Inklings Bookshop Story Time

INKLINGS BOOKSHOP STORY TIME. 10 a.m. toddler story time each Tuesday. Chalet Place, 5629 Summitview Ave., Yakima; 509-965-5830.

Mommy Connection

MOMMY CONNECTION. 9:30-11:30 a.m. First hour is Mommy & Me, second hour is just for moms; all ages welcome. Free. Westminster Presbyterian Church, 6015 Summitview Ave., Yakima. For childcare reservations and more information, e-mail Kate: katejoyt@hotmail.com

Kids Castle 2-For-1 Day

KIDS CASTLE 2-FOR-1 DAY. Open at 10 a.m.; call for closing. Two kids play for the price of one. Cost: $2.50 up to age 2; ages 3 and older are $5.25 for one hour or $8 unlimited; weekend rates are higher. Clean socks required. Located inside Gymnastics Plus, 2121 W. Lincoln Ave., Yakima; 509-453-8126.

Speaking of Spaghetti

I’m always trying to find ways to change my spaghetti recipe, and I was delighted to find these two suggestions.

PORCUPINE MEATBALLS

(courtesy of Darcy L. Thompson)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Mix the following:
1 ½ lbs. lean ground beef
2/3 cup white rice (DO NOT use instant rice)

½ cup water
1 tsp seasoning salt
1/8 tsp pepper
¼ cup onion flakes

Roll into 1- to 1 ½-inch round meatballs in a lightly sprayed 9×13 pan.

In mixing bowl, combine one large family size (26 oz.) can of tomato soup, 1-2 cans of Italian stewed tomatoes (crushed up and smooshed w/your hands) and one cup of water.

Pour tomato soup mixture over meatballs in pan and cover with foil.

Cook for 45 minutes to an hour. Sometimes it may take a little longer. Test the meatballs in the middle of the pan to make sure that the rice in the meatballs is thoroughly cooked. I serve ours over rice or with egg noodles.

After it’s all cooked, the rice pokes out of the meatballs, hence – porcupines!

Octopus Spaghetti

Noemi K. recommends making octupus spaghetti:

“We make Octopus spaghetti. We cut hot dogs into fourths and then split the spaghetti noodle (dry) into two parts. Insert four of the split noodles in a piece of the hot dog. Boil in water until cooked. Spaghetti makes the legs and the hot dog is the body of the octopus.”

Playdate Family Expo is March 12!

Disneyland may officially be “The Happiest Place on Earth,” but March 12, we think the Playdate Family Expo also will come pretty darn close.

On that day, more than 50 businesses and organizations will come together under one roof (we like to call it a “big top”) to offer information, activities, games, giveaways and, most of all, lots of fun to area families. Last year’s event was our first, and we heard rave reviews from parents and kids alike.

This year, the fun takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on March 12 at the Yakima Convention Center, located at 10 N. Eighth St. in Yakima. Call 577-7743 for more information.

In addition to fun activities like the Bears batting cage, two jumpy houses and face painting, there will be concession stands offering yummy food to keep kids filled up, as well as latte stands for parents. There’s even a rumor about the “Playdate Prince” paying a visit at some point. Parents will find some fun booths just for them, too.

Playdate magazine is a living resource for Yakima valley parents. This family magazine is meant to inform parents about the fun and useful activities going on in the area; offer recipes, craft ideas, and tips on parenting in general; and features stories that celebrate the challenges and joys of parenting.

This Expo is an extension of what Playdate magazine is all about: bringing Yakima families closer to each other and to resources in the community.

Here’s the fun you can expect at the Expo:

Advocare - Visit the Advocare booth to receive your free sample of Spark and learn how Advocare can change your life! Kids can take a break and watch a movie, coloring pages and other kid friendly activities. FREE surprise for kids!

Agapeland Preschool/Selah Covenant Christian School – Make and take cup and button game. Drawing for a free T-shirt!

Allied Arts of Yakima Valley – Join Allied Arts’ Arts Van for fun and creative activities…a projects that you will take home and display on your refrigerator!

American Red Cross – Yakima Chapter – Come see Freddie the Fire Truck, Laffing Matters Clowns and dedicated volunteers. Learn life safety skills the fun way! Enter to win a basket of safety supplies.

Aspen Realty – Stop by for an opportunity to talk with experienced REALTORS about the Yakima real estate market. Also free balloons, snacks, drawing activities, plus a chance to win a Leapfrog Leapster Explorer Toy Story Gift Pack!

Avon – Fun items for mothers and children. Prize wheel, samples, product display and a chance to win an Avon gift basket worth $300.

Banner Bank – Account information and fun giveaways!

Best Practices Family Healthcare – Health promotion activities centered around hand washing and prevention of spreading germs.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu of Yakima – Demo with kids for self-defense. Topics include how to use leverage for all joints, expressing self-control through Jiu-Jitsu, and discipline. Come see what Gracie Barra Jiu Jitsu is all about. Signups available.

Cake Decorator Shoppe – Cupcake decorating! We will take two to three kids out of the audience to decorate a cupcake “monster.” The volunteers will get to take the treat.

Catholic Family & Child Services – Join in at our FIVE activity/play areas: math, science, literacy/story area, arts & crafts and an infant learning area. Raffle prizes!

Catholic Credit Union – Free activity books to teach young children to count and learn about money. Kirby Kangaroo will be there, too!

Central Washington Agricultural Museum – See our display of antique farm items, plus kids can watch a live demonstration of churning butter! Parents can take pictures of kids on a tractor!

The Clover Leaf – See our large selection of RC cars & planes, models, puzzles and a whole lot more! We will have hands-on demonstrations throughout the day!

Community Health of Central Washington – We will have clinic information/sliding fee information flyers about our clinic’s services. We will have a table for children to do arts & crafts. Free giveaways like magnets, pens, coloring books and frisbees.

Counsel of Hope & Healing (Divorce Care) - Will be teaching forgiveness. Giveaways and an art project for children!

Country Kids Daycare – Homemade file-folder games for parents to make at home; a raffle; (possible) bean bag dance on stage.

Department of Social & Health Services – Check out the services DSHS has to offer. Coloring books, crayons, totes and magnets given away to people who visit the booth.

Dispute Resolution Center - The DRC will be offering peach tattoos to all children whose parents approve.

Dove Chocolate Discoveries - Come see how much fun chocolate can be with Dove Chocolate Discoveries! Free samples for adults, and kiddos too. Also, enter our drawing for free Dove Chocolate Discoveries Products!

EPIC of Yakima - Join us for a bean bag toss, wheel of fortune and hula hoops, and even try fishing for a book.

ESD 105 – ESD 105 will help host a booth featuring several early learning programs, agencies and coalitions. Parents will be able to gather early learning information and activities while children participate in a bean bag toss.

Face-Art Magic – Face-Art Magic will be offering professional pay per face painting and a raffle sign-up to receive 2 hours of face painting for the price of 1 hour.

Family Chiropractic Center - Posture analysis for adults and children. Ideal protein weight loss info. Coloring activities for children.

Femina Beauty – Learn about our unique skin care services and modern technologies like vibradermabrasion, oxygen therapy, microcurrent & aqua massage.

Fiesta Foods – Come watch cooking demos and sample some of our authentic Tres Leches Cakes, and Pan Dulce. Enter to win one of twenty piñatas.

Ghormley Meadow Christian Camp – Stop by to see pictures of our summer camp, enter our drawing for a free week of camp and play fun games!

Ginger’s Dance and Fitness Boutique – A fashion show will showcase the newest and latest styles in dance and fitness with the help of local dancers and fitness enthusiasts. Ginger’s booth will include freebies from some of the leading manufactures in the industry and some wonderful savings on clothes, shoes, and miscellaneous items.

God with Us Gifts – Christian children’s T-shirts as well as a Kid’s Juke Box that makes personalized CDs, Name in the Frame personalized sports and entertainment prints.

Grace Lutheran – We will be handing out inflatable globes and giving temporary tattoos. Our school choir will sing.

Heritage Makers - Stop by to see our sample books, cards, playing cards, canvasses and cookbooks, all using photos and our online studio.

It’s a Blast – Stop by to meet a real princess or a fantastic super hero. See what excitement we can bring to your child’s next birthday party. We look forward to meeting you!

Jump n Joy Jumpers – Slide show and raffle drawings.

Lally Chiropractic - Come check out the human spine and learn how nerves make your body work! Play a fun game to win a goodie bag with stickers and other surprises.

Lazy F Camp & Retreat - Get a taste of the Lazy F Summer Camp experience with delicious food samples, creative crafts, exciting games and friendly camp staff. Plus enter to win an amazing FREE week at camp.

Life Rhythm Pictures – Photo display, carnival games for kids, and a TV/DVD display.

Lincoln Avenue Medical & Dental Center – Accepting new patients. Free new patient goodies, from water bottles, backpacks and pens to balloons and of course toothbrushes! Play the game “Fight the Cavities.” New patient appointments made at the Expo. Do you know if your child is at high risk for infection?

Mary Kay – We have everything you need to look beautiful, from the latest makeup looks, skin care, and body products. Sign up for an appointment for a free facial. Enter to win one of three gift baskets. Free gifts for the first 400 women.

Melody Lane Performing Arts Center — Dancers will perform on stage, doing ballet, jazz, tap and modern dance routines. Kids can dress up in a tutu and learn a short dance routine from one of the ballerinas. Candy and studio information will also be handed out.

Miche Bag – Introducing Miche Bag! This unique bag is a simple yet unique concept. It allows women in a matter of seconds to change the look of their handbag without removing its contents. Miche Bag has made being fashionable dramatically more convenient, while still reasonably priced.

Miles of Smiles – Tambow the Clown and JR Kludders the Clown. Balloon animals!

MOMS Club of Yakima – Big raffle basket, with no fee to be entered. See a poster board showing photos of different MOMS club events. Free kids’ temporary tattoos and flyers to learn more about the club.

OIC of Washington - “Join our Royal Family.” OIC is looking for potential foster families. Stickers for the children.

Pampered Chef – Come see what’s new with Pampered Chef. Get an opportunity to play with some of our new kitchen tools. Some lucky person will win our fabulous drawing!

Partylite – Stop by to taste our beer bread, salsa and more by “Two Sisters Gourmet” by Partylite. Fun games and coloring for kids!

Pegasus Project – Providing therapeutic riding and equine-assisted activities to those with special needs and disabilities. Don’t miss our raffle drawing and giveaway!

Pepe’s Bakery – Raffle drawings! Enter to win a large piñata or an 8” round cake!

Playground Paintball – Test out laser guns with a target at the booth. Paintball guns will be available to look at and touch only.

Princess and the Toad – From puzzles to puppets, plush to play food, magnetic activities, music and more. Princess and the Toad is proud to offer a wide variety of products to cover every phase of childhood, from infant to young teen.

Ready by Five – Visit our booth, the “Play & Learn Expo,” to find out more about our services and volunteer opportunities…join us for “learningful” play!

Scentsy – Scentsy Wickless candles are wickless, flameless, smokeless, and lead-free. The exclusive Scentsy wax bar is melted in one of our unique decorative warmers by a low-watt light bulb.

Schwan’s Home Service – Highlight of benefits we provide to our customers. Free sample ice cream. Videos played promoting Schwans.

St. Joseph/Marquette School – St. Joseph Marquette is going to have a “Smart Board,” and will set up their booth as a mini classroom.

St. John of Kronstadt Orthodox Christian School — Boxes of homemade cheesecakes will be sold and information about the school will be available. A coloring page will be given to children.

St. Paul School – We’ll have a sensory booth, basketball hoop and ring toss!

Stewart Subaru – Check out five of our top-rated Subarus! And have fun in the jumpers courtesy of Stewart Subaru!

Summtivew Pediatric Dentistry – We will be raffling off an electric toothbrush kit from oral B (estimated value $160.00). We will have a television/DVD set up with our commercials and “tips” on oral health for children, and E/S brochures and business cards, and balloon giveaways. Other fun games and giveaways!

The First Tee of Yakima – Come see and play our mini golf layout using colorful SNAG golf equipment!

Thirty-One Gifts – Colorful wide range display of products, free raffle, and coloring for the little ones.

Tree Top – Tree Top will be passing out their chewy fruit snacks and will have fruit coloring sheets.

Usborne Books – Usborne Books & More has the books kids love! Come see the selection! Plus, spin the wheel to earn a prize!

Valley Mall – Free Rides on our kiddie rides from the Fun Zone! Don’t miss our giveaways!

Wags to Riches – Wags to Riches Animal Rescue will be giving away Wags dog tags, paw print tattoos, and kids coloring books about animals. Information will be available on teaching respect for animals, and several dogs will be there!

Washington Vision Therapy Center – Fun interactive games and magic tricks that everyone can do together that will demonstrate how vision works and address common vision problems in children. Other demonstrations include a 42-inch interactive flat panel touch screen with games that challenge the visual system. We will be handing out a vision-problem screening tool and small treats.

Wesley United Methodist Church & Pre-School – Color a picture or pick up one to take home. Raffle for a free preschool registration for the 2011-2012 school year (a $55 value). Info on church and preschool.

West Valley Fire Department – Meet Sparky the dog and learn about fire safety!

Yakima Arboretum - Come see what treasures the arboretum has to offer. Get some seeds to plant at home.

Yakima Bears – Return of the Bears batting cage!

Yakima Family YMCA – The Yakima Family YMCA provides a broad range of programs promoting youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Booth activities include games, contests and possibly some demos.

Yakima Fire Department - Fire safety information. Children receive free fire helmets.

Yakima Herald Republic – Get your fishing pole and reel in some reading fun when you fish in our alphabet soup!

Yakima Neighborhood Health Services – If you have children under 19 and live in Washington, your children could be eligible for free or low cost insurance that covers medical, dental, vision and more!

Yakima Regional Medical Center – Yakima Regional Medical & Cardiac Center’s FunZone is an absolute must at Playdate Expo. Come enjoy Twister, Operating, coloring and great prizes!

Yakima Valley Credit Union – DAHLER the Dalmatian will be there along with a kid’s table for coloring and games, and giveaways and a grand prize drawing at the end of the day.

Yakima Valley Hearing and Speech - We will be raffling the book Organizing the Disorganized Child every hour and a half. There will be a language rich activity for children and two stories read at the top of every hour.

Yakima Valley Libraries – Get information on resources at Yakima Valley Libraries, take home information and crafts to help you to help your child become a reader.

Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital – Visit Memorial’s education booth for lots of FUN hands-on activities – play with food models, brush the Giant Mr. Gross Mouth’s teeth, and learn about how your family can be active, eat healthier and stay safe.

Yakima Valley System of Care – We are looking to provide an area where families can come together and re-center themselves during the event. We will be providing tips on how families can be successful during busy events such as the Playdate Expo and information about the Yakima Valley System of Care philosophy, Family Development team, Youth for Community Growth-Teens Reviving Quality for Everyone, Wraparound, Suicide prevention, PFLAG, and National Children’s Mental Health Day!

Yakima Victim Services of Comprehensive – We will have information for parents about keeping children safe. We will cover a range of ages from toddlers to teens. The three major topics are for the youngest: Keeping your Children Personal Safety; Elementary Are Kids: Bullying, and then for Teens: Teen Dating.

Also, see these folks at the event:

* Junior League of Yakima

* NAMI of Yakima

There’s Not Just One Way to Play with Toys

Dad’s Pad: There’s Not Just One Way to Play with Toys

By Scott Klepach Jr.

It’s become apparent that my children have vastly different personalities despite sharing the same genes and household.

Tell me something more obvious, you might be thinking. But as the months and years accumulate, as my daughter draws ever closer to her fourth birthday, and my son is ready to reach another milestone of 20 months, their personalities are truly taking shape.

This is especially true with their playing habits.

For my daughter Elise, it’s all about relationships and overcoming conflict. The plots can range from her dolls in distress, her puppy lost and needing to find its family … even her spaghetti noodles take on roles as characters in her imagination. As she was potty training (reader, watch that gag reflex), the contents in the toilet bowl, based on respective sizes, were representative of the father, mother and baby of a family.

For my son Liam, it’s all about making noises – the more damaging the decibel count, the better – and creating commotion. He never met a princess who belonged to his sister that didn’t need her head chewed on, her hair yanked or her body slammed down on the floor, especially if it resulted in a booming crash. At this point, he doesn’t care to provide names or narrative to his food or excrement; though, as we have found out, he can do much more alarming and unspeakable things with them. (I should have warned you that you’ll still be using those gag reflexes!)

We spend a lot of time working on this damage control, but as I compare the two types of play, I have found there is something strangely satisfying about Liam’s approach, which usually involves character clashes and explosions. Maybe because it reminds me of my playing habits as a boy, or maybe it’s because I have to rescue every one of Elise’s toys and food items. My daughter’s play is like a high-caliber, Oscar-winning film: rich in nuance, but stressful to watch. My son’s play is akin to those high-octane escapist films, which only require the viewer to go on autopilot and enjoy the ride with the biggest tub of popcorn you can buy (or microwave).

I love the variety, especially when everyone comes together and both types of play are united. Superheroes have helped our family become cohesive. Both children are fond of Spider-man, and Elise directs each character: I am usually Spider-man (yes!); my wife is usually the Green Goblin or some other dastardly villain (not my decision!); Elise is usually a princess (duh!); and Liam is left as another villain or tiny sidekick, though, as I’m proud to see, he’s beginning to vie for my position.

It’s during these times, when our family connects, that these personalities and playing habits click. It’s not always perfect – Mom and Dad usually don’t get the character parts quite right, or Liam wants to shoot webs or cause an explosion at the wrong moment – but we’ll have time to sort these things out.

That is, until Liam nabs a princess doll and sticks her head in his mouth. After all, he realizes she hasn’t had her daily dose of chewing yet.

Gotcha! Photo Contest Winner

Gotcha!

Noah Garcia, 10 months

Sharing a nectarine with his daddy.

“There is no delight in owning anything unshared.” –Seneca

Lots and Locks of Love

Lots and Locks of Love

By Scott Klepach Jr.

Have your children ever wanted to help someone else, but they weren’t sure exactly what to do? Maybe it’s time for them to give lots of love by giving to Locks of Love, a national nonprofit organization committed to providing hairpieces to kids and teens who have lost their hair due to illness.

Unlike Rapunzel, who was devastated by her haircut, your child will probably feel pretty good about this opportunity, especially because it will help another child through a difficult time.

Selah’s Manessah Radisich got this idea in her head and brought it to life by removing some hair from her head.

Her mother, Heather Radisich, said one day her daughter just decided to cut her hair, which reached her waist after two years’ growth.

“She said, ‘Mommy, I’m going to donate it to Locks of Love,’” said Heather, who had previously explained the program to her daughter.

Heather said Manessah, who is 5, doesn’t quite understand the circumstances of kids who lose their hair from illness, but she immediately took to the idea and cut off nearly 12 inches to donate.

Manessah told her mother that “Some girl will wear my hair and feel very beautiful.” 

In addition to sending her hair — which was sealed in a bag and mailed in an envelope — Manessah wrote a letter to her recipient. Locks of Love will send a card to her in return.

Heather hopes that others will consider donating hair, and she wants to see more awareness of the program.

“Most hairdressers don’t even mention it,” she said. “You have to do it on your own; look online, (and) ask your hairdresser to save the hair.”

For more information, you can visit locksoflove.org or call Locks of Love toll-free at 888-896-1588.

Capitol Kids Continues

Capitol Kids Continues

The Capitol Theatre’s Capitol Kids series continues in February and March.

Next is “Barrio Grrrl!” at 10 a.m. and noon Feb. 11. Ana, a 9-year-old girl who also has the alterego Barrio Grrrl, wrestles with how to balance fighting for justice while keeping a foot in the real world. Grades 4-8.

The final performance is “Berenstain Bears in Family Matters” at 10 a.m. and noon March 16 and March 17. Join the Bear family as each bear deals with his or her troubles and presents life lessons along the way. Grades pre-K through 4th.

Tickets are $5 per show and are open to school groups and parents with children. To purchase tickets, contact Christina at 509-853-8000.

Engineering Day for Kids at YVCC

Engineering Day for Kids

To celebrate Engineers Week, the Yakima branch of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the Engineering Department at Yakima Valley Community College are teaming up once again to host “Engineering Day for Kids,” which runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 26. The event will take place at YVCC’s Hopf Union Building (HUB).

Any elementary school-aged child is invited to attend this free event and get experience with hands-on activities that will help the child explore the connections between math, science and engineering.

No registration is required, but if you have any questions, contact Benji Tornberg at 509-966-7000 or btornberg@hlacivil.com.

“Try Free Hockey Weekend” Feb. 18

Yakima Amateur Hockey Association Hosts “Try Hockey Free Weekend” Feb. 18

Kids, get out your hockey sticks and ice skates! No, you don’t have to travel out of town to play hockey; now’s your chance to get out on the ice in town.

The Yakima Amateur Hockey Association (YAHA), a nonprofit organization that aims to increase kids’ interest and awareness in ice hockey around Yakima, is getting ready to host its “Try Hockey Free Weekend.” The event will start at 10 a.m. Feb. 18 at the Yakima Ice Rink, and is sponsored by USA Hockey.

Tyler Nostrant, a board member of YAHA, says that normally Yakima residents take a road trip to Tri-Cities because there are more offerings and facilities for hockey there.

But Nostrant and others want to change that and give hockey enthusiasts the opportunity to play and train in Yakima.

“We’re trying to get interest in the community, especially younger kids,” Nostrant said.

The “Try Hockey Free Weekend” is open to anyone interested in trying hockey. Participants can expect to experience a series of skill-boosting lesson plans for different areas on the ice.

YAHA now also offers a learn-to-skate program Mondays at 6 p.m. and beginning hockey practices Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m.

Yakima’s Ice Rink is located at 1700 E. Beech St., Yakima. 509-469-0597. yakimaicerink.com

For more information on the nationwide Hockey Weekend Across America event, visit usahockey.com/HWAA/default.aspx.

You can also register for the event here: http://www.active.com/register/index.cfm?EVENT_ID=2010956&CHECKSSO=0

We’re Off to See the Dentist!

We’re Off to See the Dentist!

Story by Scott Klepach Jr.

Photos by Amber Miller

Sure, going to the dentist is not exactly the same as a day at the playground, but it doesn’t have to be a scary experience for kids, either. In fact, there are a number of pediatric dentists in the Yakima area who are trained to work with babies, toddlers and infants.

But when should you first take your kids to the dentist?

Local dentists, as well as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, agree that kids should have their first oral check by their first birthday, if not before.

“They should be seen at age 1 at the latest,” said Dr. Tyrone Rodriguez, a board-certified pediatric dental specialist with Apple Valley Dental & Orthodontics of Yakima. “If they’re 13 months (without an oral check), they’re overdue.”

Carlos Dorantes, doctor of dental surgery at Summitview Pediatric Dentistry of Yakima, agreed with this timeline, and added that if parents missed that window, they should take their child for a visit no later than six months after the first baby teeth have come in.

And that first oral check is fast and easy, said Ashley Tercero, a doctor of dental surgery at Yakima Pediatric Dentistry, and usually involves the dentist brushing, flossing and examining your baby’s teeth, and then applying fluoride.

Rodriguez said the first visit is a knee-to-knee exam, and he covers recommended eating habits with parents, what they should expect to see as their child’s mouth matures, and accident prevention.

“It’s not a thorough exam,” said Dorantes. “It’s more of a sit-down with parents on what to do when teeth come in, how to keep the mouth clean, what to use, and what not to use.”

This early check will also help children avoid anxiety about visiting the dentist’s office.

One question that typically comes up is, why do baby teeth need to be checked and fixed, if kids are only going to lose them?

“Baby teeth are the fruit at the top of the bowl, so if they go bad, what’s going to happen below?” said Rodriguez. “There could be possible irreversible damage.”

Tercero said cavities impact speech, growth and development, nutrition, sleeping, learning and overall health. Decay can also cause pain and infection, which can damage permanent teeth.

It is recommended that after kids receive their first oral check, they should be seen about twice a year, or every six months. Sometimes they might be seen more frequently if the dentist detects poor oral hygiene.

Proper Cleaning and Brushing

Tercero said children start getting their baby teeth at different times.

“Some get their first tooth at three months, others at one year. Parents shouldn’t be concerned about timing of teething,” said Tercero.

Instead, she said parents should make sure their children’s gums and teeth are clean to help lessen the pain that comes with teething.

“If the gums are healthy,” Tercero said, “it doesn’t hurt as much when the teeth break through.”

Dorantes said some parents are surprised they can and should start cleaning their baby’s mouth even if no teeth have come in yet. He suggested using a small cloth or a piece of tissue to wipe the mouth clean.

“This allows the child to have a clean mouth, and gets them in the habit of learning they have to do it, no matter what,” said Dorantes.

Kids should have assistance with brushing until they are about 7 or 8, said Tercero, and she suggests following the rule of “twos.”

“Brush two times a day for two minutes each time,” she said, adding that flossing is only necessary once a day.

Fluoride-free toothpaste and water will be sufficient for infants, she said, adding that kids can graduate to regular toothpaste that contains fluoride when they can spit it out.

Don’t Sugarcoat the Situation

“Caries,” which is the disease of having tooth decay, can be much more than an annoyance.

“It’s the number one childhood chronic illness,” said Dr. Joe Wilson, a pediatric dentist at ViewCrest Pediatric Dentistry in Yakima. “It is five times more common than asthma in children.”

Caries has been shown to lead to other health problems that can cause kids to be absent from school or miss out on other activities.

But a lot of families aren’t aware of this problem.

Tercero said the biggest oral health problem in the Yakima area is the amount of sugar that families have in their diet. Yakima kids have a much higher decay rate than those in Seattle, for instance.

“Most of this is due to our lack of good oral health education and our higher-than-average sugar intake,” she said.

Juice, while tasty and containing some good nutrients, is something that needs to be controlled.

“Most families think of juice as being a healthy thing for kids, but really it is more like ‘liquid candy,’” Tercero said.

“Think like a cheap bartender, and water it down,” Rodriguez recommended. “You’ll save money and you’ll save your child’s teeth.”

Dorantes said parents don’t need to eliminate entire foods out of their kids’ diets.

“It’s not what you give, but how often you give it,” he said. “The higher frequency of carbohydrate ingestion, the more likely a child may be at risk for having problems with teeth.”

Dorantes noted parents should be aware that refined carbohydrates – the stuff that can contribute to tooth decay – can be found in cookies, french fries, pastas and breads.

“It doesn’t necessarily need to be sugar per se to be a problem,” said Dorantes.

Tercero said a prolonged session of snacking can contribute to tooth decay because the sugar contained in most snacks has time to coat our teeth. Snacking in short sessions is preferred, so our saliva can do its job to clean the sugar off our teeth, which usually takes 20 minutes.

Overall, maintaining a healthy mouth doesn’t just help kids avoid cavities.

“Oral health is tied into systemic health,” said Wilson. “You can’t have one without the other.”

Wilson added there are three ways a person can get cavities: you have to have teeth; you have to have a sugar source, and you have to have bacteria present in the mouth. This last point is largely unknown or overlooked, he said.

“Think of it as a cold, and how bacteria is transferred,” said Wilson.

When parents or primary caregivers test the temperature of food for a child, for instance, that bacteria can transfer to the child’s mouth. For this reason, Wilson said it’s necessary for adults to maintain proper oral health, and expecting mothers should have cavities or other oral health problems fixed as soon as possible.

“It should be in the planning stages of having a child,” said Wilson.

Cause for Concern?

Other common concerns parents have include pacifier use, thumb sucking and teeth grinding. But these behaviors don’t necessarily turn into a problem for all kids.

Tercero noted that pacifier use and thumb sucking is normal and comforting for many infants and toddlers, but they can quickly turn into bad habits.

Dorantes said he looks for three things to determine if using a pacifier will become a bad or damaging habit: how long a child has been using the pacifier, how often during the day, and the intensity of use. Depending on those questions, he might try to wean a child off the habit.

Dorantes and Tercero agreed that it might be time to stop the pacifier use once a child turns 3, because the habit can possibly damage not just the teeth but also the shape of the palate, or roof of the mouth.

Teeth grinding is just as natural for children, and for the most part it’s not something to be worried about unless it persists after their adult teeth come in. Excessive grinding can cause small fractures or other problems, though, and the activity can point to other health problems, such as obstructed sleep apnea, difficulty sleeping and snoring.

Brace Yourself: See an Orthodontist Early

Most people don’t think about getting their kids braces until they hit junior high, but be prepared to have them checked out by an orthodontist years before this age, said Dr. Todd Steinhart, an orthodontic specialist at Apple Valley Dental and Orthodontics.

“Most orthodontists like to see kids for their first assessment at age 7 or 8,” said Tercero, though this isn’t the age that they start wearing braces. Instead, this consultation “allows the family and the orthodontist to come up with a plan for the future.”

At that stage, orthodontists can detect if any early treatment is needed, or if jaw surgery is needed.

“Most dentists are trained to spot these problems and will refer the patient to an orthodontist when needed,” said Tercero.

Toothy Trivia

• Kids have 20 baby teeth
• The complete set of baby teeth are usually in place by 3 years
• Front teeth come in around 6 months, first molars by age 1, the canines follow at 18 months, and finally the second molars appear around 2 years
• Kids can start losing their baby teeth around kindergarten, or age 6
• Kids will probably get their first set of adult molars in at age 6, and then the lower teeth follow
• Babies should stop using a bottle at 12-14 months to avoid “baby bottle tooth decay,” according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. At that point, drinking from a regular cup or sippy cup with a straw is best.

Recommended Books

Sure, we all know middle readers and young adult readers love reading about teeth – the sharper, the better, what with all those vampire stories taking a bite out of the juvenile fiction market. But before they get to the age to become “Twi-hards,” you might want to check out a few of these books that explore the world of dentistry. These are some titles your kids can cut their teeth on:

• The Berenstain Bears Visit the Dentist
• The Night Before the Tooth Fairy
• Teeth are Not for Biting (Board Book), by Elizabeth Verdick
• The Tooth Book
• The Tooth Book: A Guide to Healthy Teeth and Gums

Resource:

There is a helpful parents’ section on the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry’s website, aapd.org.

YVCC Dental Hygiene Program Hosts “Sealant Day”

YVCC Dental Hygiene Program Hosts Sealant Day

The Yakima Valley Community College Dental Hygiene program will host its 18^th annual free dental “Sealant Day” from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 5. Services are available for anyone 6 to 21 years old, but prescheduling is required. Register through Feb. 4. Call 509-877-5125 for an appointment.

Parents’ Guide to Preschool and Kindergarten

Parents’ Guide to Preschool and Kindergarten

By Scott Klepach, Jr.

When should your children start school? Where should they go?

After the toddler years (or even during), these are a couple of of the toughest questions parents have to answer. But rest assured, readers: there isn’t just one correct answer. Read here about your family’s options.  For a directory of preschool and Kindergarten programs and other options, click here.

Decisions, decisions…

To preschool or not to preschool? Some parents don’t enter their children into the school system until Kindergarten. Others know they want to start earlier. Your child might spend just a few short months in preschool, or as long as several years. Programs abound for various ages: from as young as 18 months to 5 years. Not all preschools offer the same program, and each one has a specific age minimum.

Here are ten things to consider as you conduct your planning:

10. The experience. Do you want lots of structure for your children, or more time for free play and association? Do you want them to be introduced to subjects they will learn when they move on, or would you rather have them in preschool for social transition? Do you want your child placed in a church-based institution or a secular one? Would you prefer a larger or smaller school? Public or private? Begin mulling these questions over well before deciding which school fits your expectations.

West Valley’s Becky Futrell decided not to send her daughter to a formal preschool. She and her husband set their sights instead on selecting a good Kindergarten program for her.

For Futrell, there were a number of factors to think about, but what stuck out was the safety and size of the school district.

“We just felt better about her being in a smaller district,” said Futrell, whose daughter attends Kindergarten in the Naches School District. “My main issue was I wanted to feel that where I was sending my child was safe and that I knew she would be in good care while away from me.”

Futrell said she would have loved to have more options, including a dual immersion program, which helps students learn a second language. “Unfortunately, in our area the schools that have this were quite a ways away.”

9. Special needs. From food allergies to Autism to physical disabilities, there are a few good reasons that you’ll want to make sure the school you choose is well-equipped to handle your child’s special needs.

With reports of food allergies on the rise, speak with teachers and administrators about how each school handles restricting common food allergens. You might need to submit your own food allergy emergency management plan, which you can download from the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network’s website at foodallergy.org.

If your child has special needs because of a physical disability or a learning disability, he or she will be evaluated by the school district to see if he or she meets the criteria. Areas of testing will include delays in communication and language, motor skills, social interaction, and others. Contact the school(s) you’re interested in to see what the process is early.

8. Money matters. Sometimes you can afford only so much for schooling, so check with your public school district to see what preschool and Kindergarten options are available to you. We have the list of public and private school options available on our website, playdateyakima.com.

Low-income families may qualify to attend federal-or state-funded preschools, including Head Start and ECEAP programs. These programs are free to students who meet the eligibility requirements; call your local school district or EPIC (248-3950) for more information. Find information online at wsaheadstarteceap.com.

Cooperative preschools (see number 7 for more info on this!) are generally one of the less expensive alternatives to other private school options.

7. Any volunteers? Sending kids to school for the first time is a huge step, for both kids and parents. Your child might enjoy having you around to help him or her ease into this transition to school life.

You, mom and dad, may also need some help with this change. Check to see if you can volunteer at the preschool or Kindergarten. At most schools, volunteers can do all sorts of things, from assisting in the classroom to fundraising, cleaning, transporting and organizing events. You won’t know until you ask.

Just be sure you understand that as a volunteer, you will not have your hand in everything your child does, or how the school operates.

One way to know for sure that you can be involved in the classroom is by selecting a parent cooperative preschool, which is designed to have parents serve as teacher assistants.

Annette Courcy, teacher/coordinator of Central Lutheran Preschool, a parent co-op, said this type of program is a good option for parents who want to stay actively involved in their child’s education, and they also help children make the transition into the school setting.

6. Timing is everything. In addition to geography and the commute time, think of the time of day the school runs. At this age you probably know how well your child can adapt to a new schedule, so take into account what your child will be comfortable with so he or she can get the most out of these early school years.

5. Location, location, location! Your dream school might not be as feasible as you wished. Perhaps the commute is too far away, and your schedule simply won’t allow you to place your child there.

Location will be a major factor for parents in choosing a preschool. If you can spare the extra few miles and minutes each day, then go ahead, but be sure you plan accordingly.

Depending on where you live, you might not only be bound to a certain school district for a Kindergarten program, but you may or may not have a choice which school your child will be enrolled in.

4. The early bird gets to be the bookworm. If you’re thinking of enrolling your child for preschool in the fall, you’ll need to plan ahead by about six months, if not sooner.

In fact, once the warmth of spring arrives, you might be too late. Don’t wait! Call the prospective schools on your list to find out information on enrollment and registration, so you can secure a spot for your child.

3. Check out an open house. Perhaps the best advice a parent can receive (as I have recently found out) is to do more than just scour the phone book or this magazine’s listing of preschools and Kindergarten options.

Call a few places early to see when open houses are available, and attend as many as you can if you’re uncertain. A school might look great on paper, but being there on site might tell you more than anything else and will help you greatly in making a decision.

2. Take a tour. If you can’t attend an open house – or even if you do – it’s also a good idea to reserve a tour of the preschool or Kindergarten you’re inquiring about.

A tour will allow you to ask questions you might not have been able to at an open house, and you can talk specifically about your child’s needs. Meeting with teachers and administrators and seeing how students react to them in the actual educational setting will give you a great sense how your child might fit in.

“Take a tour, and 15 to 20 minutes there will tell you more than anything else,” says Elizabeth Fitzgerald, who is the chair of the board of directors, as well as administrator and manager of St. John of Kronstadt Orthodox Christian School in Yakima, which offers grades K-8. “You’ll see the school, the teachers and how students react.”

Local public schools also offer tours.

1. The more, the merrier. No one said you have to settle for the first school on the list, or even the first school you’ve taken a tour of. If anyone does say that to you, then kindly disregard their words and do yourself and your child a favor, and invest enough time and research to make sure you make a careful, educated decision.

“The advice I give to parents is to go to two to three places,” said Courcy, of Central Lutheran Preschool in Yakima. “Your gut will always tell you what will work best, and work well with your philosophy, and what’s best for your kids.”

KINDERGARTEN

You should also get an early start if you’re registering your child in Kindergarten. If your child turns 5 by Aug. 31, be aware that many schools begin Kindergarten registration in March.

When you go to register, be sure to bring a copy of your child’s birth certification and immunization records, along with proof of address, such as a utility bill or rental agreement.

Since each child is a little different, how can parents know if their child is Kindergarten-ready? Thanks to Ready by Five and the Yakima School District, parents can view a checklist that offers measurements and benchmarks to decide if their child is ready for that big step.

Here are some good questions to help you out. Can your child…

• say and recognize names, both in verbal and written form?
• verbally identify objects and places?
• articulate thoughts and emotions in complete sentences?
• repeat rhymes and songs and come up with his or her own rhymes?
• recognize numerals 0-10 and count to 20?
• detect familiar signs and symbols (i.e. road signs, store names, and brand names).
• recognize the alphabet and identify many letters?
• use a pencil and scissors properly?
• demonstrate an understanding of shapes, colors, and sizes?
• use the toilet and exercise proper washing techniques?
• be away from parents and home for a significant period of time?
• listen to adults and work well with friends or peers?

It’s important to have conversations with children and have fun with words and language. Be aware that your children are going to learn most of their information from you, the parents, so be sure to practice your own correct language and encourage them to read and talk in a variety of creative and interactive ways.

If you’re still not sure if your child is ready, you might consider enrolling your child in a Kindergarten-readiness program.

Ready by Five, in conjunction with the Yakima School District, provides a Kindergarten Transition Program (KTP) to help in this area.

“Teachers know what kids need to have, but sometimes the communication isn’t always there,” said Elizabeth Mendoza, the coordinator of community outreach with Ready By Five.

She added Ready By Five is available to reach children before they enter the K-12 system.

“Every child learns at a different pace,” said Mendoza, noting the suggested steps a child should have already made before entering Kindergarten will not be universal. “Some will be beyond this, and some won’t. At least now [parents] have a base, or something to start with.”

Ready By Five’s KTP brings teachers and students together two weeks before the school year starts to get the kids acquainted with the school environment and facilities so they will be ready to learn on day one.

“Kids learn how to hang their coats, carry lunch trays, and find the bathroom,” among other things, said Mendoza. “It gets the tears out before school actually starts, to help alleviate anxiety.”

Another resource:

For interactive fun and learning, head to LiteracyCenter.Net, which is the Early Childhood Education Network’s website. There you’ll find educational games and exercises to help your child get a firm grasp on letters, numbers, shapes, colors, and more!

Recommended Books

Here are a couple of titles that might help your little one ease into the change that comes with heading into Kindergarten:

• The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
• The Night Before Kindergarten by Natasha Wing and Julie Durrell

For information on one way to save for our child’s college tuition, check out the Washington State GET Program.

GET Prepared to Save for Your Child’s College Tuition

Plan Now to Pay for Your Child’s College Tuition

By Scott Klepach, Jr.

Are you planning to send your little ones to college someday? Then now is the time to get with the program with the GET program – Washington state’s Guaranteed Education Tuition college tuition plan.

GET has been around now for 13 years to provide a way for families to save for college. As a 529 prepaid college tuition plan, GET allows parents to save money and make tax-exempt payments.

With rising costs in tuition each year – especially in the last several years of the economic recession – it’s a good time to get started saving early and wisely, said GET Program Director Betty Lochner.

“We encourage parents to save and not incur huge debt,” Lochner said, adding that tuition rates are “rising a lot faster than inflation and income, so now more than ever it’s really critical to keep up.”

Parents who enroll in the program purchase GET units which cover the cost of tuition. The value of these units remains the same whether a student attends school in Washington or heads out of state, and the units apply to public, private, and technical schools. Any leftover tuition can be used for books, housing, and expenses, or can be rolled over into another year.

Lochner said the program is stable, unlike some other investment options. “It’s not like investing in the stock market, where the risk goes to the participant.”

Lochner noted it’s better for parents to save when they are newborns or toddlers rather than put it off for later.

“Kids are growing fast; tuition is growing even faster,” she said. “Most families wait until middle school to start thinking about it, but it’s not enough.”

The enrollment deadline is March 31, 2011 to lock in this year’s rates. Enrollment will open again in the fall, but with the higher rates. Newborns may enroll year-round.

For more information, including charts of the cost of college over time, visit GET’s website at get.wa.gov. You can also call 1-800-955-2318 with questions.

School Directory

Here is a handy guide to local preschools, Kindergarten programs, and other resources. We also have a guide to help you select the right preschool or Kindergarten program.

CHURCH-AFFILIATED SCHOOLS

Agapeland Preschool & Kindergarten | Preschool & Kindergarten, ages 3-5. Located at Selah Covenant Church, 560 McGonagle Road, Selah; call 509-697-6116 or visit selahcov.com. Three-year-old class meets 9-11 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, $68 monthly. Four-year-old class meets 9-11:30 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, $95 monthly. Pre-K (Barely 5′s) class meets 12:20-2:50 p.m. Monday through Thursday, $110 monthly. Kindergarten class meets 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday, $150 monthly (for 10 months). Registration begins Feb. 1 for current students, and Mar. 1 for new students.

Calvary Lutheran Preschool | Preschool only, ages 3-4. Located at Calvary Lutheran Church, 11th and Harrison, Sunnyside; call 509-837-6771 or visit calvarylcs.com. Three-year-old class meets 12:30-2:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, $70 monthly. Four-year-olds have two options: Three-day class meets 9-11:30 a.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, $80 monthly. Five-day class meets 9-11:30 a.m. Monday-Friday, $125 monthly.

First Presbyterian Church Preschool | Preschool only, ages 3-5. Located at First Presbyterian Church, 9 S. Eighth Ave., Yakima; call 509-248-7940 or visit firstpresyakima.com. Three-year-old class meets 9-11:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, $90 monthly. Four-year-old class meets 9-11:30 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, $120 monthly. Pre-kindergarten class meets 9-11:30 a.m. Monday through Thursday, $145 monthly. Your child must be 3 or 4 by Sept. 1 for the respective classes, and 5 by Dec. 31 for the pre-Kindergarten class. Registration opens Feb. 7 for fall classes.

Grace Lutheran School | Preschool (age 4) & Kindergarten, through grade 8. Located at Grace Lutheran Church, 1207 S. Seventh Ave., Yakima; call 509-594-0715 or visit gracelutheranyakima.org. Call to arrange a tour anytime. Now enrolling for 2011.

Mt. Olive Lutheran Preschool | Preschool (ages 3-5). Located at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, 7809 Tieton Drive, Yakima; call Molly at 509-966-2190 or visit mtoliveyakima.org. New student registration 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 16.

Riverside Christian School | Preschool (age 3) & Kindergarten, through grade 12. Located at 721 Keys Road, Yakima; call 509-965-2602 or visit riversidechristianschool.com. Preschool class meets twice a week. Pre-kindergarten meets five days a week. An open house and Kinder Info Night will be held April 14.

St. John of Kronstadt Orthodox Christian School | Kindergarten through grade 8. Location: 706 Steward Street, Yakima; 452-0177. Online: stjohnkronstadt.org. An open house for prospective students will be at 7 p.m. Jan. 27. You can call to arrange a tour anytime.

St. Joseph/Marquette Catholic School | Pre-K & Kindergarten, to grade 8. Located at 202 N. Fourth St., Yakima; call Vicki Balmer at 509-575-5557 to schedule a tour or visit sjmms.org. Pre-kindergarten students must be 4 years old by Aug. 31. Program hours are 8:15 a.m. to 2:45 p.m., Monday through Friday; call for tuition information. Hot lunch program and after-school care from 3:00 to 6:15 p.m. An open house for prospective students will be from 5-7 p.m. Feb. 3. Or, call to arrange a tour anytime. Add your name to the school’s waiting list now; admission for new students will begin in late February.

St. Paul Cathedral School | Preschool (4 years) & Kindergarten, through grade 8. Location: 1214 W. Chestnut Ave., Yakima; 575-5604. Online: http://www.stpaulsch.org/pages/St__Paul_Cathedral_School

An open house for prospective students will be held Jan. 27.

Wesley Preschool | Preschool only, ages 3-4 and Pre-K. Located at Wesley United Methodist Church, 14 N. 48th Ave., Yakima; call 509-966-2370. Also offers a “Stay N Play” extended day program. Registration begins Feb. 7 for fall classes.

Westpark Christian Academy | Preschool (3 years) & Kindergarten, through grade 12. Location: 3902 Summitview Ave., Yakima; 966-1632. Online: diversityexcels.org

Wonderland Preschool | Preschool only, ages 3-5. Located at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 6015 Summitview Ave., Yakima; call 509-966-1900 or visit westpress.org. Three-year-old class meets 9-11:30 a.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, $95 monthly. Four-year-old class meets 9-11:30 a.m. M-T-W-Th, $115 monthly. Barely Five pre-kindergarten class meets 12:15-3:15 p.m. Monday through Thursday, $125 monthly. Registration starts Feb. 1 for fall classes.

Yakima Adventist Christian School | Kindergarten through grade 10. Location: 1200 City Reservoir Road, Yakima. 966-1933. Online: www.yacsschool.org
Open House 6:30-7:30 p.m. March 3, 2011. Education Day will be April 6 from 8:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. with two Kindergarten sessions; preregistration is required. Prospective students will spend the day in a classroom and take assessment tests.

MONTESSORI

Montessori School of Yakima | Preschool (3 years) & Kindergarten, through grade 3. Located at Engelwood Christian Church, 511 N. 44th Ave., Yakima; call 509-966-0680 or visit msofy.org. An open house will be held 6-7 p.m. Feb. 1.

Oakridge Montessori School | Preschool (18 months) & Kindergarten, through grade 8. Located at 6403 Summitview Ave., Yakima; call 509-966-1080 or visit oakridgemontessorischool.com.

PARENT COOPERATIVES

Central Lutheran Preschool | Located at Central Lutheran Church, 1604 W. Yakima Ave., Yakima; call teacher Annette Courcy at 509-307-6272. Toddler program (ages 18-36 months) meets Monday mornings, $32 monthly; parent participation required each session. Preschoolers (ages 3-5) meets Tuesday through Friday mornings; students may attend two, three or four days a week, $60/$70/$80 monthly; parents required to volunteer at least three days a month. Preschool is friendly to children with food allergies. Open house week is Mar. 21-25; registration period follows.

Children’s Center Preschool | Located at Zillah Church of the Nazarene, 203 Miles Drive, Zillah; call coordinator Nancy Sealock at 509-829-6165.

Learning Together Preschool | Located at Summit View Church of Christ, 100 N. 72nd Ave., Yakima; call 509-966-0733 or e-mail ltkids@hotmail.com.

PRIVATE PRESCHOOLS

Gymnastics Plus Preschool | Located at Gymnastics Plus, 2121 West Lincoln Ave., Yakima; call 509-453-8126 or visit gymnasticsplus.net.

Kid’s Club | Located at 607 S. 36th Ave., Yakima; call 509-469-5437 or visit thelearningtree-uniongap.com.

The Learning Tree Children’s Center | Located at 3609 Tacoma St., Union Gap; call 574-5755 or visit thelearningtree-uniongap.com.

Selah GymKids Academic Preschool | Located at Selah GymKids, 709 North Park Centre, Selah; call 509-698-5437. Preschool class, ages 3 and 4, meets 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. or 9 a.m. to noon, Tuesdays and Thursdays, $120 per month. Pre-kindergarten class, ages 4-5, meets 8:30-11:30 a.m. or 9 a.m. to noon Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, $155 per month. All-day child care available, ages 3-5; transportation and before/after-school care for older children.

SPECIAL NEEDS

Children’s Village Collaborative Lab Classroom | Located at Children’s Village, 3801 Kern Road, Yakima; call 509-574-3260 or visit yakimachildrensvillage.org. Serves children ages 30-58 months with social, emotional, communication and behavioral needs.

Special Education Preschool. Located at the Special Services department in the West Valley School District, 1000 S. 72^nd Ave., Yakima; call 509-965-2080 or visit http://www.wvsd208.org/ss/Preschoolcontacts.htm. Serves preschool children who may have delays in communication, language, motor skills, cognition, social interaction, and adaptive and self-help areas.

VIP Academy | Located at Catholic Family & Child Service, 5301 Tieton Drive, Suite C, Yakima; call 509-965-7100 or visit cfcsyakima.org. Pre-kindergarten program for children who need extra help with behavior and social-emotional skills.

CHILD CARE CENTERS

Working parents may want to consider a child development center that offers preschool curriculum in an all-day child care setting.

Carroll Children’s Center | Located at Catholic Family & Child Service, 5301 Tieton Drive, Suite C, Yakima; call 509-965-7104 or visit cfcsyakima.org.

Country Kids Child Development Center | Two locations: 641 N. Keys Road, Terrace Heights, call 509-453-8688; or 909 N. 21st Ave., Yakima, call 453-4462.

Kindercare Learning Center | Located at 5110 Summitview Ave., Yakima; call 509-966-8557 or visit kindercare.com.

YMCA Jewett Center | Located at 212 E. F St., Yakima; call 509-453-7897 or visit yakimaymca.org.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

East Valley School District | Full-day kindergarten. Registration at East Valley (573-7600), Terrace Heights (573-7800) and Moxee (573-7700) elementary schools will begin the week of March 21-25. To determine your school boundary, call the district office at 573-7300.

Naches School District | Half-day kindergarten. Naches Valley Primary School offers grades K-2. For more information, call 966-5050 or 966-7550 for Naches Valley Primary School, or 457-8592 or 653-2220 to reach the school district.

Selah School District | Half-day kindergarten. Parents may request enrollment at either John Campbell or Robert Lince elementary schools. A kindergarten orientation meeting will be at 7 p.m. May 2 at Robert Lince Elementary; registration begins May 4. For more information, call 697-0706.

Union Gap School District | Full-day kindergarten. Register at Union Gap School in April. For more information, call 248-3966.

West Valley School District | Full-day kindergarten. Registration begins Mar. 21-25 at your home school; to determine your school boundary, call the district’s transportation department at 966-2403.

Yakima School District | Full-day kindergarten. Registration begins Feb. 28-Mar. 4 at your neighborhood school. Students are required to attend their boundary school; to determine which boundary you live in, call Central Registration at 573-7024 or see the map at yakimaschools.org

Make Love Bugs for Your Little Love Bugs!

Love Bugs!

Want a fun, cute, and inexpensive craft to make and give to a loved one for Valentine’s Day? Try making love bugs! You can make ladybugs, butterflies, or both.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• an empty toilet paper tube
• construction paper (choose your colors!)
• scissors
• glue
• glitter
• pen, marker, crayons or pencil

Here’s how to make a Love Bug:

1. Cover an empty toilet tube with construction paper to make the body of the bug.
2. Cut two ovals (for the lady bug) or hearts (for a butterfly) to make wings.
3. Attach wings with tape or glue on either side of the body.
4. Cut circles to make the faces.
5. Encourage your child to draw a face on the circle or at the top of the tube.
6. Cut strips of paper and fold in a zigzag pattern to make antennae and legs. Cut two small hearts and glue to the tips of antennae. Or, pipe cleaners are great for antennae as well.
7. Write a cute message on the wings or on a cut out heart that the Love Bug holds.
8. Decorate with glitter, feathers, or whatever else you desire. Have fun!!!

Whoopie Pies

Whoopie Pies Sure, half the name may sound like a misnomer (these aren’t really pies in the traditional sense, after all) but once you make these whoopie pies, as the story goes, you’re bound to exclaim, “Whoopie!” Ingredients Cookies: 3 cups sugar 1/2 cup shortening 1 cup cocoa 2 eggs 1 1/2 cups buttermilk 1 tsp cream of tartar 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp salt 1 tsp vanilla 4 cups flour Cream together sugar and shortening. Add cocoa, eggs, buttermilk, cream of tarter, baking soda, salt and vanilla. Mix well. Gradually add flour. Drop cookies by spoonful on baking sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes. Filling: 5 Tbl flour 1 cup milk 1 cup shortening (part butter or margarine) 1 1/4 cup sugar 2 tsp vanilla food coloring if desired Cook flour and milk in saucepan over medium heat. Whisk constantly to keep from scorching. Let cool to cold. Add shortening/butter and a small pinch of salt. Whip it. Add sugar, vanilla, and food coloring. Whip it again until fluffy. When cookies and filling are cool, put filling between two cookies and wrap individually. Enjoy!

Lemonade Cookie Hearts

Lemonade Cookie Hearts

Here’s a fun and tasty way to bake sugar cookies for your little valentines … with a little extra zing!

1 cup butter or margarine

1 cup sugar

2 eggs, beaten

1 tsp vanilla or 1/2 tsp lemon extract

4 Tbl frozen lemonade concentrate

3 1/4 cups all purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

In a large bowl, mix together butter and sugar. Stir in beaten eggs, vanilla, and lemonade.

Add flour and baking soda. Once the dough is well blended, cover the bowl and place it in the refrigerator to chill for at least one hour.

Then, roll out the dough on a floured surface and cut in heart shapes using either a heart-shaped cookie cutter or a large heart-shaped pattern cut from thin cardboard.

Overlap two hearts before baking or bake hearts separately and when cooled, press together with a little frosting to hold them.

Bake on greased cookie sheet at 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes, or until cookies are baked but not brown. If your cookies seem to be browning too fast, reduce oven temperature to 375 degrees.

Cookie Frosting

Blend 1 cup powdered sugar with about 2 tablespoons water; add a few drops of food color to tint. Pour thin frosting over cookies on a rack placed on wax paper to catch drips. Let dry.

Cover Baby Photo Contest!

Playdate’s Annual Cover Baby Photo Contest!

Your baby, our cover!

Playdate’s annual Cover Baby Photo Contest is back! To enter, send us a fabulous photo of your baby (birth to 18 months) to Playdate Magazine, P.O. Box 9668, Yakima, WA 98901; or e-mail your submission to contest@playdateyakima.com or sklepach@yakimaherald.com. Be sure to include your name, address and phone number, as well as your child’s name and age.

Both mail and e-mail submissions must be received by 11:59 p.m. December 16, 2011.

We’ll shoot a new photo of the winning baby for the cover of the February/March magazine, so your photos don’t have to be perfect. We’re looking for babies (up to 18 months) that will show off for the camera.

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