JULY 2020 · SAVVYKIDSAR.COM
VIDEO GAME ADDICTION
FIGHTING FOOD INSECURITY
SUMMER GRILLING BRINGS THE HEAT
HELPING KIDS BE KIDS FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY One of Snell’s most rewarding challenges is handling the precise fit, fabrication and adjustment of each device we provide to restore or enable maximum mobility. Our ultimate goal is allowing our pediatric patients to feel confident just being a kid. READ MORE ABOUT WHAT ELSE IT TAKES TO PROPERLY TREAT PEDIATRIC PATIENTS AT SNELLARKANSAS.COM
800-342-5541 RESTORING MOBILITY AND INDEPENDENCE SINCE 1911 Little Rock Q Bryant Q Conway Q Fayetteville Q Fort Smith Q Hot Springs Q Mountain Home Q North Little Rock Q Pine Bluff Q Russellville
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SAVVYKIDSAR.COM | JULY 2020
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SAVE UP TO HIT THE ROAD ON PAGE 10
JULY 2020
5 EDITOR’S NOTE 8 SUMMER READING & CRAFTS!
12 MAMA SAID ...
A FRANK CONVERSATION WITH MY FRIEND — JEN HOLMAN
14 FAMILY & PARENTING
GAME ON. VIDEO GAME ADDICTION IS REAL
SIZZLING SUMMER GRILL RECIPES ON PAGE 22
16 EXPLORE & LEARN
IT’S TIME TO HAVE ‘THE TALK’ ABOUT RACISM
22 GOOD EATS BRING THE HEAT
28 HEALTH & WELLNESS
FIGHTING BACK AGAINST HUNGER
30 MEET THE PARENT KIMBERLY BRATTON
DIVERSIFY YOUR KIDS' SUMMER READING LIST ON PAGE 8
MEET BAKER KIMBERLY BRATTON ON PAGE 30
ON THE COVER: IT'S TIME TO HAVE 'THE TALK' ABOUT RACISM WITH YOUR KIDS. STORY ON PAGE 16.
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Photo by Stacy Kinzler
A TIME FOR OPEN CONVERSATIONS As summer heats up, the tensions all around us seem to do the same. We see arguments on social media over race, police brutality, LGBTQ rights and wearing masks in public, and with election season within reach, it doesn’t look like the stress is letting up anytime soon. Our kids feel this. They see it on the news and overhear our conversations. It trickles in through their own social media and in conversations with their friends. Putting our heads in the sand hasn’t worked, and there’s no better time than the present to open up lines of communication with our kids. Become their source for information, guide them and have hard, honest conversations. On page 16, we dive into information on how to talk to your kids about racism from psychiatric therapist Greg Young Sr. Find advice on how to guide your child if they are the one experiencing racism at school or elsewhere, and also find support on how to encourage your child to be an ally. In addition to having open discussions with our kids, there are many other ways to incorporate diversity and inclusion in our homes. Seek out books and other media by artists who don’t look like you. This can be as simple as bringing in new bedtime stories with a courageous black protagonist. Summer is a great time to beef up your family’s reading list. As temps continue to rise and everyone seeks the cool of the air conditioning, introduce some of the fantastic titles suggested by Laman Library and Central Arkansas Library System on page 8. And, as we relent to more indoor time this summer, we also sometimes relent to more time for video games. If you have an aspiring gamer living in your home— especially during this time of quarantine and isolation—you may worry about a developing video game addiction. On page 28, we speak with an expert at UAMS Psychiatric Research Institute on signs, prevalence and ways to reconnect with young gamers who may sometimes seem to be disconnecting from the family. One thing that is sure to get everyone to unplug for dinner is a family cookout. Zara Abbasi asked parents what they most wanted to learn to cook on the grill, and her recipes bring the heat! Find some sizzling summer cookout ideas on page 22. As the summer continues to heat up, we hope this issue of SAVVYkids finds you cool, collected and informed on what’s best for your family.
Amy Gordy Editor, SAVVYkids amy@arktimes.com
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SHOP LOCAL EAT LOCAL
PUBLISHER BROOKE WALLACE | brooke@arktimes.com EDITOR AMY GORDY | amy@arktimes.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR MANDY KEENER ART DIRECTOR | DIGITAL MANAGER KATIE HASSELL SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE LESA THOMAS PRODUCTION MANAGER | CONTROLLER WELDON WILSON ADVERTISING TRAFFIC MANAGER ROLAND R. GLADDEN ADVERTISING ART DIRECTOR MIKE SPAIN DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & EVENT PLANNING LUCY BAEHR PHOTOGRAPHER BRIAN CHILSON IT DIRECTOR ROBERT CURFMAN ACCOUNTING CHARLOTTE KEY CIRCULATION DIRECTOR JACKSON GLADDEN PRESIDENT ALAN LEVERITT
Support your favorite local restaurants and retailers. Order online or by phone then pickup curbside.
Support your favorite local restaurants and retailers. Order online or by phone then pickup curbside. 6
JULY 2020 | SAVVYKIDSAR.COM
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contributors
SUMMER NUTRITION IN PULASKI COUNTY
ZARA ABBASI lives in Little Rock with her husband and three children. She is a licensed attorney, but you know her better as Little Rock’s friendly pastry chef and custom cake maker. She keeps busy with dessert orders, pop-up dinners, writing articles and doing anything food-related. Follow her on Instagram @Zaramadeit for her newest cake creations and dinner ideas.
In partnership with ECO Kidz Project, meals will be provided to PCSSD students throughout the summer The meals will be distributed as multi-meal packages: Monday-Wednesday meals will be distributed on Monday and Thursday-Friday meals distributed on Thursday.
KATIE CHILDS is a wedding, lifestyle and commercial photographer based in North Little Rock. When she's not behind the camera, Katie, her husband, Jon, and their new addition, baby Jonas, can be found traveling the U.S. in a DIY camper van.
Clinton Elementary 142 Hollywood Ave.
Lawson Elementary 19901 Lawson Rd.
Cato Elementary 9906 Jacksonville-Cato Rd.
Oakbrooke Elementary 200 Thornhill Dr.
College Station Elementary 4710 Frazier Pike
Oak Grove Elementary 5703 Oak Grove Rd.
DWAIN HEBDA is a writer and editor living in Little Rock. He and his wife, Darlene, are the parents of four grown children. The empty-nesters spend their time traveling, working out and spoiling their two dogs.
• Monday Pick Up: 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm • Thursday Pick Up: 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm
Harris Elementary 4424 AR-161 Contact: Pamela Hill Director of ECO Kidz Project (501-246-3197)
JEN HOLMAN is doing her best right now, OK? She lives in Little Rock with her husband and three children, striking that delicate balance between inspiration and frustration. She’s written five novels, one of which won a Rosemary Award for excellence in young adult fiction.
ANGELA E. THOMAS is a proud University of Arkansas at Little Rock graduate and a member of its Alumni Board. For 11 years, she served Central Arkansas as editor for a locally owned magazine. Thomas is founder and owner of the greeting card company GODsent Greetings.
MELISSA TUCKER spends her days working in web marketing. When not at work, you'll probably find her at the gym, on the playground with her kids or checking out too many books from the library.
Due to USDA regulations, school districts area only allowed to distribute meals to children ages 18 and under; however, if you are over the age of 18 and still enrolled in a secondary school, you may receive a meal. Students must be present to pick up the meal. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Meals will be provided to all children regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability, and there will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service. Parents/Guardians will be able to pick up meals for youth with a Parent/Guardian waiver on file.
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Summer Reading List With so many camps, programs and events canceled or postponed this month, there’s no better time to encourage good reading habits at home. Central Arkansas Library System and Laman Library offer a list of ageappropriate titles for young readers through teens. For Young Readers Through Fifth Grade
Provided by Central Arkansas Library System
“Good News, Bad News”
by Jeff Mack Kids love this clever story about two friends with very different dispositions. Follow the story of an optimistic rabbit and unlucky mouse going on a picnic. Recommended for ages 3-6.
“Parker Looks Up: An Extraordinary Moment” by Parker
Curry and Jessica Curry A visit to Washington, DC's National Portrait Gallery forever alters Parker Curry's young life when she views first lady Michelle Obama's portrait. Inspired by this visit, Parker and her mother, Jessica Curry, tell the story of a young girl and her family whose trip to a museum becomes an extraordinary moment. Recommended for ages 4-8.
“I Love My Hair!” by Natasha Tarpley
In this imaginative, evocative story, a girl named Keyana discovers the beauty and magic of her special hair, encouraging black children to be proud of their heritage and enhancing self-confidence. Recommended for ages 4-8.
“Inkheart” by Cornelia Funke
Meggie finds out her father not only binds and repairs old books, but can “read” fictional characters to life. Meggie’s world takes a dramatic turn when a fictional character abducts her and her father to try to force him to read more characters to life. This is the first in a trilogy and well worth your reading time! Recommended for ages 8-12.
“Shadow Magic” by Joshua Khan
This captivating three-part juvenile series is full of magic, mystery and zombies. Recommended for ages 8-12.
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For Readers Ages Sixth Grade Through Teens Provided by Laman Library
“One Crazy Summer,” “P.S. Be Eleven” and “Gone Crazy in Alabama”
by Rita Williams-Garcia The Gaither Sisters Trilogy follows three sisters who are relatable and fun to read about. The novels take place in the late 1960s and early 1970s. They’re the ultimate summer books for tweens who enjoy a series. Recommended for ages 8-12.
“Free Lunch” by Rex Ogle
The author describes his impoverished life during a year in middle school. It’s an engaging and educational memoir that reads like a novel and touches on topics like food insecurity and instability at home. Recommended for ages 9-12.
“Rick” by Alex Gino
“Rick” is a sensitive and well-told story of a boy who is not sure what “box” he fits into. It’s a great story about self-awareness, courage and being exactly who you are meant to be. Recommended for ages 8-12.
“New Kid” by Jerry Craft
This 2020 Newbery Award-winner is a wonderfully written and illustrated graphic novel about a Black kid at a predominately white private school. Recommended for ages 8-12.
“Genesis Begins Again” by Alicia D.
Williams Genesis is the new girl at school, which is already hard enough. Couple that with self-esteem issues and cruelty from her father, and you have a character you won’t want to stop reading about. This book won a Coretta Scott King Award and is a Newbery Honor Book for 2020. Recommended for ages 9-13.
“March Forward Girl: From Young Warrior to Little Rock Nine” by Melba Pattillo
Beals This is the memoir of Melba Pattillo Beals, who attended Little Rock’s Central High School in 1957. She tells her story of growing up in a community ruled by Jim Crow laws: the mobs, death threats, violence and heartbreaking details of segregated housing, schools, buses, bathrooms and water fountains. This book provides a powerful understanding of how it was to live and experience segregation as a young African American teenager. Recommended for ages 10 and older.
“Stamped From the Beginning: Racism, Antiracism, and You” by Jason Reynolds & Ibram X. Kendi
This “remix” of the original adult book by Kendi is written for teens. It is particularly timely with the Black Lives Matter movement taking shape. Recommended for ages 12-17.
SAVVYKIDSAR.COM | JULY 2020
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ART SPACE
Travel on a Dime
Map out your next family vacation with this Mason jar money bank BY KATIE HASSELL
You’ll Need:
Paper world map Mason jar with ring lid Cardboard Mod Podge Scissors or X-Acto knife Paint brushes
Make a Splash with a
Hawaiian Bash
INVITATIONS • DECORATIONS • PARTY FAVORS • BALLOONS • PIÑATAS • CAKE SUPPLIES 10 JULY 2020 | SAVVYKIDSAR.COM
How To:
1. Choose what area of the map you want to feature on your bank and cut it out. 2. Apply Mod Podge to the jar with a brush, then lay on the map section. Fill in any empty space with more map. 3. Cover the map on the jar with Mod Podge. Let dry. 4. Take the ring top and trace a circle on your cardboard, then cut it out. 5. Cut a slit large enough to fit money and coins. 6. Cover the cardboard with Mod Podge and add a section of map. Then cover with more Mod Podge and allow to dry. 7. Once dry, place the cardboard lid inside the jar lid and twist on the top. Enjoy!
h 11218 N. RODNEY PARHAM RD. / LR 501.223.4929
4822 N. HILLS BLVD. / NLR 501.978.3154
• INVITATIONS • DECORATIONS • PARTY FAVORS • BALLOONS • PIÑATAS • CAKE SUPPLIES SAVVYKIDSAR.COM | JULY 2020
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MAMA SAID ...
A Frank Conversation with My Friend BY JEN HOLMAN
O
ne of our nation’s old wounds is festering, and applying a little salve isn’t working. Why does the old wound have to puff up and boil over, we wonder. Why is it so painful? Why won’t the bothersome thing just scab over and heal? As parents, most of us have had a crash course in wound care. We know from experience these things flare up when they haven’t been properly disinfected, and when that happens it takes the right medicine to heal it from the inside out. Yes, I’m talking about the deeply rooted and long-ignored systemic racism in our country. I’m talking about injustices that occur again and again. I’m talking about nationwide protests from a people in pain who are calling for justice and equality. These topics have been on our minds, on the news, and in our homes for weeks. For years. But are we doing the work to heal the trauma? Do we have the right prescription to end this affliction once and for all? Just as racism takes root in the home, so does change. We, as parents, must look deep and be honest with ourselves and our children. If we want to heal, we must take our medicine even if it tastes bad. We can forgive ourselves for not speaking up about racism before. Just as we can with our country, we can forgive ourselves the sins of our past. But not without evolving. Not without reform. Once we recognize racism exists, the hard work begins to change it, to do something because it won’t happen without us. Change begins at home, and as leaders of our households, it is up to us to lead the way. In my house, while we haven’t discussed every horrific detail of recent events with our children, we do talk about what’s happening in the world. We talk about the parts of our country’s history we’re ashamed of and the parts that plague us still today. In true parenting fashion, we are learning as we teach. Many of us have heard stories of how parents of Black children teach them to safely interact with the police and with strangers. Realizing the unimaginable weight mothers of Black children bear was jarring to me. As the mother of children with fair skin, the thought had never crossed my mind. How’s that for privilege? In the vein of learning, of healing and of understanding, I reached out to a friend of mine who is raising four young men. Young Black men. I asked my friend some questions and while her answers, to me, felt shocking, they were the truths of raising her family. This is just how it is. This is her normal.
Have you had those conversations with your boys about what to do if stopped by the police? I have told my boys their whole lives that Black people, and men especially, are treated differently. My boys know if they get pulled over, they should either put their hands up or on the wheel. If an officer asks questions, they know to talk to them, to speak, but to keep their hands up. But I feel like when we’re stopped, we don’t get a chance to talk. Too often the police holler at us, but they don’t hear us. That’s hard, but still I tell my boys, “Don’t argue. Do what they say. Put the car in park and put your hands on the wheel because things can get out of control quickly.” They see what’s going on in the news, but I tell them to keep in mind what I’ve taught them. I say, “Listen to your momma, not the outsiders. When you’re pulled over, start praying.” Maybe those prayers will reach the officers before they even get out of the car. My kids go to school and work, but I remind them to say a prayer when they get in the car as they put their seatbelt on. And I communicate with them constantly to know if they made it where they’re going.
(FROM LEFT) JEN HOLMAN AND KISHA DUNN.
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As a mother, are you afraid for them to drive or to go certain places? I am. Mainly, when they go to parks or to areas that are mostly white, I’m afraid. People look at us. They watch. My sons don’t like it when people watch us. It hurts. But I tell them, “Just do your job, get in your car, and leave.” You know, when we first started going to a job just outside of town we were tailed by the sheriff. Whenever there’s a vehicle with four Black young men, people, and the police, automatically think trouble. They can’t be riding just for fun or going to work, it must be trouble. So they follow to make sure. A lot of times my sons ask me to drive one car with two of them, and the other two take another car. They ask me to do this. Just to avoid the looks and the suspicion. Are there lawbreakers out there? Yes. But those aren’t my boys. We can’t judge people based on the color of their skin. I tell my boys all the time, “Let’s go interact. Let’s get to know people.” Because you cannot shut down. You can’t think, “Oh those people seem racist; I’m not gonna speak.” You have to speak. I take the burden before anyone has a chance to form an opinion. I try to fix problems and that’s what I teach my boys. Has there been a time you thought your children were treated differently because of the color of their skin? Yes, I can relate to that. Last summer my boys and I went on vacation out of state. The area we stayed in was really nice, and most of the people around us were white. They looked at us crazy at first, but I introduced myself and my boys. I always try to get ahead of perceptions. We went to the closest mall to shop, but everyone stared at us. Like I always do, I told my boys, “Just speak and keep going.” But they were really uncomfortable. Finally, a security guard came up to me and asked if he could help me. He said we might want to go to a different mall 35 minutes away. We did. What do you wish mothers of kids who are not Black knew? I would love for mothers to talk to their kids about the current situation and be honest. Don’t sugar-coat it. Maybe they’ll understand the outrage. If people know the truth about both history and the present, they can better understand. Answer your kids’ questions. If you don’t have the answer, look it up or ask for help from someone who does. Right now is the time to be honest and come together as one. Let’s all talk to our kids and keep them engaged. It’s how we’ll overcome this. What would happen if we all worked as hard as my friend does for her family to get to know people? What would happen if we all had these conversations and got ahead of perceptions and prejudice? When it comes to healing the trauma our country and our communities are facing, maybe we can start with conversations like mine and Kisha’s. Perhaps listening with an open heart about others’ experiences is the medicine we need. Listening, learning, gaining empathy, and then taking action are the steps these conversations, these friendships, can lead us toward healing.
2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR REGISTRATION FOR PRE-K
LRSD.org
STEPS FOR NEW PRE-K REGISTRATION:
EARLY CHILDHOOD PRE-K
PARENTS MUST DO THE FOLLOWING: ·
Go to REGISTRATION.LRSD.ORG
·
Complete the online registration
·
Upload the following documents to REGISTRATION.LRSD.ORG when prompted — Child’s Birth Certificate — Child’s Social Security Card — Two proofs of current residency (utility, vehicle registration, mortgage or lease agreement)
·
Parents MUST also email Last 30 days of income for all parents or guardians in the household to the following Early Childhood email address: ECC@LRSD.ORG
·
If you have a current P3 student, submit the following to the Early Childhood email address: ECC@LRSD.ORG — Two proofs of current residence — Last 30 days of income for all adults in the household
If you have any questions please contact us at:
ECC@LRSD.ORG or 501-447-7360.
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FAMILY & PARENTING
GAME ON
Video game addiction is real and could be hiding in your playroom. Read about signs, behaviors and ways parents can reconnect with kids and set boundaries around video games. BY MELISSA TUCKER
T
hough many parents might be frustrated with the amount of time their kids spend playing video games, they could be right to worry if their gaming habit starts to resemble an addiction. “When you talk about the problem of video game addiction, it’s on a spectrum,” said Dr. Nihit Kumar, an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences specializing in child and adolescent psychiatry. “It ranges from playing an hour or two all the way to playing to an extent that you’re neglecting your physical health and relationships, and at that point, it becomes a disorder.” He said some kids and adults can play and not become addicted, but a subset of those who play may develop a problematic game disorder. If video gaming habits start to crowd out other interests such as playing sports, spending time with friends or family, or other previous hobbies, parents should be concerned.
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“The kids may also start to lie or hide things. I’ve known teenagers to say, ‘I don’t have homework’ when they did have homework because they wanted to play video games,” Kumar said. “Or they steal money from their parents to buy things for video games.” Furthermore, when kids don’t have access to games, they can display classic symptoms of withdrawal, such as anger and defensiveness. “I knew a family who went on vacation for a week, and they didn’t have access to video games and you can see feelings of withdrawal similar to drugs,” he said.
said. “That’s the background and where we start with this, and helping parents understand why their child would want to live in this online world all the time.” To address the issue, the first thing is to be aware of the pattern and to have a sense of when things are going wrong, he said. “That’s when I would start to monitor this behavior and pay more attention,” he said. “Do not confront the teenagers or younger kids, but start to take an interest in what they are playing and who they are playing with. That helps kids
“These addictive behaviors can also cause conflict and arguments in the home." He warns video game addiction rates could rise during the coronavirus pandemic due to quarantine and the limits on activities that might've been options before. Though few studies have been done on video gaming addiction in the U.S., he referenced studies done in other countries. “In general, Asian countries have higher rates of video game addiction,” he said. “Pre-COVID, the prevalence was around 5 percent, but that number went up from 3.5 percent to more than 25 percent with COVID because they are home playing video games.” These addictive behaviors can also cause conflict and arguments in the home. For example, if a kid comes home from school and starts playing games to relax, and the parent says, ‘All you do is play video games,’ the child can get defensive and angry, he said. Despite the frustration from parents, Kumar acknowledges the draw of video games is strong for kids, especially immersive roleplaying games where they can take on a completely different personality and explore another world. He said children with a negative perception of themselves may be particularly drawn to these games and more likely to form addictions. “It’s important to understand what this is stemming from,” he said. “It’s like when you’re in a dream and you see yourself doing certain things, it can make you more confident. A lot of times kids who don’t have a very good view of themselves out in the real world, in video games they can have magical powers or build things, or go places they would never otherwise go.” He says if parents see that, and take an interest in the child’s video gaming interests, they can help transition some of those interests or online experiences to the offline world. And potentially deepen the relationship with their child. “That would decrease the need for them to be online,” he
feel safe and feel like they can open up to the parents, and at the same time it allows the parents an opportunity to monitor what’s going on.” The second thing is to encourage physical activity and suggest kids take hourly breaks from gaming. “Kids don’t eat or drink sometimes and taking breaks disconnects you from the online world and puts you back into a real world that exists,” he said. He added that physical activity gives a sense of accomplishment in the real world while making the body healthier and improving sleep and emotional well-being. “Kids tend to play very late at night,” he said. “Teenagers already have a sleep-based delay because it’s a developmental thing that happens. They’re not getting good quality sleep. It’s a huge health problem, and it’s really scary.” Parents should still set requirements for video game access based on real-world responsibilities. For instance, he suggests things like maintaining good grades, doing chores, staying on the sports team and getting homework done on time. He also says parents should be consistent when enforcing these limits. Both parents need to be on the same page. “If one parent is more permissive than the other, and they enable the teenager by saying, ‘It’s fine if you don’t do your chores’ or avoiding that video game argument at home, that’s not really a good idea,” he said. In short, parents should not be confrontational about video gaming habits, he said. Setting limits and being consistent will help, but so will taking an interest in the child’s game interests. “That’s an untapped opportunity,” he said, “When parents take interest in what the kid is playing, think about what it will do for the relationship. It’s going to go a long way in building up that relationship.”
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EXPLORE & LEARN
16 JULY 2020 | SAVVYKIDSAR.COM
IT’S TIME TO HAVE ‘THE TALK’ ABOUT RACISM Kids are smart. They see and feel what’s going on in the world, and the best thing we can do as parents is open the lines of communication to help kids feel safe and understand how to be part of the solution. BY ANGELA E. THOMAS
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W
hile many, if not most, African American parents must address the issue of race and racism early and often, if you are not a minority or raising minority children, you may not have talked to your child about this difficult topic. However, recent stories about police brutality and protests may force your hand. The good news is that while the concept of race and racism can be difficult to explain, this is the perfect opportunity to contribute to the shaping of a society in which equality is a reality versus an ideal to aspire to. If your child is a toddler or preschooler, keep things simple. “At this age, children don’t know about race. Their main concerns are who treats them nice and who they like to play with. Explain that some people judge others based on how they look instead of how they are inside,” said Greg Young Sr., psychiatric therapist and licensed master social worker at The BridgeWay. Young has worked in the mental health field for three decades and specializes in adolescent care. If your child is a minority, he said, it’s important that you begin to teach your child to have pride in and understand the beauty of their skin and individuality, the value of humanity and the concept of equality.
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If your child is not a minority, he offers this advice: “There’s an old saying: ‘Charity begins at home,’ so begin by discussing your family values. Children adopt their parents’ values. As they are exposed to others, situations and reality, they’ll evaluate and assess those values, and develop and act on their own feelings.” “Be certain to discuss diversity, that people come in all shades and shapes, but that everyone is created equal. It’s OK to explain that some people do mean things to try to hurt people who look different. Be sure to explain that words hurt and stress that prejudice is unacceptable.” Young suggests explaining things with scenarios. “For instance, you might say, ‘You can be friends with everybody. Just because Bobby doesn’t like James/Jamesa, doesn’t mean you cannot be friends with him/her.’” This type of discussion helps combat peer pressure, he said. Parents, you’ll also want to make note of and control what your child consumes. “You’ll also need to be aware of other influences such as social media. Remember, racism and hatred are taught. Some research has shown that children as young as 4 [can reflect these attitudes].” Young also suggests asking open questions such as what are your friends talking about? What do you know so far?
Looking for ways to teach your child acceptance or for ways your older child can become informed? Check out these books. Books to Read:
Ages 0 to 3 “Antiracist Baby” by Ibram X. Kendi “We’re Different, We’re the Same” by Bobbie Kates Ages 3 to 8 “It’s OK to Be Different: A Children’s Picture Book About Diversity and Kindness” by Sharon Purtill Ages 4 to 8 “All Are Welcome” by Alexandra Penfold “Teach Your Dragon About Diversity” by Steve Herman Ages 8 to 12 “Something Happened in Our Town: A Child’s Story About Racial Injustice” by Marianne Celano and Marietta Collins “Not My Idea: A Book About Whiteness” by Anastasia Higginbotham
Books for Action:
“The Youngest Marcher: The Story of Audrey Faye Hendricks, a Young Civil Rights Activist” by Cynthia Levinson, Ages 5 to 10 “This Book Is Anti-Racist” by Tiffany Jewell, Ages 10 to 17
Books That Express Pride:
For Young Readers: “The Undefeated” by Kwame Alexander “I Am Every Good Thing” by Derrick Barnes “Woke Baby” by Mohogany L. Brown (0 to 3 years) “Dream Big, Little One” by Vashti Harrison “We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices” Edited by Wade Hudson and Cheryl Willis Hudson “A is For Activist” by Innosanto Nagara For Older Readers: “Say Her Name” by Zetta Elliott “What Lane” by Torrey Maldonado “Riot Baby” by Tochi Onyebuchi “Citizen” by Claudia Rankine “Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You: A Remix of the National Book Award-Winning Stamped From the Beginning” by Jason Reynolds “Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry” by Mildred Taylor “Punching the Air” by Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam
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How do you feel about what you’ve seen online or in the news? “Establish an open dialog, and give your child room to express his concerns and to ask questions,” he added. Unfortunately, there’s a good chance your child may have witnessed someone being bullied—or he may have been the victim of bullying—due to mental health challenges, colorism, classism, racism, obesity or physical differences directly, or he may have witnessed a peer being treated differently. Talk about how he may choose to react, and act out the scenario. Will your child: Do nothing? Intervene to help the victim? Confront the offender? Report the offense to someone in authority? If the offender is a person of authority, should he tell you and if so, what will you do? “If your child is a minority and a victim of racism, talk about his feelings. Give him room to vent. He may be angry, frustrated and/ or hurt. He may feel helpless and disappointed. Next, strategize. Talk about how he should react to the unfair treatment, and always keep the lines of communication open,” Young said. “And parents, it’s vitally important that you stress his priority, first and foremost, is to stay safe!” “If your child is older, talk about recent events and discuss the history of discrimination, share your personal experiences and be open about what’s going on,” he added. If you’re not a minority and feel ill-equipped to discuss the matter, begin by talking about injustice and unfairness in general. Do some research, reach out to a member of the clergy or a local advocacy group, and if available, utilize your employee assistance program to deal with the emotional aspects, which may include sadness, guilt or overwhelming empathy.
“If your children are teens, they’ll ‘hear’ what you do as well as what you say. So, if you’re speaking about diversity, be sure you’re living it: Are your friends of various ethnicities? Teach and model empathy,” Young said. “If you find you’ve not done a good job of living your beliefs, change your own behavior. Speak up, and become an ally for others.” No matter your child’s age, be certain you stress your values— especially if your parents or previous generations’ thoughts are less tolerant. “You cannot be afraid to talk about racist beliefs and behaviors of the past. Kids hate fake ideas,” Young added. Lastly, remember, it’s OK to say, “I don’t know.” Do some research, and prepare yourself—most difficult topics require more than one conversation. Racism, prejudice and injustice aren’t resolved overnight, and a conversation about them warrants more than one discussion.
A Reality Check
It’s important that you speak to your children about racism and discrimination—even if you’re not a minority. Before you begin the discussion, do an internal check. Many times, we make judgments about others based on images in the media, and categorize an entire group based on interactions with one individual of that group. Additionally, we may have been taught biases by our family members. Think about your life. Do you regularly interact, in social settings, with people whose ethnicities, religious beliefs and/ or sexual orientations differ from your own? Or do all your friends look like you? Do you jump to conclusions regarding others’ interests, education, family dynamics, vocations and personalities based on their outer appearances? If so, it’s probably time to expand your world.
“If your child is older, talk about recent events
AND DISCUSS THE HISTORY OF DISCRIMINATION,
share your personal experiences and be open about what’s going on."
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“This is the perfect opportunity to contribute to the shaping of
A SOCIETY IN WHICH EQUALITY IS A REALITY versus an ideal to aspire to."
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GOOD EATS
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BRING THE HEAT Summer is the season for cooking outdoors, and the options for grilling are endless! BY ZARA ABBASI PHOTOGRAPHY BY KATIE CHILDS
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e have been grilling out so much lately! It has been the one benefit of being home together so much; we naturally want to change up our dinnertime routine and grilling out has been the perfect break from cooking indoors. Usually the quick goto is burgers, but we have done a great job experimenting with lamb chops, fish and even pizza on the grill. There have been lots of lessons we’ve gladly learned along the way so we can get better and better. Mainly, my husband has been doing the bulk of the grilling and I’ve been playing a supporting role as recipe-developerin-chief. Our partnership has been quite successful! He comes up with the idea of what to grill, I come up with the recipe and flavor profile, he grills it and then I pair it with some complementary sides. It’s been a really fun way to work together. If your grilling skills are not as advanced as a dad with his own personalized apron and dry rub, then fret not, because half the fun is learning how to get better at something. With that said, I hate wasting food so I also like to have reliable recipes on hand that I know will work and help me teach others how to feel successful while cooking and grilling. So here are a few great recipes to get you on your way to becoming a grill master. I asked a lot of followers on my food blog what they were most eager to learn and the most responses got the nod. Here are those recipes, along with my own.
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GRILLED CORN ON THE COB
I did not see this one coming. When I asked what most people wanted to learn how to grill, corn was the top answer. I did not even think of corn because in my mind it seemed so easy. But then I remembered all those lessons I mentioned earlier. It’s such a simple food, but when not done right it will yield a dried out and charred corn on the cob. I had the benefit of mucking this up years ago and never thought twice about it. However, the readers are onto something: Corn can be hard. Here are the important things and different methods to know about grilling corn. When you have fresh corn, you can grill it with or without the husk. Each way has a different method. In order to have really tender corn on the cob that’s still in a husk, you should soak it anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours. That extra bit of moisture allows your corn to steam through and get that grilled flavor without drying out. If you want more of a charred flavor, then you can do fresh corn without the husk, too. Make sure to brush it well with olive oil and then grill, rotating every couple of minutes to ensure one side doesn’t burn. Another method of grilling corn is to do it in foil. This is easier and more fool-proof because of the butter and seasonings that are added in the foil along with the corn. This helps keep the corn tender and prevents drying out. Now that we have a good primer on different ways to prepare corn on the cob, lets jump into our first recipe: elote, an amazing Mexican street corn swimming in spices and cheese.
4 ears of corn, husks removed, washed and dried 3 tablespoons olive oil, see note 1/3 cup mayo ¼ cup sour cream or Mexican crema Salt and pepper to taste 1 teaspoon chili powder ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, plus extra to sprinkle as garnish 1 tablespoon garlic paste Juice of 1 fresh lime, plus zest 3 tablespoons melted butter ¾ to 1 cup crumbled cotija or feta cheese ½ cup chopped cilantro, not packed Extra lime wedges to serve
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1. Heat your grill. While it is heating up, gather your ingredients. 2. Properly shuck your corn (I like to keep the husks attached to the base and fold them back for presentation purposes, but you’re more than welcome to remove entirely). 3. In a bowl, mix together the remaining ingredients except the cheese and lime wedges. (Use only half of the chopped cilantro). 4. In a flat dish, sprinkle all of your cheese. 5. There are two different ways you can make this elote. One is to brush the olive oil and start grilling the corn on the grill right away and then top with sauce and cheese. The other method is to apply a very thin layer of the sauce, omitting the olive oil, then grilling. The two methods vary based on preference. Some say the corn has a better charred taste without the sauce in the beginning and others say the addition of the sauce before grilling adds more spiced flavor. I personally prefer the oil method because I like a heavier charred flavor, but I wanted to elaborate on both methods in case you develop a preference. 6. When ready to grill, pick either of the methods listed in the above direction and grill your corn for 8-10 minutes, being sure to turn often and making sure it does not burn too much. 7. After grilling, slather the sauce all over your corn and roll in the cheese. 8. Top with a sprinkle of the paprika, some cilantro and a squeeze of lime.
CHICKEN THIGHS
The next most requested item was chicken thighs. These are actually quite forgiving. If you want to learn to grill on a piece of meat and are scared of drying it out, start with bone-in chicken thighs. This piece of meat is fatty and less likely to dry out. Having the bone in there also helps it to not overcook too quickly. It also is a great vehicle for whatever flavor profile you want to try.
Honey Jalapeno and Lime Chicken Thighs
6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs 2 teaspoons garlic powder 2 teaspoons onion powder 2 teaspoons oregano 1 teaspoon smoked paprika ¼ cup honey 1 tablespooon soy sauce Juice and zest of one lime 1 tablespoon garlic paste 3-4 tablespoons seeded and minced fresh jalapeños (can leave the seeds if you prefer it spicier) Salt and pepper to taste 3-4 tablespoons olive oil 1. Combine 1 teaspoon each of the garlic powder, onion powder and oregano, ½ teaspoon of the paprika and a little salt and pepper to taste. Mix together and rub all over the chicken and refrigerate over night or for at least an hour. 2. When ready to grill the chicken, heat the grill and pat the chicken completely dry. 3. Brush the dried chicken with a little olive oil and place on the grill. Let the chicken cook at least 6-7 minutes on each side, being sure not to let it burn. 4. While the chicken is cooking, mix the remaining ingredients for the sauce. 5. Once the chicken has cooked for 6-7 minutes on each side, brush the sauce mixture on each side of the chicken and continue cooking for another 5-6 minutes on each side. Brush the sauce on every 3 minutes or so. 6. Cook until a meat thermometer shows an internal temperature of 160 degrees. Then remove the chicken and place in a dish covered with foil. Be sure to let the meat rest for at least 5-10 minutes. The purpose of this step is threefold. First, it helps the chicken continue cooking to raise the internal temperature to 165-170 without drying it out; next, it helps redistribute the juices so they don’t come running out when the chicken is cut; and, lastly, it helps buy you more time if you have other things to do. That one is my favorite trick. SAVVYKIDSAR.COM | JULY 2020
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GRILLED PINEAPPLE
Another thing that’s actually a no-brainer when it comes to grilling is pineapple. However, many people forget about it because it seems so foreign to our grilling classics. It’s so incredibly easy and versatile. You can serve it as a side or even as a dessert. I’ve been known to throw some extra on the grill and use it as an ingredient for the next night’s dinner, too. The fact that it barely has any ingredients and cooks up in about 10 minutes is another reason you should get this on your grilling menu, stat! 6-8 thick pineapple rings (fresh because the canned rings tend to fall apart) ¼ to ½ cup brown sugar 1 teaspoon cinnamon A few pinches of sea salt, optional 3-4 tablespoons melted butter 1. Heat your grill. In the meantime, mix together the brown sugar and cinnamon and toss to coat the pineapples. Move around to completely coat on both sides. 2. Let the pineapple sit in the sugar and cinnamon mixture for at least 10 minutes. 3. When ready to grill, place a smaller grate on the grill if you have one. This just helps the pineapple retain its structure in case it gets too soft. If you don’t have one, that’s OK, too. 4. Spray pineapple with cooking oil and place on the hot grill. Leave it alone for at least 4 minutes. The more you move it around, the less of a good glaze it’ll develop. 5. While it cooks, mix melted butter with the sugar and cinnamon mixture to create a glaze. 6. After 4-6 minutes, flip the pineapple and brush tops with the newly created butter and sugar glaze. Repeat process of letting it cook untouched for 4-6 minutes and brushing with glaze. 7. Once the pineapple is done, I like to sprinkle the tops with just a small pinch of sea salt to offset the sweetness, but this step is optional. 8. Here are some ways to serve this pineapple: with grilled pound cake and vanilla ice cream; as a side for grilled fish or chicken; chopped up and added to salsa or fish tacos; dipped in pancake batter and fried then topped with cinnamon powdered sugar for those days that you just need that extra bit of oomph—and isn’t that just about every day lately?
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BACON BAKED BEANS
You always need one side that you can make ahead of time so that there’s one less thing to do when it’s grilling time. These baked beans are that side. I like a ton of different sides, to be honest, but I don’t know why I love the process of making these baked beans. These are so flavorful and really make a socially distant gathering special. 3-4 slices bacon ½ yellow onion, diced ½ green bell pepper, diced 2 15-ounce cans northern beans (drained and rinsed) 1 15-ounce can navy beans (drained and rinsed) ¼ cup ketchup ¼ cup brown sugar 1-2 tablespoons spicy brown mustard 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 3-4 tablespoons bourbon or broth Salt and pepper to taste 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon onion powder 1 teaspoon cumin Pinch of cayenne pepper
1. Cook bacon in a heavy-bottomed pot, remove and place on a paper towel-lined plate. Remove all but 1-2 tablespoons of the bacon fat and cook the onions and pepper in the same pot. Once onions and peppers have softened and are almost translucent, add in the remaining ingredients and cover pot and allow to simmer. 2. While the beans are simmering, preheat oven to 350 and, when the oven is ready, place the pot in the oven and cook for 30-40 minutes, checking halfway through to make sure they aren’t sticking or out of moisture. If they’re too dry, add another few tablespoons of broth.
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HEALTH & WELLNESS
FIGHTING BACK AGAINST HUNGER City programs and local organizations work in harmony to attack food insecurity BY DWAIN HEBDA
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hen the coronavirus swept through The Natural State this spring, it affected nearly every aspect of daily life, including the last nine weeks of the school year. But while curriculum could be replaced through distance learning and home instruction, other equally critical services—such as students’ access to school meals—posed a bigger problem. And in a state where childhood food insecurity ranks among the highest in the nation, that’s an issue with severe ramifications. The good news is, Arkansas is proving itself up to the task and, in fact, has made impressive strides in addressing the issue as a whole, according to Patty Barker of Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance and director of the No Kid Hungry Campaign. "On the nutrition front, I think Arkansas has done an exceptional job of managing the COVID-19 crisis,” she said. “In early April, looking back at the March numbers, school district nutrition departments sat down and asked, ‘How are we going to stop school today and make sure that kids are getting meals
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tomorrow? They’re not coming into the cafeteria anymore. What are we going to do?’ “The Arkansas Department of Education reported that over 90 percent of school districts in Arkansas had figured out a way to keep that process going. The handful that didn’t, some were small charter school districts and others were small districts being served by a neighboring district. Nearly 100 percent of the districts in Arkansas had figured out a way around this barrier, compared to only 30 percent nationwide, which, for a small rural state, is exceptional.” For people like Barker, who's been in this battle for a decade, it’s a bit of good news in what is a desperate fight against hunger in Arkansas, but it’s not the only bright spot. Despite being stubbornly wedged at the top of food insecurity rankings—generally ranking first or second nationally—other measurements show meaningful progress is being made. “We’ve seen movement around the time that we started the [No Kid Hungry] campaign back in 2010,” she said. “The
number calculated by Map the Meals Gap of food insecure kids in Arkansas was about 200,000 back then, give or take a few thousand, and had hung around that number for years.” “For the past four or five years, that number has started to drop. In 2019, the number was 167,440, which is a big reduction. That was even bumped up from a year before, which was down to 163,000.” Barker praised community efforts for their contributions to lowering these numbers, programs like last year’s Be Mighty in Little Rock a summer feeding program. Jay Barth, chief education officer with the City of Little Rock, said last year’s undertaking provided a framework for the even larger need in 2020. “I think this summer is really ‘Be Mightier’ because we’ve got a lot more sites than last summer,” he said. “The fact that that foundation was built last summer and the fact that we’ve had
manages one of the most successful Cooking Matters programs in the state. “There are a lot of myths out there about it’s too expensive to eat healthy,” he said. “We’ve had great success in teaching low-income folks throughout the city recipes in the curriculum designed to feed a family of four for $10 or less.” The hospital has done other things as well, including forming a partnership with local food pantry Helping Hand. “A few years ago, we started doing what we call social determinant screening in some of our larger clinics,” Allen said. “This is where a family, if they choose to, can file a screening form and some of the questions on that form are ‘What is your access to food? Do you consider yourself to be food insecure?’ and ‘Do you need food today?’ “If they do, through our partnership with Helping Hand, we’re able to provide a bag of groceries to that family in the clinic,
“Our goal has always been to make sustainable and not just to ramp it up for the summer and then it ends next summer." this period from March when the pandemic hit to get a lot of kinks worked out will allow this to get maximized this summer.” The scope of the 2020 summer feeding program is staggering, incorporating schools, libraries, apartment complexes and community centers. Barth said the goal is not only to improve accessibility for as many citizens as possible, but to provide reliable and consistent food outlets as well. “Every week folks have a routine; they’re not having to guess where meals are available,” Barth said. “What’s so impressive, if you look at the map, is the breadth of the program across the city. Obviously, not every part of the city, but I think we consciously have done a good job of getting across the city, primarily because of the partners that we’re working with, the Little Rock School District, the Central Arkansas Library System and the Clinton Foundation and World Central Kitchen along with a lot of other providers.” Barth estimated around half a million meals had been served since March 14 when the city kicked off its COVID-19 feeding program. Yet even the massive scope of the problem has not deterred organizers from going beyond minimal sack lunches. “We want to create some options that are warm food and fresh food, and what allows the array of options is the variety of preparers,” he said. “The Little Rock School District, for instance, prepares their meals at kitchens in the district. Same with the World Central Kitchen, the Clinton Foundation and some of the other providers like libraries.” Another important No Kid Hungry program is Cooking Matters, a program that teaches cooking and budget-conscious grocery-shopping skills to children and families. Scott Allen, community outreach with Arkansas Children’s Hospital,
which has been a very powerful thing for us to be able to do the last three or four years. Last year we got about 1,600 bags of groceries distributed through those clinics to families.” Patty Barker is encouraged by all of these numbers, while acknowledging there’s still plenty of work left to do. “Our goal has always been to make [feeding programs] sustainable and not just to ramp it up for the summer and then it ends next summer,” she said. “We’ve overcome all kinds of barriers, I think, and now that’s a story that we will continue to tell. Let’s make it sustainable.”
LEARN MORE:
Cooking Matters, Arkansas Children’s Hospital www.archildrens.org/health-and-wellness/ community-outreach/cooking-matters-for-adults Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance/No Kid Hungry Arhungeralliance.org arhungeralliance.org/programs/no-kid-hungry/ Be Mighty - Little Rock Summer Feeding Program bemightylittlerock.org
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KIMBERLY BRATTON was born into a military family and
has lived across the United States and in Japan. She graduated from college in Virginia with a culinary degree. She and husband Anthony Bratton have two beautiful children, Gigi, 8, and Alex, 5. Bratton works as a server at Doe’s Eat Place of downtown Little Rock, and also owns BatchLife Bakery, a homebased bakery that vends at the downtown farmers market, Little Rock Night Markets, food truck festivals and more. Bratton is working toward turning her home bakery into a dessert food truck.
What has been your favorite family summer vacation? My favorite summer vacation was taking our children to visit my parents in Virginia Beach. Since my parents aren’t physically close, I try my best to have my children grow up knowing who they are. Each time my kids get to see them and experience the black half of their family, it makes me explode with happiness. What is your favorite dessert to make? It used to be bread pudding for many years—decades actually. That was the first thing I learned to bake. My grandmother Cecile’s own recipe. Lately, I’ve been finding joy in baking cookies. With my business, BatchLife Bakery, we specialize in unique flavor combinations and include vegan options as well. The kids make great taste-testers. What is your biggest parenting challenge? I struggle with keeping things fair. If Gigi is allowed to do something, Alex is too and vice versa. If it becomes a safety issue, then neither can do it, but is that fair? Gigi is more levelheaded and doesn’t like pain, so she does things more carefully. Alex is a bull. He rams into things, no matter how many times you show him the safe way to do something. Is it fair to keep her from an activity she can perform safely when he can’t? It’s a case-by-case basis. Which qualities of yourself do you see in your children? Gigi has my wit and sassiness, which works for and against me. When I unknowingly contradict myself, she’s quick to call me on it. Touché, Gigi. Touché. What are your favorite ways to spend oneon-one time with your kids? Lately, we have started having “Anime Night.” I love showing them the anime I grew up watching and starting new series I’ve never seen before. We’re currently bingeing “Cardcaptor Sakura” on Netflix. How would you describe your parenting style? I’d like to think my parenting style is similar to that of Lorelai Gilmore in “Gilmore Girls.” We have a lot of fun, but there is structure. We play video games together. They help me bake on occasion. We have random dance parties while listening to anything from K-pop to punk to R&B. When they start acting out, that’s when the structure comes in.
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Call 877-778-1197 info@MethodistFamily.org
Coronavirus Also Affects Minds
That’s why we are available anytime from anywhere, offering all our services in the safest possible manner – Telehealth for: • Outpatient and school-based counseling • Kaleidoscope Grief Center group support • Methodist Behavioral Hospital physician services, family therapy, visitation through Arkansas Division of Child and Family Services, and court appearances • In-person psychiatric testing with plexiglass screen and PPE
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