New child passenger safety seat guidance advises kids to ride rear-facing as long as possible

The most dangerous thing that U.S. children do as part of daily life is ride in a car. Motor vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of death for children 4 years and older. Using the correct car safety seat or booster seat can help decrease the risk of death or serious injury by over 70%, and parents look to their pediatricians as a trusted source of guidance.

New evidence over the past decade prompted the Academy to update the policy statement and technical report Child Passenger Safety. The documents are available at https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2018-2460 and https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2018-2461, and will be published in the November issue of Pediatrics.

The impact of the revised policy should be minimal, as the only significant change is the removal of a specific age, 2 years, as a criterion for when a child changes from a rear- to a forward-facing car safety seat.

Guidance for families

Pediatricians should be prepared to provide advice at every health maintenance visit to ensure that children are as safe as possible. The evidence-based recommendations call for the following:

Children should ride in a rear-facing car safety seat as long as possible, up to the limits of their car safety seat. This will include virtually all children under 2 years of age and most children up to age 4.
Once they have been turned around, children should remain in a forward-facing car safety seatup to that seat’s weight and length limits. Most seats can accommodate children up to 60 pounds or more.
When they exceed these limits, child passengers should ride in a belt-positioning booster seat until they can use a seat belt that fits correctly.
Once they exceed the booster limits and are large enough to use the vehicle seat belt alone, they should always use a lap and shoulder belt.
All children younger than 13 years should be restrained in the rear seats of vehicles for optimal protection.

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Autism and Self-Esteem: 3 Critical Strategies

In my work in the autism community for the last twenty years, I have seen that there is no goal more important than helping a child cultivate self-esteem and a positive sense of self. This is important not only because it will help a child to experience more confidence and happiness in his life (what is more important than that?!), but also because it helps a child be much more open to learn and grow in a variety of other ways.

Below are 3 strategies to begin this process and embark on a journey that will be deeply meaningful for you and your child.

Identify and cultivate your child’s strengths and passions.

To explain this strategy more fully, I want to share a story about a Mom named Mary and her son Jason. Jason loved the songs from the synagogue services she took him to on Saturday mornings. One of her son’s therapists, with the best intention in world, encouraged her to stop taking him to synagogue because the songs were distracting him from the other learning he was doing at school (he would continue to hum and sing the songs during the week). So Mary listened and they stopped going to weekly synagogue services.

What happened next is the important part. Mary reported to me that he became depressive and unmotivated to do or learn anything.

I suggested we rethink this plan and I strongly advocated that she brings him back to synagogue. I explained that his passion for songs was actually the doorway for all other meaningful growth. Mary took my advice and brought her son back to synagogue and he was thrilled! From the love of song, he learned to play the piano. From the love of piano, he learned to be a community leader and he performed at a very successful autism fundraiser in their home in front of a group of people.

Nothing will give your child a stronger sense of self than validating what he loves and what he is good at.

Develop your child’s independence.

Find the places where you can help your child become more independent, for example; getting himself dressed in the morning or preparing some of his own food. Identify the times where you might hover or come in and adjust something he is doing and instead take a step back and allow your child to be truly independent. Prioritize his experience of independence over getting something done the way you want it done. This will allow your child to experience the empowerment that comes from doing something on your own.

Speak to your child’s TRUE intelligence.

If there is anything I would scream from the rooftops it would be this.

Your child’s verbal production means NOTHING about your child’s comprehension. This point has been confirmed over and over again by people with autism who are non-verbal and communicate via typing or pointing. The incredible depth and intelligence of a person, that others thought was impossible, began to emerge.

So be aware of not doing baby talk or talking about your child in front of him as if he does not understand. Tell your child what you are doing and why and what you believe he is capable of. Talking to your child in this way will communicate your belief in his intelligence and abilities and he will stand taller for it!

By implementing the strategies above, you are well on your way to helping your child develop a more positive sense of self and empowered life experience.

Tali Berman is an autism specialist and author and has worked with hundreds of children from over 30 different countries since 1997. She has authored the book “Play to Grow! Over 200 games to help your special child develop fundamental social skills”, which is now sold in 4 languages and was voted as a top 5 resource by the Special Needs Book Review. She has been an ongoing contributor to the Generation Rescue Blog, Autism File Magazine and presented at the National Autism Association Conference in 2017 on autism and self-esteem. Tali currently lives with her husband and three children in Israel.

Tali will be coming to Denver on October 14^th to present a workshop titled “An Innovative and Integrative Approach to Autism: Key Strategies to Actualize Your Child’s Potential”. CLICK HERE for more details and to save your spot.

Deals: Biggest Sale in Colorado, Ski Deals, Labor of Love Event

I’ve always wanted to be a super hero. Haven’t we all at some point? One day it was the literal cape-wearing kind, which morphed into something more like I can get all this done this week. For now, I’ve settled into I can get as much done as I can, I let the little things go and just reach for the really big things. This is my daughter’s senior year. This is it. The last year that I really have any real hope of looking like a super hero to her. That is why I grabbed her tickets to the Bruno Mars concert next weekend (shhhh it’s a surprise) through FrontRow Tickets. Will a concert tickets make you a super hero too?!

Outlets at Castle Rock. The best deals around just got even better with their “BIGGEST Sale in Colorado” August 31-Sept. 3. Get a colossal 25% off coupon at participating stores and see this week’s featured sales (up to 80% off!!). They are also hosting the 29^th Annual Colorado Artfest that will feature work from 170 different artists from all across the country. The two-day event will take place on Saturday, September 8 from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Sunday, September 9 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and will celebrate the rich artistic culture of Colorado with hundreds of displays of original art, music, cultural activities, interactive exhibits for kids, delicious food vendors and other fun attractions. Admission for Colorado Artfest at Castle Rock is $5 for adults, $3 for seniors age 60+ and free for children 16 and under. outletsatcastlerock.com

Consignment sales. Twice a year, Mile High Mamas does a round-up detailing Colorado’s popular children’s consignment sales. Thousands of shoppers find bargains on kids’ clothing for newborn-preteen, toys, strollers, furniture, baby equipment, books, shoes, maternity items and more…all at 50-90% below retail. The next sale: Greenwood Thrift Shop (3600 Arapahoe Ave – Boulder), is having a super sale through Aug 30 just $5 for 5 items in the downstairs shop. September 7 & 8 will be Haute Tots at Arvada Methodist Church.

Arc Thrift Stores. Labor day is for relaxing…and shopping! Score 50% off during their Labor Day Sale. Amazing deals on clothes, shoes, coats, and household items – and more! – can be found at all 27 Arc Stores across the Front Range. Click here for Arc store locations.www.arcthrift.org/location

Ski Deals. Fall is such a great season for the mountains – probably my favorite time of year there. You can still hike and see beautiful leaves turning. But it also turns my attention to skiing. Fall is also the time to snag deals that will set you up for the whole ski season! Vail Resorts (Vail, Beaver Creek, Keystone and Breckenridge) are once again offering Epic SchoolKids a FREE pass for kids Kindergarten through 5^th grade. (Available for Colorado, Utah and Whistler/Blackcomb). SKI REX is the region’s largest pre-season sale of ski stuff (equipment and apparel). The event will take place at all six Colorado Ski & Golf Locations (although I saw a sign over the one near Park Meadows that called it Epic Mountain Gear) starting August 31.

Risas Dental. With Labor Day is this weekend, don’t forget Risas Dental and Braces’ Annual Labor of Love event on Monday, Sept. 3^rd from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., the doctors and staff from Risas Dental and Braces will donate their time at its annual Labor of Love event. You can select from one of four free services, including: Basic Teeth Cleaning; Cavity Filling; Tooth Extraction; Complete Exam with X-rays. Labor of Love kicks off with music, fun activities for kids, and complimentary breakfast for attendees waiting in line. Patients in line before 8 a.m. will be guaranteed treatment. No appointments will be required or accepted. In addition to offering free dental services, the bilingual Risas’ staff will provide oral hygiene instruction and schedule follow-up services as needed. Participating Denver locations include:

· Wheat Ridge – 3815 N. Wadsworth Blvd, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033

· Denver South – 2731 W. Evans Ave., Denver, CO 80219

· Aurora South – 3575 S. Chambers Rd., Aurora, CO 80014

· Aurora North – 11479 E Colfax Ave., Aurora, CO 80010

AMC Tuesday. Tuesday’s at AMC tickets are just $5 with an AMC Stubs membership. Plus, you can reserve online to solidify your Tuesday plans. Purchase tickets at the box office, AMCTheaters.com or their app.

Hallmark. Hallmark Gold Crown Members (membership is free) can stop by their favorite Hallmark Store for a couple more Fridays for Free Card Friday. You have to pay tax – but a card was just twenty cents! (and if you happen to be in the one at Park Meadows – tell that cute little worker gal that you read her mom’s blog). This is the last week for this promotion!

Red Robin. Red Robin is offering Kids Entrees for just $1.99 every Wednesday (for a limited time). Buy a burger, entrée, salad or wrap and get your kids dinner for just $1.99.

Barnes & Noble. Barnes and Noble is having an amazing sale with 50% off select new releases, bestsellers and other titles through September 3.

Marriage Advice: Why not to go back-to-school shopping together

My kids are [somehow] in the seventh and nine grades. The school provides laptops for them so school supplies are minimal. Pencil. Notebook. Organizer. I didn’t realize I was in mourning until I passed the anarchy-that-is-the-back-to-school aisle and wistfully thought, “I no longer need to buy them crayons.”

My, how times have changed from this blog post I wrote just a few years ago….

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If there is one thing I despise about back-to-school, it’s the shopping.

Now, let me be upfront here: If it isn’t Costco or Target and ends in ________ mall, I generally have to be dragged in kicking and screaming. For this reason, I left my kids’ school supply shopping until just a few days prior to the advent of school last year.

Here’s a little tip to the procrastinators out there: you will not win. The supplies will be depleted and you will have to go to several different stores instead of just one, augmenting an already stressful situation.

Note: if you somehow find school supply shopping cathartic, I will be happy expound upon the aberration of college-lined vs. wide-lined notebooks and my goose chase to find Elmer’s Glue-all and NOT their School Glue (which is 99 percent of what the store carried) while battling a battalion of frenzied moms.

This year, I recruited a reinforcement and brought my husband, Jamie. I handed him the much-shorter list for my kindergartner (about 12 items) while I tackled my 7-year-old daughter’s list (my sheet included the other grades’ items as well).

Things shockingly went smoothy until they didn’t.

Isn’t that how it always has to happen?….

We both finished in under 30 minutes and were on the way to the check-out when I looked down at my sheet, stopped and morosely declared “OHHH NOOOOO.”

As it turns out, I had collected everything a first grader needs for academic success but here’s the catch: my daughter was in first grade last year and is going into second grade. Who knew?

Evidently not her own mother.

The lists are, of course, completely different and so I trudged back to the school supply section, dumped my previous findings and started from scratch. I was glad my husband had at least figured it out.

Or so I thought.

When we reunited, he started questioning the veracity of the list.

“A clipboard? Why on earth would a kindergartener need a clipboard with his name on it?”

I tried to explain a few scenarios but he then threatened to boycott some other items as well.

“Jamie, if it’s on the list, we have to buy it. It’s like the commandments–you can’t pick-and-choose which ones to follow.”

He seemed to get it and grumpily purchased the good-for-nothing clipboard. When we arrived home, I started labeling the items with my children’s names and double-checked to ensure we bought everything.

He didn’t.

“Jamie, where are the 10 glue sticks?”
“We have a ton of glue sticks.”
“No, we don’t.”

In his defense, I could have appeared on an episode of Hoarders for my glue-stick fetish but that was a few years ago and rehab taught me only three glue sticks per household was necessary.

“What about snack-sized Ziploc bags, Jamie?”
“We have those as well.”
“We only have quart- and gallon-sized.”
“Same thing.”

And then came the colored pencils, which he also neglected to purchase. His defense?

“That was not on the list.”

“It was item No. 1.”

{Silence. Chirping crickets.}

Tomorrow, I’ll be returning to the store.

And next year, the back-to-school supply shopping battle will be waged alone.

Cell phones are getting out of schools, thanks to you

Thanks to all of the changemakers working to create learning environments free from cell phone distractions, so many great things are happening in our schools. I want to tell you about real-life examples inspired by Screenagers’ AwayForTheDay.org, last week’s USA Today article about it, and some new resources on AwayForTheDay.org.

But first, a huge shout out to France and their response to the data that putting phones away in the classroom results in higher grades and other positive outcomes. Late last month, they officially banned cell phones in schools countrywide for students ages 3 and 15.

Meanwhile, on the home front, I was elated to get this letter from my daughter’s high school principal this week:

“RHS (Roosevelt High School) classrooms will be cell phone free zones. As a result, cell phones should remain in school bags, off or in silent mode during the entirety of their classes. This is a change from the previous year when teachers set individual policies within their classrooms.”

The principal did a wonderful job getting input from teachers, parents, and students before creating the new policy. Check out her full letter toward the bottom of the Away For The Day’s policy examples page.

Changes like this are increasingly happening in schools of all grades. Just this week I’ve heard from 25 people about changes in their schools around cell phone policies. Decisive principals, vocal teachers, and motivated parents are communicating their preferences and helping create change. Here are some examples:

1. A group of parents in Austin, Texas encouraged the Eanes Independent School District to change their cell phone policy. They used resources from AwayForTheDay.org to write an open letter to the school district trustees and circulated it among district parents. One of the parent-organizers, Brooke Shannon, emailed us:

“Away for the Day was a huge help in our campaign this past spring. We used many of the resources you all provided on your site to encourage close to 700 families in our school district to sign an open letter asking the district to change the policy. This past summer we collaborated with our superintendent’s office on the issue. We just received word a couple of days ago about the positive changes for the upcoming school year.”

2. Colorado parent and counselor, Angela Tapp, used the template we created as a starting point for a Change.org petition to get student cellphones out of her district’s middle schools. She says:

“The momentum has been astonishing. The unexpected involvement of the professional community has served as a communication launching pad to engage with middle school families and school officials.”

3. In Portola Valley, California, school board member Jeff Klugman has used our resources to urge his district to change and enforce a cell phone ban in his schools. He has come up against some resistance and found the ‘pushback” section on the AwayForThe Day.org website to be very helpful. Last week he received good news that the district’s middle school, Corte Madera School, has added a new provision to their policy. The policy used to be that phones were supposed to be turned off for the middle schoolers but they were allowed to have their phones on them all day, but now the superintendent specifically added that phones must stay in backpacks or lockers all day. You can read their whole policy, and others, here.

Last week, USA Today interviewed me for an extensive article about the debate of whether or not to allow phones in schools. It really is worth checking out.

-Delaney Ruston, MD. Screenagers’ Filmmaker

If you are interested in seeing Screenagers, you can find event listings on our site. Or, join the thousands of people have h osted a screening in their community to help spark change.

Stay in touch with the Screenagers community on Facebook, Twitter and at www.screenagersmovie.com.

Labor Day Weekend: A Grand Finale to Summer with These Events

Denver is packed with fun (and free) festivals, pro sports, live music and plenty of late-summer, family-friendly activities before and after this Labor Day Weekend, Sept. 1–3, 2018. Visit Denver has some great suggestions; be sure to check-out our event calendar for even more.

CAN’T-MISS EVENTS

A TASTE OF COLORADO

WHEN: Sept. 1–3, 2018
WHERE: Civic Center Park
A Taste of Colorado stands proud as the end-of-summer celebration of community pride and spirit in the Denver region. Over 500,000 people make the four-day festival their Labor Day Weekend celebration, enjoying the offerings of more 50 area restaurants, 275 marketplace artisans and vendors, six stages and educational programs promoting the diverse cultural and Western heritage of the region.

DENVER FOOD + WINE FESTIVAL

WHEN: Sept. 4–9, 2018
WHERE: Downtown Denver
The Denver Food + Wine Festival is a multi-day extravaganza of food, wine and spirits education, promotion and tastings. Through a series of events, the festival aims to highlight industry impact, promote workforce development and celebrate Denver as a culinary destination.

FIREWORKS AT ELITCH GARDENS THEME & WATER PARK

WHEN: Sept. 2, 2018
WHERE: Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park
Spend the day riding the roller coasters and the water slides at Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park, Denver’s downtown amusement park, then watch a brilliant fireworks display light up the night sky, starting at dusk.

FAMILY FUN

A WALK IN THE WOODS

WHEN: Dec. 27, 2017–Dec. 31, 2018
WHERE: Denver Art Museum
The new family space in the Denver Art Museum features animal-related activities created to complement the exhibition Stampede: Animals in Art.

LEGORADO

WHEN: May. 26–Sept. 3, 2018
WHERE: History Colorado Center
Your little ones will love this giant LEGO® re-creation of Colorado history. It’s the last weekend for the exhibit, so make sure to swing by!

COLORADO STATE FAIR

WHEN: Aug. 24–Sept. 3, 2018
WHERE: Pueblo, Colo.
Load up the kids and head further afield to the Colorado State Fair in Pueblo, Colo., for carnival rides, livestock and horse shows, parades, country concerts, an arts exhibition, a fiesta weekend and one of the largest pro rodeos in the country.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN SHOWDOWN

WHEN: Aug. 31, 2018
WHERE: Sports Authority Field at Mile High
This annual football game between the University of Colorado Buffaloes and the Colorado State University Rams is the perfect start to your holiday weekend.

COLORADO ROCKIES VS. SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS

WHEN: Sept. 3–5, 2018
WHERE: Coors Field
Cheer on the Colorado Rockies as they take on the San Francisco Giants in a three-day series this Labor Day Weekend.

MUSIC & ARTS

‘AMERICA’S MUSICAL JOURNEY’ IMAX 3D

WHEN: Feb. 16–Dec. 31, 2018
WHERE: Denver Museum of Nature & Science
Tap your toe across America as you experience the sounds of jazz, blues, zydeco and old-time country music, and see how they have shaped our nation’s distinctive musical heritage in this engaging film.

SPECIAL GUEST

WHEN: June. 14–Dec. 1, 2018
WHERE: DPAC/Denver Performing Arts Complex
Meow Wolf is coming to Denver in 2020, but in the meantime, they’re collaborating with local Denver artists to bring this free art show to The Mile High City.

PHISH

WHEN: Aug. 31–Sept. 2, 2018
WHERE: Dick’s Sporting Goods Park
This Labor Day weekend concert series has been an annual tradition since 2011. Join Phish and fans at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park for three nights of outdoor jams, dancing and an end-of-summer celebration.

CLYFFORD STILL MUSEUM FREE DAY

WHEN: Aug. 31, 2018
WHERE: Clyfford Still Museum
Enjoy free admission to the nine gorgeous galleries of the Clyfford Still Museum on the last Friday of every month, including a temporary presentation of Highlights from the Collection, which features some never-before-exhibited early anatomical sketches discovered in the Clyfford Still Archives.

UNTITLED FINAL FRIDAYS: THE FLOBOTS

WHEN: Aug. 31, 2018
WHERE: Denver Art Museum
Denver hip hop rockers The Flobots bring their unique talent and vision to Denver Art Museum’s Untitled Final Fridays.

ATMOSPHERE

WHEN: Aug. 31, 2018
WHERE: Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre
Atmosphere kicks off the weekend at Red Rocks with Evidence, Grieves, Dem Atlas and DJ Keezy.

INSPECTOR

WHEN: Aug. 31, 2018
WHERE: Levitt Pavilion Denver
Inspector and Roka Hueka take the stage at Levitt Pavilion.

DENVER ART MUSEUM FREE FIRST SATURDAYS

WHEN: Sept. 1, 2018
WHERE: Denver Art Museum
Enjoy free admission to the Denver Art Museum on the first Saturday of every month, including Labor Day Weekend.

BAD BUNNY

WHEN: Sept. 1, 2018
WHERE: Bellco Theatre
Join urban music sensation Bad Bunny as he embarks on his first North American tour.

GRAMATIK

WHEN: Sept. 1, 2018
WHERE: Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre
Spend your Saturday night at Red Rocks with Gramatik, Gryffin, Haywire, Ramzoid and Balkan Bump.

JASON MRAZ

WHEN: Sept. 2, 2018
WHERE: Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre
“The Remedy” for the Sunday night blues? Jason Mraz and Brett Dennen at Red Rocks!

JASON ISBELL AND THE 400 UNIT

WHEN: Sept. 3, 2018
WHERE: Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre
Celebrate Labor Day with Grammy-winning Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, along with Aimee Mann and Amanda Shires.

MUSEUM EXHIBITIONS

STAMPEDE: ANIMALS IN ART

WHEN: Sept. 10, 2017–May 19, 2019
WHERE: Denver Art Museum
Whether depicted as faithful companions or threatening adversaries, animals have been the subjects of human art for centuries. Stampede allows visitors to consider the roles animals play in our lives and in our art through more than 300 paintings, sculptures and more.

AI WEIWEI: CIRCLE OF ANIMALS/ZODIAC HEADS

WHEN: Oct. 18, 2017–Oct. 17, 2018
WHERE: Civic Center Park
The 12 bronze heads of Ai Weiwei’s Circle of Animals represent the 12 animals of the traditional Chinese zodiac. See it for free at Civic Center Park!

PAST THE TANGLED PRESENT

WHEN: Nov. 14, 2017–Oct. 28, 2018
WHERE: Denver Art Museum
Ever wanted to step inside the pages of your favorite children’s book? This family-friendly exhibit by Denver artist Jaime Molina imparts that very feeling. Sit on boxes painted with friendly faces, play in a garden of fabricated cacti and marvel at the ever-expanding mural.

ZOOM IN: THE CENTENNIAL STATE IN 100 OBJECTS

WHEN: Nov. 21, 2017–Dec. 31, 2018
WHERE: History Colorado Center
History Colorado created a brand-new space, the Tim Schultz Gallery, to house this 3,700-square-foot exhibit of 100 objects, each of which had a role in shaping the history and culture of Colorado.

GANESHA THE PLAYFUL PROTECTOR

WHEN: Feb. 16–Oct. 28, 2018
WHERE: Denver Art Museum
Ganesha is a Hindu god widely worshiped as a remover of obstacles and known for granting wealth and success. View sculptures, paintings and textiles depicting Ganesha from the Denver Art Museum‘s collection, along with a very special pre-Angkor statue of the elephant god on loan from the National Museum of Cambodia in Phnom Penh.

DEAD SEA SCROLLS

WHEN: March 16–Sept. 3, 2018
WHERE: Denver Museum of Nature & Science
Labor Day Weekend is your last chance to see authentic Dead Sea Scrolls, ancient manuscripts that include the oldest known Biblical documents, along with their full English translation. The exhibit also features the largest collection of artifacts from the Holy Land ever assembled for display, including weapons, terra cotta figurines, a re-creation of the Western Wall from the old city of Jerusalem and a three-ton stone from the actual wall.

PLAY BALL!

WHEN: April 7–Sept. 30, 2018
WHERE: History Colorado Center
Play Ball! showcases one of the greatest collections of baseball artifacts ever assembled outside the Hall of Fame, from the glove donned by Willie Mays to the uniform Joe DiMaggio wore in his final World Series.

PIXELATED: SCULPTURE BY MIKE WHITING

WHEN: April 28–Sept. 23, 2018
WHERE: Denver Botanic Gardens
Mike Whiting’s geometric sculptures explore the relationships between the natural world and the artificial world of digital media, as well as the intersection of two distinct visual styles: 8-bit pixel graphics and minimalist sculpture.

LA MUSIDORA

WHEN: May 29–Sept. 3, 2018
WHERE: Denver Art Museum
Take part in this interactive art exhibition, which combines music and rocking chairs. It’s located just outside Denver Art Museum’s Hamilton Building.

NEW TERRITORY: LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY TODAY

WHEN: June 24–Sept. 16, 2018
WHERE: Denver Art Museum
This exhibition of more than 80 landscape photographs showcases how artists manipulate materials and processes for expressive purposes, blurring the distinction between “observed” and “constructed” imagery and stretching the boundaries of traditional landscape photography to reflect the environmental attitudes and values of our time.

MINDBENDER MANSION

WHEN: July 20, 2018–Jan. 6, 2019
WHERE: Denver Museum of Nature & Science
Gather hidden clues and secret passwords as you work your way through puzzles, brainteasers and interactive challenges of Mindbender Mansion, designed to put minds of all ages to the test.

EYES ON: JULIE BUFFALOHEAD

WHEN: July 29, 2018–Jan. 20, 2019
WHERE: Denver Art Museum
Eyes On is a multi-year art series that features the work of contemporary artists. Minnesota-based Julie Buffalohead, a citizen of the Ponca Tribe of Oklahoma, often uses animals in her artwork to illustrate the commercialization of American Indian culture.

EYES ON: SHIMABUKU

WHEN: July 29, 2018–Jan. 20, 2019
WHERE: Denver Art Museum
Eyes On: Shimabuku features a video by Japanese artist Shimabuku that follows a group of Japanese snow monkeys in a Texas sanctuary.

INVISIBLE LINKS: BOTANICAL ART & ILLUSTRATION

WHEN: Aug. 15–Oct. 14, 2018
WHERE: Denver Botanic Gardens
This exhibit explores the complex and sometimes hidden relationships between plants and other organisms.

The most realistic first-day-of-school sign you’ll ever see

Can we all just agree that this trend of holding up a sign on the first day of school should just go away? Consider this my personal boycott.

For one mom, the sign she made for her child could not offer a more realistic take on the busy life of a parent. Lindsay Sutton, the mom behind the blog Essentially Momming, posted a photo on her blog’s Facebook page earlier this month that showed her son on his first day of school in Missouri. Like many kids, he held a sign that included his grade. It also included a funny message.

Let’s hear it for the boy…and this mom!

What rules not to break in the school drop-off line

If you have kids in school, you’ve witnessed it. The fighting, the brawling, the all-out chaos that makes “Lord of the Flies” look orderly.

And, no, it’s not the kids in the schoolyard. It’s the parents in the car drop-off or pick-up line. Or, as I call it, “the Thunderdome,” a Mad Max-style dystopia where cars are king and respect for mankind goes out the passenger seat window.

In a study by British insurance company Allianz, more than 1,000 parents were surveyed for their levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, as they did their school day morning routine. Levels peaked just before leaving the house to drive to school, at around 8:15 a.m. each morning, researchers found. And the impact of the school run stress stays with parents well into the day. Also, nearly 25 percent of parents surveyed said that morning drop off stress sets their mood for the day — good or bad.

Susannah B. Lewis, author, comedian and woman behind the Facebook page Whoa Susannah, parodied the experience in her latest video.

So, for all of those parents who know somebody who could use a reminder as to how it all works, here are the 7 unbreakable rules of the school drop-off or pick-up line.

Sarah Maizes

Say Farewell to Summer With These Mouthwatering Labor Day Recipes

Summer ain’t over until it’s over. These recipes are perfect for Labor Day weekend or any celebration to celebrate the end of summer!

Hawaiian Chicken Bacon Pineapple Kabobs: Seriously savory but also sticky sweet, there’s something about these kabobs that make you keep coming back for more and more. Get the recipe from Cafe Delites.

Barbecue Pork Sliders with GARLIC Aioli?!?! It’s a slow cooker recipe, they’re sweet and spicy, they’re garlicky, and well, they’re just darn good.

This BBQ Bacon Meatball Recipe Will Change Your Summer Barbecues Forever. Enough said.

The perfect corn on the cob recipe for this summer! Learn how to make Mexican Street Corn at home, it’s so easy to make! You can grill it or make it in the oven with a garlic mayo, lime juice, cotija cheese, and chili powder for a little heat.

Sweet watermelon, plump berries and fragrant mint combine with rich feta cheese for a salad combination you will dream about! You’ll love my Watermelon Blueberry and Feta Salad Recipe.

Rich, smokey and oh so delicious, this Southern Baked Beans Recipe comes together quickly and then bakes slow so that all those flavors just meld perfectly together!

Elitch Gardens Announces One-Of-A-Kind New Ride!

Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park announced today that the park will be partnering with new neighbor Meow Wolf to bring an innovative, alluring and sensational new ride to Denver in 2019. Meow Wolf’s Kaleidoscape will be a never-before-seen attraction that takes guests on a densely immersive and fully interactive experience. Riders who journey on Meow Wolf’s Kaleidoscape will be transported to other-worldly motion, deep sound, wild color and interactive challenges that if well-played may just save the day. This intriguing attraction will be the first artist-driven dark ride the world has ever seen.

“All of us at Elitch Gardens are thrilled to be partnering with Meow Wolf to create this unique, mysterious and artistic new ride. The park is a long-standing Denver staple known for offering one-of-a-kind family fun and this new ride will continue that tradition in its most original way ever,” said Layne Pitcher, Elitch Gardens’ Marketing Director.

Guests will experience Kaleidoscape in 2019 at Elitch Gardens before the new Meow Wolf exhibit debuts in Denver in 2020. Meow Wolf is composed of 200 + artists across all disciplines including architecture, sculpture, painting, photography, video, virtual and augmented reality, music engineering, narrative writing, performance and more. Meow Wolf is truly unique. The art is bold, daring and unabashedly weird in order to challenge everyday norms through immersive experiences that transport audiences of all ages into fantastic realms of story and explanation.

“Meow Wolf artists love amusement park rides,” said CEO Vince Kadlubek.”They are works of art with architecture, pacing, sensation, color, theme and more. To create a dark ride has been a true dream of ours and we’re deeply honored to work with Elitch Gardens to create the first ride in the world that is also a multimedia piece of contemporary art. Over a million visitors have experienced House of Eternal Return in Santa Fe and we aim to pack as many mind-blowing visuals as possible into Meow Wolf’s Kaleidoscape—an adventure that will be a prequel experience to our blockbuster Denver exhibit in 2020.”

Elitch Gardens 2019 Season Pass holders will be among the first to ride the new Meow Wolf’s Kaleidoscape next April. Stay tuned for the biggest sale of the year beginning this Monday, August 27!

For additional information on this innovative new ride, please visit ElitchGardens.com/Kaleidoscape.