june/july teaser issue

TEASER EDITION

Parenthood’s

Tyree Brown

INSIDE: A SNEAK PEAK AT BAY AREA DOG MAGAZINE

+ THE BIG 10: CAMP ARROYO’S ELAINE TAYLORCOOL IT NOW: SWEET FASHION TREATSKITCHEN FUN: JULY 4 CUPCAKE PARTY

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THE BAY AREA’S FINEST FAMILY MAGAZINE

June/July 2010 | East Bay

Bay Area Kids 17

BayAreaDogM A G A Z I N E

2 Bay Area Kids www.bakidsmagazine.com

Sacramento * SF Bay Area * San Jose

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Now playing at Ferry Park in San Francisco peterpantheshow.com/train

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June/July 2010 | East Bay Bay Area Kids 3

12 let the children come to meThe story of an exceptional woman who runs an exceptional camp for exceptional children

THE REGULAR THE GOOD STUFFVolume 2, Number 4June/July 2010www.BAKidsMagazine.com

Publisher/Editor/FatherEverard G. [email protected]

SalesGeneral [email protected]

Kathryn [email protected]

General Editorial [email protected]

[email protected]

PhotographyShaun Fenn, www.shaunfenn.com

Contributing WritersKelly Pollard, Elyssa Lee

SubmissionsSend photos, events, news, and story requests to [email protected]

Product submissionsSend all products to address below. Include return postage.

Doing our PartBay Area Kids magazine is printed on 10 percent recycled paper using only soy based inks. Our printer meets or exceeds all Federal Resource Conservation Act (RCRA) Standards and is a certified member of the Forest Stewardship Council.

Small Print2010 Big E Productions (DBA Bay Area Kids magazine). No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. Big E Productions assumes no liability or responsibility for any claims made by advertisers in the magazine.

BAY AREA KIDS magazineP.O. Box 30442Walnut Creek, CA 94598www.BAKidsMagazine.com

ON THE COVER Jack is wearing a Reactor denim shirt $30 and Polo Ralph Lauren T-shirt $25 (Bloomingdale’s, www.blooming-dales.com). Photo by Shaun Fenn.

BayAreaKids

4 small talk papa san

6 play dates select happenings

8 product reviews Marshmallow shooters, cats on the iPhone, get your Freak out, and more

10 health matters how to enjoy and prepare for a a safe summer for your children

18young stars Parenthood’s Tyree Brown

28fun food finds Celebrate July 4 with these Grand Ol’ cupcakes

30diary of a suburban queen The never-ending birthday month

ONLINE EDITION Our online edition has even more stuff, including expanded fashions, shopping guide, recipes, and more. www.bakidsmagazine.com. This feature is available to subscribers only, so sign up today!

3what’sinside

you’ve got to cool it nowsweet fashion treats for haute summer days

Very Special SectionIn this issue (starting onpage 17), take a sneak peak at our new title, Bay Area Dog, that will be launched later this year!

22June/July 2010 | East Bay Bay Area Kids 17

BayAreaDogM A G A Z I N E


4small talk

EDITOR’S LETTER

papa san

YOU’RE A WINNERLast issue we ran a

contest giving away two Mother’s Day Packages, including a Motherhood

DVD, a $100 gift certificate from Swank

Mommy, and free flying time from iFly. And the

winners are:Susan Wong

Eleanor Baltazar

Congratulations, and enjoy your (belated) Mother’s Day gifts!

“The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother.” — Rev. Theodore Hesburgh

Childrenarefun.Havingchildrenisfun.Raisingthem–atthecoreoftheexercise–issupposedtobefun.Beingafathertomytwochildrenhasbeenthemostfun,most

exhilaratingrideIcouldhaveeverimagined.Here’sthesecretofbeingafather:havingkidsletsusactlikekidsagain…withnorepercussions.

BeingDadgivesmetheexcusetojumpoutfrombehindthecurtains,pastastraineronmyhead,drinkingstrawinhand,usingmyworstJohnnyDeppimitationandrecreatingscenesfromPirates of the Carribean;orputthewoodensaladbowlovermyheadanddomybest(ahem)JackBlack/Kung Fu Pandarecreations.ItallowsmetosendthetworunningandscreamingbecausetheTickleMonsterhasdecidedtomakeanunexpectedappearance,andtofrustratemydaughterbecauseIgetmyDisneyprincessesmixedup:“Cinderella…she’stheonethatswimsunderwaterwithPeterPan,right?”Tosing(?)inharmonywithmysonasheyellsoutthewords(asheinterpretsthem)to“HakunaMatata”whilewe’reinthecartogether.(Hmmm…forsomereasonmanyofthesemomentsseemtorevolvearoundshowtunesandmoviesoundtracks.)

There’salsothepeacefuljoyofjustsitting,fortwentyminutes,withmysonaswewatchaprayingmanthisslowlymakehis(orher,notsurehowyoutellthedifference)wayacrossourbackyardfence;oftakingmydaughteroutonaclearnightandshowingherthepinpointsofstars,andhowtoconnectthemtocreateherownconstellations.Evenwhenthere’snothinggoingon,whenwe’rejustsittingonahammockrockinggentlytoanafternoonbreeze,andtheysitonmylapstaringintotheirownlittleworlds,there’sfuninthatmoment.It’sthosemoments—inbetweenthepersuadingandthearguingandthegentlenudginganddisciplineandhairtugging(myown,nottheirs)—thatdefinemyfatherhoodexperience,andit’sthosemomentsthatIhopetheyrememberwhenlookingbackattheirchildhood.Nowifyou’llexcuseme,thelittleonesarecomingbackfromschoolsoonandIneedtogomakeafortoutofthecouchcushionsbeforetheygethere.

EverardGStrong,Publisher,Editor,[email protected]

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Mission Impossible Starting with this issue I am going to try and do the impossible: get back in shape while working a more-than-full time job, spend quality time with my children, be a useful husband, and somehow find time to sleep as well. Follow along online and in our next issue, and wish me luck, I’m going to need it. (Thank you to Concord’s UFC gym for setting me up).


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to us (include place, date, and description)

online at [email protected]

VERY IMPORTANT DATES

June|July

Chomp 2! Return of the Carnivorous Plants through Oct 31, San Francisco’s Conservatory of Flowers, 100 John F. Kennedy Dr. (Golden Gate Park), San Francisco. Hours: Tues-Sun, 10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Admission: $7.00/adults; $5:00 youths, seniors and college students; $2.00 children 5-11; free for children 4 and under. Visitors can feast their eyes on hundreds of multi-colored, meat-eating plants arranged in swampy, living bogs that showcase species both by their trapping strategies and by their native regions and countries, including California’s own sinuously curved cobra plant (Darlingtonia californica). Other new additions include the Dionaea B-52, the world¹s largest Venus flytrap, and the aptly named (if you were a bug, that is) Abandoned Hope, a pitcher plant hybrid that can grow up to two feet tall.

Chocolate and Chalk Art Festival Sat June 5, sidewalks along North Shattuck, Berkeley. Hours: Tues-Sun, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Free admission, tickets needed for chocolate sampling. Celebrating 14 years of celebration, ar-eas of North Shattuck’s sidewalk will be assigned to participants to create their own fanciful chalk drawings. A contest for the best drawing will be judged after 4 p.m. Chocolate lovers can nibble and sip on organic café mocha, chocolate mochi ice cream, chocolate truffles, savory chocolate mole, spicy chocolate

tandori chicken, or the weirder choco-late foot massage! Live music, clowns, and activities for the children.

What the World Needs Now Gala Opening Night Fundraiser Sat June 5, 5:00 – 10:00 p.m., Museum of Chil-dren’s Art (MOCHA). 538 Ninth St., Ste 210, Oakland, (510) 465-8770, www.mocha.org. Be a part of this special event that will celebrate young artists in their What the World Needs Now . . . juried exhibit of children’s art. Guests will be treated to delicious hors d’oeurves, wine tastings, an art-ists’ marketplace and entertainment by youth performance troupes. The exhibit features artwork by Bay Area children in grades K–12 on the themes of social justice, community awareness and world peace.

Ace Dance Academy presents Out-door Adventure Sat June 12, 1:00 & 6:00 p.m. Dougherty Valley Perform-ing Arts Center, 10550 Albion Rd, San Ramon, (925) 973-ARTS. www.ace-danceacademy.com. Tickets $15. Stu-dents of Ace Dance Academy perform dance pieces highlighting their skills in ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, and hip hop. From “Rainbow Connection” to “This Land is Your Land,” Outdoor Ad-venture is a dance event you and your family will not want to miss.

Sticky Fingers-Clay Creations II Tues, June 15, 11:00 a.m., Lindsay Wildlife Museum, 1931 First Ave., Walnut Creek, (925) 935-1978, www.wildlife-museum.org. $15 admission. Mold and form with gooey clay to cre-ate animal-inspired sculptures using live animals as models.

Bronkar’s Circus of Sound Sat June 19. Two performances: 12:00 p.m., Hayward Main Library, 835 C St., Hay-ward, (510) 881-794; 3:00 p.m., Hay-ward Library-Weekes Branch, 27300 Patrick Ave., Hayward, (510) 293-5366. Body percussion, juggling, and beat boxing combined in one spectacular show. To find out more about Bronkar and his amazing talents, go to http://bronkarlee.com.

Model Train Show Fri June 25, 8:00 – 10:00 p.m., Walnut Creek Model Rail-road Society, 2751 Buena Vista Ave., Walnut Creek, (925) 937-1888, www.wcmrs.org. Admission: $3.00/adults, $2.00 for children 6-12 and seniors, chil-dren under 6 are free. For model railroad

enthusiasts, the WCMRS’ H.O. scale layout is one of the largest in the United States. Guests can see “Tommy,” “Hog-wart’s Express,” and “Jelly Belly,” trains. Visit the towns of Port Allen, with its busy seaport and naval ships, and Olympia, and view operations of the overhead wire trolley system.

Father’s Day Brunch and Solar Car Challenge Sun, June 20, Chabot Space and Science Center, 10000 Skyline Blvd., Oakland, (510) 336-7300, www.chabotspace.org. Admission: $15/general admission; $13/dads and members; $10 plus general admission/kids. Buffet hours: 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Solar Car Challenge hours: 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. Celebrate Papa with a special Father’s Day Brunch at the Starlite Bistro in Chabot. After, help Dad design and create a “green” hot rod that you can design and race with him!

Father’s Day at the Zoo Sun, June 20, Oakland Zoo, 9777 Golf Links Rd., Oakland, (510) 632-9525, www.oaklan-dzoo.org. Regular admission prices. To celebrate Father’s Day, Dads get to ride the train for free at the Oakland Zoo. Bring dear old Dad to the Zoo for a fun day filled with animal exploration.

Wild Australia Exhibit Grand Open-ing Sat, July 3, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Oakland Zoo, 9777 Golf Links Rd., Oakland, (510) 632-9525, www.oaklan-dzoo.org. Help celebrate this new addi-tion to the Oakland Zoo, and welcome the new residents from Down Under in style. There will be live entertainment featuring didgeridoo music. Board the Outback Express Adventure train in the Rides Area and sit back and relax while watching emus and wallaroos graze on the hillside.

Fourth of July at the Marina Sun July 4, Berkeley Marina, noon – 10:00 p.m., (510) 981-6740, http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/marina. Free admission. Alcohol-free event. Live entertainment, arts & crafts, food, and fun kid stuff. Fireworks at 9:30 p.m.

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8mixedmedia

Alphabetica: Odes to the Alphabet (Diana Spieker and Krista Skehan, 2010 Personify Press, San Francisco). Created by Menlo Park moms Spieker and Skehan (who founded Personify Press in order to publish the book), Alphabetica offers a unique, while still kid-friendly take on the ABCs. Each page has a main theme that revolves around a certain letter, with a poem accentuating that theme. The wording is hip and modern, introducing “big words” without overcrowding or over intellectualizing. Each letter receives its own illustrations and font treatment, so every turn of the page turns up

something new, adding to the discovery and engagement elements. For example, the page for the letter “I” has a fun ode to ice cream (“sweet cream vanilla

bean chocolate in a frosty shake, any Sundae you can make brain freeze, yes please”)

and in the illustration you can find ivy, ink, an Indian, Idaho, Iowa, igloos, Italy, an inch, insects, an ironing board, and even the infinity sign. A charming learning experience for adults and children. $19.95, available at all Pottery Barn Kids and online at www.personifypress.us.

Marshmallow MForcer (Marshmallow Fun Company) A manually pumped repeat pistol that shoots mini marshmallows twenty to twenty-five feet. Whoa. We see several scenarios where this could be useful. Scenario one: on a hot summer day, siblings are going at each other non-stop. Solution: give each one a loaded pistol and send them outside to duel it out. Scenario two: office wars. Scenario three: rainy day at the ranch? Give everyone their own MForcer. Stand around the living room table loading the ammo (you have to load by hand). Then, everybody gets five minutes to hide. Let the hunt begin. Holding fifteen marshmallows, the MForcer can serve as an effective weapon of family peace. $39.95. Available online at www.marshmallowville.com, Toys R Us, and other retail stores.

Freak-O-Bag (Kamibashi, www.kamibashi.com) Imagine a product that kids love, has a utilitarian value, and makes the world a better place in the process. Freak-O-Bags begin life as cute dolls with oversized heads, perfect for little hands as they sit in the back seat on the way to the store. Once inside, moms can unfurl a rather hefty (and attention getting) shopping bag from the doll’s head, saving plastic and paper bags at check out time. As for making the world a better place? Each bag is made by the Koonin family in Thailand through a fair trade program. Available in several styles. $14.45-$19.95. Available at Treehouse Green Gifts, Berkeley, (510) 204-9292 or online at www.kamibashi.com

Cat Chorus I-Phone App (My Musical Cats) This app and a sister title, Cat Opera, were submitted to us by a couple of local Art Institute students, and our kids have loved playing with them since. Featuring thirteen kitties, you can swipe or tap individual ones to create your own music, or listen along to several pre-recorded tracks. You can also tap along to various songs as well. Very entertaining, with fun illustrations and an easy interface – in other words, perfect for little children on those long road trips. $0.99 from iTunes and www.mymusicalcats.com.

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10health

matters

About the Author: Board Certified Pe-

diatrician Arnold Blustein, M.D., has been in practice for

more than 30 years. He is on the staff at

Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley.

The‘lazydaysofsummer’quiteoftenfindchil-dren in a variety of summer camps, summerschooland/orspendingdayswithanewgroup

offriends.With the startofcampsandsummerschools,chil-

drencanbeexposed tomanydifferentgermsand in-creased opportunities for injury. It’s not unusual foremergencydepartmentstoseemorechildrensufferingfrombrandnewinjuries…justlikeatthebeginningofaschoolyear.

There are a few things to rememberwith your child’senvironment:Preventing InfectionsThebestwaytopreventinfectionisfrequenthandwash-ing. Pediatricians encourage all of our patients andtheirparentstoformgoodhandwashinghabitsfromthestart.Childrenshouldbecoachedtowashtheirhandsbeforeeating,afterusingthebathroomandafterplay-ingoutside.

Immunizations are another important means ofpreventinginfection.Vaccineshavesavedcountlesslivesoverthelastseveraldecades,andgroupsliketheAmer-ican Academy of Pediatrics encourage everyone to be

fullyimmunized.Boostervaccines,whichrenewimmu-nizationsthatmayhavelosttheireffectiveness,arealsoimportant.Itwillbeimportanttothinkoftheseasyouapproachthenewschoolyearaswell.

More than bacteria and virusesIn addition to infections, just like during the schoolyear,thereisahigheroccurrenceofheadlice.Licearetiny(2–4mm);layeggscalled‘nits’thatsticktightlytothehairshaft;andsometimescausealotofitching.

Headlicecanbetreatedusinganover-the-countershampoosuchasNixorRid.Parentswhopreferadrug-freeapproachcantrysuffocatingthelicebycoveringthechild’sentirescalpwithmayonnaiseatnightandthenrinsingitoffinthemorning.Washingclothesandbed-dingcanalsohelppreventrecurrences.

Themostimportantpartoftreatment,though,istopainstakinglycombthehairwithafine-toothedcomb,lookingforanycrittersornits.Myownrecommenda-tionwhenanitisseenistocutoutthehairshaft.

Topreventinfestationsfromoccurringtobeginwith,childrenshouldbetaughtnottosharecaps,combsorhairbrusheswithothers.

Avoiding injuries

Kidscanalsohaveahighriskof injury–especially ifthey are participating in sports. And, by remainingphysicallyactiveoverthesummer,theywillbeinbetterphysicalconditionandlesslikelytohurtthemselvesinsports.Mostpediatriciansrecommendchildrenget25–30minutesofvigorousplayeveryday.

Addingwalkingorbikingwhileonvacationortoasummer activity can also increase a child’s risk of ac-cident or injury. Wear brightly colored clothing and,forbikers,alwayswearahelmet.Thiscanhelpavoidaninjury. Whether they are walking or riding, childrenshouldalwaysbetaughttoobservetrafficruleslikeus-ingacrosswalkandstoppingatintersections.

Staying healthyThemost important tips for ahealthy life are the sim-plest:Getplentyofsleepandeatanourishingdiet–eveninthesummertime!

Youngchildrenneed9–10hoursofsleepandteen-agersneed8–9.Ahealthydietminimizessalt,sugar,andanimalfatintakeandemphasizesfruits,vegetablesandwholegrains.

HEALTH MATTERS

SafeSummer by Arnold Blustein, MD


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Let the Children Come to MeFor ten years, Elaine Taylor has been running a very special camp deep in the woods of Livermore. We need her to run it for at least ten more years. by Everard G. Strong

IfyouarenotfamiliarwithCampArroyoorTheTaylorFamilyFoundation(TTFF)thatrunsthesummer-longcampsdeepinthehillsofLivermore,

it’shardtonotsuckinyourbreathandholdinatearasthefullexpanseofwhatisoffered—andtowhom—becomesevident.EachsummerTTFFcommandeersCampArroyo,astate-of-the-artrecreationalfacilityjointlydevelopedandoperatedbytheEBPRDandTTFF,andhostsweek-longcampsthatcatertogroupsofchildrenwhoaredealingwithlifethreateningorchronicillnessordevelopmentaldisabilities.Foroneweek,kidscometoCampArroyotobekidsandenjoy(asmuchaspossible)alifeawayfromtheirlives.Foroneweekchildrenaretreatedtothebestfood,activities,sleepingquarters,andattentiontheycouldwant.Allofitisfree—nocamperortheirfamiliespayapennyforwhathasoftenbeenalife-changingexperience.

BehindCampArroyoandTTFFsitsElaineTaylor,thoughitisraretoactuallyfindhersittingdown.Withanarmyofvolunteersandasmallbutdedicatedstaff,Elainescheduleseachcampandappropriatemedicalneeds,keepsintouchwithfamilies,coordinatesdailylife,entertainsthetroops,andactsasMommywhenneeded.Andthenthere’stheplanningfortheirbigannualfund-raisingevent,ADayinthePark(theyskippedtheeventin2009becauseoftheeconomyandtoalsofocusonthisyear’sanniversary).

2010marksadoubleanniversaryforElaine:TheTaylorFamilyFoundationcelebratestwentyyears,andCampArroyoisseeingitstenthseason.Tomarkthisoccasion,wedecidedtosit(thoughnotreally…seeabove)withElaineandgetabetterglimpseofthewomanbehindthesmilesweseeonsomanycampers’faces.

Why did you found the Taylor Family Foundation? Was there a catharsis, a “vision” where you decided this is what you wanted to do?

Therewasnopersonalissue.Barry(Taylor,herhusband)andIwerelivingaprettyblessedlifeandwebothfeltthatifyouareabletogiveback,thenyou

should.AllIreallywantedtodoisgodowntothelocalhospitalandrockbabieswithAIDS,butIalsorealizedthatsuchactionswouldn’tchangemanylivesormakearealdifferenceinhowtheneedsofthesechildrenwerebeingaddressed.BarryandIcofoundedTTFFtohelpchildrenlocallywhowereinneedofresourcesthattheycouldnotget,tokeepthemoneyhereintheBayAreaandmakesurewemonitoredeverydime,sothatnofundswouldgotowaste...wewantedtopoureverycentintothekidsandtheirneeds.

Was there anything in your background that had led you to this path, given you the tools needed to set up and direct the Foundation (and Camp Arroyo)?

Myfolksweregivers,theyhelpedanyonewhoneededit.Theyweretrulyauthenticwhenitcametocaringandgiving,andtheytaughtmeandencouragedmetotreatpeoplehowyouwanttobetreated:ifyoucanhelpthenyoumusthelp.ThenImetBarry—probablythekindestmostgivingmanontheplanet—andhegavemethefreedomtojourneydownthispathwithoutanyrestraints.Hejoinedmeonthispathandwebelievedinwhatweweredoingwithourheartsandourminds.Andnowitstwentyyearslaterandwestillbelievethatwecanmakeadifference,andI’dliketothinkthatwewalkthetalk.But,andletmebeveryclearonthispoint:wedidnotdothisalone,withoutourfamily,friends,community,andcampersnoneofthiswouldhavehappened.

How did Camp Arroyo come from this initial vision and Foundation?

InitiallywewerejustfundingmedicalprogramsforchildrenwithHIV/Aids.Webecameveryawareofhowthekids’andfamilies’socialneedswerebeingputonthebackburner.Campisaverycriticalpartofshar-ingcommunity.Theideaofacamppeakedourinter-estandwethought,hecklet’sjustbuildacampandletthemcomeandbekids.Wesuredidn’trealizewhatwasinvolved,andwecountourluckycharmsthattheEast

The title of this article was taken from

Matthew 19:14 (NIV) “Let the little children

come to me, and do not hinder them,

for the kingdom of heaven belongs to

such as these.”


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For The People … For You!

For The People® are Pro Se (“for yourself”) bonded legal document assistants who specialize in providing high quality, low cost legal documents to the increasing number of people who choose to represent themselves in uncontested legal matters. For The People helps clients compose and file necessary court documents, simplifying the legal process.

Family owned and operated, For The People® operates with the goal of providing the finest, most accurate legal document assistance service available for the most reasonable price. Owners Bill and Mary Schaaf have resided in Walnut Creek for over 35 years and bring a family approach to their business. You can often find both Bill and Mary on site guiding their clients every step of the way. They pride themselves on providing personable customer service in a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere. For the Schaaf’s, For The People® is more than just a business, it is a way for them to help people with life’s difficult decisions.

In order to better serve their community, Bill and Mary Schaaf offer community resources such as free seminars and lectures on various subjects. In the past topics have covered differences between Wills and Trusts.

For The People® can assist you with Living Trusts, Wills, Probate, Powers of Attorney, Name Changes, Divorce, Legal Separation, Family Law court order changes, Incorporations and LLCs, Deeds for property, and more.

FOR THE PEOPLE2061 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Walnut Creek244 Grand Ave., Oakland(925) [email protected]

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14youngstars

RISING STAR

Parenthood’sTyreeBrown by Elyssa Lee

Do you know of a young friend or family

member making a name for themselves

in the East Bay or beyond? Send us

information to [email protected]

After wanting to be an actor all his life, 6-year-old

Tyree Brown has finally gotten his first big break,

starring as Jabbar Trussell in the increasingly

popular new NBC drama, Parenthood, set in

Berkeley. We sat down with the Sacramento

native to talk about his busy life now that he’s a

star, having fun with his “pretend” parents on the

set, and how he’s a changed man now that he’s

turned the big 0-6.

So, Parenthood. How did it come about?IdidanauditioninSanFranciscoandthenthat’showIgot

inParenthood.Mymommyanddaddyjumpedupanddown.ButIstartedactingwhenIwas3.

You did? How did you get started in acting?MysisterMackenziewasbiggerthanme—she’s10andI’m6—

andshewasanactor.Shedoesmodeling,too.AndwhenIwatchedherdohermodeling,itlookedreallyfun.SomymomtookpicturesofmeandsentthemtoJE[Model,aSanFranciscoagency],andtheylikedme.I’vedonetheBarn[PotteryBarnKids].IdidaStateFaircommercial—meandmysister.Wehadapretendgrandpaandgrandma.Wegottogoonrides.

And now you’re going to be on TV. That’s really cool.Yeah.IlikeParenthood.Ilikemypretenddadandmom[played

byDaxShepardandJoyBryant].IlikehuggingDax.[Basedonthehit’80smovieofthesamename,theshowchroniclestheimperfectlifeoftheBravermanfamily.TyreeplaysJabbar,thesonofcommitmentphobeCrosbyBraverman(Shepard).]

Are they like your real mom and dad or different?They’redifferent.DaxiswhiteandJoyisbrown.[Tyree’smom,

Renee,iswhiteandhisfather,MacArthur,isblack.]

What do you like about being on set at Parenthood?Thedonuts.Iliketheglazedones.Andlicorice.Ilikedone

scenebecauseIgottoplayCandyLand.DoyouhaveCandyLand?It’smyfirst[favoritegame]—Ilikebeingaperson.

You’re in kindergarten. How do you memorize your lines?

[MymomandI]workonthelinesathome.Idohomeschooling.Ilikehomeschool.Ilikemymomteachingmeandmydadteachingme.IlikecallingmymomMs.Reneeand[wearing]myjammies.

What’s the hardest word you’ve had to memorize so far?

“Intolerant.”Itmeansthatyou’resick.Itwasforacarscene—I’minthescenewithmydadandI’mintoleranttosomething[lactose].

That is a big word. But you’re a big boy now—you just turned 6. What’s going to be different about being 6 versus 5?

I’mgoingtostopwhining.SometimesI’mcrazy—Igethyper.AndIdon’t[liketo]eatvegetables,butI’mgoingtoeatvegetables.AndnowIdon’tneedacarseat.

Speaking of car seat, do you drive or fly when you have to go down to L.A. to shoot Parenthood?

Drive.ButIlikeflying.IlikegoingonanairplanebecauseIamreallyhighupandIcanlookoutthewindowandsay,“Whoa,lookatthat!”

Do you like L.A.?Yeah,cuzofAustin[hiscousin,who

livesthere].He’sababy.Hejustturned3.Sohe’sababy,buthecangopeebyhimself.

You visit L.A. but you live in the Sacramento area. Where?

InElkGrove.Inabighouse—wehaveanupstairsandadownstairs.MyfirstbestfriendEvanlivesnextdoor.He’sreallycool.IlikehisWiigames.

june/july teaser issue

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