North Texas Kids September 2008 Issue by North Texas Kids

North Texas Your Family Guide to Raising Happy, Healthy Kids

September 2008

FREE

www.northtexaskids.com

Kids

Cover artist: Caroline Ross, age 8

In this issue: Critical Role of Imagination in Child Development / The Kindergarten Dilemma / Texas Kids • September 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com Why Music Lessons Matter / Overcoming Shyness /North September Calendar of Events 1

North Texas Kids • September 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

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North Texas Kids • September 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

Contents September 2008

Volume 6 No. 7

8 The Kindergarten Dilemma

Healthy KidCast

All About School Word Scramble

How to Avoid Tantrums

Emma’s Kid-Friendly Restaurant Review

21 Painting Anything (That Will Stand Still!)

Overcoming Shyness

Simple Concepts, Outings & Adventures

Back to School Wordsearch

Work From Home and Be Your Own Boss

Enrichment Directory: Classes & Activities

Fun & Healthy After School Activities

101 Ways to Praise A Child

Family Resource Guide

Color Fun! Happy Back to School!!

Why Music Lessons Matter

September Calendar of Events

Too Young To Swim?

Index of Advertisers

Football vs Baseball

Putting a Hug in Your Child’s Lunchbox

Drew Fulton

Role of Imagination in Child Development

Sports & Fitness Programs

Backpacks & Shoes That You Can Write On

After-School Online Safety - 10 Tips

North Texas Kids • September 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

Note from the Publisher

Minette Riordan, Ph.D.

Inspired by the 2008 Olympic Games I spent more time than usual

Another inspiration was 38

glued to my television screen in

year old Constantina Tomescu-

the Olympic Games in Beijing. The

women’s marathon. If you were

August, watching the coverage of Olympic Games have changed so

much, but they still hold a great deal of majesty, inspiration and charm for me. While I am proud to have

gold medal winner Nastia Liukin

living and training in my backyard, I have to be honest, she was not the highlight of these games for

Dita from Romania, who won the able to watch any of that race, her

finish was amazing. Such strength and determination. I loved her

excitement and the fact she still had enough energy to run a victory lap or two, after already running 26.2 miles. Hip hip hooray!

As a final example, in a sport

me. Learn more about her and her

where youth and perky pony tails

at www.nastialiukin.com.

gymnast Oksana Chusovitina won

tremendous success on her website For me, the highlight was

watching all of the “older” women achieve success, reach goals and earn medals. If a 41 year old

woman, Dara Torres, can win

three silver medals in some of

the most challenging events in

Olympic swimming, then there is

still hope for me, at 43, to get back into running shape. According to

Wikipedia, “Torres has won twelve Olympic medals (four gold, four

silver, four bronze), five of which she won in the Sydney Olympics in 2000, a feat made all the more

impressive by the fact that, at age

33, she was the oldest member of the US Olympic Swim Team.” She was

the oldest not just once, but twice! I

admire her tenacity and dedication.

dominate, 33 year old Russian

a silver medal in the vault and she

won my heart. She was competing for Germany, not for Russia. She

has a son who was diagnosed with leukemia at a very young age. She

could not find the help she needed

in Russia, so she called the German coach who invited her to join her team in Germany and to find the

care she needed for her son. To make a long story short, Chusovitina’s

son is doing well, the leukemia is in

remission and she got to bring home a medal to help repay Germany.

There are in-depth stories online

about her challenges and success but as a mother, I honor her for doing

to do with Back to School? I can

think of a few pertinent segues as we send our children off seeking

success, encourage them to follow

through, to take the necessary steps, to show commitment and passion in the classroom, on the playing

field and in life. It’s hard to know

how some people can be so driven while others are content to let life

lead them on. We all want what is

best for our children and while mine

may never compete in the Olympics,

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

Office/Sales Manager Heidi Schlabs heidi@northtexaskids.com

Account Executives

be challenged, to fail, to grow and to achieve success.

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

Fax

972-516-9048

There are some great articles

in this issue that I hope open your mind, help you prepare or simply

Tari Jacobs Cindy Johnson Michelle Simms Cindy Watts

Creative Dir. /Designer Brittany Allen

I hope they find the one thing that

will allow them the opportunity to

mike@northtexaskids.com

entertain you as we all struggle to

get back into routines and out of bed on time, lunches made, backpacks packed and kids out the door. As

always, we love your feedback. If

you see something in our magazine that you love or would like to hear more about, if you read something that makes you think, we would love to hear about it! Happy Reading!

North Texas Kids is a Division of Scissortail Publishing LLC. North Texas Kids is published 10 times a year. Copyright 2008 by North Texas Kids©. All rights 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

whatever it took to make sure her

Publisher. Advertisers assume all liability for the content of their printed advertisements and agree

son got the help he needed.

to indemnify North Texas Kids and its publisher for

So what do the Olympics have

any and all claims and expenses arising therefrom.

Cover Artist...

Your child will receive $50 when we use his/her artwork Caroline Ross Caroline is 8 years old and is in the 3rd Grade at Bethany Elementary School in Plano. She loves to draw, dance, sing and do active things like play soccer, skateboard and roller blade. Her favorite animal is a horse and when she grows up, Caroline wants to be an animal cop or a horse instructor.

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 their 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., Ste. 110, Plano, TX 75074. North Texas Kids • September 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

by Chris A. Clark, MD

Parents love their children. It’s unconditional and, as such, we will do anything to keep them safe and to help them reach their full potential. When they are born, thought processes anxiously focus on car seats, immunizations and whether we can pump enough breast milk to support our daycare-bound infant. Sleepless nights follow our debates over the quality of play dates and the nutritional benefits of Happy Meals™. Every day there are seemingly life affecting choices to be made. Unfortunately, for an increasing number of parents, these decisions pale in comparison to the dilemma of when to send a child to kindergarten. Make no mistake, this decision is not easy. The “new first grade”, or “kindergrind”, is not the same as it was when we were children. The concept of half-day classes was replaced in the 1980’s when school districts learned that “a developmentally appropriate, nonacademic curriculum, with well paced activities” could allow for full-day scheduling (Evans 1984; Stinard 1982). Sadly, the race to give our children an edge over their peers has brought about changes in these non-academic programs. The curriculum is no longer just scissor skills and ABC’s, but math and literacy as well. These changes have been further magnified by the state and federal programs like “No Child Left Behind” where educators are held more accountable for their performance. While the ultimate goal in educating our children is to establish a lifelong love for school and the educational process, parents, teachers, and students alike are feeling the strain of this academic 8

North Texas Kids • September 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

arms race. Unfortunately, it’s your child who is at the crux of this debate. Male or female, first child or most recent, seemingly behind or ahead of their peers, there are a limitless number of factors to consider when deciding to place your child in kindergarten. In reality, all of these dynamics are important because when it comes to education one size does not fit all. Developmentally all of our children are different and, for some, a few months can make all the difference in terms of their level of maturity, intellect, and emotional stability. This is evidenced by the knowledge that “kids who enter at age 6 instead of age 5 especially kids from disadvantaged families - do significantly better on standardized tests and learn more from schooling” (Datar, 2005). And this, the child’s ability to learn, should be the key variable to consider. If a parent feels that a child is not truly ready and the option to delay starting kindergarten is available, then a choice should be made that inevitably benefits the youngster. The main question, however, is the one that is rarely discussed because we deny our consideration of it. Do some parents have ulterior motives? While their child “is special, an academically gifted wonder capable of starting school at any age”, some adults believe that their youngster would have an even greater edge if they started school later than their contemporaries. This thought process is echoed by the dad (or the sporty grandparent) who wants his son to be held back a year so that he’ll have the competitive advantage size affords

athletes. Decisions like these are made as if they guarantee Ivy League acceptance or future scholarships and lie at the core of this whole debate. If some parents are playing outside the lines, then others, whether right or wrong, will maneuver to negate the assumed disadvantage directed toward their child. Rather than working to improve their local school, parents of children at “non-commended” schools will relocate to the more successful waters. Often these are the areas featured in local publications which rank school districts based on performance as if playing fields were level and socioeconomics did not come into play. The thought of this, albeit sad, is enough to make parents fanatical and is certain to ruin a bunko night. Logically thinking, it seems impossible that a child’s future could be written in stone based on kindergarten placement. By the time they get to the middle and high school years, too many variables have been inserted into or removed from the formula for success. A thriving student, however you define it in your home, is more likely to be determined by what happens after a child starts school. Parents should place an emphasis on volunteering at schools, helping with homework at the kitchen table, participating in PTA, and reading to children at night. Learning can be made enjoyable, if we cultivate such an environment for our children. If we can do that, then they’ll reach their full potential and, maybe, just maybe, we can get some sleep. Chris A. Clark, MD is a family practitioner and father of three.

Ask Nurse Christie (Q & A) “we talk about everything from croup to poop”

Dear Nurse Christie,

As school ramps up again, I am beginning

to register my 8 year old for the extracurricular

activities she’ll be doing for the year. Last year she played volleyball, soccer, gymnastics, did dance

lessons and was a Girl Scout. We found ourselves

stretched pretty thin but our daughter is not willing to give anything up. How much is too much and how do I convince her to narrow down her activities? Thanks!

-Mary C., McKinney, Texas

Dear Marie,

Such a great question! We all want our kids to be active individuals

that are given the opportunity to participate in various activities so they can

find their strengths and then continue to build on them as they grow. Studies

even show that children that participate in these activities are more successful academically than those who don’t. Extracurricular activities also offer kids a self-esteem boost to those who may or may not be gifted academically.

And important relationships are often built with peers, coaches and leaders

that will help shape your child’s life in a positive way. The sense of purpose children gain from extracurricular activities may raise their aspirations and

help them say “no” to risky behaviors. So, we know it’s good for them to be

involved but we must be realistic as well. Running from one thing to another and always being crunched for time causes stress. Add in homework and

getting a good night’s rest into this mix and there is not much time left over for down time with family and friends.

Simple communication is the best way to stay in touch with how your

child is feeling about his/her activity load. Ask your child if she feels too

rushed or like there is no time for being with friends. Be sure she has enough time for homework and if grades fall, cutting back on activities is a must.

Explain to your child that she can keep her favorite activities but giving up

something will allow her to have more energy to devote to the activities she truly loves. For younger children, you may have to make the decision for them to cut back if it is in their best interest (not to mention the fact that it will be YOU toting them around to all these activities!)

Establishing balance is the key to getting the most out of extracurricular

activities.

Thanks for your question!

Christie Camizzi, RN

NurseCaster, Healthy KidCast Healthy KidCast is a fun, informative and free podcast that you can listen to via our website at www.HealthyKidCast.com. For more information on a wide range of child health topics, drop by and check us out! But remember that the advice given here or in our podcast is not meant to replace medical attention that should be provided by your healthcare provider. If you have specific concerns about your child’s health, please see your doctor. Send your questions to Nurse Christie at Christie@healthykidcast.com.

North Texas Kids • September 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

How to avoid those terri ble tantrums: Giving your child the gift of communication By Misty Felner Imagine you are in a store with your baby when suddenly she starts protesting loudly and pulling away from you. You ask her what’s wrong. And she becomes more adamant about something. For most parents this would most likely turn into a tantrum filled with crying and possible screaming. But, for a parent who has signed with their baby, they have given their baby a way to communicate their wants, needs, and interests. This story is exactly what happened with my 9-month old. We were at Costco when suddenly Renae started wiggling and fussing. I asked her what she wanted and she signed “tree.” I looked around and noticed a flower display. Renae wanted to see the flowers. Not only did signing keep us from a tantrum, but it also provided some real bonding as we went over and examined and smelled the flowers together. Many people who decide to sign with their baby learn about 15 signs and feel like that’s good enough. Any number of signs you learn will help you communicate with your baby. However if you limit the number of signs you learn, you are in fact, limiting your child’s communication. Signs like more, eat and all done are helpful. How about adding the names of all the different foods your child eats? Or, learning the names of the animals in his favorite book? He can also use signs to tell you which of his toys he might want to play or sleep with. Parents go to numerous classes to prepare themselves for the birth of their child. How about taking a sign language class to give your baby the gift of communication? I recommend that parents take a baby sign language class during pregnancy or before the baby is 3 – 4 months old, if possible. Parents need to learn the signs and start incorporating them into their daily routine. Babies can recognize signs as early as five months of age. They usually start signing themselves around nine months of age. There are many benefits to learning baby sign language. Here’s how my family, as well as some of my students, have benefited: Raises IQ: I remember how amazed I was when at 15 mo., my daughter Rachel signed white house as we drove down the alley. I didn’t truly grasp what she was telling me until I pulled into our driveway and looked at our white garage door and realized that she knew our house is the white house. Stops Tantrums: A few weeks ago I was at a Target looking at items in the “dollar spot.” Every time I started to turn or moved to look at something Renae would start to cry. I asked her what was wrong and she signed dog. It was then that I noticed the picture of a dog where it said “dollar spot.” It seemed when I moved I was blocking her view of the dog. Signing not only allowed me to understand what was upsetting her, but it also helped me be able to leave that area without a tantrum. Increases interests in books: When Rachel was around 14 months old, she used sign language to name the animals in a picture book. She was in effect, reading the book. By 17 months she was able to help me read books as complex as Dr. Seuss’s Go Do g Go. I would point to the words as I would read and leave out certain words or colors. Rachel would sign whatever word I left out. At one point she signed the entire sentence on the page just by looking at the picture. Strengthens family bond: Maria Schupp of Wylie is able to avoid a 10

North Texas Kids • September 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

stranger anxiety melt down with sign language. “While at play dates, if I have to leave my daughter in the care of another adult for a moment to use the restroom, I sign “mommy – potty” and she is fine with me walking away.” Sophisticated play: Before the age of two, Rachel and her friend Carson, who also signed, went to the Dallas Arboretum. They sat facing each other in a wagon and I watched as one of them signed to the other, “Did you see that squirrel?” The other replied “Where?” and was told “It ran up the tree”. “Oh yes I see it.” Imagine a whole conversation with another child before they are really even speaking in sentences. Build self esteem and confidence: Johanna, another mother from Wylie, shares, “For my son, the best reason for learning lots of signs was the simplest: he had a lot to say. We almost never had any frustration regarding communication problems. He definitely liked to talk.” Misty Felner teaches baby sign language workshops at Peppermint Baby Boutique. www.peppermint.com.

Things to do today: 1. Tell your friends about us! 2. Check out our website for even more neat stuff!

North Texas Kids • September 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

Overcoming Shyness: Helping your child excel in school and life by Debby Romick

hile some scientists may argue that shyness is often due to genetic predisposition, many psychologists will point to strong experiential factors. The latter of the two can often be explained by past experiences of rejection or fears of future failure. But as sad as social confidence may appear, there is good news. For children and teens who suffer from shyness, there are three major steps that parents can take to help: 1. Highlighting past successes 2. Provide opportunities for new successes 3. Get to the root of the problem

Reminders of past successes

Highlighting past successes doesn’t have to mean just verbally reminding a child that they did something well. It could include framing a photo of their best dance recital, placing awards or trophies in a place of prominence, placing an announcement in the newspaper or family newsletter, or asking them to mentor a younger child on the piano. You can also “brag” to family members or friends within earshot of your child, (“I was so proud of Michelle. She scored two points in her basketball game!”) or encourage a child just for attempting something new (even if they didn’t excel at it).

Opportunities for new successes

Just as you wouldn’t take a child who is afraid of heights up to the top of the Empire State Building, it’s not recommended that you force shy kids into unfamiliar social situations. Your best bet is to introduce them to familiar settings and activities, such as family events, close friends’ birthday parties or play dates in the comfort of their own home. Building social confidence doesn’t just come from interaction, however. It’s largely based on self-confidence, which can be increased through solo successes in art, music, grades, individual athletics, writing and responsibilities (taking care of an older sibling or pet). Look for opportunities to help your child soar at whatever he/she does – even if it has to start at home. Once your child hits a major milestone (such as completing an essay and entering it into a contest), be sure to praise his/ her effort rather than the final result. In the case of the essay, for example, you could share the piece with friends and family and ask them to send complimentary responses, or post the piece on an online community portal or personal blog.

The root of the problem

Sometimes, shyness is the result of a pervasive problem that may or may not exist outside the child’s control. Bullies or an overly critical parent or sibling can lead a child to devalue his/her worth and accomplishments. Look for ways to foster discussion with children to help determine the cause of their shyness. Questions like, “What makes you feel sad?” or “When was the last time you were mad?” may spark a conversation that leads to some discovery. One often-overlooked correlation is that shyness is often paralleled by low self-esteem due to slower (not lower) performance. While some may argue the “chicken or the egg theory” - that slow performance is a result of low selfesteem – scientists and psychologists now know that more often than not, selfesteem can be increased by increasing the speed at which results are attained. In fact, even smart kids tend to suffer a decrease of confidence when fhey don’t achieve their results (such as test-taking or homework) as quickly or 12

North Texas Kids • September 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

easily as their classmates. Take Angela Knutsen. Her 9-year-old daughter, Holly, was a good student and incredibly strong reader for her age. But Knutsen had concerns. “Holly would cry every day when I took her to kindergarten, and in first and second grade she would get herself so nervous about a change in routine; if there was a field trip or an assembly the next day, she would cry several times the night before, and she would look physically sick. It broke my heart.” Knutsen began researching programs to help bright children. “There were a lot of tutors and businesses that helped kids with severe learning disabilities, but that’s not what Holly needed,” she explains. “I eventually stumbled across a cognitive skills training company,” explains Knutsen. “The testimonials from other parents – especially those with fearful children like Holly – convinced me to give it a try. I kept hearing that increased confidence was a near-universal side effect.” Initial testing confirmed that Holly was weaker in those cognitive skills that are needed to excel in math – logic and reasoning, and memory – (though still above average compared to her peers). More specific testing unveiled weaknesses in retrieval fluency, short-term memory, and executive processing speed. Over the next several weeks, Holly worked with a brain trainer to strengthen her weakest cognitive skills. By the time she completed the program, Holly’s math skills – and math scores – had improved. But perhaps more importantly, so had her self-esteem. According to Knutsen, she was completing math tests and math homework more quickly and therefore didn’t have as much anxiety. “The biggest change is non-academic,” says Knutsen. “Holly is beaming. She’s more confident, happy, thriving. She’s doing things on her own that she never would have tried before—basketball, art classes, new babysitters. When she’s running off to try something new, my husband and I often say, ‘Who is this person and what has she done with our daughter?’” According to Dr. Ken Gibson, author of “Unlock the Einstein Inside: Applying New Brain Science to Wake up the Smart in your Child,” there’s a good reason that kids beat themselves up over low performance. “It’s an endless cycle to try to raise the self-esteem of kids who aren’t performing well – especially if they’re placed into special education instead of trying to get to the root of the problem, which is weak cognitive skills. Special education programs typically seek to accommodate struggling students with a primary strategy of lowering expectations to help those children get through school. Kids still compare themselves with peers outside of class, however, and special education students often suffer eroding self-esteem, which has the power to make their learning disabilities all that much more debilitating. But even smart kids will beat themselves up for under performing in one subject.” Tanya Mitchell, who works as the director of training for LearningRX, a national brain-training franchise, agrees. “We see all types of kids going through our brain-training programs – from children with ADD and dyslexia to teens who want to increase their learning skills to perform better on college prep tests. The two things they all have in common when they complete the program are stronger cognitive skills and increased self-esteem.” Whatever the cause, shyness is a common condition and shouldn’t be treated as a plague. Many children grow out of it and those that don’t can still go on to build healthy relationships and careers. Still, if there’s a non-genetic reason behind a child’s low self-esteem, getting to the root of the problem could be watching him/her transform before your eyes. Debby Romick is the center director for LearningRx. For more information, contact her at 972-267-8900 or visit www.LearningRx.com.

Success Means Something Different to Every Child

For Conner, it meant climbing to the top of this mountain on his own two feet. Last year he had to climb a different mountain. He was your typical 3rd grade boy, bright but not doing as well as his teachers and his parents knew he could. After a thorough diagnostic assessment at LearningRx, we discovered that he struggled with short term memory. After 12 weeks of training, Conner improved by 4 grade levels and was able to sit still and pay attention! He ﬁnished 3rd grade with straight A’s on his report card and a huge smile on his face.

“We cannot thank LearningRx enough for the difference they have made in his life. They did a great job of matching Conner with the perfect trainer and making their program so fun that he loved to go!” - Minette Riordan, Plano mom

d antee Guar s result

LearningRx can help your child deﬁne success, too! www.learningrx.com

Call today to schedule an assessment. 972.267.8900

Conveniently located near George Bush & Tollway

North Texas Kids • September 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

Emma’s Kid Friendly Restaurant Review

COVINO’S Pasta and Pizza

Effective communication is the ultimate key to success in life and in business. Looking for a dynamic speaker for your next Mom’s Club, Play Group, Church event or Corporate Lunch-n-Learn? Minette’s passion to improve communication in all walks of life drives her presentations, whether speaking to a group of parents, a business organization or to a sales force. In her speeches, Minette focuses on skills that anyone can use to become a compassionate listener and a passionate speaker.

3265 Independence Parkway Plano, TX 75075 (972) 519-0345

by Emma Bonin Covino’s is located on the

southwest corner of Parker and

Independence in Plano. It is especially crowded on Friday and Saturday nights. Once we went there on a

Friday, and the wait was over an hour.

Sample Topics: 10 Steps to Improving Communication at Home or on the Job Heart-Centered Parenting: Connect to Your Child By Listening to Their Feelings Life is Too Short to Wear Diamond Studs: How to Live a Bolder, Brigther Life For descriptions of these topics, testimonials from groups she has spoken to, or to read Minette’s bio, please visit her website at www.MinetteRiordan.com. To schedule Dr. Riordan for your next event, please call her office at 972-516-9070 or email her directly at minette@minetteriordan.com. Speaker

Trainer

Mentor

Author

This time we went on a Thursday

night and there was no wait at all, but it did get crowded later.

The atmosphere is like an old

Italian restaurant where a lot of family might come. The tables are a little

tight and there is a lot of talking and laughing.

My brother did not come with us

are also great choices. Mom and Dad

have also had the Abruzzi bread as an appetizer or a meal. It is like a pizza rolled inside a bread.

Other items on the kid’s menu

included spaghetti and meatballs and pizza.

We didn’t order pizza this time,

but Covino’s is known for their

handmade pizza. Many people say it

is just like New York style. They also have a patio dining which is great when it is not quite so hot. We didn’t order dessert, but I’ve

this time because he was at orchestra

got my sights set on the chocolate

was delicious. My mom also had the

go for the New York style cheesecake.

ordered the sausage and peppers

Hughston Elementary. She lives in Plano

because he ate every bite. My mom’s

is excited about the opportunity to review

salad which they liked. Adults can

with the readers of North Texas Kids.

camp. I had the kid’s lasagna. It

cannelloni, and I know lots of people

lasagna, and she loved it. My dad

Emma Bonin is a third-grader at

with pasta. He must have loved it

with her mom, dad, and brother, Jack. She

and dad’s dinner came with house

area restaurants and share her thoughts

bring their own wine to have with

dinner. My mom says that the shrimp parmigiana and the tortellini alfredo

Emma is an avid soccer player and enjoys swimming, computer games, baking, and getting together with friends.

YA O S I T M All About School Word Scramble sderga

cepinl

okotbeon

kmeroowh

acpkcbka

hretaec

ttse

trerop radc

answers: grades, notebook, backpack, test, pencil, homework, teacher, report card

North Texas Kids • September 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

Work from home and be your own boss?

Let’s get real!

We’ve all heard the wonderful offers: “Work from home! Be your own boss! Have more time with your family!” But is working from home really all a bed of roses? Yes, but among the roses are thorns! Many home-based business entrepreneurs will say how great working from home is (and speaking from four years of running my own home business, life is much better than before), but you rarely hear about the inevitable difficult times. Unfortunately, not if, but when people experience trying times, they often wonder if something is wrong with them or the business model they have chosen and start wondering if it is worth it, leading them toward the path of quitting. The truth is that you and your business probably are a good fit; it is just that you may not have been made aware of some of the pitfalls. In knowing some of the pitfalls up front, you will be more realistic and more successful. Below, I address two common potential misconceptions and shed some light on how to work within them.

it can be difficult to separate the two. There are beds to be made, ironing to do, or your 3 year old decides to throw a tantrum in the middle of your phone conversation with an important client. This can be quite stressful as your heart goes out to your child, while simultaneously you are in the middle of doing business with someone who is relying on you. Families also don’t always understand why you are not available for them 24/7 since you are “right there”. This can create frustration and guilt for everyone. To stay more balanced: Set boundaries. Carve out periods of time when working and when you are “off”. Focus on your housecleaning certain times of the week. When it is not that day, stay away from it. Yes, leave it! When you are working, ask if a neighborhood kid, or your older child, can entertain the kiddos for awhile. Work in a room that has a door you can close when doing business as well as when you need to walk away from business. Get the entire family involved. Create vision boards of things they dream of doing, having and going to. If everyone has a vested interest in the results of your business, they will be more willing to support the actions you have to take to get them there. All of these elements can be difficult to juggle, but consider, will your life be different 6 months from now, if you continue doing the same things you are doing today? If you want to change your future, change has to come in your actions, which can mean sacrifice. Your business is a business. If you are willing to sacrifice things today, you and your family will have richer lives later, learning a lot along the way. If you know this from the beginning, you are more likely to stick with it and be successfully fulfilled. It is definitely worth it! Elizabeth de Moraes has run a successful home business for 4 years so that she doesn’t miss those giggles and yummy hugs from her 4 year old daughter. She can be reached at elizabeth@enhancingwellness.info or www.BrightWomen.US.

#1 “Be your own boss!” – Many people love the idea of not answering to a boss, but if your business is going to succeed, you have to have someone leading it. This means you are now the boss of yourself and have to answer to yourself. This can be difficult because we can procrastinate on things that we don’t want to do. If you want to succeed, you have to show up whether you want to, or not. If you have been an employee most of your adult life, you probably are used to being told what to do and by when. Now you have to determine that and step up consistently. Going in your own direction is freeing; just make sure you determine the course you want to go and stick to it no matter what. Procrastination busters: Set goals with time lines, write them down, and have an accountability partner. Create specific “store hours” and stick with them. Self-discipline is the key. If you know this is not one of your strong points, it will need to be something repeatedly addressed. #2 “Have a balanced life, time freedom and flexibility with your family.” Now, putting “owning a business” and “having a balanced life” together can become an oxymoron if you are not careful. Now that you have your own business and everything is your responsibility, you may have a tendency to work more. The urge to call that last contact, check emails, and do more research, can be incessant! Yes, you are blessed with the freedom to pick up a sick child, and go to every performance they do throughout the year, but while at home, you may feel pressure to work more to make your business succeed. Since home and business life happen in the same place, the distractions of your home can keep you from staying focused on business, and vice versa, as North Texas Kids • September 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

Scissortail Publishing is expanding our sales team! If you are:

• Passionate about kids, family & community • Motivated • Organized • A people person • A great communicator • Computer savvy

Then we would like to talk to you... About a Sales Position that Offers: Generous Commissions / A Part-time or Full-time Opportunity / Flexible Hours / Work From Home / Sales Experience Recommended but not Required Please Fax A Cover Letter and Resumé to: 972-516-9048 or Email it to: info@northtexaskids.com We are looking for reps in the following areas: Dallas and Rockwall.

Serious Inquiries Only Please.

101

Ways to Praise a Child

Wow. Way to go. You’re special. Outstanding. Excellent. Great. Good. Neat. Well done. Remarkable. I knew you could do it. I’m proud of you. Super Star. Nice work. Looking good. You’re on top of it. You’re catching on. Now you’ve got it. How smart. Good job. That’s incredible. Hot dog. Remarkable job. You’re Beautiful. You’re a winner. You make me happy. Hip, Hip, Hooray. You’re important. Magnificent. Beautiful. Fantastic. You’re on target. You’re on your way. How nice. You’re Spectacular. You’re Darling. Super. Super Job. Beautiful work. Good for you. Nothing can stop you now. Dynamite. You’re fantastic. Awesome. You’re precious. Fantastic job. You’ve discovered the secret. Bingo. Great discovery. You’re a real trooper. Marvelous. Terrific. You’re growing up. Outstanding performance. You tried hard. You figured it out. What a good listener. You’re a treasure. You mean a lot to me. You’re a good friend. That’s correct. A big hug. What an imagination. You learned it right. You’re incredible. Now you’re flying. Bravo. Beautiful. I like you. I respect you. You’re sensational. Phenomenal. A+ job. Hooray for you. You’re unique. You care. Creative job. You belong. You brighten my day. Super work. That’s the best. You made my day. I love you! Beautiful sharing. You mean the world to me. You’re important. You’ve got a friend. You’re a joy. You make me laugh. You’re A - Okay - my buddy. I trust you. You are perfect. You’re wonderful. A big kiss. Exceptional performance.

P.S. Remember, a smile is worth 1000 Words! 16

North Texas Kids • September 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

(author unknown)

office. “In talking with parents

Why Music Lessons Matter Why North Dallas parents should consider music lessons when searching for ways to give their children a boost in the classroom. by Christi Victor The advent of a new school year brings with it all the trepidations inherent with this annual ritual. While students worry about new teachers, new friends and new activities, parents primarily focus on one major unknown: What can I do to empower my child to excel in the classroom? According to science, one answer is to let students start jamming, musically speaking, that is. Apparently, practicing a D flat on the piano can help students earn an A plus in geometry. Numerous studies show that participating in music lessons can greatly enhance students’ ability to significantly improve their grades. Why? Researchers point to the way music makes the brain work. According to a 2007 study conducted by neurologist Frank Wilson, M.D., musicians use approximately 90 percent of their brain while playing or singing. The study found no other activity that used the brain to that extent. “There is no doubt that engaging in musical education can make a world of difference in terms of enhancing a child’s thinking processes,” says Stacy Narus, founder and president of Piano Lessons in Your Home, Inc. “That was one of the primary drivers in my decision to build this company.” Again, research bears this out. A study by the University of California noted that after eight months of keyboard lessons, preschoolers showed a 46 percent boost in their spatial reasoning IQ. But the data doesn’t stop there.

Another study, which tracked more than 25,000 students for more than 10 years, found that students who reported consistently high levels of involvement with instrumental music scored significantly higher on math tests by the 12th grade. This observation held true for students regardless of their parents’ income, occupations and levels of education, said James S. Catterall, the lead author and an education professor at the University of California, Los Angeles. “It’s been my experience that children – as well as adults – regularly see tremendous improvements in the way they creatively assess, process and solve problems after committing themselves to learning more about music,” says Narus. Her company, which has offices in eight cities nationwide that include Chicago, Dallas, Cincinnati, Little Rock, Tampa, Fla., and Columbus, Ohio, provides piano, guitar and voice lessons in students’ homes. Christi Victor serves as the company’s Regional Director of the Dallas office and pairs up teachers with students all over the North Dallas area, such as in Carrollton, Coppell, Dallas, Frisco, Grand Prairie, Grapevine and Plano. Victor, whose musical education includes a double major in piano and vocal performance, teaches lessons in addition to managing the Piano Lessons In Your Home Dallas

around the Metroplex, it’s clear that they are looking for as many kinds of opportunities as they can that

give their children an edge in the classroom.

“The parents and I talk about

the benefits that structured music

lessons can offer,” Victor continues,

“and many parents understand that piano lessons, guitar lessons and voice lessons can really enhance

their children’s overall development and academic improvement.”

But Piano Lessons In Your

Home doesn’t just provide in-home

lessons. The company partners with Steinway Hall Plano, located in the 5800 block of Preston Rd., to host a concert series twice a year

to showcase

the practical application

of the skills

imparted to its students.

David

Duston of Steinway Hall says he

enjoys hosting the Piano Lessons In

Your Home events. “It’s such a treat to witness the expressions of these

students – and their parents – when

they get the opportunity to perform for family members on a genuine Steinway piano.”

“Finding quality piano teachers

is an important part of the process of a child’s music education, and

judging by they way their students respond at the performances,

Piano Lessons In Your Home does a great job in providing qualified instructors.”

In addition to the convenience

of in-home lessons and concert

series, the Piano Lessons In Your Home artistic director visits the

Dallas office bi-annually to provide

master class instruction for qualified students and continuing education training classes for Dallas area teachers.

For more information, go to www.pianolessonsinyourhome.com or call Christi Victor at (972) 280-9000.

North Texas Kids • September 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

Simple Concepts within

Outings

Adventures

The Biggest & Best INDOOR Kids Amusement Park.

By Lynda Morley

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

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ith September upon us, I am somehow drawn to the simple concept of cowboys, cowgirls, and their contributions to our great nation. A visit to Fort Worth’s National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame is

a must as well as the Sid Richardson Collection of Western Art and Fort Worth Stockyards for some real cowboy experiences. But if you can’t travel that far, come by the Farmstead where we will be exploring cowboys and cowgirls with activities relating to their life, job responsibilities and what they wear. Remember, the purpose of these activities is to encourage the development of critical thinking skills, allow for exploration of the world close by, and facilitate a strong bond between adult and child. Visit your local library and read a few books on this theme before and after your adventure. Bring with you a backpack filled with educational tools: color pencils, clip board, plain paper, ruler, scissors, first-aid kit, wad of string (– hey, you never know…) and anything else you think you might need.

Theme: Where:

The simple concept of cowboys and cowgirls! Explore Cattle Raisers Museum, Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame,

and National Cowboys of Color Museum and Hall of Fame, all in Fort Worth and Dallas’ Fair Park Hall of State.

For the 2 year-old: • Listen to stories of famous cowboys/girls and their lives. • Color a picture of cowboys/girls dressed in western wear. • Visit an equine stable and watch horses with their trainers.

For the 3 year-old: • Make a paper cowboy/girl vest and decorate with large rubber

stamps and fringe.

• Find pictures of cowboy/girl clothes and talk about how each item

was worn for protection. • Identify the animals that were the most important to a cowboy/girl.

North Texas Kids • September 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

For the 4 year-old: • Talk about special activities that cowboys/girls do at rodeos

(calf-roping, barrel racing, bull riding, etc.) • Look up some of the well-known Texas cattle drive routes on a map. • Identify specific jobs cowboys/cowgirls perform today. • Make your own personal brand from pipe cleaners and paint.

Ask: What is a “cattle drive” and how did cattle owners know which

animals belonged to which owner?

For the 5 year-old: • Learn about some of the more famous cowboy/girls including

Wyatt Earp, Bill Picket, and Annie Oakley.

• Visit the Mesquite Rodeo or Fort Worth rodeos and watch

modern-day cowboys/girls in action.

• Draw a picture of a cattle drive formation and include the wranglers,

the boss and “cookie”.

Ask: What does it mean “to take the bull by the horns”? Lynda Morley, Director of Education at the Heritage Farmstead Museum, in Plano and author of the 5th edition of Outings and Adventures Everywhere! (2006, ISBN 0-9662888-6-6)

has experienced hundreds of field trips and adventures throughout the metroplex. For more

Music Together Dallas is licensed by Music Together LLC www.musictogether.com

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North Texas Kids • September 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

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Painting Anything

(that Will Stand Still!) By Minette Riordan, Ph.D. My kids and I enjoyed a crafty summer. We love to do crafts and projects of almost any kind. Painting is always a favorite and we will carve out time once school is back in session to play with our watercolors and poster paints. Although my kids are past the age of coloring on the walls, I still like to keep them busy with fun activities and crafts. Maybe because I would rather paint than play another game of Uno. My favorite aunt, who lives in San Antonio, decided that the fence at her new house was too plain. She invited us to bring some painting clothes and our imaginations and to help her paint her fence the next time we came to visit. We headed to San Antonio with paint clothes packed, along with hats and sunglasses. It was June after all! Armed with paint brushes of all sizes, acrylic paint left over from other projects and blue house paint (see the background on the fence) we set out to turn her fence into a botanical wonder. With no preparation and no specific designs in mind, you can see what we came up with. Even my father-in-law participated by painting the background. What a fun, imaginative, creative morning we had. I was ready to come home and paint my own fence... Instead, we took our usual summer trip to see my husband’s family in Nova Scotia. We always plan one fun craft activity to keep the kids entertained. One year we made our own cement and made mosaics out of rocks and sea shells and hand prints. Another year we made talking sticks with beads, shells and feather. You get the idea. This year, I decided we needed to make a painted rock garden. Nova Scotia has lots of large, flat rocks (similar to many places in Texas). We found some old latex white paint, large paint brushes and a box of old acrylic paints from other craft projects. (sound familiar?) It was so much fun to see what each of 4 kids who participated came up with. I am not sure who had more fun, me or my mother-in-law. So next time you want a fun craft, dig in your craft closet or attic or wherever you keep all your left over supplies, find some old cardboard boxes, pieces of wood from a repair project or a few rocks, and let your children’s imaginations run wild. This spring, my husband built the kids a tree house in our backyard, I think it needs some decoration, don’t you?

North Texas Kids • September 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

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Fall Drama Classes

*J= % L@ ?J9<= c -=HL=E:=J L@ (GN=E:=J KL Each class offers professional training in all aspects of theatre. The application of that training culminates in a performance open to the public. All classes and performances will be held at the Frisco Arts Center, 6827 Main Street, Frisco To register, e-mail becky.mccants@gmail.com or call (214) 734-7326 Space is limited - register early! Pay on-line at www.womproductions.com and get a 10% discount. There is a one time $25 fee for new students.

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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!

Simply Pretend www.julieslp.com Providing individualized speech and language therapy. For more information, please contact Julie at 214-336-9342 julie_slp@yahoo.com

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with a Custom Nap Mat!

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Advertise Your Business Here for $83 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 • September 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

s my child to young for swimming lessons? This is a commonly discussed question by concerned parents. Your child began their life swimming, so why stop? Babies are born with a natural swim reflex and a natural ability to hold their breath. However, after three to four months, the child’s natural ability to swim is forgotten if not practiced. Johnny Johnson, former president of USSSA (United States Swim School Association), stated, “A three month old infant who has limited land movement skills will most likely go into the water more willingly... However, if we have a two- year- old child who has a great deal more land movement ability, then going into the water will cause a reaction to the change in balance, the ability to walk or move, and if there is an accidental submersion, the child will experience much more anxiety.” It is important to start children early because when a child is kept away from the water, they are more likely to develop aquaphobia. There are many benefits from starting your child out early in swimming lessons. Swimming builds self-confidence, strength, and safety around water. However, swimming lessons never replace parental supervision. Swimming forces children to move bilaterally which helps improve their coordination and balance. When children learn how to swim on their own their independence and self-confidence strengthens. Children learn in many different ways, and at many different rates. Bright colors and toys often help in children’s learning process. It helps to keep the children interested and involved in swimming. Children’s learning is also helped by singing songs, repetitive play, and positive feedback from teachers and parents. With this, children can learn to hold their breath, float on their back, kick their legs, and get back to the wall or steps in a fun and effective manner. It is often difficult for a parent to see their child crying during a swimming lesson, and it is hard to know what to do in this situation. Crying during swimming lessons is not uncommon with children. Crying is usually caused by separation from the parent and nervousness from being immersed into the water. As parents and teachers, we need to help them work and push through their fears. There are many different ways to work through their fear. One way is as simple as piggy-back rides during class. This is helpful because it helps the child see the other children learning in the class, and it also helps the child start to depend on the teacher. If we give in to the child’s fears, it teaches them that it is okay to be afraid. Swimming should be thought of as a fun, year round exercise and healthy activity for all children, not just as a summer activity. Swimming year round helps to maintain your child’s skill level. Year round swimming helps them not to forget what they have already learned and it prevents them from starting over every summer. Check with your local swim schools today to find out about the classes they offer.

Located in Adventure Scuba in Plano 2301 N. Central #140 Plano, TX 75075 (214) 558-SWIM (7946) paige@paigesswimschool.com

Bring in this ad and receive $25 off swim fees

**Paige Bedow owns and operates Paige’s Swim School at Adventure Scuba in Plano. She has been teaching swimming for twelve years, and created and ran a successful swim program for the last eight years in Allen, TX. Paige has been certified by the Red Cross WSI, Lifeguard, and has a HeartSaver First Aid and CPR certification. She has also been a member of USSSA. Paige is always furthering her education and knowledge through books, classes, and conferences. Paige recently achieved her PADI Advanced Open Water certification from Adventure Scuba. Contact her for swim lessons at www.paigesswimschool.com or 214.558.SWIM (7946). North Texas Kids • September 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

Are you looking for a way to put a treat in your child’s lunch that’s calorie-free and won’t cause cavities? It’s simple, with Kids Lunch Box Cards – the modern way to put a goodie in a lunchbox that is sure to put a smile on any child’s face. The purpose behind Kids Lunch Box Cards is to make children feel loved, ease separation anxiety, offer praise, or send a special message while they’re away from you at school. Gina Flanagan’s daughter came home sad every day from school because she ate lunch alone. Flanagan started writing and drawing special notes for her daughter and decorating her lunch box. Soon, her classmates wanted to see what was in her lunch, and a crowd started forming at her table. Flanagan asked her friend Rose Cricchio to help design special lunch box cards, and together, they came up with Kids Lunch Box Cards. Now Kids Lunch Box Cards are available for parents nationwide to send a special note of love and encouragement to their children. Elaborately drawn and loaded with fun facts and cool ideas, Kids Lunch Box Cards include topics like Wacky World, Fairies, Riddles, Gross-Outs and Looney Laws. There’s also space on the back for a special note. Tuck one in a lunchbox, backpack, duffel - the uses are endless! They are also postcard ready, so you can pop one in the mail to send to your kids at home or at college. Kids L come in packs of five. They’re available at www.kidsfuncards.com. Looking for other ways to pack fun into a lunch? The makers of Kids Lunch Box Cards believe in making every lunch fun. Here are some of their other ideas:

Game day lunch: streamers in team colors can decorate the inside of the lunchbox. Add a sport napkin and a sport trinket. Princess Lunch: tuck in a princess napkin, sprinkle edible glitter over the lunch, and include princess stickers. Pirate lunch: include a pirate napkin, a chicken leg, carrot “swords,” and Pirate’s Booty. Dried cherries, pineapple or other dried fruit on a cocktail sword or inside a small treasure check make great jeweled treats. Upside down day: a childhood favorite – make breakfast for lunch! Pancakes, French toast, syrup, fruit, bacon, and milk – or create your child’s favorite breakfast. Birthday lunch: add a birthday card to your child’s favorite lunch, decorate with stickers and crepe paper. How about adding fruit in the shape of your child’s age? Lunch from your pet: a special note from your child’s pet is guaranteed to bring about giggles. Cookie cutters in the shape of dog bones create a wonderful sandwich. Complete the lunch with animal shaped pasta and crackers. Look for more fun ideas from Gina and Rose at www.kidsfuncards.com

Painting, Sculpture, Clay, Oh My! Your Child Will Experience the Wide World of Art at

The Artist Within! We specialize in instruction for children and special needs students. Birthday Parties for ages 5 to 14 The Artist Within is owned and operated by Dawn Petty, who has been working as an artist in the Dallas area for twenty years.

972-596-6077 Ryan, age 16, shows off his first oil painting. Visit our online gallery to see other samples of student work.

Enroll now for Fall Semester www.artistwithin.com

The Artist Within dawn@artistwithin.com

www.aristwithin.com 2001 Coit Rd., Ste. 206, Plano N.W. Corner of Park & Coit

North Texas Kids • September 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

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Fun & healthy

after school

activities

Summer vacation is almost over, and it’s time to head back to school. But that doesn’t mean the fun has to stop. Charles Kasbarian, M.D., family practice physician on the Baylor Plano medical staff suggests a few fun and healthy after school activities.

n Bike to and from school instead of driving n Jump rope, hula hoop or fly a kite! n Make homemade popsicles using frozen strawberries or other favorite fruit

Collin County’s

Premier Family Entertainment Center

n Host a neighborhood watermelon eating contest

8789 Lebanon Rd. Frisco, TX 75034

n Incorporate swimming relays and races during an afternoon trip to the pool

n Set up a lemonade stand in your neighborhood and consider donating the proceeds to a local charity n Enjoy a healthy picnic at the park n Explore nature at a local nature preserve

n Invite friends over for a volleyball tournament

n Perform a photo scavenger hunt at the local zoo NTK

North Texas Kids • September 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

The Critical Role of

Imagination

in Childhood Development

By Dr. Caron Goode

Imagination is a potent ingredient that we as busy parents often dismiss and brush aside as mere childhood play. But imagination is a critical component to learning -- one that serves as the foundation for a host of necessary life skills. Self-dialog is a component of imaginative play that helps children learn to overcome obstacles and master the art of self-regulation. Unstructured imaginative play also serves to round out a child’s whole-person development. Recent studies indicate that imaginative play has changed drastically in the past 60 years, and that children’s overall development is suffering because of it. One study conducted in 2001 intended to compare results to a similar study from the late 1940’s. Its goal was to test children’s capacity for selfregulation. In the 1940’s study, the researches tested children ages 3, 5 and 7 by asking them to stand perfectly still without moving. The 3-year-olds could not stand still at all, the 5-year olds could for about three minutes, and the most of the 7-year-olds could stand still for as long as the researchers asked. Compare this to the astonishing results from the 2001 study at the MidContinent Research for Education and Learning, where the 5-year-olds could only stand for a duration equal to that of the previous level of 3-year olds. More tellingly, the 7-year-olds of today were barely approaching the level of 5-year-olds from over a half century ago. Psychologist Elena Bodrova commented, “The results were very sad.” Why is imaginative play such a critical component in developing selfregulation? During periods of make-believe and pretend, children engage in self-dialog – a life skill that helps empower them to learn to overcome obstacles, master cognitive and social skills and manage their emotions. It is during this period of self-dialog, or private speech, that children decide on desired objectives and then strategize ways to accomplish those feats. Self-dialog is also a tool that many adults still utilize when faced with challenges or problems. By talking things through, we’re able to process situations, analyze them and design solutions for them. Studies also show that creative and imaginative play can aid in other areas development such as memory, attitude, planning, attention and creativity, as well as help children expand and hone their language and communication skills. A key change that many scientists are concerned with is the fact that until the advent of television, childhood play revolved around some type of activity, vs. today’s usual object-centric type of play. Before television, children utilized everyday objects to create scenarios and to imagine a world of their own. If a boy found a stick, it was not merely a stick -- it had the capacity to become a knight’s sword, a fishing pole, or a Native-American spear. Another area of concern is the loss of unstructured time that allows children to engage in imaginative play. From soccer and baseball games to piano and karate lessons, children today have far less time than past 28

North Texas Kids • September 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

generations to let their imaginations run free. And while leagues and lessons offer many benefits to children, the fact is that when kids are engaged in structured activities, they are regulated by the adults in their lives and not themselves. Compound this with the dearth of electronic devices that serve not to expand children’s minds but to numb them, and you can see why children today have fallen behind in their abilities to self-regulate. Why is self-regulation such an important life skill? Poor self-regulation skills (also referred to as executive function) correlate strongly to increased dropout rates and gravitation towards substance abuse and other behaviors that put children not only at risk, but jeopardize their entire future. Studies have shown that good self-regulation skills are a better predictor of success in school and life than a child’s IQ. Children that master good executive function will be able to control their own behavior, manage their feelings, and keep themselves on task – all elements that contribute to educational and cognitive development and success. What are some ways you as a parent can encourage imaginative play in your child? Here are just a few to get you started: 1. Limit television viewing and time spent playing computer or electronic games 2. Schedule time for imaginative play, just as you would schedule time for piano lessons or soccer practice. (You don’t need to tell your child you’re doing this, as you then impose structure.) 3. Encourage interaction between peers by letting your child have friends over or go to a friend’s house. Peer interaction often drives the imaginative process, and develops children’s social, language and problem-solving abilities. 4. While play dates are all the rage, make sure that you or other parents allow children to interact together at their own level and pace, instead of dictating for them how the play date unfolds. Parents can also interact with children in a variety of ways that let children master creativity through the use of imagination. These include: 1. Creating stories together, where you each take turns adding a thread to the tale. You can start the process by finding an everyday object and verbalizing a sentence or two about it to create a scenario. Then, let your child take over and embellish the tale from there. As you go back and forth adding to the story, you’ll stimulate and challenge both of your imaginations. 2. Provide tools for make believe. Have objects like pots and pans with spoons, and building blocks and craft supplies on hand that you keep in the “Imagination Drawer.” Then, make sure to direct your child to the magic drawer when she says, “I’m bored.” 3. Play the “Imagine If” game. Whether you’re in your garden or driving along in the car, look for objects and then start conversations with, “Imagine if …” – i.e., “Imagine if roses were blue,” or “Imagine if birds swam and fish flew.” This helps children hone their visual processing and cognitive skills, as well as opening them up to seeing the world in new ways. Just as exercise is important to the physical development of muscles, imaginative play allows children to build their creative and problem-solving “muscles.” By making sure to incorporate imaginative play in our children’s lives, we give them the capacity to become self-regulated problem solvers – ones whose futures are limited only by their boundless imaginations. Source List Old-Fashioned Play Builds Serious Skills -- NPR http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=19212514 Creative Play Makes for Kids in Control – NPR http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=76838288 Caron Goode’s (EdD) insights are drawn from her fifteen years in private psychotherapy practice and thirty years of experience in the fields of education, personal empowerment, and health and wellness. She is the author of ten books (www. inspiredparenting.net) and the founder of the Academy for Coaching Parents,(www. acpi.biz) a training program for parents & professionals who wish to mentor other parents. Reach her at carongoode@mac.com.

by Mike Kravik

“Baseball begins in the spring, the season of new life. Football begins in the fall, when everything’s dying.” -George Carlin

The world lost a great comedian this past summer when George Carlin died at the age of 71. In his prime, there was arguably nobody funnier and his “Baseball & Football” routine is a true classic that stands up today. When I became a teenager in the mid-70’s I didn’t have my own stereo but I wanted to listen to a George Carlin album. This required planning because I grew up in a household not much different than Wally and Beaver Cleaver and Carlin would occasionally work blue. Real blue. Our family stereo was a source of pride to my parents. It was one of those wood-encased, all-in-one, pieces of furniture in our sunken living room with the nasty green shag carpet placed in full view of everybody. I made a field assessment that this was a case where asking for forgiveness was better than asking for permission. I rationalized that my parents had never told me I couldn’t listen to George Carlin so technically I was in the clear. There I was, 13 years old, wearing oversized headphones, trying to suppress my laughter and confident that I had pulled one over on my parents. You can only imagine my fading smile and nervous laughter the day I came home to find both of my parents listening to Carlin’s “Class Clown” album. “Football has hitting, clipping, spearing, piling on, late hitting, and unnecessary roughness while baseball has the sacrifice.” -George Carlin I could be brought up on charges for admitting that football has never been my favorite sport. I write about sports in the state of Texas yet have always avoided football. Admittedly, the final product and pageantry surrounding the sport is exciting. The social occasions centered around all levels of football are priceless and galvanizing a school or city is definitely worthwhile. It’s the actual nuts and bolts of playing the sport and the preparation required that it takes to play football where I have problems. Constantly pounding on each other in two-a-day practices in hundred degree heat for several weeks and then spending four months of your life as a walking bruise never seemed to be an even trade-off for eight, maybe ten games per year. Those boys in middle school, high school, college and professional football all pay the price. My son is entering 8th grade this fall and has played football for several years. Last spring he told me he was done and that he didn’t want to play football any more. Flashing back to the sight of somebody’s kid I saw at a middle school game last fall being placed on a back board and carted off a football field via ambulance made me very cool with his decision. Football players get hurt and if you are an eighth grader checking in at 5’2 110 lbs. you better be really fast, really tough and really want to play the game. “In baseball, during the game, in the stands, there’s kind of a picnic feeling; emotions may run high or low, but there’s not too much unpleasantness. In football, during the game in the stands, you can be sure that at least twenty-seven times you’re capable of taking the life of a fellow human being.” -George Carlin Now that my son says he’s retired from football I feel as though I’m more qualified to dispense been there, done that advice. It’s one thing to curse Tony Romo for throwing an interception or screaming at a running back from your alma mater for fumbling at the goal line. It’s quite another to yell at an eleven year old kid who is not only doing everything he can to survive but everything he can to please you. Demanding that an elementary football player “go tear somebody’s head off” is more likely to appall than impress everybody around you. If you’re at a middle school football game this fall please show patience with the coaches. Some of these men are charged with coaching two different

Correction to the July Issue North Texas Kids would like to issue a correction on our story last month surrounding the Spring Valley Athletic Association. Al Hockaday and Derwood Stewart got together during the late 1960’s and put down the blueprints of what would later become SVAA. Stewart was the principal of Spring Valley Elm School and both he and Hockaday helped build the baseball field that still exists today. They also put up the lights at Churchill Park. Baseball and football were SVAA’s first two sports and by 1970 an SVAA’s girl’s basketball league was also formed. With the confluence of a population explosion in North Dallas Suburbia and a popular yet well-run concept, SVAA began to thrive. More kids wanted to play more sports and eventually volleyball, soccer and softball were all added as options for kids in SVAA. North Texas Kids apologizes for any confusion regarding the origins of SVAA. North Texas Kids • September 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

Sports Scoop

Football vs Baseball: A Never Ending Saga

teams of the same grade level in one evening and trying to make sure that as many as fifty kids get their mandatory playing time. This is not an easy task and some kids will fall through the cracks or not be used effectively in games. While every coach will tell you that winning is not the number one goal in middle school, every coach still wants to win. Do yourself and your child a favor. Chew on a piece of gum instead of on the coaches. “In football the object is for the quarterback, also known as the field general, to be on target with his aerial assault, riddling the defense by hitting his receivers with deadly accuracy in spite of the blitz even if he has to use the shotgun. With short bullet passes and long bombs, he marches his troops into enemy territory, balancing this aerial assault with a sustained ground attack that punches holes in the forward wall of the enemy’s defensive line. In baseball the object is to go home! And be safe! I hope I’ll be safe at home!” -George Carlin

Sports Scoop

DrewFulton’s

International Journey

by Mike Kravik

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North Texas Kids • September 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

hen a family relocates, it is one of the more stressproducing experiences for everybody involved, probably more so with children. Moves create distance from families, disrupt friendships and can upset stability in a kid’s life. Twelve year old Drew Fulton, has been a boomerang for most of his life. Drew was born in Honolulu, moved to Grapevine, Texas, to San Juan, Puerto Rico and then in 2003, back to the United States and Lucas, Texas. During the spring of 2003 Drew was introduced to the game of baseball and it was love at first sight. Just when it appeared Drew’s family had put down solid roots, a curve ball was thrown during the summer of 2007. Dad had a lucrative opportunity with a company whose office was in London, England. Amongst all the other uncertainty, the nagging mystery to Drew was whether he’d still be able to play baseball. There was a sigh of relief when he found out his new school not only had a baseball team but that there was also a local Little League program in London. Spring began and Drew started playing baseball just like every other year. He eventually earned a tryout for the England All-Star team that would be attempting to make it to Williamsport, Pennsylvania and play in the Little League World Series. Going to Williamsport meant representing a country, playing baseball against teams from all over the world and having it all covered by both ESPN and ABC. This whole moving to England thing was now being viewed in a much more favorable light. Little League baseball is still at the grassroots level in Europe. Several players on these teams are American kids in situations similar to Drew. The European Regional Tournament would be held in Kutno, Poland with two pools and fourteen teams competing. The winner would go to Williamsport. England practiced hard throughout the summer and on

July 29 the team boarded a flight from London to Warsaw before taking a three hour bus trip to Kutno. July 30 Wednesday Some of the parents who have accompanied the team make the

observation that considering Poland has historically been the battleground between the West and East, it is an appropriate setting for the battle of European baseball supremacy. Kutno is now largely a farming community but during World War II, Nazi Germany had made it the site of a children’s concentration camp. The railroad tracks that transported numerous people to Auschwitz are still there and serve as a very sobering reminder. The passage of time in the last sixty years had been kind to Kutno. The tournament starts tomorrow and England’s first game is against Ireland. July 31 Thursday The game will be played at Piszek Stadium. Edward J. Piszek was a successful businessman (cofounder of Mrs. Paul’s) in the United States and returned to his native Kutno in the 1980’s and started the first youth baseball program in Poland. There have been a lot of hard feelings throughout history between England and Ireland and no steps were made towards future diplomacy today as England drilled the undermanned and inexperienced Irish 24-0. The English team have looked around at the other teams and are starting to feel good about their chances. The big joke around the team is that they are having “Turkey” for breakfast tomorrow. August 1 Friday All the teams and coaches stay in a fenced-in compound complete with barracks, bunk beds and bathrooms. There is a community shower and although it isn’t required for the boys to wear bathing suits while they shower, it’s what most of the teams

confident their discussions are a platform for solving all the world’s problems. August 5 Tuesday One cannot soar with the eagles

in the morning if they have been hooting with the owls at night and this proves to be true in Kutno. There are morning casualties and not every parent makes it on time for the early tilt against Sweden. Those that do carried big coffees and wear their best pair of sunglasses to combat the morning sun. Sweden is unique because they have two girls on their team. They also have a 6’2” gas-throwing man-child who hits a bomb over the fence but he is the only real threat the Swedes have and England powers their way to a 13-1 win. August 6 Wednesday England swats away a tough German squad 6-2 to get to the Final Four. Tomorrow they play the Netherlands while Italy takes on the Czech Republic. Dangerous visions of being on SportsCenter are starting to creep into everybody’s head. August 7 Thursday Throughout the tournament things have gone well for England. Their line drives have not been caught, their bloop hits have fallen in and their ground balls have had eyes. The sun shines on a different dog today and the always laid back Netherlands team play as though they have nothing to lose and jump to an early lead. The boys from England cannot get anything going and everything they hit is caught. Batting grips tighten and the reality of what they’re playing for starts to set in. The dream unravels and the Netherlands defeat England 3-1. Lots of tears from the 12 year old boys playing for England and angst mixed with pride for the parents. August 8 Friday The sun did rise the next day and life moved forward. The England manager jumbled up the line-up, let his boys mix and match whatever uniform combination they wanted and the result was a team that played loose and with relaxed intensity. England smacks the Czech Republic 7-1 and wins third place. After the tournament, Drew gets the wonderful news that his family is moving back to Lucas, Texas. When a curve ball is thrown to a batter, they are supposed to keep their hands back and go with the pitch. If the pitch hangs, the batter needs to turn on it and hit it out of the park. Drew Fulton’s summer baseball adventures in 2008 were a home run by any measure.

Sports Scoop

do. The exception are the free and easy Netherlands team who laugh at everybody else’s modesty and take showers in the buff. England rolls all over the Turks 24-0 and it is more than apparent to everybody that they are one of the better teams in the tournament. August 2 Saturday The team from England is more privileged than many of the teams they are playing. England has four different uniforms to wear, the best equipment and all of their parents make the trip to Poland to support their team. Some of the other teams have one uniform, no parental support and are grateful for any baseball equipment they can find. Not having the best things given to you can be a blessing. An “Us against the world” mentality is something coaches love but cannot always manufacture. The Lithuanians don’t have the latest and greatest of everything but that does not stop them from playing a nice brand of baseball. England is taken to the wall by the scrappy Lithuanians and need a run in the bottom of the sixth inning for a walk-off 3-2 win. The boys get a day off on Sunday and morale is high because halfway through the tournament England is 3-0 and set to meet the undefeated Czech Republic on Monday afternoon. August 4 Monday England takes down the Czech Republic 3-2 with another walk-off win and is the only undefeated team left in the tournament. The boys bonded long ago but the parents have finally let down their guards and begin to learn about each other. That evening while the boys are asleep in their barracks, most of the parents get together on the deck of a villa. The conversation and beverages of choice flow freely. By the end of the evening many feel

North Texas Kids • September 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

Sports & Fitness Programs

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North Texas Kids • September 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

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Backpacks and Shoes That You Can Write On By Minette Riordan, Ph.D.

Meet Jim Mulligan and Kelye McKinney, founders of Graffeeti, Inc. a California-based company that created Re-markable™ shoes several years ago. Jim and Kelye are civil engineers and friends who have been bouncing ideas off of each other for many years. Kelye finally hit on one in 2005 that they thought could be a success. Jim and Kelye both have young children at home, and we all know that kids will write on anything, whether they are supposed to or not. They also know that graffiti and tagging are popular with kids, though not with adults. They came up with a concept for a shoe with dry erase panels that kids could write on again and again. This might even stop your preschooler from creating masterpieces on the dining room walls. Working together in Jim’s garage and later with a shoe manufacturer, Jim and Kelye created “Re-markable™” shoes. There are two styles, a high top, think Converse, and a low top version resembling Van’s. The shoes have dry erase panels built in, along with a loop that holds a special dry erase marker that is nontoxic. The shoes come in a variety of colors and styles. You can find more information about the shoes on their website at www.graffeeti.com along with a disclaimer that they do not promote either tagging or graffiti in public places. What a great way to create portable artwear artwork? that will keep kids happy and moms happy. Jim and Kelye describe the shoes as a toy and a shoe all rolled into one. “Kids love a do-over,” says Jim. Kelye found that her children love to constantly reinvent themselves. Not only that, she could sneak a note on the toe of a shoe as they run out the door for school. Or if you have

a forgetful child, write a note to help them remember to bring home their jacket that has been at school for three weeks. I can think of great ideas for my 4th grader, who always manages to get home without one key piece of something to finish his homework. Kelye also noted that you can learn a lot about your child by observing their artwork. What reaches your children, what interests them? What kinds of things are they drawing? Flowers, happy pictures, edgy images, sports related pictures or sad faces and gloomy pictures? Can you really get all of that from watching them draw on a shoe? You can if you pay attention. Certainly art therapy is a well-known practice for helping children to deal with a range of emotional challenges. While I am not saying that these shoes are a substitute for therapy, I do think Kelye’s point is valid. When we pay attention to what our children are doodling, we learn something about them. For the holidays this year, Jim and Kelye have taken their concept one step further. They have created a Remarkable™ backpack. They sent a sample to the North Texas Kids office, and I am not sure who is enjoying playing with it more, our kids or the staff. Everyday there is new artwork on it, we love how erasable it is and that you can start fresh every day with no “ghosting,” those images and lines that seem impossible to get off the big dry erase boards in our conference room. The backpack is a nice size and weight for elementary

school children. It comes with a pack of non-toxic dry erase markers in six bright colors. The top portion of the front of the backpack is a dry erase panel . I can easily see children walking through the halls with original artwork, messages to friends or to-do lists on the board. What a great organizational tool this can be. I talked to Jim and Kelye to get a better understanding of why they created Graffeeti, but also to ask them what advice they have for other parents who know they have a great idea for a kid-related product but don’t know where to start or how to get it to market. Here is a list of their top 6 most important tips for starting a new business: 1. Find a partner (particularly one with a complementary skill set to yours) 2. Take it one day at a time, keep moving forward one step at a time 3. Don’t quit your day job 4. Surround yourself with a good support team – your attorney, accountant, marketing company, etc. 5. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or to feel intimidated by others. You can’t grow and improve otherwise. 6. Network with others in a similar place as you. Jim and Kelye belong to a group of “Mom inventors” that meets monthly to brainstorm, share ideas, connections and challenges. Along the road to success, there are inevitably challenges as well. Jim and Kelye both talked about the late hours, the travel, trying to balance a full-time job, time with their family and time to grow Graffeeti™. They are both fortunate to have supportive spouses at home and a built-in focus group of kids willing to wear their products. Jim and Kelye are committed to community and to giving back

as a key part of their business plan. They give both shoes and money to various kid-related organizations. Through a school in Louisiana, they sent a bunch of shoes to Swaziland in Africa. They have worked with children’s charities around California as sponsors and donors. According to Jim, their tagline “Tag…You’re It,” “is a fun play on words, describing both the artful “tagging” done with our shoes, as well as our interest in encouraging others to reach out and help others.” When I asked them what was the most fun part of creating their products, Jim commented, “Give your kids a shoe they can draw on and they won’t bug you for an hour, whether in the car, waiting at the doctor’s office or for a movie to start.” We all know how hard it can be to get your kids to wait anywhere for anything. They also said that they have enjoyed meeting so many new people along their path and that this has been a tremendous educational experience. What makes it all worth it is seeing kids smile when they get a pair of Graffeeti™ shoes and immediately start coloring on them!

North Texas Kids • September 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

Does your child need a boost with...

social skills acquisition, making new friends, paying attention or impulse control? Rich Educational Consulting offers individualized and comprehensive assessments in areas such as Reading Skills and Comprehension, Dyslexia, Language Processing, ADD/ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders and Sensory Integration. Visit our website for other services.

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North Texas Kids • September 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

NTK Calendar of Events

Looking for Something to Do in Your Own Backyard or Around the Metroplex? You Will Find it Here! Find these events and more online at www.northtexaskids.com.

September

1 Monday McKinney

Dinosaurs Alive! - Mon Sep 1 All day event: Dinosaurs Alive! Life-size Animatronic Dinosaurs at the Heard. Due to popular demand, these 12 life-size animatronic dinosaurs are coming back from total extinction just for your family to experience and enjoy! Watch our website for updates at www.heardmuseum.org

2 Tuesday Lewisville

Barnes & Noble weekly event for Spanish speaking toddlers and preschoolers - Tue Sep 2 4:00 PM: Tuesdays at 4 pm. Please join us for a new weekly event, especially for Spanish speaking toddlers and preschoolers. We’ll read a book, have a snack and make a simple craft all in Spanish. Located at 2325 South Stemmons Frwy Lewisville 75067 (North West corner area at Central & Round Grove Rd) 972-315-7966 Dallas

Organic in the City - Tue Sep 2 6:00 PM: Organic in the City is an urban environmental education and entertainment series at Texas Discovery Gardens at Fair Park. Texas Discovery Gardens at Fair Park. To register, call (214) 428-7476 ext. 23 or visit www.texasdiscoverygardens.org.First Tuesday of the month. Cost: $10 per person; $8 for members

3 Wednesday Keller

NFL Punt, Pass and Kick - Wed Sep 3 6:00 PM: For boys and girls ages 8 to 15. Free Location: Keller Sports Park. Girls and boys ages eight to 15 will compete against each other with punting, passing, and place kicking skills in a fun and engaging forum. Winners will advance through four levels of competition, all the way to the National Finals at an NFL team stadium. Visit NFL’s Punt, Pass and Kick official website. For more information, call Keller Parks and Recreation at (817)743-4050. www.nflrush. com/play/ppk/

4 Thursday Richardson

Elimination Communication/Infant Potty Training Workshop - Thu Sep 4 All day event: Elimination Communication is a natural approach to responding to your baby’s elimination needs. The ancient art of Elimination Communication involves observing one’s baby’s signs and signals, providing cue sounds and elimination-place associations, and can be done with or without any diaper use. The rewards of closer communication and understanding your baby are very much worth it. www.peppermint.com Lewisville

Barnes & Noble story-time - Thu Sep 4 10:00 AM: Thursdays at 10 am. Please join us for story-time each week with a new featured story. Call 972-315-7966 or visit the 2325 South Stemmons Frwy Lewisville 75067

location for weekly titles. Bring your family and friends each week. Mesquite

Fun with Manners - Thu Sep 4 6:30 PM: Manners are guidelines for getting along and showing respect to others. This session will cover conversations, outings, manners, table etiquette, and special occasions. The table etiquette section will include place settings, menu reviews, table manners, and will finish with a dinner party! Evans Recreation Center, 1116 Hillcrest, Mesquite TX 972/285.4145 Age: 8+, $30/4 weeks, www.cityofmesquite.com

6 Saturday Plano

PSA Fall Sports Fair Day - Sat Sep 6 10:00 AM: PSA is pleased to bring the community to you! Come by the PSA StarCenter for FREE games, prizes, and giveaways from our valued PSA Sponsors, including: Metro PCS, Gatti Town, The Purple Cow, Sky Ranch Camps, State Farm, ER Centers of America and North Texas Kids. Stop by and speak with representatives from PSA Sports Programs to find out how you can get your child involved in quality, yearround recreational and competitive youth sports offered by PSA to nearly 50,000 area kids! www.psaplano.org Mesquite

Yoga Tots - Sat Sep 6 10:00 AM: Little ones are natural yogis. They’ll playfully stretch like dogs, roar like lions, and stand like graceful flamingos. As they complete each new yoga pose, they’ll gain a new feeling of accomplishment. Evans Recreation Center, 1116 Hillcrest, Mesquite TX 972/285.4145 Ages: 3-6 $25/4weeks, www.cityofmesquite.com Lewisville

Barnes & Noble story-time - Sat Sep 6 11:00 AM: Saturdays at 11am. Please join us for story-time each week with a new featured story. Call 972-315-7966 or visit the 2325 South Stemmons Frwy Lewisville 75067 location for weekly titles. Bring your family and friends each week. Plano

UR Votes Count - Sat Sep 6 12:00 PM: Collin Creek Mall hosts UR Votes Count, an exciting nationwide teen election that allows teen shoppers to get informed, get involved and get heard by voting on important nationwide issues and their choice for the president of the United States. Teens who participate in the UR Votes Count event also will receive great retailer offers and instant giveaways and be entered into a sweepstakes for a chance to win cool prizes.In addition, participants 18 years and older also can register to vote through UR Votes Count program partner, Declare Yourself, found on the ‘partner’ tab on www.urvotescount.com/

7 Sunday Grapevine

Divine Consign Children’s Consignment Show - Sun Sep 7 All day event: Divine Consign, the Dallas Metroplex’s favorite twiceyearly consignment sale specializing in the highest quality gently worn children’s, ju-

nior’s and maternity clothing, toys, books, games, DVDs, baby equipment (strollers, exersaucers, etc.) and baby and children’s furniture. www.divineconsign.net McKinney

CTYO Auditions - Sun Sep 7 3:00 PM: Cross Timbers Youth Orchestra will hold auditions for the -2009 season. Auditions are open to musicians in elementary school through high school from Collin County and surrounding counties. Application fee is $20. CTYO has five orchestras, designed for various levels of musical ability and each performs a wide range of repertoire, from music of the Baroque, Classical and Romantic periods to Folk and Contemporary styles. Applications and more information is available at www.ctyo.org or by calling 972-658-4227. McKinney Performing Arts Center, 111 N Tennessee Street McKinney

Stonebridge United Methodist Church and Avenues Counseling Center Partner for Presentation on Blended Families. Beginning September 7, Stonebridge United Methodist Church will offer a three-part class discussing how to make blended families work. Sessions will be held September 7, 14 and 21 from 6-8 p.m. at the church located at 1800 S. Stonebridge Dr. in McKinney. Presented by Hank Wich, executive director of Avenues Counseling Center and whom also holds a masters degree in Marriage and Family Therapy, the sessions will cover topics including: Family Structure: Important Elements; Establishing the Family Culture; and, Dealing with Issues: Setting Rules & Boundaries; Negotiating with Extended Family; and Dealing with Disruptions. Cost is $30 per family to cover materials. Susan and Jim Owens will also be present to share their experiences being a blended family. For more information or to make a reservation for the class, call 972-529-5601. For more information on Stonebridge United Methodist Church, visit www.mysumc.org. For more information on Avenues Counseling Center, visit www.avenuescounseling.org.

8 Monday Dallas

Princess and Pirate Tea Time - Mon Sep 8 9:30 AM: Little ones will learn proper table etiquette and everyday manners with an entertaining dress up tea party! Toddlers will dress up in a princess or pirate costumes while listening to enchanting stories. Mini treats and lemonade will be served and children will create a craft during each class. Ages: 3-6, $25/4weeks. Ridgewood Recreation Center, 6818 Fisher Road, Dallas. 214/670.7115 www.dallasparks.com

9 Tuesday Richardson

Project Green Summit: “Putting Green into Action” - Tue Sep 9 7:30 PM: WFAA-TV Channel 8 presents Project Green Summit: “Putting Green into Action” with keynote speaker Ed Begley, Jr. Benefiting The Texas Trees Foundation and Keep Texas Beautiful. Ed Begley, Jr., known for his pioneering efforts to “go green” will deliver the keynote

address and cover how his eco-journey began. He will outline how making positive changes for the environment can have many benefits. Begley will explore the challenges we face in adopting green practices and how they can be overcome. Hill Performance Hall. Tickets: $8. Eisemann Center Ticket Office 972-744-4650 www.wfaa.com/ projectgreen

10 Wednesday Gainesville

Frank Buck Zoo Stroller Safari - Wed Sep 10 10:00 AM: For adults with infants, toddlers, and Pre-K children who are excited about animals and nature and who want to learn more about Frank Buck Zoo’s animal family. For more information contact (940)668-4533.

11 Thursday Plano

Beka Book Home School - Thu Sep 11 11:00 AM: This is a home school curriculum and text book sale. Admission: FREE. For more information contact Mickey Pierce at 800-613-3222, ext. 67. Plano Centre, 2000 East Spring Creek Parkway

12 Friday Carrollton

Carrollton Early Childhood PTA Meeting Guest Speaker Amy Diehl discuss “Love and Logic” parenting. This event is free, and open to parents and caregivers of babies-preschool age children in Carrollton AND the surrounding community. Childcare is available for a nominal fee. 9:30-11:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 12 at Holy Covenant Church, 1901 E Peters Colony in Carrollton.www.cecpta.org

13 Saturday Richardson

Cloth Diapering Workshop - Sat Sep 13 All day event: Description: Why you should use cloth diapers; an overview of the different types of diapers; how many you’ll really need; how to clean for both clean and dirty diapers; and troubleshooting issues - everything from diaper stink to stripping diapers to leaking. www.peppermint.com Lewisville

4th Annual Race for the Children - Sat Sep 13 8:00 AM: Chip Timed by Racing Systems. 5K/1M City Hall, Old Town Lewisville, TX 214-676-0586.www.lewisvillelodge.org/ page009.html Prosper

Prosper Arts & Music Festival - Sat Sep 13 10:00 AM: The Prosper Town Center will be transformed to a gallery of regional artists and crafters. The main stage of the festival will feature the live music of local bands, solo artists and more. A special Kids Corner featuring pony rides, a barrel train and unique interactive crafts. For a fun filled day with your family and friends, please visit the Prosper Arts and Music Festival in Texas - you will have the opportunity to purchase some very unique artwork and crafts. Prosper Town Center, www.prosperartsandmusicfestival.com/

North Texas Kids • September 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

Plano

2008 YES! YOUTH EXPO - Sat Sep 13 10:00 AM: Please join us at the Collin County Youth Explore Sports (YES!) Expo. With all of the activities, demonstrations, exhibitors and prizes being given away by all of the people and organizations that provide healthy activities for the families and kids of our community-you’re guaranteed to have a great time. With a variety of youth sports organizations represented, YES! was created and is designed to provide the families and young people of Collin County an introduction to the people, sports, organizations and physical activities that are available in our community. Collin Creek Mall www.youthexploresports.com/ Richardson

Great Fountain Plaza Festival - Sat Sep 13 11:00 AM: Richardson’s Annual day of Fun @ City Hall/Civic Center Fountain Plaza. Community Events, 972-744-4580 Dallas

Uptown Festival: A Celebration of Art & Living - Sat Sep 13 11:00 AM: Festival happenings include special activities for children in the Dean Foods Kids Korner from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Kid friendly activities include an Oak Farms sundae bar, face painting, storytelling and crafts like creating your own placemat. Alongside side Dean Foods, The North Texas Food Bank will offer freshly baked chocolate chip cookies & Schepps milk from Dean Foods. Donations will be accepted for the cookies & milk. Special appearance by the North Texas Food Bank chef from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. www.allaboutuptown.com Fairmont Street from McKinney Avenue to Howell Street

Southlake

Southlake Independence Weekend - Sat Sep 13 6:00 PM: Support the Troops!! Patriot Pedal Bike Rally. 8am Dragon Stadium Southlake. Gary Sinise & the Lt. Dan Band. Gates open at 6pm. Dragon Stadium. 540-287-2383 www.southlakeindependenceweekend.com McKinney

The kids can get wet and eat cotton candy while the grown ups enjoy latin music and tamales - at the same time - during Summer Splash and Fiesta Latina Saturday, Sept. 13, 4-7 p.m., at McKinney Fellowship Bible Church. It’s two great events, one night, and everything but the food is free. “The entire family will enjoy this event. It is absolutely something you won’t want to miss,” a church spokesperson said. “Summer Splash is a tradition children anticipate, but this year we added Fiesta Latina, and it brings a whole new dimension to the evening.”Fiesta Latina is the project of McKinney Fellowship’s Spanish Pastor, Jaime Gonzales, and members of the congregation. “Our 11:30 a.m. Spanish service has grown by leaps and bounds, and we felt it was time to introduce the Latin culture to the rest of the community in a big way,” Gonzales said. “People can come and experience the color, sights, sounds and tastes of 21 different Latin countries. “Summer Splash includes bounce houses, water slides, face painting, games, a petting zoo and lots more. Carter BloodCare will be on site to accept blood donations from 4 to 8 p.m. McKinney Fellowship Bible Church is located near the corner of El Dorado and Orchid Drive, at 2801 Orchid Drive, McKinney, TX 75070. For more information, call 972-547-7000 or visit www.mckinneyfellowship.org

19 Friday

20 Saturday

Dallas

LILLY’S PURPLE PLASTIC PURSE - Fri Sep 19 All day event: She’s back! Make way for Lilly - the feisty, irrepressible, impulsive “queen of everything”. This spunky mousegirl absolutely loves school until her teacher confiscates her purple plastic purse and its very important contents. Lilly’s amazing exploits become life lessons learned with plenty of fun and laughs along the way. Baker Theater/Rosewood Center. Most enjoyed by ALL AGES. www.dct.org Plano

EDS Credit Union Plano Balloon Festival Fri Sep 19 All day event: Catch the “Lofty Vision” of 75 hot air balloons at the 29th Annual Plano Balloon Festival. Great music concerts, the Kids Fun Zone, a variety of local performers, and an array of tantalizing food vendors. This year there will be a “Street Dance” on Friday night featuring Kraig Parker as Elvis...and don’t miss the spectacular fireworks on Saturday night. Oak Point Park, 2801 East Spring Creek Parkway. For more information about the EDS Credit Union Plano Balloon Festival contact Jo Via at 972-867-7566 or visit www.planoballoonfest.org. Plano

Carnival of Savings at US Toy Co - Fri Sep 19 6:00 PM: Come join us for a one-night-only after-hours Carnival of Savings! Friday, 6-9 P.M. Save 30% off all Kid Fun merchandise plus and additional 10% off savings on your entire purchase! 3115 W. Parker Rd., Ste 298, Plano 972-964-8600

RISE event - Sat Sep 20 All day event: Dallas Love Field Airport (ages 7 - 25). RISE is collaborating with Challenge Air to provide FREE 30 minute airplane rides. Any child or youth living with a physical disability or life-threatening illness may pre-register for the program at www.challengeair.org Each disability can also take two friends or family on the flight. Make sure you tell them RISE sent you! Here is a list of qualifying examples: Spinal Cord Injury, Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy, Multiple Sclerosis, Down Syndrome, Spina Bifida, Autism, Cancer, Leukemia, Sight/Hearing Impaired, and others. If you need additional information you can visit the Challenge Air website at www.challengeair.org or call their office at 214.351.3988. You can also email Joel Hendrix/RISE Program Director, 469.762.5075. Carrollton

Pink on the Square - Sat Sep 20 8:00 AM: This is event will be benefiting Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Research. This event began as a “Quilter’s” way of giving to “Breast Cancer”. Join hundreds of walkers as we turn the square into a sea of Pink as we walk for a cure. Following the stroll, many health related vendors will be in the historic district sharing their expertise to make your day personally successful. Historic Downtown Carrollton Square, www.pinkonthesquare.com/ Addison

Addison Oktoberfest 5K/ Run for the Children 1M - Sat Sep 20 8:00 AM: Addison Circle Park,4790 Addison Circle Dr, Addison, TX 214-987-4662 www.oktoberfest5k.com/

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Grapvevine

Morningstar Expo Pet Show - Sat Sep 20 9:00 AM: At the Grapevine Convention Center * Birds * Puppies * Cages * Toys * Reptiles * Supplies * And Much More * Admission $4 Children 6 and under FREE For More Information: www.birdsandpets.com 214.244.0350

23 Tuesday Arlington

MOMS Club of Arlington - North Central - Tue Sep 23 All day event: Description: 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. Join us for our Open House on Sept. 23rd and meet some great MOMS! Our speaker will be a Development Specialist from Early Childhood Intervention. E-mail: support.mom@hotmail.com or call Emily at (817)276-2589. www.momsclub.org

26 Friday Dallas

State Fair of Texas - Fri Sep 26 All day event: The State Fair Auto Show, livestock shows, a dancing dogs revue, cooking contests, music stages, and college football add up to a premium entertainment package for the 24-day exposition. Fair Park. www.bigtex.com

27 Saturday McKinney

OKTOBERFEST 2008 - Sat Sep 27 All day event: McKinney meets Bavaria on September 27, ! We will mark a new milestone in a long line of successful events showcasing the versatility of Historic Downtown McKinney, as we present OKTOBERFEST . We will enjoy a fun, family-friendly event that will offer authentic German music, food & drink, traditional costumes, dancing, children’s activities, and much more. Historic Downtown McKinney, 111 N. Tennessee St. Mckinney

Sweet Repeats Children’s Consignment Sale - Sat Sep 27 7:00 AM: The MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) Groups at Trinity Presbyterian Church (5871 Virginia Parkway, McKinney) and 1st Baptist Church Mckinney will be hosting Sweet Repeats Kid’s Consignment Sale on September 27th from 7 am-12 pm (1/2 price sale from 12:30 to 3pm!) Cash Only. For questions, or if you have children’s clothes or furniture to sell or donate please visit our website Email info@sweetrepeatsmckinney.org. www.sweetrepeatsmckinney.org Keller

Wild Wild West Fest - Sat Sep 27 10:00 AM: Join the biggest and the best celebration of the Old West this side of the Tarrant County Line. There will be plenty of entertainment for all ages including the popular Children’s Stick Horse Rodeo, arts and craft vendors, children’s games and activities, main stage entertainment, a food court, tractor pulls, and much more. Contact Keller Parks and Recreation at (817)743-4050. www.cityofkeller.com Free. Bear Creek Park, 400 Bear Creek Parkway, Keller Denton

Cumberland Presbyterian Children’s Home’s 6th Annual Fall Family Festival Sat Sep 27 10:00 AM: Bring your family and join the fun at Cumberland Presbyterian Children’s Home’s 6th Annual Fall Family Festival on Saturday, September 27, from 10

a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is FREE, and there are plenty of fun activities and displays for kids and grown-ups to enjoy. Some of the favorites include festival food, a hayride to the pumpkin patch, a petting zoo, a truck from the Denton Fire Department, and various craft vendors. New attractions this year include animals from the Frank Buck Zoo in Gainesville and a truck from Peterbilt in Denton. Cumberland Presbyterian Children’s Home is located at 1304 Bernard St. in Denton, Texas. Please call (940) 382-5112 x 270 or e-mail cpch@cpch.org for more information.

28 Sunday Richardson

“Lazer Vaudeville” Family Theatre Series Sun Sep 28 2:30 PM: EISEMANN CENTER PRESENTS “Lazer Vaudeville” Family Theatre Series. “Lazer Vaudeville” combines high-tech laser magic with the traditional arts of vaudeville to create an original theatrical production that has had a successful run on Broadway. Hill Performance Hall. Tickets: $10-$20; call 972.744.4650 for more information. www.lazervaudeville.com

30 Tuesday McKinney

PROMISE GOLF CLASSIC TO BENEFIT SUSAN G. KOMEN FOR THE CURE - Tue Sep 30 1:00 PM: The 1st Annual Promise Golf Classic benefitting the North Texas Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure® is scheduled for Tuesday, September 30th, , on the Hills Course of Stonebridge Ranch Country Club at 5901 Glen Oaks Drive in McKinney. The event will begin at 1:00 p.m. with a shotgun start. To request a registration form or for more information on the event, call 469-247-2040. www.komennorthtexas.org

Ongoing Fun Classes & Activities 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 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. Dallas

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

Outstanding family entertainment is abundant at Slappy’s Puppet Playhouse. New Vaudevillians, Slappy & Monday, reach wider audiences in their newly improved and expanded Slappy’s Puppet Playhouse on the third level of the Galleria Dallas next to Nordstrom’s and Children’s Play Place. Continuing their mission of high-quality, parentfriendly programs, the theatre offers a vibrant array of European-style puppet shows as well as a unique variety show brimming with the talents of world-class clowns and other circus artists, musicians and magicians. www.slappysplayhouse.com

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. It’s the best deal for a sitter in town! Open Gym, foam pit, games, music and Pizza dinner. Visit www.excitegymandcheer. com or call 972-874-9663 Flower Mound 972-874-8500 Highland Village for more information and reservations (Ages 3 - 11) www.excitegymandcheer.com 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. It is a fun and educational experience. 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 3:00pm - 5:00pm. Arts & Crafts Mondays, Storybook Tuesdays, Monster Mash Wednesdays, Dancing with Dorothy Thursdays, Wiggle with Wags Fridays. 4944 Preston Road, Suite 100 Frisco (469) 633-0676 www.wigglyplaycenter.com

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 and the community with live entertainment, spirits, and food. From Hwy 75, exit 40A, head east on Louisiana Street for 1.5 miles. Galleria d’Arte is on the corner of Kentucky and Louisiana at 100 E Louisiana St. Art Institute of McKinney is at 113 S Kentucky Street. 972-548-7830 7 PM - 10 PM www.artinstituteofmckinney.com McKinney

McKinney Farmers’ Market, Every Saturday 8AM - 1PM. Downtown McKinney at the southeast corner of Church Street & Louisiana Street. Locally grown produce, flowers, herbs, local honey, farm fresh eggs, chicken, turkey, beef and pork from grass-fed animals, a natural soap and lotion-maker and chair massages. For information on becoming a vendor call 214-850-0886 Plano

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

Every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, Bounce U is hosting playdates for Preschoolers from 10am - 12pm, and 1pm-3pm Open Bounce Summer Sessions are being held at your local Bounce U. And Wednesdays from 5 - 7 pm is Family Bounce Night held each week at Bounce U. Bounce U 972-422-3399 2532 Summit Ave., Suite #501, Plano www.bounceu.com

Irving

Princeton

Highland Village

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. Stories are followed by a fun craft. ‘Seafaring Tales’ is the July theme. 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. www. littleelm.com 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.

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. www.peppermint.com Various

Drama Kids International is designed to develop students speaking skills, presentation abilities, acting skills and confidence. Our developmental drama program includes speech training, creative movement, structured improvisation, character & script comprehension, dialogue development,

North Texas Kids • September 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

auditioning & performance techniques and theatre games and activities. We offer parent presentations, spring performances, spring break and summer camps and speech and drama trophies and awards. Visit our website www.dramakids.com or call 214.592.4066. www.dramakids.com 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. The first week each player is given a full set of hockey equipment to use during the program. Kids will skate (4) 45 minute on ice sessions designed to introduce kids to the excitement of the sport. (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 fullfill all of their social needs! We have family nights, couple only nights, playdates for kids of all ages, mom’s night/day out, and of course daddy days! If your looking for the perfect meetup group to make new friends for yourself or for your family this is the place to be! www. 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

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

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

The Carrollton Early Childhood PTA is an organization dedicated to providing activities, support, friendships and education for parents of children age newborn through preschool. Possibly the biggest reason for becoming involved is to meet, socialize and network with other parents in the Carrollton area. For more information about the Carrollton Early Childhood PTA please visit our website http://www.cecpta.org.

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 mailto: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 mailto:momscluballenne@yahoo.com Arlington

MOMS Club of North Central Arlington, TX ? Are you a SAHM living in Arlington between I-30 and Pioneer Pkwy? We offer activities for moms, kids, and families. Join us and meet some great MOMS! mailto:support.mom@hotmail.com Arlington

MOMS Club of North Central Arlington

Carrollton

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) Sign up for ASCC’s Group E-mail list: http://groups. yahoo.com/group/ascc2/join Visit www. autism-ascc.org or call 214-925-2722 for more information and meeting locations. www.groups.yahoo.com/group/ascc2/join Collin County

The Autism society of Collin County is an organization dedicated to providing support and resources to those families affected by Autism. Self-Advocacy Group For Teens (7th Grade and up) & Adults (really old OK) with Autism. Participants will learn about autism and its’ effect on their lives while developing a great appreciation for their individual gifts and talents. It is important that participants know they have autism. Several ASCC Board Members, including some with autism, facilitate the group activities. Bring an object, book, picture or other item that represents their talents, gifts and interests. Bring $5.00 to pay for pizza, snacks and soft drinks. The meeting starts at 7:00 p.m. and lasts the length of the general meeting. Call Diane Bitter at 214.509.9656 for meeting dates and locations. Sign up for ASCC’s Group E-mail list: www.groups.yahoo.com/ group/ascc2/join Visit www.autism-ascc.org or call 214-925-2722 for more information and meeting locations. www.groups.yahoo.com/ group/ascc2/join Collin County

The Collin County Moms Meetup group is a fun, down-to-earth group of moms dedicated to friendship and support. As the most active moms group in North Texas, we offer daily playdates, field trips, supper get-togethers, Mom’s Nights Out and family events too! Whether you work outside the home or stay at home with your kids, there’s something for you. www.moms.meetup.com/994/ 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 . Dallas

Moms Club of Dallas: North Central Chapter boundaries are I-30 to the south, I-635 to

North Texas Kids • September 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

the north (exception: Addison), Marsh Lane to the east, and Garland Road to the west. mailto: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 are the only early childhood PTA (for families with children under age 6) in Plano ISD. The organization is open to new members year-round and sponsors organized playgroups, mom’s night out, children’s activities, Bunko, holiday parties, special guest speakers and more. 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! Our club’s vision is to provide support, encouragement, helpful information, listening ears, friendship, food and fun to all of our members who are “multi-blessed.” 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. http:// 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 no website given 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. The primary focus of Frisco Cares Children’s Clinic is to provide acute health care for uninsured children. The Clinic is held at Primera Bautista Iglesia each Wednesday (September - April) located at 8581 5th Street, in Frisco (corner of 5th and Ash). Appointment cards available at 5 PM. The doctor sees patients beginning at 6 PM. Cost per child is $5 to see the doctor. Medications are available at no cost. Proof of residency (utility bill) or proof of school enrollment (report card) is required. 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 non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of mothers through

tic 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

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. support, education, and advocacy. We’re basically a fun group of moms wanting to connect and form lasting friendships. Our chapter welcomes ALL Stay-At-Home & Working MOMS living in Lewisville, Flower Mound, Highland Village, Corinth, & many of the DFW surrounding areas. We offer Monthly meetings with Guest Speakers, Playgroups(which include Weekdays & Saturdays), Field Trip Fridays, MOMS Night Out, Recipe-Foodies Club, Coffee Catch-Up Club, Book Club, Mommy Message boards, and MUCH MORE! *Prospective members are able to attend a 1-2 playgroups/meetings before joining our group* 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. www.mothersnmore.com Little Elm

Little Elm Epilepsy Support Group. 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. For more information about other programs sponsored by the Little Elm Library, call (214) 975-0430. The Epilepsy Foundation provides a variety of programs and services to people with epilepsy and their families. For more information on adult and children camping programs, specialty medical clinics, employment services and various education opportunities please call toll-free 1-888-548-9716. 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. 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. www.geocities.com/mckinneymoms.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 Club of McKinney East. Contact Becky Garrett, 972-548-8236 mailto:bogarrett@tx.rr.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 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. www.momsclubofcoppell.org. 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! Our group has started to grow. Parents of children of all ages are welcome. We are hoping that you will find encouragement and useful resources and information when you attend. Our goal is to grow the group and eventually create social skill groups for our children in addition to the support group meetings. Childcare available with limited space. 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 www.featnt.org North Richland Hills

Autism Support Meeting. 3rd Wednesday of each month from 7:00 - 8:30 pm. Come join us! Our group has started to grow. Parents of children of all ages are welcome. We are hoping that you will find encouragement and useful resources and information when you attend.Childcare available with limited space. 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 www.featnt.org Plano

The Scoliosis Center of Excellence at Medical Center of Plano is offering free diagnos-

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

Collin County Homeschool Playgroup. http://geocities.com/collincountyhomeschoolplaygroup/ Richardson

La Leche League Of Richardson meets every 2nd and 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. www.riseadventures.org 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. Children are always welcome to all our activities. Drinks and snacks will be provided. For more information and directions, please contact our Membership Chair, Grady at 972-941-8597 or visit our website www.wyliemomsandmore.org

Connect to your local library:

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 mailto: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. mailto: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

Allen Public Library www.allenlibrary.org Carrollton Library System www.ci.carrollton.tx.us/library Colleyville Library www.colleyville.com Dallas Library System www.dallaslibrary.org Flower Mound Public Library library.flower-mound.com Garland Library System ww.ci.garland.tx.us Frisco Public Library www.friscolibrary.com Lewisville www.cityoflewisville.com Little Elm Public Library www.littleelmtx.us Mequite Public Library www.cityofmesquite.com/library McKinney Memorial Public Library www.mckinneytexas.org/library Plano Public Library System www.planolibrary.org Richardson www.cor.net/library Rockwall County Library www.rocklib.com Rowlett Public Library www.rowlett.lib.tx.us Southlake Public Library www.southlakelibrary.org The Colony Library www.thecolonytx.gov/Depts/Library/ Library.html

North Texas Kids • September 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

After-School Online Safety:

‘Home Alone’ Tips for Working Parents

With the school year just starting, working parents may breathe a sigh of relief that the children are safely back in school for the next nine months, but what happens after 3 pm when the kids are home alone with unsupervised computer access? For many parents, these are the danger hours when children are most likely to visit inappropriate websites and are also most vulnerable to Internet predators. In these cases as well as when parents are home, Internet filtering software can serve as a virtual online babysitter. InternetSafety.com, developer of the award-winning Safe Eyes™ parental control software (www.SafeEyes. com), recommends that parents select a software program with advanced controls and alert mechanisms for managing website access as well as social network postings, email correspondents, instant messenger usage and peer-to-peer file sharing programs. Choose a program that allows you to:

11.

Block objectionable websites by category, URL and/or keyword — You should be able to select which website categories will be filtered (adult, alcohol, dating/personals, drugs, gambling, hate sites, pornography, profanity, sex, violence, weapons, etc.) so that kids can’t reach sites in those areas. The more categories you can dictate, the better. You should also be able to define specific websites and/or keywords that are off limits.

Set time limits — Some programs allow you to limit time spent online, allocate specific blocks of time for Internet access, and/or grant permission to connect by the day of the week. Limiting late-night Internet use, for example, can help safeguard children against predators inclined to night-time prowling of social networking sites and chat rooms.

22.

33.

Block as well as record Instant Messenger chats — You should have the option to bar children from using specific IM programs or all of them. (You might want to keep one available for communicating with your children yourself.) You should also have the option to save the full text of IM conversations for later review.

4. 4

Block computer programs by name — It can be useful to prevent access to certain games as well as peer-to-peer file sharing programs like BitTor- rent that may expose children to inappropriate photos or other objectionable material.

Restrict email use to designated addresses — There is no reason for younger children to correspond with anyone other than family members, close friends and perhaps teachers.

66.

Receive email, text or phone alerts about inappropriate online behavior — Some programs are able to alert parents when children attempt to access restricted websites or post personal information such as their name and address on social networks.

55.

77.

Remotely change program settings from work or elsewhere — If you receive automated alerts about worrisome online behavior or concern from a caregiver, it is helpful to be able to reconfigure the program from your office or hotel room.

Receive automatic updates of website blacklists — This eliminates the need for parents to download database updates manually, saving consider able time and ensuring that objectionable new websites don’t slip through the cracks.

99.

Handle multiple children with one program and customize settings for each child — Your 8-year-old may need stricter controls than your 11-year-old. You should be able to create separate profiles for each child and use them on any machine in the house.

88. 0 110.

Control PCs and Macs with the same filtering software — This simplifies the process of maintaining a safe online environment in households with computer with both operating systems.

lor

! ! n Fu

North Texas Kids • September 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

Happy Back to school!

Index of Advertisers 24

Interaction Unlimited

Rise Adventures

J’s Art

Simply Pretend

All Things Imagined 17

Jump Town

Smashing Times

Amy Columbus Photography

K12 – Texas Virtual Academy

SoccerTots

Aqua Fit Swim & Wellness 32

KidsCare Therapy

Spectacular Cakes

Aria Music Productions

Kindermusik

Speech TX

Art A Rama

Knowledge Points

Spicar’s Martial Arts

Backstage Dance Studio

Kul Fuel

Spring Valley Athletic Association

Boomerangs

Learning RX

SS Noah

Bright Women

Lil’ Trax Parents Academy

St. James Episcopal

C & R Medical

Lil’ Trax Sports Academy (PSA)

State Farm Insurance

Child Care Source

Lorie Burch, Attorney

Strikz

Childbloom

Made of Sugar & Spice

Stroller Fit Dallas

Children’s Home Healthcare

Maid Brigade

Texas Star Pharmacy

Children’s Medical Center

Maxim Healthcare Services

The Artist Within

Color Me Mine

Medical Center of Plano

The Gymnastics Place

Cumberland Child Presby. Home

Menarche Parties R Us

The Ice at Stonebriar

Dallas Summer Musicals

Minette Riordan, Ph.D

The Reading Ranch

Dr Pepper StarCenter

Music Together

The Wiggly Play Center

Drama Kids International

NexGym

Eagle Gymnastics

Noah’s Ark Animal Workshop

Trend Your Tot

Einstein Kidz

O’Reillys McDonald’s

Under the Umbrella

ER Centers of America

Paige’s Swim School

US Toy Company

Evelyn’s Janitorial

PeeWee Picasso

White Dove Montessori

Excite Gymnastics & Cheer

Peppermint Baby Boutique

Word of Mouth

Extra Innings

Planet Pizza

Work at Home United

Farmers Insurance

Plano Sports Authority

YES! Expo

Fun Times Party Rental

PowerKids

Young Chefs – Carrollton

Freedom United Team

Primrose Chase Oaks

Frisco Athletic Network

Prosper Party Place

Girls In Motion

Pump It Up Jr.

Gotta Dance

Rainforest Cafe

Healthy Texas Pediatrics

Heroes for Children

A & J Hair Designs Adventure Kids Playcare-FM

Revelation Dance Rich Educational Consulting

Therapy 2000

4 4,43

18,22 34

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 • September 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

North Texas Kids • September 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com

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North Texas Kids • September 2008 • www.NorthTexasKids.com