September Momaha magazine

Easy origami bookmarks let you put your imagination to work

The very best for young athletes.

The Sports Medicine Program at Children’s Hospital & Medical Center is the best place for young athletes with sports-related injuries. We are the only sports medicine program in Nebraska that is dedicated to diagnosing and treating adolescent sports injuries. We provide athletes with a specialized recovery plan to get them back to playing as quickly and safely as possible through:

- Injury prevention and diagnosis

- Physical therapy and rehabilitation

- Concussion diagnosis and management

- Sports-related surgery

ALL ABOUT APPLES

‘THE EVERYTHING HARD CIDER BOOK’

by Drew Beechum

pie. It’s Grandma’s favorite! Join Grandpa to create a delicious surprise to warm Grandma’s heart on a chilly autumn day. Plus, you can learn a few tips and tricks from the experts — the kids.

‘WHO WAS JOHNNY APPLESEED?’

by Joan Holub illustrated by Anna DiVito

‘HELLO, WORLD! HOW DO APPLES GROW?’

by Jill McDonald

‘APPLES OF NORTH AMERICA: A CELEBRATION OF EXCEPTIONAL VARIETIES’

by Tom Burford

The apple is one of the most iconic fruits, traditionally picked on cool fall days and used in pies, crisps, ciders and more. And there is a vast world of varieties that goes well beyond the common grocery store offerings. With names like American Beauty, Carter’s Blue and Fallawater, and avors ranging from sweet to tart, this treasure trove of unique apples is ripe for discovery. You also will nd information on growing apples at home — with speci cs on planting, pruning, grafting and more — and instructions on how to preserve apples through pressing, fermenting, cooking and drying.

Then welcome to the world of hard cider. It’s everywhere — it’s on the menu in pubs and restaurants, and there’s a dizzying array of ciders available in stores. And some cider lovers are looking for ways to create their own brew. This book takes you step-by-step into the fermentation and bottling process, with tips on nding the proper equipment, sourcing ingredients, varying avors and creating unique packaging. With 35 adaptable recipes, you’ll nd everything you need to make your own distinctive and delicious beverages.

‘HOW TO BAKE AN APPLE PIE’

by Jean Reagan

illustrated by Lee Wildish

When the weather is cool and the apples are fresh, the best thing to do is warm up by baking an apple

The perfect biography to “bite into” in September. Children are sure to be fascinated by the eccentric and legendary Johnny Appleseed, a man who is best known for bringing apple trees to the Midwest. Over John Chapman’s lifetime, he saw the country grow and start to spread westward. Traveling alone — in bare feet and sporting a pot on his head — Johnny left his own special mark planting orchards that helped nourish new communities.

‘WHAT’S

AN APPLE?’

by Marilyn Singer

illustrated

by Greg Pizzoli

What can you do with an apple? You can pick it, kick it, wash it and squash it — but don’t forget to eat it. This charming book shows readers how to nd magic and joy in the beauty of everyday life.

Young children love to eat apples and go to orchards. This board book teaches toddlers all about how apples grow — from seed to sapling to tree to applesauce. This book is part of the “Hello, World!” series which is designed to introduce rst non ction concepts to babies and toddlers. And of course …

‘THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR’

by Eric Carle

One sunny Sunday, the caterpillar was hatched out of a tiny egg. He was very hungry. On Monday, he ate through one apple — and still he was hungry! Children will love Carle’s classic tale of a voracious caterpillar who eats his way through the days of the week and then changes into a beautiful butter y.

Find these titles and many more by shopping locally at The Bookworm. Located at 90th and Center Streets, The Bookworm is an independent, family-owned bookstore with over 6,000-square-feet of space. The Bookworm offers an excellent selection of books, an outstanding children’s section and friendly, knowledgeable staff who know the books they sell. Learn more at

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Area orchards available for picking

KILEY CRUSE

World-Herald Sta Writer

The calendar has ipped to September, which means fall is right around the corner. And with it come football season, cooler weather, re pits and apple-picking season. There are a number of orchards in the area — all within an hour or so of Omaha. Many of the orchards allow U-pick, and some have additional activities for the kiddos. Here are a few of the options.

DITMARS ORCHARD & VINEYARD

19475 225th St., Council Bluffs

Prepicked apples are available for purchase in the store. Or, activity-pass wristbands are available for $10 a person (ages 3 and younger are free). The activity pass allows you unlimited entrance into the U-pick areas, a corn maze, a petting zoo with goats, jumbo family games, corn hole toss, and life-size hamster wheels, weather permitting. Extra activities, available on weekends, are also included in this fee, including bounce houses, tractor rides, and barrel cart rides. New for 2023 is a jump pad. Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

KIMMEL ORCHARD & VINEYARD

5995 G Road, Nebraska City

In addition to the option of picking your own apples, the Apple Barn is full of other

such as apple cider, apple doughnuts, apple pies, caramel apples, jams and jellies, just to name a few. Check its U-pick website, www. kimmelorchard.org/education/u-pick-barn, to see what’s ripe for picking. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for ages 4-12 and 62+ and military, free for ages 3 and under. Admission does not include the price of the produce.

MARTIN’S HILLSIDE ORCHARD

2024 Ashland Road, Ceresco, Nebraska

The orchard opens for the season Sept. 9, and U-pick apples are back this year. The orchard also has a kid-size corn maze, gourd

cave, straw tower, tire mountain-climbing fort, spider web and corn box. Visit hillsideorchard.com for a list of apple varieties and the picking schedule for each. Entry fee is $6 per person; children under 2 are free. Hours are Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closed Mondays, except Oct. 9 and 16.

SMALL’S FRUIT FARM

1844 194th St., Mondamin, Iowa

You can pick apples and pumpkins from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. On a visit to this fthgeneration orchard, you can taste some cider in the sampling shed, enjoy a piece of pie and ice cream in the pie parlor and pick your own apples on the 33-acre orchard. It offers 25 varieties of apples to choose from. To check whether apples are ready for picking, call 712646-2723.

SUPER BEE ORCHARD

4571 U.S. Highway 75, Fort Calhoun, Nebraska

Find fresh-off-the-tree produce and other goodies in the store. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. U-pick apples will be available sometime in September. The orchard will post on its Facebook page when U-pick is open. No admission fee.

TS&M ORCHARD

3803 Cornhusker Road, Bellevue

Come pick from the nearly 3,000 dwarf apple trees, which produce apples from your knees to as high as you can reach. There are 13 varieties of apples to pick, each ripening at different. Venture out to pick them yourself or shop from their prepicked crop in the store at Trees, Shrubs & More. The orchard is now open for U-pick.

WELCH’S ORCHARD & PUMPKIN PATCH

17676 Sunnydale Road, Council Bluffs

Welch’s is a small, family-owned operation on the eastern edge of Council Bluff that opens its backyard to the community each fall. There are apples, pumpkins, gourds and grapes available for U-pick. They also sell honey. There is no admission fee, and the hours are 4 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

WOSTREL FAMILY’S UNION ORCHARD

2405 S. U.S. Highway 75, Union, Nebraska

The orchards and elds are brimming with farm-fresh apples and plump pumpkins, squash and other gourds. Union Orchards offers 18 varieties of crisp apples from Honeycrisp to Arkansas Black. Each apple variety has a very distinctive avor and produces at various times throughout the season. Watch its Facebook page for an apple-ripening calendar. There is also a country store with fruit butters, preserves, pies and turnovers. Open daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., U-pick hours 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

ADOBE STOCK

kiddos. Here are a

PL AYFUL POSSIBILI T IES

Have you ever purchased a toy for your baby or toddler only to have them be more interested in the box it arrived in?

You may feel slightly disappointed that your carefully chosen toy was dismissed for a cardboard box. However, playing with “just the box” offers endless opportunities for play, exploration and development!

The cardboard box is so loved that The Strong National Museum of Play inducted it into the National Toy Hall of Fame in 2005.

The cardboard box is a simple, affordable toy to help your child develop essential skills and traits. When your child crawls in, over, under, out and around a cardboard box, they are improving their spatial awareness.

While they are inside the box, it may give them a sense of comfort and security They may create the perfect cozy space, made for them, by them. It is empowering for your child to be able to move and manipulate a lightweight cardboard box.

Being in a small space, your child will feel big and in control of their play space. While a cardboard box can be a quiet, neutral blank slate for pretend play, you can also add different material textures, flaps, or holes to

encourage your child’s imagination.

The cardboard box is a fantastic place to foster creative, imaginative and physical play, no matter their age. Your child may want to decorate their box with markers or paint to make it even more exciting. You can help them create a race car or spaceship by drawing on buttons, doors and wheels.

Cardboard boxes even make a great puzzle; you can cut out different shapes and have your child assemble them. The possibilities are as endless as your child’s imagination!

Research shows that the first three years are the most important time for lear ning in a child’s life. Providing support and services early improves a child’s ability to develop and lear n. Also, it may prevent or decrease the need for special help later Early intervention in Nebraska aims to “open a window of opportunity” for families to help their children develop to their full potential.

It is never too early to ask questions about your child’s development. Take advantage of free early intervention services through your school district. Call 402-597-4936 or visit our website at omahaedn.esu3.org.

Simple cardboard box more than it seems to young lear ners

How to transition from a crib to the next step

Luckily, most kids are happy to “graduate,” and they stay in their beds more willingly than they did in their cribs. However, for a few, the transition has to be managed closely.

ADOBE STOCK

‘BIG KID’ BEDS

DR. RACHEL Y. MOON

American Academy of Pediatrics

Once your toddler can climb out of their crib, it might be time to transition to a “big kid” bed. Your child may have a heady sense of freedom the rst few nights after moving permanently to a bed. Luckily, most kids are happy to “graduate,” and they stay in their beds more willingly than they did in their cribs. However, for a few, the transition has to be managed closely.

NIGHTTIME ROUTINE

After the switch, try to continue with the same bedtime routine you have used since your child rst joined the family. Follow these steps:

1 When you end a routine, tell your child to stay in bed until you come for them.

2 If they get out of bed, calmly and quietly lead them back and tell them they must stay there.

3 When they get back into bed, reward them by briefly telling them what a good sleeper they are being for being there, then leave the room.

4 Tell them you will come and check on them during the night. For some children, this provides reassurance.

But don’t kid yourself that the struggle is over. Be prepared to repeat steps 1 and 2 as many times as you have to.

STICKING TO IT

Above all, stay calm, and keep interactions with your child on a low-key level; they should be brief and boring. The aim is to reward them with praise for staying in bed and not for getting out.

Children tend to feel, as many advertisers do, that any attention is better than none. If getting out of bed brings your toddler extra attention — even negative attention, by making you upset — they’ll do it again and again.

By contrast, if you keep the atmosphere quiet and even boring, the excitement of getting out will soon pale.

While respecting your toddler’s newfound mobility, insist on the rule that once it’s time for sleep, people have to stay in bed until

morning unless they have to go to the bathroom.

Avoid rewarding bedroom breakouts by allowing your child to climb into your bed or join the members of the family who are still up. Instead, praise them in the morning for having stayed in bed all night.

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

If your child is going to climb out of bed whether you want them to or not, let them know that the only time climbing out is acceptable is when sleep or naptime is over.

In addition, you should make their room as safe and hazard-free as you can. While you are waiting to get a new bed, place the crib mattress on the oor. Clear away

furniture and large toys, such as rocking horses, that could injure your child if they fell against them.

You may need to install a safety gate across your toddler’s bedroom door to keep them from wandering when you are not awake. You will also need a gate at the top of the stairs to prevent possible injury when your toddler gets out of bed.

Also, take steps to prevent dressers and other furniture from tipping over and injuring your child.

Install childproof latches on chests of drawers, or tape drawers shut so they can’t be pulled out and used as steps.

SAVORY & SWEET

APPLES PERFECTLY COMPLEMENT THE FLAVOR OF PORK CHOPS

KILEY CRUSE

World-Herald

Sta Writer

Apple-picking season is nearly upon us, which means it’s time to nd dozens of fun, new recipes to use the versatile fruit.

In addition to sweet treats such as pies, cobblers and crisps, apples are great with pork in savory dishes.

Pork can naturally be a little salty, for which the sweetness in apples pairs perfectly. For this dish, we combine rm, sweet apples with not one, but two kinds of pork — chops and bacon.

We served the chops alongside garlic butter pasta and steamed broccoli, a tasty combination. But I can’t wait to make the dish again and serve it over mashed potatoes to make better use of the sauce.

PORK CHOPS IN AN APPLE BACON SAUCE

• 4 1-inch thick boneless pork chops

• Salt and pepper

• 1 tablespoon brown sugar

• 1 teaspoon chili powder

• ½ teaspoon paprika

• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

• 1 teaspoon garlic powder

• 6 slices thick-cut bacon, chopped

• 1¼ cups chicken broth

• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

• 2 tablespoons cider vinegar

• 2 tablespoons honey

• 1 tablespoon fresh thyme minced

• 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary minced

• 1 large apple, cut into ⅛-inch slices (peeling is optional)

1. Salt and pepper the pork chops. In a small bowl combine the brown sugar, chili powder, paprika, Italian seasoning and garlic powder. Rub on all sides of the pork chops. Set aside.

2. Preheat oven to 400 F.

3. In a large oven-proof skillet over medium to medium-high heat add the bacon and cook until no longer pink. Remove from the pan with a slotted spoon and set aside on a paper towel-lined plate. Once cooled, chop the bacon.

4. Add the pork chops to the skillet and sear for 2-3 minutes per side. Move the skillet, with the pork chops in it, to

the oven and bake for about 8 minutes, until the chops reach an internal temperature of 145 F. (Temperature is your guide, baking time is an estimate.) Remove the pork chops to a plate and loosely cover.

5. Add the chicken broth, Dijon Mustard, cider vinegar, honey, thyme and rosemary. Whisk until it starts to simmer. Let simmer for about 5 minutes. Reduce the heat, add apples and simmer until they begin to soften.

6. Add in the pork chops and bacon and allow to heat through.

Adapted from therecipecritic.com

combine to make the

per fect TWO YUMMY DESSERTS

to create a list of

my top 5 desserts, cheesecake and apple crisp are sure to make the list. So imagine my delight when I came across Apple Crisp Cheesecake Pie!

The creamy cheesecake mimics the avor of the vanilla ice cream you’d serve with apple crisp. You’ll want to choose an apple that’s rm and a little sweet, but not too sweet. Jazz, Gala and Cosmic crisp are our favorites. It’s recommended to let the pie sit at room temperature for an hour and then refrigerate for at least two hours before serving.

APPLE CRISP CHEESECAKE PIE

APPLE PIE FILLING

• 2¾ cups apples diced in ½-inch cubes (about 3 medium apples)

• 1 tablespoon melted butter

• ¼ cup light brown sugar

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

• ¼ teaspoon nutmeg

• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

• 1½ tablespoon cornstarch

• ½ cup of water

TO MAKE THE APPLE PIE

FILLING

1. Peel the apples and dice them in about ½-inch cubes. In a large saucepan, melt 1 tablespoon of butter, then add chopped apples, brown sugar, fresh lemon juice, cornstarch, water and spices.

2. Stir everything well, cover with a lid, and cook over medium heat until the apples are slightly softened and the sauce is thickened, stirring occasionally for about 10-15 minutes. Set aside and cool before using.

GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST

• 2¼ cups graham cracker crumbs

• ¼ cup light brown sugar

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

• ¼ teaspoon nutmeg

• 1 stick unsalted butter, melted

CRISP TOPPING

• ½ cup all-purpose our

• ½ cup light brown sugar

• ½ cup quick-cooking oats

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

• ¼ teaspoon nutmeg

• ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted

GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST

3. Preheat the oven to 350 F.

4. In a bowl, stir together graham cracker crumbs, cinnamon and brown sugar. Add melted butter and stir until everything is evenly moistened. It should have the consistency of wet sand.

5. Press the mixture into the bottom and sides of a 9-inch pie dish. A at-bottomed cup or measuring cup works well to pack the crust. Bake 8 minutes, then set aside to cool.

CRISP TOPPING

6. Stir together our, oats, brown sugar and cinnamon. Add melted butter and whisk with a fork until crumbly. Set aside.

CHEESECAKE FILLING

7. Beat softened cream cheese with sugar, vanilla and our. Add slightly beaten egg and mix just to combine.

ASSEMBLY + SERVING

8. Spread the cheesecake mixture into the prebaked crust. Next, spread the apples over the cheesecake layer.

CHEESECAKE FILLING

• 12 ounces cream cheese, softened

• ½ cup sugar

• 1½ teaspoons vanilla

• 2 tablespoons our

• 1 large egg

FOR SERVING

• Salted caramel sauce, whipped cream or vanilla ice cream

Sprinkle with the crumb topping.

9. Bake 35 minutes. Begin checking about the 20- to 25-minute mark, and if it starts browning too much, tent the top with aluminum foil.

10. Cool at room temperature for an hour. Then refrigerate for at least two hours, and up to two days, before serving.

11. Serve with a drizzle of salted caramel or vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

Adapted from omgchocolatedesserts.com

KILEY CRUSE

SAFETY IS TOP PRIORITY FOR NEW BABYSITTERS

MARJIE DUCEY World-Herald Staff Writer

Your teen might be old enough that he or she wants to start babysitting to earn a little cash and become more independent. Before they take on a job, there’s some things to think about, says Stevie Gass, a registered nurse and babysitting instructor for the Nebraska Chapter of the National Safety Council.

No. 1 is safety, Gass said, so parents need to take an active role in the fledgling enterprise, “With all the social media available we always discourage posting any personal information online,” she said.

She recommends that teens start by babysitting for people known to their parents. Those jobs for close neighbors and family

friends will allow your child to build a resume.

“If they are a great babysitter, the word will spread quickly in the community and social circles,” Gass said.

When your teen becomes more experienced and starts to branch out, the National Safety Council recommends that parents meet potential families that want to hire their teen.

The organization gives teens a babysitting orientation form to keep notes.

“If for any reason the teen or their parents feel it is not a good fit or has any safety concerns, it is important to politely decline the job,” Gass said. “This will prevent any potential negative experiences.”

There is no magic age at which boys and girls are ready to babysit. Every teen matures and becomes responsible on their

own timeline depending on their individual experiences with children.

“I highly recommend having the teen take a “safe babysitting” class such as the one the National Safety Council-Nebraska Chapter offers. “This is an 8-hour, in-person training which includes caring for children and their basic needs plus emergency training in First Aid and CPR.”

This class is called CABS: child and babysitting safety. It’s an important first step for them to begin their journey as a safe and responsible babysitter, she said.

Several other organizations such as the Red Cross also have classes. Do a Google search and you’ll find lots of opportunities in the Omaha area.

In the National Safety Council class, teens will also learn how to create a resume that

would include their available hours and pay expectations.

The class suggests that newcomers ask babysitters they know what they are charging and follow that example. The rate may vary depending on experience level and number of children.

The pay ranges from $10 to $15 per hour. Once your teen is done with the class, a good choice to get started is to become a mother’s helper. The parent is home and present if needed while the teen cares for the children.

“With so many parents working from home, a mothers helper has become very popular,” Gass said. marjie.ducey@owh.com,

THINGS TO TRY THIS MONTH

COFFEE ANYWHERE

Steeped Coffee’s single-serve, eco-friendly coffee bags allow you to steep a farm-to-cup brew nearly anywhere (think tea bags for coffee). No need to give up high-end coffee. With a Steeped Coffee Bag and a little bit of patience, your great-tasting, ethically sourced glass of cold summer happiness is just a few minutes away. Nitro-sealed to preserve freshness, Steeped Coffee Packs are made with renewable and compostable materials and presented in recyclable packaging. Our reviewer said she loves cold brewed coffee, especially in the summer, but it’s hard to make good cold brew when traveling. “Steeped coffee bags are just what I was looking for. I put a bag in cup of water in a Mason jar overnight and it was deliciously smooth coffee in the morning.” steepedcoffee.com; $14.95/8-pack

DRINK WITH STYLE

Keep your hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold in style. High Camp Flasks are the perfect treat for yourself or gift for someone who enjoys spirits, wine or hot drinks in their favorite outdoor place. The Firelight 750 holds 750ml, is made of premium stainless steel and has two magnetic tumblers that seamlessly integrate with the flask. Our tester said it held a bottle of wine perfectly chilled for a night at Jazz on the Green. But noted it would be excellent for hot chocolate for a fall night at the pumpkin patch. “This will serve us well on countless adventures (including around the fire in our own back yard). In particular I love the magnetic attachment of the tumblers. It’s strong and secure, but not hard to remove when you want to.” High Camp Flasks also offers custom laserengraving. highcamp asks.com, 750 ml, $125; 375 ml, $89

SMART CARDS

Brain Quest’s early-learning card decks are packed with questions that promote language development, cognitive growth and social skills. And most of all, they’re fun. Brain Quest For Threes Q&A cards help children explore and learn about counting, matching, color, number and letter recognition. Our review said “this set is for kids ages 3 to 4. All kids’ learning and attention spans are different, but based on our kiddos I’d say it skews closer to age 4.” Brain Quest offers various card sets for kids up through seventh grade. barnesandnoble.com, $12.99

BYE, BYE FUR

The FurZapper Glove is an easy and gentle way to pet the hair off your furbaby instead of it coming off in your hand (and making you sneeze!). Their fur sticks to the tacky surface of the glove and then rinses off easily. It works on all kinds of surfaces, too, like the couch or pillow where they love to sleep. Made of allergy-free, hypoallergenic silicone, it can be used thousands of times. Love that you can hang it up. amazon.com, $9.99

TREATS YOU’LL WANT TO EAT

Fruitcake often gets a bad wrap, but you won’t want to re-gift this treat. Grandma’s Bake Shoppe fruitcake make by the Beatrice Bakery Company in Beatrice, Nebraska, is full of high quality nuts and dried fruit. We sampled the fruitcake two ways: sliced in individual wrapping and in snack-sized squares coated in a quality chocolate. The latter were a fun treat on a charcuterie board. In addition, the mail order company has a rich, moist chocolate rum cake and a southern pecan cake that shouldn’t be passed up. grandmasbakeshoppe.com, prices vary

WILL MY KIDS BE CLOSE?

ASHLEE COFFEY

When my husband and I decided we wanted to try for a third baby, I had one concern in the back of my mind.

And that was the age gap between a future baby and our older sons.

When I got pregnant, I did the math: Our new baby would be six and eight years younger than our sons.

I felt bad for this baby. He’s an infant. His brothers are now 9 and 7. When the baby, Jack, turns 10, his oldest brother, Sam, will be heading off to college. His next oldest brother, Elliott, will be midway through high school.

I worried, will they ever be close?

Sure they will. But parents shouldn’t expect or strive for those relationships to be really close at every single developmental stage, said Dr. Corey Lieneman, a clinical child psychologist at the Nebraska Medical Center.

“They might go through a few years where they argue more, and they might go through a few years where they don’t spend that much time together. But it doesn’t mean that, in the end, they won’t be close,” Lieneman said. My siblings and I are very close in age. As we grew up, we hit most stages around the same time. When I was a senior in high school, my brother was a junior and my sister a freshman. It was fun. Then we entered adulthood around the same time and married within a few years of each other. Even our kids are all around the same age.

To this day, we have a very tight bond. I’ve attributed it to our closeness in age, which is some of what gave me pause about my own children’s age gap.

My husband’s family has a larger age gap among his siblings, which makes me feel better. He’s always had a close relationship with his older siblings even when they went

Elliott, Jack and Sam Co ey

With modeled behavior, age gaps shouldn’t prevent sibling bonds

Dr. Corey Lieneman

off to college and he was still in elementary school. He’s the youngest of the bunch, and his oldest sibling is eight years his senior (with another brother 7 years older and a sister three years older).

To him, they were these cool adults who helped him play baseball, introduced him to new music and were just there to offer a lot of support for things they’d been through not all that long before.

That’s the exact advice Lieneman gave me when I spoke to her about my worries.

“It’ll be important to find ways that the relationship can be reinforcing to the other,” she said.

This is especially important when the age gap seems at its greatest. For my family, that will likely be when my oldest is in college and my youngest is in elementary school. I’ll need to find that common ground, Lieneman said.

I don’t know what that will be yet; maybe it’ll be cooking, comic books, nature or sports.

“The older child can take on more of an ‘I’ll teach you about what I know about this’ role,” she said. “It’s just more fun to learn it from a brother versus mom or dad telling you how to do it.”

That will also allow Sam to have some independence and to be seen as an adult — something he’ll very likely be looking for at that age — while allowing Jack to start figuring out who he is and what he’s good at.

If they fight — and they probably will — it doesn’t mean you are failing as a parent. During those tough times, be sure you’re looking for the small things that are going well, she said.

“You might go, ‘I guess they’re not best friends. But you know, they were kind to each other today.’”

At some level, their relationship should be just fun and relaxed, she said.

“If you’re modeling as a family that we value our other family members, regardless of if we always agree or we always enjoy doing everything together, then they’re gonna grow up to value their family members, too.”

When in doubt, Lieneman said, trust your gut and have patience.

“Just have that end goal in mind that you know how you want your kids to be when they’re grown adults,” she said. “Know that there’s going to be some bumps along the way, but in the end, it’ll all work out OK.”

Sam, Jack and Elliott Coffey

KILEY CRUSE World-Herald Sta Writer

If you are an avid reader with a love of crafting, these origami corner bookmarks are calling your name. You can make these cute bookmarks simple by using colorful paper or you can put your imagination to work to create monsters, animals, super heroes and more.

ORIGAMI BOOKMARKS LET YOUR IMAGINATION SOAR

ORIGAMI CORNER BOOKMARK

• Square piece of paper, ours were 6-by-6 inches, but bigger or smaller will work

For embellishment

• Scissors

• Makers

• Glue

• Scrap paper

in various colors

• Stickers

Do I need to use Origami paper?

No, you can make these bookmark corners with pretty much any paper, though printer paper or thinner is best. Origami paper

comes pre-cut into squares and tends to be a little thinner, which is good for neat folds and creases. Printer paper works well, too. Construction paper and scrapbook paper can get a little thick and hard to get good folds.

Square paper needed

1. The rst step is to make a square of any rectangle paper you have. A paper cutter will make quick work of this but if you don’t have one, it’s still easy to get a perfect square.

Take your rectangle sheet of paper and fold over one corner to create a triangle. Cut off the excess and, viola, you’ve got a square.

Folding, step-by-step

2. Fold square in half to form a triangle. Rotate your triangle so the long edge is at the bottom and the right angle faces up.

3. Fold the lower left corner up to meet the top right angled corner.

4. Repeat for the right side.

5. Fold these two back open.

6. Flip down the top right angle point so it just touches the bottom long edge and crease.

7. Now fold the right ap back up toward the top right-angle point.

8. Carefully tuck the ap between the two layers of paper behind it.

9. Repeat on the other side

10. Now it’s time to put your creativity to work and decorate the bookmark.

FALL INTO FAMILY FUN!

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It is no surprise that technology has taken over the world. Nearly every person on the street holds a powerful computer in their pocket in the form of a smartphone.

Over 1.8 billion people own smartphones and use them on a daily basis. Some studies estimate that an average person checks a digital screen more than 150 times each day, spending approximately five hours on their phone.

Perhaps those most affected are young people. According to the Sesame Workshop, more than 93% of 6- to 9-yearolds have access to a cell phone and more than 30% own their own phone, and experts expect these numbers to increase.

While screen time isn’t always a bad thing — educational apps are a great way for children to learn to read and practice math skills — a number of studies show that children’s brains can be permanently damaged if they spend too much time in front of a screen. They lose the ability to focus, to concentrate, to lend attention, to sense other people’s attitudes, to communicate with those around them, to build their vocabulary and more.

What is the solution to this apparent “technology addiction”?

It is a problem that Matthew Gutschick, artistic director of The Rose Theater, sees every day.

“Parents and children often walk into the Rose Theater with screens in front of their faces. One cannot blame 6-year-olds for drawing their parents with iPhones instead of eyes and smiles if this is the image they see of their parents on a daily basis,” he says.

The solution, however, can be found in the simple act of engaging in a screen-free environment as a family.

“Once this same family enters the auditorium and the live performance begins, attention gently shifts. Sure, the show usually has some responsibility for engaging imaginations of the young and the old. More importantly, though, parents and children start actually looking at one another — parents checking their child’s responses to a gentle joke in the play, children confirming the dramatic tension they feel is shared by their adult companions.”

Dr. Liraz Margalit said in Psychology

Today that because smartphones spoonfeed images, words and pictures to children (effectively thinking for the child), the brains of kids who follow stories on their smartphones get lazy. They aren’t developing their cognitive abilities by

LIVE THEATER ENGAGES IMAGINATIONS OF YOUNG AND OLD

processing a voice into words, visualizing complete pictures and exerting the mental effort to follow a story line in the same way they do when listening to a story read aloud by a parent or watching a live performance.

Margalit also explains that when a child spends too much time on an iPad or smartphone instead of chatting and playing with others, their empathetic abilities — the way they read situations and get a feel for people — can be dulled, possibly permanently. Engaging in live performances can help mitigate this, according to Gutschick.

“Usually, when families leave the theater, they are talking with one another, phones and their attendant distractions securely stored in purses and pockets while themes from the show or favorite moments are shared between parents and children. Whereas many families enter the theater with habitual distractions, they usually leave with a renewed sense of focus on the people they love most,” he says.

The social and cognitive benefits of participating in live theater are more than anecdotal. The benefits of arts participation positively impact STEM disciplines. Nobel Prize winners in science are 22 times more likely than their peers to be performers. American CEOs are nearly unanimous in naming creativity as the No. 1 trait sought in graduates. Arts participation among children leads to higher test scores and graduation rates and, consequently, to a higher rate of college attendance. Arts participants are also more likely to engage in volunteerism and political activity. Most encouraging of all, these findings cut across all socioeconomic groups.

“If the opposite of distraction is connection, live theater and theater education have a crucial role in developing the minds and hearts of our young people,” says Gutschick. “The education researcher Vivian Paley found that fantasy play is a child’s work. It is the activity that allows them to ‘make up a new scene’ that practices the art of problem-solving.

“In other words, creativity is the practice of finding connections where none existed before,” he says.

By taking children to the theater, the ballet, concerts and more, parents can help reduce the impact of hours of screen time and help children develop the important cognitive skills they need to understand the world around them.

Perhaps best of all, the experience involves enjoyable quality time spent as a family where adult and child can rediscover themselves and each other.

THE ROSE THEATER

Arts participation has also been shown to positively impact STEM disciplines