RMParent Magazine | January | 2023

Mindful parenting

Cooking

Developmental

Mindful parenting

In parenting, mindfulness allows us to step back, think, then act. It helps us tap into our ideal parenting selves. Here are some tips on being a more mindful parent.

SPECIAL SECTION

Dive in to the new year with gusto! Find activity and program options to keep your family going in northern Colorado.

ABOUT THE COVER

Cover kid Adelyn loves the writing of Mark Twain, playing fetch with her dogs, calculators, and being in charge of the Roku so she can watch Bluey.

www.skysopendesign.com

Photo shot by Cheri Schonfeld, courtesy of Sky's Open Design.

It’s all about the present—Give yourself a New Year’s gift

I’M THINKING ABOUT the new year. I’m not really a resolutions person or a goals person. I’m more of a pick-a-direction-and-seewhat-happens person. That being said, I do use January as a time to reset. I pay close attention to the foods I eat. I stop drinking any alcohol for the month. I pick up my daily meditation and I focus on exercising.

January is a great month for the reset because we have fewer social engagements and I usually feel like I need a little more of the straight and narrow after all the eating, drinking and socializing of the holidays.

I’d like to think that I can maintain this healthy plan for the year, but experience has taught me that it slowly slips away as the year progresses. What started the year as off-limits, say ice cream, becomes a regular treat by summer. It’s a cycle and I try not to beat myself up about it, but I find that I am already looking forward to the discipline of January.

I know that as I pay better attention to my basic health then I am more aware of what choices I am making. The trick is to not sleep-walk through my days, but to be right there all the time. It’s tricky because our minds wander, and we rarely hang out in the moment. We get stuck replaying the past or worrying about the future and miss what’s right in front of us. We get distracted by our devices, TV, what’s going on at work, what we need to buy at the store, and we just aren’t present for what is actually happening.

As the turtle in Kung Fu Panda says: The past is history. The future’s a mystery, so all we have is the present, which is a gift.

Some days I get up and say that I am going to try to be present as much as possible that day, so when I’m cutting up peppers for the eggs, I’m right there cutting up peppers instead of my usual drifting to what I have to do later that day, or what I should have said at yesterday’s meeting. It sounds much easier than it is. Try it out. Go for an entire shower with your mind just in the shower with you feeling the warm water hit your skin, smelling the shampoo, hearing the water splashing onto the shower floor. When your mind drifts, as it will, bring it back to the shower.

Mindful parenting

On a related note, Lynn Nichols writes in her feature story about just this type of thing but in a different context. Basically, it advocates that we don’t “sleepwalk through our lives, rather, we stay in the present moment and remain aware of what is happening around us. Staying mindful lets us make conscious decisions, and empowers us to notice, then reshape, our internal messages or judgments.”

It’s no small thing to be aware of your thoughts while you’re having them and then to take that step back and actually decide how you want to address the situation.

Try it.

Wishing you presence for the New Year, Scott

JANUARY 2023 • Volume 26, Issue 7

PUBLISHER

Scott Titterington, (970)221-9210 scott.rmpublishing@gmail.com

EDITOR

Kristin Titterington, (970)221-9210 kristin.rmpublishing@gmail.com

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Emily Zaynard emily.rmpublishing@gmail.com

ADVERTISING SALES DIRECTOR

Greg Hoffman, (970)689-6832 greg.rmpublishing@gmail.com

DISTRIBUTION MANAGER

Susan Harting susan.rmpublishing@gmail.com

COVER PHOTO

Cheri Schonfeld courtesy of Sky's Open Design

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Theresa Baer, Lea Hanson, Katie Harris Lynn U. Nichols, Claire L. Sable

ROCKY MOUNTAIN PUBLISHING PO Box 740 Fort Collins, CO 80522 Voice 221-9210 • Fax 221-8556 editor@rockymountainpub.com www.RMParent.com

Rocky Mountain Parent magazine is published monthly by Rocky Mountain Publishing, Inc. Publication of this paper does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services advertised. RMP reserves the right to refuse any advertisement for any reason. The opinions expressed by contributors or writers do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Rocky Mountain Publishing. ©2023 Rocky Mountain Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction without express written permission is prohibited.

OUR COMMUNITY PARTNER:

Family Health Need headline Please

Cooking with your kids

DOES THE IDEA OF

COOKING

with your kids send you diving for the food delivery app? While the thought of a sink full of dirty bowls not to mention the possible spills and messes send a shiver down your spine, cooking and baking with your kids can be a great way to bond while teaching them important life skills.

In fact, according to the University of Nevada Extension Office, cooking enables kids to practice a variety of things. Arithmetic is needed to count and measure. Reading skills are

needed to read through a recipe step-by-step, and eye-hand coordination is used while stirring, molding or rolling out dough. Kids will also have to communicate their ideas and questions and think about next steps, which requires abstract thinking.

In addition to the quality time spent together, parents can teach their kids about nutrition as well as how to plan ahead and be more self-sufficient. It may also help your picky eaters be more open to trying new foods because they were involved in the preparation.

Cooking classes for kids

PACKING YOUR KIDS’ LUNCHES is just one more thing on your already packed to-do list, but what if you could offload that task—to your kids.

Damon Korb, M.D., author of Raising an Organized Child, says that kids as young as 8 or 9 can do some of their own food prep. And while you are freed up to focus on other things, your kids are learning how to plan ahead, be creative and take on more responsibility, all of which builds confidence.

Easy-to-put-together lunches that require little-to-no adult supervision include peanut (or other nut butter) and jelly sandwiches, or a nut butter with sliced banana sandwich. Another kid-friendly combo is pre-sliced cold cuts and pre-sliced cheese, both of which are nutritious and easy for kids to assemble themselves.

If your kids aren’t big sandwich eaters, another nutritious option is hummus or a vegetable dip with pre-washed and cut veggies or crackers. Yogurt with fruit and cottage cheese with veggies are quick and easy alternatives that will fill kids up. And rolled up tortillas with cream cheese give kids an opportunity to practice their coordination and dexterity.

ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS to consider when it comes to kids and cooking is safety—safety using knives and appliances such as blenders or mixers, safety around stoves and ovens including proper use of oven mitts and potholders, food safety, and even more practical things like how to thoroughly wash produce and keep hands clean throughout the process.

Because there are so many important aspects to teaching kids to cook, handing them over to the pros is an appealing option for some parents, and fortunately, that’s doable.

Two different cooking schools in Fort Collins offer cooking classes for kids. The Cooking Studio has its own brick and mortar school in downtown Fort Collins and holds classes for kids ages 6 and up. Chefs on the Go is another local cooking school for kids that takes students to participating restaurants where on-site chefs teach students in their restaurant’s kitchens.

Lunches kids can make for themselves

Library events and resources —More than just books

Northern Colorado libraries offer adventure, learning and incredible resources for all ages, abilities and languages–both in-person and online.

Storytimes & Events

Electronic/Technology Resources

IN ADDITION TO the physical books you can check out, look at library websites for downloadable eBooks, audiobooks, e-comics and magazines as well as streaming movies and music from sources such as Libby by Overdrive, Hoopla, Kanopy and Flipster. Free in-person classes and tutorials are available on how to use these electronic resources. Also available online are resources for elementary/middle/high school research; scholarship information; job search/career planning; video courses to learn technology, creative and business skills; and databases with information on history, science, literature, genealogy, auto repair, consumer reports, etc. K-12 and college students can interact one-on-one with live tutors for homework help. Even practice driving tests and study manuals are available.

But wait, there’s more!

THERE’S NO STOPPING WHAT can be found at the library. In addition to providing computers, WiFi, printers, and faxing, some local libraries provide 3D printing capabilities for a small fee. Some offer take-home laptops and wireless routers to use as mobile WiFi hotspots as well as specialty items and gadgets such as Colorado State Parks passes, telescope kits, GoPro camera kits, karaoke systems, screen projectors, noisecancelling headphones, energy monitoring kits, and even cake pans!

You can access private study rooms and

ONGOING PROGRAMS and special events occur monthly for all ages to promote and enhance skills for early literacy, language development, technology, art, music, multicultural awareness and much more. For babies, toddlers and preschoolers look for storytimes (including bilingual) often with music, crafts and animals. Youth and teens can explore reading, writing, gaming and building clubs, art/cooking workshops, movie/ game nights, or even practice reading aloud to service dogs. Teens and adults can attend classes related to jobs/careers, finances/legal and life-skills training. Visit your local libraries or check out their online event calendars to learn more.

 Berthoud Community Library District

www.berthoudcommunitylibrary.org

 Clearview Library District Windsor, Severance: www.clearviewlibrary.org

 Estes Valley Library

www.estesvalleylibrary.org

 High Plains Library District Greeley and beyond: www.mylibrary.us

 Loveland Public Library

www.Lovelandpubliclibrary.org

 Poudre River Public Library District www.Poudrelibraries.org

reserve meeting space for large groups; get tax help or notary services, and receive U.S. Citizenship tutoring. Families with Poudre River Public Library District cards can also visit area museums, galleries, and attractions for free through the Curiosity Pass program.

Developmental Toys

Music Kits

Get from: Clothes Pony & Dandelion Toys in Fort Collins

This is a great set up for babies and toddlers but introducing your kiddo to music at any age is going to be developmental from any and all angles. Music lessons, musical instruments, and more all enhance a child’s ability to think creatively, and for schoolage children has been found to directly correlate with better grades. Even better, listening to music can reduce anxiety, blood pressure, and pain as well as improve sleep quality, mood, mental alertness, and memory.

STEM Building and Coding Toys

Get from: Clothes Pony & Dandelion Toys in Fort Collins

This particular model kit comes with a QR-code to the study guide about the mechanism, the principal of its working, the main characteristics, formulas. It also includes interesting assignments. The wooden puzzle Random Generator, as you might have guessed from its name, is a device that generates random numbers and provides different random results based on probability theory.

But, these types of building and solvingbased kits and activities help kids understand science, math, and art all at once. Experiential learning also helps your kids naturally create a growth mindset: As our world continues to change and evolve at an ever-increasing rate, those who can adapt will have a big advantage over those reluctant to change. A hands-on approach to STEM education is a perfect way to develop a growth mindset because it allows students to see firsthand that the only limits that exist are the ones they place on themselves.

Strider Balance Bike

Get from : JAX Fort Collins

Balance bikes are designed for kids who are 18 months to 5 years old. Like a tricycle, balance bikes offer many developmental benefits. They help them practice motor planning (learning how to turn corners), understand spatial awareness (learning how to avoid obstacles), and it activates the vestibular system (learning how to balance and move). Learning to pedal, balance and steer, all at the same time, can be quite the task for a toddler! With balance bikes, they’re learning one skill at a time.

Make your way to Waco

IF YOU’RE LOOKING TO ESCAPE the seemingly endless cold of Colorado in January, look no further than the Lone Star state. Best known as the setting for HGTV’s “Fixer Upper,” the quirky city of Waco is home to a random assortment of attractions, which come together to form a surprisingly fantastic tourist destination. Small crowds along with daytime temperatures hovering around 60 degrees make Waco a must for a quick winter getaway. Insider tip: avoid Sunday in your travel plans, if possible, as very few places will be open.

Day 1:

Every visitor to Waco must stop to admire the iconic silos, which not only make a great photo op, but also are the centerpiece for the Magnolia Market shopping complex that Chip and Johanna Gaines made famous. Grab lunch from one of the rotating food trucks on site, peruse Magnolia Seed and Supply, and don’t miss the opportunity to stand in Babe Ruth’s footprints on Katy Field before you leave. www.magnolia.com.

After lunch, head to the Dr. Pepper Museum for everything you ever wanted to know (and more) about the history of Dr. Pepper and other sodas. Snap a photo in front of the vintage delivery truck, slurp down a sample or two, and try your hand at mixing up your own! www.drpeppermuseum.com.

Day 3:

Head to the Mayborn Museum where kids will beg to stay until close. The two story building contains room after room of activities and exhibits just for kids, including a giant model train track, bubble station, space and weather room, dinosaur walk, mammoth site, and a whole room dedicated to tots and preschoolers. www.baylor.edu/ mayborn/.

For dinner, Hecho en Waco (www.hechoenwaco.com) is a must for some of the most delicious Tex-Mex you’ve ever tasted, and the handmade Belgian chocolates at Splendid Oaks will have visions of sugar plums dancing in your head the whole way back to Colorado (www.wacoheartoftexas. com/places/splendid-oaks-chocolates/).

Day 2:

Start your day at the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, where sports buffs don’t have to hail from Texas to enjoy the many exhibits the museum has to offer. In addition to memorabilia from nearly every sport imaginable, the museum features interactive exhibits including a mini football field and sports simulator to keep guests of all ages entertained. www.tshof.org.

Mindful parenting

Step back, think, then act

YOU’VE LIKELY HEARD OF the mindfulness movement. Basically, it advocates that we don’t sleepwalk through our lives, rather, we stay in the present moment and remain aware of what is happening around us. Staying mindful lets us make conscious decisions (think proactive rather than reactive), and empowers us to notice, then reshape, our internal messages or judgments.

In parenting, mindfulness allows us to step back, think, then act. It helps us tap into our ideal parenting selves. Here are some tips on being a more mindful parent, helping you

avoid reacting on autopilot, or letting the ghost of your own parent speak through you and say things you vowed you’d never say to your own kids.

“It’s good to have some level of self-awareness as a parent. You can’t know how you are impacting your child if you are not aware of the patterns that you have learned,” says Dannie Mironski, MA, NCC, LPC, co-owner of ParentChild Interaction Center, which offers a full range of counseling services for teens, adults, and couples in areas such as stress management, depression, conflict management, anger

management, anxiety, and sexuality to families in Fort Collins and Boulder.

Start by identifying your own feelings in the moment

When we try to parent from an emotionally unsteady place, the outcome is often less than ideal. We don’t listen well. We don’t consider the situation. Instead, we react. Maybe we even snap at our kids. That’s when we need to press the pause button, recognize our emotions, then start again. Checking in with ourselves and recognizing where we are— in stress, irritation, or fear— makes us better parents.

Lynn U Nichols

“Being able to stop and tap in a little deeper gets us beyond our ego, which wants to react. Its job is to protect us, but as adults we have more insight and self-awareness. We can recognize our ego responses,” Mironski says. Getting in touch with where we are lets us make a choice about how we want to respond. Often, if we pause and check in with ourselves, we respond in a healthier way.

If you do snap and react to your kids in a way that you are not proud of, be gentle with yourself. After all, there’s no such thing as a perfect parent, and parenting

is a 24/7 job so you will make mistakes. Apologizing to your child, or recognizing you made a mistake, is extremely powerful and a good life lesson.

Consider where your child is, emotionally

Life gets busy—there’s the school and work rush, then maybe sports or lessons, then homework and bedtime. It’s easy to tick off the tasks of our days and forget to recognize our kids’ emotions. Make it a daily habit to ask your kids how they are feeling and talk with them about successes or challenges that they may have had during the day. Ask open-ended questions, letting them lead the conversation. It’s important to help them recognize and define different feelings.

Help your child define feelings by naming the feeling and giving some traits often associated with it. For example, you could say, ‘It looks like you feel frustrated. I hear you sounding upset and I see you ripping at the edges of your math paper.’ Don’t worry, if you get the emotion wrong, your kids will tell you.

“When kids don’t know what they are feeling, they tend to have big emotions that come out as tantrums, hitting, or kicking, because they don’t know how to process them. So having parents model their emotions and their coping mechanisms is really important,” Mironski says.

As best you can, hold your judgments when your child is saying something

that you don’t agree with, or stating a solution that is flawed (unless of course it’s about safety). It’s okay to ask questions that prompt further thinking, but lecturing or stating judgments will only shut your child down, and you want them to feel comfortable coming to you in the future.

Take time to respond

When you make a conscious effort to be mindful, you get the bonus of buying time before you respond. You stop, think, and then you decide how you want to act or what you want to say. The act of stopping alone is huge. It lets you think about what your higher parent—the parent you want to be— would do.

Of course, we are not always feeling centered,

and sometimes, kids throw us curveballs, like breaking house rules or trying out risky behaviors, that are naturally emotionallycharged. Remember, you don’t have to have an answer right then. You can say, ‘I need some time to think about this. Let’s revisit it in an hour (or tomorrow after school).’ Or, you might need a parental time out. A chance to literally step out of the situation by saying you need a minute and going into another room or stepping outside to clear your head. Take the time you need.

Know your own triggers

It can be hard to pause and check in with yourself before you react to your child, especially when they are doing something that especially irritates you,

like ignoring you when you speak to them, or being mean to the family pet. You feel justified in scolding them. Take a minute to make a mental list of the behaviors your child does that trigger you. All parents have them! Now, think about how your best parenting self would like to respond to the situation. Making a plan when you are not in the heat of the moment will help you change your behavior the next time it happens. Now that you have some tips on how to be a mindful parent, remind yourself that you are doing a great job. We all want to be the best parents we can be for our kids. Be gentle with yourself when you slip up, because you will, and that’s okay. No doubt, you’ll get another chance soon enough to try again.

Ready Set GO!

NOCO KIDS SUMMER CAMP

Formerly Choice City Christian Camp

For Grades 1-6 • Camp runs concurrently through school summer break.

Activities Include:

MUSEUMS • FORT FUN • PUTT PUTT • TOURS • ARTS AND CRAFTS

MOVIES • BUMPER BOWLINGS • ROLLER SKATING • SWIMMING

A nondenominational Bible study begins each day

All tickets and admission fees are paid by the camp. The only items your child needs to bring every day are a lunch, water bottle, sunscreen and appropriate clothing or extras (such as swimsuits or towels).

Fully-licensed day camp for grades 1-6

Call Cat Colonna at: 970-786-9809 nocokidsacademy.com/summercamp cat@nocokidsacademy.com

Infant Program (Fort Collins Only)

Mark Romero wins Behavioral Health Champion honor

the right decision for the student. We want them to feel confident about the present and excited about their future.”

Romero was honored at the Board of Education meeting on December 12.

Schools Receive Governor’s Bright Spot Award

The North Range Behavioral Health Board of Directors has named Mark Romero, Student Facilitator for Greeley-Evans School District 6, as its 2022 Community Champion of Behavioral Health.

Romero, a 28-year veteran at District 6, provides vital support for students who are struggling with school attendance. He meets with families, conducts home visits, and occasionally makes referrals to North Range’s Day Reporting Center, which provides a safe space for teens to learn and practice emotional skills.

“I believe that it is all about relationships. You need to build positive relationships where kids and families trust themselves, each other and me. We do that by being open, honest and realistic. I offer as much hope as I can.” Romero said.

“Mark works with youth

in the district who are at risk of dropping out or expulsion and have poor attendance or behavioral issues and works with our staff to provide them with essential services,” said Kelly Slade, Program Director of Intensive Youth and Family Services. “He is a huge advocate for students and works tirelessly to build a relationship with them and help them meet their own goals. He is compassionate, empathetic, and goes above and beyond to meet with families and work with the kids and North Range.”

Romero said his goal is to create and strengthen bonds with students.

“My parents were both educators and I strive to carry on their legacy by helping children and families. They taught me to always ask ‘Is this good for kids?’” he said. “Before I make any kind of decision, I always ask myself whether this is

Madison Elementary School is one of 21 schools across the state to be honored with the Governor’s Bright Spot Award, which includes a $50,000 grant through the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund.

Governor Polis announced a new special recognition for 21 schools across the state that have demonstrated strong growth in student achievement since 2019. The selected schools have demonstrated excellence and the ability to advance learning through challenging times. These schools will receive the Governor’s Bright Spot award and $50,000 dollars of GEER funds to go towards investments such as expanding student resources, faculty development, preparing and preventing public health emergencies and other opportunities that will benefit students.

“Congratulations to these schools that have shown strong improvements in results despite the

pandemic, and to all those that worked to advance students’ learning over the last three years. The unprecedented challenges schools faced through the pandemic were difficult to navigate but, your schools, teachers and communities showed incredible resilience and I am honored to highlight you all. I look forward to seeing how you utilize the funding to keep uplifting your students and advance learning,” said Gov Polis. “Investing in education ensures Colorado youth are able to thrive and access the high-quality education they deserve. Thank you to all the faculty, teachers, and loved ones who support students and their learning experiences.”

The criteria was developed to highlight schools across the state that excelled through challenges caused by the pandemic and ensured their students progressed. To qualify for the award, schools must have advanced more than two bands on their performance framework since 2019.

The use of funds will be determined by each school. Examples of eligible uses of funds include increased mental and behavioral health or tutoring services, preparation and prevention strategies for future health emergencies, faculty development opportunities, or school improvements.

Art Show celebrates student creativity

round for families who missed applying during the first-round application period, which closed on Dec. 15. Specific secondround dates will be posted to the PSD website when determined.

Kindergarten registration

The K-12 Creative Endeavors Art Show opened at the Shops at Foothills in Fort Collins this past fall and is open until Jan. 10, 2023. Students, staff, families and community members attended the reception in impressive numbers to show support for these outstanding student artists across the district.

This year’s celebration also featured new display spaces in empty storefronts called Art Boxes for 3D and collaborative student projects.

CSU honors elementary poem contest winners

Congratulations to the winners of the Poem Contest held in conjunction with Colorado State University Education Day!

The winners are:

Kindergarten: Benjamin R. of Shepardson Elementary. Teacher: Gabriella Torgerson.

Jazmin

Hernandez-Adorno of Zach Elementary.

Teacher: Rachel Stansberry.

Second Grade: Ellie Cheramy of Eyestone Elementary.

Teacher: Katherine Brown.

Third Grade: Sage Smith of Laurel Elementary. Teacher: Sheri McGuire.

Fourth Grade: Johnny Bailey of Lopez Elementary.

Teacher: Mary Spezza.

Fifth Grade: Gavin Norby

of Shepardson Elementary.

Teacher: Angela Bergeron.

School Choice Application periods for 2023-24

Poudre School District K-12 school choice program allows families to select the school they feel best meets their child’s educational needs. Acceptance is subject to space availability and eligibility requirements. There will be a second-

Kindergarten is one of the first steps in your student’s educational journey. Children must be 5 years old on or before Oct. 1, 2023, to be registered for kindergarten in the 2023-24 school year.

Parents/legal guardians must register students entering kindergarten at their designated neighborhood school, even if an application is pending for choice/open enrollment. Online and in-person registration at schools will still be available for families throughout the rest of the year.

Thompson School District Choice Enrollment

registering for classes at their attendance boundary school. After choice enrollment at the requested school is finalized, students will have their enrollments and course requests transferred from their boundary school to the requested school.

If your student leaves their boundary area school to attend another school, they are required to Choice Enroll to return to their boundary school and will be placed on the applicable waitlist.

Choice Enrollment Round

One (CE R1) is open for the 2023-24 School Year for students who wish to transfer next school year. Please choose the Begin CE Application button on the website. Press the Start/Login button, choose Option 2 to Create a Family Dashboard account. Round One is a lottery and whether you enter on the first day or middle or last day (January 12, 2023) families have the same opportunity of selection. Entering multiple applications for the same school does not increase the selection, as duplicate applications are withdrawn before the lottery.

If students are already attending their requested school, a Choice Enrollment is not required for next year. Students may stay through the highest

grade the school serves. The Lottery will be run and the Choice Enrollment 2023-24 Seat Offering, Waitlist, or Denial notification will be posted on the Family Dash-board on February 8, 2023. Families will have ten business days to accept or decline a seat offer via the Family Dashboard.

Who is Eligible for Choice

Enrollment Round 1?

If you want your student K-12 to attend a school outside of your boundary area for the 2023/24 School Year and future years (Charter Schools and Early Childhood do not participate in Choice Enrollment).

Current 5th & 8th Grade Students (excluding 5th & 8th LCS and 5th NVCS): Will be assigned to their boundary area Middle

or High School. A Choice Enrollment application is required to attend a different school. All students should proceed as though they will attend their boundary school until Choice Enrollment at the requested school is finalized. This includes meeting with their attendance boundary school representatives and

Thompson School District has a variety of options available to fit the interests and goals of each student and family. Now is the time to explore our diverse program lineup and choose the school community that is perfect for you!

Choice Enrollment: https:// bit.ly/3zZvwWD

Educational Options: https://bit.ly/3lGrZWf

Youth grants, activity scholarships and leadership opportunities

Changes for Greeley Recreation Youth Assistance Fund

Youth grants for projects to end childhood hunger

Youth Services America (YSA), with support from the Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation, is offering $250 or $500 grants for projects focused on ending childhood hunger in America. Youth “changemakers” aged 5 to 25 may apply with community service or fundraising projects that occur during Youth Service Month, April 14 through May 14, are youth-led, and engage youth volunteers not typically asked to serve. Grants amounts depend upon the number of youth participating as volunteers. Applications are due Monday, January 16. Learn more and apply online at https://ysa.org/ grants/sodexo.

Book now for camping this summer

Larimer County campgrounds fill up quickly on spring, summer and fall weekends. Plan ahead and book now to visit your choice of over 400 campsites, parks and open spaces this summer. You can reserve sites online up to 180 days (6 months) before your arrival date and also purchase daily entrance permits for vehicles, RVs and boats at the same time. If you already have a reservation and want to modify it by adding a daily permit, you can do so with no additional fee. To learn more about camping in Larimer County or to make your reservation online, visit www.larimercamping.com or call 800-397-7795.

Greeley’s Youth Assistance Fund is a scholarship available for families with financial hardship who would like their children to participate in City recreation sports and classes. As of January 1, the eligibility requirements for the program, which offers individuals up to $150 annually, have changed. To qualify, families must now provide proof of eligibility for one of the following three programs: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC); or The Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP). Applications can be made online or via hard copy and must be submitted at least five business days prior to registering for any program. Learn more online

at greeleyrec.com/about/ youth-assistance-fund or call 970-350-9400.

Youth leadership opportunity Youth Action for Health (YAH) is a coalition of Fort Collins area teens who meet to discuss health issues relevant to teens and develop and implement effective community solutions. YAH focuses on connecting youth to safe, youth-friendly spaces, mental health, and substance abuse. They are seeking local teens to join them across all grades, schools and more. Meetings occur every Thursday from 6:30–8pm at the Foothills Activity Center in Fort Collins though you are not required to attend every meeting. Snacks and drinks are provided, and every attendee receives $10 in compensation for participating after each meeting. Learn more at https://lcdheyouth.wixsite. com/my-site.

Community Calendar

January events

FESTIVALS & COMMUNITY EVENTS

MONDAY, JANUARY 16

Annual MLK March

Keynote and march celebration for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Washington Park, FC www.fcgov.com/events

JANUARY 24 THROUGH 26

Colorado Farm Show

350 ag-related exhibits. Island Grove Regional Park, GR. www.visitgreeley.org/ event/colorado-farm-show

ENTERTAINMENT

FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS

Aiden Sinclair’s Underground

The world’s greatest magicians perform for ages 12+. The Underground, beneath The Post Restaurant, Stanley Hotel grounds, EP. www.tixr.com/ groups/stanleyunderground

THROUGH JANUARY 8

Earth Matters: Rethink the Future

Highly interactive exhibit for all ages. Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, FC https://fcmod.org/exhibits

FRIDAY, JANUARY 6

Magician Hayden Childress Interactive show features sleight of hand, psychology and comedy. Lincoln Center Magnolia Theatre, FC www.lctix.com

AMA Arenacross Championship Nation’s top indoor motorcycle race series. Budweiser Event Center, LV www.treventscomplex.com

FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS, JANUARY 6 THROUGH 28

Eagle Watch Bald eagles make Fort Collins their winter home. Fossil Creek Reservoir Natural Area , FC www.fcgov.com/events

JANUARY 13 & 14

ZUZU African Acrobats Contortion, dish spinning, wheeled tricks, more. Lincoln Center Performance Hall, FC www.lctix.com

FRIDAY, JANUARY 13

Grand Funk Railroad

High-energy concert experience with soulful sound and forceful pop melodies. Monfort Concert Hall, GR ucstars.showare.com

FRIDAY, JANUARY 20

Classic Albums Live: Let It Be The Beatles’ 12th and final studio album performed on stage. Rialto Theater, LV www.rialtotheatercenter.org

SUNDAY, JANUARY 22

Escape to the Zoo Friends of the Symphony’s fun family concert featuring Camille Saint-Saëns beloved Carnival of the Animals. Lincoln Center Performance Hall, FC. www.lctix.com

SATURDAY, JANUARY 28

Mountainfilm on Tour Inspiring short films from the Mountainfilm festival in Telluride, CO. Rialto Theater, LV www.rialtotheatercenter.org

TUESDAY, JANUARY 31

International Trivia Night Teams of six compete for prizes. Global Village Museum, FC. http:// globalvillagemuseum.org

ACTIVE-ITIES

THROUGH JANUARY 29

Old Town Square Skate Rink Old Town Square, FC www.downtownfortcollins. com/event/skate-rink

SATURDAY, JANUARY 14

Winter Walks: Prairie Dogs & Geology in Winter Hike the Coyote Ridge Trail and explore what’s happening below the frozen surface. Coyote Ridge Natural Area, FC

www.fcgov.com/events

8th Annual Trout Haven Fishing Derby

Trout Haven Fishing Pond, EP https://trouthavenresorts. com/trout-haven-fishing-pond

SATURDAY, JANUARY 21

Polar Bear 5K Run & Plunge Runners, walkers, kids and dare-devils run around the reservoir and take an icy plunge. Horsetooth Reservoir, FC www.frontrangefreeze.com/ polarbear

THERESA BAER

REALITIES FOR CHILDREN

BUSINESS MEMBERS

When you shop, dine or hire a Realities For Children member, you become a part of the solution to child abuse in our community.

NEW SILVER BUSINESS MEMBERS

RENEWING GOLD BUSINESS MEMBERS

Alex McKinley

Asomersault, a cartwheel, jumping off a trampoline into a foam pit: gymnastics offers children as young as 18 months a chance to push their physical boundaries. Its whole-body engagement makes it the best cross-training sport for kids of any age, increasing strength, balance, and coordination. Studies have also shown its positive effect on enhanced reading and math skills.

The childhood obesity epidemic is a growing concern for parents. Gymnastics helps kids become physically active and can help instill a lifelong love of physical fitness. Exercise of any kind reduces the risks of obesity, heart disease, and diabetes, but participating in gymnastics can also help kids sleep better, reduce their stress levels, and equip them with the skills to handle physical, social, and emotional challenges in life.

It takes a great deal of body awareness to walk on a four-inch beam, land a cartwheel, or balance on one leg. Gymnastics helps children build motor coordination skills, balance, and all-around muscle strength, endurance, and power, and regular training helps kids develop lean muscles and better posture.

Gymnastics has also shown to increase attention and focus, and there are numerous studies linking gymnastics to enhanced reading and mathematical skills. Research shows that action-based learning increases students’ ability to process and retain new material and that repetitive gross motor movement aids the brain in putting patterns into a sequence, which makes gymnastics a great option for preschool children who might be too young for other sports.

The best part though? It’s just plain FUN! Your child’s imagination comes to life as they flip, jump, climb and swing their way through each station. They can pretend to be a superhero, a ninja warrior or even an Olympic gold medalist. There’s no limit to how far their imagination can take them.

At Timberline Gymnastics, we offer developmental, recreational, and competitive gymnastics programs for kids ages 18 months to 18 years. Call us today at 970-226-0306 visit one of our classes and let your child experience the fun of gymnastics! We also offer Preschool Open Play, birthday parties and camps.

Keeping the good in bad habits

I’M STARING IN MY freezer at a pile of mochis, pints of ice-cream and packages of frozen Mary’s cookies when I realize that two years of the Covid 19 pandemic not only robbed my family of time and social engagements, but it also consumed many of our good habits. It just gulped them down, like my 13-yearold daughter gulps down Thai Tea after school three days a week.

What happened? We spent 11 years establishing good habits. My daughter literally never even tried processed sugar until she was 4 years old. We had fruit for dessert. The screens went off at 8pm every night. Fast forward to 2022 and we are sitting on the couch with the TV on at 9:30pm having eaten one billion calories worth of sugar and potato chips. What happened? Well, simply put, we felt bad. What joy could be had in a world of remote school, remote ballet classes and limited social activity? How could we quell the stress of uncertainty, the fear of Covid even when we returned to activities with masks? Well, I’ll tell you how. Marvel marathons and mochi, Gilmore Girls and mochi, Ted Lasso and mochi, and mochi and potato chips and mochi. It was the great unravelling

of established screen time limits and good nutrition.

But much to my surprise, I am totally ok with it. Which is weird, because three years ago, I would have been upset. I would have rambled on to my husband about how important it is to establish good lifetime habits young, how we need to stop buying cookies and mochi and snack on cucumbers at night. Fast forward to November 2022 and I don’t even feel the tiniest pang of anxiety or regret about it, zero, zilch, none, because it has been an incomprehensible, challenging and long few years. Of course, some of

our good habits were lost or replaced. Of course we let our kid watch more screens, play more video games and eat more junk food. We had to find fractions of joy where we could. We had to pass endless days with little to do. Somehow though, like so many things post Covid, these bad habits seem small and easily remedied. My perspective is altered and urgency and exerted effort over such small things is just less. Things work out without all the stress. Actually, the return to our precovid lifestyle has already effectively eliminated hours of screentime snacking with no effort

whatsoever; and with the holidays approaching our family calendar is once again bursting with school activities, performances and social engagements. This return feels both joyous and overwhelming at the same time. I have a feeling we soon might find ourselves missing our bad habits and longing for some time with nothing to do, because life is ironic like that.

So, if I find my family piled on the couch this weekend covered in mochi wrappers and potato chip bags with Lord of the Rings playing in the background, I’m going to enjoy every minute of it.