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Yo
e For Q c r u o S ur
uality Early Childhood Educ
ation
All three Children’s Center of Austin locations feature controlled access, separate classrooms, shaded playgrounds, and fun activity areas for art, swimming, music, and extracurricular activities. Lowest staff/child ratios in area • Infants through Pre-kindergarten • Customized Monthly Curriculum • Computer Lab • Library • Gymnasium • After School Programs & Summer Camp • Highly Trained Staff • Healthy Menus
Join us for fun at the Fall Festivals! October 10: Steiner Ranch School Octover 17: Jester School October 24: Westlake School 6:30-8:30 pm 3 convenient Austin locations: Steiner Ranch School (512)-266-6130 4308 N. Quinlan Park Rd. Ste 100 • Austin Tx 78753
Jester School (512) 795-8300 6507 Jester Blvd, Bldg 2 Austin Tx 78750
Westlake School (512) 329-6633 8100 Bee Caves Rd. Austin Tx 78746
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inside 9/14
austinfamily
smart parenting • healthy homes
12
20
columns
calendar
17 Family Matters Separation anxiety is a normal phase La ansiedad de separación es una fase normal
40 Family Events 43 Parenting Events 43 Storytimes
26 The Learning Curve Behind the scenes of Texas textbook selection Detrás de las escenas en la selección de libros de texto de Texas 30 Family Connections Capturing the moment without breaking the bank 33 Ten things…for national Grandparent’s Day! 34 Lifelines Is the “Freshman 15” for real? College students gain more than a degree
®
features
in every issue 7 8 51 52
22
Play It Safe Product recalls Around Austin Kidzone by YMCA Book Recommendations
12
Tuning in with JB and Sandy
20
Set the stage Let lessons from improv cultivate creativity
22
10 fun ways to raise funds for schools, clubs and more
¡Nuevo!
extras 25 36 49 50 54
Piensa Positivo Afterschool Activities Guide Focus on Doctors Cover Kids Contest 2015 Young Writers Contest 2014
38 Test Drive Game reviews by ESRB, www.esrb.org
artículos en español 18
Extrañando a mamá
25
Piensa positivo
28
Compre el libro
55 Films Magic in the Moonlight 56 Humor PTA? I’m pacing myself…
tune in
cover shot
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Catch Austin Family live on “Good Day Austin” every Friday morning. Univision “Despierta Austin” the first Monday morning each month
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Cover Kid winner, Noah, enjoys any sports involving a ball. New items each week. Visit our website to register.
Cover photographed by Tiffany Corbett of Studio213.net
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austinfamily®
editor’s note by Sherida Mock
I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m pretty pleased with the mild temperatures we’ve enjoyed this summer, compared to recent years. Even so, I always look forward to September, not only because it brings the slightest hint of a change in seasons, but also because the new schedule starts to feel like a routine. Those extracurriculars have begun in earnest: classes, practices, tournaments and more. Have you got your family calendar sorted out yet?
September 2014
Volume 22, No. 6
PUBLISHER Kaye K. Lowak EDITOR Sherida Mock editor2003@austinfamily.com
We often fill our September issue with articles about extracurricular activities, and this month is no exception. For those of you wondering how theater training might prepare us for bigger things, turn to Ellana Kelter’s article about the lessons learned through improv and the fun exercises you can try at home. If you have been asked to contribute to a group’s fundraising efforts, take a look at Sue LeBreton’s piece for fresh fundraising ideas. And if you are still scratching your head over how to capture all those precious moments, check out Richard Singleton’s tips on using technology to its fullest.
COPY EDITOR Paula Halloum
Our September issue also marks an exciting first for Austin Family: we are reaching out to the sizable Spanish-speaking population in Central Texas with several new offerings. In addition to providing Spanish versions for two of our regular columns (by Betty Richardson and Jennifer VanBuren), we also welcome a new bilingual contribution from Univision Austin’s Leslie Montoya. And we begin appearing in a monthly parenting spot on Univision’s Despierta Austin, which airs on the first Monday of each month.
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Sherida Mock, Jack Kyser, Sara Rider, Jennifer VanBuren, Dr. Betty Richardson, Richard Singleton, Pam Heller, Susana Fletcher, Sue LeBreton, Ellana Kelter, Leslie Montoya
And finally, don’t forget to mark Grandparent’s Day on your calendars. We have a great list of Ten Things you can do to celebrate these special people.
ADVISING EDITORS Dr. Betty Kehl Richardson Barb Cooper CALENDAR EDITOR Betty Kemper calendar2003@austinfamily.com
TRANSLATION TEAM Maribel Ruvalcaba, Margo Vogelpohl, Pilar Korgel ART DIRECTORS Mary Sauceda nr2003@austinfamily.com John Franzetti STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Studio 213.net ADVERTISING SALES Kaye K. Lowak kaye2003@austinfamily.com BUSINESS & DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Greg Lowak greg@austinfamily.com
We are dedicated to serving the Greater Austin area by providing up-to-date information and ideas that promote smart parenting and healthy homes. We promote our clients’ businesses by increasing their customer bases and enhancing their public images. Austin Family is published monthly by KKKemper Inc. Mail Address: P.O. Box 7559 Round Rock, Texas 78683-7559 Phone Number: (512) 733-0038 Web: www.austinfamily.com Advertising rates are available upon request. While we use great care in creating our display ads, mistakes can happen. Austin Family and the publisher are not liable for any damages arising from any typographical or mechanical errors beyond the cost of the ad. Austin Family does not necessarily endorse any of the advertisers, products or services listed in this publication. We do not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. Subscriptions are available for $25 per year. Copyright 2014. All rights reserved. No portion of Austin Family may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher.
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play it safe: product recalls
Government recalls beverage dispensers, baby monitors and high chairs Far East Brokers is recalling about 4,000 glass beverage dispenser sets because the metal stand supporting the glass dispenser can break, posing an injury hazard. The recall involves glass beverage dispenser sets, including a clear glass ovoidlike shaped container with a clear glass lid, a silver spigot and a wire three-legged metal stand. The glass container holds up to 1.7 gallons of beverage, and measures 13.5 inches high. The item number 962826 FEB44496-01-113 and barcode number 11546-34437 are both included on the packaging. Affected units were sold at Publix Super Markets nationwide from April 2014 through June 2014. Consumers should immediately stop using the glass beverage dispenser and metal support stand and return the set to a Publix Super Markets store for a full refund. Mayborn USA is recalling about 25,000 Tommee Tippee Movement and Sound baby monitors because a child can pull the sensor pad cord into the crib and wrap around the neck, posing a strangulation hazard. The recall involves two models of the Tommee Tippee Movement and Sound Baby with Sensor Pads with the model numbers 1082S and 1094S. Affected units were sold at Toys “R” Us/ Babies “R” Us stores and Amazon.com since September 2011 for about $150. Consumers should immediately make sure all monitor cords are out of reach of the child and contact Mayborn USA for a free cord cover kit that includes rigid protective cord covers through which the sensor pad cords can be threaded, a new, permanent electric cord warning label about the strangulation risk and revised instructions. Dream On Me is recalling about 2,800 high chairs because the leg or side opening of the chair can allow a child’s body to pass through and become entrapped at the neck or fall from the chair, posing a strangulation hazard. The recall includes Dream On Me Dinah high chairs made with a steel, powder coated tubing, openframed base with white plastic foot grips and black with white trim or red with white trim fabric seats. The chair has a white plastic tray, plastic footrest and a white fabric five point adjustable safety strap. “Dream On Me” is printed on a label attached to the front of the tray. Affected units were sold exclusively online at walmart.com and amazon.com from November 2012 to November 2013 for about $60. Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled high chairs and contact Dream On Me to receive a free repair kit. The U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission works to protect the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products.
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Go to www.austinfamily.com for weekly updates of Around Austin news
Must-Do this month Set up a homework station. Most experts agree that kids are more effective studiers when they have a dedicated space for homework. Stock it with pens, pencils, markers, paper, a stapler, calculator and sticky notes. Put school calendar dates on your home calendar. Get a jump on all those important dates: school holidays, back-to-school nights and special events. Pack away the summer clutter. Toss the almost-empty sunscreen and inflatables with holes in them. Give away or pack up out-grown sandals, summer clothes and swimsuits. Get a flu shot. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend a yearly flu vaccine for everyone 6 months of age and older, preferably by October.
BY THE NUMBERS
70% Students who gain weight during four years of college source: Auburn University
See page 34 for our article on the “Freshman 15”. 8 | September 2014 | austinfamily.com
LANIER HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS RECEIVE 3M INGENUITY GRANT Austin ISD announced that four Lanier High School math teachers received a check this summer for nearly $20,000, which will allow them to further their education in support of algebra II, calculus and geometry classes. Andrea Bowen, Kirsten Cole, David Preston and Nathan Woodward said they applied for the 3M grant because they wanted to ensure their students are prepared for college math classes. The teachers said they are interested in learning better ways to teach real-world math foundations. In addition, Austin ISD’s Career and Technical Education Department was awarded a $97,450 3M Foundation grant that will go toward equipment to enhance Project Lead the Way, a STEM and pre-engineering program. “We are so thankful to 3M for their generous support at Lanier High School and its support of district STEM programming,” said Chief Academic Officer Pauline Dow. “Their contributions will allow us to bring Project Lead the Way pre-engineering programs and equipment to Title I middle and high schools.”
EANES ISD NAMED TO AREA TOP 10 LIST Eanes ISD and three of its schools were included in the top 10 ranking of schools in the Austin area by Houston-based non-profit Children at Risk. The organization’s ranking system represents a compilation of factors that indicate the degree to which a campus has prepared students for secondary and post-secondary success. Westlake High School ranked third on the list of area high schools, and also nabbed third on the list of Top High Schools for math and science. Both Eanes middle schools—West Ridge and Hill Country—scored an A+ in the rankings. “We are pleased that Children at Risk has consistently ranked our district and schools among the best in greater Austin,” said Dr. Nola Wellman, Eanes ISD superintendent of schools. “The high rankings are a testament to our academic rigor, engaged students and exceptional staff, and the commitment to preparing our students for success beyond the classroom.” At the high school level, the Children at Risk methodology takes 14 factors into account, which provides a more accurate assessment of how well a campus has prepared students for post-secondary education. Included indicators are specifically geared toward determining the college-readiness of graduates. Middle school rankings consider 8 variables such as STAAR results, attendance rate, socio-economic status and gain/loss for both reading and math. Elementary ratings look at 14 items such as STAAR results, attendance rate, class size and retention rate.
ROUND ROCK ISD OFFERS ONLINE TICKET PURCHASES FOR FOOTBALL GAMES In August, the Round Rock ISD Athletics Department began for the first time selling online tickets to all varsity football home games. Users can buy tickets at rrisdtickets.com and print them at home or use an e-ticket option. Users can also purchase single tickets online the week of each varsity home game. View the magazine online at austinfamily.com
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“We’re excited about this opportunity to provide a convenient service to our parents and community,” Round Rock ISD Athletic Director Dwayne Weirich said. “Since people can use a credit card to purchase tickets to varsity home football games, it will speed up the process at the ticket counter. It will also increase accuracy, and the process is no different than going online to purchase a ticket for anything else.” Online season ticket prices are $36 for the four home games scheduled for Stony Point high school; $45 for the five home games scheduled for McNeil, Round Rock and Westwood; and $54 for the six home games scheduled for Cedar Ridge. Pregame online tickets prices are $9 for reserved seats (available online only), $7 for general admission seats (available both online and at high school campuses) and $3 for student tickets (available both online and at high school campuses). Ticket prices at the gate are $10 for reserved seats and $9 for general admission.
AUSTIN-AREA YOUTHS AWARDED KOHL’S SCHOLARSHIPS In July, the Kohl’s Cares Scholarship Program honored nearly 200 student volunteers with $1,000 scholarships toward higher education. Two youths from the Austin area were chosen from more than 37,000 nominees nationwide for making a positive impact in their local communities. “Kohl’s is proud to recognize the 182 regional winners nationwide for their dedication to making their communities a better place to live,” said Bevin Bailis, Kohl’s senior vice president, communications and public relations. “We commend these bright volunteers for being inspiring examples for others as they have made a difference in their own communities and touched the lives of others through their efforts.” Winners were chosen based on initiative, leadership, generosity and project benefits and outcome. Local students awarded the scholarships were: Keeley Cooper, 11, of Spicewood, Texas. After being diagnosed with a brain tumor, Keeley was determined to help make a difference in the lives of the children she encountered during her treatment sessions at the hospital. Keeley learned the hospital needed backpacks for children to carry their personal items during their hospital stays, and she set
out to garner donations by sharing her personal cancer journey with her peers. To date, Keeley has collected more than 300 backpacks for the hospital. Vianey Villalpando, 17, of Martindale, Texas. After a friend’s car crash, Vianey was determined to educate students about the risks of distracted driving. Vianey, with the help of educators and city leaders, used a national teen driving campaign to heighten public awareness. Their efforts raised $25,000 for the school.
CDC OFFICIALS SAY VACCINE THAT PREVENTS CANCER IS UNDERUTILIZED Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officials announced that the number of girls and boys aged 13-17 years receiving human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine remains low despite a slight increase in vaccination coverage since 2012, according to data from CDC’s 2013 National Immunization Survey-Teen. HPV vaccine prevents various forms of cancer, but HPV vaccine remains underutilized, officials said. The 2013 data reveal a substantial gap between the number of adolescents receiving tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap) vaccine and the number receiving HPV vaccine. CDC estimates that only 57 percent of adolescent girls and 35 percent of adolescent boys received one or more doses of HPV vaccine. However, nearly 86 percent of adolescents had received one dose of Tdap vaccine. “The high coverage rate of Tdap vaccine shows us that it is certainly possible to reach our goal of vaccinating 80 percent of adolescents against cancers caused by HPV,” said Dr. Anne Schuchat, assistant surgeon general and director of CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. According to the CDC, all preteens need one dose of Tdap vaccine, one dose of meningococcal vaccine, and three doses of HPV vaccine to be fully protected against serious diseases, including HPV cancers. A second dose of meningococcal vaccine is needed at age 16.
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continued on page 10 austinfamily.com | September 2014 | 9
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CHILDREN’S HOME OFFERS PARENTING SEMINAR Presbyterian Children’s Homes and Services (PCHAS) announced it will host a Parenting Education Seminar on September 20 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 3003 Northland Dr. The seminar features six talks from prominent PCHAS specialists about important family and parenting concerns. Discussion topics include: Bullying—what it is and how families can address these issues. Foster care—how ordinary people make a difference in the lives of children without families. Practical parenting tips—tools to help children grow into successful adults. Marriage after children—how to cultivate respect, affection and closeness in your marriage. Child care—fascinating research about brain development and the implications for parenting. Challenges with school—tips to advocate for your child’s education in a constructive way. The event is open to the public and geared toward parents of children from birth to age 18. Workshop tickets are $10 per
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person and include lunch and complimentary childcare. A childcare reservation must be made 48 hours in advance by emailing childcare@covenant.org. For more information or to register for the event, visit smore. com/bhmt0. PCHAS is a faith-based nonprofit organization that provides Christ-centered care and support for struggling children and families in Texas, Louisiana and Missouri. The Parenting Education Seminar seeks to educate parents in the Austin area about the importance of good parenting techniques and caring for children.
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tuning in The Fringe’s JB and Sandy talk about radio and fatherhood by Sherida Mock
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JB Hager and Sandy McIlree, the popular morning radio team, have worked together for nearly 19 years. We sat down with them to talk about their families, their downtime and the five months they were off the air. Tell us about your families. JB: I’ve been married for 16 years [to his wife, Erin], and we have a 12-year-old daughter, Raleigh…and a pig and two dogs and a lot of fish and a lot of gerbils and a revolving door of critters. Sandy: I’ve been married for six and a half years [to his wife, Tricia]. I have a fiveyear-old daughter named Landry, who keeps me very, very busy. With [mine and JB’s] hours, we’re home a lot more than our dads ever were, because we leave the house so early, and then get home by 1:00.
What music do your kids listen to? Sandy: It’s funny; I feel this responsibility to introduce my kid—even though she’s only five—to cool music, you know? But you can’t jam it all down their throat. The other day we were driving down the road and she had her iPod, and Pharrell Williams’ “Happy” came on—and I hate the song—but she was so happy, you know? She just loved the song, [and] I’m not gonna take anything away from her that she really likes. She likes a lot of the pop stuff, but she also likes classic rock, believe it or not. JB: Raleigh’s 12, so she’s outgrown the pop station. I got her an old 70s stereo system and we go vinyl shopping together, which is fun. She buys new stuff and loves Lana Del Ray—loves, loves, loves Lana Del Ray. She loves The Neighbor-
Sandy and family hood. It’s funny; she finds new music on whatever’s behind videos and then tracks it down. Then we try to find the vinyl version of it.
What do you like to do in Austin with your family? JB: My daughter’s a pro wake surfer, so [we’re] on Lake Austin probably five times a week. And if not that, we’re vinyl shopping. I love this new store called The Sound Gallery on South Congress, or we go downtown and poke around the 2nd Street district, and then we’ll eat on a patio somewhere.
Sandy: We’re swimming a lot in the summer. We like to get out and do stuff together. She calls it a Daddy-Daughter Day, and last week we went to InnerSpace Cavern—which was cool, I’ve never been. She likes to go to the movies; she loves to ride her bike and her electric scooter, and that’s when I wish I were a younger dad. I’m 46 years old, and riding the bike and the scooter, and getting up and down off the ground, and swinging, and all that stuff… JB: Trying to skateboard… Sandy: …trying to skateboard, and the playscape and all that stuff. We stay busy.
Your show has been around in one form or another for a long time. Why do you think you resonate with your audience? Sandy: We’re just local guys who live in Austin and deal with the same issues that everyone else deals with, at home and with life. We love living here. We’re the biggest advocates for this city. We’re not a yuk-it-up, laugh-a-second show.
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JB: Our goal is just to get people to work in a good mood with light-hearted things. I think that’s what people want. continued on page 14 austinfamily.com | September 2014 | 13
continued from page 13
You were off the air for five months. How did that situation come about? JB: I wasn’t invited back, when my contract ended at the last station. They were trying to cut costs. I wanted to stay here. I kept thinking, “I don’t want to move my daughter.” Luckily, the day after Sandy announced that I wasn’t going to be back,
radio veteran Bob Cole called me and said, “It’s going to be all right. We’re going to put something together for you.”
What’s the deal with the station’s signal? JB: It’s a baby radio station, but the plan is to grow it. In the meantime, the game has changed, with people using apps and having systems in their homes, or streaming from their computer all day at work.
Do you have any side projects going on? Sandy: I do a show on Sirius XM radio on Mondays. It’s a golf show with Rich Beem, who is an Austinite [and] was a professional golfer for 15 years. On Sunday mornings, I do a golf show with the same guy. It’s a terrestrial show that’s syndicated from Austin. And I do some stuff with Sony and DC Comics, some voice-over stuff for their online gaming. JB: My real side job is being a boat driver for my daughter, which I love. Raleigh’s a two-time world champion wake surfer. I’ve seen her grow up through the rear view mirror on a boat, which has been really fun. And then I have a music series downtown in the 2nd Street district called On-Airstreaming. We bring artists in to play, and film them and that’s at onairstreaming.com. I’m part of a mobile video app called Ferris, that just got funded by an L.A. firm, so the company and all my partners moved out there. I could have stayed with that and moved to L.A., but it goes back to where I wanted our daughter to grow up. So those guys are going to continue it out there, and it was a very easy decision to take less of a role there, to just be able to stay here and do this.
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family matters by Dr. Betty Richardson
Q
Missing mommy Separation anxiety is a normal phase
I know that separation anxiety is normal, but my two-year-old son’s behavior seems extreme. He wants to be in the same room with me at all times, and he throws a fit if he can’t see me. After spending some time as a stay-at-home mom, I plan to go back to work soon and I need to be able to leave him in day care. Can I ease him out of this phase, or does his behavior signal a bigger problem?
Infants can show signs of separation anxiety as early as six or seven months old, with most children “peaking” in their separation anxiety at ten to 18 months. Usually, the phase ends by age two, but sometimes lasts a little longer. You can help your son to develop object permanence (that is, knowing that you still exist even when he doesn’t see you) with games such as peek-a-boo, hide and seek or going behind a door and then peeking back around. He will begin to understand that “now I see you, now I don’t; oh, you are still there.” Gradual changes may ease your son out of this phase. Try leaving him with a person he knows for ten or 15 minutes and gradually work up to an hour or so. Or hire a neighborhood teen to play with him while you stay within eyesight, gradually moving the play area farther away from you and then eventually out of sight. In helping your son to adjust to day care, first take him to visit the facility while you stay with him and get him acquainted with the teacher, caregivers and other children. One of my favorite pediatricians and authors, T. Berry Brazelton, advocates using a “lovey”—a familiar stuffed animal, small toy or blanket—to help reduce separation anxiety. When you do leave him, give your son a casual, matter-of-fact goodbye that signals, “this is just part of our day, and we’ll both be fine.”
of children develop SAD and of this number, only about onethird carry the disorder into adulthood if untreated. Also be aware that our culture values independence, but in some cultures, children are with at least one parent 24/7, and there is no concern about separating. I feel certain you will do your best to help your child learn to accept being separated from you at appropriate times. I’ve given you the criteria for SAD so as your son gets older, if you notice he meets some of these criteria, you can have your child evaluated and, if necessary, treated by a child psychiatrist.
Betty Richardson, Ph.D., R.N.C., L.P.C., L.M.F.T., is an Austin-based psychotherapist who specializes in dealing with the problems of children, adolescents and parents.
Spanish language version on page 18
Sometimes, children do need professional help in overcoming separation anxiety. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders—both the recent DSM V and its predecessor, DSM IV—describes a diagnosis of Separation Anxiety Disorder (SAD). For a child to be diagnosed with SAD, the symptoms have to persist over four weeks, be seen before 18 years of age and be a “persistent and excessive anxiety beyond that expected for the child’s developmental level,” and meet a number of specific criteria. In addition, according to the DSM V, the symptoms must cause “clinically significant distress or impairment in social, academic, occupational, or other important areas of functioning and are not better explained by another mental disorder.”
Twenty-four months of age is too early to tell if your child will go on to have bigger problems such as SAD. Perhaps it will reassure you to know that only 4.1 percent
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Extrañando a mamá
P
La ansiedad de separación es una fase normal Sé que la ansiedad de separación es normal, pero el comportamiento de mi hijo de dos años me parece extremo. Quiere estar en la misma habitación conmigo en todo momento, y hace berrinches si no puede verme. Después de pasar algún tiempo como ama de casa, pienso volver pronto a trabajar, y tengo que ser capaz de dejarlo en la guardería. ¿Puedo hacer que deje esta fase, o su comportamiento señala un problema más grande?
Los bebés pueden mostrar signos de ansiedad por separación tan pronto como a los seis o siete meses de edad, la mayoría de los niños “llegan a lo máximo” en su ansiedad por separación de 10 a 18 meses. Generalmente, la fase termina por la edad de dos años, pero a veces dura un poco más. Usted puede ayudar a su hijo a desarrollar la permanencia del objeto (es decir, el saber que todavía existe aun cuando no la vea) con juegos como peek-a-boo, a las escondidas, o esconderse detrás de una puerta y luego asomarse. Así comenzará a entend-
er el que “ahora te veo, ahora no; ah, todavía estas allí.” Los cambios graduales pueden liberar a su hijo de esta fase. Trate dejándolo con una persona que conozca durante diez o 15 minutos y gradualmente extiéndalo hasta una hora más o menos. O contratar a un adolescente vecino para jugar con él mientras que usted está a la vista, moviendo gradualmente el área de juego lejos de usted, y después eventualmente fuera de la vista. Para ayudar a su hijo a adaptarse a la guardería, primero llévelo a visitar las instalaciones mientras usted se queda con él para que se adapte a la maestra, cuidadores y otros niños. Uno de mis pediatras y autores favoritos, T. Berry Brazelton, apoya que se utilice un “objeto de consuelo” —un animal de peluche familiar, un pequeño juguete o una cobija— para ayudar a reducir la
ansiedad de separación. Cuando usted lo deje, despídase de su hijo con una señal casual indicando, “esto es sólo parte de nuestro día, y ambos estaremos bien.” A veces, los niños necesitan ayuda profesional para superar la ansiedad de separación. El Manual de Diagnóstico y Estadístico de Trastornos Mentales (DSM, por sus siglas en inglés) — tanto el reciente DSM V como su predecesor, el DSM IV — describen el diagnóstico de Trastorno de Ansiedad por Separación (SAD, por sus siglas en inglés). Para que un niño sea diagnosticado con SAD, los síntomas deben persistir por más de cuatro semanas, ser visto antes de los 18 años de edad y tener una “ansiedad excesiva y persistente más allá de lo esperado para el nivel de desarrollo del niño,” y cumplir una serie de criterios específicos. Además, según el DSM V, los síntomas deben causar “angustia clínicamente significativa o deterioro social, académica, profesional u otras importantes áreas del funcionamiento y no se explican mejor por otro trastorno mental.” Veinticuatro meses de edad es demasiado pronto para saber si su hijo va a tener problemas mayores como SAD. Quizás le tranquilice saber que sólo el 4.1 por ciento de los niños desarrollan SAD y de este número, sólo alrededor de un tercio llevan el trastorno a la edad adulta si no es tratado. También esté consciente de que nuestra cultura valora la independencia, pero en algunas culturas, los hijos están por lo menos con uno de los padres 24/7, y no hay preocupación por la separación. Estoy seguro de que hará todo lo posible para ayudar a su niño a aprender a aceptar estar separado de usted en los momentos oportunos. Le he dado los criterios para SAD conforme su hijo va creciendo, si usted nota en él algunos de estos criterios, puede llevar a su hijo a que sea evaluado, y si es necesario, tratado por un psiquiatra infantil. Betty Richardson, Ph.D., R.N.C., L.P.C., L.M.F.T., es una psicoterapeuta situada en Austin que se especializa en el tratamiento de los problemas de los niños, adolescentes y padres.
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Set the stage
LET LESSONS FROM IMPROV CULTIVATE CREATIVITY by Ellana Kelter
“Everyone should be able to do one card trick, tell two jokes and recite three poems, in case they are ever trapped in an elevator.” —Lemony Snicket
>>
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I
t’s not that you need to plan for being trapped in an elevator, but if it were to occur, creative tools like comedy and laughter can ease the tension and enjoyably pass the time. And even if you never find yourself in dire circumstances, humor can make daily life happier. In fact, humor is such a critical part of life that scientists have studied its effect on brain development in children.
In 2012, researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine studied brain scans of children aged 6 to 12 and found a strengthening of neural networks in reaction to humorous situations. The study, led by Dr. Alan Reiss and published in the Journal of Neuroscience, states that humor plays a “critical role in building and maintaining relationships, emotional health and cognitive function.” Dr. Reiss, who runs the Center for Interdisciplinary Brain Sciences Research, explains that “in particular, we think a balanced and consistent sense of humor may help children negotiate the difficult period of pre-adolescence and adolescence.” In my experience, kids seem to have intuitive comedic tendencies. Their timing and delivery of one-liners is impeccable. Their physical ability to execute a pratfall worthy of The Three Stooges is priceless to witness. And they know when and how to really ham it up to maximize laughs when they have an audience. So how do you capitalize on those natural talents? The key can be found in following some basic rules from improvisation: say “yes,” just listen and stay present in the moment. Improvisation is a form of theatre that happens spontaneously—none of the scenes are pre-written or planned; it all happens in real time.
Say “yes”
“Yes, and…” is the oldest adage in the improv world. Actors must remember to literally say “yes” to whatever they are given. For example, one actor says, “We should jump in that rocket ship and head to the moon.” If the other actor responds with “Nah, I don’t think we should,” it leaves the scene and relationship with nowhere to go. Instead, by responding with “Yes, and we should try and collect moon rocks to bring home to all our friends,” the actors have something to build upon; plot and purpose can grow within their scene and in relationship to one another. “Yes, and…” also happens to be great life advice. In an interview with Oprah in O Magazine, Tina Fey extrapolates on
the theory of saying yes. “The fun is always on the other side of a yes,” she says. “‘Say yes, and you’ll figure it out afterward’ has helped me to be more adventurous. It has definitely helped me be less afraid.” By keeping an open mind and saying an eternal “Yes, and…,” positive circumstances can develop.
Just listen
Have you heard the quote about how most people don’t listen, they wait to talk? In improv—just as in life—listening is vital to a meaningful engagement. “Everything the person says to you is an offer; an offer to comment, ask questions, seek advice, be understood, be supportive,” says Jason Dykstra, a conflict management specialist who also takes improv classes at The Second City Toronto. “The more we accept that person’s offers, the more we build up trust, rapport and relationship.”
Stay present in the moment
Staying present in the moment can be challenging in our hectic, technology-infused lives. When you stay present in the moment, you are observant about the world around you. You don’t concentrate on expectations of the future or disappointments of the past. You don’t miss out on finding the funny moments with your family because an email alert popped up on your smart phone. For a humorous take on staying present, view The Atlantic’s recent video, “Single-tasking is the New Multi-tasking.” It gently pokes fun at our modern inability to focus on just one thing at a time. Here are some activities you can use at home to cultivate creativity:
1
2
Be straight-up silly
Take some dedicated time to be unabashedly goofy with your kids: have a dance party, write knockknock jokes, do karaoke-style sing-offs, act in funny improvised scenes, write a short play they can perform for neighbors, create a family circus, let them video record themselves pretending to do commercials for their favorite toys or books and play dress up with them. As Shaun Branigan, camp director says, “Encourage imaginative play. You’ll get to see their perspective and be surprised at how witty and clever your children are.”
3
Attend live theatre performances
Nothing beats enjoying memorable experiences with your family. See plays, concerts, puppet or magic shows and enjoy watching performances together. It makes for fun quality time and great conversation afterwards about what everyone observed, learned, enjoyed or didn’t enjoy. Live artistic experiences change children’s perspectives on life and can cultivate their understanding of the world in which they live—and perhaps inspire the joke they’ll keep in their back pockets for an unexpected elevator delay.
Try a visualization exercise
Have your kids lie on the floor and ask them to close their eyes and notice what parts of their body they feel touching the ground. Take several slow, deep breaths with them. Make sure they keep their eyes closed as you verbally take them on an adventure of their choosing. First have them imag-
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ine taking a transportation mode of their choice—train, plane, car or maybe horseback—to a favorite nature spot, where they would want to hang out or vacation. Ask them to think about what they see in their special place. How does the air feel on their skin? What do they smell or hear? This is a great exercise to calm down over-excited children or to prepare kids for focused activity time. Ask them to share where they went on their journey; you will be fascinated by their answers.
Ellana Kelter is a camp counselor, music teacher and program director for the School of Comedy Summer Camps, along with being a performer at Esther’s Follies.
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1 0 Fun ways to raise funds for schools, clubs and more
by Sue LeBreton
Y
ou’ve just gotten the kids settled into the school routine, and you’ve managed to shoe-horn all the extracurriculars into the family calendar. Now a coach or teacher pulls you aside: Can you help with the fall fundraiser? If just the thought of raising money makes you want to head for the hills, don’t panic. There are plenty of fresh ways to raise money and even have some fun along the way. >>
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Consider these 10 great ideas:
1
Go with a theme that links to your efforts. If you are raising money for the library, hold a used book sale or put on a reading challenge in which students get sponsors for reaching a monthly goal of reading minutes. If you are raising money for a cheer squad, sell links toward a paper chain in school colors that can be assembled and displayed at a team game. Make it a friendly competition to see which grade can sell the most links.
2
Have a garage sale. If you time your event with a neighborhood garage sale, you may attract more customers and reduce advertising costs. While gently-used items are your main feature, remember food. Garage sale shoppers work up an appetite and are happy to buy snacks at your stop. Coffee, donuts, breakfast tacos, hot dogs, soda and chips are standard fare, but candy, cookies and other sweet treats can be just as popular with shoppers.
3
Build school spirit with spirit days. You can host this regularly, say once a month or a few times a year. Declare silly themes such as: crazy hair day, backwards day or come as your favorite author or animal. Have students and staff donate money to attend school in their get-up. At my son’s school, the class who raises the most money receives an ice cream party. Pick us up at HEB, Whole Foods and Central Market
4
Reach out to your community. Partner with a local busi- ness, such as an ice cream shop or restaurant and establish a special day when a portion of sales goes to your school. Then promote the event to your school community, friends and family.
5
Put children’s art to lasting use. Use student paintings to create durable art that parents or grandparents can purchase. Images can be used for designs on mugs, aprons, tote bags, greeting cards and more. You can ask the teachers to set aside time for creating the artwork, or you can coordinate a creative event to get the process started.
6
Organize a cake walk. This works as part of a larger fundraiser (such as a school carnival) or as a stand-alone event. Begin with yummy, donated cakes or other sweets. You’ll get more mileage out of the occasion if you divide the donations into smaller-sized prizes. For example, you can divide a batch of 24 cupcakes into six 4-packs or put half a dozen cookies together on one plate.
7
Get fit while raising funds. At my children’s former school, they hosted a “Fit-tastic” program. Using the school gym after hours, local fitness teachers offered classes such as continued on page 24 austinfamily.com | September 2014 | 23
continued from page 23 boot camp, zumba and yoga. The fees were split between the instructors and the school. Classes could be tailored to students, adults or both.
8
Arrange a used sports equipment sale. Families donate their gently-used gear to the cause, with all proceeds directly benefitting your organization. With growing kids needing new gear regularly, this event can help families clear their clutter, improve their budget and boost your bottom line. The sale could be a physical event or a digital one. If you have multiple high-dollar donations, consider running a silent auction for those items.
9
Sell useful products. There are companies who will help you sell almost anything. Think about items your family already uses, such as family calendars, gift wrap or toothbrushes. One functional fundraiser that many families welcome is customized labels for clothing, sporting, household or personal items.
10
Host an international food fest. Have families bring food representing their heritage and charge admission. People will enjoy trying the variety of food and having a chance to learn more about others. Be sure to coordinate donations to ensure a balance among the various dishes (for example, assign certain grades to bring main courses, side dishes or desserts).
Sue LeBreton is a freelance writer who loves easy, functional fundraisers.
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PiensaPositivo Optimista/Pesimista ¿Eres optimista o pesimista? No contestes todavía. Primero, vamos a analizar esto. Si la mayoría de las personas con las que interactúas no tienen ningún interés en continuar una conversación y no tienen ningún interés en conocerte más, ¡cuidado! Podría ser una señal de que tu balance está más hacia el pesimismo. Por otro lado, si la gente te sonríe, ven y valoran la persona que eres, ¡felicidades! Tu optimismo es bastante obvio que la gente lo percibe. No necesitas un adivino para decirte que si continúas con una actitud pesimista, las cosas no van a ser muy positivas en el futuro. Recuerda que somos lo que pensamos. Piensa positivo.
Optimistic/Pessimistic Are you an optimist or pessimist? Don’t answer yet. First, let’s analyze this. If the majority of the people you interact with don’t have any interest in continuing a conversation and have no interest in getting to know you more, look out. It could be a sign that your balance is moving more toward pessimism. On the other hand, if people smile at you and see and value the person you are, congratulations! Your optimism is obvious enough that people notice it. You don’t need a fortune teller to tell you that if you continue with a pessimistic attitude, things are not going to look very positive in years to come. Remember: we are what we think. Think positive. by Leslie Montoya
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the learning curve by Jennifer VanBuren
Buy the book Behind the scenes of Texas textbook selection
Ever wonder why Texas textbook adoption makes the national news and late night comedy shows? Why do people in New York have such strong opinions about what books Texas kids are studying? Turns out that the Texas textbook market, which serves the five million students in our state’s public schools, is large enough to influence the material that publishers produce for students in smaller states, as well. And once you understand the process the State Board of Education follows in textbook adoption, it is easier to see why what happens in Texas has an impact on classrooms across the nation.
Every eight years, the Texas State Board of Education begins a new cycle of textbook adoption, with new subject areas taking a turn each year. The process begins with a Proclamation, which is a call for bids in the defined subject areas and a description of requirements that follow the state curriculum known as the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, or TEKS. Publishers submit their intent to bid and have approximately a year to produce materials that meet the standards. Samples of these materials are submitted to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and to the 20 regional Education Service Centers that provide services to the school districts around the state. To get an idea of the depth of this process, visit the TEA’s website (tea. state.tx.us) and download the list of newly approved science resources, a hefty 126-page document. 26 | September 2014 | austinfamily.com
Who reviews these materials? Nominations are made by educational organizations, educators, academic experts and parents who apply for the positions. The Commissioner of Education, appointed by the governor, then hand-picks the state review panel. Ideally, the 15 members of this volunteer review board are above political, economic and other personal agendas, but in the past, critics have pointed out that a few activists have had too much power in swaying the decisions of the board. After much tumult in the adoption process of science textbooks, it was apparent that new rules needed to be put in place. In January 2014, the Texas Board of Education unanimously approved tighter rules and guidelines for the review panel, with hopes of subduing the battles based on personal opinion. View the magazine online at austinfamily.com
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One of the new rules states that when selecting members of the review panel, priority should be given to teachers or professors with expertise and experience in the subject being reviewed. In addition, the board is now able to bring in experts to fact check any objections raised to determine if they are based on verifiable information or on ideology or special interest (such as having large stakes in an industry that may be impacted by the lessons included in the textbook). For example, if the board were evaluating a health textbook’s lesson on smoking, the new rules would question how much weight to give a major investor in the cigarette industry as opposed to the Disease Management Coordinator of a large hospital system or an experienced and highly recommended high-school health teacher.
better understanding of this multi-year process, parents, educators and all stakeholders in Texas can be aware or even involved in the process.
Jennifer VanBuren is an educator and Georgetown mother of three. Spanish language version on page 18
In January 2014, an Austin American Statesman article reported on these new rules. “It won’t eliminate politics, but it will make it where it’s a more informed process,” said Thomas Ratliff, a Republican board member who pushed for the changes, which he said “force us to find qualified people, leave them alone, and let them do their jobs.” Despite these rulings, some believe that there are still not enough highly-qualified educators and experts in the field appointed to the board that recently reviewed the Social Studies textbooks. Of the 140 members of the review panels, only three are current professors in Texas colleges and universities. The review panels met in July, and the State Board of Education will vote to adopt the textbooks in November. With the Science textbooks adopted in 2013 and Social Studies to be voted upon in a few months, the next few years may not be as controversial. Math 9-12 and Fine Arts are up next, and then Languages other than English. The adoption process for Career and Technical Education textbooks begins in 2016. The process for English Language Arts and Reading K–5 and Pre-K Systems occurs in 2017, then English Language Arts and Reading 6–12 in 2018. Reviews of Health Education and Physical Education textbooks will also occur in 2018. Every year, there are new issues to follow, and while each year’s process of choosing instructional material brings important decisions, it is unlikely that the choice of introductory German or Spanish will make national news. But with a Pick us up at HEB, Whole Foods and Central Market
austinfamily.com | September 2014 | 27
Compre el libro Detrás de las escenas en la selección de libros de texto de Texas
¿Alguna vez se ha preguntado por qué la adopción de libros de texto de Texas hace las noticias nacionales y los espectáculos nocturnos de comedia? ¿Por qué la gente en Nueva York tiene fuertes opiniones acerca de lo que los niños de Texas están estudiando? Resulta que el mercado de libros de texto de Texas, que sirve a los cinco millones de estudiantes en las escuelas públicas de nuestro estado, es suficiente para influir en el material que los editores producen para los estudiantes de los estados más pequeños, además de grande. Y una vez que entienda el proceso de la Junta de Educación del Estado Estatal de Educación sigue en la adopción de libros de texto, es más fácil ver el por qué lo que sucede en Texas tiene un impacto en las aulas de todo el país.
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Cada ocho años, la Junta Directiva de Educación del Estado de Texas comienza un nuevo ciclo de adopción de libros de texto, con nuevas áreas temáticas tomando un giro cada año. El proceso comienza con una proclamación, que es un llamado a licitación en las áreas temáticas definidas y una descripción de los requisitos que siguen el plan de estudio del estado conocido como Conocimientos y Habilidades Esenciales de Texas o TEKS. Editores presentan su intención de compra y tener aproximadamente un año para producir materiales que cumplan con las normas. Los maestros de estas materias se presentan a la Agencia de Educación de Texas (TEA, por sus siglas en inglés) y de los 20 Centros de Servicios de Educación que prestan servicios a los
distritos escolares en todo el estado. Para tener una idea de la profundidad de este proceso, visite el sitio Web de la TEA (tea. state.tx.us) y baje la lista de recursos de ciencia recién aprobados, un documento pesado de 126 páginas. ¿Quién revisa estos materiales? Los nombramientos son hechos por organizaciones educativas, educadores, expertos académicos y padres que solicitan las posiciones. El Comisionado de Educación, designado por el gobernador, luego elige al panel de revisión del estado. Lo ideal sería que los 15 miembros de esta junta de revisión voluntarios están por encima de intereses personales, políticos, económicos y de otro tipo, pero en el pasado, los críticos han señalado que
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unos activistas han tenido demasiado poder en balancear las decisiones de la junta. Después de mucho tumulto en el proceso de adopción de libros de texto de ciencias, era evidente que necesitaban poner en marcha nuevas reglas. En enero del 2014, la Junta de Educación de Texas aprobó por unanimidad las normas y directrices más estrictas para el panel de revisión, con la esperanza de someter a las batallas por la opinión del personal. Una de las nuevas normas establece que en la selección de los miembros del panel de revisión, se debe dar prioridad a los maestros o profesores con conocimientos y experiencia en el tema que se está revisando. Además, la junta ahora puede traer expertos para comprobar hechos objeciones planteadas para determinar si se basan en información verificable o en la ideología o interés especial (tal como tener grandes participaciones en una industria que pueden ser afectados por las lecciones incluidas en el libro de texto). Por ejemplo, si la junta evalúa una lección de un libro de texto de salud sobre el consumo de tabaco, las nuevas reglas cuestionaría cuánto peso debería darse a un importante inversor en la industria del cigarrillo en comparación con el Coordinador de Manejo de Enfermedades de un gran sistema de hospitales o un profesor de salud en la preparatoria, experimentado y altamente recomendado.
Idiomas aparte del Inglés. El proceso de adopción de libros de texto en Carreras y Educación Técnica se inicia en el 2016. El proceso para Artes de Lenguaje Inglés y Lectura K-5 y Sistemas de Pre-K ocurrirá en el 2017, el Arte del Lenguaje Inglés y Lectura 6-12 en el 2018. Las revisiones de libros de texto de la Educación para la Salud y Educación Física también ocurrirán en el 2018.
material didáctico de cada año trae decisiones importantes, es poco probable que la elección de la introducción al alemán o el español, haga noticias nacionales. Pero con una mejor comprensión de este proceso de varios años, los padres, los educadores y todas las partes interesadas en Texas pueden ser consciente o incluso participar en el proceso.
Cada año, hay nuevos temas a seguir y mientras que el proceso de elección de
Jennifer VanBuren es una educadora y madre de tres en Georgetown.
En enero del 2014, un artículo del Austin American-Statesman informó sobre estas nuevas reglas. “No elimina la política, pero lo hará cuando se trata de un proceso más informado”, dijo Thomas Ratliff, un miembro republicano de la junta quien ha impulsado los cambios, y dijo que “oblíguenos a encontrar gente calificada, dejarlos solos y dejar que ellos hagan su trabajo”. A pesar de estas resoluciones, algunos creen que todavía no hay educadores suficientemente calificados y expertos en el campo designado para la junta que revisó recientemente los libros de texto de estudios sociales. De los 140 miembros de los paneles de revisión, sólo tres son profesores actuales en los colegios y universidades de Texas. Los paneles de revisión se reunieron en julio, y la Junta de Educación del Estado votará para adoptar los libros de texto en noviembre. Con los libros de texto de ciencias adoptados en el 2013 y los de estudios sociales que serán sometidos a votación en unos meses, los próximos años pueden no ser tan polémicos. Matemáticas 9-12 y Bellas Artes son los siguientes, y luego otros
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austinfamily.com | September 2014 | 29
family connections by Richard Singleton
Wow, the summer flew by! Here were are in September, and the extracurricular activities are in full flutter. The kids have been shooting selfies and groupies all summer long, and now it’s your turn for some time behind the camera. And, since it’s Texas, that means the Friday night lights will be ablaze as our kiddos march up and down the football field—some with cleats, helmets and pads, many with clarinets, plumes and pom poms—all buzzing with team spirit, hard work and action-packed fun. So, what’s a parent to do when you want to capture these events and the razzle-dazzle of your summer-time super-phone doesn’t have the oomph to get the job done? Taking pictures at fast-
the moment without breaking the bank paced extracurricular events is different than snapping vacation pics on glorious mountains or flowing beaches. It’s decidedly different than the poolside pace of tanning, lounging and an occasional cannon ball. Pictures for the active, high-paced extracurriculars in which our kids are engaged are often at night or in closely confined spaces like dance and martial arts studios, with strange lighting, at a distance and at speeds and angles that defy most of what we know about physics and anatomy. How do you capture your cheerleader’s perfectly executed round off? How do you snap with precision your mountainous lineman’s perilous pancake block? How do you secure the precision honed twists and turns of the marching band’s
well-oiled melody machine? How do you pinpoint a pirouette or nail the perfect shot of the board-breaking ninja that is your sweet little six-year-old princess? The answer can be complicated, but with your calendar already threatening to burst at the seams, there’s no reason to add insult to injury. I’ll try to make it as straightforward and unencumbered as possible.
Here are some options:
1
Use what your momma gave ya… or in this case use what Apple, Sony or Samsung charged you an enormous amount of money for already. That is, you can keep your picture-taking budget low by trying to get the most out of your smart phone. To do this, you’ll need to undertake a little experimenting. You don’t want to be trying to figure out complicated menu settings during the OMG-how-could-you-have-missed-that moment of the year. Many of the flagship phones have very nice cameras, but they struggle with low lighting, repeat and action shots. Block off some time and tinker with the burst shot, ISO and metering settings. Rather than try to become an expert photographer, just take several shots in various settings and see what works best for you and your camera. There’s likely a sweet spot that you’ll find will do “good enough” for much of what you are wanting, especially if it’s for posting on social media.
2
Show me the money! Okay, if money’s no object, but you haven’t yet determined what you want out of a snazzy camera, it’s your lucky day. We live in an amazing technological time. Technology is exploding…hmmm, let me rephrase that…technology is advancing so rapidly that new innovations are driving 30 | September 2014 | austinfamily.com
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down prices and driving up capacity for having a pro-summer or even professional camera at your disposal. When you step into the world of DSLR cameras, the sky is the limit. And you can easily stack money to the sky paying for the thrill of owning some of the professional level cameras. These cameras take phenomenal pictures. They are fast. They are precision honed and crafted to take abuse. With the right glass (as the pros like to call their lenses), you can get amazing shots at a distance, inches away and on and on. Also, with these cameras, you’ll have the ability to have external microphone connections for capturing HD video and great audio. At the very highest levels of tech kit, you’ll even have the ability to shoot stunning 4K video—which might be about the only content that you’ll have available for that mind-blowing 4K TV that the folks at the electronics store talked you into, but that’s a story for another day.
As this busy and exciting time of year gets started, no matter if you’re snapping pics with your phone, zooming in from hundreds of yards away with your DSLR or clicking away with your snazzy little point and shoot wizardry, make sure to remember that it’s not megapixels and megabytes that you’re trying to capture; it’s the journey of life. Sometimes the best memory you can make happens when you put away the gadgets and allow your mind’s eye to
soak in the wonder and beauty that is the child you’re cheering on from the crowd. May you have an amazing school year of doing just that!
Richard Singleton, MACE, MAMFC, LPC, is the executive director at STARRY in Round Rock.
3
A third way. So, probably like most of us, you may linger somewhere in that great expanse of the bell curve known as average. Or, as I like to think of it: normal. You don’t want to try to skimp on pictures by using your cell phone for everything, but you also don’t want to pay as much for a camera as you did for your first car. Sounds reasonable—I mean, normal. There are some really great point and shoot cameras on the market that will do a fantastic job for you. One camera that the many tech reviewers I follow are just gaga over is the Sony RX100 II. It’s a fantastic little point and shoot camera that can sometimes make you think you are using a DSLR that costs three times as much. It has amazingly cool features, such as controlling it from your phone via Wi-Fi. And most importantly, it takes amazing pictures, which is after all why you want it. There are other cameras in this middling category, but the Sony is likely the best example of credibly cramming a nearDSLR experience into the palm of your hand. That makes a lot of sense for the average extracurricular road warriors. You’ve already got the SUV packed full of kids, friends, snacks, equipment, instruments and a nagging french fry or two that seem to elude your vacuum and your puppy. Why add another ten pounds of camera gear on top of that? Unless, of course, your bell curve is a little misshapen. And if so, you probably know better than most of us what you’re doing already. Pick us up at HEB, Whole Foods and Central Market
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32 | September 2014 | austinfamily.com
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Ten things... for national Grandparent’s Day!
1 Create a family tree. Use a paper chart or photos. 2 Go through old photos and talk about the memories
6 Choose a charitable organization and do a service project together.
they inspire.
7 Change your Facebook profile picture to a grand-
3 Ask a grandparent to tell you about his or her
parent’s photo.
childhood.
4 Visit or take out your grandparents to
8 Read a book together and discuss it.
lunch or dinner.
9 Take a walk together.
5 Get in the kitchen and cook a favorite
10 Visit grandparentsday.org for more great
recipe together.
ideas.
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austinfamily.com | September 2014 | 33
many calories as they have been consuming with impunity.
lifelines by Sara Rider
Is the
“FRESHMAN 15” for real?
“Students’ bodies are transitioning, and their metabolisms are starting to slow down,” explains Wilson. “They’re getting into adulthood. So it’s finding that balance on what they should be eating and becoming more educated about purchasing their own food and making their own choices in the dining halls.”
The math of calories With students setting their own schedules, many take up habits that encourage weight gain. According to Wilson, one of the most common is skipping meals, which makes weight gain more likely.
College students gain more than a degree For decades, college students have talked about the legendary “Freshman 15”—the 15 pounds students supposedly gain during their first year away from home. But is it a real phenomenon or an urban legend? Recent research shows that the actual weight gain during a student’s freshman year is an average of four to seven pounds, according to Lindsay Wilson, MS., RD., LD., with the Division of Housing and Food Service at The University of Texas at Austin. Myth busted? Not completely. According to an Auburn University study, the weight gain doesn’t end with the freshman year, but continues throughout college (Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, September 2012). The study found that 70 percent of students gained an average of 12 pounds by graduation,
34 | September 2014 | austinfamily.com
and some gained as much as 37 pounds. Not quite the legendary 15 pounds, and not all in the freshman year, but there’s a kernel of truth to the phrase.
Rookie mistakes Like many things in life, there’s no one glaring reason for college weight gain. “A combination of multiple dietary and lifestyle behaviors contribute to it,” says Wilson. “Probably the most important factor is that freshman year is the first time students are away from home. They don’t have parents preparing meals for them or telling them what they should be eating. Students are now responsible for deciding when, where and how much to eat. That can be a big transition for a lot of students.” If you’re a parent who has been monitoring your teen’s diet—urging the healthy salads, healthy snacks and low fat choices—your student will now have to make those decisions for herself without coaxing. In addition, says Wilson, this fresh wave of independence arrives just as teens may no longer need as
“Breakfast seems to be the most popular meal to skip,” says Wilson, who says she sees more students eating breakfast in the dining hall at the beginning of a semester than at the end of it. But students skip other meals, too. “They may skip lunch or dinner because they are studying,” she explains. “Skipping a meal tends to lead to over-eating later in the day.” One big culprit in over-eating is portion size. “Students who are gaining weight are generally consuming too many calories, and this can be through over-sized portions,” she says. Other eating habits that lead to weight gain include snacking too frequently and taking in extra calories in the form of beverages. “A lot of students are consuming liquid calories—through sugar-sweetened beverages, energy drinks, coffee drinks in the mornings and alcohol, as well,” says Wilson. “They don’t understand how those calories add up.” For example, a McCafé® Iced Caramel Mocha has 280 calories, and a Starbucks® Bottled Caramel Frappuccino® has 200. One or two of those a day can add up to far more calories than expected. The study from Auburn University also attributed the weight gain to late-night snacks—often from vending machines—as well as fattening choices in college cafeterias and a lack of activity.
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Lifestyle 101 So what to do if your college student doesn’t want an extra 12 or more pounds to go with that college degree? One of the biggest helps will be to stay active, according to the Auburn study. That can mean walking to class instead of taking the shuttle bus, using stairways instead of elevators, working out at the gym or participating in intramural sports. The Auburn study also advises students to get enough sleep, reporting that sleeping less that six hours a night can affect the hormone levels that control appetite and metabolism.
Healthy habits on the college campus • Don’t skip meals. • Limit snacking between meals. • Opt for healthy foods when snacking is necessary. • Avoid sweetened beverages. • Stay active. • Get at least 6 hours of sleep.
To avoid the over-eating that can come from skipping meals, Wilson advises that students keep healthy snacks handy in their dorm rooms. “When a student says, ‘I just can’t get up early to eat breakfast,’ I recommend that they keep some healthy food options in their room so they can eat a granola bar on the way to class.” The Auburn study also recommends keeping healthy snacks on hand, specifically suggesting fruit, hummus, Greek yogurt and baby carrots. Wilson also emphasizes the value of nutrition to a student’s academic success. “College is a time when students are using their brains to the fullest, so students need to be aware of what they are putting into their bodies,” she says. “Both the body and the brain require a variety of macronutrients, which include carbohydrates and fats, along with micronutrients, which are vitamins and minerals. No one food or food group is going to provide everything they need. The key to a healthy diet is balance and variety.” At a time when the Mayo Clinic estimates that one-third of those between the ages of 16 and 27 are overweight or obese, a healthy diet—combined with some healthier habits—could mean a leaner college graduate.
Sara Rider is a native Austinite who has worked with physicians and hospitals throughout Texas. She frequently writes freelance articles on health topics for newspapers and magazines. Pick us up at HEB, Whole Foods and Central Market
austinfamily.com | September 2014 | 35
2014-15 AFTERSCHOOL ACTIVITIES GUIDE
Arts, Theater, Music and Dance Armstrong Community Music School Westlake and Travis Heights 512-474-2331 acmsaustin.org Page 41 Austin Children’s Choir Northwest Austin austinchildrenschoir.org Page 42 Austin Girls’ Choir Central Austin 512-453-0884 girlschoir.com Page 46 Ballet Austin Academy Central Austin 512-501-8704 balletaustin.org Page 24
Arts, Theater, Music and Dance
Bethany Fine Arts Academy North Austin 512-258-1168 x229 bethany-umc.org/finearts Page 43
Entertainment
Café Monet South, Central, San Marcos 512-892-3200, 512-906-2200, 512-805-2800 cafemonet.org Page 50
Education
Cedar Park Dance Cedar Park 512-257-9722 cedarparkdance.com Page 18
Field Trips
Sports
Volunteer
Ceramics Bayou Westlake 512-328-1168 ceramicsbayou.com Page 45 Childbloom Guitar Program Central Austin, Round Rock, Northwest 512-452-8765 austin.childbloom.com Page 44 Dance Discovery Allendale, Avery Ranch 512-419-7611, 512-658-2996 dancediscovery.com Page 11
36 | September 2014 | austinfamily.com
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Dancers Workshop North Austin 512-349-7197 dancersworkshopaustin.com Page 32 Dougherty Arts Center Central Austin 512-974-4040 austintexas.gov/dougherty Heartsong Music North Austin 512-371-9506 heartsongmusic.net Page 45 KidsActing 12 Central Texas locations 512-836-5437 kidsactingstudio.com Page 47 Puerto Rican Folkloric Dance South Austin 512-251-8122 prfdance.org Page 46 Slavin Nadal School of Ballet North Austin 512-371-1213 slavinnadalballet.com Page 43 Synergy Dance Studio Westlake 512-327-4130 synergydancestudio.com Page 38 TexArts Lakeway 512-852-9079 x104 tex-arts.org Page 17 Westlake Lessons We come to you 512-285-0764 westlakelessons.com Page 4
Entertainment Main Event Northwest Austin 512-401-0000 mainevent.com Page 28 Austin Aquarium Northwest Austin 512-222-5586 austinaquarium.com Page 16
Education Austin Aquarium Northwest Austin 512-222-5586 austinaquarium.com Page 16 Bits, Bytes and Bots Austin, Round Rock, Cedar Park, Dripping Springs, Leander, Westlake 512-415-4120 austintx.bitsbytesbots.com Page 44 Extend-A-Care After School 77 Elementary Schools Austin ISD, Hays ISD, Del Valle ISD, Charter Schools 512-472-9402 eackids.org Page 47 KLRU Kids Club Central Austin klrukids.org Page 30 Mad Science Various locations 512-892-1143 austin.madscience.org Page 55
Zach Performing Arts Central Austin 512-476-0594 x236 zachtheatre.org Page 32
Pick us up at HEB, Whole Foods and Central Market
Nitro Swimming Cedar Park, Bee Cave 512-259-7999 nitroswim.com Inside Front Cover
Field Trips The Thinkery Central Austin 512-474-2499 thinkeryaustin.org Elgin Christmas Tree Farm Elgin 512-281-5016 elginchristmastreefarm.com Page 48
Sports
PAC North Austin 512-686-0448 pac-tx.com Page 39 Playland Skate Northwest Austin 512-452-1901 playlandskatecenter.com Page 55 Sugar and Spice Ranch Bandera 830-460-8487 texashorsecamps.com Page 55
Austin Sports Arena Round Rock 512-251-7500 autinsportsarena.com Page 54
YMCA-Austin Locations throughout Austin 512-730-9622 austinymca.org Page 19
Cameron Equestrian Northeast Austin 512-272-4301 austinhorse.com Page 41 Champions Westlake Westlake 512-426-1990 championswestlake.com Page 52 Cheer Station North Austin 512-452-4337 cheerstation.com Page 39
YMCA-Williamson County Round Rock, Leander, Granger, and Liberty Hill 512-615-5563 ymcagwc.org Page 32
Volunteer Drive A Senior Elgin, Georgetown, Pflugerville, Cedar Park, Round Rock, Austin See ad for phone listings driveasenior.org Page 54
Emler Swim North Austin, Westlake 512-342-7946, 512-327-7946 emlerswimschool.com Page 7 Ghoring Tai Chi & Kung Fu Central Austin 512-879-7553 mastergohring.com Page 7
Round Rock Serving Center Round Rock 512-244-2431 rrasc.org Page 50
Jump Gymnastics South Central and North Central 512-593-6226 jump-austin.com Page 16
austinfamily.com | September 2014 | 37
test drive games ESRB Entertainment Software Rating Board
Bubble Guppies Platform: Nintendo DS Rating category: Early childhood Content descriptors: No descriptors Rating summary: This is a collection of educational activity games in which players explore farm- and city-themed environments with underwater characters called Bubble Guppies. Players test their shape/color/number-recognition skills through various activities (such as planting vegetables, matching animal sounds or decorating helmets).
MX vs. ATV Supercross Platform: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 Rating category: Everyone Content descriptors: No descriptors Other: Includes online features that may expose players to unrated user-generated content (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3) Rating summary: This is a racing game in which players ride motorcycles and ATVs to compete in supercross events. Players can perform stunts and tricks as they race through various tracks and environments (such as indoor arenas, football and baseball stadiums). The rating information, including rating summary, is provided by ESRB Entertainment Software Rating Board (www.esrb.org). These games and other rating summaries can be found at ESRB.org. For the app, visit http://www.esrb.org/mobile.
38 | September 2014 | austinfamily.com
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calendar 9/14
September 6 Teen Battle of the Bands Pfluger Park
family events Monday 1
Labor Day; Austin Free Day of Yoga Take Me Out to the Ball Game: Round Rock Express Home Game 12:05 p.m. Dell Diamond, Round Rock. roundrockexpress.com or 512-255-2255. Open Chess 5 p.m. Laura’s Library, 9411 Bee Cave Rd. westbanklibrary.com or 512-327-3045.
Tuesday 2
September 19 Talk Like a Pirate Day
Little Texas Homeschoolers 10:30 a.m. Large meeting room, Wells Branch Community Library, 15001 Wells Port Dr. FREE. wblibrary.org or 512-989-3188. Discovery! 4:30 p.m. Third graders and up. Laura’s Library, 9411 Bee Cave Rd. westbanklibrary.com or 512-327-3045.
Wednesday 3
September 21 Museum Day City-wide
September 27 Hairy Man Festival Cat Hollow Park
family events page 40 parenting events page 43 storytimes page 43 exhibits: visit www.austinfamily.com 40 | September 2014 | austinfamily.com
Community Nights 5 to 8 p.m. Thinkery, 1830 Simond Ave. Admission is by donation, suggested $1. thinkeryaustin.org or 512-469-6200. Chess Club 5 p.m. 10 years and older. Willie Mae Kirk Branch, 3101 Oak Springs Dr. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-9920. Wednesday Night Contra Dancing 7:30 to 9:45 p.m. Everyone welcome. Hancock Recreation Center, 811 E. 41st St. FREE. austinbarndancers.org or 512-453-4225. Maid Marian in a Stolen Car 8 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday; 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Zach Theatre, 1510 Toomey Rd. zachtheatre.org or 512-476-0541. Attendance Rally 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. The Long Center, 701 W. Riverside Dr. missingschoolmatters.com.
Thursday 4
First Thursday Austin All day to 10 p.m. South Congress Ave. from Barton Springs Rd. to Elizabeth St. firstthursday.info.
COMPILED BY BETTY KEMPER
Thursday Noon Concerts 12 p.m. concert; 12:30 p.m. lunch. Central Presbyterian Church, 200 E. Eighth St. Concert FREE. Lunch suggested donation: children 3 and younger $3; adults $5.cpcaustin.org or 512-472-2445. First Thursdays Downtown Buda 5 to 9 p.m. Downtown Buda. FREE. budachamber.com. Starry Nights at Girlstart 7 p.m. All ages welcome! Girlstart, 1400 Anderson Square. girlstart.org. 21st Annual Unplugged at the Grove 8 p.m. Shady Grove, 1624 Barton Springs Rd. FREE. kgsr.com/unplugged or 512-474-9991. CONTINUING: Maid Marian in a Stolen Car see Wednesday 3.
Friday 5
Celebrate Classical Music: Michael Nigro, Professor of Music at Vanguard University 12 p.m. Faulk Central Library, 800 Guadalupe St. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-7400. First Fridays on the Square 5 to 10 p.m. Historic Downtown square in Georgetown. thegeorgetownsquare.com or 512-868-8675. CONTINUING: Maid Marian in a Stolen Car see Wednesday 3.
Saturday 6
Madrone Canyon Trail Hike 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Laura’s Library, Madrone Canyon entrance at library parking lot, 9411 Bee Cave Rd. westbanklibrary.com or 512-327-3045. Family Storytime 10 a.m. All ages. Cedar Park Library, 550 Discovery Blvd. Cedar Park. cedarparktexas.gov. Giant Chess 12:30 to 3 p.m. Wooldridge Square Park, 900 Guadalupe St. FREE. giantchess.org. Family Movie Matinee: Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure 2 p.m. Windsor Park Branch, 5833 Westminster Dr. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-9840. “Pforte” Teen Battle of the Bands 7:30 p.m. Pfluger Park, 515 City Park Rd., Pflugerville. FREE. tx-pflugerville3.civicplus.com. CONTINUING: Maid Marian in a Stolen Car see Wednesday 3.
Austin Family is now making it easier for you to submit your calendar event. Go to www.austinfamily.com, click on “Submit your event” and send in your entry. The deadline is the 10th of each month preceding the month of the event. Events less than $15 usually are listed. For events more than $15, send details to kaye2003@austinfamily.com.
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Sunday 7
Grandparent’s Day Free First Sunday 12 to 6 p.m. Bullock State History Muse- um, 1800 Congress Ave. FREE. thestoryoftexas.com or 512-936-8746. Family Day at the Umlauf 12 to 4 p.m. Families with children four to 15 years old. Umlauf Sculpture Garden, 605 Robert E. Lee Rd. FREE and open to the public. umlaufsculpture/program/family. Open Mic Poetry 3:30 p.m. Recycled Reads Bookstore, 5335 Burnet Rd. recycledreads.org or 521-323-5132. CONTINUING: Maid Marian in a Stolen Car see Wednesday 3.
Monday 8
Open Chess 5 p.m. Laura’s Library, 9411 Bee Cave Rd. westbanklibrary.com or 512-327-3045.
Tuesday 9
Birds of Central Texas 6:30 p.m. Yarborough Branch, 2200 Hancock Dr. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-8820. CONTINUING: Discovery! see Tuesday 2.
Wednesday 10
CONTINUING: Maid Marian in a Stolen Car see Wednesday 3; Wednesday Night Contra Dancing see Wednesday 3; Community Nights see Wednesday 3; Chess Club see Wednesday 3; Birds of Central Texas see Tuesday 9.
Thursday 11
Patriot Day Movies in the Park: Raising Arizona 8 p.m. Republic Square Park, 400 W. Guadalupe. FREE. Alcohol, smoking, glass and styrofoam prohibited. Dogs, picnics and lawn chairs welcome. austinparks.org/moviesinthepark. CONTINUING: Maid Marian in a Stolen Car see Wednesday 3; 21st Annual Unplugged at the Grove see Thursday 4; Thursday Noon Concerts see Thursday 4.
Friday 12
Capital of Texas QuiltFest Fiesta 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 12 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Palmer Event Center, 900 Barton Springs. Ages under 12 FREE, $10 at the door; $8 in advance. captxquiltfest.org. CONTINUING: Maid Marian in a Stolen Car see Wednesday 3; First Fridays on the Square see Friday 5.
Saturday 13
Bright Leaf Hikes 9 to 11:30 a.m. Bright Leaf Preserve, Creek Mountain Rd. brightleaf.org or 512-459-7269. Pine Street Market Days 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Downtown Historic Bastrop at Main and Pine Streets. bastroptexas.net/around_bastrop/ events or 512-303-6233. Hands on History 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. All ages. Williamson Museum, 716 South Austin Ave. FREE. For children of all ages. williamsonmuseum.org or 512-943-1670. Family Fun Fest and Diaper Bank 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Northwest Recreation Center, 512-922-2602. Second Saturday Market Days and Concert 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Downtown Square, Georgetown. FREE. visit.georgetown.org. Second Saturdays are for Families 12 to 4 p.m. All ages welcome. Laguna Gloria, 3809 West 35th St. $10 per family; $5 for member families. thecontemporaryaustin.org or 512-495-9224. September Movies: After Earth 2 p.m. University Hills Branch, 4721 Loyola Ln. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-9940. Minecraft Free Play 2 p.m. 5 years and older. Bring your own mobile devices. Howson Branch, 2500 Exposition Blvd. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-8800. ¡Viva México! 7 p.m. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center. 600 River St. FREE. 512-974-3772 CONTINUING: Maid Marian in a Stolen Car see Wednesday 3; Giant Chess see Saturday 6; Capital of Texas QuiltFest Fiesta see Friday 12.
Sunday 14
Underwater and Shoreline Cleanup 9 to 11 a.m. Rain or shine. Various areas. Pre-registration preferred. keepaustinbeautiful.org/underwater. CONTINUING: Maid Marian in a Stolen Car see Wednesday 3; Bright Leaf Hikes see Saturday 13.
Monday 15
Open Chess 5 p.m. Laura’s Library, 9411 Bee Cave Rd. westbanklibrary.com or 512-327-3045.
continued on page 42
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austinfamily.com | September 2014 | 41
continued from page 41
FREE. roundrocktexas.gov/library or 512-218-7034. CONTINUING: Maid Marian in a Stolen Car see Wednesday 3; 21st Annual Unplugged at the Grove see Thursday 4; Thursday Noon Concerts see Thursday 4.
Friday 19
Tuesday 16
Learning to Laugh 6:30 p.m. Adults and children. Laura’s Library, 9411 Bee Cave Rd. westbanklibrary.com or 512-327-3045. CONTINUING: Discovery! see Tuesday 2.
Wednesday 17
CONTINUING: Maid Marian in a Stolen Car see Wednesday 3; Wednesday Night Contra Dancing see Wednesday 3; Community Nights see Wednesday 3; Chess Club see Wednesday 3.
Thursday 18
Studio Spotlight: The Firebird and Agon 12 to 12:45 p.m. and 6 to 7 p.m. Ages 8 and up. Ballet Austin’s AustinVentures Studio Theater, 501 West Third St. FREE admission for all guests. balletaustin.org. Third Thursday at the Blanton 12 to 8 p.m. Blanton Museum, Congress Ave. and Martin Luther King Blvd. Admission and programs are FREE. blantonmuseum.org or 512-471-5482. Tween Gaming at the Library 4:30 p.m. Ages 8 to 12. Round Rock Public Library, 216 E. Main, Round Rock.
42 | September 2014 | austinfamily.com
Talk Like a Pirate Day Friday Family Films: The Lion King 2 – Simba’s Pride 4 p.m. Laura’s Library, 9411 Bee Cave Rd.westbanklibrary.com or 512-327-3045. Movie in the Park: “Frozen Sing-Along” 7:30 p.m. Heritage Park, 901 Old Austin Hutto Rd., Pflugerville. FREE. tx-pflugerville3.civicplus.com. CONTINUING: Maid Marian in a Stolen Car see Wednesday 3; First Fridays on the Square see Friday 5.
Saturday 20
Parenting Education Seminar 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Covenant Presbyterian Church, 3003 Northland Dr. smore.com/bhmt0 Starmark Pet Fest 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dogs on leash welcome. Starmark Animal Behavior Center, 200 Co. Rd. 197, Hutto. Admission and parking FREE. Benefiting Austin Pets Alive. dogtrainingandboarding austin.com/events. Building Blocks for a Great Life 10:30 a.m. Yarborough Branch, 2200 Hancock Dr. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-8820. September Movies: Star Trek: Into the Darkness 2 p.m. University Hills Branch, 4721 Loyola Ln. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-9940. CONTINUING: Maid Marian in a Stolen Car see Wednesday 3; Giant Chess see Saturday 6.
Sunday 21
International Day of Peace Annual Austin Museum Day Free city-wide discovery of Austin Museums. Provides families with the opportunity to visit over 40 participating institutions at no charge. austinmuseums.org. Let’s Get Cooking: The Stone Soup Sessions 2 to 5 p.m. Texas Music Museum, 1109 E. 11th St. FREE and open to the public. polachekdavid@gmail.com or 512-750-8142. CONTINUING: Maid Marian in a Stolen Car see Wednesday 3.
Monday 22
Open Chess 5 p.m. Laura’s Library, 9411 Bee Cave Rd. westbanklibrary.com or 512-327-3045.
Tuesday 23
First Day of Autumn CONTINUING: Discovery! see Tuesday 2.
Wednesday 24
Rosh Hashanah Begins Youth Humane Heroes at the Library 2:30 p.m. Crafts and caring on early release day. Meeting room C, Round Rock Public Library, 216 E. Main, Round Rock. FREE. roundrocktexas.gov/library or 512-218-7034. CONTINUING: Maid Marian in a Stolen Car see Wednesday 3; Wednesday Night Contra Dancing see Wednesday 3; Community Nights see Wednesday 3; Chess Club see Wednesday 3.
Thursday 25
CONTINUING: Maid Marian in a Stolen Car see Wednesday 3; Thursday Noon Concerts see Thursday 4.
Friday 26
Rosh Hashanah Ends Native American Day Outdoor Family Campout Go to web site for more information. Old Settlers Park, 3300 Palm Valley Blvd., Round Rock. $10 per person. roundrocktexas.gov/familycampout. Mayor’s Book Club: Community Conversation 11:30 a.m. Austin History Center, 810 Guadalupe St. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-7400. Ninth Annual Suddenlink Bluegrass Festival 6 to 10:30 p.m. Robin Bledsoe Park, 601 S. Bagdad, Leander. FREE. leandertx.gov. Concert In the Park: Radiostar 7 to 10 p.m. Elizabeth Milburn Park, 1901
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Sun Chase Blvd., Cedar Park. FREE. cedarparkfun.com. CONTINUING: Maid Marian in a Stolen Car see Wednesday 3; First Fridays on the Square see Friday 5.
Saturday 27
Museum Day Live! All day. Blanton Museum of Art, 200 E. MLK Blvd. smithsonianmag.com/museumday Museum Day Live! All day. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, 4801 La Crosse Ave. smithsonianmag.com/museumday National Hunting and Fishing Day 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Old Settlers Park, 3300 Palm Valley Rd. FREE. roundrocktexas.gov/familycampout. Hairy Man Festival 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cat Hollow Park, corner of O’Connor and RR 620, Round Rock. FREE. hairmanfestival.org. Fall Pecan Street Festival 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. 24 blocks of Sixth St. FREE. oldpecanstreetfestival.com. Mayor’s Book Club: Headline Event and Reading 2 p.m. Faulk Central Library, 800 Guadalupe St. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-7400. September Movies: Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters 2 p.m. University Hills Branch, 4721 Loyola Ln. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-9940. Monthly Movie Mania: The Lego Movie 2 p.m. Milwood Branch, 12500 Amherst Dr. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-9880. CONTINUING: Maid Marian in a Stolen Car see Wednesday 3; Giant Chess see Saturday 6; Ninth Annual Suddenlink Bluegrass Festival see Friday 26; Outdoor Family Campout see Friday 26.
parenting events Tuesday 2
La Leche League Held at multiple locations in Austin, Round Rock, Georgetown, Kyle, San Marcos and Cedar Park. For locations and times visit texaslll.org or 512-272-8042.
Wednesday 3
Blogging Basics at the Library 7 p.m. Round Rock Public Library, 216 E. Main, Round Rock. FREE. roundrocktexas.gov/library or 512-218-7014.
Thursday 4
Postpartum Support Group 10 to 11:30 a.m. Every Thursday. Any Baby Can, 1121 East Seventh St. anybabycan.org or 512-454-3743. Austin Autism Treatment Forum-Meetup 12 to 1:30 p.m. Old Quarry Library, 7051 Village Center Dr. FREE and open to the public. meetup.com or 512-300-3820.
Tuesday 9
Tech Toy Time: Ready Device Activate 6:30 p.m. Faulk Central Library, 800 Guadalupe St. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-7400.
Wednesday 10
CONTINUED: Tech Toy Time: Ready Device Activate see Tuesday 9.
Friday 12
Tech Toy Time: Ready Device Activate 6:30 p.m. Hampton Branch at Oak Hill, 5125 Convict Hill Rd. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-9900.
Wednesday 17
Maximize Your Library 4 p.m. Faulk Central Library, 800 Guadalupe St. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-7400.
storytimes Public library storytime events listed here are free unless otherwise noted. Programs subject to change. Please contact before attending.
Sundays
Storytime Go to website for various events, locations, age groups, dates and times. Austin Public Library. FREE library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-7400.
continued on page 44
Sunday 28
Gold Star Mother’s Day Fall Festival and Corn Maze 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Barton Hill Farms, 1115 Farm to Market 969, Bastrop. $7 ages 3 to 10; $10 ages 11 and up. bartonhillfarms.com or 512-577-6541. CONTINUING: Maid Marian in a Stolen Car see Wednesday 3.
Monday 29
Open Chess 5 p.m. Laura’s Library, 9411 Bee Cave Rd. westbanklibrary.com or 512-327-3045.
Tuesday 30
Trailer Food Tuesdays 5 to 9 p.m. The Long Center, 701 W. Riverside Dr. thelongcenter.org. CONTINUING: Discovery! see Tuesday 2.
Pick us up at HEB, Whole Foods and Central Market
austinfamily.com | September 2014 | 43
continued from page 43
Mondays
Baby Bloomers 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Ages 0 to 3 and their caregivers. Thinkery, 1830 Simond Ave. Included with museum admission. thinkeryaustin.org or 512-469-6200. Pre-K Storytime 9:30 a.m. Leander Public Library, 1011 S. Bagdad Rd. leander.lib.tx.us or 512-259-5259. Baby Time 10 a.m. Ages 3 to 18 months. Pflugerville Public Library, 1008 W. Pfluger St. pflugervilletx.gov or 512-990-6375.
Infant Storytime 10:30 a.m. Birth to 1 year. Laura’s Library, 9411 Bee Cave Rd. westbanklibrary.com or 512-327-3045. Bookaneers 10:30 a.m. ages 4 to 6 years. Lake Travis Community Library, 2300 Lohman’s Spur, Suite 100. laketravislibrary.org or 512-263-2885. Bookworms 10:30 a.m. for ages 0 to 18 months. 11:15 a.m. for 12 to 24 months. Wells Branch Library, 15001 Wells Port Dr. wblibrary.org or 512-989-3188. Bilingual Storytime Kites/Barriletes 11 a.m. Pflugerville Public Library, 1008 W. Pfluger St. pflugervilletx.gov or 512-990-6375. Preschool Storytime 12:30 p.m. Ages 3 to 5 years. Laura’s Library, 9411 Bee Cave Rd. westbanklibrary.com or 512-327-3045. Preschool Storytime 7 p.m. Ages 3 to 6. Round Rock Public Library, 216 Main St. roundrocktexas.gov/library or 512-218-7011. Dual Language Storytime-Hora de cuentos en dos idiomas Go to website for various events, locations, age groups, dates and times. Austin Public Library. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-7400.
Tuesdays
Toddler Storytime and Preschool Storytime Go to website for various events, locations, age groups, dates and times. Austin Public Library. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-7400. Baby and Me 9:30 a.m. Ages 24 months and under with parent. Leander Public Library, 1011 S. Bagdad Rd. leander.lib.tx.us or 512-259-5259. Baby and Me Storytime 9:30 a.m. Ages 0 to 12 months Georgetown Public Library, 420 W. 8th St. library.georgetown.org or 512-930-3623. Storytime 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. Pflugerville Public Library, 1008 W. Pfluger St. pflugervilletx.gov or 512-990-6375. Preschool Storytime 10:30 a.m. Ages 3 to 5 years. Westbank Library, 1309 Westbank Dr. westbanklibrary.com or 512-327-3045. Tales for Tots 10:30 a.m. Toddlers ages 2 and 3 years. Lake Travis Community Library. 2300 Lohman’s Spur, Suite 100. laketravislibrary.org or 512-263-2885. Little Texas Homeschoolers 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wells Branch Community Library, 15001 Wells Port Dr. wblibrary.org or 512-989-3188.
44 | September 2014 | austinfamily.com
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Reading Dog R.E.A.D. Program 11 a.m. Pre-readers and readers welcome. Laura’s Library, 9411 Bee Cave Rd. westbanklibrary.com or 512-327-3045. Afternoon Storytime 3:30 p.m. All ages, bring the family. Westbank Library, 1309 Westbank Dr. westbanklibrary.com or 512-327-3045. Afternoon Storytime 4 p.m. All ages, bring the family. Laura’s Library, 9411 Bee Cave Rd. westbanklibrary.com or 512-327-3045. Storytime and Craft 6 and 7 p.m. Families with kids of all ages.Tickets required. Limit of 24 kids per class. Wells Branch Community Library, 15001 Wells Port Dr. wblibrary.org or 512-989-3188. Pajama Storytime 7 p.m. Willie Mae Kirk Branch, 3101 Oak Springs Dr. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-9920. Pajama Storytime 7 p.m. Manchaca Rd. Branch, 5500 Manchaca Rd. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-8700. Dual Language Storytime-Hora de cuentos en dos idiomas Go to website for various events, loca- tions, age groups, dates and times. Austin Public Library. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-7400. Spanish Storytime-Cuentos en Espanol Go to website for various events, loca- tions, age groups, dates and times. Austin Public Library. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-7400.
Story Pals Storytime 10:30 a.m. Ages 3 years and older. Georgetown Public Library, 420 W. 8th St. library.georgetown.org or 512-930-3623. Tot Time Storytime 10:30 a.m. Ages 1 to 3 years. Westbank Library, 1309 Westbank Dr. westbanklibrary.com or 512-327-3045. Tot Time Storytime 10:30 a.m. Ages 1 to 3 years. Laura’s Library, 9411 Bee Cave Rd. westbanklibrary.com or 512-327-3045. Book Babies 10:30 a.m. 3 to 24 months. Lake Travis Community Library, 2300 Lohman’s Spur, Suite 100. laketravislibrary.org or 512-263-2885. Storytime with Mr. George 11 a.m. Barnes & Noble, 14010 US Hwy 183. barnesandnoble.com or 512-249-5644. Afternoon Storytime 4 p.m. Laura’s Library, 9411 Bee Caves Rd. westbanklibrary.com or 512-327-3045. Arts and Crafts 6 p.m. 8 years and older with adult. Wells Branch Community Library, 15001 Wells Port Dr. wblibrary.org or 512-989-3188. Dual Language Storytime-Hora de cuentos en dos idiomas Go to website for various events, loca- tions, age groups, dates and times. Austin Public Library. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-7400.
Wednesdays
Thursdays
Toddler Storytime Go to website for various events, locations, age groups, dates and times. Austin Public Library. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-7400. Toddlertime 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. 18 to 36 month Round Rock Public Library, 216 Main St. roundrocktexas.gov/library or 512-218-7011. Babytime 9:30 to 10 a.m. 12 to 18 months. Round Rock Public Library, 216 Main St. roundrocktexas.gov/library or 512-218-7011. Wobbles Storytime 9:30 a.m. Ages 1 to 2 years. Georgetown Public Library, 420 W. 8th St. library.georgetown.org or 512-930-3623. Preschool Storytime 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. 3 years and older. Round Rock Public Library, 216 Main St. roundrocktexas.gov/library or 512-218-7011. Pre-K Storytime 10 to 10:30 a.m. Leander Public Library, 1011 S. Bagdad Rd. leander.lib.tx.us or 512-259-5259.
Babytime 9:30 a.m. Newborn to 1 year. Round Rock Public Library, 216 E. Main St. roundrocktexas.gov/library or 512-218-3279. Wobbles Storytime 9:30 a.m. Ages 1 to 2 years. Georgetown Public Library, 420 W. 8th St. library.georgetown.org or 512-930-3623. Story Pals Storytime 10:30 a.m. Ages 3 years and older. Georgetown Public Library, 420 W. 8th St. library.georgetown.org or 512-930-3623. Infant Storytime 10:30 a.m. Birth to 1 year. Laura’s Library, 9411 Bee Cave Rd. westbanklibrary.com or 512-327-3045. Spanish Storytime 10:30 a.m. All ages. Laura’s Library, 9411 Bee Cave Rd. westbanklibrary.com or 512-327-3045. Preschool Storytime 10:30 a.m. 3 years and older. Round Rock Public Library, 216 E. Main St., Round Rock. roundrocktexas.gov/library or 512-218-7012.
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Toddlertime 10:30 a.m. 18 months to 3 years. Round Rock Public Library, 216 E. Main St. roundrocktexas.gov/library or 512-218-7011. Story Crafternoon 3:30 to 4:15 p.m. Ages grades K to 5. Pflugerville Public Library, 1008 W. Pfluger St. pflugervilletx.gov or 512-990-6375. Spanish Storytime Go to website for various events, locations, age groups, dates and times. Austin Public Library. library.austintexas.
gov or 512-974-7400.
Dual Language Storytime-Hora de cuentos en dos idiomas Go to website for various events, locations, age groups, dates and times. Austin Public Library. library.austintexas. gov or 512-974-7400.
Fridays
Toddler Storytime and Preschool Storytime Go to website for various events, locations, age groups, dates and times. Austin Public Library. cityofaustin.org/ library or 512-974-7400. Baby and Me 9:30 a.m. Children 24 months and younger with their parents. Leander
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Public Library, 1011 S. Bagdad Rd. leander.lib.tx.us or 512-259-5259. Community Storytime 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Leander Public Library, 1011 S. Bagdad Rd. leander.lib.tx.us or 512-259-5259. Babytime 9:30 a.m. 12 to 18 months. Round Rock Public Library, 216 E. Main St. roundrocktexas.gov/library or 512-218-3279. Story Time 10 a.m. All ages. Lake Travis Library, 2300 Lohman’s Spur, Suite 100. laketravislibrary.org or 512-263-2885. Briarcliff Storytime 10 a.m. All ages. Briarcliff Community Center, 22801 Briarcliff Dr. laketravislibrary.org or 512-263-2885. Toddler Storytime 10:30 a.m. Ages 18 to 36 months. Wells Branch Community Library, 15001 Wells Port Dr. FREE. wblibrary.org or 512-989-3188. Toddlertime 10:30 a.m. 18 months to 3 years. Round Rock Public Library, 216 E. Main St. roundrocktexas.gov/library or 512-218-7011. Preschool Storytime 11:15 a.m. Ages 3 to 5 years. Wells Branch Community Library, 15001 Wells Port Dr. wblibrary.org or 512-989-3188. Dual Language Storytime-Hora de cuentos en dos idiomas Go to website for various events, locations, age groups, dates and times. Austin Public Library. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-7400.
Saturdays
Baby Bloomers 9 to 10 a.m. Ages 0 to 3 and their caregivers. Thinkery, 1830 Simond Ave. Included with museum admission. thinkeryaustin.org or 512-469-6200. Dual Language Storytime-Hora de cuentos en dos idiomas 10:15 a.m. Go to website for various events, locations, age groups, dates and times. Austin Public Library. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-7400. Saturday Storytime 11 a.m. Barnes & Noble, 14010 US Hwy 183. barnesandnoble.com or 512-249-5644. Family Storytime 11 a.m. Round Rock Public Library, 216 E. Main St. roundrocktexas.gov/library or 512-218-3279. Story Time 11 a.m. All ages. Wells Branch Community Library, 15001 Wells Port Dr. FREE. wblibrary.org or 512-989-3188.
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Tuesday 2
Children’s Story Time 10 to 10:30 a.m. French Legation Museum, 802 San Marcos St. FREE. frenchlegationmuseum.org or 512-472-8180. Chinese Bilingual Storytime 10:30 a.m. Ages 3 and up. Round Rock Public Library, 216 E. Main, Round Rock. FREE. roundrocktexas.gov/library or 512-218-3279.
Saturday 6
Bow Wow Read to a Dog Program 10:30 a.m. Ages pre-school to middle school. Round Rock Public Library, 216 E. Main, Round Rock. FREE. roundrocktexas.gov/library or 512-218-3279.
Saturday 13 and 27
Reading Fairy 11 a.m. Kindergarten through 5th grade. Leander Public Library, 1011 S. Bagdad Rd. leander.lib.tx.us or 512-259-5259.
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Focus On Doctors
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CareSpot Urgent Care CareSpot has five locations in Austin, Round Rock and Cedar Park, each open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Services include treatment for flu, infections, sprains, cuts and burns including x-rays, lab testing and physicals. Visit www. carespot.com for an appointment. In-Network with major insurance plans and affordable self-pay rates. See ad on page 6.
Dr. Will Garner
Little Spurs Pediatric Urgent Care Dr. Garner earned his medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. In 2008, he completed his pediatric residency at the UT Health Science Center San Antonio. He couldn’t wait to return to Austin, where he earned his bachelor’s degree at UT. He is excited to join the Little Spurs team, bringing pediatric-focused urgent care to the Austin area. See ad on page 14.
Dr. Linda Lopez
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Dr. Betty Richardson
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Dr. Theresa Willis
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Dr. Hana Zibdeh-Lough
Little Spurs Pediatric Urgent Care Dr. Zibdeh-Lough attended medical school at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her residency at the West Virginia University Charleston Area Medical Center. She is board certified in pediatrics and a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. She has experience in urgent care medicine and enjoys caring for children of all ages. See ad on page 14. Pick us up at HEB, Whole Foods and Central Market
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September is back-to-school month, but there is still time for family fun. The weather is warm, so here is a list of outdoor activities to help you soak up the sun and indoor activities to help you stay cool. PIZZA PARTY. September 5 is Cheese Pizza Day! Order a pizza or make one together at home. Pair this activity with a family movie night, and it will be relaxing fun for the whole family!
HOMEMADE CARDS. Grandparent’s Day is September 7, the perfect chance for your kids to show some love and appreciation: make homemade cards with colored paper, markers and paint. Fold the paper in half, “hot-dog style,” and have your children write a nice note on the inside. On the outside of the card, give them creative freedom. Grandparents will love to see what they come up with!
S’MORE FUN. Roasting marshmallows outside is a great way to wind down from a busy weekend. Your family can sit around the fire pit while talking about your favorite summer memories or playing silly games. All you need are graham crackers, marshmallows, chocolate and a fire! UPCYCLED SUNGLASSES. This craft is great for kids who wants to show their individual style. Take a pair of old or inexpensive sunglasses and simple supplies to make these shades super cool! Some ways to decorate the sunglasses include gluing sequins, jewels, glitter, feathers or beads. After everything has dried, have a little photoshoot! It’s a fun way to capture their creativity.
PAINTED POPCORN. You and your kids can be creative with this craft and then eat it for a snack! For this activity you only need popcorn, sweet evaporated milk, clean paintbrushes and food coloring. Mix the food coloring and sweet evaporated milk in cups or muffin tins to create different “edible paints.” When the popcorn is ready, start painting! Let your popcorn dry before eating it to avoid messy fingers. To make this activity more fun, try popping your popcorn the old-fashioned way on the stove!
YMCA of Austin after school programs are a great way to keep your kids safe and learning during the school year. The YMCA of Austin offers 15 locations throughout Travis, Hays and Bastrop counties. Registration is now open. Financial assistance available.
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book recommendations by Pam Heller
For Younger Readers Shoe Dog by Megan McDonald The cover illustration alone—a crayon swirled, charcoal smudged dog—sells this book! Shoe Dog is an adorable shelter dog who is hoping for a life filled with “nose kisses and tummy rubs.” His new owner fits the bill perfectly, except for one thing: she is a shoe lover, and he is a shoe chewer. Things are not going well in their relationship. But just when it seems that Shoe Dog may be headed back to the shelter, he finds a solution to his chewing habit. Perfect pacing, rich language with a good message, along with the whimsical and endearing illustrations make this a “read it to me again” winner! Ages 3 to 6. A Boy and A Jaguar by Alan Rabinowitz This is the true story of the author, who as a young boy discovered he could communicate easily with animals, but stuttered uncontrollably when talking with people. He made a vow to a lonely jaguar at the Bronx zoo that if he could, he would speak for the animals and keep them from harm. The book follows his path through college, his travels through the jungles and eventually, to his speech before the prime minister advocating the protection of jaguars. His story is a lesson to be shared about the power of perseverance, overcoming social and physical adversity and embracing one’s talents and goals. Ages 4 to 8.
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For Older Readers The Lost Treasure of Tuckernuck by Emily Fairlee Would you want to be a Tuckernuck Clucker? Neither does sixth-grader Laurie, but her parents are insisting that she attend their old junior high, Tuckernuck Hall. The school mascot is a chicken! How embarrassing! The school is decrepit, and the school board wants it torn down. But Laurie’s parents are convinced the building has historical value. Eighty years ago, the founder created a challenge that provided clues to a treasure. Laurie and classmate Bud discover the first clue, and the mystery leads them on an interesting journey of discovery. The inclusion of lists, notes and emails interspersed among the text add to the reader’s enjoyment and depth of understanding the characters and storyline. The fast pace and humor will keep readers interested to the very end. Ages 8 to 12. The Expeditioners (Treasure of Drowned Man’s Cavern) by S. S. Taylor This is the first in a series of adventure novels set in a retro-futuristic time when mankind is in a race to discover viable lands. Explorer Alexander West has mysteriously disappeared and is presumed dead. His three children (Zander, Kit and their sister, M.K) come into possession of half a treasure map created by their father. The adolescents team up with the daughter of another famous explorer to solve the mystery of the map. On their quest, they encounter dangerous animals, dangerous terrain and dangerous people. The clever plot and well-developed characters hook readers into wanting more. Luckily, the second in the series is due out in September. Ages 10 and up.
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films by Jack Kyser
Now In Theaters Magic in the Moonlight
Rated PG-13 Starring Colin Firth, Emma Stone, Marcia Gay Harden, Jacki Weaver, Simon McBurney, Eileen Atkins, Hamish Linklater Austin Family critical rating: of Austin Family Family-Friendly rating: of Magic in the Moonlight, Woody Allen’s 44th film, is our yearly reminder that there’s still at least one classic storyteller making great movies. Compared to last year’s Blue Jasmine and 2011’s Midnight in Paris—his recent Oscar-winning masterpieces—Magic in the Moonlight may not seem like the most serious or “important” Woody Allen picture, but that’s part of what’s so fun about the movie. Colin Firth stars as Stanley, a world-renowned magician in 1928 who goes by the stage name “Wei Ling Soo.” As the film opens, fellow magician Howard (Simon McBurney) visits Stanley after a performance in Berlin. He asks Stanley to accompany him to the French countryside and help debunk a particularly convincing American mystic named Sophie Baker (Emma Stone), who claims to communicate with the dead. Sophie and her mother (Marcia Gay Harden) currently hold a wealthy American family in thrall, as Sophie stages a series of séances to communicate with the deceased husband of Grace (Jacki Weaver). Highly skeptical and determined to prove her a fraud, Stanley is astonished to discover that Sophie may actually be the real thing.
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The movie posits that a little delusion is necessary to be truly happy in life. The central conflict in Magic in the Moonlight is whether our lead character is going to buy into that delusion or not. The movie playfully skewers both people who find comfort in talking with spirits, as well as rigid non-believers who are certain the universe contains no mysteries. Allen’s gift for showing us characters who completely rearrange their lives according to a new belief system (and then eventually return to their old way of thinking) is as sharp here as ever. Magic in the Moonlight is a delightful starting course for younger viewers curious about other kinds of pictures outside the multiplex. I remember seeing Allen’s Small Time Crooks (2000) and Hollywood Ending (2002) in cinemas at a young age, and though it wasn’t until seeing films like Annie Hall (1977), Hannah and Her Sisters (1986) and The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985) that I became a passionate Allen fan, it helped create for me an awareness of a different sensibility of filmmaking, more in tune with what cinema used to be. Like many Allen movies, Magic in the Moonlight is rated PG-13, but there’s hardly anything objectionable in the picture. It’s a lovely, well-written romance that you’re more likely to enjoy than anything else in current release.
π Kyser is a graduate of Austin High School and 2013 graduate of Jack New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.
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humor
by Susana Fletcher
PTA? I’m pacing myself…
Over the summer, my friend with a 5-year old, about to enter the world of elementary kindergarten, proudly posted on Facebook: “Bam! 5 minute phone call and I am now a PTA board member.” I didn’t know whether to congratulate her or warn her to GET OUT NOW! If you have a kindergartener or first grader, you should totally sign up for the PTA—they need your help and appreciate your time and effort. (If you’re the mom of older kids, hush up.) Being an active member of the PTA, you could have some serious influence and input into the life of your child’s school and education. You want to be on the board? Wonderful! Congratulations!! The joy and bright-faced naiveté of the younger parents is fantastic. They help out around the school; they are room moms. They are so essential to the function of an elementary community. I was there. I went to board meetings, volunteered at every event. I was the first to show and the last to leave. It was exciting, and a great way to get to know the school, the teachers and the administration. Within a matter of weeks, my child was known. The teachers started looking at her differently, since she was my kid: the child of the fun, friendly, helpful PTA volunteer.
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I’m not gonna lie, it’s kind of easy to exhaust yourself on volunteerism at an elementary school. There’s always something to do, some way to help. Ample parent involvement is part of what makes a great school a great school. Now that my littles are in fourth and fifth grade, I sit back and watch the new parents busy at task. And it is glorious. I still pay my $7 PTA dues. I still show up for the big stuff. When it comes to hours and hours and board meetings and unjamming the Xerox machine for the ten-thousandth time, I have earned my keep already. I have established my street cred and moved up in the parent hierarchy. Leave that stuff for the young. As for the parents who put in the full six years of service, from kindergarten to fifth grade? You’re a better person than I am. You are brave and tough and fantastic, and maybe a little bit crazy. My hat’s off to you. Susana Fletcher is a mother of three, writer, and blogger at SorryForParenting.com. She has been a member of the PTA for more than seven years.
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