JUNE 2021
Wise Choices for Moms & Families
© Timeless Memories by Jessica
CHATTAHOOCHEE VALLEY
See Cover Sponsor on Next Page
Providing Comprehensive Oral Care for All Ages
22
Wise Choices for You & Your Family
NOW OFFERING IMPLANTS!
Dr. Cathy Cook
Gentle Dentistry for the Entire Family! ACCEPTING ALL MAJOR INSURANCES, CARE CREDIT AND OFFERING FINANCIAL OPTIONS
Valid at the following locations only:
3722 S. Railroad St. • Phenix City 3908 U.S. Hwy. 80 W. Phenix City
FREE
Zax Kidz Meal ®
with any adult meal purchase.
7626 Schomburg Rd. Columbus 1915 Auburn Ave. • Columbus 6190 Bradley Park Dr. Columbus 7033 Ruffie Way • Columbus
Participating locations only.
Mondays
5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.
Offer only valid Monday 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Kids 10 and under only. Limit one Zax Kidz Meal per adult meal purchase. Adult meals include any Zalad®, Sandwich Meal or Most Popular Meal. Dine-in only. Not valid at any other locations. © 2018 Zaxby’s Franchising LLC “Zaxby’s,” “Zax Kidz” and “Zalad” are registered trademarks of Zaxby’s Franchising LLC. Each Zaxby’s restaurant is independently owned and operated under a license agreement with Zaxby’s Franchising LLC.
www.FamilyAndKidsGA.com
No Drama for Ya
Momma! Listen and guide, but do not solve
Have an in-depth conversation with your child. Listening carefully will help you better understand the situation. Make sure you send the signal to your child that you are fully engaged in the conversation by eliminating any distractions, such as a phone or the TV. Ask her to describe what happened and let her finish before asking more questions. Next, ask open-ended questions to clarify missing details, which will help maximize the amount of information you can collect. For some issues, such as a ‘mean friend’ incident at school, it may be helpful to also contact your child’s teacher to get her perspective, especially if you suspect bullying is involved.
Coach your child on a course of action Resolving conflict is a crucial skill when it comes to maintaining relationships and this skill is best developed through experience. Provide any guidance needed as your child brainstorms all the possible paths she could take to resolve her issue, but do not select a resolution for her. Instead, kick off the problem-solving session by asking questions that help your child discern how she will work out the friend drama. For example, ask her to tell you how good friends should treat each other and what she values most in a close friendship.
HOO’s parenting
Learning how to navigate the social world starts early for kids. In elementary school, social groups start forming, and conflicts within the groups often lead to ‘friend drama.’ It is tempting to step in and take action to resolve the issue quickly. However, trying to resolve the issue for your child could actually make the situation worse and will not help your child learn how to address conflict on her own.
Role-playing can be a helpful tool, especially if the friend drama is a result of your child hurting her friend’s feelings without realizing it. It can help your child understand the incident from her friend’s perspective and see that she may not completely be the victim in this incident. Role-playing is also a good opportunity for your child to practice having a difficult conversation, such as telling her best friend she cannot be friends anymore if she does not stop breaking her trust.
Help your child move forward Wait until you listen to all her proposed paths before making any suggestions. Depending on the circumstances, your discussion may need to include the observation that sometimes things change and it is best not to try to mend a broken relationship. However, leave it to your child to select her friends. It can be difficult to watch your child struggle with hurtful ‘friend drama,’ but don’t try to force her to end a relationship if she decides to try to mend it. The exception to this is when you suspect your child’s circle of friends may be involved in bullying. Bullying incidents are unacceptable and require immediate intervention. Help your child become more resilient by signing her up for activities in the community. Even if she does walk away from a broken friendship, she will still have the love and support of her other circle of friends.
3
44
The Scoop!
Wise Choices for You & Your Family
Follow us @FamilyAndKidsGA
Win cool prizes, socialize & stay in the know!
Where to Find HOO? Check your local kid-friendly doctors, dentists, attractions, retail shops & restaurants; or see our interactive distro map at: familyandkidsga.com/get-a-copy
TO SUBMIT AD OR EVENT: Tammy Usie, Publisher tammy@familyandkidsga.com 253-212-7270 FamilyAndKidsGA
www.Familyandkidsga.com
www.FamilyAndKidsGA.com
HOO’s CRAFTY
BOUNCING BUBBLE EXPERIMENT
This activity will add a little magic to any day, and you probably already have everything you need to make these bubbles. Courtesy of kidsactivitiesblog.com.
DIRECTIONS
Bouncing Bubble Fun!
Add the water to a small bowl and pour in the dish soap. Add the sugar and stir gently until the sugar is dissolved. Put on the winter gloves and gently blow bubbles using the bubble wand. You can use your gloved hands to catch the bubbles and even bounce them! WHY DO THESE BUBBLES BOUNCE AND NOT BREAK? The sugar helps slow down water evap oration in the bubbles, which lets the bubbles last longer. The oils on our hands can break the surface tension of the bubbles, causing them to pop. The winter gloves keep the bubbles from coming in contact with our skins’ oils, so they can bounce and do all kinds of fun things!
SUPPLIES
4 tbsp water, 1 tbsp concentrated dish soap, 2 tbsp sugar, soft knit winter gloves and a bubble wand
55
66
Wise Choices for You & Your Family
www.FamilyAndKidsGA.com
77
88
Wise Choices for You & Your Family
www.FamilyAndKidsGA.com
99
10 10
Wise Choices for You & Your Family
www.FamilyAndKidsGA.com
STRONGER TOGETHER.
JOIN TODAY! WWW.COLUMBUSYMCA.COM
For more listings, visit: familyandkidsga.com/cat/camp
11 11
12 12
Wise Choices for You & Your Family
SUMMER Delights We buy and sell gently used kids clothing.
Located in The Landings at exit 8 off I-185 | 2521 Airport Thruway, Columbus, GA 31904 706.507.3737 | onceuponachildcolumbusga.com |
/onceuponachildcolumbusga
June Events
13
PROVIDED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH:
1 Little Sprouts. 10am. Ages 0-5. $5/family. Columbus Botanical Garden, 706-327-8400 1*Simple
Steps Storytime. 10am. Songs, games, crafts and a story. Ages 0-5. CV Libraries FB; 706-243-2669
19-20 Day Out with Thomas Train. 10am4:30pm. GA Veterans State Park, Cordele; ticketweb.com 23 Sumpter Explorer Excursion Train. SAM
Wildlife Explorations. 1pm. $5 advance ticket Oxbow Meadows; 706-507-8550
line, Cordele; 1-877-GA-RAILS
The Collection Chronicles Scavenger Hunt. All day. RSVP. Columbus Museum; 706-748-2562
24 Plains Express Excursion Train. SAM Short-
1 Golden Ticket Tuesday: 2021 Summer Read-
25-26 Columbus Chatt-a-Hoots Baseball Game. Fri 7pm, Sat 6pm. Golden Park; 706507-4625
ing Kickoff. All day. Chattahoochee Valley Libraries; 706-243-2669
4 Columbus Lions Indoor Football game.
7pm. Columbus Civic Center; 706-322-3336
4-5 Columbus Chatt-a-Hoots Baseball Game.
Fri 7pm, Sat 3pm. Golden Park; 706-507-4625
5 Chattahoochee Valley Daylily Festival. 9am-
5pm. $5/family. Columbus Botanical Garden, 706-327-8400
5 Presidential Flyer Excursion Train. 10am.
26 Young Eagles Rally. 8:30-11:30am. Free. Ages 8-17. Flightways Columbus, Columbus Airport; 706-323-6565
26-27 Day Out with Thomas Train. 10am-
4:30pm. GA Veterans State Park, Cordele; ticketweb.com
July 2-4 Star Spangled Beach Party. 9am-11pm.
SAM Shortline, Cordele; 1-877-GA-RAILS
Callaway Gardens; 855-885-3841
Columbus Chatt-a-Hoots Baseball Game. Sat 7pm, Sun 6pm. Golden Park; 706507-4625
Weekly Events
11-12
12-13 Day Out with Thomas Train. 10am-
4:30pm. GA Veterans State Park, Cordele; ticketweb.com
17 Presidential Flyer Excursion Train. SAM Shortline, Cordele; 1-877-GA-RAILS
18 Parent’s Night Out. 6pm. RSVP. Treadstone Climbing Gym. 706-507-7625 18 Kids Fun Run. 7-8pm. Ages 0-13. $20. Callaway Gardens; tricolumbusga.com
MONDAY
*Simple Steps Storytime. 10am. Songs, games, crafts and a story for children and their caregivers. 10am. Ages 0-5. CV Libraries FB; 706-243-2669 *Crafts and fun. 11am. Families. CV Libraries FB; 706-243-2669
Columbus Chatt-a-Hoots Baseball Game. Fri 7pm, Sat 6pm. Golden Park; 706507-4625
Radical Reptiles. 10am & 11:30am. $5. Advanced tickets required. Oxbow Meadows; 706-507-8550
19 Founders Day Festival and Parade. 3:30pm.
2336 CR-430, Smiths Station; 334-297-8771
Wildlife Explorations. 1pm. $5 advance ticket. Oxbow Meadows; 706-507-8550
7pm. Columbus Civic Center; 706-322-3336
THURSDAY & FRIDAY
Radical Reptiles. 10am & 11:30am. $5 advance ticket. Oxbow Meadows; 706-507-8550 Wildlife Explorations. 1pm. $5 advance ticket . Oxbow Meadows; 706-507-8550 The Collection Chronicles Scavenger Hunt. All day. RSVP. Columbus Museum; 706-748-2562
SATURDAY
Market Days on Broadway. 9am-Noon; www. uptowncolumbusga.com Radical Reptiles. 10am & 11:30am. $5 advance ticket. Oxbow Meadows; 706-507-8550 Toddler Time. 10am-Noon. $10. Ages 5 and under. Launch Trampoline; 706-221-8680 *B&N Virtual Saturday Storytime. 11am. YouTube.com/BarnesandNoble Wildlife Explorations. 1pm. $5 advance ticket. Oxbow Meadows; 706-507-8550 The Collection Chronicles Scavenger Hunt. All day. RSVP. Columbus Museum; 706-748-2562 (Not 6/5)
TUESDAY
18-19
19 Columbus Lions Indoor Football game.
Fizz, Pop, Boom! 10am & 11:30am. $5 advance ticket. Oxbow Meadows; 706-507-8550
Shortline, Cordele, GA; 1-877-GA-RAILS
1 *Making Smores. 11am. Families. CV Libraries FB; 706-243-2669
WEDNESDAY
Please call ahead to confirm event dates, times and age-appropriateness, in case changes were made after the info was obtained. [ Denotes Virtual Event]
*
Wise Choices for You & Your Family
14 14
HOO’s CUTE
CONTEST VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO ENTER YOUR CUTIE: www.FamilyAndKidsGA.com
Molly, 2 years Columbus
Kyle, 3 years Columbus
Pierce, 3 years Columbus
www.FamilyAndKidsGA.com
V ISION
CH ECK
Eye problems that are left undetected can hinder your child’s development and impact classroom learning. Some vision problems can cause permanent vision loss if not corrected soon enough. Even babies and toddlers can wear glasses or contacts, which are often used to correct the most common issues. Parents should be on the lookout for early warning signs of vision issues.
Common vision issue symptoms
By six to eight weeks of age, babies start recognizing faces and smile when they see a familiar face. Infants who do not seem to recognize faces, cannot track a moving object or make eye contact may have vision issues. Other symptoms of eye conditions that commonly affect young children include: Eyes that do not seem to move together (at over 6 months) l Pupils that appear white instead of black l Excessive tearing of the eyes l Eyes that do not look the same l Light sensitivity l Rubbing eyes l
HOO’s Healthy Common vision issues in kids
An older child with a vision condition may squint, get close to a computer screen or book, tilt her head or cover an eye to compensate for an eye condition and may complain of eye fatigue. Refractive errors occur when the structure of the eye is abnormal. Here are the three most common in kids: Myopia is a condition that causes close objects to be clearly focused, but objects in the distance are blurry. Hyperopia causes objects in the distance to be clear but those close are blurry. Astigmatism is an abnormality in the cornea (surface of the eye). Amblyopia is impaired vision in an eye that otherwise is normal. It may be caused by strabismus or a difference in refractive error between eyes. Strabismus is a misalignment of the eyes. The eyes do not look in the same direction at one time. These are the most common eye issues experienced by kids. However, there are other less common congenital and genetic eye conditions that can cause vision loss. Consult your child’s doctor right away if you have a concern about your child’s vision. Resources: hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/6-ways-to-beproactive-about-your-childs-eye-health; kidshealth.org/en/parents/vision.html
15 15
16
Wise Choices for You & Your Family
TUTORING AND SCHOOL GUIDE
www.FamilyAndKidsGA.com HOO’s PARENTING
: O T HOWeduce
17
R y Sibling Rivalr
Conflicts between siblings are a normal part of family life, especially during summer break when more time is spent together. However, the recent need to spend more than the usual amount of time together quarantining may cause the tensions between siblings to build to an unusual intensity this summer. Here are a few tips to help reduce conflicts and help ‘keep the peace’ during summer break.
Je alousy fo r attention It is important to evaluate how much one-on-one time you are spending with each of your children. If one child feels he is not receiving the same amount of attention as his siblings, it may lead to negative behavior towards them. Your child may act aggressively towards a sibling to get your attention. De-escalate this competition for your attention by spending equal amounts of individual quality time with each of your children. Choose activities, such as reading a book together or doing a craft, that allow you to interact with your child. If he is watching TV or playing a video game, he may not even remember you spent time with him. Also, never compare siblings to one another. This will only create hurt feelings and fuel even more intense competition.
Eliminate triggers If there are certain toys your kids fight over, set up a system to help your kids learn how to take turns, such as setting a timer. Also, spending too much time together playing games and other competitive activities may lead to conflict. Make a variety of non-competitive activities available for use during free-play time, such as crafts, a play kitchen or Legos. In your household schedule, include plenty of time for exercise and try to keep younger kids on their nap schedule. Your kids may be more likely to engage in conflicts when physical needs, such as sleep and physical activity, are not met. Also, schedule some ‘quiet time’ each day for kids to separate from each other and spend time alone.
Set household rules Setting expectations is especially important for kids who are still working on social skills and tend to react impulsively when provoked by siblings. Designate a location where your child can go to cool down when he is upset and teach him to wait there until he is calm enough to respond to conflict appropriately, without yelling or name-calling. The household rules should include consequences for unacceptable behavior. However, do not forget to praise your kids when you see them respecting the boundaries you have set and working out their conflict on their own.
Conflict resolution Empathize with your children when they have a disagreement but do not always step right in and solve the issue. Listen to your child describe the problem, even if it sounds like a trivial disagreement. To your child, it may be a major issue of contention. After listening to your kids explain the issue, if it is age-appropriate, encourage your kids to ‘work it out.’ For younger kids, giving a choice between two possible ways to resolve the issue is one method of providing coaching without resolving the issue for them. Conflict resolution is an important life skill and is crucial to maintaining relationships. However, keep an eye on the situation, and if the situation has moved beyond bickering to name-calling or physical violence, you should immediately step in and put a stop to the hurtful behavior.
18 18
Wise Choices for You & Your Family
HOO’s FUN
Find the answer key at: familyandkidsga.com/solutions
www.FamilyAndKidsGA.com
HOO’S PLUGGED IN WWW.FAMILYANDKIDSGA.COM
Visit our website to get plugged in, join our HOOsLetter list, read our online issue, and enter contests.
HOO’s HUNGRY
BANANA BREAD COOKIES These super easy cookies are a great option for a healthier snack and are vegan, gluten free AND paleo!
DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 350 and line a baking sheet with parchment. Add the almond flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon to a bowl and mix well. Mash the bananas with a fork and add them to the dry ingredients (mash, then measure). Add the maple syrup and the egg if using. Mix until all the ingredients are evenly incorporated. Use a 1.5 tbsp cookie scoop to scoop the dough onto the baking sheet. Gently flatten the cookies with a fork or back of a spoon. Bake for 26-30 minutes until the middles have set and aren’t wet and the tops are golden brown. After the cookies come out of the oven, place them on a wire rack to cool. Let the cookies come to room temperature before eating. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
INGREDIENTS
• 1 1/2 cups almond flour • 1/4 tsp baking soda • 1/8 tsp sea salt • 1/4 tsp cinnamon • 1 tbsp pure maple syrup • 1 1/4 cup overly ripe mashed bananas (about 4 medium) OPTIONAL: 1 egg, chocolate chips, 1/2 tsp vanilla extract, nuts of choice or nut butter.
Courtesy of simplyjillicious.com
✯ Retiring or separating from the military soon? ✯
Get your transition started on the right path by contacting Tony Mayne at tony@gallantfew.org. Tony is a 21-year Army veteran with nine years of service in the 75th Ranger Regiment.
✯ MEN! Join F3 Columbus, GA ✯ F3 = Fitness, Fellowship, and Faith F3 plants, grows and serves small workout groups for men for the invigoration of male community leadership. Visit us on Facebook at “F3 Columbus, Ga”.
✯ Ranger Outreach Center ✯
Join us Monday, July 19 at 9 a.m. for the Ranger Outreach Center at Saint Luke Columbus grand opening. Contact rangers@gallantfew.org to reserve your seat.
19 19
20 20
Wise Choices for You & Your Family
www.FamilyAndKidsGA.com
Dining Deals
21 21
for Kids
With deals this good, save the mess and dine out! MONDAY Barberitos
Free kid’s meal with adult entrée after 4pm
Sapo’s
5-8pm: Free kid’s meal with adult entrée
Zaxby’s
5-8pm: Free kid’s meal with adult entrée
Tuesday Chicken Salad Chick
Free Little Chick Meal with purchase of adult meal
Denny’s
4-10pm: Up to two free kids entrées with adult entrée for kids 10 and under
Jason’s Deli
5-9pm: Free kid’s meal for kids 12 and under with each adult entrée; dine-in only
Ruby Tuesday
5-10pm: Kids 12 and under eat free with adult entrée
Wednesday Applebee’s Half off kid’s meal per adult entrée. Limit: 4 kids to adult
Pita Street Food
4-9pm: Kids eat free, per $8 min. adult buy; dine-in
Your Pie
Kid’s meal $1.99 (pizza, drink & gelato) w/ adult meal
Red Robin
Thursday Captain D’s
Kids meals are .99 cents all day
Saturday Denny’s
4-10pm: Up to two free kids entrées with adult entrée for kids 10 and under
sunday The Simple Greek
Kids 12 & under get half-off kids bowl with purchase of regular size bowl. Not to be combined.
MOE’s Southwest Grill
Free kid’s meal with purchase of adult entrée
Every day 219 On The Lake
5-9pm: Kids eat for $2.19 on kids menu (M-TH)
Bruster’s Ice Cream
Kids under 40” get free baby cone
McAlister’s
Kid’s meals are $1.99 with dine-in order
Newk’s
4pm-close: free kid’s meal with adult meal (M-W)
O’Charley’s
Free kid’s meal per adult entrée for kids 10 & under
Kid’s meal $1.99 w/ adult meal for kids 11 and under
All locations are Columbus, GA unless noted. Specials are subject to change without notice, so please verify them directly before dining. Send kids deals to Tammy@FamilyAndKidsGA.com.
22
Wise Choices for You & Your Family
HOO’s FIT
Kid Fit!
Kids need enough exercise to stay healthy, both physically and mentally. Exercise helps support a healthy heart, builds and maintains bone mass and muscles and keeps weight under control. Fitness activities can also help improve self-esteem and reduce stress. According to the American Association of Pediatrics, kids 3- 5 years old need to be physically active at least three hours a day. For kids in this age group, physical activities also help support the development of motor skills. School-aged kids from 6 years to 17 years need about an hour of vigorous exercise a day. It can feel challenging to find enough fun fitness activities that will help your kids meet these goals, especially if your child does not enjoy organized sports or is in between sports seasons. Here are a few local activities that can add variety to your child’s weekly fitness routine.
Impact Performance RX impactperformance.com 706-984-8150
They offer comprehensive performance training for kids 6 to adults, regardless of athletic ability. They provide training in speed, strength, balance, coordination, injury prevention and confidence. They offer three youth memberships: ‘Jumpstart’ for ages 6-8 for classes up to twice a week, ‘JV’ for ages 9-13 and ‘Varsity’ for ages 14-18, both with up to 6 classes a week. They also recently started Georgia Hoots, a youth developmental baseball and softball league to help bridge the gap between little league and travel ball teams by providing more in-depth training and intramural play.
Performance Dance Centre
Treadstone Climbing Gym treadstoneclimbing.com | 706-507-7625
They offer Ninja fitness, rock-climbing classes, competition climbing teams, plus aerial arts classes. The aerial silks classes are for all skill levels and begin at age 5 to adult. This is a great opportunity for parents and kids to participate together in aerial silks. They also offer a summer camp that runs all week long and includes climbing and ninja fitness training.
Yoga at Just Breathe for Kids Studio justbreatheforkids.com
They are offering a summer camp June 7-11 at the Columbus Botanical Gardens for a week of yoga, mindful movement and thoughtful crafts. They will also be offering kids yoga private summer lessons and in-person weekly classes in the fall. Online kids’ yoga sessions are also available. Their kids’ classes focus on practicing the ancient traditions of yoga, breathing mantras and techniques, mindfulness games, songs and activities, connection to self and each other.
performancedancega.com 706-563-4255
YMCA
They offer acrobatics and a new aerial arts program in addition to their traditional dance programs and summer camps. The aerial arts program is open to kids 6 and up with classes on aerial silks, hammock and lyra (hoop). The acrobatics program is open to kids 5 and up and teaches the five divisions in acrobatics: flexibility, strength, balancing, limbering and tumbling. Classes are offered by level of difficulty, from beginner to advanced. Student safety is a priority for all their programs.
With three locations to serve area families, they have a variety of activities for kids to exert their energy including their week-long summer camp. Kids ages 10 and up can participate in their non-equipment group classes such as yoga with their parents, and then at age 15 can participate in equipment-based classes or work out independently in their facilities. The Thayer branch has an indoor track that kids can walk or run with their parents, and the Turner location has an outdoor track which allows the same. The branch pools are also open for kids to utilize a lane or open swim if accompanied by a parent. The YMCA also offers swimming lessons in addition to their seasonal youth sports teams.
columbusymca.com | 706-322-8269
www.FamilyAndKidsGA.com
SATU R DAYS 4PM | 6P M SUNDAYS 9A M | 11AM W W W. C AS C A D EH I LLS . COM F re e c hild c a re dur i ng a l l we e ke nd s er v i ces .
23
Delivering joy to ColumbUS. Welcoming a new baby is one of life’s most joyous events. We know that compassionate quality care for you and your baby is one of the most important parts of your family’s journey. We’re here for your first step and all the possibilities after.
To learn more about our childbirth services or to schedule a tour call us at 706-320-8001 or visit online at MyStFrancis.com