Wichita Family May 2014

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LEARNING ALL SUMMER LONG FUN BRAIN-BOOSTING ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS

COOKING GIFTS FOR MOM

EVERYDAY CHORES MADE EASY

Come for some

relaxation, adventure, and a whole lot

of fun.

Want to advertise with us?

Contact Cari at cari@wichitafamily.com

NIKE TENNIS CAMPS SERIOUS. FUN. Get away to Lincoln, Nebraska

WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY Wichita, Kansas

Lincoln.org

June 2-5 | June 9-12 | July 28-31 (+High School) Full Day: (9:00am-4:00pm): $345 Half Day: (9:00am-12:00pm or 1:00-4:00pm) $225 All Skill Levels (Ages 9-18) | High School (Ages 13-18) Directors: Brad Louderback, WSU head men’s coach; Kevin Montisano, WSU assistant men’s coach

USSportsCamps.com All Rights reserved. Nike and the Swoosh design are registered trademarks of Nike, Inc. and its affiliates, and are used under license. Nike is the title sponsor of the camps and has no control over the operation of the camps or the acts or omissions of US Sports Camps.

1-800-NIKE CAMP

(1-800-645-3226)

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may 2014

Inside: 6 8

Cooking Gifts for Mom News and Information from our partners at Wichita Public Schools

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Learning All Summer Long Fun, brain-boosting activities for kids

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Everyday Chores Made Easy How to get your kids involved in cleaning

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“Come Out and Play in Broken Arrow”

Oklahoma’s

Festival City

High Quality Early Childhood Program Year round learning • Field trips • Pre-k curriculum • Project based learning Typical and special needs children welcome • 2 weeks - Pre-kindergarten Call (316) 260-4673 for a tour.

Kids’ Point • K-96 & Oliver

Our festivals and events fill the days with play – Rooster Days with carnival rides and games, Tuesdays in the Park with live music and great food; Saturday farmers market treats and entertainment; and colorful visual arts competition “Chalk It Up” Chalk Art Festival.

Summer Highlights

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Saturday Farmers Market May 9-11 – Rooster Days Festival May 17 – Tulsa Rose Society Rose Show June – Tuesdays in the Park Concerts

June – Thursday Night Theatre June 6-7 – Chalk It Up Art Competition July 19 – Taste of Summer August 23 – Sandazzle Sand Sculpture

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published by For the Families, LLC 316.295.8465 Publishers Eric and Christy Clark

VisitBrokenArrowOK.com 866.503.7081

Advertising inquiries contact: Vice President of Sales & Marketing Cari Fischer

NE OKLAHOMA’S GREEN COUNTRY GREENCOUNTRYOK.COM 800.922.2118

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cari@wichitafamily.com

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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, email us at publisher@wichitafamily.com or visit our webiste at www.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.

Booming Dance of the Prairie Its a cold morning and the sun is on the rise, as I gaze through binoculars hoping to see a glimpse of a bird difficult to spot as it rests in the grass. I scan the prairie preparing for a morning of impressive yet comical battles. I spot the outline of my query lying in the grass, motionless as the sun rises over the hill. Gracefully, from overhead, swoops in the Lesser Prairie Chicken. The lek springs to life, as the males begin their dance to impress any female willing to watch. On the far side of the lek lies a lake full with the activities of other birds, the chickens, oblivious, focused on the task at hand.

The chickens inflate colorful sacks on the neck and snap their tails trying to outcompete the other males. He then spreads his wings and stomps his feet as he turns in circles, at times jumping into the

air. I take a moment to look around and everyone in the bus is grinning from ear to ear as they snap photo after photo, trying to get the perfect shot, my hands frozen from gripping the binoculars in the cold air. As the display continues, experienced males displace the younger males to the fringes of the lek.

As the young males watch and gain valuable experience from their elder counterparts, a female lands, and the lek explodes with the noise of males trying to put on their best show. She watches, unimpressed, as the males circle her, booming and bouncing, and stomping their feet. Its too early in the season for her to decide on a male just yet. At times a hawk flies overhead bringing the booming to a standstill until the danger has passed.

Though the federal government recently listed the Lesser Prairie Chicken as a threatened species in need of protection.

The state of Nebraska and Calamus Outfitters are leading the pack having already begun protecting the lesser prairie chicken and its fragmented habitat, on land that is currently being used for grazing cattle. According to the US Fish and Wildlife Service the Lesser Prairie Chicken has seen a population decline of fifty percent in the last year.

Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Kansas are to implement a range management plan that will allow for protection of the Lesser Prairie Chicken through normal agricultural practices.

The wilds of Nebraska are host to many different activities, from ATV’s to the migration of the Sandhill Crane. But none are as exciting

and comical as the mating dance of the prairie chicken. From March through April the male Lesser Prairie Chickens compete for mating rights. Calamus Outfitters in Burwell Nebraska is the perfect place to view this booming display.

The Outfitters also offer other activities such as bird watching, hiking, canoeing and trails for horseback.

With years of experience observing the lesser prairie chicken the Calamus Outfitters have developed memorable booming trips.

At the lek you will have a stunning panoramic view of the short grass prairie from the comforts of a converted bus, and memories to last a lifetime.

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An Essential, Everyday Tool If some of her best culinary creations include savory sauces and delicious dips, Mother’s Day is the perfect opportunity to treat mom to an upgrade. This 3.5-cup Food Chopper in Cranberry is convenient for everyday use and takes up minimal space in the kitchen. With two speed settings and one-touch chop and puree options, this chopper ($49.99) is ideal for creating a scrumptious salsa, creamy hummus or tangy pesto sauce.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

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FAMILY FEATURES rom those irresistible homemade cookies to favorite meals that always warm the heart; no one knows their way around the kitchen quite like mom. While thinking of what to give your favorite lady for Mother’s Day this year, consider gifts that allow her to tap into her inner foodie, chef or baker.

Everyone knows the best gifts are those that keep on giving. Cook for the Cure, a 13-year partnership between KitchenAid and Susan G. Komen®, has raised more than $9.5 million for the fight against breast cancer. In 2014, KitchenAid will donate

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$450,000 or more to Komen through the Cook for the Cure program, regardless of sales. The Cook for the Cure product collection, ranging from pink stand mixers and blenders to pink food choppers and hand blenders, is an easy way to give thanks to mom, and raise awareness towards a cause that affects so many women.

For other gift ideas that help support the cause, visit www.KitchenAid.com and http:// CookfortheCure.KitchenAid.com/.

Simply Adorable Serveware Featuring artwork by PBS cooking show host Jacques Pepin, the Pass the Plate serving platter generates a $5 donation each time one of these individually numbered platters is passed and registered online. Plus, participants can also track its travels. With its fresh and cheery design, this unique serving piece makes sharing even more fun. A great gift for mom, the platter ($24.95) is available at Villeroy & Boch stores or by calling 1-888-886-8318.

Timeless Kitchen Addition Add a pop of pink to mom’s kitchen with a classic gift that will last for years. With a 5-quart capacity bowl, the Artisan Series stand mixer can handle multiple batches of dough, while its 10 speed settings allow cooks to knead, mix and whip a variety of foods and ingredients. With additional attachments that can make everything from pasta to ice cream, this mixer ($429.99) let’s mom bake to her heart’s content.

Handy Little Helper Whether you need to blend up a milkshake or puree cooked vegetables directly in the pot, this 2-Speed Hand Blender in Cranberry gets the job done with ease. Two speeds provide blending control for more delicate foods, such as smoothies and baby food. The blending arm twists off for quick and easy cleanup.

This hand blender ($59.99) comes with a 3-cup BPA-free jar with lid, so mom can blend away, safely.

Blending Style with Power With its roomy, 60-ounce patented diamond pitcher design and stainless steel blades, the 5-Speed Diamond Blender in Raspberry Ice creates a powerful vortex to thoroughly blend everything from soups to smoothies. Automatic Soft Start technology pulls ingredients into the blade rather than splattering them outward, keeping them together for controlled blending. This colorful blender ($179.99) offers stir, chop, puree, liquefy and pulse options — everything mom needs to create her favorite dishes.

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News and Information from our partners at Wichita Public Schools WPS named one of the Best Communities for Music Education The Wichita Public Schools has been named one of the 2014 Best Communities for Music Education by the National Association of Music Merchants. The designation recognizes school districts that keep music education as an integral part of its curriculum. This is the second year in a row that the Wichita Public Schools has received the recognition.

East High School’s Symphonic Band performs at the WPS High School Band Festival.

“We have wonderful, nationallyrecognized vocal and instrumental programs that enrich thousands of students’ lives,” said Shawn Chastain, Coordinator of Fine Arts. “We are fortunate that we have district administration and a Board of Education that values music education in our schools and continues to support it.”

More than 30,000 students are involved in the Wichita Public Schools’ music programs.

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Franklin Elementary P.E. teacher Shelly Hoffman works with students on an activity.

She was named National Physical Education Teacher of the Year.

Cleaveland fourthgrader Karina Rodriguez invited Superintendent John Allison to visit her school and asked him questions about how to make her school a better place.

Cleaveland student goes to Superintendent for answers Cleaveland student Karina Rodriguez had some questions about her school, so she went to Superintendent John Allison for the answers. She also wanted him to visit her at school and she wasn’t shy about asking him to come.

“She invited me to come to her school, so I took her up on it,” Superintendent Allison said.

The fourth-grader attended the Superintendent Community Conversation held at South last fall. She stood up in front of the group of adults to ask why her school didn’t have a fulltime nurse or full-time librarian, if her school could have more computers, and if he could do

something to improve the school lunches. The two talked during the community meeting and Rodriguez invited him to visit her school.

During his recent visit to Cleaveland, she gave him a tour of the building, showed him the different classrooms and showed him the art project she was working on. He also sat with her during lunch.

“I’m happy he listened to my questions and came to my school,” she said.

Rodriguez also admitted that the school lunches are better this year now that she can choose what she wants to eat.

Shelly Hoffman wins National P.E. Teacher of the Year Shelly Hoffman, P.E. teacher at Franklin Elementary, was selected as the National Physical Education Teacher of the Year by the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. The TOY awards are given in recognition of outstanding teaching performance and the ability to motivate students to participate in a lifetime of physical activity. She received the award on April 4 at the AAHPERD Hall of Fame Banquet in St. Louis.

“I love teaching and I love working with the kids. I have the greatest job,” Hoffman said.

importance of physical activity outside the classroom.

During recess, she sets up five fitness stations for students to use and she changes the activities every six weeks. She sends home fitness bags filled with balls, jump ropes and other activities to encourage families to be active together.

Earlier this year, Hoffman was named AAHPERD Central District Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year and Elementary Teacher of the Year by the Kansas Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.

Hoffman also promotes the

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Learning All Summer Long Fun, brain-boosting activities for kids

(Family Features) Lazy summer days may sound refreshing to parents, however, they may be detrimental to their children’s educational advancement. A study by Dr. Harris Cooper, a professor of psychology at the University of MissouriColumbia, reveals that students can lose an average of one to three months of what they learned upon returning back to school after summer break.

Parents can help their children avoid this “summer slide” by reinvigorating creativity, innovation and education during the summer.

When you provide your kids with brain-stimulating experiences, you can help them to retain what they spent all year learning.

Brain-boosting activities Here are several engaging activities your kids will think are so fun they won’t even know they’re learning.

Use books for family bonding A family book club is a great way to get in more bonding time while also encouraging a love of reading. The children’s section of the local library or bookstore is a great place to find books that also tie in scientific lessons. Discuss characters, plot and themes in an interactive fashion that allows every family member to take part in the discussion.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

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Celebrate the curious mind Encourage inquisitiveness by enrolling them in a specialized summer camp, such as those

offered by Camp Invention, which is supported by the United States Patent and Trademark Office with curriculum developed by inductees of the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Led by local educators, this weeklong experience immerses elementary school children in engaging realworld challenges where they can turn wonder into discoveries. Each themed module uses connections between science, technology, engineering and math to inspire innovation.

Talk to their teachers Figure out what kind of lessons they will be covering in the upcoming school year and incorporate it into your summer schedule.

Give them a journal Every child loves having a special spot to keep a record of their wonderful summer trips, times with friends and even drawings.

Encourage them to keep a journal where they can tap into their scientific side by jotting down different discoveries Questions to Consider When Finding a Camp Many parents fondly look back on spending their own childhood summer days at camp. And because today’s camps offer a much larger spectrum of specialty programs, while also featuring a more individualized experience for youngsters, Camp Invention, a premier summer enrichment day camp program, suggests asking

these questions to help select the perfect summertime program: Does your child have special interests or talents that they would like to build on or develop?

Is your child willing to try or learn new things?

What goals do you have for your child while they attend summer camp?

How much can you afford for a camp program?

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It’s easy to break up the boredom of summer break with a few engaging activities that will get your kids off to a great start in the coming school year. For more information, visit www.campinvention.org or www. facebook.com/campinvention.

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Everyday Chores Made Easy How to get your kids involved in cleaning (Family Features) Chores are an important part of teaching children about responsibility. By encouraging kids to be accountable for completing everyday chores, even at an early age, you might be surprised at their willingness to share in the household duties.

Here are some tips from the Walgreens Ology™ team on how to get the kids involved in creating a happy, healthy and clean home.

Stick to a routine: Consistency is a key component in motivating children to follow through with chores. Make sure to stay on schedule so your kids don’t get into the habit of procrastinating until the following week.

Keep expectations reasonable: Go in knowing that your kids aren’t going to clean in the same way you would. Be sure to encourage them along the way for their efforts and resist the urge to criticize or redo the chores they’ve completed.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

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Request specific actions: Make sure you give them clear and specific tasks to complete. For example, rather than telling your kids to put their clothes away, ask them to fold their clothes and put them in the dresser drawers or hang them in the closet.

Use family-friendly cleaners: Fight everyday household messes with a cleaner that’s safer for your family and paper towels that are better for the environment, like Ology All-Purpose Cleaner and 100 percent tree-free paper towels. The cleaner’s plant-based formula is free of harsh solvents, dyes, ammonia and artificial fragrances. Even if your child is too young to clean the countertops themselves, you can feel good about using these cleaners that contain no harmful chemicals when you children are close by.

Use a reward chart: For kids, especially the younger ones, a visual reward chart is a great motivational tool and helps children to feel a sense of accomplishment.

Purchase a set of gold stars or fun stickers, and allow them to mark off each chore on the chart once finished. After a certain number of chores are completed, offer a small reward for their hard work, such as a movie of their choosing or a special dessert.

Give ample praise: Even more important than material rewards, is the satisfaction of a job well done. Make sure to give lots of encouragement along the way as well as positive feedback once the chore is complete.

Chores by age group: As children grow older, their abilities change and their responsibilities should adjust accordingly.

Here are some examples of chores that are appropriate for each age group.

Children 2 to 3 years old: Put toys away Stack books and magazines Place dirty clothes in hamper Fold washcloths Children 4 to 5 years old: Feed pets Make the bed Water houseplants Empty wastebaskets Children 6 to 7 years old: Sweep floors Set the table Replace toilet paper roll Rake leaves Children 8 to 9 years old: Load dishwasher Put groceries away Walk the dog Vacuum Children 10 and older: Mow lawn Prepare a simple meal Clean countertops Do the laundry For more information on Ology household, cleaning and personal care products, available exclusively at Walgreens, visit www.walgreens. com/ology.

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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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