How many times have you heard the phrase “sunshine is the best medicine”?  Sunshine is the easiest way to gain access to the many benefits of vitamin D. Do you know the variety of ways that vitamin D helps the human body?

The benefit that you are probably most aware of is that vitamin D helps with maintaining strong bones. But it also helps with strong teeth and supports lung function and brain health. If that isn't enough, it also helps fight infections. 

Luckily, you don’t need to spend hours outside during the summer to receive the benefits of vitamin D. In some cases, people can get enough sunlight to produce sufficient vitamin D by spending 10-20 minutes outside with their face and legs exposed. However, you do need to actually go outside – just sitting by a window won’t have the same effect. 

A healthy balance is necessary in many aspects of daily life for both adults and children. One particular way that a healthy balance matters is in the activities we do each day. During the summer, it is easy for children to get into the habit of being less active and spend more time indoors using technology. The habit of staying indoors is not without negative consequences as it can affect your child’s eye health.

The amount of people who are short-sighted is expected to grow significantly within the next 31 years. It has been predicted that by 2050, around 4.8 billion people will be short-sighted. This is a difference of approximately 2.8 billion more people being affected than in 2010. 

While the exact causes of myopia (nearsightedness) are unknown, there is good news. Fortunately, there is something that can be done to help stop nearsightedness. It has been proven nearsightedness can be delayed or even prevented by getting outdoors to play.

When you show your child different things outside such as a variety of animals and plants, it will most likely lead to them asking questions. There are many different things that one can learn about in different environments such as at forest preserves. ​

Your child's questions will most likely concern topics that they never asked about before, especially if they don’t spend much time outdoors. It is to be expected that there will be questions that your child asks that you will not know the answer to immediately.

While not having the answer isn’t the best feeling, this presents a learning opportunity for both adult and child. ​You can respond by taking a guess and encouraging your child to take a guess as well. Their learning can also be enhanced by making sure to look up the answer together and by discussing the findings.  

Did you know that humans are said to have a shorter attention span than a goldfish? It's true! Technology is always readily available and the overload of information that television and social media constantly provide us with can be overwhelming even as adults. There are often too many things that need our attention at the same time, limiting our ability to focus.

​Therefore, it is important to regularly disconnect for both children and adults to be able to refocus on what matters. Green outdoor spaces have even proven to be beneficial for children who have ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), reducing their symptoms. Ultimately, working to improve your child's attention span is crucial as it will help them learn new concepts presented in school more easily.

Whether playing outside with siblings, friends or at the park with neighbors, these interactions provide even more opportunities for children to learn.

There are several basic concepts that children learn from playing games outside with other children. When children play with others, they are able to see how actions influence emotion. It is through these interactions that children can learn about the importance of sharing and taking turns.

Children from different family structures or backgrounds have different likes and dislikes and might have different ideas of games to play. As a result, children can learn to be open-minded to the thoughts of others and try new things.

Also, when children need to explain how a game works, they are able to develop their social skills. When it comes time for a new game, they learn to listen to others and the importance of following rules.  

However, there are times when playing outside may present problems and result in conflict. While these possibilities do not show the positive side of outdoor play, how these problems and conflicts are resolved teach valuable life skills.

Although parents may see children arguing and want to immediately get involved to resolve the conflict, this isn’t always the best thing to do. For example, children might argue about what game to play or want to play with the same toy. When children are faced with such problems, they can learn how to negotiate or solve the problem themselves.
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The weather also is a unique factor that occasionally presents a problem during outdoor play. The weather might not be cooperating with what your child wants to do outside. It might be too cold to go swimming in the pool so they will need to decide on another activity, such as drawing with chalk. 

There are a variety of things outside that children can use in different ways. Some argue that loose parts in nature such as sticks, mud and rocks encourage creativity, pretend play, exploration and more. Children might decide to make mud pies together or use sticks to try and build like they do with blocks. Furthermore, children will need to think more critically when it comes to getting loose sticks to stay together than they need to when they build with blocks.

If you are looking to make an art project or conduct a science experiment with your child but without the mess, take it outside! When you aren’t worried about the mess, you might feel creative enough to join in on the fun. Similarly, children will have more fun when they see that you are laid back and having fun too!
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There are a variety of things that children can play with outdoors that are beneficial for more than just entertainment purposes. When your child is learning how to ride a bicycle or decides to skateboard, it requires them to focus on balance. Alternatively, if your child decides to play a sport such as basketball, they will learn to use both their arms and legs at the same time to dribble the ball and run. This allows them to work on improving their coordination. When playing catch or sports like baseball, children can also improve their hand-eye coordination as well. ​

​However, different outdoor toys, depending on their purpose and how the child decides to use them, can help children improve more than balance and coordination. When a child chooses to pull a wagon, it can help them develop muscle-strength. 

While many adults wish to be kids again because they reflect back on it as an easier time, kids experience stress too! Although children mainly become over-scheduled and stressed during the school year, that isn't to say that it can't happen over the summer. 

Children may get stressed due to problems with friends or overload of information they have at their fingertips due to technology. Therefore, it is not only beneficial to get children outdoors to be physically well, but to feel mentally well. It has been proven that contact with nature can reduce children's feelings of stress. 

In fact, while you cannot get vitamin D from sunshine by looking through a window, you can get stress relief. Yes, you don’t even need to go outside to experience the stress-relieving benefits of nature! Instead, just take some time to look at trees out the window.  
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By spending time outdoors, your child will experience health benefits which can be seen both in the short-term and long-term.

The most well-known more immediate health benefit of spending time outdoors is that it helps children burn off energy and in turn, burn calories. You can also help your toddler fight heart disease by encouraging them to play outdoors. By regularly taking walks with your child can help you both have good heart health.

As mentioned above, one of the other more immediate benefits of vitamin D is that it can help fight infections. Alternatively, a lack of vitamin D can lead to children obtaining a skeletal disorder known as Rickets.

Do you urge your child to avoid playing in the dirt because of the mess? It may sound counter-intuitive at first, but playing in dirt is actually helpful in keeping children healthy. This is especially true for children that need to develop their immune system.
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Does you or your child have trouble sleeping at night? Yes, getting outside can help! 
 
There is a scientific explanation as to how not getting enough daylight and being on technology too much impacts sleep patterns. The truth is that the light we are around when we are indoors versus outdoors is very different. Because outdoor light is brighter and covers a broader spectrum, it helps regulate the body’s internal “sleep clock”. In fact, sunlight even improves the sleep of babies. Babies that slept best at night were exposed to twice as much light between midday hours and 4:00 p.m. compared to poor sleepers.

It is also important to note that when children are active outdoors, they use up more of their energy. This makes them more tired at night than when they spend all day sitting on the couch. 

There are several easy ways to make the time your family spends outside together entertaining and  memorable:

Scavenger hunts are a great way to get children to focus on their surroundings and keep them engaged when spending time outdoors. 

If you are looking for a quick way to get started, you can find premade scavenger hunt sheets. Alternatively, if you are feeling creative, you can make your own easily. One of the best things about a nature scavenger hunt is that you can easily alter it to fit what you want. For example, you can keep it confined to the backyard or around the block. If you are feeling more adventurous, you can prepare a scavenger hunt for a walk in a local forest preserve.  ​

Are you struggling to spend time outside because you don't have a big backyard? Schedule days during the summer to visit the park regularly! 

The park is a great option for outdoor fun and gives children an opportunity to meet those of similar ages.  It is important to keep in mind that different parks may offer a unique selection playground equipment. This can lead to children having different experiences and developing a variety of skills. Therefore, you might want to consider scoping out several parks around your area. You can make planning a trip to the park fun by setting a goal to visit all of the parks where you live before the summer is over. 

Are you looking for a way to get your child playing in the dirt but in a constructive way? Whether you decide to plant flowers, vegetables or both, it can be an educational experience. You can use the activity of planting a garden to teach your child about different types of flowers or the benefits of different vegetables. 

You can also use this as a time to teach your child about responsibility. Once you are done planting, you can encourage your child to stay involved by having them regularly water the garden. ​

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​Sarah Strobel is a Play Coordinator and Staff Writer for the Children's Museum in Oak Lawn.  Contact her at sarah@cmoaklawn.org. ​

We are appreciative of all of those who have given their time and talents to assisting everything from our programmatic needs to our daily operations. Our annual Recognition Dinner will be on July 11th at The Garden Chalet in Worth, IL. You can purchase tickets to attend or sponsor the event by clicking here. 

Below we have highlighted just two of our many awardees that deserve special recognition for their contributions towards our mission to positively impact a child's potential in life through play-based education. 

Wendy Maynard has been a resident of Oak Lawn for 17 years and a CMOL volunteer for over ten years. She is probably best known for her work as the chairperson of the museum's Princess Ball. However, Wendy has also provided her time and talent toward making the museum's Casino Night fundraisers and annual Fall Fun Fest successful as well. 

Wendy began volunteering at the museum with the help of her grandfather, Jim Buschbach. She also volunteered at St. Gerald's School in Oak Lawn as a home room mom and lunch mom. 

Wendy has one daughter and has been an agent at Buschbach Insurance for the last 26 years. In her spare time, she enjoys shopping, gardening and traveling with her family. Wendy has several big plans for the summer,  including visiting Europe with the Buschbach family and moving to Knoxville, Tennessee in August. 
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Dr. Tim Ritchie, the chairman of the Psychology Department at Saint Xavier University, and his students have been working to further ensure the museum's educational value. Throughout the summer, students are conducting observations to see how children play and how the museum’s exhibits can be improved. The student observations will be used in developing a learning framework to assist the museum in achieving its mission. 

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The thought of living a healthy lifestyle sounds great but can also seem time-consuming and challenging, especially to parents. However, the increase of obesity and the decline of physical activity has received widespread attention in the last few years, for good reason. In fact, 13.7 million children and adolescents (ages 2 to 19) are obese.

As the concern regarding obesity in both childhood and adulthood is on the rise, it is crucial to educate children about healthy choices and get them excited about making such decisions independently. Although, we must not only ensure that we are promoting our child’s physical health but keep our own health in mind as well.

The Rise of Obesity
In 2018, the U.S. government issued fitness guidelines for an age group never given guidelines before. These guidelines were for children ages 3 to 5 and expressed children in that age group should be engaged in active play for at least 3 hours a day. Ultimately, individuals of all age groups tend to spend most of their time completing sedentary activities, either sitting in front of the computer or watching television. In 2016, about 62% of children ages five to eleven spent two or more hours watching television or videos every day. It is crucial that parents pay attention to how much time their children spend with technology in comparison to their time on other activities.

Children are not the only age group that is not getting their recommended amount of physical activity each day. Currently, more than 23% of adults and 80% of adolescents are not getting a sufficient amount of physical activity. As the issue of a lack of physical activity affects all age groups, the best way to change this trend is to work together to improve.

Although many may know that they need to make healthier choices, they tend to be aware that they will struggle to stick to better physical habits. As a result, some adults look to find a friend who has similar weight loss goals to workout with at the gym. In some cases, this will motivate both individuals to exercise more. Therefore, if you are thinking about getting your child involved in a sport, look to find friends with children of a similar age range who can sign up for the same activity. This might motivate your child to want to go to the activity because they get to see their friends.

The easiest way to stick to better habits is to work together to improve physical health as a family. For example, aim to eat a healthy dinner each night or take a walk together. It is easiest to avoid temptation and stick to eating healthy meals if everyone adjusts to eating healthier together.

It is particularly important that adults begin teaching children about healthy habits as children who are overweight/obese are likely to be overweight/obese into adulthood. Additionally, there are several other negative health effects that result from being overweight/obese and not getting enough physical activity. Some of the negative effects resulting from obesity include diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and high blood pressure. By educating children about the importance of a balanced diet and physical activity, adults can have a long lasting impact on the child’s behaviors. Furthermore, if parents are to get involved in their child’s healthy habits early on, they can save them from serious medical problems in the future.

5 Tips for Physical Wellness

It is easy to find excuses why now is not the best time to think about altering such behavior. However, as  May is physical wellness month, it is a perfect time to transition into talking to your child about how they can become healthier.  
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1) Start With Small Changes
The idea of making a lifestyle change can be both overwhelming and exciting. Although it is easy to find motivation in the beginning, many struggle to incorporate new habits into their daily life in the long term.  

One of the best ways to get on the right track with adapting to a new routine is to implement changes slowly. First, consider thinking of ways to incorporate physical activity into your day that won’t alter your established routines drastically. This includes thinking about things such as where you drive to that you can instead walk or take a bike ride to with your child. This will not only make a new habit easier to incorporate but will give ideas on other simple ways to make changes.

Another way to implement changes slowly is instead of starting by expecting yourself to provide three healthy meals for your family a day, start with one. If you are going to begin exercising, start by just taking a walk ten to fifteen minutes a day and increase gradually. This will likely keep you from feeling overwhelmed and thinking that the new habit takes up too much time and energy. 

One way to eliminate some of the stress of getting your family to live a healthier lifestyle is to ask for help. For example, get your child involved in the decision-making to help establish new habits. If it is a nice day outside, ask them if they would rather take a bike ride or take a walk. This will help your child look forward to the activity because they had a choice.

2) Take a “T.V. Timeout”
How many hours does your child sit in front of the television or computer or spend scrolling on their phone per day? The negative effects of screen time on children has been thoroughly discussed and studied, especially recently. Though the advancement of technology assists busy parents who use it as a distraction or a “pacifier” for their children, it negatively impacts the advancement and health of children in several ways. It has been reported that too much screen time can affect a child’s social skills, fine motor skills as well as emotional skills. Although not everyone agrees about the negative effects that screen time has on children, screens do tend to keep people from being active.  

As mentioned above, new guidelines on physical activity have recently been given for children that are ages 3 to 5.  These guidelines are focused on the belief that children need to get better sleep and have more time for play as opposed to spending time sitting and watching screens. One way that children can get better sleep is by not being on technology close to bedtime. Overall, children will get better sleep when they use their energy throughout the day instead of being at rest with sedentary activities.

If your child is used to a lot of television time, they can be very hesitant towards getting away from technology to exercise, especially in the beginning. If the thought of limiting your child’s television time at first seems impossible, first work physical activity into your child’s screen time.

For example, if they are watching television, have them do exercises during the commercials. Parents can either have their children do a list or choose one exercise such as jumping jacks that they must do until their show comes back on the television. This will not only get them up from the couch and doing something physically active, but will give their eyes a rest from looking at the screen in some cases. In fact, to help eye strain, those who are using the computer should take a 20-second break every 20 minutes. By encouraging physical activity, you can help your child to prevent eye strain as well, no matter what device they are using for entertainment.

One of the primary things to think about when encouraging your child’s physical wellness is to think about their food choices. Both adults and children alike will often sit down to watch television with their favorite snack. While this can make the activity more enjoyable, it is highly not recommended for many reasons. One reason is that as children and adults become interested in what they are watching, they may become engrossed in the program and there is a likelihood that they may eat more than necessary.

3) Focus on Individual Interests
What activities do you find it is easiest to get your child to do? It is most likely the activities that they have the most fun doing. Therefore, if you want your child to enjoy being active, think about their personality and interests.

Consider:

• Is your child highly competitive?
• Do they enjoy playing on a team sport?
• Would they rather play baseball or basketball? What about both?

This can be one of the most important things that determine your child’s future interest in physical activities. If they enjoy what they are doing, they are more likely to complete the physical activity on their own. Similarly, if they feel that their teammates don’t think they play well, they will instead find comfort in being in front of the television.

If you decide getting your child involved in team sports is the best way to get your child engaged in physical activity, be aware of your own attitudes. While it is easy to get carried away, stress should not be placed on winning the game. What matters most is that your child is trying their best, having fun and developing skills.  This will keep your child excited about engaging in the activity because they won’t feel pressured to perform well.

Also, think about ask your child what activities they can come up with to get themselves up and moving. This will give you a list to work through with possible ideas, especially when your child is bored.

4) Discuss the Changing Habits
How often do you take the time to talk to your child about making healthy diet choices or staying active? You are most likely familiar with telling your child to do something and then them asking why. It is necessary to discuss with your children why they should do things that you want them to do, so that they understand why it is important. While sometimes it can be difficult to explain to your child why, the importance of eating healthy and exercising is crucial to go in depth about.

Once you come to the conclusion that a healthier lifestyle is necessary for your family, have an open discussion about why. If you have a younger child, you can start off a discussion with something basic, such as :

• “We need to eat healthier and exercise so that we can live longer.”
• “We need to eat more vegetables because they give us energy. The energy you’ll gain from eating vegetables will help you perform well in your soccer game.”
• “We need to drink more milk because it has calcium and calcium helps with strong bones.”

For older children, explain certain benefits of different physical activities and different fruits / vegetables.

Consider:

• “We need to eat more broccoli because it has calcium which helps  us develop strong bones.”
• “We are going to take walks more because walking will help make our hearts strong.”
• “Make sure you eat all your celery - it helps you get the water you need daily.”

Another way to educate older children or gauge their knowledge is by asking if they know of other benefits that certain fruits/vegetables can bring them. For example, “what other vegetables do people eat that give them the calcium that they need?” Overall, talk to your child about a balanced diet such as by discussing with your child the impact of eating a lot of sweets or drinking too many sugary drinks. By discussing the subject, they will come to know why their diet needs to be that way.

5) Let Your Child Experiment
For some parents, it is easy to figure out what activities their child will like or dislike, especially if they are older. But if that isn't an easy question to answer for you, it is nothing to be ashamed about. Instead, take this as an opportunity to learn more about your child and experiment. Consider looking into park district classes in the local community and have your child experience a few different things. Be open to what your child wants to do but pick out some things as well so that they can have a lot of different experiences. If this doesn’t fit your budget, look for parents with children of similar ages and having them spending time playing outside to see what your child gravitates toward or avoids.

Most importantly, make the experience of trying new activities, choosing different foods and learning about the importance of fruits and vegetables as well as a good diet fun. If you tend to buy the same things at the grocery store, consider changing up your shopping list (especially if most of the “healthy” foods go uneaten in your house). If your family does not eat fruit often, think about trying a fruit which no one has tried before. A curiosity regarding the taste might be enough to make family members consider eating that fruit. Occasionally choosing to pick out a new fruit or vegetable at the grocery store can make the thought of eating well exciting. Let your child take the responsibility of picking out something new for the family to eat. This will increase their excitement because they get to select what looks interesting to them which in turn increases their sense of independence and decision-making skills.

Ultimately, if your family might be apprehensive to try something new, the best way to make sure what you purchase doesn't go to waste is to look up recipes which incorporate the new fruit/vegetable you decide to buy.

One method that you can use to motivate your child at the grocery store is to have them find something of a specific color, as different colored fruits have different benefits. For example, oranges have vitamin A which helps keep the immune system functioning so there is a less likelihood of getting sick. 
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When parents give their children the ability to make decisions regarding their own physical wellness and make it fun, children may be less resistant. By working together to become more active, we will become healthier individuals and happier families.

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Sarah Strobel is a Play Coordinator and Staff Writer for the Children's Museum in Oak Lawn.  Contact her at sarah@cmoaklawn.org. 

Adam Woodworth, the Children’s Museum in Oak Lawn’s Executive Director, recently asked me if I would like to do a “blog”.  Yes, at my age I did actually “kind of” know what that meant.  And I agreed because I firmly believe that trying new things is a great way to fight the turning of the pages on the proverbial calendar. 

And….I LOVE the museum!

Recently, I was honored by being elected President of the Board of Directors of the Museum.  But that is not where the story begins.  So, let’s travel back in time, about 20 years ago.

As Principal of Harnew Elementary in Oak Lawn, only once did I have a parent ask to observe our preschool.  Our district was one of the first public schools to have a 3 and 4-year-old preschool, so it didn’t really surprise me.  I spoke to our preschool teacher, Diane Falkenthal, and she readily agreed to welcome the mom in to observe.  BTW, Diane is one of the finest teachers I have had the pleasure to work with.  After the observation, I met with the young mom, Carol Marsh, and she spoke glowingly about her observation and immediately not only signed up her son but also had made plans with Diane to help in the classroom.

She also shared with me her mission to have a children’s museum on the southwest side of Chicago.  Now that really interested me.  She raved on about how the “nearest museums were in downtown Chicago, far west in Naperville/Wheaton and south in Bourbonnais.”  All we had were “McDonald’s ball pits”!  She had me! 

​Being a principal of a school of 600 or so students and about 50 staff is definitely a FULL time job, but I just had to be a part of this fantastic “madness”.  My husband and I had never been fortunate enough to have children of our own, but that only increased my love of children and all the things that help them grow.

I need to tell you that the very first mention of a children’s museum in Oak Lawn actually came in 1993.  Politicians were divided on what to do with the historic Cook School building, which was no longer needed.  Cook School was probably built in the early 1900s and was located at 95th Street and Cook Avenue.  One side wanted to bulldoze it for a parking lot and the other side felt that the building should be preserved and renovated for community use; one of several possibilities was a children’s museum.  At that time, no one stepped forward to spearhead the idea and renovation proved to be quite costly.  So, the politics of the time brought the idea to a screeching halt!

By April of 2000, Carol Marsh had put together a proposal without naming a location (other than Oak Lawn).  She did not want to get involved in the no-win situation of Cook School.  Carol was an excellent writer and lacked the “reverence” that many of us have for people in authority ----- so she knocked on the mayor’s door and the doors of all of village trustees, continually phoned local state representatives and attended any group meetings where they didn’t throw her out!  Along the way she gathered a diverse group of individuals who thoroughly supported the idea.  Actually, several of those people (besides myself) remain active board members and supporters of the Children’s Museum in Oak Lawn to this very day.

In May of 2000, the Oak Lawn Park District voted to provide the museum a temporary home in a tiny, rundown, virtually unused 900 sq. ft. facility for $1.00 per year.  The location, 9600 East Shore Drive, is in a scenic residential area. By rundown, I mean that when we held meetings there and it happened to rain, we had to lift up our card tables and chairs to avoid the waterfalls coming through the ceiling! 

In June, we had our first Board of Directors meeting, a great bunch of people with a common purpose: to somehow create a small children’s museum.  In July, we came up with the kite “Explore and Soar” logo.

In October, we held our first public event, the Harvest Home Festival.  To this day, we still have a fall festival!

In February of 2001, I chaired the first meeting of the Academics and Exhibits Committee and within the year we agreed upon a tree house theme for the tiny facility and had pencil drawings and concepts for 9 exhibits.  We hired an exhibit designer and in 2002 he completed professional drawings based on our suggestions.  Next came a fabricator who would build our exhibits for $175,000.  In March, we hired our first (part-time) director, Elizabeth Gelman.  We also hired two other part-time employees, a floor supervisor and an administrative assistant.  In May of 2003, we opened our doors for the very first time and were gratified to see lots of children and families come to our tiny museum.

Our first birthday came and with it an unbelievable offer we couldn’t refuse.  In the local papers it read:  Oak Lawn announced the first tenant of the “controversial” commuter train station proposed for downtown: the children’s museum. 

Had we planned on growing this quickly?  Absolutely not!  Our heads were spinning from opening one year earlier.  But our feeling was we just had to keep moving forward.  But like most things in life, money became an integral piece of our puzzle.  Also, “politics” entered the challenge of making our dream of having a larger children’s museum come true. To this very day, I must admit that it still amazes me how we accomplished all that we did, and I am so proud that we persevered.

In February of 2006, we hired our current executive director, Adam Woodworth.  My head spins with the number and scale of things that came at us as we climbed the “mountain” of making a new regional museum come to life.  We had to do a tremendous amount of fundraising.  We had to hire a professional exhibit designer; we chose Becky Lindsay, of Mindsplash.  We had to hire architects, builders, etc.  Exhausting…but exhilarating!

In April of 2009, just when we thought things were the darkest and maybe it would NOT happen, we were told about a fledgling children’s museum in Knoxville that was closing.  We were able to purchase their almost brand new exhibits (very close to what we ourselves had planned) for a portion of what they would have cost us. 

But the thing that SAVED us, were our loyal supporters.  So many people saw what we had done and more importantly what we planned for the future and they “bought into” our dream literally by donating the funds needed.

In July of 2009, the doors opened to the children’s museum at Oak Lawn station. 

To this very day, every time I walk through our museum, I take great pride in having been there at the very beginning and continuing to be an active supporter of the Children’s Museum in Oak Lawn. 

It might be compared to watching a child grow up.  What a thrill!  And we’re not finished yet…I continue to love working with the museum to help make it the best place for families to play and learn together. 

I personally invite you to please join us by contributing your time, talent and treasure; because we would not exist without your support.

If you haven't read "It's Science:  Reading the same books to your child over and over makes them smarter," give it a read.  It's written by Ashley Norris, a former preschool teacher and now a faculty member at East Carolina University in the Birth-Kindergarten Education program. 

Upon reading the article, it got me thinking about the importance of repetition. We, as parents, have this desire to give our children a plethora of experiences.  Consider for a moment that instead of running ragged all summer trying to get as much in as possible, that you do half as much... but more of it.

A few months after opening our doors at our new location, way back in 2009, I started finding myself in conversations that continue to this day.  They often play out like this:

Visitor:  "Hey Adam, we're here again!"
Me:  "It's great to see you."
Visitor:  "Yeah, we asked her where she wanted to go and she said the Kite Museum."
Me:  "I'm glad she has fun here!"
Visitor:  "We suggested about six other places because we were just here a week ago, but she wanted to come here."
Me:  "Well, you know, children like repetition right?"
Visitor:  "Really?"
Me:  "Yes...."  

Then, I go into why children like repetition.  There is a mastery in play that children aspire to.  Think about a child who has blocks at home.  Do they play with those blocks once and then they are done?  Not usually.  If that were the case, why buy blocks, right?  No, children will build and be creative with new ideas and new designs.

The same is true at the Children's Museum in Oak Lawn.

A child may come to the museum and pretend shop in the grocery store, mimicking what they see you do at the supermarket.  The next few visits to the museum, they might do the same thing, but on one of those visits, they discover something new.  The thought crosses their mind, "What if I take the food over to the kitchen across from the grocery store?"  

Now they have their cart in the kitchen, putting food in cabinets and pretending to cook food.  "But wait, there is a picnic table, what if we had a picnic?"  And... the experience changes every time with different children in the market.

This is true no matter what the exhibit.  As children grow older and with each regular visit to the museum, you'll notice subtle changes in how they play.  

Just as the article by Ashley Norris states, ask questions!  Each exhibit has a "Talk About it!" sign.  Inside the signs are ideas of questions to get you started.  If you are in the market exhibit, you might ask:

• What vegetables do you want to buy?
• Can you find a food that is green?
• For older children, "How much do you think this costs at the store?

Open-ended questions get children thinking.  Go beyond the yes or no questions and get them thinking about the "why" of what they are doing.

Instead of:  "Are you having fun?"
Try:  "Tell me what you are doing."

Instead of:  "Do you like the museum?"
Try:  "What was your favorite thing to do today?  What did you like best about it?"

By asking these types of open-ended questions, you'll be opening up a whole new dialogue with your children and they'll let you into their world.

Maria Montessori once said:  "It is exactly in the repetition of the exercises that the education of the senses exists; not that the child shall know colors, forms or qualities, but that he refine his senses through an exercise of attention, comparison and judgment."

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Adam Woodworth is the Executive Director of the Children's Museum in Oak Lawn.

By: Sarah Strobel, Play Coordinator
Children's Museum in Oak Lawn

How many things do you read in one day? It goes without saying that phones have given us access to a wealth of information at our fingertips. You have most likely read a news article or an article on social media within the last day or so.  But, when did you last read a book...for fun?
 
We often hear children say they hate reading and yet adults say they can’t find the time or motivation to read. Since February is “I Love to Read” month, we think it's important to understand why reading needs to be a bigger part of your day, no matter your age. 
 
Reading to Babies & Toddlers
 
As parents, it can be challenging to find the time to fit in household responsibilities along with things we would like to do with our children. However, taking at least a short time out of your day to read to your children should be a priority. 
 
Parents with children of all ages, even babies, should make reading together part of their routine, because it has impact. In fact, researchers found that babies made more speech-like sounds during reading than during puppet or toy play. Therefore, due to the fact that babies respond more to this activity, they are most likely learning more.
 
One of the most well-known benefits of reading is that it builds language skills. A recent study found that parents or caregivers who read to young children are giving them a language advantage of eight months. It is important to keep in mind though that there are books that are more likely to help your child’s education than others.
 
How would you describe the characteristics of the books you read to your young child? They most likely include a lot of pictures and one word per page in a large font. We can argue that books like these help young children increase comprehension. However, books with simple sentences are actually more impactful in early development. By reading books with more than just a few words per page, children begin to understand sentence structure, for example.
 
Children not only gain social skills when they are spoken to, but they learn different words. Books are a great tool to help parents in this way by introducing vocabulary naturally. One study found that babies whose parents spoke to them a lot scored higher on standard tests at age three than children whose parents weren't as verbal.
 
By instilling positive reading habits in your young child, you are also helping to build their knowledge in other subjects, like math. However, stories do more than entertain or help with language skills. In fact, there is evidence to suggest that books develop how children perceive reality. Studies have shown that children develop their perspectives on aspects of identity such as gender and race before five years old. Therefore, the books that your child is introduced to can change how they think about such aspects. 
 
Additionally, placing an emphasis on reading in your household has more than just educational benefits. Reading together gives parents and children an opportunity to bond – especially one-on-one. This time together allows parents to get to know what their child likes or what scares them. If you would like to engage your child while you are reading aloud, consider asking them questions. Many times children will also ask clarifying questions while a story is being read to them, which  presents a teachable moment.
 
Consider asking your child:
 
·         What do you think is going to happen? Why?
 
·         Why do you think (character) is sad/mad? How do you think (character) feels?
 
 ·        What would you do? Do you think (character) did the right thing?
 
·         Have you or a friend dealt with a similar situation?
 
·         Do you think this story had a lesson to teach us? What was it? 
 
Asking questions such as these opens a dialogue between you and your child. When you ask your child what they would do, it allows them to reflect inward. You may find this as a great time to discuss possible solutions in case they deal with something similar. Furthermore, these questions build upon the impact that stories can have on our brains and developing a child’s empathy and emotion. 

​Another benefit that stories provide is giving readers the opportunity to connect to real-life circumstances. Consider the impact of reading a book that deals with the subject of bullying. If a character is bullied in the story, young readers can learn how bullying makes others feel. Therefore, it might make them less likely to pick on children themselves. Children may also learn not only that they should be compassionate to children who are bullied but kind things they can do.   

By asking questions such as the ones above, you can help your child benefit further from the reading material. For example, making predictions about character’s emotions or what is going to happen helps them make conclusions from context clues.  
 
Reading to School-Age Children (Ages 5+)
 
It is easy to see why parents or caregivers should make an effort to read books to young children. But, once children are old enough to read by themselves, parents often leave kids to read independently. In fact, the tendency of parents to read aloud to their child drops significantly after children reach the age of 5 and again after age 8. However, while it's great to encourage independence and to have some extra time to yourself, there are many benefits to reading together even at these ages. 
 
Older children can use their parents' help when reading for fun because after the age of eight the percentage of children who say reading books for fun is extremely or very important drops. By carving time out of the day to read it will let children see that it is something that is important to you.
 
At an older age, stories give children the opportunity to be more creative by encouraging them to exercise their imagination. More often than not, illustrations tend to disappear from books written for older audiences. Although the pictures tend to disappear, authors begin to give more of a description of characters, places or objects. Despite the descriptions giving readers an idea of what the author wants them to see, there is still plenty left up to the reader’s imagination. 
 
In fact, a 1984 study found that a child’s reading level is not the same as their listening level until approximately eighth grade. This means that young readers can comprehend complex stories and understand them better when an adult reads them aloud compared to when they read independently. 
 
One of the first things you may notice when you are involved in your child’s reading habits is what they enjoy. Once your child finishes reading one book series, it may spark ideas of what next book series to start with them. However, if your child only reads certain types of books, you may pick something they might not choose themselves. This is a great way to encourage your child to “not judge a book by its cover”. By actively taking a part in your child’s reading, you will know that they will finish the new book. Overall, this is a great lesson that translates over when they meet new people who may seem different. 
 
 
Setting Up a Reading Routine 
 
There may be days where there is simply too much going on to make the time to read with your child. If this happens, do not get discouraged. If you don't think you will be able to keep a reading routine, consider getting your child to help. For example, mention to them a goal you have of how many books you want to read together in one month. After setting a goal, let your child know that if this goal is reached there will be a reward for both of you to do something else fun together. By mentioning this goal to your child, you will feel more accountable to develop the habit or complete the goal. Also, if you’ve heard your child say they hate reading, an incentive might be just what they need to be more open to reading a book. 
 
Ultimately, by getting your child more involved, it makes them look forward to reading and they may take initiative as well. For example, instead of you needing to initiate story time, your child may remind you that it’s time to read. Perhaps the best time to plan on reading with your child is before bed to give them time to calm down so they can fall to sleep easier. It also makes it easier to get them away from screens before bed. 
 
Reading to your child at an early age definitely sets them up for future success. In fact, according to analyses of the PISA exam (Programme for International Student Assessment), which is given to 15-year-olds worldwide, the biggest factor influencing higher scores was whether or not a child was read to on a regular basis when they were young. 
 
Reading as Adults
 
There are always new things to learn even as adults, and therefore we should be reading too! One of the most well-known benefits that reading books gives to young children (new vocabulary) is applicable to adults as well. 
 
First of all, teenagers and adults can benefit emotionally from taking time to sit down with a book. This is because books can allow readers to escape from reality by transporting them to a different place. When compared to other activities used for stress relief such as listening to music, reading a book works better and faster. In addition to emotional benefits, there are health advantages as well. One important thing to know is you do not need to set aside a significant amount of time to read a day to reap the benefits. In fact, those that read regularly for as little as half-an-hour a day can add two years to their life. 
 
As we age, we begin to think seriously about the decline of our brain and memory. Although it may seem like a natural part of life, books can possibly help. For example, adults who develop the habit of reading regularly may see it begin to slow the decline of their brain function. 
 
Ultimately, we know that children follow the example of those that they are around most. Therefore, if you want your child to read, you must be a role model and take the time to do so yourself. One issue that keeps students from meeting expected reading levels is accessibility to books. More than half of parents in one study claimed that they have less than fifty books at home. If you find that there aren’t many books around your home, make it a routine to regularly visit the library with your child. Don’t forget to pick up some reading material for yourself as well! 
 
Do you and your children have a set time to read together? What are some of your family’s favorite books to read together? 

Dear Friends of the Museum,

Over the past year, our Board of Directors and staff have worked to identify the core values that we adhere to as a nonprofit organization.  These are the things that our nonprofit believes in when it comes to serving children in way that promotes childhood development.  We identified four essential components:  Play, Community, Children and their Families, and Acceptance. 

The following graphic is a visual representation of these core values:

As we look back on 2018, we simply want to say thank you.  Thank you to:

• our visitors for bringing your children to the museum.
• our members who have committed to a year of learning for your children through your membership purchase.
• our donors and sponsors who invest in educational programs and exhibits for our children.
• our community partners who work with us to create that critical support system for childhood learning.
• our volunteers who freely give of their time and talent to strengthen our circle of expertise.
• our educators who bring their students to the museum and who see the value of play and how it is essential to learning and childhood development.

Our appreciation is deep and we value all of you.  Have a safe and meaningful holiday and we look forward to continuing serving your children in the new year.

Sincerely,

Adam Woodworth
Executive Director

​ 
5 Reasons to Make Time for Play Over Winter Break
This is one of the busiest times of the year for children (and parents too)! When school is in session, the hours afterwards are often spent completing homework or attending extracurricular activities. As a result, children are more likely to become stressed as well.
It is common for parents to make time and place an importance on their child’s success in school and participation in clubs/sports. However, do you set a specific time in your family routine (especially during the holidays) for your child to play? If not, here are just a few reasons you need to start:
 
1) Help Your Child Develop Their Personality
It is great for your child to know that they should try their best at school. However, there is more than good grades to raising happy children that become successful, independent adults.
When a child is given the time for free play, it allows them to develop their own personality.  At first, they practice decision-making by choosing what they want to do.  Also, depending on the activity, there are many different skills they can develop or build upon such as their creative or logic skills.
 
2) Manage Your Child’s (and Your) Stress
How do you feel as an adult when there is no time to sit down and relax after a hectic day? Kids should have time to enjoy being kids, rather than just focusing on rushing from store to store for last minute shopping or from house to house for holiday gatherings. An overscheduled life for kids can lead to future emotional problems including depression and anxiety.  
Too many activities can be simply overwhelming. The truth is that as a parent, you need to manage your stress and take time out for some fun too!
 
3) Focus on Your Child’s Physical Health
When school is out for winter break, children may replace sitting down at their desks with sitting around on the couch. One of the times that children are supposed to have time to for play during school – recess – is disappearing in the U.S as early as kindergarten.
As a result, it is up to parents or caregivers to make sure children live an active lifestyle when they are home. Adults should be aware of and limit how much time their children are spending on electronics whether watching T.V. or using a phone/tablet. When the weather is nice, plan to go to the park or encourage your child to play in the backyard. In the winter or when it rains, look for places to go that they can walk around or burn off some of their energy (like a children's museum-hint, hint).
 
4) Effectively Educate Your Child After School
As a parent, there are many things you want to teach your child they won’t learn at school or will further what they learned at school. Although learning is important, it doesn’t always sound “fun” to children (especially when they spent a whole week learning at school). How can you teach your child in a way that will get them to positively respond?
It is often easier (and more fun) to learn when you aren’t focusing on committing it to memory. If your child is playing, there are many opportunities to engage with them in an educational way. Also, children may even present the opportunity for a parent to educate by asking questions.
 
5) Make Time to Bond with Your Child
There are times when being a parent can be overwhelming and you’ll want to take a break. However, your kids will not be young forever. As everyone gets older, it gets hard to work around everyone’s schedules to be able to see each other.
Therefore, take advantage of the time while your child is young and the time in their day isn’t filled up with priorities. You don’t need to spend a lot of money to have a great time. Instead, just take the time to play or complete an activity your child thinks would be fun to do together. Overall, making time to play with your child is a great way to form a strong relationship and make long-lasting memories!
 
Do you have a family schedule that includes time for play this winter break? 

By: Sarah Strobel, Play Coordinator at the Children's Museum in Oak Lawn
​
What subjects do you place the most importance on your child learning in school? There has always been much discussion about the significance of educating children in math, science and writing.
Alternatively, how often does your child just take time to pick up crayons, glue materials together or paint? When there is a struggle to meet a school budget, it is common to hear of art programs being cut from the curriculum. However, art can help children in their success in school and develop important life skills.  

1) Allows for Self-Expression
One factor that distinguishes art from other subjects such as math is that there is no wrong answer. Art allows for those of all ages to freely use their imagination rather than focus on logic and memorization. Instead, people are able to explore their minds and think about how they see things or would like things to be.
It is not uncommon to have a problem at times understanding how your child is feeling. This can be an issue particularly if your child doesn’t know how or is not comfortable expressing their feelings with words. Therefore, one option to consider is asking your child to draw their thoughts through picture. If they need help getting started, consider asking them to draw things such as the best or worst thing about their day. 
While art can help people express themselves without words, it can also aid in their verbal expression. For example, when children are asked to describe what they have created, it can help develop their language skills.

2) Encourages Decision-Making
Whether or not you realized it before, there are a lot of decisions that go into making a piece of art. The first decision involves thinking about what is going to be made. Once that is decided, it is time to think about what colors or materials to use. The artist is also the one who decides when the project is complete!
Art projects are a perfectly safe way to give your child the power to make decisions. When children get the opportunity to make even small decisions it can help them feel independent. Also, when their art is complete they can feel proud of themselves seeing the result of their decisions.

3) Encourages Planning Skills
There are a lot of different situations in life where order and organization matters and art is no exception. Imagine if you were to glue two pieces of paper together and then try to cut only one of those piece of paper to a different size.  Adults can work with children to help them organize their thoughts before they begin for a smooth process. 
Those working with young children can first work with them to sort materials of different shapes, sizes or colors. Once children are older, adults can ask children to describe how they plan to complete their project.

Consider Asking Your Child:

• What supplies are needed to complete this project?
• What do you think needs to be done first, second and last?

 
4) Develops Fine Motor Skills
A child’s development comes from more than just the big things that they do. In fact, when children pick up a paintbrush or crayons, it helps them develop motor skills they need for other tasks. For example, the controlled movements they get used to making are also necessary to be able to button a coat and to write.
Often, working on an art project requires a lot of focus to make things look just how one would like them. As a result, there are many small movements that one makes when they are working. In addition to paintbrushes and crayons, there is another tool children use at craft time that improves their fine motor skills. As early as preschool, the ability to use scissors is emphasized as it can also help children with dexterity needed for writing.

 Incorporates Math and Science
When children create art, there are many things that they can learn, especially when parents take part in the process. In terms of math, young children can practice counting different materials. Older children can work on measuring the length of materials such as string, yarn, ribbon or cloth.

Consider Asking Your Child:

• How many (triangles/circles/squares) do you see/ do we have?
•  How many more yards of material do we need?

​Parents can also use art to get young children excited about science by teaching them about experimentation and cause and effect. For example, parents can mix two colors together and show that it results in a different color. Furthermore, adults strengthen their older child’s observational skills by instructing them to study an animal, plant or object and then draw it.
 
Does the thought of your child making an art project instantly make you think of a big mess? Instead of dreading clean up, use this time to enjoy your child’s youth and explore your own creative side!

By: Sarah Strobel, Play Coordinator at the Children's Museum in Oak Lawn

How do you encourage your child to get involved in the world around them and learn skills?  One great opportunity that is often overlooked aside from when it is required by schools is volunteering. Although volunteering focuses on helping others, there are many personal benefits that even children can gain by getting involved:
 
1) Teaches Appreciation
As adults, we understand that not all people are in the same family or financial situations as ourselves. However, for children, this idea can be more challenging to understand.
Especially during the holiday season, volunteering is relevant as many people are primarily focused on what they hope to receive. Therefore, if children were to volunteer and help the homeless they would learn they are very fortunate to have a home, loving family and food on the table.
 
2) Enhances World Perspective
Volunteering can help children learn that the world includes more than just their home or school. This can help them understand why it is important to get involved in the community and take actions that benefit everyone. When children develop this awareness, they may become inspired more frequently to get involved and think about how to make a difference without your urging.
 
3) Inspires Giving
The act of volunteering can show children they can make a difference even when they don’t have money. In fact, in many cases, it is just giving our time to others that matters. For example, children can volunteer at a retirement home and spend time with the elderly who have no family members. When they know they have made a difference in someone else’s life, they will be excited not just about receiving but giving as well. 
 
4) Introduces Life Skills
When children are exposed to different environments and situations, they can learn many different things. Different volunteering roles can teach young children the importance of listening to directions, for example. These roles can also teach older children to take responsibility through leadership or to listen to the thoughts of their peers. One very important skill all children learn from volunteering is how to work together as a team.
 
5) Builds Social Skills
Parents are often concerned about their children meeting friends, especially if they are shy. Additionally, when children do make friends it is normal to worry about their habits and personalities and how they will influence our child. However, when your child volunteers it opens the possibility for them to be able to engage with people over similar activities and interests. Volunteering also enhances the chance for them to meet with people of different races and backgrounds.
 
6) Benefits Physical Health
For many parents, it can be difficult to get children to be physically active if they don’t enjoy playing sports. However, volunteer opportunities commonly involve individuals to spend time outside on their feet. What’s great about volunteering is that children can improve their physical health whether they are aware of it or not. In 2013, one study showed that 10th graders who volunteered in an after-school program lost more weight compared to their non-volunteering peers.
 
7) Influences Balanced Habits
It can be difficult for busy parents to find ways to entertain their child that does not involve technology. As a result, children may spend hours playing video games or watching television that has no beneficial value. Volunteering gives children the opportunity to put their time towards something which can help emotionally, physically, socially and intellectually. Overall, when children have different hobbies other than spending time on technology, their lifestyle can be more beneficially balanced.
 
8) Develops Sense of Purpose
When we give our time to people or causes that need it most, it helps us feel good about ourselves. In a big world, it can be difficult to know where we fit in and or how we can start making a difference. By volunteering, people can see that actions which might seem small can make a big difference in the lives of others. As a result, getting involved in giving back to their community can help develop self-esteem.  
 
9) Improves Self-Awareness
By taking a part in trying to change the world, people become more aware of their habits. As a result, it becomes easier to complete future positive actions.  For example, someone who has spent time with the homeless may be more likely to first think about donating old clothes instead of throwing them away. Children who have spent time planting trees or flowers and making their community look better may be less likely to litter.
 
10) Shapes Their Future
Those who give their energy and free time to causes are working for a better future for everyone. However, volunteering can also help your child build a positive future for themselves personally. Both the child and parents can learn more about what the child enjoys leading to future activities.
 
Whether child or adult, there is always potential to grow and learn something new one by getting involved. Did you volunteer as a child or in your teenage years? What benefits do you believe it has given you?