September 2022 - Growing Up in Santa Cruz

Local Profile Juggler

growingupsc — Wed, 31 Aug 2022 15:39:06 +0000

Life’s A Juggling Act So Why Not Buy the Right Equipment? By Kimberly Hickok As a quirky, eclectic beachside community, it should come as no surprise that Santa Cruz is home to Renegade Juggling, a small, family-operated business that is one of the biggest manufacturers and retailers of juggling and circling equipment in the country. Since 1982, owner, founder, and juggler extraordinaire Tom Renegade has been using his juggling and manufacturing expertise to craft and sell every kind of juggling device or circus prop you can imagine. If you need a rechargable LED lit juggling ball, he’s got them for $33 each. How about a Fire Devil Stick for twirling on the street? Yup, it’s only $45. Flying Hats go for $110 and he’s got DVDs to teach you all the tricks you need. Here’s what Renegade had to tell us about his company and the art of juggling. (This interview has been edited for length and clarity.) How did you get into the sport and make a business out of juggling? I got interested in juggling initially from going to renaissance fairs around California when I was in high school, but I didn’t really get into it until I joined a juggling club at UCSC. I got a degree in geochemistry, but when I graduated from the university I thought I’d rather do something with juggling. So I started making juggling equipment. When I was in highschool in Redwood City I took a plastics technology class as part of an occupational training program, and then I was the TA for that class for a few years. I knew all about plastics manufacturing from this class and realized I could just make the juggling equipment I wanted, so that’s what I did. What made you decide to stay in Santa Cruz to start your business? Because Santa Cruz is the best place to live. Everybody knows that! Did your business immediately take off? It was just a hobby business at first, and it took a long time for this to be a real business, I would say at least 10 years. It was very difficult pre-internet because there was no way for a small business to advertise or to market anything. So I would go to juggling festivals and meet people and they would juggle and tell their friends about my business. That was the only way that I could sell stuff. If someone wanted to buy some juggling equipment pre-internet, they had to know somebody, or know somebody who knew somebody. It was way different – guerilla marketing, really. But the juggling festivals are really fun, so that kept me motivated. Why do you think kids should learn juggling? It’s good for building self esteem because kids learn to do something by themselves that other kids can’t do. If you can juggle, you have a specialized skill. And if you can accomplish something that’s a little bit complicated and takes a lot of practice, like learning to juggle, then you start to realize that other things aren’t so out of reach, even if it’s something unrelated to juggling. It’s also good for developing motor skills, and can help kids learn other sports that involve catching and throwing, or anything that involves coordination – even something like bowling or golf. And it’s good for the mind because it takes concentration and focus. Plus it takes research to figure out, and kids have to be self-motivated because they have to practice to get better. But the great thing about juggling is that you don’t have to be gifted to do it, you just need to persevere. Anybody can learn it. In fact, a lot of jugglers I’ve seen over time are generally clumsy people! Why do you think parents would be interested in juggling? A great thing about juggling is that parents can also participate and learn alongside their kids, and the kids can be better than the parents at it. I think that’s an advantage for the kids, because they can show their parents how to do it. That makes it special because usually the parent is better at whatever they’re doing, but kids can experience this role reversal with juggling that builds their confidence. What is your advice for kids or adults who want to get into juggling? Nowadays you can teach yourself and learn everything by watching videos on YouTube. But also look into things locally, because there’s all kinds of different circus schools and circus camps that are great for kids. Juggling resources: Check out Capitola Mall’s Cirque, Tumble, Cheer for free juggling classes every Tuesday at 6:30 pm. (Not during the summer, sadly)Visit Juggling.org to learn about juggling festivals and clubs around the country. The JCC in Los Gatos also offers circus summer camps for kids in grades 1-8. Check out their website for more info: campshalomjcc.org/specialty-camps-2021/ Read More Parenting Articles

The post Local Profile Juggler first appeared on Growing Up in Santa Cruz.

Book Review

growingupsc — Wed, 31 Aug 2022 15:33:34 +0000

Raising Kind Kids: Q&A with Author Melinda Wenner Moyer By Kim Hickok Probably all parents can agree that they want their kids to grow up to be good, kind people. In her book, “How to Raise Kids Who Aren’t Assholes: Science-based strategies for better parenting – from tots to teens,” (Headline Home, 2021) award-winning science journalist Melinda Wenner Moyer shares the most relevant scientific research on how to raise kids who are kind. Recently, we spoke with Moyer to learn more about her book and what she learned while writing it. Here’s what she had to say. (This interview has been edited for length and clarity.) Your background is in science journalism, so how did you get started writing about parenting?When I became a parent I had so many questions about everything, and I would get so many different answers. I found that really frustrating and dissatisfying. So, I wondered, could science answer some of these parenting questions for me? I found there was actually a lot of research in child development, so I started writing a science-based parenting column. It felt really satisfying to recognize that science could help answer a lot of these seemingly difficult questions that people have conflicting answers for. What inspired you to write this book? About three and a half years ago, I started getting increasingly frustrated by all the bad behavior I was seeing everywhere – people being intolerant and unkind. I thought about what my kids were learning from this and I realized that what was more important to me than anything else is that my kids grow up to be good human beings. As I spoke with other parents I learned we were all having the same realization. We used to stress about getting into the right preschools and how to make sure our kids have a leg up in the world, but it shifted to “How do I just make sure I raise a good human being?” With that, came the recognition that if we collectively did this, then we would build a better future. Digging into the science and writing the book just felt like the right thing to do, and something I was really passionate about. How is your book different from other parenting books? I think a lot of parenting advice is rooted in theory, or a particular expert’s ideas. There are not a lot of parenting books that are rooted in science and evidence, especially when it comes to building character and shaping values. My perspective is very different from that of a psychologist, or a therapist or even a pediatrician, because I’ve looked at all the research and used my skills as a science journalist to really drill down into what the consensus says on a particular issue. How did you come up with the (hilarious) title? The title actually came to me first, before the larger concept of the book. One night I was out with my husband and said out of nowhere, “I should write a book called ‘How to Raise Kids Who Aren’t Assholes.’” The publisher and I did have some concerns about the title, namely that it might be a bit off-putting to some. Also I was a bit worried about people misinterpreting it, because I meant it as “How to raise kids who won’t grow up to be assholes,” rather than “How to raise kids who never act like assholes,” because that probably won’t happen. I think that kids have to make social bloopers in order to learn from them and they have to cross boundaries in order to learn where they are. But at the same time, the title was catchy and memorable and made it clear that the book was a mixture of service and humor. So in the end, even though we knew it was a bit risky, we decided to keep it. How did you decide what topics to cover?I thought about what makes someone an asshole, and what are the characteristics that are the opposite of that, traits like selflessness, generosity, compassion, and empathy. And then I thought about what the modern asshole looks like. A lot of assholes are racist and they’re sexist, so I wanted to address that, too. You cover many sensitive subjects, including gender, race, and even pornography. What did you find was the trickiest topic to write about? The racism chapter. I’m a white woman, so it didn’t feel right to give advice to parents of color or parents of children of color on how to have conversations about race with their kids. At the beginning of that chapter I make it clear that I am a white woman and I do not have the lived experiences of people of color. As a result, I’m only speaking to white parents in that chapter, because I think the research is pretty clear on the fact that white parents have the most to learn when it comes to talking to kids about race. What was the most surprising thing/research you came across? Most surprising was some of the research on bullying. I think there are a lot of misconceptions that I and other parents had about how kids engage in bullying, mainly this idea that kids always engage or they never engage. But it turns out there’s really a spectrum of behavior. Also surprising was that some kids who engage in bullying really don’t understand the impact of their behavior on others. As parents, we should be having conversations with our kids about how their choices could have impacts that they don’t predict. There will always be things parents can work on, but do you think there is anything this generation of parents is getting right? I think this generation of parents leans into conversations with our kids about difficult topics more readily than parents of past generations. There’s not a lot of research on this, but I think we’re doing a good job there. Also, it seems that parenting styles have shifted away from authoritarian parenting – the harsher, stricter parenting – and more toward authoritative parenting, which we know from research is associated with the best outcomes. This is the so-called middle-ground parenting, where there are limits and boundaries, but not quite as much harsh punishment. What’s the best parenting advice you’ve ever received? Making “mistakes” as a parent is ok, and can actually be very constructive for kids. When we handle something in a way we don’t think is maybe the best way, and we recognize that later, we can take responsibility for it in front of our kids and apologize, and that is modeling the kind of behavior we want to see.Also, child psychologists and other experts struggle just as much as the rest of us with knowing how to handle certain situations, and I found that really reassuring. There is no such thing as a perfect parent. Read More Parenting Articles

The post Book Review first appeared on Growing Up in Santa Cruz.

Sarah Greathouse

growingupsc — Wed, 31 Aug 2022 15:19:17 +0000

New Job Means More Time with Family by Carmen Clark Sarah Greathouse has always been a party planner. In 6th grade, her teacher gave everyone a certificate for their strengths, and Sarah was Organizational Guru, always volunteering to take on the class party. Despite not being into clubs or groups or cliques in high school, Sarah found a home in leadership, where they planned all the high school events, including prom. Sarah was about to enter a teaching credentialing program when she was hired to work at a local resort, where she fell into the wedding coordination world. When she got laid off due to the crash of 2008, she said, “It was like being dumped by a boyfriend that you were in love with,” clearly, Sarah had fallen in love with wedding planning. Watching her talk about it, her smile is wide and lights up her face. It’s hard not to smile too. Eventually, the resort hired her back on, but in a sales position, and though it was a better paycheck, it wasn’t her passion. Sarah would find herself listening in on the planner and prospective clients, wishing she was part of the conversation. Because of the sales position, Sarah felt like she missed the early years with her firstborn, so when the second one came around, and she was negotiating terms to return to work, she realized they could double her salary, and it still wouldn’t be enough. Getting fired the first time around gave Sarah the realization that there is no such thing as security, you can be a great employee and do all the right things, and something like 2008 can bring it all down, so why go back to a job that took her away from her family? She quit, and then, in attending a friend’s wedding, the term ‘Day Of Coordinating’ came up. Like a lightbulb, it lit her whole world. Sarah is very aware of how privileged she was in even getting to quit and thankful that she had her husband and parents to support her. A Paper Flower Wedding, so what’s in the name? For one, Sarah had paper flowers at her wedding, and secondly, she wanted something that would “attract a DIY style bride or a nontraditional bride that probably wouldn’t be looking for a planner.” Sarah’s Day Of Coordinating business focuses on people who want the actual wedding day and the rehearsal before it to go smoothly without the bride herself or any of the family members to be in charge. No one wants to be reminded every Thanksgiving that they botched the timing on a sister’s wedding!Sarah manages setting up, breaking down, running logistics, and keeping track of time, basically, she’s the first to arrive and the last to leave. While most would think starting a business takes away from family life, Sarah made it work around her motherhood. She worked during naps or late into the night and started off slowly. The first year she had four weddings, but every year her business has grown; this year, exceeding her 22 wedding limit by 11 because of the COVID pause on weddings. Sarah hopes she and her husband, who also left a job to pursue his passion, model to their children that following a dream and finding fulfillment in what one does is important in life. Sarah says it kind of backfires on her; when chores come up, they’ll clap back with, “But your work is fun; I don’t like doing this, you like doing your work.” And it’s true, Sarah loves her work, “Even when it’s hard…I get to go to parties as my job, being around loving, happy, excited people on the best day of their life…it’s very infectious”. Sarah now offers lighting for events, so if you need a Day Of wedding coordinator or spiffy outdoor lighting, check her out at apaperflowerwedding.com Read More Moms Who Make a Difference Articles

The post Sarah Greathouse first appeared on Growing Up in Santa Cruz.

Craft Corner Games

growingupsc — Wed, 31 Aug 2022 15:07:16 +0000

Bored With Your Board Games? Make Your Own! By Crooked Beauty If you are interested in creating a game from scratch, there are templates you can download here: printabletemplates.com/graphics/board-game/Crooked Beauty will be hosting a board game-making class Sunday, November 6th. Go to crookedbeautyart.com for more details. One thing I’ve realized is that between school and home, kids have a lot of rules they have to follow…so when they get the chance to be in charge, wow do they love it!Maybe you don’t have time to make a board game from scratch, but you can use parts and pieces of the games you do have to make a new one. You may find mixing up games is more fun than playing them straightforwardly!Think about your favorite games and look at the components that make them your favorite, is it quest-based like Life? Do you have to think fast, like the card game Speed? Is it action-based like Pictionary or Charades? Do you like word-based games, like Boggle, or with numbers like Uno, Rummy, or poker? Do you like games with action cards, like the community chest cards in Monopoly, or maybe you want there to be a learning component to it – land on the blue squares and you have to answer a math problem or spell a word. Pick a board to use – Candyland, Chutes & Ladders, Sorry, Life? Now you need the pieces…Monopoly pieces, Chess pieces, Clue pieces? Establish the goal. Is it getting to the finish first? Is it collecting things along the way? Is it having the most money at the end? Maybe you have a point system. Next, you need to know how you will advance on the board; Dice, spinner, direction cards? Okay, now for the fun part, making up the rules.I’ll let you in on a secret, kids love rules that change in their favor. If you let them make up all the rules, and you don’t write them down, I assure you those rules become very fluid. I suggest you let your child(ren) make up 2-3 rules, you write them down, then you make up a couple to help the game move along. Are there pitfalls that send you to the beginning? Or are there ways to advance quicker? Are there questions you have to answer? Or instances where you have to give something to another player? Or is there a pot in the middle that is won by landing on a certain square? This is a good way to start if you’re feeling stumped: Pick 2 or 3 games you are going to mix up Game board is ____ Game pieces are ____ The Goal of the game is ____ (to finish first, to win the most money/coins/etc, to answer the most questions correctly) Use to move on the board (dice, spinner, direction cards) Rules: If, then ____ (blue=stuck for three turns, roll a 6=move double amount of spaces, land on red, must answer trivia question) Read More Articles

The post Craft Corner Games first appeared on Growing Up in Santa Cruz.

Birth Photos

Laura Maxson — Mon, 29 Aug 2022 20:27:47 +0000

Picture Perfect By Laura Maxson, LM Birth photos can be very powerful and bring back intense memories. Some new parents will want to let their birth experience sink in for a few days before viewing their birth photos. The moment of birth can be intense. When the final push comes, mom’s face may be buried into her partner’s chest or perhaps her head thrown back in wild abandon, the baby is finally here. While the birth of a child is a once-in-a-lifetime event, is it also a photo op? For some, the answer is a resounding “no.” But, in increasing numbers, the answer is an enthusiastic “yes.” While anyone can take photos, partners are often too busy as a main support person to be in charge of photos. Family or friends may be a good choice, but keep in mind that birth can be an overwhelming, emotional event for them, too. It is not unheard of for the designated photographer to be found gazing lovingly at the new baby, photo responsibilities forgotten. Childbirth can be documented, and memories captured forever on a fancy digital camera or a basic cell phone. Plenty of parents opt for a new camera with baby on the way, but a professional birth photographer will bring professional cameras, lenses, and a photographer’s eye, often with amazing results. Someone familiar with birth may be better able to anticipate shots and stay focused, especially if birth gets challenging. Many birth doulas are willing to pick up the camera and some offer photography as part of their services. A doula or a professional birth photographer will know how to be low profile. Professional photographers can also deal with tricky lighting issues and lens changes to get the great shots. Be sure to carefully review any contracts with professional photographers. Is there a back-up photographer? Who owns the photos of your birth and how might they be used in the future? Birth photos can be very powerful and bring back intense memories. Some new parents will want to let their birth experience sink in for a few days before viewing their birth photos. Others might need a few weeks (or months) before being ready to revisit the birth again. It can be better to put the photos away for a while, instead of hitting the delete button right away. In a few months or years, these same photos that didn’t seem that special might hold more meaning or a different perspective when viewed later. What might have felt like hours of chaotic contractions can look very different when captured as a series of tender moments of connection and images of strength and beauty. Nowadays everchanging COVID rules may limit who can be in attendance at hospital births, leading to more often parents and family being the photographer. If not using a professional, be ready with a little advance planning. If labor starts the day after the baby shower, memory cards can be full or batteries uncharged. Have extra batteries, memory cards, and a charger at hand or packed in the birth supplies. Prepare the camera in advance by silencing sounds that digital cameras can make. Those in labor can do without the extra beeps and clicks from a camera. Experiment with settings for indoor, low light, or flash/no flash beforehand. Candid shots are perfect for labor and birth. Bring out the camera early, but be conscious of how much memory is left. It’s easy to take 50 photos of a slowly crowning head, only to run out of memory as the baby is born. Digital cameras and flash mechanisms can have different capacities for taking pictures in close succession. Try it out to know how many pictures can be taken in a row before the camera needs to pause to re-energize. Birth photos taken from beside or over the shoulder of the laboring person can be less graphic than those taken from the foot of the bed. Be aware of preferences for graphic shots ahead of time. Shifting the camera angle or the blankets can make newborn photos more shareable when not every one includes an exposed nipple. Loving looks and tender touches abound in labor and birth. While an emerging baby is amazing, years down the road the faces of others in the room may be more memorable than another crowning shot of the head. Go for the wide-angle shots as well as close-ups of the birth. The immediate glow from the birth experience and the “shout it from the rooftops” excitement of a new baby finally in arms can lead to over-sharing. As always, parents should be the ones to announce the birth and publish photos to social media. And whether it’s one over-exposed Polaroid or an album of professional prints, birth photos will always be treasured. Go to birthnet.org for a Listing of birth photographers and doulas and registration information for Meet the Doulas, September 21, 7pm Read More Parenting Articles

The post Birth Photos first appeared on Growing Up in Santa Cruz.

Got Shrimp?

growingupsc — Mon, 29 Aug 2022 19:30:04 +0000

Santa Cruz Company Replaces Styrofoam with Shellfish By Jeanette Prather As a mother of children, every time I think about what we’ve done to this planet and the plastics in the ocean, I just wish we could’ve had Cruz Foam about 20 years ago Innovative IngredientsAn innovative Santa Cruz-based company–with backing from two big Hollywood stars– is replacing Styrofoam packing peanuts with the waste from shellfish to create an organic foam that’s durable, light and actually good for the environment. Realizing that Styrofoam doesn’t decompose for 500 years, Cruz Foam founders came up with a formula that decomposes in two months and still protects packages. The mix uses a biopolymer–DNA, protein or cellulose – known as a polymeric – found within living organisms. “There’s no residual solids leftover about a month later,” said John Felts, Co-Founder & CEO of Cruz Foam. “What’s interesting is the regeneration and nutrition left in the soil. On a large scale, germination seeds and one-inch pods are dropped into the environment and our product is a good replacement to help germinate those seeds.” The shellfish polymer in question is known as chitin, and it retains the soil’s nitrogen, which makes it a good composting material, added Felts.“Our formula is a trade secret, but we share that it is a foam that includes natural ingredients like starches and chitosan processed from sustainably caught shrimp shells,” said Leslie Nakajima, CMO of Cruz Foam. “[Polymer is] naturally occurring plastic-like materials found in nature.” Cruz Foam, has drawn interest from actors Ashton Kutcher and Leonardo DiCaprio, who have taken investor and advisor seats. “Aston and Leonardo are actually very savvy investors and businessmen,” said Nakajima. “They are active in environmental issues globally.” In a huge shift for an industry whose material have become omnipresent with the growth of home deliveries, Cruz Foam’s product breaks down and leaves high-quality organic waste that serves as a nutrient rich compost or biogas used for electricity. “[The packaging] market, alone, needs a widespread revolution,” said Felts. “The timing is really scary with what’s going on with our planet.”Cruz Foam is reaching out to major companies such as Pepsi, Whirlpool, Ford and Sony. “We’ve had a lot of interest from some of these big-name companies like Pepsi,” said Nakajima. “We’re doing some exploratory work with them currently.” The Cruz Foam Crew“With [DiCaprio and Kutcher] involved, there are a lot of influential people along supply chains that can really help bring us the technology,” said Felts. “What those two have really done, has helped us to get our products in the hands of the right people.” The rest of the team includes co-founder and CSO, Marco Rolandi, and Toby Corey, executive chairman & COO. Additionally, the company’s team of advisors is made up of a colorful group of people, award-winning global campaign manager Chuck McBride, and former Santa Cruz mayor, Hilary Bryant. “As a mother of children, every time I think about what we’ve done to this planet and the plastics in the ocean, I just wish we could’ve had Cruz Foam about 20 years ago,” said Bryant. “I’m so proud that we’re developing this product right here in Santa Cruz. It’s so timely. “I knew about Cruz Foam in their infancy, when they were still talking about surfboards, which are one of those products that have a short lifespan; if it breaks, it goes into the landfill. It seemed like a great idea back then but tackling the packaging industry is even better. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been out surfing and have pulled out so much plastic. It just hurts me seeing so much waste on the beaches.” How They Got HereLike a lot of things in Santa Cruz, Cruz Foam got its start with surfing.“In the beginning, the idea stemmed from surf boards (literally we had wanted to create a new type of board), but then it evolved into the need to remove this horrendous plastic garbage from the oceans and blanketing the earth,” said co-founder Felts, who received his graduate degree from UCSC and then went on to get a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering. “I went from wanting to be a petroleum engineer to working with the environment. I met our co-founder six years later in Washington, and that’s where the original idea of Cruz Foam came. ” Cruz Foam co-founder, Marco Rolandi, was teaching at the University of Washington, Seattle, where Felts was working on his master’s degree at the time. Bonding over surfing, the two realized that they wanted to continue their working relationship, so when Rolandi transferred to UCSC to teach, Felts followed. The two realized that they could expand beyond renovating surfboard materials, and so they began widening their scope into the packaging industry. “About two-and-a-half to three years later, we were tinkering around to find something that was commercially viable,” said Felts. “Nobody likes to work with Styrofoam, it’s not a great product,” said Felts. “Other sustainable foams just didn’t work well either, so we started to team up with some of the major electronic companies like Whirlpool to find a solution.” Scaling and What’s Next on the Horizon“Probably, the first new industry that we would take on, is the food-based packaging manufacturers where Styrofoam is currently being used,” said Nakajima. Added Bryant, the former mayor, “They’re transforming and changing what we do now, right now. How have we made such a mess of the planet? We can’t rely on our children to fix it; we need to do it now. Cruz Foam is making the right kind of change.” Read More Parenting Articles

The post Got Shrimp? first appeared on Growing Up in Santa Cruz.

Huggy Wuggy

growingupsc — Mon, 29 Aug 2022 19:11:04 +0000

He Hugs You to Death Is Huggy Wuggy too Scary for Kids? by brad Kava It was supposed to be a cultural trip to San Francisco, and it was, until we passed some flea market booths near the wharf. There, Parker saw what became his obsession—a Huggy Wuggy backpack. Normally, I monitor what he watches, but this one escaped me. It sounded so innocent, and so what if Huggy Wuggy looked a bit monstrous—the Muppets are also monsters of a sort. “You know he’s a serial killer,” Parker asked after we’d negotiated our way around several booths that were loaded with the blue character backpack and found one for $15. “What?” “He chases people and kills them. But don’t worry. He’s not scary.” Say what? The game is described by its creators: “Set in an abandoned 1990s toy factory, game players confront Huggy Wuggy, Mommy Long Legs, and other toy characters while solving puzzles and working to survive in the creepy setting.”I decided to throw it out to parents on the Growing Up in Santa Cruz Facebook page and got a variety of answers, you’ll see below. I also did some research on the Interwebs and found out Huggy is a character in the Poppy Playtime games, which were part of the first game created by an enterprising team at Enchanted Mob and is an international breakout. You can find Huggy and friends all over the world and it has been searched more than 2 billion times, but not without some controversy. Some think the innocently named characters are deceptive and fool parents into letting children who are too young get involved in a horror game, where, as its theme song says, Huggy will “squeeze you till you pop.” While the game itself is fairly timid, police who monitor kids on the internet are concerned that fan-made videos using the same characters are way too much for kids, who will stumble on them doing basic searches. “Due to the name of the character, these videos are often ‘slipping through the net’ of platforms’ safeguarding measures like content filtering and age-restrictions,” warn police officials in Dorset, U.K. They warn that it has inspired playground violence. Teen Gamer Response by brad Kava When discussing survival-horror games or horror games in general, the majority of it all leads back to one franchise that blew up the whole survival-horror scene.Five Nights at Freddie’s was originally released on August 8th, 2014. With the use of phenomenal sound design to seemingly simple and easy controls, that managed to flesh out the game to still be horrifying yet marketable. Without getting too much into the details of Scott Cawthon’s career or the franchise, he managed to take his failed past attempts at children’s video games, which were scrutinized for his terrifying style, and made a success with the phenomenon that is Five Nights at Freddie’s. With all of that success, like most games, Five Nights at Freddie’s has plenty of communal issues, from the outrageous amount of low-effort fan games, to the childish community. But a lot of the hate these communities get comes down to the over-commercialization of horror games, which directly results from what made the games so popular in the first place. Kids obviously gravitate towards bright stuff, and YouTubers gravitate towards big trends, hence why young kids are exposed to so much of this. A lot of the content aimed at kids takes games like these and effectively compresses them, and content creators milk that content as much as they can. With all of this shoved down your child’s ears, you’re destined to come across backpacks, or shirts; it’s the same thing repeated across the industry time and time again. If that all clears up where games like ‘Poppy Playtime’ comes from and why they’re so big, I’ve said enough. Teen Gamer Response Tami SpauldingWhen I first saw children playing Huggy Wuggy on the playground at school, it looked so innocent. Until a few months later, I had two brothers begin to act out very aggressively at recess. After investigating the root cause of this change in behavior, it all lead back to the unsupervised amount of time viewing of Huggy Wuggy. It’s a terrible & sneaky way of luring young children into a furry character that is not friendly and wants their last breath! I’m glad someone is going to write an article about this! Alexander LopezI think parents are having to work harder to make ends meet in these trying times and so they are not able to monitor kids the way they were in the 90s and 00s, hence the kids get exposed to content that was there before but was out of their reach. Honestly if you are a parent and you are concerned you have to either live with no games, or buy your kid different games, Zoo tycoon is non violent and very enjoyable. Jamie Hendriksz5 year olds pretend to play these characters. It makes me insane that some parents have no idea what they are allowing their children to play with. Ben FinkeJust know what you’re getting into–do a little research. Online games are more up to player interpretation, like roblox. Offline games are more strictly defined by the game’s publishers. Otherwise, dependent upon age of course, be ready to talk to your kids about real life things. You can’t shelter them forever, and in fact talking to them and letting them think about it with you might build trust and respect Kayla WellsOmg, my son is in love with Huggy wuggy. He asked me to get kissy missy too. Cassandra LockwoodI will fight to bring them down and these kinds of things taken down Faith EppardMy kids (6 and 8) love poppy playtime. Yeah it’s creepy but it’s not as crazy violent as everyone is saying. Make sure you take time to see what your kids are playing and if you don’t like it, restrict it. I’ve watched poppy playtime with my kids and I’m fine with it. I loved horror when I was a kid. Dottie CantuMy nephew, 7 has the Huggy Wuggy Stuffy. His mom and momma don’t have a problem with him having it. I’ve seen all the characters, and he is well aware that they are not real and not scary. They are just a phase, like that one game everyone was so crazy about; the one with the giant Korean Doll shooting people. Some kids I know went to school that year as some of the characters for Halloween. We can’t shelter children these days. Today’s society is much different from when most of us were growing up. Then life was simple and safe. We played outside until the street lights came on. We sat down, as a family, for meals and spent time watching tv as a family, whether it was a movie night on tv, or a favorite tv show. Children of this century spend all day on their phones, tablets, laptops, and video game consoles; some are even lucky enough to own a Nintendo Switch with games. It is hard to get them to go outside without them complaining about it being too hot or that there is nothing to do. They want, want, want monetary things, without consideration on how much/ expensive things are. My nephew, 7, always wants Mcdonald’s and Yes, my mom; his Nana always gives in, every time. Kids these days are very spoiled and very disrespectful. Read More Parenting Articles

The post Huggy Wuggy first appeared on Growing Up in Santa Cruz.

Paying for College

growingupsc — Mon, 29 Aug 2022 19:07:04 +0000

Free Money for College by Susan Tatsui-D’Arcy This year, the budget includes $170 million for children entering 1st grade (2022-2023).Every year, the state will open an account for any child born after July 1, 2022, regardless of income or school child will eventually attend, and has set aside $15.3 million for these newborn accounts. California children born on or after July 1, 2022 will qualify to receive up to $100 for newborns and up to $1500 for low-income students. CalKids is a state-funded college savings program designed to encourage all students to consider higher education by giving them a small, long-term college savings account. Research shows that children, and their parents, consider college as a viable route to future careers when they have a dedicated savings account set aside for college. There are over 120 similar programs nationwide, but California has almost 3 times more students enrolled and more money allocated than the 120 programs combined. This year, California will enroll about 3.4 million school-aged children, and about 450,000 newborns annually. All of the funds for California children will be in a single account owned by the state, with a sub-account designated for each child. The best part: families can watch their accounts grow, but they can’t withdraw it or use it for other purposes. When the child graduates from high school and enters college (community or a 4-year college) or a technical/vocational program, the state will send that child’s money directly to the institution for education expenses. The money won’t be taxable to the parent or the child. If the money is not used before the child turns 26, the money stays in the fund for others to use. The student must live in California for at least one year immediately before funds are distributed to the postsecondary institution. While parents can open separate 529 accounts (college savings programs), they cannot mix the 529 account with the CalKids account. Parents can open 529 accounts with ScholarShare (https://www.scholarshare529.com/documents/ca-checklist.pdf) and they can view their CalKids account with their 529 plans to see the collective savings account together. The state allocated $1.9 billion last year for low-income students (1st-12th grades). This year, the budget includes $170 million for children entering 1st grade (2022-2023). Every year, the state will open an account for any child born after July 1, 2022, regardless of income or school child will eventually attend, and has set aside $15.3 million for these newborn accounts. To qualify for the $1500 low-income student account, the student must meet at least one of the following criterion:National School Lunch ProgramCalFreshCalWorksFoster YouthHomelessMigrant Students (immigration status is not considered)English Learners To get the full $1500, students would have to be low-income, homeless foster youth. All low-income students will automatically receive $500, plus $500 if they are foster youth, plus $500 if they are homeless. California has identified 1,250 students who will qualify for the full amount. This is a one-time grant. The only recurring grants will be for newborn children and incoming low-income students entering first grade. The state will deposit $25 for each newborn child. When the parent registers the account, the child will receive another $25. If the parent links their child’s account to a new or existing ScholarShare account, they’ll receive an additional $50. They’ll receive a maximum of $100. Parents must register their child’s account at CalKids.org. For newborns, they’ll need to provide the child’s birthdate, county where they child was born or attends school, and the Local Registration Number found on the birth certificate or the code provided on the notification letter. For school-aged students, parents must provide the student’s statewide student identification number (SSID) or the code sent on the notification letter. The SSID can be obtained from the child’s school or district office. The CalKids account can be opened without a Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification number. But, both parent and child need either Social Security or ITIN number to open the ScholarShare account. Share this information with all new parents so they can start a CalKids savings account for their newborns or children entering 1st grade. The $1500 funds for low-income students can be an incentive to stay in school and seek higher education. Read More Parenting Articles

The post Paying for College first appeared on Growing Up in Santa Cruz.

College Prep

growingupsc — Mon, 29 Aug 2022 18:56:15 +0000

By Mikayla Shults Last month I asked seniors how they were preparing for college. I assumed most students would be in the same boat- writing essays and applying for scholarships. For some reason, I thought I was the only senior choosing to take a different path and go to Cabrillo. The results were pleasantly surprising! It turns out many people are taking advantage of community college, and if they aren’t, plans for next year are not 100% clear. A few of the people I spoke to have worked extra hard since last year and know exactly what education and career suits them. One person went to Cabrillo for the last couple of years and just started school in Hawaii. I went into this with the expectation that everyone knew how they wanted to spend the next several years, forgetting that we were all still kids. Although some students seem to have it all figured out, most of us have virtually no idea what we’re doing, and none of us can predict the future. Even if everyone’s plans are different, there is still one thing we all have in common. The goal I saw in everyone’s responses was to make the most of this year, whatever that may be for them. Before we know it, we will all have it figured out, whether that be college or our careers, hopefully, both. Here’s what the kids are saying about college preparation. Claire I’m a little stressed at the moment, but I’m trying to keep a steady mind since I don’t want to burn myself out. Since it’s so early in the college application season, I’m taking my time and focusing on applications during my free period. I’ve started my UC applications, and if all goes well, I want to attend UC Santa Cruz and major in biology and minor in either biochem or environmental science. Nathan Well, I’m planning on going to Cabrillo for two years. Then I will transfer to a school with a good entrepreneurial program because I want to start an online sports website where people can watch games and comment on them live with other fans, and I want to learn the mathematics of that. Julia I am nervous about applying and eventually going to college. I still feel like I should be eight years old and playing on the playground. I am studying for the SAT and getting everything together for my college applications. Ever since I was little, I have wanted to go to Stanford, so that is my goal for college. I plan on studying Biology and eventually going to medical school. Hannah I am in an optimistic head space. I am preparing to go to beauty school and or ultrasound technology. I plan to take some Cabrillo classes, but I have other ideas in mind! I am excited to see where after high school takes me! Melia For me, the biggest benefit [of going to Cabrillo] was having a chance to explore different subjects and classes while it was affordable since I didn’t know what I wanted to major in. But also, during covid, it was a huge help because it allowed for some flexibility and again, was affordable, but even without covid saving money is always a good option. Sandy Very slowly, I have started some research on colleges. Last year in my art class a speech was given by an employee at SCAD, and this really opened my eyes to the possibilities after high school. Seeing many of my friends leave for college this year has also made me realize how close it is. I have been researching through visiting school websites and reading through their curriculum and programs. I have been keeping my mind pretty open, not wanting to get stuck on one school, and I’ve also been trying to take time to enjoy my last year of high school. Jude I’ve been procrastinating and putting off getting a letter or recommendation and writing essays. I’m looking into UC Davis, Berkeley, Humboldt, San Diego and CSUMB. I definitely want to go to a California school for math or science, something I won’t need to write a ton of big papers for. I’m excited to move out and be on my own. Beckett I need to write one more essay and my common app is due soon. I prepared by doing an essay workshop. I’m interested in going to UC Davis, Denver, Utah, Oregon State or University and New Mexico State. I am nervous but excited, and most importantly I want to finish strong. I started as the head of a tiger so I must finish as the tail of a tiger, not a mouse. Lilian I want to go to CSUMB, UCLA, UH, San Jose State, NYU, or San Francisco State. My plan is to major in nursing and maybe become a paramedic, then go to medicine school and get my PhD to become a surgeon. I still need to get my reference letters done. Mel I’m looking at WSU, CSU, UCSC, Cabrillo, Gonzaga, and the University of Oregon to study history. I haven’t done any applications yet, but I’m prepared for the challenge. Lucy My plan is to go to a four year right out of high school. I’m going to apply to a lot of CSUs, San Marcos, San Diego State, maybe even an out of state school! I’m applying to the University of Oregon which is kind of a stretch. I would love to play basketball if possible, but academics come first. And I want to major in kinesiology. Sequoia My plan for college is to go to Cabrillo to get my AA in fire science. I have already done a year of fire technology and right now I’m working on getting my EMT. I plan on trying out for the Central Fire District next September so I can get hired out of there to be a firefighter one and then work my way up. Eventually I will get my SWAT paramedic and rescue swimmer degree. I’d love to do a lot of wild land and seasonal work with CalFire. Katie I want to go into a direct entry four year BSM program for nursing so I can be an RN straight out of college. I really want to go to southern California, but I am applying to a few out of states. I just did a college rough draft essay, and I’ve been doing a fire internship, a sports med class, I’m working with the school’s new athletic trainer and I TA for the school nurse. I’m working very hard for nursing right now. Damian I want to go to college in southern California and hopefully major in kinesiology, because I want to be a physical therapist. I’ve looked into colleges like San Diego State and CSU Fullerton and a couple others. Arden I’m trying to become a mechanical engineer. I’m applying to CalPoly and Berkeley here. I’m also applying to the University of Waterloo, basically the MIT of Canada, and my dad works there. I already got into Montana State, which is cool, so that’s an option. I feel great about this, it feels awesome! Ally So I’m planning on applying to a few reach schools but I don’t plan on going to them. I don’t quite feel ready to leave home yet, and I didn’t get to do a whole year of dance because of covid, so I want to continue dancing for a little bit. I want to get my general ed done at Cabrillo and then from there possibly go to a 4 year, but I want to get my ultrasound tech license no matter what career I go into. The two careers I’m thinking about are dance or nursing but I don’t know which one I want to do yet. Read More Youth Writer Articles

The post College Prep first appeared on Growing Up in Santa Cruz.

Mental Health

growingupsc — Mon, 29 Aug 2022 18:50:08 +0000

Back to School Mental Health Tips by Nicole M. Young, MSW Sometimes, kids just need parents and other adults to listen without judging or trying to solve their problems. For some kids, the new school year is an exciting time — seeing old friends, making new ones, showing off cool clothes, joining sports or clubs, or enjoying new classes and teachers. For other kids, the transition between summer and school sparks difficult feelings, like fear, anxiety, or depression. And for many, it’s all of that and everything in between.This monthly column provides tips for anyone who’s raising children, based on the world-renowned Triple P – Positive Parenting Program, available to families in Santa Cruz County. If you have a question or idea for a future column, email me at triplep@first5scc.org. Dear Nicole,Our family had a great summer – lots of fun together and less stress and pressure. When school started, I expected grumpiness about getting up early and homework, but my 14-year-old seems much more distressed than usual. They don’t want to talk about it and get mad when I ask if they’re upset. Should we give them space to figure things out, or should we be worried?– SamDear Sam,Any time there’s a noticeable change in your child’s (or anyone’s) mood and behavior, it makes sense to be concerned and want to understand what’s going on. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the Surgeon General have been warning of increases in mental health issues among teens and tweens (and some younger children), such as anxiety, sadness, and feelings of hopelessness that can lead to issues like drug and alcohol use, eating disorders, or thoughts of suicide.As parents and caring adults, we can do our best to provide a safe and supportive environment, model good self-care, and seek help. Here are some tips to try:Keep the lines of communication open.Sometimes, kids just need parents and other adults to listen without judging or trying to solve their problems. If your child doesn’t want to talk, remind them you’re always there if they want to share what’s on their mind in a face-to-face conversation, text, letter, or other method. If they’d be more comfortable talking to someone else—a teacher, counselor, or relative—help them take that step (and don’t take it personally!).Discuss screen timeMany kids (and adults) are spending more time on phones and other screens than ever before. Technology and social media can be a source of connection and learning. They can also cause social pressure, leading to self-criticism and negativity when a young person believes their life and appearance don’t measure up to the unattainable perfection they see online. More screen time also means less time for health-boosting activities, like being outdoors, being with friends, or sleeping. Have a family conversation about screen time and social media use.Create or renew agreements that everyone (kids and adults) will follow, like putting devices away during meals and at bedtime (instead of sleeping with phones under the pillow). Talk with your child about how they feel after spending time online. Are there particular activities, sites, or times of day that affect their mood for better or worse? Encourage healthy habits and realistic expectations.Quality sleep, balanced nutrition, physical activity, mindfulness practices, experiencing nature, mental healthcare, and supportive relationships are scientifically proven “stress busters” that improve physical and mental wellness. If there’s a particular source of anxiety or stress, such as competitive sports or advanced classes, talk about options for dialing back the pressure. Reassure your child it’s not a failure if they take a break or lighten their workload. Remember these tips apply to parents and caregivers, too! Seek support. Seeking help for mental health concerns is a sign of strength, not weakness, just like seeking medical help for an injury or physical illness. Call 2-1-1 to find local resources or ask your health care provider to help connect you to someone experienced in child and youth behavioral health issues. Many health clinics, schools, and community-based agencies offer counseling for children and youth, in addition to private therapists. Seek help immediately if your child talks about or attempts self-harm or suicide, has lost interest in activities, or expresses extreme anger and violence. Call 9-8-8, the new national emergency number, for suicide prevention or a crisis response. FINAL THOUGHTSIt can feel so helpless to watch a child suffer, whether it’s from temporary anxiety and sadness or more profound despair and hopelessness. Seeking help is always a good idea if you’re worried, and modeling help-seeking, self-care, and other healthy behaviors is one of the best things you can do. Nicole Young is the mother of two children, ages 18 and 22, who also manages Santa Cruz County’s Triple P – Positive Parenting Program, the world’s leading positive parenting program. Scientifically proven, Triple P is made available locally by First 5 Santa Cruz County, the Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency (Mental Health Services Act) and the Santa Cruz County Human Services Department. To find a Triple P parenting class or practitioner, visit http://triplep.first5scc.org, http://www.facebook.com/triplepscc or contact First 5 Santa Cruz County at 465-2217 or triplep@first5scc.org. Read More Parenting Articles

The post Mental Health first appeared on Growing Up in Santa Cruz.