Everyone has a favorite holiday, and certainly Thanksgiving ranks high on the list.  It's a good time to remember everyone who deserves a thank you!  We thank YOU for bringing us many new readers this year.  Please tell a few more friends about us so we could make it to 10,000 families this year!  Thanks to our listed businesses for being on our site and posting all your wonderful events and sales.  It's rewarding to facilitate connections between families, businesses and non-profits.

As parents and grandparents we have the pleasant responsibility of creating joyful holiday memories for our children.  Family and friends plus traditional food are a winning combination.  Turkey, stuffing, giblet gravy, peas, squash, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie still top my food list for a grand celebration.  After dishes were done, it was "Go outside and play", and play we did, all over the rural neighborhood of trees, meadows, brooks, rocky outcroppings and old barns.  Times are different now and we don't give our children as much freedom, however we have beaches to visit, modest mountains to climb, and great redwood forests to explore right in our backyard  --thanks to our state parks.  Interestingly, Santa Cruz County has more state parks than any other California county.

Suki adds to the spirit of "Go outside and play" with sound scientific backing! Notice how full our calendar is of outdoor activities.  If you're shopping, we hope it's local as much as possible.  The Thanksgiving Camps are perfect for those who want to shop without children.  If you're shopping with children, Susan True has some suggestions for you.

Enjoy family time together and have fun choosing what to do this weekend! Parmalee.

When I was a kid and any of one my siblings was moping around the house, my mother said what probably countless mothers generations back had been saying to their kids:

"Get out of the house."

Not, Get out of the house and don't come back, you morose teenager, but rather, Get out of the house and get your body moving, soak up some sunshine, and think about something other than your problems.

It's an age-old motherly piece of advice, one that scientists are now confirming with each new study of lifestyle and moods.

This piece outlines four pieces of advice that will boost serotonin levels and set things right in mind and body. They are:

1. Don't mope about the house!   Even on cloudy days, there is more light outside than inside. Our bodies evolved to need that light for all sorts of things. In this case, sunlight triggers serotonin production. As the writer mentions, sunlight also triggers skin cancer, so we have to balance and think about how we get the sunlight. Best to keep it off your nose and the top of your head (prime areas for skin cancer because of years of accumulated exposure), but let it in for at least a while every day. Kids especially need to be reminded to go outside these days. It's so easy to spend the day jumping from car to building and back to car again.

2. Human touch is important   The writer points out that the studies have been specific to massage, but I'm guessing that human touch in general is part of a healthy psyche. One of the reasons why solitary confinement is such a cruel punishment is that those confined miss the touch of other humans. And it's not just prisons. I was shocked when I heard about "no touch campuses" - schools where they've made a rule that no one can touch anyone else, ever. Sometimes the gentle touch of an adult is what a child needs to focus and settle her body.

3. Exercise does more than keep us slim, lower our blood pressure, and all those other wonderful things   Getting daily exercise also promotes well-regulated emotions. Study after study finds that kids labeled with disorders - ADHD, especially - show fewer symptoms if they get regular exercise, preferably outdoors. This, again, is something that our modern lifestyles leave by the wayside. When I was a kid, kids walked to school. And if they lived too far to walk, they had to walk to the bus stop. These days, I have to admit, even my family with our emphasis on healthy practices would drive our son to his bus stop, a mile away.

4. Don't dwell on your problems   Simply thinking happy thoughts actually makes us happier. Yes, we do need to face our problems, but not all the time. As adults, we've learned that when we let ourselves get sucked into a sea of bad feelings, it feels almost impossible to drag ourselves out. We can help our kids by teaching them how to pull themselves out by focusing on the positive whenever possible.

Suki Wessling blogs at Avant Parenting and writes a column about Giftedness for the Examiner!

Shopping trips can be enjoyable for families. However, children can get bored during long shopping trips, or over stimulated and excited by all the lights, colors, and items. This can result in children displaying behavior that makes it difficult for parents to complete their shopping trip. Common issues that can come up while parents are shopping include touching things without asking permission, running down the aisles, getting lost, having tantrums, or demanding that parents buy them things.

If you are a parent who experiences these challenges with your child, you are not alone! There are several steps that parents can take to make shopping trips go smoothly. Here are some things you can try right away.

Take your child shopping at a time when they are likely rested and not hungry. If shopping takes place during your child's naptime or mealtime when they are likely to be tired or hungry, they are more likely to act out.

Prepare your child for the trip. Let her know where you are going, how long it will take and what you are buying before you leave the house. Encourage and answer any questions your child has about the shopping trip, this allows her to get involved in the process.

Teach new skills and recognize your child's accomplishments around shopping. This will help her in other public settings.  Explain 1-2 skills that you would like your child to acquire. These skills should tell your child what to do rather than be rules of what not to do. For example:
• Stay within eye sight of Mom or Dad
• Walk down aisles when helping Mom/Dad find grocery items
• Ask Mom/Dad before taking an item off the shelf to put in the grocery cart

Ask your child to tell you the important skills before beginning the shopping trip.  When you see that your child has demonstrated one of these skills, recognize and praise her for it right away. If children are ignored when they are behaving and get attention when they are misbehaving, they are not likely to continue with the positive behavior. Parents may also want to offer rewards for shopping trips that go smoothly. These rewards can be a trip to the park or a special activity after shopping.

Involve your child in the task of shopping.  Talk to your child about decisions you are making and try some activities that will involve her in the process. Some interesting activities while shopping include:
• Finding items on shelves
• Passing items to you
• Placing items in the grocery cart
• Counting the purchases
• Finding prices• Finding different colors, shapes and sizes of items

Start with shorter shopping trips so that your child can get prepared for the longer trips. It is common for problems to persist during shopping even when parents have tried these strategies.  It takes time and effort for children to learn new skills, but staying consistent will make shopping trips easier and more enjoyable in the future.

Susan True, Executive Director First 5 Santa Cruz County, For more information on Triple P services please visit first5scc.org or call Stephanie Bluford at (831) 465-2217.

A Gift from New Leaf

Pizazz up your holiday feast with this zesty take on the traditional fare. This version of stuffing with artichokes and parmesan will be sure to wow your guests and have them asking for more. Who knows it may even become a new holiday tradition.

Artichoke-Parmesan Sourdough Stuffing provided by Audrey Seaton / Half Moon Bay

Spread bread cubes in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake at 350º F until crisp and golden brown, about 25 minutes. In a 12-inch fry pan, melt butter and add onions, mushrooms, celery and garlic. Cook, stirring often until vegetables are soft and tinged golden brown, about 25 minutes. Add a small amount of chicken broth to pan to remove any bits from pan bottom. In a large bowl, mix sautéed vegetables with toasted bread cubes, artichoke hearts, parmesan, poultry seasoning, rosemary, and salt and pepper. Whisk together remaining broth and eggs, and pour over veg/bread mixture. Stir until ingredients are well coated. Stuff a turkey, anywhere from 12-18 pounds and put any remaining stuffing in a greased casserole dish. The casserole dish should be baked during the last 45 minutes of roasting time at 350º F.  more holiday recipes from New Leaf>>>>

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