Arolik Jameson Blue
Arolik “Arlo” Jameson Blue arrived December 11, 2018 weighing 9 pounds 4 ounces and measuring 22 inches. The best early Christmas present for parents Alex and Shannon and big sister Kaiya. — Shannon Blue
Spring Break Oregon Style
Not amused by the overpriced flights, tickets, food and souvenirs that seem to be an obligatory part of the theme-park experience? This spring break, you can skip the long lines and hefty price tags while still capturing some of that amusement park magic a little closer to home. Day Trip Start your journey at the…
A New Kid Gov for Oregon
Oregon has a female in the governor’s office—and as of the start of this year, the state also can boast having one in the kid governor’s “office.” During a ceremony on Jan. 8, Oregon Secretary of State Dennis Richardson named fifth grader Erikka Baldwin of Eugene as Oregon’s Kid Governor. The program, modeled after a…
Quick Fix?
Modern-day parents will recognize this scene: errands, cranky toddler, long line at the grocery store. At the register, the threenager melts down. To avoid a scene, the parent hands over their iPhone. It buys a few minutes of quiet while she loads groceries into the car without further drama. Parents are also familiar with the…
Meet Todd Looby, Executive Director of BendFilm and Dad Extraordinaire
What is the single best thing you’ve learned from running a film festival? The assumptions I had previously about the importance of film as a forum to unite, excite and inspire are much truer than I thought. Festivals, when done right, work in the vast majority of communities, but having experienced festivals all over the…
Bookshelf
Who Eats Orange? by Dianne White Illustrated by Robin Page Have you ever thought about the colors you eat? White’s new picture book engages readers to think about animals and the rainbow of colors in their diets. Readers will discover the colorful foods eaten by a variety of animals including giraffes, hippos, raccoons, bears and…
Family Milestones in the U.S.
Technology & Social Media • The average age for a child getting their first smartphone is now 10.3 years. Source: techcrunch.com • In 2016, 56% of children aged 8 to 18 had their own social media accounts. The average age when initially signing up for the account was 12.6 years. Source: Common Sense Media Census…
CASA of Central Oregon: A Voice for Children
This year alone, approximately 500 abused and neglected children in Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson counties spent time in foster care. Many of them have gone, or will go through, multiple foster placements before the courts determine their final destination. Without a loving parent or family member to speak up for their best interests, their lives…
Editor’s Note
With some recent clear, sunny days revealing the glory of our snow-capped mountains, I sometimes can’t believe we’re not on vacation. Are you getting out with the family, enjoying all that our unique environment has to offer? In Outdoors, find some great tips for acquainting young children with winter sports in cold temperatures with activities…
Q&A with Elise Burrus, DDS
Q My 10-year-old son has a lot of anxiety every time he goes to the dentist. He starts stressing days in advance of the appointment and sometimes bails at the last minute, refusing to go. Are there any tricks or ways to ease his anxiety regarding the dentist office? A Going to the dentist can…
Colorful Valentines X 2!
February in Bend can feel like winter is never going to end. Why not bring some color into your world with some easy Valentine’s Day kitchen table crafts? Both of these cute and budget-friendly projects are suitable for pre-K (with help from an adult) through school-aged children. I have a suspicion that older siblings might…
All The Right Moves
Being upside down runs in the Ali family. Janae Ali went to college on a gymnastics scholarship, and turns out, the flipping genes got passed down to her kids. Her oldest child, Rohan, who is 10 years old, made it clear from an early age that gymnastics came naturally to him. “At a year and…
Calendar
Daily Open Swim SWIM — Enjoy a day at the pool with the whole family at the Indoor Aquatics Center. SHARC | $15/full day, memberships available sunriversharc.com Daily Sessions Open & Family Skate ICE SKATE — Open skate sessions are open to all ages and abilities, however, children 6 years and under must be supervised…
Circle Time
Seen a giant red flaming chicken lately? Or how about a massive grizzly bear lounging around town? Would it alarm you to learn that we’ve spotted both of these striking creatures in the middle of busy Bend intersections? Fear not. Neither one signals the beginnings of an environmental calamity. At least not yet. Instead, they’re…
Surrogacy: Providing hope & help for families
For many couples, deciding whether or not to have a child is a matter of agreement and timing. For others, fertility and carrying a healthy pregnancy is difficult or impossible, leaving them with few options for expanding their tribe. While adoption is an obvious, viable solution for those who are unable to conceive, some parents-to-be…
Get ‘Em Started Young: Winter Adventures, Preschool Style
In a region as amped on winter sports as Central Oregon, there’s really no sense in delaying the inevitable with young children. Whether enrolling them in group lessons, privates or settling on parent teaching, there are ample opportunities to get kids started on being comfortable in this winter recreation mecca. Skiing and Snowboarding When learning…
Best of the Nest 2019
New to town? New to parenting? In search of a date night, tutor or pediatrician? We’ve got you covered. In fact, we’ve got the best of the best! Vote for your favorite kid-centric and family-oriented local businesses and services in our annual “Best of the Nest” readers poll. Ballots go live Monday, Jan. 28 at…
