Family & Kids Chattahoochee Valley October 2015

OCTOBER 2015

Wise Choices for Moms & Families

© Giggles And Grins Photography

CHATTAHOOCHEE VALLEY

always changing. always free.

Cover Sponsor Pg. 32

Join us for Synovus’ Fall Festival on October 10

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

Dr. Cathy Cook

Gentle Dentistry for the Entire Family!

ACCEPTING ALL MAJOR INSURANCES, CARE CREDIT AND OFFERING FINANCIAL OPTIONS

www.FamilyAndKidsDigest.com

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

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Tammy Usie Publisher

TheValley.com

Tammy@HooKnows

253-212-7270 Cell

Dear Parents of the Chattahoochee Valley, Welcome to our handy, 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, handy resources and fun features.

If you like our magazine, then you’ll love our website, www.

HooKnowsTheValley.com. There you can read our magazine online, find other resources and use our SHOPPING DIRECTORY. This virtual buying guide provides our readers with a comprehensive list of local, family-friendly businesses. 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

The 1st of the month for the next month’s issue

Tammy Usie

HOO KNOWS SPECIAL FEATURES Hoo’s crafty.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 23

HOO’S hungry.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 7

HOO’S Fun.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 22

hoo’s parenting.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 14

HOO’S Healthy.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page 29

hoo’s Tips.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 15

hoo’s Helpful.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 9 & 31 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? Publix: Columbus & Phenix City Chick fil-A: Columbus & Phenix City Starbucks: Columbus Family & Kids of the Chattahoochee Valley

PLUS: Check your local kid-friendly doctors & dentists, attractions, restaurants & retail shops.

Children attending FT Benning daycares, preschools & elementary schools each receive a copy, as well as elementary students at most all private schools in Columbus & Phenix City...plus all kids attending major daycares and preschools.

www.HooKnowsTheValley.com

www.FamilyAndKidsDigest.com

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

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SHOPPING guide activities Academy Dance Center....................23 Chattahoochee Valley Libraries.... 14 Christmas Made in the South......... 11 Clement Arts....................................... 19 Columbus Symphony Orchestra... 25 East West Karate & MMA................... 2 Elite Dance Academy.......................25 IFM Arts Academy............................... 8 Jack O Lantern Lane.........................32 La Bella Party & Tea...........................25 Launch Pad Athletes........................... 7 My Gym.................................................20 Performance Dance Centre............... 5 Oasis After School Program........... 18 Octoberfest.............................................

TELL THEM 8 RiverCenter for Performing Arts..... 3 The Columbus Museum...................32 The Rock Ranch.................................22

SENT YOU!

Childcare/ education Calvary Christian...............................26 First Presbyterian Day.....................26 Grace Christian School....................26 Kumon...................................................26 Lakewood Child Development ......27 St. Luke Schools.................................26 Sylvan Learning Center...................27 Westminster Christian.....................27

Finance Breaking Free Seminars.................... 8

TELL THEM

Food & Beverage Chick-fil-A............................................20 Chill Yogurt Cafe................................23 Crave Soda & Candy Bar...................28 Stevi B’s Pizza Buffet........................20 Willy T’s Chicken Fingers............... 19 Zaxby’s................................................... 12

healthcare Columbus Spine & Performance... 19 Cook Dental Care.................................. 2 James Lopez, DDS................................ 7 Pediatric After Hours........................28 Pediatric Dentistry of Columbus...30 Pediatrics at Brookstone Center...20 Rivertown Pediatrics........................28 Stork Vision Ultrasound..................25

Home/ Handy Sparkles Cleaning Service.............. 19 Turfscapes Lawncare........................ 19 Warehouse World Storage............... 19

Shopping/ Retail Baby Elements.................................... 31 Giggles and Grins Photography.... 19 Jessica Fowler Photography.......... 31 Mickayla’s Place - Resale.................11 Once Upon A Child - Resale........... 15 Wee Blessing......................................... 8

SENT YOU!

www.FamilyAndKidsDigest.com

Halloween Candy Buy Back!

$1 per pound!

Redeem Monday November 2 from 5pm - 7pm at 1834 Warm Springs Road

706.324.1834

ColumbusKidsDentist.com

1834 Warm Springs Road Columbus, Georgia 31904

All candy sent to US Soldiers for Operation Gratitude!

HOO’s HUNGRY happy halloween

Hot chocolate

our family had a blast with this halloween recipe last year! it was so cute to see the faces the kids came up with and it was the perfect way to wind down after a chilly night of walking around, trick-or-treating.

DIRECTIONS

Put in your white chocolate chips in a bowl and set aside.

Then, over medium heat, warm up the milk until you just start seeing bubbles.. And pour the milk over your white chocolate.

Mix until your chocolate is melted and the milk is smooth and not lumpy. Then, add your vanilla and your desired food coloring.

Hand your kids the marshmallows and draw little ghost faces on them with an edible marker. Serve with whip cream, their cute marshmallow faces, and whatever toppings you like, sprinkles, candy eyes, etc.

Ingredients • 12 oz. white chocolate chips • 8 cups of milk • 1 tsp vanilla • food coloring (I prefer Americolor gels) • whipped cream • black food safe marker • candy eyes, marshmallows, sprinkles

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

IFM Arts Academy Piano - Violin - Cello - Art - Dance For children and adults to help them develop their talents and skills for the glory of God.

3400 University Ave. Columbus, GA www.ifmga.org (706) 653-0097

www.FamilyAndKidsDigest.com

Hoo’s helpful Giving your tween a smartphone means that she can go online whenever she wants and, in addition, it can more difficult to monitor who she is talking to than it was when she was borrowing your phone. For both Android and iOS devices, there are apps that you can install that help you track and put boundaries on your child’s smartphone activity.

Some apps are like spyware and can be installed without your tween knowing about it. However, experts advise to inform your tween she is being monitored when you first give her the phone. Let her know that to retain the privilege of using the phone, she must not try to remove the monitoring app.

TWEEN PHONE

SAFETY

Here are some common features of monitoring apps: • Ability to block access to certain apps and websites and the ability to prevent the purchasing of new apps. Some apps, such as Screen Time, allow you to make some apps available only at certain times of the day. For example, you could configure it to restrict access to gaming apps at bedtime.

• Monitoring the phone numbers of who is calling your tween’s phone and the texts she is sending and receiving. Some apps allow you to block calls and texts from numbers you place on a ‘black list’. This is important for kids this age, since a tween won’t always tell you if someone is cyberbullying them with text messages.

• A GPS feature that allows you to see where your child is located at all times.

You may have to download several apps to get all the parental controls in place that you want, unless you purchase a more expensive premium app. If you have a tablet, see what parental controls are built in before spending money installing apps.

To search for an app that meets the level of parental control you need to have over your family’s Android mobile devices, go to the Google play store and do a search on ‘Parental Control Apps for Cell Phones.’ There are some basic monitoring apps, like ‘Secure Teen’ and ‘Kids Place,’ that are free. If you have an iOS device, go to the Apple Support App Store on your device and search for ‘Parental Control Apps.’ You should be able to either find a free app, like ‘ParentKit,’ that has basic features or purchase an app has all the features you need to keep your tween safe.

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NO STAGE FRIGHT HERE!

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The theater is a perfect setting for children to craft stories, act out their ideas and gain confidence in the spotlight. As they become comfortable “performing” for family and friends, kids are also cultivating self-assurance for those future moments when all eyes will be on them. The following items offer fun and creative opportunities for children to assemble their own casts, become storytellers, and shine in a production that’s all their own!

Doorway Theater

( Haba)

From finger and hand puppets to marionettes and dolls, every child’s cast of characters can take the stage in style with the Doorway Theater from HABA. Creating the sense of a real show, the Doorway Theater is a theatrical drape that easily installs with telescoping tension rods in different sized doorways. The rods at the top and bottom create a taut front that can hide kids ‘backstage’ as they prep and perform their show. It includes a porthole for surprise appearances, a pocket window to display the name of the show or next act, and a curtain to tie-back when the show goes live! It’s true that “All the world’s a stage”…and now every doorway can be a theater!

My First Fun Felt Masks

(Creativity for Kids)

As one of the earliest dramatic elements in theatrical history, masks are instant trademarks of the stage. Now young children can imagine and create their own stage-worthy masks with ease. The felt mask kit from Creativity for Kids include 6 soft felt mask templates as well as stickers, rhinestone, yarn and self-stick adhesives that make crafting a mask easy and mess-free. The soft medium of felt also ensures comfortable wearing of the masks (which you don’t get with paper or plastic). In addition to building motor and sensory skills for the younger set, this mask-making activity debuts the craftier side of kids’ creative theater arts.

Make Your Own Monster Puppet (Melissa and Doug)

There’s no way puppet building can go wrong with Make Your Own Monster from Melissa and Doug! Drawing on a colorful collection of 30 plush elements including eyes, ears, horns and more, children can craft endless combinations to build their own vision of playful monster puppets. No scissors or glue needed, the soft monster parts easily attach and remove with Velcro. Sturdily crafted with materials that will last through years of theatrical building and performance, kids can assemble an ever-changing cast of expressive characters to perform their monster hit shows!

www.FamilyAndKidsDigest.com

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a children’s resale shop

Buying Days Mon - Thurs 10 AM - 5 PM Drop off any day

Store Hours Mon - Fri: 10 AM - 6 PM Saturday: 10 AM - 5 PM Sunday: Closed

from one child to another

shop

Come in and shop for all your favorite baby gear, all the brands you know and love..

sell

Come in and sell your gently used baby gear and get cash on the spot!!

save

Save on all your favorite baby gear.

Savings starting at a least 50% off retail prices.

MICKAYLA’S PLACE 706-221-1154 I 2401 Whittlesey RD I Columbus, GA 31909

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

MONDAY NIGHTS ARE

S

FREE Zax Kidz Meal between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. with the purchase of an adult meal.

(Limit one Zax Kidz Mealsper adult meal purchase. Dine-In only) VALID AT THESE LOCATIONS ONLY: 7626 Schomburg Rd. • Columbus • 706.507.3235 1915 Auburn Ave. • Columbus •706.507.9297 6190 Bradley Park Dr. • Columbus • 706.320.0046 7033 Ruffie Way • Midland • 706.289.1258

Limited-time offer. Offer valid at this location only, on Mondays, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Adult meals include any Most Popular Menu Item, Meal Deal, Zalad or Sandwich Basket.

Kids must be present when ordering. Each restaurant independently owned and operated. © 2014 Zaxby’s Franchising, Inc. “Zaxby’s” and “Zax Kidz” are registered trademarks of Zaxby’s Franchising, Inc.

Dining Deals

www.FamilyAndKidsDigest.com

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

MONDAY

thursday

Chick-fil-A, Phenix City

Captain D’s

5-8pm: Free kid’s meal with regular priced combo

Chick-fil-A, Wynnton Rd

5-8pm: $.99 kid’s meal with regular priced combo

Get 2 free kid’s meals with purchase of an adult entree. Dine in only

MOE’s Southwest Grill

Chill Yogurt Cafe & Pizzeria

5-9pm: Free kids meal per $5 minimum adult entree Ryan’s Family Steakhouse Thursday Nights: Kids 11 and under eat for $1.99

Sweet Frog Yogurt

saturday

Kids 12 & under eat free (1 topping 8” pizza & drink) with purchase of adult entree (11” pizza and a drink). Limit 1 per adult. Dine in only.

6-8pm. Buy one yogurt mix, get one 50% off

Zaxby’s 5-8pm: Free kid’s meal with per adult entree

Tuesday Atlanta Bread Company

5pm-close: Free kid’s meal with tan adult meal

Chick-fil-A, Midland

5-8pm: Free kid’s meal with regular priced combo Chill Yogurt Cafe & Pizzeria Buy one regular 11” pizza, get one of equal or less value at 50% off with valid school ID. Limit 1 per customer, with ID only.

Steak & Shake Free kids meal with every $8 purchase

sunday Steak & Shake

Free kids meal with every $8 purchase

Stevi B’s Pizza

Kids eat for .99 after 4pm

Texas Roadhouse

Sundays: Kids 12 & under get Jr. Kids Meal for $1.99 with adult entree (certain holidays are excluded)

Denny’s

Willy T’s

TGIF Friday’s

3-10pm: Kids under 13 eat free with adult entree

everyday

Willy T’s

Golden Corral

4-9pm: 1 free kids meal per regular meal purchase

Kids 3 & under eat free with adult meal purchase

wednesday

Children 3 & under eat free with purchase of an adult entree. Kids ages 5-7 get discounted prices

4-10pm: Up to two free kid’s entrees with adult entree. For kids 10 and under

Applebee’s Kids meals are half off with the purchase of an adult entree. Limit: 4 kids per adult

11-5pm: 1 free kids meal per regular meal purchase

Hartz Chicken Buffet PhoVy

Free kids meal when you show their “Family & Kids” ad in this issue

All locations are Columbus, GA unless noted. Specials are subject to change without notice.

Please verify them directly before dining. If you know of a kids’ special not listed here, contact Tammy@HooKnowsTheValley.com.

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

HOO’s PARENTING Keep your cool. Even though you may be upset by hearing your innocent preschooler yell out a swear word or a nasty sounding phrase like ‘poopy head’, stay calm and don’t react strongly. Losing your cool will only add to the allure of this newfound taboo word. Instead, calmly explain that the word is not acceptable for use in your family. The same strategy applies to older kids who have already been told that foul language is not acceptable in your household but decide to swear anyway.

Try to identify the cause of persistent use of foul language. If your child persists in using

bad language even after being warned that it is not acceptable, it may be because he is seeking your attention. Make an effort to increase the amount of positive attention you give him. For example you could praise him for saying something kind to a sibling or friend. This may help decrease negative attention seeking behavior, like swearing. If it does not, it is time to dig deeper to see why your child is angry enough to continue using foul language in an effort to evoke a negative reaction from you.

Decide how you will react to the swearing.

You could make it clear that you will just calmly walk away from any discussion if your child swears. This may reduce the likelihood of your child using swearing to engage you in a power struggle. Some parents even impose a consequence for swearing, like having to put a dollar that will be donated to charity into a ‘swear jar’ or having to look up a new, more appropriate word in the dictionary to replace the swear word.

We all hope to keep the language used by our kids in the G-rated category. However, once kids start school, they are bound to hear and try out some words that you would classify as potty talk or swear words. Here are some ways to deal with the unwelcome additions to your child’s vocabulary.

www.FamilyAndKidsDigest.com

Hoo’s Tips Getting separated from a child in a crowded public venue is something every parent worries about. Here are some ways to keep your kids safe when your family ventures out for a day at the amusement park or shopping mall.

Set safety rules and teach them to your kids. Let kids under four know that they can either ride in the stroller or hold your hand, but they are not to leave your side. If you have a toddler who likes to wander off without you, consider taking extra precautions, like putting a bracelet on her that contains a GPS locater.

Let older kids know they must keep you in sight at all times. Also, teach your kids never to go anywhere with anyone, even if the person is asking for help or says they know you.

Teach your kids what to do if they

Keep them

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safe in a crowd

can’t see you anymore. Assure young children that you would never leave without them and tell them to sit down and stay put if they can’t see you. Teach your preschooler to yell for you and, if she still can’t see you, to ask a mother with kids for help.

School aged children should be given a list of about three types of people they can ask for help. Store employees should be on the list, since it is easy for your child to spot someone behind a cash register. Have your child memorize your cell phone number and also write it down and give it

to her. Some parents create an ID bracelet or dog tag for their child with their cell number on it.

Make your kids easier to spot. Dress them in bright colors and take their picture with your phone before you leave for your outing. A current picture is very helpful to those helping search for a lost child.

If you child does get lost, act quickly.

If you can’t find your child after a minute or two, ask an employee for help. Call the police for help if they are not found after five to ten minutes.

October

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pr o vi d e d in partne r ship

1 Paint the Town Pink 5K Walk Run. 7:30pm. $30. Woodruff Park, Riverwalk; https://runsignup.com/Race/ GA/Columbus/PaintTheTownPink

6 Parenting Workshop: Helping My Child with Anger. 6-7pm. $50-$90.

4-week series. Pastoral Institute; www.pilink.org

3 Lumberjack Day. The Rock Ranch,

6 MOPS meeting. 9am-Noon. Wyn-

13-18 Greater Columbus Fair. $3-7. Columbus Civic Center; www. columbusciviccenter.org

5020 Barnesville HIghway, The Rock, GA; 706-647-6374 or www. therockranch.com

nbrook Baptist, 500 River Knoll, Columbus; wynnbrookbaptist.com

14 La Leche League meeting.

10am. Columbus Public Library, 3000 Macon Rd; lllofga.org/columbus.html

3

9-10 Really, Fern? 7:30pm. Family Theatre; familytheatre.org

16 Uptown Friday Night Concert.

Flea Market & Post-Wide Yard Sale. 8am-2pm. Fort Benning; www.benningmrw.com

3

Home Depot Kids Workshop.

9am-Noon. Free. Ages 5-12. Columbus store; 706-322-9240. Phenix City store; 334-297-2045

3

Fall Festival and Pumpkin Patch.

10am-2pm. Free. Summerville UMC, 1201 32nd Street, Phenix City; www.summervilleumc.org

4

Skippyjon Jones Snow What.

2:30pm. RiverCenter for the Performing Arts; www.rivercenter.org

5 American Girl Club - Ages 6-9.

6:30pm. Barnes & Noble, 5555 Whittlesey Blvd, Columbus; 706653-7880

Librar y activities Chattahoochee Valley www.CVLGA.org

Phenix City-Russell County www.phenixcitylibrary.com

Troup-Harris

www.thclibrary.net

9-11 Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse.

Rated G. Springer Opera House; www.springeroperahouse.org

10 Lowes Build & Grow Clinic. 10-

11am. Free. 1st-5th grades. 6750 Veterans Pkwy, Columbus; 706320-9292

10

The Official Georgia Day of the Cowboy. The Rock Ranch, 5020 Barnesville HIghway, The Rock, GA; (706) 647-6374, therockranch.com

10

Synovus Fall Festival & Costume Contest. 10am-3pm. Free.

Columbus Museum; www.columbusmuseum.com

10 Uptown Drum Circle. 6-9pm.

Free. Bring your own drum. Broadway between 11th & 12th at concert stage; facebook.com/UpTownDrumCircle

10-11 Annual Harvest Hoedown.

Arts, crafts, food and entertainment. Warm Springs; 800-337-1927 12 American Girl Club - Ages 10+.

6:30pm. Barnes & Noble, 5555 Whittlesey Blvd, Columbus; 706653-7880

7pm. Free. Bring your lawn chair.

Broadway in Uptown Columbus; www.uptowncolumbusga.com

16-17

Curious George Family Fun. Fri 7pm. Sat 2pm. Storytime, crafts, and activities. Barnes & Noble, 5555 Whittlesey Blvd, Columbus; 706-653-7880

16-17

Really, Fern? 7:30pm.

Family Theatre; familytheatre.org/

16-18

Day Out with Thomas.

10am-3pm. $16. Georgia Veterans St Park, Cordele; www.SamShortline.com

16-18 Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse.

Rated G. Springer Opera House; www.springeroperahouse.org

17 Puppy Tales. 2pm. Free. Columbus Public Library; cvlga.org/events 17 Hot Air Balloon Rally. The Rock Ranch, 5020 Barnesville HIghway, The Rock, GA; (706) 647-6374 or www.therockranch.com 20 MOPS meeting. 9am-Noon.

Wynnbrook Baptist Church, 500 River Knoll, Columbus; www.wynnbrookbaptist.com

r Events

17

p with:

23 Westminster Christian School

County Fair. 4pm. 2303 Double Churches Rd, Columbus; www. westminsterchristianschool.org

23-24 Really, Fern? 7:30pm.

Family Theatre; familytheatre.org 23-25 Fort Benning’s Oktoberfest. Free. Uchee Creek Army Campground, Fort Mitchell, www. benningmwr.com 24

Great Outdoor Adventure at The Rock Ranch. 10am-8pm. $15.

5020 Barnesville Hwy, The Rock, GA; www.therockranch.com

24 Couponing 101: Clipping Down Your Debt. 10am-12:30pm. $15.

Wingate Conference Center; www. breakingfreeseminars.com

24-25 Day Out with Thomas.

10am-3pm. $16. Georgia Veterans St Park, Cordele; SamShortline.com

31 Young Eagles Day at Flightways

Columbus. 8:30-11:30am. Free.

Ages 8-17. Columbus Airport; 706323-6565 or http://youngeagles. com/flightplan/flight.asp

Toddler Tales at Barnes & Noble.

10am. 5555 Whittlesey Blvd. 706653-7880

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Market Days on Broadway. 9amnoon. Different activities each week. Broadway Street, Columbus; 706-596-0111 or uptowncolumbusga.com

Trick-or-Treat around the Library. 2pm. Free. Columbus Public Library; www.cvlga.org

31 Uptown Spooktacular Halloween Festival & Costume Contest.

2-5pm. Woodruff Park; www.uptowncolumbusga.com

Michael’s Kids Club Meeting. 10amNoon. Ages 3+. See store for details.

Weekly Events Monday

Friday

Family Night at Chick-fil-A Wynnton Road/Midtown. 5-7:30pm. Crafts and fun. Buy a combo at regular price and get a kid’s 4-pc meal free.

2421 Wynnton Road, Columbus

27 Autism Support Group Meet-

29 Spooky Stories in the Garden.

6:45-7:15pm. Free. Columbus Public Library; www.cvlga.org/events

Teen Bible Study at the Skate Shed.

6pm. 4343 Armour Rd, Columbus; www.theskateshed.com

31 The “Not-So-Spooky” Hallow-

MOPS meeting. 9am-Noon.

First Presbyterian Church, 1100 First Avenue, Columbus; www.columbusfpc.org/ mops

een Festival. The Rock Ranch, 5020 Barnesville HIghway, The Rock, GA; (706) 647-6374; therockranch.com

Saturday

Saturday Storytimes at Barnes & Noble. 11am. 5555 Whittlesey Blvd.

706-653-7880

Family Night at Chick-fil-A Phenix City. 5-7:30pm. Crafts and fun. Buy a combo at regular price and get a kid’s 4-pc meal free. 3711 U.S Hwy 280, Phenix City

ing. 6:30pm. Columbus Regional Conference Center, 710 Center Street; 706-604-6333 or www.autismhopecenter.com

Thursday

Tuesday

Uptown Friday Night Concert. 7pm.

Free. Bring your lawn chair. Broadway in Uptown Columbus; www. uptowncolumbusga.com

Friday-Sunday

Jack-O-Lantern Lane Pumpkin Patch. Friday Noon-5pm. Sat 9am6pm. Sun: Noon-6pm. $7. 18151 Veterans Memorial Pkwy, LaFayette, AL; jackolanternlane.com Please call ahead to confirm event dates, times and age appropriateness, in case changes were made after the info was obtained. For more event info, visit MuscogeeMoms.com

There’s no better way to make it through the day than with some tunes, a couple laughs, and someone to listen and listen to. We hear you, we thank you for listening and voting us your READER’S CHOICE favorite radio personalities.

N O’BRIA BEAR WATER S BRIAN OS CHA

REAL PEOPLE. REAL RADIO.

IS CHR

VOT E D FAVO R I T E R A D I O P E R S O N A L I T I E S

PMB-Who Knows The Valley AD-2015:Layout 1 8/10/15 PM Page 1 WiseDJChoices for You & Your 2:14 Family 18

PMB

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Moms Marketplace

LOVE ON YOUR LAWN

Turfscapes

LAWN MAINTENANCE & LANDSCAPING COMPANY

COMMERCIAL . RESIDENTIAL . LICENSED . INSURED

DWTURFSCAPES@BELLSOUTH.NET

706-587-4666

1/2 OFF

1ST MONTH WITH NEW ANNUAL CONTRACT

Dance Classes.

Art Lessons.

Orphan Care. www.clement-arts.org

Showcase your business to over 15,000 local moms. Call Tammy at 253-212-7270.

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

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HOO’S at the Movies

21 21

JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS Rated PG | Ok for kids 10+

This new movie is, of course, based on the beloved 1980s TV series. The movie follows a small-town girl (Aubrey Peeples) who catapults from an underground video sensation to global superstar. Jem and her three sisters take the world by storm when they learn that the key to creating your own destiny lies in finding your own voice. Directed by Jon Chu (“Step Up 3D”), this movie also stars Hayley Kiyoko, Stefanie Scott, Samantha Newark, Juliette Lewis, Molly Ringwald, and Ryan Guzman.

pan PG | Ok for kids 9+

Those classic childhood characters created by J.M. Barrie get a fresh take in this movie directed by Joe Wright. “Pan” follows the story of an orphan boy (Levi Miller) who is spirited away to the magical world of Neverland. There, he finds both fun and danger, and ultimately discovers his destiny -- to become the hero known as Peter Pan. Also stars Hugh Jackman as Blackbeard, Garrett Hedlund as Hook, Amanda Seyfried as Mary, Cara Delevingne as Mermaid, and Rooney Mara as Tiger Lily.

suffragette Rated PG-13 | Ok for kids 13+

This powerful drama centers on the women who were willing to lose everything in their fight for equality in early 20th Century Britain. Carey Mulligan plays Maud, a working wife and mother whose life is forever changed when she’s secretly recruited to join the U.K.’s growing suffragette movement. Galvanized by the outlaw fugitive Emmeline Pankhurst (Meryl Streep), Maud becomes an activist for the cause alongside women from all walks of life. Inspired by true events, this movie explores the passion and heartbreak of those who risked all they had for women’s right to vote – their jobs, their homes, their children, even their lives. Directed by Sarah Gavron, this movie also stars Helena Bonham Carter and Brendan Gleeson.

goosebumps PG | Ok for kids 10+

Based on the book series by R.L. Stine, this movie centers on teenager Zach Cooper (Dylan Minnette), who’s upset about moving to a small town, but finds a silver lining when he meets the beautiful Hannah (Odeya Rush) living next door. But Zach learns that Hannah’s mysterious dad is R. L. Stine (Jack Black), author of the bestselling Goosebumps series. And the monsters from his books are indeed real; Stine protects his readers by keeping them locked up in their books. When Zach unintentionally unleashes the monsters, they begin to terrorize the town, and it’s up to Stine, Zach, and Hannah to get them all back into the books where they belong. Directed by Rob Letterman, this movie also stars Amy Ryan and Ken Marino.

the martian PG-13 | Ok for kids 14+

During a mission to Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon) is presumed dead after a fierce storm and left behind by his crew. But Watney survives and finds himself stranded and alone on the hostile planet.

With only meager supplies, he draws on his ingenuity, wit and spirit to subsist and find a way to signal to Earth that he’s indeed alive. Millions of miles away, NASA and a team of international scientists work tirelessly to bring “the Martian” home, while his crewmates concurrently plot a daring, if not impossible, rescue mission. Based on the book by Andy Weir and directed by Ridley Scott, this movie also stars Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig, Kate Mara, Michael Pena, Jeff Daniels, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Donald Glover.

SOLUTION: bat missing in sky, shutter missing 3rd story, smoke vent missing roof, light missing 2nd story window, circle missing top of front door, spider web missing bottom left window, fence board missing front gate, spindles missing porch rail, board missing right bottom of house, fence boards missing right of gate fence.

22

Haunted Houses

between these two...

HOO’s FUN Spot the differences Wise Choices for You & Your Family

www.FamilyAndKidsDigest.com

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HOO’s CRAFTY cheesecloth

floating ghosts Wouldn’t you love to have some of these floating around your house? Well, I’m going to show you just how easy these adorable, DIY apparitions are to make.

Directions Pour 2 cups of water in a glass bowl, add 1 cup of cornstarch and mix really well. Microwave your mixture in 30 second increments, stirring in between, until it gets thick. Mine took about 2 minutes to get the right consistency.

Let the mix sit aside and get cool enough to handle (but not cold), and line your table with wax paper, and assemble your ghost stand. I used a styrofoamball sitting on a heavy cup, but you could use a balloon, bowls, 2 liter bottles, or whatever you have lying around that will give you a ghostly shape.

Cut your cheesecloth to size, coat it well with the starch mixture, and drape it over your stand. Add a second layer, and shape it how you’d like. Let it dry overnight. Then, carefully remove your ghost and have fun decorating it with black felt eyes, hair bows, or anything else to make them booo-tifull!

supplies cheesecloth

(2 layers per ghost)

corn starch water black felt/bows wax paper a makeshift stand

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A Page In A Book Wise Choices for You & Your Family

Recommending the Best Books

for Children and Teens By Paige Gardner Smith

Sharing, The Joy of Generosity

A pacifier, a bottle, toys, a security blanket; these are some of the first things that a child senses are uniquely their own. But as toddlers start to interact with their peers, learning to share can be the difference between frustrated tears and peace in the realm. The following titles explore the feelings children experience regarding their possessions with a focus on the good feelings that sharing can generate.

Llama Llama: Time To Share

By Anna Dewdney (Viking / Penguin)

When Llama Llama meets Nelly Gnu for the first time, he’s not sure what they will both enjoy playing together. After a cautious start, the two slowly discover a shared interest in building blocks and it looks like the play date is going to be successful. But when Nelly starts to play with Llama Llama’s beloved Fuzzy Llama doll, all bets are off as tears (the wet kind) and tears (the ripping kind) erupt. With parents to help guide the way, Llama Llama and Nelly find a path toward sharing that mends the moment and paves the way toward smoother shared play in the future for these new friends.

Red Panda’s Candy Apples

By Ruth Paul (Candlewick Press) Red Panda makes the best sticky and sweet candy apples. So he decides to make some to sell, looking forward to the reward of coins in his jar. But he soon discovers that it’s hard to let go of something that you’d like to keep (and eat) yourself. Red Panda’s brisk business quickly leaves him with only one apple left, and his last two customers fighting over it. When the struggle over the last apple turns to tears, Red Panda remembers a secret solution that will let everyone enjoy a candy apple. Exploring the mixed feelings that we get when we share the things we love, the real joy of giving comes to the fore in this sweet title.

Bernice Gets Carried Away

By Hannah E. Harrison (Dial / Penguin) Bernice is having a lousy time at her friend’s party. She receives the only piece of cake without a frosting rose. The pinata is opened before she even has a chance to take a swing at it (and the only candy she finds from it is a stepped-on gumdrop). But when the balloons arrive, Bernice isn’t taking any chances. She grabs the all the balloons – which quickly lift her up and away from the party! As Bernice floats away, she passes others who are having equally bad days. Sharing her bounty of balloons becomes the key to boosting the moods of others as well as getting Bernice back down to the party. Touching on the real feelings that can spark possessive reactions, Harrison’s expressive illustrations relate the journey to generosity with uplifting humor.

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25

HALLOWEEN

COSTUME RENTAL ELITE DANCE ACADEMY

Joanne. elitedance@yahoo.com FB: elitedanceacademyinc M, T, Th 5-8pm

www.elitedanceacademyinc.com

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family EDUCATION DIRECTORY

If you would like to feature your school or child care option, call Tammy at 253-212-7270

Traditional

Infants through 3 year olds

Building a strong foundation for life.

Montessori

1100 First Avenue, Columbus, GA 31901

3 year olds through Kindergarten

2, 3, or 5 Day Class Options Art, Music, Spanish, Chapel, Field Trips Classes 9am to 1pm with options for early drop off and after school care

706-322-4523

www.fpcdayschool.education www.columbusfpc.org/day-school

school.stlukeum.com 318 11th Street 706-256-1301 St. Luke School Early Learning Center Preschool

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

www.FamilyAndKidsDigest.com

HOO’s HEALTHY

doctors new sleep advice is eye opening Sleep -- who can get enough of it? More and more studies point to the need for a good night’s sleep. As a new parent, you’re sleep deprived, then when your children get older, they may sleep through the night but wake up at the crack of dawn. Once your kids reach their teens, their days and nights are totally upside down; they often want to stay up too late and sleep half the day away.

Sleep is an important way to rest our brains and reset our bodies for another day. Circadian rhythm helps regulate our sleep/wake cycles.

Yet trying to make sure that your children get enough sleep seems to be a never ending battle (at least in many homes). It’s also one of the most frequent concerns of many of my patient’s parents.

A recent study undertaken by the National Sleep Foundation reviewed over 300 articles published in peer-reviewed journals between 2004 and 2014. Based upon this review, here are the updated sleep recommendations: Newborns (0-3 months): 14-17 hours Infants (4-11 months): 12-15 hour Toddlers (1-2 years): 11-14 hours Preschoolers (3-5): 10-13 hours School aged children (6-13): 9-11 hours Teens (14-17): 8-10 hours Young adults (18-25): 7-9 hours

The

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Kids

Doctor

Sue Hubbard, MD kidsdr.com

So, how do your children stack up against the recommendations? Parents with newborns often complain that their children sleep 15 hours, but not in the increments they’d like, while parents with kids over the age of 13 report that their children rarely get 8-10 hours of sleep.

One mother recently expressed frustration that her 7-year-old daughter would go to bed at 7:30 pm., but woke up every day at 6 am. I explained to her that her child was getting enough sleep, but that unfortunately, her biological clock was set, and that short of making her stay in her room until 6:45 am. -- when Mom’s preferred she get up -- there was not much to do.

The problem is, parents rarely can’t go to bed when their children do (think laundry, work emails and other chores). So while their children may be getting enough sleep, the parents are often sleep deprived!

While a good night’s sleep is important for mood and focus, there’s a lot of data suggesting that children who get enough sleep are less obese, less likely to get into trouble and certainly more pleasant to be around.

Establishing a good nighttime routine is helpful, beginning with a regular bedtime for your children. Commit to no electronics in kids’ bedrooms, and turn off any electronic devices at least an hour before bed. Furthermore, we parents need to do the same!

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HOO’s CUTE

CONTEST Visit our website to enter: w w w. h o o k n o w s t h e v a l l e y. c o m

Mason, 4 years FT Benning

Sara, 3 years Phenix City

Avery 7, months FT Benning

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Hoo’s helpful You have provided your tween with her first phone and installed parental control apps that let you monitor her messaging and texts. However, the acronyms and secret codes used by your tween make the messages difficult to understand.

First, try asking your tween what the ‘web slang’ and secret codes she is using mean. Unless she is hiding something from you, she may be willing to share the meaning with you. If you feel further research is needed, there are websites that will help you decode the texts.

Overall, many of the secret codes tweens come up with are not cause for concern, but there are some that every parent should be aware of. The good news is that if your tween is receiving texts of an inappropriate nature, the monitoring app should let you block the person from sending any more texts to your tween.

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Know YOUR TWEEN’S

Text codes

Here are a few of the common acronyms: ASL: 9 or CD9 or PIR: Parents are in the room Age/Sex/Location GNOC: 143: Get naked on camera I love you KPC: ADR: Keeping parents clueless Address

It can feel like a race to keep one step ahead of your tween when it comes to secret codes, but there is help online. For a more complete list, visit: http://coolmomtech.com/2014/07/texting-acronyms-and-phrases-parents-should-know http://www.netlingo.com/top50/acronyms-for-parents.php