FWM 2009 03 and 04

� FamilyWorks Magazine - March & April, �009 www.familyworks.org

March & April, 2009

FamilyWorks® 4 Joseph Court, San Rafael, CA 94903 email: [email protected]

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FamilyWorks Magazine is published by FamilyWorks®

3 Parenting in the Current Financial Storm YourKidsPickUpOntheStress By Jaleh Donaldson, MS, MFT

4 Tips and Ideas for Throwing a St. Patrick’s Day Party FunIdeasforYourKids By Nick Tasler

5 Is Today a Good Day to Fly A Kite? TeachYourKidsAbouttheWeather By Frances Nankin

6 Relationship Gardening NurtureYourRelationship By Mary Jane DeWolf-Smith, RN, MFT

8 Treating Teens Who Abuse Drugs and Alcohol WheretoStart By Gary Direnfeld, LCSW

10 Divorce, Separation and Estate Planning By Jennifer Cowan

11 APPLE FamilyWorks News & Programs

17 Digital Media Academy SummerCampOffersComputer andFilmTraining

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FamilyWorks Magazine - March & April, �009 �www.familyworks.org

Stress is something everyone experi-ences on a regular basis, but with the economic downturn, increase in un-employment, reduced value in assets, along with other changes in our soci-ety, the pressures on parents increase, especially on busy mothers who strive to successfully parent during the cur-rent financial storm.

Children are sensitive to their par-ents’ feelings and can pick up nuances that parents assume are unnoticed, thus causing second-hand stress in their children. Avoiding stress may be impossible, but the good news there are things parents can do to help their children remain resilient even in the face of the severe storms of life.

Allow for open communication. Address any questions or concerns your child may have. Be honest and express the current economic situation in simple terms. Then provide possible solutions. This will ease your child’s mind and calm their body.

Be a positive role model. Actions speak louder than words and you are your child’s most powerful role model. They will follow what you do, but not always what you say. So, instead of telling your child not to stress out, demonstrate stress reduc-tion techniques like deep breathing and exercise.

Involve your children in a commu-nity service project. To get their minds off the family’s financial situation, focus your child’s attention on learning about their community and making

Parenting in theCurrent Financial Storm

Jaleh Donaldson M.S., MFT is the author of Life’s Little How To Book, a self-help book with easy-to-understand tips on dating, marriage, children, career, personal growth, and a whole lot more! It’s now available online at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and Borders.

Children are sensitive to their parents’ feelings and can pick up nuances that parents assume are unnoticed, thus causing second-hand stress in their children.

continued on page 16

Dealingwithfamilystressorconflict?Seepage13

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Watch out for the wee folk—little leprechauns, that is! It’s time for “the wearing o’ the green” as we celebrate everything Irish. Host a St. Patty’s Day party with festive four-leafed invitations, Emerald Isle food and Lucky Leprechaun games. It’s easy being green on St. Patrick’s Day!

InvitationsInvite the guests with lucky four-

leaf clover cards. Cut large clovers from green construction paper and write, “This is your Lucky Day—You’re invited to a St. Patrick’s Day Party!” Insert invitations in green envelopes and add a few chocolate gold coins for extra good luck before you mail them to guests.

CostumesHave the guests take “wearin’ o’

the green” literally and ask them to dress in as many green articles

By Penny Warner withBalloon Time Helium Balloon Kits

of clothing as possible. Award a green prize to the one who wears the most green. For added fun, greet the guests dressed as a leprechaun, in a green top hat, green shorts and green striped socks!

DecorationsGo green! Use a Balloon Time He-

lium Balloon Kit to inflate a bunch of green balloons with helium, tie them off with green ribbon and gather them in bunches of three to form floating “shamrocks.” Include one “lucky” four-balloon cluster and award a prize to any guest who “finds” it.

Cut out a bunch of giant shamrocks from green construction paper and tape them to the walls or use them as place mats. Create a giant rainbow using sheets of colored construction paper taped to a wall in the shape of an arch. Set a “pot of gold” - a gold foil-covered bowl filled with choco-late gold coins - at both ends of the rainbow. Sprinkle clovers and gold coins on the table. Play Irish music in the background.

Games & ActivitiesHot Potato – This fast-moving

game is hot - but won’t really burn

anybody’s fingers. Have players stand in a circle about an arm’s length from each other. Give the “hot” po-tato to one player and have him or her toss it to any other player as quickly as possible. Keep the potato moving until a player drops the potato or holds it longer than three seconds - then that player is out. Continue until there’s only one player left. For added fun, have players take a step back each time the potato hits the ground.

Pot o’ Gold – Set out a large, green leprechaun hat upside down, (or use a bowl). Give the players equal handfuls of chocolate gold coins and have them take turns tossing them into the pot from a short distance. Let the players keep the coins that land in the pot.

Tips and Ideas for Throwing a St. Patricks Day Party

Penny Warner has more than 25 years of experience as an author and party planner. She has pub-lished more than 50 books, includ-ing 16 specific to parties. Addi-tionally, Warner writes a weekly newspaper column on family life, penned a column for Sesame Street Parents magazine and has ap-peared on several regional and national TV morning programs. Her latest book, LADIES’ NIGHT, was released in November 2008 from Adams-Media.


Is Today a Good Day to Fly a Kite?Helpingyourchildunderstandtheweatherthroughobservation,measurement,andpredictions

By Frances Nankin

These days, it seems everyone is talking a lot about the weather, but what can you actually do about it? Use these quick tips from Cyberchase to take measurements, make observations, and engage your child in some fun and educational, math-based weather-watching!

What’s the Temperature Outside? Read the thermometer!

Reading a thermometer is a great habit to get into with your child before venturing outside and gives kids prac-tice reading a temperature scale. As you read the thermometer with your child, you’ll quickly see that it’s not difficult to measure the temperature when the top of the bar is exactly opposite a number, but what does it mean when it is between two numbers? How many degrees do those little hash marks represent? If your child is having difficulty reading the temperature, try enlarging a section of the thermometer scale to make it easier to talk about how to figure it out. For example, on a piece of paper you might draw the section between 60 and 70 degrees. When you divide the scale into 5 equal parts (using 4 hash marks), help your child see the hash marks rep-resent more than 60, less than 70, and since there are 5 equal parts, each mark

must stand for 2 degrees. (You can have your child count by twos from 60 to 70 to confirm this. Ask, “What if the scale between 60 and 70 were divided in two equal sections with one hash mark? (The mark must represent 5 degrees.) Do the same for 10 equal sections (9 hash marks). With practice like this your child will be able to read the temperature using any thermometer and at the same time gain valuable practice reasoning about numbers, number patterns, and estimation.

Look for Patterns in Your WeatherTracking the weather in your area

day-to-day, week-to-week, or even month-to-month is an excellent way to give your child experience collect-ing and analyzing data, using math in a way that is vital to understanding the world around us. One simple activity is

continued on page 1�

6 FamilyWorks Magazine - March & April, �009 www.familyworks.org

Shawna and Steve broke up last year. They had both been divorced and were eager to find a new partner. They dated for awhile, going to clubs, movies, and dinner. They thought things were going well when they decided it was okay to introduce one another to their children. They went on a camping trip. It all went downhill from there. Their basic val-ues, parenting styles were too different. Their “dating” had been on the surface. Real world was different.

The Real World, After Falling in Love – is Different.

Shawna decided that with the next relationship she’d spend more down to earth time with her date. When she met Rick (and wow was he good looking and charming!) she suggested that they go hiking. Not interested. But dinner and a movie was okay. That was fine. A few weeks later she suggested, when the kids were at their fathers, that she cook Rick dinner. Rick sat in the living room while Shawna cooked. No offers

to help out, but he did take interest in the kids’ pictures. With that, she introduced him to the kids. He and the kids were great together, even though he ignored Shawna when the kids were around. When Shawna was alone with Rick, they didn’t talk much. Despite the red flags, Shawna stayed in the relationship for a year until she realized that Steve was moe into being a Dad than a companion to Shawna.

Shawna was Discouraged. What Could Shawna Do?

Did she know herself well enough to know what she needed to make a relationship blossom? She knew her partner had to be into rearing children. But she wasn’t sure what else. The last two relationships she’d been draw into because of the chemistry between her and the man. She married her first hus-band shortly after she fell in “lust” with him. He was handsome, and successful. She became pregnant right away, and then another child followed quickly. They focus exclusively on their children. But they failed to tend to their couple relationship. Each expected the other to make them happy, but they couldn’t describe to themselves, let alone each other, what was missing. They were focused on being parents. They never

RelationshipGardening

Is your relationship withering?

How long has it been since you have cultivated it?

Is it watered and fed regularly?

Have resentments grown like weeds?

Has the sun faded and brought on a permanent chill?

By Mary Jane DeWolf-Smith, RN, MA, MFT


learned to be loving partners. Shawna was just beginning her check list. She wanted gentle words and conversation. She wanted outdoor time with “her guy”.

Relationship Gardening Tips:

It’s Time to Fertilize Your Own Soil/Soul. While you’re figuring out what is the best

match for you, or how to grow the relationship you are currently in - take time to be someone you would want to spend time with. Spend less time thinking about what is wrong with your partner.

Child rearing, work and home is incredibly draining. But having one thing you love to do - to look forward each week - can make all the difference. This does not have to cost money OR a huge amount of time. Perhaps you take an art class, join a community chorus, take up a hobby and yes, turn off the TV. Your partner is not powerful enough to keep you from growing. Take the time. Period. Your relationship/your health depends on it.

Dream a Dream Beyond Your Front Door.

Stopped having fun? No adventure? Has it been awhile since you became involved in paying it forward? It is amazing how invigo-rating it is to help those less fortunate. It puts all our woes into perspective. It gives couples something positive to plan for and talk about. Or perhaps you want to learn to speak another language, learn about another culture, learn to play pool, dance – something outside the everyday routine that helps you grow.

Learn What Makes You and YourPartner Feel Loved.

You wouldn’t plant a cactus in the rainfor-est, or an orange tree in the dessert. Each needs a different environment to be nour-ished. This is also true for each one of us. What makes us feel loved?

We may have difficulty explaining it to our-

self let alone to our partner. In fact, early on in a relationship we try to be charming and not force our personal wants and needs on our date or partner. We pretend to enjoy certain things just to “fit-in”. We may not even know what pleases us. Over time we certainly know what does not please us. And that may become the focus of the relationship.

It is vital to take time to get to know who you and your partner really are. At FamilyWorks we work with couples to complete each person’s Temperament Profile. We review the results and help the couple find a healthy language to describe and understand the unique traits each has. This creates greater acceptance of self and other and better explains why one partner may wished to be shown love differently.

We also like to refer to the questionnaires in The Five Love Languages, by Gary Chap-man. You can read this short book, complete the questionnaires and learn the behaviors that make each of you feel loved. It is a real eye-opener. You will know yourself and your partner better. In the Five Love Languages you will discover whether you feel loved MOST through re-ceiving: Affirmations, Acts of Service, Gifts, Physical Touch, or Quality Time.

Next issue I will talk more about the Five Love Languages. Have fun growing your Relationship Garden this spring.

by Mary Jane DeWolf-Smith, RN, PHN, MA, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist

Mary Jane DeWolf-Smith is a licensed Marriage & Family Therapist specializing in couples, parenting and co-parenting concerns. She is a renowned family educator. Learn more great parenting skills in her Positive & Peaceful Parenting class. Call (415) 492-0720 to sign up or make an appointment for counseling services.


Like schools of fish, teens who abuse drugs and alcohol tend to hang in the same crowd. They garner a kind of moral support or legitimacy from like-minded and behaving peers for their drug and alcohol consumption. Further, when drug and alcohol consumption reaches the abuse stage, they are seen to have conflict with persons in authority, be they their parents, teachers or police. Academic performance is compromised and the teen is at risk of school failure. Vocational and recreational partici-pation may be non-existent. Energy and activity is drawn towards the maintenance of the peer group and escaping detection by adult figures of responsibility. The teen is often a good talker, appearing mature be-yond their years whilst really not demonstrating responsible behavior. There is a discrepancy between what they say and how they perform by objective measure.

Parents may be oblivious. The teen may have hidden their academic decline. Not until their world starts to cave in on them by way of falling grades, school suspension or conflict with the law, are many parents finally alerted to the seriousness of their child’s problems. Even in view of detection, the child will seek to avoid the gravity of the situation and deflect responsibility. Due to the upsetting nature of the discovery, par-ents are at risk of seeking to think the best of their teen and hence may be easily inducted into the child’s web of deceit, being manipulated to

By Gary Direnfeld

Treating TeensWho Abuse Drugs and Alcohol

FamilyWorks Magazine - March & April, �009 9www.familyworks.org

matters are either not as serious as first thought or alternately, the outcome of other influences upon their child, rather than the direct and knowledgeable action of their child by choice. Further, the child, in order to minimize or escape the situation and/or consequences, will out-right deny, lie and blame others. Parents are cautioned – the more strenuous the defense, the more likely the offense.

Nary a teen when confronted stands up and admits their drug abuse. The teen more often stands strong in initial denial. When held accountable and when the parent is not inducted into dismissing the problem, the teen next embarks on a campaign of minimization. As the parent next tries to hold the teen accountable, the teen then goes on to bargain and manipulate their parents so as to avoid the full weight of responsibility and necessity of change.

Treatment must include random drug testing. While the teen will take offense and claim they can be trusted, the simple fact of drug abuse is that the teen’s judgment is poor and the teen cannot be relied upon for honesty. Random drug testing is the only objective measure of abstinence.

In addition to random drug testing, the teen will have to be encouraged to swim in other ponds. To this end, it is useless telling a teen not to hang out with prior or current friends. Rather, parents must require their teen to obtain a part-time job, maintain grades appropriate to academic ability and to be involved in recreational and/or volunteer activity.

The objective is to help the teen be-come engaged in healthy, pro-social and skill developing activities that are incompatible with drug and alcohol use. The strategy is to swap the time that was available for drugs and alcohol with these other activities. Collectively, these are regarded as structural interven-tions.

In terms of counseling, this is aimed first at parents who will likely require support to implement the structural in-terventions. Next to that, some degree of family therapy will be required to

help parents and teen restructure their relationship. Whereas initially parents were likely unaware of their child’s drug abuse, upon detention and intervention, the pendulum may swing in the oppo-site direction. Thus, parents who may need to be intrusive to start, may then require support to recalibrate rules, roles and expectations when the teen adjusts and responds to treatment. Counseling for the teen on an individual basis may also be helpful to sort out relationship issues, self-esteem issues and to address academic and vocational direction.

The objective is to help the teen become engaged in healthy, pro-social and skill developing activities that are incompatible with drug and alcohol use.

Gary Direnfeld is a social worker in private practice. Courts in Ontario, Canada, consider Gary an expert on child development, parent-child relations, marital and family therapy, custody and access recommendations and social work.

The measures of success include: no trace amounts of drugs or alcohol on random testing; improved and sustained grades; a regular paycheck; and recre-ational and/or volunteer involvement.


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Divorce, Separation and Estate Planning

Death and Divorce: two topics no one wants to think about, let alone plan for. Yet the former is inevitable, and the latter, unfortunately, very common. Whether you are thinking about divorce, in the midst of a divorce, or have come out the other side and are now single, it is time to address estate planning issues, which have been thrown into flux as a result of the divorce.

In general, estate planning involves: an inventory of your assets, consider-ation of who you want to receive those assets, and general precautions such as naming an individual to act on your be-half if you should become incapacitated, or naming a guardian for your minor children if you should die prematurely. Any documents you had drawn up while you were married almost certainly do not reflect your wishes now that you have decided to divorce. However, until a final judgment or a “bifurcated status-only judgment” (an order granting the divorce but deferring other issues) is entered by the family court, your ex-isting estate planning documents and non-probate transfers (such as property held in joint tenancy, or assets that pass by beneficiary designation, such as retirement accounts and life insurance policies) remain in full force and effect. Unless you take affirmative action to revoke your will, revocable trust, and any powers of attorney, your future ex-spouse will still be your beneficiary (or legal heir if you have no will).

At this point there are several steps you may take to ensure your assets do not inadvertently pass to your future ex-spouse, but instead to beneficiaries of your choosing. During a divorce proceeding both parties are obligated to preserve the financial status quo. How-ever, certain actions are permissible, and what modifications may be made depends on the nature of the asset and how title is held.

Let’s see how this looks with a hypo-thetical couple:

Peggy and Charles are divorcing after 12 years of marriage. They have 2 mi-nor children, a house in Marin, a small vacation home, retirement accounts, life insurance and brokerage accounts. Let’s assume they already have a will, naming guardians for their children, a revocable living trust to avoid probate on the house (naming the survivor as the primary ben-eficiary, remainder to their children), and advanced health care directives, naming each other as their “attorney-in-fact” if the other were to be-come incapacitated. For simplicity, as-sume the house and brokerage accounts are held in the trust, and the vacation home is held in joint tenancy outside the trust.

What if Charles files for divorce and moves out, but neither party makes any changes to their existing estate planning documents

while the divorce is pending?If Peggy dies unexpectedly, or is

injured and temporarily incapacitated, Charles would still inherit under the terms of their trust. If she is incapaci-tated, he would be the individual respon-sible for making health care decisions

Family & Cosmetic

John T. Smith, DDS915 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., San Anselmo

(across from Red Hill Shopping Center)

453-1666

Dental Services

by Jennifer CowanEstate Planning Attorney



Providing Many Opportunitiesto Strengthen You and Your Family

Parentingand

Co-parentingClasses

FamilyorCouples’Therapy Individual

Therapy

SupportGroups ChildTherapy

1� FamilyWorks Magazine - March & April, �009 www.familyworks.org

Child-Centered Co-ParentingParentswhoarelivingapartlearnhowtoraisetheirchildrenharmoniously,keepchildren“outofthemiddle”andsafelyineachoftheirlives.Parentsattendinseparateclassesandlearnto:

• Dealwitheachother respectfully

• Increasecooperation

• Makeco-parenting decisionscalmly

• Dividechild-rearing tasksequitably

• Manageconstantly shiftingschedules

• Stoptantrumsanddawdling

• Designconsequences thatwork

• Endrudeness&backtalk

SevenTuesdayevenings:March10-April21,2009SlidingScaleEarnacertificateofcompletionatgraduation.

Viewing Life Today•BeingaProactiveParent•IdentifyingYourUniversalPrinciples

Growing Great Kids•UnderstandingHowKidsWork•EnsuringGoodnessofFit•MakingWorkFun

Listening and Talking•ListeningEffectively•DecreasingImpulsiveBehavior

Problem Solvingthat Gets Results•UsingtheMagical“When...Then”•DesigningChartsthatGetResults•Revamping“TimeOut”

Feeling More Confident•BeingPositiveandPersistent•SharingSuccesses•SettingPositiveConsequences

FourTuesdayevenings:March31-April21,2009SlidingScaleEarnacertificateofcompletionatgraduation.

P o s i t i v e& P e a c e f u l

ParentingLearn Keys to Increasing:•Cooperation•Self-esteem•Responsibilty

•Communication•Respect•Discipline

ExploringMotherhoodFor Expectant & New Mothers (and infants birth to 9 months)

EnglishspeakinggroupTuesdays.6:30-8:00PMatFamilyWorks

Spanishspeakinggroup10a.m.tonoonatMarinCommunityClinicinNovato

• Shareexperiences,ideas, andsupport• Learnaboutpregnancyand newparenthood• Learnhowtoincreaseinfant health&happiness• Learnwaystomanagechange anddecreasestress• Reduceanxietyanddepression

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415-492-0720StrengtheningRelationships...For a Lifetime

Strengthening Relationships... For a Lifetime

Parenting ProgramsTheMostEffectiveParentingProgramsEverParentingiscomplicatedandchallenging.Workandfamilypressuresarehuge.FamilyWorks’parentingserieshelpsthewholefamilythrive.Parentshavefunastheylearnthemosteffectivetoolstoguidetheirchildren,ofallagestobecooperative,responsibleandcaring.

FamilyWorks Magazine - March & April, �009 1�www.familyworks.org

Assessment and ConsultationUsingtemperamentprofilesanddevelopmentalassessments,parentsandchildrenwilllearnpositiveskillsanddesignbehaviorplansthatmaximizeeachchild’spotential.

Therapistsconsultwithteachersandparents,developingbehavioralinterventionsthatworkathome,playandschool.Therapistsare

availabletomakehome-visits,schoolobservationsandattendIEPmeetings.Mentalhealthscreeningsforanxiety,depression,AD/HD,etc.areavailable.

Therapy with TeensFamilyWorks’skilledtherapistsworkwithadolescentstosupporttheirjourneytoadulthood.Usingvariousformsofexpressiveartstherapy,interactiveplay/exercisesandoutdooractivities,teensfindnewwaystoresolveproblems,buildgreaterself-esteemandenhancetheirsocialskillsinwaysthatsupporttheirhealthygrowthanddevelopment.

IndividualTherapyUtilizingavarietyoftheoreticalapproaches,FamilyWorks’therapistshelpindividualstodevelophealthylifeskillsandincreasetheirsocial-emotionalwellbeing.Weareskilledinhelpingwithabroadrangeofrelationshipandpsychologicalissues,including:

• LifeStage Transitions

• Anxiety Disorders

• Occupational Problems

• MoodDisorders

• Individuation

• Postpartum Depression

Therapywith ChildrenInFamilyWorks’child-centered“playrooms,”skilledtherapistscreateasafeandacceptingenvironmentforchildrentosharetheirexperiencesandexpresstheirfeelingsthroughaguided,self-healingprocess.Usingawidevarietyofexpressivearts,includingFamilyWorks’specializedsand-traymaterials,children“play”inwaysthatallowthemtobringtheirthoughtsandemotionstothesurface.Aschildren’sexperiencesandknowledgearemoreandmorefreelycommunicatedthroughplay,thetherapistworkswiththosethemesasavehicleforself-acceptance.

• Conflict Resolution

• Anger Management

• Improved Self-Esteem

• Bereavement andGrief

• StressReduction

• SubstanceAbuse

CouplesCounseling and Family TherapyCounseling,concerns,hopesanddreams,aswellaspracticalandeffectiverelationshiptoolsareexplored.Theresultisincreasedunderstandingandempathy,morecooperationandmorefuninfamilylifethrough:

• ChildBehavior Management

• ResolvingHurts andConflicts

• DealingwithAnxiety, Depressionand Addictions

• TheArtofListening

• SharingChildRearing

• PlanningforPlay

• ManagingAnger

• ChildDevelopment

SlidingScale

StrengtheningRelationships...For a Lifetime

Strengthening Relationships... For a Lifetime Therapy and Life Skills Center

Visit our websitefor more program information

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Support for Individuals with Disabilities

Call Katherine Arnsbarger(415) 492-0720 ext. 226 or visit www.familyworks.org

Who Do We Serve?We serve adults and children with developmental disabilities.

OUR STAFF

ProgramDirector,MaryJaneDeWolf-Smith,RN,PHN,MFTinsuresserviceexcellencewithherexperienceasapublichealthnurse,life-skillscoach,parentingeducatorandmarriageandfamilytherapist.ProgramCoordinator,KatherineArnsbarger,bringshereducationandexperienceasaneducatorandanthropologisttoprovideculturallysensitiveandindividualizedservices.SupportStaffInclude:PatriciaSaunders,MA,MFT,LewTremaine,CandaceFraserandDianaWilkins.

•ParentingandCo-Parenting•ChildbirthEducation•ChildDevelopmentandFamilyPlanning•BehaviorManagement,StressReduction•EarlyInterventioninPostpartumDepression•PositiveandPeacefulDiscipline•FamilyHealthPromotionandHygiene•InjuryPrevention,Nutrition,Exercise•HouseholdManagement,Transportation•FinancialManagementandBudgeting•DevelopmentofSocialSupportSystems•LinkagewithOthersServices

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to measure and record the tempera-ture at the same time each morning and night. Make a table with columns labeled with the hours you take your measurements (8:30 am and 8:30 pm, for example) and rows labeled with the days of the week. Record the tempera-tures in each “time/date” cell. At the end of a week, invite your child to talk about what the data reveals. You might ask, “Do you see a pattern in how the temperature changes from morning to night?” And the following week, you might ask your child to predict how the temperature will change on any given day from morning to night.

Or you might track wind direction at regular intervals over several weeks and record the weather that follows. To track wind direction, help your child make a simple wind sock and use a compass to mark north, south, east and west relative to where you hang the sock. Note that a north wind comes from or blows out of the north, a south wind comes from the south, etc. You can use the data you collect to note the prevailing winds for your area (the direction from which winds in your area typically come), as well as the weather these winds tend to bring. You can even use this information to predict the type of weather you are likely to have.

Measure How Much Rain Fell After a Storm

Your child will enjoy measuring how much rain fell after a storm, and doing so provides valuable ex-perience working with fractions and mixed numbers. To measure rainfall in a 24-hour period, place a flat-bot-tomed, straight-sided, see-through container (a plastic quart-size storage container works well) in an area free of overhangs or tree branches. After a

rainstorm, help your child hold a ruler upright in the container and measure to where the surface of the water comes. To help your child understand the hash marks repre-senting fractions of an inch, use permanent markers to color each fraction hash mark differently. Color the ½ inch mark red, for ex-ample, the ¼ inch marks blue, and the 1/8th inch marks green.

For fun, once you’ve measured how much rain fell; figure out how much snow would have fallen had the conditions been right to turn the rain into snow. To do this, multiply the amount of rain that fell by ten. (For example, 1 inch of rain would have been about 10 inches of snow!)

Measure the Strength of the Wind

Is today a good day to fly a kite, or sail a boat, or play outside with a pinwheel? It’s easy enough to look outside to see if the wind is pushing hard on things like tree branches or people’s hats, but just how hard is the wind blowing? And does it blow harder in one place than another? You don’t need fancy equipment to find the answer: Your child can make a simple wind gauge, practice reading numbers to compare wind strengths, and find the windiest place to fly that kite!

To measure the wind’s strength, you need a length of string with a paper clip attached to one end and a number scale to see how far the wind pushes the string when it blows. To make the scale, anchor the string to one corner of the

Is today a good day to fly a kite, or sail a boat, or play outside with a pinwheel? You don’t need fancy equipment to find the answer. Your child can make a simple wind gauge, practice reading numbers to compare wind strengths, and find the windiest place to fly that kite!


Is Today a Good Day to Fly A Kite ?continued from page �


to draw an arc (because the string will arc upwards when the wind blows). Add equally spaced hash marks along the arc and number them, starting at 0 where the string hangs down straight (Or you can print and make a simple Cyberchase Weather Watchers gauge when you go to pbskidsgo.org/cy-berchase). Together with your child, point this simple gauge into the wind and read off where on the scale the string has been pushed.Weather Lore

“A sunshiny shower won’t last half an hour.” “Evening red and morning gray are sure signs of a fine day.” We all

have our favorite weather sayings, but are they true or just folklore? Invite your child to pick a favorite saying to test over time. To do this, begin by asking what you will need to find out if the saying is true. Make a journal and keep it handy so you and your child can make notes each time the weather conditions match the saying. You need to test more than once or twice so you can see if there is a pattern of truth to the saying – or not. If the saying is true more often than not, have fun using it as a fun weather predictor.

Frances Nankin is the Executive Producer and Editori-al Director of CYBERCHASE, the only math series for children on American TV. CYBERCHASE airs daily on PBS KIDS GO! across the country Check local listings or visit pbskidsgo.org/cyberchase.

positive changes in someone else’s life. Have your child help pick a community service that they would enjoy. Ex-amples include: collecting children’s books for the needy, painting over graffiti, and quilting a blanket for newborns.

Make this time a teachable moment. You can teach them something valuable during these hard economic times. Use these changes to educate your children on the importance of working, budgeting, and prioritizing. Give your child a piggy

bank or open up a high interest bearing savings account. Decide together what type of chores they will do to earn money. Then talk with them about dividing their allow-ance into saving, spending and donating categories.

Maintain a consistent daily routine. Children today may feel insecure about the direction their family is headed. A predictable routine involving school, chores, meals, and leisure activities instill feelings of security.

Provide fun activities for your children. Don’t allow hardships to ruin their fun and happiness. Spend time everyday doing something together like a park picnic, board games, a cookie bake, or even a walk.

Good Day to Fly a Kite?continued from page 1�

Financial Stormcontinued from page �

on her behalf. The vacation home, held in joint tenancy, would automatically go entirely to Charles if Peggy were to die. Insurance and retirement accounts would be payable to the primary ben-eficiary, most commonly the surviving spouse (Charles).

What could either Peggy or Charles have done to change this result?

• Both Peggy and Charles could re-voke their current will and execute a new will, naming new beneficiaries.

• Either spouse could revoke their revocable trust, after notice to the other party. Of course this means any property that was held by the trust will now be subject to probate (until the divorce is final and it is possible to fund a new

trust) but at least the property will pass to the desired beneficiaries.

• Peggy and Charles should execute new powers of attorney regarding health care, naming friends or family members to make medical decisions on their be-half in place of their future ex-spouse.

• Finally, both parties should strongly consider severing the joint tenancy so that one party will not “take all” if the other should unexpectedly die. A prop-erty held as tenants in common will pass by will, rather than automatically at death to the other joint tenant.

If Peggy and Charles had made all those changes while the divorce was pending, their respective shares of the trust assets (and the vacation home) would have passed to the newly named beneficiaries. The exceptions here are the life insurance and retirement ac-counts, as parties to a divorce may not modify beneficiary designations without

a court order, or consent of the other party.

What if you’ve done nothing about your estate plan, and now you are di-vorced?

Some of these issues, but certainly not all, are resolved automatically when the divorce is final. California law pro-tects spouses who divorce but don’t get around to changing their wills, in some circumstances.

In conclusion, it is important to review your estate planning goals if you are con-sidering, or are in the process of divorce. If you have come through a divorce it is important to review all your assets, both probate and non-probate, to make sure the assets will pass to beneficiaries of your choosing and that you have named new individuals to act as your executor, trustee, and attorney-in-fact.

EstatePlanningcontinued from page 1�


At DMA, your child will be taught how to design and create games, movies and websites, while developing lifelong passion and skills that translate directly to careers in design, engineering, com-puter science, and more. You and your teens can upgrade your knowledge and lay the foundation for numerous careers.

DMA uniquely offers courses for every age and learning level. Digital Media Adventures caters to ages 7-13, with courses in robotics, web design, filmmaking and game design, taught by professionals and teachers with a passion and talent for inspiring young minds.

Teens can pursue their passions by taking courses in beginning to advanced levels in fields ranging from game de-sign to filmmaking to 3D animation and many more. Teen programs are taught by accomplished artists and educators. New for 2009, DMA has partnered with the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus (www.lennonbus.org) to offer COM-ING TOGETHER: Music and Video Production, a course sure to attract stu-dents from around the world. This is of particular appeal to aspiring rock stars, producers, engineers and filmmakers alike. Lennon Bus music and videos will

Day and Residential Summer Camps Offer Digital Media Training

Digital Media Academy Offers Courses For Everyone in the Family

DigitalMediaAcademy(DMA)isrecognizedasthepremiersummercampforkids,teensandadults.Thewholefamily,fromgradeschoolkidstoprofessionalparents,canenjoylearningthelatestdigitalartandmediatechniquesfromtopinstructorsinanencouraging,project-basedenvironmentusingstate-of-the-artequipment.

continued on page 1�


foundation for special 5-day courses that let surfers and skateboarders combine their passion of the sport with their love for filmmaking, while spending time enjoying their selected sport.

There are courses in every aspect of digital creativity, including Apple Logic and digital film production and photog-raphy, Flash and Photoshop, web design, Adobe After Effects, Final Cut Pro, 3D modeling and animation, documentary filmmaking, motion actionscript and more.

DMA offers adults twenty-five pro-series courses taught by renowned industry experts, authors and accom-plished university professors. Pro-series

IntheBayArea,campuseswhereDMAcoursesareofferedincludeUniversityofCaliforniaatBerkeleyandStanfordUniversity.

continued from page 1� courses can be taken at DMA university locations, on cruise ships (DMA on the Sea) or at your location (DMA on the Road).

These intensive, informational and fun-packed 5-day courses are an amaz-

ing value. Certification programs in web design, video production and 3D anima-tion with Maya are also available.

In the Bay Area, campuses where DMA courses are offered include Uni-

continued on page �0


Directed by Wavy Gravy& Jahanara Romney

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For 35 years, children haverun away to join our circus inbeautiful Mendocino county!

Kids learn respect for themselves, others and the environment through our multicultural curriculum of circus and

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�0 FamilyWorks Magazine - March & April, �009 www.familyworks.org

versity of California at Berkeley and Stanford University. DMA is the only national organization with teen and adult courses accredited by Stanford

University Continuing Studies, one of the world’s top universities. For those who desire a residential experience in another area, campuses include The University of Texas at Austin, Brown University, Harvard University, Uni-versity of California at Los Angeles

(UCLA), The University of Chicago and many more.

For a complete list of campuses, courses, course descriptions and more information, call 866.656.3342 or visit www.digitalmediaacademy.org.

continued from page 1�

FamilyWorks Magazine - March & April, �009 �1www.familyworks.org

Ages 6-16Half-Day & Full-Day Options

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Bar717ranChFoundedin1930,theBar717Ranchofferschildrenages8-16theopportunitytospendthesummeronabeautifulmountainranch.Campers choose freely from activitiesincluding horsemanship, backpacking,gardening,animalcare,riverswimming,artsandcrafts,photography,music,drama,archery,blacksmithingandceramics.530-628-5992,www.bar717.com

BayarEaDISCovEryMuSEuMJointheBayAreaDiscoveryMuseumthissummerfornon-stopfunandadventurefor 4 – 8 year olds. Your little explorer,artist, performer, and scientist can signup for a different Discovery Camp eachweek and celebrate the joy of guidedexplorationandopen-endedcreativeplay.(415)339-3900.

CaMPWInnaraInBoWAges 7-14. Classes in the circus andperformingartsincludetrapeze,clowning,tightrope, juggling, unicycling, stilt-walking, gymnastics, theater, hip hop,martialarts,magic,music,art,basketball

court, nature walks, environmental andmulti-cultural awareness. Beautiful lakewith350’waterslide, year-round streamand lodging in canvas tipis. 707-984-6507.

CyoCaMPNear Occidental, California, CYO Campprovides a residential camp experiencewhereyouthhavefuntheoldfashionedway.BayAreacampersofallfaithshaveanadventureamongsttheSonomaredwoods,while developing self-worth, team-building skills, and an appreciation fornature.Eightsessions,June27-August3.www.cyocamp.org<http://www.cyocamp.org/>707-874-0200

DavEJohnSonPGa&rooSTErrunGCpresentGOLFCAMPSforjuniors.Fun,educational,creative,safe,friendly.Half-DayCamps($265)includeinstructionon putting, short game, full swing,etiquette.Snacks,games&prizes.Full-DayCamps($395)alsoincludelunch&9holes.Student-teacherratiois8:1.Alllevels,ages6-16.ContactDave707-778-8125x28;[email protected]

DEvIl’SGulChranChWeofferboysandgirlsopportunitiestoconnectwithandexploreagriculture,theredwoods,grasslands,andcreeksofWestMarin.Campershelpwithfarmchores,feedandcareforouranimals,learntraditionalskills, and discover the outdoors. Weemphasize free play, nature awareness,agriculture,andoutdoorrecreation.415-662-1099.

ThEDIGITalMEDIaaCaDEMyis“TheSummerComputerCampforKidsandTeens”DMAisidealforkidsandteenswanting exposure to the most relevantsoftware used in the entertainmentindustryandprofessionalworld.Choosefromdozensofgreatcoursesin2008.DMAissimplythebest!888-656-3342.

lovE2DanCESuMMErCaMPSWe offer excitement while providinganopportunitytoexpresscreativityandincrease self-esteem. Studentswill learnhip-hop,jazz,&noveltystylesofdance,andparticipateinarts&craftsallsettothemes.Severalcampswillalsoincludeeducationalenrichment.Eveningseminarsareavailableforteens&adults.415-898-3933.

KIDSonCaMEraTv/FIlMaCTInGDayCaMPAge4-14.Lights,camera,action!28thyr.Award winning. Weeklong camps. Newthemes weekly. Comedy, voiceover, filmacting,improv,photomodeling.Improvecommunication & audition skills, buildconfidence. June/July/Aug. 9:30AM-3:00PM.Extendedcare8AM-6PM.Marin,[email protected]:9thAvenearGeary.JudyBerlin415.440-4400www.kids-on-camera.com$275-375

Love2Dance

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SummerPianoCampEnrolling BeginnersAges 5 to 10

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MarInhorIZonSuMMErCaMPFunforchildren3-8yrs.Age3:Gymnasticslessons by Spinners Gymnastics. Ages4-5: Swim lessons at Homestead Pool!Ages 6-8: Swim and Capoeira lessons,Field Trips. Marin Horizon teachers; 8:1student-teacher ratio. Activities include:soccer,arts&crafts,music,hikes,drama,cookouts.9AM-3PM,ext.caretill5:30PM.1/2-dayoptionfor3-yrolds.4or5days/week.June29th-Aug7th.MarinHorizonSchool, Mill Valley. 415-388-8408 [email protected]; www.marinhorizon.org.

MarInShaKESPEarE CoMPany

We make Shakespearefun!MarinShakespeareCompanyofferssummercamps for ages 5 - 7,8 - 12, and teenagers.LocationsinSanRafael,Ross , and Novato.Also check out ourpopular Tennis/Dramacamp. Details at www.marinShakespeare.org,orphone415/499-4487.

MarInTrEKSSuMMErSCIEnCECaMPMarinTreks invitesyouto join our excitingscience camp to studyandhandleouruniquecollectionofliveanimals.Meet insects, reptiles,amphibians;experiencean a r chaeo log i ca lexpedition;exploretheamazingworldofbatsand raptors. Naturecrafts round out thisdynamic program. 1st–5thgrade.Brian415-250-0988 or [email protected] the NovatoParks&Rec.Dept.

M a r I n W a l D o r FSChoolP r e s c h o o l &Kindergarten camp(3.7 years-5.6 years), &enteringFirst&Secondgradecamp.Threetwo-week sessions: June22-July 3, July 6-17,July 20-31. 8:30am-12:45pm or 3:15pm.$475 per two-week.755IdylberryRoad,SanRafael,CA94903.www.m a r i n w a l d o r f . o r g .479.8190ext.102

MEGaGyMnaSTICSSuMMErCaMPFunforboys&girls,ages5&up!9weeklysessionsbeginningJune15th.Campstakeplaceinourlarge,fullyequippedfacilityincluding tumble trak & trampoline.Campers, grouped according to age &ability, are introduced to all apparatus.Groupgames&activities,nutritioussnacks,Olympic Fridays! Mon - Fri 12-3:30 p.m.$255/session for non-members. www.megagymnastics.com.415.257.MEGA.

SuMMErPIanoCaMP“Blast Off with Piano” in our fun-filledSummer Music Camp! Activities includea BEGINNERS’ piano class, music games,movement,rhythmcircle,aneducationalvideo,andsnack.Lowpressure,lotsoffun!CampheldatTheOptimaLearningCenterin Novato (near Downtown). MorningsandAfternoonsoffered.Seewebsiteforpricing and complete schedule. www.novatopianoschool.com721-1929

STraWBErryrECrEaTIonDISTrICTMill Valley (415) 383-6494. 9 weeks ofsummerprograms.Sign-upforoneweekorallsummer!Campersdividedbyage&abilitylevel.CAMPSTRAWBERRY-New!Lessons:Swim,Tennis,CampActivities~Ages:4-7,9am-4pm,(1-4-weeks);TENNISCAMP - Ages: 6-15, 11am-2:30pm (1-9weeks);SWIMLESSONS-Ages3-15,10am-12pm(2-8weeks)

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StrengtheningRelationships...For a Lifetime

Strengthening Relationships... For a Lifetime

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