Sonoma Family Life October 2016 by familylifemag

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October 2016

Bully Beware Take action Trick-or-Treat! 6 local spooky spots

Kids Who Code

Apps & bots

Art + Science A fun project

& iTreats Tricks e g a l l V e at th

Saturday, October 29 • 11 am to 2 pm • Village Court Visit with the Pumpkin Fairy Godmother Photos available for a $5 donation to a Local Non-Profit*

Free Fun for the Kids • Join “The Count” and play Halloween Pictionary • Create a Pumpkin Photo Frame (perfect for framing the photo with the Pumpkin Fairy Godmother!)

• Make Boo-tiful Art with Village Art • A Creepy Creation Awaits You at the Cold Stone Creamery Booth • Air-Brushed Face Painting • Balloon Artist Making Wearable Art for the Kids • Enter the Costume Contest (for information about the Contest, visit www.allthehits.fm) • Play Halloween Hopscotch for a Special Treat presented by Hopscotch Shoes • Sample Wickedly Wonderful Sourdough Brought to you by the Bakers of Boudin SF • Plus Lots of Fun Games & Activities • Find All Spook-tacular Details at www.mvshops.com Admission is Free!

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Learning for a Lifetime – Committed to the Future

October 2016

Every Issue

12 Features 10 Kids Who Code Apps, toys, clubs, and camps for raising a techie.

12 Full STEAM Ahead Teach kids about chromatography with an art project.

14 Kitchen Table Lessons Avoid common errors of new homeschoolers.

16 Little Wallflowers

Dear Reader

Bits and Pieces Play with Energy Wine and Swine Magical Melodies Them Bones Pink Power Gourd Yourself Grow a Scientist

24 Crafting with Kids If I Only Had a Brain

26 Family Fun Treats & Freaks

28 Calendar of Events Fall Fantástico

42 Humor Break Hey Mom, Taste This

How to help your shy child become more socially engaged.

18 Free to Fail Helping kids cope with disappointment.

20 Big, Bad Bullies

Is your child a victim? Here’s what to do.

22 Green Halloween Non-spooky tips for eco-friendly fun.

23 Baby’s First All Hallows’ Eve Keep little ones safe. 4 SonomaFamilyLife

October 2016 www.sonomafamilylife.com

A Doctor’s ConfessiontotoPetaluma Petaluma Doctor’s Confession

Dear Friend, I wanted Dear Friend,to let everyone know what happened while I was in college. was a I wanted to let everyone know It what moment that changed my life forever. But happened while I was in college. It was a before I tell about my my life experience, moment thatyou changed forever. IBut wanted tellyou youabout my story from the start. before Itotell my experience, I Let me start by explaining the photo wanted to tell you my story from thein start. this letter. amexplaining the guy inthe thephoto middle, Dr Let me startI by in this Taatjes. You when I meet people letter. I am theknow guy in the middle, Dr. Taatjes. in town and theyI usually say, in “Oh yeah, You know when meet people town andI know you, you’re Dr. Taatjes. You’ve been they usually say, “Oh yeah, I know you, you’re on and Ross years…” Well, Dr.McDowell Taatjes. You’ve been for serving the commuthat’s nity forme. twenty-four years! Well that’s me. We years agoinsomething hapareTwenty-six now centrally located our beautiful new pened me that my life forever. office totobetter servechanged the community. LetTwenty-seven me tell you my story. years ago something I was studying pre-Med in college, happened to me that changed my lifein hopes of becoming a medical forever. Let me tell you my doctor. story. Things looking up, andinlife was good, Dr. with his sons, Hayden (left) and Henry (right). I waswere studying pre-Med college, in Dr.Taatjes Taatjes with his sons, Hayden (left) and Henry (right). until things took a turn for the worse. hopes of becoming a medical doctor. whole ball of wax. This exam could cost practic, we don’t add anything to the body I began to looking have terrible back Things were up, and lifeand wasstomgood, you $350 elsewhere. Great care at a great or take anything from it. We find interferach For a young guy,worse. I felt pretty ence but that simply isn’t system the case.and With chiroa lesser amount for chiropractic. When untilproblems. things took a turn for the fee… in the nervous remove it, rotten. Mytoback so badly thatstomach I had a practic, we don’tthe addhealing anything to the body or youPlease, bring in this article by August 31 2016, I began havehurt terrible back and I hope that there’s no misunderthus enhancing capacities of the hard time even in pretty class. rotten. I was body. take anything it. We results…it find interference you will receive my entire new patient exam problems. For aconcentrating young guy, I felt about quality of care, just because We get from tremendous really standing miserable. The in the nervous system and remove it, thus for $27. That’s with x-rays, exam, report of My back hurt so medical badly thatdoctors I had atried hard differtime I have a lower exam fee. You’ll get great is as simple as that. ent but theyin only made memiserable. feel like I enhancing the healing of thehad body. care findings…the ball of wax. This exam evendrugs, concentrating class. I was at a great whole fee. My qualifications… Here’s what some capacities of my patients was in a “cloud.” not getting Wesay: get tremendous results…it really is as could cost you of $350 elsewhere. College Great care The medical doctorsI was triedjust different drugs, betbut I’m a graduate Northwestern of to ter. friend of mine convinced give a simple as that. at a great fee… theyAonly made me feel like I wasme in ato“cloud.” Chiropractic who regularly goes to monthly “I have had a problem with migraines chiropractor try. The chiropractor an Here’s whatback some of my patients had Please, I hope that there’s no misunderI was just not agetting better. A friend ofdid mine educational chiropractic seminars. I’ve as well as low pain. Even after seeing exam, took some films and then “adjusted” to say: standing about quality care, just because convinced me to give a chiropractor a try. The doctors and other health professionals, the been entrusted to take of care of tiny babies toI my spine. The didn’t hurt -- it “I have had a problem with migraines have a lower exam You’ll getI great care at chiropractor didadjustment an exam, took some films neighbors that youfee. may know. just have pains remained. After coming to Dr. Joel, actually good. my I gotspine. relief,The andadjustI soon as well as low back pain. Even after seeing a great fee. My qualifications…I’m a graduate and then felt “adjusted” that low exam fee to help more people who they have helped me tremendously. They was all medication. It worked so well doctors and othermy health professionals, of Northwestern College of Chiropractic who mentoff didn’t hurt — it actually felt good. I got need care. even take away migraines. They’rethe that to become pains remained. regularly goes to monthly educational chirorelief,I decided, and I soonthen wasand off there, all medication. It a My associates, Dr. Rose, Dr. Truong and great!” (Judy E.) After coming to Dr. Joel, chiropractor myself. they“Ihave helped me tremendously. They practic seminars. I’ve been entrusted to take worked so well that I decided, then and there, I are ready to see if we can help you. Our came in pending laser surgery for Now fora my kids, Hayden and Henry. evenherniated take awaydiscs. my migraines. They’re care of tiny babies to neighbors that you to become chiropractor myself. offices are both friendly and warm andmay we two Over a few months They have been under chiropractic care their great!” (Judy E.) know. just have that you low exam to helpWe Now for my kids, Hayden and Henry. They try ourI best to make feel atfee home. here the need for surgery subsided, and the entire lives. And, unlike most other in came in pending laser discomfort surgery for with two more apeople who need care.at an exceptional have been under chiropractic care theirkids entire have wonderful service, pain“Ihas subsided to a mild their never thekids “common” herniated discs. Over a few months hereI associate, Kevin Linzey, and ICHIare lives. class, And, they unlike mostget other in their fee.My Our office isDr. called REDWOOD occasional morning stiffness. Over all, childhood illnesses like“common” ear infections, the need surgery the pain ready to see if weand canwe help you. Ourtwo office is class, they never get the childhood ROPRACTIC now have locafeel betterforvisit after subsided, visit. It’sand a gradual asthma and allergies. In fact, they have has subsided to a mild discomfort with ocboth friendly and warm and we try our best illnesses like ear infections, asthma and allertions. Our main office is located at 1225 N. process.” (Jaime O.) never taken drughave in their they casional morning Overthank all, Ime feel to make youBlvd., feel at Petaluma, home. We have wondergies. In fact,athey neverlives. takenAnd a drug in McDowell phone number Several times astiffness. day patients are 17And and they 18! are now 17 and 19! better visit after gradualproblems. process.” is ful763-8910. service, at Dr. an exceptional fee. love Our office theirnow lives. Taatjes would to helpis for helping themvisit. with It’s theira health It’s strange strangehow howlife lifeis,is,because becausenow now (Jaime O.) really take credit. called CHIROPRACTIC. It’s people But you at REDWOOD this location.Our second location We I can’t people to with see me with their back probSeveral times a day patients thank me for are located at 937 Lakeville Street Petaluma, come tocome see me their back problems and is at 225 N. McDowell Blvd., Petaluma, Find out for yourself and benefit from lems andproblems. stomach problems. helping them with their health problems. But with and our number is 763-8910. Call Alex, stomach They comeThey to mecome with to Dr.phone Truong, and the phone number is an AMAZING OFFER. Look, it shouldn’t me their headaches, chronic cost I can’t really takeand credit. Danielle, Chelsea or Christine for an aptheirwith headaches, migraines,migraines, chronic pain, 775-2545. Call Alex, Wendy, today or Chauntel you an arm a leg to correct your pain, neck shoulder/arm pain, shoulder/arm pain, whipFindYou out are forgoing yourself and benefit pointment. can help you.We Thank neck pain, pain, whiplash from today for anWe appointment. can you. help you. health. to write a check to lash from car asthma, accidents, asthma,numbness allergies,in from an AMAZING OFFER. Look, you Thank -Dr. Joel Taatjes car accidents, allergies, you. someone for your health care expenses, numbness in limbs, athletic just to it shouldn’t youone an for arma and a leg to P.S. When accompanied by this I am also limbs, athletic injuries, just toinjuries, name a few. -Dr.ad. Joel Taatjes may as wellcost write lesser amount name a few. correct your health. You are going to write offering the second family member this same If drugs make people well, then those P.S. When accompanied by this first I am for chiropractic. When you bring in this drugs then those a checkbytoJuly someone for your care examination $15.family member this whoIf take themake mostpeople shouldwell, be the healthiest, also offering for theonly second article 31, 2012, you health will receive who take the most should be the healthiest, expenses, you may as exam well write oneThat’s for same examination for only $15. my entire new patient for $27. but that simply isn’t the case. With chirowith x-rays, exam, report of findings…the

www.sonomafamilylife.com

October 2016

SonomaFamilyLife 5

Dear Reader

elcome to our STEM issue, where we explore the areas of science, technology, engineering, and Sharon Gowan Publisher/Editor math. Check Sharon@family-life.us out “Kids Who Code” (page 10) for a whole slew of apps, bots, toys, clubs, and camps that introduce kids to programming. Then flip to “Full STEAM Ahead” (page 12) in which mom engineer Tracy Borgmeyer talks about the possibility of using art to teach science. With a focus on making STEM subjects accessible to girls, she shows you how to turn a lesson about chromatography into a cool tie-dye T-shirt.

For another crafty project (no science required), see “If I Only Had a Brain” (page 24) and make a simple paper scarecrow. Yes, it’s that time of year, when gourds, spider webs, and ghosts decorate porches and lawns. Not sure where to head for Halloween? Find some great local activities in “Treats & Freaks” (page 26). And for even more goings-on, see our Calendar of Events (page 28). Whether your family loves a good scare, a costume contest, or just hoards of candy, you’ll find something to make you smile—or scream! Have a safe and fun All Hallows’ Eve!

Office Manager Patricia Ramos patty@family-life.us

Business Marketing Renee Nutcher renee@family-life.us Marie Anderson marie@family-life.us

Features Editor Melissa Chianta melissa@family-life.us

Production Manager Donna Bogener production@family-life.us

Web and Social Media Jean Flint jean@family-life.us

Contributing Writers Tracy Borgmeyer Holly Hester Carolyn Jabs Kerrie McLoughlin Jan Pierce Denise Morrison Yearian

Billing Jan Wasson-Smith

Publishing Office 134 Lystra Court, Suite A Santa Rosa, CA 95403 Tel (707) 586-9562 Fax (707) 586-9571

6 SonomaFamilyLife

October 2016 www.sonomafamilylife.com

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October 2016

SonomaFamilyLife 7

Bits & Pieces

Play with Energy

ny parent will tell you that kids are like Energizer bunnies, running around all day until bedtime hits—and they magically revive, yet again. Some kids want to do more than just use energy, though; they want to learn how to create and manage it. And they can at free Tinker Thinkers workshops at the Windsor Regional Library in Windsor. The Electricity and Magnetism class on October 7 at 4 p.m. will teach kids ages 5–12 how to build a battery out of ice-cube trays, nails, and vinegar. Then, on October 14 at 4 p.m., the Motion and Energy class will teach students about physics via Kapla blocks, marble runs, ramps, and balls. Both classes are courtesy of the Sonoma County Children’s Museum. For more information, see sonomalibrary.org. ¶

Wine and Swine

Neil and Susan Silverman Photography

elebrate nature’s bounty “whole hog” at the Harvest Hoedown, where you can dig into roasted pig as well as barbecue dishes and sides. Burn off calories stomping grapes or take the kids on a wagon ride. Don’t forget to enjoy a glass of vino; wines will be paired with dishes served. The event will be held on October 23, noon–4 p.m., at the Larson Family Winery in Sonoma. Call 938-3031, ext. 18, for ticket info (prices were not set at press time), or see larsonfamilywinery.com. ¶

Magical Melodies

good storyteller knows that sometimes music communicates what words can’t. At the Santa Rosa Symphony’s Land of Make Believe concert, violins, horns, and drums will, along with a narrator, tell the tales of Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, and Harry Potter. Kids are encouraged to come dressed as their favorite fairytale characters. The concert will be on held October 16 at 3 p.m. in Weill Hall at Sonoma State University’s Green Music Center. Tickets are $12–$17 and may be purchased at srsymphony.org. ¶ 8 SonomaFamilyLife

Them Bones

n the Day of the Dead, dancing skeletons seem to thumb their noses at death. Let kids join in on the whimsy, and learn about a popular Mexican tradition, at a free Día de los Muertos Celebration. Children can make their own colorful skeleton puppets and masks, and listen to stories about the festival. The event, suitable for ages 4–12, will be held on October 29 at 1 p.m. at the Rincon Valley Library in Santa Rosa. ¶

October 2016 www.sonomafamilylife.com

Pink Power

ake sure your breasts are happy campers. During October, National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, take them for a mammogram (and if you have dense breasts, inquire about getting an ultrasound, too). Want a radiation-free alternative? Check out thermography. If you can’t afford care, see if you are eligible for California’s Every Woman Counts program (dhcs.ca.gov/services/ cancer/ewc/pages/default.aspx), which provides free breast exams and mammograms to underserved women. Those who are diagnosed may also be eligible for financial help via the state’s Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Program (dhcs.ca.gov/services/medi-cal/pages/bcctp.aspx). Meanwhile, the American Cancer Society hopes to raise funds for women struggling with the disease at its Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk on October 8 at Sonoma Mountain Village in Rohnert Park. Registration is at 9 a.m. and the walk is at 10 a.m. Sign up at main.acsevents.org. ¶

Gourd Yourself

he words squash and gourd are often used interchangeably, but gourds aren’t really for eating. They do, however, make great vessels—whether for water, sound, or art. All manner of them will be making an appearance at Calabash: A Festival of Gourds, Art & the Garden. Listen to music played on handmade gourd instruments while you view fine gourd art and peruse the items in a silent auction. While you are at it, take a tour of the organic gardens of Food for Thought, the Forestville nonprofit hosting the event in collaboration with the Occidental Arts and Ecology Center. Even though gourds are inedible, you won’t go hungry: Local food and wine will be served. The event will be held on October 2, 1–5 p.m. Admission is $55 at the door. Proceeds help Food for Thought fill the vessels of HIV patients with good nutrition. Find out more at fftfoodbank.org/ events/calabash. ¶

Grow a Scientist

John Hershey

www.sonomafamilylife.com

re a chemistry set and a lab coat on your kids’ wish lists? Let the 40 interactive exhibits at the North Bay Science Discovery Day cultivate their left-brained interests. They can help dissect an enormous squid, learn the ins and outs of a circuit, and peer at microscopic water bears. They can even take a taste of ice cream made out of liquid nitrogen. Whatever they choose to do, they will have the opportunity to learn something new. The event is free and will be held at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa on October 29, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. There is no fee for parking. Find out more at northbayscience.org. ¶

October 2016

SonomaFamilyLife 9

Kids Who Code Resources for the Littlest Programmers

By Carolyn Jabs

ore than 500,000 computing jobs are available in the US, but fewer than 43,000 computer science majors graduated last year. That startling statistic from Code.org may explain why 9 out of 10 parents want children to learn computer programming. Even kids who aren’t likely to choose programming as a career benefit from learning something about it. Coding teaches kids to analyze problems, think logically, and be persistent about troubleshooting. Getting results also gives kids a sense of accomplishment and confidence that they can make technology work for them. Unfortunately, many K–12 schools don’t routinely offer coding classes. To correct that problem, the White House launched a Computer Science for All initiative earlier this year. Parents can find out about Sonoma County high school programs in the “Learn” section of Code.org. Check out Digital Promise (digitalpromise.org), too. You 10 SonomaFamilyLife

can also supplement what’s available at school with options like these: Toys. Three-dimensional playthings can teach kids the kind of logical sequencing that is at the heart of programming. Code-a-pillar, from Fisher Price, is a caterpillar that does different things depending on how kids three–six years old sequence its segments ($50). MakerBloks sells domino-size blocks that attach to form real circuits ($130 at makerbloks. com). Circuit Maze from ThinkFun introduces kids eight and up to electrical engineering through a series of 60 puzzles ($30 at thinkfun.com). Bots. Robots and droids can be fun for the entire family, but many models

are expensive, delicate, or tricky to operate. Exceptions include Make Wonder’s Dash and Dot, freestanding, kid-friendly bots that can be controlled through an app ($50–$280 at makewonder.com). Meanwhile, Sphero sells several durable, rolling

In the past, boys gravitated towards programming more readily than girls. A number of organizations are trying to reverse that trend. robots that will appeal to kids over eight, especially if they are Star Wars fans ($100–$200 at sphero.com). Apps. A wide variety of apps claim to teach coding to kids. Two of the better ones come from Hopscotch (gethopscotch.com). Their signature program lets school-age kids use code to design games and create artwork.

October 2016 www.sonomafamilylife.com

A simpler program called Daisy the Dinosaur is available for preschoolers. (Both free at apple.com/itunes.) Kodable teaches coding practices by having six–ten-year-olds use arrow icons to maneuver furry, round aliens called Fuzzes through 30 increasingly difficult mazes. (Multiple platforms available for free at kodable.com.) The Foos asks elementary-age kids to help cute characters solve problems that just happen to involve coding skills such as pattern recognition and sequencing. (Free and available on most platforms at thefoos.com.) Lightbot is a slightly more abstract set of puzzles that can be addictive for older kids. (Free and available on most platforms at lightbot.com.) Hybrids. Several interesting programs teach code with a combination of tangible objects and apps. Bloxels has kids 8–12 create video games by inserting brightly colored blocks into a grid to create a pixelated image. Capture the image on a smart phone and an app helps convert the image into a game with characters and obstacles ($16–$225 at bloxelsbuilder.com). Bitsbox (bitsbox. com) has a free website, but it also offers a subscription service for elementary school kids. Once a month, kids get a box of new programming challenges along with stickers, small toys, and trading cards. Clubs. Google CS First (cs-first. com) offers free modules that can be used in in-school or afterschool programs or summer camps. The materials are built around Scratch, a coding language devised at MIT (scratch.mit.edu) and are targeted to kids 9–14. All you need to start a club is a willing adult and access to www.sonomafamilylife.com

one Internet-enabled device for each club member. Lessons. For children who develop a taste for coding, several organizations offer a more systematic way to become proficient. Code.org has links to “Hour of Code” projects that offer free one-hour tutorials introducing students to code. They also have a series of videos that help kids master basic algorithms and offer inspiration from master coders like Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg. Pluralsight, a company that provides

Motivated teens can master several programming languages through free interactive lessons. online training to adult subscribers, offers several free classes for kids. (Go to pluralsight.com, scroll down to the bottom of the home page, and look under “Solutions.”) At Code Academy (codeacademy.com), motivated teens can master several programming languages through free interactive lessons. Finally, Tynker (tynker.com), a program widely used by schools, offers more than 1,000 coding activities with kid appeal to families that pay a monthly subscription. Try the free apps, available for Android and Apple, before signing up. Camps. Sylvan Learning of Santa Rosa (educate.com) will hold coding camps in March and robotics and coding camps in June. iD Tech (idtech. com) offers camps exploring a variety of technical topics at more than 130 locations, including many campuses with prestigious computer science October 2016

programs. Their website makes it easy to find an experience that’s age appropriate for kids 7–18. Emagination programs intersperse lessons in coding with more traditional camp activities. Information about locations and programs, including a popular Minecraft session, is available at computercamps.com. Just for Girls. In the past, boys gravitated towards programming more readily than girls. A number of organizations are trying to reverse that trend. Made With Code (madewithcode.com), a Google project, features exciting coding projects developed by young women. Girls Who Code (girlswhocode. com) sponsors tech clubs and summer camps for girls. And Girldevelopit.com offers supportive women-only classes in 53 US cities. Stuff around the House. CS Unplugged (csunplugged.org) promises to teach kids some of the basic concepts of computer science through games and puzzles that use inexpensive materials like cards, string, and crayons. The site, which is popular with educators, includes downloads and videos showing how the materials can be used. With so many options available, every parent should be able to find a program or project that matches your child’s age and temperament as well as the family’s schedule and budget. ¶ @ Copyright 2016 Carolyn Jabs. All rights reserved. Carolyn Jabs, M.A., is the coauthor of Cooperative Wisdom: Bringing People Together When Things Fall Apart (Green Wave Books, 2016). Visit growing-up-online.com to read other columns.

SonomaFamilyLife 11

Why Art and Science Make a Good Pair

Full STEAM Ahead By Tracy Borgmeyer

y daughter loves art. She is in heaven when we pull out paint, crayons, and glitter. One day, hoping that her interests could coexist, she asked, “Mom, can science be art?” Of course I told her, “Yes it can be!” even though I had some doubts. I started researching experiments to appeal to her creative side, and I discovered a quote from Mae Jamison, the first female black astronaut: “The difference between science and the arts is not that they are different sides of the same coin…rather, they are manifestations of the same thing. The arts and sciences are avatars of human creativity.” This idea supports the recent push to change teaching programs from STEM to STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math). I’ll admit I had been hesitant to embrace the change, but now I see how important it is to integrate art into the teaching of science.

Consider one of the most famous inventors in history—Leonardo da Vinci. He not only painted the Mona Lisa and the Last Supper, but also invented the parachute, an early flying machine, and countless other creations. There is no doubt that his artistic talent inspired his scientific inventions. He had an amazing 12 SonomaFamilyLife

creative ability to think outside the box. In more modern times, founder of Apple Steve Jobs, who produced today’s most technically savvy inventions, called his coworkers at Apple “artists.” Art inspires science. Did you know the smart phone was inspired by the TV show Star Trek? And that

Japanese origami has improved vehicle airbags? Creativity helps foster innovation to solve problems and find solutions. Just think, beneath the piles of our daughters’ craft paper creations could lay an inspiration for a future innovation! All we need to do is to help her link art and science together. You can do this by artistic experimenting and creative tinkering. Try this experiment at home. Science Art You can do chromatography, while making amazing tie-dye art, with Sharpie Markers and rubbing alcohol. Scientists use chromatography to separate mixtures into their individual parts. They use a solvent (like alcohol) to separate a mixture (like the colors in the Sharpie marker). Interestingly, industry uses of chromatography include testing blood samples, testing for contaminants in water, and controlling food quality.

October 2016 www.sonomafamilylife.com

Child & Player Development

FOR AGES 18 MONTHS-8 YEARS

Here’s what you need: • Newspaper or cardboard • Cotton T-shirt • Sharpie markers • Cookie sheet • Rubbing alcohol (90% isopropyl alcohol)

COMING

• Eyedropper Here’s how you do it:

WINTER 2016

1. Place newspaper or cardboard inside the T-shirt (to prevent the markers from bleeding through). 2. Make small dots of different colors in a flower pattern all over the shirt. Be as artistic as you’d like! 3. Then, replace the newspaper with a cookie sheet inside the T-shirt to catch any alcohol drippings. 4. Fill the eyedropper with rubbing alcohol and slowly place it at the center of the ink pattern. 5. Allow the alcohol to dry then toss the shirt in the dryer for 15 minutes to set the design. You can check out a video of the experiment at shelovesscience.com/ chromotography-art. Excerpted from She Loves Science: A Mother’s Guide to Nurturing the Curiosity, Confidence, and Creativity of Her Daughter (2016) © Tracy Borgmeyer. See shelovesscience.com.

www.sonomafamilylife.com

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SonomaFamilyLife 13

Kitchen Table Lessons 9 Homeschool Mistakes to Avoid

By Kerrie McLoughlin

lthough I’ve been a homeschooling parent since day one, I know plenty of people who didn’t start homeschooling until their kids were well into elementary school or even high school. No matter where you are in the homeschooling journey, there are ways to avoid common newbie mistakes.

Playing copycat. There’s a temptation to try to recreate every nuance of a public or private school, complete with desks, chalkboard or smartboard, uniforms, and a rigid schedule. But since you are the teacher, you have permission to be flexible and do things differently.

Homeschooling 24/7. The school day doesn’t have to be seven hours long. Consider shorter chunks of teaching/learning time along with occasional days off to go to the zoo, take a nature walk, hit the library, watch some documentaries, or just snuggle up and read. For older kids, volunteering or working a part-time job certainly counts as real-world education.

14 SonomaFamilyLife

Lots of desk time. No need for kids and teacher to sit in a chair all day. We all learn and teach differently. Sometimes I’ll read to my kids while one is doing art and another is playing Minecraft, and

Don’t compare your children to other home or conventionally schooled kids. I’m doing squats! I also include my kids in daily activities such as errands, cooking, household chores, budget planning, and more.

Keeping up with the Joneses. Don’t compare

your children to other home or conventionally schooled kids. I might beat myself up because my kids have not learned cursive as readily as my neighbor’s children while my neighbor laments that she doesn’t do as many educational outings as I do. It’s great to bounce ideas off of a homeschooling tribe, but competition doesn’t help anyone, least of all your child!

Shelling out big bucks for curriculum. There’s no reason for elementary school to cost anything at all when there are so many free sources of information like the public library, ABCMouse.com, and Khan Academy. Also check out California Virtual Academies (cava. k12.com), which provides free online, teacher-monitored schooling to kids.

Not following your child’s lead. It was a sad day when I was in a homeschool store and heard a kid ask his mom if they could learn about a certain topic

October 2016 www.sonomafamilylife.com

GET THE HALLOWEEN SPIRIT! he was excited about and she said, “No, these are the books that we are working on this year, and we aren’t going to stray from them.”

Sticking with something that isn’t working. Changing curriculum halfway through the year is not uncommon. If a certain workbook makes you and your child cry and want to

There’s no reason for elementary school to cost anything at all when there are so many free sources of information. throw it across the room, don’t power through until the end of the school year! Find something else that works. That’s the beauty of the freedom of homeschooling.

Doing everything with and for your child. Children often figure something out when we aren’t looking over their shoulder.

Trying to be perfect. The longer I homeschool, the more I enjoy telling newbies about random mistakes I’ve made. The relief I see on their faces when they realize they don’t need to be the World’s Greatest Homeschooler makes sharing my stories so worth it.

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If you realize that missteps are totally normal, you might be easier on yourself and have more fun on this shorter-than-you-think journey with your kids! ¶ Kerrie McLoughlin has been homeschooling her five kids since 2006. You can read more about their fun antics at thekerrieshow.com.

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SonomaFamilyLife 15

Little Wallflowers 10 Tips for Parents with Shy Children

hildhood shyness is a common concern among parents, who fear their youngsters may lack self-confidence and lag behind in social development. But with preparation, practice, and patience, most reserved children can learn

how to successfully navigate social situations and build meaningful relationships with their peers. Here are ten tips to help:

Start small. Expose your child to a variety of nonthreatening positive peer interactions from an early age. When he or she starts daycare or school, begin with a small class or group size until he or she is ready to transition to a larger one. As group size grows, consider adult/child ratios to encourage positive peer interactions and reduce the chance of negative behaviors such as bullying, exclusion, and name-calling.

Scope out settings. If possible, take your child to a

16 SonomaFamilyLife

Set the scene. Prepare your child for social gatherings to alleviate anxiety and fear of the unknown. This is particularly helpful with events such as birthday parties and family reunions. Talk about what she or he will see and

Take time to listen to your child and understand his or her feelings and fears.

By Denise Yearian

several times until your child feels comfortable interacting with her or him. Gradually increase the number to two or three children. Also encourage your child to go to friends’ houses to play.

new academic or extracurricular program before classes begin so she or he can meet the teacher and get acquainted with the setting and routine.

Rally support. Let the teacher or caretaker know about your child’s shyness, and stay in touch throughout the year to address problems that arise.

Stay on familiar turf. Encourage at-home play dates to empower your child to take social risks and open up to her or his peers. Invite one friend over

do, so she or he is well informed. Present it in story form: “Tomorrow [child’s name] is going to…” and tell your child the whole story, inserting her or his name. Then ask, “What other things might she [or he] see?” “What else might she [or he] do?”

Dress rehearse. Role-play different scenarios, such as meeting a new peer at school. Switch roles so your child can act out both situations. Or use dolls, action figures, or puppets, if you choose.

Reach for resources. Read books to your child about others who overcame shyness and fear. These include Shy Charles by Rosemary Wells (Puffin Books, 2001), Let’s Talk About Being Shy by Marianne Johnston (PowerKids Press, 1996), and Little Miss Shy by Roger Hargreaves (Price Stern Sloan, 1998), to name a few. Talk

October 2016 www.sonomafamilylife.com

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Listen up. Take time to listen to your child and understand his or her feelings and fears. Don’t assume you know how he or she feels. Your child may be upset because the setting is too loud, there are too many people, or

Prepare your child for social gatherings to alleviate anxiety and fear of the unknown. it’s too chaotic. You’ll never know unless you listen. Validate his or her concerns and ask open-ended questions to encourage dialogue.

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Get professional help. If your child’s behavior persists past six months or increases, talk with your pediatrician to differentiate between temporary shyness and social anxiety disorder, which prevents children from normal social development.

Stay positive. When your child does engage in social scenes, offer positive reinforcement. Affirm his or her character and personality, and avoid chastising, teasing, or embarrassing him or her about shy behavior. Remember, some kids may always be somewhat timid, but with preparation, practice, and loving patience, most children can learn to successfully navigate social situations. ¶ Denise Yearian is a former educator and editor of two parenting magazines, and the mother of three children.

www.sonomafamilylife.com

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SonomaFamilyLife 17

Free to Fail

at everything. Where can she find success? What realistic goals can he achieve? The role of mistakes. Beyond the disappointment of one traumatic life experience looms a much larger truth: Making mistakes is an essential part of learning. Think of your baby learning to walk. How many bumps and falls did it take before she or he toddled toward you without stumbling? No one thinks of that process as a series of failures. Rather, we realize the child has to practice before attaining success. And that principle can be

The Value of Making Mistakes

By Jan Pierce

our son tried out for the junior high basketball team and didn’t make it. Your daughter wanted a part in her school play, but wasn’t chosen. Your youngest child failed an important math test. What is your response when your child goes through disappointments and outright failures? What can you teach your children through the inevitable disappointments and failures of life?

Talk about it. When the time is right, it pays to face disappointments and failures head-on. A “Here is what you wanted, but this is the reality” kind of talk. Disappointments can lead to a tangled web of thoughts and feelings. Your child may blame others for the situation or express self-deprecations like “I can’t do anything right.” It’s helpful for him or her to vent their frustration and other feelings, but then guide the discussion to a more positive place. It hurts. Allow some time for your child to explore the sadness and 18 SonomaFamilyLife

pain of a big disappointment or a performance blunder, especially if your child had his or her heart set on a certain task or role. If the failure was due to lack of preparation, analyzing the situation to figure out what went wrong may follow a period of mourning. Perhaps hard facts must be faced: Others may be more gifted and talented in a certain area. Your child may never be class president or lead singer in the chorus. What then? Can you be the voice of reason guiding him or her to a healthy realization of his or her unique gifts? No one is good

It pays to face disappointments and failures head-on. applied to nearly everything our children and we learn in life. In her book, Allow Your Children to Fail If You Want Them to Succeed, pediatrician Avril Beckford says, “Failure is inevitable, so what becomes important is how parents help their children to deal with it.” Every classroom teacher has students who are afraid to make mistakes. These kids want to do something perfectly the first time they try. But learning doesn’t happen that way. Even top students need to learn to tolerate a level of risk that allows them to try, fail, and try again. This is a learning cycle that applies to nearly every subject area and to every character-building life experience. Most errors are approximations—a child tries something and it’s nearly correct, but not quite. But sometimes a science experiment fails completely. It’s time to go back to the drawing

October 2016 www.sonomafamilylife.com

board and make a new hypothesis. Determining what has been learned from the experience, setting a new goal, and moving on are the keys to accepting a disappointing outcome. Here are some tips for walking with your child through failure: • Listen. Allow time to process what has happened and why. • Be ready to help analyze what went wrong. Talk it through. • Share anecdotes from your own life. We’ve all been there. • Make a new plan. Try a new activity, set a new goal, work harder next time. • Reinforce your unconditional love and absolute approval of your child regardless of how she or he performs. The circuitous path to success. There are many stories of great men and women throughout history who failed over and over again before achieving success. Abraham Lincoln lost political elections before becoming president. Winston Churchill famously said, “Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.” The first manuscript of J. K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter book series, was rejected 12 times. Oprah was

demoted at a television job early in her career. If none of these stories impress your child, try this one by basketball icon Michael Jordan, who said, “I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career, lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I’ve been trusted

Making mistakes is an essential part of learning. to take the game-winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” The experiences of these great people teach one important lesson: Never give up. Parents are instrumental in helping their children learn the skills necessary to deal with life’s disappointments and failures. Choose the positive outlook that mistakes, errors, and failures are just one part of learning any new skill. Your support and positive attitude will set the tone for your child’s future successes. ¶ Jan Pierce, M.Ed., is a retired teacher and freelance writer who specializes in parenting and family life topics. Find her at janpierce.net or on Facebook.

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October 2016

SonomaFamilyLife 19

Big, Bad Bullies

nature and select as victims those they perceive as weaker than themselves. They lack a set of values to guide their choices and rarely accept responsibility for their behavior. Their behavior can be compulsive and repeated over time. Bullies usually have low self-esteem and insecurities, and fear exposure of their weaknesses. They are

It’s hard to understand why children want to hurt others for no apparent reason.

Help Your Kids Protect Themselves

driven by bitterness, hatred, anger, and prejudice, which they inflict on their victims.

By Jan Pierce

ost of us recall our school days with a mixture of nostalgia and hazy memories. It was a long time ago, and the student life is very different now. But one thing hasn’t change: In every era there are those children, both boys and girls, who engage in bullying behaviors.

What Is Bullying? Bullies abuse, intimidate, or dominate others. Their behavior may be habitual and may present as verbal harassment and threats, or physical assaults. Bullying can come in many forms: teasing, name calling, stealing property, and forcing unwanted acts. It is designed to instill fear and anxiety. Some bullies try to justify their behavior based on the sex, race, class, abilities, or appearance of their 20 SonomaFamilyLife

victims. When bullying is done by groups, it is known as “mobbing.” Profile of a Bully It’s hard to understand why children want to hurt others for no apparent reason. Most experts agree that bullies are children who want and need attention. They want to raise their own status by feeling powerful. They often are abused or neglected children who haven’t learned to care about others’ feelings. They are predatory by

Warning Signs If you suspect that your child is being bullied, here are some behaviors to look for: • School-avoidance behaviors such as morning stomachaches and headaches, and requests to stay home • Trouble sleeping • Loss of appetite • Anxiety in normal life situations • Unexplained fears • Changes in grades In today’s technological world, there are ample opportunities for bullies to act out through the relative anonymity of their computers and phones. They can threaten, expose, and tease while hiding their identities. What Can You Do? Parents are often astounded at the intensity of bullying their children

October 2016 www.sonomafamilylife.com

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the problem for their child, the child remains vulnerable. If they refrain from acting, they risk their child being harmed, both emotionally and physically. There are commonsense ways to combat bullying: Proactive teaching. Many schools have anti-bullying campaigns in place. Classroom teachers or school counselors teach the lessons, but changing behavior takes time. Most bullies need one-on-one help to change, and meanwhile, the victims must find ways to stay safe. Parents can do some proactive teaching as well. Talk to your children about staying safe and standing up to bullies. Help them build strategies to stand up for themselves while never resorting to fights, which could get them into trouble. For help, see thebullyproject. com and stopbullying.gov/kids.

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Bullying can come in many forms: teasing, name calling, stealing property, and forcing unwanted acts. It is designed to instill fear and anxiety.

Avoidance techniques. One logical way to stop bullying is to stay away from the bully. If at all possible, change the route taken to school or walk a different hallway to get to the next class. Bullies tend to take advantage of an opportunity. If the opportunity is taken away, they have no victim.

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tolerate every day. Once a bullying situation is exposed, the offender often changes tactics. He or she stops bullying that particular person for fear of retribution, embarrassment, or consequences. But without help, the offender will most likely bully again. Parents walk a fine line when helping their children to deal with bullying behaviors. If they step in and solve

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Standing firm. Children need to learn to be brave in the face of adversity. For those children who seem frail or unsure, it’s a good idea to enroll them in sports programs or other activities that build confidence. They need to practice saying a firm “No” to those who bully them and be willing to ask for help or report problems to authorities. Ignoring

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Communication. Children need to know they can talk to their parents about uncomfortable situations in their lives. Ask them if they’ve ever taken part in bullying another person. Teach them to go to a teacher if they witness bullying and are unsure how to intervene. ¶

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SonomaFamilyLife 21

Green Halloween

Easy Ways to Take Care of the Earth By Kerrie McLoughlin

etween costumes, candy holders, treat wrappers, and plastic decorations, Halloween can quickly become a landfill’s worst nightmare. Fortunately, there are ecologically responsible ways to celebrate the holiday—and save some serious greenbacks in the process. What’s Old Is New Instead of buying new costumes, let National Costume Swap Day (October 8) motivate your children to trade costumes with friends or family members. Or breathe new life into an old karate or ballet outfit, or princess dress-up clothes. Google “Halloween costumes you can make at home for cheap” and start surfing. And don’t forget to check thrift stores and garage sales for creative inspiration. (Cloth) Bag It Grab that rechargeable or LED shake flashlight and head out the door for trick-or-treating. Don’t forget the 22 SonomaFamilyLife

decorated cloth bag you can reuse next year. For an even cheaper, eco-friendly option, go retro and use a pillowcase, or go modern and use a cloth shopping bag. Treat the Earth Just so we’re clear, sugar-free does not equal environmentally friendly. Even

Pumpkins are the best decorations out there, and you can even grow your own if you have the space. individually wrapped healthy treats are not green. So consider handing out something that can be either useful or recycled such as pencils, erasers, quarters, crayons, juice boxes (made from recyclable cardboard), cool bandages, bookmarks, or seed packets.

Hay There Instead of buying battery-eating electronic decorations made in China, consider strategically placing some hay bales in your yard. Decorate with chrysanthemums, gourds, colorful corn, and ghosts made of sheets. Use hay or old clothes to stuff a scarecrow and nontoxic paints to decorate windows. Turn household materials into crafts such as pumpkin magnets, milk carton haunted houses, and light bulb mummies. (Go to familycrafts.about. com/od/halloween/tp/ recycled-halloween-crafts-forkids.htm for details.) Lit from Within Pumpkins are the best decorations out there, and you can even grow your own if you have the space. Otherwise, take an educational trip to a local pumpkin patch. (There are several in Sonoma County. See pumpkinpatchesandmore.org.) After carving your favorite pumpkin, bake a pie with the pulp and toast the seeds. For a special treat, try tossing seeds with a little cinnamon sugar and butter before baking. Eco Soiree A green Halloween party starts with Evite invitations. When the big day arrives, forgo individually wrapped treats for festive orange-colored food like carrot sticks and orange slices. Or throw some newspaper on the table, break out the nontoxic paints, and decorate some pumpkins. ¶ Kerrie McLoughlin vows to someday fit into a Wonder Woman costume. Check her out at thekerrieshow.com.

October 2016 www.sonomafamilylife.com

Baby’s First All Hallows’ Eve

Safety Tips for Little Ones

By Sarah Lyons

umpkins, costumes, and candy. Halloween is a fun time of year for kids of all ages, but as you gear up for your baby’s or toddler’s first Halloween, keep these safety tips in mind.

To carve or not? When your family sits down to carve your pumpkin, never allow young kids to handle sharp objects. Let adults do the carving. And, instead of the traditional candle, consider lighting your jack o’ lantern with an LED light or glow stick. If you do use a candle, keep the pumpkin out of reach of curious hands. Also, instead of carving, you may want to use stickers or nontoxic paint to decorate your pumpkin. Fancy duds. When choosing a Halloween costume for your little one, pick something that is comfortable, weather appropriate, and brightly colored (for better visibility). If you are a parent of a walker, pick a costume that is short enough to not cause baby to trip and fall. Masks limit visibility and are uncomfortable for babies; face paint may be a better option. Candy quest. When you venture out to do some trick-or-treating, have your child carry a flashlight www.sonomafamilylife.com

or wear a glow stick. Always travel with an adult and stay together. Consider using a stroller, wagon, or harness to contain your child, or hold hands at all times as you walk. Use care to stay on sidewalks and only cross at street corners and crosswalks. It is best to visit homes where you know the residents, but

Most Halloween candy is a choking hazard for small kids. Soft chocolates and crackers are usually okay for older babies to try. if you do go to strangers’ homes, only approach if the porch light is on. Consider attending a fall festival or trunk-or-treat instead of going door-to-door in a neighborhood. (See “Treats & Freaks” on page 26 for some local options.) October 2016

Safe sweets. Most Halloween candy is a choking hazard for small kids. So when you get home, carefully sort through the treat bag and remove anything unsafe such as hard candy, taffy, suckers, small toys, and popcorn. Discard any homemade items unless they were received from a trusted source. Soft chocolates and crackers are usually okay for older babies to try. Make sure to thoroughly clean their teeth after their treats. Some charities like Operation Gratitude will accept donated Halloween candy and send it to soldiers overseas. See tinyurl.com/ hwpdhy2 for more ideas with what to do with your load. Fear factor. Many people enjoy putting up spooky decorations or wearing creepy costumes. These things can seem frighteningly realistic to a small child. If kids become scared, cut the night short and go home. Keep it simple on your first (or second) Halloween. Go out early and only visit a few houses of friends and family you know. Sarah Lyons is a freelance writer whose work has been featured in KC Parent and KC Baby magazines.

SonomaFamilyLife 23

Crafting with Kids

If I Only Had a Brain

Make Your Own Scarecrow

By Denise Morrison Yearian

he scarecrow is a popular American icon, but its usefulness has spanned the globe for centuries. The first scarecrows recorded in history were found along the Nile River in Egypt and were used to prevent quail from ravaging wheat fields. In ancient Japan, farmers created these ragamuffins by hanging old fabric scraps and meat and fish bones to bamboo poles, and then setting them on fire. In America, the scarecrow reached beyond crop-laden fields and found its fame in one literary work that later leapt to the big screen. In 1900, L. Frank Baum penned the classic novel The Wizard of Oz, which featured a witless scarecrow whose greatest desire was to have a brain. As he and his friends sought to appease the wish-granting wizard, Scarecrow used newfound wisdom to overcome the group’s obstacles and was later recognized as the “wisest man in all of Oz.” Follow the directions below to make your own scarecrow. 24 SonomaFamilyLife

Beau the Scarecrow • Brown paper bag • Ruler • Pencil • Scissors • Construction paper • Paper plate • Glue • Black marker • Ribbon • Glue gun

1 2

Draw and cut an 8-inch triangle from the paper bag to create the scarecrow’s hat.

Fold yellow construction paper accordion style into 1/2-inch folds. Open paper flat and cut along the folds to create strips for straw hair.

3 4

Place paper plate bottom side up. Glue hair randomly to one edge of the plate. Glue hat over the hay hair, allowing some hay to show

around the lower, outer edges of the hat.

5 6 7 8 9 10

Draw and cut a 1-inch triangle from orange paper then glue to the center of the plate to create a nose. Draw and cut two 1-inch circles from pink paper then glue onto the face to create the cheeks. Use black marker to create eyes, eyebrows, and a mouth.

Draw and cut a 3-inch sunflower shape from yellow paper then glue to one side of the hat.

Draw and cut a 1-inch brown circle and glue to the center of the sunflower.

Cut ribbon into an 18-inch strip. Tie into a bow and attach with a glue gun to the lower edge of the paper plate for the bow tie. ¶

Denise Morrison Yearian is a former educator and editor of two parenting magazines, and the mother of three children and four grandchildren.

October 2016 www.sonomafamilylife.com

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October 2016

SonomaFamilyLife 25

Family Fun

Looking for jack o’ lanterns in the Floating Pumpkin Patch.

Treats & Freaks It’s Time for Costumes, Candy & Spooky Fun! Santa Rosa: Floating Pumpkin Patch If your kids would rather take a swim than dig around in the dirt, this is the pumpkin-hunting experience for them. Youngsters can dive in to a sea of orange orbs at the Ridgway Swim Center pool, choose their favorites, and then decorate them at a special table. The event happens on October 15, 1:30–6 p.m., and the $10 tickets must be pre-purchased by calling 543-3421 or logging on to srcity.org.

26 SonomaFamilyLife

Rohnert Park: Blind Scream Some people find confronting fear thrilling. If you are one of them, check out Blind Scream’s three haunted houses. Creatures creep out of the dark in the Blackout house; Uncle Chuckle’s 3-D Madhouse is populated with demented clowns and the Slaughter Shack, mounds of bloody carnage. The producers of this event note that these houses are truly frightening. “Actors give the same level of scare to all ages,” the website warns. So judge whether or not your child has the temperament to go in one without freaking out. Houses will be set up in a 25,000-square-foot space at Sonoma Mountain Village in Rohnert Park on October 7–9, 13–16, 19–23, and 26–31. On Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays, the hours are 7–10 p.m., and on Fridays and Saturdays, as well as on October 31, 7–11 p.m. Tickets are $10–$30 and may be purchased at blindscream.com. October 2016 www.sonomafamilylife.com

Petaluma: Halloween Trick-or-Treat Trail If candy is the thing in your household, the 60-plus merchants in downtown Petaluma have plenty of it. Get the whole family decked out and ready for some serious loot. (Goodies only given to ages 12 and under.) Since this is a popular scene, you’ll get the chance to admire your neighbors’ creative costuming, to boot. The free fun will be held on October 31, 3–5:30 p.m., beginning at Fourth and Kentucky Streets. See petalumadowntown.com for details.

Santa Rosa: Halloween at Howarth Park On October 29, Howarth Park will be buzzing with activity as little goblins, ninja princesses, and zombies run around on sugar highs. Local businesses and organizations will be handing out yummies to children ages 12 and under at stations strewn throughout the park. After they’ve eaten their quota of candy, kids can hop on a pony or take a spin on the park’s train or carousel. Trick-or-treaters must register online for one of three time slots: 11:30 a.m.–12:15 p.m.; 12:45–1:30 p.m.; 2–2:45 p.m. The $5 Basic Pass includes trick-or-treating and access to the Fun Zone while the $12 Deluxe Pass also includes train, carousel, and pony rides. See tinyurl.com/ h7fgkjd to register.

Santa Rosa: Halloween Carnival Let little ones get their sillies out at this event at the Sonoma County Family YMCA. Intrepid revelers can visit a haunted house or burn off excess energy jumping in a bouncy house or playing games. While the kids are messing around, you can buy a raffle ticket or sneak a treat for yourself. It all happens on October 22, 4–7 p.m., and admission is $5. Call 545-9622 or go to scfymca.org for more information.

Sebastopol: Midnight of the Day Monster Party For a full-on Halloween bash, pull out the police officer and magician costumes, and bring the kids to the Sebastopol Regional Library. Ages five and up can express their artistic flair decorating pumpkins; they might even win a prize. The free event will be held on October 29, noon–2 p.m. See sonomalibrary.org for details. ¶

www.sonomafamilylife.com

October 2016

SonomaFamilyLife 27

October Calendar of Events

Fall Fantástico

ids like to spit. And it’s even more fun if their saliva carries an object. Enter the World Record Pumpkin Spitting Contest, just one of the many ways children can entertain themselves at the Tolay Fall Festival. After they have tested out the propelling power of their lips, kids can wander into a replica of a Native American village or the Nighttime Creatures Barn, where a collection of snakes, birds of prey, and tide pool animals awaits them. If they’re really adventurous, they might venture into the Creepy Crawly Room, where tarantulas and scorpions roam. When they’re ready to chill out, they can hop on a hayride to the park’s pumpkin patch and pick out their very own squash to take home. The event will be held October 15–16 and October 22–23, 11 a.m.–5 p.m., at the Tolay Lake Regional Park in Petaluma. Admission is $5 for adults and teens, and $3 for children ages 12 and under. Parking is $7. For more information, see parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov/activities/tolay_fall_festival.aspx. ¶

Saturday 1 FREE Family Science Day.

Hands-on experiments, roller coaster building, Lego challenges, brains, catapults, bubbles & more. 10 a.m.–1 p.m. Healdsburg School. 33 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg. thehealdsburgschool.org. ¡Fandago! Watch a performance of

the 1840s celebration dance by Baile de California & Yesteryear & learn how to do it, too. Noon–4 p.m. Adults: $3. Ages 6–16: $2. Petaluma Adobe State Historic Park. 3325 Adobe Rd., Petaluma. The Threepenny Opera. Notorious

Sonoma Mountain Regional Park & Open Space Preserve in Santa Rosa to Jack London State Historic Park in Glen Ellen. Opportunity to camp at North Sonoma Mountain park on Oct. 1. Evening will include entertainment, hike, fire circle, wilderness survival class. Oct. 1, 8 a.m.–Oct. 2, 10 a.m. Hike: $20 (includes shuttle, lunch & post-hike drinks & snacks.) Hike & camping: $50 (includes shuttle, lunch, post-hike drinks & snacks, dinner & breakfast). Call 415-561-2595, ext. 204 to inquire about kids’ discount. Register: parks.sonomacounty. ca.gov/_templates_parks/eventdetail. aspx?id=2147523207.

bandit Macheath, aka “Mack the Knife,” marries the innocent Polly Peachum. Madness & mayhem ensue. Thru Oct. 23. Thursdays: 7:30 p.m. Fridays & Saturdays: 8 p.m. Saturdays & Sundays: 2 p.m. $15–$38. 6th Street Playhouse. 52 W. 6th St., Santa Rosa. 6thstreetplayhouse.com.

of food, wine, beer & cider. Chef demos, workshops & seminars. Thru Oct. 2. 11 a.m.–5 p.m. $5. Parking: $7–$10. Sonoma County Fairgrounds. 1350 Bennett Valley Rd., Santa Rosa. harvestfair.org.

Trek Across Sonoma Mountain.

of Fleet Street. Musical. Ages 14 &

Moderately strenuous, one-way, 9-mile hike connecting the new North 28 SonomaFamilyLife

Sonoma County Harvest Fair. Tastings

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber

up. Oct. 1, 7 & 8: 8 p.m. Oct. 2 & 9: 2 p.m. $10–$30. Raven Performing Arts

Theater. 115 North St., Healdsburg. raventheater.org. FREE Nuestros Parques Hike. A bilingual naturalist will lead this free family walk. 10 a.m.–1 p.m. Maxwell Farms Regional Park. 100 Verano Ave., Sonoma. parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov. Russian Tea & Fragrance Festival.

Gradina Slavic singers, gypsy violin, rose sorbet making, tea leaf readings, perfume & atomizer museum presentation. Thru Oct. 2. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. $5. Russian River Rose Company. 1685 Magnolia Dr., Healdsburg. russian-river-rose.com/index.html. FREE Shakespeare By the River. As You Like It. Performed

by Petaluma Shakespeare Company. 2 p.m. Foundry Wharf Green. H & 2nd Streets, Petaluma. petalumashakespeare.org. Run for Your Wife. Thru Oct. 9. Oct. 1, 7 & 8: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 9: 2 p.m. $12–$22. Cloverdale Performing Arts Center. 209 N. Cloverdale Blvd., Cloverdale. cloverdaleperformingarts.com.

October 2016 www.sonomafamilylife.com

Upcoming Autumn Events! FREE Historic Downtown Walking

Floating Pumpkin Patch

Tours. Led by costumed docents. 10:30 a.m. Petaluma Historic Museum. 20 Fourth St., Petaluma. petalumamuseum.com.

Saturday, October 15th Ridgway Swim Center

FREE Cloverdale Oktoberfest & Courtney’s Pumpkin Patch.

Pumpkins, German food, large silent auction, pumpkin toss, face painting, air brush tattoos, balloon twisting, prizes, games, street vendors & raffles. Noon–7 p.m. Courtney’s Pumpkin Patch. 529 Venezia Way, Cloverdale. sonomacounty.com/events. FREE Path to College: Demystifying & Simplifying the College Admissions Process. Overview of steps to take &

Halloween at Howarth Saturday, October 29th Howarth Memorial Park

Advanced registration required. Register at santarosarec.com or call 707-543-3737.

October 15-16 & 22-23, 2016 11AM - 5PM at Tolay Lake Regional Park

trusted resources to consult. Leave with plan of action & timeline to follow. Topics include testing, college selection, financial aid & essay writing. For students & parents. Bilingual English/Spanish. 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. Petaluma Regional Library. 100 Fairgrounds Dr., Petaluma. sonomalibrary.org. FREE Magical Moonshine Theatre: The Carnival Mask. Bilingual puppet

sonomacountyparks.org

show of a Mexican folktale. 2 p.m. Central Santa Rosa Library. 211 E Street, Santa Rosa. sonomalibrary.org.

Snoopy’s Home Ice Presents

Sunday 2 Omara Portuondo: Tour 85. From

the Buena Vista Social Club, with special guests Roberta Fonseco, Anat Cohen & Regina Carter. 7 p.m. $40–$95. Sonoma State University. Green Music Center. Weill Hall & Lawn. 1801 E. Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park. gmc.sonoma.edu. FREE Sunday Boating at the Barn.

Borrow a rowboat, canoe, kayak, or sailboat & spend the afternoon on the www.sonomafamilylife.com

An Ice Ballet Company for the 21st Century

One Night Only Saturday October 15 Tickets On Sale Now

1667 W Steele Lane, Santa Rosa 707-546-7147 • www.snoopyshomeice.com

October 2016

SonomaFamilyLife 29

Petaluma River. Sundays. 10 a.m.–1 p.m. David Yearsley River Heritage Center. 100 E. D St., Petaluma. friendsofthepetalumariver.org. Calabash: A Festival of Gourds, Art & the Garden. Local food & wine, live

music played on handmade gourd instruments, silent auction, sale of unique garden art & book art. Benefits Food for Thought, a nonprofit that serves local HIV patients. 1–5 p.m. $50. Food for Thought. 6550 Railroad Ave., Forestville. fftfoodbank.org/events/ calabash.

Tuesday 4 FREE Homework Help. Assistance with all subjects on a drop-in basis. Grades K–12. Tuesdays. 3:30–5:30 p.m. Petaluma Regional Library.

Crazy, Awesome Science! Fridays.

100 Fairgrounds Dr., Petaluma. sonomalibrary.org.

2 p.m. $10 (admission to museum). Children’s Museum of Sonoma County. 1835 W. Steele Ln., Santa Rosa. cmosc.org.

Forestville Fall Craft Faire.

Handmade cards & candles, glass, jewelry, ceramics, pottery & body beauty products. Live music. Oct. 4 & 11. 4–7 p.m. Forestville Farmers Market. 6990 Front St., Forestville. forestvillefarmersmarket.com.

FREE Tinker Thinkers: Electricity & Magnetism. Explore electricity

Friday 7 FREE Cuentos y Cantos—Bilingual Story & Play Time. Exploraremos cuentos, cantos y rimas en ingles y español. Explore books, songs & rhymes in both English & Spanish. Ages 1–5. Fridays. 11 a.m. Sebastopol Regional Library. 7140 Bodega Ave., Sebastopol. sonomalibrary.org.

while using magnets & circuits. Make batteries out of ice-cube trays, nails & vinegar. Ages 5–12. 4 p.m. Windsor Regional Library. 9291 Old Redwood Hwy., Bldg. 100, Windsor. sonomalibrary.org. Blind Scream Haunted House. Three

haunted houses in 25,000 sq. ft. space. Oct. 7–9, 13–16, 19–23, 26–31. Wednesdays, Thursdays & Sundays: 7–10 p.m. Fridays & Saturdays (plus Oct. 31): 7–11 p.m. $10–$30. Sonoma

HEY MOM GIVE US A SHOUT! We want to know what you think. • What did you like in this issue? • What do you want to see more or less of? • Know a teacher, coach, or special person that makes local family life better? • Know of an upcoming event or fun family outing? • Want to write stories or recipes, or blog for Family Life?

e-mail melissa@family-life.us 30 SonomaFamilyLife

n u FBlast! Weekend

SonomaFamilyLife.com October 2016 www.sonomafamilylife.com

Mountain Village. 1500 Valley House Dr., Rohnert Park. blindscream.com.

Saturday 8 Burning Ham. A

celebration of pork. Whole-roasted pigs, multi-category BBQ contest: baby back ribs, pulled pork, bacon side dishes & bacon desserts. Music, beer, games & kids’ activities. 12:30 p.m.–7 p.m. $35. Ages 13 & under: Free. Penngrove Park. 11800 Main St., Penngrove. burninghamsonoma.com. Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk. Registration: 9 a.m. Walk: 10 a.m. Sonoma Mountain Village. 1400 Valley House Dr., #110, Rohnert Park. Sign up at main. acsevents.org.

FREE Conscious Family Festival.

Activities for children & adults: improvisation, yoga, bullying prevention, Kabbalah, dance & movement, shrine building, family meditation & animal stories. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Finley Community Center. Person Senior Wing. 2060 W. College Ave., Santa Rosa. consciousfamilyfestival.org. The Magic of the Flute. Flautist

Jean Ferrandis performs Bernstein & Mozart with the Santa Rosa Symphony. Oct 8: 2 & 8 p.m. Oct. 9: 3 p.m. Oct. 10: 8 p.m. $20–$80. Sonoma State University. Green Music Center. 1801 E. Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park. srsymphony.org. FREE Ballet Folklorico de Petaluma Paquiyollotzin. Celebrate Hispanic

heritage with a performance of music & dance. Celebración de la herencia Hispana con una presentación de musica y baile. All ages. 2 p.m. Petaluma Regional Library. 100 Fairgrounds Dr., Petaluma. sonomalibrary.org. Star Party. Presentations on

astronomical topics throughout the evening. The observatory’s 3 main telescopes are open for public viewing. 8 p.m. $3. Ages 18 & under: Free. Parking: $8. Robert Ferguson Observatory. 2605 Adobe Canyon Rd., Kenwood. rfo.org.

Sunday 9 Wild Edible Plants: Fall Feasts in the Forest with Tamara Wilder.

Intro to harvesting & processing bay nuts, acorns & manzanita berries. 10

sonoma SONOMA COUNTY FAMILY YMCA

HALLOWEEN CARNIVAL

LOCAL

#1 local resource for for 25 years local families

magazine • web • email • events

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Haunted House•Carnival Games•Raffle Prizes•Jumpies•Raffle•Bakery Bootique•Food•Music & More! Saturday October 22, 2016• 4-7pm 1111 College Ave. Santa Rosa, CA 707-545-9622• www.scfymca.org

•Proceeds Benefit the Y Financial Assistance Program•

Sonoma County Family YMCA, 1111 College Avenue, Santa Rosa The Y is a non-profit community based organization. Financial assistance is available.

October 2016

SonomaFamilyLife 31

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a.m.–12:30 p.m. $20–$35. Kids free. Glen Oaks Ranch. 13255 Sonoma Hwy., Glen Ellen. eventbrite.com.

Thursday 13 Just Between Friends Mega Kids & Maternity Consignment Sales Event.

Baby, kids & maternity items. Oct. 13: noon–8 p.m., $3. Oct. 14: 9 a.m.–8 p.m., $2. Oct. 15: 9 a.m.–3 p.m., free admission. Oct. 16: 9 a.m.–2 p.m., free admission plus 50% off sale. Sonoma County Fairgrounds. 1350 Bennett Valley Rd., Santa Rosa. northbay.jbfsale.com.

9291 Old Redwood Hwy., Bldg. 100, Windsor. sonomalibrary.org.

Saturday 15 FREE LumaFest. Community open

house & education fair. Día des los Muertos celebration, bouncy houses, face painting, music & dance performances, sustainability village, family obstacle course, art/ photography & exhibits, contests & food. 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Free parking. Petaluma campus of Santa Rosa

Junior College. 680 Sonoma Mountain Parkway, Petaluma. lumafest.santarosa.edu. Ice Dance International. Professional

ice ballet show. 4 & 8 p.m. $45. Snoopy’s Home Ice. 1667 W. Steele Ln., Santa Rosa. 546-7147. snoopyhomeice.com. Fall Foliage Hike at Seghesio Family Home Ranch. Hike thru 120-year-old vines at Seghesio’s Home Ranch Estate to Rattlesnake Hill. Lunch

FREE Introduction to Ukulele for Families. Learn the basics. Ages 8 & up. 4 p.m. Windsor Regional Library. 9291 Old Redwood Hwy., Bldg. 100, Windsor. sonomalibrary.org.

Friday 14 Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo Live. Features

human-powered puppetry & audience interaction. 6:30 p.m. $12–$17. Luther Burbank Center for the Arts. Person Theater. 50 Mark West Springs Rd., Santa Rosa. 546-3600. lutherburbankcenter.org. The Quality of Life. Drama. Dinah & Bill, a devout, church-going couple from the Midwest, reconnect with Dinah’s left-leaning, Northern California cousins. All face significant losses. Thru Oct. 30. Fridays–Sundays. $15–$30. Cinnabar Theater. 3333 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma. cinnabartheater.org. FREE Tinker Thinkers: Motion & Energy. Work with Kapla blocks, marble runs, ramps & balls to explore the ideas of motion & energy. Ages 5–12. 4 p.m. Windsor Regional Library.

The holidays are quickly approaching, so it’s time to get your young actor in the spirit of that special time of year by being part of 6th Street Playhouse's production of A Charlie Brown Christmas! For the first time in Santa Rosa - home of Peanuts creator, Charles Schulz - the Apprentice Company will present this iconic holiday story, in which the entire Peanuts gang discovers the real meaning of Christmas - LIVE!

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& wine provided. 10 a.m.–1 p.m. $75. Seghesio Family Vineyards. 700 Grove St., Healdsburg. seghesio.com.

Classical Music.” 11 a.m. Healdsburg Regional Library. 139 Piper St., Healdsburg. sonomalibrary.org.

FREE Santa Rosa Symphony Guitar

Tolay Fall Festival. Pumpkin patch.

& Flute Duo. Jane Shelly & Catherine Altamura present “Folk Roots of

Native American village replica. World Record Pumpkin Seed Spitting

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contest. Exhibits of native & exotic snakes, birds of prey, tide pool animals & spiders & scorpions. Oct. 15–16 & 22–23. Adults & teens: $5. Ages 12 & under: $3. Parking: $7. Tolay Lake Regional Park. 5869 Lakeville Hwy., Petaluma. parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov/ activities/tolay_fall_festival.aspx. Floating Pumpkin Patch. A pumpkin patch in a pool. Hunt for & decorate pumpkins. 1:30–6 p.m. $10. Ridgway Swim Center. 455 Ridgway Ave., Santa Rosa. Only pre-purchase tickets available. Call or go online to purchase: 543-3421. srcity.org/ departments/recreationandparks/ programs/specialevents.

Sunday 16 Land of Make Believe. Santa Rosa

Symphony tells stories like Mother Goose, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Harry Potter & Frozen through music. Come dressed as your favorite character from your favorite story. 3 p.m. $12–$17. Sonoma State University. Green Music Center. Weill Hall. 1801 E. Cotati Ave., Santa Rosa. santarosasymphony.com.

Wednesday 19 Homeschool Day: The Picture of Health. Learn about health & fitness

Nerdy Ninjas Wanted

o you have a Minecraft master in your house? Perhaps your video game wizard would like to learn what’s behind his or her favorite game. They can find out at the free CoderDojo class, where kids can learn to code and even program websites and games. The class, open to ages 8–17, will be held at the Petaluma Regional Library in Petaluma on October 19, 4:30–6 p.m. Space is limited, so make sure to register at coderdojopetaluma.org.

with a variety of hands-on activities, including making a fitness wheel, experimenting with sunscreen & creating a model of the lungs. Ages 6–12. Class: 10 a.m.–noon. Ice skate at Snoopy’s Home Ice: Noon–2 p.m. $6–$8. Free for chaperones. Charles M. Schulz Museum. 2301 Hardies Ln., Santa Rosa. schulzmuseum.org. FREE Mindful Minis. Playful yoga

practice & exploration of mindfulness thru fun activities. Space limited. Call 34 SonomaFamilyLife

October 2016 www.sonomafamilylife.com

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October 2016

SonomaFamilyLife 35

to register. Ages 6–12. 4–5:30 p.m. Sebastopol Regional Library. 7140 Bodega Ave., Sebastopol. 823-7691. sonomalibrary.org. FREE CoderDojo. Learn to code,

develop websites & games. Beginners welcome. Ages 5–17. 4:30 p.m. Petaluma Regional Library. 100 Fairgrounds Dr., Petaluma. Register: coderdojopetaluma.org.

Thursday 20 Itzahk Perlman. Superstar virtuoso violinist. 7:30 p.m. $50–$125. Sonoma State University. Weill Hall at Green Music Center. 1801 E. Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park. gmc.sonoma.edu. FREE Fall Nature Crafts. Artesania

de la Naturaleza. Ages 3–10. 3:30 p.m. Petaluma Regional Library. 100 Fairgrounds Dr., Petaluma. sonomalibrary.org.

Friday 21 FREE Family Movie Night. Family flicks. 4 p.m. Central Santa Rosa Library. 211 E St., Santa Rosa. sonomalibrary.org.

Saturday 22 Funkendank Oktoberfest. Galactic,

the Pimps of Joytime, Big Sam’s Funky Nation, the Dixie Giants & Royal Jelly Jive. 2 p.m. $49–$140. Sonoma Mountain Village Event Center. 1100 Valley House Dr., Rohnert Park. somoconcerts.com. Halloween Carnival. Haunted

house, carnival games, bouncy houses, food, music & raffles. 4–7 p.m. $5. Sonoma County Family YMCA. 1111 College Ave., Santa Rosa. 545-9622. scfymca.org.

Balkan group Gradina will sing at the Russian Tea and Fragrance Festival.

Sunday 23 Harvest Hoedown. Full pig roasts, BBQ dishes & sides, kid-friendly activities, grape stomping, bouncy house, wagon rides. Noon–4 p.m. Larson Family Winery. 23355 Millerick Rd., Sonoma. Call: 938-3031, ext. 18 for ticket info. larsonfamilywinery.com.

Tea and Roses

cup of tea can’t transport you to another place. But, when you sip some served from a Russian samovar, you might think you’ve traveled somewhere else. You can have this unique treat at the Russian Tea and Fragrance Festival, which will be held October 1–2 at the Russian River Rose Company in Healdsburg. Sip your cuppa while perusing Russian artifacts or wandering through more than 650 varieties of roses. Let your taste buds lead you as you learn to make rose sorbet. Or, if you’re in the mood for something mystical, get a tea-leaf reading by Karnak the Magnificent. On October 1, turn your ear to the haunting, Slavic melodies of vocal group Gradina, and on October 2, to the soulful tones of gypsy violinist Joella Olson. The event will be held 10 a.m.–5 p.m. both days. Admission is $5. See russian-river-rose.com for a complete event schedule. ¶

36 SonomaFamilyLife

FREE Harvest Jamboree. Giant pumpkin show, scarecrow building, pumpkin-car races & country games. 10 a.m.–1 p.m. Windsor Certified Farmers Market. Windsor Town Green. 701 McClelland Dr., Windsor. windsorfarmersmarket.com.

Monday 24 FREE Positive Parenting Program: Raising Resilient Children. Designed

to give parents the skills they need to raise confident, healthy children & build stronger family relationships. 6–8

October 2016 www.sonomafamilylife.com

p.m. Children’s Museum of Sonoma County. 1835 W. Steele Ln., Santa Rosa. Registration is required. Go to cmosc.org.

Wednesday 26 Winging It Wednesdays. Explore

Sonoma County’s birding parklands with an experienced birding guide. 8:30–10:30 a.m. Parking: $7. Sonoma Valley Regional Park. 13630 Hwy. 12, Glen Ellen. parks.sonomacounty. ca.gov. FREE Halloween Story Time. Ages

2–5. 11 a.m. Windsor Regional Library. 9291 Old Redwood Hwy., Bldg. 100, Windsor. sonomalibrary.org. FREE Halloween Family Night.

Stories, songs & crafts in celebration of Halloween. Wear your costume. 6:30 p.m. Petaluma Regional Library. 100 Fairgrounds Dr., Petaluma. sonomalibrary.org.

Thursday 27 FREE Halloween Pumpkin Decorating. Small pumpkins & other

materials provided. Prizes. Ages

Cross & Crown Lutheran School 2 - 5 years Preschool Jr. Kindergarten – Kindergarten 1st through 5th Grade

CCLS - PSP Private Satellite Program K-5th

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9–19. 4 p.m. Rincon Valley Library. 6959 Montecito Blvd., Santa Rosa. sonomalibrary.org.

Friday 28 FREE Día de los Muertos Celebration.

Listen to stories & design dancing skeleton puppets & colorful skeleton masks. Ages 4–12. 4 p.m. Windsor Regional Library. 9291 Old Redwood Hwy., Bldg. 100, Windsor. sonomalibrary.org.

Thermography Center of Sonoma County The safe breast screening 440 South E. Street, Santa Rosa www.thermography-sc.com

707-655-5880

Saturday 29 Green Is Easy Expo. Exhibits of

eco-friendly products & services. Thru Oct. 30. 10 a.m.–6 p.m. $7–$10. (Free 10 a.m.–noon both days.) thenewworldexpo.com. FREE North Bay Science Discovery Day. 40 hands-on interactive,

kid-friendly science exhibits. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Free parking. Sonoma County Fairgrounds. 1350 Bennett Valley Rd., Santa Rosa. northbayscience.org. Fall Feast. Fall harvest–inspired dinner by Chef Brandon Guenther. Dance with live music by Cahoots. Auction. Benefits Farm Trails.

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5–9:30 p.m. $150. Olympia’s Valley Estate. 1051 Walker Rd., Petaluma. farmtrails.org.

Guerneville Regional Library. 14107 Armstrong Woods Rd., Guerneville. sonomalibrary.org.

Lynne Condé Way, Rohnert Park. sonomalibrary.org.

FREE Día de los Muertos

FREE Halloween Crafts & Cupcakes.

Monster Party. Decorate

Celebration. Listen

Make crafts & decorate cupcakes. All ages. 1–3 p.m. Central Santa Rosa Library. 211 E St., Santa Rosa. sonomalibrary.org.

pumpkins, wear costumes & win prizes. Ages 5 & up. Noon–2 p.m. Sebastopol Regional Library. 7140 Bodega Ave., Sebastopol. sonomalibrary.org.

FREE Teen Halloween Mystery &

Halloween at Howarth. Children

Pizza Party. Hunt for clues, solve the mystery, win prizes. Get a free book. Costumes welcome. Ages 12–17. 4 p.m. Rohnert Park– Cotati Regional Library. 6250

ages 12 & under trick-or-treat thru park at treat stations hosted by local Santa Rosa businesses & organizations. If it rains, call 543-3425 the morning of the event for a status update. Register for 1 time slot: 11:30 a.m.–12:15 p.m.; 12:45–1:30 p.m.; 2–2:45 p.m. $5–$12. Howarth Park. 630 Summerfield Rd., Santa Rosa. srcity.org/departments/ recreationandparks/programs/ specialevents.

to stories & design dancing skeleton puppets & colorful skeleton masks. Ages 4–12. 1 p.m. Rincon Valley Library. 6959 Montecito Blvd., Santa Rosa. sonomalibrary.org. FREE Halloween Books & Treats. Come

in costume & get a free book. Ages 5–12. 1–3 p.m.

FREE Midnight of the Day Mad

FREE Tricks & Treats at the Village.

Pumpkin Fairy Godmother, games, costume contest & treats. 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Montgomery Village. Hwy. 12 at Farmers Ln., Santa Rosa. mvshops.com/events-test.

Monday 31 FREE Halloween Trick-or-Treat Trail.

60 downtown merchants give out treats to kids under 12. Downtown Petaluma. petalumadowntown.com.

Body Talk

hey say you don’t have anything without your health. Teach children to take care of theirs. Start with the Home School Day: The Picture of Health program, which features a variety of hands-on activities to get kids interested in how to take care of their bodies. Let them experiment with sunscreen and make a fitness wheel or even a model of the lungs. The class will be held on October 19, 10 a.m.–noon, at the Charles M. Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa. After learning about their bodies, kids can put them to use and ice skate noon–2 p.m. at Snoopy’s Home Ice, across the street from the museum. Class fee is $6–$8; chaperones are free. Skating is an additional $5. Advance reservations required. Register online at schulzmuseum.org or by calling 284-1272. ¶

38 SonomaFamilyLife

Film & music. Screening of It’s the

Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown followed by treats & organ music performed by Jonathan Dimmock. 6 p.m. $8. Sonoma State University. Schroeder Hall. 1801 E. Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park. tickets.sonoma.edu.

October 2016 www.sonomafamilylife.com

They may never ask how you always know… all the coolest things to do & places to go. But they’ll always remember the fun! And you don’t have to reveal the source of your superpowers. Get weekly e-mail updates from the editors at Sonoma Family Life with all the latest LOCAL family-fun events, ideas, and outings. On your phone, tablet, or desktop…

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#1 local resource for local families magazine • web • email • events 40 SonomaFamilyLife

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October 2016 www.sonomafamilylife.com

Counseling

Childcare/Preschools

Educating the Whole Child

YMCA PRESCHOOL

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Like Us On Facebook www.sonomafamilylife.com

www.sunridgeschool.org 707-824-2276

Check Out Our New Online Directories

The Y is a non-profit community based organization. Financial Assistance is available.

Year-round • Play based Ages 2 - 5 (Pre-Kindergarten) Excellent Teacher-Child ratios Open 7am-6pm

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Nutrition, Relationships, Motor Skills,Self Interpersonal Montessori In Motion: 3–6 yrs. Health & Serving 2-5 year olds Relationships, Self Confidence, and Cognitive & Children’s Circle: 2.5–3.5+ yrs. Interpersonal Academic Skills. & Confidence, and Cognitive KinderClub: 3–5 yrs. PRICING &

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Preschool•Kindergarten The Y is a non-profit Parent-Toddler Class community based Ages 18 months organization. to 6-years

Financial Assistance is available.

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The Bridge School. Located in Central Santa Rosa, 1625 Franklin Ave. Year-round full/half–day. Rich nurturing environment. Center based program for ages 3–5 with separate 2’s program. Caring, qualified teachers. Julie & Andrew Day; owners. Lic.#493005697. 575-7959.

SonomaFamilyLife.com

Sept–June 8:30am–12:30pm Ages 2.5–5 years-old Snack & Lunch Served

Linda’s House Preschool Program 584-5879 Lic. #70676

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October 2016

Playtime Daycare/Preschool Join our loving family. Spacious playroom, large yard, meals provided. CPR & first aid certified. M-F. Infants & up. Call Wendy 539-7524. Lic. #04746.

SonomaFamilyLife 41

Humor Break

Hey Mom, Taste This

Adventures in a Kid Kitchen

By Holly Hester

do all the cooking in our house. It’s just worked out that way. Sure, my husband, Bill, can cook. He’s a great chef, but a Bill-meal is ready at about 9 p.m., after he’s properly marinated things, simmered things, and run out to the store several times to get a few more things. “Oh, this would be so great with leeks!” And then he disappears while the kids and I collapse on the ground, weak from starvation.

doesn’t want to make a meal just to get it over with. My buddy wants to create the greatest meal that has ever been eaten. It’s like we’re starring in a bad chef buddy movie—Buck plays the rookie chef ready to take the culinary

baked-bean dressing and dry dog-food croutons.” “What I’ve prepared for you this evening is a whole stick of butter rolled inside salami and covered with allspice.”

My cookbook would have recipes like “Cereal for dinner. It’s easier than you think!”

“For your eating pleasure, I’ve created a soup made of oatmeal and whipped cream topped with vegetable bouillon cubes.”

world by storm, and I play the jaded, grumpy chef two weeks away from retirement.

In Buck’s defense, he has made some really delicious things. He’s wowed me with a Bundt cake, and made some awesome savory rice and a great dipping sauce for apples.

A Holly-meal, on the other hand, might not include a bouquet of herbs or a wine sauce, but it will be ready at 6 p.m. I wouldn’t say I’m a great cook, but I would proudly claim that I am a reliable cook, with meal favorites like “Noodles with a side of apple slices” or “Trader Joe’s Frozen Orange Chicken and some carrot sticks.” My cookbook would have recipes like “Cereal for dinner. It’s easier than you think!”

Our afternoons start with Buck rooting through the cabinet to find unusual flavor combinations. I’ve given Buck the job of making appetizers because it seems like the safest course of the meal. You don’t have to eat the appetizer, and small portions equal less diarrhea.

I’ve gotten used to the kitchen being my domain, a place where people stop by and visit, but never linger. That is, until our recent trip to Florida, where my son Buck discovered the Cooking Channel. He was particularly inspired by a show called Man vs. Child where kids compete against professional chefs to see who can make a better meal.

While I’m cooking the rest of the meal, Buck wanders over with a dripping spoon and says, “Hey Mom, taste this.” I brace myself as the food gets shoved into my mouth, the bile already rising in my throat. As I work my way through the bite and try to nod encouragingly, Buck explains what I’m eating as if presenting his dish to a judge on a cooking show.

And now I have a constant kitchen buddy. And unlike me, my buddy

“What you’re tasting is a marshmallowencrusted arugula salad with a

42 SonomaFamilyLife

Buck the rookie chef

But still, when the dripping spoon approaches me, I find myself tensing, wondering if the mothers of famous chefs wished, like I do, to be alone in the kitchen again. Last night as I was cleaning a pan of hot dogs stuffed with coffee grounds and maraschino cherries, my other two children approached me and said, “Mom, we want to cook, too. Can we make breakfast in the morning?” All I could think was, I am definitely sleeping in tomorrow, covers over my face, pretending that I didn’t just hear that. ¶ Holly Hester lives in Sebastopol and writes about life on her blog, Riot Ranch. Find her book, Escape from Ugly Mom Island!, on Amazon.

October 2016 www.sonomafamilylife.com

HIGH SCHOOL CAN BE AN EXTRAORDINARY TIME We invite you to learn more by attending Cardinal Newman Open House

Sunday, November 6, 2016 Register at cardinalnewman.org

Why is Cardinal Newman the choice for you? â&#x20AC;&#x153;My two sons gained a foundation at Cardinal Newman that has all the cornerstones for a successful and fulfilling life - strong academic base (both with entries to top tier universities), a commitment to serve others and lifelong friendships with both teachers and students. Perfect!â&#x20AC;? - Cynthia Healy, alum parent class of 2013 and 2016

Tuition Assistance Available Pat Piehl, Admissions Director 707.546.6470 ext 120 piehl@cardinalnewman.org

50 Ursuline Road, Santa Rosa, CA 95403 | 707.546.6470

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