A Kitchen Table Conversation: Uncle Dan’s Report Card in Kansas City.

Parenting, no doubt, it’s the hardest job you will ever do!  How do you teach timeless values of personal responsibility, positive relationships, and self-discipline?

For the first time ever join with parents, grandparents, teachers and community leaders in a lively parenting conversation right here in Kansas City. Leaders Adele Hall, Debby Ballard, Dr. Gayden Carruth, Jerry Wykoff, Ph.D., and Tom Bloch join Rainy Day Books’ Founder and President, Vivien Jennings, and co-authors Barbara and Bob Unell in this unique, first-ever panel discussion. 

Wednesday, September 21, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. at Unity Temple on the Plaza (707 W. 47th Street, Kansas City).

Read more about how the book inspires parents to teach timeless values here.

Admission Package: $14 plus sales tax includes a copy of  Uncle Dan’s Report Card, one stamped admission ticket and one guest admission ticket. Read more about the event.

We are happy to be accompanying our friends from Smart Mom University on their virtual Field Trip Fridays taking place this summer from June 3 – August 5. It’s not too late to join us. It is a great way to get out, see something new and make memories with your kids.

Last week we checked out plants.  We came up with a great list of places to visit.  Check out all the fun photos on the Smart Mom University Facebook Page.

This week the theme is ANIMALS. See weekly themes for the entire summer here.

These are some of our  of our favorite places to see animals: Read the rest of this entry

School is out and we are gearing up for a fun summer. We will be joining our friends from Smart Mom University on their virtual Field Trip Fridays taking place from June 3 – August 5 and posting photos on Facebook.  We hope you join us! See their weekly themes here.

This week the theme is PLANTS.

Looking at plants can be as simple as taking a walk around a friend’s backyard or your local park.  If you want to go on a field trip we have listed six of our personal favorites in  Johnson County and the last two on the list are places we are looking forward to visiting.

1. Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens. Located at 8909 W. 179th Street in Overland Park the Arboretum offers trails through natural ecosystems, botanical gardens, including a children’s discovery garden, and an environmental education visitors center.  No plants or insects may be collected or removed from the Arboretum. It opens at 8 a.m. and is free! Restrooms are located inside the visitors center.

2. Deanna Rose Farmstead. Located at 137th Street and Switzer Road in Overland Park. If you have little ones this popular hot spot has a small discovery garden just their size. Spend the day and visit the petting zoo, one-room schoolhouse and Indian encampment, feed the baby goats, play on the playground and have a fun-filled day. The Farmstead opens at 9 a.m. and costs $2/person (over age 1) on Friday-Sunday. It is free Monday-Thursday.

3. Antioch Park. Located at 6501 Antioch Road in Merriam.  Antioch Park is an old park with mature trees, fishing ponds and walking paths.  There is a nice playground and the popular Dodge Town Play Area. Dodge Town is a group of small child-sized building structures that the kids love to run in and out of.  The restrooms are located not too far from Dodge Town.

4. Heritage Park. Located at 16050 Pflumm Road in Olathe.  This park has a beautiful lake that we just love to walk around.  Bring a picnic and sit under a nice tree and then visit one of the two playgrounds.

5. Ernie Miller Nature Center. Located at 909 N. Highway 7 in Olathe.  Ernie Miller offers a great walking/hiking outing for young families. There is prairie, meadow, forest and stream habitats to explore. Visit the gift shop for a trail map. The park opens at 9 a.m.  Restrooms are located inside the visitor center.

6. Prairie Oak Nature Center at Ironwoods Park. Located at 14701 Mission Road in Leawood. Stroll through the garden and take a walk on the two-mile walking trail.  After your walk check out the exhibits inside the Nature Center.  Have a snack at the picnic shelter which is conveniently located just steps from the playground and restrooms.

7. Sunflower Nature Park. Located at 103rd Street & Edgerton Road in De Soto.

8. Kill Creek Park. Located at 11670 Homestead Lane in Olathe.

Rainy day alternatives: Visit one of the many public libraries in Johnson County and take out some nature books.  Go online to Kansas Native Plants to look at photos and learn about plants native to our area.

Tips on what to bring: Magnifying glass for seeing up close, specimen bags for bringing home (where permitted) plant specimens, leaves and pine cones which are great for crafts, hand wipes or hand sanitizer, water and snacks.  Please be careful not to touch anything poisonous.  It definitely won’t be a fun field trip if you come home with poison ivy!

These are just some of our favorite spots to see trees and plants. Does your family have a favorite spot? Please comment here and let me know!

I’m not sure when my kids got so big.

This past August I really looked forward to the start of the 2010-11 school year and to be able to do my errands and chores without dragging two kids along.  My mother-in-law told me, “Once the kids go to public school the years fly by” and boy was she right.  As a stay-at-home, work-at-home mom I have had the privilege of attending every class party, helping out in the classroom, and seeing my kids for lunch whenever I was in the mood.  But the year really did ZOOM by.

Now we are a few days away from the last day of school and gearing up for summer. We all look forward to staying in our pj’s for a few minutes longer in the morning.  Grace no doubt has hundreds of creations in her head that will come out in paintings, drawings and various sculptures.  I have been busy saving empty toilet paper tubes, boxes and fruit bag netting. Ben too has hundreds of creations in his head although his come out in block structures, written books, and an occasional music composition.

Ben and Grace have their scheduled Monday through Thursday morning theater and music camps for a few hours per week.  We all get cranky if we don’t get out of the house by 9:30 a.m.   (and I would still rather do errands by myself).  We leave plenty of free time for creative play, swimming, catching up with friends, tending our vegetable garden, and exploring new things to do in this great community.

Last summer we spent most Fridays taking day trips to visit some great places in the Kansas City metro.  This year we are so happy to join our friends at Smart Mom University on their virtual Field Trip Fridays.  Now we will have a theme each Friday to guide us into finding new places to explore.  We would love for you to join us!  We will give you our local suggestions for the weekly theme and upload our photos to the Smart Mom University Facebook page.

Here’s looking forward to summer 2011!

If you need to motivate your kids to read this summer there are many opportunities for kids to earn great prizes.

Tip: Select a program and start it as soon as school ends so kids don’t lose the momentum of reading every single day.

Here are the top 9 10 kids summer reading progams in the Kansas City metro:

Barnes and Noble – Imagination’s Destination

Kids can read any 8 books and record them in the Barnes and Noble Reading Journal.  When they turn in their journal to their local store between May 24 and September 6 they get a FREE book from the store’s list.

Bonner Springs Public Library – One World, Many Stories

Kids with Bonner Springs library cards can pick up their summer reading log at the library starting May 31st. The program for kids age infant through fifth grade runs from June 4 (kick-off party) through July 30.  Kids can earn up to six prizes.

Borders Books – Double-Dog Dare Challenge

Kids 12 and under read 10 books and list them on the Borders Books entry form.  Kids submit the entry form between June 1 and September 5 for a FREE book from the list of great titles.

Tip: Let your child look at a variety of books. It is important that you take in to account each child’s interests.

Half Price Books – Feed Your Brain Summer Reading Program

Kids 14 and under read for at least 15 minutes a day during June and July and record their minutes on the Feed Your Brain Reading Log.  When they read 600 minutes or more and return the reading log (between July 25 and August 7) they get $5 Back-to-School Bucks.

Johnson County Library – One World, Many Stories

Pick up a reading log at any Johnson County library for ages birth to ten beginning May 23rd.  When kids return the completed log at any JCL location between June 27 and August 6 they can pick out a prize paperback book while supplies last or until August 14. Those returning their completed logs by August 6 are eligible to enter a drawing to be a “Star” on their own Read poster and win a family 4-pack of tickets to the Kansas City Zoo.  Teens 13 to 19 can participate in the all year round Goodreads online club.

Kansas City, Kansas Public Library – One World, Many Stories

Kids from birth to age 18 can have fun reading, or being read to, and earn prizes. The program runs from June 1 to July 31. Sign up at any KCKPL branch.

Tip: Use the five finger rule for selecting the right level books.  Open the second page and have your child read. Hold up a finger for each word missed. If  there are five or more words  your child does not know then select and easier book.

Kansas City Public Library – Summer Reading

Pick up a reading log for kids (babies-age 12) or sign-up online. Then read (or listen) to any books of your choice and record the time on the reading log.  Kids can visit the library to earn a prize for every three hours they read/listen and earn a reward. Read for 12 hours to complete the program and earn a book and other cool prizes. Teens: Share personal opinions about the books they read via text, e-mail, or on a Summer Reading Review Form. Each time they discuss a book, they earn a reward and are entered in a drawing for a netbook.   Select library branches will also host fun events to kick off the reading program.

Mid-Continent Public Library – One World, Many Stories

Download a reading log online or pick one up at any MCPL branch for ages birth to fifth grade beginning May 23, 2011.  Return the completed log at any MCPL location between May 23 and July 30 and pick out a prize paperback while supplies last or until August 6.  For teens grade 6th through 12th there is a teen summer reading program.

Olathe Public Library – One World, Many Stories

Pick up a reading folder at either Olathe Public library for kids entering 5th grade and younger beginning May 31st.  When kids return their completed reading folder between August 1 and August 15 they can pick out a free paperback book.

Scholastic – Summer Challenge

Get online and open an account. Kids select a username from the drop down menus and create a password.  Log reading minutes between May 15 and June 4 on the website to enter sweepstakes and win digital prizes. See all the countries represented in this global reading program.

There are plenty of great reading programs in the Kansas City metro to choose from. Avoid the ‘brain drain’ and ‘summer slide’ and keep the kids reading!

This is a guest post from the Factor Tree.

Summer is almost here and we know from the great post a few weeks ago on the “summer slide” how important it is for children to keep practicing their hard-earned skills over these next three months. So, how do you motivate a child to do math when the sun is shining and their friends are calling?

Read the rest of this entry