Roanoke Valley Family September 2019

Volume 8 Issue 1 • September 2019 | Roanoke.family

BACK 2 SCHOOL 2019

Getting

Involved

Exercise &

at School

F O R M E R LY

G R O W I N G

U P

I N

T H E

ADHD

VA L L E Y

your sight is our vision Vistar doctors have the passion and training to provide you the highest quality healthcare for your eyes.

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hop the Sell best anddeals shop and the inbest kids, deals maternity, in kids, maternity, and home and home decor decor at at Sell shop the best deals

THWEST SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA'S VIRGINIA'S LARGEST LARGEST V SOUTHWEST CONSIGNMENT CONSIGNMENT EVENT EVENT CONSIG

KIDS LFA KIDS CONSIGNMENT CONSIGNMENT LFA KIDS C C LFA KIDS

DAY FOUR DAY DAY FOUR

MEGA EVENT EVENT VENT MEGA

berSeptember 26th - 29th 9thSeptember 26th - 29th

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nt Sale Best Consignment Sale

leading off: publisher’s note September is a special month for our family. a story, and with Anika’s colorful and playful Our daughter Evelyn turns thirteen, and art, the story of Ninja and Luche comes to both girls are starting new schools. But perlife in the pages of this book. The story and haps the biggest news for our family is that artwork create an engaging and funny story my fourteen-year-old daughter Anika and I that parents will love and kids will want to have teamed up to write and illustrate our read again. I am so super-proud of this milefirst book in a new children’s book series, stone, and happy for Anika that her artwork The Adventures of Ninja and Luche. The will be seen! first book in the series,The Adventures of Ninja and Luche: Ninja and Luche have The Adventures of The Great Piggy Rescue, goes been a part of our on sale September 24. daughters’ childhood for as long as I can rememThe Great Piggy Rescue The new series features ber. I never thought I characters created by Anika would be a children’s and her sister Evelyn more author, but then again, than five years ago. The two I never thought I would main characters are Monica be a magazine publisher, and Stevie, two siblings who either! have superhero alter-egos that no one else knows about. As Please check out our Written by: Josh Eagan • llustrated by: Ani Eagan Ninja and Luche, the sibling book, The Adventures of duo help neighbors, classmates, and others Ninja and Luche: The Great Piggy Rescue, around town while getting into mischief. on sale everywhere on September 24. You can also purchase on our website, www.

My daughters are extremely imaginative and ninjaandluche.com, or on Amazon! creative, and the characters in this story reflect their talent. I wanted to make sure Happy Reading! these characters lived on past their childhood. With a little work on my side crafting

Anika, Andrea, Evelyn and Josh at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.

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

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C o n t a c t 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

Community Relations Director Jeanne Lawrence

jeanne@virginiafamily.com • Parker and Connor’s Mom

Editor

Jacqueline Moon

jackie@virginiafamily.com • Elijah’s Mom, and Luke and Blair’s Stepmom

Sales AssistantsAni & Evie Eagan

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

Webmaster

John Morris • COV Designs john@covdesigns.com

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Read Our Other Publications

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Contributors

Kimberly Emory • Jamie Lober Susan Baldani • Georgianne Vecellio Rachel Levine • Jacqueline Moon • Grace Partin

Submit Your Ideas Share your story ideas with us by emailing jackie@virginiafamily.com

Connect With Us /growingupinthevalley

© Copyright 2019 Mofat Publishing We welcome reader comments, submissions, and the support of advertisers.

@roanokefamily

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.

Growing Up In the Valley and Growingupinthevalley.com are published by MoFat Publishing. Growing Up In the Valley is published monthly. The views and the opinions expressed by the writers and advertisers do not necessarily represent those of Growing Up In the Valley, 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.

@rvfamilymag

/roanokevalleyfamily

ON THE COVER

Education Innovation Exploration Progressive education for children ages 3 through middle school since 1971.

JaLeina Reyes JaLeina Reyes, from Roanoke, is 8 years old and has just started third grade. When she’s not hitting the books, JaLeina loves to swim!

Photography by: Elizabeth Farnsworth

www.CommunitySchool.net 540-563-5036

SEPTEMBER VIRGINIAFAMILY.COM

inside departments 7

THE VALLEY

In the Neighborhood Things to Do Kids Eat Free

features

24 27

SIGNED WITH AN “X”

How one of my students helped change my perspective

31

GROWING UP Toddlers Kids Teens

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THE TOUCHY SUBJECT OF BULLYING The answer is empathy

FAMILY Holiday Wellness

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EDUCATION Books Museum

61

JUST FOR FUN

the

valley. around town / things to do / kids eat free

the valley: around town

School is In; Speed is Down Speed limits in certain Roanoke City school zones have decreased from 25 mph to 15 mph. The 15 mph speed limit applies only during the times scheduled for school flasher operations — 30 minutes before and after established school start and end times.

“Student safety is our top priority,” states the school system website. That’s why “Roanoke Police will increase its enforcement of the new speed limit.

Please reduce your speed and watch for children when passing through school zones.”

Local children’s author releases Mill Mountain Zoo-themed book M. H. Bradford, author of Moon, Gorgeous Moon and Wild Styles, has released his third children’s book, Wild Styles: Cats of the Mill Mountain Zoo. In this fun read, “Go on an adventure at The Mill Mountain Zoo in search of wild cats and their stylish accessories. Whether it’s Belka’s black bowtie or Nina’s blue scarf, you can find your favorite cat’s unique wild style and learn fun facts about them too!”

Once again, Roanoke City, Roanoke County, and Salem City Schools are hosting the Roanoke Valley College Fair. It takes place Tuesday, September 17 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Salem Civic Center.

This is a great opportunity for high school juniors and seniors to meet representatives from dozens of colleges and universities. You can receive information and ask plenty of questions.

Two-and-four year colleges, as well as business and technical education schools, will be represented. The event is free!

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Family/September 2019

Roanoke County Schools Introduces New Seal

Roanoke County Public Schools has launched a new seal for the school division, which features silhouettes of students at different stages of their education standing on an open book. The new seal is the result of nearly two years of design work and replaces the previous seal that featured a string of abstract children in front of a globe, which had been in use for approximately 25 years.

“As our school system is well into the 21st century, we recognized our seal needed to reflect our current environment. We wanted our seal to more directly emulate who we are and where we come from. The mountains play an important role in shaping our community and our students. The students demonstrate the multiple facets and stages of learning while the book represents the core of what we are about — learning,” said Dr. Ken Nicely, superintendent of Roanoke County Public Schools. In addition, the district adopted a new slogan, “Opportunity Ready.” “Many of our students will have jobs in the future that today don’t yet exist. ‘Opportunity Ready’ means we are working to help our students be prepared and ready to take advantage of whatever opportunities come their way,” Dr. Nicely said.

Home for Good

For the 2019 Home for Good - The Apostles Build project, WSLS 10, Habitat for Humanity in the Roanoke Valley, individual sponsors, and The Journey FM presented a new home to an area family in need. The Ayamba family, refugees from war-torn Central Africa, officially received the keys to their new home in August. The Ayambas lived in refugee camps in Tanzania and Mozambique before immigrating to the United States in 2015. They resettled in Roanoke in 2016. The Habitat for Humanity build was the largest the Roanoke chapter has taken on.

Shoe Donation Drive

The RAM House/Funds2Orgs Shoe Drive is underway Until November 28, bring gently used or new shoes of any type to RAM House at 824 Campbell Ave SW, Roanoke VA 24016 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. seven days a week. Funds2Orgs will pick them up and pay RAM 40¢ per pound for the shoes collected. Proceeds will go toward operating expenses for RAM House. Funds will help keep their doors open to serve those most in need. Call 540345-8850 for more information or to arrange a pick-up.

Send your local news to jackie@virginiafamily.com to be included in the next issue of Roanoke Valley Family Magazine

Family/September 2019

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One in seven children won’t be ready to start kindergarten.*

Don’t let your child be the one.

For more information, contact: Smart Beginnings Greater Roanoke sbgr@uwrv.org | (540) 283-2778 smartbeginningsroanoke.org

®

*The Annie E. Casey Foundation: KIDS COUNT Data Center.

(2010). PALS-K Scores.

the valley: Educator she’d hoped to become a successful, Harvard-educated novelist — that, or an epidemiologist). She took a job in advertising, but after a few years, realized that path wasn’t for her. “I’d put in so much effort, and then I didn’t feel good about it,” she said. “For me, the work was a little soulcrushing.”

Educator of the Month

So Stephanie shifted her course to a more fulfilling one: teaching.

Specifically, she taught kids with emotional disturbances. She had an interest in psychology and she felt for the students with difficulties. Her focus was on high school kids because they “have more agency over their lives.

They have more choices.” And as she taught, she also studied and earned her master’s in special education from VCU.

Stephanie Martin

Congratulations to Stephanie Martin, September’s Grand Home Furnishings Teacher of the Month!

As an educator at Community High School in downtown Roanoke, Stephanie wears lots of hats. On top of being the humanities teacher, she’s also the school counselor, special education coordinator, community outreach coordinator, and head of special projects. It’s a lot, but as anyone who knows her will attest, she performs her myriad duties with grace, talent, and enthusiasm.

After she graduated from RandolphMacon in 2000, Stephanie wasn’t yet sure about a career path (as a child,

Now Stephanie had found her path.

She moved to Roanoke and continued learning, earning a second master’s degree in applied behavioral analysis from FIT. For a while, she was a crisis counselor with Roanoke City Public Schools; then, she took the school counselor position with CHS. “I loved what Community did, how they viewed education,” she said.

A CHS graduate, Peyton Stanley, recalled having Stephanie as a counselor. “She was a great listener,” she said. “She’s good at finding creative ways to problem-solve.”

Stephanie’s experience at CHS blossomed from there. Now, besides counseling and teaching, her work includes heading up the school’s exchange programs, organizing volunteer projects for students, and managing the school’s partnership with Roanoke’s hands-on learning nonprofit, The Making Foundation. From Mental Health of America of the Roanoke Valley’s Super Hero Kids program to refugee outreach to activism experience with Planned Parenthood, Stephanie strives to make sure her students learn to be compassionate and pragmatic citizens and leaders.

One thing that’s great about CHS, Stephanie said, is how it gives her the freedom and support she needs to do her job(s) well. “I enjoy being able to make students’ lives better in small ways — like going out to lunch with them so they can decompress, or grabbing coffee with a student who’s having a hard time.”

Her son Jacob is a sophomore at CHS, which is great, she said, since she gets to see him almost every day and watch him navigate a different world.

However — as any teacher whose child is a student in his or her school will attest — it’s challenging to not try to control things for him there.

In her free time, Stephanie likes spending time with her family: her husband Simon (who also teaches at CHS) and kids, Jacob (14), Rainer (13), Wyatt (12), and Silla (11). She also loves cooking (but not so much cleaning) and reading.

As an educator, Stephanie focuses on the whole student — not just the intellect — helping to shape CHS students into well-rounded, confident, and strong adults. That’s why we are proud to call her the educator of the month!

is proud to sponsor the

TEACHER MONTH of the

The winning teacher receives a $100 gift card from Grand Home Furnishings!

www.grandhomefurnishings.com Valley View | Tanglewood | Christiansburg | Lynchburg Family/September 2019

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the Valley: things to do

September Things to do

Celebrating America: Opening Night September 28 • 7:30 PM

Berglund Performing Arts Theatre

Mozart & Strauss Celebration November 16 • 7:30 PM November 17 • 3:00 PM Shaftman Performance Hall

tickets and information at rso.com

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Family/September 2019

Ongoing Events Party in Elmwood Elmwood Park, Roanoke Every Thursday Night downtownroanoke.com

All of your favorite bands and jams every Thursday night! Enjoy music, friends, food, and drinks in the region’s most vibrant and exciting destination: Downtown Roanoke. Bring your lawn chair and relax in Elmwood Park. Admission is $5 per person at the gate. Kids under 12 are free!

Fall Festival & Country Store Jeter Farm, Blue Ridge September 21- October 27 Saturdays 9AM-6PM Sundays Noon-6PM jeterfarm.com

$10 general admission includes corn maze, hayride, barnyard zoo, slides, games, and a free small pumpkin!

Hamburgers, hotdogs, kettle corn, apples, cider, and many more VA Grown and VA Finest products are available in the Country Store.

The Glass Menagerie Mill Mountain Theatre, Roanoke September 25- October 6 millmountain.org

Said to be one of the greatest plays in the 20th Century. This riveting drama is set in 1937’s St. Louis, and follows

The Glass Menagerie Sept 25 - Oct 6

Mill Mountain Theatre millmountain.org

the fragile Wingfield family: Tom, an aspiring poet, his painfully shy sister Laura, and their mother Amanda, a faded southern belle.

Dreams and reality collide in this play of exquisite beauty.

LFA Kids Consignment Sale Berglund Center, Roanoke September 26-29 LFAkids.com

Sell and shop the best deals in kids, maternity, home décor and so much more!

Teen Art Studio

Taubman Museum, Roanoke Every Sunday Afternoon taubmanmuseum.org A 2-hour class designed to expand students’ technical skills, build upon their interests, and provide them with new perspectives. Classes will accommodate teens of all skill levels.

September is focusing on watercolor.

Young at Art

Taubman Museum, Roanoke

Discover new ways of introducing art to your preschool age child. Hear a story or do an activity in the galleries and continue your experience by creating a piece of art in Art Venture. For families with children ages 2-5.

PAW Patrol Live!

Salem Civic Center September 10-11 salemciviccenter.com

No job is too big, no pup is too small! PAW Patrol Live! “Race to the Rescue,” an action-packed, musicfilled production will visit the Salem Civic Center! Tickets start at $21.

Fall Festival Opening Weekend Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch Layman Family Farms 9/21 - 9/22 laymanfamilyfarms.com

Special $10 admission on Opening Weekend! Layman Family Farm will open for the 2019 Fall Season on Saturday, September 21st and continue every Sat 10am-7pm and Sun 11pm-7pm through November 12th.

Every Thursday Morning taubmanmuseum.org

Date Night Ideas

Addy-Grace Casino Night September 28 • 6 PM

Ballast Point Brewery addygracefoundation.com

Family/September 2019

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the Valley: things to do Beaver Dam Farm Sunflower Festival

Beaver Dam Farm, Buchanan September 7-8, 14-15 beaverdamsunflowers.com Come walk through 21 acres of black oil sunflowers. Enjoy live music on Saturdays, 20 food vendors and over 45 hand made crafters. Enjoy hay rides, farm animal petting area, photo booths and more. $5 admission for those ages 3 and up.

September 1 Big Lick Kid Fest

10am-3pm Salem Civic Center biglickentertainment.com This one of a kind event for kids to benefit CHIP of Roanoke Valley!

Featuring outdoor interactive

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Family/September 2019

entertainment with games, petting zoo, rock wall, Touch a Truck with Fincastle Fire Dept, Cactus Joe Train Rides, bounce houses, crafts, face-painting, music, treats, local vendors and more!

FREE!

3rd Annual School Stock N Roll

2pm-5pm Firehouse Skate ‘N Play - Family Fun Center firehousesk8.com Free Roller Skating with a school supply donation. Play Ground is $5.

September 6 Mommy & Me Yoga

6pm-7pm Art in Motion Studio, Roanoke roanokeyoga.com Partner with your child in fun, animated poses as we take a yoga adventure!

September 7 Free Fun Soccer Day! 9am-10am Soccer Shots Southwest Virginia swvirginia.soccershots.com/

Soccer Shots annual day to host the SWVA community for a free Soccer Shots class. Bring friends to experience their programs again or for the first time as they kick off the 2019-20 year. Must enroll via their website.

Virginia Steak Festival 5pm- 10 pm Vinton Farmers’ Market biglickentertainment.com

Join your favorite food trucks, restaurants and caterers as they dish out their best steak dishes plus full steak dinners, and a huge country music concert! Plus craft beer, sangria on draft, activities for kids, vendors and more!

September 8 Fall Festival at Fellowship Community Church 10 am - 1 pm North Campus, Salem Campus & Southwest Campus of Fellowship Community Church fcclife.org/fallfestival

immediately afterwards at 11am. The festival will be held at the churches three different locations. There will be food, a petting zoo, inflatables, carnival games, door prizes and more!

Roanoke Hike for Hospice 1:30pm-4:30pm Explore Park, Roanoke hikeforhospiceva.com

The day begins with a personal hike (easy and intermediate routes available) through the heart of Explore Park to the main event area located at the historic Houtz Barn.

Hikers will enjoy a catered BBQ lunch, Scoop Ice Cream Truck free treats, live bluegrass music, raffle prizes, vendors PLUS more!

The morning will start off with a family friendly worship service, then the festival fun will start

Downtown Roanoke

Upcoming Events

1Sept

Member One City Market Saturdays

Every Saturday, 11:00am - 1:00pm - Market Square

Party in Elmwood presented by Amtrak

Every Thursday, 5:30pm - 8:30pm - Elmwood Park

26 Sept

5 Sept

Foreigner - Budweiser Summer Series Gates open 6:00pm - Elmwood Park

For details, visit DowntownRoanoke.org Family/September 2019

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our animal residents. An intimate experience to learn more about various animals’ diets, behavior and personalities. Plus, there will be a child-focused activity. Guests will have Breakfast with the Birds. Cost $11-$18.

Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live

12:30pm - 2:30pm Berglund Center, Roanoke hotwheelsmonstertruckslive.com

September 13 Roanoke Super Hero Academy

6:00 PM Colab - Grandin Rd, Roanoke virginiafamily.com Battle alongside fellow Moms and their sons in this interactive scavenger hunt through Grandin Village and Downtown Roanoke!

Don’t worry - real super heroes will be on site to help you and your team out!

September 14 Kid-Made Market

10 AM - 1 PM 3716 Colonial Ave. Roanoke mwyoung76@gmail.com A farmer’s market run by local kids.

Selling their own creations such as art, food, jewelry, gardening, music, sewing, toys, knitting, flowers, or any creative creation. All ages welcome!

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Family/September 2019

Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live brings everyone’s favorite Hot Wheels monster trucks to life, combining Hot Wheels’ iconic jumps and stunts with epic crashing and smashing to deliver an exhilarating family entertainment experience for kids of all ages. Go Big! Go Hot Wheels!

Olde Salem Days

BaconFest

9am-5pm Main Street, Salem oldesalemdays.com

Virginia’s premiere arts and crafts festival!

11am-5pm Elmwood Park baconfestva.com Local chefs competing for the title of Baconfest Champion and the golden ticket to the World Food Championships will be serving up bacon-inspired dishes to thousands of hungry bacon fans!

Fall Walkabouts

10:30 AM Poor Mountain Trail, Roanoke www.walkaboutoutfitter.com A series of hikes in Roanoke. Earn free gear while hiking with Walkabout Outfitter - a different hike each month.

September 21 Breakfast with the Animals

8:30 AM - 10:30 AM Mill Mountain Zoo mmzoo.org Join Mill Mountain Zoo for a light breakfast buffet and meet one of the zoo’s education outreach animals.

Followed by a special chat with zookeepers as you get amazed with more fun and educational facts about

Celebrate International Red Panda Day & Children’s Literacy 11 am - 4 pm Mill Mountain Zoo, Roanoke mmzoo.org

There will be lots of fun activities for the whole family. Roanoke Public Libraries will be at the event handing out free books, and there will be crafts, keeper chats, face painting and much more! Any child coming dressed as their favorite storybook character will get a $1 off their admission!

BERGLUND CENTER

Sept. 28, 12:30pm & 7:30pm Sept. 29, 1:30pm

KIDS TICKETS

$8

Tickets available at theberglundcenter.com

TICKETS ON SALE NOW! SALEM CIVIC CENTER • SEPT. 10 & 11

© 2019 Spin Master All Rights Reserved.

pawpatrollive.com

the Valley: things to do 2019 Kiwanis Wilderness Trail Festival 9 AM- 4 PM Downtown Christiansburg christiansburgkiwanis.com

Celebrate history, culture, and tradition at the Wilderness Trail Festival. The festival is always a full day of fun and excitement for the entire family loaded with great local artisans and crafters, classic cars and street rods cruise-in on College Street, two stages of live local entertainment, Kid’s Zone with free activities, craft demonstrators and delicious food from area restaurants and food trucks, home improvement and business row. Admission is free and all are welcome.

CHS offers…

Small class sizes Highly qualified faculty Individualized attention College preparatory environment Unique, student-driven liberal arts curriculum Diverse arts offerings Affordable tuition and needbased financial aid Strong, close-knit community

• • • • • • • •

…and much more!

Schedule a visit today!

Community High School of Arts & Academics 302 Campbell Avenue SE Roanoke, VA 24013 info@communityhigh.net (540) 345-1688 www.communityhigh.net 18

Family/September 2019

September 24 Family Talk Series - Are You Transporting Your Children Safely?

6pm-7:30pm Colab - Grandin Rd. Roanoke virginiafamily.com “Are You Transporting Your Children Safely? Most Parents are Not and They Don’t Even Know It” with Jill Lucas, Carilion Children’s Safe Kids Southwest VA Coordinator, with Carilion Children’s will lead our July discussion.

Community discussions at the CoLab featuring topics that matter to Roanoke Valley families. Plus door prizes, snacks, and some great conversation! Plus FREE childcare for attendees.

Free Movie: Pick of the Litter 7:15 PM The Grandin Theatre, Roanoke grandintheatre.com

Saint Francis Service Dogs invites you to come to The Grandin! Come find out how you can help a puppy

become a beloved Service Dog. You’ll have a chance to meet some puppies, see a great movie, AND learn about fun and exciting volunteer opportunities!

September 27 Star Gazing Programs with a National Park Service Ranger 7:30pm-8:30pm Explore Park, Roanoke roanokecountyparks.com

Blue Ridge Parkway overlooks near Explore Park are some of the best places in our region to observe the night sky! Astronomy enthusiast Michael Overacker will join our National Park Service ranger for an interactive star watching experience.

All programs will meet at the Back Creek overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway spur connecting Milepost 115 with Explore Park.

Movies that Rock 7:30 PM Dr Pepper Park, Roanoke

The Eric Wayne Band will perform from 7:30pm until dark. The movie will begin at dark. The featured movie for this date is “Almost Famous” starring Billy Crudup, Frances McDormand, Kate Hudson, and Patrick Fugit. This event if for 17+. General Admission: $5 per person, VIP packages available.

September 28 North Cross 5k & Kids Fun Run 9am-11am North Cross School northcross.org

Come run one of Roanoke’s most challenging x-country courses located on North Cross School Campus! This is a Chip-timed event

by Run Roanoke. Join for a morning of community on our beautiful campus!

BugFest will leave you bug-crazed and bug-amazed! Admission and parking is free.

42nd Annual Boones Mill Apple Festival

FREE!

The 42nd Annual Boones Mill Apple Festival will be held on 9/28/19 from 9-3 in downtown Boones Mill.

9AM Radford University Campus

Addy Grace Foundation Casino Night 6pm-11pm Ballast Point Brewery addygracefoundation.com

The 2nd annual CASINO NIGHT is coming to Ballast Point Saturday September 28!! Have fun “gambling” for a good cause and a night out!

October 5 FREE!

2019 Hokie BugFest 10 AM - 5 PM Squires Student Center, Blacksburg fb.com/ hokiebugfest

Bug-out at Virginia Tech’s 9th Annual Hokie BugFest! This FREE community event features a BugZoo with over 200 live arthropods, exhibits from regional museums, and endless arts and crafts. Enter the Human’s Dressed as Dung Beetles Race, Insect-Eating Contest, or one of eight competitions and win a prize! Walk through a Butterfly House, check out Tony Gustin the Bug Whisperer, or witness acrobatic insects at a live Flea Circus. Head to the Lyric Theater for a bug-inspired Children’s Story Hour and movie, or build-your-own costume and join the annual BugginOut Parade. One of Virginia Tech’s largest science literacy events, Hokie

October 12

FALL CLASSES Sept Sept 33 -- Oct Oct 28 28

Radford Highlander Festival Heavyweight Games, Scottish Clans, Vendors and Live Music by Scythian and CrossBow! The festival moves back to Radford University campus this year and will provide a stunning backdrop for this day of family fun.

The festival is open to the general public with free admission.

OCTOBER 18 Roanoke Symphony Orchestra: Sinatra & Friends: Simply Swingin’ Starring Steve Lippia

OFFERINGS FOR PRE K - ADULT Classes in Acting, Music Theatre, Dance, Voice, Shakespeare, and Technical Theatre.

REGISTER NOW: millmountain.org/class

7:30 PM - 9:00 PM Salem Civic Center

Don’t miss the full symphony and big band performing the iconic hits made famous by Bobby Darin, Nat “King” Cole, Tony Bennett, Vic Damone, Sammy Davis, Jr. and “Ol’ Blue Eyes” himself. You will be captivated by great hits such as I’ve Got You Under My Skin, Luck Be A Lady, My Way, Beyond the Sea and more.

Swing along with the Pops! Starring Steve Lippia David Stewart Wiley, conductor Admission starts at $32.

October 19 - 26 Waldron Stage Shakespeare’s most famous play of love, family feuds, and inevitable tragedy takes on a new life with local youth performers.

One-Hour Version

All Tickets: Pay What You Can Donation Only Available At The Door

millmountain.org

the valley: kids eat free

can Re a l A me r i or N i nj a Wa r r i pen !

O w o N e s r u Co

Kids Eat Free cheap or

Every Day

launchingpadsalem.com 1300 Intervale Drive Salem VA 24153

540-404-9235

fdc 20

Family/September 2019

Monday

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

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

• Country Cookin’ 4 PM - Close • 10 & under, 2 children per paid adult All Locations in Roanoke (540) 774-0199

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

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

• Denny’s 4 PM - 10 PM • 12 & under, 1 child per paid adult All Locations Roanoke & Salem (540) 389-5074

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

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

• Macado’s 4 PM - 9 PM • 12 & under, $1 child meal per paid adult All Locations in Roanoke & Salem (540) 776-9884

• Shoney’s All Day • 4 & under, free kids meal with adult entree purchase. Drink not included 2673 Lee Highway, Troutville (540) 992-6400

• 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

Tuesday

• 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 • Pizza Hut 5 PM - Close • 10 & under, free buffet per paid adult 1016 Hershberger Rd., Roanoke (540) 362-3834 • Ruby Tuesday 5 PM - Close • 11 & under, 1 child per paid adult Electric Rd., Roanoke (540) 265-9301 • K&W All Day • 12 & under, 1 child per paid adult Hershberger Rd. Roanoke (540) 563-4977

Wednesday • Dogwood 4 PM - Close • 10 & under, per paid adult 106 E. Lee Ave., Vinton (540) 343-6549 • The Quarter All Day • 12 & under, 1 child per paid adult 19 Salem Ave., Roanoke (540) 342-2990

Thursday • CiCi’s Pizza All Day • 10 & under .99 cents child buffet per adult buffet Roanoke (540) 344-7711 • The Roanoker 4:30 PM - Close • 10 & under, 2 children per paid adult 2522 Colonial Ave., Roanoke (540) 344-7746

• 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 • Tokyo Express 11 AM - 3 PM • 4 & under free buffet per paid adult 1940 W Main St., Salem (540) 389-6303

• 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

• Famous Anthony’s 12 PM - Close • 1 child per adult meal All Locations Roanoke, Salem, Vinton (540) 362-1400

Sunday • Pizza Den 5 PM - 8:30 PM • 10 & under free buffet per paid adult buffet and drink purchase Salem (540) 389-1111

Trampolines

& More!

Basketball Dodgeball Jousting Pit Fidget Ladder Airbag Pit Launch Tower Arcade with prizes Bumper cars Flight Training Wall NEW! American Ninja Warrior Course Snack Bar 5 Party Rooms

• 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 • Jimmy V’s Restaurant All Day • 4 & under kids meal only $2.50 3403 Brandon Ave., Roanoke (540) 345-7311 • Moe’s Southwestern Grill All Day • 1 free per paid adult All Roanoke & Blacksburg locations

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.

Family/September 2019

21

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Signed with an X

by Lisa Chitwood

I have felt love all of my life thanks to being raised in a Christian home. It’s the love of my parents, family, and friends that have held my hands through many typical storms of life, such as major surgeries, deaths, and a divorce. It is also easy for me to show love to the people in my life, especially to my family, friends, and students.

In fact, it was a student I taught in 1983 that taught me, the teacher, a lesson on understanding the meaning of love and the importance of kindness.

I was teaching at an elementary school in a rural area of our county.

My class contained students with diverse economic backgrounds.

Several kids lived in spectacular homes on the lake with parents that had earned college degrees.

Others lived on farms with parents who made their living farming land that had been in their family for generations. Some of these parents never graduated high school or even completed grade school. Such was the case with Molly. Molly was raised by her dad. Her mom had died in a fire when Molly was two years old. Additionally, her dad was illiterate. I knew this information from Molly’s cumulative folder; however, the folder did not provide any details of what Molly’s life was like. I learned of her situation when I made a home visit.

It was necessary that I meet with Molly’s dad in person to share information regarding an upcoming overnight field trip to Washington D.C. I couldn’t just pick up the phone and call, because they did not own a phone. Plus, I knew he would not understand all of the trip details contained in a letter that was sent home, along with a permission slip for Molly to attend, since he could not read. I received permission to drive Molly home from school to obtain the mandatory signature for Molly

to go to D.C. and to answer any questions her father may have. Our drive to her home and meeting her dad were unforgettable.

dad feeling embarrassed. I told Molly’s father that the trip would cost 50 dollars per student. That fee covered the chartered bus ride, one night’s stay in a hotel, and two meals. I had arranged for the students to sell one-dollar chances to win free groceries to chisel the cost down. Each ticket sold would lower their final cost by a dollar. So, if a student worked hard and sold all of their raffles, their trip would be paid in full.

Molly’s father said he understood the requirements and stated that they would try to sell the pack of raffles I handed him. He signed the permission slip with an “X.”

Molly was thrilled to ride with me in my new Camaro Z 28! It was definitely more comfortable than the school bus. I was a little less than thrilled. I am ashamed to admit that I was worried Molly’s body odor would linger in my leather seats and leave a permanent smell. Did I mention that she wore the same clothes day after day? And that her hair was greasy? In fact, she was so dirty that her papers were always filthy from her own fingerprints. Molly’s uncleanliness made her an outcast. I took the paper signed with an She ate lunch alone. She chose to “X” and clutched it to my chest read books during recess and not as I drove away. I saw both of play games. I believe it was her them grinning and waving bye to passion for reading that made her me in the rearview mirror. Their so intelligent. Yes, she was smart silhouettes faded as the tears and she had the most beautiful puddled and flowed down my smile. She smiled from ear to ear cheeks. The rough road and Molly’s as we drove down the road that scent did not clutter my mind on led to her house. I was not smiling. the way out. I beat myself up for I was gritting having had my teeth while I think of the “X” signed those selfish silently hoping thoughts and

by Molly’s dad and the that the rough concerns in road wouldn’t huge amount of love he the first place. knock the It was just a had for his daughter. front end of car. No wonder my car out of Molly was so I vowed to myself that alignment. dirty and had Molly would be attending an offensive We finally odor. She the field trip and that it arrived at her did not have house, which water would be a memorable running was actually in her home. a shack. I was She walked trip for her. cautious when on dirt floors walking across daily. She did the front porch for fear of falling not have a mom to teach her the through. Her dad opened the door, importance of being clean. The and a pig ran out of the house and dad did the best he could do with nearly knocked me off of my feet! the little they had. The “X” which I could see through the opened served as his signature impacted door that the floors were made me. Each time I see “XOXO,” of dirt. Yes, dirt floors. I had to which stands for “hugs and kisses” compose myself and carry on with and is frequently written on love my business to avoid Molly or her notes, I think of the “X” signed by

Family/September 2019

25

Molly’s dad and the huge amount of love he had for his daughter. I vowed to myself that Molly would be attending the field trip and that it would be a memorable trip for her.

During homeroom the next morning, Molly burst into our classroom and shouted, “I’m a-going to Washington D.C.!” I did not dare smolder her enthusiasm by correcting her poor grammar.

She and her dad had sold all 50 of her raffles, and she handed me a small sack filled with dollar bills.

Molly had reserved herself a seat on the bus. I planned to ride next to her and make sure she felt loved and to guarantee she had a good time. Also, not a single classmate signed up to sit beside her. After sharing her story with my mom and dad, they wanted to help Molly have the best trip possible. They bought her two new outfits, pajamas, panties, and shoes, invited her to their home for dinner and allowed her to take a bath. Molly felt loved by my parents and they were touched by the kindness and gratitude she

26

Family/September 2019

gave back to them.

The next morning, Molly and I were sitting beside each other on the bus heading to Washington, D.C. Molly was impressed with the comfortable seat, the TV above her head, and the bathroom in the back of the bus. She talked my head off, more than she had talked the entire year in class. Her excitement thrilled me! I gave her the window seat and she noticed details about the world that would have gone unnoticed by me. It was a special time that we shared.

Before we arrived in Washington, I secretly gave Molly some spending money. I watched her put it into an envelope that already contained an abundance of cash. She noticed that I saw it and offered an explanation. She shared with me that my parents and the principal had also given her spending money.

Molly probably had more money to spend than anyone on the trip. She deserved it.

Molly enjoyed the sights of D.C., the meals, and sleeping at a hotel.

In fact, she was the only student

to make her bed. That was the trip of a lifetime for Molly. There was a constant sweet smile on her face. Her smile was the brightest when she handed each classmate a souvenir she had purchased for everyone with the money in the envelope that was intended to be spent on herself. She bought more than fifty large pencils from a street vendor. Those tacky pencils that were about a foot long and had scenes of Washington printed on them. What a generous spirit to want to give gifts to the same classmates who would not get close to her, or eat with her, or play with her at recess. Molly demonstrated the meaning of love, kindness, and forgiveness. Molly practiced an unselfish love that needs to be spread throughout our classrooms and our world today.

She also purchased matching pink, plastic coin purses for herself and me. On the return trip home, I filled her coin purse with loose change. Molly filled mine with love.

The Touchy Subject of Bullying

by Dexter Hall

T

“

I believe empathy to be one of the most important things we can ever teach. I believe it is one of the most important things we can ever learn.

“

28

Family/September 2019

here is a certain awkwardness in talking about bullying. It’s unpleasant by nature. Bullying represents humanity at its worst — the strong needlessly inflicting pain on the weak, the big oppressing the small, the attractive making fun of the less attractive, the haves laughing at the have-nots. It makes us feel uncomfortable to focus on such an inherently painful subject.

When considering bullying, we generally feel badly for the one who is bullied and angry and judgmental towards the bully. We are then left feeling angry and somehow embarrassed at the terrible intimacy that this awareness creates. To be aware of a situation in which someone is being actively bullied demands an action from the observer: attempt to stop the bullying. Thus, being aware of ongoing bullying puts an obligation upon the observer that may be undesirable. In a modern world where many feel overwhelmed with too many tasks already, taking on the onus of standing up for the little guy seems to add one more straw upon the camel’s back. Perhaps that’s one of the reasons it’s so much easier to pretend not to notice it at all.

On top of that, if we personally know the person in the role of the bully, we are forced to redefine our perception of her. We may have thought this person to be of good moral stature, and then suddenly we are confronted with behavior that must be condemned. This may also create a feeling of blame towards one’s self — that we were too blind, naïve, or busy to not have noticed this inappropriate conduct earlier. We simply assumed that because this person was behaving positively towards us that therefore she was behaving positively towards everyone else when no one was watching. Suddenly, we are knocked out of our comfort zone and forced to stare directly into the agonizing plight of the victim.

Such abrupt and painful shifts in our awareness are generally unwanted and unwelcome, so these are just a few of the many reasons discussions of

bullying are difficult by default.

However, as anyone who has ever been bullied can tell you, often the victim of a bully is desperately hoping that someone, anyone, will attempt to stop the terrible injustice being done to him. An outsider stepping into salvage their situation is often the last and most desperate hope for those unable to ask for help at all. Therefore, we are compelled by the common bond of humanity to attempt to end the needless suffering of others — even if that means confronting the terrible fact that this suffering has been created by another human being simply for personal pleasure.

So yes, bullying is a hairy subject.

All that being said, let’s get right into it. What causes someone to act as a bully in the first place? Is it simply hyper-aggression, or could it be from a need to express dominance? Do bullies behave the way they do from a feeling of wanting to be in control?

Are they merely acting out from violence witnessed firsthand? Is this desire to cause pain to others purely internalized insecurity masking as superiority? There are probably more reasons than can be listed that would motivate one of us to want to torment another.

However, there are certain methods used by bullies that separate them from random attackers.

Bullies are selective. They never “pick on someone their own size.”

Their victim is always someone who is physically weaker, or less confident, or has less social status. The bully has to know he’s going to win the fight, or he won’t start it in the first place.

Oftentimes, the strategy of the bully is to make the victim feel “less than” by pointing out supposed flaws and inadequacies. Saying phrases full of condemnation, such as “You’re so fat,” “Nobody likes you,” “You’re pathetic,” or “You’re the ugliest girl in school” can intimidate the victim into submission.

Like many other predators, the bully

will often attempt to separate the prey from the pack. A bully knows that in a group of people, someone may strive to stand up for the little guy, which is why she prefers to attack either on a one-onone basis or with the superior numbers of like-minded bullies. In either case, the bully avoids a fair fight at all costs.

Once the victim has been isolated from the safety of the group, the bully can harm her chosen victim as she pleases, without fear of repercussions.

As someone who was occasionally bullied as a child, I feel that I can speak of bullying with some authenticity. One aspect that is hardly ever discussed on this topic is the shame that the victim feels in addition to the actual bullying.

There is shame in being bullied. To be bullied means that you are weak, and that you could not successfully defend yourself. It means that you have failed as a person because you could not stop the aggressor. This causes feelings of inadequacy, humiliation, and despair. I felt ashamed that I could not prevent my bully from attacking me. I felt “less than” sometimes. The only thing in my mind that could have made my situation worse was other people finding out about it. That would mean everyone would know what a little wuss I was, a little wimp who couldn’t even stand up for himself. That would have added a whole layer of embarrassment to the symphony of anguish I was already experiencing.

As a child, I remember hearing over and over again that the only way to end a bully’s reign of terror was to oppose him directly. “You have to stand up to a bully!” was the refrain I heard so many times. What a load of crap. If I could have successfully stood up to my bully, I would have. I tried and failed more than once. After my attempts would fail, I would be pushed to the ground and pinned to the floor, where I would then be verbally taunted. Eventually, my bully would tire of the game and I would be released to sulk away and dream of a day when I would be big enough to defend myself properly.

The day eventually came when I was big enough to stand up for myself, but by then my bully had moved on to other

interests. But at least I never got bullied anymore. That was good enough for me.

I just wanted it to stop so I could live my life like a normal kid. And I did.

All of this was many years ago, and I have long since forgiven the person who bullied me for a time. I now realize that individual was also going through many hardships that I was then unaware of.

If you can believe it, this person and I have become close friends and we talk frequently. We can even laugh about the old days and how different we are now from the kids we were then. Such is the power of forgiveness and the watering down of emotions through exposure to long amounts of time.

I suppose this gives me some unique perspectives on bullying and what it is inherently. For the sake of argument, if you wanted to classify bullying under some sort of criminal charge, I believe that the crime would be theft. A thief takes something from someone else, something that does not belong to her.

The thief takes without permission, regardless of protestation from the rightful owner. How does this relate to bullying? The bully takes something from his victim and adds it to himself.

Perhaps he takes some self-esteem from the victim to add to his own general self-regard. Perhaps he removes some peace of mind from his sufferer and adds it to his own psyche for an increased feeling of calm. Maybe the bully belittles her victim publicly so that she can increase her own social standing and superiority. Clearly after each bullying encounter, the victim is left feeling violated and taken from and robbed of her basic human dignity.

Many times, when a bully is asked why he demonstrated this behavior, his answer is simply that it felt good. Yes, it does feel good to take something from others against their will. To be able to do so means that you are more powerful than they are. To superimpose your own will upon another is to control the universe around you. It’s like an addictive drug that tells you that you’re in charge, that you’re okay. Our universe is infinite, and maybe being able to bully someone smaller makes one feel less insignificant and stronger

Roanoke City Public Schools takes bullying seriously, and they want to make sure every child feels safe at school. For that reason, they have a Bullying Hotline. The Hotline is open to anyone who experiences or observes bullying that is school-related. Bullying is defined as any aggressive and unwanted behavior that is intended to harm, intimidate, or humiliate the victim, involves a real or perceived power imbalance between the aggressor or aggressors and victim, and is repeated over time or caused severe emotional trauma.

Call (540) 853-1700 to report bullying. You can remain anonymous.

Salem City Schools is committed to each student’s success in learning within a caring, responsive, and safe environment that is free of discrimination, violence, and bullying. We request that you report any concerns directly to your student’s principal or your child’s school counselor.

Roanoke County Public Schools is committed to maintaining a learning/ working environment free from bullying. All Roanoke County schools have school counseling services.

School counselors and administrators can speak to you about specifics regarding your child.

and more able to withstand whatever life might deal out. It feels good to feel stronger than, more attractive than, more popular than.

It plays upon one of the ugliest sides of human nature: cruelty. The desire to express superiority through the domination of others is an old story seen throughout every culture. Perhaps it is intrinsic in our nature, but bullying must be recognized and called out every time. It’s like a social cancer that our species carries within its genome.

Every time it manifests as a tumor of cruelty, it must be excised.

Recently, I finished writing a children’s book that deals with the topic of bullying. The main character is a little blue crab who is mercilessly tormented by his older sister. While doing research on this topic, I started asking people if they had ever been bullied before. About half of them said no, but the other half had a lot to say on the subject. Every adult who had been bullied could give me descriptions of the circumstances in great detail.

From events decades ago, they could remember the bully’s first and last names. They would tell me what their bully looked like and what was done to them with crystal clear descriptions.

It was still as fresh in their minds as if it had happened this morning. Some people even got a little emotional about it, actually. It was the first time that they had spoken of it as adults, and they seemed almost surprised at how vivid their emotions were. Childhood

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Family/September 2019

paints feelings in brilliant, primary colors that seem glaringly bright compared to our muted adult tones.

I became curious as to how we could attempt to cure bullying. Surely, there had to be some way to prevent this trauma from happening on such a daily basis to so many children. After months of research and talking to some mental health professionals, I believe I may have part of the answer.

Empathy.

Empathy is the key. It is, quite simply, the ability to understand and be sensitive to the feelings of others.

Oftentimes, the bully has no concept of the true damage he is doing to his victims. This is not to excuse his behavior with ignorance so much as it is to explain that if children can learn to put themselves in another’s shoes, they may not want to make another feel so badly in the first place. When there is a disconnect between a child and the others around her, it is easier for her to inflict pain because she hasn’t imagined how it might feel to her if the roles were reversed.

There is a school of thought regarding the term “empathic pedagogy” — it basically means teaching empathy to children. The premise is that children can learn to have empathy for others by observing the behavior of adults around them. They can learn to be empathic not by being told, but rather by watching others demonstrate empathy

on a daily basis. They can learn this kindness from watching their parents, grandparents, teachers, and other adults involved in their lives.

There are certainly professional mental health authorities far more qualified than I am to speak on empathic pedagogy with much greater detail and clarity. I have no degree in the field, nor I do consider myself to be any kind of expert on the subject. I encourage you to go online and research it for yourself. All I can say is that this is the best idea I have come across to address the subject of bullying. I believe we can teach our children to be sensitive to the thoughts and feelings of others, not by merely saying it, but by demonstrating kindness to them every day through our interactions with one another. I believe empathy to be one of the most important things we can ever teach. I believe it is one of the most important things we can ever learn.

Dexter Hall lives in Roanoke. After working in the food and beverage industry for more than 25 years, he now works as an interior house painter, which gives him plenty of quiet time to contemplate literary endeavors. Keep an eye out for his upcoming children’s book, Soft Sheldon!

growing toddlers

/

up.

kids

/

teens

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growing up: toddlers

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In this tribute to and celebration of moms to be, two leading OB-GYNs cover all aspects of pregnant life in an easy-to-digest and compassionate way.

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From Grandmaster Flash to Kendrick Lamar and Elvis Presley to David Bowie, this series from Silver Dolphin Books introduces little ones to the greatest musicians of our time.

All About Me at My Age $34.99/hardcover, $24.99/softcover, www.iseeme.com Create a keepsake gift for a special child in your life with the personalized birthday book. Fill in the blanks, draw your own pictures, and play fun seekand-find illustration games.

The Story of Rap and Rock Series $8.99, www.silverdophinbooks.com

Family/September 2019

33

growing up: toddlers

Write to Me An Australian brand entering the US for the first time, Write to Me started with just $400 by two friends. They create beautiful journals and keepsakes centered around family time, including family gratitude, pregnancy, wedding and baby, and even one for funny things your kids say!

These beautiful capsules are unlike anything you’ve seen with chic bindings and cases. Journal in your handwriting and create heirlooms to pass down to the people that love you the most.

Handwriting keeps a piece of you alive long after you are gone with the ability to retell stories that are so important to capture.

Loog Guitars In 2017, Loog Guitar’s Kickstarter was the best-selling guitar ever.

Designed to make it fun and easy for all ages to play music, Loog is driven by a passion for music

and sustainable design Flashcards and an app are integrated with 3-string guitars to gets kids (and adults!) playing songs on day one, making it fun and stimulating to learn music, especially for kids so they can develop the cognitive and social skills that help them live a better life. We recommend the Electric Pro for those 8+ and the and Acoustic Mini for kids ages 3-8.

Rockit Rocker Say goodbye to driving around the block until the baby falls asleep and say hello to a free hand when out and about. The Rockit by Rockit Rocker was developed by three regular dads with seven children between them and is the solution to all parents’ tired hands. The Rockit Rocker is a portable baby rocker which attaches to any stroller to provide a gentle rocking motion soothing babies and helping them sleep. This handy device can be purchased on Rockit Rocker USA

and Amazon. Attach vertically to your stroller for best use. They even encourage rechargeable batteries which are also better for the environment.

Tinkering Labs Toys with step-by-step instructions aren’t always kidfriendly. That’s why Tinkering Labs created a STEAM kit that gives children a way to build stuff without having to worry about getting it “right.” The Tinkering Labs kit, also called Electric Motors Catalyst (EMC), provides challenges to get kids out of a rigid, model-building mindset, and into open-ended play. It allows kids to build doodling robots, power electric model cars, add motors to legos, and more! For example, they can “make a machine that can scramble an egg,” or “build a creature with spinning arms.” Tinkerers are provided markers that can be used in the building process. Why? Because

the company learned that when kids feel stuck, having an artistic avenue helps them recalibrate and then solve the problem. There is even a Tinkering Camp that kids can attend, and they work with schools to integrate the kit into the curriculum. Great for girls and boys ages 8 and up, and tinkering adults!

Wishing Pixies No gift can be better than the one that encourages kids to be better people, for themselves and others. Created by a teacher with over 20 years of experience in education, Wishing Pixies is the only child management and educational behavioral app designed to help parents raise calm, emotionally resilient and kindhearted children.

The Wishing Pixies app is specifically geared toward children from 2 to 10 and is coupled with Pixie Dolls; parents act as the Pixie Doll and kids can play with them. Win-win! What started this unique idea? One mom who pretended to be the tooth fairy with her child,

writing notes back and forth. She learned more about her child than she ever would have as her mother.

This is why her favorite feature is the chat section, where parents can talk to there kids as if they are the Pixies. Through the app, the parents can set personalized goals for the child, such as cleaning their room, taking the trash out or being nicer to their brother or sister. The child will receive these goals from the pixies via a notification on their tablet and they must complete them to ensure the happiness of the pixies. Once completed, they are awarded “fairy dust” and when enough dust is earned, the pixies can grant the child’s wishes.

The wishes are customizable by the parent and can be anything from ice cream, to a sleepover with friends.

White Leaf Provisions Healthy soil = Healthy food. Started by a husband and wife team in Charleston, White Leaf Provisions is a family run business bringing the first 100% regeneratively farmed, Biodynamic®, Organic & GMO-Free baby food line to market in the U.S. The result is pure, transparent, nutritious and delicious foods. Their line of baby food blends and applesauce transforms not only how we feed our children but also encourages farming methods that can help to heal the planet that our kids will inherit.

Family/September 2019

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ADHD & EXERCISE

by Gabriel Villarreal

growing up: kids Let’s get something out of the way: Exercise is medicine. Unequivocally.

How can I make that bold statement?

My name is Gabriel Villarreal. I own and coach at LostBoys Strength & Conditioning,​which is an affiliate of Mash Elite Performance. I also host Informed Consent​, a podcast created to support community mental health professionals. I have my master’s in clinical mental health and am soon to be a Licensed Professional Counselor.

Lastly, I own and run ADHD Counseling in the Roanoke Valley, a private practice all about helping​ADHDers unlock their strengths — or, as I call it, their “superpowers.”

Allow me to address my first statement: Exercise is medicine.

Exercise is medicine for those with a mental health diagnosis or mental health issues. For those of you who say, “That’s not me,” the CDC states that approximately 75% of Americans will at one time have a diagnosable mental health disorder, but that is for another article. Today, we are simply going to talk about how exercise helps ADHDers — arguably, to a point where

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medication may not be necessary.

First, we have to talk about what ADHD is, where it comes from, and what issues it places upon the person diagnosed with it. Within an ADHDer’s brain, there is a malfunction that affects his or her attention system.

That system is a linkage of neurons that connect or hitch together other parts of the brain that are responsible for, among other things: arousal, motivation, reward, movement​, and executive functioning.

To get this right out of the way, there are people who believe ADHD is made up. To those readers, I’ll say only this: It’s not about a belief system; it’s about science. FMRI scans of ADHDers and non-ADHD individuals show a clear difference in the functioning of the person’s reward center, which is entirely responsible for a person’s motivation and drive. For the ADHDer, that reward center is not as strong or does not produce the appropriate or normal amount of chemicals/ neurotransmitters responsible to help motivate and/or drive him.

To be 100% clear and concise, the label of “attention deficit disorder” is not entirely accurate, primarily because it is not an issue of a deficit of attention, but rather an issue of consistency.

We all know the ADHDer who can hyper-focus on things she really enjoys. The simple example is kids and video games; however, as they grow older and strengthen this

ability, it can be a game-changer. As an example, I built my business on the weekends for a year and a half by hyper-focusing for 6 to 12 hours straight, only taking breaks to walk the dogs and eat. Seriously.

The “attention system” begins at the locus coeruleus in our brains and is regulated by two chemicals/ neurotransmitters: norepinephrine and dopamine. From the locus coeruleus, a web of connections feeds out to the rest of the brain, primarily into the parts of the brain that govern the tasks I talked about before, like movement, attention, and executive functioning.

But what are these two chemicals, and why did I bring them up?

Dopamine: For the longest time, dopamine was believed to solely be responsible for rewards, as the study below attests. We know and have heard that things like narcotics, sex, and even chocolate release a lot of dopamine, which triggers our brain to want more of that “thing” (reward).

However, dopamine is released for all the things we like — it may be a cool movie or a funny joke. Dopamine is released and it helps us keep doing things we enjoy. However, more recently, the neuroscience journal Neuron published a 2013 study that concluded: “The widespread belief that dopamine regulates pleasure could go down in history with the latest research results on the role of this neurotransmitter.

Researchers have shown that it regulates motivation, causing individuals to initiate and persevere​ to obtain something.”

If you’d like to know more about dopamine and its role in ADHD, I wrote an article on my ADHD blog (at roanokeadhd.com)​all about dopamine function in the brain.

Norepinephrine’s role: This is also a neurotransmitter, which means it transfers information from one part of the brain to another. However, it is also a chemical that acts as a stress hormone affected by lack of sleep,

high stress, anxiety, and emotional volatility. All of these are signs of ADHD, and they come back to this one chemical that is not produced as abundantly in the locus coeruleus in individuals diagnosed with ADHD. So now we finally jump into exercise’s role in ADHDers: Across all people, regardless of diagnosis, continual exercise improves the tone of the locus coeruleus. But not only that, it also increases all neurotransmitters (norepinephrine and dopamine, which we talked about before) immediately!

What is particularly interesting to note is that the increase in dopamine is not “turning up the faucet,” but it is actually creating new faucets, or new pathways by which dopamine can be pushed out into the brain! This creates more drive and motivation in an individual, which is why we typically have a high after we work out. We feel very productive and want to get more things done — thanks, dopamine! Additionally, if we’re talking about norepinephrine specifically, increased neurotransmitters would cause an individual to be less likely to be startled, act emotionally inappropriate (a higher temperament), and less irritable. Again — all signs and symptoms of someone diagnosed with ADHD. Now let’s talk about the more stereotypical ADHD behavior — primarily fidgetiness. This is caused by an overactive cerebellum, which research has shown to be balanced out through medications (stimulants) that target norepinephrine and dopamine. What we know is that exercise balances those out, as well.

Despite the lack of specific research on exercise and ADHD, it is not at all a stretch to say that exercise corrects the production of the two neurotransmitters to “normal” levels.

All of this begs the question: If I chronically exercise, can I get off my meds? The answer is that it depends from person to person. There are many factors​that need to be in place for your doctor, or even myself as an ADHD counselor, to feel comfortable

suggesting that someone could come off medication. As a strength and conditioning coach, the first question I hope all of you are asking is “How do you define exercise?”

In John J. Ratey’s book SPARK, the majority of the research he cites and reviews is all cardiovascular movement — specifically, running. Now, running may or may not work for an individual; it’s all about experimentation. I have met millionaires that swear marathons keep them sane and successful. For me, running is terribly boring, so I lift.

However, Ratey concludes that intense sports are best because they tax the brain and promote focused attention in short bouts, essentially strengthening and lengthening the ADHDer’s ability to have sustained attention. Ratey goes on to cite martial arts and dance because of the nature of balance and focus that one needs to engage in those activities.

With that in mind, my initial addition to the list would be Olympic weightlifting, because it involves short movements that require a small duration of focused attention. Additionally, the amount of proprioception, balance, timing, and movement in space are all checked off in Ratey’s criteria of quality exercise for the ADHDer to receive the benefits.

Ratey concludes that the above activities and sports keep attention rapt and are self-perpetuating, which means they are organized and easier to stick to after weeks and weeks.

If you’d like to learn more about the effects of exercise on ADHDers, please reach out to me at gabriel@ RoanokeADHD.com​. If you’d like to your child to get​into a specifically designed class based on all the above and even more research, email me at gabriel@lostboyssnc.com​.​ Exclusive ADHD Exercise Class Forming Now! • Heart rate monitors track and project heart rate thresholds shown to be most optimal for the ADHD brain • Safe, fun, and therapeutic exercise—even for kids who aren’t into sports • One-of-a-kind, research-based treatment of ADHD symptoms

Only 6 spots available! Register today! roanokeadhd.com/lostboys/ Gabriel@roanokeADHD.com Family/September 2019

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The

Nook

by Grace Partin

In one of the back corners of a small English cottage, there is a small library. It consists of a large bookcase that stretches to the ceiling, a small comfy chair, an ottoman, and a small lamp on a reused nightstand.

The residents of Holly Lane, throughout the generations, have given it various nicknames, and it has been in the Young family for generations. Little Abbey Young called it “King Arthur’s chambers,” while her future child, Cameron, preferred “The Den of Knowledge.” Many different children and adults alike have spent hours sitting on the same leather chair with a warm drink, completely engrossed in works of literature.

The library has no form of organization, most of the inhabitants preferring to scatter books across the floors, and there is no single genre of books. Many of the residents, as they come and go, add their own volumes to the collections, and most shelves do not have any room to spare. Uncle Michael donated his prized collection of “Discworld” novels, and Aunt Rebecca gave her own published works of poetry.

Part of the process of the library is finding out what books to read — which can take over an hour to do — and to keep reheating one’s cocoa.

The small nightstand is covered with coffee rings and child drawings, and is a reliable source of loose change, old rubber bands, playing cards, and candy wrappers. Its two drawers are barely hanging on, and one is almost permanently glued shut with chewing gum. Regardless of its less than ideal condition, the small thing does its job of holding on to refreshments and paused books perfectly. It was said that Thomas Young named all the individual scratches in the paint and could tell exactly when someone from his family added one. Every night, he would sit at the dinner table and

glare at one member in particular — until Gertrude Young would finally ask why her youngest son was angry. Thomas would then point to the culprit of the new scratch and angrily shake his head before telling of the crimes that had been committed.

Agatha Young, a few generations later, would add a scratch after she’d finished a book, just to anger her great-great uncle from beyond the grave.

The rug beneath the ottoman seems to change every year.

Its current model, generously provided by Charles Young-Diaz, is a deep shade of red, decorated by various regal-looking patterns. The previous rug, a lovely pastel pink and gold which clashed horribly, was destroyed by two corgi puppies named Radar and Sam. Mark Young-Diaz was grateful that he got to have a say in the selection of a new rug. Irene Smith, a former lover of Fred Young’s, provided the green and purple rug, which Fred had to discretely dispose of once she’d burned the receipt.

Regardless of how the old home on 2213 Holly Lane has changed over the years, the small reading nook has stayed the same. Families have come and gone; the area set aside

by Jessica Young when the cottage was first built refuses to be forgotten. The many residents have all been influenced by the same familiar shelves, and those shelves will continue to shape lives until they rot away.

Grace Partin is a tenth grader at Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke City. She is active on the forensics team there, and she is also a member of the Roanoke Valley Children’s Choir.

Family/September 2019

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family: health

Ally’s Dandy (Walker) Life

by Kimberly Emory about what may or may not be the cause of that bump.

Fifteen days later, we went to that dreaded appointment. After a very long sonogram and mapping out our family tree with a genetic counselor, she gave us the news. Our baby had Dandy-Walker.

“You’re measuring at 18 to 20 weeks.”

That’s what the technician told me at my first appointment for this surprise third pregnancy. My jaw dropped.

However, the “unexpected” theme of this pregnancy became more serious as the technician continued to move the transducer over my belly and stare at the screen. She was quiet but focused, like she was trying to get a particular view and the baby wasn’t quite cooperating.

She told me that she saw a bump on the back of the baby’s head. The nurse practitioner referred me to the Maternal Fetal Medicine program as a result, without giving any more details

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In the daze that followed, I was determined to keep up with her description of this diagnosis.

Basically, the human brain develops in two halves, creating a somewhat oval shape.

DandyWalker babies’ brains have a gap in the back, which basically means they are missing part — or sometimes all — of the cerebellum. The cerebellum is the part of the brain that controls movement and coordination. As a result, this condition has a wide range of outcomes; some people have no effects, while others have very severe physical and mental delays, and everything in between. There was really no way of knowing what would happen until the baby was born.

We then met with the maternal fetal medicine practitioner, Dr. Allison Durica. She was wonderful and calming and most importantly, positive. She showed us pictures taken from the sonogram of our baby. She showed us that the gap was not as big

as others she’d seen, and the outcome of those babies had not been terrible.

She was calling our baby’s diagnosis Dandy-Walker variant, which is less severe than Dandy-Walker syndrome.

While she couldn’t give us specifics, she did give us hope.

A few weeks later, at our next appointment, we received another diagnosis. The sonogram showed that the gap in the brain was getting bigger. However, Dr. Durica did not think it was due to the Dandy-Walker getting worse, but that another condition had developed that is common with Dandy-Walker babies: hydrocephalus.

Every human brain is surrounded by cerebral-spinal fluid, or CSF. Since Dandy-Walker babies are missing some brain matter, the body tends to overcompensate and create too much CSF, and that causes increased pressure in the brain. Right now, the only way to control hydrocephalus is through the placement of a shunt.

Though there are several types of shunts, the most common is a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt that has a pressure valve and chamber. The fluid builds until it causes the valve to release the excess fluid. The excess fluid then flows through tubing, which is snaked down the person’s neck and into the chest cavity. The fluid is then reabsorbed into the body.

We continued appointments periodically, both with the regular obstetrician and with maternal fetal medicine, over the next several months. We prayed, we prepared, and we found out we were having a girl! Since this was our first daughter, we’d had a name picked out for ages: Allyson (appropriate for our doctor, as well) Ruby (for my grandmother). We planned to call her Ally.

In continuing with the ‘unexpected’ theme, on the evening of February

She spent just nine days in the NICU, and then she was released home.

From there, we just had to keep playing the ‘wait and see’ game as she grew and developed. Ally not only had the normal pediatrician’s visits, but visits with neurosurgery for her hydrocephalus and also with Easter Seals, who kept an eye on her development and would help us get hold of any services she needed.

Though at first we were hopeful that her hydrocephalus was under control and would not require a shunt, an MRI at two months old told otherwise. Ally had shunt surgery June 15 at three and a half months old. While we as parents were so heartbroken that she had to have the shunt surgery, she recovered beautifully and was home from the hospital after one day.

Immediately after the surgery, you could tell the difference the shunt was making. Normal babies have a soft spot on their heads where the skull bones have not fused together yet. We could never tell exactly where Ally’s was because the amount of fluid was so great. As I held her after surgery, her soft spot pulsed gently with the beat of her heart.

As the months went by, Ally continued to grow, and we continued to watch her development. This was complicated by the fact that now she was also a premie, so we had to look at actual and adjusted age for developmental milestones.

While we prepared for the worst and prayed for the best, God sent an unexpected miracle. Ally continually hit every milestone, relatively on time. I cheered and cried simultaneously when she rolled over in July, and we have a picture of the first time she stood, holding onto the side of the tub and peering into it, in January. There’s a video of her first steps with the help of a toy walker

just ten days after her first birthday, with Dad and brothers marveling in the background. While there were a few snags (we found out that she had slightly low muscle tone, primarily in her legs, so she had physical therapy for six months and has worn various orthotics since), Ally has developed on schedule. We feel that a lot of that is due to her two big brothers — she has worked hard to be able to keep up and play with them. I sometimes wonder if there would have been a different outcome if their birth order were reversed.

At three, Ally aged out of services with Easter Seals. Except for her few months of physical therapy and help getting her orthotics, she did not need their services much, but we were very glad of their support. She did attend a music therapy group hosted by Easter Seals as a toddler, which was fun and stimulated development as well.

That same summer, Ally had a followup MRI to take pictures of her brain while her shunt was still functioning properly. Shunts have a very high failure rate, and we are blessed that Ally has now had her original shunt for more than five years. However, if we ever suspect shunt failure, we will take her to the ER and she will be given another MRI. They can compare the images to the MRI at three years old to see if there’s a change in the size of her ventricles in her brain, indicating a buildup of CSF and a possible problem with the shunt.

At this point, my biggest fear as a parent of a child with hydrocephalus is having to explain to Ally if and when that day comes that she will need surgery. Ally knows she has a shunt and can actually show you where it is on her head and show you the tubing in her neck. She is starting to try to understand the reason for needing the shunt, as well. However, she was a baby for the original surgery and didn’t know what was going to happen, and now she is old enough to have more of an understanding and fear. I’m scared to have to hold her as they put her to sleep, I worry about how much hair they will shave off her head, and how she will feel afterward — physically and emotionally.

“

God sent an unexpected miracle.

Ally continually hit every milestone, relatively on time.

“

28, 2014, my water broke. Ally was not due until around April 12, though we knew it was extremely likely that I would be induced or have a planned cesarean a week or two early due to her rapidly growing head size and the uncertainty of her condition at birth. However, Ally had ideas of her own and was born March 2, almost six weeks early.

Family/September 2019

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Sadly, as it appears now, she will always have a shunt, and it will always have the potential for failure, so the first time we have to deal with this will most likely not be her last. We are hopeful that with continued research and improvements in technology, there will be more effective and less invasive ways of treating hydrocephalus.

At Ally’s appointment last summer with neurosurgery, we were told we could stop coming for follow-up appointments! We now (as we did before) just keep an eye out for signs of shunt failure ourselves, with the help of her amazing school staff. If we suspect any problems, we will get it checked out. Signs of shunt failure include complaints of headaches or increased pressure, eyes hurting, and unexplained drowsiness or vomiting.

However, we don’t dwell on the ‘unexpected’ in the future. Most days, we don’t think about Dandy-Walker, hydrocephalus, or her shunt at all.

Ally is now five years old. She started kindergarten this year and was so excited to have the same teacher her brother had two years ago. Last

year, she went to preschool at the elementary school, and her end-ofthe-year test scores were off the charts for most categories. She is very smart, as well as social. She loves going to school and church, playing with her toys, and playing with friends and big brothers. She loves babies —if she is able, she goes up to any baby she sees to say hi and play (we always remind her not to touch the babies, just so all you baby-mommas out there know in case you ever encounter us!).

Last year, Ally took a ballet and tap class at a local dance studio, and this year she is going to add hip-hop to that, as well. She also started tee-ball in the spring, which she was super excited about after going to her big brothers’ tee-ball and baseball games from the time she was an infant! She is an excellent swimmer and enjoys coloring and crafts of all kinds.

Those dark, uncertain days of Ally’s diagnosis and the ‘wait and see’ of her early development are now behind us, but we remember them well. We now give hope to newly diagnosed families like us on a special Facebook

page, along with other Dandy-Walker families around the country. Some have stories like ours, but others are not so fortunate. However, all of their children are beautiful and loved and well-cared for, and as a result of this community, along with the DandyWalker Alliance, we have made many friends on this journey. I also keep up a blog so that scared parents like us can read the details of what we went through and our feelings, and know that they are not alone.

There’s hope amidst the diagnosis; it may just come in unexpected ways.

Please feel free to check out Ally’s blog for more details about our journey: www.allysdandywalkerlife. blogspot.com

family: safety

especially important for kids under age two, who are safest when rear-facing. Just follow the instructions on the car seat.

3. Pick the safest location in the car, which for kids under 13 is always the back seat. Some states have a law, others do not. Regardless, studies show that kids under 13 are five times safer when they are secured properly in the back seat.

5 Basic Car Seat Rules Every Parent Needs to Know

by Lorrie Walker

I

often get calls from parents planning a big road trip, asking about the car seat laws in every state they plan to visit. Of course, I tell them all the specifics but before I hang up, I make sure to let them know about what might be the most important law of them all: The Law of Physics.

An object in motion (like a child in a moving car) stays in motion until acted upon by an outside force.

Working in the field of child passenger safety for the last 30 years, I have recited this law too many times to remember. It’s the same law that makes car crashes so dangerous and the same law that makes car seats so important.

When driving, a child is moving along at the same speed as the car, so the child is the object in motion. In a crash or sudden stop, that child stays in motion until something stops it from moving. In a best-case scenario, a child is held in place by a harness – that’s the outside force that slows and eventually stops the child’s movement.

By slowing down before the actual hard stop or crash, injuries are reduced and, many times, lives are saved. Adults benefit from a seat belt in much the

4. Use the harness correctly and exactly as the instructions recommend. Make sure the harness is tightly buckled and coming from the correct slots (check car seat manual). Now, with the chest clip placed at armpit level, pinch the strap at your child›s shoulder. If you are unable to pinch any excess webbing, you›re good to go.

5. Install correctly in the car.

There are different rules based on science for your car, your car seat and your child, so pay A car seat is most attention to the effective when This month, the instructions. Use it’s used and the Top Tether Family Talk is all about installed for every correctly, keeping kids safe in cars. We’ll forwardso for Child facing see you on September 24, where Passenger child in a Safety a nationally certified car seat seat with Week, a harness. safety technician will show you I’m asking Once your parents, how to keep your most precious car seat is installed, cargo as safe as possible when give it a good grandparents, on the road. shake at the and caregivers base where the to take a good seat belt fits.

Can look at their child’s you move it more car seat to make sure than an inch side to side it follows these 5 basic or front to back? A properly rules of correct car seat use: installed seat will not move more than an inch.

1. Select the right car seat for same way. The seat belt keeps them in the car and keeps them positioned in front of an airbag.

your child’s age, weight, height, and development. This means no booster seat for babies. Buy and use the seat that fits your child now.

2. Use your car seat in the correct direction. This is

Lorrie Walker, one of the country’s most respected authorities in child passenger safety, oversees the national training program for more than 300 Safe Kids Coalitions throughout the United States.

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family: entertainment

A Conversation with Ventriloquist Darci Lynne!

by Jacqueline Moon

How do you manage to still relate to kids your age who don’t perform for adoring fans around the world?

when singing in front of people. What adv ice do you have for kids who are shy and don’t want to be?

Sometimes! I like to explore when we have a little extra time. Right now, I’m in New York for a show — I just got back from a visit to Niagara falls!

I make sure to still see my friends all the time — my best friend of many years lives five minutes away from me! I knew my friends before all these crazy things started happening to me, so I’m still able to be myself with them.

Find something you love to do, something you’re passionate about.

That will help you make friends and learn to enjoy life without having to be guarded all the time.

What’s your favorite part about this amazing career you’ve already found yourself in at 14?

You’ve said that ventriloquism cured the shyness you used to have

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You’ve v isited many places around the country and the world on tour. Do you ever get to take the time to explore new cities?

Not every 14-year-old can say they’ve been to 42 states. Also, I love to meet new people and see new things.

Okay, so what’s your least favorite part?

over to hang out at my house. And I love reading!

I hate airplanes. They scare me to death! And I ride on airplanes all the time now. Also, I hate mornings.

Oh yeah? What are you reading right now?

I’m thinking you’re entering high school in the fall. Is that right?

Yes, but this year we’re going to try homeschooling. I think it’ll just be easier since I travel so much now.

When you’re not traveling, performing, or doing school, what do you like to do for fun?

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Janny Han. I love everything in her series!

I bet you get all kinds of Twitter shout-outs, YouTube comments, and Instagram likes. Do you ever respond to your fans?

Absolutely! Instagram is one I use most. I do live streams and q&a sessions.

Well, singing is my hobby, so I love to sing for fun. Also, I have a group of good friends, and I like to have friends

www.starcityschoolof ballet.com (540) 206 2856

You’re at the age when some people start to form the beginnings of a life philosophy, like “Love is all you need,” or “Always keep your goal in sight.”

Would you say you have a life philosophy of your own?

I think it would be “Attitude is everything.” Having a good attitude makes a huge difference in life.

Couldn’t agree more. I bet when you’re up on stage, there’s no way you can let a bad attitude bring you down.

Nope! People come expecting a happy show — speaking of which, I’d better go get ready!

Ballet | Pilates | Jazz | Men's Class Pas de Deux | Modern | Character Yoga | Ballroom & Latin Dance | Tap | Hip Hop Family/September 2019

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family: health

Safe Eyes and Ears for Summer and Beyond

by Irene Myers-Thompson Summers in Virginia offer an overture of sensory delights. The sights, sounds, and tactile pleasures of these languid days — from the beach to the mountains — can be filled with adventure and relaxation alike. But summer activities also can carry with them a degree of risk, risks that can have both short- and long-term health consequences.

As a medical professional, I wanted to offer a few reminders on how to best protect yourself during the dog days of summer (and beyond!), particularly in helping ensure that you are not damaging your eyes and ears.

A Day in the Sun . . . or Not Most folks are well aware of the damage that sun can wreak on your skin. Too much sun can cause burns, accelerate aging, and increase the risk of skin cancer. But lengthy exposure to the sun during outdoor activities also can affect your vision, and so in addition to sunscreen to

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protect your skin, it’s also a good idea to invest in some quality eye protection.

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation can contribute to the development of cataracts and macular degeneration, which can impact your vision and even cause blindness. Many people are not aware that intense shortterm exposure to UV light may cause what we call “eye sunburn,” a painful condition often acquired as a result of outdoor activity. Too much long-term exposure may contribute to skin cancer around the eyes and other sight-threatening conditions.

To help reduce these risks, protect your eyes from the sun by wearing sunglasses that block out 99 percent or more of UV rays. A wide-brimmed hat is a worthwhile precaution, as well.

Then there’s the opposite problem: not getting enough sunlight, a condition that affects children who spend hours — even hours on beautiful sunny days — consumed

by digital devices. Studies show that natural light promotes healthy vision, especially among children and teens whose eyes are still developing. Spending time outside may be a protective factor against nearsightedness. And adults are not immune, either. Partly due to extended periods of up-close reading and screen time, more than 40 percent of Americans have nearsightedness (myopia), which is the inability to see far-off objects clearly. It’s a condition that also is on the rise.

Sounds of Summer Summertime activities can make our ears as vulnerable as our eyes.

Attending live sports events and music concerts can expose our ears to sounds at decibels that can damage our hearing. Crowd noise at some sporting events can exceed 90 decibels, while the volume at music concerts can exceed 115 decibels. What we know is that prolonged exposure to sounds

above 85 decibels may contribute to gradual hearing loss. That makes using ear protection — something that may seem counterintuitive when you are at a concert — a cautionary idea.

Earplugs or earmuffs will enable you to still hear your favorite music but give you enough protection to forestall damage to your eardrums. This type of protection is especially important for babies and children attending loud events, as young people’s hearing follicles are more easily damaged compared to those of adults.

Live music or noise are not the only threats. Extended listening to music or digital content through headphones or earbuds also may damage hearing over time. To help prevent that, a general rule of thumb is to turn the volume on your electronic device to 60 percent or lower and listen for no longer than 60 minutes at a time. That means giving your ears a rest as you would other parts of your body. And another

Annual Traditions start at Layman Family Farms!

cautionary piece of advice: when using power tools or a lawn mower, never listen to earbuds. The cacophony of sound is more than we should ever subject our ears to.

Even with the Fourth of July behind us, it’s worth noting that fireworks are another summer tradition that can be dangerous one for both the ears and eyes. These explosions can exceed 150 decibels, so make sure to always view fireworks from a significant distance.

Hospital ERs annually treat nearly 13,000 people for fireworks-related accidents, with eye injuries — such as burns, lacerations, contusions, and foreign objects in the eye — in many cases causing permanent damage.

Let’s make sure that as we enjoy our summer and the rest of our year, that we’re not exposing our eyes and ears to risks that can have serious consequences — now and in the future.

Irene Myers-Thompson is the Regional Wellness Director of UnitedHealthcare Mid-Atlantic

Special Events: Opening Weekend September 21-22 Saturdays 10am-7pm Sundays 11am-7pm

September 21 8th Annual Scout Day September 22 Grandparents Day

September 28 Teacher Appreciation Day

September 29 Military & Hometown Hero Appreciation Day October 5 Super Hero Day October 6 Pink Pumpkin Day October 19,23 & 26 Night time Corn Maze October 27 Candy-in-the-Corn Day

Admission includes the corn maze, hayride, pumpkin patch and other farm fun courtyard activities! As wel as three (3) pumpkin tokens to be used at the Corn Cannon, Cow Train, Pumpkin Blaster, Bee Line Mini-Zipline, or Juping Pillow.

Family/September 2019

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education. teachers

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education: school

Help your student blossom in school

By Susan Baldani

C

hildren are expected to be fully engaged in their education. One way parents can ensure this is happening is to lead by example.

According to the National Educational Association (NEA), “Research shows that family engagement in schools improves student achievement, reduces absenteeism, and restores parents’ confidence in their children’s education. Students with involved parents or other caregivers earn higher grades and test scores, have better social skills, and show improved behavior.”

So, what exactly does this mean? What can parents and guardians do to show they are invested in their children’s academic success? Here are some ideas: Form relationships with your child’s teacher.

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Keep the lines of communication open and let the teacher know you are available. Volunteer for opportunities such as classroom helper, fundraising, and extracurricular activities.

Attend back-to-school nights.

Show your child and his teacher that you are interested in what he and his classmates are working on and how the classroom is set up.

Get involved in what your child is learning.

If the class is learning about fossils, take your child to a museum where she can view them and learn even more.

Or, if she is learning about animals, go to a zoo where she can see, hear, and possibly touch them. Bring classroom lessons into real-world experiences to make them more meaningful.

Every day, ask your child what his favorite new thing was that he learned

that day and why.

Set goals with your child.

If your child is struggling with a subject, such as reading or writing, come up with a set amount of time where you can both work on that skill together. Or, if you can’t do it, hire another student or private tutor.

Use the school’s technology to your advantage.

Most schools have portals where you can see assignments and make sure your child is getting everything done.

You may also be able to see grades and report cards. Keep track so you can note any difficulties before they become too severe.

Attend school plays, sports, and other special events your child is involved with.

Support your child’s extracurricular activities and be there to cheer when

she’s winning and to offer comfort when she’s losing. Show your support by rehearsing lines with your child or practicing hitting a ball.

supporting and advocating, parents can be engaged in ways that ensure that their children have every opportunity for success.”

Advocate for better educational materials or courses.

All of this involvement takes time.

If your school is struggling to buy certain materials, get together with other parents to find ways to raise money or get donations to fill any gaps.

Teachers often use their own money to buy basic necessities. Ask them to make a list of items that are in short supply.

Continue to be involved even as your children get older and more independent.

By monitoring, supporting and advocating, parents can be engaged in ways that ensure that their children have every opportunity for success.

Older children need and want their parents to be involved in their education, too, even if they won’t admit it. “The U.S. Department of Education reports that the rate of parent involvement drops to 55 percent by the time children reach age 14, and it continues to drop as children progress through high school.”

In the article “The Enduring Importance of Parental Involvement,”

by Lily Eskelsen García, president of the National Education Association, and Otha Thornton, president of the National Parent Teacher Association, they mention that “[t]he most significant type of involvement is what parents do at home. By monitoring,

What is a parent to do if he or she works full-time or has other demanding responsibilities?

One solution is sharing the load. Mom can go to back-to-school night and Dad can go on the next field trip.

Grandparents can also help by attending school plays or the next football game, and aunts and uncles can help with homework.

Engage the whole family in your child’s education.

If family is not close by, ask best friends and good neighbors to pick up some of the slack. Children want to know that people are interested in what they’re doing, and if it can’t be Mom and Dad, other people they know can sometimes fill in.

Explain to your child why you can’t be there — for example, if you will be away on a business trip — and help them understand that as they have a responsibility to their education and teachers, you also have a responsibility to your job and your boss. Make it clear that you will be there when you

can, and you will miss seeing them in their play or competition. If possible, ask the person attending if they can record at least some of it so you can share it with your child at a later time.

Of course, schools also have to encourage parental involvement and present opportunities for interaction between parents, teachers, and administrators. Everyone in the educational community has to be on board and recognize that a team effort will offer the best solution for creating a positive and open learning environment for students.

“Schools must do their part to encourage parent involvement in education. Key activities include making parents feel welcome at school, involving parents in decisionmaking, and implementing programs to provide information about parenting skills and community resources,” said Linda Hinkle, a writer and educator who spent 29 years teaching mathematics in public high schools.

If you feel the need to do even more, consider joining the PTA (Parent Teacher Association), which provides programs on strengthening familyschool partnerships, or run for a spot on your local Board of Education. Both of these will give you the opportunity to gain more insight into the behindthe-scenes workings of your town’s educational community. The more understanding parents have of the educational process, the more they can help their children achieve academic success.

September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month.

LET’S GET PHYSICAL!

Get outside and move your body!

Learn about our services & providers at physicianstochildren.com

Family/September 2019

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education: books

Rachel’s Reads

by Rachel Levine

Soccer, softball, and basketball. Gymnastics, swimming, and track. Dancing, hiking, and lacrosse. These are all ways you can keep your kids active in the Roanoke Valley. Athletic opportunities abound, and the real challenge is finding time to be active on top of school and work! Being active is obviously good for our health, but sports can also inspire us to work toward goals, provide a way to challenge ourselves, and give us role models to look up to. Celebrate physical and emotional strength with these inspiring books, and then head outside and play together! Make sure to keep a lookout for Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall in Little Free Libraries around town!

Jabari Jumps

by Gala Cornwall

Can you remember the first time you jumped off a diving board? The fear? The nervousness? The butterflies in your stomach as you tried to gather your courage? Jabari Jumps perfectly captures the experience of jumping off a diving board for the first time. Readers will cheer Jabari on as he slowly works his way up the ladder, then to the end of the diving board, and finally takes a big leap into the pool below. Cornwall’s stunning illustrations help the reader experience Jabari’s worry, determination, and hard-earned pride alongside him.

Hoop Genius

by John Coy

Do you know the story of how basketball came to be? Hoop Genius tells the true story of James Naismith, the inventor of basketball! James had taken over a wild PE class that had already driven two teachers to quit. He was desperate. He needed a high-energy game that would be exciting but would limit the amount of physical contact between the players.

He wanted a game that required skill and focus. Through experimentation and lots of trial and error, James Naismith came up with basketball, an exciting and challenging game now played all around the world!

Wilma Unlimited

by Kathleen Krull Wilma Unlimited is a book you don’t want to miss.

Wilma Rudolph was one of the strongest women in American history. When she was just four, she contracted scarlet fever and lost the ability to walk. Wilma and her family fought racism and poverty to get her the care she needed. Through pure determination, Wilma regained her ability to walk, learned how to play basketball, and then began to run track — and wow, was she fast!

Wilma’s hard work led to her winning three gold medals in track at the 1960 Olympic Games. Learn about Wilma Rudolph and be prepared to have your whole family inspired!

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The Busy Body Book

by Lizzy Rockwell Our bodies enable us to play and move! The Busy Body Book celebrates all of the fun physical activities our bodies can do while teaching kids about how their bodies work. Together, parents and kids can learn about the skeletal system, the muscular system, the nervous system, the digestive system, and even the respiratory system in a fun way. With happy and energetic illustrations, The Busy Body Book will motivate kids to go outside and play!

Barbed Wire Baseball

by Marissa Moss Barbed Wire Baseball shares the powerful tale of Kenichi Zenimura, the father of Japanese American baseball.

Zenimura was born in Japan but grew up in Hawaii and California, where he fell in love with baseball. He was a strong player and played in exhibition games with members of the Yankees. Then the bombing of Pearl Harbor happened, and the US Government forced Americans with Japanese heritage into detention camps.

Zenimura and his family were taken from their home in California and locked up in barracks surround by barbed wire. In this place of despair, Zenimura built a baseball field to bring the community together. His work brought hope and encouragement to the people suffering at Gila River War Relocation Center.

Star City Little Library Need a Book? Take a Book. Have a Book? Leave a Book.

Little Libraries are a great way to spread literacy and entertainment throughout our communities. Every month Growing Up in the Valley will restock the little libraries with great books for your whole family and we welcome your donations as well! Stop by our locations to see what surprises we have in store, and maybe leave a gently used book for someone else to enjoy.

Locations: Roanoke Ballet Theatre – 1318 Grandin Rd SW – Roanoke, VA 24015 Launching Pad – 1300 Intervale Dr – Salem, VA 24153 LewisGale Medical Center – 1900 Electric Rd – Salem, VA 24153 Amtrak Station – Downtown Roanoke Kirk Family YMCA Lower Entrance – Downtown Roanoke Roanoke Main Post Office - 419 Rutherord Avenue - Roanoke, VA 24022 Bounce Roanoke - 3424 Orange Avenue - Roanoke, VA 24012 United Way - 325 Campbell Avenue SW - Roanoke, VA 24011 Prestige Gymnastics - 2726 Lee Highway - Troutville, VA 24175 CHIP Roanoke - 1201 3rd Street SW - Roanoke, VA 24016 Family/September 2019

57

education: school

AfterSchool Routines

by Lauren R. Pittard, MSOT, OTR/L

T

he school year brings new opportunities and challenges for children, parents, caregivers, and teachers! As responsibilities add up, it seems like we start to become objects in motion that stay in motion.

That can get exhausting! Instead of following the law of inertia, the field of occupational therapy promotes participation in meaningful daily activities by finding a balance between work, play, rest, and anything else that can occupy your child’s time.

In the spirit of the new school year, it’s important to focus on strategies that create an after-school routine to promote self-regulation and self-care.

While routines will differ from family to family, here are three helpful tips that I share with my patients and their families:

Make a realistic schedule and stick to it!

Even if they don’t want to admit it, kids love routine. A schedule helps them know what to expect and helps to develop their own sense of organization. I am obsessed with the book The Sensory Child Gets Organized

by Carolyn Dalgliesh! It’s a quick read with great strategies on how to break down challenging tasks, eliminate distracting stimuli, and utilize visual supports to improve a child’s overall performance. It also includes examples of visual schedules. For instance,

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Family/September 2019

a younger child may benefit from pictures, whereas an older child could follow a written schedule or be told expectations.

A schedule should be consistent to help reduce resistance from the child. Additionally, when making the schedule, consider when your child has the most motivation to get stuff done.

Does your child have enough patience to pick up their toys after dinner, or should that be done before you sit down to eat? You can also create some time in the evening to plan for the next day if mornings are challenging, like picking out clothes the night before or packing their backpack for the next day.

Replace tech time with movement!

According to Psychology Today, the more time children spend on technology, the less emotional intelligence they develop and the less personal connections they create.

Children that are glued to the screen are more likely to experience social isolation, poor social skills, impulse problems, sleep disorders, low selfesteem, and unstable moods. These difficulties could present as big meltdowns when technology is taken from them.

I highly recommend limiting tech time to no more than two hours a day, though even less is preferred. As more tech restrictions are enforced, your child may demonstrate more behavioral difficulties. This will improve with time, so don’t give up!

Replace the tech time with family time or movement time.

Playing on a regular basis helps increase a child’s strength, body awareness, sensory processing, emotional regulation, and complex social play skills. Decreased play during the week can present as decreased attention and increased fidgeting in the home and classroom setting. Check out the book Balanced and Barefoot

by Angela Hanscom to read more about the benefits of play, specifically outdoor play. Try out some of these activities in your home: create an obstacle course from furniture, have animal walk races or use different animal walks to clean up toys, have the siblings take turns pulling a blanket while the other sits on it, build something out of your Amazon boxes, or have a dance party! Pinterest is a great way to get inspired for more creative play activities. In the long term, less tech time will help make it easier for your child to sit down at the dinner table, build family bonds, and fall asleep at night.

Make sure your child gets enough sleep.

Even losing just one hour of sleep negatively impacts a child’s emotional functioning, behavior, and cognitive skills. Different ages require specific hours of sleep each night; refer to the sleep chart below for the recommended hours for your child. Try to schedule your child’s bedtime with the time they need to wake up in the morning.

Common strategies to make falling asleep easier include restricting screen time two hours before bed, calm movements (such as yoga), using a white noise machine, reading books, and rubbing their backs. Children who tend to wiggle from excitement or nervousness could potentially benefit from a weighted blanket (weighing up to 10 percent of the child’s body weight) or a set of compression sheets so they feel like they are in a nice, calming hug to help fall asleep. For the kids who try to procrastinate bedtime, it might be good to keep toys outside of the bedroom or even schedule

some “quiet time” before bed. It might be helpful to start getting ready for bed earlier to get enough sleep throughout the night. Try to consider this while making your routine.

Age

Hours needed per night

0-3 months

14-17 hours

4-11 months

12-15 hours

1-2 years 11-14 hours Making changes to a routine can be tough so take your 3-5 years 10-13 hours time to decide what will work best for your family. It 6-13 years 9-11 hours is important to remember that every child is different 14-17 years 8-10 hours so these tips may need to be adapted based on your child’s individual needs and abilities. If Lauren Pittard, MSOT, OTR/L, is a you have concerns related to your pediatric occupational therapist child’s development, consult with who works at the local children’s your pediatrician to determine if an hospital in the outpatient clinical occupational therapy evaluation would setting. She is currently pursuing be beneficial to help incorporate her occupational therapy doctorate sensory, motor, and/or environmental degree to pursue her dream of strategies into your routine so your bringing occupational therapy family can live life to the fullest. strategies into areas of need within the Roanoke Valley and surrounding areas.

Swinging into stores September 24!

From Local Father and Daughter Author and Illustrator Josh and Anika Eagan Ninja and Luche race against time to save a stuffed animal for a neighborhood kid. But that’s not the hardest part of their day.

They need to protect their real identities from three people who see them everyday - their grandmother and parents!

Will they be able to rescue the stuffed animal and keep their superhero identities safe?

Family/September 2019

59

T

just for recipes

/

fun.

experiments

/

diy

just for fun: recipe

Olivia’s Energy Balls Ingredients:

1½ cups crispy rice cereal

½ cup shredded coconut (or any ingredient you’d like to

include, such as almonds)

¼ cup chia seed

¼ cup flax seed

½ cup natural peanut butter

¼ cup honey or syrup

¼ cup mini chocolate chips or peanut butter chips

Winner

Olivia Monteverde

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Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl.

Pour peanut butter mixture over dry ingredients and mix until evenly combined.

These energy balls are good for kids’ lunches or snacks on the way to school or at home.

Chill mixture for 20-40 minutes. Press 2 tablespoons of mixture together into small balls and store in a covered glass container. (Or you can cut into bars — your choice!)

You can also make different types of these — sweet and salty, or caramel, etc. It’s fun to play around with and is healthy for kids! Also works for different allergies and school parties, and is vegan/vegetarian.

Chill energy balls/bars for 30 minutes, then enjoy.

Family/September 2019

Store in refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Sponsored by:

Wyatt’s Lime-Zested Fried Potatoes Ingredients:

4 Yukon gold potatoes

3 tablespoons olive oil

Salt and pepper

Zest of 1/2 a lime Thinly slice 4 Yukon gold potatoes. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Heat olive oil over medium heat. While oil heats, zest a lime into a small container of salt.

Once oil is heated, place a few potato slices in and cook for about 2 minutes on each side. Be sure not to crowd the pan.

Remove potatoes and place on a paper towel to blot the oil. Then repeat until all potatoes are cooked.

Sprinkle with the salt and lime zest mixture. Eat while hot.

Special thanks to all of the kid chefs who submitted recipes this month Olivia’s Original Jersey-Fried Oreos Ingredients:

Pancake mix

Oreo cookies

Frying oil

Powdered sugar Coat Oreos in pancake mix Heat oil over medium-high heat and fry Coat with powdered sugar Try different flavored Oreos with a drizzle on top, such as:

• Mint Oreos with chocolate mint drizzle on top of the powdered sugar

• Red velvet Oreos with cream cheese sauce for dipping

• Cookies and cream Oreos with cookie cream sauce The possibilities are endless! We are from New Jersey, and fried Oreos are found on the boardwalks there. We haven’t found many here in Roanoke!

Family/September 2019

63

just for fun: science

Does Soap Float?

Kids Science Experiment Supplies: • 4 different bar soaps (one of which must be Ivory Soap) • Knife • 4 cups of water • 4 disposable plates • Microwave Directions: 1. Open each soap and cut them with the knife so that they will easily fit into the cups of water.

2. Observe each soap and compare them.

Do they smell different? Do they have different textures or colors? What is similar about each soap? Does the soap look solid or are their large air bubbles inside?

3. Make a prediction about each soap sinking or floating in the water.

5. Cut a new, equal sized chunk of each type of soap and place them in the middle of their own plate.

6. Make a prediction about what each soap will do when microwaved for one minute.

7. Microwave each soap for one minute and see what happens!

You should see that the Ivory soap expands and turns into a fluffy soap cloud.

4. Place each soap in its own cup of water and make observations. Does anything else happen when the soaps are in the water?

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Family/September 2019

Try this: Try timing how long it takes each soap to dissolve or break down in the water, what do you think this means about each type of soap? You can also use the results of your experiment to create a sensory dough called clean mud. To do this, fist crumble up your ivory soap cloud into small pieces and then add ito to just enough warm water that it gets mushy. Next pull the toilet paper off of a roll and shred it into small strips. Mix the ivory soap and water mixture with the paper and knead it until you have a clay and you will have created clean mud!

What’s happening: Ivory soap is one of a very few types of soap that float but it does this without there being large visible air bubbles inside the soap. This is because Ivory soap is a whipped soap meaning that it has tiny bubbles of air mixed into the soap like whipped cream. If you break the soap open with your hands and not a knife, you may even be able to see these tiny pockets of air. Both the air in these bubbles and the soap itself have water trapped inside which will vaporize in a microwave. This means that in the microwave the soap gets softer and the air bubbles expand which creates a fluffy ivory cloud in the microwave. Other soaps tend to just melt because without the trapped air to expand, the soap just gets soft until it melts. This process is especially cool because its a demonstration of a very important physical law called Charles’s Law which says that as a gas (like air) heats up, its volume increases. This law is the same reason that marshmallows puff up in the microwave.

Experiment provided by

Family/September 2019

65

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