Gulfshore Life Mini Fall 2022

Parenting in Paradise

Talent

Show

A GENERATION OF ALL-STARS LEADING WITH IMAGINATION

CONTENTS

38 / Southwest Florida’s Prodigies

46 / Crafting the Ultimate Birthday Party

Anna Nguyen

Technology. Social media. Screen time.

High tech has its place—but real value happens when you are in touch—with your goals, your feelings, and plan for your future—and theirs. Having a plan is essential. We can help. WILL THEY INHERIT YOUR VALUES ALONG WITH YOUR WEALTH?

ESSENTIALS

12 / The Edit: Mommy Must-Haves

MINDFUL PARENTING

18 / At Home: HENRO’s Sustainable Essentials

22 / Bath Time: Alikay Baby’s Natural Goods

26 / Giving Back: Kidz 4 A Cause Children’s Nonprofit

28 / Dad’s Corner: The RitzCarlton, Naples’ Pastry Chef Lerome Campbell

32 / Family Values: Raising Kind Kids

FAMILY TIME

72 / Pampering: Salons Tailor-Made for Littles

75 / Wellness: Studio de Cirque’s Acrobatic Classes

76 / Book Club: Stories by Local Illustrators

80 / Editors’ Pick: Solstice Kids’ Eco-Conscious Wares

Courtesy Minnow; Dan Cutrona; Courtesy Studio de Cirque

8 months - Age 5

3 - 6

The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

Nurturing the full spiritual potential of your child with the only authentic, certified Montessori-based formation offering in South Florida. Trained and certified catechists prepare an intentional, quiet, reflective environment every week, meticulously designed for each age group. www.cgusa.org

NURSERY

Meeting Jesus the Good Shepherd

TRUE VINE ATRIUM

Ages 6 - 9

Growing with Jesus

GOOD SHEPHERD ATRIUM

Ages

Falling in Love with Jesus

LIVING BREAD ATRIUM

Ages 9 - 12

Living Like Jesus

President/CEO

Jim Schwartzel

Editor in Chief

Stephanie Granada

Creative Director

Scott Glick

Editors at Large

Dorothea Hunter Sönne

Jennifer McCurry

Managing Editor

Gina Valentino

Senior Writer

Jaynie Bartley

Assistant Editor

Zahra Khan

Editorial Assistant Addison Pezoldt

ART Art Directors

Julie Low Ed Melnitsky

Alberto Orta

ADVERTISING

Associate Publisher

Mindy Roosa

National Account Director Wendy Tooley

Marketing Consultants

Holly Baldwin

Natasha Gonzalez

Meredith Mills

READER SERVICES

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MARKETING

Director of Marketing and Events

Rachel Galante

Digital Media Marketing Manager

Brittney Kleis

Circulation Director of Audience

Development

Kerri Nolan

PRODUCTION

Production Manager

Martha Leavitt

Production Services Manager

Ankita Joshi

ADMINISTRATION

Advertising Services Manager/ Reprint Sales & Distribution

Kathleen Hill

ON THE COVER:

Shot on location at Gulfshore Life’s Bonita Springs studio by Anna Nguyen. Champ Jaxon is styled by Anna Ruiz.

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From the Editors

Let's Hear it for the Kids

One of our favorite recent days at the office was when the children featured in "Best in Class" (p. 38) came to our studio for their photos. These prodigies had us wrapped around their little fingers with their talent and charm. At 7 years old, skimboarder Giorgio Tomasi and golfer Cameron Middleton have already been developing their craft for years. Ballerina Sarah Savage, who has been dancing since she was 3, goes to Fort Lauderdale almost every day to train at a prestigious dance school. And, 12-yearold Champ Jaxon plays on the national stage with big-name acts, like The Marshall Tucker Band.

Champ tells us he doesn’t like the word prodigy. The term implies that talent is innate, effortless. And that’s not the case. There may be something that primed these kids for success, but no doubt, they work hard to be the best.

We see a similar dedication among the planners, bakers, entertainers and other party wizards who help create elaborate festivities for your kids’ milestones (p. 46). Sure, it can seem excessive to overindulge for a first birthday, but as Wylie Farrugia of Naples’ Picture Perfect Picnics says, the celebration is as much for you, your friends and family as it is for your babe. After all, you got them here happy and healthy.

We love seeing the level of sophistication behind the multilayered creations by Roshelle Santiago of You & Me Cakes in Naples. The same goes for Julie Caldwell of Party Girl Co., whose feminine-chic balloon bouquets and garlands flip the script on typical decor.

To make it all more worthwhile, take a cue from children who forego getting gifts at their parties in favor of having all

guests donate to a charitable organization. Eight-year-old Sawyer Williams recently had an animal-themed fête, complete with a petting zoo, and asked guests to donate to Humane Society Naples.

One worthwhile cause to consider routing your children’s gift donations to is Kidz 4 a Cause (p. 26). Founded by 10-year-old Sutton Shanahan, the nonprofit encourages fellow children to shake out their piggy banks to give to organizations that help other kids. Earlier this year, Sutton handed St. Jude Children's Research Hospital a check for the $15,000 she had raised. As if we needed more proof that this region is filled with rockstar kids.

— The Gulfshore Life Team

Courtesy Marcy's Balloon Decor

Explore Mexico through plants, events, and family-friendly programming—all year long! Grow together in the Garden. naplesgarden.org

ESSENTIALS

Fun discoveries, products we love and other inspirations for the modern parent

Mommy Must-Haves

MINI contributing editor Jennifer McCurry shares ideas for little somethings every mom will love.

Take it Outside

If your children revel in the outdoors as much as mine, invest in this Outdoor Activity Center by Wood Designs

The nontoxic acetylated wood frame is weather resistant, so it won’t warp or rot. Removable compartments offer ample storage for toys and the durable tabletop can withstand roughhousing. classroom-plus.com

Words: Jennifer McCurry

Mini-Me

Lilly Pulitzer’s shift dresses have been a staple in summertime wardrobes since the brand’s 1959 debut. The Mommy and Me collection includes Palm Beach-inspired prints for littles, crafted with machine-washable poplin, perfect for Florida temps.

Stock up at the Lilly store at Waterside Shops or at C. Orrico on Third Street South. lillypulitzer.com

Brian Tietz; Courtesy Wood Designs, Lilly Pulitzer

Splish Splash

Minnow is one of my favorite brands for children's clothing—especially swimwear. I love their sweet, understated designs. The swim trunks fit perfectly, hitting right above the knee for unobstructed play. And, though the brand is California-based, their styles feel very Old Florida (fittingly, they photographed the Spring 2021 collection at The Gasparilla Inn & Club on Boca Grande). I love the Boys' Palm Green Boardie with pockets (above). minnow.com

Courtesy Minnow, Peg Perego; Magna-Tiles

Sitting Pretty

For newborns to toddlers, this Italianmade, multifunctional Peg Perego Siesta

Highchair has nine height positions, five reclining seat options and an adjustable footrest. The compact design is sleek with juicy colors like orange, lime and raspberry (my favorites). It’s portable, easy-to-clean (with a dishwasher safe tray line) and made to last, so the $329 price tag is well worth it. megakidsnaples.com

Play Things

For a screen-free, imagination-enriching playtime, reach for Magna-Tiles Magnets. The primary-colored, translucent shapes are STEM-approved—encouraging problem-solving and team-building skills. My twins received their first set when they were 3; now they build entire villages together. Parents, rest assured, these safe and durable products are made from nontoxic paints and BPA- and latex-free plastic. poptoyco.com

Michèle Laboda, DMD & Rosalie Brao, DDS, MS

MINDFUL PARENTING

Notes on living, giving and raising the next generation of changemakers

Made With Love

HENRO owner Kristin Purcell and her family consider how we can leave the world a little better than we found it.

Words: Nila Do Simon Photography: Dan Cutrona

“I have an obsession with fire,” Kristin Purcell reveals while working inside her Estero home that has also morphed into the headquarters for her online boutique, HENRO. “There’s something about a fire, like a warm campfire surrounded by friends and family, that brings me back to basics.”

HENRO—an e-retailer for consciously created home goods and gifts—was born out of several aspirations, including Kristin’s desire to burn a candle free of toxins. She developed a formula devoid of the typical, harsh ingredients found in candles, like petroleum-based wax, phthalates and carcinogens. With a little-to-no background in candlemaking, Kristin took more than a year to perfect her nontoxic, soy-based candle—a product

that has become one of HENRO’s bestsellers since the company was founded five years ago.

The success of the candle and other made-in-America home goods propelled the mother of preschooler Henry Robert, her company’s namesake, to leave a 13year career in corporate America.

“Early in our establishment, I realized that I enjoyed working with makers and small shops, and made that our mission,” Kristin says. She now curates and commissions handmade stoneware, sustainably sourced textiles and designer lighting for her shop. A proponent of mindful consumerism and conscientious living, Kristin and her husband, Evan, look to instill intentional consumption not just in their customers, but also in their

young son. “It’s always on my mind in business and life in general,” she says. “I’m always thinking, ‘How do I leave the Earth similar or better than when I was here?’”

Part of the Purcell family’s sustainable efforts includes working on the “little and easy things,” like limiting the amount of energy and resources the family uses. She encourages Henry to turn the lights off when leaving a room and to never leave the water running. The family often shops at local farmers markets to support the community and lower their carbon footprint by transporting their

produce to shorter distances. When the family is shopping, the Purcells take a few extra minutes to read product labels and ask questions, like ‘How sustainable is the packaging? What are the company’s production practices?’ “We often go to a farm or pumpkin patch where we get to see the food we’re eating,” Kristin says. “Hopefully, that teaches Henry his food comes from somewhere other than a grocery store, that it’s rooted in the Earth and a network of dedicated people who nurture it to life. When he learns where it comes from, he

Kristin, who named her shop after her son, Henry Robert, makes and sources consciously made candles and home goods.

begins to get a deeper connection to the planet.”

She also encourages her family to reuse everyday products, whether it’s a cardboard box, packing paper or a HENRO candle. “I take the wax out, and plant something nice inside,” she says. “It can become a cute gift.”

She’s also inspired to support emerging and middle-career artisans. The online boutique is

stocked with berry bowls, bath brushes, terracotta planters and cotton tea towels handmade by American artisans. During a 2018 trip to North Carolina, Kristin was inspired by a pottery piece she discovered at a local store. The small, charming vessel with its smooth edges had the potential to fill so many homes with joy, she thought. So she contacted the artisan directly

and turned the maker’s hobby into a career, by having her sell directly through HENRO. From there, Kristin says she started seeking makers—many of whom have a minimal business background—to partner with them to sell their work through her platform. “It feels good to support small business owners and their dreams,” she says. henrocompany.com

Alikay Graham-Campbell relies on wisdom from her grandmother to create baby products with all-natural ingredients.

Rochelle

Nature’s Bounty

In Fort Myers, an eco-friendly line of products, inspired by the bonds of family, takes special care of your little one’s hair and skin.

Words: Stephanie Davis

Photography: Anna Nguyen

Even as a small girl from Jamaica, Rochelle Alikay Graham-Campbell understood the benefits of herbs, natural oils and botanicals in skin and hair care. Her grandmother, Ya Ya, lovingly applied things like lavender, aloe and shea butter to keep her skin youthful and hair hydrated. It was really only a matter of time before the Fort Myers resident would introduce a child-centric line, Alikay Baby, to Alikay Naturals, her beauty empire based on all-natural ingredients.

In 2008, as a young college student, Rochelle began creating YouTube tutorials geared toward Black women with natural hair. With grit, the influencer and entrepreneur built a platform with tens

of millions of views. She used that audience as a springboard to launch Alikay Naturals with her husband in 2009. Nearly a decade later, she launched Alikay Baby.

Always driven, she keeps her feet moving but remains rooted in her family. “Running a company keeps me busy, but family is everything,” she says. The line is inspired by her two children, a 9-year-old son,

Landon, and a 4-year-old daughter, Serenity Sapphire.

Her grandmother is central to the whole enterprise. Rochelle turned to her Ya Ya for advice on what herbs and oils she had used when Rochelle was little. She used that wisdom to source ingredients and create the products for Alikay Baby, which include a detangling leave-in conditioner, cradle cap, baby oil,

daily lotion and a body butter gentle enough for newborns. Rochelle prides herself on the fact that her products are safe and light, formulated with no mineral oil, alcohol, sulfates or parabens.

From an intimate family ritual between grandmother and granddaughter to YouTube to major stores, Alikay has come a long

Small But Mighty

Ten-year-old Sutton Shanahan rallies other kids to prove you’re never too young to make a big difference.

Words: Justin Paprocki

Photography: Kelly Jones

Earlier this year, Sutton Shanahan stood onstage with a big smile at the Southwest Florida Event Center in Bonita Springs. In her hands was a check about her size. It was made out to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and represented months of planning and fundraising. The amount was $15,000—no small accomplishment for a 10-year-old girl.

The concert, which featured rock legends like ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons, was the first in what Sutton hopes will be many to benefit her Kidz 4 a Cause nonprofit.

The idea for the organization started a few years ago when Sutton, a Naples native, overheard her parents

talk about donating to St. Jude, the internationally known hospital that focuses on treating childhood cancer and other diseases. Sutton’s aunt was diagnosed with cancer and the family decided to dedicate their charitable donations to fight the disease. “My mom was giving to St. Jude,” Sutton recalls. “I said, ‘It’s not fair, I want to give to St. Jude, too.’ But I just had what’s in my piggy bank and it was just a few dollars.”

A brainstorming session with her parents—Jennifer and Rich, who own the Southwest Florida Event Center— led to forming the official 501(c)(3) nonprofit Kidz 4 a Cause. The motto is “kidz helping kidz,” and that’s the point: Getting kids like Sutton to raise money to help other kids. She launched earlier this year on Valentine’s Day because, ultimately, love is about giving, she says.

In April, when the family hosted the concert, Sutton worked the event, standing on stage to help auction a guitar and going table to table to ask for donations. Plans are in the

works for more concerts, in addition to a few other ongoing fundraisers. She’s selling signed album covers from her parents’ collection on the Kidz 4 a Cause website. She also started the Quarters for Kidz campaign that asks children to collect quarters to donate.

It’s not just about raising money, either. On a sunny morning at a Naples coffee shop, Sutton explains what she’s learning about running a nonprofit, such as maintaining a website and social media, coming up with a logo and creating merchandise. She shows off a new Kidz 4 a Cause T-shirt and stickers.

Sutton says she needs to be “working on brand ... something.” She looks at her mom. “What’s the word? Starts with an ‘A.’”

“Awareness,” her mom says.

“Oh, that’s it. Brand awareness,” Sutton says.

All these concepts may be difficult for a fifth grader to grasp fully, but Sutton’s parents want to push her to think big picture about the nature

of giving. On the website, there is a blog called Big Words 4 Little Kidz. Each post uses one word that helps describe the mission of the nonprofit. The first word was “purpose.” What is purpose? For Sutton, it’s thinking about people other than yourself, a reflection of what Jennifer and Rich want for their

children. “Kids need to be thinking about things bigger than themselves. We all do, really,” Jennifer says. “It’s not about the check. It’s about building character.”

Already they’ve seen Sutton’s impact. Some of her friends have taken on fundraisers for Kidz 4 a Cause—one held a yard sale, some

Sutton is inspiring the next generation of philanthropists.

have gone door to door in their neighborhoods to collect money and others have raided their piggy banks. And they’re just getting started. Sutton’s post about purpose ends with this line: “As a 10-year-old, I am unstoppable, I am strong, I am smart, I am kind, I am determined.”

Sugar & Spice

Meet Lerome Campbell, pastry chef and dad extraordinaire, who’s dedicated to sharing the sweet life with his daughters.

Words: Nila Do Simon

Photography: Anna Nguyen

Lerome Campbell may be surrounded by endless pounds of sugar, chocolate and candy as the executive pastry chef at The Ritz-Carlton, Naples, but he says the sweetest part of his day is when he spends time with his two daughters. The confectionery conductor behind the resort’s showstopping, megasized holiday gingerbread house, winner of Food Network’s competition Holiday Baking Championship Sweet Revenge and finalist on the network’s Holiday Baking Championship, Lerome shares essential life skills with his 6- and 10-year-old daughters, and the entire community. We conversed with Lerome about fatherhood and creating family traditions—all centered around sweets, of course.

On layering the multigenerational experience “During Christmastime, my mom bakes her rum cake. It’s the most

delicious thing. When I bake, I have to use recipes and measure things out perfectly. But she doesn’t—she just throws a little of this and a little of that in a bowl, and it comes out perfect every time. A couple of years ago, while making the rum cake, I decided to write everything down as the girls measured and my mom poured the ingredients. The girls were so happy—after all, my mom is their favorite person in the world. One day, I want to open a bake shop. I was raised in the kitchen with my mom, who had her own bakery. I was there every day and have so many memories in the kitchen with her. That’s a tradition I want to 100 percent continue with my kids.”

On the importance of preparation

“Working in this industry, it helps if you plan ahead to stay organized, and I am passing that skill along to my daughters. Even though they’re young, they’ve become very organized and keep the space clean. But it wasn’t always this way. When they used to come home, they would throw their backpacks on the ground and toss their shoes around. But now, they’ve learned to plan before they do anything else, so life is not chaotic. This is what I do at work—I have a system. Now and then, my oldest

The Ritz-Carlton, Naples’ pastry chef teaches his girls about discipline and planning through baking.

will say, ‘Let’s bake something.’ We’ll figure out what ingredients we need, and we say that we’ll do it in three days. She’ll ensure that we go to the store two days before we bake, line up our ingredients and mentally prepare for the work. When baking day comes around, she’s prepared for action.”

On passing the torch

“Once, my oldest daughter came to me, and she said, ‘Daddy, what do you think about coming to my school one day and doing some decorat-

ing?’ I said that sounds like fun. Then she smiled and walked away. I was confused. The next day, I got an email from the teacher thanking me for coming in and doing a decorating class. At that point, I was committed. Plus, it gave me the opportunity to spend time with her at school and perhaps inspire a new generation of pastry chefs. I created this whole setup with her class and we decorated cupcakes. Thankfully, everyone at the school said it was the best cupcake they ever ate.”

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Raising Kind Kids

Kindness is a teachable virtue that can create a better world, and it all starts at home.

Words: Pamela Hayford

We teach our children skills to thrive in the world. We teach them how to tie their shoes, how to read and write, how to calculate numbers and, sometimes, even how to fight. One fundamental skill that’s very simple yet vital to nurture is kindness.

and empathy class at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU). “It might affect the major they decide to go into or how they approach that major and how they approach their jobs and how they approach their children and their spouses and their community members.”

FGCU leaders believe in the power of kindness so much that the school offers three kindness classes. In Julianna’s class, students learn how to teach the virtue to school children through donor-funded programs.

Kindness is not fluffy, it’s not a weakness, and it can spur a chain of positive effects, says Jaclyn Lindsey, co-founder and CEO of Kindness.org, a website that delves into the science and offers a curriculum for grades K-8. Jaclyn says children as young as 2 years old are capable of extending kindness, and the trait can be cultivated. “It’s a muscle that can be built up,” she explains.

And while school provides a great social learning platform for children, the strongest influence comes from what they see in the home.

Studies show being kind increases happiness, improves well-being and causes a ripple effect in inspiring others to be kind. “It affects their own interaction and purpose in the world,” says Julianna Griffin, who teaches a kindness, compassion Getty

The best way to raise kind kids is to model the behavior. Children are like sponges. If they see you being kind to yourself and others, they’ll mirror you. Beyond being nice to each other on a

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day-to-day basis—doing things like stopping to breathe before responding when your daughter makes a mess or doing something nice for your spouse—you can also perform acts of kindness together for others. This takes us out of our own head, our own ego. Organizations like Kindness.org and RandomActsofKindness.org provide numerous ideas, such as complimenting a stranger or taping a dollar bill to a vending machine with a note. You can also get inspiration from the $10 Kindness

Club on Facebook—a public group, started by FGCU instructor Francesca Donlan—that encourages people to invest $10 toward acts of kindness.

In one of the FGCU programs, the college students worked with kids at San Carlos Park Elementary to talk about compassion and empathy. The teacher then integrated the concepts into their daily routine, asking the children what they did today that was kind and why that’s important. This is a great thing to do in your own home. Rather than

tell a child how to be kind, ask them questions to help them discover kindness for themselves. Do this daily so that it’s a part of the fabric of your conversations. For example:

‘What did you do today that was kind? What did someone else do that was kind to you? When your teacher complimented your work, how did that make you feel?’

Experts also suggest practicing mindfulness as a way to cultivate kindness. Start a contemplative practice with your kids. It can be any activity that allows your child quiet

FGCU has a class that trains students to teach empathy to school-aged children.

time with their own thoughts, like meditation, yoga, prayer, journaling or drawing. Maria F. Loffredo Roca, director of Roots of Compassion and Kindness (ROCK), and chair of FGCU’s integrated studies department, says even dancing can be a contemplative practice. Any reflective practice allows us to get in touch with what’s going on within ourselves, and then allows us to really bring our best selves to the world, Maria says.

Gratitude is another positive psychology tool that goes a long way in shaping empathetic kids. “When you can express thanks and gratitude toward someone’s or something’s role in your life, there is that inherent kindness. That then opens up avenues of awareness without saying, ‘This is what kindness is; this is what compassion is,’” Julianna says. She suggests creating a gratitude jar or chart.

Since kids love games, Maria also suggests making a game of it, such as challenging the kids to see how many ways they can think of to be kind today.

Still, perhaps the best thing you can do is start by being kind to yourself, since how we feel internally often affects how we react to others. “In order to get up, day to day, and face the world in a compassionate

and empathetic way, you have to have that platform, or at least willingness to start to analyze that at your own level,” Julianna says.

At FGCU, each kindness class starts with the concept of selfcompassion. That doesn’t mean taking an indulgent spa day, but rather how you talk to yourself. If you’re often harder on yourself than you’d be on others, think: ‘If a friend were saying these things about herself, what would

I advise?’ When you reflect on yourself, you’ll be better equipped to be kind to others and to teach it to your children.

By doing these acts, the students become more aware of other people’s needs and how they can respond to them, Maria says. “People who live that way have lower levels of anxiety and depression because they feel like they have a sense of purpose,” she says. “Now, what greater purpose than to do that with your children?”

Instilling compassion in your children starts with being kind to yourself, experts say.

FAMILIES SERVING FAMILIES

We know that you’re not just looking for property; you’re looking for a new home. Home is where you and your family will share years of special occasions and make memories.

Gulf Coast International Properties ® is known for providing unparalleled white-glove service. Once we help you find your dream home, our agents cover the details so you can turn your thoughts to the things that will make your house a home.

GIFT SHINE

MAKE A DONATION WHERE THE MIRACLES ARE

At age 9, Jaxson was diagnosed with cancer following a rare side effect of the lifesaving kidney treatment he received as an infant.

At Golisano Children’s Hospital, lifesaving care for children like Jaxson is provided regardless of the family’s ability to pay. That is only possible with the support of generous donors, including those who give to the Children’s Miracle Network.

Jaxson, age 11

FEATURES

Inspiring prodigies and ideas for hosting the ultimate birthday party

BEST IN CLASS

Practice, drive and unparalleled aptitude push four superstar kids to the top of their games.

Photography by Anna Nguyen

Styled by Anna Ruiz

CAMERON MIDDLETON

In Instagram videos, Cameron Middleton, a 7-year-old golfer from Bonita Springs, hits a golf ball through a slinky, down a staircase into a cup, knocking Mentos into a Coke bottle causing a soda eruption. A hole-in-one he sunk at Stoneybrook Golf Club in Estero was featured on Good Morning America in October 2020. “My favorite trick is the spinning duct tape,” Cameron says. “We hung duct tape, and I chipped it through as it was spinning.”

Cameron began golfing at 3, when his family lived in Miami. He picked up a club he found in the house and started smashing the ball. (“I’m that parent that lets him hit the ball in the house,” his mom, Gina, muses.) The family couldn’t find kid-friendly courses locally, so Cameron practiced trick strokes at a nearby DICK’S Sporting Goods. The next year, the family moved to Florida’s west coast, and he started playing on fairways.

Though he loves chipping balls over his mom’s head or into moving, remote-controlled cars, Cameron is more than a trickster. After homeschooling, he practices shots in the house or plays a round at Stoneybrook. He’s played in 40 tournaments, including the national Junior Tour Powered by Under Armour. He’s placed first or second in most competitions, often against older, stronger children.

Recently, he met his hero, pro golfer Rickie Fowler, while watching a tournament at St. Andrews Links in Scotland. Cameron would like to follow in his footsteps. “I want to be on the PGA Tour,” he says, adding that he’s got his sights set on The Masters Tournament. “I want to win that green jacket. I would probably hang it on my wall.” —Andrea Stetson

GIORGIO TOMASI

Seven-year-old Giorgio Tomasi leaps on his skimboard, twists 360 degrees in the air and lands back on the board as he surfs to shore. The Naples skimmer was undefeated last year, winning the 2021 Mini Division Skim USA tour championship. He’s been unbeatable so far this year, too. “I want to be the best skimboarder in the world,” he says.

Giorgio first hopped on a board two years ago. An old wooden skimboard his brother used had become the roof of a play fort. He often asked about the board, so his parents eventually bought him one from Old Naples Surf Shop. “It is a part of him. He found his passion so young,” his mom, Lisa, says.

Though Giorgio had an innate skill, getting to a championship level took practice. “I go to the beach with dad and do 100 rides every day,” Giorgio says. “Yesterday it was 102.”

A month after he discovered the sport, he entered his first competition. “He got hooked,” his dad, Mark, says. “I ask pros, ‘Were you this good at 7?’ They all say no.” Giorgio takes private lessons and classes, but most of his training involves experimenting with selftaught skills until he perfects them.

He’s secured sponsorships from Old Naples Surf Shop and Zap Skimboards, a top brand and the maker of Giorgio’s custom lime ride. He hopes by 12, he’ll be eligible to go semipro—the first step in becoming the world champ. “My favorite thing is wrapping waves. Your skimboard hits the wave, and you ride it back to the shore,” he says, accepting the ride to the top isn’t always smooth. “Even if he falls, it’s still fun,” Mark says. —Andrea Stetson

CHAMP JAXON

Twelve-year-old Champ Jaxon has done more than most musicians many times his age. The Champ Jaxon Band has played more than 100 gigs in six states, including shows on Nashville’s Music Row. However, the pint-sized guitarist, who often performs barefoot, says he’s not a prodigy. “I’ve never liked the word because it makes it sound like it’s just talent,” the Punta Gorda seventh grader says. “That’s completely not true. I don’t think anybody liked the music I played when I first started. I played noise, not music.”

His blues-rocker career began after his guitarist father, Nate, took 3-year-old Champ to the Wanee Festival. Inspired, he began playing air guitar, graduated to the ukulele and got a guitar when he was 6. He first took lessons from his father, then later at local studios to advance his guitar, voice and songwriting skills. “I just kept practicing and learned more techniques,” he says. “It took a lot of time to get where I am.”

Last year, he entered The Marshall Tucker Band’s music contest for kids. The band shared his video, and two months later, he played lead guitar at their concerts. In October, he was the regional winner of The International Blues Challenge; then he released a single, followed by his debut album, which includes four songs he wrote about Florida. Champ plays nine guitars, including one gifted to him by Brad Paisley after they jammed on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. When he’s not strumming, he enjoys building LEGO Star Wars ships and going to Comic-Con. As for the guitar, he says, “This is my path in life.” —Aisling Swift

SARAH SAVAGE

While most teenagers are getting ready for high school dances, 15-year-old Sarah Savage is pursuing her dream of becoming a professional ballerina. “Being on stage is the most amazing feeling in the world. It is something I know I am meant to do,” she says.

Her parents, Stephanie and Tim, enrolled Sarah in her first dance class when she was 3. “Probably because they loved to see their little girl twirling around in tutus on her tiptoes,” Sarah says. Five years later, she performed with the Miami City Ballet at Artis—Naples.

She’s traveled the country attending prestigious programs from the American Ballet Theatre, Bolshoi Ballet Academy, Chautauqua Institution and The School of American Ballet. She has competed nationally through the Youth America Grand Prix, the largest international nonprofit dance competition, which awarded her a scholarship to attend an intensive with the Princess Grace Academy in Monaco this past summer.

On weekdays—and sometimes on Saturdays—a family friend drives Sarah from Naples to Pompano Beach and back to The Art of Classical Ballet. “It is really far, but the training is incredible. My teachers, Magaly Suarez and Ibis Montoto, have changed me as a dancer and helped me realize even more how much I love ballet,” she says. Sarah focuses on her homeschool studies on evenings and weekends. Her goal is to get accepted to a ballet boarding school, where she can train until she turns 18. Afterward, she’ll start auditioning to join a dance company. “Dance is something I want to do for the rest of my life,” she says. —Alyssa Morlacci

A Birthday to Remember

Celebrate your kiddos in Southwest Florida style with over-the-top decor, treats and a dash of magic.

By Artis Henderson, Ayn-Monique Klahre, Nila do Simon, Andrea Stetson

Go Big

Birthdays provide the perfect opportunity to bring everyone together and make your little feel extra-special, so do it up!

These days, extravagant celebrations for children are as common as a trip to the ice cream parlor. Parents are dropping thousands for private chefs, dedicated bartenders, bespoke party favors and DJs. A recent three-deck yacht location for a 10-year-old’s birthday rivaled the vessel from Bravo TV’s Below Deck reality show. “Grown-ups want to feel that nostalgia, so they are also making it an experience for themselves,” event planner Julie Caldwell of Naples-based The Party Girl Co. (thepartygirlco.com) says. Sabine Schroeder, founder of Kids Dream Factory (kidsdreamfactory. com), creates personalized sleepovers, complete with handcrafted tents and fine linens. She says social media has had

a major influence on families wanting to celebrate in a grand way. For one tween’s birthday, the mother asked Brooke Prout of Cape Coral’s bash. Styling & Events (560-7861) to create an outdoor tea party with fantastical undertones, akin to those seen in Alice in Wonderland. The budget? “She didn’t give me one,” Brooke says. The result was a secret garden oasis filled with whimsical red-topped mushrooms, an opulent dessert table, and a larger-than-life marquee lit up with the birthday girl’s name Her name was also engraved on everything from the cutlery to the placemats to the boxes at the activity table. “Parents want every kid to feel special,” Brooke says, adding that each guest had their name etched on elements throughout the party, too.

Memorable Mobile Parties (memorablemobileparties.com) founder Gisselle Rodriguez agrees there’s an uptick in personalizing a child’s event. “We’re pretty much asked to do event branding,” Gisselle says. “No one wants a cookie-cutter party. Clients are about finding

the next unique location or decor or backdrop or party favor; anything they could get their hands on that’s different from everyone else.”

That’s not to say that familiar gatherings of years past, with pizzas and piñatas, aren’t popular today. It’s just that some families are dialing up the details with gourmet, chef-prepared pizza served on plates branded with the child’s name in gold foil and piñatas handcrafted by artisans from Europe.

For all the naysayers who are baffled by the extravagance given to an affair that lasts a handful of hours for a pint-sized individual who can’t yet drive, event designer Wylie Farrugia of Naples’ Picture Perfect Picnics ( picperfectpicnics.com) is quick to counter: “Some families’ ‘why’ might be because they want to have the memory for themselves.” She recently threw a 6-year-old tea party with fine-bone china, flown in from England. “They are living in the present and want to see their kids happy. It’s magical and thoughtful. And the kids always feel surprised and special.”

Make them the star by putting your child’s name on everything from the cutlery to the marquee, like was done at a party by bash. Styling & Events (left). Planners at Memorable Mobile Parties create a whole vibe with on-theme decor and activities, like a dive-in movie screening by the pool, complete with floating seats and mini monogrammed popcorn carts (below) or a Mickey Mouse safari (opposite) with lifesize animal statues and Disney cutouts.

Immersive experiences are big, too: We love this high-tea setup by Picture Perfect Picnics for a girl’s 6th birthday in Naples (right). Meanwhile, Kids Dream Factory likes to create sparkling backdrops to make your photos pop (top right).

Take it

Off-Site

Meet the family behind Estero’s Sprinkle BASH, where the celebration is centered around DIY fun.

started asking about parties. The first was dinosaur themed, with T-Rex bedecked cups, a leafy photo backdrop topped with flying pterodactyls and an activity for junior paleontologists to excavate tiny dinos from clay. “Parents love that the mess is out of the house,” she says.

If there’s any example of “Instagram vs. Reality,” it’s birthday parties. You can start with the cutest tableware and best activity ideas, but once the kids hit the scene: total chaos, with a side of cleanup.

Enter Sprinkle BASH. Created by kindergarten teacher Jennifer Rodriguez, the Cayo de Estero Shoppes studio is designed to throw that perfect fête, stressfree. “I’m a creative spirit and wanted an outlet,” she says. “Our wall says it all: ‘This is where daydreamers come to party.’”

Jennifer opened Sprinkle BASH in 2020 as a DIY studio and retail store for party goods, offering workshops and Parents Night Out events—“Strictly word-ofmouth,” she says—until people

Jennifer now offers more than 30 themes, from mermaids to outer space to Halloween, any time of year. She’s also happy to riff on any idea—turn a woodland fairy party into a gnome party, for example—and always includes crafts that match the theme, like painting mermaid tales on canvas, decorating a wooden fairy door, or making alien slime. “I can bring in a cotton candy machine, or I can make Elsa hold a donut, whatever your child wants,” she says with a laugh. She runs the business with her husband, Gabe, and their two young daughters help out, too.

With Sprinkle BASH’s growth, Jennifer moved the party goods online to make more space for artistic play. “I like to think of it as the best play date your child has ever had with their friends,” Jennifer says. sprinklebash.com

Add More Immersive Fun

GLORIA’S MINI FARM

Naples-based Megan Osborn brings the petting zoo to your party, adding baby goats, sheep, guinea pigs, rabbits, a baby camel and a miniature donkey to the guest list. gloriasminifarms.com

WISH UPON A STAR PARTIES

With a cast of trained singers who lead storytime, sing-alongs and coronation ceremonies, Wish Upon a Star adds the magic to any party from Naples to Cape Coral with Disney Princesses, superheroes and Star Wars characters. wishuponastarprincess party.com

LITTLE SWEET P

For the tiniest tots, Little Sweet P sets up soft play areas, ball pits, foam blocks and small bounce castles in your colors and themes. littlesweetpsoftplay.com

LASER BATTLE BY TROPICAL EXTREMES

Turn your event into a tournament with mobile laser battle, hydro battle or archery (with soft-tipped arrows). “It gets the kids interacting with each other as a team,” owner Scott Keller says. laserbattle.com

LITTLE CHEFS IN TRAINING

Your kid will feel like they’re on an episode of Chopped at Little Chefs in Training in Fort Myers, where they get a basket with ingredients to make pasta, tacos, sushi, pizza or other themed meals. Sweets lovers can request a Cupcake Wars party. littlechefsntraining.com

Courtesy Sprinkle BASH

Give it Forward

Picking the perfect present can be tricky—unless that gift is aimed at a local charity. Here, six local kids share their most meaningful birthday donations.

Since her 7th birthday, 10-year-old Natalie Huntington has asked guests to bring donations for Domestic Animal Services. “I feel like I have so much and like I have to give back to the animals because they give us so much,” Natalie says.

Animal shelters are popular for present donations. Carolina Diaz, of Humane Society Naples, says she sees it becoming more popular, especially among children ages 7-12. Naples-based Sawyer Williams, whose party featured a petting zoo, is one of those generous kiddos who gives to HSN. “It just feels like the right thing to do,” the 8-year-old says.

Maeve Wasmer, who is 11, had a book party and collected 80 new reads to donate to children at Fun Time Early Childhood Academy in Naples. “I thought about how families don’t have enough money to buy books,” Maeve says.

Donation gifts are very personal for 9-year-old Raegan Banker, who collects toys at her parties that she gives to children at Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida. Raegan’s older brother died of brain cancer, and this is a way to keep him alive in her memory. “My room was full of toys, but kids are in the hospital, and I thought I would donate toys for my birthday,” she says.

Embrace the Sugar High

The statement cake is here and Naples-based You & Me Cakes nails the trend.

It all started with a two-tier Superman cake for her son Jacob. Roshelle Santiago wanted to please her little superhero fan and set out to create his dream cake. Never mind that she didn’t have the know-how; she quickly learned she had a knack for the confectionery arts.

Over the next four years, the mother of three scoured YouTube, teaching herself how to make rainbow cakes with towers connected by custom toppers; designs layered with cones,

donuts and macaroons; and Minecraft creations, wrapped in dozens of tiny square pixels. Her most elaborate? A Finding Nemo cake—just the characters (Nemo, Dory, Hank and Mr. Ray) took six hours to bake and shape. “I make everything by hand; even when people bring me inspiration, I tell them it’ll have my own twist,” Roshelle says.

Recently, she’s seen less interest in colorful, cartoony cakes and more requests for boho-chic sweets with pastel palettes and simple but precise design. She’s partial to the aesthetic as a sophisticated complement to luxe parties.

Beyond being entirely handmade, Roshelle’s cakes are made fresh within two days of delivery, nut-free (she’s allergic) and almost always 100 percent edible. 239-451-8381.

Helium-filled installations, like this one from Marcy’s Balloon Decor, bring kids’ favorite movies to life.

These 20 family-friendly categories are compiled from our 2022 Best of the Gulfshore ballot; all 100 categories were originally published in our May 2022 Gulfshore Life edition and can be found online on gulfshorelife.com/best. The Best of the Gulfshore is a write-in ballot hosted on gulfshorelife.com for two months every year. Voting for the Best of the Gulfshore 2023 will begin in December and run through the end of January 2023.

FINALISTS ARE LISTED IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER

COLLIER

KIDS APPAREL

Winner

Beth Mone

Finalist

Cotton Tails

Finalist

Giggle Moon

KIDS BIRTHDAY

Winner

Whiz Kids

Finalist

Miss Lexi's Place

Finalist

In Play

MUSEUM

Winner

Artis/Baker

Finalist

C'MON

Finalist

Holocaust

PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

Winner

Artis Naples

Finalist

Naples Players/ Sugden

Finalist

Gulfshore Playhouse

FAMILY FUN ACTIVITY

Winner

Naples Zoo Finalist

Glass Blowing by Conrad Finalist

Botanical Garden

HISTORICAL SITE

Winner

Palm Cottage

Finalist

The Peir

Finalist

Train Depot

NATURE AND WILDLIFE VIEWING

Winner

Corkscrew Swamp

Finalist

Botanical Garden

Finalist

Naples Zoo

OVERALL ATTRACTION

Winner

Naples Botanical Garden

Finalist

Glassblowing in the Garden

Finalist

Naples Zoo

SIGHTSEEING TOUR

Winner

Pure Florida Finalist

Naples Princess Finalist

Naples Trolley Tours

BOAT RENTAL

Winner Pure Finalist

Freedom Finalist

Naples Bay Resort

DAY CRUISE

Winner

Naples Princess Finalist

Pure Florida Finalist

Sweet Liberty

CHILD CARE

Winner

Nightime Nannnies Finalist

Naples Babysitting Finalist

Livingston Academy

PHOTOGRAPHER

Winner

Photo Studio Naples Finalist

Rochelle Shucart

Photography Finalist

Let Me be Candid

PRIVATE SCHOOL

Winner

CSN

Finalist

St. Anns Finalist

Seacrest

BURGER

Winner

Brooks Burger Finalist

Jimmy P's Finalist

Lake Patk Diner

DOUGHNUTS

Winner

Duck Donuts

Finalist

Peace, Love & Donuts Finalist

The Continental

PIZZA

Winner

The Crust

Finalist

LowBrow Pizza

Finalist

Napoli on the Bay

FAMILY FRIENDLY RESTAURANT

Winner

Lake Park Diner

Finalist

Mel's Diner

Finalist

Pinchers

CHOCOLATE SHOP

Winner

Norman Love

Finalist

Kilwin's

Finalist

Olde Naples Chocolate

ICE CREAM (YOGURT, GELATO, ETC.)

Winner

Kilwin's Finalist

Royal Scoop

Finalist

Scoops

LEE

KID'S APPAREL

Winner Once Upon a Child Finalist

Nanny's Finalist

Puddle Jumpers

KID'S BIRTHDAY VENUE

Winner Sky Zone Finalist Defy

Finalist

Wonder Gardens

MUSEUM

Winner Edison Ford Finalist

IMAG Finalist

Bailey Matthews

PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

Winner

BB Mann Finalist

Broadway Palm Finalist

Florida Rep Finalist

SBDAC

FAMILY FUN ACTIVITY

Winner Top Golf Finalist

Pop Stroke Finalist

Wonder Gardens

HISTORICAL SITE

Winner

Edison Home Finalist

Koeshan Finalist

Mound House

NATURE AND WILDLIFE VIEWING

Winner

JN Ding Darling

Finalist

Six Miles

Cypress Slough Finalist

Wonder Gardens

OVERALL ATTRACTION

Winner

Edison Home Finalist

Wonder Gardens

Finalist

Cabbage Key

SIGHTSEEING TOUR

Winner

Edison Home Finalist

Captiva Cruises Finalist

Babcok Ranch

Eco Tour

BOAT RENTAL

Winner

Salty Sam's Finalist Freedom Finalist

Bay Water

DAY CRUISE

Winner

Captiva Cruises Finalist

Key West Express Finalist

Cabbage Key

CHILD CARE

Winner

Bobbie Noonans Finalist

Connection Point Finalist

Wellington Finalist

World Championship Taekwondo

PHOTOGRAPHER

Winner Real Tours Finalist

Jesi Cason

Finalist

Kelley Marie

Photography

PRIVATE SCHOOL

Winner Canterbury Finalist

Bishop Verot Finalist

Ft. Myers

Christian School

BURGER

Winner

Ford's Finalist

Fat Katz Finalist

Lehne

DOUGHNUTS

Winner

Bennets Finalist

Divine Finalist

Duck Finalist Trackside

PIZZA

Winner DHOP Finalist

Nice Guys Finalist

Fine Folk Finalist

Rosati's

FAMILY FRIENDLY RESTAURANT

Winner Mel's Diner Finalist

Artisan Eatery Finalist

Two Meatballs

CHOCOLATE SHOP

Winner

Norman Love Finalist

Noella's Finalist

CW Fudge Finalist

Gulf Coast Fudge Co

ICE CREAM (YOGURT, GELATO, ETC.)

Winner Love Boat Finalist

Sylwia's Finalist

Norman Love

ARTIS-NAPLES

Join Artis—Naples for the 14th annual Naples International Film Festival—an unparalleled opportunity for film lovers to gather and experience some of today’s best independent films in a friendly and welcoming environment. The festival presents more than 60 film screenings of narrative features, documentaries and short films over four days—with opportunities to meet some of the talented filmmakers behind the films.

5833 Pelican Bay Boulevard Naples, Florida 34108-2740 (239) 597-1900

ArtisNaples.org

BROADWAY PALM DINNER THEATRE

Broadway Palm is Florida’s Premier Dinner Theatre providing Broadwaystyle entertainment, delicious food, and exceptional customer service all at a great value! The theatre’s season highlights the best of Broadway combining your favorite shows of the past along with the most recent musical hit sensations. Broadway Palm features nationally selected performers, dazzling sets and costumes, and a live orchestra. The theatre also offers full scale children’s theatre productions that are especially presented for the youngest of theatre goers. Performances are matinees with a special lunch menu that the chef creates with children’s favorites like pizza, chicken nuggets, pasta and more.

1380 Colonial Boulevard

Fort Myers, FL 33907 (239) 278-4422

BroadwayPalm.com

CANTERBURY SCHOOL

To experience Canterbury School is to appreciate inspiring teachers, coaches, and mentors rigorously preparing students for a world of unlimited possibilities. The foundation of our school is based on four tenets: academics, leadership, character, and service. These tenets work in conjunction with key aspects that create a great “prep” school –a strong honor code, exceptional academics, a wide range of co-curricular opportunities, and meaningful relationships. Working together in a resilient community, Canterbury prepares students to meet challenges with confidence, knowledge, integrity, courage, and responsibility. This powerful combination provides the foundation for your child’s success in learning and in life.

8141 College Parkway

Fort Myers, FL 33919 (239) 481-4323

CanterburyFortMyers.org

Saint Ann Catholic School

Closer to Animals

Closer to Nature

Closer to Family

COMMUNITY SCHOOL OF NAPLES

Community School of Naples, an independent, PreK-12 college preparatory day school, was launched in 1982 by a group of parents seeking to establish a private school close to home. Essential elements of the school’s educational program include a comprehensive curriculum focused on academic rigor; opportunities in athletics and arts, both fine and performing; and character development. These elements ensure that each student experiences a challenging education only an independent, college preparatory school can provide. Community School of Naples is known both regionally and nationally as the choice for families seeking the best educational experience for their children.

13275 Livingston Road Naples, FL 34109, USA (239) 597-7575

CommunitySchoolNaples.org

FORT MYERS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

Fort Myers Christian School was established in 1979 by First Assembly of God of Fort Myers. Serving grades K4-8th in a Christian based academic setting, it is our goal that each student be academically and spiritually successful. We believe this can only be fully attained through a combined effort of the home, school, and church. FMCS is fully accredited through the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI).

FMCS embraces a traditional approach to the elementary and middle school curriculum. FMCS’s desire is to see our students become World Changers for Christ!

1550 Colonial Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 33907 (239) 939-4642

FortMyersChristianSchool.org

GOLISANO CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF NAPLES

The Children’s Museum of Naples encourages children to play, learn, and dream in our hands-on exhibits. Beginning on November 19, winter will be taking over! CMON will feature several winter exhibits including CMON on Ice, The Gingerbread Village, Santa’s Workshop, and Winter Wonderland at the World Café.

Experience the thrill of ice skating without the chill at CMON. Join us for the first year of CMON on Ice, as both kids and adults are invited to slip off their sneakers and skate the day away on our new “ice” rink.

CMON will host extended hours on select Friday and Saturday nights for more time to enjoy the holiday fun!

15080 Livingston Rd, Naples, FL 34109 (239) 514-0084

Cmon.org

Artis—Naples Home of The Baker Museum and the Naples Philharmonic

Presenting the best in visual and performing arts—we inspire, educate and entertain!

For tickets and more information: artisnaples.org 239-597-1900

5833 Pelican Bay Blvd

OCT 15 - NOV 10, 2022

Stunned to discover that all U.S. Presidents have been men, Grace kicks off her own political career by running for class president. Join her on a musical journey as she discovers what it takes to be the best candidate.

Santa Claus has decided to retire, but not all the elves are thrilled about his replacement. With the help of his tech-savvy daughter, Santa’s replacement is in for the adventure of his life.

Featuring the music of Bob Marley and based on his daughter’s children’s book of the same name, this jammin’ musical tells of a little birdy Ziggy who is afraid to leave his house.

When Jeremy Jacobs gets invited to join a pirate crew, he thinks the pirate life is for him. Until he realizes that the simple things in life, like a kiss and a warm tucking in at night, are those that are most important.

GULFSHORE PLAYHOUSE

Gulfshore Playhouse Education provides programs that enhance the lives of students of all ages through transformative theatrical experiences. Each program, designed specifically for our region, provides theatrical learning experiences that invigorate and nurture students. From in-school residencies and pre-professional theatre training, to community partnerships, audience engagement, and student matinees – our goal is to inspire creativity and confidence, encourage self-expression, and cultivate a deep appreciation for the arts. Through the Kizzie’s Kids Scholarship Fund and subsidized programming, our Education programs are readily accessible to all in our community. For more information, contact Steven Calakos, Director of Education at scalakos@gulfshoreplayhouse.org.

2640 Golden Gate Parkway, Suite 211 Naples, FL 34105 (239) 261-PLAY

M&M’S CAFE AT TIN CITY/ ROYAL SCOOP AT BERKSHIRE COMMONS

We offer the freshest and tastiest selection of the finest Boars Head brand meats and cheeses available. All of our produce is locally grown and delivered daily to ensure you receive the freshest product available this area has to offer.

Our multiple award-winning ice cream is locally homemade and the handcrafted cinnamon vanilla waffle cones are extra, but worth it!

Royal Scoop at Berkshire Commons 7335 Radio Road, Unit 104 Naples, FL 34104

239-231-4544 RoyalScoop.com

M&M’s Cafe at Tin City 1200 Fifth Ave. S., Unit 122 Naples, FL 34102 (239) 261-5317

THE NAPLES PLAYERS INC.

The Naples Players continually seeks to enrich, educate and entertain our community through a superior theatre experience. We are a premier community theatre, seeking to inspire passion for the performing arts through unparalleled access to the process, experience, and conversations surrounding the arts and our community.

The Naples Players has been a theatre for the community since 1953, and we have grown our programs to touch lives in Naples and beyond. The beautiful theatre you know and love today is a reflection of our community, and the anchor of arts and culture in Naples.

701 5th Avenue South Naples, FL 34102 (239) 434-7340 NaplesPlayers.org

Experience the JOY of theatre!

Programs that encourage self-expression, build confidence, and inspire artistic growth

Offering pre-professional training in acting, voice, and movement for students of all ages.

NAPLES ZOO AT CARIBBEAN GARDENS

As an award-winning non-profit and nationally accredited zoo and botanical garden, Naples Zoo strives to inspire people of all ages to respect, value and help conserve wildlife and our natural world. We do so through our formal and informal conservation education programs and by providing an ever changing and improving educational and engaging family-oriented experience for our more than 370,000 annual guests.

1590 Goodlette Road Naples, Florida 34102 (239) 262-5409 NaplesZoo.org

SAINT ANN CATHOLIC SCHOOL

Since 1956, our campus in downtown Naples has welcomed families of all backgrounds seeking a quality faith-based education for their children. We have a rich history and enjoy an excellent reputation as a school with smaller class sizes that uniquely designs its education to meet the individual needs of all children. Our secure, state-of-the-art campus serves students in Pre-K 3 through Grade 8. Our academically challenging curriculum includes gifted, honors, resource classes, integration of technology, music, and foreign language in all grade levels. Most importantly, each child is nurtured to reach their fullest potential.

542 8th Ave S. Naples, FL 34102 (239) 262-4110

www.stann.net @saintannschoolnaples

SEACREST COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL

Seacrest is an Early Learning through 12th Grade college preparatory independent school that fuels intellectual engagement, teachers ownership of the educational experience, cultivates quality of character, and inspires students to lead lives of significance. Just minutes from I-75, our 40-acre campus — surrounded by tropical preserves — is the optimal setting for students to learn, innovate, and grow. Our diverse and inclusive community of learners benefit from our small class sizes, low student-teacher ratios, innovative and comprehensive curriculum that engages students with project-based learning, opportunities in the arts, athletics, languages, sustainability programs, robotics, entrepreneurship, and more. Need and merit-based tuition assistance are available for qualified students.

7100 Davis Boulevard Naples, FL 34103 (239) 793-1986 Seacrest.org

THE WONDER GARDENS

The Wonder Gardens, located in historic Downtown Bonita Springs, offers several enhanced guest experiences for up-close and personal encounters with some of their 300 rescued, rehabilitated, and nonreleasable animals.

The former Everglades Wonder Gardens was first established as a family-ran roadside attraction in 1936. Today, the Wonder Gardens honors the nostalgia of their Old Florida roots while promoting their modern mission.

New exhibits and enhancements, impactful education programs, and a fabulous Wonder Shoppe all boost the one-of-a-kind experience the Wonder Gardens has to offer. The gardens inspire conservation and resiliency by providing transformative experiences of wonder in the natural world.

27180 Old 41 Road Bonita Springs, FL 34135 (239) 992-2591 WonderGardens.org

WELLINGTON ACADEMY SCHOOLS

Wellington Academy has been serving Lee County families for over 35 years. We are the providers of quality childcare for children ages birth through VPK. Our qualified staff are here to help your child navigate the new modes of learning. Our schools are nationally accredited, and Gold Seal approved. Voted by parents as the Best Preschool in the 2011 Parent’s Choice awards, 2015, 2016 & 2016 Best of SWFL Recipients! Our VPK program has been extremely successful in fully preparing students for kindergarten and beyond. Wellington Academy’s Kindergarten Readiness Rates have been in the top 5% in Lee County for the last 5 years. Our VPK program offers a safe well-equipped classroom environment for your child while focusing on all the kindergarten readiness standards. Our schools are conveniently located near your home and workplace to serve you better. Call or stop by today to reserve a spot for your child in our programs!

WellingtonAcademySchools.com P: (239) 274-0555 | F: (239) 274-0455

FORT MYERS - INFANT CARE

Near Sams Club Plaza 5244 Ramsey Way, Fort Myers, FL 33907 (239) 275-8818

N. CAPE CORAL

Near Cape Coral Hospital 1024 SE 10th St, Cape Coral, FL 33990 (239) 574-8818

S. CAPE CORAL - INFANT CARE

Near Cape Coral Pkwy Bridge 4412 SE 15th Ave., Cape Coral, FL 33904 (239) 549-8818

FAMILY TIME

Things to do and places to go to reconnect, unwind and feed young explorers’ imaginations

The Young and the Beautiful

From haircuts to facials, Miss Lexi’s Place in Naples caters to the wee set. Pampering

Words: Marissa Hermanson

Photography: Anna Nguyen

Real beauty comes from within. And that comes through at Miss Lexi’s Place, Alexia Walulik’s salon and spa for kids ages 3 to 13, where haircuts and manicures come with self-esteem boosters. With a mission to help build confidence, Alexia teaches kids the first step to self-love is self-care.

T he salon offers all the things you’d expect from a grown-up rendition—hair services like cuts, temporary dyes, up-dos and recital buns; manicures and pedicures; makeup; themed spa packages; makeover parties. And, Alexia’s an ace at doing braids: She grew up braiding her friends’ hair and has plenty of experience doing her biracial daughters’ hair (she’s happy to give parents lessons, too).

At Miss Lexi’s Place, kids enjoy mani/pedis, haircuts, makeup parties and other little luxuries.

SPOIL THEM ROTTEN

Four other mini-me salons

Bananas Salon for Kids

Toy cars set on pedestals line up in front of mirrors and set the tone for a fun adventure at this 17-year-old, South Fort Myers hair salon that sees infants (they do babies’ first haircuts) and kids younger than 18. Little ones pick out a show to watch during their trim, and Mom or Dad can see a stylist here—including the on-staff barber—if their hair needs some TLC, too. bananassalonforkids.com

La Fresa Spa

This spa offers mobile services with head-to-toe primping for kids, bringing the fun straight to you (they also have a new brick-and-mortar location). La Fresa offers manicures and pedicures, with fast-drying vegan Dazzle Dry nail polish that’s mess-free. For teens, there are facial parties to learn about skincare. Surprise your Disney-loving chipmunk by adding a visit from one of the owner’s daughters dressed up like a princess. 776-8860

Little Princess Spa

Known for its themed parties and events like Parents’ Night Out, this spa franchise offers everything from hairdos and mani/pedis to massages for kids ages 2 to 14. There are hour-long spa packages, where youngsters dress in a robe, wear tiaras and sip a flute of pink lemonade while getting pampered, and cap it all off by walking the runway. For VIP treatment, Little Princess can also roll out the pink carpet with a limousine ride. littleprincessspa.com

Salon 4 Kids

With more than 20 years in the industry and four children of her own, Salon 4 Kids owner Sara Gruett is a pro with youngsters. Her North Naples suite, which sees one client at a time, provides a retreat for families looking for a private setting. Sara specializes in working with children with special needs and those who don’t like haircuts, making the process quick and easy. (651) 755-3058

For more fun, there are summer camps and princess brunches where kids decorate donuts and make homemade beauty products, such as lip glosses and sugar scrubs.

The heart of the operation is Alexia’s drive for inclusivity and building self-confidence. “I want to make sure that every kid—no matter what ethnicity—feels welcome here and beautiful in their own skin,” Alexia says.

She teaches children proper hygiene and how to maintain their image to build confidence, showing

them how to do their hair and care for their skin. “No one told me how to brush my hair, put my hair up or take care of my body or face. I grew up without any of that knowledge … and kids were always making fun of me,” Alexia says. She had a tough childhood, growing up between homes with a mother who faced drug addiction and a father who battled alcoholism. At 14, she started working full time and would leave school early. “I saw a very ugly world at a very young age,” she says. “It was my goal to give my children a safe space.”

S even years ago, Alexia moved to Naples from Ohio with her two daughters, who are now 11 and 7, to find a better life with more opportunities. She started working at a local kids’ spa; when it closed, she felt inspired to open Miss Lexi’s Place. “I grew up searching for things to fill in the emptiness. I lacked self-love, self-awareness and self-confidence,” she says. “That’s why it’s such a big goal of mine to provide something for kids that can help with all of those things.” misslexisplace.com

Miss Lexi’s Place also offers party packages, with facials, nail and hair styling, runway shows, karaoke, group pics and DIY activities.

Flights of Fancy

A new performing arts studio in Naples makes exercise fun for kids.

Words: Alyssa Morlacci

Every circus needs a ringmaster, and at Studio de Cirque, that role belongs to Miranda Aro, who opened the performing arts studio in Naples this past spring. “We’re a full circus studio,” Miranda says

Studio de Cirque teaches aerial arts to kids as young as 5.

about her facility that’s building on the rise in kids’ fitness in the merriest of ways. But think more Cirque du Soleil and less head in a lion’s mouth. Imagine ceiling-high aerial silks for twirling, a corde lisse rope for climbing, a suspended steel Lyra hoop for flipping upside down, and, of course, trapeze bars.

W hile flying through the air may sound risky, Miranda assures that Studio de Cirque’s classes are safe enough for kids as young as 5— she offers camps for toddlers and adult classes, too. Before they ever

touch the equipment, every new student has to attend a 30-minute safety course led by Miranda. “We go over all the vocabulary for the apparatuses,” she says. “We like kids to know the terms and get in the habit of checking the security of everything before they climb.”

A fter, they can sign up for the intro to aerial class, during which they’ll learn beginner moves and do a lot of conditioning. “We’ve got to build those muscles and be able to hold our own body weight before we get into the fancy stuff,” Miranda says. The studio’s four teachers, plus ringmaster Miranda, have all worked in the aerial industry and one has performed with the New York City Ballet. Parents get to see their kids flex their new skills during showcases throughout the year. Alert your kiddos: Now, they don’t have to run away to join the circus. studiodecirque.com

Reading Corner

Five local illustrators bring Southwest Florida to life through the fantastical eyes of children.

Words: Aisling Swift

Dreaming of Fort Myers

By Arcadia Publishing

Illustrated by Lorrie Bennett

The natural world inspires Lorrie Bennett, a Fort Myers fine artist, graphic designer and illustrator whose works joyfully depict animals and figurative scenes. In this board book, slated to release in 2023, she illustrates historic and tourist sites—such as Fort Myers Beach and the statues of Henry Ford, Harvey Firestone and Thomas Edison at Centennial Park—all used to teach kids ages 2 to 5 to count. “It not only brings attention to this area; it’s a tourist’s keepsake,” Lorrie says.

Arcadia Publishing

Salty The Sea Turtle

By Claire Lawrence

Illustrated by Randi Zwicker

In this lyrical tale, youngsters learn about the life cycle of sea turtles, following Salty from when she’s a hatchling to her return to lay eggs on the Florida beach where she hatched.

Bonita Springs neighbors Randi Zwicker and Claire Lawrence were inspired to create the book when they spotted turtles hatching at Barefoot Beach. Randi, a retired educator who has been painting her whole life, firmly believes in the power of illustrations to draw kids to books.

Mascot Books

Courtesy Arcadia Publishing (working cover), Mascot Books, Doug MacGregor, Wiggins Press, DreamChaser Publishing

Morgan McKinney’s BiggerThan-Life Bedtime Story

Written and illustrated by Doug MacGregor

Former News-Press editorial cartoonist Doug MacGregor, who has created seven children’s books, penned this Christmas Eve bedtime story about an airborne adventure over Florida with an elephant seal, grouper and other sea creatures. “Morgan is a lovable kid who loves the biggest animals in the zoo,” Doug says. “They take him on a journey that includes a rescue visit from Santa.” There’s a subtle body positivity message throughout.

Doug MacGregor

The ABC’s of Things Little Siblings do to be Annoying

By Jenny Stefaniak, Carly Johson and Jen Cellotta Illustrated by James Zwerneman

When Ellen Stefaniak’s daughter was in fourth grade, she and a friend jotted down notes for a humorous book about annoying things a little girl does to her older sister. Ellen tapped popular Naples children’s book illustrator and teacher James Zwerneman to bring the story to life. It starts with A for “aggravating you,” and ends with Z for “zapping you with pretend guns,” says James, whose quirky stick figures and colorful settings bring the story to life.

Wiggins Press/Ellen Stefaniak

SuperClara: A Young Girl’s Story of Cancer, Bravery and Courage

By Robert Martin with Keira Ely Illustrated by Dave Drotleff

Fort Myers author Robert Martin and his granddaughter, Keira, describe her late sister’s cancer treatment. Local graphic artist Dave Drotleff illustrated the story, in which Clara discovers she has special powers after radiation: She can talk to animals. “Even though she was going through this, she had a positive attitude,” Dave says. A portion of book profits is donated to Bridge for a Cure Foundation.

DreamChaser Publishing

A Young Girl’s Story of Cancer, Bravery and Courage!

Robert Martin with Keira Ely Illustrations by Dave Drotleff

By Jenny Stefaniak, Carly Johson & Jen Cellotta Illustrated by James Zwerneman

of Things Little Siblings Do to Be Annoying

Local Legend

Randy Wayne White dives into children’s lit.

Randy Wayne White, The New York Times bestselling author, who resides on Sanibel Island, has penned about 30 mystery and thriller books between his Doc Ford titles and Hannah Smith novels. In his latest series, Sharks Incorporated , White reaches a new demo, aged 8 to 12, and focuses on connecting them to the sea. The series, which launched in 2020 with Fins , shows Hannah Smith and Doc Ford as supporting characters to three middle schoolers—Luke, Maribel and Sabina—as they go on whodunit adventures, centered around different marine animals. Randy’s fourth book, Megalops , debuting in spring, puts tarpon centerstage, with the kids investigating fishy occurrences behind-thescenes at the fictitious The Tarpon Anglers Rodeo on Sanibel. Young readers learn facts about and dangers facing the mighty silver king, as the characters race to uncover the truth and protect a world-record-sized tarpon. Roaring Brook Press

SAINT MICHAEL LUTHERAN SCHOOL

Educating students and touching families lives with the love of Jesus Christ

For More Information: www.smlcs.org info@gsmlcs.org

• Christ-centered atmosphere

• Infants - 8th grade

• Exceptional & dedicated teaching staff

• Boundless opportunities in fine arts, athletics and technology

• NLSA and Cognia Accredited

• U.S. Dept. of Education Blue Ribbon School

Editors' Pick

Wrap Them in Love

Many parents look for apparel crafted with safe, comfortable materials, free of harmful synthetics found in some mainstream brands. Enter: Southwest Florida-based Solstice Kids, which creates eco-conscious children’s clothing, handstitched from organic fabric that's milled in the U.S.A. The sustainable, adorable selection of breathable dresses, bloomers, shorts and shirts comes in a range of sizes for newborns to tweens, with pieces that maintain their shape through endless washes. The antithesis to fast-fashion, Solstice Kids can also repurpose fabrics from loved ones, like an old shirt or blanket, for a sweet memento. solsticekids.com

Courtesy Solstice Kids/Candace Marie Photography

Morgan McKinney’s BiggerThan-Life Bedtime Story

Written and illustrated by Doug MacGregor

Former News-Press editorial cartoonist Doug MacGregor, who has created seven children’s books, penned this Christmas Eve bedtime story about an airborne adventure over Florida with an elephant seal, grouper and other sea creatures. “Morgan is a lovable kid who loves the biggest animals in the zoo,” Doug says. “They take him on a journey that includes a rescue visit from Santa.” There’s a subtle body positivity message throughout.

Doug MacGregor

The ABC’s of Things Little Siblings do to be Annoying

By Jenny Stefaniak, Carly Johson and Jen Cellotta Illustrated by James Zwerneman

When Ellen Stefaniak’s daughter was in fourth grade, she and a friend jotted down notes for a humorous book about annoying things a little girl does to her older sister. Ellen tapped popular Naples children’s book illustrator and teacher James Zwerneman to bring the story to life. It starts with A for “aggravating you,” and ends with Z for “zapping you with pretend guns,” says James, whose quirky stick figures and colorful settings bring the story to life. Wiggins Press/Ellen Stefaniak

SuperClara: A Young Girl’s Story of Cancer, Bravery and Courage

By Robert Martin with Keira Ely Illustrated by Dave Drotleff

Fort Myers author Robert Martin and his granddaughter, Keira, describe her late sister’s cancer treatment. Local graphic artist Dave Drotleff illustrated the story, in which Clara discovers she has special powers after radiation: She can talk to animals. “Even though she was going through this, she had a positive attitude,” Dave says. A portion of book profits is donated to Bridge for a Cure Foundation.

DreamChaser Publishing

A Young Girl’s Story of Cancer, Bravery and Courage!

Robert Martin with Keira Ely Illustrations by Dave Drotleff

By Jenny Stefaniak, Carly Johson & Jen Cellotta Illustrated by James Zwerneman

of Things Little Siblings Do to Be Annoying

Local Legend

Randy Wayne White dives into children’s lit.

Randy Wayne White, The New York Times bestselling author, who resides on Sanibel Island, has penned about 30 mystery and thriller books between his Doc Ford titles and Hannah Smith novels. In his latest series, Sharks Incorporated , White reaches a new demo, aged 8 to 12, and focuses on connecting them to the sea. The series, which launched in 2020 with Fins , shows Hannah Smith and Doc Ford as supporting characters to three middle schoolers—Luke, Maribel and Sabina—as they go on whodunit adventures, centered around different marine animals. Randy’s fourth book, Megalops , debuting in spring, puts tarpon centerstage, with the kids investigating fishy occurrences behind-thescenes at the fictitious The Tarpon Anglers Rodeo on Sanibel. Young readers learn facts about and dangers facing the mighty silver king, as the characters race to uncover the truth and protect a world-record-sized tarpon. Roaring Brook Press

SAINT MICHAEL LUTHERAN SCHOOL

Educating students and touching families lives with the love of Jesus Christ

For More Information: www.smlcs.org info@gsmlcs.org

• Christ-centered atmosphere

• Infants - 8th grade

• Exceptional & dedicated teaching staff

• Boundless opportunities in fine arts, athletics and technology

• NLSA and Cognia Accredited

• U.S. Dept. of Education Blue Ribbon School

Editors' Pick

Wrap Them in Love

Many parents look for apparel crafted with safe, comfortable materials, free of harmful synthetics found in some mainstream brands. Enter: Southwest Florida-based Solstice Kids, which creates eco-conscious children’s clothing, handstitched from organic fabric that's milled in the U.S.A. The sustainable, adorable selection of breathable dresses, bloomers, shorts and shirts comes in a range of sizes for newborns to tweens, with pieces that maintain their shape through endless washes. The antithesis to fast-fashion, Solstice Kids can also repurpose fabrics from loved ones, like an old shirt or blanket, for a sweet memento. solsticekids.com

Courtesy Solstice Kids/Candace Marie Photography