Giggle Magazine August/September 2014 by Irving Publications, LLC

ALACHUA

COUNTY’S

PREMIER

PARENTING

MAGAZINE

AUG/SEPT 2014 • Volume 6 • Issue 4

plus

Pregnancy Secrets Revealed The Facts on Food Labels Cool Ideas for Upcycling

The New SAT First Field Trip Tips DIY Homework Station Decoding Common Core Bye-Bye Boring Lunches

& more!

GIGGLEMAG.COM | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014

www.gigglemag.com

GIGGLEMAG.COM | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014

PUBLISHER Nicole Irving ART DIRECTOR Allison Raber MANAGING EDITOR Dana Kamp ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Mark Chestnut, April Tisher EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT Sayeh Farah CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Tania Cowling, Selena Garrison, Nicole Germany, Kelly Goede, Tara Griffin, Allen Haynes, Jen Hillan, Nicole Irving, Dana Kamp, Lisa Katz, Alexis King, Helen Kornblum, Danielle Michels, Olivia Pitkethly, April Tisher, Lauren Zika CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Shandon Smith with Lifeprints Photography, Verve Studio

INTERNS Nicole Germany, Alexis King, Haley Ponnock, Lauren Zika

Mission Statement Giggle Magazine is a modern and refreshing parenting publication that brings together families and their community. We make it our mission to find the joy and humor in parenting, focus on key topics and issues that relate to today’s parents and give parents the resources to be engaged, connected and present with their children during these important years. Irving Publications, LLC reserves the right to edit and/or reject any advertising. Irving Publications, LLC is not responsible for the validity of any claims made by its advertisers. Nothing that appears in Giggle Magazine may be reproduced in any way, without written permission. Opinions expressed by Giggle Magazine writers are their own and do not necessarily reflect the publisher’s opinion. Giggle Magazine will consider all never before published outside editorial submissions. Irving Publications, LLC reserves the right to edit and/or reject all outside editorial submissions and makes no guarantees regarding publication dates.

irvingpublications MAILING ADDRESS

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gigglemag.com giggle@irvingpublications.com Giggle Magazine is a registered trademark property of Irving Publications, LLC. All rights reserved. Giggle Magazine is published by Irving Publications, LLC. © 2014

GIGGLEMAG.COM | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014

from the publisher

WHAT'S MAKING ME GIGGLE WHATTHIS WE MONTH! ARE

So, you may be wondering how my summer of “nothing” went…I tried. I really did.

READING RIGHT NOW

As I mentioned last issue, I had a list of “nothing” that I was going to try to accomplish. Really soak in the summer without heavy planning for my family or myself! Well, the days of “nothing” seemed to get jam-packed with lots of “somethings.” Was I actually able to hide all the electronics from my sons all summer? Umm…NO. But, we did limit the tech time drastically and the boys had to earn points to use them for a very limited time of play. Did we go on walks each night? Umm…NO. It was too hot for this New York native. However, the boys did play outside each night with the neighbors. Four square, walking the dog, skateboarding and bikeriding. Just like kids are supposed to do.

HANDS FREE MAMA "So excited to be reading this book and learning to be more present in my boys' lives in our very busy world." Nicole Irving, Publisher

Did I take lots of photos, venture to the beach, squeeze in lots of hugs and even give in to my middle son’s pleas for a new puppy? Umm...YES. (Seriously, what was I thinking?) Sometimes we have goals and expectations, to-do lists and new routines that we try so desperately to follow. And, like most of us, I am victim to living life by the seat of my pants, going 500 miles per hour. The pressure of those expectations can be more than we can handle at times, even if it is the expectation of doing “nothing.” We expect our children to do and be a plethora of things but most of all, we just want them to be happy, and as parents, we should be happy too! So, as the summer wraps up and the new lists start to grow, let’s try to start each day with our own special expectation. A simple, two-word to-do list for the day...Be Happy!

HARRY POTTER "I'm currently re-reading the entire HP series, front to back. I have always loved to read and while I have many favorites, nothing has ever quite fascinated me like Harry's world." Allison Raber, Art Director

Nicole Irving, Publisher nicole@irvingpublications.com

COLE

Like us on Facebook /GIGGLEMAGAZINE

meet our C M !

Age: 15 Favorite subject: Math over odel Favorite book: "Watership Down" Extra, Extra: Cole is a rising sophomore at St. Francis Catholic High School and is very involved in Youth, Sonlight & Youth Leadership at TUMC. He enjoys soccer, baseball, volleyball, hiking, biking and fishing. Follow us on Twitter @GIGGLEMAGAZINE

GIGGLEMAG.COM | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014

Visit us on Pinterest /GIGGLEMAGAZINE

THE DOLPHIN WAY "It is a parenting guide for raising your little ones in a healthy, happy, balanced way. It seems to fit my husband's and my personality (and our ultimate goal of raising motivated, happy children) moreso than anything else I've read." Dana Kamp, Managing Editor

August * September 2014

life 8

62 HOMESCHOOL CORNER

LIFESAVERS

The Happiness Curriculum

8 School Year Routines to Start Now

64 IN THE CLASSROOM

10 THE PARENT LIFE Welcome to the Neighborhood!

66 FAMILY LEARNING

Couple Communication: Easier Than Riding a Bike?

Fun Science Projects You Can Do At Home

happy community

16 2 CENTS

Their Extracurriculars: What They Really Cost You

18 HAPPY FAMILY

The Steinberg Family

88 GIGGLE READERS SHARE

What I Did on My Summer Vacation...

20 GRANDPARENTS

Parenting Again: Finding Yourself in the

91 EXTRA, EXTRA

Uniting on the Court

Role of Caregiver

92 EXTRA, EXTRA

22 GIGGLE STAMP

Great Gifts for Grandparents Day

94 CALENDAR

38 IN THE FRIDGE Snack Time!

conception 2 college

40 LUNCH BOX Bye-Bye Boring Lunches! 42 DELISH Tasty (and Healthy!) Tailgate Options Steinberg family photo and footwear photo by Lifeprints Photography. Lauzardo family photo by Ava Creative Images.

Juggling Life: Successful Entrepreneur and Attentive Mom

forks & spoons

72 EXPECTING

Pregnancy Secrets No One Tells You!

health

76 INFANT

Fill 'Em Up...Bottle Prep 101

44 GET PRETTY

78 TODDLER

Back-to-School Teacher Fashions! 48 GET HEALTHY

Get the Facts on That Label

Breakfast of Champions! Using Cereal to Boost Math Skills

80 EARLY YEARS

Preparing for a Fantastic First Field Trip

50 GET MOVING

The Morning Mile: Wake Up and Move!

Teachers Sound Off! Back-to-School Tips for Kids and Parents

15 JUST THE TWO OF US

learn

82 KIDS

What to Do in Case of an Emergency

happy home

84 TWEENS

56 ORGANIZED CHAOS

'Twas the Night Before...School

The Talk: How to Lead Your Child Down the Road to Good Health

86 TEENS

59 MAKE IT. FIX IT. CLEAN IT.

The New SAT Test

What's Up with Upcycling?

features

60 OUR SPACE

Front Door

24 Back-to-School 2014!

DIY Homework Station • Your Child's Education: Staying Connected School Accessories for Every Grade • & MORE!

52 The Power of Grace

68 Being Left-Handed in a Right-Handed World

72 48 59

Photo by Verve Studio

life

L I F E S AV E R S

School Year Routines to Start Now

BY DANA KAMP

While we are relishing our last lazy summertime moments and moving our minds toward the back-to-school madness, let’s add some organization (and sanity) to this school year with these Lifesavers Routines.

Hold family meetings on Sundays.

Even if only for 20 minutes before everyone heads off to bed, gather and talk about the upcoming week so all family members know what is happening and when. This is a great time to review school project due dates, appointment times and carpool days.

Apply sunscreen every day.

We all know we’re supposed to do this, but rarely do we make the time each morning as we rush to get out of the house on time. Make it easy to remember by putting a container of sunscreen with a hand pump on the bathroom sink. Help your kiddos get into the habit of brushing their teeth, slathering on sunscreen and combing their hair before they leave the bathroom.

Try this great kid-friendly sunscreen by Aubrey! Aubrey-organics.com

Exercise in the morning.

This can be done by taking a family walk to school, participating in the school's Morning Mile program, taking Fido for a quick run, or just putting on some fun music and dancing in the living room! Do something to get those heart rates up and check it off your to-do list!

Plan meals to match each day's schedule.

Look at your family’s schedule for the week ahead (see #1). Plan a self-serve crockpot meal for the night everyone is running in different directions, a family meal concocted by your teenager the evening he doesn’t have practice and will be home first, and a pizza night when you know you’ll be getting home late from a swim meet. A little planning ahead goes a long way when parents are tired and tummies are growling.

Sign the kids' planners at a set time/place every day.

Designate a place for planners to be dropped by each child so you can read through and sign them while the kiddos are clearing the dinner table or taking showers – whatever works best for your evening schedule. No more finding out about a school play the day of the performance!

GIGGLEMAG.COM | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014

Designate laundry days.

Keep laundry from piling up and taking over your weekend by assigning certain clothing (and children, if they are old enough to help) to specific days. This way, everyone knows when to make sure their dirty socks or stinky gym clothes are in the laundry room!

Create an afterschool homework/activity schedule.

Whether your children are in an afterschool program, with a babysitter or home with you, make the afternoon efficient so the evening doesn’t become a stressful nightmare for the whole family. Begin an afterschool routine now that includes homework, a snack, some active time and some down time – in whatever order best suits your children and your schedule.

Set guidelines for tech time.

Most students will need to use some kind of computer or tablet for homework assignments and research each week of the school year. By setting family guidelines for time spent on gadgets outside of schoolwork, you are avoiding future conflicts and making everyone’s tech time fair. ✽

life

T H E PA R E N T L I F E

Welcome to the Neighborhood! BY OLIVIA K. PITKETHLY, MA, LMHC

Many families move to Florida every year, for good reason. But with that move comes a period of adjustment, including feelings of anxiety, loneliness and sadness. Whether you have moved for professional opportunities, your academic career or just to give your family a fresh start, you may have some difficulty adjusting to your new home, especially if you don’t know many people in the area.

Here are some tips to turn the unfamiliar into the familiar: Get to know the culture

Look for the places that give the town its real charm. Organic and eclectic restaurants, down-home diners and funky specialty stores are always fun to visit and a great way to meet the locals. Strike up a conversation – most people are willing to offer their take on their favorite place to eat or must-see attraction in the area. And with college football season around the corner, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to see your new town’s favorite team in action either at the stadium, a fun local restaurant or a neighborhood tailgate party.

Explore your world

What kind of groups did you belong to in your previous town? Before I moved I belonged to a few professional networking groups, so I did a little research and found one here. Don’t be afraid to go outside your comfort zone. At the prompting of a friend, I joined a moms group and it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

Meet other parents

Kids are a great motivator to meet new people. After all, they need friends too! Join your school’s PTA or attend a mommy-and-me class. Most of the parents I’ve met since I’ve moved have been in the same position themselves and can empathize with a newbie! Lastly, while you may feel homesick for your friends and family, don’t isolate from the world. You can miss your loved ones, but don’t miss out on all the beauty that surrounds you. ✽

GIGGLEMAG.COM | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014

Tips from our Giggle readers! “I would tell any newcomers to introduce themselves to everyone. Especially take advantage of meeting new people at your child’s events (school, sports, church, play groups, camps).” – Michelle G., Mommy of two “Moving from a touristy city, I’ve really enjoyed experiencing nature here. The key is to find places that are quintessential to your new town, find something that you won’t find anywhere else.” – John O., Daddy of two

“It's been important to find our new favorite places like a park for the kids, where to see the best fireworks, a new pumpkin patch and Christmas tree lot. We are big on traditions and having these things makes it feel more like home.” – Corinne E., Mommy of three

“Post something on Facebook asking your friends if they know someone in your new town who can give you advice. Twitter is a great source of information to get a feel for what’s going on in town. Research, research, research…that’s what worked for me!” – Cathy H., Mommy of two

Florida is a wonderland for outdoor enthusiasts. Canoeing, tubing and fishing are just a few things you can do to keep active. There is an abundance of natural and recreational parks in North Florida. Pack a bathing suit or pull on those hiking boots and visit one of the many wooded areas and springs where you can spot deer, rabbits and wild peacocks.

Join organizations and groups

Your lawyer has experience with divorce...

Shouldn’t your

financial advisor? The Banks Carroll Group is dedicated to thoroughly understanding your financial needs and then aligning them with the resources to meet or exceed them. With each of them having over 22 years of experience in financial services, they offer a wealth of knowledge to help build and protect your wealth whatever stage of life you are in. They also have additional experience and specialize in divorce-related financial matters as Certified Divorce Financial Analysts™ (CDFA™). Their combined experience in financial planning and investment management allow them to assist divorcees through this emotional and stressful time. They help identify assets and liabilities when completing financial affidavits, structure settlement options, set budgets, and perform income projections to be sure that the client knows what their financial future will be. To this end, they work with numerous divorce attorneys, insurance specialists, valuation specialists and CPA’s in an effort to make the process as seamless as possible while getting the best results. Their end goal is to give anyone having to go through a divorce, peace of mind. Their business is built on trust, integrity & knowing the client.

Services • Divorce Financial Planning and Analysis • Financial Planning • Asset Management • Estate Planning • Retirement Planning • Insurance/Long Term Care Insurance • Lending Services/Mortgages • 529 Plans

Ashley Banks is the Producing Branch Manager of the Gainesville Florida Morgan Stanley branch. She is a Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), a designation awarded by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. As a CFP® she has completed extensive education requirements to better understand and enhance the financial planning process. Additionally, Ashley is a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® (CDFA™) which specifically focuses on the financial side of divorce. These two combinations allow for her to be a complete resource for individuals needing financial direction before, during and after a divorce. Ashley is a graduate of the University of Florida with a major in Finance. Donna Carroll is a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® (CDFA™). Her focus is on divorce financial strategies, retirement solutions and overall financial planning. Her passion is empowering & educating women about their financial future. The process begins with a thorough understanding of the client’s current situation and major life events and their impact. We work with the clients to develop specific strategies for income, overall budgeting and lifetime goals. This strategy results in providing the client with an asset allocation strategy that is customized to match the client’s goals and objectives. Donna’s years of experience in this industry have allowed her to witness many market cycles and how to avoid mistakes based on emotions and help clients understand their situation and better know what to expect. They are both very involved in the Gainesville community, serving on the Board of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Alachua County, members of Children’s Home Society Auxiliary Board, Women Linked In, Women’s Giving Circle, GFWC Gainesville Woman’s Club. Members of Association of Divorce Financial Planners & Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts.

Ashley Banks, CFP®, CDFA™ Branch Manager Financial Advisor ashley.banks@morganstanley.com

Banks Carroll Group at Morgan Stanley 4965 NW 8th Avenue • Gainesville, FL 32605

352-332-9300 www.morganstanley.com/fa/bankscarrollgroup.com

parent app!

eyeGoes

iPhone image courtesy of eyeGoes.

Feeling nervous about your teen having more freedom or going off to college? Wondering how to make her feel safe in a new environment? eyeGoes is an app that uses a one-touch recording button to immediately capture footage during an emergency or potentially dangerous situation. Marc Dwyer developed the app after his daughter moved into an on-campus dorm. Like many worried parents, Dwyer would stay on the phone with his daughter the entire time as she walked back to her room late at night from the library, to make sure she arrived safely. Now anyone using eyeGoes can feel safe without wasting mobile minutes. The audio and video coverage that is recorded is streamed directly to the smartphone user’s designated emergency contact. The app also uses GPS technology to provide the user's location and all video and audio recordings are preserved, even when the user's smartphone is stolen or destroyed.

What would you do if... your child wanted to ride his bike to elementary school with his friends? "It is not as easy of a decision for parents today, as it was for our parents. I grew up riding my bike on major roads around town. Back then, I feel like drivers had fewer distractions than there are today. If I had to make the decision today, the answer would be no." Sara Britton Jacobs – Mommy of two "In order for me to consider allowing my children to ride their bikes to school, I would consider the following factors: distance to school, age of child, availability of sidewalks on the route, intersections crossed and existence of a buddy system." Sara Bayliss – Mommy of three

life

JUST THE TWO OF US

Couple Communication:

Easier Than Riding a Bike? BY OLIVIA K. PITKETHLY, MA, LMHC

When Taryn Buckley and her husband, Dante, are having issues, they take out their tandem bike and go for a ride. Riding in tandem takes timing, listening, speaking clearly and lots of teamwork. You need to know when it’s time to switch gears, when it’s time to put on the brakes or recognize the obstacles that stand in your way. Just like marriage, if you can’t communicate effectively, the results can be disastrous.

Here are some tips to help you and your partner communicate, on and off the bike:

make a date to talk

When juggling work, kids and a household, it’s often difficult to find time to have a conversation, let alone a serious discussion. By setting a specific time to discuss a problem, like after the kids go to bed, you can give each other your undivided attention. Shut off the TV, turn on the lights and make eye contact when you talk. If possible, hold hands too. A light physical touch can help diffuse an otherwise tense situation and may remind you of the affection you feel for each other.

use "I" statements

Starting off a conversation with, “You really made me mad today” can put the other person on the

Remember positive communication too!

Effective communication does not have to be limited to serious issues. Compliment your partner often: “That color brings out your eyes” or “I love to watch you play with the kids” are good examples. A simple “Thank you” or “I love you” can also go a long way.

defensive. It can also give the sense that your feelings are dictated by another’s actions. Own your feelings and try saying, “I felt frustrated today when you tracked mud into the house after I just finished mopping.”

listen closely

There’s a difference between hearing and listening. To ensure your partner knows you are listening to what he is saying, try paraphrasing what he just said. Using the example above, you can say, “It sounds like it really bothered you when I dirtied the floor after you worked so hard to clean it.” It will make your partner feel heard.

recognize the underlying issue

Muddy floors are one thing, but the messages we receive are something else. Perhaps the person in this example feels unappreciated by the one with muddy shoes. If this feeling, or any underlying issue, is a recurring theme in your relationship, then maybe it’s time to address that instead of the cleanliness of your home. A study found that seventy percent of couples who went to marriage counseling were positively impacted by the experience, so consider

bringing in a third party to provide some insight.

choose your words carefully

Take a lesson from your kindergarten teacher: no name-calling. Calling your partner a mean name puts him on the defensive again and will only escalate the argument. The same goes for cursing, so avoid it at all costs. Don’t use absolute words, such as “never” and “always” because most of the time it’s just not true. If you feel you’re only going around in circles and not really getting anywhere, come up with a “time-out” word. My husband and I use the word “pineapple.” When one of us uses it, we know it’s time to take a break from the conversation and come back after we’ve cooled off.

attack the problem, not each other

Remember you are both on the same team. You both want a happy outcome. So figure out what you can both do to solve the problem. Get creative like the Buckleys who bought a tandem bike. When you work as a team, the possibilities are endless! ✽

GIGGLEMAG.COM | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014

life

TWO CENTS

Their Extracurriculars: What They Really Cost You

5 Tips for

Saving

 Often you can save 1030 percent on the cost of registration by registering early.  Many programs offer scholarships for a few students and/or give students the opportunities to get sponsorships to help cover some of the costs.  Since young children often want to try out a variety of activities, check out courses offered through a local community center or department of parks and recreation. The classes are usually low in cost and typically run from two to four months, giving your child plenty of time to decide whether or not he likes the activity.

BY SELENA GARRISON

Extracurricular activities are an enjoyable and important part of childhood, and can help kids develop both physically and socially. These activities lend children the opportunity to learn the value of teamwork, improve physical endurance, develop artistic skills and gain confidence. The downside is that extracurricular activities can consume excessive amounts of family time and resources. There are several points to take into consideration when deciding on activities for your kiddo.

Identify your child’s interests

Pursue activities that your child wants to do rather than those that interest you. It seems simple, but you can save on costs by not suggesting additional activities on top of those he wants to try! Since kids can have many

Prioritize the activities

It is important for children to learn how to prioritize and plan their time between school and activities, just like Mom and Dad manage careers, activities and the family budget. Trade-offs will oftentimes need to be made for your child to participate in an activity. Involve him in the discussion about what can and can’t be done because of limited time and resources.

Figure out the true cost of the activity

When planning for a new activity, make sure to get the whole picture of how much the activity is going to cost. In addition to registration, participating in an activity may require equipment,

GIGGLEMAG.COM | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014

food, group photos, uniforms, travel, etc. To figure out the overall cost, talk to other parents and coaches. Then budget 10 percent more to cover any extra costs that might come up. ✽ While a dance class may cost an average of $60 per month, recitals, costumes and competitions will bring additional charges. Martial Arts classes may average $30-$60 per month, yet uniforms, travel and elite instructors may add more fees to that initial cost. Youth sports tend to average closer to $400 per season after tallying the costs of registration, uniforms, individual equipment, travel and tournament fees.

 You may also be able to save on fees by volunteering as a coach, scorekeeper or concession stand worker.

Get the Kids Involved! Younger children can round up toys for a yard sale, save birthday and holiday money, and participate in the designated fundraisers. Tweens and teens can sell their gently used clothing and accessories to local consignment stores, organize additional fundraisers or offer to do tasks for neighbors for a fee (mow lawns, walk dogs, wash cars, etc.).

varying interests, consider taking advantage of free trial offers before investing in uniforms, equipment and registration fees.

 Visit your local new and used sporting goods shop to trade in the sports equipment from last season for the equipment needed for the new activity.

life

H A P P Y F A M I LY baseball and basketball, and Celtics basketball and Red Sox baseball. Pets: Bugsy, our dachshund chihuahua (“dachuahua”) rescue dog. Favorite vacation: Visiting family in West Palm Beach or a day trip to the beach. What makes our kids laugh: Each other…and tickles. Why we love living in Gainesville: We believe this is a perfect place to raise a family. We met in Gainesville in 1997 and other than a very brief move to West Palm Beach in 2006 (we decided we wanted to come back after about a week, but it took us eight months to make it back), we have enjoyed calling this home ever since.

PHOTOS BY LIFEPRINTS PHOTOGRAPHY

The

Steinberg

Family

Stacey, Ben, Mason (8), Isaac (3), and Gabrielle (1) Occupation(s): Ben is an attorney at Avera and Smith. Stacey teaches law at the University of Florida. Favorite family meal: Sushi! Our 8-year-old and 3-year-old would eat at Dragonfly every day if we let them. We now make our own sashimi bowls. The kids love salmon and like to add seaweed, rice and avocado and they try to eat it with chopsticks. Favorite date spot: Amelia’s Restaurant; but most of the time, when the chaos of the day subsides, it’s more often freshly grilled steaks, wine and a great movie. Our family is most like: An orchestra – lots of individual parts that come together to make something beautiful.

Movie in our DVD player right now: The player still isn’t hooked up since our recent move, but on our DVR are “Frozen,” “Planes” and a whole week of unwatched “Daily Show” and “Colbert Report.” The kids’ favorite books: Isaac likes “Where the Wild Things Are,” Mason prefers “Calvin and Hobbes,” and Gabrielle prefers anything she can get her hands on and chew. Mommy and Daddy’s favorite TV shows: “24,” “Game of Thrones,” and “Walking Dead.” Favorite sports to play/activities to do: Cheering for Mason and the Santa Fe Riverdogs travel baseball team, and playing at the pool. Favorite sports to watch: Gator football,

GIGGLEMAG.COM | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014

Something that we want our children to have that we didn’t have growing up: Not that either of us lacked for any, but more. More happiness, more laughter, just…more. Favorite day trip: St. Augustine Beach. Favorite picnic spot: At the baseball fields. Favorite family activity: Lighting Shabbat candles on Friday nights. First word you think of when we say “family”: Purpose. Must-have item: Isaac has a blue elephant that he calls “Lovie.” We’ve turned around on the highway and driven over 100 miles before when Lovie got left at the grandparents’ house. Three words that describe our family: Blessed. Zany. Complete. 

life

G R A N D PA R E N T S

Parenting Again: Finding Yourself in the Role of Caregiver BY APRIL TISHER

According to AARP, over 2.5 million grandparents are taking over the responsibility of raising their grandchildren in the United States. They may be co-parenting with their own children or they may have sole custody. Whatever their specific case may be, their retirement years have now been filled with diaper duty and school pickup lines. For Carol* and Dan*, when their young daughter’s marriage ended and she found herself in need of financial and emotional support for herself and her young daughter, they promptly stepped in to assist in any way they could.

stepfather and siblings during days off from school and during summer break, but her home is with her grandparents, where she always felt she belonged.

...her home is with her grandparents, where she always felt she belonged.

And, when their daughter had the opportunity to finish college out of state, Carol and Dan agreed to care for little Eva* while she was gone. Today, although their daughter is home from college and has remarried, Eva is being raised in the custody of her grandparents.

Carol shared that all of their relationships are in a good place. She and her daughter openly discuss Eva’s extracurricular activities, what school choices are being made and any health or behavioral issues. Eva spends time with her mother,

"It's really hard, but with the support of my family, community and his school we are making sure Corey has all he needs. I thought I would be retired by now and here I am doing PTA again!" said Mary. ✽ *Names have been changed to protect privacy.

Each situation is unique in its specific circumstances. Yet, Carol, Dan and Mary all agreed on several things. Someone in their position should always remember that the child’s needs come first, and if you are a grandparent acting as a primary caregiver, be sure to legally become the official guardian. Getting the documentation you will need in order to register your grandchild for school, get medical treatment for him and make all parental decisions will make this new role an easier transition for everyone.

Visit grandparenting.org or childwelfare.gov for more information on grandparents and their roles in the lives of their grandchildren today.

"Surely, two of the most satisfying experiences in life must be those of being a grandchild or a grandparent." – Donald A. Norberg

GIGGLEMAG.COM | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014

“We had an open discussion with our daughter and son-in-law and decided together that it was best for Eva,” Carol explained.

When Mary’s* daughter’s mental health became unstable, she and her son, Corey*, moved in with Mary. Mary has taken the lead on raising her grandson, working full time to support the household, accompanying Corey on field trips, taking him to baseball practice and adventuring out to the mall for new video games on his list. Mary has legal custody of Corey, and although her daughter still has an ever present place in his life, his care is the sole responsibility of Mary.

if you're parenting again...

VE IT. WE

•

• W

E LO

VE IT. WE

great gifts for

F O R G R A N D PA R E N T S

giggle stamp

grandparents day Turn a precious photo into a unique 10.1 x 13.5, 252-piece puzzle. $24.95. Withluvdesign.com.

Give Grandmommy a precious necklace personalized with her own initial or those of her grandchildren. $125. Isabellegracejewelry.com

Add a warm touch to the grandparents’ home with an 8x8 distressed wood sign with free personalization and a rope loop for hanging. $24.99. Grandparentgiftcompany.com.

Send a monthly “box of happiness” containing items like family photos, hobby items, snacks and personal care products, complete with a personal note from the gifter! $19/month. Tandemlane.com.

Grandparents Day is Sunday, September 7! Honor Nana and Grandad with a unique gift they will treasure for years to come!

Hold eyeglasses on this hand-carved statuette made by underprivileged artisans in India. $18. Uncommongoods.com.

GIGGLEMAG.COM | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014

Have the grandkids’ names and birthdates stamped on this beautiful antique brass key chain. $24. Raisemyglass.etsy.com.

Celebrate your “Family Tree” with this 11x14 frame, personalized with your family’s information. $40. Facebook.com/ chicuniquedesigns.

The Fits for the Occasion Cookie Jar has a socket to add interchangeable, magnetic motif designs and an erasable area to add easy customization! $56.95. Placetile.com.

Back to School!

m e i t for s ' t i

Back to

School 2014!

It's time for new backpacks, new schedules and new friends! It's time for fun science projects, creative class performances and exciting field trips! It's time to get back in the groove and go back to school! Are you ready? PHOTO BY VERVE STUDIO

Your Child's Education:

Staying CONNECTED BY SELENA GARRISON

Research has shown that students benefit from having their parents involved in their education. In addition to the academic benefits of better grades, better attendance and higher graduation rates, students whose parents are actively involved tend to have better self-esteem, less drug and alcohol use, and less violent behavior. Jump in and get involved when your child is young! This kicks off a great parent-child-school connection that can continue as your child grows. “The transition from informal to formal education, or prekindergarten and kindergarten to first and second grades, is an important time to be involved in your child’s schooling. Moreover, the positive effects of parents’ involvement in their children’s early elementary school years (first through third grade) are likely to persist into their later grades of middle and high school,” said Kate Fogarty, associate professor of youth development in University of Florida’s Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences. Preschool

In the early years, involvement may be as simple as helping in your child’s classroom, attending open houses, participating in class parties and checking in with the teacher periodically to see how your child is adjusting. You can schedule playdates outside of As your child school to increase the time you have with your matures, continue to child’s friends and to get to know the friends’ openly discuss what parents. At this point, you want to foster a love for kind of involvement he learning, so reinforce your child’s education by is comfortable with you making learning a fun part of everyday life. having in his school and

ggle Tip! i G

extracurricular activities. He may even give you some new ideas!

GIGGLEMAG.COM | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014

There are many ways to get involved during your child’s elementary school years. Most elementary teachers welcome volunteers. Let the teacher know you are willing to help and how. You can also consider being a room mom or dad. This may require planning class activities and parties, communicating with other parents and organizing carpools. Getting involved in the PTA is another option that will allow you to network with other parents and teachers, raise funds for school projects and even lobby the school district for changes. This connection you form with your child’s school and other parents will help you stay knowledgeable about what is going on in your young one’s world.

Middle School

In middle school, kids are really looking for independence, but that doesn’t mean you should back off on your involvement! At this time, it is really important to know the people your kiddo is hanging out with, so offer plenty of opportunities for him to have friends over to your home. You can also stay involved by volunteering at the school, whether in the classroom, office, media center or other places you’re needed. Teachers still appreciate outside help in middle school, so let them know you are available for field trips, classroom assistance and at-home paperwork. You can continue to work with the school’s PTA and other parent involvement projects as well. Offering to coach, lead or assist with any sports or activities your child may be doing outside of school will keep you connected and in handson mode.

High School

Your high school student may feel selfsufficient and not want Mom or Dad around all the time, but stay involved! Be the team mom or dad, providing snacks, drinks and schedule updates for your child’s sports team. Go to his activities, events, awards ceremonies, etc., and let him know that you care about what he has going on in and out of school. Continue to allow him time to have friends over to your house and know those friends’ families. Be familiar with your child’s teachers and guidance counselors and be proactive if you sense any issues starting to arise. Help your child as he considers his future past high school by taking him on college tours with other students, talking about his likes and dislikes, and focusing on his strengths, both academically and personally. ✽

Elementary School

DIY Homework Station Whether you have one child at grade school level or four, staying organized for homework time is a must. Here, we show you our simple and functional way of keeping your child’s homework and school materials in one place!

TIPS!

1. Make sure little ones can easily reach all their supplies.

2. Keep an updated calendar

present so they can check their own schedule daily.

3. Use colorful elements to make it look fun and appealing!

4. Keep it stocked, so come project time, you won’t be out of glue sticks.

5. Put digital and tech elements

6. Display a clock with hands and

numbers to teach time keeping.

7. Only put out kid-safe materials. Metal Initial Letter, Old Time Pottery, $12.99. Rachael Wall Basket (Small), World Market, $7.99. Post-it® Notes Weekly Planner, Office Max, $15.29. Dekad Alarm Clock, Ikea, $5.99. Small Red Easel Chalkboard, World Market, $6.99.

GIGGLEMAG.COM | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014

Easy access to construction paper!

Photos & styling by Giggle Magazine.

away during the week. If needed for school, use on an “as needed” basis.

homework helpers le Tip! igg

G Download an

r app on you e ic v e d mobile lp e h to t le or tab rn a le your child family even if the o. -g e h -t n o is

BY ALEXIS KING

Extra assistance with all school subjects and grade levels is now right at your fingertips. Be ready for this school year and check these apps and websites off your kiddo’s school supply list!

Preschool – ABC Preschool Playground Free by Sound House LLC. Kids can select from “doodle,” “play” or “learn” to enter different sections on this vibrant animated app. Children can learn their ABC’s, numbers and letter sounds through fun games and lessons. Elementary School – School A to Z by NSW Department of Education. This colorful interactive app is a back-to-school essential for kids who need a little extra help with spelling and math. School A to Z can work with any academic level as it can distribute problems by degree of difficulty. Middle and High School – myHomework Student Planner by INSTIN. This acts as a fully functional planner complete with class schedules, late work indicators and color-coded statuses. Students can better balance their time between studying, assignments and projects when it is all organized and visible wherever they are.

Hidden Costs of the School Year You’ve bought the school supplies, the lunch bag and the uniforms. Your child has all she needs for the new school year! As seasoned parents know, what you purchase in August will definitely kick off the year, but there are many (sometimes forgotten) costs that come up during the course of the year.

We’ve made a list of 25 common costs and the average amount of money you may spend for each one. Yearbook............................................................. $20-$100 Field trips (possibly 3-4 per year)............ $10 and up Class birthday party supplies........................ $10-$40 Sports physical............................................. $25 Teacher holiday gifts........................................ $15-$50 Class holiday party supplies...................... $10-$25 Costumes for plays........................................... $10-$50 Book fairs...................................................... $10 and up Safety Patrol expenses (belt/DC trip)........ $5-$1000 School fundraisers....................................... $10 and up Afterschool care expenses: daily, weekly, monthly............................................................... $25-$500 School t-shirts.............................................. $5 and up Mid-year school supply replenishment...... $5-$40 PTA dues...................................................... $5 and up School carnivals/car washes......................... $5-$25 Musical instruments rental (recorders/ ukulele)........................................................ $7-$30 School photo packages........................................ $20-$200

Prom/Homecoming attire, dinner, transportation ............................................. $100-$1000 Club participation fees/dues/supplies ...... $5-$75

For educational assistance without an app store, try using educational websites.

• •

Teacher appreciation/end-of-the-year gifts.. $5-$30 Senior photo packages ................................... $5-$500 Grad Nite at Disney World ........................ $75 per ticket

Younger children may enjoy educational games like those found on Pbskids.org and Abcmouse.com.

Senior class trip ............................................... $500 and up Class rings ................................................... $300-$500

Older students who have heavy homework loads may need more of a study aid such as Sparknotes.com and Wolframalpha.com.

SAT exam ........................................................... $52.50

GIGGLEMAG.COM | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014

l size!

actua

D G

E F

J H

K B Nate Berkus Mega Clips (5 – Count), $2.99, Target. C BIC Kids Stylus, $3.49, Office supply stores. D Sydney Paige – Raleigh iPad Sleeve, $15, Sydneypaigeinc.com. E Chevron Monogrammed Notebook, $12, Sweetgrassprints.etsy.com. F Beatrix NY – Mochi the Penguin Backpack, $42, Beatrixny.com. G Paddlepak Water-Resistant Backpack-Pinch the Lobster, $25 ($30 for larger Whale and Shark version), Trunki.com and Nordstrom. H Limited Edition Adelaide NYC Backpack, Large - $120; Small - $108, Adelaidenyc. com. I SOL REPUBLIC Tracks Collegiate Headphones, $129.99, Solrepublic.com. J Animal House Gator Stapler, $14.99, Boston Warehouse; Bwtc.com. K Beatrix NY – Dieter the Monkey in Space Lunch Box, $34, Beatrixny.com.

GIGGLEMAG.COM | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014

school accessories

for every grade !

Q P

R S

T L Vera Bradley – Lighten Up Medium Backpack, $78, Verabradley.com. M Animal House Hedgehog Pencil Holder, $9.99, Boston Warehouse; Bwtc.com. N iWerkz Universal Portable Bluetooth Keyboard, $39.96, QVC.com. O Dabba Walla – Game On! Soccer Lunch Bag, $30, Dabbawallabags.com. P BIC Kids Mechanical Pencils, $3.49, Office supply stores. Q Converse School Dayz Pack, $35, c21.com. R Crab Monogram Mouse Pad, $15, PinkWasabiInk.etsy.com. S So Young – Blue Robot Backpack, $41.99, Soyoung.ca. T Sydney Paige – Valencia Lunch Bag, $17, Sydneypaigeinc.com. GIGGLEMAG.COM | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014

Common Core: Understanding the New Standards BY LISA KATZ

You have probably been hearing a lot about the new Common Core State Standards, but might not know exactly what they entail. What are they and why were they created?

he Common Core State Standards began in 2010 and have been adopted in 43 states, including Florida. The CCSS are a collection of standards that kindergarteners through 12th graders need to master by the end of each grade. These standards are in English language arts/literacy as well as in mathematics. By the end of each school year, the students will need to demonstrate a variety of problem solving, analytical and critical-thinking skills. The idea behind forming the CCSS was to keep our students in the United States competitive with other countries. The ultimate goal is to prepare them for either college or a career in the workforce. This resonates with educators at every level, in many different types of schools, and even though private schools are not required to use the CCSS, many are choosing to use them as a guide or springboard to develop their grade level criteria. Since the Florida Board of Education began making changes to these standards, they have started to be called the Florida Standards. There have been 98 items added to the CCSS. The biggest changes surround the addition of cursive writing as well as calculus.

“In 2010, the State Board of Education adopted the English language arts and math standards that some refer to as CCSS. Florida took a look at those this past year and strengthened them [in response to] a large amount of public interest,” stated Jennifer Hartshorne, the deputy communications director for the Florida Department of Education. Teachers currently working in public elementary through high schools have had staff training in order to implement the standards for this coming school year. After learning the criteria of the new standards, some educators have mixed feelings about the level of difficulty of some required skills. Students all learn differently and often at different paces. For this reason, some feel it may be difficult to maintain the same expectations for each student.

Judy Black, the principal of Chiles Elementary for the last 8 years, agreed that some students might struggle to grasp certain skill sets. “The pressure to prepare our students is what concerns me. Things seem a little up in the air with this. I know we can meet the needs of the students on grade level but I worry about those who are below level in reading and math. My teachers and I just want to know what core our students will be tested on so that we can adequately prepare them,” Black explained. The new standards are meant to give teachers a way to measure how well their students are doing. Many teachers and researchers do believe the CCSS is a step in the right direction for our children’s education. “Common Core State Standards are not a magic bullet and certainly no substitute for effective teaching, but they are a powerful, indispensable weapon to reverse the decline in our national competitiveness,” said Jerry Haar, a professor of business at Florida International University, a senior research fellow at Georgetown University McDonough School of Business and a writer for the Miami Herald. Although there is some skepticism with the new standards, the state of Florida is confident about helping their teachers implement these standards and any of the changes made to them. In the end, the goal is the same - to ensure that students will be academically successful and globally competitive. ✽

Visit Corestandards.org for detailed information and frequently asked questions regarding the Common Core State Standards. GIGGLEMAG.COM | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014

forks & spoons

IN THE FRIDGE

Snack Time!

Why Do Kids Need Snacks After School?

BY ALEXIS KING

Kids are so active during the day, burning more than three times the energy of adults per body weight. (They are literally growing overnight.) When they come home from school, they have not eaten since about 11 a.m. (Some schools start serving lunch as early as 10:30.) Kids should be eating at least every 3-5 hours to fuel their high metabolism. It's a good idea to have a snack with some protein, carbohydrates and fat like half of a peanut butter sandwich with a handful of grapes or some hummus with carrots or sweet pepper strips.

By the time children get home from school, they have already experienced hours of activities that can leave them pretty drained. At this point in the day, school-aged children need an afterschool snack to revive them and fuel them until dinner. Without this snack, they may feel lethargic, dizzy or distracted due to low blood sugar or hunger. Adding an afterschool snack or replacing an unhealthy one can lead to better performance and energy for late afternoon activities.

Try these yummy afterschool snack ideas! Tropical Fusion Smoothies Ingredients 1 cup of frozen mangos 1 cup of chopped pineapples ½ cup of low fat vanilla yogurt ½ cup of cherry or cranberry juice ½ cup of ice

-Amber Wilhoit, RD, LD/N, CDE

14Healthier Snacks for Your Fridge

Procedure Add all ingredients to the blender. Blend until the mixture reaches a smooth texture. Serve cold.

Grapes

Hummus and Pita Chips or Veggies

100% Fruit Juice

Sliced Fruit and Yogurt-Based Fruit Dips

Raw Veggies and Low Fat Ranch Dip

Cheese Sticks

Fruit and Veggie Smoothies

Applesauce

Bean Bake » Serve with blue corn chips and

Celery and Nut Butter of Choice

Reduced Fat Yogurt

Hard Boiled Eggs

Salsa and Low-Sodium Tortilla Chips

Almond Milk

Fruit Infused Water

salsa for a yummy addition!

Procedure Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Layer beans and shredded cheese over the tortillas, then roll them up. Brush the tortillas with vegetable or canola oil and bake for 10 minutes. 38

GIGGLEMAG.COM | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014

EAT

T HIS, NOT T HAT!

INSTEAD OF

TRY

Sodas

100% Fruit Juice

Artificially Flavored Chips

Sweet Potato Chips

Doughnuts/Cookies

Whole Grain Cinnamon Toast

Snack Packs

Mixed Nuts

Ingredients Whole grain tortillas Reduced fat shredded cheese Organic refried beans Vegetable or canola oil

forks & spoons

Bye-Bye Boring Lunches! BY NICOLE GERMANY

LUNCH BOX

SANDWICH-KABOB

TURKEY QUESADILLA

You will need: Wooden blunt-end skewers, chopsticks or thin straws

You will need: Sliced turkey breast

Two types of block cheese (so you can cut them into fun shapes)

Fresh spinach

Lunch meat of your choice Various colorful veggies: cherry tomatoes, romaine lettuce and orange peppers Whole wheat bread Cookie cutters Ranch dressing Directions: Cut your cheese and bread into fun shapes using the cookie cutters.

Slice veggies into bite-size pieces. Arrange the ingredients onto the skewer/stick/straw in a colorful pattern.

Include a small container of ranch dressing for dipping. It can be a struggle to come up with new lunch ideas for a child who requests a PB&J every day. But with a little bit of creative thinking and some fun cookie cutters, you can say adios to those same old boring sandwiches and hello to a new outlook on everyday sandwiches!

ROCKIN' HAM & VEGGIE SPIRALS

1 cup Black beans Annie's Naturals, Organic Goddess Dressing 2 Tortillas Cookie cutters Directions: Sprinkle white cheddar cheese on one tortilla.

Add black beans and spinach. Pull lunch meat apart into pieces and add to tortilla; place second tortilla on top.

Cook in a skillet on medium high or until browned. Cut into fun shapes with cookie cutters. Pour some of Annie’s Naturals into a small container for dipping. MONSTER-FUL SANDWICH You will need: Sharp yellow cheddar cheese 2 Green pimento olives

You will need: Sliced honey ham

1 Cherry tomato

1 Tomato basil soft tortilla

2 Slices of bread

Boar’s Head Savory Remoulade Cajun Style Mayonnaise

Toothpicks

3 tablespoons Cream cheese

Lunch meat

Circle cookie cutter

gle Tip Gig Don’t forg et your cold pack to keep ite ms cool until lunch time!

2 cups Chopped veggies (include your child’s favorites)

Directions: Use cookie cutter to slice bread into two circles.

Directions: Spread cream cheese and mayonnaise onto tortilla.

Add lunch meat to bread.

Place lunch meat on top of cream Add chopped veggies to tortilla. Roll up tortilla and slice into four small spirals.

Cut cheese slices into triangles and place on top of lunch meat, so the cheese “teeth” are hanging over the bottom edge of bread and put second piece of bread on top.

Give the monster eyes by securing olives in place with toothpicks on top of the sandwich. Put a cherry tomato under eyes for the nose. Roar!

GIGGLEMAG.COM | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014

Photo by Giggle Magazine.

cheese.

The key to getting your child to experiment with new foods is to display them in a fun way. Creating something that is visually appealing with various colors and shapes will be sure to intrigue your little ones. So get out those cookie cutters and start thinking outside the ordinary lunch box.

If you don’t want to use a type of skewer for young children, skip the sticks and feast without!

1 ½ cups White cheddar cheese

forks & spoons

DELISH

Tasty (and Healthy!) Tailgate Options It’s that time! Time to plan

your Saturday afternoon tailgate menus! While burgers, chips and your grandma’s mayo-filled potato salad have been the norm for years, branching out to a healthier spread is not as difficult as you think. We asked our BWLC#4 ladies to share their favorite healthy options for fall tailgating parties!

Now that you all have adopted a more health-conscious lifestyle, what will you bring to this season’s ballgame get-togethers?

Barbeque chicken kabobs and fresh grilled corn on the cob. -ANGELA L.

Classic hummus with sliced carrots, cucumbers and celery for dipping. -ANGELA W.

Grilled chicken and shrimp kabobs loaded with fresh veggies. -LINDSAY

Grilled chicken wings. Lightly coat frozen, uncooked, unbreaded chicken wings in olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Other favorite herbs and spices could be used as well, and a little hot sauce at the end would be delicious, too. -APRIL

Fruit kabobs using melon, pineapple and apple since they hold together well. Mix lime juice and honey for a sweet fruit dip. -MELODY

cut with a spiral slicer to resemble noodles • Cherry tomatoes • Baby spinach leaves • Sliced red onion • Olive oil • Lemon juice • Salt and pepper

GIGGLEMAG.COM | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014

Combine all veggies, drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice to taste. Optional: Add edamame or sliced grilled chicken for protein.

FEATURED RECIPE! AMANDA'S ZUCCHINI NOODLE SALAD • 4 Zucchini, washed and

health

GET PRETTY

Back-to-School

Teacher Fashion!

The leader of the class needs a fresh start to the school year too! Combine style and function with these great fashion looks!

BY DANA KAMP

PHOTOS BY LIFEPRINTS PHOTOGRAPHY

Veronica M. Dress, $102, Down to Earth. Lauren Ralph Lauren Wedges $69, Belk. Coach Tote, $248, Belk. Ball Earrings, $7.99, Target. Peace of Faith Bracelets, $20$34, Down to Earth.

GIGGLEMAG.COM | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014

Photos by Lifeprints Photography

monday

tuesday Calvin Klein Dress, $89.97, Belk. Nine West Heels, $49.99, Belk. Essie “Ballet Slippers” Nail Polish, $8.49, Target. Bow Earrings, $115, Lang Jewelers.

Crown and Ivy Capri Pant, $50, Belk. Nine West Vintage America Blouse, $59.50, Belk. Crown and Ivy Cardigan, $58, Belk. Nine West Loafer, $59.99, Belk. Michael Kors Watch, $225, Lang Jewelers.

thursday

AGB Maxi Dress, $88, Belk. Jessica Simpson Denim Jacket, $69, Belk. New Direction Ballet Flats, $39.99, Belk. Pandora Stackable Rings, $25 - $55, Lang Jewelers. Jessica Simpson Bag, $98, Belk.

wednesday

Merona Tee, $9, Target. Chip and Pepper Jeans, $68, Belk. Merona Scarf, $16.99, Target. Michael Kors Watch, $250, Lang Jewelers. Lauren Ralph Lauren Wedges $69, Belk.

friday GIGGLEMAG.COM | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014

health

G E T H E A LT H Y

Get the Facts on That Label BY JEN HILLAN, MSH, RD, LD/N

Buying the most nutritious foods for your family doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Most packaged foods have a Nutrition Facts label and an Ingredients list. Learn how to use these tools to make healthier choices for your family.

SERVING SIZE Be aware of how many servings are in each container. In this example, one serving is one cup and the container has two servings. If your child eats the whole container, he’s actually eating two servings, so you will need to double the calories and other nutrient numbers. Check this information when comparing brands – not all brands of products have the same serving size. AMOUNT OF CALORIES Use this information to determine how many calories are in one serving and how many of those calories come from fat. In this example, one serving has 250 calories and 110 calories from fat. That means almost half of the calories in this product are from fat! LIMIT THESE NUTRIENTS Eating too much saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol and sodium can increase the risk of some diseases. However, fat is an essential nutrient and children need it for growth and development. Fat intake should NOT be restricted in children under the age of 2 (unless directed

by your child’s doctor or registered dietitian). After age 2, offer your child foods that are lower in fat. GET ENOUGH OF THESE NUTRIENTS Getting enough dietary fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium and iron can improve heath and may reduce the risk of some diseases. Dietary fiber may also help prevent constipation. Higher percentages of these nutrients is a good thing! PERCENT (%) DAILY VALUE These numbers are based on a 2,000-calorie diet (which may be appropriate for adults and older teens, but NOT younger children). Use the Percent Daily Value numbers to determine if a nutrient is high or low in a serving of food. SUGARS This number includes both added sugar and sugar that is found naturally in a product. Fruit and milk products have natural sugars. Read the list of ingredients to find out if a food has added sugar.

SAMPLE LABEL FOR MACARONI AND CHEESE

INGREDIENTS LIST

Ingredients are listed on a package in the order of weight, from the ingredient that makes up most of the weight of a food product to the ingredient that makes up the least.

AVOID OR LIMIT THESE INGREDIENTS TRANS FATS

ADDED SUGARS

• malt syrup • maltose • maple syrup • molasses • nectars (such as peach nectar) • pancake syrup • raw sugar • sucrose • sugar • white granulated sugar

Other added sugars may be listed as an ingredient but are not recognized by FDA as an ingredient name. These include cane juice, evaporated corn sweetener, fruit juice concentrate, crystal dextrose, glucose, liquid fructose, sugar cane juice and fruit nectar.

GOOD STUFF! CHOOSE MORE OF THESE INGREDIENTS WHOLE GRAINS

• brown rice • buckwheat • bulgur (cracked wheat) • millet • oatmeal • popcorn • quinoa

• rolled oats • whole-grain sorghum • whole-grain triticale • whole-grain barley • whole-grain corn • whole oats/oatmeal • whole rye • whole wheat • wild rice

Aim to make half of your grains “whole.” Whole grains have dietary fiber and other vitamins and minerals important for good health. Many grains are refined, which means the fiber and many other nutrients have been removed during processing. For more information on healthy nutrition, check out eatright.org, kidseatright.org and nutrition.gov.

 Jen Hillan is a pediatric dietician at UF Health. She also gives in-home cooking demonstrations as a Pampered Chef independent sales director.

Food label graphic from Fda.gov

• hydrogenated oil • anhydrous dextrose • partially hydrogenated oil • brown sugar • confectioner’s SATURATED FATS powdered sugar • beef fat (tallow, suet) • corn syrup • butter • corn syrup solids • chicken fat • dextrin • coconut oil • fructose • cream • high-fructose corn • palm oil syrup • pork fat (lard) • honey • shortening • invert sugar • stick margarine • lactose

GET MORE OF THE

Ask Amy... Q:

I am a first time homebuyer and am ready to look for a home. I’m excited about finding a home to call my own, but don’t know where to start. Help!

Congratulations on making the decision to purchase a home! The first thing you should do is figure out how much home you can afford, by reviewing your monthly budget, and contacting a mortgage lender to get pre-approved. You will also need to find a REALTOR© to assist you in your search. Give your REALTOR© a comprehensive list of your wants and needs for a new home and use their expertise and knowledge of the market to find your perfect home. Still not sure where get started? Call me today! Amy Hogue is a REALTOR® with Coldwell Banker M.M. Parrish Realtors, specializing in residential sales and first time homebuyers. She lives in Southwest Gainesville with her husband and two children. Do you have a question for Amy? Or looking for a more indepth answer to the question? Visit www.AmyHogue.com

AMY HOGUE, REALTOR® ahogue@mmparrish.com | (352) 317-5835

health

GET MOVING

The Morning Mile: Wake Up and Move! BY APRIL TISHER

When my son started kindergarten, one of the first requests he had was to “do Morning Mile.” I thought there was no way my 5-year-old would actually run a mile before school on a daily basis! Wow, was I wrong! As it turned out, he sometimes ran or walked more than a mile. In fact, I learned that some elementary-aged children run over 600 miles in a school year! Morning Mile is not a club; there are no dues to pay or registrations to complete. It is 100 percent inclusive, offered to all students, as well as parents and families. You don’t have to be a super athlete to join in the morning fun. Children of all shapes, sizes and abilities participate. Participating schools offer it 20-45 minutes before school begins on weather-permitting mornings. Living in Gainesville, the kiddos have come to accept running in the heat of early morning steam or the cold when you can see your breath. They run or walk around the school’s designated area and their laps are recorded daily. Then they are rewarded for reaching certain milestones throughout the school year.

GIGGLEMAG.COM | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014

Some of the easy-to-run program rules include playing music to keep the runners motivated and giving chains and charms, or “foot necklaces” as most of the kids refer to them, as rewards for miles run.

• Since Koehler’s initiative in 2010, more the 1 million miles have been run through Morning Mile programs. That’s 40 times around the Earth!

• Today, preschools through high schools participate, as well as special needs programs.

• The program is now active in six states, plus Canada and Japan.

• Each school wishing to

Other noticeable rewards for participants are fewer tardies, improved behavior and self-esteem, decreased body weight for some children and more enthusiasm for attending school. Koehler said she has had pediatricians endorse the program and some have even gone as far as to write prescriptions for children to attend their Morning Mile before resorting to medication to help with weight loss and type 2 diabetes.

participate is matched with a sponsor, which could be a corporate partner or generous individuals. It takes about $1,000 to sponsor a school’s Morning Mile program and there are currently almost 200 schools on the waiting list to be sponsored. If you or your place of business are interested, please visit the website at Morningmile.com.

Many schools encourage participation as a healthy way to start the school day on the right foot. But, it is more than that. Hundreds of students choose to continue in the program year after year because of the fun and rewarding experience they have! ✽

Check with your child’s school for more information about their Morning Mile program. Private and charter schools may have different regulations for participation.

Although the concept of before-school exercise has been around longer, Fitz Koehler, a local fitness expert and mom, decided in 2010 that she wanted her kids (and all kids) to have a program to get them up and moving in the morning. She decided to take some of the best parts of the concepts already in place at a few local schools and make it an official program with guidelines.

The Power of BY EILEEN LAUZARDO

“When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.”

Less than two months after returning to Gainesville, our 4-year-old son, Ryan, was diagnosed with leukemia. This seemed like quite a blow after all we had just been through with Keira, and for a time we were reeling. We quickly regained a sense of equilibrium and were encouraged by the excellent prognosis we were given for our son. He was found to suffer from ALL, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, which is considered one of the most curable of childhood cancers. The treatment would be long, requiring 38 months of chemotherapy, but we felt very optimistic that he would do well in the long run. I find it difficult to convey the degree of shock and disbelief we experienced when just two months after Ryan began treatment for leukemia, Keira

GIGGLEMAG.COM | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014

was also diagnosed with leukemia. Unfortunately, her diagnosis was AML, acute myelogenous leukemia, which is a much more aggressive form and difficult to treat. After an arduous course of treatment, Keira succumbed to this horrible disease at the tender age of 17 months. One year to the day of her open heart surgery. Mike and I were left trying to sort out what had just happened to our dreams for a happy and healthy family. There was no family history of leukemia, no reason that this tragedy should strike our family. The doctors did not have any answers for us, stating that since our children had two different kinds of leukemia involving two different cell lines, there could not be a genetic component. We found ourselves at a crossroads. We could spend a lot of

Photos submitted by Lauzardo family.

ell, sometimes life does not play out as planned and my husband, Mike, and I found ourselves sitting in an entire orchard of lemon trees. In early 2003 our infant daughter, Keira Grace, had just made it through a very complex open heart surgery to correct a rare congenital heart defect. It had been a very difficult first six months of life for Keira, with a pacemaker placed on her first day of life and feeding problems that made her corrective surgery seem, at times, out of reach. Thankfully, the surgery was very successful and after spending six weeks living in Boston in a hotel across the street from the hospital, we were back home and felt like we could finally move on with “normal life.”

Grace

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time asking “Why?” and being angry and bitter. Instead we chose to ask “What now?” and move down a different path. As two physicians, we felt compelled to do something significant to prevent other families from suffering the loss we had just experienced with Keira. Mike has special interests in public health and global medicine, and he began to research what form this would take. This is how Keira Grace Foundation was founded; our lemonade stand, so to speak. Keira Grace Foundation is a not-forprofit foundation that Mike and I established in our daughter’s memory that provides cancer treatments to children in developing countries. We soon realized that while children diagnosed with cancer in the United States all receive treatment, children and their families in developing countries are frequently hopeless due to a lack of access to care, despite the existing knowledge of a cure. It is the goal of the Keira Grace Foundation to take proven cancer treatments to children in the developing world in order to “Share the Cure.” Some of the children being helped by the Keira Grace Foundation

reviewed all cases and treatment plans, visiting several times a year to review cases and to work with the local doctors and nurses. Keira Grace Foundation also began providing staffing for the pediatric oncology program, paying salaries and providing ongoing training. It became clear that some additional infrastructure was needed, as families would often abandon treatment due to lack of resources for room and board for the family during the treatment. Keira Grace Foundation was instrumental in constructing the Share the Cure House. It is a five-story building across the street from the children’s hospital. It provides rooms for 28 families and has a large kitchen, cafeteria, theater, music room, chapel and more. The first patient spent the night in March of 2014. Looking back over the last ten years, it is remarkable to see the difference that we have been able to make in the lives of so many children, just by being willing to put one foot in front of the other toward a goal of caring for others. By the grace of God and the support given to Keira Grace Foundation by the Gainesville community, we have seen cure rates in the Dominican Republic rise from an estimated 15 percent to well over 60 percent. One-year survival has more than doubled to over 90 percent, close to the level here in the United States. Literally hundreds of children

GIGGLEMAG.COM | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014

are alive today as a result of Keira Grace Foundation’s efforts to “Share the Cure.” The twentieth century theologian Paul Tillich has been quoted as saying that people who endure suffering are taken beneath the routines of life and find they are not who they believed themselves to be. This has proven true in our lives. At the time of our unimaginable struggles, little did we know where this journey would take us. Now, ten years later, our lives have been redeemed in ways inconceivable to us at that time. Our family has grown to include another daughter, and the four of us have seen firsthand the power of grace. We are now living that “normal life” we so desperately yearned for, full of baseball games, Brownie meetings and beach trips. We have, however, been forever altered by our family experiences. It is our hope that Keira Grace Foundation will one day have the opportunity to expand to other locations in the world, allowing us to “make lemonade” on a grander scale, sharing the cure for cancer with many more children in the years to come. To learn more about this local foundation and how you can help Share the Cure, view the video on KeiraGraceFoundation.com. Share the Cure 2015 is scheduled for Saturday, February 28, 2015, at Best Western Gateway Grand.

Event photo by Ava Creative Images. Children photos by Randy Batista.

As the first and only family foundation taking on this lofty goal, we had to start small. We developed a relationship with the state children’s hospital in the Dominican Republic. Our medical director, Dr. Stephen Hunger, a world-renowned pediatric oncologist who treated both Ryan and Keira, began to provide oversight to the children with cancer being treated at this hospital. He

Ryan, Mike, Eileen and Sophia Lauzardo at the "Share the Cure 2014" event.

GIGGLEMAG.COM | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014

happy home

ORGANIZED CHAOS Afternoons and especially evenings get complicated when you are dealing with more than one child and age group.

'Twas the Night Before...

School

BY HELEN KORNBLUM

During summer, most families enjoy a holiday from tight scheduling. Mid-August puts a damper on that luxurious sense of time because family activities must be adjusted to school schedules.

Review the typical afterschool activities that are important to your children. Some of these are mandatory and others are flexible. All of these may be difficult for kids whose time management skills are still works in progress. Decide together what will be in your family’s weekday evening agenda.

By now you have probably dealt with the preliminaries – medical appointments for immunizations or sports physicals, shopping for clothes and school supplies, purchasing agendas for homework assignments and creating a household system for sharing school flyers and permission slips.

• Complete homework.

Serious planning begins with the school’s calendar (online, if you don’t already have it). How will your child fit in time for music lessons, academic tutors, sports and volunteer work?

• Take care of chores.

• Walk the dog. • Play video games, watch TV, play with friends. • Socialize on the phone. • Practice musical instrument. • Attend scout meetings, sports practice or other organized event. • Shower, prepare for bed. • Read/relax before bedtime.

If evenings become an endurance contest and you feel that something’s going wrong, revisit all the calendars. Overfilled schedules need to be tamed. Look for cutbacks to reduce anxiety. And go to bed early enough so you don’t oversleep!

• Keep your eyes on the calendars, be they consolidated into one document or individually maintained. Ask each person about his plans for the next day. Who needs a ride? Who is staying late for a special activity? • Anticipate how your day will match their day. What supplies will each person need? (This is best done during a family meeting, perhaps on Sunday night.) • Have everyone lay out school clothing before bedtime. Does a uniform need to be washed to avoid a 7 a.m. meltdown? • Once you know the clan’s comings and goings, plan the menu. Shop for or defrost a dish that fits the day. • Avoid showdowns in the bathroom by creating a schedule for night and morning showers. • Decide who will take and make lunch and who will buy lunch. Clear the counter space needed for the lunch maker. Keep your lunch supplies well stocked. • Talk about family preferences for rising and shining. Little ones are often larks, up early and ready to rock ‘n’ roll with sunrise. Many teens are night owls and don’t exactly “shine” early. Give them whatever support they need to rouse themselves from bed. • Set a bedtime for each child, or at least an “in your room” policy. Include a winding down time, which means a story for younger kids. Teens might enjoy your undivided attention for a conversation about what’s going on or what they have on their mind. ✽

 Helen Kornblum is a life coach and organizer in Gainesville, FL. She owns Natural Order Organizing. Her specialty is coaching teens and young adults who have ADHD or ADD.

GIGGLEMAG.COM | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014

You will bring calm to the castle if you consistently model the behaviors that fit your household.

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M A K E I T. F I X I T. C L E A N I T.

What's Up With

Upcycling? BY ALLEN HAYNES

There's a new trend sweeping across the South called upcycling. And you’ve already been doing it for years. Upcycling is simply converting discarded items into something useful and beautiful. So, if you ever used an old coffee can as a pencil holder, you’ve upcycled. Unlike recycling – which breaks down items so they can be made into a new product, usually of lesser quality – upcycling doesn’t require material breakdown to create new life. And because items are still made of the same materials as when you started, your upcycled items are typically of equal or better quality than the original product. Some of the most popular upcycled items in the past few years have been coffee tables, book shelves and wine racks transformed from pallet wood. Teenagers have even joined the upcycling fun of late with their popular inventions being backpacks, wallets and purses created from items like Capri Sun pouches and old jeans. But not all upcycled projects are complicated. Here are a few you can make from everyday items found in your home:

MASON JAR SOAP DISPENSER Mason jars can be upcycled into almost anything, but using one as a soap dispenser is possibly the most useful upcycle you can create with one. What you’ll need: • Mason jar with lid • Paint • Paintbrush • Nail • Hammer • Soap with pump dispenser Remove the circle part from the lid and separate the two pieces. Using your paint and paintbrush, apply at least two coats on each piece. Once it's dry, place your nail on the center of the circular lid. Using

your hammer, gently hit the head of the nail until it punctures the lid. Repeat this process a few times to make the hole large enough for the soap dispenser lid. Pour the soap into the jar and slide the soap dispenser top into the hole you created. Drop the rim of the lid on top of it and secure the lid to the jar. Now you have a Southern chic soap dispenser for your bathroom or kitchen.

the mixture. Continue stirring until it holds together. Finally, pour it onto newspaper to cool, then let your little ones make their own action figures.

DRYER LINT CLAY Don't trash it! Instead, make clay from old dryer lint and create fun figurines.

What you’ll need: • Tape measure • Scissors • Old tie • Fabric glue • 2 key rings

What you’ll need: • 1 ½ cups lint from the dryer • 1 cup water • ½ cup flour • 2 drops orange or vanilla extract • Old newspaper Place the lint in a saucepan and cover it with the water. When the lint is saturated, add the flour and stir until it is smooth. Add the drops of orange/vanilla extract, and stir the flour into

CHIC TIE BELT Dad’s got plenty of old ties he doesn’t wear anymore. Instead of throwing them out, turn them into a new belt perfect for fall.

Starting from the narrow end of the tie, measure around your waist and cut the tie about 10 inches longer than the measurement. Seal the cut end with the fabric glue. With the seam side down, slide both rings onto the cut end. Fold the fabric back over itself and glue the rings in place. ✽

Have you tackled some awesome upcycling projects with your kiddos? We'd love to hear about it! Send a photo and short description of your family project to dana@irvingpublications.com and you might just see your family on our Facebook page! GIGGLEMAG.COM | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014

happy home

O U R S PA C E

T his Month: Front Door!

When her black front door needed a facelift, our publisher, Nicole, knew just the right color. “I wanted something to scream, “Welcome!” and feel urban and fun at the same time.”

Natural Wood Wreath, $29.99, TJMaxx.

Many swatches later, she found the perfect shade of red. After a few coats of paint and some accent pieces like a new doormat, planters and lanterns, it was complete. One last detail, and one of Nicole’s favorite accessories, a natural wood wreath!

These cute black planters were a great find at Target! We love these glass lanterns we found at World Market!

Key Mat, $12.99, Target. Photo by Giggle Magazine.

learn

HOMESCHOOL CORNER

Homeschooling isn't always at home!

The Happiness Curriculum BY TARA GRIFFIN

I’m really inspired by the science of happiness. Studying humans at their best and applying that knowledge. These are things we need to know. We teach our kids to read, to have good hygiene, to do math problems. Teaching them how to choose happiness is proving to be just as important to their success.

• Journal

Do you ever wonder why you remember random fun song lyrics and not random facts from a boring history class? Because dopamine (the neurochemical released by your body when you're happy) activates the learning centers of the brain. (In layman's terms: A happy brain is a giant information sponge!) This year's curriculum will start with happiness and create an environment where learning can bloom.

• Focus on Strengths

Before the kids plow into a math, science, history or writing lesson, our day will begin with the following:

• Be Thankful In your journal, write or draw five things for which you are thankful. Keeping a gratitude journal for as little as three weeks results in better sleep and more energy, and an increase in happiness by as much as 25 percent. What a nice way to begin the day!

• Simplify Write a daily schedule in your planner. Knowing what you plan to accomplish, and then single-tasking instead of multitasking has been proven to increase happiness. This serves the additional purpose of record keeping, which is required of homeschoolers.

Happily meditating in the Butterfly Garden.

Do something you are good at first, then something you need to work on. If you feel good, and confident, you will be more open to learning a new or difficult thing. My son's guitar teacher suggests it for music. Play something you like and then play the piece you're working on. It works. Last year we did a variation of this in our school. We called it the "Hard Thing, Fun Thing” schedule. But this year we're going to flip it. We're going to experience the "Fun Thing, Hard Thing” schedule to increase happiness, and therefore, learning.

• Exercise Exercise every day. We already do this daily because we like it. Regular exercise is associated with improved mental well-being and a lower incidence of depression. We will go for a walk, ride bikes, play sports, take fitness classes, play at the playground and do yoga together.

• Meditate Take a meditation break every day. Focusing on positive words and feelings trains the brain to be more positive. Being positive will create happiness and attract happier friends. We will do guided meditations, or just sit quietly, repeating the word happy, peace, joy or love to ourselves for a few minutes. Sometimes a little reset goes a long way.

Read “The Energy Bus For Kids” by Jon Gordon.

GIGGLEMAG.COM | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014

Check out the research of Shawn Achor (Harvard lecturer, author and my favorite TED-talker ever!) at goodthinkinc.com.

A happy kid is a teachable kid.

In our world, most people try to become successful so they can be happy. But research is proving that the opposite is true. When you flip the formula and become happy first, you will use more of your brain, learn more and be more productive and more successful. This is science that I can't wait to pass on to my kids. ✽

Read “Siddhartha” by Herman Hesse and find guided meditations for kids at buddanet.net.

Watch “Hackschooling Makes Me Happy” by Logan LaPlante on ted.com. Find more resources at projecthappiness.org

Photos courtesy of Tara Griffin.

find out more...

Spend three minutes writing about a positive experience from the past 24 hours. Re-living a positive experience makes your brain experience it again, increasing dopamine, increasing happiness. Plus, it's good handwriting practice, and provides a fun means for the kids to look back on happy moments in their lives later.

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IN THE CLASSROOM

Teachers Sound Off!

Back-to-School Tips for Kids and Parents BY KELLY GOEDE

Once August rolls around, we shake the sand from our feet, the pool water from our ears and start gearing our minds for the start of school. Here teachers and school staff from across the county offer their tips and suggestions for helping your child (and you) have the smoothest back-to-school transition possible.

In the weeks before school starts, have your child practice writing in a writing journal. Also, have him read books and write about them in his journal. Visit the library and consult their lists on what your child should be reading at his age. MELANIE BOUTIN, 2ND GRADE TEACHER, CHILES ELEMENTARY Enroll your children ASAP if they will be attending a new school (only those who've moved, not simply transitioning from elementary to middle or middle to high). To prepare for returning to school: check high school websites or call the school to inquire about summer reading lists; practice math skills and use websites like freerice.com or collegeboard.com to build vocabulary; return to a schedule/routine before school starts. Rising seniors – register for the September ACT/SAT. CARMEN BUTFILOSKI, GUIDANCE COUNSELOR, GAINESVILLE HIGH SCHOOL

Set up a regular bedtime and wakeup routine a couple weeks before school starts. Help with anxiousness by keeping a positive attitude. Share with your child the many opportunities they will have to learn new things. Enthusiastically support school activities and communicate with your child’s teacher on a regular basis. And read, read, read! TANA WENZELL, KINDERGARTEN TEACHER, HIGH SPRINGS COMMUNITY SCHOOL

GIGGLEMAG.COM | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014

Have a dedicated space or clear the same area for doing homework each day. Choose a particular spot where kids can place their backpacks and lunches. Freeze some dinners to consume during the first week of school until everyone gets adjusted. Prepare lunch boxes and clothing the night before. Send a brief note to the teacher describing the level and method of communication you prefer. Volunteer if possible.

NATALIE WONG, 5TH GRADE TEACHER, WILES ELEMENTARY

Buy an extra round of school supplies for each child and put it in their stockings at Christmas so they can start out in January with fresh pencils, crayons, markers, etc. With my own children, we have started the tradition of waking up early on the first day of school and having breakfast at Cracker Barrel to start off our year. AMANDA CLANTON, EDEP COORDINATOR, TALBOT ELEMENTARY

Come to school with an open mind. With schools growing there are bound to be class changes after the school year starts. If parents tackle the changes in a positive manner, the kids will do the same. Also, check the homework folder each night. Those first two weeks have a lot of papers that need to be seen by parents and some need to be returned. KELLY ANNE FOSTER, 2ND GRADE TEACHER, WILES ELEMENTARY Start your morning wake-up routine a few days at the end of the week before school starts so you can all get used to the alarm again and tweak what needs to be tweaked. After your “dress rehearsal,” go do something fun together to celebrate the end of summer and the beginning of the school year. MACKENSIE SOTO, PRESCHOOL TEACHER, MY SCHOOL

1. Stick to the basics. Students will certainly need pencils, paper and a few folders to start the first week. Hold off on the rest of your school supply shopping until you have a list from your teachers, not just the generic list. Teachers usually give you at least a week to get what they are asking for, and it will save you the hassle of returns/overpurchasing. 2. Get your lock. Teachers will begin to assign lockers within the first day or two, usually first-come-first-served. If your child specifically wants a top/bottom/end locker, make sure he has a lock and has practiced opening it several times. It's always helpful to write down the combination or make an extra copy of the key for your child's homeroom teacher. 3. Attend "Meet the Teacher.” Due to lastminute enrollees, your child most likely will not get his schedule, but just taking a walk through the hallways of his new school will ease a lot of the first-day jitters and start familiarizing him with the general layout of the campus. It’s also easier for students to ask for help/ directions from teachers when they've already been introduced. ADAM FOURNIER, 6TH/7TH GRADE SCIENCE AND MATH TEACHER, KANAPAHA MIDDLE SCHOOL

What our graduates are saying about MMS... Although I have only been here for three years, I feel like this is where I have always gone to school. I know that all of the lessons and information that I have learned at MMS has formed a great base for all of the things that I will learn in high school, college and beyond. - Caryss Baldwin When I look back 9 years ago and remember at how little we were and then look at us now. You will see how much MMS has shaped us into the people we are today. MMS taught me to never be afraid and to show the world who I really am. - Lydia Black 8505 NW 39th Avenue (352) 375-6773 Gainesville, FL 32606 www.millhopper.com

learn Fun Science Projects You Can Do At Home

F A M I LY L E A R N I N G

BY ALEXIS KING

Science is one of those subjects that will follow your children throughout school. Every grade level concentrates on different branches of science. The great thing about this field is that we can use awesome experiments to teach the subject matter and get your kiddos excited about what they are doing (and learning)! Whether your kids are already total science lovers or it’s a subject they loathe, there are simple ways to get the entire family involved and enjoying science!

FAMILY SCIENCE PROJECTS Hands-on science experiments are the perfect way to combine family time and education. Pick an experiment that appeals to your child’s interests, then show her how science relates to it. Here are some fun and easy experiments you can try at home.

Birdie Bakery

This project is perfect for kids who have an interest in animals, nature or food.

Your child gets a laboratory and you get an easier cleanup! group. For example, if you have a toddler, ask him what color birds he sees or how many birds are on each pinecone. For an older child, ask him to find out the names of the birds and some fun facts about those particular birds. SUBJECT Ecology. Your child will learn about animal science, ecosystems, animal feeding habits, colors and descriptive words. MATERIALS Pinecones, yarn, peanut butter, birdseed and a baking tin.

Self-Inflating Balloon

This is great for kids who have an interest in chemistry or chemical reactions. PROCEDURE Teach your kids about chemical reactions! Stretch the balloon enough to loosen it, then put it to the side for later. Have someone hold the test tube and fill it half way with vinegar. Then use a funnel to fill the balloon with a teaspoon of baking soda.

Send in pictures of your little scientist performing these experiments for a chance to be featured on our Facebook page! Send photos to dana@irvingpublications.com.

GIGGLEMAG.COM | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014

Stretch the opening of the balloon securely over the test tube. Once there is a tight seal, lift the balloon so that the baking soda falls into the test tube. Watch the balloon inflate! To begin a discussion about the experiment, ask your child what is occurring within the balloon that causes it to inflate. SUBJECT Chemistry. Your child will learn about chemical reactions, density, acids, bases, gasses and expansion. MATERIALS Test tube, vinegar, small balloon, funnel and a teaspoon of baking soda.

Free Apps for Kids Try these fun and educational apps next time your little one asks for some tech time.

Toddlers and Kids: Earth & Science Games for Kids Heavy or Light – Kids Science Kids Science Game with Water Tweens and Teens: Science Trivia Game Free 100Q Quiz Basic Science Kids Science Quiz Free Kids Measurement Science Lite

PROCEDURE Create treats for the birds in your neighborhood by starting a birdie bakery! To begin, tie yarn around pinecones so they can be hung. Thoroughly coat the pinecones with peanut butter. Next, fill a baking tin with birdseed and roll the pinecones in the seeds until the peanut butter is completely covered. Try putting a different kind of seed on each pinecone to attract a variety of birds to your bakery. Finally hang the treats in an area that will attract birds but that is close enough for your child to check on every few days. When birds appear, you can ask your child thoughtprovoking questions that best fit with his age

Giggle Tip! Set up an area with newspapers or a plastic tablecloth for your experiment.

LEFT-HANDED BEING

IN A RIGHT-HANDED WORLD BY NICOLE GERMANY

As a left-handed individual there’s nothing worse than getting stuck with the right-handed scissors or smudging your hand with ink as you drag it across a dry erase board. Luckily, August 13 is the official day for left-handers to celebrate their creativity and all that makes them unique. In 1992, International Left-Handers Day was launched and is now celebrated worldwide. Every year the annual event strives to bring public awareness of the advantages and disadvantages of using the left hand over the right.

Tips For Raising Lefties:

• It’s important to work closely with children who are left-handed to help them master better handwriting techniques. Often teachers fail to teach left-handed students important techniques for writing such as pen grip and posture.

• Let them unleash their artistic side! Since left-handers use the right hemisphere of their brain more, things like emotions, music, art and perception come easier to them.

• Being left-handed may not be “right,” to some, but it’s important to teach your lefties there’s nothing wrong with being a little different. supplies for the classroom and homework. Left-handed scissors and notebooks can be bought at leftyslefthanded.com.

• Don’t forget sports equipment! Golf clubs and baseball gloves are both available in versions specially made for lefties.

É For more lefty fun, visit lefthandersday.com! 68

GIGGLEMAG.COM | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014

FUN LEFTY

FACTS!

Left-handed athletes have more of an advantage in sports. Seeing underwater is easier for left-handed people.

Left-handers are more creative when it comes to areas that are visual. Five of the last seven presidents were left-handed.

It is believed that of the human population, only 10 percent are lefties. Someone actually created a SmudgeGuard, which helps left-handers everywhere steer clear of those unwanted smudges while writing.

Since Left-Handers Day was created, there have been more than 20 events in the United Kingdom to celebrate the day. Such events included lefthanded tea parties, left vs. right sports matches and left-handed pub games.

• Make sure lefties have all the appropriate

Did you know that some pretty important people are left-handed? Albert Einstein, Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey and even our current president, Barack Obama, have done some pretty big things with their left hands!

If it’s important to you and your child, it’s important to us.

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conception2college

 EXPECTING Pregnancy Secrets No One Tells You!

 INFANT | 0-1 Fill 'Em Up...Bottle Prep 101

 TODDLER | 2-3 Breakfast of Champions! Using Cereal to Boost Math Skills

 EARLY YEARS | 4-5 Photo by Patricia Bishop Photography

Preparing for a Fantastic First Field Trip

 KIDS | 6-7 What to Do in Case of an Emergency

 TWEENS | 8-12 The Talk: How to Lead Your Child Down the Road to Good Health

 TEENS | 13-18 The New SAT Test

GIGGLEMAG.COM | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014

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expecting

PREGNANCY

Pregnancy Secrets No One Tells You! BY DANA KAMP

Pregnancy is an experience like no other. And like most amazing experiences, it involves unexpected twists and turns throughout the journey. Some of our Giggle readers shared their own pregnancy surprises to shine a little bit of light on what unusual side effects can occur when a little human is growing inside your tummy.

“The craziest things that happened were hair growing in places it never did before and getting skin tags under my arms. Thank goodness they went away.” -Wendy Eckhardt, Mommy of 2

“I developed lovely swollen varicose and spider veins up my legs that never went away after my fourth child. But I wouldn't trade them for the world; they were the result of my precious littles. They're my Mommy Badges!” -Ruth Shapiro Davis, Mommy of 4

GIGGLEMAG.COM | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014

“I didn't know about having Braxton Hicks contractions and they came on when I was about seven months along. My tummy was so unbelievably tight and uncomfortable when they would happen.” -Cary Zamora, Mommy of 1

“No one ever told me that I could literally feel sick for nine straight months.” -Cyndi Johnson, Mommy of 2

“My hair color changed and (oh my!) the stretch marks. I had them everywhere; it looked like I had been mauled by a bear!” -Kimberly Schofield, Mommy of 2

“I had unexpected high blood pressure (198/90) starting at 32 weeks, which lead to inducing my labor (thankfully) at 39 weeks. I had no prior hypertension issues, so it was definitely pregnancy-related. I also got acne on my back and shoulders. I didn’t expect either of those things to happen.” -Barbara Happacher, Mommy of 1

“I never knew that I could get pregnancy-induced carpel tunnel syndrome. My hands and arms would completely fall asleep every night when I went to bed and sometimes during the day. I slept with braces on both arms to alleviate the pain. They never worked. It went away (literally) immediately after delivery, which I was told might not happen. Thank goodness it did!” -Jodi Bennett Hunt, Mommy of 1

“I developed a lovely PUPPs-like rash this time around. I say “PUPPs-like” because it doesn’t seem to fit the bill entirely. It comes and goes, but holy cow, the itchiness! I also think the differences between my pregnancies has been pretty unexpected. I thought they'd be similar, but so far they are not. And here's the real TMI part: The difficulty going to the bathroom after my c-section was something no one warned me about, and was way worse than the nurses told me it would be. As far as physical complications of a c-section birth, that was by far the worst. I was surprised by so many things.” -Alison Hightower, Mommy of 1 (Baby #2 due October 3)

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infant

AGES 0-1

Fill 'Em Up...Bottle Prep 101 BY ALEXIS KING

Preparing bottles can seem like the never-ending story of parenthood. While mundane, it is important to follow proper guidelines because issues with sanitation, storage and preparation could contaminate the milk. Incorrect measuring of powder formula can lead to health issues. Adding too much water to powder formula can cause malnourishment issues such as water intoxication. The additional water dilutes the sodium in the baby’s blood, flushing it out of the body. On the other hand, using an excessive amount of powder formula in the bottle can cause constipation. As these examples prove, practicing the proper way to prepare bottles can directly impact your baby’s health.

PREPARATION Powder Formula Bottle:

• Begin by sterilizing any new bottles and accessories. This step goes a long way in preventing bacterial contaminations. • Fill the bottle with the specified amount of clean, cool water. The measurements are listed on the label of the formula container. *If using liquid formula, this is ready to consume as is, so no water should be added. • Measure out the powder formula using ONLY the scoop provided in the container and pour it in the bottle of water.

Remember: If baby does not finish the prepared bottle within one hour, throw the contents out!

Breastmilk Bottle:

Breastmilk can be expressed into a bottle through hand expression, manual pumps and automatic pumps. To use

STORAGE Storing Powder Formula Safely:

• Unopened formula containers should be stored in a cool, dry place. Once opened, covered containers can be stored for up to one month. Powder formula does not need to be refrigerated. • Unused prepared bottles should be labeled by the date of preparation and refrigerated for up to 48 hours. Do not freeze prepared infant formula as this causes the fat to separate from the rest of the mixture and can negatively affect the quality of the formula.

Can’t remember baby’s feeding times? There’s an app for that! If you are breastfeeding: Try Baby Time by Gedeon Lab to easily chart every necessary detail of the feeding, down to which breast you used and whether you nursed the baby or pumped and stored the milk. For an all-encompassing app: Try Feed Baby-Tracker & Monitor by Penguin Apps. It can also be used after the bottle stage to record your little one’s growth, development and more.

Storing Breastmilk Safely:

• For short-term storage, use breastmilk storage bags. For long-term storage, breastmilk can be saved in a capped glass or plastic container. No matter which form you choose, always label and date the container of milk. • Store milk in the back of the refrigerator or freezer where temperatures are the coldest.

Giggle Tip: When traveling with breastmilk, keep it in small, clean bottles/bags stored in an insulated cooler with frozen ice packs. For powder formula, bring clean or bottled water in a cooler to use for mixing with the formula.

• Breastmilk can be stored in the refrigerator for up to five days or in the freezer for foursix months.

Freezing and Thawing Stored Breastmilk: • Breastmilk expands once frozen, so be sure to leave enough room in the container.

• To thaw frozen breastmilk, let it soften in the refrigerator for approximately 12 hours. Then place the container of milk into a bowl of warm water. If needed, run warm water over the container until the milk is completely thawed. WARNING – Do not use the microwave to thaw or reheat milk. This can cause uneven heating of the bottle.

GIGGLEMAG.COM | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014

Baby Brezza® Formula Pro® Hassle-free formula preparation with the push of a button! $149.99 Target

• Securely attach the cap and nipple, then shake until the powder and water are evenly blended.

the hand expression method, you will massage your breast to produce milk. Manual pumps are handheld, portable devices you can use to help release milk. Automatic pumps run on electricity to express milk. All freshly expressed breastmilk can be given to the baby right away, remain at room temperature for up to six hours or placed in the refrigerator or freezer for later use.

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toddler Breakfast of Champions!

AGES 2-3

we mad e it!

Using Cereal to Boost Math Skills BY TANIA COWLING

One of the reasons Americans have taken to breakfast cereals is that they are quick and easy. Besides, cereals have been specifically designed so kids will like them: creative shapes, fun colors, sweet flavors and the box is entertaining while they eat. Cereal is a great tool for mathematical learning, but think of the creative process this manipulative material offers to develop the senses and ingenious art activities as well. Try a few projects below and don’t forget to provide a clean bowl of cereal for munching!

■ Tactile Cards

Draw a number on several pieces of cardboard. Have the children glue O-shaped cereal inside the written number, matching the amount of cereal with the number value. After it’s dry, they can run their fingers along the shape of this number and begin counting skills, along with your help. Start with numbers one to five and increase numerals according to age and skill level.

Giggle Tip! Another way to teach number recognition is to look for number symbols every time you sit together to read a book or look at magazines. Point to numerals and say the number name out loud. and sort by color or by the number of O’s between each marshmallow. Encourage the children to copy your model, and then make up patterns of their own. NOTE: Adult supervision is advised when using pointed sticks with young children. A variation to this activity is to glue cereal pieces on paper, creating specific patterns.

■ Geometric Cereal Shapes

■ Place Value Introduction

Insert three pipe cleaners into a piece of Styrofoam and glue place value labels on the foam base (Ones, Tens and Hundreds). Take turns placing O-shaped cereal onto each pipe cleaner “pole” and having the opposite player guess the whole number. A great way to teach place value and how to read larger numbers! Children learn by doing, so as they play, mathematical skills can be mastered. Think creatively by using cereal and foods to make their learning experience fun! ✽

É Tania Cowling is a former teacher, author of teacher resource books and freelance writer. View her books and work on taniacowling.com.

GIGGLEMAG.COM | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014

Photo by Giggle Magazine.

Cut out paper squares, triangles, circles and rectangles. You can show younger children how to correctly hold the scissors and help them cut out the shapes as well. Little ones ■ Egg Carton Math can glue pieces of cereal to fill each shape and Write the numerals 1-12 with a black marker inside the sections of an egg carton. when dry, can practice identifying each shape as you call out the name. Give each child a cup of cereal and have him place pieces of cereal to correspond ■ Abacus with the number in each section. Count Unwind a metal coat hanger and string the pieces together in each egg cup. As O-shaped cereal onto the wire. Wind the children play this game, they are learning hanger back together. Use heavy tape to to recognize symbols for each number. cover any sharp edges. Kiddos can move the cereal along the wire to count and do simple ■ Making Patterns addition and subtraction problems. Make up Create a pattern model using bamboo word problems for them to do too. Here’s an skewers. Thread on mini-marshmallows example: Susan, Tina and John were walking and O-shaped cereal. Use colorful cereal

to the park (move three pieces of cereal across the wire). How many kids were walking? Susan’s mother called her home (take away one). Now how many kids are still going to the park? Rachael and Tommy joined them (add two pieces). Now how many kids are there? Continue with the story until the child tires of this game, or start a different story.

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early years

AGES 4-5

Preparing for a Fantastic First Field Trip BY NICOLE GERMANY

There’s nothing more exciting for a child than getting the opportunity to go on an adventure outside of the classroom. Fields trips are a big part of the learning process for children, but it’s essential to make sure they understand everything that the trip entails, from the preparation before the trip to the transportation and expectations on the day of the trip.

to prepare for the event ›How

From the moment the permission slip is sent home, the excitement begins to build! It’s important for parents to encourage that excitement but also talk with their child one-onone about the kind of behavior that will be expected of him before and during the field trip. “Discussing everything from how to act on the bus ride to making sure he knows to stay with the chaperone is a great way for parents to help in preparing the student for a field trip,” said Jeanie Sabback, a second grade teacher at J.J. Finley Elementary.

Parents can also ask the teacher about the environment the students will be in so they’re

Share in your child’s excitement for the trip by asking him to come up with questions about the place he’ll be visiting so he can engage and learn more during the trip.

Ensuring a problemfree field trip

›

It’s natural for students to be eager to venture off into a new area, but keeping students together and interested in what is happening in front of them makes for a much better trip!

a smooth outing. Sabback encourages parents to try to be available to go on field trips with their child because it’s less likely a student will misbehave when his parent is a chaperone, and the trip will be more enjoyable and less stressful when there are enough adults to break the children up into smaller groups. Chaperones should remember that the children are watching their example and to be good role models by staying focused on their assigned group and keeping an eye on anyone who tends to wander. No matter where the trip takes them outside the classroom, students need to be reminded that using manners and following the rules are necessary in every environment. Teachers and chaperones should emphasize the roles that safety, organization and positive behavior play in the overall experience of a great field trip. ✽

School staff and chaperones work together to ensure

Parents who wish to attend field trips need to fill out a new chaperone/volunteer waiver each school year to be eligible to attend. Volunteer forms can be found on the Alachua County Public Schools website (sbac.edu) under the Community Volunteer and Business Partnership Program tab. If your child attends private school, check with the school’s office to learn their specific procedures for adult volunteers and chaperones.

GIGGLEMAG.COM | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014

Must-Have

Manners

Don’t forget the magic words! “Please” and “Thank you” are always appreciated. Mouths closed, ears open when an adult is speaking. Inside voices are always best. Clean up all trash left from your snack or lunch. Learning outside of the classroom is just as important as learning inside the classroom. Pay attention! Treat classmates, teachers and guest speakers the way you want to be treated. Raise your hand before you speak. Represent your school well and be on your best behavior so you’ll get the opportunity to go again.

Also, make sure your child understands that going on a field trip is a privilege for those students who listen and demonstrate good behavior in the classroom. Many schools require students with behavior referrals to stay at the school with another teacher during the field trip. Use this as an incentive for your child’s positive behavior in the weeks prior to the trip!

knowledgeable of certain clothing requirements or necessary items needed for the trip. Many indoor arenas are chilly, so a sweater tied around the waist might come in handy. Outdoor field trips usually have better outcomes when sunscreen and bug repellant are applied before your child leaves home.

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kids What to Do in Case of an Emergency A G E S 6 -7

BY LAUREN ZIKA

As a parent, your child getting injured or becoming sick seems to be a constant worry. What is the best thing for parents to do in any given health situation? When your son breaks his arm, where do you take him? When your daughter has a fever that is not going down, what do you do? In the moment, it may be difficult to calmly think of the best course of action. “If you ever feel like your child is having a life-threatening event, you should call 911 and have them take your child to the emergency room,” said Dr. Lindsay Acheson Thompson, a pediatrician and UF associate professor. Less threatening situations may be solved with a phone call to your pediatrician’s office. The doctor or nurse practitioner can answer your questions and point you in the right direction for treatment, if necessary. To help inform you of what to do in some questionable situations, we created a list of possible ailments and injuries for young children and, with Dr. Thompson’s help, the proper medical care for each.

»»BROKEN BONES: See a doctor as soon as you can in the emergency department or orthopedic after hours.

»»BURNS: Call 911 if severe. Basic first

aid for minor burns can be done at home. *Remember to apply cool water, not ice, to a burn. FOOD ALLERGY: Call 911.

»»STITCHES/SUTURES: Any cut that does

not stop bleeding on its own should be evaluated for stitches. (“All wounds that need stitches must be closed by about 6 hours, so do not wait,” Dr. Thompson said.)

temperatures over 101.5 degrees should be considered a fever. If the fever lasts more than four or five days, or the child has trouble eating and drinking, call a doctor. *Unless it is an infant under 3 months of age – then any high temperature should be evaluated.

»»UNIDENTIFIABLE RASHES: Very

few rashes are life-threatening. Call your pediatrician and email or text photos for informal advice about the rash.

When it comes to childhood injuries and ailments, the list is endless. The ones listed above are just a few of the most common ones. For life-threatening issues, it is best to call 911 immediately. In less threatening circumstances, there are more options. “In almost all other situations, it might help to call your doctor’s office, even in the middle of the night, to see if they think you should go to the emergency room,” Dr. Thompson said. ✽

Pediatrics After Hours Pediatrics After Hours is a collaborative effort with community and UF pediatricians to treat children with urgent primary care needs. PAH is a 24-hour phone service available to patients of Gainesville area pediatricians. PAH provides service for stomach pain, chest pain, common cold symptoms, ear infections, fevers, labored breathing, nausea, vomiting and rashes, as well as acute care. If you are experiencing an urgent issue with your child after normal business hours, call your pediatrician’s number to reach a nurse or doctor with PAH. If you cannot reach PAH through your pediatrician, you may call 352-265-0724.

Medical Disclaimer: Always consult your doctor before administering any medical treatment or procedure.

GIGGLEMAG.COM | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014

For more information, visit ufhealth.org/ pediatrics-after-hours.

»»DIFFICULTY BREATHING/ SEVERE

»»LONG-LASTING HIGH FEVER: Only

GIGGLEMAG.COM | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014

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tweens

AGES 8-12

The Talk: How to Lead Your Child Down the Road to Good Health BY DANIELLE MICHELS

We’re not talking the birds and the bees talk here, but this talk is one that is equally important. It’s the health talk, the conversation where we define what a healthy lifestyle will mean for our children and how it will impact their future.

Our modern media has done a great job of painting unrealistic pictures of what a healthy body looks like, leaving girls worried about every fluctuation on the scale and boys wanting to build muscle at rates faster than their bodies will allow.

consciously get up and move every day. Create a family competition to see who can log the most activity in a month and provide a fun incentive for motivation.

So how do we introduce the concepts of a healthy weight and lifestyle to our children at such a sensitive age? Follow some of these guidelines to create a comfortable talking space and lay the foundation for your child’s healthy future.

Look in to kids’ gyms or sports groups in the community to give your child options for how she would like to stay active. The great thing about team sports is exercise doesn’t seem like a chore because it’s a fun and social activity. You can explain the benefits of exercise all you want, but unless you give your child the outlets and accessibility to actually participate, you’ll be all talk and no action.

Give them the resources

Make exercise accessible

Lead by example

Tied in with talking and action, you also have to practice what you preach. Set the example for your child

“Encourage your girl to eat in healthy ways, but don’t over-obsess over what she eats. Listen to her opinions (about food, and other things) and show appreciation for her uniqueness, to help her develop herself into the person she wants to be,” - Catherine Steiner-Adair, Ed.D., co-author of “Full of Ourselves: A Wellness Program to Advance Girl Power, Health and Leadership.” 84

GIGGLEMAG.COM | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014

Scout out helpful apps and materials to help start a conversation. The app Charity Miles donates to the charity of your choice with every mile logged on your walk, run or bike ride. Finding things that encourage exercise, but with a twist other than weight loss is the best way to keep the conversation focused on overall health, not fat or weight talk. Also, getting a fitness tracker like a Fitbit for every member of the family is a good way to start a conversation about why it’s important to

by demonstrating how you value your own health. Make it clear that exercise is a priority in your day and invite your child with you when you go for a jog or take a class at the gym. Don’t forget that your child is watching and listening to you when you may not realize it. If you are constantly worrying about “dieting” and “losing weight” instead of eating for health, your child will follow suit. Also, make meal planning and grocery shopping a family affair. Sit down for 10-15 minutes a week and discuss meals for the week and create a grocery list. Making the trip to the grocery store together is also vitally important since it will show your child how to compile a cart full of whole foods that can be made into delicious and healthy meals, with no need for the “ready-to-eat” junk. ✽

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teens The New SAT Test

AGES 13-18

The final version of the newly designed SAT is expected to be administered in 2016.

BY LISA KATZ

The SAT test, owned by the College Board, is considered the most important and most influential college admissions test. This exam has also been regarded as one of the most stressful exams for which high school students have to prepare. There was a recent announcement stating that new changes were going to be made to the SAT. These changes were made “to more closely reflect the skills and knowledge that current research tells us are most critical for college readiness and success,” said David Coleman, president of the College Board.

Here is a breakdown of the changes made by the College Board: REDESIGNED SAT

Reading and writing sections do not require students to cite evidence.

Evidence-based reading and writing is required.

Source documents do not represent a wide range of academic disciplines.

Source documents originate from a wide range of academic disciplines.

Vocabulary focused on words that are not commonly used in college and career.

Vocabulary focused on words that are widely used in college and career.

Essay measures students’ ability to construct an argument based on their background and experiences.

Essay measures students’ ability to analyze evidence and explain how an author builds an argument to persuade an audience.

Although there are significant changes made to the SAT test, the goal was to make this anxietyprone exam more relevant and straightforward.

Math section samples content from a wide range of high school-level math.

Math section draws from topics that evidence shows most contribute to student readiness for college and career.

Calculator permitted for full math section.

Calculator permitted only on some portions.

“We plan to make an exam that is clearer and more open than any in our history," Coleman said. "We need to get rid of the sense of mystery and dismantle the advantages that people perceive in using costly test preparation." ✽

Reading and writing does not require data analysis.

Students asked to analyze both text and data in real world contexts, including identifying and correcting inconsistencies between the two.

Source documents drawn from texts that are not widely recognized and publicly available.

Each exam will include a passage drawn from the Founding Documents or the Great Global Conversation.

Scoring deducts points for incorrect answers.

Scoring does not deduct points for incorrect answers.

Essay is required.

Essay is optional.

Score scale of 2400.

Score scale of 1600 with separate score for essay.

SAT available on paper only.

SAT available in paper and digital forms.

“The exam will require students to have a stronger command of fewer topics,” Coleman explained.

Parents and students can visit collegeboard. org for test specifications and sample questions for each section of the test. 86

GIGGLEMAG.COM | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014

CURRENT SAT

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GIGGLE READERS SHARE

What I did on my summer vacation...

Victoria Zalvidar submitted this photo of are her daughter, Maya, with her cousins. They k. Par te camping at Long Key Sta

d sons, hter, Julia, an ug da s hi , nd ker at Chris Almo the Coal Crac ng di ri , er rt Pa. Drew and Ca k in Hershey, Hershey Par

GIGGLEMAG.COM | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014

The Gom ez summer

family e njoying a beautif day at ul Disney World's Animal Kingdom park.

Summer fun in the backyard wit h the Bugg family!

Walker Moseley is running to the on sunrise on Cinnamon Beach while vacation with his family!

wimming great time s a d a h s er! id k ol this summ o p The Becker e th in pyramids and making

The She a, Prokopi and Garr families ett at the White H ouse law n in Washingt on, D.C.

Olivia Evans spends some time on the water in the Florida Keys! GIGGLEMAG.COM | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014

GIGGLEMAG.COM | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2014

happy community UNITING ON THE

COURT BY NICOLE GERMANY

Some people go through life vowing to one day make a difference in the life of others. Matt Brush took his vow and turned it into a reality by starting a non-profit organization to provide young men the opportunity to play competitive basketball while not paying a penny.

EXTRA, EXTRA Thunder Struck basketball is a program for seventh and eighth grade male athletes who are passionate about the sport and want to excel in not only basketball, but also life. Coach Brush is a firm believer in the power of positive thinking and makes it a priority to surround his players with role models who make them want to be the best they can be, on and off the court. “Starting out, a lot of people hadn’t heard of us, but it didn’t take long for them to see how fast and disciplined our kids actually were,” said Brush. Many kids who love the game don’t always have the means to play on a traveling team and it was important for Brush to give these players the opportunity he didn’t have when he was younger.

For some kids this win meant a first trophy and for others it created a dedication to play and practice hard enough so they could continue to play basketball throughout high school and college. Both Thunder Struck teams accomplished a great deal this year. The seventh and eighth grade teams both won their state championships and the eighth grade team finished their season as runners-up at the United States Specialty Sports Association Nationals.

"Getting them to believe in themselves is huge."

“The magic of this program is it doesn’t matter if your parents are the wealthiest or poorest, it matters about how much passion you exuberate as an athlete,” Brush said. The eighth grade team made a splash in the basketball world after being down by 20 points against a state top-15 team and coming back in the second half of the game to finish with a massive 16-point win. “Getting them to believe in themselves is huge,” Brush said. After he convinced the team they could make it to the state championships, the team was hungry for another win. And that’s just what they got. A 60 – 59 win over the Weston Wolf Pack resulted in an ecstatic team with smiles that only come from pure joy.

Even with the wins, Brush said that he doesn’t coach to win tournaments. “If you do the right things and your players trust in you and believe in you then winning will come,” he said. Moving forward, the program will be tax exempt, which will give the organization the ability to accept donations and in turn create more teams. “There is a lot of interest from kids who want to come out and play for us next year, but the more teams we add, the harder it is to get the funds,” Brush said. At the end of the day it’s not about the money or the wins; it’s about uniting the players of Thunder Struck basketball and providing them with a second family. ✽

Visit Thunderstruckbasketball.com to learn more about this great community organization.

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EXTRA, EXTRA

Choose support {over doing it all yourself} During the busiest time of her family’s life, Carol practically had one and a half office managers. Not because her business needed it, but because her family did. “There were times when the office manager would sit around without having much to do,” Carol said. “But it was so worth the flexibility that it gave me to be there for my kids.”

Juggling Life: Successful Entrepreneur and Attentive Mom BY MARY ANNE EADES

Many new business owners (and mothers!) think they have to do it all themselves, but without a great support system – whether that’s staff, family or friends – your overall lifestyle and relationships will suffer. And that’s just not worth it.

Choose family {over work} Carol structured her business and her schedule so she never had to miss a sporting event or concert because of work, and she encourages her staff and other working mothers to try to do the same.

It’s important to remember that life comes in stages, especially with kids. As soon as a schedule is finally established, another child is born, extracurricular activities are joined or middle school arrives. That’s the one constant thing in Carol Doak’s life – change.

“Most of my staff are moms, single moms or grandmothers raising their grandchildren. People have asked us to do commercial cleanings in the evenings and on weekends, but we turn it down for the sake of all our families,” Carol said.

Carol is the owner and operating manager of the Alachua County cleaning service, Mini Maid, but being a mom is her first priority. With her three children all grown up, she has some advice for other moms who are battling the decision to pursue being a busy entrepreneur while also being an attentive mother.

Once, Carol had an opportunity to clean a large amount of apartments during a 10-day “turnover” period between college semesters. This particular “turn” would happen at the same time as their large family reunion. She chose to turn down the job rather than choosing between missing the reunion or putting extra strain on her staff.

Choose lifestyle {over money} Carol insists that lifestyle and money are two terms that are used interchangeably, but are actually very different. When Carol and her husband, Bob, first started their family together, they both worked closely with the CEO of a major corporation in the Northeast; Carol as his assistant and Bob as his pilot.

While the money was great, and their boss was a close friend who treated them well, moving to the slower pace of Gainesville and purchasing Mini Maid 20 years ago was the right thing for their family’s lifestyle.

“Looking back on the decisions my parents made as business owners,” Justin said, “even though some of them seemed crazy, and they didn’t make sense to me at the time, I realize now that it was a great education.”

Choose change {over complacency} Starting a new business venture can be unpredictable and scary. It’s often easier for moms to remain in the status quo, even if they’re not satisfied or happy. “Either be happy where you are in life or make changes,” Carol said. “Change your attitude or change your situation.” ✽

Carol and Bob Doak have been the owners of the Alachua County Mini Maid for 20 years as of April 2014. They truly believe that cleaning houses is just the platform they use to impact families’ lives every day.

Photos submitted by Doak family.

“We worked when he worked, and we worked when he played,” Carol said. “Working 60-plus hours a week with a 1-, 2- and 4-year-old at home was hard.”

Carol’s son Justin, now 24 years old and an elementary school teacher, remembers many of the work stories told around the dinner table.

happy community AUGUST

AUGUST 18

Tax Free Shopping Weekend

AUGUST 1

Cymplify: First Friday Food Truck Rally

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Aug 1st-3rd

5 – 9 p.m. Cymplifycentral.com

First Day of School – Alachua County Public Schools AUGUST 20

First Day of School – Oak Hall School First Day of School – Gainesville Country Day School AUGUST 22

AUGUST 1

Free Fridays Concert Series Featuring String Kings 8 – 10 p.m. Bo Diddley Community Plaza AUGUST 2

Kanapaha Botanical Gardens Kids’ Day 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Kanapaha Botanical Gardens AUGUST 8

Free Fridays Concert Series Featuring R. Mutt Blues Band 8 – 10 p.m. Bo Diddley Community Plaza AUGUST 9

Panama Exhibit Opening Day

10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Florida Museum of Natural History AUGUST 10

Bounce for Children's Tumor Foundation

5 – 8 p.m. Bouncin' Big – Newberry Info@bouncinbig.com AUGUST 13

First Day of School – Queen of Peace Academy AUGUST 13

AUGUST 15

Free Fridays Concert Series

Featuring The Irie Ones 8 – 10 p.m. Bo Diddley Community Plaza

Grandparents Day SEPTEMBER 12

Tioga Outdoor Movie Night

“Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. Tioga Town Center

Free Fridays Concert Series

SEPTEMBER 12

AUGUST 23

Featuring Heavy Petty (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Tribute) 8 – 10 p.m. Bo Diddley Community Plaza

Featuring Fast Lane 8 – 10 p.m. Bo Diddley Community Plaza

Ronald McDonald House 2nd Annual Red Shoe Affair

Free Fridays Concert Series

SEPTEMBER 13

6 p.m. Best Western Gateway Grand Rmhcncf.org

Kidsaver CPR Event

AUGUST 23

SEPTEMBER 19

4 – 8 p.m. Tioga Town Center AUGUST 29

Featuring The Imposters (Beatles Tribute Band) 8 – 10 p.m. Bo Diddley Community Plaza

7 – 10 p.m.

SEPTEMBER 20

7th Annual Tioga Town Fair

Artwalk Gainesville

9:30 a.m. Sun Country Sports Center – Jonesville

Free Fridays Concert Series

AUGUST 29

Family Day: Explore the Arts of Panama

Featuring Crooked Counsel 8 – 10 p.m. Bo Diddley Community Plaza

SEPTEMBER 26

Free Fridays Concert Series

SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER 1

1 – 4 p.m. Harn Museum of Art

Free Fridays Concert Series Featuring Tropix 8 – 10 p.m. Bo Diddley Community Plaza

Labor Day

SEPTEMBER 27

SEPTEMBER 5-28

8 a.m. Haile Golf and Country Club

“Clybourne Park” Hippodrome Theatre

O2B Kids4Kids Triathlon

SEPTEMBER 27

Cymplify: First Friday Food Truck Rally

Grins & Giggles Pediatric Dentistry Grand Opening Event

SEPTEMBER 5

SEPTEMBER 27-28

Featuring Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young Tribute 8 – 10 p.m. Bo Diddley Community Plaza

Saturday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m./Sunday: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Greathouse Butterfly Farm

SEPTEMBER 5

5 – 9 p.m. Cymplifycentral.com

Free Fridays Concert Series

SEPTEMBER 5-6

"Reconstruction" Event Dudley Farm

11 a.m. – 2 p.m. 231 NW 137th Drive – Jonesville

4th Annual Florida Monarch Festival

Term Begins – St. Francis Catholic High School

SEPTEMBER 7

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