Around the Globe

If you're thinking the Earth's just a big blue marble, you should probably check out "Cool Globes – Hot Ideas for a Cooler Planet." This public art display includes 50 7-foot-tall, 2,000-pound globes that have each been designed by schoolchildren and artists to portray the plight of our planet.

Originally conceived by a mom of four, the exhibit started in Chicago and has toured Washington, D.C., San Francisco and San Diego before landing in Los Angeles' Expo Park just in time for Earth Day, April 22. The globes will stay here through July before beginning their European tour.

Bottle That!

The Disney Store is digging in to do its part for the Earth, targeting those pesky plastic water bottles as just one way to slow down pollution.

And on Earth Day (April 22), Disney Stores are planning some interesting activities and initiatives, such as:

• Recycling is Magic Project: On Earth Day, shoppers are invited to join in the recycling fun by bringing in three empty plastic  bottles to recycle.  While  supplies last, guests will receive a free reusable water bottle (an $8.50 value).


• New apparel made from recycled water bottles. Shoppers can purchase a soft, wrinkle-resistant shirt and reusable tote made from recycled plastic water bottles.


• In collaboration with The Nature Conservancy, Disney Store and Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund have planted 96,000 trees to help The Nature  Conservancy reach its goal of planting a billion trees by 2015 in Brazil's Atlantic Forest, one of the world's most endangered rain forests. One tree is planted for each reusable tote bag produced. The tote bags feature a special Earth Day design, are made from 100 percent recycled materials and retail for $2.50 each.


• Murals expressing what Earth Day means to local Boys & Girls Clubs of America children will be on display in Disney Store windows beginning April 13.

Got Questions? Get Answers!

How effective is "grounding" as punishment for a tween? Why is my child refusing to do her homework until the last minute? My 3-year-old is manipulating me! We can't get through a meal without a sibling battle ...

Parenting issues: We all have 'em! Send me yours, and I'll find an expert to give you some advice. We can't fix everything, but I know I rely on an extensive group of moms, sisters, therapists, friends, etc. to help me navigate these often-difficult parenting waters. And L.A. Parent family therapist-on-call Tony Malinda had some great suggestions for my friend (see below).

So e-mail me your questions/issues/dilemmas at carolyn.graham@parenthood.com because believe me, we're all in this parenting boat together!

Ask the Therapist: Tantrums in Tweens

I recently received an email from a friend of mine chronicling some "daughter drama." We both have 8-year-old girls, and both seem to be going through a renewed tantrum stage. I forwarded her plight along to Tony Malinda, an L.A.-based family therapist who wrote "Your Parenting To-Do List" in the March issue. I thought it might be helpful to share this with fellow parents!

She writes:

Do you have an article on this?

Brianna's teacher called me today. Tells me she is having tantrums every time she asks her to do something, falling out and crying. She keeps refusing to take tests, and when she does, she answers only two or three of the questions.

Am I a bad mom? What is going on? I want to freak out! When she is at home, no tantrums lately and she does her homework fine.  I just don't get it!

HELLLLLLLLLLP!!!!

Tony Malinda replies:

Let's start with the premise that kids act out for a reason 100% of the time and that reason is most often to get ATTENTION, ATTENTION, ATTENTION. And if kids cannot get attention in a positive way, they will absolutely and unrelentingly get it in a negative way. So here are some steps to try first:

1) Encourage Brianna to put words to how she is feeling and why. Don't accept blame and criticism; try to get her to describe the situation and the feelings she has during that situation. Let her know that you have heard her then help her come up with creative ways to deal with her frustration without causing trouble in the classroom. Do not entertain blaming others e.g., Blame teacher, blame teaching methodology, blame other students.
 
2) Use rewards and consequences to decrease negative behaviors and increase positive ones.
"Brianna, if you can go 5 whole days (or three if that's too much to ask) without Mom hearing from school in any way, you can have: a) Extended play date with friend, b) Movie of choice with Mom, c) Dinner at restaurant of choice with Mom. (This can vary depending on what she likes.) Do not offer material rewards; it sets an unhealthy precedent.
If Mom does hear from the school by phone, mouth or note, Brianna will lose all screens and playdates for the rest of that day and the following day.
 
3) Trust the school to handle the behavior within their system and try to stay out of it unless the school is insisting on your involvement. For example, if Brianna has to serve detention or sit in the principal's office during lunch or miss a field trip, so be it. And try to stay neutral when consequences are given by saying "You chose to behave badly, now you need to deal with your consequence."
 
Remember that the goal is to teach Brianna how to communicate effectively, self regulate, self advocate, tolerate frustration, control anger, delay gratification, manage frustration and  be flexible in situations that she does not agree with or like. This sounds like a lot but the alternative is to teach her that she can get her way if only she throws a tantrum.
 
If this does not work then the problem may be more severe and need a more intensive team approach. I will be glad to help if that is the case.
 
The "Road less traveled" approach to parenting will pay off in the long run but the "path of least resistance" approach to parenting will come back to haunt us.
 
– Tony Malinda, M.A., M.F.T. 

Open, Sesame!

Find out about snot, muscles, poop and healthy eating at the Sesame Street Presents: "The Body" exhibit, now occupying the child-friendly space across from the California Pizza Kitchen at Hollywood and Highland.

Jack and I took a Sunday afternoon trek over with L.A. Parent graphic designer Terresa Burgess and her energetic 1-1/2-year-old daughter Teagan.

The pair played in the obstacle course, learned about the journey of food through the intestines and got sprayed with "snot" from the giant nose at the mucous display. Teagan and Jack really liked Baby Bear's Mini Mart and Mr. Hooper's Store, where they practiced putting together their own well-balanced meals.

Teagan also liked the calm Elmo's World room, where she found a comfy bean-bag chair to watch Elmo videos. Jack spent a significant amount of time at the Rub-A-Dub Tub, where Ernie and Rubber Ducky show why cleanliness is important (a good lesson for little boys!).

Elmo arrived in time for photos with both Jack and Teagan before we headed out for lunch. Kevin Clash, who portrays the voice of Elmo, was scheduled to appear, but both kids had tuckered themselves out on the exhibits. So we headed to the outdoor fountains, where the kids played and cooled off – discovering that being outside and playing is good for your body, too!

Sesame Street Presents: "The Body" is open 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. on weekends through April 26 (with additional spring break hours on April 8-9 and 15-16). Tickets cost $10 per child and include one adult admission (additional adult ticket is $5).

Photos by Terresa Burgess