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Magazine THE NEW NORMAL COVID-19, FACE MASKS, AND SOCIAL STIGMA
FINISHING THE SCHOOL YEAR VIRTUALLY
10 WAYS TO HELP YOUR CHILD STAY STRONGOUTDOORS
Magazine
A MOTHER’S DAY ESSAY SOMETIMES MEMORIES ARE THE BEST GIFT
CAMP & SUMMER CTIVITIES AMagazine
Feature
“One Day” Sometimes memories are a mother’s best gift. By Janeen Lewis
Author’s Note: When my daughter Gracie was small, her energy knew no bounds. Now she is 10, independent, and has outgrown Elmo and unrolling reams of toilet paper. Recently I found an essay I wrote when I was beyond tired because she was a toddler. I’m sharing it in the form of a letter to her. Whichever challenging stage of motherhood you’re in, hang in there! It will get better, but beware, you may miss it when it does. To Gracie at 20 months: I’m the former queen of multitasking because today you dethroned me. I barely cleaned up one mess before you made another, and I’ve collapsed on the couch after 10 hours of chasing you. I tell myself that one day you will grow up. Life will get easier. One day when you’re older, I won’t stumble over pots and pans littering the kitchen floor. You won’t run through the house, throwing squeals of laughter at me, your feet shoved into my missing oven mitts. One day, you won’t jump on the couch, causing me to leap across the living room before you fall. You won’t smother the cat with your entire body weight while I pry you away from the love of your life. One fine day, I’ll retire as the cat’s bodyguard. There’ll be no more battles over snow boots and bathing suits – You like to wear snow boots in July and a bathing suit in January. You won’t tap out a tune on the answering machine buttons (a feat I didn’t know was possible until you walked) while I sort laundry or reach for the biggest knife when I open the dishwasher. While I put the dishes away, you won’t try to climb into the dishwasher. I can only imagine life without reams of unwound dental floss and unrolled toilet paper. I’ll watch movies that star Chris Hemsworth, NOT Elmo and a gang of fuzzy monster puppets singing about “the potty.” I’ll have a bathtub without toys and a carpet without Play Doh. One day I’ll drink my morning coffee in solitude. Okay,
so I won’t hear the shuffle of your footie pajamas. I’ll probably miss that. And I’ll get dinner on the table at a reasonable hour. But you won’t wrap your pudgy arms around my legs, burying your face in the bend of my knees while I cook. I won’t replant the petunias you bring me, roots and all, as love tokens. Surely I won’t miss that, right? I want you to grow up for more reasons than my own. I want you to live a beautiful life that touches others. That’s one of the many reasons I had you. But what will happen when I actually get my wish, and you’re older? One day what will it be like without the sound of your little fleet clunking around the house in my shoes? How will I feel when your chubby fingers don’t twirl the ends of my hair while you fall asleep on my shoulder? Who will stand at the door and blow me kisses while I’m at the mailbox? Every day the challenge of your determined spirit motivates me to grow into the person I want to be. Each stage of childhood brings parenting challenges with it, and every day that I help you grow, I feel a contentment I’ve never known. Each step, each word, each nuance–everything that becomes a part of your personality is a celebrated milestone for both of us. Being a mom has brought more fulfillment to my life than any other role. Finally, I leave my comfy spot on the couch and tiptoe next to your crib. I don’t see the fireball that blows through the house during the day. I see a sleeping angel with a halo of golden brown curls. One day when I’m not so tired, when the house is still, and I have endless hours to myself, I won’t think about the messes or my exhaustion. I won’t wish away time. I’ll remember it all and wish for one more day of chasing after my baby girl. Janeen Lewis is a freelance writer with a degree in journalism from Eastern Kentucky University. May 2020 | OurKidsMagazine.com
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Feature
Finishing the School Year Virtually: 10 Ways to Help Your Child Stay Strong By Janeen Lewis
It’s an unusual ending to the school year. Instead of year book signings, field days and end-of- the-year parties, kids are at home waiting to catch glimpses of their friends on Zoom. It’s a tough time for kids, and keeping them motivated to finish the school year strong is tough for parents. Here are 10 tips to keep your child on the path to the finish line.
1. Send the message that school is a priority. Communicate to children that school is important, even if it isn’t occurring at the school building. Continue to read together, check in with them on their assignments, and take an interest in what they are learning. Research one of their school topics or check out your local library digitally to find online access to learning tools and books.
2. Set a goal.
Help your child set an academic goal they can achieve during the last weeks of school. Maybe they want to turn a B into an A, learn all their multiplication tables or read 18
Our Kids Magazine | May 2020
a thousand pages. If they meet their goal, reward them with something simple like ice cream or a new school supply or book.
3. Stay on Schedule.
Kids crave structure like to know what to expect, especially when times are tough. Try to keep routines like homework time, dinner time, and bed time. Make a conscious effort to keep the same schedule you had before virtual schooling began.
4. Replace supplies.
By now your child’s notebooks, folders, pencils and crayons probably look worn out. Replacing these inexpensive and having them delivered to your house can be a quick pick-me-up that motivates your child.
5. Set up an outdoor classroom.
Sometimes changing location gives a child that second wind they need to make it to the finish line. Let children have outdoor class time on the patio. When
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math problems are completed correctly, they can take a walk or ride bikes. Let them read in a hammock, in a lawn chair or in an outside tent. When they reach their goal, they can pass the football or shoot hoops. Plant a family garden as a science project and let the kids make observations when they are taking a break from their school work.
6. Hold an end of the year countdown. There are many ways to count down the days until the end of the school year. Mark off days on a calendar or put Popsicle sticks or marbles in a jar and remove one each day, or share a special treat. For each child in your house, fill a container with Hershey’s kisses that match the number of days left. “Kiss” the last days of school goodbye with one countdown chocolate each day when kids finish their school work.
7. Thank the teacher virtually. Teachers work hard, even when they are teaching virtually. Make a video or a take a picture of your child holding a sign with a message for his or her teacher. Then email it or use the teacher’s digital platform to send it to him or her. Your child could also decorate a card and write an encouraging note and give it to the teacher when school resumes in the fall.
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8. Plan a virtual recess. Kids crave social time with their friends, so this is the hardest part of them being out of school. Schedule a structured social time each day or week for your child to Face Time, Zoom, Skype or email a friend.
9. Make virtual sports or arts part of school. An important part of school is physical activity and the arts. Is your baseball player down because he misses throwing his curve ball? Maybe your martial arts lover is itching to practice her kicks. Why not sign up for virtual lessons? If you don’t have the right equipment it can easily be purchased on line, and many instructors are setting up virtual venues for lessons. There are many virtual art classes, and lots of “how to draw” lessons free on YouTube.
10. Celebrate. Have a dance party in the den, a luau in the living room or arrange a Zoom party to celebrate the last day of school. If you’re in doubt about what to do, ask the kids. Even when they have to find a virtual way to have a party, kids are clever and will find a creative way to celebrate! Janeen Lewis is a freelance journalist, teacher and mom to Andrew and Gracie. She loves to finish the school year strong with her students and family.
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table of
CONTENTS
May 2020
4 6 13 14 16 18
gazine
gazine
volume 36 • number 5
THE NEW NORMAL
4
COVID-19, FACE MASKS, AND SOCIAL STIGMA
CAMP ARTICLE MOTHER’S DAY ESSAY “ONE DAY”
SOMETIMES MEMORIES ARE A MOTHER’S BEST GIFT
THE 7 RS OF LONG-DISTANCE GRANDPARENTING
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5 TOTAL LIES I TOLD MYSELF ABOUT THE SECOND BABY Magazine
FINISHING THE SCHOOL YEAR VIRTUALLY:
10 WAYS TO HELP YOUR CHILD STAY STRONG Magazine
20 22
gazine
gazine
gazine
STAYING AT HOME?
MOM BLOGS TO THE RESCUE
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Magazine
LOCAL VIRTUAL EVENTS Magazine
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P.O. Box 1809 Castroville, TX 78009 210-305-4181
PUBLISHER Rudy Riojas 210-526-0312
ADVERTISING: Pat Ramotowski 210-209-8673
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On the Cover PHOTO BY: ANGELOV
OUR KIDS MAGAZINE LLC is a locally owned magazine published monthly. Advertisements in this magazine are paid for by the advertisers, which allows this magazine to be free to the consumer. Limit of one free copy per reader. Unless specifically noted, no advertisers, products or services are endorsed by the publisher. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertising are available on an equal opportunity basis. OUR KIDS MAGAZINE LLC copyright 2015. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited.
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Feature
The New Normal COVID-19, Face Masks, and Social Stigma By Kimberly Blaker
The alarming rate at which COVID-19, has swept the world has left researchers little time to discover all we need to know about the illness other than that it’s both highly contagious and deadly. Researchers, doctors, and governments now recommend we all stay home and avoid mingling with anyone who doesn’t live in the same household. When we must go out, we should keep at least six and a half feet away from others to prevent the spread of the illness. Unfortunately, we must still leave our homes for essentials. So how can we keep ourselves and others safe? The CDC and many healthcare and government officials now recommend wearing a cloth mask whenever we leave our home and are around others. Many cities have joined in and are making efforts to enforce wearing masks in public. Even many stores now require employees and customers to wear masks or cover their faces while in the establishments.
How masks help
Current studies indicate COVID-19 spreads mainly between people in close proximity through respiratory droplets from coughing, sneezing, and even talking. The incubation period between exposure and showing symptoms can range between 2 to 14 days. A significant number of people are also asymptomatic or have mild symptoms. Yet they can still spread the disease to others who may be affected more severely. The primary purpose of wearing a cloth mask is to prevent spreading the virus to others because anyone may 4
Our Kids Magazine | May 2020
have it and not experience symptoms. Since it’s transmitted through respiratory droplets, keeping our noses and mouths covered helps contain the droplets preventing the spread to others.
Social Stigmas
Both those who wear masks and those who don’t may experience social stigma related to the covers. Earlier recommendations that only those who are symptomatic wear masks may lead some people to assume anyone wearing a mask is infected with the virus. As a result, those wearing masks may be treated differently by some individuals. On the other hand, many people are following the latest guidelines that everyone wears masks to prevent the spread of the virus. Those who are wearing masks may, therefore, see those who aren’t as either irresponsible or lacking regard for the welfare of others. It’s impossible to control how others think and behave. So we must each make responsible choices that are not only in our own best interest but also for the safety of those around us. Each of us can do our part by following the CDC guidelines. At the same time, whether someone around you is wearing a mask or not, try not to pre-judge, since you don’t know their situation. Because wearing a mask is so new, it may feel strange at first, especially if others aren’t wearing one. In all likelihood, though, you won’t be the sole person wearing a mask when you’re out. Plus, the more people wear them in public, the FRIEND US @ facebook.com/OurKidsMagazine210
more that’ll join in the battle to eradicate the virus, until it becomes the new norm.
Recommended protocols Currently, there’s a severe shortage of N95 respirators and surgical masks for healthcare workers and first responders who are regularly being exposed. So the CDC does not recommend the general public wear these medical-grade masks. Cloth masks, however, are easy to make at home. Tutorials and videos are available on the CDC website, among many other websites and social media pages with instructions on how to make various designs. You can also buy masks online from the many companies and individuals now selling premade cloth masks. When making or buying masks, make sure they: • snugly cover your nose and mouth • are secured with ties or loops • have multiple layers • are easy to breathe through • can be machine washed after each use It’s also vital to wash your hands immediately after removing your mask and machine wash it after each use to remove viral droplets that may have landed on the mask. Some individuals, however, including children under 2 and those with breathing problems or who are unable to remove their own mask should not wear them.
Kids and masks Children should stay home whenever possible during the pandemic. But there may be occasions they have to leave the house. Kids should wear a mask if they are two or older. Young children may struggle with wearing masks because masks may be awkward, uncomfortable, or interfere in some way, or kids may see masks as strange. Children may also find it upsetting to see others wearing masks or be afraid of them. Adolescents may resist wearing masks because they aren’t cool. So have open conversations with your kids about why people are wearing masks, and invite your kids to ask questions and express their feelings. To get kids on board, involve them in making their masks, choosing special fabric for them, or help them find and order a mask they like online. The world is facing a unique challenge right now, requiring us to adjust to many difficult changes. But wearing a mask when we leave the house is one of the easier things we can do to help prevent the spread of the virus and keep ourselves and those around us safe. By making this small effort, we can reduce some of the more difficult longer-term burdens that may result from our failure to take this precautionary step.
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CAMP & SUMMER ACTIVITIES
READY OR NOT, HERE COMES
By Christa Melnyk Hines
This past spring may have been full of a sense of anxiety and apprehension about what would happen next as we all grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic. Are you dreaming about a summer that’s a little more carefree, creative and spontaneous? Hit pause. Rather than vault into summer, ease into it. Even if you’ve been stuck in the house over the past few months due to the Coronavirus, you’ve probably fallen into a day-to-day routine that keeps your kids relatively engaged. “Use the first few weeks of summer like a detox from routine activities,” says mom of three Shannon KinneyDuh, holistic life and spiritual coach, A Free Spirit Life. Tip: Brainstorm a list of summer desires/activities together. Mindfully, answer questions like: What do I/ we want summer to look like? More down time? More family connection? Less running around? And remember, free activities count too. Kinney-Duh’s sons enjoy making stop-motion movies, writing plays, painting at the park, water balloon fights and movie nights in the backyard. Boredom is okay. Kinney-Duh suggests we look at boredom as a creative opportunity. Boredom, she says “invites kids’ creativity to kick in, providing their deep need to play more with a space to flourish.” Multiple studies show that kids, who are given the time and space for creativity and personal expression 6
Our Kids Magazine | May 2020
without adult interference, turn out to be more flexible to change, stronger problem solvers and innovators. “Children need time to immerse themselves in creative activities, a place that feels safe to express ideas that are unconventional, and encouragement to explore the unknown so they can discover what they enjoy and unlock a universe of possibilities,” writes Helen Hadani, a researcher at the Center for Childhood Creativity, in her paper Inspiring a Generation to Create: Critical Components of Creativity in Children. Tip: Keep a space in your home that allows for freewheeling creative expression. Stock it with painting, drawing and craft supplies, inexpensive cameras, recycled objects, and building materials. Strike a balance. For some of us, envisioning long days without a plan causes our brain synapses to crackle and pop with alarm. Without structure, won’t our kids spend the next two and half months fighting or turning into houseplants playing video games? Of course, we also don’t want to spend the entire summer peeling our sweaty selves in and out of the car as we run our kids from one scheduled activity to another. “All too often we fall into the ‘too much/not enough’ trap,” Kinney-Duh says. “We end up filling our days with obligations and too many activities with this underlying feeling that if we don’t, we somehow aren’t doing enough for our kids. This cycle can easily leave us feeling tired, overwhelmed and depleted.” FRIEND US @ facebook.com/OurKidsMagazine210
CAMP & SUMMER ACTIVITIES Decide what a happy medium looks like and what your priorities are, including your needs for self-care. Tip: Ask questions like: What types of skills would I like my kids to work on this summer? What are they interested in doing? Could a responsible sitter help run my kids around a few times a week? What are ways I can recharge and care for myself to ensure I show up feeling present, patient and engaged with my family? Provide simple structure. While summer is meant to be more laid back, providing a framework around the days helps kids feel secure and grounded. A sense of structure is especially important for children with sensory, attention or impulse control issues. They “benefit greatly from monitoring and feedback during the summer to stay on track, maintain and improve communication skills,” says parent and life coach Sara Minges, M.S., Playful Awareness. Tip: Plan weekday mornings for more structured activities and the afternoons for free play. Perhaps designate Sunday evenings as s’mores nights with friends or Fridays as pizza/game nights. Be realistic. When planning your family’s summer vacation, take into account each family member’s interests and build in time to relax and take breaks from each other. “Too many activities and not enough ‘chill time’ can push everyone’s last nerve,” Minges says. Instead of focusing on creating the perfect vacation, remain flexible. While you can plan for some variables, you can’t control the weather, a moody teenager, or your two-year-old’s inopportune meltdown while going through airport security. “Any personality, irritability or anxiety issues experienced during the year will still be there and may become more pronounced,”Minges says.
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Tip: Choose a vacation destination with activities that appeal to each member of your family. Remind your kids of the importance of flexibility. “They may not have the extras or comforts they are used to when traveling such as comfy pillows, TV, separate bathrooms and beds, favorite foods, or friends to play with,” Minges says. Make a family media plan. Establish your family’s technology rules as soon as summer starts to avoid tech overload and battles over time allowances. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no tech time for toddlers, other than video chatting, and only one hour a day for preschoolers. Set reasonable May 2020 | OurKidsMagazine.com
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CAMP & SUMMER ACTIVITIES guidelines for your older children to ensure they’re getting plenty of exercise, good sleep and face-to-face time with family and peers. Tip: Set aside one tech-free day a week. “That means no technology at all,” Kinney-Duh says. “It may sound hard and you may feel restless at first, but it’s worth it!” Inspire creative connection. Document the summer with photos and stories in a summer journal that your whole family can contribute to, including ups and downs. Chances are the moments when things went awry are those that you will recall with laughter later. Tip: Minges suggests creating a “wall of gratitude.” Using post-it notes or slips of paper and markers, each family member writes their favorite moments from their vacation and pins it to the wall. Encourage younger children to draw pictures of their favorite moments. Don’t forget to take a photo of your wall!
Keep the Gears Moving 25 Ways to Stop Summer Brain Drain By Janeen Lewis Summer is a magic time for kids, but according to the National Summer Learning Association, research shows that children experience learning losses when they do not engage in educational activities during the summer. How do you combat brain-drain during the summer, but still give your kids the carefree break they deserve? Try some of these fun and easy ways for the whole family to combine time off with activities that give the brain a boost.
Savor summer. Notice and embrace the unplanned moments when family connection unfurls.
1. Attend your city’s summer reading program. Most summer reading programs have special activities and prizes for children and adults. Have a friendly family competition to see who can read the most minutes.
“Our kids grow up fast and the summer seems to be shorter and shorter every year,” Kinney-Duh says. “Slowing down and savoring the moment is really what summer is all about.”
2. Summer doesn’t have to be screen-free. There are many apps that make reading, science, social studies and math fun. Choose educational game apps that review skills your child learned during the year.
Christa Melnyk Hines is a nationally published freelance journalist, who resides with her husband and their two adolescent sons.
3. Grow a garden together. See who can grow the biggest watermelon.
Simple Ways to Spend Time Together Explore a nature trail ■ Camp under the stars ■ Kayak n Swim at night n Play games ■ Listen to the crickets ■ Try a new activity ■ Take a family cooking class ■ Plan a “do-nothing” day ■ Introduce your kids to an activity you loved at their age ■
4. Visit a Military cemetery or battlefield or go to a reenactment. 5. Make homemade ice cream in a bag and talk about physical properties and changes. Food.com or Allrecipes.com have recipes for this sweet homemade treat. 6. Go on a treasure hunt by geocaching. Using a GPS, treasure seekers enter a specific set of coordinates and then attempt to find a hidden container at the location. Check out geocaching.com to find out more. 7. Pick a recipe and let your child apply their knowledge of measuring and fractions while you cook or bake together. 8. Check out a book on a famous artist like Vincent van Gogh. Let your child create their own rendering of one the artist’s masterpieces and then frame it. 9. Take a self-guided walking tour of your town and study the architecture. Look for geometric shapes or Greek or Roman influences.
Source: Shannon Kinney-Duh, A Free Spirit Life
10. Tour the historical buildings in your town. 8
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CAMP & SUMMER ACTIVITIES 11. Have a lemonade, Popsicle or cookie stand. Help your child make a budget, buy supplies, and balance the accounts. Research and choose a charity to donate the funds to.
19. Pick a vacation destination. Using a scale map and ruler, figure out how many miles and approximately how many hours it will take to get there.
12. Visit a museum. From art and history to science and creative play, there are a variety of interesting museums all over the country with exhibits geared toward kids.
20. Send post cards to friends and family members from all the places you visit this summer, even if you just take day trips. Let your child write the message.
13. Learn about other ethnicities. Attend a cultural festival, start learning a foreign language or visit an ethnic restaurant in your community.
21. Draw your family tree together before a family reunion.
14. Take a creek walk together and sketch pictures of living things in a creek habitat.
22. Talk with the oldest person in your family at the family reunion. Help your child write down some of the interesting stories.
15. Go strawberry, blueberry, or blackberry picking and make a pie together. Talk about what the Pi symbol in Math means.
23. Let your kids design and construct an obstacle course in the backyard. Invite the neighbors and have a parents versus kids’ race.
16. Play a game that hones logic skills, like Clue.
24. Go camping and tell stories around the camp fire.
17. Help clean up your favorite park. Recycle as much trash as you can.
25. Make a scrapbook of your summer together. Let your kids write the captions.
18. Play a trivia game with your family asking questions about the Declaration of Independence on the Fourth of July.
Janeen Lewis is a freelance journalist , teacher, and mom to Andrew and Gracie. She loves to keep learning alive during summer.
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CAMP & SUMMER ACTIVITIES Note: Due to Covid-19 it is hard to predict what the summer will be like. The Our Kids Summer Camp section will continue as a resource for parents in hopes things will return to some normality soon. All camp dates and times are subject to change so please contact them directly or visit their website for the most current updates. DAY CAMPS & SUMMER ACTIVITIES Abby’s Attic Sewing & Crafting Studio #1 9815 Culebra Suite 112 78251 210.541.5088 http://www.AbbysAtticSewingSchool.com
Abby’s Attic Sewing Studio offers beginner sewing camps for ages 8 and up! We teach your child all the fundamentals of learning to use a sewing machine safely and proficiently, while also emphasizing math and reading skills, manners, self-patience, fine motor skills, and so much more. Half days or full days; before and after care available too. All materials and snacks provided. Two convenient locations. AbbysAtticSewingSchool.com
Camp Cloud at the Tobin! Choose to Dream (210) 836-8200 ChoosetoDream@outlook.com Choose2Dream.com July 6th– August 2nd, 2020 Our month long (4-week) theater camp offers elementary through high school students the opportunity to develop in the musical theater realm. The program will strengthen acting, choreography, and vocal skill sets. The camp features an intensive approach that will leave parents and audiences in awe! At the end of the final week campers will perform 4 fantastic shows presenting this year’s summer camp production.
Camp Einstein Various Locations in San Antonio 972-333-7371 www.CampEinstein.org We believe you learn the best when having fun! Our exciting STEM classes are designed to spark creativity and learning through hands-on activities! From CSI Forensics to Green Engineering we offer many enriching camps for all ages. Come join the fun this summer. Camp Humane
San Antonio Humane Society 4804 Fredricksburg Rd. San Antonio, Texas 78229 education@SAhumane.org SAhumane.org/summercamp Is your child interested in learning about the animals who live at home and out in the wild? Let them spend a week this summer with the animals the San Antonio Humane Society’s Camp Humane! It’s a great opportunity for your child to receive a unique learning experience about the humane treatment and care of domestic and wild animals. Attendees will participate in workshops, crafts, games, service projects, animal expert presentations, and handson animal experiences. Five sessions will take place this summer and registration is limited, so be sure to register your child soon to save a seat for this fun-filled educational experience.
Camp Invention Multiple San Antonio locations 800-968-4332 Invent.org/camp Imaginations will soar in the all-new Camp Invention® program, Elevate! Campers in grades K-6 will collaborate in hands-on STEM activities exploring concepts of flight, Earth’s ecosystems and sports innovations! Visit invent. org/camp or call 800-968-4332 to register. Use promo code LOCAL25 to save $25 (expires 3/31) or LOCAL15 to save $15 (expires 5/12).
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Our Kids Magazine | May 2020
Camp Metro for Girls Sally Cheever Girl Scout Center 5622 W. Cesar E. Chavez Blvd San Antonio, TX 78237 210-349-2404 www.girlscouts-swtx.org/camp
The premier summer camp for girls to develop her G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader) potential. Girls will explore other countries, travel through space and learn survival skills. Only $175 per week. Meals and before & aftercare are offered. You don’t need to be a Girl Scout to join the fun!
Country Home Learning Center 8 locations in San Antonio 210-687-1002 www.countryhomelearningcenter.com
Join us for an INCREDIBLE Summer Camp Experience! *Kinder – 13 years *Child Approved Special Events *Funfilled days with activities every child enjoys *Kids’ Choice Special Interest Clubs *Exciting Weekly Field Trips.
Crystal Sea Drama Company Summer Fun Camp Crystal Sea Drama Company Fine Arts Studio 8414 Speedway Dr. 210-849-0934 www.crystalseadrama.org
Join us for a great time this summer as we explore various areas in theatre at Theatrical Thursdays in June, July and August include Improvisation, Drama as Ministry - Get Sketchy, Project Costume, Field Trips. Two week Camps are July 15 – 27: Tech Camp - Dream it! Build it and Drama and Dessert 2019 – Mystery Theatre. Call for details.
Dorothy Keck Dancers 1532 Austin Hwy. SATX 78218 210-829-8489 www.dorothykeckdancers.com
Join us for a fun-filled summer dance camp! Learn different dance styles and create themed crafts in each two or three day camp. Each camp has a unique theme such as Moana, Mermaid, Olaf, Trolls or Diva; find one to fit your child’s interests! Camps range from 4-10 years old.
iD Tech Held at 150 Prestigious Campus Locations 1-888-709-8324 www.iDTech.com
iD Tech is the world leader in STEM education, with 450,000 alumni and over 20 years of experience. Summer programs for ages 7-19 are held at 150 prestigious campuses including NYU, Caltech, and Imperial College London. Students build in-demand skills for futures in coding, game development, robotics, and creative arts. Visit iDTech.com.
Jump Rope Express 210-269-0725 coachbobby7755@gmail.com www.coachbobbysports.com
Throughout its 19 year existence, JR Express has trained thousands of kids all across the U.S. The “fun factor” is the foundation of all the games, activities, drills and challenges that are taught. It is what makes the classes so appealing to kids and keeps them looking forward to every class. The program emphasizes progressive mastery of specific jump rope skills that will get your kids in top form. It increases speed, agility, strength, endurance, stamina, balance, timing and hand-eye-foot coordination. It is also a great tool to help boost your child’s confidence while encouraging self-expression, self-discipline, diligence, and fulfillment. In addition, working together as a group helps foster teamwork, sportsmanship, and the spirit of camaraderie.
Jumping Dragons Performance Team 210-269-0725 Coachbobby7755@gmail.com www.coachbobbysports.com Calling all Jump Rope Enthusiasts! We are very pleased to announce that the Elite Jumping Dragons Performance Team is looking for members. The team consists of jumpers in elementary and middle school.
Fiscally Fit Summer Camp for Teens Junior Achievement of South Texas 403 E. Ramsey Ste. 201 210-490-2007 www.jast.org Junior Achievement’s Fiscally Fit Camp for Teens is a Fun, Innovative, Relevant, High-Tech, way for teens to learn sound money management skills for making intelligent, life-long personal financial decisions. If your teen lacks the basics of money management or thinks money grows on trees, this camp is for him/her. Secure your teen’s financial future with this week- long camp that includes a real life “adult for a day” simulation. (6th – 9th graders)
Mad Science of San Antonio Multiple Locations 210-651-1143 sanantonio.madscience.org Mad Science camps are designed with exciting, fun and hands-on science activities. Children will design, create, build and assemble a variety of interesting projects. 9 different camp themes are available including robots, rockets, spy academy, camp eureka, grossology and more! Mad Science has camp locations all over town. Register now: Pay Later!
Summer Camps and Workshops Northwest Vista College 3535 N. Ellison Drive Pecan Hall Room 101 San Antonio, TX 78251 210-486-4428 www.alamo.edu/nvc/youth/parents NVC Community Education is a great place to learn! Their K-12 programs are committed to the development of STEM-based learning (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), as well as, arts and environmental education. They take pride in offering these high-quality programs that help students reach their full potential.
San Antonio Botanical Garden Summer Camp 555 Funston Place 210-536-1400 Sabot.org Explore the San Antonio Botanical Garden this summer with STEAM-based camps focused on hands-on exploration, nature-inspired art, ecology and botany. From Eco-Explorers to Little Gardeners and CHEF camps, the Botanical Garden inspires budding naturalists, scientists, botanists, artists and chefs to dig deeper into the world of plants and fun.
San Antonio College Summer Camps Alamo.edu/sac/summer-camps San Antonio College offers a wide range of affordable summer camps for elementary, middle, and high school students—including an American Sign Language Music Camp a Television Production camp, and even several Space camps! Learn more about all our camps and register today at alamo.edu/sac/summer-camps! FRIEND US @ facebook.com/OurKidsMagazine210
CAMP & SUMMER ACTIVITIES SeaWorld Camp SeaWorld San Antoni0 San Antonio 78251 210-523-3608 SWTDayCamps@seaworld.com
https://seaworld.com/san-antonio/educational-programs/ day-camp/ SeaWorld San Antonio provides a variety of day-camp programs for students in Kindergarten through 8th grade. Counselors trained in youth development will lead groups in games, songs, and activities that can only be found at SeaWorld while campers experience one of a kind animal shows, visit animal habitats in the park and behind the scenes, and ride some thrilling roller coasters (campers must meet height requirements). SeaWorld San Antonio Camps are licensed as a youth camp by the state of Texas and accredited by the American Camp Association.
Southwest School of Art Summer Art Studios 300 Augusta San Antonio, TX 78205 (210) 200.8213 https://www.swschool.org/summer-artstudios
Southwest School of Art’s Summer Art Studios is the most comprehensive and largest summer arts experience for students in San Antonio, offering nine weeks of classes from June 1 - Aug. 7, for students ages 5 - 18 taught by artist-teachers and focusing on fundamentals such as drawing and painting, as well as experimental design and classes that explore world cultures. SSA is unique in offering media such as clay, printmaking, photography, and 3-D design.
St. Anthony Catholic School 205 W. Huisache Ave. San Antonio, TX 78212 210-732-8801
Our summer camps offer weekly themes that engage children with readiness skills through hands-on activities. It’s a well-balanced curriculum promoting intellectual,
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emotional, and social development. With special guest speakers, field trips, summer BBQ, and swimming, your child will want to come back every year. Space is limited, call today.
The Clowvazar Academy Summer School Program 12746 Cimarron Path #20 210-690-4800 www.clowvazar.com
The Clowvazar Academy holds academic camps in June, July and August from 9AM to2PM with the option to extend the day to 7:30AM to 4:00PM. Visit us online for pricing details.
The DoSeum 2800 Broadway 210-212-4453 thedoseum.org
Keep the learning and fun going all summer long with The DoSeum’s summer camps! Your child can engage in largescale collaborative art pieces, challenging hands-on STEM investigations, and more—all taking place in our indoor and outdoor exhibit space. Whether your child is a future painter, engineer, or a combination of the two, The DoSeum offers a wide variety of programs for kids ages 3-11.
The Little Gym of Stone Oak 20711 Wilderness Oak, Ste. 106 San Antonio 78258 210-481-5452 www.thelittlegym.com/ sanantoniostoneoaktx/ The Little Gym of North San Antonio 12730 NW Military Highway, Suite 106 San Antonio 78231 210-545-3770 www.thelittlegym.com/NSanAntonioTX
School’s Out, Fun’s In! Combining physical activity, gymnastics, games, Lego-building, and crafts! Your child will spend three adventure-filled hours that will focus on
serious fun! Each week revolves around an interactive learning theme with different, creative lesson plans that will keep your child engaged. We will help your child beat the heat by staying cool at The Little Gym. Please call us to book your child’s spot before it’s too late!
University of the Incarnate Word Cardinal Soccer Camps 4301 Broadway, San Antonio, TX, 78209 210-841-7396 https://uiwcardinals.com
Cardinal Summer Soccer Camps are designed to provide a fun learning environment for all players from all levels of youth Soccer. The focus is on developing technical skills in challenging exercises whilst allowing the campers the opportunity to express themselves in competitive games. There are 4 core topics that we will focus on to help develop the core principles needed to become a successful soccer player.
YMCA of Greater San Antonio Summer Day Camp Multiple Locations 210-924-2277 ymcasatx.org/summer
YMCA camp programs offer youth an opportunity to meet new friends and discover new interests. Activities vary by location but include field trips, crafts, swimming, sports and more. Camp is an excellent way to ensure kids stay engaged socially, physically, and academically throughout the summer. Financial assistance is available.
Zoo Camp San Antonio Zoo 210-734-7184 Ex. 1501 www.sazoo.org
Zoo Camp is the wildest camp in town! Week long camps for Kinder – 8th grade begin May 26 and end the week of August 14. Registration opens February 15. Get outside and play!
Weekly Camps June and July 2020 Hands on STEM based learning, subjects range from Forensics to Cyber Security, camps include breakfast and lunch. Learn more at samsat.org
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info@samsat.org (210)-338-0439 100 Mabry Dr San Antonio TX, 78226 May 2020 | OurKidsMagazine.com
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CAMP & SUMMER ACTIVITIES SPECIAL NEEDS Children’s Association for Maximum Potential (CAMP) 515 Skyline Drive Center Point, Texas 78010 (210) 671-5411 campmail@campcamp.org https://campcamp.org/
Since 1979, Camp CAMP has provided safe, fun-filled recreational experiences for individuals with special needs at its 55-acre summer camp along the Guadalupe River, in Center Point, TX. Camp CAMP serves individuals (aged 5 – 50) with mild to severe disabilities from diagnosis with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Intellectual Disability, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Traumatic Brain Injury, Spina Bifida, visual impairment and/or hearing impairment. It is a certified Texas Youth Camp and accredited by the American Camp Association. Campers’ siblings are welcome to attend camp with them. In 2020, the six-day camps begin May 24 and run through August 7. Summer 2020 applications are now available at www.campcamp.org. Camp CAMP strives to be affordable to all families through our Scholarship Tier program or through Respite funding for campers who have Medicaid Waiver and General Revenue service programs in Texas.
The Clowvazar Academy (210) 690-4800 12746 Cimarron Path, #120 www.clowvazar.com
Each summer The Clowvazar Academy opens three summer sessions in June, July and August for students with Anxiety, High Functioning Autism or other related learning differences. We accept students from Kindergarten to High School. Limited seats are available. Visit us online for tuition information and requirements. ]
OVERNIGHT CAMPS
Girls’ Camps Camp Honey Creek 401 Honey Creek W. Camp@camphoneycreek.com www.camphoneycreek.com
Located in the beautiful Texas Hill Country, Camp Honey Creek for Girls is committed to helping girls of all ages develop into well-rounded individuals with good moral character, strong values and high self-esteem.
iD Tech Held at 150 Prestigious Campus Locations 1-888-709-8324 www.iDTech.com
iD Tech is the world leader in STEM education, with 400,000 alumni since 1999. Summer programs for ages 7-19 are held at 150 prestigious campuses including Stanford, NYU, HKU, and Imperial College London. Students build in-demand skills for futures in coding, game development, robotics, and design. Visit iDTech.com.
Camp La Jita Utopia, TX (on the Sabinal River) 210-349-2404 or 800-580-7247 www.girlscouts-swtx.org
Ages 7-18 Sports, horseback riding, canoeing, dance, crafts, backpacking, swimming, archery, photography, etc. NonGirl Scouts welcome. Please visit our website for more information.
Camp Sierra Vista for Girls 175 Rio Vista Road, Ingram, TX, 78025 830-367-5353 sierravista.dir@gmail.com www.vistacamps.com
Small, private, traditional camp in the Texas Hill Country. A summer tradition of fun, friends, exciting activities, lifelong memories and life-changing experiences. Make forever friends while having the time or your life.
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Our Kids Magazine | May 2020
Heart of the Hills Camp for Girls Hunt, TX 78024 830-238-4650 info@hohcamp.com www.hohcamp.com
Ages: 6-16 • Liberating all-girls atmosphere, Guadalupe River, air-conditioned. Family style dining. Worldwide enrollment, personable! Fun, instruction-oriented, doing the right thing; more than 40 activities. Family owned, operated.
Rocky River Ranch P.O. Box 109 • Wimberley, TX 78676 512-847-2513 www.rockyriverranch.com
Girls ages 7 -14 enjoy the experience of a lifetime at Rocky River Ranch. Located in the heart of the beautiful Texas hill country in Wimberley, Rocky River Ranch has been operating as a private summer camp for girls since 1953. We are a residential summer camp offering three different session lengths and a wide variety of activities.
Boys’ Camps Camp Mondamin for Boys P.O. Box 8, Tuxedo, NC 28784 800-688-5789 mondamin@mondamin.com www.mondamin.com
Ages 7 - 12 • Aug. 5 - Aug. 18 - August Camp is a two-week session designed to introduce campers to the program at Mondamin. The time allows for great friendships and experiences such as independence and working toward goals. We will touch on all our activities and take many overnight trips. The short period is an excellent choice for those wanting a taste of camp fun.
Camp Rio Vista for Boys 175 Rio Vista Road, Ingram, TX, 78025 830-367-5353 www.vistacamps.com
Ages 6-16 A Texas Summer tradition since 1921. Beautiful facilities, fun-filled program, exciting activities and dedicated staff provide a memorable learning environment for your son. We emphasize fun, confidence and success!
Camp Stewart for Boys Hunt, TX 78024 830-238-4670 www.campstewart.com
Ages 6-16 • Camp Stewart for Boys is a privately owned, Christian-oriented, non-denominational camp for boys ages six to sixteen. We are located in the heart of the famed Texas Hill Country, near headwaters of the Guadalupe River.
Texas Catholic Boys Camp – Camp Tecaboca Mountain Home, TX 5045 Junction Hwy, Ingram, TX 78025 830-866-3425 office@tecaboca.com www.tecaboca.com
Deer Creek Camp Medina, Texas 78055 830-589-7123 www.deercreekcamp.com Deer Creek Camp, located in Medina, Texas, is a Christian Adventure Camp where we capture both the stunning outdoors and a Christ-centered community. From swimming in the Medina River to riding down the longest tandem zip line in Texas. Come see for yourself why Deer Creek Camp is The Place to Be.
His Hill Ranch Camp Overnight & Day Camp Comfort, TX 78103 830-995-3388 camp@hishill.org www.hishill.org His Hill Ranch Camp is a Christian, non-denominational overnight & day camp offering 1 week sessions through the summer for children 8 - 18 years old. His Hill is a wonderful place for young people to be taught about Jesus Christ from God’s Word while having fun in the outdoor life of the Hill Country.
Mo-Ranch Summer Camp 2229 FM 1340, Hunt, TX 78024 800-460-4401 ext. 250 or 253 www.summercamp.MoRanch.org Ages 8 – 15 • We are a co-ed, residential camp located within one of the Hill Country’s most beautiful conference centers; the Presbyterian Mo-Ranch Assembly. Located along the Guadalupe River, Mo-Ranch sits on almost 500 acres of gorgeous Hill Country property. We offer a wide range of traditional camp activities including archery, canoeing, kayaking, swimming, and rock climbing.
YMCA Camp Twin Lakes 204 E. Little Elm Trl Cedar Park 78613 512-257-0709 camptwinlakes.ymcagwc.org YMCA Camp Twin Lakes offers week-long overnight and mini overnight summer camp just north of Austin. Join the YMCA for 6 weeks of Full Overnight Camp in 2017. Kids ages 8-16y/o. New Cabins have bathrooms and A/C, experienced counselors, nutritious meals & new friends. All the activities you love and a whole lot more! Conveniently located in Cedar Park.
SPECIAL NEEDS CAMP Agape Bereavement Camp for Children Burnet, TX 214-674-1205 info@campagapetexas.org www.campagapetexas.org
Co-ed Camps
Ages 7-12 • Camp Agape’s Children Summer Session will be held August 5th-8th at Forest Glen Camps, $50 application fee that is refunded at the end of camp. Camp Agape is a non-denominational, Christian-based program that supports children and families who are grieving the loss of a loved one. The trained staff and volunteers are committed to sharing the belief that through Christ there is HOPE, and will provide a safe and nurturing environment for the children to heal from the pain of grief.
Camp Balcones Springs 104 Balcones Springs Drive, Marble Falls, TX 78654 830-693-CAMP info@campbalconessprings.com www.campiscool.com
Charis Hills Camp Ingram, TX 888-681-2173 info@charishills.org www.charishills.org
A boy’s camp offering horseback riding, archery, canoeing, swimming, and bead craft, with morning prayer and evening campfire stories.
A premier Christian sports and outdoor camp dedicated to building quality relationships through spiritual impact and fun. Features air-conditioned cabins with a 4:1 counselor to camper ration.
Ages 7 – 18 •Charis Hills is a Christian Summer Camp specifically designed to help kids with learning differences (ADHD, LD, ED and Asperger’s) find success. Our focus is on building self-confidence, social skills and independence. FRIEND US @ facebook.com/OurKidsMagazine210
The 7 Rs of Long-Distance Grandparenting
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Most long-distance grandparents will agree that you don’t have to live in the same town to play a huge role in the life of your grandchildren. Yes, you might be sad that your grandkids don’t live close by, but you can certainly still create a special and lasting relationship with some planning. Here’s how:
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Our Kids Magazine | May 2020
Joy Candrian of the blog XOXO Grandma suggests: “Research the places where your grandchildren live and when FaceTiming or talking on the phone, ask them intelligent questions about their home, school and the things they have done that week.� Another example might be checking out the latest children’s movie in your own town if you know your grandkids are going to see it as well so you can talk about the best parts together.
Read to Them and Play Games
“Record yourself reading a book and then upload that recording to YouTube so your grandchild can hear your voice and see you reading them a story. After you’ve got your recorded story online, mail the book to your grandchild so they can follow along while they watch your video,� shared Candrian. Buy a blank puzzle at a craft store then, if you are arsty, draw a picture on it. If not, write a message and color in some of the pieces. Your grandchild will have a blast putting it together over and over. Online games like Words with Friends are also a fun and educational way to connect.
Recognize Holidays and Special Dates
Keep track of important dates so you can be there for the big events. Set reminders on your phone or put them on your wall calendar so you can send cards or plan a video chat for birthdays, graduations, last day of school, FRIEND US @ facebook.com/OurKidsMagazine210
prom, sports, spelling bees and so much more. Candrian offers, “I think giving gifts is such a natural way to show we care, and giving a handmade gift [such as a quilt] shows we care enough to spend our time for those we love. Your grandchild may not understand that now but as they grow older and wiser, your gifts should help them feel the love you have for them.”
Raise Video Chatting and Social Media to a New Level Skype, FaceTime and Zoom make it so much easier to see their faces and keep yours fresh in theirs. They grow and change so quickly, so make weekly dates to do things like call up the grandkids and take them on a walk with you, let them watch you bake something, read to them. One way my 90-year-old grandmother loves to keep up with her grandkids and great-grandkids is to hop on Facebook daily to check out status updates and photos.
Remembrances Make sure you have plenty of photos of your grandchildren around your home and send photos of yourself to them as well. You want them to get to know you as well, and it’s so easy these days to create photo books and books of stories from your childhood for them on a site like Mixbook. Check out the Marco Polo app for a FaceTime meets voicemail experience, where you get to leave and receive video messages, and they don’t disappear… you can save them on Marco Polo indefinitely and also save them to your phone or forward them to other family members.
Plan Regular Visits and Special Trips Carissa Jones, mom of 8, shares, “Both sets of grandparents take small groups of one to two kids home with them. My parents take the kids to their home for their 10th birthday and they have a special long weekend together that each kiddo has anticipated in the months leading up to their birthday.”
Ready for a Fun Visit When it’s time for the kids to come to your home, make sure you have a stash of games, books and universal toys (think Legos and Magnatyles) so they feel at home. Scout out local indoor trampoline parks, nature centers, kid-friendly restaurants and other activities that you can all do together during the visit. Despite distance, you can form close bonds with your grandchildren and ensure you play a key role in their lives. Carissa Jones sums it up nicely: “I think much like parenting, relationships are built on the foundation of time together and on traditions.” Kerrie McLoughlin is the writer mom of 5 kids ranging from 10 to 18 and blogs at TheKerrieShow.com May 2020 | OurKidsMagazine.com
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Baby
5 Total Lies I Told Myself About the Second Baby By Pam Moore
I know one thing about babies: they are mysterious. I learned this when my two-year-old was a baby, but I buried this nugget of truth in the recesses of my brain, which is disorganized to begin with. I can barely remember where I put my phone. I sailed through my second pregnancy, blissfully unaware of what was to come. My carefree life had already been obliterated with the birth of our first child. We’d barely notice the addition of a mere 8 to 10 pounds’ worth of additional human in our household. This was what I told myself, along with a few other handy lies...
1. Newborns are easy. They don’t do anything and you can take them anywhere! What was I smoking?! While it is true they don’t do anything, consequently, you, as the parent, must do everything for them. Burp them, feed them and change their diapers. If you’re not too busy with the hourly feedings or weekly baths, you can conveniently take them anywhere you want in their car seat. Affectionately known as “the bucket,” this torture device was surely invented by someone who despises parents. You might as well give ergonomics a big fat 16
Our Kids Magazine | May 2020
middle finger every time you take your baby out in one of these.
2. Big babies are good sleepers.
I used to go around saying this as if having given birth to one large baby made me a sleep guru. As I predicted, my second baby ended up being big as well, over 9 pounds. But she is not a good sleeper. She is a horrible sleeper, in fact. She wakes up to nurse every two to three hours and sucks like it’s her last meal. I wish there was a way to make her understand that her cankles alone could sustain her for three weeks.
3. Nursing is easy!
I nursed one baby easily, so I figured it would be the same with my second. Except my breasts didn’t get the memo that they were supposed to make milk for only one baby. I could have fed my entire block for the first 12 weeks. Every time she latched on, she would pop off within a minute, cough, and wail, milk dribbling out of her mouth. Meanwhile, my exposed nipple would be spraying milk in three separate arcs, soaking me, and anything or anyone within a two-foot radius of me. We repeated this cycle five to six times, then switched sides to do it again, 10 times a day. Eventually, my supply backed down. In the meantime, washcloths, burp FRIEND US @ facebook.com/OurKidsMagazine210
cloths, hand towels, and dried breast milk littered every surface of our home.
4. I’ve done this before. I know what I’m doing.
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Actually, I remember nothing from the first time. I know that it happened and we all survived but the details are hazy. While I call my mom far less frequently with baby questions this time around, I more than make up for it with frequent calls to my sister, who had a baby just a year ago. Thankfully, she still remembers all the things I forgot over the last couple of years.
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5. We will sleep train when the baby is 4 months old. I’m still traumatized from when we sleep-trained our toddler over two years ago. Saying you’re going to sleep train and actually doing it are two entirely different things. Definitely, the baby will be sleeping through the night before she goes to college. I can’t make promises beyond that. I’ve told my husband I won’t rule out having a third. What’s one more lie? Pam Moore helps women push through fear to become their best selves. To get her free guide to crushing Impostor Syndrome visit pam-moore.com
• Infant Care • Pre-School Programs • Music & Gymnastics • Private Kindergarten • Karate • Spanish • Ballet • Swimming Located near USAA and the Medical Center. 9433 Fredericksburg Monday - Friday 210-694-4622 6:15 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. www.brightideasdaycare.com
Pre-K Academy at West Avenue 3915 West Avenue San Antonio, TX 78213 210-407-8600 www.neisd.net/prekacademy
√ Advanced instruction √ Affordable tuition √ Convenient bus hubs
CURRICULUM Enrichment including: physical education, music and library programming STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) Instructional Focus Dual Language Classrooms; Social Emotional Learning
FULL-DAY PROGRAM School Hours: 7:40 a.m. - 2:55 p.m. Drop off begins at 6:50 a.m.; Breakfast & lunch available Kids’ Involvement Network (KIN) after-school care available until 6:30 p.m.; Healthy snacks provided
May 2020 | OurKidsMagazine.com
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Working Around Covid 19 BRIGHT IDEAS CHILDREN’S ENRICHMENT CENTER Bright Ideas is open to serve families of essential employees during the pandemic. We are unable to give tours inside the building, but we ask interested families to visit our FaceBook page (Bright Ideas Children’s Enrichment Center) or our website www.brightideasdaycare.com Our phone number is 210-694-4622 and email address is brightideas1987@gmail.com We are happy to answer any questions. We are committed to providing quality early childhood care and education for the families of San Antonio. CAMP INVENTION /National Inventors Hall of Fame At the National Inventors Hall of Fame, we understand the challenges families and educators are currently facing, and just like great inventors, we must all adapt with creative thinking, ingenuity and optimism. To help turn these uncertain times into valuable learning opportunities, we invite you to take advantage of the many activities. See our FREE STEM GUIDE at https://www.invent.org/at-home-learningresources. Most of the activities are hands-on and do not require screen time. Make learning fun and easy with our at-home activity guide inspired by our NIHF Inductees and tested by our expert education team. Hands-on, indoor and outdoor fun for elementary and middle school students. You can see even more innovation challenges on our Pinterest page, InventorsHOF. CASCADE CAVERNS Call us or check our website before your family heads out for a day at Cascade Caverns. We hope to reopen the cave in May, but if social distancing due to COVID-19 is necessary and continues through May, we will plan to reopen in June. Cascade Caverns 830-755-8080 www. cascadecaverns.com EDUCATION SERVICE CENTER, REGION 20 The team of Education experts at Region 20 have trained thousands of teachers and parents to adapt during COVID -19. Their programs include teacher development and parent guidance in working with children from early childhood through grade 12. Vanessa Moran, Early Childhood Consultant creates the Education Service Center, Region 20 PreK Newsletter with easy tips for parents that includes STEM/STEAM activities. To view this week’s newsletter go to https://bit.ly/2xu7dTZ or use the QR Code. For additional resources for parents and teachers please visit our Early Childhood Team google site at https://bit.ly/2z8cgtv.
Here are some tips from Vanessa: 5 Ways to Become a STEAM Celebrity 1. Who’s Picasso? Get up and paint. Grab some paper, hang it on a wall and create a painting with your child. 2. Want to become Amelia Earhart? Create paper planes. First, let your child decorate the paper. Then, see whose goes the farthest. 3. Bonanno Pisano who? Build your own Leaning Tower of Pisa, using blocks, cereal boxes, Kleenex boxes, and other household items. 4. Want Moore sculptures? Henry Moore could use some help from you! Grab some play-doh and help your child create their own sculpture. 5. Are you Sir Isaac Newton? Get out those crayons and paints! Encourage your child to use their imagination to create, invent, and experiment with colors. Don’t forget to share your little celebrities’ works of art with us on Facebook (#ESC20), Instagram (escregion20), and Twitter (@ ESCRegion20)!!!
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Our Kids Magazine | May 2020
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF SOUTH TEXAS Junior Achievement of South Texas is serving students and parents online in two areas. The first is the One Step for JA Virtual Step Challenge at http://www.jast.org/stepahead.html . The second area includes lots of free JA educational resources & activities for students and parents that can be accessed here: http://www.jast.org/ MOUNT SACRED HEART CATHOLIC SCHOOL Mount Sacred Heart School sends a heartfelt thank you to those on the frontlines and to our families as they support our students’ at home. For many, the idea of distance learning was overwhelming, but Mount Sacred Heart rose to the challenge. Though not a one-toone technology integration school, our students are no strangers to digital learning and the Google Classroom platform. We continue to provide consistency through academic instruction, maintaining daily routines, and even extra-curricular activities online and on our social media pages. For 90 years, MSH has been a premier Catholic school with the only Catholic Montessori program in town. Next year will be the inaugural year of the Mother Cabrini Formation Center, which will increase the presence of religious Sisters at MSH. Visit our website www.mountsacredheart.org or call us at (210) 342 - 6711. SAN ANTONIO ZOO Ever wonder what the animals at San Antonio Zoo are up to these days? Virtually connect with the animals, from anywhere! The zoo has temporarily closed to help slow the spread of COVID-19. The zoo’s animal care team continues to provide essential daily care for the animals, but miss connecting with guests. Visit the zoo’s new media page on its website to find a collection of videos or check out the zoo’s Facebook page for live animal chats, and Zen Zoo yoga live. Stay connected to San Antonio Zoo by visiting www.sazoo.org/media for a schedule and a collection of videos THE CLOWVAZAR ACADEMY The Clowvazar Academy is providing distance learning and one-onone tutoring via Skype and Zoom. Using our proprietary Asterion Academy portal, we have been able to keep all our students on track. We are currently accepting students for the 2020-2021 school year. Additionally, we are holding summer camps in July and August. Visit us at www.clowvazar.com or reach us by phone at 210-690-4800. THE MAGIC THEATRE In support of the community’s efforts to “Stay-at-home” and combat COVID-19, The Magik Theatre will offer electronic programming for families, including digital storytimes, at-home activities, and E-cademy theatre education classes. Tune in to Magik’s daily social media programming on Facebook and Instagram by searching @ themagiktheatre. The full schedule will continue to be updated at www.MagikTheatre.org FRIEND US @ facebook.com/OurKidsMagazine210
Helping children cope with stress during the 2019-nCoV outbreak Children may respond to stress in different ways such as being more clingy, anxious, withdrawing, angry or agitated, bedwetting etc. Respond to your child’s reactions in a supportive way, listen to their concerns and give them extra love and attention. Children need adults’ love and attention during difficult times. Give them extra time and attention. Remember to listen to your children, speak kindly and reasure them. If possible, make opportunities for the child to play and relax.
Try and keep children close to their parents and family and avoid separating children and their caregivers to the extent possible. If separation occurs (e.g. hospitalization) ensure regular contact (e.g. via phone) and re-assurance.
Keep to regular routines and schedules as much as possible, or help create new ones in a new environment, including school/learning as well as time for safely playing and relaxing.
Provide facts about what has happened, explain what is going on now and give them clear information about how to reduce their risk of being infected by the disease in words that they can understand depending on their age. This also includes providing information about what could happen in a re-assuring way (e.g. a family member and/or the child may start not feeling well and may have to go to the hospital for some time so doctors can help them feel better). May 2020 | OurKidsMagazine.com
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Feature
Staying at Home?
Mom Blogs to the Rescue
These past few weeks and months may be the most abnormal time of our entire lives. Nothing is on our usual schedules and you are most likely at home with your children all day long, every day. Family time is a gift, for sure, but you may be wondering how to fill the long hours. It’s okay to watch more than usual amounts of television or allow more screen time than usual, but as this stay-at-home time drags out, you may want to look for some super-creative ways to spend the time. Ta da! Mom blogs to the rescue. Really, there are hundreds of blogs created by parents that share creative ideas for kid activities geared for kids from age zero on up to teens. They’re excellent sources for hands-on activities in science, art, literacy and more. Here are some good ones, but you can do a search to find others. Many of these blogs have added new sections designed specifically to your needs for the Corona virus stay-at-home learning times. Buggy and Buddy is a fantastic site run by an elementary school teacher. She shares art, science, STEM and STEAM projects for toddlers through teens. The site is user-friendly. You can search by age to find great activities, supply lists, and free printables to make setting up projects easy. There is an excellent section on activities based on your child’s favorite book. Try the color walk scavenger hunt, make a balancing robot or do the apple math pattern projects. The Dad Lab is a bit of a work in progress, but it does have some great kid/parent science projects. It also links to a book by the same title that offers fifty science projects for parents and kids. Mommy Poppins is a national site with information based on your part of the country. The national portion of the site is filled with activities to do with your kids. It has a 22
Our Kids Magazine | May 2020
By Jan Pierce
section dedicated to our current situation with the stay-athome orders. Get your kids involved with outdoor games, exercises, crafts, science projects and much more. Cool Mom Picks is run by two ultra-cool moms. Their site is chock-full of ideas for food and menu-planning (how to make that cool whipped coffee), crafts, ideas for Mother’s Day and a huge section on timely topics for living in quarantine. There is also a podcast available. This is a comprehensive site to search for activities of all ages. No Time for Flash Cards is another site rich in fun ideas for kids of all ages. It focuses on crafts, books, and all sorts of educational activities. It is searchable by age. Like most good blogs it adds articles and suggestions from a wide variety of other moms who love to share their good ideas. If you are doing school at home, there is a section for teachers. Busy Toddler offers a gazillion ideas for cool activities to do with your toddlers. From sensory play to tasks highlighting fine motor skills, you’ll find simple, but creative and educational tasks to do with your young children. The Activity Mom is a site presented at three levels, baby, toddler and elementary-aged children. It focuses on handson activities and offers free printables. Want to make some Moon Sand or create a Hide and Seek Bottle for your baby? Happy Hooligans is filled with hundreds of ideas for arts and crafts and play. Great for craft ideas for every holiday and fun hands-on activities for kids of all ages. There are so many great mom blogs filled with articles, parent musings and practical activities for your kids. Check out the following to find top Mom blogs: www.mymommyneedsthat.com/ best-mom-blogs-you-can-find/ www.blogfeed.spot.com/kids_activities_blogs/ FRIEND US @ facebook.com/OurKidsMagazine210
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