Sonoma Family Life March 2021

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March 2021

Camps & COVID How to stay safe

Calm Apps

Help kids chill out

Digital Doctor Telehealth for families

Food Science Tasty experiment

March 2021

Every Issue

8 Tips for finding a safe program that your child will truly enjoy.

10 Digital Doctor How to help kids prepare for on-screen visits with their physicians.

12 The Computer Isn’t Quarantined Websites that enrich children’s education.

Dear Reader

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Cooking with Kids Pasta, Please

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Bits and Pieces The Colors of Music Friends on an Adventure

Features 8 Kids, Camps & COVID

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14 Download Calm Free apps help children chill out.

16 Mental Vacations Seven ways to engage your senses.

18 Awesome Avocados & Amazing Acids Use food to teach students about science.

Johnny Cash Lives On We Love Lucy Go to a Virtual Science Fair A Whale of a Good Time

20 Calendar of Events 22 Humor Break Don’t Make Me Read

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March 2021 www.sonomafamilylife.com

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2020

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Dear Reader

I

t’s been about a year since COVID came to town. So first things first: Give yourself a huge pat on the back for Sharon Gowan making it this far.

Publisher/Editor Parenting a child Sharon@family-life.us through a pandemic is no cakewalk. You’re taking on that challenge every day. And this issue’s articles aim to help you keep playing your A game.

psychologist Bethany Cook. Read her “Mental Vacations” (page 16) for easy ways to make life pleasurable and give yourself a break. Then turn to “Download Calm” (page 14) for special kid-friendly apps aimed at helping the younger set chill out.

A priority on everyone’s list is staying healthy. But visiting a doctor’s office can be a scary prospect right now. So telehealth comes in handy. How do you prepare kids to visit a physician on screen? Turn to “Digital Doctor” (page 10) to find out.

We hope amidst the current trials you are able to find moments to laugh and cherish those close to you. We’re here to help you make the best of it. We want all of us to not only survive, but also thrive.

Patricia Ramos patty@family-life.us

Business Marketing Renee Nutcher renee@family-life.us

Play is one way that kids find their balance. And where do they like to let loose? Camp! Despite these difficult times, there are ways to make camp safe, as well as fun. Read “Kids, Camps & COVID” (page 8) to learn more.

In addition to our physical wellbeing, we need to stay mentally fit, says clinical

Warren Kaufman warren@family-life.us

Features Editor Melissa Chianta melissa@family-life.us

Production Manager Donna Bogener production@family-life.us

Contributing Writers

Bennett Valley Union School District Registration for Kindergarten and Transitional Kindergarten (Kinder Bridge) for 2021-22 School Year Begins February 9 & 10

Call 542-6272 to sign up

A limited number of interdistrict transfer requests for 2020-21 will be accepted

California Distinguished Schools

Yulupa Primary School Preschool–Third Grade 2250 Mesquite Drive, Santa Rosa 707 542-6272

Office Manager

Strawberry Intermediate School Fourth–Sixth Grade 2311 Horseshoe Drive, Santa Rosa 707 526-4433

Consistently high student academic achievement at both schools

America’s Test Kitchen Kimberly Blaker Katy M. Clark Bethany Cook Tanni Haas Jan Pierce

Billing Jan Wasson-Smith

Publishing Office P.O. Box 351 Philo, CA 95466 (707) 586-9562

Your child’s joy of learning is nurtured with our: • Excellent Teachers • Reduced Class Size (K–3) • Kinder Bridge Transitional Kindergarten • Extended Day Kindergarten (8:30-1:25) • Fully Staffed Libraries and Technology Labs • Visual and Performing Arts Programs YMCA provides on-site child care

• Band, Percussion and Chorus (4th–6th) • Boys’ and Girls’ Interscholastic Basketball (4th–6th) • Emphasis on Environmental Stewardship • Gifted and Talented Education (4th–6th)

Call to reserve tours: Yulupa 3/10, 4/14 Strawberry by reservation only: 526-4433 Registration Packets available Jan. 4. Children must be five on or before Sept. 1, 2021 to be eligible for kindergarten.

Two-year Kinder Bridge program offered for children turning five on or after Sept. 2, 2021.

707 542-2201 • Visit us at www.bvusd.org 4 SonomaFamilyLife

March 2021 www.sonomafamilylife.com

Cooking with Kids

Pasta, Please

Make a Great Meal in a Toaster Oven

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odern toaster ovens can fit an 8-by-8-inch baking dish with ease (many can even fit a 13-by-9-inch), making your toaster oven the perfect place to whip up casseroles. One of our favorites, no-boil baked ziti, eliminates the need for a stovetop by streamlining this usually multi-pot affair. We bake the pasta directly in marinara sauce, adding one cup of water to ensure there is enough liquid to cook the ziti. Baking the pasta until it was almost done kept the ziti from turning mushy later on. Since no baked ziti is complete without plenty of cheese, we stirred in mozzarella and Parmesan. Dolloping the surface with ricotta and sprinkling it with more mozzarella and Parmesan formed an exquisite, bubbly crust, and broiling was as easy as the flip of a function. You will need an 8-inch square broiler-safe baking dish for this recipe. This recipe can be easily doubled using a 13-by-9-inch broiler-safe baking pan; increase covered bake to 40 to 45 minutes. ¶

Recipe reprinted from Toaster Oven Perfection (2020), with permission from America’s Test Kitchen, americastestkitchen.com.

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No-Boil Baked Ziti Total time: 1 hour 6 ounces ziti or penne 1 1/2 cups marinara sauce 1 cup water 1/4 teaspoon table salt 2 ounces whole-milk mozzarella cheese, shredded (1/2 cup), divided 1 ounce Parmesan cheese, grated (1/2 cup), divided 2 ounces whole-milk ricotta (1/4 cup) 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil 1. Adjust toaster oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 425 degrees. Combine pasta, marinara sauce, water, and salt in greased 8‑inch square broiler-safe baking dish or pan. Cover dish March 2021

tightly with aluminum foil and bake until pasta is tender and sauce has thickened, 35 to 40 minutes, rotating dish halfway through baking.

2. Remove dish from oven, select highest broiler function, and heat broiler. Stir 1/4 cup mozzarella and 1/4 cup Parmesan into pasta, scraping down sides and bottom of dish. Dollop pasta with ricotta and sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup mozzarella and remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan. Return dish to oven and broil until cheese is melted and beginning to brown around edges, 5 to 7 minutes.

3. Remove dish from oven and let cool for 10 minutes. Sprinkle with basil and serve.

Serves: 2 SonomaFamilyLife 5

Bits & Pieces

The Colors of Music

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oli, an ancient Hindu festival, celebrates the arrival of spring with crowds of people throwing colored pigment at each other. In honor of this holiday, San Francisco Bay Area music instructor James Sokol is hosting Songs of Colors: A Multi-Genre Musical Celebration of India’s Holi Festival. Participants will explore how the theme of colors appears in a diverse array of music, including Broadway, pop, and country tunes. The class will be held via Zoom on March 28, 1–2:15 p.m. Tickets purchased before March 26 are $5 and thereafter are $12.50 (plus fees). Sign up at tinyurl.com/yep1ee06. ¶

Friends on an Adventure

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nce upon a time there was a tiny sea snail that went on a great adventure with a grey-blue humpback whale. So begins the online children’s performance the Snail and the Whale, inspired by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s picture book of the same name. See the free 55-minute play, which features music and storytelling for ages four and older, on March 13 and 14. Register for tickets at lutherburbankcenter.org/event/ snail-whale. ¶

Johnny Cash Lives On

Steve Lasiter as Johnny Cash

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ven 17 years after his death, Johnny Cash remains a music icon. In the Sixth Street Playhouse production My Name Is…Johnny Cash, playwrights Steve Lasiter and Jennifer Barnaba use Cash’s words and songs to tell the story of the singer’s life.

Lasiter plays Cash and the actor’s real-life lady-love, Barnaba, plays Cash’s wife, June Carter. The show includes favorites such as I Walk The Line, Ring of Fire, and A Boy Named Sue. See it online, on demand, March 13–April 11. A special performance will be held on March 12 at 7 p.m.

General admission is $18; tickets for March 12 are $24. Reserve seats at 6thstreetplayhouse.com. ¶

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March 2021 www.sonomafamilylife.com

We Love Lucy

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hether she’s running her own psychiatric-help booth or stealing a football, Lucy is a key member of the Peanuts gang. Learn to draw her and her many expressions at the Charles M. Schulz Museum’s Live Online: How to Draw Lucy workshop. Taught by museum staff artist Mary Shyne, the class will be held via Zoom March 11, 4–5 p.m., and costs $10–$15.

Register by March 10 at tinyurl.com/ b4q8b273 link or by calling 284-1272. ¶

Go to a Virtual Science Fair

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hat does sound look like? How can rockets fly?

Why are there different kinds of bees? These are examples of the questions scientists and researchers will be answering at the 2021 Virtual North Bay Science Discovery Day on March 13. Usually a very popular event featuring in-person presentations, this year’s Discovery Day will be virtual, with various speakers going online to demonstrate science experiments, give tours of local facilities, and offer instruction on hands-on projects.

Check out the full list of presentations, and sign up for the free event at northbayscience.org/2021. Registrations must be received by March 12 at noon. ¶

A Whale of a Good Time

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ow can a whale festival go virtual? The Noyo Center for Marine Science, in Fort Bragg, has some ideas. While its usual in-person festival is on hiatus, this year the center will be offering multiple COVID-19– safe activities, including a DIY scavenger hunt, March 6–21, that takes participants to local nature haunts; a behind-the-scenes virtual tour of the California Academy of Sciences on March 26 at 11 a.m., and a series of whale-oriented science talks offered via Zoom. For more information, see noyocenter.org/whale-festival-2021. ¶

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March 2021

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• develop new skills • discover new interests and hobbies • explore avenues for creative expression • take a break from screens • exercise daily • build self-esteem • learn to work with others • feel part of a community • prevent or reduce summer learning loss

Kids, Camps How to Choose & COVID a Safe Program

By Kimberly Blaker

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Getting Started in Your Search Before you begin looking into summer camps, create a list of your top criteria.

Here are some things you’ll want to consider: • What is your budget?

hether you’re looking for enrichment for your child, a way to keep your kids occupied while you work, or just a short reprieve from parenting, there’s a summer camp that’s right for your family. Even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, many camps may be up and running, either offering alternative online programs or following safety protocols for in-person camping experiences.

The Benefits of Summer Camp Summer camp offers kids plenty of benefits, and many kids thrill at the idea of going away to one. Still, for some kids, particularly those who are introverted or homebodies, the thought of going away to a camp can cause considerable anxiety. When kids are adamantly opposed, forcing camp

Many summer camps offer virtual programs.

on them may not be in their best interest.

But for kids who are eager—or at least willing to give it a shot without much fuss—camp offers experiences they may not have elsewhere. Summer camp provides kids the opportunity to: • foster independence • develop new and lasting friendships

• What is the purpose of sending your child to camp?

• Do you want a resident (overnight) or a day camp?

• Are you looking for a short-term or summer-long program?

• Do you want a camp that’s very structured or one that provides your child with lots of freedom and choices?

• What are your child’s passions, such as a particular sport, hobby, or other interest?

Once you’ve prioritized your criteria, you can begin your search.

An excellent place to start is the Sonoma Family Life virtual camp fair. Look for it on our website:

March 2021 www.sonomafamilylife.com

sonomafamilylife.com. The website of the American Camp Association (acacamps.org) is another excellent place to look.

Your Next Steps Once you’ve selected a few camps, share the choices with your child to see what excites him or her. Be sure to let your child know upfront that you

Find out what kind of safety training the camp provides its staffers. still need to thoroughly investigate the camp(s) before making a final decision. But do keep your child’s choices in mind to ensure your child gets the most out of camp.

As you further investigate camps, there are several things you’ll want to consider: 1. Is this camp a safe option for my child and family during the pandemic? Many summer camps offer virtual programs. A broad variety of counselor-led virtual activities of varying lengths and costs may be available.

Perhaps you’re considering sending your child to an in-person summer camp. If so, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers several safety suggestions for camps, including requiring masking and hand-washing and promoting “cohorting,” i.e. keeping campers in the same small groups every day. Review the recommendations, found at tinyurl.com/ynj49efd, and then ask your chosen camp specific questions to find out how it plans to adhere to these protocols. www.sonomafamilylife.com

2. What are the staff’s qualifications?

Many summer camps use teens to staff the camps. However, professionals should develop and oversee the programs.

3. How does the camp ensure your child’s safety? Find out what kind of safety training the camp provides its staffers. Are counselors trained in CPR? What are the camp’s procedures in the event your child becomes ill, has an accident, or experiences an emergency?

Professionals should develop and oversee the programs.

4. What is the daily schedule for campers? Ask for a daily itinerary, so you know your child will be getting everything she or he anticipates from the program.

Never

Underestimate the Power of the Purse Moms typically control 80% or more of their household budgets.

5. What are the rules? Is your child allowed to call you? If it’s residential camp, can parents come and visit?

Can kids bring along a cell phone or electronics? Also, how much money can they bring, and how will it be managed?

They’re looking right here, to find you.

Call now. Don’t miss another month.

Don’t Sweat It Keep in mind that no camp is likely to offer everything precisely the way you want it. Just choose the camp that satisfies your most important criteria. Remember, there are many summers ahead and your child will have plenty of exciting camp experiences. ¶

The Original Mom Influencer!

Kimberly Blaker is a freelance writer and the founder of KB Creative Digital Services, kbcreativedigital.com.

March 2021

IN PRINT • ONLINE • EVENTS • CONTESTS

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show them to the doctor during the consultation.

Assist the doctor. You can also assist the doctor, McCarthy says, by dressing kids in lightweight clothing—it’ll make it easier for you to lift up their clothes and examine the children per the doctor’s instructions. In addition, make sure that there’s enough space where

Test all the relevant hardware and software prior to the appointment.

Digital Doctor Prepare Kids for Telehealth Appointments

By Tanni Haas

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s the pandemic drags on, parents are understandably nervous about taking the kids to the doctor’s office for fear that they might catch COVID-19. An alternative to office visits is a telehealth appointment, at which you and the kids virtually meet with the doctor from the safety of your home. How do you best prepare for such visits? Here’s what the experts suggest.

Have information ready.

Since you’ll be visiting virtually, you need to assist the doctor by having relevant information at your fingertips before the session begins.

This includes, say Claire McCarthy, MD, a pediatrician, and Tamara Perry, MD, a child allergist and immunologist, your kids’ height, 10 SonomaFamilyLife

weight, and temperature; a list of current medications; and, if it’s a sick visit, details about the issue (when it began, how bad it is, and medications you’ve already tried).

If your kids have a rash or another visible ailment, take photos and either upload them to their patient portal ahead of time or be ready to

you’re sitting for the doctor to see, if necessary, your kids walk around and lie down. Have pen and paper on hand so that you can take notes on the diagnosis and treatment plan.

Also have at the ready the name, address, and phone number of the pharmacy to which you’d like the doctor to call in any medications.

Prepare the kids. Talk to your kids before the consultation so that they know what to expect, and try to alleviate any anxiety or fears that they may have. Most kids are by now familiar and comfortable with online school instruction, but answering personal questions and talking at length about their health via a computer to a doctor is new to them. “Have a conversation with your child about what remote care is,” says Katherine Martinelli of the Child Mind Institute, “and ask if they have any questions or concerns.” That’ll help put them at ease before the session starts.

Maintain their privacy. Put your kids at ease by making the

March 2021 www.sonomafamilylife.com

consultation as private as possible.

“Provide a private room if you can,” Martinelli says, “and make sure that siblings and other family members don’t interrupt.” Erica Lee, PhD, a child psychologist, agrees: “Turn

Put your kids at ease by making the consultation as private as possible. on the television or play music at a low volume in the next room, put in headphones, or use a noise machine to create a cocoon of privacy.”

Stay or leave. If your kids are young, stay with them during the consultation; have them on your lap, if possible, to make them feel safe and

secure. You may need to answer most of the doctor’s questions for them, or help them explain to the doctor how they’re feeling. If they’re teens, McCarthy says, “leave the room and don’t listen at the door.” Make sure, though, that your teens understand that the same “rules” apply for telehealth appointments as for online school instruction: They should focus on the task at hand and “avoid things like eating a meal or scrolling through social media,” as Martinelli puts it.

Test computer equipment. No matter how familiar you and the kids are with technology, test all the relevant hardware and software prior to the appointment. This includes your laptop or tablet (especially the audio and video), the website or

app that the doctor will be using, the Internet browser that supports the website or app (e.g., some only work on Chrome or Firefox), as

Assist the doctor by having relevant information at your fingertips before the session begins. well as any software that you may have to download and use. “This way,” Martinelli says, “you won’t waste precious minutes dealing with technical difficulties.” ¶ Tanni Haas, PhD, is a college communications professor.

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resource has easy-to-follow lessons on tons of topics—everything from math, science, and computing to history and SAT-prep.

The Computer Isn’t Quarantined 17 Websites to Expand Kids’ Horizons

By Jan Pierce

T

he kids and you are at home, and there are hours to fill. If you’re working, it’s imperative that you keep the kids occupied. Before you freak out, remember: Your computer isn’t quarantined. You can go online and find many learning-oriented sites like the ones below. Do a couple of Internet searches and in no time little synapses will be firing. The kids will stay busy so you can stay productive. You’re welcome.

Kids’ Websites classroommagazines. scholastic.com/support/ learnathome.html Scholastic provides a fee-based activity program that will keep preschoolers through sixth graders engaged and thinking about the world around them.

howstuffworks.com Suitable for older kids, this site is dedicated to exploring science, technology, and culture. For starters, look for the fun article “Goats Really Like It When You Smile at Them.”

gutenberg.org This site boasts a library of more than 60,000 free

khanacademy.org A favorite of homeschoolers, this remarkable free

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e-books—the world’s greatest literature available at your fingertips.

kids.nationalgeographic. com National Geographic has been providing exceptional kids’ content since 1975. So it’s no surprise this website is a goldmine of well-produced videos and games that aim to get young minds interested in animals, culture, and science. pbskids.org Every week, PBS Kids posts new crafts, activities, and tips for kids learning at home. (Look under the “Parents” tab.)

Inspire the imagination with free audio stories. sesamestreet.org Preschoolers have always adored Sesame Street.

Early-learning online games and the new Caring for Each Other activity hub, both accessible via the website’s home page, keep the love going strong.

Reading Websites Challenge your children to listen and engage with kids’ literature, with the help of these websites. abcya.com This site offers a plethora of online games designed to support the reading and math skills of kids in pre-K through sixth grades. Check out games such as the Amazing Avian Alphabet, Journey to the Past Tense, and Number Ninja. mrsreadforfun.com Mrs. Read for Fun hopes her quirky videos encourage kids to become as passionate about books as she is.

March 2021 www.sonomafamilylife.com

oxfordowl.co.uk This excellent resource from Oxford University Press offers an extensive array of material, including free e-books, creative writing activities, math lessons, and storyteller videos. There’s even guidance for parents on things like phonics and how to teach spelling at home. storylineonline.net Listen to celebrated actors like Wanda Sykes and Kevin Costner read imaginative children’s literature aloud.

ones below, and then search online for the sites of your kids’ favorite authors and books. ericcarle.com The famous 91-year-old master of tissue-paper-andpaint collage offers collage-making instruction sheets, coloring pages,

Every week, PBS Kids posts new crafts, activities, and tips.

storynory.com Inspire the imagination with free audio stories like “The Commune of Cats” and “Astropup and the Teletransporter.”

Author Websites Many authors maintain websites to help kids interact with their stories and characters. Check out the

drawing games, booklists, and other cool stuff on his site. Choose “Downloads and Activities” under the Resources tab and away you go. janbrett.com Everyone loves Jan Brett’s beautifully illustrated stories for kids. Her arty activities

include charming Easter- and spring-oriented coloring pages. kevinhenkes.com Find lots of downloadable activities and videos, including common-core teaching and discussion guides based on Kevin Henkes’s books, on this site. mowillems.com You gotta love Mo with his pigeon stories and all.

He currently offers delightful doodle lessons for kids via the Kennedy Center’s website: kennedy-center.org/ education/mo-willems. rosemarywells.com Want to make cupcake toppers or play Pin the Tail on Max? Find the downloads under the Resources tab. ¶ Jan Pierce, MEd, is a freelance writer and author of Homegrown Readers: Simple Ways to Help Your Child Learn to Read. Find her at janpierce.net.

what % of US adults say they read magazines in the last 6 months?

91

This includes 95% of those under 35 and 95% of those under 25.

(MRI-Simmons, Fall 2019)

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app is designed to help kids get a good, relaxing start to their day.

It functions like an alarm clock and has more than 30 soothing, nature-inspired sounds to slowly and gently wake up your kids in the morning. This app’s sleep timer function can be used in the afternoon and evening, too, for a stress-free end to the day.

Download Calm 8 Stress-Reducing Apps for Little Ones

By Tanni Haas

T

he pandemic is stressing everyone out, including kids. Apps are a fun way to help children release stress and feel calm.

Here are some of the best ones out there, and they are all free.

Breathe, Think, Do with Sesame Street Available at: Amazon Apps, Apple App Store, and Google Play.

Ages 5–8. This colorful app teaches kids how to relax. Divided into five interactive scenarios, kids help Cookie Monster take deep breaths, come up with plans for addressing stressful situations, and then try out those plans. It includes a useful section with additional strategies and resources for parents to teach kids how to solve everyday challenges.

DreamyKid Available at Apple App Store. Ages 9–18. This app teaches 14 SonomaFamilyLife

It has more than 30 soothing, nature-inspired sounds. kids how to relax their minds with guided meditations, visualizations, and positive affirmations. There are some issue-specific meditations that some kids might find particularly useful, including meditations aimed at helping kids focus on their homework and build confidence before sports matches.

Nature Melody Available at Apple App Store. Ages 5–18. This

Relax Melodies Available at Amazon Apps, Apple App Store, and Google Play. Ages 5–18. Like Nature Melody, this app gives kids a soothing start and finish to their day, with more than 200 relaxing sounds and melodies. It has several

It has several guided meditations to help kids center themselves. other features, including the ability to combine sounds and melodies to create unique mixes; a collection of so-called community tunes represents the most popular mixes.

Super Stretch Yoga Available at Apple App Store. Ages 9–18. Created by well-known yoga instructor Jessica Rosenberg, this interactive app features videos of kids demonstrating yoga poses. It’s narrated by a character named Super Stretch and features 12 different poses for different skill levels.

Kids can use the built-in camera to take pictures of themselves doing the various poses.

Three Good Things: A Happiness Journal Available at

March 2021 www.sonomafamilylife.com

FREE

Apple App Store. Ages 13–18. This app encourages kids to take time every day to write about three good experiences. The app does contain unprotected links to social media, so it may not be the best choice for young children.

Wellbeyond Meditation for Kids Available at Apple App Store. Ages 5–8. Like DreamyKid, this is a mediation app, but one geared towards younger kids. It has several guided meditations to help kids center themselves, focus on their breath, be in tune with their feelings, and experience empathy

Kids help Cookie Monster take deep breaths. for others. Each meditation is narrated by a female voice; simple instructions guide kids through various breathing and visualizing exercises.

Wuf Shanti Mindful Yoga Available at Apple App Store and Google Play. Ages 5–8. This app takes its inspiration from a children’s TV show character name Wuf Shanti—a dog that teaches kids yoga. The app features a person who, dressed in a dog suit, uses animal movements to explain yoga poses. The app also has meditations, and videos that explain positive words and phrases that kids can use in stressful situations.

Tanni Haas, PhD, is a college communications professor.

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Virtual Camp Fair

COMING IN APRIL RUNS APRIL–JUNE MORE CAMPS ADDED WEEKLY!

FIND YOUR PERFECT CAMP! WWW.SONOMAFAMILYLIFE.COM Camps: Want to exhibit? Contact Patty for more info: patty@family-life.us • 205-1539 March 2021

SonomaFamilyLife 15

I suggest classical because we often don’t have strong associations or memories with this kind of music. Sit or lie in a comfortable spot, close your eyes, and let the music take you on a mental journey.

Obviously, if you don’t like classical music pick anything you enjoy. Just set aside time to listen.

Mental Vacations H

7 Ways to Give Yourself a Break

By Bethany Cook

eading into a full year of a pandemic, it’s safe to say that everyone is at their wits end. We all need a mental break, parents especially. But how do we do it? Many of us don’t have oodles of money, free space, or extra energy to take care of our mental health. So I’ve created a list of a few “outta the box” ideas for feeling refreshed, even if it’s only for five or ten minutes.

Most of my suggestions involve doing something that stimulates the senses in unusual or unique ways. Here are some to try.

1 2

Get juicy. Buy yourself a large, juicy orange and take it with you to the shower. Peel it, smell it, eat it. Squeeze the rind on your face and smell the beautiful scent.

Listen to music (really listen). Download a piece of lush classical music and

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Order an assortment of foods from other countries. listen to it the entire way through.

Use earphones so that there is nothing between you and the music.

3

Overwhelm your taste buds with a simple treat. Take a small microwaveable bowl and add a few spoonfuls of peanut, almond, or

Buy a how-to book that explains several different paper airplane designs. cashew butter. Mix in two or three squares of dark chocolate, and lightly sprinkle some sea salt on top. Place the bowl in the microwave for 15–20 seconds, just long enough to melt the chocolate. Slowly drag your spoon through the nut butter, grabbing some chocolate on the way. Mmm.

4

Surprise your tongue.

For this one, you will need a partner (or two or three).

Have a “taste test” with Dixie-cup portions of a variety of beverages: lemon juice, pickle juice, prune juice, Dr. Pepper, Sprite, cold coffee, etc. Take turns wearing a blindfold and figuring out what is in each cup.

5

Run yourself a nice hot bath—with ice cubes.

Find your sore spot and hold an ice cube there until it melts.

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Discover SR Rec & Parks 20+ spring recreation programs begin soon! All programs incorporate COVID-19 safety practices, providing healthy recreation for kids and adults this spring. Register now at SantaRosaRec.com

Not only will this stimulate your body and brain, it also will help heal sore muscles. Play some calming music and burn some candles if you want.

6

Make the ordinary extraordinary. Order an assortment of foods from other countries, or get yourself some new and interesting snacks. If you have some extra cash and want to indulge, try Vosges’s Chocolate

HOME OF

B Mî `ƒ

Listen to a lush classical piece of music the entire way through.

Meditation Collection, or just buy some new and different kinds of chocolate at a local shop like Sonoma Chocolatiers in Sebastopol.

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Get in touch with a childhood activity or begin a new hobby.

What did you love as a child? Paper airplanes? Buy a how-to book that explains several different paper airplane designs. Or, for new paper-folding fun, try some origami.

Personally, I’m getting back to playing the piano. Meanwhile, my wife has turned to Youtube to learn new skills, including how to patch a huge crack in our 100-year-old Victorian cedar beach house.

Bethany Cook is a clinical psychologist, a board certified music therapist, and the author of For What It’s Worth: A Perspective on How to Thrive and Survive Parenting Ages 0–2 (Mirador, 2019). Find her on TikTok: @DrBCook and on parentingadvice.net.

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3

Use knife to cut avocado in half lengthwise around pit. Using your hands, twist both halves in opposite directions to separate. Use soupspoon to scoop out pit. Discard pit.

4

Awesome Avocados & Amazing Acids

Place 1 avocado half, cut side down, in bowl with lemon juice mixture. Place second avocado half on small plate, cut side up. Set bowl and plate in a spot where they won’t be disturbed.

5

Make a prediction: What do you think each avocado half will look like after 8 hours? Will they look the same? Different? How so?

By America’s Test Kitchen

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ometimes you need only part of an avocado for your taco or toast. But if you save the rest for later, your avocado will turn brown (oh no!). Can you keep it fresh and green?

Find out in this easy experiment. If you don’t have a whole lemon, use three tablespoons of bottled lemon juice.

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A Food-Based Science Lesson

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Total Time 5 minutes, plus 8–24 hours waiting time

Soupspoon Small plate

Materials 1 lemon 1 cup water 1 ripe avocado Chef’s knife Cutting board Small bowl

Get Started!

Use chef’s knife to cut lemon in half crosswise (not through ends). Rinse and dry knife.

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1 2

Squeeze juice from lemon halves into small bowl. Add water to bowl.

Let avocado halves sit for at least 8 hours and up to 24 hours.

Observe your results: Turn over avocado half in lemon juice mixture. Observe the 2 avocado halves. Do they look the same?

Different? What do you notice about them?

Eat your experiment: Both avocado halves are safe to eat— use a spoon to gently scrape off any brown parts (the flesh underneath should be green). Will you use the avocado to make guacamole or avocado toast? Will you cut it up and use it on tacos or salad?

Understanding Your Results

Don’t read until you’ve finished the experiment!

When you cut open an avocado, air touches the green flesh inside. After

March 2021 www.sonomafamilylife.com

a few hours, the green avocado starts to turn brown—yuck!

Why does this happen? It comes down to chemistry: Molecules inside the avocado flesh react with oxygen in the air. That reaction, called oxidation (“ox-ih-DAY-shun”), creates new brown-colored molecules.

How can you stop cut avocados from turning brown? Acid to the rescue! Acids are found in ingredients such as lemon juice, lime juice, and vinegar. They are a kind of molecule called an antioxidant (“ann-tee-OX-ih-dent”).

How can you stop cut avocados from turning brown?

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“Anti” means “against” and “oxi” means “oxygen,” so antioxidants are molecules that help prevent the oxidation reaction that turns avocados brown.

REQUEST A FREE QUOTE!

Keeping the avocado flesh under water also helps prevent too much oxygen from touching it. That’s why this combination of water and lemon juice works so well to keep the avocado green.

FREE

Reprinted from Kitchen Explorers: 60+ Recipes, Experiments, and Games for Young Chefs (2020), with permission from America’s Test Kitchen, americastestkitchen.com.

www.sonomafamilylife.com

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March 2021

SonomaFamilyLife 19

March Tuesday 2 FREE Family Storytime/Hora de cuentos en familia. Little ones enjoy

a story & song with Sonoma County librarians. Ages 0–6. Via Zoom.

Tuesdays (except Mar. 23). 10:30–11 a.m. Registration required: events. sonomalibrary.org/event/4908966.

Una historia y una canción de los bibliotecarios del condado de Sonoma.

De 0 a 6 años. A través de Zoom. Martes (excepto el 23 de marzo). 10:30–11 a.m.

Se requiere inscripción previa: events. sonomalibrary.org/event/4908966.

FREE Virtual Pride Club for Teens. Group aims to make meeting

friends & allies easier. Ages 13–18.

Sponsored by the Sonoma County Library. Tuesdays. 4 p.m. Registration required: events.sonomalibrary.org/ event/4746245.

FREE Mind of a Scientist (Virtual Field Trips). Through Zoom

meetings, high school students interact with scientists & engineers doing live presentations from their labs or the field. Breakout groups follow presentations. Wednesdays.

12:30–2 p.m. Registration: events. sonomalibrary.org/event/4678314.

FREE Family Bike Workshop. A

series of virtual classes for adults & teens. Learn basic road rules & how to equip a bike, fit a helmet, ride after dark & avoid common accidents.

Bicycling Street Skills for Parents: Mar. 2, 3 p.m. Intro to Family Bicycling: Mar. 16, 4 p.m. Bicycle Route Planning: Mar. 20, 2 p.m. Basic Bike 20 SonomaFamilyLife

Calendar of Events

Maintenance for Families: Mar. 25, 4 p.m. Registration: bikesonoma.org/ family-bike-workshops.

FREE Successful Strategies for Raising an Only Child. Online parenting program. Sponsored by the Santa Clara City Library Foundation.

7–8:30 p.m. Registration required by noon Mar. 2: tinyurl.com/15jqgs5n.

Thursday 4 Regional Parks Live. Short science spiels on Sonoma County parks, including Q&A, via Facebook Live.

Mar. 4: Why I Like Lichens. Mar. 11: Sea Stars. Mar. 18: Soaproot & Its Many Uses. Mar. 25: Yelp!

Yellowjackets! English: Thursdays, 2:30 p.m. Spanish (en español): Mar. 11, 2:15 p.m. facebook.com/ sonomacountyregionalparks.

FREE Child Parent Institute (CPI) Autism Support Group. CPI

facilitator will provide support & education on a variety of topics. First Thursday of the month. 9:30–11 a.m.

Register: calparents.org. Info: 872-7242.

Adobe Road Winery Concert Series. Live music every Thursday

in fully heated outdoor tasting room in the Great Petaluma Mill. Wine for purchase. 4:30–7 p.m. Mar. 4: Sebastian Saint James. Mar. 11: Spike Sikes. Mar. 18: Dirty Cello. 6 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma. facebook.com/ adoberoadwines.

Friday 5 FREE Teen Game On. Join other

Sonoma County teens every Friday to

play a variety of games. All you need is a computer &/or phone or tablet.

Fridays. 4–5 p.m. Register: events. sonomalibrary.org/event/4800825.

Saturday 6 Virtual Whale Festival 2021. Noyo

Center’s virtual celebration of whales.

Activities include a Scavenger Hunt (Mar. 6–21) & a behind-the-scenes virtual tour of the California Academy of Sciences (Mar. 26). Full schedule: noyocenter.org.

Sunday 7 Pop-Up Jewish NY Deli Fundraiser.

Pastrami on rye, corned beef on rye, matzo ball soup, potato knishes.

Order: jewishpetaluma.com. Curbside pick-up 1–4 p.m. at Chadbad Jewish Center of Petaluma. 205 Keller St. #101, Petaluma.

Wednesday 10 FREE Babytime Live on Zoom.

Songs, finger-plays & simple books. Ages 0–18 months. Mar. 10 & 24: 10:30–11 a.m. Register: events. sonomalibrary.org/event/4908997.

Thursday 11 How to Draw Lucy. Zoom class led

by Mary Shyne, museum staff artist. $10–$15. 4–5 p.m. Register by Mar. 10: tinyurl.com/b4q8b273.

Friday 12 My Name Is…Johnny Cash. A

virtual performance. The story of the life of Johnny Cash, told through his words & songs. Mar.

March 2021 www.sonomafamilylife.com

12: 7 p.m., $24. Mar. 13–April 11: streaming on-demand, $18. Tickets: 6thstreetplayhouse.com.

Saturday 13 The Broadway Bash. An

annual gala fundraiser presented by Cinnabar Theater. $45 with various upgraded levels. 7 p.m.

Tickets via cinnabartheater.org/ broadway-bash-2021.

FREE The Snail & the Whale by Tall Stories of London, England. Virtual performance for everyone ages 4 & older. Inspired by Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler’s picture book. Mar. 13–14. Register: lutherburbankcenter. org/event/snail-whale.

FREE 2021 Virtual North Bay Science Discovery Day. With

the

aim of encouraging children’s interest in science, local organizations will make more than 30 STEM virtual presentations. 9 a.m.–6 p.m. Register for events: northbayscience.org/2021.

Corned Beef & Cabbage Feed. $20.

Tickets may only be purchased

in advance. Sponsored by the Penngrove Social Firemen. 3–6 p.m.

Curbside meal pick-up at Penngrove Community Park, 11800 Main St., Penngrove. Tickets available via Eventbrite: tinyurl.com/4xv56cs6 or at JavAmoré Café, 10101 Main St., Penngrove.

Thursday 18 FREE Sex, Lies & Media. Virtual

training teaches parents how predators manipulate children & how to protect kids. Facilitated

by Selah Freedom, a nonprofit organization. Kids of parents who take the training will get the opportunity to take a similar course crafted just for students in grades 6–12. 10–11 a.m. Register: tinyurl. com/3v2pnm6o.

Friday 19 FREE Vitality Parent Café. Every third Friday of the month. Focusing on health & wellness. Sponsored by 4Cs of Sonoma County & others. 6–7:30 p.m. Register: bit.ly/ vitalitycafe2021.

Saturday 27 FREE PWA Bird & Nature Walk. Petaluma

Wetlands Alliance docents lead a guided nature walk of the Ellis Creek Water Recycling Facility. Bring a face mask, binoculars, water & hat. Rain cancels. 9–11 a.m. 3890 Cypress Dr., Petaluma. Meet in parking lot near main entrance kiosk.

Sunday 28 FREE Santa Rosa Symphony@ Home. Santa

Rosa Symphony performs the music of Brahms, Barber & Ives. The concert will stream on the symphony’s YouTube channel. 3 p.m. srsymphony.org/ events-tickets/srs-home.

Songs of Colors: A Multi-Genre Musical Celebration of India’s Holi Festival. Bay Area instructor James Sokol explores the theme of colors in a diverse array of music— Broadway, pop, country & more. $5–$12. 1–2:15 p.m. Tickets: tinyurl. com/yep1ee06.

REDISCOVER FUN AND ADVENTURE

YMCA SUMMER CAMP

While Y Camp may look a bit different again this Summer due to COVID health protocols ….. many things will remain the SAME !  Non-stop Adventure & FUN  Physical Activity & Outdoor Recreation  Arts & Crafts and STEM Activities  Opportunity to make friends  Peace of mind for working parents Multiple Camp Locations

SONOMA COUNTY FAMILY YMCA

1111 College Avenue, SR 545-9622  www.scfymca.org www.sonomafamilylife.com

March 2021

CONTACT US for more info ycampinfo@scfymca.org

SonomaFamilyLife 21

Humor Break • I chatted with him about books.

• I bought him a Kindle and downloaded books for it.

• Did I mention I read in front of him?

I love to read!

For years, I’ve felt bad about his lack of fervor for reading, especially during the dreaded “March Is Reading Month.” Until one day I stopped.

Don’t Make Me Read

It was the day a mom came over to pick up her child from a play date with my youngest (who loves to read, by the way). I don’t remember how the topic of my son’s lack of interest in reading came up, but she shared her thoughts.

By Katy M. Clark

“I hate reading, too,” she admitted. “It was never social enough. I always wanted to be doing something else.”

When Your Child Does Not Like Books I saw it again. Another parent’s social media post, singing the praises of her non-stop reader: How lucky am I? My son finished Harry Potter, and he’s only in second grade!

You are lucky, I thought, damping down my jealousy. My son hates reading. He loathes books with a passion unseen since he was three years old and lost a game of Candy Land to me.

I’d always wanted to post about his aversion to reading. But he’s a teenager now, so I can’t get away with it. Plus deep down I’ve felt that my son’s lack of interest in words meant that I was a bad mother.

However, the truth is kinder to me than I am to myself: Reading simply is a pursuit that he is not passionate about.

He can read.

He doesn’t like to read.

There is a difference.

22 SonomaFamilyLife

Ever since he was born, I tried to instill in him a love of the written word. In no particular order, here are the word-nurturing, pro-book, literature-lovin’ experiences I’ve exposed him to: • I read in front of him. I love to read!

• I read to him every day, from birth until third grade.

• I took him to storytime at the library.

• I signed him up for the summer reading program at the library.

• I took him to the bookstore and bought him books.

• I bought him books from school book fairs.

• I made sure his daycare was chock full of book nooks, story times, and language-enrichment activities.

• I signed those school reading logs that came home every night from kindergarten through sixth grade.

Here she was, a successful vice president at an international company and a mom of three kids, confessing that reading wasn’t for her.

It was a relief. It was the first voice I had heard that defied the cacophony telling me that I must get my child to love reading. That day I allowed myself to believe, to embrace even, that my son could succeed in life even though he doesn’t like books.

Reading is not for my son. However, what is for my son is socializing with friends and family, chatting with anyone he meets, participating in classroom discussions, being a leader, playing sports, and being pretty great.

Maybe I should put that on social media. Such a post couldn’t embarrass him—chances are he won’t even read it. ¶ Katy M. Clark is a writer who embraces her maternal imperfections at experiencedbadmom.com.

March 2021 www.sonomafamilylife.com

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Childcare/Preschools YMCA Early Education Center

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We can help!

Call Today 866-901-3212 Sonoma County Child Support Services 3725 Westwind Blvd., Ste 200 Santa Rosa, CA 95403

n the United States, only-child families are a fast-growing social unit, one that faces its own unique challenges and opportunities. The Successful Strategies for Raising an Only Child online class aims to help parents manage both. The class, which is for parents only, will address the unique characteristics and needs of only-children as well as how to help these kids safely interact with their peers and others during the pandemic.

Effective parenting approaches will also be addressed. The workshop will be held on March 2, 7–8:30 p.m., and is free.

Register at tinyurl.com/15jqgs5n by March 2 at noon. ¶

www.sonomafamilylife.com

The Sonoma County Family YMCA is an inclusive, charitable organization that enriches community through the areas of Youth Development, Healthy Living, and Social Responsibility.

Casa dei Bam io’s Since 1981 b Montessori School

Preschool•Kindergarten Parent-Toddler Class Ages 18 months to 6-years

 Paternity and Child Support Order Establishment  Payment Collection Services  Payment Tracking and Accounting  Child Support Modification

Family of Three

PRICING & REGISTRATION: 707.544.1829 www.scfymca.org

ini

ince the pandemic began, the number of hours children spend online has skyrocketed. The increase in screen time brings with it the risk of kids falling prey to online predators. The Sex, Lies, and Media virtual training will teach parents how to protect kids, showing participants how predators manipulate children. The event—which will be facilitated by Selah Freedom, a nonprofit organization with a mission to end sex trafficking—will be held on March 18, 10–11 a.m. Register at tinyurl.com/3v2pnm6o. Kids of parents who take the training will get the chance to take a similar course crafted just for students in grades 6–12. ¶

www.sunridgeschool.org 707-824-2276

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Protect Kids from Online Predators

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PROGRAM OBJECTIVES:

Health & Nutrition, Motor Skills, Interpersonal Relationships, Self Confidence, and Cognitive Development

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March 2021

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