Afm 2017 dec magazine by Austin Family Magazine

DECEMBER 2017

smar t parenting • healthy homes

Serving Austin’s Families Since 1992

GOT CANDY CANES? Games to Play at Your Next Holiday Party

11 Ideas for Presents That Aren’t Toys

RETHINK GIFTING

Plus:

FOOD & FAMILY How Chef Shawn Cirkiel Celebrates the Holidays YOUNG WRITERS CONTEST WINNERS! ARTICULOS EN ESPAÑOL

INSIDE!

CALENDAR | HOLIDAY EVENTS GUIDE | HOLIDAY CAMP GUIDE

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December 2017 austinfamily.com

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DECEMBER 2017

smart parenting • healthy homes

Holiday Games

columns

11 18 28 30

Family Matters

Having Enough, Being Enough

Lifelines

Is Your Young Adult Ready to Make Healthcare Decisions?

The Learning Curve Get More from Your Child’s STAAR Results

Family Connections Feliz Navigate!

Just for Grins

Holiday Traditions on My Naughty List

Catch Austin Family live on “Good Day Austin” every Friday morning and “Despierta Austin” the ﬁrst Friday morning of each month.

A Chef’s Christmas

calendar

34 34 39 39

en español

Museum Exhibits

Parenting Events

Family Events Story Times

Gifts That Aren’t Toys

Asuntos Familiares

Tener Suﬁciente, Ser Suﬁciente

Piensa Positivo

Usa el Miedo para Motivarte

in ever y issue

6 47

Play It Safe Recalls

Around Austin Kidzone

A Melting Snowman

extras

12 23 44 46

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Young Writers Contest Winners

Holiday Camps and Family Fun Guide Smart Screen Time Focus on Doctors

FILM REVIEW BY JACK KYSER THIS MONTH’S REVIEW:

“Darkest Hour” Read online at: www.austinfamily.com/films

On the Cover Charis, a 2017 Cover Kid winner, is looking forward to holiday games. Dress by Austin designer Ruby Pearl offered by Dragonsnaps. Photo by Jordan Ashley

December 2017 austinfamily.com

® December 2017

BY S H E R I DA M O C K

I know you’re busy, but let’s chat for a sec. It won’t take long, and it will make your December better, I promise. Because we’ve got a whole bunch of ways to make things easier on you.

PUBLISHER

Let’s start with our feature articles. Tired of turning to toys for gift giving? Read Alyssa Chirco’s great list of ideas for thinking outside the (toy) box. Need to ﬁnd something for the guests to do at your holiday party? Try Pam Molnar’s roundup of games that will get your crowd laughing and playing along.

COPY EDITOR

Volume 25, No.9

Kaye K. Lowak

EDITOR Sherida Mock: editor2003@austinfamily.com

Barb Matijevich

ADVISING EDITORS Dr. Betty Kehl Richardson, Barb Matijevich

CALENDAR EDITOR Betty Kemper: calendar2003@austinfamily.com

In addition, we got to peep inside the mind of a chef for the holiday season. Austin native Shawn Cirkiel chatted with us about what the holidays mean for him and his family. Guess what? Food plays a big role! And Betty Richardson advises us all that beyond the buzz and stress, it’s important to remember that most of us have enough to meet our needs and are enough just as we are. So settle in with your favorite people, slow down and enjoy these last few days of 2017. Before you know it, we’ll be reminding ourselves to write “2018” on everything. Happy Holidays from Austin Family magazine!

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Sherida Mock, Dr. Betty Richardson, Jack Kyser, Richard Singleton, Carrie Taylor, Brenda Schoolfield, Margaret Nicklas, Pam Molnar and Alyssa Chirco

TRANSLATION Maribel Ruvalcaba

GRAPHIC DESIGN Susie Forbes & Kim Crisler

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Jordan Ashley Photography

ADVERTISING SALES Kaye K. Lowak: kaye2003@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. Mailing Address: P.O. Box 7559, Round Rock, Texas 78683-7559 Phone Number: 512-733-0038 On the web at: 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 $30 per year. Copyright 2017. All rights reserved

No portion of Austin Family may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher.

December 2017 austinfamily.com

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Play it product recalls

sa fe

Government Recalls Infant Seats, Musical Toys and Wiggle Balls Fisher-Price is recalling about 63,000 infant motion seats because the motor housing can overheat, posing a ﬁre hazard. The recall involves Fisher-Price Soothing Motions Seats with model numbers CMR35, CMR36, CMR37 and DYH22 and Smart Connect Soothing Motions Seats with model number CMR39. Affected units were sold at BuyBuyBaby, Toys R Us, Target, Walmart and other stores nationwide and online at amazon.com and other websites between December 2015 and October 2017 for about $160 to $175. Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled seats and contact FisherPrice for a full refund. Kids Preferred is recalling about 587,000 windup musical toys because the metal post or handle of the windup mechanism can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children. The recall involves Carter’s, Child of Mine, Guess How Much I Love You and Just One You brands of windup musical plush toys in a variety of animal characters and colors. Affected units were sold at Carters, Target, Walmart and other stores nationwide and online between January 2016 and August 2017 for between $11 and $20. Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled toys, take them away from young children and contact Kids Preferred for a free replacement toy. Toys R Us is recalling about 29,700 wiggle balls because the ball’s rubber knobs and plastic back can detach, posing a choking hazard to infants. The recall involves Bruin Infant Wiggle Ball toys with model number 5F6342E. The ball wiggles, vibrates and plays three musical tunes. Affected units were sold at Babies R Us and Toys R Us stores nationwide between June 2016 and January 2017 for about $13. Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled balls, take them away from babies and return them to Babies R Us or Toys R Us for a full refund. The US 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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G O TO W W W. AU ST I N FA M I LY. C O M F O R W E E K LY U P DAT E S O F A RO U N D AU ST I N N E W S

Must-Do This

Walking in a Winter Wonderland The Trail of Lights in Zilker Park opens to the public on Dec. 9 and runs through Dec. 23. The annual event, produced by the nonprofit Trail of Lights Foundation, expects to welcome 400,000 guests this year. New highlights will include seating at a mid-way rest area and an upgraded final tunnel with twice as many lights. Special events will include UT Night on Dec. 10, in which the Trail of Lights turns burnt orange; HEROES Night on Dec. 12, which honors first responders, active military and veterans; and Movie Night on Dec. 19. In addition, live entertainment will include a schedule of local musicians and storytellers. Organizers are asking visitors to bring a can of food to donate to the Central Texas Food Bank.

The 53rd annual Trial of Lights runs Dec. 9 – 23 in Zilker Park. Photo by Casy Chapman-Ross Photography.

Admission will be free on Dec. 9 – 14 and Dec. 18 – 19. All other days, admission will be $3 for people ages 12 and older and free for children under 12. ZiP Fast Passes are available for $15 per person and let pass holders avoid lines, gain entrance an hour before the public and relax at an exclusive ZiP Lounge.

December 2

Holiday Sing-Along and Downtown Stroll at the State Capitol and along Congress Ave.

9-23

Trail of Lights at Zilker Park

Austin’s New Year at Auditorium Shores

Beautifying Austin At its annual awards celebration in December, Keep Austin Beautiful recognized Jose Garcia-Chong with its Dell Youth Achievement award and The Expedition School with its Samsung Litter Abatement award. Garcia-Chong spent three years as a member of the Green Teens club at Paredes Middle School. Green Teens is a Keep Austin Beautiful organization that helps students provide service on their campus and in their community. In presenting the award, Keep Austin Beautiful cited Garcia-Chong’s outstanding leadership, knowledge and passion. The Expedition School helped remove more than 1,000 pounds of litter in the past year and engaged hundreds of volunteers through the Clean Lady Bird Lake program. They also educated Green Teens club members in water craft technique and safety. Jose Garcia-Chong received the Dell Youth Achievement

award at Keep Austin Beautiful’s annual awards celebration. Photo courtesy of Keep Austin Beautiful.

December 2017 austinfamily.com

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Augmented Reality In October, St. Gabriel’s Catholic School partnered with Google to bring the Expeditions Augmented Reality (AR) Pioneer Program to its classrooms. With this program, teachers used AR to bring 3D objects into the classroom, where students explored the objects up close as they walked around. Teachers in several grade levels used the experience to supplement their curriculum.

Getting Healthy A recent report from Austin Public Health ﬁnds that childhood obesity remains a serious problem in Travis County. The report, released in October, found that more than 28 percent of Travis County students in grades 3 – 12 were overweight or obese. Furthermore, the data found a high correlation between students who are overweight or obese and students in school districts with economic disadvantage. The report recommends that doctors and other healthcare professionals talk to parents and patients about the health risks of carrying extra weight, promote healthy eating and activity, and educate pregnant women about breastfeeding during the ﬁrst year of life.

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Students at St. Gabriel’s Catholic School use augmented reality in their classroom lessons. Photo courtesy of St. Gabriel’s Catholic School.

December 2017 austinfamily.com

Tuning In Nov. 7 marked the premiere episode of Hodges Half Dozen, a TLC reality show about Temple residents Liz and Daniel Hodges, their new quintuplets and 2-yearold son Rowan. The quintuplets—named Teagan, Connell, Liam, Nolan and Dillion—were born at Seton Medical Center Austin in March. Local startup Yip Yap offers a mobile device made for kids but controlled by the parent’s smart phone. Photo courtesy of Yip Yap.

Introducing Technology Austin-based startup Yip Yap was recently selected as the winner of a national contest called Startup Suite hosted by Suiteness. As the winner, Yip Yap will get to meet with top venture capitalists in San Francisco.

The high-risk delivery took place three months before the babies were full-term. TLC’s production crew followed the Hodges family for four months afterward in the NICU, where the infants learned to eat and grew strong enough to go home. The show currently airs on TLC on Tuesday nights at 9 p.m. and is also available for streaming at tlc.com.

Yip Yap’s signature product, Pipsqueak, is a mobile device made for kids that allows parents to control games, calling, texting, photos, videos and more by way of an app on the parent’s smart phone. The company was founded by Angela Smith, an Austin mom of four looking for a way to let her kids use mobile technology while maintaining control over the content and contacts. A new show on TLC follows the Hodges family as they navigate life with new quintuplets and a 2 year old. Photo courtesy of Seton Healthcare Family.

December 2017 austinfamily.com

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Shifting Gears

Vintage cars helped young drivers learn how to operate manual transmissions at the Hagerty Driving Experience at the Circuit of the Americas. Photo by Sherida Mock.

In conjunction with December’s US Vintage Racing National Championship at Circuit of the Americas, young drivers ages 15 to 25 learned the ins and outs of starting and driving manual transmission vehicles through the Hagerty Driving Experience. Before getting behind the wheel, participants learned how manual transmissions operate. Then drivers had the opportunity to try several vehicles, including a 1958 Chevrolet Apache, 1965 Ford Mustang, 1967 Shelby GT 350, 1969 Chevelle SS 396, 1992 Mazda Miata and 2002 Mazda Miata. Seventeen-year-old Ian dropped in to learn a thing or two. “My mom drives a standard,” he says. “I had trouble learning how to drive her car, but I think her car is a lot more fun to drive than my car.”

22.6 million

Real Christmas trees sold Source: American Christmas Tree Association

92%

Americans who celebrate Christmas Source: Pew Research Center

$967.13

Average spent per person this holiday season Source: National Retail Federation

All vehicles used for instruction were volunteered by Austin-based classic car owners. Ken Karrer, President of the Central Texas Region of the Cadillac and LaSalle Club, brought a friend’s classic car to the event. “I’ve been in education for 40 years,” Karrer says. “Working with kids is always important to me.”

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December 2017 austinfamily.com

Financing the Future To help Austin youth prepare for a successful ﬁnancial future, the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Austin Area hosted a “Reality Store” in October at the Bertha Sadler Means Young Women’s Leadership Academy with the help of local experts from Charles Schwab.

Experts from Charles Schwab provided ﬁnancial information to girls through a Reality Store hosted by the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Austin Area. Photo courtesy of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Austin Area.

The Reality Store was an interactive, hands-on experience for the young women, who discovered the realities of adult life—understanding careers and salaries, managing income and expenses, and planning savings and investments. It’s part of a year-long

Mentoring Youth

Friends of the Children, a mentoring program, has announced plans to open a chapter in Austin. In late October, the organization reported that it will spend $2.4 million expanding its presence in Massachusetts and opening new chapters in Texas, Oregon, North Carolina and California.

program called Money Matters: Make it Count, a curriculum for building ﬁnancial responsibility among Boys & Girls Club members. “This program is designed to give the young girls a reality check,” says Michele Glaze, Vice President of Resource Development for the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Austin Area. “They’re given a profession and a salary, and then they go station to station and have to pay bills. Are you renting or buying a home? You go pay utilities. Do you have pets? Children? It opens up their eyes to what living really costs.”

Headquartered in Oregon, Friends of the Children pairs at-risk youth with a long-term professional mentor from kindergarten through high school graduation. Mentors spend time in each child’s home, school and community, providing continuity across different facets of the child’s life. Friends of the Children says the organization has seen 83 percent of its youth graduate from high school, 93 percent avoid the juvenile justice system and 98 percent avoid early parenting. For more information, visit friendsofthechildren.org.

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BY B E T T Y R I C H A R D S O N

Having Enough, Being Enough

The holiday season always leaves my family stressed and deﬂated. The kids have a case of the “gimmes,” I feel the burden of trying to visit out-of-town extended family and when the holidays are over, we all seem disenchanted. How can we turn it around this year so we feel happy and less stressed?

Where did these children’s “gimmes” come from? Did you set the expectation of many gifts by overdoing presents in the past? Now’s the time to correct that and teach them that Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanza is for others as well as for themselves, and there is a “reason for the season” beyond presents. Let them know what they can reasonably expect this year. It could be one big present and two small ones or a certain monetary amount spent on each child. Some families with small children have one present from Santa and one from parents. Some follow a formula like one present the child wants, one the child needs, one present to wear and one to read. In addition to receiving, there is the joy of giving, which is something you can help your children experience. Maybe you have extra chores your children can do to earn money to buy a gift for a friend or a toy drive. Another option is

for them to make gifts or holiday cards for others. Here are some more ideas for bringing joy to your holidays: 1. Decide what you must have to make it feel like the holidays: homemade cookies? Latkes? Decorations or a tree? Involve the children in whatever it is—baking or decorating, for example. Doing things together makes these moments memorable and brings you closer together. As for cookies, I think some store-bought varieties taste better than the ones I make. 2. Focus on spending time with each family member in relaxing activities like reading, taking a walk or watching a favorite holiday movie. 3. Create new traditions like caroling with friends, volunteering as a family or delivering a holiday meal. 4. Decide—along with your spouse or partner—which parties or other activities you want to say “yes” to, so you’re not overscheduled. 5. Ask yourself how much you enjoy traveling to see extended family and the time spent with them. If the answer is “not so much,” you have options; you could tell them you

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would like to have a simple holiday at home this year. If you want to be especially considerate, ask them how they’d feel about your skipping the holiday at their house. If you do enjoy time with them, think about ways you could make the trip easier and more enjoyable. 6. Talk with family members about how you all might make your lives simpler and more enjoyable. Yesterday, I spoke with a friend who expressed her delight in becoming a minimalist. She’s stopped buying things she doesn’t need and reduced her belongings. How many of us buy more than we need just because something is cute or on sale? Sometimes we buy holiday gifts we know adults on our list don’t need or we’re not sure they’ll even like, just so we can ﬁnally get through with our shopping. The gift of an IOU for a later experience like a trip to the ball park or the water park might be more fun. The idea is for you to take charge of the holidays by curbing the impulse to spend more than you should or do more than you want. Don’t let commercialism or obligations exhaust you with their expectations. af Betty Richardson, PhD, RNC, LPC, LMFT, is an Austin-based psychotherapist.

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Congratulations to these young folks for submitting the winning entries! This year’s theme was, “It seemed like a good idea at the time.” And let’s just say, we heard about plenty of nail-biting scenarios from all the young writers. Our judges had a hard task in choosing a winner and runner-up for each grade. Thanks to all those who entered for your creative and diverse pieces.

4th Grade Winner Gabriella Berger,

Well, I bet you’re thinking whoever thought of this idea was deﬁnitely not a genius, but what if I tell you that I am genuinely that genius.

Serene Hills Elementary “Ahhhh!’’ I yelled, “My bikini is frozen!” I was making a snow angel in my bikini! It all started when my friends and I were on vacation, in a hot tub, even though there was snow falling, playing truth or dare. “I pick dare,” I said very bravely. “Ok,” said one of my friends named Sarina. “I dare you to make a snow angel... in your bikini!” “Oh No!” I thought. My friends really wanted me to do it, so I did. I got out into the cold and thought, “Why in the world did I take that dare?” But I did it for my friends. When I stepped out on the ground, with no shoes, the wet and cold snow covered my feet, but I kept going. When I got to a good spot, I started to sit, my butt shivered and I took a deep breath. It felt like I was sitting on a giant ice cube. My back froze as I laid upon the ice. I was so very cold. My whole body shivered like an earthquake. I started doing jumping jacks in the snow. When I got up out of the snow, it was starting to get fun, so, I laid back down and did 10 more jumping jack-snow angels in the snow until I was tired and could do no more. “That was fun!” I said when I got up. I joined my friends in the hot tub and started to thaw. We played again until one of the parents said it was time to go to bed. So that's how I made a snow angel in...my… bikini. Would I do it again? YES!

It all started out like a regular day. My friend Chandra was bored. I got an idea. “Hey! Want to do a science experiment?” I asked eagerly. Chandra was interested. We got to work. We decided to do the old baking soda and vinegar experiment but a little differently. We thought of adding see through slime that I made at summer camp. I didn’t know the chemicals used to make this slime. Chandra and I wanted to see how they would react with baking soda and vinegar. I sprinted down the rough basement steps to ask my aunt for permission. We quickly gathered our materials and got to work. I opened the container that had slime and placed it on the concrete. I knew this was a great idea. “Would you like to have the honor of putting the ingredients in my friend?” I asked Chandra. “You pour the vinegar and I will pour baking soda,” Chandra replied. 3…2…1… We both poured our ingredients, but all the slime did was puff up a little. I grew restless. I picked up the container, screwed on the cap and shook as hard as I could. No more than 4 seconds, half the slime went on my shirt and backﬁred on the hot concrete. I guess that idea seemed good at the time, but in the end, not so much.

5th Grade Winner Astrid Gothard, Barton Hills Elementary

4th Grade Runner-up Spandana Palyam, Harmony Science Academy Have you ever thought you were the most amazing genius in the world for a second? And once you ﬁnished your idea, you are like boo-hoo, this was a waste of time and all I have got left from this idea was a mess to clean up?

December 2017 austinfamily.com

It seemed like a good idea at the time when I was a ﬁve year old and going through a phase of stealing, tricking and bullying kids just to get their stuff. I committed my worst crime yet when I tried to trick my little sister, Rosemary. I was so incredibly jealous of a small bird stuffed animal my sister had just received for her birthday. I had recently gotten in trouble for stealing, so I decided to trick my sister into thinking that Birdy, the bird stuffed animal, wanted to be with me more. View the magazine online at austinfamily.com

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Late at night, I tiptoed out of bed and started to write a note: Dear Rosemary, you are a good girl, but sometimes you can be bad. Your sister Ira is much nicer than you, so I want to be HER stuffed animal. Give me to Ira. Love, Birdy

Our judges wanted to distinguish one more young writer as the most creative in the bunch. Honorable Mention goes to Charlie

Mounce, a 5th grader at Barton Hills Elementary!

I left the note on Rosemary’s chair, and went to bed. The next morning I woke to the sound of screaming. I rushed out of my bedroom and saw Rosemary in the kitchen yelling, “Birdy thinks I’m bad!” Mom glared when she saw me, and I knew she had seen right through my plot. Eventually Rosemary forgave me, and I ﬁnished my extra chores that I had to do as punishment. I never, ever, tried tricking my sister again.

5th Grade Runner-up Timothy Meckel, Barton Hills Elementary

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Okay, okay. It wasn’t my greatest idea yet, but it felt like the water almost pulled me in. It was just like any other day, but I was feeling adventurous, so I decided to attempt a daredevil move. I was going to do the unthinkable, I was going to pull off a stunt no one had ever pulled off before. I was going to jump off my roof into the pool and catch it all on video so I could brag to everyone I know. My friend Colby was ﬁlming, and I had about half a dozen friends watching me. It sounds like such a great idea, right! But sadly, this wasn’t like some scene in a James Bond movie. More like a 10-year-old kid making a freefall, and missing the pool by about 7 feet. I know, talk about pathetic. That stupid move cost me two weeks in the hospital, a broken leg and the nickname “Superman.” Flying is no easy thing. Now, I treat even grackles with respect.

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December 2017 austinfamily.com

Games Yule Want to Play for Holly-Day Enjoy-Mint

BY PA M M O L N A R

Playing games at your next holiday party can bring everyone together, encourage laughter and create wonderful memories. Games are not just for the kids. Adults can enjoy the friendly competition and camaraderie that comes from playing, too. Having fun is contagious—even those who don’t participate in the game love to watch and get into the holiday spirit.

What’s in Santa’s Bag? Make Santa’s bag out of an old pillow case or create your own with red fabric. Fill the bag with 10-15 small household items like a hairbrush, wooden spoon or apple. Tie the bag closed with a ribbon. Give each guest a sheet of paper and a pen and ask them to guess what is in Santa’s bag by feeling for items from the outside of the bag. When playing the game with young children, pair them up with older kids or parents to help them write their answers. The winner is the person who guessed the most items correctly.

Holiday Charades Write the names of movies or holiday characters that are easily recognized by your group on index cards. Place the cards in a decorated box. Turn on some music, have all the players sit in a circle and pass the box around. When the music stops, the person holding the box picks a card and acts out what is on it. If your guests prefer drawing to acting, supply a large dry erase board and markers. When someone guesses correctly, turn the music back on and the game starts again.

Coordinated Wrapping This game works best with older children and adults. Pair up your guests and have them put their arm around the other person’s back, leaving one right arm and one left arm from the couple unrestricted. Supply a shirt box, wrapping paper, scissors, tape and a bow. Ask them to wrap the box together with each person only using one arm. Make it a relay race by having more than one team of conjoined wrappers. Give prizes for the fastest team or the best wrapped package.

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Name That Tune Play a couple of seconds of a popular holiday song and ask your guests to name the song. A variation on this game for older children and adults could be to play the song and have guests sing the next line. More tech savvy hosts can put together several movie clips and have their guests name the movie, actors or next line.

Who’s the Artist?

Provide a clipboard, sheet of white paper and a pen for each player. The players must hold the clipboard on their heads while they draw, so that they can’t see what they are drawing. One person gives instructions for a holiday scene. Instructions might be to draw a ﬁreplace with three stockings; add a Christmas tree in the corner; put a star on top of the tree, etc. When everyone is done, choose a judge to determine the best picture. This simple game will guarantee laughter from artists and judges alike.

Celebrity Sighting Write the names of holiday figures (such as a shepherd or Rudolph) on a name tag or wide masking tape and put one on the back of each of your guests without them seeing the name. Have the guests mingle with each other, asking only yes or no questions to try to figure out who they are. This is a great game for breaking the ice and socializing with everyone when guests first arrive. Make your holiday party entertaining and enjoyable. Encourage your guests to get off their chairs, put down their plates and join in the fun. Playing a game breaks down the walls we build around ourselves as we share the holiday spirit and joy of the season. Pam Molnar is a freelance writer and mother of three teens.

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December 2017 austinfamily.com

Chef and Dad Shawn Cirkiel Cooks Up Holiday Memories BY S H E R I DA M O C K

“I always joke that I grew up very confused,” he says. “But I grew up lucky. My grandparents and extended family are very close, and in our house, we always cooked. That’s how I ended up where I am.”

[L to R] Bria, Noah, Shawn and Dylan Cirkiel enjoy time together. Photo courtesy of Shawn Cirkiel.

For chef Shawn Cirkiel, food is a way to build bridges across generations and cultures, and his favorite opportunities to do that come around the holiday season. The Austin native grew up visiting extended family in two very different settings: one side of his family hails from the Bronx in New York City and the other from the woods of the Ozarks. The city mouse/country mouse combo gave him experiences from bustling urban restaurants to well water and wood-burning stoves.

December 2017 austinfamily.com

Where he is, is the executive chef and owner of Parkside Projects, a company that operates the restaurants Parkside, The Backspace, Olive & June, Bullﬁght and Jugo. Event venues 800 Congress and a soon-to-open “7Co” round out the businesses that keep this father of two moving all day, all over town.

we celebrate his birthday. We invite friends and extended family over, and have it right at the time he was born, which was 7:11 p.m. This way, he gets his own unique thing. A few years ago, we started cooking a theme meal for his birthday. We’ve done Japan, Vietnam, India, Morocco. We do 15 to 20 different items. This past year, we had almost 60 people at the house. He and I cook it all together from scratch and serve everybody. It’s kind of his birthday party and present. That’s become our Christmas holiday.

With Thanksgiving, Christmas and a family birthday to celebrate, Cirkiel ﬁnds this time of year especially busy. But amid the holiday hustle, he made time to sit down and speak with us about food, family and the traditions he hopes to pass along to his kids.

AFM: Tell us about your family.

Cirkiel: Noah will be 14 this

year, and my daughter Dylan just turned 10. My wife Bria and I have been married almost 16 years. My son’s birthday is actually Christmas Day. Everybody was in Santa hats and elf stuff—it was so weird at the hospital. But we had to ﬁgure out a way to make his day special. So, we always celebrate the holiday together, and then that night,

Dylan and Noah have inherited their father’s sense of hospitality. Photo courtesy of Shawn Cirkiel.

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really is the great emotional connector. It’s that sense of togetherness and hospitality that’s super special.

AFM: What foods and traditions are you passing down to your kids?

AFM: Have your kids shown any interest in becoming chefs?

Cirkiel: Both very much love to

be in the kitchen. They love to help out. My son enjoys cooking at home, but he doesn’t want to do it for a living. And my daughter’s too young to know yet.

Cirkiel: I try to pass down the

Dylan and Noah have grown up eating family meals at their father’s restaurants. Photo courtesy of Shawn Cirkiel.

AFM: What did food mean to you growing up?

Cirkiel: It was what connected

people—strangers, visitors, friends, family—whether it was eating together or cooking together, it was always that thing that brought everyone together emotionally and culturally. It’s really what—I think—deﬁnes all of us and gives us a sense of place. My mom would always invite people from work or kids’ families to join us for the holidays. And we’d always have a random 10 people from the Sudan on a cultural exchange or something. So, as I travel around the world more and more, I see how much the act of cooking and eating connects us all. It’s the one thing that everybody does. You know, everyone has an opinion about it, which is great, because it

emotional connection to the food, whether you make it with your hands or that cleanup is part of the process, taking care to ﬁnish it all the way through, and entertaining others. To me, it’s a tradition of togetherness, of helping, of working hard and spending time with your family. It’s not necessarily a recipe; it’s about togetherness.

AFM: You’re very busy! How do you manage family time and work time?

Cirkiel: I try to go back and forth. It used to be that the kids would come to the restaurants a lot. We do family meals at all the restaurants every day—all the staff eat together— and so the kids would come for that. But as they’ve gotten busy, I’ve had to adapt, and so I’ll come home and either cook them dinner or do their soccer or their sports and then come back to the restaurants.

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Noah and Dylan get to travel and eat all over the world. Photo courtesy of Shawn Cirkiel.

AFM: Do your kids expect three-course meals at home?

Cirkiel: No, not at all. We have those little microwavable macaroni things for snacks after school. Just like every parent, I have one kid that’s more adventurous with food than the other. They do articulate certain things in different ways, whether it’s talking about cheeses or the texture of something, because they’re just more aware of it on certain levels. And they’ve traveled and eaten all over the world so much. But ultimately, they’re kids. af December 2017 austinfamily.com

BY B R E N DA S C H O O L F I E L D

Is Your Young Adult Ready to Make Healthcare Decisions? Like most parents of a young adult, you’ve probably spent many hours in the pediatrician’s office over the years. Whether you took your child in for a “well visit” or a medical concern, you were there for most of the visits and made most of the decisions. At some point, between 18 and 21 years old, your young adult will need to transition from pediatric healthcare to adult-oriented healthcare. It’s easy to choose a new doctor, transfer medical records and ﬁll out new patient forms. But it’s hard to let go of making your child’s healthcare decisions. Letting go is particularly difficult if your young adult has a chronic disease or disability.

December 2017 austinfamily.com

Preparing Your Child How can you prepare your child to assume responsibility for her own healthcare? Cody Godfrey, DO, a family medicine doctor with Baylor Scott & White in Austin, advises: “Talk to your child about the importance of maintaining health as we grow older. Beginning in early adolescence, give your child increasing responsibility in making her own healthcare decisions. This will foster independence and help her build conﬁdence in her healthcare decision-making ability. As children move through adolescence, providers spend more one-on-one time with patients, but parents are usually involved. Once children reach adulthood, they are typically at appointments by themselves without a parent there to guide them.” The Importance of a Medical Home A “medical home” is not a place—it’s a health partnership with a trusted, compassionate healthcare provider. The provider and family work together to make decisions. The medical home

provider and care team coordinate all the child’s healthcare needs, including well visits, sick care and behavioral health needs. Dr. Godfrey recommends that young adults have a medical home after they transition from pediatric care. He notes the following reasons: • “Most young adults are healthy and don’t need to see the doctor for a chronic disease. When they do see a doctor, it’s usually for a minor illness or injury. Both primary care doctors and urgent care doctors can manage the minor issues without a problem—but if the illness is more severe or requires follow-up, having an established medical home gives the young adult a point of contact to guide her on the road to recovery.” • “When a young adult goes to her medical home provider with an acute concern, unlike an urgent care or emergency room, the provider already knows the patient and can

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more easily personalize the treatment to meet the patient’s needs.” • “Children with chronic conditions or disabilities often go to pediatric specialists. Pediatric specialists usually only see patients until age 21. It can be difficult for many young adults to ﬁnd an adult specialist to continue their care as they grow older. Having a medical home can be extremely helpful during this time. The medical home provider can be a great resource during this transition and help bridge the gap.”

4. See the doctor for annual visits and as needed. Annual visits are important for promoting a long and healthy adulthood. In addition to basic health problems, young adults have a high incidence of mental health illness and sexually transmitted diseases. Early detection and treatment of these or other problems are extremely important.

Dr. Godfrey tells parents, “Take a deep breath and pat yourself on the back! You have helped your children navigate the health system throughout their childhood years and have prepared them for success as adults.” It’s now time for your children to make their own decisions. But be ready, and be there for them when they come to you with questions. af Brenda Schoolﬁeld is a freelance medical writer who splits her time between Austin and Seattle.

• “Finally, having a medical home makes ﬁnancial sense. Going to the medical home provider for an acute visit is usually half the price of an urgent care visit and can be hundreds of dollars less than an emergency room visit. Also, doctors who do not know a patient may need to order extra tests to better understand the patient’s problem. These tests may not be needed by the medical home provider.” The Transition Process Once the young adult is ready to begin making her own healthcare decisions, the transition is easy. Dr. Godfrey says, “There is not as much involved in the transition process as you might expect.” Here are the steps he outlines: 1.

Locate a provider. The young adult may ﬁnd one based on recommendations from the pediatrician or from friends.

2. Transfer medical records. If the young adult has a history of medical problems, get a copy of those records to the new doctor. The young adult may ask her pediatrician to send the records to the new doctor, or the new doctor can request them. 3. Make the initial appointment. During this ﬁrst appointment, the new doctor and young adult will get to know each other. This is a good time for the young adult to discuss any questions or concerns. Pick us up at HEB, Whole Foods and Central Market

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Thinking

Outside the (Toy) Box:

11 Creative,

Ideas for Kids BY A LYS SA C H I R C O

1. Memberships Are you tired of When you invest in season passes or spending your hardannual memberships, your kids get to earned money on visit the places they love all year presents that get played long. Choose from favorite local destinations like zoos, wildlife with briefly and then centers, amusement parks, water tossed aside? Keep in parks and museums. mind that toys are not 2. Experiences the only type of gift that Instead of a gift card to yet another kids love to receive. Next store at the mall, why not give a gift time you’re shopping for certificate or voucher for an experience or activity your child a holiday, birthday or would enjoy? Consider options like other special occasion, bowling, skating, horseback riding or indoor rock climbing. try thinking outside the proverbial toy box. You’ll 3. Subscriptions discover many creative, Popular children’s magazines like non-toy gift ideas sure to Highlights, Cricket and National Geographic Kids help build literacy surprise and delight skills—and they encourage kids to read for fun. Give your child one copy children of all ages.

December 2017 austinfamily.com

as a gift, then watch his eyes light up each time a new issue arrives in the mail or becomes available for download.

4. Tickets Tickets to a sporting event like a basketball, hockey or baseball game make a great gift for a little sports fan, especially when accompanied by a team jersey. Not into sports? Encourage your kids to embrace the arts with tickets to a play, concert or ballet. Many venues offer short, interactive performances specifically for younger audiences.

Wrap up an item they can use so they will have a gift to open.

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5. Lessons From weekly dance or karate lessons to a special, parent-child cooking class, kids love the opportunity to learn new things. Wrap up an item they can use for their lessons— perhaps a new leotard for dance or a personalized apron for cooking—so they will have a gift to open.

6. Coupon Book Turn the tables on those handmade coupon books that kids love to give as gifts. Design a book of your own featuring coupons your child will be excited to redeem. Ideas include: • A “Get Out of Chores Free” pass • An ice cream date with Mom or Dad • A “Technology Ticket” for extra time using an electronic device • A chance to stay up 30 minutes past bedtime

7. Homemade Gift Basket Instead of buying one large gift, make a themed gift basket comprised of smaller gifts related to something your child enjoys. For an avid reader, build a book basket filled with books, bookmarks, a book light and a gift certificate to a local bookstore. For a movie buff, create a family movie night basket filled with DVD’s or a Netflix subscription, boxes of movie theater candy and popcorn.

Give your children a reminder that special occasions are about more than just the presents they receive.

spree can be a much-appreciated gift. Plan to spend an entire day together trying on outfits, having lunch and enjoying quality, one-onone time.

9. Bedroom Makeover Your daughter may have loved her bedroom a few years ago, but does it reflect her interests now? If she’s ready for a change, surprise her with a new set of bedding. Include accessories like curtains and pillows, and include paint swatches so she can choose a new color for her walls.

10. Pet Give your child the gift of a pet of his very own. Just be sure to give this some forethought and determine whether he’s truly ready for the care a creature deserves. You might start small with a low-maintenance pet like a fish or a hamster. Keep costs down by spreading the word among extended family that accessories— such as food, cages and pet toys—would make great gifts.

11. Something that Gives Back Not ready to bring an animal into your home? Make a donation to the World Wildlife Fund at worldwildlife.org to adopt one in your child’s name. Or choose another nonprofit that aligns with your child’s interests, such as a food bank, homeless shelter or emergency relief organization. When you give a gift that gives back, you give your children a reminder that birthdays and special occasions are about more than just the presents you receive.

8. Shopping Spree For the teen or tween who wants a new wardrobe, a special shopping

Alyssa Chirco is a mother of two who writes about parenting and family life.

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December 2017 austinfamily.com

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CAMPS

Country Home Learning Centers Winter Program Throughout the holiday season, we provide planned ﬁeld trips for our school-age children. Ages 5 to 13 6900 Escarpment Blvd., Austin 512-288-8220 13120 US Hwy. 183 N., Austin 512-331-1441 www.countryhomelearningcenter.com

Café Monet Kids’ Night Out

Y GUI A D I D OL

Dec. 1, 6 to 8 p.m. Projects, pizza, hot cocoa, and holiday cookies. Dec 10, 1 to 2:30 p.m. Paint with Santa Storytime and handprints on your own custom designed cookie plate. Westgate Shopping Center Austin – 512-892-3200 Triangle Shopping Center Austin – 512-906-2200 www.cafemonet.org

Camp Doublecreek Winter Break Camp

Cheer Station Christmas Break Tumble Clinics Dec. 27 – 29, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Jan. 2 – 3, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Learn the newest techniques in a safe and encouraging environment. Do you want to know more about the "Cheer Station Way" of mastering your skills? Just ask our clients! Ages 3 and up 12112 Boardwalk Dr. Austin - 512-45CHEER www.cheerstation.com

PS & EVEN

Challenger School Come for uniquely fun and academic classes for holidays. Ages preschool to 8th grade Avery Ranch - 512-341-8000 Pond Springs - 512-258-1299 Round Rock - 512-255-8844 www.challengerschool.com

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Dec. 26 – 29 Since 1971, our exceptional, friendly and caring staff have fulﬁlled Doublecreek’s mission that “every camper leaves at the end of the day knowing someone believes in them.” If you haven’t been to Doublecreek, you haven’t been to day camp. Early registration for summer camp begins Nov. 15. Ages 4 to 14 800 Doublecreek Dr. Round Rock - 512-255-3661 www.campdoublecreek.com

Dance Discovery Winter Fine Arts Camp Dec. 18 -19, 11:15 to 2:15 Ages 3 to 8 Theatre, Ballet, and Winter Crafts (Ages 3-5) Musical Theatre, Jazz, and Prop Design (Ages 6-8) 7729 Burnet Rd., Austin 512-419-7611 www.DanceDiscovery.com

December 2017 austinfamily.com

CAMPS continued

Fantastic Magic Camp Dec. 20 – 22, Dec. 26 – 29 Kids discover their unique inner magic through learning magic tricks, juggling and puppetry. Every day is ﬁlled with fun, laughter and lots of surprises. You must register for Winter Break Camp in order to register for add-on days. Ages 5 to 12 512-850-4677 www.magiccamp.com

Fun 2 Learn Code Dec. 20 – 22, Jan. 2 – 5 Computer programming day camps for ages 7 to 12 in Scratch programming and intro to coding and ages 10 to 16 in Scratch programming, video game creation, Python and/or app development. Ages 7 to 16 301 Hester’s Crossing Rd., Suite 120 Round Rock - 512-900-8380 www.fun2learncode.com Rio Vista Winter

Newk’s Adventure Camps

Winter Tennis Camps Dec. 18 – 23, 26 – 31 (Tennis Camp) We are a home away from home, where bui bodies and strong values are the heart of ou New Braunfels - 830-625-9105 www.newktennis.com Winter Camps Ski Colorado Dec. 26 – Jan. 2 Join us on our Christmas Ski Camp in Color an unforgettable week of fun, food and friend 800-444-4204 Spring Break Camp Mar. 10 – 17, 2018 (Disney Adventure) In March, you can be hanging out with Micke 800-444-6204 www.texasadventurecamp.net

Break Camp

Session I: Dec. 20 – 22 | 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Session II: Dec. 27 – 29 | 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Session III: Jan. 3 – 5 | 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. English riding lessons and horse care. Van service from Westlake Hills. Located 10 miles from downtown Austin. Ages 7 to 16 10000 Fallwell Ln. Del Valle - 512-247-2303 www.riovistafarm.net

KidsActing 3- and 4- Day Winter Break Camps Dec. 20 – 22, Ages 5 to 12 - Annie Dec 26 – 29, Ages 5 to 13 Ages 6 to 13 - Wizardry Ages 6 to 13 - Glee! Show Choir Ages 5 to 10 - Trolls When school is OUT, we are IN with fun-ﬁlled camps to satisfy any kid. Sing, dance, act, play theatre games, paint faces and have a blast with crafts and the performing arts. Locations throughout Austin area. 512-836-5437 www.kidsactingstudio.com

December 2017 austinfamily.com

Stepping Stone Schools

“Video Production and Computer Age camp affords children the opportunity communication tools. They will be cre stop motion video. Be sure to sign yo Ages 5 to 11 512-459-0258 www.steppingstoneschool.com

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Sugar & Spice Christmas Break Girls Camp

lding strong ur game.

rado, and enjoy ds!

Dec. 26 – Jan. 1 This overnight horse camp located in Bandera provides lodging, meals, equipment, riding and much more. Girls get their own horses to take care of during the stay. Discount if you register by Nov. 30. Ages 8 to 16 884 Rikki Dr. Bandera - 830-460-8487

ey & Pluto.

YMCA Austin Holiday Camps Dec. 18 – Jan. 5 (dates vary by location) Enjoy peace of mind knowing that your camper is enjoying enrichment activities under the watchful eyes of trained YMCA counselors. Your camper will make new friends, gain conﬁdence and expand their horizons. Ages 5 to 12 512-322-9622 Spicewood, Manor, East Communities, South locations, Negley www.austinymca.org/programs/holiday-camps

Switch Willo Holiday Camp Dec. 20 – 22, Dec. 26 – 29, Jan. 1 – 5 Daily riding instruction, horse care lessons, proper barn safety and etiquette, horse shows, and arts and crafts. All ages and skill levels 4829 Switch Willo 512-920-0554 www.switchwillostable.com

YMCA Williamson County

e Communication” Winter Break Camp. This exciting y to investigate and design using modern eating their very own podcasts, video newscasts and our child up for this one of a kind opportunity!

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Holidays Upgraded! Dec. 26 – 29, Jan. 2 – 5 Enjoy arts and crafts, adventure activities, sports, games and more. Ages K to 9th Grade Round Rock, Cedar Park, Hutto, Burnet 512-246-9622 Overnight Camp @ Twin Lakes Dec. 28 – Jan. 1 Overnight Gymnastics @ Twin Lakes Dec. 15 – 16, 6 and up (girls only) At Twin Lakes, we give campers the chance to reconnect with the simple joys of being a kid. YMCA Camp Twin Lakes www.ymcagwc.org/msp December 2017 austinfamily.com

FAMILY EVENTS Austin Girl Choir 28th Annual Christmas Classics Dec 14, 4 p.m. A candlelight procession, Victorian costumes and beloved carols ranging from high classical to jazz get holiday festivities off to a beautiful start! Free, donations gladly accepted 2200 Justin Ln. www.girlschoir.com

Bullock Texas State History Museum Visit the Imax Theatre Wild Africa or Dream Big: Engineering World Also don’t miss the Museum Store for holiday shopping. H-E-B Free First Sunday: Bundle Up Dec. 3, 12 to 5 p.m. Stay snug as you create, play and learn all about winter wonders. Enjoy free admission all day and special family programs and activities from 12 to 3 p.m. Little Texans: Take Flight Dec. 14, 10 to 11 a.m. Take off and ﬂy as we explore the AT-6 Texan airplane. Ages 2 to 5 can discover something new alongside their caregivers. Free for members or with exhibit admission. Storytime: Brrr! Dec. 28, 10 to 11 a.m. Cozy up for some chilly stories about the winter season. Ages 2 to 5. Free for members or with exhibit admission. Holiday Mini Maker Faire Dec. 28 – 30 Create, invent, play and explore with local makers and found objects at this event, presented in partnership with Maker Faire Austin. Free with museum admission. 1800 N. Congress Ave. Austin - 512-936-8746 www.thestoryoftexas.com

December 2017 austinfamily.com

Chaparral Ice Events

Noche Navideña

Dec. 2, 12 to 2:30 p.m. Skate with Santa Skating with Santa, crafts and hot chocolate and cookies. Dec. 16, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Alice in Winter Wonderland The Christmas ice show is an annual tradition where the ﬁgure skaters in our community put on a Christmas themed ice show 2525 W. Anderson Ln., Austin 512-252-8500 www.chaparralice.com

Dec. 2, 5 to 8 p.m. Univision Austin and the Mexican American Cultural Center partner to bring Austinites an evening of live music. Celebrate the holiday season while collectively assisting those in need. Mexican American Cultural Center 600 River St. Austin – 512-974-3772 www.austintexas.gov/esbmacc

Dance Discovery's Meet the Nutcracker Cast Party Dec. 10, 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Dress in your best ballerina/ballerino/ princess/prince costume and bring your camera for this cast party. $17 includes cast photo and tiara keepsakes (Adults do not require tickets) Space is limited. Reserve tickets. Ages 3 to 7 7729 Burnet Rd. Austin - 512-419-7611

Playland Skate Dec. 21, 22, 23, 26 Extended hours Playland Skate Center offers the ﬁnest in skating entertainment with a light show, fog machine and state of the art sound system playing a wide variety of music. 8822 McCann Drive Austin - 512-452-1901 www.playlandskatecenter.net

Disney’s Mickey & Minnie’s Doorway to Magic Dec. 23, 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. Open the door to reveal mesmerizing worlds of unforgettable Disney moments and grand illusions with Disney Live. Frank Erwin Center Austin - 512-477-6060 www.uterwincenter.com

Schlitterbahn Resort Did you know Schlitterbahn is open for more than just summer? Check out the Hill Country Getaway package. Nov. 2017 – May 2018 New Braunfels - 830-625-2351 www.schlitterbahn.com

A Christmas Story, the Musical

Gaylord Texan Resort Lone Star Christmas Nov. 10 – Jan. 1 Breakfast with Elf on the Shelf, gingerbread decorating corner, ice skating, snow tubing, cookies with Mrs. Claus and more. 1501 Gaylord Tr. Grapevine - 817-778-1000 www.gaylordtexan.com

Dec. 29 – 31 Set in 1940s Indiana, a young and bespectacled Ralphie Parker schemes his way toward the holiday gift of his dreams, an official Red Ryder CarbineAction 200-Shot Range Model Air Riﬂe. The Long Center 701 W. Riverside Dr. Austin - 512-474-5664 www.thelongcenter.org

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December 2017 austinfamily.com

BY M A R GA R E T N I C K L AS

Get More from Your Child’s STAAR Results What has changed are the report report graphically shows your child’s Last year, the Texas cards (or Conﬁdential Student growth in math and reading (for Education Agency (TEA) Reports) TEA issues and the related elementary through middle school resources available online. Revamped students), provides strategies you can changed some important were emailed and mailed this use to support learning at home and aspects of the information reports summer to Texas families while a new, even recommends book titles for your it shares with parents and more interactive portal for students child. If you didn’t receive or can’t ﬁnd the report card, download it from the and parents went online June 30. In kids about the State of case these developments escaped student portal (see instructions below) Texas Assessments of your attention, here is what you need or check with your child’s school. to know. Academic Readiness or TEA also changed the way your STAAR. The STAAR, of The New Report Card child’s performance is described. Previously, a child’s test score was course, refers to the The new student report card issued either satisfactory, below satisfactory standardized tests Texas by TEA was redesigned to help or advanced in each area tested. The parents better understand their child’s new report card renames these students take yearly in test results. To that end, it contains categories (see below) and breaks math and reading starting more explanation and interpretation, what used to be the satisfactory range in third grade and along with tips and strategies parents into two parts: approaching grade can use to support their child’s level and meeting standards for that continuing through middle academic progress. For instance, the grade level. school. Students are also tested in science, writing STAAR Test Performance Descriptions and social studies during Previous Now some years. In high school, Advanced Demonstrates mastery only specific subjects are Satisfactory Meets Grade Level assessed, namely Algebra I, English I and II, Biology and Satisfactory Is approaching grade level U.S. History. Unsatisfactory Does not meet grade level

December 2017 austinfamily.com

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The new online portal will even tell you why each answer was correct or incorrect. Based on TEA’s updated explanations, a student’s performance in the category of either “approaching” or “does not meet grade level” may indicate a need for help in the coming year. So, if your child’s scores landed in either of these two categories for any subjects, consult with his or her current teachers to ensure that your child is getting any additional help and support he or she may need.

Resources—including explanatory videos and more—that will help you interpret your child’s STAAR report card can be found here: tinyurl.com/yatgepkl. In addition, while some communication was available in Spanish this year, TEA is working to expand its effort to reach

other language speakers. In 2018, the entire portal is expected to be available in Spanish, and some information will also be available in 10 other languages, Schwinn says. af Margaret Nicklas is an Austin-based freelance journalist, writer and mom.

The New Student Portal The new online portal displays detailed information about tests your child has taken. To get there, you’ll need to ﬁnd your six-character “unique access code.” This code has appeared on STAAR reports you may have received in previous years and does not change. With this code and your child’s date of birth, you can access his or her STAAR results and related information at texasassessment.com. If you don’t have the necessary code, you can still get to your child’s information but with a few more steps. A lookup feature is offered on the site, or you are advised to call your local school. Once there, choose a subject (such as Mathematics) and then go to the “Detailed View.” Here you can scroll through the test questions to see which ones your child missed and which ones he or she answered correctly. Click on any of these to see the questions and possible responses. The site will even tell you why each selection was correct or incorrect. Reviewing these results can give parents a general sense of the areas in which their child may be confused or behind. But parents shouldn’t feel responsible for bridging that gap themselves, according to TEA Deputy Commissioner of Academics Penny Schwinn. The hope is that this information empowers parents to advocate for help at the school level, she says. “We don’t expect the majority of parents to be able do that tutoring themselves.” Pick us up at HEB, Whole Foods and Central Market

December 2017 austinfamily.com

Feliz Navigate BY R I C H A R D S I N G L E TO N

ings t e e r G s ’ n o s a e S

ach year, the word aﬁcionados at MerriamWebster Dictionary spice things up and add new words to our ever-evolving language. Recently, a thousand words were officially added. Yowza! Yep, that was one of them… only 999 more to go. Of course, new words are sometimes old words with fresh meanings. Over the past several years, for instance, the word drone has soared into new uses. It’s not a new word, strictly speaking, but we’re using it so much differently nowadays that it seems almost like a completely new concept...and in some ways, it is. You can hardly go a day without there being some discussion of drones. From toys to tools, drones are making their way into our daily adventures, and we seem to only be getting started.

December 2017 austinfamily.com

Recently my teenage son and I were test pilots for a new toy drone aimed at the 8-year-old-and-up population— yep, we fit right in! Drone Force by Alpha Group just introduced a new lineup of drone toys for the holidays and we got our hands on a fun one–the Stinger! We really had our eyes on the Angler, but it’s the one that got away. Angler, you say? Nope, it doesn’t fish for you, but there are people doing that with drones, too. This toy is designed to look like an Angler fish. And it’s so cool in the dark. With the lights off, the hijinks zoom to even higher heights for the Drone Force critters. My vote? The “eyes” have it—the LED eyes on these drones that is. What a blast! But, drones aren’t just for fun and games. They’re becoming part of our

On Owning a Drone This Holiday Season working world, and the way the world works. There are scholarly articles being published in peer review journals; there are mine rescues being helped; there are police infrastructures being overhauled; there are ethics classes being taught; and to stop a list that could go on and on, there are new laws being written. From sophisticated NASA-level uses to starting a small business to downright ridiculously fun backyard barnstorming, professional and consumer level drones promise to be part of our lives for years to come. Many large companies, for instance, are trying to ﬁnd ways to implement drones to create better customer experiences all the way around. Curbside grocery gathering has become popular recently. Is drone style delivery right around the corner?

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Will we return to a yesteryear experience of finding our pints of milk lined up on the stoop? Maybe. Strangely. Ironically. But, you don’t have to wait for sky drops from Amazon to make a drone deliver for your particular needs here and now. As the holidays arrive, you’ll have more options than ever to join the flying fray. Looking for a drone to shoot cool 4K video of your romps with the pooch in the park? Done. Looking for a drone to keep the kids entertained upstairs while you conquer your checklist, read your new best-seller, or binge-watch (998 to go) your latest Netflix hit? Finis. Looking for a drone to take hi-res pics of a sunset landscape that longs to live on a canvas that only you can envision? Voila.

• Operation is allowed only during daylight hours or twilight with appropriate lighting. • Drones must ﬂy at a maximum groundspeed of 100 mph and maximum altitude of 400 feet. • Pilots must hold a "remote pilot airman certiﬁcate."

seems the man with the sleigh and reindeer is still the only one who doesn’t have to navigate the red tape of the modern world. Merry Christmas, friends! Happy ﬂying! af

So, just when you thought it was safe to ﬂy the unfettered friendly skies, it

Richard Singleton, MACE, MAMFC, LPC, is the executive director at STARRY in Round Rock.

I N FA N T S ∙ T O DD DL E R S ∙ P R E S C HO OL BEFOR E & AF T ER SCHO OL ∙ SUMMER C A MP

From just a few dollars for ﬂimsy fun to hefty sums for prosumer level works of mechanistic art, there’s a price point for you and your family. But, it’s not all fun and games when it comes to having an unmanned aircraft. Yes, you read that right. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulates certain drones and how you use them.

Curiosit y-Launching Lear ning Experiences The FAA regulates certain drones and how you use them. According to James Vincent, writing for The Verge, these are the main points to consider if you’re becoming the ambitious user of an “unmanned aircraft weighing less than 55 pounds…being ﬂown for ‘routine nonhobbyist use.’" • Drones have to remain in visual line of sight of the pilot—no ﬁrst-personview cameras. • Pilots must be at least 16 years old.

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Kiddie Academy ® of Round Rock 5080 North A AW W Grimes Blvd. Round Rock, TX 78665 512-270-9988

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StA Aff pICKS Hap pe Workbbench Workbench

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wacky cuddly adorable

PlayFoorever

Start-Up Circuits

make believe b durabbility desiign

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L Lollipopter

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Karaokke Pro Micropphone

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BY B E T T Y R I C H A R D S O N

Tener Suficiente, Ser Suficiente

La temporada navideña siempre deja a mi familia estresada y desganada. Los niños tienen el problema del “dame, dame”, siento la carga de tratar de visitar a la familia extendida fuera de la cuidad y cuando terminan las vacaciones, todos parecemos desencantados. ¿Cómo podemos cambiar este año para que nos sintamos felices y menos estresados?

¿De dónde vienen el “dame, dame” de estos niños? ¿Usted estableció la expectativa de muchos regalos por excederse con ellos en el pasado? Ahora es el momento de corregir eso y enseñarles que la Navidad, Hanukkah o Kwanza es para otros, así como para ellos mismos, y hay una “razón para la temporada” que va más allá de los regalos.

Hágales saber lo que pueden esperar razonablemente este año. Podría ser un regalo grande y dos pequeños o una cierta cantidad monetaria que gastaría en cada niño. Algunas familias con niños pequeños tienen un regalo de Papá Noel y uno de sus padres. Algunos siguen una fórmula como un regalo que el niño quiere, uno que el niño necesita, un regalo para ponerse y otro para leer. Además de recibir, existe la alegría de dar, que es algo que usted puede ayudar a sus hijos a experimentar. Tal vez tenga tareas extras en casa que sus hijos pueden hacer para ganar dinero y comprar un regalo para un amigo o participar en donar un juguete a una campaña que recolecte juguetes. Otra opción es que ellos hagan regalos o tarjetas navideñas para otros.

Aquí están algunas ideas más para traer alegría a sus vacaciones: 1. Decida lo que tiene que hacer para que se sienta como la temporada navideña: ¿Galletas caseras? ¿Bizcochos? ¿Decoraciones o un árbol navideño? Involucre a los niños en lo que sea, por ejemplo en hornear o decorar. Hacer cosas en familia hace que estos momentos sean memorables y los acerque más. En cuanto a las galletas, creo que algunas variedades compradas en la tienda saben mejor que las que yo hago. 2. Enfóquese en pasar tiempo con cada miembro de la familia en actividades des estresantes como leer, dar un paseo o ver una película navideña favorita. 3. Comience nuevas tradiciones como cantar villancicos con amigos, participar en familia como voluntarios o entregar una comida navideña. 4. Decida, junto con su cónyuge o pareja, en qué ﬁestas u otras actividades desea decir que “sí”, para que no tenga un horario excesivo. 5. Pregúntese cuánto disfruta viajar para ver a la familia extendida y el tiempo que pasa con ellos. Si la respuesta es “no tanto”, tiene opciones; podría decirles que a usted le gustaría tener unas vacaciones sencillas en casa este año. Si quiere ser una persona especialmente considerada,

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pregúnteles cómo se sentirían si usted no asistiera a su casa estas vacaciones. Si disfruta del tiempo con ellos, piense en la manera en que podría hacer que el viaje sea más fácil y divertido. 6. Hable con los miembros de la familia sobre cómo todos pueden hacer que sus vidas sean más sencillas y agradables. Ayer, hablé con una amiga que expresó su alegría por haberse hecho una persona minimalista. Ha dejado de comprar cosas que no necesita y ha reducido sus pertenencias. ¿Cuántos de nosotros compramos más de lo que necesitamos sólo porque algo es bonito o está en especial? A veces compramos regalos de Navidad que sabemos que los adultos en nuestra lista no necesitan o no estamos seguros de que les guste, sólo para que ﬁnalmente podamos terminar con nuestras compras. El regalo de un PAGARÉ para una experiencia posterior, como un viaje al parque de béisbol o al parque acuático, podría ser más divertido. La idea es que se haga cargo de las vacaciones al frenar el impulse de gastar más de lo que debe o hacer más de lo que desea. No permita que el comercialismo y las obligaciones agote con sus expectativas. af Betty Richardson, PhD, RNC, LPC, LMFT, es una psicoterapeuta situada en Austin

December 2017 austinfamily.com

December

2017 calendar

C O M P I L E D BY B E T T Y K E M P E R

Museum Exhibits pg 34

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Family Events pg 34

Museum Exhibits

Merci, Texas Through Dec. 31. Texas Capitol Visitors Center, 1100 Congress Ave. tspb.state.tx.us or 512-463-4630. Mexico Modern Through Jan. 1. Ransom Center, 300 W. 21st St. hrc.utexas.edu or 512-471-8944. American Spirits Through Jan. 7. Bullock Museum, 1800 N. Congress Ave. thestoryoftexas.com or 512-936-8746. Photography and The American Road Trip Through Jan. 7. Blanton Museum of Art, 200 E. MLK Blvd. blantonmuseum.org or 512-471-5482. Austin at Mid-Century Through Jan. 14. Austin History Center, 810 Guadalupe St. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-7480. Pong to Pokémon Through Mar. 18. Bullock Museum, 1800 N. Congress Ave. thestoryoftexas.com or 512-936-8746.

Family Events

Friday 1

Play Group for All Abilities 9 to 10 a.m. Easter Seals of Central Texas, 8505 Cross Park Drive #120. FREE. easterseals.com or 512-478-2581. RRISD Middle School Art Exhibit 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Hartfield Performing Arts Center, 5800 McNeil Dr. roundrocktexas.gov or 512-464-5025. Christmas Stroll on the Square 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Downtown Georgetown. FREE. thegeorgetownsquare.com. Sprouts ++ 10 to 11 a.m. Johnson Wildflower Center, 4801 La Crosse Ave. FREE with admission. wildflower.org or 512-232-0100. Holiday Model Train Show ++ 12 to 5 p.m. ArtSpace, 231 E. Main St., Round Rock. FREE. roundrocktexas.gov or 512-218-7099.

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Parenting Events pg 39

Kids Crafternoon 4 to 6 p.m. Bridges to Growth, 805 W. University Ave., Georgetown. FREE. georgetownproject.org or 512-864-3008. First Friday Art Walk 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Downtown Bastrop. FREE. domorebastrop.com. Main Street Bethlehem ++ 6 to 9 p.m. Downtown Burnet. FREE. fbcburnet.org. Christmas Light Show ++ 6 to 11 p.m. Mozart's Coffee Roasters, 3825 Lake Austin Blvd. FREE. mozartscoffee.com or 512-477-2900. Winter Wonderland ++ 6 to 11 p.m. Circuit of the Americas, 9201 COTA Blvd. $16 per person; children 5 and under FREE. circuitoftheamericas.com or 512-301-6600. Christmas Family Night 6:30 p.m. Downtown Round Rock. FREE. roundrocktexas.gov or 512-218-5400. Holiday Concert in the Park 6:30 p.m. Veterans Memorial Park, 109 Depot St., Elgin. FREE. elgintx.com. Tree Lighting and Santa's Workshop 6:30 to 9 p.m. Heritage Oak Park, 875 Quest Pkwy., Cedar Park. FREE. cedarparktexas.gov or 512-401-5500.

Saturday 2

Round Rock Market Days 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Central Plaza, 301 W. Bagdad, Round Rock. FREE. roundrocktexas.gov or 512-924-2327. Madrone Canyon Hike 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Laura's Library, 9411 Bee Cave Rd. FREE. westbanklibrary.com or 512-327-3045. The Dedication and Unveiling of the “Price of Liberty” Monument 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Texas State Capitol, 1100 Congress Ave. FREE. texaswarmemorial.com. Fine Art & Craft Festival 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. McCallum High School, 5600 Sunshine Dr. FREE.

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Story Times pg 39

Monthly Book Sale 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pleasant Hill Branch Library, 211 E. William Cannon Dr. FREE. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-3940. Jingle Bells, Batman Smells 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Scottish Rite Theater, 207 W. 18th St. Children under 2 years FREE. scottishritetheater.org or 512-472-5436. Art from the Streets 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Austin Convention Center, 500 E. Cesar Chavez St. Suggested donation of $5. artfromthestreets.org. German Christmas Market 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. German Free School, 507 E. 10th St. FREE. germantexans.org or 512-467-4569. First Saturday at the Carver 12 p.m. Carver Museum and Cultural Center, 1165 Angelina St. FREE. austintexas.gov. Santa Skate 12 to 2:30 p.m. Chaparral Ice, 2525 W. Anderson Ln. Two cans non-perishable food. chaparralice.com. Old Town Christmas Festival 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Old Town Leander, 100 N. Brushy St., Leander. FREE. leandertx.gov. BudaFest 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. Downtown Buda. FREE. budafest.org. Giant Chess ++ 12:30 to 3 p.m. Wooldridge Square Park, 900 Guadalupe St. FREE. giantchess.org. Holiday Bazaar and Auction 1 to 5 p.m. NYOS Charter School, 12301 N. Lamar Blvd. FREE. Courthouse Tours ++ 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Williamson Museum, 716 S. Austin Ave., Georgetown. FREE. williamsonmuseum.org or 512-943-1670. Monster Holidays ++ 2 p.m. Hideout Theatre, 617 Congress Ave. $5. hideouttheatre.com. Saturday Family Movie: Rogue One (PG-13) 2 p.m. Windsor Park Branch Library, 5833 Westminster Dr., Austin. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-9840.

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The Elves and the Shoemaker 3 p.m. Central Library, 710 W. Cesar Chavez, Austin. FREE. library.austintx.org or 512-974-7400. Holiday Sing-Along and Downtown Stroll 5 to 9 p.m. Downtown Austin. FREE. downtownaustin.com. Elgin Lighted Christmas Parade Dusk. Downtown Elgin. FREE. elgintx.com. CONTINUING: Christmas Stroll in the Square see Friday 1; Christmas Light Show see Friday 1; Holiday Model Train Show see Friday 1; Main Street Bethlehem see Friday 1; Winter Wonderland see Friday 1.

Sunday 3

Free Skate Lessons ++ 11 to 11:45 a.m. Playland Skate Center, 8822 McCann Dr., Austin. $8. playlandskatecenter.com or 512-452-1901. H-E-B Free First Sunday 12 to 5 p.m. Bullock Museum, 1800 N. Congress Ave., FREE. the storyoftexas.com or 512-936-8746. Sunday Funday 1 to 4 p.m. Neill-Cochran House Museum, 2310 San Gabriel St. FREE. nchmuseum.org or 512-478-2335. Blockheads 2 p.m. Hideout Theatre, 617 Congress Ave. $5. hideouttheatre.com. Bluegrass Jam! 2 to 4 p.m. Leander Library, 1011 South Bagdad, Leander. FREE. leandertx.gov/library or 512-259-5259.

CONTINUING: Art from the Streets see Saturday 2; BudaFest see Saturday 2; Fine Art and Craft Festival see Saturday 2; Christmas Light Show see Friday 1; Jingle Bells, Batman Smells see Saturday 2; Courthouse Tours see Saturday 2; Holiday Model Train Show see Friday 1; Main Street Bethlehem see Friday 1; Monster Holidays see Saturday 2.

Monday 4

The Elves and the Shoemaker 3 p.m. Spicewood Springs Library, 8637 Spicewood Springs Rd. FREE. library.austintx.org or 512-974-3800. CONTINUING: Christmas Light Show see Friday 1.

Tuesday 5

The Elves and the Shoemaker 10:30 a.m. Terrazas Branch Library, 1105 E. Cesar Chavez St. FREE. library.austintx.org or 512-974-3625. 123 Andrés 5 to 6 p.m. Esquina Tango Cultural Society of Austin, 209 Pedernales St. $7 per person or $20 per family. 123andres.com or 512-524-2772. Mueller Tower Lighting 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. John Gaines Park, 2708 Sorin St. FREE. facebook.com/muelleraustin. Family Nights ++ 6 to 7 p.m. Westbank Library, 1309 Westbank Dr. FREE. westbanklibrary.com or 512-327-3045.

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Adulting for Teens 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Round Rock Library, 216 E. Main St., Round Rock. FREE. roundrocktexas.gov or 512-218-7012. Holiday Movies Release Party 7 to 8:30 p.m. Milwood Branch Library, 12500 Amherst Dr. FREE. library.austintx.org or 512-974-9880. CONTINUING: Christmas Light Show see Friday 1.

Wednesday 6

Community Night ++ 5 to 8 p.m. The Thinkery, 1830 Simond Ave. By donation. thinkeryaustin.org or 512-469-6218. Austin Barn Dancers ++ 7:30 to 9:45 p.m. Hancock Rec Center, 811 E. 41st St. FREE. austinbarndancers.org or 512-453-4225. CONTINUING: Christmas Light Show see Friday 1; Holiday Model Train Show see Friday 1; Sprouts see Friday 1.

Thursday 7

Pearl Harbor Day Living History Days 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bullock Museum, 1800 N. Congress Ave. FREE for those pre-registered. thestoryoftexas.com or 512-936-8746. The Elves and the Shoemaker 10:30 a.m. Windsor Park Library, 5833 Westminster Dr. FREE. library.austintx.org or 512-974-9840.

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First Thursday Austin 5 to 8 p.m. Downtown Austin. FREE. firstthursdayaustin.com. Starry Nights Inuit Star Lore 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Girlstart, 1400 W. Anderson Ln. FREE. girlstart.org. Luminations 6 p.m. Johnson Wildflower Center, 4801 La Crosse Ave. FREE. wildflower.org or 512-232-0100. Trail of Lights Buda ++ 7 to 9 p.m. Stagecoach Park, 880 Main St., Buda. FREE. ci.buda.tx.us. CONTINUING: Christmas Light Show see Friday 1; Holiday Model Train Show see Friday 1.

Friday 8

Movies in the Park: A Christmas Carol (PG) 6 to 8 p.m. Veterans Memorial Park, 109 Depot St., Elgin. FREE. elgintx.com. The Elves and the Shoemaker 3:30 p.m. Howson Library, 2500 Exposition Dr. FREE. library.austintx.org or 512-974-8800. Family Movie Matinee: Home Alone (PG) 3:30 p.m. Old Quarry Branch, 7051 Village Center. FREE. library.austintx.org or 512-974-8860. CONTINUING: Trail of Lights Buda see Thursday 7; Christmas Light Show see Friday 1; Holiday Model Train Show see Friday 1; Main Street Bethlehem see Friday 1; Sprouts see Friday 1; Winter Wonderland see Friday 1.

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Saturday 9

Fishing Derby 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. San Gabriel Park, 445 E. Morrow St., Georgetown. FREE. parks.georgetown.org. Walk with a Doc 9 to 10:30 a.m. San Gabriel Park, 445 E. Morrow St., Georgetown. FREE. Guided Hikes at Bright Leaf 9 to 11 a.m. Bright Leaf Preserve, 2222 and Creek Mountain Rd. brightleaf.org or 512-459-7269. Christmas Dreams and Snowy Things 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. CHASCO Family YMCA, 1812 N. Mays St., Round Rock. FREE. ymcagwc.org or 512-246-9622. Story Time with Mrs. Claus 11 a.m. Hill Country Galleria, 12700 Hill Country Blvd., Bee Cave. FREE. hillcountrygalleria.com. Second Saturdays 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Laguna Gloria, 3809 W. 35th St. FREE with registration. thecontemporaryaustin.org or 512-458-8191. Holiday Family Day 12 to 2 p.m. Blanton Museum, 200 E. MLK Blvd. FREE with admission. blantonmuseum.org or 512-471-5482. The Elves and the Shoemaker 2 p.m. Hampton Hill Library, 5125 Convict Hill Dr. FREE. library.austintx.org or 512-974-9900. Trail of Lights Austin ++ 6 to 10 p.m. Zilker Park, 2100 Barton Springs Rd. Gate entry $3. austintexas.gov.

CONTINUING: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells see Saturday 2; Trail of Lights Buda see Thursday 7; Christmas Light Show see Friday 1; Courthouse Tours see Saturday 2; Giant Chess see Saturday 2; Holiday Model Train Show see Friday 1; Main Street Bethlehem see Friday 1; Monster Holidays see Saturday 2; Winter Wonderland see Friday 1.

Sunday 10

Family Days 12 to 4 p.m. Umlauf Sculpture Garden, 605 Robert E. Lee Rd. FREE. umlaufsculpture.org. Symphony Concert: Christmas at the Movies 3 to 4 p.m. Klett Performing Arts Center, 2211 N. Austin Ave., Georgetown. FREE. cinematicsymphony.com. Holiday Sing-along 3 to 5 p.m. Hill Country Galleria, 12700 Hill Country Blvd., Bee Cave. FREE. hillcountrygalleria.com. Winter Wonderland ++ 6 to 10 p.m. Circuit of the Americas, 9201 COTA Blvd. $16 per person; children 5 and under FREE. circuitoftheamericas.com or 512-301-6600. CONTINUING: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells see Saturday 2; Trail of Lights Austin see Saturday 9; Christmas Light Show see Friday 1; Courthouse Tours see Saturday 2; Free Skate Lessons see Sunday 3; Holiday Model Train Show see Friday 1; Main Street Bethlehem see Friday 1; Monster Holidays see Saturday 2.

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Monday 11

CONTINUING: Trail of Lights Austin see Saturday 9; Christmas Light Show see Friday 1; Winter Wonderland see Sunday 10.

Tuesday 12

Hannukah Begins The Elves and the Shoemaker 3:30 p.m. Twin Oaks Branch Library, 1800 S. Fifth St. FREE. library.austintx.org or 512-974-9980. CONTINUING: Trail of Lights Austin see Saturday 9; Christmas Light Show see Friday 1; Family Nights see Tuesday 5; Winter Wonderland see Sunday 10.

Wednesday 13

The Elves and the Shoemaker 10:30 a.m. Willie Mae Branch Library, 3101 Oak Springs. FREE. library.austintx.org or 512974-9920. CONTINUING: Trail of Lights Austin see Saturday 9; Holiday Model Train Show see Friday 1; Austin Barn Dancers see Wednesday 6; Christmas Light Show see Friday 1; Community Night see Wednesday 6; Sprouts see Friday 1; Winter Wonderland see Sunday 10.

Thursday 14

Little Texans: Take Flight 10 to 11 a.m. Bullock Museum, 1800 N. Congress Ave. FREE with admission or museum membership. the storyoftexas.com or 512-936-8746.

Armadillo Christmas Bazar ++ 12 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Rd. 12 and under FREE. armadillobazaar.com. The Elves and the Shoemaker 3:30 p.m. St. John Branch Library, 7500 Blessing Ave. FREE. library.austintx.org or 512974-7570. Sip, Shop and Stroll 5 to 8 p.m. Downtown Elgin. FREE. elgintx.com. Christmas Towne ++ 5 to 9 p.m. Dell Diamond Parking Lot, 3300 E. Palm Valley Blvd., Round Rock. FREE. roundrocktexas.gov or 512-218-5400. CONTINUING: Trail of Lights Austin see Saturday 9; Trail of Lights Buda see Thursday 7; Christmas Light Show see Friday 1; Holiday Model Train Show see Friday 1; Winter Wonderland see Sunday 10.

Friday 15

The Elves and the Shoemaker 3:30 p.m. Old Quarry Library, 7051 Village Center. FREE. library.austintx.org or 512-974-8860. Christmas Towne ++ 5 to 10 p.m. Dell Diamond Parking Lot, 3300 E. Palm Valley Blvd., Round Rock. FREE. roundrocktexas.gov or 512-218-5400. Movie in the Park: The Grinch (PG) 6 to 8 p.m. Elgin Memorial Park, 1127 N. Main St., Elgin. FREE. elgintx.com. CONTINUING: Trail of Lights Austin see Saturday 9; Trail of Lights Buda see

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Thursday 7; Armadillo Christmas Bazaar see Thursday 14; Christmas Light Show see Friday 1; Holiday Model Train Show see Friday 1; Sprouts see Friday 1; Winter Wonderland see Friday 1.

Saturday 16

Carver's Santa Special 1 to 3 p.m. George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center, 1165 Angelina St. FREE. Christmas Towne ++ 2 to 10 p.m. Dell Diamond Parking Lot, 3300 E. Palm Valley Blvd., Round Rock. FREE. roundrocktexas.gov or 512-218-5400. Alice in Winter Wonderland 7 to 8:30 p.m. Chaparral Ice, 2525 W. Anderson Ln. chaparralice.com. Post Game Skate ++ 9:30 to 10:30 p.m. Chaparral Ice, 2525 W. Anderson Ln. chaparralice.com. CONTINUING: Jingle Bells, Batman Smells see Saturday 2; Trail of Lights Austin see Saturday 9; Trail of Lights Buda see Thursday 7; Armadillo Christmas Bazaar see Thursday 14; Christmas Light Show see Friday 1; Courthouse Tours see Saturday 2; Giant Chess see Saturday 2; Holiday Model Train Show see Friday 1; Monster Holidays see Saturday 2; Winter Wonderland see Friday 1.

Sunday 17

TGIF Movie with Popcorn 1 to 3 p.m. Elgin Public Library Civic Center, 404 North Main, Elgin. FREE. elgintx.com.

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Holiday Movie Night 1:30 to 5 p.m. Bastrop Opera House, 711 Spring St., Bastrop. FREE. austinymca.org. Christmas Towne 2 to 9 p.m. Dell Diamond Parking Lot, 3300 E. Palm Valley Blvd., Round Rock. FREE. roundrocktexas.gov or 512-218-5400. Wassail, A Solstice Christmas Celebration 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. Scottish Rite Theater, 207 W. 18th St. scottishritetheater.org or 512-472-5436. CONTINUING: Trail of Lights Austin see Saturday 9; Trail of Lights Buda see Thursday 7; Armadillo Christmas Bazaar see Thursday 14; Christmas Light Show see Friday 1; Christmas Towne see Thursday 14; Courthouse Tours see Saturday 2; Free Skate Lessons see Sunday 3; Holiday Model Train Show see Friday 1; Monster Holidays see Saturday 2; Winter Wonderland see Sunday 10.

Monday 18

CONTINUING: Trail of Lights Austin see Saturday 9; Armadillo Christmas Bazar see Thursday 14; Christmas Light Show see Friday 1; Christmas Towne see Thursday 14; Winter Wonderland see Sunday 10.

Tuesday 19

Free Play Gaming 3:30 p.m. Windsor Park Branch, 5833 Westminster Rd. FREE. library.austintx.gov or 512-984-9840.

CONTINUING: Trail of Lights Austin see Saturday 9; Armadillo Christmas Bazar see Thursday 14; Christmas Light Show see Friday 1; Christmas Towne see Thursday 14; Family Nights see Tuesday 5; Winter Wonderland see Sunday 10.

Wednesday 20

Hannukah Ends Family Movie – Muppet Christmas Carol (G) 10:30 a.m. Twin Oaks Branch,1800 S. 5th St. FREE. library.austintx.gov or 512-984-9980. CONTINUING: Trail of Lights Austin see Saturday 9; Holiday Model Train Show see Friday 1; Armadillo Christmas Bazar see Thursday 14; Austin Barn Dancers see Wednesday 6; Christmas Light Show see Friday 1; Christmas Towne see Thursday 14; Community Night see Wednesday 6; Sprouts see Friday 1; Winter Wonderland see Sunday 10.

Thursday 21

Winter Solstice Third Thursdays 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Blanton Museum of Art, 200 E. MLK Blvd. FREE. blantonmuseum.org or 512-471-5482. Night Before Christmas Break 5:30 p.m. Metz Recreation Center, 2407 Canterbury St. FREE. austintexas.gov or 512-978-2399. CONTINUING: Trail of Lights Austin see Saturday 9; Armadillo Christmas Bazar see

Thursday 14; Christmas Light Show see Friday 1; Christmas Towne see Friday 15; Holiday Model Train Show see Friday 1; Winter Wonderland see Sunday 10.

Friday 22

Tuba Christmas 12 p.m. Texas State Capitol, 1100 Congress Ave. FREE. CONTINUING: Trail of Lights Austin see Saturday 9; Armadillo Christmas Bazar see Thursday 14; Christmas Light Show see Friday 1; Christmas Towne see Saturday 16; Holiday Model Train Show see Friday 1; Sprouts see Friday 1; Winter Wonderland see Friday 1.

Saturday 23

4th Flea Market 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Price Center, 222 W. San Antonio St., San Marcos. FREE. 512-392-2900. Disney Live! Mickey and Minnie's Doorway to Magic 12, 3 and 6 p.m. Frank Erwin Center, 1701 Red River St. Starting at $18. disneylive.com/tickets. CONTINUING: Trail of Lights Austin see Saturday 9; Armadillo Christmas Bazar see Thursday 14; Christmas Light Show see Friday 1; Christmas Towne see Saturday 16; Courthouse Tours see Saturday 2; Giant Chess see Saturday 2; Holiday Model Train Show see Friday 1; Monster Holidays see Saturday 2; Winter Wonderland see Friday 1.

Sunday 24

CONTINUING: Armadillo Christmas Bazaar see Thursday 14; Christmas Light Show see Friday 1; Courthouse Tours see Saturday 2; Free Skate Lessons see Sunday 3; Holiday Model Train Show see Friday 1; Winter Wonderland see Sunday 10.

Monday 25

Christmas Day CONTINUING : Winter Wonderland see Sunday 10.

Tuesday 26

Kwanzaa Begins CONTINUING: Christmas Light Show see Friday 1; Family Nights see Tuesday 5; Winter Wonderland see Sunday 10.

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Wednesday 27

CONTINUING: Austin Barn Dancers see Wednesday 6; Christmas Light Show see Friday 1; Community Night see Wednesday 6; Post Game Skate see Saturday 16; Sprouts see Friday 1; Winter Wonderland see Sunday 10.

Thursday 28

Storytime: Brrr! 10 to 11 a.m. Bullock Museum, 1800 N. Congress Ave., FREE with admission. thestoryoftexas.com or 512-936-8746. Holiday Mini Maker Faire Bullock Museum, 1800 N. Congress Ave., FREE with admission. the storyoftexas.com or 512-936-8746. CONTINUING : Christmas Light Show see Friday 1; Winter Wonderland see Sunday 10.

Friday 29

A Christmas Story – The Musical 8 p.m. The Long Center, 701 W. Riverside. thelongcenter.org or 512-474-5664. CONTINUING: Christmas Light Show see Friday 1; Sprouts see Friday 1; Winter Wonderland see Friday 1.

Saturday 30

CONTINUING: Christmas Light Show see Friday 1; Courthouse Tours see Saturday 2; Giant Chess see Saturday 2; Monster Holidays see Saturday 2; A Christmas Story – The Musical see Friday 29; Winter Wonderland see Friday 1.

Sunday 31

Noon Year’s Eve 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Pinballz Arcades. $10 per person. Austin’s New Year 3 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Vic Mathias Shores, 900 W. Riverside Dr. FREE. austinsnewyear.com. CONTINUING: Christmas Light Show see Friday 1; Free Skate Lessons see Sunday 3; A Christmas Story – The Musical see Friday 29.

Parenting Events Any Baby Can offers free parenting classes in English and Spanish. Postpartum support group meets on Thursdays. 6207 Sheridan Ave. FREE. anybabycan.org or 512-454-3743.

Bridges to Growth offers early childhood parenting classes throughout the month. 805 W. University Ave., Georgetown. georgetownproject.org or 512-864-3008.

The City of Austin offers free car seat checks and Safe Baby Academy classes throughout the year at a variety of locations in the Central Texas area. Appointments and reservations are required. For dates and locations, email emspubed@austintexas.gov or call 512-972-SAFE (7233).

La Leche League of Central Texas hosts nine regular meetings in addition to play dates and gatherings in Austin, Round Rock, Killeen/Temple, Bryan-College Station and Waco. All breastfeeding mothers, babies and mothers-to-be are welcome to attend. texaslll.org.

YMCA offers a free Childhood Obesity Intervention Program at various locations throughout the month. austinymca.org or 512-236-9622.

Saturday 2

High School Information Session 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Austin Waldorf School, 8700 South View Rd. FREE with registration. austinwaldorf.org or 512-288-5942.

Sunday 3

Austin Baby Show 12 to 4 p.m. Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Rd. $15.

Wednesday 6

Welcome Wednesday 8:30 to 10 a.m. Hill Country Christian School, 12124 RR 620 N. FREE with registration. hillcountrychristianschool.org or 512-331-7036.

Pick us up at HEB, Whole Foods and Central Market

Open House Event 10 to 11 a.m. The Girls' School of Austin, 2007 McCall Rd. FREE. thegirlsschool.org or 512-478-7827.

Thursday 7

Open House 9 a.m. St. Andrews Episcopal School-Lower, 1112 W. 31st St. FREE with registration. sasaustin.org or 512-299-9800. CONTINUING: Open House Event see Wednesday 6.

Friday 8

Kinder Info Session 9:30 a.m. St. Andrews Episcopal School-Lower, 1112 W. 31st St. FREE with registration. sasaustin.org or 512-299-9800. Special Needs Support Group 2 to 4 p.m. Elgin Library, 404 N. Main St., Elgin. FREE. elgintx.com or 737-247-8142.

Tuesday 12

Foster/Adopt Info Session 6 p.m. Bannockburn Christian Academy, 7100 Brodie Lane. FREE. tinyurl.com/y8g2c76s or 512-834-4705. Foster/Adopt Info Session 6 p.m. DFPS Office, 14000 Summit Dr. FREE. tinyurl.com/y8g2c76s or 512-834-4705.

Wednesday 15

Homeschool Support Group 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Yarbrough Branch Library, 2200 Hancock Dr. FREE. 512-974-8820.

Story Times Public library story time events listed here are free unless otherwise noted. Programs subject to change. Please contact before attending.

MONDAYS

Libraries closed Dec. 25 Terrific Toddlers Story Time 9:30 a.m. Leander Library, 1011 S. Bagdad Rd. leander.librarycatalog.info or 512-259-5259.

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Baby Time 10 a.m. Pflugerville Library, 1008 W. Pfluger St. library.pflugervilletx.gov or 512-990-6375. Infant Storytime 10:30 a.m. Westbank Library, 1309 Westbank Dr. westbanklibrary.com or 512-327-3045. Baby Story Time 10:30 a.m. Wells Branch Library, 15001 Wells Port Dr. wblibrary.org or 512-989-3188. Preschool Story Time 10:30 a.m. Lake Travis Library, 1938 Lohman's Crossing, Lake Travis. laketravislibrary.org or 512-263-2885. Baby Time 11 a.m. Pflugerville Library, 1008 W. Pfluger St. library.pflugervilletx.gov or 512-990-6375. Toddler Storytime 11:15 a.m. Wells Branch Library, 15001 Wells Port Dr. wblibrary.org or 512-989-3188. Family Storytime 12:30 p.m. Laura’s Library, 9411 Bee Cave Rd. westbanklibrary.com or 512-327-3045. Evening Storytime 6:30 p.m. Round Rock Library, 221 E. Main St. roundrocktexas.gov or 512-218-5400.

TUESDAYS

Libraries closed Dec. 26 Baby and Me 9:15 a.m. Leander Library, 1011 S. Bagdad Rd., Leander. leandertx.gov or 512-255-2569. Baby Bounce 9:30 a.m. Georgetown Library, 402 W. 8th St. library.georgetown.org or 512-930-3551.

Toddler Storytime 9:45 a.m. Cedar Park Library, 550 Discovery Blvd., Cedar Park. cedarparktexas.gov. Lapsit Storytime 9:45 a.m. Cedar Park Library, 550 Discovery Blvd., Cedar Park. cedarparktexas.gov. Bilingual Story Time 10 a.m. Pflugerville Library, 1008 W. Pfluger St. library.pflugervilletx.gov or 512-990-6375. All Ages Storytime 10:15 a.m. Pleasant Hill Branch Library, 211 E. William Cannon Dr. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-3940. All Ages Storytime 10:15 a.m. Carver Branch Library, 1161 Angelina St. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-1010. Toddler Storytime 10:15 a.m. Spicewood Springs Branch Library, 8637 Spicewood Springs Rd. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-3800. Toddler Storytime 10:15 a.m. Hampton Branch Library, 5125 Convict Hill Rd. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-9900. Toddler Storytime 10:30 a.m. Buda Library, 303 Main St. budalibrary.org or 512-295-5899. Bilingual Storytime 10:30 a.m. Round Rock Library, 221 E. Main St. roundrocktexas.gov or 512 218 5400. Preschool Storytime 10:30 a.m. Westbank Library, 1309 Westbank Dr. westbanklibrary.com or 512-327-3045.

Spanish Dual Language Storytime 10:30 a.m. Terrazas Branch Library, 1105 E. Cesar Chavez St. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-3625. Toddler Storytime 10:30 a.m. Lake Travis Library, 1938 Lohman's Crossing, Lake Travis. laketravislibrary.org or 512-263-2885. Bilingual Story Time 11 a.m. Pflugerville Library, 1008 W. Pfluger St. library.pflugervilletx.gov or 512-990-6375. Hora de Cuentos en Español 11 a.m. North Village Branch Library, 2505 Steck Ave. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-9960. Preschool Storytime 11 a.m. Spicewood Springs Branch Library, 8637 Spicewood Springs Rd. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-3800. Preschool Storytime 11 a.m. Cedar Park Library, 550 Discovery Blvd., Cedar Park. cedarparktexas.gov. Preschool Storytime 11 a.m. Hampton Branch Library, 5125 Convict Hill Rd. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-9900. Sensory Storytime 11:15 a.m. Carver Branch Library, 1161 Angelina St. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-1010. Homeschool Storytime 1:30 p.m. Buda Library, 303 Main St. budalibrary.org or 512-295-5899. Family Storytime 6 p.m. Buda Library, 303 Main St. budalibrary.org or 512-295-5899.

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Storytime and Craft 6:30 p.m. Wells Branch Library, 15001 Wells Port Dr. wblibrary.org or 512-989-3188. Pajama Storytime (Dec. 5 and 19 only) 7 p.m. Kyle Library, 550 Scott St. cityofkyle.com or 512-268-7411.

WEDNESDAYS

Babytime 9:30 a.m. Round Rock Library, 221 E. Main St. roundrocktexas.gov or 512-218-5400. Toddlertime 9:30 a.m. Round Rock Library, 221 E. Main St. roundrocktexas.gov or 512-218-5400. Preschool Story Time and More 9:30 a.m. Leander Library, 1011 S. Bagdad Rd., Leander. leandertx.gov or 512-255-2569. Tales for Tots 9:30 a.m. Georgetown Library, 402 W. 8th St. library.georgetown.org or 512-930-3551. Toddler Storytime 9:45 a.m. Cedar Park Library, 550 Discovery Blvd., Cedar Park. cedarparktexas.gov. All Ages Storytime 10:15 a.m. Howson Branch Library, 2500 Exposition Blvd. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-8800. Spanish Dual Language Storytime 10:15 a.m. St. John Branch Library, 7500 Blessing Ave. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-7570. Baby Story Time 10:30 a.m. Lake Travis Library, 1938 Lohman's Crossing, Lake Travis. laketravislibrary.org or 512-263-2885.

Preschool Storytime 10:30 a.m. Buda Library, 303 Main St. budalibrary.org or 512-295-5899. Preschool Storytime 10:30 a.m. Round Rock Library, 221 E. Main St. roundrocktexas.gov or 512-218-5400. Preschool Storytime 10:30 a.m. Georgetown Library, 402 W. 8th St. library.georgetown.org or 512-930-3551. Preschool Express 10:30 a.m. Kyle Library, 550 Scott St. cityofkyle.com or 512-268-7411. Tot Time 10:30 a.m. Westbank Library, 1309 Westbank Dr. westbanklibrary.com or 512-327-3045. Toddlertime 10:30 a.m. Round Rock Library, 221 E. Main St. roundrocktexas.gov or 512-218-5400. All Ages Storytime 11 a.m. Manchaca Road Branch Library, 5500 Manchaca Rd. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-8700. All Ages Storytime 11 a.m. Cepeda Branch Library, 651 N. Pleasant Valley Rd. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-7372. All Ages Storytime 11 a.m. University Hills Branch Library, 4721 Loyola Ln. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-9940. Preschool Storytime 11 a.m. Cedar Park Library, 550 Discovery Blvd., Cedar Park. cedarparktexas.gov. The Signing Connection 11 to 11:30 a.m. Wells Branch Library, 15001

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Wells Port Dr, Austin. wblibrary.org or 512-989-3188. All Ages Storytime 2 p.m. Willie Mae Kirk Branch Library, 3101 Oak Springs Dr. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-9920. Spanish Dual Language Storytime 2:15 p.m. Pleasant Hill Branch Library, 211 E. William Cannon Dr. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-4940. Bow Wow Reading 3:30 p.m. North Village Branch Library, 2505 Steck Ave. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-9960. Arts and Crafts 6 p.m. Wells Branch Library, 15001 Wells Port Dr, Austin. wblibrary.org or 512-789-3188. Pajama Storytime 6 p.m. Windsor Park Branch Library, 5833 Westminster Dr. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-9840.

THURSDAYS

Preschool Storytime 9:30 a.m. Round Rock Library, 221 E. Main St. roundrocktexas.gov or 512-218-5400. Babytime 9:30 a.m. Round Rock Library, 221 E. Main St. roundrocktexas.gov or 512-218-5400. Tales for Tots 9:30 a.m. Georgetown Library, 402 W. 8th St. library.georgetown.org or 512-930-3551. Story Time 10 a.m. Pflugerville Library, 1008 W. Pfluger St. library.pflugervilletx.gov or 512-990-6375.

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Baby Lapsit 10 a.m. Kyle Library, 550 Scott St. cityofkyle.com or 512-268-7411. All Ages Storytime 10:15 a.m. Windsor Park Branch Library, 5833 Westminster Dr. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-9840. Toddler Storytime 10:15 a.m. Milwood Branch Library, 12500 Amherst Dr. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-9880. Toddler Storytime 10:15 a.m. Hampton Branch Library, 5125 Convict Hill Rd. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-9900. Toddler Storytime 10:15 a.m. Yarborough Branch Library, 2200 Hancock Dr. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-8820. Preschool Storytime 10:30 a.m. Round Rock Library, 221 E. Main St. roundrocktexas.gov or 512-218-5400. Preschool Storytime 10:30 a.m. Georgetown Library, 402 W. 8th St. library.georgetown.org or 512-930-3551. Signing Time (Dec. 14 only) 10:30 a.m. Georgetown Library, 402 W. 8th St. library.georgetown.org or 512-930-3551. Toddlertime 10:30 a.m. Round Rock Library, 221 E. Main St. roundrocktexas.gov or 512-218-5400.

Bilingual Boogie (Dec. 14 only) 10:30 a.m. Lake Travis Library, 1938 Lohmans Crossing Rd. laketravislibrary.org or 512-263-2885. Tot Time 10:30 a.m. Lauraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Library, 9411 Bee Cave Rd. westbanklibrary.com or 512-327-3045. Preschool Pals Story Time 10:30 a.m. Bee Cave Library, 4000 Galleria Pkwy. pl.beecavetexas.com or 512-767-6620. Toddler Time 11 a.m. Kyle Library, 550 Scott St. cityofkyle.com or 512-268-7411. Story Time 11 a.m. Pflugerville Library, 1008 W. Pfluger St. library.pflugervilletx.gov or 512-990-6375. Spanish Dual Language Storytime 11 a.m. Little Walnut Creek Branch, 853 W. Rundberg Ln. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-9860. Sign Language Storytime 11 a.m. Wells Branch Library, 15001 Wells Port Dr. wblibrary.org or 512-989-3188. Sensory Storytime 11:15 a.m. Ruiz Branch Library, 1600 Grove Blvd. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-7500. Preschool Pals Story Time 11:15 a.m. Bee Cave Library, 4000 Galleria Pkwy. pl.beecavetexas.com or 512-767-6620. French Dual Language Storytime (Dec. 13 only) 3:30 p.m. Hampton Branch Library, 5125 Convict Hill Rd. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-9900.

Pajama Storytime 6:30 p.m. Manchaca Road Branch Library, 5500 Manchaca Rd. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-8700.

FRIDAYS

Babytime 9:30 a.m. Round Rock Library, 221 E. Main St. roundrocktexas.gov or 512-218-5400. Story Time 10 a.m. Lake Travis Library, 1938 Lohman's Crossing, Lake Travis. laketravislibrary.org or 512-263-2885. Baby and Me Lapsit 10 a.m. Leander Library, 1011 S. Bagdad Rd., Leander. leandertx.gov or 512-255-5259. Toddlertime 10:30 a.m. Round Rock Library, 221 E. Main St. roundrocktexas.gov or 512-218-5400. Family Fun Storytime 10:30 a.m. Georgetown Library, 402 W. 8th St. library.georgetown.org or 512-930-3551. Toddler Tales Story Time 10:30 a.m. Bee Cave Library, 4000 Galleria Pkwy. pl.beecavetexas.com or 512-767-6620. Toddler Storytime 10:30 a.m. Wells Branch Library, 15001 Wells Port Dr, Austin. wblibrary.org or 512-789-3188. Los Cuentos Bilingual Storytime 10:30 a.m. Kyle Library, 550 Scott St. cityofkyle.com or 512-268-7411. Family Storytime 11 a.m. Round Rock Library, 216 E. Main St., Round Rock. roundrocktexas.gov or 512-218-5400. Toddler Tales Story Time 11:15 a.m. Bee Cave Library, 4000 Galleria Pkwy. pl.beecavetexas.com or 512-767-6620. Preschool Storytime 11:15 a.m. Wells Branch Library, 15001 Wells Port Dr, Austin. wblibrary.org or 512-789-3188. Spanish Dual Language Storytime 2:15 p.m. Southeast Branch Library, 5803 Nuckols Crossing Rd. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-8840.

SATURDAYS

Family Storytime 10 a.m. Cedar Park Library, 550 Discovery Blvd., Cedar Park. cedarparktexas.gov. Storytime and Craft 11 a.m. Wells Branch Library, 15001 Wells Port Dr. wblibrary.org or 512-989-3188. Family Storytime 11 a.m. Round Rock Library, 221 E. Main St. roundrocktexas.gov or 512-218-5400. Family Storytime 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Westbank Library, 1309 Westbank Dr. westbanklibrary.com or 512-327-3045.

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SMART SCREEN TIME This Jan. 28, the Kratt Brothers present their Wild Kratts Live! show in two performances at the Bass Concert Hall on the UT Austin campus. Their television show Wild Kratts on KLRU PBS KIDS continues to draw a devoted, enormous audience. Apart from the fact that the Kratts are engaging and animated hosts, I think another reason is that they have struck a balance between the animated fantasy world that provides the story for each episode with the real-world, detailed facts about the animals they feature. Kids’ curiosities and fantasies are simultaneously fed, making for both an entertaining and satisfying experience. This same principle can be applied to our Wednesday Science Night lineup featuring NOVA and Nature, but offers the additional advantage that adults and kids can derive significant pleasure from viewing and discussing the shows together. Pbslearningmedia.org, our free online archive of digital resources, offers an additional resource for families to search for great content across a huge variety of interests, and from programs from PBS KIDS as well as great sources like American Masters, PBS NewsHour, American Experience and the aforementioned NOVA and Nature. When families undertake such quests for information together, they are letting their kids know that entertainment and education can go hand in hand throughout their lives. That’s a valuable filter for kids to have as they grow up in our digital age. January sees the launch of a new show based upon a beloved book series. Pinkalicious & Peterrific brings the creative arts back into focus to stand alongside our numerous shows that highlight literacy and STEM learning. Starting Jan. 16, you’ll get a first look at episodes via the PBS KIDS Video Viewer app or at klrukids.org, and in mid-February the show will run on television. Happy New Year! Benjamin Kramer, PhD, is the director of education for KLRU-TV, Austin PBS.

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PIENSA POSITIVO by Leslie Montoya, life coach and host of Despierta Austin

Usa el Miedo para Motivarte Con el tiempo, he comprobado que el miedo puede ser un gran motivador para el ser humano y lograr lo que desea. El secreto está, en que seas honesto contigo y encuentres si esta emoción, aunque es negativa, te motiva. Si es asi, usa el miedo a tu favor. Cuestionate, ¿“Cómo me voy a sentir al ﬁnal del año, si no hago lo que se que tengo que hacer y no he hecho _____”? El hecho de no verte avanzar en tu meta produce una emoción negativa de miedo, ayudándote a recapacitar y motivarte a hacerlo. Practicalo y veras como empiezas a hacer cambios. ¡Piensa Positivo!

Using Fear as a Motivator I’ve found that with time, fear can be a great motivator in accomplishing what you want. The secret lies in being honest with yourself and discovering if this emotion motivates you. If so, use it. Ask yourself, “How am I going to feel at the end of the year, if I am still not doing _____?” The fact of not seeing yourself progressing in your goal produces a negative emotion of fear, helping you to reconsider and move forward. Do it, and you will start seeing changes. Think Positive!

Enter your name and email and we will randomly choose winners of a Family Pack of 4 tickets to the February 24th show at the Bass Concert Hall! Get more details and enter online at klru.org/tiger

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focus on

DOCTORS

Dr. Rachel Montgomery, Lonestar Pediatric Dental Dr. Montgomery graduated from Baylor University in Waco, and followed up by attending the University of Texas Dental School in Houston. Her residency was completed at the Boston University School of Dental Medicine, with a specialty in pediatrics. Rachel can most likely be found spending time with her husband Marty and their precious boys. See ad on page 19 Dr. Marty Montgomery, Lonestar Pediatric Dental Dr. Marty Montgomery comes from a family where all the children were drawn to dental careers early in life. A graduate of Baylor University in Waco, Marty attended Tufts Dental School in Boston. He completed his residency at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia, specializing in pediatrics. See ad on page 19 Dr. Betty Richardson Dr. Richardson earned a bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree and a masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree in nursing, and a PhD in psych/mental health nursing. She is a licensed marriage and family therapist and a licensed professional counselor. She has over 30 years of experience working with individuals, couples, families, children and adolescents. See ad on page 38

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KID

A Melted Snowman

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Although it doesn’t get too frosty in the Lone Star State, we’ve found the perfect, weather-appropriate craft that kiddos will love. Settle in for an afternoon of creativity with this melted snowman craft. What You Need • Felt sheets in tan, black and white • Foam marshmallows • Felt glue • Washable tempera paint • Paint brushes • Kid’s craft scissors • Snowﬂake confetti (optional) • Rhinestones (optional) What You Do 1. Paint your snowman or snowwoman’s face on a foam marshmallow using the washable tempera paint. Set the marshmallow aside to dry. 2. Using the white felt, cut out a melted snow shape. Use your creativity and make any melted shape–big or small– that you’d like. (Think of a sunny-side-up egg for shape inspiration.) 3. Using the tan and black felt, cut out other pieces of your melted snowman. The black felt can be cut into a hat and a few buttons. The tan felt can be cut into twig arms for your frosty melted friend. 4. Once all the pieces have been cut, use felt glue to stick the hat, buttons and arms onto the white felt body. 5. Give your snowman or snowwoman a personality with confetti, rhinestones or anything else you’d like! 6. Set the whole piece aside to dry completely. 7. Show off your frosty friend! Craft and imagery courtesy of The Darice® Craft Blog The YMCA of Austin is a dynamic association of men, women and children joined together by a shared commitment to nurturing the potential of kids, promoting healthy living and fostering a sense of social responsibility. We believe that lasting personal and social change can only come about when we all work together to invest in our kids, our health and our neighbors.

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JUST FOr GRINS

BY CA R R I E TAY LO R

Holiday Traditions on My Naughty are delish. But here are some holiday “traditions”—or just crazy things moms do—that I will decidedly not be participating in this year. Or any year.

Planning has never been my forte. The fact that I’m able to keep two children alive and fed and mostly dressed is a feat in itself. So, when glittered crafts from Pinterest start ﬂooding my Facebook feed, I only have one thing to say: Santa, please. Hats off to the moms whose houses look amazing and whose holiday meals

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1. Advent calendars. I’m only vaguely aware of what these are. But if I’m correct, they involve giving treats every day through some cutesy countdown until Christmas. I’ll be sticking with Google Calendar to tell me when we have ﬁve days until Christmas and it’s time to bite the bullet and just buy the husband something, already. 2. Artsy Christmas photos. My wallet won’t let me spend a month’s worth of groceries on one photo session just so I can have a stranger take pictures of my kids crying and not cooperating. And who does everyone think they are fooling? We know what your family looks like! We know little Carl only smiles if he’s

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offered two Hershey kisses and a Gatorade! I love my friends and family and would settle for unphotoshopped pictures any day. (Also, does everyone just happen to live by a picturesque forest or ﬁeld? I need help ﬁnding myself one of those.) 3. Secret Santas. Can we just be honest and admit we don’t enjoy buying cheap gifts for people we love? Because nothing says “I love you” more than a scented candle, hamburger phone or bath salts. (Or in the case of kids, more Hot Wheels for you to trip over in the middle of the night and curse your very existence.) Happy Holidays! Carrie Taylor is a freelance writer, editor and mother of two boys.

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NO SC S HOOL NO WORRIES YMCA OF AUSTIN Holiday Camp Registration Now Open Enjoy peace of mind knowing your child is engaged in enriching activitie i s under the watchful H\HV RI WUDLQHG <0&$ FRXQVHORUV <RXU FKLOG ZLOO PDNH QHZ IULHQGV JDLQ FRQÂ¾GHQFH DQG expand their horizons at Y camp. All of our camp activities are based on the Yâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s character development values and the Search Instituteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 40 Developmental Assets. Camps available in Northwest Austin, East Austin, South Austin, Buda and Manor.

Learn More & Register T To oday at AustinYMCA.org or call Program Services at 512.236.9622