Growing Up
Stockton February 2018
Education Through Music Page 2
A Girl’s World Page 4
The Children’s Museum of Stockton Page 5
S2 ❘ February 2018
Growing Up Stockton
Education through
Presenting ‘Musical Chairs Children’s Concert’ featuring Greg and Steve By Charleen Earley
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usic permeates every aspect of people’s lives, which is why Janie Phelps believes in mixing it in with education. Education Through Music, Inc. with a DBA as Musical Chairs Children’s Concert Series became a nonprofit in 2000 by retired educators, one of them an active educator. “We believe music is universal — meaning every culture in the world includes music in some form for celebration, ceremony, communication, relaxing and enjoyment,” said Phelps, one of seven board members and a founding member with Liz Lark. “Music should be the core component of children’s educational experience, not only because it brings joy and satisfaction, but it fosters creative expression, challenges thinking, stimulates imagination and contributes to intellectual growth,” she added. Together, board members Pat Fluetch, Lynda Osmanski, Liz Lark, Elaine Oneto-Galbreath, Janie Williams and Janie Phelps bring quality musicals to
Stockton’s kids, ages preschool to third grade. “We have been bringing artists Greg & Steve to the area for 37 years,” said Phelps. “Some parents are now bringing their grandchildren to Greg & Steve concerts!” With songs like “Big Fun,” “Peanut Butter & Jelly,” “Five Little Monkeys,” “The World Is A Rainbow,” “Chicken Dance,” and “3-Pigs Blues,” Grammynominated Greg & Steve have sold more than four million recordings and hold the rank of number one children’s music duo in the country. Greg & Steve are slated to perform four hour-long shows Jan. 30, 2018 through Feb. 2 at the Faye Spanos Concert Hall at the University of the Pacific. Advanced tickets are $9. All shows begin at 10 a.m. Staffed by community volunteers, Phelps said their goal is to keep admission costs low to encourage attendance, but to cover production costs as well. “Our goal is also to provide a quality program and to educate the value of music in each person’s life,” she said.
Over the years the board members have rotated in some of their favorite artists, including The Alphabet Rockers from the Bay Area, Jack Grunsky from Canada, and Fred Penner and Linda Arnold, who wrote and presented the music in the educational children’s area of the Monterey Bay Aquarium. “We are always looking for new and upcoming artists to add,” said Phelps.
“I think getting the word out to new and younger professionals in the teaching field is important,” she added. “So they, too, know the value in what we do is not primarily to entertain, but to enhance the value music plays in each of our lives and that of our children.” ■ Visit www.musicalchairsconcerts.org for more information.
“The common core for all of our musicians is that they are passionate about their music with the underlying educational component,” she added. “We feature live stage action with professional lights and sound companies.” When it comes to measuring success through their programs, Phelps feels longevity is a perfect quantifier. “I think we can truthfully say that having our programs continue for over 30 years says we are doing something right!” said Phelps. “We get feedback from teachers, parents and administrations thanking us for continuing to do what we are passionate about doing. Also, that they understand the value of education involved with our events.” photo courtesy Greg & Steve Productions
February 2018 ❘ S3
Growing Up Stockton
Growing Kids’ Food ‘Smarts’ Carrots don’t really come from the supermarket, and the lessons that lie therein can teach kids a lot about the foods they consume By Bev Bennett CTW Features
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hildren of the modern era easily could assume that lettuce grows in a bag, and that tomatoes are merely saucy toppings for fries. Few have exposure to the growing process, and when the connection between the ground and the dinner table is lost, it’s time to give them the dirt on where food really comes from — not the supermarket. Start your children on a container garden project. Children who grow a food crop learn some valuable lessons, say gardening experts. “They’ll understand the relationship between food and the environment; that things don’t come magically from the grocery store,” says Ellen Zachos, who teaches at the New York Botanical Garden.
child’s age and skill level, say the gardeners.
And, if your children aren’t on good terms with plant foods, their gardening experience can change that.
Set up the items your child needs and let him tell you how much help he needs.
“Nothing matches the pleasure of a child who brings his home-grown food to the table,” says Cindy Krezel, a Long Island gardener who works in Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park.
To start, buy a planter a child can work with. Children may have to shift the container so their plants get at least six hours of sun a day. The container shouldn’t be too large or too heavy to move into a sunny area.
Container gardening is ideal because children can work in a limited space without becoming overwhelmed.
The container also has to be the appropriate size for the plant at its full height.
What’s more, anything can serve as a container, from a thimble to a giant terra-cotta planter, says Krezel, the author of Kids Container Gardening: Year-Round Projects for Inside and Out (Ball Publishing, 2005).
A tomato plant needs 16 inches of circumference; an herb plant or a small lettuce head requires a container that’s 6 inches around, according to Zachos, author of Down & Dirty! (Storey Publishing, 2007).
How involved you get as a parent depends on your
If your child is at least 8 years old she may prefer
“An interested 2½-year-old can do twice as much as a non-interested 11-year old,” Krezel says.
to begin by germinating plant seeds in early spring. Children who are younger or are starting their gardens in the summer will have greater success if they cultivate small tomato, lettuce or herb plants. Although your child probably sees you digging in the backyard dirt, you’ll want to use a packaged container mix that encourages plant growth for your child’s garden, says Zachos. Watering doesn’t require special equipment, but it does demand critical judgment. Children love watering plants and often overdo it. Here’s a simple test you can teach your child: “Take one finger and poke it in the soil. If your finger is wet, you don’t need to water. If your finger is dry, you need to water,” says Kretzel. ■ © CTW Features
S4 ❘ February 2018
Growing Up Stockton
AGIRL’SWORLD
Social pressures start younger than ever By Melissa Erickson More Content Now
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aking friends is not always easy when you’re growing up. Exclusion, bullying, humiliation and other mean-girl behaviors that have concerned parents of high-schoolers for some time have trickled down to elementary school, said Katie Hurley, a child and adolescent psychotherapist and parenting expert.
wide variety of interests and they enjoy time spent reaching for the dreams with other girls,” Hurley said. “The downside is that we are seeing a trickle-down effect with things like relational aggression and unhealthy competition among girls. Behavior that was once considered the norm in middle and high school is making its way down to elementary school and even the tot lot. Research shows that girls as young as preschool engage in alliancebuilding and social exclusion.” Parents can help transform potential queen bees to benevolent bees, but they have to start immediately when they see signs of insensitivity — and strive to be good role models.
girls focus less on things like unhealthy competition and more on things like compassion and caring,” Hurley said. Assertiveness skills also play an important role in friendship-building. “The friendships that thrive are the ones based on reciprocal relationships. This means that all girls involved in the friendship need to be able to voice their feelings, thoughts and needs appropriately, and listen to the feelings, thoughts and needs of their peers. To do this, girls need to develop healthy self-esteem,” she said. Be a positive model Most parents probably think they are prioritizing healthy friendships for their girls. “What parents don’t always see is the degree to which their own behavior impacts their girls. When kids are in the toddler stage of development, parents are careful to watch their words and reactions because they know that kids are always watching,” Hurley said. As kids grow, parents tend to step back a bit and worry less about interaction. “The truth is that girls in middle childhood and the tween/early teen years continue to watch their parents very closely for social cues. They are trying to figure out how to handle conflict, how to cope with frustration and what to do about things like gossip and rumors. They look to parents to for answers, but they do that through observation,” Hurley said.
The key to relating to peers and making friends is empathy, said Hurley, author of No More Mean Girls. “The wonderful thing about being a young girl today is that there are endless possibilities for socializing with other girls. From team sports to specialty classes to art and music, girls are engaged in a
Power of empathy Many factors contribute to building healthy friendships; empathy is one of the most important. “Developing the self-awareness to be able to distinguish their own feelings and emotions from those of their peers and engage in perspective-taking helps
Media messages Young girls are also likely to gain information and ideas from TV, print and online media. “While parents can’t — and shouldn’t — control everything their girls
read and absorb through various forms of media, they can help their girls process and make sense of the information,” Hurley said. The average age when kids get their first smartphone is 10.3 years, according to Influence Central’s Kids & Tech report. “Very young girls are walking around with sophisticated technology in their pockets. While you might think your daughter is immune to peer pressure or disinterested in things like social media, many parents are surprised to discover hidden social media accounts on phones,” Hurley said. The best way to help girls grow up techsavvy is for parents to model and discuss healthy boundaries with technology. “Parents should also help girls dissect and process the images and behaviors they see online. When parents guide girls through technology use, girls are empowered to make positive and socially responsible decisions online and in real life,” Hurley said. ■
February 2018 ❘ S5
Growing Up Stockton
The Children’s Museum of Stockton Blurring the Lines Between Learning and Play By Melissa Hutsell
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he Children’s Museum of Stockton is a place where the lines between play and learning are inseparable. Here, “hands-on” is encouraged, as their motto reinforces; “Every touch is a know, know!” The museum first opened in March of 1994 as a nonprofit organization. Today, the 22,000-square-foot facility is home to more than 40 different interactive exhibitions, which include a nature station, a library, an art studio, play areas, and a reptile display, among others. While the facility showcases locally driven exhibits (such as astronaut and Stockton native Jose Hernandez’s flight suit), it gives families a chance to learn about a diversity of regions, and industries, around the world. The museum is currently hosting “Trivial Pursuit: A 50State Adventure,” a traveling showcase, which takes parents and children through statespecific trivia, history, geography, and activities that include playing games on the New Jersey boardwalk, or hitting home runs at Fenway Park. The facility was built to encourage such exploration in a safe, family-friendly environment, but it was also built as a memorial. According to the museum’s website, inspiration for the facility came after a tragic event -- the 1989 Cleveland Schoolyard shooting. The shooting occurred on January 17 at Cleveland Elementary in Stockton. Five children were killed, and 30 others were wounded — including one adult — a teacher, Janet Geng -- the founding director of the Children’s Museum of Stockton. Geng was motivated to build the safe, violence-free space for learning and play after a visit to The Capital Children’s Museum, located in Washington D.C. The opportunity to create a similar space in Stockton proved to be a
healing, and arduous experience.
After four years of fundraising and planning, the facility became a reality, officially welcoming more than 500 visitors during its grand opening more than two decades ago. Today, it attracts thousands of visitors each year, is run by 12 board members, and operates thanks to support from the public and private sectors. “The [museum] is a testament of community in more ways than just what a visitor sees on the 22,000 sq. ft. floor,” reports the City of Stockton on its homepage for the facility. “It is a testament of mutual support and understanding and of the agony of an entire population wrenched from the pleasures of daily life by the tragedy that [occurred] on the Cleveland Elementary School playground in 1989.” The community attraction is a staple to families such as Wendy Hunt’s. Hunt, a Stockton resident and mother of two, said, “The museum is vital to the community because it [provides] a safe environment for children to enjoy with their family and/or classmates.” She added, “The exhibits are very hands-on, and the children can learn when enjoying a lot of different activities.” Hunt said her children “really enjoyed playing on the fire truck, the police car, and the ambulance.” Another family favorite, she said, is the art studio. “There are so many art supplies provided, and [the kids] could make just about anything.” Exhibitions are enjoyable for parents, too. While some focus on creativity, others focus on real-life skills. “I like the grocery store provided by Food 4 Less and the bank provided by Bank of Stockton,” she said, “Those were both great opportunities for them to learn about basic life skills such as grocery shopping and banking.” However, one of the best parts of the museum, said Hunt, is that “it’s interactive for the kids and they don’t even realize they are learning while playing.” ■ For more information about the Children’s Museum of Stockton, including entrance fees, exhibitions, and membership, visit ChildrensMuseumStockton.org
Exhibits include : •
Trivial Pursuit: A 50-State Adventure
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STEM Area (coming soon)
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Galaxy Room (which features the suit and a narration by astronaut and Stockton native Jose Hernandez)
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Recycling Exhibit
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Dr. Barkers Pet Clinic
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Delta Exhibit
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Water Conservation display 4 and under Toddler area
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Shoe Store
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Life-sized vehicles (helicopter, fire truck, flight simulator, etc.)
The museum also offers packages for groups, such as birthday parties or field trips.
photo by Calixtro Romias/THE RECORD
S6 ❘ February 2018
Growing Up Stockton
MAJOR Advice The best sources of information on colleges and careers By Melissa Erickson More Content Now
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or high schoolers looking for advice about what to study in college, the most common place to start may be with friends or family or their school coun selor. New research finds there are better, more reliable sources for kids to turn to. The surprising implication of a new study from Gallup and the Strada Education Network is that the most commonly cited channels of advice in choosing a major are not necessarily rated the most helpful. Put simply, the most valued sources of advice are the least used. More than half (55 percent) of people who attended college surveyed relied on advice from their social network of friends and family. Forty-four percent turned to formal sources, including college and high school counselors, while 32 percent sought
help from informal educational sources such as a non-advisor or faculty member. The smallest number, 20 percent, asked for guidance from employers or people with work experience in the field. The most helpful advice (83 percent found it helpful) came from employers or people with work experience — the least common source. Informal school-based advice was found helpful by 78 percent of people; family and friends were helpful 72 percent of the time. Formal school counselors were helpful least often, only 64 percent of the time. “The irony is that traditional, formal sources of advice may not always be the best,” said Brandon Busteed, executive director of education and workforce development at Gallup. “High school counsel o rs are overburdened and underfunded,” often work i ng with an unrealistic num b er of students – sometimes as high as 500, Busteed said.
The findings are based on phone interviews with a random sample of more than 22,000 people with either an associate degree, bachelor’s degree or some college but no degree as part of the Education Consumer Pulse sur vey. The report explores the sources and perceived value of the advice students received about their field of study. Choosing a college major is a decision with big implications on a student’s future employment and earnings, but families shouldn’t get worked up about declaring a major, Busteed said. Instead, “think more carefully about your end game, career options and what path to take to get you on that track,” Busteed said. Too often, young adults make this major decision without thinking what they want to do for a career, he said. For students, finding and talking with someone who is employed in a chosen field can reap huge benefits.
“Ask them about what they do, how did they get where they are now, what path did they take,” Busteed said. Parents can help by encouraging kids to take time to speak with people in their desired career paths. Educators can turn the idea into a teaching assignment, asking students to interview someone who is employed in the field, Busteed said. People who sought advice from professionals in their desired field of work were less likely to have second thoughts about their college major, the study found. This was especially true for students in STEM fields: science, technol o gy, engineering and math. “The good news is that highly-rated advice doesn’t have to come from a professional advisor,” Busteed said. “All of us can step up and play a role. Employers, you have an important role to play, too.” ■
Kids and Cash: Teaching children about money and most of the spending is on energy-dense foods or junk food,” said Cash, an economist who focuses on how food, nutrition and environmental factors influence producers and consumers.
About the study In the study researchers presented a limited series of snack options to the children — cookies, apple slices and squeezable yogurt. Each child, age 8 to 12, was presented 10 times with pairs of photographs of two snack items that differed by product type, price and brand. Each time children could select one of the two products or decide to make no choice.
By Melissa Erickson More Content Now
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f all the skills parents teach children, being a smart consumer is often overlooked.
“We teach kids how to tie their shoes, how to cross the street safely. We pay less attention to teaching them how to buy things safely,” said Sean B. Cash, associate professor, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University. Parents should think of kids as young as 8 as consumers-in-training, said Cash, who is co-leader of a new study that examines how branding and pricing influence children’s decisions about snack purchases. “A big part of what we (as parents) miss is what they do with their own money. Children have billions of dollars in spending power,
The child was told that at the end of the experiment, one choice would be drawn at random from the 10 decisions the child made, and the child would be obligated to purchase the chosen snack. To make the choice more realistic, the child had to pay for the snack with real money, which ranged between 30 and 70 cents, and they received the designated snack. The money was earned by the children earlier in the study. One group of snacks was from McDonald’s in order to test the importance of branding on children’s choices. A goal of the study, published in the journal Appetite, was to find out what motivates kids to make healthier food choices. There were two main findings. First, kids who have experience with handling money paid more attention to prices. Some children who have financial literacy are able to make better choices, and higher prices for unhealthy snacks might motivate healthier choices, Cash said. “This speaks to the importance of educating kids to be good consumers and having kids get some experience with money, possibly through allowance,” Cash said. The second big takeaway was that brand awareness was not a key factor in purchasing snacks, “which is great news for parents who are worried their kids find certain brands irresistible,” Cash said. It’s
not enough for kids to just know of a brand to influence their purchasing choice, Cash said. They had to like the brand. Price and brand were less important than if a child preferred a certain snack. If a child wants the cookie, they will buy the cookie regardless of how much the yogurt or apple costs, or what brand it is, Cash said.
Create teaching moments How can parents get kids to make smarter, healthier snack purchases? “The single most important thing is to talk to kids about how and what they spend their money on. Ask they how they make
their decisions,” Cash said.
Kids learn by doing “They get better (at being consumers) as they have more experience. Educate them to be good consumers,” Cash said.
Manufacturers are marketing to kids “Parents should pretend it doesn’t exist. You’re not doing them any favors,” he said. Instead, help them navigate the environment. “Talk to them about what they see on commercials, what they do with their own money and how they make their choices,” Cash said. ■
February 2018 ❘ S7
Growing Up Stockton
You Might Be Overfeeding Your Child If…
Parents often are in denial about the eating habits of overweight and obese children. Here are some easy ways to tell if your child is eating too much, and developing bad health habits as a result. By Apryl Chapman Thomas CTW Features
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he replacement of outdoor activities with sedentary indoor fun (computer games, television) and increasingly poor eating habits has been a substantial factor in the rise in childhood obesity. And while it’s not always possible to send kids out to play in today’s world, parents can initiate change in a child’s eating habits. And likely, it’s something the whole family can do together to start living a healthier lifestyle. Problem: Eating in front of the TV Solution: According to Molly Kimball, a registered dietician, this can be cured by simply enforcing the rule that all food is eaten in the kitchen or other designated areas. She adds the key, though, is that parents need to abide by this rule, too. Problem: Mom playing short order cook Solution: Does this sound familiar? You prepare meals to meet everyone’s needs, such as one dish for the adults and different dishes for the children. Kimball, a sports and lifestyle nutritionist for Ochsner’s
Elmwood Fitness Center, New Orleans, La., says this isn’t good because it doesn’t expose kids to all types of foods. Also, it sends the message that they can get whatever they want, whenever they want it. “Parents should prepare one meal,” she says. “Children eat that, or don’t eat that. At the most, there is one back-up-plan meal they can have if they don’t like dinner. There’ll be some protest up front, but if the parents stick to their rules, the children will adapt.” Problem: Skipping breakfast Solution: We’ve all heard countless times that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Kimball says if children aren’t hungry for breakfast, chances are they are eating too much at night or snacking too much after dinner. “Start limiting nighttime snacks and then experimenting with different breakfasts, such as a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, or cheese toast,” she says. Problem: (Almost) Out-of-control eating at a friend’s house Solution: Kimball says this often happens when the children’s own
parents are super-strict about food. Therefore, they go nuts at other people’s houses where they are allowed to have chips, cookies and other sweets. “Don’t make any foods offlimits,” she says. “If it’s too tough to keep in the house, then go out for ice cream once a week, or allow them a cookie at the mall occasionally.” Problem: Constant rummaging and snacking after school Solution: She recommends offering two or three specific snack choices and that’s it. “They still get to have a say in what their snack is, but parents are setting the guideline on the choices,” Kimball says. Problem: Sitting around at home Solution: Encourage the family to get up and go outside. Jyl Steinback, “America’s Healthiest Mom” and author of over a dozen healthy cookbooks, says swap 30 minutes of TV, video or computer time for 30 minutes of walking. Make it easier to get moving by waiting to turn on electronic entertainment until after the walk, so as not to get involved in a program or game. ■ © CTW Features
Mark Yo r Calendars February 10th
Ring in the New Year Haggin 2nd Saturdays for Families Learn about Chinese New Year traditions and create your own craft to celebrate the Year of the Dog. 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Haggin Museum 1201 N. Pershing Avenue, Stockton More info: hagginmuseum.org
February 24th
“Geekology” World of Wonders Science Museum Gaming expo, comic books, pinball machines, 3D printing, board games, virtual reality demo, science of sci-fi, arts & minecrafts, hackerspace, cosplay contest, and more. 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. WOW Science Museum 2 N. Sacramento Street, Lodi More info: wowsciencemuseum.org
March 3rd
Star Wars Night Stockton Heat vs. Bakersfield Condors Everyone will be “Fired Up By the Force” for Stockton Heat Hockey Star Wars Night! Fans are invited to dress as their favorite Star. 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Stockton Arena 248 W. Fremont Street, Stockton More info: StocktonHeat.com
March 7th to March 10th Kudos Children’s Theatre Presents
PYRAMID ROCKS!
An Egyptian Cinderella Story Kudos Children’s Theatre 1943 W. Lucille Avenue, Stockton For show times & ticket info : www. kudosct.com
• Honoring the Best High School Athletes in San Joaquin County & the Motherlode.
Featuring Celebrity Guest Athlete:
To be Announced Soon
• Dinner & Awards Presentation
June 21, 2018
Stockton Arena Featuring Teen Celebrity Guest:
To be Announced Soon
• • • • • • • • •
• Green Carpet photos … and more!
Fan photos Shopping Exhibits Educational Activities Health & Safety Awareness Games & Entertainment Costumed Characters Kid Zone Play areas Food … and more!
Stoc kton
AUTO SHOW & FAMILY FESTIVAL Sept. 29, 2018
San Joaquin County Fairgrounds
July 21, 2018
Stockton Arena
Featuring Celebrity Guest: • Classic Car & Lowrider Show • New Vehicle Star of Velocity Channel’s Exhibits Bitchin’ Rides • Shopping • Exhibitors • Free Kid Zone • Music & Entertainment • Eat Street • Margaritas & Beer … and more!
Dave Kindig
Sponsorship & Vendor opportunities available
(209) 546-8200