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Magic!
A sweet little grandson asked his grandmother why she had wrinkly feet. She laughed, and out of her mouth came, "Well... I used to be a baby elephant..." The grandson was impressed.

Every time they visited, they discussed the adventures and slight misadventures of Baby elephant and how all her aunties kept rescuing her until finally she grew older and wiser.

Together they drew pictures of favorite scenes. Soon the grandson began telling his grandmother, "You won't believe what Baby did yesterday..."

Inevitably these collaborative stories led to the grandson asking, "I wonder how you changed into a grandma?" And out of her mouth came, "Magic!" He believed her. He's 20 now and sends her cards depicting Baby Elephant's adventures. That's it! Magic!

Create magic for/with the children! Parmalee
Ask Nicole: Managing Screen Time
Nicole M. Young, MSW

Let’s face it. It’s hard to unplug from our screens. Our devices connect us to other people, as well as to fun and useful information, but they can also have a downside. In this month’s column, I’ll share some reminders for managing screen time as a family.

Dear Nicole, We have a toddler, a third grader, and a tween who is growing up fast. If we let them, they’d spend all their time staring at a screen, and there are many days where it feels like that’s the best way to keep the peace. I know they enjoy connecting to friends online, but I worry about what else they’re seeing, what they may be missing, and the example we’re setting for our youngest. Any suggestions? Max

Dear Max, Your concerns are understandable and shared by many parents and caregivers. Finding the right balance between rules or limits and gradually increasing independence is a challenge. Teaching children and teens to use screens in healthy, responsible ways teaches them self-regulation skills and prepares them for responsibilities later in life. Here are a few ideas to try > > >
Watsonville PALS Are Back!
Stop by the Davis center and check out the activities offered everyday, Monday- Saturday! Ages 8 – 17

Homework Help ~ Enrichment Activities Outdoor Experiences ~ Field Trips ~ And More!

For information on PAL activities please call 831-763-4147. We are located at 37 Davis Avenue, Freedom (and 130 Rodriguez Street, Watsonville.)

Monday February 27, M – F: 3:30 – 6:30pm; Weds: 2:30 – 6:30pm; Sat: 11:30am – 6:30pm Learn more > > >
Extreme Weather Resource Fair
Who doesn't like to talk about weather!? It fascinates us. Some of us are storm chasers. Others stay in the safety of home and watch Youtube. Sometimes we have to flee from the path of storms, fires, etc. We've had our fair share lately. Care to talk about it?

Small Talk, Big Topics
Saturday, March 4, 11am -3pm

Recent weather events have impacted Santa Cruz County from the shore to the summit. Chat with local agencies and organizations addressing the challenges of extreme weather in the region during this free open house at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History. This program is part of a series on Extreme Weather. More information > > >
  • City of Santa Cruz Climate Action Program
  • Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks
  • Resource Conservation Santa Cruz County
  • California Native Plant Society,
  • Save Our Shores
  • Capitola Historic Museum
  • Santa Cruz City Community Emergency Response Training (CERT)
  • Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
Camps!
We are thinking ahead to Summer Camps!
You're looking for a school that's just right for your child. Schools are looking for a good fit too. Visiting an open house is a good way to learn more about your choices. This goes for public, private, public-charter, homeschool-public, homeschool-private and parochial. Details
Artist Juan R. Fuentes, Resilience: Works of Strength & Dignity
Reception: Sunday, March 5, 1 – 3pm; Art Walk: Sunday, March 5, 1:30pm, Join us for a special exhibit featuring powerful works by artist Juan R. Fuentes, Resilience: Works of Strength & Dignity Details
Santa Cruz Track Club Youth Program is now taking registrations! Come RUN, JUMP & THROW with us! Begins March 6th at Harbor High! Details
Free Day Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, First Fridays of the Month, 11am – 4pm, Hey! Free day! Pop-on by for a dose of nature connectedness. Access to the Museum is for everyone, which is why we offer free admission every month on the first Friday. Join us. Details
Job Fair Santa Cruz City Schools, Saturday, March 4, 9 – 11am
We’ve got a Job Fair coming up:: full time & part time, teaching & support – many opportunities for all kinds of work in supporting kids & families in your community! Bring your resume on the day. Details
Home Depot Kids Workshops, 1st Saturdays of the month, 9am – 12pm, Join us for free in-person Kids Workshops. Details
Santa Cruz Math Circle, Saturdays 10am – 12pm, through March 25, Does your student love math? Then the Santa Cruz Math Circle is a great opportunity to explore challenging and fun mathematics with kids from across the county. Details
Talk So Your Teen Listens Workshop, Thursday, March 2, 7 – 8pm, If you feel frustrated, anxious or overwhelmed, struggling to get your teen to cooperate and stop unsafe behaviors or worse, hiding them, this online workshop may be for you. Parenting coach Allison Livingston will share skills you can learn to support trusting each other and building all of your emotional regulation. Live Spanish interpretation will be provided. Details
Nature Club: Exploring the Tide Pools at Natural Bridges, for 6th - 8th graders, Saturday, March 4, 10am – 12:30pm
The tide pools at Natural Bridges are some of the best in Santa Cruz and they are teeming with living creatures. Explore tide pools and nearby coastal prairie habitat with tidepool experts. Details
Family Karaoke, 1st Saturdays, 5:30 – 7:30, If anyone is feeling up to it (and healthy!), once a month RC Fam hosts family karaoke and games night for kids, teens, and adults singing their fave Disney songs. Dads are usually the shy ones leading chess, puzzles, scrabble, etc. It’s co-hosted with Shared Adventures to ensure ALL our community members have access Details
Parenting Workshops, These parent workshops offer outstanding skills, tips and support in our parenting path. We are fortunate to have these resources. Even if everything is going well, it's good to know what's available! March
Animation Workshop,Sunday, March 19, 1 – 4pm, Create and bring your stories to life! Work as part of a team and make friends who share your interests as you explore digital animation software. This FREE 1 day workshop will walk you through story ideas, storyboarding, animation software, and creating your final video. All equipment and training included. Details

ALL Family-friendly events!