FT Parent Fall 2013

Midlands’ Magazine for Smart Families

fall 2013

Getting Back Into the Rhythm of School Planner or Procrastinator?

How to Get Your Kids Transitioned Back to School

activities

health

Extracurricular: A Balancing Act

The Meals, They Are A-Changing

life

family finance

Social Media: Yes or No Moms Are Making for Your Teen?

Stay-At-Home Work

A better way of building for your today, and their tomorrow.

essexhomes.net/ebuilt

ARE YOU LISTENING? www.WMHK.com A ministry of Columbia International University

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contents Published by Resorts Media

cover story 18 Getting Back Into the Rhythm of School

activities

life

8 Extracurricular Activities: A Balancing Act 10 Listings

26 Social Media: Yes or No for Your Teen?

28 Listings

health

family finance

14 The Meals, They Are A-Changing 16 Listings

30 Moms are Making Stay-at-Home Work

calendar

religion & spirituality

22 Events and Programming

learning

24 Creating a Path for an IT Career from Elementary through College 25 Listings

32 Spiritual Fitness: When Winning Isn’t the Only Thing

media

34 Music and DVD Reviews 35 Book & App Reviews 36 Listings

1534 Main Street, Columbia, SC 29201 (803) 765.0707 free-times.com EDITORIAL EDITOR: Dan Cook, editor@free-times.com | ext. 133 MANAGING EDITOR: Laura Haight LISTINGS EDITOR: Patrick Wall CONTRIBUTORS: Allison Caldwell, Heather Green, Rachel Kuhnle, Kevin Oliver, Anne Wolfe Postic, Amanda Ladymon-Stockard, Katie Alice Walker, Rodney Welch

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resorts media Charlie Nutt, Publisher

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activities

Extracurricular Activities: A Balancing Act A Guide to Choosing What’s Best for Your Child

By Allison Caldwell

B

ack to school season is here. Whether you’re jumping for joy or wishing summer could last forever — or maybe a little of both — the start of a new school year typically marks the start of a delicate balancing act for most parents. From toddlers to teens, how best to manage various extracurricular activities seems to be a constant struggle. If you’re already feeling overwhelmed, take heart (and keep reading). There’s plenty of good guidance to go around.

do when shuffling kids to various activities that, at such a young age, they might not appreciate just yet.”

“With our kids growing up, we only allowed them to play one sport per year,” says Donna Thornton, whose three children are grown and in their 20s now. “As they got older, they usually worked a part-time job after school and on weekends. All three were either valedictorian or salutatorian of their graduating class, which we’re very proud of. I’m glad they were more interested in working than playing sports as they got older. They’ve all turned out to be hard working adults.”

“Rule of thumb: routines are meant to be just that — routine, without a speck of inconsistency,” says Tara Helms. “Routines become habits. Habits can be broken. Balance is key. Always expect the unexpected.”

When it comes to advice on parenting, or life in general, that’s about as good as it gets.

Advice from the Pros (and Cons) Team sports, dance, drama, special interest clubs and other pursuits can boost a kid’s self-esteem, fitness, social and cognitive skills. For older teens, active participation also looks great on a college application. But take a moment to honestly assess: are you raising an anxious overachiever, a laid-back adapter or an undecided someone in the middle? Are these activities a way to discover and unlock your child’s true potential, or simply a way to keep them busy?

No matter what activities your children pursue, beware of vicarious parenting and overscheduling. Kids of all ages (and their parents, for that matter) need unstructured time, too. The family budget and a manageable schedule must be considered as well — these activities cost time and money, and often require a good deal of parental involvement and support. Just remember: the best activity depends on each individual child, and striking the perfect balance takes time.

A Parent’s Perspective “We allow one child to pick one thing a year to concentrate on, or we do short-term sports that typically run six weeks or so,” says Judy Yacoviello, a local mom with four kids under the age of 10. “Our kids are still pretty young and don’t really know what their interests are yet. Our 5-year-old daughter will say she wants to do gymnastics one day, and soccer the next.

“On the other hand, our daughter who is 9 thought she loved cheerleading, until she did it for six weeks,” says Yacoviello. “We feel it’s good to keep our kids active and learning, but there also has to be a balance of teaching and family time. That’s hard to

Choosing the Right Activity for Your Child So many choices, so little time. Before signing up for the same sports team or gymnastics class as everyone else, include your child in exploring a wider range of “free time” opportunities.

Volunteer. Animal shelters, nursing

homes, libraries, museums and other nonprofit organizations rely on community support to survive, and volunteerism plays an important part. Many offer age-appropriate opportunities that will help develop a sense of compassion and civic responsibility in young volunteers. Search the web for inspiring stories of kids who make positive contributions to their communities.

Join a Community. Scout clubs, 4-H clubs, youth choirs or orchestras, and more — being part of a like-minded group connects kids to others, develops leadership skills and provides a sense of shared purpose. Check with your school, local library, other parents or just browse the web for ideas.

Get a Job. Don’t underestimate the potential of young entrepreneurs. It’s never too soon to start developing a strong work ethic by teaching your kids the value of a dollar. Brainstorm with them on how to make (and invest) money doing something they enjoy, and don’t forget to discuss charitable giving as well. Talk About Giving, an initiative of the Central Carolina Community Foundation, can help (TalkAboutGiving.org).

health

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activities

sessions to its summer camps and school programs.

Columbia Tai Chi columbiataichicenter.com Located on Rosewood Drive, offers martial arts, fitness, health and meditation classes for all levels.

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’s 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.

Columbia Marionette Theatre. Photo by Austin Price

W

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.

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

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.

Bouncerific

City of Columbia Parks & Recreation

Art Smart Academy

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 Ballet carolinaballet.net Pre-professional dance company founded in 1988 by South Carolina dance legend Ann Brodie.

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

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 — baseball, basketball, football, golf, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, volleyball — and outdoor environmental programs.

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

Columbia Arts Academy 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, drums and year-round rock band classes.

Columbia Blowfish 254-3474, blowfishbaseball.com Take ‘em out to the ballgame: During the summer months, Capital City Stadium hosts the Columbia Blowfish, which play in the Coastal Plain League, a collegiate wood-bat summer league. And, yes: They sell peanuts and Crackerjack.

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

Columbia Marionette Theatre

Cottle Strawberry Farm 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.

Cross Fit 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.

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.

Drew Park Splash Pad

Columbia Museum of Art

EdVenture Children’s Museum

1515 Main St., 799-2810 columbiamuseum.org Offers plenty of fun programming for kids, from its Passport to Art semimonthly open studio program to its weekly Wee Wednesday art exploration

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.)

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.

12 activities Frankie’s Fun Park

Irmo-Chapin Recreation Commission

Little Gym

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?

icrc.net

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

Flying High Academy flyinghighacademysc.com

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.

Dance, tumbling, gymnastics and cheerleading programs.

Lexington County Recreation Commission

Girls on the Run

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

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

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.

Lexington County Soccer Club lexingtoncountysoccerclub.org Live in Lexington Country? 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.

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 — Music Together is an internationally recognized early childhood music and movement program for infants through five-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

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!

bucklebuddiessc.org

bucklebuddiessc@gmail.com

803.434.2955

activities foot kiddie pool, a lazy river stretching 800 feet, and a snack bar. Open to the public Tuesdays through Fridays during the summer.

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 an remotecontrolled 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.

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Riverbanks Zoo & Gardens

Sesquicentennial State Park

Trenholm Little League

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 are more. Riverbanks also offers myriad educational programs, day camps, overnight adventures and other fun kids’ events.

9564 Two Notch Rd., 788-2706, www.southcarolinaparks.com This 1,419-acre park features a 30acre lake surrounded by trails, picnic areas and campsites. Also offers boating, fishing, swimming, meeting facilities and trails. Trails include a 6.1-mile mountain bike trail, a 1.9-mile nature trail, and a 3.5-mile walking and jogging trail.

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

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 conducting strangerdanger and anti-bully workshops.

U.S. National Whitewater Center

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.

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: An official Olympic Training Site for whitewater slalom racing, the nonprofit U.S. National Whitewater Center is a huge outdoor adventure and environmental education center dedicated to promoting healthy and active lifestyles and developing environmental stewardship. Offers whitewater rafting and kayaking, flatwater kayaking, mountain biking, rock climbing, zip lines and more.

Talbot Swim School

YMCA

South Carolina State Museum

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.

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.

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health

The Meals, They Are A-Changing

Be a Healthy Role Model

Healthier School Lunches, and Tips for Healthier Eating at Home

When it comes to healthy eating, parents are the most important influence on their children. Cook together, eat together and make mealtime a family time. Here are some tips for setting a good example:

by Allison Caldwell

A

dam Sandler’s lunch lady wouldn’t know what to do with herself in today’s school cafeteria. Sloppy joes, french fries and sodas are out; baked entrees, fresh produce and flavored waters are in.

Parents in South Carolina will see some big changes in school menus this fall including more vegetables, fruits, baked foods and local produce instead of industrial sizes of canned goods.

Next on the menu: Eliminating junk food in school vending machines. Championed

by First Lady Michelle Obama, it’s all part of a nationwide effort to raise a healthier generation of children. In today’s fast-paced, fast-food world, some parents need all the help they can get.

Schooling Students on Health and Nutrition “Only four of our schools still have deep fryers; everything is baked now,” says Todd A. Bedenbaugh, director of Student Nutrition for School District Five of Lexington and Richmond counties. “We’ve added more salads, and menus will change again next year to include even more fruits and vegetables.”

“In some cases students aren’t eating as much of these healthier items just yet, but things will even out over time,”he says.

“We’re educating younger kids and getting them to try new things. It won’t be long before these healthier menu items are the norm instead of something new.”

Bedenbaugh says his district — already in compliance with the 2012 federal regulations — has been progressive in the pursuit of higher nutritional standards and education for its students and is working to get

healthier vending machine items by 2014.

“We’ve made a big push to buy more local produce, and are working with our food distributor to purchase locally grown squash, collards, peaches and more,” Bedenbaugh says. The district is also working with the Culinary Institute at USC to train cafeteria staff and has applied for a grant to start more school gardens.

Pleasing Picky Eaters — Don’t Give Up! Now that schools are getting on board, how can parents reinforce healthy eating habits at home? If your child’s diet consists mainly of mac and cheese, chicken nuggets and things wrapped in cellophane, you definitely have your work cut out for you. But the effort, and the future long-term health of your family, is worth it.

Charlotte-area 100 Days of Real Food blogger and speaker Lisa Leake is proof it can be done. In 2010, she says she had never read an ingredient label, bought anything organic (at least not on purpose) or stepped foot in a farmers’ market — and had no idea she was doing anything wrong.

“After reading In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan, I felt like our eating habits needed a serious overhaul,” says Leake.

“At the time, I struggled to find resources to help me understand exactly how to apply Pollan’s principals to our everyday lives.

Shortly thereafter, my real food blog was born. What better way to convince others to cut out processed food with us than to give them everything they need to successfully make it happen?”

Even if you’re only taking baby steps towards better family nutrition, Leake’s website (100DaysofRealFood.com) is a great source of recipes, meal plans and ideas, shopping lists, kitchen tools and more. There’s even a link dedicated to school lunches (http://goo.gl/eeHWo).

“Winning over your picky eater is no easy task, but it can be done!” says Leake, whose own children are 6 and 8. “It takes time for one’s palette to adjust to new tastes, so don’t be discouraged if you experience some failed attempts at first.”

“Start by switching out the refined and processed ingredients in meals they love for

Go food shopping together. Grocery shopping can teach kids about food and nutrition. Read labels together and let them make healthy choices.

Get creative in the kitchen. Cut food into fun and easy shapes with cookie cutters. Encourage kids to invent new healthy snacks.

Offer the same foods for everyone.

Stop making different dishes to please picky eaters. It’s easier to plan family meals when everyone eats the same foods.

Reward with attention, not food.

Show your love with hugs, kisses, and quality time instead of sweets.

Focus on each other at the table.

Talk about fun and happy things at mealtime. Turn off the TV and cell phones.

Limit screen time. Allow no more than two hours a day of TV or computer games. Get up and move during commercials.

Encourage physical activity. Make physical activity fun for the whole family, and involve your kids in the planning.

Be a good role model. Try new foods yourself, and describe the taste, texture and smell. Offer one new food at a time, and serve something your child likes along with the new food you want them to try.

Source: LetsMove.gov, USDA Toolkit for Parents.

healthier ones,” she says, “such as whole wheat macaroni and cheese, homemade chicken nuggets, whole wheat pizza, pancakes and more.”

“There’s a sweet spot between not giving up too easily and not pushing them too hard.

It takes a lot of patience. I offered my youngest daughter green bell peppers two or three dozen times before one day she decided she liked them. Persistence is key, so don’t give up!”

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

Kids First Dental 2700 Broad River Rd., 772-4949 kidsfirstdentalsc.com

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

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

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

Lakeside Pediatrics 811 W. Main St., Suite 205 (Lexington) lakesidepediatric.com Led by Dr. Douglas Luberoff; part of the Lexington Medical Center network. hub with information on everything from

nizations. Cost is $20 per year.

I

f your kid has a legitimate emergency, you take him or her to the emergency room. If your kid has a bad case of the sniffles, you go to an urgent care facility. But for check-ups, vaccines, boosters and general wellness, you’ll need a family practitioner or pediatrician. Here’s a list to help get you started, along with a list of dentists, orthopedists and other health-related resources to keep your kids fit as fiddles.

Advanced Dentistry Columbia 1701 St. Julian Place, 254-6763 advanceddentistrycolumbia.com Super-friendly, family owned practice led by Drs. Nicholas and George Gee.

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

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

Camden Family Care 1017 Fair St.,424-1260 camdenfamilycare.com

Capital Children’s Dental Center 655 St. Andrews Rd., 252-7775

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

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

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

Child Care Services childcare.sc.gov An arm of the Department of Social Services, this childcare.sc.gov is an online

child-care center licensing to Head Start programs. Also see related site scchildcare.org.

Chapin Family Practice

Columbia’s Cooking! cpcp.sph.sc.edu/cooking, 576-5636 Healthy cooking classes for kids 9 and older and adults.

1612 Chapin Rd., 345-3414

Colonial Family Practice

Children’s Choice Pediatrics

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

6108 Garners Ferry Rd., 647-1265 childrenschoicepeds.com

Chrysostom Family Dentistry

Creative Cooking

3308 Platt Springs Rd., 350-9124 drdeno.com

creativecookingsc.com Classes and camps for children ages 3 to 12.

City of Columbia Community Gardens

Eat Smart Move More South Carolina

columbiasc.net/communitygardens Five-by-12-foot publicly owned plots available for lease to residents and orga-

Children’s Dental Group of South Carolina 7210 K Broad River Rd., Irmo, 781-5141 childrensdentalgroupsc @gmail.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.

SPONSORED

Lexington Family Practice Ballentine: 1846 Dutch Fork Rd., 781-3843, lfp.lexmednetwork.org Irmo: 7037 St. Andrews Rd., 732-0963 Lake Murray: 2006 Augusta Hwy., 7854747, lfplakemurray.lexmednetwork.org Lake Ridge: 557 Columbia Ave., lakeridge.lexmednetwork.org Lexington: 122 Powell Dr., 957-0780 Northeast: 76 Polo Rd., 699-7255, lfpnortheast.lexmednetwork.org Sandhills: 811 W. Main St., 358-6420, sfm.lexmednetwork.org Spring Valley: 229 Longtown Rd., 419-4949, svfp.lexmednetwork.org West Columbia: 3314 Platt Spring Rd., 791-3494, lfpwestcolumbia.lexmednetwork.org White Knoll: 5535 Platt Spring Rd., 9511880, lfpwhiteknoll.lexmednetwork.org The Lexington Family Practice network is an umbrella group of the Lexington Medical Center.

Lexington Medical Center 2720 Sunset Blvd., 791-2000, lexmed.com A frequent winner of Best Hospital in Free Times’ Best of Columbia poll.

eatsmartmovemoresc.org

Dr. Samuel J. Marsh Pediatric Dentistry

Offers events, live training and web training to assist local organizers in creating, managing and maintaining obesity prevention programs.

Medcare Urgent Care Center

Family Medicine Centers of South Carolina 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 1228 Harden St., 748-7002, ecchc.org Part of the Eau Claire Cooperative Health Centers.

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

110 Medical Cir., 509-7316 medcareurgentcare.com

Midlands Orthopedics 1910 Blanding St., 256-4107 midlandsortho.com

Milestones Pediatrics 120 Wildewood Park Dr., 788-7882

Moore Orthopaedic Clinic Columbia: 14 Medical Park, 227-8000 Columbia: 114 Gateway Corp., 227-8000 Lexington: 104 Saluda Pointe Dr., 227-8000

health Northeast Children’s Dentistry 147 Summit Cir., 865-1421 northeastchildrensdentistry.com

Palmetto Health palmettohealth.org A frequent runner-up for Best Hospital in Free Times’ Best of Columbia poll.

Palmetto Health Children’s Hospital 7 Richland Medical Park Dr. ch.palmettohealth.org 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.

Palmetto Health Family Medicine Practices 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 Family practice wing of Palmetto Health.

Palmetto Pediatric & Adolescent Clinic 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 Affiliated with Richland, Baptist, Palmetto Richland Children’s and Lexington Hospitals.

Palmetto Smiles

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

Pediatric Dentistry 8905 Two Notch Rd., 788-9353 wecaredentalsc.com

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

Safe Kids Midlands 7 Richland Medical Park Dr., Suite 7186 safekidsmidlands.org Dedicated to decreasing the number of injuries to children. Offers information on safe car-seat practices, product recalls, safety with household products and more.

South Carolina Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy teenpregnancysc.org Provides information and resources for teens, parents, educators and community organizations.

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

Another of Columbia’s top-flight hospital systems.

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.

Vista Smiles

2020 Laurel St., 254-4543 southcarolinadentalcenter.com

515 Richland St., 779-9666 vistasmilesofcolumbia.com Offers full range of family dental services with advancing technology in a welcoming environment.

South Lake Family Dental

Wellspring Family Medicine

South Carolina Dental Center

Providence Hospitals

300 Long Pointe Ln., 462-7193 providencehospitals.com

Teen Talk

101 Rice Bent Way, 788-2676, ricecreekdmd.com

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

Pediatric After Hours Care

Providence Northeast Family

Rice Creek Family Dentistry

Smile Columbia

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

17

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

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

Sterling Sharpe Pediatric Center

Wild Smiles

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

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

Pregnant with your rst baby?

Let us help.

What is Nurse‐Family Partnership?

Nurse‐Family Partnership is a free, voluntary program for rst‐�me moms. The program provides the enrolled moms with a nurse star�ng in pregnancy and con�nuing un�l the baby is 2 years old.

Who is eligible?

Any woman who is pregnant with her rst child, meets income requirements and lives in Lexington or Richland coun�es. We encourage moms to enroll as early in pregnancy as possible.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL: (803) 576‐2746

18

cover story

Getting Back Into the Rhythm of School Planner or Procrastinator? How to Get Your Kids Transitioned Back to School

By Anne Postic

A

new school year is beginning and it’s time to start getting the kids — and yourself — ready. Or is it? Do you plan ahead or wait until the last minute? Rest assured, there are pros and cons to both methods. What kind of parent are you, Peter Planner or Last-Minute Linda?

School Supplies If you’re a planner, you’ve already been to the school’s website to download the list of necessary supplies for each child, or you

opened, read and saved the letter you got from your child’s teacher for the upcoming year. School supplies will be easy to find, because the shelves will be stocked. Make sure you remind your kids to thank you for helping them get organized.

If you’re a procrastinator, you’ll have to use your diplomatic skills to talk your kids into what’s left. No, they won’t be able to have their favorite color notebook, or the exact pencil case they wanted, but you’ll let them decorate their stuff with stickers to make up for the loss. Do make sure you cover the basics, so they don’t get in trouble on the first day of school. But feel free to remind them that they could have asked you to take them shopping earlier. They’re never too young to learn personal responsibility.

Tip: Office supply stores can be better for last minute shopping, because most people start with bigger stores like Target.

Bedtime Ideally, kids will start going to bed earlier a week or two before school starts, to get them used to the new schedule. They’ve been

staying up a little later for a few months, enjoying time with family and friends, but you don’t want to send them to school tired, because it’s important to start the year by making a good impression.

But maybe you want to enjoy every last bit of summer, and can’t resist a few more after-dinner walks to the neighborhood ice cream shop for cones. At the very least, prep them a few days ahead, even if they only go to bed a half hour earlier. Let them know that they may have a tough transition week, but they’ll still need to perform at school.

Once again, you will remind them that they need to accept responsibility for their own actions.

Tip: Make sure you can keep your kid’s room dark, which makes it easier to fall asleep. Also, consider taking away all electronic toys after dinner, or at least an hour or two before bed.

Food Summer meals may have been less organized. When everyone wants to stay at the beach a while longer, dinner can be postponed. The beginning of the school year requires structure, including meal planning.

Your meal times will be more regular and you may want to spend some time before school starts figuring out how lunches will be made. A few days before school, stock up on nutritious, bag-friendly foods. If your children are old enough, they can have a trial run, making their own lunches and learning to include the necessities. When is old enough? Some kids are packing their own lunches in fourth grade; others are still counting on mom to do it in 10th grade; that’s your call, but self-sufficiency can’t be a bad thing, can it?

And if you wait until the last minute? No, your child will not get the hottest new character lunch box (but something else will be cool by October, so no worries there). And there’s nothing wrong with throwing together a last-minute lunch, including leftover pretzels from your pool bag, a late summer peach and a sandwich you picked up readymade at the grocery store minutes before school. The worse the lunch, the sooner your kid will learn to make her own.

Tip: Spend some time talking nutrition with your kids and helping them construct balanced meals.

19

REAL ESTATE

INCORPORATED

20

cover story

Wardrobe Back to school shopping conjures up memories — both good and bad — for most of us. Assessing what your child needs by combing through the closet and getting rid of what doesn’t fit is a great way to declutter. Once you know what’s missing, you can

Getting Ready to Add Homework to Your Routine Most parents admit that making kids do homework is one of their least favorite tasks. Here are few tips to make it easier. n Set up a dedicated space in your home for school work. Make sure your child can be free of distractions, including television and siblings. n Have a summer routine that includes some reading time. Taking a break to read is a great way to cool down and it will get them used to the idea of working each day. n Follow your child’s progress, either by communicating directly with teachers or signing up to have your child’s assignments and grades emailed to you on a regular basis. Most schools offer this service now. n Don’t complain about your own work on a regular basis. Children copy what they see and hear. n Let them take breaks. A lot of writers (this one included) make themselves write a certain number of words to earn a break. Figure out what works for your child. n Help your child learn to budget his or her time by checking in with them about what’s due and when.

make a budget together and go shopping for school-appropriate clothing. One of the best life skills you can teach your kids is how to budget.

If you just aren’t ready to hit the stores, make sure you have a few outfits ready to get through the first week. After all, swimwear isn’t really appropriate for the classroom. (Full disclosure: My own sons have worn swim trunks to school. But they looked like shorts. I swear!) Kids’ style can change based on what their peers are wearing. After a couple of weeks in school, they’ll know what they want and shopping will be easier.

In the Southeast, the weather requires that we wear summer weight clothing well into fall, so there’s no rush. And you may even find some things on sale if you wait!

Tip: More than one child?

Organize hand-me-downs by size and season.

Homework Many teachers are giving homework over the summer these days, because it reduces the amount of information kids have to relearn every fall. At the very least, your child probably has a reading list.

If you’re organized, you’ve asked him to work on it over the summer, a little bit at a time to reduce frustration.

Maintaining a regular schedule of school work over the summer is a good way to ease the transition back into school

and the homework that comes with it.

Even if you are a procrastinator, you need to find out what work has to be done for the first week of school. A couple of weeks before the first day, check the school’s website and ask your child. Older children may have been given work they forgot about over

the summer. (Chlorine and salt water have that effect.) No child wants to be stuck reading 10 books at the last minute, and no parent wants to suffer through enforcing that, so make sure you look at that reading list early enough to give your kid ample time to finish.

Tip: Create a dedicated space for homework, and make sure that space is safe from pets, siblings and other distractions.

Are you a planner or a procrastinator? If you work ahead, you’re doing a great job of teaching your children to be organized and prepared.

They’ll know to approach every situation with the right tools and a fresh face.

But if you put things off until the last minute, never fear. As long as you actually get it done, you’re teaching your children how to work with what they have, improvise when necessary and stop depending on others to do the work for them.

Either way, you have a recipe for success!

Actual patient of Vista Smiles of Columbia

22 Countdown to Kindergarten

Calendar

EdVenture Children’s Museum edventure.org Aug. 9. EdVenture Children’s Museum and United Way invites all South Carolina rising kindergartners and their families to the tenth annual kindergarten countdown celebration.

Discovery Day: Keep It Cool Riverbanks Zoo & Garden riverbanks.org Aug. 10 & 24. What do vultures, babirusas, elephants and reptiles do to keep cool in the summer heat? Find out some unusual ways these animals beat the summer sun!

Discovery Day: Animal Super Heroes Riverbanks Zoo & Garden riverbanks.org Aug. 10 & 24. Who are the toughest, strongest, fastest, and smartest animals in the world? Join us for a fun-filled class exploring world record-holding animals with super skills. Test out your abilities — and we might even get to meet an amazing animal superhero!

Disney’s Aladdin Jr. Columbia Children’s Theatre columbiachildrenstheatre.com Aug. 2-11. All of your favorite characters are here in Disney’s Aladdin Jr., a stage adaptation of the Disney hit film.

Treasures of the Nile Mini-Adventures takes place at the South Carolina State Museum Aug. 23.

Courtesy photo

Family Gallery Tour

T

his is by no means a comprehensive list — institutions like the Columbia Museum of Art, EdVenture Children’s Museum, Riverbanks Zoo, Richland Library and the city and county parks departments offer myriad events for kids on a daily basis. Check the What’s Happening section of Free Times for weekly listings or visit the websites of institutions offering children’s programs.

ONGOING

of the Richland Library. Call your local branch for meeting times.

ages 1 to 5 play freely throughout the museum with kids of their own size.

Blooming Butterflies

Football: The Exhibition

Wee Wednesdays

EdVenture Children’s Museum edventure.org Through Oct. 6. Explore the fascinating world of the butterfly.

EdVenture Children’s Museum edventure.org Through Sept. 22. Hut! Hut! Hike! Popular traveling exhibit from the Museum of Discovery.

Columbia Museum of Art columbiamuseum.org Wednesdays. Participants ages 2-5 and their adult companions explore art through the introduction of elementary art terms such as color, line, shape and texture.

Dino Tales Columbia Marionette Theatre cmtpuppet.org Through Sept. 14. Shows on Saturdays and third Mondays. Watch as a brother and sister parasaur first hatch and venture away from their nest. They encounter many creatures, big and small, and find friends in surprising places. But will they make it back to their nest safely?

Parents’ Survival Night The Little Gym thelittlegym.com/columbiasc Fridays. Parents call it a break from the kids. Kids call it a break from their parents. That sounds like a win-win situation.

Shake, Rattle and Read!

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

EdVenture Children’s Museum edventure.org Wednesdays and Saturdays. Half an hour of storytelling, puppetry, music and movement activities, finger plays and more. For kids 12 months-5 years.

Family Storytime

Toddler Take Over

Richland Library richlandlibrary.com Held on various days at all branches

EdVenture Children’s Museum edventure.org First Monday of every month. Kids

EdVenture Family Night

AUGUST Afternoon of Puppets Richland Library, Main Branch richlandlibrary.com Aug. 7. Enjoy your favorite stories performed by the Children’s Room puppets.

Community Leader Reader EdVenture Children’s Museum edventure.org Aug. 12. Storytime with a local community leader, followed by arts and crafts and music and fun.

columbiamuseum.org Aug. 11. A 45-minute guided and interactive tour exploring the world of art in a way that can be enjoyed by all family members. Discover the museum and learn how to talk with your children about art.

First FriYAYs EdVenture Children’s Museum edventure.org Aug. 2. Special kids summer concert series on the EdVenture Terrace.

Giggle Science/Messy Play EdVenture Children’s Museum edventure.org Aug. 8. Pre-school class series offers children ages 2-5 years and their caregivers an opportunity to let loose while doing simple science experiments, art projects and much more!

History for a Day Richland Library, Southeast Branch richlandlibrary.com Aug. 3. Experience the culture, live the journey through original artifacts, stories and more. This week: HispanicAmericans.

History for a Day Richland Library, Southeast Branch richlandlibrary.com Aug. 10. Experience the culture, live the journey through original artifacts, stories and more. This week: AfricanAmericans.

History for a Day Richland Library, Southeast Branch richlandlibrary.com Aug. 17. Experience the culture, live the journey through original artifacts, stories and more. This week: Native Americans.

23 History for a Day Richland Library, Southeast Branch richlandlibrary.com Aug. 24. Experience the culture, live the journey through original artifacts, stories and more. This week: Asian-Americans.

Passport to Art: The Design of Colorful Shapes Columbia Museum of Art columbiamuseum.org Aug. 11. Make a collage inspired by the exhibition Picasso: Master Prints in this monthly drop-in studio program for families.

Treasures of the Nile Mini-Adventures South Carolina State Museum scmuseum.org Aug. 23. This Egyptian-themed afternoon tea party for children (and the special adults in their life) will feature crafts, party games and an array of tea party food appealing to children.

SEPTEMBER Discovery Day: African Expedition

S.C. State Museum scmuseum.org Aug. 10. More than 30 exhibitors display collections of toy soldiers, also known as military miniatures.

Summer Celebration of Water

Discovery Day: Animal Artists

summercelebrationofwater.com Riverfront Park Aug. 24. Fourth annual event with inflatable water slides, sprinklers, canoeing, kayaking, tubing and paddle boarding.

Teen Academy: Drawing 101 Columbia Museum of Art columbiamuseum.org Aug. 5-9. Explore drawing in a variety of different mediums. Subjects include a clothed live model, building interiors and still lifes. For ages 13-18.

Richland Library Homeschool Fair

Richland Library, North Main Branch richlandlibrary.com Sept. 5. Come celebrate the picture book!

Pizza and soft drinks are on the Library.

First FriYAYs

Richland Library, Main Branch richlandlibrary.com Sept. 9. Activities for all ages, tours of the new Teen Space and the Children’s Room, game time for students, and much, much more. Something for everyone!

EdVenture Children’s Museum edventure.org Sept. 6. Special kids summer concert series on the EdVenture Terrace.

OCTOBER

Movers and Shakers

Riverbanks Zoo & Garden riverbanks.org Sept. 11 & 14. Africa is home to some of the most well-known zoo animals.

Put on your safari hats and learn about these incredible creatures. Children will learn about gorillas, elephants, giraffes, hyenas and more.

Southeastern Toy Soldier Tour

Family Picture Book Club

Riverbanks Zoo & Garden riverbanks.org Sept. 25 & 28. Learn all about the creative side of critters and which ones use color as a way to help them survive.

Little ones will have the chance to get creative as we uncover the colorful world of wildlife.

Fall Heritage Festival & Pickin’ Party S.C. State Museum scmuseum.org Sept. 21. Barbecue, folk art and activities for all ages.

Richland Library, Main Branch richlandlibrary.com Sept. 20. Get ready to move and shake, shake, shake while listening to stories, songs and more.

Pickin’ & Singin’ at Blythewood Library Richland Library, Blythewood Branch richlandlibrary.com Sept. 21. Enjoy live music and audience participation with family and friends.

Aladdin Columbia Marionette Theatre cmtpuppet.org Opens Sept. 21.

Boo at the Zoo Riverbanks Zoo Oct. 18-30. Super-popular annual event geared toward children 12 and under.

Features Frankenstein’s Foam Zone, a freaky dance party, a trick-or-treat trail with candy and more

Meet the Explorers

Richland Library, Northeast Branch richlandlibrary.com Sept. 19. Visit the children’s area today for a pirate story and craft project.

Richland Library, Main Branch richlandlibrary.com Oct. 13. Members of the Explorers Club share their experiences from all corners of the globe. Recommended for teens and adults.

Puppets in the Morning

Strings and Stories

Richland Library, St. Andrews Branch richlandlibrary.com Sept. 18. It’s a puppet show! Come and enjoy a morning of puppets!

Richland Library, Main Branch richlandlibrary.com Oct. 19. Classical guitarist Marina Alexandra tells stories and presents a childfriendly performance.

Pirate Day

Friday, August 9 ~ 5-8pm

A Celebration for Rising Kindergarteners and Their Families at EdVenture 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!

Sponsored by

211 Gervais Street www.edventure.org

24

learning

Creating a Path for an IT Career from Elementary School through College

By Rodney Welch

W

hile parents worry about their kids finding jobs after college, there are some industry segments where the problem is finding kids to fill jobs after college.

That was the situation that Lonnie Emard, then a BlueCross BlueShield IT exec and now president of IT-oLogy, saw in the mid-2000s: Businesses large and small struggling to find qualified computer professionals and a growing IT field without an adequate labor pool to fill it up.

The growth of IT from 2002 to 2007 was painful, he says. “Not enough young people were coming out of school. You couldn’t even find talent, really, anywhere across the country. We were having to go to great lengths to grow our own and to do things that were just not very efficient or cost-effective.”

Columbia wasn’t the only city with growing pains. The shortage, he says, was a “national epidemic.” BlueCross had the resources to meet their need, but they gained at the expense of other companies. “We created winners and losers,” Emard says. “And that was just not good for the community.”

Their response was to develop a program that instilled an interest in technology early in the educational process and would help develop professionals to fill future needs. Enter IT-oLogy (it-ology.org), a Columbia-based nonprofit launched in 2009 as a resource center with programs, workshops, camps and conferences for students from elementary school through college.

“It’s important for kids to know that it’s not always sitting at a cubicle all day, typing away with a blank stare on your face. You actually get to solve problems, you get to help people in the real world.”

– Kevin Rabinovich, 16 Starting with some powerful corporate partners like BlueCross, IBM, and the University of South Carolina, IT-oLogy, with Emard at its helm, now partners in a variety of ways with 250 businesses and 80 educational institutions. The businesses set up internships and provide job shadowing opportunities, as well as offering input to help design curricula that meets occupational needs.

Over the last year, new branches have opened in Charlotte, N.C., Greenville, S.C. and the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Early exposure For Emard, exposing kids to IT at an early level is fundamental. He sees a path that begins with increased enrollment in technical programs, which triggers more educational programs and leads to better internships, work experiences and job opportunities.

At the K-12 level, IT-oLogy hosts career fairs as well as several monthly events.

There’s Cyber Saturday, a monthly event for all grade levels that gives students hands-on experience from professionals on a variety of IT-related topics. Check out columbiacybersaturday.eventbrite.com for information on future events.

Other events include the Create IT Camp (for middle school students), the Make It Happen Camp (for high schoolers) and a CyberIQ program, which teaches computer security and awareness to middle school girls and their parents. Check out colatechevents. com for a full list of upcoming programs.

At 16, Kevin Rabinovich is a seasoned ITology veteran with a budding web development business. He regularly attends IT-ology conferences and, with organization support, hosts the annual TEDx Youth Conference, which he initiated.

“It’s important for kids to know that it’s not always sitting at a cubicle all day, typing away with a blank stare on your face,” Kevin says. “You actually get to solve problems, you get to help people in the real world.”

Professional success For college students majoring in computer science, IT-oLogy can lead to business internships and employment.

That was the case with Christine Tanner, a computer professional who took additional training at Midlands Tech after she was laid off by AT&T. Christine participated in a number of IT-oLogy programs and attended a Career Fair. That led to a paid internship with Colonial Life and job offers from major companies, including SCANA, where she now works as an application developer.

That’s “not an easy job to get in the IT world, when you’re competing with so many people right out of college,” Tanner says.

Top Jobs in IT’s future The need for IT staff will grow so much in the future, according to Lonnie Emard, president of IT-oLogy, that a good portion of the jobs will not be able to be filled in the U.S. “That’s why things get sent offshore. That’s why we import people from somewhere else in the world to come work in these jobs, and that is just flat out wrong. We have too many people in this country who are highly educated and they’re out of work, or they’re working at McDonald’s. We’ve really got to get this lined up.”

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, computer systems design and related services “accounted for just over 20 percent of all jobs in computer occupations in 2010, but will generate more than half of all new computer jobs from 2010 to 2020.”

The top five computer professions in the near future, Emard says, will be: Business Application Developers write software to serve specific business needs.

Informatics Analysts bring business information requirements together with available technology/software to help companies make decisions. A role that requires good communication skills.

Security Analysts have a combination of integrated technical awareness and a targeted knowledge of up-todate security techniques.

Network Specialists are technicians with analytical and integration skills who can efficiently connect differing technologies.

Project Managers coordinate all of the IT solutions from teams of people with diverse business and technical backgrounds. The job requires both technical awareness and good people skills. – Rodney Welch

For Emard, the ideal young student who benefits from IT-oLogy is curious and creative.

“The thing that we really want to make sure happens is that kids see opportunity,” he says, “that they see a chance to make a difference and they can do that with an open mind, knowing if they’re a good communicator or if they’re very organized or they think about art and design, there’s a home for them in the IT profession. It really is this kind of whole brain thing.”

learning

R

eading, writing, ‘rithmetic, sure — but what if your child has trouble with the three Rs? Or what if your child shows exemplary skill in them? Each child learns differently, and each child has different interests — from math to science, from foreign languages to outer space. To help your kid learn, check out the following.

Aim High Education 4801 Hardscrabble Rd., 788-6894 aimhigheducationsc.com

Customized after-school education programs and tutoring.

The Afterschool Zone theafterschoozone.com

Offers afterschool pickup from Lexington/Richland 5 and Richland 1 schools. Students engage in physical and educational activities.

Bright Start 720 Gracern Rd., 929-1112 brightstartsc.com

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, engineering and math curricula with 21st century life skills.

Discovery Program of South Carolina 8807 Two Notch Rd., 419-0126 discoveryprogramsc.org

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.

25

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.

Lango South Carolina langosouthcarolina.com

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

The Language Buzz 1921 Henderson St., 252-7002 thelanguagebuzz.com

Pearson Professional Centers 107 Westpark Blvd., 798-3001

Offers GMAT testing.

Personal Pathways to Success scpathways.org

Provides educational and career planning resources.

Provost Academy South Carolina sc.provostacademy

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.

A tuition-free, online-only public high school. Live online classrooms give students the ability to includes the ability to participate in discussions and ask questions.

Mathnasium

REACH

mathnasium.com

Offers math help for students from grades 2 through 12.

Montessori Early Learning Center melcsota.com Founded in 1976, the Montessori Early Learning Center offers the full spectrum of the Montessori learning environment, as well as in-house dance, music, art, drama, gymnastics, computer and foreign language classes.

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 rcfirststeps.org

Works with kids, parents, schools and childcare providers to promote health, literacy and school readiness in young children.

26

life

Social Media: Yes or No for Your Teen?

No: Or, Not So Fast

Social media is everywhere, and it’s no longer just Facebook and Twitter.

H

Facebook, in fact, is on the outs with teens. A Pew Internet report released in May found that teens have “waning enthusiasm” for the site, turned off by the high number of adults there and, as one teen put it, all the drama.

Teens haven’t deleted their Facebook accounts, though — they’re just cutting down on the time they spend there as they head to such sites as Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, Tumblr, Instagram, Snapchat and Vine.

So, before you can answer the question of whether to allow your child to use social media sites, it would be a good

idea to investigate what that actually means. How to do that? Talk to your kids about which sites they use. Talk to other parents — especially ones whose kids are older than yours — about which sites their kids use. And, by all means, check out the Pew Center’s research at pewinternet.org (look for “Teens, Social Media and Privacy”).

To explore the question of whether or not you should allow your teens to use social media, we offer the perspectives of two parents: Free Times editor Dan Cook and longtime Free Times contributor Kevin Oliver.

Yes: Trust, But Verify

By Dan Cook

T

he question isn’t whether your teen is going to use social media — the question is under what circumstances. Because no matter what you tell your child, he or she will use social media eventually. But whether the first time your child uses a social media site is in the middle of the night at a sleepover or in your own home during daylight hours depends in large part on how you approach the issue.

As your child hits age 11, 12 or 13, social media will be on their mind. Facebook and Gmail have explicit age restrictions — 13 — while Twitter does not. But it’s up to you whether turning 13 means automatic access to social media.

As with any parent-child relationship, honesty and openness go a long way in discussions about social media. Ask why they want a Twitter account. Share your concerns about what could go wrong: an embarrassing post they will later regret, unwanted contact from a stranger. Talk about how they would handle such situations — and how you would like them to handle such situations.

It’s important to be informed about social media yourself and engaged with what your child is reading and posting — but it’s also important to have a sense of perspective not to be paranoid. If your 14-year-old child or one of their friends drops an F-bomb on Twitter, for example, that calls for a serious conversation. But be clear about what the issue is: It’s your child’s language, not social media — though social media can certainly amplify a mistake. You can’t watch your children every minute of the day — and if you are overbearing, you’re only likely to provoke a negative reaction.

Depending on how old your teen is, odds are good that he or she is already using social media with or without your knowledge.

So the time to have a social media conversation is now.

If your child is not on social media yet, then you still have time to ask yourself some basic questions:

n At what age is it appropriate for my

child to have his or her own social media accounts?

n What are the conditions for allowing my child to open an account?

n Under what circumstances would

I insist that my child close his or her account?

n What kind of standards are other

parents setting? Are those too loose or too strict for my child?

n How many accounts — and which

ones — is it appropriate for my child to have?

Be aware of what your child is up to.

Make being connected with your child on social media a condition of your child having an account; be sure you know which accounts your child has and what their passwords are, and go over your child’s privacy settings together.

Yes, social media presents a different world than the one you grew up in — but it doesn’t have to be a scary one.

By Kevin Oliver aving young children and being on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and a few other sites myself, I’m leery of allowing them access at all, at least until they are older and can understand the consequences and issues surrounding the use and misuse of social media.

Facebook’s age of entry is officially 13, but I routinely get friend requests from my child’s peers who I know are younger. Are their parents allowing them to lie about their age to get an account? Not the best parental example there, I’d say.

Social media hasn’t changed the parentchild relationship so much as it has given it another avenue to either be good, or bad, depending on the level of trust involved. If you are clueless about social media, how can you expect to police your children online? Too many of the profiles of my friends’ children are open and public, inviting issues and problems from both strangers and unwelcome peers, and their parents don’t even know. Younger children are also sometimes unaware of the darker corners of the Internet and how easy it is to wander into inappropriate sites and situations.

My biggest concern with allowing my children unfettered access to social media early on is the cyberbullying issue, which is more common than most realize or are willing to admit. With real-life bullying already a reality for us on more than one occasion in elementary school, giving it a chance to resurface online is more than I’m willing to chance, at least not yet.

There are more questions than answers for many parents when it comes to what to allow and what not to allow their children to do online, and at what age.

It is different for every family and every child, obviously, but for me there are three rules I won’t bend.

n No Internet activity outside of our liv-

ing room, and our family computer is on full view in the same room.

n I have full access to any and all online

accounts and passwords, period, with the expectation that I may use that access at any time to ‘check up’ on what’s going on behind the profile pages.

n No personally identifying information is

shared online with anyone — phone number, address, date of birth, for example.

It’s a different world with social media, but the issues are still the same ones we grew up with — for the kids, it’s ‘how much can I get away with to prove my independence and assert myself as an individual’ and for parents it comes down to what is the best way to keep your kids safe but allow them to test limits and spread their wings.

life 2011

2011

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life

L

ife is full of tough questions. Is your 4-year-old ready for a sleepover? Should your 12-year-old be on Facebook? 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 1825 St. Julian Pl., 254-1210 asycounseling.com Providing quality mental health services to children and families in the Columbia area.

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.

Children’s Chance 609 Sims Ave., 254-5996 childrenschance.org 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.

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 900 St. Andrews Rd., 731-4708 columbiacounseling.accountsupport.com A Christian perspective on counseling.

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

Family Connections 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.org A multi-service non-profit agency offering adoption services, consumer credit

counseling, child dental clinics, an eye care clinic and more.

Kennedy Drivers Training School Box Turtle Court, 318-4264 kennedydriverstraining.com Started in 1998 after the company owner taught her own teenagers to drive.

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

NAMI Mid Carolina namimidcarolina.org Local chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

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

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

South Carolina Youth Advocate Program 779-5500 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., 7969911 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/ Provides a variety of evaluation and treatment programs for individuals of all ages.

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family finance

Moms are Making Stay-at-Home Work Home-Based Businesses Help Balance Work and Family Life

By Amanda Ladymon

Getting Started Ready to move ahead with a homebased business? Here are a few things to think about: n Create a designated workspace and be disciplined about keeping it for work only. n Talk to an expert like the SBDC (scsbdc.com) or SCORE (scoremidlands.org) to find out how to legally set up your business and protect your personal assets as well. n Research social media channels and set up business pages on Facebook and Twitter. n Know your client base. n Print business cards and have them on you at all times! n If you sell a physical product, you need to a state tax license. Find out more at scbos.sc.gov. n Make a to-do list for every day. n Keep a calendar on your phone or small purse-sized planner for work; a separate one on the fridge for family stuff, and bathroom for house stuff. n Learn the art of saying no. You don’t have to do everything. n Dish out shared responsibility with your spouse and children on chores/ housework. n Always designate at least half a day for family time each week.

Sally Peek has made handbags and accessories since 2007.

O

wning a home business is one way many working moms have found to contribute to the household income while also sharing quality time with their children. For adventurous types, a “cottage” business can alleviate the stress of working in an office while someone else raises your kids, and also allows for a more flexible schedule. It isn’t, however, an easy path to choose.

Speaking from personal experience as a new mom with a new at-home business, prioritizing, strong time management skills and self-discipline are key. You also have to consider frequent upkeep to your home’s appearance if clients are coming by on a regular basis. I am an artist as well as an art educator. I host workshops for children and adults in addition to having clients coming to view artwork, so there is a lot of traffic frequently in and out of our home. I love this dynamic, but it’s not for everyone. Many of my friends are entrepreneurs as well and agree that it’s a juggling act.

“I think the most obvious challenge for moms working at home is finding boundaries and giving ourselves a break,” says Sally Peek, owner and designer of Nana handbags (nanabysally.com). Peek has been making

handmade accessories since 2007, right around the time she had her first child. Her studio is in the center of her house, so constant interaction with her daughters while at the sewing machine is part of a normal day.

Sometimes she even sews with her toddler on her lap.

Anne Postic, the Shop Tart, a popular blogger (theshoptart.com), deals with a similar situation in her home, insisting that sometimes you must find a designated workspace. “I am constantly surrounded by my work so I always feel compelled to be doing something in the studio or working on the computer,” she says. She prefers to keep her work time separate from family time, insisting on respected boundaries from her three sons while she writes her blog.

For all the moms interviewed, the flexibility of making your own schedule is definitely one of the biggest perks.

Leslie Twining, owner of Carolina Cloth (carolinacloth.com), a cloth diaper business, says, “I can put in 10 hours a week or I can put in 50 hours. I can use my free time to do what I need to do, business-wise, so it doesn’t interfere with family life.”

While it may differ from business to busi-

ness, there can also be some financial benefits to working from home. Besides saving money on gas, office-appropriate clothing and eating out with friends at work, you can save on some of the essentials for your children.

“I saw cloth diapering as a way for me to contribute to our family,” Twining says.

“Since I wasn’t bringing in a paycheck, at least I could do what I could to reduce spending.”

Postic sees an educational benefit for her children as well.

“I think it’s really great for kids to be aware of what their parents do outside of taking care of children,” she says. “It shows them that work is part of everyone’s life, and maybe even helps lead them to finding work they enjoy.”

Peek agrees: “They (her daughters) have been raised to watch me work and have learned a great deal of patience and ability to be independent that way. I would not trade that for the world. Being able to stay home with them while working does not come without its challenges but I thank my lucky stars every day for my work and home life.”

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PEACEFUL SPIRIT

One breath. One step. One moment.

With a calm mind I am totally relaxed.

COLUMBIA TAI CHI CENTER 2910 Rosewood Drive, Columbia SC

ColumbiaTaiChiCenter.com

32

religion & spirituality Pro Athletes’ Faith a Powerful Influence

A football coach prays with his players. Photo by Kevin Bray

Spiritual Fitness: When Winning Isn’t the Only Thing

By Kevin Oliver

W

inning is everything, at least that’s what the message seems to be from sports icons and the leagues they play in.

On a community level, however, there’s more to sports than the final score, and there are several programs in the Columbia area that incorporate faith-based teaching into athletics.

“What I tell my coaches is that winning is important — that’s our goal on the field and on the court,” Ben Lippen school’s Athletic Director Ben Porter says. “But that is not our purpose. We want to help our student athletes develop in their faith; if winning ever trumps that, we have problems.”

“We want the participants to enjoy their sports experience as much as possible but we also think that when we help them understand the purpose God has for their lives, they will benefit in many ways other than just playing the sport.”

— Jessie Harmon, Crossover Athletics

One of the most visible examples of faithbased sporting programs in the Midlands is the many Upward Sports leagues, including basketball, baseball, soccer, cheerleading and flag football. Cindy Woods, recreation minister at First Baptist Church in downtown Columbia, says the program attracts a wide range of participants, which feeds into the mission of the church.

In the Upward program, the message is introduced through devotionals during weekly practice, a scripture memorization with rewards for completion and a guest devotion at halftime of every game.

“The game-day devotion reaches the families that attend as well as the kids,” Woods says. “We believe that God is at work all around us, and sports are no different.” She stresses that they are both a sports league and a mission for the church, with no compromises made in the combination of the two.

According to Faith Magazine, twothirds of Americans say they think pro athletes have more influence in American society today than professional faith leaders.

Tim Tebow, former Florida Gators and Denver Broncos quarterback and now on the New England Patriots roster, is perhaps the highestprofile professional sports figure who openly professes his faith both on and off the field. His trademark post-scoring move of kneeling for a brief moment of prayer is now referred to as “Tebowing.”

Sometimes it seems a bit of a stretch, as when Santonio Holmes of the Pittsburgh Steelers credited God with some pretty awesome playmaking. “It was all God’s will,” Holmes said. “You know, he placed the ball where it needed to be, and the play came through for us.”

More often, a player’s faith is presented as part of their lives in and out of sports, which can make them good role models in a moral sense for youth involved in sports themselves.

Boxer Roberto Guerrero is keenly aware of the example he sets with his faith, something he told the Christian Broadcasting Network in a recent interview. “You talk about the Lord, there are so many people out there waiting for you to fail, but I look at it as an opportunity to inspire them.” — Kevin Oliver “Everything we do is designed to exceed what a parent would expect; we ensure that everything is well organized and fun.”

Jesse Harmon of the Lexington-based Crossover Athletics is a former youth minister who has put together a package of sports programs that incorporate spiritual fitness into exercise and sports, something Harmon considers a natural fit.

“We want the participants to enjoy their sports experience as much as possible but we also think that when we help them understand the purpose God has for their lives, they will benefit in many ways other than just playing the sport.”

Crossover offers a flag football league, a basketball program, and a running program for boys, Run Hard. Each one approaches the spiritual study portion slightly differently.

“In our flag football league coaches use a playbook that consists of devotionals written by us and other sports and church leaders in the community,” Harmon says. “Our basketball program uses more of a mentorship approach, with group discussions, prayer time, and sharing bible verses.”

Prayer and religion in public schools is a hot-button issue, but in a private Christian school setting such as Ben Lippen, it is part of the fabric of daily student life and instruction, an approach that extends to the athletic program, according to Porter.

“That’s part of it, but that’s not true integration of our faith,” Porter says. “We want our coaches to pray for our kids, we want them to set an example. If we want our athletes to model

our coaches, they better be top notch in how they live their life, period.” He says that their focus on faith shouldn’t be seen as a sign they are not fully committed to being competitive, however.

“We’re not a youth group, we’re an athletic program,” he says. “It’s easy to say we don’t care as much about athletics, which isn’t true, but we do have a higher purpose.”

That higher purpose is echoed in the effectiveness of the Upward and Crossover programs as well.

“We find the children are receptive to the gospel message through participation in our sports leagues,” Woods says.

“We are given the opportunity to play sports for a short window so we want to leverage that time to teach the participants important biblical values,” Harmon says. “We know that everyone will outgrow their playing days, but none of us will outlive eternity.”

religion directory Lexington Baptist Church 308 E. Main Street Lexington, SC 29072 (803) 359-4146 www.lexingtonbaptist.org

Large church in family-friendly Lexington with excellent, active children’s and student ministries. Four worship services in both contemporary and traditional styles.

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media

Music & DVD Reviews

childlike tone will appeal to older children, certainly, as they transition to the Sufjan Stevens and Iron & Wine albums that their parents play for themselves.

By Kevin Oliver

Alastair Moock Singing Our Way Through: Songs for the World’s Bravest Kids Self-released CD

I

nspired by his own family’s experience with childhood leukemia, the new album from Boston folk singer and award-winning family music artist Alastair Moock takes difficult subjects and turns them on their heads — quite literally. Case in point: The upbeat, silly “When I Get Bald”, which addresses the hair loss often experienced by cancer patients receiving chemo treatments, and treats it as something interesting that just happens, rather than something to cause worry, embarrassment or distress.

Moock has enlisted an excellent cast of supporting musicians, including fellow children’s musicians Elizabeth Mitchell, Rani Arbo and The Okee Dokee Brothers. Notable fellow folkies Chris Smither (on a wonderful version of Randy Newman’s “You’ve Got a Friend in Me,” from the Toy Story movie franchise), Mark Erelli and Aoife O’Donovan also appear.

The songs are alternately joyous and comforting, two emotions that the target audience undoubtedly need more of.

O’Donovan’s “Home When I Hold You,” for example, reassures the listener through a parental-sounding lullaby duet with Moock that they are home wherever they are being held by the singer, presumably the parents.

Funds from a related crowdfunding campaign and sales of the album will support its distribution as a free resource for patients and pediatric oncology programs around the country.

Frances England Blink of an Eye Self-released CD

T

he indie-folk sound of Frances England has always seemed more like adult music than made-for-children entertainment. In fact, she’s releasing her first adult-targeted album in September. But before that release, she has come up with another shimmering set of singularly precocious pieces of acoustic folk-pop aimed at younger ears.

Like Lunch Money (whose singer Molly Ledford guests here), England’s tone is one of wonderment and playfulness. You hear it in the propulsive drive of “Little Wings” celebrating the quickness of children’s movements and the parental reminiscing of “The Day You Were Born.” England’s wispy voice is a whisper, like she’s telling secrets and relating amazing stories that the listener just won’t believe are true. In addition to Ledford (“Bicycle Built for Two”), guests include Elizabeth Mitchell, Caspar Babypants and Morgan Taylor (Gustafer Yellowgold), who blend into the surroundings enough that they’re more fellow participants than spotlighted features.

This may be one of those albums that mom and dad might enjoy more than the littlest ears in the car, but the non-pandering yet still

Roger Day Marsh Mud Madness’ Self-released DVD

R

oger Day is a nationally touring family musician whose songs are the kind of simple, fun compositions that kids can immediately connect with and sing along to.

This new DVD was filmed on location at the University of Georgia Marine Institute on Sapelo Island and live in concert at the Savannah Music Festival, with Day covering lots of coastal conservation related topics through music and instructional vignettes.

As the intro says, “Is everybody ready for a show full of mud … marsh mud?” Day then talks about the infamous pluff mud of the Atlantic coast, where you might lose a limb down in the mud if you step in a deep enough patch of it. Kids and mud, now there’s a great combination, right? Day takes advantage of children’s natural fascination with all things muddy by injecting silly songs about naturalists, biologists, and the plants and animals they study into a tightly paced video that alternates between live concert footage and actual footage of the animals and critters he sings about.

It’s all grand fun, but also a great introduction to saltwater marsh ecology and the beaches and barrier islands that many children might take for granted or not notice on their mad dash for the water and prime sand castle territory. Watch it with the whole family before your next trip to the coast.

media

A Little Book of Sloth Lucy Cooke (author) Margaret K. McElderry Books, 64 pages, $16.99 Ages: 5 and up

Q

uite possibly the cutest photo essay ever produced, Lucy Cooke’s A Little Book of Sloth is an ode to the jungle’s most laid-back inhabitants. Cooke, a filmmaker, photographer and zoologist, introduces readers to the adorable residents of a sloth sanctuary in Costa Rica where the official motto is ‘Just Chill’. At 64 pages, the text may be a bit long for preschoolers but children (and parents) of any age will enjoy flipping through the wonderful photographs and meeting the superstars of “Slothville”.

Filled with fun facts (did you know sloths are Xenarthrans?) and page after page of squealinducing photos, this book is sure to please animal lovers of all ages. — Ellan Jenkinson, Richland Library Cooper

How Did That Get in My Lunchbox?

Chris Butterworth (author) and Lucia Gaggiotti (illustrator) Candlewick, 32 pages, $12.99 Ages: 5-8

C

elebrate the many people that help grow, make and transport our food by reading How Did That Get in My Lunchbox?. The journey begins with a lunchbox filled with a cheese sandwich, fruit, vegetables, a juice box and a chocolate chip cookie for dessert. Each item’s origin is explained in great detail.

Readers will enjoy seeing the giant combine that cuts the wheat which gets turned into bread; the global trip that some cocoa beans take; and the heater that warms up the juice to kill any germs before it’s poured into the juice box. The illustrations also have some great surprises for families — just staring at the food-filled

endpapers will make your mouth water.

Without a doubt, this book is a feast for the eyes and mind.

— Heather McCue, Richland Library

Virals Kathy & Brendan Reichs Puffin, 430 pages, $8.99 Ages: 13 and up

T

ory is the head of a group of teenage “sci-philes” in Charleston, S.C., who investigate an island laboratory and wind up infected with an experimental virus. She and her friends, each bright in their own way, must get to the bottom of the virus’s origins as well as a decades-old murder mystery if they are going to save themselves and bring the lab’s shady owners to justice. This story, by mystery author and creator of the TV series Bones Kathy Reichs and her son Brendan, is a fun blend of Southern-flavored mystery and science fiction, with the next two entries in the series, Seizure and Code, just as addictive to read. — Thomas Maluck, Richland Library

Apps The Chalk Box Story ($2.99) Auryn (for iOS and Android) Ages: 3-7

F

irst let me begin by saying, I am a fan of Don Freeman.

Whether it’s Dandelion, Cordu-

of chalk, The Chalk Box Story app is sure to delight your family and, for just $2.99, it won’t break the bank.

— Heather McCue, Richland Library

myHomework Student Planner (Free) Ages: Teens

T

his handy app, available at myhomeworkapp.com, allows students and teachers to organize and prioritize assignments on any iPad, iPod, Android device, Kindle, or PC. Students can keep up with their class schedules, due dates and tests without any paper organizers to haul around. Better yet, students can sign in via Facebook.

Another great feature is the teacher’s section where students can “join” classes and teachers can push out group notifications and assignments, including attachments and resources.

— Heather Green, Richland Library Wheatley

CENTER DANCE EDUCATION

for

Books

roy or Fly High, Fly Low (my personal favorite), his books charm readers with their thoughtful stories and wonderful illustrations. I am happy to say that The Chalk Box Story app lived up to my expectations.

Like the book, it follows the story of a box of chalk and a piece of paper.

The pieces of chalk want to make a picture and this time your child gets to help.

Narration and simple visual cues will guide readers through the story and, with each piece of chalk, your child will learn colors and teamwork. One of my favorite parts is the end of the story where readers can select characters to add — a seagull can fly through the palm trees or a crab can dance in the sand.

Simple and inspiring like a box

35

Mimi Worrell Artistic Director CDE and Carolina Ballet

IT BEGINS HERE

803-771-6303 AUDITIONS FOR CAROLINA BALLET’S

THE NUTCRACKER AUGUST 25 - REGISTRATION AT 1 PM 914 PULASKI ST, COLUMBIA, SC

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media

Barnes & Noble Forest Acres: 3400 Forest Dr., 787-5600 Harbison: 278-A Harbison Blvd., 749-9009 barnesandnoble.com The mega-chain bookstore stocks tons of reading material for kids, sure, but it 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 preloved books.’

Books-A-Million Forest Acres: 4840 Forest Dr., 782-4475 Harbison: 275 Harbison Blvd., 749-9378 Northeast: 164 Forum Dr., 788-4349 booksamillion.com

W

e know we just said, not three listings sections ago, that active kids are happy kids. But the mind and imagination are to be nurtured, too, and here are a few places where you can do just that.

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

Books Revisited 7366A Two Notch Rd., 865-9990 booksrevisitedsc.com A quality source for quality used books; also hosts storytimes, book clubs, writing workshops and more.

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

GameStop gamestop.com A recent study, ABC News reported, from the Education Development Center and the U.S. Congress-supported Ready To Learn Initiative found that a curriculum that involved digital media such as video games could improve early literacy skills when coupled with strong parental and teacher involvement. The key was having educational video games, but video games also improve hand-eye coordination, teach basic skills, improve multitasking and can promote exercise and social play.

There are some 15 GameStop locations in Columbia, so buy Junior that Zelda title if he does well in school, OK?

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.

Lexington County 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 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.

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 County Public Library 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.

For many years running, the Richland County Public Library won the Best Place to Expand Your Mind category in the Free Times Best of Columbia awards.

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.

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.

Silver City Comics 538 Knox Abbott Dr., 791-4021 Remember what we said about Heroes and Dragons? Ditto for Silver City.

South Carolina State Library 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.

Thomas Lee Hall Library 4679 Lee Rd., 751-5589 fortjacksonmwr.com/library Military kids don’t have to go offpost to find a great library.

FAMILY FUN AT THE CMA Join me, Gladys the grasshopper, to learn, play and create our way through the Museum!

Listen to storytelling in the galleries, take a family safari through our collection or create a piece of original artwork — these are just a few of the entertaining activities the whole family can enjoy.

Gladys’ Gang Join us for an exciting new series! Participants and their adult companions explore art through the introduction of elementary art terms such as color, line, shape and texture. This FREE program includes story time and a creative studio activity related to the theme.

Up! Down! Across!

And Through!

Ages 2-5 Wednesday, September 4 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.

Travel through the galleries learning all about color and create a woven masterpiece brimming with vibrant colors.

Monster Madness!

My Favorite Things

In the galleries, young artists will learn all about hidden animals and creatures and in the studios they will “shape” their very own monster.

Enter the world of Annie Leibovitz: Pilgrimage and discover a few of the artist’s favorite things. In the studio, use your favorite color to create a work of art.

Ages 2-5 Wednesday, October 2 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.

Ages 2-5 Wednesday, November 6 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.

Spooktacular Night at the CMA All Ages Saturday, October 19 | 5:00 – 9:00 p.m.

As darkness falls, the Museum transforms into a Spooktacular place filled with ghosts, art, music and goodies. Explore the galleries by taking a ‘spooky’-themed tour and participating in a haunted gallery hunt, as well as creating Halloween art. Buy a burger for dinner from the Pawley’s food truck on the plaza. At the stroke of 7:00, enjoy a performance by Lunch Money followed by a trip to the Garden of Curiosities.

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

Your child care chooses to be an ABC quality program. Doesn’t it?

Look. Listen. Ask. Know before they go.

scchildcare.org

Childhood is full of bangs, bumps and bacteria.

Parenthood may be fun, but it sure isn’t easy.

That’s why the pediatric practices of Lexington Medical Center make children’s health care fast and easy. Get compassionate, comprehensive and acute pediatric care from experienced physicians with convenient office hours. And protect your children with the added strength of Lexington Medical Center and our extensive physician network of care.

GET HELP FROM A GREAT PEDIATRICIAN.

A Lexington Medical Center Physician Practice

811 West Main St., Suite 205 • Lexington, SC 29072

(803) 359-8855 www.lexpediatricpractice.com

A Lexington Medical Center Physician Practice

109 Vista Oaks Drive, Suite C • Lexington, SC 29072

(803) 808-0523 www.lakesidepediatric.com