PRESCHOOL STORY TIME. 10 a.m. Mondays and Thursdays; 1:30 p.m. Wednesdays. Songs, stories and activities for preschoolers. Selah Library, 106 South Second St., Selah; 509-698-7345. yvl.org
PRESCHOOL STORY TIME. 10:30 a.m. Thursdays. Stories, songs and activities for preschoolers. Yakima Central Library, 102 North Third St., Yakima; 509-452-8541. yvl.org
Have you signed all those emergency cards?
It never fails that the first day of school comes with homework – that is homework for the parents.
And, in our house we’re already talking about video games and homework.
Based on my own past experience, my best advice is to set boundaries and standards early in the school year.
I think most school districts by now have a great tool for you to use.
We utilize the online grading system called “Skyward” for our kids. What this software allows you to do is see your kids’ grades pretty much in real time.
When a teacher enters a grade, it’s there online – not like the old days where they kept everything in a binder.
I love this technology. My kids, well, it’s safe to say they love it less than I do.
One of the things that we watch very carefully are “zeroes.” We look out for anything in the gradebook that comes with no score.
Reality is that a zero typically means an assignment didn’t get turned in.
One of the carrots we have is our Xbox 360. There is high interest among our boys in playing that little black box.
So, here’s our rule: If you get a zero, say on a Tuesday, there are no video games on that day. “Try again tomorrow,” we’ll tell them.
You may have different rules in your house. You may have different “carrots” as well.
But, here’s the bottom line: It’s easier to set expectations at the beginning of the year than it is to help Johnny dig his way out once the grade starts to plummet.
And there may be some extra motivation involved if one of your kids is grounded while the other one plays.
If you’re ready to restrict privileges, be ready for all the responses. I’ve heard them all. “We had a sub and she didn’t grade the assignment” … “The teacher never told us it was due today.” … “I turned it in and the teacher must have lost it.”
Stay firm – whether they’ll admit or not, your kids need and like boundaries. That’s why they test them.
• An editor by day, Scott Mayes is also dad to Matthew, Micah and Nathan. He’s a high school parent, a youth football dad and changes diapers. He’s experienced many things as a parent, but is absolutely clueless about raising daughters.
YAKI-MANGA ANIME/MANGA CLUB. 3 p.m. Thursdays. Yakima Central Library, 102 North Third St., Yakima; 509-452-8541. yvl.org
YAKIMA BEARS. 7:05 p.m. Minor league baseball vs. Eugene Emeralds. Tickets: $4.50-$9.50. Thirsty Thursday. Yakima County Stadium, 1301 S. Fair Ave., Yakima. yakimabears.com
MOPS – First Presbyterian. 9-11:15 a.m. Meets the first and third Fridays each month. Meeting dues: $5. Child care, food, fellowship, speakers. First Presbyterian Church, 9 S. 8th Ave., Yakima; 509-248-7940.
Ready By Five’s Kaleidoscope Play & Learn groups emphasize thematic, structured and interactive play, and are open to everyone. Meets every Monday at 9:30-11 a.m., and every Friday from 1:30-3 p.m.
Ready By Five’s Lending Library hours are now Mondays: 11 a.m.-1 p.m.; Tuesdays: 3-5 p.m.; and the second and fourth Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Ready By Five, 414 N. Third St., Yakima. For information on all of Ready By Five’s services and programs, call 509-454-2493 or visit readybyfive.org.
KIDS’ CLUB. 3:30 p.m. Enjoy crafts with your friends. Fridays. 1211 South 7th Street, Yakima; 509-576-0723. yvl.org
Children spend lots of time teaching us things – and they usually don’t even know it.
Today, I was reading a blog post on NPR about “The Baby Project.”
The author, Sarah Crossman, writes about how much she’s learned in the 8 weeks since her son was born.
Here’s an excerpt:
“During these past 8 weeks, I feel like we’ve learned the basics of what it takes to be a parent — and then relearned them all again as things change over and over. And that what worked yesterday is not going to work tomorrow (that was Lesson Numero Uno). I’ve also learned just how little sleep I can survive on …”
If you’ve ever been a parent, or, heck, even if you’ve done your fair share of babysitting, you know that what Sarah writes is right on the money.
It doesn’t matter that we’re the grownups. It doesn’t matter than we’re much older (in the case of my youngest son, I’m 38 years older) because we can still learn.
And, they — even if they can’t talk — can still teach.
So, as we embark on September and a new school year. As we get ready for the temperature to change, clear your mind for a minute. There may be a lesson for you in the days ahead. You may need to move yourself — and your pre-conceptions — out of the way so you can learn it.
Life is a journey worth living, and learning.
Enjoy the baby steps!
• An editor by day, Scott Mayes is also dad to Matthew, Micah and Nathan. He’s a high school parent, a youth football dad and changes diapers. He’s experienced many things as a parent, but is absolutely clueless about raising daughters.
FUNKY FRIDAY NIGHTS (’80s theme). 7-8:30 p.m. Fridays. Cost: $0.50 for kids, $1 adults, $0.75 seniors (62 and older), or $3.25 per family. Lions Pool, 509 W. Pine St., Yakima; 509-575-6046.
YAKIMA BEARS. 7:05 p.m. Minor league baseball vs. Eugene Emeralds. Tickets: $4.50-$9.50. Family Feast Friday. Yakima County Stadium, 1301 S. Fair Ave., Yakima. yakimabears.com
HOME DEPOT KIDS WORKSHOP. 9 a.m. to noon. Free drop-in projects for kids 5-12. The Home Depot, 2115 S. First St., Yakima. 509-452-3016.
YAKIMA VALLEY TROLLEYS. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Operating season begins today, and continues on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays until Sept. 5, 2011 (Labor Day). Cost: $4 adults, $ children 12 and under, $3 seniors, and children on a lap are free. South Third Ave. and Pine St., Yakima; 509-249-5962. yakimavalleytrolleys.org
OFFICIAL YU-GI-OH! DUELIST KING TOURNAMENT. Starts at 12:30 p.m. Cost: $5. Bring your own deck. Ron’s Coin & Book, 6 N. Third St., Yakima. 248-1117.
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE. 7-9:30 p.m. Free drop-in program open to youth ages 7-15, in partnership with Yakima Valley Young Life. Swimming, sports, games, and Christian message. Yakima Family YMCA, 5 N. Naches Ave. 248-1202 or 961-9898.
YAKIMA BEARS. 7:05 p.m. Minor league baseball vs. Eugene Emeralds. Tickets: $4.50-$9.50. Fan Appreciation Night. Fireworks. Last regular-season game. Yakima County Stadium, 1301 S. Fair Ave., Yakima. yakimabears.com
Open each Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., from May 8 through Oct. 30. Located on Third Street, in the block south of Yakima Avenue, in front of The Capitol Theatre. 457-5765. yakimafarmersmarket.org
YAKIMA SPEEDWAY. Gates open 4 p.m.; race 6 p.m. Ticket prices vary. 1600 Pacific Ave. 509-248-0647. yakimaspeedway.us
PROSSER STATES DAY CELEBRATION AND PARADE. 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Grand Parade at 10 a.m., followed by concessions, bingo, dunk tank, Valley’s Got Talent stage show and a full-scale carnival. City Park, 7th and Sommers streets, Prosser. Prosser Chamber of Commerce, 509-786-3177. prosserchamber.com
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