Roanoke Valley Family Magazine September 2023

Fall Sports Fall Sports

3 Miles of Safari Roads

Free-Roaming Animals to View & Feed from your Car

Zebra, Bison, Elk, Rhino, Llamas, Antelope, & More!

Over 1,000 Animals with New Babies Born Every Year!

Home of the King Cheetah

Budgie Adventure Aviary, Giraffe Feeding Station, Tiger Territory, & Kangaroo Walk-About.

Animal Encounters & Petting Area

@virginiasafaripark

229 Safari Lane, Natural Bridge, VA 24578 (540)-291-3205

Leading Off

Dear Readers,

As the leaves begin their graceful descent and the air takes on a crisp, invigorating edge, we find ourselves at the cusp of a new season filled with promise and excitement. Fall brings with it not only the start of school but also the hustle and bustle of fall sports. In this edition, we’re dedicated to providing you with a wealth of insights, tips, and inspiration to help you navigate this vibrant time in your family’s life.

As parents, we understand the juggle between school schedules, extracurricular activities, and maintaining a harmonious home life. That’s why we’ve gathered a treasure trove of articles to aid you in creating a balanced routine that fosters growth and learning.

We hope you find this issue both enlightening and empowering. Remember, you’re not alone on this journey. Together, we can embrace the opportunities that fall offers, creating lasting memories and nurturing the growth of our remarkable children.

Wishing you a vibrant and enriching fall season!

The Eagan Family

Contact Us: P.O. Box 4484, Roanoke, VA 24015 540-251-1660

www.roanoke.family

Publishers

Josh & Andrea Eagan

josh@virginiafamily.com • Anika and Evelyn’s Parents

Creative Director

Tracy Fisher

tracy@virginiafamily.com • Charlotte and Evelyn’s Mom

Sales Assistants

Ani & Evie Eagan

sales@virginiafamily.com • Bauer and Chloe’s Owners

Webmaster

John Morris • COV Designs john@covdesigns.com

Contributors

Kimberly Emory • Jamie Lober

Susan Baldani • Georgianne Vecellio

Rachel Levine • Jacqueline Moon • Grace Partin

We welcome reader comments, submissions, and the support of advertisers.

We reserve the right to refuse or edit any materials submitted to us as we deem inappropriate for our audience. Please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope with any submission to be returned. We do not accept responsibility for unsolicited materials.

Roanoke Valley Family and www.roanoke.family are published by MoFat Publishing. Roanoke Valley Family is published monthly. The views and the opinions expressed by the writers and advertisers do not necessarily represent those of Roanoke Valley Family, its staff, or its contributors. While multiple businesses, schools, and organizations are represented in our pages, and magazines are often distributed to students according to the policies and procedures of each school district, this is not a publication coordinated or endorsed by any public or private school district, nor is it a publication with any religious or political objectives. As a mass media outlet, it is our oath and responsibility to communicate with due diligence, through our content, the plurality of views and opinions reflected in our audience of Central and Southwest Virginia. Readers are strongly encouraged to verify information with programs and businesses directly. Parents are urged to thoroughly research any decisions involving their children. Copyright 2019 by MoFat Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved. All material, including artwork, advertisements, and editorials, may not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the publisher.

Proud Members of the Parenting Media Association since 2013! Learn more at www.parentmedia.org.

Our Youngest Puppy, Emmett.

THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THEY HAVE THEIR CHILD IN THE RIGHT SEAT.

WHO THINK

THE ONES WHO ACTUALLY DO.

KNOW FOR SURE

IF YOUR CHILD IS IN THE RIGHT CAR SEAT.

Our 83 acre farm located in Blue Ridge, Virginia offers fun for the entire family. Come navigate your way through our 10 acre corn maize, pick the perfect pumpkin, and enjoy the many activities. While exploring all of the fun the farm has to offer, don’t forget to meet our furry friends.

Fall Festivals are starting to pop up throughout the region this September - with Layman Farms leading the way in the Roanoke Valley!

If you work up an appetite, we offer full concessions along with the fantastic Fry Shack! Come for the fun, stay for the views; there’s something for everyone at Layman Family Farms.

Layman Family Farms

Opens Sept 16| Blue Ridge Party In Elmwood

Every Thursday - 5:30-8:30

Elmwood Park

City Market Saturday

Every Saturday - 11AM-2PM | Market Square

Sinkland Farms Pumpkin Festival

Opens Sept 2| Christiansburg

Serious Learning, Serious Fun

How Brainteasers, Games, and Puzzles Help Kids Learn

By Hannah Thelen

Finding engaging learning opportunities that will capture a child’s attention and fight off boredom during the summer months is a constant struggle for every parent. The solution to this problem may be found nestled at the intersection between play and learning: Puzzles.

Puzzles come in many forms. Traditional jigsaw puzzles and other physical assembly puzzles, word puzzles, math puzzles, and logic puzzles have been enjoyed for generations, and exist all over the world. Regardless of what form they come in, puzzles and other thinking games offer extensive cognitive benefits while keeping kids of all ages active, engaged, and motivated to learn.

Kathleen Donahue, homeschool parent and owner of Labyrinth Games and Puzzles in Washington, D.C., facilitates after-school strategic game classes in 13 elementary schools, and knows firsthand the power of puzzles in children’s education. Donahue says that puzzles are “less intimidating than a lot of other educational instruments,” so kids have more confidence when practicing their skills. “With games, puzzles, and

boardgames, there is an attainable solution. And if it is attainable, kids don’t give up.”

Educators like Donahue know that solving puzzles isn’t just fun. It actually exercises skills that make it easier for kids to understand and retain difficult lessons. These include critical thinking skills, problem solving abilities, creativity, visualization, and memory.

Developing critical thinking skills is especially important, as described in a paper from American Psychologist: “We know that middle school students can make substantial improvements in problem-solving ability—even general IQ— when they are taught general principles of critical thinking.”

Puzzles require kids to create strategies in order to solve a problem, applying both prior knowledge and new information. They also encourage kids to contemplate and compare solutions in order to achieve a goal.

Furthermore, games can be used to develop more specialized skills. For

example, Donahue says, “If kids have to use math to win a game, they more readily internalize the concept and the skill.” Any hands-on learning will work—even board games that use simple addition to calculate points.

If there are specific subjects you want to help your children learn, finding the right kind of puzzle requires a little creativity. Here are some ideas to try:

English Or Language Puzzles

Word games and logic puzzles lend themselves easily to developing language and writing skills. “Puzzles can be particularly powerful in the English and Language Arts classroom because they allow students to approach words logically, mathematically, and visually, creating cross-brain connections,” explains high school English teacher and blogger, Danielle Hall. She also suggests using a game in the style of Taboo® to review characters or major themes from a book, or to help kids memorize vocabulary words.

History Or Social Science Puzzles

Classic crossword puzzles, created using historical figures, events, or vocabulary, are perfect for history or social studies lessons. They can help kids connect important information given in the clues, such as “Written by James Madison in 1789” to the phrase they are trying to guess, “Bill of Rights.”

Math Puzzles

Number-oriented games like chess, checkers, or the card game “ninety-nine” are great ways to exercise math skills. Logic puzzles and math story problems are even better. Fun story problems can be found in the book One Minute Mysteries: 65 Short Mysteries You Solve With Math, which offers brief, one-page “mysteries” that can only be solved using math and logic skills. These brainteasers can be worked on individually or discussed together before revealing the answer on the next page. Ryan McAllister, Ph.D., a biophysicist at Georgetown University, said of the book, “Math often gets a bad rap for being hard and unpleasant. Mysteries, on the other hand, are fun and exciting…. Readers get to use their logic and reasoning skills while playing Sherlock Holmes!”

Science Puzzles

Incorporating puzzles into a science lesson can be tricky, but fortunately the One Minute Mysteries series also offers 65 Short Mysteries You Solve with Science, and 65 More Short Mysteries You Solve with Science. With the same brainteaser format as the math book, these puzzles require kids to think critically and utilize

their science knowledge to find a solution. Even without specific science content, any puzzles can be used to introduce the scientific method. To solve a puzzle, kids must observe, hypothesize, test their solution, and make conclusions.

The benefits of puzzle solving don’t end with helping kids learn. Working on puzzles can also build social skills and promote positive thinking. Working together with other individuals demonstrates patience, teamwork, and listening skills. Furthermore, “Overcoming the challenges involved in solving a puzzle really gives [kids] a sense of achievement and pride within themselves,” says Janice Davis, Early Childhood Teacher and Learning 4 Kids Founder. “It provides a boost to their selfconfidence and self-esteem.”

Puzzles and games provide a rare safe environment where, Kathleen Donahue explains, “you can try them over and over again to gain mastery,” which teaches perseverance and makes a child’s success more impactful.

Regularly using puzzles to create learning lessons for your child not only helps prevent summer learning loss, but also allows them to think creatively to solve problems, process and memorize information more effectively, and gain personal skills that can be used for a lifetime.

Hannah Thelen is an editor for Platypus Media, and strongly believes in the importance of children’s education. She earned her BFA in creative writing from Bowling Green State University, and she now lives in Silver Spring, MD, where she enjoys board games and hefty books. She can be reached at Hannah@PlatypusMedia.com.

The Way Things Were

Huff Lane School in the ‘50s

by Becky Mushko

Huff Lane Elementary School was built in 1950 and quickly filled with kids whose families lived in Dorchester Court, the new housing development across the road from the schoolyard and one street behind where I lived. There was no kindergarten, only grades one through six. I attended Huff Lane for all six grades.

The day after Labor Day in September 1951, when I was

a week away from turning 6, I started first grade. Mama walked me the three blocks to Huff Lane — few mothers drove back in the day, and the only kids who rode the bus lived a half-mile or more away.

She left me at the door of Mrs. Willhide’s room and told me she’d wait in the front hall. Sure enough, Mama was there to walk me home for lunch, and at three p.m. she was

there again to walk me home for the day. I figured there must have been a place — maybe near the big kid classes upstairs — where mothers waited because I didn’t see her in the hall mid-morning when Mrs.Willhide lined us up and walked us to the restrooms near the front hall.

I was unimpressed with my first day of school. There was too much lining up and too much raising of hands. I didn’t even learn to read as I had hoped. The only noteworthy thing that happened was a girl named Jean wet her pants. As I walked home with Mama, I asked her when I could quit school. She said when I was 16, so that’s what I planned to do. Too bad I had to be bored for another ten years and a week.

Later that afternoon, after I’d changed

out of my good school clothes and into my play-clothes, I was riding my tricycle on the sidewalk when Mrs. Wertz from up the street came by. “How did you like your first day of school?” she said.

“I hate it!” I said. “I’m going to quit when I’m sixteen.” Although I meant what I said at the time, it turns out I lied. I didn’t quit. When I turned 16, I figured I could hang on for two more years. A year later, I started thinking about college, even though I wasn’t sure what I’d be. Female career choices were mostly limited to nursing, secretarial work, and teaching. I hated the sight of blood (a condition I’ve since gotten over), so nursing was out. I hated the thought of being trapped behind a desk where I’d have to pound a typewriter (who knew computers

would be invented?), so forget secretarial work. The only career left was teaching, and I’d gotten used to being in a classroom.

Before that first week was out, I learned that Mama lied. One day she was running a little late, and I caught her walking up the sidewalk. I should have gotten suspicious because (1) lunch was always ready when we got home at noon and (2) I never saw any other mothers in the hall. My faith shaken, I refused to walk with her and ran ahead. Before long, she found a sixth grader who lived on Dorchester Drive to walk with me in the mornings and afternoons.

I took my lunch for a while, at least until I was pretty secure about how to get home by myself. Then I started walking home for lunch again. I didn’t have much choice of a route: right on Huff Lane (a gravel road) for a block, then left onto Floraland for two blocks; or straight on Dorchester, right onto Grandview, and left onto Floraland; or straight on Dorchester and left at our vacant lot behind our house. All of the ways meant crossing two streets, but there was almost no traffic. Sometimes I didn’t see a car at all.

I liked the adventure of going home for lunch because the Huff Lane cafeteria was pretty depressing. The linoleumcovered tables and benches folded out of the wall because the cafeteria was really a “multi-purpose room.” There was a stage with red curtains at one end where we had assemblies. The benches were unfolded for those, but not the tables. Sometimes we had the equivalent of PE in the cafeteria — or at least dancing. One year, our class learned to do the heel-and-toe polka there. Another year we learned to square dance. Those activities were more fun than sitting on a hard bench.

The lunch ladies made the hot lunch from scratch, so sometimes the cafeteria smelled pretty good. This

In the 1950s, we kids ate a hearty breakfast before we went to school — eggs with bacon, sausage, or ham — that would stick to our ribs. There was no such thing as a breakfast served at school in those days.

was decades before low-fat insanity eventually overtook the nation, so the food was real — not processed — and tasted good. Kids were encouraged to drink whole milk, but I didn’t like milk. I never bought a school lunch because it came with milk. If I didn’t go home for lunch, I carried my lunch in a paper sack (and later in a Roy Rogers lunchbox) but would sometimes pay a nickel for a Dixie Cup or a chocolatecovered ice cream bar.

We didn’t have mid-morning snacks at Huff Lane. In the 1950s, we kids ate a hearty breakfast before we went to school — eggs with bacon, sausage, or ham — that would stick to our ribs. There was no such thing as a breakfast served at school in those days.

In first grade, my main accomplishment was moving from the second reading group to the first. I think I’d been put in the second group because I was so shy that I never volunteered to read. I also rarely raised my hand because it didn’t seem to matter — Mrs. Willhide eventually called on everyone, regardless of whose hands were waving wildly or not waving at all. I knew my turn would come, and it generally did. But every time I was asked to read aloud, I had no trouble “sounding out” the words in the “Dick and Jane” reader. I read fast and fluently.

Aside from reading, my favorite parts of school were library time and recess. Once a week in the library, we could pick out a book to borrow and take home. One of the first books I borrowed was Billy and Blaze, by C.W. Anderson. Reading about Billy and his pony was a lot more exciting than reading about whatever Dick and Jane did.

Recess always involved physical activity on the playground. Sometimes we played group games, such as drop the handkerchief, and sometimes we played on the swings, sliding board, teeter-totter, or jungle gym. Because

girls wore skirts or dresses, we didn’t have the freedom to play that boys did. We tucked our skirts demurely around our legs before we got onto a swing or slid down the metal sliding board, and we confined our climbing to the bottom of the jungle gym. Modesty — or perhaps the teachers — prevented us girls from swinging by our knees from the bars.

On the backside of the schoolyard, where the asphalt playground ended, was the edge of the civilized world — and a huge field where Pete Huff’s farm began. Sometimes wheat grew in the field, sometimes corn, and sometimes alfalfa, but the field was always forbidden territory to us kids as we played on the playground. From the top of the jungle gym or the metal sliding board, we could catch a glimpse of the dairy barn and the cows in the distance.

One November afternoon, when I was in the third grade, my teacher Miss Driscoll announced we’d be taking a field trip to that dairy farm. We put on our coats, lined up, and followed our teacher outside. I remember I wore my gray wool coat with a fur collar — a coat I’d inherited from my older cousin Marty and would eventually pass on to my younger cousin Judy. In the early 1950s, hand-me-downs were a fact of life. The coat kept me warm on that frosty day as my classmates and I stepped off the edge of our known world and tromped across the cutover cornfield to the barn.

There we had a close-up view of the Holsteins munching hay while milking machines made strange noises. Someone must have explained the process of getting milk from cow to store, but I don’t remember that. What I remember most is the field itself.

Walking across Pete Huff’s field ruined me for all future field trips. For years after that third grade excursion, I believed a field trip should actually

involve walking across a real field. Consequently, all the other field trips I went on — which involved climbing onto a bus, travelling a few miles, and eventually going into a building — were disappointments.

One morning in late spring, while we sang “America the Beautiful,” I looked out the window and actually saw the “spacious skies.” They were bright blue. I looked at Pete Huff’s field — now planted in wheat — and saw the “amber waves of grain.” Beyond the field, I saw the “purple mountains’ majesty” of Fort Lewis Mountain and Brushy Mountain in the distance. In front of the mountains, the breeze rippled through the field, which might possibly have been a “fruited plain.” That day, God indeed “shed His grace” on me and gave me a glimpse of the America we sang about.

Things have changed since I attended Huff Lane School. In the 1970s, I-581 bisected Pete Huff’s farm. In the 1980s, land that used to be the farm became Valley View Shopping Center. For a while, the school became “Huff Lane Microvillage.” Then it became Huff Lane Intermediate School, and the primary grades went to Round Hill Elementary. By the 1990s, the asphalt playground had been replaced by grass. The jungle gym and sliding board were gone. A high gray wall with mountains painted on it separated what was left of the playground from what was no longer farm. A few years ago, the school closed and was razed to build a motel.

Whenever I drive through Valley View Mall, where Pete Huff’s farm used to be, I pass close to where my former school once was, and I feel a little sorry for kids who’ll never get to see the world the way I once did — and who can never step off the edge of a playground and take a real field trip.

Every

• Mama Maria’s 11 AM - 2 PM • 3 & under free buffet with paid adult W. Main St., Salem (540) 389-2848

• Golden Corral All Day • 3 & under free buffet with paid adult 1441 Towne Square Blvd., Roanoke (540) 563-8826

IHop 4PM-10PM • 12 & Under All Locations

cheap or

Monday

• Famous Anthony’s 3 PM - Close • 1 child per paid adult All Locations in Roanoke, Salem, & Vinton (540) 362-1400

• Buffalo Wild Wings 4 PM - 9 PM • 12 & under, 1 child per paid adult All Locations (540) 725-9464

• El Rio Mexican Grill All Day • 10 & under, 1 child per paid adult 4208 Electric Rd., Roanoke (540) 685-4343

• Firehouse Subs All Day • 11 & under, 2 children per paid adult combo,dine in Blacksburg (540) 961-0371

• The Green Goat All Day • 12 & under, 1 child per paid adult 802 Wiley Dr. SW, Roanoke (540) 904-6091

Tuesday

• Denny’s

4 PM - 10 PM • 12 & under, 1 child per paid adult

All Locations Roanoke & Salem (540) 389-5074

• Macado’s

4 PM - 9 PM • 12 & under, $1 child meal per paid adult

All Locations in Roanoke & Salem (540) 776-9884

• McAlister’s Deli 5 PM - Close • 2 children per paid adult 2063 Colonial Ave., Roanoke (540) 204-4407

• Town Center Tap House All Day • 12 & under, 2 children per paid adult 90 Town Center St., Daleville (540) 591-9991

• Firehouse Subs

All Day • 12 & under, 1 child per paid adult Colonial Ave, Town Square & Salem only (540) 345-3131

Wednesday

• Dogwood

4 PM - Close • 10 & under, per paid adult 106 E. Lee Ave., Vinton (540) 343-6549

Thursday

• Jerry’s Family Restaurant

4 PM - Close • 6 & under, 1 child per adult meal purchase 1340 E. Washington Ave., Vinton (540) 343-4400

Friday

See Everyday Deals!

Saturday

• Famous Anthony’s 12 PM - Close • 1 child per adult meal

All Locations Roanoke, Salem, Vinton (540) 362-1400

Sunday

• Local Roots

5 PM -7 PM • 5 & under eat for free, discount for ages

5-7 per paid adult

1314 Grandin Rd., Roanoke (540) 206-2610

• T.G.I.Fridays

All Day • 12 & under 1 with paying adult 4869 Valley View Blvd., Roanoke (540) 362-1475

• Moe’s Southwestern Grill

All Day • 1 free per paid adult

All Roanoke & Blacksburg locations

• Firehouse Subs

All Day • 12 and Under

1 free per paid adult Keagy Road, Roanoke 540-204-4471

• Rodeo Grande

All Day • 12 and Under

1 free per paid adult Valley View, Roanoke 540-206-2296

• Lew’s Restaurant SW

All Day • 12 and Under

2 free per paid adult Walnut Avenue, Roanoke 540-682-5925

Roanoke Valley Family Magazine publishes these deals for informational purposes only. A Listing here does not guarantee a discount at any of the mentioned restaurants. Promotions often change without notice and we recommend calling the restaurant to confirm any discount before arrival.

Rachel’s Reads

The new school year is upon us! It’s time for new pencils and notebooks, new teachers, and yellow school buses. Help your kids get excited to start school again by sharing some fun school-themed books together. And keep a look out for copies of Through My Eyes by Ruby Bridges in Little Free Libraries around Roanoke!

Amelia Bedelia’s First Day of School

by Herman Parish

Children have loved Amelia Bedelia and her goofy ways for more than 50 years! Amelia Bedelia’s First Day of School is another joyful contribution to her legacy. Amelia is excited to be starting school and enthusiastically does everything her teacher asks. The only problem is that she takes everything her teacher says literally. This misunderstanding leads to lots of silly moments. Come and join in the fun of singing like birds, running like cheetahs, and having eyes bigger than your stomach!

The Teacher from the Black Lagoon

by Make Thaler

First- to third-graders tend to have a love for the gross and macabre. If your child fits that description, you should check out The Teacher from the Black Lagoon. Teacher Mrs. Green is a fire-breathing crocodile who strikes fear in the hearts of her students. Her students might end up as globes, frogs, or even a midday snack! Or will they? Read this goofy book to find out!

School Bus

by Donald Crews

All vehicle lovers will love School Bus by Donald Crews. The bright yellow color, the red moving stop sign, the huge size, and all the young faces in the windows can make school buses irresistible to toddlers and preschoolers. Feed their passion and follow the daily journey of school buses doing their jobs in School Bus. The bold illustrations will wow any school bus aficionado.

School’s First Day of School

by Adam Rex

School’s First Day of School is a great book for a child dealing with some new-school-year jitters. Frederick Douglass Elementary School is brand-new and has no idea what it means to be a school. What does a school do? Will the kids be nice? What will the kids do during the day? Will the kids like the school? Frederick Douglass Elementary is VERY nervous about starting the school year, but after a few hiccups, the school finds that it loves learning and loves the students. It turns out that being a school is a wonderful thing!

Through My Eyes

by Ruby Bridges

Federal courts ordered Little Rock, Louisiana, to integrate their schools by September 1960, a full six years after the ruling of Brown vs. Board of Education. Ruby Bridges was the first African-American student at her school in Little Rock, and she faced intense verbal abuse and isolation from her white neighbors and school administrators for it. In her award-winning memoir for fourth- through seventhgraders, Through My Eyes, Ruby Bridges tells of her struggles and how she found the strength to persist amid horrible persecution. Through My Eyes is a powerful book that shouldn’t be missed.

Messing Around on the Monkey Bars

by Betsy Franco

Get ready for the school year by sharing some schoolthemed poetry! In Messing Around on the Monkey Bars, Betsy Franco explores bus rides, homework, cafeteria lunches, recess, the mysterious lost-and-found, and more. Franco’s fun rhymes and fabulous rhythm made this book a joy to read. As an extra bonus, the poems are written in two voices and can be read in tandem with your child!

Now that summer is almost over, it’s time to turn our focus to school supplies, clothes shopping, and starting to gear up for the new school year. The emails and phone calls for our kids to join sports, music, and after-school programs start to flood our inboxes. It won’t be long until the homework starts to pour in and practice schedules need to be balanced with work demands. As the to-do list grows longer for both kids and parents, it seems like everyone can feel the stress of fall. So how can we help not only our children, but ourselves, during the academic year?

One way to keep stress at bay is by keeping a little bit of summer in your school year schedule. Kids look forward to the summer break. They enjoy the lack of structure that summer provides. Children of all

Back to Stress?

How to Avoid Becoming Overwhelmed During the School Year (for Both You and Your Child!)

by Chris Brown, MA, LMFT, CCLS

ages enjoy being able to sleep in and spend more time with their friends and family on vacations, sleepovers, and summer outings. There is a lot of evidence to suggest that free time, especially unstructured time, is incredibly healthy for kids and teens. Equally, there is information that also points to the fact that kids, and even more so, parents, are chronically sleep-deprived. Keeping summer habits of rest, fun, and unstructured time can provide much needed relaxation and downtime for kids, as well as parents, when there are so many demands during the school year.

Another way to help both you and your child with stress is to involve your son or daughter in making decisions as to what activities they are involved in during the school year. After-school activities teach discipline, follow-through, and

commitment. Oftentimes these activities are chosen by us, the parents, and not the other way around. Deciding together what clubs and sports your children participate in can help them use reasoning and communication skills that will help them when they become adults. Including kids in decision-making can also give you, the parent, a powerful conversation starter to learn if your child is overwhelmed by practice, homework, and school. Allowing our kids to help make the choice also puts ownership on them for taking part in the activity, helps with buy-in, and can motivate your son or daughter to attend practices and rehearsals— instead of resorting to bargaining and fighting over attending.

It’s also okay for you, as the parent, to reduce your workload and stress during the school year by putting

more responsibility on your child to turn in work, put away bookbags, and do chores to help out around the house. Chores can help children with personal responsibility and self-help skills. When kids take on some of the household chores, it also takes the burden off of you to do everything during the school year. As soon as children become school-aged, they can start to help out. It can be an effort at first to manage and teach them how to do things, but the benefit is worth it. Many parents tie chores to an allowance or screen time in order to help with buy-in and participation. Letting your child choose what chores or responsibilities she or he does will also help with follow-through. Being able to accomplish a task or chore can also increase your child’s selfesteem and independence, which are important traits for school-aged children as well as teens.

How do you know if your child is overwhelmed by activities, school, and even too much responsibility?

Depression and anxiety can look very different in children than adults. Physical complaints such as headaches and stomach aches, as well as irritability, crankiness, and loss of concentration, can be a sign that your child is not only stressed out, but could have anxiety or depression. If your child is showing some of these signs, first go to your child’s pediatrician to rule out any medical conditions that could cause these symptoms. If no physical reason can be found, don’t hesitate to contact a local mental health professional in order to help both you and your son or daughter acquire skills in order to more effectively handle stress at home and at school.

School, activities, and homework are an important part of every family. Success in each of these areas can bring feelings of accomplishment, joy, and satisfaction not only for kids, but for parents. For most of us, there comes a time when the pressure to do better or to maintain a high level of

success causes us to feel overwhelmed. Whether your child struggles with success or maintaining success in school and activities, balance is always key. When we shift to any extreme, adults and kids can start to feel trapped or boxed in. Sometimes, in the pursuit of something, we forget the value of doing nothing. Both parents and kids deserve downtime. Lessening the load for both you and your child can improve everyone’s health and happiness, freeing up some muchneeded time alone, and also providing more time together as a family during the school year.

Chris Brown is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in Roanoke. He provides counseling to children, teens, adults, and couples at the Roanoke Valley Counseling Center.

Canta las Letras

Latin Grammy-winners present 38 songs – bright and catchy – to learn all about letters and letter sounds in Spanish. There is a song for every letter, plus consonant blends and more. With rhythms from electronica to salsa, families will be dancing from A to Z. The album is crafted as a musical learning tool for families who speak Spanish at home, as well as those who are learning it as a second language. $15 CD, $8.99 digital, ages 4-8, 123andres.com/product/canta-lasletras/

Mason Jar Science

Mason Jar Science is with filled with 40 experiments that can be completed using materials often found in your house or backyard. Projects include water fireworks and soda stalactites to a caterpillar hatchery, a balloon barometer and much more. These fun, foolproof, and fascinating science experiments can all be conducted in a glass canning jar. Great for parents and grandparents to do with kids. $14.95, ages 8+, storey.com/books/ mason-jar-science/

Lucky Unicorn Lunch Box

Rule the playground with our standout washable insulated kids lunch boxes. Elevate mealtimes with smart design details like a removable insert for quick cleaning, and a messenger/backpack strap for unburdened ease of movement.

Oh – and don’t forget to write your superhero name on the inside tag!

Luck is on your side with our enchanting Unicorn, who’s always ready to take you on your next magical adventure. $30, ages 6- 10, us.soyoung.ca/

Smithsonian Mega Science Lab

Learn about volcanos, weather, outer space and more. The Smithsonian Mega Science Lab is six different STEM kits in one. Observe the process of crystal formation; assemble and paint a model of the earth and moon; and erect and erupt your very own volcano. Create an Eco Dome Habitat where you can catch, collect and study bugs. Assemble and install your own weather station and start logging temperature, wind direction and speed, barometric pressure, humidity, clouds and precipitation. Put on your safety goggles and chisel away at your sand block as you excavate bones that you can assemble into a

model dinosaur. This kit is a science sampler that offers six amazing adventures that are safe and easy to do. Detailed instructions are included. $34.99, ages 10+, nsi-intonline. com/49009.html

Butterfly Counting Pal

Enjoy a flutter of color with the Butterfly Counting Pal™ plush learning toy. Five colorful number buttons play a variety of songs to teach colors and numbers. A kaleidoscope of color, Butterfly’s lightwing shows the colors of the rainbow. She also helps your baby fall asleep with soft, classical melodies. Each segment of this on-thego toy features a dangling toy that rattles, squeaks, or crinkles to help develop fine motor skills. Learn at home or on the fly by using the included straps to secure the butterfly to infant carriers and strollers. $17.99, ages Birth+, leapfrog.com/en-us/store/p/butterflycounting-pal/_/A-prod80-606400

POWERUP Toys 2.0 Free Flight Electric Paper Airplane Conversion Kit

POWERUP Toys is taking paper airplanes to new heights with the POWERUP 2.0 Free Flight. The powered propeller transforms your paper airplane into a soaring electric aircraft with more than seconds of flight. It’s as easy as folding a paper airplane, clipping on the propeller, and launching it into the air – just like a normal paper $19.99, ages 8+, poweruptoys. com/products/ powerup-v2

PAW Patrol Learning Watch (Chase, Marshall, Skye)

Join the PAW Patrol and protect Adventure Bay with the PAW Patrol Chase Learning Watch™, PAW Patrol Marshall Learning Watch™ and PAW

Patrol Skye Learning Watch™. These interactive watches include four exciting games you can play to recognize patterns, identify animal tracks and pick the right tool for the job with the PAW Patrol. Hear Ryder call the pups into action, cool sound effects and popular phrases from the show. Each watch includes a clock, timer, stopwatch and alarm. With the PAW Patrol, no job is too big, no pup is too small! $14.99 each, ages 3-6, vtechkids.com/brands/ category/infant/pawpatrol

The Game of Wolf

Which is stronger? The Lone Wolf or the Pack? Find out in this strategic trivia game where friend quickly becomes foe! As the Wolf, pick your pack members based on their knowledge of the subject or go Lone Wolf for a chance at double the points! The Pack or Lone Wolf that answers the most correct of the five questions wins the point for that round! Will you go it alone, Wolf? Or will you choose strength in numbers? These are the critical choices you’ll make to be top dog in The Game of Wolf! Ages 14+. $24.99

Reviews Courtesy of Elena Epstein

Back to campus? 7 tips for a manageable college move

In many areas of the country leaves are turning, apple orchards are attracting crowds, football teams are starting practice and nighttime is bringing a chill to the air. For better or worse, that means college students’ thoughts are turning to studying and everything else that goes with campus life.

This year, some 15.2 million students are slated for enrollment in America’s public and private post-secondary institutions, up from 15 million last year. If you’re a student or parent, that means it may be time to transport key belongings to a new living space.

That process can be emotionally bittersweet, even without the logistical challenges of packing, carrying, unpacking and installing multiple loads of gear. Fortunately, forewarned is forearmed, and there’s much you can do to make the process easier for everyone involved. Consider the following suggestions for making a move to college efficient and frictionfree.

Be Selective.

When packing, use your collegeprovided checklist as a guide, setting aside the essential items needed to make your first term at school convenient and comfortable. Remember that college dorm rooms and apartments tend to be small, so avoid bringing unnecessary clothing, knickknacks or valuables and plan to revisit home to retrieve seasonal items later on.

Assemble Your Tools.

You’re likelier to do a better job packing if the right tools are at your fingertips. Secure cardboard boxes, packing tape, bubble wrap, moving blankets and/or markers well before your move, and make sure you call at least two weeks ahead to reserve your moving vehicle at PenskeTruckRental. com. A 12- to 16-foot truck is often perfectly sized to transport the contents of a dorm room or apartment, but such rentals tend to get booked up quickly during the ultra-busy summer and fall moving seasons.

Identify Everything.

Start packing several days ahead so the process seems less burdensome, saving daily-use items for the last 48 hours. Mark the outside of packed boxes with descriptions so contents are unmistakable and will be easy to find even if mixed with other students’ belongings.

Keep Crucial Items Separate.

Instead of inadvertently packing away important papers, identification, credit cards, medications, glasses or contacts and other important items, set aside a “carry-on” bag you’ll keep in your car during your travels.

Pack Your Truck Strategically.

Use your space well by positioning heavier items in the back of your vehicle before proceeding with lighter items. That optimizes the vehicle’s power and allows you to fit smaller items into smaller spaces.

Drive Safely.

Getting behind the wheel of a moving truck need not be intimidating as long as you keep a few precautions in mind. Handling the extra size and weight requires that you avoid sharp turns, brake earlier before stopping

and navigate around low branches or building overhangs. Depending on the length of your drive you may also wish to pre-map your route, review weather forecasts, avoid rush hour and leave yourself extra time for breaks, refueling and unloading.

Stay Secure.

Unfortunately, students are often targeted for theft during the hectic moving process. Protect your belongings by parking only in well-lit and well-attended areas when you stop, and padlocking the back doors of your vehicle when it’s not in use.

Back-to-college time can be ultra-busy while filled with anticipation and hope for what lies ahead. For more tips on making your move to campus smooth and easy, visit PenskeTruckRental.com.

Kid-Made Pizza From Scratch!

Ingredients:

For the dough:

2 cups white whole wheat flour

1 packet instant yeast

1 ½ teaspoons sugar

¾ teaspoon sea salt

¼ teaspoon garlic powder

¼ teaspoon dried oregano

2 tablespoons oil (I use avocado oil)

¾ cup warm water (not too hot, or you can kill the yeast!)

For the pizza:

Prepared pizza dough

Store-bought pizza sauce

1 red bell pepper, sliced

Sliced black olives

Low-fat organic mozzarella cheese

How To Make the Dough

Step 1: In a large bowl, mix 1 cup of the flour together with yeast, sugar, garlic powder, oregano, and salt.

Step 2: Add the oil and the warm water. Using a wooden spoon, stir the mixture until there aren’t any clumps left.

Step 3: Add the second cup of flour. Stir until you can’t anymore, and then use your hands to mix the dough. If it’s really sticky, add a tablespoon more flour at a time until it’s just slightly sticky.

Step 4: Drizzle another large bowl with oil, making sure to cover the sides. Make the dough into a ball shape and put it in the oiled bowl.

Step 5: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and allow it to rise for 30 minutes.

Step 6: Preheat the oven to 425F.

Putting the Pizza Together

Step 1: After the dough has risen for 30 minutes, take off the plastic wrap and punch the dough down with your fist.

Step 2: Sprinkle flour on a cutting board, and then move the dough from the bowl to the floured cutting board.

Step 3: Knead the dough with your hands for 1 minute. (Fold it on top of itself, press it down, fold it again, press it down, etc.)

Step 4: Move the dough to a baking pan lined with parchment paper. Push the dough into a circle (or an oval, or an amoeba!), about 12” wide, with your hands or a rolling pin.

Step 5: Use a fork to poke holes all over the dough. This is so no bubbles will form while the pizza cooks.

Step 6: Drizzle some oil on the dough and spread it around.

Step 7: Spread pizza sauce all over the dough, except for the edges.

Step 8: Add the sliced bell peppers and the black olives.

Step 9: Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese all over the pizza.

Step 10: Bake the pizza in the preheated oven for 13 minutes (or until the crust is just starting to turn brown). Slice it, serve it, and eat it!

Back-to-School Anxiety

by Jamie Lober

A new school year can bring on many emotions ranging from excitement and curiosity to worry and apprehension. Some unanswered questions that may linger in your child’s mind include whether he will like his teachers, if her friends will be in her classroom, if he will get lost in the building, or whether she will be successful. Back-to-school anxiety can affect kids of all ages, from kindergarten through college. It’s important to get to the bottom of what’s causing your child to worry — or to go as far as avoiding school. Through its research, the American Academy of Pediatrics found that some kids struggle emotionally with issues like fear of failure, problems with other kids, anxieties over using a public bathroom, a perceived meanness of the teacher, threats of physical harm like from a school bully, or actual physical harm.

You want to address your child’s thoughts and feelings and not ignore or make light of them. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America reports that when anxiety in kids goes untreated, they are more likely to perform poorly in school and miss out on important social experiences. The best way to alleviate fears is to talk about what to expect. Be sympathetic and understanding if your child tells you why he finds the start of school to be stressful. Validate his feelings and let your child know it’s okay. It can help to practice the school routine prior to the first day. This means getting up earlier than usual, having the bookbag packed, and enjoying a nourishing breakfast. Some schools have orientations or tours where you can find the classrooms and get to meet the teachers in advance.

Make back-to-school shopping a fun experience by involving your child in the decisions of backpacks, supplies, gym shoes, and clothes. You can gradually adjust the alarm clock so your child wakes up earlier instead of suddenly having a new

start time. This means going to bed earlier every night, as well. You can create a workspace or study area that your child likes to spend time in with good lighting and a comfortable, supportive chair. Your child can decorate this area with his favorite colors, hobbies, sports, or photos of friends. Don’t forget to include a calendar so he can write down important dates.

The American Academy of Pediatrics encourages parents to point out the positive aspects of starting school, such as seeing old friends and meeting new ones, to create positive anticipation. You may want to find another child in the neighborhood to accompany your child on the bus or walk with her. The AAP also mentions how having the right backpack can make a huge difference. The best backpack is one with wide, padded shoulder straps and a padded back, and one that is packed lightly. A rolling backpack is a great option if permitted.

Find out about the extra benefits your child’s school has to offer and discuss them with her. There may be an extracurricular activity like a club or sport where she can participate and gain independence and confidence. Staying active as a family can be beneficial, as well. When you help your child get to know his new surroundings and talk about what lies ahead, the school year becomes easier to approach. The American Psychological Association says that parents should get to know members of the school and community that can help support their child in the transition. If the back-to-school anxiety becomes too much for you and your child to handle on your own, you may want to reach out to a trustworthy and knowledgeable pediatrician or counselor for further guidance.

Now, it’s time to mark your calendar with a smiley face on the big first day.

Be sympathetic & understanding if your child tells you why he finds the start of school to be stressful.

Give Your Child a Healthy Start to the School Year

Scheduling pediatric medical and dental appointments is sometimes lost in the shuffle of summer camps, sports, and vacation planning. But it’s important not to let them slip off of your radar.

Virginia requires all children entering daycare, public and private schools to give proof of vaccination before entering daycare, Kindergarten, 7th, and 12th grades unless they have a waiver or exemption.

Children who do not meet the vaccination requirements for school may not be able to start on time.

You can visit the Virginia Department of Health’s “one-stop-shop” web resource at VDH.Virginia. gov/BackToSchool/ to find out which immunizations and healthcare services your child may need for school entrance and sports.

Virginia pediatric immunization rates dropped, but are rebounding

Immunizations prevent the spread of serious communicable diseases such as diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, measles, and more. Vaccine schedules are based on the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Academy of Pediatrics, and American Academy of Family Physicians.

Most students entering school for the first time will receive the vaccines they need from their healthcare provider or local health department prior to school entry in kindergarten. Rising 7th graders and 12th graders will need additional vaccines.

Pediatric immunization rates on the first day of school, which reached as high as 98% in 2008, dropped sharply during the pandemic and have not yet returned to ideal

levels.

But while we still need to increase immunization uptake to protect our children and those around them, the good news is that Virginia is starting to see a rebound, with nearly 90% of kindergartners meeting school immunization requirements for the 20222023 school year. And immunization rates on the first day of school among 7th and 12th graders also improved to 91% and 80%, respectively.

Catching up on missed vaccinations

When you call to schedule your child’s annual checkup, ask your provider which vaccines your child needs. If there are multiple doses of a missed vaccine, your provider will work with you to schedule these appropriately. If your child is missing any vaccines, be sure to ask your provider about the catch-up schedule.

In addition, COVID vaccines are now approved for children as young as six months. You can learn more about COVID vaccines by talking with your child’s healthcare provider or local health department. There are resources available for Virginians who need vaccines. The Virginia Vaccines for Children Program ensures all children have access to routinely recommended free vaccines. If you have questions, call 1-800-5681929.

Medical, dental, and emotional wellness

There are several areas of overall health that parents and guardians should be paying attention to, especially routine medical and dental checkups which are critical to your child’s overall health.

An annual physical evaluation assesses how your child is growing and developing which can confirm that they are on track or help identify areas that need attention. In some cases, physical exams may be required for student participation in activities or athletics.

Dental care is important too. Tooth decay is the most common chronic childhood disease. Untreated cavities can cause pain and infections that may lead to problems with eating, speaking,

playing, and learning. Your child should visit the dentist every six months for a cleaning and evaluation. And it’s never too early to get started – a child is ready for their first dental checkup at age 1.

If your family is insured through Medicaid, both children and adults are now covered for dental care in Virginia. If you have questions about this coverage, call the Cover Virginia Call Center at 833-5 CALL VA.

Especially coming out of the recent COVID-19 pandemic, overall mental health is another key element of a child’s health that needs attention. A 2021 study by Virginia’s Joint Legislative Audit & Review Commission found

mental health issues prevalent in Virginia middle and high school students.

Fifty percent of Virginia middle school and 65% of high school students reported anxiety or nervousness. And thirty-nine percent of Virginia middle school and 53% of high school students reported they experience uncontrollable worry. Have an emotional wellness check conversation with your children to find out how they feel and if you have questions or need resources call or text 988 or talk to your healthcare provider.

A Message from the Virginia Department of Health

Battle The Back-To-School Chaos

For moms, back to school means transitioning back into routines filled with more activities to shuttle kids and their friends to and from, more homework to keep track of and more chaos to deal with at home. But with a little preparation and an arsenal of secret weapons, moms can get through it, even if it’s simply sharing strategies so they know they’re not alone.

According to a new survey of 1,000 U.S. moms of children ages 3-17 by Wakefield Research, 85 percent of moms agree that pizza is their go-to meal when their kids’ friends come over, not only because the kids love it, but because it’s an essential to keep

on hand for last-minute plans.

Here are some of the other ways moms say they cope with everything from household chaos to mealtime madness.

Who Needs Sleep?

Unfortunately, most moms handle chaos during the day and revisit other responsibilities late at night after kids are in bed. In fact, 61 percent have stayed up until midnight or later to finish chores or responsibilities they couldn’t complete during the day. More

than 1 in 4 moms have stayed up until 2 a.m. or later.

Nodding Off At Work.

Late nights can take a toll on moms who need to be up and “on” in front of coworkers during the day. Half of working moms concede they’ve been so exhausted from lack of sleep that they’ve taken a nap at the office, and one-third of them confess to taking onthe-job snoozes more than once.

Sanity-Keeping Strategies.

Moms turn to many strategies to

minimize the daily crisis at home. Their most common ways are prioritizing what’s important (81 percent) and posting lists such as chores and to-dos (73 percent). More than a third (34 percent) look to mom blogs for tips.

Send Help Now!

Some moms end up turning a blind eye to what’s under the surface - literally. Nearly a quarter (24 percent) admit they can see just half or less of their floors clearly, meaning parts of the floor that aren’t covered with toys, paper or furniture. Moms crave help so often, nearly half (48 percent) agree they would choose a full day of housekeeping and caretaking versus a full day of spa treatments.

Defusing Dinnertime Drama.

Pizza is more than a convenience; it’s a peacemaker. Eighty percent of moms believe pizza would quiet their kids quicker than an air horn; 65 percent agree having pizza to give their kids at the end of the day is just as relaxing to moms as wine; and more than half concur it is one of the only things that settles mealtime mayhem at home. For example, Red Baron pizza is a meal everyone in the family can agree on, providing one less battle to get everyone through the school year. One delicious slice at a time.

85% of moms say that pizza is their go-to take out option when friends are over or the family schedule is too busy!

Pizza stops the chaos!

Drinkable Density

Supplies:

• 3 or more juices that have different densities. Some good options are:

• Pomegranate Juice (31 g sugar per cup)

• Apple Juice (24 g sugar per cup)

Kids Science Experiment Article provided

• Orange Juice without pulp (7 g sugar per cup)

• Pineapple Juice (18 g sugar per cup)

• Grape Juice (36 g sugar per cup)

• Tall, skinny, clear glasses (the narrower the better)

• A dropper such as an eye dropper, food safe pipette, or turkey baster

Note: For this month’s experiment, you will need to do a little research when purchasing your supplies. In order to pick juices with different densities, you will need to look at the amount of sugar per volume. Powdered or canned drinks do not work well because of their water content, so be sure to get real juices.

Directions:

1. Choose the juices you’d like to layer and make a guess or prediction as to how they will layer. Which juice will be the densest and fill the bottom of the glass? Which will be the least dense?

2. Pour one of the juices into the glass to the depth of about an inch.

3. Fill your dropper with the second juice that you would like to add and slowly drip it down the side of the glass. If this juice mixes with the first juice, this means that the two juices have about the same density and they will not layer. If the densities are different, this second juice should sit on top or sink below your

first juice.

4.Rinse out your dropper and repeat the previous step with a third juice. Continue rinsing and adding additional juices by dripping them down the side of the glass until you have added all of the juices you like.

5. Once you have finished dripping in all of the juices you chose, you should have layered juice column with each layer having a different density. If you would like to make a very neat column, rinse your glass out and repeat the process but place the drinks in your glass in order of their densities from most to least dense.

The density of something is a measure of the amount of mass per unit of volume

When we’re talking about the density of these juices, what we are looking at is the amount of “stuff” that is in a cup of each juice. With these juices, that “stuff” is mostly sugar, water, and flavor so the amount of sugar is mostly responsible for the different densities.

The same amount of two different juices should weigh differently because they have different amounts of “stuff” in them.

For example a cup of orange juice (without pulp) is probably less dense then a cup of pomegranate juice because orange has only 7g of sugar per cup as compared to 31g. Since pomegranate is denser, it should sink below the orange juice when they are layered. Lighter or less dense juices should float above more dense juices.

Ready, Set, Kindergarten!

The 2022-2023 school year is right around the corner and local elementary schools have been busy registering children for Kindergarten. Any child who will be five years old by September 30th, 2022 is able to enroll for Kindergarten this fall.

But being old enough isn’t always the same thing as being ready. Kindergarten readiness is important because research shows children who are ready for kindergarten are more likely to succeed in school and in life. So how does a parent know if their child is ready or not?

Smart Beginnings suggests parents think about their child’s skills regarding learning, thinking, math, reading and writing as well as social and emotional skills.

Remember, experts say no single or simple factor determines whether a child is ready for kindergarten. Instead, a child’s development needs to be looked at from several aspects.

If you have concerns about your child, talk to your child’s preschool teacher or contact your local elementary school.

For more information about the importance of school readiness, including tips for making sure your child will be ready for school, please visit www. smartbeginningsroanoke. org.

Be sure to register at your local school as soon as possible!

Readiness Checklist

Learning & Thinking Skills

Can your child identify how objects/pictures are the same & different?

Can your child match and recognize basic colors and shapes?

Can your child talk about recent events, and tell what happened first, next and last?

Is your child curious about the world and interested in learning new things?

Reading & Writing Skills

Can your child pay attention and listen to a story for a short period of time?

Can your child recognize letters of the alphabet and identify some beginning letter sounds?

Can your child identify simple rhyming words?

Can your child spell and write their first name?

Math Skills

Can your child count at least 10 objects?

Does your child understand the concepts of “more” and “less”?

Can your child sort a set of objects by size or length? (i.e. put blocks in order from tallest to shortest)

Can your child repeat a simple pattern? (red, red, blue - red, red, blue)

Social & Emotional Skills

Can your child tell someone their name (first and last) and their age?

Can your child take care of their own needs, such as toileting, washing hands and dressing?

Is your child able to adjust to new situations without a parent being there?

Does your child interact well with other children and adults?

Article provided by Smart Beginnings.