FT Parent 103013

Midlands’ Magazine for Smart Families

FALL 2013

Caring Kids Moving from Me-Me-Me to Helping Others

learning

religion

life

family finance

Holiday Gifts Merry Learning inside: Holiday for Teachers Hanukkah Horror Stories to Say ‘No’

All Smiles.

Welcoming Dr. Jonathan Mitchell, our newest Pediatric Dentist

Dr. Angela and Andrew Schweiger are proud to welcome pediatric dentist Dr. Jonathan Mitchell to their team and announce the opening of their newest practice, Rice Creek Pediatric Dentistry.

At Rice Creek Pediatric Dentistry, Northeast Columbia parents can expect the same personalized, comfortable and meticulous dental care that Schweiger Family Practices have become known

for, now delivered by a pediatric specialist. Welcome to your child’s new dental home!

803 788 2676

803 788 2676

803 520 5580

101 Rice Bent Way, #4, Columbia SC 29229 RiceCreekDMD.com

2000 Clemson Road, Columbia, SC 29229 RiceCreekKids.com

1223 SouthLake Dr., Lexington SC 29073 SouthLakeDMD.com

FAMILY DENTISTRY

INVISALIGN® BRACES

PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY

IMPLANTS

ROOT CANALS

BRIDGES

DENTURES

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contents activities

life

6 Caring Kids 8 Listings

26 Holiday Horror Stories 28 Listings

health

family finance

12 Holiday Angst 14 Listings

30 Two Little Letters, One Big Message

calendar

religion & spirituality

18 Events and Programming

learning 22 Holiday Gifts for Teachers 24 Listings

32 Merry Hanukkah!

media 34 Music and DVD Reviews 35 Book Reviews 36 Listings

Published by Resorts Media 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: Anna Gelbman Edmunds, Heather Green, Amanda Ladymon, Kara Meador, Kevin Oliver, Anne Postic, Sean Rayford, Jonathan Sharpe

PRODUCTION PRODUCTION MANAGER: Lisa Willis GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Wilbert Fields GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Joey Ayer

ADVERTISING ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER: Kerry Powers kpowers@free-times.com | ext. 128 ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: Ginny Kuhn, Brian Wingard, Jerry Viles ADVERTISING ASSISTANT: Rachel Kuhnle CLASSIFIED SALES MANAGER: Cale Johnson CLASSIFIED ACCOUNT EXECUTIVEs: Jason Stroman, Jaimie Small, Ellen Robinson

DISTRIBUTION CIRCULATION MANAGER: Davey Mathias DOCK MANAGER: David Alexander

BUSINESS OPERATIONS MANAGER: Jen Coody

RESORTS MEDIA Charlie Nutt, Publisher

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

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activities

Caring Kids Moving from Me-Me-Me to Social Responsibility

By Kara Meador

P

ieces and parts of toys from holidays past litter the bottom layer of the toy box. The torso of an Optimus Prime Transformer lies mixed in with Doc McStuffin’s medical kit and empty video game cases.

USC Women’s Basketball Coach Dawn Staley gives sneakers to kids through the nonprofit Innersole.

Courtesy photo

In the background, kids — whipped into a frenzy by a barrage of television commercials — scream, “I want that, I want that!”

Amid the cacophony, a glum voice proclaims, “Santa never gets me what I want.”

As the blood rushes to your face, you wonder if your kids truly realize how blessed they are. Do they understand that not everyone watches Disney Channel on a flat-screen TV? That for some, relieving hunger isn’t as easy as running to the freezer, grabbing a Hot Pocket and nuking it in the microwave?

Some of the kids without flat-screen TVs — or even homes — live here in the Columbia area. In Richland County, there are 1,754 homeless students. This number fluctuates, but it is steadily going up. Richland County School District One’s homeless count is up 22 percent over the 2011-12 school year.

A federal law, the McKinney-Vento Act of 1987, provides federal funds for a number of services to homeless students. This inspires school districts to maintain an accurate census to ensure homeless students can get the services available. But no matter how you figure the numbers, there’s a good chance a student in your kid’s class lives in a shelter, a hotel, the back of a car or on the streets.

How can you encourage your children to be more socially conscious, to move from “I want” to “I want to help,” not only around the holidays, but all year round?

Be The Change One of the most decorated players in women’s basketball history says if you want to inspire change, lead by example.

Hall of Famer and USC Basketball Coach Dawn Staley is encouraging everyone to “Be The Change.”

“We’re challenging everyone to help us do 50,000 acts of random kindness this year,” Staley says.

Looking for ways to open your child’s eyes?

• Spend a few hours visiting someone you know. Is there an elderly neighbor who will be alone during the holidays?

• Kids 15 and older can volunteer to help serve meals at The Oliver Gospel Mission.

• Gather warm coats and take them to The Salvation Army or The Cooperative Ministry.

• Most importantly, mark a date on your calendar for three or six months from now. Many charities have almost too much help at this time of year. Call the charity then to see how you can help out.

activities When a young person lets military personnel cut ahead of them in the fast food line, or simply opens the door for a stranger, they post their good deeds and pictures on Twitter at Counter @SC_WBB_RAoK or @SC_WBB_RAoK or on Facebook at goo. gl/5Gn4tp. It’s a low-budget way for kids to do something good, think of others over themselves, and in turn take a step toward becoming a better person.

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Hall of Famer and USC Basketball Coach Dawn Staley is encouraging everyone to “Be The Change.”

Photo by Sean Rayford

Circle of Giving Laura Long, a Midlands mom with a 16-year-old daughter, says, “As parents, we all need to start teaching our children at an early age to truly give. Not just going to Walmart with the parents’ money and buying a present. Children need to work for the money or give away a toy that is near and dear to them.”

For Long and her daughter, Katherine, volunteering with Circle of Giving has become a holiday tradition.

“Our family has all we need and so many families struggle to put food on the table —much less presents under the tree,” Katherine says.

Circle of Giving is a joint effort between Eastminster Presbyterian Church and The Cooperative Ministry. Over the holidays, children living in shelters and transitional housing are bussed to the church where they can pick out gifts for their immediate family.

While the goodies are fun, people who take part will tell you the most important aspect of the program has nothing to do presents. During Circle of Giving, young volunteers serve the kids from the shelters as they shop. It opens discussion and enables the kids on both sides to get to know one another.

Katherine Long says, “Children at any age can understand how important it is to help other families.” Studies show Long is right.

Behavior is learned Kelly Mulvey, assistant professor with the Department of Educational Studies at the University of South Carolina, says while toddlers may appear selfish when they grab a toy out of another kid’s hands and proclaim “mine, mine, mine,” that’s not the whole story.

“Studies show even infants don’t like seeing inequality,” Mulvey says.

Communication plays a key role in a child’s early moral development, according to Mulvey.

“If you explain to a child that if they don’t share, it will hurt the other child’s feelings or harm will occur, even young children can use that information to make fair and just decisions,” Mulvey says. Conversely, “If a parent says you must share with this child, but doesn’t explain why the child is being asked to share, the child will have a harder time processing the information.”

Theresa Adams’ 12- year- old son Avery was born with a giving gene. “He’s been ac-

County programs put focus on youth homelessness Chances are, someone in your child’s class is homeless.

This isn’t a trend that’s going away. The number of homeless students identified in Richland School District One and Two has increased annually over the last seven years. Last year, District Two served 554

tive in helping me gather gifts for Operation Christmas Child at church,” says the Lexington mom, “buying gifts for needy kids at Christmas, donating things to Goodwill, and gathering food for food drives at school.”

Avery says: “It makes me feel really good inside — kinda warm — to be able to help people who don’t have much. I just like to help.”

Adams says in her family, it’s not about what you spend, ”It’s as simple as [when] someone is sick, you take them food. That is just what you do.”

Innersole Coach Staley’s playbook also includes her nonprofit called Innersole. Born in poverty in Philadelphia, Pa., Staley recalls how a new pair of sneakers could do a lot toward positive self-esteem and motivation. The confidence that came with her new sneakers and a lot of hard work on the basketball court helped pull her out of poverty. Now she’s hoping that Innersole — which provides donated sneakers to children need them — can help build the same confidence and motivation in a new generation of young people.

homeless students — up from 64 in 2006; District One served 1,200.

Organizations are struggling to keep up with the area’s needs. Sometimes kids are turned away if a shelter doesn’t have space or if the shelter’s mission doesn’t mesh with the child’s specific situation.

You can learn more about homelessness in our area at a free forum sponsored by the Richland Public Library. “Living on The Edge; Youth Homelessness” will be Nov. 17 at 3 p.m. at the main branch; a second event will be held in March. Learn more at richlandlibrary.com.

Staley says she’s blown away by the number of kids who have collected sneakers with their parents’ help and encouragement.

“Innersole went deeper than someone helping someone else who was less fortunate,” she says. “It’s changing generations, parents showing their kids something a little different ... it’s giving first.”

Staley’s three-stall garage is now a shoe warehouse thanks to moms like Kellah Webster. Webster, a big fan of Staley’s, used Innersole as a teaching opportunity when her nieces and nephews visited her family’s Lowcountry home a few months ago.

She loaded the kids into the car and went sneaker shopping. When one of her nieces became enamored with a pair of sparkly, silver sneakers, Webster explained, “It’s not about us ... that’s not what we’re doing today.

The point of the trip is not about you.”

Kids learn many things: how to make a jump shot, how to beat the hottest video game on their iPad and how to nuke fast food in the microwave. They can also learn how to lend a hand up to others, how to care for others in need and share their good fortune with the less fortunate. After all, as Teresa Adams says, “It’s just what you do.”

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activities

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.

Cottle Strawberry Farm EdVenture is the South’s largest children’s museum.

Photo by Daniel Coston

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 all4funbouncehouses.com Rents bounce houses and slides.

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

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

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

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

Chuck E. Cheese’s 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.

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.

City of Columbia Parks & Recreation

Columbia Children’s Theatre

columbiasc.net/parksandrec

3400 Forest Dr, 691-4548 columbiachildrenstheatre.com Professional theater company for young audiences and families.

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

Columbia Marionette Theatre

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

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

Columbia Arts Academy

Columbia Museum of Art

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.

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 sessions to its summer camps and school programs.

Colonial Life Arena

Columbia Blowfish 254-3474, blowfishbaseball.com Take ‘em out to the ballgame: During

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

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

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

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

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

Frankie’s Fun Park 140 Parkridge Dr., 781-2342 frankiesfunpark.com This Harbison-area entertainment center packs three go-kart tracks, three 18-hole mini-golf courses, batting cages, bumper boats, an arcade, a 5,000-square foot multi-tiered laser tag arena and a super-tall drop zone

10 activities that says “In your face, gravity!” into 14 acres filled with fun for all ages. What, do you hate fun or something?

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

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

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

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

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

Lexington County Soccer Club lexingtoncountysoccerclub.org Live in Lexington 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 Gym 2005 N. Beltline Blvd., 738-1115 thelittlegym.com The Little Gym is an experiential learning and physical development center offering children’s physical activities centered on movement, music and learning.

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

The Mad Platter

Owens Field Skate Park

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

activities 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 a 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.

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

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

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

Good trout fishing, too, if your wee ones are into that.

Samurai Karate Studio samuraikaratestudio.net Offers classes for children and adults, as well as conducting strangerdanger and anti-bully workshops.

Sesquicentennial State Park 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.

South Carolina State Museum

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 792-7298, talbotswimschool.com.

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

Topspin Racquet and Swim Club

topspinsc.com Clay tennis courts in Lexington offering family clinics.

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

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

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

ENDLESS PIZZA ENDLESS VALUE FREE $11.99 2 CAN DINE FOR

KID’S BUFFET

with each purchase of an Adult Buffet

Valid at Columbia restaurants. Coupon must be presented at time of purchase. May not be combined with any other coupon, discount or promotion. Coupon may not be reproduced, transferred or sold. Internet distribution strictly prohibited. No cash value. Valid for kids 10 and under. Limit 1 coupon per party, per visit.

Offer ends 12/31/13.

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COLUMBIA

6120 St. Andrews Rd. (803) 750-5900

Offer includes 2 Adult Buffets and 2 Regular Drinks

Valid at Columbia restaurants. Coupon must be presented at time of purchase. May not be combined with any other coupon, discount or promotion. Coupon may not be reproduced, transferred or sold. Internet distribution strictly prohibited. No cash value. Limit 1 coupon per party, per visit. Offer ends 12/31/13.

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WOODHILL MALL 141-A Pelham Dr. (803) 776-8900

SAND HILL STATION 715 Fashion Dr. Ste. 4 (803) 419-8982

BUFFET · FUNDRAISERS · TO GO CATERING · BIRTHDAY PARTIES

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TM

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health

Holiday Angst Is Your Stress Affecting Your Kids?

By Heather Green

F

all. It’s one big holiday extravaganza. From Halloween candy to holiday shopping, how many months of gluttony and overspending must one family endure? Add in the parties, trickor-treating, school recitals, office gatherings, and other obligations and the stress level multiplies. What parents may not realize is how children are influenced by their stress.

Dr. Jenny Savitz-Smith, a licensed professional counselor, says that children easily pick up on parental stress and understand that something is off. “A child may sense that their parent is stressed or unhappy and may think it is something that the child did wrong. In some cases, children may act out more by becoming more angry or sad in reaction to their parents’ emotions.”

Savitz-Smith suggests not putting too much pressure on yourself and family dur-

“I am usually worrying about some combination of time, money and guilt. Somehow I am both a perfectionist and a sloppy procrastinator.”

— Molly Ledford

ing the holiday season and cautions parents to look out for erratic mood swings and temper tantrums. These may be symptoms that the holiday season is too overwhelming and stressful for your child.

The stressors are easy to identify: memories of idyllic holidays of your youth and wanting to create that same picturepostcard memory for your children, time pressures, financial demands running headlong into financial realities, and the inherent pressures of family — sometimes broken ones, sometimes non-traditional ones, sometimes interfaith ones — that often reveal inherent conflicts.

Solutions can be hard to come by, harder still to stick to.

Stay on Schedule Like adults, children get stressed when their schedules and structured days are ex-

Molly Ledford, mom to two school-aged kids, likes to help her children work on their Halloween costumes.

“Parents often try too hard to recreate memories with their own children. Trying to make it perfect can often add so much anxiety that the fun is lost from the holiday.”

— Dr. Jennifer Savitz-Smith tremely altered. Melissa Sanderson, mother of two, believes staying on schedule is important. “Sometimes I find that, like me, the kids are exhausted from trying to make it to all the fun events that go along with these great holidays,” she says. “So, moods start swinging and they aren’t their normal chipper selves!”

Keeping children on routine helps ease the fatigue and irritability caused by too many holiday activities. Like Sanderson, Graham Duncan, a divorced dad, tries to limit his daughter’s holiday stress by keeping life as normal as possible, no matter how busy life is around them.

“Friday night is movie night so we try our best to stick to that even if we’re away from home,” he says.

Having to decline a few holiday parties and activities in order to stick to a family routine may ease stress for everyone.

Choose a few fun holiday activities and invitations and then allow some family downtime to recoup.

Set a budget and expectations to meet it When did gift giving morph into thousands of dollars of debt? Before setting your alarm for Black Friday, make sure you have a budget in mind. Consistently talk to your children about gift expectations and the amount of money that gifts cost. Setting those expectations early can save both you and your child a lot of holiday stress. Dr. Savitz-Smith says less may be better. “Children do not need an inordinate amount of money spent on them. If parents stay within a budget, it will cause less stress and less tension in the home.”

Be Realistic Starting out the holiday season with too many unrealistic expectations of a perfect holiday with glistening snow and pumpkin-spice perfection only leads to holiday hangovers. Molly Ledford, mom to two school-aged kids, says togetherness is most important in her family. “Helping the kids figure out how to make their Halloween costumes, watching the Thanksgiving parade (and trying to hide that the school marching bands move me to tears), wearing hats and sweaters, celebrating the love we all have for each other” is what matters most.

health

Actual patient of Vista Smiles of Columbia

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health

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.

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

Advanced Dentistry Columbia

Carolina Pediatrics

Chrysostom Family Dentistry

1701 St. Julian Place, 254-6763 advanceddentistrycolumbia.com Super-friendly, family owned practice led by Dr. Nicholas Gee.

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

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

Ballentine Pediatrics

Carolina Teen Health

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

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 hub with information on everything from child-care center licensing to Head Start programs. Also see related site scchildcare.org.

Chapin Family Practice

Carolina Children’s Dentistry

1612 Chapin Rd., 345-3414

7701 Trenholm Rd., 736-6000 carolinachildrensdentistry.com

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

City of Columbia Community Gardens columbiasc.net/communitygardens Five-by-12-foot publicly owned plots available for lease to residents and organizations. Cost is $20 per year.

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

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

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

At Heathwood Hall, your child fits in precisely because she can

stand out.

Come see what you can expect from a Heathwood education Fall Open House Sunday, Nov. 10 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Columbia’s age three through grade 12 independent school where students learn to expect more.

heathwood.org

Come Celebrate 10 Years of Discovery and Imagination

Friday, November 8th ~ 6-9pm Enter a world of kings and queens, shining knights and fire-breathing dragons as EdVenture transforms into a magical kingdom of storybook dreams for children and their grown-ups.

Rub the genie’s lamp and travel to exotic lands filled with whimsical crafts and balloon art, magical face painting, puppetry, live animals and performers from your favorite fables and fairytales. Dine on kid-friendly cuisine fit for a king, marvel at magic tricks, and prance at the royal dance party. Grab a coach and don’t be late!

EdVenture is turning 10! Purchase tickets at www.edventure.org. $35 per person 211 Gervais St. | edventure.org

16 health Eat Smart Move More South Carolina

Hutchinson Family Dentistry

Midlands Orthopedics

Providence Northeast Family

209 W. Main St., 359-0566 lexingtonscdentistry.com

1910 Blanding St., 256-4107 midlandsortho.com

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

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

Kids First Dental

Milestones Pediatrics

Rice Creek Family Dentistry

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

120 Wildewood Park Dr., 788-7882

Family Medicine Centers of South Carolina

The Kids Group

eatsmartmovemoresc.org

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

Five Points Pediatric & Walk-in Care

Moore Orthopaedic Clinic

206 Medical Cir., 796-9200 thekidsgroup.com

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

Kool Smiles

Northeast Children’s Dentistry

5422 Forest Dr., 753-8064 mykoolsmiles.com

147 Summit Cir., 865-1421 northeastchildrensdentistry.com

Lake Murray Pediatric Dentistry

Palmetto Health

740 Old Lexington Hwy., 345-2483

Lakeside Pediatrics

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

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

Girls on the Run

Lexington Family Practice

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

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.

Dr. Samuel J. Marsh Pediatric Dentistry 2302 Bush River Rd., 798-8675 wemakekidssmile.com

Medcare Urgent Care Center 110 Medical Cir., 509-7316 medcareurgentcare.com

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

Pediatric After Hours Care 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

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

Another of Columbia’s top-flight hospital systems.

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

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.

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

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

South Carolina Dental Center 2020 Laurel St., 254-4543 southcarolinadentalcenter.com

South Lake Family Dental 1223 S. Lake Dr., 520-5580 southlakedmd.com

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

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

USC Family Medicine Center 3209 Colonial Blvd., 434-6113 familymedicine.med.sc.edu

Offers complete care for children and adults with a focus on prevention.

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

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

Wellspring Family Medicine 114 Gateway Corporate Blvd., 865-9655 wellspringfmed.com

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

18

Calendar

close, listen to the eerie sounds of an owl call and find out what owl pellets are made of.

LEGO Madness

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 Events section at free-times.com/events and select the Children & Teens category for weekly listings or visit the websites of institutions offering children’s programs.

ONGOING Aladdin Columbia Marionette Theatre cmtpuppet.org Through Dec. 16. Shows on Saturdays and third Mondays. An impoverished young ne’er-do-well rubs a magic lamp, befriends a genie.

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

Family Storytime Richland Library richlandlibrary.com Held on various days at all branches of the Richland Library. Call your local branch for meeting times.

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 Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Half an hour of storytelling, puppetry, music

and movement activities, finger plays and more. For kids 12 months-5 years.

Toddler Take Over EdVenture Children’s Museum edventure.org First Monday of every month. Kids ages 1 to 5 play freely throughout the museum with kids of their own size.

NOVEMBER Backyard Buds: Pumpkin Palooza Riverbanks Zoo riveranks.org Nov. 7. Pumpkins are a special kind of fruit. Discover how they grow, learn about other squash plants, and all the things you can make with a pumpkin.

For ages 3-4.

Backyard Buds: Silly Tree Art Riverbanks Zoo riveranks.org Nov. 14, 21. Explore how trees are changing colors and losing leaves as we take twigs, leaves and seeds to make some silly art. For ages 3-4.

A Collection of Memories Columbia Museum of Art columbiamuseum.org Nov. 10. Free photo collage program.

Discovery Day: All About Owls Riverbanks Zoo riveranks.org Nov. 6, 9. Owls are some of the most unusual birds, and this class is dedicated to their amazing abilities. Learn about their nighttime activities and which types of owls you can listen for right here in South Carolina. For ages 2-5.

Discovery Day: Autumn Harvest Riverbanks Zoo riveranks.org Nov. 20, 23. Autumn is such a busy time of year for people and animals alike. Discover what all the hustle and bustle is about this fall at the Zoo! For ages 2-5.

Richland Library, Eastover Branch richlandlibrary.com Nov. 21. Create robots, cities, creatures and more using LEGOs.

Movers & Shakers Richland Library, Main Branch richlandlibrary.com Nov. 15. Get ready to move and shake, shake, shake while listening to stories, songs and more.

Nature Explorers: Nature’s Lunchbox Discovery Day: Nature’s Lunchbox Riverbanks Zoo riveranks.org Nov. 16. What do animals in the garden eat all winter? Explore what nature has packed in its lunchbox. Each kid will “try out” different types of bird beaks to determine what different birds eat. For ages 5-10.

Fable & Frolic EdVenture Children’s Museum edventure.org Nov. 9. Celebrate EdVenture’s 10th birthday with an exhilarating evening of enchantment. Join us for an adult excursion into the land of fantasy, fairytales and fables.

Riverbanks Zoo riverbanks.org Nov. 16. What do animals in the garden eat all winter? We will explore what nature has packed in its lunchbox as we have a bird-beak buffet. Each kid will “try out” different types of bird beaks to determine what different birds eat. For ages 5-10.

Planet Hopping Harbison Theatre, 407-5011 harbisontheatre.org Nov. 15-16. Kid’s music by Lunch Money combined with the puppet talents of Belle et Bete in a musical about outer space.

Gladys’ Gang: My Favorite Things

Riverbanks Zoo Lights Before Christmas

Columbia Museum of Art columbiamuseum.org Nov. 6. 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. For ages 2-5.

Riverbanks Zoo riverbanks.org Nov. 22-Dec. 30. The Zoo will light up each evening with more than one million twinkling lights and countless animated images representing some of Riverbanks’ most loveable residents.

Ho Ho Ho

Snowville

Columbia Children’s Theatre columbiachildrenstheatre.com Nov. 29-Dec. 8. Comedic mayhem with singing and dancing wackiness and tons of audience participation in the classic style of British panto.

EdVenture Children’s Museum edventure.org Nov. 16-Feb. 23. Strap on some ice skates and pack your mittens for a frosty, fun-filled trip to Snowville. Crawl through an ice tunnel, climb a snowcapped mountain, sled down a snowy hill, or visit the Penguin Observation Station.

Hola, Libros!

Richland Library, St. Andrews Branch richlandlibrary.com Nov. 4. Bring the family to enjoy bilingual stories and songs.

Junior Naturalist Fall Trek Sesquicentennial State Park scwf.org Nov. 9. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Ladybug Studios at Richland Library Wheatley Richland Library, Wheatley Branch richlandlibrary.com Nov. 9. Join Amanda Ladymon, owner of Ladybug Art Studios, and create book inspired art.

Learn About Owls Richland Library, North Main Branch richlandlibrary.com Nov. 12. YOLO: You obviously love owls.

Join a park ranger from Sesquicentennial State Park as we discover the secret lives of owls. See an owl skull up

StoryBook Ball EdVenture Children’s Museum edventure.org Nov. 8. EdVenture’s 10th birthday celebration. Enter a world of kings and queens, shining knights and fire-breathing dragons as EdVenture transforms into a magical kingdom of storybook dreams.

Tiny Taste Buds EdVenture Children’s Museum edventure.org Nov. 1, Nov. 15. Explore the wonderful world of food! It’s never to early to learn about nutrition. Practice making (and eating) healthy snacks in Taste Buds, EdVenture’s cooking lab.

Tiny Tots University: Giggle Science EdVenture Children’s Museum edventure.org Nov. 7. Discover science mixed with a lot of giggles! This educational program will focus on science, art and literacy

19 through fun classroom programs.

Tiny Tots University: Mini Musicians EdVenture Children’s Museum edventure.org Nov. 8. A fun class where children will enjoy music, movement and much more! Children will learn musical skills through singing songs, playing musical games and instruments that reinforce and encourage creative development!

Tiny Tots University: Spanish for Tots EdVenture Children’s Museum edventure.org Nov. 5. Children will focus on introductory vocabulary and practice the language through games, music, puppets, and arts & crafts.

Tiny Tots University: Yoga for Kids EdVenture Children’s Museum edventure.org Nov. 6. Playfully, children will learn a basic set of yoga poses and explore age-appropriate meditation and mindfulness practices.

Tiny Tots University: Zumbatomic EdVenture Children’s Museum edventure.org Nov. 9. This high-energy dance movement class designed for kids is the perfect combination of fitness and fun!

Zumbatomic classes increase focus and coordination skills while boosting their metabolism and selfconfidence.

Toddler Take Over!

Featuring Tales for Tots EdVenture Children’s Museum edventure.org Nov. 4. Toddler Take Over is designed to allow young children to play freely throughout the museum with kids of their own size!

DECEMBER Backyard Buds: Plants are Nature’s Gift Riverbanks Zoo riveranks.org Dec. 5, 12. Use nature’s bounty to create some herbal balms, sachets and dips. Discover all the ways plants are used in our everyday life. For ages 3-4.

Discovery Day: Wonderful Wanderers Riverbanks Zoo riveranks.org Dec. 4, 7. Migration is a remarkable thing that many animals do to survive the cold winter months. From geese to butterflies to whales, we will explore the journeys these wonderful wanderers take! For ages 2-5.

Discovery Day: Wonderful Wanderers Riverbanks Zoo riveranks.org Dec. 18, 21. The North Pole is an incredible place full of ice. Children will learn all about polar bears, wolves, seals and more as they survive truly chilly conditions all year-round. For ages 2-5.

Disney’s Cinderella Kids

Tiny Taste Buds

Town Theatre towntheatre.com Dec. 2-13. Poor Cinderella is endlessly mistreated by her wicked stepmother and stepsisters and denied a chance to go to the Royal Ball. With a little help from her mice friends, and a lot of help from her Fairy Godmother, Cinderella goes to the ball, meets the Prince, and falls in love!

EdVenture Children’s Museum edventure.org Dec. 6. Explore the wonderful world of food! It’s never to early to learn about nutrition. Practice making (and eating) healthy snacks in Taste Buds, EdVenture’s cooking lab.

Family Night at EdVenture EdVenture Children’s Museum edventure.org Dec. 10. Second Tuesday of every month.

Festivals of Sharing EdVenture Children’s Museum edventure.org Dec. 7. Multicultural event for children will feature holiday celebrations around the world. Discover Lunar New Year, Carnival, Las Posadas, Epiphany and Feast of St. Nicholas through activities and performances.

Gilded Creatures Columbia Museum of Art columbiamuseum.org Dec. 8. Free program focused on snowy landscapes.

Gladys’ Gang: It’s a Bluesy Winter Columbia Museum of Art columbiamuseum.org Dec. 4. Learn all about value and color in the galleries. Then, in the studios, make your own wintery masterpiece filled with the color blue. For ages 2-5.

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

New Year’s Eve at Noon EdVenture Children’s Museum edventure.org Dec. 31. Columbia’s only ball drop for kids.

Santa’s Gingerbread Jamboree EdVenture Children’s Museum edventure.org Dec. 14. Bring the whole family to decorate cookies with Santa in a holiday winter wonderland.

Winter Workshops Columbia Museum of Art columbiamuseum.org Dec. 21. Three different fun, creative workshops for kids: Snow Day (grades 1-3), All That Glitters is Gold (grades 4-6) and Glass Works (grades 7-12).

JANUARY Gladys’ Gang: 1, 2, 3, Create With Me! Columbia Museum of Art columbiamuseum.org Jan. 8. Slimy, smooth, rough! Learn about the different types of textures in the galleries. Then, in the studios, create a textured piece using an impasto technique! For ages 2-5.

It’s Black and White Columbia Museum of Art columbiamuseum.org Jan. 12. Make a black-and-white-patterned scratchboard.

Movers & Shakers Richland Library, Main Branch richlandlibrary.com Jan. 17. Get ready to move and shake, shake, shake while listening to stories, songs and more.

Tiny Taste Buds EdVenture Children’s Museum edventure.org Jan. 3. Explore the wonderful world of food! It’s never to early to learn about nutrition. Practice making (and eating) healthy snacks in Taste Buds, EdVenture’s cooking lab.

Toddler Take Over!

Featuring Tales for Tots EdVenture Children’s Museum edventure.org Jan. 6. Toddler Take Over is designed to allow young children to play freely throughout the museum with kids of their own size!

Tut’s Tea Party South Carolina State Museum scmuseum.org Dec. 7. 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

Winter Fest South Carolina State Museum scmuseum.org Dec. 21-Jan. 4. Highlights of Winter Fest include special movie screenings, musical performances, seasonal Star Labs, holiday crafts and, of course, several visits from Santa himself.

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22

learning

Holiday Gifts for Teachers

The Five-Minute Thank You

Keep it Simple, Inexpensive and Personal

Pressed for time? Here are quick grab-and-go ideas:

By Amanda Ladymon

• Grab a gift card at a local retail store, restaurant or while grocery shopping.

Publix has racks with dozens of local and chain gift cards right by the front door.

T

he holidays are when we say thank you to everyone who has made a difference in our lives, which makes this time of year special but equally stressful. Hard-working teachers are making that difference every day. So, how do we show our appreciation for their services with limited time, money or resources?

Keep it simple.

A 2008 holiday stress poll by the American Psychological Association showed that more than eight out of 10 Americans anticipate stress during the holiday season.

Households with children anticipate even more stress than those without.

The main source of this stress? Money and gift buying.

Depending on your child’s age and what type of school they attend, there could be a lot of teachers — homeroom, art, gym, foreign language, music — to thank. Some parents choose to focus one gift on the homeroom teacher, while others divvy out a little something for everyone.

The choice is entirely up to you and no hurt feelings will result from either decision.

Most of the time, teachers pay no notice to what their peers received from parents.

Deana Rennick, mom and high school art teacher, says she is “simply happy to get a thank you note.”

If you prefer to send a gift, make it small, simple and inexpensive. Send the same gift to all the teachers in your child’s life; it’s OK. So, what do teachers want? Local teachers offer several ideas: • If you are short on time and budget, then a handwritten thank you card is always nice. Many teachers appreciate the consideration and simplicity of a card.

• Another quick option is a $5 or $10 gift

For nontraditional giftgivers, crafty types or parents who have extra time on their hands, Pinterest is the first place to start in searching for that unique handmade idea.

card to places where they can purchase supplies for their classrooms such as Staples, Office Depot or Barnes & Noble. In some cases, homeroom moms band together and collect money from each parent to purchase a gift for the teacher. Often the teacher is aware of this arrangement and “gives a list of preferred places they like to shop and eat, or a preferred gift they would like,” according to Jill Whitaker, a mother of three. Bare minimum, you give a cash donation to the homeroom mom, the teacher gets what they asked for and everyone’s happy.

• For nontraditional gift-givers, crafty types or parents who have extra time on their hands, Pinterest is the first place to start in searching for that unique handmade idea. But avoid making items that are large or potentially hazardous to keep in the classroom. Some teachers don’t like the clutter of “stuff” in their room, so stick with something like a holiday ornament for the tree or something that is child-safe and easy to store away for certain times of the year.

• Another way to give is by volunteering with the class. For example, a local librarian mom donates one hour per week of story time. A local mother of three shared a gift idea that also aids education. In her child’s homeroom class, each student brought in a

• Buy a box of 20 thank you or holiday cards (stick with general holiday themes) with matching envelopes and make it thoughtful by including a handwritten note from you and your child.

• Buy mini-truffle four-piece boxes. They sometimes include a little place to write a thank you on top.

book from home, writing their name and a brief note in the book. The books were then donated to help build the classroom library.

It’s a special and unique way for kids to participate in a gift for the teacher.

Of course, you can never go wrong with baked goods. Hint: chocolate.

No matter which option you choose, keep it simple, practical and affordable. Teachers do not expect gifts to be super elaborate or expensive — really, they don’t expect to receive gifts at all. Sometimes a simple thank you is all it takes.

learning

The emblems, seals and other marks used to identify the City of Columbia, its departments, programs and initiatives are the property of the City and may not be reproduced in any form without the written express permission of the City. Additionally, any use of these emblems, seals and other marks must be in strict conformance with graphics guidelines as adopted by the City of Columbia.

Friday, December 13 at 7pm Saturday, December 14 at 4pm & 7pm Sunday, December 15 at 4pm & 7pm

at SHANDON BAPTIST CHURCH

SHANDON BAPTIST CHURCH | 5250 FOREST DRIVE, COLUMBIA, SC 29206 | 803.782.1300 | SHANDON.ORG

24

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

Hammond Plus Programs

4801 Hardscrabble Rd., 788-6894 aimhigheducationsc.com

854 Galway Lane, 695-8624 hammondschool.org

Customized after-school education programs and tutoring.

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

The Afterschool Zone theafterschoozone.com

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

Aspire Early Learning Academy

Head Start 1400 St. Andrews Rd., 898-2550

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

1103 B Ave. (West Columbia), 834-4976 aspireearlylearningacademy.com

Lango South Carolina

Pre-K program using the Creative Curriculum, a nationally approved curriculum based on the ideas of the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

langosouthcarolina.com

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

Be Great Academy

The Language Buzz

500 Gracern Road, 231-3100 begreatacademy.com

1921 Henderson St., 252-7002 thelanguagebuzz.com

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

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.

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

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

Brookland Academy 1054 Sunset Blvd., 796-7525 brooklandbaptist.org

Mathnasium mathnasium.com

Offers math help for students from grades 2 through 12.

My Amigos myamigosbec.org

Child development center operated

by Brookland Baptist Church; for children ages six weeks to 4. Offers 4-K.

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

Challenger Learning Center

107 Westpark Blvd., 798-3001

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

Pearson Professional Centers Offers GMAT testing.

Personal Pathways to Success scpathways.org

Provides educational and career planning resources.

Provost Academy South Carolina sc.provostacademy

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.

REACH reachgroup.org

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

glenforest.org

Richland County First Steps

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

rcfirststeps.org

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

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incubator

HARBISON THEATRE AT MIDLANDS TECHNICAL COLLEGE

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Planet Hopping ht@mtc

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November 15, 2013 | 7:00 P.M. • November 16, 2013 | 2:00 P.M. “Kindie” rock band Lunch Money plays live with acclaimed puppeteers Kimi Maeda and Lyon Hill of Belle et Bête in this family-length puppet musical, a one-of-a-kind show developed as part of the Harbison Theatre @ MTC Performance Incubator. Featuring a night full of rock ‘n’ roll puppetry for kids and their grown-ups, this innovative show will take you on a rocket ship voyage from earth to the stars, exploring the mysteries of the planets and the importance of friendship.

Backstage Access at http://www.harbisontheatre.org/behind-the-scenes-with-planet-hopping/

Tickets: $12 HarbisonTheatre.org @HarbisonTheatre 803-407-5011

life

26

Remember that there is no perfect holiday.

Holiday Horror Stories

I’m not the only parent who knocks back a few during the holidays. Josephine Bogart remembers one December in her pre-school years when her mother told her father Charles to take a can of spray snow and decorate the windows. He did as he was told, merrily spraying holiday cheer on the front window of their home, spelling out “Merry Christmas Charles” for all the neighbors to enjoy. (No, we aren’t using real names here!)

Then there was the Christmas I spent triple to have that one Very Important Toy overnighted to my home by a savvy Ebayer who knew slackers who’d waited too late would pay through the nose to avoid ruining Christmas.

A friend of mine found herself in the same bind, but got some great advice. The toy her son had to have wouldn’t arrive until the day after the big day. “Miranda?” her mom asked.

“Do you remember the Christmas when y’all were 4 and 6 and Mimi and Pop-Pop came and surprised you?”

My friend remembered that happy holiday well. “Sweetheart, that wasn’t Christmas.

They couldn’t get there until the 27th. We lied.” Was my friend stupid? How did she miss Christmas? Her mother explained, “All you have to do is keep the kids away from television and people for a few days. They’ll never know.” Try it. They aren’t as smart as you think they are.

Drunks, Fights, Jail, Yay! It’s the Holidays!

By Anne Postic

W

hich is worse? A blowout fight with the in-laws or a blowout baby diaper in Santa’s lap?

How about a loud toddler requesting “Copacabana” in church? Or you saying the worst thing at the worst time, totally by accident, as your family looks on in horror?

Which is worse? Hiding Dad’s arrest from the kids on Christmas Day or postponing the holiday for a couple of days, because the kids will never know?

Some of those things are too hard (or disgusting) to talk about, even years later, but some people don’t mind sharing the memories.

My worst Christmas ended with me in the bathtub sipping (okay, guzzling) wine and watching Grey Gardens on my laptop. The details are none of your business. My worst Thanksgiving? There was vomit. Also not a story I care to share.

I will share a story about a holiday disaster we avoided, thanks to the clear thinking of my husband. I have a thing about Santa Claus. He’s real, he’s awesome, and he occasionally needs a little help from parents. My husband didn’t always agree with my view, so I had to go overboard to prove how great Santa could be.

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring ... except me.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds ... while I chewed carrots and spit them on the sidewalk in front of our house. The sight of chewed carrots would prove that reindeer had been there and enjoyed the heck out of the snacks we provided. My husband tucked a newspaper under his arm and made the same joke he always makes after a big meal.

His droll little mouth drawn up like a bow ... to the bathroom he went, not the slightest bit slow. But I stopped him. What would be even more impressive on the front lawn than chunks of chewed carrot? Post-digested carrot, of course! My idea was brilliant, the perfect way to make this Christmas epic, as the kids say.

What to their wondering eyes would appear? Not a sleigh, not St. Nick, but the poop of reindeer!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf ... but my husband wisely refused. As my little round belly shook with laughter like a bowl full of jelly, he was steadfast. I kept pushing, until he reminded me that Daddy in jail on Christmas morning would be way worse than the absence of reindeer poop on the lawn. I relented.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, and filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk ... wait. I was the jerk. I was sent to bed, knowing I had narrowly avoided a lump of coal in my stocking.

Real Advice to Avoid Holiday Hell • Plan ahead. The younger your children, the more time you should allow for mishaps.

• Talk things over early with your partner, so you know each other’s holiday expectations.

Never assume.

• Don’t drink too much.

• Drink just enough.

• Be kind but assertive with grandparents and other relatives about what works for your family.

• Secure the tree to the top of the car, so you don’t lose it on the highway. When you get home, check the tree stand twice for leaks and stability.

• Book childcare early to make sure you have enough relief during what can be a stressful season.

• Enjoy your family and friends. The perfect gift or meal doesn’t make a perfect holiday. People do.

• Remember that there is no perfect holiday. — Anne Postic

28

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., 796-9911 threeriversbehavioral.org Provides comprehensive residential treatment for children and adolescents providing treatment for psychiatric and chemical dependency related illnesses.

University of South Carolina Speech and Hearing Research Center 1601 St. Julian Pl., 77-2614, sph.sc.edu/shc/ Provides a variety of evaluation and treatment programs for individuals of all ages.

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.

Winter Workshops

Saturday, December 21 | 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Engage kids in learning and spark creativity! $75 / $60 for Dual/Family Members and above.

Snow Day!

All That Glitters is Gold

Glass Works | Teen Academy

Students create a winter wonderland as they make their own snow globes and ceramic snowflakes.

Students explore the CMA’s golden works of art and create their own clay lanterns and gilded animal paintings.

Students incorporate stained glass and Polaroid photography to make a unique piece of artwork.

1st – 3rd Grade

4th – 6th Grade

7th - 12th Grade

Passport to Art

Come get your Passport to Art! This FREE program for families features a new hands-on art project each month. After spending time in our open studios, explore our galleries at your own leisure or join us for the Family Tour at 1:00 p.m. Held the second Sunday of the month from noon until 3:00 p.m.

A Collection of Memories

Gilded Creatures

It’s Black and White

Create your own narrative photo-collage piece. Next enjoy a themed family tour of CMA’s exhibition, Annie Leibovitz: Pilgrimage at 1:00pm or take a self-guided tour of the Museum.

Warm up in the Museum and join us to make snowy landscapes speckled with golden creatures. Also enjoy a themed family tour at 1:00pm or take a self-guided tour of the Museum.

Make a black and white patterned masterpiece using scratchboard. Then enjoy a themed family tour at 1:00pm or take a selfguided tour of the Museum.

Sunday, November 10 | Noon - 3:00 p.m. Sunday, December 8 | Noon - 3:00 p.m.

Sunday, January 12 | Noon - 3:00 p.m.

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

family finance

30

Two Little Letters, One Big Message: Learning to Say ‘No’

By Kevin Oliver

N

o. It’s such a small word, but it can be a big deal.

That’s especially true when the fall signals the coming of cooler weather and the inexorable rush to the gift-giving and giftreceiving season.

Children in particular can be sucked into “I want” mode much more easily this time of year with all the new games, toys and other products advertised for them. So as a parent, it’s important to know when and why you sometimes need to use those two little letters.

Financial adviser Ben Rast of The Rast Group in Columbia says managing the gift monster comes down to setting expectations and sticking to them.

“I’m a fan of lists,” he says. “Prepare an initial list — it’ll be a long one.

Go through it with them and whittle it down to what they really want.” The process teaches children how to make choices, just as you do at the grocery store with your lists that help you spend less money on impulse items as you

A Time to Learn, Not Just to Spend Ever wonder if you’re the only one out there worrying about your holiday budget?

If you cruise the local blogosphere, you’ll find yourself in good company.

Lexington mom blogger Kati Horton of LexingtonMommy.com says that her readers had a pretty good discussion about this very topic last year.

“We had a conversation about how to handle presents on the blog last Christmas,” Horton says.

“There were several suggestions, but they all boiled down to putting parameters on it ahead of time, setting proper expectations for your children and not letting them think they are getting 57 presents under the tree.” Horton also suggests turning the big purchases into opportunities for personal growth.

“If there is something they really want and it is expensive, even if you do have the

“To enable them to turn into a responsible human being, sometimes you have to say no even if you want to give them everything they want.” shop for the essentials.

“It is an issue of self-control,” Rast explains. “You can acquire that different ways, but understanding that you can’t have something today, you have to wait for it — that is where the parents want to wind up with their kids.” The key is to make this a year-round effort, not just during the holidays, so that it doesn’t come as a shock or a shift in policy from mom and dad.

“Teaching kids ‘don’t buy now, wait’ doesn’t come naturally to them,” Rast adds.

“Giving them an incentive for that waiting is a good opportunity to develop that skill.”

He doesn’t have a problem with parents simply saying ‘No’, either.

“We are not here to be their friend, but to be their parent,” Rast says. “To enable them to turn into a responsible human being, sometimes you have to say no even if you want to give them everything they want.”

The issue is more complex than just a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer, though.

“Budgeting for the holidays should be a little flexible, not like budgeting for most things,” Rast says.

“Have guidelines but don’t make them inflexible — there has to be leeway because, let’s face it, we’re dealing with the individuals on earth we are closest to and love the most.” He adds that it is wise to appoint a ‘captain’ or point person in the family to do the majority of the financial stuff.

“Typically in a marriage there is someone more capable with budgeting, so they should be the ones keeping track,” Rast says. “There is room for compromise, even some errors, but contain them and you’ll be fine. Take an approach with guidelines that are comfortable and that you can afford, and allow for a process of adjustment.”

money to buy it, there is an opportunity to turn the purchase into a life lesson,” She says. “Number one, they are not the only 13-year-old without a cell phone. Number two, you can allow them to earn their own money to buy it.”

Horton concludes that mom and dad need to be the decision makers in this instance, and stick with the decision.

“Parents should never feel guilty about a decision you feel strongly about, like this one,” she says. “Children should know that the world is not going to tell you ‘yes’ for the rest of your life.” — Kevin Oliver

31

rt Families Midlands’ Magazine for Sma

FALL 2013

Caring Kids Moving from Me-Me-Me to Helping Others

learning

ay Gifts inside: Holid for Teachers

religion

life

family finance

Learning Holiday Merry Hanukkah Horror Stories to Say ‘No’

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religion & spirituality

Merry Hanukkah!

Celebrating the Holidays in Mixed-Faith Households

By Anna Gelbman Edmonds

F

or parents of different cultural and spiritual backgrounds, determining which holidays to observe and how to celebrate them can be a challenge. How can interfaith families navigate religious holidays with their children and maintain peace on earth?

Deb and David Tedeschi are raising their children in a Jewish home.

Photo by Sean Rayford

ally religious holidays with family.

“We gear the religious holidays toward the children,” says Spencer.

The Herrings believe it’s best to expose their children to a diversity of religions, encourage their curiosity and give them a neutral base from which to determine their own spiritual path when they’re older.

Barbara Soblo, 51, is an atheist. Her family celebrates traditionally religious holidays in secular ways, with Christmas trees, Easter baskets and family dinners. She and her husband are science teachers. They and their two children also make up their own holidays, such as practice Thanksgivings (to stretch the stomach in preparation for the real thing), random full moon parties, and unbirthdays. They also celebrate school holidays and science-related phenomena.

“The pagan celebrations — solstices, equinoxes and moons — are random excuses to eat cake,” she says.

“Food is a large part of all holidays,” says Rev. Roy Mitchell, Chaplain and Director of Church Relations at Columbia College. “Food was how the ancients communed with God or the gods.” Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Baha’is and people of nearly all faiths incorporate food into their celebrations. Food will always be a way to bring families together on holidays, no matter what their belief system.

“It’s about raising children consistently,” says David Tedeschi. “Make a plan and stick to it.”

Holidays can be stressful under the best of circumstances, but couples with different religious and cultural backgrounds often face added challenges. Here are some strategies to help get through the holidays peacefully: “We live Jewishly,” says David Tedeschi, 49. He is Catholic and his wife Deb, 46, is Jewish. David didn’t convert to Judaism, but the household functions as a Jewish home.

He attends temple regularly with Deb and their two sons, Louis 13, and Daniel, 11, but goes to church with his parents when he visits them.

There are no Christmas trees or Easter baskets in the Tedeschi home, but they enjoy those things when visiting with David’s family. “It’s a sacrifice sometimes,” David says.

“I have felt it or feel it more [at some times] than at other times, but I’m very happy with the choices we’ve made.”

The boys are kept home from school in observance of the high holy days of Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah.

“We made the decision that raising the children in one faith was better than raising them with no faith at all,” says Deb.

Spencer and Keagan Herring, both 30, of Irmo, were each raised in Protestant homes.

Today Keagan’s leanings are agnostic while Spencer studies all religions. Several of his tattoos are religious symbols; icons, such as Buddha and Virgin Mary, are displayed around their home. “I take a little bit from all of them,” says Spencer.

The Herrings have friends and family members of various religious faiths. Sharing the holidays with them is an opportunity for their daughter Kira, 5, to experience and learn from all of them.

Expecting their second child in February, the family celebrates Christmas with a tree and presents because it’s fun but they don’t actively bring the traditional Christmas story into their home. Kira is learning that it’s fundamentally a Christian holiday, but that’s not the focus in their home. They spend Easter, Christmas and other tradition-

• Communication is key. Don’t assume everyone is on the same page about decorations, traditions, menus and religious services.

• Teach and learn. The more you understand about your spouse’s religion or culture, the more you can appreciate what holds importance and why.

• Blending aspects of the different holidays is wonderful, but don’t expect a full merge. A hybrid experience can be developed over time as you learn what does and does not work.

• Disagreements about holiday traditions are inevitable. When the disagreements are counterproductive or linger year after year, consult a clergyperson or family counselor for help.

Lexington Baptist Church

religion directory

lexingtonbaptist.org

Beth Shalom Synagogue

The Harvest

bethshalomcolumbia.org 5827 N Trenholm Rd., 782-2500

the-harvest.org 4865 Sunset Blvd., 808-6373 Lexington

Bishop Memorial AME Church

308 E. Main St., 359-4146 Lexington

2221 Washington St., 254-6686

Incarnation Lutheran Church

Brookland Baptist Church

www.incarnationlutheran.com 3005 Devine St., 256-2381

www.brooklandbaptist.org 1066 Sunset Blvd., 796-7525

Ebenezer Lutheran Church www.ebenezerlutheran.org 1301 Richland St., 765-9430

First Baptist Church of Lexington fblex.org 415 Barr Rd., 957-0686 Lexington Sunday service: 10:30 a.m.

For more information about our family friendly programs visit our Facebook page: facebook.com/Route66kids.

Islamic Center of Columbia Masjid al-Muslimiin www.almasjid.com 1929 Gervais St., 254-7242

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

stdavidscolumbia.org 605 Polo Rd., 736 0866

Suber Marshall Memorial United Methodist Church subermarshall.org 3900 Live Oak St., 787-2497

Transfiguration Catholic Church

Tree of LIfe Congregation

Shandon Baptist Church

www.lexpreschurch.com 246 Barr Rd., 359-9501

www.shandon.org 5250 Forest Dr., 782-1300

Midtown Fellowship

Shandon Presbyterian Church

tolsc.org 6719 North Trenholm Rd., 787-2182

Trinity Episcopal Cathedral

midtowncolumbia.com 1325 Park St., No. 100, 748-4780

shandonpres.org/ 607 Woodrow St.,771-4408

Newspring Church

Shandon United Methodist Church

newspring.cc 657 Bush River Rd., 803-726-4361

St. David’s Episcopal Church

transfigurationsc.org 306 N. Pines Rd., 735-0512 Blythewood

Saint John Neumann Catholic Church stjohnneumannsc.com 100 Polo Rd., 788-0811

Lexington Presbyterian Church

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www.trinitysc.org 1100 Sumter St., 771-7300

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbia www.uucolumbia.org 2701 Heyward St., 799-0845

shandon-umc.org 3407 Devine St., 256-8383

VIVE Church vivechurch.com 2630 Clemson Rd., 233-2877

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media

Music & DVD Reviews

By Kevin Oliver Don’t come looking for any educational value with this release, but for good clean fun, it’s hard to beat.

Apps for Kids

Mister G ABC Fiesta!

Originator (iOS)

Self-released CD

The Dirty Sock Funtime Band The Dirty Socks Come Clean Self-released CD One of the things I sometimes lament about kid’s music is that there isn’t enough of it that’s comparable to the grownup music I tend to listen to even in the presence of my children, some of which has inappropriate content in the lyrics even if the music’s good.

Enter a band such as New York ensemble the Dirty Sock Funtime Band, whose varied approach resembles the kind of variety band that populates many bars and nightclubs — except for the lyrics, which are aimed squarely at the very underage set.

Appropriately named, the Funtime Band’s sound is full of funky grooves from reggae and rock to R&B and even a little countrymusic twang. They’re more than competent musicians, meaning if you don’t pay attention to the lyrics it’s almost like listening to Sublime or No Doubt when they drop into a ska-like style on a song such as “National Hiccup Day.” It’s those lyrics that will keep your children from doing the eye-roll thing when this album comes on the car stereo; how can they possibly tune out when the band starts singing about “Garbage Bugs” or “Robots From the Fourth Dimension”?

Want to introduce Spanish to your kids in a way that won’t make them feel like they are learning something in the process? Parent’s Choice award winner Mister G has made a career in kids music by offering bilingual, entertaining songs, and his latest is another wonderful collection that straddles English and Spanish in a fun way.

Centered around a theme of literacy, songs such as “Quiero Leer” (“I Want to Read”) celebrate reading as a way into other worlds of stories and characters. The title track features a call and response SpanishEnglish listing of terms — “read,” “write,” “stories,” “books” — set to a lilting Caribbean rhythm. But there’s fun too. Other songs such as “Vamos A La Playa” celebrate days at the beach, while “Bongo Bongo” is an ode to the healing, relaxing power of music.

Mister G expresses his thoughts over an intoxicating mixture of Caribbean, reggae and acoustic folk that’s sure to reach the involuntary muscle centers in children, making them move and dance even as the language lessons sink in.

Liberty’s Kids: The Complete Series DVD Mill Creek Entertainment If you have been lucky enough to discover this animated series on local television’s Cookie Jar TV segments any Saturday morning, you already know how entertaining and historically accurate it is.

This new DVD collects all 40 episodes of the show, which revolves around two very different teenagers

Endless Alphabet ($4.99) Ages: 3 - 7

This fun and beautifully designed app is sure to be a hit with young children and parents alike.

Kids will enjoy hearing letters make their sounds as they drag and drop them into a variety of interesting words. After a word has been spelled, silly monsters illustrate its meaning in a way that children can easily understand. Endless Alphabet provides an entertaining way for children to grow their vocabularies while practicing letter recognition and letter sounds. — Georgia Coleman, Richland Library

Graphing Calculator ($1.99) Appcylon (iOS) Ages: For teens

One of Time’s Top 10 Back-toSchool iPhone Applications, this free app allows students to ditch the bulky, expensive graphing calculators of the past. Students can graph multiple equations at a time and email results. A free alternative for math students. — Heather Green, Richland Library Wheatley in the midst of the American Revolution. Not content to simply chronicle battles and the war effort, it also addresses cultural changes and other issues surrounding the birth of our nation, featuring many of the real historical figures of the time such as Ben Franklin, George Washington and John Adams.

The animation is classic two-dimensional but very well done, and the voice talent is staggering. Main voices include Dustin Hoffman, Walter Cronkite, Annette Bening, Michael Douglas and Billy Crystal, while Whoopi Goldberg, Ben Stiller and even Norman Schwarzkopf make appearances via supporting characters.

This is an excellent, informative and engaging way to augment the history lessons kids get in class through first-rate storytelling that’s intelligent and well-structured while still simple enough for even younger children to understand and appreciate.

media

Books Some Monsters are Different David Milgrim Henry Holt and Co., 36 pages, $16.99 Ages: 3 to 5

Some monsters like to talk and some monsters are quiet.

Some monsters like bath time and some monsters would rather stay dirty.

This very silly and fun picture book teaches young children (and reminds adults) that everyone is unique and although we don’t all love the same things, we’re all special and valued.

With simple text and fun monsterrific illustration, even the littlest listeners will enjoy this read-aloud. — Heather Green, Richland Library Wheatley

35

The Wild Book Margarita Engle Harcourt Children’s Books, 144 pages, $16.99 Ages: 10 and up

Fefa is a Cuban girl growing up in the early 1900s. The doctor diagnoses her with “word blindness” and says she will never read or write. Her mother refuses to believe the doctor and deals with Fefa’s dyslexia by simply presenting Fefa a blank book.

She is to practice patiently writing in her book each day.

School and the teasing of other children assail Fefa’s self-image, but her dogged determination and her mother’s encouragement keep her learning. When kidnappers threaten the lives of her siblings, Fefa is able to decipher information in the ransom note that the adults have missed. The love and strong family ties shine throughout this novel written in verse. — Becky Dickey, Richland Library Southeast

36

media

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 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.

Richland Library’s new Teen Center.

Photo by Jonathan Sharpe

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.

Barnes & Noble

Books Revisited

Forest Acres: 3400 Forest Dr., 787-5600 Harbison: 278-A Harbison Blvd., 749-9009 barnesandnoble.com

7366A Two Notch Rd., 865-9990 booksrevisitedsc.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 The mega-chain bookstore stocks tons of reading material for kids, sure, but hosts kid-friendly events — storytimes, games, etc. — too.

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

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.

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