Parent October 2012

Parent Columbus

October - November 2012

too many gifts? • cloth diapers • autumn adventures

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COLUMBUS PARENT MAGAZINE IS IN TOWN. PICK UP YOUR COPY AT THESE LOCAL BUSINESSES! ABC-Stewart School The Ark Aton’s Self Storage Bar-Cons Credit Union Bartholomew County Library – Children’s Dept Centra Credit Union – 46 W Circle K – State Rd 11 Circle K – Jonathan Moore Pike Citgo Columbus Family Dental Columbus Pediatrics Columbus Regional Hospital Cummins Child Development Center Dairy Queen – 3rd St Dr. Brad Coers / Coers Family Eye Care Dr. Daniel Martin Orthodontics Doctors Park Family Medicine Fairlawn Presbyterian Preschool

FairOaks Mall Family Service First Christian Church Preschool First Presbyterian Preschool Hipster Imagination Station Jay C – Jonathan Moore Pike Jody’s Gymnastics Kids N Company Kidscommons Koopman Family Medicine Kumon Learning Center Kroger Learning Tree Preschool Little Lambs Child Care Ministry Love Chapel Marathon Station – 25th St Marsh McCabe Orthodontics McDonald’s – National Rd

For more information, contact 2 • October - November 2012 • Parent

McDonald’s – 3rd St McDonald’s – Jonathan Moore Pike McDonald’s – US 31, Edinburgh Music & More Northside Family Medicine Northstar Montessori School Parks & Recreation Department Premier Ag PromptMed The Republic Sandcrest Family Medicine Sandy Hook Church Preschool Sonya’s Dance Zone Sylvan Learning Center Tipton Lakes Athletic Club Van Arsdall Family Optometry Viewpoint Books Village Pantry Visitors Center

at (812) 379-5652.

Parent Columbus

Also inside Calendar of events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Emily Cook column. . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Choosing cloth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Apps for kids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Déjà Vu art show . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Nutritious breakfasts. . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Overabundance, page 8

Carpooling, page 20

Fall fun, page 16

Kids craft, page 30

Jennifer Tchida column. . . . . . . . . 28

Comments should be sent to Doug Showalter, The Republic, 333 Second St., Columbus, IN 47201 or call 812-379-5625 or dshowalter@ therepublic.com. Advertising information: Call 812-379-5652. ©2012 by Home News Enterprises All rights reserved. Reproduction of stories, photographs and advertisements without permission is prohibited. Stock images provided by © Thinkstock.

Parent • October - November 2012 • 3

Calendar of events October

5

— Sneakers at Starlight. 6:30 to 10 p.m., Mill Race Park. $100 per

person/$175 per couple; tickets available at Donner Center. Fundraiser to expand the People Trail network. Join in a unique trivia game, hors d’oeuvres, wine/beer tasting and fun around the illuminated Round Lake. Black tie is optional, but sneakers are required. Decorate your sneakers to coordinate with your semiformal attire — whether it’s paint, sparkles, or jewels — the more creative, the better chances of winning a prize. A vote will be taken at evening’s end, and the winner will receive a ride around the park in a lighted, horse-drawn carriage, plus bragging rights for having the coolest sneakers in town. Information: awil-

Ethnic Expo marches back into downtown Columbus Oct. 12 and 13, featuring international food and entertainment.

liams@columbus.in.gov.

Gymnastics Center. Cost $18 per child.

Information: 376-2680.

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-9 — Super Sitters (ages 11 and up). Join us as we explore the char-

acteristics of a good baby sitter and cover topics such as infants, toddlers, basic first aid and what to do in an emergency.

Participants will receive a variety of related materials. 1 to 3 p.m., Donner Center. Cost $32 per child. Information: 376-2680.

9

-11 — Cheer Camp (ages 6 to 8).

Participants will learn new skills,

chants, motions and basic tumbling.

Camp will be taught by local high school cheerleaders. 2 to 3 p.m., Columbus

-13 — Ethnic Expo. Downtown Columbus, near City Hall. Host country this year is Brazil. Wide variety of international cuisine, live entertainment and bazaar vendors. Information: ethnicexpo.org.

13

— Kiwanis Incredible Duck Splash. Noon, Round Lake at Mill Race Park. Following the Ethnic Expo Parade, follow Kwacker the Duck down to Mill Race Park. Free Duck Splash events will include a bounce house, Walgreens health tests, coupons for a Dilly Bar from the downtown

Dairy Queen, and remote control boat demonstrations. All “adopted” ducks will be turned loose into Round Lake to compete for $10,000 in cash and prizes … some even dropped from a helicopter Information: 342-4405 or www.kducks. com.

13

— Saturday Sampler: Fur, Fin or Feathers. 11 a.m., Bartholomew County History Center, 524 Third St. Join us as we learn about the current and former animals of Bartholomew County. We’ll make prints from fish, identify some common animals, learn about animal houses and make a

List your events l Fax 812-379-5711 l E-mail: dshowalter@therepublic.com l Mail: Columbus Parent, 333 Second St., Columbus, IN 47201 l Deadline for next issue: Nov. 13.

4 • October - November 2012 • Parent

as we make a variety of out-of-this-world Halloween goodies. Registration deadline Oct. 12; $14 per person. Information: 376-2680.

16

-18 — Gymnastics Camp (ages 5 to 7). Beginning to advanced skills on bars, beam, vault, floor and trampoline will be covered in our gymnastics camp. A snack will be served at camps. 2 to 3 p.m., Columbus Gymnastics Center. Cost $23 per child. Information: 376-2680.

19

— Trick or Treat Tales. 6:30 to 8 p.m., Donner Center. $1 per person (all children must be accompanied by an adult). An evening of not-so-scary Halloween tales and songs, crafts and games. Snacks will be served.

Information: 376-2680.

20

— Saturday Sampler: Pumpkin Palooza. 11 a.m., Bartholomew County History Center, 524 Third St. Join the staff and volunteers of the BCHS as we celebrate the pumpkin.

We’ll explore the history of jack-o’-lanterns, sample some tasty pumpkin treats and even carve a jack-o’-lantern to take home. ($2 fee for the pumpkin carving.)

Information: www.bartholomewhistory. org.

The Kiwanis Incredible Duck Splash will paddle into Mill Race Park Oct. 13. craft to take home. Information: www. bartholomewhistory.org.

13

— Croptoberfest (fall scrapbooking event). 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Donner Center. $26/person. Join us for an entire day of scrapbooking. We will be demonstrating new techniques. Free gifts for each guest, and drawings for great prizes. The day will also feature lunch, snacks, drinks and, of course, chocolate. Scrapbooking supplies will be available for purchase. All activities led by Creative Memories Consultants.

Information: 376-2680.

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-17 Magic Camp (ages 8 to 12). Taught by Travis Easterling, magician and owner of Easterling Entertainment. The camp will feature a magic show, balloon twisting instruction, basic magic lessons, animals and magicrelated crafts, such as building a card castle. 10 a.m. to noon, Donner Center. Cost $45 per child. Information: 376-2680. A minimum of eight must be enrolled by Oct. 10 for camp to be held.

— Little Chefs Ghost and Goblin Goodies. For ages 5 to 8. 1 to 2:15 p.m., Donner Center. Join us

— The Columbus Indiana Philharmonic Presents Mozart, Handel & Haydn. 7:30 p.m., Columbus North High School Erne Auditorium. Information/tickets: 3762638, ext. 110 or email tickets@thecip. org. Garrett Myers, an up-and-coming young concert pianist from Columbus, will play Mozart’s Piano Concert No. 21. Columbus Indiana Philharmonic will perform Handel’s Water Music Suite in D Major and Haydn’s Surprise Symphony.

— Night of a Thousand Jacks.

3 to 6 p.m., PNC Bank Lot, 333 Washington St., free admission.

Parent • October - November 2012 • 5

Participants carve jack-o’-lanterns and submit them, along with a $5 entry fee, to be judged. Turn-in Friday at kidscommons. Judges select the most creative and scariest jacks in each of three age categories. Additionally, participants compete for the grand prize by collecting votes ($11 vote). Strolling Night activities include a costume contest, Monster Mutt Parade pet costume contest, kids games and activities, musical entertainment and food. Information: 372-2808 or nightofathousandjacks.com.

27

— UnCommon Cause. The annual gala and auction to support the arts in Columbus. 7 p.m., The Commons. Information: 376-2539 or artsincolumbus.org/caac.

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— Halloween Costume Contest. Donner Center. 2 p.m. for ages up to 6; 3 p.m. for ages 7 to 12. Free. Prizes awarded for scariest, prettiest, funniest, most adorable, most original and best animated. Numbers for judging available at 1:30 p.m. All participants receive a ribbon and a treat bag. Crafts available from 2 to 3:30 p.m.

Information: 376-2680.

November

2

— Old National Bank’s First Fridays For Families — “Harry the Dirty Dog.” Free. 6 p.m., The Commons.

ArtPower Theatre presents the wonderful children’s story of Harry, the dog who runs away and gets so dirty his family doesn’t recognize him when he returns home. Information: artsincolumbus.org.

3

— Wine-A-Ree wine and beer tasting event benefiting Hoosier Trails Council, Boy Scouts of America. Noon to 6 p.m., The Commons. Featuring Indiana wineries and local breweries, the event will include a silent auction. Tickets are $20 in advance at Viewpoint Bookstore

6 • October - November 2012 • Parent

Carved jack-o’-lanterns draw onlookers downtown Oct. 27 for Night of a Thousand Jacks. or $25 at the door. Unlimited wine and beer tastings and a commemorative wine glass are included in the price of the ticket. Food will be available for purchase.

Information: Melinda Clark, 343-6980.

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— Holiday Creations Craft Show and Sale. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Donner Center. Information: 376-2680.

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-11 — American Girl Fashion Show hosted by American Cancer Society. A fun-filled event for girls and their families, friends and favorite dolls. Advance reserved tickets required. Recommended for children over 5. Tea party refreshments included.

1, 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. showtimes, $30 to $40. Clarion Hotel and Conference Center, 2480 Jonathan Moore Pike.

Information: americangirlfscentralin@ gmail.com, www.agfscentralin.com.

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— Munchies Mania (ages 5 to 8). Join us as we learn how to make a variety of fun to make and eat healthy treats. 4:30 to 5:45 p.m., Donner Center. $14/person (registration deadline Nov. 9). Information: 376-2680.

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— The Philharmonic & Le Grande Orgue Magnifigue de Columbus. 7:30 p.m., First Christian Church, 531 Fifth St. Dan McKinley and the power of the Aeolian-Skinner organ combined with the award-winning Columbus Indiana Philharmonic.

Information/tickets: 376-2638, ext. 110 or email: tickets@thecip.org.

17

— Deja Vu Art and Fine Craft Show. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., The Commons. Featuring artists who creatively reuse and recycle materials. Book arts, fiber arts, furniture, jewelry, mosaic, sculpture, woodworking and more.

Information: 376-2539.

17

— Saturday Sampler: The First Thanksgiving. 11 a.m., Bartholomew County History Center, 524 Third St. Do you know who was at the first Thanksgiving? Do you know what they had to eat or what games they may have played? We’ll explore the history of this holiday, sample some foods they may have eaten and play some Native

American games. Information: www.bartholomewhistory.org.

December

1

— Festival of Lights Parade. 6 p.m., Washington Street, downtown

Columbus. Free. The Festival of Lights Parade features floats, animal units and walking groups created by local corporations, businesses and community groups.

The streets of downtown Columbus light up with thousands of twinkling lights.

Santa and fireworks. Information: 3906912 or email: columbuslights@gmail. com.

2

— Columbus Symphony Orchestra concert: “Winter’s

Passion.” With Kathy Dell’s Parkside Choir. 3:30 p.m., The Commons.

4

— Mom & Me for Tea. 1 p.m., For moms with daughters ages 3 to 8.

4

— Swirls & Twirls (ages 6-10). Learn to decorate more Christmas goodies.

4:30 to 5:45 p.m., Donner Center. $16/ person (registration deadline Nov. 30; minimum of 8). Information: 376-2680.

7

— Old National Bank’s First Fridays For Families — “Babaloo.”

6 p.m., The Commons. Free. This oneman musical comedy is a high-energy, over-the-top, fun-filled show for kids of all ages. Information: 376-2539 or caac@ artsincolumbus.org.

9

— Columbus Indiana Philharmonic’s “Home for the

Holidays.” 3 and 7 p.m., Columbus North High School Erne Auditorium.

Admission starting at $10, student and senior prices available. The Philharmonic Orchestra and Children’s Choir join in this annual holiday event. Choose from an afternoon family-oriented concert or the traditional evening concert.

Donner Center. $21 per pair, registration

Information: 376-2638, ext. 110 or

deadline Nov. 30. Information: 376-2680.

email: tickets@thecip.org.

15

— Saturday Sampler: The Gingerbread Man. 11 a.m., Bartholomew County History Center, 524 Third St. Gingerbread has been a holiday tradition in Bartholomew County for almost 200 years. Explore the background of this great holiday treat, make a bag of mix to make your own, and decorate a cookie to take home. Information: www. bartholomewhistory.org.

Ongoing MOMSNext provides fellowship, support and friendship to mothers of elementaryage children. Meetings are twice a month throughout the school year from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church.

Information: 372-4859.

Hamilton Center Ice Arena. 25th Street and Lincoln Park Drive. Admission: child (5-17) $3.50; adult (18 and older) $4; 4 and younger free. Skate rental $2. Call for schedule and programming. Information: 376-2686.

Kidscommons. 309 Washington St., climbing wall and wonderland of discovery, education and imagination for children up to age 14. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Closed Monday. Admission is $6. Information: 378-3046.

Bartholomew County Public Library.

Story time sessions and other children’s activities: barth.lib.in.us.

Foundation for Youth. 405 Hope Ave. For a complete schedule of activities: foundationforyouth.com.

Columbus Gymnastics Center. 405 Hope Ave. Classes and open gym for children. Information: 376-2545.

Downtown streets will glow for the Festival of Lights Parade Dec. 1.

Parent • October - November 2012 • 7

Grandparents Galore

8 • October - November 2012 • Parent

Blended families can yield a bounty of gifts for children

By Karen E. Farley

H

olidays are a time of giving and receiving.

With so many divorces and remarriages, many children today can have four sets of grandparents. But sometimes overindulgence and competition for the best gift can cause friction between parents and adult children.

many gifts under the tree. When her kids are overwhelmed with gifts, Gadis tries to be creative.

Parents want their children to enjoy the holidays, but sometimes sensory overload and competition among grandparents can turn a special occasion into a fight to the finish.

Grandparents love selecting gifts for their grandchildren, but some go overboard. They search for the latest toy or try to outdo the other grandparents.

The parents often end up with a room full of toys left unused by children.

Lisa Gadis, mother of three and stepmom of four, tries to plan ahead when coordinating birthday parties and gatherings at Christmas. She encourages all of the grandparents to limit gifts to one per child.

“The kids are already getting presents from us, especially at Christmas time,” she says. “They really only need one gift from their grandparents, but that doesn’t always stop them from buying more, especially at Christmas.”

Suggestions and ideas for grandparents don’t always work. Though she rarely has a problem with competing grandparents, she sometimes finds too

“When my son had a Colts birthday party last year, he got so many gifts that I ended up giving some of them to his friends for birthday presents,” she adds. “He never missed them.”

Tara Griffin, mother of two, also plans ahead when holidays are near and encourages simple, yet personal gifts.

“Since my kids were the first grandchildren on both sides of our family, and due to a divorce, there are three sets of grandparents,” she says, “they have been spoiled with an over-abundance of gifts from birth. All of the grandparents have good intentions, but toy and stuff overload happens very easily, especially at Christmas.”

At holidays and birthday celebrations, grandparParent • October - November 2012 • 9

ents are sometimes the first to show up with armloads of presents.

“One year, the kids ended up with huge stacks of presents, on each side, not counting Santa, Mom and Dad and other kind friends and family,” Griffin explains. “The following year, I put a $50 limit on grandparent gifts, which worked well.”

Some parents are thrilled when grandparents offer to buy gifts that parents may not be able to afford. But putting a limit on the number of gifts helps the child appreciate each gift and celebrate the season without feeling overwhelmed.

One of the challenges with having too many grandparents is lack of communication, especially at Christmas. Here are a few ideas for parents to ease friction at holidays:  Have each child create a wish list at home or gift registry at department stores. Older children can register online and help the younger ones make their list.  Let each set of grandparents choose one item from the list. This may be hard for some grandparents, but encourage a personal touch with each gift, such as a book to go along with the item from the child’s list.  Suggest a membership to a local zoo or museum. This is a gift that will last the entire year for the entire family.  Limit birthday celebrations to one and suggest a special day with grandma or grandpa. Birthdays come only once a year. Many parents feel they need to plan several parties to accommodate the entire extended family. Suggest personal time with the grandchild if they are unable to make the party or feel uncomfortable with other guests.  Make a list of new school supply items, such as backpacks, lunch bags and new pencils, pens or folders. When the younger kids go back to school after the holidays, new supplies can replace wornout or lost ones.

With the upcoming holiday season, grandparents can help make the celebrations a little less stressful and more enjoyable for the whole family. By listening to suggestions and limiting gifts for the grandkids, both parents and children will appreciate the real reason for celebrating and ease some of the tension among blended families.

10 • October - November 2012 • Parent

emily cook The mighty toddler will rule

W

e poor toddlers have so much going against us. We are surrounded by beings much larger than we, and the largest of the beings, the Mother, seems to have been created solely to thwart our fun-having and world-exploring efforts at every turn.

We would utterly despair, and perhaps shall, if all of our weaponry against them proves ineffective.

As for me, in all of my two years, I have found no success with weapons wielded by my siblings. I have little success with the Winning Smile; the Reasoned Argument is yet out of my reach; the Sibling Blame requires manipulation skills beyond my years.

Yet there is still hope for 2-year-olds. Fellow toddlers, let me share what I have learned of our chief weapon: The Fit. The Fit has many uses and can be displayed in various forms.

THE WILTED FLOWER Slowly sink to your knees, hang your head and shoulders, and maintain grief-filled silence. Refuse eye contact. If a Large Person attempts to cajole you into talking or tempts you to smile, summon the powers of your imagination. Envision a torn blankie left in a mud puddle, or stepped-on cookie, or anything else that causes your heart to ache with deep and indescribable pain, and continue to wilt.

THE SKULL-CRACKING SCREAM

THE LEAKY FAUCET Best used on tired Large People. At random intervals throughout the day, emit unhappy noises. Screams, whines, fusses and gibberish complaints are all acceptable. You do not need a reason for such noises; your job is to simply make them frequently and relentlessly.

If you are feeling creative, you may want to add some bangs, crashes and “injuries” just to mix it up a bit. If successful, the Mother may give you a blankie and set you in front of your favorite movie while she hides in another room. But beware: If you push her too quickly, you may just end up with an extra nap.

THE DESPAIRING SOUL When you find yourself frustrated and unable to solve your problem with screaming, try this technique. First, make your desires known in the loudest manner possible. If the Mother, chair, stool or toy refuses to obey your clear direction, fall dramatically to your knees. (See wilting flower above.) After a moment’s wilt, make plain the utter despair welling in your heart.

From your knees, crash forward to your belly, splaying arms and legs out wide to show the depth and width and height of your despair. Roll from your stomach to your back, ensuring you still have an audience. If you hear laughter or any other unhelpful noise (like advice on your problem), simply roll back to your stomach and display the utter sadness and hopelessness of a splattered bug.

When injured or wronged, you may find this scream comes naturally to you. My only advice to my peers who use this weapon: Make sure you are not in arm’s reach of the Mother.

Daily I build my arsenal, daily I practice my techniques. I do not give up because I see the Large People around me are imperfect, vulnerable to attack and prone to their own version of fit-throwing.

THE TOOTHY ATTACK

Though I cannot yet claim victory, I sense that the Mother is weary. My triumphant reign may be right around the corner. I shall press on.

A tool best used on siblings when the Large People are not looking. Your stature may be small, but an attack with your entire body is often effective. Run toward your enemy and grab him. A proper grab utilizes the muscles of the arms, legs and jaw.

Emily Cook is the mother of six and lives in Columbus. She is the author of “Weak and Loved: A Mother-Daughter Love Story.”

Parent • October - November 2012 • 11

A rash of choices Photos by Doug Showalter

Amanda Hoffman, with son Elijah, 1, at Donner Park. Elijah is wearing a cloth G brand diaper.

Parents who turn to cloth diapers cite saving money and environment as motivation

By Crystal Henry

T

he mention of cloth diapering often calls to mind images of plain white cotton wraps with sharp safety pins and plastic pants. But as those

in the modern cloth diapering community know, today’s heinie hiders are not your grandma’s cloth diapers.

There are many reasons parents make the switch to cloth. Some like the environmental benefits or want to get away from the chemicals in disposable diapers. Some cloth converts are looking to save some money, and oth-

12 • October - November 2012 • Parent

ers get completely addicted to the fashion factor that modern cloth diapers offer.

Windi Hornsby, of Diaper Prodigy Cloth Consulting and Education, is an educator of all things cloth. She said saving money and saving the planet are two of the top reasons people make the switch to cloth.

She said 90 percent of Americans use single-use plastic diapers. Each year those diapers alone generate enough garbage to fill Yankee Stadium 15 times over.

Approximately 106,000 disposables enter U.S. landfills every two minutes, and they’ll sit for at least 500 years before decomposing.

If William Shakespeare had worn disposable diapers as a baby, they would still be around today.

One of the things that sometimes frightens parents away from cloth diapering is the initial cost. New cloth diapers can cost anywhere from a few dollars each to $50 for an elite custom diaper. But cloth diapering can actually save parents money if they buy frugally.

From birth to potty training, the average cost is $381 for cloth and $2,577 for disposable. Even factoring a $3 average increase in water bills and $15 in detergent, cloth diapering still comes out ahead.

Also, parents often make a chunk of their investment back when they sell their used cloth diapers.

And while some may be intimidated by the many different types of cloth diapering systems, cloth veterans know that the list of possibilities only makes it that much easier to find an option that works for your family.

Here are some of the options for cloth diapers today:

Prefolds These actually are your grandma’s cloth diapers.

These are squares of absorbent fabric that are worn with

Where to buy Gabby Wren Cloth Diapers Facebook.com/gabbywren This Columbus work-at-home mom makes custom split pocket and hybrid cloth diapers and inserts.

O’Child Children’s Boutique 408 Washington St. www.ochildboutique.com This upscale children’s boutique offers a selection of covers, prefolds and other diapering accessories.

Imagination Station 315 Washington St. This toy store also offers a small selection of cloth diapers and accessories.

Columbus Cloth Diaper Swap on Facebook This group is a place to buy, sell or trade cloth diapers locally. It could be a great resource for parents looking for inexpensive, secondhand diapers or to try a few different options before buying new.

a waterproof diaper cover. They are sized from preemie to toddler and are one of the least expensive options for cloth diapering.

They can be folded to fit around the baby and used with the modern-day safety pin, called a Snappi or Boingo, or folded into thirds and placed in a cover or pocket diaper.

Prefolds can also cut down on costs because the covers used with them can be used more than once. So buying a large stash of prefolds that are relatively inexpensive and four or five covers can be all you need.

Fitteds A fitted diaper is made of absorbent material in the shape of a disposable diaper. They usually have snaps or a Velcro, also known as hook and loop or APLIX, closure.

These are not waterproof, so they do need a waterproof cover when going out and about. But they are very absorbent, and some parents use them without a cover at home to air out and fight diaper rash.

Pockets

Laundry routine

Empty soiled diapers and turn pail liner inside out into washing machine.

Run a cold rinse and spin to get rid of any solid residue. Add half a cup of baking soda, fill machine tub with cold water and let agitate for two or three minutes. Let this soak overnight or for several hours.

Run a spin cycle to drain soaking water.

Add recommended amount of cloth diaper safe detergent and run a long cycle with a hot wash. A list of cloth-friendly detergents can be found at www. diaperjungle.com. Add half a cup of distilled white vinegar to rinse. A fabric softener container usually works well for this. Use another cold rinse cycle if needed to get rid of residual detergent.

Line dry or tumble dry low. Do not dry pail liners, wet bags, covers or anything with visible PUL in the dryer.

— Courtesy of Windi Hornsby

Pocket diapers have two layers of fabric: a waterproof outer layer and fleece or suede cloth inner. The two layParent • October - November 2012 • 13

Katie Grafelman holds son Will, who’s wearing a camouflage diaper made especially for him. At right are three more cloth diapers in Will’s collection. ers are sewn together with an opening at one end to form a pocket. An absorbent insert such as a prefold or other soaker pad is stuffed into the pocket, and inserts can be doubled up for extended periods or night time.

Pocket diapers fasten like disposables with APLIX or snaps, and they do not need a cover. They come in all kinds of colors and prints that can be customized for boys or girls.

All-in-ones An all-in-one has a waterproof outer fabric and an absorbent inner liner that is all in one piece. These are the closest relatives to disposable diapers because there 14 • October - November 2012 • Parent

are no extra stuffing or folding steps. Simply fasten them with the APLIX or snaps, throw them in the wash when they’re dirty, and they’re ready to go.

They are very convenient but can be more expensive and have a longer drying time. These are a great choice for parents who need a convenient option for day care or other caregivers.

One size Some pockets, fitteds and all-in-ones are sized by weight, and others are designed to grow with your baby.

The one-size diapers usually fit the child from soon after birth until potty training. They typically have snaps that

adjust the rise and waist. These can be a very economical option since they will last through several stages.

Covers Covers are some of the most fun cloth diapers to buy.

They come in a variety of fun patterns and colors. And they fasten with APLIX or snaps like a disposable. They are usually made of a waterproof fabric called PUL and are used over prefolds or fitteds.

Soakers and liners Wool soakers are diaper covers made entirely of wool.

They have usually been lanolized and can hold up to 40 percent of their weight in moisture. They are typically used with a fitted or prefold. Fleece liners are used to wick moisture away from the baby and are good for overnights. Flushable liners are handy for catching waste when the baby starts eating solid food.

Some parents will find one system they like and stick with it. Others like to have a few in their stash for different situations and scenarios. The best way to start is to buy just a few diapers of different systems you think you might like. Try them out and find which system works best for your family before investing in a large number.

Keep in mind that different systems may work better for different stages and children.

Hornsby recommends getting 12 diapers for daily laundering or 20 to 25 for every other day. Cloth wipes are a good option because they can be thrown in with the wash instead of picking out disposable wipes before laundering. Baby washcloths, cut up receiving blankets and other fabrics can be made into cloth wipes.

She also recommends getting a large kitchen trashcan to use as a diaper pail with a waterproof pail liner. Smaller bags are handy for handling cloth diapers on the go.

Parents also will need cloth diaper-friendly detergent, a clothesline or drying rack and a diaper sprayer for when the child is eating solids.

Hornsby said there are so many options when cloth diapering that any family can give it a try. Cloth diapering doesn’t have to be an all or nothing venture. Some families use cloth during the day, some only when they’re at home, and some find themselves using cloth diapers exclusively.

And while cloth diapering can be a money-saving venture, many moms are eager to buy these adorable, yet functional accessories.

Meeting the newborn, pediatric and adolescent healthcare needs of families for over 37 years.

We are accepting new patients Newborn Care • Check Ups Well Child Exams Sports/Daycare/Camp Physicals Doctors on call 24/7 Accepting new Medicaid Same day appointments for illnesses Walk-in hours Mon–Sat 7:30–9:00 a.m. (for established patients only)

1120 N. Marr Rd. • 812-376-9219 • www.columbuspeds.com Parent • October - November 2012 • 15

Fall family fun is in season

By Crystal Henry

T

he weather is cooling, the leaves are falling and school is in full swing. But that doesn’t mean the adventures have to end. In fact fall is the perfect time to venture out and try some of these fun family activities that are no more than a short drive away.

Kidscommons

309 Washington St., Columbus 378-3046 kidscommons.org 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday (closed Monday) Ever wanted to slide down a giant toilet? Even if you haven’t, you can bet your little ones will jump at the chance at kidscommons, Columbus’ community children’s museum. There’s much more at kidscommons besides a huge commode. And, through Oct. 31, the museum is offering $2 off admission for up to four people. Kidscommons also offers birthday parties.

16 • October - November 2012 • Parent

Brown County State Park and Nashville

One of the most scenic fall displays is just down the road in Brown County State Park. As fall sets in, the landscape is painted with deep autumn hues. The winding roads are engulfed in the flames of red, orange and yellow foliage. Camp out under the stars and go on a geocaching adventure as the kids run through the forest trails looking for buried treasure. Go horseback riding or take the little ones for a pony ride. Pack a picnic and take in the beauty from one of the scenic overlooks throughout the park.

Then head into Nashville for some shopping and entertainment. Little ladies will love the Cutie Patutie boutique. It offers mini manicures, pedicures, makeovers and other glamorous treatments to add some sparkle to a little diva’s day.

Across the street is the Melchior Marionette Theatre with puppetry and entertainment for the whole family. Show times are at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., with extra shows in October. The end of September through October is the “Slightly Haunted Puppet Theatre.”

The cast features a juggling scarecrow, Dracula, a kitchen witch and more. Tickets are $5, and they go on sale 15 minutes before the show. Ages 2 and under are free.

Indianapolis Zoo

1200 W. Washington St., Indianapolis 317-630-2001 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday through Sunday The Indy Zoo has seen a lot of exciting changes this year. Besides the birth of a few baby animals, they’ve added the newly redesigned Encounters Biome, which features an interactive bird exhibit. Families can meander through two aviaries and get eye-to-eye with the colorful creatures. Purchase seed-laden feeding sticks and the birds will perch right in your hand. The biome also includes a 4-D theater, a nursing moms’ nest and a play area for the little ones.

In October, the zoo is transformed for the annual Zoo Boo. Costumes are encouraged for these after-hours activities. The animals stay out late, the dolphins put on a special Halloween-themed show and the elephants have a pumpkin smash. The kids will love the monster music dancing, pumpkin bowling, Halloween animal crafts, games and more. Zoo Boo is included with zoo admission.

Parent • October - November 2012 • 17

Hackman’s Pumpkin Patch

6040 E. State St., Columbus 376-6345 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday Just down State Street east of Columbus is a family-owned market with tons of family fun. Weekends in October, visitors can take a hay ride out to the pumpkin patch to select just the right jack-o’-lantern. Head back to the main lot to check out the adorable animals in the petting zoo, scale the giant hay mound and get lost in the corn and straw mazes. Hackman’s also has a festival the first weekend of October with pony rides, games and a bouncy house. There are plenty of outdoor activities for the whole family at this local treasure.

Red Zone Laser Tag

746 Greenway Drive, Columbus 372-9663 For some indoor action head over to Red Zone and get your game face on. It’s time for some laser tag in this 2,500-square-foot arena. Marksmen must first go through a briefing and learn the rules of the game and how to operate their equipment. Then they grab a vest and blast away for 15 minutes of intense laser action. Red Zone also features an arcade with about 25 different games plus drinks, pizza, candy and other snacks at the concessions stand. Thursdays feature $5 games, or try a family package any night. Family packages are $30 and include one game of laser tag, one drink and four tokens per person for a family of four or five. Participants should be 6 years or older. Red Zone is located off U.S. 31 near Carpet One.

The Apple Works Orchard

County Road 250W, Trafalgar 317-878-9317 The Apple Works Orchard is more than an afternoon of apple picking. It is a day full of activities for the whole family. Take a wagon ride out to the pumpkin patch and pick out the perfect gourd. With 10 acres of pumpkins, the decision might be a tough one. The little ones can hitch a ride on the Apple Express, ride a pony or get up close and personal with goats, turkeys, sheep and more at the free petting zoo. When the weekend weather cooperates, they’ll have lunch and entertainment, and admission to the orchard is always free.

18 • October - November 2012 • Parent

I

t can be tough to pry an iPad out of a child’s tiny hands, but there are many applications, or apps, that make tablets and smartphones a good companion and teacher, and not just an addictive electronic baby sitter.

The best apps for kids are designed to educate and spark creativity. They can be the perfect way to pass time during vacations, on long road trips or to get back into school-and-learning mode.

to the original Lewis Carroll classic with John Tenniel’s illustrations. (iOS; $8.99.

There’s also a free Lite version.)

Art/drawing/coloring The bright and colorful tablet screens are the perfect blank canvas for budding artists, and there are a host of drawing and painting apps geared to kids.

Color Swipe is an interactive coloring book. When kids move their fingers over

Here are some recommendations:

Natural science

Celeste SE is a great way to tour the night sky for all ages. It uses the phone’s camera and GPS system to track the sun, moon and planets as they move through the sky. Point the phone at the sky, and it displays information about nearby objects in the solar system. (Android; $1.99.)

Point your iPhone or iPad at the sky, and Star Walk will identify stars and constellations and track satellites. It can be connected to a second display to view on a larger screen. (iOS; $2.99.)

Books/reading It’s nearly impossible to improve on a book like “Alice in Wonderland,” but “Alice for the iPad” has done it. This interactive e-book takes readers down the rabbit hole with animation and sound effects that bring the book to life in a magical way.

Tilting the device makes pictures move and animate. The beautifully rendered text and illustrations are faithful

Math Magic also teaches early math skills with varying levels of difficulty.

A colorful interface prompts the child to tap on an answer. When they pick the right one, a new problem appears.

(Windows; free.)

Travel

The American Museum of Natural History’s Dinosaurs app will keep future paleontologists captivated for hours. The opening screen consists of a mosaic image of a Tyrannosaurus rex. Each piece of the mosaic is an interactive photo of fossils and artifacts in the museum collection: Click on a tile to get information on that fossil. (iOS; iPad version/$1.99; iPhone version/free.)

Astronomy

bubbles with math equations and solutions. Kids choose matching sequences, and when they’re right, the bubbles pop and disappear. When the level is cleared, they progress to a more complex one.

(Android and iOS; 99 cents, Lite version/free.)

Roadside America is a pleasant travel companion for the whole family. It’s a guide to quirky and weird roadside attractions — museums, giant coffee pots and more. The app uses the device’s location services to offer suggestions on nearby attractions when you’re on the road.

Apps for kids

are good teaching tools

By Adrian McCoy Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

the uncolored pictures, colors gradually begin to appear. The paid version has 53 pages of pictures; the free trial version has three pages. (Windows; 99 cents.)

Math PopMath turns learning basic math skills into a game. Designed to teach addition, subtraction, multiplication and division to elementary age students, PopMath displays a series of colored

There are photo galleries, along with practical information such as maps, directions, hours of operation — and even sunset alerts. (iOS; $2.99 for one region, for example Northwest, Midwest, California. Additional regions/$1.99. All access U.S.-Canada/$5.99.)

Fotopedia National Parks is great way to prepare for a trip to one of the country’s 58 national parks, to explore them virtually, or just learn more about them.

There are more than 3,000 photographs, along with slideshows and wallpaper images. (iOS; free.)

Other educational apps Stack the States is a popular educational app that makes learning about states, capitals and bordering states fun and easy. There’s also a global version called Stack the Countries. (Android, Windows, iOS; 99 cents).

For preschoolers, Toddler Flashcards Advanced teaches names of animals, numbers, alphabet letters and colors.

(Windows; 99 cents.)

Parent • October - November 2012 • 19

The carpool:

Associated Press

The Stevenson family grabs gear out of their minivan.

a staple of modern parenting

By Lisa A. Flam n For The Associated Press

W

ith three kids who need to get to soccer, lacrosse, football, cheer and swim team — not to mention school — Allison Stevenson

says her eight-seater minivan is crucial for carpooling.

“I always have extra children in my car. I couldn’t function with a smaller car,” says Stevenson, of Greer, S.C., who bought her Honda Odyssey in 2007.

Stevenson, who has 6- and 7-year-old daughters and a 9-year-old son, shares a morning carpool to school with a neighbor and swaps rides with other parents after school.

“They have lots of children involved in lots of activities, so we depend on each other to get everybody to where they need to be,” says Stevenson, adding that most of her neighbors also have vehicles with the important-

20 • October - November 2012 • Parent

for-carpooling third row of seats.

Sure, carpooling has been around for decades. Kids got carted around in the big station wagons of the ’70s and early ’80s, then the minivans of the ’90s and, most recently, the SUV. But the carpool has become an important piece of the parenting puzzle for some parents of heavily scheduled kids.

“Unfortunately, it’s imperative these days that your child is extremely well-rounded,” says Stevenson, who believes after-school activities can impart lessons in dedication and teamwork that are important later in life.

“There is pressure for your children to do a thousand different things.”

Many parents also see carpooling as a way to save

money, time, and wear and tear.

Kara Corridan, health editor of Parents magazine, says carpooling may be more common now because more women have re-entered the workforce, fewer children walk to school, and there are more extracurricular activities and sports being offered at younger ages. Without sharing the driving, parents say they couldn’t do all they want for their kids.

“For some parents, it’s vital,” says Corridan, whose own family began helping another with rides after the mother went back to work.

With more seven-seat (or larger) vehicles on the market today than there were 10 years ago, more families are now driving big cars, says TrueCar.com analyst Jesse Toprak. TrueCar.com found that eight of the 10 most popular cars bought by drivers ages 28 to 45 in 2009 and 2010 had at least seven seats.

“The main buyers of the vehicles are the parents with school-age children, which clearly, at that age group, carpooling becomes a factor,” Toprak says.

In Folsom, Calif., Lori Barudoni has been part of eight carpools over the last 13 years and says they gave her the flexibility to send her children to a mix of public and pri-

vate schools. She began carpooling when her oldest child was in preschool and she was driving a five-seat car. She quickly realized the carpool math: With more seats, she’d be able to carpool with more families and reduce her own driving.

“After that, when I went to purchase my next car, I said, ‘It’s got to be a 7-seater,’” Barudoni recalls of her minivan purchase about a decade ago.

While the gas for a bigger vehicle may cost more, the carpools have saved her time and money. “My gas bill actually goes down with the larger vehicle because I can carry more kids, which means more families share the burden of driving,” she says.

The number of seats car buyers seek is typically nonnegotiable, said Rob Hardy, consumer preference product manager for Edmunds.com. “There are certain things people will trade off, like price vs. luxury or speed vs. fuel economy, but the number of seats — there’s no tradeoff,” he says.

Hardy’s own family bade farewell to a five-seater and said hello to a minivan a year after getting kicked out of a carpool that grew too large for his car. “Everyone except us had a minivan, so we were booted,” he said.

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Special activities for kids will be part of Déjà Vu art show Staff Reports

billion pounds of textile waste is kept out of landfills.

orn leather coats, broken jewelry and old silverware may seem like trash to most, but they are just some of the materials artists have repurposed to create beautiful art and fine crafts to be shown at the eighth annual Déjà Vu Art and Fine Craft Show.

 Only 15 percent of all discarded garments are donated to thrift stores annually.

The free event will feature about 50 professional artists from Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, all of whom recycle or repurpose materials to create their work, and will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 17 at The Commons in downtown Columbus.

Art and fine crafts to be shown include assemblage, jewelry, sculpture, weaving, wearable art, book arts, leatherwork, mosaics and more.

W

Besides the art show, employees from kidscommons children’s museum and the Bartholomew County Solid Waste Management District are working together to present free children’s activities involving T-shirts.

T-shirts will be provided free of charge, however, kids are encouraged to bring a well-loved T-shirt of their own. The children will learn how to cut a T-shirt into strips, stretch the fabric and tie the strips together to make a T-shirt scarf, T-shirt necklace or T-shirt bracelet. They will be able to add beads, braid the strips and/or tie knots.

Liz Peterson-Damm of kidscommons said they are focusing on T-shirts to bring attention to these facts:  When clothing is donated to thrift stores, 2.5

22 • October - November 2012 • Parent

 One cotton shirt traveling 14,000 miles from where it is made to the store where someone will buy it produces 27 pounds of carbon emissions, 10 ounces of waste and uses 33 kilowatt hours of energy.

This year, a new category was added to recognize artists who use sustainable, natural materials to create their work.

Some of the artists will show work that may be of special interest to parents and children. For example, Allison Rose of Fishers makes children’s dresses and hair accessories from vintage pillow cases, while Bloomington mosaic artist Cappi Phillips repurposes found objects to create whimsical clocks and animals.

The Bartholomew County Solid Waste Management District, Columbus Area Arts Council, Columbus Visitors Center, Papa’s Deli/Papa’s Grill, Pentzer Printing, Puccini’s and The Kroot Corp. sponsor the event.

Information: 376-2539. For a complete list of participating artists: www.kid-at-art.com/htdoc/dejavu2012.html.

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Parent • October - November 2012 • 23

forward put your best fork

Nutritious breakfast starts child’s school day off right

By Janet K. Keeler n Tampa Bay Times As parents it’s sometimes difficult to get children to eat what we know they should. It also requires planning and cooking. What’s that you say? They hate breakfast and hate even more that they have to wake up earlier to eat it? This school year offer some new foods that might get them more excited about breakfast. If they hate eggs, don’t force them.

If they are fans of grilled-cheese sandwiches, get out the skillet and make them, but use whole-wheat bread and tuck a few thin slices of apple between the slices. Here are some ideas for back-to-school breakfasts:

Oatmeal

Burritos It’s a turnoff for a lot of kids.

But try the accompanying recipe for Almond Joy Oatmeal and they might just get hooked. Yes, it calls for a smattering of chocolate chips, but it’s not much more than a tablespoon per person.

24 • October - November 2012 • Parent

With just beans for the vegan; add scrambled eggs for the omnivore. Try it on whole-wheat tortillas and add whatever fixings they like: grated cheese, salsa, chopped tomato, etc. If they just loved chopped onions, make sure those teeth are brushed before they leave the house!

Breakfast sandwiches

Smoothies

Make them on small bagels, English muffins, croissants, their favorite bread or even pita. Between the slices, layer scrambled eggs, shredded or sliced cheese and a slice of Canadian bacon. Or regular bacon. Or turkey bacon. Or sausage.

They won’t eat eggs?

Substitute a tomato slice.

Many children love fruit, but it’s good to mix it with protein to keep energy levels up. Add tofu, peanut butter or yogurt.

ALMOND JOY OATMEAL 3½ cups milk 1 tablespoon cocoa powder ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon almond extract 2 cups quick-cooking or old-fashioned oats 1/3 cup chopped almonds 1/3 cup shredded coconut 1/3 cup chocolate chips In a medium saucepan, combine milk, cocoa powder, salt and almond extract and bring to a gentle boil over medium heat, whisking to ensure mixture is well-combined. Stir in oats. Return to a boil; reduce heat to low. Cook for 1 minute (5 minutes for old-fashioned oats), stirring occasionally.

Remove oatmeal from heat and divide among 4 bowls. Top each with chopped almonds, coconut and chocolate chips.

Serves 4.

— Kaboodle.com

Leftovers

Muffins Seriously, heat up that chicken noodle soup, spaghetti or lasagna from last night. Who said breakfast has to be bacon and eggs?

Good with a thin layer of low-fat cream cheese, but stay away from muffins that are more like cupcakes. Go for carrot over chocolate.

If you make your own, mix white and whole-wheat flour and add some fruit. Thinking ahead, bake a couple of dozen and freeze some. They will thaw overnight in the refrigerator.

Parent • October - November 2012 • 25

STRAWBERRY MUFFINS ½ cup butter or margarine, room temperature 1½ cups granulated sugar 4 large eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1½ cups all-purpose flour 1½ cups whole-wheat flour 1 teaspoon baking powder ½ teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon finely grated lemon peel 1 cup buttermilk 1 cup fresh or frozen strawberries, sliced Granulated sugar for sprinkling (optional) Grease 12 muffin cups or line with paper muffin liners.

In a large mixing bowl with an electric handheld mixer on high setting, cream butter and sugar; beat in eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition. Blend in vanilla extract.

In a separate bowl, stir together the flours, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

With a wooden spoon, stir flour mixture into creamed mixture. Gradually stir in lemon peel and buttermilk until dry ingredients are just moistened; do not over-mix. Spoon batter into prepared muffin pan, filling each muffin cup about 2/3 full. Evenly spoon sliced strawberries onto the center of each muffin and sprinkle each with a little granulated sugar, if using.

Bake strawberry muffins at 350 degrees for 18 to 20 minutes. Cool in pan on rack for 5 minutes. Gently turn strawberry muffins onto the rack to cool. To freeze, make sure they are cooled completely and pack in an airtight container.

Makes 12.

— About.com

Waffle sandwich Spread toasted wholewheat waffles with butter, drizzle with maple syrup and sandwich with turkey sausage patties. For a savory version, butter and layer with cheddar cheese and ham.

26 • October - November 2012 • Parent

Parfaits Sort of a solid version of the smoothie, but with added crunch. Layer yogurt with fruit and top with granola.

Quick eats Cereal is easy, but look for some that’s not really candy in disguise. Add fruit to sweeten. Breakfast bars and yogurt are good morning choices, and so is toast with peanut butter.

PEANUT-BUTTER BANANA SMOOTHIE

Fruit AND cheese

1 small ripe banana, sliced 2 tablespoons peanut butter, creamy 1 tablespoon honey 1 cup cold milk Banana slices and chopped peanuts for garnish, if desired Set aside a slice of the banana for garnish and put remaining banana, peanut butter and honey in a blender. Blend until smooth.

Add milk and blend until foamy. Garnish with banana slice rolled in chopped peanuts, if desired. Serve immediately.

String cheese and a nectarine; cheddar and a Granny Smith apple; dried apricots, nuts and a slice of Brie. Sound too sophisticated? Just give it a try.

Makes about 1½ cups (1 serving).

— About.com

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Jennifer Tchida It wouldn’t be Halloween without monsters Here are several books to help your young readers scare up a good time this Halloween season.

“The Monster at the End of This Book” by Jon Stone — Grover from “Sesame Street” begs the reader not to turn the pages in this hilarious picture book.

Why? He knows there’s a monster in the book, and he’s scared to see it. What happens when the reader gets to the end of the book? Ages 3 and up.

“Jane & Mizmow” by Matthew Armstrong — Jane’s best friend is Mizmow … and he’s a monster.

This adorable picture book shows the trials, tribulations and ultimately the joy of having a best friend.

Acceptance, forgiveness and humor abound in this lovely story. Ages 3 and up.

“Bedtime for Monsters” by Ed Vere — This picture book asks what if monsters are real and wonders if one “might be licking his lips and thinking of YOU?” The monster decides to come looking for the reader, while getting hungrier and hungrier. What happens when he reaches your door? Truly silly and superb. Ages 3 and up.

“The Monster Who Lost His Mean” by Tiffany Haber — Each letter in the word “monster” stands for a character trait, and all of these traits make up every monster. But what happens when one monster loses his “mean”? Now he’s Onster, and instead of playing pranks on people, he turns out to be friendly.

The other monsters make fun of him, but Onster finds new friends that like him just the way he is.

Ages 4 and up.

“When a Monster is Born” by Sean Taylor — This delightful picture book shares the many pos28 • October - November 2012 • Parent

sibilities that may arise when a monster is born. Full of bright colors and humorous twists, this book is a definite hit. Laughs guaranteed! Ages 5 and up.

“I Need My Monster” by Amanda Noll — This is a bold and vibrant picture book that tells the story of Ethan and the monster who lives under his bed.

One night Ethan finds a note from his monster, named Gabe, that he has gone fishing and will be gone for a week. Now what is Ethan supposed to do?

He needs his monster! How will Ethan ever go to sleep? Ages 5 and up.

“The Boy of a Thousand Faces” by Brian Selznick — Alonzo, born on Halloween, is obsessed with horror movies and monsters. His goal is to be “The Boy of a Thousand Faces,” but so far he has only 23. He sends a letter to his hero asking for help, but then the unthinkable happens … a monster is seen in town. Alonzo decides he must investigate, but will he have the courage to face the truth?

Selznick’s extraordinary pencil drawings add to this intriguing tale. Ages 8 and up.

“The Emerald Atlas” by John Stephens — Kate, Michael and Emma’s parents have disappeared, forcing the siblings to live in 12 different orphanages.

After they arrive in the newest orphanage, they stumble across a magical book that allows them to travel through time. Now they must save the town from an evil witch while fighting off terrifying creatures. A fantastic blend of action, humor and suspense. Ages 9 and up.

“Killer Pizza” by Greg Taylor — A fast-paced story with plenty of creepiness thrown in. Toby gets a job at a pizza shop, the first step on his way to being a world-class chef. Unfortunately, there’s more to this pizza shop than meets the eye. It’s actually a front for a secret monster-fighting organization. Now their town is under attack, and it’s up to Toby and his fellow recruits to save the day. Ages 10 and up.

“Demon Keeper” by Royce Buckingham — A unique take on monsters fills the pages of this actionpacked book. Nat is a teenager with a strange job — he guards demons. When Nat decides to go on a date, a demon escapes and decides to eat kids. It’s up to Nat and his friends to capture the demon. Scary, gross and funny. Ages 10 and up.

Jennifer Tchida is children’s services librarian at Bartholomew County Public Library.

Saturday, November 17, 2012 10 am – 4 pm at The Commons, 300 Washington St., Columbus, Indiana

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Parent • October - November 2012 • 29

Cr Kid af s t

veloped in the craft industry. Today, stencils, specialized cutting tools and online sources are available to help you bring out the “soul” hidden inside every pumpkin-turned jack-o’lantern.

Better Homes and Gardens online magazine provides free stencils so you can make anyone of 36 faces on your pumpkin this year. They can be found at http://www.bhg.com/holidays/?sss dmhdm17.470505&day11&esrcnw100dt—11— 11&email781738.

Additionally, you can purchase special tools to make it more safe to carve the stencil into your pumpkin when you are creating your own jack-o’-lantern masterpiece.

Make a fetching jack-o’-terrier

By Kathy Antoniotti n Akron Beacon Journal

T

he origin of the Halloween jack-o’-lantern stems from ancient Ireland, where people carved out turnips and potatoes and placed candles inside for pro-

tection on All Hallow’s Eve. The idea was to keep ghosts, that were said to return to Earth to walk the streets, from playing tricks on the living.

When Irish people immigrated to America, they brought along the tradition. They found that carved pumpkins could replace turnips and potatoes.

Since then, a new trend in jack-o’-lantern carving has de-

30 • October - November 2012 • Parent

Rather than the usual jack-o’-lantern face, I made a Jack Russell terrier face on my pumpkin this year to honor my favorite breed of dog.

Younger children will need assistance from an adult to make this craft.

Supplies you will need:  Pumpkin.  Stencils.  Tape.  Push pins.  Cutting tools.

Depending on the size of your pumpkin, use a photocopier to enlarge or reduce the size of the stencil you’ve chosen.

Make sure the pumpkin has at least one fairly flat side for carving.

Cut the top of the pumpkin off and save for the lid. Make the opening large to remove the seeds and pulp inside by scraping it away. Discard. Wash and dry the pumpkin.

Fold the paper into pleats and tape wherever necessary to make the stencil lay flat when taped to the pumpkin.

Use a push pin to make closely spaced pin pricks along the stencil lines, piercing the paper. With the help on an adult, use the pumpkin carving tools to carve out your design.

Cut completely through solid lines and peel away the skin (known as etching) along the dotted lines to enhance the features. You may want to etch before you carve to avoid breakage.

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