www.stjohnsparent.com / February 2017 • 3
42
Contents February 2017
40
16
features 9
10 11 12
12
14 16
20 22 33
St. Johns County Preschools & Daycares Gridiron Cooking Challenge Power Down the Parental Pressure Private Schools Florida Public Colleges & Universities
health 26
features A Valentine’s Playbook for Your Family 18 19
2017 Education Guide
30 32
Making a Heart-Shaped Bird Feeder Make a Valentine’s Day Memory Book
Eat to Beat Heart Disease Children’s Dental Health Month Youth Stress: Don’t Be DisHeartened!
every issue 24
Valentine’s Day Gift Guide
28
February Fashion: Feeling the Love!
Reel Life with Jane Movie Reviews March 2017 Calendar of Events
Coming Up... March/April 2017
May/June 2017
The Camp Issue/Home & Garden
The Mom Issue/Summer Fun
Women in History • Birthday Parties Summer Planning • Going Green Special Needs • Family Travel
National Bike Month • Pets Week Teacher’s Day Spotlight • Mental Illness Drowning Prevention • Disaster Planning
4 • February 2017 / www.stjohnsparent.com
www.StJohnsParent.com (386) 437-0300
Reader Services Calendar Submissions: We publish information about family events within and surrounding our county. We would love to hear from you! If you have a family event, fundraiser or childrens activity/program please send your information to editor@bradymediainc.com Deadline for submitting information is approximately one month prior to the month in which the event will occur.
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www.stjohnsparent.com / February 2017 • 5
with
What’s New in Print & Online
St. Johns Parent
Camp Directors...
It’s not too early to start promoting your Spring & Summer Camps!
New In Schools, On Newsstands & Online
The Camp Fair & Summer Vacation Expo showcases places that build life-long memories for children! Volusia & Flagler County parents will find it much easier and faster to choose a summer camp for their children at the only expo of its kind in the area. The 2017 Camp Fair & Summer Vacation Expo provides busy parents with a one-stop resource for information regarding available daily activities, cost, and much more, with a variety of summer conveniences assembled under one roof. The expo features demonstrations all day long by karate classes, the police department, the fire department, and much more. This year’s Camp Fair and Summer Vacation Expo is being planned right now! Check our website for further details.
Special Child A bi-monthly magazine dedicated to special needs families and care-givers. Parents and caregivers of children with special needs often face a whole different situation and set of challenges and joys. They require more resources, education and support. Special Child Magazine is a resource dedicated to providing just that. Filled with educational articles, local resources, easy-to-use directories, product reviews, shopping guides and much more. Special Child Magazine does the research and provides the resources available in our area for special families. Special Child Magazine will give you all the tools you need to be informed and proactively parent and care for your special child, Our expert advices helps you make the best decisions that are right for your family. Inside you’ll find: product reviews; local resources; ask an expert; recopies’ DIY decor ideas and much, much more!
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Parent to Parent Publisher / Editor Charlene Michaux charlie@bradymediainc.com 386-547-0161 Associate Editor Deb Wind 386-299-6684 debwind@bradymediainc.com
Our Family! I LOVE my job! We hope that you will LOVE in this issue! February’s most popular holiday focuses on romantic love, but as parents, many of us celebrate Valentine’s Day as a family. So, I have selected some fun articles and gift ideas to bring your family closer together this holiday! In addition to the month of LOVE, it is also President’s Day, Black History Month, Dental Health Month and Literacy Month. You will find articles tailored to those topics in addition to our regular monthly features. I have some exciting news to share. It’s our 9th Anniversary and we have decided to jump into 2017 with some big changes! • Switching to a Bi-Monthly Schedule beginning with March/April • Direct Mailing to households - families with children ages 1-5 • Digital Edition - emailed monthly to 40,000+ Parent subscribers thru school districts
Photography Marina Pierre 386-283-8005 marina@marinas-photography.com Contributing Writers Christina Katz Deb Wind Lara Krupicka Christa Melnyk Hines Tiffany Doerr Guerzon Renee G. Wyden, EdD, LCSW Sandra Gordon
• Upgraded Apps, with new issue push notifications “your new Flagler Parent Magazine is ready” • Brand New Website filled with content launching this month. • New Magazine Title - Special Child Magazine, Bi-Monthly Launching in Feb 2017 We have made the decision to go bi-monthly, starting with the March/April 2017 issue, publishing one issue every two months. Each issue will have a heavier cover stock with 56+ pages, plus quarterly double issues with themed content, such as our Florida Baby, Summer Fun Guide, Family Reader’s Choice Awards, and annual Holiday Gift Guide. Instead of raising our rates to accommodate the rising paper costs we decided a cutback in frequency made the most sense. Our team will have more time to focus on featured content, our digital presence, special events and the launch of our newest title, Special Child Magazine. We will also be launching our new and improved websites this month. Each new site has been designed as a fully responsive, on demand mobile site that speaks to you on the platforms you interact with the most. The websites will be more reactive, current and visually strong with a heavy emphasis on local content, events and mom blogs, while our print offering will have more indepth features and a unique blend of stories that educate, entertain and inspire our readers to be smarter and better informed parents. We pride ourselves on knowing our audience, the kind of content they engage with and the forms they enjoy consuming it in. That’s why we’re putting digital presence into the heart of our marketing strategy. Our Facebook and Twitter channels have a highly engaged audience for us with massive reach. To expand this reach, we have also launched on Snapchat and Instagram to leverage all the key social media channels, as its readers’ demand even more sharable content. As always, our magazines are supported through the advertisers you see each month. Please mention us when you shopping these businesses! If you are interested in joining our advertiser family, please contact me at Charlie@bradymediainc.com or 386-437-0300, we would LOVE to have you! Enjoy this issue!
Charlie
8 • February 2017 / www.stjohnsparent.com
Charlene Michaux Publisher/Editor charlie@bradymediainc.com
Flagler Parent, Volusia Parent, and St. Johns Parent Magazines are published by Brady Media, Inc. and are copyrighted 2008. Brady Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission from Brady Media, Inc. is prohibited. Flagler Parent and Volusia Parent reserve the right to reject advertisements or listings that are not in keeping with the publication’s satndard. Submissions are welcome, but the publisher assumes no responsibility for the return of unsolicited materials. Flagler Parent and Volusia Parent do not endorse or assume responsibility for information, products, services or statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. The Flagler County or Volusia County School Boards are not affiliated with these publications in any manner, nor do they endorse ro assume any responsibility for any of the information or advertisements contained in therein.
Brady Media, Inc. 800 Belle Terre Parkway, Ste. 200-207 Palm Coast, FL 32164 (386) 437-0300 Office (386) 246-2950 Fax www.BradyMediaInc.com Proud Member of
www.stjohnsparent.com / February 2017 • 9
education
Preschools & Daycares • St. Johns County
Bricks 4 Kidz 2730 S.R. 16 #108 St. Augustine, FL, 32092 904-429-9920 Creative Me! After School Program 132 Everest Lane – Suite # 3 St. Johns, FL, 32259 904-770-2222 Harbour Island Tennis Center 205 Harbour Cay Way St. Augustine, FL, 32080 904-460-4217 Hidden Little Treasures Learning Center 1461 Fruit Cove Road South St. Johns, FL, 32259 904-230-8811 Memorial Presbyterian Day School 32 Sevilla Street St. Augustine, FL, 32084 904-669-1346 North Florida Martial Arts 112 Anastasia Blvd. St. Augustine, FL, 32080 904-823-3464 Palm Coast Pak's Karate Atlantis Business Park Bunnell, FL 386-868-6490 Round Lake Academy 3800 Crill Ave. Palatka, FL, 32177 386-328-0808
10 • February 2017 / www.stjohnsparent.com
SJC Recreation and Parks (904) 209-0377 St. Augustine Academy of the Arts 113 Business Park Circle St. Augustine, FL (904) 940-1818 Studio 4 Athletics 6988 US1 Highway 9, Suite 306 and 307 St. Augustine, FL, 32095 904-209-5231 Tutor Time 125 Hampton Point Drive St. Augustine, FL, 32092 (904) 217-6293 United Methodist Christian School 5200 Belle Terre Pkwy. Palm Coast, FL, 32137 386-445-2344 Wonderful Wednesday 118 King Street St. St. Augustine, FL, 32084 904-829-3459 Accotink Academy by the Sea 171 Canal Blvd. Ponte Vedra Beach 904-273-4267 Crosswater Christian Academy 211 Davis Park Rd. Ponte Vedra 904-824-0086 St. Johns Grammar School 2353 State Road 13 Saint Johns 904-287 8760
Cambridge Prep School Ponte Vedra 185 Landrum Lane Ponte Vedra Beach 904-285-7997 The Goddard School - St Johns 100 Julington Plaza Drive Saint Johns 904-230-2002 Primrose School of St. John's Forest 180 Gateway Circle Saint Johns 904-824-1100 Christ Episcopal Church Preschool 400 San Juan Drive Ponte Vedra Beach 904-285-6371 Palmer Catholic Academy PreschoolLittle Stars 45 A1A Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082 904-285-2698 The Academy at Julington Creek 990 Flora Branch Blvd. Fruit Cove 904-230-8200
education
Florida Students Get Cooking for Dairy Council’s Gridiron Cooking Challenge Fuel Up to Play 60 Initiative Calls for Recipe Submissions from Elementary and Middle School Students Yogurt, cheese, milk ... the options are endless when it comes to cooking with dairy products. And to prove just that, the Dairy Council of Florida is now accepting recipes for its fourth annual Gridiron Cooking Challenge, a fun-filled cooking competition for elementary and middle school students throughout Florida. The initiative, which is designed and supported by the Florida Dairy Farmers, is part of Fuel Up to Play 60, an in-school nutrition and physical activity program launched by the National Dairy Council and NFL to help encourage today’s youth to lead healthier lives. Elementary and middle school students in groups of four are encouraged to create and submit a healthy, original recipe that prominently features dairy products. The deadline for submissions is March 3, 2017. The top four student teams in each Florida NFL market – represented by the Miami Dolphins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jacksonville Jaguars – will compete for the grand prize at the Gridiron Cooking Challenge as they cook their recipe on-site in less than 60 minutes. The students’ creations will be judged by a select group of distinguished professionals including NFL players, Florida Dairy Farmers, Fuel Up to
About Dairy Council of Florida
Play 60 student ambassadors and health professionals. The winning team in each NFL market will receive a prize pack for their school valued at up to $2,500. Each student on the team will receive an iPad mini, among other prizes. “Every year, we look forward to reviewing the new and creative ways students include dairy in their recipes,” said Michele Cooper, CEO of Florida Dairy Farmers. “The Gridiron Cooking Challenge is a great opportunity for students to demonstrate the versatility and nutritional value of dairy products as we continue to encourage a healthy and active lifestyle.” Recipe entry forms can be found on the Florida Dairy Farmers website, and can be submitted via mail or email. For more information, visit www.floridamilk.com.
The Dairy Council of Florida works with schools, health professionals, social service agencies and others to educate Floridians on the health benefits of milk and other nutrient-rich dairy foods. Dairy Council of Florida programs are funded by Florida Dairy Farmers, which represents more than 130 dairy farming families throughout the state. For more information, call 407-647-8899 or visit www.floridamilk.com. About Florida Dairy Farmers Florida Dairy Farmers is Florida’s milk promotion group, working to raise awareness of the dairy farming industry and the nutrientrich foods it provides. FDF represents more than 130 dairy farming families throughout the state. For more information, call 407647-8899 or visit www.floridamilk.com. About Fuel Up to Play 60 Fuel Up to Play 60 is an in-school nutrition and physical activity program launched by National Dairy Council and NFL, in collaboration with the U. S Department of Agriculture, to help encourage today’s youth to lead healthier lives. In Florida, 2.5 million students in 3,100 schools participate in Fuel Up to Play 60.. www.stjohnsparent.com / February 2017 • 11
education
Power Down the Parent Pressure: 10 Ways to Stop Micromanaging Your Kids Goals
by Christina Katz
Teaching our kids to have goals, do their best, and leverage personal momentum to succeed are all good ideas. However, there is a difference between supporting a child's efforts to reach goals and taking control of the results we deem the best possible outcomes. Parents who habitually steamroll their kids rob them of personal experience on multiple levels. When parents over-step, kids can lose their point of view, their self-esteem may go down, they may feel confused, anxious or depressed, and may focus too much on pleasing parents instead of honoring their own desires. Don't let your children miss out on opportunities to learn from their own life experiences. Healthy kids are not confused about who they are and what they want. In fact, a lack of assertiveness and self-expression in children may be a signal to parents that they push too much and may need to back off and give kids a chance to assert themselves. If you tend to push too much, what are you so afraid of? If you are afraid your kids will set goals differently than you, don't worry. This is the way it should be! 12 • February 2017 / www.stjohnsparent.com
Insecurity and poor boundaries are two reasons parents take over their children's goals and make them their own. So what's a well-meaning parent with some teeny-weeny control issues to do? Plenty. You can foster healthier relationships with yourself, with your child, and with other family members, so each person in your family can focus on setting and achieving goals without interference. Then, when each of you inevitably succeeds, you will all have something to genuinely celebrate. Here are ten ways to detach from your kids' goals. 1. Accept Your kids are unfolding individuals-inprocess and you are a unique person-inprocess, as well. People are stories. We have beginnings, middles, and ends. As long as we are here, our story is still in progress. Sometimes progress is messy, and we are never done growing, until we are done living. So if we can allow each other to be unique works in progress, we don't have to put quite so much pressure on ourselves to achieve everything right this very minute.
2. Distinguish You are not your child and your child is not you. So maybe it's time to ease up on comparing and contrasting family members. Who says parents and children have to be anything alike? Maybe every single person in your family is a unique individual and you all have varied perspectives on any topic. This is likely true. Forget pressing for family groupthink. You can't make your kids into you, nor should you ask them to be you. All you can do is be yourself and let them be themselves. 3. Moderate Be a good enough parent, not a perfect parent. If you have to be a perfect parent, then everyone in your family has to be perfect too, and this is exhausting for everyone. If you put unrealistic pressures on yourself and your family members, stop. Try not judging your family by appearance. External indicators are not the measure of internal happiness, anyway. Truth: you are imperfect, you make mistakes, you do the best you can, and this is all good enough. You can only feel like enough if you can let yourself and others embrace imperfection.
4. Strive Have your own goals, not just goals for each of your children. Do you have a vocation or avocation beyond mothering and fathering? If not, you really need to get one or several. Parents who put all their identity eggs in one parenting basket are destined for a big fall, once children grow up and leave home. Because, yes, parenting is a full time job; but it's not supposed to be your only identity in life. If you cling to your parenting role too much, ask yourself what other life challenges you might be trying to avoid. Chances are good, you are anxious about stretching your own wings. Focusing on your own goals and taking pride in each baby step will make you feel better than staying stuck. 5. Reach out Get your own emotional needs met, rather than using your children for inner fulfillment. You may not realize you are doing this, but if you have unresolved childhood issues you have not yet faced, it is probably time to heal your past. The emotional work you are not willing to do can have long-term negative effects on your children. So don't try to sort everything out without assistance. If you are aware of a family history of addiction, neglect, mental illness, divorce, narcissism, abuse or control issues, then you are likely going to need professional input to sort it all out and get yourself on a healthy emotional track. Don't put this off, for your family's sake. 6. Let go As the wife of a high school theater director, I have witnessed parents of aspiring thespians bartering for their children's advancement on more occasions than I care to remember. After moving into the district, it took us a couple of years to realize that many of our new overly enthusiastic friends were actually looking to secure a future leading role for their child. Why do parents do this? Apparently they believe that trading favors is better than letting their kids compete with their peers on an even playing field. But how long are mom and dad going to be able to smooth the way for successes? And if you asked the child, wouldn't he say that he would rather earn the role rather than having mom and dad nab it for him? 7. Allow Acknowledge your fears and insecurities in life and express them in front of your kids occasionally. You may think your children can't handle seeing you struggle, but by hiding your negative emotions you won't provide healthy examples of how to process feelings with trusted others. Life is full of highs and lows. Trying to keep the emotional tone unnaturally high at all times is more detrimental than helpful. Kids need to see parents as regular old human beings who both thrive and falter. So set the example of how to experience a full range of emotions in your home and you're children will learn how to move through negative emotions instead of getting bogged down every time they experience a setback. 8. Join in Help your kids create momentum in arenas they love, while still acknowledging the rest of the team. If your child always has to be the star for your sake, she will have trouble fitting in with the rest of the kids. If you can't settle for anything but the best for your child, check your attitude for entitlement. Believing your child is superior to others is detrimental to social development. So take her down off the pedestal and get to work figuring out why you need to put her there in the first place. Chances are good it has more to do with your low self-esteem than what your child wants and needs. If you can join groups without having to the best or the leader, your child learn to appreciate the value in connecting for it's own sake, too. 9. Aim high Toddlers don't usually walk across the room on their first attempt, and you won't hit every goal on the first try either. But if you don't set goals beyond your ken, then how are kids going to learn how to do the same themselves? Of course, this means sometimes you won't succeed and your children will witness your inevitable failures. But, if you come up with ways to bounce back from life's disappointments, your children will learn to do the same. And that's great because then you are teaching them that aiming high is a challenging learning experience, not just an opportunity for guaranteed applause. 10. Relax Make sure family members value down time. Home is supposed to be a sanctuary for the whole family, not a place where kids come to get probed, lectured, and controlled. If your home is not a place where each family member can retreat and find some peace and quite, why isn't it? Maybe a parent is spending too much time alone worrying about how each child can get ahead rather than getting out and contributing to the community. Don't be a pushy parent. You may feel like you are making strides for your children in the short run, but you are robbing each of them of developing an organic identity at their own pace. Value each child without pressuring. Create a restful home, full of divergent opinions, healthy debates, and spontaneous self-expression. Only then can your children evolve into the people they are each meant to become.
The Don't List For Parents: • Don't try to write your child's story. • Don't fantasize about your goals for your child. • Don't compare your kids to others. • Don't manipulate situations. • Don't trade favors. • Don't grease the wheels. • Don't covet rewards other kids have earned. • Don't fixate on having a perfect child. • Don't talk smack about decisionmakers. • Don't over-react when your child fails. • Don't try to fix it when your kid makes a mistake. • Don't assume your child's innate superiority. • Don't keep everyone on an intense schedule 24/7. • Don't be addicted to the rush of constant striving. • Don't forget to ask kids how they feel and what they think. • Don't rant, rage or give anyone a piece of your mind. • Don't neglect your own ambitions. • Don't think parent is the only role you are playing in this life. www.stjohnsparent.com / February 2017• 13
education
Private Schools
St. Johns County Private Schools Accotink Academy 171 Canal Blvd Ponte Vedra, FL 32082 (904)273-4267 Beacon Of Hope Christian School (Church of God) 1230 Kings Estate Rd St Augustine, FL 32086 (904)797-6996 Cathedral Parish School (Roman Catholic) 259 Saint George St St Augustine, FL 32084 (904)824-2861 Christ Episcopal Preschool Daycare / Preschool (Episcopal) 400 San Juan Dr Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082 (904)285-6371 Crosswater Christian Academy Daycare / Preschool (Baptist) 211 Davis Park Road Ponte Vedra, FL 32081 (904)824-0086 Lighthouse Christian Academy (Christian) 555 St. Rd, 16 Saint Augustine, FL 32084 (904)687-0767 Living Waters Preschool Daycare / Preschool (Christian) 2189 State Road 13 Switzerland, FL 32259 (904)287-2883
14 • February 2017 / www.stjohnsparent.com
Matanzas Academy (Christian) 4255 Us Highway 1 S Ste 18 Saint Augustine, FL 32086 (904)794-1623
St. Johns Grammar School (Christian) 2353 State Road 13 Saint Johns, FL 32259 (904)287-8760
Memorial Lutheran Chapel School (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) 3375 Us 1 S Saint Augustine, FL 32086 (904)797-8777
St. Joseph Academy (Roman Catholic) 155 State Road 207 Saint Augustine, FL 32084 (904)824-04319
Palmer Catholic Academy (Roman Catholic) 4889 Palm Valley Rd Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082 (904)543-8515
Trinity Early Learning Center Daycare / Preschool (Episcopal) 215 Saint George Street Saint Augustine, FL 32084 (904)824-2876
Ponte Vedra KinderCare Daycare / Preschool 12000 Sawgrass Village Dr. Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082 (904)285-9054
Turning Point Christian Academy (Baptist) 3500 State Road 16 St Augustine, FL 32092 (904)824-0744
San Juan Del Rio Catholic School (Roman Catholic) 1714 State Road 13 Saint Johns, FL 32259 (904)287-8081
Victory Preparatory School 110 Masters Dr Saint Augustine, FL 32084 (904)810-0534
St Gerard Campus All-girls (Christian) Po Box 4382 St Augustine, FL 32085 (904)829-5516 St. John's Academy (Christian) 1533 Wildwood Drive Saint Augustine, FL 32086 (904)824-9224
The Village Academy 145 Lewis Point Road Saint Augustine, FL 32086 (904)797-5909
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education
continued on page 18
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education
Florida Public Colleges & Universities, cont. Private Colleges and Universities/Religiouslyaffiliated institutions Adventist University of Health Sciences American David Livingstone University of Florida Ave Maria University Baptist College of Florida Barry University Bethune-Cookman University Clearwater Christian College
Trade/Technical Institutions
Other private institutions
Collegium Augustinianum Graduate School of Philosophy and Theology
Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale
Atlantis University
Eckerd College
Aerosim Flight Academy
Beacon College
Emmaus Baptist College
City College
Florida College
College of Business and Technology
Florida Memorial University
Digital Media Arts College
Florida Southern College
Everest University
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
Everglades University
Flagler College
Hobe Sound Bible College
Florida Career College
Florida Institute of Technology
Hindu University of America
Adventist University of Health Sciences
Florida National University
Johnson University Florida
Florida Technical College
Landmark Baptist College
Full Sail University
Miami Christian University
Lincoln College of Technology
Palm Beach Atlantic University
Lincoln Technical Institute
Jones College
Pensacola Christian College
Florida Medical Technical Institute
Keiser University
Reformed Theological Seminary
Jersey College
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
Saint John Vianney College Seminary
Lynn University
Saint Leo University
Miami International University of Art & Design
St. Thomas University
Orlando Culinary Academy
Nova Southeastern University
South Florida Bible College and
Prince of Prestige Academy School of Digital Motion Picture Production
Rollins College
Rasmussen College (Holiday)
Southwest Florida College
Rasmussen College (Ocala)
Stetson University
Theological Seminary Southeastern University Tabernacle Bible College and Seminary Talmudic University of Florida Touro College South Trinity Baptist College Trinity College Warner University Yeshiva Gedolah Rabbinical College Lubavitch
Rasmussen College (Fort Myers) Remington College Ringling College of Art and Design
Carlos Albizu University Columbia College DeVry University Edward Waters College
Hodges University ( International Fine Arts College Jacksonville University Johnson & Wales University
Northwood University
Schiller International University
Thomas M. Cooley Law School University of Miami University of Phoenix University of Tampa Virginia College Virginia College Webber International University Webster University www.stjohnsparent.com / February 2017 • 17
feature
A Valentine’s Day Playbook For Your Family
by Christa Melnyk Hines
Valentine's Day isn't just for couples in the heady throes of young love. Deliver sweet somethings to every important person in your life. Here's the plan for a perfectly playful V-Day for the whole family. Create a Sweet Tweets jar. Decorate a mason jar for your child. On slips of paper, write adjectives or short sentences in 140 characters or less that describe traits you most appreciate, admire and love about him or her. Hunt for Cupid's treasure. Challenge your kids to a scavenger hunt. Give them clues on a trail of paper hearts or cupid cut-outs. One clue leads to the next until they find a Valentine's Day surprise. Check online for scavenger hunt clue ideas. "Attack" them with hearts. On each of the thirteen days leading up to Valentine's Day, mom of four, Alexis Sanchez posts a heartshaped note on her kids' doors each night after they go to bed. By Valentine's Day, their doors are covered. "Usually it's just characteristics I see in them or ways that they're kind to others. They really love this, and I even found my eight-year-old kept all his hearts from last year in a special drawer so that's pretty awesome," Sanchez says, whose other children are 10, 6 and 1. 18 • February 2017 / www.stjohnsparent.com
Send a singing telegram. Video your preschooler singing a ditty like: "I made this little valentine; Of red, white and blue; I made this little valentine; Especially for you!" (point at the camera). Email the file to grandparents or another relative your youngster is crazy about. Customize cards for classmates. Bypass the usual cartoon paper postcards and publish simple photo cards with a themed border. Last year, Sanchez attached a small bottle of bubbles to her daughter's cards, which read “Friend, you blow me away!” Play the Queen of Hearts. Ace V-Day by sending love notes in a pack of red playing cards for your beloved. Punch holes in the corner of each card. On paper squares, write down 52 reasons why you love or appreciate him. Paste each sentiment in the middle of a playing card. Title the deck "I love you because..." and paste it on the top card. Attach the cards with a c-clip. Treat them to a hearty breakfast. Surprise your kids with heart-shaped cinnamon rolls. Instead of rolling your cinnamon roll dough
from one side to the other, roll it on both sides so that each side meets in the middle forming a heart shape. Slice and bake. Serve juice out of dollar-store champagne flutes. Make a fruit salad. Cut fruits like apples, strawberries, banana and watermelon using a heart-shaped cookie cutter. Toy with chemistry. Put candy conversation hearts to the test. Gather vinegar, salt water, tap water and bleach (with adult guidance). Place a candy heart in four bowls. Ask your child to hypothesize about what will happen when each liquid is dropped over the candy. Using an eye dropper, test her theory. How does the candy react to different liquids? Did your young chemist's predictions prove true? Get those hearts pumping. Using a poster board, make a grid of nine different exercises (sit-ups, somersaults, jumping jacks, pushups, etc). Players take turns tossing a beanbag (or other item) onto the grid. Then they rolling the dice to see how many times they have to do the exercise that their beanbag landed on. For more ideas, check out 12345 Fit-Tastic! on Pinterest, a healthy lifestyles initiative for families. Rev up date night. In the whirlwind of parenting, life as a couple can get routine. Plan an outing with your sweetheart that's playful and gets you out of your dinner-and-a-movie rut. For example, lift off in a hot air balloon ride; go dancing; take a couples cooking class; paint together at a drop-in paint-andsip studio; or attend a concert or live theater production.
Make a Heart-Shaped Bird Feeder Ingredients: 3/4 c. flour 1/2 c. water 1 envelope unflavored gelatin 3 tbsp corn syrup 4 cups of birdseed Directions: 1. Stir the ingredients together in a bowl. 2. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or waxed paper. 3. Spray the inside of a heart-shaped cookie cutter with non-stick cooking spray. 4. Place the cookie cutter onto the lined cookie sheet and press the birdseed mixture into the cookie cutter. Spray cooking spray on your hands to help keep the mixture from sticking. 5. Use a chopstick to poke a hole in the upper center of the heart. 6. Remove the cookie cutter. 7. Let the hearts sit overnight. 8. Thread a ribbon through each heart and hang on a tree. Source: www.wineandglue.com
Did you know?
• Valentine's Day dates back to the ancient Roman fertility festival called Lupercalia. • The first written valentines were sent in the 15th century. • Today, an estimated one billion V-Day cards are exchanged annually. • As many as 6 million couples get engaged on Valentine's Day each year. Source: History.com www.stjohnsparent.com / February 2017 • 19
feature
Bind the book: Here are two easy ways to bind your book:
Make a Valentine’s Day Card
Memory Book
by Tiffany Doerr Guerzon
Every February, elementary-age children come home with a paper bag or box stuffed full of Valentine’s Day party loot. Those tiny little cards signed by classmates are cute, but what do you do with them all? I know my kids never want to recycle or throw away the cards, even months later. Making a Valentine Memory Book is a fun way to save cards, notes, stickers and even candy wrappers all in one book that can be kept and looked back on years later.
Materials needed: 4 pieces of colored construction paper Glue Stick Scissors Stapler or hole punch Art supplies to decorate the book pages: markers, ribbon, beads, stickers, paper doilies, patterned paper, whatever your child enjoys. Directions: Create the book: Stack four pieces of construction paper together. Holding the paper horizontally, fold the stack in half like a book. Next, with the folded edge on the left, cut the stack of paper in half, across the middle. You should now have two stacks of folded paper measuring approximately 4 by 5 inches in size. (If the two stacks don’t match exactly, you can trim the edges later.) Place one stack inside the other so that the folded edges are together. This will give you 28 pages plus the front and back cover and a title page. 20 • February 2017 / www.stjohnsparent.com
Staple binding: To secure the “binding”, open the book to the middle and place two or three staples along the crease. String binding: Using string or ribbon to bind the book adds an extra touch. Use twine for a rustic look, fancy ribbon or even curling ribbon left over from wrapping gifts. Open your book to the middle and punch one hole on either side of the middle fold near the top and bottom of the book. Fold book, and then use ribbon or string to tie it together. Thread one end of the ribbon through the top hole from back to front and repeat with the other end through the bottom hole. Bring the two ribbon ends together on the front of the book and tie in a knot. Filling and decorating the book: Be sure to write a title on the front cover of the book with the child’s name, age, and grade to preserve the memory. Use the glue stick to adhere cards to the pages and encourage your child to write a few words about who gave them each Valentine. Then they can decorate the pages with stickers, paper doilies, glitter glue— whatever strikes their fancy. If the book is bound with string, you can add beads to the ends of the string or ribbon that you used to bind the book for extra bling. Creating a Valentine’s Day Memory Book is not only a fun project to do with your child, but it will also keep all those mementos in one place—instead of all over your house!
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Heart Sunglasses From Gymboree’s “Cozy Valentine” collection comes this cheeky pair of pint-sized sunglasses, perfect for everyone’s favorite February holiday. These heart-shaped sunglasses are available in three sizes: infant, toddler, and children ages four and up, to accommodate a wide size of faces. Even though Valentine’s Day falls in the middle of winter, your child’s precious peepers still need protection from dangerous UVA and UVB rays—especially when the sun peeks out after a snowstorm and reflectivity is an issue. The arms are flexible on the infant-sized glasses, so you don’t have to worry about strong little fingers tugging them on—or off Buy: $9; gymboree.com
Emoji Cookie Cutter For the budding baker, this emoji heart cookie cutter will certainly bring a little love into your next culinary adventure. You and your child can use it together to cut this cute shape out of your favorite cookie dough recipe, pie crust, or even a freshly baked pan of brownies. Outline the face with yellow icing and fill in the heart-shaped eyes with red for an adorable afterschool treat. Alternately, you could give the item to a younger child to incorporate into their Play-Doh routine or press into clay and let dry to form a long-lasting ornament. Buy: $5; cookiecutz.etsy.com
PLAY x Converse Chuck Taylor® 'Hidden Heart' High Top Sneaker Cool vintage style elevates a street-ready sneaker stamped with a peekaboo heart. The product of a collaboration between Comme des Garçons PLAY and Converse, the shoe features classic Chucks styling with a playful, quirky twist thanks to the imagination of New York graphic artist Filip Pagowski and Comme des Garçon's own designer Rei Kawakubo. Buy: $125; shop.nordstrom.com
Who Will My Love Be? Game Box For the teen or tween who loves the game MASH (you remember it from middle school: Mansion, Apartment, Shack, House), there’s this modern version with a vintage-inspired look. This game doesn’t require any paper and pencil. Instead, simply tilt the box to move three small silver balls around the game board until each one lands on a characteristic (know it all, generous, nature lover, poet, and more). Wherever the balls land is said to describe your future relationship. The kids will play again and again—with plenty of laughs guaranteed—until they get just what they’re looking for. Buy: $13; chroniclebooks.com
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Dual Heart iPhone and Micro USB Charging Cable If your teen or tween seems to have a lot of devices on her hands all of the sudden, this adorable charger makes for a very practical Valentine’s Day gift. The large USB plugs into a computer, compatible wall outlet, or charging block to send power to both connectors—one made for gadgets that support lightning cables (iPhones and iPads), another made for devices with micro USB ports (Kindles, GoPros, and more). On the next family road trip, she’ll be able to read her kindle and take pictures of the sights with her iPhone—without ever losing power. Buy: $15; kikkerland.com
Heart Print Pajama Set Give your little sleepyhead these heartprint pajamas, and she’s sure to rise and shine on the right side of the bed. The cotton blend, banded cuffs, and elasticized waistband will keep her comfortable from story time to sunrise. Add in a pack of coordinating socks to reach free shipping on Gap’s website and ensure her toes stay just as toasty. Despite being long sleeved, she can wear these the whole year through and will especially enjoy them on an unusually chilly summer night. You’ll appreciate that they’re machine washable, too. Buy: $45; gap.com
Heart Memory Game Banish boredom with a game made especially for them. This customized memory game features a set of 24 cardboard tiles that come neatly packaged in a 3.5-inch square box adorned with a heart. The game can be personalized with up to 12 photos of your child and his or her favorite things (family members, pets, familiar places, and more). Creating this unique gift couldn’t be easier: Simply drag and drop a selection of photos (from your computer, Facebook, or Instagram) via the customize link, choose matte or glossy as your choice of finish, and voila! Available in either pink or blue. Buy: $30; pinholepress.com
Tumbling Tower Building Blocks A colorful game that’s easy to stow away when not in use will make parents and kids happy this February 14. Playing couldn’t be any simpler: First, create a tower with the stackable bright, colorful rectangular blocks, then roll the dice to see which color block you must remove. If a player knocks down the tower when removing a block, they lose the game. (Parents need not worry: The blocks are lightweight and won’t injure small hands when they tumble.) When solo, kids can use the blocks to create other designs and towers, too. Buy: $13 for 48 pieces; amazon.com
Spicy Chocolates Bacon chocolate is so last year. The guy who puts hot sauce on literally everything will go ballistic for this spicy Tabasco sauce-infused chocolate. Buy: $7 countrystore.tabasco.com
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JANE’S REEL RATING SYSTEM One Reel – Even the Force can’t save it. Two Reels – Coulda been a contender Three Reels – Something to talk about. Four Reels – You want the truth? Great flick! Five Reels – Wow! The stuff dreams are made of.
Here’s a sneak peek at what's new in theaters and home entertainment this month. Note that release dates are subject to change. THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE Rated PG-13 Reel Preview: In the spirit of irreverent fun that made "The LEGO Movie" a worldwide hit, the self-described leading man of that ensemble – LEGO Batman – gets his own big screen adventure. There are big changes brewing in Gotham, and if he wants to save the city from The Joker’s hostile takeover, Batman may have to drop the lone vigilante thing, try to work with others and maybe, just maybe, learn to lighten up. Directed by Chris McKay, this movie stars Will Arnett, Zach Galifianakis, Michael Cera, Rosario Dawson and Ralph Fiennes.
THE GREAT WALL
Reel Review: After a heist goes terribly wrong, Casey Stein (Nicholas Hoult) finds himself on the run from a ruthless gang headed by mob boss Hagen (Anthony Hopkins). Now Casey has precious cargo that belongs to Hagen, who will stop at nothing to retrieve it. Left with no choice, Casey calls his former employer and drug smuggler Geran (Ben Kingsley) to protect his long-time girlfriend Juliette before Hagen gets his hands on her. Casey embarks on an adrenaline-fueled car chase on the German highways to save the love of his life before it's too late. Directed by Eran Creevy, this movie also stars Felicity Jones.
ROCK DOG Rated PG Reel Review:
Rated PG-13 Reel Review: Starring global superstar Matt Damon and directed by visual stylist Zhang Yimou ("Hero," "House of Flying Daggers"), this movie tells the story of an elite force making a valiant stand for humanity on the world’s most iconic structure. The first English-language production for Yimou, this is the largest film ever shot entirely in China. "The Great Wall" also stars Jing Tian, Pedro Pascal, Willem Dafoe and Andy Lau.
Brand New On DVD TROLLS Rated PG Reel Review: Trolls is a 2016 American 3D computer-animated musical adventure romantic comedy film based on the Troll dolls created by Thomas Dam. The film features the voices of Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake, Zooey Deschanel, Russell Brand, James Corden and Gwen Stefani. The film revolves around two trolls on a quest to save their village from destruction by the Bergen, creatures who eat trolls.
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COLLIDE Rated PG-13
The Tibetan Mastiffs living on Snow Mountain have one goal: guard a peaceful village of wool-making sheep from the thuggish wolf Linnux (Lewis Black) and his rabid pack. To avoid distractions, Mastiff leader Khampa (J.K. Simmons) forbids all music from the mountain. But when his son Bodi (Luke Wilson) discovers a radio dropped by a passing airplane, it takes just a few guitar licks for his fate to be sealed: Bodi wants to be a rock star. But that means defying his father's wishes, heading to the city, and locating the legendary musician Angus Scattergood (Eddie Izzard), who needs to write a new song and fast. If Bodi can put a band together, help Angus with his song, and defeat the wolves' plot to take Snow Mountain, his life will be in tune. Directed by Ash Brannon, this fun movie also stars Kenan Thompson, Mae Whitman, Jorge Garcia, Matt Dillon and Sam Elliott.
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health
Eat to Beat
Heart Disease
by Sandra Gordon
Whether you're curled up with a book or sprinting for a bus, your heart works hard for you—a healthy one beats 100,000 times and pumps about 2,000 gallons of blood daily. To help it do its job--and prevent heart disease— the number one killer—take stock of your diet. "What you eat and how you prepare food can strongly affect your blood cholesterol, your blood pressure and the propensity for plaque to build up in your arteries over the long run,” says Lori Mosca, M.D., author of Heart to Heart: A Personal Plan for Creating a Heart-Healthy Family. Considering that plenty of not-so-good-for-you foods are just a drive-thru away, read on for the key nutrition rules that will help you eat to beat heart disease. Target saturated and trans fats To keep your arteries clear, cut down on saturated fat and trans fats. Both types raise your body’s level of “bad” LDL cholesterol—much more so than any cholesterol you get from food. When too much LDL cholesterol circulates in the bloodstream, it can slowly build up on the walls of arteries feeding your heart and brain, forming thick, hard plaque. Trans fats also lower “good” HDL cholesterol, making them doubly bad for your heart. HDL cholesterol is beneficial because it reduces plaque buildup by ushering excess LDL cholesterol from artery walls and back to the liver, where it’s passed from the body.
Food Fix: Aim to have no more than 10 percent of your calories come saturated fat. “Limit butter, vegetable shortening and lard in cooking,”says Bethany Thayer, RD. Instead, use olive and canola oils, which both contain heart-healthy monounsaturated fat. Because these healthy fats are still high in calories (120 calories per tablespoon), go easy to avoid weight gain, which is an independent risk factor for heart disease. Also, instead of butter or regular margarine, consider spreads such as Take Control, Benecol and Benecol Light, which are enriched with plant sterols or stanols--compounds that can inhibit the absorption of cholesterol in the intestine, thereby lowering LDLs. Other ways to trim saturated fats from your diet: Drink skim or low-fat milk and choose lean meats and skinless poultry, keeping servings to about the size of your palm. Finally, avoid processed cookies, crackers, chips and bakery products with trans fats (also called “hydrogenated” or “partially hydrogenated” fat or oil) in the ingredient list). Check the nutrition label to find snacks that are low in both saturated and have 0 trans fat. Keep in mind, however, that foods labeled “0 trans fat” can contain up to 0.5 grams of trans fat per serving, which can add up if you eat lots of 0 trans fat foods. 26 • February 2017 / www.stjohnsparent.com
Eat more whole grains Whole-grain bread and cereals as well as beans, barley and lentils are good sources of vitamins A, B and E. These act as antioxidants, which may help neutralize free radicals, unstable oxygen molecules in the blood that may contribute to plague buildup in the arteries. Whole grains are also “packed with fiber, which is potent in lowering LDL,” says nutrition researcher Wahida Karmally, DrPH, RD.
Food Fix: Choose whole grain cereal such as instant or steel-cut oatmeal and opt for whole grain bread as often as possible. Aim for at least three (one-ounce) servings of whole grains per day. To spot whole grain products, look for whole on the nutrition label, as in “whole wheat,” “whole corn,” or “whole rye.” Also, check the fiber content. Look for foods with 2 or more grams of fiber per serving.
Pack in produce Fruits and vegetables are filled with fiber as well as beta-carotene and the antioxidant vitamins A and C. Some also contain folate, a B vitamin that may help reduce the amino acid, homocysteine, high blood levels of which may have been linked with an increased risk of heart attack. They're also natural sources of plant sterols. Aim for two cups of fruit and two and one half cups of vegetables each day. Less than a third of us eat enough produce to protect our hearts.
Food Fix: Top off your morning cereal or yogurt with fruit and add it to homemade breads, cakes and cookies. Add vegetables to sauces, stews, meat loaf, pizza and soup. “Store cut-up vegetables and fruit at eye level in the fridge so they're the first thing you see when you open the door,” suggests Thayer.
Go fishing twice a week Fish, especially cold-water fish like salmon, albacore tuna, mackerel and herring, are rich in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentenoic acid (EPA), hearthealthy omega-3 fatty acids that help reduce the rate of plaque buildup, decrease triglycerides and slightly lower blood pressure. The American Heart Association recommends eating two fish meals per week. If you’re pregnant, the FDA recommends eating eight to 12 ounces of fish per week and focus on those low in mercury, including shrimp, pollock, salmon, canned light tuna, tilapia, catfish, cod, flatfish and haddock. Avoid tilefish from the Gulf of Mexico, shark, swordfish and king mackerel.
Food Fix: Try adding an easy-to-make fish like salmon to your family’s weekly menu. If you just don't like fish, try incorporating flaxseed oil. It’s a rich source of heart-healthy alpha-linolenic acid (LNA). One teaspoon of the oil a day is all you need to get a beneficial dose (1.5 grams). But since flaxseed oil breaks down with heat, don't use it for cooking.
Ease up on eggs While it’s true that dietary cholesterol doesn't affect your blood cholesterol to the extent that saturated and trans fats can, the dietary cholesterolin egg yolks can add up (a typical yolk contains 71 percent of the daily limit of 300 milligrams), and may contribute to high levels of LDL in your body. That’s why many nutritionists are conservative when it comes to recommending a daily limit for egg consumption. “Don’t have more than one egg yolk a day,” advises Melissa Ohlson, MS, RD. (If you already have high cholesterol, however, Ohlson recommends limiting eggs to no more than three per week.)
Food Fix: If you're an egg lover or bake or cook with eggs, keep dietary cholesterol intake low by using just the egg whites or opting for commercially prepared egg substitutes whenever possible.
Develop a taste for dark chocolate It contains flavanols—antioxidants in the flavonoid family that may increase blow flow in arteries, reduce the stickiness of blood platelets and lower blood pressure. One study found that people who consumed 1.6 ounces of high-flavonoid dark chocolate daily for two weeks experienced an eightfold increase in the ability of their arteries to dilate, which improves blood flow to the heart.
Food Fix: Even though it’s healthier than milk chocolate, dark chocolate is still a high-calorie treat. For occasional chocolate cravings or even just a small hit every day, “check the label for chocolate that contains at least 70 percent cocoa,” says cardiovascular researcher Mary B. Engler, PhD. www.stjohnsparent.com / February 2017 • 27
10AM - 2PM Located just south of St. Augustine, the Salt Air Farmer's Market offers locally grown produce of the freshest and highest quality. Homegrown tomatoes, juicy water-
Salt Air Farmers Market
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This annual event features celebrity waiters (local lawyers, bankers, other professionals, and many more community-minded individuals) working the tables at a variety of local restaurants.
Tips for Kids' Sake 2017
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charlie@bradymediainc.com or mail to: 800 Belle Terre Pkwy., Ste. 200-207 Palm Coast, FL 32164
To submit an event, send your information by the 10th of the preceding month to:
Submit Your Event!
8AM - 12:30PM Around 60 to 80 vendors participate each Wednesday morning year round. St. Johns County Pier Park
The Wednesday Market at St. Augustine Beach
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10:30AM - 11:30AM Join Magical Melodies Music Educator for classes for children ages birth to 5 years old with a caregiver, as we move to music in so many ways. Music and Movement classes bring all of the many benefits of music, such as development of gross and fine motor skills, language and comprehension skills, group and individual cooperation skills, together with a social interaction with other children and adults in a relaxed classroom setting. St. John’s Golf and Country Club 205 St. John's Golf Club Drive St. Augustine
Magical Melodies Music Educator Classes for Children and Families
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5PM - 9PM St. Augustine's historic downtown area, from Aviles to King Street's, St. George Street and more -- even over the Bridge of Lions onto Anastasia Island and the beach. 832-779-2781.
First Friday Art Walk
Washington Oaks Gardens State Park is located two miles south of Marineland off A1A South. 6400 N. Oceanshore Blvd. Palm Coast 386-446-6783
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First Friday Garden Walk 10AM
8:30AM - 12PM Visit the Old City Farmers Market for fresh produce, baked goods, hand-crafted items and plants directly from the producers. There’s even fresh seafood in season. The Farmers market is always a lot of fun for the whole family with live entertainment and much more.
Old City Farmer’s Market
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9AM - 4PM Visitors will find a huge array of booths, fun things to do, fresh foods and more. Families will also find fun things to do for the kids! Bouncy houses, small rides, and games await at the St. Augustine Flea Market. St. Augustine's Marketplace, 2495 State Rd. 207 St. Augustine 904-824-4210
St. Augustine Flea Market
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Daytona 500 The Daytona 500, also known as "The Great American Race," is NASCAR's signature event and is the biggest, richest and the most prestigious event of the year for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Daytona International Speedway, 1801 W. International Speedway Blvd. Daytona Beach 800-PIT-SHOP
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10AM - 2PM 101 Tolstoy Lane,Marineland
Salt Air Farmers Market
St Augustine YMCA Mardi Gras Beach Run 8:30AM It's a fun run so dressing up is encouraged! The race will begin on St. Augustine Beach at low tide from the St. Augustine Beach Pier. St Johns County Pier Park & Pavilion, 350 A1A Beach Blvd. St. Augustine
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10AM - 2PM Located just south of St. Augustine, the Salt Air Farmer's Market offers locally grown produce of the freshest and highest quality. Homegrown tomatoes, juicy watermelons, and more. There is also creative local art, musical entertainment, and tasty treats. 101 Tolstoy Lane,Marineland
Salt Air Farmers Market
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melons, and more. There is also creative local art, musical entertainment, and tasty treats. 101 Tolstoy Lane,Marineland
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http://www.bbbsstjohns.org/participating-restaurants.html.
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350 A1A Beach Blvd. St. Augustine Beach 904-347-8007
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11AM - 8PM On the last Saturday of the month, explore and enjoy the shops and galleries of "Uptown" St. Augustine. Live music, refreshments, new exhibits and more along San Marco Avenue North of W. Castillo. Uptown Shops, North San Marco Avenue, St. Augustine
Spend the weekend on amusement park rides, watching live entertainment (with everything from music to baton twirlers), playing bingo and throwing your hat in for a raffle, and eating the famous shrimp dinner! Adult tickets are $5. Seniors and children 11-17 are $3. Children 10 and under are free. Mission Nombre de Dios 27 Ocean Ave., St. Augustine 7PM St. Augustine Amphitheatre 1340 A1A South, St. Augustine 904-209-3746
Foreigner with Kansas
Uptown Saturday
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32nd Annual Cathedral Festival
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A Classic Theatre joins the celebration of 400 years of Shakespeare with For the Love of Shakespeare! These comic "Valentines to the Bard" are directed by Deborah Dickey and reflect the world's continued fascination with the beloved playwright, as the year-long touring exhibit of a rare copy of The First Folio makes its way across the nation with stops in all fifty states. The Pioneer Barn at Fort Menendez, 259 San Marco Avenue, St. Augustine.
For The Love of Shakespeare!
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10AM Travel back in time to experience the very first “underground railroad.” Thousands of people in the 17th and 18th centuries fled enslavement on the Freedom Trail to Spanish Florida, where they could live their lives as free people. Come experience this part of Florida’s history. Fort Mose State Park, 15 Fort Mose Trail, St. Augustine
Flight to Freedom
The St. Augustine Amphitheatre 1340C A1A S, St. Augustine
health
February is National Children’s Dental Health Month
Each February, the American Dental Association (ADA) sponsors National Children's Dental Health Month to raise awareness about the importance of oral health. National Children’s Dental Health Month messages and materials have reached millions of people in communities across the country. Developing good habits at an early age and scheduling regular dental visits helps children to get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums. Whether you're a member of the dental team, a teacher or a parent, the ADA has free online resources that can help you with oral health presentations, ideas for the classroom, and activity sheets that can be used as handouts. They also have booklets, videos and other materials available for purchase through their ADA catalog. The American Dental Association’s goal is the elimination of cavities in children five years old by 2020. Helping Children through Give Kids A Smile The American Dental Association began the ‘Give Kids A Smile’ program in 2003 as a way for dentists to join with others in the community to provide dental services to underserved children. The program initially began as a oneday event in February, but has since grown to local and national events year-round. Dentists
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and other team members volunteer their time, and services, to provide screenings, treatments and education to children throughout their communities. To find participating providers in your area please visit www.ada.org and click on Public Programs and go to Give Kids a Smile.
Nutrition and Oral Health Children need strong, healthy teeth to chew their food, speak and have a good-looking smile. What’s more, a good diet is essential for a child’s growth and development. Almost all foods, including milk or vegetables, have some type of sugar, which can contribute to tooth decay. To help control the amount of sugar your child consumes, always try to read food labels and choose foods and beverages that are low in added sugars. Also, select beverages, such as water, that hydrate and contribute to good nutrition. What to Eat: According to MyPlate, a website from the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, an agency of U.S. Department of Agriculture, a balanced diet should include: Fruits and vegetables. Combined these should be half of what your child eats every day. Grains. Make sure at least half of their grains are whole grains, such as oatmeal, whole wheat bread and brown rice.
Dairy. Choose low-fat or fat-free dairy foods. Lean proteins. Make lean protein choices, such as lean beef, skinless poultry and fish. Try to vary protein choices to include eggs, beans, peas and legumes, too. Eat at least 8 oz. of seafood a week.
In addition to a nutritious diet, snacking habits, bottles and pacifiers also impact your child's oral health. Here are some tips to keep your child's mouth healthy: Place only formula, milk or breast milk in bottles. Avoid filling the bottle with liquids such as sugar water, juice or soft drinks. Infants should finish their bedtime and naptime bottles before going to bed. If your child uses a pacifier, provide one that is clean—don’t dip it in sugar or honey, or put it in your mouth before giving it to the child. Encourage children to drink from a cup by their first birthday and discourage frequent or prolonged use of sippy cups. Serve nutritious snacks and limit sweets to mealtimes. For tips on how to get your children to eat more fruits and vegetables, visit the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics at www.eatright.org.
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health
Youth Stress:
Don’t Be DisHEARTened!
by Renee G. Wyden, EdD, LCSW
I remember when I was younger thinking that my parents just didn’t understand how stressful it was to be a teenager. Yes, I knew that at one point in their lives they too had been teenagers, but in my mind, it was clear that life had been much easier for them despite their arguments to the contrary! However, now that I am a parent I have caught myself saying the same things my parents said (funny how that seems to happen) in regards to current day teenage angst, “Your life is stressful? Oh PLEASE! Wait until you’re older and have real problems. Then you will know how stressful life can be!” The glitch is when it comes to stress so much of it is about perception, and how we appraise an event, situation, or period of our life plays a very large role in triggering our acute stress response, a.k.a. our fight or flight response. For everyone, no matter how young or old, if you perceive something in your life to be a threat to your physical, emotional or psychological self, you will have a stress reaction that will either ensure your survival, or contribute to your demise. Now from a primitive survival standpoint, this 32 • February 2017 / www.stjohnsparent.com
stress reaction helps increase the chances that you will either successfully flee or fight that saber-toothed tiger. Both reactions require a heightened level of mental alertness and physical exertion, and therefore the body releases the stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol, causing multiple internal changes that include increased heart rate and blood flow to our major muscle groups. Essentially, there is a boost of energy to the brain and body, and NO you don’t have to consume an energy drink to make it happen! Once the fleeing or fighting is over, our body and mind eventually return to a state of calm. Due to our ability to prevail, a return of physical, mental and emotional balance is the conclusion to the elimination of the threat. As adults in modern day society, we don’t have to worry about the threat of being attacked by a saber-toothed tiger as we are no longer cave people (although our youth may have a different opinion about that!). Yet, most of our stress still comes from threats in our environment, and not surprisingly, the things that cause stress in adulthood and childhood often differ. For our
youth, psychosocial stressors often involve academic rigor, peer acceptance, family conflict, puberty, being bullied, pressure to experiment with drugs and alcohol, and juggling their overly scheduled lives to name a few. Believe or not, data even suggests that the greatest source of stress for teens is… parents! So, without question stress is an important health issue for young people. The ways in which they cope with their perceived threats can have significant short and long-term consequences on their overall health. As adults, we know that the right amount of stress helps us meet our goals and do good work. Conversely, excessive or long-term stress causes the fight or flight response to stay activated and can ultimately produce serious damage to the heart, vascular system, immune system and the brain. Our youth are especially vulnerable to the harmful effects of chronic stress. This type of stress is quite toxic and can lead to changes in the structure and function of children’s developing brains and bodies. If left unmanaged it can lead to increased risk of health problems and various adult diseases. One new study found that a low resilience to stress as a teenager was linked to higher risk of cardiovascular disease, even after they adjusted the results to consider physical fitness and other risk factors. So, what does this mean for parents? To start, we need to not dismiss the significance of youth stress and instead make it a priority to teach our kids how to identify stressors and properly manage them. It is important to look for the signs and symptoms that they are not coping well with the psychosocial stressors in their lives. When children are overloaded, there are often increased physical complaints, changes in their eating and sleeping habits, withdrawal from people and activities, and greater variability in mood; this of course, is beyond what is typical in adolescents. Feelings of hopeless, crying and increased anger can be signs that your youth is in trouble. Listen to them; be open and supportive, even if they don’t think you can relate to how they are feeling. Their future health depends on it.
400 Health Park Blvd. St Augustine, FL 32086 (904) 819-5155
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