Momaha January 2023

Social skills important when getting ready for kindergarten

COOL

CUBES

Wood block snowman craft a fun way to celebrate winter

Every child, everywhere, deserves the very best. It’s why Children’s Hospital & Medical Center combines the largest group of pediatric specialties in the region, the most advanced technology and the biggest hearts all in one place. Together, in this safe and welcoming environment of excellence, we’re shaping the future of pediatric medicine to deliver the very best for kids.

Visit ChildrensOmaha.org or call 1.800.833.3100 to find a physician near you.

VOLUME 14 ISSUE 1 JANUARY 2023

editor in chief KILEY CRUSE cruse@owh.com 402-444-1375

consulting editor COURTNEY BRUMMER-CLARK cbclark@owh.com 402-444-3118

assistant editor MARJIE DUCEY marjie.ducey@owh.com 402-444-1034

contributors RACHEL GEORGE KORI RADLOFF

THE BOOKWORM

CHILDREN’S PHYSICIANS designer EMILY SHULLAW cover photo

KILEY CRUSE

custom publishing sales coordinator NICK CAVALLARO nick.cavallaro@owh.com 402-444-1202

Momaha Magazine is a monthly publication of the Omaha World-Herald, 1314 Douglas St., Suite 600, Omaha, NE 68102. Momaha is a registered trademark, and all content is copyright 2023 by the Omaha WorldHerald. All rights reserved. The opinions and perspectives published herein are those of the authors and should not be construed as those of Momaha Magazine.

Opens January

28!

Join us as we celebrate the Indigenous People of the Heartland by learning about their culture and history in an original exhibit designed in cooperation with Omaha Children’s Museum and members of local Indigenous communities. Climb the Bur Oak tree, visit a school, imagine living in an earth lodge, make your very own winter count and a parfleche box, and more!

A Generation of Hope: Indigenous Peoples of the Heartland will be open through September 3, 2023.

Opens February 3!

pens

Magical Science explores the intersection between science and magic! You will lose your head with an optical illusion, learn about kinetic energy while soaring across a zip line, explore a house and find yourself in hidden spy holes and tunnels. And don’t miss the return of Thistle, our story-telling dragon!

Magical Science will be open through April 16, 2023.

On a cold winter day, there’s nothing better — for adults and kids alike — than curling up with a good book.

ADULTS

‘PEACE LIKE A RIVER’

by Leif Enger

Eleven-year-old Reuben Land is an asthmatic boy in the Midwest who has reason to believe in miracles. Along with his sister and father, Reuben nds himself on a crosscountry search for his outlaw older brother who has been charged with murder. Their journey unfolds like a revelation, and its conclusion shows how family, love, and faith can stand up to the most terrifying of enemies, and the most tragic of fates.

‘BEARTOWN: A NOVEL’ by Fredrik Backman

People say Beartown is nished. But down

by the lake stands an old ice rink, built generations ago by the working men who founded this town. And in that ice rink is the reason people in Beartown believe tomorrow will be better than today. Their junior ice hockey team is about to compete in the national semi- nals. All the hopes and dreams of this place now rest on the shoulders of a handful of teenage boys.

‘MIGRATIONS’ by Charlotte McConaghy Franny Stone is the kind of woman who is able to love but unable to stay. Leaving behind everything but her research gear, she arrives in Greenland with a singular purpose: to follow

the last Arctic terns in the world on what might be their nal migration to Antarctica. Franny talks her way onto a shing boat, and she and the crew set sail. But as Franny’s history begins to unspool – a passionate love affair, an absent family, a devastating crime – it becomes clear that she is chasing more than just the birds

KIDS

‘SNOWMEN AT NIGHT’ by Caralyn Buehner

“Snowmen at Night” reveals a wonderful wintertime secret — when we are sleeping, the snowmen are out playing! This exuberant, rhyming tale continues to delight young toddlers, as well as older readers.

and wanted to understand them. His parents supported his curiosity and saved until they could give him his own camera and microscope. With patience and determination, Wilson catalogued hundreds of snow ake photographs, gave slideshows of his ndings and, when he was 66, published a book of his photos. His work became the basis for all we know about beautiful, unique snow akes today.

‘KATY AND THE BIG SNOW’ by Virginia Lee Burton

Katy, a brave and untiring tractor, who pushes a bulldozer in the summer and a snowplow in the winter, makes it possible for the townspeople to do their jobs.

‘THE SNOWY DAY’ by Ezra Jack Keats

‘SNOWFLAKE

BENTLEY’

by Jacqueline Briggs Martin Wilson Bentley was always fascinated by snow. He saw each tiny crystal of a snow ake as a little miracle

Universal in its appeal, this story beautifully depicts a child’s wonder at a new world, and the hope of capturing and keeping that wonder forever. The quiet fun and sweetness of Peter’s small adventures in the deep, deep snow is perfect for reading together on a cozy winter day.

Bookworm. Located at 90th and Center Streets, The Bookworm is an independent, family-owned bookstore with over 6,000-square-feet of space.

children’s section and friendly, knowledgeable staff who know the books they sell. Learn more at www.bookwormomaha.com.

COOL CUBES

Wood block snowman

KILEY CRUSE World-Herald Sta Writer

There is a festive void left when all the holiday decorations are put away. But don’t let the dreary doldrums of winter get you down. Instead, create a cheerful wooden block snowman or two to liven up the room.

WOOD BLOCK SNOWMAN

• Three 4-inch blocks

• Black buttons

• Adult fluffy crew sock

• Glue

• Acrylic paint: white, orange, black and pink

1. Make sure blocks are smooth. Sand any rough edges if necessary.

2. Paint all sides of the block white. We suggest painting the four sides and top. Let it dry. Then paint the four sides again and the bottom.

3. Lightly pencil the face on one block: two eyes, two cheeks, a nose and mouth.

4. Using black paint and a brush or a black paint pen, paint the eyes and mouth.

5. Paint the nose with orange paint.

6. Paint the rosy cheeks with pink paint.

7. Glue three buttons down the middle of a second block.

8. Once paint is dry, roll the top of the sock one or two times and put over the very top of the face block.

9. Stack three blocks to make your snowman.

OPTIONAL: Get creative and on the opposite side of the snowman blocks paint something to make them reversible.

Suggestions: “Let It Snow”, “Ho Ho Ho” or “I Love You.”

NOTE: We had a hard time nding 4-inch blocks locally so we cut down a 4-by4-inch post purchased at the hardware store. If you have a saw (or a friend with one), this is a much more economical way to make this craft.

craft a fun way to celebrate winter

KILEY CRUSE PHOTOS , THE WORLD-HERALD Snowman decorations are fun to have for winter months after the holiday decorations are put away.

FUN Winter

RACHEL GEORGE Nonpareil Sta Writer

Just because it’s cold outside doesn’t mean you need to hibernate. There are so many places in the metro area to get out any have some fun during the winter months.

Check out these places for your next ice skating, snowshoeing or sledding adventure.

ICE SKATING

Moylan Iceplex , 12550 West Maple Road, offers multiple public skating opportunities each season. Admission and skate rental is $9.95 for adults and $7.95 for children ages 12 and younger. Party lights run from 7 to 10 p.m. on Saturdays for a unique experience. Visit moylaniceplex.com for details.

The UNMC Ice Rink, 39th and Jones Streets, is open through Feb. 5. Admission, which includes skate rental is $7; hours vary. Parking is available in Lot 15S, a surface lot on 40th Street between Dewey and Emile. The rink closes if air temperature is at or below 0 degrees. Call 402-559-0697 or check the Facebook page to see if the UNMC Ice Rink is open. Open skating hours are 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 to 8 p.m. Mondays; 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays.

Bring your family and friends to Holland Ice Rink at Baxter Arena for Public Ice

Skate. Join for a fun morning, afternoon or evening of skating. Hockey and gure skates are available for rent. Great music and lights show. Find hours at baxterarena.com.

Public ice skating is offered periodically at the Ralston Community Ice Rink for $5. The Liberty First Credit Union Arena offers skate rental for an additional fee. Visit liberty rstcreditunionarena.com for schedule.

Motto McLean Ice Arena is open at 5014 S. 45th St. Public skate times are available at parks.cityofomaha.org. Admission is $5 per person ages 6 and older; free for ages 5 and under with a paid adult; $2 for skate rental. Stick & Puck drop-in hockey is also available; check the schedule for times. Hockey admission is $5 during the week and $6 on the weekend. Helmets are required. Weather can dictate the outdoor fun at Mahoney State Park, but there is yearround recreation at the Activity Center. Connected to the Activity Center is the

The UNMC ice rink is open through Feb. 5.

CHRIS MACHIAN , THE WORLDHERALD

Logan Dixon, of Papillion, sleds down a hill at Bryan High School in Bellevue in 2020.

ANNA REED, THE WORLD-HERALD

ice skating pavilion, which is open during the winter. The ice skating season is weather permitting; visit outdoornebraska.gov/mahoney or call 402-944-2523, ext. 7122 for more information regarding the Activity Center and ice rink conditions. A sledding hill is also offered at Mahoney, weather permitting.

SNOWSHOEING & SKIING

Explore the Loess Hills in a whole new way on your own snowshoe adventure! Snowshoes are available for guest rental at the Loess Hills Lodge at Hitchcock Nature Center, 27792 Ski Hill Loop, Honey Creek, Iowa, during regular winter gallery hours and must be returned before the gallery closes. Rental fee is $6 per day, with availability first come first served. Find more at pottconservation.com.

Snowshoes are available seasonally at Fontenelle Forest, 1111 Bellevue Blvd. N., Bellevue. Cost is $10 for one

hour, with limited availability based on a first come first serve basis. Call ahead reservations at 402-731-3140.

Ski snowboard and sled at Mt. Crescent, 17026 Snowhill Lane, Honey Creek, Iowa. Pottawattamie County residents receive a 25% discount on season passes and lift tickets. Check the Mt. Crescent Facebook page for important ski hill updates. Hours: 4 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. Sledding will be available every other Saturday from 6 to 9 p.m. The first Midnight Madness event is slated for 8 p.m. to midnight on Jan. 13. Visit skicrescent.com for rates, rental information and full winter schedule.

READERS’ FAVORITE SLEDDING HILLS

Nathan Hale Middle School: At 60th Street and Sorenson Parkway, a

big hill in front of the school is popular for sledding.

Millard’s Black Elk Elementary: Near 160th and Harrison Streets, a steep slope sits behind the school.

Millard’s Holling Heights: Behind Holling Heights Elementary School in the Millard school district.

St. Robert Bellarmine School: Near 120th and Pacific Streets, a sleddable slope sits west of the school.

Papillion-La Vista South High: Near 108th Street and Highway 370, a great snow-scape layout.

Portal Elementary: 9920 Brentwood Drive in La Vista, a great hill.

Ralston Middle School: 8202 Lakeview St. in Ralston, a great slope near the school.

Near Catlin Elementary School: At 126th and Shirley Streets, between West Center Road and Pacific Street near the Highland Country Club.

Bryan High School: Near 48th Street and Giles Road, a massive hill behind the school.

Bellevue East High School: Near South Harvell Drive and Lincoln Road south of the school.

Turner Boulevard: South of Leavenworth Street, where Turner Boulevard starts heading uphill to Woolworth Avenue.

Walnut Hill: West of 38th Street at Lafayette Avenue, just northwest of 40th and Cuming Streets.

Memorial Park: North of Dodge Street just west of Happy Hollow Boulevard. Some parking is available beside the park driveway off Underwood Avenue.

Spring Lake Park: The preferred hill is off Spring Lake Drive just west of 13th Street, about a block south of L Street.

Zorinsky Lake: Off 156th Street on the east side of the park, near the F Street entrance that leads to soccer fields.

Fairmount Park: At 1200 Fairmount Park Road, Council Bluffs, is a hilly and historic park with several spots to sled. The park’s entrances are off Graham and Park Streets.

Big Lake Park: 2600 N. Eighth St., Council Bluffs., near the old baseball fields, there is a sweet sledding hill with lots of space to spread out.

Risen Son Christian Village: At 3000 Risen Son Blvd. in Council Bluffs, is a popular sledding spot.

Snow shoes are available for rent by the hour at Fontenelle Forest.

KILEY CRUSE , THE WORLD-HERALD

Zorinsky Lake is a popular place to sled. JEFF BEIERMANN , THE WORLD-HERALD

CRUSE | World-Herald Sta Writer

TIPS FOR STAYING HEALTHY THIS WINTER

CHILDREN’S PHYSICIANS

With u season in full swing and the rise in RSV, there can be increased concerns about how to limit exposure to an illness and what to do if your child becomes sick.

It can also be tricky to determine what your child develops because the common cold, COVID-19, the u and RSV share many of the same symptoms: fever, cough, fatigue, stuffy nose, sore throat and sneezing. If your child is not feeling well, here are a few ways to ensure you and your family stay healthy this winter.

CONSULT YOUR PEDIATRICIAN

 If you have concerns about vaccines, athome treatments or symptoms, contact your pediatrician for further guidance. Your pediatrician will determine if your child needs

to be seen.

 Many over-the-counter medicines contain ingredients that can harm children, so seek your pediatrician’s recommendations before giving any medication.

 If your pediatrician recommends being seen, tests can be performed to confirm your child’s illness.

STAY UP-TO-DATE WITH VACCINES

 Make sure you and your child are upto-date on all vaccines.

 Vaccines prevent the spread of diseases and protect your child from serious diseases.

 Children six months and older are eligible for the flu and COVID-19 vaccines.

LIMIT PERSON-TO-PERSON TRANSMISSION

 Avoid contact, as much as possible, with

anyone showing symptoms of an illness.

 Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue and wear a mask if you must leave home.

 Teach your children proper techniques by sneezing or coughing into a tissue or their elbow.

playing outdoors, sneezing, coughing or blowing your nose.

WHAT TO DO AT HOME

Stay hydrated. Make sure your child is drinking enough fluids to prevent dehydration.



If your child is showing symptoms, keep them home from daycare or school to allow your child to rest and to prevent others from becoming ill.



WASH YOUR HANDS FREQUENTLY

Frequently washing your hands is the best way to prevent spreading sicknesses.  The best practice is to wet your child’s hands and scrub them for 20 seconds.  Wash your hands before eating, after using the restroom, playing with pets,





Manage fever and pain with over the counter fever reducers and pain relievers if approved by your pediatrician.

 Call your doctor if their temperature reaches 100.4 F for children under three months and 104 F for any age.

When your child is sick, it can be hard to know where to go for the right level of care. Visit childrensomaha.org/whentogo for guidelines on when it’s best to schedule an appointment with your pediatrician, schedule a virtual care appointment, visit an urgent care or go to the emergency room.

ADOBE STOCK

Teaching children proper hand-washing techniques can help prevent the spread of germs during cold and flu season.

DRIED APPLE FEEDER provides entertainment for you, tasty snacks for outdoor critters

KILEY CRUSE World-Herald Sta Writer

Making a dried apple wildlife feeder is a fun way to spend a cold winter day indoors.

Start by drying apple slices, which will ll your house with a wonderful aroma.

Then you’ll coat the slices in bird seed. Just be warned this can get a little messy. Try putting a rimmed baking sheet at your work station to catch any runaway bird seed.

This craft requires a bit of planning as the apples will take a few hours to dry. We sliced up a 3-pound bag of apples. They took about 2 to 3 hours to dry and made enough slices for six feeders. How juicy your apples are and how thin you can slice them will determine how long it takes the slices to dry.

Once the feeders were hung, our resident squirrels found them rst. We had hours of fun watching them nibble away on the seeds and the dried apples

Dried apple and bird seed feeders are great to feed the birds and squirrels.

KILEY CRUSE PHOTOS , THE WORLD-HERALD

•

•

•

• Pastry brush

• Wire cutters

• Ribbon

1. Preheat oven to 200 F.

• Wire, we used heavy floral wire, but most any bendable wire will work as long as it’s strong enough to hold the apples.

2. Thinly slice apples and lay them on a parchment-lined cookie sheet — no need to peel them.

3. Place cookie sheets in the oven. Flip slices every 30 minutes until they are dried but still exible. (If you bake them until they are crispy they are more likely to break when coating with bird seed and putting on the wire.)

4. While the apple slices to cool, put some bird seed in a shallow bowl.

5. With a pastry brush, apply a thin coating of corn syrup to one side of the apple and then dip the slice into the bird seed to coat. Lay the slice, seed side up, to dry.

6. Wrap one end of the wire around a 2- to 3-inch segment of ribbon to act as the base of the feeder.

7. Stringing the apples through on the wire through the center of the slice, stack the slices 4 to 5 inches high.

8. Make a loop at the top of the feeder to hang it with. Trim any excess wire. Optional, add a decorative bow to the top.

9. Hang from a tree and enjoy watching the wildlife feast.

Yes, now is the time to start making summer plans!

KORI RADLOFF

With winter weather upon us, thoughts of hot, sunny days and summer camp might seem far away, but now is actually the ideal time to get your plans in order for your kids’ summer adventures. Many summer programs announce their schedules this time of year, giving you the opportunity to be first in line for some of the more in-demand camps and classes.

When that final school bell rings in May, many families find themselves in a familiar predicament: What can their kids do while parents are at work? Early planning can mean the difference between a memorable and meaningful summer spent in enriching activities and a summer spent staring at screens. There is nothing worse than finding the perfect camp for your children, only to learn that it was fully booked months ago. Here are some tips to help you get organized and coordinate the best summer ever.

To get started, plot out each week that you will need an activity for your students. Do you need a supervised activity every week of the summer, or do you plan for your kids to spend some time at home? Can you make arrangements for your children to go to a halfday camp, or will you need a place where you can drop them off in the morning and pick them up on your way home from work? Are there any plans already in place that you need to work around, such as a family vacation or a week spent at Grandma’s house? Are your kids OK attending a camp on their own, or do you need to coordinate with a friend so they can attend together? Once you have determined your family’s needs, you have the framework you need to start planning.

Gather information from area organizations about their camp offerings. No matter their interest, there is something that is certain to provide a fun, exciting (and even educational) experience for your kids. Weeklong camps offer an opportunity for kids to explore new

interests and try something new. Longer camps allow students a chance to dive deep into a topic they are passionate about and want to learn more. Omaha offers a wide variety of summer camps, from performing arts camps at The Rose, camps to spark the imagination at the Omaha Children’s Museum, educational camps with a historic twist at the Durham Museum, outdoor adventures with Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, Aim for the Stars math and science camps from UNO, and so much more. Most organizations publish their summer camp schedules between January and March, so start watching for this information now.

With your weekly grid and the various camp schedules in hand, you are ready to start putting the pieces of the summer

puzzle together. Start with one or two camps that your kids are most excited to attend. With these “mustdo’s” on the calendar, consider plugging longer, multi-week camps into the schedule. Finally, look for weeklong or shorter camps to fill in the remaining weeks. Be sure to plan a few second choices; popular options often fill up quickly and you may need a back-up plan if you find yourself on a waiting list for a camp.

Putting these steps in action, here is an example of how summer plans may come together: Looking at your summer, you know your family has a one-week vacation planned in July, leaving you with seven weeks of time you need to plan. Your daughter’s number one choice is a three-week production camp happening in June at The Rose. You can round out the rest of her schedule with a weeklong super sleuth camp at the Durham Museum, at STEM camp at UNO and an outdoor adventure camp at Fontenelle Forest. Your daughter is looking forward to a summer she’ll never forget and you can rest easy, knowing you have a solid plan for keeping her active and engaged throughout the summer months.

Even as the winter weather howls, some early planning can ensure a bright summer ahead, filled with memorable moments that are sure to make it the best summer ever. Let the planning begin!

THE ROSE THEATER PHOTOS