KCC_Parent Source_Fall 2020

Parent Source Serving Kane County

Fall Resource Guide For Parents

STRESSED AS A PARENT?

No- and low-cost ways to educate and entertain kids

FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

From state parks to museums, fill your fall with outdoor escapades

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what’s

INSIDE

3 Stressed as a parent?

No- and low-cost ways to educate and entertain kids

4 Farm Life - Primrose Farm

8 FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAM

From state parks to museums, fill your fall with outdoor escapades

10 What we’ve learned from working at home

11 5 at-home wellness tips for families with ADHD PROJECT MANAGER Jaclyn Cornell jcornell@shawmedia.com

est. 1851

DESIGNER Teresa Spence tspence@shawmedia.com

I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream!

Join us to paint an ice cream bowl and enjoy some ice cream with yummy toppings from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory!

Space is limited, reserve your spot at geneva.colormemine.com

Sat. Aug. 29th 10am - 6pm & Sun., Sept. 6th noon - 6pm

Enjoy Painting in our Studio or To-Go Kits Available for Painting at Home

SM-CL1804041

1306 Commons Dr., Geneva, 630-262-9000 geneva.colormemine.com

Large Variety of Caramel Apples Custom Gift Baskets Chocolate Covered Strawberries Fresh Fudge Boxed Chocolates Sugar Free Chocolates

Curbside Delivery Available

1308 Commons Dr. Geneva 630-208-1484 rmcfgeneva.com

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Stressed as a parent?

No- and low-cost ways to educate and entertain kids

H

aving children is a great joy, but it also can be stressful. Pressures are plentiful, from making sure your child has the right gear to needing to help manage their school and social schedules. To intensify matters, COVID-19 has brought quarantines and social distancing around the world, and parents are now tasked with educating and entertaining their kids more than ever before.

Financial stress is growing dramatically. A whopping 71% of parents are worried about their personal finances right now, and 81% describe their level of parenting stress as medium or high, according to the OfferUp 2020 Parents and Kids Recommerce Report.

In addition to financial concerns, there is a multitude of challenges for parents during these unique times. Keeping kids entertained at home is the No. 1 cause of stress for parents during the pandemic, followed by educating their children at home, the study found.

Keeping kids on top of their studies as well as happily entertained doesn’t require spending a lot of money. Consider these low- and no-cost ways to keep your children occupied at home: SEEK FREE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES Go online to discover a variety of high-quality educational websites. Many museums are now offering virtual tours and online educational classes

to engage kids of all ages. Educational websites such as Khan Academy and Sesame Street offer no-cost learning materials. Remember to sign up for newsletters from parenting organizations as well to get free activity ideas sent right to your email.

It’s also smart to reach out to your children’s school or local community center to explore options. Some offer memberships to websites that they can share so you can access material at no cost. Additionally, you can call and ask your local library about digital storytimes and virtual classes they might be holding, which can be a fun way to connect kids with others while they learn.

FIND WHAT YOU NEED THROUGH LOCAL RESALE OPPORTUNITIES Have your kids played with all their toys and need some new supplies? Parents are turning to online resale marketplaces such as OfferUp to buy baby and kids items during the coronavirus pandemic with the goal to save money, make more sustainable purchasing decisions and support their local communities. Whether it’s a new toy or a necessary supply, you can find just what you need for less.

You can also consider selling what you no longer use and make some money as a family. OfferUp is the largest mobile marketplace in the nation for local buyers and sellers and it’s as easy as taking a picture with your phone to sell items and then meet with local people in a safe, secure manner. Millions

of people buy and sell on OfferUp every year, and billions of dollars’ worth of items are exchanged.

Why not make it a family effort to clean out rooms, sell unused items and save toward a group goal?

DON’T FORGET TRADITIONAL FUN AND ACTS OF KINDNESS Old-fashioned fun is low cost and keeps kids entertained. Have family game nights and bust out the board games, work on puzzles together or start a crafting project. Go outside to play yard games, catch or kick around a soccer ball. Work on a time capsule, scrapbook or teach your children a hobby.

Think about all the things older generations did to stay busy when people spent less time online and find your inspiration.

To help spread positivity when so many people are stressed, consider simple things you can do from afar to spread cheer. Kids will enjoy brainstorming acts of kindness, and most don’t cost anything. For example, write inspiring messages on the sidewalk for people to see as they walk by, or color pictures to send to a local nursing home for residents who may not be able to receive visitors.

Keeping kids educated and entertained while at home shouldn’t cause financial stress. Follow these tips to save money and keep kids happy.

Recommerce or reverse commerce, refers to the process of selling previously owned, new or used products.

(BPT)

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Experience farm life! Explore restored farm buildings, visit with farm animals, stroll through 100+ acres of historic and modern rural landscapes and climb up on a vintage tractor near the fruit orchard.

Exciting and educational activities await you in the farmyard!

All ages are welcome to participate in Animal Adventures! Ages 15 & under must be accompanied by an adult. Advance registration required. Face coverings required. Purchase tickets at https://stcparks. ticketleap.com/. For more details, call 630-513-4374.

FEED THE GOATS Get up close and personal with goats! Stop by the office for a feeding stick and some delicious goat treats, and you will be on your way. Merle and Norman can’t wait to see you!

FEED THE CHICKENS Great for young children to get hands-on experience!

Stop by the office to pick up a feeding stick and marvel as the chickens flock to you and your feed.

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HANDS-ON MILKING Spend your morning cozying up to the Primrose cows!

Meet these lovely ladies and discover what goes into dairying – the breeding, raising and milking of dairy animals. Then get up close and personal with one of the ‘fresh’ cows and try your hand at milking.

CHICKEN & EGG See, hear and touch the Columbian Wyandotte chickens that call Primrose home and help gather farm-fresh eggs straight from the nest. All pickers take home a share of the eggs collected!

HOLD YOUR HORSES Crazy about horses? Here’s your chance to mingle with some gentle giants—the Primrose Farm Belgian draft horses. Explore basic grooming techniques and learn about equine care practices of today and yesterday.

FEED THE ANIMALS Please feed the animals! It’s not often you’ll hear this said on a farm. Get a unique behind-the-scenes opportunity to help feed the farm’s resident animals.

Learn about the care and feeding of livestock and how their specialized diets vary throughout the year.

CELEBRATING CELEB

39

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

eing a young, expecting parent is such an exciting time! There are so many things to prepare for and they seem to all be additional demands on top of an already busy life. Thinking back at that stage of life I laugh at the incredible focus we put on the preparation of the room our newborn would be coming home to. Partially driven by hormones, partially by the excitement of it all, that room became a bit of an obsession.

As is often the case, focusing on a tangible task can be much easier than an intangible one even if the intangible is much more important. As important as the nursery is, of greater importance is getting your ďŹ nancial house in order as you prepare for the responsibilities of brining a new, precious life into the world. Here are a few things to keep in mind.

INSURING A STABLE FUTURE FOR YOUR FAMILY HEALTH INSURANCE: Start thinking about health insurance long before the baby arrives. Find out about copays, deductibles, and premiums before you start going to doctor’s appointments and having diagnostic tests done. You’ll also need to determine how much of the delivery costs are covered as well as the baby’s coverage after it’s born. Babies are usually covered under their mother’s insurance for a period of time following the birth, but make sure you add the baby within 30 days, or else you may have to wait until the next open enrollment period.

LIFE INSURANCE: Now that you have a child depending on you, you’ll need insurance to provide for your family if your income is lost. You should also take out a life insurance policy for your spouse even if he or she stays at home to care for the child— take into account the value of a stay-at-home parent’s services and how much it would cost to pay someone else to do it.

Consult your ďŹ nancial advisor to help determine both the amount of insurance your family will need as well as the type you should purchase. There are pros and cons to both term and permanent insurance and for many a combination of the two is the best ďŹ t.

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DISABILITY INSURANCE: During your prime income earning years, you’re much more likely to suffer a debilitating accident or disease than you are to die. This makes disability insurance equally important to ensure your family’s financial well-being. Your employee benefits may provide some disability protection but often not at the level you would actually need necessitating supplemental coverage.

INVESTMENT CONSIDERATIONS If you are like I was, the realization that another life depends on you financially can be overwhelming. Your goals and investing strategy will probably need to change when you become a parent, but not necessarily in the ways you’re expecting.

BE REALISTIC: It may not be possible to continue to invest as much while budgeting for the new expenses that come with being a new parent so it is important to be realistic. Try not to focus all of your money and attention on baby spending, and don’t ignore your long-term savings goals completely. Your first priority will have to be day-to-day spending and budgeting, followed by your retirement savings. When these two goals are being met, you can add your child’s college education as a third priority.

EDUCATIONAL SAVINGS: Its tempting to put your child’s education fund first. There’s nothing wrong with putting your children first, but abandoning your investing goals in favor of a child’s education is actually not putting the child first—if you retire with nothing, your child will be left supporting aging parents, which can be much more difficult than funding a fouryear degree.

That said, investing in your child’s education early in life is a good idea if you can afford it. Compound interest can be just as magical for your child’s college savings as for your retirement account. Consult your financial advisor to review options and to develop a strategy.

Because the Unexpected Happens…

Despite careful preparation we found ourselves scrambling when our kids were born. Due to complications neither was carried to term with Mary arriving at 4 lbs. 10 oz. and Jack at only 1 lb. 8 oz.

Thankfully we were able to focus on their care without distraction as we had our financial house in order and both have grown up to be fine adults. Hoping that the ideas shared here are helpful as you travel down the exciting road of parenthood and we welcome your call if we can be of service.

This material is intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal or tax advice and is not intended to replace the advice of a qualified attorney, tax advisor or plan provider.

FILE# 2462400.1

 Tom McCartney is the Founding Principal of My Advisor & Planner and a registered representative and investment advisory representative with M Securities. Investments in securities involve risks, including the possible loss of principal. My Advisor & Planner is independently owned and operated.

McCartney and his team can be reached at info@mapyourfuture.net or 630-457-4068.

Photo by Indre Cantero

Securities and Investment Advisory Services offered through M Holdings Securities, Inc. (Member FINRA/SIPC).

My Advisor & Planner is independently owned and operated.

File #0709-2018

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FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAM From state parks to museums, fill your fall with outdoor escapades

By Siobhan Conners

School might be taking up your kids’ weekdays, but weekends are still fair game! When the homework is finished and the fall weather is too good to be ignored, here are a few familyfriendly activities to fill up your weekend calendar.

FARM FUN

Blackberry Farm 100 S. Barnes Road., Aurora Admission price depends on activity.

Blackberry Farm is a pioneer village turned playground. From pioneer cookware to a mid-1800s train lobby to a one-room schoolhouse exhibit, this “living history museum” uses demonstrations to teach kids about pioneer life. It also offers fun activities, like a carousel, pony ring and playground. Check online for availability related to COVID-19.

Johansen Farms Children’s Zoo and Pumpkin Patch 710 W. Boughton Road, Bolingbrook Admission: $9.95 weekdays, $14.95 weekends and Columbus Day.

Dollinger Family Farm 7420 E. Hansel Road, Channahon Admission is free, but the Battle of Dollinger Farm 1776 has an additional cost.

You’re sure to find the perfect pumpkin at Johansen Farms — in the past, they’ve had more than 25,000 to choose from!

The fall festival runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 31 and offers everything from a pumpkin patch to a petting zoo to games. Plus, parking is free.

Like many other public farms, Dollinger Family Farms has a pumpkin patch and expansive gift shop. Unlike other farms, however, it also offers Revolutionary War reenactments on the weekends.

The battle begins at 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, but all weekends are chock-full of events. The farm opens Sept. 14.

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OUTDOOR SPACES & PLACES

Morton Arboretum 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle Admission: Adults $15, seniors $13 and children $10, discount prices on Wednesdays; advance timed-entry passes or tickets are required.

With over 100 rare and endangered tree species on its campus, the Morton Arboretum is a beautiful place to explore on any day. It’s also offering a mix of in-person and online events throughout fall. If you’re looking to get a breath of fresh air, the Tails on the Trails event on Aug. 30 allows guests to visit with their dogs, and the annual Illumination: Tree Lights at the Morton Arboretum, which runs from Nov. 21 to early January, is perfect if you’re already counting the days until the holiday season. If you want to enjoy the arboretum from the comfort of your living room, check out the Glass Pumpkin Patch to purchase handblown glass pumpkins online Oct. 14-18.

THE KITCHEN SINK

Starved Rock State Park 2688 E. 873rd Road, Oglesby Starved Rock’s waterfalls, canyons and views of the Illinois River make it a must-visit location. There’s no shortage of things to do: In addition to hiking, fishing and picnicking, you can also take a trolley ride or boat cruise.

If you’re looking to stay the night, the Starved Rock Lodge is open for business.

Silver Springs State Park 13608 Fox Road, Yorkville There’s no better time to experience the great outdoors, and Silver Springs State Park is a great place to do so.

The titular silver spring never freezes, making it a great place for fishing and canoeing. If you’re up for a little backpacking, there’s also a camping area off the beaten path.

H.I. Lincoln Building 136 N. Elm St., Franklin Grove Admission: Free to see the building, $4 for music.

Who doesn’t love an open mic? There’s one every third Friday of the month at the H.I. Lincoln Building in Franklin Grove through the rest of 2020. Sign up for a 15-minute set and play the genre of your choice. Refreshments will be for sale during the event.

Illinois Railway Museum 7000 Olson Road, Union Admission: $11 adults, $9 seniors, $8 children.

If you have a future engineer in your family, the Illinois Railway Museum might be the perfect way to spend a Saturday. Executive Director Nick Kallas says about threefourths of visitors are families. In addition to its regular exhibits, the museum also has its Showcase Weekend on Sept. 19-20 and Pumpkin Train on Oct. 24-25. Showcase Weekend is the perfect chance to see and ride rare equipment, while the Pumpkin Train takes your family to a nearby pumpkin patch for some Halloween fun.

Women’s & Children’s boutique featuring a contemporary mix of clothing, jewelry & accessories with up-to-date trends, classic staples and splurge items.

Childrens Sizes Baby NB-24 Months, Girls 2t-10 years, Boys 2t-6 years

312 S. Third St., Geneva • 630-845-4030 www.flairon3rd.com SM-CL1800735

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What we’ve learned from working at

HOME

The recent transition to widespread working from home has shown that the experience has been both educational and eye-opening for many.

Working at home means learning to cope with distractions, space constraints, managing time with family and learning new skills. And, according to new consumer research, it has also meant reassessing what is most important.

A nationwide survey conducted by Wakefield Research on behalf of LG Electronics reveals the many ways working from home has challenged and surprised Americans.* ➤ CONNECTING WITH LOVED ONES The most striking survey results show the importance of close relationships.

Social distancing has caused many to reassess who is most important to them, and how much they may have taken friends and family for granted.

More than half (53%) of homebound people said they felt closer to loved ones than before the outbreak, and 27% even said that they felt much more connected than before.

When asked what they want to do first when the crisis is over, the top answer was to visit loved ones, followed by going out to a meal.

➤ MANAGING WORK-LIFE BALANCE For many people, juggling priorities and obligations was difficult even before the switch to remote working. But having to work at home has shined a brighter spotlight on how we cope and find a healthy work-life balance.

Technology has been crucial to this adaptation. Almost half (47%) have discovered a new app or service they say they now can’t live without - especially video chat apps that have helped them learn how to communicate better with colleagues and loved ones.

Here are some of the tricks people have discovered:

A majority of respondents admitted to making conference calls from a common area in their house. One-fifth of respondents admitted to calling from a basement or attic, while others said they took work on the go. The research shows 18% have called from their cars, and perhaps most surprisingly, 12% admit taking work calls in the bathroom.

± Half said they take frequent short breaks to balance work and home responsibilities. ± 37% are starting work earlier, while 17% are starting work later to manage schedules better. ± 35% are learning to keep their whole household to a schedule. ± 23% use visual cues (like signs) to let others know when they’re working.

MASTERING TECHNOLOGICAL CHALLENGES Most people affected by the crisis say they have had to master (or learn from scratch) how to complete their work entirely from home, including the new norm of conducting video conferences.

technology, many said that they were spending significant time using it for family or relationship management.

An overwhelming number of survey respondents said that they plan to continue at least one of their new practices even after returning to a “normal” work situation, including: ± 39% plan to do more cooking. ± 43% said they’re likely to arrange more family dinners. ± 39% also said they would do more video chatting.

For many, the time they’ve spent working at home has helped them appreciate how successfully technology has kept them connected on all fronts, including their work and personal lives.

As a result of spending some more time at home, many have been rethinking their priorities, with nearly half considering buying or using fewer things. Some (16%) have thought about beginning a new career, and others are considering starting their own business (14%).

REEVALUATING LIFE’S PRIORITIES Overall, the experience of working from home has had everyone reassessing what - and who - is most important to them. Among those who said they’ve discovered new apps, digital services or

No matter what your work-from-home experience has been, chances are it’s changed your attitudes about work and family life - and how to balance the two in ways that will stay with you long into the future.

*The LG WFH Survey was conducted by Wakefield Research among 1,000 U.S. adults, working from home due to COVID-19, between April 10 and April 15, 2020. (BPT)

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F

5

amilies are spending more time together than ever before, making it challenging for parents and caregivers to balance their personal needs with that of a child’s. For those families that include a child with ADHD, maintaining mental, physical and emotional wellness is particularly crucial for all members.

Dr. Greg Mattingly, psychiatrist and associate clinical professor at Washington University in St. Louis, offers the following tips on how to maintain wellness at home, especially while parenting a child with ADHD: STAY POSITIVE AND SET REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS Behaviors can change and improve over time, so it is important to keep a positive mindset and attitude. Try to establish consistent expectations, along with a system for rewards and consequences, offering praise whenever possible (e.g., 3-5 positives for every negative when working through challenges). Be sure to also lead by example: children benefit from modeling healthy behavior and positive interactions as it has been shown to improve attention, concentration and impulse control in children with ADHD.

at-home wellness tips for families with ADHD

schoolwork, play and bedtime. Some children with ADHD also benefit from clocks or phone timers to transition from one activity to the next or a “check off” list that allows you and your child to feel a sense of accomplishment.

While scheduling every minute of the day is by no means necessary (especially in the summer months), identifying a routine that is both predicable and flexible can ensure the whole family is able to enjoy each other’s company.

Beyond setting a schedule for a child with ADHD, it is equally as important to allow “me time” as a parent or caregiver. Be it a virtual yoga/exercise class, video calls with friends or family, walks or enjoying a few chapters of a book, any activities that help reduce stress are important enough to prioritize.

CREATE A SPACE FOR FOCUS Be it academics or arts and crafts, it is important for children with ADHD to have moments of calm, free of overstimulation. Creating a space for kids to relax and have some time to themselves is particularly beneficial for kids with ADHD. Use tactile outlets, such as stress balls or fidget spinners, as a way for them to release physical energy while focusing on an individual task at-hand.

GET INTO A ROUTINE Try setting a daily schedule to establish expectations, allowing clear windows for activities such as meals,

REMEMBER KNOWLEDGE IS POWER Developing strategies for a child with ADHD can be

challenging at times, but there is a wealth of digital resources that can be easily obtained right at home to overcome obstacles along the way. MoreToADHD.com breaks down signs of ADHD and the diagnosis journey, along with educational videos and coping tips for children, parents and caregivers. With understanding comes confidence and comfort, allowing families to stay happy, healthy and well, leaning on the vast ADHD community to work through challenges both big and small.

POSITIVE AFFIRMATION Start off the day by making a mental or written list of all the things about your child that are special, positive, valuable or unique. Pause each morning to think of the things for which you are thankful, proud of and which give you peace. Trust that children with ADHD can succeed as they learn, change and mature. Focus on the larger goal of behavioral support for a child and less on the smaller, day-to-day struggles.

Finding a way to channel energy into positive coping mechanisms can help maintain wellness, and in turn, strengthen the relationship between the parent/caregiver and a child with ADHD. To learn more, visit MoreToADHD. com.

(BPT)

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Sign up Now for Fall Soccer!

Boys High School & Mens 30+ Leagues Non competitive recreational leagues with the main Non-competitive emphasis on having fun, learning the sport, practicing skills/techniques and developing a love for the game of soccer. Individual and team registrations welcome.

Open Play Soccer

Ages

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Mens • Womens • Coed Check website for availability

Soccer Skills & Scrimmage

Ages

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Thursdays • Saturdays Skill development for beginners & beyond!

Featuring G3X Soccer staff - professional coaches, played minimally at a collegiate level with 10 years coaching experience.

Youth Sports

Ages

2-6

Weekdays Featuring All Star Sports Instruction Soccer • T-Ball • Flag Football • Golf & More!

1400 Foundry Street • St. Charles, IL 60174 • 630-513-4388

For more details: stcsportsplex.org 12 | PARENT SOURCE | Thursday, August 27, 2020

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