Botanic GardensElkhart

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6:00 P.M., South Bend Civic Theatre

Auditions And Volunteer Fair,

10:00 A.M., Harris BranchMishawaka Public Library

Yak Snack And Read,

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5:00 P.M., Shanklin Park-Goshen

Aqua Aerobics,

6:00 P.M. – 8:30 P.M., Frederick S. Upton Education Center-St. Joseph, MI

Breastfeeding Class For Moms And Dads,

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Downtown South Bend

Archery Lesson,

6:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M., St. Patrick’s County Park

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5:30 P.M., Wellfield Botanic Gardens-Elkhart

Yoga In The Garden,

10:00 A.M., The History Museum

Pieces Of South Bend,

Lunchtime Concert Series, 11:45 A.M.,

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Cow Appreciation Day

7:00 P.M. – 9:00 P.M., St. Patrick’s County Park

Hula Hoop 101,

Zoo To You,

Games Day

Video

2:00 P.M., Harris Branch-Mishawaka Public Library

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7:30 P.M. – 10:00 P.M., Morris Performing Arts Center

Harry Connicki Jr.,

5:00 P.M., Shanklin Park-Goshen

Aqua Aerobics,

Vanilla Ice Cream Day & National Hot Dog Day

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7:00 P.M., Shanklin Park-Goshen

Outdoor Movie In The Park,

5:00 P.M., Shanklin ParkGoshen

Aqua Aerobics,

Seitz Park-South Bend

Seitz & Sounds Open Stage, 6:00 P.M.,

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11:45 A.M. – 1:15 P.M., Jon R. Hunt PlazaDowntown South Bend

Friday’s By The Fountain,

8:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M., Lakeland Hospital-Niles

Farmer’s Market,

St. Patrick’s County Park

SBCT Presents “Fiddler On The Roof”, 7:30 P.M.,

1:15 P.M., Jon R. Hunt PlazaDowntown South Bend

8:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M., Lakeland Hospital-Niles

Farmer’s Market, Friday’s By The Fountain, 11:45 A.M. –

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7:30 P.M., Bristol Opera House

Zombie Prom,

1:15 P.M., Jon R. Hunt PlazaDowntown South Bend

7:00 P.M., Essenhaus Heritage Hall-Middlebury

Steel Magnolias,

Friday’s By The Fountain, 11:45 A.M. –

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7:30 P.M., The Lerner

Legally Blonde,

3:30 P.M., Pierre Moran Branch-Elkhart Public Library

7:30 P.M., Bristol Opera House

Zombie Prom,

Superhero Vehicles,

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9:00 P.M., Wellfield Botanic Gardens-Elkhart

EnviroFest, 5:30 P.M. –

10

Zombie Prom,

7:30 P.M., Bristol Opera House

New Carlisle Memorial Park

New Carlisle Hometown Days, All Day,

8:00 A.M., Gridiron Plaza At College Football Hall Of FameSouth Bend

Summer Fitness Series,

Scuba Lessons,

All Day, Shanklin Park-Goshen

Country Café

Nappanee’s 2nd Saturday Craft Shows, 8:00 A.M.,

8:00 A.M., Shanklin Park-Goshen

Kids’ And Teens’ TryAthlon,

Family Campout,

4:00 P.M. – 10:00 A.M. (Following Day), St. Joseph County Park

All Day, Downtown St. Joseph, MI

19th Annual Chalk The Block,

7:30 P.M., St. Patrick’s County Park

SBCT Presents “Fiddler On The Roof”,

AUGUST 1

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FAMILY craft

Photos Provided By: Jill Lebbin

Squirt Gun Art

By: Jill Lebbin

Need some activities to keep your kiddos busy this summer? Squirt Gun Art is a fun outside activity!

Materials:

Steps:

• Squirt Guns

1. Pour mixture into squirt gun, using a funnel or just pouring works too.

• Watered Down Paint (50/50 Mixture) or Liquid Watercolor • Paper or Canvas

2. Set up canvas or paper on an easel.

I recommend this as an outdoor activity!

3. Squirt away!

4. Allow to dry.

5. Enjoy!

FAMILY movie review

Jurassic World Reviewed By: Cole Pollyea

In 1993, director Steven Spielberg released

his beloved Jurassic Park to highly receptive audiences who marveled at the impressive yet sophisticated special effects and the intelligent style of storytelling. With the latest entry in the series, Jurassic World, many of these filmmaking characteristics were abandoned and replaced with a big budget, an unnecessarily long running time, and eye-popping visual effects. Still though, it’s very easy to imagine a family enjoying this 124 minute exercise, as Jurassic World is a quintessential summer popcorn movie.

Making an effort to weave in family dynamics, the story of this gargantuan theme park, named Jurassic World, focuses on family members who all have some affiliation with the theme park, and then on some of the people employed by the park. Two brothers, ages 16 and 12 (whereabouts) have just been treated to a trip to their aunt’s pride and joy workplace, Jurassic World. Zach, the eldest, is not thrilled about leaving his girlfriend (and appears to be pretty sour about life in general), but is forced to take care of his brother, Gray, who is ecstatic about seeing the dinosaurs.

Their aunt, a woman of high authority in the behind-the-scenes roles of the park, played by Bryce Dallas Howard, is a hotshot professional more dazzled by the park’s profit than the actual living phenomenon that she has helped create.

When the park’s latest creation (for higher ratings and more visitors), a gigantic t-rex mutant, breaks loose and puts all of the main characters and the theme park’s reputation in peril, a downto-earth mechanic/zookeeper of the velociraptors (Chris Pratt) is employed to save the day.

Actor Chris Pratt

The ways in which Jurassic World excels can be prescribed to one word: fun. It can be just that at times, and it looks like everyone involved in the filming had a rip-roaring time making it.

Editing must have especially been a blast, because one loses count just how many times jaws drop during the exemplary CGI action scenes and birds-

eye-view shots of the theme park. It’s one genre of escapism that no doubt appeals to a family with kids who can handle a little dinosaur gore.

The fundamental problem with this movie, however, lies in the writing, and spreads from there to the acting. It’s clear that the filmmakers had a number of important themes concerning corporation-takeover in our economy to condense into the screenplay, but the problem is that it is so spoon-fed that it makes its audience sick. It was quite often that I wanted the actors to quit reading their brutal lines and just improvise!

What’s more, it plays on audience’s emotions like a violin, throwing in everything but the kitchen sink—that includes a genuinely unbelievable single-tear-rolling-down-the-cheek scene. There were a number of problems with the development of the conflict as well, including both the fact that the “best structural engineers in the world” were seen stuffing their faces with potato chips in the middle of their sentences and the fact that there were more armed soldiers than intelligent scientists in what was supposed to be a laboratory for the biggest theme park in the country! Some of the antagonists were ludicrous as well, as were the many instances in which the main characters lives’ were magnificently saved.

Despite this, Jurassic World has an essence about it that lures moviegoers of all persuasions. It’s loud, flamboyant, and entertaining to a degree.

It makes a promise to avid fans of the original; whether not that promise is met is relative, but what’s for sure is that it possesses many flaws that its predecessor does not. At the heart of the script lies the big idea concerning the dangers of taking things too far in a capitalism dominated world. Its themes discourage the extension and thereby soiling of what was once a good and even “natural” thing. The tremendous irony here is that by making Jurassic World, that’s just what these filmmakers may have done to the series.

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FAMILY MAGAZINE | JULY 2015

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FAMILY kids

Kids Say the Most Patriotic Things

By: Meagan Church

What exactly does it mean to be proud to be an American? We decided to ask that question of some students at Marquette Primary Montessori Academy in South Bend. Their honesty and unique perspectives provided us with some interesting responses. From being freedom to eating ice cream and having super heroes on our side, here is the perspective of a handful of kindergarteners to third graders: “We are free in America. I can’t do it if it is bad.” Brayln S., kindergarten “We live in America. It’s a nice place to live.

We are free.” Dane B., kindergarten “We are free unless we want to break the law. In the U.S.A. we have freedom to do anything we want.” Kenna C., kindergarten “I get ice cream. The America flag is nice.”

Kourtney W., kindergarten “What it means to be an American is eating snow cones. What it means to be an American is taking care of our place we live.”

Chloe W., first grade “To me being an American means freedom and taking care of the earth for example the wild. I like to take care of animals and in freedom all kids can go to school.”

Angela M., second grade “What an American means is that you’re free to do what you want. To wear what you want. To be how you want.”

Ben W., third grade

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FAMILY MAGAZINE | JULY 2015

“I think to be an American is to be free and to use our knowledge to help the earth. And we are loaded with video games. And to also use our freedom to be helpful. And last but not least to help others and nature.” Luke S., third grade “To me what it means to be an American is to be free and have freedom, care for the earth we live on and to be who we want to be, instead of being slaves or being bossed around.” Adelyn R., third grade “To me being an American means my country (and continent) has the best nuclear weapons, freedom, having Captain America on my side. It means having loads of video games plus Internet and WiFi.” Walt F., third grade “It means to be American to be funny. I think I should be in ballet or gymnastics. To be a real American means to take care of the earth and be kind to the earth.”

Grace G., first grade “Being American means I can go to different countries. I can play basketball and different sports. I can make new friends if I want.”

Samuel S., third grade

“To be American is to be different and special.

I love my country.”

“Being an American is being free! And getting our rights!”

“I am a Cuban American. What it means to me to be American is to be different and special. I love my country. South Bend may be small but hand in hand with the rest of America we are strong.”

Dessie M., second grade “What it means to be an American is to have seven red stripes on our flag along with six white stripes along with 50 stars. Our national bird is the bald eagle (#sorryBenFranklin) and to have #awesome video games.” Vincent B., third grade “Being an American is being free! And getting our rights!” Kara H., third grade

AAYs_WedDay_Ad Fam Mag.indd 1

“Nothing except normal and boring.”

Silas M., first grade “We have freedom in the United States of America. Our national bird is the bald eagle.

Our flag has 50 stars and seven red stripes and six white stripes. I get to go to school every day and learn new things. In America we trust in God that He will help us. We have awesome video games, loving parents, awesome Lego sets and amazing toys. America is a beautiful place and amazing. Everything here is awesome and the best place ever.”

Jonas C., second grade

“They have ice cream in America and candy in America and schools.”

Nathan J., first grade “I like to be a American because it is fun to be American because you get to drive a car and truck. And a motorcycle and a bike.”

Elijah G., third grade

“What it means to me to be a American girl is I can like just have freedom and wake up and choose what I want to wear and have a pet.” Ella H., second grade “I love my country because it’s nice.” Nico G., first grade “What it means to be an American is to have video games like Minecraft. Also treats.”

Dakota B., second grade

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FAMILY MAGAZINE | JULY4/22/15 2015

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FAMILY kids

Make this a summer free of ticks!

By: Keyna Martinez, M.D., Family Medicine, Beacon Medical Group

With summer here, creepy-crawly things are all over the place.

And one of the peskiest creatures of them all is ticks. As a primary care doctor, my summer season begins when my patients call or come in with questions regarding tick bites. We’re stuck dealing with ticks when we venture outside, but with some helpful hints we can better prepare ourselves and make this a great summer!

In Indiana, there are many species of ticks in Indiana, but the three most common ones are the American dog tick, lone star tick and black-legged tick – all of which are usually pretty harmless to people, according to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

4 Tips

for Protecting Against Ticks • Wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts.

• Tuck shirt into pants and pants into socks.

• Use insect repellant.

• Always check for ticks when you leave the woods.

While there are many diseases that can be transmitted by tick bites, most of these infections are fortunately quite rare, including the Powassan virus that generated media buzz earlier this year. Like the West Nile virus that is transmitted by mosquito bites, viruses cause many of the most serious tick-borne diseases. While these infections can cause serious illness, there are few medical tests for these diseases and no antibiotics that can treat or cure these viral infections. This means that preventing tick bites and removing ticks promptly, if you discover one on your body, are the most important tools for avoiding tick-transmitted diseases.

So what can you and your family do to prevent such bites? First, you can avoid tall grassy or brushy areas. Ticks usually climb from long grass or bushes onto pants or clothing (or fur in the case of your pets). While it is a good idea to wear a hat for sun protection, it will not prevent tick bites, as ticks do not fall out of trees.

However, if you are planning a hike into the woods, tucking the cuff of your pants into long socks does seem to help reduce tick bites. Also, using an insect repellant with 20-percent Deet and/or permethrin-imbedded clothing can repel ticks. Make sure to do regular body checks and bathe after being outside – these are your best defenses against tick bites. Be especially sure to check your hairline, behind your ears and other parts that otherwise may be difficult for you to see.

Urban myths on tick removal, using everything from matches to Vaseline, are everywhere. Most of these techniques do not work, and many of them increase the risk of transmitting a tick-borne illness. If you find a tick that is already attached, the first thing to do is to stay calm. Using tweezers, grasp the tick as close to the skin surface as possible. Do not crush or squeeze the tick’s body. Pull straight up away from the skin with firm but gentle pressure until the tick is removed. If it appears that parts of the tick’s mouth remain imbedded in the bite leave them alone. Digging after them will only increase the risk of infection and trauma to the skin. The body will naturally expel any remaining parts. Wash the bite area and your hands with soap and water after you dispose of the tick.

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FAMILY MAGAZINE | JULY 2015

CREEPY CRAWLY TICKS Three most common species of ticks in Indiana

Lone Star tick

BlackLegged tick

American dog tick

Once the tick has been removed and the skin cleansed no additional treatment is needed. However, you should monitor the area of the bite for the appearance of any rash or swelling that could indicate an infection or Lyme disease. Lyme disease is the most common illness transmitted by ticks to humans and is caused by bacteria (Borrelia burgdorferi) that can be transmitted by the bite of a deer tick (Ixodes scapularis). Deer ticks are extremely tiny (about the size of a poppy seed in the juvenile stage that is most common in the spring and early summer) and have no white markings or spots. A deer tick must be attached to the skin for over 48 hours before the Lyme bacteria can be transmitted to a human. Lyme disease is most common in the Northeastern United States and in areas of Wisconsin and Minnesota.

While Lyme disease does exist in our area, it is very uncommon as the local deer tick population has a low rate of infection with Borrelia burgdorferi.

If you find a deer tick that appears swollen or engorged, or you believe it could have been attached for more than 36 hours, contact your doctor.

There is an antibiotic that can be given in certain instances to help prevent Lyme disease. The medicine cannot be given to pregnant women, children under the age of 8 years old, those who have had a tick attached for less than 36 hours, and those who cannot take the medicine doxycycline. To be effective, it must be taken within 72 hours of removing the tick.

Blood tests for Lyme disease take 2-6 weeks after the beginning of symptoms to become positive. If you have symptoms of Lyme disease, especially a rapidly enlarging rash more than 2 inches across at the site of the bite, you should see a doctor as soon as possible. Early treatment with the right medicine usually results in a complete cure.

The best defense against tick-borne illnesses is prevention of tick bites and early identification and removal of any attached ticks. These infections are rare and concerns about contracting one of these uncommon diseases should not keep you from enjoying the outdoors.

BIRTHDAY PARTY!!!

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Bring in this coupon to Strikes & Spares to receive your discount

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FAMILY MAGAZINE | JULY 2015

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FAMILY pregnancy

Blessingway:

A Sacred Alternative to a Baby Shower By: Meagan Church Baby showers have been the traditional opportunity for an expectant mother’s friends and family to gather and celebrate the arrival of a new baby.

These gatherings often focus on the baby and gifts, but there is an alternative ceremony that focuses more on the mother-to-be. A blessingway gives women a sacred space to explore the challenges and joys of becoming a mother, while being surrounded by the most important women in her life.

“A baby shower focuses on preparing the mother with material items, whereas a blessingway is a more intimate gathering that focuses on preparing the mother emotionally, spiritually and psychologically for birth, and focuses on the mother’s personal journey into motherhood,” said Jessica Stackowicz who offers blessingway hosting, doula services and childbirth classes through Sacred Birth Services.

“A blessingway, or a mother blessing ceremony, is a beautiful way to inspire and encourage a woman on her journey into motherhood,” Jessica said. “It offers an expectant mother a chance to connect with her intuition, honor her emotions and incorporate her faith into the process.”

Sacred Space

Each blessingway can be personalized, but, according to Jessica, most include these same important elements:

The hostess works with the mother before the celebration to create a sacred space in her home, arranging chairs or floor cushions in a circle, with a special place of honor for the mother-to-be.

Cleansing

A bowl of rose water is available for guests to dip their hands in as an act of cleaning, to release their outside concerns and focus their attention on the mother.

Creating the circle

The guests stand in a circle and open with a prayer, affirmation or blessing to create a confidential, non-judgmental space.

Statements

The hostess states the purpose of the blessingway and guests introduce themselves and share a word of encouragement for the mother. The mother can share and release any fears or negative thoughts she may have about the pregnancy, birth and motherhood.

Honoring

Guests can offer encouraging stories, while caring for the mother through foot washing, shoulder massage, hair brushing, belly casting or henna. Gifts may be given, but they are often more personal or hand-made than typical baby shower gifts. Each guest can bring a bead for a labor necklace for the mother or they can decorate small squares of fabric with affirmations to create a banner for the mother to hang in her birthing space.

Closing

The ceremony often ends by weaving a web with red yarn. Each guest wraps the yarn around her wrist and passes the spool across the circle to create a beautiful visual of the connection built during the ceremony. The mother then cuts the yarn so the guests have a simple red bracelet to remind them to send prayers to the mother. A prayer of thanksgiving may be said to close the ceremony.

Feasting

Breaking bread together transitions the ceremony from the sacred to social aspect.

Each guest is encouraged to bring a dish to share.

These ceremonies often create a circle of support that extends beyond the birth. The women continue to honor and bless the new mother even after birth, during recovery and post-partum through bringing meals, offering childcare for siblings and helping with household chores.

“Becoming a mother is a mental, emotional, psychological and spiritual transformation.

A blessingway nurtures the emotional and spiritual aspects that are often overlooked in our culture, and gives the expecting mother an opportunity to explore her range of emotions and fears going into the journey,” Jessica said. “Most importantly, it celebrates this life changing experience. Motherhood can be full of fear, anxiety and can feel isolating, but a blessingway tangibly connects us to the women in our life that we can lean on for support, as well as to the universal circle of women who have birthed and become mothers before us.”

SEE clearly As we age, we naturally become more prone to eye health problems like cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration. That’s why it is so important to have a thorough eye health examination every year, or at the first sign of vision problems.

Boling Vision Center can identify any underlying conditions, which often have no noticeable symptoms, and recommend a treatment program that could potentially save your sight.

Don't let cataracts get in the way of taking in all the special moments…

If cataracts are the culprit, Boling Vision Center has a team of doctors that is second to none and an onsite state-of-the-art surgical center. We are equally equipped to diagnose and care for glaucoma, macular degeneration and other vision conditions. We offer the highest quality expertise in the industry and consistent excellence in compassionate patient care.

Learn more about eye health for maturing adults on our website or call for an appointment, and make sure you SEE clearly!

800.283.8393 | South Bend • Elkhart • Goshen BolingVisionCenter.com Now accepting VSP and EyeMed Vision Plans!

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FAMILY MAGAZINE | JULY3/20/15 2015

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Special Section Backpack Giveaway!

How to Help Your Child Prepare By: Jennifer Long

Preparing your child for kindergarten is a concern for many parents yet most parents don’t know exactly what their child needs to learn to be ready for school. Today’s kindergarten is extremely different from the kindergarten of our childhoods.

Years ago kindergarten was for socializing, coloring and possibly being introduced to the alphabet. Today’s kindergarten is often a highly academic place where children are reading, adding and subtracting, using computers and more.

What exactly does your child need to know to be ready?

First of all, it’s important to remember that a child needs to develop skills in ALL areas. Parents most often worry about academic skills however there are many other skills that are just as important (if not more important). There are academic, physical, social AND personal skills that children need to know to be ready for kindergarten. The chart below lists the top five skills in each of these areas. If your child has developed these skills he/she is preparing for kindergarten.

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Academic Skills

Social Skills

Physical Skills

Name recognition and ability to write name

Ability to take turns

Fasten clothing and shoes Toilet trained (tie, zip, button)

Color recognition

Ability to share

Ability to hold pencil

Number recognition (0 to 20)

Ability to work together with peers

Ability to cut with scissors Ability to solve problems

Letter recognition and introduction to letter sounds and sight words

Ability to sit in a group and listen

Ability to turn pages of a book properly

Handle basic needs (wipe nose, wash hands, etc)

Large, varied vocabulary

Ability to follow basic directions

Ability to move well (run, skip, jump, hop)

Communicate needs

FAMILY MAGAZINE | JULY 2015

Personal Skills

Self control and the ability to calm down when upset

“Young children learn best through hands-on, meaningful experiences.”

A survey of Indiana Kindergarten teachers showed that they rated mastery of self-help skills, self-control and good listening skills above knowledge of letters, numbers, colors and shapes. A local kindergarten teacher once told me, “With 20 or more students in my room, I’m more worried about being able to keep classroom control. If the classroom is under control, I can easily teach the alphabet, colors, shapes and sight words.

It’s much more difficult to teach them self control, to wait for their turn and to listen.”

So what can you do to help prepare your child?

Help your child master as many skills as possible from the chart. A child can master many of these skills at home or your might enroll your child in a high quality preschool program to help prepare him/her for kindergarten.

Remember that your true goal should be to promote a love of learning, not to simply prepare your child for kindergarten. A child that loves to learn and is excited by school will succeed.

Nurturing artists of all ages since 1947!

Classes for preschoolers to adults start the week of August 17th, 2015.

Visit SOUTHBENDART.ORG for class descriptions and online registration.

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A high quality preschool program can help your child’s progress in all of these skills.

When seeking a preschool program, look for a program that teaches through playful methods. Research shows that when young children are prepared in a play-based preschool, children develop kindergarten readiness skills in the most appropriate way. Preschools that are ‘overly academic’ focus too much on memorization. Things that children try to memorize can be easily forgotten because memorization is not meaningful learning. Young children learn best through hands-on, meaningful experiences.

Play-based preschools understand how to teach children academic, social, personal and physical skills in fun and interactive ways.

This type of learning is most meaningful to children. When children have a fabulous and engaging learning experience they don’t forget it! However when they try to memorize things, they forget often.

CHECK OUT www.adecinc.com/jobs TODAY TO FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN FIND EMPLOYMENT AND CHANGE LIVES. THE

FAMILY MAGAZINE | JULY 2015

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Special Section Backpack Giveaway!

Back-to-School

Shopping By: Jennifer Long

It may feel like summer has just begun but if you want to get the best prices, it’s nearly time to begin back-to-school shopping. Your child will need school supplies, clothes, shoes and so much more. If you plan well, back to school shopping can be a lot of fun. If you head to the stores unprepared, it can be expensive and frustrating.

Before you begin your shopping, consider these tips:

Shopping for School Supplies When shopping for school supplies, first get a list from your child’s teacher.

The school corporations typically publish a basic supply list but many teachers have a personalized list that describes exactly what your child will need for that class. Stick to this list, it will keep you focused and ensure your child has everything his/her teacher has requested. When I find great sales, I always buy double. I buy double the supplies and put half in my child’s closet for midyear. My children typically have ripped folders, broken crayons and inkless pens by January. Buying double in July/August means I can restock their school supplies in January without having to pay full price. Let’s face it, most children are rough on their stuff and their supplies are not going to last an entire school year.

One you have your shopping list ready, grab the Sunday newspaper. The best sales will be in July and early August. If you shop during this time, you can find GREAT deals! I’ve purchased notebooks, sharpies, pencils and other necessities for as low as 10 cents, some items were as much as 90% off! You should expect to be able to get notebooks, pens, pencils, folders, markers, crayons, scissors, glue and most other basic supplies for 50 to 90% off their regular retail price. Sometimes you can even get a free item!

Be sure to check all of the big retailers as well as the office stores. You will spend a little gas money going around town but it’s worth it for those prices. Don’t forget that some stores match their competitor’s sales prices so you could save on gas by bringing along your sales flyers and shopping at one store.

Shopping for Clothes and Shoes Looking perfect on the first day of school is more important to some children than others. Some children are trendsetters while others are trend followers or casual dressers that don’t care what their peers are wearing.

If your child is a casual dresser that doesn’t follow the newest fad, call yourself lucky and just purchase some simple jeans, t-shirts, hoodies and tennis shoes.

If your children are true fashionistas (trend setters or trend followers), they could easily blow your shopping budget on one outfit. My advice is to sit down with your child and make a list of ‘must haves’ before you hit the mall or your child’s favorite store. When you get to the store, put your child in charge of their own list. Once shopping begins, it’s easy to buy too much or to miss something that your child really needs. A detailed shopping list will keep both of you focused because, let’s face it, that fully sequined $100 hoodie is what’s going to grab their attention, not the bargain priced pack of socks. Making a detailed list of exactly what your child needs and then sticking to the list (unless your budget can afford a few splurge items) is the best way to shop. No matter your budget, don’t forget to stock up on socks and underwear. They are often at their best sale prices in August.

Tight Budget? If you are on a very tight budget, consider thrift store shopping for clothes and shoes. Buying “new to you” rather than brand new clothes are shoes is fun, too.

Multiple Children? If you have multiple children consider buying bigger packages of school supplies and dividing them among your children. Bigger packs typically mean a lower cost per item.

No Budget? If you are fortunate enough to be shopping with an unlimited budget, consider picking up some extra supplies for charity.

There are many children in our community that would benefit greatly from donated school supplies, clothing and shoes.

Remember that the most important part of back to school shopping is the time you spend with your child! Most children get excited picking out their school supplies, clothes and shoes.

Make it a fun weekend of “mommy and me” time!

NEW Preschool & School-Aged Care @ Bristol Elementary!

Preschool Program: This fall Growing Kids Learning Center will offer a preschool program for

young children who are not enrolling in kindergarten this year. The program follows Growing Kids’ award-winning curriculum and educational program to prepare these younger students for kindergarten.

School-Age Care Basically, Growing Kids provides care and activities whenever school is not in session!

• On School Days - Before / After School care is available.

• On School Days Off or Snow Days – Growing Kids provides a full-day program • School Vacations – Growing Kids offers Camp during Spring, Winter, and Summer Break.

How it works… Growing Kids and Elkhart Community

Schools formed a partnership to provide these services within the Bristol Elementary School building. Interested parents will need to enroll in the Growing Kids program.

• Open daily at 5:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. (Possibly earlier if needed) • Evening Care – Available until 11:30 p.m. (w/ sufficient enrollment) • Flexible schedules.

For more information or to enroll your child, call 574-266-1800, visit GrowingKids.com or email Info@GrowingKids.com.

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FAMILY mommy & daddy

Dear Mom,

I’m a Book Jacket

Judger By: Meagan Church

Dear Mom,

“Judging a book by its cover rarely shows us the depth of what’s inside.”

I confess that I often judge a book by its cover. A nice book jacket and cover art can easily sway my decision to read a book, just as a poorly designed cover can turn me away. I realize that a cover has little to do with what the pages hold. Even still I too often make decisions based on an outward impression.

By looking at the cover art, my subconscious quickly labels a book, putting it into a favorable or unfavorable category. The font and image relay whether the book is fluff or literary, romance or horror, worth my time or a waste of paper. As my eyes scan the shelves in search of my next read, I label and sort.

Of course this method doesn’t always serve me well, but it is how my mind is programmed to organize what is before me. And sadly I realize that I do this with more than just books. Sometimes I also do this with my kids.

Recently my eight-year-old son brought home a permission slip to join the school choir. As he handed me the paper, I quickly assumed he meant for it to be tossed into the recycle bin. After all, this was my shy, introverted child.

This was the boy who during each Christmas performance at church looks like he is in agony every minute that he is forced to stand on stage in front of a crowd of people. I knew his story. I had already sorted and labeled him according to his past: shy, introverted, uncomfortable in front of crowds.

As my mind categorized him and placed him into his proper genre, he said to me, “Can you sign the permission slip?” Suddenly my labels began to crumble.

I had heard that the choir performance was coming up and I had joked that there was no way my son would take part. I remembered how terrified he looked on that stage at church, how I wanted to call him down from the risers and rescue him from his discomfort.

I knew his past and the labels we’ve placed upon him, but I failed to see him as a threedimensional, ever-changing person.

Before signing the permission slip, I wanted to ask him if he understood what it meant, if he knew that he would have to sing in front of a lot of people. Instead of asking, I simply signed the paper and handed it back to him.

On the night of the performance, I still saw those hints of shyness, but I also saw bravery.

He may not have had the charisma of the mini-David Lee Roth (complete with similar hair style) who stood beside him, sang without abandon and eagerly waved to all of his peeps in the crowd. But, that night I saw how limiting labels can be.

The thing about kids is that we often think we have them figured out. We think we know their personalities and preferences, so we call them the introvert or the extrovert, the funny one or the quiet one, the athlete or the drama queen.

We give them names that we think identify them without harming or limiting them.

As I sat in that hard, metal folding chair and watched him sing along with his classmates, I saw how I had nearly limited him with a name. I thought I knew my quiet one, but all that I really knew was that judging a book by its cover rarely shows us the depth of what’s inside.

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FAMILY mommy & daddy

Product Testing:

Bug Repellent

I

By: Lara West

t’s hard for me to say I love summer in its entirety. To be honest, I’d prefer to have early fall weather all year long, but summer does it have it perks…outdoor swimming, sandy beaches at your toes, zoo visits, roller coasters, picnics and other outdoor festivities. It’s not the heat that turns my nose; it’s the B-U-G-S!

For Further Protection:

Every year, we invest a few hours of our hard-earned salary on bug spray. They range from $4 -10 for a six oz. bottle at the local big box store, and the convenient wipes run about $8 for 15 wipes. There are also stickers, personal fan devices and candles to help keep the bugs at bay. For this comparison, I bought the least expensive spray can and the most expensive. I also bought a eucalyptus lemongrass spray that was priced in the middle of the pack (around $6.50).

• Wear light colored clothes.

STICKERS

PHOTO COURTESY OF DON’T BITE ME! PATCH

FAN

PHOTO COURTESY OF WWW.OFF.COM

• Tuck pant legs into socks and wear a hat to protect from ticks.

• Skip the perfumes and scented lotions.

• Remove standing water around the yard.

SPRAY

PHOTO COURTESY OF WWW.SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

The Products

For some of the other products, there either was not a price difference across brands, or there was not a competing brand at the store. Still, I purchased the stickers and personal fan just to see if they are worth the money. Since the mosquitoes love my daughter, this gave me the perfect opportunity to try the other repellent options that don’t require me to soak her in spray.

The Test

I first conducted this test by using one repellent one night and another kind the next night and so on. I had a few bites here and there that I documented, so not to confuse which brand I was wearing when I got them. I realized that wasn’t the most effective way to compare the repellents against each other. Once those bites cleared, I used the most expensive spray on one side of my body, and the least expensive on the other. This way, all environmental factors were the same.

The Results Let’s start with the results for the stickers, wipes and personal fan. The personal fan is small and clips very easily on to your clothes.

I wore it on the front pocket of my shorts, and did notice a light audible sound. The fan was positively effective leaving me with only one bite after four hours of use. However, I noticed several mosquitoes hovering uncomfortably close to my ankles after three hours, so I still had to swat a few bugs away.

This is a good option if you don’t want the spray on you, don’t mind the light humming of the fan and are not planning on being out too long. The cost of the machine and the refills is a little high for me, but it did work.

The stickers had an odd smell that my daughter didn’t really seem to mind, but she did mention it. Since they all seemed to be intended for children’s use, I put one on as directed on the back of my daughter’s shirt and she played outside off and on for about six hours with it. She did suffer two bites on the back of her legs, but I really liked the idea of not putting chemicals all over my daughter. I’m going to be keeping a stash of these around, and try swapping them out every four hours instead of trusting it to work for six.

While my daughter tested the stickers, I wiped myself down with a moist towelette.

These wipes were convenient and worked very well for about three hours. I did not incur a single bite and the annoying gnats even stayed away, but they are a bit pricey for daily family use. I put the rest of the wipes in the car to have on hand when out-and-about and we need an easy quick application.

For the spray repellents, the test was conclusive that they all work well across the board. The more expensive brands lasted oneto-two hours longer than the less expensive. I was not a fan of the smell of the deet sprays, and I preferred the lemon-eucalyptus smell. If you are not going to be out for long periods of time you can certainly use one of the cheaper repellents, but if you are going for a hiking trip or family day out and don’t want to worry about reapplying as often, it may be worth it to buy the more expensive brand for the longer lasting protection.

Enjoy the summer and keep the bugs off!

NOTEW RING

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574.293.4469 www.premierarts.org THE

FAMILY MAGAZINE | JULY 2015

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FAMILY book review

Ways to Help In Your

Community

By Claire O’Neal

Reviewed By: Tina Emerick, Children’s Services Coordinator, Mishawaka Library This summer the library is centering on its summer reading theme of Every Hero Has a Story. Superheroes and local heroes alike will be highlighted in our programs. Kids, of all ages, can be a hero too, simply by getting involved in their community.

The book, Ways to Help in Your Community, gives kids and teens different ideas on how to help out and get involved in the lives of others. From a block party, to a community clean up, to starting a recycling program at home are a few ways to get youth involved and getting to know others around them.

Other ideas that will get everyone out of the neighborhood from serving in a soup kitchen, visiting with seniors or volunteering at a non-profit organization like your local library! The book not only gives ideas on how to help out but practical helps and advice on how to get started.

In the back of the book there is an index, resources, listed by state and internet sites. This is a great way for our kids and teens and youth groups to find ideas and get involved.

So next time parents you have a child saying they are bored or can’t make a difference in this world. Read this book and get your child off to a great starting in giving back! Because, Every Hero Has a Story and theirs could be within the book Ways to Help in Your Community. Now, let’s get out there and make a volunteer!

FAMILY student book review

The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict Novel By Trenton Lee Stewart Reviewed By: Layla Rosales, Edwardsburg Middle School

Young Nicholas Benedict, age nine, is a small, orphaned boy with a nose almost as big as his brilliant mind. This youthful child has been transferring orphanages as long as he can remember, but when he winds up at a manor called “Rothschild’s End” he encounters something bigger than the vicious bullies, greedy adults, and the unfortunate narcolepsy (a condition that makes one fall asleep at random intervals) that he faces. He stumbles on a long mystery of the missing inheritance of Mr. Rothschild-the founder of the large orphanage. As Nicholas digs deeper into this mystery of the absent money and various clues left behind, he makes lots of enemies, acquaintances, and even two friends in the most unlikely circumstances.

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The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict is an epilogue of Nicholas Benedict’s past from the first three books and contains many fun references and explanations only fans of the first book The Mysterious Benedict Society would get. I would recommend this book to kids of my age because this book series is very interesting, containing many different mysteries and plot twists that leave readers turning page after page and rushing to the book store to buy the next one in the series. This book series is very long, so it will keep kids occupied from time to time, and the books never get old.

FAMILY recipe

Time: 5 minutes Makes 6 (6 oz) servings Ingredients: 4 c. fruit, preferably frozen* 4 oz. vanilla yogurt

Created By: Katie and Theresa Slott

1/4 c. orange juice 1/4-1/2 c. milk * For Strawberry-Blueberry-Banana: 2 c. strawberries, 1 c. blueberries, 1 whole banana For Blueberry-Peach: 2-3 c. blueberries, 1-2 c. peaches

Steps: Place all ingredients in a blender. Puree until smooth. Add more milk if necessary to reach desired thickness.

Save Now to Save Later

Avoid the Burn of Student Loans. Start Saving Now with CollegeChoice 529.

College can mean a bright future for your son or daughter, but paying back costly loans can keep your graduate from getting ahead.

Open a CollegeChoice 529 account today with as little as $10.

Tips: •

Children can help with many of the steps, including measuring fruit, adding ingredients to the blender, and pushing the buttons on the blender–once the lid is on!

•

To save time, pre-measure the fruit in bags in the freezer so you’re ready for the next smoothie snack time!

•

Freeze the smoothies in Popsicle molds for a homemade frozen (and healthy) treat!

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.

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.

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The only area hospital

Isla, 3

MemorialChildrensHospital.org MemorialChildrensHospital.org

Just for me!