Save the Date
Sat, Jan 19: Paw Patrol Live!: The Great Pirate Adventure at Eccles Theater, Salt Lake City
Sat, Jan 19: Superhero Saturday at Thanksgiving Point Show Barn
Fri, Feb 1: Yeti Bash at Ogden City
Thu, Mar 7: Disney On Ice presents Dare to Dream at Vivint Smart Home Arena
Sat, Mar 9: Mozart’s The Magic Flute at Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre
Wed, Mar 13: Arches - Mary Poppins, Jr. at Covey Center for the Arts
*Some events may have additional dates. Click through to see more information.
In the 1991 film What About Bob, Richard Dreyfuss plays a self-involved psychiatrist who has recently published a book called Baby Steps. To a certain extent, the movie makes fun of the book's simplistic self-help advice to break all difficult actions into tiny components ("baby steps") and just do them one at a time until it's done.* Truth be told, this is actually how we humans accomplish anything. As adults, our brain naturally breaks up the actions we must take into these baby steps, and organizes them more or less without effort. But it's not the same for kids, and that's hard for adults to remember sometimes. Plop a kid in a mess, even one he has created, and tell him to clean it up, and he's likely to look at you confused and overwhelmed. But if you outline the steps clearly, he has a LOT better chance of success.
Here's the strategy I used when my girls were young: I'd offer to assist while letting them remain in control of the process and therefore invested in it. "I can be your best helper if you want me to," I'd say. "I can be the manager, which means I can just point at the next thing to do, and the next thing, and the next, until you're done. Or you can manage the process, and I can work right next to you as your helper. Or I can just be the person to bring heavy stuff to other rooms where they belong. Whatever you want. You will be shocked at how fast it goes."
The keys to this strategy working are:
1) Use a relentlessly cheerful tone, never a judging or a loaded one, no matter how loud the whining gets.
2) Remember that you have to break eggs to make an omelet, so it's going to look worse before it looks better. Tell them that too.
3) Don't worry if it seems to you that you are doing more than they are, as long as they don't stop working at it with you.
4) Keep their eyes on the prize... how great it's going to feel when they're done.
I have an article with concrete strategies for getting a kid's room clean fast; see the link below. Hope they help you as much as they did me! And remember: Baby steps!
Yours in organizational bliss,
--Debra Ross, Publisher
*(If you have seen the movie, you now have Bill Murray chanting "Baby steps" in your mind's ear, right? You're welcome.)
How to Choose a Preschool That's Right for Your Family
Did you know that most preschools and nursery schools are registering students in January and February for the new academic year in the fall? Preschools vary widely in their educational philosophy and day-to-day routines, and the school that's a perfect fit for your neighbor or friend might not be just right for you. But how can you navigate through the preschool search process to find a place that will be best for you and your child? KidsOutAndAbout offers a list of specific factors to ponder and ask about as you attend open houses and school visits.
Click here for advice on How to Choose a Preschool That's Right for Your Family.
We have a list of local preschools as well as upcoming open houses to help you as you search for the perfect place for you and your child to start this new adventure.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is January 21
We celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. because of the courage, compassion, dignity that he demonstrated throughout his life. On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, you may be looking for an observance, an activity to introduce these ideas to little ones, or just something fun to do instead of school.
Here's a list of local events happening on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
Trying to tidy up for the new year? We've put together Deb's tips on how to help kids keep a tidy room tidy, in our article How to Help Your Kids Clean Their Rooms.
Need a bit of coaching for yourself? Would you believe that we have a KidsOutAndAbout resident organization expert? Robin Harisis has whipped our office into shape, and she can help anyone--kid or adult--get more organized. Find her Top Ten Tips for Organizing Families here.
The perfect spot to carve out some family time.
Snowbasin Resort has everything your family needs for the perfect winter adventure - wide open bowls, pristine groomers, mountain-side dining the whole family will enjoy and gondolas that will whisk you away to over 9,000 feet. Looking for lessons for the kids? Our award-winning style of teaching makes learning easy and fun. And, we offer a variety of packages from first-timers to those looking to go from greens to blues or blues to blacks. If they learn here, they’ll love it forever.
Save big when you buy tickets online in advance!
Doktor Kaboom – “It’s JUST Rocket Science”
January 12, 2019, 2 pm at Kingsbury Hall.
Doktor Kaboom is an over-the-top German physicist with a passion for science that knows no bounds. Sporting chrome goggles, an orange lab coat, motorcycle boots, and wicked cool hair, Doktor Kaboom travels the world, thrilling adults and children alike with an explosive comedic style guaranteed to please. “It’s JUST Rocket Science” utilizes the physics of space exploration to demonstrate clearly that science isn’t hard, it just takes effort and that science is for everyone, not just the people who are already good at it. Order tickets today: https://utahpresents.org/events/doktor-kaboom/
Annie, Jr. by Center Stage Performing Arts at Covey Center for the Arts
Center Stage is proud to present Annie, Jr. Bring the entire family to see the comic strip character, Little Orphan Annie, come to life onstage in this musical production featuring an all children's cast ranging in age 5-18 years old.
Click here for more information.
Step on Stage: Theatre Program - Treehouse Children's Museum
Step on Stage daily theater programs features a variety of interactive experiences in the performing arts including Treehouse ParticiPlays®, puppet activities, occasional guest and traveling performers, and more.
Click here for more information.
FAMILY ART SATURDAY - Utah Museum of Contemporary Art
UMOCA invites children of all ages and their families to discover our changing exhibitions and participate together in hands-on art making activities led by a trained educator. Each activity connects to a brand new idea, medium or theme explored by an artist currently exhibited in the museum. Projects are suitable from toddler to tween in a wide range of abilities.
Click here for more information.
Discovery Classes at the Natural History Museum of Utah
Join us for at the Natural History Museum of Utah for a variety of STEAM-based classes that will engage your child and spark their curiosity for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math.
Click here for more information.
Have you resolved to make better choices for your family's health this year? Want to eat out less and cook more, or get your picky kids to expand their culinary repertoire?
Strategic Content Editor Katie Beltramo offers practical strategies that she's used on her own kids, friends' kids, and relatives' kids in 10 Ways to Get Your Kids to Eat Vegetables.
She also offers up an alphabetical list of vegetables jam-packed with serving suggestions, recipe links, and fun facts (like which vegetables will transform your pee!), in her big list of Vegetables A to Z.
Whether you're trying to nudge your child beyond fries and ketchup or ready to explore purslane, daikon, and tomatillos as a family, you'll get tips to expand your vegetable horizons.
