The Portland Village School, a Portland Public Charter School inspired by Waldorf education is preparing to host its third annual auction. This year our theme “Common Roots” revolves… [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
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Portland Village School Auction
Like most of the parents I know, the recent earthquake/tsunami/nuclear fiasco in Japan got me thinking, once again, about how prepared my family is for emergencies. The answer? Not very. I created a disaster kit several years ago (after 9/11), but I’ve done little to keep it updated. (Expired canned goods anyone?) Plus, it’s in the basement and quite bulky, so it’s not really portable and probably wouldn’t be accessible if there’s serious damage to our home. I now realize it’s not feasible for me to keep everything we’ll need in any given emergency available and accessible, so I’ve decided to focus on the things we CAN do to prepare. Besides the minimum “supplies” – water, flashlights, blankets and a crank-powered radio – that means putting our energy into education. Here at Metro Parent , we’re working on a series of safety articles for our June issue that will include information on emergency preparedness. In the meantime, I decided to begin my own family’s education by learning more about fire prevention and safety. I began my research online, at the City of Portland Fire and Rescue website. Their “Top 10 Safety Tips” provided an ideal outline for my family’s fire safety lessons. One in particular, “Develop a home fire escape plan and practice it” had been on our to-do list for years, though we haven’t gotten around to actually practicing. This coming weekend, we’re planning to remedy that by showing our son how to remove the screen from his window and climb out (which, of course, I know he’ll love and probably want to practiced over and over) and taking turns attaching the expandable ladder in our attic to the window frame and climbing down. I’m kind of scared to climb down the ladder from the second story, but I know it will be better to practice it once or twice now rather than trying to do it for the first time in the midst of a house fire! The PFR website also provides information about smoke alarms and other fire and general safety topics, including an interesting list of FAQs . Did you know PF&R has smoke alarms available to senior citizens, low income families and people with disabilities? (Call the smoke alarm hotline at 503-823-3752 for details.) You can even get your blood pressure checked at any fire station as long is crew is available. (You might want to call first to make sure it’s a good time.) (Sadly, they won’t fill your swimming pool! Now, can anyone tell me why that’s a frequently asked question, especially here in Portland?) …TO BE CONTINUED: Next week I’ll share what I learned from Portland Fire & Rescue about home fire extinguishers, and you’ll probably as surprised as I was by the information! Does your family have a fire escape plan? Have you practiced family fire drills?
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Family Fire Safety (Part 1 of 2)
If you’re looking for something fun to do with the kids this weekend – and you want to learn about some cool local resources for families – you’re in luck! The northwest’s largest family-focused expo is hitting the Portland Expo Center April 16 and 17. With four different themes – KidFest, BabyFest, CampFest and the new SportFest – there’s sure to be something useful for every parent. And with loads of live entertainment, interactive exhibits and fun zones, the kids will stay entertained, engaged and happy all day, too! Here’s a taste of what’s in store: * Family-friendly entertainment on two stages * Disney featured artists performing live on the Radio Disney Main Stage * Special character appearances * Game Truck video game challenge & interactive zone * Sports demos * Kids’ physical fitness challenge * Diaper Derby crawling races (for prizes!) * A Pint-Sized Disco especially for the little ones Special theme areas include Sports & Fitness, Education & Youth Enrichment, and Resources for Families Raising Kids with Special Needs. Plus, the Extreme FunZone includes giant slides, jump houses, rock climbing, petting zoo & “Walk On The Wildside” reptile exhibit, Mad Science, hands-on crafts, games and more! New this year is a Spring Eggstravaganza – a benefit for Easter Seals – with an Easter Egg Hunt and a visit from the Easter Bunny. Admission to the egg hunt, which begins at 9 am both days, is $10 per child and includes photos with the Easter Bunny, a bouquet of tulips from Wooden Shoe Bulbs, VIP admission to KidFest and more. (Parents are free with paid child!) Regular show hours are 10 am to 6 pm Saturday, April 16, and 10 am to 5 pm Sunday, April 17. Admission is $5 for adult & kids 4 and over; kids 3 and under are free. You can get a family pass for up to 5 people for $20 at TicketsWest.com . Plan to arrive early – the first 250 families each day will receive free passes from show sponsors! For more information, visit kidfestnw.com .
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KidFest! BabyFest! CampFest! SportFest!
PaganFaire XXI When: Sat 03.19.11 , March 19, 2011 19:00:00 Where: Portland-OR Venue Art ; Family ; Community : Religious; Music ; Education PaganFaire XXI: 10am-5pm Features Vendors, Craftsmen, Healers and Readers. Entertainers, Dancers and Musicians. Food. Ongoing Classes and Workshops. Raffle to benefit Michelle's Heart Emergency Fund for women and children.Equinox Ritual: Magickal Warriors–Earth Healers begins 7pm. Venue Name: Unknown Venue City: Portland Venue State: OR View Page At CultureMob.com
You know we have a great online Family Fun calendar where you can find activities and events to share with your kids every day, but did you know we also have a fabulous online Parents’ Calendar ? We do! It’s filled each month with everything from lectures, classes and workshops to fundraisers, conferences, and the all-encompassing “miscellaneous” parent-focused events. This month, you could learn how to deal with the “Big Emotions of Young Children” at Providence Portland Medical Center on Feb. 26, or find out how to “Connect by Coaching Your Kid” with Dr. Kathy Masarie, beginning Feb. 17. There’s a class on “The Drug Free Approach: Prevention And Treatment For Learning And Behavioral Problems” at People’s Coop on Feb. 23; a series of Parent-Child Bullying workshops for families with elementary age kids at Barnes and Noble Tanasbourne every Thursday in Feb.; and a class on “Raising Financially Responsible Children” offered several times this month at local boutiques Milagros and Segal’s. We’ve also got details on a Cooperative Preschool Fair on Feb. 5, an introduction to Cross-Cultural Volunteering on Feb. 28, and much more. The March calendar will be posted Mar. 1 with more great parenting-related events, from an “ Adoption Reunion Panel “ with adult adoptees who have reconnected with their birth families to an “ Expecting Multiples Parents Coffee Hour “ to a workshop on surviving “Life with Teens!” March fundraisers include a Crafty Mamas Bazaar at Milagros Boutique to benefit Mercy Corp, Sleep Country USA’s Pajama Bowl , Girls Inc.’s fabulous Power of the Purse event, and Woodstock Elementary School’s Rummage Sale . You’ll also find a comprehensive listing of recurring classes and groups for parents every month, from babywearing, infant massage, cloth diapering, and diaper-free families to monthly blood lead screenings, child safety seat clinics, dads’ groups, breastfeeding support, and groups for kids dealing with cancer and grief. Have an event to submit to our online Parents Calendar? Fill out our online form (click “Submit an Event” on the Parents’ Calendar page), or email the information to calendar@metro-parent.com . Oh, and even more parent education, support group and other parenting resources can be found on our Parent Support and Emergency Services page.
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Get Smart(er) With Our Parents’ Calendar
Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve is just outside downtown Hillsboro, Oregon. It's a nice location for hiking with younger children and viewing birds/wildlife. There is a beautiful Education Center… [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
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Jackson Bottom Wetlands
Our February issue is on the stands this week and you’re definitely going to want to pick up a copy to keep. Inside, you’ll find our annual Birthday Party Resource Guide , listing pretty much everything you need to plan and pull off a totally excellent party at home or away, with minimum stress for you and maximum fun for the kids! You’ll also find a fabulous feature introducing you to five local schools that are beating the odds -– overcoming poverty and language barriers to help all their students excel. Find out how they’re doing it, and how you can get involved in improving education at your child’s school and beyond. Of course all of our regular features are in there, from a Family Fare featuring Por Que No? Taquerias and an Out & About showcasing family ice skating fun to an Angels Among Us spotlighting Writers in the Schools . Ramona gets a big girl room makeover, too. Pick up a copy wherever Metro Parent is distributed — and be sure to pull out the Birthday Guide and save it for your future party planning needs! You can also find the issue online beginning Feb. 1.
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Our February Issue
It’s that time of year again — the time parents start looking in earnest at schools for their kids to attend next fall. With so many great options in the area, the process can be overwhelming, so we’ve put together this list of upcoming School Open Houses with links to each school’s website. For more information about choosing the best school for your child and making the most of your school visit, read “Finding the Best School for Your Child and Your Family” beginning on page 6 of our 2010 Education and Enrichment Guide .
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School Open Houses
If the holidays are stressful and overwhelming for you, just imagine how a child — especially one with sensory integration challenges — must feel. There’s the excitement of opening presents, the hubbub of visiting relatives, chaotic schedules and deviations from the familiar routine. It’s no wonder so many children become overstimulated and act out. But help is on the way, and it’s coming from an unexpected source. IKEA is hosting a free Sensory Integration workshop for parents on Nov. 17 from 10 am to noon, in conjunction with the Multnomah Education Service District (MESD) Early Childhood Program. During the workshop, an occupational therapist will share tips, tools and activities to help children process the often overwhelming sensory stimulation that comes with the hectic holiday season so everyone can enjoy the celebratory time together. This workshop is just one in a series presented by the Portland IKEA store — along with their MESD partners — to support local families. The series grew out of the IKEA staff’s desire to offer training related to autism, Asperger’s and general early childhood development for employees working in their free childcare area, Småland. After their first staff workshop, says Marketing and PR Specialist April Minister, “We said, ‘Hey, this is all great information. It’s wonderful that our co-workers have this training but wouldn’t parents really want this as well?’” They held their first free workshop for parents in May, focusing on Positive Parenting, and have since expanded the program to offer an ongoing series of workshops for local parents. It all fits IKEA’s mission to be “The Life Improvement Store,” says Minister, adding, “What’s more fundamental to improving life at home than improving the relationship between parents and children? That’s really how the positive parenting series of classes came about.” Upcoming IKEA Positive Parenting Workshops: Nov. 17, 10 am to Noon: Sensory Integration. Jan. 12, 10 am to Noon: New Year’s Resolution – Being a Better Parent in 2011. Mar. 14, 10 am to Noon: An Overview of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Apr. 9, 9:30 am to 12:30 pm: Free Developmental Screenings. MESD developmental specialists will offer free assessments; no appointment necessary. May 2, 10 am to Noon: Back to School – Get Ready, Get Set, Get Organized. Learn some tools you can implement over the summer to make sure your kids are ready in the fall! Jun. 11, 9:30 am to 12:30 pm: Free Developmental Screenings. MESD developmental specialists will offer free assessments; no appointment necessary. Jul. 11: It Takes Two – Strategies for Communicating with Your Child. All workshops are held at the IKEA store, 10280 NE Cascades Parkway, and are free. Space is limited, so sign up early by visiting Småland, the in-store free childcare play area, or by sending an email to lifeimprovement.portland.us@ikea.com . Free childcare is available at Småland with pre-registration for children who are between 37 and 54 inches tall and are potty trained. More cool kid-friendly happenings at IKEA: Every Wednesday evening from 6 to 8 pm kids can enjoy special activities in Småland . Free Gingerbread House Decorating Workshops will be offered from 4 to 5 pm on Nov. 16 and 18 and Dec. 14 and 15. (Space is limited. First come, first served. Limit one gingerbread house per family.) Can’t make it? Pick up an Anna’s Gingerbread House Kit at IKEA’s Swedish Food Market to create at home ($4.99). For more information, visit ikea.com/us/en/store/portland/activities .
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Free Parenting Workshops at IKEA
Just a friendly reminder that tomorrow, October 12, is the last day to register to vote in Oregon for the upcoming November 2 election. If you’re not yet registered, REGISTER ONLINE today. The deadline for paper and online registration in Washington State was October 4, but if you live in Washington and are not registered in the state you can register in person at your County Elections Office until the Monday one week before Election Day (Oct. 25). Make sure your voice is heard in this important election by returning your completed ballot on time! Here’s a handy dandy list of BALLOT DROP SITES IN OREGON to help. Not sure if you’re already registered in Oregon? FIND OUT HERE. . Want to know more about the candidates? Read about candidates endorsed by The Mother PAC , the first political action committee run by mothers to forward family-friendly policies in Salem and beyond. Get details on candidates endorsed by Stand for Children , a citizen-led child advocacy organization committed to improving student outcomes by making children and their needs a higher political priority. For more about the importance of your vote for your own children and all our children, read this month’s online article, Parenting and Politics .
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Register to Vote … and VOTE!
A few months ago we launched a new addition to our website: Metro Parent Family Fun Pages ! It’s a one-stop site for information about family-friendly destinations, educational adventures, arts-related events, restaurants, physical fun, day trips and much more. You’ll find lots of informative reviews of fabulous places to go with your kids, too, and we add more every week. Ever heard of the Bike Farm ? Read about this northeast Portland nonprofit collective dedicated to educating people of all ages about cycling, including safe riding and bike maintenance on our Family Fun pages! How about the Tillamook Forest Center ? We’ve got the scoop on how to get there, what to do once you’re there and what ages will enjoy it most. Even though summer is winding down, that’s no reason to stop exploring the Portland metro area with your kids. Check out our reviews of Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden , Bishop’s Close and Whitaker Ponds , then plan your next weekend or day-off-of-school adventure! We really want these pages to provide all the information you might need to make the most of the family-friendly attractions and activities in the Portland area – and all at the click of a mouse! Please check them out and let us know what you think, what you’d like to see and read there, and any ideas you might have for fabulous family fun in and around the Portland metro area!
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Have You Seen Our Family Fun Pages?
If your child is starting a new school this fall – whether preschool, kindergarten, middle school or high school – now is the perfect time to start preparing him for a smooth transition. Here are some simple ways to help kids feel comfortable and familiar with their new school before the first bell rings: Visit the school with your child during the summer. Play on the playground. Look into classrooms, walk down the halls and check out the cafeteria if you can. Get together with other families whose children will attend the new school. If your child sees a few familiar faces on his first day, he’ll feel more at home there. If your child is starting middle school, find out if you can walk around the school and find her locker and classes prior to the first day. That will alleviate the anxiety of trying to navigate unfamiliar halls crowded with excited teens and ‘tweens. If your child is interested in sports, music, dance or theater, find out if he or she can get involved in school activities during the summer. Many organized clubs and teams begin practicing before school begins. Talk with your child about what to expect – what will be similar to what they’re used to and what will be different. Acknowledge their concerns and remind them that everyone feels a little nervous on the first day. Show them you have confidence in them and in their ability to succeed in their new school. For more tips about smoothing the transition to a new school, read Smooth Moves in our August issue .
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Starting a New School?
Our August issue features an Ages & Stages article focused on raising global citizens , starting when kids are babies and continuing throughout their lives. One simple and entertaining way to introduce kids of all ages to diverse cultures is by attending culturally diverse fairs and festivals – which you’ll find year-round in the Portland metro area! This month seems to be especially rich in cultural celebrations – including the ones below – making it the perfect time to start exploring the cultures of the world with your family! India Festival. Entertainment and food from India. Aug. 15, 11 am to 9 pm. FREE, vendors charge. Pioneer Courthouse Square, 701 SW 6th Ave. 503-645-7902. icaportland.org . Glendi. Greek festival with entertainment, pony rides, face painting, crafts and more. Aug. 20 and 21, 11 am to 10 pm. FREE, charge for food and children’s activities. St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church, 14485 SW Walker Rd., Beaverton. 503-644-7444. glendipdx.com . Explore Japan. Drink tea, learn how to use chopsticks, make crafts and more. Aug. 20, 11 am to 1 pm. FREE w/museum admission. AC Gilbert’s Discovery Village, 116 Marion St. NE, Salem. 503-371-3631. acgilbert.org . Soberiha. A Russian-American cultural festival in the style of a traditional Russian folk carnival with American music. Aug. 21, noon to 6 pm. FREE. Esther Short Park, W Columbia/8th St., Vancouver, Wash. 360-907-4876. cityofvancouver.us/calendar.asp . Celebrando la Familia. A Latino Summer Resource Fair with information on health, education, legal and other topics along with entertainment and more. Aug. 22, 1 to 5 pm. FREE. Esther Short Park, W Columbia/8th St., Vancouver, Wash. 360-907-4876. cityofvancouver.us/calendar.asp . Festa Italiana. Italian entertainment plus marionettes, pizza toss, grape stomp and more. Aug. 26 and 28 noon to 11 pm; Aug. 27 noon to midnight. FREE, vendors charge. Pioneer Courthouse Square, 701 SW 6th Ave. festaitalianaportland.shutterfly.com . Salsa en la Calle PDX. Salsa lessons for all ages, a children’s art tent from noon to 6 pm, and dancing in the streets! Aug. 29, 11 am to 11 pm. $15; free ages 12 and under. East Bank Festival Plaza, SE Main/Water. 503-314-2639. salsaenlacallepdx.com . What’s your family’s favorite local cultural celebration?
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