January 2019 by Minnesota Parent

PLUS

A new on slo twist ppy jo es Pag e 26

January 2019

10 WAYS to stop sickness Page 22

Be kind â&#x20AC;&#x201D; every day Page 16

When strep leads to

PANDAS Page 30

winter

How we

A local kit for potty training Page 10

Tried-and-true hacks from Minnesota parents! Page 46

ALSO INSIDE:

85+ Camp & Education Resource Listings Page 52

Maliya, 3, Maple Grove

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Learn more or register online at ymcamn.org/summer or call 612-230-9622 for more information

JANUARY

VOLUME 34 /// ISSUE 1

What is PANDAS?

Fed up

Secrets to survival

There’s nothing black and white about this mysterious — and controversial — clinical diagnosis.

The American Academy of Pediatrics is urging parents to avoid six dangerous additives found in food and packaging.

Struggling to deal with another Minnesota winter with kids? Try these tips and tricks from parents.

& About 60 Out CAL EN DA R

ALSO INSIDE

52 Camp L ISTIN G S 56 Education L ISTIN G S

About our cover kid Name: Maliya

Age: 3

City: Maple Grove

Parents: Dom and Brittany Barber Sibling: Titus, 3 (her twin brother, at right) and little brother Tatum, 1 Personality: Creative, loving, silly, imaginative and bossy — or as we like to say — a leader! Favorite toys: Any book, baby dolls, Barbie dolls, play kitchen and wooden puzzles Favorite books: I’m a Little Tea Pot and Peter Pan Favorite activities: Dancing, dress-up, climbing at the park, visits to the library and racing her brothers Favorite foods: Chicken nuggets, broccoli with ranch, and ice cream Photos by Tracy Walsh / tracywalshphoto.com

January 2019 • mnparent.com

8 FROM THE EDITOR

Not nothing

There’s a long, tough story in this issue. Please read it. 10 CHATTER

Potty products

Can underwear, a story, a stool and dolls lead to proper toileting? 12 BUMP, BIRTH AND BABY

Up all night

Even if your child sleeps, you might not get the rest you need. 14 THE UNCENSORED TODDLER

Mama memes

They say we’re just fine the way we are. But are we? 16 SCHOOL DAYS

Let love win

INSTRUCTIONAL SPORTS PROGRAMS learn the skills

•

play the game

OVER 20,000 PARTICIPANTS TAUGHT

Acts of kindness can heal a weary heart in a hard world.

Offering both day camps and evening classes

18 WORLD’S OKAYEST MOM

Classes for ages 2–12, including weeknights

On birthing

There’s nothing like meeting your child for the first time. 20 NANA & MAMA

Baby No. 2

SIGN-UP NOW!

4–6 week sessions 1-Day/Week 30–45 Minutes Camps week-long for active skill development

Follow these tricks for getting a sibling ready for a bro or sis. 22 ASK THE PEDIATRICIAN

Stop being sick

Follow these doc tips to treat and prevent the common cold. 24 ON BEHAVIOR

Eating it up

Why did my kid stop enjoying his healthy home lunches? 26 IN THE KITCHEN

Pizza in a bun

Ditch the beef with these sausage-based sloppy joes. 28 BOOKSHELF

All the feels

Managing emotions isn’t easy, but these stories help kids deal. 66 FROM OUR READERS

Z is for zoo

Your wild things love going out to see exotic animals.

25+ Sports Taught & Played, including: soccer, baseball, basketball, flag football, lacrosse, floor hockey, ninja warriors, dodgeball, cricket, rugby, team handball, ultimate frisbee, kickball, volleyball, badminton, golf, tennis, pickleball, laser tag, archery, trampoline sports, quidditch & more!

RevSports.org info @ RevSports.org

612-234-7782

FROM THE EDITOR mnparent.com

PUBLISHER Janis Hall jhall@mnparent.com SALES MANAGER AND CO-PUBLISHER Terry Gahan tgahan@mnparent.com GENERAL MANAGER Zoe Gahan zgahan@mnparent.com EDITOR Sarah Jackson editor@mnparent.com CONTRIBUTORS Megan Devine, Katie Dohman, Ed Dykhuizen Dr. Allison Golnik, Laura Groenjes Mitchell Shannon Keough, Tina Mortimer Mary Rose Remington, Christina Ries Jen Wittes, Tracy Walsh CREATIVE DIRECTOR Valerie Moe vmoe@mnparent.com SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Micah Edel GRAPHIC DESIGNER Brenda Taylor CONTRIBUTING DESIGNER Dana Croatt CLIENT SERVICES Delaney Patterson 612-436-5070 • dpatterson@mnparent.com CIRCULATION Marlo Johnson 612-436-4388 • distribution@mnparent.com ADVERTISING 612-436-4360 • sales@mnparent.com 45,000 copies of Minnesota Parent are printed monthly, available at 1,100 locations: mnparent.com/racks Go to mnparent.com/subscribe to get this magazine mailed to your home for $18 a year.

Minnesota Parent (ISSN 0740 3437) is published monthly by Minnesota Premier Publications. POSTMASTER send address changes to: MINNESOTA PARENT, 1115 Hennepin Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55403. Minnesota Parent is copyright 2019 by Minnesota Premier Publications. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. Address all material to address above.

Not for nothing “M

aking the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.” Oh, how true, how true! As a Type A gal, this is one of the most challenging parts of parenting for me: Here’s this amazing little guy who I love so dearly, and I can’t and shouldn’t protect him (the very heart of me and of his father) from every little thing. But when my son is sick, watch out, as my Mama Bear Worry kicks into high gear. Stomachaches in the middle of the night, a bronchitis-esque cough or even a sudden sad mood all send me into a whirlwind of concern. And not for nothing. Photo by Tracy Walsh / tracywalshphoto.com When my son was 1, he had a serious unexplained sepsis infection in his ankle. Thanks to his dad, who knew right away something was up, he survived after a same-day surgery and five nights in the hospital. It seems almost like nothing now, but this month’s magazine, our annual Health Issue, reminded me just how hard it is to parent in a world that sometimes seems so full of illness, dangers and violence. But there are some things we can control. We can stay informed (and keep calm). In the spirit of staying informed, please check out the feature in this issue on the little-known mental health condition known as PANDAS. It’s a long piece. But it’s important. It tells the story of three local families whose children received this relatively new diagnosis, but not before enduring immense anguish and endless uncertainty. All three families, feeling abandoned by the medical establishment, were forced to strike out on their own to stop their children’s suffering — suffering apparently caused by strep throat (an incredibly common bacterial infection) gone horribly wrong. They’ve told us their stories, not to inspire sympathy, but to prevent other families from experiencing the grief they’ve endured. We’re not trying to scare you or even make you fear strep throat. As common as it is, that’s not a good idea. But if your child experiences sudden and severe mental health problems following a case of strep throat or other infection, this autoimmune condition (which can be called PANDAS or PANS) could be the cause. And you need to know about it. It also might not be the cause. And the treatments might not “fix” your kid. But when it comes to your heart walking around outside your body — and when that heart is plagued by fits and fears and is unable to go to school — looking at all the options seems like the best idea to me.

Sarah Jackson, Editor

January 2019 • mnparent.com

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CHATTER

Meet The Potty Fairy! When it comes to potty training, a little imagination can go

Pap wrote the story of The Potty Fairy in 1989.

a long way.

“I had a friend who was frustrated training her daughter,

So says Lino Lakes author Mary Pap, a longtime Minnesota

who was resistant,” she said. “I had a dream about the

educator and mother of four, whose book — The Potty Fairy

potty fairies and wrote the story for her and sewed

— relies on the powers of magical fairies to help make the

her underwear.” It worked.

toileting process exciting and fun for boys and girls.

“For years, I did individual books and

In addition to the book (also available in Spanish and French), there are Potty Fairy companion products, including training pants ($20); underwear with a special stamp on the

sewed underwear for friends,” Pap said. At that time, Pap, a single mom, didn’t

rear, available in flower or lightning bolt patterns ($10.95–

have time to bring her idea to the masses.

$15.95); adorable

Now retired and a grandmother to seven,

handmade dolls,

she’s going for it. Parents can meet Pap and learn more about

male and female, available in various

The Potty Fairy at a Toddler Tuesdays event from

skin tones ($28); and

10 a.m.–noon Jan. 15 at the Mall of America.

wooden horse potty

Professional storyteller Vickijoan Keck will

riders ($85) for

share The Potty Fairy story, followed by

stability and

games, prizes, crafts, giveaways, parent

imaginative play (and

resources, a book signing and a special sale.

to dispel fears about

Learn more at thepottyfairy.com.

The Big Potty).

↑ Take away fear of The Big Potty with a Potty Rider.

A new local milk bank

The Minnesota Milk Bank for Babies — the first facility of its kind in the state — is set to open sometime in the next few months in Golden Valley. Currently, the closest milk banks are in Iowa and Illinois. But with a new bank open locally, Minnesota mothers’ donated milk won’t need to be shipped out of state for pasteurization, storage and distribution. Instead, it can be processed locally and go more quickly to vulnerable preemies and other local babies — all while avoiding sky-high overnight shipping fees. Milk bank co-founder Jill Lindquist, a nurse and board-certified lactation consultant, said the bank expects to distribute milk in the first quarter of 2019. Lindquist said the bank is getting ready for inspection and approval from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and from the Human Milk Banking Association of North America. “The board has been working so hard for nearly six years. We can hardly believe we are actually seeing this dream come true,” Lindquist said. “We just can’t wait to help our babies and save lives right here in Minnesota.” To learn how to donate milk — or to support the nonprofit milk bank with cash donations — go to mnmilkbank.org. Learn more about local milk sharing at mnparent.com/milk-sharing.

January 2019 • mnparent.com

January 12; February 2; March 30 2 Days: Lift, Lodging, Ski Rental • From $149/person

Face painting, crafts, magic, pizza party, fireworks, live music Teddy Bear Band 1/12 • The Bazillions 2/2 • Okee Dokee Brothers 3/30

www.lutsen.com/winfamilyfest

Jen Wittes

BUMP, BIRTH AND BABY

‘Has she slept through the night yet?’ O

h, but we do love to talk about infant sleep. Where they sleep, with who and with what — be it with mom (judgement kindly offered either way) or a twin, with deadly stuffed animals and crib bumpers or beside a white noise maker that will dictate a lifetime of NEVER being able to sleep well in a quiet room. We love to ask if Baby is sleeping through the night yet. We ask it a week after birth. We ask it absentmindedly and — dare I say — quite rudely. I don’t know, Grandma. Are YOU sleeping through the night or do you still have an overactive bladder? When it comes to infant sleep, there are only three truths to hold on to as you try to keep your sanity: 1. Babies sleep a lot. 2. Babies wake a lot. 3. All babies are different — especially when it comes to sleep.

Let’s celebrate! Because we will, without even thinking, talk endlessly about newborn sleep, I want to

BABY STUFF

talk about you, the parent, specifically about how this new little life affects your sleep. I promise this isn’t a “sleep when baby sleeps” pep talk, but rather an anthropological exploration — and celebration — of how you’re biologically wired. Hint — you have changed! The average amount of sleep a newborn gets per day is about 16 hours.

Musical activities

Emily Ireland, who owns Brighter Minds Music in south Minneapolis, has a published a book for new parents — Brighter Baby: 60+ Fun Musical Activities for You and Your Baby to Do Together. Written to encourage parent-child bonding, this book also helps parents relive beloved early childhood music and provides brain-boosting activities for Baby. brightermindsmusic.com

January 2019 • mnparent.com

Average implies that some babies sleep only 12 hours per day, while others sleep 20. We know that this sounds restful on paper; we also know it is exhausting in practice. Why? Throughout those many hours of sleep, your baby has needs! He will wake and call for you if scared, lonely, cold, hot, wet or hungry. Between his cries, you might wake — adrenaline pumping — wondering if Baby is scared, lonely, cold, hot, wet or hungry. Welcome to symbiosis. Though you don’t need your baby for basic life skills, your body will most certainly feel the need to care for him. Even if you’re able to stay in jammies all day, dutifully — sorry, I have to say it — sleeping when Baby sleeps, you’re not going to get a solid eight. Sleeping in spurts with one eye open, tuned in to the anticipated needs of your baby, is more exhausting than staying up all night.

Sleeping in spurts with one eye open, tuned in to the anticipated needs of your baby, is more exhausting than staying up all night. And then, the first time Baby sleeps through the night — which probably means about six hours — you will run to her frantically, wondering what went wrong.

You’ve changed. The six hours will slowly become eight hours and your “new normal” will just become normal. However, you will never sleep again as you did before parenthood. You will often wake at 4 in the morning, without reason, because that was your baby’s favorite time to feed. You will jolt from the deepest sleep when your baby, now 7 years old, throws up in the middle of the night. When they’re teenagers — out, driving, possibly getting pregnant and taking drugs and vandalizing the entire neighborhood all at once — you may fear you’ll never sleep again. When your baby becomes a mom and calls you, fried with exhaustion and worried sick about everything and nothing, you will pick up the phone at 4. You will be there. You will remember. You’ve changed. You’re biologically wired to parent 24/7, whether you sleep when Baby sleeps or decide instead to binge watch GLOW. For the rest of your life, you will — underneath it all — be exhausted. But when you do occasionally get a good, solid night of sleep, it will be delicious.

Tracy Walsh Photography MNP 1118 H6.indd 1

EXERCISE PREGNANCY STUDY The University of Minnesota is seeking women who are currently less than 20 weeks pregnant to participate in a research study examining the effect of exercise and wellness on mood following childbirth.

10/24/18 10:28 AM

ESTUDIO SOBRE EL EJERCICIO DURANTE EL EMBARAZO La Universidad de Minnesota está buscando mujeres con menos de 20 semanas de embarazo para participar en el estudio de investigación que examina los efectos del ejercicio y la salud del estado de ánimo posterior al parto

• Program delivered to you via the mail and phone

• Programa ejecutado vía correo o teléfono

• Must be 18 years of age or older

• Debe ser mayor o igual a 18 años de edad

• Must not currently exercise regularly

• No debe hacer ejercicio regularmente

• Must not take antidepressants

• No debe tomar antidepresivos

• You will receive $100 & a FitBit for your time (you will be allowed to keep the FitBit after the study is over)

• Usted recibirá $100 y un FitBit por su tiempo (será permitido quedarse con el FitBit después de la culminación del estudio)

• Program can be delivered in English or Spanish

• Debe considerarse de bajos ingresos, lo cual se define como:

• Must be considered low-income, defined as: - Enrollment in any government assisted program (e.g., WIC, SNAP) AND/OR - Annual income that is considered low (less than $45,510 for a family of four, less than $30,044 for a family of two, and less than $22,311 if single). English: Call or TEXT to 612-345-0325 or mompro@umn.edu to see if you qualify for this research study.

- Inscripta en cualquier programa asistencial del gobierno (por ejemplo, WIC, SNAP) Y/O - Ingresos anuales considerados como bajos (menos de $ 45,510 para una familia de cuatro, menos de $ 30,044 para una familia de dos y menos de $ 22,311 si es soltera). Español: Llamada o TEXTO 612-237-1004 o mompro@umn.edu para ver si califica para éste estudio.

Jen Wittes is a marketing director, writer, certified postpartum doula and mom of two living in St. Paul. U of M - Kinesiology Dept MNP 0318 S3.indd 2

2/14/18 11:13 AM

mnparent.com • January 2019

Shannon Keough

THE UNCENSORED TODDLER

Are you enough? “M

ama, you are enough.” — omnipresent inspirational mom memes. When I was pregnant with our first child, my husband and I toured the hospital where I was planning to give birth. Renowned for its low rate of C-sections and its army of beloved midwives, it was the place to have one’s “natural” childbirth experience. The tour guide led us into the “water birth suite” — one of the prime selling points of the hospital, of course. She proudly informed us that any mother who wanted to deliver her baby in the water would be given the opportunity. My eyes fixated on a flimsy paper sign taped up over the giant bathtub. It read: “She believed she could, so she did.” The message was clear — when it came to childbirth, it was just a case of mind over matter. Needless to say, despite my “belief” in natural childbirth, I ended up having one

of the emergency C-sections that would besmirch the hospital’s statistics for 2011.

Unwanted inspiration For one reason or another, modern motherhood is overrun with inspirational messaging. For every straightforward article offering advice about how to get your baby to sleep, there are at least five others urging us mothers to “breathe,” “fill your cup first” and “embrace the chaos.” We’re also ordered to “ask for help,” but at the same time reminded “you are enough.” You are enough. That one always makes me cringe a little. What does that even mean? OK, I know what it means. All kinds of motherhoodfocused websites with names like “Abundant Mama” and the “The Balanced Mamas” are on hand to tell us what it means. As far as I can tell, “you are enough” is a battle cry for all the mothers out there trying to “do it all” who feel like they’re

failing. It’s for women who think their mothering is somehow subpar, and their children will be messed up because of it. Basically, when someone reassures you that “you are enough,” they’re urging you to not feel so guilty about everything — that really, you’re doing just fine. I can’t really argue with that message. It’s pretty good, right? So what if you ordered takeout for the third day in a row, if you forgot about the laundry until it went all mildewy, if you didn’t sign your kid up for that enriching activity everyone else is doing. Remember: You’re doing the best you can! You are enough!

But am I really? There’s something a little desperate about this urgent affirmation. Before some blogger informed me that I was “enough,” I hadn’t really thought about the fact that I might not be. Now I take the affirmation to task: When I let my kids watch three hours of Netflix garbage while I work: Is that enough? (I have a sneaking suspicion it’s just me being lazy.) And what about mothers with real problems — women who are dealing with poverty, mental illness, crushing grief?

There’s something a little desperate about this urgent affirmation. Before some blogger informed me that I was ‘enough,’ I hadn’t really thought about the fact that I might not be. 14

January 2019 • mnparent.com

TODDLER STUFF

Pony Cycle Part bicycle, part rocking horse, this steerable stuffed steed on wheels is a minor marvel of physics. Kids simply push up and down on a stirrup platform to giddy up. Yes, it can even be used indoors. Sizes include small (ages 3–5 up to 55 pounds) and medium (ages 4–9 up to 88 pounds). Heads up: There aren’t any brakes, so it’s best used only on flat surfaces (no inclines). ponycycle.com • $219–$259

Maybe these mothers don’t need to be told they are “enough.” Maybe they need actual, real-world help. I feel there are some unpleasant truths being pushed under the rug when we’re fed these messages about how we’re just fine the way we are. Like, by being told that we’re “enough,” we’re also kind of being told that we shouldn’t want anything more. I mean, sure, I’m enough right now. But I’d be so much better with subsidized childcare and government-mandated maternity leave. Give me that, and it will be way easier to “breathe” and “embrace the chaos.” Shannon Keough lives in St. Paul with her husband and two children. Send questions or comments to skeough@mnparent.com.

Be a force of goodness

ver the past year, there have been too many headlines featuring tragedies, destruction and disaster. When I’ve heard reports of tragic news — like I’m sure many of you have — I experienced sadness, stress, fear and worry. With reports of mass shootings, corruption and disaster, it can feel like our world is falling apart. I know there’s a lot of good in the world. In fact, reports suggest that overall, in terms of global poverty, disease and oppression, our world is in an upswing. Unfortunately, it’s the negativity that gets much of the attention. We hear and see it so much in the news and on our social media feeds. All of that negativity can take its toll. According to a survey conducted by the American Psychological Association, more than half of Americans say the news causes them stress, and many report feeling anxiety, fatigue or sleep loss as a result. The study also found that 1 in 10 adults check the news every hour, and 20 percent

January 2019 • mnparent.com

matter, even though they may seem inconsequential. Little changes in humanity can lead to medium changes that can lead to big changes. The possibilities are endless, especially if we choose to make kindness a habit. Kindness breeds kindness. Performing random acts of kindness is both fun and fulfilling. There’s even research that links acts of kindness with the well-being and health of individuals who practice it and receive it. Make someone’s day. Leave a generous tip, smile at strangers, consider making a donation to a cause you believe in. You might have to deliberately get out of your comfort zone to spread acts of kindness, but it’s worth it. of Americans report “constantly” monitoring their social media feeds, which often exposes them to the latest news headlines. I know it’s important to be informed. But for our own mental health, we don’t need to overdose on the constant stream of negativity delivered by the media. Some things are just out of our control. It’s not very likely, but it’s a sad reality that we all have the potential to be a target of aggression, violence or disaster. But what is in our control is how we choose to act, respond, live and parent. We can be a force for positive change, working from the ground up, taking action each day to contribute to society in positive ways. What can we do?

Perform acts of kindness I recently came across an insightful advice blogger — Brandi Riley — who suggests looking for ways to be a good person every single moment of every single day. She reminds us that small acts of kindness

Use your manners Short and simple: Say “Please” and “Thank You.” Apologize. Smile. Clean up after yourself. Wash your hands. Hold the door for a stranger. Put down your phone if someone is talking to you. Don’t use offensive language. Be respectful and tolerant of others. And remember, be a role model as a parent. If we all follow the “golden rule” and treat others how we want to be treated, the world will be a better place.

Take action with service This month we’ll celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Jan. 21. It’s important to remember how King’s nonviolent social activism helped change the course of history in the United States. He believed that every person could make a positive difference on a local level. His campaigns and teachings focused on alleviating poverty, ending racism and uniting communities in understanding and love.

SCHOOL-AGE STUFF

Cool new game Shadows in the Forest, according to one of our toy-testing mamas, is a board game winner! “It says ages 8 and up, but Kira is 5, and she was able to roll the (glow-in-the-dark) dice and count the spaces to move. The rest of us were shadows — the strategic part.” You simply work as a team to hide adorable “shadowling” figures in the game-board trees so the lantern can’t shine on them. “It’s a well-made game, and fun to play,” she said. abctoyzone.com • $24.99

What better way to honor the struggle, sacrifice and legacy of King than to take action with service to others? We can pay tribute by taking action with the intention to spread kindness, goodwill and peace. Check out Doing Good Together, a Minnesota-based national nonprofit that works to make volunteering and service, along with daily kindness, easy for every family. At doinggoodtogether.org, you’ll find volunteer opportunities out and about, plus printable activities for home. As Martin Luther King Jr. said: “Everybody can be great … because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.” Megan Devine is an elementary school teacher who lives with her husband and four school-age children in Northeastern Minnesota. She blogs at kidsandeggs.com. MacPhail Center for Music MNP 0119 2-3.indd 1

11/30/18 3:58 PM

mnparent.com • January 2019

Katie Dohman

WORLD’S OKAYEST MOM

Birthing a revolution J

anuary is figuratively a time of rebirth for many of us — or at least we resolve for it to be for about 48 hours. But for me it’s literally a month about birth and rebirth. First, my entire identity changed as I became a mother for the first time during the Polar Vortex of January 2013. (My daughter will forever hear how we brought her tiny self home on a 40-below day, a true Minnesotan.) I gave birth to my second son, Eero, on Inauguration Day January 2017, as women in pink hats marched and yelled outside my hospital windows. I spent two Januaries on bedrest, tip-tapping on my laptop and watching the snow drift down, creating a fresh canvas for the year ahead.

Leaning in The first time I gave birth, it took longer than expected, in part because every time it hurt too badly, I backed off in some misguided sense of self-preservation. Finally, my midwife said something like: You have to open that door and walk through it. You have to help her come out the other side. The part where I thought I could not stand it — the moment when I thought, That is too much pain — changed when I had the courage to open the door by putting my shoulder into it and forcing my way through, with no idea what really lay on the other side. It was a drug-free birth, and everyone on the east side of the Mississippi River knew it. I screamed my baby girl into the world. So much for peaceful.

me waiting until very nearly the end of my term (even though 8 weeks into my pregnancy, my doctors were already afraid he might try to escape early). I barely made it through the hospital doors, and even had a brief moment in the parking lot where I thought, Well, I might just have to stop right here and have a baby. But I did make it and he ushered in spring — and I brought him home full of the optimism of warm weather, adorable new baby-ness, a calm world and a downright Obaman atmosphere. Eero was so eager to get here that my midwife actually walked me through a home-birth scenario in case I didn’t make it to the hospital. But I made it, and after about 15 extraordinarily intense minutes, it was over. I closed my eyes and willed him here, my goal being to birth all three babies while Obama was president, even in the administration’s waning minutes. My midwife yelled for me to open my eyes because he came in a great rush, all 9 pounds (thanks a lot, kid) of squeezable,

delicious him. I watched her guide him up to the surface of the water — and into my arms he went (see below).

Mama-bear magic For me, there is nothing like that high. Nothing like seeing your baby’s face for the first time, the intense pain abating and this bloom of staggering love. I know not everyone feels that right away. But I trust those people have done other insurmountable-feeling things — running marathons, climbing mountains and other things I have on my bucket list of never doing ever. Having kids is the most daring I’ll probably ever get. I used to think I was a huge wimp. But motherhood has made a real woman out of me. I’m not afraid to stand up to bullies anymore. I’m still a baby about getting my finger poked, even after three drug-free childbirths, but nothing can stop me from protecting my kids, from unleashing that mama-bear magic that had been hidden away somewhere until January 2013, a power and fury that only

My boys I was on bedrest with my first boy, Remy, too, but in February and March. He kept

January 2019 • mnparent.com

Photo by Meredith Westin Photography

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strengthened come March 2015, and then was magnified again in January 2017.

A great push Eero’s birthday was a day where my heart was torn between the joy and love of welcoming my third baby into the world and the frustration and sorrow of the world I was welcoming him into. We went to the hospital with a list of names, but we settled on Eero Everhart for the meaning behind it — the steel will of a warrior, stoked by an inner fire of love. I think about where we are now, culturally, socially and politically, and this January, I hope we’re right on the other side of that high of relief: Many of us are feeling great pain, wishing we were anywhere other than here, knocking on the door, but a bit afraid to shove through. I hope we have a great push, we open our eyes and we birth the revolution. Katie Dohman is currently living in the midst of a total full-house renovation with her one husband, three kids, two dogs and one kitten. She is tired.

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Mary Rose and Laura NANA & MAMA

Bringing home Baby No. 2 MAMA

This past fall, my wife and I had our second child. Our first, Kellan, was 21/2 when his little sister, Rory, was born. While we knew it’d be an adjustment for us to become parents of two, unlike our toddler, we had a long time to get used to the idea and plan for it. Like many parents, we worried about how the transition to a family of four might affect our first-born child — and we worked proactively to prepare him as much as possible. Here’s what helped ease the adjustment period for us. ⊲⊲Talk with the older sibling about what’s happening throughout the pregnancy (or adoption process) and how it will end. We used phrases like,

January 2019 • mnparent.com

“There’s a baby in Mommy’s belly. The baby is growing; once Baby is bigger, he or she will come out and live with us.” ⊲⊲Help the older sibling understand what will change and what will stay the same once the baby comes home. This can happen through short conversations, books and imaginative play. ⊲⊲Consider buying a baby doll to help your child practice — through play — interacting with the baby. Our son loved practicing holding the baby and singing lullabies. ⊲⊲Get support, if possible, from other adults to ensure the older sibling isn’t always taking a back seat to the newborn — especially in the first few days or weeks. We were lucky enough

to have my parents staying with us for a full week to ensure Kellan got lots of attention. Other ideas include organizing outings for the toddler with family/friends, such as a trip the children’s museum or zoo, play time at the park or even just having another adult come over to play with your older child at home. ⊲⊲Enlist the help of the older sibling to help with care of Baby to the extent possible developmentally. Kellan loves to help give his sister baths, to hand us clean diapers and throw away the dirty ones. These tasks often take longer with the “help” of a toddler, but they ensure he doesn’t feel left out. Make sure your older child is interested and isn’t just completing chores; otherwise this step

Fast forward to September 2018 and the "CVA is like the golden impending arrival of my second grandchild. I contemplated how my husband apple in the barrel" and I could best help the entire family adjust to the new baby; I didn’t want to forget anything important. Sensing my daughter would go into Tuesday, January 8 "CVA is like the golden labor early, I’d already packed my bags and 6:30 pm apple in the barrel" turned on my out-of-office email when we got the text: She was in labor! We hopped Small school environment Relaxed, hard-working, friendly in the car, drove to Colorado and arrived On campus and online at their house just as they were getting Tuesday, January 8 • 6:30 - 8:00pm Consistently strong test scores home from the hospital. The first time I Kindergarten–Grade 12 Small school environment met Baby Rory, she had six adults and her Relaxed, hard-working, friendly big brother all vying to hold her, so my "My kid actually On campus and online comes home from cuddle time was limited. strong test scores schoolConsistently smiling!" The days that followed were packed with Kindergarten - Grade 12 lots of playtime with big brother Kellan. My husband and I took him on walks to neighborhood parks, read lots of books, 21st played with all his favorite toys and gave Highland Neighborhood Year him baths. He seemed to be adjusting well to having a new baby in the house and all cybervillageacademy.org cybervillageacademy.org that goes with it. We also made Target and grocery runs, cooked meals, did laundry “My kid actually comes home from school smilin and put the household garden to bed. I Cyber Village MNP 0119 V6.indd 1 12/12/18 3:46 PM snuck in a little time here and there to hold the baby, but with all that was going on, I wasn’t getting my fill. Come dance with us! The night before we left, I could tell my daughter really needed sleep, and I was desperately craving cuddle time with Young Children’s Division my new granddaughter. So I forcefully Ages 3½ to 9 suggested Laura go sleep, and leave the Performing Arts baby with me; I’d let her know if Rory Division needed her. Ages 8 to 18 I had two full hours of blissful bonding, Tuition-Free holding baby Rory. When Laura awoke, Boys Classes refreshed from her two-hour nap, and came Ages 5 to 12 to check on the baby, she said, “That was an Open Division amazing two hours!” for Adults I couldn’t agree more! Ages 16+ My next visit I will make cuddle time with baby Rory a higher priority. For 10% off registration That detail is too important to forget!

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can backfire and cause the older sibling to become jealous or frustrated. ⊲ Carve out quality time for each parent to spend with the older sibling. My wife and I alternate who puts Kellan to bed each night to ensure he isn’t missing out on time with one of us. If I’m home alone with both kids, I try to set Rory down or babywear to keep my hands and attention free to play with Kellan.

NANA

Looking back, I remember two things we did that helped Laura, our first child, prepare for the arrival of her baby brother, Kevin. When she was 2, we moved her out of her crib into a “big girl bed” so she would have a few months to adjust to the change and not feel displaced by the baby. And shortly before her baby brother arrived, we gave Laura a special doll. We showed her how to feed, change and rock her baby, and talked about doing that soon for the baby who was coming. But for some reason I forgot to explain that, when the baby arrived, I’d need to stay in the hospital for a couple of nights with the baby. Three decades later, I can still recall the sad look on Laura’s face as she left the hospital with her dad. That was an important detail we forgot!

Mary Rose Remington, a baby boomer grandmother living in Minneapolis, is documenting her journey in this occasional series with her daughter, Laura Groenjes Mitchell, a millennial mom who lives in Denver.

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Dr. Allison Golnik

Stop the sick cycle We all have colds (again). How can we keep our household from being constantly ill? Viral upper respiratory illnesses (colds) are par for the course here in Minnesota. Your child starts to sniffle, and before you know it, the whole family is sick. Most “colds” start with nasal congestion and a sore throat and then move into a cough that can last for a few weeks. Fevers, defined as higher than 100.4 degrees, typically occur during the first one to three days of the cold. If a fever starts further into the course of the illness, there’s a chance it could be a secondary bacterial infection such as an ear infection or pneumonia, on top of the viral cold. Fevers are the body’s natural way to fight infection and will not harm your child. However, if a fever concerns you or lasts more than three days, contact your child’s doctor. Any child with breathing problems (sustained faster breathing with tummy movement and pulling around the ribs) needs to be seen by a doctor. Also note that because viral illnesses are caused by a virus (and not bacteria), antibiotics won’t help — and could hurt — your child. But your child’s doctor can help you make this diagnosis and support your family through the illness. Here are some ways to treat colds — and, perhaps, prevent an endless cycle of sickness:

TREATMENT

⊲⊲Avoid overusing medication: Use acetaminophen — or, for ages 6 months and older, ibuprofen — only if your child has a fever AND is

January 2019 • mnparent.com

uncomfortable. You can also place a cool washcloth on the forehead or feet. ⊲⊲Drink up: Kids who are sick won’t eat much, but it’s important to keep them drinking fluids. ⊲⊲Manage breathing: Congestion can make sleeping, eating and breathing (especially through the nose) a challenge. Most kids don’t like nasal saline (salt water) rinses, but it can be worth the effort with toddlers, and older children can learn, too. Start nose washes one to two times per day with the first sign of nasal congestion. For older children, a hot steamy shower or breathing vapors from steam can do the same trick. Adults must supervise steam due to burn risk. Add a drop of peppermint or lemon essential oil to the steam for those without asthma. At night, prop an older child’s head up with an extra pillow or two.

⊲⊲Take care of coughs: It’s hard to listen to your child cough. Honey has anti-inflammatory properties and has been shown to decrease cough. Honey (the darker, the better) is recommended only for children over age 1. Give it on a spoon or make a super-sweet chamomile tea (which is also anti-inflammatory) to keep by the bedside or crib. (Editor’s note: Beekeeper’s Naturals just launched a new throat spray for kids made with bee propolis and buckwheat honey.)

PREVENTION While colds are inevitable, there are a few things we can do to prevent and treat them: ⊲⊲Wash hands: Help little ones wash hands frequently. ⊲⊲Vaccinate: Protect your family with the influenza vaccine for everyone 6 months and older. ⊲⊲Start probiotics: Keep your child’s immune system healthy with immune-

boosting whole healthy foods. Did you know more over 70 percent of our immune system is housed in our gut? Healthy foods grow good gastrointestinal bacteria, which then produce infection-fighting immune cells. Some studies have shown that children who take daily probiotics (“healthy bacteria”) experience fewer colds. Probiotics are found in fermented foods such as miso paste, kefir, real pickles and sauerkraut. ⊲⊲Add in prebiotics: Prebiotics, which become probiotics, are present in foods such as garlic, onions, apples, bananas, sweet potatoes, flaxseed and cocoa (the real stuff versus cocoa mix). ⊲⊲Eat the rainbow: Colorful fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants that clean up and remove immuneweakening free radicals from viruses. A drink of warm milk with turmeric and honey contains even more. Vitamins such as A, E and C and minerals such as zinc, iron and magnesium all play roles in a child’s immune-system functioning. Strive to give your kids nutrient-packed, whole foods. ⊲⊲Supplement with vitamin D: Minnesota’s northern latitude deprives us of the winter sun rays needed to help the body produce vitamin D. Vitamin D helps the immune system fight infections. Children should take supplemental vitamin D — 400 IU/day for infants and 600 IU/day for those over age 1 (some doctors recommend more). Soft-gel supplements are affordable and available in easy-to-swallow sizes. Concentrated drops are also available and work well for every age of child. Good luck treating this round of colds — and preventing the next! Dr. Allison Golnik is a board-certified pediatrician who cares for children and teens at Fairview Clinics–University Children’s. mnparent.com • January 2019

Tina Mortimer

ON BEHAVIOR

Brown-bag bullying

y son isn’t a picky eater. At home, he’ll eat anything — sushi, salmon, whole wheat spaghetti. He likes spinach. And quinoa. Even Brussels sprouts. About the only thing he won’t eat is his mom’s turkey meatloaf. But to be fair, his father won’t either. It’s not very good. I’m aware how lucky we are that we’ve never had to beg or bargain for our son to try new foods or finish his vegetables. I’m also aware that our son is the exception. Our 4-year-old daughter, who refuses to eat anything unless it’s red, purple or macaroni, is the rule. That’s not to say my son doesn’t enjoy pizza and potato chips and the occasional leftover Halloween candy. He does. That’s also not to say we make him a wholesome, home-cooked meal every night. Some nights it’s grilled cheese and soup. Since kindergarten, I’ve made his lunches, which usually consists of some

January 2019 • mnparent.com

variation of the dinner we had the night before. When he was little, he’d eat almost everything I gave him and all I’d find left in his bag would be a bread crust or a single misshapen baby carrot. But when he started fifth grade, something changed. He began asking to have school lunches. He’d never asked for school lunch before. At first it was a couple times a week. He’d claim it was Taco Tuesday or French Toast Sticks Friday and grudgingly, I’d deposit money into his account. Then I started noticing that on the days he was supposed to have home lunch, he’d “accidentally” forget his lunch bag on the kitchen counter. At first, I’ll admit, I was glad for the break. Making lunches was time consuming. School lunch was easy. The only problem was, school lunch wasn’t free; it also wasn’t particularly healthy, in my opinion — although it’s getting healthier (see my story on food additives on Page 42).

When he came home one day with his lunch bag still full of his favorites — turkey sandwich, pears, a chocolate chip cookie from the batch we’d baked the night before — I knew something was up. My first thought was that he was being bullied for bringing a home lunch. I thought back to my own experiences with brown-bag bullying. My mother made my lunch every day. It usually consisted of a soggy PB&J sandwich on white bread, mandarin oranges swimming in syrup and graham crackers. Some of my less-kind classmates would grab my brown bag and toss it around the table trilling, “I wonder what Tina’s Mommy made her for lunch today!” The Indian girl in our class had it worse. Her mom would pack samosas and tandoori chicken and rice. She’d sit at the far end of the table and steal small bites when she thought no one was looking, never actually removing the lunch from the bag.

When he came home one day with his lunch bag still full of his favorites, I knew something was up. No matter how sneaky she tried to be, there was no way she could hide the fragrant combination of sauce and spice — a smell that today makes my mouth water. But to me and my classmates’ young, white nostrils, it was diﬀerent and therefore bad. Was my son being bullied for bringing a home lunch? Like most moms, I imagined the worst. I worried. I went over what I’d say in my head. But when I finally asked, to my surprise (and relief) he laughed. “Your lunches are good, Mom, but I want to eat with my friends,” he said. “If I ate the lunch you made me, I’d be done before my friends even got out of line. And school lunch is so good.” I’d never considered this. It wasn’t that my son was afraid his friends would tease him for bringing salmon and quinoa from home, although I’m certain that kind of bullying still exists. It wasn’t that he didn’t like what I’d lovingly made for him. He just didn’t want to miss out on the social aspect of lunch, the ritual of standing in line with his friends and sharing the same meal together at the same time. So, we came to a compromise — home lunch twice a week; school lunch three times a week. This way he wouldn’t miss eating tacos with his friends on Tuesdays and I wouldn’t miss making him my version of a healthy lunch. Next up: Can we get our schools to allow more than seven minutes for lunch?

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Tina Mortimer is an essayist and a contributing writer for many local publications. She lives in White Bear Lake with her husband and two children. Follow her work at tinatwotimes.com. mnparent.com • January 2019

Sarah Jackson

IN THE KITCHEN

Tiﬀany King’s new book, Eat at Home Tonight, is perfect for busy families. Check out the meal-planning guru’s pizza-inspired sloppy joe, made with a ton of veggies — and sausage and pepperoni instead of beef — plucked from her Everyone’s on a Different Schedule Tonight chapter.

ROYAL FEAST PIZZA SLOPPY JOES

Combine the onion, peppers and sausage in a large skillet and cook over medium heat until the sausage is nearly cooked through. Add the pepperoni and cook for a few minutes more, until the sausage is done. Drain excess grease from the pan, if needed.

1⁄2 cup diced onion

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1⁄2 cup diced red bell pepper

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1⁄2 cup diced green bell pepper

Salt and black pepper

1 pound bulk mild Italian sausage

6 sandwich buns, sliced

Cook over medium heat until hot and bubbling. Meanwhile, toast the buns.

1⁄2 cup diced pepperoni

6 slices mozzarella cheese (optional)

Spoon the filling onto the toasted buns and top the filling with cheese (optional).

1 15-ounce can tomato sauce

January 2019 • mnparent.com

Stir in the tomato sauce, garlic powder and oregano and season with salt and pepper.

QUICK TIP Use a food processor to quickly dice your veggies. You can even sneak more good stuff into the recipe: Our recipe testers added 1⁄2 cup black olives, but carrots, zucchini, celery or eggplant would work well, too.

Source: Reprinted from Eat at Home Tonight: 101 Simple BusyFamily Recipes for Your Slow Cooker, Sheet Pan, Instant Pot and More with permission from WaterBrook & Multnomah / Penguin Random House.

Ed Dykhuizen

BOOKSHELF

Emotional learning One of the toughest tasks of childhood is learning to deal with feelings. We come into the world screaming at the top of our lungs, and then spend years learning to express ourselves in less, shall we say, vociferous ways. Here are few books that can help kids gain control.

Although kids’ main job is to learn, some feel like they have to be perfect from Day 1. In this vibrant and playful romp, paragons of heroism endure their own goofy mess-ups. The superheroes then model the vital skill of resilience — of bouncing back emotionally from setbacks and trying again — that’s crucial to happiness and success. Ages 3–9 • $16.95

Emotional learning continues well into late childhood. Written by Mallika Chopra, daughter of famed guru Deepak Chopra, this extensive primer on yoga, positive thinking and much more helps children (and parents) weather the turbulent teen years. Ages 8–12 • $9.99

Local author Elizabeth Verdick wins again with the 11th book in Free Spirit’s Best Behavior series, a heartwarming board book that offers young worriers reassurance — and strategies for feeling better. Another version for ages 4 to 7 is especially helpful for children on the autism spectrum or any kids who often get overstimulated. Ages 1–4 • $8.99

January 2019 • mnparent.com

When a young child blows a gasket, an older sibling can either help or make things worse. In this simple story, a boy skillfully brings his little sister down from a sudden, unpredictable tantrum. Kids can identify with either character, and parents might gain some insights, too! Ages 4–7 • $16.95

Any parent of a Daniel Tiger fan knows how effective it can be to put emotional lessons into song. This gem from Minneapolis-based publisher Free Spirit takes songs everyone knows (Happy Birthday, B-I-N-G-O) and provides new lyrics to encourage kids to behave with kindness toward friends, take breaks when they get mad and more. Ages 3–8 • $14.99

Ed Dykhuizen is an associate editor at Minnesota Parent and father of three who lives in St. Paul. MacPhail Center for Music MNP 0118 2-3page_#1.indd 1

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mnparent.com • January 2019

IS IT PA N DA S ? There’s nothing black and white about this mysterious and controversial diagnosis. If your child suﬀers sudden mental health problems following a case of strep throat, this autoimmune condition could be the cause. BY KATIE DOHMAN

mnparent.com • January 2019

Usually

the dread that comes from your kid having strep throat is the extra-long Q-Tip swirl around the throat and tonsils — and its inevitable gag (and subsequent tears). But if the culture pops up positive, you get a quick antibiotics prescription and your child is good as new in a matter of days. Case closed, right? Except for some kids, that’s not where it ends. Not by far. Instead of life getting back to normal, a mysterious — often sudden — onset of seemingly unrelated psychological symptoms can begin. In the case of 3-year-old Gracie Riverstone of St. Louis Park, it was extreme emotional distress that followed a strep diagnosis. “I love my granddaughter so much — so it pains me to say this — but it was like The Exorcist, like dealing with a demonpossessed child,” said her grandmother, Faith Riverstone. The behavior started after Gracie, then nearly 3, suffered what seemed to be a cold and sore throat around Thanksgiving. Shortly after her rebound, however, she developed a full-body rash that wouldn’t resolve. Gracie’s then-doctor diagnosed her rash as a classic case of scarlet fever (due to the rash’s sandpaper-like feel). But he inexplicably told the Riverstones — Faith and Gracie’s mother, Katherine Riverstone — that it was a virus that would go away on its own and never mentioned its proven connection to strep. Scarlet fever is, in fact, a bacterial infection (not viral), which can lead to rheumatic fever and requires a treatment of antibiotics. “I thought scarlet fever was a thing of the past,” Riverstone said. “He gave us the impression that it would clear up on its own in a few days, and to come back in a week or two if it didn’t. So we took him at his word. He left us feeling like idiots for being concerned at all.” But Gracie’s rash persisted and she started pointing to her knees, saying she was in pain.

January 2019 • mnparent.com

Gracie, who has autism, often remained stoic through discomfort, so the Riverstones were particularly concerned about this new development. Their happy-go-lucky little girl was sick off and on and there seemed to be no explanation, even after four doctor visits. Soon Gracie was struggling to walk because of the knee pain. Not long after that — as though a switch had flipped — Gracie’s behavior radically changed. “She became very panicked about the sun going down,” Faith Riverstone said. “She would say that if she fell asleep, she would die. I was thinking, ‘You’re 3! Who even gave you these words?’ She would tell me I had to make the sun came up or she would kill me. I kept asking myself, ‘Who is this hissing, spitting, growling, hitting, kicking, unhappy-looking, intense, angry and withdrawn child?’” Sometimes Gracie’s violent rages would go all night because the Riverstones couldn’t make the sun come up. Their doctor said, “This is autism.” “And we were saying, ‘This is not the autism we had before,’” Riverstone said. Meanwhile, plenty of other families — neurotypical and not — have been suffering with similar sets of symptoms after strep throat, including radically changed behavior, obsessions and compulsions, food avoidance, tics and/or regression in academic skills. The suspected culprit? PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections), a term coined in a 1994 paper by Dr. Susan Swedo at the National Institute of Mental Health, after she discovered an apparent link between abrupt-onset obsessive-compulsive disorder and group A streptococcus.

A NEW DIAGNOSIS

The diagnostic criteria for PANDAS — which has affected not just Gracie, but also many other Minnesota families — include sudden-onset OCD or severely restricted food intake in combination with at least two of the following symptoms: • anxiety; • involuntary laughing or crying; • irritability or aggression; • behavioral regression; • ADHD-like symptoms that cause a deterioration in school performance; • sensory or motor abnormalities; • somatic symptoms such as sleep disturbances and frequent urination. The condition is called PANS when there’s no positive strep culture, and could be attributed to an otherwise cleared strep infection, a tick bite or other health event. Also, symptoms can’t be better explained by a known neurological or medical disorder, such as Sydenham’s chorea, systemic lupus erythematosus or Tourette syndrome. PANDAS symptoms typically begin four to six weeks after strep.

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AN UNRECOGNIZED CONDITION

Though that might sound like a fairly clear-cut definition, PANDAS/PANS isn’t fully recognized by the American Academy of Pediatrics on the grounds that not enough research has been done. The Mayo Clinic’s public page on strep throat describes the relationship between strep and neuropsychiatric conditions as “possible,” “unproved” and “controversial.” Because the sets of PANDAS symptoms can be so diverse — and because these symptoms can sometimes be attributed to so many other conditions — diagnosing and treating it isn’t simple.

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IS IT PA N D A S ?

Some physicians won’t treat for PANDAS because they fear lengthy rounds of antibiotics can have negative side effects, such as compromised gut health for the child and antibiotic resistance for society as a whole. They say behavioral abnormalities can be coincidental — or parents may be coming around from a period of denial — and that they may not necessarily be triggered by infection. But PANDAS researchers say the condition is real and happens when strep bacteria inadvertently cause the body to produce an autoimmune response that attacks healthy cells in the body, including the brain — versus attacking the strep bacteria, which have the ability to not only mimic other cells, but also the ability to hide in the body. PANDAS, according to the North Carolina-based PANDAS Physicians Network, causes inflammation within the basal ganglia, a portion of the brain responsible for speech, involuntary movement (tics) and emotion. Swedo put it this way in a recent episode of 20/20: “In its simplest form, the wrong strep in the wrong kid impacts the brain and gives rise to behavioral symptoms.” Strep is incredibly common: The NIH estimates that the average grade-school student will have one to three strep throat infections each year. Swedo characterizes PANDAS as “a medical lightning strike” that affects as many as 1 in 200 children. According to the NIH, PANDAS is considered a pediatric disorder that typically appears from age 3 to puberty. Reactions to strep infections after age 12 are possible but rare, due to improved immunity in older kids. It’s still unknown if PANDAS is something kids can outgrow or recover from completely.

January 2019 • mnparent.com

↑↑Then-3-year-old Gracie Riverstone of St. Louis Park poses with her grandmother, Faith, and her mother, Katherine, in the days before her diagnosis of PANDAS, which doctors say was triggered by strep throat and subsequent scarlet fever, which led to a serious autoimmune response known as PANDAS. Photo by Jaime Chismar Seebacher / Pop Deluxe Photography

DOCTORS WHO BELIEVE

In cases where PANDAS is suspected, the first line of treatment is making sure the strep bacterial infection is fully treated and that future infections are diagnosed and treated in the child — and within the family — immediately. Treatments vary as much as the cases do, ranging from courses of antibiotics to combat the strep to plasmapheresis (a cleaning of the blood’s plasma in a process similar to dialysis) and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), an IV-delivered dose of antibodies. Despite the fact that the diagnosis and treatments appear to be increasingly common, parents are still struggling to be heard and have their children’s health crises legitimized in their pediatricians’ offices and by their insurance companies. PANDAS is devastating families, bankrupting them both emotionally and financially, sometimes for years, said Stephanie Belseth, a nurse practitioner at Newbridge Clinic in Edina who has become a local PANDAS expert and go-to authority on the condition. “Families’ lives have been torn apart,” Belseth said. “I took an oath to do no harm and by not treating this person, that’s harm. It can be difficult, though, when you are treating something against the grain.” Dr. Katie Klingberg, a family practice physician with Fairview in St. Paul’s Highland Park neighborhood, has been moved to go against the grain as well after encountering families desperate

Treating Strep Strep throat can go away — with or without antibiotic treatment — in about a week. However, if strep throat isn’t treated thoroughly with antibiotics, the person can remain contagious for two to three weeks — and there’s a higher risk for complications such as scarlet fever, rheumatic fever and possibly PANDAS. To make matters more complicated, not all people with strep suffer its typical symptoms of sore throat, headache and fever (usually without a cough and occasionally with abdominal pain). And some can be otherwise-healthy strep carriers. Learn from the CDC what strep throat is and how it’s diagnosed and treated at tinyurl.com/cdc-strep.

to help their children through unexplained extreme trauma. She believes PANDAS is real and has connected families to specialists such as Belseth and others who can get them the help they need. “In medicine, we really like algorithms: You have this, and then we do this, and then it’s treated. As scientists and physicians, we are perfectionistic,” she said. “But this has too many variables. It makes us uncomfortable when we can’t figure something out. It’s a failure to us. These kids are pioneers to PANDAS right now and we have to support them.” Belseth said she’s seeing big improvements among her patients, whether they’re considered PANDAS “lite” or facing near catatonia. She said many children are misdiagnosed with straight-up OCD, anxiety or tics only to find out that a simple antibiotic treatment of a strep infection may relieve their symptoms. Diagnosing and treating PANDAS sooner rather than later is important, she said. “We see rapid improvement earlier in the trajectory of illness. The longer you’ve had it, the more damage can happen, as your neuronal tissues and receptors are targeted by antibodies,” she said. “The longer the attack, the harder it is to reverse it.” The other tricky thing about PANDAS is that while a strep infection typically triggers symptoms, kids with PANDAS can easily have recurrent symptom exacerbations (flares) later in the disease when exposed to other (non-strep) infections, creating a mysterious cycle that only confuses matters. Kids seem normal for weeks and then, symptoms come back. When treating patients with PANDAS, Belseth uses a variety of approaches, including traditional Western antibiotics, vitamins, herbal antifungal and antimicrobial supplements and special diets. Belseth’s perspective as a functional medicine practitioner gives her an edge, she said, because she looks to treat the whole person and the root causes of problems, rather than treating only the symptoms she can see. Additionally, she focuses her treatment on strengthening the gut microbiome and the blood-brain barrier, which she believes are both “leaky” in PANDAS cases. Many patients do their general care with Belseth and go elsewhere for IVIG or plasmapheresis.

GETTING BACK TO NORMAL

The Riverstones said a simple treatment of antibiotics brought their sweet Gracie “back” almost overnight. After three months of living with a scarlet fever diagnosis and worsening symptoms for Gracie, they desperately took her to Dr. Klingberg, who immediately diagnosed Gracie with strep and PANDAS and put her

“It happened very fast.

It really baffled me.

Here was a kid I never had to worry about with academics, and all of a sudden,

he was starting to lose the ability to function.”

— Jonell Hathaway Jones of Golden Valley, whose son was diagnosed with PANDAS mnparent.com • January 2019

IS IT PA N D A S ? twice-daily amoxicillin. “After two to three days, she was back to her old self and then some,” Katherine Riverstone said. “We were just so grateful someone actually was able to help her and we weren’t all alone in this anymore. It was a night-and-day difference.” Gracie stopped showing signs of pain in her knees and started to regain her motor skills. Her speech returned, too, and with it leaps in her development, including her use of language and even new critical thinking skills. Suddenly, she was able to listen to reason (even during meltdowns) and her nighttime terrors disappeared as well. “When she got sick and her behaviors changed — which felt like overnight — our lives just stopped,” Faith Riverstone said. “We could not take her in public; we couldn’t leave the house. She wasn’t sleeping. She wasn’t eating. No amount of trying to work with her did anything. Had we been in services for her autism at that point, I’m sure they would have had her admitted — or arrested if she were older. Nobody is equipped to deal with what we were dealing with.” Today, newly turned 4, Gracie is still undergoing antibiotic treatments. “We do not know how long Gracie will be on antibiotics,” Faith Riverstone said. “Only that whenever we try to taper them, the symptoms come back.” For now, however, Gracie’s mother and very involved grandmother are just happy to see their still-autistic — but also remarkably extroverted — kid smile, laugh and feel her trademark joy. “I can see Gracie,” Faith Riverstone said. “With all hope, Gracie is the last child in the Twin Cities this happens to.”

A STAR STUDENT

Jonell Hathaway Jones of Golden Valley thinks her son’s PANDAS began in second grade. But it wasn’t until he was in the fifth grade that his symptoms became completely unmanageable. Originally treated for ADHD as a younger child, Malcolm began exhibiting signs of extreme separation anxiety at age 10, begging his mother to sit in class all day with him. Once a top student who regularly tested ahead of his grade level, his handwriting became illegible. His math skills, reaching into high school territory, disappeared, leaving him unable to do simple addition. “It happened very fast,” Hathaway Jones said. “It really baffled me. Here was a kid I never had to worry about with academics, and all of a sudden, he was starting to lose the ability to function. The school started calling, saying that he was yelling swear words. I was thinking, ‘What in the world?’” Shortly after that, Malcolm stopped speaking. “I pulled him out of school,” Hathaway Jones said. They began visiting Malcolm’s doc nearly daily as his ability to function hit rock bottom. She mentioned PANDAS to his physicians, but Malcolm’s bloodwork didn’t reveal anything useful. An ER visit landed him in the hospital due to his behavioral health issues. Doctors suggested antipsy-

January 2019 • mnparent.com

↑↑Jonell Hathaway Jones of Golden Valley poses with her son, Malcolm, who is recovering from PANDAS after suffering for years due to the mysterious illness.

chotic medications. Hathaway Jones started researching online. With some leftover antibiotics, Advil and desperation, she dosed her son. Not long after trying the antibiotics, her nonverbal son looked up at her and said, “Mom, there’s something wrong with my brain.” After that, Hathaway Jones found Belseth, a local support group (PANS/ PANDAS Support of Minnesota) and finally PANDAS treatments for her son. Today at age 13, Malcolm has come a long way thanks to a variety of treatments, including hydroxyzine, which helps with anxiety and inflammation, and IVIG. After years of struggle, Malcolm has been able to recover to the point where he is in school full days. “He’s back into being able to write some and do math. We haven’t had a full recovery, but we’re holding at about 85 percent, which is doable,” Hathaway Jones said. “He’s a great kid. He tries so hard every single day. I think until they develop better normal treatments, this might be his new normal.”

A TOUGHER CASE

One of Klingberg’s other patients, Parker Barnes of Prior Lake, has a severe case of PANDAS. He was recently featured on the news show 20/20 with his family, including his parents, Brian and Natalie Barnes. Their son, a brilliant, organized, socially thriving kid — the oldest of the family’s four children — also happened to get an unlucky break with strep throat. “This was a healthy, happy-go-lucky, totally normal kid,” Natalie Barnes said. “He never had a social issue, and was at the top of his class. He was the rock of all rocks. The Abraham Lincoln. We called him Lead Dog for a reason.” Parker, who had a history of recurring strep, was diagnosed with yet again strep when he was 10 in January 2017. Not long after, a tiny tic emerged: He kept clearing his throat over and over and over again. Parker tested positive for strep again in February and March. Each time doctors did a full round of antibiotics. “Every time it came back,” Brian Barnes said. “It was just always in the family somewhere.” In February 2017, Parker’s mysterious mentalhealth symptoms started with what the Barnes family called “the mopies.” “He would stop what he was doing and sulk. He would stop what he was doing and cry,” Brian Barnes said. “It was just so bizarre. It would come and go without warning or reason why.” Soon school called to say Parker was no longer playing with his friends. He began to lose his ability to write and also lost one of his favorite daily activities — drawing. His moods, which grew ever more extreme, would come and go quickly, making getting a diagnosis even more difficult. His parents began filming his episodes — seizures, panic attacks, hallucinations, obsessivecompulsive behaviors. One morning in April 2017 — when things seemed fine minutes before — the Barnes family found Parker with a steak knife, threatening to harm himself. The eight-day visit to the psych ward that followed did nothing but traumatize the entire family and send their boy back home, presenting the same symptoms. During that stay, a baffled psychiatrist suggested they look into a condition called PANDAS.

Resources PANS/PANDAS Support of Minnesota Get local support and information — in person and online — about PANS/PANDAS. pandassupportmn.org PANDAS Network This group collaborates with experts, raises awareness, supports families and gathers and shares data to inform parents and health-care practitioners. pandasnetwork.org PANDAS Physicians Network Read clinical explanations of PANDAS geared toward parents and pediatricians. pandasppn.org PANS/PANDAS Treatment Guidelines This page links to peer-reviewed journal articles for practitioners with advice on psychiatric and behavioral interventions, treatment and prevention of infections and immune-system therapies. tinyurl.com/pandas-for-docs Institute of Functional Medicine Learn more about functional medicine. ifm.org OCD The International OCD Foundation has a sheet comparing pediatric OCD and PANDAS. tinyurl.com/ocd-pandas NIH Learn about PANDAS diagnosis, treatment, clinical trials and more from the National Institute of Mental Health, a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. tinyurl.com/nih-pandas MAPS Parents of special needs kids can use this site to get connected to top practitioners in the field. medmaps.org Moleculera Labs The Cunningham Panel — a special test that tracks infectioninduced autoimmune disorders — may be the key to identifying PANDAS. tinyurl.com/pandas-panel 20/20 Watch a gritty story about what it can be like to live with PANDAS, including appearances by a family from Prior Lake, Minnesota. tinyurl.com/20-20-pandas

mnparent.com • January 2019

IS IT PA N D A S ? When Parker’s parents read about the condition, it sounded spot on, so they tried antibiotics. But antibiotics — which Parker is still taking almost two years later — didn’t fully resolve his condition. Even with helpful treatments, he’s suffered long bouts of depression, and periods of not speaking and resisting food. The Barnes family has tried everything to help Parker, including a three-day extensive period of testing at the Mayo Clinic, which yielded no diagnosis or treatment plan. They’ve also taken him to see a slew of specialists, including psychiatrists, immunologists and neurologists. Natalie Barnes, an ER and ICU nurse, has spoken at medical conferences about her son’s PANDAS while also championing his health care. She and her husband are also challenging the Minnesota legislature to require insurance companies to cover PANDAS treatments, including IVIG (which can costs more than $10,000 per treatment), plasmapheresis and Rituximab, a drug used for patients with cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and autoimmune encephalitis. The problem is that PANDAS just isn’t recognized by the broader medical community, Brian Barnes said. “It’s dismissed as being a psychiatric condition,” rather than an autoimmune condition, he said, saying most practitioners they’ve met devolve into “eye rolling, sighs and dismissive shrugs” when they bring up PANDAS. Natalie Barnes, meanwhile, relying on nothing more than her own grit and determination, was able to get some of Parker’s treatments — including plasmapheresis and IVIG — covered by insurance, at least for a limited time. That’s a good thing. Because Parker’s treatment is ongoing. In fact, earlier this year, after he was exposed to the flu and lost three teeth, many of the gains he’d made slipped away and his

most severe symptoms returned. (Even the smallest amount of bacteria in his bloodstream can make Parker’s symptoms flare, Natalie Barnes said.) The Barnes family has been traveling the country to get care for Parker, including help from Dr. Souhel Najjar, known for his starring role in Susannah Cahalan’s book, Brain on Fire. Though he treats mostly adult encephalitis, Najjar agreed to work on Parker’s case. “Don’t be afraid if a doctor tells you no,” Natalie Barnes said. “Have a Plan A, B, C, D, E. Go through as many alphabet letters as you need. Always have another plan in your back pocket.” At the time of this writing, Parker was undergoing treatment with high doses of intravenous steroids, IVIG and Rituximab, a drug that’s promising, but may take weeks to bring healing, followed by a longer road back to full health. “It will take about 18 to 24 months to recover, but I expect he will fully recover,” Natalie Barnes said. At this point, Barnes isn’t so much angry as she is grieving. “The hardest thing for me is that at 12, he has lost years of his life. I don’t have my son back. I see other kids his age getting together for overnights, and my kid sits at home, barely able to function. That breaks my heart,” she said. “But I won’t stop until he’s better.” Brian Barnes would like to see doctors tell parents after a strep diagnosis: “If anything weird shows up, psychiatrically, let us know.” He also noted that parents should be on the lookout for mental health symptoms triggered by non-strep infections, also known as PANS. “PANS is similar and can include a number of triggers like the flu, Lyme disease or any other large infection that can give you a fever,” Brian Barnes said.

←←The Barnes family of Prior Lake is one of many advocating for more awareness of PANDAS and PANS in the medical and parenting communities.

January 2019 • mnparent.com

WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE ALL THE WINNERS OF THE 2018 NARI CONTRACTOR OF THE YEAR AWARDS “The trigger, in my opinion, is not as important as the pathology. Parents need to be aware of the early signs and screen for this rather than having their kid tossed to a psych doc and dosed with a bucket of pills that wind up making things worse.”

THE FUTURE OF PANDAS

Parents nationwide have banded together with a variety of PANDAS support groups, in person and online. Wendy Nawara, a former social worker who founded the Illinois-based organization PANS/PANDAS Advocacy and Support, has three kids of her own with PANDAS, in varying degrees of severity and/or remission. “We need this to be as commonly accepted as an ear infection is,” Nawara said. “It’s unconscionable for a child to present in a doctor’s office or ER or Minute Clinic with this cluster of symptoms and for the physician to say, ‘I don’t know what this is and therefore it doesn’t exist.’ It happens so much. It happened to us.” Nawara is nevertheless optimistic about future treatment. She and her son, Charlie, were the catalysts for Charlie’s Law, passed in Illinois in 2017, which requires insurance companies to cover medical treatment for PANDAS, including IVIG. Other parents are trying to pass similar laws in their states. Those parent advocates include Brian and Natalie Barnes, who are pushing a Minnesota bill that appears to have bipartisan support, maybe enough to pass this coming session. “Mark my words: There will be a change in the next five years in national coverage,” Barnes said. Nawara hopes to change the outcomes for hundreds of thousands of families. “We are the cusp of wave,” she said. “We are at the very top where the foamy stuff starts, you know what I mean? It’s going to crash down very soon.” Katie Dohman is a freelance writer and mother of three who lives in West St. Paul.

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toxic mix for kids

Fed up by lax food regulations, the American Academy of Pediatrics is urging parents to avoid dangerous food additives BY TINA MORTIMER

January 2019 â&#x20AC;¢ mnparent.com

ver since it was discovered that salt could prevent meat from spoiling, humans have worked to create new methods of preserving, packaging and even transforming food. As a result, the foods we consume today contain a dizzying array of additives — from the artificial dyes and flavorings used to make food look and taste a certain way to the preservatives used to keep food fresh longer. Look at the nutrition label on the side of any box of cereal or snack food in your pantry. Chances are, there will be at least a few ingredients you can’t pronounce. In fact, the number of additives in our food — and food packaging — has skyrocketed in the past two decades. There are currently 10,000 food additives approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) — including many that haven’t been proven safe for consumption. According to a new policy statement by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Food Additives and Child Health, published in the August 2018 issue of Pediatrics, there’s strong scientific evidence that the chemicals approved by the FDA to preserve and enhance our food can harm children’s health. A growing mountain of evidence has linked many of these chemicals to changes in children’s hormone systems, which can alter their normal development. Some additives may also raise a child’s risk of obesity and illness. “Pediatricians are especially concerned about significant gaps in data about the health effects of many of these chemicals on infants and children,” said Dr. Leonardo Trasande, the lead author of the AAP policy statement.

LACK OF OVERSIGHT The Government Accountability Office — the U.S. government’s audit institution and a part of the legislative branch — found back in 2010 that 64 percent of nearly 4,000 food additives hadn’t been tested for human safety. The problem, according to the AAP, is the lack of regulation and oversight of additives under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. The AAP says substantial improvements to the food additives regulatory system are needed, including strengthening or replacing the “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) determination process and retesting previously approved additives. However, the AAP warns that until politicians enact legislation to tighten regulations related to food additives, there’s not much the FDA can do. That’s why the AAP and other organizations are recommending parents take matters into their own hands. The policy statement offers a list of the chemicals that are of the greatest concern as well steps people can take to reduce their exposure. The APP statement focuses on six chemicals that should be avoided, including bisphenols, such as BPA; phthalates; PFCs; perchlorate; artificial food colors/dyes; and nitrates and nitrites. (See the sidebar, at right.) Dr. Allison Golnik, a pediatrician at Fairview Children’s Clinic, said she’s thrilled that the AAP is taking a tough stance on food additives. “We are just at the tip of the iceberg in terms of learning about how food affects our bodies,” she said. “Parents want the best for their kids. As the science grows, parents will follow.”

The sinister six

The American Academy of Pediatrics recently released a statement about food additives and child health, urging parents to avoid half a dozen chemicals commonly used in food and packaging: Bisphenols, such as BPA: These industrial chemicals (which have been in use since the 1960s) can act like the hormone estrogen and interfere with puberty and fertility. They’re found in the lining of food and soda cans and polycarbonate plastics labeled No. 3 or 7. Although bisphenols were banned in plastic baby bottles and sippy cups in recent years, older bottles and cups may still contain them. Phthalates: This group of chemicals can also act like hormones, interfering with male genital development, and can increase the risk of obesity and cardiovascular disease. They’re prevalent in plastic packaging and health and beauty products, including baby lotions and creams. PFCs: Also known as “per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances,” these man-made chemicals can lead to problems with the immune system, thyroid function and even fertility. They’re found in greaseproof paper, cardboard packaging and other household products. Perchlorate: This chemical — made of one chlorine atom and four oxygen atoms — can occur naturally or be man-made. It can interfere with thyroid function and can disrupt early brain development. It’s found in some dry food packaging. Artificial food colors: If you read ingredient labels for cereal, candies and other processed foods — even those that don’t boast bright colors, such as white marshmallows and brown cereals like Cinnamon Life — it’s easy to find these substances, often with labels such as Blue 2, Yellow 5 and Red 40. Some studies have linked such dyes, used in foods since the 1950s, to exacerbated symptoms in children who have ADHD. Nitrates and nitrites: Processed meats — such as cured lunchmeat, hotdogs, bacon, salami and sausages — contain these two food-manufacturer favorites, used to give meats color and prolong shelf life. According to the Environmental Working Group, both nitrates and nitrites can form nitrosamines in the body, which are associated thyroid interference and a greater risk of certain types of cancer.

mnparent.com • January 2019

“I want my students to be aware that there is real evidence to support the harm that food additives may be causing,” she said. “Children are a vulnerable population because their bodies are growing, and the harmful effects of additives may be irreversible. Awareness of the problem is key and learning how to avoid the additives is the application.” Baumler and Golnik both recommend reading food labels. “If I cannot pronounce it, then I’m concerned,” Golnik said.

A SEA CHANGE

↑↑Twin Cities pediatrician Dr. Allison Golnik treats a child at Fairview Children’s Clinic. She advises parents who are worried about food additives to “take a deep breath, prioritize whole, healthy foods and avoid processed, packaged foods whenever possible.” Photo by Fairview Health Services

RAISING AWARENESS Golnik said that while she agrees with the AAP recommendations — and thinks it’s important to reduce children’s consumption of food additives — she’s also a parent and acknowledges how overwhelming the list of do’s and don’ts can be, especially considering the omnipresence of chemicals in the environment. Educating families on the dangers of food additives can be especially challenging when the average child’s well visit is 25 minutes. The advice she gives to the parents she sees is: “Take a deep breath, prioritize whole, healthy foods and avoid processed, packaged foods whenever possible.” Megan Baumler, a registered dietician and dietetics program director at St. Catherine University, incorporated the AAP policy statement into the curriculum of the lifelong nutrition class she teaches.

What to do

Baumler said there’s an undeniable movement toward eating more healthful foods. She points out that some companies in the food industry are responding to this movement with BPA-free packaging and reduced food dyes and additives in the U.S., following regulations already in place in many European countries. Case in point: Kraft now uses paprika, annatto and turmeric to color its mac and cheese instead of artificial dyes. General Mills has moved to offer more dye-free options as well, including “allnatural” Trix, which relies on veggie-based dyes, much to the delight of some consumers and much to the chagrin of others, who demanded the synthetically dyed cereal come back (and it has — alongside the dye-free version — as “Trix Classic”). Fast food chains such as Chipotle, Subway, Taco Bell and Panera followed suit in 2018 with efforts to remove certain dyes and artificial flavors.

NEW RULES AT SCHOOL School districts are making changes as well. Minneapolis and St. Paul districts have already taken steps to phase out — or have already phased out — additives that are of the greatest concern, including artificial flavors and preservatives. In Minneapolis, a district that serves 40,000 meals a day, high fructose corn syrup, trans fats, artificial colors and preservatives are all off the menu. Since 2012, the district has installed 67 salad bars too. White Bear Lake Area Schools also began the process of evaluating ingredients of concern after attending a Good Food

You can take the following steps to reduce your family’s exposure to food additives:

⊲⊲Don’t microwave plastics. Heat can cause plastics to leach BPA and other chemicals into food.

⊲⊲Focus on fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables and wash all produce thoroughly.

⊲⊲Use glass, ceramic or stainless steel when cooking, serving or storing food, especially when the food is hot.

⊲⊲Eat fewer processed meats.

⊲⊲Read cosmetic and food labels to avoid chemical additives and dyes. You can scan products with the EWG’s Healthy Living App, which is free and offers ratings for 120,000 food and personal care products. Find the app and read the Dirty Dozen Guide to Food Additives — for even more chemicals to avoid — at ewg.org.

⊲⊲Cut back on cans. Reduce your use of canned foods since most cans are lined with BPA-containing resin. ⊲⊲Avoid plastics with recycling codes 3 (phthalates/vinyl) and 7 (bisphenols/polycarbonate) when possible.

January 2019 • mnparent.com

Children are a vulnerable population because their bodies are growing, and the harmful eﬀects of additives may be irreversible. — Megan Baumler, a registered dietician at St. Catherine’s University

Learning Camp, hosted by the Minneapolis school district. At this two-day event, food leaders from across the country discussed menu concepts and the “clean label” movement. “Beginning in the 2017–18 school year, we began phasing out artificial food coloring,” said Bridget Lehn, nutrition services coordinator for White Bear Lake Area Schools. “All regular menus are now free of artificial food coloring except for two condiments that do not have a heavy meal contribution.” Lehn said if the district doesn’t find acceptable substitutes for those two items, they will be eliminated in the 2019–20 school year. While progress is being made on many different fronts, since there are still thousands of additives being used that haven’t yet been proven safe, Baumler recommends families take steps to reduce their exposure — and it all starts at home. “My kids get treats, but they also know that fruits, vegetables and variety are important,” she said. “Thankfully, they are fairly open to trying new things. I try to demonstrate good eating behaviors and an appreciation for healthy, whole foods.” Tina Mortimer is an essayist and a contributing writer for many local publications. She lives in White Bear Lake with her husband and two children. Follow her work at tinamortimer.contently.com. mnparent.com • January 2019

Winter

How we

This game of living — for months on end in an ice box — is just getting going, folks. Check out these parent-penned survival strategies for fixing cabin fever and embracing your own personal polar vortex.

January 2019 • mnparent.com

Brooklyn Park Meghan Joy Yancy

INFLUENCER meghanjoyyancy.com Mom to: Makkedah, 9; Samaria, 8; Nehemiah, 6; Shiloh, 4; Zion, 2; and Arrow, 7 months

We winter by: Going on intense sledding adventures and then cozying up by the fire with hot cocoa and a game night. Soundtrack: United Pursuit and The Greatest Showman Comfort food: Chili. Load it with cheese and sour cream and an awesome bowl to wrap my hands around. Netﬂix pick: Mighty Ducks. My husband watches The Family Man every winter and is reminded of the gift of family. Winter wear: Love Your Melon beanies! So comfy, so cute and proceeds go to a great cause. Lifesavers: Young Living Thieves Hard Lozenges. I keep these in my purse for whenever a tickle in my throat comes. My kids love them, too, and they’re good for us. Oola organic tea (inset) is my go-to for fantastic flavors that pair perfectly with my essential oils. Tips: Kids always lose mittens, so we try to get mittens with

a string attached (or attach them with a string ourselves) and loop it through the kids’ coats. Also, babies shouldn’t hinder us from fully enjoying winter. I try to keep extra blankets on hand to swoop one over my babe to stay warm. Favorite outdoor spot: Central Park in Maple Grove has such a fun ice rink. And our backyard. Favorite indoor spot: Playground Plaza in Maple Grove. It’s like a gym in that you swipe a card to gain entry (because it’s unstaffed). You can pay for single passes or do a monthly membership. Genius! Attitude on winter: I’m a positive person, but as I’ve grown older, I’ve realized that winter sucks. And I can just be honest about that. I hermit most of the winter — and that’s hard as someone who loves socializing. The truth is, I want to be a snowbird at age 31, and I’m OK with that. mnparent.com • January 2019

Minneapolis Per Breiehagen PHOTOGRAPHER The Wish Books thechristmaswish.net Dad to: Anja, 14, pictured as a toddler

We winter by: Enjoying getting outside and wearing the right clothes and gear to last for hours of playing, skiing or exploring. Early on, we realized Anja enjoyed having the camera document her exploits, and that’s how our book series, The Wish Books, started. Random House just published book No. 6, The Polar Bear Wish, which is a dogsled adventure (photographed in Ely), a winter activity we highly recommend. Soundtrack: My daughter’s playlist, including Taylor Swift, Etta James and Justin Bieber Comfort food: Turkey spaghetti with grated Manchego Netﬂix pick: The Chronicles of Narnia Winter wear: A neck gaiter — cold faces are no fun for anyone, especially little ones. Good mittens and layers top and bottom, including a wind block. Lifesavers: Toe and hand warmers (inset) — they last for hours. Tips: If you get cold, run or ski around as hard as you can for a while, the blood will start pumping and you’ll warm up in a

January 2019 • mnparent.com

hurry. For cold fingers, make a fist inside your glove and squeeze and rub your fingers together until they’re warm. I’ve used these techniques when photographing frigid places like Greenland and Antarctica, and they’ve saved my fingers. Favorite outdoor spot: Minnehaha Creek and the city lakes, where we have great skiing and skating when the ice is safe. Minneapolis has as close to a wilderness feel as you can get in a city. Favorite indoor spot: The sauna Attitude on winter: I grew up in Norway and winters were long — late October until late April — so we really didn’t have a choice but to enjoy the deck we were dealt. It’s more about picking which fun activity to do, versus dreading going outside. The old Norwegian saying — “There is no bad weather, just bad clothing.” — is the key to enjoying winter. When Anja learned to walk, she got her first cross-country skis (see above). Make it fun to be outside — bring hot chocolate and snacks to keep the morale up and the energy flowing.

Minnetonka Sarah Jackson EDITOR Minnesota Parent Mom to: Sam, 10

We winter by: Puttering in the snow in the backyard with no mission at all, hitting local ski hills (a different one every time so we don’t get bored) and baking, playing board games (Chickapig and Clack are two of our new faves), snuggling up with books and doing jigsaw puzzles! Soundtrack: Winterland by the Okee Dokee Brothers and the Winter Wonderland album by the Minnesota Boychoir. Comfort food: Crockpot marinara sauce, crockpot split pea soup, crockpot short ribs. Netflix pick: The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo’s Child Winter wear: Hestra Moon Mitts. These are expensive (about $80 a pair), but they’re life-changing — a puffer coat for your hands. I’ve had a pair for two years and counting and they’re still like new, despite heavy wear in all conditions. Lifesavers: Trader Joe’s Organic Virtuoso Spearmint Lip Balm SPF 15 (inset, $2.49 for a 3-pack) Tips: Save some toys that come out of deep storage only in winter. We inherited an enormous bin of used Playmobil sets. These 3,000 pieces stay stowed until after Christmas and go away in the early spring. It’s a joy to open them. Pure novelty that lasts for days. Favorite outdoor spot: Winter Carnival in St. Paul (Jan. 24–Feb. 3) Favorite indoor spot: Urban Air in Coon Rapids and kid-friendly breweries (mnparent.com/beer)

Hestra Moon Mitts

Attitude on winter: We’re big gardeners, so it’s hard to convince us spring isn’t “the most wonderful time of the year.” But then we have so much fun with the snow (BRING IT ON), plus Christmas decorating and getting our hygge on, we fall in love with winter all over again. What we really can’t stand is March/April, when spring seems so close, but yet so far.

mnparent.com • January 2019

Woodbury Monica Hoss REGISTERED DIETICIAN Monica Hoss Nutrition monicahoss.com Mom to: Luca, 5; and Lila, 3

We winter by: Planning activities that help us get fresh air and burn energy! Soundtrack: Love by Michael Buble Comfort food: Beef ragu that’s been cooking all day in the oven. Served with fresh pasta, ricotta cheese and a bottle of red wine. Netﬂix pick: I’m obsessed with The Great British Baking Show. It’s binge-worthy. Winter wear: A big blanket scarf my sister gifted me from Primp Boutique. It doubles as a blanket when I’m inside. Lifesavers: Beautycounter’s lip conditioner in peppermint (inset), soft fleece blankets and bath bombs. When all else fails, give the kids a fun warm bath! Favorite outdoor spot: Afton Alps. Kids 3 and younger ski free! Favorite indoor spot: Sky Zone or open gym at Perpetual Motion Gymnastics Winter-survival mindset: Even though I’ve lived in Minnesota for 20 years, I still haven’t fully embraced winter! Now that I have kids I know fresh air and activity are key during the long winter months. I’m making more of an effort to be outside as much as possible.

Uuni Wood Fired Pizza Oven

January 2019 • mnparent.com

Inver Grove Heights Christina Ries WRITER Minnesota Parent mnparent.com/charmed Mom to: Maria, 5; Jane, 3; Archie, 1; and No. 4 due in January

We winter by: Bundling up and playing pond hockey with neighbors (or watching from the fire pit). It keeps us social during the darkest, coldest months.

Lifesavers: Yaktrax keep you mobile (and vertical) on ice. They strap on over your boots. We also love Darn Tough Vermont wool socks (inset).

Winter soundtrack: Northern Sky by Nick Drake (Remember the final scene of Serendipity?)

Tips: A short trip outside is better than none! There are also days when the kids chase each other around the kitchen island to burn energy, and that works too.

Comfort food: Homemade bread from our Zojirushi breadmaker (makes the house smell so good) and anything that comes out of our Uuni pizza oven. Neapolitan-style pizza cooked in 60 seconds! We store it in the garage so neighbors can pop in for a bite after hockey. Netﬂix pick: Planet Earth. Cue the penguins! Winter wear: Insulated, slip-in Bogs boots are a lifesaver for this pregnant mama (and any preschooler trying to be self-sufficient).

Favorite outdoor spot: Meandering around our cul-de-sac Favorite indoor spot: Lookout Ridge Indoor Playground in Woodbury Winter attitude: I still get excited when it snows. Now the challenge is to be patient with toddlers and all the winter gear. I take pride in raising Minnesotans. Kids naturally love the winter, and I’d hate to hinder that. mnparent.com • January 2019

CAMP RESOURCES ADVERTISER LISTINGS

Academic The Bakken Museum

Explore the exciting world of innovation and creativity through hands-on activities like magic tricks and team-building challenges. Campers learn the invention process by designing and building their own take home project using real tools and materials in the museum makerspace. Spaces fill fast, so register early! Minneapolis • 651-926-3878 thebakken.org

Camp Invention Unmask your child’s creativity this summer in the all-new Camp Invention® program, Supercharged™, where children transform their wild imaginations into epic creations. Campers in grades K–6 will code robots and use collaboration and creative problem solving during hands-on, STEM activities. Use promo code INNOVATE25L to save $25 (expires 3/22) or PLAY15LISTING to save $15 (expires 5/10). Multiple locations • 800-968-4332 invent.org/camp

Carleton College Summer Academic Programs Carleton offers three-week residential camps focusing on Writing, Data, Computer Science, and Humanities for rising juniors and seniors each summer. Get a real college experience and make lasting, worldwide friendships. Conduct research, work with faculty, and receive college credit! Northfield • 866-767-2275 apps.carleton.edu/summer

Groves Academy Summer Programs Groves Academy offers summer programs for students entering grades 2–11 from the community with learning and attention challenges. Taught by Groves trained teachers, our small class sizes and specialized instruction build success and confidence. Both academic and enrichment programs are available. St. Louis Park • 952-920-6377 grovesacademy.org

Hill-Murray School There is something for everyone at HillMurray School this summer, grades 2–12! Samples of our Academic offerings include: Virtual Reality, Intro to Coding, Intro to Aviation, Jump Start & Study Skills, Summer Slide Math & Reading, ACT Prep, Driver’s Ed. Register today — space is limited! Maplewood • 651-777-1376 hill-murray.org/summer

January 2019 • mnparent.com

Junior Achievement

Articulture Art Camps

Students in grades 4–8 will learn how to run a successful business through a variety of fun, interactive activities. Held at JA BizTown, our unique kid-sized city. June session explores STEM careers; July session will appeal to the young entrepreneur.

Articulture art camps are a fun and educational way to explore a variety of media that emphasizes personal creativity. Camp themes include art and science, hands-on art history, comics and animation, and more!

St. Paul • 651-255-0455 jaum.org/ja-summer-camps

National Summer Transportation Institute Are you interested in learning about science, engineering, and transportation in an interactive, hands-on environment? Through field trips and hearing from industry experts, this free, two-week summer day camp at the University of Minnesota will explore the transportation field. Minneapolis • 612-625-5608 cts.umn.edu/education/prospective/ national-summer-transportation-institute

Providence Academy Providence Academy’s Summer Activities offer a variety of programs for students age 5 through grade 12. Enjoy activities that promote experiential learning, creative and academic growth, and unique summer experiences. Full-day sessions for students age 5 through grade 6. Plymouth • 763-258-2500 providenceacademy.org

The Works Engineering & design camps for kids in pre-K–grade 7. Coding, LEGO engineering, robotics, carpentry, design, architecture, and more! Half and full-day options. June–August 2019. The Works Museum: inspiring the next generation of innovators, engineers, and creative problem solvers. Bloomington • 952-888-4262 theworks.org

Arts

The Art Academy Give your child the opportunity to explore their creative side and develop their skills by illustrating their own children's book and learning the principles of drawing and painting at the Art Academy's Summer Camp program. Classes and camps, with exceptional student/teacher ratios, are available for students ages 5–18. St. Paul • 651-699-1573 theartacademy.net

Minneapolis • 612-729-5151 articulture.org

Artistry Over 45 week-long arts camps for grades 1–9! Artistry campers will explore art forms including pottery, fused glass, theater arts, drawing, painting, crafting, and more! $135–$165/half-day. Combine for full-day experience. New this year: before and after-care! Scholarships available. Bloomington • 952-563-8575 artistrymn.org/education/camps.html

Hill-Murray School There is something for everyone at HillMurray School this summer, grades 2–12! Samples of our Arts/Activities offerings include: exploring visual arts through Painting, Creative Artwork, or Drawing Bootcamp, explore art through Digital Photography, Film & Visual Storytelling, or Virtual Reality. Register today — space is limited! Maplewood • 651-777-1376 hill-murray.org/summer

Kidcreate Studio Kidcreate’s award winning summer camps are designed to inspire and educate young artists, ages 3–12, in an environment where giggles and grins are encouraged. Camps combine art education with an atmosphere full of fun. This summer’s camps include; Candy Shop, Fortnight Fanatic, Glow-inthe-Dark Art, I Heart Sparkles, Let's Draw, Magical Unicorns, Marvelous Master on Canvas, Mega Mess Making, Pajama Party, Paw Patrol and more! Making a mess is the best at Kidcreate! Eden Prairie • 952-974-3438 Savage • 952-226-2200 Woodbury • 651-735-0880 kidcreatestudio.com

Minneapolis College of Art and Design Join the Minneapolis College of Art and Design for a series of innovative, handson, and engaging visual art and design camps and classes for kids and teens ages 6–18! Weeklong and multi-week options. Scholarships available. Minneapolis • 612-874-3765 mcad.edu/youth

Potekglass This engaging glass arts camp offers everything a kid wants: fire, color, science, creativity, smushing clay, and melting glass. With nearly 20 years working with kids, local

mnparent.com/camp artist Malcom Potek provides an enriching learning experience that can spark new ways of seeing, new skills, and new friendships. Minneapolis • 612-281-7243 potekglass.com/classes/youthclasses

Shell Lake Arts Center With programs in jazz, rock band, show choir, art, theater, film, and more, the Shell Lake Arts Center is like nowhere else! Just two hours northeast of the Twin Cities in the beautiful Northwoods of Wisconsin. Come join us for the experience of a lifetime! Shell Lake • 715-468-2414 shelllakeartscenter.org

Dance, Music & Performance Ballet Co.Laboratory

Ballet Co.Laboratory is a professional ballet School and Company offering ballet classes and performances to the Twin Cities community. Our mission for this organization is to create, develop and inspire artists and communities through collaboration with the art of ballet. St. Paul • 303-249-1039 balletcolaboratory.org

Chan DT Musical Theatre Camp Chanhassen Dinner Theatres offers summertime theatre camps for kids and teens (ages 5–18). It’s a fantastic week of full and half-day sessions focusing on musical theatre fundamentals taught by Chanhassen professionals throughout the summer. Sessions begin June 10th. Registration opens Feb. 4th! Chanhassen • 952-934-1525 Camp.ChanhassenDT.com

Circus Juventas Travel the globe from Canada to Russia without ever leaving our big top! Explore a vast array of international circus arts in our half- and full-day Sampler, weeklong Performance and Teen High Flying Adventure Camps. Reserve your spot today in one of the most unique summer experiences anywhere! St. Paul • 651-699-8229 circusjuventas.org

Hill-Murray School There is something for everyone at Hill-Murray School this summer, grades 2–12! Samples of our Arts/Activities offerings include: Summer Pops Orchestra, Summer Band, Theatre Camp, Film & Visual Storytelling, Radio Broadcasting, Digital Photography. Register today — space is limited! Maplewood • 651-777-1376 hill-murray.org/summer

Minnesota Dance Theatre & School

Hill-Murray School

Minnesota Dance Theatre is a professional dance company and school founded in 1962 by Loyce Houlton. The school has classes for ages 3.5 through adult, and the company presents multiple concerts throughout the year, including Loyce Houlton's Nutcracker Fantasy.

There is something for everyone at HillMurray School this summer, grades 2–12! Hill-Murray School offers opportunities for you to fill your child’s day throughout the entire summer; June, July & August! We have opportunities to enjoy Academic, Arts/ Activities and Athletic Camps. Our offerings engage students of all ages and skill sets. Register today — space is limited!

Minneapolis • 612-338-0627 mndance.org

St. Paul Ballet Summer is a great time to try dance! This nonprofit, community and pre-professional dance school offers Dance Camps for ages 2–8, drop-in Creative Dance for ages 4–6, Intro to Ballet for ages 7–12, and Summer Intensive sessions for the serious ballet student ages 10–22. Gymnasts, skaters and athletes may supplement their training. All income levels and abilities welcome! St. Paul • 651-690-1588 spballet.org

Maplewood • 651-777-1376 hill-murray.org/summer

Life of a Gibbs Girl Three days, three experiences! For children ages 6–10. This craft-rich camp explores the lives of girls in Minnesota during the 1800s: life as a Pioneer girl, Dakota girl, and Victorian girl. Tuesdays–Thursdays, June 25–27, July 23–25, August 20–22 and 27–29, 9am–1pm each day. $99/week. Falcon Heights • 651-646-8629 rchs.com

Theatre Arts Training at Children’s Theatre Company

Minnesota Waldorf School Summer Day Camp

June 10–August 16, ages 4–18. Theatre Arts Training offers camps for all levels in acting, musical theatre, improv, and more, making it easy to find the perfect fit for the young actor in your life. Be Curious. Be Creative. Be Confident. Registration now open.

Old fashioned summer fun on our 8 acre campus! A relaxed schedule of crafts, nature play, games, music, gardening, and more. Preschool through 6th grade. Flexible weekly scheduling.

Minneapolis • 612-874-0400 childrenstheatre.org/summer

Day

Como Park Zoo & Conservatory Awarded "Best Day Camp" by Nickelodeon’s Parent’s Picks. Camp Como enhances your child’s appreciation for the natural world with enthusiastic instructors, zookeepers and gardeners, and behind-thescenes adventures. Campers will get closer to plants and animals than ever before. Preschool through 8th grade. St. Paul • 651-487-8201 comozooconservatory.org

Gibbs Farm Day Camps We’ve created the perfect mix of day camps for your kids! Family-friendly pricing, fun for kids ages 4–15. Choose between Pioneer PeeWees, ages 4–5; one of our three-day camps for ages 6–10 including Pioneer Kid, Life of a Gibbs Girl, and Dakota Day Camp; or our middle school, full-day camps for ages 11–15, Victorian Ladies and Pioneer Survivor. Camps offered June 12–August 30. Pioneer PeeWees: $19/day. Pioneer Kid, Life of a Gibbs Girl, Dakota Day Camp: $99/week. Victorian Ladies and Pioneer Survivor: $149/week. Falcon Heights • 651-646-8629 rchs.com

St. Paul • 651-487-6700 x202 mnwaldorf.org/summercamp

Pioneer PeeWees Perfect for younger children ages 4–5. Each camp covers one pioneer, Dakota, or nature-related topic and includes plenty of hands-on activities and a craft to take home. A snack is included. This camp is offered Wednesdays and Fridays, June 12–August 30, 9:30am–11:30am. $19/day. Falcon Heights • 651-646-8629 rchs.com

Playworks 2019 Summer Camp Sign up for Playworks Summer Camp, full of learning, adventure, and fun! With loads of field trips, plenty of outdoor activities, and entertaining educational programs, Playworks’ Summer Camp will provide your child with an unforgettable summer. Open to children 6–12 years of age. Daily meals are included. Part-time and full-time options are available. Prior Lake • 952-445-PLAY (7529) playworksfun.com

School Chess Association Summer Day Chess Camp All levels of chess instruction, professional educators tailored to the student’s individual needs. Fun activities include swimming, water slides, field ball, Magic

mnparent.com • January 2019

CAMP RESOURCES ADVERTISER LISTINGS the Gathering, soccer, tennis, roller skating, bowling, fishing, sign language, and roleplaying games. Programs: June 24–27, July 8–11, July 15–18, July 22–25, July 29–Aug 1, Aug 5–8, Aug 12–15. St. Louis Park • 763-593-1168 schoolchess.org

Spring Break & Summer at Blake From robots to art projects and the classroom to the athletic field, Blake challenges students to creatively express themselves in an array of disciplines. Sports, academics, arts and day camps are open to pre-K–12 students throughout the Twin Cities. Hopkins, Minneapolis, Wayzata 952-988-3463 blakeschool.org/summer

Tanadoona | Camp Fire Minnesota Explore Tanadoona’s Big Woods and zigzag by canoe across Lake Minnewashta! With 103 acres, outdoor adventures are endless with new friends and local and international counselors. ACA accredited. Open Houses: 3/9 & 4/27. Excelsior • 612-235-7284 tanadoona.org

Language

German Language Camps Kids explore themes including the environment, STEM, cooking & baking, and arts & crafts, while learning some German. Several weeks of “Intro to German” are also offered. For ages 5 to 12. Half-day, full-day, and extended care are available. St. Paul • 651-222-2979 gai-mn.org

Overnight

Audubon Center of the North Woods Youth summer camps with a focus on wildlife, nature, challenge and outdoor skills. Wild About Animals (entering grades 4–6); Outdoor Explorers (entering grades 5–7); Rocks, Ropes & Rafts (entering grades 6–8). June–July. Sandstone • 888-404-7743 info@audubon-center.org audubon-center.org/summer-camps

Camp Birchwood for Boys Set on the edge of the amazing Boundary Waters Canoe Area, campers choose their own adventures every week. They can pick from hiking, biking, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, or rock-climbing. Between adventures, campers choose

daily activities including archery, riflery, waterpark, crafts, tubing, fishing, and more. Boundary Waters • 612-355-0708 info@birchwoodforboys.com campbirchwoodforboys.com

Camp Bovey Play hard, make friends, eat well! Spend a week away from technology in the north woods of Wisconsin. Roll out your sleeping bag in a rustic cabin, swim in a lake, choose activities that interest you, and try something new. Experiences for 2nd–12th grades. ACA accredited and dedicated to making every camper feel included, appreciated, safe, and respected. All are welcome here. Free transportation. Sliding scale fees. Northwestern WI • 612-787-4030 esns.org/campbovey

Camp Olson YMCA Since 1954, Camp Olson has been providing unforgettable and life-changing experiences for youth and young leaders through quality camping programs. Traditional summer camp available as well as specialty programs in sailing, horseback riding, mountain biking, and leadership development. Longville • 218-363-2207 campolson.org

Camp Pillsbury Camp Pillsbury, recently named “coolest camp in Minnesota,” is a unique, safe, fun summer camp that offers over 100 exciting activities! Have fun with trapeze, musical theater, sports, magic, gymnastics, dance, instruments, and watersports — all in the same day! Owatonna • 507-214-2200 CampPillsbury.com

Girl Scouts River Valleys With programs from coast to coast and across the globe, Girl Scouts offers every girl a chance to practice a lifetime of leadership, adventure, and success. We offer family, 4, 6, and 13-day resident camps. Girls explore adventure, leadership, horses, STEM, water sports, and more in a girl-led, all-girl environment. Multiple locations • 800-845-0787 Camp.GirlScoutsRV.org

Laketrails Base Camp Since 1952, Laketrails has been guiding teens and middle school youth on wilderness canoeing and camping adventures through the islands of Lake of the Woods. Campers are immersed in Nature, learn outdoor skills, learn to care for the environment, and accept and appreciate themselves and others. Oak Island • 218-223-8281 laketrails.org

January 2019 • mnparent.com

Tanadoona | Camp Fire Minnesota Unroll your sleeping bag in a rustic cabin for a week with new friends and local and international counselors. 103 acres along Lake Minnewashta, adventure awaits with activities like archery, canoeing, and agility and high/low ropes courses. ACA accredited. Open Houses: 3/9 & 4/27. Excelsior • 612-235-7284 tanadoona.org

Wolf Ridge Summer Camp Kids grades 2–12 will find outdoor adventures to match their curiosity at Wolf Ridge. Share nature up-close every day with lifelong friends at our 2000-acre campus near Lake Superior and the BWCA. Learning is the greatest adventure there is! Choose yours at wolf-ridge.org. Finland • 218-353-7414 wolf-ridge.org

Special Needs

Autism Society of Minnesota (AuSM) Summer Camps AuSM's summer camps are tailored for youth and adults with autism and feature options including 1:1, 1:2, and 1:4 staff to camper ratios. Parents and caregivers can rest assured knowing that their campers are being cared for by highly trained, experienced staff, while campers make memories that last a lifetime. Camps for AuSM members include Hand in Hand (residential, 1:1); Wahode (day, 1:2); and Discovery (residential, 1:4). St. Paul • 651-647-1083 camp@ausm.org ausm.org

Specialty

Camp Victory Ministries Camp Victory is a non-affiliated Christian Camp twenty minutes north of Rochester, MN. Choose between day camps and overnight camps; enjoy over 14 different specialty camps such as Drone Camp, Creative Arts Camp, Drama Camp, High Adrenaline Camp, and more. Zumbro Falls • 507-843-2329 campvictory.com

mnparent.com/camp

Sports and Fitness The Alpine Factory

The Alpine Factory offers a variety of day camps for ages 6–18, with offerings for beginners through advanced ability levels. Learn new skills, get in lots of practice time and have fun sliding on The Alpine Factory’s infinite slopes. Arden Hills • 651-330-1121 thealpinefactory.com

Hill-Murray School There is something for everyone at HillMurray School this summer, grades 2–12! Samples of our Sports/Fitness offerings include: Football, Baseball, Hockey, Basketball, Softball, Volleyball, Soccer — opportunities for students of all ages and skills! Register today — space is limited! Maplewood • 651-777-1376 hill-murray.org/summer

Mini-Hops Gymnastics Campers get to develop and build gymnastics skills, get crafty, and make new friends with our awesome staff in small and large group activities. All gymnasts are welcome, from beginner to advanced. Save 10% when you register by January 31st.

Plan an unforgettable summer adventure!

Plymouth • 952-933-2452 Mini-Hops.com

The 13th Annual

Revolutionary Sports Instruction programs offered daytime, weeknights, and weekends. Kids, as young as AGE TWO, learn to play sports and improve their skills. The family friendly environment encourages parent involvement. Experienced, professional coaches are great with kids and use active, challenging, and non-competitive curriculum to teach sports and life skills.

Presented by

Multiple locations • 612-234-7782 RevolutionarySports.org

nd SAturday march 2 AT COmo Zoo in st. paul • 10am–2pm

TAGS Gymnastics Camps Fun, fitness, friends! Gymnastics and tumbling camps for boys and girls ages 3–17 in June, July, and August. Kids work on fun, new skills while developing strength, flexibility, and coordination in a safe, positive atmosphere! Apple Valley • 952-431-6445 Eden Prairie • 952-920-5342 tagsgym.com

Looking for even more camp resources? mnparent.com/camp

mnparent.com/campfair 612-825-9205 events@mnpubs.com

Free admission, parking & kids’ activities! This event is made possible by our sponsors. Thank you! Camp Fair 2019 MNP 4.85x5.925.indd 2

12/18/18 10:13 AM

mnparent.com • January 2019

EDUCATION RESOURCES ADVERTISER LISTINGS

Charter AFSA K–12

The Academy for Sciences & Agriculture, a public charter school for grades K–12, provides a rich, diverse academic environment with student-centered curriculum, leadership opportunities, hands-on experiential learning all with a science and agricultural emphasis. Vadnais Heights • 651-209-3910 Little Canada • 651-209-3910 afsahighschool.com

Agamim Classical Academy (K–8) Agamim Classical Academy is different than other schools—by design. Our students receive a rigorous, joyful, liberal arts education which stimulates the mind and shapes the heart. We study and practice classical virtues and celebrate Founding American values. We provide a tuition-free education and believe that what children read, write, and speak about matters. We use challenging and inspiring content to cultivate appetites for lifelong scholarship and engaged citizenship. Hopkins • 952-856-2531 agamim.org

Cyber Village Academy Cyber Village Academy is a charter school serving students K–12 in a unique hybrid model that blends on-campus and online instruction. Strong test scores; great climate! Perfect for families wanting to stay highly involved in their children’s education! St. Paul • 651-523-7170 cybervillageacademy.org

Hennepin Schools, K–8 Hennepin Schools provide students with the knowledge, skills, and character to succeed in high school and beyond. At Hennepin, students learn the necessary skills to contribute to the greater good of their families and our community. Minneapolis • 612-843-5050 hennepinelementaryschool.org

King of Grace Lutheran School King of Grace is a private, Christian elementary school focused on academic excellence. We achieve this through a challenging curriculum, partnering with parents for success and anchoring our daily instruction with God’s Word. Offering pre-K–8th grade. Golden Valley • 763-546-3131 kingofgraceschool.com

North Lakes Academy (NLA) NLA is a K–12 public charter school providing a rigorous, liberal arts curriculum in a small, personalized learning environment. We are a top-ranked, tuitionfree alternative for students. Our graduates are confident, skilled scholars who are ready to succeed. Forest Lake • 651-797-6264 northlakesacademy.org

Twin Cities Academy (TCA) TCA serves a diverse student body to succeed in a rigorous college preparatory program. TCA’s core values are fairness, cooperation, integrity, responsibility, civility, and hard work. Our educational model emphasizes rigorous academics, active community involvement, active citizenship, and relationship building. St. Paul • 651-205-4797 twincitiesacademy.org

Dance, Music & Performance Ballet Co.Laboratory

The Center for Irish Music (CIM) The CIM offers private and group music instruction to students ages 2 to 80 on 16 traditional Irish instruments including harp, flute, bodhrán and fiddle. Drop by the Celtic Junction building to meet our team of 20 experienced instructors, many of whom are performing and recording artists. St. Paul • 651-815-0083 centerforirishmusic.org

Deuxmensions Dance Theatre & School Quality dance training in a nurturing, age-appropriate and family friendly environment! Deuxmensions Dance offers Ballet, Pointe, Modern/Contemporary, Jazz, Tap, Yoga, Hip Hop & Musical Theatre classes for ages 2–Adult. Winter performance, all-school spring recital, and two Youth Performance Companies. St. Louis Park • 952-926-7542 deuxmensions.com

St. Paul Ballet This non-profit, community and preprofessional dance school offers classes for ages 2–100, for all income levels and

January 2019 • mnparent.com

abilities! Children perform in two major shows yearly; winter and spring. Drop-in classes: Creative Dance for ages 4–6 and Intro to Ballet for ages 7–12. Boy’s Club: free for boys ages 7–11! St. Paul • 651-690-1588 spballet.org

Montessori

Cathedral Hill Montessori School Cathedral Hill Montessori School is a nonprofit school providing year-round authentic Montessori education to children from sixteen months to six years. We offer half-day and full-day preschool programs, kindergarten education, and extended care mornings and afternoons. St. Paul • 651-222-1555 chmschool.org

Preschool

Dodge Nature Preschool On a 110-acre area of our Environmental Educational Preserve, the Preschool provides a quality education that includes bringing the natural world into the lives of children through visits to our farm, reptile lab, raptors, hikes, gardening, and more. NAEYC accredited. Four Star Parent Aware rated. Monthly Open Houses. West St. Paul • 651-455-4555 dodgenaturecenter.org

The French Académie Montessori inspiration, music integration, and French immersion! Taught by native French speakers, our programs focus on enriching all aspects of early childhood development; bilingual learning is just the beginning! Ages 16 months–Kindergarten. Oui Play, Oui Sing, and Oui Learn! Schedule your visit today. Minnetonka • 952-944-1930 thefrenchacademie.org

The Gardner School An academically-focused preschool for ages 6 weeks to 5 years, The Gardner School will stimulate your child’s physical, social, emotional and intellectual growth. We have state-of-the-art facilities, indoor and outdoor playscapes, highly-skilled teaching staff and a rich learning environment. Eagan • 651-255-5580 Edina • 952-259-0139 Minnetonka • 763-259-6860 thegardnerschool.com

Minnehaha Area Child Care (MACC) MACC is a neighborhood play-based child care center serving children ages 16 months–5 years old. We believe that children learn through play and

mnparent.com/education interactions with their peers. We have created an environment and curriculum to meet each child’s developmental needs. Minneapolis • 612-827-4369 maccschool.com

New Horizon Academy New Horizon Academy is a Minnesota familyowned child care program that provides exceptional early education and care to over 8,000 children, ages 6 weeks through 4th grade, every day! All eligible programs are accredited through NAEYC and hold a 4 star rating through Parent Aware. Multiple Locations • 763-557-1111 newhorizonacademy.net

Private

City of Lakes Waldorf School (Toddler–Grade 8) Celebrating 30 years of exceptional education, City of Lakes Waldorf School uniquely prepares students to meet the changing world with extraordinary vision, courage, flexibility, and compassion. Our rich and varied curriculum includes rigorous academic work and rich artistic experiences, all of which are appropriate

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to the age of the child. Students transfer successfully from mainstream public and private schools. Minneapolis • 612-767-1502 admissions@clws.org clws.org

Heilicher Minneapolis Jewish Day School (K–8) Heilicher offers a unique combination of extraordinary academics and Judaic Studies, second language learning from Kindergarten, and small class sizes with individualized attention. When you join the Heilicher community, you gain a partner in raising intellectually confident and ethically minded children in a nurturing, Jewish environment. Schedule a tour today. Minneapolis • 952-381-3500 hmjds.org

Holy Name of Jesus School (HNOJ) Holy Name of Jesus School offers a Catholic education for preschool through sixth grade. Families choose HNOJ School for the small class sizes, rigorous academics, stellar teachers and affordable tuition.

The International School of Minnesota (ISM) We believe that education can change the world! ISM is a private, non-sectarian school for age 3–grade 12. In addition to a rigorous curriculum, students experience an international learning community where cultural diversity is embraced and celebrated. Come for a tour! Eden Prairie • 952-918-1800 internationalschoolmn.com admissions@ism-sabis.net

Providence Academy Providence Academy is an award-winning, Catholic, private, pre-K through 12, independent college-preparatory school in Plymouth. It is known for outstanding traditional college preparation for all, integrating the best of the liberal arts and sciences for real-world success. Plymouth • 763-258-2500 providenceacademy.org

Wayzata • 763-473-3675 hnoj.org/school

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mnparent.com • January 2019

EDUCATION RESOURCES ADVERTISER LISTINGS Visitation School Visitation School provides an excellent academic program within a Catholic environment. Visitation is coed from preschool– grade 5 and Minnesota’s only all-girls college preparatory school in grades 6–12. Mendota Heights • 651-683-1700 visitation.net

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West Lutheran High School

West Lutheran High School offers a student-focused learning environment with Christian-influenced classes and extracurricular activities. Students are able to take PSEO and AP college credit on 9:42 AM campus taught by our instructors as well as online college courses. Plymouth • 763-509-9378 wlhs.net

Public

Minnesota Online High School (MNOHS) Nationally accredited with four strong commendations, MNOHS is a creative, connected public charter school for students who need a flexible schedule. With a 13:1 student-teacher ratio, we get to know each student and encourage all to expect joy in learning. 1-800-764-8166 mnohs.org

White Bear Lake Area School District The White Bear Lake Area School District serves nearly 9,000 students in programs ranging from Early Childhood offerings to high school graduation. Students at all levels achieve outstanding results through community partnerships, world language experiences, and college and career opportunities. White Bear Lake • 651-407-7500 isd624.org

Serving people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds, HOBT collaborates with SCHOOLS and COMMUNITIES on unique, interactive ART RESIDENCIES that nurture the creative spirit and encourage a sense of joy and wonder. Visit hobt.org or call 612.721.2535 for more information. 58

January 2019 • mnparent.com

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Resources Help Me Grow MN

Young children grow, learn and change all the time. Keep track of the developmental milestones your child reaches. If you have concerns about your child’s development, talk to your doctor or refer your child to Help Me Grow MN. 1-866-693-4769 helpmegrowmn.org

Landmark Center St. Paul’s historic Landmark Center boasts four FREE museums and galleries showcasing art, music, and history. Families can take part in incredible hands-on musical

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experiences, amazing wood art interactives and engaging historical exhibits. St. Paul • 651-292-3225 landmarkcenter.org

Playworks 2019 Summer Camp Playworks is where learning and fun go hand-in-hand! Certified teachers, state-of-the-art facilities, and advanced safety technology provide a fun and safe environment for your child to play, laugh, and learn. Playworks offers high-quality, developmentally appropriate programs for children 6 weeks to 12 years, including contract, hourly, and before- and afterschool care. Prior Lake • 952-445-PLAY (7529) playworksfun.com

Science Museum of Minnesota The Science Museum of Minnesota is one of the state’s most popular museums, with a reach that extends well beyond its riverfront location in downtown Saint Paul. Discovery awaits at the Science Museum of Minnesota! You’ll find something fascinating around every corner. St. Paul • 651-221-9444 smm.org

The Works Explore engineering with hands-on activities and design challenges created just for kids and families. Start your engineers with our interactive experiences, camps, field trips, birthday parties, pre-K programs, and family events like Tech Fest (2/9/19) and Robot Day (4/13/19). Visit today! Bloomington • 952-888-4262 theworks.org

Special Needs

Autism Society of Minnesota (AuSM) Summer Social Skills Classes AuSM Social Skills summer classes for youth and adults with autism offer lowstress, accepting environments that encourage learning and growth while participants develop social skills and confidence. Classes centered on special interests including the great outdoors, community outings, improv, zoos, art, drama, and more are offered in locations throughout the metro area. St. Paul • 651-647-1083 education@ausm.org ausm.org

Groves Academy Groves Academy serves students grades 1–12 who have learning disabilities and attention disorders. The Learning Center

mnparent.com/education

French Immersion Early Childhood Center

at Groves offers testing and services to families in the community. Teachers receive literacy training through our Institute for Professional Learning. We transform lives through education.

Enrolling now for 2019-2020

St. Louis Park • 952-920-6377 grovesacademy.org

Specialty The Art Academy

City Pages Winner: Best of the Twin Cities! Year-round traditional drawing and painting classes and camps for students ages 5–18 years. Exceptional student/teacher ratio. Homeschool Program. A Renaissance Program for adults also offered. See samples of student artwork; visit our website. Call for a brochure. St. Paul • 651-699-1573 theartacademy.net

Ages 16 months – Kindergarten

Call to schedule a personal visit (952) 944-1930

www.TheFrenchAcademie.org Minnetonka, MN

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North Lakes Academy is ranked # in our geographical area

St. Louis Park • 952-920-6377 grovesacademy.org

AWARD WINNING recognized by MN Dept of Education as a high-quality charter school

EXPERIENCED 20 years in operation

RIGOROUS

Groves Academy Groves Academy serves students grades 1–12 who have learning disabilities and attention disorders. The Learning Center at Groves offers testing and services to families in the community. Teachers receive literacy training through our Institute for Professional Learning. We transform lives through education.

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dual-credit courses in math, science, language arts, social studies, computer science, and Spanish

northlakesacademy.org K -12

tuition-free charter school

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Jie Ming Mandarin Immersion Academy Jie Ming Mandarin Immersion Academy is ranked 4th in Minnesota elementary schools. Jie Ming is a K–5 public language immersion, STEM school focused on exposing students to Mandarin as well as science, technology, engineering and math. Exceptional curriculum, dedicated teachers and a diverse community of students! St. Paul • 651-293-8715 spps.org/jieming

Looking for even more education resources? Find them on our website: mnparent.com/ education

mnparent.com • January 2019

Out & About

JANUARY

mnparent.com/calendar

Sparklerama ⊲ Ring in the new year with this ticketed event, featuring live music, art projects, refreshments, a beach ball balloon drop at 8 p.m. and full access to the museum. When: 6–9 p.m. Dec. 31 Where: Minnesota Children’s Museum, St. Paul Cost: $15 Info: mcm.org

ONGOING

DEC. 31

⊲ This manmade fortress of ice and snow features frozen waterfalls, ice caves, special appearances by the Frozen sisters, fire performances and more.

⊲ Several libraries in Dakota and Hennepin counties are throwing NewYear’s-Eve-style parties that count down to noon, allowing little ones to join in the fun. Events start between 10:30 and 11:30 a.m.

Ice Castles

When: A late December opening is expected with the event running into February, weather permitting. Where: 135 Lake St., Excelsior Cost: $10.95–$15.95 for ages 12 and older, $7.95–$9.95 for ages 4 to 11 and free for ages 3 and younger Info: icecastles.com

DEC. 31, JAN. 1

Noon Year’s Party ⊲ Kidsdance, an interactive DJ service for kids, will supply tunes, contests and prizes. There will also be craft making, giveaways and a countdown to noon. When: Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 Where: Como Park Zoo & Conservatory, St. Paul Cost: FREE Info: comozooconservatory.org

January 2019 • mnparent.com

Noon Year’s Eve

When: Dec. 31 Where: Participating libraries include Southdale, Edina, Hopkins, Northeast, East Lake, Minneapolis, West Saint Paul, Eagan and Rosemount. Cost: FREE Info: co.dakota.mn.us/libraries and hclib.org

JAN. 3

Junior Engineers ⊲ By playing with and manipulating models, ages 4 to 6 can see pulleys, levers, gears, wheels and axles in action to explore the concepts of energy, buoyancy and balance. When: 9–11 a.m. Jan. 3 Where: Snapology, Minneapolis

Cost: $20 Info: snapology.com

JAN. 3, 10, 17, 24 AND 31

Lil’ Explorer Thursdays

⊲ This special series, offering a different theme each week, encourages 1- to 3-year-olds to meet animal and plant visitors, listen to story time, play games and engage in many other activities. When: 10 a.m.–noon Thursdays Where: Como Park Zoo & Conservatory, St. Paul Cost: FREE Info: comozooconservatory.org

JAN. 4–FEB. 28

Omnifest 2019 ⊲ See five films this winter on a 90-foot screen — Search for the Great Sharks, Tornado Alley, The Greatest Places, Ring of Fire and Journey to Space. When: Jan. 4–Feb. 28

Where: Science Museum of Minnesota, St. Paul Cost: Film-only admission is $8.95– $9.95, free for ages 3 and younger Info: smm.org/omnitheater

JAN. 5

Sharing Stories ⊲ Join artists Jason Fulford and Tamara Shopsin for activities exploring colors and the stories they tell as part of this Free First Saturday event. Local author Bao Phi will read his awardwinning A Diﬀerent Pond, a powerful tale of a father and son fishing for their dinner in Minneapolis. When: Jan. 5 Where: Walker Art Center, Minneapolis Cost: FREE Info: walkerart.org

JAN. 8

Somali Dance Night ⊲ Learn traditional Somali dances, like the Jaandheer, in a workshop led by the Somali Museum Dance Troupe. When: Jan. 8 Where: Minnesota History Center, St. Paul Cost: FREE Info: mnhs.org

JAN. 12

Woodbury Kids Expo ⊲ Discover local resources for families with local businesses, organizations and schools showcasing programs, products and services for ages newborn to 18. When: Jan. 12 Where: Lake Middle School, Woodbury Cost: FREE Info: woodburykids.com

Americans in Science; Feb. 2: Asian Americans in Science Where: Science Museum of Minnesota, St. Paul Cost: Kids can attend for free with a paid adult admission of $12.95– $18.95. Info: smm.org

JAN. 13–APRIL 14

Urban Expedition ⊲ Experience cultures from around the world through music, dance, food, live animals, crafts and more.

Explore It! 3M Visiting Wizards ⊲ Scientists and engineers from 3M demonstrate engineering and technology with kids. When: Jan. 12 Where: The Works, Bloomington Cost: Included with museum admission of $9 per person Info: theworks.org

When: Jan. 13 (Puerto Rico), Feb. 20 (Palestine), March 3 (Romania), March 31 (Great Britain) and April 14 (Vietnam) Where: Landmark Center, St. Paul Cost: FREE Info: landmarkcenter.org

JAN. 13

Julgransplundring

JAN. 12, 19, 26, FEB. 2

Science Fusion Series ⊲ Connect with the diverse community of scientific professionals through science experiments and activities. When: Jan. 12: African Americans in Science; Jan. 19: Latinx Americans in Science; Jan. 26: Native

⊲ Ross Sutter will lead this 45-minute, program, including singing and dancing, plus a craft. When: Jan. 13 Where: American Swedish Institute, Minneapolis Cost: Included in museum admission of $6–$12 for ages 6 and older Info: asimn.org

ATOPIC DERMATITIS (ECZEMA)

Do you run a summer program? Register as an exhibitor today!

RESEARCH STUDY FOR CHILDREN & TEENS

The 13th Annual

Children and teens ages 2-17 are needed for a clinical research study of an investigational topical spray.

saturday MArch 2nd 2019

Qualified participants will be seen by a board certified Dermatologist. No cost study evaluations. Qualified participants will be compensated for their time and travel.

AT COmo Zoo in st. paul • 10am – 2pm Contact Minnesota Parent at events@mnparent.com

For more information, please call 763-502-2941.

Spaces are limited!

Steven Kempers, M.D.

Presented by

Minnesota Clinical Study Center 7205 University Avenue N.E. Fridley, MN 55432 Minnesota Clinical Study Center MNP 0119 H4.indd 1

January 2019

Articles inside

Our January is out!