NW Kids Magazine November 2022

Editor’s Note

After an unseasonably warm October, November is here at last; and with it comes the true feel of a Portland fall. This month’s issue features a roundup of camps and activities for the upcoming school breaks and non-contract days.

Also take a look at our list of holiday performances. November is National Adoption Month and we also have a wonderful piece on post-adoption support. Next month, we’ll be returning with a guide to all of the holiday lights and events in and around Portland, as well as a guide to local Hanukkah events. May your month be filled with peace and joy. We can’t wait to see you around town soon!

Cheers, Mary

photography by

RODNAE PRODUCTIONS

No-School Day Camps & Activities

Are you making plans for how to keep your kids busy, engaged and happy during the upcoming holiday and teacher in-service days? Look no further! We’ve rounded up a fantastic list of options. Check their websites for the most up-to-date offerings and Covid precautions!

Aim High Martial Arts

Aim High’s will offer a Lego day camp from 12/19-12/23 and a Minecraft day camp from 12/27-12/30. Sign up for one or both and enjoy crafts, activities and more. aimhighma.org/camps

Art World School

Art World School offers day camps as well as weekday and weekend classes. Their offerings include fine arts, drawing, painting, clay and arts & crafts. artworldschool.com

Cedarwood Waldorf School

Cedarwood will be offering a 3-day Thanksgiving Break camp this year. Check their website or sign up for their newsletter for more information! cedarwoodschool.org

MJCC

MJCC’s 2022 Vacation Day Camps are for children ages 3-12 and are open to members and non-members. Your kids will enjoy sports, swimming, gymnastics, arts and crafts, games and more!  oregonjcc.org

North Clackamas Parks & Rec

The North Clackamas Parks and Recreation District offers programming for all ages!  Programs like art, dance, drama, exercise and fitness, outdoor adventures, camps, sports and much more are available. Check out their website for this year’s aquatic park offerings as well! ncprd.com

Northwest Children’s Theater & School

NWCT’s fall break offerings are for ages 4-14. Whether you’re new to theater or you’re ready to enhance your acting, singing, and dancing skills, there’s something for everyone at NWCT! The Beaverton camps will be available on 11/10-11/11 and Portland camps will take place on 11/21-11/23. nwcts.org

Play.Fit.Fun.

They offer half and full day camp options where your kids can come, play, stay active, make new friends and be well cared for and engaged. Their camps are similar to their after-school kids action classes. They’re like PE crashed into Field Day…then blended together with Team Building! playfitfun.com

The Hangout PDX

The Hangout PDX gives kids the tools to become innovators, rule-breakers, imagineers, and creators in the world of art. Upcoming PPS in-service and holiday dates include 11/4, 11 & 21-22 and 12/19-23 & 21-22. $50 flat rate for 6.5 hours of fun! thehangoutpdx.com

The holidays are a magical time in Portland and this season will be no exception. Some of our favorites have returned this year after a pandemic hiatus and we can’t wait to get out and enjoy the season with live performances and events. Check out our roundup below and, as always, remember to check websites for the most current information on Covid precautions!

FEATURED EVENTS

Cinnamon Bear Breakfast Cruise

Nov 26-27 & Dec 4, 10-11, 17-18, 22-24, 26-27

Cinnamon Bear and his friends from Maybeland are back! The whole family will enjoy this 2-hour breakfast cruise featuring a cast of fanciful characters to entertain the kids with storytelling, music and magic. $48+ (ages 0-12), $64+ (adults) portlandspirit.com

The Nutcracker Dec 10-24

A treasured holiday tradition continues as Oregon Ballet Theatre returns George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® to the Keller Auditorium. Brave toy soldiers battle mischievous mice, snowflakes dance, and we are carried away to a magical Land of Sweets, all to Tchaikovsky’s unforgettable score! Create memories to last a lifetime as you experience this exquisitely danced confection with family and friends. See website for tickets and pricing. obt.org

ZooZoo Dec 9-Jan 1

Imago is bringing back to Portland its globetrotting production ZooZoo this holiday season. Bugeyes, hippos with insomnia, arrogant anteaters, introverted frogs, paradoxical polar bears, acrobatic worms, self-touting accordions and tricky penguins fill the stage with wonder, awe and humor. See website for tickets and pricing. imagotheatre.com

PORTLAND BALLET

John Clifford’s “The Enchanted Toyshop”

The Portland Ballet is reviving its holiday hit, The Enchanted Toyshop, Thanksgiving weekend. The magic begins when two children are left behind in a toyshop, and the Blue Fairy brings to life a parade of dancing dolls to entertain the guests. Pinocchio, playing cards and poodles are all part of the fast-paced fun. $10-$38 theportlandballet.org

Nov 26-Dec 4

Portland’s Singing Christmas Tree

Portland’s Singing Christmas Tree invites you to celebrate their 60th season, bringing the joy of Christmas to audiences young and old. From the cinematic living nativity and a visit from Santa and his dancing elves, you’ll experience 90 minutes of non-stop music, dance & pageantry that will kick off your Holiday Season. New show, new songs, same Christmas story. See website for showtimes and pricing. singingchristmastree.org

Nov 27

A Canadian Brass Christmas

Head to Newmark Theatre for some family friendly brass music! Masters of concert presentations, Canadian Brass has developed a uniquely engaging stage presence and rapport with audiences. Each of their concerts will show the full range from trademark Baroque and Dixieland tunes to new compositions and arrangements created especially for them—from formal classical presentation to music served up with lively dialogue and theatrical effects. See website for tickets and pricing. portland5.com

Nov 28

The Ghosts of Christmas Eve with Trans-Siberian Orchestra

The Tran-Siberian Orchestra hit the road again in 2022 with the return of their beloved classic production, The Ghosts of Christmas Eve! Join them as they celebrate over two decades as the top purveyors of Christmas spectacle! Including Ghosts of Christmas Eve alongside some of their all-time greatest hits - discover what keeps audiences coming back year after year! Suitable for ages 8+. 7pm, see website for pricing. portland-theater.com

Dec 2

A Celtic Christmas with the Gothard Sisters

Celebrate the beginning of the holiday season with a Portland Christmas tradition. Celtic folk music, Christmas carols, Irish dancing, drumming, stories and holiday cheer with internationally acclaimed Celtic folk trio The Gothard Sisters. This is a family-friendly show at The Old Church Concert Hall that can be enjoyed by kids and adults alike! 8pm, see website for pricing. theoldchurch.org

Dec 3

Portland Nordic Chorus

Annual Christmas Concert

Celebrate the start of the holiday season with a cheerful performance from the Portland Nordic Chorus. They are a mixed community chorus celebrating friendship and common interest in Nordic culture and music by rehearsing and performing music. They sing primarily in Danish, Finnish,

Icelandic, Norwegian, Swedish, and English. They welcome all with and without Nordic heritage who have a desire to be a part of a choral group that explores Nordic languages and choral music. 7pm, see website for pricing. portlandnordicchorus.org

Dec 10-18

Northwest Dance Theatre presents “A Nutcracker Tea”

This family friendly abridged version of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker will enchant the whole family and is a joyful journey for audiences of all ages. The traditional classic story of Clara and the Nutcracker Prince is presented by Northwest Dance Theatre with elaborate sets, stunning costumes and sparkling choreography. See website for showtimes and pricing. nwdt.org

Dec 12-18

Christmas with C.S. Lewis

Here we find Lewis at his home near Oxford on Christmas Eve hosting a group of Americans who are Christmassing in England. They are about to experience an unforgettable assortment of Yuletide recollections which stimulates a whole range of emotions—curiosity, laughter, gladness and even some tears. Above all, they will discover how an encounter with Tolkien forever changed his Christmas celebrations. See website for showtimes and pricing. portland5.com

Dec 17-18

Elf: The Musical with the Oregon Symphony

Elf: The Musical is the hilarious tale of Buddy, a young orphan who accidentally crawls into Santa’s sack of gifts and is taken to the North Pole.

Buddy is raised unaware that he is actually a human until his enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth. The heartwarming musical follows Buddy on his quest for his real family, as well as bringing much-needed Christmas spirit to the city of New York. See website for showtimes and pricing. orsymphony.org

Dec 26

Concert-at-Christmas: Up in the Air

A Portland tradition since 1961, this post-holiday concert celebration features performances by the Philharmonic Orchestra, PYP Conservatory Orchestra, PYP Wind Ensemble, and PYP String Ensemble, and an Alumni Orchestra. Head to Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall for a musical journey “up in the air”! 7:30pm, see website for pricing. portland5.com

Dec 29-30

The Illusionists: Magic of the Holidays

What could make the festive season even more magical than it already is..? Well the answer is actual magic of course! Get an extra helping of holiday hocus pocus when the Illusionists and their magnificently mind-boggling stage show take over the Holidays! The box-officerecord-breaking benders of time and space hit the road on their fifth annual holiday tour, bringing along a dazzling Broadway-meets-Las-Vegas display of mentalism, dance, sleightof-hand tricks and old-school-meetsnew-school magic. See website for showtimes and pricing. portland-theater.com

The PJA PerspectivePortland Jewish Academy (pjaproud.org) provides a rich academic and cultural learning experience for kids from early childhood through 8th grade. We’ve invited budding writers from the middle school Humanities classes and writing exploratory to join our team for a series that gives you a glimpse into thoughts and life - from their perspective.

The Mountain is Better

by Sequoia

Larger than any worry a person could hold,  The mountain stood its ground. Taller than all of the doubts stacked on people’s backs, The mountain dug its roots. The mountain overpowered the displeasure that the world had come to give us. We could see it was greater.  It was better. And we could be happy. The mountain defeated the bad.

Sequoia is a current sixth-grader at PJA. In addition to writing, she enjoys art, soccer, and socializing.

Life Along the Mountains

by Madrona Mountains.

The beautiful way they roll up and down.

The smell of fresh pines.  How they make you feel so proud that you got to the top.

The mountains are alive with creatures big and small.

Mountains make you feel as if everything is alive and moving.  The wind…

It swishes the trees back and forth.

The animals…

They skitter across the rocks and tree trunks. Even the sky…

The clouds move with the breeze.  Everything thrives.

Madrona is a current sixth-grader at PJA.  In addition to writing, she enjoys doing art, hanging out with friends, and reading books.

Sequoia and Madrona

Thanksgiving Meals Out!

For some, spending the day cooking and baking for a Thanksgiving meal is a dream come true. For others, heading out for a meal and then returning home with a full belly and a clean kitchen is just the ticket. We’ve rounded up a list of options for this year’s feast, including one that benefits the Milwaukie Community Center’s Meals on Wheels program.

FEATURED MEAL

November 20 Famous Thanksgiving Dinner

Join North Clackamas Parks & Recreation for their Famous Thanksgiving Dinner at the Milwaukie Community Center and celebrate the holiday with good food and friends. Enjoy a delicious Thanksgiving meal with all the fixings, while supporting a good cause. Proceeds from this fundraiser support the Center’s Meals on Wheels program, so no senior goes hungry. Tickets will be for sale in the Milwaukie Community Center gift shop until November 14. $5 (ages 0-12), $15 (adults) ncprd.com

Thanksgiving Day

Hudson’s Bar & Grill at The Heathman Lodge

Vancouver’s Hudson’s Bar & Grill will be serving up a buffet style feast for the whole family, from salads and sides to a turkey carving station and ending with dessert, including their famous croissant bread pudding. hudsonsbarandgrill.com

McMenamins

After two years of offering Thanksgiving meals to go, many of the McMenamins restaurants will be open for in-person Thanksgiving this year! Check out their website for more information nd for the menus as they become available. mcmenamins.com

Portland Spirit Thanksgiving Cruise

Sit back and relax as you cruise down the river taking in the views of the city of Portland and the historic Milwaukie waterfront. Enjoy a delicious buffet meal with holiday classics and tempting desserts. Treat your family to a Thanksgiving experience they will be talking about for years to come. $40+ (ages 0-12), $80+ (adults) portlandspirit.com

Thanksgiving Brunch at the Oregon Garden Resort

Give thanks and celebrate! Head to Silverton for Thanksgiving Brunch and enjoy holiday favorites like turkey, ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, green bean casserole, pumpkin pie, and more! 10am-2pm, $20 (ages 0-12) or $38 (adults) oregongardenresort.com

Urban Farmer

Urban Farmer Portland will be offering a family-style Thanksgiving spread from noon-9pm. Did somebody mention Saffron Pumpkin Pie with candied cranberry and spiced whipped cream? Yum! $36 (ages 0-12), $78 (adults) urbanfarmersteakhouse.com

Post-Adoption Support: Nesting in Can Bring Connection

by MEREANN REID, LPC

For many families, cooped up together for the past several months, a new rhythm has emerged with fewer transitions, outings and social events. When I was a brand-new mom, I worried the world would carry on without me while I tended my baby. But FOMO (fear of missing out) is less an issue these days. Some of our favorite restaurants are closed (hooray for takeout!) and getting a reservation at the library is the hot ticket in town. The world has a slower pace right now, and there’s no rush to emerge from the family nest. This may especially benefit families coming together through foster care or adoption. “Nesting in” may be just the glue for a growing bond as the world changes around us.

Establish safety

Even tiny babies are wired to perceive safety in their environment. Humans orient with our senses and look for predictable patterns. Over several weeks, you can build in sensory play with bath time, finger foods, and infant massage. You can boost trust with kids of any age through 1:1 Special Time, following their lead for 10-20 minutes several times a week, just soaking them up, watching them play, and shining warm regard in their direction.

Build a daily rhythm

Older kids can lean into transitions with a visual schedule and clear bedtime routine. Building movement, music, comfort foods, and undivided attention into the day can do wonders for channeling intensity and easing anxiety. Regular family walks or bike rides are a gentle way to get familiar with the neighborhood, landmarks and parks.

Honor grief

Adoption typically follows stressors making it impossible for a birth family to parent. Death or infertility may precede a placement. These are losses. We integrate loss by traveling through grief. What ritual might your family create, honoring the paths that brought you together? Consider a candlelight commitment ceremony, a festive Dia de los Muertos altar, or a simple 3-photo picture book: First, Then, Now. First— birth family, Then—a transition of care or

blessing for adoption, Now—your family together. You’re co-writing the story.

Adjusting to new parenthood is a whole-family shift. Everyone is building attachment, managing big feelings, and has their own needs. It’s common to lose track of basic self-care as you find your way. Many parents’ coping skills are further frazzled by the prolonged intensity of the pandemic—and all that’s coincided with it.

Get good support

You are the best resource for your child when they can borrow your regulation. Having a listening partner on speed dial—who won’t judge, advise, or try to fix—can be a relief. Join an online group or attachment-smart email list from the comfort of home. Finding support among other adoptive families and guidance from a skilled professional can make a huge difference, connecting you to a community who gets it.

Our resilience is really being called on these days. Each week, it seems, something shifts or changes. This can help us build empathy for a child’s journey through adoption and foster care. They don’t get to steer. Timelines and plans change often. They look to caregivers to be calm, reliable, and present. As a new parent, you are a lighthouse. You are establishing a refuge in the midst of a storm. It may take a while to settle in. I have faith in your resilience.

MereAnn Reid, LPC, is a child and family therapist, parent coach and adoption specialist in Portland. She brings curiosity and practical tools to whole-hearted parenting, decoding kids’ behavior, and seeing problems and solutions in new ways. She teaches parenting classes using gentle discipline and relational neuroscience, helping families reconnect. MereAnn leads online support groups for adoptive parents and offers private sessions with families and kids age 3-12. For more information, visit her website at mereannreid.com