Family & Kids of the Bayou Region February 2016

FEBRUARY 2016

Wise Choices for Moms & Families

© Petites Bijoux Photography

BAYOU REGION

See Pg. 5

Kids’ classes, camps, and parties. Adult classes now available.

2

Children’s Clothing Girls : Pre -16 Boys : Pre-8

Boutique hair bows Skin & hair care • Gifts & toys Monogramming • Baptismal supplies

Locations

CUT OFF LOCATION 17020 West Main St. Cut Off, LA 70345 985-325-7327 M-F 10-6 Sat. 10-3

HOUMA LOCATION 1795B MLK Blvd, Suite B Houma, La 70360 986-868-5280 M-F 10-6 Sat. 10-3

www.FamilyAndKidsDigest.com

HOO’s PARENTING

sibling rivalry Sibling rivalry is defined by child development experts as ‘jealously or competitiveness between brothers and sisters, and when it gets out of hand, it can make your home feel like a war zone. What can parents do to reduce the fighting and help siblings form close, friendly relationships? Here are a few suggestions to help you call a truce at your house.

Parents set a powerful example for their children when resolving conflicts with other adults. If your children seem to be having a great deal of trouble resolving conflicts in a peaceful manner, you may want to do a quick review of how you have been handling disagreements lately. If your kids see you become angry or yell when dealing with disagreements, it is likely that they will mirror this behavior.

Assess how much time you are spending with each child. A special needs child or a newborn baby may demand much of your time. However, don’t skip the one-on-one time with the other children. Get someone to help you watch your special needs child or hold your baby for a little while each day so you can spend time with your other children.

The one-on-one time with you will reassure your kids that they are loved and they will feel more secure. When kids feel loved and secure, they are less likely to engage in attention-seeking negative behavior, like fighting with a sibling.

Consider the differences in personality between siblings and teach them to respect these differences. This respect and understanding of each other helps your children build close relationships and will hopefully reduce the fighting resulting from clashes between personality types. For example, teach an easy-going sibling to be thoughtful of a sibling who

is easily upset by asking first before touching his toys or going into his room.

Differences in developmental stages between siblings often lead to disagreements between them. Toddlers are notoriously possessive of both their toys and their time with their parents, in addition to having not yet developed the concept of empathy. Teach older kids that younger siblings may not understand sharing and ask them to help set a good example by not taking something from a younger sibling without asking.

If you have toddlers and preschool-age children, you may need to be the referee at first. Put an argued over toy in ‘time out’ briefly to let them calm down, then explain that the toy will go back to time out if they continue to fight over it. One way to teach sharing is to set a timer, so that each toddler gets equal time with the toy and has to wait patiently for her turn to play with it.

When your older children fight, don’t always try to resolve the issue for them. Indicate that you wish for them to try to work things out between themselves in a peaceful manner. By doing so, you will be equipping them with problem-solving skills that will carry over into their adult lives. Also, you will be avoiding the perception that you are always jumping in to ‘rescue’ one sibling from another.

Elementary school aged kids focus heavily on being treated fairly in comparison with others, and inadvertently playing favorites only fuels more fighting between siblings of this age.

It is time to seek professional help if, despite your best efforts to stop the fighting between siblings, one child is physically harming another or you cannot reduce the amount of fighting going on.

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

4

Tammy Usie Publisher

sDigest.com

Sales@FamilyandKid

253-212-7270 Cell

Dear Parents of Terrebonne & Lafourche Parishes, Welcome to your handy, local, parenting resource guide. I hope you will find lots of helpful choices on products and services for you and your family, along with some informative articles, fun features, handy resources and things to do.

If you like our magazine, then you’ll enjoy our website too, www.FamilyAndKidsDigest.com. There you can read our digital magazine and use our ONLINE SHOPPING DIRECTORY. This virtual buying guide will provide you with a list of local, family-friendly businesses that we intend to grow into something more comprehensive in time. Plus with the ability for consumers to leave reviews on these businesses, it will help other parents make buying decisions. I invite you to go leave a few reviews to help us build this resource and share them with other parents like yourself.

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HOO KNOWS SPECIAL FEATURES Hoo’s crafty.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 15

Hoo’s Hungry.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 27

HOO’S Fit.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 19

Hoo knew?.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page 18

HOO’S Fun.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page 25

Hoo’s parenting.. . . . . . . . . . . . . page 3 & 9

HOO’S healthy.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 11

Hoo’s tips.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page 26

HOO KNOWS® Community Digest does not assume responsibility for products and services listed in this magazine. Ads may not be reproduced, in any way, without written consent. HOO KNOWS® is a trademark of Cinah Media Group LLC. For information on operating your own digest, contact us at 1-888-HOO-5609.

Where to Find HOO? Check your local kid-friendly doctors, dentists, attractions, retail shops and restaurants. Plus grocery stores, coffee shops, and many more places of business in Terrebonne and Lafourche Parishes.

Plus read our digital edition at:

www.familyandkidsdigest.com Find us on Facebook

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5

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

SHOPPING guide Activities Alstarz Cheerleading Academy.........10 Bayou Country Children’s Museum. 22 Bayouland YMCA....................................18 Bricks 4 Kidz........................................... 26 Brushworks Art & Music..................... 25 Creative U..................................................21 Extreme Cheernastics.............................7 Greenwood Gator Farm & Tours.........14 Guerrilla Jiu-Jitsu..................................18 James Academy of Gymnastics.........19 Live After 5............................................... 22 Martial Arts Studio...................................7 Mix It Up......................................................5 Schriever Lions Club Pageant.............. 9 TELL STAGE Performing Arts THEM School..........18 Tiger Rock.................................................13

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Childcare/ education Adventure Awaits.................................. 28 GDC Young Learners/ Merry Oaks.....14 Maria Immacolata Catholic................ 28 Messiah Montessori School............... 30 St. Bernadette Catholic........................ 29 St. Francis Catholic............................... 28 St. Genevieve Catholic...........................31 St. Gregory Catholic................................31 St. Joseph Catholic................................ 29 St. Matthew’s Episcopal....................... 28 Sylvan Learning of Houma................. 30

Food & Beverage Chick-fil-A on MLK.................................10 Pinocchio’s Pizza Playhouse...............15

Home/ Handy Champagne Organizing Solutions... 27

healthcare Beehive Behavioral Health................. 27 Ctr for Pediatric & Adolescent Med.....7 Ellender Orthodontics.......................... 26 Pelican Medical Supply......................... 9 Premier OB/GYN Specialists...............21 Total Urgent Care....................................13

party Bayouland Inflatables............................10 La Tea Da Party Palace............................8 Party Palooza............................................10

Shopping/ Retail Faith Varnes, Ruby Ribbon................... 9 Felger’s Foot Wear..................................21 Lil’ Sweet Pea’s Boutique........................2 Lynn’s Little Feet.......................................5 Melinda Gilmore Photography.............5 Southland Mall....................................... 32 The iClinic.................................................10

www.FamilyAndKidsDigest.com

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

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HOO’s PARENTING Your six year old comes home from school and proudly announces that a boy likes her and is her boyfriend. She finishes her announcement by inviting you to come to the playground tomorrow during recess for her wedding. This first crush may seem both adorable and worrisome at the same time. Here is some advice parenting experts provide to help you survive your child’s first case of ‘puppy love.’

First, it is important to lend a listening ear to your child. Don’t overreact and try to take her mind off her feelings for her newfound love by saying something like ‘you are too young to have a

y pupp

boyfriend.’ Parenting experts say that kids between 6 and 8 years old start to hit a developmental milestone where they become curious about how relationships work. Instead of dismissing your child’s feelings, ask her to share them with you. Ask her questions like ‘what do you like about him’ that help her explore her feelings and what she values in others.

Next, have a willingness to answer your child’s questions about relationships. Kids this age love to learn from and imitate their parents. As a result, you may find yourself answering questions about relationships like ‘how did mommy and daddy

9

love

meet?’ Take the time to answer such questions, and use them as an opportunity to add in some age appropriate information on how relationships work and how you should treat others.

By not dismissing your child’s feelings or embarrassing her by making a big deal of her first crush, you are keeping the door of communication about relationships open. This will prove invaluable in the preteen years when your child becomes more serious about relationships and dating.

You could reach over 15,000 moms in this space for only $65.

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

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www.FamilyAndKidsDigest.com

HOO’s HEALTHY

heart disease prevention Heart disease is often called a ‘silent killer’ because you can’t see or feel the beginnings. However, by having an awareness of the risk factors and then taking steps to reduce the risk, your family can make an effort to avoid this hidden threat.

What is heart disease?

Who is at risk?

Heart disease is a term used to describe a group of heart conditions that include cardiovascular disease, arrhythmias, heart valve conditions, and conditions affecting the heart muscle. A few types are due to congenital heart defects present at birth, but many of them, especially cardiovascular disease, can be prevented by making good lifestyle choices. Cardiovascular disease is a heart condition in which plaque formed from cholesterol builds up in the blood vessels (a process called atherosclerosis), and in many cases is the cause of other heart conditions. This process narrows the blood vessels increasing the likelihood of a blood clot forming.

If a blood clot forms and then blocks an artery that feeds blood to a part of the heart, a heart attack can occur. A blood clot can also block an artery that feeds blood to the brain, causing a stroke.

Atherosclerosis, the root cause of many types of heart disease, is a lifelong process, so steps should be taken early in life to prevent it. Knowing if members of your family are at increased risk can help you develop an appropriate heart disease prevention plan.

• Medical studies show that genetics may increase your risk of heart disease. Research your family history to see if anyone has developed heart disease and at what age.

• Medical conditions such as obesity and diabetes can cause high levels of LDL (‘bad’) blood cholesterol and lead to atherosclerosis. High blood pressure also increases the risk by damaging the artery walls, making them more prone to collecting deposits of cholesterol. High blood pressure is often a result of other conditions, like diabetes or obesity, but it can also occur in someone who is otherwise healthy.

What can be done to prevent heart disease?

Share your research on your family medical history with the doctor as soon as possible. It will help him form a heart disease prevention plan appropriate for your level of risk.

Know your blood pressure, blood cholesterol, and blood sugar ‘numbers.’ These help indicate the risk of developing one of the conditions that put you at risk for heart disease. The American Association of Pediatrics recommends that kids 9 - 11 years old be tested for the LDL (‘bad’) cholesterol and receive periodic blood sugar screening. Kids age 3 and up should receive annual blood pressure screenings. If any of these numbers are outside of normal, adhere to the plan your doctor provides for bringing them back to normal.

Exercise moderately, with your doctor’s approval, five times a week for 30 minutes. Exercise helps keep your weight under control and encourages the production of the ‘good cholesterol’. Also, your heart is a muscle, so it needs a worout to keep it fit.

Eat right. Eat a heart healthy diet that is low in saturated fats and trans fats.

With the assistance of your doctor, manage your weight by watching how many calories you take in. Remember, you don’t have to be thin. The amount of excess body fat you have, especially around your waist, is more important than your BMI.

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HOO’S at the Movies Wise Choices for You & Your Family

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riSen PG-13 | Ok for kids 14+ Directed by Kevin Reynolds, “Risen” is the epic Biblical story of the Resurrection, as told through the eyes of a non-believer. Clavius (Joseph Fiennes), a powerful Roman Military Tribune, and his aide Lucius (Tom Felton) are tasked with solving the mystery of what happened to Jesus in the weeks following the crucifixion, in order to disprove the rumors of a risen Messiah and prevent an uprising in Jerusalem. Also stars Cliff Curtis and Peter Firth.

gods of egypt PG-13 | Ok for kids 13+ In this action-adventure directed by Alex Proyas and inspired by the classic mythology of Egypt, the survival of mankind hangs in the balance as an unexpected mortal hero Bek (Brenton Thwaites) embarks on a journey to save the world and rescue his true love. He must enlist the help of the powerful god Horus (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) in an unlikely alliance against Set (Gerard Butler), the merciless god of darkness who has usurped Egypt’s throne, plunging the once peaceful and prosperous empire into chaos and conflict.

pride and prejudice and zombies PG-13 | Ok for kids 14+ A zombie outbreak has gripped the land in Jane Austen’s classic tale of the tangled relationships between lovers from different social classes in 19th century England. Feisty heroine Elizabeth Bennet (Lily James) is a master of martial arts and weaponry, and the handsome Mr. Darcy (Sam Reilly) is a fierce zombie killer and the epitome of upper class. As the outbreak intensifies, our heroes must join forces on the blood-soaked battlefield. Directed by Burr Steers, this movie also stars Lena Headey, Jack Huston, Bella Heathcote, and Matt Smith.

NEW ON DVD | BLU-RAY: iron giant: signature edition PG | Ok for kids 6+ It’s October, 1957, and 9-year-old Hogarth Hughes (Eli Marienthal) who is always on the lookout for mutant aliens, finds a huge, metal-eating robot (Vin Diesel) with an insatiable curiosity and equally insatiable appetite. But the extraterrestrial’s presence unleashes a wave of paranoia that threatens to engulf the quiet town of Rockwell, unless Hogarth and his 50-foot friend can stop it.

Acclaimed animation director and writer Brad Bird brings his creative talents to this unique tale of two heroes. Also stars Jennifer Aniston, Harry Connick, Jr. and Cloris Leachman.

snow white and the seven dwarf s G | Ok for kids 7+ Now in High Definition Blu-ray and on Digital HD, this classic Disney film includes Special Features: “Iconography” (explore how this film influences pop culture, art and fashion); “@DisneyAnimation: Designing Disney’s First Princess”; “The Fairest Facts Of Them All” (Disney Channel star Sofia Carson reveals seven intriguing facts about “Snow White”); Alternate Sequence (never-beforeseen storyboard sequence where The Prince meets Snow White); and more.

www.FamilyAndKidsDigest.com

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

Register to Win with

m o r f s n o s s e L t Ar 615 S Hollywood Rd, Houma

Win 2 Free Months of Art Lessons plus a Brushworks T-Shirt - $140 Value

Ages 4-17. Lessons in April & May.

Visit FamilyandKidsDigest.com. Enter email on website’s CONTEST page. Drawing March 1st.

www.FamilyAndKidsDigest.com

15

HOO’s CRAFTY valentine, i chews you

Gumball machines

You can whip up these cute Valentines in about a minute. These would make an awesome Valentine’s gift for friends, or teachers, or just as Valentine decor.

Directions Start by rinsing your Coca-Cola bottles out and letting them dry thoroughly. Then, fill the bottle with gumballs or another candy of your choice. The brighter the colors the better. Now, take your candy bottles and glue them to the Solo cup. If you are going to use hot glue, I would recommend using low-temp so you don’t melt the cup. Let the glue dry. And last, but not least, make some cute little gift tags or a sign to go with your new gumball machine. We chose the saying “Valentine, I chews you!”, but feel free to get creative!

supplies round Coca-Cola bottles gumballs/ candy red Solo cups glue gift tags

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February

1-26

Terrebonne Parish Recreation Baseball & Softball registration begins. Boys 7-14 and Girls 7-18. Call 985-873-6584.

6

Krewe of Mardi Gras. East side Houma route. 6:30pm.

7

12 Pinecone Bird Feeder Craft at Thibodaux Library. 1pm. RSVP 985447-4119.

1-29

Krewe of Terreanians Parade.

West side Houma route. 12:30pm and Krewe of Montegut, Montegut Parade Route, 2pm.

2 Craft night at Chick-fil-A on MLK,

13

Houma. 5-8pm.

8 Cardboard Box Mardi Gras Parade at the Bayou Country Children’s Museum. bccm.info.

3

8-12

13 Parent’s Night Out at Martial 14

3 Pokemon League at Thibodaux

8-12 Mardi Gras Camp at Creative U. 9am-1pm or 1-5pm. RSVP creativeuart.com.

Youth Soccer registration at Bayouland YMCA. Ages 2-12. 985873-9622.

Krewe of Bookworms Parade.

Kids 6 and under. Warren J Harang Jr. Auditorium. Line up 9:15, parade 10. See children’s desk at a Lafourche library.

Library. Ages 10 and up. 4pm.

3

Pokemon Gym at Terrebonne Main Library. 4pm. Open play to build decks, trade and battle.

4

Crafternoons at Terrebonne Main Library. 4pm. PreK-6th grade.

“Jester Hats”. RSVP 876-5861.

5 Harry Potter Night at Thibodaux Library. Ages 10-15. 6-10pm.

Games, crafts, food, costumes. RSVP 985-447-4119.

Louisiana Camp at the Bayou Country Children’s Museum. bccm.info.

13 Adult cooking demo & dine at

Mix It Up. Mixituphouma.com. 985868-3534.

Second Saturday Storytime for Families at Terrebonne Main Library. 3pm.

Arts Studio. Ages 5-12. 6-9:30pm.

985-772-1861.

Valentine’s Day Craft at the Bayou Country Children’s Museum. bccm.info.

8 Krewe of Cleopatra Parade. West 18 Tween Craftganza at the Terside Houma route. 6:30pm.

9 Krewe of Houmas Parade. West side Houma route. 11am with Krewe of Kajuns to follow; Krewe of Bonne Terre Parade, Montegut Route, 4pm.

10 Kids Valentine’s Craft at Thibodaux Library. 2pm. RSVP 985447-4119.

10-12 Cooking Camp at Mix It

rebonne Main Library. 4-6 grade.

RSVP 985-876-5861.

19 Kids Cooking Class at Mix It Up. Mixituphouma.com. 985-868-3534.

20

Carol Bruno’s Cheer Tryout Clinic. 9a-noon. $30. Learn cheers, dance, motions, jumps, etc.. RSVP 985-873-0339.

20 Family craft at Thibodaux Li-

brary to create a tie-dye sun catcher. 1pm. RSVP 985-447-4119.

5

Up. Mixituphouma.com.

6 Lego Robotics at the Terrebonne

11 Lego Chain Reaction at Thibodaux Library. Ages 8 and up.

2pm. RSVP 985-447-4119.

20 Lego Club at Terrebonne Main

11 Valentine’s Day Party at Terrebonne Main Library. 4pm. Storytime, craft and snacks.

22 Create a STEM circuit board at

Krewe of Aphrodite Parade.

Westside Houma route. 6:30pm.

Main Library. 11am. 2nd-3rd Grades and 3pm for 4th-7th grade. RSVP 985-876-5861.

Library. 11am for PreK-1st graders and 3pm for 2nd-6th graders.

Thibodaux Library. 4pm. RSVP 985447-4119.

y Events

17 17

pr o vi d e d in partne r ship with:

24 Anime Club at Thibodaux Li-

brary. Ages 12 and up. 4pm.

26 Mommy & Me Zumba at Thibodaux Library. 11am.

27 Frozen Cooking Class featuring Ice Princess at Mix It Up. Mixituphouma.com. 985-868-3534.

27 Lego Robotics at Thibodaux Library. Ages 8-18. 10am. RSVP 985-447-4119.

Weekly Events Monday

Family Toddler Time at the Terrebonne Parish Main Branch Library.

10am and 6pm for 19 months-3yrs.

Tuesday

Storytime at the Terrebonne Parish Main Library. 10am for newborns-18 months, and at 6pm for 4-8 year olds and their families.

Toddler Storytime at Bayou Country Children’s Museum. 1:30pm. bccm.info.

Board Game night at the Thibodaux Library. 5pm. All ages. Prizes awarded. Snacks provided.

Yoga at Alstarz for kids at 4:30pm and 5:30pm for adults. 13347 W Main St, Larose. 985-693-7109.

Wednesday

Eat, play, grow at Bayou Country Children’s Museum. 1:30pm. Learn to eat healthy with tasting for the

kids and activities. www.bccm.info PreK Story Time at Terrebonne Main Library. 10am for 3-5 year olds.

Storytime at the Lafourche Parish Main Library. 10:30am. All ages welcome. Ends with a craft.

Baby OHM/ Prenatal Yoga at Anela’s.

4pm. 7720 Main St, Houma. www. anelaslounge.com.

Thursday

Toddler Time at Bayou Country Children’s Museum. 1:30pm. Reading and craft. www.bccm.info.

Laptime at the Lafourche Parish Main Library. 10:30am. Ages 2 and under. Interactive storytime.

Crafternoons at the Terrebonne Main Library. 4pm. PreK-6th. RSVP 985-876-5861.

Free Kids’ Yoga at Anelas. 6:30pm.

7720 Main St, Houma. www.anelaslounge.com Prenatal Yoga at Anela’s. 6pm. 7720 Main St, Houma. www.anelaslounge.com.

Friday

Wiggle, Move & Giggle at Bayou Country Children’s Museum.

1:30pm. Move your feet and enjoy the beat. www.bccm.info.

Toddler Fun Day at LA Sports Gym. 9am-12pm. $7 for interactive play with parent. 544 Hollywood Rd, Houma. 985-580-9746.

Friday Fun Night at LA Sports Gym. 6:30-9pm. $10. Snacks Additional.

544 Hollywood Rd, Houma. 985580-9746.

JAG Open Gym. 7-9pm. $7 for members, $10 for non members. Ages 5 and up. Adult must accompany.

308 Venture Blvd, Houma. 985-8513001.

Saturday

Kids’ Club at Michael’s on MLK, Houma. 10am-12pm. $2 for craft. Adult must accompany. 985-872-3132.

Build and Grow Clinic at Lowe’s on MLK, Houma. 10am. Free. Register online at lowes.com/buildandgrow.

985-223-7575.

Kids’ Workshop at Home Depot on MLK, Houma. 9am-12pm. Ages 5-12 with parent. Free. Register at www.homedepot.com/workshops/ kids-workshops. 985-223-1485.

JAG Open Gym. 7-9pm. $7 for members, $10 for non-members. Ages 5 and up. Adult must accompany. 308 Venture, Houma. 985-851-3001.

Please call ahead to confirm event dates, times and age appropriateness, in case changes were made after the info was obtained.

Wise Choices for You & Your Family

18

ACTING AND PERFORMANCE, GLEE VOCAL, ROCKSTAR, ART DESIGN, DEAF DRAMA, LIVING DRAMA AND MORE

Summer Camp Details at WWW.STAGEPERFORMINGARTS.COM ~ 985-870-4672

StagePerformingArts.com

HOO knew?

Foodie Facts During your lifetime, you will eat sixty thousand pounds of food - the weight of six elephants.

l l l l

l l l l l l The amount of potato chips Americans eat each year weighs six times more than the Titanic.

l l

Two million different combinations of sandwiches can be created at Subway.

Americans eat eighteen acres of pizza every day on average. Saturday night is the biggest night of the week for eating pizza.

l l l l l l l l

l l l

The estimated number of M&Ms sold each day in the US is two hundred million.

l l l l l l l l l l l

The biggest selling restaurant food is french fries.

The average American chews 190 sticks of gum, drinks 600 sodas and 800 gallons of water, and eats 135 pounds of sugar and 19 pounds of cereal per year.

l l l l l

www.FamilyAndKidsDigest.com

HOO’s FIT Filling your family’s meal plan with heart healthy foods is an important part of heart disease prevention. When choosing foods to include in your weekly menu, limit the amount of saturated fats from meat and dairy foods, and select plenty of items from the following choices.

19

Heart Healthy Diet

Whole Grains: Whole grains are have an amazing 15 grams of fiber per and nutrients which help keep your made up of three parts - the bran, germ, and the starchy endosperm. Each of these three parts contains dietary fiber, which helps lower levels of ‘bad’ blood cholesterol, and nutrients beneficial to heart health.

serving and are packed full of protein.

Berries:

According to research studies, berries contain anthocyanin, a specific antioxidant, which may help dilate the arteries and fight the plaque accumulation that leads to Vegetables: Vegetables are packed cardiovascular disease. The studies full of important vitamins and involved strawberries and blueberries, nutrients, such as folate, that have but pomegranates and elderberries are anti-inflammatory properties. In also a source of anthocyanin. addition, vegetables are low in calories Fruits: Many fruits, like bananas, and high in fiber, which helps keep your contain potassium, which can help weight and blood cholesterol levels in lower blood pressure. Fruits also check. This includes legumes, which contain a variety of antioxidants

heart healthy. Fruits and vegetables of different colors have different antioxidants, so try to fill your plate with a rainbow of colors.

Nuts: Walnuts, almonds, peanuts, and other nuts are a good source of polyunsaturated fats, making them a good replacement for less heart healthy sources of protein. Research studies show that consuming some types of nuts may also reduce the risk of heart disease. One exciting research finding is that walnuts seem to help keep arteries clear of plaque buildup.

A Page In A Book

20

Recommending the Best Books

Wise Choices for You & Your Family

for Children and Teens By Gerry P. Smith

Alternative Alphabets

The ‘A is for apple, B is for ball’ formats are always popular and usually feature recognizable objects from kids’ environments to introduce the alphabet sounds. But the building blocks of our language offer much broader opportunities for artistic treatments that go beyond the customary ‘ABC’ fare. The following titles explore and celebrate the alphabet through captivating alternative avenues!

Alpha

By Isabelle Arsenault (Isabelle Arsenault)

Based on the NATO phonetic alphabet, this title features the words that military branches, first responders and relief organizations use to clarify letters as they are spoken.

For example, letters for the word ‘five’ would be called ‘Foxtrot - India – Victor – Echo’ for clarification. Each letter in this book is part of a two-page spread that features images and pictures to inspire thoughtful exploration and conversation between readers. Part ABC primer, part art book, ALPHA is a Tango – Oscar – Papa choice for the alphabet book shelf.

The Numberlys

By William Joyce & Christina Ellis (Atheneum / Simon & Schuster)

In a place without words, there can be no books, or colors, or even pizza. So five friends in this digital city join forces to create something ...more. They begin to manipulate the numbers around them to build new shapes that will enrich their bland and orderly world. With Art Deco sensibilities, the rich sepia-tone edge-to-edge illustrations demand study as color is slowly introduced and the evolution of the alphabet breathes life into the world formerly dictated by numbers.

With endless secrets to discover in the art, The Numberlys can be counted on for repeat reading.

8 An Animal Alphabet

By Elisha Cooper (Orchard / Scholastic Press)

This title from Elisha Cooper offers a refreshing challenge to readers. Introducing an unparalleled menagerie of creatures, each page dedicated to a letter of the alphabet features a menagerie of creatures whose name begins with the letter. In addition to learning about more uncommon animals, readers are also encouraged to explore counting on each page to find the ‘eight’ among the many.

With a fine glossary at the end of the book, this animal alphabet is a choice title to both reinforce alphabet sounds and to introduce cool trivia about more obscure creatures around the world.

www.FamilyAndKidsDigest.com

We Deliver with Care.

Experienced Care You Can Trust Erin H. Pennison MD Channing K. Sanders MD Casey Pech FNP-C

www.spobgyn.com

985.223.8994 l 8120 Main St., Suite 202, Houma 985.446.8994 l 2100 Audubon Ave, Thibodaux

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

Bayou country Children’s museum

B R 2/8 Cardboard Box Mardi Gras Parade 2/8-2/12 Louisiana Camp 2/14 Valentine’s Day Craft Day See website for details 211 Rue Betancourt Thibodaux (985)446-2200 www.bccm.info

www.FamilyAndKidsDigest.com

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Dining Deals

Wise Choices for You & Your Family

With deals this good, save the mess and dine out!

MONDAY Cajun Critters. 1029 W Tunnel Blvd, Houma. Kids eat free from kids’ menu. Balloon art and face painting.

El Paso Mexican Grill. 602 N Canal Blvd, Thibodaux.

Kids10 and under. Free kid’s meal with adult entree.

Face painting.

IHOP. 1719 MLK Blvd, Houma. 4-9pm. Free kid’s meal with adult entree.

La Casa Del Sol. 141 Westover Rd. Thibodaux.

5-8pm. Kids’ meals $2.99 for12 and under. Face painting.

La Palma Mexican Restaurant. 710 Saint Mary St, Thibodaux. Kids 8 and under. Free kid’s meal with adult entrée.

Santa Fe Cattle Company. 632 Canal Blvd, Thibodaux. Kids 12 and under. Free kid’s meal with adult entrée.

Golden Corral.1724 MLK Blvd, Houma. Free balloon art and face painting

wednesday Big Mike’s BBQ. 3034 Barrow St, Houma. From 4pm to close. Kids’ meals $.99.

El Paso Mexican Grill. 4560 Louisiana 1, Raceland.

6-8pm. Free balloon art and face painting.

thursday Dynasty Buffet. 6425 West Park Ave, Houma. Kids 3-6 eat free. Free balloon art and face painting.

Moe’s Southwest Grill. 1826 MLK Blvd, Houma.

From 4pm to close, free kid’s meal with adult entree over $5. Dine In only.

sunday

Tuesday

Crabby Crab. 5726 LA 1, Lockport. Free ice cream for kids, live mermaid, balloon art and facepainting. from 6-8pm.

AppleBees.1039 W Tunnel Blvd, Houma. Kids eat free from kids’ menu from 3-9pm (1 kid per adult).

everyday

Chick-fil-A. 1741 MLK Blvd, Houma. Free 4 count kid’s meal with any meal purchase from 5-8pm. First Tuesday of each month is Kid’s Craft Night.

Foundry on The Bayou. 15 West 1st St, Thibodaux.

For brunch (10:30am-2pm), free ice cream for kids and free face painting.

La Casa Del Sol. 4647 Louisiana 1, Raceland. Every other Tuesday night, kids 11 and under eat for $2.99.

Face painting.

Dave’s Cajun Kitchen. 6240 West Main, Houma. Kids 10 & under get kid’s meal for $.99 with a purchase of a drink. Dinner only.

Pepper’s Pizzeria. 600 W 3rd St, Thibodaux. Kids 12 and under get $1.99 pizza and free ice cream.

Specials are subject to change without notice. Please verify them directly before dining. “Family & Kids” and the restaurants listed accept no liability, so please call them first to verify. If you know of a kid’s special not listed here, contact Sales@FamilyAndKidsDigest.com.

Santa Fe Cattle Company. 632 Canal Blvd, Thibodaux. Kids 12 and under. Free kid’s meal with adult entrée.

www.FamilyAndKidsDigest.com

Jokin’ Around When is a cow happy, then sad, then angry?

When it’s moo-dy!

What did the ocean say to the fishing boat?

Nothing, it just waved!

Why did the inventor get struck by lightning?

He was brain-storming!

Why did the radio explode?

It was radio-active!

HOO’s FUN

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

Let your smile make the best first impression.

Braces & Invisalign for children teens adults Dr. Albert Ellender

Free consultation Accepting new patients All major insurances accepted Interest-free payment plans

102 Ramey Road Houma, LA

985.851.1234

www.ellenderortho.com

HOO’s tips Comfort items:

Stay or Go? Some toddlers are firmly attached to comfort items, also called transitional objects, like a binky, blankie, or stuffed animal, and take them along everywhere they go. The attachment to a comfort item usually begins when young toddlers recognize that sometimes mom leaves the room and is away for awhile.

To deal with the anxiety and stress of situations like mom putting them to bed and leaving, many babies and toddlers who are comforted by sucking use a favorite binky. Other toddlers may get attached to a favorite blankie or stuffed animal and use it for comfort when stressed or at bedtime.

The attachment to a transitional object is actually a step towards independence. Not only has he decided for himself what to be attached to, he is also building coping skills and learning to comfort himself. For many toddlers, the attachment can be so strong that no one can get the blankie away to wash it and it is a disaster when the favorite binky breaks.

Though it may be annoying to keep up with that favorite blankie, there is no reason to take away the favorite blankie or stuffed animal from your toddler, as long as it is being used for comfort just at bed time or on long trips. You may need to help him understand why he can’t take it with him to preschool, so try reading some children’s books on this topic to him.

If he resists, don’t worry too much. When he sees his classmates don’t have their blankies, he will probably be willing to leave his at home too.

Pacifiers are a different story since there are medical reasons why pacifier use should not be extended past 18 months. One of the biggest reasons is that pacifier use may interfere with the proper development of speech and the other is the negative impact on teeth alignment. Some parents have their toddler leave the binky for the ‘binky fairy’, while others just wait until the binky breaks or gets lost and they don’t replace it.

www.FamilyAndKidsDigest.com

HOO’s HUNGRY

butternut squash Mac & cheese

A fresh take on a kid’s favorite, and another way to “sneak” some veggies in for your picky eaters. And if you are in a hurry, or not up to roasting, they do sell frozen or fresh cubed butternut squash that cooks up in minutes.

DIRECTIONS

Cut squash in half lengthwise, remove seeds. Place skin side down on a lined baking sheet. Bake at 400 degrees for 40 minutes or until a fork can pierce the skin easily.

Bring a pot of water to a boil, and cook pasta according to package directions. While it boils, heat a skillet, and oil and onions and cook for 3-5 minutes. Then add garlic and cook for another 2 minutes or so.

Once cooked, scrape squash from its skin, and put in a blender. Add everything but the pasta and blend until smooth. Then pour it into a skillet with the pasta and heat and stir until the mixture is thoroughly combined.

Top with salt, pepper, more parmesan, and enjoy!

Ingredients • 1 medium butternut squash • 12 oz pasta of your choice • 1 cup chicken or vegetable broth • 1 tablespoon olive oil • 2 garlic cloves, minced • 1/2 teaspoon curry/ fresh thyme • 1/2 medium yellow onion, diced • 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese • salt and pepper to taste

Mental, Behavioral, Relational Health Services

Nicole Bourgeois, PHD, LMFT l beehivebehavioral@att.net

801 Barrow St #313, Houma l 985-293-7401

Birthday Parties • Kidz Night Out Enrichment Classes • Summer Camps Holiday Camps • Field Trips

For a full description of each event and to register online, please visit our website at

bricks4kidz.com/houma

488 Corporate Dr, Ste 8 • Houma, LA 70360

(985) 872-2772

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family EDUCATION DIRECTORY

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To feature your school or child care option, call

253-212-7270

ST. FRANCIS DE SALES SCHOOL NEW STUDENT REGISTRA REGISTRATION TION

—12:00 P.M. 9:00 A.M. A.M.— FEBRUARY 29, 2016 PARISHIONERS REGISTERED IN ST. FRANCIS PARISH ONLY

MARCH 1, 2016

FAMILIES REGISTERED IN OTHER CATHOLIC CHURCH PARISHES

MARCH 2, 2016 NON-CATHOLIC FAMILIES

www.stfrancishouma.org 985-868-6646

New preschool program for 3 year olds opening 2016-2017 school year

St. Matthew’s Episcopal School does not discriminate in regard to race, creed, color, sex or national origin.

www.FamilyAndKidsDigest.com EDUCATION DIRECTORY

• Committed to Academic Rigor & Technology Integration • State of the Art Library, Computer Lab & Promethean Classrooms • Full-Day Pre-K for Four-Year-Olds • Variety of Clubs, Activities & Sports Teams • Attention to Special Academic Needs

501 Cardinal Dr, Thibodaux

•

985-446-1346

stjosephcesthibodaux.org No discrimination is made on the basis of race, sex, religion, national, or ethnic origin and is open to students who share our values and traditions.

Thrive

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family EDUCATION DIRECTORY

“Excellence in Education”

OPEN HOUSE and SCHOOL TOUR 9:00am and 1:00pm

1224 Museum Drive Houma 985.857.8808 www.mms-edu.com

If you are unable to attend or would like to schedule a private tour, please contact the school at 985.857.8808.

Messiah Montessori School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, or national origin.

www.FamilyAndKidsDigest.com EDUCATION DIRECTORY

ST.GREGORY BARBARIGO CATHOLIC SCHOOL Building God's Kingdom, One Child at a Time!

St. Gregory Barbarigo Catholic School strives to ensure the spiritual formation and academic success of all its students in a Christ centered environment.

REGISTER

NOW! St. Gregory Barbarigo Catholic School does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex or national origin.

441 SIXTH STREET HOUMA, LA 70364 I 985.876.2038

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