Summer’s finally here, and with it comes some cherished, extra time for frivolity, creativity and introspection. As the sun hangs high in the sky, it’s the perfect season for trying something new, learning a helpful skill and appreciating the now. Here are some great inspirations for ways you and your kids can make lifelong summer memories together.
Photos: Thinkstock
The Show Must Go On
Let’s face it: As more children spend their time plugged in to electronics, the art of conversation—and speaking, in general—has become a rarified skillset. Getting kids involved in theatrical performances can be an enjoyable way for them to get comfortable speaking aloud and in front of crowds.
“Acting, singing and dancing in front of audiences helps one gain confidence, which spills over into being comfortable in many settings, such as public speaking,” says Deena Dray, executive director of Diamond Head Theatre (DHT). “Our classes teach students how to project, keep their heads up, smile, use a microphone, pause for laughter or someone else’s line, memorize, and improvise.”
DHT offers a Summer Musical Theatre Experience for kids ages 7 to 12 and teens 12 to 16. More information is available at diamondheadtheatre.com/mte-summer.
“A significant portion of public speaking is about the confidence to face an audience,” says Daniel A. Kelin, II, director of drama education for Honolulu Theatre for Youth (HTY). “Many people stand in front of crowds and speak loudly, but fewer directly face, speak and listen to, and interact with the audience. Theatre is about interacting with an audience, listening to it, playing off its responses and, in the best of circumstances, making the performance feel as though it is geared specifically to each individual audience member.”
HTY offers a Summer Drama Adventure for children ages 7 to 9, called “Into the Jungle,” and “The ’Tween Scene,” for kids ages 10 to 13, called “Creative Journeys.” Registration closes a week before the program begins on Monday, June 2. Visit htyweb.org for more details.
Finally, in Waipahu, Pas De Deux Hawaii offers a summer program that focuses on dance, theater and voice. Visit pasdedeuxhawaii.com and click “Summer Programs” for additional details.
Lights, Camera, Action!
Ever wish you could get a glimpse into what you were like as a kid? Sure, you have memories and likely some photos, but the rest is probably a gentle haze.
With this in mind, I challenged my son, Finnegan, to create a visual documentation of himself in the year 2014—a video scrapbook of sorts—by asking him to produce a mini movie of what it’s like to be an 11-year-old boy growing up in Hawaii. Or, more directly: What’s it like to be you?
Armed with a borrowed waterproof GoPro camera; my pocket-size, waterproof, digital Canon PowerShot D10; duct tape; and the reassurance that there is No Wrong Answer Here (to curb any performance jitters), Finn looked around his small but expanding world and found a medley of ways to tell his story in moving pictures: Skateboarding, body boarding, surfing, playing kendama, doing homework, practicing clarinet, etc. He shares all these experiences and more, the eclectic mix of activities that fills his days as an active sixth grader.
During this project, Finn learned how to operate and secure the recording equipment; import his videos into iMovie; edit his footage and assemble the pieces into a narrative order; and set it all to a fun piece of music. He even included a dramatic pinnacle—a real game changer for him and many other kids around his age—at the film’s end. Now he (and we) will always be able to remember what filled his heart and time during the halcyon days of 11.
WEB EXCLUSIVE: Check out Finn’s video!
Vimeo.com is another great option for creating customized, personal home videos.
Origami, Mommy!
Origami, the traditional Japanese art of paper folding, can be a hugely rewarding hobby for children. Aside from the obvious satisfaction involved in transforming a flat piece of paper into a three-dimensional representation of something, it’s just plain good for them.
“It helps children hone their fine motor skills and teaches the value of patience, persistence and delayed gratification,” says Ashley Nishihara, who also goes by the superherolike moniker, The Origami Swami. “When kids are able to fold something, they can teach it to their friends, thus giving a healthy boost to their confidence and self-esteem. Origami can also be used as a teaching tool to learn various concepts in math and geometry.” Nishihara also notes the calming, nonthreatening activity can help kids (and adults) with certain psychological or behavioral disorders.
Nishihara, who now belongs to the Hawaii Origami Club, was introduced to origami at age 7 by her parents, who bought her Steve and Megumi Biddle’s book, Essential Origami. “They did not know how to help me, so I had to be persistent in teaching myself,” she remembers. “I attempted one particular model, the balloon, about 46 times before I finally got it right!”
Now, the 27-year-old Salt Lake resident has developed and maintained such an appreciation for the art that she attended a three-day OrigamiUSA (OUSA, the largest origami organization in the United States) convention in 2013 in New York City, where she met author and origami celebrity Makoto Yamaguchi. Back home in Hawaii, The Origami Swami teaches after-school origami classes at both the Le Jardin Academy and Trinity Christian campuses.
Nishihara’s best advice for parents is to start slow and to introduce the right “model” at the appropriate age. Some of the classic origami models for younger kids are the cup, samurai helmet and bracelet. The crane, while very popular, is more of an intermediate model. “Kindergarten minds are starting to develop and they’re exploding with energy and they want to learn,” says Nishihara. “They’re at a place where they can follow simple steps to reach a conclusion. Pre-K children really don’t have those faculties yet. I begin teaching intermediate models at around age 8 or 9.”
Author Florence Temko has released dozens of books specifically geared for younger children. “Her Origami Magic is one of my staples,” says Nishihara. “I always come back to this one when I’m teaching origami.”
Basic origami supplies can be found statewide at Ben Franklin Crafts stores; at Hakubundo Inc., a small Japanese stationery store in Honolulu’s Ward Warehouse; at Fisher Hawaii locations in Honolulu; or online at KimsCrane.com. Nishihara recommends beginning with 6-inch-by-6-inch squares. “There are smaller and larger sizes, but, for young children, the other sizes pose challenges,” she says.
Wendy Zeichner, president of OUSA, has kindly given permission for Honolulu Family to reprint access links to a few popular origami diagrams of models that are simple enough for children to do:
- origamiusa.org/diagrams/swan
- origamiusa.org/diagrams/origamiusa-sailboat
- origamiusa.org/diagrams/traditional-box
Kids can also watch animated, step-by-step instructions of various origami projects at the Origami Club website (en.origami-club.com). If you are interested in inquiring about private or group origami lessons, or to hire the Origami Swami for a party, email Nishihara at origamiswami@icloud.com.
Pretzel Logic
My kids and I love making homemade soft pretzels together. It’s a fun activity that connects us to our German heritage; shows off the science of working with yeast; allows them the fun of rolling out dough into long strips and twisting them into pretzels; and provides the whole family with the satisfaction of creating yummy treats that we make from scratch ourselves.
If you haven’t worked with yeast before, don’t let it intimidate you. The trick is in the temperature of the water: too hot and you’ll kill the yeast, too cold and you won’t trigger its growth. (Also, check packaging to make sure the yeast hasn’t expired.) The kids can help with all of the steps except the parboiling, which I take care of, for safety’s sake. Serve with cheese dip, sprinkled with Parmesan cheese or cinnamon sugar, or dipped in stoneground or classic yellow mustard. Enjoy!
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups warm water
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 2 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)
- 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 10 cups water
- 2/3 cup baking soda
- 1 egg yolk, plus a splash of water
- (for egg wash)
-
Coarse salt (for sprinkling)
Directions:
1. Combine water, sugar and salt in a mixing bowl and sprinkle the yeast on top. Allow mixture to rest for about five minutes, or until it begins to bubble.
2. Add flour and butter. Use the dough hook attachment to mix on low speed until all of the ingredients are combined. Increase the mixer speed to medium and knead until the dough is smooth and pulls away from the sides of the bowl, about five minutes.
3. Remove dough from mixer and place in a clean, oiled bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and place in a warm spot until the dough has doubled in size, about 45 minutes to 1 hour. (Don’t refrigerate!)
4. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and spray with nonstick spray; set aside.
5. Combine water and baking soda in a large pot. Bring mixture to a boil.
6. In the meantime, turn the dough out onto a slightly oiled work surface and divide into eight equal pieces. Roll out each piece of dough into a 12-to 18-inch rope. Make a U-shape with the rope; holding the ends of the rope, cross them over each other and press onto the bottom of the U in order to form the shape of a pretzel. Place onto the parchment-lined baking sheet.
7. Carefully place the pretzels into the boiling water, two at a time (don’t crowd them), for about 30 seconds. Remove pretzels from water once they float to the top using a large, slotted spoon. Place the boiled pretzels back on the baking sheet, brush the top of each pretzel with egg wash and sprinkle with coarse salt.
8. Bake until a dark-golden-brown color, about 12 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack for at least five minutes before serving.
(Recipe adapted from Alton Brown)
Get Into the Groove
For older keiki looking to put the pedal to the metal, stop by The Groove Hawaii, a new family amusement park that opened in February in Kakaako. The location’s main attraction is the one-third-mile-long, open-air go-kart racetrack. In addition to its gas-powered, adult-size go-karts, The Groove offers both modified cadet karts—slightly smaller and slower vehicles for racers between the ages of approximately 8 and 12—and tandem karts, which allow parents to strap younger children into seats behind them in the adult karts.
A 30-foot climbing wall, video games, billiards, air hockey and children’s rides for smaller adventurers are also available at this family-fun destination. It’s also home base for guided Segway tours (to Point Panic, Magic Island and through historic downtown Honolulu), as well as the Paradise Pedals Party Bike, which allows adult revelers to pedal their way on a local pub crawl, hitting gastro pubs, bars and lounges.
“We have two private-party rooms available, adjacent to the racetrack, for groups, whether for a children’s birthday, a bachelor party, a corporate team-building event or anything else,” says marketing manager Alex Kite. A stationary food truck, fresh smoothie kiosk, brick oven for gourmet pizzas and the palapa-covered Bar & Grill provide refreshments amid the amusement.
Admission to The Groove is free; amusements are priced individually. 805 Ala Moana Blvd., thegroovehawaii.com. (Don’t forget to wear covered shoes if you plan to ride the go-karts.)
Reflection
Summertime can be a great time for introspective reflection. During the pause between the school years, or “between grades,” when life typically slows down, ask your children a few important questions to discover some memorable answers.
Part One: Where Do We Come From?
Help kids create a family tree by conducting basic genealogical research. Interview grandparents (or send letters or emails to those not close by) about their families and their families’ families. What are some of the various surnames in the family tree? From which countries do the various members hail? If possible, find out from grandparents what life was like when they were young. Where and how did they live? And, eventually, how does it compare to now? A little perspective can be delicious.
Part Two: Where Are We Now?
Create a time capsule—with things important to your kids right now—to be opened when they graduate high school. A childhood trinket, a cherished handmade craft or piece of artwork, a school assignment they’re proud of, a sports memento, photos of friends and family, a coin from their birth years … the options are bound only by their imaginations and the natural laws of decay (i.e., no food). Have them write everything in their own handwriting, if possible, and include their favorite movie, song, food, friend, pastime, etc. Tuck everything safely away (in an airtight container, if possible), marked clearly with directions for opening upon high school graduation only. (Don’t forget a surprise or two for bigger impact on Opening Day.)
Part Three: Where Are We Going?
What do your kids want to be when they grow up? What places do they hope to visit? What goals do they want to accomplish? Help them create an inspiration bulletin board they can use to revise and update their goals as they grow. This project can serve as an outstanding springboard into the (somewhat mature) discussion of charting short-, medium- and long-term goals, but write small and use pictures. Clip old magazines to find visual representations of the various goals and chat with each other as you go. (Yup, you can make one, too, for your goals. It’s never too late.)
What's Your Type?
Not long ago, students were introduced to typewriters in high school; in today’s world, that’s much too late. As more tests are being administered on computers and more communication is handled digitally, keyboard proficiency is key for children today.
These online sites make learning the basics more enjoyable for kids as they improve their skills:
- FTW Innovations Inc. displays 15 different modules, including the irresistibly named Ninja Cat and Zombie Dinosaurs: funtotype.com
- Dance Mat Typing from BBC schools has bright animation and characters with quirky accents: bbc.co.uk/schools/typing
- ABCya! offers 11 different game modules created by teachers: abcya.com/kids_typing_games.htm
