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Best Beaches Top local spots
Let’s Talk about Race Pointers for parents
Safe Schools Super’s letter Road Trip!
Make traveling fun
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.
Take the Census at my2020Census.gov
www.sonomafamilylife.com
July 2020
SonomaFamilyLife 3
July 2020
Every Issue 6
Dear Reader
8
Bits and Pieces Get Creative with LBC
10 Features
School Reopening 101 Run and Read What Makes You Happy? A Spoonful of Virtual Sugar The Census Needs You
10 Talk About Race with Kids Pointers on how to teach about equality.
12 Best Beaches
22 Cooking with Kids Give Us Gauc!
24 Humor Break Ready, Set, Clean!
Where to catch some surf and sand.
14 Road Trip! How to travel with kids in tow.
8
16 Safe Schools A letter from the superintendent.
12
18 A Garden of Kids Tips for preparing little ones for kindergarten.
20 Smart Apps Technology to help kids learn.
4 SonomaFamilyLife
July 2020 www.sonomafamilylife.com
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SonomaFamilyLife 5
Dear Reader
A
s cases of COVID-19 in Sonoma County continue to rise, the “new normal” of life in a pandemic Sharon Gowan Publisher/Editor continues to Sharon@family-life.us unfold. One good thing: The beaches are open. Yay! We’re celebrating with “Best Beaches” (page 12), a list of the top places to go for some surf and sand. For longer excursions, many families are choosing to hop into the car and not on a plane. See “Road Trip!” (page 14) for ideas on how to keep the family entertained while traveling. What will the pandemic mean for schools come August? Well, it’s hard to say, says Sonoma County School Superintendent
Steve Herrington, but things will definitely be different. Read his “Safe Schools” (page 16) to find out about measures such as masks for students and staff, and social distancing in classrooms. The school shutdown meant the bulk of kids’ education occurred online. If all the tech suited your child, perhaps the free educational apps in “Smart Apps” (page 20) will, too. We hope you are able to take some time to breathe and regroup this July. As the new school year approaches, know that you can count on us for information that matters to you and your family.
Office Manager Patricia Ramos patty@family-life.us
Business Marketing Renee Nutcher renee@family-life.us Warren Kaufman warren@family-life.us
Features Editor Melissa Chianta melissa@family-life.us
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To Our Readers
We are grateful to be able to provide trusted resources for Sonoma County parents during this unprecedented time. Now, more than ever, we understand how important it is to come together as a community, which is why we would like to offer you a copy of our upcoming July issue, delivered directly to your email inbox. Please sign up today for your copy by clicking the link below. We truly value each and every one of you!
—The staff at Family Life
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July 2020
SonomaFamilyLife 7
Bits & Pieces
Run and Read
N
Get Creative with LBC
K
ids need to express their creativity, but opportunities to explore self-expression are limited in the COVID-19 era. Enter the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts (LBC) daily digital arts experience, Let’s Be Creative. Every day at 1 p.m. a video offering instruction in different kinds of art is uploaded onto the LBC Facebook and YouTube pages. Kids can take part in live dance and improv classes, visual art projects, music challenges, and read-along and literature-based lessons. There is also a Creative Careers series that explores interesting jobs in the arts. Find the videos on facebook.com/lutherburbankcenter and the LBC YouTube channel: tinyurl.com/ybaou8dx. See lutherburbankcenter.org/lets-be-creative-with-lbc for more information. ¶
ot all marathons are run. Some are walked or talked, or even read. Just ask Marathon Kids. Through its Run and Read program, it encourages parents and their kids to run or walk 26.2 miles over the summer and read 26 books. And in the Talk and Walk program (no reading required) participants walk 26.2 miles and have a good conversation while they are doing it. The organization will even provide conversationstarter cards. To find out about either the Run and Read or the Talk and Walk programs, go to marathonkids.org. ¶
School Reopening 101
C
OVID-19 has wreaked havoc on the lives of students and teachers. What will the reopening of schools look like? “Roadmap to a Safe Reopening,” produced by Sonoma County Department of Health Services and a committee of regional superintendents, offers guidance for the process. Here are some of the report’s guidelines:
• Students should be seated six feet apart. • Face coverings should be worn by students older than 12 and staff. • For children 12 and younger, face coverings are not required but are recommended. • Facemasks are particularly important when children are not able to social distance. • Teachers should limit close interaction with students. The guidelines acknowledge that making young children social distance may be challenging and encourage educators to simply redirect children as needed. To read the full report, go to tinyurl.com/y7xlgnfe. ¶ 8 SonomaFamilyLife
July 2020 www.sonomafamilylife.com
Charles M. Schulz Museum
What Makes You Happy?
G
oing through a pandemic can make us reflect on what we don’t have. But psychologists and spiritual teachers say we might feel less deprived if we focus on what we do have, especially on what makes us happy. The Charles M. Schulz Museum has created a fun activity for helping us do just that: an accordion book inspired by the prompt “Happiness is…” Find instructions for the simple book at schulzmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/ AccordionBook.pdf. It’s just one of the museum’s many creative virtual activities, including Snoopy-led physical exercises, a Peanuts treasure hunt, and an opportunity to create a personal superhero signal. ¶
The Census Needs You
T
he Big Count is still on, and time is ticking for submitting your Census form. The deadline to respond is August 14. It’s very important that every member of each household in Sonoma, Mendocino, and Lake Counties is counted. Why? Funding for schools and other critical community programs is based on the count. So is federal and state legislative representation.
The federal government emphasizes that those filling out the form should count everyone living at their address. It’s worth noting here that the law requires that the US Census Bureau must keep private all collected data; landlords and other government agencies are not allowed to see it. Any Census employee who breaks this law faces serious penalties: a fine of up to $250,000, five years in prison, or both.
Fantastic Family Night
Ray Mabry
So, here’s what to consider to ensure everyone at an address is counted:
A Spoonful of Virtual Sugar
M
ost summers, the outdoor stage of Glen Ellen’s Jack London State Park is alive with actors performing Broadway tunes. But this year, COVID-19 has canceled Transcendence Theater’s usual Broadway Under the Stars programs. However, the theater company will be streaming online recordings of its best performances. Check out the Fantastic Family Night events July 24–26, with evening events at 7 p.m. and matinees at 2 p.m. Watch young Sonoma County performers team up with Broadway Under the Stars regulars to perform favorites from Mary Poppins, The Wizard of Oz, Sound of Music, and Disney classics. Shows will be free of charge, but donations will be accepted. For more information, go to bestnightever.org. ¶ www.sonomafamilylife.com
• Count all children, including babies born on or before April 1, 2020. If they were living at the address on April 1, 2020, count all nieces, nephews, grandchildren, foster children, and people who are not relatives, such as friends and their children. • Count people even if they are not US citizens. A person’s immigration status doesn’t matter on the Census, and the Census won’t ask if people are US citizens. • Count all people living at the address, even if they are not on the lease or rental agreement. To respond to the Census, parents and caregivers can go online or communicate by phone in English, Spanish, or 11 other languages. Census forms can even be filled out on smartphones. For those who don’t speak English, video and printed guides are available in 59 different languages at 2020census.gov. For more information, go to californiacensus.org. ¶
July 2020
SonomaFamilyLife 9
Harvis offered a really clever way to begin the conversation with young children. Invite them to help cook some eggs with you. Be sure to have some brown eggs and white eggs. Ask your child what they notice about the eggs. What is different about them on the outside? Then crack the eggs together and ask them what they notice about the inside of the eggs. Point out how they are the same
Talk About Race with Kids How to Start the Conversation By Sandi Schwartz
W
hen was the last time you talked to your children about racial differences? Conversations about skin color typically start in preschool as children become more curious about other people and the world around them. Ebony Elizabeth Thomas, Ph.D., a professor of education, said in a 2016 NPR story that children are not waiting around for adults to talk about these issues. She found that kids are ready to discuss these topics early and are already doing so whether we realize it or not. (See Eyder Peralta’s “Teaching Kids about Slavery,” tinyurl.com/y84rbxb3.) Many parents, however, shy away from talking about the world’s ugliness with their kids, hoping that they will stay naïve and innocent for as long as possible. Thomas says this is not the best approach to take. It is more effective if we are in touch with our children earlier on and address these issues together as they grow. 10 SonomaFamilyLife
It may be difficult to find the appropriate time or place to bring up race. Keep an eye out for opportunities that pop up, like a TV show, a book, a song, or an event that touches on the topic. In his Dad’s League article “5 Tips for Talking about Racism,” Antoine
The most important reason to study the awful parts of history is to ensure that they aren’t repeated. inside. Then explain that eggs are just like people—they come in different shades, but they are the same on the inside. We should not judge anyone by appearance. Because talking to our kids about race issues is such a challenging task, consider these helpful tips: Examine your own biases first. Before you even begin to talk to your children about racism, take some time to look inside yourself and acknowledge the experiences, biases, or privileges that may influence how you address these issues. Don’t be afraid to share your own struggles about these topics with your kids. You can tell them that you are not an expert and want to work together with them to learn more. Consider taking an online test about bias created by Harvard experts: implicit.harvard.edu/ implicit. Be a good role model. Many Americans think people are naturally racist, that racism is genetic. This couldn’t be further from the truth.
July 2020 www.sonomafamilylife.com
According to experts, humans are not born racist. Instead, racism is a product of history. Our children are watching and listening to us. Beverly Tatum, Ph.D., psychologist, educator, author, and past president of Spelman College, suggests that the best way to reduce children’s prejudices is to model an inclusive home, demonstrating that we have friends of all backgrounds. “Parents who have learned to lead multicultural lives, connecting with people different from themselves, are more likely to have children who develop those important life skills at an early age,” she explains in Harvis’ Dad’s League article. Tell them the truth. Racism is a very complicated issue that tends to be over-simplified to the detriment of children’s education. Be sure to discuss the realities of slavery and go into the details of historical events like the Civil Rights Movement. Turn to the Teaching Tolerance website (tolerance.org) and other expert
resources that will walk you through the most effective ways to talk to your children about these issues. Avoid generalizations and stereotypes. Choose your words carefully. Not every person in a particular group believes the same thing. It’s important for children to remain open-minded
Eggs are just like people—they come in different shades, but they are the same on the inside. and to understand that individuals are unique and have varying experiences and views. Celebrate the positives. Although American history is fraught with difficult race relations, it’s important to also focus on some of the heroes who fought or are now fighting for equality.
Encourage emotional expression. Learning about racism can be very distressing. Give your children a safe space to reflect on how it makes them feel. They may feel anger, shock, frustration, sadness, hopelessness, and fear. Then ask them to look for ways to transform those negative emotions into positives, such as hope and activism. (See the article “Race Talk: Engaging Young People in Conversations about Race and Racism” on adl.org.) Link history to present time. The most important reason to study the awful parts of history is to ensure that they aren’t repeated. Take time to draw links between events from the past with current affairs. Explain to your children that we are still fighting for equality for all. ¶ Sandi Schwartz is a freelance writer/ blogger and mother of two. Find her at happysciencemom.com. Get her free course on raising happy, balanced kids at bit. ly/2i53TDV.
Resources Fortunately, we have plenty of well thought-out resources to turn to when it is time to talk to our kids about race. Articles See PBS Kids’ page “How to Talk to Kids about Race and Racism,” for a variety of articles and other resources: www.pbs.org/parents/ talking-about-racism. Books Laura Atkins and Stan Yogi, Fred Korematsu Speaks Up (Heyday, 2017). Henry Cole, Unspoken (Scholastic Press, 2012). Andrea Davis Pinkney, Let It Shine: Stories of Black Women Freedom Fighters (HMH Books for Young Readers, 2013). www.sonomafamilylife.com
Dee Smith, Unique and Wonderful (CreateSpace, 2016). Velma Maia Thomas, Lest We Forget (Crown, 1997). Duncan Tonatiuh, Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation (Harry N.
Abrams, 2014). Sarah Warren, Dolores Huerta: A Hero to Migrant Workers (Two Lions, 2012). Films Common Sense Media also has an online database of suggestions sorted by age. See commonsensemedia.org/search/ racism. Other popular flicks include Amistad (1997), A Woman Called Moses (1987), Belle (2013), Invictus July 2020
(2009), The Jackie Robinson Story (1950), Remember the Titans (2000), Roots (1977), Selma (2014), and 12 Years a Slave (2013). Videos YouTube has curated a selection of videos that cover the topic of race and includes a special section called “How to Talk to Kids about Racial Injustice.” See tinyurl.com/ ydyemxew to watch videos such as “Black Parents Explain How to Deal with the Police” and “Racism and Violence: How to Help Kids Handle the News.” Also see PBS Kids’ “How to Talk to Children Authentically about Race and Racism,” at youtube. com/watch?v=dq6McHf8iO4.
SonomaFamilyLife 11
Goat Rock Beach
Best Beautiful Places to Beaches Hang Out with the Family A
hhh... There was a collective sigh of relief as local beaches reopened, and we all gained access to the outdoors we so love. When we are out walking in the ocean breeze, it may feel like the COVID-19 pandemic is over, but it is not. Infection rates in Sonoma County continue to climb. And that is why social distancing and face coverings are required at local beaches. Facemasks are required when it’s not possible to maintain six feet of distance between others, such as, for instance, when passing people on the beach or trail. Park visitors are asked not to use drinking fountains, and to bring hand sanitizer because some restrooms may not have hand-washing stations. Also, no parties are allowed. Picnic areas, when open, are only for individuals or people who live in the same household.
12 SonomaFamilyLife
Besides taking COVID-19 precautions, also be mindful of riptides and sleeper waves. Never turn your back to the ocean and do NOT go swimming at these beaches. Now that you know the rules, get out of the house, stick your feet in the sand, and let the kids run around. Sonoma County Doran Regional Park In terms of social distancing, the bigger the beach the better. So this park and Salmon Creek Beach (see below) are great choices. Protected by Bodega Bay, Doran Regional Park offers a 2-mile stretch of relatively flat beach and a 1.3-mile trail that winds through the park’s dunes. Restrooms with flush-toilets are close to the parking lot. There is a $7 day-use fee. Dogs are allowed as long as they are on a leash that is no more than six feet long. For more information, call 875-3540 or see
parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov/Visit/ Doran-Regional-Park. Goat Rock Beach The sheer size of the monolith after which this beach is named will surely wow kids, especially since it is so relatively close to the shore. And if it doesn’t impress them, then the seals that rest in this area surely will. To protect seal habitat, no dogs are allowed on the beach. (Leashed canines are, however, allowed on nearby Blind Beach.) The southern parking lot has pit toilets and the northern parking lot has flush toilets. Go to parks.ca.gov/?page_ id=451 for details. Salmon Creek Beach The north end of this beach is terrific for tide-pooling (as is nearby Miwok Beach), while the south end is often home to driftwood shelters kids love to explore. Dogs and walking on dunes are prohibited. There are pit
July 2020 www.sonomafamilylife.com
Copyright © 2002 Kenneth & Gabrielle Adelman. All rights reserved. www.Californiacoastline.org
toilets in the parking lot. See parks. ca.gov/?page_id=451 for details. Mendocino County If you live outside of Mendocino County, do not travel to beaches there. Beaches are for locals only. Parking may be limited.
Thank you for choosing local first!
Jughandle State Park Beach This cove has a reputation for being one of Fort Bragg’s warmest beaches during the summer, with fog burning off by midday and temperatures rising into the 50s and 60s. The park itself features the 2.5-mile Ecological Staircase Trail, which travels through three terraces, each with its own unique habitat—from bishop pines to prairie to coast. Leashed dogs are allowed on the beach but not on the trail. Restrooms are open. There is no day-use fee. See www.parks. ca.gov/?page_id=441. Manchester State Park Beach Several miles long, this piece of heaven in Manchester is perfect for long strolls—and social distancing. The beach is accessible from the parking lot, where there are porta-potties. There is no day-use fee. See www.parks. ca.gov/?page_id=437. Navarro River State Park Beach As you travel along the rolling hills of Anderson Valley, you’ll encounter an 11-mile tunnel of second-growth redwoods. Follow it to this beach, which is near the intersection of Highway 1 and Highway 128. Porta-potties are in the parking lot, which is close to the beach. No day use fee. See www. parks.ca.gov/?page_id=435. ¶ www.sonomafamilylife.com
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4. Count me in! Put a new spin on the “Twenty Questions” game by including numbers. Pick a number then have your kids ask: “Is it odd or even?” “Greater than five?” For younger children choose a number between one and ten; for older ones up the ante with larger figures and more difficult questions: “Is it a factor of two?” “Divisible by five?”
Road Trip! 12 Activities to Entertain & Educate Kids By Denise Morrison Yearian
I
f your family is traveling in the car this summer, keep boredom at bay and hone your kids’ academic skills with these innovative suggestions.
1. Fortunately, unfortunately. Create a story that goes back and forth from good to bad. The first person may say, “There once was a wizard who lived in a castle…” The next person continues with, “Unfortunately…” and comes up with bad news such as, “The castle was attacked by a dragon…” Then the next person says, “Fortunately…” and adds something good to the story, and so on until it reaches a happy ending. 2. Animal amusements. Name an animal then have the next person think of a different animal whose name begins with the last sound or letter of the preceding animal. For example, if the first person says, 14 SonomaFamilyLife
“Tiger,” the second person could say, “Rhinoceros,” and the third person could say, “Snake.” This activity could be done with sports teams, music groups, and movies. 3. Practice makes perfect. Buy a small white board with an attached marker so your kids can practice writing letters and numbers, drawing pictures, or playing simple games. These boards are magnetic so bring along magnetic letters and numbers for little ones to practice counting and spelling words. Also put one letter on a page that corresponds to the place you are traveling to then add short words and pictures that begin with that letter.
5. Tally it up. Watch for numbers on road signs and write them down. After you’ve found five different figures add them up. Or have two people put both hands behind their backs, then quickly bring them forward to show any
Encourage your children to write a journal entry for each day of the trip. number of fingers they want. The first person to add all the fingers correctly and shout out the answer wins. For older children, incorporate subtraction, multiplication, or division. 6. Writing reflections. Encourage your children to write a journal entry for each day of the trip and include superlatives: the best part of the day, worst part, something unexpected. If you have preschoolers, record their words and let them draw corresponding pictures. Make it into a scrapbook by including small items collected or purchased along the way. 7. Audio book discussions. Listen to a book on CD or iPod then discuss the plot, characters, and setting. Turn off the story at critical points and talk about what might happen next: “Are you feeling uneasy about this?” “What do you think of
July 2020 www.sonomafamilylife.com
that character?” “How do you think the story will end?” If you are visiting a historic site, find books with the setting in that location. 8. Simply stated. Print out a blank copy of a drawing or map of the United States. Each time you find a different state’s license plate, color in that state on the drawing or map. Or attach points to each state. Ones local to this region could be worth one point. Further away, five points. Hawaii or Alaska, fifteen points. Whoever has the most points at the end of the trip wins. Also find a map of the region you are visiting and draw the route for your kids to follow along. Log on to nationalgeographic.com/ xpeditions/atlas to print out maps.
9. Scavenger hunt. Divide the game into three parts: city, suburbs, and rural. Under each section write or draw pictures of things for your children to look for and then check off
11. Word scramble. On a piece of paper write the city and state of your destination and see how many words your children can make using those letters. Offer incentives for words that use more than three letters.
Create a story that goes back and forth from good to bad.
12. Science savvy. If your children are interested in a particular facet of nature such as rocks or birds, pick up a small field guide before you leave home. When you stop at a rest area, look for those types of nature items and compare it with what’s in the book: “Is this an igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic rock?” “What kind of bird did this feather come from?” ¶
as you travel. For the city it might be a bus or a red light. For the country it could be a cow, barn, pond, or forest. For the suburbs, a Walmart, post office, or delivery van. 10. Rhyming ramble. Play rhyming rounds by starting with a word such as “Ball.” Everyone comes up with words that rhyme until the list is exhausted.
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My office, the Sonoma County Office of Education, in collaboration with the 40 Sonoma County school districts that we support, is working closely with the Sonoma County Department of Health Services and the California Department of Health Services to ensure student safety. Ultimately, each school district will need to work with their local conditions. So the best source of
Safe Schools
Preparing to Begin In-Person Classes
information on what your child’s school will look like in the fall is your local school district.
By Steven D. Herrington, Ph.D., Sonoma County Superintendent of Schools
T
he year 2020 has been one of uncertainty for students, their families, and school staff alike. Once again, I am amazed by the resilience and strength of our school community, which in the last three years has faced fires, floods, power shutoffs, and now a pandemic. I want to thank parents, guardians, students, and community members for the patience and adaptability they’ve shown when confronted with one challenge after another.
As we head into the fall, I know that families are eager to hear what school will look like for their children. Safety During Uncertain Times I want to be honest and transparent: Schools are dealing with perhaps the most challenging set of circumstances I’ve ever seen in my four decades in education. As of presstime, we unfortunately do not have all the answers. We have seen state guidance 16 SonomaFamilyLife
It is safe to say that school will look very different than usual.
on important issues, like masks, change repeatedly within the space of a month. The virus itself will dictate how safe it is to reopen schools, and we cannot accurately predict what the state of the virus will be in mid-August. However, I can confidently assure you of one thing: student and staff health and safety will be the top priority when reopening schools.
I am encouraging each school district to make sure the concerns of their communities are being addressed. Additionally, I am urging each school district to offer distance-learning options. In our reopening guidance for schools, which you can find at scoe.org/covid, we encourage each school district to keep the following guiding principles in mind: 1. Protect student, staff, and community health. 2. Foster student learning and progress. 3. Maintain positive learning environments. 4. Foster student emotional health. 5. Care for our most vulnerable populations. What We Know (and Don’t Know) While we don’t know exactly
July 2020 www.sonomafamilylife.com
what the local and state guidelines will be in August, it is safe to say that school will look very different than usual. Based on current state and local orders, here is some of what you can expect: • It is likely that all children and staff will have to wear masks (per state requirements) unless they have a health condition or disability that prevents it. • Children and staff will need to maintain social distancing. • Families will be asked to screen themselves and their children for symptoms of COVID-19 before sending their children to school. • Schools may conduct a second wellness check once the children arrive. • Schools will focus heavily on good hygiene and hand-washing practices. • Class sizes may be smaller, and, as much as possible, classes will be kept from mixing. • Children may eat lunch in their classrooms to keep groups from mixing. • Children may spend more time outdoors, as outdoor environments are considered much safer. All these guidelines can seem daunting to any parent. They are probably especially daunting to a parent whose transitional kindergartner or kindergartener will be starting school for the first time. I want to assure you that school leaders, as well as teachers, are aware of these concerns and will be working hard to make classrooms www.sonomafamilylife.com
warm and welcoming environments despite these necessary health measures. Prepare Your Child It’s important to prepare your child and assuage any fears they may have around the start of school. • Talk about what school will look like based on the information in this article or more specific information from your school district.
It is likely that all children and staff will have to wear masks. • Explain why modifications to the normal school environment are necessary. Tell children that they can be part of the solution by hand-washing, wearing a mask, and more. • Prepare them for the fact that drop-off and pickup locations may be different than what they’ve experienced in the past. • Have your child practice wearing a mask and maintaining six feet of distance from others when you go out in public with them, so that it does not feel strange or unusual when school starts.
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• If your child is new to school, before school starts, visit the school site if it is open so that they can become familiar with the environment. • Remind them that school is still a positive place full of caring people; it will just look different. Find regular updates and resources at scoe. org/covid.
July 2020
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choosing among different activities in the classroom and friends on the playground. “Children who’ve been given autonomy at home in developing preferences and making meaningful choices,” Kropp says, “are able to transfer this skill to the school setting, thereby exerting confidence in making wise choices within the classroom setting.”
A Garden of Kids Help Children Prepare for Kindergarten
By Tanni Haas
T
here are few moments more exciting to kids than the first day of kindergarten. It represents the day when children officially become “big kids.” How do you prepare them for that day and all the things they’re supposed to learn in kindergarten? Here’s what the experts say.
Teach independence. Kids are expected to be able to do many things on their own by the time they start kindergarten. Tracy Galuski, a professor of early childhood development and education, says that kids should be able to dress themselves, including putting on their shoes and putting on, taking off, and hanging up their coats. They should also be able to use the bathroom on their own and wash their hands afterwards (without reminders), as well as unpack their lunches and wipe their faces after 18 SonomaFamilyLife
they’ve eaten. These skills, Galuski says, will take your kids “from the coatroom to the lunchroom and beyond.” It’s a good idea to spend the summer before kindergarten helping your children to practice them. Promote autonomy. Work on your kids’ ability to make good choices. Merete Kropp, an experienced kindergarten teacher and expert on child development, says that kids should be able to make many choices. This includes
Assign chores. A way to make your kids more independent and autonomous is to assign them household chores. Charity Ferreira
Make reading an important part of kids’ lives before they start school. of GreatSchools.org, an education think tank, says that parents should give their kids chores, such as setting the table before dinner, folding the laundry, and tidying up around the house. “These types of activities,” Ferreira says, “will automatically transfer over into the classroom and help your child feel successful and comfortable.” Build self-confidence. It’s one thing to have certain skills; it’s quite another to have the confidence to show those skills in front of classmates. Amie Bettencourt, a child psychologist, says that demystifying kindergarten, explaining to kids what will happen there, can help children feel more confident. She suggests that parents spend time before kindergarten starts talking to their kids about what the school day will be like.
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Organize playdates. Organizing lots of playdates over the summer is another way to help children develop self-confidence. Many schools distribute class contact lists before the school year starts. If you receive such a list, set up playdates with some of your kids’ future classmates. That way, when your kids walk into class on the first day of school, they’ll see some familiar faces. “A lot of what makes kindergarten a tough transition,” Ferreira says, “is that kids suddenly find themselves in a big group all day long. The more social skills kids have, the easier it’ll be for them to concentrate on learning.” Create routine. In kindergarten, kids are expected to be able to follow the school routine. Help them prepare for that kind of structure with a clearly explained schedule at home. As Ferreira says, “Following a consistent routine helps your child know what to expect and when. This will help your child transition to the school routine.” She suggests
that parents create a fixed schedule for when to wake the kids up in the morning and put them to bed at night. Bettencourt adds that the nightly routine should include a
A way to make your kids more independent and autonomous is to assign them household chores. predictable order of activities: “Take a bath, put on pajamas, brush teeth, read favorite story or sing favorite song, and get a goodnight hug or kiss.” Read books. Kindergarteners learn a lot just by listening to the teacher reading aloud. So make reading an important part of kids’ lives before they start school. “Get your child a library card, take her to the library to check out books, and be sure to read to your child every day,” Galuski says. Melissa Taylor, an education expert and author of Imagination Soup, a well-known
blog, agrees: “Reading to your child teaches her many things that we adults take for granted. Kids learn basics, such as how to hold a book, left-to-right reading, wondering what will happen next, and discovering new words.” So read to your kids every day; read lots of different things and ask them frequent questions about what they have read. Acknowledge feelings. While you prepare your kids for all the exciting new things they’ll learn in kindergarten, also acknowledge any unease they may experience. Melanie Dale, the author of several books on parenting, says that parents should let their kids express their feelings: “If they say they’re nervous, rather than say, ‘Don’t be nervous,’ ask them why they’re nervous and validate that feeling. Share a time when you were nervous and how it worked out.” ¶ Tanni Haas, Ph.D., is a communications professor.
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year; color code different subjects; take photos of assignments and break them down into many sub-tasks; and set reminders so they don’t end up submitting their assignments late.
Smart Apps 5 Great, Back-to-School Tech Tools By Tanni Haas
W
ant to get kids motivated to learn? Turn to technology. Here are five free educational apps for students in elementary, middle, or high school.
Dictionary.com Available at: Apple App Store; Google Play. If there’s one thing all kids need for their schoolwork, it’s a dictionary. Gone are the days of the paperbound tome. If you want kids to learn the joy of looking up new words, download Dictionary.com. With more than two million definitions and synonyms, it’s the largest dictionary app in English. Its helpful features include voice search and audio pronunciations. The former allows users to look up a word even if they don’t know the correct spelling of it, while the latter teaches users how to properly pronounce words. Duolingo Available at: Apple App Store; Google Play. Most schools across the 20 SonomaFamilyLife
country require students to learn a language other than English. Duolingo, which offers lessons in more than 35 major languages, is a great supplement to the foreign language instruction your kids receive at school. The lessons are divided into bit-sized modules that help students practice specific skills. Students can assess how much they’ve learned as they go along or when they’ve completed a module. The Homework App Available at: Apple App Store. Homework! The thing kids dread the most after a long day at school. But it doesn’t have to be that way. The award-winning Homework App makes it easy for them to stay on top of all of their tasks. They can view their assignments by day, month, and
Moment—Screen Time Tracker Available at: Apple App Store; Google Play. (Note: The name of the app in the Apple App Store is Moment—Screen Time Control.) One of kids’ biggest distractions, especially when they’re doing homework, is the constant buzzing of their phones. Moment— Screen Time Tracker helps them withstand the temptation to constantly check their devices by tracking how much time they spend on their phones every day. More importantly, it sets daily limits on their screen time, using reminders to alert them when they’re getting close to the amount. Kids can also see how many times they’re picking up their phones and which apps they use the most. The answers can be very revealing! Photomath Available at: Apple App Store; Google Play. Some students find math easy, others very difficult. They’d all find Photomath a great study tool. All they need to do is take a picture of a math problem with their phones, and the app will automatically show step-by-step instructions on how to solve the problem. The app has a built-in calculator and can even understand hand-written math problems. Obviously, they should try to solve the problems themselves first and then check their answers against the app. ¶ Tanni Haas is a communications professor.
July 2020 www.sonomafamilylife.com
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Give Us Gauc! A Favorite Dip Gets a Kid Makeover By Karen Barski
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o one wants to turn on a stove during the heat of summer. So it’s good to have cold, nutritious snacks around. We at Family Life love guacamole. Avocado, the dip’s main ingredient, is rich in vitamins C, K, and B5 and B6, and it also has a good amount of potassium—an electrolyte our bodies need, especially during summer. The name of this recipe from Juicy Juice, Crocamoles, plays off avocado’s nickname: “crocodile pear,” a moniker that reflects the fruit’s (yes, it’s a fruit!) shape and the texture of its outer skin. Smash up its green flesh, add garlic, cilantro, lime, and, for kid-appeal, edible eyes, and you’ve got a snack the whole family will love. Recipe thanks to Juicy Juice.
22 SonomaFamilyLife
Crocamoles Ingredients • 1 avocado • 1 tablespoon of cilantro, minced • 1 clove of garlic, grated • 2 lime wedges • Salt • 4 slices of cucumber • Baby carrots cut into triangles • Edible candy eyes • Chips • Baby carrots or your favorite veggies for dipping Instructions 1. Scoop out avocado. Make sure the avocado skin retains its shape, so that it can serve as the guacamole holder. 2. Mix and mash avocado with cilantro, garlic, lime juice, and salt until well combined. 3. Carefully scoop this mixture back into the avocado skin until each half is filled. 4. At the narrow top of the filled avocado skin, make eyes using cucumber slices and edible candy eyes. To make teeth, put carrot triangles around the edge of the wider, bottom part of the skin (see photo). 5. Serve with veggies and chips. Serves: 2 July 2020 www.sonomafamilylife.com
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any of the Sonoma County regional park’s outdoor events have been canceled this summer. But there still will be webinars and Facebook live watch parties during which park staff will talk about nature. On July 15, 10–10:15 a.m., kids can learn about tide pool creatures on a Facebook live video (see facebook.com/sonomacountyregionalparks/). And since the beaches are now open, they can apply what they learn at an actual tide pool. (There are some nice ones on the north end of Salmon Creek Beach.) Meanwhile, on July 17, 3-3:30 p.m., the Mighty Mammals webinar will teach kids how to figure out if a furry friend like a raccoon has visited a particular area. To register for the webinar, go to tinyurl.com/ybokzl8q. To see the full calendar of events, go to parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov/Play/ Calendar. ¶
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Humor Break End Scene: The teen—my daughter, again, would be great for this—transforms the messy room into a spotless oasis. The camera pans to the drill sergeant bouncing a quarter off the bed, and me (or another mom) beaming a smile. Put Your Clothes in the Hamper Challenge
Ready, Set, Mom-Inspired Clean!YouTube Challenges By Cheryl Maguire
I
n an attempt to break the deafening silence during breakfast, I began a conversation.
“So I saw a meme . . .” Laughter erupted from my twin teens. “It’s pronounced meem, not mehm.” My teen daughter corrected me. (Just for the record—I’m not alone. There is an entire article written about how to pronounce the word.) I didn’t let laughter or mispronunciation deter me. If I did, I would never communicate with my teens. “Anyway, as I was saying, I saw a meme that said, ‘If some YouTube star could create a Clean Your Room Challenge or even a Put Your Clothes in the Hamper Challenge that would be awesome.’ What do 24 SonomaFamilyLife
you think? Are you interested in taking her up on her idea?” Eyes rolled. “Yeah, whatever Mom.” My twins may not be up for the challenge, so I’m going to put the call out to the rest of the entrepreneur teens out there. Take the meme and run with it. Here are some ideas. Clean Your Room Military Style Challenge Actor: Military drill sergeant Opening Scene: I suggest a ‘”before” scene of a messy room. My daughter might provide the setting. Her room has all the essentials: clothes on the floor, drawers left open, and, of course, an unmade bed. Challenge: Get your room clean enough to pass a military drill sergeant’s inspection.
Actor: Physical trainer. I would recommend Sean T from the Insanity workouts. He really knows how to whip people into shape. Opening Scene: Again, feel free to use my house. You can take your pick of bedrooms or bathrooms. Both boast a mountain of clothes on the floor. Challenge: Place all clothes in the laundry hamper in fewer than five seconds without allowing any to touch the floor. Training: Since this is a tough one and requires some strength training, Sean T would need to create a full workout plan, including lunges and arm extensions. End Scene: Sean T runs his stopwatch while the participant (again, I volunteer my daughter) completes a set of challenging obstacle courses involving different-sized hampers and a variety of clothes. This should be enough to get the ball rolling. I have plenty of other ideas, such as Cook Your Own Meal Challenge or Do Your Own Laundry Challenge, but I don’t want to overwhelm you. Now, if you will excuse me, I have to go pick up some clothes from the floor. Find Cheryl Maguire on Twitter @ CherylMaguire05.
July 2020 www.sonomafamilylife.com
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