Afm oct2016 linked (1) by Austin Family Magazine

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OCTOBER 2016

smart parenting • healthy homes

Serving Austin’s Families Since 1992

Go Green this Halloween

5 Fixes for

Night Frights Get to Know the Hatmaker Family Will “Bird Nesting” Work for You? INSIDE!

CONTEST 2017

ARTÍCULOS EN ESPAÑOL

EDUCATION GUIDE · CALENDAR · YOUNG WRITERS CONTEST

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PRESENTED BY

YM C A O F G R E AT E R W I L L I A M S O N CO U N T Y

SATURDAY OCT. 29

PET COSTUME CONTEST

COSTUME CONTEST 5 to 7PM

4PM

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OCTOBER 2016

smart parenting • healthy homes

• Life With Purpose

columns 16 Family Connections

How Strong Are Your Passwords?

18 Learning Curve

Do You Know Your Child’s Learning Style, and Does It Matter?

Go Green This Halloween

28 Lifelines

3 Unexpected Reasons for Poor School Performance

30 Family Matters

Bird Nest Parenting

48 Just for Grins

(Mis)adventures in Potty Training

en español

34 Museum Exhibits 34 Family Events 40 Parenting Events 42 Story Times

32 Recordando Mis Raíces

tune in

El Día de la Raza

33 Asuntos Familiares

Bird Nest Parenting: Una Innovadora Solución de Custodia

45 Piensa Positivo

in every issue 7

by Jack Kyser

8 Around Austin 47 Kidzone

Get the scoop from our resident film critic, Jack Kyser! Watch Jack’s video reviews at austinfamily.com/category/films.

Toasted Pumpkin Seeds

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This month’s review:

“The Magnificent Seven”

13 Young Writers Contest 2016 24 Education Guide 41 Cover Kids Contest 46 Focus on Doctors

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

Los Beneficios de las Cosas Difíciles

FILM REVIEWS

Play It Safe Product recalls

extras follow us

5 Fixes That Nix Nighttime Fears

calendar

Ten Things… For No-Carve Jack-o-Lanterns!

On the Cover Cover Kid winner Taylor enjoys picking pumpkins.

New items each Photographed at JourdanBachman Pioneer Farms week. Visit our website to register. by Nichole Renee

austinfamily

FREE®

OCTOBER 2016

smart parenting • healthy homes

Serving Austin’s Families Since 1992

Go Green this Halloween

5 Fixes for Night Frights Get to Know the Hatmaker Family Will “Bird Nesting” Work for You?

CONTEST 2017

ARTÍCULOS EN ESPAÑOL

INSIDE!

EDUCATION GUIDE · CALENDAR · YOUNG WRITERS CONTEST

October 2016 l austinfamily.com

austinfamily October 2016 BY SHERIDA MOCK

Volume 24, No. 7

PUBLISHER

Kaye K. Lowak

It’s October, so I’m bracing myself for the onslaught of all things pumpkin: spiced, scented and flavored. I do appreciate the appeal of cinnamon and cloves, and my hat’s off to the fiber and other goodies packed in pumpkin, but I draw the line at pumpkin spice peanut butter. Who’s with me?

Spicy gaudiness aside, this issue of Austin Family magazine embraces the season in a fleecy hug. We’ve got a terrific KidZone piece on how to toast your own pumpkin seeds, plus 10 things for pumpkin decorating. To round out the seasonal offerings, check out Kerrie McLoughlin’s article on how to save your cash and the environment this Halloween, plus Malia Jacobson’s fixes for nighttime fears. And education is always at the top of our minds, so this month we bring you our Education Guide, packed with choices for preschools, private schools, tutoring and more. We also have Margaret Nicklas’s column on learning styles and their place in your child’s classroom. And with allergy season in full swing, Brenda Schoolfield writes about medications that may be impacting your child’s performance in school. Enjoy these cooler temperatures, and have a happy fall, y’all!

EDITOR

Sherida Mock: editor2003@austinfamily.com

COPY EDITOR Paula Halloum

ADVISING EDITORS

Dr. Betty Kehl Richardson, Barb Matijevich

CALENDAR EDITOR

Betty Kemper: calendar2003@austinfamily.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Sherida Mock, Dr. Betty Richardson, Jack Kyser, Richard Singleton, Carrie Taylor, Brenda Schoolfield, Rocio Barbosa, Margaret Nicklas, Kerrie McLoughlin, Malia Jacobson

TRANSLATION TEAM

Maribel Ruvalcaba, Margo Vogelpohl

ART DIRECTORS

Designer: Nichole Fuller nr2003@austinfamily.com

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Nichole Renee

ADVERTISING SALES

Kaye K. Lowak: kaye2003@austinfamily.com

BUSINESS & DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Greg Lowak: greg@austinfamily.com

We are dedicated to serving the Greater Austin area by providing up-to-date information and ideas that promote smart parenting and healthy homes. We promote our clients’ businesses by increasing their customer bases and enhancing their public images. Austin Family is published monthly by KKKemper Inc. Mail Address:

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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.

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Play it product recalls

safe

Government Recalls Building Sets, Steel Straws and Strollers Alex Toys is recalling about 91,000 infant building play sets because small parts of the plastic toys can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children. The recall involves three Alex Jr. branded sets of infant building toys: the Baby Builder, model 1982; First Pops, model 1981P; and the First Snaps, model 1981S produced prior to November 2010. The pieces come in stackable plastic jars and were sold in sets of 14 and 26 pieces. Affected units were sold at Barnes & Noble and Land of Nod and online at zulily.com between March 2009 and June 2016 for about $18 to $28. Consumers should immediately take the recalled building sets away from children and contact Alex for a prepaid shipping envelope to return the product. Alex will send consumers a full refund upon receipt of returned sets. Starbucks is recalling about 2.5 million stainless steel straws because the straws are rigid and can poke children in the mouth, posing a risk of injury. The recall involves stainless steel Coldto-Go food grade drinking straws in two sizes. Affected units were sold at Starbucks stores nationwide and online at starbucks. com between June 2012 and June 2016 for about $6 for a set of three straws. Beverage cups with the straws were sold for between $11 and $30. Consumers should not allow children to handle or use the stainless steel straws. Safety 1st is recalling about 20,000 strollers because the stroller tray folding mechanism can partially disengage on one side when used with an infant car seat attached to the stroller, posing a fall hazard. The recall involves Step and Go Travel Systems sold under the Safety 1st brand and manufactured by Dorel Juvenile. Affected units were sold at Babies R Us and other retailers nationwide and online at amazon.com, babiesrus.com and walmart.com between May 2015 and June 2016 for between $250 and $300. Consumers should immediately stop using the strollers with the infant car seat and contact Safety 1st for a free repair kit. af

The U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission works to protect the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products.

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GO TO WWW.AUSTINFAMILY.COM FOR WEEKLY UPDATES OF AROUND AUSTIN NEWS

November 6 – Getting the Message: The telegraph and the crystal radio December 4 – Keeping Warm Indoors: The natural history of the board game

Must -Do This Month Break out the salt and butter. It’s Popcorn Popping Month.

Entry to the museum is free for all Sunday Funday visitors and includes access to the exhibits on display in the historic house, annex and grounds. Parking is available free of charge behind the museum.

Practice your grin on Oct. 7, World Smile Day.

The museum is located at 2310 San Gabriel St. For more information, visit nchmuseum.org. Visitors to the Neill-Cochran House Museum get hands-on experiences on Sunday Fundays. Photo courtesy of Neill-Cochran House Museum.

Neill-Cochran House Every first Sunday from September to May, the Neill-Cochran House Museum opens its doors for free demonstrations, hands-on activities for ages 6 and up, and self-paced tours at one of Austin’s oldest structures. “We started Sunday Fundays in 2014, because making the museum accessible and responsive to young patrons is central to our service to the community,” says Andrea Perry, the museum’s programming manager. “This year, we’re giving visitors a glimpse into where our technologically-shaped lives came from. We want to show in a hands-on way what some of these changes must have been like for our predecessors who lived in Austin between 1850 and 1930. History truly can enhance our experience of the present.” Upcoming Sunday Funday dates and activities include: October 2 – Off the Rack: Simple fabric dyeing

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Act like one or eat one on Oct. 22, National Nut Day.

H-E-B Excellence Nominations

Do you know an excellent educator in Texas? Submit the name of a teacher, school district, early childhood facility or school board today for a 2017 H-E-B Excellence in Education Award, placing them on the path toward winning prizes ranging from $5,000 to $100,000. Nominations for the awards are being accepted online through Oct. 23. Nominees will be invited to complete an online application. The deadline for applications is Dec. 4. But nominations are not required for participation. Educators, school districts, early childhood facilities and school boards can go online and complete an application.

Last year, the H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards handed out more than $800,000 in cash prizes, gift cards and grants. Since 2002, the program has awarded over $8.5 million to Texas educators, schools and districts. To participate and for more information, visit heb.com/education.

Whole Kids Foundation The Austin ISD Board of Trustees recently honored Whole Kids Foundation for its work to advance student nutrition and food education. Over the past 5 years, the district has worked in partnership with the foundation on a variety of

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initiatives focused on reinventing school food service and supporting students’ health and well-being. Whole Kids Foundation continues to champion fresh, healthy food in local schools, including grants to over 40 AISD schools for school gardens. Most recently, the foundation committed $100,000 to support the district’s new high school Food Truck program, to add traditional ethnic dishes to school menus and to expand its made-to-order salad bar program for elementary and middle schools.

Representatives from Austin ISD and Whole Kids Foundation celebrate 5 years of successful partnership. continued on p. 10

By the Numbers

41.2

million

Number of trick-or-treaters in the U.S. Source: U.S. Census Bureau

$7.4

billion

Annual sales in Halloweenthemed merchandise Source: National Retail Federation

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Percentage of trick-or-treaters wearing homemade costumes Source: Edison Research

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An independent private school offering preschool through eighth grade © 2015, Challenger Schools private • Challenger School admits students of any race, color, and national or ethnic origin. An independent school offering preschool through eighth grade © 2016, Challenger Schools • Challenger School admits students of any race, color, and national or ethnic origin.

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Barron Prize for Youth An Austin youth has been named as an honoree in the annual Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes. Each year, the Barron Prize honors 25 outstanding young leaders who have made a significant positive difference to people and our planet. Campbell Erickson, age 17, created A Youth Mind (AYM) to empower young people around the world to document their life stories and improve their lives through entrepreneurship. AYM works with schools and organizations to provide disposable cameras and writing prompts to students and encourages them to think about how they can affect change in their own communities. Participating students then learn the basics of business and pitch project ideas during AYM-led youth entrepreneurship summits. Erickson has organized AYM projects in Colombia, India, Kenya, Madagascar, South Sudan, Tanzania, the U.S. and Zimbabwe. Erickson began his work a year ago following a trip to Cambodia, where he says he was inspired by the dedication and resilience of the young people he met. “This project combines my passions: wanderlust for the world, a deep sense of caring for others and an excitement about the creation of something new,” he says. The Barron Prize was founded in 2001 by author T.A. Barron and was named for his mother, Gloria. For more information, visit barronprize.org.

Austinite Campbell Erickson was named an honoree in this year’s Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes.

Healthy Eating Guide Austin youth Marillah King has created a healthy eating guide called VegucationATX. The guide lists Austin area restaurants that serve vegan and vegetarian options and Austin area grocery stores and farmers markets that specialize in organic and locally-grown produce and products.

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King has distributed paper versions of the VegucationATX guide at local grocery stores and farmers markets. To get online healthy eating tips, recipes and encouragement, visit Vegucationatx on Facebook and Instagram. For her efforts in creating the guide, King, a Cadette Girl Scout, was awarded the Girl Scout Silver Award.

Austinite Marillah King created the VegucationATX guide to encourage healthy eating.

Entrepreneurial Fundraiser Over the summer through its Young Entrepreneurs and Philanthropists program, students at Stepping Stone School summer camps conducted a series of businesses and raised money for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Texas. The students sold lemonade, cookies, crafts and more as they learned how to plan, prepare for and conduct business. In their efforts, the students raised over $6,000. Stepping Stone School chipped in matching funds to make the total donation reach $10,000.

Students from Stepping Stone School summer camp join school administrators in presenting a donation to the development coordinator for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Texas.

continued on p. 12

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School Rebranding

FARE Walk Expo

The Khabele School recently announced a new name and direction. Now called Headwaters School, the school serves students from 18 months through 12th grade. Headwaters School has three campuses. The Early Childhood Program (ages 18 months to Pre-K), at 6305 Manchaca Rd., will hold its open house on Nov. 5 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. The Elementary Program (K-5th grade), at 9607 Brodie Ln., will hold its open house on Nov. 5 from 9 to 10:30 a.m. The Middle and High School college-prep and International Baccalaureate program, at 801 Rio Grande St., will hold its open house on Oct. 22 from 1 to 4:30 p.m. For more information on Headwaters School and the upcoming open houses, visit headwaters.org.

FARE Walk for Food Allergy happens Oct. 30 at the Dell Diamond in Round Rock. The event aims to create a safer world for the 15 million Americans currently affected by food allergies. Check-in and activities begin at 2 p.m. Of those affected by food allergies, one in 13 is a child—that computes to about 2 children per classroom overall. And within that children’s population, 40 percent have already experienced a severe or life-threatening allergic reaction. Along with the walk, the expo will provide entertainment, music and games. For more information visit foodallergywalk. org. af

scholar

artist

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servant

Join us for open house and small group tours!

For more information visit www.sasaustin.org or call 512.299.9802 for grades K– 8 or 512.299.9720 for grades 9–12. Lower/Middle School: 1112 W. 31st St. Upper School: 5901 Southwest Pkwy.

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Axel B. Photography

School Break Camps

One-Day Camp • $80 Act the Story: Charlotte’s Web October 10 • K-Grade 1

Winter Break Camp • $300 Broadway Kids: Elephant and Piggie December 27 - 30 • K-Grade 1 Hogwarts: Triwizard Tournament December 28 - 30 • Grade 2-5 This project is funded and supported in part by a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts and by the Cultural Arts Division of the City of Austin Economic Development Department.

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Life with Purpose The Hatmakers and Their Big Family Hearts

by Sherida Mock

Life for Jen and Brandon Hatmaker is hardly slow. The couple, who lives in Buda, just south of Austin, are both authors and tour the world on speaking engagements. They are also parents to five children. They are working to launch a nonprofit called the Legacy Collective. And a few years ago, they tackled renovating a 100-year-old farmhouse.

In spite of their hectic schedules, they found time to sit down with us and talk about their family life.

Photos courtesy of Jen and Brandon Hatmaker.

AF: Tell us about your family.

Jen: Oh, brother!

Brandon: Jen and I have been married for 23 years. We met in college. We had our first kiddo, Gavin, then we had two more: a girl [Sydney] and a boy [Caleb]. Then we adopted two more about 5 years ago from Ethiopia; Ben and Remy are 13 and 10.

AF: What brought you to Austin?

Jen: We’ve got one in elementary, one in middle, two in high school and one in college. It’s very weird.

AF: Are you originally from Austin? Brandon: I’m from Colorado. Jen is from Kansas. We met at Oklahoma Baptist University. I was a junior; she was a freshman. She chased me.

October 2016 l austinfamily.com

Brandon: We had been doing student ministry, and we had an opportunity to come here. We fell in love with Austin. It’s home.

AF: Brandon, what’s your new book about? Brandon: It’s my second book. “A Mile Wide” addresses the idea of “a mile wide, but an inch deep” religion. It digs into what Jesus said about living in and serving your community. I think a lot of people are searching for a faith that’s more than just going to church. I wrote “A Mile Wide” to help people experience freedom in their faith, which leads

to a fuller life. So many times we see religion as not good news. I think there’s something wrong with that.

AF: Jen, tell us about your new home and accessories line. Jen: It’s the Jen Hatmaker Collection with Glory Haus, a fabulous company out of Marietta, Georgia. The artisans for our leather products are coming out of homelessness and/or abusive situations. I’m thrilled about that. For me, it’s not just a matter of putting out some really great products, but it’s job creation for some really capable and smart and worthy women who were in trouble.

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AF: You both have so many projects. How do you manage your schedules? Jen: We constantly adjust. At this point, we only have kids in the house for eight more years. It’s not that long. It’s funny how much they need us as teenagers. While they may not need our physical parenting as much, they need our emotional presence a lot more. We are trying really hard to balance that well. Brandon: We’re intentional about when we travel. Right now, we don’t travel during the week at all. So we’re here in the mornings when they get up, and we get to pick them up from school.

AF: What was it like to do the HGTV show “My Big Family Renovation?” Jen: We couldn’t have expected it or planned it in a million years, but HGTV came to us with the proposal. We bought this old house. It was built in 1908, and it was a disaster—a hot mess. Brandon: We lived in the house as we restored the whole thing. Jen: It was, of course, during the coldest winter in memory. Brandon: No heat, no kitchen. Jen: No electricity. Brandon and I lived in a room off the garage. Our boys lived in a camper on the back of our property. And our two daughters lived in just whatever room was not under construction. But it was really fun, and this old house is such a dream. Brandon: It was the first thing we did as a full family, after our adoption. Jen: It just feels like this is our place. It’s a joy to live here.

Jen: Our life is definitely unconventional, but in general, we treat our weekdays the way other people treat their weekends. Our kids are very used to the rhythm.

AF: Have you always had this much purpose? Jen: We have both always leaned in hard to what we feel our purpose is here. This is our one life, and we want to use it well and spend it well. Brandon: There’s a point where as a parent, you go, “If what I’m doing has no significance, why am I doing it?”

AF: What do you do for family fun?

to look back and say, “Wow, that was significant.” Jen: Destination Christmas, instead of a bunch of presents under the tree. When our kids turn 13, they get a surprise trip somewhere with a parent. If it’s a boy, they go with Brandon. If it’s a girl, they go with me. Brandon: It’s kind of their coming of age trip. I take my boys back to where I grew up in Colorado, and we just do outdoor stuff and talk about growing up, character, integrity and what it means to be a man. It’s a fun trip, but it’s also purposeful. Jen: Well, I took my daughter to New York, and we shopped [laughs]. af

“This is our one life, and we want to use it well and spend it well.” –Jen Hatmaker

Jen: We are lake people, big time. A few years ago, when all our kids were turning into the teen years, I remember saying to Brandon, “Our days of children’s museums and parks are over. We need a new way to pull our teenagers in tight.” So we bought a used boat. My parents also have a 350-acre ranch a couple of hours away from here, with cattle and four-wheelers and no internet. We love it out there. Brandon: We made a decision a while back that for gifts, we’d give experiences. We want to create memories together. I think we’re going

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BY RICHARD SINGLETON

How Strong Are Your Passwords? I have an admission. My passwords used to be weak. So says Kim Komando. Komando styles herself “America’s Digital Goddess.” And, with a name like Komando, why wouldn’t she be? Back in June, she wrote about “5 Password Mistakes Far Too Many People Make.” I plead guilty. Actually, I plead lazy. It’s not that I don’t understand that there are massive risks to password issues. About 3 years ago, I was at a softball game, standing in line dreaming of homeruns and heroism. Never mind that it was church softball with grade schoolers. I was really going to knock it out of the park. But, I didn’t. Just before getting up to bat, one of my buddies said something that sent chills down my spine: “I think you’ve been hacked.” Not me! I have strong passwords! Yep, me. My strong passwords might have been strong a decade ago, but by today’s standards, they were weak. I spent the rest of the evening trying to make sure that hackers weren’t scoring runs off of my obliterated email account. Komando shocks us with this bolt of lightning from the nerd heavens: “When you're making

October 2016 l austinfamily.com

new passwords, eight characters should be the absolute minimum, and 10 to 12 characters is recommended. For super important accounts, such as your banking account, a 14 to 16 character password isn't a bad idea. My I.T. staff uses 30-character passwords for the important systems.” What? Those aren’t passwords; they’re novels! Good thing there’s a ghostwriter willing to help you out, but we’ll get to that in a moment. So, besides being too short, what’s wrong with our passwords? Komando says that they are too simple, not unique and old! Dawn Bjork Buzbee is “The Software Pro.” (Okay, am I the only person without a cool last name?) She adds significantly to Komando’s list. Buzbee says that passwords today are weak because they are based on personal data, easy to guess, are letters only, are always the same and are blurted out to our friends, family and associates too much. Sounding familiar? Jeff Fox, writing for the Huffington Post, says that hackers are salivating at our predictable behavior. He notes that “long passwords comprised of a variety of letters, numbers and special characters can better withstand cracking software than can short, simpler ones. However, when something about a password’s composition is too predictable—it begins with an upper case letter, for example, or

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includes a recognizable word—it can be cracked much more quickly.” The solution? He offers these techie tips: • Avoid beginning the password with an uppercase letter—or maybe even any letter. • Create an acronym using the first letter of each word in a memorable sentence, as suggested by security expert Bruce Schneier — example: t2cmlp,@yh (“Try to crack my latest password, all you hackers”).

Hackers aren’t just for edgy fictional series and sensationalistic movies. Hackers are real, and they’re making life miserable for the unprotected. Take the time to evaluate your passwords, set up some basic strategies for good passwords, use a management system and save yourself the misery of having to learn the hard way. af

“When something about a password’s composition is too predictable, it can be cracked much more quickly.”

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

– Jeff Fox

• Resist your natural tendency to mimic familiar words and phrases. • Use multiple special characters in the same password. • Don’t always place digits adjacent to each other. Finally, about that laziness issue and what to do about passwords that have more in common with the length of “War and Peace” than they do with the bare minimum of letters that the gatekeepers at Netflix required you to chisel into your account years ago when you heard about how amazing the new season of “House of Cards” was going to be. How do you keep up with it all? The answer is using a password manager. PCMag.com has an excellent review of these nifty browser plugins, and they summarize with this telling statement about what they consider the “best of the best” password managers: “Veteran password manager LastPass 4.0 Premium offers an impressively comprehensive set of features. Slick and polished Dashlane 4 also boasts a ton of features, even some that LastPass lacks. Sticky Password Premium handles essential tasks better than most, and a portion of every purchase goes to help an endangered species.” I quote this summary because most of us have probably never even heard of the concept of a password manager, let alone that there are so many veterans in the business of keeping your 30-character novel stored away safe and sound.

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BY MARGARET NICKLAS

Some of us are visual learners, and some of us are auditory learners, right? It seems like an accepted part of education: we each learn best when information is presented a preferred way. But current thinking in many scholarly circles says this assumption may be false. Many experts and classroom teachers agree it is less important to be taught in a particular style than to receive information in a variety of ways, or modalities. And the modalities used—such as visual, auditory or kinesthetic— should fit the content being taught. For instance, an “auditory learner” will still likely learn about geography best by looking at maps, and a “visual learner” will need to hear foreign language sounds to pronounce them. Furthermore, we all seem to learn better when material is presented multiple times and in a variety of contexts. UT Austin Professor Dr. Anthony Petrosino is concerned that students may limit their learning potential by adopting a label. Petrosino is an associate professor at UT’s School of Education and co-founder of the UTeach Program. Visual thinking tools help everyone, he says. And just because a person prefers a particular learning style doesn’t mean he actually learns best that way.

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“It’s probably best to have your child learn through multiple modalities,” Petrosino says. We learn through all our senses; the more of these used, the better our comprehension, recall and retrieval will be, he adds. Deeper learning comes from using a variety of methods, like having students read or write about a subject, do related activities, respond to questions, debate one another or make presentations. This view is echoed by Dr. Robert Duke, an expert on music and human learning and a professor in UT’s Butler School of Music. “The more different ways an individual interacts with some idea or some skill, the more likely he or she is to remember it and be able to use it in the future,” he says. Children need to learn to deal with confusion productively, Duke adds. “Most jobs require you to think more creatively and be able to solve problems that are unusual,” he says. The idea that we should pay attention to learning style preferences continues to have its advocates. One such supporter is Dr. Richard Felder, a professor emeritus at North Carolina State University, who helped develop the popular Felder-Silverman Learning Style Model.

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But even those backers agree that the goal is not to pigeonhole students nor burden teachers. Rather, the knowledge can become one more tool to enhance the education process. “The point is not to match teaching style to learning style but rather to achieve balance, making sure that each style preference is addressed to a reasonable extent during instruction,” Felder wrote in 2010. Regardless of the teaching methods your child may encounter, she may certainly benefit from a deeper understanding of how she likes to interact with information. One kid-friendly place to find diagnostics and other resources is at kids.lovetoknow.com. Your child may discover ways to reinforce classroom instruction, both in school and at home. Here are some other ways you can help: • Support your child’s teacher in using tools and methods. Ask how the teacher incorporates different modalities and encourage him or her to use a variety. If the school lacks resources, parents or the PTA may be able to purchase maps, flash cards, CDs, DVDs or portable A-V equipment.

• Don’t be in too big a hurry to help. Allowing your child to struggle with a certain amount of confusion may help him learn to solve problems on his own. In addition, it teaches the value of persistence and encourages your

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Margaret Nicklas is an Austin-based freelance journalist, writer and mom who covers public affairs, public health and the well-being of children.

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10 THINGS

â&#x20AC;Śfor No-Carve Jack-o-Lanterns! 1. Pipe cleaners and googly eyes 2. Metallic Sharpies

3. Glue and glitter 4. Puff paint dots 5.

Acrylic paint 6. Ribbons 7. Patterned duct tape

8. Doilies and spray paint 9. Mod Podge and fall leaves 10. Masks and hats

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Go Green This Halloween Super Great Tips for Your Wallet and the World by Kerrie McLoughlin

Between costumes, candy holders, treat wrappers and plastic decorations, Halloween can quickly become a landfill’s worst nightmare. Multiply that by the number of kids you have, and you’re left with quite a bit of wasted junk on your conscience. Fortunately, just about anything you do can be done in a more ecologically responsible way, and it’s easy. Check out these tips to green your Halloween—and save some serious financial green in the process.

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Costumes

into the world. Instead, consider handing out something that can be used or recycled. Ideas include pencils, erasers, Consider hosting a costume swap day among a group of families. (Get how-to quarters, crayons, juice boxes (recytips at greenhalloween.org.) Other ideas clable cardboard), cool bandages, to go green and save green: recycle bookmarks or flower seed packets. among your own family members; use an old karate or ballet outfit; break out the princess dress-up clothes. Google “Halloween costumes you can make at Decorations home for cheap” and start surfing. And don’t forget to check thrift stores and Instead of buying decorations that garage sales all year. eat up batteries, consider strategically placing some hay bales in your yard or on your deck or front porch. Chrysanthemums, gourds, colorful corn, ghosts made of sheets stuffed with batting and scarecrows made of old clothes stuffed with hay are cheap and green choices. Nontoxic window paints are fun for kids to use on windows and doors. There are all kinds of Halloween crafts you can make out of materials you have around the house that can be saved for next year or recycled later. Crafts like bottle cap pumpkin magnets, tin can bat treat holders and an egg carton animal nose mask can also be a Trick or Treating great activity at your Halloween party. Grab that rechargeable or LED shake flashlight and head out the door. But don’t forget the decorated cloth bag you can reuse next year. An even Pumpkins cheaper route (and it’s space- and eco-friendly) is to go retro and use a Speaking of decorations, pillowcase or go modern and use a pumpkins are the best cloth shopping bag. Take a separate decoration out there, bag to pick up trash as you follow your and you can even grow trick-or-treaters. your own if you have the space. Just toss a bunch of seeds in a large garden area, and you’ll have freebies for next year. Otherwise, take an educational trip to a local pumpkin patch so you support local farmers. Bake a pie and make sure you toast some pumpkin seeds, too.

Parties After you send an Evite to the parents, start planning your green Halloween party. Instead of setting out individually wrapped treats, put carrots, orange slices and pretzels in bowls. Make sugar cookies in advance in cool Halloween shapes (bats, pumpkins and ghosts) and have guests frost and decorate them with orange and black frosting. Throw some newspaper on the table, break out the nontoxic paints and decorate some pumpkins. af Kerrie McLoughlin vows to someday fit into a Wonder Woman costume. Check her out at TheKerrieShow.com.

Treats Just so we’re clear, I’m not of the camp that lumps eco-friendly with sugar-free. And even if you’re handing out healthy Halloween treats, chances are you’re still sending individually wrapped stuff Pick us up at HEB, Whole Foods and Central Market

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2016 ~ 17 Edu Infant Kindergarten Boys School of Austin, The Opening Fall 2017 Butterfly Garden 207 Chisholm Trail Rd., Round Rock Cathedral School of Saint Mary’s 910 San Jacinto, Austin Challenger School 15101 Avery Ranch Rd., Austin 1521 Joyce Ln., Round Rock 13015 Pond Springs Rd., Austin Headwaters School 6305 Manchaca Rd. Holy Family Catholic School 9400 Neenah Ave., Austin Hyde Park Schools 3901 Speedway, Austin Jardin De Ninos Interlingua 8707 Mountain Crest Dr., Austin 2700 W. Anderson Ln., Austin 107 RR 620, Ste. 300, Lakeway Magnolia School 2903 RR 620 N., Austin Santa Cruz Catholic School 1110 Main St., Buda St. Andrews Episcopal School 1112 W. 31st, Austin St. Austin Catholic School 1911 San Antonio St., Austin St. Francis School 300 E. Huntland Dr., Austin St. Gabriel’s Catholic School 2500 Wimberly Ln., Austin St. Helens Catholic School 2700 E. University Ave., Georgetown St. Ignatius, Martyr Catholic School 120 W. Oltorf, Austin St. Louis Catholic School 2114 St. Joseph, Austin St. Mary’s Catholic School 520 Washburn St., Taylor St. Paul Lutheran School 3407 Red River St., Austin St. Theresa’s Catholic School 4311 Small Dr., Austin Wells Branch Leadership Academy 15201 Burnet Rd., Austin

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Athlos Leadership Academy 3711 Shoreline Dr., Austin Boys School of Austin, The Cathedral School of Saint Mary’s Challenger School Fine Arts Academy 2110 White Horse Tr., Austin 10526 Parmer Ln., Austin Headwaters School 9607 Brodie Ln. Holy Family Catholic School Hyde Park Schools Jardin De Ninos Interlingua Magnolia School Santa Cruz Catholic School St. Andrews Episcopal School St. Austin Catholic School St. Francis School St. Gabriel’s Catholic School St. Helens Catholic School St. Ignatius, Martyr Catholic School St. Louis Catholic School St. Mary’s Catholic School St. Paul Lutheran School St. Theresa’s Catholic School

Wells Branch Leadership Academy

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see listing in Inf - K

6th - 8th Athlos Leadership Academy Cathedral School of Saint Mary’s Challenger School Headwaters School 801 Rio Grande St. Holy Family Catholic School Hyde Park Schools Fine Arts Academy Magnolia School San Juan Diego Catholic School 800 Herndon Ln., Austin Santa Cruz Catholic School St. Andrews Episcopal School St. Austin Catholic School St. Francis School St. Gabriel’s Catholic School St. Helens Catholic School St. Ignatius, Martyr Catholic School St. Louis Catholic School St. Mary’s Catholic School St. Paul Lutheran School St. Theresa’s Catholic School

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see listing in 1st - 5th see listing in Inf - K see listing in Inf - K www.headwaters.org 512-480-8142 see listing in Inf - K see listing in Inf - K see listing in 1st - 5th see listing in Inf - K www.sjdchs.org 512-804-1935 see listing in Inf - K see listing in Inf - K see listing in Inf - K see listing in Inf - K see listing in Inf - K see listing in Inf - K see listing in Inf - K see listing in Inf - K see listing in Inf - K see listing in Inf - K see listing in Inf - K

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ducation Guide 9th - 12th Fine Arts Academy Headwaters School Hyde Park Schools 11400 N. MoPac Expwy., Austin St. Andrews Episcopal School 5901 Southwest Pkwy., Austin St. Dominic Savio Catholic High School 9300 Neenah Ave., Austin

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NYOS Charter School 12301 N. Lamar, 1605 Kramer Ln., Austin

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www.nyos.org 512-583-6973, 512-287-5258

Resources

Austin Learning Center Tutoring 3355 Bee Cave Rd. #203, Austin 512-330-9007 Best in Class Tutoring 12400 Hwy 71, Suite 505, Bee Cave 206-890-1936 KidSpa Austin Drop-in child care services 5700 W. Slaughter Ln., Austin 512-301-5772 10526 W. Parmer Ln., Austin 512-828-5772 Mosaics Weighted Blankets Therapy Blanket 12741 Research Blvd. Ste. 402B, Austin 512-567-8943 Seeking Sitters Sitters, at-home study help, house and pet sitting North Austin 512-474-1171 Wanna Play Drop-in child care services 4500 E. Palm Valley Blvd., Round Rock 512-341-PLAY 14010 N. Hwy 183, Austin 512-258-PLAY

College Credit Austin Community College Locations in Austin Metro Area

www.austincc.edu/startnow Earn College Credit in High School

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Montessori | Preschools | Kindergarten MULTIPLE LOCATIONS

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Jardin De Ninos Interlingua

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see listing in Inf - K

NORTH

Country Home Learning Center www.countryhomelearningcenter.com 1310 US Hwy 183 North, Austin 512-331-1442 Kiddie Academy of Cedar Park www.kiddieacademy.com/austin 1602 Medical Pkwy., Cedar Park 512-920-3028 Kiddie Academy of Pflugerville www.kiddieacademy.com/pflugerville 2617 Kelly Ln., Pflugerville 512-270-9988 Little Hands International Preschool www.littlehandsips.com 3620 Hillside Dr., Round Rock 512-572-1888 Rainbow Station www.rainbowstationaustin.org 11651 W. Parmer Ln., Cedar Park 512-260-9700

SOUTH

Country Home Learning Center www.countryhomelearningcenter.com 6900 Escarpment Blvd., Austin 512-288-6220 Jardin De Ninos Interlingua see listing in Inf - K St. John's Lutheran Child Care Center stjohnschildcareaustin.com 409 W. Ben White Blvd., Austin 512-444-4026

WEST

Jardin De Ninos Interlingua Magnolia School Spicewood Country School 6102 Spicewood Springs Rd., Austin

see listing in Inf - K see listing in Inf - K www.spicewoodcountry.com 512-346-2992

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5 Fixes That Nix Nighttime Fears by Malia Jacobson

Parents love seeing little ghosts, ghouls and goblins on the doorstep at Halloween. But when monsters, ghosts and other imaginary figures start keeping kids awake at night, it’s another story. Nighttime fears are highly common— and not just for little kids, either. “Studies show this is a very common issue, affecting up to three-quarters of kids from preschool through adolescence at one time or another,” says Clinical Psychologist Jayne Schachter Walco, Ph.D. “Parents think of fears as something only small children deal with, but that’s untrue.” Young children aged 3 to 6 are more likely to complain of “fantastical” fears like monsters and ghosts, while older children fear things that could actually happen, like a fire, storm or a home intruder, Walco says. That’s because small children have trouble distinguishing fantasy from reality, while school-agers are becoming more aware of the sometimes-scary real world. Though fears vary for different children, parents can address them more or less the same way. Read on for how to slay the scariest of scary monsters at your house this fall.

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1 Fear Faker?

2 Routine Scene

Young children are champions at stalling bedtime; how can parents tell if monster fears are more of the same? “When a child learns that complaining about a fear is a successful tactic to postpone bedtime, he might continue to do this even without any real fear,” says Shelby Harris, Psy.D., director of the Behavioral Sleep Medicine Program at Montefiore Medical Center. But parents can sleuth out a genuine phobia, she says.

Children with irregular sleep schedules are more prone to nighttime fears and nightmares, Walco says. Why? Overtired children have more difficulty reaching and maintaining deep sleep and spend more time in lighter, “dreaming” sleep, so vivid nightmares may come calling more often. These tired tots may wake more often during the night, resulting in more time spent pondering whether that shadow in the corner is really a monster in waiting.

A real fear will be quite intense and will be present during the day, not just at night. So if your little arachnophobe only fears spiders after 7 p.m., the fear may be bedtime-related, while a fear that’s present at other times is likely authentic.

Fear fix: Maintain a predictable, age-appropriate bedtime routine every night to boost relaxation before bed and help ensure that children get enough rest. Preschoolers need 10-12 hours of sleep each night; school-agers and teens need 9-11.

Fear fix: Treat your child’s fears (even ones you suspect are less than genuine) with empathy and understanding, Harris says. Never laugh at your child or humiliate her. Instead, say “I understand how this might be scary for you, but you’re always safe here.”

3 Bedroom Buddy Nighttime fears can seem more frightening when children sleep alone, Harris says, which is why children often ask to sleep with parents when they’re afraid. Whenever possible, though, parents should avoid the “quick fix” of letting kids hop into Mom and Dad’s bed—this can reinforce fear by communicating

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in older children, whether the child is scared of something pretend, like a goblin, or something potentially real, like a burglar.

that a child’s bedroom isn’t a safe place to sleep. Fear fix: Parents’ goal should be helping a child feel safe and comfortable in his or her own bedroom. “Whenever possible, soothe a child in the child’s bedroom, instead of in the parents’ room,” Harris says. Once he’s calmed down, tell your child you’ll return to check on him in 10 minutes, and make sure to return as promised. Sleeping close to a sibling or pet can also help calm fears.

4 Creative Calm Parents employ a variety of creative tricks to help fearful kids, from imbuing a stuffed animal with magical powers to dousing a room with pretend “monster spray” to giving children a pretend sword for “protection.” These tactics can be effective for the preschool set, says Licensed Therapist Robert Turner of the Rose Sleep Disorders Center. But beware: parents’ willingness to play along with fears in this way might convince a child that the fear is real. (“If mom thinks monsters are real, they must be real!”)

Fear fix: Flooding a fearful child’s bedroom with nighttime light can backfire; too much light at night can disturb circadian rhythms, intensifying insomnia or overtiredness. Place a small, dim nightlight in a corner of the room, away from a child’s face. Better yet, choose a night light with a red bulb, and avoid blue lights—research shows they disrupt sleep patterns, Rosenberg says.

Rapid Reframe

practice self-calming strategies, like taking two deep breaths when afraid or picturing a safe, enjoyable scene. When a child masters the skills needed to self-regulate and actively dial down fears, he’ll be more confident, selfassured and emotionally resilient—for life. af ______________

Malia Jacobson is an award-winning health and parenting journalist and mom of three. Her latest book is “Sleep Tight, Every Night.”

Ultimately, the best approach is one that helps your child learn to manage fears long-term, says Walco. Help your child learn to take control of fearful, racing thoughts by reframing a scary mental image: a monster chasing your child with a knife (scary!) could become a friendly fairy chasing your child to offer an ice cream cone (sweet!). Arm your child with factual information, like the real causes of nighttime noises: spooky, creaky footsteps are really caused by your old floorboards, not an intruder. And

Fear fix: For young children aged 3 to 5, explore whether a transitional object like a special stuffed animal might help boost confidence and help a child fall asleep at bedtime, Turner says. But avoid reinforcing fear by hamming it up or acting afraid yourself.

5 Right Light Night frights are often sparked by fear of the dark, according to Robert S. Rosenberg, D.O., medical director of the Sleep Disorders Centers and author of “Sleep Soundly Every Night; Feel Fantastic Every Day.” While babies under 2 lack the cognitive capacity to be truly afraid of the dark—this comes later, when the “imagination” part of the brain takes off during the preschool years—darkness may intensify fears Pick us up at HEB, Whole Foods and Central Market

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BY BRENDA SCHOOLFIELD

3 Unexpected Reasons for Poor School Performance

When your child brings home a note from his teacher that he is having problems in school, how do you make sure you are addressing the real cause? Of course, you’ll make sure your child is getting enough sleep and eating properly. But there are other reasons behind poor school performance that you may not know about.

1. Medicines That Can Cause Sleepiness One reason behind poor school performance is that your child is too sleepy to pay attention or participate in activities. If your child is taking any medicines, talk to your pediatrician. Common medicines that can cause sleepiness are antihistamines, migraine medicines and antidepressants.

Common Meds That Can Cause Sleepiness

Many children take antihistamines for allergies or hives. There are two types of antihistamines: first-generation and second-generation. First-generation antihistamines have been available for a long time and are more likely to make your child feel sleepy or groggy. In fact, several first-generation antihistamines are used as the main ingredient in sleep aids. For example, the main ingredient in Benadryl Allergy and Simply Sleep is the same. Secondgeneration antihistamines are newer and are less likely to have that side effect. You can buy both types without a prescription, or “over the counter” (OTC). According to Dr. Goddy T. Corpuz, a pediatrician in Cedar Park, “Some OTC antihistamines definitely can cause drowsiness. Many people are not aware that most OTC cough and cold medicines, including Nyquil, contain second-generation antihistamines, such as chlorpheniramine or doxylamine. In higher doses, these drugs can cause respiratory depression in children. That’s why they have those warning labels not to administer and to ask a doctor first, particularly in infants and younger children.” “If your child has a cough or a cold, try a saline nasal spray or a humidifier,” says Dr. Corpuz. “There’s no scientific evidence that cough and cold medications help.” “Another commonly prescribed antihistamine that can cause drowsiness is cyproheptadine,” says Dr. Corpuz. “It was originally marketed for migraines. We still use it for that, but now it is more commonly prescribed as an appetite stimulant.”

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“Antidepressants and seizure medicines also can have a sedative effect,” says Dr. Corpuz. Common antidepressants are fluoxetine and sertraline. Common seizure medicines are phenobarbital, fosphenytoin and oxcarbazepine.” Talk to your child’s pediatrician about problems with drowsiness. See the sidebar “Common Medicines That Can Cause Sleepiness” for a list of medicines that may make your child sleepy. “Substitutions can be made whenever side effects are debilitating,” says Dr. Corpuz.

results in social issues or poor performance is ADHD,” says Dr. Corpuz. Children with ADHD often display: • Difficulty paying attention • Trouble controlling their behavior • Overexcited or “hyper” behavior

2. Medicines That Can Make Your Child Grumpy or “Hyper”

It’s important that children with possible ADHD be identified. According to the CDC, fewer than 1 in 3 children between the ages of 6 to 17 who have ADHD get proper treatment with both medication and behavior therapy. af Brenda Schoolfield is a freelance medical writer in Austin.

Give Them An EDUCATION They’ll Carry FOREVER.

Another reason behind poor school performance is “bad behavior.” Parents may not consider that the root of the problem could be a medicine the child is taking. Some medicines can cause your child to be really grumpy or “hyper.” “Believe it or not, antihistamines in a few children can have the opposite effect of drowsiness—they can cause irritability and excitability,” says Dr. Corpuz. “You may describe this as your child acting ‘hyper’.” He goes on to say, “Sometimes, children labeled as having bad behavior may have undiagnosed attention deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADHD) or sleep disorders. We know that children with sleep apnea can present with excessive daytime drowsiness, but some may have hyperactivity. Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed), a cough medicine ingredient, can cause sleep problems, excitability, nervousness and hallucinations in children.” “Patients who do not have ADHD but are taking ADHD stimulant medicines may have irritability and excitability or the opposite,” Dr. Corpuz warns. One example of this is a college student who is experimenting with ways to study more effectively for exams.

3. Social Issues and Poor Performance in School The third reason your child may be doing poorly in school is an unidentified medical condition. “The most common unidentified medical condition that

Consider Catholic Education at a School in Your Area: Elementary/Middle Schools Cathedral School of Saint Mary • Holy Family Catholic School • St. Austin Catholic School St. Gabriel’s Catholic School • St. Helen Catholic School, Georgetown St. Ignatius Martyr Catholic School • St. Louis Catholic School • St. Theresa’s Catholic School Santa Cruz Catholic School, Buda • St. Mary’s Catholic School, Taylor High Schools St. Dominic Savio Catholic High School • St. Michael’s Catholic Academy San Juan Diego Catholic High School

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BY BETTY RICHARDSON

Q A

My husband and I have decided to separate. Our kids are 2 and 6, and we’re already seeing behavioral problems after telling them that Dad is going to live somewhere else. One of our friends suggested we try “bird nest parenting.” What do you know about it?

Basically, a bird nest parenting arrangement puts the children’s nurturing needs first. It turns the standard custody arrangement on its head. The children remain in their same home, and the parents are the ones who take turns living elsewhere. Mom leaves the “nest” to live somewhere else when Dad arrives, and Dad leaves when Mom comes to roost. Sameness and routine are most comforting to children, and this arrangement means the children can have their same schedule, neighborhood playmates, bedrooms and belongings. The less you disrupt their routine, the less acting out you will likely experience from them. Financially, this arrangement means that parents don’t have to buy two separate sets of bedroom furniture, clothing, toiletries and toys for the children. The parents may feel less compelled to compete for who can provide the best of these items. To make bird nest parenting work, you’ll need to:

1. Arrange for both parents to have

Bird Nest Parenting An Innovative Custody Solution the nest. Some couples have family they can live with, friends they can rent a room from or arrangements for house sitting.

2. Negotiate and agree on chores

and house rules. It’s important to know that the yard will be mowed and the AC filters changed. One of the best mothers I know used a chore chart for her and her husband. In addition, parents might want to set rules about not entertaining new love interests in the nest home.

3. Work out how the nest home

expenses will be paid. Utilities and mortgage payments come to mind, but also consider grocery bills, dog food and cleaning supplies. One mother found she was stocking the fridge, but the food would spoil while she was away because her husband bought take-out meals during his nest time.

4. Explain to the children how this

new arrangement will work. With younger children, I suggest you keep your words and explanations simple. Don’t encourage them to believe that you and your husband will get back together again. In spite of great therapy, this may not happen.

Bird nest arrangements can last a long time. I recently heard of parents being in a nest arrangement for nearly a decade and still going strong. However, what I hear from former bird nesters and what I read in my research is that most arrangements last about 2 years. Bird nesting often ends because Mom or Dad (or both) finds a new love interest, and the new partner wants more time with that person. Some new partners don’t agree with the amount of money spent on maintaining the “nest.” Another type of ending may come due to a financial setback that makes keeping the “nest” impossible. Of course, some bird nesting arrangements have a happy ending when the parents decide to reunite. If you do decide to engage in bird nest parenting, you might want to find a therapist to help you work out the details and agreements. af Betty Richardson, Ph.D., R.N.C., L.P.C., L.M.F.T., is an Austin-based psychotherapist who specializes in dealing with the problems of children, adolescents and parents.

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BY ROCIO BARBOSA

El Día de la Raza En el mes de octubre en México la celebración mas importante no es Halloween. Es el Día de la Raza, cuando en 1492 Cristóbal Colon descubrió América. Los jóvenes principalmente son los que hacen la celebración, tirando globos de agua a los otros jóvenes que van pasando por las calles o en el camión pasajero, a la salida de las escuelas, etc. En las instituciones educativas, celebran con honores a la bandera así mismo en los centros ceremoniales o lugares en donde se descubrieron pirámides, se llevan a cabo eventos culturales. Cuando yo era joven, me emocionaba ver como era la celebración de Halloween en EE. UU. Solo veíamos eso por televisión. Recuerdo cuando era niña yo tenia una vecina que los hermanos de ella vivían acá en EE. UU., y un día de Halloween, ella salió vestida de calabaza, porque sus hermanos le mandaron el disfraz. Honestamente, la veíamos extraña era la única persona que estaba disfrazada. No estamos acostumbrados a disfrazarnos. La única vez en la que nosotros nos disfrazamos es cuando tenemos un bailable en la escuela o una obra de teatro. Cuando llegue a este país, empecé a disfrutar tanto la celebración de Halloween, primeramente por mis niñas, porque ellas eran felices disfrazándose de su caricatura preferida. Cuando vi que los adultos también se disfrazaban, empecé a disfrazarme también con mis niñas. Me encanta hacerlo cada año. af Rocio Barbosa, madre de dos hijas, vive en Round Rock.

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October 2016 l austinfamily.com

JUBILEE ACADEMIC CENTER “THE PREMIER CHOICE IN EDUCATION”

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October 2016 l austinfamily.com

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BY BETTY RICHARDSON

P R

Mi marido y yo hemos decidido separarnos. Nuestros niños tienen 2 y 6 años de edad, y ya estamos viendo los problemas de comportamiento después de decirles que papá va a vivir en otro lugar. Uno de nuestros amigos nos sugirió que intentáramos “bird nest parenting”. ¿Qué sabe usted al respecto?

Básicamente, un acuerdo de “bird nest parenting,” que se traduce como “crianza de nido de aves,” pone las necesidades de los niños en primer lugar. Pone de cabeza el arreglo de custodia usual. Los niños permanecen en su misma casa, y los padres son los que toman turnos para vivir en otro lugar. La mamá deja el nido para vivir en otro lugar cuando el papá llega, y el papá se va cuando la mamá viene a descansar. La monotonía y la rutina son más reconfortantes para los niños, y este arreglo significa que los niños pueden tener sus mismos horarios, compañeros de juego en la comunidad, dormitorios y pertenencias. Cuanto menos interrumpa sus rutinas, es probable que experimente menos problemas de comportamiento de ellos. Económicamente, este arreglo significa que los padres no tienen que comprar dos conjuntos separados de muebles para dormitorio, ropa, artículos de higiene personal y juguetes para los niños. Los padres pueden sentirse menos obligados a competir para ver quién puede proporcionar el mejor de estos artículos. Para hacer que este arreglo de custodia trabaje, necesitará:

1. Arreglar que ambos padres

tengan un lugar por separado para vivir fuera del nido. Algunas parejas tienen familiares con quienes

Bird Nest Parenting Una Innovadora Solución de Custodia

pueden vivir, un amigo que puede rentarle una habitación o arreglos para cuidar una casa no habitada.

Los arreglos de “bird nest” pueden durar mucho tiempo. Recientemente escuche sobre unos padres que han estado en este tipo de arreglo durante casi una década y todavía va fuerte. Sin embargo, lo que escucho de ex aves anidadores y lo que he leído en mi investigación es que la mayoría de estos arreglos duran aproximadamente 2 años.

2. Negociar y ponerse de acuerdo

sobre los quehaceres y las reglas de la casa. Es importante saber que el pasto será cortado y los filtros del aire serán cambiados. Una de las mejores madres que conozco utiliza una tabla de quehaceres para ella y su marido. Además, los padres podrían querer establecer reglas acerca de no llevar a nuevos intereses amorosos al hogar de su nido.

Las aves anidadores a menudo terminan porque mamá o papá (o ambos) encuentran un nuevo amor, y la nueva pareja quiere más tiempo con esa persona. Algunas de las nuevas parejas no están de acuerdo con la cantidad de dinero que se gasta en mantener el “nido”. Otros terminan debido a problemas financiero que hace mantener el “nido” algo imposible. Por supuesto, algunos arreglos de aves anidadores tienen un final feliz cuando los padres deciden nuevamente juntarse.

3. Averiguar cómo se pagarán los

gastos en el hogar del nido. Utilidades y pagos de hipoteca vienen a la mente, pero también tomen en cuenta las facturad de comestibles, alimentos para perros y productos de limpieza. Una madre descubrió que estaba abasteciendo el refrigerador, pero la comida se echaba a perder cuando a ella le tocaba salirse porque su marido compraba comida rápida para llevar cuando a él le tocaba estar en el nido.

4. Explicar a los niños cómo este

nuevo arreglo va a funcionar. Con los niños más pequeños, le sugiero que mantenga sencillas sus palabras y explicaciones. No los anime a creer que usted y su marido van a volver a estar juntos de nuevo. Aunque obtengan buena terapia, esto pudiera no suceder.

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Si usted decide participar en este tipo de arreglo, es posible que desee encontrar un terapeuta que pueda ayudarle a resolver los detalles y acuerdos. af Betty Richardson, Ph.D., R.N.C., L.P.C., L.M.F.T., es una psicoterapeuta con sede en Austin que se especializa en el tratamiento de los problemas de los niños, adolescentes y padres.

October 2016 l austinfamily.com

October Museum Exhibits pg 34

Family Events pg 34

•

Parenting Events pg 40

++ Denotes event occurs on multiple dates

2016 calendar •

Story Times pg 42 Compiled by BETTY KEMPER

Museum Exhibits

FREE FIRST SUNDAYS 1 to 4 p.m. Neill-Cochran House Museum, 2310 San Gabriel St. FREE. nchmuseum.org or 512‑478‑2335.

TEXAS CARTOONISTS EXHIBIT Through Nov. 30. Hampton Branch Library, 5125 Convict Hill Rd. FREE. library.austintexas.gov or 512‑974‑9900.

DISNEY’S NEWSIES 7 p.m. Bass Concert Hall, 2350 Robert Dedman Dr. Starting at $30. broadwayinaustin.com or 512‑477‑6060.

STATE OF DECEPTION AND THE BUTTERFLY PROJECT Through Jan. 8. Bullock Museum, 1800 N. Congress Ave. $8 youth; $12 adult. thestoryoftexas.com or 512‑936‑8746. WARHOL BY THE BOOK Through Jan. 29. Blanton Museum, 200 E. MLK Blvd. $5 youth; $9 adult. blantonmuseum.org or 512‑471‑5482. ORLY GENGER: HURLYBURLY Through Feb. 2017. 74 Trinity St. FREE. thecontemporaryaustin.org.

Family Events SATURDAY 1 MADRONE CANYON HIKE 8:30 a.m. Laura's Library, 9411 Bee Cave Rd. FREE. westbanklibrary.com or 512‑327‑3045. PFAMILY PFESTIVAL & EXPO 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Stone Hill Town Center, Pflugerville. FREE. pflugervilletx.gov. NATURE PLAY HOUR ++ 10 to 11 a.m. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, 4801 La Crosse Ave. FREE with admission. wildflower.org or 512‑232‑0100. WHAT'S THE STORY STEVE? ++ 10 to 11 a.m. Cold Towne Theater, 4803 Airport Blvd. $5. moveyourtale.com. HARVEST FEST 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Redeemer Lutheran Church, 1500 W. Anderson Ln. FREE.

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Pumpkin Festival, Oct. 15-23 CHALK WALK 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Centennial Plaza, 301 W. Bagdad St., Round Rock. FREE. roundrocktexas.gov. ROSITA Y CONCHITA ++ 11 a.m. Scottish Rite Theater, 207 W. 18th St. $8 youth; $12 adult. scottishritetheater.org or 512‑472‑5436.

CONTINUING: Rosita y Conchita see Saturday 1.

TUESDAY 4 FAMILY BOARD GAME NIGHT 5:30 p.m. Faulk Central Library, 800 Guadalupe St. FREE. library.austintx.gov or 512‑974‑7400.

WEDNESDAY 5

READ TO BONNIE THE DOG 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Yarborough Branch, 2200 Han‑ cock Dr. FREE. library.austintexas.gov or 512‑974‑8820.

SPROUTS ++ 10 to 11 a.m. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, 4801 La Crosse Ave. FREE with Garden admission. wildflower.org or 512‑232‑0100.

POKEMON TRAINING 12 to 2 p.m. Outlaw Moon Games & Toys, 5000 N. Lamar Blvd. FREE. 512‑454‑6648.

SPACE 8: A MAKER LAB ++ 2 to 8 p.m. The Thinkery, 1830 Simond Ave. Included with day's admission. thinkeryaustin.org.

SATURDAY ACADEMY ++ 1 to 3 p.m. Great Hall Games, 2521 Rutland Dr. FREE. greathallgames.org or 512‑505‑0055.

COMMUNITY NIGHT ++ 4 to 8 p.m. The Thinkery, 1830 Simond Ave. By donation. thinkeryaustin.org.

DISNEY’S NEWSIES 8 p.m. Bass Concert Hall, 2350 Robert Dedman Dr. Start‑ ing at $30. broadwayinaustin.com or 512‑477‑6060.

THURSDAY 6

SUNDAY 2 FREE FIRST SUNDAYS 12 to 5 p.m. Bullock Museum, 1800 N. Congress Ave. FREE. thestoryoftexas.com or 512‑936‑8746.

STARRY NIGHTS AT GIRLSTART 5:30 to 7 p.m. Girlstart, 1400 W. Anderson Ln. FREE. girlstart.org or 512‑916‑4775. MOVIES IN THE PARK: BEST IN SHOW 8 p.m. Northwest District Park, 700 Ardath St. FREE. austintexas.gov.

Austin Family is now making it easier for you to submit your calendar event. Go to www.austinfamily.com, click on “Submit your event” and send in your entry. The deadline is the 5th of each month preceding the month of the event. Events less than $15 usually are listed. For events more than $15, send details to kaye2003@austinfamily.com View the magazine online at austinfamily.com

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FRIDAY 7 MOVIES IN THE PARK 7:30 p.m. Milburn Park, 1901 Sun Chase Blvd., Cedar Park. FREE. cedarparktexas.gov.

A FEW GOOD MEN ++ 7:30 p.m. TexARTS Theatre, 2300 Lohmans Spur, Lake‑ way. tex-arts.org.

CONTINUING: What's the Story Steve? see Saturday 1; Saturday Academy see Saturday 1; Nature Play Hour see Saturday 1; Play On! see Friday 7; A Few Good Men see Friday 7; Rosita y Conchita see Saturday 1.

SUNDAY 9

CONTINUING: A Few Good Men see Friday 7; Sprouts see Wednesday 5; Play On! see Friday 7.

FAMILY DAY 12 to 4 p.m. Umlauf Sculpture Garden, 605 Robert E. Lee Rd. FREE. umlaufsculpture.org or 512‑445‑5582.

SATURDAY 15

PLAY ON! ++ 7:30 p.m. Stage Presence, 708 S. Austin Ave., George‑ town. $15. 512‑484‑4109.

CONTINUING: A Few Good Men see Friday 7; Play On! see Friday 7; Bright Leaf Guided Hikes see Saturday 8; Rosita y Conchita see Saturday 1.

CONTINUING: Sprouts see Wednesday 5.

WEDNESDAY 12

SATURDAY 8

NATIONAL FOSSIL DAY 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Texas Memorial Museum, 2400 Trinity St. FREE. tmm.utexas.edu or 512‑471‑1604.

BRIGHT LEAF GUIDED HIKES ++ 9 to 11:30 a.m. Bright Leaf Preserve, 2222 and Creek Mountain Rd. FREE. brightleaf.org or 512‑459‑7269.

SUGAR SKULL WORKSHOP 10 to 11 a.m. Barrientos Mexican American Culture Cen‑ ter, 600 River St. FREE. maccaustin.org or 512‑974‑3785.

HANDS ON HISTORY 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Williamson Museum, 716 S. Austin Ave., Georgetown. FREE. williamsonmuseum.org or 512‑943‑1670.

SECOND SATURDAYS ++ 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Laguna Gloria, 3809 W. 35th St. FREE. thecontemporaryaustin.org or 512‑458‑8191.

HAUNTED HALLOWEEN TRAILS ++ 7 p.m. Pioneer Farms, 10621 Pioneer Farms Dr. $12. pioneerfarms.org or 512‑837‑1215.

FALL HOLIDAY FAIR 12 to 4 p.m. Asian American Resource Center, 8401 Cameron Rd., FREE austintexas.gov/aarc or 512-9741700

CONTINUING: Community Night see Wednesday 5; Space 8: A Maker Lab see Wednesday 5; Sprouts see Wednesday 5.

THURSDAY 13 LITTLE TEXANS 10 a.m. Bullock Museum, 1800 N. Congress Ave. $8 youth; $12 adult. thestoryoftexas.com or 512‑936‑8746.

TWEEN/TEEN NIGHT 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Taylor Public Library, 801 Vance St., Taylor. FREE. taylortx.gov or 512‑352‑3434.

FRIDAY 14 OLDE TYME DAYS All day. Downtown Hutto. FREE. hutto.org.

NIGHT IN OLD LULING 5 to 10 p.m. Thump Pavilion, 421 E. Davis St, Luling. FREE. lulingcc.org or 830‑875‑3214.

CHARLOTTE’S WEB ++ 6:30 p.m. Zach Theatre, 1421 W. Riverside Dr. From $16. zachtheatre.org or 512‑476‑0541.

ONE STOP FOR ALL THINGS COLLEGE! ACC’s enrollment advisors are here to answer your questions and help with college and career planning. 1-on-1 help is just a visit, click or call away! ACC_CDC_FA16-PRINT.indd 1

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F I N D D ETA I L S AT

austincc.edu/startnow

7/11/16 2:41 PM

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FARE WALK FOR FOOD ALLERGY Help Us Say FAREwell to Food Allergies Presented by Mylan Sunday, October 30, 2016 Joining us at the Austin FARE Walk for Food Allergy this year will be Kyle Dine! Kyle Dine is a food allergic musician who performs fun and educational allergy awareness concerts for kids. He uses music, puppets, and games to create interactive and engaging performances that leave children feeling supported and empowered. Register your team for the Walk today!

Check-in/Activities: 2:00pm Dell Diamond Northwest Parking Lot/Old Settlers Park 3400 E Palm Valley Blvd Round Rock, TX 78665

Jack Ingram is the Honorary Ambassador.

POP-UP MARKET/CAR SHOW 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. City Hall, 200 W. Willis St., Leander. FREE. leandertx.gov. PUMPKIN FESTIVAL ++ 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Elgin Christmas Tree Farm, 120 Nature's Way, Elgin. $8 Adults and kids 13 and over. OCTOBERAMA SCHOOL CARNIVAL 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mathews Elemen‑ tary School, 906 West Lynn St. FREE. mathews360.com or 512‑414‑4406. CHARLOTTE’S WEB ++ 2 p.m. Zach Theatre, 1421 W. Riverside Dr. From $16. zachtheatre.org or 512‑476‑0541.

see Saturday 15; Rosita y Conchita see Sat‑ urday 1; Charlotte’s Web see Saturday 15.

WEDNESDAY 19 CONTINUING: Community Night see Wednesday 5; Space 8: A Maker Lab see Wednesday 5; Sprouts see Wednesday 5.

THURSDAY 20 SCIENCE THURSDAY 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bullock Museum, 1800 N. Congress Ave. Free for preregistered groups. thestoryoftexas.com or 512‑936‑8746.

THIRD THURSDAYS CONTINUING: What's the Story Steve? 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Blanton Museum, Congress see Saturday 1; Saturday Academy see Ave. & MLK. FREE. blantonmuseum.org or Saturday 1; Nature Play Hour see Saturday 512‑471‑5482. 1; Play On! see Friday 7; A Few Good Men see Friday 7; Haunted Halloween Trails see HALLOWEEN CARNIVAL & HAUNTED Friday 14; Olde Tyme Days see Friday 14. HOUSE 5:30 to 8 p.m. Metz Rec Center, 2407 Canter‑ bury St. $1. austintexas.gov or 512‑478‑8716.

SUNDAY 16

CONTINUING: A Few Good Men see Friday 7; Play On! see Friday 7; Pumpkin Festival

2438 W. Anderson Lane 36

October 2016 l austinfamily.com

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SETON COMMUNITY COOKING CLASS 6 p.m. CHASCO Family YMCA, 1812 N. Mays St., Round Rock. FREE. ymcagwc.org or 512‑246‑9622.

COMMUNITY HEALTH FAIR 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Seton Medical Center, 6001 Kyle Pkwy., Kyle. FREE. kylechamber.org.

COLORING NIGHT 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Taylor Public Library, 801 Vance St., Taylor. FREE. taylortx.gov or 512‑352‑3434.

HOGEYE FESTIVAL 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Historic Downtown Elgin. FREE. elgintx.com or 512‑281‑5724.

FRIDAY 21

CHARLOTTE’S WEB ++ 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Zach Theatre, 1421 W. Riverside Dr. From $16. zachtheatre.org or 512‑476‑0541.

GEM CAPERS ++ 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Rd. $8 adults. RULE OF THREE 8 p.m. The Long Center, 701 W. Riverside Dr. Starting at $12. thelongcenter.org or 512‑457‑5115. CONTINUING: Sprouts see Wednesday 5; Haunted Halloween Trails see Friday 14.

SATURDAY 22 BARKTOBERFEST 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Old Settlers Park, 3300 E. Palm Valley Blvd., Round Rock. FREE- Donations welcome. 512‑260‑7722.

FUNdamental

Technology Education

Robotics | Game Creation | Movie Making | Minecraft • After-school programs in Austin, Round Rock, Westlake,

Cedar Park, Leander & Dripping Springs • Available year-round for parties, special events & workshops • For ages 6 through 14 • Call for custom programs Register online it’s quick, easy and convenient! 512-415-4120 | AustinTx.BitsBytesBots.com

Spooktacular at the BULLOCK MUSEUM Friday, October 28, 2016 • 5-8 pm

SHAKE YOUR BONES! • Create glow-in-the-dark art • Move your bones to spooky beats • Experiment with bony science • Explore the Bullock Museum in costume after-hours & collect treats! Spooktacular is presented in partnership with Girlstart. Support for the Bullock Museum's exhibitions and education programs provided by the Texas State History Museum Foundation.

1800 N. CONGRESS, AUSTIN, TX Pick us up at HEB, Whole Foods and Central Market

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CEDAR BARK FESTIVAL 12 p.m. Veterans Memorial Park, 1435 Main St., Cedar Park. FREE. cedarparktexas.gov or 512‑567‑2407 or 512‑401‑5500.

MONDAY 24 BABY BLOOMERS 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. The Thinkery, 1830 Simond Ave. FREE. thinkeryaustin.org or 512‑469‑6218.

CONTINUING: What's the Story Steve? see Saturday 1; Nature Play Hour see Saturday 1; Saturday Academy see Saturday 1; Rosita y Conchita see Saturday 1; Haunted Halloween Trails see Friday 14; Gem Capers see Friday 21; Rule of Three see Friday 21.

TUESDAY 25

SUNDAY 23

WEDNESDAY 26

LAST STRAW FEST 12 p.m. Umlauf Sculpture Gardens, 605 Robert E. Lee, FREE, umlaufsculpture.org

CULTURE NIGHTS 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. AGE Cafeteria, 3710 Cedar St. FREE. austinpowwow.net.

CHARLOTTE’S WEB ++ 2 p.m. Zach Theatre, 1421 W. Riverside Dr. From $16. zachtheatre.org or 512‑476‑0541.

CONTINUING: Community Night see Wednesday 5; Space 8: A Maker Lab see Wednesday 5; Sprouts see Wednesday 5.

HALLOWEEN CHILDREN'S CONCERT 3 p.m. Dell Hall, 701 W. Riverside Dr. $15 adult. CONTINUING: Rosita y Conchita see Saturday 1; Gem Capers see Friday 21.

St. Francis School “Excellence Without Exclusivity”

• Project-based instruction • No religious affiliation • Small class sizes • Dynamic and engaging teachers • 62% of students test at one full grade level ahead in core subjects • 50% of 2016 graduates attend private high schools with competitive admissions or were accepted into accelerated programs at public schools

FILM SCREENING AND LUNCH 9:30 a.m. Barrientos Mexican American Culture Center, 600 River St. FREE. maccaustin.org or 512‑974‑3789.

THURSDAY 27 HALLOWEEN FESTIVAL AND HAYRIDE 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Georgetown Commu‑ nity Center, 445 E. Morrow St., Georgetown. FREE. events.georgetown.org or 512‑930‑3595.

OPEN HOUSE

October 6 • 9am January 19 • 9am in the Barnes Gymnasium

Barbara A. Porter, Head of School • www.stfrancis-school.org (512) 454-0848 • 300 E. Huntland Dr. 2 blocks from the ACC Highland Campus

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SATURDAY 29

HALLOWEEN CARNIVAL 6 to 8 p.m. Givens Rec Center, 3811 E. 12th St. FREE. austintexas.gov or 512‑974‑2430.

HALLOWEEN AT THE YMCA 2 to 9 p.m. Dell Diamond, Round Rock. $8. ymcagwc.org or 512-246-9622.

FAMILY NIGHT 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Taylor Public Library, 801 Vance St., Taylor. FREE. taylortx.gov or 512‑352‑3434.

FABLE FEST 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Elizabeth Milburn Park, 1901 Sun Chase Blvd., Cedar Park. FREE. fablefest.com.

FRIDAY 28

FALL FOLLY 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 4622 S. Lamar Blvd. FREE. holycrossatx.org or 512‑892‑0516.

HALLOWEEN CARNIVAL 3:30 to 6 p.m. Pan American Rec Cen‑ ter, 2100 E. 3rd St. FREE. austintexas.gov or 512‑476‑9193. SPOOKTACULAR 5 to 8 p.m. Bullock Museum, 1800 N. Congress Ave. FREE. thestoryoftexas.com or 512‑936‑8746. HALLOWEEN FUN 6 to 8 p.m. Dottie Jordan Rec Center, 2803 Loyola Ln. FREE. austintexas.gov or 512‑926‑3491.

FALL CRAFT FAIR 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cedar Park Rec Center, 1435 Main St., Cedar Park. FREE. cedarparktexas.gov. HALLOWEEN CARNIVAL AND HAUNTED HOUSE 1 to 4 p.m. Dolores Duffie Rec Center, 1182 N. Pleasant Valley Rd. FREE. austintexas.gov or 512‑472‑6838.

CONTINUING: Sprouts see Wednesday 5; Haunted Halloween Trails see Friday 14.

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FALL FAMILY FUN FEST 1 to 5 p.m. Pavilion at Great Hills, 11819 Pavilion Blvd. FREE. intergenerationalday.org or 512‑961‑7805. DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS PROCESSION AND FESTIVAL 1 to 8 p.m. Centennial Plaza, 301 W. Bagdad St., Round Rock. FREE. roundrocktexas.gov or 512‑659‑5667. SATURDAY MOVIE MATINEE: GOOSEBUMPS 2 p.m. University Hills Branch Library, 4721 Loyola Ln. FREE. library.austintexas.gov or 512‑974‑9940.

BOO-DA HALLOWEEN 5 to 7 p.m. Downtown Buda, FREE. ci.buda.tx.us. CONTINUING: What's the Story Steve? see Saturday 1; Saturday Academy see Saturday 1; Nature Play Hour see Saturday 1; Haunted Halloween Trails see Friday 14; Charlotte’s Web see Saturday 22.

SUNDAY 30 BOO BASH ON THE SQUARE 5 to 8 p.m. Downtown Square, Georgetown. FREE. events.georgetown.org or 512‑868‑8675. CONTINUING: Rosita y Conchita see Saturday 1; Charlotte’s Web see Sunday 23.

MONDAY 31

HALLOWEEN FALL FUN FESTIVAL 9 to 11:30 a.m. Old Settlers Park, 3300 E. Palm Valley Blvd., Round Rock. FREE. roundrocktexas.gov or 512‑218‑3220. HALLOWEEN SAFE TRICK OR TREAT TRAIL 6 to 8 p.m. Veterans Memorial Park, 109 Depot St., Elgin. FREE. elgintx.com or 512‑285‑6190.

October 2016 l austinfamily.com

HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR 6 to 9 p.m. Heritage Square, Downtown Taylor. FREE. ci.taylor.tx.us or 512‑352‑3463.

Parenting Events Any Baby Can offers free parenting classes in English and Spanish on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Postpartum support group meets on Thursdays. 6207 Sheridan Ave. FREE. Anybabycan.org or 512‑454‑3743. YMCA offers a free Childhood Obesity Intervention Program on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays throughout the month. Various locations. AustinYmca. org or 512‑236‑9622. Bridges to Growth offers a free Love and Logic early childhood parenting class on Wednesdays throughout the month. 7 to 8:30 p.m. 805 W. University Ave., George‑ town. GeorgetownProject.org or 512‑864‑3008. 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 Sta‑ tion and Waco. All breastfeeding mothers, babies and mothers-to-be are welcome to attend. Texaslll.org.

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TUESDAY 4 THE GIRLS' SCHOOL OF AUSTIN OPEN HOUSE TOUR ++ 10 to 11 a.m. The Girls' School of Austin, 2007 McCall Rd. FREE. thegirlsschool.org, or 512‑478‑7827.

wood Country Sc Spice6102 Spicewood Springs Rd. hool 512-346-2992 • www.spicewoodcountry.com

9 am to 1:30 pm - extended care available

THURSDAY 6

Small classes with balanced activities & many opportunities for creativity and self expression

ST. FRANCIS SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE 9 am. Barnes Gym, 300 E. Huntland Dr. stfrancis-school.org or 512‑454‑0848.

Curriculum based • Barnyard animals • Music Highly recommended by parents! Mary Beth Bird, Owner/Director

TUESDAY 11 CONTINUING: The Girls' School of Austin Open House Tour see Tuesday 4.

TUESDAY 18 BAYLOR SCOTT AND WHITE NUTRITIONAL CLASSES 10 to 10:30 a.m. Switzer Senior Center, 410 W. 7th St., Taylor. FREE. care.com or 512‑352‑3889. CONTINUING: The Girls' School of Austin Open House Tour see Tuesday 4.

CONTEST 2017

DO YOU HAVE A

Cover Kid?

Attention parents: You can now get your family and friends to vote! • Go to www.austinfamily.com and submit a photo of your child between now and

October 15 Finalists will be posted starting November 1 through December 15, at which time • family and friends can go back and vote • One vote per person, duplicates will be eliminated • Six winners will be selected and announced in the smart parenting • healthy homes January 2017 issue It’s a chance to see your child on the cover of 35,000 magazines, on our website, and on our FOX “Good Day Austin” Friday morning segment. Pick us up at HEB, Whole Foods and Central Market

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SATURDAY 22 HEADWATERS SCHOOL OFFICIAL LAUNCH AND OPEN HOUSE 1 p.m. 801 Rio Grande St., headwaters.org

DRUG TAKE-BACK DAY 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Round Rock Police Dept., 2701 N. Mays St., Round Rock. FREE. roundrocktexas.gov or 512‑218‑5500.

TUESDAY 25 CONTINUING: The Girls' School of Austin Open House Tour see Tuesday 4.

Story Times

AUSTIN LIBRARY Branches throughout Austin library.austintexas.gov 512-974-7400

CEDAR PARK LIBRARY 550 Discovery Blvd. cedarparktx.us 512-401-5600

GEORGETOWN LIBRARY 402 W. 8th St. library.georgetown.org 512-930-3551

KYLE LIBRARY 550 Scott St. cityofkyle.com 512-268-7411

Austin area libraries offer story times for infants, tod‑ dlers, preschoolers and families with children of all ages. In addition, there are story times in Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, American Sign Language and other languages. Contact your local library for more information about times and appropriate ages.

LAKE TRAVIS LIBRARY 1938 Lohman’s Crossing laketravislibrary.org 512-263-2885

Spark Creativity Performing & Visual Arts Classes • Acting

• Hip Hop

• Youth Musicals

• Ballet

• Art

• Tap

• On-Camera Acting

• Creative Movement and more!

• Voice

• Jazz

Enroll Today!

tex-arts.org 512-852-9079 ext. 104

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LAURA’S LIBRARY 9411 Bee Cave Rd. westbanklibrary.com 512-381-1400

ROUND ROCK LIBRARY 216 E. Main St. roundrocktexas.gov 512-218-7001

WELLS BRANCH LIBRARY 15001 Wells Port Dr. wblibrary.org 512-989-3188

LEANDER LIBRARY 1011 S. Bagdad Rd. leandertx.gov/library 512-259-5259

SAN MARCOS LIBRARY 625 E. Hopkins St. ci.san-marcos.tx.us 512-393-8200

WESTBANK LIBRARY 1309 Westbank Dr. westbanklibrary.com 512-327-3045

PFLUGERVILLE LIBRARY 1008 W. Pfluger St. tx-pflugerville3.civicplus.com 512-990-6275

TAYLOR LIBRARY 801 Vance St. ci.taylor.tx.us 512-352-3434

HYDE PARK SCHOOLS

Attend one of our Admissions Events this Fall! High School November 7th • 6:30pm 11400 N. Mopac 78759 512.465.8333 4K-8th Grade November 17th 9:30am and 6:30pm 3901 Speedway 78751 512.465.8338 hp-schools.org/visit

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PIENSA POSITIVO by Leslie Montoya, Life Coach and Host of Despierta Austin

Los Beneficios de las Cosas Difíciles

Saturday, October 22nd 9:30-1:30 Cuando me puse a reflexionar en los beneficios que existen al hacer lo que consideramos difícil en la vida o cuando nos encontramos con personas complicadas, mi actitud cambió. Encontré que ciertas áreas mejoraron, como la creatividad, mi salud emocional, física e intelectual. El beneficio escondido en lo difícil es que nos obliga a buscar una solución. La próxima vez que te encuentres en una situación

Old Settlers Park • Lakeview Pavilion Round Rock

Activities:

Kids fun zone (crafts, games, bouncy house and more), food, Canine costume contest (humans welcome to dress up too), Frisbee dog demo, shopping, food, door prizes, and more!

Free admission for kids, $5 suggested donation for adults

Get more info online at www.CentralTexasSPCA.org/Barktoberfest or email us at Barktoberfest@centraltexasSPCA.org

difícil piensa que al final, habrás ganado algo. ¡Piensa Positivo!

The Benefit of Difficult Things When I began to reflect on the benefits there are to doing what we consider to be difficult in life or when we meet complicated people, my attitude changed. I found that certain areas improved, such as creativity, my health emotionally, physically and intellectually. The hidden benefit in difficult things is that they force us to seek a solution. The next time you find yourself in a difficult situation, remember that in the end, you will have gained something. Think positive!

Pick us up at HEB, Whole Foods and Central Market

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focus on advertisement

doctors

Dr. Barakah Day ADC Circle C Dr. Day is a board-certified pediatrician. She received her medical degree from the University of Texas Medical School at San Antonio and completed her internship and residency at the University of Texas Southwestern – Austin, Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas. Now accepting appointments at 512-901-1111. See ad on page 48

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. Theresa Willis ADC Steiner Ranch Dr. Willis is a graduate of the University of Texas, received her medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and completed her residency at Texas Children’s Hospital. Dr. Willis’ professional interests include developmental pediatrics, fitness and healthy weight in children and teens. She is board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics. See ad on page 48

MARKET PLACE

BIRTHDAY PARTIES! ( For Ages 4 - 12 )

Dr. Luke Padwick Austin Emergency Center MD, MS trained at LA County King Medical Center. Dr. Padwick is a native of Hawaii, played rugby in England and has bicycled across the United States. See ad on page 7

austin.madscience.org

512-892-1143

Dr. Betty Richardson Dr. Richardson earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’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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What You Do 1. With parent supervision, pre-heat the oven to 250 degrees F. 2. Layer pumpkin seeds (removed from pumpkin pulp) onto a baking sheet. Then, toast the seeds for about 45 minutes, stirring the seeds occasionally until dry and toasted.

Toasted Pumpkin Seeds October is a time for warm apple cider, brisk strolls in the park and a special time with friends and family. Not only does fall bring beautiful weather, it also brings wonderful produce to our gardens. The pumpkin plant provides a medium for jack-o-lanterns and fall decorations, and it’s the source of some pretty great nutrients, like magnesium, protein and zinc. When carving your autumn jack-o-lanterns, repurpose the seeds from the “guts” of your pumpkin to create a kid-friendly snack filled with your favorite fall spices. What You Need • 1 cup raw pumpkin seeds • 6 tablespoons white sugar • a pinch of salt • ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Pick us up at HEB, Whole Foods and Central Market

3. In a medium sized bowl, mix together 2 tablespoons of sugar, the salt and the pumpkin pie spice. 4. In a pan, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the toasted pumpkin seeds to the heated oil and stir in the remaining sugar. Stir the pumpkin seeds and sugar until the sugar melts. This should take less than a minute. 5. Pour the seeds into the bowl of spiced sugar. Stir the seeds until coated. Cool, serve and enjoy this fall treat!

The YMCA of Austin encourages a healthy lifestyle, a focus on education and an appreciation of our environment. This fall, we are offering more than 26 Afterschool Care Sites in four Austin-area school districts. Y Afterschool provides opportunities for physical, social-emotional and cognitive learning experiences. To learn more about the youth programming offered at the YMCA of Austin, visit: www.austinymca.org.

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just for by Carrie Taylor

grins

(Mis)adventures in Potty Training

non-coercive potty training.” It told me to let my son go pants-free, avoid pullups and set up my home with—ha!—no distractions. We talked about being a “big boy.” I made a show of hiding the diapers and placed the training toilet in a central location. We went about our day, making breakfast, playing with blocks and reading a few books. I was running out of things to do. Meanwhile, my son displayed tremendous bladder strength.

Iparent, ’d describe myself as an “average” somewhere between hand

crafting organic applesauce and leaving my kid in a closet all day. I’m also woefully unprepared for certain toddler In a momentary panic, I broke the milestones. The one we are tackling now distraction rule and consulted the book, just to see if it had any tips on is potty training. life-threatening boredom and toddler stubbornness. Then I noticed it: my son A Google search produced dozens of was silent. He was on his stomach playarticles about the “best way” to train my son. Some claimed candy is the ing with trains, and he flashed me the trick. Others promised to get him out of “poop” grin, a version of the “I spilled a diaper in seven days (or I’m a terrible milk all over the floor” grin. mom). Honestly, I’m skeptical of internet parenting advice, so I borrowed a book I ran over to find that he had peed that promised to be “a simple guide for straight into the carpet. I whisked him

onto the training potty, explaining, “This is where we go pee-pee.” Apparently, this did not go over well. He screamed and cried, then ran to his room, only to return holding a diaper. Now, he is terrified of the training potty. I hope whoever marries my son is fine with potty training, because I have no idea what I’m doing, and the future looks bleak. af Carrie Taylor is a native Texan and mother of one.

WELCOME to ADC The Pediatricians at The Austin Diagnostic Clinic welcome two new team members: Barakah Day, M.D., ADC Circle C Christopher Saenz, M.D., ADC Steiner Ranch Both doctors are accepting new patients and accept most insurance plans. Call 512-901-1111 for appointments. Learn more about ADC doctors, specialties and services by visiting ADClinic.com. Christopher Saenz, MD ADC Steiner Ranch Pediatrics

Barakah Day, MD ADC Circle C Pediatrics

ADC Cedar Bend

2400 Cedar Bend Dr.

ADC Circle C

5701 W. Slaughter Ln., Bldg C

ADC Steiner Ranch 5145 RM 620 N., Bldg I

Pediatrics  512-901-1111  ADClinic.com

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November 10, 2016 – January 1, 2017 • 2 million twinkling lights along with lavish holiday displays • NEW ICE! theme – 2 million pounds of colorful, hand-carved ice sculptures and slides featuring Santa Claus is Comin’ To Town • Santa’s Wild Workshop Snow Tubing

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PEPSI, PEPSI-COLA and the Pepsi Globe are registered trademarks of PepsiCo, Inc. The Elf on the Shelf® and © CCA and B, LLC. All rights reserved. Santa Claus is Comin’ To Town © Classic Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and all related elements © & TM under license to Character Arts, LLC. All rights reserved. © & ® Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved. FUJIFILM and INSTAX are trademarks of FUJIFILM Corporation and its affiliates. © 2016 FUJIFILM North America Corporation. All rights reserved.

austinfamily readersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; poll favorites 2016

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