Toledo School for the Arts sets the standard in arts education that is also steeped in academic achievement. The tuition-free public school for grades 6-12 values diversity, offering admission to any Ohio student who is interested in music, dance, theatre, visual arts, and/or creative writing. Now you can plan a visit to find out firsthand what TSA is all about with their Open House Event on Saturday, November 6, from 10am-noon. This event is free for potential students and parents to attend. To find out more and to RSVP (required), visit ts4arts.org. Masks are mandatory to enter the building. For additional information about the event, contact Admissions at [email protected] or 419-246-8732 x250.
Toledo’s March for Women’s Reproductive Rights
On October 2, hundreds of people in Toledo, and thousands of others across every state across the United States, will rally in support of women’s reproductive rights as part of the Women’s March’s Mobilize and Defend movement. In 2017, Women’s March was formed to “harness the political power of diverse women and their communities to create transformative social change”, according to their mission statement.
Each year, the group gained more and more followers who vocally fought for various agendas. Today, Women’s March is accompanied by more than 90 other organizations to peacefully mobilize and defend their personal right to make their own reproductive decisions.
Here in Toledo, hundreds of people are expected to do just that, voicing their opposition ahead of the October 4 Supreme Court case hearing: Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health.
The Background
According to the Supreme Court agenda, the case will determine if abortions are considered unconstitutional and if abortion clinics can foster late-term abortions, ultimately overturning Roe v. Wade.
The Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health case was initially introduced in 2018 when the Governor of Mississippi signed a bill that banned abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. However, within hours of that ruling, Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the last remaining clinic and abortion facility in Mississippi, filed a complaint and a request for a temporary restraining order to block the ban.
Furthermore, it was just recently announced that Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a bill into law that would prohibit Texas abortions as early as six weeks after conception.
“It seems to be crucial to let the country know that it is unacceptable to have [control of] our own bodies taken away, and it is important that the stigma around having an abortion is removed,” says Katie Kuhn, a local citizen who is supporting Women’s March.
Katie is one of over 600 other local residents who are a part of the Mobilize and Defend Toledo Facebook page, providing an outlet for people to share their thoughts and concerns about the October 2 event and women’s abortion rights.
How Can I get Involved?
If you’d like to be a part of this movement, you can RSVP by here. Registration is required to show up. You can also take an online pledge to support women’s reproductive rights here.
The Toledo march will take place at the former Elder Beerman location on Secor Road at 2 p.m. on October 2. Katie says signs are encouraged and masks are recommended, though not required. You are also asked to wear some shade of pink.
“If this is your first time speaking out about this issue or attending an event like this, you will probably be surprised to find out how many people have considered an abortion,” says Katie. “It’s crucial that this service remains safe and accessible,” she adds.
You can find any updates about the October 2 march by visiting the aforementioned Toledo-based Facebook page.
If you’d like to contact your local officials regarding reproductive rights, you can express your concerns and complaints, click here.
Cover Kid Contest 2021
All submissions for our Cover Kid Contest are in! We’ve received so many adorable photos over the past couple of months…take a look for yourself and cast your vote today! The winner receives a free photoshoot and gets to be on a future cover of
Toledo Area Parent Magazine!
First Tee – Lake Erie opens on Hill Avenue, Teaches Life Lessons on the Golf Course
“Golf is the closest game to the game we call life. You get bad breaks from good shots;
you get good breaks from bad shots, but you have to play the ball where it lies.”
Bobby Jones, legendary golfer who played in U.S. Open tournaments
at the Inverness Club in Toledo
Golf is a unique sport – it is a sport played alone (even if you’re on a team), and one filled with traditions, especially etiquette. It teaches us all – from seasoned professionals to those stepping onto a course for the first time – humility, perseverance, respect and playing by the rules. Imagine, then, applying those rules to the process of growing up.
Facilities for area youth
First Tee – Lake Erie has taken up the challenge of combining golf with life lessons. The organization opened its first Northwest Ohio location at 4450 Hill Ave., behind the Inverness Club. It is a part of the Dattilo Family Youth Leadership Center, and in partnership with the Schoenrock Family Boys & Girls Club and ProMedica. This collaboration “promotes healthy living and good life skills as we curate good people,” said Executive Director Adam Reny. First Tee – Lake Erie held opening ceremonies during the Solheim Cup in early September and opened to the public in mid-September.
Outdoor facilities include an athletic field for soccer and flag football, along with a driving range, putting green and short range for golf practice. In addition to teaching young people how to golf, the program will offer training in caddying and grounds maintenance. The 15,000 sq. ft. building features a gymnasium, dining area, game rooms and three classrooms. Around 100 dinners a day will be provided there, serving youths in the Rogers-McTigue-Keyser schools.
Golf’s lessons for boys and girls
The Boys & Girls Club chapter programming focuses on its three pillars of the Formula for Impact: academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. The addition of the golf facilities enhances those pillars.
“In addition to teaching young people how to golf, we teach the etiquette of golf on the course and beyond, so our students learn about golf and the social skills of honesty, respect and responsibility,” Reny said. “These are skills that apply beyond the sport, to family and friends.”
First Tee – Lake Erie focuses on life training through golf. Coaches attach lessons in life skills/core values, healthy habits, golf skills and a bridge to life in each session. Reny explains that this approach to golf teaches many life lessons, most of which are good to learn at any age:
- Don’t sweat the small stuff or dwell on a bad shot.
- Concentration and focus are important.
- Accept that some things are out of your control.
- Use problem-solving techniques.
- Patience is necessary.
- Quiet environments can be beneficial.
- Be honest. You can’t get ahead in life – or golf – by cheating.
Year-round programming
The Boys & Girls Club provides an after school safe space, with homework help, arts and crafts, pool and table tennis tables and outdoor sports (weather permitting).
First Tee – Lake Erie is open daily, with after-school programs during the school year and indoor and outdoor programs in the spring, summer and fall. Hours this fall are 4 to 6pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and 4 to 5:30 pm on Tuesday and Thursday. For information and registration, contact First Tee – Lake Erie online, at [email protected], or by calling 419.344.1179.
What Do Your Teens Want?
By Jan Pierce
Parents of teens often acknowledge they’re navigating uncharted territory and are open to advice from those who’ve gone before. Teens are going through tremendous emotional, physical and social changes while their parents may also be facing a series of firsts: aging, end of reproductive cycles, and mid-life crisis issues. The transitions faced by both teens and their parents can make for some challenging times at home.
Teens need room to grow and change. While they’ll resist “micro-managing,” they may be prone to taking risks that require intervention for their own safety. They want to stand on their own two feet and push parents further away as they turn to peers for advice. They may become resistant to family rules that used to be accepted and they can seem sullen and uncooperative. In short, parents look at their beloved child and barely recognize the sweet little person they were just a short while ago.
On the other hand, teens are vibrant and have energy to burn. They can be very idealistic and full of plans to make the world a better place. They become passionate about causes and are very loyal to friends. They are in the process of developing into the person they’ll eventually become as an adult and may explore many creative outlets in that effort.
Teenage years are dynamic times filled with joys and struggles. Parents have the responsibility to nurture them through these times. So….what do teens really want?
To Belong
Although friends, teachers and mentors will play a large role in your teen’s life, your family will always be their primary place of belonging. Home is where they’re nurtured and loved and where they return after venturing out in the world. Home should always be a welcoming place.
Building and maintaining a positive bond with teens is the goal. And though discipline will need to be part of family life, parents should make encouragement, positive words and camaraderie be the norm. Spend time together. Family meals, game nights and weekend outings may not come as often as they did before the teen years, but they should still happen. Including teen friends in family events makes it more fun for all.
Teens need to know that they always have a place of belonging in the family.
To Be Heard
Teens are likely to be either holed up in their bedroom or away with friends. So when are parents supposed to listen to them? It’s a challenge, for sure. But teens have strong feelings about the issues of the day and they have a need to share their thoughts. Some parents plan times when the family focuses on a topic of the day to process together. Such events give room for all family members to voice their thoughts.
Teens are trying out new ideas as they encounter them. They may take a stance in opposition to the ways you’ve taught them at home as an exercise in exploration. Parents who listen rather than correct or become angry will model a healthy way to encounter opposing views.
Teens also need a safe place to ask troubling questions or talk about behaviors amongst their friends that concern them. Today’s world requires that teens make important decisions about alcohol, drugs and sexual behaviors at an early age. These topics may be hard to discuss openly, but your teens need support as they face them.
Teens need to know their family will listen.
To Be Safe
Parents of teens need to be aware of the world their teens are living in daily. Where do they go and what are they doing? Who do they spend their time with and are they in safe spaces? Parents need to be willing to step in and “rescue” their kids if they find themselves in an unsafe situation. A code word decided upon by the entire family is one way to stay safe. A text of that one word means “Come get me.”
Teen years require clear boundaries set by you, their parents. Reasonable expectations mean your teen can comply and there may be room for flexibility when they behave responsibly. Consequences should be both fair and immediate. Rules are meant to keep your child safe and discipline is about teaching appropriate ways of living.
Keeping lines of communication open is a challenge in teen years, but can go a long way in keeping your teen safe. Engaging in casual talks about how life is going in general can open up deeper levels of communication when important topics need to be addressed.
Teens want to feel safe.
To Be Loved Unconditionally
While teens need privacy and want to be with their friends more than at home, they still need to feel loved by family members. Anything parents can do to demonstrate that unconditional love is a plus. Some teens welcome hugs while others prefer a less “fluffy” pat on the back or high five.
Although much of parenting is reminding kids to do their chores or homework, strive to make your interactions positive every time you can. We adults like to hear positive words and affirmations, and so do teens.
It’s important to show appreciation for your teen’s efforts and not only for their accomplishments. Trying a new sport or joining the drama club may not produce stellar performances, but will be character-building. Look for ways to praise genuine effort.
When a teen makes a mistake or breaks rules there is an opportunity to show real love. Consequences meted out fairly coupled with assurances of love and support can turn a bad situation into a learning opportunity.
Say the words. Tell your teen you love them often.
Teens need to know they’re loved.
Jan Pierce, M.Ed. is a retired teacher and author. Find Jan at www.janpierce.net.
Additional Resources
News in Health.gov/parenting teens
Center for Parenting Education/Riding the Waves of Teen Years
Mayo Clinic/Tween and Teen Health
Prevent your Preschooler From Experiencing Social-Emotional Delays Due to the Pandemic
By Chelsea Convis
With the havoc COVID-19 has wreaked on our educational system in the last year, families have rightfully been concerned about their preschoolers and kindergarteners lagging academically. But what about their child’s social and holistic development? After all, studies show that it actually doesn’t matter if your child learns their p’s and q’s at four instead of three, but it does matter if they don’t learn the ability to socially interact with their peer group.
Social-emotional delays at the preschool and kindergarten age have been correlated to academic struggles, suboptimal social interactions, and ongoing behavioral problems.
From ages 3 to 5, your child should be learning cooperative play, sharing, and problem-solving with their peers. They should also be developing more physical and emotional independence and be able to interact comfortably with other adults and children. But with a pandemic still threatening the health or emotional wellbeing of many families, how can parents make sure their pre-K child is developing and succeeding in important social developmental milestones while still staying COVID-safe?
Here are four ideas, ranging from extremely safe COVID precautions (just your child and you) to more relaxed caution (playdates outdoors), to try to help your child meet these social developmental milestones.
Sharing
Establish the concept of “yours” versus “theirs”. If you are using an item and your child tries to grab or asks for it, communicate that you are using this and they can ask politely for a turn. Then have your child wait briefly before sharing it with them. Similarly, honor when your child is using a toy, and don’t try to handle it without asking them.
If you have friends with whom you can schedule playdates, talk to the parents about being on the same page with sharing. Don’t physically force your children to share with each other by giving away their toys. Instead, start conversations around taking turns and why it’s important, such as, “If you want Anastasia to share her tricycle with you, it is kind for you to share your scooter with her.” Offer options: “Anastasia said she wants a turn with the scooter. Would you like to share the scooter now, or in two minutes?” Talk about consequences: “If you don’t want to share your scooter with Anastasia, that is okay! But then she might not want to share her tricycle with you.”
Cooperative Play
Play explicitly cooperative games with your child, like leap-frog, sports, tag, ghost in the graveyard, building blocks, or hide-n-seek. Talk about the different roles you play and why they’re important to the game. When playing with your child, communicate your own preferences around what you’re playing.
Part of cooperative play is telling your playmate about a desired outcome for the game. If your child wants to take the game in a different direction than you want, state what you would enjoy, and find ways to make both of your interests happen. If your child is not getting access to their peers or they are only interacting on a restricted basis, it is imperative that you teach them social skills they will need when they interact with peers again.
With some access to other children, meet at a park or someone’s backyard and play a sport or cooperative game. Be sure to step away as much as possible to let the children have uninhibited peer interaction! This leads into:
Problem Solving
Conflict will inevitably arise when interacting with peers. Teach problem-solving when conflicts arise between you and your child. Help them to name their emotion or frustration, create support to accept and validate tough emotions, and help them brainstorm problem-solving by talking about their desired outcome and what choices you and they can make to get there. When reading books or watching TV shows, talk about conflicts and what choices the different characters are making, and what consequences those choices produce.
When conflict comes up on playdates, allow your child the opportunity to resolve the conflict without adult intervention (as long as everyone is physically safe). If you need to step in, try to ask questions and guide the children toward creating their own resolution.
Physical and Emotional Independence
At its simplest, this is about creating space from your child in a way that feels safe. Encourage unstructured, solo playtimes for your child. Perhaps set up a game with them, and then say, “I need to go get dinner started. I will be back to play with you in ten minutes.” If your child has gotten used to having you around constantly, set boundaries around having alone time for yourself. Set them up with toys while you read by yourself for a few minutes and gradually expand the duration they are alone over time.
Engage your child in conversation about rules and ask them what the consequences for breaking those rules should be. If they hit their sibling, what should an appropriate consequence be? A timeout? Playing by themselves for a few minutes? Apologizing? Give them age-appropriate choices to help them make a decision.
On a playdate, give children unstructured time to play together with supervision but no interference unless necessary. If you need to step in to help resolve a conflict, similar to problem-solving, guide them to figure out for themselves.
The pandemic has affected many areas, but with focusing on these areas, your child can continue to hit their developmental social milestones.