livingston parent journal

Livingston Parent Journal

Livingston Parent Journal 3

In every issue...Off The Wall ..................................................................... 7

Events......................................................................... 12-14

Ongoing Resources ..................................................20-21

Giveaways ....................................................................... 22

An Independent local publication.

MISSION STATEMENT: The mission of Livingston Parent Journal is to share

worthwhile information with area parents by listing

family-oriented events, educational opportunities for parents,

and by providing feature articles and tips on topics relevant

to raising children of all ages.

NOVEMBER 2013

— EDITOR/ PUBLISHER —Rick & Terri McGarry

—WRITERS—Princess Ivana

Meg KoenemannBob Sornson

Maribeth Kuzmeski, MBA, CSP,Ashley Grimaldo

Mike Nikitin

—PHOTOS—Cover Photo:

Christina Maria Photo & Design

— GRAPHIC DESIGN/LAYOUT —

Mindy Simon

The Livingston Parent Journal does not necessarily endorse

the views of the authors or the products of the advertisers.

Medical and health advice is not

intended to replace the care of a physician.

Member of

866.806.1680

© December 2012 All rights reserved.

Empathetic Parenting

HolidayConnecting

Thanksgiving Craft

Stop Whining

Benefits of Chess

HelpingKids Shop

Daylight Savings Dilemmas

The

LPJ

November Happy Birthdays!01 Aiden Emanuel Sciberras02 Bella Rae Hammack Vasyli Freeman03 Nicholas Gabriel Corbett Kaitlyn Orr04 Haley Hebel05 Logan Sweet07 Robert “Dean” Compton Madalynne Mills08 Kamdyn Wells09 Natalie Holmberg Lena Mae Feig10 Nolan Cosgrove Liliana Ruiz11 Landon Boling12 Katie Davie

15 Aubrey Blewett16 Elin Jolene Feig Jasmine Kiser Chloe Kiser17 Owen Yuan Lee Colton Cullers Nicholas Wayne Porter20 Madison Bella McKenzie Seigle21 Brendan Osolind Gillian Schultz Erin Rose Brown22 Jeremy Buchan Stella Pantelas25 Holly Heckel Kylee Brown Caleb DiMassa

26 Marleena Bennett Aaliyah Loren Sciberras27 Garrett Schultz Adeline Schutz28 Hannah Olms Liliana Borsodi Sarah Olms Emelia Edwards Jerrrimiah Olms29 Reed Morrone Matthew Garza Zachary deBeauclair

4 Livingston Parent Journal

We are always looking for more sponsors for the Birthday Club. Email [email protected] or call 866.806.1680 for details.

Kids! Join our Birthday Club and we’ll send you a special treat and let everyone know it’s your special day!Send your child’s date of birth to [email protected]

10006 Highland Rd. Hartland

810.632.6932

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517.223.1322

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517.579.2206

Howell Big Boy

2222 E. Grand River. Howell

517.548.1800

1. Gratitude, shmatitude, where’s the food?

2. How many years in a row has she told that same interminable story?

3. Are we ever going to eat?

4. Have I really managed to maintain some kind of relationship with these people for another whole year?

5. Do I really know for certain that I am not actually adopted?

6. Did I really just eat all that?

7. What’s for dessert?

8. What are we going to do with all these leftovers?

9. What if I wandered out to the car and left without the children? Could I get away with that?

10. What would be so wrong with Christmas in the Bahamas this year?

Have a Great Thanksgiving,

From OurFamily to Yours.

Top 10 Thoughts at the Thanksgiving Table


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I have talked with a growing number of frustrated and concerned parents lately about the bullying, mean behavior and depression surrounding our kids. Is it time to take a stand and stop the bullying?

Almost weekly I will get an all too common request from a parent – “Sensei, my son/daughter is being bullied, can you teach them how to stand up to the bully?” Sadly, most of the time I have to answer “No”. To make a long story short, it is not about teaching a child physical or even emotional skills. In most cases the “power difference’ between the bully and victim is too large and established to overcome. At this point adults have to intervene to stop the bullying. Then ultimately we have to change the behavior and culture of our families, schools and community – ‘Kindness and Caring”

While the problem of bullying is complex we only have to do two things to significantly change the world for our kids:

In our schools we only need to get 10-20% of the kids to stand up for each other. In turn we only need to get the 10-20% of the parents who are behind them. It is too hard to change the bully but if only 2 or 3 out of 20 kids would just stand up for their friends the bullying and depression climate would be much different.

a “power shift”. We just need to shift the power from the bullies to that 10-20% of good kids. This 10-20% cannot help but end up pulling the other 60% of good kids with them. Then this

Is it Time to Stop the Bullying?“One person can change the world, indeed it is

the only thing that ever has.”70-80% of kids known as the “caring majority” can accelerate this change. The only problem this majority has right now is that they have no power. The bullies have all the power. The caring majority is afraid to stand up. They are afraid that if they do that nothing will really happen. They are afraid of retaliation. They see everything but are forced to be passive bystanders.

Okay, so here is your call to action. We are looking for a few strong, passionate parents to join us. We want to create a community of parents that want to make a difference.

If you are interested or know of another parent that is passionate about stopping the bullying please pass this on to them - then call or email me.

I do believe bullying can be stopped. Do you?

Your partner in the fight against

bullying,

Sensei Sam Larioza

[email protected]

P.S. If you think we might be able to help your family visit our website or call me at 517-586-1001. You do not have to be a current student to get our help.

For more information go to

www.ohanakarate.comOhana Karate 517-586-1001


Anthony is twelve years old. His parents have had the same expectation for him since third grade. Homework is

done, checked and correct before you get to use the television or watch a video. But somehow Anthony managed to get busy with other things, and now his favorite show is about to start and Anthony has not yet touched his homework.

“I’ll do my homework after the show,” he says over his shoulder as he heads toward the television.

His mom feels her blood start to boil. He knows the family rule. He’s pushing those limits again. For a moment her anger al-most gets the better of her.

And then she stops and smiles and thinks about her beautiful son. He’s twelve. He’s a bit goofy. Maybe he forgot to start his homework, or maybe he’s just feeling his oats and testing to see if I’ll give in. She re-members about the power of empathy and her eyes soften. She stands straight and puts empathy in her voice.

“Ohhh. This is really sad.”

Anthony stops and glances at his mom. She looks calm, and he knew his chances are poor.

“It sure is tough when you forget to start your homework. But in our house home-work is done, checked, and correct before television.”

Empathy is at the heart of being a calm and assertive parent. The practice of un-derstanding how another person is feeling helps us build respectful connections and a strong positive emotional state. It gives us

a glimpse into the heart of another person, and is the foundation of all emotional intel-ligence.

It is the responsibility of parents to set clear limits for their children, but to do so in a loving and respectful way. The angry and screaming parent may inspire fear for a while, but eventually creates resentment and resistance. The inconsistent or overly protective parent raises children who can’t handle struggle and do not know how to respectfully set limits in their own lives.

Empathy and strength. Together they allow parents to maintain or strengthen the emo-tional connection while allowing our chil-dren to experience the consequences that come from poor decisions. Calm and asser-tive parents are more likely to have children who grow up to become responsible and as-sertive adults.

Bob Sornson is the founder of the Early Learning Founda-tion. He is the author of many books on parenting and on early learning success, including Fanatically Forma-tive: Successful Learning during the Crucial K-3 Years. His books for teachers include Creating Classrooms Where Teachers Love to Teach. His best-selling books for chil-dren include Stand in My Shoes: Kids Learning about Empathy, and The Juice Box Bully. He can be reached at [email protected].

Look for Bob’s article about the Crucial K-3 Years at livingstonparentjournal.com

Lori BurkartSo we’re doing Eden’s school work and she asked me what she’s supposed to do... I told her to read the directions to me. She says “All I see is blah blah blah and then something about coloring x words”. Idk where she gets this stuff! lol

Jennya HammackDear Daylight Sav-

ings Time,

You clearly do not

have children.

Thanks for nothing,

Jennya

Chris TyrpakMorgan’s picture of

me. I’d love to see a

deer that big!

Alicia K. WaggonerDreaming of some of the things I’m going to do

after pregnancy: indulge in a big delicious deli

meat sandwich, drink a glass of cabernet, all while

getting my hair dyed and possibly a pedi. Can you

picture it? It’s going to be amazing!

Nicole Beauregard SmithI’m dying. Lena’s reading

the Dick and Jane book.

She says, horrifi ed “I don’t

think I should read this

book, it has a swear in it.”

Ringling.com

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Laura Cronenwett WebberBoaz: “Every time I see

the coffee table close

to the couch, I move it-

because I don’t like feet

germs getting on it!”

Angela Cox I’m having an

all me with myself alone day.

Turns out I don’t get along

with me very well, I’m not

good conversation. I told

myself if I don’t have anything

nice to say I shouldn’t say

anything at all and now I’m not

talking to me anymore.



As any parent can confirm, whining is one of the most ir-ritating sounds on earth—literally. In fact, the Journal of Social, Evolutionary, and Cultural Psychology confirms that whining has more power to distract (men, women, parents, and nonparents alike) than the screech of a table saw snagged on a piece of wood, or even the cries of an in-fant! Rosemarie Chang, co-author of the study, believes that whining is an evolutionary mechanism. Much like a siren or alarm, whining gets your attention. Since you can’t ignore it and remain productive, you are forced to put things aside and see if anything is actually wrong.

You’ll never eradicate whining in your household entirely, since even adults do it to one degree or another. Thankfully, however, the peak years are from two and a half to four years old. This coincides with the age when children first attempt to communicate with words, and tapers off when they begin to have command of language and self-expression.

In other words, annoying as it is, whining is often your child trying to tell you something. That doesn’t mean you should respond to every whimper, but you can, and should, use whining episodes to teach your child more productive com-munication habits.

There is a balance between addressing your child’s real needs and redirecting unwanted behavior. Here are some tips to help you minimize whining while giving your little ones better tools to ask for what they want:

Be consistent. We’ve all reached the point where we’re willing to hand over the candy bar or buy a particular toy just to make the whin-ing stop. But you have to remember, if whining sometimes works and sometimes doesn’t, you’ll keep hearing it. In fact, children will usually go for the “maybe payoff” loophole and whine more often in hopes of getting their way.

Use the “me no speak whine” excuse. Who says children are the only people allowed to play make-believe? Pretending that you can’t understand whining is a great way to stop this behavior in its tracks.

If my children are whining, I say, “Excuse me. I can’t un-derstand you. I don’t speak whine. That sounds like cjoali-udfsoiuewj to me. What are you saying?” Usually, the next request is a bit clearer. “It sounds like you’re saying you’d

like some juice, but it still sort of sounds like cixooijc.” That gets them laughing. The tension lessens, and the conver-sation begins. “Ah! Now I understand. Of course you can have some juice. Thank-you for asking so nicely.”

Teach through play. Toddlers don’t have a strong sense of self-awareness, and from their pint-sized perspectives, the world really does re-volve around them! That’s why they often don’t know that they are whining or understand why it isn’t desirable. Some-times, it helps if they can see themselves through a playful medium, like role-playing with dolls or action figures.

Reward proper attention getting. Anytime your children use their developing communication skills to ask for something nicely without being prompted, reward them with your attention and respond to the request if at all possible. The payoff is important, especially when you see them using the tools you are trying to teach them. A simple, “I like how you said that” can make your child’s day—not to mention reinforce the desired behavior.

Know—and be prepared for—whining triggers. My four-year-old son, for instance, often asks for an appe-tite-spoiling snack right before dinner. When I say “no,” that’s when the whining starts—primarily because my son is actually hungry; not because I wouldn’t give him the spe-cific food he asked for. I know from experience this is not the time for an upsetting showdown. If dinner is five min-utes away or less, I’ll say, “I know how you feel. I’m hungry too. Could you help me set the table so that we can eat?” If dinner is going to be fifteen minutes or more later, I’ll offer him a less filling snack to tide him over. Goldfish crackers are perfect. They are both healthy and tiny. You can even play a counting game: You can have five. Can you count them while Mommy stirs the pasta sauce?”

Use a timer.If you are trying to get your child to delay her request and learn to exercise patience while you finish something up, try using a timer. Personally, I prefer the old-fashioned dial kind over digital because the child can see and hear the tick-ing of time. There are playful visual timers made especially for kids. “Five minutes!” I say. “Here: I’ve set the dial, and it’s ticking. When the little bell rings, I’ll be done with what I’m doing and we can go do…xyz.” Helping your child get

a handle on what patience really is, as well as understand-ing a bit about time, is a useful tool that will pay off over and over.

Explain the “why.” Very small children can’t follow adult reasoning. But as your kids get older, make an effort to help them understand why you’re denying their requests. If you can tell that your child is making an effort to ask you for something in a nice or sweet voice but you can’t grant the request, explain why in your most reasonable voice. If possible, offer an alternative option so that your child feels that he has been taken seri-ously: “Thanks for asking so sweetly, but let’s do…xyz…instead.”

Take a look at your own behavior.Make sure you’re not a whiner yourself. If your kids hear you whining (which you may prefer to call complaining) about how long the checkout line is or how much work you have to do, for example, they’ll imitate you. Make sure you’re modeling the communication skills you want your children to learn.

Here’s the bottom line. While you won’t be able to eradi-cate whining overnight—or once and for all—you can help your children learn to use more productive, less annoying means of communication.

Princess Ivana Pignatelli is the author of A Simple Guide to Pregnancy

& Baby’s First Year, which was co-written with her mother, Magdalene Smith,

and her sister, Marisa Smith. Their blog, Princess Ivana—The Modern Prin-

cess, is a blend of humor, practical advice, and lifestyle tips on the essentials.

Ivana is also a featured blogger on Modern Mom.

Video and more tips at livingstonparentjournal.com

More Winning, Less Whining

Back before you were a parent, the end of daylight savings was a welcome relief to pitch black mornings. An extra hour of sleep is more valuable than gold, especially post-parenthood. Unfortunately, your Sweet Bundle of Joy doesn’t share your affinity for snoozing and also has a set, circadian rhythm that doesn’t magically readjust over one weekend. Your baby doesn’t care that Uncle Sam dictates a useless time adjustment every six months, as if parenting weren’t already the hardest thing anyone has ever done in the history of doing things.

For those of you who have never parented through a daylight savings crisis, or who just don’t pay much attention, here’s what’s about to happen: kids will tend to go to bed earlier or more quickly, and wake up after the same number of hours of sleep. So if Junior typically wakes up at 7:00 am, you’ll now have a 6:00 am early riser after the change.

1. Extend bedtime a little later each night.

Folks who prefer to rip the band-aid off may just push through a few tough days and move bedtime forward a full hour immediately. Older children can handle a change like that a bit easier. But if you have a baby or toddler, I recommend pushing bedtime back by ten or fifteen minutes for a few nights. This will take some discipline, but establishing a solid bedtime routine and sticking to it is not only important for your sanity, but for your child’s health, too.

2. Expect grumpy toddlers for up to three weeks.

Again, the younger the child, the longer it will take to adjust. According to multiple studies, poor or inadequate sleep causes irritability, stress and anxiety. No big surprise there. Pile on top of that an inability to verbally communicate and you’ve got a cranky young child on your hands for days, if not weeks. Just brace yourselves and prepare to traverse some rocky terrain.

3. Reduce other variables to focus on sleep.

Kids do really well when they have time to hone in on one skill or hurdle at a time. If you’re potty training, for example, postpone that or set it aside for a while until they adjust to their new schedule.

4. Get room darkening shades or curtains.

Kids sense morning like sharks smell blood; the tiniest crack of daylight can waken even the hardest young sleeper. Keeping it dark

in your child’s room will encourage more sleep in the morning. If you’re not a fan of drapes, grab online coupons for custom blinds from sites like CouponSherpa, and outfit your windows with tailored dressings on the cheap.

5. Consistency is key.

It’s so tempting to give in when they pitch a fit for candy at the grocery store. If you give in to her demands, she’ll just ratchet up the decibels on your next visit. That same principle applies to adjusting your clocks back. Stick to later naps and a later bedtime to avoid prolonged pain. According to Kim West, social worker and sleep coach, children will adjust to your age-appropriate sleep requirements when you are consistent. This means having the exact same routine every night and responding in the same way to your child’s testing.

6. Minimize exposure to artificial light.

There’s solid evidence that exposure to artificial light limits the production of melatonin, a key hormone in regulating the sleep/wake cycle. This goes for TV too. Cut the pre-bedtime cartoons and opt for relaxing, sleep-friendly activities like reading or puzzles.

Ashley Grimaldo comes from a long line of penny pinchers and enjoys blogging on

money-saving tips and advice for frugal-minded parents. She lives with her husband

and three children in Bryan, Texas. Ashley has been featured among such media outlets

as Redbook, The Chicago Tribune, Time.com, and CBS News-Houston.

Start gearing up for that adjustment now with these six easy tips:


Fri-Sun 1-3

Young Frankenstein is inspired by the Frankenstein legend and Mel Brooks’ film, and presented by Commu-nity Theatre of Howell. Howell High School Freshman Campus Fri & Sat 7:30pm, Sun 2:00pm $18 cththeatre.org

Sat & Sun 2 & 3

Zip Line and Climbing Tower 500’ zip line over a pond. Tallest outdoor tower in Michigan. Howell Nature Center $15 Reservations are required. Howell Nature Center 517.546.0249 howellnaturecenter.org

Saturday 2

Sherri Kane & Dave Steele will be on the White Steeple Stage. Community Congregational Church Open mic 5:30-7:15, Concert at 7:30. $10 734.878.3419 whitesteeplestage.com

Tabletop Ship Hands-on workshop for children ages 5-12. Free workshop apron, commemorative pin and certificate of achievement. Home Depot 9am-Noon 517.548.3742

Try Hockey for Free Experience ice hockey for the first time and learn the basics of the sport in a fun, safe en-vironment. For boys and girls ages 4-9. Hartland Sports Center Noon-1:35pm 810.494.5555 TryHockeyForFree.com

Mom to Mom Sale featuring gently used children’s items. Our Savior Lutheran School 8:30am-1pm $2 at 8:30, $1 from 9-1 248.887.3836 [email protected]

Sunday 3

Winter Marketplace A variety of fresh produce, arts/crafts, home décor and gift items offered by local area vendors. Howell Opera House 10am-2pm $5 517.540.0065 theoperahouse.us/events.html

Tuesday 5

Cloth Diapering Workshop Learn about different types of dia-pers, washing and use, and what you need. You can be expecting or currently have a baby or toddler of any age to join. Bloom Baby and Kids 6:30-7:30pm FREE events.bloombabyandkids.com

Lego Build! Bring two one-gallon-size plastic bags filled with your choice of building blocks. You will have 30 minutes to build to a given theme. Cromaine Library 3:30pm FREE 810.632.5200 cromaine.org

Wednesday 6

Poetry, Puppetry and Music High energy puppet con-cert by Cooperfly Productions. Fowlerville Library 5:15-6:30pm FREE 517.223.9089 fowlervillelibrary.org

Fri-Sun 8-10

Young Frankenstein see November 1-3

Saturday 9

Baby Carrier Workshop Learn which style and brand of carrier is right for you. Discuss benefits of baby car-riers and look at the features of different types. Babies are welcome. Bloom Baby and Kids 11:45am FREE 810.844.1031 events.bloombabyandkids.com

Babywearing Meetup Learn about babywearing, car-rier sizing, and new carriers. Group offers a baby car-rier lending library. Bloom Baby and Kids 2-4pm FREE 810.844.1031 events.bloombabyandkids.com

Cloth Diapering Workshop 10:15-11:15am see November 5

May We Be Thread Shepherd of the Lakes Lutheran School Auction. Appetizers and dessert will be served.

5:30pm $20 810.227.6473 sotlschool.com

Veteran’s Day Parade and Memorial Dedication Main Street in Brighton.

11:30am FREE

Benefit Concert for Faith Medi-cal Clinic Stronghold (a well-known local gospel group) and Kjos (a local group) are donating their talents. Jane Tasch Theater 6pm Admission is free will dona-

tion. 734.972.0530

Pull Back Car Build car #48 car with a pull back motor. Lowes 10-11am FREE

517.548.3475 lowesbuildandgrow.com

Precious Prints Clay Creation Capture a hand or foot in clay. Create unique clay creations such as ornaments and plaques, just in time for the holiday season. 10am-1pm 810.844.1031 events.bloombabyandkids.com

Zip Line and Climbing Tower see November 2 & 3

NOVEMBER

Sunday 10

Wagons West, songs from St. Louie to California sung by the lamplighters. 2/42 Community Center 4pm $10 LivingstonLamplighter.org

Mon-Thur 11-14

Hunter Safety DNR approved Hunter Safety Certificate. Marion Township Hall 6-9pm $10 517.546.0693 howellrecreation.org

Monday 11

Veterans Day Tribute Ceremony Precisely at 11am, the Marine Corps league will present colors and 21 gun salute along with presentations and key note speaker, David Finney, Jr. 517.546.2534 americanlegionpost141.org

Saturday 16

Making Homemade Baby Food Learn how simple cre-ating healthy, homemade baby food can be, and how to select starting ingredients, steam, puree, and store. Bloom Baby and Kids 10:30 - 11:30am FREE 810.844.1031 events.bloombabyandkids.com

Battle of the Boats Boaters will take to the waters to test their speed and skills in the pool’s obstacle course using remote control boats. Howell Aquatic Center 3-4pm $1 517.540.8355 howellrecreation.org

Car entry fee. Reservations required. Please call ahead.


LIST YOUR EVENT FOR FREE livingstonparentjournal.com


Car entry fee.

Reservations required. Please call ahead.

Book Sale All hardcovers and AV are $1.00 each, soft-covers are $0.25 each or $3.00 for a grocery bag. Ham-burg Library 810.231.1771 hamburglibrary.org

Sunday 17

Sculpture and Poetry Walk Oaken Transformations will feature recent sculpture works by Tad McKillop, and spiced cider and wine, on the grounds of the office of Dr. Frederic Bonine at 6893 Grand River Ave. in Genoa Township. 3-5pm. 734.262.0826 miartwalk.com

Winter Marketplace see November 3

Wednesday 20

Bats of the World Multimedia presentation complete with music, digital pictures and live bats. Brighton Li-brary 7-9pm FREE 810.229.6571 brightonlibrary.info

Contra Dance All ages welcome. All dances taught on site by a professional caller with live music of gui-tar, fiddle, and dulcimer. Howell Opera House 7-9pm $5 517.540.0065 theoperahouse.us/events.html

Thur-Sun 21-24

Little Shop of Horrors comedy horror rock musical presented by Fowlerville High School. Alverson Cen-ter for Performing Arts Thur-Sat 7pm Sun 2pm. $10 517.223.6002

Thursday 21

Swing Dance Music provided by the Premier Big Band directed by John Murphy. The professional Howell-based 18-piece band, including vocalist Barbara Niemi, offers a wide range of jazz and swing dance music of the 1940s through 1950s era. Howell Opera House 7pm $7 517.540.0065 howelloperahouse.com

Fri-Sun 22-24

Footloose presented by Howell High School Fri & Sat 7pm Sun 2pm $10 517.540.8300

Fri & Sat 22 & 23

Make a Gingerbread House Kit and all supplies are provided. Bring a cookie sheet. One kit per family. Cro-maine Library Fri 12:30 & 4:00pm, Sat 9:00am, 11:00am, and 1:30pm $5/family 810.632.5200 cromaine.org

Saturday 22

Winter Window Painting at Crossroads Come dressed for the mess, all materials supplied. 4th grade and up. One window per family. Crossroads Library 6pm FREE 810.632.5200 cromaine.org

Date Night While you’re away, the kids will enjoy a piz-za dinner, and variety of activities, ending with a movie on an inflatable big screen. Maltby School 6-10pm $15 810.299.4140 selcra.com

Sunday 23

Turkey Stroll Howell City Park 10am-2pm FREE 517.546.0693 x0 howellrecreation.org

Tuesday 26

Bring Your Own Tools Tear things apart. Put them back together. Build robots. Cromaine Library 6:30-8:00pm FREE 810.632.5200 cromaine.org

Wednesday 27

Amateur Archaeology Join Cromaine librarian and Midwest mound-builder expert Jenny Savage-Dura and practice authentic “dig” methods, uncover Native Ameri-can artifacts and get to know the Midwestern tribes. Cro-maine Library 10am FREE 810.632.5200 cromaine.org

Friday 29

Lego Build 11am see November 5

November 29-December 1

Fantasy of Art 25-30 artists will display their works, many mediums will be represented. Howell Opera House. Fri 4-9pm Sat 10am-9pm & Sun 10am-4pm 517.540.0065 theoperahouse.us

November 30-December 1

Child of the Promise Broadway-style show brings to life the complete story of the birth of Christ starting with the prophecy of the Old Testament to a proclamation of his eternal reign, told through a rich tapestry of songs. Hartland Center for the Performing Arts Sat 7pm Sun 3 & 7pm $15 childofthepromise.org.

Friday 29 Fantasy of Lights illuminated floats, marching bands, vehicles, musical entertainment and animals attract more than 30,000 people to down-town Howell. FREE 517.546.3920 Howell.org


LIST YOUR EVENT FOR FREE livingstonparentjournal.com


November 9

Veggie Tales Live! Happy Birthday Bob & Larry Join Bob & Larry and the entire VeggieTales crew as they put on the biggest birthday party ever, celebrating 20 years of stories, songs and fun. Central Church of the Naza-rene in Flint 6pm $25 800.965.9324 iTickets.com

November 21-24

The Firebird Young Ivan, Prince of Russia, must fi nd the Firebird who has been stealing the Czar’s golden apples. Wild Swan Theater’s version of the Russian Folk Tale features Baba Yaga the witch, Nurl the gnome, Sistchik the snake king, and Russian folk dancing. Towsley Auditorium Thur & Fri 10:00am & 12:30pm, Sat & Sun 2:00pm $15 734.995.0530 wildswantheater.org

November 24

Fresh Beat Band Nickelodeon’s preschool music group and stars of the hit TV series. Fox Theatre 5:30pm $35 313.471.6611 olyent.com

November 24

Beethoven Lives Upstairs Beethoven’s music is woven into the play that won an Emmy Award for Best Children’s Program. Actors in costume bring the story to life, using funny and true stories about Beethoven, with all music performed by the A2SO. Family fun pre-concert activities from 2:30-3:30 in the lobby. Michigan Theater 4pm a2so.com

October 12 – January 12

Return of the Dinosaurs Explore the Earth during the Cretaceous period through hands-on activities and interactive displays. Discover the world of dinosaurs with lifelike, roaring, moving, prehistoric creatures. Sloan Museum 810.237.3450 sloanlongway.org


In approximately 30 nations across the globe, including Bra-zil, China, Venezuela, Israel, Russia and France, etc., chess is incorporated into the country’s scholastic curriculum. Just as athletics are a part of the required agenda at schools in the United States, Chess has been that way in the European nations. These countries fi nish much higher in standardized testing than most other nations.

Countless studies have shown that chess strengthens a child’s mental clarity, fortitude, stability and creativity. Many par-ents fi nd chess to be an inexpensive way to help children grow mentally.

Time Magazine’s article about chess and learning quotes four-time World Champion Susan Polgar.

“Chess is in many ways like life itself. First of all, I am in control of my own destiny. You have to be respon-sible for your own actions. When you make a move (do something), you had better think ahead to what may happen. Not after it happens, because it is too late! It teaches you to plan ahead, and if you do that, you will be rewarded. If you don’t think ahead, you will not fair so well, in chess or in life. Chess teaches discipline (and study habits) from a very early age.”

In countries where chess is offered widely in schools, students exhibit excellence in the ability to recognize complex patterns and consequently excel in math and science.

Chess is inexpensive way for children (and adults) to learn study skills, thinking skills, sportsmanship, and have all kinds of fun doing it.

Mike Nikitin belongs to the Livingston County Chess Club, a casual

family-friendly group of people who get together to learn and play

chess. They welcome players of all ages from beginner to advanced

levels on Monday evenings at 6pm at the Hartland Senior Center.

livingstoncountychessclub.blogspot.com.


According to Maribeth Kuzmeski, the holiday season is when parents tend to notice most acutely which of their kids’ habits could use improvement. After all, during the holidays friends and family are there to witness every embarrassing display of poor social skills, and it always feels like it reflects poorly on your parenting skills.

“As a parent myself, I know that in the everyday hurry and worry of life, it’s easy to let your kids’ smaller foibles go uncorrected,” admits Kuzmeski, “And once you’re in the midst of the packed holiday social season, it’s too late to correct behaviors you previously over-looked. The good news is, there’s no better time than now to take advantage of teachable moments, before all of those parties and gatherings begin.”

“My experience as a professional and as a parent has convinced me that one of the most valuable gifts you can give your kids is to teach them how to effectively engage with others in a variety of settings,” Kuzmeski confirms. “And the holiday season provides a wealth of opportunities to demonstrate and practice those skills.”

Kuzmeski recommends taking stock of all of the parties, pageants, and social settings you’ll be attending with your kids in the upcoming weeks, and deciding beforehand what habits and skills you’d like them to demonstrate.

“Don’t assume that your child would never act in a certain way, or that he or she knows better than to engage in a particular behavior.” she advises. “Remember, kids don’t always know intuitively when they need to be on their best behavior, and they can’t fake it as easily as adults can. The truth is, young people aren’t as disengaged and rude as we assume them to be, they just don’t always know the proper way to act. So start having these discussions now, not while you’re parking in the driveway at Grandma’s house. And always, always be sure you yourself model appropriate behaviors.”

The more you practice good connecting skills with your children, the more they’ll become ingrained habits. Here are five holiday tactics that Kuzmeski recommends using to instill productive communicating skills in your kids:

Teach them that sometimes it’s cool to unplug. Now, technology isn’t bad in and of itself, but we all know that it can lead to disengaged and even rude behavior, especially at holiday gatherings. You’ll probably meet with some resistance, but it’s important to teach your kids when they need to step away from the keyboard, and why face-to-face interac-tions are the most rewarding of all.

Explain to your kids how important it is to engage fully with people you love, especially if you don’t see certain individuals during the rest of the year. Point out that if they stay dis-tracted by text messages and Facebook friends, they’ll miss out on fun and memories with cousins, grandparents, and siblings. Plus, kids need to understand that not giving others your attention is just plain rude, and that it won’t be allowed in your family.

Arm them with ice breakers. Especially if your child isn’t a natural chat-terbox, it might be helpful to give him a few ideas of how he can strike up a discussion with people he doesn’t see every day.

Even before the days of smartphones and Facebook, it was completely normal for youngsters to feel reluctant to approach older adults. You’ll be doing your kids a big favor if you arm them with icebreakers that they can use to proactively connect. Before holiday events, discuss what some good topics of discussion might be and help them to make a list of strate-gies for drumming up conversation.

Explain the importance of expressing gratitude. Explain to your children before the first round of presents is handed out why it’s impor-tant to show gratitude. Make sure they understand that each present represents the fact that another person cares about them and spent time and money to make them happy. Then, talk about meaningful ways to show gratitude. Perhaps it’s setting aside a few minutes after gift giving to say thanks privately to the gift giver. For example, your daughter might say, “I really appreciate the new coat, Grandma. I’ve been eyeing it forever and I can’t tell you how excited I am to finally have it!” You might also suggest that your children keep a small pad and pen so that they can jot down what they received, and from whom. Later, set aside

some time to sit down and write thoughtful thank-you notes together.

Make sure they mind their manners. There are plenty of opportunities over the holidays for kids to practice their manners. Now, and as you start to attend various festive events, be alert for opportunities to remind your children what the appropriate thing to do is, and to help them exercise those ideals while they are still in the moment. For example, if your child cuts in line out of excitement while waiting to see Santa, reinforce that he needs to wait his turn, and explain to him that jumping ahead of others is disrespectful to them.

Help them to learn hosting skills. For most of us, the holiday calendar will be peppered with social events. Your family might even be hosting your own festive get-together. If that’s the case, teach your child the value of being a host. If you’re throwing a neighbor-hood gathering, for example, go with your child as he travels from door to door personally inviting each family on your street. Assuming your guests live farther away, sit with him as he phones those to whom he’s closest and asks them to attend your soiree.

Once the big event is here, have your child greet all of his friends when they arrive. Then, ask him to keep an eye open to make sure that everyone feels welcome and included. You can also help him to direct the flow of the party. (“Now we’re going to play pin the tail on Rudolph!” Or, “If you need more sprinkles for decorating your gingerbread man, just let me know!”) Lastly, teach him to thank all of the guests for attending as they leave. The fact is, many people don’t learn these skills until they’re adults, so you’ll be giving your child a major leg up.

Ultimately, remember that there is no such thing as a perfectly behaved child. You’ll prob-ably hit some rough patches as you navigate the holiday season, but if you’re proactive about teaching your child to connect, they will be the exception rather than the rule. And remember, by helping them to grow into connectors, you’ll be giving them—and yourself—a truly invaluable gift this holiday season.

Maribeth Kuzmeski, MBA, CSP, and author of six books is a frequent national media contributor and international

speaker. The last two chapters of her book The Engaging Child: Raising Children to Speak, Write, and Have Rela-

tionship Skills Beyond Technology (Red Zone Publishing, 2012, ISBN: 978-0-9717780-3-0,

$18.95) were written by her daughter Lizzie Kuzmeski, a teenager and a natural connector

who enjoys theatre, horseback riding, and Facebook.

Maribeth shares her tips for helping kids with small

talk at livingstonparentjournal.com

One of the great privileges we have as parents is giving to our children. Seeing the elated look on our children's faces when they open a present gives us a rush. Butan even bigger thrill comes when our children get that same rush watching others enjoy gifts, especially ones they gave. According to Dr. Marilynn Price-Mitchell Ph. D. of Psychology Today, "It is the act of thinking about and choosing gifts that are of high value to the giver." Kids, shesays, “can prepare for gift giving, some with needed parental help.”

Christmas is a great time to help your children learn generosity, and here are a few tips to help you along the way.

Prepare your child for the experience.Dragging your kid through Toys 'R Us without buying him something is like parading a starving man through the buffet line and telling him not to eat. Thefirst step to shopping for others with your children is talking about it. Start the dialogue with, "Isn't it great you have so many toys to play with? I wonder ifthere are other kids who don't have any toys." When the time comes to go shopping, first remind your child of the reason for going to the store –- it's notabout them this time!

Brainstorm ways to personalize the gift.Younger kids can draw a picture inside a blank Christmas card and have you write down what they'd like to say in the card. Older kids can make theirown colorful wrapping paper with a cut paper bag and stamps. Also talk about matching gifts to people. If Grandma is a diabetic, don't give her sugarcookies--find recipes that fit within her diet. Gift giving is a great time to really think about what others would appreciate.

Consider homemade presents.Of course you need to select a project that your little one is old enough to do significant parts of by themselves. Pick homemade presents Junior can makemostly on his own, like the beauty and baking projects at KidzWorld.com.

Select a wish list request from a reputable organization.Organizations like Angel Tree, who give gifts to children of incarcerated parents, have targeted recipients who truly need a helping hand. The SalvationArmy has partnered with JCPenney to gift underprivileged children with necessities in their Angel Giving Tree program.

Gift services instead of material items.Maybe your tween has a gift for babysitting. Encourage her to give free babysitting coupons to a family on a tight budget. If Junior is a pro a shovelingsnow he can make coupons for the neighbors to do the chore for three mornings. Don't forget to remind your little one that gifting a service is a great idea,but it's only complete when they follow through.

Don't buy a gift for your child while shopping for others.Make sure your "shopping for others" trip is just that. It may be tempting to buy for your child too, but resist the urge.

Consider shopping online for others with your child to save more money.Depending on the age and maturity of your little shopper, they can learn the basics of shopping online. Since online shopping is quickly becoming stan-dard, help your child learn what sites are beneficial (especially ones that save money) Free Shipping Day is on Friday, December 16, and many popularvendors like Melissa and Doug and Barnes & Noble will offer complimentary delivery. Turn online shopping into a math lesson, comparing prices in news-paper inserts to those online.

Ashley Grimaldo comes from a long line of penny pinchers and enjoys blogging on money-saving tips and advice for frugal-minded parents. She lives with her husband and three children in Bryan, Texas. Ashley has been featuredamong such media outlets as Redbook, The Chicago Tribune, Time.com, and CBS News-Houston.

t



Thanksgiving is a time for families to gather together, but the youngest family members can be a handful if they don’t have enough constructive activities to keep them entertained! With that in mind, I gave my own little turkeys some paper plates, dried beans, pasta, and glue so that they could make turkey collages while the adults prepared the meal.

This was a couple of years ago, and since storing paper plates is not practical, all that remains are the photos. This version of the hand-traced turkey was definitely more about the process rather than the final product.

While those paper plate collages were quite simple, I opted to create more of a keepsake Thanksgiving project for this year. Since beans and pasta are inexpensive, long lasting, and easy to work with, I decided to once again include them in a collage project. Unlike the paper plates, this version is easily displayed on a wall or tabletop, making it perfect for fall decorating. As you bring it out year after year, you will be joyfully reminded of how small the kids once were.

Directions:Older kids may be able to do this independently. Logan, age 4, needed more help with tracing than his big sister, Mia, age 6.

Tip: If you don’t have kraft paper, you can substi-tute a brown grocery sack. If there is writing on the outside, you can still trace the hand over the writing, cut it out, and use the reverse side. Note: We used 8 ½” x 11” kraft paper (available in the scrapbook-ing section of craft stores), which allowed us to get two hand tracings per sheet. We made two per child, one that was kid-made and one that was my parent-made back-up. This gives children the freedom to work on their fine motor skills while still ensuring that there will be a hand cut-out that resembles the child’s actual hand.

scissors if they are old enough. Logan ended up cut-ting his hand shape into lots of pieces, but he was happy that I gave him the chance to try it himself. This was when I was glad that I had also traced his hand. Having that back-up tracing meant that I could cut it out and then we could continue craft-ing. Mia did fine.

-per. (I first trimmed ours to fit into the frames I had selected. My paper trimmer was handy for this, but scissors and a ruler will work.) Young children can help by smoothing the kraft paper hand cut-out on top of the colorful paper, and older kids can ap-ply glue by themselves. I offered my kids a selection of fall-colored scrapbooking papers and let them choose their own.

Materials: Dried beans/pasta (whatever you have on hand)

Glue (tacky is recommended, but regular school glue will work)

Kraft paper (or a brown grocery sack)

Colored paper (scrapbooking paper, wrapping paper, construction paper)

Pencil

Scissors

Small bowls/cups (to hold pasta/beans and glue)

Q-tips

Permanent black marker

Optional Materials:Baking sheet (to contain mess)

Picture frame

Paper trimmer

Tip: For collages, I strongly suggest using tacky glue, such as Aleene’s.

For toddlers, spread a thin layer of glue over the kraft paper hand and let them press the beans and pasta on top. Preschoolers and up can spread their own glue using a Q-tip dipped into a small bowl or cup filled with a small amount of glue. Then, they can add the beans and pasta as desired. Lo-gan got bored part way through this process, so I quickly finished spreading the glue so that he could get to the fun part of placing the beans and pasta. He doesn’t get very excited by many crafts, but he really liked the tactile aspect of this project. Again, Mia was very proficient in this step. She used the assorted materials in distinct ways such as adding a navy bean for an eye and different colored pasta for each tail feather, demonstrating how older children can include more details in their designs.

marker, adding your child’s name and the year.

frame and display your child’s Thanksgiving keep-sake. Or, if you have a clothesline style art display, you can pin it up without the frame. Either way, this craft is one that you will want to keep.

Former teacher Meg Koenemann enjoys being a stay-at-home mom

of two. For more kids’ crafts and other family fun, visit her blog,

Because I Said So (and Other Mommyisms).

becauseisaidsoandothermommyisms.blogspot.com

Crafting with Kids: A Twist on the Traditional Hand-Traced Turkey

Breastfeeding Support Group ~ Livingston County

Dept. of Public Health. 1st Wed 1:30pm 517.546.5459 Breastfeeding Class ~ Livingston County Dept. of

Public Health. 2nd Wed 5:30pm. 517.546.5459 Breastfeeding Multiples Mother Baby Group is a

free drop-in group for mothers of twins or more. Support

staff available. 3rd Wed, 1-3pm. Sponsored by The Breast-

feeding Center of Ann Arbor 734.975.6534. bfcaa.com

The Breastfeeding Café is a free drop-in group for

breastfeeding mothers and their babies, hosted by

lactation consultant Barbara Robertson. Fridays

10-11:30am The Breastfeeding Center of Ann Arbor.

734.975.6534. bfcaa.com

Saint Joseph Mercy Breastfeeding Clinic is designed

to support breastfeeding mothers and their babies. Appoint-

ments with lactation consultants available. 734.712.6357

Breastfeeding Club is a free, drop-in group facilitated

by a board-certified Lactation Consultant to answer

questions and empower moms to reach their breast-

feeding goals. For pregnant and breastfeeding moms

and babies (as well as older siblings). 2nd Mon, 1-3pm

(no meetings July or December). Ellen Thompson

Women’s Health Center 734.712.6357

Breastfeeding Class ~ Learn breastfeeding techniques

that work. Partners are encouraged to attend.

800.231.2211. Register online: stjoeshealth.org/classes

Working & Breastfeeding Mother Baby Group is a

free drop-in group for mothers who have returned to

work and are continuing to breastfeed. 2nd Sat, 1-3pm.

The Breastfeeding Center of Ann Arbor 734.663.1523

Breastfeeding Basics Class ~ Prepare for a satisfying

breastfeeding experience. Weeknight/ Saturday classes

at Center for the Childbearing Year; online classes also

available. center4cby.com.

Dawn Farm Education Series is a free annual work-

shop series providing helpful, hopeful, practical infor-

mation about chemical dependency, recovery, family

concerns and related issues. Programs are presented

on the last 2 or 3 Tuesdays, September through June.

St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Education. 734.485.8725.

dawnfarm.org or [email protected].

Free Eye Exams ~Dr. Muir of Vision Source is offering free

eye exams for children up to 36 months with little or no vision

insurance. 517.545.2020 Provided through InfantSEE. Contact

the American Optometric Association. aoa.org

Livingston County Catholic Charities

provides outpatient mental health & substance abuse

counseling for children, teens, adults & families.

Insurances accepted & sliding-fee scale. 517.545.5944

Livingston County Dept of Public Health

offers immunizations, TB skin tests, assistance to gain

access to medical care, hearing and vision screening,

HIV tests, Children Special Health Care Services, Nurses

Welcome Newborns (newborn home visits) and WIC.

517.546.9850 or visit lchd.org

Livingston Family Center provides outpatient therapy

services to youth and families with runaway services,

supervised visits, support and substance abuse prevention.

Many programs are free. 810.231.9591.

livingstonfamilycenter.org

Understanding Food Allergies is a seasonal workshop

that explores the different types of allergies and testing.

Topics include the use of digestive enzymes, elimination

diets, restoring the immune system, and using supple-

ments to heal the digestive tract. 810.299.4130

Teens Using Drugs: What to Know and What to Do is for parents and

other family members, teens, and people who work

with teens. Free literature about alcohol/other drugs

and teens is provided. St. Joseph Mercy Hospital

Education Center 7:30-9:00pm Oct.-June except Dec.

734.973.7892 teensusingdrugs.org

Great Parents, Great Start Playgroups are parent-

child playgroups that focus on developmental needs

of infants and toddlers. 517.540.6829 robinsschutz@

livingstonesa.org

Livingston Area Parents of Multiples provides

parents/guardians of multiple birth children with

encouragement, resources, & info. 3rd Thur. 6:30pm,

Genoa Medical Building 734.377.6816

[email protected] lapom.org

Moms and Tots of Brighton ~Playgroups and playdates,

field trips and outings, special interest groups, evenings out for

moms and family events. 734.891.4386 [email protected]

Moms In Touch meets one hour a week to pray for students

& their schools. 517.545.9920 [email protected]

Moms Social Group provides a fun outlet for Moms

of school age children to connect with other Moms.

www.meetup.com/Moms-Social-Group-MSG

MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) Cornerstone Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Brigh-

ton, 2nd & 4th Tues. 810.227.9411. Our Savior Lutheran

Church, Hartland 248.887.4300. Fine Arts Academy,

Whitmore Lake 734.646.1429 Interested in starting a

group? Contact: [email protected]

Munchkin Moms Playgroup provides playtime in the gym,

playdates at members’ homes, fun in the parks & field trips.

517.294.7040 [email protected]. hotshepherd.org

Parent-to-Parent Support is a free, informal drop-in

group for moms, dads, partners, and babies. Toddlers

welcome. Every Wednesday, 10-11:30am, Center for the

Childbearing Year, 722 Brooks St., Ann Arbor.

734-663-1523. www.center4cby.com.

Bradley Natural Childbirth Classes ~ Relaxation, nutri-

tion, pregnancy exercises, labor stages, pain reduction,

breastfeeding, coaching, newborn care, and benefits/draw-

backs of typical procedures. 12 weeks. Brighton area. $275.

810.227.0513

Boot Camp for New Dads is a three-hour workshop

for first-time fathers (who may bring their baby).

Taught by Boot Camp veterans under the direction of

a trained coach, this program enables new fathers to

step up to the challenge of being a dad and feel more

confident bringing the new baby home. 800.231.2211

Register online: stjoeshealth.org/classes Center for the Childbearing Year offers classes for

expectant parents: Everything You Need to Know; Labor & Birth; Caring for Your Newborn; Breastfeeding Basics; and Online Childbirth Preparation programs for busy

couples. Also library and free drop-in groups.

center4cby.com or 734.663.1523.

Childbirth Education Classes prepare you and your

labor support coach for labor and delivery. Informa-

tion regarding natural childbirth techniques, relaxation

exercises, medical intervention and cesarean births is

included. Classes are offered at Ann Arbor, Brighton,

Livonia and Chelsea hospitals. 800.231.2211. Register

online: stjoeshealth.org/classes.

Childbirth Prep & Refresher CoursesLearn relaxation techniques, breathing patterns, pain

management, coaching skills for labor and birth,

Cesarean childbirth, breast-feeding, and newborn

care. 810.231.2820

Dad’s Baby Care Boot Camp ~ It is time to lose your

dread of the diaper and conquer your fear of the cry.

2nd and 4th Tues of every other month. 810.494.5433

Dad’s Team is for expectant dads and dads of toddlers.

Meet with male mentors every other week and progress

through a parenting and life skills curriculum. Earn

“baby bucks” to purchase food, formula, clothing,

diapers, equipment and virtually anything an infant

needs. 810.494.5433

Doulas Care Program is a volunteer program that

matches low-income mothers-to-be with a doula that

provides physical, emotional and educational support.

3 prenatal home visits, attendance at your birth, and 3

post-partum home visits at no charge. 734.332.8070.

doulascare.org

Earn While You Learn~Basic needs & parenting sup-

port for parents of infants. Meet with a mentor every

other week and progress through a parenting and life

skills curriculum. Earn “baby bucks” to purchase food,

formula, clothing, diapers, equipment and virtually

anything an infant needs. 810.494.5433 Family Birth Center Tour is now available on-line at

stjoeshealth.org. To tour the Family Birth Center in person call

800.231.2211 or register online: stjoeshealth.org/classes. Family Birth Center Sibling Class + Tour is a new class

for 3-7 year olds who are preparing to become big brothers

and big sisters, and their mother is delivering at St Joseph

Mercy Hospital-Ann Arbor. 800.231.2211 Register online:

stjoeshealth.org/classes

TheResource CenterYour spot for ongoing parental assets, clubs, and classes.

The

LPJBreastfeeding

Health

Mom Groups

Pregnancy/Childbirth


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