Family & Kids Bayou Region July 2017

JULY 2017

Wise Choices for Moms & Families

© JoAnn LeBoeuf Photography

BAYOU REGION

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

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HOO’s FIT

Love

ofExerciseStarts Before Birth Experts have noticed that moms who run have kids who run, but not for the reasons previously thought. Our kids see us exercising and are curious what all the excitement is about. They pick up on everything else: our eating habits, our hygiene patterns, and our work-ethic. Why wouldn’t they also imitate our exercise routines? But according to a recent study conducted at Baylor College of Medicine, our kids can acquire a propensity to exercise from us before they are born.

That may seem like a simple case for genetics… the idea that we’re born with genes that predispose us to love exercise. Indeed, according to a recent University of Georgia study, the inclination to enjoy exercise has been linked to variations in the number of genes that release dopamine. Dopamine is associated with the mental reward you get from exercising… feelings of motivation, pleasure, and well-being.

But Baylor’s study challenges both the observed behavior and the genetics theory. Here’s how.

Remember the pet gerbil you had as a kid? You probably had a wheel in the cage for it to run on. You might have noticed that your pet rodent never touched his wheel, while your friend’s pet seemed to spend all her time on it.

Researchers at Baylor identified a group of female mice who loved their running wheels. These mice voluntarily ran an average of 6.2 miles per night.

When the females got pregnant, they continued their love of exercise… voluntarily running into their third trimester as much as 1.9 miles per night. Meanwhile, the genetically identical control group, also pregnant, were not allowed access to their running wheels.

Researchers found that mice born to mothers who ran on the wheel during pregnancy were 50 percent more physically active than mice whose mothers did not get to run. Additionally, their increased physical activity continued into adulthood. Even if they gained excess weight, they were more likely to voluntarily run on wheels until they lost the extra fat.

The study supports the idea that a mother’s movement during pregnancy affects fetal brain development. It’s another example of how a child’s prenatal environment affects his post-delivery quality of life.

Given that physical inactivity and obesity are national health concerns, getting our kids excited about exercise is an important investment in their future health.

Nearly a third of Americans spend none of their leisure time exercising, and only 20 percent of us get the recommended amount of exercise each week, reports the CDC. However, it seems to get a jump start on a child’s future interest in exercise is to stay active while pregnant. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that pregnant women get 30 minutes or more of moderate exercise daily.

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

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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.

AD DEADLINES

1st of the Month for the Next Month’s Issue

Tammy Usie

HOO KNOWS SPECIAL FEATURES Hoo’s crafty.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 24

Hoo’s Hungry.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page 11 & 12

HOO’S fit.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page 3

HOO’S parenting.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page 25

HOO’S healthy.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 13 & 31

HOO’S Picks.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page 5

Hoo Knew.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 7 & 28

HOO’S Tips.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 8 & 23

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

Family & Kids Bayou Region

www.FamilyAndKidsDigest.com

HOO’s PICKS

APPS to LOVE gonoodle kids GoNoodle Kids is a large collection of videos that encourage kids to get up and get moving. Videos are a mixture of unique content and curated third-party videos, but they’re all about demonstrating some way to move.

the robot factory Create robots. Test robots. Collect robots. Build with exoskeletons, zephyr mechanisms, hydrostatic tentacles, machinos locomotors, G-Force mixers, and more! Make any robot you can imagine!

Robot cats. Robot samurais. Robot spies.

stack the states Stack the States® makes learning about the 50 states fun! Watch the states come to life as you learn state capitals, shapes, geographic locations, flags and more.

Touch, move, and drop the animated states anywhere on the screen. Build a stack of states that reaches the line to win each level.

yousician Step-by-step video tutorials guide your family through learning an instrument. Fun and addictive gameplay tracks your progress and keeps you motivated to practice and learn. You’ll be amazed how fast your skills advance. So go grab your guitar, bass or ukulele, or keyboard, and start playing now!

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SHOPPING GUIDE healthcare

Activities Alstarz Cheerleading Academy.........21 Bayou Country Children’s Museum..21 Blacklist Martial Arts & Fitness.........18 Bricks 4 Kidz........................................... 22 Brushworks Art & Music Academy...18 Fitness Frenzy........................................ 25 Greenwood Gator Farm & Tours........ 28 Gymnastics Development Center..... 22 Houma’s #1 After School Program.....19 Imagination Face Painting..................15 James Academy of Gymnastics........ 20 Mix It Up Cooking Classes.................. 22 Paddy Danos School of Dance........... 20 Summer Fun Kids Day..........................13 TELL THEM Voice & Piano Lessons........................... 9

Childcare/ education SENT YOU!

Bayou Behavioral Services....................2 Center for Pediatric Therapy.............. 25 Coastal Urgent Care.............................. 30 Dr. Jake E Bordelon, Chiropractor.... 28 Ellender Orthodontics...........................12 Thieler Orthodontics.............................. 9 Total Urgent Care.................................... 11

Shopping/ Retail Allstate - Brian Mustin........................... 9 Bayou Inflatables................................... 28 Clearwater Pools & Spas...................... 29 Downtown Houma................................. 27 Felger’s Foot Wear....................................5 Fit Kitchen................................................. 9 Lil’ Sweet Pea’s Boutique........................2 Randi, Beauty Artist.................................7 Southland Mall....................................... 32

The Learning Ladder............................. 25

TELL THEM

PARENTS’ ONLINE SHOPPING GUIDE

www.FamilyAndKidsDigest.com

SENT YOU!

www.FamilyAndKidsDigest.com

HOO knew?

Super Random Facts l l l

A male ostrich can actually roar like a lion!

In Peru, it is considered very good luck to wear yellow underwear. l l l l l l l l l Sharks have eight different senses, but humans only have five. l l

l l l l

You can find a coral reef shaped like a heart in the waters off Australia.

All of the major lakes in Georgia are actually man made and not natural lakes.

But Georgia does contain the largest swamp in North America—the Okefenokee.

l l l l l

l l l The world's biggest flower, the Rafflesia arnoldii, is grown in the rainforest in Indonesia, and can grow bigger around than a car tire and can weigh up to 15 pounds! l l

If you run in the rain, you will get twice as wet as you would standing still.

l l l l l l l l l l

Applesauce was the first food eaten in space by an astronaut.

The world’s smallest frog is about the size of a single Cheerios cereal.

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

HOO’s tips

MEDICINE MEASURED BY “TEASPOONFUL” It’s probably okay to assume that Mary Poppins was referring to a kitchen spoon when she recommended administering a “spoonful of sugar” to help the medicine go down. If so, the question remains… which kitchen spoon was she referring to? Was it a “tea” spoon or a “soup” spoon; certainly not a large “mixing” spoon!

It might seem like a silly question to ask, but not in light of a recent study on how parents give their children medicine, published in the Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics. When labels listed dosages in teaspoons, 1 in 6 parents in the study used a kitchen spoon to administer the medicine to their children.

The problem is that common tableware teaspoons are inaccurate measuring devices. They range in size from as small as 2.5 milliliters (ml) to as large as 9.5ml. An actual teaspoon used to measure cooking ingredients is 5ml. That’s the amount marked as a “teaspoon” on syringes, droppers, and plastic cup medicine dispensers.

Parents in the study who measured doses in “spoonfuls” were 50% more likely to give incorrect doses than those who measured it in milliliters.

That’s just too much margin for error, and the results can be dangerous. Underdosing may not completely treat the child’s illness and can lead to an outbreak of resistant strains of the disease.

Overdosing may cause negative side effects that can be life-threatening.

…MISLEADING

The recommended tools for giving medicine are syringes or droppers that measure in milliliters.

Not only are they ideal for giving the right amount of medicine, they’re also easier to use with infants and the elderly. Less spill and slosh means the patient is more likely to ingest the entire amount.

There are several other ways children can receive accidental overdoses. Dad might give a dose without realizing Mom has already given it to their child. A parent may give two different remedies for separate symptoms without realizing that they contain the same active ingredients. Children may eat or drink medicines left out on the counter, in an unlocked cabinet, or near their bed after already receiving a bedtime dose. The website for Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports over 70,000 emergency department visits resulting from unintentional medication overdoses among children under the age of 18. It also reported, one out of every 151 two-year-olds is treated in an ED for an unintentional medication overdose.

Considering that children get six to 10 colds per year, parents can’t afford to misplace medicines, misread dosage markings on syringes or cups, use the wrong size measurers, or misread the directions on the labels. Especially with younger kids, there’s not that much room for error.

www.FamilyAndKidsDigest.com

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A Page In A Book

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

Recommending the Best Books for Children and Teens By Gerry P. Smith

The Trouble with Toys From early childhood, toys are a central fixture in most kids’ lives. Beloved playthings are welcomed upon waking, enjoy attention throughout the day, and offer comfort to children as they fall asleep. But like any constant companion, toys can also have their moments when they become vexing.

Toys get lost, sometimes they break, they collect underfoot (see: Lego TM) making us unhappy for a little while. The following titles touch on both the moments when toy frustration peaks as well as solutions that bring our beloved companions back into the fold.

Stuck

By Oliver Jeffers (Philomel / Penguin)

Floyd’s plan to fly his kite barely gets off the ground when his kite gets stuck in a tree. Throwing his favorite shoe at the stranded kite doesn’t knock it down, but instead the shoe gets stuck with the kite in the branches. Maddened with frustration, Floyd begins launching anything he can find up into the tree to get his kite unstuck. An increasingly ridiculous progression of things are hurled into the tree to knock the previous (now stuck) items from the high branches. But when Floyd approaches the tree with one final thing – it may be just the ticket to getting his kite released. Readers will appreciate Jeffers’ sublimely absurd illustration of a boy’s escalating mission to retrieve his special kite.

Finding Monkey Moon

By Elizabeth Pulford, Illustrated by Kate Wilkinson (Candlewick)

It’s Michael’s bedtime but his constant companion Monkey Moon is missing. As he and his dad search, Michael’s worries begin to amplify.

Father and son retrace their steps on their mission to find Monkey Moon, but still no glimpse of Micheal’s missing friend. When the discouraged pair turn toward home, a bit of light glints upon something hidden in the bushes, something that could be a sight for sore eyes. A testament to teamwork and tenacity when an important friend goes missing, Finding Monkey Moon is a hopeful and uplifting journey from lost to found..

Too Many Toys

By Heidi Deedman (Candlewick)

Lulu was gifted with a very special toy when she was just a baby, her one-and-only teddy bear Jupiter. But as more birthdays and holidays arrived, so did more toys. By the time Lulu is five-years-old, toys are overflowing her shelves, crowding her bathtub and making it impossible to actually play with every one of them. After discarding several creative ideas, Lulu crafts a plan that will give her more time with her one-and-only, Jupiter. A delightful exploration of generosity from both the receiving and giving ends, Too Many Toys highlights the importance of balance between too much and just enough.

www.FamilyAndKidsDigest.com

HOO’s HUNGRY

FOUR INGREDIENT

WATERMELON SORBET

The only thing better than watermelon on a hot, summer day, is a cup of frozen watermelon sorbet. And this one happens to be crazy easy!

DIRECTIONS In a small pan, add sugar and water, and bring to a boil.

Cook until sugar is dissolved, then set aside to cool.

INGREDIENTS

Purèe your watermelon and pour into a bowl.

• 8 cups seedless watermelon

Add the lemon juice and sugar syrup to the watermelon purèe, and mix really well.

• 2 tablespoons lemon juice

Pour mixture into a 13x9 pan, cover, and freeze.

Pull the mixture out of the freezer and purèe once more before serving in little cups.

• 1 cup sugar • 1 cup water

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

HOO’s HUNGRY 1. Keep a fire extinguisher nearby.

Fire departments respond to an average of 8,900 house grill fires per year with 83% of the fires involving gas-fueled grills and 13% from charcoal.

Cookouts with kids create some of the best memories.

Burgers and hotdogs sizzle on the grill and the kids run through the sprinkler, while you chat with the neighbors in the shade over a glass of sweet tea.

Keep the good times coming with these quick tips for preventing injuries and fires during cookouts.

vapor buildup. Skip lighter fluid when lighting charcoal, instead use a chimney starter. It only takes a few minutes longer to get coals glowing. The food tastes better and you won’t risk dangerous vapor explosions.

5. Don’t let kids hover around the smoke from burning grease, it contains carbon monoxide and other toxic chemicals that aren’t healthy to inhale. You can reduce drippings, and the smoke they cause, by 3. Refamiliarize yourself with food using lean meat cuts and placing aluminum foil safety. Bacteria grows at temperatures under food as it cooks. Keep grills cleaned. above freezing and continues until heated to at least 165 degrees. Keep a 6. Don’t leave the grill unattended, a leading cause of grill related fires. cooler nearby for perishable foods.

Wind can blow leaves or debris into the heat 4. Be aware of fuel vapors, which and flames, catch a spark and carry it into explode when exposed to heat or the yard. The grill flame can go out, leaving flame. 7,000 Americans are injured each year free-flowing gas to build up and create the using backyard grills. Ignite propane grills with possibility of an explosive relighting. the lid open to avoid an explosive ignition from 2. Locate your grill at least 10ft from your house. Flare-ups can ignite awnings, deck railing, and chairs. Place the grill away from busy walkways.

www.FamilyAndKidsDigest.com

THANK YOU TO KIDS DAY PARTNERS

LIVE STAGE ENTERTAINMENT CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES INFLATABLES MARKETPLACE WELLNESS & SAFETY EXHIBITS

HOO’s HEALTHY According to studies of kids with autism, an infant who has a sibling diagnosed with autism may be at increased risk of also having autism. A recently published study holds good news for parents of these at-risk infants. The study showed using a type of video feedback therapy during infancy may help reduce the severity of autism symptoms.

In the study, a group of parents were taught by a therapist to use a method called the Video Interaction for Promoting Positive Parenting Programme (VIPP). The goal of VIPP is to improve the atrisk infants’ communication and social interaction skills by teaching parents how to interact with their infant. At the start of the study, the participants were randomly divided into two groups. One group of infants received the therapy and one did not. Both groups were then followed through toddlerhood, to the age of 39 months, and their developmental progress was compared. Researchers found a reduction in the severity of autistic symptoms in the group that had received the therapy.

This study consisted of only 54 families, so it is considered small and in need of validation by larger studies, but it brings hope that early intervention in infancy may help prevent at-risk children

NEW

AUTISM TREATMENT for at-risk infants from becoming severely autistic later in childhood. Health care professionals usually will not provide an official diagnosis of autism until your child is over age two but there are symptoms that all parents of infants can watch for. They include: • Not smiling or showing affection • Not reacting to loud noises or won’t look when called by name • Not babbling or cooing • Won’t make eye contact • Does not reach out for you when she wants to be held If you think your infant is showing any of these signs or misses other developmental milestones, discuss it with your doctor at once. If your doctor eliminates other conditions that cause developmental delays and determines it is likely your infant has autism, ask for help finding an autism treatment program for your child.

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Dining Deals

Wise Choices for You & Your Family

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

MONDAY

wednesday

Cajun Critters. 6240 W Main St, Houma. Kids eat free from kids’ menu. 5-9:30pm. Balloon art face painting.

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

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

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

Face painting.

Buffalo Wild Wings. 1783 MLK, Houma. Up to two kid’s meals for $1.99, per adult meal, all day.

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

La Casa Del Sol. 141 Westover Rd. Thib. 5-8pm. Kids’ meals $2.99 for12 and under. Face painting.

Santa Fe Cattle Company. 632 Canal Blvd, Thib.

Kids 12 and under. Free kid’s meal with adult entrée.

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

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.

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

La Casa Del Sol. 4647 Louisiana 1, Raceland and 169 Monarch Dr, Houma. 5-8pm. Kids’ meals $2.99 for12 and under.

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

Santa Fe Cattle Company. 632 Canal Blvd, Thib.

Kids 12 and under. Free kid’s meal with adult entrée.

Sicily’s Buffet. 1539 MLK Blvd, Houma. Up to 2 free kids’ buffets for kids 12 and under with paid adult.

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.

sunday Crabby Crab. 5726 LA 1, Lockport. Free ice cream for kids, balloon art & facepainting from 6-8pm Ground Pati. 101 Bayou Gardens, Houma. Up to 2 kids eat free per adult, required drinks not included.

Dine in only.

Hooters. 1619 MLK, Houma. Free kid’s meal with each paid adult, all day. Drinks not included.

everyday Foundry on The Bayou. 15 West 1st St, Thib.

From10:30am-2pm, free ice cream & face painting.

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.

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July E

Legend: TM - Terrebonne Main Library TD - Thibodau

1 Community garage sale at Bayouland YMCA. 7am-noon.

985-873-9622 to reserve a booth.

2 Noise Makers: Movement and

Music. TM. 3pm. Build reading skills through movement.

3

Game Night: Wii Smash Brothers. TD. 4pm.

3 Patriotic Coloring Sheets. TD. All ages, all day.

4

Craft night at Chick-fil-A on MLK, Houma. 5-8pm.

4 Let Freedom Ring Festival.

Peltier Park, Thibodaux. Music, food and evening fireworks.

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9 Escape the Library. TM. 3pm.

17 TPR registration begins for bantam football and cheerleading (ages 7-12) and volleyball (ages 9-14). 985-873-6584.

10-14

18 Indoor Picnic and Games. TD. 1pm. Ages 2-10. RSVP 447-4119.

10 Zookeeper in Training Tod-

19 Luau Style Teacher Party.

BCCM. 10-11:30am. RSVP at bccm.info.

Second Saturday Storytime.

TM. 3pm.

4th grade and up.

Summer Art Camp.

Downtown Gallery 630. 2nd12th grade. RSVP 985-851-2198.

dler Camp Day 1. BCCM. 10amnoon. RSVP at bccm.info

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Weapons Camp at Tiger Rock Martial Arts. 5953 W Park Ave #3005, Houma. 851-7772.

12

Storytime with craft. TD. 10:30am. All ages welcome.

19 Kids Science Experiments. TD. 1pm. Ages 5-10. RSVP 447-4119.

20

Cupcake Decorating with Chez Bakery. TD. 2pm. RSVP 447-4119.

21 Cyber Bullying Program for

12 Zookeeper in Training Tod-

parents and tween/teens with Lafourche DA. TD. 2:30pm.

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22 MoboRobo Robotics Lab for PreK and up. TM. 4pm. RSVP 876-5861.

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13 Bricks 4 Kidz Workshop. TD.

22 Parents vs Kids Field Day. TD. 10:30am.

5

Storytime with craft. TD. 10:30am. All ages welcome.

Harvey Rabbit and Friends.

TM. 3pm.

Golden Meadow Fourchon Tarpon Rodeo. Fishing, music and Cajun food.

Fourchontarponrodeo.com

7 Dancercize. TM. 4pm. All ages.

7 Lady Chops (Former STOMP percussionist). TD. 1pm.

8 Minion Jar Craft. TD. 10am.

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Fiddle Stitches Club. TM. 11am. 4th grade and up. Club of crocheters, knitters and fiber artists. All skill levels. Some supplies provided.

dler Camp Day 1. BCCM. 10amnoon. RSVP bccm.info Virtual Reality Demos. TM. 4pm. Goggles/ apps provided.

1pm. Ages 8-12.

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Dancer Javier Juarez. TM. 10am.

14

Bastille Day: Eiffel Tower Craft. TD. 10am. RSVP 4474119.

14

PJ Masks Party. TD. 1pm.

Ages 3-10. RSVP 447-4119.

16

Create! All ages craft w/ polymer clay. TM. 3pm.

23 Family Movie Matinee: Sing (PG). TM. 3pm.

23

Craftganza. TM. 4pm. 4th grade and up. “Minecraft IRL.” RSVP 985-876-5861.

25

Electric Snap Circuits. TD. 1pm. Ages 8 and up.

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ages.

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Dancercize. TM. 4pm. All

Movie Madness: Middle School. TD. 11:45am.

Events

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ux Branch Library BCCM - Bayou Country Children’s Museum

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Online Predator Program for parents and tween/teens with Lafourche DA. TD. 2:30pm.

Tales for Tots. BCCM. 10:30am. Ages 2-5. bccm.info

29 Kids Science Experiments. TD.

Bingo. TD. 10am. All ages.

Prizes awarded. (except 7/4)

29 Free paperback book giveaway. TD. All day.

Board Game night. TD. 5pm.

All ages. Prizes awarded.

Snacks provided.

29 Summer Fun Kids Day. Hou-

WEDNESDAY

1pm. Ages 5-10. RSVP 447-4119.

ma Civic Center. 10-4pm. $5.

Entertainment, vendors, games and more. houmaciviccenter. com/kidsday.

Weekly Events MONDAY

Toddler Time. TM. 10am and 6pm for 19mon-3yrs.

Game Night. TD. 4pm. Different theme each week.

Snacks provided.

Pre-K storytime. TM. 10am.

THURSDAY

Open Gym. Alstarz Cheer.

6-9pm. $10. 13347 W. Main St, Larose. 693-7109. (not 1st) Interactive Storytime for infants and toddlers. TD. 10:30am.

Toddler Storytime. TM. 2pm.

19 mon-3 years.

Spanish 6:30pm.

Storytime.

TM.

TD.

Crafternoons for PreK-6th.

4pm. TM. Craft varies. RSVP 876-5861.

Storytime. TM. 10am for newborns-18mon, and 6pm for 4-8 year olds and their families.

Open Gym. JAG. 7-9pm. $7. $10 non members. Adult required for ages 5 and under.

308 Venture Blvd, Houma.

985-851-3001.

Family storytime. TM. 6pm.

4-8yr olds & families.

Exercise class. 11am. TD. Style varies.

French Story Time.

10:30am. (Except 7/3)

TUESDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

STEMulating Saturday. Sylvan of Houma. 12-1pm.

Classes in robotics, coding and engineering. 985-2233798.

Downtown Houma Market.

Courthouse Square. 8amnoon. Local produce and artisans.

Lafourche Central Market.

Farmers, fishermen, artisans and activities. 8a-noon.

Thibodaux Main Street Market. 8am-1pm, next to Jean Lafitte Park. Buy fresh, buy local.

Kids’ Club. Michael’s, Houma. 10am-12pm. $2. Adult required. 985-872-3132.

Build and Grow Clinic.

Lowe’s, Houma. 10am. Free.

RSVP lowes.com/buildandgrow. 985-223-7575.

Kids’ Workshop. Home Depot, Houma. 9am-12pm.

Ages 5-12. Adult required.

Free. RSVP homedepot.com/ workshops/kids-workshops.

985-223-1485.

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

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Choices for & Your Family SUMMER Wise CAMPS &YouACTIVITIES GUIDE

July 26 3:30-6:00

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Choices for & Your Family SUMMER Wise CAMPS &YouACTIVITIES GUIDE

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Hoo’s Tips

FIREWORK

Do’s & Don’ts As some point, most parents make a decision to allow their kids to join the online world by giving them access to a tablet, computer, or video gaming system. However, some parents are noticing that for their kids, video gaming becomes an obsession. It has long been theorized that video gaming can be addictive, and a recently published scientific study has confirmed it. A brain imaging study found that after playing a video game for about 30 minutes, there were increased levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the part of the brain responsible for controlling impulses and regulating actions. Dopamine provides a good feeling when released in the brain. This helps explain why some kids become so addicted to video games that they even lose touch with reality.

Fireworks related injuries are on the rise despite consumer education about the dangers. This is according to the results of a recent study by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Boys had a somewhat higher rate of injuries than girls, 61% to 39% respectively. The groups with the highest rate of emergency room treated injuries were ages 15 to 19 followed by 5 to 9-year-olds. Still, children in other age groups and even adults suffer a fair share of injuries each year. Adults over 25 years of age in all age groups constitute 46% of fireworks related injuries.

SO BE COGNIZANT OF THE SAFETY TIPS RECOMMENDED BY SUCH ORGANIZATIONS AS THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON FIREWORKS SAFETY. l Abide by local laws regarding fireworks.

l Wear safety glasses when shooting them off.

l Read all information that comes with the fireworks before igniting them. If none is available, research online.

l Do not carry fireworks in your pocket. l Never aim fireworks toward another person or animal.

l Do not allow young children to handle fireworks.

Sparklers heat up to 2,000 degrees and are responsible for serious injuries every year.

l Light them one at a time and then move away quickly.

l Always closely supervise children using fireworks.

l Do not drink or use drugs prior to or while igniting fireworks.

l Have a hose or bucket of water nearby in case of fire or to fully extinguish fireworks that don’t go off.

l Let off fireworks only in clear areas away from buildings and vehicles.

l Never try to re-light a firework that doesn’t work.

Wait 20 minutes then soak it in a bucket of water.

l Keep fireworks stored in a cool place.

l Never shoot them out of glass or metal containers.

l Keep pets and animals away from the sound of the fireworks.

l Do not use homemade fireworks.

Finally, the advent of camera phones and the popularity of social media has encouraged fireworks pranks. Kids, and even sometimes adults, think they can safely prank a friend or family member by igniting a firework in close proximity. Despite seeing videos in which no one was injured, the risk is high, and often does lead to injury. Make sure children and teens understand fireworks pranks should never be done and can result in serious injury.

Wise Choices for You & Your Family

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Tammy Usie creative boutique & brokerage

MARKETING l DESIGN l SALES l EVENTS 253.212.7270 TammyUsie@gmail.com

HOO’s CRAFTY

EASY PEASY

NEBULA JARS

From an out of this world calming jar, to a fun craft to keep kids busy for the summer, or something hands-on to compliment your space study, this is the craft for you!

DIRECTIONS Fill 1/3 of the jar with water, then add several drops of paint to the water, put the lid on and shake to mix the paint and water.

SUPPLIES Clean glass jar/lid

Open and add a bit of glitter, then stretch cotton balls and add them to the water until the bottom is filled with cotton, pressing them down into the water with a stick or butter knife.

Tempura paint (in 2-3 colors)

Fill another 1/3 of the jar with water, then repeat the process of adding paint using a second color, and more glitter and cotton.

Fine glitter

Fill the final 1/3 of the jar and repeat the last steps once more. Now seal the lid well and enjoy your new out of this world craft.

Cotton Balls Water

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HOO’s PARENTING ACCORDING TO DELTA DENTAL’S ANNUAL TOOTH FAIRY POLL, AMERICAN CHILDREN ARE RECEIVING AN AVERAGE OF $4.66 PER BABY TOOTH, UP FROM 2016. THAT LEAVES KIDS NETTING $93.2 TOTAL FOR ALL 20 BABY TEETH. But that’s just the average. Recent surveys say if you live in the Northeast, your child could expect to receive $5 or more per tooth. Meanwhile at many households, a very generous Tooth Fairy left $20 dollars or more. Not to worry though, the most popular amount left by the Tooth Fairy is a $1... or a toy.

If you remember getting 25 or 50 cents per tooth, the current Tooth Fairy rates may seem outrageous. On the other hand, parents can cash in on a visit from the Tooth Fairy as an opportunity to talk to their kids about real life stuff.

Finances Talk about the importance of saving and budgeting. Help them make a chart to show their progress toward saving for a specific toy or activity. Discuss other ways to add to their income by brainstorming odd jobs and weekly chores.

Tooth Talk This is also a good time to talk about the differences between baby teeth and adult teeth. Look over the baby tooth together and talk about why it came out… to make room for the permanent adult tooth. Now

is a great time to explain why it is so important to take care of the adult tooth.

Brush up on Brushing Technique Take this opportunity to make sure they’re brushing correctly and understand the importance of flossing. In grade school, children can fall into the habit of brushing with a sawing motion. Demonstrate a 45-degree angle and short circular strokes.

What does your tooth fairy pay?

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

WHEN THE MUSIC BEGINS! Our children usually meet music early in their lives. Soothing lullabies comfort and calm our littlest ones. Rhythmic beats of songs in the car inspire toddlers in car seats to kick their feet in time. Music is a versatile companion that meets our children early, and accompanies them as they grow and mature. The following toys expand on kids’ relationship to music and support them as they make music of their own.

Sing-along Music Player

(Kidzlane)

Empowering a child’s own voice, the karaoke-style of accompaniment opens all new avenues for kids to make their own unique music as they sing-along with their favorite tunes. Using wireless Bluetooth, USB, radio or aux connections, this player lets kids explore adding their own voice to endless selections in your music library. Battery power in addition to plug -in allows extra portability. With two microphones, solo singers can also invite friends for duets, doubling the song power of the Kidzlane Sing-along Music Player. Kid-sized karaoke has never been easier to enjoy!

Kidibeatz Drum Set

(VTech)

There’s nothing quite like the tactile experience of playing percussion to really punctuate the real feel of music. This small drum kit with three heads offers four different kinds of exploration: free play, follow-along, letters and numbers. With programmed melodies in a variety of styles, little hands can tap and pound along with electronic tunes, or use free-play to craft their own rhythms and beats. Making the move from spoons on trays, pots and pans, the Kidibeatz Drums Set is the ideal child-sized kit to bring the boom to the room.

Mozart Magic Cube

(Munchkin)

Babies have a much broader ear for music than most musical toys give them credit for. Eschewing simplistic jingles, the Mozart Magic Cube shares eight musical masterpieces from Mozart. The cube allows small children to manipulate the layers of sound within the classical compositions. With simple touches, kids can add or subtract instruments from the selections. The sounds they tailor can range from a solo instrumental performance to a full orchestra, giving them control of the musical experience. Featuring familiar Mozart tunes along with some deeper cuts, this captivating cube will keep little ears tuned in for longer listening and a richer musical exploration.

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HOO’s FUN Jokin’ Around about FROZEN

27

’

Talking!

What kind of birthday cake does Elsa like? The kind with lots of icing!

Why can’t you hand Elsa a balloon?

She’ll Let it Go, Let it Go! What does Olaf eat for lunch?

Icebergers.

What happens when Olaf throws a temper tantrum?

He has a meltdown!

All Done

You start with palms facing in, then turn the hands so that they are facing out. You can use it at the end of every meal, and then allow your baby to signal when they are done with their food.

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UNDERSTANDING THE

Yawn!

HOO KNEW?

WHY DO I YAWN? YAWNING IS A NATURAL PART OF EVERYDAY LIFE, YET THIS SIMPLE PHENOMENON HAS SOME RATHER CURIOUS AND MYSTERIOUS FEATURES. DR. SUJAY KANSAGRA, DIRECTOR OF DUKE UNIVERSITY’S PEDIATRIC NEUROLOGY SLEEP MEDICINE PROGRAM, OFFERS ANSWERS TO SOME OF THE MOST COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS.

There are a handful of popular theories. For example, yawning may increase the body’s oxygen levels and help get rid of carbon dioxide or it may help cool the brain in situations when it gets too hot. No theory has been proven correct.

DO I YAWN ONLY WHEN I’M SLEEPY?

You may think yawning only happens when bored or tired, yet it is not uncommon to see Olympic athletes yawning just prior to their events. Yawning may trigger the brain to make a change in its state, either from bored to alert, sleepy to awake, etc.

WHY DO I YAWN WHEN I SEE SOMEONE ELSE YAWNING?

You won’t be surprised to hear that this too is a mystery. Even though children begin yawning as early as their first trimester as fetuses, they don’t experience the contagious yawn until closer to 5 years old, around the same time they develop better social understanding and empathy.

WHY AM I YAWNING RIGHT NOW?

Either this article is making you sleepy or you’ve hit on another common trigger for yawns. It’s not only seeing a yawn that can trigger one. Hearing, reading about or thinking about a yawn may also bring one out.

I FREQUENTLY SEE DOGS YAWNING. DO ALL ANIMALS YAWN?

All vertebrate animals yawn. However, only humans, chimpanzees and possibly monkeys will yawn when others yawn. Humans are more likely to mimic the yawn of others when they know them well, a habit that has also been shown by chimps.

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HOO’s CUTE

CONTEST Visit our website to enter:

w w w. F a m i l y A n d K i d s D i g e s t . c o m

Alivia, 4 Houma

Emery, 18 months Thibodaux

Blaine, 1 year Thibodaux

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HOO’s HEALTHY

lawnmower safety tips for summer It’s lawn-mowing season again and a recent study urges parents to make sure that their children are not part of the seasonal ritual.

The Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital found that 4800 children a year go to the emergency room to be treated for a lawn mower related injury. On an average, that turns out to be about 13 kids a day.

The way children are injured by lawn mowers varies by age. Children younger than five years are more likely than older children to be injured from touching a hot surface, from a “back-over” injury, or as a bystander or passenger. Children ages 5-17 years were more likely than younger children to be struck by or cut by the lawn mower or a projectile.

The researchers suggest that to help prevent backover injuries, which are often the most devastating lawn mower injuries to young children, every rideon mower should be equipped with a no-mow-inreverse mechanism with the over-ride switch for this feature located behind the operator’s seat, which forces the person operating the ride-on mower to look behind them before backing up with the blades engaged.

“While we are happy to see that the number of lawn mower-related injuries has declined over the years, it is important for families to realize that these injuries still occur frequently during warm weather months,” said Gary Smith, MD, senior author of the study and director of the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. “Improvements in lawn mower design during the last few decades are likely an important

The

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Kids

Doctor

Sue Hubbard, MD kidsdr.com

contributing factor in the decrease in injuries.

We would like to see manufacturers continue to improve design and include additional needed safety features on all mowers.”

Injury prevention experts recommend these rules to help prevent mower-related injuries to children and adults: Teach and supervise teens. Children should be at least 12 years old to operate a push mower and at least 16 years old before using a ride-on mower.

An adult should supervise teens before they are allowed to operate a lawn mower on their own.

Kid-free zone. Children should never be passengers on ride-on mowers and children younger than 6 years of age should be kept indoors during mowing. Never let children play on or near a lawn mower, even when it is not in use.

Before you mow. Pick up any stones or other objects in the grass. Objects thrown by a lawn mower can cause severe eye and other injuries.

Put on protective eyewear and make sure you are wearing sturdy shoes.

While you mow. When using a walk-behind lawn mower, use a mower with a control that stops it from moving forward if the handle is released.

Always mow going forward. If you absolutely have to mow in reverse, always look behind you before you start backing up.

Turn it off. Wait for the blades to stop completely before removing the grass catcher, unclogging the discharge chute, or crossing gravel roads.