Family & Kids Chatt Valley October 2017

OCTOBER 2017

Wise Choices for Moms & Families

© Jessica Fowler Photography

CHATTAHOOCHEE VALLEY

always changing. always free.

Front Cover Sponsor, See page 8

Cover

Free Fall Festival Returns to the Museum on October 14.

Sponsor Pg. 5

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

NOW OFFERING IMPLANTS!

Dr. Cathy Cook

Gentle Dentistry for the Entire Family!

ACCEPTING ALL MAJOR INSURANCES, CARE CREDIT AND OFFERING FINANCIAL OPTIONS

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.

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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 9.5 mL. An actual teaspoon used to measure cooking ingredients is 5 mL. 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.

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SHOPPING GUIDE Food & Beverage

activities Academy Dance.................................. 18 Chattahoochee Valley Libraries...... 7 Growing Room....................................28 iCON Wrestling...................................20 Jack O Lantern Lane......................... 14 Oasis Child Enrichment Center....29 Performance Dance Centre.............25 Prodigy Dance......................................11 River of Life Fall Festival................. 13 RiverCenter.......................................... 10 The Columbus Museum..................... 8 The Rock Ranch................................. 31

Childcare/ education TELL THEM Brookstone School.............................27 Calvary Christian...............................26 SENT YOU! First Presbyterian Day School.......26 Grace Christian School....................26 Highland Kids Academy..................29 Kumon...................................................26 Lakewood Child Development ......28 St. Luke Schools.................................26 Sylvan Learning Center...................29

TELL THEM SENT YOU!

Chick-fil-A............................................ 13 Chill Yogurt & Pizzeria..................... 18 Yola’s Coffee & Cafe..............................6 Zaxby’s..................................................... 2

healthcare Columbus Counseling......................20 Comprehensive Women’s Care........ 9 Cook Dental Care.................................. 2 Ctr for Reproductive Services........24 Dr. Alberto Lugo, DMD......................20 Family Counseling of Columbus..... 6 Pediatric Dentistry of Columbus...22 Pediatrics at Brookstone Centre... 21 Rivertown Pediatrics........................ 14

Shopping/ Retail AutoNation Honda.............................32 Edward Jones, Brad Brooks............23 Happy Honey Pot............................... 18 In this Place with God......................20 Jessica Fowler Photography..........20 Kilwins Columbus............................. 21 Mickayla’s Place - Resale..................9 MM’S Creative Boutique.................. 13 Once Upon A Child - Resale...........30 The Posh Peach..................................30 Wee Blessings.....................................24

Where to Find HOO? BULK LOCATIONS: Area Chick-fil-A Locations PLUS: Check your local kid-friendly doctors, dentists, attractions, retail shops & restaurants.

TO SUBMIT AD OR EVENT: Tammy Usie, Publisher tammy@hooknowsthevalley.com 253-212-7270 FamilyAndKidsGA

www.HooKnowsTheValley.com

www.HooKnowsTheValley.com

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Register to Win with

4 Tickets & VIP Experience to:

Value Over $200!!

Nov. 14 l 7pm at the RiverCenter Click the CONTEST TAB at www.HooKnowsTheValley.com. Drawing Nov. 1st.

HOO’s CRAFTY SPOOKY LITTLE

GHOSTS IN A JAR Ghosts in a Jar!! Aren’t they so cute? It’s like you caught a ghost and you are keeping it in a jar like you would a bug.

Great decorations!

DIRECTIONS Hot glue one of the spools to the center of the underside of the jar lid.

Cut wood dowel to the height you’d like your ghost to be. Hot glue it into center hole of the spool, and glue a wooden ball onto the top of dowel. Glue more wood dowel pieces to form arms, if desired.

Layer four pieces of cheesecloth over your forms and cut the shape you’d like. Leave extra length, as the next step will shrink the cheesecloth a little.

Pour liquid starch in a bowl and immerse the cheesecloth for one ghost until saturated. Remove and squeeze out any excess starch. Flatten out the cloth and then drape over your form. Now shape it and allow to dry completely.

Lastly, give your ghosts some dots for eyes and put the lids back on!

SUPPLIES glass jars cheesecloth liquid starch 1 1/4” wood balls 3/4″x 5/8″ spools 1/8″ wood dowel Hot glue gun & glue black sharpie

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

PTSD

Not all wounds are visible.

We can help.

Call 706-327-3238

HOO’s PICKS

APPS to LOVE Frontier Heroes Frontier Heroes tests your smarts, skills, and reflexes as you work your way through an illustrated version of American history, from pre-colonial days through the California Gold Rush. Complete era-specific challenges to unlock more exciting adventures.

Puzzingo Every Puzzingo puzzle piece is named, so littles will build vocabulary while playing.

Also builds spatial recognition, fine motor, memory, and cognitive skills. It also appeals to children with autism and children with special needs.

Out of Milk Out of Milk is a grocery list on steroids. You can keep a pantry inventory, save recipes and add ingredients directly to your shopping list manually or with a bar code scan, get deal alerts and alerts when you’re running low on something. Plus it remembers past shopping lists and is shareable!

Happy Kids Timer Helps your littler kids establish a morning routine that doesn’t require your direct supervision. They use the app themselves as it walks them through everything from brushing teeth to making their bed. Plus it’s got cute animations and music to keep them motivated and out of the house on time.

www.HooKnowsTheValley.com

HOO’s HEALTHY Choriocarcinoma is a rare cancer that develops in

a woman’s uterus and can spread to other organs in the body, including the lungs, liver, kidneys, and brain. The abnormal cells originate in the uterine tissue that would normally form the placenta. The cells of the placenta are called trophoblast cells. Choriocarcinoma most often develops after a molar pregnancy, but it can also occur after the delivery of a baby or after a miscarriage. A molar pregnancy occurs when, due to a genetic error, a mass of trophoblast cells, (often called a tumor or mole) is formed instead of a viable embryo.

Molar pregnancies and choriocarcinoma are forms of gestational trophoblastic disease. A molar pregnancy is treated with surgery but if not all the placental tissue is removed, the cells in the tissue may become a malignant tumor and lead to choriocarcinoma. The abnormal trophoblast cells in the tumor make beta HcG, which will produce a positive pregnancy test even though the patient is not pregnant with a viable fetus.

WHAT IS: CHORIOCARCINOMA

Symptoms of choriocarcinoma include abnormal vaginal bleeding after a recent molar pregnancy or normal pregnancy, pain, and difficulty breathing. Choriocarcinoma is diagnosed using blood tests and ultrasounds to look for a tumor in the uterus.

The treatment for choriocarcinoma is most often chemotherapy. Radiation treatments are only rarely needed. The prognosis is very good when choriocarcinmoa is discovered early and is almost always curable. The outlook is not as positive when there is a delay in diagnosis and the cancer, which can be quite aggressive, has started to spread to other parts of the body. This is why it is important for women who have recently had a molar pregnancy, normal pregnancy or miscarriage to attend all follow up care and monitoring appointments and to report any possible symptoms without delay.

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

PUMPKIN P A T C H E S BACKYARD ORCHARDS & CORN MAZE 6585 Hwy 431 N, Eufaula, AL 334-695-5875; backyardorchards.com

LANE SOUTHERN ORCHARD & CORN MAZE 50 Lane Rd, FT Valley, GA; 800-277-3224 lanesouthernorchards.com

BUTTS MILL FARM 2280 Butts Mill Rd, Pine Mountain, GA 706-663-7400; buttsmill.farm

PARADISE PUMPKIN PATCH 894 Country Road 79 South, Eufaula, AL 334-695-2258; paradisepumpkinpatch.com

DREAM FIELD FARMS & CORN MAZE 6376 Hwy 82, Fitzpatrick, AL 334-534-6976; dreamfieldfarms.com

THE FARM HOUSE 469 Farmhouse Rd, Ellerslie, Georgia, GA 706-561-3435; thefarmhousega.com

JACK-O-LANTERN LANE 18151 Veterans Memorial Pkwy, Lafayette, AL; 334-869-0554; jackolanternlane.com OAKHURST FARM & MAZE 19710 GA Hwy 219, West Point, GA 706-615-2081; oakhurstfarms.com

THE FARM AT ROCKY TOP 2910 Lee Rd, Salem, AL; 334-559-5567 thefarmatrockytop.com THE ROCK RANCH 5020 Hwy 36, The Rock, GA 706-647-6374; therockranch.com

www.HooKnowsTheValley.com

We are expecting

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Y ou!

Maria V. Gonzaga, MD OB/GYN

1900 10th Ave. Suite 300 Columbus, GA (706) 341-3311 | comprehensivewomenscare.com

The Perfect Gift

Finding the right gift, the one that doesn’t get forgotten in a drawer or buried in the closet, can be time-consuming and frustrating for parents. In fact, surveys have shown that up to two-thirds of the presents we give our kids aren’t wanted or valued by them.

Here’s a gift idea that has lasting value. Studies confirm that kids value experiences more than material goods. They would rather be taken on a new adventure or revisit a favorite family vacation spot than be given a new plaything. Experiences create many layers of value as kids anticipate exploring new surroundings or revisiting familiar traditions such as cooking over a campfire. Long afterwards, they continue to relive the trip in their memories, retelling it to family and friends. Even the mishaps morph into positive, long-lasting memories like the trip with five flat tires and a blowout, or the one when the raccoons got in the cooler and ate all the sandwiches, or the time mom forgot the swimsuits and everyone went swimming in the river wearing…. well, that’s a family secret!

Not surprisingly, kids aren’t the only ones who value new experiences more than getting things. Similar studies have shown that adults who spend their money doing things are happier than those who spend their money buying possessions. Now we just have to solve the problem of choosing vacations that are to everyone’s liking.

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

Coming Soon:

OCT. 17 | 7:00 PM Join Jimmy & his groovy pal Pete on an adventure full of inspiration!

Based on The critically acclaimed book series by Georgia artist, James Dean and CO-Author Kimberly Dean. media sponsors:

DISCOVERY SEriES presented by:

NOV 11 2:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.

TM ©

Preshow dinner available before evening show.

Visit RiverCenter.org for more information!

media sponsors:

SERIES 900 BROADWAY, COLUMBUS, GA | 706.256.3612 | VISIT RIVERCENTER.ORG

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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 $93.20 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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Dining Deals

Wise Choices for You & Your Family

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MONDAY

thursday

Chick-fil-A, Phenix City

MOE’s Southwest Grill

5-7:30p: Free kid’s meal with regular priced combo

Chill Yogurt Cafe & Pizzeria

5-9pm: Free kid’s meal per $5 minimum adult entrée

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

sunday

Zaxby’s

Kids eat for $.99 after 4pm

5-8pm: Free kid’s meal with adult entrée

Stevi B’s Pizza

Texas Roadhouse

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

Tuesday 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.

Monday-Friday Steak & Shake Happy Hour, 1/2 price shakes or drinks from 2-5pm

Denny’s

4-10pm: Up to two free kids’ entrées with adult entrée. For kids 10 and under

every day

Ruby Tuesday

Golden Corral

5-10pm: 2 kids under 13 eat free with adult entrée

TGI Friday’s

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

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

Kids 3 & under eat free with adult meal purchase

Hartz Chicken Buffet

Children 3 & under eat free with purchase of an adult entrée. Kids ages 5-7 get discounted prices 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 kid’s special not listed here, contact Tammy@HooKnowsTheValley.com.

Follow us

@FamilyAndKidsGA

Win cool prizes, socialize & stay in the know!

www.HooKnowsTheValley.com

Oct. 312017

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

HOO’s Fun

www.HooKnowsTheValley.com

SPOT 15 DIFFERENCES

Can Can you you find find 15 15 differences differences between between these these two two pictures? pictures?

www.ActivityVillage.co.uk www.ActivityVillage.co.uk -- Keeping Keeping Kids Kids Busy Busy

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October PROVIDED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH:

1 The Magician’s Nephew. 2:30pm. $12.

2100 Hamilton Rd, Columbus; 706-3667196 or familytheatre.org

7 Home Depot Kids Workshop. 9amNoon. Free. Ages 5-12. Columbus 706-3229240; Phenix City 334-297-2045

14 Synovus Fall Festival & Costume Con-

2 Monday Makers Club. 3:30-4:30pm.

7 Fore Kids Junior Golf Tournament.

10am. $10-$20. Ages 8-15. Godwin Creek; forekidscolumbus.com

18 Tween Art Class: Graffiti Art. 4pm.

North Columbus Library. 706-748- 2855.

South Columbus Library. 706-683- 8805.

3 Mini Makers: Halloween STEAM for preschoolers. 10:30-11:30am. Columbus Library. 706-243- 2679.

5 VIP Time for kids with special needs.

7 Uno, Dos, Tres Crafts. 3:00-4:00pm. Mildred L. Terry Library. 706-243- 2782.

7 Cowboy Day. 10am-8pm. $16.05. The

6-8pm. $10. Launch Trampoline, Columbus; launchcolumbus.com

Rock Ranch, 5020 Barnesville Hwy, The Rock; 706-647-6374, therockranch.com

5 A Story for You, Un Cuento Para Mi: Bi-

8Annual Harvest Hoedown. Warm Springs; warmspringsga.us

lingual Storytime. 11:45am-Noon. North Columbus Library. 706-748- 2855.

6 MOPS and MOMSnext meeting. 9:1511:30am. Wynnbrook Baptist, 500 River Knoll Way, Columbus; 706-323-4374

6-7 The Magician’s Nephew. 7:30pm. $12. 2100 Hamilton Road, Columbus; 706366-7196 or familytheatre.org

9 Multicultural Monday: Germany. 5:00-

6:00pm. Columbus Library. 706-243- 2679.

10 Science Says: Yer a Wizard Magic Trick.

4pm. N. Columbus Library. 706-748-2855.

10 Pumpkin Party. 3:30-4:30pm. South Columbus Library. 706-683- 8805.

6-8 The True Story of the Three Little Pigs. 7pm. Sunday 2pm. $8-$15. Springer Opera House; springeroperahouse.org

11 La Leche League Morning meeting.

7-8 The Cotton Pickin’ Fair. 8am-5pm. $5-$8. 18830 Hwy 85, Gay; cpfair.org

12 I Saw the Sign: ASL for Kids. 4pm.

North Columbus Library. 706-748- 2855.

10:30am. Columbus Library; www.lllofga. org/columbus.html

test. 10am-3pm. Free. Columbus Museum; columbusmuseum.com

19 A Hogwarts Halloween. 4pm. North Columbus Library. 706-748- 2855.

20 Fun Friday Pumpkin Decorating. 4:30pm.

Mildred L. Terry Library. 706-243- 2782.

20 MOPS and MOMSnext meeting. 9:1511:30am. Wynnbrook Baptist, 500 River Knoll Way, Columbus; 706- 323-4374 20 Friday Family Flicks: Boo! A Madea Halloween (PG-13). 1pm. South Columbus Library; cvlga.org/attend-it 20-22 Day Out with Thomas. 9am3pm. $24. GA Veterans St Park, Cordele; SamShortline.com 20-22 The True Story of the Three Little Pigs. 7pm. Sunday 2pm. $8-$15. Springer Opera House; springeroperahouse.org

21 Daddy & Me Storytime. 11:00am12:30pm. Mildred L. Terry Library. 706243- 2782.

13-15 The True Story of the Three Lit-

21 Up, Up & Away. 10am-8pm. $16.05.

The Rock Ranch, 5020 Barnesville Hwy, The Rock, GA; 706-647-6374; therockranch.com

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21 Fort Benning’s Oktoberfest. 8am10pm. Free. Uchee Creek Army Campground, benningmwr.com

tle Pigs. 7pm. Sun. 2pm. $8-$15. Springer Opera House.org; springeroperahouse.org Great Outdoor Adventure. 10-8pm. $16.05. Rock Ranch, 5020 Barnesville Hwy, The Rock; 706-647-6374; therockranch.com

r Events 21-22 Hogansville Hummingbird Festival. 10am-5pm. Free; hummingbirdfestival.com

28 Uptown’s Spooktacular Halloween

26 Spooky Stories in the Garden. 6:307:30pm. Columbus Library. 706-243- 2679.

28-29 Day Out with Thomas. 9am3pm. $24. GA Veterans St Park, Cordele; SamShortline.com

26 ASL for Kids. 4:00-5:00pm. N. Columbus Library. 706-748- 2855.

26 La Leche League Evening meeting.

Festival. 2-4pm. Free. Woodruff Park, 1000 Bay Ave; uptowncolumbusga.com

31 Trick or Treat Around the Library. 4pm.

Columbus Library. 706-243- 2679.

6pm. Iron Bank Coffee Co; www.lllofga. org/columbus.html

31 Book Character Day. 4:30-6:00pm.

27-29 Christmas Made in the South. $7. Columbus Convention & Trade Ctr; madeinthesouthshows.com

31 Trick or Treat. 4:00-6:00pm. North Co-

28 Not So Spooky Halloween. The Rock

S. Columbus Library. 706-683- 8805.

Mildred L. Terry Library. 706-243- 2782.

lumbus Library. 706-748- 2855.

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Kids Night Out. $10. 6pm practice. 7pm competition.

Ages 5-18. Bows not provided. Archery Connection; 334-480-9997 or archeryconnection.net

SATURDAY

Market Days on Broadway.

9am-Noon. Uptown Columbus; uptowncolumbusga.com Michael’s Kids Club Classes. 10am-Noon. $2. Ages 3+. See store for details.

31 Tricks, Treats & Scary Stories. 5-6pm.

Toddler Time. 10am-Noon. $10. Launch Trampoline Park; launchcolumbus.com

lywood Connections; muscogeemoms.com

Weekly Events

Saturday Storytimes at Barnes & Noble.

11am. 5555 Whittlesey Blvd. 706-6537880

28 Trunk or Treat/Face Painting. 5-7pm.

Toddler Tales at Barnes & Noble. 10am.

5555 Whittlesey Blvd. 706-653-7880

Ranch. 10am-8pm. $16.05. 5020 Barnesville Hwy, The Rock, GA; 706-647-6374; therockranch.com

28 Kids’ Yoga. 11:30am-12:15pm. Columbus Library. 706-243- 2679.

28 CCRC Fall Festival. 11:30-4:30pm. HolFree. MM’s Creative Boutique, 1241 Double Churches Rd, Suite D, Columbus

28 Fall Festival and Plant Sale. 9am-

5pm. Free. Columbus Botanical Garden; columbusbotanicalgarden.com

28 Young

Eagles Day at Flightways Columbus. 8:30-11:30am. Free. Ages 8-17. Columbus Airport; 706-323-6565 or youngeagles.com/flightplan/flight.asp

THURSDAY

Public Ice Skating. 5-7pm. $3 admission and skate rental. Columbus Ice Rink; columbusicerink.org

FRIDAY

Make & Take. 4pm. Free. Phenix City-Russell County Library; phenixcitylibrary.com

Saturday Kids Class. Noon-1:30pm. $25.

Painting with A Twist, paintingwithatwist.com/columbus Please call ahead to confirm event dates, times and age appropriateness, in case changes were made after the info was obtained. For more, visit Muscogeemoms.com.

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

www.HooKnowsTheValley.com

HOO’s HEALTHY Study finds risks of driving while drowsy are similar to driving under the influence of alcohol.

SLEEP

DUI

Driving under the influence of sleep deprivation has a crash risk rate similar to that of driving with a blood alcohol concentration at or above legal limits, says AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

States get less than 7 hours of sleep, while 12% get less than 5 hours. Workers in occupations requiring alternative shiftwork, such as production, health care, and transportation, are more likely to be sleep deprived.

The new study connects increased hours of sleep loss with increased risks of car crashes.

Lack of sleep slows reaction time. One study compared performance results on a computerized hand-eye coordination test. Performance after 17 hours without sleep was similar to the subject’s results with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.05. After 24 hours continuously awake, subject’s performance was similar to a BAC of 0.10.

FOR EXAMPLE: 1-2 hours less sleep than usual equated to a 1.3 times higher crash rate 2-3 hours less sleep than usual equated to a 3.0 times higher crash rate 3-4 hours less sleep than usual equated to a 2.1 times higher crash rate 4 or more hours less than usual equated to a 10.2 times higher crash rate This study is important for moms with children living at home, a group that comprises a significant portion of sleep deprived drivers. A study at Georgia Southern University’s College of Public Health found that only 48% of women with children reported getting at least seven hours of sleep. That means 52% are getting less than seven hours, an amount of sleep shown by AAA’s study to significantly elevate crash risk.

Tired moms of preschoolers aren’t the only ones driving with sleep deprivation. We share the roads with a lot of drowsy drivers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that 35% of adults in the United

Getting by with less than 7 hours of sleep in a 24-hour period can seem normal to parents of young children.

However, experts agree that 7-9 hours of sleep daily is not just the goal, but essential for health. Lack of sleep has been associated with cardiovascular disease, obesity, and depression, as well as safety while driving, says a study from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Signs of sleep deprivation include feeling drowsy during the day, falling to sleep within 5 minutes of lying down, and experiencing “microsleeps” or mini episodes of falling asleep while awake.

Parents with children living at home can catch extra hours of sleep by napping when their kids sleep, saying ‘yes’ to help with infant care, and saying ‘no’ to added responsibilities outside of the household. Be intentional about scheduling sleep for yourself, since only you are aware of how much or little sleep you are getting. It’s not a luxury, it’s critical for your family’s safety.

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

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HOO’s learning

Talking College

Don’t wait until your child is in high school to discuss college. The National Association for College Admission Counseling recommends that you start talking with your child in middle school or earlier. Taking advanced courses and developing good study habits now will help your child do well in high school where good grades make qualifying for scholarships and state funding easier. Volunteer work, activism and community involvement is also important when applying for scholarships. There are several ways to bring up the subject of college with your child.

• Find out what your child is interested in and discuss the type of education one would need to work in different types of careers in that field. See if there are any local programs where your child can volunteer.

• Make sure your child knows that a degree makes a difference in how much money he will make. The average annual earnings of a four-year college graduate are $16,000 more than a high school graduate.

• Visit a campus and talk about what it will be like to attend the school there so they can begin to visualize their goals.

• If you have an adventurous child make sure to let him know that there are several study-abroad programs that allow him to earn his degree and travel at the same time.

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

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HOO’s HUNGRY

TRADER JOE'S COPYCAT

PUMPKIN BUTTER

This quick and easy, all-season pumpkin butter is so good you will want to put it on everything from toast, to ice cream, or to dip things in!

DIRECTIONS In a large glass heatproof and microwavable safe bowl, combine all ingredients with the exception of the lemon juice. Cover with a loose covering that is microwavable safe such as a sheet of wax paper or paper towel.

Cook on high power for 6 minutes; stir. Cook an additional 6 minutes; stir. Cook for an additional 3 minutes; stir.

Carefully remove hot bowl from microwave using oven mitts for protection. Carefully remove loose cover and stir in lemon juice.

Cool completely. Cover airtight and store in refrigerator.

INGREDIENTS • 29-ounce can pumpkin purée • ½ cup granulated sugar • ½ cup packed light brown sugar • 1 cup 100% apple juice or cider • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon • 1 teaspoon ground ginger • ¾ teaspoon fresh grated nutmeg • ½ teaspoon ground cloves • 2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

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Hoo’s Tips

Saving for College

By Brad Brooks

Edward Jones Advisor, Columbus

Few of us have unlimited financial resources — which means that almost all of us need to prioritize our financial goals. Consequently, you’ll have some decisions to make if you’d like to help pay for your children’s college educations while, at the same time, saving for your own retirement.

provide a “full ride.” Here’s the bottom line: Don’t assume you will receive so much aid that you don’t need to save for college at all, but don’t burden yourself with the expectation that you need to pick up the full tab for your children’s schooling.

Right now, the average four-year cost (tuition, fees, room and board) is about $80,000 for in-state students at public universities and approximately $180,000 for private schools, according to the College Board. And these costs are likely to keep rising in the years ahead. Can you save this much for your kids’ education?

Commit to putting a certain amount per month into a college savings vehicle, such as a 529 plan. You can generally invest in the 529 plan offered by most states, but in some cases, you may be eligible for a state income tax incentive.

All withdrawals will be free from federal income taxes, as long as the money is used for a qualified college or graduate school expense for the named beneficiary.

Instead of committing yourself to putting away this type of money, take a holistic approach. After all, you probably won’t be the only one to help pay for college. Depending on your income and assets, your family might be eligible for some needs-based financial aid. Also, you should encourage your children to apply for as many scholarships as possible — but keep in mind that most scholarships don’t

By starting your 529 plan when your children are young, you’ll give the investments more time to grow. Plus, you can make smaller contributions on a regular basis, rather than come up with big lump sums later on. And by following this approach, you may be in a better financial position to increase investments in your own retirement plans.

Living in the Now, Preparing for the Future Learn how you can redefine your savings approach toward education and retirement. Call or visit a financial advisor today.

Brad Brooks

Financial Advisor EDS-5422C-A

.

7790 Veterans Pkwy Suite B3 Columbus, GA 31909 706-576-2206

www.edwardjones.com

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I’m Bored!”

“

HOO’s HELPFUL If your child is feeling bored, it may be a signal that he needs to reconnect with you. Even if you are very busy working, don’t react to the whining by turning the TV back on. Instead, put aside your work for a few minutes and focus on your child. Help him reconnect with you by talking to him or playing his favorite game for five or ten minutes. If you sense he needs more time with you, postpone your work or help get him involved in it.

One common phrase parents may hear, after the ‘screen time’ limit is reached and the electronics are shut off for the day is, “I am bored!”

There is nothing to do!’ While your kids might not think so, feeling bored is actually good When your child feels his need to for them. Here are some reconnect with you is fulfilled for reasons why. the moment, he may start asking

your child’s entertainment director, you allow him the opportunity to look inward and explore his own interests, while at the same time looking around at the external surroundings for possible activities to fill his free play time.

It is in free play time that creative, innovative ideas are constructed.

Most kids, after a few minutes of boredom, will find something interesting to do, like building a fort out of sticks or playing with bubbles in the yard. However, some kids who are used to a day filled again for something to do. At this with structured activities and screen point, don’t provide him with a time, may at first need a little help list of possible activities. Instead, finding activities. Sit down with your encourage him to come up with ideas child and help him brainstorm ideas. on his own. The ability to be self- Write the ideas down and put them directed and to self-entertain is an in a ‘boredom jar’ he can draw from important life skill. By refusing to be whenever boredom strikes.

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Organization: As your child starts school, he will have to plan how to complete assignments. Also, he will be expected to help keep his desk in order. You can start teaching your child this by asking to help pick up toys at home and help decide how to keep them organized. Also, ask him to help keep his folder and book bag organized. Show him how to track his assignments on a calendar.

as soon as your child starts learning how to speak. Your child needs to be able to understand why he is feeling a certain way and have the ability to discuss these feelings, instead of losing control and having a tantrum Independence: Encourage or getting into an altercation with your child’s self skills, like tying shoes and prepping for the next day. Basic another child. self care skills help take the stress out of getting ready for each school day and reduce the likelihood your child will be distracted during the day. child how to share toys with others and have him practice using good manners. Help your child practice and refine his social skills by arranging play dates for him outside of school.

Social skills: When your child starts school, he needs to know Managing emotions: The how to get along with his classmates ability to properly express emotions is and form friendships. Teach your a skill you can start working on early,

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