Austin Family Magazine June 2018

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FREE

JUNE 2018

smart parenting • healthy homes

Serving Austin’s Families Since 1992

FATHER’S DAY 14 Places to Take Dad STEAM-Y SUMMER Ways to Keep Learning Over the School Break

IS IT ADHD? Helping Restless Kids Stay on Task ARTICULOS EN ESPAÑOL SUMMER FUN GUIDE

Plus:

Ascent for Awareness Chef David Bull and Daughter Climb Africa’s Mt. Kilimanjaro

INSIDE!

CALENDAR | SUMMER CAMP GUIDE



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June 2018

contents 12

African Ascent

smart parenting • healthy homes

14

STEAM-Y Days Ahead

18

Places to Take Dad

columns

Calendar

en español

11 / Family Matters. Just lively

42 / June Events. Museum

40 / Asuntos Familiares.

or something else: do my boys have ADHD?

exhibits, family events, parenting events and story times

Simplemente animados o algo más: ¿Mis hijos tienen TDAH?

16 / Lifelines. How much do you

In every Issue

46 / Piensa Positivo.

know about scoliosis?

5 / Play It Safe. Recalls

20 / The Learning Curve.

on consumer products

Educational places to take kids this summer

6 / Around Austin. News and notes

38 / Family Connections. Can

fIlm revIew By Jack Kyser

technology solve your mosquito problem this year?

47 / KidZone. Make a summer

48 / Just for Grins. The great

extras

mosquito escape

Congruencia

countdown chain

“Solo: A Star Wars Story” Read online at: www.austinfamily.com/films

23 / Summer Fun Guide 27 / Summer Camp Guide

follow us:

46 / Focus on Doctors

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

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Sisters Kiana and Kenzie are ready to dive into a summer of fun! Photo by Jordan Ashley Photography.

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®

Ah,

summer. Now that school is out, the

June 2018 Volume 26, No. 3

possibilities seem

endless, don’t they? I dream of filling

PUBLISHER

these long hours of daylight with so

Kaye Kemper Lowak

many activities: trips to the pool, visits to museums and libraries, picnics in the park, relaxing strolls at dusk and ice cream just for the heck of it. Of course,

edItor’s note S H E R I DA MO C K Mock is an award-winning writer and the mother of two daughters.

life tends to get in the way. There are still always seems to fill the empty space it’s

discover a shady trail, park or swimming

given.

hole. If you spend most of your off-time outdoors, poke around a museum or

So, I’ll make this promise to myself, and I

library for a contemplative change of

hope you’ll join me. Don’t let this

pace.

Barb Matijevich

ADVISING EDITORS CALENDAR EDITOR Betty Kemper: calendar2003@austinfamily.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Sherida Mock, Dr. Betty Richardson, Jack Kyser, Richard Singleton, Carrie Taylor, Brenda Schoolfield, Alison Bogle, Steve Alvarez and Sara Barry.

Maribel Ruvalcaba

and explore Austin and its surroundings

Before you know it, we’ll be looking back

like a tourist. See it through new eyes.

on these blissful, steamy days. Let’s

Make it a point to try a new restaurant.

make sure we fill them with memories!

you usually stay indoors all season,

COPY EDITOR

TRANSLATION

summer slip away unappreciated. Go out

the vibe in a fresh corner of the city. If

Sherida Mock: editor2003@austinfamily.com

Dr. Betty Kehl Richardson, Barb Matijevich

chores to do, and work — like a gas —

Drive to a different part of town. Soak up

EDITOR

GRAPHIC DESIGN Layout: Susie Forbes Ads: Kim Crisler

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Jordan Ashley Photography

ADVERTISING SALES Kaye Kemper 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 2018. All rights reserved No portion of Austin Family may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher.

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Play it product recalls

sa f e

Government Recalls Hats, Space Heaters and Cardigan Sets Spirit Halloween is recalling about 20,000 Paw Patrol marshall hats because the batteries in the flashlight can overheat, causing the flashlight to become hot, posing burn and fire hazards. The recall involves Nickelodeon Paw Patrol Deluxe Marshall Hats with accessory flashlights. Affected units were sold at Spirit Halloween stores nationwide between September 2015 and November 2017 for about $13. Consumers should immediately take the flashlight that was sold with the hat away from children, stop using it, remove the batteries and dispose of the flashlight. Contact Spirit Halloween for a full refund. Customers will be asked to provide a photo of the tag located under the ear in the hat. Vornado Air is recalling about 350,000 electric space heaters because the heater can overheat when in use, posing fire and burn hazards. The recall involves Vornado VH101 Personal Vortex electric space heaters. Affected units were sold at Bed Bath & Beyond, Home Depot, Menards, Orchard Supply, Target and other stores nationwide and online at amazon.com, target.com, vornado.com and other websites between August 2009 and March 2018 for about $30. Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled heaters and contact Vornado for instructions on how to receive a full refund or a free replacement unit. Carter’s is recalling about 107,200 children’s cardigan sets because the cardigan’s toggle button can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children. The recall involves Carter’s three-piece penguin cardigan sets, sold in sizes from newborn to 24 months. Affected units were sold at Carter’s, Bon-Ton, Burlington Stores, Kohl’s, Macy’s, Ross Stores, Toys R Us and other stores nationwide and online at carters.com between July 2017 and March 2018 for about $40. Consumers should immediately take the recalled cardigan sets away from children, stop using them and return them to a Carter’s store location for a full refund in the form of a gift card. Consumers can also contact Carter’s Consumer Affairs department and request a free return label and envelope to return the cardigan. 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.CO 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 WS

Must-Do This

New and Local Books Several Austin authors have new books that either recently debuted or are about to come out. Cate Berry’s picture book Penguin & Tiny Shrimp Don’t Do Bedtime!, released on May 8, chronicles the adventures of a pair whose imaginations run wild as they definitely do not tell a bedtime story — not even close.

June 2

Kid Fish

17

at Lake Pflugerville Samantha M. Clark’s first novel, The Boy, the Boat, and the Beast, tells the story of a boy’s struggle to survive after washing up on a mysterious beach. Written for ages 8 12, the book goes on sale June 26. The Handmade Mama, by Mary Helen Leonard, was released on May 1 and offers a collection of crafts, recipes and projects to support mothers and their babies through pregnancy and the first year postpartum. Chef Adrian Davila of Seguin, Texas, released Cowboy Barbecue in April. The cookbook contains 75 recipes that go beyond standard grilling to include tips for smoking, underground cooking and spit methods.

Father’s Day Concert

23-30

at Zilker Park

If Wishes Were Fishes at The Long Center

Financial Aid UT Austin has announced that it is expanding financial aid to students from low- and middleincome families through its Texas Advance Commitment. Starting this fall, new incoming UT Austin freshmen with family incomes of up to $100,000 (Adjusted Gross Income) who have financial need will be guaranteed financial aid. In addition, students with annual family incomes of up to $30,000 will receive enough aid to completely cover their tuition costs. “It is imperative that the university do more to help lower- and middle-income Texans afford a UT Austin education,” says UT President Gregory Fenves. “This is an investment in our students, their families and the people of Texas.” Funding for these awards comes from a recurring $5 million in new funds for campus from the Available University Fund (AUF). For more information, visit texasadvance.utexas.edu. Nancy Hoover, Art Director at The Girls’ School of Austin, and Dick Hoover sport their “true colors” at the school’s 15th anniversary fundraiser. Photo courtesy of The Girls’ School of Austin.

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Anniversary Gala The Girls’ School of Austin celebrated 15 years in April with a True Colors themed gala. Guests gathered at Hotel Ella in central Austin to enjoy a dinner, live auction and student readings. Street artinspired canvases from students decorated the walls. The event raised more than $140,000 for the school.

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Teaching Excellence On May 6, H-E-B announced the statewide winners of its 17th annual H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards. During the ceremony in Houston, H-E-B Chairman and CEO Charles Butt handed out $430,000 in cash awards and grants and congratulated eight educators, two school districts, one early childhood agency and a public school board for being among the best in Texas.

Allie Duffy, an educator in Round Rock ISD, won the Rising Star award from the statewide H-E-B Excellence in Education program. Photo courtesy of H-E-B.

The sole winner from Central Texas was Allie Duffy of Joe Lee Johnson Elementary in Round Rock ISD. Duffy was named a Rising Star, which recognizes teachers with less than 10 years of experience. Winners in the category received a $5,000 check for themselves and a $5,000 grant for their school.

Program Director Karen Gonzalez discusses appropriate workplace attire at a recent Con Mi Madre session. Photo courtesy of Con Mi Madre.

Parent Education Con Mi Madre has been awarded a grant of $50,000 to grow its parent leadership and engagement program, which helps parents develop marketable job skills. The grant was made by the Hispanic Impact Fund, a program of the Austin Community Foundation.

Yoga for a Cause Salty Unicorn, a yogawear brand based in New Braunfels, has announced that its Mamasté collection will support Mother’s Milk Bank. The company will donate 10 percent of the profits from all Mamasté purchases to the Austin-based organization, which provides life-saving donor human milk to infants in need. Pick us up at HEB, Whole Foods and Central Market.

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209,000

Stay-at-home dads in the US Source: US Census Bureau

Pain Meds for New Moms The effort to curb opioid use got a boost recently, as Dell Medical School at UT Austin and Seton Healthcare Family announced that a new, two-step protocol for pain medication for new mothers has decreased opioid use for postpartum pain by more than 40 percent. The changes have been used across all Seton hospitals since February 2017. In the first step of the protocol, patients are asked whether they can achieve a therapeutic activity goal, such as going to the bathroom without pain. In contrast, the traditional method asked patients to point to a chart to reflect level of pain. In the second step, patients start with a combination of acetaminophen and ibuprofen to manage pain, receiving additional medicines as needed.

$16 billion

Amount spent on Father’s Day

Source: National Retail Federation

1966

Year President Nixon designated the first national Father’s Day Source: US Census Bureau

“The number one cause of accidental maternal mortality within one year of delivery in Texas is drug overdose, and the majority of those deaths involve prescription opiates,” says Amy Young, MD, chair of the Department of Women’s Health at Dell Med and head of Women’s Health at Seton, part of Ascension. “We have a specific duty to address this problem so moms can be healthy at a time in their lives when they arguably need to be their healthiest.”

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Thoughts on Father’s Day

NILDA GARCIA Surgeon-in-Chief, Dell Children’s Medical Center “My parents were immigrants who came to South Texas for a better life. I was taught about a strong work ethic at an early age, working with my siblings in our family grocery store. They encouraged me through every step of becoming a pediatric surgeon, emphasizing kindness and respect along the way.”

KATHIE TOVO Mayor Pro Tem, City of Austin “Although my father wasn’t able to finish high school, he later earned a GED and then college and graduate degrees. He was a lifelong educator, teaching in the public schools and serving for many years as a principal. Because he experienced firsthand the power of education to change lives, he taught me to work hard and to make education my #1 priority.”

PAUL CRUZ Superintendent, Austin ISD “When we were young kids, my dad had many different jobs, and we had some really tough times. He decided to go to college later in life and earned his degree. Dad taught me the value of having an education and working hard for your family. He’s also a natural leader.”

STEVE ADLER Mayor, City of Austin “My dad taught me that I could not control events, but I could control how I reacted to them and therefore how I would feel about things. In this way, I could choose to be happy or not.”

Birthdays for All Dallas-based nonprofit The Birthday Party Project (TBPP) recently announced plans to launch in Austin, with two parties a month at local Salvation Army shelters. Parties will be held each month at the Salvation Army’s Downtown Shelter and Eastside Shelter. Each party will celebrate all children living in the shelter with birthdays that month.

The Birthday Party Project throws monthly birthday parties for children in homeless shelters. Photo courtesy of The Birthday Party Project.

Actor Jensen Ackles (Supernatural), and his wife Danneel Harris (One Tree Hill), are supporting the launch of TBPP in Austin and will be attending parties. In addition to monthly parties, TBPP is partnering with Settlement Home to provide birthday gifts for their resident teens. For more information, visit thebirthdaypartyproject.org.

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famIly matters BETTY RICHARDSON Richardson, PhD, RNC, LPC, LMFT, is an Austin-based psychotherapist.

Just Lively or Something Else: Do My Boys Have ADHD?

Q.

My husband and I have two boys (3 and 6), and both their teachers tell me they can’t sit still. The younger one won’t stay on the rug during story time. His older brother is often in trouble for not staying in his seat. I know the teachers are frustrated, and I feel frustrated too. Could one or both of my boys have ADHD? What can I do to help?

A. Your 3-year-old might be too young for testing. (The American Academy of Pediatrics says kids as young as 4 can be diagnosed.) If seen by a professional, it’s possible one or both of your boys could receive a diagnosis of ADD (without hyperactivity) or ADHD (with hyperactivity). CHADD, the national resource on ADHD, says the percentage of children receiving a diagnosis of ADHD has steadily increased in the last few years. And the diagnosis of ADHD is twice as common in boys than girls. Are some of these kids being misdiagnosed? It’s possible. Children need a significant amount of outdoor

play in order to sit still and focus on learning. Today, children are asked to sit for long hours. Many schools are cutting recess and/or PE time to make room for required curriculum. (I have to give schools credit: some of them are starting to recognize the importance of preserving recess and PE time.) Compounding this, kids aren’t going outside to play when they get home from school. Interestingly, exercise stimulates production of the same brain chemicals found in medication used to treat ADD. That said, how can you help your boys? Get them outside as soon as they come home from school. Homework can take place after outdoor exercise. Let them run around or ride bikes. Play “Mother, May I?” using crab walks, spinning around and other commands to increase vestibular inputs. Time them while they run, swim or jump rope. Encourage them to meet or beat their personal best times. Join them in dancing and “shaking the booty.” As they grow, get them involved in track, soccer, competitive swimming or other organized sports. Beyond exercise, you can help your children focus and concentrate. Here are a few tips especially for kids who have ADD or ADHD:

2. Work on one task at a time. 3. Set aside dedicated homework time and space. 4. Build in planned, very short breaks. Simply standing up, putting their hands in the air and turning around will pump oxygen to the brain. Then they can get back to work. 5. Keep a calm home environment. This is extremely important. Limit any media distractions. 6. Some parents work on getting kids to slowly increase the amount of time they can sit still. They offer small rewards for meeting goals, as kids build the “muscle” of sitting still. In addition, I suggest being very positive with your children and focusing 100 percent on each one for some part of each day. This models the ability to focus and concentrate. You might see if your sons’ schools might have resources that can help you. And if one or both of your sons does receive a diagnosis of ADD or ADHD, stay positive. These kids have great strengths. Read What I Would Never Trade Away at ADDitudemag.com. Thanks for sharing this question. I believe many of our readers can identify with your concerns.

1. Break big tasks into smaller ones.

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African Ascent:

A Father and Daughter Climb for a Cause BY S H E R I DA M O C K

Chef David Bull hoped he might someday get to see one of the water wells he helped build. He didn’t expect to be able to show his only daughter, or to ascend the summit of Africa’s tallest peak alongside her. But this June, Second Bar and Kitchen’s Chef Bull and his daughter Jamison (12) will say good-bye to the rest of their family – wife Fawn and four boys – and embark on Climb for a Cause, an event organized by local nonprofit Water 2 Thrive. Along with others, the pair will tour some of the Tanzanian villages that have received new water wells and then spend a week climbing over 16,000 feet to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro. We visited with Chef Bull and Jamison recently to learn more about Water 2 Thrive and the upcoming trip.

AFM: How did you learn about Water 2 Thrive?

Chef Bull: As a chef in Austin, we get asked to participate in different organizations, so this was an ask. I discovered that Water 2 Thrive is a wonderful organization, and I’ve been working with them for almost a decade to help raise awareness and raise funds for wells in Africa. Their Chef’s Table Austin event has grown to a pretty large one, and we've been raising lots and lots of money. One of the things they do is, whoever has the biggest auction package gets a trip to Africa or a well named after them. So, I had a well named after me and now that Jamison's older, we can actually go to Africa. We're not only going to see the impact of fresh water in these villages and climb the mountain, but we're actually raising $10,000 per climber. And that will go toward building more wells.

Jamison: I’ve heard my dad talk about this and seen him help with a lot of events. And I’ve thought it would be really cool to help raise money and to climb Kilimanjaro. I think it will be hard, but also a great learning experience. Not a lot of kids my age get to do this.

AFM: What are you doing to prepare for the trip?

Chef Bull: We've been reading a lot, watching a lot of videos. We're trying to prepare as much as possible. If I were going with my buddies, that would be one thing, but going with Jamison, it's amped up the preparation. We like the outdoors, but we're not hikers, so we're training and researching all the gear. We're going hiking tomorrow on a 2- or 3hour hike, and we’re wearing all the same gear that we would on the mountain. We’ll be with a group of about eight or 10 people through an excursion

Chef Bull and daughter Jamison have been training locally for the Mt. Kilimanjaro climb. Photo courtesy of David Bull.

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company. They set camp, and they do the cooking. I feel good about it, because the people we’re going with have done it before.

AFM:: What does it mean to you have this adventure together? Chef Bull: My job doesn't allow me to be home very often, and as a middle child, either Jamison’s older brothers or her younger brother have gotten the attention. So, I'm looking forward to having some one-on-one time with my daughter, not having any distractions. I’m looking forward to detaching and unplugging for a little bit, having some conversations. I hope this will be a lifechanging experience for her to look back to for the rest of her life.

Chef Bull and daughter Jamison have acquired gear for the many climate zones they'll experience on the mountain.

We’ll go through all four climates, hence the challenge. Literally, it's from 80 degrees to 10 degrees, from rainforest through plateau to snow. We’ll have to bring about four or five layers, and we’re figuring out how to pack for that and how heavy it is, plus the amount of water to bring. This is a seven-day climb, seven days of ascent and one day down. You hike for anywhere from three to seven hours per day and then you camp. You have to prepare for the weather and the altitude. We're getting shots — they're not required, but they're recommended. And we'll probably take Diamox, just to be safe, for the altitude.

Jamison, 12, is looking forward to visiting Tanzania with her dad.

AFM: How is the fundraising going? Chef Bull: Not bad. We've got about $2,500 out of the $10,000. We've had an individual agree to cover the balance of whatever we don't raise. That’s really cool, because every $10,000 builds a well. But we’re going to keep pushing for the next four or five weeks and see how much money we can raise.

AFM: Anything you’d like to add?

Chef Bull: I just feel blessed to have this opportunity to participate. The fact that this organization exists and we get to help raise awareness and bring water to people who have never had clean water is really the core motivation. It just so happens that we can be the benefactors and enjoy some time together as father and daughter. It really is a blessing for us. We're just happy and nervous and scared and excited. Daddy has to make sure he’s got his stuff together so Jamie is taken care of. It’s a big deal.

Jamison: He is at work a lot, but whenever he’s home, we all go outside and play or something. He's really fun. When I'm with him in Africa, it'll be just me and him.

Chef Bull (third from left) has been participating in Water 2 Thrive events for nearly 10 years. Photo courtesy of Water 2 Thrive.

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STEAM Activities for Steamy Summer Days BY SA R A BA R RY

S

chool’s out for the summer, but that doesn’t mean learning has to end. Summer days are the perfect time to explore STEAM — science, technology, engineering, arts and math — with activities perfect for the weather. So keep your cool, keep it fun and keep learning.

SINK, FLOAT, MAKE A BOAT Fill a kiddie pool with water. Collect a variety of objects you don’t mind getting wet, such as water bottles (full and empty), keys, small plastic toys, apple, spoon, boiled egg, cork or a bar of soap. Have kids predict which items will sink and which will float. Then test each object. Were there any surprises? Encourage kids to speculate why some float and some don’t. Then using what they’ve learned, have kids make boats from recycled materials. They can test their boats and make adjustments for flotation and stability. Use the boats in races or a boat parade.

Watching for meteors takes patience. Even on a peak night, you may not see much. Keep expectations low and enjoy being out at night. There’s plenty to see even if meteors aren’t streaking across the sky. Meteors are often referred to as shooting stars. Have fun making your own shooting stars and wishing on them with this craft.

Summer Reading Suggestions

4. Write a wish on each star.

• Things That Float and Things That Don’t by David A. Adler provides simple explanations about density, sinking and floating for young readers.

5. You can stop here and hang the shooting stars, or you can fold the star in half along the top point. Fold each side back halfway to make the star look something like a paper airplane. Take your stars outside and give them a toss. Watch them shoot through the sky.

• Captain Kidd’s Crew Experiments with Sinking and Floating by Mark Weakland uses a pirate story to help kids understand density. • In What Floats in a Moat by Lynne Berry, Archie the Goat has to build a boat to cross a moat, and has some false starts before getting one that works.

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1. Collect card stock, tissue paper, scissors, glue and a pen or marker. 2. Cut large stars out of card stock. 3. Glue narrow tissue paper strips to the bottom of each star. Let dry.

WISH ON A SHOOTING STAR The Perseid meteor showers are the perfect time to do some night sky viewing. In 2018, the best time to view the Perseids is Aug. 11, 12 and 13, though you may catch activity from July 13 through Aug. 26. The moon will be a crescent during the peak of the showers, allowing for even better viewing.

Summer Reading Suggestions • Look Up! Henrietta Leavitt, Pioneering Woman Astronomer by Robert Burleigh tells the story of this early female astronomer.

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Summer Reading Suggestions • Flash, Crash, Rumble, and Roll by Franklyn M. Branley explains how thunderstorms form and shares fun facts about these powerful weather systems. • Thunder Cake by Patricia Polacco is the story of a young girl frightened by summer thunderstorms and how she overcame it with the help of her grandmother.

• Thunderstorm by Arthur Geisert details this weather phenomenon through detailed illustrations. Whether you explore the wild summer weather, the dazzling night sky or the best way to build a boat, summer STEAM activities are a cool way to spend hot days. Sara Barry is a freelance writer who loves exploring the changes in her environment throughout the seasons.

• What happens when a meteorite lands? Find one answer based on a true story in Meteor! by Patricia Polacco. • Wishing on a Star by Fran Lee is a good introduction to constellations and night sky watching for young stargazers.

BOOM! FLASH! EXPLORING SUMMER STORMS Thunderstorms can happen any time of year, but are most common during summer months. Whether your kids are frightened or fascinated by thunderstorms, understanding how they work is enlightening. Thunderstorms form when cold and warm air masses meet. In the clouds, static electricity builds up until it is released as lightning. The sound we hear when that happens is thunder. Try tracking your weather for several days. Some things to observe: Does the temperature change before or during a storm? What do the sky and clouds look like? Does the wind pick up or does the air get still? What kind of precipitation (rain or hail) do you get? Which direction does the storm come from? How long does it take to get to you? How long does it last? Use a stop watch to check the time between seeing lightning and hearing thunder. (Do this from a safe place indoors.) For every five seconds, the storm is about a mile away. Use dark paper and white, yellow, silver or pale blue paint to create a lightning storm on the page. Pick us up at HEB, Whole Foods and Central Market.

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LIfeLIneS B R E N DA S C H O O L F I E L D Schoolfield is a freelance medical writer who splits her time between Austin and Seattle.

How Much Do You Know About Scoliosis?

D

id you know that

Myths About Scoliosis

one out of 40

Scoliosis isn’t caused by poor posture, heavy backpacks, sports activities or hours slumped over a cell phone. There’s no known cause in about 80 percent of scoliosis cases. The medical term for this type of scoliosis is idiopathic scoliosis, and nothing can be done to prevent it. But early detection may save a child from a lifetime of problems, such as abnormal appearance or pain. In severe cases, the deformity may interfere with normal lung and heart function.

people in the US has scoliosis? The condition is a

deformity of the spine — instead of being straight, it curves sideways and may look like an “s” or a “c.” June is National Scoliosis Awareness month. One goal of this campaign is to encourage parents, healthcare providers and educators to learn more about this potentially serious health condition.

Anyone can be diagnosed with scoliosis — from infants to the elderly. But most often, it’s discovered during adolescence, when children are growing rapidly. A spinal screening can be done in about 30 seconds.

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Screening at School The Spinal Screening Program was established by the Texas Legislature to detect abnormal spinal curvature in students. The Texas Department of State Health Services recently published its Spinal Screening Policy for the 2018-19 school year. Schools are required to screen all children in grades 6 and 9 for abnormal spinal curvature. Here’s the schedule:

• Girls are screened twice, at ages 10 and 12 • Boys are screened once, at age 13 All children must comply with the screening requirement. Children may be exempt from the school screening if any of the following paperwork is submitted: • A signed form from a licensed professional that states the child is receiving medical care for one or more spinal problems. • A signed form from a parent or guardian that states screening for abnormal spinal curvature has been performed (or will be performed) during a professional exam. Signed results of the forward bend test must be sent to the school. • A signed form from a parent or guardian that states screening conflicts with the tenets and practices of a church or religious denomination.

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What to Expect Screening is done by a certified spinal screener or a licensed health care professional. Students are screened individually in a private room. It’s recommended that children remove their shirt or top so the screener can see their spine. Girls should wear a swimsuit top, halter top or sports bra. Children may be asked to pin up long hair. All children must take their shoes off for the screening.

• When a person stands with arms hanging down, there’s more space between the arm and body on one side • The waist looks flatter on one side; there are skin creases on only one side of the waist. Visit the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS) website at srs.org for more information.

Get Involved If you’d like to get involved, you can support the National Scoliosis Awareness Month campaign by asking our governor to designate June as Scoliosis Awareness Month in Texas. More than 30 other states have done so. Visit tinyurl.com/y7np7fxm to download a letter template.

The child will be asked to take six different positions, as the screener checks for spinal abnormalities. During the screening, the child will be asked to take the forward bend test: bend forward with the knees straight until the back is parallel to the floor, keeping palms of the hands together and hanging down, as if diving into a pool.

If the Test is Positive Students who test positive for abnormal spinal curvature will be rescreened to confirm the findings. If the second screening is positive, students will be referred to their healthcare providers for follow-up. The provider will conduct an exam and may order x-rays. According to the Texas Spinal Screening Program guidelines, more than 90 percent of students with scoliosis require no treatment other than observation. For more severe curves or those that are progressing, bracing (called orthosis) may be recommended. Bracing can be very effective if the child wears the brace as prescribed. For severe cases, surgery is required.

Signs and Symptoms Talk to your health care provider if you see one of the following signs and symptoms of scoliosis: • One shoulder (or shoulder blade or hip) seems higher than the other • One shoulder blade (or hip) stands out more than the other • The head doesn’t look centered on the body

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Places to Take Dad for Father’s Day

BY S T E V E A LVA R E Z

MUSEUMS

1. Headquarters to the Texas National Guard, Camp Mabry also houses the Texas Forces Military Museum, filled with vintage military vehicles and all sorts of military historical items. Gain access to Camp Mabry by showing your ID to the gate guard. Although museum admission is free, donations are appreciated.

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How best to spend Father’s Day with your amazing dad? Let the big guy in your life know how much he means to you by taking him to some of the best, most entertaining places in Austin. Whether he’s a museum freak, a nature nut or an adventure junkie, we’ve rounded up a sampling of some great locations for devoting a memorable day to a very special fellow.

4. Clustered near downtown’s Brush Square Park are three small museums packed with local history. The Austin Fire Museum, the O. Henry Museum and the Susanna Dickinson Museum tell multidimensional stories of Austin’s past. Admission is free. 5. Families with older kids will appreciate a visit and tour of the Texas Capitol Building, where everyone can learn about Texas history and how government works. Don’t miss the Capitol Visitors Center next door, housed in the oldest state office building in Texas. Admission and tours are free to both the Capitol Building and the Visitors Center.

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6. Between March and November, folks swarm to the Congress Avenue Bridge that spans Lady Bird Lake to witness a natural spectacle: every evening at sundown, 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats take to the skies to gobble up more than 10,000 pounds of insects. Viewing is free, and the best spot is at the Austin American-Statesman’s Bat Observation Center on the south shore.

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2. The Texas Memorial Museum on the UT Austin campus houses dinosaur bones, lots of dinosaur displays and a large, natural eco-system exhibit with all sorts of Texas animals – both live and taxidermied. Admission is $7 for adults and $5 for youth. 3. The LBJ Presidential Library and Museum on the UT Austin campus is one of only 14 presidential libraries in the country. Learn about the turbulent 60s, view a replica of the Oval Office and see how the Johnson legacy lives on today. Admission is $10 for adults and $3 for youth.

NATURE

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7. No summer is complete without a visit to Zilker Park. There’s something here for every age. Cool down with snow cones, ride the Zephyr train, explore the playgrounds, paddle a canoe, ride a bike, fly a kite or swim in the famed Barton Springs Pool. While you’re in the area, wander over to the Zilker Botanical Gardens and the Austin Nature and Science Center. Round out your trip with a visit to the Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum, just around the corner. Admission to Zilker Park and to the Austin Nature and Science Center is free.

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ADVENTURE

10. Peter Pan Mini Golf is old-school putt-putt golf fun at its best. The park has been an Austin institution since 1948, and it attracts families and hipsters alike. One 18-hole game will cost $7 per person. They accept cash only.

7 Admission to the Botanical Gardens is $2 for adults and $1 for youth. Admission to the Umlauf is $5 for adults and free for youth. 8. Unlike a traditional zoo, the Austin Zoo is a residence for rescued and rehabilitated animals. But just like at most zoos, you’ll see animals such as bears, tigers, monkeys and macaws. Above all, it’s an educational outing that’s worth the trip. Admission is $12 for adults and $9 for youth.

10 11. If you’ve got family members who enjoy high-flying adventure, try taking to the skies at Lake Travis Zipline Adventures. You’ll zoom above tree-filled canyons and the sparkling water of Lake Travis. Participants must weigh between 70 and 250 lbs. A 3-hour tour costs $120 per person. Reservations are highly recommended.

12. Air-conditioned flight might be more your speed, and iFLY Austin serves up just the thing with indoor skydiving. Participants must be at least 3 years old. Packages start at $70 per person. Reservations are highly recommended.

12 13. Surfing in Austin? Believe it. NLand Surf Park offers tasty waves for every skill level, from novice to seasoned boarders. Participants must be at least 8 years old to surf with a parent. Surfing passes start at $60 per person. Booking in advance is recommended. 14. Family fun takes a turn into battlefield territory at Dart ‘Em Up. This indoor foam dart venue offers two paintball-like arenas, lots of choices in the arsenal and an endless supply of foam ammo. Participants must be at least 5 years old. Prices are $9 per person per hour on weekdays and $12 on weekends.

8 9. Enchanted Rock State Natural Area doesn’t resemble anything else in Texas: the massive granite dome rising out of the typical Hill Country landscape will captivate you. My family hiked the rock years ago, when our youngest was 3, so I can confidently say it is manageable with younger kids. Admission is $7 for adults and free for youth. The park can get packed on weekends, so arrive early and bring plenty of water.

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Steve Alvarez is an Austin-based writer, husband and father of four.

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the learnIng curve Photo courtesy of The Bullock Museum.

ALISON BOGLE Alison Bogle is an Austin-based freelance writer and mom of three.

Educational Places to Take Kids This Summer Summertime in Austin gets H-O-T. Usually around mid-July, I struggle to come up with things to do with my kids that don’t involve water or dark movie theaters. Determined to enter this summer with a plan that both shakes up our lackluster routine and sneaks in some learning, I uncovered these fun and educational activities to try.

HISTORY Go back in time at Pioneer Farms, a nearly 100-acre working farm featuring three fully restored 1800s farmsteads and three historic sites. Self-guided walking tours will have children learning about history, science and nature without even realizing. Take advantage of the Bullock Texas State History Museum’s H-E-B Free First Sundays and explore the museum and special family programs offered most first Sundays of the month from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Special programs the museum will offer from June 12 – Aug. 9 include Make It Tuesdays and Sense-sational

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Thursdays, drop-in family programs held from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. The programs are free with membership or exhibit admission and are suitable for all ages.

and is open daily during the summer. Don’t miss the live animals and birds of prey, as well as digging for bones in the dino pit!

Visit the LBJ Presidential Library on the UT Austin campus to learn about the life and times of former President Lyndon B. Johnson. Exhibits are visually interesting and will keep even younger ones engaged. After exploring the library, you can have some good old-fashioned fun with a human log roll down the nearby grass hills.

Pair a trip to Zilker Park with a stop at Splash!, an educational exhibit located near the Barton Springs pool bathhouse. Kids can learn about the history of Barton Springs and the Edwards Aquifer through a number of interactive stations.

NATURE Learn from Mother Nature at the Lady Bird Wildflower Center’s Nature Nights, held Thursdays from 6 to 9 p.m. in June. Nature Nights are free events that explore native plants, animals and the ecology of Central Texas with interactive presentations, expert-led hikes and nature crafting for the whole family. The Austin Nature & Science Center offers free indoor and outdoor exhibits

Take the kids spelunking and visit one of the nearby caves, where you can learn about stalactites, stalagmites and the fascinating geological history of our area. Innerspace Caverns in Georgetown, Longhorn Caverns in Burnet, and Natural Bridge Caverns in San Antonio all offer spectacular learning opportunities.

TOURS Take the Honey House Tour at Round Rock Honey. Held on Saturdays, the onehour factory tour gives an overview of hives and harvesting methods. Kids will get a behind-the-scenes look at the

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tanking process, taste some honey and take photos wearing beekeeper gear.

Innovator’s Workshop – they’ll be too busy having fun.

those in my back pocket for the days when we just feel like staying in.

Another tour high on my list is the Austin Energy Power Plant Facility Tour. This employee-led tour will teach how electricity is produced and transmitted via high voltage power lines. Tours must consist of at least five people, and all must be in grade 4 or higher. Arrange tours at outreach@austinenergy.com.

The internet can also be a handy resource for summertime educational fun. A quick Google search of “fun science experiments for kids” turns up a plethora of suggestions. I’m putting

Hopefully, with these new adventures ahead of us, we’ll avoid defaulting to screen time and have some fun learning a thing or two. Bring it on, summer!

Visit a fire department to learn about fire safety and how our community’s brave first responders handle emergencies. The Austin Fire Department will accommodate visits for small groups. To arrange a tour, contact the Public Education Office at 512-974-0290.

READING All Austin-area libraries offer reading programs, and most host additional educational activities during the summer, such as Tween StemLab, chess lessons and Chinese language story time. Book People is a great place to cool off during the summer and to prevent that summertime reading slide. Arrive early to get a spot at the 10:30 story times on Tuesdays and Saturdays. The book retailer also offers the 5 Book Dive Summer Reading Challenge for readers in grades K-12.

OTHER Head a short way out of town to Cedar Creek’s Dinosaur Park, where life-size replicas show skin and color variations, helping kids better understand what these reptiles looked like when they roamed the earth. Signs posted along the dinosaur trail provide even more information about each animal. The Thinkery is an obvious summertime destination. After all, the name screams using your brain! Still, kids won’t know that they’re learning about things like fluid dynamics in the Currents room; the impact of color, light and shadows in the Light Lab; or simple machines in the Pick us up at HEB, Whole Foods and Central Market.

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smart pa renting • healthy ho mes

Summer! FUN GUIDE

Austin Symphony Children’s Art in Park Children and adults can experience the magic of the performing arts at Austin Symphony Children’s Day Art Park. This annual summer event has a new indoor location at Austin Central Library and is FREE. This exciting summer program features local artists. Everyone can sing and clap along with the star of the show. Prior to the show youngsters can visit the Instrument Petting Zoo and after the concert try their hands at different art projects. 710 W. Cesar Chavez, Austin www.austinsymphony.org 512-476-6064

Bob Bullock State History Museum What better place to take the entire family or out-of-town guests and spend the day. There is the IMAX Theatre as well as the Texas Spirit Theatre where you can experience an unforgettable journey of Texas history. Visit any one of the Exhibits and pick up lunch in the café. When you leave, visit gift shop for all kinds of Texas souvenirs. 1800 N. Congress Ave., Austin www.thestoryoftexas.com 512-936-8746

Chaparral Ice Skating Rink Everything’s cooler on ice! We promote safe and fun skating on ice for all levels of skaters. Chaparral aims to provide something for everyone through a wide variety of programs and events. In addition to classic, unstructured skating, Chaparral Ice offers broomball, dodgeball, curling, birthday parties, and private skating hours. 2525 W Anderson Ln, Austin www.chaparralice.com 512-252-8500

Dave and Buster’s Who’s ready for fun—there’s something for everyone. We offer a family-friendly environment offering classics like Pop-A-Shot, PacMan, and Skee-Ball, or the newest games in our Million Dollar Midway. Everyone in your group will have a blast! Free $20 game play with purchase of $20 game play coupon in Austin Family Magazine. Come in out of the heat and enjoy food and fun. 9333 Research Blvd A600, Austin www.daveandbusters.com 512-346-8015

Disney Vacations Kingdom Planners offers FREE custom planning for your Disney vacation! We've been designated an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner by Disney as a result of our ongoing commitment to planning magical trips to the Disney Parks, Disney Cruise Line® and other Disney destinations. www.KingdomPlanners.com info@kingdomplanners.com

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EVO Entertainment Fun the whole family can enjoy! At EVO you can get competitive on the bowling lanes, immerse yourself in the latest summer movie or play to win in our full redemption arcade! You can book parties. We’re off I-35 just south of Buda! 3200 Kyle Crossing, Kyle www.evo-entertainment.com 512-523-9009

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Gaylord Texan Let your adventures begin. It’s time to have some Texas-sized fun at SummerFest featuring The Smurfs. From fun family entertainment, unique culinary programs, to exciting outdoor activities including our 10-acre pool & lazy river playground - Paradise Springs! There is an abundance of activities for all ages to enjoy! Grapevine, TX www.gaylordtexan.com/celebrate 817-778-1000

Hills of Milk and Honey Enjoy the stunning sunsets and sunrises of the Hill Country by staying in our farm guest house at Hills of Milk and Honey and add a farm tour to learn about the farm and interact with the animals. We hope folks of all ages who participate in classes, camps and tours at Hills of Milk and Honey will be inspired to create innovative ways to continue this movement for generations to come. Dripping Springs, TX www.milkandhoney.com 512-829-1003

iFly Make the dream of flight a reality at iFly Austin. Our indoor skydiving facility allows you to feel the adrenaline rush of flying in a fun, safe environment. Flying is fun, safe and thrilling for ages 3 to 103. Book your next get together, birthday party, or corporate event and fly! 13265 US-183 A, Austin www.iflyworld.com/austin/ 512-774-4359

Jordan-Bachman Pioneer Farms Central Texas’ premier living park and museum. In each area you can step back in time and experience Texas history first-hand. Explore more than 90 beautiful, wooded acres and discover exciting, memorable ways to live Texas' colorful past with your family. Don’t miss the Scarborough Barn where you can get up close with your favorite farm animal friends! 10621 Pioneer Farms Dr www.pioneerfarms.org 512-837-1215

Lake Travis Zipline Adventures LTZA provides an active outdoor adventure that is fun for people of all ages. Our world class tour offers five ziplines. The last three lines are the longest and fastest ziplines in Texas. Your adventure includes all necessary equipment, boat transportation, water and a light trail snack. You are also entitled to access our private beach, where you can picnic, swim, play games or simply relax in one of our hammocks. 14529 Pocohontas Trail, Volente www.ziplaketravis.com 512-614-1996

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Lake Travis Waterloo Adventures The creators of Lake Travis Zipline Adventures are proud to present a New Floating Water Park located on Lake Travis. Guest will have a blast challenging themselves on this floating obstacle course that includes hurdles, climbing walls, slides, and much more. It’s like Ninja Warriors on the Water. Reservations are required. Opening date is June 29. Lake Travis www.waterlooadventures.com 512-614-1979

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Long Center All Summer Long All Summer Long is a series of fun (and free!) community events happening through September at the Long Center. Join us for everyone’s favorite family event, Bubblepalooza on Saturday, June 9. Also returning are All Summer Long signature events: Trailer Food Tuesdays, Sound & Cinema, and Rhythm on Stage. Barton Springs Rd. www.thelongcenter.org 512-474-5664

Main Event Eat. Bowl. Play. When you want to let your fun out with family and friends, Main Event is the best - and easiest place to head for fun. With state-ofthe-art bowling, multi-level laser tag, over 100 games topped with handcrafted food under one roof, Main Event is THE destination for fun. Join us! 13301 North, US-183, Austin www.mainevent.com 512-401-0000

McKinney Roughs Nature Park Destination for nature lovers, with a science center and trails for walking and horseback riding. This 1,140-acre park, located 13 miles east of AustinBergstrom International Airport, has something for everyone. Whether it’s multi-use trails, guided outdoor and water recreation or rental facilities, you can customize your adventure. 1884 State Hwy 71 W, Cedar Creek www.lcra.org/parks/Pages/mckinneyroughs-nature-park.aspx 512-303-5073

Next Level Ride Wakeboarding for all levels. You don’t need equipment or a boat, we have it all on our own private lake. We have everything you need to learn or take your wakeboarding to the next level. Bring the family, book a party. We are located just eight miles east of Bergstrom in Hwy 71. 5400 E Hwy 71, Del Valle www.nextlevelrideaustin.com 512-915-9056

Paddling Rentals Paddling is a fun and easy way for the whole family to enjoy Lady Bird Lake, and our kayaks are great for fishing on Lady Bird Lake. For those who want affordable and fun access to the river, rent one of our kayaks, canoes, or stand-up paddle boards (SUPs). 1541 W. Cesar Chavez, Austin www.texasrowingcenter.com 512-467-7799

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Paramount Summer Family Film Festival Spark the imagination and inspire a new generation of classic movie lovers! Nine weekends of matinee screenings beginning on June 3 that will further our mission to support film education and bring our treasured film history to audiences of all ages. Wizard of Oz (1939), Princess Bride (1987), Little Mermaid (1989) and more. 713 Congress Ave., Austin www.austintheatre.org 512-474-1221

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Playland Skate Playland Skate Center offers the finest in skating entertainment with an impressive light show, fog machine and state of the art sound system playing a wide variety of music. Our mission is to provide family-oriented entertainment that entices customers to enjoy our affordable, safe skating environment for all ages. 8822 McCann Dr, Austin www.playlandskate.com 512–452-1901

Rock About Climbing Adventures Rock-About is the longest running rock climbing outfit based out of the Central Texas area. Our guides provide a safe environment in which you can experience hiking, sightseeing, camping, and best of all, climbing. Each guide has years of experience both as a climber and a guide to ensure that you have a fun, memorable experience. Marble Falls, TX https://rock-about.com/ 512-415-0804

Round Rock Express Take me out to the ball game! There are 44 home games this summer for you to enjoy with your family. At Dell Diamond, it’s more than just baseball. There are all types of activities, rock wall, playscape for kids, great giveaways, and Friday night fireworks is a favorite. There is a wide range of food vendors to satisfy all ages. 3400 E Palm Valley Blvd, Round Rock www.milb.com/round-rock 512-255-BALL

Schlitterbahn At every Schlitterbahn you will find tubing rivers, uphill water coasters, Boogie Bahn surfing rides, Torrent Tidal Wave Rivers and picnic areas with shade. Bring the picnic basket and enjoy the day. When the day of fun is done, stay in one of their resorts on the park grounds. New Braunfels, South Padre Island, Galveston, Corpus Christi www.schlitterbahn.com 830-625-2351

Sherwood Forest Faire Family Camp Sherwood Forest Family Summer Camp is a chance for your family to spend some quality time together, in the midst of the beautiful Sherwood Forest. You’ll be exposed to numerous skills and trades of the Medieval era, which means you will be making things with your hands – and that doesn’t mean drawing a picture on your screen with your finger! McDade, TX http://sherwoodforestfaire.com/ summer-camp/family-campoverview/ 512-222-6680

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Topgolf Topgolf is the premier entertainment and event venue with fun point-scoring golf games for all skill levels, great music and more! In addition, Topgolf Austin is once again hosting its annual Kidzone Summer Academy with 11 weeks for you to choose from. Summer Academy is a week-long, half-day program full of fun and activities for kids ranging from 6 - 12. This is a fun way to stay physically and mentally active all while learning a great skill. 2700 Esperanza Crossing, Austin www.topgolf.com 512-831-5981

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YMCA of Greater Williamson County

YMCA of Austin

SPONSORED BY:

austinymca.org

ymcagwc.org

2018 SUMMER CAMP GUIDE DAY CAMPS Page 27 • OVERNIGHT CAMPS Page 33 • SPECIAL NEEDS CAMPS Page 36

DAY CAMPS American Robotics

Learn to design, build and test remotecontrolled miniature robots. American Robotics uses simple, motorized machines — all made from LEGO bricks — to demonstrate mechanical movements and other effects. Austin metro area 512-844-2724 www.roboticsacademy.com Ages 6 - 17

Austin Girls Choir Austin Girls Choir camps include instruction on vocal skills, note reading, basic harmony and fun songs, with simple choreography. Austin 512-453-0884 www.girlschoir.com Ages 8 - 16

Badgerdog Creative Writing Camp Creative writing instruction led by professional writers for all skill levels in a fun but challenging environment. All campers become published authors. Several locations in Austin 512-542-0076 www.austinlibrary.org Grades 3rd - 12th

Bear Creek Stables Horses are fascinating! A horse camp is one of the best resources for growth, self-confidence and fun available to a young person. 13017 Bob Johnson Ln., Manchaca 512-282-0250 www.bearcreekstables.com Ages 7 - 16

BFC Soccer Academy

Central Texas Writing Camp

Current elite Bundesliga UEFA licensed coaches from Hertha Berlin, Red Bull Leipzig and more who will provide technical, tactic al and groupbased training. Round Rock and Central Texas 512-827-7785 www.bfcsocceracademy.com Ages 7 – 16

Your camper will meet other young writers and be inspired to explore new writing styles. Austin, Round Rock, San Marcos 512-245-3680 www.tinyurl.com/y89j4bem Ages 6 - 18

Brandy Perryman Shooting Camp

Game development from Scratch to Minecraft modding, these STEM-focused camps are a fun, creative way to develop real, 21st century skills. Imagine. Code. Play! Multiple locations www.codingwithkids.com Ages 5 - 16

BPSC is a four-day shooting-intense basketball camp mirrored after all the camps that Perryman attended and enjoyed as a kid. Locations throughout Austin-metro area 512-799-8891 www.perrymanshootingcamp.com Ages 7 - 16

Camp Avalanche at Chaparral Ice Center

Coding with Kids/Bits, Bytes & Bots

Country Home Learning Center

Campers fill their days swimming, going to the park, going on field trips, doing arts and crafts and — of course, ice skating! 2525 W. Anderson Ln. #400, Austin 512-252-8500 x160 www.chaparralice.com Ages 5 - 14

Join CHLC for an incredible summer camp experience, featuring child approved special events, exciting weekly field trips and kids’ choice special interest clubs. 6900 Escarpment Blvd., Austin 512-288-8220 13120 U.S. Hwy. 183 N., Austin 512-331-1441

Camp de Champs at Chaparral Ice Center

www.countryhomelearningcenter.com

Offering 11 weeks of figure and hockey skating instruction. Campers get two lessons daily, public skate time, off-ice training, arts and crafts and a Thursday recital. 255 W. Anderson Ln. #400, Austin 512-252-8500 x160 www.chaparralice.com Ages 5 - 14

Camp Doublecreek Since 1971, Doublecreek is an activity-based day camp in Round Rock with free transportation from 12 locations for campers. 800 Doublecreek Dr., Round Rock 512-255-3661 www.campdoublecreek.com Ages 4 - 14

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Ages 5 - 13

Creative Brick Builders Half-day camps designed for LEGO enthusiasts, featuring building activities and motorized project kits. New themes each week. 12 Chisholm Trail Rd., Round Rock 512-388-9003 www.creativebrickbuilders.com Ages 5 - 13

Dance Discovery Various themed camps include story time ballet, jazz, hip hop, gymnastics, musical theatre and drama-set design. Each camp week ends with a great show! Central Austin, 512-419-7611 Avery Ranch, 512-658-2996

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2018 SUMMER CAMP GUIDE

www.dancediscovery.com www.averyranchdance.com Ages 3 - 14

Extend-a-Care for Kids Summer Day Camp Weekly sessions consisting of sports, field trips, swimming, cooking, games and puzzles, reading, arts and crafts and more. Weekly themes are based on children’s literature. Locations in AISD, DVISD and HCISD 512-472-9402 www.eackids.org Ages 3 - 12

Fun 2 Learn Code Computer programming camps covering coding and video game development, including virtual reality, Python, robotics, Scratch, 3D graphics and various Minecraft camps (Mods, Redstone and Game Design). Round Rock, Austin 512-900-8380 www.fun2learncode.com Ages 7 and up

Girls Empowerment NetworkcampGEN Participate in fun, interactive workshops during weeklong sessions designed to help girls feel more confident as they navigate girlhood. Girls gain new skills, friendships and a sense of self.

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901 Trinity St., Austin 512-808-4044 x104 www.genaustin.org Ages 3 - 8th grade

Girlstart Summer Camp The programs achieve consistent, positive outcomes by combining formal and informal educational strategies with challenging and relevant STEM curriculum. 1400 W. Anderson Ln., Austin 512-916-4775 www.girlstart.org Grades 4th - 8th

Golf in Schools Come join Golf in Schools for a fun week of learning golf. The highlydeveloped curriculum makes learning golf fun for every student! 201 Lee Barton Dr., South 1314 Exposition Blvd., West 13530 US Hwy 183, North 512-767-5566 Ages 4 - 12

Heartsong Offering spring and summer Music Together classes for children and their caregivers. 2700 W. Anderson Ln., Austin 512-371-9506 www.heartsongmusic.net Ages up to 9 yrs.

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iD Tech Camp iD Tech is the world’s #1 summer STEM program for ages 7 to 18, held at 150 prestigious universities. UT Austin, Rice, St Edward's and Trinity Universities 1-888-709-8324 www.idtech.com Ages 7 - 18

Iron Horse Country Motorcycle Camp Enjoy the fun at this bike camp. Motorcycle and safety gear provided. Pool. Locations throughout Austin 512-917-5733 www.ironhorsecountry.com Ages 8 - 15

Kiddie Academy CampVentures The CampVentures program and curriculum feature themed events, activities and trips. From preschool to elementary school, children enjoy playing developmentally appropriate games. Pflugerville, 512-989-7777 Round Rock, 512-270-9988 www.kiddieacademy.com Ages 2 - 12

KidsActing Summer Camps These award-winning camps feature full-scale musical or play productions. Camps for ages 4 - 8 are an intro to the performing arts. 16 locations in Austin metro

512-836-5437 www.kidsactingstudio.com Ages 3 - 19

2018 SUMMER CAMP GUIDE

Kids with Pens Creative Writing Camp Week-long writing camps led by published professionals. Now offering creative writing, graphic novel and screenplay camps. All campers are published in a book and a blog. 1211 Maple Ave., Austin 323-807-3672 www.kidswithpens.org Ages 8 - 14

KidSpa Voted Austin’s Best Drop-In Center in six annual reader’s polls, KidSpa Austin provides childcare that fits your schedule. Visit the website for the summer 2018 schedule. Avery Ranch and Circle C, Austin 512-828-5772 512-301-5772 www.kidspa.com Ages 18 mos. - 12 yrs.

Kidventure Camp Rough Hollow, Camp Sweetwater, Camp Westlake. These are communities with summer programs rooted in adventure, learning and growth. 512-263-8992 www.kidventure.com Ages 3 - 12

READY. SET.

SUMMER! YMCA Camps offer children & teens safe, exciting, and memory-making experiences. At the Y, campers gain a sense of accomplishment, build relationships, and nd their sense of belonging.

Summer Camp Registration Now Open - For ages 4-14 - 5 days a week - Sites in Travis, Hays and Bastrop Counties - Financial assistance is available

JOIN THE Y AND SAVE! Y Members save $35 per week on camp, and for a limited time, we’ll waive your $48 Join Fee.

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Learn more at AustinYMCA.org or call Program Services at 512.236.9622

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2018 SUMMER CAMP GUIDE

Leyla y la Ballena Spanish Immersion Children join together to bring the story “Leyla y la Ballena” to life. Every week is dedicated to a theme, taught in an enthusiastic, fun-filled environment. 8707 Mountain Crest Dr., Austin 2700 W. Anderson Ln., Austin 107 Ranch Rd. 620 S., Lakeway 512-299-5731, 512-299-5732, 512-466-2409 www.austinbilingualschool.com Ages 2 - 11

Mad Science Mad Science camps are filled with exciting, fun, hands-on science activities. Children become junior scientists for the week and experience a variety of science adventures. Locations in Austin metro 512-892-1143 www.austin.madscience.org Ages 4 - 12

McKinney Roughs Nature Camp Explore the outdoors and learn about wilderness skills and native plants and animals. Older campers enjoy swimming, a challenge course and raft trips. 1884 Hwy. 71 W., Cedar Creek 512-303-5073 www.lcra.org/naturecamp Ages 5 - 15

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My Spanish Smarts Spanish lessons for teens and adults of all levels. Watch the My Spanish Smarts videos to learn more about their unique materials and methods. 2900 S. Congress Ave., Austin 512-784-7344 www.myspanishsmarts.com Ages teen and adult

Newk’s Adventure Camp Exciting and action-packed summer with high ropes, rafting, tubing, rappelling, campouts and more. New Braunfels 830-625-9105 www.newktennis.com

Next Level Ride Wakeboarding, kneeboarding, paddle boarding. Two sessions. 5400 E Hwy 71, Del Valle 512-915-9056 www.nextlevelrideaustin.com Ages 6 - 14

Nitro Swim Campers receive the highest quality swim lessons, noncompetitive and competitive. Cedar Park/Round Rock and Bee Cave 512-259-7999 www.nitroswim.com Ages 6 months and up

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Rio Vista Farm Austin’s originator of English riding camps. Daily lessons taught by pro trainers, lots of horse time/care, arts and crafts, plus swimming for hotter afternoons. Friday shows for parents. 13013 Fallwell Ln., Del Valle 512-247-2302 www.riovistafarm.net Ages 7 - 16

Spicewood Country Camp Nine shady acres in northwest Austin with animals, music, swimming, crafts, sports and horseback riding. 6102 Spicewood Springs Rd., Austin 512-346-2992 www.spicewoodcountry.com

Stepping Stone School The summer camp program “Young Entrepreneurs and Philanthropists” empowers students to develop and use academic skills in service to the community. Limited space available. Visit website for full details. 17 locations in Austin metro 512-459-0258 www.steppingstoneschool.com Ages 5 - 13

Summer at St. Andrew’s 2018 Half-day and full-day camps, including early arrival (8 to 9 a.m.) and aftercare (4 to 5 p.m.) supervision.

1112 W. 31st St., Austin 5901 Southwest Pkwy., Austin 512-299-9800 www.sasaustin.org/summer Ages 4 - 18

2018 SUMMER CAMP GUIDE

Summer Spark Your children come alive as they engage in weekly creative problemsolving challenges. Downtown and South Austin 512-593-5393 www.summerspark.com Grades 1 - 6

Sunrise Neighborhood Youth Program Since 1998, the SNYP has provided summer day camp programs that provide the highest possible quality experience at the lowest possible price. 4430 Manchaca Rd., Austin 512-444-3326 www.sunriseaustin.org Grades pre-K to middle school

Synergy Dance Dance camps include ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop. Also included are tumbling, theatre, crafts and a performance on Fridays. Dance intensives for beginner to advanced. 2314 Bee Cave Rd. #C1, Austin 512-327-4130 www.synergydancestudio.com Ages 2 and up

DANCE DISCOVERY DANCE & MUSICAL THEATRE

Summer Camps 2018 Featured Camps: • Alice in Wonderland • Frozen • Moana • Little Mermaid

• • • •

Peter Pan Wicked Lion King Newsies

Camps Include: Musical Theater, Hip Hop, Jazz, Storytime Ballet, Set Design

Two Locations: Allandale & Avery Ranch 512.419.7611 (Allandale) 512.658.2996 (Avery Ranch)

www.DanceDiscovery.com Pick us up at HEB, Whole Foods and Central Market.

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2018 SUMMER CAMP GUIDE Tex-Arts Summer Camps Summer camps start June 4. Offering musical production camps, weekly themed, and mini camps. 2300 Lohman’s Spur, Lakeway 512-852-9079 www.tex-arts.org Ages 2 - 18

Topgolf Topgolf Austin is once again hosting its annual Kidzone Summer Academy with 11 weeks for you to choose from. Summer Academy is a week-long half-day program full of fun and activities This is a fun way to stay physically and mentally active all while learning a great skill. 2700 Esperanza Xing, Austin 512-831-5981 www.topgolf.com/kidzone Ages 6 - 12

Twin Lakes YMCA Summer Camp YMCA Twin Lakes is located minutes north of Austin. The Y provides an environment for campers to explore, play and make lifelong friends — all in the great outdoors. 204 E. Little Elm Tr., Cedar Park 512-250-9622 option 6 Ages 5 - 14

Xplor Summer Camp Xplor features a unique selection of indoor and outdoor activities and field trips that take advantage of resources in the local area. Five locations in Austin, Georgetown, Leander, Round Rock 877-322-2891 www.xplortoday.com/austin Ages 5 - 12

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2018 SUMMER CAMP GUIDE YMCA of Austin Summer Day Camp Safe and enriching summer day camps. Enjoy field trips, swimming, games and more in a character rich environment with the YMCA of Austin. 22 locations in Travis, Hays and Bastrop counties 512-236-9622 www.austinymca.org Ages 4 - 14

YMCA of Greater Williamson County Whether it’s through swimming, arts and crafts, field trips or sports, or through various outdoor/indoor adventure activities, Y Summer Camp allows kids to be kids and make

lasting memories. Branch and school locations across Williamson County 512-246-9622 www.ymcagwc.org Ages 3 - 14

OVERNIGHT CAMPS Camp Lantern Creek for Girls A unique girls’ sleep-away summer camp created so girls can create art, find their voice, try new skills, be cheered on, get dirty, push boundaries, love nature and more. 4045 N. FM 1486, Montgomery 936-597-8225 www.camplanterncreek.com Girls ages 7 - 17

Pick us up at HEB, Whole Foods and Central Market.

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2018 SUMMER CAMP GUIDE

Kidventure Kidventure’s camp mission is simple: provide kids with the opportunities to learn important life lessons through adventure, teamwork and just pure fun. Locations vary by camp 512-263-8992 www.kidventure.com Safari: Ages 8 - 12 in Hunt, TX Echo: Ages 13 - 16 in Rocksprings, TX Apex: Ages 17 - 18 on the Pecos River

Sherwood Forest Faire Sherwood Forest Faire’s summer camp brings the skills and trades of the Middle Ages back to life. All activities take place in the 23-acre medieval village. Near Austin 512-222-8570 www.sherwoodforestfaire.com Ages 7 - 15

Squad STX Our program is an overnight team camping and leadership program in the Texas Hill Country designed and run by former US Army infantry officers to help train boys for a stronger future and expand their leadership potential. Glen Rose, TX 903-883-6398 www.squadstx.com Boys ages 11 - 17

Sugar & Spice Ranch Camp Bonding mothers and daughters through horses. Campers “own” horses for a week and do everything together as a team. All-inclusive week-long sessions, a great way to reconnect. Bandera, TX 830-460-8487 www.texashorsecamps.com Ages 5 and up

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Texas Adventure Camp

2018 SUMMER CAMP GUIDE

Don't think of coming to this “Outback” adventure camp unless you’re looking for an action-packed, exciting week of fun and challenges. 325 Mission Valley Rd., New Braunfels 830-625-9105 www.newktennis.com/outback-texasadventure-camp Ages 9 - 16

YMCA Twin Lakes Overnight Camp YMCA Camp Twin Lakes camp is minutes north of Austin. The Y provides an environment for campers to explore, play and make lifelong friends — all in the great outdoors.

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2018 SUMMER CAMP GUIDE 204 E. Little Elm Tr., Cedar Park 512-250-9622 option 6 www.ymcagwc.org/twinlakes Ages 6 - 16

SPECIAL NEEDS CAMPS Inquiring Minds A multi-disciplinary, innovative and dynamic program for gifted students to explore diverse subjects through an integrated, hands-on approach. Austin. 512-203-4540 www.inquiringminds-austin.org Ages 5 - 12

Joshua’s Stage A creative outlet for exceptional individuals. Theatre, arts, dance, digital photography and ďŹ lm making. Austin 512-825-2744 www.joshuasstage.org/summer-camps Ages 3 - 18

Summer Wonders ACE Academy's summer camp for gifted students. This camp inspires enthusiasm and motivation for learning, taught by a stellar faculty in a challenging, creative environment. 3901 Shoal Creek Blvd., Austin 512-206-4070 www.summerwonders.com Ages 4 - 13

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famIly connectIons R I C H A R D S I N G L E TO N Singleton, MACE, MAMFC, LPC, is the president of STARRY in Round Rock.

Can Technology Solve Your Mosquito Problem This Year? Pop quiz: What’s the deadliest animal on the planet? Likely, your mind jumped to some of the scariest offenders: poisonous snakes, ferocious beasts lurking on the savanna, or maybe you even guessed the sleeper that ranks right up there, the hippopotamus. But those are all wrong and off by hundreds of thousands of deaths. Shockingly, the mighty mosquito is the top killer, claiming the lives of more than 1 million people per year, mostly by malaria, according to the World Health Organization. Some reports put the death rate at nearly 3 million per year. It’s truly awful.

diseases. The list is a scary one: encephalitis, malaria, dengue, chikungunya, Zika and yellow fever. Most of us will never face serious issues like these from mosquitos, but precaution and prevention are always worth pursuing. Even if all you do is slow the torturous itch of pesky bites, it’s worth taking a look at what’s available in your high-tech world to help with your low-tech pests.

Thankfully, most of our fuss with mosquitos in Texas is with how pesky they are, not

Thankfully, most of our fuss with mosquitos in Texas is with how pesky they are, not necessarily how deadly. But even in our own backyards, mosquitos can come with dangers of various

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necessarily how deadly.

The folks at mosquitomagnet.com argue that you have to “understand the enemy” to properly defend against their wiles. The technology that the Mosquito Magnet uses is based on the concept of attraction. Mosquitos are attracted to carbon dioxide. They track us by our breathing, so they can land their best bite. So, Mosquito Magnet (among other devices using the attractional approach) produces carbon dioxide to attract, trap and eliminate mosquitos. And the Mosquito Magnet is high-tech indeed. It has Wi-Fi to track its fuel levels and effectiveness. You’ll have to be a serious bug baiter to add this to your kit. They run from $329 to $847! At that rate, you might just say, “Bite me!” If the attractional model of mosquito fighting isn’t your thing, the pendulum swings in the opposite direction as well. We’re all familiar with the low-tech citronella applications that have found their way into oils, candles, etc. The basic theory is to repel or at least

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disguise carbon dioxide targets enough to distract our thirsty dive bombers. According to health guru Dr. Andrew Weil, there are published journal articles that argue for the relatively benign effect of these products, but we’re here to talk tech, not tiki torches. So, is there a tech version? You bet. Sorta. Kinda.

level of comfort you have with what’s spewing into your atmosphere and whether that’s a proper tradeoff to getting feasted on by the buzzing attack mob making your evening a misery. You can get these devices for less than $40. Finally, for those who really want to know the “latest and greatest” tech, Jerry Adler, writing for Smithsonian

Magazine, notes that scientists have created gene-editing technology that could wipe out disease-carrying mosquitos. I’m guessing that’s not in your lab yet, so maybe just go watch the new Jurassic Park movie and stick with the silver-screen version of gene-edited monsters!

One argument is for ultrasonic shooing. Yes, there’s an app for even that! These mosquito repellant apps and devices try to create sounds that are not perceptible by humans, but that – in theory – chase away the critters. There are mixed reviews about these applications and this theory. Writer Ross Goodman, admittedly trying to sell a non-tech roll-on product, argues that published data suggests there’s little evidence of ultrasonic techniques working well, if at all. And William Kremer of the BBC (if you need an Old World warning) chimes in to say that scientists give these devices a thumbs down. But maybe given their cost, they can still make it to the picnic. Apps are free or just a few bucks, and ultrasonic devices can be found for around $20 or less. If you’re like me, you grew up with at least one bug-zapping neighbor. The soft blue, glowing light wooed ‘em in and then WHAMO, the bolt of lightning fried whatever flew into its tractor beam. Zappers are certainly an option. They even have LED bulbs with built-in zappers. Amazon will ship you one for $10.99 to test out on your back porch. You’ll be “that” family. It’s a badge of honor. Wear it proudly. There’s also Thermacell technology, which basically takes the citronella idea noted above and turns it from torch to tech. It warms various types of repellant and disperses them near your gathering. You’ll have to find out what Pick us up at HEB, Whole Foods and Central Market.

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asuntos famIlIares BETTY RICHARDSON Richardson, PhD, RNC, LPC, LMFT, es una psicoterapeuta situada en Austin.

Simplemente animados o algo más: ¿Mis hijos tienen TDAH? Mi marido y yo tenemos dos niños (3 y 6), y ambos de sus maestros me dicen que mis hijos no pueden quedarse quietos. El más joven no se queda en la alfombra durante la hora del cuento. Su hermano mayor a menudo tiene problemas por no quedarse en su asiento. Sé que los maestros están frustrados y yo también me siento frustrada. ¿Podría uno o ambos de mis hijos tener Trastorno por Déficit de Atención e Hiperactividad (TDAH)? ¿Qué puedo hacer para ayudar?

P.

recreo y/o educación física para dar cabida al plan de estudios requerido. (Tengo que dar crédito a las escuelas: algunas de ellas están empezando a reconocer la importancia de conservar el tiempo de recreo y el de educación física.) Para agravar esto, los niños no salen a jugar cuando llegan a casa después de la escuela. Curiosamente, el ejercicio estimula la producción de los mismos químicos cerebrales que se encuentran en los medicamentos utilizados para tratar el TDA.

R. Su hijo de 3 años podría ser demasiado

Dicho eso, ¿cómo puede ayudar a sus hijos? Salgan de casa en cuanto lleguen de la escuela. La tarea se puede realizar después del ejercicio al aire libre. Déjelos correr o andar en bicicleta. Jueguen "Madre, ¿puedo?" usando actividades como el caminar como un cangrejos, dando vueltas y otras órdenes para aumentar la estimulación vestibular. Tómeles el tiempo mientras corren, nadan o saltan la cuerda. Anímalos a cumplir o superar sus mejores tiempos personales. Acompañelos a bailar y a "sacudir el botín". A medida que crecen, que se involucren en atletismo, fútbol, natación competitiva u otros deportes organizados.

pequeño para realizar las evaluaciones. (La Academia Estadounidense de Pediatría dice que niños de hasta 4 años pueden ser diagnosticados). Si son vistos por un profesional, es posible que uno o ambos niños reciban un diagnóstico de TDA (sin hiperactividad) o TDAH (con hiperactividad). CHADD, el recurso nacional sobre TDAH, dice que el porcentaje de niños que son diagnosticados con TDAH han aumentado constantemente en los últimos años. Y el diagnóstico de TDAH es dos veces más común en niños que en niñas. ¿Algunos de estos niños están siendo mal diagnosticados? Es posible. Los niños necesitan realizar una cantidad significativa de juegos al aire libre a fin de que puedan permanecer quietos y concentrarse en el aprendizaje. Hoy, se les pide a los niños sentarse durante largas horas. Muchas escuelas están reduciendo el tiempo de

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Más allá del ejercicio, usted puede ayudar a sus hijos a que se enfoquen y concentren. Aquí hay algunos consejos especialmente para niños que tienen TDA o TDAH: 1. Divida las tareas grandes en tareas más pequeñas.

2. Trabaje en una tarea a la vez. 3. Aparte tiempo y espacio dedicados a la tarea. 4. Planee incorporar descansos, muy cortos. Simplemente ponerse de pie, poner las manos en el aire y darse la vuelta bombeará oxígeno al cerebro. Luego pueden volver al trabajo. 5. Mantenga un ambiente hogareño tranquilo. Esto es extremadamente importante. Limite cualquier distracción de los medios de comunicación. 6. Algunos padres trabajan para lograr que los niños aumenten lentamente la cantidad de tiempo que pueden permanecer quietos. Les ofrecen pequeñas recompensas por cumplir los objetivos, a medida que los niños fortalecen el "músculo" de estar sentados. Además, sugiero que sea muy positiva con sus hijos y que se enfoque el 100 por ciento en cada uno durante parte del día. Esto modela la habilidad de enfocarse y concentrarse. Puede ver si las escuelas de sus hijos tienen algunos recursos que le puedan ayudar. Y si uno o ambos de sus hijos recibe un diagnóstico de TDA o TDAH, manténgase positiva. Estos niños tienen grandes fortalezas. Lea “What I Would Never Trade Away” en ADDitudemag.com. Gracias por compartir esta pregunta. Creo que muchos de nuestros lectores pueden identificarse con sus inquietudes.

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June

2018 calendar

C O M P I L E D BY B E T T Y K E M P E R Museum Exhibits Page 42

Museum Exhibits Vaudeville! Through Jul. 15. Ransom Center, 300 W. 21st St. hrc.utexas.edu or 512-471-8944. Celebrating Texas Food Through Sep. 30. Capitol Visitors Center, 112 E. 11th St. tspb.state.tx.us or 512-305-8400.

Family Events

Friday 1

Family Fun Camp Out and Day at the Lake 5 p.m. Devine Lake Park, 1807 Waterfall Ave., Leander. $25 per family. leandertx.gov. First Friday Artwalk 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Downtown Bastrop. FREE. cityofbastrop.org. Music on the Square Summer Concerts ++ 6:30 p.m. Downtown Georgetown. FREE. visit.georgetown.org. Round Rock Express vs. Nashville ++ 7 p.m. Dell Diamond, 3400 E. Palm Valley Blvd., Round Rock. From $8. rrexpress.com or 512-244-BALL. Music in the Park ++ 7 to 9 p.m. Pfluger Park, 515 City Park Rd., Pflugerville. FREE. pflugervilletx.gov. Movies in the Park ++ 8 p.m. Buda City Park, 204 San Antonio Rd., Buda. FREE. budatxtourism.com.

Saturday 2

Walk for Sickle Cell Austin 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Doris Miller Auditorium, 2300 Rosewood Ave. Adult $25; child $15. walkforsicklecell.org or 512-458-9767. Madrone Canyon Hike 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Laura's Library, 9411 Bee Cave Rd. FREE. westbanklibrary.com or 512-327-3045. Kidfish 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. South Shore of Lake Pflugerville, 18216 Weiss Lane, Pflugerville. FREE. pflugervilletx.gov or 512-990-6350. Trash to Treasure 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hill Country Science Mill, 101 S. Lady Bird Ln., Johnson City. Under 3 FREE. First Saturday at the Carver ++ 12 p.m. George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center, 1165 Angelina St. FREE. austintexas.gov or 512-974-4926. The Journey of Tam 12 to 1 p.m. The City Theater, 3823 Airport Blvd. FREE, donations accepted. eventbrite.com. Austin Giant Chess ++ 12:30 to 3 p.m. Wooldridge Square Park, 900 Guadalupe St. FREE. giantchess.org.

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Family Events Page 42

Parenting Events Page 45

Saturday Night Concert Series 7 to 9 p.m. Hill Country Galleria, 12700 Hill Country Blvd., Bee Cave. FREE. hillcountrygalleria.com. Apocalypse Now Redux 7:30 p.m. Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress Ave. From $7. austintheatre.org or 512-474-1221. CONTINUING: Round Rock Express see Friday 1.

Sunday 3

Westlake Pond Tour 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Westlake Pond, 1103 Ridgecrest Dr. FREE. westlakepondtour.com or 512-629-7825. Round Rock Express vs. Nashville 1 p.m. See Friday 1 for details. Free Drop-In Tours 1 p.m. Contemporary Austin, 700 Congress Ave. FREE. thecontemporaryaustin.org. The Wizard of Oz - Summer Classic Film Series 1 p.m. Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress Ave. From $6. austintheatre.org or 512-474-1221.

Tuesday 5

Home School Tweens: 8 to 12 ++ 2 to 3 p.m. Pflugerville Library, 1008 W. Pfluger St., Pflugerville. FREE. pflugervilletx.gov or 512-990-6375. SKS Tail Talks 2 to 3 p.m. Austin Humane Society, 124 W. Anderson Ln. FREE. austinhumanesociety.org or 512-646-7387. Movies in Your Park ++ 6 to 10 p.m. San Marcos Plaza Park, 206 N. CM Allen Pkwy, San Marcos. FREE. toursanmarcos.com or 512-393-8400. Tween Hangout Night 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Pflugerville Library, 1008 W. Pfluger St., Pflugerville. FREE. pflugervilletx.gov or 512-990-6101.

Wednesday 6

Austin Symphony's Children's Day Art Park ++ 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Austin Central Library, 710 W. Cesar Chavez St. FREE. austinsymphony.org. Northside Kids 10 a.m. The Domain Northside Lawn, 11700 Domain Blvd. FREE. domainnorthside.com. Austin Barn Dancers ++ 7:30 to 9:45 p.m. Hancock Recreation Center, 811 E. 4th St. FREE. austinbarndancers.org or 512-453-4225.

Thursday 7

Living History Days 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bullock Museum, 1800 N. Congress Ave. thestoryoftexas.com or 512-936-8746. First Thursday Austin 5 to 8 p.m. S. Congress Ave., Barton Springs Rd. to Elizabeth St. FREE. firstthursdayaustin.com.

Story Times Page 45

Summer in the Park ++ 6 to 10 p.m. San Marcos Plaza Park, 206 N. CM Allen Pkwy, San Marcos. FREE. toursanmarcos.com or 512-393-8400. Discount Sk8 Night ++ 7 to 10 p.m. Playland Skate Center, 8822 McCann Dr. $6. playlandskatecenter.com or 512-452-1901. Unplugged at the Grove ++ 8 to 9:30 p.m. Shady Grove, 1624 Barton Springs Rd. FREE. kgsr.com. Much Ado About Nothing ++ 8 to 10 p.m. Round Rock Amphitheater, 301 W. Bagdad Ave., Round Rock. FREE. roundrocktexas.gov or 512-850-4849.

Friday 8

Family Night: Bricks at Blocks Bonanza 6 to 8 p.m. The Thinkery, 1830 Simond Ave. Member Child: From $11. thinkeryaustin.org or 512-469-6200. Your Hand In Mine ++ 7:30 p.m. The Long Center, 701 W. Riverside Dr. From $20. thelongcenter.org or 512-457-5115. Movies in the Park – Despicable Me 3 (PG) 8 to 11 p.m. Taylor Regional Park, 210 Carlos Parker Blvd., Taylor. FREE. ci.taylor.tx.us. Dive-In Movies - Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (PG-13) 8:30 to 11 p.m. Lakeway Swim Center, 3103 Lakeway Blvd., Lakeway. $3. lakeway-tx.gov. CONTINUING: Movies in the Park see Friday 1; Much Ado About Nothing see Thursday 7; Music in the Park see Friday 1; Music on the Square Summer Concerts see Friday 1.

Saturday 9

TX Water Safari 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Meadows Center, 951 Aquarena Springs Dr., San Marcos. FREE. texaswatersafari.org or 512-738-6607. Bubblepalooza 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Long Center, 701 W. Riverside Dr. FREE. thelongcenter.org or 512-457-5109. Second Saturdays are for Families 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Laguna Gloria, 3809 W. 35th St. FREE. contemporaryaustin.org or 512-458-8191. SKS Teddy Bear Surgery 1 to 3 p.m. Austin Humane Society, 124 W. Anderson Ln. FREE. austinhumanesociety.org or 512-646-7387. Maker Pfest 2 to 5 p.m. Pflugerville Library, 1008 W. Pfluger St., Pflugerville. FREE. library.pflugervilletx.gov. The Emoji Movie (PG) 6 p.m. Fisherman's Park, 1200 Willow St., Bastrop. FREE. cityofbastrop.org.

SUBMIT YOUR EVENT Visit austinfamily.com and click “Submit your event.” The deadline is the 5th of the month preceding the month of the event. If your event charges more than $15, send details to kaye2003@austinfamily.com for approval. View the magazine online at austinfamily.com.

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CONTINUING: Austin Giant Chess see Saturday 2; Much Ado About Nothing see Thursday 7; Your Hand in Mine see Friday 8.

Sunday 10

Family Day at Umlauf 12 to 4 p.m. Umlauf Sculpture Garden, 605 Robert E. Lee Rd. FREE. umlaufsculpture.org or 512-445-5582. CONTINUING: Your Hand in Mine see Friday 8.

Tuesday 12

SKS Austin Wildlife Rescue 10 to 11 a.m. Austin Humane Society, 124 W. Anderson Ln. FREE. austinhumanesociety.org or 512-646-7387. CONTINUING: Home School Tweens see Tuesday 5; Movies in Your Park see Tuesday 5.

Wednesday 13

Too Many Stories ++ 10 a.m. Austin Scottish Rite Theatre, 207 W. 18th St. $6. scottishritetheater.org or 512-472-5436. Terra Toys 19th Annual Fairy Tea Party 1 to 2:30 p.m. Terra Toys, 2438 W. Anderson Ln. FREE with ticket. terratoys.com or 512-445-4498. Round Rock Express vs. Sacramento 7 p.m. Dell Diamond, 3400 E. Palm Valley Blvd., Round Rock. From $8. rrexpress.com or 512-244-BALL. CONTINUING: Austin Barn Dancers see Wednesday 6.

Thursday 14

Little Texans 10 to 11 a.m. Bullock Museum, 1800 N. Congress Ave. Free with admission. thestoryoftexas.com or 512-463-6485. Outdoor Movie Night 7:30 to 10 p.m. Austin Humane Society, 124 W. Anderson Ln. FREE. austinhumanesociety.org or 512-646-7387.

CONTINUING: Discount Sk8 Night see Thursday 7; Much Ado About Nothing see Thursday 7; Summer in the Park see Thursday 7; Unplugged at the Grove see Thursday 7; Terra Toys Fairy Tea Party see Wednesday 13; Round Rock Express see Wednesday 13.

Friday 15

TGIF Movie With Popcorn 1 to 3 p.m. Elgin Public Library, 404 N. Main St., Elgin. FREE. elgintx.com or 512-281-5678. Family Film Friday - Paddington 2 (PG) 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Round Rock Library, 216 E. Main St., Round Rock. FREE. roundrocktexas.gov or 512-218-3275. Juneteenth Rhythm and Ribs Festival 7:30 p.m. Old Settlers Park Pavilion, 3300 E. Palm Valley Blvd., Round Rock. FREE. roundrocktexas.gov or 512-218-3220. Movies at the Lake - Paddington 2 (PG) 8 p.m. Lake Kyle Park, 700 Lehman Rd., Kyle. FREE. cityofkyle.com. CONTINUING: Movies in the Park see Friday 1; Much Ado About Nothing see Thursday 7; Music in the Park see Friday 1; Music on the Square Summer Concerts see Friday 1; Round Rock Express see Wednesday 13.

Saturday 16

Juneteenth Parade 10 to 11 a.m. Downtown Bastrop. FREE. cityofbastrop.org. Juneteenth Parade and Festival 10 a.m. Downtown Elgin. FREE. elgintx.com or 512-963-2721. Juneteenth at the Carver 12 to 4 p.m. George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center, 1165 Angelina St. FREE. austintexas.gov or 512-974-4926.

Pick us up at HEB, Whole Foods and Central Market.

Kindness Palooza 12 to 6 p.m. Hill Country Galleria, 12700 Hill Country Blvd., Bee Cave. FREE. hillcountrygalleria.com Round Rock Express vs. Fresno 6 p.m. Dell Diamond, 3400 E. Palm Valley Blvd., Round Rock. From $8. rrexpress.com or 512-244-BALL. CONTINUING: Austin Giant Chess see Saturday 2; Much Ado About Nothing see Thursday 7; Juneteenth Rhythm and Ribs Festival see Friday 15.

Sunday 17

Father’s Day Father's Day Celebration 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pioneer Farms, 10621 Pioneer Farms Dr. $10. pioneerfarms.org or 512-837-1215. Dads Sk8 4 FREE 12 to 5 p.m. Playland Skate Center, 8822 McCann Dr. $8. playlandskatecenter.com or 512-452-1901. Round Rock Express vs. Fresno 1 p.m. See Saturday 16 for details. The Princess Bride - Summer Classic Film Series (PG) 1 p.m. Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress Ave. From $6. austintheatre.org or 512-474-1221. Father's Day in the Park 7:30 to 9 p.m. Zilker Park, 2100 Barton Springs Rd. FREE. austinsymphonicband.org or 512-956-7420.

Monday 18

Halloween in Summer 6 p.m. Carver Branch, 1161 Angelina St. FREE. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-1010. Round Rock Express vs. Fresno 7 p.m. See Saturday 16 for details.

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Tuesday 19

Emancipation Day Literature Live! King Midas 11 a.m. Twin Oaks Branch, 1800 S. 5th St. FREE. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-9980. SKS Tail Talks 1 to 2 p.m. Austin Humane Society, 124 W. Anderson Ln. FREE. austinhumanesociety.org or 512-646-7387. Spy Camp 2 p.m. Cepeda Branch, 651 N. Pleasant Valley Rd. FREE. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-7372. Feltalistic and Filmazing Coco (PG) 2 pm. Ruiz Branch, 1600 Grove Blvd. FREE. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-7500. Echoes of Africa 3 p.m. St. John Branch, 7500 Blessing Ave. FREE. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-7570. Princess in Black Party 3:30 p.m. Old Quarry Branch, 7051 Village Center North. FREE. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-8860. Trailer Food Tuesdays 5 to 9 p.m. The Long Center, 701 W. Riverside Dr. FREE. thelongcenter.org or 512-457-5109. Round Rock Express vs. Fresno 7 p.m. See Saturday 16 for details. CONTINUING: Home School Tweens see Tuesday 5; Movies in Your Park see Tuesday 5.

Wednesday 20

Terrence Taps 2 p.m. Little Walnut Creek Branch, 835 W. Rundberg Ln. FREE. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-9860. The Telephone Company 2 p.m. Hampton Branch, 5125 Convict Hill Rd. FREE. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-9900.

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Princess in Black Party 3:30 p.m. North Village Branch, 2505 Steck Ave. FREE. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-9960. CONTINUING: Austin Barn Dancers see Wednesday 6; Austin Symphony's Children's Day Art Park see Wednesday 6; Too Many Stories see Wednesday 13.

Thursday 21

Rhythm on Stage - Brazilian Dance Night 7 to 8:45 p.m. The Long Center, 701 W. Riverside Dr. FREE. thelongcenter.org or 512-457-5109. Movies in the Park: How to Train Your Dragon (PG) 9 p.m. Patterson Park, 4200 Brookview Rd. FREE. austinparks.org. CONTINUING: Discount Sk8 Night see Thursday 7; Much Ado About Nothing see Thursday 7; Summer in the Park see Thursday 7; Unplugged at the Grove see Thursday 7.

Friday 22

If Wishes Were Fishes ++ 2 p.m. Rollins Studio Theatre at the Long Center, 701 W. Riverside Drive. From $10.50. pollytheatre.org. Magician John O’Bryant 2 p.m. Terrazas Branch, 1105 E. Cesar Chavez St. FREE. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-3625. Friday Movie Matinee - Captain Underpants (PG) 3:30 p.m. Old Quarry Branch, 7051 Village Center Dr. FREE. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-8860. Movie in the Park - Elgin 8 to 10 p.m. Elgin Memorial Park, 1127 N. Main St., Elgin. FREE. elgintx.com. Movies in the Park - Daddy's Home 2 (PG-13) 8 p.m. Mason Homestead Park, 1101 S. Bagdad, Leander. FREE. leandertx.gov or 512-528-9909.

CONTINUING: Movies in the Park see Friday 1; Much Ado About Nothing see Thursday 7; Music in the Park see Friday 1; Music on the Square Summer Concerts see Friday 1.

Saturday 23

Austin Ice Cream Festival 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fiesta Gardens, 2101 Jesse E. Segovia St. $15. austinicecreamfestival.com. Western Days 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Downtown Elgin. FREE. elgintx.com. Sunset Movie Series - Moana (PG) 8 p.m. Williams Drive Pool, 3201 Williams Dr., Georgetown. $2 and $3. visit.georgetown.org. CONTINUING: Austin Giant Chess see Saturday 2; If Wishes Were Fishes see Friday 22; Much Ado About Nothing see Thursday 7.

Sunday 24

Little Mermaid - Summer Classic Film Classic Series (G) 1 p.m. Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress Ave. From $6. austintheatre.org or 512-474-1221. CONTINUING: If Wishes Were Fishes see Friday 22.

Monday 25

TYLER'S Dam That Cancer 6 p.m. LCRA Redbud Center, 3601 Lake Austin Blvd. Donation. tylersdtc.com. Round Rock Express vs. Omaha 7 p.m. Dell Diamond, 3400 E. Palm Valley Blvd., Round Rock. From $8. rrexpress.com or 512-244-BALL.

Tuesday 26

Echoes of Africa 11 a.m. Twin Oaks Branch, 1800 S. 5th St. FREE. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-9980.

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Literature Live! Puppets, Puppets, Everywhere 3 p.m. St. John Branch, 7500 Blessing Ave. FREE. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-7570. Family Board Game Night 5:30 to 8 p.m. Central Library, 710 W. Cesar Chavez St. FREE. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-7400. CONTINUING: Home School Tweens see Tuesday 5; Movies in Your Park see Tuesday 5; Round Rock Express see Monday 25.

Wednesday 27

Echoes of Africa 2 p.m. Ruiz Branch, 1600 Grove Blvd. FREE. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-7500. Literature Live! King Midas 2 p.m. Little Walnut Creek Branch, 835 W. Rundberg Ln. FREE. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-9860. Magik Theatre Presents: Three Little Pigs 2 p.m. Hampton Branch, 5125 Convict Hill Rd. FREE. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-9900. CONTINUING: Austin Barn Dancers see Wednesday 6; Austin Symphony's Children's Day Art Park see Wednesday 6; Too Many Stories see Wednesday 13; Round Rock Express see Monday 25.

Thursday 28

Storytime: Nature 10 to 11 a.m. Bullock Museum, 1800 Congress Ave. Free with admission. thestoryoftexas.com or 512-936-8746. The Legend of Walter Weirdbeard 2 p.m. Milwood Branch, 12500 Amherst Dr. FREE. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-9880. Literature Live! Puppets, Puppets, Everywhere 2 p.m. Willie Mae Kirk Branch, 3101 Oak Springs Dr. FREE. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-9920. Dog Man 2 p.m. Pleasant Hill Branch, 211 E. William Cannon Dr. FREE. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-3940. CONTINUING: Discount Sk8 Night see Thursday 7; Summer in the Park see Thursday 7; Unplugged at the Grove see Thursday 7; Round Rock Express see Monday 25.

Parenting Events

Story Times

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

Austin area libraries offer story times for infants, toddlers, preschoolers and families with children of all ages. In addition, there are story times in Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, Hindi, American Sign Language and other languages.

Saturday 16

Breastfeeding Support Group 11 a.m. Baylor Scott & White Pediatric Clinic, 425 University Blvd, Round Rock. FREE. tinyurl.com/yc2dg3z7 or 512-509-6455.

Wednesday 27

Downsizing and Capturing Memories 6 to 7:30 p.m. AGE of Central Texas, 3710 Cedar St. FREE with registration. tinyurl.com/AGEjune2018 or 512-600-9275.

Contact your local library for more information about times and appropriate ages. Austin Library Branches throughout Austin library.austintexas.gov | 512-974-7400 Bee Cave Library 4000 Galleria Pkwy. beecavetexas.com | 512-767-6620 Dripping Springs Library 501 Sportsplex Dr. dscl.org | 512-858-7825 Laura’s Library 9411 Bee Cave Rd. westbanklibrary.com | 512-381-1400 Pflugerville Library 1008 W. Pfluger St. pflugervilletx.com | 512-990-6275 Round Rock Library 216 E. Main St. roundrocktexas.gov | 512-218-7001 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

View the Austin-Area story time calendar at austinfamily.com!

Friday 29

Patriotic Festival 10 a.m. Downtown Bastrop. FREE. cityofbastrop.org. Family Film Friday - Peter Rabbit (PG) 1:30 p.m. Round Rock Library, 216 E. Main St., Round Rock. FREE. roundrocktexas.gov or 512-218-3275. Lloyd H. Miller of the Deedle Deedle Dees 2 p.m. Terrazas Branch, 1105 E. Cesar Chavez St. FREE. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-3625. Friday Matinee - Peter Rabbit (PG) 3:30 p.m. Carver Branch, 1161 Angelina St. FREE. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-1010. Round Rock Express vs. Colorado Springs 7 p.m. Dell Diamond, 3400 E. Palm Valley Blvd., Round Rock. From $8. rrexpress.com or 512-244-BALL. CONTINUING: Movies in the Park see Friday 1; Music in the Park see Friday 1; Music on the Square Summer Concerts see Friday 1.

Saturday 30

Saturday Screening - Black Panther (PG-13) 2 p.m. University Hills Branch, 4721 Loyola Ln. FREE. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-9940. Literature Live! King Midas 2 p.m. Manchaca Road Branch, 5500 Manchaca Rd. FREE. library.austintexas.gov or 512-974-8700. CONTINUING: Austin Giant Chess see Saturday 2; If Wishes Were Fishes see Friday 22; Patriotic Festival see Friday 29; Round Rock Express see Friday 29.

Pick us up at HEB, Whole Foods and Central Market.

June 2018 austinfamily.com

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

Congruencia Me he podido dar cuenta que una de las necesidades humanas es la de obtener la confianza y respeto de las personas que nos importan. He comprobado que la manera más auténtica y duradera de lograrlo es que nuestras palabras sean congruentes con nuestro comportamiento. Un buen sermón puede acaparar la atención de la gente pero cuando el que da el sermón también vive de acuerdo a lo que predica entonces es ahí cuando el respeto y la confianza nace inevitablemente. La manera de lograr ser congruente es estando consciente todo el tiempo de lo que dices y cómo te comportas. Al inicio es retador pero después se convierte en tu estilo de vida. ¡Piensa Positivo!

Congruence I’ve come to realize that one of humanity’s main desires is to obtain the trust and respect of the people we care about. I’ve found that the most authentic and lasting way to achieve this is for our words to be congruent with our behavior. A good sermon can get people's attention, but when the preacher also lives according to what he preaches, that is when respect and trust inevitably arise. The way to achieve congruence is by being aware all the time of what you say and how you behave. In the beginning, it’s challenging but later it becomes your lifestyle. Think Positive!

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Dr. Paul Vigo Dr. Vigo trained at Washington University Hospital and the Cleveland Clinic. He has a special interest in allergies, food allergies, asthma and allergic skin conditions. Dr. Vigo serves as president of the Austin Allergy Society and sits on the board of the Texas Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Society. He is fluent in English and Spanish. See ad on page 44

June 2018 austinfamily.com

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KID

Make a Summer Countdown Chain!

Did you know the first day of summer (also known as the Summer Solstice) is June 21? We’re counting the days until summer officially begins with the help of a DIY countdown chain!

What You Need • Multicolored construction paper (yellow, green, blue and red) • Glue or tape • Hole puncher • String or yarn • Kid-friendly scissors • Markers and/or crayons

3.

4. 5.

6. 7.

What You Do 1. Using yellow construction paper, draw a sun with rays. Write the words “Summer Countdown” in the middle of the sun and cut out the entire shape. 2. Using the hole puncher, make a hole at the bottom of your sun and thread a piece of yarn through to tie and make a loop. Using the other colored paper, cut out “links” or strips 1 inch wide and 3 inches long. Cut out one strip for every day of spring left until June 21. On each strip, write a fun activity you can do to make the countdown to summer go by quicker. Thread the first strip (which should be the last day of spring) through the yarn loop and tape or glue the ends together. Continue adding “links” to your chain, making sure to glue or tape each link closed. Once completed, tape your summer countdown on a wall, door or anywhere you’d like to display it. Each day, rip off a chain “link” and enjoy the activity written down until you celebrate the first day of summer!

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.

Check Out smart pa renting • healt

hy homes

Summer! FUN GUIDE and

Camp Guides

online at austinfamily.com

Pick us up at HEB, Whole Foods and Central Market.

June 2018 austinfamily.com

47


The Great Mosquito Escape

Just for grIns C A R R I E TAY L O R Carrie Taylor is a freelance writer, editor and mother of two boys.

I may still be considered a “young” mom (beginning to hear teenagers call me “ma’am”), but I’m old enough to remember a time before technology solved everything. In swampy Texas summers, all we had to keep mosquitos away was cancer spray or weak candles that smelled like a musty hospital. One childhood encounter was particularly horrifying, a family camping trip to Inks Lake State Park. There we were, peacefully bobbing in the serene water. We had it all: pool noodles, floppy hats and neoncolored sunglass floaters, with sunscreen smeared on our noses. And then came the sound. It started as a low hum, and we scanned the lake’s horizon to discover a foggy shadow shifting toward us. The hum swelled to a loud buzz, and the cloud resolved into its individual elements: a massive horde of mosquitos. “Ruunn!” my mom screeched, as she lurched to shore, knees wheeling and arms flapping.

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June 2018 austinfamily.com

My sister and I stayed submerged as we paddled to shore like clandestine cartoon characters. The swarm enveloped us. My heart raced. I wondered if this was punishment for refusing to return my sister’s prized gel pens earlier in the day. We reached the shore and bolted for the family SUV. As we hurtled into the back seat, we slammed the doors and watched helplessly as my dad fended off a brutal attack. My mom, her face the exact color of a ruby red gel pen, attempted a feeble rescue. Then I felt a sting on my elbow. Then my knee. They’d breached the vehicle. Through shrill screams, my sister and I walloped every surface of the vehicle with our flip-flops. Twenty minutes later and surrounded by the carcasses of 10,000 dead mosquitos, we were on the road. And that’s how the pale blue fabric ceiling of our family car became – and remained for years – a mosquito cemetery teeming with gray smudges.

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