parent parent ILLINOIS VALLEY
JULY 2021
Family bonding in the kitchen Cooking together can lead to memories and tasty dishes
ALSO: n
Ways to avoid the educational summer slide
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Great book picks for junior high and YA readers
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Local places to take your kids to stimulate learning
publication
Illinois Valley Parent 426 Second Street La Salle, Illinois 61301 (815) 223-3200 (800) 892-6452 www.newstrib.com
Contents Prevent the Su mmer Slide 4 Keep kids learning when school is out.
Publisher Dan Goetz
Best Books for Y our Older Bookworm 8
Niche Editor Shannon Serpette
sserpette@shawmedia.com
Regional Advertising Director Jeanette Smith jmsmith@shawmedia.com
Writers Ali Braboy David Cook Katlyn Sanden Shannon Serpette Summer Traver
Making selections for junior high and young adult readers isn’t so easy.
Fun in the Kitchen 12
Cooking with your child creates a bonding opportunity.
Su mmer Educational Hotspots 18
Photographers Scott Anderson Ali Braboy David Cook Katlyn Sanden Shannon Serpette
Teach your kids while entertaining them.
A Kid’s Perspective 22
Designer Liz Klein
How kids feel about yelling or cheering during sports.
On the cover: Mother-daughter duo Tauni and Emri Koning of western Bureau County whip up a batch of Korean beef lettuce wraps. If you’re not into lettuce wraps, this dish can be served over rice instead.
Published by:
PHOTO BY KATLYN SANDEN
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PHOTO BY SCOTT ANDERSON
Abby Brown, 7, and her mother Michelle look at a map of the trails at Starved Rock State Park. When it comes to county forest preserves, city parks, and state parks, there is a whole world out there left to explore, which will help kids learn. They can fish, hike, learn how to identify trees and plants, watch birds, and camp.
Prevent the Summer Slide Keep Kids Learning When School Is Out By Ali Braboy
T
he hot summer months are here, but that doesn’t mean kids have to choose between having fun and learning. It’s possible to accomplish both if parents are willing to put in some homework of their own. Over the summer, students can lose up to 60 percent of the math and reading skills they learned during the year, according to Scholastic, the world’s largest publisher and distributor of chil-
4 July 2021 | Illinois Valley Parent | A NewsTribune Publication
dren’s books. Those who are involved with students’ learning in the Illinois Valley gave tips on how kids can continue learning this summer. AVOID THE SUMMER SLIDE AND ENCOURAGE CHILDREN TO READ Research shows children who read very little or not at all during the summer months can hit the summer slide, which is where children lose their read-
PHOTO BY ALI BRABOY
Addressing the social and emotional needs of children is important to their well-being and school performance. Certain books, like these at the Peru Public Library, can help children learn how to calm down and gain control over their emotions and can improve sleep patterns.
ing skills and are less prepared to return to school in the fall. Lynn Sheedy, youth services manager at the Peru Public Library, has some tips for families to utilize this summer. Families should read at least 20 minutes a day with kids who are not reading independently. Independent readers should read at least 20 minutes daily. Parents should always have a book handy for a child when running errands, long car rides, or sitting in waiting rooms. She also suggests enrolling children in a summer reading program. The Peru library has created a way to keep kids invested. An adult creates or updates their child’s Beanstack account at peru library.beanstack. com or uses the Beanstack app and selects “Reading Colors Your World Summer Reading Program.” Families track the amount of time children read and log that time in Beanstack. For every hour a child engages in reading or for every activity completed, a virtual
she returned this summer even though she has no more service hours to fulfill. She said once you learn the tasks and the ins and outs, there is more time to talk with others and learn their stories. Wamhoff said seeing people in need changes how you view the world. She said it’s also helpful to see people who regularly work there and enjoy what they’re doing.
badge and raffle ticket are GET OUT IN NATURE awarded, which can lead Addressing the social to kids winning prizes. and emotional needs of children is important VOLUNTEERING when it comes to making Elaina Wamhoff of sure they’re successful LaMoille volunteered at at school, said Lynn the Hall Township Food Sheedy, youth services Pantry in Spring Valmanager at the Peru Publey as a way to acquire lic Library. her high-school service Challenges that chilhour requirement for St. dren face that affect their Bede Academy. But she school performance and overall well-being include quickly found it was a social isolation, disruplot more fun than she tion in family and school thought it could be. “It felt like I was doing routines, parental job losses, mask-wearing, the something important,” quarantine, and more, she said, which is why she said. So, it’s important to set kids up with activities, such as summer camps, sports, playdates, and getting out in nature. Becoming a Junior Ranger at state and national parks allows children to gain knowledge about nature, which means they’re also safer in nature. Children who go through the program at Starved Rock State Park will learn about difCONTRIBUTED PHOTO ferent plants and animals Elaina Wamhoff of LaMoille has continued to learn during the found at the parks. They summer while she volunteered in will learn how to identify high school. She is shown while poison ivy and get to volunteering at the Hall Township Food Pantry in Spring Valley.
See SLIDE page 6
A NewsTribune Publication | Illinois Valley Parent | July 2021 5
world out there left to explore – fishing, hiking, learning how to identify FROM PAGE 5 trees and plants, bird explore trails. Children watching, and camping. will learn how to read a To get a Junior Ranger map along with learning booklet at Starved Rock, the importance of what visit the Visitor Center. Anto do and what not to swers can be found on the do when hiking, such as IDNR website, at the Visibringing water and not tor Center, and on some of picking flowers. the trails. When finished, At Starved Rock, there children bring the packet is a packet for those ages to the front desk, and Sons 5 to 8 years old and a will grade it. packet for ages 9 years Children will get their old and up. Junior Ranger badge and “It’s far too easy these go through Junior Ranger days with technology to pledge to become an fall in with the virtual official Junior Ranger at world and not get out Starved Rock. For more and explore,” said Lisa activities at Illinois state Sons, Natural Resource parks, visit www2.IlliCoordinator for the Illinois.gov/Dnr online. You nois Department of Natu- can search for any state ral Resources for Starved park under the Parks and Rock and Matthiessen Recreation tab. state parks. For the Starved Rock When it comes to page and Matthiessen county forest preserves, pages, Sons suggests city parks, and state looking at information parks, there’s a whole there under Activities, 6 July 2021 | Illinois Valley Parent | A NewsTribune Publication
Interpretive and Visitor Center tabs. The Education tab at www.2.Illinois.gov/DNR also has more activities to do. EMBRACE PATIENCE, TOLERANCE, KINDNESS AND UNDERSTANDING Remember that this year has been hard for children when encouraging them to learn. “The pandemic has caused students a challenging variety of loss, trauma, microtrauma, and social isolation. It is important for student well-being and academic progress in the coming school year to establish a basis of welcome, safety, acceptance, growth, and relationship, and to avoid comparative learning loss, learning gap, or deficit mindsets,” Mendota High School counselor Mitch Landgraf said. “By meeting students where they are emotionally and
PHOTO BY SCOTT ANDERSON
Abby Brown, 7, and her mother, Michelle, check out a display inside the Starved Rock State Park Visitor Center. Visiting state parks is a great way for kids to continue learning during the summer.
Slide
academically, professional educators will help students be and feel safe and ready to learn in a safe, supportive and predictable learning environment.” Resist the urge to make your child feel as if they are failing to be perfect. “Progress, not perfection applies. A student will be more motivated to continue learning by seeing their knowledge, skill, and mastery improve, as opposed to being noted as ‘deficient’ in comparison to normative standards,” Landgraf said. “Further, under stress, humans exert their unique and intrinsic psychogenetic values with even greater vigor. As such, it’s a time for educators, students, and parents to embrace patience, tolerance, kindness, and understanding as the best means to empower students and academic gains.” LISTEN TO INSTRUCTORS, AND KNOW THAT YOUR LIBRARY OFFERS MORE THAN BOOKS Take advantage of summer school if it’s suggested by teachers to do so, said Emily Schaub, teen services manager at the Peru Public Library. Read the books, websites,
and blogs they suggest. Every parent should go through their child’s backpack as soon as they get home on their last day of school, says Lynn Sheedy, youth services manager at the Peru Public Library. Generally, schools will send home information about summer reading programs, camps, summer school information, and activity packets for children to complete so children can retain skills during the summer. Your local library can help children to continue to learn with more than just books. Brainfuse is a free program for all ages for those with a Peru Public Library card. Included is live tutoring from 2 to 11 p.m. every day and a writing lab where you can get feedback on a paper – students can send a question and get an answer within 24 hours. Students can also get help with filing FAFSA for college expenses from 1 to 10 p.m. Monday - Thursday. There is much more available through Brainfuse. BE INVOLVED IN YOUR KIDS’ LIVES “Having very involved parents is important. Our parents need to be in-
volved in what their kids are doing and learning and participating in in the summer,” said Chris Gibson, associate principal for teaching and learning at La Salle-Peru Township High School. “The more they get involved, that puts kids in a better position to grow and succeed educationally,” he said. For example, an opportunity to get involved is when kids go on vacations with families when educational outcomes can be achieved. He remembers going on vacation with his family, and they’d play games, looking for license plates from different states, which help in areas like learning geography. In addition to a relaxing time, vacations can also offer an opportunity “to culturally learn about where they’re going, what has happened there, and what type of geography is there,” he said. Other examples of being involved include getting kids in extracurricular activities, signing kids up for summer reading programs, and possibly setting them up with a tutor or tutoring academy.
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These are 10 of the most highly regarded books for junior high readers, though there are many others which are also worthy of checking out.
Best Books For Your Older Bookworm Making selections for junior high and young adult readers isn’t so easy Story and photos by David Cook Young, avid readers frequently finish an impressive number of books by the time they enter the junior high years. As they mature into young adult readers, many of the books they encounter will challenge them in new ways. More than increasingly difficult words and added pages, many young adult (YA) titles offer the power of a good book. The best not only demonstrate a deeper immersion into the author’s world, but also demand a reckoning with conflicting ideas, morality, and mortality. To help compile a list of outstanding
8 July 2021 | Illinois Valley Parent | A NewsTribune Publication
books for junior high readers, Ron McCutchan, head of youth services at the Princeton Public Library, was asked for assistance. That so many different books were mentioned by a variety of people during the preparation of this list is an example of how much is available to seventh- and eighth-grade readers. “It’s so hard to do an ultimate Top 10 because YA fiction has changed so much in the past 20 years, so the classics of my own junior high days can seem dated and old-fashioned and not reflecting kids whose experience is not white, middle-class America,” McCutchan said.
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Another challenge of singling out the best is the perspective of time. There are certainly great new books on the shelves, but to be considered a true classic, a story must stand the test of passing years. This is a highly subjective list that’s mostly not in any particular order, and McCutchan helpfully snuck in several extra titles worthy of mention. So, if you’re struggling to help your junior high reader find new material, this eclectic list may yield a few contenders. “HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER’S STONE” BY J. K. ROWLING (1998) Could there be any other at the top slot? Not with half a billion copies sold and an accompanying multi-billion dollar film franchise and theme park. The Potter series captured the attention of multiple generations and changed YA reading forever. McCutchan also gave a nod to “The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins, pointing out that both series and their films successfully crossed over to the adult market. “These two stand out as important if only because grown-ups took notice because young readers were taking notice,” he said. “THE GIVER” BY LOIS LOWRY (1993) This Newbery Medal winner is the story of a dystopian society that’s eliminated all individuality. This title appears on many school reading lists, and also frequently appears on “Most Challenged” lists, a notable distinction shared by many great stories. Honorable mentions McCutchan included for the number two spot include the time-traveling “A Wrinkle in Time” by Madeleine L’Engle (1962), another Newbery winner, and the sci-fi classic “Ender’s Game,” Orson Scott Card (1984). “One might argue ‘A Wrinkle in Time’ is a little younger than junior
high, but I’m including it as an early and important example of women in sciences. Each of the three books wrestles with ideas of ethics and morality, as well as being vivid other-worlds in their own right,” he said. “HATCHET” BY GARY PAULSEN (1987) This is another Newbery winner and also another book that captured the interest of many adults. This is the story of Brian, a 13 year-old who must survive in the Canadian wilderness after a plane crash leaves him alone and with only a hatchet. “THE CROSSOVER” BY KWAME ALEXANDER (2014) AND “LONG WAY DOWN” (2017) BY JASON REYNOLDS Unable to settle the competition for the fourth spot on this list, McCutchan explained his difficulty with choosing. “Two novels in verse, two Newbery Medal books, two novels of young black experience with very different male protagonists. One is a talented basketball player and poet with a focus on family dynamics. The other is a younger brother out to avenge his brother’s shooting, focusing on the web of urban violence that disrupts so many young lives,” he said.
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“SMILE” BY RAINA TELGEMEIER (2010) Another breakthrough YA book, this time establishing graphic novels as legitimate literature — in particular the YA graphic novel memoir. “WONDER” BY R. J. PALACIO (2012) This is the story of Auggie, a 10-year old with a facial deformity, as he faces the challenges of attending a mainstream
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See BOOKS page 10
Inset: Many of the young adult fiction book authors included in this list have been presented with a prestigious Newbery Medal, which is awarded annually to the best books of the year.
A NewsTribune Publication | Illinois Valley Parent | July 2021 9
Ron McCutchan, head of youth services at Princeton Public Library, lent his expertise in helping to find the best books featured in the library’s Young Adult section.
Books FROM PAGE 9
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school for the first time. “Possibly a little young for this list, but this made such a big splash on publication and has such a good message about kindness and inclusion that I am including it,” McCutchan said. “THE BOOK THIEF” BY MARKUS ZUSAK (2006) AND “THE DIARY OF A YOUNG GIRL” BY ANNE FRANK (1947) “I first encountered ‘The Book Thief’ in a YA literature class, and it blew my mind and had me in tears at the end. A view of life in Nazi Germany tangential to the Holocaust, but not about the Holocaust. Although it’s historical fiction, it adds a unique literary twist in being narrated by Death — and it has sections told in illustration,” McCutchan said. “The Diary of a Young Girl” is one of the most influential books of the past century and another fixture of school reading lists. “For many, Anne is their first exposure to the Holocaust and the lives destroyed by it. An actual historical record of one voice vs. the literary voice
10 July 2021 | Illinois Valley Parent | A NewsTribune Publication
of ‘The Book Thief’ with a retrospective point-of-view,” he added.
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“THE LIGHTNING THIEF” BY RICK RIORDAN (2005), “THE RUINS OF GORLAN” BY JOHN FLANAGAN (2005), AND “THE DRAGONET PROPHECY,” BY TUI T. SUTHERLAND (2012) McCutchan squeezed in three different book series for this entry for readers who want to read multiple books about their favorite characters. “This is the series popularity slot, each of these writers has continued to add to their book lines. Riordan has done so with other mythologies, as well as highlighting authors from underrepresented cultures and backgrounds with ‘Rick Riordan Presents,’ he said. While “The Lightning Thief” received the most critical praise of the three series, McCutchan pointed out the work of all three authors continues to fly off the shelves.
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“GOODBYE STRANGER” BY REBECCA STEAD (2015) “This novel truly captures the junior high experience in three interwoven narratives – two over the course of several months, interspersed by one over the course of a specific day that
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is the hinge point of all the storylines,” the list was “Are You There God, It’s McCutchan said. Me, Margaret” by Judy Blume. This ground-breaking and somehow still con“TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD” BY HARPER troversial classic about puberty from a LEE (1960), “MONSTER” BY WALTER girl’s perspective seems like a sure-thing DEAN MYERS (1999), AND “WOLF for this list, and it was often mentioned HOLLOW” BY LAUREN WOLK (2016) by those at the library who shared their “Three novels about morality, guilt/ junior high reading memories. innocence, and community accusation. Retired junior high teacher Mary ArHowever, each stands as an important cher agreed that Blume’s books were book on their theme,” McCutchan said important to her students, saying it was of his final three entries on this list. because they related so well to the char“To Kill a Mockingbird” is widely acters and the issues they were facing. read in school, but McCutchan felt it “There seems to be a strong divide on merited mention, if not a warning, that whether this is a good book to read bethe racially-charged book is written fore puberty, so as to cover some of the from a white point-of-view by a white questions that will inevitably come up, author for an adult audience, as opor if books about these topics need to posed to specifically for a YA audience. be held off until age 12 or later… or at It was also written at a time where the all. Parents are free to make their own use of racial slurs wasn’t questioned. determination, but the majority of what “Although the story argues against I’m seeing argues for a bit younger than prejudice, black characters are not junior high. Also, is it still pertinent? given their own agency. In contrast, Our library copy was last checked out “Monster,” also about a court case with in 2018,” McCutchan said. an African-American teen on trial for Humorously, the discussions surmurder, is told in the teen’s own voice, rounding what books were read in juthough Myers leaves the reader to ponnior high included a lot of initial blank der on the question of guilt or innostares for many former junior high cence,” he explained. readers who’ve attained the perspec“Wolf Hollow” is set in Pennsylvania tive of time by adding a few decades of during WWII, and also involved queslife experience into the mix. But after tions of false accusation, but within a giving them a moment to retrieve those white community. “Monster” was the first recipient of the ALA’s Printz Award memories, one familiar name, along with a few others, was quickly and refor best book for teens and “Wolf Holpeatedly shared. low” received a Newbery Honor. Let’s just say that Nancy Drew can hold her own against other literary CONSIDER CLASSICS FROM YOUR PAST heavyweights. McCutchan said his first thought for
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Fun in the
Kitchen Cooking with your child creates a bonding opportunity
Story and photos by Katlyn Sanden “Chopped” has got nothing on 8-year old Emri Koning of western Bureau County. Preparing different foods has become a hobby for Emri as she elegantly plates her masterpieces for her parents, asking them if it needs any different seasonings, oils, herbs, or anything else. But her cooking has led to more than just tasty dishes. “We’re making memories,” said Emri’s mom, Tauni Koning. “We like to bake together.” And bake they do. From tried-andtrue family recipes to new ones they find online, there’s not much the baking duo won’t try. Their favorites are roasted carrots, Korean beef lettuce wraps, coffee cake, taco dip, sugar cookies, and just about any pancake conceivable. When the pandemic hit, Emri seized every chance she had to try a new type of pancake. Finding herself with a lot more extra time, she experimented with raspberry, almond, and peach flavoring, and then she branched out into
12 July 2021 | Illinois Valley Parent | A NewsTribune Publication
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Emri Koning loves these cute and flavorful turkey pancakes. The duo gets creative coming up with healthy foods to make the faces.
creating different animals such as her “Purrfect Pancakes,” where she used strawberries, blueberries, and apples to make it look like a cat. She even created a turkey pancake for Thanksgiving, which ended up being her favorite See COOKING page 14
Tauni and Emri Koning’s secret to making the best coffee cake is layering the sugar mixture inside the batter, then sprinkling the remainder on the top.
Coffee Cake INGREDIENTS: Batter 1 box yellow cake mix 1 3-ounce package instant vanilla pudding 2/3 cup melted butter 2 eggs 1 cup water Sugar Mixture 1/2 cup sugar 2 tablespoons cinnamon
DIRECTIONS: Mix all the batter ingredients and beat for 5 minutes. Pour into a 9x13 greased pan. Make sugar mixture. Layer batter and sugar mixture in the greased pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. You can top with fruit, frosting, or enjoy as is.
A NewsTribune Publication | Illinois Valley Parent | July 2021 13
Cooking
mix and milk to achieve a thick consistency over a runny consistency. Then FROM PAGE 12 they let their imaginations run wild to come up with different animals. breakfast culinary masterpiece so far. As far as how they work together “I used creative flavors, banana, pret- in the kitchen, Tauni says it all boils zel, dark chocolate, and a little licorice down to patience. for garnish,” Emri said when describing “That’s a big one for me personally,” how she created the turkey. she said. “They’re (kids) not going to learn Her mom particularly enjoyed the unless they learn from you, so I think it’s “Purrfect Pancakes.” important to be spending the time. If we “It’s fun trying to decide ingredients don’t, who will? We try to have fun with that will look good and be healthy, es- it. If it doesn’t work out, it’s not the end of pecially for breakfast,” Tauni added. the world. We try again.” The best part is these pancakes are Looking into the future, this motheasy to create at home. The duo uses a er-daughter baking duo hope to tackle gluten-free mix from Aldi, but doesn’t crepes, eclairs, and macaroons next. necessarily follow the exact recipe on They both agree the eclairs and macathe back. Their secret is adding extra roons might be a bit tricky, but they’re vanilla extract and adding just enough up for the challenge.
Roasted Carrots INGREDIENTS: 1 pound carrots 2 tablespoons olive oil 1-2 teaspoons of your favorite seasoning (Emri & Tauni use steak seasoning) 2 teaspoons honey DIRECTIONS:
Emri Koning plates and garnishes her roasted carrots after carefully drizzling honey over them.
Preheat the oven to 425. Wash, peel, and slice the carrots. Coat them in olive oil and seasoning. Bake for 20-30 minutes until lightly browned. Drizzle honey and serve.
Taco Dip INGREDIENTS: 2 8-ounce blocks of cream cheese 1 tall jar salsa Shredded cheese Olives or black beans Onions
DIRECTIONS: Tomatoes Green pepper Cilantro Tortilla chips
14 July 2021 | Illinois Valley Parent | A NewsTribune Publication
Blend cream cheese and salsa. Spread evenly in a pan. Layer the remaining ingredients – you can use as much or as little of each ingredient as you want. Serve with tortilla chips.
On the Cover
Korean Beef Lettuce Wraps INGREDIENTS: 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed 1/4 cup soy sauce 2 teaspoons sesame oil 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 pound ground beef 2 green onions, thinly sliced 1/4 teaspoon sesame seeds
Sugar Cookies INGREDIENTS: Cookie 1 cup butter 1 cup sugar 1 egg and 2 egg yolks 1/4 teaspoon salt 3 cups flour 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 and 1/2 teaspoons vanilla 1/2 teaspoon almond extract 3/4 tablespoons milk Frosting 3 cups powdered sugar 1/3 cup butter 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 1/4 teaspoon almond extract 2 tablespoons milk
DIRECTIONS: In a small bowl, whisk together brown sugar, soy sauce, sesame oil, red pepper flakes, and ginger. Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic and cook, stirring constantly until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add ground beef and cook until browned, about 3 to 5 minutes, making sure to crumble the beef as it cooks; drain excess fat. Stir in soy sauce mixture and green onions until well combined, allowing to simmer until heated through, about 2 minutes. Serve immediately, garnished with green onion and sesame seeds. You can use this mixture to fill a lettuce leaf for lettuce wraps, or you can serve over prepared rice.
No-Bake, Flat-Belly Oatmeal Cookies INGREDIENTS: 1/2 cup coconut oil 1/2 cup natural peanut butter 1/2 cup coconut sugar (or stevia to taste) 1/4 cup coconut milk 1/4 cup cocoa powder 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 cup unsweetened, shredded coconut, toasted 2 and 1/2 cups rolled oats DIRECTIONS: Heat coconut oil, peanut butter, and sugar until smooth. Remove from heat; stir in milk. Add remaining ingredients and a pinch of salt if desired. Drop 24 spoonfuls on a lined baking sheet. Refrigerate until set. Store in fridge.
DIRECTIONS: Mix all cookie ingredients. Chill cookie dough 1 to 2 hours in the fridge. Roll out and use your favorite cookie cutters. Bake at 350 degrees for 6 to 7 minutes. Mix the frosting ingredients while the cookies cool. Frost and enjoy.
A NewsTribune Publication | Illinois Valley Parent | July 2021 15
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A NewsTribune Publication | Illinois Valley Parent | July 2021 17
Summer
Educational Hotspots Teach Your Kids While Entertaining Them Story by Summer Traver
A
re you trying to keep your children from becoming video-game-playing zombies all summer long? If you want to take them somewhere educational, but fun while school is out, here are some ideas that will keep them active but learning.
fishing, or stop by the petting zoo. “We have stuff to do for all ages out here,” Paul Williams, the owner of the ranch, said. “Kids don’t want to leave.” If you have a child who doesn’t enjoy playing outside and would rather be inside with electronics, this might be the answer to teach them an appreciation for nature and the great outdoors.
CEDAR CREEK RANCH A trip to Cedar Creek Ranch in Cedar PUTNAM COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY Point can teach your children how to respectfully interact with animals. They’ll The Putnam County Historical Society in Hennepin is a great place to learn as they ride horses on a trail, go visit with lots of items to learn about. These local items can help children make the association that history is all around us. There are uniforms from the Civil War era that were donated from Putnam County families. There are also weapons used during that time that kids can view. Debbie Pletsch, a McNabb resident and teacher, recommends the Putnam County Historical Society because it is PHOTO BY SHANNON SERPETTE
Petting zoos, like this one at Cedar Creek Ranch in Cedar Point, offer kids a chance to learn about animals and treating all living things with kindness and respect.
18 July 2021 | Illinois Valley Parent | A NewsTribune Publication
PHOTO BY SHANNON SERPETTE
Depending upon the age of your child, you can take them for a summertime trail ride at Cedar Creek Ranch. It’s educational because they’ll be learning something new, and they’ll get more practice with following instructions. Ranch owner Paul Williams stands with one of his horses.
a local place and parents do not need to website for more information so you’ll be travel far to learn more about history. able to discuss everything you take in. “A lot of Putnam County families have donated to the museum,” she said. PULSIFER HOUSE The Pulsifer House, located in HenMATTHIESSEN STATE PARK nepin, was built in 1844. It’s now a muThis state park in LaSalle County is seum managed by the Putnam County an excellent place to explore, and there Historical Society. The house is staged are many activities to do as well. It’s as it would have been when people aca good idea to have a camera ready to tually lived there in 1844. take pictures of all your child’s findings The Pulsifer House would be a great during your hike. place to visit to learn about why EdThe trails alone will be a day-long ward Pulsifer built the house in Henneadventure. There are five miles of trails, pin and then later moved to Chicago. It and you may choose a relaxing trail is also amazing to see how people lived or a more vigorous trail depending on in that particular time period. your purpose. PUTNAM COUNTY’S And while on their hike, your child AGRICULTURAL MUSEUM will be learning, too. There are many What family doesn’t like to learn different rock formations and geodes to about agriculture? This museum is loobserve and take pictures of while hikcated near the Pulsifer House. In order ing. On your adventure, you may run to visit the Agriculture Museum, you’ll into some Native American artifacts. need to make an appointment. You can’t remove them from the state There is antique farm equipment that park, but you can take a picture to reyour family can view to compare and member it. contrast all of the changes then and Matthiessen State Park also has trails now. There is also an interesting Illinois for mountain biking if you are not a River display. Your child can also check fan of hiking. There are wild animals to out an old school room and kitchen. It observe throughout the trails and many native plants to see. Before going or See HOTSPOTS page 21 after your visit, go to IDNR State Parks
A NewsTribune Publication | Illinois Valley Parent | July 2021 19
PHOTO BY SHANNON SERPETTE
Friendly baby goats greet Cedar Creek Ranch owner Paul Williams. The goats have a starring role in the ranch’s newest activity, goat yoga.
20 July 2021 | Illinois Valley Parent | A NewsTribune Publication
Hotspots
has evidence of some major glacial action, making it a wonderful choice for teaching your child something new.
will help you strike up conversations with your children about how life has changed and what possible ways they might contribute to the future. Kirsten Augspols, a teacher who lives in Hennepin, recommends taking children to the museum because there are a variety of tractors for the children to view and see how it stacks up to what is being used today. “It is interesting for children to see the different styles of tractors,” she said.
OWEN LOVEJOY HOMESTEAD Lovejoy Homestead, which is located in Princeton, is a great place to learn about the history of the Underground Railroad. There is also a one room schoolhouse located on the property, which gives kids a fascinating peek into what the world of education used to look like.
FROM PAGE 19
DIXON WATERFOWL REFUGE Does your child like nature? This waterfowl refuge along Route 26 in HENNEPIN CANAL LOCK 19 Hennepin is open 365 days a year. The Hennepin Canal Lock 19 is part This 3,000-acre field used to grow corn of the Grand Illinois Trail. There is and soybeans, but now it is all natural. fishing, biking, canoeing, hiking, and There are lakes, marshes, savannah, picnicking, and it’s all walking distance prairie, and many native plants. from Wyanet. Three miles north of Thousands of waterfowl migrate and the village, there is Fort Thomas and use Hennepin and Hopper lakes to also two locations where stagecoaches stop as they pass through in the spring stopped at one time. The Henry and fall. There are seven miles of hikThomas Lock Museum is open on ing trails to observe, as well as the weekends and by appointments. opportunities for fishing and paddling. Visiting this museum will provide There are over 230 different birds to try you with information about the history to spot, and a huge observation tower of Wyanet. Does your child like trains? to do it from. If so, there is a spot to photograph SHADOWS OF THE BLUE AND GRAY passing trains, and at one time, there If you’re looking for something to do used to be a three-story train station. this fall, save the date for the Shadows MITCHELL’S GROVE NATURE PRESERVE of the Blue and Gray in Princeton, Do you have a budding botanist on which will be Oct. 9 and 10. It noryour hands? There are over 300 kinds mally is a 3 day weekend because of of plants at Mitchell’s Grove Nature Columbus Day. This even educates Preserve and some are close to being people on the roles of soldiers and ciextinct in Illinois. This location also vilians during the Civil War.
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A NewsTribune Publication | Illinois Valley Parent | July 2021 21
A Kid’s Perspective: How Kids Feel About Yelling or Cheering During Sports
Torianna Swinson
By Torianna Swinson
When you hear parents yelling at their kids during sports, your first thought is that they are very connected to them and the game. There are many reasons parents could be yelling, but whether good or bad, yelling can be taken too seriously. Children, especially teenagers, may take it so seriously that they feel nothing they do is right. No matter what good things you say to them after the game, they choose to believe the bad things. Yelling is not a bad thing, but you have to be careful who you yell at and when in their life. Kids might take what you say and remember it all day long. Cheering for someone motivates them and makes them feel better about themselves. Chil-
dren take things really harshly, so you have to be careful what you say. Cheering for a child changes the way they think all day. Your child may even use your words as motivation for the rest of their life. On the flip side, cheering can also make you get embarrassed and mess up. I can’t think of a single kid who would want to mess up. When my parents yell for me, I feel like I’m not doing well enough sometimes. But I always know they mean the best. When they cheer for me, I tend to get embarrassed and sometimes mess up. Parents yelling at their kids when they’re playing disconnects the child from the game and messes with their head. When I hear a parent yell at a referee, I think they just need to accept the fact that a bad call was made. Referees can
22 July 2021 | Illinois Valley Parent | A NewsTribune Publication
be one-sided, but there’s not much we can do about it. Yelling at them only makes our team get worse calls. There are people out there who want their team to win and will do whatever it takes, but in our hearts, we might know we really won. When parents yell at referees, their kids get embarrassed, especially if the parents get kicked out, and the kids don’t work as hard because they’ve given up. Kids enjoy seeing their parents at their games, but they don’t want them to criticize them or embarrass them. If my parents were to yell at referees, I would be embarrassed and probably not play as hard. I like to be treated fairly by my coaches. I like them to know my skills and help me based on my level. Most coaches single kids out. Singling someone out
can be a good thing or a bad thing. It can bring us down a lot, or it can help us out. Either way, it depends on the child and how they feel every day. Some children would want to be singled out so they can prove themselves, but some might want to be pulled aside while the others do the drill. Kids tend to get embarrassed, and their self-esteem can be lowered. I like it when coaches yell during games because I don’t want to make a mistake and not know it. I want to know what I did wrong and be able to fix it. However, some kids don’t like coaches yelling during games because it’s distracting, and it makes them feel bad about themselves. I like being in sports because it gives me something to do when I’m bored, and it makes me feel more confident in my skills. It makes me healthier and stronger, and I get to see my friends a lot more. I like being able to do things with my friends and share the excitement when we win. Being part of a team helps me get along with others and helps me develop skills for when I’m older such as teamwork, fairness and respect, rule-following, leadership, and many more things. I like making my friends laugh and cheering them up when they make a mistake. I hardly dislike any-
thing in sports. To me, it’s all about your attitude when something you disagree with happens. When a referee makes a call that doesn’t seem fair, you just have to pick everybody up and stay positive. When you sit on the bench, you cheer your teammates to victory. No matter if I have a bad day or not, I choose to make my teammates happy. Your team is like your family, and you won’t have very good relationships if you don’t let them know you are there for them. When asked for a perspective from another student-athlete, Lauren Harbison, a student from Henry-Senachwine High School, said her parents rarely ever yell at her during games, but when they do, she usually doesn’t mind. “It doesn’t really bother me when they yell at me, but I know when I mess up in a sport, so I don’t need someone else to tell me what to do. I like it when they cheer for me, like after I do something good and they cheer,” she said. “I hate it when I hear children getting yelled at by parents. I think they should just let them play the game. No one is perfect, and everyone makes mistakes.” “My parents don’t make me nervous because they have been going to my games since I was 4 in T-ball, and it’s
just my parents,” Harbison continued. “I don’t mind my parents yelling at me when I make a mistake, but my parents don’t really yell; they just say, “Come on, you got to get that,” but I don’t know if other people like it. I would say it just makes me try harder. Yelling just makes me try harder, but I know that some other kids get frustrated and get down on themselves. I think cheering makes them feel good about themselves.” Harbison has experienced adults yelling at umpires and referees too. “I sometimes think it’s funny when parents yell at refs and umps, but sometimes I don’t like it. It kind of depends on what they are yelling at them for. I like to get told when I do something wrong so I can fix it, so I guess I like getting yelled at, but I also like getting told “nice job” when I do something good,” she said. “I like it when coaches yell during the game because players need to have a good stern coach, or they won’t get better. Without being told what you did wrong, you will never know how to fix it.” About the author: Torianna Swinson is a high school student who lives in Marshall County. She has participated in volleyball, track, softball, and basketball at school.
A NewsTribune Publication | Illinois Valley Parent | July 2021 23
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Hair Free and Care-Free… The Facts About Laser Hair Reduction Do you have unwanted dark coarse hair? Are you tired of waxing, plucking and shaving? Have you outgrown ingrown hairs? Do you loath shaving a part of body daily? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you need to keep reading! Permanent hair reduction can be achieved with a series of quick laser procedures and is available at Nicole Norris MD Medical Spa in Peru, IL. We asked Dr. Norris to give us the facts on this scientifically proven hair reduction method. Who is a good candidate for laser hair reduction? “Anyone with an area of unwanted dark coarse hair over age 18 can have laser hair reduction. The laser that we use is safe for all skin types. If you would like to shave an area of your body less or not at all, that grows this type of hair, you are a good candidate!” How does it work? “Laser hair removal does not work on blonde, red, white, or grey hair because the laser energy is only attracted to the dark pigment in the hair follicle. The energy from the laser travels down the dark brown/black hair follicle and destroys the hair follicle stem cell at the base under the skin, therefore causing that hair follicle to stop growing permanently. On average, patients require 6 treatments separated by 4-8 weeks to achieve a satisfactory amount of hair reduction in an area. Hair on the face grows more quickly and is treated every 4 weeks, verses hair on the back and legs has a growth cycle of every 8 weeks. It is important that we stay on schedule with these intervals for the treatment to be effective. It is also imperative that you do not pull out the root of the hair in the area we are treating during the time you are coming in for laser hair reduction treatments. You may shave, but you should not pluck or wax or thread your unwanted hair to assure the best possible results.” How does it feel? “The energy that comes from the laser is heat energy, so most patients describe the treatment as a series of warm rubber band snaps. Our laser has a cooling system that is touching the skin during the treatment, which makes it extremely tolerable. The laser we use in our office for hair reduction was engineered solely for this purpose. It is the fastest, most painless, and safest laser for hair removal available in the US.”
What areas do you commonly treat? “Areas of the body most commonly treated with laser hair reduction include the face, neck, back, chest, underarms, bikini, arms, and legs. The procedure is quick and relatively painless with no downtime. It is important that the area being treating has not had significant sun exposure, tanning bed exposure, or spray tan exposure in the last 2 weeks prior to treatment.” Is laser hair reduction safe? It is safe if it is done in a physician’s office and safety protocols are followed. We ask our patients to come in for a brief consultation and a test spot prior to starting their series of treatments. The test spot means that we choose settings for your skin type and then fire the laser once on the area we plan to treat. By seeing the skin and the hair’s reaction to the laser energy, we can tell if it is a safe and effective setting for the patient. Everyone in the laser room wears goggles to protect their eyes from the laser light. What can I expect long term? “After your initial series of treatments, you will have noticeably less dark coarse hair. You will rarely need to shave. Over time, you may notice a few dark hairs that potentially were missed in the first round of treatments or due to hormone changes you may have some new growth. Patients can come in for another treatment at any time after their initial series of treatments if they desire which we call a “touch-up”. Laser Hair Reduction in our office has an extremely high long term patient satisfaction rate!” If you are ready to be Hair Free and Care-Free, contact Nicole Norris MD Medical Spa for your laser hair removal consultation! SM-LA1894194
24 July 2021 | Illinois Valley Parent | A NewsTribune Publication
