Capitol presents kids’ theater

Imagine a theater packed with hundreds of elementary school students practicing their very best manners. Would you pay five bucks to see it?

Toss in an amazing theatrical performance and you’ve got Capitol Kids, a series of just-for-kids shows at Yakima’s downtown Capitol Theatre.

The hour-long performances are targeted at school groups, but parents and their children are welcome, too. (Yes, you’ve got to bring a kid.) Be sure to make reservations in advance, as the shows do sell out.

Tickets are $5 per person, including babies. To purchase tickets, call Gay Parker at 853-8000.

Here’s the current lineup:

“Lazer Vaudeville” — Nov. 12, 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. A former circus clown and a juggling champion put on a glowing show that takes an age-old form of entertainment and launches it into the future with a bang.

“The Velveteen Rabbit” — Dec. 9-10, 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. both days. Margery William’s classic tale exemplifies the power of love.

“The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley” — Jan. 13, 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. Laugh and cheer as Flat Stanley travels the world in search of a solution to his flatness. Recommended for students in grades K-5, Flat Stanley promises a geography lesson that won’t be forgotten.

“The Ant and the Elephant” — Jan. 14, 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. Written by Disney’s Bill Peet, this Aesop-inspired story teaches that even the smallest among us can be powerful.

Here’s the trick: Keep candy a treat

When kids and parents think about Halloween, two things that come to mind are fun costumes and lots of candy. When kids come home with pounds of candy, what’s a parent to do?

“Binge eating is never healthy, so of course kids shouldn’t eat it all right away,” says Dr. Kerry Harthcock, a pediatrician on the medical staff at Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital. “As a parent, I also know that events occur where there are sweets and kids are going to want to consume more sugar than normal.”

The trick for parents is to establish limits. Harthcock encourages parents to set “rules for the event” – be that a birthday party, Halloween, or any other holiday where tempting treats will be readily available.

“Establish a plan and discuss it with your children before the kids go out to avoid battles when they get home,” he says. “Since kids vary in age and size, there’s no one-size-fits-all for Halloween. It’s more important for parents to establish and maintain healthy parameters that they feel comfortable with than for them to follow a precise serving size.”

Harthcock notes a couple other important reminders:

• Occasionally you can enjoy candy as part of a meal, but not as a substitution for fruits and vegetables.
• Binge eating of any kind is not a good model for kids to do or see their parents do.
• Don’t feel like you or your children can’t enjoy candy or sugar. Just use it minimally as a treat and not a reward.

— Debra Yergen

Avoid a haunted mouth

You can’t hide from candy at Halloween, so children’s dentist Dr. Ashley Tercero has a trick to prevent your kids’ sweet tooth from haunting their mouths:

Eating a handful of candy at one sitting is better for your teeth than snacking piece-by-piece throughout the day, says Tercero, owner of Yakima Pediatric Dentistry.

“When parents want to limit the amount of junk food kids have, they tend to ration it out,” she says. “From an oral health perspective, that’s probably the worst thing you could do.”

The explanation: Each time you eat a piece of candy, it coats the teeth with sugar. Bacteria living in the mouth then feed on the sugar, resulting in the production of acids that eat away at teeth and cause cavities. Saliva will naturally clean the sugar off your teeth in about 30 minutes, but the process starts over each time you eat another piece of candy.

Also, saliva production decreases while we’re sleeping, allowing bacteria to wreak more havoc if we go to bed with dirty mouths.

So, Tercero advises parents: “The most important brushing is the nighttime brushing, and make sure it’s after the kids have eaten their last meal.”

— Sara Bristol

Baby Story Time

BABY STORY TIME. 10 a.m. Selah Library, 115 W. Naches Ave. 698-7345.

Music can teach children how to listen

“I’m a firm believer that every child should have an opportunity for music in their life,” says Dorothy Vick, who teaches music at Yakima’s Roosevelt Elementary School.

Music — whether listening, singing or playing an instrument — can bring great joy, Vick says. Learning to play a musical instrument can also teach children skills that reach far beyond the instrument at their fingertips. Read more

Central Washington State Fair

CENTRAL WASHINGTON STATE FAIR. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Pepsi Kids Day: Kids ages 12 and younger enter free all day with empty Pepsi product can at the Blue or Gold gates; must be accompanied by an adult. Headline entertainment: Family Force 5 at 7 p.m. General admission: $11 adults, $7 youth ages 6-11 years. State Fair Park, 1301 S. Fair Ave., Yakima. 248-7160. fairfun.com

After-School Art

AFTER-SCHOOL ART. 3:30-5:30 p.m. Wednesdays-Thursdays. Age-appropriate art activities for school-age children (K-12). Cost: $10 per child. Preschoolers and toddlers welcome ($5); parents must accompany children age 6 and younger. Red Art Gallery, 30 N. Third St., Yakima. 469-2766.

Preschool Story Time with Craft

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME AND CRAFT. 10 a.m. Selah Library, 115 W. Naches Ave. 698-7345.

Preschool Story Time

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME. 10:30 a.m. Downtown Yakima Library, 102 N. Third St. 452-8541.

Central Washington State Fair

CENTRAL WASHINGTON STATE FAIR. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Headline entertainment: Elvin Bishop with special guest Curtis Salgado at 7 p.m. General admission: $11 adults, $7 youth ages 6-11 years. State Fair Park, 1301 S. Fair Ave., Yakima. 248-7160. fairfun.com

MOPS-First Presbyterian

MOPS — FIRST PRESBYTERIAN. 9-11:15 a.m. Meeting donation: $4, includes childcare; scholarships available. First Presbyterian Church gymnasium, 9 S. Eighth Ave., Yakima. Call Sherrie at 966-0604.

Toddler and Preschool Art Studio

TODDLER AND PRESCHOOL ART STUDIO. 10 a.m. to noon. Drop-in open studio for children age 5 and under. Cost: $5. Red Art Gallery, 30 N. Third St., Yakima. 469-2766.

Preschool Story Time

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME. 10:15 a.m. Terrace Heights Library, 4011 Commonwealth Drive, Yakima. 457-5319.

Central Washington State Fair

CENTRAL WASHINGTON STATE FAIR. 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Washington’s Lottery Day: Visit SunDome lottery booth for special promotion. Headline entertainment: Neal McCoy at 7:30 p.m.; Pro-West Finals Rodeo at 7 p.m. General admission: $11 adults, $7 youth ages 6-11 years. State Fair Park, 1301 S. Fair Ave., Yakima. 248-7160. fairfun.com

Home Depot Kids Workshop

HOME DEPOT KIDS WORKSHOP. 9 a.m. to noon. Free drop-in projects for kids 5-12. Home Depot, 2115 S. First St., Yakima. 452-3016.

Ace Kids Club

ACE KIDS CLUB. 10 a.m. to noon. Free drop-in projects  for kids ages 3-12. Hometown Ace Hardware, 3700 Tieton Drive, Yakima. 972-4400.

The Knack

THE KNACK. Join 30-minute craft sessions at 10 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Today’s project: Make Your Own Book; designed for ages 3-5, all ages welcome. Cost: $5. Michaels store, 1729 S. First St., Yakima. 452-6484. michaels.com

Central Washington State Fair

CENTRAL WASHINGTON STATE FAIR. 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Headline entertainment: Raven-Symone at 7:30 p.m.; Pro-West Finals Rodeo at 2 p.m. Patrons are encouraged to wear pink in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. General admission: $11 adults, $7 youth ages 6-11 years. State Fair Park, 1301 S. Fair Ave., Yakima. 248-7160. fairfun.com

Borders Story Time

BORDERS STORY TIME. 11 a.m. Free. Borders Books, 1700 E. Washington Ave., Union Gap. 248-4018.

Official Yu-Gi-Oh! Duelist King Tournament

OFFICIAL YU-GI-OH! DUELIST KING TOURNAMENT. Noon to 4 p.m. Ron’s Coin & Book, 6 N. Third St., Yakima. 248-1117.

Next Page »