MinnKids November 2010

Pg 3 Traditions

Pg 4 Winter Calendar

Pg 5 Best Holiday Gifts

Pg 6 Diva for a Day Winner

Pg 7 Handling Homework

Pg 3Pg 4Pg 5Pg 6Pg 7

2 Minnesota Kids – Thursday, November 18, 2010 – www.mnSun.com In the Community, With the Community, For the Community

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In the Community, With the Community, For the Community www.mnSun.com – Thursday, November 18, 2010– Minnesota Kids 3

Traditionstie family togetherby Mindy Mateuszczyk – Sun Newspapers

The holidays are a time of yearmany people look forward to all yearlong. There could be many reasons forthat, from getting together with family totime off from work or school and certain-ly for the opportunity to participate inlong-held traditions.

Traditions, as defined by MapleGrove psychologist Dr. Sally Brinza,Ph.D., are practices which are passeddown from one generation to the nextthat teach about the family’s ideas, cul-ture, social values and sometimes reli-gion.

“Traditions add closeness andcoherence for a family,” Brinza said. “It’sa way to bond. It’s the glue that helpskids feel like they belong to a group andhelps them develop a sense of identity.”

But traditions, like everything elseduring the holidays, can sometimescause more madness than merriment.

“You have to make choices,” saidRussell Peterson of Albertville. “So welet crazy family go away.”

In addition to house and tree deco-rating, for years the Petersons often host-ed a holiday buffet, a New Year’s party;celebrated the winter solstice and both oftheir birthdays. His daughters Kyra, 14and Eliza, 12, are dancers. Their commit-ments during the holiday season havegrown larger, requiring increased chauf-feuring time by mom and dad. It can takea bite out of their already limited time toaccomplish extra tasks around the holi-days.

“I was driving so much; we evenhad a name for it. The Russ Buss,”Peterson said. So he started letting goabout 8 years ago. “You can really onlydo two things in the car, drive and maybehave a discussion with your children.”

About nine years ago, his daugh-ters began dancing in holiday recitals.

Their involvement grew to the point thatduring the 2010 holiday season, they par-ticipated in three different productions,all with multiple performance dates.

“It’s important to even find smallmoments wherever I can,” Peterson saidof his family’s busy schedule. Since hespends a lot of time in the car with hisdaughters, he says he might take adetour one night to drive them through aneighborhood with Christmas lights.Another thing they might do is invitefriends to meet up with them for a mealat a restaurant.

“Sometimes traditions don’t haveto be these big productions,” said Dr.Brinza. “If you think about presents, lit-tle ones really are just as happy playingwith the boxes. You don’t always have togo out of your way to make it a big deal.”

Peterson tries to hold onto a sayinghis mother-in-law shared with him.

“Nobody will remember 10 yearsafter you’re dead whether you had aclean kitchen or not.”

Brinza said it’s wise to prioritizeduring the holidays.

“If you’re dreading an activity orit’s getting to be cost prohibitive it maybe time to reassess whether you want tokeep up that tradition,” she said.“Traditions should be enjoyable andmeaningful, not high-stress.”

She suggested three ways alteringthe tradition to alleviate the stress.

Downsizing: Keep some elementsbut don’t go all out. Perhaps instead offorking over the big bucks to see a holi-day show at one of the larger theaters,look for a church production or a lessexpensive community theater option.

Ask for help: If hosting the familyand providing all the food is too over-whelming, consider making the meal apotluck. Brinza also says people who play

eternal hostess shouldn’t be afraid tospeak up and ask if the family get togeth-er can be rotated from one house toanother each year.

Try something new: Brinza sug-gests if the family’s traditions are not asource of happiness then it may be timeto decide as a family to try somethingcompletely new.

“Sometimes the traditions thatworked when children are younger don’talways work as well as they get older,”she said.

Inventing new traditions togetheris equally as valid for children as passingdown the generational traditions.

“It gives kids a sense of involve-ment and importance,” Brinza said.

For Susan Ritchie of Plymouth, herdaughters are the biggest indicators ofwhat traditions work best for them.

“To me, our traditions are some-thing expected that we do yearly,” Ritchiesaid. “They’re something that if we did-n’t do it the kids would protest.”

The Ritchies started a day afterThanksgiving tradition when her oldestdaughter was 2. Now, 13 years later and asecond daughter born, the tradition liveson and has expanded to include cousins.Every year, the group heads to Macy’s 8thfloor auditorium to view the display.Afterward they each purchase a specialornament. The rest of the day is filledwith lunch, camaraderie and windowshopping. Every year they select a newplace to shop such as the Midtown GlobalMarket, or General Store in Minnetonka.

Sometimes the most beloved tradi-tions are the ones that develop unexpect-edly. These are traditions that may becreated out of necessity or even as a wayto infuse variety into the holidays andyet, become rituals that families chooseto participate in year after year.

The Ritchies discovered this aboutsix years ago.

“Christmas night has always beenlow key in our family because peoplehave always had to work,” said Ritchie,whose family members are employed inretail, broadcasting and other pursuitsthat don’t always guarantee holiday timeoff. A few years ago, she and her cousinwere home Christmas evening with allthe kids and decided to bring out a fon-due pot for an easy, fun meal. The ideawas an immediate hit.

“We just keep making it betterevery year,” Ritchie said. “We go throughrecipe books and try to outdo ourselvesfor sauces.”

Ritchie and her family enjoy thistradition because it’s an easy one forextended family to participate in as theirschedules allow, without the added fussi-ness of formality.

For families eager to start up somenew traditions, Brinza offers more tipson how to evaluate if an activity haslongevity potential. These questions canbe pondered before or after trying a newholiday activity:

EVALUATE: Will people enjoy theactivity and want to do it again? Is thecost manageable?

ACHIEVE: Does this activityinvolve the shared values you want topass down to your family?

RESPECT: Does this activity workaround the other traditions in our familyand extended family without interfering?

Whether the family traditions cele-brated are years in the making or fledg-ling ideas borne of your own creativity,Brinza said they are worth the effort.

“We have to work hard to get thatfamily time together,” she said. “It doeshelp to think about how we’re going tospend it.”


Winter calendar - fun for kids & the whole familyCOMPILED BY JENNIE OLSON– SUN NEWSPAPERS

The beginning of winter does nothave to mean the beginning of a boringroutine. As you exchange T-shirts forjackets and flip-flops for boots, there’s noneed to struggle to find new ways toenjoy a Minnesota winter with your kids.Here are some fun, local events that willkeep you and your kids entertained andeducated throughout the coming months.

NOVEMBERROBIN HOODDates: Oct. 1-Dec. 5Location: On the Cargill Stage of theChildren’s TheatreWebsite: www.childrenstheatre.orgDescription: Ivey Award-winning direc-tor Greg Banks (CTC’s Romeo & Juliet)goes medieval – with muscle. High-pow-ered and action-packed, this is not youryeomanly tale of yore, but a lean, mean,swordfight-fueled story of good vs. evil,trickery vs. heroism, and compassion vs.greed.

A CHRISTMAS STORYDates: Nov.16-Dec. 31Location: Children’s TheatreWebsite: www.childrenstheatre.orgDescription: Based on the beloved film,this CTC debut production adds newtwists to the classic tale about a midwest-ern working-class family celebrating theholidays the only way they know how,complete with drama, humor, and anincredibly tacky lamp.

MIRACLE ON 34TH STREETDates: Each Thursday-Sunday from Nov.19-Dec. 19.Location: Lyric Arts Company & MainStreet Stage, 420 East Main Street,Anoka, MNWebsite: www.lyricarts.orgDescription: The sweet and charmingstory of Kris Kringle - is he just anotherdepartment store Santa or the real thing?A little girl’s belief in Santa Claus makesChristmas magic.

JUNIE B. JONES: JINGLE BELLS, BATMAN SMELLSDates: Daily from Nov. 19-Dec. 27 exceptMondays and TuesdaysLocation: Stages Theatre Co. & HopkinsCenter for the Arts, 1111 Main Street,Hopkins, MNWebsite: www.stagestheatre.orgDescription: The young actors at Stages

Theatre present a regional premiereabout everyone’s favorite first grader.

YOUNG EAGLES AT AIRLAKEAIRPORTDates: Nov. 20 and Dec. 18 from 9 a.m.-NoonLocation: 8140 220th Street West,LakevillePhone: 952-831-5142 or 952-432-4231Description: Young Eagles offers kids achance to fly for free in a private airplanewith a qualified pilot. The national pro-gram was launched in 1992, and morethan 1.2 million young people have par-ticipated since.

CURIOUS GEORGE LIVEDates: Nov. 20 and 21; Saturday at 12:30and 4:30 p.m.; Sunday at 11:30 a.m., 3 p.m.and 6:30 p.m.Location: Target Center, 600 FirstAvenue North, MinneapolisWebsite: www.sesamestreetlive.comDescription: The irrepressible littlemonkey jumps into action in a new livetouring musical production. With thehelp of his friend, The Man in the YellowHat, George tries to help Chef Pisghettisave his restaurant by winning a meat-ball competition that takes him to Rome.

13TH ANNUAL GOBBLE GAITDate: Nov. 25 at 8:30 a.m.Location: Historic Downtown Hastings,West 2nd Street, HastingsWebsite: www.gobblegait.comDescription: Enjoy a Thanksgiving Day8K race or 2K fun run through beautifulhistoric Hastings. Proceeds benefitHastings Family Service.

MAKING SPIRITS BRIGHTDates: Nov. 26-Dec. 31Location: Minnesota LandscapeArboretum, 3675 Arboretum Drive,ChaskaWebsite: www.arboretum.umn.eduDescription: The arboretum celebratesthe holiday season with a dazzling dis-play of gingerbread structures, festiveholiday trees, holiday music and more.

HISTORY HIJINX Dates: Nov. 26-28Location: Minnesota History Center, 345W. Kellogg Blvd., St. PaulWebsite:www.minnesotahistorycenter.orgDescription: History HiJinx: ChocolateCocoa Mug. Paint Mayan and Aztecglyphs and symbols on a white ceramiccocoa mug and take home a recipe for

spicy Mexican hot chocolate. Craft isincluded with museum admission forchildren; $1 supply fee for adults.

STATE CAPITOL ART TREASURES Dates: Nov. 27-Dec. 26Location: State Capitol, 75 Rev. Dr.Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. PaulWebsite: www.mnhs.org/statecapitolDescription: Go on a self-guided scav-enger hunt to discover 12 beautiful andimportant decorations in the StateCapitol building. Each self-guided bookletincludes 12 gold stars that are placed nextto the corresponding photographs whenthe item is discovered.

CURIOUS GEORGE & HIS ANIMAL FRIENDS Dates: Nov. 30, Dec. 7 and 14Location: Outdoor Center, 13765 StaringLake Parkway, Eden PrairieWebsite: www.edenprairie.orgDescription: Discover nature in a funand active way, just like Curious George.Each program teaches your curious childabout a new animal. Take a short outsidehike, do a craft project and enjoy music.

TREES, TRAILS & FOREST ANIMALS Dates: Nov. 30, Dec. 7 and 14Location: Outdoor Center, 13765 StaringLake Parkway, Eden PrairieWebsite: www.edenprairie.orgDescription: Based on the very popularsummer camp, this program explores thetrails around the nature center andteaches kids about the animals that callour forest home. We look for nestingbirds such as owls, wood ducks, robinsand more.

DECEMBER

ANIMAL ALPHABETS AND BABYANIMAL FUNDates: Dec. 1, 8 and 15

Location: Outdoor Center, 13765 StaringLake Parkway, Eden PrairieWebsite: www.edenprairie.orgDescription: Learn the alphabet andlearn about animals at the same time.Also learn about animals like toads,frogs, turtles and bears.

NATURE TOTSDate: Dec. 2Location: Bell Museum, 10 Church StreetS.E., MinneapolisWebsite: www.bellmuseum.orgDescription: An interactive program fortwo- and three-year olds and their fami-lies 10 - 11 a.m. the first Thursday of themonth. Activities include music, crafts,games, and nature exploration.

GRAND MEANDERDate: Dec. 4Location: The Red Balloon Bookshop, 895Grand Avenue, Saint Paul, MNWebsite: www.grandave.comDescription: Grand Avenue businessescelebrate the holiday season with a freekids’ breakfast with Santa at Tavern onGrand, art fairs, craft activities (atCreative Kidstuff, Wonderment, andother stores), carolers and other livemusic, sales and free samples. MeetSanta’s reindeer at a tree lighting cere-mony and enjoy special activities at RedBalloon.

HOMETOWN HOLIDAY Date: Dec. 4, 6-8 p.m.Location: One City Hall Plaza, ChaskaWebsite: www.chaskamn.comDescription: Merchants will offer shop-ping enticements, hospitality and goodcheer, and the chance to win a valuableshopping spree. Horse drawn wagon ridesaccompanied by a guide.

KIDS COOKING HANUKKAHDate: Dec. 4 from 1-3 p.m.Location: Way Cool Cooking School,16544 West 78th Street, Eden PrairieWebsite:


Bestholiday giftsfor 2010Compiled by Jennie Olson - Sun Newspapers

When it comes to holiday shop-ping, there’s nothing like the feeling offinding the perfect gift for your child.But with all of the busyness of decorat-ing, entertaining and cooking for theholidays, you may not have time toknow which toys to look for this season.Here are some hot sellers to keep inmind as you plan your next shoppingtrip.

LEGO HARRY POTTERThe new LEGO Harry Potter sets

let kids build their favorite scenes fromthe popular J.K. Rowling stories. Setsinclude Diagon Alley, Freeing Dobby,Quidditch Match, Hagrid’s Hut, TheBurrow, Hogwarts Express andHogwarts Castle. Games, video gamesand accessories are available in addi-

tion to the building sets. The LEGOHarry Potter sets can be purchased atharrypotter.lego.com.

DANCE STAR MICKEYDance Star Mickey dances, walks,

talks, and is activated by pressing hisfoot. He has five different music typesalong with interactive games for thewhole family. Dance Star Mickey can befound at Toys ‘R’ Us, Amazon.com,dancestarmickey.com, and major retailstores.

AIR HOGS BATTLING HAVOC R/C HELICOPTERS

The Air Hogs Havoc Heli LaserBattling Set lets kids battle helicopterswith their friends and shoot other air-craft down from the sky. The set comeswith two helicopters, two controllers,authentic battling sounds, two long-liferechargeable LIPO batteries andinfrared targeting. This product can befound at Sears or Amazon.com.

BARBIE VIDEO GIRL Barbie now comes with a real

video camera inside. The camera lens isin her necklace, and the video screen onher back shows what is being recorded.Videos from Barbie’s point of view canbe created, watched and shared. TheBarbie also comes with a USB plug-incord. The Barbie Video Girl can be

found at major retail stores as well asamazon.com andwww.barbie.com/videogirl.

VTECH FLIPThis eReader for kids is similar to

a Kindle or Nook and is another hotseller for Christmas 2010. The VTechFlip allows kids to watch and read sto-ries while narrators use character voic-es and illustrations to enhance thereading experience. It also comes withinteractive games, a touch screen, andthe ability to download new content.The VTech Flip is sold at Toys ‘R’ Us.

KUNG ZHU PETSThis line of Zhu Zhu pets comes

in two different teams – the SpecialForces and the Ninja Warriors. Eachteam has play-sets, armor and acces-sories to engage in battle. Kids cantrain their Kung Zhu to beat the otherteam within the battle arena.SILLY BANDZ

Silly Bandz come in hundreds ofshapes and colors, including animals,objects, numbers and letters. They aremade out of silicone and are typicallyworn as bracelets. Hot sellers this sea-son include the Justin Bieber pack,Barbie pack, iCarly pack and others.The Bandzilla kiosk at Mall of Americasells Silly Bandz, or they can be pur-chased at www.sillybandz.com.

APPLE iPOD TOUCHThe new Apple iPod Touch has

several new features, includingFaceTime for video calling. The newHD recording option lets you record,edit and share high definition video, allon a new retina display with 960 x 640resolution. The Game Center with anA4 processor allows for better games,either to play alone or against friendsaround the world.

NINTENDO Wii PARTYWii Party is a social gaming expe-

rience that has more than 80 mini-games to play with your family andfriends, and it’s interactive to get play-ers off the couch. Wii Party can befound at major retail stores or atwww.wiiparty.nintendo.com.

BARBIE COLLECTOR2010 HOLIDAY DOLL

The 2010 Barbie Collector HolidayDoll is another hot seller for girls. Thisyear’s edition is wearing a red andwhite gown with golden detailing onthe bodice. Her accessories are imita-tion ruby earrings and a headband. The2010 Collector Barbie can be found atwww.barbiecollector.com, www.ama-zon.com and Toys ‘R’ Us.

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Diva for a DayWinnersenjoyday ofluxuryby Jennie Olson– Sun Newspapers

After more than a month of nomi-nations and voting, the two “Diva for aDay” contest winners finally got toenjoy their day of luxury in true divastyle.

Eagan resident Pamela Berry andMinneapolis resident Maria Hokansonwere the winners of the Minnesota Kids“Diva for a Day” contest, sponsored byMinnesota Sun Newspapers.

All contestants were either self-nominated or nominated by a friend orfamily member for the opportunity towin a day of pampering. The nomina-tion period ended on Sept. 30, and fromOct. 1-17 the public could vote for theirfavorite contestant. Berry andHokanson were the two nominees with

the most votes.Hokanson’s husband was diag-

nosed with brain cancer in May, andbetween the treatments and taking careof their two young boys, life has beenvery hectic for their family. Hokanson’sfriend nominated her as a way to helpher unwind and spend some qualitytime with her husband.

“That someone would even thinkto do something like that was amazing,”Hokanson said. “I have a wonderful net-work of friends and family.”

Berry was secretly nominated byher mother-in-law as a birthday present,and her family worked very hard tokeep it a surprise – except Berry’s eight-year-old who would sneak in comments

about being a diva throughout the day.“I’m just so blessed to marry into

such a wonderful family,” Berry said.“They did so much behind my back tomake this happen, and I had no clue.”

The two women spent Friday rid-ing around town in a limousine fromAAccent Town Car & Limo Services,were pampered at Juut Salon & Spa, hadan intimate dinner for two at Parma8200 Italian Restaurant, and stayed atthe Westin Edina Galleria for the night.

“To track the voting and to hearfrom people and see their comments –everything even up until today has beenso fun and a really fun diversion for atough time in our life,” Hokanson said.

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Rewarding familyvolunteer activities

Taking time to help others makesyou feel good about yourself. No matterwhat age your child is, volunteering as afamily is a great way to spend quality timetogether while also teaching values toyour child.

Research shows that young peoplewho volunteer are more likely to grow upto be adults who volunteer. Serving othersdoesn’t have to take a lot of time and thereare hundreds of ways to volunteer togeth-er as a family.

If your family is new to volunteer-ing, start with short, one-time projectsthat don’t require a lot of time. This wayyou will feel more energized, feel like youare making a difference and want to domore.

Start with volunteer projects thatyou can do at home. For example, makecookies to deliver to a homebound neigh-bor or a friend in the nursing home, puttogether some bags of food to take to thefood pantry, or create greeting cards forhospitalized children.

Consider participating in NationalFamily Volunteer Day, the Saturday beforeThanksgiving each year. Plan a project ofyour own or join other families in a largercommunity service project. (Contact your

local United Way for project ideas.)Sometimes it is easier for a family

to sign up for an existing project wheresomeone else has done all of the planning.Contact your child’s school, your congre-gation, workplace or other networks tofind out what community projects are inthe works.

Solicit project ideas from all familymembers. When asked for input, adultsand young people are more likely to par-ticipate if the project was their idea. Ifthere are a lot of ideas, projects can bespread out over several weeks or evenmonths.

You may want to find a project thatis of special interest to you or a familymember, such as participating in a fund-raising project for a family member whoneeds help or building a wheel chair rampfor a neighbor.

It is always a good idea, too, to sitdown as a family after the activity toprocess what happened. For instance, askfamily members what new skills theylearned, what new friends they made andwhat surprised them about the project.Talk about whether or not family mem-bers want to do a similar project nexttime.

Holiday parenting tipsHoliday time is a stressful time for any family. There’s never enough time for

shopping, cleaning, cooking, partying and whatever else is on the agenda during thesefew weeks. Here are some tips to help families enjoy the holidays a little bit more.

If you have very small children, don’t worry about buying them tons of presents.They won’t remember them, they won’t thank you and they will probably spend moretime playing with the boxes than the toys themselves.

For older children, start a tradition of giving only a few special presents to eachchild. And when it comes to opening the gifts, have each person open one gift at a timeto extend the excitement about the present.

Pay attention to your schedule during the holidays. Don’t say yes to more holidayparties than you can attend. Also, don’t volunteer for more tasks than you have timefor. Put your family first and make sure there’s time to volunteer at your children’sschool and attend their concerts and pageants before you fill up your schedule withother activities.

Try to avoid filling the house – and your children – with tons of sweets. Sure, it’sfun to make Christmas cookies and decorate them every year, but skip making thefudge, fruit cakes or other cookies, or buying lots of candy just to have on hand. Kidsand adults get enough candy and other holiday treats at school and work during theweeks leading up to the holidays.

Pay attention to the type of gift that you give your children. Make sure the gift issomething that will help a child develop a special interest or talent. For instance, buy apaint set for your budding artist or a guitar for that child who is interested in music.

The holidays are a good time to teach your children about the spirit of giving.Volunteer as a family at a local soup kitchen or toy drive. Make sure your family givesa gift back to your community.

If you find yourself overwhelmed during the holidays this year, remember thatless is more and focus on doing a few great things that will make your family happyrather than many little things that no one may notice.

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Making time for family funTo be an effective parent and have

a close family, you need to spend qualitytime together. This sounds simpleenough but it can get quite difficultwhen you are working full-time andyour kids have sports, their friends,church and part-time jobs of their ownto work around.

Even though your family’s sched-ule is probably packed, it’s still possibleto include quality family time. Youmight have to get creative with yourattempts to spend time together as afamily and of course it will be challeng-ing, but your family will grow closerbecause of it.

A good way to get started on ideasfor family time is to get input from yourkids. You may be surprised to learnthat they want your family to spendtime together or to stay home more anddo things together.

The next step is to designate aregular family time as part of your rou-tine. Some families have a weekly fami-ly night. Others have a monthly familyouting. Others have a daily familycheck-in during dinner or before bedtime. Designate a day and time thatworks for you and your family.

Once you make the commitmentfor family time, make sure you stickwith it for awhile. Take some time eachmonth to ask family members how it isgoing and what, if any, changes need to

be made.Help your child, especially if a

teenager, find a healthy balancebetween self-interest and family inter-est. For example, if your child refusesto participate in family activities, beclear that certain family times are non-negotiable.

Some ideas for family activities athome include playing card games,board games or video games; makingjewelry, painting or other art projects;and playing a sport together, such asvolleyball, basketball or baseball.

Some ideas for family activitiesoutside of the home include bowling,movies, dining out, visiting museumsor helping with fund-raising events.

Make sure to solicit everyone’sinput on possible family activities. Theactivities will be more successful ifeveryone is involved in the planningfrom early on. Make sure your kidshave a say in what is planned, whereyou go and the activities you want to do(and want to avoid).

Whether you are spending time inthe community or just sitting down fora meal, enjoy the time you spend withyour family. Even if your schedules arevaried, set some time aside regularlyfor spending time together – not onlywill it help keep your family close, butyou may also find that it is a greatstress reliever!

Snowboarding is a very popular activity for youngsters and teens. Many winter recreationareas also have sledding or other opportunities for all ages.

MinnKids.com is an online resource for Moms, inclusive of local activi-ties, deals, parenting advice and blogs….all in one place. It's an easy way tokeep your busy life with your family simplified and stay connected with yourcommunity at the same time. Moms, you can plan your kids’ activities easilyfor the best values in town, and at the same time, you can support your localfamily friendly businesses. Community connections, family fun and doing iton a budget. Isn’t that what you’re looking for?

Log on to www.MinnKids.com for the latest and greatest in your commu-nity. See you there…

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BY RHONDA MOSKOWITZ, M.A.,PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS PARENT COACHING, LLC

I don’t mean to sound like Scrooge,but when you’re a parent Thanksgivingis the season opener for the busiest timeof the year.

Caught between shopping, cook-ing, planning, working, getting togetherwith friends and family, and keeping thehouse clean, it feels like you have notime to stop and breathe. And let’s notforget the constant emphasis on creatingthe perfect holiday everywhere youturn. Don’t forget that the kids still haveto go to school and do their homework!

If this is really how you want toexperience the holiday season, read nofurther. But if you need a sanerapproach that not only includes yourkids but also keeps them from explod-ing, think about incorporating an ideaor two from this list.

Keep your expectations realis-tic. There is no such thing as a perfectholiday. We are not all living in aNorman Rockwell painting. To keepyour sanity and be a better parent, loweryour expectations. The decorating does-n’t have to be ‘just so’. Ask guests topitch in by bringing some food. If youdon’t feel pressured to do it all, youwon’t feel overwhelmed by the event.

Build in time for rest andrelaxation. Children need down time.For that matter, so do parents! Build insomething quiet—watching a movietogether or walking around the neigh-borhood can refresh everyone. In addi-tion, give yourself permission to dosomething without your family. A parentwho makes sure that his or her needsare met is better able to deal with thedemands of children.

Remember to be physicallyactive. Young children do better whenthey move their bodies. Get them out-side and moving every day. This will

translate into betterbehavior when they areinside the house.

Your vision of theevent exists only inyour mind. This is a realgift. You may have envi-sioned a very MarthaStewart dinner, but itlooks closer to Sponge Bobwhen you’re done. No oneknows that except you.Keep it to yourself, andeveryone will think this is what youplanned from the outset!

Keep the kids involved. Givethem real jobs. Have them create namecards or decorations for the table. Havethem help set out the silverware. Eventhe very youngest child can be at thedoor to greet guests. The idea is forthem to feel some ownership and part-nership in the day.

Holidays are all about family. Ifthat’s true (and it is), then they aremessy, unpredictable, and may involvesome disagreements. On the other hand,they are also about being with peoplewhom you love unconditionally and whofeel the same about you. Put your ener-gy into what you want your family toremember. It’s not about the food or theambiance. It’s about the love, support,and relationships. Then sit back andhave a wonderful holiday.


Rhonda Moskowitz, M.A., PCI Certified ParentCoach has been working with families for over 30years. She is a Parent Coach and founder of PracticalSolutions Parent Coaching, LLC, www.practicalsolu-tionsparentcoaching.com. Contact Rhonda [email protected].

It’s the most wonderful time of the year….

Just Kidding!

Sometimes a homework chal-lenge can get out of control.Perhaps your child struggles withone particular subject. Doing thathomework is frustrating and does-n’t make your child feel successful.What you end up with is a lot ofhomework avoidance, screaming,and crying. And it’s probably not allcoming from your child.

What do you do?Acknowledge that the work is

challenging. Tell yourself and tellyour child that it may be difficult,but it’s not impossible. This workmay take more time, effort andenergy than others, but it can bedone.

Help your child divide eachhomework paper into workablechunks. If there are 10 math prob-

lems, cover 9 of them so your childcan focus on only one problem at atime.

Describe what you saw herdoing well. “I saw you really con-centrating on that problem! Thatwas a lot of brain power working!”

Talk to the teacher.Homework isn’t designed to bringstudents to tears. Let the teacherknow what you are seeing at home.Ask for suggestions.

If your child needs help out-side of school, consider hiring atutor. It’s hard for parents to also bethe teacher. Many children simplywon’t accept advise from their momor dad. You child may work betterwith someone else. Many certifiedteachers tutor after school hours. Inaddition, your local high school or

college may help you find older stu-dents who can work with yourchild.

The biggest struggle is oftenwith our anxiety. It’s hard to watchyour child in pain. Your mind startsmoving in all kinds of directions.We worry about today and thefuture. Homework becomes ourfocus and may lead to interactionswith our child that aren’t helpful.Take a deep breath. Try not to letyour anxiety take over. You are notin this alone. Work with the teacher,the school and a qualified tutor tosupport your child. Stay focused onthe picture of your child being suc-cessful. By focusing on that out-come you will be better able to sup-port your child as she grows intothat competent and capable person.

Homework and TearsBY RHONDA MOSKOWITZ, M.A., PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS PARENT COACHING, LLC


www.waycoolcookingschool.comDescription: Kids can learn to make chal-lah bread, latkes, and other traditionalfoods associated with the Jewish Holidayof Lights.

WALL-TO-WALL WALKERDate: Dec. 4Location: The Walker, 1750 Hennepin,MinneapolisWebsite: www.walkerart.orgDescription: Families can enjoy live per-formances, films, gallery adventures, andhands-on art-making from 10 am–3 pm.Activities recommended for ages 6–12.

THE BOXCAR CHILDRENDates: Dec. 4-17Location: Lyric Arts Company & MainStreet Stage, 420 East Main Street, Anoka,MNWebsite: www.lyricarts.orgDescription: Lyric Arts brings the storyof four Depression-era orphans to thestage, based on the books by GertrudeChandler Warner.

GINGERBREAD HOUSE MAKING Date: Dec. 6Location: 3030 53rd St. E, MinneapolisWebsite: www.minneapolisparks.orgDescription: Families will make a ginger-bread house – all of the supplies will beincluded. $6 per house. Regisstrationrequired. 612-370-4956.

TODDLER TIME: CIRCLES, SQUARESAND SEA STARSDate: Dec. 6Location: 13000 Zoo Blvd., Apple ValleyWebsite: www.mnzoo.orgDescription: Join a Zoo naturalist whowill read a story, lead an animalencounter, a movement activity and an artproject focusing on a specific topic.

MOVIE NIGHT: THE POLAR EXPRESSDate: Dec. 10 at 6:30 p.m.Location: Central Park & Lookout Ridge,8595 Central Park Place, Saint Paul, MNWebsite: www.ci.woodbury.mn.usDescription: The G-rated film screens inCentral Park’s amphitheater. Adults mustaccompany children. Fee includes unlimit-ed popcorn and beverage.

A CHRISTMAS CAROLDates: Dec. 10-12; Friday at 7:30 p.m.;Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Sunday at1 p.m. and 6 p.m.Location: Burnsville Performing ArtsCenter, 12600 Nicollet Avenue, Burnsville,MNWebsite: www.burnsvillepac.comDescription: Burnsville Civic LightOpera presents A Christmas Carol, featur-ing sets, costumes, and special effects cre-ated for the 2008 Kodak TheatreProduction, and recorded narration by SirJohn Gielgud.

A CONNECTICUT YANKEEIN KING ARTHUR’S COURTDates: Each Friday-Sunday from Dec. 10-19; Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m.;Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m.Location: Lakeshore Players Theatre, 4820Stewart Avenue, Saint Paul, MNWebsite: www.lakeshoreplayers.comDescription: The Lakeshore Players pres-ent a modern adaptation of Mark Twain’sclassic tale about a kid working on aschool play who’s transported back intime.

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA Date: Dec. 11, 9:30-11 a.m.Location: 14600 Minnetonka Blvd.,MinnetonkaWebsite: www.eminnetonka.com/recre-ation.cfmDescription: Children will have an oppor-tunity to sing holiday carols, visit andhave a picture taken with Santa. Enjoy acontinental breakfast starting at 9:30 a.m.

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA Date: Dec. 11Location: McRae Park, 906 47th St. E,MinneapolisWebsite: www.minneapolisparks.orgDescription: Santa brunch. Pancakes,scrambled eggs, sausage, fruit, coffee andjuice. Plus be entertained by the McRaePark Jazz Band.

HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGE RIDES Date: Dec. 18Location: Ramsey House, 265 S. ExchangeSt., St. PaulWebsite: www.mnhs.org/ramseyhouseDescription: Visit Irvine Park the oldfashioned way. A horse-drawn carriage

from the Hitching Company will leavefrom the front gate of the Ramsey Housefor a ride around the historic Irvine Parkdistrict. A costumed interpreter will jointhe riders to talk about the history of thearea.

ROBERT ROBINSON’S 2010 HOLIDAYCONCERT Date: Dec. 18Location: Hopkins Center for the Arts,1111 Main St., HopkinsWebsite: www.hopkinsartscenter.comDescription: Dubbed “Minnesota’sMaster Male Vocalist” by the StarTribune, the beloved Robert Robinsonreturns with his new 2010 HolidayConcert.

ROBERT ROBINSON’S 2010 HOLIDAYCONCERT Date: Dec. 18Location: Hopkins Center for the Arts,1111 Main St., HopkinsWebsite: www.hopkinsartscenter.comDescription: Dubbed “Minnesota’sMaster Male Vocalist” by the StarTribune, the beloved Robert Robinsonreturns with his new 2010 HolidayConcert.

O’NEILL BROTHERS CHRISTMAS Date: Dec. 21Location: Hopkins Center for the Arts,1111 Main St., HopkinsWebsite: www.hopkinsartscenter.comDescription: Enjoy traditional Christmassongs as well as other favorites performedon two grand pianos by The O’NeillBrothers, Tim and Ryan.

KWANZAA FAMILY DAY Date: Dec. 26Location: Minnesota History Center, 345W. Kellogg Blvd., St. PaulWebsite: www.minnesotahistorycenter.orgDescription: This year the AfricanAmerican holiday celebration focuses onthe principle, Umoja, or “Unity”.

SCHOOL’S OUT – BOWLINGAND SWIMMINGDates: Dec. 28 and Dec. 30Location: Brunswick Zone, 16700 ValleyView Rd., Eden PrairieWebsite: www.edenprairie.orgDescription: A day filled with bowling, a

pizza lunch and swimming at the OakPoint Pool. Bring a swimsuit and towel.

FAMILY NEW YEAR’SAT BIELENBERGDate: Dec. 31 from 6-9 p.m.Location: Bielenberg Sports Center, 4125Radio Drive, Saint Paul, MNWebsite: www.ci.woodbury.mn.usDescription: The sports center hostsgames, inflatables, mini-golf, bingo, ice-skating, an obstacle course, and an 8:45p.m. countdown, offering families a safe,fun place to celebrate the New Year.

JANUARY

WHAT IF?Date: Jan. 8Location: 14600 Minnetonka Blvd.,MinnetonkaWebsite: www.eminnetonka.com/recre-ation.cfmDescription: The Minnetonka FireDepartment’s “What If ?” program invitesyou to Minnetonka Fire Station 1 for anafternoon of learning and fun. Join firefighters/public educators Jim Lundeenand Sara Ahlquist as they share their fam-ily “What If ?” program.

IF YOU GIVE A MOOSE A MUFFINDates: Daily from Jan. 14-Feb. 13 exceptMondays and TuesdaysLocation: Stages Theatre Co. & HopkinsCenter for the Arts, 1111 Main Street,Hopkins, MN Website: www.stagestheatre.orgDescription: The young actors at StagesTheatre present a world premiere musicalstage production based on the one-thing-leads-to-another books.

FAMILY OVERNIGHTS: DOLPHINSDUSK TO DAWNDate: Jan. 14Location: 13000 Zoo Blvd., Apple ValleyWebsite: www.mnzoo.orgDescription: Children age five and olderwith their families get a nose-to-noseencounter with our animals and learnexciting things about nature and the envi-ronment.

Winter calendar- from page 4


CMYK

MinnKids November 2010

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