Monterey Bay Parent April 2020

Monterey Bay

april 2020

PARENT Ahhh,

Spring!

Special Section: Coping with the shelter in place order Expert advice for parents, Helping kids understand, Celebrating a birthday at home, Virtual storytimes and more!

MONTEREY BAY PARENT • april 2020

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MONTEREY BAY PARENT • april 2020

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Contents april 2020

Monterey Bay

12 Easy Easter Crafts. Use our fun, easy crafts to keep the kids busy and decorate your house for the April 12 holiday.

P.O. Box 806 Pacific Grove, CA 93950 MontereyBayParent.com 831-582-1373

14 Summer Camps 2020. Now is the time to make plans for summer and all of these camps are making plans for big summer fun.

PARENT

18 Hidden Treasure: Geocaching With Kids. If you haven’t heard about geocaching, here’s your introduction to this fun family activity. by JL Schmidt 20 Dig This! We found ten big benefits of gardening with your kids.

by Janeen Lewis

Publisher Andrea Breznay abreznay@ montereybayparent.com 831-582-1373

22 Breaking Through the Brass Ceiling. Meet Adele Frise, Cathy Madalone, and Tina Nieto–three brass-ceiling busting women police chiefs serving Monterey County. by Susan Meister

Sales Executive Cherilyn Miller cmiller@ montereybayparent.com 831-582-1770

SPECIAL SECTION: Coronavirus Coverage

Cover Photographers Michelle Findlay Tatiana Scher Contributing Writers Dianna Flett Janeen Lewis cheryl maguire Susan meister JL Schmidt Sandi Schwartz rob weisskirch

Editorial Submissions are welcome.

We reserve the right to edit, reject or comment editorially on all material contributed. We cannot be responsible for return of any unsolicited materials.

Articles and advertisements in Monterey Bay Parent do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher nor does the publisher assume responsibility for statements made by our advertisers or editorial contributors. Acceptance of advertising by Monterey Bay Parent does not constitute an endorsement of the products, services or information. We do not knowingly present any product or service which is fraudulent or misleading in nature.

Monterey Bay Parent is available free of charge at over 250 distribution points throughout Monterey and Santa Cruz counties as well as digitally at www.

MontereyBayParent.com.

Monterey Bay Parent is ©2020 by Monterey Bay Parent, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is strictly prohibited.

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Message to Parents from Congressman Jimmy Panetta

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Parenting in a Time of Uncertainty by Dianna Flett

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Setting the Example: Five Coping Strategies for Parents

by Dr. Susan Swick

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How to Talk to Kids About the Coronavirus by Cheryl Maguire

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Looking for the Bright Side: Finding positivity in this time of uncertainty

by Sandi Schwartz

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Celebrating a Birthday When Your Family is Sheltering in Place

by Cheryl Maguire

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Virtual Creativity: Storytime and art activities you can access online

on the cover Angelo “LoLo” Wiley is 6 years old and attends kindergarten at Foothill Elementary. He is always bright and happy and spends a lot of time volunteering with his mom helping the homeless community in Monterey County. Last year Angelo started his own popsicle business called “LoLo’s Popsicle Stand” featuring natural popsicle flavors.

Photo by Tatiana Scher 831-566-7225 • www.tscher.com

in each issue: 08 Father’s Day Local dad, Rob Weisskirch covers parenting topics from a dad’s point of view.

10 Dear Teacher Two experienced teachers answer your education questions.

MONTEREY BAY PARENT • april 2020

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In California, all kids count.

Children should be included on your 2020 Census form—and not just children related to you, but any kids that live at your address. That means your children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and the children of any friends or relatives staying with you. Babies count, too! Even if they’re still in the hospital, as long as they were born on or before April 1, 2020, make sure the person completing the Census for your address includes them on the form.

For more information about the 2020 Census, visit CaliforniaCensus.org

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MONTEREY BAY PARENT • april 2020

from the publisher…

Life goes on even when sheltering in place This has been the longest two weeks of my life. I’m sure you can relate. We went from early warning shots that something was on the horizon to a completely different “normal” in a little over a week. We’re all a bit raw, unsure of the next steps, and worried about everything from health to finances. In the middle of all of it, I had to make the agonizing decision to put my beloved dog to sleep.

Annie has been by my side for 13-1/2 years. A beautiful Golden Retriever, Annie filled her days–and mine–with Frisbee tossing, walks on the beach, and laying across my feet under the desk as I worked. She was truly my shadow, along for the ride through a divorce, cross country move, a new baby in the family, and so much more. Yesterday, the first day of sheltering in place was Annie’s last. She’d been getting progressively less able to walk without pain, and a few days ago, she started to struggle. At some point two days ago, I looked into her eyes, and she wasn’t there anymore, her beautiful brown eyes were clouded with confusion as she struggled to get up. I spent that last night holding her, crying, and thanking her for adding so much to my life. Yesterday, an angel of a vet made Annie’s last few minutes on Earth peaceful and painless.

The loss of Annie has been a gut punch. She’s everywhere in my house: her food dishes in the kitchen, her bed in the living room, her toys under my desk. Yet in the middle of the grief is the knowledge that life goes on. There’s a magazine to finish, decisions to be made about how to proceed with a dozen business dilemmas, groceries to buy. We’re in the middle of a “shelter in place” decree and like it or not we all have to put one foot in front of the other and keep it moving. Kids have birthdays you need to navigate, your spouse can’t start work at the new job they just accepted, or your teen is depressed at the possibility of missing their high school graduation. Or a muchloved animal passes out of your life.

Yes, it’s been the longest two weeks, but like you, I’m resilient. I’ll focus on what I can control (taking care of myself by exercising and trying to eat healthy food and not working too much). I’ll let go of what I can’t (this dang virus and the many ways it is affecting our lives) and take each day as it comes.

To help you navigate, we completely revamped this issue at the last minute to include information about the coronavirus situation and removed the calendar of events. We’re also, as you know by now, completely digital because the vast majority of our distribution outlets are closed. We hope this new format meets your needs and that the information we’ve gathered helps you cope as you hunker down with your family.

One other resource is our Facebook group, where parents have gathered to share information (which stores have toilet paper!), support, and a few laughs. Join us by searching for “Monterey Bay Parent Magazine” under groups.

In the meantime, stay calm, healthy, and please toss a Frisbee for the next dog you see in honor of my Annie.

Andrea Breznay/Publisher

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Father’s day by Rob Weisskirch

Free Range Parenting is not just for the birds!

Followers of the free-range parenting philosophy believe that children need opportunities to be on their own, unsupervised and unregulated by parents, to practice solving problems and being responsible for themselves and others.

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n my working life, I teach Human Development and Family Studies-so I get to read a lot of research on kid’s development and on what helps and hinders families’ optimal functioning. In my day-to-day practice with my kid, I quickly learned that those theories matter little when you have an independent-minded kid and this parent who is very far from being a controlled, wise Zen master parent. On occasion, something pops up on my news feed, someone brings up an article, or I see something online that just resonates with me as a dad and as a professional.

For a while, I have been following the Free-range Kids movement. This movement began when Lenore Skenazy let her 9-year-old ride the subway alone in New York City to get home a couple of blocks away (without a cell phone) and wrote about it in a New York newspaper. Many people were quick to criticize her decision with accusations of poor parenting and a list of what-could-have-happened. The sensationalized stories about kidnapping are well known because they occur so rarely. The truth is our world is safer than it has ever been. Skenazy

has gone on to advocate through her free-range kids’ blog and now her organization, LetGrow.org, that children need opportunities to be on their own, unsupervised and unregulated by parents, to practice solving problems and being responsible for themselves and others. As a dad, I know that if I want my daughter to be independent and make good decisions, she has to have the opportunity to practice these skills-without my or my wife’s intervention. At the same time, allowing kids the freedom to be on their own is a community effort. My wife and I have had our daughter returned to us many times in our local Grocery Outlet market because a kind patron thought she was lost and wanted to find her parents. We have had to tell her to let other people know, “I am not lost, and I know where my parents are.” She is not doing anything in the store other than playing pretend, “shopping,” or finding products to convince us to buy her. When we go to the park, I am the playmate of last resort, if no one is there (one exception is pushing on the swing). I see many parents stand within five feet of their children directing their play, intervening immediateMONTEREY BAY PARENT • april 2020

ly if there is a squabble, and chanting “be careful.” Recently, I heard the parent of a four-year-old say to her child that he couldn’t play at the playground because the sign said it was designed for 6 to 12-year-olds. What a lost opportunity for this kid to try the equipment and take some measured risks on a playground for kids. As dads, it is hard to resist the fear and judgment when you want to provide growth and independence-inducing experiences for our kids–but we should.

I also like the work of Heather Shumaker (heathershumaker.com), who has written books challenging standard parenting practices. One idea I particularly like is her advocacy in not signing off on homework. She confronts the notion that homework is beneficial, particularly in early grades (of which there is lots of research to support this).

That homework is a task for children, not a job for parents to supervise. I am fortunate that my daughter does not get homework in first grade other than practicing reading (which we do anyway). Shumaker’s idea is that children should be responsible for their work and that parents should not take responsibility for their kids’ homework completion or accuracy. The idea that a parent wouldn’t make sure Junior completes everything with 100% accuracy and appears to be the smartest kid is hard to avoid in our current world of helicopter parents, snowplow/ bulldozer parents, and tiger moms/dads. Given that the learning is theirs, children need to be responsible for their homework and for the consequences that result.

I also like some of the articles from allprodad.com, particularly the conversation starters. They have lists of questions to build conversations about schools, about personal activities, and about how you are doing as a father to ask your children. In addition, they have conversation starters for particular topics like drinking and drugs. Research is clear that as children get older, fathers often hear about how their children are doing through their wives. To keep yourself in the loop, as a dad, it is good to establish habits of good communication and be armed with ways to ask questions that elicit more than one-word answers. The website also has jokes ready for the telling. How excited was the gardener about Spring? So excited he wet his plants. It may sound silly, but I do think that having your child tell a joke is a valuable skill. If you have not endured the made-up knockknock joke phase (“Knock, knock. Who’s there? Mickey Mouse’s underwear”), it is coming. Think of the skills involved in joke-telling: clear speech, confidence, comfort with others staring at you, voice inflection, restraint at not giving the punchline away, etc. If you practice with a joke or two, you can provide some good modeling on what to do.

When you are in the day-to-day of raising kids, it is hard to take a step back and think about what you are doing.

There are ideas out there that can make things easier with the kids or confirm the benefit of what you are already doing. Other times, I just think some ideas just help ease some of the anxiety that comes with being a parent.

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Robert (Rob) S. Weisskirch, MSW, Ph.D., CFLE is a Professor of Human Development at California State University, Monterey Bay and is a Certified Family Life Educator. He and his wife are parents to a chatty 5-year-old daughter and reside in Marina. Rob’s writing was recently recognized with the 2020 Gold Award from the Parenting Media Association.

MONTEREY BAY PARENT • april 2020

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EDUCATION by Peggy Gisler and Marge Eberts

Board Games, Standardized Testing, Family Conversation and Summer Camp!

THIS MONTH: Board Games Are Not Just For Fun

and Ladders™ to help children learn to deal with frustration and failure.

How to Opt-out of Standardized Testing

Question: We play a lot of board games in our family. Are they possibly teaching our kids anything?

–For Learning Answer: Board Games may not all be educational in nature, but they certainly are teaching your children a great number of things. They are definitely rehearsing lifetime skills that will carry over to the classroom and beyond. Your children are practicing taking turns, playing by the rules, problem solving and handling frustration when they lose. These are extremely important skills for young children to acquire, and, as a matter of fact, for children at all levels to have.

Some games obviously teach skills.

For example, the Memory™ game can increase young children’s attention span and memory. Then there are games that employ problem-solving skills such as Chinese Checkers and Yahtzee™. And Clue™ helps children learn to use information to solve problems. And there is nothing like Chutes

Question: There definitely is too much standardized testing going on in our schools today. I have heard that some parents across the country are having their children opt out of standardized testing. Is that really an option? –Too Many Tests Answer: Criticism of standardized testing has been a hot topic for debate for years. The opt-out movement has not been around for very long -- only picking up momentum since 2014.

The federal Every Student Succeeds Act recognizes a parent’s right to refuse testing in states or districts with opt-out laws. All you have to do is send the principal a letter requesting that your children not take a specific standardized test and ask for them to have a productive educational experience during that time. Some schools even have forms allowing you to do this.

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You can learn a lot more about opting children out at the Fair Test website (fairtest.org/get-involved/opting-out). Before deciding to have your children opt-out of a test, you need to remember that years of research still show that standardized tests provide educators with needed critical information. They also give you a picture of how your children stack up against all the other children in the country in their grade.

Getting Conversation Started at Family Dinners

Question: We always hear about the great benefits of family dinners. But what do we talk about when the TV and phones are off with a teen and a preschooler? –Silent Meals Answer: Research definitely shows the benefits of family dinners, especially when families eat together at least four times a week. At your dinner table, you can model healthy dinnertime conversation without any outside distractions.

To break the silence at your family dinner tonight, here are some conver-

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sational starters: • It’s easy to begin every meal by each family member telling one thing that they did that day, even if it is what they had for lunch or where they ate.

• What would you like to do this weekend?

• Is anything special happening at school this week?

• Did anything different happen today?

• What is the most interesting thing you know about your grandparents?

Secrets to Finding the Best Summer Camp

Question: How do I select the best camps for my children this summer?

–Best Choices

Answer: Safety should be your number one concern. You need to begin your hunt for a great camp by asking questions to make sure that you are totally comfortable with the camps you select. It is true that all camps have risks, but there are definitely questions you should be asking.

The first one should be: What licenses or accreditations does a camp have? Accreditation is far more important, as state standards are only likely to relate to health, cleanliness and food service, which are obviously important.

However, you want to find a camp accredited by the American Camp Association (acacamps.org) as it goes beyond state standards to camp staff, emergency management plans, health care and camp management. Finding accredited camps will narrow your choices to good choices.

The next question to consider is what type of camp is most suitable for your child. Should it be coed or a girls’ or boys’ only one? Decide which one would make your child more relaxed about social interactions. Then there is the question of whether a local day camp or an overnight one would work best for your child.

Generally speaking, younger children (7 or 8 years old) are best at day camps.

Certainly, a very important consideration is to find a camp that offers activities that appeal to your child. Think about whether the child would like a camp geared primarily to a specific area like a sport, a computer skill or an academic subject, or one that has a wide variety of typical summer activities.

After studying camp brochures, do not finalize your camp decision until you have talked to the camp director to find out more about the camp, from the staff-to-camper ratio to how many campers return each year, as well as emergency concerns and visitation opportunities. Another very important consideration is taking into account exactly what your children would like to find in a summer camp. This is likely to result in a decision that is best for them.

Parents should send questions and comments to dearteacher@dearteacher. com or to the Dear Teacher website.

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holiday fun

Easy Easter Crafts Easter is almost here. This year we celebrate on April 12 and while your family will most likely will still be “sheltering in place” that’s no reason not to enjoy a little Easter decorating. You can use our fun, easy crafts to decorate your house. Plus, crafts time is a great activity for bored kids.

Here are 4 fun Easter projects that use relatively common supplies you probably already have at home.

Marbled Easter Eggs This marbled paper technique can be used for other shapes as well as Easter eggs. Try to keep the colors used limited to complementary colors and just use 2-3 to avoid the colors getting too muddy.

Supplies: shaving cream, card stock cut into egg shapes, acrylic paint tray or box lid, paintbrush, toothpick, or fork, newspapers & paper towels, scraper tool (an old credit card works) 1. Spray shaving cream onto a tray or box lid and have the kids spread it around. You can use a cookie sheet lined with tin foil to make clean-up a little easier.

2. Choose your colors and squirt it on top of the shaving cream. Make paint drops, lines, squiggles…be creative. Then using a toothpick or another pointy tool (fork, paintbrush) start dragging the paint through the shaving cream. Make straight lines back and forth. Then do it again, but this time go up and down to start creating a marbled look.

3. Younger kids could need a little help with this step. Take the paper egg and place it on top of the shaving cream.

Apply a little pressure to push it down into the paint and shaving cream, then pull it up and place on newspaper for a few minutes.

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4. Using your scraper tool, scrape the shaving cream off the paper egg, discard and let the egg dry.

5. Once dry, you can punch a hole in the top of the paper eggs and string them together for a garland or hang on their own.

Salt Dough Easter Eggs If you do an Easter Tree these are perfect to make as DIY ornaments. Otherwise, hang these around the house or hot glue a small magnet to the back to decorate the refrigerator.

Supplies: Flour, salt, water, Easter Egg cookie cutter, Acrylic Paint, Mod Podge or a spray varnish, glitter, twine or yarn for hanging 1. Preheat your oven to 200 degrees.

Adults will need to do the baking part.

2. Combine 4 cups flour, 1 cup salt and about 1 1/2 cups water and mix well.

Knead for 10 minutes. If your dough is too dry, add a little bit more water. If it’s too sticky, add a little bit of flour.

3. Once you’re done kneading, roll out the dough to about 1/2” thickness. The thinner you make the ornaments, the better they will bake and dry.

4. Using your cookie cutters, cut out the egg shape.

5. Using a straw, make a hole in the top

of the ornament for hanging.

6. Bake for 1-2 hours. If your ornaments are not completely dried through when you pull them out put back in for another hour. The baking time will vary depending on the size and thickness of your ornaments. You can also let them air dry for a day before baking and this will cut down on the baking time.

7. Once cool and completely dried, paint with acrylic paint.

8. Seal with Mod Podge or spray with varnish and decorate if you’d like with glitter or small gems.

Bunny Tail Garland Supplies: Bunny pattern, cotton balls, glue, string 1. Google “bunny pattern” and print out an outline of the back of a bunny (you can find a link for a pattern at MontereyBayParent.com) that you’ve printed on a heavier stock of paper. Cut out your pattern.

2. Have the kids trace the pattern on construction paper and carefully cut out.

3. Glue a cotton ball to the bunny where the tail should be.

4. Punch a hole in the top of the bunny.

5. String the bunnies onto the string, tying a knot on each side of reach bunny.

Easter Handprint Wreath Supplies: Glue, scissors, three colors of pastel construction paper.

1. Trace your child’s hand onto paper and cut out the prints. You’ll need 3 of each color.

2. Cut out the prints and glue them overlapping slightly to form a wreath.

3. You can decorate the wreath further with pictures, stickers, small gems, or glitter.

MONTEREY BAY PARENT • april 2020

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2020 All Saints’ Day School 831-624-9171 • www.asds.org/summer Join us this summer for some fun in the sun at the All Saints’ Preschool Camp. Geared towards children ages 3-5, the emphasis of the program (which will operate for nine weeks from Monday, June 15 through Thursday, August 13) will be on engaging each child, and inspiring them as they explore developmentally appropriate games, skits, songs, and crafts. Children must be potty trained.

ARIEL Theatrical 831-775-0976 • www.arieltheatrical.org Join the summer fun weekdays at ARIEL! Oneweek, two-week and three-week musical theatre camps are open for registration. Space is limited so check your calendar and spend the summer on stage.

Carmel Academy of Performing Arts 833-600-2272 • CAPAcares.com Dance, music and movement camps for ages 4-6, 6-9, and 8-18. Balanced program offering students a variety of dance styles, theater experience, music lessons.

Carmel Youth Center 831-624-3285 • carmelyouth.org The Carmel Youth Center offers a dynamic and fun program for children ages Kindergarten through 8th grade. Each weekly camp has a theme and the daily activities and events are correlated to that theme. Each day of camp offers tech-free ‘brain time.” Plus, club time where children choose from sports, cooking, coding, art and garden, drama and more. There are daily walking field trips to the park.

Summer Camp is open 7:30 - 5:30 daily.

Central Coast YMCA 831-757-4633 • www.centralcoastymca.org Salinas, South County, Watsonville, San Benito, and Monterey The Y provides a weekly themed day camp experience, complete with outdoor fun and quality supervision that is perfect for the camper in your family. The focus of this camp will be on developing social skills, teamwork, self-esteem and an appreciation for the environment. Campers are exposed to an interactive curriculum including values, reading and health and wellness. Activities include field trips, on-site guest speakers, indoor and outdoor games, recreational swim, nature activities, family events and so much more.

Chartwell School 831-394-3468 • www.chartwell.org Chartwell School’s Summer Program is academically focused and open to any student who would benefit from specialized instruction or would like to maintain progress achieved over the preceding academic year.

Afternoon programs include a Math Clinic, robotics, studio art,

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or woodwork.

City of Seaside Summer Camps 831-899-6800 • www.ci.seaside.ca.us/ The City of Seaside Recreation Department hosts camps for preschool and school-aged youth in the summer. There are many options available such as sports, full day and half day options, cheerleading and more.

The Dance Center 831-625-3262 • www.dancecarmel.com Summer camps at The Dance Center (TDC) offer a wide range of options for the recreational or experienced dancer. Kingdom Camp includes themed half days (dance) for rising preschoolers and kinders. Ballet/Pointe and Jazz/Contemporary intensives cater to all levels (rising 1st graders) while Acrobatics & Hip-Hop Intensives and Musical Theater Camp include rising kinders through rising 9th graders. This year will also feature an introductory cheer & pom camp. The Dance Center also offers a 6 week summer class schedule.

Elite Gymnastics 831-754-1113 • elitegymsalinas.com Three sessions of summer camp begin on June 15. Each week-long session has a different theme and are co-ed for ages 5-13. Lots of cooperative fun, games, relays, crafts, water games, and gymnastics and tumbling.

Junipero Serra School 831-624-8322 • www.juniperoserra.org There are two summer camps scheduled for the summer: Mission STEAM Camp, is a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) inspired camp with a variety of fun learning activities for children. The second camp is a baseball camp held on the Carmel Mission baseball fields (Larson Field).

MEarth Summer Day Camp mearthcarmel.org • 831-624-1032 Adventures in food, nature, and community for Kindergarten through 8th graders. Early bird registration ends March 21.

Monte Vista Christian mvcs.org/camps • 831-722-8178 MVC is offering a full docket of summer camps for K-12 students this June and July. Optional transportation will be provided to serve students and families. Camps that focus on athletics, equestrian, and fine arts are available.

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MONTEREY BAY PARENT FAMILY FAVORITE 2019 - 2020!

JULY 20-24 | 9AM-12PM 3-Years-Old through 5th Grade | $60 Register at www.shoreline.church Register by April 15th for $15 discount

REGISTRATION OPENS NOW FOR:

BALLET INTENSIVE BEGINNING/LEVEL 1 MULTI-GENRE CAMP KINDER/PRESCHOOL CAMP MUSICAL THEATER CAMP HIP-HOP / ACRO. CAMP JAZZ + CONTEMPORARY INTENSIVE

www.dancecarmel.com 831.625.DANCE

2500 Garden Road, Monterey | www.shoreline.church

2019 + 2020 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY: BEST DANCE STUDIO

FOUR-TIME MONTEREY HERALD READER’S CHOICE WINNER THREE-TIME CARMEL CHAMBER AWARD OF EXCELLENCE WINNER

26135 Carmel Rancho Shopping Center Suite B-6 Carmel, CA 93923

NEW Summer Theatre Programs for ages 6 to 18

create...INNOVATE! Special Theme • Jedi Training • Wizarding Camp • Pirate Play • Pokémon Adventures

Theatre Training • Acting • Shakespeare • Improv • Comedy

Register now at WestPerformingArts.com

831.425.WEST (9378)

MONTEREY BAY PARENT • april 2020

Classes held at Osio Theater 350 Alvarado St, Monterey montereybayparent.com

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students who would like a headstart in reading instruction or additional support for reading difficulties. Literacy Kickstart Camp is designed for preschoolers and early elementary students who are ready to work on pre-literacy skills. (Monday-Friday, 9:0010:30am). Reading Booster Camp is ideal for elementary students who need support with reading fluently, sounding out words, and spelling. (Monday-Friday, 11am-12:30pm)

MEarth

Monterey Recreation 831-646-3866 • www.monterey.org/rec Offering fun and diverse summer camps and playground programs for children to learn, have fun, exercise and meet others in an organized and supervised environment. Programs and camps offered include Whispering Pines Day Camp (ages 5-9), Camp Quien Sabe Youth Overnight Camp (entering 2nd grade-15 years), Playground Program (ages 5-12), British Soccer Camp (ages 5-13), Flag Football Camp (ages 5-13), Beach Volleyball Camp (ages 11-16), Basketball Camp (ages 9-13) and much more. Registration begins Weds., March 25. Registration for Camp Quien Sabe begins Thurs., March 26.

Progress Not Perfection Paint Parties 831-596-9194 • www.pnppaintparty.com Kids art and craft camps will be held all summer long. Camps are open to ages 6-12 and are co-ed. Camps run Monday-Friday 9-2pm with extended care options until 5 pm. The kids will paint, draw, craft and have a blast.

Summer Day Camps

Rising Star Gymnastics 831-375-9335 • www.risingstargym.net Offering junior camps for ages 3-5, gymnastics camps for ages 5-12, and ninja camps for ages 5-12. Active, fun-filled days to keep children busy throughout the summer.

Shoreline Church Summer Day Camp 831-655-0100 https://shorelinechurch.org This epic summer day camp will be held July 20-25, 9 am to 12 pm daily. Camp is open to 3 year olds through 5th graders. Register before April 15th for a $15 discount on the $60

Adventures in food, nature + community!

Camps for Kindergarten - 8th graders June - August 2020 Register early!

Early Bird Registration ends March 21st

mearthcarmel.org | 831.624.1032

camp fee.

SPCA 831-264-5434 • www.spcamc.org/camp Five day summer camp sessions will be held in June through August. Summer camp is open to ages 5-12. Sessions are $200-300 each.

Stevenson School stevensonschool.org/summer Stevenson Summer Camp is a five-week day and boarding program for boys and girls ages 9 - 15. The program is located on the Pebble Beach campus. The camp program is a balance of academic enrichment in the morning workshops and sports and fun through the afternoon sports program. The resident campers have additional weekend and evening opportunities, including backpacking and field trips. Stevenson Junior Camp is a day camp program for rising Kindergarten - Grade 4 girls and boys. The program is located on the Carmel Campus in a quiet residential neighborhood just minutes from the beach. The program offers special sessions including Marina Biology and Surf Camp, Equestrian Camp, and more.

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MONTEREY BAY PARENT • april 2020

Summer at Santa Catalina 831-655-9386 • santacatalina.org Open to girls ages 8-14 in grades 3-9. Summer at Santa Catalina offers 2-, 3-, and 5-week sessions with both day camp and boarding options. Activities include musical theatre, dance, visual arts, marine biology, robotics, equestrian, aquatics, surfing, sports, and much more.

Thomas Farm Films 831-612-6312 • thomasfarmfilms.com Located on an organic farm in Aptos, CA— Thomas Farm Films is a nonprofit organization that educates children how to make movies. From script to screen, our handson curriculum promotes creativity, self-confidence, & critical thinking…resulting in short films that are screened together at our local theater in “Thomas Farm Film Festivals!” All children ages 5 to 18 can learn the craft, as we offer partial & full scholarships for those in need.

Ventana Wildlife Society 831-455-9514 • www.ventanaws.org For ages 4-7. Small groups of up to 10 participants and two staff will enjoy a half-day of storytelling, exploring and creating. Creepy Crawlies, Feathered Friends, Tidal Treasures, Earth Day Every Day, and Super Survivor are just a few of the exciting and educational programs on the menu.

SUMMER ON STAGE

2 Weeks

Starting June 8th Shows: June 19 & 20

3 Weeks

Starting June 22nd

Shows: July 10, 11, 16, 17 & 18

1 Week

Starting July 20th Recital: July 24

831-775-0976

ON STAGE

one week theatre camp

arieltheatrical.org

West Creative Performing Arts 831-425-9378 • westperformingarts.com Create...INNOVATE! Specializing in processbased theater experiences and active learning environments that foster creativity, community, and leadership for ages 6-18. Classes held at Osio Theater in Downtown Monterey. From Jedis to Wizards to Shakespeare, we have it all so come PLAY! Space is limited, so register early and spend your summer with West!

The Wahine Project 831-236-4642 • www.thewahineproject.org The Summer Camp session runs for 11 weeks.

Camp is daily from 9:00 am - 1:00 pm at Casa Verde. Camp is open to ages 5-17.

All things ocean for all levels and experience in the ocean. Children will participate in ocean play, boogie boarding and surfing. All equipment will be provided along with wetsuit if needed. Campers will be broken up into age groups to provide an amazing time at the beach to develop their relationship with the ocean, make new friends and be inspired to help take care of the sea. A rashguard and reusable tote bag are included in registration this year.

York School 831-372-7338 • york.org/stanford-precollegiate Stanford Honors Academies from June 8 - 19, are two-week intensive courses on Game Design, Global Citizenship, Creative Writing, and Design Thinking for College Preparation, offered at York School. Small class sizes and indepth exploration of advanced topics in an engaging and interactive workshop format.

SUMMER DAY CAMP TK - 8 grade th

Call your local branch or

CAMPS visit www.centralcoastymca.org

START IN

JUNE

MONTEREY BAY PARENT • april 2020

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SPRING FAmily fun by JL Schmidt

Hidden Treasure Geocaching with Kids

What is Geocaching? If you look up the definition, it is “the recreational activity of hunting for and finding a hidden object utilizing GPS coordinates posted on a website.” While that’s an accurate description, it’s so much more.

I found geocaching when my two elementary school sons were bored one summer. The weather was too nice to stay indoors, and honestly, funds were a little tight. I recalled reading about geocaching so I did one quick Google search, found a free app, and thirty minutes later we were out the door with water, a pencil, and some stickers in a backpack.

With the temperate weather of the Monterey Bay area, geocaching is a great family activity. You can find caches hidden in parking lots, parks, beaches, and quite likely in your neighborhood or one within walking distance.

For first-timers and those starting with young children, the ability to find an accessible cache is important to make the game enjoyable for everyone. Websites rate each one on the difficulty of the terrain the cache is located on and how easy the cache is to find. The website geocaching.com has a wide selection of ratings, including wheelchair and stroller accessibility.

Basic memberships are free on this site.

Sign up, enter the zip code of where you’d like to search (making it an excellent portable game playable just about

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anywhere), then find a cache that suits your needs.

Once found, the cacher signs the log in the cache (bring your pencil) and then return it to the exact place found.

If you’ve found a box type cache, there may be trinkets to be exchanged and its proper form to leave something if you take something. If not, sign the log then log your find on the website. While looking for geocaches, you are encouraged to not let other people see what you’re doing, you try to keep the hiding spot and the cache safe and secret from non-cachers, or “muggles” as they’re called. Once in a while, you may run into others looking for the same cache, and this happy coincidence can lead to a group hunt for a cache or maybe even caching playdates.

Once your family has been caching for a while, you’ll find yourself looking for more difficult caches or different types of challenges. Fortunately, geocaching has a variety of difficulties, cache types, and even group activities. Aside from hidden containers for caches, there are events where unique coins are hidden; there are caching picnics, nighttime caching, even caches hidden in the bay for those that dive.

Some caches are stringed together so that you have to find the first one before moving on to the rest in the series.

Some caches lead you to a location, no container, just a great place, maybe

some history or interesting facts about the area. There is a cache for everyone, not just kids.

For kids, caching is about the hunt and the find. But, as a parent, what I found was that it served as a way for my family to develop a healthy walking habit, my boys worked cooperatively and furthered communication skills.

We celebrated our finds and would come home with great stories of our treasure hunts. Eventually, we graduated to making our caches and hiding them. The boys used the skills they learned during the hunt to finding just the right spots for hides. They had to learn how to use a GPS device and how to read coordinates as well as write out clues and stories to go with their hidden cache. After placing a cache, it has to be cared for, replacing logs, sometimes the boys even put special trinkets for other kids to find.

Geocaching can lead to healthy habits and the development of lifelong skills. Mostly it’s just a lot of fun.

You need very little to start: good walking shoes, weather-appropriate attire, a pencil, a handheld GPS device or GPS enabled phone, and an app, maybe a small trinket to exchange, and a sense of adventure.

Happy Caching!

JL Schmidt is the mother of a high school student and a homeschooled special needs child. A former medic and police dispatcher living on the Monterey Peninsula, she works as a novelist and is the creator of LiteraryMonterey.com.

MONTEREY BAY PARENT • april 2020

SUMMER CAMPS June 8 - July 31

SUMMER CAMPS

SUMMER CAMP DATES

Eight weeks of filmmaking camps for ages 5-18

Week 1: June 15-June 19

NinjaZone Gymnastics Parkour

Week 2: June 22-June 26 Week 3: June 29-July 3 TUITION INCLUDES: • Supervised fun on an organic farm for one full week— Monday through Friday 8am to 5pm. Already a bargain!

• Cool TF Films T-shirt.

• Project-based filmmaking education making a supercool finished short film to be proud of.

• All summer camps films will be screened together at the THOMAS FARM FILMS SUMMER CAMP 2020 FILM FESTIVAL in early Fall 2020. TBA. Invite all your family & friends. Fancy dress & Red Carpet. An incredible & memorable event!

REGISTER NOW AT:

Thomasfarmfilms.com/register

Week 4: July 6-July 10

Check out our year-round programs too!

Week 5: July 13-July 17 Week 6: July 20-July 24 Week 7: July 27-July 31 Week 8: August 3-August 7 * 20% sibling & multiple week registration discounts. * We now offer payment plans. * Partial and full scholarships available to those in need

MONTEREY BAY PARENT • april 2020

Register Online Today!

www.risingstargym.net 831-375-9335

montereybayparent.com

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SPRING FAmily fun by Janeen Lewis

Dig This 10 Big Benefits of Gardening with Kids

Most parents want their children to get outside away from phones, TV and video games, and gardening is a great way to achieve this goal. However, recent research shows that there are several other reasons to start a garden with kids. The benefits range from making kids smarter to making them healthier. Here are 10 great reasons to get kids gardening:

1.

Students who garden score higher on science tests.

Gardening is full of science. Children learn about plant classification, weather, soil, and plant pests and disease.

They are introduced to botany in a natural, hands-on way, and recent research shows that students who had gardening experiences as part of their school curriculum did better on standardized science tests than students who were not exposed to gardening in school.

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2.

If they grow it, they will eat it.

As a teacher, I’ve taught STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) and have served as a Junior Master Garden club leader.

In these roles I witnessed the “if they grow it, they will eat it” phenomenon.

Students love to dig up what they have grown, and then curiosity gets the better of them – they want to taste it.

Master Gardener Beth Tovi volunteered to mentor students in the garden for eight years at the elementary school where she served as a media specialist. She sees the nutritional and health benefits children gain from gardening.

“With the growing concerns about obesity, diabetes, and even high blood pressure in children, gardening gets them physically active and outdoors.

And children will eat anything they grow – even if it’s green.”

3

. Digging in the dirt can make kids healthier.

Several studies show that children who were raised on farms don’t have as many respiratory allergies, asthma, or autoimmune disorders as children who were raised in urban areas because children who live on farms are exposed to more microbes and fungi in the dirt. Letting children get outside and get in the dirt may actually make them healthier than keeping them tidy, clean and inside.

4.

Gardening strengthens emotional and interpersonal skills.

Children who garden learn responsibility, patience, perseverance and how to deal with disappointment if the garden doesn’t grow the way they expected. How do they collaborate with other siblings, friends, or school mates to get the garden work done? These are character-building skills that research MONTEREY BAY PARENT • april 2020

shows children reap in the garden.

I witnessed this one year at a school garden when we had a drought.

Watering the plants and trying to keep them healthy was an arduous task, and the students and I learned about perseverance and team work.

5.

Gardening connects children with nature.

When children garden, they gain ownership in what they are cultivating. I have seen my own children grow “attached” to the plants in the containers on our patio garden. As children become more knowledgeable about all the living things in the garden, they are less likely to be afraid of touching the plants, getting soil on their hands or being near bugs. They are no longer afraid of the unknown when they become familiar with what is in the garden.

6.

Gardening helps relieve stress for the whole family.

A garden can be therapeutic. Not that your fourth grader is battling traffic, raising children and feeling the demands of a pressure-ridden job, but even kids can feel stress, and the garden is good for eliminating it. In fact, a study in the Netherlands showed that

after 30 minutes of gardening, subjects who had shown stress before they gardened had a “fully restored” positive mood. And if the adults in the family are feeling stressed, and they garden with their children, it can help the whole family feel more harmonious.

7.

Gardening teaches kids to problem-solve.

“When they garden, children learn problem-solving skills,” Tovi says.

“They say ‘This trellis doesn’t work very well. How can we make one that will better support this kind of plant?’”

In a garden, children ask questions like “What is eating this plant?” or “Is this tree dying?”

Once children become absorbed in solving the problems in a garden, they want to research to find the best answers.

“They become sleuths, starting in the garden and heading into the computers,” Tovi says.

8.

Gardening is a good work out.

Gardening is good physical labor involving muscles that don’t always get a workout. Even the most seasoned gym-goer may admit to being sore the day after working in a garden. Gardening involves stretching,

bending, digging, lifting, pulling and raking. Gross and fine motor skills are used, and even the youngest gardener with simple tasks gets physical activity.

9.

Gardening helps children become environmental

stewards.

When children start reaping the food and flowers that come from a garden, they realize a garden’s impact on them and their impact on the garden. Once they have this tangible experience, it is much easier to teach them to care for the environment.

10.

Gardening can lead to a longer life.

Studies show that adults who garden in their later years live longer. Instead of living a sedentary life, gardeners get off the couch and are active in nature.

Teaching children good habits when they are young will make them more likely to follow them through life.

Sow the seeds of a garden with your child today, and see them reap the benefits for a lifetime.

Janeen Lewis is a freelance journalist and mother of two. She loves to teach gardening to children.

No Yard? No Problem!

When your backyard is a concrete patio or an apartment balcony, it’s hard to imagine growing a bountiful garden. But it can be done in containers. Choose some eco-friendly containers with drainage holes in the bottom, fill them with a potting mix and then choose seeds or seedlings to plant.

Another option is to grow an herb garden inside on a window ledge.

A great resource for starting a container garden is “The Vegetable Gardener’s Container Bible: How to Grow a Bounty of Food in Pots, Tubs, and Other Containers” by Edward C. Smith. This book teaches even beginning gardeners how to grow organic food in small spaces. The book covers container and tool selection, caring for plants and controlling pests without chemicals.

With a little research and tender care, you can grow flowers and vegetables that flourish.

MONTEREY BAY PARENT • april 2020

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Breaking Through the Brass Ceiling

By Susan Meister

The Women Police Chiefs of Monterey County Certificates of courses completed, honors received from the communities they’ve served, and recognition from their peers line their office walls. Two out of three came to the highest ranks of their profession through the military, where physical and mental toughness were the first criteria on which their male colleagues would judge them. The third turned to policing while employed at a funeral home where she learned that “the last act of compassion that can be rendered to a human being teaches us that everyone has value.” The three smile broadly when speaking about themselves and their jobs, all the while radiating the “command presence” that brought them to the top of their profession. They are the women police chiefs of Monterey County.

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MONTEREY BAY PARENT • april 2020

The fact that a woman heads three of our twelve city police departments is highly unusual. According to a 2018 National Institute of Justice report, women constitute less than 13 percent of police officers nationwide and a much smaller proportion of leadership positions. Of the country’s 50 largest police departments, only five have a woman as their chief. Still, this is significant progress compared with decades ago when female officers faced a different environment–when there were public protests against them, men refused to ride with them, and lawsuits for discrimination were common. Although women still face predictable barriers to advancement that exist in any male-dominated profession, there has been significant improvement. All of Monterey County’s police chiefs stress two critical factors in reaching their positions: education and mentorship. Each has approached her profession with a determination to show what a woman could do.

ADELE FRESE, chief of Salinas police, is not wearing a uniform when we meet. Dressed in a handsome double-breasted houndstooth jacket, soft white wool sweater, and black pants, she is a compelling presence. On this day, she is at work, even while fighting a nasty respiratory infection. This infection is no match for Chief Frese.

She is a Marine veteran and now heads a police department in a city named number 9 on the 2020 list of California “murder capitals.”

Her desire to do police work arose from the death of an 18-yearold friend who was abducted in a park. After that tragedy, she decided she would be the person to prevent crimes like that from happening ever again.

Like Chief Nieto, her path was through the military. After going through rigorous Marine training, Chief Frese decided to go into police work. First, she went to an FBI recruiter, who told her to “get a Master’s degree and get some life experience” first. She completed her degree and joined the city of Corpus Cristi’s police department, where she received successive promotions. Ultimately she led 270 officers and seven police captains, as well as serving as the Narcotics and Vice Commanding Officer. She left Corpus Christi to go to the city of Greenfield to be near her father. There she served

MONTEREY BAY PARENT • april 2020

as chief until her move to Salinas in 2016, where she is trying to change the perception of Salinas as a dangerous place.

“Salinas has its goodness and natural richness. We have to believe that we are not some community filled with crime.”

To that end, she is working with community groups, city officials, and the media to change the perception of her city.

Adele Frese has brought new ideas to Salinas, one of them controversial but successful. To bolster the resources she needs to investigate crimes–Salinas recently had a series of bank robberies whose investigation required significantly more resources than she had available -- she partnered with Homeland Security–but only after receiving a commitment that they would not be involved in anything related to immigration. “It was a huge risk to do that here because it was seizing an opportunity that no other agency would touch.

Homeland Security can double the resources we have on hand. That is a huge benefit to the city.”

Like the other two police chiefs, she has a special place in her heart for people who live in poverty. She comes from what she describes as the “humblest of backgrounds,” one of seven children in such tight quarters that every night until her sister got married, they shared a twin bed. Thus her soft spot for families who struggle. Like the other two police chiefs, she continues her education and just enrolled in Baylor’s Doctorate in Education program. The inspiration for everything she does comes from her four children and four grandchildren.

The Salinas community, at first a bit wary, is now solidly behind her. “I call things the way they are because it’s the right thing to do. I won’t flinch from the truth,” she says.

CATHY MADALONE, chief of the Pacific Grove police, succeeded another female chief, securing her position from among a field of 66 applicants.

She moved here from Bergenfield, New Jersey, where she was the first woman to rise to the top of the department.

She attributes her success in part to the mentoring of a forward-thinking chief, and the fact that her male peers accepted her from the beginning. She says “I never let my gender interfere with my work,” even while she admits that she probably had to work harder than her male counterparts. Even so,

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she was aware that women in many police forces had horror stories; some were shunned by their peers or shuttled off to divisions where it was suggested they “work with kids.” She faced none of those barriers.

A tomboy as a kid, athletic, hard-working, she wanted to be a doctor but was not enamored of formal education until much later in life when she found it indispensable. At some point, she met a funeral home director, declared her interest in the work, and was given a job. One day, when things were slow, she noticed her male coworkers filling out applications for a position on the police force. She decided to do likewise. “Everything just fell into place then,” she says, and the rest is her career history, which includes the completion of a course at the FBI National Academy.

Madalone is always on the lookout for educational opportunities, new ideas, new inspiration. At the moment, she is working toward a state certification for “Best Police Practices,” a complex and arduous process that will make Pacific Grove’s police department the first in Monterey County to receive it. There are many parts to the path to such certification, but when it is done, her officers will have learned the best practices for all situations, whether common or uncommon.

Another of her initiatives is a wellness program for staff.

Everyone, she says, is aware of the high numbers of police suicides, often the result of poor work/life balance, which can lead to depression and negativity. This is a joint program that the chiefs on the Peninsula are pursuing. “It’s so important to have hobbies and friends who are not in law enforcement. Police officers can be hardened by what they see,” she says. Madalone’s hobbies include “Cycling, golf, generally anything that involves a ball.” She also gives consideration to youth in her jurisdiction. She’s planning a 6-8 week police training program to be offered to teens during the school year with boot camp in the summer.

Chief Madalone is hyper-focused on the community.

She tries to attend every event in Pacific Grove. “I show up, “ she says, “I think it’s important.” How has she managed the transition from East Coast to West? “The weather is fantastic;

the people are so kind. It was such a unique opportunity, and it came just at the right time. Everything in life is about timing. I love every second of this job.”

TINA NIETO, chief of the Marina Police, is a compact 5”1” with bobby pins holding back her black hair in a ponytail. When we meet she is in full regalia: a long row of stars denoting her rank, a shining shield, a gun riding on her hip. Somehow she manages to project both dance floor cheer and abundant steel at the same time.

Hers is an immigrant story. Her family, Mexican on both sides, were for generations chili farmers in Hatch, New Mexico. From age eight, she grew up in West Covina when it was still relatively rural. Being a member of a family of six children where finances were ever uncertain, she felt the brush of economic insecurity, an abiding concern that would affect her career choices. During her upbringing, there was an expectation that she would grow up and get married: education was not a priority. But she was intent on getting one, so she enrolled at a community college as a marine biology major. Shortly after that, it dawned on her that while marine biology might be a great career, it was unlikely to provide the economic security that she wanted. Next, she tried psychology, a career idea that was quickly discarded after she did an internship at a state psychiatric hospital. Finally, she took a criminal justice class that was not only intriguing but also opened up to her the idea of a career in policing. She describes herself as a risk-taker, which fits in with law enforcement. With this in mind, she enrolled at Cal State Fullerton, where she got a four-year degree in eight years because she had to work full time while pursuing it. There she joined ROTC and left as a member of the Army Reserves when the program finished.

From ROTC, she went directly to the Los Angeles Police

All of Monterey County’s police chiefs stress two critical factors in reaching their positions: EDUCATION AND MENTORSHIP. Each has approached her profession with a determination to show what a woman could do.

READING CAMP • July 13-24

Reading camps for preschool and elementary students who would like a headstart in reading instruction or support for reading difficulties.

BRING AD FOR FREE HAT!

Summer Camp

Literacy Kickstart Camp is for preschoolers and early elementary students. (Monday-Friday, 9:00-10:30am) Reading Booster Camp is ideal for elementary students who need support. (Monday-Friday, 11am-12:30pm) To register call 831-204-0019 or email contact@montereybayspeechtherapy.com

Monterey Bay Speech Therapy, Inc. 170 17th St, Suite B, Pacific Grove 24

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$295 per week | Discounts for siblings & multi-week Open to boys & girls ages 5-17 | Scholarships available All Equipment Provided Including Wetsuits Ocean Skills • Boogie Board • Surfing • Beach Soccer

Register online at www.thewahineproject.org MONTEREY BAY PARENT • april 2020

Academy. There she was one of 22 women in a class of 90, intending to go right onto the streets. She graduated number one academically in her class. It was a huge department where the competition was fierce, but she was recognized for the “command presence” that she had gained in the Army. This led to her progress through the ranks and attracted the mentoring that female chiefs say is one of the essential factors in becoming a law enforcement executive.

Equally important to her, as with Chief Madalone, are her relationships with the community she serves. Fasttracked through LAPD, she was kept moving from one area of the city to another after gaining the trust and respect of each community she worked in. First, she was sent to one of the most impoverished areas of Los Angeles, then to the heart of Koreatown, then to the Salvadoran district. Mementos in her office -- a large, intricately decorated nameplate from the Koreans, a cascading, complimentary wall hanging from the Salvadorans, attest to the regard with which these communities viewed her. After 28 years of “moving boxes” from one place to another, she left the LAPD, intending to retire. But then came the opportunity in Marina. She fell in love with the town and now has no plan to retire. “The Marina community is wonderful - it’s growing, and the police department is growing along with it.”

Chief Nieto has close relationships with her female colleagues: they support and advise each other and have built strong alliances. She also admires the male police chiefs in the County - they have lunch together regularly. “We are people as well as professionals, and it serves us well to get to know one another as individuals. Plus, we are close because we share many resources.” She makes the same observation that her colleagues do: Women have to be twice as good as men in nearly every profession. And she holds that education is critical– all of the women chiefs she has met have been helped and carried by the fact that they have advanced degrees.

Chief Nieto is a complex blend of empathy, focused authority, and fun. Her foundational belief is that police officers are people who want to help others. “People are inherently good - they have the same values everywhere and fundamentally care about each other.” She pauses, stares intently, eyes suddenly piercingly calm. “I choose to believe that even when it is tempting to believe otherwise.”

When asked what she would most like people to know about her, she reflects for a moment, then breaks into her characteristic shining smile: “I am an excellent karaoke singer.”

Come to CAPA CARES open house

Summer 2020 Preview

“New”

Capa Live Stream

Daily Programming Streaming of Top National Dancers, Choreographers and Conditioning Includes Membership to

Dance on the Go “CAPA GO” App

Surf’s Up Ages 8 - 18

1/2 Day Train 1/2 Day Surf

Learn More Meet the Teachers and Sign-Up! Reserve Your Spot Schedule Online:

CAPACARES.com/ Summer2020 833-600-CAPA (2272)

First 15 Students Enrolled in CAPA Cares Summer 2020 Receive a CAPA T-Shirt, Bag and Sticker Arts & Crafts, Dancing, Moving, Grooving, Singing, Surfing and CAPA GO Streaming.

AGES 4 -6 • Your Inner “Super Hero” • Breakfast at Tiffany’s Princess Dance and Tea Party. Includes: • Mind My Manners 2-Day Workshop AGES 6 - 9

Hip Hop AGES 8 - 18

Ballet Camp Silks Camp Music Camp Sing Camp

What do all these singularly capable women share in common? Several things: an empathy for those who are living in marginal circumstances, a reverence for education, a history of steady promotions within competitive departments, mentors who recognized their abilities, a focus on being an active part of the communities they serve, a belief that police work is the way to help people, not oppress them.

And finally, the wish to prevent the worst of harm to innocent victims.

Susan Meister is a journalist, columnist, and community activist living in Pebble Beach. Susan’s writing was recently recognized with the 2020 Bronze Award from the Parenting Media Association.

MONTEREY BAY PARENT • april 2020

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Monterey Bay

PARENT

Special Coronavirus Coverage

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Message to Parents from Congressman Jimmy Panetta

29

Parenting in a Time of Uncertainty

by Dianna Flett

30

Setting the Example: Five Coping Strategies for Parents

by Dr. Susan Swick

32

How to Talk to Kids About the Coronavirus

by Cheryl Maguire

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Looking for the Bright Side: Finding positivity in this time of uncertainty

by Sandi Schwartz

36

Celebrating a Birthday When Your Family is Sheltering in Place

by Cheryl Maguire

39

Virtual Creativity: Storytime and art activities you can access online

PHYSICIAN AVAILABLE 24/7

Chuyen Le Trieu, M. D

Breann Kinsey, PA

Quenlyn Larson, D.N.P

• Sat. morning clinic, extended hours until 6 PM Mon-Thur • Urgent advice and referral available by phone

LABORATORY SERVICES

Cristina Mercado, M. D

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• Available on site while you wait (complete blood count, urinalysis, anemia testing, rapid strep, urine pregnancy tests, and more.

SEPARATE OFFICES

www.SalinasPediatrics.com (831) 422-9066 26

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• Well care at 601 E. Romie Lane, Salinas • Sick and urgent care at 505 E. Romie Lane, Salinas • Providers rotate at both offices

MONTEREY BAY PARENT • april 2020

Dear Community Member, I hope you and your families are healthy and safe. Over the last couple of weeks, I heard from many of you about the challenges you face during the COVID-19 pandemic and abiding by the necessary social distancing and shelter-in-place directives of our counties and state. With schools and businesses closed and children and parents at home, many of us, including my family, are adjusting to new routines. As a parent, member of our community, and your federal representative, I have been asked to share the following guidance and federal resources to assist you.

Shelter-In-Place Orders: It is important that we adhere to the counties’ health officers’ Shelter in Place orders and the statewide Stay Home Order. You are allowed to go outside to take care of pets, let the kids run around, go on a walk, and just get outside, as long as you do not congregate in a group and maintain at least six feet of distance between you and other people.

For more information, click here: • Monterey County: Frequently Asked Questions about Shelter in Place Order (En Español ) • Santa Cruz County: What Does it Mean to Shelter in Place (En Español ) Federal Response: Last week, we in the House of Representatives passed comprehensive legislation to bolster Americans’ personal safety and financial security. The bipartisan Families First Coronavirus Response Act, H.R. 6201, provides comprehensive and immediate support to students, workers, employers, and families as we confront the COVID-19 pandemic. This agreement takes important steps to improve access to COVID-19 testing, prevent child hunger during school closures, and provide millions of workers and employers urgent relief.

Protecting Students’ Access to Nutritious Meals The Families First Coronavirus Response Act provides schools and states flexibility to prevent children from going hungry during this public health crisis. To learn more about how the bill protects students’ access to nutritious meals, click here.

Expanding Access to Emergency Paid Family Leave In response to widespread and potentially prolonged school closures, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act provides families with critical protections to ensure that workers can care for their children without sacrificing their paycheck. To learn more about how the bill provides emergency paid sick leave to eligible workers, click here.

Mental Health: Your kids and you may find the next few weeks to be particularly stressful. Taking care of your mental health is just as important as staying physically healthy. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) shares some helpful guidance on managing anxiety and stress.

You also may wonder how to talk to kids about the coronavirus. PBS offers some advice on how to talk to young kids about COVID-19, and the CDC has recommendations for all ages, including seniors who are most at risk.

Last weekend, I wrote an op-ed piece about the federal government response to the COVID-19 pandemic for the Monterey Herald. Please click here to read. In the coming weeks, the fight against this pandemic will take a toll on all of us. I understand that virus-related closures of schools and businesses will require a large-scale response from our families and our federal government. As we continue to fight for the needs of our communities, we ask you to please stay home as much as you can to do your part to keep this virus from spreading and protect our neighbors.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to my office for any federal assistance. Whether you have questions about a business loan through the Small Business Administration, need information about a local food bank, or are seeking relief from student loan payments through this trying time, my offices are open and here to help. You can also find information about federal resources on my website here. Please do not hesitate to reach out and let me know how I can continue to best serve you.

Sincerely,

Jimmy Panetta, Member of Congress MONTEREY BAY PARENT • april 2020

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serious fun It’s a girl thing.

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Monterey Bay Parent April 2020

MONTEREY BAY PARENT • april 2020

special coronavirus coverage

By dianna flett

Parenting in a time of uncertainty W e are all feeling the uncertainty of the times right now. It can be quite overwhelming and part of our challenge as parents is helping our children come up with ways to process what’s happening. We often do a workshop activity in our summer camps that focuses on uncertainty and what we can do to deal with it. It’s pretty basic and may help frame your discussions with your children in the coming days and weeks.

The idea is simple. You talk about a concern your child may be having and you break it down into its most basic parts. In our workshops, for instance, we talk about a particular course the children might find challenging. Let’s say it is math.

Then we ask them, “Can you control the fact that you are studying math?”

“No, it is a required class in school.”

“So what can you control?”

Then we talk through the things the girls can do to support their success. The storyline may go like this: “Well, I can raise my hand and ask questions.”

“I can focus on the teacher deliberately when she is teaching this subject.”

“I can ask for help during lunch, or after school.”

“I can look for some support online.”

“I can let you know what we’re studying and together we can work through it.”

Instead of focusing on what the girls cannot influence we focus on what they can influence. We also bring home the point that if they are doing the same thing over and over and it isn’t working, then they need to change up their approach.

How might that discussion look using today’s health scare? Maybe your child says they are scared about the virus. This is a good time to talk about all the things they can do to keep themselves and the people you care about safe.

“I can make sure I wash my hands with soap while I sing ‘Happy Birthday’

MONTEREY BAY PARENT • april 2020

twice in my head.”

“I can sneeze into my arm, a tissue, a napkin, instead of out into the air.”

“I can tell you if I start to feel the slightest bit sick so we can stay on top of keeping me healthy.”

“I can do things here in our house while school is out that keep me busy to keep my mind off things.”

“I can have a FaceTime playdate with Susie every day so I don’t get lonely.”

“I can write in my journal about my feelings so they don’t get too big for me.”

It’s also important when your children are young to keep the conversation truthful and youthful. Don’t give them more information than they are asking for, and don’t scare them by allowing them to overhear conversations that are too difficult for them to process. Keep the TV off the channels where information about the virus is being highlighted, and if they do hear something make sure to circle back and discuss with them what they heard and what they think about it, so you can dispel any irrational thoughts or concerns.

Children catch on quickly when things are out of sorts. If we stay calm and set an azimuth for them to follow with our own behavior and our mindset, then we have a better chance of them feeling safe and protected when life events happen that may cause them angst. Communication is key.

There is so much right now you cannot control, but there are many things you can.

It is important we respect what is happening in our world today. It is also impor-

tant we consider our own strength and humanity as we turn our faces toward tomorrow and beyond.

In your mind leap forward and think about your son or daughter looking into their children’s eyes, and what they will say about how you nurtured them through this time. The reality you form with them now will be their stories of tomorrow.

I’m right here with you.

Dianna Flett is a leader, entrepreneur and mother of four boys. Her goal in life is to not raise jerks and to always choose a path that will provide lessons to help her boys “grow away.” Diana is the CEO and facilitator of an empowerment program she created. Her writing was recently recognized with the 2020 Gold Award from the Parenting Media Association.

HOW PARENTS CAN HELP

1. Listen to your child’s concerns

2. help them reframe the actions They choose to things they can control 3. be honest and ageappropriate 4. stay calm

montereybayparent.com

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coronavirus coverage

5

Setting the Example

Coping Strategies for Parents

T

he current public health emergency is one without much precedent in most people’s lives or in our national experience. Disruption always creates stress, and extended school cancellations, financial disruptions, and fear of contagion have brought anxiety, uncertainty, and confusion. These feelings can be profound for children, as their school routines have been upended and parents may be stressed. Here are some strategies for parents:

1.

Offer clear, open, regular, and child-centered communication Accurate information calmly delivered is the antidote to anxiety or panic in a stressful situation. Most children will have noticed people wearing face masks, or dramatic scenes on the news with hospital workers in full protective gear, breathlessly reporting growing numbers of the infected and the deceased. At a minimum, they are being commanded to wash hands and not touch their faces (which is challenging enough for adults!), and probably overhearing conversations about quarantines and contagion. Many children are managing extended school closures and some are even managing the quarantine or serious illness of a loved one. When children overhear frightening news

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By dr. susan swick

montereybayparent.com

from distressed adults, they are going to become anxious and afraid themselves. Parents should remember to find out what their children have seen, heard, or understand about what is going on, and they should correct misinformation or misunderstandings with clear explanations. They should also find out what their children are curious about. “What has you wondering about that?” is a great response when children have questions, to make sure you get at the matter they are really worried about.

It is also fine to not have an answer to every question or worry.

“That’s a great question. Let’s look together at the CDC website…” Offering to look for answers or information together can be a powerful way to model how to handle uncertainty. And always couch your answers with appropriate (not false) reassurance: “Children and young adults appear to be very safe from this illness, but we want to take care to protect those that are older or already sick.”

Part of being child-centered in your communication includes offering information in an age-appropriate manner. Preschool aged children (up to 5) still have magical thinking. They are prone to finding masks and gowns scary, and to assuming that school stopping may be because they did something wrong. Tell them about the new illness and the doctors and officials working hard to keep people safe.

Their sense of time is less logical, so you may have to tell them more than once. Reassure them that children do not get very sick from this illness, but they can carry and spread it, like having paint on their hands, so they need to wash their hands often to take good care of other people.

School-age children (roughly from 5-12 years old) are better equipped cognitively to understand the seriousness of this outbreak. They are built to

MONTEREY BAY PARENT • april 2020

master new situations, but are prone to anxiety as they don’t yet have the emotional maturity to tolerate uncertainty or unfairness. Explain what is known without euphemisms, be truly curious about what their questions are and look for answers together. Often what they need is to see you being calm in the face of uncertainty, bearing the strong feelings that may come, and preserving curiosity and compassion for others. Adolescents will need all of this support, and can also be curious about more abstract implications (political, ethical, financial). Do not be surprised when they ask sophisticated questions, but are still focused on the personal disruptions or sacrifices (a canceled dance or sports event, concerns about academic performance).

Adolescence is a time of intense preoccupation with their emerging identity and relationships; it is normal for them to experience events in a way that may seem selfish, especially if it disrupts their time with friends. Offer compassion and validation, while acknowledging that shared sacrifice and discomfort are a part of every individual’s experience when a society must respond to such a large challenge.

2.

Be mindful of your children’s vulnerabilities Being child-centered goes beyond thinking about their age and developmental stage. You are the experts on your children, and will know about any particular vulnerabilities to the stresses of this serious outbreak. Children who are prone to anxiety or suffer from anxiety disorders may be more prone to silent worry. It is especially important to check in with them often, find out what they know, what they are worried about, and remind them to

“never worry alone.” It is also important to continue with any recommended treatment, avoiding accommodation of their anxieties, except when it is required by public health protocols (i.e., staying home from school).

Children with developmental disabilities may require additional support to change behaviors (hand washing) and may be more sensitive to changes in routine. And children with learning disabilities or special services in school may require additional support or structure during a prolonged period at home.

3.

Preserve routines and structure Routines and predictability are important to the sense of stability and wellbeing of most children (and adults).

While disruptions are unavoidable, preserve what routines you can, and establish some new ones. For children who are out of school for several weeks, set up a consistent home routine, with a similar wake-up time and bedtime and “school schedule.” Be sure to preserve time for physical activity and social connections within this new framework. Social time does not require physical proximity, and can happen by screen or phone. Physical activity should be outside if at all possible.

Predictability, preserved expectations (academic and otherwise), physical exercise, social connection, and consistent sleep will go a long way in protecting everyone’s ability to manage the disruptions of this epidemic.

4.

Find opportunity in the disruption Include family time in your new schedule. This disruption is also a rare opportunity to slow down, spend time

together, listen, learn more about one another, and even to have fun. You could play board games, card games, watch movies together, or even read aloud. You might discover it is the time to try new hobbies (knitting, a new language, or instrument), or to teach each other new skills. You might learn something new, or something new about your children. You will also offer a model of finding the opportunity in adversity, and even offer them some wonderful memories from a difficult time.

5.

Take care of the vulnerable and ease others’ hardships Without a doubt, this will be a difficult time for many. One powerful strategy to build resilience in our children and to strengthen our communities is to think with them about ways to help those who are more at-risk or burdened by this challenge. Perhaps they want to make cards or FaceTime calls to older relatives who may be otherwise isolated. They may want to consider ways to support the work of first responders, even just with appreciation. They may want to reach out to elderly neighbors and offer to get groceries or other needed supplies for them. Focusing on the needs of those who are more vulnerable or burdened than ourselves is a powerful way to show our children how communities pull together in a challenging time, to enhance their feeling of connectedness, and to build resilience in them, in our families, and in our communities.

Dr. Susan Swick, is Physician in Chief, Ohana Center for Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health.

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coronavirus coverage

By CHERYL MAGUIRE

Expert Advice: How to Talk to Your Kids About the Coronavirus Will I get sick?

Why are they closing the schools?

I’m scared.

I’m upset that I can’t go to ballet class.

These are some of the questions and comments I’ve heard from my three kids over the past week. Given the recent school closures, lack of toilet paper and bombarding messages about handwashing, it is understandable why kids may feel confused or scared. Most parents are fielding similar concerns and are wondering how to respond.

1.

Recognize Your Feelings. Before you discuss the Coronavirus with your kids, acknowledge your own feelings about the situation.

“It is important to recognize your own anxiety before talking to your child. If I am feeling anxious, I choose not to talk to my child. Instead, I allow myself to calm down and then approach the topic,” says Dr. Soma Mandal, internist and partner at Summit Medical Group in Berkeley Heights, NJ.

exercise. She stresses limiting alcohol and drug use and taking breaks before becoming irritable or impatient.

Dr. Robin Goodman, a clinical psychologist agrees with Dr. Solomon by saying, “Fear can be contagious so above all, parents need to monitor and manage their own worry especially with their children. Being calm is also contagious so it is better to spread calm.”

3.

Validate Their Feelings. When you recognize and accept your child’s feelings as being valid then it can help them to feel calm and understood.

Dr. Solomon says, “Our goal as parents is to validate their stress and encourage them to practice healthy coping strategies like distraction, focusing on what’s going well, exercise, and radical acceptance (radical acceptance means reminding ourselves that this is beyond our control).”

4.

Assess What They Already Know.Kids have heard about Coronavirus from their friends, the Internet, and on TV. Before providing any information ask them what they know about the pandemic.

Dr. Damon Korb, a behavioral and developmental pediatrician at The Center of Developing Minds and author of Raising An Organized Child says, “Children need information, just like adults. Start by finding out what they already know. Clear up any misconceptions and explain the concern at a developmentally appropriate level.”

Dr. Madal agrees with Dr. Korb by saying, “I invite my

2.

Remain Calm. Even though you may feel anxious you should try to reframe from showing these feelings to your child.

Dr. Alexandra Solomon, a Northwestern University professor, clinical psychologist and author of Loving Bravely says, “In the therapy world, we stress the importance of ‘regulating the regulator.’ In order to be able to provide regulation, parents need to feel regulated.”

She recommends that parents practice self-care by staying informed but also unplugging. She also suggests that parents shore up their foundation by eating healthy food, getting adequate sleep, and

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MONTEREY BAY PARENT • april 2020

daughter to let me know what she has heard first and what she has questions about so we can start the conversation there. I give her the room to let me know her feelings about it, including feeling scared and confused.”

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5.

Be Honest and Reassure. It is okay to let your child know you don’t have all the answers. You can also explain the reasons for the school closures are to try to prevent the spread of the virus.

Dr. Solomon explains that living through this pandemic is challenging because of the uncertainty. She says, “We don’t know when life is going to return to normal, but we also don’t want to lie to our kids. We can tell kids the essential truth and reassure them that you will be together every step of the way.”

She suggests using distraction as a method of coping.

She recommends shifting the focus away from the Coronavirus and towards a game, a walk, or a movie.

“When you are reassuring children it is always important to be honest. We talk about how one can get sick, but how you can protect yourself the best way you can. Washing hands with soap and water, covering a cough and sneeze, staying away from other sick people, eating healthy food and getting plenty of sleep is what I call ways to overpower the germs,” says Dr. Madal.

Dr. Korb explains that when children are anxious parents should be patient, tolerant, and provide reassurance. He says, “Reassure your child by explaining the steps that your family is taking to remain safe such as social distancing, hand washing, and visiting a doctor if feeling sick.”

6.

Create and Maintain Routines. Routines provide comfort, security and predictability for children, so it is important to create and continue these practices.

Dr. Lea Lis, adult and child psychiatrist, a clinical professor at NYU and author of the book Shame-less: Talking to your kids about sexuality, self-confidence, and healthy relationships says, “Stick to familiar routines. Wake them up the same time every day. Go to bed at the same time every day, and make sure to get plenty of exercise, even if all of their sports and activities are canceled.”

She also recommends prioritizing education since kids love to learn and learning provides a distraction from their worries. Amazing Educational Resources provides a list of websites offering free educational materials for kids. Travel and Leisure offers links to museums you can visit virtually.

Dr. Korb says, “Parents can emphasize the things that are not going to change like the routines and rules and expectations. Bedtimes will be the same. Rules on electronics will still exist. Kids can still chat with friends and relatives through the phone, games, and the Internet.”

Kids are resilient. When we provide a safe, comforting environment for them, it will help them to preserve through this pandemic.

Cheryl Maguire holds a Master of Counseling Psychology degree. She is married and is the mother of twins and a daughter. Her writing has been published in The New York Times, Parents Magazine, AARP, Chicken Soup for the Soul: Count Your Blessing, Your Teen Magazine and many other publications. You can find her at Twitter @CherylMaguire05 MONTEREY BAY PARENT • april 2020

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33

coronavirus coverage

By Sandi Schwartz

LOOKING FOR THE BRIGHT SIDE Finding positivity in this time of uncertainty

M

any of us are really struggling as we adjust our lives during this COVID-19 coronavirus scare. Our world is upside down and we don’t know how long this period of cancellations, social distancing, and food runs will last. Like any tragic event in our lives, we must process the multitude of emotions we are experiencing and try our best to find something positive in these challenging, uncertain times.

We can look to positive psychology for some guidance. The science points to several ways that we can focus our energy—even our fear and despair—in a more constructive way in order to build stronger relationships with loved ones and our fellow community members, and to discover creative solutions to address the complex issues we face.

lives boosts our body, mind, and spirit. It gives us energy, inspires us, transforms us, and helps us think about life as a gift. Spend some time with your children these next few weeks pointing out the parts of life you are grateful for.

There are many creative ways to encourage your children to express gratitude, such as by keeping a gratitude journal or adding a gratitude moment or prayer to their bedtime routine.

mood and emotions.

Laughing offers a healthy distraction from negative emotions like anger and stress, giving us a more lighthearted perspective when faced with challenges. When you enjoy a good laugh with your kids, you create a happier, more positive atmosphere.

EXERCISE

BE PLAYFUL

Here are 5 activities that you can do with your children to feel calmer and more optimistic:

GIVE THANKS

When times are tough, that is when we really need to stop and express gratitude for the good in our lives. Dr. Robert Emmons, the world’s leading scientific expert on gratitude, encourages people to practice gratitude because it has been proven to make us feel more optimistic, and helps us cope with stress more effectively and recover more quickly from traumatic situations.

Focusing on the positive in our

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It is so hard to stop reading all the news stories right now, but we will all certainly feel better if we take a break to play and laugh with our children: dress up in goofy costumes, read a joke book, play a fun game like charades, watch a comedy on television, or sing silly songs.

According to the Mayo Clinic, laughing improves our body and mind, and is one of the simplest tools we have for reducing stress and anxiety. When we laugh, the ventromedial prefrontal cortex of our brain is activated, resulting in the release of the feel-good hormones called endorphins. These chemicals create feelings of pleasure and satisfaction, and also relieve pain. In addition, the level of stress hormones like cortisol, epinephrine (adrenaline), and dopamine are lowered. Laughing also relaxes our muscles, which soothes tension from stress, and engages the limbic system, the part of the brain that manages our

Exercise is so critical to calming our bodies and minds. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, aerobic exercise is a vital tool for reducing stress. It decreases overall levels of tension, elevates and stabilizes mood, improves sleep, and lifts self-esteem. Even just five minutes of physical activity can help relax us. This happens because exercise produces endorphins, the chemicals in our brain that act as natural painkillers and make us feel happier and less anxious.

During stressful times, look for ways to be active with your children such as going on a family hike or bike ride; having a catch in your backyard; swimming; or playing fun games like hopscotch, jumping rope, tag, or freeze dance.

“For fast-acting relief, try slowing down.”

– Lily Tomlin

MONTEREY BAY PARENT • april 2020

GET CREATIVE

state. When we are in a state of flow, we forget about all of our thoughts and lose track of time. Additionally, working with certain colors can boost our mood.

There are endless ways to share creative time with your children: • Sing or play music together • Write a story or poem • Paint, draw, or mold a sculpture • Dance to some lively music • Cook or bake together

HELP OTHERS

Art has been scientifically proven to reduce stress levels, so much so, that an entire discipline of art therapy has been developed. Art is a way of tapping into the right side of the brain where creativity, intuition, visualization, emotions, and daydreaming stem from. Creativity distracts us from what is tormenting our minds, giving us a great way to focus on something more positive, productive, and inspiring.

When we are creative, we experience a sense of flow and become completely absorbed in what we are doing to the point of being in a near meditative

MONTEREY BAY PARENT • april 2020

All the experts tell us that one of the best things you can do when you feel

down is to help someone else. When we make others happy, we experience an amazing biological phenomenon called a helper’s high. According to Psychology Today, the helper’s high is a literal “high,” similar to a druginduced high. Doing good deeds triggers the reward center in our brain that is responsible for releasing endorphins that make us feel elated and excited naturally.

One way that my family will create positive energy is by reaching out to those who need help during this crisis. Some ideas: • Email letters to the elderly in assisted living facilities to cheer them up.

• Send thank you emails to health care workers and first responders.

• Call friends and neighbors to ask if they need anything like groceries.

• Reach out to loved ones through phone calls and online to stay in touch and lift each other’s spirits.

You can play games or read books together using your screens.

• Make donations as a family to charitable organizations on the front lines of fighting this disease.

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By cheryl maguire

coronavirus coverage

Celebrating a

Birthday

When Your Family is Sheltering in Place

“Will I be able to have my birthday party?”

My daughter’s 12th birthday is in April and she has been planning her birthday party for the past month. With the recent lockdowns and social distancing recommendations related to the Coronavirus, she will probably have to come up with an alternative plan for her party.

Before the Coronavirus wreaked havoc on children’s party plans, there were also kids not able to socialize at parties due to comprised immune systems. Here are some suggestions for ways to celebrate without spreading germs.

Create a Virtual Party One way to interact with friends from a distance is to have a virtual hangout using apps like Google Hangout, Zoom, or Skype. My daughter has been

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using Google Hangout to practice her musical theater play with the kids in her class. This technology allows people to see and speak to everyone, so it is the next best thing to being in a room together. If someone isn’t able to connect due to a lack of technology access, go old school and put them on your speak phone so they can hear and participate in the conversations.

Virtual Party Theme Ideas You are probably wondering how do you simulate a kid’s birthday party when they can’t physically interact?

It is important to remember that the main goal of a party is for your child to have fun with their friends.

This is still possible but may require some out-of-the box thinking.

One way to do this is to have a theme that all the party goers will be excited about. Most games like pin the tail on the donkey are not an option but there are several ideas for themes that will include everyone and create a festive mood.

Movie Theater Party If the birthday kid is a movie lover, you could create a movie themed party. On the invite ask the partygoers to dress up in their favorite movie character outfit or t-shirt. You could create a movie trivia game or a “would you rather game” using movie themed questions. After playing the games the group can then watch a movie selected ahead of time. Before the party, you will need to figure which movies everyone owns or can stream together.

Cook Off Party For the future chef tweens and teens, you could have a cook off party. Everyone must find five items in their house and create a dessert or any meal the birthday person selects. Then their parents judge the creation on creativity and taste. You could also play trivia cooking games or swap your favorite recipes.

Lego Themed Party For the birthday Lego lovers, you could create a Lego themed party. EveryMONTEREY BAY PARENT • april 2020

one would have to arrive with a bucket of Legos. You could play games like who could build the tallest tower in five minutes and then their parents would measure each one to determine the winner. Some other suggestions are that everyone makes whatever they want and then the parents determine who has the most creative structure. Or everyone makes an animal and you must guess what type of animal the Legos are supposed to be.

After your are done building go on virtual Legoland rides by searching the ride on YouTube. Before the party create a list of rides that you want to visit to keep things moving along during the party.

like a white stone or red flower assigning each item points. They could take their device with them as they hunt so that the kids at the party could see each other during their travels.

Drawing or Paint Themed Party Before the party ask the parents what type of art supplies they own. Most kids have a set of markers, crayons and paints.

One suggestion is to all draw or paint the same picture. Mo Willems, author of many children’s books like Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late! and Knuffle Bunny has a drawing channel on YouTube where you can learn how to draw characters from his books like Piggie and Elephant. You could have everyone watch the video at the same time and then share your drawing.

You could also create cards for people in nursing homes, hospitals or the military and let them know that you are thinking of them.

Green Themed Party For the birthday environmental lovers, you could have a green themed party. Everyone could come to the party dressed in their favorite environmental themed outfit like a flower t-shirt or picture of the earth.

You could play an upcycle game by finding five items in the recycle bin and then creating an animal or their favorite environmental setting such as the beach. You could create a scavenger hunt where they find items outside

Virtual Disneyworld If your kid is a Disney fan have them dress up as their favorite Disney character and ask their friends to do the same. You can play Disney related games and then go on virtual Disney

rides by searching the ride on YouTube. Before the party create a list of rides that you want to visit to keep things moving along during the party.

Fun and Festive Try to decorate the room that your child will be streaming the party from with the theme in mind to set the mood for all the partygoers. Plan the games and festivities before the party starts so that it will keep the fun levels high throughout.

By the time the party is over, your child will hopefully have so much fun that they will forget about the fact they didn’t see their friends in person. And the best part for you is that you won’t have to clean up a mess created by a room full of kids.

Cheryl Maguire holds a Master of Counseling Psychology degree. She married and is the mother of twins and a daughter. Her writing has been published in The New York Times, Parents Magazine, AARP, Upworthy, Chicken Soup for the Soul: Count Your Blessings, Your Teen Magazine and many other publications. You can find her at Twitter @CherylMaguire05

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Now is the time to take care of you, whether it’s braces or Invisalign® we’ve got you covered! Get your smile on with only $129 a month.

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care highest in a friendly,quality fun, family-based, high-tech care practice.in a • Our #1 team goal is to provide the orthodontic • Using proven state-of-the-art technology to enhance your friendly, fun, family-based, high-tech practice. experience, I utilize the most advanced procedures and equipment available to ensure that every patient achieves I • Using proven state-of-the-art technology to enhance your experience, a healthy and beautiful smile. utilize the most advanced procedures and equipment available to en• Dr. Auger is proud to be an Elite Invisalign Provider. sure that every patient achieves a healthy and beautiful smile. ®

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Tim A. Auger, DMD

“Excellent staff, everyone in the “Excellent staff, everyone in the office was very friendly and office was very friendly walked felt us walked us through the entire process. and My seven-year-old very comfortable all the way through the appointment.” through the entire process. My seven— Casey Minson year-old felt very comfortable all the way through the appointment.”

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month

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Virtual Creativity Authors, celebrities, and illustrators offer fun for the kids and a break for mom and dad.

Have you reached your limit after reading “Dragons Love Tacos” a few dozen times and it’s only 10 am? Here are six of our favorite virtual story times and art activities:

1.

#Savewithstories. A collaboration between actors Jennifer Garner and Amy Adams, Save with Stories is a dedicated Instagram account where your children can watch celebrities read favorite children’s books. The duo are trying to raise money for the organizations Save the Children and No Kid Hungry. As of press time, there were about 25 recorded stories on the account so you can spend some time catching up.

2.

HarperKids from Home. The team at HarperKids holds a storytime with read-alouds and activities noon EST. You can tune in on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or YouTube. The Harper Kids YouTube channel also has dozens of fun videos with authors reading their books and illustrators demonstrating their skills.

Outdoor Adventures

• Discovery Camp (ages 8-12) • Outdoor Leadership Train­ing (ages 13-16) • Wee Ones in the Woods (ages 4-7) • Condor Wilderness Camps (ages 13-17) • Weekly homeschool classes (ages 4-12) Scholarships available on a sliding scale.

4.

Storyline Online. This incredible resource from the SAG-AFTRA Foundation is an archive of hundreds of children’s books read by some of the greatest actors of our time, including Viola Davis, Chris Pine, Lily Tomlin, Rami Malek, Annette Bening and James Earl Jones. Don’t miss Betty White reading Harry the Dirty Dog. Log onto www.storylineonline.net.

5.

Operation Storytime. Use the hashtag #operationstorytime to find stories on Facebook and Youtube. You’ll find dozens of celebrated children’s authors reading their books.

or call

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Mo Willems’s “LUNCH DOODLES.” The first-ever Education artist-in-residence at the Kennedy Center, Mo Willems is holding this fun art lesson daily at 1pm EST. Learners can draw, doodle and explore new ways of writing by visiting Mo’s studio virtually once a day for the next few weeks. Grab some paper and pencils, pens, or crayons and join Mo to explore ways of writing and making together.Kids can post their art to social media and use the hashtag it with #MoLunchDoodles. Lessons are archived on YouTube. Log onto www.kennedy-center.org for the daily lesson.

For dates, more information, or to enroll, visit us at: www.ventanaws.org/education

831.899.5900

www.montereychiropracticgroup.com

Appointments available CALL NOW!

Chiropractic care for everyone Adults • Children Pregnant Women

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World Book Day. Watch a wide range of famous authors and stars reading children’s books and short stories for kids of all ages at www.worldbookday.com.

MONTEREY BAY PARENT • april 2020

125 CENTRAL AVE | PACIFIC GROVE | 831.596.9194 jess@pnppaintparty.com | www.pnppaintparty.com montereybayparent.com

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*Home School Program – Grades TK-12 *Independent Study Program – Grades 9-12 *Fully Accredited by WASC! *No Interdistrict Transfer Required to Enroll!

At Monterey County Home Charter School, students are given a rich, individually designed, tuition-free education while studying in a nonclassroom-based environment. Enrichment and intervention classes, workshops, field trips, tutoring sessions, concurrent enrollment and ROP opportunities, and weekly meetings with fully credentialed teachers give students every opportunity to succeed.

For more information or to enroll, contact: Monterey County Home Charter School 901 Blanco Circle, Salinas, CA 93912

(831) 755-0331 • www.mchcs.org

General & Cosmetic Dentistry

Vista Robles Dental Group Offering:

• Family dentistry • Pediatric dentistry • Restorative dentistry • Cosmetic dentistry • Accepting new patients • Courtesy insurance billing for most dental insurances

Dentists Linda Martin DDS and Esmeralda Muñoz DDS, of Vista Robles Dental Group can give you a healthy beautiful smile that you can take pride in.

Modern cosmetic dentistry techniques make it easier than ever for you to have a bright, even smile.

(831) 372-7548

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MONTEREY BAY PARENT • april 2020

cultivate

CELEBRATING 25 YEARS!

ENROLL NOW

to learn a symphonic instrument and be part of a Monterey County youth orchestra

A California non-profit corporation serving children with Autism Spectrum Disorders since 1993

bia4autism.org Behavioral Intervention for Autism (BIA) has been supporting families & children affected

by Autism for 25 years. Founded in 1993, BIA is steadfastly committed to providing quality, applied behavior analysis intervention services to children diagnosed with autism.

• Intensive 1:1 Intervention Services • Center, Home and Community Based Services • Social Skills groups (ages 6-18)

Monterey l Fresno l Bay Area (831) 375-1310 bia4autism.org

OUR MISSION BIA’s mission is to significantly improve the lives of children diagnosed with Autism by providing innovative and individualized treatment.

BIA is a recognized leader within the community for intervention and support of children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).

Orchestra In The Schools.org High quality personal instruction on a child’s choice of orchestral instrument.

Join us: enroll–donate–cultivate. instruments provided • tuition aid available

Orchestra in the Schools 831-402-2946

BIA is one of the first Autism providers in Northern California and remains one of only a few providers functioning as a Non-Profit, 501 (c)(3).

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MONTEREY BAY PARENT • april 2020

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Monterey Bay Parent Magazine March, April, May 2020

41

Think differently?

Think Chartwell.

Call or email for information.

We are available to answer your questions.

For students in grades 2 to 12 with dyslexia and other learning differences.

Admission and financial aid information available

Summer Camp now enrolling!

Visit chartwell.org For over 35 years Chartwell has been leading the way in research-based education for students with language-based learning differences.

Stop struggling. Start learning.

Chartwell School | 2511 Numa Watson Rd. | Seaside, CA 93955 admissions@chartwell.org | 831.394.3468 42

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