Carolina Parent May 2015 by Carolina Parent

parent CAROLINA

May 2015 • Free

THE TRIANGLE’ S FAMILY RESOURCE

NC BUCKET LIST 15 Places to Explore Become a National Park

JUNIOR RANGER

Crafty Ideas for

Mother’s Day

KEEP MOVING With Our Fit Family Challenge

MUS.14.021.6 - Carolina Parent Flea 11.125 x 8.875.indd 1

NC Museum of Life & Science

If you were a flea, you could jump farther than 130 times your height.

MAY 2015 | carolinaparent.com

3/20/15 12:42 PM

FAMILY HEALTH Enhanced Services For The Whole Family • 24/7 Full Service Emergency Department • Outpatient Surgery • Diagnostic Imaging • Onsite Laboratory Services • Outpatient Physical Rehabilitation • Primary Care & Specialty Care Physician Offices

Wake Med

WakeMed Physician Practices–Cardiology • ENT-Head & Neck Surgery General & Bariatric Surgery • Maternal Fetal Medicine • Orthopaedics Obstetrics & Gynecology • Primary Care (Family & Internal Medicine) Pediatric Surgery • Urogynecology (Pelvic Health) • Urology

WOMEN’S HOSPITAL New Inpatient Women’s Services • Full Range Of Obstetric & Gynecological Services In A Hotel-Like Atmosphere • Comfortable Childbirth Facilities • Spacious, Family-Centered Patient Rooms • Specially-Trained OB Hospitalists • Diagnostic Services & Surgery Suites • Level III Special Care Nursery • Lactation Counseling • Birth & Parent Education • Exceptional Patient & Family Experience

AT WAKEMED NORTH, CARING IS A FAMILY AFFAIR. The WakeMed North you’ve come to know and trust is now more family friendly than ever. With new inpatient women’s services and expanded outpatient services for the entire family. Everything from full-service, 24/7 emergency care, imaging and surgery to outpatient rehabilitation, primary care and specialty care. Plus, a whole new approach to delivering babies that includes 24/7 care from experienced OB hospitalists working in partnership with your personal obstetrician to ensure an extra level of quality and safety. So now, more than ever, we’re all about you and your loved ones. Exceptional people. Exceptional care. For every family.

10000 Falls of Neuse Road 919-350-8000 wakemed.org/north

Lukas, age 10 Crohn’s disease patient

UNC

We’re Champions of Future Champions

As a leading children’s hospital in the Southeast, we help ensure today’s bright futures grow into tomorrow’s champions.

{PEDIATRIC GASTROENTEROLOGY AND IBD} The UNC Children’s gastroenterology program offers comprehensive and individualized diagnosis and treatment for a variety of gastrointestinal disorders, including inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

• GI specialists, nutritionists, nurses, psychologists and surgeons with access to the most advanced technologies and therapies, working together to provide treatment

• Access to research programs and clinical trials • Appointments available at two convenient locations—Chapel Hill and Raleigh 4

APRIL 2015 | carolinaparent.com

UNCChampions.org

May CONTENTS T R AV EL S EC T I O N

FEATURES

28 32

A North Carolina Bucket List

Sleeping Well on Vacation

Fit Family Challenge, Part 2

15 things to do in the Old North State before your kids are grown

Parkin’ It Junior Ranger program educates children about national parks

Help little ones get the rest they need

The Gomez and Ojala families dig in

IN EVERY ISSUE

7 8

May Online Editor’s Note

10 FYI 10 Community 11 Education 13 Food 15 Craft 17 Health 19 Style 20 Growing Up

Tech Talk

Understanding Kids

Hammer, Nails and Diaper Pails Excursion Faces & Places

CALENDAR

Our Picks

Daily

Festivals

Mother’s Day Activities

On Stage

carolinaparent.com | MAY 2015

Saving for my college education yet? The earlier you start, the better. Not only because early and regular saving makes even small amounts add up, but because it means you see college in my future.

College Foundation

Open an NC 529 Plan college savings account today to get started! • No enrollment fees or sales charges to open an account • Earnings free from federal and North Carolina income taxes when used for qualiﬁed higher education expenses* • Use to pay for virtually any college, anywhere in the country • Investment options from the State Treasurer of North Carolina, State Employees’ Credit Union, and Vanguard® • Low asset and administrative fees

To invest in your child’s future today, visit NC529.org or call 800.600.3453

Vanguard is a registered trademark of The Vanguard Group, Inc.

Before opening an NC 529 account, or contributing funds to an existing account, you should carefully read the Program Description, which includes information on investment objectives, risks, and expenses, as well as important tax information. The Program Description can be downloaded from NC529.org.

* The features of a qualified tuition program are complex and involve significant tax issues. The earnings portion of a withdrawal not used for qualified higher education expenses is subject to federal income tax and a 10% federal penalty tax, as well as state and local income taxes. The availability of tax benefits may be contingent on meeting other requirements. (NCUA) or any governmental or private person, except that contributions and interest allocated to the Federally-Insured Deposit Account Investment Option are guaranteed by SECU and insured by NCUA.

MAY 2015 | carolinaparent.com

WHAT’S NEW AT

carolinaparent.com

Spring Fun

Volunteer Opportunities

Savor fresh strawberries at Triangle pick-your-own farms. Head to

Pay it forward! Find family and teen community service opportunities.

spring festivities close to home. Visit local farmers markets. Discover

Search “volunteer” on our home page.

10 playgrounds worth a drive.

Camps and Track-Out Programs

… Things to Do  Seasonal  Spring Guide to the Triangle

Find day or residential camps and track-out activities that suit your child in our camp directories.

carolinaparent.com/directories/camps Join Our Fit Family Challenge! Move your family toward a healthier lifestyle with practical tips from local experts. Our Fit Family Challenge runs through June 15. You can register for free at myfitfamilychallenge.com. Participants can win weekly prizes valued at $200 and a grand prize family vacation to Universal Orlando® Resort.

… Lifestyle  Family Health  Fit Family Challenge 2015

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twitter.com/ carolinaparent

pinterest.com/ carolinaparent

instagram.com/ carolinaparent

carolinaparent.com | MAY 2015

›

parent CAROLINA

EDITOR’S NOTE

Simpler Times and Pleasures

Member of the

Morris Media Network

morris.com

GROUP PUBLISHER Sharon Havranek

PUBLISHER

Brenda Larson • blarson@carolinaparent.com

s a child growing up in the ’80s, my

EDITOR

family vacations typically involved

road trips to one of three destinations: the

Beth Shugg • bshugg@carolinaparent.com

beach, the mountains or an amusement

Janice Lewine • jlewine@carolinaparent.com

ART DIRECTORS

Cheri Vigna • cvigna@carolinaparent.com Melissa Stutts • mstutts@charlotteparent.com

park. We rarely flew on airplanes or stayed in lavish hotels, and we went to Disney

WEB EDITOR

Odile Fredericks • ofredericks@carolinaparent.com

World exactly once — not every few years, as

DIGITAL MEDIA SPECIALIST

many of today’s families do (including mine).

ASSOCIATE EDITOR • CALENDAR/DIRECTORIES

Lauren Isaacs • lisaacs@carolinaparent.com

Instead of digital entertainment, we

played car games that required spotting

objects, symbols or landmarks in exchange for points. Example: dead armadillo on a Florida

SALES TEAM LEADER • MEDIA CONSULTANT Candi Griffin • cgriffin@carolinaparent.com

MEDIA CONSULTANTS

highway = 100 points.

Regina Alston • ralston@carolinaparent.com Sue Chen • schen@carolinaparent.com

ADVERTISING SALES COORDINATOR

We traveled down two-lane intercoastal highways and winding mountain roads. We

Kia Moore • ads@carolinaparent.com

stopped at fruit stands to buy fresh peaches or apples, and we enjoyed more than one lunch in a dirt-floor barbecue pit. These humble vacations live vividly and lovingly in my memory.

MORRIS VISITOR PUBLICATIONS

Such simple vacation pleasures can belong to your family, too. “A North Carolina

REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENT Karen Rodriguez

Bucket List: 15 Things to Do in the Old North State Before Your Kids are Grown” on page 28

PRESIDENT

spotlights nearby treasures you may have vaguely heard of but never explored. You can

Donna Kessler

chase blue ghost fireflies, plunge down a natural waterslide, enjoy a train ride through the

DIRECTOR OF MANUFACTURING Donald Horton

mountains and watch the sun set over Jockey’s Ridge, all within a five-hour drive from home.

PUBLICATION MANAGER

If your family is traveling to a national park this summer, consider taking advantage

Kris Miller

of the Junior Ranger program, which offers children ages 12 and younger the opportunity to earn an official Junior Ranger patch and certificate — free of charge. Learn more on page 32.

Our Fit Family Challenge is underway and we’d like to thank everyone who has signed

up for it. We hope you’re starting to see some progress! Turn to page 40 to follow along with the Gomez and Ojala families, who have embarked on customized plans created by our panel of experts. Consider trying out some of their tips on your family.

Mother’s Day is May 10 and you’ll find a colorful craft your child can make for Mom on

page 15, as well as Mother’s Day craft activities taking place around the Triangle on page 55.

PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Cher Wheeler

5716 Fayetteville Rd., Suite 201, Durham, NC 27713 phone: 919-956-2430 • fax: 919-956-2427 email: info@carolinaparent.com advertising@carolinaparent.com • editorial@carolinaparent.com

Circulation 40,000. Distribution of this magazine does not constitute an endorsement of information, products or services. Carolina Parent reserves the right to reject any advertisement or listing that is not in keeping with the publication’s standards. Copyright 2015. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.

Sometimes returning to simpler times and pleasures — like retro vacations and

homemade Mother’s Day gifts — result in the most treasured experiences. As the school year winds down and your vacation plans gear up, we hope our May issue inspires you to live memorably with the ones you love.

Beth Shugg, Editor

MAY 2015 | carolinaparent.com

A publication of the Visitor Publications Division of Morris Communications Company, L.L.C. 725 Broad St., Augusta, GA 30901 Chairman and CEO President William S. Morris III Will S. Morris IV

La Petite

OUR GREAT PLACE IS NOW EVEN BETTER.

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The dust has settled and we’re ready to show off our updated schools.

1413 Aversboro Rd. Garner, NC 919.779.5901

• New playscapes and equipment • Classroom renovations and fresh paint

7601 Six Forks Rd. Raleigh, NC 919.846.7602

• PreciouStatus app for regular mobile updates and photos • Customized curriculum to meet every child’s developmental needs

1420 Hedingham Blvd. Raleigh, NC 919.231.8185

• Diapers and wipes now included in tuition

9313 Leesville Rd. Raleigh, NC 919.846.3557

6601 Pleasant Pines Dr. Raleigh, NC 919.571.7469

LaPetite.com

10250 Chapel Hill Rd. Morrisville, NC 919.655.0655

REX

IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH WE DO.

Exceptional Care in your Neighborhood With offices conveniently located throughout our community, UNC Physicians Network vows to provide exceptional health care for you and your loved ones. We look forward to a long and healthy relationship with you and your family. Visit us online at uncpn.com to learn more about our offices near you.

• FAMILY MEDICINE • PRIMARY CARE • WOMEN’S HEALTH • SPECIALTY CARE

• PEDIATRICS • PREVENTIVE CARE • URGENT CARE

uncpn.com carolinaparent.com | MAY 2015

› FYI

community

Photo courtesy of Jessica Arden

Ronald McDonald Houses Host Gala, Expand Services

Actor and Raleigh native Terrence J.

More than 300 guests enjoyed live entertainment, auctions and a diamond raffle at the Carolina Club on

Photo courtesy of Steve Jennings/Getty Images

March 21 during Ronald McDonald House of Chapel Hill‘s 3rd Annual Storybook Gala. The event, which

Find Your Park Campaign Launches

featured Aladdin-inspired decorations, characters and food, grossed more than $144,000 for the Ronald McDonald House and its expansion of facilities and services. The house serves families whose children are

The National Park Service and the National

receiving health care at area hospitals, including the North Carolina Children’s Hospital.

Park Foundation recently kicked off Find Your Park, a public awareness and education campaign celebrating the centennial

WakeMed Health & Hospitals recently expanded its partnership with Ronald McDonald House

of Durham by offering five bedrooms to support the families of its pediatric and neonatal intensive care patients. The new Ronald McDonald House is within WakeMed’s Heart Center Inn, located on the third

anniversary of the National Park Service in

floor of the WakeMed Heart Center in Raleigh. Learn more at rmh-chapelhill.org and wakemed.org.

2016. The campaign highlights historical, urban and cultural parks, as well as National and share nature, culture and history

Local Girl Scouts Compete in Tournament

in communities nationwide. First Lady

Gadget Girls, the all-girl robotics team of the Girl Scouts - North

Michelle Obama and former First Lady

Carolina Coastal Pines, competed in the 6th Annual NC FIRST Robotics

Laura Bush serve as honorary co-chairs to

Regional Tournament March 19-21 in Raleigh. Comprised of nine

promote the celebration of the centennial

Girl Scouts in grades 7-12, the Gadget Girls team designed, built and

and to encourage people to connect with

programmed their robot, “Cookie Monster.” Gadget Girls landed

their favorite parks and public lands. Visit

46 out of 55 for overall ranking at the tournament. Learn more at

findyourpark.com to learn more. See page 32

nccoastalpines.com.

Park Service programs that protect, preserve

for our article on how children can become Photo courtesy of Girl Scouts-North Carolina Coastal Pines

National Park Service Junior Rangers. POLL

What continent do you most want to explore? ANTARCTICA

26.7%   10

AUSTRALIA

26.7%

MAY 2015 | carolinaparent.com

EUROPE

SOUTH AMERICA

NORTH AMERICA

AFRICA

ASIA

20%

13.3%

6.7%

›

FYI

education

GCF Donates School Supplies to Needy Students Durham-based nonprofit Goodwill Community Foundation recently gave school supply kits to 420 students at Falkland Elementary School in Pitt County. The kits contained pencils, a pencil sharpener, crayons, spiral notebooks and more. This year GCF will distribute 5,000 kits across more than 20 counties in eastern North Carolina as part of a partnership program with schools and youth programs. Learn more at gcfglobal.org.

The percentage of low-income students enrolled in the nation’s public schools in 2013. Source: Southern Education Foundation

Photo courtesy of Scott Clevenger for Martin Communications

Photo courtesy of Lenovo

Students Gain Experience at Lenovo

74.4

The percentage of U.S. households reporting Internet use. Source: 2013 U.S. Census Bureau Survey

Tired of the blanket curriculum?

The School of Integrated Studies

The School of Integrated Studies is a private virtual school that provides a collaborative learning environment to address 21st century education while allowing learners the flexibility to pursue personal endeavors. We offer middle school students a curriculum uniquely tailored to the individual needs of the learner.

More than 60 middle school students from Durham and Guilford Counties refurbished computers at Lenovo’s headquarters in Research Triangle Park in celebration of Students@Work Week March 2-6. Through Lenovo’s partnership with the nonprofit organization Kramden Institute, students cleaned, refurbished and tested the computers, which will be donated to economically disadvantaged North Carolina students in grades 3-12. Students also discussed various science/technology/engineering/mathematics career paths and interests with Lenovo employees who volunteered to assist the students. Learn more at lenovoconnection.com and kramden.org.

The Thornton Law Protect Your Firm Child’s Future Wills • Powers of Attorney Trusts • Living Wills Guardianships

We understand that learning goes beyond brick and mortar. Now offering summer academic remediation programs.

The Thornton Law Firm

Serving Grades 6th-8th

We travel to you.

The School of Integrated Studies

www.thorntonlegal.com 919.740.1264

919-251-6252 www.schoolofintegratedstudies. org

Evenings and weekends available

carolinaparent.com | MAY 2015

Rachal Narula Music Studio

Woodplay

Triangle Montessori Academy

IMACs

What did your two-year-old do in preschool today?

International Our twos had funPrecoding with PRIMO. school of Raleigh Half Day Preschool for ages 2 to 5!

Full day option available with a special program at Jasper’s or TKZ

Children love our Technology : One-on-one iPad Program, Coding, OSMO, and 3D Language Arts Program! Spanish & Chinese • Reading, Math & Writing • Art, Music, Science Smart Boards and iPads • Yoga • International Assessments After School Classes: Dance, Soccer, Chess, STEM Club Register now for 2015-2016 school year (limited spots available)

International Preschool of Raleigh 2730 Godley Lane, Raleigh, NC 27617 (Brier Creek next to Frankie’s)

☎ 919-957-7249 12

MAY 2015 | carolinaparent.com

ipraleigh.com

›

FYI

food

Raleigh Vein and Lazer Center

Photo courtesy of the N.C. Farmers Association and N.C. Soybean Production Association

Strawberry Smoothie Visit one of the Triangle’s pick-your-own strawberry farms this month then freeze some of your fresh-picked strawberries to make this smoothie recipe from the N.C. Farmers Association and N.C. Soybean Production Association. ½ cup of frozen strawberries, thawed, including juice 2 tablespoons of vanilla soy milk 2 tablespoons of water ½ cup of crushed ice For more protein, add 2 tablespoons of powdered soy protein isolate. n

Thoroughly mix thawed strawberries, soy milk (or protein isolate) and water in a blender. n Add crushed ice and blend until smooth. Serve in a 12-ounce glass. Makes one serving.

Pediatric Therapy Associates

carolinaparent.com | MAY 2015

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Triangle Student Transportation

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info@tstransportation.org

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Casa Club Spanish Immersion

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Millbrook Baptist Kindergarten Open House for the 2015/2016 School Year and Summer Camp Thursday, May 7th, 10am-12pm During our Open House children may join our Music and Movement Class. Please call and make a reservation.

1519 E. Millbrook Rd. • Raleigh, NC 27609

www.millbrookbaptistpreschool.org • 919-876-4030

MAY 2015 | carolinaparent.com

›

FYI

craft

NC Symphony Buy 8 passes, get 2 FREE!

10 flex passes for just $240! (Offer expires June 6)

• Rhapsody in Blue and Dvorák’s New World Symphony Kid • Totally 80’s and usn 12 admitte der • Russian Festival on the d free lawn! • The Music of The Eagles • Symphonic Wizardry featuring the Music of Harry Potter Plus much more! • The Hot Sardines Paper Flowers for Mom Creating gifts for moms is such a joy, especially for Mother’s Day. These paper flowers are fun to make and can be used as a standalone gift or added to something else as a decoration. Supplies: n Decorative paper (you can cut pictures out of magazines or use recycled greeting cards) n Mod Podge craft glue and a brush n Aleene’s Original Tacky Glue n Buttons (try the Laura Kelly Collection from Buttons Galore) n Scissors

ncsymphony.org | 919.733.2750 PRESENTED BY

Chapel Hill Peds and Adolescents

To make your flowers, cut out petals in the sizes you want and cut out circles for the centers. Assemble your flowers and paint Mod Podge over them on front and back to make them stiff and durable. You can tape the centers together before using the Mod Podge to make it easier. Add the centers, seal with the Mod Podge, then let them dry. The flowers dry best sitting atop a jar or glass. When they are dry, use tacky glue to adhere buttons to the centers. Provided by North Carolina artist Laura Kelly, creator of Laura Kelly Designs. Find more of her crafts at laurakellydesigns.com/cms/Videos.php. carolinaparent.com | MAY 2015

Southpoint Pediatric Dentisty

Fast Med Urgent Care WALK IN. WAIT LESS.

FEEL BETTER! 365 DAYS A YEA R • Athletic Physicals • Flu Shots/Immunizations

• No Appointment Walk in/Urgent Care • Family Practice Appointments available • Injury Care - Fractures/Sprains/Strains • FMCSA Certified Providers of DOT Physicals • Discount Program for Self Pay Patients • Most insurance plans accepted • Occupational Health Care • Work Related Injuries • ZipPass online check in

Over 53 locations in North Carolina

Baby & Company

Maternity & Birth Center

Classes to help you every step of the way Early Pregnancy Classes Childbirth Education

Newborn Care Basics Breastfeeding

Prenatal Yoga New Moms Groups

babyandcompany.com/carolinaparent We accept all major insurance plans. 226 Ashville Ave. Cary NC 27518 | www.babyandcompany.com | (919) 852-1053

MAY 2015 | carolinaparent.com

›

FYI

health

BY KATHERINE KOPP

Tips for International Travel In the wake of recent outbreaks of measles and other highly contagious diseases in the U.S. and around the world, take these precautions before you travel. n

Review your child’s immunizations with his or her doctor.

Make sure your child has received the recommended immunizations for his or her age. Immunizations against diseases such as polio, for example, are especially important when your family travels internationally.

In addition to the routine vaccines, your child may need others depending on where you’re traveling and the activities in which you and your child will be participating.

For example, immunizations providing protection against yellow fever, typhoid fever, meningococcal disease, rabies and Japanese encephalitis may be recommended for certain destinations. Source: American Academy of Pediatrics at healthychildren.org

4th

North Carolina’s national rank in the number of residents who signed up for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act and qualified for a subsidy in 2015. Only Florida, Texas and California have more people receiving subsidized coverage.

A Weighty Problem According to the personal finance social network WalletHub, Americans spend up to $210 billion annually on obesity-related medical treatments. In a recent study, WalletHub examined 100 of the most populated U.S. metro areas across 12 key metrics, including the percentage of adults and high school students who are obese and the percentage of people who are physically inactive. A rank of 1 indicates the least obese and most active region, while 100 indicates the most obese and physically inactive region. In North Carolina, the metropolitan Raleigh area came in at 29th, Asheville ranked 50th, CharlotteConcord-Gastonia ranked 60th, Winston-Salem ranked 79th and Greensboro-High Point ranked 95th. For complete results, visit wallethub.com and search for “weight problems.”

Flying With Kids? The Federal Aviation Administration offers information about the use of car seats and booster seats for families to help them travel safely by plane. For more information, visit faa.gov/passengers/ fly_children/media/child-safety-tips.pdf

Katherine Kopp is a freelance writer in Chapel Hill. carolinaparent.com | MAY 2015

Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Associates

Carr Mill Mall

Women’s Mood DisorHave you given birth recently and ders are you depressed?

Doctors at UNC Chapel Hill are seeking women for a medical research study of an investigational drug for Postpartum Depression. You may be eligible if you are: • Female between the ages of 18 and 45 • Gave birth 20 weeks ago or less • Currently experiencing depression after giving birth This study requires a 4-day in-patient stay on the Perinatal Psychiatry Unit at UNC hospital. Participants will have their in-patient costs paid for by the research study and will receive up to $1300 for participation. For additional information, please call Katie at 919-445-0218.

This study was approved 2/23/2015 by the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of Human Subjects Biomedical Institutional Review Board, IRB# 14-0516, and sponsored by the UNC Department of Psychiatry.

MAY 2015 | carolinaparent.com

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FYI

style

Take a walk on the wild side, poolside or seaside with tribal prints full of vibrant colors, geometric patterns, boho fringe and natural accents. BY LAUREN BELL ISAACS

4. 5. 6.

1. Seychelles Blue Striped Pink Tassel-Trimmed Caftan, victoriassecret.com, $79.50 2. Blue and Purple Multi-Print Mossimo Halter Tankini Top, target.com, $24.99 3. Turquoise Treasure Sun ‘N’ Sand Natural Straw Tote, ebags.com, $38.99 4. Elephant Bag Charm, furbishstudio.com, $15 5. Caribbean Blue Jack Rogers “Georgica” Jelly Sandal, nordstrom.com, $48.95 6. Black Mossimo Boy Short, target.com, $22.99 Lauren Bell Isaacs is the digital media specialist for Carolina Parent. carolinaparent.com | MAY 2015

›

GROWING UP children are in the realm of magical thinking, Gross says. Between ages 6 and 12, kids of divorcing couples often invest heavily in fantasy, fervently wishing that their parents could get back together and believing that they can help engineer reconciliation. This is a way to process the grief and powerlessness they feel at the demise of their parents’ marriage, Gross says. School-age children have to integrate the divorce on their own timetable. Parents can aid this process by facilitating free and open access to the other parent. “Children need to know that they can speak with a noncustodial parent freely, in a private room, and that they have the freedom to express their feelings about one parent without being made to feel guilty,” Margherio says.

Drama-Free Divorce BY MALIA JACOBSON

ivorce touches millions of families each year. Around half of all marriages end in divorce, and most divorcing couples have children under 18, according to

the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. When parents split, kids can experience a flood of emotions, from anger to denial to grief. Left unchecked, these feelings can result in an overbalance of the stress hormone cortisol, hampering impulse control and sparking a host of other behavioral problems, including defiance, inattention and aggression. “Divorce is never easy; it’s an emotionally challenging journey for families,” says Gail Gross, a nationally recognized family and child development expert, author and educator. Parents can help children learn to accept and even thrive in the new family structure, Gross says. Read on for guidance on how to navigate a split and keep your parent-child bond intact. AGES 0-5

Regression Redux Little ones can’t understand divorce and lack the cognitive capacity to cope with the changes around them, Gross says. The resulting confusion can spur regression and clinginess — sudden night awakening, potty-training accidents and insistence on being held or carried — that drains parents’ physical and emotional reserves. Frequent, involved contact from each parent can help minimize negative impact on babies and toddlers who are still in the

MAY 2015 | carolinaparent.com

process of bonding with both parents, says attorney Nadia A. Margherio of Sodoma Law in Charlotte. Some divorced or divorcing couples may even choose to perform the child’s bedtime routine together, she says. “For children with healthy, nurturing parents, it’s often recommended that children under 3 go no more than 48 hours without seeing the other parent.”

AGES 13-18

Dollars and Stress Teenagers may process and accept a divorce more quickly than younger children. Though teens may experience moodiness and academic problems, emphatic listening and coordinated co-parenting help teens, parents and teachers stay on the same page. With flexibility and extra planning, divorced parents can keep a busy teen’s schedule flowing smoothly even with joint custody or weekends spent in different households, but teens may still experience divorce stress. With an increased understanding of the world’s realities, teens are also often acutely aware of the financial strain that divorce can bring on, Margherio says. Never share financial support information with a child or teen. They don’t need to know if a child support payment is late, or if you’re experiencing stress over extra costs from driver’s training or activity fees. “Sharing this information leaves your teen feeling conflicted and insecure,” Margherio says. “They need to feel supported, without knowing the dollar figure attached.”

AGES 6-12

Genie in a Bottle With burgeoning brainpower and newly expanded capacity for imagination, school-age

Malia Jacobson is an award-winning health and parenting journalist and mom of three.

Triangle Rock Club

Come Grow With Us!

From buttoning coats to writing stories to practicing multiplication, Montessori Children’s House of Durham can guide your child through all stages of growth and development.

2015-2016 openings for 18 months through age 5 wait list available for other levels, 18 months-6th grade

2800 Pickett Rd • Durham NC 27705 • 919-489-9045 • mchdurham.org

WE’LL MAKE Orchard Children’s MOM’S DAY

Saturday, May 9th Get 25% off resale clothing! Not valid with any other coupon or offer

FIND A TREASURE. SAVE A FORTUNE.™ www.childrensorchard.com

Swift Creek Shopping Center 2865 Jones Franklin Rd., Raleigh/Cary 919-852-0550

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Open 7 Days A Week with Extended Hours 10 Convenient Locations in North Carolina

1-888-705-8556 NextCare.com Visit website for clinic hours and specific location details.

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Tutor Time

MAY 2015 | carolinaparent.com

FMN Childtime Learning

›

TECH TALK

Emojis, Acronyms and Emoticons BY CAROLYN JABS

f you feel like reading text messages has become an exercise in code breaking, you’re right. Some people still send plain texts but many, especially kids, stuff their messages

with abbreviations, acronyms, smileys and slang.

In the absence of body language, facial expression and tone of voice, symbols are a way to convey additional information about thoughts and feelings. Being aware of the secret language of texting — and talking about it now and then — creates one more opportunity for parents to help kids develop relationships that are healthy and rewarding. To get a grip on what kids are saying, parents need to know the most common forms of code.  Acronyms. Acronyms can be silly — ROLF (Rolling on the Floor Laughing), practical — BRB (Be Right Back) or subversive — 420 (using marijuana). A complete list of acronyms, including 50 that every parent should know, appears at netlingo.com.  Emoticons. Using the characters on a standard keyboard, people have created thousands of clever combinations that transform into faces if you turn your head sideways. An exhaustive list is available at cool-smileys.com/text-emoticons.  Emoji. Often used to refer to any tiny graphic that occupies the space of one character, emojis technically are the 722 characters that have been incorporated into the Unicode keyboard. (The consortium plans to introduce 250 more characters later in 2015, including faces with different skin tones). Companies are given latitude in interpreting the characters, so an emoji won’t necessarily look the same on Apple, Google, Twitter or Microsoft. Learn more at emojipedia.org.  Stickers. These graphic elements aren’t associated with the keyboard.

Some are embedded in specific apps and won’t work anywhere else. Others can be purchased and pasted wherever you please. To avoid adware and other problems, be sure kids download free sticker apps only from trusted sources like the Apple Store or Google Play. All of these elements enliven text messages. For parents, the question isn’t so much whether kids are using code but how. Here are some things to consider:  Appreciate the creativity. Like music and painting, the images used in text are an effort to capture ideas and feelings that aren’t easily put into words. Deepen your child’s emotional intelligence by talking about the nuances of emotion in emoji faces.  Discuss ambiguity. Emojis and even acronyms are open to interpretation. Pop an acronym into acronymfinder.com and you’ll come up with multiple meanings. BYOB, for example, might mean bring your own beer or bike or even book. Emojis can also be misunderstood. In Japan, a pile of poo is regarded as good luck, though that isn’t necessarily the first thought that springs to mind in other countries. If you post a tiny fist are you threatening to punch someone or offering a congratulatory fist bump? Talk to kids about the risks of sending the wrong message and strategies for repairing miscommunication.  Consider intent. For most kids, adding code to text is simply a way to connect with friends. Still, parents need

to be aware that acronyms in particular can be used to camouflage messages about illicit activities, including sex and drugs. Children need supervision so you can be sure they are texting only with friends who won’t lead them into situations they aren’t mature enough to handle.  Recognize limits. No matter how you dress them up, text messages won’t do justice to certain kinds of communication, including apologies, condolences or even gratitude. Remind your child that face-to-face communication is still the best way to make a heartfelt connection with another person.  Reiterate the rules. Texting of any kind should be subject to the usual rules about online communication, and be sure your child understands that texting privileges are contingent on following these rules. • Don’t abuse or harass other people. • Don’t talk to people you don’t know in real life. • Don’t send sexually explicit messages.

Carolyn Jabs raised three computersavvy kids, including one with special needs. Visit growing-up-online.com to read some of her other columns. carolinaparent.com | MAY 2015

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UNDERSTANDING KIDS other children and is actually quite open and flexible in her play. She decides to return her attention to the subject to try to understand what happened between the two girls. This type of conversation can begin with a simple, noncritical observation: “Everything seemed to be going well with the other girls until Samantha tried to join you.” A statement such as this can often pave the way for a child to feel safe enough to share how she feels. Maya may reveal and answer such as, “Samantha always takes all of the shovels! She is so bossy!” This was an isolated incident for Maya. Samantha, on the other hand, finds herself excluded from groups of play in a number of settings, including school. Samantha’s teacher tells her mother that her daughter has not developed any friendships in class

Dealing With EXCLUSION BY LUCY DANIELS CENTER STAFF

and often moves from group to group. When she does play in a group, she controls the roles of others and excludes those who do not follow her rules. Samantha has a persistent

xclusion occurs in classrooms and neighborhoods, on playgrounds and among children of all ages. The reasons for a child to feel like excluding another — or for

a child to feel or be excluded — can vary as much as personalities do. How to best help a child, whether she is the excluder or the excluded, depends on the reason for the

and ongoing problem, which is likely to continue until she can be encouraged to understand and take responsibility for her role in each situation. When exclusion occurs, parents and

occurrence, as well as whether it is an isolated or ongoing social difficulty.

other caregivers can help the children

involved by encouraging them to think about

Excluding someone from play is a behavior. As with all behaviors, it is the expression

of a feeling. The feeling may be about the other person (“She is bossy!”), or stem from a feeling about oneself (“I can only play here if I control who’s here and who isn’t.”).

In some cases, a child may have a valid reason for wishing not to play with a particular

child. In other cases, the wish to control the play, exclude others or even tease the other child may be related to inner troubles a child is struggling with. Understanding the cause of the feeling behind the behavior will help provide meaningful and lasting help.

the reasons for their actions or their role in provoking reactions. Yet there are also many situations in which children feel stuck on one side or the other, and often receive external explanations for the exclusive behavior rather than being encouraged to consider their motivations for and role in what has happened. These situations often occur in

Take, for instance, the following example: Maya, age 5, and her mother visit the same neighborhood playground on a regular

the playground and instead lingers around

the context of other emotional difficulties a

her mother.

child is having and are often reason to seek

In this example, both Maya and

professional help.

basis. Over time, Maya has started to tell

Samantha need help with understanding

Samantha, age 6, that she cannot play with

what has happened between them. Maya’s

The Lucy Daniels Center is a nonprofit

her and her other playmates. Maya’s mother

mother notices the change in her daughter’s

agency in Cary that promotes the emotional

handles this by telling her daughter to be

behavior since she asked her to begin

health and well-being of children and

polite and not leave anyone out. Maya now

including Samantha. After some thought,

families. Visit lucydanielscenter.org to learn

seems reluctant to play when Samantha is at

she realizes Maya doesn’t usually exclude

more.

MAY 2015 | carolinaparent.com

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›

HAMMER, NAILS & DIAPER PAILS

Thank You … at 70 Words Per Minute BY PATRICK HEMPFING

hank you — two words, only eight letters. “Thanks” could cut it to a single word.

enjoyed our chance meeting in the hospital

Heck, sometimes words aren’t even necessary — a warm embrace, held hand or

more, but I know we both cherished the

gentle forehead kiss are effective nonverbal ways to show appreciation. Of course, it’s even more special when “Thanks” is followed by “I love you.” Last July, I drove 15 hours to Pennsylvania

“I thought that was you. You haven’t

for my mother’s serious operation. It hasn’t

changed a bit. Patrick Hempfing, class of

seemed that long since Mom combed my

1978. I had you for typing in high school.”

hair to get me ready for school. Luckily,

After I exchanged pleasantries with the

since she drove the school bus (for 42 years),

teacher I hadn’t seen for 36 years, I asked,

my chances of missing it were miniscule. I

“Guess what I do for a living?” Before he

realized that somehow those school days had

could answer I blurted out, “I’m a writer.

long passed and now my tough, energetic

I can still type 70 words a minute.” To

mother was frail.

be honest, this may have been a slight

The words “stressed, fatigued and worried” summed up my emotional week. I pondered the role reversal from my younger

overstatement, though I truly am proficient with the keyboard. He smiled when I told him that, a few

years as I brushed Mom’s hair and fed her

weeks earlier, I thought about him when I

ice chips, broth and Jell-O. It seemed like

instructed Jessie to “place her fingers on the

Mom had just peeled and cut bananas for my

home row keys.” (I’ve been

morning cereal. Now it was my turn to excite

trying to teach her to

her about the tray of clear liquids delivered

type instead of peck.) As

to her hospital room. All those times she

our meeting concluded,

held a tissue to my nose and said, “Blow,”

I thanked him

came to mind when I became the holder of

for making a

the tissue and issued the command.

difference

The “Fall Risk” sign posted outside her

in my life.

hospital room took me back to my daughter’s

I’m not

toddler days when I held my outstretched

sure

arms to prevent Jessie from falling. Now my

which

ailing mom needed the assistance. How did

of us

the years go by so fast? One day, after Mom had finished her unappetizing lunch, I headed to the hospital cafeteria. As I walked down the hallway, I saw an elderly man with a cane who looked familiar. I stopped and hesitantly asked, “Mr. Furhman?” “Yes.”

MAY 2015 | carolinaparent.com

moment. Months have passed since that weeklong visit to the hospital, and I am thankful that Mom is doing better. She turned 80 in November and is as feisty as ever. After her hospital stint, she spent three weeks in rehab. Much to her dismay, she had to retake her driver’s test before she could drive again. She set a goal, took the test and passed. Thank you, Mom, for the great lesson on perseverance. Happy Mother’s Day, Mom. I’m grateful you’ve been here for 80 years. Thank you for the lessons you taught me, and drive safely. Maybe one day, you’ll bump into your road test examiner (not with your car, I hope), and have a chance to thank her for putting you at ease as you took your first driving test in decades. Patrick Hempfing had a 20-year career in banking, accounting and auditing before he became a father at age 44. He is now a full-time husband, stay-at-home dad and author of a monthly column titled “moMENts.” Follow Hempfing at facebook. com/patricklhempfing and twitter.com/ patrickhempfing.

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F A M I LY

Getaways

Spring means it’s timetime to plan getaway! to geta away! Find the perfect destination for your family – from family - from the mountains to the sea.

carolinaparent.com | MAY 2015

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A NORTH CAROLINA BUCKET LIST

15 Things to Do in the Old North State BEFORE YOUR KIDS ARE GROWN

BY MYRA WRIGHT

f you were born and raised in North Carolina — or are perhaps raising your own kids Friends of DuPont State Forest website or call for information about occasional guided tours. here — you know the possibilities for family fun are endless.

“From the mountains to the woodlands to the coast, family experiences unfold

on a variety of landscapes,” says Suzanne Brown, media relations specialist for VisitNC. “We are also a state with a full range of seasons, so there’s a variety of things to do all year.”

With so many options, finding the perfect destination for your next family vaca-

tion or day trip can be a difficult decision. So to help, here are our top picks of things to do in North Carolina before your kids are grown.

Watch the sunset on top of Jockey’s Ridge. Nags Head | ncparks.gov

There are very few spots in North Carolina where you can watch the sun set into a large body of water, but Jockey’s Ridge State Park is one of them. Through its popular Sunset on the Ridge summer program, you can climb to the top of the tallest active sand dune system in the eastern U.S. and watch the sun descend into the Roanoke Sound with the Atlantic Ocean behind you. Don’t be surprised if there’s spontaneous applause once the sun disappears. The views are breathtakingly beautiful. Arrive early to fly a kite.

COST: Free

NEARBY ATTRACTIONS: Wright Brothers National Memorial, Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Bodie Island Lighthouse, Jennette’s Pier

Admire the blue ghost fireflies in DuPont State Recreational Forest. Cedar Mountain | ncforestservice.gov

Chasing backyard fireflies at dusk is a favorite childhood activity, but you’ve probably never seen fireflies quite like these. Instead of a yellow intermittent glow, the blue ghost fireflies of Transylvania and Henderson counties emit a steady blue glow along the forest floor. The eerie light show is only about four weeks long starting in May and disappearing by mid-June. Check the

MAY 2015 | carolinaparent.com

COST: Free

NEARBY ATTRACTIONS: The forest is home to several waterfalls and is an ideal location for hiking or mountain biking.

See the wild horses along North Carolina’s coast. Corolla, Beaufort, Shackleford Banks, Ocracoke | ncwildhorses.com

North Carolina’s coast is home to several groups of wild horses: Corolla’s wild Spanish mustangs; Beaufort’s wild horses at the Rachel Carson Estuarine Reserve, which descended from Banker horses (often referred to as ponies) and Quarter horses; Shackleford Banks’ wild Banker horses; and Ocracoke’s Banker horses. In general, you can see the horses for free. For example, all you need to see the horses in Corolla is a four-wheel drive vehicle so you can drive on the beach. Don’t have one? Several businesses offer four-wheel-drive guided tours. Visit ncwildhorses.com for details.

COST: Free with four-wheel drive NEARBY ATTRACTIONS: While exploring North Carolina’s

coast, be sure to visit one of the many lighthouses, including these that are climbable: Currituck, Bodie Island, Cape

Hatteras, Ocracoke, Cape Lookout, Oak Island and Old Baldy.

See a bald eagle at Jordan Lake State Recreation Area. Apex | ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/jord/main.php

Jordan Lake State Recreation Area has the largest population of bald eagles in the eastern U.S., and the best time to see one is during the spring migration (April-June). Arrive early morning or near dusk to increase your chances of spotting our national bird and to find a location that gives you a wide view of the lake. Don’t forget your binoculars. COST: Free NEARBY ATTRACTIONS: The park offers a variety of activities

such as camping, hiking, boating, fishing, swimming and more.

Ride a vintage steam locomotive at Tweetsie Railroad. Blowing Rock | tweetsie.com

This popular attraction has two historic steam engines: No. 12 Tweetsie and No. 190 Yukon Queen. Both are coal-fired, narrow-gauge engines and will be a highlight for train enthusiasts of all ages. After your train ride around the park, enjoy a variety of rides, midway games, gem mining, the deer park and more. Be sure to check Tweetsie’s events schedule for special appearances such as Thomas the Tank Engine, Team UmiZoomi and Scooby-Doo. COST: $27-$41 NEARBY ATTRACTIONS: Blue Ridge Parkway, Julian Price

Memorial Park, Moses H. Cone Memorial Park

Take a plunge down Sliding Rock. Brevard | ncwaterfalls.com/sliding_rock1.htm Beat the heat this summer in North Carolina’s cool mountain water. Sliding Rock is a 60-foot natural waterfall/rock slide. At the base, there’s a 6-foot-deep pool for a refreshing splash at the end of your exhilarating slide. Lifeguards are on duty from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. COST: $2

NEARBY ATTRACTIONS: Pisgah National Forest, DuPont State

Recreational Forest, Brevard Music Center

Climb to the top of Hatteras Lighthouse. Buxton | nps.gov/caha

It’s a strenuous climb with 257 steps, but you’ll be rewarded with gorgeous views from the top of the tallest brick lighthouse in North America. You’ll also have a great view of the lighthouse’s previous site before it was relocated in 1999. The self-guided climb is not recommended for young children because of narrow stairs and only one handrail on one side. COST: $4-$8 NEARBY ATTRACTIONS: Buxton Woods Reserve, Graveyard of

the Atlantic Museum, Hatteras-Ocracoke Ferry

Climb to the top of Chimney Rock. Chimney Rock | chimneyrockpark.com

Take an elevator or make the strenuous climb up 26 stories of stairs to reach the iconic monolith, which is 535 million years old. From the top, enjoy the spectacular view of Lake

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Lure and the Hickory Nut Gorge. While exploring the park, kids will love the discovery stations on the Great Woodland Adventure, an easy .6-mile hike to discover the lives of frogs, owls, chipmunks and more. Also, don’t miss Grady’s Animal Discovery Den with live animals, and make sure the kids visit Hickory Nut Falls, the secondhighest waterfall east of the Mississippi River. COST: $7-$15; free for ages 4 and younger NEARBY ATTRACTIONS: Lake Lure, Broad River Gems and Mining Co.

See “The Lost Colony” in Manteo. Manteo | thelostcolony.org

This classic musical and outdoor drama tells the story of the Lost Colony of Roanoke, one of the first settlements in the New World and where the first English child (Virginia Dare) was born in North America. It is the secondlongest-running historical outdoor drama in the U.S. The play is performed in two one-hour acts. COST: $10-$30; free for ages 5 and younger NEARBY ATTRACTIONS: Roanoke Island Festival Park, Island Farm, North Carolina Aquarium, Elizabethan Gardens

Take a guided horseback ride on the grounds of Biltmore Estate. Asheville | biltmore.com

Explore trails and woodlands on the grounds of this magnificent French Renaissance chateau on horseback during a one-hour guided tour. Carriage, wagon rides and private tours are also available. COST: Guided horseback, $55+; wagon rides, $6-$12; carriage rides, $30. NEARBY ATTRACTIONS: Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina

Arboretum, Pisgah National Forest

Cross the Mile-High Swinging Bridge. Grandfather Mountain | grandfather.com

Crossing a 228-foot suspension bridge is not for the faint-hearted. Name for its elevation, the Mile-High Swinging Bridge spans an 80-foot chasm. Originally built in 1952, the bridge was rebuilt in 1999 using galvanized steel for the cables, rails and floorboards. While there, visit the Grandfather Mountain Nature Museum, 11 hiking trails and seven wildlife habitats to see deer, bald eagles, bears and more. carolinaparent.com | MAY 2015

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NC Zoo

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COST: $9-$20; free for children ages 3 and younger

NEARBY ATTRACTIONS: Linn Cove Visitor Center, Linville Gorge, Linville Falls, Blue Ridge Parkway

Visit the site of the first U.S. gold rush. Midland | nchistoricsites.org/reed/ reed.htm

When you think of a gold rush, California immediately comes to mind, but you might be surprised to learn that the first gold rush in the U.S. occurred right here in North Carolina. Our state also led in gold production until 1848. Reed Gold Mine is now a historic site open for tours. COST: Mine tours are free; $3 for gold panning NEARBY ATTRACTIONS: Downtown Midland, a 20-minute drive from Charlotte

Follow the Yellow Brick Road at Autumn at Oz.

Beech Mountain | autumnatoz.com The first weekend in October during the Autumn at Oz festival, visitors can explore the Land of Oz, which used to be a thriving theme park that opened in 1970 and closed in 1980. See Dorothy’s farm home, experience the tornado, arrive at Oz and see the beloved cast of characters. COST: $35; free for children ages 2 and younger NEARBY ATTRACTIONS: Beech Mountain Resort, Sugar Mountain Resort, Roan Mountain State Park, Blue Ridge Parkway

Photos courtesy of VisitNC.com, Biltmore Estates, Great Smoky Mountain Railroad and Tweetsie Railroad

Visit one of Blackbeard’s favorite islands.

10 62 8

4 12

Take a rail excursion on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad. Bryson City, Dillsboro | gsmr.com

Enjoy a scenic train ride with the kids! Choose from day-trip excursion packages and a variety of ticket options to explore the Nantahala Gorge and Tuckasegee River. The Nantahala excursion includes a one-hour layover at the Nantahala Outdoor Center while the Tuckasegree trip offers a layover for shopping in Dillsboro. Be sure to check out the railroad’s special events calendar for dates that include the Dinosaur Train (based on the popular PBS “Dinosaur Train” series), Peanuts Pumpkin Patch Express, The Polar Express and more. COST: $20-$94 NEARBY ATTRACTIONS: Nantahala Outdoor Center, Cherokee, Great Smoky Mountains National Park Myra Wright is the publisher/editor of Piedmont Parent, a sister publication of Carolina Parent and Charlotte Parent. She loves exploring the state with her husband and three kids.

Ocracoke | ocracokevillage.com While on the island of Ocracoke,

13 5 11

visit Teach’s Hole, a channel named for Edward Teach, the infamous pirate known as Blackbeard. Ocracoke was one of his favorite spots to drop anchor, and it’s also where he lost his life in a fierce battle. Young pirate fans will enjoy the Teach’s Hole “Blackbeard” exhibit and Pirate Specialty Shop. COST: Free to visit the island; small admission fee for the exhibit NEARBY ATTRACTIONS: Ocracoke Lighthouse, Springer’s Point Nature Preserve, Portsmouth Island, Ocracoke ponies, Ocracoke Preservation Museum

3 1 9 14 7

carolinaparent.com | MAY 2015

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Be a Junior Ranger Park programs elevate experiences for kids

Photo courtesy of the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation

BY HOLLY BECKER

his summer, many families will explore the beauty and wonder of the National Park System. Comprised of 407 areas and more than 84 million acres, the national parks offer numerous familyfriendly vacation destinations. The NPS Junior Ranger program is designed to elevate the park experience for young visitors, teaching them about park history, wildlife and conservation. “Explore, Learn and Protect!” is the Junior Ranger motto. More than 800,000 children became Junior Rangers in 2014. The program is conducted at almost all national parks — from the National Mall to the Everglades and Alcatraz Island. HOW IT WORKS To get started, children pick up a Junior Ranger book at the park visitor center and complete activities as they explore the park. Activities vary and may change depending on the season. Some examples include a nature trail scavenger hunt, interviewing a park ranger about his or her job, drawing a picture of something in nature, using a map to find a certain place, and using one’s

senses to locate places or items in the park. “If you’re just tagging along with your parents, you might get bored,” says Leah Taber, park ranger at Kings Mountain National Military Park in Blacksburg, South Carolina. “The Junior Ranger program gets children involved in the park story. It’s the best way to really get to know the park.” Kids complete most activities on their own or with parental help, but some larger parks offer ranger-led Junior Ranger programs, especially during summer. The program is geared to ages 5-12, but all ages can participate. A few parks have a Not So Junior Ranger program designed specifically for children over age 12. “The hands-on program component is the best part because children get to do things with the ranger in the park that they might not get to do with parents,” says Caitlin Worth, park ranger at Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. “The youngest kids really love to explore nature firsthand with a ranger.” Once Junior Ranger participants complete specified activities, they present

their book to a park ranger to earn an official Junior Ranger badge and certificate. Swearing in as a Junior Ranger also includes taking an oath to protect and preserve national parks for future generations. The Junior Ranger program is helpful to families who are unsure about how to navigate a park experience with young children, Worth says. “It gives them a starting point or a springboard on how to get into the park,” she says. THE WEB RANGER PROGRAM Web Rangers, an online extension of the Junior Ranger program, presents an interactive way for kids to learn about national parks, monuments and historic sites across the country. Keep them busy before your vacation playing games and taking quizzes of varying difficulty — even hiking virtual trails at the different parks. Sign up for a free account at nps.gov by clicking on “kids.” Holly Becker is a freelance writer in Cornelius, and a mom of three elementary school-age children.

North Carolina State Parks also conducts its own Junior Ranger program for children ages 6-12 at any of its 41 state parks. Like the national program, children earn a different patch at each park upon completion of specified activities. The North Carolina program is designed to teach children about the rich cultural and natural heritage of the Tar Heel State, and aims to educate children about careers in natural resources.

MAY 2015 | carolinaparent.com

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Greensboro Science Center

Come ride with us NC Railway Muse-

TriangleTrain.com 5/9, 6/14 & 7/12 at 11AM, 1:45 & 3PM ARides: family excursion on12:15, a real train SPECIAL just EVENTS - Civil War Re-enactment & 6/28 located 30 minutes from6/27 Raleigh. Ice Cream Social July 25, Pizza Party Aug. 29

FIT CHALLENGE

NC Aquarium

carolinaparent.com | MAY 2015

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Fripp Island Golf & Just down the road... Beach Resort It’s not too late to plan vacation to South and a world away. aCarolina’s best kept secret.

NC Museum of Natural Sciences

Two championship golf courses, tennis, swimming, ﬁshing, biking, Camp Fripp for kids, nature activities, miles of unspoiled beach and more are all waiting for you. Call our vacation planners today and discover what will soon be your favorite place to get away from it all Fripp Island Resort. 877-589-1475 FrippIslandResort.com

Blocade Runner Beach Resort

MAY 2015 | carolinaparent.com

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USS Battleship

Tryon Palace

Plan your visit today!

All you need to know to plan

A SUMMERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S WORTH OF FUN FOR YOUR KIDS. carolinaparent.com/camps

carolinaparent.com | MAY 2015

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Tweetsie

300 Tweetsie Railroad Lane • Blowing Rock, NC 28605

JUNE 5-14 ADULTS ................................$41* KIDS 3-12 .............................$27* KIDS 2 and UNDER ............ FREE *Includes 6.75% NC Admission Tax

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Watauga

BOONE — MORE WAYS TO PLAY THAN THERE ARE VACATION DAYS

ooking for a family vacation with just the right amount of adventure? That’s easy to find in Boone, N.C., where summer brings hiking, biking, zip lining, horseback riding, ropes courses and more for kids, and parents, of all skill levels. You don’t have to settle for a day at the water park when Boone

MAY 2015 | carolinaparent.com

3/4/15 2:35:10 PM

offers thousands of acres of water activities for adventurers of all ages. Try canoeing, kayaking, or even whitewater rafting. Or, book an excursion through one of our river tubing outfitters to just cool off and enjoy a leisurely float down (or up) the river. No bike? No problem. The Rocky Knob Mountain Biking Park is a lot more than the name implies. Besides offering 185 acres with more than eight miles of mountain bike trails for all skill levels, the park also welcomes hikers and trail runners — and yes, families, too — with its adventure playground, picnic shelter and bathrooms. No family getaway to Boone is complete without a day (or two) at Tweetsie Railroad, a premier family fun park for nearly 60 years. This “blast from the past” features an old-fashioned Western-themed ride on an authentic steam-powered train. Engine No. 12, for which the park is named, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Boone’s wide range of accommodations can add to the fun of your stay. Choose from national hotels with pools and continental breakfasts, or cabins of all sizes with all the amenities of home. Plan your summer getaway today at exploreboone.com. Boone, NC 28607 828-266-1345 | exploreboone.com

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WRAL Freedom Balloon Fest Lands in Raleigh

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EXCURSION

BY ODILE FREDERICKS

magine hot air balloons of every color and stripe sailing across a Carolina blue sky. Now, picture nightfall as the landed balloons offer a spectacular glow from their envelopes, like giant, colorful light bulbs turning on and off in a synchronized show timed to music. Experience this and more for free Memorial Day weekend when the inaugural WRAL Freedom Balloon Fest lands in the Triangle area of North Carolina. The festival includes more than 30 balloon pilots and teams from 15 states and overseas locations who are coming to compete. It also offers family fun at Zebulon's Bennett Bunn Plantation and Spring Forest Road Park in north Raleigh. The festival got off the ground after organizers learned that a 35-year-old Greenville, S.C., festival folded, opening a spot in the balloon festival circuit for Memorial Day weekend. It has been more 25 years since the Triangle hosted a hot air balloon festival. “I’ve seen the magic of what these events can do as a community resource and a cultural resource, bringing together families and folks from all walks of life to engage in something that uplifts their spirits, if not just their bodies,” says Raleigh native Brian Hoyle, the festival’s primary organizer. Hoyle has been smitten with aviation since age 7. He earned his commercial certification as a balloon pilot and now manages Hot Air Marketing, which organizes corporate hot air balloon events. On Friday, May 22, festival attendees willing to wake up early can watch the balloons’ mass ascent at 7 a.m. at the Bennett Bunn Plantation. The plantation offers a beautiful setting with gently rolling horse pastures. “It’s a great way to do a family breakfast and watch the balloons coming in to the festival site,” Hoyle says. Just after sunset, the plantation features a balloon glow — when the flames used to inflate them light up the fabric of their envelopes to create a beautiful kaleidoscope of colors. Competitive balloon flights are also planned on Saturday, Sunday and Monday mornings at the plantation. Festival goers can learn about ballooning up close through pilot meet-and-greet events, tethered balloon rides, and evening balloon glows Saturday and Sunday night at Bennett Bunn Plantation and Spring Forest Road Park. Of course, all ballooning events and activities depend on the wind and weather.

Tethered balloons. Photo courtesy of Amanda Hoyle and WRAL Freedom Balloon Fest

Special activities are planned to teach children about ballooning, including games that educate them about the accuracy that hot air balloon pilots must master during competitions, which are not simply races. Hoyle says he believes hot air ballooning is a way to inspire children to give flight to their dreams and empower them to explore new fields. “It seems to cross all cultural and socioeconomic boundaries,” he says. “When I see children, for example, who are often referred to (as) at-risk, when they have an opportunity to see this, they stop looking at the world through the eyes of limitation and more through the eyes of opportunity. And I think that is what inspires children of all ages. It takes them to a place where the world isn’t quite so limited and many things are possible.” Visit wralfreedomballoonfest.com for more information. Odile Fredericks is the web editor for Carolina Parent, a sister publication of Charlotte Parent and Piedmont Parent. carolinaparent.com | MAY 2015

TRAVEL SECTION

Sleeping Well on Vacation

ummer is coming quickly, and family travel is popular this time of year. While vacations can be fun for the whole

family, they come with struggles, too. Keeping young children well rested while on vacation can be a challenge, but there are ways you can make the trip more enjoyable for everyone.

Driving If your family is taking a short drive, leave 30 minutes to an hour before nap time. Your child will adjust to being in the car, and fall asleep around his or her normal nap time. If the trip is longer, consider traveling around bedtime or through the night, as your child will likely sleep in the car. Before leaving, put your child in his or her pajamas and conduct your normal bedtime routine. Once you arrive, transition your child to his or her sleep space. Make sure you offer naps often the next day, as your child will be tired from the drive.

Flying Book early morning flights if possible. Children handle schedule changes better after a full night of sleep. Once you arrive, you’ll have most of the day remaining for fun and time to adjust to a different time zone, if necessary.

Time Zone Changes Adopt the new time as soon as you arrive — especially when it comes to meals. Let your child sleep when he or she becomes tired the first day. Make sure bedtime is early, and start the next day SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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B Zoo NC

reak away from the everyday and experience an adventure as BIG as all outdoors! The North Carolina Zoo is the country’s largest natural habitat zoo, promising visitors of all ages a fun, enlightening and wondrous adventure. Count on a full day’s visit and don’t forget your walking shoes! Discover more than 1,600 animals— large and small—in their spacious, natural exhibits. From the frosty waters of the Arctic to the wilds of Africa, choose to explore more than 5 miles of trails or take advantage of our free tram services. North Carolina Zoo visitors can enjoy a fun and adventurous atmosphere! Feed a giraffe, watch a geyser shoot water high in the air, take a ride on our unique endangered species carousel, enjoy playtime in the Garden Friends playground and in our newly renovated kidzone. Don’t miss Dino World and the SpongeBob SquarePants 4-D Adventure open daily from April-October 2015! Check NCZoo.org for special event schedule, current admission prices and FUN TICKET offers.

MAY 2015 | carolinaparent.com

Nor th Carolina Zoo

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TRAVEL SECTION

by opening the blinds and enjoying the morning sun. Follow your child’s daily schedule according to the new time zone.

Sleep Environment If you’re staying in a hotel, consider booking a suite (or connecting rooms), and give your child a separate room. This will allow you to watch television or read at night. If you’re sharing a room, keep the room dark to promote sleep. Use e-readers or tablets with headphones. Whether you are staying in a hotel, renting a house or staying with family or friends try to keep your child’s sleep environment similar to his or her room at home.

sleep, so your activities will still be enjoyable.

Packing Tips n

A travel blackout blind (or use black garbage bags to block out sunlight)

A white noise machine

A crib sheet or pillowcase from your child’s bed (so it smells like home)

Favorite books

An animal to cuddle with (but not for babies younger than 1 year)

Schedule Stick to your normal daily schedule and routine as much as possible with respect to naps and bedtime. Follow the 80/20 rule. Eighty percent of the time, plan events around naps and bedtimes to protect sleep as much as possible. By protecting your child’s sleep, you can have an “off-schedule” day 20 percent of the time. Children who are well rested are more likely able to manage a day with less quality

Julia Walsh is a mother of two and a certified sleep consultant with Good Night Sleep Site North Carolina. Contact her at goodnightsleepsite.com/northcarolina or julia@goodnightsleepsite.com.

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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oored in quiet dignity and majesty, the USS North Carolina beckons visitors to walk her decks. Envision the daily life and fierce combat her crew faced in the Pacific during World War II. From all across our Nation they came — young men who had grown up in the crucible of the Great Depression and now determined to serve their country in its time of need. These are the men whose stories you encounter through their oral histories, photographs and mementos as you experience the battleship and the exhibits. The NORTH CAROLINA will captivate your heart by giving you a deeper appreciation of what it took to bring victory and peace to the world.

TRYON PALACE

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articipate in a living history experience at Tryon Palace that uses cutting-edge technology to provide immersive historical encounters and learning adventures at North Carolina’s first state capitol. Interactive games and hands-on exhibits delight at the North Carolina History Center, while guided tours, trade demonstrations and costumed interpreters bring history to life at the governor’s palace, gardens and historic homes. Whether you’re exploring a riverside garden, experiencing a special event like Christmas Candlelight, or sharpening your skills as a ship’s captain, Tryon Palace 529 S. Front St., New Bern, NC 28562 Tryon Palace is an experience for the entire family. 800-767-1560 | tryonpalace.org carolinaparent.com | MAY 2015

Fit Family Challenge, Part 2

THE GOMEZ AND OJALA FAMILIES

DIG IN BY KURT DUSTERBERG

efore the first Fit Family Challenge activity

Evie Houtz Program Manager for Be Active Kids Fit Family Challenge Fitness Expert

minute was ever logged online at myfitfamilychallenge.com, Carolina Parent’s spotlight families were hard at work making healthy lifestyle changes. During March and April, the Ojala and Gomez families met with fitness expert Evie Houtz, nutrition expert Tracy Owens and balance expert Gaye Esser. The advice our panel offered may just help your family, too. Follow along as we embark on a journey toward better health.

Let’s face it, when it comes to making lifestyle changes, sticking with an exercise program is hard. “It’s time and priorities,” Houtz says. “You have to prioritize your day so physical activity is one of those appointments on your calendar.” The parenting years are especially difficult for maintaining an exercise routine. Both families are on the go constantly, and neither has found a way to make fitness come first. Ben and Stacy Ojala have a good head start with their kids. Eight-year-old Julia and 6-year-old Andy take part in the neighborhood swim club and enjoy rollerblading. Ian, 5, is not quite as active, although he enjoys pretend play and would like to try soccer. Recently, the Ojalas gave themselves another reason to stay active: getting a dog. Now they are committed to walking with their newest family member, but Houtz points out that it takes more to get real fitness benefits. “Family walks are great and you’re burning calories, but you’re not getting the fitness gain from it,” she says. “In order to do so, you have to increase the intensity

The Ojala family enjoys a scooter excursion. Photo courtesy of Melissa Hayes Photography

MAY 2015 | carolinaparent.com

— walking up and down hills, walking a little bit faster.” Ben works from home and keeps weights in the garage, so he has some flexibility to fit in a workout or get outside for a walk during the day. But — “Exercise is not Ben’s thing,” Houtz says. “He’s still trying to find what he wants to do. He’s a morning person. He can get up and get it done, whether it’s cardiovascular or weight training. He knows how to do it.” Stacy has a YMCA membership and belongs to a kickboxing facility she has never visited. Houtz says Stacy just needs a challenge to get her moving. The Gomezes face motivational challenges as well. David and Katherine Gomez were once very active. Both ran marathons and participated in triathlons. But when Anthony, who turns 7 this month, and Andrew, 2, came along, their activity level slowed down. “They want to have an event to train for,” Houtz says. “They need something to look forward to so they have a reason to be physically active.” She has suggested events like the Big Muddy Challenge in Youngsville on May 2 and a charitable family beach volleyball tournament on May 23 sponsored by the Boys & Girls Club and Southern Sand Volleyball in Apex as ways to get the family excited about getting fit together. Often the hardest part is getting started, but Houtz says there is a long-term reward once you shake off the rust. “With being physically active, you increase your energy,” she says. “People think it’s going to make you more worn out. In the beginning it may, but over time you will feel more fit and have more energy. You’re going to want more physical activity.”

Tracy Owens Owner of Triangle Nutrition Therapy Fit Family Challenge Dietician Tracy Owens knows what she is up against when she counsels clients about their dietary needs. Many have fallen into bad habits over time. “The biggest hurdle is helping people get in a position to do the right thing,” Owens says. “They know everything they’re supposed to do, they just don’t do it. The ‘why’ for each person is so different. But it ultimately comes back to a time issue.” The Ojalas are doing some things the right way. They have a produce box delivered to their home each week and try to feed their children healthy foods. But sometimes, the mere thought of organizing a balanced meal can make busy parents look for convenient alternatives.

The Gomez family plans to take more walks together. Photo courtesy of Melissa Hayes Photography

“The planning often seems like this huge, dark cloud that hangs over your head,” Owens says. “When people do plan out meals, it becomes so elaborate that it saps their energy and they say, ‘There is no way I can even do this.’” The Ojalas often keep things under control on weeknights, but weekends are another story. “It all unravels for them on the weekend,” she says. “They do a whole lot more eating out on the weekends than they want to do. It also bothers them from a financial point of view because it’s expensive to eat out.” Relying on restaurants for too many meals is an everyday issue for the Gomez family. “They eat out a lot,” Owens says. “They both want to teach their children to eat healthy and make good choices. But Katherine said she has read so much stuff that she is completely overwhelmed and frustrated.” Both Gomez children have been underweight through the years. Over time, David and Katherine became more concerned about making sure their children were getting plenty of calories. Eating out served as an easy to way to meet their needs. Now they want to reverse that trend. Owens says David and Katherine need to be clear about their intentions. She has encouraged them to set SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Timely) goals. “Change is hard,” Owens admits. “It’s got to start with, ‘Are you ready to change? Are you just thinking about it? Do you want to do it one day? Or are you just fed up and you’ve had it?’” carolinaparent.com | MAY 2015

Meet the Experts

Gaye Esser Owner of Redefine Balance Fit Family Challenge Balance Expert Gaye Esser began working with both families by giving them a quiz. She asked the parents to look at how they actually spent their time, then compare it to how they would like to spend it. Esser says both families have an idea of what family life should look like, but not a lifestyle that matches it. “We tried to pinpoint what is truly important to them and see how they are in and out of alignment,” Esser explains, adding that the Ojalas would benefit from shifting to a more realistic view of their priorities. “The Ojalas have expectations that they aren’t living up to, so they have to be clear on whether those expectations are realistic,” Esser says. “Then they have to figure out what will support those expectations.” She feels the Ojalas could better their approach to a healthy life by establishing more specific, long-term goals. “Use a quantitative measure,” Esser says. “You need to have some wins along the way. You need to know that, ‘This week we did awesome. We’re really making progress and changes in the family.’” The same goes for the Gomez family. “Their values are really important to them, and they have ideals about family and balance, focusing on health and family,” Esser says. “But the life they are living is in contrast to that right now.” She immediately touched on David and Katherine’s reliance on eating out. “How much time does it actually take when you go out to eat?” she says. “You could spend less time and have more focused family time making a meal at home.” Eating a healthy diet and exercising with purpose are difficult undertakings. They require the support of a proper emotional approach. “Frame of mind is huge,” Esser says. “I ask them to listen to the negative things they are saying, like ‘I can’t lose weight’ or ‘I don’t have enough time.’ A lot of times, they’re things that are running in the background that we don’t even know we say and tell ourselves. They really do inhibit ourselves from being the best we can be.” Esser sent both families positive affirmations to complete the process. “Now they’re starting to have a different outlook,” she says. “If they shift what they think, then they will shift what they create.” Kurt Dusterberg is a freelance writer who lives in Apex. He is the Carolina Hurricanes correspondent for NHL.com and author of the book, “Journeymen: 24 Bittersweet Tales of Short Major League Sports Careers.”

Register for our Fit Family Challenge at myfitfamilychallenge.com and sign up for our Healthy Families e-newsletter at carolinaparent.com/newsletter/index.php.

MAY 2015 2015 || carolinaparent.com carolinaparent.com

Evie Houtz, program manager for Be Active Kids, will serve as the families’ fitness instructor. She will help our spotlight parents discover the best ways to help everyone enjoy an active and fun-filled lifestyle. Tracy Owens, owner of Triangle Nutrition Therapy, is a board-certified sports and clinical dietician who will create customized nutrition solutions for our spotlight families that are simple and easy to follow. Gaye Esser, owner of Redefine Balance, will serve as the life coach — or balance expert — for our spotlight families. She will apply the principles of her business to help our spotlight parents find time to meet their individual needs, as well as those of their children.

GET OUT THERE! Stop by our Fit Family Challenge booth at these fun events:  May 2 – Big Muddy Challenge, Youngsville; bigmuddychallenge.com.  May 2 – Meet in the Street, Wake Forest; wakeforestnc.gov/ meet-in-the-street.aspx.  May 23 – Boys & Girls Club

Beach Volleyball Tournament,

Apex; southernsandvolleyball.org.

GET FIT. EAT RIGHT. HAVE FUN with your family!

I G N U P T O D AY ! S // 5 1 E N U -J 1 2 APRIL

FIT CHALLENGE

parent CAROLINA

The Fit Family Challenge is a healthy lifestyle program that offers free fitness classes, expert advice, nutritional information and a convenient online tracker. Sign up to earn participation points for fun family rewards!

™&©

•

Win a family vacation to enjoy two amazing theme parks at Universal Orlando® Resort.

•

Plus... Weekly giveaways and bonus prizes!

JOIN US AT EVENTS TO EARN BONUS POINTS! Stop by our table to sign up and get a promo code. May 2: Big Muddy Challenge, Youngsville // May 2: Meet in the Street, Wake Forest May 23: Boys & Girls Club Beach Volleyball Tournament, Apex

#FitFamilyChallenge

carolinaparent.com | MAY 2015

camp section

New Hope Camp and Conference Center

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Triangle Table Tennis

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Montessori Children’s House of Durham

Weekly Camps & Clinics

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Busch Gardens

MAY 2015 | carolinaparent.com

May OUR PICKS BY JANICE LEWINE Photo courtesy of Morrisville Innovation Foundation

East Meets West Festival the melding of cultures with a festival that features live music and dance performances,

▲

Wake County’s diverse community celebrates

“A Soldier’s Walk Home” Duke Homestead commemorates the end of the Civil War with “A Soldier’s Walk Home” May 11-23, when histo-

ethnic foods and more on May 16 at

rian and re-enactor Philip Brown will

11 a.m.-4 p.m. FREE. Town Hall Dr., Morrisville.

walk the 166 miles from New Bern to

eastmeetswestmorrisville.org.

Durham. The journey commemorates not only the walk Washington Duke made home from New Bern, but

Slide the City

represents all North Carolina soldiers

Grab an inflatable tube and whiz down a giant

who made a journey home after war.

waterslide on Glenwood Avenue in downtown

Brown is scheduled to arrive in Dur-

Raleigh on May 30. Slide the City is a traveling

ham on May 23 at Duke Homestead

water party featuring a 1,000-foot padded

State Historic Site as part of its family-

chute, live music and food. Kids must be taller

friendly Bull Fest Celebration, which

than 46 inches and older than age 5 to slide,

takes place 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Follow his

and all participants must sign a waiver. Register

progress with real-time updates at

online at slidethecity.com/events/raleigh. Fees

asoldierswalkhome.com. Learn more

are $18-$65 depending on when you register and how many times you want to slide.

about Bull Fest at dukehomestead. Photo courtesy of N.C. Department of Cultural Resources

org/bull-fest.php. carolinaparent.com | MAY 2015

Durham County Library

Durham County Library Summer Reading 2015

Kickoff at Northgate Mall 1058 W. Club Blvd. Durham 27701

Saturday, June 13 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

durhamcountylibrary.org/summerreading

REX

MAY 2015 | carolinaparent.com

Tammy Lynn

›

1 FRIDAY Building Your Newborn’s Founda-

That Will Last a Lifetime. Learn

motor milestone development and an important fact about crying. For infants up through 3 months of age. FREE. Noon-1 p.m. Baby+Co., 226 Ashville Ave., Cary. 919-469-0519. cary.babyandcompany.com. Yates by Night: Save the Night Sky! Discover facts about light pollution. Join park staff on World Health Day and learn how to become a protector of the natural night sky. Ages 6 and

Cary. 919-818-5260. trinitysa.com.

available at the Smith Center at 8:30

3 SUNDAY

a.m. Chapel Hill. colorthehill.com.

Eco-Explorers: Reptile Adventure.

Miracle Milk Stroll. Take part in a casual

hold a newborn, the key to optimal

expectant mothers and those with

younger. Staggered start times begin Free campus shuttle to the course

and Emotional Development

ment, including a beneficial way to

Church soccer fields, 6051 Tryon Rd.,

at 9:30 a.m. UNC Cross Country Course.

tions: Three Tips for Physical

important tips for a baby’s develop-

$15 ages 5-10. Free for ages 4 and

nature and build observation skills in

for fragile infants in hospitals. Online

hands-on explorations of nature and

registration of $10 is suggested but

ecology. Ages 7-10. Registration re-

not required. All ages. 2:30 p.m.

quired. $12 resident, $16 nonresident.

Gold Park, 415 Dimmocks Mill Rd.,

2-4 p.m. Stevens Nature Center/

Hillsborough. firstgiving.com/ team/292566. NAMIWalks North Carolina. Take part in a 3.2-mile walk to raise awareness

Giant Yard Sale to Benefit Cats. Take

include face painting, bounce houses,

Refuge to benefit cats. All ages. FREE.

corn hole and more. Register online.

9 a.m.-2 p.m. Goathouse Refuge, 259

All ages. FREE. 10 a.m. Dorothea Dix

Hillsboro St., Pittsboro. 919-542-6815.

Campus, 820 S Boylan Ave, Raleigh.

goathouserefuge.org/page/2.

ily. 7-8 p.m. Historic Yates Mill County

northcarolina.

Garden Mushrooms. Create something unique for a garden out of clay. Ages 2-14. Registration required. $15/child. 10-11:30 a.m. Durham Arts Council, Northgate Mall, 1058 W. Club Blvd., Durham. 919-560-2726. durhamarts.org.

Tiny Tots: Movement in Nature. Ages 18 mos.-3 yrs. develop fine motor skills using natural objects. Registration required. $2/child. 10:30-11 a.m. Crowder District Park, 4709 Ten-Ten

townofcary.org. part in a yard sale for the Goathouse

919-788-0801. namiwalks.org/

Rd., Cary. 919-387-5980.

daily

Parent and Child Clay Workshop:

Hemlock Bluffs, 2616 Kildaire Farm

for mental illness. Post-walk festivities

older. Registration required. $5/famPark, 4620 Lake Wheeler Rd., Raleigh.

4 MONDAY

Children expand their knowledge of

walk to improve access to human milk

CALENDAR

Rd., Apex. 919-662-2850. wakegov.com/parks/crowder. Tummy Time Workshop: How to Make It Easy and Comfortable. Mother and baby ages birth-4 months learn about “tummy time” and its

Guest Star Scientist: Drink This.

importance for optimal development

Engineer a water filter and make

in infants. Learn the common reasons

muddy water drinkable with Engineer-

for discomfort and how to avoid them.

Natural Explorations Hike: May

919-856-6675. wakegovcom/parks/

Flower Folly. Stroll around the

ing World Health scientists. $5 ages

Expectant parents welcome. Registra-

yatesmill.

pond while searching for blooming

1-adult. 1-3 p.m. Marbles Kids Museum,

tion required. $30. 9-10:30 a.m.

wildflowers and listen to flowery

201 E. Hargett St., Raleigh. 919-834-

Pediatric Possibilities, 7209 Creedmoor

2 SATURDAY

poems along the way. Explore how

4040. marbleskidsmuseum.org.

Rd., Ste. 101, Raleigh. 919-469-0519.

flowers function and the types of

Spintops: A Wood Turning Demon-

Big Muddy Challenge. Watch

consciousbaby.com.

flowering plants growing locally. All

stration for Families. Frank Penta

participants run, walk, slosh, climb

ages. Registration required. FREE. 11

demonstrates the art of wood turning

and crawl through a muddy obstacle

a.m.-noon. Historic Yates Mill County

and the joy of spintop toys for fami-

5 TUESDAY

course designed for parents and

Park, 4620 Lake Wheeler Rd., Raleigh.

lies. Each child takes home a spintop.

April Showers Bring May Flowers.

children ages 6-12. Registration to

919-856-6675. wakegov.com/parks/

Explore the magic of blooms and learn

run closes May 1. This is a Fit Family

yatesmill.

North Carolina Botanical Garden,

about the color, shape and texture of

100 Old Mason Farm Rd., Chapel Hill.

flowers. Make a paper flower. Ages

ncbg.unc.edu.

3-5. Register online. $5/child. 10 a.m.

Challenge registration event. All

Purple Cloth 5K and Kid’s Dash. Take

ages. Registration required. $40/

part in a 5K or kid’s dash to benefit

adults, $31/kids. 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Hill

Dorcas Ministries, which assists fami-

Ridge Farms, 703 Tarboro Rd., Youngs-

lies in crisis. Register online. $25 for

the Duke Center for Metabolic and

ville. bigmuddychallenge.com/events.

the 5K, $5 for the kid’s dash at 8 a.m.,

Weight Loss Surgery in a noncompeti-

Atlantic Avenue Orchid and Garden,

Triangle Walk from Obesity. Join

5217 Atlantic Ave., Raleigh. 919-2398078. atlanticavenuegarden.com.

Color the Hill 4K and Fun Run. Wear

5K begins at 8:15 a.m. Bond Park, 801

tive, 2-mile walk to raise money for

white clothing and run or walk

High House Rd., Cary. purplecloth5k.

research, education, prevention and

the life cycle of a plant and which

through a 4K course to encounter

com/registration.html.

treatment of obesity. Register online.

animals depend on flowers. Discover

All ages. $25-35. Kids 11 and younger

how flowers drink water and paint

Nature Families: Flower Fun. Learn

five color stations where volunteers

Trinity Soccer Academy Open House.

blitz runners with a nontoxic colored

Meet sponsors, watch players and

are FREE. 8 a.m.-noon. Durham County

a flowerpot to take home. All ages.

powder. Proceeds benefit three local

learn about Trinity Soccer Academy.

Stadium, 750 Stadium Drive, Durham.

Registration required. $5/family.

nonprofit organizations. All ages.

Food and beverage provided. All

ages. FREE. 2-6 p.m. Colonial Baptist

919-470-7034. walkfromobesity. donordrive.com/event/durham2015.

11 a.m.-noon. Crowder District Park, 4709 Ten-Ten Rd., Apex.

carolinaparent.com | MAY 2015

›

CALENDAR

daily

919-662-2850. wakegov.com/parks/

Registration required. $4/child. 11

crowder.

a.m.-noon. Crowder District Park, 4709

Parent and Child Clay Workshop: Garden Mushrooms. See May 4. 4-5:30 p.m. Time for Tots: A Child’s Garden.

Ten-Ten Rd., Apex. 919-662-2850. wakegov.com/parks/crowder. Nature Watchers: “Planting a Rainbow.” Read the story by Lois

8 FRIDAY Durham Mocha Moms Support Group. Take part in a support group for mothers of color and mothers raising children of color. Children welcome. FREE. 10 a.m.-noon. Grey

Discover how people once used plants,

Ehlert and learn what flowers need

gather herbs from the museum’s

to grow. Search for colorful flowers

garden and plant a miniature garden

and make a craft to take home. Ages

to take home. Ages 3-5 with adult.

3-5. Registration required. $4/child.

1-2 p.m. Crowder District Park, 4709

member. 10-10:45 a.m. N.C. Museum

Ten-Ten Rd., Apex. 919-662-2850.

9 SATURDAY

of History, 5 E. Edenton St., Raleigh.

wakegov.com/parks/crowder.

Birding with Vernon. Join bird enthu-

919-807-7979. NCMOH-programs.com.

Storytime for Tots: “Baby Bird’s First

Stone Church, 2601 Hillsborough Rd., Durham. mochamoms.org.

ncmuseumofhistory.org. Socks and Undies 5K. Dress in a creative running outfit to benefit Note in the Pocket, a local nonprofit that provides clothing to the impoverished and homeless in Wake County. Register online. All ages. $10-$35. 8:30 a.m. Dorothea Dix Campus, 805 Ruggles Dr., Raleigh. racereach.com/e/SocksUndie-5K-Rundie. Tummy Time Workshop: How to Make It Easy and Comfortable. Mother and baby ages birth-4 months

siast Vernon for an easy walk while

learn about “tummy time” and its

Nest.” Read the story by Frank Asch

looking and listening for feathered

importance for optimal development

6 WEDNESDAY

and make a nest full of baby birds.

friends. Discover different types of

in infants. Learn common reasons for

Ages 2-5. Registration required. $4/

birds and their habitats. Meet at the

discomfort and how to avoid them.

Crabtree Casters. Learn to fish. Instruc-

child. 1-2 p.m. Lake Crabtree County

Waterwise Garden. FREE. 8:30-10 a.m.

Expectant parents welcome. Registra-

tion and bait provided. Participants

Park, 1400 Aviation Parkway, Mor-

Lake Crabtree County Park, 1400 Avia-

tion required. $30. 2-3:30 p.m. Women’s

16 and older must have a valid N.C.

risville. 919-460-2723. wakegov.com/

tion Pkwy., Morrisville. 919-460-3355.

Birth & Wellness Center, 930 Martin

fishing license. Children must be

parks/lakecrabtree.

wakegov.com/parks/lakecrabtree.

Luther King Jr. Blvd., Chapel Hill. 919-

accompanied by an adult. Meet at

Junior Naturalist: Seeking Snakes.

the boat rental dock. Registration required. FREE. 6:30-8 p.m. Lake

7 THURSDAY

ist skills and understanding of

Take a self-guided tour through the

Crabtree County, 1400 Aviation Pkwy.,

Kids Fun-Days: Rip-Roaring Reptile

local nature. Ages 5-8 with parent.

cemetery to gain unique insight into

Morrisville. 919-460-3355. wakegov.

Round-up. Children hike, make proj-

Registration required. $8/resident,

the lives of Wake Forest men and

com/parks/lakecrabtree.

ects and engage in nature activities.

$10/nonresident. 1-2 p.m. Stevens

women from generations past. Hear

History Corner: Civil War Kids. Learn

Ages 5-8. Registration required. $12/

Nature Center/Hemlock Bluffs, 2616

from costumed interpreters and enjoy

about life during and just after the

resident, $16/nonresident. 10 a.m.-

Kildaire Farm Rd., Cary. 919-387-5980.

a special children’s activity. FREE. 9:30

Civil War. Ages 6-9 with adult. Register

noon. Stevens Nature Center/Hemlock

townofcary.org.

a.m.-12:30 p.m. Rain date is May 16.

online. $1/member; $3/nonmember.

Bluffs, 2616 Kildaire Farm Rd., Cary.

10-11 a.m. N.C. Museum of History, 5

919-387-5980. townofcary.org.

E. Edenton St., Raleigh. 919-807-7988.

Music and Movement Class. Ages 1-5

NCMOH-programs.com. History Hunters: War’s End? Learn

469-0519. consciousbaby.com. Wake Forest Cemetery Walking Tour.

Participants develop their natural-

enjoy music and movement. Explore Orff and percussion instruments.

Kids Art Activity. Kids ages 4 and older enjoy an art activity and twisted balloons. FREE. 4-6 p.m. Southern

Wake Forest Cemetery, 400 N. White St., Wake Forest. 919-435-9570. wakeforestnc.gov/cemeterytour.aspx.

Home Crafts, 111 N. Salem St., Apex. 919-233-1598.

10 SUNDAY

ways that freedom changed the lives

Call to register. FREE. 10 a.m.-noon.

of people who had been enslaved

Millbrook Baptist Preschool, 1519 E.

Make crafts using insects as inspira-

during the Civil War and the lives of

Millbrook Rd., Raleigh. 919-876-4030.

tion. Dress to get messy. All ages.

Learn the dances of bees and how

those who had owned them. Ages

millbrookbaptistpreschool.org.

Registration required. $4/person. 11

they communicate. Discover how

10-13. Register online. $1/member,

Storytime in the Gallery. Meet a staff

a.m.-noon. Crowder District Park, 4709

pollination works and taste different

Kids Get Crafty: Beautiful Bugs.

Family Feature: Buzz on Bees.

$3/nonmember. 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.

member at the information desk

Ten-Ten Rd., Apex. 919-662-2850.

types of honey. All ages. Registration

N.C. Museum of History, 5 E. Edenton

and follow your guide to one of the

wakegovcom/parks/crowder.

required. $5/family. 2-3 p.m. Crowder

St., Raleigh. 919-807-7988.

museum galleries to look around and

Make It, Take It: Time Capsules. Learn

District Park, 4709 Ten-Ten Rd., Apex.

NCMOH-programs.com.

listen to a story. Ages 3 and older

how to save memories in a simple

919-662-2850. wakegov.com/parks/

with adult. FREE. 10-10:30 p.m. N.C.

paper time capsule and make one to

Museum of History, 5 E. Edenton St.,

take home. Drop-in program. FREE.

Raleigh. 919-807-7992.

1-3 p.m. N.C. Museum of History, 5 E.

Search Swift Creek for fish, snakes,

Edenton St., Raleigh. 919-807-7992.

frogs and more. Equipment provided.

Nature Friends: Spring Wildflowers. Dissect a flower and go on a scavenger hunt for wildflowers in the park. Make a flower craft to take home. Ages 6-9.

MAY 2015 | carolinaparent.com

ncmuseumofhistory.org.

crowder. Young Ecologists: Stream Search.

›

CALENDAR

daily

Ages 10-13. Registration required.

Time for Tots: A Child’s Garden.

$12/resident, $16/nonresident. 2-4

The Hill Center

See May 5.

p.m. Stevens Nature Center/Hemlock Bluffs, 2616 Kildaire Farm Rd., Cary. 919-387-5980. townofcary.org.

13 WEDNESDAY Wee Walkers: Forest Babies. Children

11 MONDAY

discover the shapes, textures, sounds

Alien Invaders. Learn about species

with parent. Registration required.

and smells of nature. Ages 1 and older

that have become a problem in North Carolina and what you can do to help.

$8/resident, $10/nonresident. 10

11 a.m. Stevens Nature Center/Hem-

Ages 6-12. Registration required. $8/

lock Bluffs, 2616 Kildaire Farm Rd.,

child. 1-3 p.m. Lake Crabtree County

Cary. 919-387-5980. townofcary.org.

Park, 1400 Aviation Pkwy., Morrisville. 919-460-2723. wakegov.com/parks/ lakecrabtree. Forest Friends: “Dandelions, Stars in

14 THURSDAY Geocaching 101. Learn about geocach-

the Grass.” Learn about dandelions,

ing and search for geocaches along

read a story and create a dandelion

the trail. All ages. Meet at the New Hill

painting to take home. Ages 3-5 with

Parking Area. Registration required.

adult. Meet at the Cypress Shelter.

$5/family. 4:30-6 p.m. American

Registration required. $4/child. 1-2

Tobacco Trail, 1309 New Hill-Olive

p.m. Harris Lake County Park, 2112

Chapel Rd., Apex. 919-387-4342.

County Park Dr., New Hill. 919-387-

wakegov.com/parks/att.

4342. wakegov.com/parks/harrislake. Nature Tots: “Dandelions, Stars in the Grass.” Learn about dandelions,

Storytime in the Gallery. See May 7. Wee Walkers: Forest Babies.

See May 13.

read a story and search for them in the park to blow their seeds in the air. Ages 1-3 with adult. Meet at the

15 FRIDAY

Cypress Shelter. Registration required.

Herb Gardening. Learn how to grow an

$2/child. 10:30-11 a.m. Harris Lake

herb garden and decorate a clay pot.

County Park, 2112 County Park Dr.,

Ages 6 and older. Meet at the Educa-

New Hill. 919-387-4342. wakegov.

tional Gardens. Registration required.

com/parks/harrislake.

$5/family. 10-11:30 a.m. Harris Lake County Park, 2112 County Park Dr.,

12 TUESDAY Little Historians: Reaching New

New Hill. 919-387-4342. wakegov. com/parks/harrislake. Nature Nuts: Gardens. Go nutty for

Heights National Kite Month.

nature as children satisfy some of

Learn about the forces that make

their curiosity about the world around

kites fly and how kites have been used

them and parents share in the joy

around the world. Make your own

of discovery. Ages 3-5 with parent.

kite. Ages 5-7. Registration required.

Registration required. $10/resident,

$4/child. 11 a.m.-noon. Historic Yates

$13/nonresident. 10-11 a.m. Stevens

Mill County Park, 4620 Lake Wheeler

Nature Center/Hemlock Bluffs, 2616

Rd., Raleigh. 919-856-6675.

Kildaire Farm Rd., Cary. 919-387-5980.

wakegov.com/parks/yatesmill.

Womens Mood DisorHave you given birth recently? Are you feeling depressed and/or anxious? ders UNC’s BIOMOM research study is trying to understand the causes of Postpartum Depression

You may qualify if: •You recently had a baby (within past 4 – 8 weeks) •You are currently feeling sad, blue, depressed and/or anxious •You are African-American or Latina If interested contact one of our BIOMOM Research Assistants. Eligible participants will receive a $50 gift card for one 60 min study visit and brief phone visit. Wake Co. Health Dept. Erika Campos 919-350-8136 Alamance Co. Health Dept. Terry Edwards 336-513-4213

UNC Amber Ivins 919-843-4420 ECU Stacy Botex 252-744-8744

townofcary.org. carolinaparent.com | MAY 2015 139839-A1-6.indd 1

3/12/15 3:48:44 PM

Celebrate all things strawberry at the Raleigh State Farmers Market May 14. Photo courtesy of NCDA&CS Marketing

FESTIVALS APEX PEAKFEST May 2 – Music, food trucks, demonstrations, kids’ activities and more highlight this Salem Street festival. FREE. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Downtown Apex. apexpeakfest.com.

CLYDEFEST May 2 – Celebrate the arts with crafts, carnival games, storytelling, live turtles, food trucks and an instrument petting zoo. $7 adults, $3 kids. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Bynum Ballpark, 173 Bynum Hill Rd., Pittsboro. chathamarts.org.

ONE TRIBE FEST May 2 – This community expo features local artisans, holistic healers, lectures and product demonstrations. Children can take part in outdoor activities in nature. Learn more at facebook. com/events/331292923737405. All ages. $5. Free for ages 12 and younger. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. N.C. State Fairgrounds, James Holshouser Building, 1025 Blue Ridge Rd., Raleigh. onetribeexpo.com.

HAM & YAM FESTIVAL

OUT! RALEIGH 2015

May 2 – Take the family for a day of food, live music, a barbeque cook-off, kids’ activities and more. FREE. 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Downtown Smithfield, 919-934-0887. hamandyam.com.

May 2 – This family-friendly festival showcases live music, kids’ activities, food vendors and more celebrating the LGBTQ community. FREE. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Fayetteville Street, downtown Raleigh, 919-832-4484. outraleigh.org.

LONGLEAF FESTIVAL May 2 – Learn about the history and importance of the longleaf pine. Take a wagon ride to enjoy live animals, games, crafts, live entertainment and more in a unique area of the park. FREE. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Harris Lake County Park, 2112 County Park Dr., New Hill. 919-387-4342. wakegov.com/parks/harrislake.

MEET IN THE STREET FESTIVAL May 2 – Enjoy a day of food, artisan booths, live entertainment and children’s activities. This is a Fit Family Challenge registration and points event. FREE. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Downtown Wake

Forest along White, South Taylor and South Brooks streets. wakeforestnc.gov/meet-in-the-street.aspx.

MAY 2015 | carolinaparent.com

STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL May 2 – Central Park School for Children’s annual fundraiser features live entertainment, face painting, children’s games and strawberry treats. Admission is FREE; activities charge a small fee. Noon-4 p.m. Old North Durham Park, 724 Foster St., Durham. 919-730-3645. cpscnc.org/SF5K.

CARRBORO DAY May 3 – Carrboro comes alive with music, art, games, food and poetry for all ages. FREE. 1-6 p.m. Carrboro Town Hals, 301 W. Main St., Carrboro. 919-918-7364. carrboroday.com.

› canoe trip. Learn basic paddling tech-

May 9 – Stroll through the streets of Historic Mordecai and Oakwood in downtown Raleigh to see beautiful works of art from more than 30 artists for sale on front porches and in yards. All ages. FREE. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Begins at the intersection of N. Blount and Peace streets and continues down to Franklin and Pace streets. Event held rain or shine.

GOT TO BE NC FESTIVAL May 15-17– Celebrate North Carolina’s culture, music and cuisine. Enjoy a tractor parade, racing pigs, heritage crafts, live animals and kids’ activities. FREE admission; fee for some activities and areas. See website for hours. N.C. State Fairgrounds, 1025 Blue Ridge Rd., Raleigh. gottobencfestival.com.

RALEIGH TOUR D’COOP May 16 – This annual garden tour educates visitors of all ages about keeping hens and delights them with garden ideas and inspiration. See website for a detailed map. Proceeds benefit Urban Ministries of Wake County. Purchase tickets online. $10/ individual, $20/family. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Raleigh, tourdcoop.com.

WILLOW OAK MONTESSORI SPRING FESTIVAL AND FUN RUN May 16 – Take the family for a bounce house, live music, booths, food trucks and a special student performance. $5/person. $10/child for unlimited bounce house. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Willow Oak Montessori Charter School, 50101 Governors Dr., Chapel Hill. 919-240-7787. willowoakmontessori.org.

hike to observe them in their natural

required. $10/canoe. 7-9 p.m. Lake

habitat. All ages. Meet at the Cypress

Crabtree County Park, 1400 Aviation

Shelter. Registration required. $5/

Pkwy., Morrisville. 919-460-2723.

family. 1-2:30 p.m. Harris Lake County

wakegov.com/parks/lakecrabtree.

Park, 2112 County Park Dr., New Hill. 919-387-4342. wakegov.com/parks/

16 SATURDAY

harrislake. Curiosity Club: Junior Bird Buddies.

Family Yoga in Nature. Combine nature

Children embrace science and nature

and yoga. Ages 2 and older with

while developing skills and knowledge

parent. Registration required. $16/

about the natural world. Ages 5-8.

resident, $20/nonresident. 11:30 a.m.-

Registration required. $12/resident,

1 p.m. Stevens Nature Center/Hemlock

$16/nonresident. 2-4 p.m. Stevens

Bluffs, 2616 Kildaire Farm Rd., Cary.

Nature Center/Hemlock Bluffs, 2616

919-387-5980. townofcary.org.

Kildaire Farm Rd., Cary. 919-387-5980.

Music Makers with the N.C. Symphony. Orchestrate some fun with the N.C.

townofcary.org. A Lil’ Crazy Run. Take part in a dirty and

Symphony’s Instrument Zoo and meet

ARTSPLOSURE: THE RALEIGH ARTS FESTIVAL May 15-17 – Raleigh’s one-of-a-kind art festival features makeand-take crafts, a large-scale temporary art installation and variety of food and live entertainment. FREE. See website for hours. Moore Square and Raleigh City Market area, Raleigh. 919-832-8699. artsplosure.org.

and meet larvae up close. Take a

Ages 5 and older. All ages. Registration

STRAWBERRY DAY May 14 – Celebrate all things strawberry with games, free ice cream, an appearance by Suzy Strawberry and more. FREE. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Raleigh Farmers Market, 1201 Agriculture St., Raleigh. 919-733-7417. ncagr.gov.

life cycle of butterflies and moths

two adults and one child per canoe.

FRONT PORCH ART WALK

daily

Crawling Caterpillars. Explore the

niques and look for wildlife. Maximum

May 3 – Take the family for demonstrations, K-9 demos, a doggie salon, hospital tours, vaccine and microchip clinics, free food, raffles and more. A teddy bear stitch-up takes place from 3-5 p.m. All ages. FREE. 1-5 p.m. Raleigh Community Animal Hospital, 1108 Dresser Ct., Raleigh. 919-948-4210. vetraleigh.com.

17 SUNDAY

Sunset Canoe Trip. Join park staff for a

RALEIGH COMMUNITY ANIMAL HOSPITAL GRAND OPENING

CALENDAR

a guest musician. $5 ages 1-adult.

colorful obstacle course. Ages 10 and

11 a.m.-2 p.m. Marbles Kids Museum,

younger. Proceeds benefit NC MADD

201 E. Hargett St., Raleigh. 919-834-4040.

programs. Register online. 10 and

marbleskidsmuseum.org.

under. $20. 2 p.m. Dorothea Dix, 101

Nature Nuts: Gardens. See May 15.

Blair Dr., Raleigh. 919-669-6124. ac-

Studio Session: Fuzzy Fibers. Create a

tive.com/raleigh-nc/running/distance-

tapestry with special volunteers from

running-races/a-lil-crazy-run-2015.

Belk. $5 ages 1-adult. 2-4 p.m. Marbles

Mom and Me Upcycle Basic Jewelry

Kids Museum, 201 E. Hargett St., Raleigh.

919-834-4040. marbleskidsmuseum.org.

Design Class. Learn the basic techniques in making earrings and bracelets. Ages 9 and older. Register

Vet Play Date. Play with guest star vets from Banfield Pet Hospital and take

online. $15 plus $5 supply fee. 2-3:30

home tools for pretend vet play at

p.m. Southern Charm Gift Boutique,

home. $5 ages 1-adult. 10 a.m.-

Cary Towne Center, 1105 Walnut St.,

noon. Marbles Kids Museum, 201 E.

Cary. 919-233-1598. etsy.com/shop/

Hargett St., Raleigh. 919-834-4040.

southerncharmgifts2.

marbleskidsmuseum.org. Wagon Ride and Longleaf Bird Walk. Take a wagon ride to the longleaf pine

18 MONDAY

forest to go bird-watching. Take bin-

Home School Day: The Great Bug

oculars. Ages 8 and older. Meet at the

Hunt. Discover a variety of bugs and

wagon in the playground. Registration

other insects, their habitats and roles

required. $5/family. 10 a.m.-noon.

in the ecosystem. Hike around the

Harris Lake County Park, 2112 County

park looking for things to collect in

Park Dr., New Hill. 919-387-4342.

nets and make a hotel for bugs in your

wakegov.com/parks/harrislake.

yard. Ages 7-12. Registration required. carolinaparent.com | MAY 2015

›

CALENDAR

daily

$6. 10-11:30 a.m. Historic Yates Mill

Raleigh. 919-870-4330. wakegov.com/

County. All ages. Registration re-

County Park, 4620 Lake Wheeler Rd.,

parks/bluejay.

quired. Check website for registration

Raleigh. 919-856-6675. wakegov.com/

fee. This is a Fit Family Challenge

parks/yatesmill.

21 THURSDAY

registration and points event. 10

Storytime in the Gallery. See May 7.

Complex at Hope Chapel, 6175 Old

19 TUESDAY Adoption Information Meeting. Learn

Learn how to identify common trees by their spring foliage and take a walk in the park to get acquainted with them. Ages 5 and older. Registration

Jenks Rd., Apex. Register at wakebgc.

Carolina Adoption Services. Meet staff,

Crowder by Night: Amazing Amphib-

old-fashioned way. Supplies provided.

explore country options, learn about

ians. Listen to the chorus of frogs

Ages 5 and older with adult. Registra-

home study and pre-adoption educa-

and toads as the sun sets at the park.

tion required. $5/family. 9-10 a.m.

tional resources, how to pay for adop-

Sort through amazing facts about

Historic Yates Mill County Park, 4620

tion and more. Register online. FREE.

amphibians, play frog bingo and make

Lake Wheeler Rd., Raleigh. 919-856-

6:30 p.m. Northpark Church, 600

a froggy craft. All ages. Registration

6675. wakegov.com/parks/yatesmill.

Mount Vernon Church Rd., Raleigh.

required. $5/family. 7-8 p.m. Crowder

336-275-9660. carolinaadoption.org/

District Park, 4709 Ten-Ten Rd., Apex.

Frogs. Practice frog calls, learn about

event-items/adoption-information-

919-662-2850. wakegov.com/parks/

frog life cycles and food chains, and

crowder.

search for tadpoles in the pond. Ages

meeting-raleigh.

Durham Mocha Moms Support Group. See May 8. Southern Sand Competitive

Crabtree Casters. Learn to fish. Instruc-

Union Church Rd., Raleigh. 919-8704330. wakegov.com/parks/bluejay. A Side of History: They Wore What? Make a fashion timeline, try on some colonial clothes and play a game. Ages 6 and older. $5/family. 3:30-4:30 p.m. Historic Yates Mill County Park, 4620

Family Wildlife Series: Fantastic

5 and older. Registration required. $5/family. 2-3:30 p.m. Blue Jay Point County Park, 3200 Pleasant Union Church Rd. , Raleigh. 919-870-4330.

tion and bait provided. Participants

ment. Choose from two formats:

wakegov.com/parks/bluejay.

16 and older must have a valid N.C.

King or Queen of the Beach format;

fishing license. Children must be

featuring adult (men and women) and

accompanied by an adult. Meet at

junior (18U, 16U and 14U) divisions.

the boat rental dock. Registration

Participants sign up individually.

explore the pond’s many features by

required. FREE. 6:30-8 p.m. Lake

Registration required. $10/player.

canoe. Canoes, paddles and life jackets

Crabtree County, 1400 Aviation Pkwy.,

This is a Fit Family Challenge points

provided. Ages 5 and older with adult.

Morrisville. 919-460-3355. wakegov.

event, so you can earn 100 points for

Registration required. $5/family. 11

com/parks/lakecrabtree.

participating. 6-10 p.m. Southern

a.m.-noon. Historic Yates Mill County

Curious Creatures: Looking for

Lake Wheeler Rd., Raleigh. 919-8566675. wakegov.com/parks/yatesmill.

26 TUESDAY Pop-In Playtime Club. Drop-in inflatable play. Wear socks. $7/child, $5/ sibling. Free for adults. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Pump It Up of Raleigh, 10700 World

Nature Stories: Feeling Froggy. See

Trade Blvd., Raleigh. 919-828-3344.

May 20. 10-11 a.m.

pumpitupparty.com/raleigh-nc.

Paddle the Pond. After basic instruction,

Sand Volleyball Complex at Hope

Park, 4620 Lake Wheeler Rd., Raleigh.

Lizards. Discover wildlife, their habits

Chapel, 6175 Old Jenks Rd., Apex. Reg-

919-856-6675. wakegov.com/parks/

and their habitats through hikes,

ister at southernsandvolleyball.org/

yatesmill.

activities and crafts. Ages 5-8. Reg-

carolina-parent-fit-family-challenge-

istration required. $12/resident, $16/

weekend.

nonresident. 10 a.m.-noon. Stevens

24 SUNDAY

Nature Center/Hemlock Bluffs, 2616

Pottery Workshop for Beginners.

Kildaire Farm Rd., Cary. 919-387-5980.

23 SATURDAY

townofcary.org.

Boys & Girls Club Family Beach Volley-

to create animal sculptures, bells and

ball Clinic and Tournament. Attend

more. Ages 8 and older. Registration

Learn about frogs and toads while

a free beach volleyball clinic hosted

required. $20. 2-4 p.m. Art Adventure

investigating live tadpoles. Ages 3-5

by Southern Sand Volleyball from

Studio, 107 Spring Hollow Ln., Cary.

with parent. Registration required.

10-10:45 a.m., then join in a family-

919-233-1598. etsy.com/shop/

$4. 1-2 p.m. Blue Jay Point County

friendly tournament to help raise

Park, 3200 Pleasant Union Church Rd.,

funds for the Boys & Girls Club of Wake

MAY 2015 | carolinaparent.com

Jay Point County Park, 3200 Pleasant

Family Fishing Fun. Learn to fish the

Doubles Beach Volleyball Tourna-

Nature Stories: Feeling Froggy.

required. $5/family. 9:30-11 a.m. Blue

org/our-events/bgc-olympics.

22 FRIDAY

Family Wildlife Series: Leaf It to Me.

a.m.-4 p.m. Southern Sand Volleyball

about the international adoption with

20 WEDNESDAY

25 MONDAY

27 WEDNESDAY Kids Fun-Days: Stream Searchers.

28 THURSDAY Storytime in the Gallery. See May 7. Trail Treks: A Wood Duck’s World. Learn about a duck’s lifestyle, see a mount up close and hike to observe them in the wild. Take binoculars.

Learn basic hand building techniques

lynnesueart.

See May 7.

Meet at the New Hill Parking Area. Registration required. $5/family.

3-4 p.m. American Tobacco Trail,

1309 New Hill-Olive Chapel Rd., Apex. 919-387-4342. wakegov.com/parks/att.

MOTHER’S DAY ACTIVITIES GRANDMA AND ME PAINTING AND TEA PARTY

MOMS ROCK KIDS ROLL

May 2 – Grandmothers and their grandchild paint a masterpiece on canvas and enjoy a tray of goodies. Proceeds benefit Door of Hope, an orphanage in Johannesburg, South Africa. Ages 3 and older. Register online. $25. 10 a.m.-noon. Braggtown Baptist Church, 3218 North Roxboro Rd., Durham. 919-414-7197. grandmaandmeparty.eventbrite.com.

May 9 and 10 – Celebrate your amazing mom with make-and take-crafts, a photo op and hands-on healthy cooking. Take the fun on a roll in a bike rodeo May 9, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Bring a bike, trike, helmet and gear to use in the courtyard. $5. Ages 1 and older. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Marbles Kids Museum, 201 E. Hargett St., Raleigh. 919-834-4040. marbleskidsmuseum.org.

MOTHER’S DAY SURPRISE ART

MOTHER’S DAY EVENT AT ARTOPIA

May 5 – Create a special surprise for your mom in celebration of Mother’s Day. Call to register. Ages 2-6. $5/child. 11 a.m.-noon. Rolesville Community Center, 514 Southtown Circle, Rolesville. 919-554-6582.

May 9 – Paint a beautiful canvas and make a custom card for your mother. An instructor will be on hand for assistance. Drop-in program. Ages 4-18. $40. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Artopia, 6109 Maddry Oaks Dr., Raleigh. 919-307-8144. artopia-raleigh.com.

MOTHER’S DAY CRAFTS May 8 – Paint and decorate a frame and make a card for Mom. All ages. Registration suggested. $7. 4-6 p.m. Bull City Craft, 2501 University Dr., Durham. 919-419-0800. bullcitycraft.com.

FAMILY GARDENING SERIES: HERBS May 9 – Learn how to plant herbs in a vegetable garden. Create an herb basket to take home for Mother’s Day. For ages 5 and older with adult. Register online. $6 member, $8 nonmember. 10-11:15 a.m. North Carolina Botanical Garden, 100 Old Mason Farm Rd., Chapel Hill. ncbg.unc.edu.

SPRINGTIME SAFARI May 10 – Spend Mother’s Day enjoying the signs of spring and discover the beauty of the season. Search for flowers, insects, birds and more. Create a bouquet of flowers to give to Mom or someone special. Registration required. $8/family. 1-3 p.m. Lake Crabtree County Park, 1400 Aviation Parkway, Morrisville. 919-460-2723. wakegov.com/parks/lakecrabtree.

carolinaparent.com | MAY 2015

ON STAGE

›

CALENDAR

daily

29 FRIDAY Garden Storytime. Enjoy stories, songs, crafts and more. Ages 3-5. Take a blanket. Register by emailing elizabeth_overcash@ncsu.edu. $5/child. 10:30 a.m. J.C. Raulston Arboretum, 4415 Beryl Rd., Raleigh. 919-513-7011. jcra.ncsu.edu.

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Sensory Smarts. Learn handling tips that will support your baby’s optimal sensory development and help avoid or reduce future challenges. Expectant mothers and babies up through 7 months of age welcome. Registration required. $25. 9-10:15 a.m. Pediatric Possibilities, 7209 Creedmoor Rd., Ste. 101, Raleigh. 919-469-0519. consciousbaby.com.

Enjoy Carolina Ballet’s “Cinderella” May 14-17. Photo courtesy of Armes Photography

“SWAN LAKE”

the way, Milo gains skills and knowledge,

May 2-3 – Enjoy the story of a princess who

and realizes his attitude towards learning will

is turned into a swan by an evil sorcerer’s

never be the same. Purchase tickets online.

curse and the prince who loves her. $41-$99.

$5-$10. 7:30 p.m. May 15-16; 2 p.m. May 17.

8 p.m. May 2; 2 p.m. May 3. Durham Perform-

Cary Arts Center, 101 Dry Ave., Cary.

ing Arts Center, 123 Vivian St., Durham.

919-462-2055. etix.com.

919-719-0900. carolinaballet.com.

“ANNELIES”

May 15-16 – Raleigh ACT Step Up Class

May 2 – Join the Choral Society of Durham

performs the tale about a green ogre and his

and choirs from Riverside High School and

friends. All ages. $10 advance tickets, $15 at

Durham School of the Arts for a haunting

the door. 7 p.m. May 15, 2 p.m. May 16. Jour-

work based on “Anne Frank: The Diary of a

ney Church, 3500 Spring Forest Rd., Raleigh.

Young Girl.” All ages. Free-$22. 8 p.m. Bald-

919-801-7730. raleighact.com.

win Auditorium, 1336 Campus Dr., Durham. 919-560-2733. choral-society.org.

SUMMERFEST: “RHAPSODY IN BLUE” AND “NEW WORLD SYMPHONY”

“CINDERELLA”

May 23 – Celebrate Memorial Weekend

May 14-17 – Carolina Ballet presents the

with an all-American program. Purchase

classic story of a beautiful orphan, her fairy

tickets online. $28-$32. Ages 12 and younger

godmother and a charming prince. $27-$68.

admitted free on the lawn. 7:30 p.m. Booth

8 p.m. May 14-15; 2 and 8 p.m. May 16;

Amphitheatre, 8003 Regency Pkwy., Cary.

2 p.m. May 17. Raleigh Memorial Auditorium,

919-733-2750. ncsymphony.org.

2 E. South St., Raleigh. 919-719-0900. carolinaballet.com.

“SHREK THE MUSICAL JR.”

SUMMERFEST: “YOUR FAVORITE LIGHT CLASSICS”

30 SATURDAY Teddy Bear Clinic. Take a teddy bear or treat one of the museum’s bears using bandages, splints, X-rays and hugs.

$5 ages 1-adult. 11 a.m-2 p.m. Marbles Kids Museum, 201 E. Hargett St., Raleigh. 919-834-4040.

marbleskidsmuseum.org.

Vet Play Date. See May 16.

31 MONDAY Breastfeeding Café. Discuss breastfeeding questions with an accredited La Leche League leader and meet other mothers. Expectant mothers and infants welcome. 10-11 a.m. The Red Hen, University Mall, 201 S. Estes Dr., Chapel Hill. 919-942-4420. theredhen.com.

CALENDAR POLICY The Carolina Parent calendar lists local and regional activities for children and families. To submit an event for consideration, visit carolinaparent.com or

APPLAUSE! CARY YOUTH THEATRE PRESENTS “THE PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH”

May 30 – Take the family for light classical

May 15-17 – When Milo is transported to the

“Hungarian Rhapsody,” and other selections.

Land of Wisdom, he learns of a great argu-

Purchase tickets online. $28-$32. Ages 12 and

ment over words and numbers between King

younger admitted free on the lawn. 7:30 p.m.

Readers, please call ahead to confirm dates

Azaz and The Mathemagician, and is sent to

Booth Amphitheatre, 8003 Regency Pkwy.,

and times. This calendar may include some

rescue Princesses Rhyme and Reason. Along

Cary. 919-733-2750. ncsymphony.org.

MAY 2015 | carolinaparent.com

music, including Grieg’s “Peer Gynt,” Liszt’s

email calendar@carolinaparent.com by the 8th of the month for the next month’s issue.

events not intended for young children.

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BUSINESS DIRECTORY

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Not Just Paper BEST Place to Shop For: EDUCATIONAL aids

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BOXES of every description CLEANING PRODUCTS 1010 W. Main St., Durham Across from Brightleaf Square

(919) 688-6886

Mon-Fri 8am-6pm • Sat 9am-4pm

Atlas

carolinaparent.com | MAY 2015

FACES AND PLACES

faces & places d

Skylar, 2, of Raleigh, enjoys cooking in the Marbles Kids Museum kitchen.

Submit high-resolution photos of your kids having fun at carolinaparent.com/ facesandplaces. You could even win a prize! Isabella, 1, of Raleigh, plays peek-a-boo in Marbles Kids Museum’s toddler corner. Ronni and Laila, both 6 and of Raleigh, ham it up in a neighborhood driveway.

Jude, 6, Jackson, 8, and a new friend explore the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh — via scooters!

MAY 2015 | carolinaparent.com

Bella, 5, and Benjamin, 6, of Raleigh, have fun at the Wake Forest Mardi Gras street fair.

CONGRATULATIONS to our latest winner, Connor, 4, of Raleigh.

the Triangle

a g al l er

of children in tos an

Caroline, 13, of Clayton, gets ready to see Disney’s “Frozen on Ice” in Raleigh.

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Watauga

STEP AWAY FROM YOUR BACKYARD AND STEP OUTSIDE YOURSELF Start your adventure today.

800.852.9506

ExploreBoone.com

FACT:

Sensory play helps fuel a child’s curiosity about the world. Primrose

PRIMROSE WAY:

Infants – Private Pre-K Select locations offer Private Kindergarten and School Age (before and after school) programs.

Hello, H20! INQUIRE ABOUT OUR FIVE-STAR LOCATIONS! Area school locations: Apex, Cary, Durham, Fuquay-Varina | Holly Springs, Morrisville | RTP, Raleigh, Wake Forest 1.800.Primrose | PrimroseSchools.com/RDU

Each Primrose school is a privately owned and operated franchise. Primrose Schools and The Leader in Educational Child Care are trademarks of Primrose School Franchising Company. ©2015 Primrose School Franchising Company. All rights reserved. See primroseschools.com for ‘fact’ source and curriculum detail.