ML Interest Tag: attention-span

Secrets Teachers Use to Keep Kids on Task

By Hilary Scharton

So we’re home now, for the most part, and trying to get stuff done with our significant others, kidlets, and even pets demanding attention. If you’re like me, you might be feeling some mom guilt and trying to do Pinterest-worthy supermom activities to keep your kids entertained. It was always frustrating, when my daughter was younger, to spend an hour setting up some fantastic art project or activity (cookie decorating anyone?) only to have my kidlet spend approximately 3.5 minutes doing the fun thing before losing interest. And now we’re supposed to keep our children on-task long enough to do “school?”

So how do teachers do it? I’ve been lucky enough in my career to get to watch some masterful teachers and discover a few tips for keeping kids engaged.

In their book “How to Help Children with Common Problems,” Child Psychologists Charles Schaefer and Howard Millman noted that the first thing to remember is that a child’s attention span is about two to five minutes for every year old they are. Your typical elementary student has maybe 20 minutes of focus they can spend before they get distracted. This isn’t something they can control, either. Your ability to attend is dependent on the amount of myelination your neurons have. Kids are growing that myelin over time so attention is highly individual and also dependent on personality, environment, history, and physiological state. But there are some things you can do to optimize the amount of time your child can pay attention.

1. Establish Routines. This is the single most important thing you can do. Kids love love love routines. The magic is in knowing what’s next. Ever had a movie or book your child wanted to hear over and over and over? It could be that the content is excellent, but it’s more likely that your child gets a lot of comfort from the repetition. It lets them see the world as predictable and safe. Teachers know this and post classroom schedules on the wall or the board where everyone can see. If possible, make a down-to-the-minute schedule, keeping in mind how long your child’s attention is, and stick to it every day.

2. Keep Instructions Short. Following a list of instructions is actually a fairly sophisticated activity. You have to listen, pay attention to what’s being said, put those words into your short term memory, and recall them after some time goes by. Expecting our kidlets to hold on to three or four or eight different tasks while they’re also trying to get stuff done really isn’t reasonable. If your child can read, they’ll be much more successful if you write the tasks down. If your child is younger, give them one or two directions at a time and have them come back to you for more.

3. Moderate Your Volume. It’s usually less difficult when you’re trying to get the attention of a handful of kids (or fewer) than when you’re trying to corral a whole classroom of 30, but getting any number of kids to listen is sometimes a challenge. Something we know from decades of physiological research into attention is that people, no matter what age, are more interested in things that are novel. Think about what that might mean for your own voice giving instructions to your own children. How often have they experienced that? Probably enough to strip your voice of any iota of novelty. You don’t need to have a repertoire of celebrity impersonations at the ready (although that would be fun), you can get more attention by whispering or singing or changing your timbre than you might expect.

 

Hilary Scharton is the VP of Innovation, Instructure Canvas, the open online learning management system (LMS) that makes teaching and learning easier. 

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The Best Spots to Watch March Madness

by Annette Benedetti

March Madness is right around the corner with 68 teams (and fans) eager for upsets, buzzer beaters, and bragging rights. If you and your family want in on the action, visit our top sports spots that are kid, parent and basket ball friendly. Read on to find out where the best spots to watch March Madness in Portland are.

photo: The Independent via yelp

The Independent

The Independent is located in the historic Broadway Lights District. Everything about The Independent screams “BASEBALL”, as it was inspired by the Portland Mavericks. But, with 32 flat panel TVs and a projector screen, you will always find your game on, no matter which sport you love. Locally owned and operated by the same people that brought us The Station, this spot loves kids as much as they do sports. There’s a Little Leaguers menu, and they serve Football Breakfast on Saturday and Sunday mornings from 9-11. I mean, what kid doesn’t love TV and breakfast?! The Independent is proud to offer every fan a great seat, however parking can be a bit tricky so use the parking garage next door or get there early for street parking!

225 SW Broadway #100m, Portland
503-206-6745
Online: Independent PDX

Punch Bowl Social Portland

If you’ve ever been to a Punch Bowl Social location (and there are many), then you know why it’s on the list. PBS Portland is the biggest one yet, with 32,000 square feet of fun and entertainment for all ages. There are flat screen TVs throughout the space, for your viewing pleasure, but you don’t just have to sit and watch the game. Choose from bowling, shuffleboard, karaoke, billiards, ping pong, giant Jenga…the list goes on and on. There are also a variety of spaces you can rent, if you want to thrown your own Game Day bash. Kids are welcome until 10 p.m., and the Kid’s Menu features fun classics like Sloppy Joes, hot dogs, and spaghetti and meatballs. Speaking of which, the food at PBS is a cut above your typical sports bar. They use only grass fed, hormone-free beef, and hormone- and antibiotic-free chicken. Breakfast is served until 3 p.m., and you won’t want to miss the Mile High Granola or Chicken and Waffles. I’m getting hungry just writing about it.

340 SW Morrison St., Portland
503-334-0360
Online: Punch Bowl Social

photo: Punch Bowl Social via Yelp

Big Al’s

Giving you the opportunity to play, party and watch all in one location, Big Al’s is a great place to bring the whole team. Between 42 bowling lanes, shuffleboard, billiards, and even a 7,000-square-foot arcade, Big Al’s is a mainstay that entertains children and adults of all ages — even if they don’t have the attention span for an entire b-ball game game.

14950 SW Barrows Rd.
Beaverton
503-748-6118

16615 SE 18th St
Vancouver, WA 98683
360-944-6118
Online: I Love Big Al’s

Ladd Taphouse
Portland’s destination for sports, Ladd House has TVs circling the entire bar and superior service so you won’t miss a thing. With shuffleboard, pool, pinball, arcade games, and a 360 degree fireplace table there’s fun for everyone. Swish! They boast 50+ different craft beer and cider on draft including local award winning craft brews.

2239 SE 11th Ave.
Portland
503-236-3592

Online: laddtaphouse.com

photo: Big Als via Yelp

Migration Brewing

Migration Brewing is all about making moves towards your dreams and your beer. This neighborhood favorite is the spot for families to enjoy not only March Madness but Timbers and Blazers games. They rep straightforward pub grub (mac n’cheese and chicken sandwiches) that will appeal to all ages. If the weather is in your favor when you go, they have an extensive patio. Minors are welcome until 8 p.m.

2828 NE Glisan St.
Portland
503-206-5221

Insider tip: Happy hour takes place weekdays 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and offers beer, wine and food specials.
Online: migrationbrewing.com

 

Spirit of ’77

Named for the spirited 1977 season the Trail Blazers had with Bill Walton leading the legitimization of Portland as a sports city, this is a great spot to watch others make history this season. We recommend you bring bigger kids (who’re old enough to safely navigate the tall bar stool seating) to enjoy the game with you. From The Buzzer Beater Basketball Arcade to skee-ball, and pinball to “Baby Foot” foosball there’s plenty to do if kids get a little restless. Minors are allowed until 10 p.m., so go ahead and cheer for overtime.

500 NE MLK Jr. Blvd.
Portland
503-232-9977

Insider tip: Happy hour takes place weekdays 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and offers drink specials.Online: spiritof77bar.com

Buffalo Wild Wings

Lovingly called B-Dubs by regulars, BWW is a premier spot for sports fans of all ages. They even support kids’ sports with their Team Up for Kids program. Each venue has a line-up of football food favorites that let you and your family go all out, no matter what you and your little buffalos are craving. They have highchairs galore, plus cute little crowns for kids (or adults feeling like having some fun). With 30-plus flat screen TVs across the dining room and bar, you can catch all the action. There are eight locations in the Vancouver-Portland area, so you’re sure to find one near you.

Online: Buffalo Wild Wings

photo: Stephanie-Rose Revels via flickr

Skybox Pub & Grill

Is your home team in Sellwood? Since 1999, this neighborhood staple has been the go-to sports bar. They come with a stacked lineup featuring a non-smoking, friendly atmosphere just three blocks from Westmoreland Park; 20 beers on tap and more than 18 TVs, including 92-inch and 102-inch projector screens. While they do not have a kid specific menu, everyone in your party is bound to find something they love with a classic menu that includes everything from burgers to sandwiches to salads (plus breakfast on weekends!).

7995 SE Milwaukie Ave.
Portland
503-731-6399

Insider tip: Happy hour takes place weekdays from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. offering drink and food specials.
Online: skyboxpub.com

The Station

This friendly neighborhood gastropub transforms into a sports bar in a moment’s notice. Located in the historic Northwestern Electric Company building, they are the go-to place to watch your favorite local NW teams. The Station is more than welcoming to all the short stops on your team, with a dedicated “Kid’s Zone” that has chalk boards, magnet toys, games, and more. Parents can watch their little players while enjoying a pint anywhere in the restaurant, and still follow the game on one of six large flatscreen TVs and two enormous drop-down projector screens. For the home field advantage, reserve your private table to get in on all the Super Bowl LIII action! Starting at $20 for a 2-person table, your reservation includes guaranteed seating, your choice of Super Bowl food specials, and beer from Rogue Ales. Raffle prizes will be given each quarter, and a Grand Prize package awarded to one lucky winner!

2703 NE Alberta St.
503-284-4491
Online: Station PDX

Insider tip: Happy hour takes place weekdays from 4 p.m. to 6p.m. and daily from 9:30 p.m. to close and offers drink and food specials
Online: stationpdx.com

—Annette Benedetti

Dig In! A Parent’s Guide to Portland Dining Month

Enticing Spring Break Getaways Only a Short Drive Away

Eateries That Deliver Pre-Meal Entertainment

featured photo: Portland Trailblazers by Bruce Ely via NBA 

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How Different Toys Affect Your Child’s Development

By Amy Webb

Before you had your first child, you probably swore to yourself that you wouldn’t be one of those families who allows toys to take over your house. However, between holiday and birthday gifts from friends, family, grandparents, and others, your child has received an abundance of toys. In this barrage of items, they undoubtedly received many electronic toys in the mix. You may wonder if these electronic toys offer any added benefits than the traditional baby toys or books that kids typically receive. This is a common question in the world of child development and parenting. 

Luckily, some new research is enlightening us on the topic of traditional versus electronic baby toys. This study from Northern Arizona University looked at the following:

  • 26 child-parent pairs
  • children were ages 10-16 months old
  • the authors compared three types of toys: (1) electronic (e.g., baby laptop); (2) traditional baby toy (e.g., blocks or sorting toy); (3) board books

The researchers fitted the families’ homes with audio recording equipment to monitor how language changed as they interacted with each of the toys.

The results showed some interesting findings: When playing with electronic toys there were fewer adult words, fewer back-and-forth conversations between parent and child and fewer parent responses to the child. As compared to playing with books, children also vocalized less when playing with electronic toys.

When comparing playing with traditional baby toys versus books, it was also found that parents used fewer words with traditional toys than books.

So are Electronic Toys Bad for Babies?

Okay, so why is this important? Is it really important how much a parent talks to their child during play with toys? Not surprisingly, the clear answer is “yes.” The language interaction between children and parents (especially infants on the cusp of learning language) is crucial not only to language development but social skills and interpersonal interaction. 

Electronic toys, however, are pretty much ubiquitous. Young children are very attracted to them. So what is a parent to do? Electronic toys can be helpful if used sparingly. We all need a few minutes to do dishes or cook a meal and these toys can be good distractions for a few minutes. It’s good, however, to keep in mind that you as a parent are the best “toy” for your infant. Talking to him/her over toys and books is the best way for her/him to learn language and interaction skills.

Most infants do not have the attention span to listen to a book for long but if you get in the habit of doing dialogic reading, or as I call it, “dialogic living” then the ongoing flow of words just comes naturally. This simply means narrating to your child what you are doing as you go about your daily routine—you can describe how you work the washing machine or how you cook an egg. This “dialogic living” is great entertainment for your infant and makes things more fun for you too.

This post originally appeared on The Thoughtful Parent.

Amy is a scholar turned stay-at-home mom of two young boys. When she's not stepping on Legos, she writes at The Thoughtful Parent. With this blog she brings child development research into the lives of parents in the trenches of child-rearing.

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5 Fascinating Parenting Lessons Family Research Taught Us in 2017

By Amy Webb

Photo: Amazon

2017 is officially in the history books and along with it, shelves full of parenting research become part of history too. Fortunately for us, a few gems of research made it out of the universities and into our lives this year.

As I did last year, I spent the last few days of 2017 going through the major themes in parenting research to see what new pearls of wisdom we learned this year.

Minimalism is not just a buzz word; its benefits are backed up by research. 

We heard a lot of talk about minimalism this year in the media. On the heels of the popular book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, more parents were cutting the clutter, scaling back toys and limiting junk around their homes. Their efforts are not in vain, according to research. Studies this year pointed out that having fewer toys actually helps encourage creativity in kids. Similarly, we saw more evidence that simple, classic toys are more beneficial for youngsters than those fancy electronic ones.

Kids’ intense interests are awesome. 

Bring on the little paleontologists and toddler train lovers! Most of us who have been parents for a few years, know that our kids can go through phases where they are intensely interested in one topic–whether it be dinosaurs, trains or butterflies. I’ve always been fascinated by this and why it happens. 

Well, this year research answered our questions and informed us that our kids’ intense interests are a great sign. It turns out that those intense interests are a great learning tool for kids. It’s often their first experience with delving deep into a topic, finding answers and developing mastery of a topic (e.g., they know ALL the dinosaur names). Research tells us that kids who have intense interests tend to have higher cognitive and information-processing skills as well as executive functioning skills like attention span. You can get on board with your kids’ interests by visiting museums that feature their favorite topic or find books that discuss it. It’s a beautiful sight to see a child so engaged in their own learning.

Self-care needs to be on our priority list. 

We all know that self-care is important but it often gets pushed aside amide our long to-do lists. This year research showed us just us the consequences of lack of self-care for our parenting. Symptoms of insufficient self-care, like inadequate sleep, actually mimic some symptoms of depression making us less able to be patient with our kids. The result is often short temper and possibly yelling at our kids (and we all know that is not effective with our kids).

Similarly, research this year pointed out the mental load that moms carry (and yes, it is mostly moms). Although dads have increased their responsibilities for child care and household duties, it is still moms who carry the mental load. What is mental load? Things like remembering who is at what activity at what time, keeping up the grocery list and remembering who will run out of clothes if we don’t do laundry today. We all know mental load and feel it. Just another reason that self-care needs to be part of our lives. 

Managing technology is one of the biggest parenting challenges of our era. 

This year was full of research and media on how parents and kids are dealing with technology–together. Numerous reports emerged on how tech leaders are not giving their kids smartphones or iPads until they are almost adults. This, along with the Wait Until 8th movement, has opened parents’ eyes to the dangers of too much technology too soon for our kids. The challenge, according to research, is that we parents love our smartphones too.

New studies showed that parents who are hooked on their devices are more likely to experience “technoference” in the relationship with their kids. In other words, the device interrupts the parent-child interaction or relationship in some way. Device-distracted parenting is the new challenge facing our generation. This technoference seems to impact our kids as well. Early research indicates a link between technoference in parent-child relationships and negative behavior among kids.

This year’s revolution in gender relations affects parenting, too. 

The end of 2017 saw a seismic shift in how we discuss gender relations and sexual harassment with the development of the #MeToo movement. Although those of us with young children may feel a little out of the loop with current events (when do we have time to watch the news!), this movement will no doubt affect our parenting. Compelling articles and research pointed us to look at how we raise the next generation to deal better with gender relations in schools, workplaces and families.

The most compelling work I think focuses on how to raise children (especially boys) with a full emotional toolbox so they can be prepared to deal with people of all genders, races, beliefs, etc. In past generations, children were often taught to stuff their emotions down. However, our generation of parents is focusing on raising girls that are strong enough to speak up and boys who are strong enough to be vulnerable and emotionally available. This takes work, patience and a change of mindset for many of us. Fortunately, research can help us. Studies showed us this year that how we speak to our children about emotions matter. Discussing how others feel really does help children develop a strong sense of empathy. Empathy, of course, is one key to helping kids look beyond their own self-interest and become adults who do the same.

Well, that is a quick summary of parenting research for 2017. Based on this, I think my parenting goals for 2018 are clear: focus on empathy, managing technology, fostering interests and simplify.   What are your parenting goals for 2018? 

This post originally appeared on ThoughtfulParenting.com.

Amy is a scholar turned stay-at-home mom of two young boys. When she's not stepping on Legos, she writes at The Thoughtful Parent. With this blog she brings child development research into the lives of parents in the trenches of child-rearing.

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When Should Kids Try a Yoga Class?

By Gay Cioffi

I always remind myself that everyone is doing the best that they can. That usually stops me from being too judgmental when it comes to observing the behavior of parents and caregivers. But recently, I just couldn’t stop myself.

Unfortunately, what I observed can happen when the adults in charge are pushing children to do some activity that is developmentally inappropriate. Here is what I saw recently at a yoga class for young children that I attended with my granddaughter. 

Children ranging in ages 18 months to four years of age gathered in a circle sitting on yoga mats in a local park. A skillful teacher led them through a series of poses while reciting and singing catchy children’s songs to go along with the movements. The teacher was brilliant and really knew how to manage this group of disparate ages and abilities. I have nothing but praise for her intelligence, patience, pacing, and calm demeanor. And it goes without saying, calm is what you are looking for in a yoga class, at any age.

The problem began when the father of an approximately two-year-old boy insisted that the toddler sit and follow the teacher’s instructions…which wasn’t going to happen under any circumstance. The child was not the least bit interested and repeatedly stood up, hung onto his father, and whined loudly. In this case, the whining was completely justified though did nothing to deter his father. When his father literally tried holding him down, he managed to squirm away and walk into the middle of the circle again voicing his unhappiness with the situation. Sadly, for that child, the father never relented. While the parent’s actions were incredibly negative for his child and frankly put a damper on the vibe for the rest of us, nothing was worse than what happened when the class was over. As his child headed in the direction of the playground several yards away, the father scooped up the toddler, strapped him into his stroller and announced that the child couldn’t play in the park because he hadn’t done his yoga. 

My heart broke a little bit for both of them. I had the suspicion that this will not be the last time the father fails to pay attention to what his child is trying to tell him. And unfortunately, will be creating frustration and potentially damaging situations for both of them.

I acknowledge that there are times that children need to be challenged and even pushed a little bit, but expecting a very young child to participate in a teacher-led, highly structured yoga class for thirty minutes is not one them. Granted, there is the possibility that this child attended a previous class and joined in and even enjoyed it but the thing was, it wasn’t happening at this class. The fact that the child was then denied an opportunity for open-ended play at the playground just made matters worse.

So how does one know when a child is ready for a structured class, yoga or otherwise? Start by doing some homework. Check out websites like the American Academy of Pediatrics Guide to Milestones to understand what are appropriate expectations. Remember there is a tremendous range of development so observe and know your child’s skill level. Ask yourself how long is your child’s attention span? Can they sit through the reading of a picture book? Can they follow simple one or two-step directions? What about their large motor skills, can they identify their body parts and control their movements?

Observe a class with your child and take cues from their interest in and willingness to join in. It is also important to remember that just because your child says they want to take a class or join a team, doesn’t mean they know what they are signing up for. I’m sure lots of children were asking to do soccer after the recent win by the Women’s US Soccer team, but that doesn’t mean they are developmentally ready for team sports. Young children’s limited experience with structured group activities and especially the concept of commitment, should allow them some wiggle room when they want to opt out. Be flexible and ready to leave a class or activity that is not going well.

And with or without classes, always make time for the playground. The opportunity it provides for physical activity and socialization cannot be overestimated.

Finally, have fun. If you and your child are not looking forward to the demands of a class, you should probably skip it.

I am a parent and grandparent with over four decades of experience in early childhood education. I share my passion, wisdom and experience, with parents and the people who care for and about children at Little Folks Big Questions, where we're out to answer the questions parents face in today's world.

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New Museum Exhibits to Get Your Creative Juices Flowing

by Kate Loweth

Fall is here and local museums around the Bay Area have started rolling out their lineup of exciting exhibits for the whole family. Immerse yourself in the world of Burning Man, take a trip to Japan and then learn all about your cells at these exhibits that kids will love. Scroll through our picks, then open up your calendars to block out some time to check them out!

Wild Child — Junior Center of Art & Science

Erin Lem

For an experience especially tailored to the littles (crawling through five years old), head to the Wild Child pop up exhibit at Junior Center of Art & Science in Oakland. This interactive exhibit encourages young minds to touch, climb, tinker and create.

The outdoor area features an immersive sculpture full of sensory surprises, while indoors you'll find two play rooms. One boasts a sweet portal tunnel (mom and dad, be prepared to crouch to enter!), ball pit, sticker wall and Hygge nook. Next door find a creative space (toward the back there's a separate shoe-free area just for babies and crawlers) with sensory, creative art projects led by staff, "artifacts" like typewriters and calculators, and a huge wire cage our own toddler was especially fond of exploring. Beyond free play, Wild Child also features baby and toddler classes on their calendar here. 

Good to know:

  • Depending on your child's attention span (and how crowded the place is) expect to spend anywhere from 2-3 hours exploring. 
  • Beyond the pop up, you can check out the other rooms in the Junior Center of Art & Science like the play house room, replete with a play kitchen, stuffed animals and trains, and the reptile room where your kiddo can peek at snakes and other creepy crawlies. 
  • Ample parking is available. The Center is located in the same area as Children's Fairyland. Sat & Sun. parking costs $5/day and Mon.-Fri. parking costs $2/first two hours or $10/day. 

Junior Center of Art & Science
Now through Feb, 23, 2020
558 Bellevue Avenue
Oakland, CA 94610
Online: wildchildplay.com

No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man – Oakland Museum of California

FoldHaus, Shrumen Lumen, 2016. Photo by Ron B

The Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) will bring cutting-edge artwork, sculpture, and interactive installations from Burning Man, one of the most widely-celebrated and influential cultural events, to its galleries this fall. No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man will illuminate the event’s origins and its culture of experimentation, collaboration and creativity, which draws over 70,000 people to Nevada’s Black Rock Desert each year.

An adaptation of the original exhibition organized by the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Renwick Gallery in collaboration with Burning Man Project, No Spectators will take over OMCA’s Great Hall and beyond, going outside of the walls of the gallery with outdoor sculpture throughout the Museum’s public spaces, including an OMCA-commissioned 40-foot-tall outdoor temple by internationally-acclaimed sculptor David Best. A companion exhibition within the gallery, City of Dust: The Evolution of Burning Man, organized by the Nevada Museum of Art in Reno, will trace Burning Man's origins from its countercultural roots in the San Francisco Bay Area to the world-famous city in the desert it is today.

Oakland Museum of California 
On exhibit October 12, 2019-February 16, 2020
Online: museumca.org

Cells to Self - The Exploratorium

© Exploratorium, http://www.exploratorium.edu

The Exploratorium has just opened a new permanent exhibit collection entitled Cells to Self: Exploring the Life Inside You. Through more than 20 new experiences, this collection reveals the wondrous variety of human cells and the amazing things they’re doing in your body. See live heart cells beating in time with your own pulse, or find out which bacteria are living on your skin. Through living tissues, microscopes and digital models, you’ll discover how cells move and communicate. 

The Exploratorium
Opens October 3 (part of the permanent collection)
Online: exploratorium.edu

Hello from Japan! – Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose

Children's Museum of San Jose

Come visit Tokyo right here in San Jose and get an authentic peek into Japanese culture. Featuring a bustling modern city street inspired by Tokyo’s Harajuku district that bridges to a tranquil Shinto shrine, you’ll see the incredible contrast between modern kawaii aesthetics and traditional motifs and customs. The transition between the two show how the Japanese culture values history, a society where the past, present and future harmoniously coexist.

Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose 
On exhibit through Feb. 5, 2020
Online: cdm.org

Science + You - Bay Area Discovery Museum

Science You

All children are scientists and at the Bay Area Discovery Museum (BADM) they can look and act the part! In BADM's new traveling exhibit, Science + You, visitors get hands-on with the machinery, processes and technology used in real laboratories every day. Upon entering the exhibit, children wash their hands, wipe their feet and even walk through a pretend shower before donning their white lab coat, 

Bay Area Discovery Museum 
When: On exhibit through January 5
Online: bayareadiscoverymuseum.org

Abracadabra! Magic in Peanuts - Charles Schulz Museum

Charles Schulz Museum

Charles Schulz loved sleight of hand and stage magic of all kinds. Learn firsthand how the cartoonist dabbled in magic and, like all things in his life, brought magic into the panels of Peanuts. See original comic strip art, animation cels, and a selection of the magic items that belonged to Schulz—no hocus pocus required.

Charles Schulz Museum
On exhibit through Jan. 19, 2020
Online: schulzmuseum.org

SOFT POWER – SFMOMA

Tanya Lukin Linklater with Liz Lott, The treaty is in the body, 2017; courtesy the artist and Winnipeg Art Gallery; © Tanya Lukin Linklater

The exhibition SOFT POWER is about the ways in which artists deploy art to explore their roles as citizens and social actors. Appropriated from the Reagan-era term used to describe how a country’s “soft” assets such as culture, political values, and foreign policies can be more influential than coercive or violent expressions of power, the title contemplates the potential of art and offers a provocation to the public to exert their own influence on the world. Presented on two floors of the museum, the exhibition features new commissions and recent works by twenty international artists. 

SFMOMA
On exhibit Oct. 26, 2019-Feb. 17, 2020
Online: sfmoma.org

Survival Architecture and the Art of Resilience - Museum of Craft and Design

Museum of Craft and Design

This winter, the Museum of Craft and Design (MCD) will present two new, dynamic exhibitions exploring the ways that creative individuals are addressing issues of climate change. Survival Architecture and the Art of Resilience is a timely exhibition showcasing visionary architects and artists who have created artistically interpretive solutions and prototypes for emergency shelters in a climate-constrained world. Concurrently, the exhibition Linda Gass: and then this happened… will examine the human-made and natural water infrastructure affecting the greater Bay Area, considering present and future challenges with respect to climate change.

Museum of Craft and Design
Both exhibits will be available Dec. 19, 2019-May 3, 2020
Online: sfmcd.org

A Powerful Force: Working to End Homelessness Through Art - Walt Disney Family Museum

Untitled Pastel, Marker and Pencil on Newsprint Courtesy of Youth Spirit Artworks

The Walt Disney Family Museum's 2019 community access exhibition will be A Powerful Force: Working to End Homelessness Through Art. Featuring original artwork created by young people experiencing homelessness, the exhibition’s title was inspired by Walt Disney himself: “There is great comfort and inspiration in this feeling of close human relationships and its bearing on our mutual fortunes—a powerful force to overcome the tough breaks which are certain to come for most of us from time to time.”

A Powerful Force will feature artworks created by homeless youth with three greater San Francisco Bay Area partner organizations: Raphael House, Larkin Street Youth Services, and Youth Spirit Artworks. These nonprofit organizations help at-risk youth and their families achieve independence by providing career-building skills, educational programs and safe housing.

Walt Disney Family Museum 
On exhibit through Jan. 6, 2020
Online: waltdisney.org

Cointraptions: Classic Coin-Operated Machines - Museum of American Heritage

Dominic Alves via flickr

Travel back in time to the early 1900s to the 1950s when pennies, nickels and dimes were dropped into slots across the nation. Coin-operated machines were widely used in places of businesses such as general stores, toy stores, parlors, restaurants, bars, casinos and gas stops. See how businesses across America operated before the era of the credit card.

Museum of American Heritage
On exhibit through Feb. 16, 2020
Online: moah.org

—Kate Loweth

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The Best Tours for Families in NYC

by Jesseca Stenson

Planning a trip to New York City, but feeling a little overwhelmed by what sights and attractions to see with your kids? For families, organized NYC city tours are the way to go. But which do you choose? We’ve rounded up the best city tours, bus tours, walking tours, and boat tours NYC has to offer.

photo: Richardjo53 via Flickr 

Best Boat Tours NYC

Circle Line

Eric Kilby via Flickr

The classic and probably best-known boat tour of NYC is the Circle Line. They’ve been in business for seventy years, and have a variety of cruise options to choose from. One, two, or three-hour cruises that take you everywhere you want to go in NYC by boat.

Pier 83, W 42nd St. or Pier 16, South Street Seaport
New York, NY 10036
212-563-3200
Online: circleline.com
Circle Line hours: vary, depending on the cruise you choose
Circle Line cost: $26-$69

Classic Harbor Line

Courtesy of Classic Harbor Line

If you’re looking for a NYC boat tour during the holiday season, consider Classic Harbor Line’s Cocoa & Carols Holiday Cruise. While they do offer sightseeing cruises on their classic vessels year-round, there’s something particularly special about seeing the NYC lights during this magical time of year. Cookies, cocoa, and even champagne for the adults are included with your ticket.

Pier 62 & W 22nd St.
New York, NY 10011
212-627-1825
Online: sail-nyc.com
Classic Harbor Line hours: 2 p.m. – 7:45 p.m.
Classic Harbor Line cost: $84

Statue of Liberty Cruise

Henry Wang via Flickr

The only way to visit the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island is through Statue Cruises. It’s the only authorized outlet for tickets. (Beware of street vendors telling you otherwise). Each ticket choice for the Statue of Liberty Cruise has a different level of access to the statue and museum, so there’s something for every attention span.

Castle Clinton National Monument
Battery Park
New York NY 10004
1-877-523-9849
Online: statuecruises.com
Statue of Liberty Cruise hours: 8:30 a.m.- 7 p.m.
Statue of Liberty Cruise cost: $9-$21.50

Staten Island Ferry

Phil Dolby via Flickr

If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option, consider the Staten Island Ferry. Yes, it’s a commuter ferry, but those in the know (like you) know it’s a great choice for Statue of Liberty photo ops and views of downtown Manhattan. And the best part? It’s free.

4 South Street
New York, NY 10004
Online: siferry.com
Staten Island Ferry hours: 6 a.m.-8 p.m.
Staten Island Ferry cost: Free

Best Walking Tours NYC

Free Tours By Foot

aylamillerntor via Flickr

The name really says it all, doesn’t it? They specialize in NYC walking tours and it’s all pay-what-you-wish. No cost to book and you determine what the tour was worth after you take it. With a plethora of neighborhoods to pick from, you can even take food-centric tours of the city for an added twist on typical tourist spots. (Note: the food isn’t free).

Locations vary depending on the tour you pick.
646-450-6831
Online: freetoursbyfoot.com
Free Tours By Foot hours: vary, but tours are approximately two hours long.
Free Tours By Foot cost: Pay-what-you-wish

Sugartooth Tours

Jenna Pinchbeck

Combining history and desserts, this NYC walking tour sure is a sweet deal. Designed to feature some of the best sweet treats NYC has to offer, choose from their popular ice cream tour, cupcakes, Broadway bites, or you can create your own custom tour. Be sure to pack your sweet tooth!

Locations vary depending on the tour you pick.
917-856-6761
Online: sugartoothtours.com
Sugartooth Tours hours: vary depends on tour you choose.
Sugartooth Tours cost: $55 (includes food)

Central Park Discovery Tours

Henry Wang via Flickr

Central Park isn’t just a stop on this city walking tour—it’s the star. Explore the natural wonder and see some sights inside the park like Belvedere Castle, Strawberry Fields, Bethesda Fountain, and much more. It’s suggested you book in advance as this walking tour is very popular.

W 57th St. and 7th Ave.
212-300-7310
Online: centralparkdiscovery.com
Central Park Discovery Tours hours: vary depending on the tour you choose.
Central Park Discovery Tours cost: $40-$50

Best Bus Tours NYC

City Sights NY

Mark Hougaard Jensen

Bus tours in New York are the most common way to see the most of the city and City Sights NY is one of the biggest. Choose from the standard guided tours or customize your own with their Hop On, Hop Off tours. They also offer packages that include admission to some of NYC’s top attractions, and even tours around places from your fave TV shows filmed in NYC!

777 8th Ave.
New York, NY 10036
212-812-2700
Online: citysightsny.com
City Sights NY hours: 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
City Sights NY cost: $19-$173

Big Bus New York

Kirill Zakharin via Flickr

The typical NYC bus tour gets a modern boost with Big Bus New York. Use their free app and free onboard Wi-Fi to have all of the NYC bus routes, landmarks, and tour times right in your hand. Plus the Big Bus New York tickets include additional features like a bike rental offer, night tours, entry to the Empire State Building, and more.

Locations vary depending on tour chosen.
212-685-8687
Online: bigbustours.com/en/new-york/new-york-bus-tours
Big Bus New York hours: vary
Big Bus New York cost: $49.50-$99

The Ride

Courtesy of The Ride

If you want to take your bus tour of NYC to the next level, consider The Ride. Definitely unique, The Ride includes all the standard sightseeing with added street performances—making it truly interactive experience. And don’t worry if the weather takes a turn; the double-decker Ride is fully enclosed. That means you’re protected from all of the elements.

Locations vary.
212- 221-0853
Online: experiencetheride.com
The Ride hours: 9 a.m.–11 p.m.
The Ride cost: $35-$119

—– Jesseca Stenson

featured image:  Richardjo53 via Flickr

 

 

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Back-to-School Tips from a Learning Scientist

By Kimberly Berens

Photo: Fit Learning

As the new school year rapidly approaches, we scour the internet for the latest Back-to-School Tips hoping to ensure our children not only survive this next year but actually thrive. There are many tips floating around cyberspace, but as a learning scientist, here are a few that I have to offer. And yes! There is an entire field devoted to the scientific understanding of human learning! It does actually exist! Although not well known and certainly not recognized by the educational establishment, we are out there and have a lot to offer in terms of designing learning environments to promote long-term academic and personal success with every kind of student.

1. Grades do not necessarily reflect mastery of skills and content. As parents, we dream of our children being straight “A” students. However, an “A” is actually not a reliable measure of learning. Grades and other measures traditionally used in education do not stem from the science of learning. As such, these do not reflect empirically validated measures that actually predict important characteristics of mastery such as neurological permanence (i.e., memory), increased attention span, and the ability to use previously mastered skills for the effortless and successful learning of more complex things.

For the next school year, rather than exclusively focusing on your child’s grades, try focusing on the manner in which your child studies. Our science indicates that repeated rehearsal (or practice!) of small amounts of information over time produces permanent learning….not grades. Help your child create flashcards and study small bits of material each night rather than cramming the night before a test. Not only will your child be more likely to get that “A”, but they will also permanently learn the material.

2. Science has discovered that time is a critical variable in how learning should be measured. Accuracy alone is not enough to produce permanent learning outcomes. Our science has discovered that fluency—a measure that combines accuracy and speed—is the most reliable measure of learning and predicts permanent learning outcomes. In other words, it is when skills are fluent that they are remembered, resistant to distractions and fatigue, and usable for learning new things.

For the next school year, invest in a timer. As your child is rehearsing small bits of material each night, they should time themselves or be timed by someone else during that practice where the number of correct and incorrect answers per minute can be measured. Using a timer not only establishes a clear beginning and end to each practice opportunity, but it also allows you and your child to set “Personal Best Goals” each time practice occurs.

For example, if your child was able to correctly recall 7 definitions per minute during the previous practice timing, they should try to achieve a “Personal Best” (or PB) by beating that score and achieving 8 or more correct definitions per minute during the next practice timing. This way, practice becomes something that is measurable, goals can be established and achieved, and above all else, practice becomes fun! Setting up goal-oriented, fast-paced practice sessions increases focus, trains perseverance, and ensures that your child permanently learns the material while also having a bit of fun in the process.

3. Timers are also invaluable for homework time, which can be a very stressful, unpleasant part of the day. More often than not, it reflects “a gray” period of the day, where your child works a little, stares into space a little, daydreams a little, and periodically checks their phone a little. Parents often find themselves continuously nagging their children to get the homework done. Homework then takes a long time to complete.

For the next school year, separate the “gray” into “black” and “white” by using a homework timer. Set the timer for 15-to-20 minutes and tell your child that until the timer goes off, it is 100% homework time where they must continuously work. At the end of the time period, they should be encouraged to take a short break to check their phone, stretch, get a drink or snack, and stretch their legs. If you catch your child staring into space or checking their phone during the time period, restart the timer. Being strong and structured with homework time will help your child learn effective, efficient, independent study habits and will remove the need for incessant nagging.

The tips I have offered above can be profoundly effective. But know that no number of tips or suggestions can make a difference if your child simply hasn’t mastered the skills required to do their assignments. Students move to the next grade level based on age, not on the mastery of skills. Unfortunately, many students are pushed through a curriculum before they should be, and the result can be tragic. If your child is struggling to complete assignments, or if your teacher suggests that your child be evaluated for a learning disability, check their component skills first.

More often than not, learning issues are the result of a lack of basic skill mastery. If your child is struggling with reading, use the timer to see how many words your child can read per minute. If your child is reading less than 80 words per minute at the end of 1st grade, they need some fluency building in reading. If your child is struggling with math, use the timer and see how many math facts they can complete in a minute. If your child performs less than 40 math facts per minute, they need fluency building in basic math skills.

Before going down the road of evaluations and senseless labels, find a way of getting your child repeated, reinforced practice of basic skills so they can achieve fluency– automatic, effortless performance that ensures long-term memory, increased attention span, and the ability to learn more complex things.  It is this kind of mastery that produces long-term academic and personal success.

Kimberly Berens, Ph.D. is the Founder of Fit Learning and Regional Director of Fit Learning Tri-State. For 20 years, Dr. Berens and her team have been developing and refining a powerful system of instruction based on the learning, behavioral and cognitive sciences. This system consistently produces over one year’s growth in 40 hours of instruction.

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Why I Loved My Family Vacation in Chicago

By Jennifer Landis

A lot of people balk at the idea of traveling with small children, but I find that it’s one of the best times to plan a vacation. Not only do you have one or more small humans to remind you of the importance of naps while you’re on holiday, but it can also be a unique way to spend some time together before things like work or school get in the way. With my oldest daughter starting school in the fall, my husband and I decided that it was the perfect time to plan a vacation.

And you know what? We had a blast. Here’s what we did in Windy City and why I loved my family vacation in Chicago.

Just Far Enough Away From Home

We considered a lot of vacation destinations during our planning stage, from Vegas (with two kids? No thanks) to Florida (Disney is crazy in the summertime) before finally settling on Chicago. The beautiful thing about Chi-town is that it’s just far enough away from our home state of Pennsylvania to feel like a vacation without having to spend an insane amount of money on airline tickets. Instead, we just piled in the car and made the 9-ish hour drive, and saved a ton of money that we later spent on souvenirs and experiences that we’ll never forget.

And yes, my 8-month-old daughter is too young to remember these experiences but that means we’ll have to come back and enjoy them again once she gets a little bit older.

Day 1 — All The Animals

Day one of our vacation was actually day two of the trip because of the length of the drive. We got to Chicago late, made it to our hotel and passed out for the night. Even the 8-month-old slept most of the way through the night, despite sleeping most of the way there.

My oldest daughter was most excited to see all the various animal attractions that the city had to offer, so we spent the morning at the Lincoln Park Zoo — which is a fantastic place to spend some time, plus it’s free — and the afternoon at Shedd Aquarium. Both of these attractions are designed with young kids in mind. In addition to their attractions, each has a play area where you can set the kids loose and let them burn off some energy.

If we had to do anything different, I think we’d do the aquarium first — it got really crowded in the afternoon, making it difficult to navigate with my youngest in a stroller, but that didn’t detract from the fun that we had. We did end up having lunch at the Bubble Net food court, and I’m not sure who had more fun watching the dolphin show — me or my daughter!

Day 2 — Sightseeing Galore

Day two was spent mostly sightseeing which was just as fun because there is a ton to see in Chi-town. We visited Navy Pier and popped into a few of the attractions there. We made our way over to Millennium Park so my daughter could marvel at the iconic Bean sculpture.

Yes, I know it’s not actually called The Bean — it’s the Cloud Gate — but it looks like a bean so that’s what we’ll call it. Plus it really annoys the artist who created it and he’s a bit of a jerk so…we’ll just leave it at that.

We climbed up to the Sears Tower Skydeck, where my 5-year-old kept a death-grip on my leg because she’s apparently got a little fear of heights. The view was spectacular though.

There is a lot to do in Chicago and we barely scratched the surface — mostly because of the age of my children. There are plenty of things to do for older kids, like the Adler Planetarium or the Art Institute of Chicago that we avoided because of the attention span of a five-year-old.

Day 3 — A River Cruise than Home Again

We were supposed to head home on day three but we couldn’t leave Chicago behind without visiting one final attraction — the Wendella River Cruise. Yes, I know it’s touristy, but it gives you a phenomenal view of the city, even though my daughter was more interested in the birds chasing the ship and the fish she could occasionally see in the Chicago River. It was a phenomenally relaxing way to end our vacation and helped tire out the kids just enough that they happily slept most of the drive home.

Why I Loved Chi-Town for My Famly

Chicago ended up being the best choice for my family — not quite a staycation, but far enough away from home that we really felt the distance. My girls were happy to get home and sleep in their own beds but we took pictures, ate amazing food — including some iconic Chicago deep dish pizza — and created memories that will last us a lifetime.

The Windy City might seem like the kind of place that caters to the adult tourist crowd but there are plenty of things for you to do if you’re traveling with little ones too!

Jennifer Landis is a mom, wife, freelance writer, and blogger. She enjoys long naps on the couch, sneaking spoonfuls of peanut butter when her kid's not looking, and binge watching Doctor Who while her kid's asleep.  She really does like her kid, though, she promises. Find her on Twitter @JenniferELandis.

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