Cover Kid Contest- January/February 2021

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December 31, 2020

COVER KID CONTEST SUBMISSION PROMO:

Make your child Toledo famous! Submit photos to our Cover Kid Contest to be featured on the cover of Toledo Parent and win a free photo session with Raven Leigh Photography! Nominations start 1/15 and run thru 2/15. Voting begins 3/1 and runs to April 5.

COVER KID CONTEST FULL DIRECTIONS:

Make Your Child Toledo Famous!

Would you like your little one to be on the cover of an upcoming Toledo Area Parent? We are searching for the area’s cutest kids to participate in a contest to be featured on our May/June 2021 cover! Readers will vote to determine which local child will win the top spot, receiving a FREE photo session from our sponsor, family photographer Raven Leigh Photography! Follow her on Facebook @RavenLeighPhotography and visit her website RavenLeighPhoto.mypixieset.com.

How It Works

Readers can submit photos of their kids through February 2. Voting on the submissions will open on March 1 and will continue to April 5. The winner will be notified shortly after and will be required to participate in a photo session in Toledo prior to April 15.

Ready to Enter

To enter click on the contest link at the bottom of the page.

Rules and Guidelines

Entrants must reside in Lucas County. The child(ren) must be 12 or under. One entry per family. The photo should feature your child(ren) only. Provocative or otherwise questionable content will not be considered. The publisher retains sole discretion to determine the appropriateness of content. By entering the contest, entrants agree to have their submitted name displayed in our magazine and website and used by us for any purpose, at any time, without any fee or other form of compensation. You may vote once per day.

COVER KID VOTING PROMO:

Whose child will be TOLEDO FAMOUS?

Vote for your favorite photo of the cutest kid to be featured on the cover of an upcoming issue of Toledo Area Parent! Winner will also receive a FREE photo session from our sponsor, local family photographer Raven Leigh Photography! Vote now through April 5 at toledoparent.com, and follow our sponsor on Facebook @RavenLeighPhotography.

Photography Sponsor:

Raven Leigh Photography, LLC

RavenLeighPhoto.mypixieset.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RavenLeighPhotography

Instagram: @raveleighphotography

Email: [email protected]

Learning at Home: Animal Lovers

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Erin Schoen Marsh

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December 30, 2020

Now that many (all?) schools in the area have transitioned to remote learning, you may be looking for fun and educational virtual opportunities for your little ones. Each Toledo Parent publication will now have ideas for learning at home, and your child(ren) can visit their favorite animals at the Toledo Zoo or virtually travel across the country to see what animals call San Diego Zoo home!

Toledo Zoo

Join the Toledo Zoo for live creature features on Facebook live! Watch Bo the polar bear plunge into the frigid waters, the lemurs frolick, Aashish the hippo struggle and many more. Or perhaps you’re not able to make the Lights Before Christmas this year? Watch a walkthrough video from the safety of your own home. Follow @toledozoo on Facebook or visit toledozoo.org for more information.

Discovery Education

Take a no-cost virtual field trip to tour the White House or learn how the internet works in their daily lives with Discovery Education. These virtual events let educators and parents take kids to amazing places and give them remarkable experiences without ever leaving the classroom. Discoveryeducation.com

San Diego Zoo

While Toledo Zoo is one of the best zoos in the nation, it’s still fun and educational to tour other facilities, including the San Diego Zoo. Get a closer look at some of your favorite animals–some of which aren’t seen at Toledo Zoo–with the San Diego Zoo live cams. Kids.sandiegozoo.org

FarmFood360

Immerse yourself in Canadian farms with virtual food and farm tours from FarmFood360. Get a 360 view of beef, chicken, pig and turkey farms or watch how milk is processed and turned into cheese. Visit an egg farm and then virtually travel to an egg processing facility. The possibilities are endless for your future farmer! farmfood360.ca

How to Use Media to Talk to Kids about Race

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Digital Media

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December 30, 2020

By Lindsey Self, local mom and legal professional

Elementary school aged children spend hours each day in front of a screen. What do they see during those hours? For one, kids are not seeing demographics that reflect society as a whole: only about 7% of children’s programming includes characters of color.

Media’s influence

Racial stereotyping in children’s media can leave a lasting impression. There is a connection

between negative media portrayals of particular groups and low self-esteem in children of those groups. Racial stereotypes in media can also skew the way children categorize people, particularly when children have limited contact with people of other races and rely on media to formulate ideas about people outside of their own race.

It can be difficult for children to identify stereotypes, so it is up to parents to speak up and build critical thinking skills that will allow children to question stereotypes as they get older. Consider the characters in children’s media. Are different races represented? If so, what roles do they play? How do characters look and how do they sound? Who is a hero and who is the villain?

Critique media

When you see something questionable within a children’s show, it’s important to call it out and to express disapproval of stereotypes to child viewers. Explain to children why portraying members of a group in a particular way can shape the way we perceive people, or ourselves, in real life. By identifying and voicing disapproval of stereotypes in children’s media, kids learn to do the same.

Find shows that counter stereotypes and look for movies that depict people of color in a positive light. As children grow, they will learn to question and identify racism in the everyday world, which is an important step in moving our society towards perceptions of equality.

Grandmother, Mother, Healer

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Digital Media

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December 21, 2020

By Phoebe Samuel Rapp

The healing aspects of massage

Tonya Snyr, owner and practitioner of Massage Therapy Center of Sylvania (MTCS), is a mother of three and grandmother of four. She is passionate about two things: the healing aspects of massage therapy and her family.

Healing hands

When not with her family, Snyr can be found at the Massage Therapy Center of Sylvania. A massage therapist for 15 years, nine of which she spent working with veterans at the VA, what she loves most about her work is “building relationships and aiding the healing process through massage therapy.” Snyr incorporates deep tissue and medical massage, including cupping, which helps with circulation and pain, and stretch therapy, which helps with movement and stretching the muscles surrounding joints.

Lately, Snyr finds her practice busier than ever, in spite of the troubles created by the pandemic. She shares that “people need (our) services even more now.” Interestingly, while massage is a high-contact therapy, extreme hygiene protocols were already a part of the practice. With current concerns, the staff members at MTCS take extra precautions to disinfect all surfaces between clients. Additionally, appointments are spaced out to minimize the number of people in the Center at one time.

Massage for all ages and stages

The coronavirus pandemic has brought added stress to many families, including how the virus, and concerns regarding the virus, effect children. Snyr explains that kids can benefit from massage therapy, particularly those who struggle with anxiety. The soothing environment, coupled with a therapeutic massage, can help calm those who find themselves overwhelmed.

With their parent accompanying the child in the room, the therapist can adjust and accommodate the individual needs of each child. MTCS offers shorter sessions— ideal for children— and will only charge for the time in the session, even if the appointment was for a longer window. The therapists recognize that with therapeutic massage, the child client may only be able to tolerate a short window of treatment.

Snyr encourages parents to visit to learn soothing massage techniques for babies, which can be used from infancy through childhood. Snyr strives to provide a healing service for all ages and stages.

Wisdom & Wit

What’s your favorite activity to do with your family?

Any activity is good, as long as we are together.

Best advice you’ve ever gotten:

I treated a woman in a nursing home who had many life stories to share, and the one thing I’ll never forget is her telling me to “keep on keeping on.”

Worst advice:

Boys are mean to girls because they like them. Really? I know better, now that I’m an adult.

How do you know when you’re done for the day?

When my body hits the bed. My days are so demanding that I fall asleep immediately.

Describe your life in five words or less.

Full, love, happiness, rewarding, busy.

Letter from the Editor: 10 Reasons to Spend the Holidays at Home

By

Erin Schoen Marsh

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December 21, 2020

Celebrating as a family unit

I’ve heard many people lament that the holidays will look different this year with social distancing and COVID-19. While I feel for all of those who will be missing out on much-needed time with loved ones, part of me (admittedly) is looking forward to holidays with just my immediate family.

What could possibly be good about holiday celebrations during quarantine? Here are 10 tongue-in-cheek reasons to spend the holidays alone as a family unit:

No waking at the crack of dawn to start the cooking.
Speaking of cooking— not mandatory. Plenty of local places, like Fowl & Fodder Downtown, are offering pre-made holiday meals!
No awkward small talk with distant relatives.
No watching every little thing that comes out of your mouth in order to not offend.
Fancy holiday plates…or paper products? Your choice!
Actually, why even cook? We ordered our Christmas meal from Sidon last year and it far exceeded any ham or roast.
Bra? Optional.
No one to secretly judge when you unbutton your pants after dinner (or just save yourself the trouble and stay in your pajamas).
No need to divvy up the leftovers. Mashed potato pancakes for days!
Perfectly acceptable to nap in the middle of the day.

If you’re an eternal optimist like me (or a secret introvert) and have made a mental list of your own with reasons to rejoice this holiday season, I’d love to hear from you. Comment below to make our readers smile!

Tongue-in-cheek and foot-in-mouth,
Erin Schoen Marsh,
Toledo Parent Editor

Photos by local photographer Motherhood Portraits by Tiana Lashae.

When Is It Time to See a Gyno?

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Toledo Parent Staff

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December 21, 2020

Advice from a local OB/GYN.
By Kellen Goldschmidt, MD, ProMedica Physicians Obstetrics | Gynecology

Sexual health and well-being can often be a taboo subject for parents to discuss with their daughters, but it doesn’t have to be. An open dialogue can help ease what might have been an awkward conversation and encourage healthy habits when it comes to being proactive about her healthcare.

The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology recommends that girls have their first gynecologic visit between the ages of 13 and 15. To some parents, this may seem a little premature, but this is a great opportunity to learn, to ensure that their daughters are on track with their development and to gently introduce sensitive topics, such as periods.

There are issues that arise when we encourage a young woman to come to the office, for example, if she is experiencing abnormalities with her periods, or has unusual fluid or discharge, we may need to evaluate for potential infection.

First visit expectations
The first visit with a gynecologist is not as intimidating as teenagers may think. Unless they are sexually active, the first visit will often not include a pelvic exam. It is often a conversation between the patient and their chosen provider on topics such as drug and alcohol use, safe sex practices, contraception and mental health.

If the patient (or the parent) are apprehensive about spending the full visit together, the first half of the visit would include the provider, patient and parent/guardian. Then the parent/guardian can be asked to leave the room so the provider and patient can have a private conversation and address any issues she may be uncomfortable speaking about with a parent/guardian in the room. Of course, that is optional and up to the patient; she can also choose to keep her parent/guardian with her for the duration of the visit.

It is recommended for teenagers to follow-up with their gynecologists annually although, depending on the circumstances, more frequent visits may be necessary.

Having a positive first interaction with a gynecologist can play a vital role in ensuring young girls are proactive with their sexual and reproductive health. Parents and guardians can set the standard by teaching their daughters how to take charge of their health.

For more information, visit ProMedica.org.

Kellen Goldschmidt, MD is an Obstetrics & Gynecology Specialist with ProMedica Physicians at Levis Commons in Perrysburg.