livingston parent journal

Livingston Parent Journal

SEPT

. 20

13


Involved in Cross Country, Basketball and Art Honors Society

“At Kensington Woods, I feel safe. Everybody knows each other and gets along.”

Emily WhittakerClass of 2018

Safe and orderly environmentCollege planning & advisingAdvanced art & foreign language Extracurriculars and athleticsNo hassle transfer systemFully accredited, state funded & tuition-free

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Kensington Woods High School offers students in grades 7-12 a small, personal, college-prep education. Students have the support they need to excel in school by exploring content in an engaging, relevant and innovative way with passion-ate teachers. Kensington Woods offers:

Small class sizesCollege-prep curriculum with high expectationsSubject-area integrated classesAccessible, supportive facultyAP classes & college dual enrollment Character education

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www.kwoods.org . 517.545.0828 . On the Campus of Cleary University . 3700 Cleary Drive, Howell

Now enrolling 7th-12th grades for fall

Visit www.kwoods.org for more information or call 517-545-0828

to schedule an appointment and personal tour with our counselor.

Livingston Parent Journal 3

In every issue...Off The Wall ..................................................................... 6Events......................................................................... 11-14Ongoing Resources .................................................. 15-16Classifi eds ....................................................................... 22

Features...

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.

SEPTEMBER 2013

— EDITOR/ PUBLISHER —Rick & Terri McGarry

—WRITERS—Haley Kilpatrick

Don MacMannis, Ph.D.Debra Manchester MacMannis, MSW

Katrina K. Wilson

—PHOTOS—Cover Photo by

A Moment to Remember Photographyamoment2rememberphoto.com

— 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.

Mean Girls

7Biting Toddlers

Back to SchoolButterfl ies

8

21Awesome Autumn Activities

17

The

LPJ

September Happy Birthdays!01 Sheila Beane

02 Cosmo Keegan DeLuca

03 Rachel Hund Isabelle Berendt-Pomnitz Prudence Atkins Ava Elisabeth Warren Brayden Arnold

05 Jasmin Jelati Lucas Lamberjack Emily Thompson

06 Sienna Bolton

07 Mikenzie Massey

09 Charlie Nitz

10 Gryphon Mayes

11 Rylee Phillips

12 Evan Nitz Alyssa Cotter Joshua Porter Claire Blauer

13 Ashley Hansen Cole Conners Shelby Hansen

14 Alaina Pierson Taylor Gamble Carter Gilbert Ashleah Jewell

15 Cameron Phillips Kyleigh Combs Amilia Soriano

16 Nicholas Kafkakis

17 Jeanna Schmanski Reese Schmanski

18 Kylie Porter Ella Zaborowski

19 Ethan Kwek

21 Jaden S. Hartwick

22 Andrew Kafkakis

23 Kaiden Buesing

25 Evan Garner

26 Abbie Marshall Noah Schmidt Colton Slater Paige Hytinen

27 Morgan Harman Liam Richter Austin Hacker

28 Caitlyn Rene Moenart Marissa Ineich Marisa Long Alex Weller Ian Weller

29 Tara Wilhelm

30 Addison Miner Logan Walton Isabella M Race

4 Livingston Parent Journal

From Our

Family to

Yours.

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

Homemade Chocolate

129 E. Grand River. Fowlerville

517.223.1322

109 West Grand River, Howell

517.579.2206

Howell Big Boy

2222 E. Grand River. Howell

517.548.1800

If your children celebrate their birthday annually, and you missed the Party Planner last month, it is still available on our website to help make your kid’s birthday fabulous. We should also mention that we do archive our back issues, and that the links to those are also available at LivingstonParentJournal.com.

Even with many kids going back to school, the family fun does not stop in Livingston County, so be sure to check out our calendar of events on page 11. As an added bonus, look on page 17 for information about corn mazes, fall festivals, fall color tours and other local Autumn adventures.

Every October we publish our Prenatal and Baby Guide, so be watching for that next month. We expect to include plenty of information that will be very useful to new and expecting moms, so if that’s not you, pick up a copy for a friend.

In between issues, as always, we encourage you to connect with us on Facebook or send us your email to subscribe to our weekly events newsletter. Email [email protected] to request your free subscription.

Finally, a word to all parents reading this: Take courage. This magazine should serve as a reminder to you that you are not alone.

We are all in this together.

Dear Friends,

Make plans now for an exciting fall! It’s a short drive to FYT and registration is now open.

Flint YouthTheatre

A Program of the Flint Institute of Music

Fall Acting Classes begin September 24Classes and performance opportunities for all students age 2 – grade 12.

DRAMA SCHOOL

FLINTYOUTHTHEATRE.ORG 810.237.1530



Karli BeauvaisIt’s football season! Took Kenny to

practice tonight. He’s going to do so

good this year!

Laura Cronenwett WebberJudah: I want

to play Cranky

Birds!

Lori BurkartNor sure which is worse, Pink’s

singing or the two little girls singing

along off key in the back seat.

Jessica CardoniWith Sherri Osterman.

This is her idea of a good time,

Board of Education meeting!

Lol— at Brighton Area Schools.

Brian EdwartdsWhoever said “You cant ignore the writ-

ing on the wall.” Must not have been as

dedicated to keeping his head down and

his eyes on the fl oor as I am.

Carrie Tennant ShumakerDave revealed another talent today:

pediatric leech removal. I covered

up Sam’s eyes and he didn’t even

know his dad was holding a lighter

to his foot.

Tara BorissFor the past 10 minutes or so I’ve been trying to

sign in to my “Sam’s Club” account to print photos.

Turns out I don’t have a Sam’s Club account, I have

a Costco one. Haha. I need sleep!

Angela CoxRomantic kid-free date

with my husband after

church. Splitting a hot

dog at Costco.

Angie Baynai TyrpakOk, I’m not even kidding:

We had a rooster wander

into our garage tonight

(this never happened in

Dearborn Heights growing

up) Is there anyone who

raises chickens that would

take care of it? I don’t

even like fi sh as pets.

Anyone?

Story Time

7 cousins in a tree

Christie was on that dance team, and that’s where I discovered how powerful and healing it is to have an older girlfriend to serve as a mentor, to tell me that she’d dealt with the same things I was going through. My friendship with Christie and a few of the older girls gave me the confi dence to think I could actually make a difference when my younger sister started middle school.Excerpted from The Drama Years: Real Girls Talk About Surviving Middle School—Bullies, Brands, Body Image, and More (Free Press Trade Paperback Original; April 3, 2012; $16.00), Courtesy of Free Press

Haley Kilpatrick founded Girl Talk, an organization in which high school girls mentor middle school girls, when she was 15. Now celebrating its 11th anniver-sary, Girl Talk is more than 40,000 participants strong, in forty-three states and in six countries around the world. mygirltalk.org


Mean GirlsIn the middle of my eighth grade year, I was feeling alone at school. Since I never knew if I’d be left out in the lunchroom, I brought my lunch from home and ate in one of the girls’ bathrooms just to avoid the drama. It didn’t feel like a big deal to me; it was just a simple way to sidestep the mean girls in the cafeteria. Afterward I’d stop into the library, where I’d hang out with Mrs. Lentz.

On my birthday that year in late April, I was eating lunch in the bathroom as usual when I heard my mom’s voice: “Haley?”

Why was my mom at school? And how did she know where I was? I hadn’t told her that I of-ten ate in the bathroom. “Yes?” I called back as I opened the door of the stall and saw my mom standing before me with a surprised look on her face. “What are you doing in here?” she asked. “Are you okay?” I saw that she was holding a cookie cake (my favorite), a birth-day surprise for me. When she saw my bagged lunch in my hand, she broke out in tears, and then I started crying too. She took me home, and I told her everything. She had known that I was unhappy at school because of the girls in my class, and she knew that I often came home with hurt feelings, but she hadn’t known until that moment how bad it was.

Then she proposed a crazy idea. “Why don’t you try out for the high school dance team?” she asked me.

“Are you kidding?!” Even though I really, really wanted to be on the dance team that next year when I started high school, I didn’t see why I should put myself in the spotlight like that. But my mother explained that it would be a good opportunity to meet new people and put my energy toward moving on to high school.

For the next few weeks, I turned it over and over in my mind: Was I good enough to make it? Did I believe in myself enough to risk the social repercussions of going for it, and pos-sibly not succeeding? Then I had an aha! mo-ment: What do I have to lose? I thought. I’m not gaining anything by not auditioning. But those other girls are just winning: I’m conform-ing to everything they want me to be.

Almost immediately after I signed up, the girls in my class started in on me: “Oh, are you ner-vous about trying out?” they’d ask pointedly. I worked hard to ignore them, and I spent every afternoon with my boom box out under the car-port, practicing my routine. Somewhere along the way, attempting to make the team became much bigger than just making the cut; it was my way of proving to myself that I wouldn’t let anyone hold me back.

After the tryouts, when my mom asked me about them in the car on the way home, I told her that I wasn’t sure how I did, but I was really proud of myself for going through with it. Even though I knew all those girls doubted me, I thought I’d performed okay. And a few days later, I felt totally overwhelmed when we got the call that I’d made the team. I was super excited and proud and nervous all at the same time, and mostly so relieved that I had stayed true to myself in the fi rst place. I’d stayed committed to something I loved doing and hadn’t let the mean girls in my class hold me back.

Girls Talk: What Makes You Feel Good about Yourself?

The Bottom Line


Perhaps you’re one of the lucky parents whose kids can’t wait to go back to school. Unfortunately, lots of kids have a hard time approaching the first day or don’t settle in for weeks, and for many different reasons. For those starting kindergarten, fear of the un-known can be pretty overwhelming.

Plus, lots of kids already know all the things that they don’t like about school. They have to get up early, sit in classrooms, do what the teacher tells them to do all day long, then do homework when they get home. Although ev-eryone agrees that getting a good education is essential, many kids still hate the loss of free-dom that goes with it, especially after a care-free, fun-filled summer vacation.

So how can parents prepare kids who are anx-ious, shy or afraid? Here are ten tips to start your child’s school year off on a positive note:

1. Ask how your child is feeling about

going back to school. Some parents make the mistake of either filling their child with their own fears, or telling them not to be scared or upset. The first step is to listen to your child’s own thoughts and feelings. Ask questions and keep listening.

2. Offer empathy and reassurance. If your child seems upset, share that “Lots of kids feel sad or scared. Are you feeling something like that? I can understand how this might feel like a big step.” Once feelings are on the table and normalized, your child can more easily hear your words of encouragement and reas-surance that everything’s going to be okay.

3. Help your children view change as an

opportunity. Even though it’s normal to have uncomfortable feelings of anticipation, those butterflies in their tummies can also playfully be viewed as excitement instead of just anxiety.

4. Talk about your own experiences around

transitions. It’s helpful for parents to teach by example. Share not only your childhood triumphs, but also times that, even as an adult, you overcame your butterflies of anxi-ety and are happy you confronted a neces-sary change.

5. Program positive thinking. As much as possible, scout out the school, teacher or classmates ahead of time so your child can mentally rehearse what things will be like. Have them close their eyes at bedtime and imagine how their experience will be fun and positive.

6. Re-establish routines. Providing a sense of security gives children a firm foundation for tackling the unknown. Keep things lov-ing and positive, but return to a predictable routine. Sleep is essential to reducing fears and irritability. Spend a few days before the first day of school getting your child back on a sleep schedule that allows them to wake up refreshed and ready.

7. Create a ritual of planning. Create a checklist of things to do ahead of time, includ-ing purchases, and make it a fun adventure. You can also avoid last-minute panic by pack-ing the backpack and laying out the first day’s special clothes the night before.

8. Deal with your own feelings. Facing and constructively expressing your own feelings about your child’s transition helps to clear some family tension that could otherwise af-fect them adversely. You may need to have a good cry about how quickly your child is grow-ing up or how much you will miss them.

9. Celebrate the first day. How about a spe-cial healthy breakfast and end of the day cel-ebration for their accomplishment? Give your-self a pat on the back as well. Given that the only thing constant in life is change, realize that you are helping your kids build emotional muscles, overcome challenges and thrive in the future.

10. Coach them to reach out. Children often wait for other kids to initiate contact with them rather than making the first move. Remind them that others are feeling anxious too. Encour-age your child to smile, say “Hi” to those they know, and reach out and introduce themselves to new kids. The song, Reach Out, is a perfect fit to emphasize and support these ideas, and it comes with free coloring and activity pages and can all be downloaded from the website at KidsEps.com.

Every year, over six million kids in the USA begin attending a new school where they lack friends or familiarity. Even kids starting a new grade at the same school can still feel a little anxious..

Back to School Butterf lies

Don MacMannis, Ph.D. & Debra Manchester MacMannis, MSW are a husband-wife team, serving as co-directors of The Family Therapy Institute of Santa Barbara. They are co-authors of How’s Your Family Really Doing? 10 Keys to a Happy Loving Family. Dr. MacMannis is also the creator of Kids’ EPs and Kids’ EPs Workbook. HowsYourFamily.com


BloomBabyandKids.com | Call/Text - 810-844-1031 |222 W. Grand River Ave., Brighton, MI

Helping Livingston County Families Grow!

Now Featuring the tea Collection!

Call to learn about our qualityMontessori education and arrange

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810-229-8660

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And when they don’t pay attention to what you are saying in the home, you have to wonder how much they are missing at school! In 20+ years of teaching Martial Arts and Success Skills, I’ve developed a five step approach to improve a child’s skill of listening. We use structure and discipline (and kids love it!). You can easily use these same five steps with your child!

We use what are called “listening cues” in our classes. Teach your child that when it’s time to listen, they must sit or stand straight up with good posture. Shoulders back. Lift the chest a little. Chin high. This alone can double listening retention!

Insist on it. Your child will then be able to focus on the words being said. Computers, cell phones and texting work against us in developing good eye contact skills in children and teens!

Children tend to listen incompletely. We find that children will often to listen to the first part of an instruction, then start to act before the complete instruction is heard. Teach your child to maintain eye contact and posture until the talker is completely done. They have to learn patience and self discipline.

We like getting them to repeat complex instructions in class. You can do the same at home. For example, a child might say, “So, Mom, you’d like me to clean up my room and feed the cat before I play on the computer?” This lets the speaker know your child has understood!

DOES YOUR CHILD LISTEN TO YOU THE FIRST TIME?

Changing children’s behavior is basically pretty simple - just praise the desired behavior and ignore the undesired behavior. “Catch them doing something right”. When they listen well - PRAISE THEM!!!!

Even very young children can be taught these steps. Begin by reading the steps to them, and then practicing each skill!

When you observe your child losing focus, just the simple reminder, “Remember ... listening skills!” will re-focus them. In our class we frequently use the powerful and effective question cue

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And, of course, it can’t be repeated enough - watch like a hawk for situations when

Catch them doing it right, and follow up with a huge dose of appreciation, like, “Honey, I am so proud of you for listening to what I was saying!” If you have questions about the five Skills of Listening, give me a call; I’d be happy to help!

Yours for Rock Solid Kids.

Ohana Karate - “Where Success is an Attitude and a Habit”

It’s frustating when our children can’t focus or listen, isn’t it?

517-586-1001

P.S. – “New beginner classes now forming!

P.P.S. – Remember to ask about our special “Introductory

Program” and if you qualify for a free karate uniform.

P.P.P.S. - Go to our website for more information and to

get your Free Report - www.ohanakarate.com.


AB

C

Open Enrollment has already started for the 2013-2014 School Year!

3 year old class, 4 year old class, and Junior Kindergarten

Curriculum includes early literacy program, science labs and introduction to spanish for all ages.

Little Saints Christian School

Voted #1 Preschool in Hartland in the Hartland Patch Reader’s Choice Awards for 2012!

12701 Highland Rd., Hartland, MI 48353 • (810)746-0238email: [email protected]

or to Denise Clarey directly: [email protected]

www.littlesaintschristian.org

Sun & Mon 1 & 2 Voyageur Canoe Trip Help paddle the 34-foot Voyageur canoe while explor-ing the islands and bays of Kent Lake. For adults and children ages 8 and up. Kensington $5 810.227.8910 metroparks.com

Monday 2 Swinginfusion Swing dancing at the Brighton Mill Pond every Monday night from 7-10pm $1 [email protected]

Thursday 5Family Tae Kwon Do Tuesdays and Thursdays through 9/30. Kils Tae Kwon Do 6:30-7:30pm or 7:30-8:30pm $100 517.546.0693 howellrecreation.org

Fri 6 & 7 Smokin’ Jazz & Barbecue Blues Fes-tival Live Music and food vendors. Downtown Brighton 6pm-Midnight 810.227.5086 brightoncoc.org

Mother Daughter Western Adventure Sleepover Wagon ride, candle making, outdoor movie, campfi re, horseback rid-ing, petting zoo, and swimming. North-fork Outback Friday at 4pm through Sat-urday at 3pm $120/person 517.881.9142

northforkoutback.com

Sat & Sun 7 & 8 Zip Line and Climbing Tower 500’ zip line over a pond. Tallest outdoor tower in Michigan. Reservations are required. Howell Nature Center $17 517.546.0249 howellnaturecenter.org

Saturday 7 Farmer for a Day. Kids ages 8-15 work alongside farmers cleaning stalls, feeding and brushing animals, planting and more. Kensington 10am $35 248.684.8632

metroparks.com

Storm Runners Race 8:30am start for 1 mile and 1.5 mile; 9am start for 5K; 9:20am start for 10K. Chip timed. Shepherd of the Lakes Lutheran School 734.231.2792 sotlstormrun.webs.com

[email protected]

Football Ring Toss Game Hands-on workshop for children ages 5-12. Free workshop apron, commemorative pin and certifi cate of achievement. Home De-pot 9am-Noon 517.548.3742

Infant Chiropractic Care Dr. Steph-an Skalnican, Kor Chiropractic Bloom Baby & Kids 10:30-11:30am FREE 810.844.1031 bloombabyandkids.com

BrightonSaturdays 8am-1pm200 North 1st Street

810.955.1471 brightoncoc.org

HowellSundays 9am-2pm

Downtown Courthouse Lawn517.546.3920

howell.org

Green OakSundays 10am-3pm

Green Oak Village Place Mall313.590.1960

[email protected]

FowlervilleFridays 3-7pm

City Parking Lot on Grand River517.375.5132

fowlerville.org

HartlandSaturdays 9am-1pm

Old Hartland High School

810.632.1030 [email protected]

Whitmore LakeThursdays 4-8pm

75 Barker Street

810.623.8131

PinckneySaturdays 9am-1pm

Towne Square Park

734.660.4639 [email protected]

FARMERS MARKETS

LIST YOUR EVENT FOR FREE LivingstonParentJournal.com

SEPTEMBER

Sunday 8 Kensington Critters Meet some of the critters that make the Nature Center their home, such as turtles and snakes. Kensing-ton 2pm 810.227.8910 metroparks.com

Pottery Workshop: Native American Techniques. Learn the ways of the East-ern Woodland Indians and make your own pot to take home. Kensington 1pm $5 810.227.8910 metroparks.com

Mon-Thur 9-12 Hunter Safety DNR approved Hunter Safety Certifi cate. Marion Township Hall 6-9pm $10 517.546.0693

howellrecreation.org

Wednesday 11 Jazz @ the Pond Organ Trio Julian VanSlyke & the Marksmen Brighton Mill Pond 7-9pm FREE 2stonesevents.com

Friday 13 Fall Shadow Day Experience Kensing-ton Woods High School fi rst hand by at-tending classes and making connections with teachers and other students. 517.545.0828 kwoods.org

Sat & Sun 14 & 15 Zip Line and Climbing Tower see September 7 & 8


Saturday 14 Dogfest Dog bounce house and kid’s games, dog themed ven-dors, and a doggie parade. Arise Church Community Park 10am-3pm 313.613.5643 arisechurch.org/DogPark.php

Sunday 15 Kensington Critters See September 8

Fri-Sun 20-22 Mother and Daughter Ranch Getaway Trail riding and other camp activities. Camp Copneconic Friday 7pm through Sunday 11am $175/pair, $50 for each additional campcopneconic.org

Fri & Sat 20 & 21 Fall Book Sale Cromaine Library Fri, 9am-6pm; Sat (Bag Sale), 9am-4pm 810.632.5200 cromaine.org

An Evening with Mark Twain Presented by the Livingston Players at the CoBACH Center 7:30pm $5 810.229.2784 LivPlayers.org

Friday 20 Calling All Owls Separate fact from fiction and attempt to locate resident screech owls. For ages 6 and older. Kensington 8pm $5 810.227.8910

metroparks.com


Saturday 21 Calling All Owls Learn about these nighttime predators, and then step outside to call in our local owls for a personal visit. Hudson Mills Metropark 6:30pm $5 734.426.8211

metroparks.com

Farmer for a Day see September 7

Nature Detectives for Kids Search for nature fugitives along the trail with an interpreter. For ages 6 and older. Kensington 2pm $3 810.227.8910

metroparks.com

Old Town Throwdown Chili Cook-off and Music Festival Downtown Whitmore Lake Noon-6pm $25 810.227.5086

Pregnancy Helpline’s Run for Their Lives 5C Walk Walk. Eat chocolate. Help women in crisis pregnancies. Downtown Brighton 9:30am-Noon 810.494.5433 pregnancyhelpclinic.com

Texas Adventure Horse and pony rides, pedal tractors, bucking barrel, rodeo games, giant slingshot, Tor-pedo the trick pony, and the petting zoo. Northfork Outback 1-4pm $10 www.northforkoutback.com/summer.htm

Sunday 22 Kensington Critters See September 8

Monday 23 CPR for Caregivers and Parents Jerry Buffman of Dummies on the Run provides training and two-year certification in CPR, as well as AED or defibrillator instruction. Hartland Library 6:30pm $10 810.632.5200

cromaine.org


Car entry fee. Reservations required. Please call ahead.


MORE EVENT INFORMATIONLivingstonParentJournal.com

Tuesday 24 Bring Your Own Tools Tear things apart. Put them back together. Build robots. Cromaine Library 6:30-8:00 pm FREE 810.632.5200 cromaine.org

September 26 Making Timeout Work Learn the ins and outs of appropriately using timeout from Katelyn Reed, Thriving Minds Be-havioral Health. Bloom Baby & Kids 7-8pm FREE 810.844.1031 bloombabyandkids.com

Fri & Sat 27 & 28 Astronomy at the Beach View sun-spots, prominences, and other features of the sun through safe white-light and hy-drogen-alpha solar telescopes. Observe dozens of celestial objects through the high-powered telescopes provided. Dean Regas will use simulation software during his talk, “Tour of the Universe: You Are Here,” at 9pm. There will also be a comet making demonstration, a portable plan-etarium, and a Children’s Sky Tour Trea-sure Hunt. Kensington 6pm-Midnight 248.685.1561 metroparks.com


Saturday 28 Babysitting Skills and Fun Etiquette, entertainment and real experiences. For teens and tweens grades 5 and up. Hart-land Library 1-3pm 810.632.5200 cromaine.org

Texas Adventure see September 21

Body After Baby Personal Trainer Kristin Moore will provide a 60 min. introduction to her cardio class, followed by a healthy eating talk geared towards the needs of busy moms. Dress for a light workout. Bloom Baby & Kids 11am-Noon FREE 810.844.1031 bloombabyandkids.com

Sunday 29 Blessing of the Animals Celebration of pets and the families that love them. Howell Nature Center 3-5pm FREE 517.546.0249 howellnaturecenter.org

Clyde Singer, Barn Dance

Modern Dialect brings together more than 50 American Scene and Modernist paintings from 1920-1940. On display at Flint Institute of Arts through September 22 fl intarts.org


September 8 Dawn Farm 40th Anniver-sary Jamboree Live music, children’s tent with activities, hayrides, pony rides, and working farm with animals. Dawn Farm helps hundreds of addicts and alcoholics each year, and this is their only public fundraiser. 1-6pm 734.485.8725 dawnfarm.org

September 27-29

American Sewing Expo The 20th annual show features acces-sories, embellishments, one of a kind fabrics and supplies, fashion sewing, fi tting, home decorating, machine embroidery, needle arts, quilting, sergers and wearable art. Showgoers will see over 20 exhibits, fashion style shows and sewing challenge competitions. Over 125 exhibitors from 35 states, Australia and Canada will be displaying sewing machines, notions, threads, patterns, yarn, technology, kits, gadgets, embroidery designs, tools and other products. Techniques and tips will be taught at over 200 seminars, hands-on workshops and demonstrations. Suburban Collection Showplace Fri & Sat 9am-6pm; Sun 9am-5pm $14 248.889.3111 AmericanSewingExpo.com

American Sewing Expo™Where Sewing is Fun

for Everyone!Novi, Michigan – September 27-29, 2013

AmericanSewingExpo .com

• Classes

• Fashion Shows

• Prizes

• Shopping

• Exhibits

• Contests

• Family Fun

• Classes

• Fashion Shows

• Prizes

• Shopping

• Exhibits

• Contests

• Family Fun

September 8

Ford Second Sunday at the DIA Thanks to the Ford Motor Company Fund, the DIA offers special programs and free general admission to all visitors on the second Sunday of each month. Special exhibitions and select programming may carry an ad-ditional charge. Detroit Institute of Arts 313.833.7900 dia.org

September 22 The Wiggles Taking Off Tour After 21 years of en-tertaining children around the globe, The Wiggles will introduce three new cast members including the fi rst-ever female member, Emma Watkins. Fox The-atre 2:30pm $18 olympiaen-

tertainment.com

American Sewing Expo tickets


End of Summer HikeHudson Mills Metropark734.426.8211 metroparks.comSeptember 7 8am

Join an interpreter and go in search of plants and animals that are ignoring autumn’s approach. Reservations Required $5 + Car Entry Fee

Bestmaze Corn Maze

3803 Noble Road, Williamston(517) 521-2378 bestmaze.comSeptember 14 – October 31

Navigate a 20 acre forest of corn that has well-groomed trails carefully laid out for your enjoy-ment, as you enjoy cider, donuts and Mackinaw Fudge. Choose the length of your adventure as you go. Signed optional exits and short cuts every 15 minutes along 3 miles of trails. Patrol towers ensure that anyone who needs help gets help.The petting zoo is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 2-6, and they also have laser tag. A separate feature, the Haunted trail, for ages 12 and up, opens September 27.

Fall Fairy GardeningCromaine Library810.632.5200 cromaine.orgSeptember 14 10am-Noon

Recycle, reuse, repurpose - fairies are especially environmentally conscientious. One garden per family. $5 Registration required.

Spicer’s Harvest Festival810.632.7692 spicerorchards.comSeptember 21 & 22, 9am-7pm.

Antique tractor and machinery exhibit, arts and crafts fair, cider press, and free wagon rides to pick apples and pumpkins

Linden Autumn Festival Linden Millpond810.629.5447 fentonchamber.comSeptember 21 Noon-6pm

Food, entertainment, and children’s activities. Youth fishing contest starts at 10:30am.

Hartland’s Heritage Day [email protected] hartlandcommunitycouncil.orgSeptember 21 9am-4pm

Quilt/fiber show at Hartland United Methodist Church, Encore Theater activities at the Hartland Music Hall, book sale at the library, barbershop quartet music 10:00-11:30am, birds of prey 1:00-3:00pm, petting zoo, tractor shows, and cemetery tours.

Save The Wildlife 5K Trail Run/WalkHowell Nature Center517.546.0249howellnaturecenter.orgSeptember 21

Registration opens at 9am, and the events (including a 5K trail run, 5K trail hike, and 1 mile Wildlife Walk) begin with a staggered start at 11

am. The course winds on trails and roads over nearly 270 acres. $30 for the 5K trail run or walk and $20 for the 1 mile walk.


Webster Fall FestivalWebster United Church of Christ in Dexter734.426.5115 [email protected] 28 10am-7pmOne-room school class, blacksmith and wool spinning demonstrations, mu-sical entertainment, crafts for children. petting zoo, sheepherding demos, hog calling and hay rides. FREE

St Paul Lutheran Church Fall Festival810.231.1033stpaulhamburg.com [email protected] 21

Craft show and free family activities from 10am-4pm. Dinner and live music with David Britton (mmme.org) from 4pm-8pm. Tickets required for dinner (can be purchased the day of the event), Adults are $8, children age 6 to 12 are $5, and children under 5 are free.

Harvest FestMain Street, Downtown Brighton810.955.1471 brightoncoc.comSeptember 28, 8am-3pm

Live entertainment, a chair caning demonstration, petting farm, bounce house, and pumpkin painting for the children


Corn Maze | Laser Tag | Petting Zoo | Cider & Donuts

Trail of Terror - see website

Fall FestivalKensington Metropark Farm Center 2240 W Buno Road, Brighton810.227.8910 www.metroparks.com October 5 & 6, noon-4pm Tour the farm and view traditional demonstrations, visit with food and craft vendors, be entertained by Rosco the Clown, and carve a pumpkin. Also, take a hayride to and from the pumpkin patch to pick your perfect pumpkin. Pumpkins and gourds priced according to size. Most activities are free with a park pass. Standard public hayride rates apply.

SMRS Annual Fall Color ToursSouth Rail Yard 806 S. Evans St., Tecumseh517.456.7677 southernmichiganrailroad.com October 17-20 & 24-27Travel by rail through the countryside along the basin of the River Raisin. Cross over the historic bridge high above the river on the way to our stop over for complimentary cider and donuts. Round trip train ride is 2 hours. Weekday departures 11:00 am and 1:30 pm Weekend departures at 11:00 am, 1:30 pm & 4:00 pm $15

Focus on Fall: Nature Photography Workshop for Kids Cromaine Library 810.632.5200 cromaine.orgNovember 15 2:00-3:30 pmThis class offers students an opportunity to connect with nature through photography, exercise their creative eye, and have fun while capturing the beautiful natural landscape surrounding the library. Kids will learn tips and techniques to grow their skills with a camera, focusing on concepts in composition and how to see creatively through a lens. Please come to class with a fully-charged point-and-shoot or ipod/ipad/iphone along with an empty memory card and a basic working knowledge of the camera. Dress for the weather. For ages 8-12. Registration required.

Hayrides, Bonfi res, Climbing Wall, & ZiplineWildwood Ranch800.969.8090 www.wildwoodranch.org

Groups of ten or more can schedule an outing to participate in the 40-foot Climbing Wall, the 600-foot Zip Line, or our dual-level High Ropes Adventure Challenge Course. A petting farm is open daily from 9am-5pm. Tractor-drawn hayrides can be followed followed by a bonfi re. Dates and hours may vary. Reservations are required. Open year-round.


4th Annual Restaurant Crawl

September Stroll: A Taste of Downtown Howell

5-9 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 18 TICKETS

Pre-sale: 2 for $30 or $18 eachIncludes food at all participating restaurants

AVAILABLE AT:Howell Area Chamber of Commerce123 E. Washington St.

LOC Federal Credit Union3020 E. Grand River Ave.

DAY OF EVENT:2 for $35 or $20 eachavailable at allparticipating restaurants

HOSTED BY:STROLL SPONSOR:

Enjoy menufavorites from some of downtown Howell’s unique restaurants, including:

Howell’s MainStreet WineryMr. B’s Rustic TavernCleary’s PubDiamond’s Steak & SeafoodUptown CoffeehouseHeart of MichiganThe Candy BarRenee Chodkowski,

The Great Foodini

of CommerceChamberHowel l Area


Exploration From the time children are born, they use their senses to explore the world around them. When a young toddler finds a new object, one of the first places that object goes is in his mouth. So, for a toddler to explore another person’s arm by sticking it in his mouth, and perhaps biting down, is not uncommon. Be sure to teach your child that certain objects, such as food, go in the mouth and others do not. Be consistent!

Teething

Most toddlers are still teething, and expe-rience quite a bit of discomfort from it. Ap-plying pressure to their gums seems to ease their pain, so keep teething rings handy. If

you know those two-year molars are coming in, keep the baby Orajel around. Preventative measures work best.

Frustration This is a big one! Toddlers are still learning to talk and often get frustrated when they can’t say, “Give me back my toy!” For the most part, they do not have the language to express their feelings and desires. The quickest way for them to get that toy back is to bite the child who took it! Although they lack the social and commu-nication skills needed to conquer such a task as getting back a toy, it does not mean you can’t teach them those skills. When you see your toddler becoming frustrated, intervene, and do it quickly! You can say, “Timmy, I see you’re upset that Susie took your toy. Tell her,

‘No!’ or ‘Mine!” It is important to give your child “scripts” of what to say so they know how to handle the situation on their own in the future, without biting. By giving your child the words to communicate their feelings and desires, you are planting much needed seeds of independence in your toddler.

Attention

Toddlers crave attention, and to them any attention will do, even negative attention. If they feel they are being short-changed, tod-dlers may bite to get attention. Yelling at your child is reinforcing the behavior that you want to stop. The child probably does not under-stand what all the fuss is about, just that you fussed about him. Instead, turn to your child and say firmly, “Don’t bite!” and give all your attention to the child who was bitten. This lets your child know he will not get the attention he craves by biting. Also, give your child lots of positive attention throughout the day, that way they will not feel desperate for any kind of attention.

Overstimulation and Excitement Sometimes toddlers are overcome by a large group of people, loud noises, or excitement and commotion. Children who have just start-ed going to group care and have never been before may bite the other children in class, or target one specific child who may be crowd-ing their space. Because the child does not understand what he is feeling and is just plain overwhelmed by the situation, he may bite. For some children, biting is a way for them to gain a sense of control in their world. Give your child positive, nurturing support to help them through this nerve-racking situation.

So, take a deep breath and be patient with your little one. Although biting is not a be-havior we want to reinforce in our children, it is a natural phase most young children go through. By paying close attention to your toddler, some of the situations that may cause a child to bite could be avoided. Try these suggestions and remember to be patient, con-sistent, and firm.Katrina K. Wilson has a B.S. from Michigan State Uni-versity in Family Community Services, with a specialty in child development for children from birth to age 3. She has been a teacher for countless children, ages 6 weeks to 5 years.

Although scary, frustrating, and stressful for a parent, biting is a natural occurrence

in toddlers. If your child is biting, she is most likely not biting because she is mean

or wants to inflict harm on another child. The biting period is a phase many toddlers

will go through. Here are several reasons why a toddler may bite.

Biting Toddlers

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Homeschooling Open House

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