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A resource for families in Santa Cruz County | |
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Happy Valentines Day Parents, Children and Friends! The love we give and receive within our families strengthens each of us as we go forth to daycare, school, work, shopping, restaurants, parks --everywhere. We connect with others -- giving, helping, respecting, sharing, finding common ground. Our families are the foundation of our culture and the source of our leaders.
On this cheerful day of sending sweet, funny & punny, loving, liking, kind messages to each other, turn off the news and turn on the music. Dance, do puzzles, play board games, walk around the neighborhood delivering cards to neighbors, have a favorite dinner.
As parents, the most loving gift we can give our children is good parenting. We do our best; we make mistakes; we renew our plan; we attend parenting classes. We learn on the job.
I see you actively doing good parenting in the parks, markets, riding bikes, walking along the beach and among the redwoods. You are so patient with your children as they both challenge and delight you. Thanks for these precious moments!
Have a valentine weekend, Parmalee
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Reading Great Books is GOOD for Our Kids | |
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by Becky and Jenny
"We would all agree that reading great books is GOOD for our kids. Not only do academic and thinking skills get sharper, but identifying with a strong main character facing adversity helps kids develop empathy and coping skills. So how do engage kids with great literature?
Here are some ideas:
1. Make a book sensory right from the start by making reading time a special event. If it works in your situation, let them dress for the book if they want. Getting the kids “into it” and laughing is always a good way to start! Get them get out of their chairs and onto pillows in corners, blankets on grass, yoga mats under desks, any place where they can curl up or lie down.
Signal the kids to move to this special reading area by playing story-relevant music ... for instance, play a sea shanty and exclaim “Shiver me timbers, mateys, it’s time to read Treasure Island! Aaaarrrr!”
2. Once they’re settled, draw in your reluctant readers by letting them listen. Read the book aloud, or play a well-done audio version of the book. When kids hear the characters’ voices, the dramatic pauses, the emotions, and the correct pronunciation of new words, they pay more attention to the story.
They also appreciate it when you pause to briefly paraphrase or explain unfamiliar content. Helping them like a story is the easiest way to begin follow-up discussions and supportive activities.
3. Pause to do something straight from the story that brings it to life. Let your kids see, hear, touch, think, feel, write, create, and otherwise "do what the characters do!" While that's happening, you can talk together about what the character learned by doing that thing. After all, an action or object is always in a great book for a great reason!
Enhancing the story in three-dimensional ways makes literature real (and FUN) for kids—so they want to read more.
And as we all know, kids who read more great books learn more great things! https://www.litwitsworkshops.com/free-novel-teaching-guides
What are YOUR ideas? How do you make reading time fun and engaging for your kids?"
"Becky Clendenen Kimball and Jenny Clendenen, sisters, are founders of LitWits Workshops, providing experiential literature workshops for K-6 children and curriculum for teachers since 2010."
I endorse their choice of quality literature that enhances a love of reading and inspires aspiring to good character. Your children can take classes with them or you can use their kits at home. Visit their website and tour all over it! Parmalee
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Nine Things to Do Early On to Raise Successful Kids | |
Find more events on the
February Calendar
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Gabby’s Dollhouse Meowseum Discovery Day at MOD, Saturday 10am – 5pm, February 15, We’re paws-itively excited to be part of Gabby’s Dollhouse Meowseum Discovery Days in partnership with DreamWorks & ACM. Enjoy our extra sparkly painting class at 10:30am, pounce into a meow-gical scavenger hunt, enjoy purr-fectly fun crafts and more! It’s going to be a paw-some good time! Details
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Ranch Kid Field Trip at Wilder Ranch, Thursday, February 13, 11am – 3pm, Join us for a Ranch Kid Field Trip at Wilder Ranch State Park. Travel back in time to experience life on a working dairy ranch 120 years in the past at this special event. Homes choolers, non-traditional or small class students are invited to take a self-guided field trip at Wilder Ranch State Park. Self-pace your own field trip, while participating in volunteer-led stations, games, and activities. Details
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Grey Bears Valentine Sale, February 10 – 23, 10am – 4:30pm, Grey Bears is celebrating Valentine’s Day and Presidents’ Day with a special clothing sale. All clothing items will be just $3 each! Plus, you can still get a $13 bag of clothes on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Details
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Little Valentines Photo Shoot, Friday, February 14, 10:30am – 12pm, Love is in the air at the Children’s Museum this Valentine’s Day! Join us for a heartwarming, valentines photo shoot filled with giggles, love, and sweet memories. Celebrate the season of love and capture precious moments together. And…. don’t forget to stop by the tinker space to make some Valentine’s! Details
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Valentines Day Special: Beach Glass and Bubbles, February 14, 5:30 – 7:30pm, Give the gift of an experience to your loved one this Valentine’s Day! As part of this special seasonal offering, discover the beauty of beachcombing as you create a one-of-a-kind masterpiece made from shoreline treasures. Using local and sustainably-sourced resources, Valentine’s or Galentine’s Day participants will learn the basics of environmental sculpture and design with step-by-step instruction. Transform sea glass, driftwood, and botanicals into unique, coastal-inspired art. Details
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Don’t Miss The Great Gatsby Ballet!, Friday, February 14, 7 – 9:30pm, 5 Reasons You Can’t Miss The Great Gatsby Ballet! Featuring 40 world-class dancers from around the globe, each performance is a testament to artistry and precision. Details
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ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE CRAFTS, Friday, February 14, 5:30 – 8pm
Tired of the same old Valentine’s Day routine? Get tickets for an evening of distraction and creativity at Abbott Square Market’s “All You Need is Crafts” event. Get crafty and unleash your inner artist with simple embroidery, decoupage, bonus retro mall photos and more. Tickets are VERY limited! No love or romance required. Details
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Guided Walk: Big Basin: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow, February 15,11am - 12pm, Details
Crafty Teens, February 12, 4:30-6pm, Teens are invited to craft, relax, and socialize. Details
Skate the Civic, Mondays 6:30 – 9:30pm, Details
Introduction to Wood Shop at Fab Labs, February 22nd & 23rd, 2pm – 5pm, Details
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The Nature Club for Grades 6-8, Saturdays, March 1, April 5, May 10, The Museum’s Nature Club invites young explorers (6th-8th grade) to discover local habitats and learn about the living world around us! Guided by Museum staff, kids build a connection to nature through hands-on activities, observation, and new friendships. Details
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The Comedy of Errors, 7:30pm Thurs., Fri, Sat and 3pm Sun. matinees, Feb. 14–16 & Feb. 20–23, The Comedy of Errors is one of William Shakespeare’s most farcical comedies. Set in the Greek city of Ephesus, it tells the story of two sets of identical twins who were accidentally separated at birth. A series of wild mishaps based on mistaken identities entertain us. Details
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Romantic Open House and Vendor Showcase, Saturday, February 15, 11am – 3pm, Join us for a romantic Open House and Vendor Showcase at the picturesque Cowell Ranch Hay Barn in Santa Cruz, the day after Valentine’s Day! Celebrate love in all its forms as we gather in this enchanting setting, where the spirit of romance is still in the air. Details
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Winter Warmer Festival at Roaring Camp, Saturday, February 15, 3 – 9:30pm, Come warm up inside the beautiful Bret Harte Opera Hall for a day of great music, local comfort food and some of the best craft beer the area has to offer. Music: Forrest Day, Greg Loiacono & Stingray, Benjamin Andrews (of Con Brio), Rory Lynch Band; Comfort Food & Drink; Artisans: Shockwave, Shanty Shack Brewing, Cruise Coffee; Vendors: Santa Cruz Mountain Tops, Homeless Garden Project, Santa Cruz Mountains Clothing, Pin Wizard’s Cosmic Mercantile, Details
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Câmbio Story Time & Community Art Project, Monday, February 17, 11am – 2pm, Join us for a fun and inspiring celebration of storytelling, creativity, and community connection! Local author Taylor Lahey visits the Museum of Discovery to share his heartwarming book Cambio, the tale of a child who grows up transforming his neighborhood by trading trash for bus tokens through a city program. Community Mural from Recycled Clothes – Help us bring the beautiful mosaic illustration from Câmbio to life by creating our own community treasure from recycled materials! Bring up to 5 pieces of clean used clothing and receive a FREE signed copy of Cambio. We’re especially looking for > > > Details
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Introduction to Wood Shop at Fab Labs, February 22nd & 23rd, 2pm – 5pm, Introduction to Wood Shop is a two-part course on the essentials of a functional woodshop and general woodworking. This course includes an overview of woodworking techniques, safe tool operation, and maintenance and will culminate in hands-on experience with shop tools while participants work through select projects. No experience is necessary. Details
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Family Concert: Peter And The Wolf, Sunday, March 2, 2pm, The Santa Cruz Symphony presents Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Peter and the Wolf.
This popular performance will sell out. Get your tickets now. Details
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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! February
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