DOCUMENT RESUME PS 023 860 ED 390 559 Offspring, 1995. TITLE Michigan Council of Cooperative Nursery Schools, INSTITUTION Jerome. PUB DATE 95 73p.; Photographs may not reproduce well. NOTE Offspring Magazine, 4610 Gregory Road, Dexter, MI AVAILABLE FROM 48130 (1-year subscription, $6; 2-year subscription, $10). Serials (022) Collected Works PUB TYPE Offspring; v37 n1-2 1995 JOURNAL CIT MF01/PC03 Plus Postage. EDRS PRICE Child Development Centers; Child Health; *Classroom DESCRIPTORS Techniques; Cooperation; Day Care Centers; Experiential Learning; Family School Relationship; Music; *Nursery Schools; Play; *Preschool Children; *Preschool Education; Self Concept; Self Esteem ABSTRACT These two 1995 issues of the journal "Offspring," a publication of the Michigan Council of Cooperative Nursery Schools, cover a variety of topics familiar to nursery school and day care providers including the mission of the publication. Articles are short pieces useful to practitioners and are frequently accompanied by classroom activities. Articles in these two issues include: (1, "Memories and Family Traditions: An Interview with Bev Bos" (by Liza (2) "Reflections on 'Offspring': The Last Ten Years" Mangigian); (3) "Dollars and Sense between Children and (Karen Ensminger); (4) "Making Choices Work between Parents" (Phyllis J. Wordhouse); (5) "The Cooperation Games Career and Family" (Jody A. Schnetzler); (6) "Family Meetings: A Time To People Play" (Tahia Miller); (7) "Allergic Problems in Children" (by Reconnect" (Bill Winkler); (8) "Have More Fun with Music" (Chuck Hage and Elisa James McDonald); and (10) (9) "Self-Esteem to the. Extreme" (Lilian Katz) ; Huss-Hage) ; "Practice Makes Perfect Sense: Learning through Play" (Evelyn Peterson) . (JW) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made * from the oliginal document. OFFSPRING U S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 01).ce ot Fklaat onal Research and Ireprovomonl EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) \Lk This document has been reproduced as Our 35th Year received from the person or organilation ouginating it 1995: No. 0 Minor changes have been made to 1 imprme reproduction quality Points of view or opinions stated in this dor ument do not necessarily represent official OERI positior or policy . ' 4 ..17,ca. 414' e 4 ,- , 0% c , -TPO: PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY T_ErrsevIlarL A Publication of the Michigan Council of Cooperative Nursery Schools TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTEH (ERIC) ABLE 2 BEST COPY AV Offspring Magazine is published twice yearly. Articles reflect opinions of the authors and not necessarily the editorial board and staff. Manuscripts are accepted for consideration. Subscription of this magazine is through membership in the Michigan Council of Cooperative Nursery Schools or through individual subscriptions. For subscription information, see inside back cover. MCCN does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin. EDITORIAL BOARD John Bernardo, M.A., Detroit Public Schools Psychologist and Psychotherapist Carole Grates, Child Day Care Licensing Consultant Anne Cairns Federlein, Ph.D., Dean of Behavioral and Applied Sciences, State University of New York at Oneota Sally L Fee, M.A., Birmingham Public Schools, Kindergarten Teacher Joseph Fischhoff, M.D., Child Psychiatrist Dan Hodgins, M.A., Early Childhood Coordinator, Mott Community College Donna Howe, M.A., Michigan State University Marjorie M. Kunz, M.A., MCCN Advisor Ginny McCaig, NI.A., University of Michigan-Dearborn Jacquelyn Thompson, M.A., Early Childhcod Consultant Michigan Department of Education Bernadette Hamilton, President, MCCN Founding Editor: Marilynn Rosenthd, Ph.D. EDITORIAL STAFF Lisa Mangigian Karen Ensminger Terri Eisenlord Amy Hockey Offspring is written for parents, teachers and others: U To provide a forum for views on dealing with young children; U To express a variety of ideas; U To promote the co-op philosophy; U To enhance our relationships with children and each other. Michigan Council of Cooperative Nursery Schools is a member of Par- ent Cooperative Preschools International. Copyright © 1995 by the Michigan Council of Cooperative Nursery Schools. All rights reserved. Published in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America. ISSN: 0472-6340 3 OFFSPRING THE MAGAZINE OF THE MICHIGAN COUNCIL OF COOPERATIVE NURSERY SCHOOLS VoL XXXVII No. 1 Memories and Family Thaditions Lisa Alangigian Interview with Bev Bos An 2 Karen Ensminger ()Awing: 7 Reflections on l'he Last Ten Years Reflections on the 25th Anniversary Atari/pm ti. ()Awing Ro.venthal of 9 Dollars and Sense Between Wordhouse Phyllis Children and Parents 11 Making Choices Work Between Career 20 Jody A. Schnetzler and Family Tahia Miller 29 Ihe Cooperative Games People Play 1995: No. I I Rev Ros 199 5 MCVN (onlerence Ke)note Speaker Memories and Family Traditions An Into Tiew with Bev Bos LISA MANGIGIAN carr them with us all our Our childhood memories-- for Parents, teachers and caregivers are responsible lives. creatinu those lifelong memories and traditions. "As we grow and be- older we focus our attention on the thinu,s we trusted She be- lieved in when we were children," says Bev I3os. creating lie\ es that establishing family traditions is crucial to happy childhood memories. Com- Ros is the Director and Teacher of the Roses ille, CA 26 years. munity Preschool, w here she has taught lbr over for oung She is also an author of three books on creativity mother of children, a recording artist and lecturer. 13os is the grandmother to 13. c grown children and fi and 13os 11111 locus on the importance of family traditions alue of good childhood memories look at the sustaining CditOr far Offspring, a ./Orme,- co-op parent and LiA(1 Mangigian a wilier of three children. () 1995: No. I 3 as the keynote speaker at the MCCN Conference in April. r :ing an early morning phone interview Boss emanated ex- citement about this important topic. Off Spring: When did you first realize the importance of family traditions? Bos: Growing up in a large Midwest family I've always known the importance. About 10 to 15 years ago I started wondering why people were feeling lost. In many families television has replaced traditions. I concluded that we needed hooks to hang onto when life was difficult traditions. _ Offspring: What traditions do your children remember most from their childhood? Bos: Having dinner together has always been important to our family. Recently a 1988 study hialighted the impor- tance of daily family dinners. When lookinu for a common thread among high achievers it was found that having dinner together as a family outranked extra curriculars or superior education. Offspring: Is there a particular age when traditions be- come especially important to children? Bos: In many cultures family traditions begin with greet- irni babies. The early childhood years are crucial: children between the ages of 3 and 6 are forming ideas about the world around them. Off Spring: What traditions have your children established in their own ram i 1 ies? I probably don't know all of them, hut one tradi- B Os : tion we continue centers around birthda)s. We hme a spe- cial quilt that we wrap the birthday person in, and then w e throw that person in the air. I also have adapted this at the 4 OITSPRING ti preschool where I teach. The birthday child sits in a chair and we lift him or her up. Offspring: Describe some other classroom traditions. Bos: On the first day of school we all share one apple sianifying that we will be tot!ether for the year. We also make the children czin decorate. Ex- a special doll each month that amples include a sweet potato doll and a wooden doll. Each child also has a "memory box" made from a simple shoe box in which the student can put anything he or she wants. At the of end of the year the boxes fio home as a tangible reminder all the special memories of the year. OffSpring: What advice can you ofkr to our readers who may be hesitant to start new traditions? Bos: If you are tuned in to the emotions of your family Don't force new customs ou shouldn't have any problems. struggles. Family tradi- on anyone and refrain from power tions should encourage a cooperative atmosphere with active participation in the planning staues as well as the actual event. Offspring: ls there one crucial aspect in establishing fam- ily traditions? BON: Yes, one member of the family must be committed Money is not im- to building memories through traditions. portant. Simple inexpensive traditions are best. For example, when my children were younger whenever we bought a new their initials on top and say jar of peanut butter, we would put fairy in the light" did it. that the OffSpring: Will all children view traditions in the same memories? way or will they all have different Box: Speaking from m) personal experience. I had a dif- ficult childhood; yet I remember the happ) times and con- of tinue the traditions m) mother started. For :xample, out gq5: N. I all of my seven siblings I am the only one who bakes rhubarb pie. I hope each child will remember whatever positive tradi- tions he or she was exposed to and carry them on. I3os hopes Conference attendees will learn how to strengthen their sense of family by usinu traditions to make their times special and memorable. She recommends the following list of books as resources tbr families beginning their traditions: - A Celebration. of American Family Folklore Tales and Traditionsfrom the Smithsonian Collection By Steven Zeitlin, Amy Kotkin, Holly Cutting Baker New Traditions By Susan Abel Lieberman Rituals for our Times By Janine Roberts, Evan Imber Black 6 OFFSPRINO Reqections Ofispringg on ME' Last Tpn Ypars KAREN ENSMINGER It was January 1983. My son Alex had graduated from I had just started The co-op and was now in kindergarten. Scrap Box, a nonprofit busines: that collects and distributes industrial discards, but wanted to Jo more with my extra time. My good friend Shelley Lane was on the MCCN Board which Offipring Magazine. was looking for a new coordinator for She thought it would be great to have someone to ride with meetings and she knew I every month to the Lansing board had been the newsletter editor of our co-op. (She didn't know Karen Ensminger is the Editorial ..1dvisor of()%pring. She has been and (manures to he a tremendous asset to the ,I1CC,\ loudly. She dirt'ets The Sc.rap Boy in Ann Arbor MI. 1995: No. 1 7