A sweet little grandson asked his grandmother why she had wrinkly feet. She laughed, and out of her mouth came, "Well... I used to be a baby elephant..." The grandson was impressed.

Every time they visited, they discussed the adventures and slight misadventures of Baby elephant and how all her aunties kept rescuing her until finally she grew older and wiser.

Together they drew pictures of favorite scenes. Soon the grandson began telling his grandmother, "You won't believe what Baby did yesterday..."

Inevitably these collaborative stories led to the grandson asking, "I wonder how you changed into a grandma?" And out of her mouth came, "Magic!" He believed her. He's 20 now and sends her cards depicting Baby Elephant's adventures. That's it! Magic!

Create magic for/with the children! Parmalee

Let’s face it. It’s hard to unplug from our screens. Our devices connect us to other people, as well as to fun and useful information, but they can also have a downside. In this month’s column, I’ll share some reminders for managing screen time as a family.

Dear Nicole, We have a toddler, a third grader, and a tween who is growing up fast. If we let them, they’d spend all their time staring at a screen, and there are many days where it feels like that’s the best way to keep the peace. I know they enjoy connecting to friends online, but I worry about what else they’re seeing, what they may be missing, and the example we’re setting for our youngest. Any suggestions? Max

Dear Max, Your concerns are understandable and shared by many parents and caregivers. Finding the right balance between rules or limits and gradually increasing independence is a challenge. Teaching children and teens to use screens in healthy, responsible ways teaches them self-regulation skills and prepares them for responsibilities later in life. Here are a few ideas to try > > >

Stop by the Davis center and check out the activities offered everyday, Monday- Saturday! Ages 8 – 17

Homework Help ~ Enrichment Activities Outdoor Experiences ~ Field Trips ~ And More!

For information on PAL activities please call 831-763-4147. We are located at 37 Davis Avenue, Freedom (and 130 Rodriguez Street, Watsonville.)

Monday February 27, M – F: 3:30 – 6:30pm; Weds: 2:30 – 6:30pm; Sat: 11:30am – 6:30pm Learn more > > >

Who doesn't like to talk about weather!? It fascinates us. Some of us are storm chasers. Others stay in the safety of home and watch Youtube. Sometimes we have to flee from the path of storms, fires, etc. We've had our fair share lately. Care to talk about it?

Recent weather events have impacted Santa Cruz County from the shore to the summit. Chat with local agencies and organizations addressing the challenges of extreme weather in the region during this free open house at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History. This program is part of a series on Extreme Weather. More information > > >