November 2014

Happy Thanksgiving!

INSIDE

LET’S EAT OUT!

NOV 2014

• DAD’S EYE VIEW • FAMILY MOVIE TIME • EARTHTALK • DISCOVERY BOX

NEW

Homework Strategies for Everyone

K

by Michael Floretta

ids are so busy these days – with after school sports, music lessons, doctor/ dental appointments, or other extracurricular activities. So much so, that sometimes homework falls through the cracks. Maybe it gets scribbled out in the car, or finished up before breakfast, maybe it’s tackled during that night’s American Idol. While extracurricular activities are vital to our kids, they should not cause homework routines to disappear. In fact, all this “busyness” actually makes the need for a strong homework routine even more critical.

As an educator, the primary difference I notice between students who succeed with homework and those who struggle, comes down to one thing: Homework Routines (or lack thereof). Students without set routines can manage the work, despite hectic schedules. However, they struggle a lot more, and run the risk of just “getting it done” versus actually understanding the material. Students with routines generally absorb the material better, are less stressed, and wind up better off overall.

Figuring out a workable routine isn’t easy – and in fact may change as schedules change throughout the year. Regardless, it’s important to involve your children when the time comes.

Don’t dictate a rout i n e an d expect them follow it – give them a voice and some ownership in the process. The first key to consider during your discussion is: keep it simple. Next, agree on Check us out on-line at www.oregonfamily.com

1) a good time to do homework 2) a comfortable and quiet location 3) organization and 4) accountability.

SCHEDULES, SCHEDULES, EVERYWHERE… Finding a consistent time for homework might actually be the most difficult step in this process. Students have so many extracurricular activities that a 3:30 homework time may work on Monday, but not on Tuesday because of piano lessons or sports. If your child’s schedule is inconsistent from day to day, be creative, and

f i n d

u s

o n l i n e

a t

flexible – maybe it works at 4:00pm on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, but not until 6:00pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Regardless of how it works out, sticking to the schedule is the key to success.

It’s also important to consider what system works best for your child’s personality. Will he be more successful doing homework right after school? Or does he need a little time to unwind? If there is more than one child in the household, this can be a challenge; but the same considerations must be taken. Many household have a younger child where homework immediately after school and a snack is best, whereas older kids might prefer to allow some time for homework b e f o r e bedtime.

The second aspect of timing is establishing “c o m p l e t i o n time” goals. Having a goal for when all

w w w . o r e g o n f a m i l y . c o m

work should be done helps the student stay motivated and on task.

Finally, consider scheduling breaks if needed. Younger students (K-2) should take a ten minute break every 30-minutes. Intermediate students (grades 3-5) should take a break every 45-50 minutes, and middle-schoolers should work for an hour before any break. High-school student can comfortably stay focused and on task for 90 minutes without a break. Make sure break times are set before homework begins so your child can plan accordingly.

HERE, THERE… BUT NOT EVERYWHERE… After deciding on a schedule with your child, it’s time to come up with a good location. One disclaimer: there may be unique situations when homework gets done in the car, on the sidelines, or simply while outand-about. This is fine, so long as it is the exception, not the rule. It’s important to avoid those scenarios whenever possible – by doing so, it gives the message that homework is a priority and deserves special time and attention.

To decide on a good location, walk around the house with your CONTINUED ON PAGE 3…

PAGE 1

Rescue Spotlight

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ALIENTE is a big, burly, handsome short-haired buff tabby male kitty. He was abandoned and lived on the streets of Eugene for awhile, and eventually he got into a horrible fight with another homeless cat. He was rescued

by WCDC, and when he was taken in to be neutered, he tested positive for FIV (the feline immunodeficiency virus). He is all healed up now, and it is likely that with a few precautions, he will lead a normal life. His immune system can be protected by keeping him as an indoor-only kitty. The virus can’t be passed to dogs or to people, and only to other cats through a deep bite wound—thus he needs to be an ONLY CAT. He loves people, but he can be unpredictable and should not be in a home with small children. This special boy will make the right adopter an awesome companion! Valiente is being sponsored by Main St Mini Storage, and his adoption fee is $50 (instead of our normal $90 fee, which is strictly to help us cover our costs). He has been tested for feline leukemia (he is negative), neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, defleaed and dewormed—plus he comes with a free vet visit. For more information call Beth at (541) 255-9296.

Pacific Parents Publishing EDITOR

Sandy Kauten CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Rick Epstein Jen Galvin Bonnie Harris Kim Green-Spangler

GRAPHIC DESIGN/LAYOUT

Springer Design & Illustration ADVERTISING

Christi Kessler • 541.484.0434 christi@oregonfamily.com Sandy Kauten • 541.683.7452 sandy@oregonfamily.com OREGON FAMILY

P.O. Box 21732 Eugene, OR 97402 541.683.7452 FAX: 541.683.7925 Email: info@oregonfamily.com Web: www.oregonfamily.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/OregonFamily

West Coast Dog and Cat Rescue is an all-volunteer non-profit organization. Want to help cover our animals’ medical costs? Go to www.westcoastdogandcat.org and click on ‘Donate’ or send a check to: WCDC, P.O. Box 72401, Springfield, OR 97475.

Opinions expressed by contributors or advertisers are not necessarily the opinions of this publication. © 2014 Pacific Parents Publishing. All rights reserved. No part

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kywalker is an 8 week old female terrier mix puppy who will be about 10 pounds when fully grown. She and her two siblings and mother were rescued from a high-kill shelter by “Luvable Dog Rescue” and are all up for adoption. Skywalker’s adoption fee is $300 and this covers her spay surgery, microchip, a health exam, and all vaccinations. For an application to adopt her, please email: lkwpb@rosenet.net “Luv-a-Bull” Dog Rescue is a 501c3 non-profit animal shelter founded in 1999 that raises funds to save dogs on death row in high-kill shelters and find them loving homes in Oregon. Luvable specializes in carefully matching dogs into families that are compatible, and who have special requirements, such as very young children or other pets to consider. Please go to our website to view available dogs: www.luvabledogrescue.org or email for an application: lkwpb@rosenet.net

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DESIGN DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP

Reinventing the Way Families Live in Eugene 1

VIEW FROM TERRACE LOOKING SOUTH

Date

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continued from front cover… child and find a place that’s suitable, comfortable, and quiet. This place will look different in each home, and for each child, but there are a few basics to keep in mind. First, the workspace: desks, tables, or countertops are always better than couches or beds.

Locations will likely look different by age. K-5 students should work where a parent is nearby for help… a kitchen counter or living room table are good choices. Middle-schoolers might be comfortable in those same places, but also might do better in their own space, like their bedroom or an office. Most high-schoolers will opt for the privacy of their own room. Once deciding on location, talk to your child about what they need to complete their homework.

For younger students (K-2) this might be some sharpened pencils, markers, a ruler, and paper. As the students get older they will likely need access to a computer/printer, and the location will need to allow for different types of assignments and projects.

The location should also be considered a no phone/TV zone.

Some students (especially older ones) can study with music. Save the phones, social media, texting, and TV for break times and/or after homework is completed. Lastly, with larger families, it’s a good idea to set up a different homework corner for each child. Siblings can be just as distracting as phones and TVs, so separation is usually a good idea.

THIS GOES HERE, THAT GOES THERE… With time and place figured out, now it’s time to get organized! Think of organization in two forms: day-today and long-term. Some students really struggle with the details of dayto-day organization – particularly

the younger ones; which is why it’s important to set up a routine. It might be a forgotten worksheet, or a text book, or something else key to assignment that stops progress in its tracks. To help out here, decide on a system they can manage for writing down their assignments. For some a sticky note works well, others might prefer a planner. Come up with a routine before and after school to ensure your child is prepared and thinking about homework time later that day. To start, it may help to make a checklist that reminds her to write her assignments down, bring home materials or books, and to ask her teacher any questions about the homework before leaving school.

Long-term organization is equally important. For younger students this is simply asking them to take stock of their homework area each week; Sunday is good. Ask them see if any supplies need refilling, and have them clean out their binder and backpack so they are ready for the week ahead. For older students (students with more tests and longterm projects), there’s an added element to long term organization.

These students need to keep track of long term projects and upcoming tests. Sunday is a great day for them to take fifteen minutes and make a plan to tackle the projects and tests throughout the week, rather than leaving them until the night before.

GOOD…BETTER… BEST! And finally, the component of

accountablity. Your child will work harder if he knows you will hold him accountable for finishing and understanding his homework. It’s vital that you (or a spouse, uncle, aunt, grandmother, older sibling) make yourself available for questions while your child is working on homework. It’s just as important to also check their work when they are

understand the work. If your child continues to struggle with homework after taking these measures, find the underlying problem. Set up a meeting with their teacher to brainstorm idea that will help your child succeed. Finally, it’s important to establish good study habits as early in their life as possible. This does not to suggest it’s too late for

done. Make sure he completed the work as assigned, and understand it. If mistakes were made, do not simply give him the answer… help him understand where the problem occurred and why. When students know their work will be checked, they will take their time and try their best to get it right the first time.

As you and your child sit down to make decisions about timing, l o c at i o n , o r g a n i z at i o n , a n d accountability, be sure your child’s voice is heard. She will not be as motivated to establish a routine if it’s handed down to her. Consider her personality and factor in strengths and weaknesses to make it successful.

As you’re setting up routines and processes for you children, keep in mind that even a perfect routine will not help a child who simply does not

middle or high-schoolers; but doing the work during the primary grades will do wonders for their success in the later years. Finally, be a good role model they can learn from and look up to. Be consistent and hold them accountable for their work.

Show them how to be patient and persevere when faced with a difficult assignment. They will learn as much from you through this process as anything else.

Michael is a certified teacher with a Masters degree in education and ten years experience teaching in the Eugene/ Springfield area. He is currently a coowner of Academic Achievement Center located at 435 Lincoln St in Eugene. AAC serves children ages K-12 in all subjects.

They also do SAT/ACT test prep and academic themed camps year-round. They can be reached at 541-654-4999

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by Bonnie L. Harris

Mo ieTime A Fairy Tale Outside the Box Laika Animation/Focus Features Rated PG • Now in Theatres

T

he first thing to say about the zany, action-packed feature film The Boxtrolls is that it’s very British. From the mythical town of Cheesebridge, which looks like a leaning mountain of cheese cubes, to the elaborate costumes and cluttered sets, The Boxtrolls radiates a whimsical European aura.

Much of the movie’s charm comes from a blend of dry English humor and 19th century fairy tale in the original book, Here Be Monsters!,

by Alan Snow. The spectacular stop-motion animation and the extraordinary attention to detail easily overcome the one or two thin moments in the story.

Like other fairy tales, the film opens with a tragic event; in this instance, it’s the kidnapping of a baby boy, who is then raised by a

clan of little trolls living beneath the streets of Cheesebridge. The boxtrolls refurbish unwanted and undesirable things that they find in the trash, and when the baby, named Eggs, grows into a curious 10-year-old, he’s just as innovative and mechanical as his adoptive family. Of course, this tale has a nasty villain, aptly named Archibald Snatcher, who vows to exterminate every boxtroll he can catch. He spreads terrible rumors about blood-thirsty boxtrolls, and he has a grand scheme to take control of Cheesebridge from Lord Portley-Rind. Eggs, and his new friend, Winnie, unravel the mystery of the kidnapped baby

Eggs learns to be a boxtroll

and free the imprisoned boxtrolls, which reveals Snatcher’s devious plotting to the townspeople.

Be warned, The Boxtrolls is rated PG for good reason. That

dark British humor, the scenes of Snatcher’s cheese allergy, and his grisly demise might be too intense for younger viewers. The boxtrolls also lose their boxes, for a short time, which reveals their lack of proper underwear! Be sure to watch to the very end of the credits, there’s a stop-motion animation treat that you don’t want to miss.

FOR THE PARENTS

Sophie and Stanley share a dance

A Match Made in the Moonlight Sony Pictures Classics, Rated: PG Now in Theatres

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f you listen to the critics or read the reviews, Woody Allen’s new film, Magic in the Moonlight, sounds like a gamble.

Unfortunately, movie critics frown on a director who makes films that are too similar, and the press has panned Magic in the Moonlight after comparing it to Allen’s 2011 feature, Midnight in Paris. The negative reviews are unfortunate because this is a sweet, wonderful, romantic- comedy that would be a shame to miss.

The story begins during a performance by the renowned Chinese magician, Wei Ling Soo, who later removes his costume backstage and becomes the temperamental Englishman Stanley Crawford.

As a purveyor of illusion and an expert cynic, Stanley is asked by an old friend, Howard Burkan, to help unmask a young American woman, who claims to be a mystic. Howard, who is a fellow magician, confesses that he can’t explain the woman’s uncanny intuition.

Stanley agrees to travel with Howard to the south of France to meet the mystic, Sophie Baker, and expose the deception. Howard also explains that a family fortune is at stake because the young heir, Brice Catledge, is determined to marry the irresistible Sophie, and his mother has pledged to support an institute for psychic phenomena. The big question: “Is she or isn’t she?”, finally traps Stanley, and his indomitable ego makes us wonder: “Will he or won’t he?”

After Stanley finally falls in love with Sophie, he begins to wonder if his feelings are only an illusion.

The twists and turns in the plot, along with the chemistry between lead actors Colin Firth and Emma Stone, make this film a pleasure to watch to the charming end. The luxurious, late 1920’s costumes and set designs create a magical atmosphere of romance, which Allen tops off with a captivating soundtrack.

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EDUCATION MATTERS

by Statepoint Media

Don’t Let Your

“As I Lay Dying” in school, make a movie night of it. Pop some popcorn and invite his or her friends over to watch the film version of the novel.

Kids’ Brains Go on Vacation During the Holiday Season

Y

ou may have heard of “summer slide” – when those summer months cause kids to lose all that glorious information and knowledge they acquired during the school year.

But even shorter breaks can cause education rifts for students, too.

Not to worry. You can help dampen this effect by making sure kids use their brains over the holidays. The only requirement: make it fun.

Here are a few ideas to keep your children’s brains busy during holiday breaks:

STUDY BUDDIES Whether your children pair up with just one friend or an entire crowd, consider making studying a social event. Add some festivity to the affair by serving snacks and desserts. Around the holidays, you

might even include a themed gift exchange for added appeal.

If you are in between semesters, there may not be any official studying to do, but kids can keep their minds moving with supplemental learning.

For example, if your child studied

FUN LEARNING TOOLS Consider online learning tools that use creative techniques to engage students. For example, Shmoop, an online curriculum and test prep provider, offers original content that is fun without being cheesy. For example, the site has a “Pride and Prejudice” course which asks students to create OkCupid profiles for Lizzy, Jane, and Lydia Bennet.

“Even if it’s not 100 percent related to what your child is studying, fun tools and content can spark new interests,” says David Siminoff, founder and chief creative officer of Shmoop.

For example, the site’s “Shakespearean Translator” translates anything students type into “super authentic Shakespearean English,” turning even resistant readers into Shakespeare aficionados.

Additionally, the site has online courses on subjects t h at w i l l d e f i n it e l y keep kids’ brains stimulated without feeling like a snoozefest.

For example, short courses like “Breaking Bad as Literature,” “The World According to Dr. Seuss,” and “Bruce Springsteen`s America,” can make holiday learning a treat.

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EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS It’s no surprise that kids love television and movies. So why not mimic the experience with educational videos? Whether it’s a historical documentary or a mathoriented instructional video, the audiovisual format is a great vessel for many learners – especially those on vacation.

INCENTIVIZE For students who need motivation beyond the pursuit of knowledge or the satisfaction of better grades, consider a rewards system. Offering prizes for books read or lessons complete d cou ld b e just t he encouragement needed to get kids focused on academics over the holidays. Shmoop’s “Math Shack” takes this concept to heart, awarding badges and “Shmoints,” a virtual currency. No matter what your child is learning, a bit of material incentive can prove useful when helping kids set and achieve goals. Cookies can’t hurt, either.

The holiday season is not necessarily a time to be bored by schoolwork.

But it’s also no excuse to shut down all brain function.

More information can be found at www.Shmoop.com.

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PAGE 5

FUTURE FAMILY

by Statepoint

Experts Predict the Space?

Future of Travel Ocean Depths?

ILLUSTRATION: © SKYSCANNER

adventures in space and beyond due to technological innovations on the horizon,” says Filip Filipov, Head of B2B, Skyscanner.

Intrigued? Here are three areas of travel where you can expect to see dramatic changes in the not so distant future, according to the report.

A

s you book your next vacation, it doesn’t hurt to think ahead -- way ahead. Technology is changing everything about the way we live, work and play, and travel is no exception.

Indeed, Earth’s orbit and the depths of the oceans will become

vacation destinations over the next decade, according to predictions laid out in the third part of “Future of Travel 2024,” a report conducted

by Skyscanner, a leading global travel search engine.

“Future travelers will be able to take advantage of truly tailored

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SPACE AND SEA For travelers, space tourism is an emerging frontier. Travelers will be able to enter Earth’s low orbit to experience the stunning curvature of the globe from an ultra-high altitude. Looking beyond 2024, space travelers may soon be able to enjoy the view suspended in sky resorts containing zero-gravity spas, space gliders and space observatories where guests can even experience weightlessness.

“Even more exciting than being able to jet off into outer space will be the possibility of flying in low orbital space planes that will radically cut inter-continental flight times, even eliminating jetlag in the process,” says Filipov.

Journeys to the bottom of the sea are predicted to be a much more mainstream, affordable and fashionable alternative to space travel.

While underwater hotel rooms already exist as novelty destinations, a new wave of innovators are scaling up the concept, aiming to build entire resorts under the waves — including spas, gardens and pools, all with aquarium stylewindows allowing guests to go outside in diving gear.

HYPER-PERSONALIZED HOTELS Forget the television, hotel room

walls will one day be fully interactive, capable of playing films, showing pictures, displaying video calls from loved ones and even providing frosting for private work spaces within the room.

“As a response to advances in technology and peer-to-peer travel, hotels will empower guests with incredible levels of hyper-personalization,” says Filipov. “Travelers will be able to book rooms through their mobile devices where everything from the air temperature to shower settings is set specifically for them.”

NEW DESTINATIONS TO DISCOVER Bragging rights are a perennial travel motivator. In 2024, travelers seeking unique journeys that will make them the envy of friends and family will have no shortage of choices.

The emergence of “forbidden zones,” areas currently deemed inaccessible by conflict, will become attractive new destinations for discovery. Off-the-beaten track destinations like Bhutan are already seeing an increase in interest — as Skyscanner searches of this destination are up 40 percent since 2013.

Tourists are also predicted to travel to destinations where they can view endangered species and habitats before they’re gone.

So for those who are tired of the same old vacation spots year after year, your travel search will soon contain once impossible destinations.

The full report can be found at www.skyscanner2024.com

Success

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Discovery Box

by Kristin Strommer Illustration by Ray Troll

S

tor ytelling is an important t r a d it i on a c ro ss c u ltu re s .

Whether they’re told through songs, murals, or written or spoken words, stories help us learn about the past and celebrate our history.

But people aren’t the only ones who tell stories. We can also learn a lot about the past by “listening” to the

salmon were somewhere between six and ten feet long, and weighed as much as 400 pounds!

Although sabertooth salmon were

Edward Davis, a paleontologist at the Museum of Natural and Cultural History, uncovered several new sabertooth salmon fossils last summer near Madras, Oregon.

present some mysteries.

Why did the sabertooth salmon go extinct after being around for over nine million years? What exactly happened, about four million years ago, that caused this giant creature to disappear? Was its extinction caused by changes in climate? Did its habitat change so that this species could no longer survive? Were there other animals that pushed them out of the ecosystem?

Scientists at the UO and elsewhere are working to find answers to these questions, which will help us to better understand Oregon’s natural history – and may even help us do a

SAMMY THE SABERTOOTH SALMON stories that fossils tell.

Many of the fossils that scientists study are the remains of ancient organisms (living things), which have been preserved in rock or other material. It isn’t easy to become a fossil. Usually, when an organism dies, its body rots away, is eaten by something else, or breaks down due to environmental forces. But every once in a while, an organism dies in just the right place and is quickly buried by sand, soil, or some other material, which protects the organism’s remains long enough for fossilization to occur.

One of Oregon’s most fascinating fossils was unearthed near the town of Madras in the 1960s. Buried beneath gravel and boulders, scientists found the skull of a giant, fanged fish.

Further study – and additional fossil finds – helped scientists to estimate that these prehistoric sabertooth

extinct by about four million years ago, their fossil remains prov i d e to d ay ’s scientists with clues about where these fish lived and how they behaved. For example, chemical traces in the fossilized bone suggest that sabertooth salmon were very much like modern sockeye salmon: They hatched in freshwater streams and later swam to sea, where they ate a diet of plankton and lived most of their adult lives. Eventually, the fish would swim back upstream to spawn (reproduce). It’s possible that the spot near Madras is an ancient spawning ground where a number of giant fish were buried soon after they died.

While sabertooth salmon fossils have revealed a lot of important stories about their lives, they also

better job of conserving our modernday salmon populations.

The sabertooth salmon fossil that was found in the 1960s is part of the fossil collection at the UO Museum of Natural and Cultural History.

The fossil – known affectionately as “Sammy” – is one of the big stars in the museum’s Explore Oregon exhibit. There, visitors can see a lifesize model of the sabertooth salmon, touch a replica of the fossil skull, and see actual fossils of the sabertooth salmon’s fang and vertebrae.

The Museum of Natural and Cultural History is located at 1680 E. 15th Avenue, on the UO campus. Museum hours are Tuesday through Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Visit us online at natural-history.uoregon.edu.

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STORY TIMES AND PLAY GROUPS

Barnes & Noble weekly story time, Whimsical Weds 6:30pm. Toddler-Time, Weds 10am. Ph 687-0356

Baby Story time (to 12mos) Fridays 10:15 & 11:15am. Wonderful Ones Story time, 10:15 & 11am, Terrific Twos Story time, Tues 10:15 & 11:00, Preschool Story time (ages 3-6), Weds 10:15 & 11:00, Sensory Storytime Eugene library, call for days and locations, Ph 682-8316

MOMS Club - An organization for at-home moms & children that meets on the second Thursday of each month. Come check it out! Kids welcome! Members based on zip code. http://eugenemomsclub.org/

Family Story Time, Fri 10:15am Sheldon Branch Library and Fridays at 10:15am at Sheldon Branch Library. Ph 682-8316

Be sure to check out our listings for classes and workshops at www.oregonfamily.com

Preschool Story time (ages 3-6) Weds 10:00am, Lapsit Story time (ages 0-3) Weds 10am, Springfield Public Library, Ph 726-3766

ON-GOING EVENTS SF Library New Readers’ Book Club, age 8 and under, third Tuesday of each month, 4-5pm. Pre-reg. Ph 726-3766

Weekly Lap sit: Preschool (ages 3-6) and Lap sit (infants & toddlers) story time, Weds 10am, Springfield Library. Ph 726-3766

Nutcracker

e

E U G E N E

B A L L E T

C O M PA N Y

A holiday adition for the entire family! at all four performances

Friday, Dec 19 | 7:30 pm Saturday, Dec 20 | 2:00 pm Saturday, Dec 20 | 7:30 pm Sunday, Dec 21 | 2:00 pm Hult Center for the Performing Arts

TICKETS 541-682-5000

eugeneballet.org | hultcenter.org Hult Center Box Office | UO Ticket Office

e Nutcracker Tea Emmy Award-Winning Storyteller Mark Lewis, the Sugar Plum Fairy and other characters from the ballet bring you The Nutcracker story while you enjoy finger foods, tea sandwiches and a tempting selection of sweets. Have your camera in hand to take photos with the dancers! Tea seatings before each matinee performance of the ballet. Tickets available at the Hult Center Box Office, 541-682-5000, and online at hultcenter.org

Sat, Dec 20 & Sun, Dec 21 at Noon

The Studio (lower level @Hult Center)

Fall Volunteer Recruitment. If you like working with people, have a passion for learning, and have time to invest, a volunteer position with the Museum of Natural and Cultural History might be for you. Volunteer applications being accepted throughout September. Ph 541-346-1717 The Science Factory Children’s Museum & Planetarium.

In the exhibit hall, “From Here – To There” – through January 4th 2015. Open daily 10-4pm. In the Planetarium, shows vary, Mon-Fri 2pm, Sat/Sun times vary. Closed during home Ducks games.

Public Skate @ The Ice Center. Call for skate times. Ph 682-3615 FREE admission at the Museum of Natural and Cultural History every Wednesday. Also come enjoy a FREE 45 minute guided tour every Friday at 1:00 and 3:00. Ph 346-1671, FREE!

Combining the virtuosity of worldclass artists with the energy of rock stars, PROJECT Trio is breaking down traditional ideas of chamber music.

Thursday, November 6th at The Shedd.

Makana is an internationally acclaimed guitarist, singer, and composer who is widely known for lending his musical talent for social change. Saturday, November 15th at The Shedd.

Creswell Farmer’s Market. Every Tuesday year round.

Farm fare that ranges from local fruits and vegetables to home grown meats. 4pm - 6pm, 182 South 2nd St. Creswell (Heidi Tunnel’s Bakery) Ph. 541-895-2096 Duck Downtown. Every Friday before Ducks home games, fans are gathering downtown to show their spirit! The Duck Truck and friends will make an appearance in both downtown Eugene and downtown Springfield. Dining discounts and drink specials, fan competitions, trivia, door prizes, live music. Come join the fun! Opponent fans welcome too! 5-9pm, FREE!

NOVEMBER CALENDAR 1 SATURDAY Oregon Ducks vs. Stanford Cardinals at Autzen Stadium, time TBD see www.goducks.com Dog Tale Time. Kids: Have fun and build skills in short one-on-one sessions reading to trained dogs. Dogs and handlers courtesy of PAAWS. Downtown Library, 2:003:30pm, Ph 541-682-8316

GO DUCKS! Weekend. One campus/Two museums. The Museum of Natural History (MNCH) and the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art (JSMA) offer free admission during U of O Ducks home games weekends. 11am-5pm, Ph 541-346-3024 Family Music Time: Emily Fox. This week, join Emily Fox for lively banjo tunes. Downtown Library. 10:15am, FREE! Ph 541-682-8316

2 SUNDAY Radio Redux presents Arsenic & Old Lace. Things are not what they seem in the Brewster household. You’ll die laughing at this clever re-enactment of a vintage radio broadcast by the Radio Redux Players. Hult Center, 7:30pm, $21, Ph 682-5000 Kids: Recycled Paper. Kids and family: make paper with BRING Recycling. Downtown Library, 1 & 3pm, FREE! Ph 682-8316

Fall for fresh

3 MONDAY Monday @ 4 for Tweens. “Zoombies vs. Humans” Springfield Library, 4pm, Ph 726-3766

Whoooo has fun at Saturday Market?

Owl bet you do!

Every day our central kitchen makes sandwiches, salads, deviled eggs and more for you to enjoy. We use local, healthy ingredients.

You’ve always counted on us for the freshest milk and ice cream.

Now, you’ll also enjoy our fresh to go items.

Treat your family to freshness!

PAGE 8

FIND US ONLINE: www.darimart.com www.facebook.com/darimart

Crafts • Food • Music • Family Fun Family entertainment at 11 AM www.eugenesaturdaymarket.org Check us out on-line at www.oregonfamily.com

4 TUESDAY Oregon Men’s Basketball. Ducks take on Northwest Christian in this exhibition game. 7pm, Matt Knight Arena, www.goducks.com

Preschool Fun with Art and Science. This week – Veggie Art. Springfield Library, 10:30-11am, ages 3-6, FREE! Ph 726-3766

7 FRIDAY

Little Family Yoga. Come with parent and learn yoga, ages 6-11. Springfield Library, 10:30am, Ph 726-3766

Oregon Womens Soccer vs. Oregon State. Papé Field, 3:00pm

6 THURSDAY

Eugene International Film Festival. A celebrated and lauded premier event that presents international original films and state-side gems, brings the filmmakers together and hosts lectures, awards and surprises. Visit website for film details, locations and ticket information. http://www. eugenefilmfest.org/

PROJECT Trio. Combining the virtuosity of world-class artists with the energy of rock stars, PROJECT Trio is breaking down traditional ideas of chamber music. “Packed with musicianship, joy and surprise” and “exciting a new generation of listeners about the joys of classical and jazz music.” The Shedd Institute, 7:30-9:30pm, $18-30, Ph 541-682-5000

Free First Friday. Enjoy the museum’s new exhibits and old classics. Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art and Museum of Natural History, 11am-5pm, FREE!

november

Free First Friday Concert. A lively concert of Scottish, Irish, Scandinavian, French, Québécois, Cajun and Americana music. Downtown Library, 6pm - 7:30pm, Ph 541-682-5450, FREE! Downtown Eugene’s First Friday ArtWalk. This monthly art walk in Eugene is hosted and led by special community guests. Jacobs Gallery, 5-8pm, FREE! Lego Club. Come and have fun with Legos and Dupelos.

Springfield Library, 2-4pm, ages 2-18, Ph 726-3766 First Friday Art Walk. A monthly art walk hosted and led by special community guests. Enjoy wandering the local galleries and venues and viewing a variety of art. Jacobs Gallery. 5:00-8:00pm, FREE!

8 SATURDAY Eugene International Film Festival. See the 7th Dog Tale Time. Kids: Have fun and build skills in short one-on-one sessions reading to trained dogs. Dogs and handlers courtesy of PAAWS. Downtown Library, 2:003:30pm, Ph 541-682-8316

CALENDAR

Saturday Stories. “Around the World”, Springfield Library, 10am, Ph 541-736-3766

Emerald Valley Opry, featuring: Craig and Terry Band, Billy McCoy, Corn Stalkers, The Hanson Family, Michael Hall. Powers Auditorium Willamette High School, doors open 5pm, concert 6:00-9:30pm, $3-$7, under 7 free, Ph 688-0937 7th Annual Play in the Rain Day. Spend the day outdoors with your family, rain or shine! Enjoy hikes, scavenger hunts, hay rides, nature art, campfire cookery, archery, tree-climbing, and more! Mount Pisgah Arboretum, 10 am-3pm, FREE! Ph 541-747-1504 Emerald City Roller Girls Derby Bout. Emerald City Roller Girls is a Women’s Flat Track Roller Derby Association (WFTDA) league of amateur skaters, competing at a regional and national level. Church of Sk8in vs Andromedolls. Lane Events Center, 6pm, $5-12, Ph 800-838-3006 Emmaus Holiday Bazaar. Walk among booths featuring handmade quilts, baked goods and candies (including Lefse), cinnamon rolls, handmade crafts, gift baskets and gently used books for adults and kids. Don’t forget to try your luck at the Cookie Walk. Emmaus Lutheran Church, 9am-2pm, FREE! Ph 541.344.1150 Family Music Time. Join Pia and Jason Robbins of Little Timbre Studio for creative, engaging activities to support development of the whole child. Downtown Library, 10:15am, Ph 682-8316, FREE! Sheldon Colleens Fall Dance Showcase. See the artistry and creativity of our local groups, clubs and teams in this dance showcase. Support Sheldon’s dancing Colleens by shopping their Chic Boutique. See a dazzling array of handcrafted items, collectables, food & treats and local services and products. Sheldon High School, (Dance) 9:30am-11:30am, $5, (boutique) 11:30-8pm (FREE!), Ph 541-337-3367 9th Annual NW Women’s Comedy Festival. Funny! Female!

Fearless! This year’s festival features a few Festival favorites and a slew of funny women who are new to our stage. Melody Dodd is our host and our roster (in alpha order) is: Lucia Fasano, Leigh Anne Jasheway, Kirsten Kuppenbender, Katie Rose Leon, Amy Miller, Monica Nevi, Stephanie Purtle, Susan SanAzaro, and JoAnne Shinderle.

Free wine and dessert. Adult Only Event. Wildish Theater, 6:30pm, $30, Ph (541) 868-0689

9 SUNDAY Oregon Men’s Basketball. Ducks take on Western Oregon exhibition game. 6pm, Matthew Knight Arena, www. goducks.com Oregon Women’s Basketball. Ducks take on Westmont College in this exhibition game. 2pm, Matt Knight Arena, www.goducks.com Kids: Yoga. Join Brynne Blevins Andrus to try playful, relaxing, and energizing yoga moves. Downtown Library, 1 & 3pm, FREE! Ph 682-8316 Piccadilly Flea Market. Come find your newest treasure at Eugene’s only Flea Market where people sell crafts, collectibles, wares and services. Lane Events Center, Early bird 8-10am $7.50/10am – 3pm $1.50, Ph 541-683-5589 Eugene International Film Festival. See the 7th Autumn Trails Eugene Run. This exciting annual run features a medly of courses, from a 3.5 mile, 6 mile, 10 mile and 16 mile, with each of the courses being organic; meaning the length of the trails is the length of the races.

Distances are approximate. Frank Kinney Park - South Eugene, 10am, $25-30, Ph 541-343-6414

10 MONDAY Monday @ 4 for Tweens. Movie Day. Springfield Library, 4pm, Ph 726-3766

Spend the day outdoors with your family, rain or shine at the 7th Annual Play in the Rain Day! Enjoy hikes, scavenger hunts, hay rides, nature art, campfire cookery, archery, tree-climbing, and more! Saturday, November 8th at the Mount Pisgah Arboretum.

CALENDAR CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE…

ALTON BROWN LIVE! ThE EdIBLE INEVITABLE TOuR Wacky culinary experiences, audience participation, and music!

Wednesday, February 25, 7:30pm Get Tickets Now! HultCenter.org • 541-682-5000

Check us out on-line at www.oregonfamily.com

PAGE 9

CALENDAR CONT’D… Experience the gorgeous harmonies, crisp musicianship, infectious songwriting, and warm, engaging stage presence of Red Molly. Friday, November 21st, at The Shedd.

Little Wonders: Stories and Activities for Pre-K. This month will be “Backbone Bonanza” with stories and fun activities about animals with spines. Museum of Natural and Cultural History, ages 3-5, 10:30-11:30am, Free-$5/family, Ph 541-346-3024

20 THURSDAY

9:30pm, $15.25-23.00, Ph 541-682-5000

Black Prairie. A band with its own internal momentum, genuine character and style. The Shedd Institute, 7:309:30pm, $15.25-23.00, Ph 541-682-5000 Preschool Fun with Art and Science. This week – Whooo Reads? Owls Read! Springfield Library, 10:30-11am, ages 3-6, FREE! Ph 726-3766

Annie! The Musical. Bet your bottom dollar that ANNIE is going to be the best and brightest show on the Great Willamette Way this Christmas! Why it’s going to shine brighter than the Chrysler building! Actors Cabaret.

7:30pm (dinner seating at 6:00pm), $16-$42.95, Ph 541683-4368

21 FRIDAY

22 SATURDAY

Oregon Men’s Basketball. Ducks take on Toledo. 4pm, Matthew Knight Arena, www.goducks.com

Oregon Ducks vs. Colorado at Autzen Stadium, time TBD see www.goducks.com

Narnia Ballet Preview by Hosanna Dance Studio. Springfield City Hall Lobby, 4pm, FREE! Ph 541-726-3766

GO DUCKS! Weekend. One campus/Two museums. The Museum of Natural History (MNCH) and the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art (JSMA) offer free admission during U of O Ducks home games weekends. 11am-5pm, Ph 541-346-3024

Red Molly. Known for their gorgeous harmonies, crisp musicianship, infectious songwriting, and warm, engaging stage presence. From folk roots to bluegrass, from heartbreaking ballads to barn-burning honky tonk, their caramel voices blend into their signature soaring, crystalline three-part harmonies. The Shedd Institute, 7:30pm-

Dog Tale Time. Kids: Have fun and build skills in short one-on-one sessions reading to trained dogs. Dogs and handlers courtesy of PAAWS. Downtown Library, 2:003:30pm, Ph 541-682-8316

World Famous Popovich Comedy Pet Variety Show. Featuring an amazing cast of housecats, dogs, parrots, geese, mice - even a miniature horse named Diamond and a German goat duo named Kurt & Helga, Popovich Comedy Pet Theater was voted Best Family Show in Las Vegas. Hult Center, 7pm, $28-38, Ph 541-682-5000

15 14 FRIDAY Oregon Men’s Basketball. Ducks take on Coppin State in the season opener. 9pm, Matthew Knight Arena, www. goducks.com Teen “Dr. Who” Club. Teens: catch the first meeting of the “Doctor Who” Club at Eugene Public Library!

Get together for viewing episodes, snacking, and Whovian conversation. Downtown Library, 4:00pm – 5:30pm, FREE! Ph 541-682-8316 Oregon Women’s Basketball. Ducks take on Utah State.

2pm, Matt Knight Arena, www.goducks.com

OPENS NOVEMBER 21!!

SATURDAY

Makana. Makana has dedicated his life to perpetuating as well as evolving the traditional Hawaiian art form. The Shedd Institute, 7:30-9pm, $12.50-29.00, Ph 541-682-5000 Dog Tale Time. Kids: Have fun and build skills in short one-on-one sessions reading to trained dogs. Dogs and handlers courtesy of PAAWS. Downtown Library, 2:003:30pm, Ph 541-682-8316 Family Music Time. This week: Rich Glauber delights all ages with interactive music play. Downtown Library, 10:15am, Ph 682-8316, FREE!

16 SUNDAY Bookmark Art. Kids and family: create collage bookmarks with Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art. Downtown Library, 1 & 3pm, FREE! Ph 682-8316

17 MONDAY Monday @ 4 for Tweens. Learn to Sew: Lil’ Devil Drawstring Bags. Springfield Library, 4pm, Ph 726-3766 Oregon Men’s Basketball. Ducks take on Detroit State.

8pm, Matthew Knight Arena, www.goducks.com

Book by Thomas Meehan Music by Charles Strouse Lyrics by Martin Charnin

Oregon Ballet Academy presents an all-children’s production of the classic Tchaikovsky ballet Swan Lake.

November 29th and 30th at the Lane Community College Performance Hall.

Based on the Tribune Media Service Comic Strip, “Little Orphan Annie”

Directed by Michael P. Watkins

Leapin’ Lizards!

The popular comic strip heroine takes centerstage in one of the world’s best-loved musicals.

“Annie” is a spunky Depression-era orphan determined to find her parents, who abandoned her years ago on the doorstep of a New York City Orphanage run by the cruel, embittered Miss Hannigan.

Friday & Saturday at 7:30 PM November 21, 22, 28, 29 and December 5, 6, 12, 13, 19 & 20, 2014 Dinner, Desserts and Beverages Available Brunch Matinees, Nov 30 & Dec 7, 2014 at 2 PM Brunch, Desserts and Beverages Available w/ Special Kid’s Dinner & Brunch Price & Menu

Oregon State University Ecampus delivers flexible learning opportunities online so parents like you can

OR FAMILY 11 & 12- 2014

raise a family while advancing your career. Our high-quality degree programs and courses are designed to meet students’ needs, and that’s why Ecampus is a nationally ranked provider of online education.

You can start in any season, so apply today. Winter term begins Jan. 5.

Actors Cabaret, 996 Willamette Street For Tickets & Information

Call 683-4368 PAGE 10

ecampus.oregonstate.edu/family | 800-667-1465 Check us out on-line at www.oregonfamily.com

25 TUESDAY

Annie! The Musical. See the 21st

Oregon Women’s Basketball. Ducks take on Portland State.

6pm, Matt Knight Arena, www.goducks.com

30 SUNDAY

28 FRIDAY

Annie! The Musical. 2pm matinee (brunch at 12:45) See the 21st

Saturday Market’s Holiday Market. See the 22nd

Saturday Market’s Holiday Market. See the 22nd

Annie! The Musical. See the 21st

Origami: Kids and family: learn origami with Tomo Tsurumi of Oregon Asian Celebration. Downtown Library, 1 & 3pm, FREE! Ph 682-8316

29 SATURDAY The Nutcracker Remix, from All That! Dance. What do you get when you take the classic tale of the Nutcracker and give it a modern twist? The Nutcracker Remixed! All of the enchantment of the beloved fairytale set to modern day music by Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Norah Jones and more. More than 200 youth dancers bring the story to life this holiday season. Hult Center, 7pm, $18, Ph 682-5000 Saturday Market’s Holiday Market. See the 22nd

Theater League presents Cirque Dreams: Holidaze. An original music score and some seasonal favorites accompany hundreds of spectacular costumes and holiday dreams in a setting of gigantic gifts, colossal candy canes and 30-foot towering soldiers. The perfect way to come in from the cold, forget the holiday stresses and rediscover the magic of the season. Presented by Theater League.

Hult Center, 7:30pm, $28-53, Ph 541-682-5000

23 SUNDAY

Annie! The Musical. See the 21st

Cirque Dreams – Holidaze. 2pm, see the 22nd

Saturday Market’s Holiday Market. Nearly 200 booths feature locally handcrafted gifts, international foods and entertainment, so all your holiday wish-lists can be fulfilled. You will find many of the same artisans, food booths and musicians from Eugene’s Saturday Market.

Lane Events Center, 10am-6pm, FREE! Ph 541-686-8885

Run to Stay Warm. Starts at EWEB Plaza, follows the paved bike paths along the beautiful Willamette River, and ends back at EWEB. Includes a half-marathon, 10K, 5K and Kids Fun Race. All proceeds will go to EWEB’s Customer Care program to help income-eligible customers having difficulty paying their utility bills. 9am, Ph 541-685-7169

Piccadilly Flea Market. Come find your newest treasure at Eugene’s only Flea Market where people sell crafts, collectibles, wares and services. Lane Events Center, Early bird 8-10am $7.50/10am – 3pm $1.50, Ph 541-683-5589

Saturday Market’s Holiday Market. See the 22nd

Oregon Women’s Basketball. Ducks take on North Carolina.

3pm, Matt Knight Arena, www.goducks.com Picaadilly Flea Market. Come find your newest treasure at Eugene’s only Flea Market where people sell crafts, collectibles, wares and services. Lane Events Center, Early bird 8-10am $7.50/10am – 3pm $1.50, Ph 541-683-5589

24 MONDAY Monday @ 4 for Tweens. Maker Space Brush Bots. Springfield Library, 4pm, Ph 726-3766

Family Music Time. This week, join singer/songwriter Rob Tobias for classics, originals, and tunes made up on the spot. Downtown Library, 10:15am, Ph 682-8316, FREE!

Oregon Men’s Basketball. Ducks take on Portland State. 5pm, Matthew Knight Arena, www.goducks.com Swan Lake - A Children’s Ballet. 1 & 6pm, see the 29th Be sure to check out our listings for Camps, Classes, and Workshops at www.oregonfamily.com

Swan Lake - A Children’s Ballet.

Oregon Ballet Academy presents an all-children’s production of the classic Tchaikovsky ballet Swan Lake. More than 200 local ballet dancers from preschool age to the pre-professional level take to the stage in this enchanting ballet based on a Russian folk tale in which a princess turns into a swan.

Lane Community College Performance Hall, 2 & 7pm, $12-15, Ph 541-338-7800 Dog Tale Time. Kids: Have fun and build skills in short one-on-one sessions reading to trained dogs. Dogs and handlers courtesy of PAAWS. Downtown Library, 2:00-3:30pm, Ph 541-682-8316

PHOTO BY JON CHRISTOPHER MEYERS

With a combination of musical influences including bluegrass, klezmer, jazz, tango, and Romanian music, Portland’s own Black Prairie kicks out a unique and energetic sound. Thursday, November 20th at The Shedd.

The Nutcracker Remix, 3pm, ph 541-682-5000

Coming in December: an annual holiday tradition, The Nutcracker, presented by the Eugene Ballet Company.

Northern Lights Christmas Tree Farm ˜ the Perfect Tree for Your Holiday Dreams ˜

Directed & Choreographed

by John Grensback

(541) 746-5161

Open 10am to 5pm daily, November 28th – Dec 24th www.northernlightschristmastreefarm.com

Check us out on-line at www.oregonfamily.com

NOV 29, 2pm & 7pm and NOV 30, 1pm & 6pm Lane Community College Auditorium Tickets available online: OregonBalletAcademy.com

PAGE 11

CREDIT: TONY BERNARD, FLICKR

e l Maga zin ironmenta v n E e T h f E/ Edito rs o From the

Dear EarthTalk: Is it true that playing on artificial turf fields can cause cancer? If so, how can I minimize exposure for my sports-loving kids?

— Melanie Witmer, Syracuse, NY

J

ust when you thought it was safe to play soccer on that brand new synthetic turf field, it may be time to think again. Those little black dirt-like granules that fill up the space between synthetic blades of grass and make up some 90 percent of today’s artificial turf fields are actually ground-up car and truck tires. As such they contain a host of potentially noxious chemicals that can lead to a wide range of health problems.

Four of the constituent chemicals in these “tire crumbs” (or “tire mulch”) as they are called—arsenic, benzene, cadmium and nickel—are deemed carcinogens by the International Agency for Cancer Research. Others have been linked to skin, eye and

541-302-1810 • 449 Willamette St. Right next door to the Train Station The Best Place for Low Cost

CREATIVE SUPPLIES in Lane County!

respiratory irritation, kidney and liver problems, allergic reactions, nervous systems disorders and developmental delays.

While the risk came to light recently when a University of Washington women’s soccer coach began to think it might be more than a coincidence that two of her goalies were stricken with cancer, researchers have known about such potential links for years. A 2007 report by the Connecticutbased Environment & Human Health Inc. (EHHI) looked at several scientific studies and found definitive connections between various health problems and exposure to synthetic turf.

EHHI also reported that kids on playfields are likely to face similar risks as line workers in the rubber fabrication and reclamation industries, where they say health reports show the presence of multiple volatile organic hydrocarbons and other toxic elements in the air.

“Studies at tire reclamation sites report leaching of similar sets of chemicals into the ground water,” says the group.

The Synthetic Turf Council, an industry group, maintains that there

Four of the constituent chemicals in the “tire crumbs” (ground up truck tires) used in artificial turf are deemed carcinogens by the International Agency for Cancer Research. Others have been linked to skin, eye and respiratory irritation, kidney and liver problems, allergic reactions, nervous system disorders and developmental delays.

is considerable evidence pointing to the health safety of synthetic turf. But the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) isn’t taking sides, leaving it up to state and local jurisdictions to decide whether or not to allow artificial turf. The EPA would like to see more research done so parents everywhere can have a better idea of the risks involved.

Of course, synthetic turf fields aren’t all bad. For one, they don’t need frequent watering (a grass playing field typically requires 50,000 gallons of water per week during growing season) and doesn’t require the application of potentially toxic pesticides.

Furthermore, turf is much more durable and less costly to maintain than grass, and players suffer fewer injuries on it since it doesn’t turn to slippery mud when wet.

Do these pros outweigh the cons? Some schools don’t think so and are turning back plans to convert their grass fields to turf. Where it is too late for that,

parents should warn their little athletes to stay upright as much as possible—turf-related cancers seem to be most common in goalies who spend the most time down on the turf surface. Also, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that those playing on synthetic turf avoid eating or drinking on the field where toxic dust can contaminate food and liquids, wash their hands and body aggressively with soap and water afterwards, and remove clothes worn on the field and turn them inside out before washing them separately from other items.

CONTACTS: International Agency for Cancer Research, www.iarc.fr; EHHI, www.ehhi.org; Synthetic Turf Council, www.syntheticturfcouncil.org; CDC, www.cdc.gov.

EarthTalk® is written and edited by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss and is a registered trademark of E - The Environmental Magazine (www.emagazine.com). Send questions to: earthtalk@emagazine.com.

HOURS:

Tue, Wed & Fri 11am - 6pm Thur 11am - 9pm • Sat 11am - 5pm

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PAGE 12

(800) 452-9515

| NWCU.com |

Check us out on-line at www.oregonfamily.com

FAMILY HOLIDAYS

by Kimberly Carlson

You’ll Thank Me Later Getting a head start on holiday shopping is a wise investment

J

ust as the leaves are turning from green to gold, your thoughts are turning to holiday shopping… and how much gold it will take! If you’re like me, you’ve already started an informal inventory of who is on your Christmas list this year and what you’d like to purchase them.

And if you’re scoffing right now and thinking, “Are you crazy? I’m still trying to pin down my child on a Halloween costume, never mind Christmas!” then perhaps you should start thinking about it.

According to a new sur vey commissioned by TransUnion, more than half (64.4 percent) of Americans go into the holiday shopping season without saving for it ahead of time.

Not only does that not bode well for your bank account, but you could be starting 2015 with major debt which could harm your credit score if you don’t pay it off, or on time.

MAKE A LIST A few years ago, I took the time to write down every single person I was going to buy a gift for over the holidays (or make a gift for), and then as ideas struck me, I would write down what I wanted to give them next to their names. Last year, I took it a step further, writing down their names and then the amount I could afford to spend on each person. Then I tried to find a gift that fit within the allotted amount. This gave me a much better handle on the amount of money I was spending for Christmas each year, and how much I need to save for the following year.

“Consumers should plan ahead now by making a list of those they plan to purchase gifts for, determining the total they will need to save between now and the holiday season; and setting apportion aside out of each paycheck, “ said Julie Springer, vice president at TransUnion. “That way,

when the holidays arrive, consumers can use their saved money, enjoy a more relaxed holiday season – and enter 2015 without the burden of unmanageable credit card debt.”

DIVIDE AND CONQUER After you’ve written your list and determined the amount you can spend on each person, tally it up. Now, don’t panic! I know it’s overwhelming at first.

It may even be the first time you’ve ever really sat down and dissected this information. I understand. Now, here’s a critical next step: determine how many paychecks you will receive between now and Christmas. Divide that number by the total amount you wish to spend and set aside that much from each paycheck. Breaking it down into smaller amounts will help you determine whether or not you have overstepped your spending boundaries, or if you’re right where you should be.

SHOP NOW, GIVE LATER I know the stores want you to believe they have amazing deals on Black

Friday and post-Thanksgiving in general. I know. But I have to say from experience that I not only spend less money by shopping sooner, I tend to buy only the items I need rather than the gimmicky thing I don’t. I have yet to see that truly amazing, one-of-akind gift on a “holiday special” that was less than the amount I paid for it in October.

BONUS BENEFITS Not only will you be less stressed once the holidays actually arrive, but starting your shopping now means having more time later to do the things you want to do for the holidays (like baking cookies with your kids after work). You won’t have to fight the crowds, slosh through the snow, or wait in those ridiculously long lines.

And the best part of all? Now that you’re used to setting aside a certain amount each month for Christmas, keep it going in 2015 and you’ll soon have a hefty savings account for those unexpected financial crises.

Kimberly Carlson is a freelance writer, editor, blogger, and single mom of two in Portland, Oregon, who admits to giving homemade gifts for Christmas when times are tough. She abhors shopping and still loves receiving hugs on Christmas morning the most. You can see more of her work at consultkimberly.wordpress.com.

Winter Basketball Register in November eugeneymca.org

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PAGE 13 Cheer * Creative Adult Movement

Building Healthy Bodies

PARENTING

by Malia Jacobson

Smart Kids, Smart Choices

RAISING GOOD DECISION-MAKERS

H

elping kids learn to make good choices is a powerful way to foster future success. We beam with parental pride when our toddler chooses to share a toy, or when our teen swaps candy for fruit. But how can we help raise kids who make good choices when we’re not around? All kids make questionable decisions from time to time, says family therapist Michelle P. Maidenberg, PhD, president of Westchester Group Works in Harrison, New York. But parents can help set kids on the path toward making better choices, for life. Read on for age-byage strategies for supporting strong decision-making skills, from toddlerhood through the teen years.

TODDLER/PRESCHOOL 2-5: MESSAGE MAGIC Beware constantly warning your tot to be careful or swooping in to hurriedly complete a task he’s trying to accomplish himself. Parents should tune into subliminal messages they may be sending to their child, says Maidenberg. “By always cautioning against risk or doing things on his behalf, you may be communicating that he isn’t capable or trustworthy and can’t make good decisions independently.”

Parents also send important messages

through their own actions.

Model effective problem-solving skills and sound decision making in your own life to impart these skills to kids. If you tend to procrastinate, flip flop between choices, or wallow in disorganization, your child may follow suit. Make a habit of sticking to your plans and seeing your choices through, and discuss the impact of daily decisions with your child. When something doesn’t work out the way you’d hoped, talk through what you might have done differently in age-appropriate language; for example, “Mommy decided to sleep later this morning, and now I’m sad because I missed my daily run.”

ELEMENTARY YEARS 6-12: FAILING UP During the school years, decision-making prowess starts to show—and

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sometimes, so do poor choices. But these small failures can actually help build stronger decision making skills down the road. The key is letting kids experience minor falls—and figure out how to get back up.

Radio personality Julie Gates of the Gene and Julie Show on Raleigh’s WRAL-FM learned that 9-year-old Sophia’s small mistakes could actually build decision-making power. “When Sophia was 6, she accidentally left her lunch in the refrigerator, and my first instinct was to jump in the car and shuttle it to school.” Then Gates remembered Sophia’s teacher telling her that a small mishap like a forgotten lunch can present an opportunity to build decision-making skills, confidence, and pride.

Sophia didn’t go hungry; she decided to ask her classmates if they had anything they could share. “One shared his apple slices and anoth-

er had an extra granola bar. She was so proud she was able to find a solution all by herself,” says Gates. “And she never forgot her lunch again.”

TEEN YEARS 13-18: FEAR FACTOR Juggling college applications, summer jobs, and relationships brings on a boatload of decisions for teens, along with a possible fear of failure.

A teen who procrastinates and seems to avoid big decision may be afraid to fail. If your teen seems to drag her feet with decisions, talk to her about her fears, says Maidenberg. Encourage more independent decision making by addressing fear-flooded beliefs like “I won’t be able to do it”, “I won’t be good at it”, or “They won’t like me.”

Help your teen see past fears by reminding her all that she’s capable of achieving when she sets her mind to something.

Don’t feed counterproductive fears by belittling a teen for a poor choice. Saying “You’re a moron!” or “What’s wrong with you?” communicates shame and hurts self-confidence, while phrases like “Everyone makes a bad choice now and then. What can you do differently next time?” motivates better choices, both now and in the years to come.

Malia Jacobson is an award-winning health and parenting journalist and mom of three. Her latest book is Sleep Tight, Every Night: Helping Toddlers and Preschoolers Sleep Well Without Tears, Tricks, or Tirades.

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It’s a Friday night and guests are arriving for Sally’s party. A man and his teenage son come up our front walk. I open the door and the boy, who is holding a festively large bag of potato chips, slips past me like a cat that wants in. The father and I shake hands on the porch. “I’m Jack McCrae, Shawn’s dad,” he confesses. He’d gotten out of his car to see if someone reckless enough to host a teenage party could also be responsible enough keep the orgy under control – and we both know it.

Talking loud to be heard over the din of music and laughter from inside the house, he says, “It’s nice of you to let the kids have a party here.”

But he means: I’d rather let a troop of rabid baboons have the run of my house than let Shawn throw a party.

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but their parents are nervous – as if they’ll find the host adults in a drunken swoon and have to take Junior back home. Once they find me and Betsy fully dressed and coherent, their relief is tempered by pity. As if you have a horrible disease, their eyes say: I know what you must be going through. Or: I’m so glad it’s not me.

Sally, who is a high school junior, throws a few parties a year. To ensure good attendance, she holds them before report cards come out.

(Afterward, lots of her friends are grounded.) To keep expenses down, her invitations say, “If you want to eat, bring something.” (Actually, her invitations are more like bossy memos.)

How bad are these parties?

Certainly it’s no fun to be regarded as an intruder in my own home.

Friendly mingling is out of the question; the only people who are less popular than the kids who don’t get invited to a party are the parents who supervise it.

But hosting a teen party is not about fun. It is about intelligencegathering.

These parties are like those big Mafia funerals you see in the movies. FBI agents stand by with their telephoto lenses and use the occasion to update their files. Likewise parents get a golden opportunity to put a face with a name.

But it’s better than that. You get to watch your kid and her guests in action. If you pay attention, you learn who’s who. “Gee, Sally seems to be giving a lot of attention to Sam Lee,” I’ll observe to my wife.

“Yeah,” says Betsy, “I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s her next boyfriend.”

“Well,” I say, “He looks you in the eye and seems to have a grip on basic manners. Sally could do worse.”

We are like gamblers visiting the race track to see the horses getting their morning workouts, finding out enough to make an informed bet.

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Aside from a broken butter dish, there has only been one incident.

One spring night, four of Sally’s friends decided to express their adolescent restlessness by leaving the party and walking 3 miles in the rain to the next town. No tragedies or scandals resulted, but I told Sally that parents who deliver their kids into our custody have a right to expect that their darlings will not spend the evening out wandering the county like disoriented hoboes. A six-month moratorium on parties was imposed.

Walking in the rain is not so very weird. Most of the kids act strangely, and you have to guess whether their behavior is induced by illegal substances or by their own hormonal chemistry. Boys have a tendency toward physical games and stunts, and you must be on hand to remind them of the basics of indoor living, including the household ban on Indian leg-wrestling in the living room.

Retire early and you leave your home in jeopardy and betray the trust of all those cravenly sympathetic parents. Worst of all, your intelligence-gathering will be limited to whatever you can piece together from the shards of party debris the next morning. No, the situation calls for peacekeeping forces, not forensic archaeologists.

Elbow your way through the gang too often and you kill the party. Do it too seldom and ... well, you want it to be a good party, but not so good that the videos are going viral the next morning.

Reach Rick Epstein at rickepstein@yahoo.com

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