North Texas Kids February 2009 by North Texas Kids

North Texas Your Family Guide to Raising Happy, Healthy Kids

Shaili Mathur, 9 years old

In this issue: Building An Abundance Attitude in Your Kids / Keeping Your Tiny Travelers Safe / Preschool - What You Expected? / February Calendar of Events February 2009

FREE

North Texas Kids • February 2009 • www.NorthTexasKids.com www.northtexaskids.com

8dbZ ^c [gdb i]Z XdaY Jca^b^iZY EaVn 6aa 9Vn :K:GN96N

id a a V 8 d` 7d jg nd in EV g Vn Id Y

?JBE! 7DJC8:! HA>9: IN OUR INÂ&#x2022;LATABLE PLAY CENTER ID99A:G 6G:6 FOR LITTLE ONES 2EDEMPTION <Vb^c\ OdcZ 0ARENTS RELAX WITH OUR ;G:: L>";> =9 IK &ULL MENU OF ;DD9! HC68@H 9G>C@H

6205 Coit Road â&#x20AC;˘ Plano, TX 75024 â&#x20AC;˘ 214-473-9995 2301 Cross Timbers â&#x20AC;˘ Flower Mound, TX 75028 â&#x20AC;˘ 469-549-4400 147 E. Harwood Rd. â&#x20AC;˘ Hurst, TX 76054 â&#x20AC;˘ 817-503-8100

Visit us at www.boomerangspartyandplay.com

7JN DC: E6HH! <:I I=: 'C9 Vi =6A; EG>8: d[ ZfjVa dg aZhhZg kVajZ# 8djedc XVc cdi WZ XdbW^cZY l^i] di]Zg d[[Zgh# 6AA lZZ` ^cXajY^c\ lZZ`ZcYh# <ddY [dg je id ) eZdeaZ# DcZ i^bZ jhZ#

Exp. 3/15/09 NTK 2009

Dr. Donna Barsky Independent, Locally Owned Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Immunizations $14.50 (Including meningitis)

New or Transferred RXâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s:

get a free pair of semi precious custom earrings. Come in and see what a REAL PHARMACY looks like.

Full Service Pharmacy â&#x20AC;˘ Nebulizers and Supplies â&#x20AC;˘ Children and adult orthopedic braces and supports â&#x20AC;˘ Accept most prescription cards â&#x20AC;˘ Wound care supplies

Big City Pharmacy Small Town Friendly Service

â&#x20AC;˘ Diabetic equipment & supplies â&#x20AC;˘ Prescription compounding â&#x20AC;˘ Walker, wheelchair and scooter, sales and rental

972.519.8475 â&#x20AC;˘ N.E. Corner of Parker & Independence

North Texas Kidsâ&#x20AC;&#x201A; â&#x20AC;˘â&#x20AC;&#x201A; February 2009â&#x20AC;&#x201A; â&#x20AC;˘â&#x20AC;&#x201A; www.NorthTexasKids.com

4HERAPY 2000 4HE .ORTH 4EXAS LEADER IN HOME BASED THERAPY FOR CHILDREN

7E TREAT CHILDREN FOR Feeding & Swallowing Disorders (including the need for Vital Stim Therapy) #EREBRAL 0ALSY s .EUROLOGICAL $ISORDERS s $OWN 3YNDROME Sensory Processing Disorders and many others A comprehensive hearing screening is administered to all children admitted for speech therapy services. To obtain physical, occupational or speech therapy services for your child, call THERAPY 2000...

OR s www.T2000.com

7ELCOME TO OUR &AMILY s With

es r Busin u o Y w Gro

po x E s d i llas K a D e h T

March 21-22, 2009 Dallas Market Hall www.dallaskidsexpo.com

Call to reserve your booth space TODAY! Dallas Kids E

xpo 15455 Dallas Parkway Suite 600 Dallas , TX 75 001 Phone 972-6 41-EXPO info@dallask idsexpo.com

Deadline: Fe

b. 28th

North Texas Kidsâ&#x20AC;&#x201A; â&#x20AC;˘â&#x20AC;&#x201A; February 2009â&#x20AC;&#x201A; â&#x20AC;˘â&#x20AC;&#x201A; www.NorthTexasKids.com

3â&#x20AC;&#x201A;

Contents February 2009

Volume 7 No. 2

Building An Abundance Attitude in Your Kids

Preschool & Private School Directory

Mind Stretching Fun® for Preschoolers

Emma's Kid-Friendly Restaurant Review

Preschool - What You Expected?

Family Resource Guide

Valentine's Day Fun

Keeping Your Tiny Travelers Safe

Enrichment Directory: Classes & Activities

Craft: Paper Plate Heart Wreath

Spotlight on Frisco

Get to Know... Rebekah Cooksey

Craft: Tissue Paper Hearts

How to Help Kids Develop Their Potential

Focus on our Advertisers

Silly Sports Jokes

When Picky Eating Is a Problem

February Calendar of Events

How Labels Affect Our Children

Alexandria’s Book Review

Lacrosse Gaining Popularity in N. Texas

Essential Estate Planning for Parents

Index of Advertisers

Sports & Fitness Programs

North Texas Kids • February 2009 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

Kids in the Kitchen: Valentine Greeting

13 Valentine's Day Tidbits

Note from the Publisher

Minette Riordan, Ph.D.

Nurturing our relationship with our spouse It's February, a month that we

traditionally celebrate Valentine's Day and think about roses and

flowers and chocolate. Have you

given any thought lately to how you treat your spouse or what you want

from your relationship? Most of this

month's issue is focused on toddlers and we have some great articles but

one of our challenge as moms is how

little time we devote to taking care of our marriage and ourselves.

If you have children, then you

know what a difficult challenge it can be to maintain intimacy with your spouse when baby comes

home. Yet the truth is that no matter how tired and stressed we are, we need to work at our relationship

with our spouse in order for it to be sustainable and meaningful. I

want to share with you 10 simple

yet powerful tools that you can use

to strengthen your relationship with your spouse. First, let me say that

flexibility and creativity are the keys to a successful partnership. Pick one or two things to try, don't feel like you have to do them all at once!

Tip #1. Focus on listening. Listening means giving your partner the opportunity to speak without interruption, judgement, denial or anger. Tip #2. Share your feelings with your partner. Speaking out when you are hurt, upset, or angry.

Don't let small incidents build up. Ask for your partner's attention, pick a time when the kids are asleep or you are alone together. Do not pick a fight, just ask for your partner to listen. Tip #3. Find time together. Be creative and be flexible. Even a 10 to 15 minute phone call while baby is napping and one of you is working can build connection. Tip #4. Look for the good, overlook the bad. You married this person for many good reasons. Search for those things that make you smile, you may fall in love all over again. Tip #5. Give two compliments every day. Now that you’ve committed to seeing the good in your partner, it’s time to say it! Tip #6. Play nice. How many times do you see -- or experience -- partners treating each other in impolite, harsh ways that they’d never even treat a friend? Sometimes we take our partners for granted and unintentionally display rudeness. Or to put this in the wise words of Bambi’s friend Thumper, the bunny rabbit -- “If you can’t say somethin’ nice don’t say nothin’ at all.” Tip #7. Pick your battles. In any human relationship there will be disagreement and conflict. The key here is to decide which issues are worth pursuing and which are better off ignored. Tip #8. The 60 second cuddle. Make the effort to touch your spouse

more often. A pat, a hug, a kiss, a shoulder massage -- the good feeling it produces for both of you far outweighs the effort. Tip #9. Make a commitment. You must be willing to put time, effort and thought into nurturing your marriage. The ideas that I mentioned above will help you follow through on this commitment and will put new life and meaning into your marriage. Tip #10 Change your Attitude. The surprising secret is that this doesn’t have to take any extra time in your already busy schedule. Just a change in attitude plus a committed focus can yield a stronger, happier marriage.

Publisher/Editor

Minette Riordan minette@northtexaskids.com

Web/Media Designer

Brad Dobson bdobson@northtexaskids.com

CMO

Cindy Watts cindyw@northtexaskids.com

Editor of Sports Scoop Mike Kravik

mike@northtexaskids.com

Office/Sales Manager Heidi Schlabs heidi@northtexaskids.com

Account Executives

Tari Jacobs Cindy Johnson Nancy Luttinger Michelle Simms Cindy Watts

Creative Dir. /Designer Brittany Allen

2nd Story Design brittany@2ndstorydesign.com

Printed by

Midway Press, Dallas Tx

Mailing Address

Scissortail Publishing

700 E. Park Blvd. #110 Plano, Texas 75074

Phone

972-516-9070

Take these tips home and apply

Fax

972-516-9048

30 days. Then re-evaluate your

North Texas Kids is a Division of Scissortail Publishing

So here’s my challenge to you.

them in your marriage for the next marriage. I guarantee you’ll both be happier.

You will also notice that

when you and your spouse are

happier, your kids will notice it, be comforted and feel happier also.

Modeling healthy relationships is

part of what we need to teach our children. Think about how your

actions affect everyone around you. Happiness is contagious.

reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission prohibited. North Texas Kids encourages your submission of articles, children’s artwork, photographs and ideas. We reserve the right to edit all submitted material. All submissions will be considered for publication. Recommended article length is 500 to 800 words. Viewpoints of the articles are not necessarily the viewpoints of North Texas Kids. Materials will not be returned. Advertising is accepted at the discretion of the Publisher. Advertisers assume all liability for the content of their printed advertisements and agree to indemnify North Texas Kids and its publisher for any and all claims and expenses arising therefrom.

Cover Artist...

Shaili Mathur Shaili lives in India, but before that she lived right here in North Texas. Shaili attended Grade 4 at Jackson Elementary in Plano, TX. She is an avid reader and painter. She also did gymnastics at WOGA (Plano), and played soccer for PSA leagues. She has shown talent with pottery and photography. She loves animals and may become a vet when she grows up.

Your child will receive $50 when we use his/her artwork on the cover of NTK. North Texas Kids loves kids’ art. Feel free to send us your child’s Masterpiece. We are looking for covers that are unique, bright and colorful. Each child that appears on our cover receives $50.00 along with his/her picture and story in the paper. Submissions may be digital or print. Email pictures to info@northtexaskids.com or mail them to Scissortail Publishing, LLC. 700 E. Park Blvd., Suite 110, Plano, Texas 75074. North Texas Kids • February 2009 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

Don’t give rewards for promised future behavior. Reward when the goal is accomplished. Acknowledge the accomplishment and celebrate it.

Be open about your financial state. Work as a family toward saving for a big item like a dream vacation. Adopt a family mission statement.

Use economic and financial news, as well as the success stories of business owners as conversation starters or as talking points around particular issues. Inspire your kids by highlighting positive entrepreneurial stories.

You’re not necessarily the dominant adviser to your children. Kids need support, mentorship and encouragement from coaches, teachers and other influential people. Find out who your child’s favorites are and encourage their support of your child’s endeavors.

Connect your children to people who have passion for what they do that’s of interest to your child. Encourage them to set high goals for themselves even if they don’t reach them.

Meet Max & Joey Buddy Detectives! Great new book for young readers who love a good mystery!

The greatest teacher and confidence builder is to learn by doing. Encourage your child to take a part-time job, volunteer or start their own business. Programs like Youthpreneur give kids business skills whether for their own for-profit business or fundraising.

Show your children the power of sharing. Volunteering time and resources goes a long way toward teaching an abundant outlook by giving to the less fortunate.

Written by local author Glo Jenkins Brown This is a fantasy mystery novel about Joey Taylor and his lovable rescue dog Max, who witnesses a hit-and-run accident.

Schedule an author visit today! glo@wordsrme.com

Buy it today on Amazon.com! 6

North Texas Kids • February 2009 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

Appreciate the things you have. Teach your children to take stock of and appreciate the intangibles like relationships, nature, shared experiences and things that don’t cost money. Darren Hardy, Publisher and Editorial Director of SUCCESS magazine shares these tips from the February issue of SUCCESS magazine.

The Biggest & Best INDOOR Kids Amusement Park.

Come for the PIZZA, stay for the FUN!

Affordable Birthday Parties Every Day of the Week C Roller Coaster C Tea Cup Ride C Bumper Cars C Pirate Ship C Jet Planes SE Corner of Parker & Custer 972-985-7711 www.planetpizzaplano.com

BUY 1 GET 1 FREE

Unlimited Ride & Soft Play Tickets ($9.99 Savings) Not Valid Saturday or Sunday or with any other special. One coupon per person per visit. Expires 2-28-09

Hours: Monday - Saturday 10am - 9pm; Sunday 12pm - 7pm

Kids in the kitchen

g n i t e e r G e n i t Valen rispies 's® Rice K

Kellogg

Treats

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons butter or margarine 1 package (10 oz., about 40) regular marshmallows or - 4 cups miniature marshmallows 6 cups Rice Krispies® Canned frosting or decorating gel Assorted candies Making the Valentine Greeting... 1. In large saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat. 2. Add KELLOGG'S RICE KRISPIES cereal. Stir until well coated. 3. Using buttered spatula or wax paper evenly press mixture into 13 x 9 x 2-inch pan lined with foil and coated with cooking spray. Cool. 4. Remove from pan. Remove foil. Decorate with frosting and/or candies. To serve cut into 2-inch squares. Best if served the same day! (Store no more than two days at room temperature in airtight container. To freeze, place in layers separated by wax paper in airtight container. Freeze for up to 6 weeks.) Thanks to www2.kelloggs.com for the great treat... please visit this site for bunches of other fun recipes! North Texas Kids • February 2009 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

Things to do today... Read our blog northtexaskids.blogspot.com

Check out our website for even more neat stuff! Sign up for our FREE newsletter

PROFESSIONAL JANITORIAL SERVICES • RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL FREE ESTIMATES

Mention this ad for a 1st time discount on any of our services.

Look on our website for more great coupons for residential and commercial services. www.alljanitorial.net

Let us give you the GIFT of time. Residential, Commercial, Industrial & Construction Cleanup * Insured & Bonded * Private Residences * Apartments & Condos * Office Cleaning - Large or Small * Nursing Homes

* Restaurants * Schools * Malls * Churches

* Any Type of Construction Cleanup * Floor Stripping, Waxing, and Carpet Cleaning * Day Porter Services * Construction Laborers

NO JOB IS TOO BIG OR TOO SMALL. WE DO IT ALL. JUST ONE CALL AWAY!

972-516-9550 900 Ave. K, Ste. 150, Plano, TX 75074

References Provided Upon Request 8

North Texas Kids • February 2009 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

Member: BBB, Plano Frisco & Dallas Chambers of Commerce

Minority/Women Owned Business

Mind Stretching Fun® for Preschoolers with

Sci-Tech Discovery Center Spark an interest in science and technology in your preschooler by providing him with some experimental learning opportunities. Here is an easy experiment involving materials you have at home that your toddler will love.

Would you like a fresh perspective on your child’s Academic progress? Does your child need a boost with academic skills or social skills acquisition?

Items needed: Paper towels Paintbrush Water Food coloring Small bowls Magnifying glass (optional)

Instructions:

1. Let your preschooler look closely at a paper towel. Use a magnifying glass if you have one. Point out the paper towel is made out of fibers that are absorbent.

2. Fill your bowls with water and drop a few drops of food coloring in each bowl.

3. Dip a corner of the paper towel lightly into one of the bowls and watch the water move up the paper towel.

4. Let your preschooler use the paint brush to drop a few drops of

colored water on the paper towel. Watch the water diffuse across the fibers. You can also describe what is happening when the colors mix.

Social Thinking Classes Now Available

New groups are forming every month Ages Pre-school through High School, Se Habla español Individualized and comprehensive assessments: Reading Skills and Comprehension, Dyslexia, Language Processing, ADD/ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders and Sensory Integration. Visit our website for other services.

Rich Educational Consulting

Where the Only Limitation is the Imagination! Locations in Dallas, Collin and Denton Counties 972-447-8390 c www.richeducationalconsulting.com

Aqua - Fit Swim & Wellness Center Learn to Swim & Fitness Classes 214-257-7637 • Swimmers by Mimi •Warm Salt Water Pool •Swim Team Skill Training •Aquatic Fitness, Arthritis, Fibro, Diabetes, MS and Joint Wellness Classes •Adaptive & Special Need Classes •WaterAngels by Sylvia Baker, RMT •Fun 2 Be Fit (youth program) •Discount for Siblings

www.aquafitplano.com

The Lesson: Your preschooler is learning about the movement of water. Water likes

to move from areas of greater concentration to areas of less concentration.

The water is moving up the paper towel due to a force of attraction between the water and the paper towel, called capillary action. (Explain that this is

the same way plants draw up water from their roots!) The water is pulled up into the open spaces between the fibers in the paper, soaking the paper as it

absorbs the water. When the weight of the water in the paper is equal to the upward attraction, then the water stops rising.

Sci-Tech Discovery Center is a local 501(c)(3) with a mission to provide dynamic, interactive experiences that inspire people of all ages and backgrounds to embrace discovery and innovation through the exploration of science, math and technology. Visit us at www.mindstretchingfun.org. North Texas Kids • February 2009 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

Your Child’s Preschool Experience – by Katherine Lunde

Is It What You Expected?

Choosing the right preschool for your child is a process you took seriously. You made calls to inquire about programming. You talked to friends. You visited schools. You wondered, “Is my child ready?” It was a hard decision to make. Which one is best for my child? Knowing signs of readiness for school is an important element in insuring your child’s success at the next level of his/her learning. School has started. Is it what you wanted? Is it what you expected? Is your child separating from you easily? Is your child telling you about his/her day? Has the teacher given you any “red flags” such as: John is having a hard time sitting still? Carrie does not always listen. Austin likes to play by himself. These issues are often developmentally based not behaviorally based! Being a positive participant in the classroom means more than learning shapes, letters, and numbers. Social and emotional readiness are equally important. Knowing how and then wanting to share, being away from his/ her home environment, taking turns, waiting in line, being able to deal with an aggressive child – all of these are also important and necessary skills for school success and personal security. School readiness is determined by your child’s performance in many of the following: Does your child have good self-help skills? • Using the bathroom • Taking on and off clothing – buttons, snaps and zippers • Cleaning up after himself • Asking for help when needed Is your child easily understood when speaking? • Do you understand what your child says? • Do other adults and children understand your child easily? • Does your child easily answer What? When? Why? and Where? Questions? Does your child have age appropriate communication skills? • Does she need questions repeated using different words to understand what is being asked? • Does your child respond to questions asked the first time? • Does your child get frustrated trying to "find" the right word when speaking? • Does your child have good receptive and expressive language skills? Does your child enjoy group activities? • With younger children • With older children • With boys and girls • Would he rather play alone? • Would she rather stay with the teacher? Does your child get along well with other children? • Does your child share? • Does your child understand taking turns? • Does your child feel remorse when something has gone wrong? • Does your child understand she will not always be able to win or get her own way? Is your child comfortable sitting or is she/he a “wiggler”? • Does your child sit still at the dinner table?• Does your child often sit on his legs to prop up his body? • Would your child rather stand to do work or a project? Following a schedule with a variety of activities is one important factor in school readiness and achieving classroom success. Routine gives children security. Here is a sample developmentally appropriate schedule. • Hello time for starting our day with a smile, establishing eye contact and making everyone feel welcome. • Music time for both participating in and leading a music activity - singing and movement. • Learning time for concept and language building. This time may be based upon a “Who, What, Why, Where, When” format. • Gym time for locomotive gross motor activities such as swinging, building, relay races, movement activities for balance and strength,

North Texas Kids • February 2009 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

• • •

listening while moving, establishing physical boundaries. Manipulative time for fine motor development. Activities should include arm and hand strengthening activities and equipment, playing games with a teacher and with friends, puzzles, cutting, and using a variety of writing utensils. Project time for acquiring good listening skills and following directions. When children make something, their confidence increases. They develop an “I can do it!” attitude. Show and Tell time provides opportunities to talk about something from home that is topic related. It is a time to develop leadership skills and encourages expressive language.

The basis of a quality developmentally approach to learning focuses on tangible goals: • Rules and good listening ears help us to succeed. • Children need to “listen and do” to show what they know. • Children need to practice making friends. • We use our whole body to learn.

MY PLACE: a place for children to succeed. www.northtexastherapy.com. MY PLACE is located at the North Texas Therapy & Associates office in Farmers Branch. Other professionals are on-site to assist you in parenting your child. For more information please visit www.northtexastherapy,com or call (972) 385-0006.

Temple Shalom Preschool Registration Friday, February 13 9:15 a.m. - noon 6930 Alpha Rd. Dallas 75240

• Share Shabbat with us • Tour our School • Register for school and camp RSVP: 972-661-5025 or brubinstein@templeshalomdallas.org

Shaping Our Future Through Music

Academic Success • Personal Discipline • Family-Friendly Policies

Advanced Curriculum Foreign Language • (Chinese/Spanish) Preschool Program (18 mos - 5 yrs) • Private Kindergarten School Age (K-12) • After School Programs • Enrichment Classes • Private Tutoring • Summer Camp • Extra Curricular Activities • Private Violin/Viola Lessons

Little Musicmaker® is your onsite music class!

Achieving Academic Excellence Begins Here! 6509 Independence Pkwy. • North of Spring Creek • 972-618-1688 • www.aplusprepschool.com

Little Musicmaker® strives for every child to discover the real beneﬁts from ‘making’ music, not just listening to music. If Little Musicmaker classes are not currently offered at your child’s preschool, contact us to schedule a complimentary class for the entire school!

Call Jennea Potter at 214-632-4777 today!

TWO LOCATIONS!

PRESCHOOL Phonics & Reading cla sses available to the public

Allen/Plano 802 S. Alma Dr. 972-396-0099

• Accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), which has the highest standards on education, health and safety. • For children ages 2 thru 5 years of age. • Half-day educational programs offered two, three or five days a week. • Two teachers in every classroom allows for individual instruction and caters to the individual needs of each student. • Award-winning academic curriculum! Frisco 7797 Stonebrook Pkwy. 972-334-0005

Discover Akiba Academy /UTSTANDING *EWISH $AY 3CHOOL n 3INCE

s 0RESCHOOL

All Saints Little Saints Child Development Program

At Little Saints, we recognize that each child is a unique individual who requires nurturing and guidance to develop. A variety of developmentally appropriate activities are available to encourage the spiritual, intellectual and physical growth of each child.

www.applecreekpreschool.com

Loving * Learning * Laughing Congregation Anshai Torah Preschool Discover the Difference

Please join us for our Open House Events Fri., Feb. 6, 2009 at 9am or Tues. Feb. 10, 2009 at 7pm to learn about the exciting programs we offer. * PreSchool Classes for ages 12 months - PreKindergarten * Small Classes with a low teacher/student ratio * Baby/Me and Parent/Me classes also available ages 4 months - 18 months

New in 2009 Hebrew Immersion Classes For more information contact Faith Retsky, Early Childhood Director at 972-473-7712 or by email at faith.retsky@anshaitorah.org Preschool Hours 9am-1pm Full Time Care 7:30am - 6pm

Preschool & Private School Directory

Early Childhood Education since 1986

• • • • • •

18 months to 4 years Low classroom ratios Library Musikgarten Program Year end memory book Daily parent/teacher communication All Saints Catholic Church 5231 Meadowcreek Dr. Dallas, TX 75248 allsaintsdallas.org

Registration begins February 19 Call for more info: 972-778-0318

s +INDERGARTEN s 'RADES

s Nurturing, Child-Centered Environment s Rigorous Integrated Curriculum s Highly Qualified Faculty

Contact Karen Hazan-Cohen, Director of Recruitment khazancohen@akibaacademy.org to schedule your tour today.

12324 Merit Drive Dallas 75251 214.295.3400

www.akibaacademy.org

North Texas Kids • February 2009 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

Tips to Keeping Tiny Travelers Safe

y p p a &H

by Safe Kids Worldwide, Toys"R"Us and Babies"R"Us While all parents know the importance of baby-proofing the house, making sure that children are safe when away from home is equally essential. Injuries can happen any time and any place, such as during a car ride with a loved one, a sleepover at grandma’s or on a family vacation, but can be prevented by implementing simple travel safety measures. When it comes to safety and children, Safe Kids Worldwide, Toys“R”Us and Babies“R”Us understand what parents and caregivers need to help protect kids and keep them happy when traveling. Based on the expertise of the baby product authority and the world’s leading childhood injury prevention organization, the tips below from Safe Kids Worldwide, Toys“R”Us and Babies“R”Us will help create a safe environment for young travelers. 1. Beware, Prepare! Before leaving home, discuss travel rules, itinerary and emergency contact information with older kids. Also include it in younger children’s travel gear and affix it to their car safety seats. Pack recent pictures of children in photo envelopes so they are readily accessible in case of an emergency.

We empower every child to learn faster and easier. LearningRx can help your child, too! If tutoring is not working for your child, LearningRx may have the answer. LearningRx is NOT a tutoring program, it is 12-24 weeks of intensive one-on-one training that helps children with learning or reading difﬁculties attend to and process information. The majority of the children who complete our program improve from 3 to 5 grade levels.

Call today to schedule an assessment.

972.267.8900 Or visit us online at www.LearningRx.com

Conveniently located near George Bush & Tollway

North Texas Kids • February 2009 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

2. Going Near or Far by Car. The proper installation and use of car safety seats can save lives and reduce the risk of death by 71 percent, according to Safe Kids Worldwide. Secure children in car safety seats designed for their height, weight and age, and learn how to properly install the seats from a certified child passenger safety technician. 3. Sleepover Safety. Whether staying at a hotel or sleeping at grandma’s, babies and infants should always sleep in their own bed, ideally a JPMA (Juvenile Product Manufacturers Association) certified crib, bassinet or portable playard. Keep toddlers from rolling out of bed by installing a portable bedrail. 4. Practical, Protected Play. Create a safe environment for playtime by inspecting the area for potential safety hazards and giving children ageappropriate toys and games. If travels include an extended stay at a friend or relative’s home, discuss the importance of baby-proofing the home with the host. 5. Crowd Control. Always keep a watchful eye on children, especially when in a crowd. In addition to dressing them in easily identifiable, colorful clothes, keep children close with wristband connectors. 6. No Mess, No Worry. Prevent stressful situations by keeping kids’ belongings clean and organized during travel. Neatly and carefully pack everything in a diaper bag for easy accessibility. Prevent meal and snack time spills by using containers with sealed lids and remember portable hand and toy disinfectants.

For more information about travel safety tips or for a list of items to help keep kids safe when away from home, please visit www.Toysrus.com/Safety. Toys“R”Us, Inc. is the world’s leading dedicated toy and baby products retailer. Currently it sells merchandise through more than 1,550 stores, including 847 Toys“R”Us and Babies“R”Us stores in the U.S., more than 700 international stores in 33 countries, which includes

licensed and franchise stores, and through its Internet site at www.Toysrus.com.

FREE ENTREE

Buy 1 Lunch or Dinner Entree Get the 2nd FREE! Of equal or lesser value. One coupon per visit. Not valid with any other offers. Expires: 3/31/2009 NTK2009 NTK2008

Dallas

214-373-0037 Preston Royal Shopping Center Suite 110 Dallas, TX 75230

Plano

972-473-6100 LakeSide Market Suite 588 5809 Preston Rd. Plano, TX 75093

Ft. Worth

817-737-7177 Chapel Hill Shopping Center 4601 W. Freeway Ft. Worth, TX 76107

Valentine's Day Tidbits... About 1 billion Valentine's Day cards are exchanged in the US each year. Worldwide, over 50 million roses are given for Valentine's Day each year. 8 billion conversation hears will be produced this year. Over 36 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolate will be sold for Valentine's Day. About 17 million pet owners will give Valentine's Day gifts to their pets. Teachers receive the most Valentine's Day cards followed by children. Hallmark produced its first Valentine in 1913 & now offers 1,330 Valentine cards.

We're Growing... North Texas Kids is seeking new sales staff in the following areas: Garland, Dallas, and Southlake.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Party Time!! Come Experience Our

Please send your resume

Private Parties!

and a cover letter to

;I TVSZMHI E TVMZEXI TPE] EVIE WS MXÂľW NYWX ]SY ERH ]SYV KYIWXW IRNS]MRK XLI TEVX]

info@northtexas kids.com.

5 Commission only position with flexible hours. Sales experience requested. Serious inquiries only, please.

ildren

ch extra

Free SV

a 5 Pizz

Meals

FreeR ]SYÂľH PMOI

S SMGI LMGL STXM ]SYV GL 'LSSWI [ MWX ORS[ R S XM E ] VZ VX E VIWI VMZEXI T 0IX ]SYV GLMPHÂľW T V Y S ] ] )RNS WMQTPI -XÂľW XLEX

)\TMVIW

'EPP XSHE] XS VIWIVZI ]SYV Private 4YQT -X 9T 4EVX] Â&#x2C6; [[[ TYQTMXYTTEVX] GSQ

4YQT -X 9T SJ 4PERS -*)* >' IZkd ;eo]' *,. IeZgh% M^qZl 0.)0-

North Texas Kidsâ&#x20AC;&#x201A; â&#x20AC;˘â&#x20AC;&#x201A; February 2009â&#x20AC;&#x201A; â&#x20AC;˘â&#x20AC;&#x201A; www.NorthTexasKids.com

13â&#x20AC;&#x201A;

Emma’s Kid Friendly Restaurant Review

Behavioral Innovations

Kobe Teppan and Sushi

“special kids, special needs, special help”

H We help kids in the Autism Spectrum, with Down Syndrome, MR, Cerebral Palsy, Prader-Willi, Seizure Disorder and other developmental disorders. •

Free Screening

•

Two, three and five day programs

•

Individualized therapy

•

Daily monitoring of child progress

•

Integrated Speech & OT

•

Integrated Parent Training

•

SAIL - Special After Hours Program

•

Serving the DFW Metroplex since 2000 Contact us today at 469-374-0700 or info@behavioral-innovations.com www.behavioral-innovations.com

2832 W. Eldorado Parkway Frisco, Texas 75034 972-668-2988

FUN FEST & OPEN HOUSE Saturday, February 28th 1 0: 00 am - 1: 00 pm 6301 Campus Circle Drive East, Suite 100A, Irving, TX 75063 469.374.0700 Join us for fun activities & games for the kids plus a $Money $Machine for parents! Win up to $250! All Proceeds will be donated to Families for Effective Autism Treatment of North Texas (FEAT-NT). Free lunch & refreshments!

Ask us about Insurance Coverage!

by Emma Bonin This place is a lot of fun! Kobe Teppan and Sushi is a Japanese restaurant where the chef cooks your food right at your table. This is called a Teppanyaki Table, and the chef is the entertainment. It was my mom’s birthday, and my grandma was also visiting us from Michigan. Our meals came with shrimp appetizer, soup and salad. When he cooked the shrimp, he started by pouring oil on the hot grill. A fire flared up. It scared me at first, and my grandma jumped a little. Then they served the soup and salads which were pretty good. Then the chef really got busy cooking the rice and chicken. My brother, mom, and I all ordered the Teriyaki chicken and my dad and grandma had the Hibachi chicken. First he cooked the fried rice. He juggle the eggs and cracked them in a cool way, sliced and diced all the other ingredients that go in fried rice and served it up in our bowls. The rice was REALLY good! Then he cooked the chicken, twirling and moving the knife so fast, I can’t believe he didn’t cut himself. He then tried to toss some bites into our mouths, but didn’t quite make it. We all had chicken, but the

menu also has steak, shrimp, fish, scallops, lobster, and vegetarian options. The kid’s dinners include chicken, shrimp or steak. All entrees are served with soup, shrimp appetizer, Hibachi vegetables and your choice of steamed or fried rice. It’s a lot of food and all delicious. We didn’t try Sushi, maybe another time. The restaurant is kind of dark which makes it warm and cozy. One cool thing was the mirror in the restroom had a TV inside of it. They brought my mom an ice cream sundae which we all shared, and they took our picture for us to keep. All of the people that work there were very nice and provided great service. It’s a fun place to go any time but especially for a special occasion. We will definitely go back again, soon! Kobe Teppan and Sushi is located in Frisco at 2832 W. Eldorado Parkway. They also have a McKinney location. www.kobesteaksushi.com Emma Bonin is a fourth-grader at Hughston Elementary. She lives in Plano with her mom, dad, and brother, Jack. She is an avid soccer player and enjoys swimming, computer games, baking, and getting together with friends.

Valentine's Da y Fun i 1. What did the boy elephant say to the girl elephant on Valentine's Day? 2. What did the boy squirrel say to the girl squirrel on Valentine's Day? 3. What did the boy bat say to the girl bat on Valentine's Day? 4. What did the boy lightbulb say to the girl lightbulb on Valentine's Day?

5. What did the stamp say to the envelope on Valentine's Day? 6. What two words have a thousand letters in them? 7. What do you call a very small valentine? 4. I love you watts and watts. 5. I'm stuck on you. 6. Post Office 7. A Valentiny! 1. I love you a TON! 2. I'm nuts about you! 3. You're fun to hang around with.

North Texas Kids • February 2009 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

NTK Family Resource Guide North Texas Kids is committed to bringing you the resources you need to simplify your life and raise happy, healthy kids!

Isn’t it time to turn your dreams into reality?

Tomorrow can be a better day if you start by planting seeds... • Be the parent you want to be Get on a Mission... MissionLife

• Help your child ﬁnd happiness in each day • Create a peaceful environment at home

Lifestyle Re-Imagining Specialists

Jennifer Bradt, MS, LPC, NCC 6136 Frisco Square Blvd. #400 Frisco TX 75034 Main ofﬁce 469- 287-5526 Direct line 469-287-5502 plantingseedscc.com

FREE 30 minute consultation with this ad. Check out our website for tips, information, Mama’s teen blog, recipes, cooking demonstrations, videos and much more! For more information email Info@MMKLife.com

www.mmklife.com

Pediatric Home Health Agency Located in the Dallas & Fort Worth Metroplex

Market your summer camps to

100,000 moms! Call 972-516-9070 for details today!

• • • •

Speech Therapy Physical Therapy Occupational Therapy Case Management

Watch for our

7th annual

Summer Camp Guide

coming in March!

www.KidsCareTherapy.com phone: (214) 575-2999

Advertise Your Business Here for $109 a month.* Call us at 972-516-9070 to reserve your space today! *Price valid for full year contract only / BW Ad. Ad design fee $25.00. www.northtexaskids.com North Texas Kids • February 2009 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

The Enrichment Directory: 9gVbV 9ZkZadeh @^Yh Whether destined for Broadway or the boardroom, Drama Kids builds conﬁdence, speaking skills, and acting skills in young people and teenagers, ages 3–17. Our programs are fast paced and fun!

Ongoing Enrollment! Multiple Locations! N.E. Dallas/Rockwall 972.772.3233 www.dramakids.com/tx3 Collin County 214.592.4066 www.dramakids.com/tx5

;gZZ

Trial Class For Your Child With this coupon, not valid with any other offers or prior purchases. New students only. Please present this ad at time of registration. Offer expires 1-31-09. 12-31-08.

Are you looking for something rewarding for your child?

GYMNASTICS

Boost Your Enrollment!!

and quality instruction for all ages and abilities are taught at

Advertise Here $325.00 Large Ad / $175.00 Small Ad Call us at 972.516.9070 for more information or visit our website...

Call today to schedule your FREE trial class. 972-712-4644

Free Annual Enrollment When you bring in this ad. Exp. May 2009

Gymnastics is a combination of strength, balance and agility for all ages starting as young as 18 months. Activity and movement is not only good for your child physically but it also aids in the architect of your child’s brain development. www.eaglegymnastics.com

7164 Technology Dr. Frisco, TX

VENDORS WANTED for the next:

Join us at Grapevine Mills Mall, Saturday, May 2, 2009 from 12pm to 5pm for a FREE Family Expo beneﬁting the programs of “Comminities In Schools”

If you are interested in being a sponsor or a vendor of this event, please contact us today at 972-516-9070 or info@northtexaskids.com for more information. Check our website for additional information about NTK events: www.northtexaskids.com

North Texas Kids • February 2009 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

Classes & Activities Painting, Sculpture, Clay, Oh My! Allow Your Child To Experience the Wide World of Art at

The Artist Within!

• We specialize in instruction for children, adults and special needs students. • Birthday Parties for ages 5 to 14 • Call today to register for spring classes!

972-596-6077

Aaron’s Boats

The Artist Within

Tyler’s Dragon

www.aristwithin.com

2001 Coit Rd., Ste. 206, Plano • N.W. Corner of Park & Coit

Did you know? You can find some great coupons on our website!

Market your summer camps to

100,000 moms! Call 972-516-9070 for details today!

Birthday Parties for Boys & Girls Ladies Night every third Thursday WALK-INS WELCOME 308 Preston Royal Shopping Center Dallas, Texas 75230 Tel: (214) 363-2088 ✱ Watch for our new McKinney location opening in March at 6405 E. Eldorado Pkwy. ✱

Take a peek!

$2 Off Any Project Minimum Purchase of $15

With this coupon. Not valid with other offers. Expires 3/31/09

www.smashingtimes.com

Private Lessons & Classes for ages 6 months to 100 years Drums, Voice, Violin, Guitar and Piano Musikgarten Classes: 6 months to 5 yrs

214-369-7772 SW Corner of Preston Rd. and Forest Ln. 11661 Preston Rd., Ste. 136 Dallas, TX 75230

Bring in this ad for a FREE introductory lesson. Exp. 3-31-09

www.GraySchoolofMusic.com

Aqua - Fit Swim & Wellness Center

214-257-7637

•Swimmers by Mimi •Swim Team Skill Training •Adaptive & Special Need Classes •WaterAngels •Warm Salt Water Pool •Fun 2 Be Fit (youth program) •Discount for Siblings

www.aquafitplano.com North Texas Kids • February 2009 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

Spotlight on Frisco fun events... Event: Event:

13th Annual Daddy Daughter Dance This year’s “Enchanted Forest” dance will be held at the Frisco Conference Center located at 7600 John Q. Hammons Drive on February 7. Dance tickets are $12 for each person and may be purchased at the Frisco Athletic Center or online at FriscoFun.org. Visit www.ci.frisco.tx.us for all of the times and details. Frisco Conference Center • 7600 John Q. Hammons Drive • February 7, 2009 • visit www.ci.frisco.tx.us for times. Wiggly Play Center's Parent's Night Out on February 13th Beat the crowds on Valentine's by going out the night before from 6:00pm to 10:00pm. For only $21.99 per child, your child will enjoy the following: Character appearances , movie, pizza, and lemonade. Pre-registration and non-refundable $10.00 deposit required space is limited. Children 3yrs old to 8 years old accepted. All children must be potty trained. Wiggly Play Center • 4944 Preston Rd., Ste.100 • Frisco, Tx 75034 • 469-633-0676 • February 13, 2009 • www.wigglyplaycenter.com Event: WOGA Classic International Women's Invitational WOGA Gym is the home of he current US National Champion, Nastia Liukin, and the 2005 World Champion Carly Patterson. This Inter- national Invitational Event will showcase National Team Member athletes from all over the world, from the youngest to Elite Levels of competitions. The athletes are fan-friendly and always remain after the competition to greet their fans and sign autographs. Frisco Conference Center • 7600 John Q. Hammons Drive • February 14-15, 2009 • www.woga.net Event: Family Fun Day at Color Me Mine! No studio fee for 2 kids with 1 painting adult on February 22. Visit their website for more fun activities! 3401 Preston Rd., Ste. 10 • Frisco, Tx • 972-668-6201 • February 22, 2009 • www.frisco.colormemine.com Event:

Frisco Farmer's Market at Frisco Square Frisco Square and the Frisco Noon Lions Club plan to host the Frisco Farmer's Market returning May 2009. Saturdays, from 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. or until sellout. The Market is located on the corner of Coleman Boulevard and Frisco Square Boulevard across from City Hall and the Library. Local growers will offer such items as juicy melons and peaches, vine-ripened tomatoes, fresh corn on the cob, honey, pasta, pasture raised beef, lamb, and pork, farm fresh eggs, seafood and handmade goods.

Event:

Frisco Freedom Fest July 4th is packed with activities for the entire family! Party in the Plaza festivities will feature the Community Stage with home grown dancers, singers and bands. The Children's Expo is complete with jump houses, face painting, strolling entertainers and games. The Hometown Heroes Exhibit showcases Frisco's finest - the men and women of our police and fire departments, along with the equipment they use to help keep our community safe. The Taste of Frisco returns with samples and tasty treats from several Frisco restaurants. As soon as it gets dark, the City of Frisco and Pizza Hut Park have partnered to bring you the largest fireworks extravaganza in North Texas!

Event:

Frisco Libray Frisco Library has great programs for all ages, visit their website for listings: www.friscolibrary.com

mommy’s picks on where to go and what to do in Frisco... ipediatr d caring n a g n lm ri a e sw ac d at an il is such detaile ard Na pt and m Dr. Rich ro p is staff is -Corey cian! H rns. e c n o c my afety Frisco S to go to kids e e lik th e t w sses tha er time la m c m and e su e o In the ve to g great fr ss we lo ey have la c th , a n r w e To d aft - Lesha njoy. An dy. really e one La C w o n S visit the We ha d a gre at tim walkin e one g arou day d nd the Frisco riving, outdo parkin office o r sculp g and p ark o and W tures n the arren at the w e P s a t rkway kids lo side o ved lo . The a f the T oking rt is re ollwa aroun at all ally ne y d ove the cre at. Th r th e e brid ations water ges a a in betw n d nd wa walkin een th tching g e build ducks ings. in the -Melis sa

North Texas Kids • February 2009 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

r that ountr y fo , or the c ge o c is w Fr o n led in an. His k allergist r to asserm te The best W h g rd u a a h d is Dr. Ric lped my e h e h h rc S matter, resea rotocol. e latest zation p ti si r n e v about th se e e n ilk d cts whe te the m ilk produ d is m e comple d in n a a g e eat milk f mind w can now eace o d the p n a ts n -Kathryn she wa le. b ra su a imme

Gatt iTow n like t he a is alway s rcad favo e an a fun pla rite a dt ce to ctivit boo y is m he movie go th! akin s but m . My kids g silly y da face ught s in t er's he p My f hoto amil y c Dav onsis e& ts o Bust adu ers is f 9, 14, & - Ter lts. T 16 r i fu h e re is som n for all a year old child ge g ethin r r en. oups g for inclu ever yone d there ing ! -Jan

Our experie nce with Fr isco Sport been outst s Authority anding. Th has ey have d job putting one an aw together a esome great prog instructors ram with g and a wo ood nderful su pport staff. My family -Lisa loves spend ing the da Freedom y at the Fr Fest. It's a isco fun time fo much to d r everyone o! and so -Jamie

Photo courtesy of www.silvery.com

around town... Now Enrolling for Spring Learn to Skate & Hockey Classes! • Broomball and Ice Skating Birthday Parties • Team Parties • Group Rates • Private Ice Rentals

Call 972-731-9600

Photo courtesy of Plano Party Animals

at Stonebriar Centre in Frisco and schedule your child’s best party ever!

quick facts... l Did you know that by the year 2025 Frisco will have an estimated population of 280,000 People? Estimated current population is 97,000. l Home to the Frisco Roughriders minor league baseball team. (www.ridersbaseball.com)

www.stonebriarice.com $5.00 off 1 Learn to Skate Session or a Silver Birthday Party exp. 03/31/09

l Frisco sits in two different counties: Collin and Denton. l Come to Hall Office Park to visit the Texas Sculpture Garden , a magnificent collection of indoor and outdoor art. (www.texassculpturegarden.org)

“Thanks to all of our Frisco Advertisers: Adventure Kids, Color Me Mine, Dr. Pepper StarCenter, Eagle Gymnastics, Frisco Sports Authority, Planting Seeds Christian Counseling, Strikz, Sweet and Sassy, The Ice at Stonebriar Center & Wiggly Play Center.

coming next month... Spotlight on Flower Mound

have en sport we d with the first se n a e e le b p are so e Arts has rs in. We cated th Martial has edu o toddle ty tw r ri u o e o th Th u . tered ports A very fun d Frisco S s on and ctors an the way ru re hand st a in s e e ss Th la . c l ss e ia la c c Th e sp boys. to each to their k forward ed us in o m lo o s lc y e o b ave w -Suzie mbers h ful. staff me so thank re a e w nd family a My fa mily lo ves to evenin sit outs g. My ide at kids a also lo Gloria dore th ve be 's on a e blac in g able after d warm k bea to run inner w n dip! aroun hile m with e They d on th y husb ach o and a e gras ther. G nd I re s reat s lax an pot! d cha My so t n has enjoy Torna ed att does e nding home - Susa engag all the n game ed in s. The Texas betwe conte y g e e t the a n peri sts. ods a udien nd the ce kids lo ve the - Cind y

North Texas Kids • February 2009 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

19 19

Easy, fun & pretty!

How to Help Child Develop their potential

by Cari Diaz Part of being a good parent is encouraging your child’s growth. While you can’t always make him learn, there are things you can do to help. It’s well known that during childhood is when people learn the fastest and are most curious about the world around them. Knowing this, the question the thoughtful parent tends to ask is: How and when should I be helping my child become intelligent? Parents should be especially active in facilitating their child’s learning when he is between the ages of 1 and 5, as this is when the most rapid development occurs. Early stimulation of a child’s curiosity is key: it will help build intelligence and learning ability. New experiences and activities—not unstimulating routines—will assist the brain in generating cell interconnections, which make youngsters smarter. “A kid who has received early stimulation can learn more easily and quickly than other kids, and is often more prepared to start kindergarten,” says Cari Diaz of Club Z! Tutoring (www.clubztutoring.com), a tutoring company with over 500 locations nationwide that offers one-on-one instruction to students by state-certified teachers. Parental participation is fundamental to the process of early stimulation. Here are some ideas from Club Z! on how parents can help:

Paper Plate Heart Wreath Just the perfect Valentine decoration to hang in your home... or for your kiddos to give to their Valentine!

Supplies needed:

Encourage social interaction:

construction paper (various colors), scrapbooking or patterned paper

scissors

glue

crayons

social skills. As parents, you should teach your child how to play, but make

a paper plate

always allow him to create new games.

Instructions:

Let your kid socialize with other kids of his age. This will help him

develop good interpersonal habits, learn different games, accept game rules, and share his things with others.

Play with your child: Participating in play helps build a kid’s imagination while developing

sure to let him decide what to play with. Don’t dominate playtime, and

Read to your child: If you want your child to develop solid language skills and an active

imagination, read to him regularly. According to the National Center for

Education Statistics (www.nces.ed.gov), children whose parents read to them tend to become better readers and perform better in school.

Go outside: Explore the woods, walk to the park, or just lie down in the grass.

Spending quality time outdoors will help your child develop a healthy connection with (and compassion for) nature.

Cari Diaz, Franchise support Director of Club Z! Tutoring. For more information or to find a location near you visit www.clubztutoring.com. 20

North Texas Kids • February 2009 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

1. Cut the center out of the paper plate to leave a round "donut" shape. This will form the base of the wreath. 2. Cut a sheet of construction paper in fourths. 3. Fold each piece of construction paper in half, cut a half heart shape out of the construction paper along the folded edge. Unfold your cut out shape and you'll have a perfect little heart. 3. Repeat this process many times, making different sized hearts. 4. Glue your construction paper hearts to completely cover your paper plate "donut". 6. You can tie a bow and paste it on to decorate further. 7. Can put a piece of yarn on the back to hang it.

Are Your Child’s

Now open inside 280 sports

Selective Food Habits

More Than

Featuring Webkinz, K’nex, Aurora and much more.

Normal Pickiness?

Bring this Ad for 10% off your entire purchase.

by Laura Austin, PhD, Pediatric Psychologist All children evidence periods of picky eating. Toddlers in particular are notorious for loving a food one day and refusing it on their plate the next. How then are parents to know when pickiness becomes a problem? In general, food selectivity becomes a problem when (1) it impacts growth or nutritional status, or (2) it causes disruption at home, school or with socialization. If a child is not growing well or medical testing has identified nutritional deficits, then action should be taken to improve the volume and/or variety of foods accepted. However, physical status is not the only consideration when evaluating food selectivity. Food preferences can be disruptive at home or school. This may be more evident as children get older and show difficulty participating in social events such as birthday parties and sleepovers. If your child exhibits food selectivity that interferes with physical or social development, the next step is to attempt to determine the source of the resistance. One of the first questions to ask is whether or not certain classes of foods are avoided. For example, does your child eat only pureed or smooth foods but rejects anything solid that must be chewed? Or, in contrast, does your child prefer chewing foods, but resists any smooth or pureed texture? Perhaps your child will only eat carbohydrates or food of only one color? Patterns in the types of foods accepted or avoided can provide clues as to whether or not a true problem exists. There are a variety of factors that can lead to food selectivity. Medical issues such as reflux or food allergies can lead to irritation in the esophagus and/or stomach which can make kids reluctant to eat. Oral motor weaknesses such as difficulties with strength or coordination in the mouth can make eating certain types of foods difficult or scary for kids. Oral sensitivities lead children to avoid certain types of foods because of the way the food feels inside of the mouth. These children often have global sensory processing problems as evidenced by resistance to activities such as getting their hands or face messy, resistance to having their hair washed or fingernails cut, and reluctance to walk barefoot in grass or sand. Finally, when children refuse foods parents often resort to the “Whatever they’ll eat. Whenever they’ll eat. However, they’ll eat” approach. As such, refusal behaviors can become ingrained making forward progress with eating difficult. Fortunately there are a variety of professionals who can help provide insight into the sources of food refusal and treatment for kids. North Texas is fortunate to have one of the nation’s few multidisciplinary feeding programsOur Children’s House at Baylor. This facility provides multidisciplinary assessment and treatment for children ages birth to 18 with food selectivity or food refusal. Parents should also seek medical advice from the child’s pediatrician or from a pediatric gastroenterologist to rule out any underlying medical factors that could be impacting oral intake.

817-251-6870 280 Commerce Street, Suite #155 Southlake, Texas 76092

GREAT Open Play AWESOME Parties MASSIVE Inﬂatables

$1 off

one regular priced admission. Expires 3/1/09

(817) 778-8870

www.JumpZoneParty.com

The New 280 Sports Complex 280 Commerce Street, Suite 100 Southlake, TX 76092

site b e ur w -up o n to er Go nd sig slett a ew ur n r to ou for nd ge ort on W! a rep DF n i E FRE t Free s Ea Kid

For more information about the services offered at Our Children’s House at Baylor, visit www.BaylorHealth.com/OurChildrensHouse or call 1-800-4BAYLOR. North Texas Kids • February 2009 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

Sports Scoop

Lacrosse Gaining in Popularity in North Texas by Mike Kravik One of the great advantages that

kids who live in the North Texas

area enjoy is the ability to play as many sports as they possibly can at the highest levels. Mainstream

sports such as football, basketball, and baseball in this area are very

popular beginning in elementary

school all the way to high school.

North Texas is a haven for kids who

as North Texas. There have been

sports like hockey, golf and tennis.

Texas in one form or another for

want to play other conventional In recent years one of the oldest

sports invented has been made more readily available to kids in North

Texas and has begun to take off in popularity.

The sport of lacrosse dates back

to the 1100's. The traditional Native American version of the sport was

three days. There have been many

modifications of the sport through

time and in modern lacrosse a field

is 110 yards long and 60 yards wide. There are now ten players on each team (including goalkeepers).

Lacrosse has predominantly

been a very popular sport in New England, upstate New York and

469-834-8450

BASEBALL

Fitzsimmons, not so

New York, had played lacrosse in to Texas he started officiating in

2000 and eventually started his own lacrosse club called North Texas Lacrosse that became official in

2004. His program is to the point now where kids are going to the

traditional hot beds of lacrosse and

being successful. Craig Nolan went to Jesuit High School, Ohio State

and in 2008 he made the USA Mens Under 19 National team.

Today several high schools

February through April, but like

appeals to the elite in society. It's

not coincidental that Johns Hopkins

championships).

North Texas Kids • February 2009 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

100 kids playing.

a reputation for being a sport that

it's brawny image, lacrosse also has

each followed by Princeton (six

teams in the area with no more than

the Mid-Atlantic States. In spite of

championship titles won with nine

time there were less than five club

in North Texas have club teams

and Syracuse lead the NCAA in

Ages 2 to 6 yrs 469-834-8450

sport began to take flight. At that

college at West Point. After moving

until sunset and continue for up to

West of Dallas N. Tollway

moved to the area in 1998 that the

field that was two miles in length typically begin at sunrise, last

214-405-0360

person named Tom Fitzsimmons

coincidentally from Binghamton,

and 500 yards wide. Games would

• Child Physical Development Program • 9:1 Student to Instructor Ratio • All Registered Kids Engage in Our Games • Over 80 Fun Games & Activities • Structured Curriculum • Develops: Soccer Skills, Social Behavior & Motor Skills • 15 Indoor Facilities East of Dallas N. Tollway

several years but it wasn't until a

originally played by hundreds,

sometimes thousands of men on a

Ages 18 mos to 6 yrs

fledgling lacrosse programs in North

While conventional wisdom

holds that lacrosse has largely been

a regional sport it only makes sense that the sport would eventually

find it's way to an area as transient

that play against each other from baseball that season has now been

extended. Fitzsimmons said a few years ago "we just threw it out

there to see if anybody wanted to play in the fall and several teams were interested in doing that as

well." It's not just high school kids that have the option of playing

lacrosse. Literally thousands of

local elementary school aged kids

have been caught in the undertow of

assorted select programs in the area.

place this is to live and that there

so popular in North Texas? It's

(other than lakes) in place to curb

it's something different,” explains

going to change any time soon. As

box of athletic skills to draw from

students are commonplace. That

lacrosse players. You don't have to

helps football coaches draw from

soft hands and an intuitive sense of

only eleven offensive and defensive

Wayne Gretzky once said “ I skate

that's not changing. There are a lot of

not where it has been” and the same

not be fast enough or big enough

So why is lacrosse becoming

are few geographical boundaries

simple. “Kids love the game and

population, that is probably not

Fitzsimmons. Having a deep tool

a result, high schools with 5000+

is a must for the most successful

kind of enrollment at high schools

be a burner but having quickness,

deep pools of talent but there are

where to go is helpful. Hockey great

players that can play at a time and

to where the puck is going to be,

young frustrated athletes who might

principle applies to lacrosse.

to play football for their school.

doesn't like contact and cannot adapt

kids in North Texas who fall through

or sleet is not a fit for lacrosse. The

football factories.

you cannot spear an opponent, slash

for high schools in North Texas. It's

With a culture of inherent toughness

come from the areas in North Texas

and words like “spear” and “slash”

would like to see that change and

begin to understand exactly why

talent in this area that needs to be

see more and more football players

If you start playing the sport you'll

The soft timid athlete who

to playing in the cold, wind, rain

Tissue Paper Hearts

and when you consider what a great

Lacrosse is another option for those the cracks of their own high school

Sports Scoop

popularity and participate with one of

Perfect craft for little fingers!

Supplies needed:

pink, red and white tissue paper, cut into 1” squares piece of card stock or construction paper glue scissors pencil with an eraser

Instructions:

1. Cut out a heart shape from the construction paper or card stock. 2. Put white craft glue into the center of the heart, shaped like a heart.

their wrists or hit them from behind.

not by chance that most of the teams

3. Using the eraser end of a pencil, place the eraser into the center of a white tissue paper square. Twist the tissue paper square around the eraser and dot it onto the glue. Continue this process until entire middle of the heart is covered with white tissue paper. See photo.

handed down from Native America

with the most money. Fitzsimmons

4. Repeat the process from step #3 with pink tissue paper for the border of the heart.

written into the rules one can

explained “there is so much athletic

5. Use ribbon or even a pipe cleaner to make a hanger for the back. Or make it a fridge magnet and glue a magnet to the back.

Fitzsimmons says “We're starting to

flushed out and exposed to the sport.

gravitate towards the sport.”

love it.”

sport features body checking but

Presently, lacrosse is a club sport

The North Texas area continues

to go through a population boom

North Texas Kids • February 2009 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

Sports & Fitness Programs Register for Spring & Summer!! Sports Skills, Gymnastics, Strength, Agility & Tumbling Great for Birthday Parties!!

PowerKids Dallas • 972.818.KIDS www.powerkidsdallas.com

PowerKids Plano • 972.527.KIDS www.powerkidsplano.com

T-Ball, Softball, Baseball, Volleyball and Basketball

Everyone Plays At SVAA SVAA Offers Recreational Sports No More Paying Huge Fees, Driving Long Distances To Games, And All For Your Child To Sit On The Bench And Not Play SVAA Is Sports The Way It Was Meant To Be Played. Inexpensive Fees, All Games Played Within Richardson ISD, Everyone Plays

Spring Leagues Now Forming SVAA.ORG Registration Deadline For All Spring Sports: March 1, 2009 Go to SVAA.ORG click on Register Online or call 972-238-9728 for details SVAA * 1968 - 2008 * Celebrating 40 Years Of Providing Recreational Sports Programs

Plan to spend your Winter at the RISE! Recreational & Competitive Leagues

Register online today! www.riserockwall.com 972-772-9061 Youth Flag Football Register on MySAM by 03.4.09 Youth Basketball Register now on MySAM for the Spring League. Starts 04.04.09 Mention this ad & receive a $25 discount Good on any team fee or ﬁeld rental. Coupon code RISE/NTK001 24

North Texas Kids • February 2009 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

Is it REALLY necessary to give my child a special label? by Adina Rich

When you become concerned about your child’s development, there are various tests and checklists that can help determine a specific problem with a child’s functioning. Many times, these tests lead to a categorical eligibility, DSM –IV eligibility, or a medical label. People often ask me whether these labels are necessary. My answer is always, “It depends.” Many times labels are a means by which a district, doctor, or agency can assist a parent in getting services for the child. Many insurance companies and state funded entities rely on these labels in order to justify services which in any other case may be deemed too costly or medically unnecessary. However, parents need to examine carefully the reasons they are seeking to label their child. Labels, once assigned, are not easily removed, and sometimes not always understood, or mean different things to different people. (i.e. autism –PDD, speech impaired). Many times, children have to be subjected to more testing such as EEG, MRI, or genetic blood work in order to confirm the diagnosis. Try to find other parents who can advise or assist you or who have walked the path before. Take time to process ramifications of the label and disability. It is very difficult to give up the dream of the perfect child. Look at this, though, as an opportunity to connect with your child on a special level. Be prepared to share differences with siblings, grandparents and caretakers. Further, parents are often not prepared for what seems like an endless wait or the maze of phone calls and paperwork in order to access services. With the age of the internet, it is easier than ever to research various methodologies and modalities of treatment. Research based practices are only a “google” away. Be open-minded. Don’t discount anything until you are sure that it will not work for your child. Prepare a list of questions that you want to ask your clinician, doctor, school district, or agency. Look at different programs. Find out the cost, benefits, and disadvantages of each. Parents also ask if services are appropriate for their child. Once again, I do not always have a crystal ball. Yes, most of the time, the school district or agency representatives are highly trained and knowledgeable professionals. They seek to do what is educationally best for your child. However, you

know your child. If the agency’s recommendation or evaluation does not

seem to be representative

your child as you know him/her, it is

responsibility to speak up and ask for clarification

the program or model that the child will be placed in. You

your

regarding

must be the

advocate for your child! Sometimes parents may not want the services that the school or agency proposes, or may feel that the services will limit their

child’s possibilities later on. Once again, do your homework. Find out if there are different programs or placements in your area or even in another part of

the district. Ask to see the programs or speak with teachers and professionals

involved in your child’s care. Be realistic in your expectations for the program, the progress of your child, and the overall prognosis that the label implies.

This is not to say that you should impose limits on your child’s growth; just to be cognizant that change will probably take some time to occur and progress at times may be slower than you expected or wanted.

If the agency is reliable, they will be happy to accept you as a collaborator.

Remember that it takes a village to raise a child, and it is likely that you will

be working with this school and agency for a long time, so it is important that you build a collegial working relationship with them whenever possible. Try

to be courteous, professional, and positive. The journey may be long at times, but don’t forget to notice how far your child has come.

Adina Rich, Director, Rich Educational Consulting. 972-816-3100. www.richeducationalconsulting.com

VENDORS WANTED for the next:

Join us at Grapevine Mills Mall, Saturday, May 2, 2009 from 12pm to 5pm for a FREE Family Expo beneﬁting the programs of “Comminities In Schools”

North Texas Kids • February 2009 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

Essential Estate Planning for Parents By Lorie L. Burch, Attorney & Counselor At Law

This article provides information of a broad general nature only. The information contained in this article does not constitute legal advice. Most parents know that they should have a Will that would designate

who would be the guardian of their children and who would over see their

inheritance, yet the great majority of parents put off such essential planning.

It may not be everyone’s favorite topic of conversation, but if parents neglect to put some basic protection in place, the care of their children, and their money, will be determined by a judge.

There are many options available when it comes to estate planning, but

the following is a list of the essential planning that every parent should have:

1. Last Will & Testament & Trusts Without a Will, a court will determine who will take care of your children and how your assets will be distributed. For example, if your children are under 18 years of age, they cannot inherit money or property outright; therefore a judge will determine who will oversee your assets on behalf of your children and quite often such assets will be distributed at age 18. Not many parents want an 18 year old to suddenly become responsible for any significant sum of money. Therefore, through a Will, you can create a trust that specifics who you wish to serve as trustee and at what ages you would prefer your children to take control. This ensures that your money may be used for educational and medical needs rather than your 18 year old buying the fastest, shiniest car he finds. Your Will may also specify who will be the guardian of your children, which does not have to be the same person as your trustee.

2. Designation of Agent to Make Health Care Decisions for Children

If you go out of town without your children, will the person you leave them in the care of have the ability to make health care decisions or even travel with them? This document allows you to appoint one or more individuals to make health care decisions for your children and allows such individuals to travel with your children, which would include taking them to and from school and activities.

3. Living Wills and Directives to Physicians A Directive to Physician is the Texas document that is commonly referred to as a living will. This document instructs physicians to withhold or administer artificial life-sustaining procedures in the event of a terminal condition or an irreversible condition. This document is not just important for parents, but for all individuals, so that your family is not burdened with that decision by having to guess at your wishes.

4. Medical Power of Attorney A Medical Power of Attorney designates an agent to make medical decisions if you are unable to make them. Although this document is not 26

North Texas Kids • February 2009 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

specific to parents, it is still an essential document so that the individuals who know you best are the ones who have the authority to act on your behalf.

5. HIPAA Release Authority A HIPAA Release Authority is a document that specifies who may have access to your medical records. Most clients will name the same individuals as in their Medical Power of Attorney so that they may have access to your medical records if they have to make medical decisions on your behalf. Parents do not automatically have the right to access their children’s medical records once they reach 18 years of age, so parents should consider having their children sign a HIPAA release. This also means that spouses do not have automatic rights to access one another’s medical records, so it is critical that a HIPAA release accompany the Medical Power of Attorney.

6. Statutory Durable Power of Attorney A Statutory Durable Power of Attorney (or financial Power of Attorney) designates an agent to make financial decisions and control property on your behalf. For example, if you are in an accident and are in the hospital, your agent could help pay your bills and manage your financial affairs in your absence. For parents, this would also mean that your agent would be able to take care of any financial needs of your children. For parents who do not have the above planning, their children face an

uncertain future should something unexpected happen. In addition to family vacations and the newest video game systems, parents should make their estate planning a priority, because:

If You Don't Have a Will, The State of Texas Has One For YOU! For more information, please visit my website at www.burch-law.com. Lorie L. Burch, Attorney & Counselor At Law. 7920 Beltline Road, Suite 750, Dallas, Texas 75254. Phone: 972.385.0558.

Raising Children: Your Greatest Joy or Your Greatest Challenge? For most of us, it is both. Have you often wished for a manual that would make the process easier? While Dr. Minette Riordan does not propose to have ALL of the answers, she does have some great tips, tools and information that can help you achieve better communication with your children and help you to understand why they do what they do - from tantrums to talking back, from the terrible twos to the teens. If you are looking for a dynamic, entertaining speaker and seminar leader for your next Mom’s group meeting, lunch-n-learn or church program, then Dr. Riordan is the right choice for your organization. Sample Topics: How to Connect to Your Children by Listening to Their Feelings Understanding Personal Style: Improve Your Communication at Home & on the Job Life is Too Short to Wear Diamond Studs For descriptions of Dr. Riordan’s topics, testimonials from the groups she has spoken to, or to read her bio, please visit www.MinetteRiordan.com. If you are interested in scheduling Dr. Riordan to speak at your event, please contact her at minette@minetteriordan.com or 972-516-9070. www.MinetteRiordan.com

Get to know... Rebekah Cooksey, Founder of MomsOutLoud.com by Minette Riordan, Ph. D.

About Rebekah

I’ve always been a very careeroriented person. My life pre-Motherhood was geared toward building a great resume, and I’ve been fortunate to have worked in some wonderful companies like The Boston Consulting Group (strategy consulting) and Frito-Lay (finance and strategy). But when my husband, Jim, and I had our first child, my career ambitions totally changed. I was faced with having to really reflect on my career goals and how they fit with being the kind of Mom I wanted to be. It wasn’t until my second son was born that I really had to make some decisions, because I felt like the career commitment I was making was pulling me too far away from my family. Why MomsOutLoud?

When I started thinking of changing my career, I knew I wanted to do something focused on Moms

and kids. Becoming a Mom, for me, was an amazing experience not just because of the emotional connection and commitment to my family that it brought out in me, but also because of the connection I felt with women who face similar joys and challenges simply because they are Mothers. I was the President of the Women’s Network at my company, and this job became my passion, and I loved the community building responsibilities among working women that the position held. Knowing this was my passion, I reflected on my talents and the things I love to do. For me, my love is writing. So, I decided to do something that married my desire to connect Moms and provide a supportive environment to all Mothers with my talent of writing. Because I “grew up” in the internet age, the natural place for me to do that was on the web. I started looking at local and national websites focused on Moms and didn’t think any of them offered the real spirit of what I wanted to

do – provide Moms with information and resources they need to make the best decisions for their family, while also giving them a way to connect with one another emotionally. I decided to build it, and after searching for over 100 different domain names, I registered www.MomsOutLoud. com and got started! Commitment to Community

MomsOutLoud.com is all about community – building a local Mom community on the web, supporting each other in this wonderful journey we are on to raise kids. Specifically, there are a few things I do with the website to support the community. First, I give free business profiles to non-profits. Whether they be charitable, educational, or performing arts organizations, if they are nonprofit, I will list all their information for free so Moms can find them and use their services. Secondly, MomsOutLoud.com is committed to providing the largest directory of Moms and Women’s Groups in DFW, so we are reaching out to every Moms group we can find to give

them a free profile on our site. Personally, I have recently joined a Marketing Advisory board for CITY House and hope to do more Board-related volunteering for nonprofits in the community in the future. Tips for working moms

My favorite quote in the world is “Show me a woman who doesn’t feel guilty about something, and I’ll show you a man” (by Erica Jong, American writer). I tell that to every new Mom I meet, because I think it’s so true. As Moms, we expect perfection from ourselves in all aspects of our lives….and realistically, it’s just not going to happen. There are too many roles we play (and want to play) to be perfect at all of them. So, my basic belief is that you can either go down the guilt path, or keep reminding yourself (sometimes on an hourly basis) not to sweat the small stuff. This, by the way, applies to all Moms, not just ones in the work force. In many cases, the Moms I’ve met who hold themselves to the highest standards are stay-at-home Moms. It pays to have a sense of humor.

North Texas Kids • February 2009 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

Focus on our Advertisers... A Child Safe Home At A Child Safe Home, we offer a total home safety inspection. Our licensed

Texas Real Estate Commission Professional Inspector, TREC # 10070, will do a

help you make a plan to achieve your dreams and develop positive life choices. Isn’t it time you got on a mission….. MissionLife by MMKLife.

Stay tuned… and watch our website develop over the next few months as

room by room inspection of your home and deliver a printed report detailing

we re-vamp and grow into a great community with live chat, videos, cooking

the trick, but most of the time it is awareness.

discussions, recipes and much much more! So check back often!

the size of the house and the time needed to discuss any questions after the

MMKLife. Where dreams become reality. Office voice mail 214-504-1553 / Email info@ MMKLife.com. Website WWW.MMKLIFE.COM

the safety items that need to be addressed. Sometimes it is a product that does Most-in home inspections take about one or two hours, depending on

inspection. In most cases product installations can be done that very same day.

The products that we install are professional quality and cannot be found at

most retailers. The products are constantly being reviewed and tested. We do not recommend or sell anything that we would not use in our own home.

Child-proofing your home allows your new explorer to move through their

environment with fewer restrictions. The proper placement of quality safety products allows you peace of mind and your child freedom to try out his new

legs, not to mention his new independence. The reality is that parents can’t be by their child’s side every minute of the day, child-proofing your home, while

demonstrations, Mama’s teen blog “Confessions of a Select Athlete”, tips, forum

Tips to spot unsafe hand-me-downs: TOYS Safe: Stuffed animals and most children’s books make fine hand-me-downs. In the case of lead contamination in used toys, there are many home lead inspection kits which can be purchased for under twenty dollars which will tell you whether the toys are safe. Unsafe: Avoid any toys that are chipped, as well as any

not a substitute for adult supervision, adds an extra layer of protection.

small parts that can fit through a tube of toilet paper, since they present serious choking hazards for small children.

change.

Watch for this tip & more in the March 2009 issue of ShopSmart. www.shopsmartmag.com.

Please remember that as your child grows, your child-proofing needs will A Child Safe Home can also conduct car seat installation inspections.

More than 80% of car seats are installed incorrectly or are using unapproved

accessories. We have nationally trained and certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians on staff to conduct these checks.

A Child Safe Home creates DIGIKIDS® Child ID cards onsite in area

daycares, schools and business sponsored safety events.

A Child Safe Home is a proud member of The International Association for

Looking for a Speaker for Your Next Meeting?

Child Safety, Safe Kids Dallas and the Allen Chamber of Commerce.

To learn more about child safety, call 972-838-3944 or send an email to

Windal@AChildSafeHome.com.

MMK Life There has been a lack of education and training available on how to

develop a lifestyle to lead into a successful, active and healthy future. This is why MMKLife opened its doors. We are on a mission to fill this void by offering

training, coaching, preparation and education for getting on the right path and learning how to stay there. We focus on developing a personal plan that includes

goal setting, nutritional guidance, food choice education and activity planning to re-image your life for success. Our reward-based step by step plan helps our

Here are a just a few of the topics our speakers cover... Parenting l Motivaton l Stress Management l Relationships l Self-Defense

clients learn how to take on goals and accomplish them one by one. We will help you learn to strategically isolate life skill development that will help you reach your goals and have a bright and healthy future. We truly believe that

when you close your eyes and picture the person that you want to be that when you open your eyes that the person staring back at you in the mirror should be the same one you pictured. Our re-imaging specialists are ACE certified

coaches and have a combined thirteen years of athletic coaching experience, eight years of medical training and seventeen years of parenting experience to 28

North Texas Kids • February 2009 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

The Speaker Coop is your online resource for experienced, entertaining, and informative speakers for your next event. Search our website by topic or speaker.

Visit www.speakercoop.com today!

Calendar of Events

sponsored by...

Find these events and more online at www.momsoutloud.com & www.northtexaskids.com!

February 1 Sunday Dallas Click, Clack, Moo, Cows That Type - It’s a barnyard musical of mutiny, but on this “Animal Farm” anarchy and rebellion lead to an exquisitely happy ending. Ages 3+. 1/23-2/22; Fri 7:30pm, Sat 1:30pm, Sun 1:30 & 4:30pm in Dallas at Baker Theater. $14-$24. For more info: 214-740-0051, www.dct.org/. Dallas Play Station “Take the Stage” Tour - “take the stage” while interacting with a variety of Play Station video games, fun activities and prizes will be awarded. www.shopvalleyviewcenter.com Garland Weight Loss with Nutritional Guidance - Offered at Gale Fitness Center starting February 1st. The program is 4 weeks and meets Monday-Friday from 1:15-2:15pm. Mondays are informational meetings and Tuesday-Friday are workouts. $249 www.realbodyfitness.com.

3 Tuesday Plano PCT Auditions - 5:00 PM: Auditions for High School Musical II, Cats, Annie Warbucks, Disney’s Cinderella, and Daddy’s Dying Who’s Got the Will are Saturdays, January 31 and February 7 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and February 3 and 5 from 5-8 p.m. Casting youth, ages 6-18. 1301 Custer Road, Suite 706 in Plano. For more information, please call (972) 422-2575 or go to www.planocommunitytheatre.com. Ft. Worth The Kimbell Art Museum’s children’s program “Pictures and Pages” continues on Tuesday, February 3, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. Designed for children ages four to six, this session features a reading of “Art Supplies” by Chris Tougas, a brief gallery visit, and a hands-on art project. “Pictures and Pages” encourages children to use their imaginations, contribute to group conversations, and participate in simple art activities. Each session lasts approximately 45 minutes and aims to inspire creativity and provide children with an early exposure to works of art. The program is free, but registration is required. Early registration is recommended, as space is limited. Maximum of two children per adult. To register, please call 817-332-8451, ext. 297.

5 Thursday McKinney The Pied Piper - Word of Mouth Productions presents The Pied Piper. February 5th & 6th at 10:00AM and 7:30PM and on February 8th at 3:30PM. Tickets $8 adults, $7 seniors & students, $6 children under 12 www.mckinneyperformingartscenter.org/ McKinney Performing Arts Center.

6 Friday Plano Ticketstock - Join Sportsradio 1310 The Ticket for two days of Sports, Love, & Fun! Free activities for the kids! This is a free event for all! For more information contact Sportsradio 1310 The Ticket at 214-526-7400 or visit www.theticket.com. Highland Village Willy Wonka Live on Stage - This musical, featuring an all-kid cast, will delight audiences as

Willy Wonka stages a contest to see who will take over his factory as he retires. Reserve your tickets by emailing studiobtheater@aol.com, visiting www.studiobtheater.info or calling 972-966-2787. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and students and $8 for kids 10 and under. 2400 FM 407 in Highland Village.

7 Saturday Plano Animals ROCK! with Lucas Miller - Plano Public Library System, Join Lucas Miller, the “singing zoologist,” for a musical romp through the animal kingdom. Lucas teaches about wetlands, monarch butterflies, turtles and more with award winning songs and hilarious puppetry. Recommended for Children 4-11 Parr Library at 10:30am and Haggard Library at 2:00pm www.planolibrary.org Plano First Saturdays Application Assistance - Catholic Charities of Dallas, Inc. representative offers free assistance in applying for Medicaid, CHIP, TANF, Food Stamps-10-noon, Douglass Community Center, 1101 H Ave., Plano 75074 972-941-7174. Lisa Roach lisa@mrs.catholiccharitiesdallas.org Allen Safety Saturday - Please come join us at Knowledge Beginnings Child Development Center in Allen for Safety Saturday! Proper Car Seat Installation, How to Build Your Own First Aid Kit, Proper Home Safety! Come tour our new building! www.knowledgebeginnings.com McKinney MYT Auditions - 10:00 AM: Auditions for McKinney Youth Theatre spring programs are Saturdays in February at McKinney Performing Arts Center, 111 N. Tenessee (historic downtown courthouse). Casting youth, ages 7-18. There is no cost to audition. For more information, please call (972) 422-2575. Lewisville Story-time - 10:30 AM: SEPTSA and Borders Bookstore will co-host a Story-time at the Vista Ridge Borders location, 2403 Stemmons Fwy. in Lewisville. Come hear Valentines stories and visit with a therapy dog! Story-time is for all ages and everyone is welcome regardless of ability to sit or listen quietly. Fun for all! Frisco Daddy Daughter Dance - 2:00 PM: Frisco Conference Center, 7600 John Q. Hammons Dr. Check for dance times. Tickets are $12 per person. Go online to purchase at FriscoFun.org or in person at the Frisco Athletic Center, 5828 Nancy Jane Ln. Garland Sweetheart Dance - 5:00 PM: This fairy tale includes light refreshments, dancing, a professional 5” x 7” photo, and each little princess will receive her very own ribbon halo. Be a part of her happily ever after. The Atrium at the Granville Arts Center www.ci.garland.tx.us Southlake Sweetheart Dance - 7:00 PM: Dance for sons and daughters ages 2 - 12 and for their daddies, mommies, aunts, uncles and grandparents. Fun activities for everyone to enjoy including dancing, photographs, crafts and desserts. Eubanks Intermediate School. www.cityofsouthlake.com

8 Sunday Grapevine Let’s Pretend Tea Party - Come join us for a Royal day of Fun and Pampering! $25 per “Par-

ticipating” Princess Parents FREE. Pre Registration Required www.letspretendteaparties.com Grapevine Convention Center 1209 S Main St.

Allen Into the Garden puppet show - 2:00 PM: Starring African trickster Anansi the Spider and a cast of animated vegetables and fruits. Seating is limited to 125. Free tickets may be picked up 30 minutes prior to the start of each show. Location: Children’s Program Room. Cost: Free, www.cityofallen.org/departments/library/ childrens_programs/

12 Thursday Garland Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory - Feb. 12-13 at 7:30 pm, Feb. 14 at 2:30pm. Plaza Theatre Hudson Middle School presents the musical Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Tickets: Adult $10 and Student/Senior Citizen $8. Tickets may be reserved by contacting Missy Hulen (director) at mlhulen@garlandisd.net or calling Hudson Middle School at 972-675-3070. Tickets will also be sold at the door. Dallas RISD PTA Used Book Fair - Visit Valley View Center February 12 - 15 for great deals on assorted books, videos, CDs and DVDs. Prices range from 25 cents to $2.00 and proceeds benefit the Dr. JJ Pearce Memorial Scholarship Fund and the RISD Council & Local PTAs. www.shopvalleyviewcenter.com Plano Delete Cyber Bullying Seminar - A Seminar to help parents protect their children. Plano ISD Administration Bldg. 2700 E. 15th St. Plano, 75075 7:00 pm sponsored by PLANO PTA Council & Crossroads Family Services www.planopta.org Flower Mound Communication is a Key to the Functioning World - 6:00 PM: Greater Lewisville Special Education PTSA. Trietsch Memorial United Methodist Church, 6101 Morriss Road in Flower Mound, Room 115. Details and a link to RSVP as well as a link to reserve Child Care can be found at lisdseptsa.txpta.org/ or by calling 469-293-6343.

13 Friday Carrollton How to Play and Communicate With Your Child - 9:30 AM: Carrollton Early Childhood PTA. Free to parents/caregivers of children birth-age 6 in the area. Childcare is available for a nominal fee, and reservations are recommended. Holy Covenant Church, 1901 E. Peters Colony in Carrollton. See www.cecpta.org for details. Frisco Wiggly Play Center Parent’s Night Out. Beat the crowds on Valentine’s by going out the night before from 6:00pm to 10:00pm. For only $21.99 per child your child will enjoy the following: character appearances, movie, pizza, and lemonade. Pre-registration and non-refundable $10.00 deposit required and space is limited. Children 3yrs old to 8 years old accepted. All children must be potty trained. Call for reservations: 469-633-0676.

14 Saturday Frisco Trick-a-Trout Kid Fish - 8:00 AM: Frisco Commons Park, 8000 McKinney Rd. City of Frisco Parks and Recreation will release hundreds of rainbow trout into the pond at Frisco Commons Park.

Bring the kids to take part in this free, family event. www.FriscoFun.org

Denton Becoming a Love and Logic Parent - 9:00 AM: Cumberland Presbyterian Children’s Home. 1304 Bernard, Denton. 940-382-5112 or www.cpch.org Allen Grand Opening - 10:00 AM: Grand Opening Event at our new Knowledge Beginnings Child Development Center of Allen. Join Radio Disney, Make Valentines, Win Prizes, Free Family Fun! 10am -2pm at 1216 E. Bethany Drive Allen www.knowledgebeginnings.com Plano My Possibilities’ Valentine Day Bowling for Families & Friends - 1:00 PM: Plano Super Bowl (Park and Ave. K). Carnival Games, Magician, Balloon Blower. www.mypossibilities.org/events Irving Saturday School: Art that Moves! - 2:00 PM: Art Lab, 3333 N. MacArthur Blvd. Saturday School offers professional and fun art instruction to students ages 6-14 years. $75, (972) 252-ARTS (2787) to register. www.irvingartscenter.com

15 Sunday Dallas HONUS AND ME - Young Joe Stoshack is crazy about baseball. When he finds the most expensive baseball card ever, the coveted 1909 Honus Wagner card, Joe suddenly finds himself face to face with the great player. Dallas Children’s Theater. www.dct.org Irving Gallery Talk and Family Funday - 2:00 PM: Irving Arts Center, 3333 N. MacArthur Blvd. Quilting demonstrations, free art projects and a gallery talk. Free. www.irvingartscenter.com Richardson “Pippi Longstocking” - 2:30 PM: Astrid Lindgren’s irrepressible, freckle-faced heroine returns. Hill Performance Hall, Tickets: $10-$20. Eisemann Center Ticket Office 972-744-4650. www.americanfamilytheater.com

16 Monday Plano Fit & Fun Challenge - 8:00 AM: Have fun with a variety of games like pillo polo, dodgeball and more. Wear your tennis shoes. Entry fee includes a healthy lunch and a T-shirt. For children aged 6 - 12 years. Cost: $10 To register for this activity visit LEISURE Online at www.planoparks.org and sign up for event #94669. Carpenter Park Recreation Center - 6701 Coit Road. Plano Family Movie Time - 1:00 PM: Enjoy PISD’s day off from school and watch Kung Fu Panda (rated PG). 972.769.4200. www.planolibrary.org Allen Kindergarten Readiness Program - 6:00 PM: The event will be held at Rountree Elementary, 800 E. Main Street in Allen. www.aecpta.com

17 Tuesday Plano Reading Adventures (grades 1-5) - 3:30 PM: Plano Public Library System, Schimelpfenig Library, 3:30-4:30pm, Listen to a book, share your ideas, and participate in an activity. Read the True Story of the Three Little Pigs and make character puppets. www.planolibrary.org.

North Texas Kids • February 2009 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

18 Wednesday McKinney Circus - Jordan Productions Inc. from Las Vegas is holding a one-day circus at Myers Park & Event Center on Wednesday, February 18, 2009. For information contact Bill Rice at 702-456-2642. Myers Park & Event Center, 7117 C.R. 166.

19 Thursday

ing children`s area. Just east of the library - Tennessee/Lamar, McKinney www.ncc-habitat.com/

25 Wednesday Plano Elementary Game Day - (grades 1-5) Enjoy PISD early release day and play video and board games at the library. www.planolibrary.org Davis Library, 7501-B Independence Parkway.

Tuesdays 3:30 - 4:45pm : Fitness and Fun.Located at 3050 N. Josey Ln #110, Carrollton, 75007. Visit www.bounceu.com or call 972-939-5000 for more information or to schedule your group’s playdate. Visit www.northtexaskids.com for available coupons.

Carrollton AW Perry Homestead Museum 1509 N. Perry Rd 972-466-6380. Free Admission and Tours, Mon Sat 10 - 12 & 1 - 5. www.cityofcarrollton.com

Garland Wonderland! - Plaza Theatre. The Company of Rowlett Performers proudly presents Wonderland! - an unabashedly silly adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass. Ticket prices are $10 for Adults, $9 for Seniors 55+, and $8 for Students and Children. Tickets are available at 972-977-7710 or www.corptheatre.com and will be sold at the door.

Irving Silver Screen Symphony - 7:00 PM: Carpenter Performance Hall, 3333 N. MacArthur Blvd. Lone Star Youth Orchestra takes you on a tour of Tinseltown! Concert features the title theme to Batman, Harry Potter Symphonic Suite, Star Wars medley and more. $5-10, (972) 252-ARTS (2787) or www.irvingartscenter.com for tickets.

Plano Book Launch (grades 1-3) - 3:30 PM: Plano Public Library System - Parr Library. Explore a new book each month by listening and talking together, then turning the topic into a fun activity or craft to take home. This month Freddy the Fish can show you a thing or two about water. www.planolibrary.org

27 Friday

Dallas Every Friday 6 - 10 Parents’ Night Out hosted by The Gymnastics Place. Kids will enjoy pizza, drinks, entertainment, and special kid fun. RSVP preferred, but walk-ins are welcome. Sibling discounts available. Check schedule for exact dates and times. www.thegymnasticsplace.com 972-248-2805.

Grand Prairie Sesame Street: Elmo’s Green Thumb - Sunny isn’t just the weather forecast on Sesame Street - it’s also the name of Elmo’s sunflower friend! www.nokialivedfw.com

Dallas Lakeshore has FREE crafts for kids on Saturdays. Located just north of the Galleria on Dallas Pkwy (13846 Dallas Pkwy ) 972-934-8866 for more information.

Arlington Schoolhouse Rock Live! Jr.- Ages 3+. 2/27-3/15; Fri & Sat 7:30pm, Sat & Sun 2pm in Arlington at Theatre Arlington. $10. For more info: 817-275-7661, www.theatrearlington.org.

Dallas Dallas Arboretum. Mommy & Me Mondays 10am - 2pm. 10am - 2pm: Tiny Tots Tuesdays presented by Children’s Medical Center. www. dallasarboretum.org

Frisco SHAKE YOUR SILLIES OUT at Wiggly Play Center. February 27 5:00 to 7:30 Come out and hop, dance, and wiggle with Dorothy, Wags, and Henry as they shake their sillies out to some great interactive songs. This fun filled event will also feature some great giveaways, café specials and face painting. The Yummy Yummy café will have our almost famous $5.00 12” cheese Pizza Deal. www.wigglyplaycenter.com

Dallas Outstanding family entertainment is abundant at Slappy’s Puppet Playhouse. Marionette Show Times: Fridays - 10:30 AM, Saturdays - 10:30 AM and 1:00 PM, Sundays - 2:00 PM. Variety Show Times: Saturdays - 4:00 PM www.slappysplayhouse.com

Lewisville Positive Behavior Supports in the Home - 6:30 PM: At Parkway Elementary School. Children participate in social skills training while childcare is available for siblings under 6 years, and a sibling group for 6 years and up. Reservation is required. Please call 469-713-5199 by 4p.m. of the previous Tuesday.

21 Saturday Dallas Bob The Builder Live! - Come see Bob the Builder and his team. All ages. 2/21-22 in Dallas at Majestic Theatre. Showtimes vary. $22-$37. For more info: www.liveatthemajestic.com. Allen Raffle Event at Knowledge Beginnings - 9:00 AM: Allen, 1216 E. Bethany Drive. Tour the brand new Child Development Center. You’re going to “Love” our Learning Center! Check out our website for more information! www.knowledgebeginnings.com The Colony Daddy & Daughter Dance - 5:00 PM: $25 per couple, includes one 4X6 photo, $10 each additional child. The Colony Community Center 5151 North Colony Blvd. For more info call (972)625-1106. Plano Allen Special Olympics - Special Angels Among Us - 5:30 PM: Plano Centre. Doors open at 5:30pm. Silent auction opens at 6:00pm. Dinner begins at 7pm. Admission is $40 per person in advance; $50 at the door. For more information contact Lisa Grantham at 972.727.0570 ext. 135 or 972.359.7531 or email lisa_grantham@allenisd.org or olympics13@tx.rr.com

22 Sunday Grapevine Divine Consign Children’s Consignment Show Divine Consign, the Dallas Metroplex’s favorite twice-yearly consignment. Grapevine Convention Center. www.divineconsign.net Plano PSOs FAMILY SYMPHONY SUNDAYS - 3:00 PM: Meet each of the individual sections of the Orchestra at the Courtyard Theatre for the continuation of the Family Symphony Sundays Series. Kids ages 3 - 12 and their families will have a great time learning and being exposed to great music all for one low price, less than the cost of a movie. To order tickets, call the Plano Symphony Orchestra Ticket Office at 972-473-7262 McKinney Taste of Collin County - Mardi Gras Madness! 5:30 PM: This event features more than 50 local restaurants the Maylee Thomas Band, the Oak Ridge Boys, other local entertainers and an excit-

Lewisville Winnie the Pooh - Filled with lively music, this show is suitable for all ages. 7:00 p.m. Friday & Saturday Nights, Matinees 2:00 p.m. Saturday & Sunday. Crawford Center for the Arts Edmonds Professional Office Building. 1720 S Edmonds Lewisville, Tickets on sale at the box office 1/2 hour before the show Adults - $10, Students and Seniors-$8, Kids under 10-$7 Groups of 15-$7 each.

28 Saturday Dallas Regional Science & Engineering Fair - The Beal Bank Dallas Regional Science & Engineering Fair. Open to 7-12th graders from public and private schools in TEA region X who have competed in a school or district fair. Centennial Hall at Fair Park. Judging will be held in the morning and early afternoon. A free public exhibition takes place in the late afternoon. www.dallassciencefair.org/ Irving Fun Fest & Open House at Behavioral Innovations! - 10:00 AM: Come and join the fun! We’ll have activities & games for the kids. Free lunch & refreshments! Our address is Behavioral Innovations, 6301 Campus Circle Drive East, Suite 100A, Irving, phone 469.374.0700 or jayers@behavioralinnovations.com. The event is open to the public. Free.www.behavioral-innovations.com Arlington Gorbella’s Launch Party Playdate - 2:00 PM: Thanks to your support for the past 2 years, we are nearing the Grand Opening of Gorbella’s Community Center. Come play with us at a FREE Launch Party Playdate. The whole family is invited to join the fun! Bob Duncan Center Music Room 2800 S. Center Street Arlington www.gorbellas.org

Ongoing Fun Classes & Activities Carrollton Monday/Wednesday 10 am - 12 & Thursdays 1-3pm: Preschool Playdates for 7years and under. Tuesdays 6 p.m. - 8:30 p.m: Family Fun Nights.

North Texas Kids • February 2009 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

Flower Mound Preschool Story-times at the Library 3 - 6 years, Monday & Tuesday, 10:00 am & 2:00 p.m. every week. Bring your children and friends to enjoy our weekly theme for Story-time. Located at 3030 Broadmoor Ln, Flower Mound 75022. Visit the Town of Flower Mound Web Site for more information. Registration not required. Flower Mound Toddler Time at the Library 18 - 36 months, Wednesday & Thursday, 10:00 am & 11:00 am every week. Bring your children and friends to enjoy our weekly theme for Story-time. Located at 3030 Broadmoor Ln, Flower Mound 75022. Visit the Town of Flower Mound Web Site for more information. Registration not required. Flower Mound Mother Goose Time at the Library Babies under 18 months, Monday & Tuesday, 11:15 am every week. Bring your children and friends to enjoy our weekly theme for Story-time. Located at 3030 Broadmoor Ln, Flower Mound 75022. Visit the Town of Flower Mound Web Site for more information. Registration not required. Flower Mound Rockin’ Readers Returns at the Library Second Wednesday of every month from 4 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.. Attendance is limited to children kindergarten through Grade 5. Call 972-874-6167 for more information. Located at 3030 Broadmoor Ln, Flower Mound 75022. Visit the Town of Flower Mound Web Site for more information. Flower Mound Anime Daze! Middle school anime and manga fans! Check out Anime Daze at the library the first Wednesday of each month from 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. For more information, call 972-874-6167. Located at 3030 Broadmoor Ln, Flower Mound 75022. Visit the Town of Flower Mound Web Site for more information. Flower Mound/Highland Village Friday - Flower Mound 6 - 10 pm Saturday Highland Village 6 - 10 pm Excite! holds parents night out so that your children can enjoy their evening with friends and activities. Open Gym, foam pit, games, music and Pizza dinner. Visit www.excitegymandcheer.com or call 972-874-9663 Flower Mound 972-874-8500 High-

land Village for more information and reservations (Ages 3 - 11).

Frisco Moms Eat Free & Jersey Night. GattiTown. Mondays are Moms Eat Free (with the purchase of a kid’s buffet). Tuesday Nights are Jersey Nights (3pm-close). Kids, wear your practice or game jersey and receive a FREE $5.00 game card and a $5.00 gift certificate to Dick’s Sporting Goods (with the purchase of a buffet). www.gattitownfrisco.com Frisco Preschool programs available at First Choice Emergency Room. Attention Mom’s groups and Preschools....First Choice Emergency Room at 4851 Legacy Dr. #301 Frisco. Call 214-618-6800 to schedule your tour of the ER. Tours available at 10am any weekday. If your group or class cannot come to the ER, First Choice will bring the Teddy Bear visits the ER program to your school or group. Frisco Wiggly Play Center weekdays - Daily Activities are at 11:00 am. Mondays - Arts & Crafts, Tuesday - Hop with Henry, Wednesday - Story time, Thursday - Dancing with Dorothy, Friday - Wiggle with Wags. 4944 Preston Road, Suite 100 Frisco (469) 633-0676 www.wigglyplaycenter.com Grapevine 1st Wednesday of each month 4:30 p.m. Rainforest Cafe is hosting the Grapevine Mills Mall Kids Club storytime. Bring your family and friends to enjoy some great stories and eat dinner at Rainforest Cafe for Family Night. Contact 972-539-5001 for more information. No reservation required. www.rainforestcafe.com Highland Village Acting Classes for Kids. Studio B is offering a wide range of acting classes for ages 3 and up. 1 Nelson Parkway at 2400 FM 407 in Highland Village. 972-966-2787 www.studiobtheater.info Irving JumpSTART Stories and Art. The Irving Arts Center and Irving Public Library now offer FREE family storytimes at the Arts Center on the first Thursday of every month (through December) at 10 a.m. Call (972) 252-7558 x221 for more info. Little Elm Wednesdays 10:15 - 10:45 & 11 - 11:30 am Toddler time (ages 1 - 3) & Storytime (ages 4 - 6) Bring your family for a special reading time in the Little Elm Library. Located in the Town Hall building at 100 W. Eldorado Pkwy 75068. Contact 214-975-0430 or visit www.littleelm.com to verify changes. Little Elm 2nd & 4th Thursdays 5:30 - 7:30 pm Chess Club for ages 7 to adult Do you enjoy playing chess and want to learn to play with a variety of people. Join us at the Little Elm Library and bring your friends. Located in the Town Hall building at 100 W. Eldorado Pkwy 75068. Contact 214-975-0430 or visit www.littleelm.com to verify changes. Little Elm Saturdays 10:30-11 am Family Story Time for all ages Bring your family for a special reading time in the Little Elm Library. Located in the Town Hall building at 100 W. Eldorado Pkwy 75068. Contact 214-975-0430 or visit www.littleelm.com to verify changes. Little Elm Saturdays 11-12 Chidren’s Film Festival Bring your family for a special time together at the Little Elm Library. Call the library for film titles each week. Located in the Town Hall building at 100 W. Eldorado Pkwy 75068. Contact 214-975-0430 or visit www.littleelm.com to verify changes. Little Elm Saturdays 1 - 3 pm Saturday Movie Matinee Bring your family for a special time together at the Little Elm Library. Call the library for Movie titles each week. Located in the Town Hall

building at 100 W. Eldorado Pkwy 75068. Contact 214-975-0430 or visit www.littleelm.com to verify changes.

McKinney Second Saturdays Downtown McKinney. ‘Second Saturdays’ is a celebration of the arts & the community with live entertainment, spirits, and food. From Hwy 75, exit 40A, head east on Louisiana Street for 1.5 miles. www.artinstituteofmckinney.com McKinney McKinney Farmers’ Market, Every Saturday 8AM - 1PM. Downtown McKinney at the southeast corner of Church Street & Louisiana Street. Plano Story Times Plano Public Library System Schedules are available at any PPLS library or on our website www.planolibrary.org. Princeton Groove Kids, Every Sun & Wed. Absolutely free to kids newborn thru 6th grade - Groove Kids is the place to be to have fun, hang out with Christian friends, enjoy Bible stories, cool music, and more! Every Sunday 10:45-12:00 and Wednesday 7-8 at Family Worship Center in Princeton, TX on Highway 380 @ Tickety Drive. (Call for directions 469.450.7437) www.groovekids.com. Richardson Peppermint Baby Boutique holds regular classes. Babywearing Class: Every Tuesday at 10 a.m. and Wednesday at 3 p.m. Elimination Communication/Infant Potty Training Workshop: Every first Thursday of the month at 5:30 p.m. Baby Sign Language 2-Hour Workshop: Every third Saturday of the month. 3 - 5 p.m. Cloth Diapering Workshop: Every 2nd Saturday of the month. 10 a.m. Prenatal Yoga Saturdays at 9 a.m. Postnatal Yoga Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. Peppermint Baby Boutique 1778 N. Plano Rd., Suite 100 in Richardson. Registration information can be found at www.peppermint.com or by calling 214-623-5080. Southlake Kids Night at Chick-fil-A Southlake. Every Tuesday evening, Chick-fil-A Southlake offers free kids activities & loads of fun! 5:30-7:30pm at Chick-fil-A Southlake, 2301 E. Southlake Blvd., 817-481-7152. www.cfarestaurant.com/southlake/home Various Drama Kids International is designed to develop students speaking skills, presentation abilities, acting skills and confidence. Visit our website www.dramakids.com or call 214.592.4066. www.dramakids.com Various Dallas / Fort Worth Cocker Spaniel Rescue Hosts special Meet & Greets scheduled in the area. Over 90 rescued Cocker Spaniels are available for good homes. All Saturday events at PETSMARTS ARE from 11 to 4 www.dfwcares.org Various REGISTER TODAY for Kids First Ice Hockey Program. A totally FREE, get-acquainted program that offers boys and girls, ages 4-8, the opportunity to ‘try’ the game of hockey at NO CHARGE. (214) GO SKATE. www.drpepperstarcenter.com Various Meetup Group for the Entire FAMILY. This is a fun and exciting meetup group for couples and families to fulfill all of their social needs! groups. yahoo.com/group/familiesonthego Various Baylor Medical Centers provide ongoing classes in Irving, Frisco, Dallas, and Fort Worth. Classes include Baby Care Basics/Infant Safety and CPR, Prepared Childbirth Class, Infant/Child CPR, Car Seat Safety and SIDS Class, Breastfeeding Class, Sibling Class, Baby Care Basics, Cesarean Birth Class. 1-800-4-BAYLOR www. baylorhealth.edu/

Support Groups Allen MOMS CLUB OF SE ALLEN - Are you a SAHM? Need some support, come join this welcoming

group and get acquainted with great MOMS! We offer Playgroups, MNO’s, Monthly meetings and load of activities for you and your child. www.allenmoms.com

Allen MOMS club of Allen - West. Fun group of stay at home moms offering support to each other and fun activities with our children. Weekly playgroups and events. Contact Michelle Suastegui at 214-383-3517 or email momsclub_allenwest@yahoo.com. Allen Allen Early Childhood PTA. Meet the second Friday of every month from 9:30am to 11am during the school year at Christ the Servant Lutheran Church, 821 S. Greenville Ave. information@aecpta.com. www.aecpta.com Allen We are the MOMS Offering Moms Support Northeast Allen MOMS Club - Christy Youens at 469-675-6652 email momscluballenne@yahoo.com Arlington MOMS Club of North Central Arlington Open House ? Are you a SAHM living in Arlington between I-30 and Pioneer Pkwy? We offer activities for moms, kids, and families. E-mail: support.mom@hotmail.com or call Emily at (817)276-2589. www.momsclub.org Carrollton The Carrollton Early Childhood PTA is an organization dedicated to providing activities, support, friendships and education for parents of children age newborn through preschool. www.cecpta.org. Collin County The Autism society of Collin County is an organization dedicated to providing support and resources to those families affected by Autism. Parent Support Group Meeting for Parents of Younger Children held the 2nd Tuesday of Each Month from 8:45 am - 9:45 am, and Monthly Parent Group and Support Meetings for Parents of Children of All Ages 3rd Tuesdays of Each Month from 11:30 am - 1:00 pm at Cafe’ de France (75 Central Expwy & Park in Plano) Visit www.autism-ascc.org or call 214-925-2722 for more information. Collin County The Autism society of Collin County is an organization dedicated to providing support and resources to those families affected by Autism. Call Diane Bitter at 214.509.9656 for meeting dates and locations. Sign up for ASCC’s Group E-mail list: groups.yahoo.com/group/ascc2/join Visit www.autism-ascc.org or call 214-925-2722 for more information. Collin County The Collin County Moms Meetup group is a fun, down-to-earth group of moms dedicated to friendship and support. moms.meetup.com/994/ Coppell/Valley Ranch The Coppell/Valley Ranch Early Childhood PTA (C/VR ECPTA) is a non-profit support organization for parents of infants and children age 5 and under. Everyone is welcome at our General Meeting on the 2nd Monday of every month, 9:30am-11:00am at the Coppell Family YMCA, 146 Town Center Blvd., Coppell Texas. Childcare for the general meeting is free and available through the YMCA, reservations are required.To find out more visit our website at www.cvrecpta.org. Contact Info: Deby 214-234-8290. Dallas Dallas Dyslexia Information Group (DDIG) provides information on Dyslexia, Learning Differences, and related topics. This group meets at The Winston School, 5707 Royal Lane in Dallas, 75229 from 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. on the second Monday of the month except for December. For information regarding the monthly speaker, call Bob 214-351-1985 or visit website.

tion: Addison), Marsh Lane to the east, and Garland Road to the west. info@momsclubofdallas.org

Dallas/Plano/Frisco Far North Dallas Early Childhood PTA (FNDECPTA) is dedicated to facilitating an educational and supportive network of parents of infants, toddlers and pre-school aged children. We meet in Room 133 at St. Andrew United Methodist Church, 1401 Mira Vista Blvd. at Plano Parkway, and offer free childcare. www.fndecpta.txpta.org Denton The Denton Area Mothers of Multiples (DAMOM) is a support group located in North Texas for anyone who has, or is, expecting twins, triplets, quads or more! DAMOM meets on the 2nd Thursday of every month from 7pm ? 9pm at First Baptist Church of Denton, located at 1100 Malone Street Room 216. damoms.clubspaces.com/Default_css.aspx. Farmers Branch My Place - Tuesdays & Fridays. It’s an early intervention play & communication group. North Texas Therapy & Associates (972) 385-0006. 14580 E. Beltwood Parkway; Farmers Branch 75244. Farmers Branch My Place - We have early intervention play & communication group classes on Mondays Thursdays (please contact us for times). North Texas Therapy & Associates (972) 385-0006. 14580 E. Beltwood Parkway; Farmers Branch 75244. www.northdallasspeech.com Frisco Frisco Cares Children’s Clinic is a low-cost health clinic for uninsured children, 18 and younger, living in or attending school in Frisco, Celina or Prosper. www.friscocares.org Frisco Frisco Early Childhood PTA. Meet at St Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 8000 Eldorado Parkway, Frisco, 2nd friday of the month @ 10am. membership@friscoecpta.org www.friscoecpta.org Frisco The Early Childhood Intervention of LifePath Systems Inc. at 2611 Internet Pkwy, suite 107, Frisco. Texas Interagency Council on Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) is a statewide program for families with children, birth to 3, with disabilities and developmental delays. Call 972-377-7289. Garland Garland Area Early Childhood PTA. Meetings are held on the first Friday of each month, September through May, from 9:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at NorthLake Baptist Church, 1501 N. Country Club, Garland. 972-412-8540. www.earlychildhoodpta.com Lewisville Greater Lewisville Mothers & More is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of mothers through support, education, and advocacy. Meetings are held on the 3rd Tuesday of each month from 7:00-8:30pm at a restaurant in Flower Mound. For meeting locations, membership info or a current schedule of events please visit www.mothersnmore.com or call 1-888-535-7118.

Lewisville The Greater Lewisville Special Education PTSA is an organization for parents, loved ones, and educators of children of all ages with special needs in the Greater Lewisville Area.Please visit us online at www.lisdseptsa.txpta.org or call (469) 293-6343 for more information. Little Elm The Little Elm Epilepsy Support Group meets on the 2nd Thursday of every month from 7:00-8:00pm at the Little Elm Public Library. If you have any questions about the Little Elm Support Group, you may contact our facilitator, Tracy O’Mara at 972-987-4010. Little Elm Writer’s Support Group 3rd Thursday of each month 6 - 8 pm Join us at the Little Elm Library and bring your friends. Located in the Town Hall building at 100 W. Eldorado Pkwy 75068. Contact 214-975-0430 or visit www.littleelm.com to verify changes. www.littleelm.com McKinney DivorceCare and DivorceCare 4 Kids are programs offered regularly at McKinney Fellowship Bible Church. Learn more about the programs at www. divorcecare.org, but call 972-547-7000 to register. McKinney MOMS (Moms Offering Moms Support) Club of McKinney Central. Come join us for fun daytime activities where you’ll find the support you need, and build long lasting friendships for you and your children! Visit us at www. geocities.com/mckinneymoms.com or contact us at mckinneymoms@yahoo.com McKinney La Leche League of McKinney. Meetings are held 3rd Thursdays at 5871 W Virginia Pkwy, 10:15am to 12pm. Dee Dee 972-838-9135, Holly 214-385-0063 or Ricki 214-684-3966. www.lllusa.org/web/McKinneyTX.html McKinney MOMS (Moms Offering Moms Support) Club of McKinney East. For more info, e-mail momsmckinneyeast@yahoo.com and check out the International MOMS Club website at www.momsclub.org. momsmckinneyeast@yahoo.com McKinney Grandparents Raising Grandkids Support Group. Meetings are held on the first Tuesday every month from 7-8 pm at Academics Plus, 1831 W. Louisiana, McKinney, Tx. Contact us at 972-548-8788 for more information. www.academicsplus.com Murphy/Sachse MOMS Club of Murphy/Sachse if a non-profit support group for at home mothers living in the cities of Murphy/Sachse Texas. Contact us at murphy_sachse_moms@yahoo.com for additional information. North Coppell MOMs Club of Coppell - NORTH (boundaries are north of Sandy Lake to 121). Join us at Going Bonkers in Lewisville for our monthly meetings. We meet on the first Wednesday of every month at 10AM. Please call us at 866.841.9139 ext. 3555 or send us an email at momsclubofcoppell@onebox.com. Check out our Web site at www.momsclubofcoppell.org

Go to www.MomsOutLoud.com to see reviews on local businesses written by Moms just like you and find all these events online in our searchable calendar!

Dallas Moms Club of Dallas: North Central Chapter boundaries are I-30 to the south, I-635 to the north (excepNorth Texas Kids • February 2009 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

North Dallas Mocha Moms of North Dallas meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month at the Douglass Community Center on Ave. H in Plano. www.mochamomsnorthdallas.com North Richland Hills Asperger’s Support Meeting. 1st Wednesday of each month from 7:00 - 8:30 pm. Come join us! Please RSVP you and your child’s attendance by emailing events@featnt.org. Located FEAT-NT Resource Center and Library, 4239 Road to the Mall, North Richland Hills 76180. www.featnt.org 817-849-1122 North Richland Hills Autism Support Meeting. 3rd Wednesday of each month from 7:00 - 8:30 pm. Come join us! Please RSVP you and your child’s attendance by emailing events@featnt.org. Located FEAT-NT Resource Center and Library, 4239 Road to the Mall, North Richland Hills 76180.www.featnt.org. 817-849-1122 Plano The Scoliosis Center of Excellence at Medical Center of Plano is offering free diagnostic scoliosis screenings the first Wednesday of each month by appointment for children and adolescents up to 18 years of age. www.medicalcenterofplano.com or 1-877-24-SCOLI. www.medicalcenterofplano.com Plano S.A.F.E.(Support and Activities for Food allergy Education) classes provide children an opportunity to learn more about food allergies, build self-esteem and confidence, and have fun with new friends who share a common bond. Classes are 15 dollars per child. For more information, please contact us at www.safewithfoodallergies. com. Classes will be held at The Medical Center of Plano. Medical Office Building III, 4001 West 15th Street, Plano, Texas 75075. Plano Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) Parent Support Group. Meets every first Monday at

Schimelpfenig Library 504 Custer Rd. in Plano. Meeting time: 6:30-7:30. No children allowed at the meeting. There will not be a September meeting due to the holiday. For more contact Alinda Ford at: parent_connections@verizon.net www.spdnetwork.org/parentconnection/us.html

Plano Mothers and Others. Meet the second Tuesday of the month at 9:30 in the room 230 of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church Activity Building. Call Trish Scogin. 214-504-0640. Plano The Plano/Collin County branch of the AAUW. Monthly meetings at the Davis Library, 7501 Independence Parkway, Plano the 2nd Monday of each month. Contact Carol at 972 862 3460 for more info. www.aauwplanocc.org Plano CHILD & FAMILY Guidance Center. Contact our Plano Office at 4030 West Plano Parkway, Suite 211. 972.612.5989. www.childrenandfamilies.org Plano Collin County Early Childhood PTA. Monthly meetings on the 2nd Monday of the month, 9:45 a.m., at Parkway Hills Baptist Church, located at 2700 Dallas Parkway, in Plano. Call Karen Maddox at 972-491-0260. Plano Plano Kiwanis Club meets each Wednesday for breakfast at 7:00 AM (always over by 8:00 AM) at La Madeleine Cafe, 5000 West Park Blvd at Preston Road. www.kiwanis.org/club/plano Plano La Leche League of Plano meets the 2nd Tuesday of the month from 10:30 to 11:45 am at Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 3601 West 15th Street, Room 105. Call Beth 972-747-1297, Cleo 972-208-0158, or Emilie 469-366-7205, www.lllusa.org/web/PlanoTX.html Plano MOMS Club of Plano North Central chapter. Meeting the first Thursday of every month, at

9:30 AM, at the Atonement Lutheran Church on Legacy just west of Coit. For more information contact 214-473-4144. momsclubnc@yahoo.com

Plano MOMS Club of Plano-North. Monthly Social Meeting is the first Wednesday of every month, at 10:00am, at the Baha’i Faith Plano Center at 4200 Hedgcoxe (just West of Coit Rd). For more information contact membership@momsclubplanonorth or 972-464-1958 www.momslubplanonorth.com Plano MOMS (Moms Offering Moms Support) Club of Plano Central Are you a stay at home mom living south of Spring Creek? Please join us for weekly playdates and monthly Mom’s night out! We are small but growing and would love to have you. momsclubplano_central@yahoo.com Plano Own my own mentoring program is a mentoring program for children with incarcerated parents sponsored by Dedicated Women of Christ. Contact Latahra Smith, 972-3778254 Plano Collin County Homeschool Playgroup. geocities.com/collincountyhomeschoolplaygroup/ Richardson La Leche League Of Richardson meets every 2nd & 4th Thursday of each month at 7pm. Call Jayne 972-758-7236, Tiffany 972-234-5853 or Mary 972-907-9079,www.lllusa.org/web/RichardsonTX.html Richardson Post Partum Depression Support Group. Nonprofit group Dallas Association for Parent Education will hold a free, monthly Post Partum Depression Support Group at their office in Richardson. This also offers network support for moms and families. To sign up or for more info call the DAPE office at 972-699-0420, Mon. - Fri., 9am - 3pm. dallasparents@hotmail.com www.dallasparents.org

Various RISE was organized “To help persons with physical challenges gain independence through a learning experience in adaptive outdoor adventures and sporting programs.” RISE membership and programs are FREE for qualified participants. Visit www.riseadventures.org or contact Joel Hendrix at jhendrix@riseadventures.org. 469-762-5075. Wylie Moms & More: Be you a Mom, Dad, Aunt, Uncle, Grandparent or Nanny, we welcome all caregivers from Wylie and the surrounding communities. Our Monthly Convergence is held on the first Thursday of each month. For more information and directions, please contact our Membership Chair, Grady at 972-941-8597 or visit our website www.wyliemomsandmore.org

Submitting Events We welcome your submissions of family-oriented events. Events and support group listings should be submitted online at www.northtexaskids. com. Click on the submissions button on the left side bar. Please keep listings brief and in a similar format to what you see in our calendar. No more than two listings per organization will be accepted. Thank you for your participation in our community calendar. All events submitted online will appear on www.northtexaskids.com, www.momsoutloud.com and in print when received before the 15th of the month prior to our print date. For any questions, you may email our office at info@northtexaskids.com or give us a call at 972-516-9070.

Alexandria’s Book Review along with Naomi’s lost voice.

Becoming Naomi León

This is an excellent book about

standing up for yourself and not

A Review by Alexandria Battle

letting your timidity take over. I

by Pam Muñoz Ryan 272 pages • Ages 9-12 • Scholastic Paperbacks (October 2005)

recommend it to kids and adults, along with the other great books Pam

Muñoz Ryan has written—to name two, Riding Freedom and Esperanza

This month I’ve chosen to review

a book by Pam Muñoz Ryan, one

of my favorite authors. Her book Becoming Naomi León is not the first book of hers I’ve read, but it won’t be the last—she has an astounding ability to create deep, real characters whose stories speak to you.

Pam Muñoz Ryan was born in

California, the setting of many of her stories. She belongs to five different

cultures at once (Italian and Spanish being two of them), and learned to

love books when she was young

through visits to the air-conditioned 32

library. Since then she has been both

However, it isn’t long before

a teacher and administrator, and was

the peace is shaken by the arrival of

wonderful writer she is today.

abandoning both her children and

Naomi Soledad León Outlaw, a shy,

have a second chance at parenthood.

her homemade clothes, her extremely

Owen that this is not the second

challenged younger brother, Owen,

especially—had in mind.

overall Naomi is perfectly content in

out of control, the Outlaws have no

Owen and Gram in Baby Beluga, a

the other parent who also apparently

then encouraged into becoming the

Naomi and Owen’s mother, who after

Becoming Naomi León focuses on

keeping their father away wants to

quiet girl who can’t seem to defend

It is soon clear to Gram, Naomi and

long name, or even her physically-

chance their family—and Naomi

from her teasing classmates. But

When

Naomi’s

mother

goes

the town of Lemon Tree, living with

choice but to begin a journey to find

tiny trailer in a tiny trailer park.

“abandoned” Naomi and Owen—

North Texas Kids • February 2009 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

Rising—both with great messages and strong heroines.

Index of Advertisers 280 Toys 21

Healthy Texan Pediatrics

Princess & Pirates Dress Up Parties

A+ Prep School

It’s a Sensory World

Pump It Up Jr.

9, 17

Jewish Comminity Center

Rainforest Cafe

Adventure Kids Playcare

Jump Town

Rich Educational Consulting

Akiba Academy

Jump Zone

Rockwall Indoor Sports Expo

Amy Columbus Photography

Key Note Music Studio

Smashing Times

Apple Creek Private School

KidsCare Therapy

SoccerTots

Learning RX

Speaker Coop

A Child Safe Home

Aqua Fit Swim & Wellness

9 24

Art A Rama

Lil’ Trax Sports Academy (PSA)

Spectacular Cakes

Behavioral Innovations

Little Musicmaker

Speech TX

Little Saints Child Developement Cntr. 11

Spicar’s Martial Arts

Boomerangs

BounceU

Lorie Burch, Attorney

Spring Valley Athletic Assoc. (SVAA) 24

Bright Women

Made of Sugar & Spice

SS Noah

C & R Medical

Matco Services

State Farm Insurance

Color Me Mine

McDonald’s - O’Reillys

Strikz

Congregation Anshai Torah

Minette Riordan, Ph.D

Sweet & Sassy

Custom Sports Products

MMKLife.com

Temple Shalom

Dallas Kids Expo

Monkey Business

Texas Star Pharmacy

DigiKids

Museum of Nature & Science

The Artist Within

Disney

Music Together

The Eisemann Center

Dr Pepper StarCenter

Noah’s Ark Animal Workshop

The Ice at Stonebriar

Drama Kids International

North Texas Kids May Expo

16, 25

The Purple Cow

Eagle Gymnastics

Paige’s Swim School

The Reading Ranch

ER Centers of America

Peppermint Baby Boutique

The Wiggly Play Center

Evelyn’s Janitorial

Planet Pizza

Therapy 2000

Excite Gym & Cheer

Plano Baseball Association

US Toy Company

Girl Scouts

Plano Sports Authority

Words R Me

Gray School of Music

Planting Seeds Christian Counseling 15

Work at Home United

Guardian Pet Sitters

PowerKids Sports & Fitness

Please tell our advertisers you saw them in North Texas Kids! Find links to all of these businesses on our website at www.northtexaskids.com North Texas Kids • February 2009 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

Plano’s Favorite Place to Bounce! • Huge Slides • Obstacle Course • Gigantic Moonwalks • Sports Challenge • Inﬂatable Rock Wall • Private Party Rooms • Weekday Open Jump

TEEN NIGHT EVERY FRIDAY

Ages 11-15 / 8pm - 11pm Cost is $10, $5 extra for pizza / drink

Fun for the Kids, No Mess for Moms Call us for daycare, church and fundraising specials.

$2.00 OFF Open Jump Must present coupon, only good for one use

Special Offer $25.00 OFF Town Party Package Reservation

$50 non-refundable deposit required for all reservations Park

★

15th St. Plano Pkwy.

Custer

3045 W. 15th St. Plano, TX 75075

Coit

972-867-JUMP(5867)

Independence

www.thejumptown.com

Collin County’s

Premier Family Entertainment Center 8789 Lebanon Rd. Frisco, TX 75034

North Texas Kids • February 2009 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

8_hj^ZWo FWhjo <kd M[ Ze _j Wbb \eh oek" ie h[bWn [d`eo

+ tax

for up to 10 children $6.10 for each additional child

7bb[d CYA_dd[o FbWde H_Y^WhZied

FWhjo _dYbkZ[i0 Happy Meal , Cake, Ice Cream, Decorations, ®

Party Favors, a Host or Hostess and a Gift for the Birthday Child.

Je cWa[ h[i[hlWj_edi0 Visit www.OreillyMCD.com or call our birthday party hotline at 972.985.9285.

Dem 7lW_bWXb[ - ZWoi W m[[a De Z[fei_j h[gk_h[Z$ Locally owned and operated by Chuck and Julie O’Reilly

North Texas Kids • February 2009 • www.NorthTexasKids.com