Tomorrow night, the jolly big fellow in the red suit slides down the chimney to deliver toys to all the good girls and boys. Of course, if you have tweens in the house, it may be hard for them to believe this is really what happens. And it often is even harder for them not to tell their own version of events – that it’s really Mom and Dad who deliver the goods — to younger friends and family members.

In my house, the older brother has been telling the younger one for a couple years now that Santa isn’t real. The younger one, now 7, wants to still believe, although he has his suspicions. I tell him that his older brother can think what he wants, but as for me, I’m going to keep believing.

What do you tell the skeptical tween who no longer believes in Santa or the nearly tween who wants to believe, but isn’t quite sure. And do you have any advice on how to persuade the doubters not to spoil the fun for the rest of us?

(Photo by: Associated Press)

Posted by Liz Atwood at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (9)
        

Whether you celebrate Hanukkah or you're just looking for something to do on Christmas Day, you'll want to know about the Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore's Cinco de Chanukah party this Thursday (on the fifth day of Hanukkah).

The party takes place from noon to 4:30 p.m. at the Rosenbloom Owings Mills branch of the center, 3506 Gwynnbrook Ave. There will be a carnival with latkes and costumed characters; bingo, face-painting and music; Sephardic/Latin-inspired food for sale; olive oil and salsa tastings; and a community menorah lighting.

Tickets are $18 per non-member family; JCC members get in free with a donation of an item of non-perishable food. Call Gail Zuskin at 410-356-5200, x414 for more information.

(Associated Press photo)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 12:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Things to Do
        

With Hanukkah under way and Christmas coming on Thursday, Baltomommie asked if it's really necessary to have her children write thank-you notes for holiday gifts, or whether they can just dictate their thanks or call.  "I want well-mannered children who express their appreciation, but the thank you notes are always a struggle!"

Joan Grayson Cohen, a licensed clinical social worker at Jewish Community Services who last advised us on talking to strangers, says thank-you notes teach important lessons. "These include being gracious about receiving gifts and valuing the gesture of gift giving," she wrote in an e-mail. "Writing thank you notes also teaches children to think beyond themselves and to make the giver feel appreciated. Taking a little time to express thanks teaches the protocols of civility and consideration, which can be transferred to other situations later in life, such as writing a note after a job interview."

Fortunately, Cohen offered us some tips about writing those notes that should make this act of appreciation more fun for everyone:

--Choose a method appropriate to your child’s age. Younger children who can’t write might draw a picture. They can dictate their thanks and Mom or Dad can write down their words. What a wonderful opportunity this is to begin teaching your child to write his or her name!

--Find alternatives to writing. A children who can write but for whom writing is difficult (or who is resisting) can design his or her own stationery; cut out a picture of the gift from a magazine or the box and tape it in the note; and/or draw or paint the gift in the thank you note.

--Make the task manageable. Don’t be a perfectionist about grammar and spelling. The thank you is more meaningful when it looks like it comes from the child. Brief notes are fine. If a child receives many gifts, space out the notes by writing a few each day.

--Consider e-mail. Be open to different methods of expressing thanks. Today e-mail is acceptable.

--Share the thanks you've received. Give your child positive models by sharing appreciative notes you have received, showing how much the thanks means to someone else.

--Plan ahead. Purchase thank you cards with your child before the holidays (there's still a little time). This will set up the expectation that notes will be written for gifts received – another way to minimize the conflict.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: The Monday Consult
        

Seems like Hanukkah and Christmas will be smaller-scale affairs for many families this year, whether or not they've been directly affected yet by the economic meltdown.

We spent half as much on our tree this year as we normally do, for example, and skipped going to The Nutcracker.

There are silver linings to this behavior, of course. It's an opportunity to assess what you really value, and to communicate that to your kids.

My colleague Julie Bykowicz is writing a story on the subject and would like to talk to some of you who are scaling back. Please give her a call at 410-332-6727 or e-mail her here.

(Photo of the Olney Theatre Center for the Arts 2003 production of The Gifts of the Magi by Stan Barouh)

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 12:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Our Guest Dad today is David Nitkin, a political editor here at the Sun.

He's writing about how to view youth sports when your main goal is not necessarily to build a world-class athlete. Here's his post:

I was talking recently with my sister, who told me of the exploits of her oldest child, an energetic six-year-old boy who was starting to play soccer. He was channeling his enthusiasm onto the field, and was regularly scoring goals, at least one a game.

I realized it was an experience with which I have been unfamiliar.

We’ve spent a lot of time on the sidelines of soccer games, and never seen a child of ours kick a ball into the net. Same goes for field hockey, for our daughter. Baseball has been a bit better, but if our son crosses the plate, it’s usually because he walked, and there were three more walks behind him.

I’ve tried to maintain a proper perspective about sports. Given their heritage and genetics, there’s little chance of our children becoming star athletes. But we want them to grow up active, healthy and well-rounded. Team and individual sports are going to be part of the equation, we’ve decided, so they get fresh air and exercise and learn the values of teamwork and participation.

We’re not going to be sideline-screaming, referee-berating parents. Winning and goal scoring are going to be secondary.

That’s why I appreciated the talk Coach Mike gave the 8-year-old basketball team that includes our son before their first exhibition game this month. Our son is just about in the middle of the team height-wise. He’s probably just about in the middle in dribbling and shooting skills as well.

Coach Mike told the boys that they each had to figure out what they were good at, and try to use and develop that skill. The biggest boys would be best at rebounding and getting the ball close to the basket. The smaller boys would be faster, and needed to dribble around the defense. Not everyone was going to be a point-scorer.

Our son seemed to take the lesson to heart. He hustled up and down the court, playing tough defense. He found the open spot, and tried to pass the ball to the right guy. At halftime, I congratulated his hustle, and gave a tip or two. Don’t stop dribbling too early, I advised. I bet you can get the ball closer to the hoop.

The first time he had the ball in the third quarter, he did just that. He drove into the key and put up a shot. It went in.

I finally got to experience that thrill – watching a kid score in a sports game. It was his only basket that game. But the team didn’t really score that many. Because it was an exhibition, no score was kept.

I was surprised, however, at how quickly my excitement faded. Not long after the ball went through the net, I heard Coach Mike’s words in my head. I liked the pep-talk lesson. So I tucked away the memory of watching my child score a lay-up, and returned to the reality of gently trying to help my kids figure out what they are good at.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Father's Day Tuesday, Sports
        

Are you cutting down on cable to save money? You might be able to catch up with your favorite shows and movies online for less.

Arts+Labs, a collaboration between technology companies and the creative community, has a good list here of web sites that have free and low-cost shows for both adults and kids, including fancast.com, hulu.com, and more. 

Do any of you use these sites for family entertainment in lieu of TV? If so, what are the pros and cons? Are the kids as comfy in front of an online show as they are watching TV?

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 1:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Television, Tip Sheet Thursdays
        

Here's a holiday bonus for you and our friends at Dining@Large -- an extra recipe, for Brown Sugar-Sour Cream Cheesecake.

It's not the kind of thing I usually post on this blog, but it does relate to a common holiday mom theme: Doing way too much and making yourself crazy for the holidays. Even when you promise you won't.

This year, as I have every year recently, I vowed to do only necessary cooking and baking for the holidays, because when you're a newspaper food editor and the mother of two elementary-school children, there is no shortage of "necessary" cooking and baking. So how to explain why late the other night I was pulverizing three packages of softened cream cheese with butter, sour cream, brown sugar and assorted other goodies, then turning down the oven temperature faithfully every 20 minutes for an hour or so, then getting up at 5 the next morning to shave dark chocolate decoratively over the cheesecake that resulted?

The answer is...

Well, I would say it's that I have a reputation to uphold. And I wanted to please my colleagues at the holiday party. My husband would say I've just lost my mind, and he's probably right.

Since Dahlink heard about the cheesecake and asked for the recipe, I'm happy to oblige. I do love this recipe, because it turns out a crack-free cheesecake with a lovely texture without the hassle of a water bath. It's from the book that also gave us Perfect Brownies months ago.

I didn't think to take a picture before it was devoured, which is too bad, because it's also very pretty -- especially with the addition of the chocolate, easily shaved over the top with a vegetable peeler.

Serves 12

Crust:

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs 

1/2 cup yellow cornmeal, preferable stone-ground

2 tablespoons sugar

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Filling:

1/12 pounds cream cheese, at room temperature

8 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

1 1/4 cups lightly packed light brown sugar

2 tablespoons molasses

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1/2 cup sour cream

1/4 cup heavy cream

4 large eggs

Topping:

1 1/2 cups sour cream

2 tablespoons lightly packed light brown sugar

1 1/2 tablespoons peach brandy, bourbon, orange liqueur or orange juice

Half a baking bar of good dark chocolate (60-70 percent cacao), optional

For the crust, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. For a gas oven, place a rack in the lower level. For an electric oven, place it in the middle level. Butter a 10-inch springform pan, line bottom and sides with parchment paper, and butter the parchment paper.

Combine graham cracker crumbs, cornmeal, sugar, and melted butter in a bowl. Mix with a fork until crumbs are evenly moistened. Press crumbs into the bottom and 1/2 inch up the sides of the pan, using the bottom of a metal 1/4 cup measuring cup. Bake for about 8 minutes, or until the crust just starts to pick up a bit of color around the edge. Remove from the oven and let cool. Leave the oven on.

For filling, combine the cream cheese, butter, and brown sugar in a large bowl and mix until very smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary. Add the molasses and vanilla and mix. Add the sour cream and mix. Add the heavy cream and mix just to blend. Add the eggs one at a time and mix just to incorporate. Scrape the bowl, making sure the filling is well mixed. Pour into prepared crust.

Bake for 20 minutes, then turn the oven down to 300 degrees. Bake 20 minutes more; turn oven down to 250 degrees. Bake 20 more minutes, then turn oven to low (or 225 degrees) and bake until the cake looks set around the edge but just a bit jiggly in the very center. This timing can vary widely depending on your oven, from about 20 to 40 minutes.

For the topping: While cake is in its final baking stage, whisk together the sour cream, brown sugar and brandy, liqueur, or orange juice.

As soon as the cake is done, remove it from the oven and turn the oven up to 350 degrees. Slowly and evenly pour the sour cream topping over the cake. You can use an offset spatula to help spread it into an even layer. Bake for 3-10 minutes, until the topping is just set (this also varies by oven). Cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. Refrigerate for several hours or overnight. Before serving, bring chocolate (if using) to room temperature and shave small curls over the top.

 --Adapted from “The 150 Best American Recipes,” by Fran McCullough and Molly Stevens; originally printed in "Sweet Stuff" by Karen Barker 

*Since this was a rush job, I didn't have the recipe analyzed. But with that much cream cheese, cream, eggs, etc.? We don't want to know.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 10:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Food and Recipes
        

If you're not consumed with shopping for Hanukkah, which starts Sunday, and Christmas, here are few family activities for the weekend. Kwanzaa Family Day at the Baltimore Museum of Art, pictured on the right, takes place Sunday:

Thursday, Dec. 18:

Crafternoon: Hear a story, then make a craft based on the book at 3:45 p.m. at the Brooklyn Park branch of the Anne Arundel County Public Library. For elementary-school age children (preschoolers can attend if accompanied by an adult). Free.

Caroling in Bel Air: Go caroling in the neighborhood around the Bel Air branch of the Harford County Public Library, then enjoy hot chocolate and cookies. 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Call 410-638-3151 for more information.

Holiday open house: Visit with Santa and enjoy refreshments at 4 p.m. at the Enoch Pratt Free Library's Light Street branch. Call 410-396-1096.

Friday, Dec. 19:

Nature Story Hour: Natural Holidays - Hear how the natural world comes alive during the holidayss from 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. at the Howard P. Rawlings Conservatory, Druid Hill Park, 3100 Swan Drive, Baltimore. Ages: 3-6 with adult. Call 410-261-5056 for information.

Holiday stories - Hear holiday stories at the Mount Airy branch of the Carroll County Public Library, 10 a.m. Ages 4-6. Call 410-386-4488 or visit library.carr.org.

On Saturday...

(Photo from the 2006 Kwanzaa Family Day courtesy of the Baltimore Museum of Art)

Saturday, Dec. 20:

Christmas for Kids: The Baltimore Choral Arts Society presents a holiday program with a visit from Santa at 11 a.m. at Goucher College's Kraushaar Auditorium. $13. Visit baltimorechoralarts.org

Make holiday pop-up cards: Create cards for the holidays at 11 a.m. at the Savage branch of the Howard County Public Library. For ages 7 and up; registration required. Free. Call 410-880-5978 or register online.

Cookie decorating: Decorate cookies from 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. at the Westminster branch of the Carroll County Public Library. Call 410-386-4488 or visit library.carr.org.

Sunday, Dec. 21:

Hanukkah on Ice: Connections, a program of the Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore, hosts a skating party from 12:30 p.m. - 2:45 p.m at the Mount Pleasant Ice Arena. $5 includes skate rental and snacks; free for children under 3. Call 410-369-9363. Register at associated.org/iceskating.

Live from the Sun: Celebrate and learn about the winter solstice from noon-4 p.m. at the Maryland Science Center, with crafts themed on the Northern Lights, a staff-led discussion of the sun's movements, and a viewing of sunspots and other sun features in the Observatory. Free with museum admission. Call 410-545-5940 or visit mdsci.org.

Kwanzaa Family Day at the BMA: Festivities at the Baltimore Museum of Art include performances by Fritete African Drum & Dance Ensemble and Lesole’s Dance Project and storytelling with drums by Baba Jamal Koram. There will also be workshop for making drums using recycled objects. The program runs from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the museum, 10 Art Museum Drive. Free. For more information, call 443-573-1832 or e-mail programs@artbma.org.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Things to Do
        

Our latest lightened comfort food is a traditional pot roast. This one, from a recent Cooking Light cookbook, goes easier on the oil than some versions, and calls for a smaller serving of meat than some -- about 3 ounces (the size of a deck of cards).

I thought this would be a good bet for families, because the chuck roast is inexpensive and my kids, at least, tend to like plain pieces of beef that are easy to cut...

(Photo by me)

This one is also forgiving of the frenetic family weekend lifestyle. It needs to spend another hour in a low oven because of an unexpected father-son trip to the urgent-care clinic (eye infection/ear infection)? No problem.

This works as a low-budget holiday meal, of course. (For another version, check out our Cooking 101 on roast with the executive chef of the Hyatt Regency Baltimore today.) 

Traditional Yankee Pot Roast

Makes 10 servings 

10 servings (serving size: 3 ounces beef and about 1/2 cup vegetables)

2 teaspoons  olive oil

1 (4-pound) boneless chuck roast, trimmed

1 tablespoon kosher salt

1 tablespoon cracked black pepper

2 cups coarsely chopped onion

2 cups low-salt beef broth

1/4 cup ketchup

2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

1 cup chopped plum tomato

1 1/4 pounds small red potatoes

1 pound carrots, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Chopped fresh parsley (optional)

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Sprinkle roast with salt and pepper. Add roast to pan, browning on all sides (about 8 minutes). Remove from pan. Add onion to pan; sauté 8 minutes or until browned. Return roast to pan. Combine broth, ketchup, and Worcestershire; pour over roast. Add tomato; bring to a simmer.

Cover and bake at 300° for 2 1/2 hours or until tender. Add potatoes and carrots; cover and bake an additional 30 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Stir in lemon juice. Garnish with parsley, if desired.

--Recipe and analysis from Cooking Light Complete Cookbook

Per serving: 290 calories, 8 grams fat, 3 grams saturated fat, 33 grams protein, 20 grams carbohydrate, 3 grams fiber, 92 milligrams cholesterol, 756 milligrams sodium

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Dinner Together, Food and Recipes
        

One of the most popular items on tweens' holiday wish lists is video games. While I have yet to figure out when to press A and when to press B, my kids know all of the hot games and every few weeks there is a new one they just have to have. But how are parents supposed to know whether the game they are buying is suitable for their kids?

The ratings on the box are some help, but now the Entertainment Software Rating Board, an independent, non-profit organization that assigns the ratings to video games, has expanded its descriptions of games to help parents make informed choices.

For example, I now know that the wrestling game my kids persuaded me to buy not only is labeled for teens, but also contains “moderate profanity” and “characters also make occasional references to beer, blood alcohol levels, and bars.”

Great.

Oh well, at least I will be better prepared next time I go game shopping. The ESRB even has mobile Web site at m.esrb.org, which allows consumers to search game titles on their mobile phones right when they’re in the store. Check out the board’s Web site for more on how the rating system works.

Happy shopping.

Photo by former Baltimore Sun photographer David Hobby, 2004

Posted by Liz Atwood at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

A local father who reads the blog asked me to get an answer to this question: "How do we get our 3-year-old out of our bed?"

West writes that when you do move a child out of your bed, you must be completely consistent. "You mustn’t cave in and take him into your bed sometimes, not even when it's almost morning, or you are going to confuse him," she writes.

If a child has been in your bed for months or years, here's how West suggests you help him sleep in his own room:

-Daytime acclimation to his room if he rarely spends time in it. Play in there, get him changed in there, re-decorate it, talk up how great it is to have your own room and how safe and cozy it is. You may even share what your room was like when you were a child.

-Have him start napping in his room.

-You could decide to co-sleep with him for a few nights in his room, West says, but this is not necessary.

-Have a family meeting. Tell your son that it is now time for him to go to bed and sleep all night in his own room. He may be shocked if he has never had to do that. Explain to him that you will stay with him as he learns how to put himself to sleep. Remind him that when he gets up you will return him to his bed and stay with him until he goes back to sleep. Most of all, tell him how proud of himself he will be. Tell him about other people he knows who sleep in their own bed all night long—older cousins, grandparents, when you were little, etc.

-Create a sticker chart with "sleep manners" -- the behaviors you expect -- such as, "lies quietly in bed," "puts self to sleep with out Daddy lying down next to you," and so on.

-Then pick your first night. Review the manners at bedtime (and the next morning). Have a comforting bedtime routine, kisses and lights out. Sit by the child's bed and offer verbal and physical reassurance, but do not lie down with him. Stay there, engaging very little until he is asleep. Each time he wakes, quietly return him to his bed, remind him that it is not time to wake up, and sit by his bed. Move your chair every 3 days. The next position is in the room but by the door, then in the hall but still in view and then out of view.

There's more on the subject in West's book, Good Night Sleep Tight.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: The Monday Consult
        

It's teacher conference period now, and our frequent Guest Dad Joe Burris is back some observations on the ritual. Here's his post:

"A few years ago when I was contemplating leaving the journalism field a few friends asked, "Why don't you consider teaching?" I replied that I could scarcely see myself working as a teacher, and the reason could be summed up in three words: parent-teacher conferencing.

"Every time I attend parent-teacher conferencing night, which I did recently, I come away relieved that I don't have that job. I'd rather give vaccinations to 2-year-olds all day.

"I say this because from a distance, parent-teacher conferencing seems like a no-win activity for the teacher.

"At my 11-year-old daughter Nyaniso's school, conferences are held in the respective teacher's room, which means that parents who arrive earlier than their scheduled meeting time sit as other parents conference with the teachers. Often I've sat listening to parents who are quite stingy when it comes to offering kudos to the teacher. When the child excels, it's because of the parents' efforts to make sure homework is done on time and the child's smarts, which of course was passed down from the parents.

"And when the child does poorly? Look out.

"Recently I overhead a mother berate a teacher because her child had made a "C" for the first time.

" 'Well, I'm sorry, but something must be wrong here, because my daughter doesn't make C's,' the mother scowled. She scarcely listened as the teacher outlined her daughter's output in detail, and at times cut the teacher off in mid-sentence, insisting, again, that her daughter does not make C's. To me, the only saving grace was that her daughter wasn't present.

"I sat there wondering how might I have dealt with the mother if I were her daughter's teacher, and I could come up with nothing.

"When my wife and I finally approached the teacher, we began by thanking her for all her help in making certain our daughter stays on top on her work. The teacher's smile was so big you would have thought she won the Powerball lottery.

"So here's to all you teachers out there. Yours is a tough job that someone has to do. I'm glad it's not me."

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 8:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

The folks over at Market Center -- I had never heard this as the name of the neighborhood around Lexington Market, but apparently 'tis so -- wanted you to know Santa is coming to their neck of the woods on Saturday, too.

Santa will be traveling around the shopping district on a fire truck, starting from the box office entrance of the Franz Merrick Performing Arts Center on Eutaw Street and traveling around the 400 blocks of Baltimore, Howard, Lexington, Paca, Fayette, Franklin, Eutaw, Liberty and Saratoga streets, and Park Avenue. Santa will tour this Saturday and next, 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

The event is sponsored by the Baltimore City Fire Department.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Things to Do
        

It's that time again. I'm trying to get a few Monday Consults going for next few weeks to cut down on my own holiday insanity, and I'd like to have some topical questions to answer.

What's on your mind, parenting-wise, that we haven't covered?

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 2:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: The Monday Consult
        

Today's Tip Sheet is a link to a holiday guide from a group that knows its stuff when it comes to toys. The Parents' Choice Foundation, a national nonprofit group based in Timonium, has been evaluating toys for more than 30 years. You can find its picks for 2008 here. The guide has a pretty neat search tool, too -- you can call up toys based on interests (for the budding poet, a kid who loves animals, a science buff), age, and your budget.

One toy Parents' Choice has approved through the years: versions of the Ugly Doll at left.   

By the way, I was looking back at a story I did on Parents' Choice several years ago and found some tips the founder, Diana Huss Green, laid out in 1983. I thought you might find them interesting...

   A good toy:

    * Has staying power and engages.

    * Builds attention spans.

    * Stimulates questions and presents problems for solving.

    * Can be played with in many ways. Challenges a child to do, think or feel.

    * Is attractive, well-made, fun and safe.

    * Fits both your tastes and pocketbook and your child's talents, interests, abilities and size.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 11:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Tip Sheet Thursdays
        

Here's our short list of things to do this weekend. There are several opportunities to make gingerbread houses -- always a fun activity. (Just don't leave your house on the back porch where the squirrels can get it...)

There are also lots of performances of The Nutcracker around town. There's a roundup of performances and times in our You and Your Weekend section today.

Thursday, Dec. 11:

Pet Photo with Santa: Four-legged family members can get in on the holiday fun by taking a picture with Santa. The Centre at Glen Burnie, Ritchie Highway, Anne Arundel. Free. 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. 410-766-6529 for more information.

What a Great Job -- Cake Decorator: Kids can learn about being a cake decorator at the Southeast Anchor branch of the Enoch Pratt Free Library. 3:30 p.m. Ages 6 - 12. 410-396-1580 or prattlibrary.org for more information.

Stories for Sleepyheads: Kids 2-6 can enjoy bedtime stories and activities from 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. at the Annapolis branch of the Anne Arundel County Public Library. 410-222-1770 or aacpl.net for more information.

Friday, Dec. 12:

KidsArt: Kids 3-5 can receive a detailed art lesson from a professional fine arts instructor at the Howard County Library Miller branch. 11 a.m. Registration required. 410-313-1955 for more information.

Fireside Visit: Familes can hear Santa read holiday classics like The Night Before Christmas and How The Grinch Stole Christmas while enjoying hot chocolate and cookies. Ages 2 and up, with an adult. 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Ukazoo Books, 730 Dulaney Valley Rd., Towson. 410-832-2665 or ukazoo.com for more information.

And on Saturday....  

(AP Photo/Mark Moran / The Citizens' Voice)

Saturday, Dec. 13:

Ride a streetcar with Santa: This weekend and next, the Baltimore Streetcar Museum offers rides on its “tinsel trolley” with Santa to his nearby workshop, along with holiday refreshments and music. Rides take place from 1:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; the museum, at 1901 Falls Road, will open at noon. Tickets are $7; $5 for children under 12. Call 410-547-0264 or visit baltimorestreetcar.org.

"A Christmas Carol," radio style: Listen to a radio rendition of the Charles Dickens classic by the Golden Radio Buffs at 1 p.m. at the Baltimore Museum of Industry. Admission $7; members $5.

International Open House: Families can enjoy music, crafts, food and fun with Santa. Free. Village Learning Place, 2521 St. Paul Street. 12 p.m. - 4 p.m. 410-235-2210 for more information.

Snow and a Little Ho Ho Ho: Kids can learn about snowflakes and celebrate the winter season. 10 a.m.- 11:30 a.m. at the Eden Mill Nature Center, 1617 Eden Mill Rd., Pylesville., for ages 6-9. Pre-registration is required. $5 for members, and $6 for non-members. 410-836-3050 or edenmill.org for more information.

Winter Warm Up: Preschool-age children can hear warm and fuzzy stories and do crafts at 10 a.m. at the Severna Park branch of the Anne Arundel County Public Library. 410-222-6290 or aacpl.net for more information.

Winter Holiday Fun: Families can enjoy games, stories, food and fun while learning about the many different kinds of winter holidays. All ages (under 3 must be accompanied by an adult). 11 a.m. at the Carroll County Public Library, Taneytown branch. 410-386-4488 or library.carr.org for more information.

Crafternoon: Kids can make special crafts to take home with them. 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. All ages. Anne Arundel County Public Library, West County branch. 410-222-6277 or aacpl.net for more information.

Gingerbread House Stories and Creation: Kids can listen to stories and make their own gingerbread houses at the Towson branch of the Baltimore County Public Library. Ages 6 and up, with an adult. 2 p.m. Free. Registration required. 410-887-6166 or bcpl.info for more information.

Sunday, Dec. 14:

Family Holiday Concert: Listen to seasonal music from the Handel Children's Choir at 4 p.m. at First English Lutheran Church, 3807 N. Charles. Tickets are $10; children under 12 free. Tickets can be purchased at www.brownpapertickets.com or at the door.

Make It, Take It - Gingerbread House: Familes can make their own gingerbread houses while enjoying a story and apple cider at the Eden Mill Nature Center, 1617 Eden Mill Rd., Pylesville. $8 per house. 2 p.m.- 3:30 p.m. Pre-registation required. Ages 4 and up. 410-836-3050 or edenmill.org for more information.

Holiday concert at the Walters: Free performances begin at 2 p.m. at the museum, including a band of strolling carolers who will sing Christmas and Hanukkah tunes. Go to thewalters.org.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Things to Do
        

This recipe was more for my husband than my kids. He occasionally hankers for his mom's good old-fashioned tuna casserole. When I spotted this lightened version in a new EatingWell cookbook, I thought I'd give it a try.

It's simple and has no canned soup, for those who don't like that. Husband felt it needed more tuna...

Photo from "EatingWell Comfort foods Made Healthy," by Jessie Price and the editors of EatingWell

but I thought it was a nice alternative to the full-fat original. And the skillet treatment (you broil it at the end, but do watch it carefully!) makes preparation pretty quick.

Skillet Tuna Noodle Casserole

Serves 6

8 ounces whole-wheat egg noodles
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
8 ounces mushrooms, sliced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup dry white wine
6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 cups nonfat milk
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
12 ounces canned chunk light tuna, drained
1 cup frozen peas, thawed
1 cup finely grated parmesan cheese (divided use)
1/2 cup coarse, dry whole-wheat bread crumbs (see note)

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook noodles until just tender, 6 to 8 minutes or according to package directions. Drain and rinse. Position rack in upper third of the oven and preheat broiler.
 Meanwhile, heat oil in a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, mushrooms and salt and cook, stirring often, until the onion is softened but not browned, about 5 minutes. Add wine and cook until evaporated, 4 to 5 minutes.
Sprinkle flour over the vegetables; stir to coat. Add milk and pepper and bring to a simmer, stirring constantly. Stir in tuna, peas and 1/2 cup parmesan until evenly incorporated. Then, stir in the noodles (the pan will be very full). Remove from the heat.
Sprinkle the casserole with bread crumbs and the remaining 1/2 cup parmesan. Broil until bubbly and lightly browned on top, 3 to 4 minutes.
Note: To make your own whole-wheat bread crumbs, cut crusts off 1 1/2 slices of whole-wheat bread and pulse in a food processor until coarse crumbs form. Spread crumbs on a baking sheet and bake at 250 degrees until crispy, about 15 minutes.

Recipe and analysis from “EatingWell Comfort Foods Made Healthy,” by Jessie Price and the editors of EatingWell

Per serving: 406 calories, 8 grams fat, 3 grams saturated fat, 53 milligrams cholesterol, 47 grams carbohydrate, 32 grams protein, 5 grams fiber, 684 milligrams sodium

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Dinner Together
        

The holiday season is a peak time for kids to fly alone. Most airlines have unaccompanied minor programs for which parents pay fees ranging from $39 to $150 for the airlines to look after their children. These programs are typically for kids age 5-14 (kids under 5 are not allowed to fly alone.)

Nevertheless, mishaps occur. Flights are delayed. Connections missed. Occasionally, as happened in August at Dulles airport, a kid gets lost. You can read what Baltimore Sun travel editor Michelle Zimmerman-Deal wrote about it here. 

If you have kids who will be traveling alone, you might find this advice from Sheena Berg on www.blended-families.com helpful:

 1. There are no Department of Transportation rules about kids flying alone, and each airline has its own rules. Check with the airline when you book your ticket to find out its procedures.

2. Kids 12 years and older do not require unaccompanied minor procedures, but carriers will implement procedures at the request of parents and payment of the fee. However, if the parent refuses UM services, the airline expects that the child will be responsible for making his own alternative plans if the plane is delayed, diverted, or the flight canceled.

3. Book non-stop, early morning flights, and be prepared for delays due to weather, technical problems or cancellations. Avoid connecting flights with different airlines even though they may offer the cheapest fare.

4. Make sure your child and the pick up person have complete information: all flight numbers, dates, times, and airports of origin and arrival, proof of age of your child, and an airline emergency number to call in case of delays or changes. Always check whether you need a gate pass and photo ID to accompany your child to the gate and for the pick up at the other end.

 5. On day of flight, allow plenty of time to get to the airport to avoid the stress of rushing and cutting things tight. Stay at the gate area until the flight is in the air…sometimes planes are delayed, canceled or have to return to the gate.

You can read the full article here.

Any other thoughts or advice for parents with kids flying solo this season?

(AP photo)

Posted by Liz Atwood at 6:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Teens
        

It always brightens my day to get a text message at 12:15 p.m. that because of heating problems, school has closed -- at noon.

I rushed to school with irrational visions of my children freezing alone on the corner. Of course, the teachers would never leave them by themselves, and of course, a lot of other parents got the text late, too. We were all running up the hill in a panic with the same crazy thoughts, trying to make last-minute arrangements on our cell phones. And then we found our kids, perfectly happy in their classrooms and waiting for us.

Now I could use a tranquilizer....

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 2:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: School's Out
        

You may have missed Kayris' good question, buried as it was under the Baked Ziti recipe. She asked:

I found out today that my 2-year-old will most likely need eye surgery and an MRI before that. Any suggestions for making it easier for a child so young, and any suggestions to get ME through having to see my child under general anesthesia?

Our hearts go out to her and the family, obviously; this is going to be hard to endure no matter what advice we can give. I sent her question to Dr. Michael Crocetti, director of pediatrics at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. Here are his thoughts:

"Having surgery or a medical procedure that requires sedation can be scary and very anxiety provoking for the child and parents. Fortunately, doctors, nurses, and other hospital staff that specialize in pediatric sedation and anesthesia are experts at easing anxiety and going through each step of the process until you feel as comfortable as possible.

"Also, most pediatric centers decorate their rooms and procedure suites in a warm, family-friendly way."

Hospital staff, he says, usually take the age of the child as a cue for how they should work with the family. "Most 2-year-olds have anxiety around strangers and new environments, so for them it's all about surrounding them with familiar things - a special blanket, toy, book, etc.," Crocetti writes.

And even though mom and dad may be extremely nervous about watching their child go through surgery (I would be!), Crocetti writes that it's all the more important to stay calm at a time like this. "Parents should try and appear calm and collected with their children, which I know can be tough, but children can sense your anxiety," he writes.

"Parents are usually allowed to go into the procedure area or operating room with the child. How far the parent goes is dependent on their comfort level and how calm and matter of fact they can keep themselves. Usually children are sedated in a gradual fashion with medications that first make them sleepy followed by stronger medications that put them fully asleep. The parents usually are asked to leave the room once the child is asleep."

The good thing, Crocetti writes, is that kids really won't remember anything from the time they fall asleep until they wake back up after surgery.

Do any of you who've gone through this have advice to share?

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: The Monday Consult
        

Our Guest Dad today is David H. Nevins, president of Nevins & Associates in Hunt Valley; father of Freddi, 16-½, and Jake, 13; and the co-chair of the newly formed Maryland Highway Safety Foundation. He's writing about advising his new teen driver.

Here's his post:

"My cell phone rang early this morning. It was a call from my 16-½ year old daughter, who for the past few months has been driving herself to school. She was alarmed by the fact that the car’s message center alerted her to “change oil now.” She took the message literally and had pulled over to the side of the road to call me about how to change her oil. I advised her that we could change the oil this weekend, which would certainly suffice. She wasn’t sure I was right, but proceeded to school nevertheless.

I’m sure all parents of newly minted 16-year-old drivers have similar stories. Although my daughter practiced driving for months and took a comprehensive driver’s education course, there is much that she (and other new drivers her age) still has to learn. We’ve had cell phone calls, much like this morning’s, about how to turn on the rear wipers, how to work the gas pumps, how and when to put air in the tires, and numerous other innocent questions.

My favorite question from my daughter was what to do about the fact that the impatient driver behind her on a single lane road kept honking at her and giving her “the finger,” which she could see through the rear view mirror—despite the fact that she was driving at “exactly the posted speed limit.” I suggested she simply ignore him.

But, while many of the above incidents are basic and even humorous in nature, it is imperative that we take very seriously our children’s inquires regarding safe driving. They know only what we teach them and, more importantly, what we show them. Let’s teach them a good lesson and drive safely, courteously, and intelligently."

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 7:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Father's Day Tuesday
        

Eve Eifler, co-director of Tips on Trips and Camps, a free advisory service with a web site (and a Baltimore arm) that helps families find the right camps, sent us some tips on affording summer camp this year.

Even though it's December, this is a timely topic. More than in years past, camps are offering deals for families who enroll early. At the same time, parents might not have the cash on hand for early deposits -- or they might wonder whether their camp plans will change next summer if someone in the family loses a job.

Here are Eifler's ideas: 

"If you have a tight budget but know you want to send your child away to camp:

--Be aware of early enrollment discounts. Plan ahead.

--Ask the camp about a discount for multiple children from one family.

--Inquire about shorter sessions to accommodate a tight budget.

--Make summer a part of your educational plan. Choose a shorter specialty program that will enhance the student’s profile for college or help develop a new interest or skill.

--Contact camps run by your local county government or agencies like the Jewish Federation, the JCC, the Salvation Army, Campfire Boys and Girls or the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. These camps offer a summer experience at a reduced cost because the sponsoring agency subsidizes the camp.

--Look into financial aid, which is available at most camps. If you apply early, it is possible to get a 20-50 percent discount based on need."

Do you have other ideas to share?

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 11:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: Tip Sheet Thursdays
        

Major holiday happenings this week/end. It will be hard to choose which to embrace and which to pass up.

And it's also the prime weekend to get your tree and put it up, if you do a tree, so there's that to fit in.

If you're in a going-out mood, here are the highlights, including the Mount Vernon tree lighting, mayor's Christmas parade, and Olde Tyme Christmas in Fells Point:

Thursday, Dec. 4:

37th Annual Light of the Washington Monument: Along with the lighting, there will be live entertainment, fireworks and a holiday village with crafts and food in Mount Vernon’s West Park, 201 W. Monument St. Entertainment starts at 5:30 p.m.; lighting and fireworks before 7:30 p.m. Call 410-244-1030 or visit GoDowntownBaltimore.com.

Friday, Dec. 5:

Old-fashioned holiday tour: Step back a few centuries to celebrate the holidays with a guided tour and characters in costume at the William Paca House, 186 Prince George St., Annapolis, 5-9 p.m. for members, 7-9 p.m. for non-members. Adults $15, children 6-17 $10. Children under 5, volunteers, and members get in free. Reservations recommended. Visit annapolis.org.

For something not holiday related, check out the Urban Pirates Story Time...

(Photo of Santa arriving at the 2005 Olde Tyme Christmas by Andy Herbick)

with a reading of pirate stories at 10:30 a.m. at the Pikesville branch of the Baltimore County Public Library. Kids ages 2-5 with parent. Free. Call 410-887-1234 or visit bcpl.info.

Saturday, Dec. 6:

Natural Gifts: Make your own Christmas gifts with natural and recycled materials Saturday and Sunday at the Irvine Nature Center, 11201 Garrison Forest Road, Owings Mills, 1-2:30 p.m. Ages 5+. Members $6, non-members $10. Must register at least 2 days before the event. Visit explorenature.org; call 443-738-9200.

Make your own wreath: Bring your own gloves and clippers to Oregon Ridge Nature Center, 13555 Beaver Dam Road, Cockeysville, from 2 p.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. If the kids don’t want to join in the wreath-making, they can watch holiday movies. $7 per wreath. Reservations required; call 410-887-1815.

Fells Point Olde-Thyme Christmas: Have breakfast with Santa at Shucker's, 1629 Thames St., and attend a day of Christmas events. Santa arrives at the Broadway Pier at 9 a.m. Breakfast from 9:30-11 a.m.: Adults $10.95, kids $4.95, under 4 free, Visit fellspointdevelopment.com or call 410-522-5820.

Merry Tuba Christmas: Listen to more than 250 tubas and similar instruments at the Harborplace Amphitheatre, Harborplace, 200 East Pratt St. 3 p.m. Free, Call 410-332-4191 or visit harborplace.com.

Baltimore Parade of Lighted Boats: Watch decorated boats sail by starting at 6 p.m. around the Inner Harbor and Fells Point. Call 410-522-7300.

Pumpkin Theatre’s Snow White:  See a production of the classic tale at Pumpkin Theatre, St. Timothy’s School, 8400 Greenspring Ave., Stevenson. 1 and 3 p.m. showings. Tickets $13 at the door, $12 in advance. Contact the box office at 410-828-1814 or e-mail pumpkintheatre@comcast.net.

Sunday, Dec. 7:

Annual Mayor’s Christmas Parade: Watch motorcycles, floats, marching bands and more come together in the 35th annual Mayor’s Christmas Parade, starting at 2 p.m. The parade runs from Cold Spring Lane at Falls Road along Falls to 36th Street, turns east on 36th Street, turns north on Chestnut Avenue, and ends at 37th Street. Free. Visit mayorschristmasparade.com.

Winter Concert: The Greater Baltimore Youth Orchestra presents a Hanukkah and Christmas themed concert at 4 p.m. at Loch Raven High School, 1212 Cowpens Ave. Adults $10, students $5. Visit gbyo.com.

AACC Holiday Spectacular: Listen to a live wind-band performance featuring many Christmas favorites at 3 p.m. at Pascal Center for Performing Arts, Anne Arundel Community College, 101 College Parkway, Arnold. General admission $10, students, groups and seniors $7, AACC students $5. Call 410-777-2457 or e-mail boxoffice@aacc.edu to purchase tickets in advance.

Bamboo and You: Make cups and bird feeders from bamboo at Eden Mill Nature Center, 1617 Eden Mill Road, Pylesville, from 2-4 p.m. Ages 11+. Members $6, non-members $8. Pre-registration required. Call 410-836-3050 or e-mail edenmillnaturecenter@gmail.com.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Things to Do
        

I saw this Baked Ziti in The Biggest Loser Cookbook. It uses fat-free ricotta cheese and a bit less mozzarella than other recipes might employ, along with whole-wheat ziti. And this version is meatless.

When I presented it to my children, my son started making strange sounds....

(Photo by me)

"Ziti! Ziti!" And not in a good way. We took this as a "no," he would not try it.

We thought it was a decent facsimile of the more sinful classic. And it's easy to make ahead and take to a potluck, although it does take a while to reheat (at least 30 minutes at 350 degrees).

Baked Ziti

Serves 8

one 14 1/2 ounce box fiber-enriched ziti or penne

one 15-ounce container fat-free ricotta cheese

2 large egg whites

2 cups finely shredded reduced-fat mozzarella cheese (divided use)

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

Salt, to taste

Ground black pepper, to taste

Crushed red pepper flakes, to taset

3 1/2 cups low-fat, low-sodium marinara sauce (divided use)

2 tablespoons grated reduced-fat parmesan cheese

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Lightly mist a 13-by-9-inch ceramic or glass baking dish with olive oil spray.

Cook the ziti according to package directions until al dente. Drain. In a large mixing bowl, mix ricotta, egg whites, and 1 cup of the mozzarella until well combined. Add the garlic powder and season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Stir in the cooked pasta until well combined.

Spread 1 cup of the marinara sauce on the bottom of the prepared dish. Add half the pasta in an even layer over the sauce. Top the pasta evenly with another 1 cup sauce. Layer the remaining pasta over the sauce. Spoon remaining sauce evenly over the top of the pasta, then sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and the parmesan over the top.

Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake 10 minutes longer, or until the mozzarella is melted. Let stand 5 minutes. Cut into 8 pieces or spoon among 8 bowls and serve.

Recipe and analysis from The Biggest Loser Family Cookbook

Per serving: 350 calories, 22 grams protein, 57 grams carbohydrate, 6 grams fat, 3 grams saturated fat, 20 milligrams cholesterol, 8 grams fiber, 429 milligrams sodium

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Dinner Together, Food and Recipes
        

(Photo by Baltimore Sun photographer Kim Hairston)

Posted by Liz Atwood at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Teens
        

If you’re a parent of a kindergartener or first-grader, you might have noticed some backwards or transposed letters as your child learns to read and write. Some of this is normal, but how would you know if your child had dyslexia?

Susan Schapiro, an educational consultant with offices in Towson and Bel Air who has studied identification and treatment of dyslexia for years, says that if you’re worried, you should pay attention to the following signs. It’s not unusual for a child to exhibit one or two of these signs, but three or more – especially if there is a family history of dyslexia – warrant follow-up with a professional:

Delayed speech

Mixing up sounds in multi-syllabic words (“aminal” for animal, “bisghetti” for spaghetti)

Difficulty learning the alphabet

Difficulty learning the names and/or sounds of letters

Reversing letters, such as a d for b

Difficulty learning to read

Reversing words, such as tip for pit

Inserting or leaving out letters, such as could for cold

Reading a word on one page, but failing to recognize it on another

Slow, labored, inaccurate oral reading

Misreading or omitting common short words

Becoming very tired after reading for only a short time

Poor reading comprehension unless read to

Misreading function words such as to, the, are, of

Difficulty with spelling. The child may be able to memorize words on a spelling test, but can not spell the same words the next day.

Schapiro cautions that you shouldn’t wait too long to seek help if your child is struggling to read on grade level. “Research shows that the longer a child struggles with reading, the harder it will be for that child to catch up.” Resources can be found on her Web site: getsettoread.com.

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 5:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: The Monday Consult