Free Times Family Back to School 2014

family Midlands’ Magazine for Smart Families

AUG-SEPT 2014 freetimesfamily.com

Windows to New Worlds 17-Year, $23 Million Museum Project Offers Universe of Exploration for S.C. Students

Also: Shaking Up School Fundraising The Great Vaccination Debate Fostering a Sense of Wonder Save for College — Or for Retirement?

programs 854 Galway Lane Columbia, SC 29209 803.776.0295 路 hammondschool.org

Academics is just half the story at Hammond.

Our PLUS Programs are added opportunities for academic, athletic, arts enrichment ... and nearly everything in between. Our unparalleled array of evening, weekend, and afterschool classes is available to ages prekindergarten through adult, all open to the greater Columbia community. Join us!

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ARE YOU LISTENING? ARE YOU LISTENING? ARE YOU www.WMHK.com LISTENING? www.WMHK.com www.WMHK.com

A ministry of Columbia International University A ministry of Columbia International University A ministry of Columbia International University Back to School 2014

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Midlands’ Magazine for Smart Families

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contents life

6 It’s Family Time!

26 Fostering a Sense of Wonder

8 Windows to New Worlds 12 Listings

calendar

freetimesfamily.com EDITORIAL EDITOR: Dan Cook, editor@free-times.com | ext. 133 MANAGING EDITOR: Laura Haight LISTINGS EDITOR: Jordan Lawrence DIGITAL MEDIA ASSISTANT: Xavier Edwards CONTRIBUTORS: Jason Crosby, Elizabeth Catanese, Anna Gelbman Edmunds, Heather Green, Amanda Ladymon, Thomas Maluck, Heather McCue, Kara Meador, Jenny Munro, Kevin Oliver, Anne Postic

PRODUCTION PRODUCTION MANAGER: Lisa Willis GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Joey Ayer GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Matt Bradley

family finance

14 Shaking Up School Fundraising

32 Retirement vs.

College: Walking the Responsibility Tightrope

16 Listings

health 20 The Great Vaccination Debate 22 Listings

28 Listings

30 Events and Programming

activities

Midlands’ Magazine for Smart Families

Published by Resorts Media 1534 Main St., Columbia, SC 29201 (803) 765.0707

letter to readers learning

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AUG-SEPT 2014

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ADVERTISING ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER: Kerry Powers kpowers@free-times.com | ext. 128 ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: Hyatt Drake, Ginny Kuhn, Brian Wingard, Jerry Viles ADVERTISING ASSISTANT: Kayla Cahill SALES MANAGER: Cale Johnson

DISTRIBUTION

34 Music and DVD Reviews 35 Books 36 Apps 37 Listings

CIRCULATION MANAGER: Davey Mathias DOCK MANAGER: Brandon Daniels

BUSINESS OPERATIONS MANAGER: Jen Coody

RESORTS MEDIA Charlie Nutt, Publisher

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letter to readers

It’s Family Time F

amilies and parenting are changing.

And Free Times is changing with you.

This edition marks the first Free Times Family — everything you already love about FT Parent but with broader coverage of more topics that affect you and your family.

The magazine will still be loaded with information for families with children: • Family Activities • Health • Family Finance • Learning • Community Events But we are broadening the coverage to include more topics of interest to both traditional and non-traditional families:

• What can family members do to stay close in today’s society?

• Is the traditional bride-groom church wedding disappearing?

• How much social media is too much social media for multi-generational families?

In addition to changing the name, we are dramatically increasing the distribution of the magazine. It will still be available in hundreds of outlets in the greater Columbia area, but copies will also be inserted into Free Times to reach an even bigger audience. No other magazine in the Midlands goes to as many people, not to mention the extra reach of the magazine’s web page and social media.

We’re excited about the growth of Free Times Family, and we think you will be too.

Feel free to share your comments: 803-765-0707, ext. 129 or CharlieN@free-times.com.

• What’s the role of grandparents in raising kids today?

• How do relationships of siblings change as they get older?

Charlie Nutt Owner and Publisher Free Times Free Times Family

Did you know 95% of car seats are not installed or used safely?

Buckle Buddies provides education and community outreach on Child Passenger Safety. Learn how you can: • Get your car seat checked by a nationally certified technician • Attend a general education class on child passenger safety • Access new and safe car seats at a discounted price Visit www.bucklebuddiessc.org to view our calendar of events and learn more about our programs!

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bucklebuddiessc@gmail.com

Midlands’ Magazine for Smart Families

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803.434.2955 ftfamilysc

Back to School 2014

It’s back to school South Carolina’s Largest Music School The Columbia Arts Academy Locations in Columbia and Lexington

Lessons for Children and Adults • Guitar • Piano • Voice • Drums • Bass

• Banjo • Ukulele • Mandolin • Rock Band Classes

Over 900 students will take our lessons this Fall. So visit our website or call today before all of the prime lessons spots are gone!

learning

Windows to New Worlds 17-Year, $23 Million Museum Project Offers Universe of Exploration for S.C. Students

By Kara Meador | Photos by Sean Rayford

A

fter 17 years of planning, fundraising, designing and building, the South Carolina State Museum’s new Windows To New Worlds project officially opens on Aug. 16. It includes a planetarium, 4D theater, observatory and an exciting and collaborative approach to education that can reach every school and give every student a chance to reach for the stars. We were there the day a critical piece — an antique telescope that has been retrofitted with digital capabilities — was moved into place. Here’s a look behind the curtain.

Through the Looking Glass

T

he South Carolina State Museum has housed historic artifacts since opening in 1988, but on this day in June the museum is making history in South Carolina.

The museum’s $23 million Windows To New Worlds renovation project —17 years in the making — is coming to fruition, but not before a handful of people complete a tedious task.

On the fourth floor of the museum, a forklift gingerly elevates a 1926 refracting Alvan Clark telescope 15 feet in the air.

While the vintage telescope dangles from two heavy canvas straps, a handler on

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a step ladder works to attach the telescope to a gigantic base called a pier with a series of large gears that resemble sun dials. The telescope is worth more than $2.3 million dollars.

No pressure.

“It’s a lot of mass and it’s a lot of moving mass, so there’s a little bit of nervousness, but we have a pro with us today,” says Tom Falvey, the museum’s director of education.

Three massive legs support the telescope to make sure the device doesn’t shake or lose alignment. Museumgoers will get their first glimpse of the gigantic

Midlands’ Magazine for Smart Families

tripod three stories below when they enter the first-floor lobby. Each leg of the tripod is 42 feet tall and weighs more than 11,000 pounds.

It’s hot. The only moving air wisps through plastic sheets blocking a large opening in a fourth-floor wall. A glimpse outside reveals a viewing terrace that will make for some fantastic star gazing. It also offers a great view of the city.

Back inside, men guide the pieces of the telescope together underneath another obvious new addition to the museum. A 5,000-pound observatory dome was hoisted on top of the State museum in April, altering the shape of the museum and the Columbia skyline.

With prior experience planning and building a $22 million theme park in Michigan and 20 years at Six Flags Astroworld in Texas, State Museum Executive Director William Calloway has never shied away from mammoth undertakings, but even he is awed by scope of this project.

“It looks great on paper, but until you see it get built, you really don’t understand the size and the scale of it,” Calloway says. “Even though I’ve done this for a long time, I was surprised at how big it is. How impressive it is, what a ‘wow’ factor it has.”

It takes more than an hour, but the telescope is eventually safe and secure.

Staff members are overcome with emotion. Some tears are shed as they see the last major piece of the puzzle needed to make the renovation project click into place.

In addition to the refracting telescope, museumgoers will be able to view an antique telescope collection donated by a local amateur astronomer named Robert Ariail. The oldest telescope in the collection dates back to 1730.

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Back to School 2014

artist’s rendering

Opening New Vistas in Education

S

outh Carolina Nobel Prize-winning physicist Charles Townes, who led the groundwork for development of the laser, actually worked on the very same refracting telescope that’s being housed at the museum when he was a professor at Columbia University in New York City in the late 1940s. The university donated the vintage instrument to the State Museum.

“Imagine looking through the same telescope that Charles Townes looked through during his days at Columbia,” Tom Falvey, director of education, says. The museum is modernizing the instrument with gears, computers and digital eyepieces, so any kid in the state can actually log on to a computer and direct the telescope to a specific location and see the images.

The fully digitized telescope will play a central role in the museum’s new distance learning and onsite STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) initiatives.

“It will be the first time that remote access of a telescope will be provided free-of-charge to classrooms across an entire state,” says AnnaKate Twitty, public relations manager.

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Falvey and Executive Director William Calloway are both excited about the prospects.

“For a kid to know that he or she is controlling the instrument and seeing the images and then talking live to an astronomer — I mean, that’s really special,” Falvey says.

Calloway sees a big boost in accessibility.

“A lot of kids, schools and families around the state can’t afford to come to Columbia,” he says. “This is a way that we can reach out to those kids.”

In addition to providing a handson approach to getting South Carolina students more interested in science and technology, workforce development was also a big consideration when developing the educational aspects of the renovation project.

Boeing and NASA are both major contributors to the observatory. Boeing is a major South Carolina employer and NASA’s administrator Charles Bolden is a Columbia native.

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What a Place for a Party The museum is counting on rental space to be a major revenue generator, too.

The Planetarium Lobby, newly created meeting rooms and even the fourth floor Observatory and Terrace will be available for small dinners and receptions. The Cotton Mill Exchange museum store will be expanded.

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Fueling Imagination

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f you park in the front lot at the State Museum, it looks as if the moon has been captured and placed in a enormous crystal box.

The large sphere is the planetarium. The sight is captivating in itself, but it’s hard to get a feel as to how big the attraction is until you enter.

When you do, you are engulfed by a 55-foot dome-shaped screen; the theatre seats 145 people.

Imagine looking at the night sky when Sherman marched on Columbia in February of 1865: With the planetarium’s state-of-theart software, State Museum officials can recreate sky and

star positions up to 1 million years into the past or the future.

“It will be a great way for educators to tie in history with astronomy and science,” Public Relations Director Anna Kate Twitty says.

The museum’s partnership with NASA will allow students and visitors to see real-time spacecraft launches and interact with astronauts on the International Space Station.

But the planetarium is more than just an odyssey into space; the museum also plans to offer out-of-thisword laser light shows where people can rock out to music from bands like Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd.

Storytellers of South Carolina

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indows To New Worlds is slated to open to the public Saturday, Aug. 16. The museum staff expect to have more than 100,000 students visit the museum in the 201415 school year — an increase of 35 percent. School groups are admitted free.

There’s a lot of work that needs to be done before then, but nobody said adding a new chapter to South Carolina’s history would be easy.

An army of workers in hard hats and neon vests has stripped the old Cotton Mill building that houses the State Museum, uncovering original brick walls and hardwood floors dating back to the original 1893 building.

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artist’s rendering

The Windows to New Worlds Project marries the old with the new, creating a storyline.

“The State Museum is current, it’s competitive, it’s unique, but it’s also history,” says museum Executive Director William Calloway.

“We still are the storytellers of South Carolina, so this helps us tell our story in a different way. Through our films in the theaters, through our new exhibits, we can weave a wonderful story.”

For information on admission, hours of operation, exhibits and more, visit scmuseum.org.

Midlands’ Magazine for Smart Families

4D Theater: Can You Feel It?

M

useum Director William Calloway says he’s excited to see the reactions when people first experience 4D. What’s 4D? Anna Kate Twitty, public relations director, explains: “It combines a film experience with real-life sensations.”

Imagine a 3D movie tornado, but instead of just seeing it, you can feel the wind or the raindrops.

Condensed versions of popular flicks like The Polar Express and Ice Age

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will be shown. This is the only permanent 4D theater in the state.

When you combine all of the elements of the renovation project under one roof, Twitty says the museum will make history again.

“It will be the first of its kind in the U.S. to have an on-site and online observatory and classroom, a digital planetarium and theater, a 4D multi-sensory theater and an outdoor viewing terrace all in one place.”

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Back to School 2014

FAMILY FUN AT THE CMA

Passport to Art

Gladys’ Gang

Go Team!

Alphabet Animals

Come get your Passport to Art! This free drop-in program for families features a new hands-on art project each month.

After spending time in our open studios, explore our galleries at your own leisure or join us for the family tour at 1:00 p.m.

Held the second Sunday of the month from noon until 3:00 p.m.

Sunday, August 10

Falling Leaves

Sunday, September 14

Join us for this exciting series! Participants (ages 2-5) and their adult companions explore art through the introduction of elementary art terms such as color, line, shape and texture.

This free monthly program includes a gallery visit, story time, and a creative studio activity. Registration required as space is limited. Gladys’ Gang meets from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.

Wednesday, August 6

Home Team

Wednesday, September 3

Everyday Fun Especially for Kids The CMA’s interactive education gallery is a place for children to learn about fine art while they play in a fun, hands-on environment. The gallery features art supplies, a bean bag area for kids to read and dream, and even a space for parents to unwind. It is completely free to the public.

Plus, turn the entire Museum into an adventure with Art Explorer Backpacks.

Designed to encourage families to have fun in the galleries with interactive activities, each backpack includes a sketchbook with colored pencils, a pair of binoculars, a compass, and hands-on activities that relate to a theme.

Come and play with me at the CMA!

1515 Main Street in downtown Columbia, SC | 803.799.2810 | columbiamuseum.org

learning

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ometimes your kids hit it off with their teachers; sometimes they don’t. Every child learns differently and has different interests, whether those are music and art or math, science, architecture or astronomy. And then there are special situations — struggling learners or exemplary learners — where some additional help might be needed outside the classroom. Here are some resources to get you started.

• • • • •

Experiential Hands-On Learning Peaceful, non-competitive multi-age classrooms Unique blend of Montessori, Inquiry-based and Waldorf-inspired learning Provides a local and global awareness and an appreciation of the environment Nurturing environment that fosters creativity and a desire to learn

Call (803) 787-1899 for more information www.harmonyschoolsc.com

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Aim High Education

Be Great Academy

4561 Hardscrabble Rd., 788-6894 aimhigheducationsc.com

500 Gracern Road, 231-3100 portal.begreatacademy.com

Customized after-school education programs and tutoring.

After-school program operated by Boys and Girls Club of the Midlands.

The Afterschool Zone

Bright Start

theafterschoozoneacademy.com

720 Gracern Rd., 929-1112 brightstartsc.com

Offers afterschool pickup from Lexington/Richland 5 and Richland 1 schools.

Students engage in physical and educational activities.

Aspire Early Learning Academy 1103 B Ave. (West Columbia), 834-4976 aspireearlylearningacademy.com Pre-K program using the Creative Curriculum, a nationally approved curriculum based on the ideas of the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

Midlands’ Magazine for Smart Families

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Provides quality comprehensive services to all individuals with special needs and developmental delays.

Challenger Learning Center 2600A Barhamville Rd. 929-3951, thechallengercenter.net The Challenger Learning Center of Richland County School District One is an aeronautics- and space-themed learning program designed to provide interactive learning experiences, integrating science, technology, engi-

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Back to School 2014

neering and math curricula with 21st century life skills.

Covenant Christian Academy 3120 Covenant Rd., 787-0225 Infuses a Biblical worldview into academics, athletics and arts.

Head Start

My Amigos

1400 St. Andrews Rd., 898-2550

myamigosbec.org

A comprehensive school readiness program serving kids 0-5 that has a strong focus on ensuring that they start school ready to learn.

Language immersion programs for ages 30 months to 5th grade.

Pearson Professional Centers

Heathwood Hall

107 Westpark Blvd., 798-3001

Discovery Program of South Carolina

3000 S. Beltline Boulevard, 231-7710 heathwood.org

8807 Two Notch Rd., 419-0126 discoveryprogramsc.org

Offers a wide range of summer programs, from outdoors to athletics and academics.

Provost Academy South Carolina

Lango South Carolina

400 Arbor Lake Dr., 735-9110 sc.provostacademy

Noted as a program of excellence with the National Institute for Learning Development (NILD), the Discovery Program helps those struggling to learn — whether via learning disabilities or other learning disorders — to become independent students.

Glenforest School glenforest.org Works with K-12 students who have not thrived in traditional learning environments, including students with dyslexia, attention-deficit disorder or other developmental challenges.

facebook.com/langokidssc At Lango, your child will learn another language, make developmental strides, explore other cultures. At various Midlands locations.

reachgroup.org A support group for Columbia-area home schoolers; provides information and activities, offers information about academic résumés and transcripts.

Richland County First Steps 2008 Marion St., 256-7237 rcfirststeps.org Works with kids, parents, schools and childcare providers to promote health, literacy and school readiness in young children.

1921 Henderson St., 252-7002 thelanguagebuzz.com

Hammond Plus Programs 854 Galway Lane, 695-8624 hammondschool.org

Mathnasium

Back to School 2014

A tuition-free, online-only public high school. Live online classrooms give

REACH

The Language Buzz A unique foreign language learning center that promotes the early command of languages through language immersion, contextualized learning, and the learning and acceptance of different cultures.

In addition to being a top college-prep school, Hammond offers a wide array of after-school classes for children and adults.

Offers GMAT testing.

students the ability to includes the ability to participate in discussions and ask questions.

mathnasium.com Offers math help for students from grades 2 through 12.

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activities Shaking Up School Fundraising Does the Old Model of School Fundraising Still Work?

By Anne Postic

H

ow are your math skills? Decent? You probably have a teacher to thank, but teachers are not given nearly enough money to stock their classrooms, nor do many schools have enough funds to upgrade technology, buy sports uniforms or purchase supplies. How can they make up the difference? We need a formula for neighborhood fundraising.

Here goes: x (Pitch Quality) + y (How Well I Know the Kid’s Parents) + (How Many Times My Kids Have Sold to Them) — 2 (How Many Times the Parents Pretended Not to Be Home When My Kids Knocked) + 4 (How Underfunded the School Is) + (Cash on Hand — How Much I Need for Coffee or Whatever) — (The Age of the Kid, Since the Older the Kid, the Easier They Will Take Rejection) — .5 (How Unhealthy the Thing Is) + 0 (How Much I actually Need or Want the Thing) ÷ How Many Kids Will Be Knocking = z Z = how much you should spend, and x and y are on a scale of one to 10. Confused?

You should be, because the formula is needlessly complicated — just like school fundraising.

Be harsh when figuring x and y, because they play a major part in how much you have to fork over. A cute kid can’t always work a sales pitch, and one invitation last year for porch beers does not a best friend make. Ask yourself the hard questions: How would this kid do in a Disney audition?

Would her parents bring a casserole if my dog died? And do not fail to compute the last value — how much you need and want the thing — then multiply it by zero, because that’s exactly how much this element factors into your decision. See? Easy!

Many parents, rather than work the complicated equation, just write a check. Or sell the stuff themselves, leaning on grandparents, who are easily charmed, and office mates who have hit them up on behalf of their own underfunded offspring.

There’s another applicable formula. It’s simple, and it applies to most door-to-door selling fundraisers:

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New Ideas: Fundraising Without Child Labor • Community business partners • Sales of school spirit items • A coffee and doughnut kiosk at the school drop-off line.

Guaranteed cash.

x ÷ 2 = y, where x = the cost of the damn thing to you, and y = the money the school actually gets for each item.

That’s without factoring in the volunteer hours by willing parents, and the hours the kids spend peddling their wares. Would you rather pay $20 and get nothing, or $40 for eight chocolate bars that leave a film on the roof of your mouth that you have to brush twice to remove?

Motivating kids is daunting. Only a few crave new educational materials and, let’s be honest, most of them are selfish little pills who take everything for granted. They sell for the limo ride, the pizza party or the BMX bike.

My own kid, or so I thought, was motivated by something better.

“Mom!” he announced. “I’m going to sell a TON of cookies! I can win beets!”

I was impressed. The fundraising horror stories were lies. His school worked with local farmers to provide something useful and healthy to the most motivated sellers, and they had gotten them excited about beets.

I love beets, so I was more than willing to help.

Alas, the beets in question were not edible roots, but fancy headphones, produced

by Dr. Dre. My son did not win Beats, though he did get to go for pizza in a limo.

Prizes can be a powerful motivator, but what about the kids who don’t have as much access to suckers? Not every child has grandparents who can afford overpriced goods, or parents who can make up the difference. Some children don’t live in neighborhoods where going door to door is safe.

Not every student will feel like he or she did their part, and the prizes go to a select few.

There are also prizes for group efforts in the classroom. Elise Carson Mullins chaired

Midlands’ Magazine for Smart Families

• Box tops, y’all • Auctions of donated items, including artistic collaborations from each class, sure to end in a bidding war • Straight up cold calling parents and begging • An old-school bake sale, with cookies and coffee after dropoff. The parents even get to socialize for a few minutes.

• Exploit alumni. Know of a graduate in a popular local band?

Ask them to play a show to raise money for their alma mater.

fundraising for two schools. While there were kids whose parents didn’t allow them to participate, Mullins says, “I imagine those kids got pressure in their classroom from friends and maybe teachers.”

Should a 7-year-old be made to feel bad for not participating? No, but it happens.

While sales-based fundraisers succeeded, Mullins noted that reaching out to business partners in the community netted a lot of money for a lot less work. One successful fundraiser came about when a bank donated $3,000 to print school T-shirts, which the school then sold for $10 apiece.

Next time your kid comes home with an order sheet, be brave. Say no. Just don’t be surprised when you get the phone call from an enthusiastic parent asking you to join the PTO and offer some suggestions of your own.

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Back to School 2014

Want to give your child the best in a proven

Montessori School?

10 BENEFITS OF BECOMING A MELC STUDENT : 1.

Studying at a school with a proven track record of over 38 years of excellence.

2.

Montessori education, quality child care & a full arts program in one location.

3.

MELC is the largest, oldest and most established Montessori school in Columbia, South Carolina.

Founded July 15, 1976 MELC offers the full spectrum of the Montessori environment in the purest European tradition.

Parents enjoy top notch child care and access to our in house dance, music, art, drama, gymnastics, computer and foreign language classes. This saves our parents both time and money as their child’s art activities are completed before they are picked up from school.

Convenient operating hours to accommodate busy parents.

MELC is open 11 hours a day to fit any parents work schedule. We open at 7:30 a.m. Mon-Fri & close at 6:00 p.m.

4.

Becoming part of a five star school.

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A complete campus setting.

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An outstanding and all inclusive swim program.

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Spacious playgrounds.

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MELC DOES NOT ENDORSE COMMON CORE

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A professional office staff on hand full time to assist parents.

Our parents are what makes us great! Visit www.greatschools.net/cgi-bin/sc/private/1126 and read the many parent testimonials that have made us a 5 star school or see our testimonials page.

With a five acre campus, MELC is home to a splash pad and swimming pool, free standing library and 200 seat recital hall.

Our campus features a custom designed pool for children. The 20 x 50 foot in ground pool features a permanent roof to block out harmful UV rays, is heated with solar panels & has a salt filtration system rather than the harsh chlorine. There is no additional charge for swimming lessons

MELC has 4 different playgrounds totaling 3 and 1/2 acres. All play grounds are well equipped.

Over 70% of our students in 2014 tested into the prestigious Duke Univeristy TIP program. We teach our students to think, not to test.

MELC uses a telephone alert system should an emergency arise as well as e-mail alerts. Every parent gets a monthly newsletter and calendar the 3rd week of each month.

10. Convenient location.

Located within 3 blocks of I-26 and Greystone Blvd (Zoo exit) , we are easily accessible from all areas of Columbia

FREE month of arts classes to all new students Who register before August 31, 2014 when mentioning Free Times.

Back to school time is NOW & spaces are limited (for ages 3-12. Entry age 3).

Call 803.772.2262 or visit www.melcsota.com to view an online video and take the first step to schedule a tour today.

Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum 301 Gervais St., 737-8095 www.crr.sc.gov For more than a century, the Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum has collected and preserved the military history of this state.

Congaree National Park 776-4396, nps.gov/cong This 22,000-acre park boasts the largest old-growth, floodplain forest on the continent. It’s also an International Biosphere Reserve, a Globally Important Bird Area and a National Natural Landmark. Activities include hiking, boating, camping, canoeing, fishing, kayaking, nature walks and more. Located in Hopkins, 20 miles southeast of Columbia.

Cottle Strawberry Farm

activities

Columbia Arts Academy File photo

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ith the myriad options for children’s programming on television these days, it’s tempting to plop your kid down in front of the flat-screen to keep him or her occupied. But kids like to be active, and we know you dig that whole quality-time shebang.

So we have put together a select list of places where you and junior can play … and play together.

All4Fun Party Rental

Chuck E. Cheese’s

all4funbouncehouses.com Rents bounce houses and slides.

1775 Burning Tree Dr., 772-0435 chuckecheese.com The motto of the nationwide family entertainment center chain: Where a kid can be a kid. Often home to birthdays, play groups and school fundraising events, Chuck E. Cheese’s features games, rides, prizes, food and entertainment for all ages.

Art Smart Academy 732o Broad River Rd., 667-9912 artsmartacademy.com Walk-in pottery and painting, birthday parties and more.

Asheland Art Camp Tapp’s Arts Center: 1644 Main St., 738-2770 Offers camps in drawing, painting, printmaking and more.

Bouncerific 921 Longtown Rd., 865-7939 bouncerific.com No, Bouncerific isn’t a place to send your kid to learn to be a doorman; it’s an indoor party and play center for kids and families. Inflatable bouncers, slides, dress-up, games, more.

Capital Karate capitalkaratesc.com Develops character, discipline and focus as well as physical conditioning and skills.

Carolina CrossFit 1804 Blanding St., carolinacrossfit.com Offers kids’ Crossfit classes.

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City of Columbia Parks & Recreation columbiasc.net/parksandrec Family-friendly Columbia boasts 52 public parks where your wee ones can run and jump and skip and play, plus a host of community gardens, three swimming pools, one splash pad water park, and a public skate park. The city also offers a host of youth sports and outdoor environmental programs.

Colonial Life Arena

drums and year-round rock band classes. Has a Lexington location, too.

Columbia Children’s Theatre 3400 Forest Dr, 691-4548 columbiachildrenstheatre.com Professional theater company for young audiences and families.

Columbia Marionette Theatre 401 Laurel St., 252-7366 cmtpuppet.org Founded in 1988 by famed puppeteer Allie Scollon and her son John, the Columbia Marionette Theatre has established itself as a premiere children’s theater in South Carolina. Its mission is to entertain and educate children and adults through the long-standing tradition and artistry of puppetry.

Columbia Museum of Art

801 Lincoln St. coloniallifearena.com When Disney princesses and the Sesame Street gang come to Columbia, this is where they play.

1515 Main St., 799-2810 columbiamuseum.org Offers plenty of fun programming for kids, from Family Fun Days, Passport to Art and Gladys’ Gang to its summer camps and school programs.

Columbia Arts Academy

Columbia Tai Chi Center

787-0931, columbiaartsacademy.com The largest music school in the state of South Carolina, the Columbia Arts Academy boasts a large and qualified staff to train your kids in electric and acoustic guitar, voice, piano, bass,

2533 Trotter Rd., 695-1714 cottlestrawberryfarm.com This 30-plus-year-old strawberry farm tucked in southeast Columbia is open to the public every spring — usually from April through May, and sometimes into June. Mmm … freshly picked strawberries.

CrossFit Vista 1125 Lady St., 600-5134 warriorfitnesssc.com CrossFit Kids is a strength and conditioning program used by many athletic teams, martial arts schools and P.E. programs. A great way to address childhood inactivity and obesity. Also has a location in Blythewood.

Dreher Island State Recreation Park 3677 State Park Rd., 364-4152, southcarolinaparks.com Located 30 miles northwest of Columbia in Prosperity, the Dreher Island recreation area consists of three islands encompassing 12 miles of shoreline on Lake Murray. Especially popular for fishing and boating, Dreher Island also offers lakefront camping, cabin and villa rentals, water skiing and picnicking.

Drew Park Splash Pad 2101 Walker Solomon Way drewwellnesscenter.com Sure, there’s a playground, a jogging track and a gazebo, but you’re coming here to get wet in the gigantic spray pad and lighted fountain. (Many of the city’s public parks offer smaller spray pools, too.)

EdVenture Children’s Museum 211 Gervais St., 779-3100 edventure.org The South’s largest children’s museum, with more than 70,000 square feet of cool stuff to keep the kids occupied.

2910 Rosewood Dr., 873-2100 columbiataichicenter.com Help reduce stress and anxiety and boost energy.

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activities Frankie’s Fun Park 140 Parkridge Dr., 781-2342 frankiesfunpark.com This Harbison-area entertainment center packs three go-kart tracks, three 18-hole mini-golf courses, batting cages, bumper boats, an arcade, a 5,000-square foot multi-tiered laser tag arena and a super-tall drop zone that says “In your face, gravity!” into 14 acres filled with fun for all ages. What, do you hate fun or something?

Flying High Academy flyinghighacademysc.com Dance, tumbling, gymnastics and cheerleading programs.

Harbison State Forest 896-8890 state.sc.us/forest/refharb.htm If you didn’t know it was there, you’d never expect to find 2,177 acres of forest along the sprawling mess that is Broad River Road. But there it is — one of the largest public green spaces inside the city limits of a metropolitan area in the eastern United States. Features more than 16 miles of roads and trails (popular for biking) and a canoe landing.

Irmo-Chapin Recreation Commission icrc.net The Irmo-Chapin Recreation Commission offers kids sports, programs and activities at Crooked Creek Park, Saluda Shoals Park and Seven Oaks Park.

Laugh N Leap 647-960, laughnleap.com Need to buy or rent an inflatable bounce house, water slide, dunk tank or obstacle course? Laugh N Leap has you covered.

Lexington County Recreation Commission lcrac.com Offers youth sports, programs and activities at parks, playgrounds and activity centers in Lexington County.

Lexington County Soccer Club lexingtoncountysoccerclub.org Live in Lexington County? Think your kid’s the next Ronaldo? Sign him or her up with this club team, which offers playing options from recreational to elite traveling squads.

Lexington School of Music 711 E. Main St., 929-7867 lexingtonschoolofmusic.com Offers flexible schedules for lessons on guitar, voice, bass, piano and more.

803.748.0198 • 2911 Devine Street T-F: 10ish-6ish & S: 10ish-5ish • kdstreehouse.com

ECO-CHIC 100% ORGANIC COTTON CLOTHES, TOYS, GIFTS and GEAR

Little Gym 2005 N. Beltline Blvd., 738-1115 thelittlegym.com The Little Gym is an experiential learning and physical development center offering children’s physical activities

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centered on movement, music and learning.

Little Loggerheads Swim School littleloggerheads.net Offers morning, afternoon and evening swim lessons for children between the ages of 6 months and 6 years.

The Mad Platter 3101 Millwood Ave., 771-8080 mymadplatter.com Art, studies have shown, makes kids smarter. So take your tykes here, a paint-your-own pottery studio, where they can throw clay, paint plates and explore their creative sides.

Mad Science midlands.madscience.org Offers a wide variety of fun science programs at birthday parties, summer camps, pre-schools and more.

Monkey Joe’s 171 Newland Rd., 788-1102 monkeyjoes.com/columbia For kids, Monkey Joe’s offers a place to monkey around, with wall-to-wall inflatable slides, jumps, climbing walls and obstacle courses. And for parents, there’s comfortable seating, free Wi-Fi, concessions and sports on large, flatscreen TVs.

My Gym 110 Forum Dr., 788-1230 my-gym.com A non-competitive gymnastics and play center keeping children healthy by making fitness fun.

Owens Field Skate Park Jim Hamilton Blvd.

The 14,500-square-foot custom concrete park, when it opened in 2010, replaced a small skate park many local skaters considered bogus. Ramps, bowls, rails, more.

Palmetto Children’s Music palmettochildrensmusic.com Offers Music Together classes, an internationally recognized early childhood music and movement program for infants through 5-year-olds and the grownups who love them.

Palmetto Falls Waterpark 3381 Marion Ave., 751-3475 fortjacksonmwr.com/waterpark/ Tucked just inside of Fort Jackson’s Gate 2 entrance, Palmetto Falls Water Park offers a 10,000-square foot family pool, two water slides, a 600-square foot splashdown pool, a 2,500-square foot kiddie pool, a lazy river stretching 800 feet, and a snack bar. Open to the public Tuesdays through Fridays during the summer.

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activities The Patch 3807 Augusta Hwy., 359-3276 This Gilbert strawberry patch is open for picking during strawberry season, typically April through May.

Patchwork Playhouse 1508 Columbia College Dr., 333-0372, patchworkplayers-sc.com A long-running children’s theater featuring child-sized puppets and actors.

Plex Indoor Sports plexindoorsports.com There are two locations of this local indoor sports complex franchise: The Sandhills location, by the Village at Sandhill, offers indoor soccer, basketball courts and a skate park; the Irmo location, off the Peak exit on I-26, features an ice rink, an indoor soccer field and a remote-controlled car track.

Both locations offer summer camps, birthday party packages, after-school programs and youth sports.

Richland County Recreation Commission richlandcountyrecreation.com Offers youth sports, programs and activities at parks, playgrounds and activity centers in Richland County.

Riverbanks Zoo & Gardens 500 Wildlife Parkway 779-8717, riverbanks.org It’s a natural fact that kids love animals. And Riverbanks Zoo — one of the nation’s finest, according to TripAdvisor — offers plenty of ‘em, from elephants to gorillas to ibexes to an aquarium and reptile complex stocked with fish, frogs, lizards and more. Riverbanks also offers myriad educational programs, day camps, overnight adventures and other fun kids’ events.

Saluda Shoals Park 5605 Bush River Rd., 731-5208 icrc.net Situated on 270 acres downstream from the Lake Murray Dam, Saluda Shoals features a popular water park, an environmental education center, canoe trips, nature hikes, biking trails, fishing spots, picnic shelters, art exhibits, summer camps, health and wellness programs, meeting facilities and more. Good trout fishing, too, if your wee ones are into that.

Samurai Karate Studio samuraikaratestudio.net Offers classes for children and adults, as well as stranger-danger and antibully workshops.

mountain bike trail, a 1.9-mile nature trail, and a 3.5-mile walking and jogging trail.

South Carolina State Museum 301 Gervais St., 898-4921 scmuseum.org.

The South Carolina State Museum, named one of the top three museums in the Southeast by readers of Southern Living, offers a wide variety of kids programming, such as camp-ins, birthday parties, summer camps and living history re-enactments.

Talbot Swim School 792-7298, talbotswimschool.com.

Before you can run, you gotta walk, right? Well, before you go to the pool, you gotta learn to swim, and Talbot Swim School offers private lessons year-round. .

Topspin Racquet and Swim Club topspinsc.com Clay tennis courts in Lexington offering family clinics.

Trenholm Little League eteamz.com/trenholmbaseball Fun, intensive baseball league. Parents can choose clinics only or clinics and team play. Fall and spring seasons.

Trustus Theatre 520 Lady St., 254-9732, trustus.org Offers customized acting classes with individualized instruction.

U.S. National Whitewater Center 5000 Whitewater Center Pkwy., Charlotte, N.C., 704-391-3900, usnwc.org OK, so the U.S. National Whitewater Center isn’t in Columbia; it’s a little more than an hour north in Charlotte. But it’s worth the trip up I-77. Offers whitewater rafting and kayaking, flatwater kayaking, mountain biking, rock climbing, zip lines and more.

YMCA columbiaymca.org The YMCA in downtown Columbia was one of the first 50 Ys in the United States. It now has five branches — including locations in Northeast Columbia, Lexington, Irmo and Orangeburg — with which to provide childcare, camps and after-school programs.

Sesquicentennial State Park 9564 Two Notch Rd., 788-2706, www.southcarolinaparks.com This 1,419-acre park features a 30-acre lake surrounded by trails, picnic areas and campsites. Also offers boating, fishing, swimming, meeting facilities and trails. Trails include a 6.1-mile

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health The Great Vaccination Debate Public Health Officials Urge Compliance, But Some Parents Disagree

By Elizabeth Catanese

S

ummer’s almost over: Time to tear your house apart looking for your kids’ shot records to assure the school that, yes, little Jimmy has the required immunizations. It’s a basic public health measure — one which, while a general pain in the ass (or arm or leg), keeps all of us safe from polio, measles and diphtheria, and nine other diseases that terrified and afflicted our grandparents.

Or not.

While South Carolina currently requires immunization against 10 diseases (12 for day care), nearly 12,000 students were unvaccinated or had no proof of vaccination in the past school year. This doesn’t even count homeschooolers whose parents choose not to vaccinate — which studies suggest happens at a much higher rate than it does in the general population. And the trend is growing: Since 2009, the number of unvaccinated children in South Carolina public schools has increased by 50 percent.

It’s not like these diseases exist only in the dim past: Once near-eradicated, many communicable diseases are on the upswing.

In 1999, South Carolina saw only 26 cases of pertussis (whooping cough) but last year, there were 486 — some from an outbreak at Clemson Elementary School.

Measles, once nearly eradicated, is making a comeback. The Centers for Disease Control reported that through May, there have been 288 cases in the U.S. A 2013 measles outbreak in North Carolina led to 23 confirmed infections, along with 115

Facts about communicable diseases Vaccines required for students: 9 (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis B, chicken pox). Daycare attendance requires an additional two vaccines (Haemophilus influenze type B and pneumococcal).

SC Pertussis Cases in 2013: 210 127 in children under 18 SC Influenza Cases, 2013: 923 240 in children under 18 SC Chicken Pox Cases, 2013: 186 135 in children under 18

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quarantine orders. South Carolina has had no cases in recent years, according to the state Department of Health and Environmental Control. But the agency reports that in outbreaks around the U.S., “about 87 percent of the unvaccinated cases were found to have a personal-belief exemption to vaccinations.”

Knowing all this, who would deny their children protection?

Jennifer Reinhardt, a Columbia mother of two, speaks for many in the anti-vaccination movement when she says, “I don’t believe they’re effective and I’m alarmingly against the ingredients.”

Like many, she says most measles and pertussis cases occur among the vaccinated — a point the CDC refutes — and says that “every disease out there is less scary than the vaccine for it.”

The idea of her children contracting pertussis is scary, she says, but she’s not as concerned about the measles: “There was an episode of The Brady Bunch where they all had measles.”

Like other vaccine-refusing parents, she believes in strengthening the immune system naturally: eating organic, unprocessed foods, staying active, and using alternative medicines when necessary. She doesn’t worry about unvaccinated children attending public school, though she is choosing to homeschool.

Laura Stuck also refuses vaccinations for her 22-month-old daughter.

“The fear of side effects outweighs my fear of her catching the disease for a majority of them,” she says. She keeps her daughter healthy by staying

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home with her and limiting contact with people she calls “high-risk” like child care workers, medical professionals and frequent travelers.

“The most high-risk exposure she gets is the mall play area once a month or less, which is cleaned twice a day,” Stuck says. And like many vaccine refusers, she doesn’t feel that pharmaceutical companies are honest about shots’ side effects: “I think they definitely don’t tell the public the entire truth.”

Big Pharma hiding the truth about vaccines? Local medical professionals don’t buy it.

Dr. Elizabeth Boggs, obstetrician and mother to a 1-year-old boy, says she vaccinates her son because “the science behind it is sound, and I believe that I am an important part of public health.”

Jim Beasley, public information director for DHEC, agrees: “By vaccinating themselves and their children, they are doing everything they can to keep their family and communities healthy.”

Vaccine refusal, Boggs says, “creates a gap in public health… the fewer vaccinated people, the easier it is for vaccine-preventable diseases to spread.”

Another local mother of two, Claire Houle, points to other reasons to vaccinate. During a polio outbreak in the 1940s, she says, “my father was sent away for the summer to keep him from possible infection. He told me about waiting on the train platform alone, traveling by himself, but more afraid of polio than of being alone.”

Despite this, Houle believes that unvaccinated children should still be allowed in public school, because “inclusion is an important part of public ed.”

Dr. Boggs agrees — and despite her disagreement with vaccine deniers, she believes they have a right to public education.

Regardless of your stance on vaccination — or unvaccinated children in public schools — you’ve still got to produce some documentation before the school year starts.

For most parents, that means calling the doctor’s office to get shot records.

Of the state’s 742,325 students enrolled in K-12 public schools last year, 5,900 did not have complete evidence of vaccination, 1,487 children were medically exempted and 4,761 kids received a religious exemption. Religious or medical exemption forms can only be obtained at a public health office.

The state might let your kid avoid shots. But no way can they skip the paperwork.

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WE PRACTICE WE PRACTICE AFTER HOURS TOO! AFTER HOURS TOO! Midlands Orthopaedics knows that sports-related Midlands Orthopaedics thatThat’s sports-related injuries can happen almostknows any time. why our injuries and can happen anyclinics time. That’s why our OrthoPM Saturdayalmost morning are open when OrthoPM and Saturday morning clinics open young athletes oftenare need us when most. young athletes often need us most.

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or check-ups, vaccines, boosters and general wellness, you need a trusted family practitioner or pediatrician in your life. And there’s a lot more to staying healthy than just having a regular doctor. Here are some resources to get you started.

Ballentine Pediatrics

Child Care Services

City of Columbia Community Gardens

11134 Broad River Rd., 732-0920 ballentinepediatrics.com

scchildcare.org

columbiasc.net/communitygardens

An arm of the Department of Social Services, this childcare.sc.gov is an online hub with information on everything from child-care center licensing to Head Start programs. Also see related site scchildcare.org.

Five-by-12-foot publicly owned plots available for lease to residents and organizations. Cost is $20 per year.

Children’s Dental Group of South Carolina

cpcp.sph.sc.edu/cooking, 576-5636

Christian-oriented practice.

Ballentine Family Dentistry 3533 Dreher Shoals Rd., 732-3001

Camden Family Care

Healthy cooking classes for kids 9 and older and adults.

7210 K Broad River Rd., Irmo, 781-5141 childrensdentalgroupsc@gmail.com

1017 Fair St.,424-1260 camdenfamilycare.com

Children’s Dental Group of South Carolina is the fastest growing children’s dental office in Columbia, offering oral conscious sedation for a more pleasant dental experience. We gladly accept insurance and Medicaid for ages 1-21.

Carolina Children’s Dentistry 7701 Trenholm Rd., 736-6000 carolinachildrensdentistry.com

Columbia’s Cooking!

Colonial Family Practice 3930 Devine St., 256-1511 colonialfamilypractice.com Part of a Sumter-based practice group.

Creative Cooking

Serving children from toddlers to age 18.

Carolina Pediatrics Downtown: 2113 Adams Grove Rd., 256-0531 Irmo: 7033 St. Andrews Rd., 376-2838 carolinapediatrics.co

Carolina Teen Health carolinateenhealth.org Questions about sex and STDs answered in a teen-oriented format.

Chapin Family Practice

creativecookingsc.com

1612 Chapin Rd., 345-3414 chapinfamilypractice.com

Classes and camps for children ages 3 to 12.

Children’s Choice Pediatrics 6108 Garners Ferry Rd., 647-1265 childrenschoicepeds.com

Chrysostom Family Dentistry 3308 Platt Springs Rd., 350-9124 drdeno.com

Eat Smart Move More South Carolina eatsmartmovemoresc.org Offers events, live training and web training to assist local organizers in creating, managing and maintaining obesity prevention programs.

Ellis, Green & Jenkins Pediatric Dentistry 8905 Two Notch Rd., 788-9353 wecaredentalsc.com

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A Bite Out of Time • 15 robotic prehistoric creatures • Hands-on fossil dig • Remote-controllable dinosaur • Dinosaur puppet play station • Triceratops souvenir photo opportunity

3 0 1 G E RVA I S S T. , C O L U M B I A

RICHLAND COUNTY South Carolina

health

Medcare Urgent Care Center

Providence Northeast Family

110 Medical Cir., 509-7316 medcareurgentcare.com

114 Gateway Corporate Blvd., 788-6508 providence-nefc.com

Family Medicine Centers of South Carolina

Midlands Orthopedics

Rice Creek Family Dentistry

1910 Blanding St., 256-4107 midlandsortho.com

101 Rice Bent Way, 788-2676 ricecreekdmd.com

Open Saturday mornings, when young athletes often need help.

Safe Kids Midlands

Moore Orthopaedic Clinic

7 Richland Medical Park Dr., Suite 7186 safekidsmidlands.org

Downtown: 1910 Gregg St., 931-0100 Hardscrabble: 300 Rice Meadow Way, 227-7777 Irmo: 7611 St. Andrews Rd., 724-1100 Lexington: 3630 Sunset Blvd., 239-1600 Northeast: 1721 Horseshoe Dr., 788-7884 Southeast: 813 Leesburg Rd., 783-4433 fmcofsc.com Private family practice group.

Five Points Pediatric & Walk-in Care

Columbia: 14 Medical Park, 227-8000 Columbia: 114 Gateway Corp., 227-8000 Lexington: 104 Saluda Pointe Dr., 227-8000 moorecenter.net

1228 Harden St., 748-7002, ecchc.org

Northeast Children’s Dentistry

Part of the Eau Claire Cooperative Health Centers.

147 Summit Cir., 865-1421 northeastchildrensdentistry.com

Gee Family & Cosmetic Dentistry 1701 St. Julian Place, 254-6763 advanceddentistrycolumbia.com

Dedicated to decreasing the number of injuries to children. Offers information on safe car-seat practices, product recalls, safety with household products and more.

Smile Columbia 690A Columbiana Dr., 781-9090 smilecolumbia.com

Palmetto Health

South Carolina Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy

palmettohealth.org

teenpregnancysc.org

Super-friendly, family owned practice led by Dr. Nicholas Gee.

A frequent contender for Best Hospital in Free Times’ Best of Columbia poll.

Provides information and resources for teens, parents, educators and community organizations.

Girls on the Run

Palmetto Health Children’s Hospital

South Carolina Dental Center

gotrcolumbia.org

7 Richland Medical Park Dr. ch.palmettohealth.org

2020 Laurel St., 254-4543 southcarolinadentalcenter.com

A state-of-the-art children’s hospital with comfortable family-centered spaces, age-appropriate play areas and therapeutic diversions to help reduce stress and encourage healing.

South Lake Family Dental

Palmetto Health Family Medicine Practices

Sterling Sharpe Pediatric Center

Inspires pre-teen girls to be joyful, healthy and confident through a fun curriculum that creatively integrates running.

Hutchinson Family Dentistry 209 W. Main St., 359-0566 hutchinsonfamilydentistry.com

Kids First Dental

Harbison: 190 Parkridge Dr., 407-3857 Irmo: 190 Parkridge Dr., 749-0693 Lakeview: 1316 N. Lake Dr., 358-1191 Northeast: 115 Blarney Dr., 736-6262 South Hampton: 5900 Garners Ferry Rd., 695-5450 Twelve Mile Creek: 4711 Sunset Blvd., 356-3609 University: 4311 Hardscrabble Rd., 419-6334 palmettohealth.org

2700 Broad River Rd., 772-4949 kidsfirstdentalsc.com

The Kids Group 206 Medical Cir., 796-9200 thekidsgroup.com

Family practice wing of Palmetto Health.

Kool Smiles 5422 Forest Dr., 753-8064 mykoolsmiles.com

Palmetto Pediatric & Adolescent Clinic

Lake Murray Pediatric Dentistry 740 Old Lexington Hwy., 345-2483 lakemurraypediatricdentistry.com

Lakeside Pediatrics

Downtown: 140 Park Central, 779-4001 Harbison: 16 Woodcross Dr., 732-0140 Lexington: 1970 Augusta Hwy., 358-2370 Northeast: 74 Polo Rd., 788-4886 Rice Creek: 300 Rice Meadow Way, 788-6360 palmettopediatric.com Affiliated with Richland, Baptist, Palmetto Richland Children’s and Lexington Hospitals.

811 W. Main St., Suite 205 (Lexington) lakesidepediatric.com Led by Dr. Douglas Luberoff; part of the Lexington Medical Center network.

Lexington Family Practice

1223 S. Lake Dr., 520-5580 southlakedmd.com

4605 Monticello Rd., 252-7001 ecchc.org Part of the Eau Claire Cooperative Health Centers.

Teen Talk palmettohealth.org/teentalk, 296-2273 Offers numerous resources for teens, including Teen Talk newsletter, peer-to-peer discussions and an askan-expert program.

USC Family Medicine Center 3209 Colonial Blvd., 434-6113 familymedicine.med.sc.edu Offers complete care for children and adults with a focus on prevention.

USC Sports Medicine Center Two Medical Park, Suite 104, 434-6812 uscsportsmedicine.com Open to athletes at all levels — recreational to high school, college and professional.

Palmetto Smiles 139 Whiteford Way, 951-9100, palmetto-smiles.com

Vista Smiles 515 Richland St., 779-9666 vistasmilesofcolumbia.com

lexmednetwork.org

Pediatric After Hours Care

The Lexington Family Practice network is an umbrella group of the Lexington Medical Center.

114 Gateway Corporate Blvd., 865-4900 Open 6-10 p.m., Mon-Fri; 2-8 p.m., Sat-Sun.

Offers full range of family dental services with advancing technology in a welcoming environment.

Lexington Medical Center

Providence Hospitals

Wellspring Family Medicine

lexmed.com

Downtown: 2435 Forest Dr. Northeast: 120 Gateway Corporate Blvd. providencehospitals.com

114 Gateway Corporate Blvd., 865-9655 wellspringfmed.com

Another of Columbia’s top-flight hospital systems.

Wild Smiles

A frequent winner of Best Hospital in Free Times’ Best of Columbia poll.

Dr. Samuel J. Marsh Pediatric Dentistry

203 N. Lake Dr., 356-1606, wildsmiles.net

2302 Bush River Rd., 798-8675 wemakekidssmile.com

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Friday, August 8 ~ 5:30-8pm A Celebration for Rising Kindergarteners and Their Families at EdVenture Children’s Museum

Learn How to Safely Board a School Bus Resources for Parents on Keeping Kids Safe and Healthy Free Dental Screenings | Games | Museum Exploration

Free Admission! Free Fun!

Countdown to Kindergarten provides parents with an opportunity to connect with representatives from school districts, state agencies and community organizations to learn about available educational, health and community resources. Let the countdown begin!

Presented by

Sponsored by

211 Gervais Street | Columbia, SC www.edventure.org

Center for Piano StudieS

Piano Lessons

Classes for all ages and levels Beginner to advanced-level students learn in a combination of private lessons and group classes.

Tamara Stockton, DDS

Ruges F. Stockton, DDS

registration open now!

More info at www.sc.edu/music/cms/piano

MOST INSURANCE PLANS ACCEPTED Hours: M-Th 9a – 6p Fri 9a – 5p www.StocktonFamilySmiles.com

life Fostering a Sense of Wonder Whether It’s Staring into Space or Playing in the Dirt, Kids Need Creative Space

By Kara Meador

L

ooking up at the stars from the rocky terrain outside her Western New York home fascinated a young Cass Runyon.

“I was always curious about why the stars are there,” recalls Runyon, now a college professor and director of the South Carolina Space Consortium. “How did the moon form? Is it the same as the Earth?”

She can trace her love of science to a camping trip with her family where she listened to the Apollo moon landing on the radio.

“I couldn’t see it on TV, but I could visualize what they were describing,” she says.

“Hearing Neil Armstrong saying he’d taken his first steps. I was bitten after that.”

Inspiration. Where does it come from?

How do kids decide what they want to be when they grow up?

“Kids get inspired by so many things,” says Bridget Miller, an assistant professor of early childhood science education at the University of South Carolina.

“I’m watching a little boy and a little girl digging in the dirt right now,” she says.

It’s a common scene, but Miller sees more. She says that when you watch kids play, you see their creative juices flowing; you see how they think creatively and gain confidence.

Then, adults step in.

Parents, teachers and coaches want to help, but sometimes wind up doing more harm than good. As adults, we want to make sure kids do it right, do it better, win.

Let’s face it: As parents, we don’t want to see our children fail. That’s when we start failing our children, according to the experts.

“That’s one of the most difficult things to teach my students,” Miller says. “They want to step in and help the children out — and I say let the children draw their own conclusions. More often when a child is left to finish a project, it is a better design or more efficient than when an adult finishes it for them.”

Exposure is Key Runyon and Miller agree that somewhere around middle school, a child’s inherent creative instincts start to wane. It’s the time when science and math can take a backseat

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to socialization. Runyon says it’s also the time where standardized testing becomes a big deal to teachers, parents and kids who are trying to make the grade.

“The way our educational system is set up can restrict a child’s ability to be creative,” she notes.

Poverty also plays a role in how kids are inspired. Kids whose families don’t have a lot of resources often lack the ability to expose their children to opportunities. Some kids simply don’t know that certain paths exist.

Runyon is working with Tom Falvey, education director at the South Carolina State Museum, in an effort to expose kids from all walks of life to science and technology through the museum’s newly created Windows to New Worlds project (see page 8). Windows to New Worlds, slated to open to the public Aug. 16, includes distance-learning opportunities. Kids who live in rural communities will be able to dial into the State Museum’s new telescope through special software and a computer.

Some students will even be able to talk with astronauts working on the International Space Station.

Columbia has a number of inspirational natives that kids can look up to, Falvey says. “We have Nobel Prize winners right here in Columbia [Kary B. Mullis – 1993 Nobel Prize in Chemistry] and we have folks like astronaut and NASA administrator Charles Bolden [a Co-

Midlands’ Magazine for Smart Families

lumbia native] — great heroes who do great things. So it’s not out of anyone’s reach and I think that there’s an opportunity to come and see something magical. I know it’s inspired a lot of people in the past and that’s what our goal is.”

Runyon recalls visiting with students in South Carolina’s poor, rural schools known as the “Corridor of Shame.”

“I tell them to keep the dream alive,” she says. “It’s an old cliché, but it’s so true. I tell kids to find their dream and keep it alive.

Don’t give up on yourself.“

What Can You Do? How can you foster your kid’s creative juices and help shape him or her into a person who loves to learn?

Miller says let kids be kids. It’s OK to let your little Spidey wear his costume grocery shopping, or to let your princess make mud pies. Experts advise encouraging kids to create in their own way and if they fail (gasp), chalk that up as a valuable learning experience, too.

Oh, and if you work in an interesting field, look for opportunities to share your experiences in area preschools and local school districts. You never know who you may end up inspiring.

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after school activities InfiNext Education Solutions

MTM: Mentoring Thru Muszick

803.361.3072 infinexted.com

803.569.8613 derrick.washington71@yahoo.com

Tutoring, academic coaching, standardized test prep, and adult and continuing education.

Mentoring and tutoring to advance education, life skills and knowledge of all aspects of the music industry.

Lake Murray After School Academy

Sylvan Learning

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sylvanlearning.com

Innovative and state of the art after school program designed to develop the total child. Educational tutoring, life skills development, nutrition and fitness instruction and more.

Personal learning plans in reading, math, SAT and ACT, homework support and Advanced Study Skills. We can accommodate busy family schedules and offer flexible payment plans. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Start now.

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Cannot combine with other offers or discounts or prior registration. Exp. 9/29/14.

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Back to School 2014

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MTM

Mentoring Thru Muszick

803-261-0124

10071 Broad River Rd Suite C, Irmo LakeMurrayAfterSchoolAcademy.com

Midlands’ Magazine for Smart Families

MTM After School Program Offers: • • •

Teachings of All Aspects of the Music Business Mentoring and Life Skills Support Educational Tutoring

Phone: 803.569.8613 Email: derrick.washington71@yahoo.com

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life

Lake Murray Counseling Center 7511 St. Andrews Rd., 781-1003 lakemurraycounseling.com Offering counseling for children’s and adolescent issues.

Leadership Institute at Columbia College columbiacollegesc.edu/ leadership_inst/ Girls Empowered and LEAD residential programs.

Lexington-Richland Anti-Drug Abuse Council Lexington County: 1068 S. Lake Dr., 726-9400 Richland County: 2711 Colonial Dr., 726-9300 lradac.org Alcohol and drug abuse authority offering a wide array of prevention, intervention and treatment programs, including child and adolescent programs.

Mental Health America of South Carolina 1823 Gadsden St., 779-5363 mha-sc.org Assists those with mental illnesses and their families through education and advocacy.

NAMI Mid Carolina 1823 Gadsden St., 20-2916 namimidcarolina.org Local chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

Palmetto Counseling Associates 1911 Gadsden St., 254-9767 palmettocounseling.com

L

ife is full of tough questions. Is your 4-year-old ready for a sleepover?

Should your 12-year-old be on Snapchat? How do you talk to your 16-year-old about sexting? Teach your children well, or so the song says — and here’s how you can help them learn how to live.

ASY Counseling Services

Children’s Chance

1825 St. Julian Pl., 254-1210 asycounseling.com

609 Sims Ave., 254-5996 childrenschance.org

Providing quality mental health services to children and families in the Columbia area.

Children’s Chance’s mission is to improve the quality of life of children and families who are dealing with the trauma of pediatric cancer.

Behavior Consulting Services 3227 Sunset Blvd. behaviorconsultingservices.com Serves children with a variety of special needs, including autism spectrum disorders, behavioral difficulties and academic difficulties.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Columbia bbbs.org Oldest and largest youth mentoring organization in the United States. Serves children ages 6 through 18.

Boys & Girls Club of the Midlands bgcmidland.org Formed in 1959, operates 31 clubs, eight summer camps and a teen center serving youth and families from Fairfield, Lexington and Richland Counties.

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Children’s Trust of SC 1634 Main St., 733-5430 scchildren.org Aims to promote healthy, nurturing relationships between children and adults — because strengthening families is the best way to prevent abuse, neglect and unintentional injuries.

Christian Counseling Center 1500 Lady St., 779-1995 christiancounseling.ws Offers counseling on a variety of topics; also offers spiritual and religious counseling. Offered by First Presbyterian Church.

Columbia Counseling Center

Crossroads Counseling Center 130 Whiteford Way, 808-1800 solutionsforlife.org Counseling for adults, adolescents, children and marriages.

Family Connection of South Carolina 2712 Middleburg Dr., 252-0914 familyconnectionsc.org Statewide organization of parents helping parents of children with disabilities, developmental delays, and chronic illnesses.

Family Service Center of South Carolina 2712 Middleburg Dr., 733-5450 fsconline.wordpress.com A multi-service non-profit agency offering adoption services, consumer credit counseling, child dental clinics, an eye care clinic and more.

900 St. Andrews Rd., 731-4708 columbiacounseling.accountsupport.com

SC Childcare scchildcare.org, childcare.sc.gov Clearinghouse of information on childcare licensing and childhood development programs.

South Carolina Youth Advocate Program 140 Stoneridge Dr., Ste. 350, 779-5500, scyap.com Nonprofit child-placing agency offering training, support and compensation to qualified families who provide a home to a foster child.

Three Rivers Behavioral Health West Columbia: 200 Ermine Rd., 791-9918 West Columbia: 2900 Sunset Blvd., 796-9911 threeriversbehavioral.org Provides comprehensive residential treatment for children and adolescents providing treatment for psychiatric and chemical dependency related illnesses.

University of South Carolina Speech and Hearing Research Center 1601 St. Julian Pl., 77-2614, sph.sc.edu/shc/

A Christian perspective on counseling.

Midlands’ Magazine for Smart Families

Holistic approach emphasizes not only psychology, but also social, physical and spiritual well-being.

Provides a variety of evaluation and treatment programs for individuals of all ages.

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coMMunity Music schooL

Music for your life Private and group instruction for all ages and levels

Piano . voice . strings . guitar . woodwinds brass . Percussion . Music theory For newborns through retirement age, we offer one of the best and most diverse music study programs in the area.

registration open now!

More info at www.sc.edu/music/cms

p u g n i v r e S ! n u f y l i m a F

Calendar

Passport to Art: Go Team!

Columbia Museum of Art columbiamuseum.org Aug. 10. Inspired by the exhibit Cheer for the Home Team. Boost your team spirit and create your own masterpiece using team colors.

Jubilee Festival of Heritage Mann-Simons Cottage historiccolumbia.org Aug. 23. Features hands-on demonstrations from skilled artists and craftsmen and vendors with African-influenced and traditional merchandise.

Music ranges from African drumming to R&B, jazz and gospel.

September Gladys Gang: Alphabet Animals Columbia Museum of Art columbiamuseum.org Sept. 3. Explore the exhibition, Cheer for the Home Team! Animal Mascots in the Collection and make your very own mascot with construction paper.

The Frog Princess South Carolina State Museum presents Dinosaurs: A Bite Out of Time

ONGOING

Lowes Build and Grow

Blooming Butterflies EdVenture Children’s Museum edventure.org Through Oct. 6. A 2,500-square-foot enclosed habitat designed to showcase the lifespan of over 20 species of butterflies.

Parents’ Survival Night

Dinosaurs: A Bite Out of Time South Carolina State Museum scmuseum.org Ongoing exhibition strives to intrigue kiddies with robotic dinosaurs — as well as other creatures that lived during the same prehistoric time period. $15; $13 seniors: $11 children 3-12. Tickets include general museum admission.

Discounts offered for members.

Dinosaurs: Land of Fire and Ice EdVenture Children’s Museum edventure.org Through Sept. 14. View landscapes from the Cretaceous Period and touchable dinosaurs of all shapes and sizes. Children can wear insect costumes while buzzing through volcanoes and swamps, learning about different ecosystems along the way.

EdVenture Family Night EdVenture Children’s Museum edventure.org Second Tuesdays. $1 museum admission between 5 and 8 p.m.

Gladys’ Gang Columbia Museum of Art columbiamuseum.org Free monthly program includes story time and creative studio activity.

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lowesbuildandgrow.com Through Aug. 23. Begins at 10 a.m. on select Saturdays. Children build small toys from their favorite movies using provided material. First clinic features Toothless from How to Train your Dragon. Call a nearby location for details.

family

The Little Gym tlgcolumbiasc.com Select Fridays and Saturdays. Parents call it a break from the kids. Kids call it a break from their parents. That sounds like a win-win situation.

Passport to Art Columbia Museum of Art columbiamuseum.org Second Sundays from noon to 3 p.m.

Free open-studio program for families with activities corresponding with one of the museum’s exhibitions.

Puss in Boots Columbia Marionette Theater cmtpuppet.org Through Aug. 9. Get out of there, cat!

You do not need shoes! Columbia’s favorite child-focused puppeteers take on the tale of the feline with the famous footwear.

Toddler Tuesdays EdVenture Children’s Museum edventure.org Every Tuesday from 10 to 11 a.m. for children 12 months to 5 years old.

Some activities include arts & crafts, easel painting and playing in the sandbox. Free with admission or membership.

August Build a Mini-Crate Pencil Holder Home Depot workshops.homedepot.com Aug. 2. Free hands-on workshop for kids ages 5-12. Build a miniature pencil holder to, you know, hold your pencils.

Gladys Gang: Alphabet Animals Columbia Museum of Art columbiamuseum.org Aug. 6. Kids will get inspiration from picture book author Anita Lobel’s exhibition, All the World’s a Stage, then head back to the studios to create part of their own picture book.

Countdown to Kindergarten Edventure Children’s Museum edventure.org Aug. 8. Hey, going to school can be scary. Countdown to Kindergarten proves to kids — and their parents — that it doesn’t have to be.

Back to School Movie Night Crooked Creek Park icrc.net Aug. 9. If your kid’s excited about going back to school, bring him or her here for a reward. If your kid isn’t, bring him or her here for consolation. Screening Frozen.

Southeastern Toy Soldier Show South Carolina State Museum scmuseum.org Aug. 9. Look at toy soldiers. Buy toy soldiers. Trade toy soldiers. Free with museum admission.

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Columbia Marionette Theater cmtpuppet.org Opens Sept. 13. Princess runs away from home. Princess finds a frog, who says he’s a prince. Princess kisses frog, hoping he’ll turn back into a prince. But — twist! — she turns into a frog, too.

Hilarity ensues.

The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley Columbia Children’s Theatre columbiachildrenstheatre.com Sept. 20-29. Flat Stanley is flat, travels the world in a whirlwind musical.

October Soggy Doggy Day Saluda Shoals Park icrc.net Oct. 4. Bring your canine companion out to cool off on Saluda Splash.

South Carolina State Fair South Carolina State Fairgrounds scstatefair.org Oct. 8-19. Find your happy — whether it’s looking at the exhibitions, riding the rides or eating the food. Offers discounted family packs.

Boo at the Zoo Riverbanks Zoo riverbanks.org Oct. 17-30. The zoo’s annual Halloween spooktacular offers a trick-or-treat trail, moonlight magic, a spooky safari, a haunted carousel and more. (It’s not that scary. We promise.)

Br’er Rabbit Columbia Children’s Theatre columbiachildrenstheatre.com Oct. 18-20. Br’er Rabbit ain’t no Peter Cottontail. The NiA Company presents this folktale adaptation of a rabbit who tries to outsmart, outslick and outdance the bigger, stronger animals in the forest.

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Celebrating 10 years of magic!

MainStage Productions

YouTheatre Productions

ENROLLING NOW Ages 2 and up • Multiple Skill Levels

How I Became a Pirate Sep. 19-28, 2014

Jazz • Ballet • Tap • Hip Hop • Clogging Musical Theater • Contemporary

Jack Frost Dec. 5-14, 2014

The Trial of the Big, Bad Wolf Oct. 24-26, 2014

For Class Schedules & More Info go to SteppingOutSC.com or call 803.526.7766 5175 Sunset Blvd. Ste E Lexington, SC 29072 under new ownership

Bunnicula Feb. 20 - Mar. 1, 2015 Skippyjon Jones in Cirque de Olé Apr. 10-19, 2015 Br’er Rabbit Jun. 12-21, 2015

Guys & Dolls Jr. Nov. 13-16, 2014 Winnie the Pooh Kids Feb. 6-8, 2015 Hairspray Jr. Mar. 19-22, 2015 Surprise Summer Show Jul. 31- Aug. 1, 2015

Join us for our biggest season yet!

Purchase season memberships & flex passes at columbiachildrenstheatre.com.

A Year with Frog and Toad

Classes Begin August 11

family finance

Walking the Responsibility Tightrope

Is Traditional College Right for Everyone?

The Balancing Act Between Retirement and College

By Heather Green

B

eing a parent means putting your kids first. Right? This can certainly be said for the many Americans who are sacrificing their own retirement in order to fund their kid’s higher education. Is forfeiting a sustainable retirement worth saving our children from student loan debt? Is it possible to have both?

According to the Social Security Administration, most Americans believe that winning the lottery is the best retirement savings strategy. With college costs rising 40 percent since 2004, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, a class in financial literacy might be a better investment. That’s especially true when we consider a 2014 survey by the Employee Benefit Research Institute that found 43 percent of Americans believe that they will not have enough money to comfortably retire.

Ellan Jenkinson understands these challenges first hand. She and her husband have three children ranging from 2 to 17, with their eldest, Lily, going off to college in the fall. They admit that they are not as financially prepared as they had hoped.

“Honestly, we haven’t been able to save much at all for any of our kids’ college since we’re still paying off our own student loans,” Jenkinson says. Money has been the deciding factor when looking at higher education options.

The Jenkinsons are definitely not alone.

Anita McCray says she was not able to put large amounts of money away for her two boys because of mortgages and debt. On the up side, she and her husband are trying to build up their retirement savings. Her eldest son recently graduated from the University of South Carolina, where in-state tuition tops $10,000, and McCray admits that the reason he went there was because he received a substantial scholarship.

Lily’s picks were also based on finances and scholarships. Spending her junior and senior years at the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities gave her an edge since the staff places em-

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phasis on finding grants and scholarships.

Lily says she never thought about saving money for college until her senior year but plans on saving some of the money she’s earning this summer for college expenses.

How far in advance should parents save for both college and retirement? Katherine Stewart, a financial services specialist for Palmetto Citizens Federal Credit Union, advises that it is never too early to begin saving.

“Whether it’s for retirement, college, or just a rainy day fund, beginning to save early allows you to benefit from compound earnings,” she says.

Georgia Coleman is doing just that. She and her husband started a Future Scholars 529 plan, a state-sponsored investment where savings grow tax-free and are limited to education expenses, around their son’s first Christmas. Like the Jenkinsons, Coleman is paying off her own student loans so there is not much money in her son’s Future Scholar account yet.

“Right now, we feel it is wiser for us to concentrate on saving for retirement and paying off debt,” she says.

Jenkinson and McCray also share this savings strategy. When asked if any of them had ever thought about cashing out 401ks or retirement accounts to pay for college, all three families said no.

“Never — you can borrow money to attend school, but you cannot borrow money to live on in retirement,” McCray says.

Stewart advises against digging into retirement accounts to pay for college. Fees and penalties are expensive and there are smarter alternatives such as financial aid, scholarships, grants, and loans.

Midlands’ Magazine for Smart Families

In 2013, the National Center for Education Statistics reported 15.7 million students attending four-year institutions and 13.8 million in two-year colleges.

Before you make life-changing decisions about financing college, make sure you consider whether it’s the right option.

Advantages of two-year schools • Less expensive • Industry-focused • Enter workforce earlier • Specialized, hands-on training • Flexible for nontraditional students • Can be a springboard to a four-year school

Advantages of four-year schools • Higher median earnings • Increased lifetime earning potential • Increased job opportunities • Increased exposure to life experiences To many of us, sustainable retirement seems like a dream — something that we have all heard about, seen others’ achieve, but do not think is realistically possible. Due to increases in life expectancy, not only are we living longer, but our retirement age is increasing. The Social Security Administration suggests that Social Security only replaces 40 percent of your average income and retirees will need 70 percent or more of pre-retirement earnings for retirement.

So how do we achieve a balance? While there is no one-size-fits-all solution, Stewart says retirement should take priority over college savings and recommends speaking with a financial adviser about options.

“There’s something to be said for making your own way in the world,” Coleman says.

“I think my husband and I value what we have more because we put ourselves through school and worked for every bit of it. As far as retirement, it is like putting your own oxygen mask on before your child’s.”

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Host an Outdoor Movie Night at your home, neighborhood pool, or just about anywhere! Provide the space and Fun Flicks will provide the show!

16´ Movie Screen Packages Great for crowds up to 150 Starting at $299 21´ Movie Screen Packages Great for crowds up to 400 Starting at $599

Fun Flicks Outdoor Movies of Columbia 803.739.1531 or 803.665.7620 www.funflicks.com

Give advice. Get advice.

Free Times Family presents

family faves

It’s your guide to what parents have to say about their favorite places to go and things to do when it comes to kid-friendly restaurants, whole-family activities, programs for kids, pediatricians, dentists and much more.

We’re inviting readers like you to tell us about your favorites, and later this year we’ll share the results of what we hear.

Everyone who participates in this quick and easy survey will be eligible in a drawing for a $100 gift card and a complete painting party for 10 people at Studio Cellar!

So go to freettimesfamily.com today and give us a piece of your mind.

media Music & DVD Reviews

By Kevin Oliver

Secret Agent 23 Skidoo The Perfect Quirk

Underground Playground Records

Raffi Love Bug Rounder Records Several generations of children have grown up with the artist known as Raffi.

From my experience as a young parent myself, I saw his “Baby Beluga” permanently imprinted in my family’s brains. He has been active and popular as a children’s musician for nearly four decades. Love Bug is his first album of original material in more than 10 years, but he’s hardly forgotten how to entertain and enthrall his tiny listeners.

Raffi is totally focused on his target audience, children. Like Captain Kangaroo or Mr. Rogers, that means he’ll probably not appeal that much to mom and dad. But the kids will be fascinated and fully engaged from the moment he starts singing. Raffi’s songs are rendered in a gentle acoustic folk style that’s melodic but not overpowering for little ears; he sounds like a big kid himself most of the time.

With 16 new songs here, there is something for everyone to enjoy, from the ‘do what your parents tell you’ tune “Mama Loves It,” which makes a great clean-up-time song, to the mellow reggae groove of “Cool Down Reggae,” a perfect one to put on when it’s time to wind down and relax.

Raffi’s place as a perennial children’s favorite is secure, and this collection will serve to introduce his music to yet another new generation of young listeners.

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Too many children’s music albums tend to be music about kids instead of for them, but North Carolina hip-hop children’s musician Secret Agent 23 Skidoo understands how to make music that’s inclusive and appealing to children without talking over their heads.

His musical vehicle of choice is a blend of hip-hop and funk that allows for calland-response vocals with a batch of kids — among them his daughter, dubbed MC Fireworks. Those additions come out most prominently on “3 Pointed Back,” an indictment of the popular kid activity of pointing at others with your finger (“Every time you do that you have three pointed back”). It is set to a scratch track and trap drums straight out of a Jurassic 5 album. Other guests include Craig Griffith from The Verve Pipe, who adds blues harmonica to the classic child fantasy of “PJ’s All Day,” and Recess Monkey’s Jack Forman as a vintage boxing announcer on the story-rap “Pillowfight Pillowfort.”

Skidoo’s hip-hop is unusual for ‘kid-hop’ in that it doesn’t sound forced or fake; he leans old school (think Sugarhill Gang or Kool Moe Dee) and throws in some rhythmic variety in the form of polka, reggae and Motown-style tunes that will have kids and parents bobbing their heads to the beats.

Midlands’ Magazine for Smart Families

Wild Kratts Tiny Trouble DVD, PBS Kids With STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) subjects being the buzzword for primary educators these days, a series like PBS’ The Wild Kratts is a great way for kids to be exposed to science, biology and more in an entertaining format. The series follows Martin and Chris Kratt, scientists who are a combination of Marlin Perkins of Wild Kingdom and “Crocodile Hunter” Steve Irwin, but they have an advantage neither of those TV stars could have imagined — their Creature Power Suits allow them to get up close and personal with their animal friends.

There’s a bumbling bad guy to provide conflict and storylines in which the Kratts use their suits to help save the animals from various fates. Some “hey, watch this” moments from the Kratts provide comic relief, but underneath everything are strong lessons about how animals use science in their own natural lives. This short DVD collects two episodes of the series for about an hour’s worth of educational entertainment.

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media Books

Number One Sam Greg Pizzoli Disney/Hyperion Books, 36 pages, $16.99 Ages: Pre-school

Retro-inspired illustrations and a great story make this title a winner. Sam is No. 1 at everything when it comes to racing. So on the day of the big race, no one is more surprised than Sam when he loses. Pizzoli does a beautiful job exploring what it feels like to lose and the pressure to win. Readers also get a chance to see Sam discover what’s more important than winning. A great book to share, this title might strike an extra chord with children focused on perfection or winning.

— Heather McCue, Richland Library

The Lost Boy Greg Ruth Scholastic/Graphix, 189 pages, $24.99 Ages: Tweens

When I saw this new graphic novel appear on our shelves, I had to take it home.

I finished it in one sitting because I couldn’t wait to solve the mystery of Walter Pidgin, the lost boy. The story actually begins years later with Nate discovering Walter’s tape recorder under the floorboards of his new house. As Nate listens to Walter’s story, a world beyond the one that he knows is revealed — a world where insects ride dogs, dolls come to life and a growing evil resides. It soon becomes clear that Nate and his neighbor, Tabitha, must discover what happened to Walter and save the world as

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they know it. Tweens and teens are sure to devour this gripping graphic novel.

The only problem is that it will leave you wanting to know what happens to Nate, Tabitha and the rest of their new friends.

— Heather McCue, Richland Library

Wolf Children: Ame & Yuki Mamoru Hosoda and Yuu (illustrator) Yen Press, 528 pages, $26 Ages: 13 and up

This graphic novel, an adaptation of the animé film Wolf Children, tells the tale of Hana, a young woman in college who falls for a man who is secretly a werewolf.

They marry and have children, but soon into their happy union, the father is killed in an accident, leaving Hana to raise two werewolf children without a clue as to what they need. The story switches between the perspectives of Hana and her children, showing how growing pains for one family member affect the others. This is ultimately a sweet story that encourages family ties while acknowledging the gulf, whether natural or supernatural, that separates generations.

— Thomas Maluck, Richland Library

These Broken Stars Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner Disney/Hyperion, 384 pages, $17.99 Ages: 13 and up

Tarver share their story of survival, hope, and love through alternating chapters as they navigate the empty terrain and uncover the eerie mystery that lies beneath the planet’s surface. Fast paced and beautifully written, These Broken Stars will leave you eager for more.

— Brittany Crowley, Richland Library

After their luxury space ship falls from hyperspace, two survivors find themselves stranded on a deserted planet. Lilac and

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Midlands’ Magazine for Smart Families

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media can travel to faraway lands via video field trips. There’s also a parental dashboard where parents can track their child’s reading progress. While you can try this app for free, there is a subscription cost for unlimited access: $9.99 per month or $29.99 for six months. Books and videos are added weekly and there are hundreds of books just waiting to be explored. — Heather Green, Richland Library

Apps for Kids Endless Numbers Originator Inc. ($4.99), Android and iOS Ages: 3-5 The adorable monsters of Endless Alphabet return in this fun early math skills app. Ride along on the ferris wheel as the monsters guide you through numbers, counting and simple addition. Tapping the numbered cars on the wheel leads children through activities that teach number recognition, basic addition and counting by twos,

fours, fives, etc. The activities are highly intuitive and don’t pressure users to come up with correct answers, so children are able to navigate the app easily and at their own pace. Each number is made engaging with a combination of fun voices and fantastic artwork. Silly animations that link with each number, like the six-armed monster doing a wiggly disco dance, are sure to provide plenty of giggles. — Sarah Cameron, Richland Library

Sparklefish Reading Rainbow RRKidz Inc., Free to try, $9.99 monthly subscription, iOS and Kindle (expansion to Android planned) Ages: 3-9 Want to introduce the world of Reading Rainbow to your own kids? Hosted by LeVar Burton, this app received Common Sense Media’s 2014 ON for Learning Award.

Children can choose books based on their interests and

Whosagoodboy Partners (Free), iOS and Nook tablet Ages: all Sparklefish is mad libs with a twist: say a noun, verb or adjective into your device and the app records your additions, inserts them into a pre-recorded narrative, and plays back the recording complete with participants’ contributions! Both educational and hilarious, this game can be played as a group or solo. — Jessica Gemmill, Richland Library

ADD SOME CLARITY TO YOUR DAY WITH ORGANIC RED TEA

Diana Hardy (910) 224-8307 LAIenterprises.llc@gmail.com

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Manifest 1563 Broad River Rd., 798-2606 From music and games to T-shirts of rock, pop and hip-hop artists, Manifest is always looking out for the latest youth trends.

Papa Jazz Record Shoppe 2014 Greene St., 256-0095 Has your kid been humming Led Zeppelin lately? It might be time to introduce him or her to the wonders of used vinyl.

Rainy Day Pal Books 711 E. Main St., 951-2780 Located on the bottom floor of Lexington’s historic Old Mill, Rainy Day Pal Used Books is known for its wide selection, and it specializes in children’s books.

Richland Library

media

Y

our kids are surrounded by media — everything from Snapchat, video games and the Internet to traditional media such as books, magazines, comics and movies. It’s your job to help them navigate this ever-shifting landscape, taking the best of what’s out there and avoiding excesses. Visit medialit.org for helpful media literacy resources.

Main Branch: 1431 Assembly St., 799-9084 Ballentine: 1321 Dutch Fork Rd., 781-5026 Blythewood: 218 McNulty Rd., 691-9806.

Cooper: 5317 N. Trenholm Rd., 787-3462 Eastover: 608 Main St., 353-8584 North Main: 5306 N. Main St., 754-7734 Northeast: 7490 Parklane Rd., 736-6575 Sandhills: 1 Summit Pkwy., 699-9230 Southeast: 7421 Garners Ferry Rd., 776-0855 St. Andrews: 2916 Broad River Rd., 772-6675 Wheatley: 931 Woodrow St., 799-5873 myrcpl.com.

Like the library system across the river, the 11-branch Richland County Public Library system stocks tons of books for kids, but will also help your child understand them, too. Offers classes, book clubs, homework help, kids’ events and much more. Also check out its Teen Center.

Rolling Video Games rollingvideogamescolumbia.com Rolling Video Games delivers what it promises: a mobile video game theater stocked with the latest titles available for birthday parties, bar mitzvahs, whatever.

Barnes & Noble

Gamestop

Forest Acres: 3400 Forest Dr., 787-5600 barnesandnoble.com

gamestop.com When coupled with strong parental and teacher involvement, educational video games can actually improve literacy skills, while other games can improve hand-eye coordination, memory formation and strategic planning. So if junior is doing well in school, it might not hurt to let him have Minecraft.

Silver City Comics

Heroes and Dragons 510 Bush River Rd., 731-4376 Like video games, comic books, too, provide benefits, stimulating the imagination and creativity. So don’t toss your kids’ Avengers comics.

1430 Senate St., statelibrary.sc.gov The South Carolina State Library is home to the South Carolina Center for the Book, which co-sponsor adult and adolescent literary events, such as the South Carolina Book Festival, the State Library Read-In, Letters About Literature, and many workshops.

Lexington County Library

Thomas Lee Hall Library

Main Branch: 5440 Augusta Rd., 785-2600 Batesburg-Leesville: 203 Armory St., 532-9223 Cayce-West Columbia: 1500 Augusta Rd., 794-6791 Chapin: 129 NW Columbia Ave., 345-5479 Gaston: 214 S. Main St., 791-3208 Gilbert-Summit: 405 Broad St., 785-5387 Irmo: 6251 St. Andrews Rd., 798-7880 Pelion: 206 Pine St., 785-3272 Swansea: 199 N. Lawrence Ave., 785-3519 South Congaree: 200 Sunset Dr., 785-3050 lex.lib.sc.us

4679 Lee Rd., 751-5589 fortjacksonmwr.com/library Military kids don’t have to go off-post to find a great library.

The mega-chain bookstore stocks tons of reading material for kids, sure, but it also hosts kid-friendly events — storytimes, games, etc. — too.

The Book Dispensary 710 Gracern Rd.,798-4739 mybookdispensary.com The best books, often, are ones that have been treasured and cared for, and Columbia’s oldest specializes in pre-loved books.

Books-A-Million Lexington: 918 North Lake Dr., 951-3674 Northeast: 164 Forum Dr., 788-4349 booksamillion.com The mega-chain bookstore stocks tons of reading material for kids, sure, but it also hosts kid-friendly events and a teen book club.

Ed’s Editions 406 Meeting St., 791-8002 edseditions.com This family-owned bookstore carries a wide variety of used books and is a nigh-yearly winner in the Free Times Best of Columbia awards.

Back to School 2014

freetimesfamily.com

538 Knox Abbott Dr., 791-4021 Remember what we said about Heroes and Dragons?

Ditto for Silver City.

South Carolina State Library

Books are invaluable to a child’s development. The 10-branch Lexington County Library system stocks tons of books for kids, but will also help your child understand them, too. Offers classes, book clubs, homework help, kids’ events and much more.

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Midlands’ Magazine for Smart Families

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