2010 Parent Guide

ParentsGuideIssaquah 2010

Supplement to The IssaquahPress

• Bilingual babies - language classes for tots

• Birth of a baby - a father’s perspective

• Middle School - preparing for the transition

• E-Addiction - unplugging the kids

• Sports for all - how young, which ones

• Children’s books - librarians’ new picks

A LOOK AT PARENTING AND ISSAQUAH-AREA RESOURCES PAGE 3NOVEMBER 2010

PPuubblliisshheerrDebbie Berto

AAddvveerrttiissiinngg mmaannaaggeerrJill Green

AAddvveerrttiissiinngg ssttaaffffNeil BuchsbaumMichelle ComeauSuzanne HaynesVickie SingsaasFelecia Tomlinson

MMaannaaggiinngg eeddiittoorrKathleen R. Merrill

PPrroodduuccttiioonn Breann GettyDona Mokin

PPaaggee ddeessiiggnnDavid Hayes

WWrriitteerrssLaura GeggelWarren KagariseTim PfarrSebastian Moraga

CCoovveerr ddeessiiggnnDona Mokin

PPhhoottoo,, tthhiiss ppaaggeeGary Giza

CCoovveerr pphhoottooSusan Stainsby

A SPECIAL SECTION OF

THE ISSAQUAH PRESS45 Front St. S.P.O. Box 1328Issaquah, WA 98027392-6434Fax: 391-1541www.issaquahpress.com

4 BBBBrrrr iiiinnnngggg iiiinnnngggg uuuupppp bbbb iiii llll iiii nnnngggguuuuaaaa llll bbbbaaaabbbbyyyy8 SSSS oooo aaaa kkkk uuuu pppp ssss oooo mmmm eeee vvvv iiii tttt aaaa mmmm iiii nnnn DDDD

10 PPPP aaaa rrrr eeee nnnn tttt hhhh oooo oooo dddd :::: eeeexxxx pppp eeee cccc tttt tttt hhhh eeee uuuu nnnn eeeexxxx pppp eeee cccc tttteeee dddd

12 FFFF iiii nnnn dddd pppp aaaa rrrr eeee nnnn tttt iiii nnnn gggg rrrr eeee ssss oooo uuuu rrrr cccc eeee ssss16 SSSS uuuu rrrr vvvv iiii vvvv iiii nnnn gggg mmmm iiii dddd dddd llll eeee ssss cccc hhhh oooo oooo llll22 SSSS pppp iiii cccc eeee uuuu pppp ssss tttt oooo rrrr yyyy tttt iiii mmmm eeee24 KKKKeeee eeee pppp kkkk iiii dddd ssss uuuu nnnn pppp llll uuuu gggg gggg eeee dddd28 PPPP oooo iiii nnnn tttt ,,,, cccc llll iiii cccc kkkk ,,,, llll eeee aaaa rrrr nnnn30 WWWW hhhh eeee nnnn aaaa rrrr eeee kkkk iiii dddd ssss rrrr eeee aaaa dddd yyyy

ffff oooo rrrr ssss pppp oooo rrrr tttt ssss ????34 CCCC hhhh oooo oooo ssss eeee hhhh eeee aaaa llll tttt hhhh ,,,, nnnn uuuu tttt rrrr iiii tttt iiii oooo nnnn36 MMMM aaaa kkkkeeee ffffeeee eeeetttt hhhh aaaa pppp ppppyyyy,,,, hhhh eeee aaaa llll tttt hhhhyyyy37 LLLL iiii ssss tttteeee nnnn uuuu pppp ffffoooo rrrr hhhh eeee aaaa rrrr iiii nnnn gggg llll oooo ssss ssss38 CCCCoooollll lllleeeeggggeeee ssssaaaavvvv iiiinnnnggggssss ssssttttaaaarrrr tttt nnnnoooowwww40 HHHHeeee llll pppp cccchhhh iiii llll dddd rrrreeee nnnn ffff iiii nnnndddd aaaa nnnn iiii cccchhhh eeee42 FFFF iiii nnnn aaaa nnnn cccc eeee ssss 111100001111

Table of contents

Stop your child’s learning struggles! If your child struggles to learn or read, consider this... tutoring is temporary.

It is designed to help with problems in specific subjects, but does little to address the underlying reason your child struggles in the first place.

Brain training exercises target your child’s weaknesses. LearningRx provides dramatic changes in learning abilities and performance. The result?...A lifetime of better learning!

“My LearningRx trainer helped me learn HOW to learn.I now have better grades, higher self esteem and my love of learning skyrocketed! LearningRx changed my life”

Ryan – Issaquah, WA

NNOOVVEEMMBBEERR 22001100

By Laura Geggel

Four-year-old PaulKerdel speaks Englishwith his father andFrench with hismother and au pair.

The Issaquah boy did not al-ways have such fluency, butdeveloped it as French perme-ated his household.

The Kerdels knew they want-ed their children to speakFrench. Karinne Kerdel grew upin France, and she lived therewith her American husband forthree months before theymoved to New York and thenIssaquah.

They tried speaking Frenchin front of Paul, but at the endof the day, it was easier speak-

ing in English, Kerdel said. Shespoke to him in French beforebed, but “even though I wastrying to speak French to himat night, he was speaking Eng-lish 10 hours a day,” at homeand at preschool, she said.

Shortly after the birth of herdaughter, Anne-Sophie, in2009, they hired French au pairEmilie Uteza, a childcare work-er who knew Kerdel’s family inFrance. The family also startedsending Paul to the French

American School of PugetSound on Mercer Island, so“he’s speaking French all day,”Kerdel said.

Even Anne-Sophie, still inher babbling stage, has benefit-ed from the family’s Frenchmovement. Her first word, coucou, means hi and peekaboo inFrench.

If Paul and Anne-Sophie mas-ter French, they will be able tospeak with their grandparentsand cousins and, once they areold enough, decide which coun-try they would like to live in.

“When they’re little, it’samazing how they catch on,”Kerdel said.

Learning through playMany children can learn a

“You don’t need fancytoys, you just need tointeract.” Gina LebedevaUniversity of Washington

By Greg Farrar

Xinyang Liu (right), a teacher at the Sponge language school in Issaquah, speaks in Mandarin to two youngsters in a class withtheir mothers. From left, Michelle Robertson, daughter Grace, Kai Marcelais and his mother Lin, hear dozens of vocabularywords for colors, toys and objects.

Infants andtoddlers

learn foreignlanguage

best throughearly play

Bringing up bilingual baby


foreign language, and theylearn best through play early inlife.

Since 2003, the University ofWashington’s Institute forLearning and Brain Scienceshas researched the fundamen-tal principles of human learn-ing, especially children be-tween infancy and age 5.

“We think that the brain ismore plastic, or more open toexperience learning — the ear-lier the better,” Gina Lebedeva,translation outreach and edu-cation director with the insti-tute, said.

By 10 months of age, thebabbling of infants reflectstheir mother language, and re-searchers have found this iswhen they start to lose theability to distinguish soundsnot needed in their language.

For instance, the sounds of Land R are the same in Japanese,but English-speakers mustlearn to distinguish the differ-ence between the two lettersfor rake and lake.

While windows for learningdifferent aspects of languageare not rigid, research hasshown that infants learn mostabout sounds, called phonetics,in their first year of life, andlearn more about syntax be-tween 18 months and 36months, according to a re-search paper from the instituteby Patricia Kuhl.

Vocabulary developmentskyrockets at 18 months of age,but can continue throughoutlife, she wrote.

“At 6 months, babies areuniversal citizens of theworld,” Jackie Friedman Migh-doll, founder of Sponge lan-guage school, said. “They candistinguish any sound aboutthe same. By 12 months, theneurons in their brains havebeen pruned, so they recognizetheir native language and theyare less able to distinguish oth-er sounds from other lan-guages.”

How babies learn language ispivotal to their success in itsfluency. Social interaction is amust, meaning children watch-ing DVDs or listening to CDswill not get the same results aschildren interacting with a per-son speaking the language tothem.

“You don’t need fancy toys.You just need to interact,”Lebedeva said.

In a recent study publishedby the institute, a group of 9-to 11-month-old infants wasbrought to the institute, wherethey interacted with a nativeMandarin speaker for 12 30-minute sessions.

A control set of infants wasexposed to Mandarin DVDs, asecond control group listenedto CDs and a third controlgroup interacted with Englishspeakers.

The group that played withthe English speakers showed

no sign of learning Mandarin,and neither did the group ex-posed to the DVD or CD, eventhough the children hadshown rapt attention to both.

The relationship betweenthe speaker and child makes allof the difference, Lebedevasaid. The child can follow theadult’s gaze, imitate theirspeech and movements, andreceive feedback.

“If a child laughs, an adultlaughs. There is an engage-ment,” Lebedeva said. “That

doesn’t happen in a TV interac-tion and that doesn’t happenin a CD interaction.”

Learning a foreign languagehappens best during bath ormeal time, she said, adding,“It’s counter-productive to usethings like flash cards anddrills. Instead you want tobuild things into play.”

Affects of a second languageChildren learning two lan-

Continued on Page 6

By Greg Farrar

Paul Kerdel, 4 (right), works on an art activity with his French au pair, Emilie Uteza, at the Kerdel family’sIssaquah Highlands home.


guages may have smaller vo-cabularies in one or both lan-guages, compared to childrenlearning only one language,Lebedeva said.

Yet, when words from bothlanguages are counted, bilin-gual children have either aboutthe same or more words com-pared to monolingual children,she said.

Sometimes, bilingual chil-dren will mix their languagestogether, and Lebedeva saidthis is a normal stage bilingualchildren go through that helpsthem develop language skills.

Playing in IssaquahParents can find a variety of

language-friendly play areas inthe city. The King County Li-brary System hosts free, 30-minute story times in 10 lan-guages at its various branches.The Issaquah Library has Span-ish story time at 7 p.m. everyMonday. Go to the website atwww.kcls.org for more details.

Cecilia McGowan, KCLS co-ordinator for children’s ser-vices, said the program targetschildren whose families speak aforeign language, and childrenwho are learning a foreign lan-guage.

Several language schools inIssaquah teach children aboutdifferent languages and cul-tures. One of them, Sponge,teaches children through play,song and dance.

At a recent Mandarin lesson,teacher Xinyang Liu playedwith 9-month-old GraceRobertson and 2-year-old KaiMarcelais, showing them toyfarm animals and talking tothem in her native tongue.Their mothers played, too, sur-rounding their children withMandarin words.

Friedman Mighdoll said sheand the instructors live for mo-ments when children sponta-neously speak in a foreign lan-guage. Art projects with theirtoddler students are speckledwith foreign phrases about themost ordinary things, like say-ing, “Can you pass the glue?”in Spanish.

Parents are given handoutsso they can review vocabularyand songs their childrenlearned in class, she said.

Other parents join neighbor-

hood language groups, orspend time with friends whospeak a foreign language. TheIssaquah Highlands Playgroupmeets every Thursday from9:30-11 a.m. at the EastsideFire & Rescue fire station, 1280N.E. Park Drive. E-mail NataliaSanti at [email protected] learn more.

A fine balanceAndrea Noon, a Spanish

teacher at Issaquah HighSchool, studied Spanish in col-lege and traveled across Chileand Spain as a young adult.When she and her Mexicanhusband had their daughter,Leila Ramirez, they decided toteach her both Spanish andEnglish, so she could commu-nicate with both sides of thefamily.

When a Spanish-speakingfriend of hers babysat Leila forthe first two and a half years ofher life, Leila’s Spanish blos-somed so much that her par-ents began to worry about herEnglish. Now age 4, Leila’sEnglish is by far better than herSpanish, though she improvesevery time she spends timewith native Spanish speakers,like friends of the family.

“I’m excited when Leila goesto play with them, because herSpanish improves in 15 to 20minutes,” Noon said.

By Greg Farrar

Paul Kerdel, 4 (left), au pair Emilie Uteza, Anne-Sophie Kerdel, 14 months, and the youngsters’ mother,Karinne Kerdel, look on as Anne-Sophie has a snack.

From Page 5

By Greg Farrar

Lin Marcelais and her son Kai, 2, look in a pig puppet’s mouth whiledropping toy vegetables inside, as teacher Xinyang Liu uses Man-darin vocabulary words.

As a Spanish teacher, Noonsaid she recognizes two typesof students with a previousknowledge of the language.There are students who grewup speaking Spanish, “andtheir parents have done a real-ly good job educating them inreading and writing,” Noonsaid.

The other type includes stu-dents who speak Spanish athome, “but there is not reallyan emphasis on the education-al side. They might have neverseen it written,” she said.

While this last group mayspeak the language conversa-tionally, “usually their level ofSpanish is weak grammaticallyand they have a lot of miscon-ceptions about it,” Noon said.

Noon said she hopes Leilawill speak and read Spanish flu-ently, though she knows sheand her husband will have touse the language regularly athome if they want their daugh-ter to follow suit.

Kerdel, the French mother,acknowledged the challenge ofsticking with a foreign lan-guage.

“I think children tend to gowith what’s easier, and Englishis everywhere,” she said.

The benefits of a polyglot The most obvious benefit of

speaking a foreign language isobvious to most. SpeakingFrench, Spanish or Mandarincan help children communi-cate with others and could ex-pand their circle of friends, aswell as career opportunities.

Friedman Mighdoll said shefeels a thrill when her two chil-dren say hello to people inSeattle’s International District.

Other benefits are not asreadily observed. A recentstudy published by the insti-tute at the University of Wash-ington showed that bilingualchildren tend to think moreflexibly.

“It doesn’t mean that bilin-gual people are smarter, thatthey have a bigger memory,that they have bigger IQ,” Lebe-deva said. “What it does meanis that there are certain skillsthat bilinguals are better at.”

Bilingual children playing agame were able to adjust to achange in rules faster thannonbilingual children, accord-

5 GREATEST DANGERS FACING OUR CHILDREN TODAY

LEADERS IN PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT

1. LACK OF EXERCISE Obesity and physical inactivity are two main risk factors of Type 2 diabetes in children.

2. POOR DIET HABITSUnhealthy eating habits are predisposing children to serious illness, including heart disease.

3. PEER PRESSURE Children are encouraged to engage in unacceptable or unsafe behavior to ‘fit in.’

4. BULLYING Children that experience peer harassment are more likely to suffer from

decreased self-worth and depression.

5. LACK OF MOTIVATIONMany children’s lives lack direction because they haven’t been taught how to set worthy goals.

At Karate West, we understand these concerns and have solutions for parents. For over 20 years we have been helping children build strong minds and bodies.

“Enrolling our children at Karate West was one of the best things we could have done to positively affect their future.” – Karate West parent

To learn more about Karate West’s award winning programs andthe beginner classes starting now, call Sammamish 425.391.4444or Mercer Island 206.232.4477. Visit us at karatewest.com.

Continued on Page 8

PAGE 7NNOOVVEEMMBBEERR 22001100

Paul Kerdeltries out hisDarth Vadercostume forHalloween asthe Kerdelfamily’sFrench aupair, EmilieUteza, lookson.

By Greg Farrar


• 8 years providing fun learning programs for children

• Multicultural bilingual program

• Academics emphasized in a warm and nurturing environment

• Hands on learning

• Lessons reinforced through art, dance and songs

“We love to teach and we teach with love”www.sammamishspanishpreschool.com • 425.898.7831 • 425.836.0212

ing to the study. In one game, children were

asked to sort objects by color.Then, the rules changed andchildren had to sort them byshape, though some childrengot confused since some ofthe shapes were red and oth-ers were blue.

“In order to do that, youhave to ignore the first set ofrules and use the second setof rules,” Lebedeva said.“Bilingual kids don’t get asconfused.”

The answer to why maylie within the child’s pre-frontal cortex, the part ofthe brain that allows him orher to switch back and forthbetween two languages withvariations in words, pronun-ciation and grammaticalstructure.

To get to that point of flu-ency, Lebedeva prescribedchildren a healthy dose offoreign language playtime.She instructed parents to fol-low the child’s lead, mean-ing, “if the child is interest-ed in the ball, let’s talkabout the ball and play withthe ball,” she said.

When children reach mid-dle school, learning a secondlanguage is harder to master.

“By the time seventhgrade rolls around, it’s justtoo late for your brain tolearn a second language aswell as a native speakerwould,” Lebedeva said. “Youcan learn vocabulary, butyou’re never going to learnit as functionally and effi-ciently as a young child.”

From Page 7

You take her to regularcheckups, monitor her nutri-tion, provide plenty of cuddletime and stimulation, and keepher out of the sun. But is yournewborn really getting every-thing she needs to thrive?More likely than not, she is notgetting enough vitamin D, ac-cording to studies published bya leading group of doctors.

Also known as the “sunshinevitamin,” vitamin D supportsthe growth of healthy bones ininfants and assists with main-taining functions of theirbrain, heart and various muscletissues. Vitamin D deficiencycan lead to rickets, a disorderthat weakens the bones and be-comes apparent during infancyor childhood.

“Vitamin D is not only impor-tant in bone health, but emerg-ing data support its role in main-taining our immunity and pre-venting diseases such as cancerand diabetes. Unfortunately,many infants are not receivingadequate levels of vitamin D

from breast milk, formula or syn-thesis from sunlight,” said Dr.Scott Cohen, a pediatrician andauthor of the book “Eat, Sleep,Poop: A Common Sense Guide toYour Child’s First Year.”

For many people, exposureto sunlight is the body’s wayof producing vitamin D. Butmany others, including chil-dren being protected from thesun or those with darker skin,need supplemental vitamin D.

In 2008 the American Acade-my of Pediatricians revised itsrecommendations regarding vit-amin D, saying that all children,including newborns, should re-ceive 400 IU a day of vitamin D— double the previously recom-mended level. Follow-up studiespublished this year in the orga-nization’s scientific journal, “Pe-diatrics,” showed that most chil-dren are not receiving vitaminD levels that meet the 2008 rec-ommendations.

According to data reported inthe two studies published in “Pe-diatrics,” less than 13 percent of

infants exclusively breastfedwere meeting the daily recom-mendation of vitamin D. Yet lessthan 16 percent of infants whowere exclusively or predomi-nantly breastfed were receivingsupplemental vitamin D.

Ensuring your baby getsenough vitamin D can seemchallenging, regardless ofwhether you feed your childbreast milk, infant formula or acombination. So what shouldyou do? Here are a few simpleways to help ensure your babygets enough vitamin D:

❑ If you breast feed, talk withyour pediatrician to determinewhether you should add a vita-min D supplement. While it isthe gold standard for infant nu-trition, breast milk by itself gen-erally will not supply your babywith enough vitamin D to meetthe AAP recommended levels.

❑ If you formula feed or par-tially formula feed your baby,you also should talk with yourdoctor. Standard infant formu-las include 400 IU of vitamin Din 34 fluid ounces, but most ba-bies consume an average of ap-proximately 27 fluid ounces offormula a day over the courseof their first three months oflife. Look for a formula thatsupplies 400 IU in fewer fluidounces, or talk with your doc-tor about supplements.

❑ Remember that yourchild’s need for vitamin D doesnot stop when he or she transi-tions to solid foods. Continuethe conversation with yourdoctor and choose foods anddrinks that contain vitamin D,including milk and milk-basedbeverages designed for toddlers.

Source: ARA Content

Is your baby getting

enough vitamin D?


By Sebastian Moraga

My name is Sebastian Mora-ga, I was born in 1979 and I am41 years old.

No, the math is right. OnOct. 5, I watched my first childbeing born and I aged 10 yearsin about an hour.

It all started at about 10p.m. Oct. 4, when the doctorlooked at me and said “he’snot coming out.”

That meant one thing:forceps.

Now, imagine the inventorof the surgical tool the forcepsreplaced and made obsolete —if such a thing ever exist-ed. Let’s call it “TheThingy.”

Well, you take the inventorof “The Thingy” on a bad dayat the office, and I’m still moreanti-forceps than he is. I grewup around horror stories ofcousins whose lives were forev-er changed by what Bill Cosby

calls “the salad spoons,” and Ihad decided long ago not toadd my son to the family’s listof cautionary tales.

But I had seen my unbornchild’s heart rate climb to 210,I had seen the nurses put coldwashcloths on my wife’s fore-head and an oxygen mask onher face, and I had the feeling

things could worsen. So,maybe…

Then, I saw the ac-tual forceps.

Oh, hell no.I had nev-er seen for-

cepsbe-fore.

Theylooked like some-thing you use whenyou want to know where some-one hid the money.

No way that thing was goingto be used on my child and hewas going to be OK afterward.

I suggested the suction

method, and the doctor turnedme down, saying my child’shead was too hairy for the suc-tion cup to work. I am buyingindustrial amounts of Nioxinevery month so I don’t diebald, and my son is too hairyto be born.

My wife and I had talkedabout forceps prior to the birthand we had both decided thatit would be a last resort. Infact, we would likely use “TheThingy” first.

But this was different. Thiswasn’t a chat inside the still-unused nursery or inside Targetshopping for bibs. This was thereal thing. The heart rate keptclimbing, my wife’s foreheadkept dripping, and the more Ithought about it, the moreworked up I got.

Then, the next contractionhit. My wife pushed threetimes. No baby.

I wish I could tell you therewas a Hollywood moment thatconvinced me, complete with

background music and close-ups, Mr. DeMille. But there was-n’t. All I remember clearly isfeeling my wife’s hand in mineand me thinking about my dad.

Back in 1979, my dad facedthe same dilemma. He also hadan unborn son who would notcome out. He also hated for-ceps, and he also had a wifewhose health was in danger.He told the doctor, “You dowhat you have to do to savemy wife and my kid.”

So, 41 years later, I turned tomy wife’s doc and I said thesame thing. The doctor wentahead and started putting theforceps together.

I didn’t feel one bit better. Ithought, “Who do I go to forforgiveness now? If the forcepsdo what I fear they will do,how do I explain to my sonthat it was my call to alter thecourse of his life before it evenbegan? Where do I get the gallto explain the ultimate in ‘itseemed like a good idea at the

Birth of baby How a new dad’s lifechanged with his son’s arrival

SnoValley Starreporter Sebas-

tian Moraganapping with his

first child,Cristián Matías,

born Oct. 5,2010.

By Jeannie Moraga

forceps

time?’”The need for answers weak-

ened me, so I sat down for asecond. Now, my eyes were for-ceps-height. Suddenly, thatcushioned stool felt like OldSparky. I got right back up.

Then, the two forcepsclicked. The most horrifyingsound I’ve ever heard in mylife, and it sounded like noth-ing worse than perhaps four orfive people snapping their fin-gers at once. That’s howworked up I was.

Then, the next contractionhit. And the spot of stubbornhair became a forehead flankedby two pieces of metal. And theforehead became a head, andthe head became an upper bodyand the upper body became20.5 inches of the handsomestanyone ever looked while cov-ered in Lord knows what.

Twenty-three hours of laborand he was here, screaming foraverage and for distance, sport-ing the long, wrinkled Moragatoes that so delighted hisgrandfather when he saw themon me 41 years earlier.

And what do you know,without a forceps mark onhim.

I didn’t cry. I didn’t laugh. I

didn’t scream. All I rememberis standing there, smiling,completely lost in the mo-ment, staring at my new loveand wanting to keep staring athim like that until his fifthbirthday. So lost I was that mywife later told me she won-dered if I would ever grab thecamera.

I thanked the doctor, kissedmy wife and I apologized tothem for being so nutty overthe forceps. Then, after about ahundred photos, I called mymother, who cried with me,congratulated me and thenscreamed at me for letting thedoctor use forceps.

My son was well into hislung workout, so I didn’t hearmuch of what she said.

I walked for a while, until Ifound my mother-in-law, oneof my brothers-in-law and mywife’s best friend, who huggedme like I had just found theirwallet, glasses and pet.

We walked back to the deliv-ery room, and while theytalked to my wife, I sat downagain. That’s when it hit me. Itried to get back up, and whileI knew this wasn’t Old Sparky,the clamps were on.

It was all business now. I


Best of Western WA 3 years in a

row!

Penny Wade, M.S. Ed., BCBAAutism Consultant

The MOST Effective Autism Treatment Available

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)find out more contact

Penny Wade BehaviorTherapy & Consulting, LLC

206-380-3009www.PennyWadeABA.com

had a son. Playtime now be-longs to someone else. I hadstopped living my life and be-come a supporting actor insomeone else’s story. I have toimpart wisdom even when Ihave none for myself.

I had no idea what to say atfirst. So I said everything. Icalled him pet names, goofynames, sang him songs while Ichanged diapers, talked to himin English and read to him inSpanish. Not Dr. Seuss, but heloved it. OK, maybe I did. Heslept.

But I claimed ownership. Ifigured the worst that couldhappen is he stains a few shirtswith his meals, I stain a fewonesies with my drool and weget used to each other.

On the third day, the jaun-

dice hit and he spent his daywith a mask on, a diaper onand nothing else. He let usknow right away that that wasno way to start a life.

Then, I talked to him. Noth-ing clever.

“What happened, Matías?” Iasked twice, using his middlename because I like it betterthan his first.

And then, the tiny fellowwith masked eyes and littleclothing recognized my voiceand stopped crying. I could notbelieve it.

He stirred a bit and fellasleep, leaving behind the coldof the room, the darkness ofthe mask and a 41-year-old30something looking at hisown shoulder for a place tostick his first stripe.

Senior Living at its FinestLocation . . .

Value . . .

Snoqualmie Valley has active adult customized assisted living care offered in a smaller more personable community at the foot of Mount Si.

(425) 888-7108650 E. North Bend Way • North Bend

Voted Best in Valley 2005/2006/2007/2008 & 2009!


AAll--AAnnoonn//AAllaatteeeennFor men, women and

teenagers who have friends orfamily members with a drink-ing problem — meets at 10a.m. Thursdays at Our SaviorLutheran Church, 745 Front St.Call 206-625-0000 or go towww.seattle-al-anon.org.

BBrriiddggiinngg tthhee GGaapp aatt

KKiinnddeerriinngg CCeenntteerr

Bridging the Gap at Kinder-ing Center is a community ofwomen raising children 6 andolder with special needs —sharing resources, emotionalsupport, networking, promot-ing advocacy and creating con-nections. It meets from 6:30-8:30 p.m. the second andfourth Wednesday. Call 653-4322 or e-mail [email protected].

CChhiillddccaarree RReessoouurrcceess

Childcare Resources willhelp you identify childcare op-tions in your area. There is anincome-based fee. Call the re-ferral line at 206-329-5544 or1-877-512-3948 toll free, or goto www.childcare.org.

HHeeaalltthhyy SSttaarrtt

Healthy Start is a parentingeducation and support pro-gram for young families de-signed for parents, age 22 oryounger, who are parentingtheir first child. Program bene-fits include home visits, groupactivities, developmental andhealth screenings, and referralsto community resources. Call885-9375.

EEaassttssiiddee

MMootthheerrss && MMoorree

Eastside Mothers & More is asocial network for all mothers.The group meets severalevenings per month for adultinteraction and fun. Learnmore at www.eastsidemothers-andmore.org.

TThhee EEaarrllyy IInntteerrvveennttiioonn

ffoorr IInnffaannttss aanndd TTooddddlleerrss

The Early Intervention forInfants and Toddlers Birth-to-3program provides therapeuticdevelopmental services forchildren with special needs. Itstarts with a multidisciplinaryteam, including speech, occu-pational and physical thera-pists, early-childhood develop-ment specialists and family re-

source coordinators. The teamconducts standardized assess-ments and helps families planan individualized program fortheir children. Call 888-2777,ext. 230, or go to www.encom-passnw.org.

MMoomm’’ss MMoommeenntt

Mom’s Moment is a supportgroup for parents and care-givers of children with specialneeds. Participants gather toshare information regarding re-sources and, most importantly,camaraderie with others in asimilar situation. Find meetinglocations and details atwww.encompassnw.org.

FFaatthheerrss NNeettwwoorrkk

Fathers Network providespeer support, resources and ed-ucation, as well as social events

The right list of resources means

never having to parent alone


for fathers of special-needschildren and for those havingchildren with special healthconcerns. Call 653-4286.

FFiirrsstt CChhooiiccee

IInn--HHoommee CCaarree

First Choice In-Home Care isdedicated to providing respon-sive, respectful and caring sup-port to vulnerable adults andchildren and adults with dis-abilities. Call 747-5000 or go towww.fcihc.com.

FFrriieennddss ooff YYoouutthh

Friends of Youth provides awide range of services foryouths and young adults ages6-24 — and their families — inKing County, overseeing eightprograms at 20 sites and serv-ing between 10,000 and15,000 teens, young adults,parents and families eachyear.

In addition to operating theonly overnight youth shelterson the Eastside, it offers youthdevelopment initiatives, in-

By Julie Akers Bannerman

Helen Bannerman (right) and her grandson Alexander Bannerman enjoy a Popsicle.Continued on Page 14

Our commitment is to the whole child –

academic, emotional and

spiritual.

Faith Mother’s Day Out

Registration in late January 2011.

Call or email now for a tour appointment.

425-392-0123 [email protected]

• Ages 20 mos. to Pre-K • 9:30 am - 1:00 pm (M, T, Th & F) • Specialist classes weekly:

Sing, Swing & Sway; Jump, Jiggle & Jog; & Chapel Time

Sound Ballet TheatreRhythmic Gymnastics, Dance and Art Center

Re-Opening Promo Rates

Location: 172 N Front St., Issaquah Ages: Children 3 years through adults

[email protected] 425.677.4058Learn more at www.soundballet.org

Creative • Rhythmic • Ballet • Acting Bollywood • Belly • Fitness • Russian Language

Bring your child in for a thorough vision exam with Amy L. Riskedahl, O.D.


Compassionate, Convenient, Competent Christian Counseling that WORKS!

REBECCA TURNER, L.P.C.MEMBER N.C.C.A., A.A.C.C.425.454.3863

SOLID ROCK COUNSELING

CENTER

Need help, but skeptical about counseling? Give me a chance to change your mind!

Counseling available for all emotional and mental health needs, for all ages.

In-office, telephone, and internet sessions available.

“Rebecca literally saved my life! In a very short amount of time, she accomplished what other counselors could

not do after 20+ years of therapy...”

home family support for youngparents of newborns, parenteducation, youth and familycounseling, substance abusecounseling, therapeutic fostercare, residential treatment, andtransitional housing for home-less young people and teenmothers. The Issaquah office isat 414 Front St. N. Call 392-6367 or go to www.friendsof-youth.org.

TTooddddlleerr TTiimmee

Issaquah Parks and Recre-ation Department — “ToddlerTime,” for children ages 1-3, isfrom 8 a.m. – noon Mondaysthrough Fridays. This daytimeclass with an indoor play-ground lets children play andparents get a chance to bond.Fee is $2 per child. Call 837-3300.

TThhee CCaanncceerr

LLiiffeelliinnee PPrrooggrraamm

The Cancer Lifeline Pro-gram, in cooperation withOverlake and Evergreen hospi-tals, is for children ages 6-12whose parent or other signifi-cant family member has can-cer. Call 206-297-2500 or 800-255-2505 toll free.

TThhee KKiinnsshhiipp CCaarree

PPrrooggrraamm

The Kinship Care Programhelps kinship caregivers un-derstand and navigate the ser-vices available for children liv-ing with relatives other thantheir own parents. Call 800-737-0617 toll-free or go towww.dshs.wa.gov/kinshipcare.

MMoommss iinn TToouucchh

Moms in Touch — Mothers

meet, grouped by area school,for one hour each week to prayfor school concerns, teachersand for their children. Call800-949-MOMS toll free or goto www.momsintouch.org to finda local group near you.

MMOOMMSS CClluubb ooff

SSaammmmaammiisshh

MOMS Club of Sammamishgets moms and their childrentogether for mom activitiesand kid activities, includingplaygroups divided by age. Goto http://momsclubsam-mamish.org.

MMOOPPSS ((MMootthheerrss ooff

PPrreesscchhoooolleerrss))

MOPS (Mothers ofPreschoolers) is for motherswith children from infancythrough kindergarten. Momshave the opportunity to share

concerns, explore areas of cre-ativity and learn from variousspeakers. Find a group near youat www.MOPS.org.

TThhee NNaattiioonnaall AAlllliiaannccee

oonn MMeennttaall IIllllnneessss

EEaassttssiiddee

The National Alliance onMental Illness Eastside missionis to improve the quality of lifeof persons affected by acuteand chronic mental illnessthrough support, educationand advocacy. Services includesupport groups, education fo-rums, classes and more. Allprograms are free. Call 885-6264 or e-mail [email protected].

PPiinnee LLaakkee CCoo--oopp

PPrreesscchhooooll

Pine Lake Co-op Preschool is

From Page 13


Eastside PediatricDental Group

All Day Pre-K (4 yrs. by Aug. 31),

Kindergarten, 1st & 2nd Grade

“Foundation Education”

contact Joe Drovetto, Chief Admin.phone 425-392-1196email [email protected] www.snosprings.comaddress 25237 SE Issaquah-Fall City Rd., Issaquah 98029

Snoqualmie Springs School

2011-2012 School YearOpen House and Registration

Friday, Jan. 21, 4-6pm Saturday, Jan. 22, 1-3pm

a nonprofit organization spon-sored by the Bellevue Commu-nity College Parent EducationProgram, combining parent ed-ucation with an interactiveprogram for parents and theirchildren. Call 392-0496 or goto www.pinelakecoop.org.

YYoouutthh EEaassttssiiddee

SSeerrvviicceess

Youth Eastside Services is alifeline for kids and familiescoping with challenges such asemotional distress, substanceabuse and violence. Throughintervention, outreach andprevention, YES builds confi-dence and responsibility,strengthens family relation-ships, and advocates for a safercommunity that cares for itsyouth.

The SUCCESS MentoringProgram recruits caring adultsto serve as a positive role mod-

el to young people who arestruggling with their academic,social or personal lives. SUC-CESS mentors encourageyouths to develop the skillsand qualities they need to besuccessful in life, help thembuild self-esteem and provide

them with continual supportand guidance.

Gay/lesbian youth, angermanagement and parentingsupport groups are available.Counseling, case manage-ment, information and refer-ral, and cultural adaptation

programs are available for im-migrant and refugee youthand families. Prevention pro-grams are offered at nocharge.

Call 747-4937 or go towww.youtheastsideservices.org.


By Greg Farrar

Pine Lake Middle School sixth-graders flock to their lockers recently at the end of their school day, two months into their new routine.

Getting stuck in the middle

Avoidheadaches

in the transit ion from elementary to middle school

By Greg Farrar

The spontaneous hubbub for sixth-graders after school is a big change from lining up by class-room in their previous elementary school experience.


This fall, some students faced more than a new school year —they faced a whole new school. Transition years, in which stu-dents move from elementary to middle school, and from middleschool to high school, can be exciting and full of promise. Butadjusting to greater academic challenges and a different socialenvironment can be scary.

Students may worry about making friends, peer pressure,getting lost and having a different teacher for each class. So,what can parents do to help children through this majorchange?

Sylvan Learning offers the following tips:❑ Get to know the school. Attend end-of-summer activities

your school offers. There’s probably an open house — take yourchild, and invite one or two of his or her friends to go with you.If the school doesn’t have an open house, advocate for one.

❑ Roam around. Explore the campus. Have your child’s newschedule with you. Go to the classrooms, the restrooms, thecafeteria, the gym, the main office, the nurse’s office and theguidance suite. Note how long it takes to get from classroom toclassroom.

❑ Be prepared. Buy a combination lock before school starts,and let your child practice locking and unlocking it.

❑ Be encouraging. Encourage your child to join clubs, teamsand activities. This is a great way to make friends, discover newinterests and talents, put down roots and build confidence.

❑ Know the teachers. Keep in periodic touch with teachers inperson and through notes, e-mail or the school’s website. Knowwhat they expect from students, when report cards come out,when major assignments are due and when tests are scheduled.Help keep your student on track by being persistent when nec-essary.

❑ Organize. Help your child stay ahead by setting goals,planning for important dates and events, and establishinghomework and studying routines.

Get additional resources and information about free seminarson “Transitions: Middle and High School” at www.sylvanlearn-

ing.com.

Source: NewsUSA

Helpful strategies forschool transitions

By Greg Farrar

A class of Sunset Elementary fifth-graders walks in line fromtheir classroom to a music room.

By Warren Kagarise

Pimples can be toughenough, but the uncomfortablephysiological changes on thehorizon cannot compare to theother horror ahead: middleschool.

Despite the monumental na-ture of the transition from ele-mentary school to middleschool, experts said the experi-ence does not need to causetears to fall or stomachs to tieup in knots.

“This is a challenging transi-tion regardless of how well-ad-justed your child is,” Pacific

Cascade Middle School coun-selor Sonja Petersen said. “Thisis going to be a challenge forall kids.”

Challenging, yes, but not inthe way grown-ups might ex-pect.

The most common questionIssaquah School District Asso-ciate Superintendent RonThiele hears from fifth-graderspoised to make the transition:“What’s it going to be like todress down for P.E. class?”

Other common concerns: be-coming lost on campus, steer-

By Greg Farrar

Sunset Elementary School fifth-graders play soccer during their lastyear of having recess periods.

Continued on Page 18


ing through lunch, sloggingthrough a recess-free schoolday and — most terrifying of all— facing the threat of a swirlyfrom a surly eighth-grader.

“Big brothers are notoriousfor telling you that kids are go-ing to get swirlies and thingslike that,” Thiele said.

The fears subside, he said,after a handful of days as amiddle schooler, in part be-cause the district takes steps toprep fifth-graders for the leap.

“What I’ve always told par-ents is, within the first fewweeks, your elementary childwill be a middle schooler, andtruly, it’s usually within thefirst few days,” he added.

Thiele, a former middleschool teacher and administra-tor, said students start to feelmore confident as they meetteachers and students, and be-

By Greg Farrar

Above, Jeff Jewell (center), teaching a Pine Lake Middle School sixth-grade tech class, has the attention of, from left, Shubh Singh, CollinYoung and Coby Boulware. Below, Luke Hamblin, center, and Lucas Dolliver play outdoor musical instruments during fifth-grade recess on theSunset Elementary School playground.

From Page 17


Working for the client.Where they need me.

206-235-1332www.NancyOlmos.com

[email protected]

Nancy OlmosWindermere Real Estate,

East IncReal Property. Real Expertise.Realtor since 1990

Find me on Facebook

Find me on Linkedin

• 2 1⁄2 - 6 years• All day care• Serving Issaquah, Eastgate, Lakemont, Factoria, & Newcastle since 1977

425.747.5029cougarmountainmontessori.org

Preschool & Kindergarten

• Pre-ballet, basic tumbling, tap• 2 days a week on the Plateau• Ages 3-7

Dance with Miss Sue425.443.5737

Tuition or Drop In 27 years experience

Mbr. of Dance Educators of America

come more accustomed to mid-dle school life.

“I always used to tell mystaff, ‘Smile a lot in the begin-ning and be helpful,’” he said.

But stress can build as stu-dents shift from a single class-room and a familiar teacher infifth grade to a trek from mid-dle school classroom to class-room throughout the day.

“I think a lot of the stress ofstarting middle school for kidsis around, ‘How do I do all ofthis? I’ve got six different class-es and different things.’” Pe-tersen continued. “So, kind ofbe able to boil it down at theend of the day and say, ‘OK,let’s take a deep breath andlook at what happened in thisclass and what happened inthat class.’”

The key to success is to fol-low some basic steps to helpstudents make the change.

Petersen emphasizes organi-


SunsetElementarySchool fifth-graders playa pick-up soc-cer matchduring thelunch recess.

By Greg Farrar

zation as the trick to keepsixth-graders on track and nothyperventilating from the sud-den increase in homework andextracurricular activities. Struc-ture is important, as childrenlearn to set aside time to tackletougher assignments.

“Middle school students re-ally need a lot of guidancewhen it comes to organiza-tion,” she said. “I think we’dlike them to just say, ‘Here’syour planner. Go use it,’ butthey really need to learn howto do it, and they need to learnhow to build that habit. Ittakes time.”

The other trick to maintain-ing sanity: patience, patience,patience. Petersen said parentsmust remember to lighten up,too.

“None of the teachers expectthat parents are going to beable to help their students withall of their homework, buthelping them to be organized,”she continued.

The transition has also at-tracted attention from educa-tion leaders.

Thiele, other district admin-istrators and parents huddledin 2007 to examine the middleschool experience and helpstudents make the leap fromsmall elementary classrooms tospread-out middle school cam-puses.

Thiele said the crucial ele-

mentary-to-middle school tran-sition required special atten-tion because of the physiologi-cal and structural changes —such as a busier school day —affecting students. So, teachersand administrators emphasizeorganization and preparedness,plus patience for parents.

In doing so, the district hascharted a path for parents andstudents similar to the guide-

lines recommended by groupsas varied as the Centers for Dis-ease Control and Prevention,National Education Associa-tion, National Middle SchoolAssociation and children’sbook publisher Scholastic.

The results appeared to besuccessful on Aug. 31 — theday hundreds of former fifth-graders descended onto middleschool campuses in the Is-

saquah district.“I was at every one of our

middle schools on the first dayof school this year, and I didnot see a single tear,” Thielesaid. “That’s usually a goodmeasure.”

Remember: In only threeyears, students transitionfrom middle school to thecliques and classrooms ofhigh school.


Experience the Bible from a Jewish perspective

In the heart of Newcastle7935 136th Avenue SE

(425) 793-3000 www.BeitTikvah.us

Schedule of ServicesKabbalat Shabbat 1st & 3rd Fridays 7:00 PM

Saturday Morning Service at 10:30 AM

Messianic Dance Classes: Tuesday 7:00 PM

Hylan Slobodkin, Messianic Rabbi 17945 NE 65th • Suite 100 • Redmond, WA 98052

• Jazz • Tap• Hip Hop • Lyrical• Ballet

Call Today(425) 861-5454www.gttadance.com

Give the Gift ofDANCE

GOTTADANCE Ages 2 - Adult

From Page 19

By Greg Farrar

A pan of Grandmother Opal’s Farmhouse Apple Cake cools on the stove in Gail Oseran’s sixth-grade culi-nary arts class at Pine Lake Middle School.

By Ann Crewdson

With the price of food and gas still onthe rise, buying books for your children isunderstandably not at the top of your list.

Rather than make sacrifices, however,why not turn to your local library tomeet your child’s essential readingneeds? With a free library card, you cancheck out books before deciding what,based on how many times your childsays, “Again, again!” whether to buy.

Here’s a random sampling of brand newtitles for zero dollars.

“The Boss Baby” By Marla Frazee

Everyone knows who’s boss the mo-ment the baby arrives but never beforehas it ever been put to us so bluntly andso comically. Parents — understandingbystanders tell us that having a baby islike having a second job, however, hasanyone drawn a direct parallel? — thosemidnight meetings, those insane hoursof work with no time off, the calls forjuice 24/7 — all of it is very cute untilone day boss baby calls from his babymonitor and gets no response. You won’tstop laughing when the baby decides tothink outside of the box after discover-ing that he wasn’t getting results.

“Pepi Sings a New Song”By Laura Ljungkvist

Pepi loves to sing songs to his humancompanion Peter when he stargazes. Everynight, it’s the same tired old song. He goes

on an exploration through the bakery,music and art studios, market and a dogpark — experiencing icing, dough, col-lages, maracas, accordions, peas and kale.She collects enough to write a special newtwinkle twinkle song to sing with Peter.

“Little Owl Lost” By Chris Haughton

If you’re able to turn your neck 360 de-grees, you’ll notice that owls are very popu-lar this year. Little owl falls out of his nest,wanders around his forest and finds a help-

ful squirrel who accompanies him throughthe forest, showing him who might be hismommy. Interviewing each animal hecomes across brings him closer to hismother with the help of Squirrel.

“The Pout Pout Fishin the Big-Big Dark” By Deborah Diesen

Pout-Pout Fish is afraid of the dark. Hewishes he could be faster, stronger andsmarter so he can help Ms. Clam find herpearl, because he keeps his promises.While searching up and down the slopesand through the reefs, a sweet voice — aguiding light gives him clues to where itmight be.


Take care of your child’s

reading needs at the library


“The Gobble Gobble MooooooTractor Book” By Jez Alborough

Sheep, cat, turkey, goose, mouse andcow pretend to drive Farmer Dougal’s trac-tor a cappella — sheep with his baaa,turkey on gobble gobble and goose honk-ing all the way. When cow adds his enginesound with a moo, the realism wakes thefarmer and the animals flee.

“A Plane Goes Ka-Zoom!” By Jonathan LondonIllustrated by Denis Roche

Applause for Jonathan London “Ka-Zoom, Va-Room” for another book ontransportation. Planes zip through the air— pink, yellow, gray — carrying freight,passenger and mail — and that makes agreat tale. Follow in rhyme and sound astoddlers enjoy propellers and planes tak-ing off while practicing being a pilot. Incolorful pages, young toddlers learn theword, “plane” in different settings and fi-nally soars into the night.

“The Cow Loves Cookies” By Karma WilsonIllustrated by Marcellus Hall

The farmer knows what the horseywants to eat, what the chickens need,what the geese crave and what the hogsslop up. Hay, feed, corn and slop are easyto come by, but what about cookies? Thecow wants cookies and why does thefarmer go out of his way to find them?Whatever it is, it has to be some sweetdeal.

“Vacation’s Over!Return of the Dinosaurs” By Joe Kulka

The dinosaurs return from enjoyingtheir visit to other planets where they’vebeen eating at lavish buffets, riding rollercoasters and strolling alien shores for thelast 65 million years to discover a GreatWall and nothing is the way it used to

be. Kulka’s humor comes through againin this rip roaring tale.

“My Mommy Hung the Moon:A Love Story” By Jamie Lee Curtis and Laura Cornell

A mommy who can hang the moon andtie it up with string has only just begun todemonstrate her smallest of superpowersnext to being able to grow food, bakecookies, write books and cure the sick.Momma is boss and good at everything,ruling the world on her throne as well.Your little ones will agree as you read eachpage filled with colorful pictures of rain-bows, animals and the moon. Aliensdrawn are smaller than a thermometerand the main character can be a girl or aboy.

“A Bedtime for Bear” By Bonny BeckerIllustrated by Kady MacDonald Denton

Bear was enjoying his usual quietevening when an unexpected guest ap-pears at his doorstep. He had forgottenhe’d agreed to host an evening withMouse, who had packed for a sleepover.After playing checkers and drinking hotcocoa, they retire upstairs with Bear, mak-ing clear he needed absolute silence.When mouse falls back into his naturalanimal instincts, can their friendship sur-vive?

Ann Crewdson is the children’s section supervisor at theIssaquah Library.


By Tim Pfarr

Did you have a grand-mother who toldyou technologicaladvances were sinis-ter? Did you just dis-

count her as merely being setin her ways and stuck in the1950s? She may have beenoverlooking the obvious bene-fits of technology, but perhapsshe had a point.

While moderate usage of

video games, the Internet andcell phones can be harmless,excessive use can have ad-verse effects, especially onchildren.

Marianne Goble, counselorat the Wise Heart Center forPsychotherapy in Issaquah,said one of the most importantthings for a parent to remem-ber is that video games shouldnot take the place of playtime,which is absolutely paramount

for children ages 4-12.She said the playtime should

be away from electronics andin the physical presence offriends and parents. This play-time helps a child develop so-cial skills, explore his or herown creativity, and develop anunderstanding of how othersthink and feel.

Nonetheless, even electron-ic communication is prefer-able to no communication,such as when a child plays asolitary video game, she said.Cutting communication alto-gether isolates the child andstunts social skills, and the ef-fect can extend into adult-hood.

“The impact is huge. It’svery, very huge,” Goble said.“A lot of people don’t getthat.”

She said children most of-ten begin isolating them-selves from ages 7-9, and itoften comes as a result ofsomething troubling in thechild’s environment, such asbullying at school or argu-ments between parents athome.

Dealing with dependencyBy using electronics enough

— socially or in isolation — a

dependency can develop, said

Dr. Hilarie Cash, co-author ofthe book “Video Games & YourKids: How Parents Stay in Con-trol,” and co-founder of the In-ternet addiction recovery pro-gram Restart in Fall City.

She said using electronicscan release dopamine in thebrain, which induces a feelingof pleasure.

Excessive use builds up a tol-erance in the brain, and whenthe chemical is taken away,one goes through withdrawal.For the developing brain of achild, such a chemical depen-dency can affect thoughtprocesses, perception of howthe world works and resource-fulness, Cash said.

In 2007, the American Med-ical Association discussed des-ignating video game and Inter-net addiction as an official di-


Good technology gone badLearn the

signs ofwhen yourkids have

beenplugged in

too long

“The impact is huge. It’svery, very huge. A lot ofpeople don’t get that.”Marianne GobleWise Heart Center for Psychotherapy

22629 SE 29th St.Sammamish, WA 98075

www.slckids.com

Sammamish Learning CenterA unique learning environment that guides children towards the

discovery of their world in a peaceful and nurturing way.

PreschoolAges 3-5

Fears about video games oftengrab headlines, but a growingbody of research shows thatvideo games can actually be ben-eficial to your child’s develop-ment. Kids can learn academics,social interaction and coopera-tion and even history fromvideo games, a new reportshows.

The study, spearheaded byCheryl K. Olson, a researcher atMassachusetts General Hospi-tal’s Center for Mental Healthand Media in Boston, indicatedvideo game benefits can include:

❑ Providing an outlet forcreativity

❑ Allowing children andteens to try on roles (from newsports to different personalitiesor professions) in a safe envi-ronment

❑ Providing practice in plan-ning and recognizing conse-quences

❑ Helping manage difficultemotions

❑ Promoting interest in ex-ercise and sports

❑ Improving visual/spatialskills

❑ Nourishing self-esteem,pride and socialization skills

So, how can parents ensuretheir children are reaping ben-efits from game playing, whileavoiding possible negatives fortheir emotional and physicalwell-being? Experts agree onseveral points:

Get educated“One reason parents may be

concerned about video games isthat they don’t feel comfortablewith the controls,” said Olson,an assistant clinical professor ofpsychiatry at Harvard MedicalSchool. “A mom who’s not surewhether a comic book or amovie is appropriate for herchild can flip or fast-forwardthrough it. If she’s worriedabout a video game, but lacksthe skill to play it, she’s leftfrustrated and a bit embar-rassed.”

Fortunately, parents canfind plenty of resources onlineto help them better understand

a particular game and the af-fect it might have on theirchild, including:

❑ ESRB.org, the home pageof the Entertainment SoftwareRating Board. The website al-lows parents to search for aspecific game by title or pub-lisher, learn its ESRB rating andwhy the board awarded thatrating. The ESRB assigns rat-ings to help parents determinewhether a game is appropriatefor their child.

❑ Grandtheftchildhood.com,Olson’s website with informa-tion drawn from her book bythe same name. The site ex-plores a variety of issues relat-ing to video games and offersperspective backed by Olson’sown research and the work ofmany others.

Keep an open mindResearch has shown that

video games can have manybenefits for children, frombuilding eye-hand coordina-tion, to teaching importantmath, reading and spatial skills,to providing a means of social-ization and an outlet for nega-tive feelings. Children playvideo games for many reasons,Olson’s latest research shows.

“It’s just fun” was the prima-ry reason cited by both boysand girls for playing videogames, but other reasons in-cluded the challenge of master-ing the game, the joy of learn-ing something new and the de-sire to relax.

“Parents may worry aboutthe appeal of violent contentin games, but our research sug-gests that children enjoy videogames more for the chance tofigure out problems, expresscreativity, compete withfriends and even teach friendshow to play,” Olson noted. “Agame doesn’t have to be la-beled ‘educational’ to benefitchildren. For example, recentgames such as ‘Bakugan’ andthe ‘Professor Layton’ seriesbuild problem-solving skills,and sneak in a fair amount ofreading.”

Establish boundariesExperts agree that it is a par-

ent’s right and responsibilityto set boundaries for childrenand teens, including healthylimits on video game play. Aswith other media, parentsneed to choose video gameswisely.

Parental controls for gameconsoles and computers helpparents restrict what gamestheir children play based onage-based ESRB ratings. Theymay also consider limitingwhere their child can play.Moving the video game con-sole out of the child’s roomand into a common area ofthe house keeps parentstuned in to what their child

is playing, and makes itharder for a child to choosegames over sleep. Withgames that promote socialand interactive play, and en-courage fun physical activity,parents might find them-selves drawn into their chil-dren’s games.

“Allowing your child toteach you how to play a videogame is a great way to buildyour relationship and share in-terests.” Olson said. “As withany activity a child is interest-ed in, parental involvementand guidance can help a childget the greatest benefit fromit.”

Source: ARA Content

Study: Videogames developsocial benefits



agnosis, although it ultimatelydecided against doing so. TheAMA Council on Science andPublic Health wrote in a reportthat what could be consideredvideo game addiction bears themost resemblance to a gam-bling addiction.

A child is often in a seden-tary state while using videogames and computers, whichcan lead to health problemssuch as obesity, upper-bodymuscular-skeletal disorders andincreased metabolic rate, ac-cording to the report. Somestudies also suggested a correla-tion of video games to attentiondeficit hyperactive disorder.

Debbie Steinberg Kuntz, acounselor at Issaquah FamilyCounseling, said a child’s de-pendency on electronics canstrain the parent-child rela-tionship, resulting in argu-ments.

“It becomes a big powerstruggle,” she said.

Kuntz said parents shoulduse family meetings to discussthe problem, and provide in-centives for straying from elec-tronics. Incentives could be anextra play date or a later bed-time on a given night of theweek, she said.

Goble said parents should besure to replace electronics withrelationships when usage is aproblem.

“It needs to be relationship

with parents, relationship withfriends,” she said.

If a child is having difficultybalancing such relationships,counselors can help.

If you see your child begin-ning to fall into heavy videogaming or use of electronics,try inviting him or her outsideto throw a ball and show himor her that such activities canbe more fun, Goble said.

Healthy alternativesOnce a child reaches 9 or 10

years old, encourage him orher to find a sport to play, orencourage him or her to learnan instrument. Sports increasephysical activity and instru-ments make strong neural con-nections in the brain that in-crease dexterity and coordina-tion, she said.

Maya Andreics is one parentwho has taken advantage ofthese tactics. Her son, Kai, is infirst grade, and her daughter,Seana, is in third grade at Chal-lenger Elementary School.

“The rule is they have toplay piano first, and thenthey have an hour to do what-ever they want,” Andreicssaid.

After finishing playing pi-ano, Kai takes to “SuperMario World” on the Wii, andSeana plays “Webkinz,” inwhich players care for virtualanimals.

If a child isn’t interested inmusic, offer to let him or herchoose the instrument, and heor she will likely be more ex-cited about the new venture,Goble said. When a childreaches 11 or 12 years old, heor she may develop an interestin writing, another healthy ac-tivity.

To avoid bad habits with elec-tronics, set rules and stick to

From Page 24


14360 SE Eastgate Way, Suite 102 • Bellevue, WA 98007 • Email: [email protected]

Bellevue’s Nonprofit Community Music School

Our mission is to enrich the quality of life for children of all ages through accessible music education and experiences.

Register Now forWinter Classes

Call 425.644.0988Visit our website

www.musicworksnw.org

• Music Instruction for Children and Adults• Private Lessons• Group Lessons• Performance Ensembles• Musikgarten• School Outreach Programs

425.698.5777

“Where kids love to learn & learn to love!”

Open enrollment begins Jan. 24th

Call now fora tour!

them, Cash said. Being inconsis-tent will beget whining, whichthe child will continue to dountil getting what he or shewants. Also, set time limits onusage, monitor what websites heor she visits and consider requir-ing homework to be finished be-fore allowing any usage.

The AMA, in accordancewith the American Council ofPediatrics, recommends limit-ing electronics use to one totwo hours per day and pro-hibiting violent games, whichincrease aggressive behavior.

Kuntz said another option isto allow a child to play a videogame for a fixed amount oftime, then require any furthervideo game time to be educa-tional.

The opposite problemWhile limiting time using

electronics may be somethingmany parents need to do, someparents may find themselveswith the opposite problem,such as Chris Hensen.

Hensen said he gave histhird-grade daughter Elliott,who attends Challenger, a Nin-tendo DSi for her birthday, butshe never showed much inter-est in it. He said it was disap-pointing, given the hand-heldconsole costs about $150.

“She played it like twodays,” he said.

Still, he said he uses book-marks on his computer to giveElliott and his two younger

children access to games onwebsites such as Nickelodeonwhen they want to play. Hesaid this method also allowshim to monitor what sites El-liott and his two younger chil-dren visit.

Regardless, he said the elec-tronic draw hasn’t been partic-ularly strong.

“They’re not too interestedin the games,” he said.

Even if your children do nottake much interest in videogames or other electronics, besure to maintain open communi-cation to keep your bond strong,which will help you address anyproblems that could arise.

“That relationship is every-thing,” Goble said about theparent-child relationship. “Itreally, truly is.”

Even if your children donot take much interest invideo games or otherelectronics, be sure tomaintain open communi-cation to keep your bondstrong, which will helpyou address any prob-lems that could arise.


1107 228th Ave SESammamish,WA 98075

425.392.3866

O P E N H O U S ESaturday, Nov. 6th10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Montessori Education for Toddlers through Junior High School.

Live to Love,Love to Learn,Learn to Live

Learn how current Neuro and Cognitive Science validate Montessori Education

SUNNYBROOK

OPEN HOUSENOV. 20, JAN. 22, FEB. 5

10AM - 1PM

• Montessori Pre-School Program Ages 14 Months to 6 Years

• Montessori Elementary Program Ages 6 - 9 Years

• Extended Care Program Available

Montessori Pre-School & Elementary

Today's middle and highschool students, the "iGenera-tion," are the first to crave andbenefit from on-demand educa-tion — choosing where, whenand how they want to learn.

The iGeneration (the "i"stands for "information") hasnever known life without the In-ternet, instant messaging orchoosing and watching contentat home, in the car, at a footballgame or while at the mall. Par-ents and educators are looking athow to rewire schools to matchhow the iGeneration learns.

Online classes createnew options

Taking classes online is oneway to give middle and highschool students (and theirschool districts) new options tolearn using preferred tools in afamiliar environment. Throughonline learning, students caneven experience enhanced, one-on-one relationships with edu-cators. Whether they're in needof more assistance, looking for awider range of classes or simplyprefer to learn in a medium thatthey have grown up with, on-line learning can be a great wayto fit your child's needs.

A recent study by AventaLearning found that compared totraditional learning environ-ments, online learning is an ef-fective way to teach students

who live in a world of cus-tomized, instant feedback. On-line learning offers a challengingcurriculum, as 72 percent of on-line students spend three ormore hours on homework perweek versus 56 percent of stu-dents in traditional schools.

Online learning can betailored to student needs

With online learning, teach-ers are able to provide a moreindividualized learning experi-ence and tailor curriculum tomeet each student's ability andlearning speed. In fact, 54 per-cent of online students reportfeeling appropriately chal-lenged when they are doingwell in school versus 49 percentof students in traditionalschools. Online students alsoreceive more attention fromteachers, as 58 percent of onlinestudents get more help whenthey fall behind versus 40 per-cent of students in traditionalschools. The survey also foundthat online learning creates stu-dents who are more committedto attending college, as 78 per-cent of online students havemore interest in attending afour-year college after gradua-tion versus 67 percent of stu-dents in traditional schools.

Hybrid learning programs Students are increasingly able

to take online classes in partner-ship with their local school dis-tricts that are facing severe bud-get cuts, school closings and a re-duction in faculty. A recent studyreleased by the Center on Educa-tion Policy found that 68 percentof districts expect their total bud-gets to decrease for the 2010-11school year and three-fourths an-ticipate cutting teacher positions.

To combat this problem,these school districts are turningto online classes to ensure theirstudents have access to high-quality curriculum and instruc-tion. They use online learningprograms to supplement class-room instruction or to offerclasses for which they have noteachers, Advanced Placementclasses for students who exceland credit recovery options forstudents who struggle. In fact,today 1 million children arelearning online, either parttime, full time or betweenschool terms. Additionally,more than 20 percent of schoolsand educational institutionsaround the country offer onlineclasses today, and that numbershould grow by another 30 per-cent within a couple of years,

according to industry research.Through online learning or

hybrid programs with tradition-al schools, students who takeonline courses are scoring abovenational averages on both theSAT and ACT tests and havebeen accepted into more than160 colleges and universities, in-cluding Ivy League schools.

Online learningresources for parents

For parents looking for moreoptions to enhance their child'seducation, OnlineSchoolSolu-tions.com offers online learn-ing options to fit all types ofstudents and learning situa-tions. This website providesacademic solutions to fit everychild's needs, including optionsfor home-schooled families,students brushing up on skillsto compete at the next leveland children facing challengesin traditional schools. For par-ents of students in brick-and-mortar schools, contact yourlocal school district to find outthe online learning optionsavailable at your school.

Source: ARA Content

Why online learning can be a good option


By Bob Taylor

Ryan Fleisher had ahunch her daughterswould become gym-nasts. Almost assoon as Mikayla and

Raelynn were able to walk,they would enter the livingroom and perform their ver-sion of a gymnastics meet forRyan and her husband.

Both daughters have grownup around gymnastics as theirmom is Issaquah High School’sgymnastics coach and also aninstructor for the GymnasticsEast program. Mikayla, 11, andRaelynn, 8, both are in com-petitive gymnastics now afterbeginning in an introductoryprogram.

Fleisher said she believes it’sadvantageous for children to

get involved in some kind ofphysical activity at an earlyage. She’s not alone in that be-lief. There have been severalnational studies that maintainchildren who get involved inphysical activity early andhave a nutritious diet are morelikely to lead healthy lives. It isbelieved that people who areactive while young will be ac-tive as adults.

If done correctly, organizedsports can be beneficial, pro-viding a framework for chil-dren to play in a safe andhealthy manner.

The question for many par-ents is when to start their chil-dren in organized sports. Ac-cording to a study by the Na-tional Center for Sports Safety,there is no definite age or mag-ical sign marking when a child

is ready to participate in orga-nized sports. Each child andsport is different, making it, bynecessity, a case-by-case deci-sion.

Fleisher said she believes it’simportant for children to getstarted in some kind of intro-ductory program before em-barking on a competitive pro-gram.

Gymnastics East, for exam-ple, has an introductory pro-gram for children 18 monthsto 3 years of age. The IssaquahSwim School also has an intro-ductory program that startswith children 6 months of ageto 3 years.

Issaquah Parks and Recre-ation have a variety of pro-grams for children age 3through middle school. One ofthe popular programs is the

By Adam Eschbach

Gymnastics instructor Jen Cook works with Miya Nakata on the balance beam at Gymnastics East, an Issaquah institution for 30 years.

Is your child ready for sports?

How doyou decide

when thetime is right?

$6700YOUTH FALL KARATE SPECIAL

INCLUDES6 Weeks of Lessons

and Complete Official Karate Uniform• No Contract To Sign!

• Unlimited Summer Classes!

For More Info & Registration Form:http://www.svsd410.org/ E-Flyers

(425) 454-6633www.washotokan.com

Washington Shotokan Assn. Bellevue

PINE LAKE: Pine Lake Community Club: 21333 SE 20th, Sammamish

Tuesdays5:00-5:30 pm..Kinderkarate (4-6 years) 6:15-7:00 pm..Youth Beginner (6-11 yrs)Starts Tuesday, Nov. 9 or ANYTIME

FALL CITY: Fall City Elementary Gym: 33312 SE 43rd Pl.

Thursday6:30-7:15 pm..Youth Beginner (6-11 yrs)

NO KinderkarateStarts Thursday, Nov. 18 or ANYTIME

SNOQUALMIE: Snoqualmie Elementary Gym:39801 SE Park St.

Tuesdays5:30-6:00 pm..Kinderkarate (4-6 yrs)6:45-7:30 pm..Youth Beginner (6-11 yrs)Starts Tuesday, Nov. 9 or ANYTIME

NORTH BEND: Opstad Elementary Gym: 1345 Stilson Ave SE

Fridays5:30-6:00 pm..Kinderkarate (4-6 yrs)6:45-7:30 pm..Youth Beginners (6-11 yrs)Starts Friday, Nov. 12 or ANYTIME

NEW Location!

sports sampler, where chil-dren ages 3-5 get the opportu-nity to try a variety of sports.For instance, fall activities in-clude soccer, T-ball and bas-ketball.

Some organized programslike the Issaquah Little Leaguestart at age 5 with T-ball. Theprogram is structured so thatplayers can steadily developtheir skills. The Issaquah Glid-ers running program begins atage 5. For other organizedprograms, like lacrosse andfootball, children should be atleast 6.

Fleisher said the UnitedStates Gymnastics Associa-tion won’t let children takepart in competition untilthey are 6.

“The USGA believes thatchildren younger than 6aren’t able to handle thestress and the pressure ofcompetition,” Fleisher said.

Many national studies

show it’s important for chil-dren to be examined by aphysician before getting in-volved in organized sports.

Fleisher said she believessports have had many bene-fits for her girls.

“My kids have turned outpretty healthy and are well-rounded. Being involved ingymnastics, they are learningtime management,” Fleishersaid. “They not only havetime for practice, they have toset aside time for homework.Kids who are involved insports usually turn out to begood students.”

Fleisher added one otherimportant aspect of sports.

“Kids have to have fun.Whether it‘s gymnastics,football, debate or chess, it‘simportant for kids to havefun,” Fleisher said. “If mygirls weren’t having fun,they wouldn’t be in gymnas-tics.”

When it comes to improvingacademic performance, boost-ing self-esteem and teachingsocial skills, few things beatteam sports. Sports give kidsthe opportunity to get atten-tion and respect, and to use thenatural skills that come withyouth, like speed and coordi-nation.

According to one survey of2,185 children conducted byThe Women’s Sports Founda-tion and Harris Interactive,kids who played sports or whoparticipated in activities likeFrisbee, camping and hikingfelt healthier and more confi-dent about their bodies thanthose who did not. Other stud-ies demonstrate that childrenwho are active in sports per-form better in school and areless likely to use drugs asyoung adults.

Of course, sports can have adownside. Overly competitiveleagues, discouraging coachesand injuries from unsafe prac-tices can quickly turn kidsaway from sports.

So, how can you make surethat your child has a positiveexperience? Here are some tips:

❑ Make sure your child ismature enough to participate.In general, kids aren’tequipped for the rules and co-operation required in teamsports until age 6 or 7. But eachchild develops differently.Don’t push children if they’re

not ready.❑ Make sure that the league

or coach emphasizes fun. Ifyou ask children why theywant to play a sport, they’llprobably say that they want tohave fun or make friends. Nomatter their sport of choice,make sure that your child’s en-joying himself or herself.

❑ Don’t stress winning overeverything else. Extreme com-petitiveness overrides anysportsmanship your childwould otherwise learn. Focuson personal markers of success,not the league championship.

You can reward your childfor playing a sport even if hisor her league does not. Youcan order your own trophiesand present them for a jobwell done, whether that meansmaking the winning hit orsimply putting in a good ef-fort.

❑ Don’t force your child tospecialize too soon. Few kidsare going to get sports scholar-ships; instead of trying to turnyour child into a baseball orbasketball star, let him or hertry out a variety of sports.Some children are never goingto enjoy sports. Instead of forc-ing kids into an activity thatthey don’t like, find anotherphysical activity, such as track,cycling or hiking, that they canenjoy.

Source: NewsUSA


File

Ryan Fleisher, Issaquah High School's gymnastics coach, sits on abeam that she once competed on during her high school days.

Get your kidsinto the game


7713 Center Blvd SE, Suite 180 7713 Center Blvd SE, Suite 180 Snoqualmie • www.gamecavearcade.comSnoqualmie • www.gamecavearcade.com

Great for Great for birthday parties birthday parties

or any or any get-together.get-together.

Rentals available Rentals available for parties.for parties.

Bring in this coupon for

Encourage fitness anda healthy lifestyle

Making exercise a part ofyour child’s life teaches yourchild the importance of fit-ness. This, along with propernutrition, plays a vital role inmaintaining health. Childrenneed physical activity everyday and participation in sportshelps fill this need.

With today’s wealth ofvideo games and increasingcomputer literacy, daily physi-cal activity is often forgotten.Getting children involved withsports helps them make exer-cise a part of their lifestyle andincreases their chance of beinghealthier adults.

Promote self-esteem When children realize they

are getting better at theirsport, they can’t help but feela sense of accomplishment.Choosing a sport your childcan grow and improve ingives your child an opportu-nity to build self-esteem. To-gether, with positive rein-forcement from you, childrenwill gain confidence andhave a more positive view ofthemselves.

Learn goal settingI’m sure you’ll agree goal

setting and success go hand inhand. Participation in sports

gives your child a fun, practi-cal way to learn about goal set-ting. They’ll see, experienceand learn how goal settingworks.

If your child’s coach doesn’tcover goal setting, that’s OK.You can sit down with yourchild and set goals. By assist-ing your child in developingthis skill, you give him or her abetter chance at succeeding inlife.

Learn about andexperience teamwork

How often have you read ahelp wanted ad where the em-ployer wants a “team player”or a candidate that “workswell with others”? How muchmore valuable are you as anemployee when you can putdifferences aside and get thejob done?

Sports teach children aboutteamwork and about howtheir actions affect other peo-ple. If they can’t learn to worktogether with teammateswhile playing a sport they en-joy, how will they be able towork with co-workers theymay or may not like while per-forming a job they may ormay not enjoy?

This is an important lessonto learn. Encourage your childto be a team player and, as asports parent, keep tabs onwhether or not your words

and actions promote this traitin your child.

Develop timemanagement skills

Adding extracurricular ac-tivities to your child’s sched-ule encourages developmentof time management and pri-oritization skills.

Teach your children thattaking care of responsibili-ties, such as school work and

cleaning up after themselves,comes first. This gives themtheir first taste of prioritiza-tion.

Next, help your childrenformulate a plan that enablesthem to efficiently handletheir responsibilities whilestill leaving time for sportspractices and competitions.

For example, show yourchildren how working onhomework instead of playing

Seven reasons to get children involved in sports

425.392.0980505 East Sunset Way Issaquah, WA 98027

www.Angolkar4Smiles.com

Member of American Association of Orthodontists, Pacific Society of Orthodontist and the Washington State Orthodontic Society.

Dr. Raj Angolkar

Dr. Raj Angolkar is a Board CertifiedOrthodontist, with close to two

decades of experience.

Come in and check out our new high-tech, “paperless” office in

downtown Issaquah and enjoy a FREE CONSULTATION

on us!

1065 12th Ave. N.W. Suite E-8 (425) 391-8158 www.issaquahtrophy.com

Count On Us for QUALITY AWARDS and Great CUSTOMER SERVICE!

Plaques • Trophies • Signs • Engraving • Ribbons Badges • Clocks • Crystal • Corporate Awards

Do you need help starting or refining your company

recognition program?

Order on-line at issaquahtrophy.com


Gymnastics and Trampoline

classes for all ages

(425) 392-2621(425) 644-8117

In Issaquahon Mall Street,

In Bellevuenear Factoria

Skills for Life

www.gymnasticseast.com

Daycare infants to 5 years

On 1 1⁄2 acres close to Mirrormont,

near Iss-Hobart Road

• Extra curriculum activities provided

• 2, 3 or 5 day programs available

• Certified Teachers

• Year Round Programs Available

Infant Daycare AvailableFull Day Preschool Now Enrolling

Develop Intellectual, Social & Physical Skills

outside during their after-school program helps them fin-ish their homework in time forpractice each day. Then, goahead and make that part ofyour plan.

Learn about dealingwith adversity

Everyone makes mistakes.Everyone has problems. Howwell you handle these mistakesand problems directly affects

happiness and quality of life. Many people “get in a

slump” and can’t get out ofit. Others continue makingthe same mistakes over andover again. Even professionalathletes make bad choicesand make bad plays, but it’snot the mistake that counts.What you do from that pointforward carries much moresignificance.

If your children learn how

to deal with adversity, errorsand challenges in sports,chances are, they’ll be able totranslate that skill to real lifeand effectively minimize mis-takes and/or bad decisions, aswell as competently recoverfrom set backs.

Have funPositive experiences play an

essential role in raising a hap-py, healthy human being.

Sports provide numerous op-portunities for positive experi-ences both for your child as anindividual, and for your familyas a whole.

“Sports parents” areblessed with the chance towatch their child have funwhile learning and develop-ing as an athlete and as a hu-man being.

Source: www.y-coach.com


Between soccer practice, pi-ano lessons and homework,more parents are discoveringthat it can be hard to balance ahealthy life with a busy one.

Health care professionals,however, are discovering thatnutrition- and activity-basedhabits, when developed early,can make a positive long-termimpact.

So, what can you do to getyour children’s habits on trackand moving in a healthy direc-tion?

❑ Check out the U.S. De-partment of Agriculture’sMyPyramid for kids online(www.mypyramid.gov) to seewhat your children need intheir diets each day. Did youknow, for example, that grainsand vegetables should make upthe majority of your child’sdiet?

❑ Don’t forget the vegeta-bles. A study published in theJournal of the American Col-lege of Nutrition found thatwhile preschool-aged childrenconsumed about 80 percent oftheir recommended fruit serv-ings a day, only 25 percent had

the recommended amount ofvegetables. So, it is important

for parents to creatively re-in-troduce vegetables, and change

things up by choosing vegeta-bles in a range of colors.

Parents: Make time for healthy choices

By Eric Beck

Getting children involved in preparing food can help them make healthy choices.


• chronic sinus disease • nasal and septal deformities

• ear infections and tumors • hearing and balance problems

• cancers of the head and neck • hearing aid sales

• parotid and other salivary gland problems • thyroid and parathyroid conditions

• snoring and sleep apnea in children and adults • professional voice issues

• allergy testing • facial aesthetic and reconstructive surgery

Three locations to serve you, one convenient phone number: (425) 454-3938

ADULT AND PEDIATRIC ENT

OurDoctorsofAudiology&CertifiedAudiologistsarehearingaidspecialistswhoprovidecompletehearingevaluations.

Providing compassionate, state-of-the-art, comprehensive care in diagnosing and treating patients with medical and surgical problems of the head and neck.

A Proliance Care Center

IssaquahProliance Surgeons Building

510 8th Ave NE Suite 310Issaquah, WA 98029

Bellevue1135 116th Ave NE #500

Bellevue, WA 98004

IssaquahLake Washington Facial Plastic Surgery

510 8th Ave NE Suite 300Issaquah, WA 98029 425-278-1810

www.lakewashingtonfacial.com

Open Mon - Fri, 8am to 5pmwww.bellevueent.com

Offices in Bellevue & Issaquah

❑ Check ingredients. Ingre-dients such as whole grainsand foods with oils derivedfrom corn, soybean, canolaand olive oils are good picks.Meanwhile, foods and bever-ages with caloric sweeteners astop ingredients should beavoided.

❑ Get moving. Have funoutdoors. Whether it’s taking awalk together with the familydog or playing catch, get mov-ing as a family.

❑ Limit television and com-puter time to encourage yourchildren to spend more timebeing active.

And while all parentsshould be advocates for theirchild’s health, proper nutri-tion and activity is even moreimportant for survivors ofchildhood and adolescent can-cer. These children are amongthose in the higher-risk popu-lation for obesity, according tohealth care professionals.Good choices can lead to bet-ter health and may reduce therisk of preventable cancers inadulthood.

Get more information abouthealthy habits for survivors atwww.beyondthecure.org.

Source: NewsUSA

Get more out of your winter with Issaquah Ski

& Snowboard School!

Issy SKI SCHOOL

Issaquah Ski & Snowboard School

Register online or call www.issaquahskischool.com

(425) 572-6786 Forms available at Issaquah Schools

Lessons begin January 8th for 7 weeks

Serving the Greater Eastside


Parents can prevent one ofthe most common childhoodfoot problems by followingsome simple recommenda-tions.

Foot and ankle surgeonssay ingrown toenails are acondition they treat fre-quently in children. Surgeonssay many kids hide their in-grown toenails from theirparents, even though thecondition can cause signifi-cant pain. The problem isthat ingrown toenails oftenbreak the skin. That allowsbacteria to enter and cause aninfection.

Tight shoes, tight socksand incorrect toenail trim-ming cause most pediatric in-grown toenails, according tothe American College of Footand Ankle Surgeons. In othercases, children may inheritthe tendency for nails tocurve.

FootPhysicians.com providesparents these recommenda-tions:

❑ Make sure children's shoesfit. Shoe width is more impor-tant than length. Make surethat the widest part of the shoe

matches the widest part ofyour child's foot.

❑ Teach children how totrim their toenails properly.

Trim toenails in a fairlystraight line. Don't cut themtoo short.

❑ Never try to dig out an in-grown toenail or cut it off.These dangerous "bathroomsurgeries" carry a high risk forinfection.

❑ Have a qualified doctortreat a child's ingrown toenail.A minor surgical procedure caneliminate the pain and oftenprevent the condition fromcoming back.

A foot and ankle surgeonmay prescribe antibiotics ifthere's an infection.

One thing parents can do toreduce their child's pain is tosoak the affected foot in room-temperature water. Then, gen-tly massage the side of the nailfold.

Learn more about ingrowntoenails in children atwww.FootPhysicians.com.

Source: ARA Content

How to prevent a common

childhood foot problem


Hearing loss is a subject of-ten overlooked in the early de-velopment of a child. Whetherignored or unrecognized by aparent, misdiagnosed by a pedi-atrician or simply too unafford-able to correct; children are theones who suffer the most.

According to a nationalstudy released by the BetterHearing Institute (BHI), an esti-mated 1.4 million people underthe age of 18 have some formof hearing loss-that's approxi-mately 1.7 percent of children.Only 12 percent wear hearingdevices. Based on objectivestudies published in the Journalof the American Medical Asso-ciation, the BHI believes thefigure could be as high as 15percent due to early exposureto noise. That means many par-ents are not aware that theirchild has hearing loss.

In some cases, pediatriciansmistakenly say the child's hear-ing loss is untreatable. Howev-er, even when doctors and audi-ologists suggest a hearing de-vice, parents can still be hesi-tant and often minimize theimpact of the child's hearingloss. When a child's hearing lossis recognized within the educa-tional system, often the onlytreatment is front-row seating,which for many is inadequate.National research also showsthat 50 percent of parents do

not pursue detailed testingwhen their infant fails initialhearing screening at birth. Mostparental concerns come fromeither the stigma placed on achild and how others will per-ceive them if they wear hearingaids or from financial matters.

The BHI strongly suggeststhat parents need to realize theimportance of the early detec-tion and treatment of hearingloss and the resulting benefits.

So, why should steps be tak-en early when it comes tohearing loss in children? Thefollowing key developmentalfactors are compromised whena child has an uncorrectedhearing loss: speech and lan-guage development, academiccompetence, social skills, emo-tional health, self-esteem, rela-tionships with family membersand cognitive development.Early identification and correc-tion of hearing loss would al-low the child to grow andlearn competitively with his orher peers and therefore devel-op into a productive humanbeing.

For more information onhearing loss, its evaluation andtreatment, recognizing signs ofhearing loss in children andprevention of hearing loss, vis-it www.betterhearing.org.

Source: NewsUSA

Hearing loss treatment is critical at an early age

The earlystages of achild's devel-opment canbe greatly af-fected byhearing loss.

NewsUSA


Across the country, familiesare making every hard-earneddollar count. But even as beltstighten, making a child’s edu-cation a priority has neverbeen more important.

The benefits of college canbe significant: The CollegeBoard’s 2007 report, EducationPays, found that a typicalbachelor’s degree can meanincreased earnings of morethan 60 percent. That trans-lates into $800,000 more, onaverage over a 40-year work-ing lifetime, than the typicalhigh-school graduate willearn.

In today’s economy, manyfamilies might not be able tosave much for college. Howev-er, taking a pro-active ap-proach of saving over time willeventually add up.

“Modest contributions maynot seem like much,” said Liz

Robinson, vice president at Up-romise Investments, “but everypenny counts when it comes tosaving for college.”

Here are three ways to “savesmart” for college:

1. Save in the right place. Anumber of investment ac-counts make sense for collegesavings; 529 college savingsplans, for example, were de-signed specifically for this pur-pose. There are state-sponsored529 plans that offer federal,and in some instances state,tax advantages. Although fami-lies are not required to investin their home state’s plan, theyshould consider them beforeinvesting.

2. Start early. Parents ofteenagers already know this,but college comes in the blinkof an eye. It’s relatively easy toset up a 529 account; it cantake about 10 minutes to get

signed up and activate an ac-count using a plan’s website.

3. Don’t go it alone. Invit-ing family and friends to con-tribute to a child’s 529 planis a great way to boost yoursavings. And, with new on-line tools, it can be done sim-ply and securely. Ugift, forexample, is a service offeredwith certain 529 plans that

lets account owners invitefamily and friends to markcelebrations with gift contri-butions to a child’s 529 planaccount in place of tradition-al gifts.

Learn more about 529 col-lege savings plans and Ugift atwww.529.com.

Source: NewsUSA

Saving for college in troubled times


Boy Scouts of AmericaTroop 609 IssaquahDavid Marsh [email protected]

Girl Scouts Area managers❑ Julie Wendell —[email protected], 614-1126❑ Teresa Woods —[email protected],614-1126

School coordinatorNancy Campi — [email protected], 746-5002

Middle schoolsCarol [email protected]

Elementary schools

ApolloRaelynn O’Connor, [email protected]

BriarwoodNancy [email protected]

Cascade Ridge Susan [email protected]

ChallengerSandi [email protected]

Clark and Issaquah ValleyTeri Sytsma [email protected]

Cougar RidgeAndrea [email protected]

CreeksideAthena [email protected]

DiscoveryKathy Slocum427-8104

[email protected]

EndeavourLisa [email protected]

French Immersion Schoolof Washington Kelly [email protected]

Grand RidgeKristen [email protected]

Maple HillsAnn [email protected]

Newcastle Michele Havery [email protected]

Sunny HillsBecky [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

4H ClubsAdventurers (Renton, horses)Cindy [email protected]

Blue Ribbon 4-H

(goats/sheep/swine)Darlene [email protected]

Cedar River Rascals

(Renton, cats)Nancy [email protected]

Sunset Riders (horses)Sharon Ayers/Vicky [email protected]

Activities await in community clubs

“Serving People in Communities in Which We Live”

Visit our website for our Eastside locations:www.peaksportsandspinept.com

BELLEVUE FACTORIA LAKE CITY ISSAQUAHRENTON SAMMAMISH SNOQUALMIE RIDGE

By Greg Farrar

Cub Scout James Adkins, 9,learns in a ceremony for disposalof worn U.S. flags to fold it prop-erly and hold it over his heartand follow that with a salute as itburns to ashes in a fire.


Mt. Si Sidekicks (horses)Maria [email protected]

Kids ’n Critters (llamas)Alicia [email protected]

Krusin Kiwi Kids(Renton, goats)Janea [email protected]

Tiger Mountain Archers

(archery)Pat [email protected]

Eastside Rabbitand Cavy ClubMark [email protected]

Pet Partners 4-H (dogs)Helen [email protected]

NW Outdoor Exposure(outdoor adventure)Grace [email protected]

Worldwide Adventures(plant, science, archery)

Renee [email protected]

Young Life Club of

Issaquah/Sammamish392-0515

YMCA Adventure GuidesLinda Toycen391-4840www.seattleymca.org

Sports ClubsIssaquah GlidersIssaquah Parks & [email protected]://thegliders.8k.com

Issaquah Youth Footballwww.issyfootball.org

Issaquah Youth Soccerwww.issaquahsoccerclub.org

Issaquah Youth BasketballIssaquah Community Cen-ter837-3300

Issaquah Youth Lacrossewww.issaquahyouthlacrosse.com

Issaquah Little Leaguewww.issaquahlittleleague.org

cpmortho.comcpmortho.com

Voted Top Dentist in Seattle Metropolitan Voted Top Dentist in Seattle Metropolitan Magazine by his peers in 2010!Magazine by his peers in 2010!

Christian P. Manley, D.D.S., M.S., P.S. OrthodonticsThank you for giving me this amazing experience, it’s a gift that I will have for a lifetime!

– SoAnglea H., Bellevue, WA

•• Complimentary digital x-rays & consultation

•• Over 18 years experience

•• Invisalign preferred provider

www.fischermeatsnw.com 425.392.313185 Front Street North • Issaquah

Your Local Butcher Since 1910

Our customersare prime

Quality on the TableCelebrating 100 years together

1910 - 2010

Fischer’s Finest Quality Meats

Mon-Sun 9:30am-9:30pm • www.kidzbounce.com

minutes from Sammamish & Issaquah in Preston Industrial Park

Off Ext. 22425-222-5439

$10 OFF

can use at home to begin teach-ing their kids about saving.

❑ Take kids to the bank. Vis-iting a bank should not be foradults only. Many financial in-stitutions have unique featuresinside their locations that canmake banking fun for kids.

❑ Open a savings account.One of the best ways to teachchildren healthy financial liter-acy skills is to go through theprocess with them of openingtheir first savings account,making their first deposit andexplaining to them what all ofit means.

❑ Enroll in financial literacyprograms. With thorough re-search, parents can find pro-

grams in their area that offer fi-nancial literacy training. Theyshould first check with theschools their children attendand their local library. Afterthat, parents may considerfinding out if their bank offerssuch a program.

For example, TD offers a funprogram named "WOW!Zone"that helps children ages 5-18develop strong financial skills.It is available online at www.td-bank.com/wowzone. Trainedbank instructors are also avail-able to visit schools and after-school and weekend programsfor free.

Source: NewsUSA

Recent studies about Ameri-cans' retirement saving behav-ior point to an alarming trend:Americans of all ages, ethnici-ties and social groups are notsufficiently saving for their re-tirement.

"Most personal financial ex-perts agree that when peoplereach their mid-30s, they shouldbe already saving for retire-ment," said Suzanne Poole, ex-ecutive vice president, retailsales strategy and distribution,TD Bank. "However, accordingto a financial literacy poll TDBank conducted this summer, amajor reason for poor retire-ment planning and lack of fi-nancial literacy in general byconsumers, is the absence of fi-nancial education at an earlyage."

TD Bank surveyed 2,160consumers in the Northeast,Florida and mid-Atlantic.

About 81 percent of those sur-veyed wished they would havestarted saving earlier, andabout 55 percent of them feelthey were definitely not taughtenough when young.

Here are a few suggestionsfor parents wondering whatthey can do to teach childrento manage money and under-stand the importance of saving:

❑ Become a role model. Ac-cording to TD Bank's survey,more than one-fourth of con-sumers struggled to identifyany financial role models. Par-ents need to do their best tohave their finances in order.Once they do, they should sitdown with their kids to goover the process of balancingbank accounts and developinga household budget.

❑ Use a piggy bank. Savingcoins in a piggy bank is one ofthe most basic tools parents


Early financial

education offers

better security later

Your child can learn.

$100 offa diagnostic evaluation

Celebrating

33 Yearsof Excellence in Education

The sooner Huntington steps in, the

faster grades step up. Our specially trained

teachers and personal attention can give your child the

boost he or she needs to do well this school year. If your

child is unmotivated, lacks confidence, or has weak basic

skills, our certified teachers and individualized programs

help children overcome frustration and failure and get

them on the path to success in school.

• Weak Basic Skills• Frustration With School• Lack Of Confidence• No Motivation

Individual Testing And Tutoring In Reading, Study Skills, Writing, Phonics, Spelling, Math And PSAT/SAT/ACT Prep.

Proud to be voted 2008 & 2009 Best of Issaquah

(425) 643-80981915 140th NE D3, Bellevue

(Evergreen Shopping Center)

(425) 391-03831460 NW Gilman, Issaquah

(QFC Shopping Center)

Make this Your Child’s Best School Year Ever!

2010 Parent Guide

Documents

Transcript of 2010 Parent Guide