MARCH 2020
HOW TO
RAISE AN Emotionally
HEALTHY CHILD
WHAT'S BEST FOR
BABY BRAIN Development?
HOTEL SPOTLIGHT The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay
THE BABY ISSUE
Volume 7 / Issue 73
[ PARENTING ] How to Raise an Emotionally Healthy Child Understanding and teaching emotional health
What's Best for Baby Brain Development?
[ TRAVEL ] HOTEL SPOTLIGHT: The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay
26
6
[ PRODUCTS WE LOVE ]
Seven Secrets for Calming Tempers
22
Baby Product Guide
14
[ SUMMER CAMPS ] Summer Camp Guide
34
Nine Creative Ways to Help Kids Study
The Benefits And Dangers Of Highly Empathic Parenting
8
30
18
6 2 ACTIVE FAMIL Y | MARCH 2020
22
8
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Editor’s Note Hello Spring! Where have you been?! As the days get longer and the sun shines brighter, it is time to think about ways in which we can stay busy and active with the family! Enter…Active Family! We are here to make your life as a parent easier. Look to us to plan out your next vacation, alert you to the next major must-see, family-friendly show, provide spot-on parenting advice and more! Have you checked us out on Instagram (@activefamilymagazine) or Facebook (@ activefamilymag)? Keep an eye out for some amazing giveaways in the next month as well! This issue is dediated to all things baby. Be sure to turn to page 22 and peruse the latest and greatest products. Even better, we will be giving away all product featured, so be sure to like our social media channels for more info! Enjoy the sunshine! Tracie Brown Vollgraf Editor info@activefamilymag.com
4 ACTIVE FAMIL Y | MARCH 2020
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[ PARENTING ]
Maureen Dawn Healy is an award-winning author, popular speaker, and professional working globally with parents and their children. She was a regular guest on Hank Azaria’s “The Fatherhood Project” this year and Yahoo Shine’s “Away We Grow” online. Her books, Growing Happy Kids, and The Energetic Keys to Indigo Kids are available wherever books are sold. Learn more: www.growinghappykids.com
How to Raise an Emotionally Healthy Child Understanding and teaching emotional health by Maureen Healy Children want to feel good. It’s a fact of life, like all of us. But being a child isn’t necessarily always simple or easy. Boys and girls get teased, fail exams and get picked last for the sports team. But despite these challenges—and maybe even because of them—children can learn how to become emotionally healthy while using their everyday life experiences. Psychologist Paul Ekman stated, “It is our responsibility to learn to become emotionally intelligent. These are skills, they’re not easy, nature didn’t give them to us—we have to learn them.” And this is precisely why teaching children earlier, rather than later matters. Boys and girls that learn how to handle their emotions, especially the challenging ones, can develop emotional intelligence, and
6 ACTIVE FAMIL Y | MARCH 2020
[ PARENTING ] begin steering themselves toward more positive life
parents and teachers model positive emotional health?
experiences.
Here’s a few ideas:
What is Emotional Health?
• Create an Emotional Vocabulary. Helping children identify their emotions is always step one. For example,
Instinctually, we all know what emotionally unhealthy
it’s much easier to handle frustration or irritation then
behavior looks like—such as screaming, slamming doors,
epic anger—so being able to spot emotions and name
sassing your mom back and teasing other children. But
them when they’re small is essential. One tool I use is
what does emotional health look like? It begins with a
“Anger Name” which teaches children to name their
child learning how to identify his emotions, and then
anger and creates self-awareness (pg. 78).
express them constructively versus destructively. So instead of pushing Jorge on the playground, Josh learns how to walk away and take deep breaths when angry. This is step one.
Of course, emotional health is a complex topic, which begins with identifying and expressing emotions constructively, but includes much more. The emotionally healthy child is learning how to be flexible, develop the mindset of emotional health, build their character and make smart choices even when emotionally challenged. The way isn’t necessarily smooth, but possible for most children. Some of the skills that children (and yes, us adults) develop in the process is self-control, selfawareness and decision-making abilities.
• Be Honest (about your feelings). When you’re having a tough day, you can say, “This has been a hard day and I need to take some deep breaths.” Remember children learn more from who you are than what you say—so be honest about your feelings (in age appropriate ways) and do your best to find healthy outlets for them.
• Use Strategies (to calm, and constructively express emotions). Emotionally healthy children learn how to use strategies to calm and manage their emotions intelligently. They may take deep breaths, sit in the “reset chair” in their classroom, or learn another technique—at home or school—that helps them come
In my book, The Emotionally Healthy Child, I share the ideas children need to learn and the strategies that help them begin expressing their emotions constructively. Both
back to emotional balance. For example, bubble breathing is an exercise in my new book, which helps children learn to use their breath to calm (pg. 80-81).
the ideas and habits together help move a child in a more positive direction.
• Learning Together Whether today’s emotional challenges involve helping your child disconnect from
How to Model Emotional Health
devices, cope with a disappointment or something else—your son or daughter needs your support in
Emotional health is something we learn throughout
learning about their emotions and what to do with
our lives. Said differently, it’s not a box to check and
them. Remember, a child who is “behaving badly”
we’re done with it—we’re constantly learning how to
simply doesn’t yet have the skills to handle them,
move towards better feelings and release challenging
but with new ideas and tools they can do something
emotions more constructively. But how can we as busy
differently (and feel better!). MARCH 2020 | ACTIVE FAMIL Y 7
[[ TRAVEL TRAVEL ]]
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[ TRAVEL ]
HOTEL SPOTLIGHT: The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay
by Elizabeth Kang
There are certain resorts that deserve to hold top ranks on a “bucket list” of some sort, and The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay is one of those. Just an hour away from the East Bay Area, this regal hotel will transport you to another world. Reminiscent of a majestic castle in Scotland, standing tall and stately atop an oceanside bluff, The Ritz is surrounded by bucolic rolling hills and crashing ocean waves, extending across nearly 70,000 acres. The Ritz-Carlton is best reserved for those special, and all-too-rare “kids-free” weekends. Of course, the resort welcomes children with wide-open arms, but to get the most out of your experience here, I recommend leaving them behind for an ultra-romantic weekend or a carefree, luxurious girls’ getaway. Read on to discover more about this landmark hotel, and all of the leisurely fun, delicious dining, and luxurious pampering awaiting you at the Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay.
MARCH 2020 | ACTIVE FAMIL Y 9
[ TRAVEL ]
Soothing Accommodations The rooms, hallways, and lobby of The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay are swathed in the most soothing shades of cool blues, grays, and beiges — an homage, I assume, to the nearby beach and Pacific Ocean. Sparkling crystal chandeliers adorn the ceiling, shimmering like sea glass, and stately crown moulding give the rooms a traditional, upscale vibe. Most rooms and suites offer sweeping ocean views, and views of the surrounding golfing greens. At sunset, be sure to make your way down to the outdoor patio and snag a spot by the communal fire-pits, where a kiltadorned bagpiper serenades guests with live Celtic music, and relaxed visitors sip on expertly crafted cocktails from the outdoor bar. The fire pits are also a wonderful spot to cozy up with resort-provided blankets and enjoy a toasty s’mores after dinner (s’mores kits can be purchased at the resort.) Back in your room, you’ll have everything needed for a restful night’s sleep, including one of the most comfortable beds you’ll ever experience, as well as robes, slippers, an oversized soaking tub, and in-room dining menus.
Memorable Dining In my experience, it’s not often that the X
standard and selection of resort dining matches the quality of the resort itself, but dining at the Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay is a very happy exception. Here, the dining experience is so well-loved that many guests make the trip just to eat at the famous and decadent weekend brunch buffet, or to imbibe in the innovative chef’s tasting menu at Navio, for dinner.
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[ TRAVEL ]
Navio You’ll be hard-pressed to find a more luxurious and decadent weekend brunch buffet than at Navio, where guests dine on unlimited sushi, oysters, charcuterie, dim sum, caviar, and traditional breakfast favorites, while overlooking breathtaking ocean views. During dinner, the regal dining room serves both à la carte entrees and a seven-course chef’s tasting menu (highly recommended) with superb service and expertly thought-out wine pairings.
The Conservatory At the more casual but just as refined The Conservatory, guests can enjoy breakfast, lunch, or dinner, overlooking the verdant resort lawn and sparkling Pacific Ocean. Enjoy a madeto-order egg-white omelet, vanilla Belgian waffle, or casual weekend breakfast buffet to start the day, a Cobb salad and clam chowder for lunch, or a mouthwatering Wagyu Beef burger or fresh Dungeness Crab Cioppino for dinner.
The Ocean Terrace At this casual restaurant and bar, guests enjoy alfresco oceanfront seating with the ocean to the front and the magnificent resort’s architecture to enjoy as the backdrop. The Ocean MARCH 2020 | ACTIVE FAMIL Y 11
[ TRAVEL ]
Terrace serves up a wide variety of expertly crafted cocktails, a nice selection of wine and beer, and a delicious rawbar menu with various varieties of oysters to choose from, as well as a grill menu, small bites and a few sweets.
Leisure & Relaxation Whether you want to simply relax and pamper yourself or enjoy some leisurely activities and explore the area, the Ritz Carlton is in the center of it all and offers plenty of diversions right on the property, and much to see not far from it. The Beach — The Ritz boasts prime access to Cañada Verde Beach, a scenic, small beach just south of the hotel, and only a couple-minute’s walk from the property. Biking —The Ritz provides free bikes for guests’ use, who will be rewarded with beautiful ocean views along the easy and flat California Coastal Trail, which weaves throughout the property and the entire coastline of Half Moon Bay. Golf — Golf is huge at the Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay, and for good reason. The resort is home to two championship golf courses, with 36-holes of challenging golf that overlook stunning coastal bluffs. Players can choose to play on the Arnold Palmer-designed “Old Course,” or the Arthur Hill’s Scottish Links style “Ocean Course.” Spa — Even if you don’t book a treatment at the onsite spa, be sure to use the complimentary spa facilities anyway, with a relaxing soak in one of the hot tubs, and some time in the steam room or sauna. Enjoy complimentary gourmet tea, snack on gourmet treats, and let the worries of everyday life melt away. Fitness Center & Indoor Pool — You won’t have to skip your daily exercise during your getaway because the well12 ACTIVE FAMIL Y | MARCH 2020
[ TRAVEL ]
equipped fitness center and indoor, temperature-controlled pool makes it easy to stay on track. Kayaking — Kayaking is a popular activity in Half Moon Bay, and there are a few nearby spots to rent gear and enjoy a few leisurely hours floating and sightseeing. It’s common to spot a few ocean dwellers such as curious otter or sunbathing sea lions. Wine Tasting — Take advantage of a kid-free vacay and go wine tasting at one of the nearby tasting rooms in the area. Barterra Winery on Main Street is an excellent choice, as is The Half Moon Bay Wine & Cheese shop, with gourmet nibbles and a tasting bar. La Nebbia Winery is also a good bet, located on San Mateo Road.
THE RITZ-CARLTON, HALF MOON BAY 1 Miramontes Point Rd, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019 650.712.7000 www.ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/california/half-moon-bay MARCH 2020 | ACTIVE FAMIL Y 13
[ PARENTING ] Dr. Michele Borba is an internationally recognized expert and author on children, teens, parenting, bullying and moral development. She is an NBC contributor appearing over 100 times on the TODAY show and is the regular parenting expert on Dr. Drew’s Lifechangers. Her work has been featured on Dr. Phil, Dateline, The View, The Doctors, Fox News, The Early Show and CNN and well as in Newsweek, People, Good Housekeeping, Chicago Tribune, U.S. News & World Report, Washington Post, The New York Times and The Globe and Mail. She was an MSNBC contributor to two televised “Education Nation” specials. Dr. Borba is the awardwinning author of 22 parenting and educational books translated into 14 languages. Titles include: Don’t Give Me That Attitude!, Parents Do Make A Difference, The Big Book of Parenting Solutions: 101 Answers to Your Everyday Challenges and Wildest Worries, and Nobody Likes Me, Everybody Hates Me!, No More Misbehavin’, Building Moral Intelligence (cited by Publishers’ Weekly as “Among the most noteworthy of 2001”), and Esteem Builders used by 1.5 million students worldwide. She writes as the parenting expert for Dr. Oz’s website, as well a daily column for her blog, Dr. Borba’s Reality Check: www.micheleborba.com Twitter: @micheleborba
Seven Secrets for Calming Tempers by Dr. Michele Borba Sure, it’s great to be a parent, but it’s also one of the most stressful, exhausting roles on the planet. The fact is, meltdowns are inevitable in any home, and even more so these days when it everyone is leading treadmill-paced lives. So let’s be clear: Anger is normal, but how you choose to deal with yours can make you the Role Model for your family or the Wicked Witch of the North. The important parenting secret is finding a way to keep those meltdowns to a minimum. I was honored by Dr. Drew to be selected as his “Lifechanger” for his show to help parents I recall helping one mom on a segment who needed help, ASAP. Her stress was in high-octane mode (and for legitimate reasons). And now her whole family was in crisis. Everyone picked up her stress. Her children began to act out. Her relationship with her husband was unraveling. Her kids couldn’t sleep. Her whole family was suffering. I worked with that mom with
14 ACTIVE FAMIL Y | MARCH 2020
[ PARENTING ] Dr. Drew to identify the time the stress was the highest
the way, she arranged for her mother to phone her
(no surprise, dinner time). And found one way to reduce
preschooler each day at four o’clock, and tucks the
it (her mother-in-law helped her one hour on Sundays
baby safely in her crib for a quick nap. Can you find a
make casseroles and then freeze them. At least dinner
way to “take five” each day?)
was more relaxing). Then she found one of the following strategies that helped her relax. She chose “elevator
Give yourself a time-out
breathing” and practiced it again and again. She also
The very moment you feel your blood pressure start to
set up a signal that warned her children and husband
rise, acknowledge it. Stress comes right before anger and
that she was about to explode, and gave herself a “time
studies show we usually have only seconds to stop that
out” in her bedroom for a few minutes so she could calm
pressure buildup. So start tuning into your own unique
herself. Yes it took time and work, but when she told
physiological stress signals (the pounding heart, the
me (in tears), “I have my family back. We’re all happy
clenched fists, the grinding teeth, the raised voice). And
again”), we both knew it was all worth it.
then give yourself a quick break from your kids to calm yourself down. Just announce: “Mommy needs a time-
The truth is our stress affects our children. Call it, the
out.” In fact, promise yourself that from this moment on
“trickle down” effect: kids pick up our anger, our
whenever you feel you can’t control your temper, just
tempers, our stress and mirror it. Beware: parent stress
walk away. If you need to lock yourself in your bathroom
and kid stress has never been higher. We must help
to get back in control, do it! It’s the best way to prevent
ourselves if we are to help our kids. The good news is
your own meltdown and you’ll also be modeling to your
there are a number of strategies that will help us keep
kids how to use self-control. What a great lesson!
the peace and cool those quick tempers. Use self-talk The real trick is discovering works best for you, and then
Learn to say a simple, positive message to yourself to
rehearsing it over and over until it kicks and becomes a
control your temper. Ideas might be: “Stop and calm
habit.
down.” “Stay in control.” Or: “I can handle this.” Choose a phrase you feels most comfortable saying, then
Here are seven tips that help you stay calmer, control
rehearse it a few times each day until you can use it. One
anger and keep your household more peaceful and
mom told me that she actually wrote her calm-down
harmonious.
phrase on a card and put it in the diaper bag. Her baby was a real “mover and shaker” and changing his diaper
Take five!
used to drive her to the edge. She’d open the bag, read
My girlfriend bought herself a nature tape of rain sounds
the card, and immediately remind herself to calm down.
because the noise has always soothed her. When her
It worked!
“witching hour” approaches (she admits it’s four o’clock every afternoon), Sharon retreats to her bedroom, closes
Teach: “stop and breathe”
the door, turns on the tape, switches off the light, plops
As soon as you feel you’re losing your temper, say to
on the bed, and zones out—that is, for just five minutes.
yourself: ‘Stop! Calm down”, and then take a deep, slow
She swears those five brief minutes are enough to fortify
breath (or two or three), pronto. Getting oxygen into your
her to calmly handle an inevitable colicky baby, fix
brain is one of the fastest ways to relax. There’s a reason
dinner, and survive the evening homework routine. (By
why flight attendants tell you to always put your mask MARCH 2020 | ACTIVE FAMIL Y 15
[ PARENTING ] on first, before you put one on our children. You must
building. Press the button for the first floor and watch the
breathe so you can help our kids.
buttons for each level slowly light up as the elevator goes down. As the elevator descends, your stress fades away.
Try it! I used this strategy when my kids were young, and they quickly figured it out. From that moment, they loved
Stress melting
being my little reminders anytime my patience-level
Find the spot in your body where you feel the most
dropped: “You need to do that ‘Stop and Breathe’ thing,
tension; perhaps your neck, shoulder muscles, or jaw.
Mom!”, they’d chime. (Isn’t it amazing that our kids can read our stress signs before we can? If they could only figure out their own. Sigh. Next step!
Gently close your eyes, concentrate on the spot, tense it up for three or four seconds, and then let it go. While doing so, imagine the stress slowly melting away. Anger management isn’t just for parents. Why not get
Imagine something calming Think of a person or place that helps you feel calm and
your whole family involved in learning how to cope with quick tempers?
peaceful—for instance, your spouse, the beach, your bed, your backyard. Right before your temper stares to flare and you feel those body warning signs kick him, close your eyes and think of the face or the spot while breathing slowly.
A mother of two sons aged 13 and 11, from Tulsa, Oklahoma, told me she realized that her whole family needed tune up self-control. She began by writing “Self-control” in huge letters across the top of a monthly
This is a great strategy to also teach your children. “Where is a place that makes you feel peaceful and calm?” Maybe it’s the treehouse, the sandbox, basketball court, Grandma’s house. Once your child can identify it, tell him to “go to that place in your mind and take slow breaths.” Some parents take a photo
calendar and taping it on her refrigerator as a reminder. She also looked for family videos, children’s literature, and news articles of real people using self-control and used them as a springboard for describing why the trait is so valuable. Finally the mom taught them the “Stop and Breathe” strategy and then made sure they practiced
of the place and put it by the child’s bed in a frame
it as a family. The result: a calmer, more peaceful
to remember. You can do the same: put it on your
household.
smartphone as your screensaver! Figure out what works to help you keep your stress Try elevator breathing
in control. And then practice it over and over until it
Close your eyes, slowly breath out three times, then
becomes a habit. Remember: calmer parents make
imagine you’re in an elevator on the top of a very tall
calmer and happier kids.
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[ RELATIONSHIPS ]
Emma Seppälä, Ph.D is Science Director of Stanford University’s Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education and is the author of The Happiness Track (HarperOne, 2016). She is also Co-Director of the Yale College Emotional Intelligence Project at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. She is a frequent contributor to Harvard Business Review, Psychology Today, Huffington Post, and Scientific American Mind. She is the founder and editor-in-chief of Fulfillment Daily, a popular news site dedicated to the science of happiness. Her work and research have been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, The Boston Globe, The Atlantic, VOGUE, ELLE, CBSNews, Oprah Magazine, Fast Company, U.S. World and News Report, Forbes, Cosmopolitan, Inc, Huffington Post, ABC News, Business Insider, SELF, GLAMOUR. She has appeared several times on Good Morning America. She was also interviewed for Huffington Post Live and TIME/MONEY and is featured in the documentary film The Altruism Revolution. She is the recipient of a number of research grants and service awards including the James W. Lyons Award from Stanford University for founding Stanford’s first academic class on the psychology of happiness and teaching many well-being programs for Stanford students. She graduated from Yale (BA), Columbia (MA), and Stanford (PhD). Originally from Paris, France, she is a native speaker of French, English, and German.
The Benefits And Dangers Of Highly Empathic Parenting by Emma Seppälä Ph.D. Children of empathic parents thrive. Parents don’t. Here’s what you can do. Do you feel highly anxious when your child cries or even whines? Do you feel that having children has significantly increased your stress levels? Are you on high alert and worried about your child’s safety? Do people think you are overly cautious and reactive when it comes to your child? Then you might be a highly empathic parent. Extremely attuned to your child, you notice the slightest change in the way she whines or cries. You cringe when she falls, and when she hurts herself, you literally feel her pain. Sometimes, the experience is more unbearable to you than it is to her. You can’t even fathom letting your child “cry it out,” even if that means you yourself suffer endless sleepless nights. Highly empathic parents often think there’s something wrong with them. Other people might chide you for being too much of a worry-wart or they may even suggest that you have an anxiety problem. You might wonder why other parents are relaxed and laid-back, while you feel overwhelmed and sometimes even burned out on parenthood. The good news is that there is nothing wrong with you. In fact, research suggests your children are more likely to grow up both happier and healthier
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[ RELATIONSHIPS ] than other children. A new study shows that children of
well—strengthening your immune system, improving your
highly empathic parents thrive—they are psychologically
psychological well-being, and boosting your health.
and physically healthier and more balanced. This makes
Moreover, you forge positive and deep relationships with
sense. After all, you’ve created a world for them in which
your child (and others) which, in turn, increase your well-
they feel loved, safe, cared for and attended to. And
being.
because you are so finely attuned to your child, you’re probably selecting the right kinds of foods, environments
The secret to being a highly empathic parent that thrives
and experiences to suit their needs and temperament.
is in cultivating your emotional resilience. Here are 3 research-backed steps to do so:
This study has some challenging news for you, however. On the one hand, the study shows that you have higher
1. Tap into your calming response with breath.
self-esteem and a greater feeling of purpose in life than other parents. On the other hand, as a highly empathic
To balance the stress response that happens when you
parent, you also may end up with higher inflammation
are worrying about your child—the activation of your
levels—probably as a result of stress.
“fight or flight” (sympathetic) nervous system—learn to tap into your calming response, or the “rest and
For one, you are hyper-vigilant, a trait people attribute
digest” (parasympathetic) nervous system. My research
to anxiety disorders but that, in this case, simply comes
team and I studied combat veterans recently returned
from deep empathy and concern. Hyper-vigilance, by
from Iraq and Afghanistan with PTSD, some of the most
making you highly attentive to and focused on potential
stressed individuals in our society, and found a very
dangers, can be taxing. If you’re constantly in high-alert
simple, very effective, and easy way to tap into that
mode and cautious around your child, your system is in a
calming response: The breath.
constant state of “fight or flight” mode. Breathing and emotions are tightly intertwined: When We know from research that a little bit of stress can
you feel an emotion like anxiety, your breath becomes
help make us alert and focused. However, long-term
fast and rapid. When you are relaxed, it slows and
stress can start to break down both our body and mind,
deepens. Research by Pierre Philippot suggests that the
impairing our immune function and cognitive skills like
reverse is also true: when we change our breathing,
attention and memory. Constantly putting the best
our emotions also change. When we slow and deepen
interests of your child(ren) before your own can also lead
our breath, we relax. When we inhale, our heart rate
to exhaustion and burnout over time, as you ignore your
increases. When we exhale it decreases. Lengthening
own needs day after day.
your exhales can help you calm down even more by slowing that heart rate.
So what can we do with this information? On the one hand, children of highly empathic parents thrive. On the
The technique we researched with veterans (sudarshan
other, you don’t. Even if you care first and foremost about
kriya yoga) can also be learned through Project
your children’s well-being, they will obviously need you in
Welcome Home Troops (for veterans) or the Art of Living
the long run. So no matter what, you also have to find a
Foundation (for civilians). You can learn basic breathing
way to be resilient in spite of your (great) parenting style.
techniques in yoga classes too (called pranayama).
Here’s more good news: You too can thrive. In fact,
2. Develop self-compassion.
research suggests that having high levels of empathy and compassion can actually be beneficial for you as
As I discuss in my book The Happiness Track, dozens of MARCH 2020 | ACTIVE FAMIL Y 19
[ RELATIONSHIPS ] studies by Kristin Neff now show that self-compassion is a
with them. Instead of succumbing to a torrent of
powerful way to boost your emotional resilience, as well
emotion, including anger at yourself, just observe the
as your psychological health and well-being.
thoughts and feelings that come up as you would observe a storm from your window. Mindfulness does not
It involves treating yourself as you would treat a
mean suppressing or denying these feelings, but rather
colleague or friend. Rather than berating, criticizing or
being present with them as they are. Neff suggests the
judging, thereby adding to your despair, you turn your
following examples of a mindful approach to thoughts
empathy back on yourself. Neff herself first discovered
and feelings: “This is really hard right now,” “I’m sorry you
the power of self-compassion in parenting her child with
are struggling,” and “This moment will pass.” Meditation
autism. In situations where she felt no control, she found
can help develop this mindfulness skill.
immense strength through self-compassion. 4. Prioritize your alone time. Self-compassion has three components:
1. Be kind to yourself. highly empathic parents might think there’s something wrong with them, you might tend toward self-criticism. However, self-criticism is akin to self-sabotage. Instead, learn to change your internal dialogue. Speak with the positive words that you, especially as a highly empathic person, would use with a dear friend. Words of comfort and encouragement. Neff suggests the following kinds of phrases: “It’s okay that you failed; it doesn’t mean you’re a bad person or bad at what you do,” “I believe in you and support you, and I know you can do it,” “I’d like you
Even when we are around other people, our heart rate is higher. There is something very restorative about spending time alone. The separation from your child, while it may feel painful for highly empathic parents in particular, can also help you recover so you can be your best with him or her.
Whatever you can do to help calm your nervous system will be a gift both to you and your child. Whether it’s a walk in nature, a massage, a technology fast, reading a book or taking an Epsom salt bath, do what it takes to help soothe your nerves.
to try to make a change so you can be happier.”’ As an empathic parent, you prioritize others’ needs 2. Remember everyone makes mistakes.
before your own. However, the activities mentioned
Knowing that everyone confronts failure sooner or later
above are not just ones you should do when you crash
helps you be less critical and upset when it’s your turn. Try
and burn. Practice them daily or at least weekly to help
as hard as you may, you won’t be a perfect parent, and
prevent burning out.
that’s OK. Nobody is. Understanding this simple fact can bring you relief.
By taking care of yourself and fostering your emotional resilience, you will also model the same for your child. We
3. Focus on mindfulness.
can feel other people’s stress and anxiety. By nurturing
Mindfulness is being aware of and validating your
our ability for calmness, centeredness and relaxation,
thoughts and feelings,yet observing them with
we are helping them feel even more secure than they
perspective and distance and without overidentifying
already feel. In addition, we’ll enjoy the ride even more.
20 ACTIVE FAMIL Y | MARCH 2020
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[ PARENTING ]
What's Best for Baby Brain Development? by Dr. Laura Markham Dr. Laura... Now that my daughter is seven months old, I'd like to know how to best spend each day with her: how much alone play, interactive play, what activities, are there any essential toys, and so on. I pretty much follow her lead Dr. Laura Markham is the author of Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids: How to Stop Yelling and Start Connecting. She earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Columbia University and has worked as a parenting coach with countless parents across the English-speaking world, both in person and via phone. You can find Dr. Laura online at AhaParenting.com, the website of Aha! Moments for parents of kids from birth through the teen years, where she offers a free daily inspiration email to parents.
throughout the day, but I want to make sure I'm including beneficial activities for her. She is bright, and I'd like to help cultivate that without being overly structured. I'd like to ensure that every moment spent with her is a quality one. Thank you!
How lucky your daughter is to have a mom so committed to her healthy development! Here are seven basic strategies to help you nurture your baby's emotional and intellectual development.
1. Be Responsive, But Be The Leader
26 ACTIVE FAMIL Y | MARCH 2020
[ PARENTING ] One of the most important factors in growing a healthy
things, grabbing at things, moving their limbs. Our job is
human being is the presence of an adult who is
to facilitate the work they are engaged in by giving them
responsive to their needs and emotions. That means that
an environment that encourages their exploration, not to
when a baby expresses a need or emotion, you respond.
interrupt their work by trying to teach them what we think
In other words, your baby needs to know that you'll be
they should be learning! So when your child is occupied,
there for her if she needs you. But it's NOT helpful for a
make it a practice not to distract or interrupt. In the same
baby to feel that they're always the focus of attention, or
way that you would try to avoid waking a sleeping baby,
that life revolves around them.
try not to interrupt a baby who is engaged and playing by herself.
Human babies are designed to develop by interacting with their loved ones and observing family and
Babies don't benefit from over-stimulation. They need
community life. That means that what your little one most
plenty of interaction with us, but they also need plenty
needs is to interact with you in a loving, warm, joyful way,
of time to play with their toes, listen to music, stare at the
and to observe as you go about the tasks of daily life.
dust motes in a shaft of light, and just figure out how their
So respond to her needs and set up her environment so
own muscles work. They don't need us to rush in at those
that she can explore and thrive. Feed her when she's
times and justify our own existence by teaching them
hungry and create the opportunity for her to nap when
anything or occupying them; they're already occupied.
she's tired. Take the time she needs when she wants to
All babies need time to play in the security of our
watch the bug on the sidewalk. But also involve your
presence, but without our interference. Learning to do
baby in your day, while you cook and fold clothes and
that is an important developmental accomplishment.
shop for food and chat with the neighbor. Don't make
That means that on a regular basis throughout the day,
every moment about your baby -- that kind of pressure
you have "play time" where you put your baby down to
would make any child anxious! You don't want her to feel
let her play, and sit next to her. Keep your mouth shut as
that you're often looking at her and saying "What shall
much as possible. Keep your hands to yourself unless she
we do now?" She needs to know that someone bigger
is getting very frustrated and needs your help. As she
than her is in charge; it would feel scary to her to feel like
gets involved in something, ease yourself across the room
she's calling the shots.
to do something else. When she has had enough, pick her up. Over time, your child will learn to engage and
2. Set Up a Routine
explore by herself, and the length of her play will get
Set up a schedule and routine that will work for her: "In
longer.
the morning mom does the dishes while I play nearby with my toys; then we go out to do errands." Routines
4. Remember That Babies Learn Most from Interacting
help little ones develop cognitive understanding and a
with Us
deep sense of security, because they love knowing what
Even though your baby's brain is growing new neural
to expect. Routines also foster cooperation, because
connections every day in response to her environment,
there's no power struggle about what will happen next.
the most important work she's doing is developing the capacity for trust and intimacy. So "relating" to you
3. Don't Interrupt a Baby's Play
is her most important work and sets the tone for her
Please don't feel like you need to "entertain" your baby.
relationship with the world. She uses you as her secure
Babies are always working and learning -- noticing
base from which to explore the world, and she looks MARCH 2020 | ACTIVE FAMIL Y 27
[ PARENTING ] to you to know how to interpret what she experiences.
A baby's brain does not need academic or sensory
As she interacts with you, her brain makes the neural
bombardment; she will find plenty to stimulate her
connections that will shape it for life.
cognitive development as she engages with you in the activities of daily life. She definitely does not need you
In other words, human intellectual development is built
to focus on her intellectual development in the sense of
on the foundation of emotional security. That means your
counting, ABC's, or any conventional intellectual tasks.
primary attention needs to be on enjoying your baby,
She will find great intellectual stimulation in games of
engaging with her, responding to her, showing her the
hide 'n seek, in pulling all the pans out of your cupboard,
world, and reassuring her when she expresses concern
and in seeing the world from the safety of a backpack or
about things. Studies show that infants who are the most
baby carrier as you grocery shop or interact with other
advanced intellectually, emotionally and physically
people. You may have heard that reading to a baby is
are the babies whose mothers are more attentive,
good for her, and it is. But even better is talking to and
responsive, and warmly engaging with them.
with her. Involve her and speak with her as you move through your daily tasks: folding laundry, washing dishes,
5. Foster Attachment Security
cooking dinner.
All babies need to develop a secure attachment to their special people. Secure attachment comes from feeling:
Should you play brain development games with her?
• Safe - Trusting that your special people will be there
There's certainly no harm in it, but make it interactive
to take care of you and protect you in what can be
and age appropriate--which means sensory, not just
a big, scary world.
cognitive. Sing to her, play pat-a-cake type games,
• Seen - Trusting that your special people understand
massage her, play music of different kinds for her, dance
how you feel and love you exactly as you are, even
with her. Make sure that she gets plenty of opportunities
with those sometimes overwhelming emotions.
to see other babies and children.
• Soothed - Trusting that your special people will comfort you and help you feel better when life is hard.
If you run out of ideas, spend half an hour at the bookstore browsing the baby shelves. There are a lot
Notice that this means we accept the full range of a
of books out there that offer specific ideas for games,
child's emotions.
that you probably don't need to own to be inspired by. (And you'll find some good links in the Resource section
One of the biggest mistakes most people make in
below.)
playing with babies is trying to get the baby to laugh. That's usually fun for us, and it can be fun for the baby in
Should you let her watch Baby Einstein videos? Experts
limited doses. But take your cues from your baby and be
warn against it. First, babies who watch any video are
careful not to be invasive in your efforts to get a laugh.
spending less time interacting with actual humans,
Babies express lots of different emotions, and our job is to
so studies show that their language development is
accept and acknowledge what the baby expresses, not
delayed, and we suspect there are other delay effects.
to jostle and tickle to get the response we want.
Second, watching screens changes brain development. We don't know enough yet, but screen use in the early
6. The Intellect Grows from Engagement & Discovery,
years when the brain is taking shape so rapidly has
Not from Being Taught
definitely been associated with shorter concentration
28 ACTIVE FAMIL Y | MARCH 2020
[ PARENTING ] spans.
inspiration enough.
7. Facilitate Exploration and Get Outside
Finally, making every moment count is an admirable
Soon your daughter will be at the crawling stage, and
idea, but you don't want to teach your baby that being
she'll want to explore everything. It's worth mentioning
productive every moment is what matters. Making every
that babies who are told "No" a lot learn not to think
moment with your daughter high quality should not
inside the box. If you want to give your daughter's
mean making every moment busy. I hope that goal will
intellect a boost, baby-proof well and supervise, but give
inspire you to slow down and be as present as possible,
her curiosity free reign to explore. It will mean a couple of months of restoring your books to the shelves every day, but she'll soon be past this stage and onto the next,
as often as possible, so that your daughter learns that every moment holds the possibility of aliveness, presence and joy.
having concluded that the world is well worth exploring and nothing need stop her.
Your daughter is a lucky baby. Since you follow her lead, you will be able to attune to what she expresses, and
Babies love changes of scenery. If she's squirmy in her sling, let her play on the floor, practicing turning over and hoisting herself up onto her hands and legs. If she's not happy being left to her own devices while you clean the
able to give her what she needs. Enjoy her, and treasure this time with her. Knowing we enjoy them is probably what babies need from us most of all.
bathroom, take a break and let her play with the water with you. Babies love to see how things work, which is second in fascination to them only to interactions with their parents.
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as much as possible, and babies are no exception. We're just learning all the scientific reasons that nature makes us more calm and happy, but we know it does. Since babies' brains are growing so fast in response to their environments, it's possible that more time outside will actually help them grow happier, calmer brains. But even if that isn't true, babies love being outside and calm down more readily when they're outside, and parents report that they're able to be more patient and present
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when they spend more time outside. That should be MARCH 2020 | ACTIVE FAMIL Y 29
[ PARENTING ]
Nine Creative Ways to Help Kids Study by Stratford Schools Create a good workspace If you work at a desk or cubicle, you already understand the importance of having a workspace that suits you. You need a workspace with minimal distractions, a comfortable chair, plenty of supplies, and inspirational photos or artwork. Your child can benefit from that kind of workspace, too! Find a spot in your home that’s quiet and cozy, preferably away from TVs, gadgets, and toys. Keep their school books and supplies nearby. Take advantage of organizational office gear like in-out trays, paper sorters, and utensil holders. Make it a team effort by lettiing your child help choose their special workspace gear to make this space their own! Study in 25-minute blocks When you have hours of studying to do, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and unsure of where to start. To get over that mental block, set a timer for your child to study in 25-minute chunks. Once that 25 minutes is over, it’s time for a 30 ACTIVE FAMIL Y | MARCH 2020
[ PARENTING ] 5-minute break to grab a snack, stand up and stretch, or
Work next to each other
run around outside and let off some steam. TomatoTimer
Doing homework while your parents and siblings are
is a handy timer website, but you can use a kitchen timer
watching TV or having fun can be a bummer. To make
or a timer on your phone, too.
your child feel less isolated, why not work alongside each other? Use their study time to pay bills, work on your
Make it a game
budget, catch up on your emails, make appointments
For many children, sitting at a desk and studying alone
or tackle any other lingering items on your to-do list. Not
isn’t the most exciting way to learn something. Why
only are you keeping your child company, but you’re
not turn it into a game? You might turn their actual
also being a good role model and making study/work
homework assignment into a game, like using flashcards
time a good habit.
or matching to learn vocabulary or math. Trivia games can help children study for subjects like history and geography, while brain teasers and riddles can boost your child’s critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Sing along Can you remember songs and rhymes that you learned when you were in school? There are many educational songs and rhymes that help children remember the planets in the solar system, names of countries, the elements in the periodic table, and much more. You can find a lot of songs on YouTube, or have your child make up their own! Draw pictures When you’re stuck on a concept that you can’t seem to figure out, sometimes it helps to put it down on paper. Drawing pictures to work through and remember a concept is a fun and creative way to study. It’s a great
Use practice tests Taking practice tests at home isn’t quite as fun as the other tips on our list, but it has a lot of benefits for your child. If your child is a nervous test-taker, doing practice tests at home can help them get used to the testing environment at school. Try to simulate how the test will actually go with a timer, a quiet environment, and the test material, if possible.
Study outside Sometimes, even the best workspace and creative study activities can’t beat a mental block. When that happens, change your child’s study environment and take everything outside. After all, they spend most of their day indoors at school! Let them complete reading or homework assignments in your backyard, or you might make it a family trip and head to a nearby park. You can
tool for visualizing a process, like photosynthesis or the
even run around and play games during break time, and
scientific method. Make sure your child has plenty of
enjoy some fresh air.
scrap paper, pencils, crayons, paint set or markers to help inspire creative learning.
Creativity and innovation are essential to Stratford School
Read out loud
At Stratford School, we’re always searching for new
Just as drawing can help a child learn visually, reading
and better ways to help children learn. Rather than use
out loud can help children who learn by speaking
traditional teaching methods that focus on finding the
and listening to something. Encourage them to read
right answer, we aim to get students to ask questions,
assignments or passages from textbooks out loud, either
think critically, consider the context, and work together.
by themselves or with you.
Learn more about the Stratford School philosophy today! MARCH 2020 | ACTIVE FAMIL Y 31
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[ SUMMER CAMP ]
Summer Alameda County ALAMEDA Alameda School of Music 1307 High St. 510.769.0195 www.alamusic.org
Camp Bladium 800 West Tower Ave 510.814.4999 www.bladiumalameda.com/ youth-kids/kids-camps
BERKELEY Music Discovery Workshop 2005 Berryman St. 510.528.1725 www.sfems.org
St. John’s Camp Elmwood 2727 College Ave. 510.845.6830 www.stjohnsberkeley.org/ campelmwood
Sticky Art Lab 1682 University Ave. 510.981.1148 www.stickyartlab.com
City of Dublin 100 Civic Plaza 925.556.4500 www.ci.dublin.ca.us
Young Writers Camp UC Berkeley Campus 510.642.0971
Valley Christian School 7500 Inspiration Dr. 925.560.6270
www.bawpwritingcamp.org
www.ValleyChristianSchools.org
Green Stuff Summer Camp UC Berkeley Botanical Gardens 510.643.4832
Edge Gymnastics Training Center 6780 Sierra Court St. K 925.479.9904
www.botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu
www.edge-gymnastics.com
Lawrence Hall of Science UC Berkeley 510.642.5134
Kidz Kraftz Quail Creek Cir. 925.271.0015
www.lawrencehallofscience.org
www.kidzkraftz.com/camps
BERKELEY/ECHO LAKE
Tri-Valley YMCA 6693 Sierra Ln 925.263.4444
Berkeley Echo Lake Camp Lot #7 Echo Lakes Rd 530.659.7539 www.cityofberkeley.info/camps
CASTRO VALLEY Skye Valley Training Camp 10250 Crow Canyon Rd 925.858.8825 www.psi.lunariffic.com/~skyev0/
Sarah’s Science 21525 Knoll Way 510.581.3739 www.sarahscience.com
Camp Kee Tov 1301 Oxford St. 510.842.2372 www.campkeetov.org
Bee Best Learning 20394 San Miguel Ave. 510.728.2110 www.beebestlearning.com
Habitot 2065 Kittredge St. 510.647.1111 ext. 14 www.habitot.org/museum/ activities_camps.html
Monkey Business Camp 2880A Sacramento St. 510.540.6025
www.trivalley.ymcaeastbay.org
Extended Day Child Care 8435 Davona Dr. 925.829.4043 & 7997 Vomac Rd. 925.551.8170 7243 Tamarack Dr. 925.833.0127 & 5301 Hibernia Dr. 925.803.4154 & 3300 Antone Way 925.826.5538 www.extendeddaychildcare.com
Quarry Lane School 6363 Tassajara Rd. 925.829.8000
DUBLIN
www.quarrylane.org
East Bay SPCA Animal Camp 4651 Gleason Dr. 925.479.9670
FREMONT
www.eastbayspca.org/camp
www.monkeybusinesscamp.com
34 ACTIVE FAMIL Y | MARCH 2020
Learning Bee Summer Camp 39977 Mission Blvd. 510.226.8408 www.learningbeeusa.com
Ohlone for Kids 43600 Mission Blvd. 510.659.6000 www.ohlone.edu/org/ ohloneforkids
HAYWARD Hayward Area Recreation Park District (H.A.R.D.) Day Camps 510.881.6700 www.haywardrec.org
LIVERMORE Horizons East Equestrian Center 5111 Doolan Rd. 925.960.9696 www.showstables.com
Roy’s Magic Camp 2466 8th St. 925.455.0600 www.magiccamp.org
Camp Arroyo Taylor Family Foundation 5535 Arroyo Rd. 925.371.8401 www.ebparks.org/activities/ daycamps/parks_camp_arroyo
Saddle to Ride Topline Training, Inc. 4180 Greenville Rd. 925.858.3933 www.saddle2ride.com
Xtreme Force Dance Company 847 Rincon Ave. 925.455.6054 www.xtremeforcedanceco.com
Double Diamond Sports Academy 2272 Research Dr. 925.830.9765 www. doublediamondsportsacademy. com
[ SUMMER CAMP ]
Camps Valley Montessori 1273 N. Livermore Ave. 925.455.8021
MOCHA Summer Camp 1625 Clay St. 510.465.8770
Contra Costa County
www.valleymontessorischool.com
www.mocha.org
OAKLAND
PLEASANTON
Lakeshore Children’s Center 3534 Lakeshore Ave. 510.893.4048
Gingerbread Preschool 4333 Black Ave. 925.931.3430
City of Antioch Parks and Recreation 213 “F” St 925.776.7070
www.lakeshorechildrenscenter.org
www.ci.pleasanton.ca.us/services/ recreation/gb/gbhome.html
Urban Adventure Camp 5701 Cabot Dr. 510.339.0676 www.urbanadventurecamps.com
Extended Day Child Care 5199 Black Ave. 925.846.5519 www.extendeddaychildcare.com
East Bay SPCA Animal Camp 8323 Baldwin St. 510.569.0702 www.eastbayspca.org/camp
Quarry Lane School - East 3750 Boulder St. 925.846.9400 www.quarrylane.org
California Shakespeare Theater Summer Conservatory 4660 Harbord Dr. 510.809.3293 www.calshakes.org/v4/educ/ summer_conservatories.html
Oakland Summer ZooCamp 9777 Golf Links Rd. 510.632.9525 www.oaklandzoo.org
Lake Merritt Boating Center Youth Boating Camps 568 Bellevue Ave. 510.238.2196 www.sailoakland.com
Raskob Learning Institute 3520 Mountain Blvd. 510.436.1275 www.raskobinstitute.org
Kids N’ Dance 3840 Macarthur Blvd. 510.531.4400 www.kidsndance.com
Quarry Lane School - West 4444B Black Ave. 925.462.6300 www.quarrylane.org
ANTIOCH
www.ci.antioch.ca.us/Recreation
Four Stars Gymnastics Academy 1799 Vineyard Dr. 925.778.8650 www.fourstarsgym.com
CONCORD City of Concord Parks and Recreation 925.671.3404 www.cityofconcord.org/recreation/ summercamps
Camp Concord in South Lake Tahoe 1000 Mt. Tallac Trailhead Rd South Lake Tahoe 530.541.1203
Yang Fan Academy 4160 Hacienda Dr. St. 100 925.699.4664
www.ci.concord.ca.us/recreation/ camp
www.yfacademy.org
Backyard Explorers Corner of Babel Ln & Cowell Rd. 925.671.3118
City of Pleasanton Summer Programs 200 Old Bernal Ave. 925.931.3436
DANVILLE City of Danville Camps 420 Front St. 925.314.3400 www.danville.ca.gov/Recreation/ Camps
Vision Tech Camps 117 Town & Country Dr. St. B 925.699.9602 www.visiontechcamps.com
Athenian Summer Programs at Athenian School 2100 Mt. Diablo Scenic Blvd 925.837.5375 www.athenian.org
Color Bundles 301 Hartz Ave. #104 925.727.3137 www.colorbundles.com
Camp Brainy Bunch 741 Brookside Dr. 510.548.4800 www.campbrainybunch.com
Quest Therapeutic Camps Charlotte Wood Middle School 600 El Captain Dr. 925.743.2900 www.questcamps.com
www.cityofconcord.org/recreation/ summercamps/backyardexp.htm
www.ci.pleasanton.ca.us
Expressions Dance & Art 3015 Hopyard Rd. Ste. I 925.200.9908 www.expressions-dance-arts.com/
Young Ivy Academy 5460 Sunol Blvd (#3) 925.548.0188 www.youngivyacademy.com
Inspire Music Academy 2340 Santa Rita Rd. Ste. 7 925.461.3266 www.inspiremusicacademy.com
MARCH 2020 | ACTIVE FAMIL Y 35
[ SUMMER CAMP ]
Summer LAFAYETTE California Shakespeare Theater Summer Conservatory 1000 Upper Happy Valley Rd 510.809.3293 www.calshakes.org/v4/educ/ summer_conservatories.html
Kids N’ Dance 3369 Mt. Diablo 925.284.7388 www.kidsndance.com
Sienna Ranch 3232 Deer Hill Rd. 925.283.6311 www.siennaranch.net
Sherman Swim School 1075 Carol Ln. 925.283.2100 www.shermanswim.com
www.frenchforfun.com
Lafayette Tennis Club 3125 Camino Diablo 925.937.2582 www.lafayettetennis.com
Husky House for Kids 3855 Happy Valley Rd. 925.283.7100 www.huskyhouseforkids.org/ summer-camp-programs
Lafayette Community Center Camps 500 Saint Mary’s Rd. 925.284.2232 www.lafayetterec.org
Roughing It Day Camp 1010 Oak Hill Rd. 925.283.3795 www.roughingit.com
BandWorks Summer Camp 28 Orinda Way 925.254.2445 www.bandworks.com/summer_ orinda.php
Orinda Academy 19 Altarinda Rd. 925.478.4504
Lindsay Wildlife Museum Summer Science Camp 1931 First Ave. 925.935.1978 www.wildlife-museum.org
Camp ARF for Kids 2890 Mitchell Dr. 925.256.1273 www.youth.arf.net
Merriewood Children’s Center 561 Merriewood Dr. 925.284.2121
www.orindaacademy.org
Camp Doodle 66 St. Stephens Dr.
City of Walnut Creek Summer Camps 1666 North Main St. 925.943.5899
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MARTINEZ
PLEASANT HILL
John Muir Mountain Day Camp John Muir National Historic Site 925.680.8807
City of Pleasant Hill Camps 147 Gregory Ln 925.682.0896
Castle Rock Arabians 1350 Castle Rock Rd. 925.933.3701
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French For Fun 3381 Mt. Diablo Blvd 925.283.9822
ORINDA
Rancho Saguaro 1050 Pereira Rd. 925.788.5200 www.ranchosaguaro.com
MORAGA Gaels Summer Camp 1928 St Mary’s Rd. 925.631.4FUN www.smcgaels.com
Camp Saklan 1678 School St. 925.376.7900 www.saklan.org/about-us/campsaklan
OAKLEY City of Oakley Parks and Recreation 3231 Main St. 925.625.7044 www.ci.oakley.ca.us
Diamond Hills Sports Club 1510 Neroly Rd. 925.420.4575 www.sparetimeclubs.com
36 ACTIVE FAMIL Y | MARCH 2020
www.castlerockarabians.com
www.pleasanthillrec.com
PITTSBURG City of Pittsburg Parks and Recreation 300 Presido Ln. 925.252.4842 www.ci.pittsburg.ca.us
SAN RAMON City of San Ramon Camps 2226 Camino Ramon 925.973.2500 www.ci.san-ramon.ca.us
School of Rock San Ramon 460 Montgomery Street 925.415.3340 510.207.9281 bit.ly/SORsanramoncamps
Adventure Day Camp Dorris-Eaton School One Annabel Lane 925.937.6500 www.adventuredaycamp.com
WALNUT CREEK Adventure Day Camp Seven Hills School 975 North San Carlos Dr. 925.937.6500 www.adventuredaycamp.com
Multiple Locations The Growing Room Academy Various locations around the Bay Offers: 3,4 and 5 Day Camps 925.837.4392 www.thegrowingroom.org
Camp Rocks: Girl Scouts of Northern California Offered at 5 locations: San Rafael (Camp Bothin), Santa Cruz (Skylark Ranch), San Jose (Camp Metro Day Camp), North Lake Tahoe (Deer Lake), and the Sierra Nevada Mountains (Sugar Pine) 800.447.4475 ext. 2091 www.camprocks.org
Mad Science Camp Offered at several local Recreation sites and Community Centers 925.687.1900 www.mtdiablo.madscience.org
[ SUMMER CAMP ]
Camps Steve and Kate’s Camp Danville, Dublin, Fremont, Oakland, Walnut Creek and Berkeley 415.389.5437 www.steveandkatescamp.com
Camp Galileo Alameda, Alamo, Berkeley, San Ramon, Walnut Creek, Fremont, Oakland, Lafayette and Orinda 510.595.7293
Lango Language Summer Camps Serving Alamo, Blackhawk, Brentwood, Briones, Canyon, Clayton, Concord, Danville, Martinez, Moraga, Orinda, Pacheco, Pittsburg, Pleasant Hill, San Ramon, Walnut Creek and surrounding regions 888.445.2646 www.langokids.com/parent/kidslanguage-summer-camps
Out of Area Golden Arrow Camps 644 Pollasky Avenue, Ste. 100 Clovis, 93612 800.554.CAMP www.goldarrowcamp.com
Coppercreek Camp 1887 Williams Valley Rd. Greenville, 95947 800.350.0006 www.coppercreek.com
www.galileo-learning.com
KinderCare Walnut Creek, Concord, Danville, Martinez and Clayton 888.523.6765 www.kindercare.com/ summercamp
Viva el Espanol! Lafayette, Piedmont, Pleasanton & San Anselmo 925.962.9177 www.vivaelespanol.org/ summerprograms.php
Club Sport Fremont, San Ramon, Pleasanton and Walnut Creek 925.938.8700 www.clubsports.com
Camp Edmo Alameda, Fremont, and Oakland 415.282.6673 www.campedmo.org
Kids’ Carpentry Berkeley, Lafayette, Alameda, Oakland, Alamo & Walnut Creek 510.524.9232
Stratford School Summer Sports Camp & Enrichment Danville, Fremont, Los Gatos, Morgan Hill and Pleasanton 925.737.0001
www.kidscarpentry.com
www.stratfordschools.com
www.techknowhowkids.com
Sky hawk’s Sports Camp Various locations around the Bay Area 800.804.3509
iD Tech Camp Moraga, Concord, Livermore, Berkeley and other Bay Area locations www.idtech.com
www.skyhawks.com
TechKnowHow Kids Dublin, Berkeley, Fremont, Livermore, Oakland & Pleasanton 650.638.0500
Camp Unalayee 3921 East Bayshore Rd. Palo Alto 650.969.6313 www.unalayee-summer-camp.com
CYO Summer Camp 2136 Bohemian Hwy Occidental, 95465 707.874.0200 www.camp.cccyo.org
Mountain Camp Woodside 302 Portola Rd. Portola Valley 650.576.2267 www.mountaincampwoodside.com
SF Zoo Camp Sloat Blvd. & the Great Highway San Francisco 415.753.7080 www.sfzoo.org Almaden Equestrian Center 20100 Almaden Rd. San Jose 408.927.0232 www.almadenequestriancenter.net
Silver Creek Sportsplex 800 Embedded Way San Jose 408.224.8774 www.gotoplex.com
College For Kids 1700 W. Hillsdale Blvd. San Mateo 650.574.6149 www.collegeforkids-smccd.com
School of Rock Summer Camp 711 South B St. San Mateo, San Jose & Palo Alto 650.347.3474 www.schoolofrock.com
Camp Tawonga 131 Steuart Ste. 460 San Francisco 415.543.2267 www.tawonga.org
Kennolyn Camps 8205 Glen Haven Rd. Soquel 831.479.6714 www.kennolyncamps.com
888.709.8324
MARCH 2020 | ACTIVE FAMIL Y 37
OUR CAMP CONFORMS TO KIDS. NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND.
“GO WITH THE FLOW” IS OUR MIDDLE NAME. JUST KIDDING, IT’S “AND.”
Instead of a rigid structure, we give our campers choice. Instead of teaching kids the typical way, we give them tools and gentle guidance to help them become autodidacts, people who teach themselves. Kids choose from: stop motion animation, coding, sports in a custom stadium, bread-making, waterslides and much more.
Our policy is as flexible as you need it to be. You can buy a whole summer membership or you can purchase as many day passes as you want. Use the passes whenever. Didn’t use them? No sweat. We’ll give you a full refund for unused passes. And best of all, you don’t even have to tell us when you’re coming. Ta-da. Camp just got easier.
CODING STUDIO
PRE-K THROUGH 7TH
38 ACTIVE FAMIL Y | MARCH 2020
40+ LOCATIONS
STEVEANDKATE.COM
®
Preschool
Education is a Lifelong Commitment
®
Discover Quarry Lane
NOW ENROLLING Join our Open House every Wednesday! www.QuarryLane.org/Preschool
Toddler, Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten Academic-Based Curriculum Passionate, Experienced Educators
PLEASANTON WEST CAMPUS Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten 4444B Black Ave., Pleasanton, CA
925.462.6300
Full and Half Day Schedules Computer, Spanish, Music, P.E., and Library Two Preschool Campuses in Pleasanton
PLEASANTON EAST CAMPUS Toddler through Pre-Kindergarten 3750 Boulder St., Pleasanton, CA
925.846.9400
MARCH 2020 | ACTIVE FAMIL Y 39 CA Licenses: 013411303, 013411304, 013411305, 013417681