KC Parent Magazine April 2012

kcparent.com 1april 2012

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APRIL 2012 CONTENTS

59

Fear of WeatherHow to calm your child before the storm

Time to Move On?Tips for when your child wants to quit an activity

Let Them Play!The importance of unstructured time for kids

1011

Healthy Kids

Women’s Health

What’s New

Media Mix

Did You Know?

Word from Dad

Blog Bits

Out & About in KC

Party Guide

Camp Guide

Calendar of Events

departments

special sectionsFreaked Out by Germs?

Eating Organic in KC

Why Plastic Is Passé

Great Crafts Using Everyday Objects

KC’s #1 Camp Guide

on the cover1218222430

features14

263048

40 212829

16 46

44


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Our cover kids are Madelyn (9) &Will (6) from Overland Park. Cover and select interior photos by Antisdels.Antisdels.com

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APRIL 2012 CONTENTS


100%LOCAL

PublisherMichael Gimotty

[email protected]

Associate PublisherDarrell Dean

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EditorMargaret Sarver

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Art DirectorLauren Goldman

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Advertising SalesDarrell Dean

Lynn [email protected]

Electronic Media ManagerKristina Light

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Event CalendarMarisa Frymire

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ProofreaderSusan Crainshaw

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DistributionTo be added to our distribution list, e-mail [email protected]

Local Contributing WritersBill Bartlett (Belton), Wendy Connelly (Overland

Park), Jennifer Duxbury (Belton), Tisha Foley (Belton), Stacey Hatton (Overland Park), Jennifer Higgins (Kearney), Christa Hines (Olathe), Sara Keenan (Kansas City), Julie Hubble (Leawood), Gina Klein (Kansas City), Kristina Light (Kansas

City), Hallie Sawyer (Overland Park), Melinda Smith (Olathe), Melanie Yunger (Shawnee)

Business Office

11936 W. 119th #335Overland Park, KS 66213

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Kansas City Parent Magazine is published 12 times a year by Family Media Group. It is distributed free of charge throughout the Kansas City area. Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect KC Parent’s opinions. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written permission. Kansas City Parent Magazine does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. All photography and letters sent to KC Parent will be treated unconditionally assigned for publication and copyright purposes and are subject to unrestricted right to edit and comment editorially. KC Parent often includes websites that may be helpful to our readers. We verify each site prior to publication. However, content changes frequently. We encourage you to use caution and discretion when visiting a website.

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editor’s letter In my life BC (before children) when I was an elementary school teacher, my principal had a poster in her office

that read, “Some days are meant for play-ing.” I loved that saying and have tried to embrace it in my life. There are some days when you just need a break and need to spend the day playing. For me, that means lingering over a latte with a good book, enjoying a long walk and dinner out, along with playing games and watching a movie with the family. For kids, play is more seri-ous business and needs to happen every day. I’m afraid that in today’s society, the time for play is getting pushed to the side in favor of sports, dance, music and a host of other outside activities.

Before having children, Ty and I made many decisions on how we wanted to raise them, with one of them being that our girls would not be involved in tons of outside activities. We feel that childhood is way too short and the time with family is too precious. Our girls are never in more than one activity at a time, and often, they aren’t involved in any outside activities.

What does this look like in our home? If we are blessed with a beautiful day, we can take a bike ride or head to the park. We have time to complete homework AND enjoy dinner and play a game as a family. The girls spend time reading, set-ting up school for their dolls and writing in a journal. They experiment with instru-ments and making music. Ally has written several songs that Ty has set to music. I can’t begin to tell you how many family game nights the girls have organized and executed, and I am often blown away by the creative (and fun!) games they invent. Muffins are sometimes even baked for us to enjoy the next morning for breakfast.

Is every day pure bliss? Heck no! I hear “I’m bored” all the time, and daily arguments ensue between sisters. But that’s okay; it’s the choice we’ve made. You won’t find us rushing around from practice to rehearsal—and that’s just how I like it.

Learn more about the benefits of free time from Olathe mom Melinda Smith, who takes a look at the importance of play in “The Serious Business of Play” on pg. 44.

Enjoy April, KC, and get out and play!

Margaret Sarver, Editor

At KCParent.com

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April ShowersFind a list of great rainy day activities

Tune OutSet realistic TV guidelines in your home

Play Ball!Great books for baseball fans

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With both parents and children more dependent than ever on

social media for entertainment and over-all survival in the world, shutting off the noise and getting some restful sleep can be challenging.

“Sleep difficulties in children are on the rise—and this trend will get worse before it gets better. Estimates for the number of children with abnormal sleep range from 1 in 10 in the general popula-tion,” writes Victoria Dunckley, M.D., in her article “Wired & Tired: Electronics and Sleep Disturbance in Children,” pub-lished in Mental Wealth.

“Evidence shows video games and other electronics induce the fight-or-flight syndrome, putting the body in a state of stress. Studies show sustained increases in blood pressure and pulse, even hours after playing,” Dunckley says. “It doesn’t have to be a violent game or even a game at all! Internet surfing and texting will similarly put the brain and body in a state of stress, just from the high level of visual and cognitive stimulation.”

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There needs to be a set bedtime routine for your tweens and teens – just like when they were infants! “Tween-dom” is a stressful place, with school pressures, relationships, hormones and expectations, so sleep can be challenging.

Nightly at a set time, have your family deposit all electronics in a basket in your room. This will be the point in the evening where all family members need to turn off the noise and concentrate on relaxing. (GASP!) Are you saying parents should do this as well? Children learn bet-ter by example…that’s all I’m saying!

Northeast Kansas mom Karyn says, “For many reasons my boys have to ‘turn in’ their devices at bedtime, and they don’t get them back until the next day after their homework is checked. This rule has set my mind to ease.” She continues, “I know they are sleeping, or at least working on it, when they go to bed. It has also ensured they get right on task with homework when they get home from school.”

Computers, TVs and video games shouldn’t be in children’s rooms. Creating a sleeping place with fewer temptations for midnight “Google-ing” or television watching is imperative. Those are the kinds of interruptions that ensure your child’s never reaching stage 4 of REM sleep—which is the so-critical restorative stage.

Stacey Hatton is a pediatric RN and freelance writer.

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oNlY AtY CAMpIf you’re not sleeping well, you are not

alone. More than a million Americans suffer from insomnia, which can be a

persistent problem with serious conse-quences. Insomnia is a contributor to around 100 thousand car accidents per year. It is defined as difficulty with sleep, whether it is a difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, waking up too early or feeling tired upon waking. It is a sign and symptom that can be associated with several sleep, medical or psychiatric dis-orders and therefore should be a reason to seek medical attention.

Some causes may be:Emotional or physical discomfortLife stress or illnessMedicationsDepressionAnxiety/chronic stressInterference with normal sleep schedule

Insomnia varies in how long it lasts and how often it occurs. It may be short term, long term or intermittent. Symptoms of insomnia may be sleepiness during the day, tiredness, irritability and problems with concentration or memory. If you are experiencing mild insomnia, you may want to try adding the following sleep habits to your routine:• Go to bed around the same time, get up the same time and avoid naps.• Avoid caffeine, nicotine and alcohol late in the day. • Get regular exercise.• Don’t eat a heavy meal late in the day, but a light snack before bed may help.• Make your room comfortable.• Follow a routine to help you relax.• Avoid using your bed for anything but sleep.• If you can’t fall asleep, get up and read or do something that is not over-stimulating until you feel sleepy.• If you find yourself worrying, then get up and make a list before you go to bed.

Visit with your health care provider if your symptoms persist beyond the above recommendations or if they seem to be severe. There are many medications and herbal supplements available, but it’s not wise to try them until you have discussed your situation with a professional first to decide what plan is right for you.

Melanie Yunger is a local wife, mom and nurse practitioner.

Got Sleep?

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germaphobe?Do you avoid indoor playgrounds

at local fast food joints? Are you afraid to let your child near a class-

mate with a runny nose? Is the drinking fountain off limits to you and your family for fear of lingering germs? Are you ob-sessed with antibacterial products?

We’ve all heard of terms such as arachnophobia (the fear of spiders), claus-trophobia (the fear of small places) and acrophobia (the fear of heights). But what about “germaphobia,” more accurately called mysophobia (the fear of germs or dirt)?

Nowadays, people have become more aware of the importance of hand washing to fight germs and avoid getting colds and flu. With the availability of hand sanitizers and antibacterial hand wipes, cleaning our hands and killing germs before meals and while we’re out and about is a breeze. Some, however, do tend to take germ-fighting to extremes; and it’s those people that are the true germa-phobes.

Cleaning your hands off and on throughout the day isn’t a bad thing, experts say, but when it becomes something you cannot stop think-ing about, something that causes anxiety, and/or something that is a ritual you’re compelled to act out, that is when you know you’re a germaphobe. True germaphobes have a form of obses-sive compulsive disor-der (OCD), experts say, and as with all types of OCD, a com-pulsion is acted out to relieve anxiety pro-duced by an obses-sive, intrusive thought. Germaphobes act on irrational fears.

Kansas City mom Lauri Mink says

she’s not an extreme germaphobe, but she does take precautions.

“I’m not extreme, but I do take necessary precautions and let the kids’ immune systems do the rest,” she says. “We do a lot of hand washings, especially when we’ve been out of the house. For instance, the kids know that when they come home from school, the store or park, the first thing we do is wash our hands. We also use hand sanitizers—I have one in my purse at all times. I also explain to my children that we shouldn’t kiss friends on the mouths or eat or drink from friends’ utensils or cups.”

Olathe mom Tina Alstatt, on the other hand, admits that she is very much a germaphobe.

“I’m a chronic hand washer and I use disinfectant wipes on door knobs and light switches constantly,” she says. “I get a tightness in my chest and have anxiety if I don’t wash my hands or do something a certain way. When I go to the grocery store, I have to put the meat on the bot-tom of the cart and then use antibacterial wipes on my hands. I always have the cashier scan the meat last, and it has to go in separate bags. One time when I bought chicken, the guy took the plastic bag off the chicken and rubbed the package so it could scan. I started panicking because I didn’t have exact change and didn’t want to take any change back from him. I try to pay with exact change as much as pos-sible so I don’t have to touch change from the cashier or accidentally touch their hands.”

When it comes to her children, Alstatt says they do go to parks and play areas (if her husband takes them), but cleaning hands afterwards is a must. Mink agrees.

“We definitely go to the park, but we use wipes with sanitizer afterwards,” Mink

are you a

“I GET A TIGHTNESS

IN MY CHEST AND HAVE

ANXIETY IF I DON’T WASH

MY HANDS OR DO

SOMETHING A CERTAIN

WAY.”

20%

Yes.I never leave home with-out hand sanitizer.

40%

Kind of.I do my best to keep my kids germ free but

don’t worry about it too

much.

40%

No. Too many other things to

worry about with my

kids.

We asked KCParent.com readers,

Do germs freakyou out?


CDC GUIDELINESRECOMMEND WASHING: Before and after you prepare food I Before you eat IAfter you use the bathroom IAfter handling animals or animal waste IAfter coughing or sneezing IWhen your hands are dirty I More frequently if someone in your home is sick.

says. “I’m not a huge fan of play areas in fast-food restaurants, because we’ve got-ten sick nearly every time we’ve gone to one. I don’t believe that they clean them regularly. We do go to bounce houses and other fun indoor places occasionally, and when we’re done, we wash our hands and/or use sanitizer before anything else.”

Should we really worry about taking our children to public parks and play areas? Are they as germy as some of us think? The answer is yes. A public playground is said to be the number one “germiest” place to take your child. But this doesn’t mean you have to avoid parks altogether. Just remember to practice proper hand-washing after playing.

Proper hand washing includes using soap. Regular soap works just as well as antibacterial and actually poses fewer risks. Be sure to rub your hands together vigorously to make a lather and scrub all areas. Continue scrubbing for 20 seconds, because it takes that long to dislodge and remove stubborn germs. A good way to time it is to sing “Happy Birthday” twice. Then, dry your hands using a paper towel or air dryer and use a paper towel to turn off the faucet. (Faucets harbor a lot of hid-den germs as well.)

As far as drinking fountains go, stud-ies have shown that they can harbor more germs and bacteria than public toilets. If you or your child do drink from a drink-ing fountain, experts recommend running the water for 15 seconds before taking a drink to help wash away contamination.

Basically, the best thing you and your child can do to steer clear of germs is to be aware. A great, interactive website for both parents and children to learn more about the dangers of germs and the importance of being clean is the Scrub Club at ScrubClub.org.

Kansas City mom Gina Klein is a

writer/photographer who definitely takes precautions when it comes to her family and germs.


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NEW

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For more information on weather basics, fun experiments, tips for

staying safe and strategies to help children conquer fear during severe

weather, check out former KCTV-5 chief meteorologist Katie Horner’s

book Brainstorming: A Creative Guide to Help Parents & Children Through Severe Weather (Kansas

City Star Books, 2008). Horner is the mother of three daughters and has

more than 20 years of experience in meteorology. According to Horner’s

website, SealApproval.com, “No other book addresses children’s fear of severe weather by combining the science of meteorology with behav-

ioral psychology. This book will help children change their fear of severe

weather to fascination.”

ON AVERAGE, HOW MANY DAYS A YEARDOES THE KANSAS CITY AREA EXPERIENCE ASERIOUS THREAT OFTORNADOES?

SCARED OF STORMS IN THE LAND OF OZ

RECOMMENDED READING

With tornado sirens blaring, thunder crashing and lightning forking through dark clouds, most anyone might feel a mix-

ture of unease and awe at nature’s dramatic display. Many parents, however, would prefer to skip the whole show, given

the emotional havoc storms wreak on their kids.

TIPS TO PREVENTWEATHER ANXIETY

while you’re relaxing together, playing a game, eating dinner or while she’s doing homework. Begin with very gentle sounds like a light rain and slowly progress to more serious rain and thunderstorms.

“The rationale here is to get the child to pair or associate weather sounds with frequently occurring activities that are not anxiety provoking,” Christopher-sen says.

Download free weather sounds to your laptop or smartphone. Apple’s iTunesTM offers a free app for iPhone called “Sleepmaker” that Christophersen recommends.

WEATHER 101Throughout the year, 41 Action News

(KSHB-TV) chief meteorologist Gary Lezak facilitates weather presentations at area schools with his canine partner

DeTonya Childress, South Kansas City, MO, says her daughter Alexia, 9, becomes frantic during severe weather. Alexia’s fear manifests as tears and quick-ly progresses to pleas for an immediate retreat to the basement.

“Tornadoes and thunderstorms are the worst,” Childress says. “When Alexia was 3 years old, she decided to sleep in her own bed during a storm. The first crack of thunder led her back to my bed-room, crying all the way. Now, once in my room, she begins to pray.”

If volatile weather sparks a crushing wave of panic in your child, calm storm preparation, soothing relaxation tech-niques and a dash of Weather 101 may help ease his fears.

CALM BEFORE THE STORMBegin managing weather-related

anxiety with calm, confident preparation.“The most important thing that par-

ents can do is prepare their children for severe weather way before it happens,” says Dr. Edward Christophersen, pedi-atric psychologist at Children’s Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, MO. “Parents need to be cognizant that their behavior di-rectly influences their child’s behavior. So, parents should very calmly practice their threatening weather procedures.”

Create a severe weather plan with your family. Designate a safe area in your home, preferably a basement. A bathroom or closet in the middle of the house on the lowest level is the next best option. In your safe area, store a storm safety kit that includes a battery-powered weather radio, flashlight, blankets, a pair of leather gloves and safety whistles.

With storm season imminent, take a few minutes several times a week to conduct family storm drills. Set up a small table in your basement for you and your family to engage in a familiar and relaxing activity, like a board or card game. When threatening weather happens, calmly fol-low the plan you and your family prac-ticed.

RELAXATION TECHNIQUESPlay weather sounds for your child

*Correct answer: C

A. 20

C. 5B. 15


During a gentle, non-electrical rain, grab an umbrella and head outside with your youngster. Discuss how the rain helps give the grass a drink. If you have an infant, stand under your garage or porch and put her hand out into the rain to feel the rain drops.

Avoid anxiety-provoking behaviors like nervous pacing or anxious hover-ing around the weather radio or TV. Seek professional help if you are un-able to cope during a storm.

Stormy, the weather dog. It’s not unusual for Lezak to encounter children who fear thunderstorms and tornadoes. He finds that explaining the sporadic nature of tornadoes and how storms work can ease some of their worries.

Lezak teaches students to track the movement of a storm. He explains that after lightening flashes, they can count “one-one-thousand, two-one-thousand” and so on until they hear thunder.

“Every five seconds is one mile, because sound travels much slower than light,” he says.

He encourages the kids to stay in-side and play the game during a thunder-storm to see whether the storm is moving closer or farther away.

WHEN TO SEEK HELPChildren commonly experience

specific fears or phobias, but typically phobias wane as kids grow older. If your child’s phobia lasts more than six months and impairs her ability to participate in daily activities, find an experienced anxi-ety disorder therapist with supervised clinical experience in treating phobia. Christophersen says a reputable therapist will likely conduct a standardized anxiety screening. Avoid therapists who want to start therapy by giving your child an IQ test.

Having lived in many parts of the world, freelance writer, wife and mother Christa Melnyk Hines finds that Midwest weather is as fickle as a cantankerous tod-dler.


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Getting your kids to listen the FIRST time is easier said than done. Whether you are parenting a

2-year-old with a temper tantrum or a sul-len teenager, trying to get a child to listen to instructions can be difficult.

Staying calm is crucial. In the heat of the moment, it can be easy to snap and yell, “I’ve already told you five times to pick up your shoes!” Lori Jacobsen, mother of two and a teacher from Kearney, says, “Remain calm. Getting frustrated and angry only makes the situation worse.” Take a deep breath, walk out of the room for a minute, count to 10 (I do this a lot!) and, once you’ve regained your compo-sure, it will be easier to talk to your kids.

Tips for getting kids tolisten the FIRST time• Stay calm• Get on eye level• Hold accountable with consequences• Make the directions a game• Get ready the night before to avoid morning arguments• Start slowly in your expectations of listening the first time

The goal really is to make our children independently

responsible for their own things and for following directions.

It takes time and parenting…imagine that.

get kids to listen the

FIRST TIME

clean your room!

get your shoes on!

zip your jacket

pick up your toys

time to come inside

turn off the tv

go take a bath

find your backpack

In addition to staying calm, as adults, we must remember that we are much tall-er than our little ones. They might not be ignoring us on purpose; it may be difficult for them to hear us. “I have tried before to remember that oftentimes situations are much more exciting or new to them and therefore they are less likely to want to pay close attention to me,” Jennifer Richey, mother of two boys from Kansas City, says. “I try and make sure that I get eye contact before I give them an instruction just to try and make sure that they are paying atten-tion to me and to minimize distractions.”

Kids are never going to listen to you if consequences aren’t involved. If you tell them to clean their room and they never


We’re looking for healthy women who want tohelp infertile couples. If you’re between 21 and29 years old and have had at least one child, consider participating in our egg donation program. Compensation is provided and all donors are anonymous. For information call: (913) 894-2323

Effects of Adult Speech on Grammar Development in Preschoolers with Specific Language Delay

Effects of Adult Speech on Grammar DevelopmentContact: Dr. Marc E. Fey

Hearing & Speech Dept. • KU Medical Center (913) 588-0574 • [email protected]

or visit our website alliedhealth.kumc.edu/school/research/fey

PURPOSE To study the effects of adult speech

on grammatical development of preschoolers with language delay.

WHO QUALIFIES?Children 4 and 5 years old with

developmental delays that appear to be specific to language.

BENEFITS Caregivers receive a summary of all testing for their child, whether or not

the child qualifies for the study.

CAREGIVERRESPONSIBILITIES

Bring your child to KUMC for up to 4 preliminary evaluations of your

child’s communication skills. Attend 10 study sessions

at KUMC or at home.

Effects of Adult Speech on Grammar Developmentin Preschoolers with Specific Language Delay

RESEARCH QUESTIONDoes the way children learngrammar depend on how adultstalk to them?

BENEFITSCaregivers receive a summary of all testing for their child and are compensated for costs of each trip to KUMC. Children receive a gift card good for new books.

WHO QUALIFIES?Children 4 and 5 years old with developmental delays that appear to be specific to language.

CAREGIVER RESPONSIBILITIESBring your child to KUMC for up to 5 preliminary evaluations of your child’s communication skills. Attend 10 study sessions at KUMC or at home.

Effects of Adult Speech on Grammar DevelopmentContact: Dr. Marc E. Fey

Hearing & Speech Dept. • KU Medical Center(913) 588-0574 • [email protected]

or visit our website alliedhealth.kumc.edu/school/research/fey

Does your child have a language delay?

do, enact some consequences. Don’t just clean the room for them. “I only give directions once, and then the natural con-sequence ensues,” Jacobsen says. “Clean your room. If it’s not done, privileges are taken away.” Not holding children ac-countable will teach them they can get away with things.

Sometimes making a game out of the chore or direction is all it takes to moti-vate a small child to accomplish a task. “For chores/activities that will only take a minute, such as running upstairs to get her boots before we go outside or picking up toys at a friend’s house before we leave, usually issuing a short challenge to her speed in accomplishing these activities works well,” Milissa Leimkuehler, Liberty mother of two girls, says. “For instance, I will tell her I bet she can’t go upstairs and get her boots on and be back down in under a minute. I start counting, and Kali happily rushes herself upstairs and is back down in no time. I cheerily applaud her quickness in accomplishing these tasks.” This might not work every time but is definitely something handy to have in the bag of parenting tricks.

Mornings can be difficult at any house, as many families can attest. No one wants to start the day yelling at her child to brush his/her teeth. Doing as much as you can the night before can lead to a more pleasant morning. “Kali is not a morning person, and getting her ready for school in the morning can be a chal-lenge. She picks out her clothes the night before,” Leimkuehler says.

For older kids, Jacobsen says, “It has to be something you set up with your kids ahead of time.” You can’t expect your child to listen the first time every time without some direct instruction and help from you so they understand what it is you want.

“You can tell them, ‘I’ve noticed that you aren’t following my directions the first time and that concerns me, so we’re going to start working on that.’ If you’ve been giving directions 5 times before being followed, first cut it down to 4, then 3, then 2, then 1...taking a week or so until that number is mastered before moving further down,” Jacobsen says. This allows the child time to learn the skill of listening and sets them up to succeed over the long haul.

“The goal really is to make our chil-dren independently responsible for their own things and for following directions,” Jacobsen says. “It takes time and parent-ing…imagine that.”

Jennifer Higgins is a freelance writer, mother and teacher from Kearney.


THE SNACK SHACK ON SANTA FE8039 Santa Fe Dr., Overland Park, 913.428.7749(Mon.-Sat., 11:00-8:00)The family-owned and -operated Snack Shack on Santa Fe is quickly becoming the neighborhood hangout in historic downtown Overland Park. The burgers are made with Bichel-meyer’s locally-raised grass-fed angus beef, delivered fresh to the restaurant daily. The Snack Shack also serves local bread and organic produce. Vegetarians enjoy the garbanzo bean veggie burger or grilled cheese sandwich. Expect a little heat if you order the garden grilled cheese complete with jalap-eno peppers.

THE KID FACTOR: The burgers are delicious, but the winners for kids are the crispy sweet potato fries and hand-dipped shakes.

IN THE KNOW: The restaurant features barstool countertop seating (they do not have high chairs) or picnic tables out-side. On Wednesdays and Saturdays, make a point to visit the Overland Park Farmers’ Market (DowntownOP.org).

Kansas City is fortunate to be home to many local farms where sustainable, organic

foods are grown. With 30+ farm-ers’ markets in the area (see a complete list at KCParent.com), supporting local farms is easy. Did you know that you also can support local growers even when you’re dining out? These local restaurants serve up some of the best food in town… the menus are delicious, nu-tritious, family-friendly and feature organic or locally grown food (as much as possible), taking the guilt out of eating out!

AT KANSAS CITY’S RESTAURANTS

HOMEGROWNEATING

FOOD look! this is

succotash..for

more places to

eat in kc, visit

KCParent.com


FRESHER THAN FRESH SNOWCONES Visit FTFSnowCones.com for a location schedule.Fresher than Fresh is Kansas City’s all natural snow cone stand on wheels! The delicious and unforgettable flavors will tempt your taste buds. Watermelon basil, lemon prickly pear, espresso and Mexican cane sugar, and pineapple and Ser-rano pepper are just the beginning of the exotic offerings.

THE KID FACTOR: Kids love snow cones, and moms love healthy treats… truly this is a win-win for everyone! For real fun, order the Daredevil Special, an ever-changing concoc-tion that will keep you guessing, billed as “always adventur-ous, never gross.”

IN THE KNOW: Fresher than Fresh is known to frequent local farmers’ markets, First Fridays in the Crossroads, and other midtown and downtown family-friendly venues.

SUCCOTASH2601 Holmes, Kansas City, MO, 816.421.2807(Sun.-Sat., 8:00-3:00)Succotash dishes up large portions of home-style cooking supporting local farmers and vendors at this urban eatery. Known for brunch, their menu offers a range of comfort foods you’ll love, but they also make outstanding cakes for any occasion!

THE KID FACTOR: Our top kid pick? The Cake and a Smile, a large buttermilk pancake with two sunny-side-up “eyes” and a bacon “smile,” is the ultimate fave for kids of all ages!

IN THE KNOW: We recommend Succotash for brunch be-fore you head to Crown Center or Union Station on a Satur-day—and grab a fresh juice to go.

THE COFFEE GIRLS IN WALDO7440 Washington St., Kansas City, MO, 816.221.2326 (Mon.-Fri., 6:30 a.m.-7:00 p.m.; Sat.-Sun., 7:30-7:00)Don’t let the name fool you. The Coffee Girls is more than a neighborhood coffee shop. Serving organic sandwiches, wraps, granola, smoothies and comfort food, the casual atmosphere, with indoor and outdoor seating, makes for a great brunch or lunch spot.

THE KID FACTOR: The “Little Peeps” menu offers organic PB&J, the Plain Jane (turkey and cheddar sandwich) or smoothies, all for under $4.

IN THE KNOW: One of the perks at The Coffee Girls is the free wi-fi.

YOU SAY TOMATO2801 Holmes, Kansas City, MO, 816.756.5097(Mon.-Sat., 7:00-3:00; Sun., 8:00-2:00)You Say Tomato lives up to its motto of “homegrown good-ness served daily.” The eclectic neighborhood restaurant offers a seasonal menu supporting the local and organic farmer. Part of the fun of eating at YST is the ever-changing menu, off which they serve fresh, seasonal produce. Even the décor focuses on “repurposing,” as all the chairs and tables are mismatched sets undoubtedly purchased at local thrift shops and garage sales.

THE KID FACTOR: For breakfast, you must try the rightfully famous baked French toast, and lunch is known for some of the best chicken potpie in town.

IN THE KNOW: YST, not far from Crown Center, offers a small market in the restaurant where you can purchase or-ganic produce and other kitchen goodies.


EDEN ALLEY707 W. 47th St., Kansas City, MO, 816.561.5415 (Mon.-Tue., 11:00-2:30; Wed.-Sat., 11:00-9:00)Eden Alley, the Plaza’s veg-etarian, vegan, gluten-free restaurant dishes up deli-cious salads, soups, burritos, sandwiches and cakes with organic, local ingredients. The restaurant is one of Kansas City’s first vegetarian eateries with a loyal local following.

THE KID FACTOR: Eden Alley offers kids’ meals for $4.35 served with peppermint lemonade or Shatto milk and a variety of main dish choices, including tacos, burritos, sandwiches and quesadillas.

IN THE KNOW: Eden Alley is tucked away in the basement of the Unity Temple on the Plaza, giving it that church base-ment atmosphere because, well, it is.

BLUE BIRD BISTRO1700 Summit St., Kansas City, MO, 816.221.7559 (Mon.-Sat., 7:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.; Sun., 10:00-2:00)In the Westside, perfect for dining before or after a perfor-mance at the Kauffman Center, you’ll find a quaint con-verted space turned restaurant serving up wholesome and hearty dishes with organic, sustainable and local ingredients. The Blue Bird Bistro is a true treat for the senses. Local chefs prepare seasonal dishes and comfort at this upscale restau-rant where the food is identified by the farm where it was grown.

THE KID FACTOR: The Blue Bird is one of the most expen-sive restaurants on our list, but the food is delicious. This is a great way to introduce kids to gourmet foods prepared with healthy ingredients in a fun space.

IN THE KNOW: The bistro is a sit-down upscale restaurant, so it’s not a place to eat in a hurry. Plan ahead and make res-ervations in advance if you’re attending a show downtown.

Kristina Light loves to support local businesses and thinks it’s even better when local=delish!

FÜD813 W. 17th St., Kansas City, MO, 816.785.3454(Tue. & Wed., 11:00-3:00; Thu.-Sat., 11:00-9:00)FÜD (pronounced food) is a restaurant in the Westside focusing on organic, local, all-vegan food. Featuring a selec-tion of both raw and cooked dishes, the made-from-scratch offerings are healthy and delicious.

THE KID FACTOR: Guilt-free home-made cheesy mac is an absolute fave for kids, but other delicious choices include the eggywich (a tofu sandwich made to taste like an egg sandwich), quesadillas and a variety of sandwiches and salads.

IN THE KNOW: FÜD is a cash-only restaurant and the popular bistro is not currently accepting reservations, but the food at FÜD (pardon the pun) is worth the wait! For those with food allergies, the chefs happily volunteer to adjust any recipe.

yum...FÜD is all vegetarian, too!

HOMEGROWN, cont. from pg. 19

VisitKCParent.com to find out lo-

cal restaurants where kids can make their own

food. Also, find a complete Kids Eat Free Guide with maps, reviews

and more.


what’s new

keep allergiesat bay this springThe Amazing Mat helps prevent bothersome allergens from being tracked into your house and makes your spring cleaning easier. It contains an anti-bacterial adhesive that traps 99.9 percent of germs and bacteria from your shoes. Place it at the front door to reduce pollen, grass, pet dander and mold for allergy sufferers. Once it’s done capturing mud, dirt, fungus and even feces, simply peel away the recyclable sheet to reveal 29 more underneath. TheAmazingMat.com

get growing, kc!Veggie and Herb SeedBallz allow you to

grow more food in less space! PERFECT for people with large yards or none at all! These grow great in the yard or in pots on your patio, balcony or deck! SeedBallz are made of fertilizer and clay and are loaded with a variety of seeds. Grow flowers, herbs and veg-etables from SeedBallz. Each package of Seedballz contains 8 balls that cover 8 to 10 square feet. GardenBasket.com

wikki stix easter eggdecorating kitFrom dyeing the eggs to filling the basket, Wikki Stix have you covered! Get the great “Easter Egg Decorating Kit” with 72 Wikkies in all different colors, perfect for decorating boiled and plastic eggs!! For the bas-kets, all you need is the “Easter Fun Fa-vors.” The kit has individually-wrapped Wikkies with a playsheet. Stick them in the baskets or have an Easter Wikki hunt! WikkiStix.com

keep your

when

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According to the Global Footprint Network’s 2010 Living Planet Report, humanity is using the resources that nature provides 50 percent faster than the earth can renew them.

“Even with modest UN projections for population growth, con-sumption and climate change, by 2030 humanity will need the capacity of two Earths to absorb carbon dioxide waste and keep up with natural resource consumption,” it says. That’s a sobering statistic. Because finding another Earth in the universe any time soon seems unlikely, we humans have some work to do.

The easiest place to start is at home. If you are feeling regret at watching your garbage pile up while your recycle bin sits idly by, check out these easy ways to put your kitchen to work for the environment. Don’t throw out your eggshells and old cof-fee grounds after breakfast. Eggshells are 93 percent calcium carbonate, which is a vital plant nutrient and a key part of cell manufacture and growth. Coffee grounds are great for those plants that need “acid food,” such as blueberries, evergreens, azaleas and roses.

MAKE YOUR OWN FERTILIZER Rinse out the egg shells and empty your coffee grounds into a plastic cup and set out to dry. (To speed up the process, place these items on a cookie sheet in the oven with just the pilot light on.) Once dry, crush up the dried egg shells and mix with the coffee grounds in an under-the-counter compost bin. If you use a Keurig coffee machine, try using their reusable containers that you can find in most local grocery stores. These allow you to use whatever coffee grounds you would like with no plastic waste afterwards. If you like the convenience of the disposable cups,

Did you know...According to the Marine Conserva-tion Society of the UK, it takes 450-1,000 years for plastic bags to break down?

Plastic bags photo-degrade, which means they break up into smaller piec-es, eventually becoming plastic dust. These small plastic pieces get ingested by animals from the sea to the desert. If they aren’t killed by ingesting it, then at the very least we have a polluted food chain.

It takes about 430 thousand gallons of oil to produce 100 million non-degrad-able plastic bags.

What can you do? Bring them back to your local grocery store as they are stepping up their recycling efforts by having plastic bag recycling bins by their front doors. Also, when you bring your own reusable bags, some stores will discount your groceries.

Why Plastic Is Passé

ggreen

The easiest

place to start

is at home.

EASY STEPS TO


PRTS_Prntng_3-75x9-75_4CMG_6.indd

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FARMERS’ MARKET FUNLet’s Go to the Farmers’ Market contains everything kids need to have tons of fun at the farmers’ market. A dar-ling “strawberry” sits at the center of it all and transforms into a colorful reusable bag, perfect for toting home veggies, fruits, flowers and more! Twenty activity cards will keep little ones occupied and amused as their par-ents shop, while an informative booklet shares the 411 on farms, farmers and the farmers’ market itself. That’s not all: a shopping list pad provides children a place to record the good-for-you goodies they’ll be inspired to scout out among the stands. Amazon.com

throw away the metal layer on top of the cup and rinse out the cup after emptying (and saving!) your coffee grounds.

COMPOST YOUR SCRAPSWhen cutting up your veggies for dinner, save your broc-coli stalks, carrot peelings and any other inedible bits and pieces and put them in a compost bin. You can keep a small one under the sink then, when that gets full, transfer it to a larger compost bin outside. You’ll be amazed at how much less garbage you will have. Other great items for the compost bin are fruit scraps, egg shells, tea bags, coffee grounds with filters and shredded paper.

BE A SMART SHOPPERThere are also some preventative measures you can take to reduce garbage. If you find yourself throwing out spoiled or expired food week after week, try planning ahead. Start scheduling meals and buying exactly what you need for the next few days. Vow to use fresh whole foods and less pack-aged food that can sit on the shelf for eons. You will have less package waste and spend less, while likely shaving off a few pounds in the process.

FIND WAYS TO REUSE YOUR PLASTICSave your plastic bottles for spring seed planting. Cut 2-li-ter plastic soda bottles and gallon milk jugs in half and let your kids decorate their “pots” as a fun craft. Then layer the bottom of the bottle with pebbles for drainage, add a little Spanish moss to give the roots some room, then top with a layer of soil. Plant your favorite herbs or flowers and voila! Plastic egg cartons are good for this too.

Hallie Sawyer, a freelance writing mom in Overland Park, is “affectionately” referred to as the “Recycling Czar” by her family. Plastic bags fear her.

Find a complete list of all the fam-ers’ markets in the Kansas City area at KCParent.com.


It seems no accident that spring cleaning and Earth Day coincide. As the world outside awakens, our indoor habitats beg to be refreshed and renewed. Like the birds that warble again from the window

ledge, we nest. They gather bits of fallen twigs and dry grass; we gather half-empty bottles long past their expiry dates, chunks of cracked bar soaps, an assortment of random junk culled from the home office. As we come uncluttered, inspiration dawns, and to the delight of our ingenious children (who mistake the meticulously organized cleaning piles for is-lands of misfit toys), old things destined for the trash bin take on new life.

In honor of this springtime ritual, we’ve given families around the Kansas City Metro an Earth Day assignment: Take everyday household items and recycle them into creative projects for kids.

RECYCLED FUN21

We’ve given familiesaround the Kansas City

Metro an Earth Dayassignment: take

everyday householditems and recycle them

into creative projectsfor kids.

3

4

Great crafts kids can make using everyday household items.

Didyou

know?

5


2-Liter TerrariumMy son, Trey, and I love making science projects at home. To learn about plants, we brought nature

indoors with a homemade terrarium from a recycled plastic soda bottle. First, we cut the bottle into two pieces with scissors about a quarter of the way up from the bottom. We filled the bottom piece with dirt, watered it, and planted forget-me-not seeds. To plant, we made holes in the dirt with the end of the spoon, dropped two seeds into each hole and patted the dirt on top. Trey caught on fast and had fun planting. We put the top piece of the bottle over the bottom piece, positioned it next to a window to soak in the sun, and are now anxiously awaiting our first sprouts! [April Tebbe, Gardner]

Box FortI saved cardboard boxes to use for a fun, recycled “fort” for my kids to build and play with. We

used four large, sturdy boxes for the base and built the fort up from there. First, we taped all the boxes together. Then we cut doors, windows and secret passageways for their action figures to play in. We glued colored construction paper to the front and then decorated with markers and stickers. To make it last longer, I covered the entire fort in clear packing tape. The kids love hiding a special toy in a room and having us hunt for it. It’s a great way for them to use their imaginations when they’re playing and was a fun project to work on together! [Leah Heinauer, Overland Park]

Do-It-Yourself Bath SoapsWe are all about the “reduce, re-use, recycle” motto in our house.

It frustrated me to either keep track of the small slivers of soap left over in the soap dish or throw them away, wasting what was left. My husband also travels quite a bit and often comes home with hotel soaps that we never use. After searching online, I found several recipes for making our own soap using leftover bar soap or those little hotel soaps. So, I gathered in-gredients, and the kids and I got to work. Now we have fun colored soaps to use and there are no more random soap slivers all over my sink! [Katrina Kanary, Olathe]

Pop Princess TiaraTo create a simple crown to adorn my daughter’s head, we drew a design in dry-erase marker on a 2 ½-liter soda bot-

tle. Next, we traced our design in t-shirt paint, let it dry for an hour and cut it out. It was a simple project, and my daughter loves the new accessory for her dress-up clothes. I envision a rainbow assortment of coordinating tiaras in our near future!

Bagel HolderTo keep plain bagels fresh, or to transport bagel sandwiches without the mess of smeared

cream cheese and migrating lunch meat, our family uses a recycled plastic CD spindle and twist-on top that comes with CDs purchased in bulk. Our bagel lunch box is just the right size and comes in very handy at our favorite bagel restaurant. [Wendy Connelly, Overland Park]

1

2

3 Here’s what we did:

1. With a cheese grater, break up larger pieces into small slivers.

2. Put soap slivers into a microwave safe bowl.

3. Add a handful of oatmeal (for exfoliating) to the slivers.

4. Sprinkle with enough water to dampen the mixture and make it clumpy.

5. Microwave in 1-minute increments until the mixture bubbles up.

6. Stir to combine, then divide and add several drops of food coloring.

7. Lightly grease a muffin tin.

8. Press the mixture into the muffin tin and allow it to cool, then pop out the soaps to dry overnight on a plate.

4

5 With a basement storage area worthy of the hit show “Hoarding: Buried Alive,” and two pint-sized crafters of infinite re-sourcefulness residing in her Overland Park home, writer Wendy Connelly has become an expert at the MacGyver-style art form of recycled crafts.

Didyou

know?

A used aluminum can is recycled and back on the grocery shelf as a new can, in as little as 60 days.

Americans use 85,000,000 tons of paper a year; about 680 pounds per person.

Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to run a TV for three hours -- or the equiva-lent of a half a gallon of gas.

Americans throw away 25,000,000,000 Styrofoam coffee cups every year.

More aluminum goes into bever-age cans than any other product.

Source: RecyclingRevolution.org


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Do It YourselfThe DIY movement is in full swing. Whether through blogs, Pinterest, estate sale-ing or just reusing items in your own home, repurposing is the new NEW!

Crafty Chloe by Kelley DiPucchio, illus. by Heather Ross (Athene-um). Chloe is a young DIYer, finding comfort in creative projects over sports and dancing and video games. When snooty London takes the perfect birthday gift for Chloe’s best friend, our spunky heroine retorts that she will make her present instead. But with time running out, will Chloe be finished in time? A correspond-ing website provides crafting ideas and instructions. (4 – 8)

Tyler Makes Pancakes by Tyler Florence, illus. by Craig Frazier (Harper Collins). Little Tyler is determined to make pancakes. His first stop is the market, where the kind and patient grocer Mr. Jones teaches him that chickens provide the eggs, cows make buttermilk and the wheat grows in flat places like Kansas. Without the word “organic” appearing once, the cooking-from-scratch message shines on the page through Frazier’s brilliant illustra-tions. Let the kids make breakfast! (4 – 8)

Secrets of the Garden by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld, illus. by Priscilla Lamont (Knopf). The backyard garden takes center stage in this dual story and science book. Alice’s family plants a garden, and she watches as the first sprouts appear. As the seasons go by, the family learns about all creatures who eat from the garden—some good, others not. Two slapstick chickens provide sidebars throughout the book, covering topics like photosynthesis and composting. (4 – 9)

Remodelaholic.com. Justin and Cassity, a young couple with two little girls, are totally committed to repurposing. Remodel an entire house for $5,000? Check. With three houses redone, they have a blogging record of each one. Their website is easy to read with project titles and pictures. One click provides further information. There is not the long-winded article that scrolls and scrolls before you get to the next topic. From food to furniture, the wide variety of reuse topics astounds. Give it a try.

Julie Hubble admires a few amazing DIYers in Leawood.

Brush of Truth (Story Bayou) If we’re talking about recycling, one book with 20 different endings seems to fit. This new app for the Android market is by Story Bayou. In Brush of Truth, “you and your sis-ter find a crudely-crafted paintbrush on a beach and discover it has magical powers. You soon learn it is the long-lost Brush of Truth, created by a medieval sor-cerer to hand off his enchantments to his children.” With focus firmly on the reader, choice buttons are selected from within the chapters that direct the sto-ryline to different endings. Hours of exploration pos-sible. (8 – 14)

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Turn Off the TV!Screen-Free Week is ap-proaching! The national annual celebration encour-ages families to power off the screens for entertain-ment and instead play, read, create, daydream, exercise, explore nature and enjoy time with family and friends. “Screen-Free Week is actually more than just turning screens off; it can be a springboard for engaging in other activities that you might never have realized your child or family enjoys,” says Myrna Minnis, local ceramic artist and children’s art educator. For a listing of Kansas City organizations offering Screen-Free activities, visit ScreenFreeKC.com.

did you know?

Chip’s Candy Factory, a sister store to Chip’s Chocolate Factory, is scheduled to open April 15 at Crown Center. The new candy shop will be located on the first floor of the Crown Center Shops, near the Coterie Theatre and the Crown Center Showplace, which is home to children’s exhibits such as the current “Animal Tales & Trails.” Chip’s Candy will offer more than 400 candy selections, a complete line of Jelly Belly and M&M candies, nostalgic and retro selections and much more.CrownCenter.com

New Sweet StoreComing to KC

ADHD Summer Camp forKC KidsAre you looking for something more than medication to help improve an ADHD child’s behavior? The Children’s Mercy Summer Treatment Program (STP) offers an award-winning comprehensive treatment program for children’s behavioral, emotional and learning prob-lems. Designed for children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and related problems, this program incor-porates a set of evidence-based treatments into an eight-week therapeutic summer day camp. Camp runs from June 4 through July 27 at the Kansas City Christian School -Oxford Park Campus, in Overland Park. 913.696.5748.

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Accelerated SchoolsAt Accelerated Schools of Overland Park, we work with students who don’t fit “in the box.” Join us this summer for High School credit courses, as well as Summer Camp for students in grades 1 -8. Individualized tutoring is also available. We offer a flexible schedule and low student/teacher ratio. 913-341-6666. See display ad on pg. 38.www.AcceleratedSchoolsOP.org

Animal Camp - Cub Creek Science CampNo other summer program offers as many face to face, hands-on encounters with exotic animals. Imagine spending a week feeding monkeys, walking llamas, grooming miniature horses, petting ferrets and chinchillas, play-

ing with puppies and parrots. Our campers don’t “rough it” unless they want to. Choose from over 100 activities, sleep comfortably in spacious, air-conditioned cabins, enjoy an outstanding selection of delicious meals, and learn from some of the best staff anywhere. Ask for free brochure 573.458.2125. See display ad on pg. 37. www.MyAnimalCamp.com

Camp ErinCamp Erin is a free, weekend, overnight camp, June 8-10, with grief education and emotional support in a fun, high-energy environment for kids, ages 6-17, who have experienced the death of a loved one. Camp Carousel is a free, weekend retreat, Sept. 21-23, combining fun, recreational activities and creative opportuni-ties to foster sharing and healing for grieving families with school-aged children and teens.

Special Advertising Section

Camp GuideKC Parent’s

Interactive Education Guideavailable at KCParent.com

Both camps are at Heartland Center. See dis-play ad on pg. 34. Call 816.363.2600 or visitwww.KansasCityHospice.org.

Camp ShakespeareCamp Shakespeare is a unique summer arts experience that your kids will never forget! Student’s will improve their understanding of literature and renaissance times while creating their own version of a Shakespearean classic. Drama, visual art, dance, and stage combat all come together in this delightful camp, taught by professional actors in a neighborhood near you! Available for ages 5 -18. Camp dates vary per location. One, two and three week camps available, June 7 – July 30. Costs between $125 - $415. Locations: Brookside, Overland Park, KC North, Lee’s Summit, Leawood, Kansas City, Kansas, Independence. See display ad on pg. 39. www.KCShakes.org.

Camp Special BeginningsMake wonderful memories with great friends and caring teachers at Camp Special Begin-nings! Your child will have a SUPER FUN sum-mer being a part of a high-quality program in a positive, Christian environment. Enjoy fieldtrips including Science City, Power Play, and KC Zoo, as well as participate in top notch educational activities including Spanish and Book Club. Camps available to 1st-6th graders for both FT and PT. 913.492.4659. See display ad on pg. 38 for free registration (new families only). www.SpecialBeginningsOnline.com

Ceramic CafeCeramic Cafe’s summer program provides in-struction in a variety of ceramic art techniques including hand building with clay, ceramic painting and glazing techniques and also glass fusing. The theme is “My Creative Self” and projects encourage individual creative expres-sion. Camp sessions are divided by age groups.

continued on pg. 33

Summer Program

elevating Education. One Student at a Time.

June 4 to August 3 (No camps week of July 2)

Ages 3 to 13For Information:816-931-8614www.speds.org4041 Main StreetKansas City, MO 64111

A great place to create! Pottery painting Glass fusing Birthday parties “Family Day” every Sunday Special pricing for families

Now enrolling“My Creative Self”

Summer CampAges 5 to 7

8 and up

9425 Mission Rd • 913-383-0222www.ceramiccafekc.com

IBSEN DANCE THEATRESCHOOL OF THE PERFORMING ARTS

SUMMER CAMPS

ANNIE (JUNE 4-15; AGES 8-11)WACKADOO ZOO (JUNE 4-15; AGES 5-7)BYE BYE BIRDIE (JULY 9-20; AGES 12-16)

816.436.72777221 NORTH OAK TRFWYGLADSTONE, MO 64118

THE SUMMER DANCE PROJECT(AGES 12-18) & THE DANCE EXCEL

WORKSHOP (JULY 18-22; AGES 9-11)

FAIRYTALE PRINCESSBALLET DANCE CAMP

(JUNE 11-13; AGES 3-5) &(JUNE 25-27; AGES 6-8)

HIP HOP POM PON DANCE CAMP(JULY 9-11; AGES 3-8)

816.436.88859550 N. MAGEE

KANSAS CITY, MO 64155


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Give your child the gift of dance this summer!

Our classes and workshops help your child learn poise, balance, rhythm, and how to take instruction and work well with others… all under the guidance of our professional, year-round dance faculty.

• CreativeMovement(ages3-5)• FairyTaleDanceWorkshopsfeaturingCinderella,

PeterPan,Superheroesandmore(ages5-8)• MiniBalletIntensive2-4WeekCamps(ages10-13)

Two Convenient Locations!

Enroll TODAY to secure your child’s spot!Call 816-931-2299 or visit

www.kcballet.org/school for a complete list of summer courses.

Summer programs for ages 3 to 13!

Programs Include:

Classes start June 4!

DowntownBolender Center

500 W. Pershing Rd.Kansas City, MO

Johnson County5359 W. 94th Terr.Prairie Village, KS

(95th & Nall)Pershing

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camp guide

THE CAMPAROUND

THE CORNER

CLOSE TO HOMEPerhaps a child is too young for resident camp, or perhaps schedul-ing does not allow for extended time away from home. Regardless of the reason, day camp is an excellent alternative.

SO MUCHTO DODay camps offer a wide range of programming and activities, from sports to arts to sci-ence and educa-tion. Like resident camps, day camps offer team-build-ing activities, lead-ership training, and wilderness programs.

KEEP THOSE NEURONS PUMPING Research indicates that participa-tion in intentional programs, like camp, helps re-duce learning loss during summer months. Camp is the ultimate classroom, using experiences to teach problem-solving and skill-development.

BUDGET-FRIENDLYOPTIONSIn certain circum-stances, day care expenses, includ-ing transportation by a care provider, may be consid-ered dependent care services and paid with a depen-dent care flexible spending account or pre-tax dollars.

In addition, day camps may qualify for special tax in-centives like child and dependent care tax credits.

GET THOSEBODIESMOVINGCamp provides children the op-portunity to try new things and participate in human-powered activities. Accord-ing to surveys by both the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an American child is six times more likely to play a videogame on any given day than to ride a bike. According to research con-ducted by ACA, 63 percent of children

who learn new activities at camp tend to continue engaging in these activities after they return home. This leads to continued physical exercise that lasts a lifetime.

Day camp is life-changing, providing growth and development through teachable moments, experi-ences, friendships, and most impor-tantly, fun.

For more informa-tion, visit ACA’s family resource page online at CampParents.com. Or, follow ACA on Facebook and Twitter for helpful hints and camp informationD

AY C

AM

PFor 150 years, camp has been the natural extension of

traditional education — an expanded learning environ-ment that provides enrichment and a hands-on experiential education like no other. Experts agree that camp is essential to a child’s development — teaching life lessons such as leadership, teamwork, empathy, and problem-solving.

The most successful camp experiences occur when families and children work together to find a camp that best matches everyone’s needs. What about families who feel a sleep-away camp is not the right fit, but still want their child to experience all that camp has to offer? The answer may be right around the corner at a day camp. The American Camp Association® (ACA) reminds families that the benefits of day camp are extensive:


Creative Kids is for ages 5-7, Aspiring Artists is for ages 8 and up. One day Workshops are also offered through out the summer. Visit our website at www.CeramicCafeKC.com for add’l info and registration form. See display ad on pg. 30.

Ceramics and Coffee House at Paint, Glaze & FireCamp ARTRAGEOUS! Ceramics & Coffee House at Paint, Glaze & Fire is offering summer camp for its 14th season! Your child will learn new techniques and have fun creating art in our multi-medium camps. Check it out online and get more information as well as a registration form at www.PaintGlazeAndFire.net. All supplies and a daily snack are included. Sibling and early registration discounts are available. For more informa-tion on these and many other fun and creative programs, visit the website. See display ad on pg. 38. 913.661.CLAY (2529).

Christian Youth TheatreJoin Christian Youth Theater for summer fun! Camps include: “Winnie the Pooh” (ages 4-5), “Jungle Out There” and “So You Want to be a Pop Star” (ages 5-12), “Xtreme Theater: Harry Potter” (ages 10 - 14), “Camp Willy” (Shakespeare) (ages 12-18), middle school camp “Selections from Shrek” (grades 6 - 8) and our high school overnight master camp “Guys and Dolls” including two full production performances. Camps offered June - July at locations throughout the KC area. Call 913.681.3318 for more infor-mation or visit us online at www.CYTKC.org. See display ad on pg. 33.

CLO Midnight Farms Camps CLO Midnight Farm hosts great summer camps on scenic 40 acres. Two camps are offered for children with autism and other special needs. Kids ages 6-18 enjoy games, crafts, water play, pony parade, wagon rides PLUS fee includes 2-day training for parents about autism. Call 785.218.9358. Horsemanship camps, Horsin’ Around Camp is for children with or without special needs, ages 8-16, to enjoy horseback riding, crafts, games and Horse Show on the last day so campers can strut their stuff! Call 785.979.1889. See display ad on pg. 39. www.Midnight-Farm.org

The Coterie School for Theatre ExplorationThe Coterie School for Theatre Exploration offers camps for kids entering grades K -12 at six sites: South Kansas City (Notre Dame de Sion), Liberty (Liberty CC), Lee’s Summit (MCC Longview), Overland Park (Miller-Marley), The Plaza (Pembroke Hill), and Parkville (Park University). Half-day camps include creative drama, acting and audition skills. Special offerings: “Scenes from The Hunger Games” and Comedy on Your Feet. Performance camps: Air Guitar High, How to Eat Fried Worms, Bugsby Malone, Jr. Visit www.CoterieTheatre.org. See display ad on pg. 38.

The Culture HouseSpend your summer at The Culture House! A whole new selection of sum-mer programs includes dance, theater, music and art. 2-Week Musical Intensives, Godspell and Jungle Book, Stuntman Stage and Film Combat Camp, Enchanted Princess Ballet, Animation Nation, Creative Kingdom Art Camp, Annie Musical Revue, Broadway Starz, Beat Bounce Hip Hop Workshop & END OF SUMMER CELEBRATION: The Ridiculously Enter-taining Talent Spectacular! Openings limited, call today. (14808 W 117th St, Olathe) 913.393.3141. See display ad on pg. 7. Enroll online: www.CultureHouse.com.

Discovery Farm Training CenterThis is no ordinary camp. Daily sessions include wood shop, welding, auto care, electronics and more. Participants work on individual projects throughout the week as well as preparing meals, doing daily chores and for the first time this summer, care of dairy animals. Biblical principles are shared throughout the day and during activity times. Our volunteers are experienced in their field and have a desire to teach boys and girls some of the nearly forgotten skills with Christian character. 660.438.6522. See display ad on pg. 38. www.DiscoveryFarm.org

GET DETAILS & SIGN UP TODAY AT CYTKC.ORG

KANSAS CITY

FULL & 1/2-DAY CAMPS FORAGES 4-18!

It’s A

JUNGLE OUT THEREthe

WinniePooh

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SUMMER

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A Fairytale BalletExperience the enchanting world of A Fairytale Ballet this summer! Exclusively for ages 2-8, camps combine cherished childhood literature, with dance, music, props and beautiful cos-tumes each week. Children will create a take-home prop in our prop workshop. Watch your little ballerina blossom when she becomes Cinderella and other favorite princesses this summer! Camps and classes are offered Mon.- Sat. in the morning and afternoon, June-Aug. 913.671.7944. See display ad on pg. 37. www.AFairytaleBallet.com

i9 Sports Campi9 Sports is best known for making smiles, but we also produce pats on the back, cheers, and good sportsmanship. While we offer flag football, t-ball, basketball, soccer leagues and cheerleading for kids ages 2 to 14, we provide an incomparable experience that goes far beyond the game. Parents can expect con-venience and unsurpassed organization and communication. Join us for an all sports summer camp June 11-15. For details visit us online at www.i9Sports.com or call 913.904.0810. See display ad on pg. 39.

Ibsen Dance TheatreMusical Theatre Camps for Kids is an intense two-week experience in the performing arts. Children study and work directly under the guidance of instructors with degrees in theatre and education. Campers attend classes in make-up, acting, mime, improvisation, stage movement, oral interpretation, dance and creative dramatics. Two camps offered for ages 8-15 and each session closes with a perfor-mance. Ibsen Dance Theatre also offers a full range of dance classes for ages 3 to adult. 816.436.7277. See display ad on pg. 30. www.IbsenDance.com

Johnson County Park& Recreation DistrictFrom Just for Fun to Outdoor Discovery, JCPRD offers kids of all ages and interests over 40 professionally programmed and supervised camps and clinics to choose from. Conveniently located throughout Johnson County, the choices include recreation, sports, arts and crafts, sci-ence, nature and environment, music, theater, dance, leadership development, community service and special needs. For details call visit www.JCPRD.com or call 913.831.3359. See display ad on pg. 35.

Visit KCParent.com for the NEW Geo-based Camp Guide with maps, descriptions, photos, videos and more — your complete one-stop shop for camps!

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SummitSummitSummitChristian AcademyChristian Academy

presents

CampEagle Summit

May 21 - August 10For students entering

1st-6th grade in the fall of 2012. Hands-on academic and Christian-based

camp that includes arts, crafts, music, sports, and weekly fi eld trips.

Attendees will have the chance to audition Attendees will have the chance to audition and take part in the musical

Camp hours are 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Before- and after-care are available at no

extra charge from 7-9 a.m. and 3:30-6 p.m. extra charge from 7-9 a.m. and 3:30-6 p.m. extra charge

It’s A Hard Bug’slifE

It’s A HardIt’s A Hard

Located at 1450 SW Je� erson inLee’s Summit, Missouri

816.525.1480

For enrollment process,pricing, and application, see

summit-christian-academy.org.

Kansas City Art Institute Walt Disney studied art at the Kansas City Art Institute and your child can too! We offer a look at Art Around the World, Fantastic Fashions, Claymation Movies and more. Youth and highschoolers ages 6-18 can explore art and design at one of the nation’s top schools of art and design located right in their own backyard. Supervised noon time and an extended hour available. We offer a main and a north campus. For more information call 816.802.3333 or go to www.KCAI.edu/artforeveryone. See display ad on pg. 37.

KC Young AudiencesThe KCYA Community School of the Arts (CSA) offers children performing and visual arts classes, camps and private instruction on the campus of St. Teresa’s Academy. Summer Camps begin in June. Scholarships are avail-able. 816.531.4022. See display ad on pg. 39. www.KCYA.org.

Kansas City Ballet SchoolKansas City Ballet School Summer Programs in-clude once-a-week Creative Movement classes (ages 3-5) to special one-day Fairytale Dance Workshops featuring Peter Pan, Cinderella, Su-perheroes and more (ages 5-8) to 2- to 4-week Mini Ballet Intensive Camps (ages 10-13). Your child will enjoy excellent training and superior attention while having fun. Classes begin June 4th. Enroll today to guarantee your child’s spot.

Two convenient locations: Downtown and John-son County 816.931.2299. See display ad on pg. 31. www.KCBallet.org

KinderCareKinderCare offers school break camps that focus on education and include plenty of fun. Our camps are THE place to be when school is out. At KinderCare, it’s our passion that makes us different. A passion for teaching and caring for children that leads us to develop the whole child – socially, emotionally, physically and intellectually – equally. Visit us at www.KinderCare.com or contact us at 1.877.KinderCare to learn more. See display ad on pg. 9.

Martin City, Jr.’s Komedy Kidstitute Learn how to tell the funniest jokes, do a clas-sic spit take, and throw a cream pie! Taught by Martin City Melodrama professionals, the Camps are for students entering grades K – 12. Komedy For Kids I culminates in an original show performed by the student actors for their families and friends. Komedy For Kids II gives students the opportunity to create a 2nd show performed as Act Two. Both camps are held at the Melodrama, 9601 Metcalf Avenue, Overland Park, KS. For more information, call 913.642.7576. See display ad on pg. 49.

Missouri Military AcademyThe New ERA Summer School - Enrichment &


Recovery Academy offers students in grades 7-12 an opportunity to gain extra credit or recover lost credits. New ERA offers boarding and day options for boys and day options for girls. Fun activities are incorporated into the daily schedule. June 24-July 21. Summer Lead-ership Camp - Boys ages 13-17 can learn basic leadership skills at this military-style boarding camp. Campers will enjoy adventures while learning how to tap into their inner leader. July 8-20. 573.581.1776. See display ad on pg. 39.www.MissouriMilitaryAcademy.org.

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of ArtSummer at the Nelson-Atkins! Celebrate nature this summer as you explore places and spaces, travel in time, create your own cartoons and dis-cover secret gardens; all in The Nelson-Atkins Summer Art Classes! Students 3–18 enjoy the unique benefit of seeing and talking about art in the galleries as part of the learning experi-ence. Special guests include artists, curators and other Museum staff. Enroll early–class size is limited. Visit www.Nelson-Atkins.org for class listings. See display ad on pg. 36. 816.751.1ART.

Olathe Bible ChurchKids can participate in a unique camp experi-ence to sharpen their skills in sports and life. Get Focused Kids Camp: In the Zone, June 25-28, is for kids going into grades 1-6. Kids can choose from ten different camp experiences including basketball, lacrosse, football, dance/

NelsonAtkins KC parent Sum ClassesFINoutline.indd 1 2/15/12 2:46 PM

2012 Wildwood Summer Programs

Summer Adventure Two 5-day residential camp programs offer boys and girls ages 8-14 an opportunity to enjoy outdoor fun, learning and adventure. $340 Two Sessions: June 11-15 & July 23-27

WOW (Women of Wildwood)A 5-day residential camp program offers girls ages 10-15 an opportunity for outdoor fun, learning and adventure, with an emphasis on developing leadership skills and enhancing self-esteem. $340 July 30- August 3 Find YourSelf LeadershipCampA 3-day camp program for boys and girls ages 14-17 provides the opportunity to develop leadership skills in a residential camp setting! $200

ACA Accredited Camp

913-757-4500wildwoodctr.org

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cheer, culinary, multimedia adventures and more. Also join us for VBS July 16-19 for kids ages 3-5. Use the code KCP and receive a 10% discount when you register online at www.GetFocusedKidsCamp.com. See display ad on pg. 31.

Pembroke HillPicture Perfect Summer at Pembroke Hill! A snapshot of a great summer at Pembroke Hill includes a variety of academic, athletic and enriching classes while capturing what summer is really about...having fun! Open to the com-munity, Pembroke Hill Summer Program offers students the opportunity to pose as pirates, zoom into space, develop science experiments and much more! For more information, visit us at www.PembrokeHill.org. See display ad on pg. 34. Sky’s the LimitJoin us this summer at Sky’s the Limit! We serve K-6 at our two locations, 10001 W 88th Terr and 8301 Lamar in OP. Spend the summer engag-ing with a great staff in activities including mad science, fort building, crafts, music and much more. We take a field trip everyday including swimming, indoor gyms, parks, movies and many others. Lunch is included! We are open all summer! Space is limited, 913.381.4743 orvisit www.OPChildcare.com for details. See display ad on pg. 38.

Art camps and classes youth | high schoolers | adultswww.kcai.edu/artforeveryone


St. Paul’s Episcopal Day SchoolHave fun this summer at St. Paul’s Episcopal Day School! We have morning and afternoon classes in art, music, theatre, sports, academ-ics, cooking, nature and more. Extended day is also available. Summer program dates: Monday through Friday, June 4 to 29 & July 9 to August 3. For more information, contact: Christina Lenon, Director of Enrichment Programs, 816.268.6536 or [email protected]. www.SPEDS.org. See display ad on pg. 30.

Summit Christian AcademySummit Christian Academy presents Camp Eagle Summit, a Christian-based summer academy and camp for students entering 1st-6th grade, May 21-August 10, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. with before- and after-care at no extra charge. Weekly activities include Summit Waves, Y.E.S! Kids’ Fitness/golf lessons, chapel service, and

Discovery Farm Training CenterWeeklong camp provides boys the opportunity to discover their unique God-given abilities. Character building, life skills and so much more!

www.discoveryfarm.org

• welding & woodworking• kitchen science• small engine repair• handyman skills

660.438.6522

Summer at Sky’s the LimitCrafts and fort buildingFieldtrips every week

Swimming, parks, movies and more!

8301 Lamar Ave & 10001 W 88th StOverland Park, KS • 913.381.4743

www.opchildcare.com

6 Class SitesGrades K-12

• South Kansas City • The Plaza • Parkville • Lee’s Summit• Overland Park• Liberty

Visit KCParent.com for the NEW Geo-based Camp Guide with maps, descriptions, photos, videos and more — your complete one-stop shop for camps!

academic enrichment. Field trips include Sci-ence City/Planetarium, T-Bones Baseball, KC Zoo, Legoland® and more! Participants will have the opportunity to be part of the musical Annie, Jr. 816.525.1480. See display ad on pg. 35. www.Summit-Christian-Academy.org

Theatre of the ImaginationPerforming arts. One and two week camps run Mon-Fri, May 31-Aug. 12 at 6100 W. 127th, OP, KS. Open Pre-K -10th grades. Half-day or full-day, (8 a.m.-6 p.m.), available. Shows spoof Clones, Divas, Vampires, Princesses, Video Games and more. No auditions and no experi-ence required. Free costumes, shows & snacks. Enroll by 3/31 get 15% off. Multiple child

discount 10%. Flexible schedule, make your own. Specials: $54 half day, $99 full day. Also have one week camps in NKC, LS and Plaza, 816.561.2787 or [email protected]. See KC Parent ad on pg. 35 for $20 coupon.www.DramaKC.com

WildwoodLocated near LaCygne, KS, Wildwood’s beauti-ful residential camping facility features both low and high ropes course experiences and offers activities in outdoor, adventure and experiential education. Summer Adventure is a 5-day residential camp for kids ages 8-14. WOW (Women of Wildwood) is a 5-day resi-dential camp for girls ages 10-15. Find YourSelf

127th & Metcalf • 913-661-CLAY (2529)www.paintglazeandfire.net

CREATIVE • EASY • FUNAvailable for• Team Building Events• Birthday Parties• Girls Night Out

Locally Owned & Operated

CAMPARTRAGEOUS2012

Call fordetails& Much More!

Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/PaintGlazeFire.KS

$50 tuition credit if you enroll by May 1


REACH NEW HEIGHTS THIS

SUMMER

Summer Leadership Camp - Boys ages 13-17 learn basic leadership and military skills from experienced mentors at this military-style leadership camp. July 8-20.

New ERA Summer School - Students in grades 7-12 can recover lost credits or gain extra credits in just four weeks at our structured academic summer school program. Co-ed day and all-boy boarding options available. A full schedule of fun activities is included. June 24-July 21.

Summer opportunities abound at MMA!

Visit www.missourimilitaryacademy.org/summer

Leadership Camp is a 3-day camp program for boys and girls ages 14-17. ACA accredited camp. 913.757.4500. See display ad on pg. 36. www.WildwoodCtr.org.

YMCA Summer Program At Y Day Camp, the possibilities are endless—and fun. Kids explore nature, find new talents, and make lasting friendships and memories. Choose among camps for preschoolers, grade schoolers and teens with different themes weekly. Specialty camps include sports, engi-neering, cooking and fashion; service learning for tweens and teens; and a new camp at Camp Naish to explore the outdoors. Locations include Blue Valley, Center, Olathe, Shawnee Mission and Spring Hill school districts; Platte County Community Center South and Broadway United Methodist Church in KCMO. See display ad on pg. 11. www.YMCASummerFun.org.

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As a parent, raising a well-rounded child is a huge priority and one of our main objectives. We want our children to be diverse and exposed to culture, the arts and sports. It’s

our job to provide them with every opportunity to learn and grow into the person they aspire to be.

“Childhood is an opportunity to experience multiple activi-ties and have the chance to try out new and different events,” says Sarah Dettmer, M.S.Ed., M.S., LPC, a psychotherapist who is an individual, couple and family counselor in Kansas City, MO.

It’s important to encourage your child to play sports or learn an instrument. Doing so will help kids develop characteristics and healthy habits that will mold their personalities and last a lifetime. However, there comes a time when your child might want to quit the team or try ballet instead of jazz. This raises the question do you let them?

While there is no right or wrong answer regarding whether your child should move on from an activity, here are a few things to consider before making that decision.

EVALUATE THE SITUATION When it comes to pursuing other interests, the decision

depends on the children, their level of talent, how long they have been involved and the reasons why they want to quit. Parents should be cautious about pushing them into doing something they no longer enjoy. It could potentially cause conflict at home or lack of motivation. “I just didn’t understand why she didn’t want to cheer anymore, until I found out her best friend just joined the soccer team,” says Amanda Gray, Shawnee. Try to find the root cause of why your child has lost interest and find a solution.

LEND AN EARUnderstand that any time a child starts something new, you

need to allow time for adjusting. It’s not uncommon for your child

Common reasons why children lose

interest or want to discontinue their

extracurricular activities.

• Want to pursue other interests,

hobbies or sports

• Not having enough fun or

being bored

• Dislike the coach/

instructor orother team

members

• Unable to cope with the pressure to win or perform

•Find the training too hard or do not

like to practice

TIME TO MOVE ON?WHEN YOUR CHILD WANTS TO


to feel uncertain about a new coach or be intimidated by harder practices. Sit down with your child and listen to his concerns about the new circumstances. Offer encouragement, explain the benefits of working hard and express how proud you are of him. “When Colby started condi-tioning for soccer his freshmen year, he was intimidated by all of his new older teammates and the long practices,” says Mindy Knowles, Parkville. “But after my husband and I sat down and told him how proud we were of him and that he could do it, it seemed to calm his fears knowing we supported him and understood.”

SEE THE SEASON THROUGHYou can’t force your child to con-

tinue something she absolutely refuses to do, but you can and should compromise with her. Explain to her that she made a commitment to her instructors, coaches and teammates when she joined the team and everyone is counting on her for a full season. Educate her on the importance of seeing a commitment through and that it helps build character and reinforces good habits.

OFFER ALTERNATIVESIf it’s just that swimming really isn’t

his thing or he is tiring of the clarinet, offer other interests for your child to be involved in. “If a child desires to end one activity and begin another, a parent may set a boundary that at the conclusion of a series of classes or a sports season, the family will look at other options and find a new activity,” Dettmer says.

Research with your child an activ-ity that interests him. Having fun is the number one motivation for children to be involved in extracurricular activities, and dropouts occur when the child no longer is having fun.

Remember that we get our chil-dren involved in sports, dance and other activities for them to have fun, learn social skills, develop fundamentally and grow. It might be time for them to move on if you are spending more time coaxing them into the car for practice than cheering them on from the sidelines.

Jennifer Duxbury is a freelance writer from Belton who looks forward to encour-aging and supporting her son in all of his extracurricular activities in the future.

If it’s just thatswimming really isn’t

his thing or he istiring of the clarinet, offer other interests

for your childto be involved in.


Focus on the positive.Billi is a single mom in Belton who says her biggest mom guilt is working the overnight shift. She sleeps during the day and sometimes misses out on time with her girls. She focuses on the upside, though. “I remind myself that my job pays the bills and those extras the girls want. It keeps a roof over our heads and food on the table. By working nights, I am able to volunteer at the girls’ school, which they think is awesome.”

Don’t compare yourselfto others.I know a mom who cooks homemade meals using organic ingredients every day, sews most of her kids’ clothes, whips out fabulous scrapbooks on a regular basis and is Ms. Organization. Me? I often serve mac ‘n cheese from the box, buy my kids’ clothes off the clearance rack, am behind on scrapbooks and am buried in clutter. But I’m a good mom, and so is she. It’s okay to be different.

Remember you’re not Polyanna. Shanna is a Belton mom who admits, “I sometimes lose my cool when both kids are melting down!” Recently she took

guilt busters for

MOMWhen my firstborn was 1 day old, she and I were alone in the

hospital room while the rest of the family went out to eat. Breastfeeding was not going as planned, and I was supplementing with formula. My daughter voiced her opinion on the meal by screaming and kicking. Just as formula spilled on both of us, a nurse rushed in. Unbeknownst to me, my precious bundle of joy had kicked so hard her security bracelet had fallen off, setting off alarms in the maternity ward.

My husband returned to a wailing baby and sobbing wife. How could I possibly raise a child if I couldn’t even take care of her most basic needs?

This was my first trip to the land of Mom Guilt, and I’ve been a fre-quent visitor ever since. Most moms experience guilt from time to time. So what can you do to minimize those guilty feelings?

out her frustrations on the trash can, kicking and shoving it. She then noticed her 2-year-old was watching her with a strange look on his face.

We all have moments of frustration and anger, we all get overwhelmed and we all make mistakes. And it’s okay, as long as we’re not taking our aggravations out on those around us. As Shanna says, “Better than yelling at my son, right?”

Just say no.We often try to achieve the status of Super Mom, but nobody can do it all. Saying no—to heading up class parties, leading a Girl Scout troop, a work promotion that involves longer hours—is okay and will make you a better mom in the long run. Focus on the things that mean the most and invest your time and energy into doing those things really well. Your sanity will thank you.

Order a “time-out.”For yourself, that is. Melissa, a Raymore mom, often goes home before she picks up her daughter from daycare. “Some-times I just need a half-hour to myself,”

she says, but admits she feels guilty about it. However, we all need time to unwind. Schedule a massage, go for a walk, take a book to the park or do whatever it takes to recharge your batteries. You’ll be calmer and more focused afterwards.

Don’t let others make you feel guilty.Coming from other moms (“You mean you’re not breastfeeding?”) and from our own kids (“You never play with me!”), it sometimes seems that everyone is trying to lay on the guilt. Stay strong and remind yourself that you are a fabulous mom.

Remember you’re not alone. Talk to friends and family when you feel the pangs of mom guilt, and, chances are, they’ll nod sympathetically and share their own stories. Knowing that others have “been there, done that” can help lighten the load. Tisha Foley lives in Belton with her hus-band, daughter and son. Hearing dozens of stories of “mom guilt” while researching this story made her realize that we’re all in this together.


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word from dad

“Dad,” James asked, “could you take me to the restroom?” At a Scout campout, the restroom

was just an outhouse. It was modern and concrete, but primitive in design—and bugs were irresistibly drawn to it. James never liked bugs and now he needed my presence to reassure him in the restroom. We opened the door, and I saw a 2-inch-long skink, shiny black with one iridescent orange stripe on each side, trapped in a corner. The lizard tried desperately to escape, but the corner was unyielding.

“James,” I said in wonder, “that’s not a bug, it’s a lizard.” I thought it would fasci-nate James as it did me.

James shrieked in sheer terror, spun on his heel and sprinted the 50 yards back to camp, screaming all the way. For the rest of the campout, he never went into that restroom again.

Our children frequently surprise us, though. Later that year, James saw a 2-story inflatable slide at a church festival and, de-spite his lifelong fear of heights, decided to try it. As he got higher, his progress be-came slower, and the line of impatient chil-dren grew behind him. Finally he reached the top and sat in the staging area. James looked down, gulped, took a deep breath and launched himself. Almost before he knew it, he was at the bottom. Grinning as much from triumph as from exhilaration, he ran back into the line.

We know that children don’t grow physically in a smooth, continuous flow; they grow in spurts. We don’t always real-ize that they grow emotionally in spurts, too. That little skink was too much for my Scout at that time. A Scout is brave, though, and James proved his Scout mettle. He faced his fears and mastered them. That is true courage.

Bill Bartlett lives in Belton with his family.

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WIRED FOR FUNFortunately, we don’t have to teach

our children to play—it comes naturally.In fact, studies show that from birth

to 6, children are likely to play more than 15,000 hours.

“When we think about play, we often think of it as a nonsensical type of activity,” says Phillip Hause, a licensed profes-sional counselor and play therapist at CrossPointe Counseling Center in Gard-ner. But nothing could be further from reality. Play, or the lack of it, affects every aspect of a child’s development.

“We can understand our children better if we understand their play,” Hause says. “By watching children play, we often

the serious business of

PLAY

It turns out the old adage is true: All work and no play really does make Jack a dull boy. But probably not in the

way you’d expect.Sure, play breaks monotony and

relieves stress. But it’s what happens in-side Jack’s brain as he builds cities in the sandbox or slays dragons with a buddy that gives him the most bang for his play buck, according to researchers who’ve studied play in both humans and animals.

Play is where connections are formed that will follow him into adult-hood—connections that help him learn about his world, understand how things work, express himself and develop physi-cal, mental and social skills.


WE CANUNDERSTAND OURCHILDRENBETTER IF WEUNDERSTAND THEIR PLAY.

Both the Spragues and the McGuires use family nights to get everyone—from the toddler to the teenager— involved in play. Here are some tips for creating a synapse-sparking, bond-building, stress-busting family fun night:

Let your hair down. Run, dance, wres-tle and take time to laugh with each other. You and your children are mak-ing great memories. Have fun!

Involve everyone. Find an activity that all family members can enjoy. A card game that uses colors instead of numbers or an action game like charades ensures that the little ones can participate, too.

Keep it simple. Limit complicated ac-tivities that take a lot of planning and equipment. The easier the prepara-tion and execution, the more often family nights will happen.

Encourage face time. Movie nights are fun but don’t allow for much interaction. Mix it up with activities that encourage communication. Game night is great for creating fun rivalries and getting everyone talking. An edible science experiment or an off-the-wall craft also can spark conversations.

Don’t break the bank. Play tag or Frisbee in the backyard or at a park. Design and deliver homemade cards for residents of a care home. Bake and decorate cookies. Run through the sprinklers. Make a music video. The possibilities for cheap fun are endless. And if you’re really strug-gling for ideas, you could check out Lisa Bany-Winters’ book, Family Fun Nights: 140 Activities the Whole Fam-ily Will Enjoy or Family Fun Night, by Cynthia L. Copeland.

unstructured outdoor activities. The culprit, says Hause, is over

scheduling. Mary Sprague of Olathe knows what

it’s like to juggle schooling, church life (she’s a pastor’s wife), organized activi-ties, play time and six kids—ages 1 to 18, including two adopted from Ethiopia last year.

Still, Sprague and her husband, Clint, are intentional about finding balance and nurturing play in their children.

“Anything you do with them, they will learn to love,” Sprague says. “You let them try a little bit of everything and if they’re not into it, then that’s cool. Or if they want to do it, then that’s great, too.”

While the Sprague children are in-volved in everything from youth theater to football and basketball to gymnastics and ballet, they still find plenty of time to build forts, color, play dress up, sew, skate and play soccer and other games together and with neighbors.

“Play is a top priority,” Sprague says. “My kids are not couch potato kids and so, whether we’re kicking balls in the back-yard or riding bikes or going to a park, it’s a real big deal.”

The same holds true for Jake and Bethany McGuire and their three children, ages 5, 10 and 13.

“Our favorite things to do are swim-ming and running together,” says the Belton mom. “We also love Dance Party Wii and Uno, because even our 5-year-old can play.”

One way the McGuires achieve bal-ance is by limiting tech games.

“We give them Wii time, but it mostly has to involve one of the more physical games to get their bodies involved,” she says. “We also let them do sit-on-the-couch-and-drool games, but they are limited to only one hour on the weekends or when friends come over.”

THE BOTTOM LINEYou’re never too old to play. And according to Dr. Stuart Brown,

in his book Play, although the types of activities change as people mature, the need for play and its value in a person’s life does not.

Which is a good reminder—because all work and no play make grown-up Jack dull, too.

Melinda Ablard Smith is wife to one amazing man, mom to two great teenag-ers and owner to three excessively playful Chihuahuas. She lives in Olathe and teaches journalism at MidAmerica Nazarene Uni-versity.

learn more about their feelings, thoughts, motivations and struggles than by talking with them.”

Play has been dubbed the “lan-guage of childhood” by researchers, Hause says. “And if we learn or relearn that language, we can build more satisfy-ing relationships with our children.”

Because of this, Hause stresses the importance of children having time to play not only by themselves and with friends, but also with their own parents.

A BALANCING ACTSadly, studies show that U.S. children

in 2002 had 12 fewer hours of free time per week than children 20 years earlier, severely limiting play time—especially

THE FAMILY THAT PLAYS TOGETHER


Instructions 1. Follow a recipe for cake pops to bake your cake, prepare your cake balls and chill.

2. Make 2 black dots for eyes with the edible writer on the Jordan almonds and set aside.

3. Pour coconut on a plate and set aside. Melt candy melts according to the instructions. For each lamb, break 2 pretzel sticks in half so each pretzel piece is about 1 3/4 inches long. Dip the ends of the 4 pretzel pieces in the melted candy melts; then insert them into the base of a chilled cake ball. For best results, return the cake ball to the freezer for 5 minutes to help set. Holding 2 of the pretzel legs, dip the cake ball in the melts and immediately roll in coconut. Stand the cake ball on the pretzel legs on a piece of wax paper.

4. Use a dab of melted candy melts to adhere the Jordan almond head to the lamb. Let dry.

With a dab of bright icing and a sprinkle of color, you can transform drab sugar cookies into glowing planets, plain

marshmallows into scary zombies and simple cake pops into blooming flowers. Meaghan Mountford, creator of the blog

The Decorated Cookie and the edible crafts editor of CraftGossip.com, shares her secrets for producing adorable edible art. Sugarlicious will demystify professional techniques

so that anyone can learn how to pipe icing like a pro and have fun with fondant. With the lively inspiration and

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Celebrate Easter and spring with these darling lamb cake balls, excerpted from Sugarlicious.

Recipes• Cake pops (cake and buttercream frosting) • Melting chocolate and candy melts

LITTLE LAMB CAKE BALLS

Supplies• Jordan almonds• black edible writer• shredded coconut• white candy melts• mini pretzel sticks• baking tray• wax paper

IdeaTint the coconut pink, blue, yellow or purple and use coordinating col-ors of candy melts and almonds.

ShortcutUse store bought cake mix and frosting for the cake pops.

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I hear from a lot of busy people that they just don’t have time for coupons. And trust me, I get it. I don’t have time for

coupons right now, either. For a few years I was a die-hard couponer who never left the house without her coupon binder. But now as a working mom with 20 things pulling me in different directions, I just don’t have the time anymore. I still clip coupons and use them, but gone are the days of the well-planned shopping trip where every item had a coupon to go with it. But couponing isn’t the ONLY way to save money on the things you need.

You can save money by NOT SHOP-PING! Revolutionary, I know. But think about it a little. The more you shop, the more money you spend, even if you are shopping for things you need. If you go to the grocery store three times each week, that is three opportunities to throw a few extras into the cart. Packs of gum and an extra bag of chips add up fast!

By planning one big grocery shop-ping trip each week, I have fewer impulse buys in my cart. And I am trying really hard not to go to Target unless I truly need something. (My goal is once every two weeks...but Target is my happy place so that is hard). I used to go just to “check out the clearance” each week and guess where that landed me...with lots of things that were really great deals and a Target bill that was higher than I wanted it to be.

Does this mean I never shop unless we are out of milk? No. Sometimes it’s great to take a stroll through Target or the mall. But I’m trying to think of it as a “once in a while” treat instead of a weekly occur-rence. Hopefully our budget will be better off because of it!

Sara Keenan lives in Kansas City. She and other moms (and dads) blog daily at KCParent.com. Join the conversation today!

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C A L E N D A Rapril

No part of this calendar may be reproduced in print or web format.

rideHop aboard the

MidlandRailway Egg Hunt

train on April 7. Ride the train, hunt for Easter

eggs and bring your camera for photos with the

Easter Bunny. Trains depart at

9:00, 11:00, 2:00 & 4:00. Adults/$14,

Children(ages 1-11)/$7.

913.721.1211

playIn conjunction with the Nettie

Wells Dollhouse exhibit, the Toy and Miniature

Museum will bring Nettie’s story to life through first-person interpre-tation, interac-

tive tours and a hands-on cigar

box dollhouse workshop on

April 7. Noon-4:00. Pre-reg. for

workshop.816.235.8005.

partyCelebrate Earth

Day during Party for the Planet at

the Zoo on Satur-day, April 14 from

10:00 to 3:00. Pump up the

volume on your conservation

initiatives, check out the zoo’s

Green Team, visit and vote for your favorite Scraps to Sculpture display and much more.

816.513.5800

goMCC-Longview Flights of Fancy

on April 21 at 10:00 features

dazzling mega kite displays by the Kansas City

Kite Club on the picturesque lawn

of the MCC-Longview cam-pus. Kids will en-

joy face painting, a candy drop

and more. Free. 816.604.2030

exploreOn April 28

and 29 at 1:00, head to the

Neslon-Atkins for art+family=fun.

Study the details of an elaborately decorated suit of Japanese armor

and create a col-lage inspired by its symbols and

textures. Free. 816.751.1321

The NEWKCParent.com

calendar now has10x MOREEVENTS!


1 SUNDAY Special Swim 9:00, Matt Ross Community Center. Individuals with disabilities can attend a special swim time just for them. 913.895.6390

Farmstead Opening Day 9:00, Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead. Bring out the kids to see all the animals and birds of prey at the farmstead! 913.897.2360

Vaile Mansion Reopens 10:00, Vaile Man-sion. Come see one of the nation’s premiere examples of second empire Victorian architecture. 816.325.7430

Family Fun Day Noon, KC Museum. Learn about the gilded age in American history through song, trivia and games. 816.483.8300

Meet Me at the Museum 2:00, Kemper Museum of Art. Join a docent for a lively discussion and tour of the museum’s current exhibitions. 816.753.5784

Rapunzel 2:00, Paul Mesner Puppet Studio. A veg-gie love story about two avid gardeners who marry and have a beautiful daughter. 816.756.3500

Make Someone Happy 3:00, Quality Hill Play-house. Enjoy the talent and partnership of Betty Comden and Adolf Green, who knew how to make people happy. 816.421.1700

Chapel Choir Performance 6:30, Gano Chapel at William Jewell College. This free choir performance is open to the public. HistoricDowntownLiberty.org

Gospel Skate Night 7:00, Skate World. Grab your friends and family and skate to the uplifting tunes of gospel music. $6/skater, $1.50/skate rental. 913.262.0711

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April 14 & 15, 2012Lewis & Shirley White TheatreOverland Park, KS

Youth BalletPerforms...

Miller MarleyApril Fool’s Day! KCParent.com

has tons offun ideas!


April 6 & 7Missouri Arbor Day: Burr Oak Woods Nature Center, April 6, 7:00-5:30, or April 7, 8:00-4:30. Celebrate Missouri Arbor Day by taking a hike beneath the towering giants that grace the trails at Burr Oak Woods. Pre-reg. at 816.228.2766. Ages 5 and up with adult.

April 14Second Saturday Kids’ Fun Fest: Par-ty for the Planet: Kansas City Zoo, 10:00-3:00. Cel-ebrate Earth Day during Party for the Planet! Pump up the volume on your conserva-

tion initiatives and check out the zoo’s Green Team. Meet and learn about polar bears from some of the leaders of Polar Bears Interna-tional.

Puppets for the Planet Festival: Lakeside Nature Center, 10:00-2:00 (816.513.8960). Come to the cen-ter to learn, watch a puppet show from StoneLion Puppets, make something to take home and see our nighttime stars.

April 20FREE Family Fun Night: Earth Day:Sylvester Powell Community Cen-

ter, 5:00-8:00. Your family can learn more about “go-ing green.” Free activities include showing of The Lion King, open swimming, Earth Day arts & crafts, video games & the indoor play-ground.

April 21Earth Day Cel-ebration: Powell Gardens, 9:00-5:00 (816.697.2600). Learn how to implement green gardening prac-tices. Kids can dig in a worm bin and find out how beneficial these critters are for the soil. Stretch those gardening mus-cles with a yoga

session or discover new ways to use fresh ingredients. Admission: $9.50/adults, $8.50/seniors and $4/children 5-12.

Puppets for the Planet Fest: Theis Mall/Brush Creek Amphitheater, 9:00-Noon. Enjoy eco game shows, new puppets and some of the best talent in the city! Join us for these free interactive events. Events include live perfor-mances, hands-on workshops and games, environ-mental informa-tion tables and refreshment area. StoneLionPuppets.org.

April 28Earth Day & Arbor Day Celebration:Gardner Greenway Corridor, 11:00-1:00. Come cel-ebrate Earth Day with Gardner Parks and Rec! After a group cleanup of the Gardner Greenway Cor-ridor, join the Parks and Recreation Department for a free barbecue lunch in the park. Watch a tree-planting demon-stration and take part in a drawing for free trees, t-shirts and lots of other prizes! RSVP 913.856.0936

Enjoy Earth Day by getting out and enjoying

some of the events all over

town

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2 MONDAYPlaza Bunnies & Wonderland Animals Thru Apr 9, 9:00, Country Club Plaza. Larger-than-life bun-nies and other springtime animals grace the Plaza! 816.561.8140

Moms Free Monday 9:30, Paradise Park. Moms receive a FREE admission to the Edutainment Center with the purchase of a full-priced child’s admission. 816.246.5224

Children’s Book Character Sculptures Exhibit Thru Apr 13, all day, Liberty Library. Students from Liberty High and Liberty North High will display their sculpture pieces at the library. 816.781.9240

Midtown Playgroup 10:00, Westport Roanoke Community Center. Bring your kids to the indoor playground setting and have some fun! $1.50/child. 816.784.5200

Preschool Story Time 11:00, Blue Springs South Library. Preschoolers ages 3-5 will enjoy literacy-rich books, music and crafts. 816.229.3571

The Easter Bunny Visits Weekends Thru Apr 7, Crown Center. A professional photographer is avail-able for a fee, and guests are welcome to bring their cameras as well. 816.274.8444

Jazz on the Square 4:00, Corbin Theatre. Come early to get a seat for this free event. Donations are always welcome! HistoricDowntownLiberty.org

3 TUESDAYToddle Time 9:00-11:00, Matt Ross Community Center. Fun and enriching open playtime for ages 5 and under. $1-$2/child. 913.895.6390

Preschool Story Time 10:00, Grandview Library. A fun program for 3- to 5-year-olds using tried and true activities and literacy-rich books. 816.763.0550

Coffee Playground 10:00, Overland Park First Assembly of God. Indoor play area with inflatables, scooters, balls and other toys.OverlandParkMops.Blogspot.com

Preschool Story Time 10:30, Boardwalk Library. Preschoolers will enjoy literacy-rich books and stories, along with music and finger plays. 816.741.9011

Family Night 4:00, Little Monkey Bizness. Let your little ones monkey around in the indoor play area while you enjoy the full-service coffee bar. 913.631.7000

Pizza Gone Wild 6:00, Anita B Gorman Conserva-tion Discovery Center. Sample the fresh-baked pizzas using plants and animals found naturally in Missouri. 816.759.7300

Flights

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Children’s Game Night 7:00, Blue Ridge Library. Join fellow gamers at the library for fun! 816.761.3382 4 WEDNESDAYOpen Play: Stanley 9:30, Stanley Presbyterian Church. Participate in free open play at the church. Feel free to bring your own toys, too. 913.681.8180 Weekly Story Time 10:00, Barnes and Noble (Town Center Plaza). Bring your little ones out to hear a special story time each Wednesday. 913.491.4535

Playgroup 10:00, Turner Community Library. On the first Wednesday of the month, little ones have fun listening to stories, singing songs and participating in crafts. 913.596.1404

St George & the Dragon 10:00, Liberty Performing Arts Center. Paul Mesner Puppets travels back to the time of dragons, damsels and dungeons. PaulMesnerPuppets.org

Priscilla Howe 10:00, Tomahawk Ridge Community Center. Children will be entertained by this master storyteller at this free event. 913.326.6645

Celtic Woman 7:30, Music Hall. BELIEVE star vocalists perform under the musical direction of Emmy-nominated musical director, David Downes. CelticWoman.com

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5 THURSDAYNational Volleyball Collegiate Club Championships Thru Sat, Bartle Hall. See talented athletes play for the top spot in club volleyball. 816.513.5000

New Easter Bunny Puppet Show 10:00, Blue Springs North Library. Enjoy a delightful 30-minute puppet show and see what the Easter Bunny decides to hide.

Diary of a Worm, a Spider and a Fly Thru April 14, Union Station. Theatre for Young America presents this funny musical play. 816.460.2083

Highlights Tour 2:00, National Frontier Trails Museum. This 30-minute guided tour will investigate various aspects of western settlement. 816.325.7575

Family Science Night at the Zoo 5:30, Kansas City Zoo. Learn all about energizing energy in a fun hands-on way with your family! 816.513.5723

A Spoonful of Sugar Thru Apr 29, Thu-Sat (no Easter performance), 8:00, Chestnut Fine Arts Center. Hear a tribute to the music of Julie Andrews! 913.764.2121 6 FRIDAYMissouri Arbor Day Today & tomorrow, 8:00, Burr Oak Woods. Celebrate Missouri Arbor Day by taking a hike beneath the towering giants along the trails. 816.228.3766

Baby Time: Story Time 9:30, West Wyandotte Library. This program is specifically for infants ages 6 to 23 months with a caregiver or parent. 913.596.5800

Rumpelstiltskin…Recycled Thru May 10, 10:00, Metcalf South. A clever spin on a classic tale that will get you thinking about going green! 913.642.7576

Playwear Event 10:00, Children’s Orchard (Olathe & Independence). Two days only! All playwear with pink tickets is just $1.00! 913.780.6600 and 816.373.4585

Jazz Storytelling 10:00, American Jazz Museum. Jazz storytelling introduces children to new music and cultures in a creative environment. 816.474.8463

Story Time Tumble: KCKS 10:30, Turner Library. Bring little ones each Friday for stories, songs and finger plays followed by tumbling activities. 913.596.1404

Early Spring Crops Noon, Beanstalk Children’s Garden. Learn all about planting, selecting and caring for a spring vegetable garden. 816.931.3877

Arbor Day Celebration 2:00, Flora Park. Celebrate Arbor Day with Mayor Barry McCullough from Gladstone by planting a tree. Gladstone.Mo.Us

Border War Reflections 7:00, Alexander Majors Historic House & Museum. A local actress presents

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life through interpretation, interactive tours and a hands-on workshop. 816.235.8000

Family Magic Show 1:00, KC Improv. Come see some of the funniest and most entertaining magicians at this family-friendly event. 816.759.5233

Public Animal Feeding 3:00, Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary. Watch snakes, turtles and other animals eat and see how you can help! 816.781.8595

Parents’ Night Out 5:30, Legacy Christian Church (Olathe &Overland Park). This PNO is specifically for families with children who have special needs. 913.381.8055

8 SUNDAY: easterEaster Brunch 11:00, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Combine elegant food and live music with priceless art in a beautiful Italian-style courtyard. Pre-reg. 816.751.1321

Easter Egg Roll 11:15, St Peter’s United Church

Easter Egg Hunt Train Rides 9:00, 11:00, 2:00 & 4:00, Midland Railway. Visit the Easter Bunny, bring your camera to take photos and ride the train. 913.721.1211

10 Years of Discovery 10:00, Anita B Gorman Conservation Discovery Center. Celebrate 10 years of discovering nature through fun activities and entertainment. 816.759.7300

Easter Festival: Raymore 10:00, Memorial Park. Hunt for 15,000 eggs in age-appropriate areas! Enjoy refreshments, face painting and fun activities. Raymore.com

Geo-Kids 10:00, Overland Park Arboretum. A basic instruction class for children ages 6-12 on use of a compass, followed by a treasure hunt. $5/child. 913.685.3604

Easter Egg Hunt 10:30, Meadowmere Park. The Easter Bunny hops into Grandview to lead the hunt for treats. Bring your basket and get your photo taken as well. Grandview.org

Kansas City Easter Parade 11:00, Zona Rosa. Free event features the Easter Bunny, fun entertainment and a best-dressed contest for the whole family. 816.587.8180

Nettie Wells Dollhouse: A Family at Play Noon, Toy & Miniature Museum. Nettie’s story comes to

Nature Centers in MissouriBurr Oak Woods 1401 NW Park Rd., Blue Springs, MO, 816.228.3766Burr Oak Woods is one of the largest nature centers in the area. With an animatronic Smokey the Bear teaching children fire safety, a large aquarium of Missouri’s fresh water fish, snakes, turtles, toads and more, it is a great place to spend an afternoon.

Burroughs Audubon Nature Center7300 W. Park Rd., Blue Springs, MO, 816.795.8177Located in Fleming Park and Lake Ja-como, the Burroughs Audubon Nature Center is a library and bird watching center complete with binoculars, guides and great viewing areas.

Cave Spring Nature Center8701 E. Gregory Blvd., KCMO, 816.358.CAVECave Spring Nature Center is a small nature center with historic exhibits on the Little House on the Prairie and Kansas

a dramatic interpretation of Missouri’s troubled past. 816.444.1858

First Fridays 7:00-9:00, Crossroads Art District. Galleries and shops remain open late the first Friday of each month. KCCrossroads.org

Narnia: The Musical Thru Sun, 7:00, Kauffman Center. KC Starlight Children’s Theatre presents the most famous of the Narnia stories, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. KCStarlight.com 7 SATURDAYEaster Egg 5K and Lil Bunny Fun Run 8:00, Lionsgate Marketplace. A fun family event that features a fun run for kids 10 years and younger! SportKC.org

Breakfast with the Easter Bunny and Easter Egg Hunt 9:00, Powell Gardens. Breakfast begins at 9:00, and the hunt starts at 11:00. Pre-reg. 816.697.2600 x209

Kids Workshop 9:00-Noon, Home Depot stores. Kids can come in during the morning and build a bird feeder! Just in time for the spring weather! HomeImproverClub.com

Bunny Hop 9:45, Downtown Lee’s Summit. Join the Easter Bunny in a parade up 3rd Street and with pictures afterwards! DowntownLS.org

City. The scenic walking trails lead to a cave and a wildlife habitat pond.

Anita B. Gorman Discovery Center4750 Troost Ave., KCMO, 816.759.7300The Discovery Center offers terrific educational programs. The trail leads to Kauffman Gardens. At the center, learn about wildlife through environmentally friendly activities.

Kemper Outdoor Educational Center 8201 Jasper Bell, Blue Springs, MO, 816.229.8980The Kemper Outdoor Educational Cen-ter is situated near Blue Springs Lake and surrounded by beautiful gardens! Enjoy reptile displays, rock and fossil exhibits, trails, butterfly and water gardens, an arboretum, pond and more.

Nature Centers in Kansas Ernie Miller Nature Center909 N. Hwy. 7, Olathe, KS, 913.764.7759Ernie Miller Nature Center offers chil-dren’s activities and programs every week. You can also walk in for a visit

any time to see live animal displays, participate in hands-on activities and explore nature trails.

F.L. Schlagle Nature Library4501 West Dr., Wyandotte County Lake Park, KCK, 913.299.2384The F.L. Schlagle Nature Library is a year-round interactive library, nature center and nature trail offering scien-tific, educational, cultural, informa-tional and recreational opportunities to visitors of all ages.

Prairie Park Nature Center 2730 Harper St., Lawrence, KS, 785.832.7980This nature center features fantastic animal exhibits, from reptiles to am-phibians and birds to mammals. The park includes grassland, forest and lake with trails for exploring.

Overland Park Arboretum 8909 W. 179th St., Overland Park, KS, 913.685.3604The arboretum features acres of gardens, including a children’s exploration garden, water gardens, the Monet garden and many more. Learn about natural ecosystems and explore the trails.

NATUREEXPLORING KC


of Christ. Children of all ages participate in annual Easter egg roll after the morning service. 816.942.1155

Narnia: The Musical 2:00 & 4:30, Kauffman Center. KC Starlight Children’s Theatre presents the most famous of the Narnia stories, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. KCStarlight.com

50s Skate Night 7:00, B & D South. Enjoy 50s music while skating—and skate at a discount: only 50 cents to get in and 50 cents to rent skates! 816.252.1084

9 MONDAYPlaza Bunnies & Wonderland Animals 9:00, Country Club Plaza. Today is the final day to see the larger-than-life bunnies grace the Plaza! 816.561.8140

Moms Free Monday 9:30, Paradise Park. Moms receive a FREE admission to the Edutainment Center with the purchase of a full-priced child’s admission. 816.246.5224


Toddler Takeover 10:00, Kansas City North Community Center. Bring your little ones and let them run and play in the gym. Parents must supervise. $1. 816.784.6100

Animal Tales & Trails Exhibit Thru May 6, 10:00, Crown Center. Kids can play in an interactive habitat. 816.274.8444

Toddler Time 10:00, RFCC in Leavenworth. The gym is available for kids to experience some exercise while making new friends. 913.651.2132 10 TUESDAYToddle Time 9:00-11:00, Matt Ross Community Center. Fun and enriching open playtime for ages 5 and under. $1-$2/child. 913.895.6390

Baby Story Time 9:30, Boardwalk Library. Enjoy fun interaction and lots of repetition. Specifically designed for babies 9-18 months.

Preschool Story Time 10:00, Antioch Library. Enjoy exciting and unique stories involving tried and true activities for your preschooler. 816.454.1306

Coffee Playground 10:00, Overland Park First Assembly of God. Indoor play area with inflatables, scooters, balls and other toys. OverlandParkMops.Blogspot.com

James and the Giant Peach Thru May 18, various times, Crown Center’s Coterie Theater. Plan to attend the Coterie’s Elementary/Family Series production. 816.474.6552

Frogs, Symphony of Spring 6:30, Burr Oak Woods Nature Center. Discover wonder in the symphony of spring, and identify frogs by their

unique songs. Pre-reg. 816.228.3766

Farfalle (Butterflies) Today (7:00) & tomorrow (5:00 & 7:00), Lied Center of Kansas. Interactive theatre teaches children the life cycle of a butterfly. 785.864.2787

11 WEDNESDAYBirding Hike 8:00, Burr Oak Woods Nature Center. Prepare to hike and search for new migrating bird species and listen for their songs. 816.22.3766

Pop ‘n Play 9:00, Johnson County Museum. A drop-in program for children ages 9 months to 3 years old. $1/child, members free. 913.715.2550

Toddler Story Time 9:30 & 10:30, Boardwalk Library. Stories, music and movement accompany this toddler time for children ages 18-36 months. 816.741.9011

Stories for Ones 9:30, Waldo Library. Bring your 1-year-old to a story time geared toward this age group. 816.701.3486

Diary of a Worm, a Spider and a Fly Thru Apr 14, Union Station. Theatre for Young America presents this funny musical play. 816.460.2083

12 THURSDAYElementary Open House 9:00, Heritage Christian Academy. Visit the south Overland Park campus and learn what HCA can offer your student. HCAKC.org


unique items from the Truman Library’s collections. 816.268.8200

Family Day Noon, Kemper Museum of Art. Join us on the last day of “The Big Reveal” for some family fun at the museum. Take a bow at this last curtain call. 816.753.5784

Awesome Birds Noon & 2:00, Crown Center. Delight in the playful antics of tropical birds such as parrots, toucans, cockatoos and more. Presented by Wings of Love. 816.274.8444

Art + Family = Fun Today & tomorrow, 1:00, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Enjoy informal looking and hands-on activities in the galleries. 816.751.1321

Family Magic Show 1:00, KC Improv. Come see some of the funniest and most entertaining magicians at this family-friendly event. 816.759.5233

Second Saturdays 1:15, Crossroads Art District. This enrichment program creates a link between experiencing and knowing the Crossroads. KCCrossroads.org

Spring Tea: Weddings Through the Years 2:00, Rice-Tremonti Home. Enjoy high tea highlighted by a fashion show of vintage wedding gowns. Pre-reg. 816.734.5137

Peter Pan Youth Ballet Today & tomorrow, 2:00 & 7:00, Lewis & Shirley White Theater (JCC Campus). Performance presented by the Miller Marley Youth Ballet. 913.492.0004

15 SUNDAYCommunity Yard Sale 9:00, City Market. Come shop the great selection of used items at economical prices! TheCityMarket.org

Visit Vaile Mansion 1:00, Vaile Mansion. Come see one of the nation’s premiere examples of second empire Victorian architecture. 816.325.7430

A Spoonful of Sugar Thru Apr 29, Thu-Sat (no Easter performance), 2:00, Chestnut Fine Arts Center. Hear a tribute to the music of Julie Andrews! 913.764.2121

Sign Up for the Dragon Dash Sign up for a 5K/1-mile fun run on May 5 at Corinth Elementary (8301 Mission Rd). This is a benefit for the Corinth Educational Foundation. CorinthDragons.com 16 MONDAYGym for Me 9:00, Lenexa Community Center. Children are invited to run, ride and play while making new friends! $1/day. 913.541.0209

Moms Free Monday 9:30, Paradise Park. Moms receive a FREE admission to the Edutainment

14 SATURDAYDecorative Arts at the World’s Fairs, 1851–1939 Thru Aug 19, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. View 200 objects shown at every major World’s Fair from 1851 to 1939. 816.751.1321

Great KC Pet Expo Today & tomorrow, 10:00, OP Int’l Trade Center. Plan to attend KC’s biggest celebration of pets, with contests, vendors and stunt dogs! GreatKCPetExpo.com

Lost Ladybug Day 10:00, Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary. Learn all about ladybugs and participate in crafts, games and face painting. $5/person. 816.781.8598

Kids Club 10:00, Powell Gardens. Monthly programs will feature guided walks and special behind-the-scenes tours. 816.697.2600

Farm Spring Baby Animal Shower 10:00, Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop & Farm. Help celebrate the birth of several new animals with a baby shower! 913.971.5111

Earth Day 10:00, Lakeside Nature Center. Celebrate Earth Day with a puppet show from StoneLion and make something creative to take home. 816.513.8960

It’s Raining Money 10:00, Children’s Orchard (Olathe). Spend $30 or more and receive a $10 store credit. Perfect for spring! 913.780.6600

Party for the Planet 10:00, Kansas City Zoo. Check out the zoo’s Green Team, vote for your favorite Scraps to Sculpture display and much more. 816.513.5800

Talkin’ Truman 11:00, Truman Presidential Library. This program highlights rarely seen and

Arbor Day Celebration 9:00, English Landing Park. English Landing Park reopens just in time to celebrate Arbor Day with a tree planting! 816.741.7676

Preschool Story Time 10:00, West Wyandotte Library. Story time is for preschoolers ages 3-6 and includes stories, crafts and songs. 913.596.5800

Bumper Bowling 10:00, Mission Bowl. Moms and preschoolers under 5 can bowl every Thursday for just $3 each! 913.432.7000

Family Library Time 4:30, Antioch Library. Bring the kids on in and enjoy a fun family activity in your library! 816.454.1306 13 FRIDAY Farfalle (Butterflies) Today & tomorrow, various showtimes, Lied Center of Kansas. Interactive theatre teaches children the life cycle of a butterfly. 785.864.2787

Preschoolers: Busy, Buzzing Bees 10:00, Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary. Learn about the special jobs of the queen bee, her worker bees and drones. Pre-reg. 816.781.8698

Growing Herbs Noon, Beanstalk Children’s Garden. Learn the best ways to grow and preserve the most popular varieties of herbs. 816.931.3877

Beth Moore: Living Proof LIVE! Today & tomorrow, 7:00, Music Hall. Beth Moore will inspire you to strengthen and magnify your relationship with God at this event. LProof.org

Dvorák’s New World Symphony Today & tomorrow, 8:00, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. Witness one of the most beloved symphonies in the repertoire. 816.994.7222

EnterKC Parent’s

Cover KidContest. Details

on pg. 5.

The Culture House presents Seussical | April 19-21


Center with the purchase of a full-priced child’s admission. 816.246.5224


Toddler Time 10:00, RFCC in Leavenworth. The gym is available for kids to experience some exercise while making new friends. 913.651.2132

Back to the 50’s 4:00-10:00, Summit Lanes. Every Monday thru Aug 22, there is a $5 cover, and games, shoes, soft drinks and hot dogs are only 50 cents! 816.524.3322

Yu-Gi-Oh Tournament 4:00, Lucile H Bluford Library. Bring your desk and your game and get ready to Yu-Gi-Oh! 816.701.3482 17 TUESDAYBaby Story Time 9:15, Lee’s Summit Library. Babies 9-18 months will enjoy story time with music, repetition and fun interaction. 816.524.0567


Kidscape 10:00, Johnson County Museum. Kids will love to visit the hands-on suburban streetscape exhibit! 913.715.2550

Book Club 11:00, Pottery Barn (Country Club Plaza). Every Tuesday, come for singing, crafts and a few favorite books. 816.561.8140

Family Night 4:00, Little Monkey Bizness. Let your little ones monkey around in the indoor play area while you enjoy the full-service coffee bar. 913.631.7000

Nature and Me 7:30, Anita B Gorman Conservation Discovery Center. Learn about the benefits nature has on lives in this interactive program. 816.759.7300 18 WEDNESDAYToddle Time 9:00-11:00, Matt Ross Community Center. Fun and enriching open playtime for ages 5 and under. $1-$2/child. 913.895.6390

Tiny Tot Skate 9:30, Skate City. Bring your little one out to the rink! $5/child includes traditional skates, snack and drink. 913.888.6668

Story Time 10:00, Barnes and Noble (Oak Park Mall). Plan to attend the weekly story time with your children! Free and open to the public. 913.492.8187

Jo Ho Storyteller 10:00, Johnson County Museum. Storyteller Jo Ho presents “Birds of a Different Feather!” 913.715.2552

Story Time 11:00, Barnes and Noble (Independence). Enjoy the weekly story time

suitable for children up to age 8. 816. 795.9878

Breastfeeding Support Group 1:00, Liberty Hospital Education Center. Hosted by a lactation consultant who can support you. 816.781.7200

19 THURSDAYBird Hike 8:00, Burr Oak Woods Nature Center. Help search for new sightings of migrating bird species and listen for their songs. 816.228.3766

Bumper Bowling 10:00, Mission Bowl. Moms and preschoolers under 5 can bowl every Thursday for just $3 each! 913.432.7000

Rumpelstiltskin…Recycled Thru May 10, 10:00, Metcalf South. A clever spin on a classic tale that will get you thinking about going green! 913.642.7576

Spring Home School Day 10:00 or 1:00, Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop. Register for a morning or afternoon Mahaffie school program session. 913.971.5111

Homeschool Keynote Speaker 7:00, Emmanuel Baptist Church. Hear Kevin Swanson speak as kick off to MPE Homeschool Conference. 913.599.0311

Seussical Thru Sat, 7:00, Youthfront Auditorium.Seussical is a fantastic musical extravaganza that brings to life all of the favorite Dr Seuss characters! 913.393.3141


Osage. Hear about the history of the oldest cemetery in Jackson County, including the 48 soldiers who died at Fort Osage. 816.503.4860

Nature Nuts Reading Program 10:00 & 1:00, Anita B Gorman Conservation Discovery Center. Hear stories about forests, streams and other enchanting places. 816.759.7300

Coyote Sings Puppet Show 11:00 & 2:00, Puppetry Arts Institute. A Native American story in which the crazy coyote tries desperately to learn a song. 816.833.9777

Spring on the Farm 11:00, Watkins Woolen Mill State Park. Come to the historic site for a day filled with fun, activities and learning! 816.580.3387

The Masquerade 7:00, Indian Creek Community Church. Dramatic Truth presents a Tchaikovsky-inspired Sleeping Beauty: The deception and awakening of the Bride of Christ. 816.767.9222

Suzanne Vega Concert 8:00, Yardley Hall (JCCC). The talented Suzanne Vega graces the stage as a leading figure of the folk-music revival of the 1980s. 913.469.8500 22 SUNDAYSt Paul’s Preschool Art Fair St Paul’s Preschool. Tour the Children’s Gallery, highlighting art creations from children ages 2-5 years. Call for time. 913.631.0101

Spring Cemetery Tour 1:30, Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop & Farm. Learn about the history of Olathe through a guided cemetery tour. Tours 1 hour each. 913.971.5111

Civil War Railroads of Missouri 2:00, National Frontier Trails Museum. Hear interesting facts about Missouri’s railroads during the war. 816.325.7575

NASCAR Sprint Cup Kansas Speedway. Bring the family out to the Speedway to see the stars of NASCAR rocket around the track at 200 mph. 866.460.7223

Ricky Nelson Remembered 7:00, Yardley Hall (JCCC). Ricky Nelson’s twin sons recreate their dad’s chart-topping songs for a night to remember. 913.469.8500

Youth Symphony at the Kauffman Center 7:00, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. Youth Symphony performs this free concert; tickets are required. YouthSymphonyKC.org 23 MONDAYGym for Me 9:00, Lenexa Community Center. Children are invited to run, ride and play while making new friends! $1/day. 913.541.0209


Visit Vaile Mansion 10:00, Vaile Mansion. Come see one of the nation’s premiere examples

20 FRIDAYMPE Homeschool Conference Today and tomorrow, KCI Expo. Hear Kevin Swanson speak as a kick off to the MPE Homeschool Conference. 913.599.0311

Tomatoes and Peppers Noon, Beanstalk Children’s Garden. Learn how to choose, plant and care for tomatoes and peppers in this program. 816.931.3877

Friday Night Family Fun 6:30, Plaza Library. Join the Kansas City Museum for a fun-filled evening of transportation games and crafts. 816.701.3481 21 SATURDAYEarth Day Celebration 9:00, Powell Gardens. Adults and children will have fun at this green celebration. 816.697.2600

Buck O’Neil Baseball Classic 9:30, Cleveland Park. Free for boys and girls ages 8-12, but you must register. Bring your own baseball glove. 816.474.4652

Brownie Girl Scout Day 9:30, Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop. Brownie Scouts can try their hand at sewing and earn a patch. 913.971.5111

Scavenger Saturdays 10:00, Kemper Museum of Art. Children with an adult can pick up a self-guided activity to follow the clues on this “ART-astic” adventure. 816.753.5784

Geo-Kids 10:00 & 1:00, Overland Park Arboretum. Children ages 6-12 learn to use a compass, and an introduction to geocaching. $5/child. 913.685.3604

Flights of Fancy MEGA Kite Festival 10:00, MCC - Longview. Features dazzling mega kite displays by the Kansas City Kite Club. MCCFlightsOfFancy.org

Earth Walk 2012 10:00, Theis Park. Join us and do your part to help move KC toward a more sustainable future. Dancing, drumming and puppets after the walk! EarthDayKC.org

Walk ‘n Wag 10:00, Happy Rock Park. Bring your dog out for this 1-mile walk that benefits all the animals at the Gladstone Animal Shelter. Register by April 13. Gladstone.Mo.Us

Brumble’s Forest Grand Opening 10:00, Meadowmere Park. Help celebrate the ribbon cutting for one of the most unique playgrounds in the Metro. Grandview.org

Jog with Your Dog 10:00, Recreation Park Trail. Take man’s best friend for a trial jog for an event benefiting the Raymore Animal Shelter. Raymore.com

Mother Nature Reads 10:00, Lakeside Nature Center. Every Saturday morning, hear a story, learn cool facts about the animal of the month and make a craft. 816.513.8960

Historic Sibley Cemetery Tours 10:00, Fort

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Sea Life Aquarium2450 Grand Ave, Kansas City, MO 64108816.471.4FUN (4386)VisitSeaLife.com/Kansas-city

While at Sea Life, you can…• See 5,000+ creatures including sharks, seahorses, octopus, jellyfish and rays. • Watch our fun talks and feed shows throughout the day.• Hold a crab or touch a starfish in the Interactive Rockpool Experience • Test your creature knowledge; take part in the free kids quiz trail.• Journey through our underwater tunnel as sharks and rays swim overhead.• Enjoy the children’s soft play area.

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of second empire Victorian architecture. 816.325.7430

Back to the 50s 4:00-10:00, Summit Lanes. Every Monday thru Aug 22, there is a $5 cover, and games, shoes, soft drinks and hot dogs are only 50 cents! 816.524.3322

Open Basketball 4:00-6:00, Garrison Community Center. Youth ages 17 and under can play pick-up basketball games for free. 816.784.1140 24 TUESDAYPinocchio Commedia Thru May 19, Union Station. The traditional Italian tale of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi is adapted by Johnny Simmons. Call for showtimes. 816.460.2083

Baby Story Time 9:15, Lee’s Summit Library. Babies 9-18 months will enjoy story time with music, repetition and fun interaction. 816.524.0567

Coffee Playground 10:00, Overland Park First Assembly of God. Indoor play area with inflatables,

balls and toys. OverlandParkMops.Blogspot.com


Family Night 4:00, Little Monkey Bizness. Let your little ones monkey around in the indoor play area while you enjoy the full-service coffee bar. 913.631.7000 25 WEDNESDAYPop ‘n Play 9:00, Johnson County Museum. A drop-in program for children ages 9 months to 3 years old. $1/child, members free. 913.715.2550

Stories for Ones 9:30, Waldo Library. Bring your 1-year-old to a story time geared toward this age group. 816.701.3486

Tiny Tot Skate 9:30, Skate City. Bring your little one out to the rink! $5/child includes traditional skates, snack and drink. 913.888.6668

Upcycle Photographs Antisdels (Louisburg). Have your kids photographed in a new upcycled look styled by Suburban Thread. 1.913.837.2737

Breastfeeding Support Group 1:00, Liberty Hospital Education Center. Hosted by a lactation consultant who can support and guide you. 816.781.7200

Family Discount Night 6:30, Landmark Skate. Family of 4 costs ust $12. Includes skates! Landmark2Skate.com 26 THURSDAYBumper Bowling 10:00, Mission Bowl. Moms and preschoolers under 5 can bowl every Thursday for just $3 each! 913.432.7000

Family Movie Night 6:30, Antioch Library. Join us on every 4th Thursday for a family friendly movie. Snacks provided. 816.454.1306

Herb Sale and Festival 7:00, John Wornall House Museum. Three days of events include

Q: Tell me about the creature you created for the SeaLife contest. How did you decide on what to create?

A: I created the “Green Moray Shark.” I saw a Green Moray Eel on a dive and it was so scary and pretty at the same time... with its big teeth and green skin. On another dive I saw a Grey Reef Shark and it was also scary and pretty at the same time. Since both of those creatures are kind of scary and different than anything you see on land I won-dered what they would look like put together. So the “Green Moray Shark” has green skin, really sharp teeth and fins like a shark.

Q: Why do you think it is important to bring awareness to saving and protecting our oceans?

A: I hope one day to show my kids all the cool stuff in the ocean. If we don’t take care of our oceans then there will be nothing to share. Jacques Cousteau said that “we do not inherit the Earth, we borrow it from our children...” We have to save our ocean and the creatures that live there.

Q: What do you do as a Sea Life Ambassador?

A: I get to help educate people about SeaLife Aquarium as a Young Environmental-ist. Another part of my job is to be at the aquarium when the fish arrive on a big truck. I also get to be at the SeaLife Aquarium when it opens on the first day!! I’m really excited to spread the word as a Young Environmentalist.

Q: How did you feel when you won?

A: I was super excited and really grateful for the awesome experience. I can’t wait to be a part of the new aquarium here in Kansas City.


exclusive two-day shopping event which benefits Marion Hope Center. 816.695.1255

Storling Dance Theatre: Spring Mosaic Today & tomorrow, 7:00, Just-Off Broadway Theatre. The Culture House presents Storling Dance Theatre: Spring Mosaic. 816.784.5020 28 SATURDAY Healthy Kids Day 8:00, area YMCA locations. Enjoy fun activities to keep families moving and encourage healthy habits. KansasCityYMCA.org

Community Day 9:00, Mildale Farm. Explore the farm property with your family during this free, public event. 913.831.3355

Mother Nature Reads 10:00, Lakeside Nature Center. Every Saturday morning, hear a story, learn cool facts about the animal of the month and make a craft. 816.513.8960

Zoo Tales 10:00, Kansas City Zoo. How old can the Aldabra tortoise live to be? Find out this fun fact and more! 816.513.5800

Bike Safety Rodeo 10:00, Freedom Park. Children K-14 years old can bring their bikes to learn bike safety and “rules of the road.” Bike and helmet checks available. Grandview.org

Barnyard Babies 11:00, National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame. Come see what babies can be found on the farm, including chicks, calves, kids and more! 913.721.1075

CW Parker’s 148th Birthday 11:00, CWP Carousel Museum. Free cake, ice cream and lemonade! Kids can enjoy free carousel rides, too! 913.682.1311

Earth Day & Arbor Day Celebration 11:00, Gardner Greenway Corridor. Enjoy a free BBQ lunch, watch a tree planting demonstration and more. 913.856.0936

Rumpelstiltskin…Recycled Thru May 10, Noon, Great Plains Mall. A clever spin on a classic tale that will get you thinking about going green! 913.642.7576

Art + Family = Fun Today & tomorrow, 1:00, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Enjoy informal looking and hands-on activities in the galleries. 816.751.1321

May Day 1:00-4:00, Lanesfield Historic Site. Join us for games, Maypole, crafts and more! Free. 913.893.6645

Woodland Wildflower Walks 2:00, Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary. Wear good hiking shoes for the walk, bring your camera and then attend an identification program. 816.781.8598

Masterworks: Brahms 7:30, Liberty Performing Arts Theater. Enjoy the season finale concert featuring an evening of Brahms. LibertySymphony.org

Moscow Festival Ballet: Sleeping Beauty 8:00, Yardley Hall (JCCC). This ballet is regarded as Tchaikovsky’s finest score. Tickets: $32-42. 913.469.8500 29 SUNDAY Visit the Market 8:00, City Market. More than 140 vendor stalls offer fine produce, meats, herbs, fresh-baked goods, flowers and more. TheCityMarket.org

Children’s Concert 2:00, St Michael’s Parish. Jim Cosgrove, Funky Mama and Dino O’Dell come together for a fundraiser benefiting the PLGA Foundation. JimCosgrove.com 30 MONDAY Gym for Me 9:00, Lenexa Community Center. Children are invited to run, ride and play while making new friends! $1/day. 913.541.0209


Toddler Time 10:00, RFCC in Leavenworth. The gym is available for kids to experience some exercise while making new friends. 913.651.2132

Yu-Gi-Oh Tournament 4:00, Lucile H Bluford Library. Bring your desk and your game and get ready to Yu-Gi-Oh! 816.701.3482

demonstrations, tastings and the herb sale! Call for start times. 816.444.1858

Jekyll & Hyde: The Musical Thru Sun, 8:00, Goppert Theatre (Avila University). Tickets are $8-10 to see this popular musical thriller. Check showtimes. Avila.edu 27 FRIDAY Bird Hike 8:00, Burr Oak Woods Nature Center. Join us on the trails as we listen for songs of migrating bird species and search for new sightings. 816.226.3766

Melodies in Motion 9:30, Olathe Bible Church. Children ages 0-4 are exposed to songs, sign language, poems and instruments. $8/family. 913.768.6974

Baby Time: Story Time 9:30, West Wyandotte Library. This program is specifically for infants ages 6 to 23 months with a caregiver or parent. 913.596.5800

Craft Time for Preschoolers 10:00, Blue Ridge Library. In approximately an hour, we’ll make three different crafts! Pre-reg. 816.761.3382

Story Time Tumble: KCKS 10:30, Turner Library. Bring little ones each Friday for stories, songs and finger plays followed by tumbling activities. 913.596.1404

Spring Into Hope Today (5:00) & tomorrow (10:00), Independence Events Center. Enjoy this

913-441-9200w w w . F u n S e r v i c e s M i d w e s t . c o m

MOONWALKS WATER SLIDES CONCESSIONS


We don’t address the symptoms of ADHD. We address the cause.At Brain Balance Achievement Centers, we tackle your child’s ADHD at the most fundamental level — with a unique, drug-free, whole-child approach that goes beyond symptoms to address root causes.

Every child deserves the opportunity to reach their fullest social and academic potential. Stop in or call to learn more about the Brain Balance Program® and how we can help your child succeed.

©2012 Brain Balance Centers

Call913.627.9400

Visit6406 College BoulevardOverland Park, KS 66211

lEaRN MOREbrainbalanceoverlandpark.com

Brain Balance of Overland Park

at Crown Centernteractive Exhibit

frEEfrEEA

Animal Tales & Trails will let kids see what it’s like to prowl in a wild animal’s world. Climb up to an eagle’s nest. Slide down an iceberg like a penguin. Discover a bear with her cubs in a cave. And hang out with many more wild animals and insects. Saturday, March 3. REP-TAILS — An exciting and educational adventure. Meet and learn about some of Earth's most unique creatures, alligators, chinchillas, snakes and tortoises. FREE Atrium shows at Noon & 2pm.

Saturday, April 14. AWESOME BIRDS —Delight in the playful antics of tropical birds, parrots, toucans, cockatoos, and more, presented by Wings of Love. FREE Atrium shows at Noon & 2pm.

Don’t miss Animal Tales & Trails. It’s fun. It's wildly popular. And all activities are FREE.

Three hours of free parking with validation. Free weekend parking.

2450 Grand Blvd. • Kansas City, MO • 816-274-8444www.crowncenter.com • Entertain the possibilities.

Feb 4 - May 6

Crown CenTer ShowplACe – level 1 Exhibit Hours: Mon – Wed & Sat, 10am to 6pm; Thurs & Fri, 10am to 9pm;

Sunday, Noon to 5pm. Closed Easter Sunday, April 8.

Connect with us on Facebook.

Follow @crowncenteron Twitter.


AFTER A LONG DAY THIS MUST LOOK LIKE A DREAM...

www.dreamdinners.com • [email protected] • (913) 491-6733

(WELL, THERE’S A REASON IT ISCALLED DREAM DINNERS.)

GET PUB STYLE CHICKEN, MARKETSALMON, LAYERED RAVIOLI BAKE,

PIZZA & MORE. JUST ADD A TABLECLOTH, AND YOU’RE READY

FOR DINNER.


Kansas City Zoo

Affordable Family FunPurchase Your 2012 Friends of the Zoo

(FOTZ) Membership Today!2012 FOTZ Memberships Include:

Open Daily816.513.5800kansascityzoo.org

The Kansas City Zoo is a private non-pro t operated in agreement with the Kansas City, MO Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

FREE Zoo admission through March 31, 2013Discounts at Zoo gift shops and ed-ZOO-cationand much more!

NEW Sumatran Tiger Exhibit RenovationsOpening Spring 2012


Not your average playground.

866.460.RACE (7223)kansasspeedway.com/kids

This April, bring the entire family to Kansas Speedway to see the stars of NASCAR rocketing around the track at 200 mph. The action at Kansas Speedway will be more exciting than ever.

• April22NASCARSprintCupticketsavailable now – prices start at $59.

• Wehavemoreticketsavailablefor$99orlessthan ever before.

• Youcanbringina14”x14”x14”coolerfilledwith your favorite refreshments.

• Parkingisfree.

APRIL22

KC Parent Magazine April 2012

Documents

Transcript of KC Parent Magazine April 2012