Wichita Family April 2014

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april 2014

MAKE SUMMER SENSATIONAL FUN

KID-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

A PERFECT PRESENT FOR MOM

Vote for your favorite business beginning in June!!!

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WFM wichita family

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april 2014

Inside: 6 8 10 12

A Perfect Present for Mom News and Information from our partners at Wichita Public Schools Fight Back Against Spring Allergies Make Summer Sensational Fun, kid-friendly activities for the whole family

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s the winter snow melts away and the signs of spring begin to peak through the wintery landscape, I’m reminded of how our family members go through different cycles with those seasons. As spring rolls around, there’s often a sense of renewal; an opportunity to start over.

While the snow is a pleasantry that many appreciate, there are many of us who are left feeling a sense of “cabin fever.” We do our best to disguise the lunacy rolling through our minds as we contemplate the next board game we’ll have to play or television show that we’ll have to watch to stave off the boredom often accompanied by the claustrophobia felt during those months. Our children stand on their toes in anticipation of being able to ride their bicycles, build forts and run around the neighborhood with their friends without having to throw on seven layers of clothes to appease their parents.

Perhaps the desire to escape, get out and start anew, are exactly the reasons that this dad should learn to appreciate the winter weather—it makes us appreciate the spring all the more and to appreciate the different cycles/ seasons of our loved ones.

-Eric Clark/Owner/Publisher

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a note from the publishers

a note from the publishers

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published by For the Families, LLC 316.295.8465 Publishers Eric and Christy Clark Advertising inquiries contact:

Vice President of Sales & Marketing Cari Fischer cari@wichitafamily.com Wichita Family Magazine is published 12 times a year by For the Families, LLC. Wichita Family Magazine is available free, at schools, stores, restaurants, libraries, retailers and local attractions, as well as other places families frequent. For a complete list of where to find Wichita Family, or for subscription rates, visit www.wichitafamily.com.

Mailing address: P.O. Box 817 Wichita, Kansas 67201 How to reach us: Phone: 316.295.8465 Email: publisher@wichitafamily.com Copyright 2009 by For the Families, LLC. All rights reserved. Wichita Family Magazine is not responsible for errors, omissions or contest fulfillment from third parties. Reproduction in part or in whole without written permission is strictly prohibited. Wichita Family is distributed free of charge. The magazine’s advertisers make this possible, so support them! We reserve the right to edit submitted material. All submissions will be considered for publication, but we reserve the right to refuse material. Materials will not be returned. Any editorial content or advertising published is the property of For the Families, LLC.

Want to advertise with us?

Contact Cari at cari@wichitafamily.com

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(Family Features) Mothers are loving, patient, compassionate and strong. They deserve to be recognized for all they do and treated to a little pampering once in a while. This Mother’s Day, make sure to give a special thanks to all of the moms out there who inspire you every day. Use this gift guide to find a Mother’s Day present that she is sure to love.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images 6 wfm

Charm Her Heart Celebrate Mother’s Day with a gift set from Pandora Jewelry. The limited edition, 14-karat gold and sterling silver Vintage Heart charm comes with a porcelain jewelry box for $75. Combine this charm with the hundreds of other Pandora charms to create a bracelet as unique as the one you love. Choose pieces that celebrate her interests, hobbies, unforgettable moments and personal style. For more gift ideas or to locate an authorized retailer, visit www.pandora.net.

Brighten Her Day Give mom a sparkling gift that she will cherish year after year. To house all of her favorite fresh-cut flowers, give her the beautiful Mikasa Palazzo 12-Inch Vase. Crafted in glittering crystal, it features an exquisite basket weave design that brilliantly shimmers in the light.

The Palazzo Vase, available at Macy’s for $39.99, is a dazzling and timeless piece sure to brighten her day for years to come. To find more Mother’s Day gift ideas from Mikasa, visit www.macys.com.

Treat Her to a Clean House Show mom how much you care by lending her your cleaning skills this Mother’s Day. She’ll appreciate being able to relax and enjoy a clean house without having to lift a finger.

Make the job easier with the Oreck Magnesium RS. The powerful cleaner weighs in at only 7.7 pounds and its steerable low profile allows you to get into hard-to-reach places. It’s built with a durable magnesium alloy frame and comes with a seven-year warranty, making it a great gift for any occasion. For more information, visit www.oreck.com.

Nurture Her Green Thumb If mom has a knack for gardening, consider gifting her a new set of tools for her collection.

Pair a stylish set of gardening gloves with ergonomic and lightweight hand tools. If she already has a nice trowel and hand fork, look for a set of pruners that rotates towards her when squeezed, helping to reduce wrist strain.

You can round out the gift with a brightly colored, enamel-coated watering can or a nice gardening tote to store it all in.

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News and Information from our partners at Wichita Public Schools McLean’s “No Tardy Taters” receiving national recognition McLean Science and Technology Magnet’s initiative to cut down on student tardies is getting some national recognition from Randy Sprick’s Safe and Civil Schools program. This year, McLean’s teachers developed the “No Tardy Taters” program as a positive way to remind students about the importance of coming to school on time.

McLean third-grade students in Sonya Walker’s class had an 80’s and Crazy Hair Day as a reward for being on time to school for 10 days.

Each class has a Mr. Potato Head and every day all of the students are on time, Mr. Potato Head gets a piece of his body.

When the toy has ten pieces, the class gets a certificate and a cartoon potato to post in the hall and a No Tardy Party. The No Tardy Parties are simple ways for the class to celebrate, such as wearing pajamas, bringing a stuffed animal to class, wearing silly socks, hats or crazy hair.

“Most of the time they are late because the parents are not getting them to school on time, so having the students stay after school as a consequence wasn’t making a difference,“ said Mendie Vicin, principal. “This

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way, the kids are excited about it and they tell their parents about the importance of getting to school on time so their class can get another piece. And the students encourage each other to get to school on time.”

The program is working. In the 1213 school year, McLean had 224 tardies in the first quarter and 350 tardies in the second quarter. This year, the tardies dropped to 115 for the first quarter and 179 in the second quarter.

The program and the data caught the attention of Randy Sprick with Safe and Civil Schools. Sprick is revising the Foundations program with a module on Positive School Climate and the No Tardy Taters program will be included in the module as an example for other schools across the country to use.

Vicin said other district schools have asked about it to see if they can implement it in their buildings.

Pleasant Valley Elementary principal Cindy Graves, right, talks with students in their new safe room during the state-wide tornado drill on March 4. The school’s safe room was recently completed.

More Wichita schools have safe rooms As severe weather season begins, the Wichita Public Schools is proud that the district has more schools with safe room storm shelters to protect students and staff.

The district now has 77 schools with completed safe rooms. Eight schools have safe rooms that are or will be completed during the 2013-14 school year. There are 13 remaining safe room projects that will be completed next school year or later.

Pleasant Valley Elementary is one of the schools that has a new safe room this year. The state-wide tornado drill was their first opportunity to practice using their new safe room.

“I am very grateful that we now

have a safe room and we can all be in one place together during severe weather,” Pleasant Valley principal Cindy Graves said.

Constructing safe rooms in schools that don’t have them is one of the guiding principles from the 2008 bond plan. Every school will have a safe room at the end of the bond issue implementation. Safe rooms are designed to withstand EF 5 tornadoes, flying debris and wind speeds of more than 200 mph. The rooms must pass stringent testing and inspections.

Jefferson Elementary was the first school in the country to have a FEMA storm shelter, which was dedicated in January 2001.

Jefferson was damaged after a tornado hit the school on April 5, 1999.

Success begins at an early age Call for a free consultation about your child’s development.

Sedgwick County: 316.945.7117 • Butler County: 316.320.1342

Early Intervention Services

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(Family Features) Springtime brings warmer weather, outdoor family fun, BBQs, ballgames, and for many Americans, the start of allergy season.

As you plan outdoor activities this spring, Dr. Travis Stork, ER Physician and host of the Emmy Awardwinning talk show “The Doctors,” has partnered with Church & Dwight Co., Inc., the maker of Arm & Hammer Simply Saline nasal mists, to share his top five tips to ring in spring for a for a healthy and congestion-free spring season.

Keep it Simple and Natural The overuse of over-the-counter nasal decongestants can actually cause your congestion to return much worse than when it first appeared. Using products that are drug-free and derived from natural ingredients can help. Dr. Stork says, “A product like Arm & Hammer Simply Saline Nasal Mist can be extremely effective in clearing nasal congestion, without side effects.”

Fight Back Against Spring Allergies with Help from Dr. Travis Stork Photo courtesy of Getty Images

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Know When to Work Out Staying active and exercising for at least 30 minutes a day is a great way to fight off illness, but for allergy sufferers, be sure to plan workouts accordingly. Pollen counts are highest in the morning, so it’s best to plan to work out during a time of day when pollen levels are a bit lower.

Allergy-Proof the House Allergens exist indoors and outdoors, so take steps to make your home allergy-proof. A simple way to keep allergens at bay is to wipe your feet and take off your shoes when entering the home. You can also prevent mold by keeping the indoor air dry with a dehumidifier and remove allergens by cleaning the floors with a vacuum that has a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter.

Mind the Kids Congestion-causing allergens are everywhere – on the bus, in the park, on our clothes and even in our hair. To avoid any impact on your family fun this spring, especially for the little ones, Dr. Stork says, “Keep congestion remedies on hand, like Arm & Hammer Simply Saline Baby Nasal Relief for both infants and kids.”

Wash Away Those Allergens Don’t ditch your favorite outdoor hobby just because you suffer from allergies, ditch the allergens stuck to clothes, bedding and bags.

After a day in the garden, at the ballpark or family picnic, remember to wash clothes, bedding and bags as often as possible.

For more information about Arm & Hammer Simply Saline nasal mists and other products, please visit: www.armandhammer.com/ SimplySaline.aspx.

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Make Summer Sensational Fun, kid-friendly activities for the whole family (Family Features) Celebrate unlimited sunshine and bask in those carefree summer days with kid-friendly activities that bring the family together.

For many parents, it’s the same routine each and every year. After weeks of anticipation for the end of the school year, those lazy summer days finally arrive for your children. But soon after, the newness wears off, leaving behind sad faces and the dreaded phrase heard by parents across the country, “I’m bored.” But all it takes to battle summer boredom is a little preparedness and a few clever ideas to make this summer the best one yet.

Kid-approved activities The summer fun experts at Bomb Pop serve up these awesome, fresh ideas to bring loads of memorable moments to your family all season long.

Go on a Park Crawl Research all of the parks in your town and visit each one. Your kids will love pointing out their favorite attractions at each location. When the activity is over, have each child pick their favorite park so you can visit regularly.

Be sure to load up on sunscreen, drinking water and bug spray.

Also, make sure you have a map or smartphone handy to help you navigate to the next park.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

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Make it memorable by taking a picture at each stop. Those treasured moments can be printed and pieced together into a summer scrapbook they’ll cherish for years.

Make a Splash

Backyard water games are synonymous with smiles. Enjoy the classic warm weather activities of water balloon fights, squirt gun wars, playing on a slip and slide and, as always, swimming in an outdoor pool.

Younger kids will love ice excavating, too. Simply freeze plastic toys in a large bowl and let them chip away at the ice.

Be sure to have everyone wearing swimsuits and plenty of sunscreen.

Backyard fun also means your freezer is just a few steps away, so stock it with cool treats, such as the six fins of fun in Bomb Pops frozen treats. Your kids will love the waves of flavor in the Original Bomb Pop, or the new Watermelon flavor.

Make it memorable by making a game of your water activities.

Whether it’s a water balloon toss or squirt gun tag, kids will be more involved when you throw in some friendly competition. Be sure to have a lot of summer-themed prizes, such as cool beach towels, sunglasses or splash balls.

Catch a Cool Movie by Car Relive the nostalgia and simplicity of seeing a movie at a drive-in theater.

Your kids will love the experience of catching a movie under the stars, and because many allow you to pack your own summertime snacks and beverages, you’ll love the savings. Your family can view a movie that’s just to their liking, with many venues offering blockbuster hits, while some even bring back the big screen classics from your own youth.

BUILD CHARACTER

Be sure to bring plenty of lawn chairs, pillows, blankets and bug repellent for the whole gang.

complete with handmade cheer signs and pompoms for them to wave about proudly.

Make it memorable with each family member dressed in their favorite 50s or 60s drive-in attire, or in a costume that represents the movie.

Create a Family Masterpiece Get crafty with the kids and let them create their own giant mural — on a bed sheet. Simply lay an old one out on the lawn and let the kids paint away. They will love to proudly hang up their creation in the basement rec room or any other place where they play.

Score a Home Run A visit to the local baseball field is a wonderful way to teach your little ones about America’s favorite pastime, while also encouraging an active lifestyle. Invite their buddies along so you can have a whole team, or just practice catching, pitching or batting with a couple of players.

Be sure to bring plenty of sunscreen, drinking water, hats, baseball gear and a cooler packed with delicious treats, such as Bomb Pops, the official sponsor of Little League Baseball and Softball.

Make it memorable by creating your own cheer section. Some kids may be too young to play, but they can still participate as cheerleaders for their brothers or sisters. Make sure your squad is

Be sure to supply kid-safe paints, brushes, sponges and other items around the home for tracing shapes and designs. Also, make sure everyone lathers on plenty of sunscreen so they don’t get burned while making their art.

Make it memorable and encourage your kids to tell a summer story through their artwork. Allow them to draw inspiration from a recent trip to the lake, the mountains or a family reunion.

Spring Sports Greater Wichita YMca RESPECT CARING RESPONSIBILITY HONESTY RESPECT CARING REHelp your kids learn skills & build SPONSIBILITYHONESTY RESPECT character while staying active, having fun & making friends!

CARING RESPONSIBILITYHONESSpring flag football, soccer, volleyball TY RESPECT CARING RESPONSIPreK-7th grade BILITY HONESTY RESPECTCARING $40 Y member / $60 non-member Deadline: February 25 RESPONSIBILITY HONESTYRESPECT CARING RESPONSIBILIFor a more competitive experience, TY HONESTY RESPECT CARING try advanced sports at the YMCA Farha Sport Center.

RESPONSIBILITY HONESTY RESpring basketball SPECT CARING RESPONSIBILI1st grade-High school TY HONESTY RESPECT CARING $85 Y member / $125 non-member Deadline: March 11 RESPONSIBILITY HONESTY RESPECT CARINGRESPONSIBILITYSIGN UP TODAY HONESTYCARINGRESPONSIBILIncome-based pricing is available.

ITYHONESTYRESPECT CARING RESPONSIBILITY HONESTY RE-

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With a few kid-friendly ideas, you can create memories that will last a lifetime. For other fun ways to enjoy summer, visit www.BombPop.com.

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Kansas City

Wichita Proud to serve both.

How far would you travel to make sure your child gets the best care? Luckily, Children’s Mercy Kansas City is right around the corner, so the only road you’ll be hitting is the road to recovery. Located right here in Wichita, with the full support of 600 pediatric specialists, we’re bringing world-class care closer to home.

So the next time you consider a pediatric specialist, consider the pediatric specialists of Children’s Mercy Kansas City.

3243 E. Murdock, Suite 201 ChildrensMercy.org/Wichita

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