About three hours from Columbus is the city of Helen. Once known for its gold mines, it is the third most visited Georgia town. It is a city in the Appalachian Mountains with lots of German flair as it was designed by the artist John Kolack to resemble a town in the Alps, a mountain range in Europe.
Spend the morning hiking the beautiful Dukes Creek Falls and Raven Cliff Falls trails. Grab lunch at Café International as you overlook the beautiful Chattahoochee River, then get dessert at Granny’s Famous Funnel Cake Haus. During tubing season, book a ride with Cool River Tubing to “shoot the hooch” to float down the river on a raft with your whole family.
Located about two and a half hours from Columbus, Birmingham has lots to offer visiting families. Spend the day at the Birmingham Zoo and see exotic animals including a jaguar named Khan. Then head on over to the McWane Science Center. There are several fish tanks themed to be the home of animals from lakes, rivers, oceans and reefs. There is even a touch tank! Learn about dinosaurs and sea monsters that once made Alabama their home in the Paleontology area of the museum. Then head to Itsy Bitsy Magic City which includes a climbing center, toddler area, water enrichment activities and an interactive city. If you are in Birmingham on the weekend, visit Majestic Caverns which is located right outside of the city, and includes a cave tour, gemstone panning, mini golf and archery.
About 45 minutes from Columbus, in the heart of Auburn, is the new Town Creek Inclusive Playground, a 60,000 square foot playground. The park has equipment for all ages and features five playground areas, a zip line, rock climbing wall and even fitness equipment for adult use. Then let your children explore the grounds and learn about the environment at the Louise Kreher Forest Ecology Preserve. There are special programs, camps and classes offered throughout the year that kids will love.
Drive just an hour and a half north of Columbus to spend the day exploring the beautiful 30 acres of Atlanta’s Botanical Gardens. Enjoy the beautiful views of the city skyline and the garden overlook as you visit the children’s garden. Don’t miss the chance for a scavenger hunt and treat as you search for blue-green frogs with your children in the conservatory and visit the edible garden.
For a more “wild-life,” head over to the Atlanta Zoo for wildlife presentations and encounters, tree top rope adventure courses for kids and toddlers, a zoo train, animal themed carousel, playground and splash pad.
If you are looking for indoor fun, head to the Georgia Aquarium and watch the beluga whales, whale sharks and tiger sharks in beautiful, enchanting aquariums. Stay for show with bottleneck dolphins or sea lions that is sure to bring a smile to your kids’ faces.
If your family is more into museums, Fern Bank is an exciting adventure with an outdoor space that includes a canopy walk, nature playground, exhibits and 75 acres of outdoor space. Watch a show in their huge theater, learn through activities in the STEAM lab and visit the NatureQuest area full of hands-on activities, animal displays and playgrounds all focused on nature.
Then for lunch head on over to an Atlanta favorite, The Varsity, for lunch and order hot dogs and fries.
Another great option is to pack up the car and head to the closest Florida beach about 3.5 hours away for sunshine and sand adventures.
By Amanda Merrill, Family & Kids
The ability to communicate well with others is an essential life skill that kids need to start learning at an early age. Like other skills, communication skills are developed through hard work and practice. Here are some tips on teaching your child good communication skills and how to help your child practice them
A good communicator listens and displays empathy toward the person that he is communicating with. Help your child practice understanding what others are feeling by listening carefully to what they are saying. For example, if your child’s friend is upset due to losing his ball game, ask your child how he would feel if he had practiced hard but still lost. Ask your child what he thinks an empathetic response to his friend would be. Role-playing is a good way to help your child practice keeping an open mind and using empathy to understand the perspective of others.
Model empathy when you communicate with others. Your child will learn to display empathy by observing you and then can apply what he learns when the opportunity arises. Also, displaying empathy in conversations with your child keeps the lines of communication open. He knows he can approach you to share thoughts and feelings and you will take the time to understand how he feels.
To communicate well, those participating in the conversation need to take turns speaking. Waiting patiently for a turn to speak is difficult for some children. If your child is having trouble waiting his turn, help him practice by using an object that, if he possesses it, gives him a turn to speak while everyone else shows respect and listens attentively. When communicating with a teenager, ensure you are doing a good job of modeling this. Your teenager will stop trying to have a conversation with you if you do not give him an opportunity to express himself and he does not feel respected.
Older kids and teenagers are starting to define themselves as individuals. Even if you disagree with your child’s opinion, avoid interrupting him to launch into a critique of his point of view. It is fine to let him hold his own opinion. If the topic of a conversation is a household boundary that is essential for your child’s safety, use ‘I’ statements to communicate that the boundary cannot be changed. You could say, ‘I know how you must feel, but due to safety concerns, I cannot change the time you must be home on Friday night.’
No matter what words you speak, if your body language does not match your words, the other people involved in your conversation may conclude that you do not mean what you are saying. Teach your kids to make good eye contact and to stand in a position that does not suggest impatience or hostility. For example, standing with your arms crossed can send a subconscious message that you are in a defensive mode and are not truly open to listening to what the other person has to say. Teach your child to make eye contact with the person he is speaking with and to use gestures, such as nodding occasionally, that indicate he is listening. Some teens may be so used to communicating with other teens through texting that they do not know how to use proper body language. Use role-playing to help your teen practice looking at the other person, not his phone, and use relaxed, friendly body language.
This homemade thermometer science experiment is a cool demonstration to show kids how thermometers work and to talk about heat and temperatures. Liquid thermometers have been around for hundreds of years. While most of us now use digital thermometers to take a temperature, liquid ones are neat to study and learn about as well!
1. Pour equal amounts of water and rubbing alcohol into the bottle until it is 1/4 of the way full. Add in a few drops of red food coloring to make it more visible and to look like a thermometer.
2. Put the straw into the bottle and wrap the clay tightly around it and the opening of the bottle. You do not want the straw touching the bottom of the bottle, so move it up and have the clay hold it in place. Leave the top opening of the straw uncovered.
3. Now you can test the thermometer! Put your hands around it to see if that warms it up. You'll get a small reaction with the heat from your hands. Now try putting it into the freezer to see what change happens. Test it outside in your weather on a hot or cold day and see what happens.
How and why does this homemade thermometer work? This is called thermal contraction and expansion. When the alcohol and water mixture gets hot, it expands. This increases the pressure inside the bottle and pushes down on the liquid in the jar. Since the clay has sealed it in, it has nowhere to go but up the straw! When it cools down again, the liquid will return back down the straw.
• Modeling clay
• Red food coloring (optional)
• Water
• Clear straw
• Rubbing alcohol
• Small clear, narrowed neck bottle
• Thermometer (optional)
Panic Attacks are episodes of intense fear that can cause frightening symptoms such as changes in heart rate and heart rhythm, shortness of breath, shaking, dizziness and a sense of impending doom. The episodes occur suddenly and are sometimes triggered by a stressful event, but in some instances, the panic attacks may occur with no warning and without a trigger. Some people only experience a panic attack once or twice in their lifetime, but some patients experience panic attacks frequently and are diagnosed with a panic disorder by a medical professional.
SYMPTOMS: The symptoms of a panic attack are due to the body’s ‘fight or flight’ response, and the combination of symptoms caused by a panic attack can be very uncomfortable. Sometimes the symptoms are so severe the person having them is convinced they are having a heart attack. The symptoms of a panic attack can last up to, and sometimes longer than, a half hour.
A person having a panic attack is aware of what is happening to them and has not ‘lost their mind.’
Techniques such as deep breathing and focusing on sensory inputs, such as strong smells or touching something soft, may help the patient cope with the symptoms of the panic attack. However, these coping techniques will not stop a panic attack that is in progress.
CAUSES: It is not known exactly what causes panic attacks and panic disorders but certain factors, such as anxiety, stress, PTSD and a family history of panic disorders, can make developing a panic disorder more likely. The symptoms can be similar to those associated with serious medical conditions. Seek a medical evaluation to eliminate the possibility that the symptoms are due to a serious medical condition. If a patient is diagnosed with a panic disorder, treatment typically includes therapy, and if needed, medication. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is often used to treat panic disorders.
RESOURCES: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4451-panic-attack-panic-disorder
Earth Day is Saturday, April 22. You can make a big difference for our planet even by making little changes.
• Pick out organic food choices. Did you know that eating organically supports the idea of eliminating toxins like herbicides and pesticides from the soil?
• Reuse your shopping bag. Investing in reusable shopping bags can decrease plastic pollution.
• Buy in bulk. Buying in bulk reduces the amount of plastic being used for packaging purposes, and your carbon footprint to make multiple grocery store trips.
• Buy local resources and seasonal foods. Buying locally actually decreases the use of fossil fuels, since less fuel, labor and packaging are needed to get the food from the grower to a local distributor.
Prevent food waste by preparing smaller portions, saving leftovers, and freezing anything you won’t eat by day three.
• Visit a Zoo or aquarium. Zoos and aquariums support conservation and biodiversity by teaching people about how to preserve the environment and the animals in it.
• Instead of going to a theme park, spend the day at the beach or go hiking in the mountains. Pick up any trash you see along the way.
• Plant a tree in your yard. Trees provide oxygen for our planet and are important to conservation.
• Conserve by taking a shorter shower, running a quicker wash cycle; don’t let the water run while brushing your teeth and turn off lights that aren’t in use.
See how much you save on your utility bills compared to the previous month! Try
Literacy is the ability to read and write and is one of the most essential skills that a person can learn. Literacy is necessary for success in the classroom and in life. According to US Department of Education data analyzed by Gallup, in the U.S., 54% of people between the ages of 16 and 74 read below sixth-grade level. The Literacy Alliance of Columbus is a non-profit organization that works to improve literacy for both children and adults in the Chattahoochee Valley. The organization partners with the Muscogee County School District and the Columbus Technical College to provide residents of the Chattahoochee Valley with opportunities to build literacy.
The Literacy Alliance of Columbus offers a variety of programs to children and adults.
Kindergarten Readiness: This is an early literacy program that is intended to improve the vocabulary of young children and increase their desire to learn. In this program, preschoolers receive one-on-one interaction with a literacy volunteer.
Mayor’s Summer Reading Club: This program aims to improve the literacy of children ages birth to eight and that of their families.
Family Reading Programs: The Literacy Alliance offers programs to train parents on how to improve their children's literacy. The Basics is a class that helps families learn literacy skills and the Book Parades program provides new books to atrisk children. The organization also hosts reading festivals and fun events filled with literacy activities.
Adult Literacy: Undereducated Adults have an opportunity to participate in free basic adult literacy classes. These classes teach the reading and math skills undereducated adults need to become more self-reliant. The adult program also includes resources that help adults learn financial literacy, basic computer skills and how to live a healthy lifestyle.
Brandy Tolbert, director of Literacy Alliance, says, “One of my goals for FY 2023-2024 is to increase the awareness and capacity of the program. With the help of the city’s Community Reinvestment Department, we were able to purchase and install three community book nooks to increase access to high-quality reading material in South Columbus.”
For more information on signing up for programs or volunteering, visit facebook.com/Literacy.Alliance/.
RESOURCES: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6659987/
Your child does not have to wait until she becomes an adult to start working on establishing a strong credit history. Your child can start building a credit history before he is 18 with some help and coaching from you. An established credit history will make it easier for them to apply for financing for large purchases in adulthood. Here are some steps to take to lay the foundation for their strong financial future.
Identity thieves can steal your child’s identity and use it to open credit accounts. It is a good idea to pull your child’s credit report occasionally to ensure that identity theft had not occurred and harmed your child’s credit history. If your child is under the age of 13, you will need to contact the credit bureaus by mail and send the information required to request your child’s credit report. If your child is over the age of 13, you can use an online tool such as AnnualCreditReport.com to order credit reports from each of the three credit bureaus. Every consumer is entitled to a free credit report annually from the three credit bureaus. Some parents choose to protect their young child’s credit by freezing it until their child is mature enough to start working on building credit.
You may have already started teaching your child about budgeting by using cash or a debit card. Before allowing your child to use credit to make purchases, teach the concept of creating a budget and putting only as many purchases on credit that can be paid off at the end of the month. You could demonstrate this by allowing your child to use ‘credit’ to make purchases for the week and then help her track her expenses to ensure she does not spend more than she can pay back with her weekly allowance. If she goes over, teach your child the concept of paying interest on a credit card balance by charging her a small percentage of ‘interest’ on her balance until she earns the money to pay it back. Explain how interest works and help her calculate how much she will pay each day if she waits to pay back the amount she owes.
Once you are confident that your child understands the concept of making purchases on credit, it is time to consider adding your child as an authorized user to one of your credit cards. Some parents add their teen to their credit card as an authorized user but only let their child have the card and use it when their child is being supervised by a trusted adult. Once teens demonstrate that they can use credit responsibly, many parents let their teen carry a credit card to make purchases or use in emergencies, with the understanding that their child will pay back the amount she has charged. This is not a step to take lightly. Your credit score and hers will be affected if your child uses poor judgment and makes financial mistakes with the credit card that is under your name. Also, remember that it can work the other way and you can harm your child’s credit score if you mismanage the account that you have her added as an authorized user. Try not to carry a balance over to the next month and always make payments on time. Those are two of the biggest factors that impact credit score. You can check yours for free at annualcreditreport.com
MONDAY
Barberitos
Free kid’s meal with adult entrée after 4pm
Sapo’s
5-8pm: Free kid’s meal with adult entrée
The Office
4-9pm: Kids 12 and under get a free kid’s meal with each adult entrée. Dine in only.
Tuesday
Chicken Salad Chick
Free Little Chick Meal with purchase of adult meal
Denny’s
4-10pm: Up to two free kids entrées with adult entrée for kids 10 and under
Jason’s Deli
5-9pm: Free kid’s meal for kids 12 and under with each adult entrée; dine-in only
Ruby Tuesday
5-10pm: Kids 12 and under eat free with adult entrée
Wednesday
Your Pie
Kid’s meal $1.99 (pizza, drink & gelato) w/ adult meal
Red Robin
Kid’s meal $1.99 w/ adult meal for kids 11 and under
THURSday
Tuesday's Street Tacos & Burritos
Free kids meal with adult purchase; dine-in only
Saturday
Denny’s
4-10pm: Up to two free kids entrées with adult entrée for kids 10 and under
sunday
The Simple Greek Kids 12 & under get half-off kids bowl with purchase of regular size bowl. Not to be combined
219 On The Lake
5-9pm: Kids eat for $2.19 on kids menu (M-TH)
Bruster’s Ice Cream
Kids under 40” get free baby cone
McAlister’s Kid’s meals are $1.99 with dine-in order
All locations are Columbus, GA unless noted. Specials are subject to change without notice, so please verify them directly before dining. Send kids deals to Tammy@FamilyAndKidsGA.com.
With deals this good, save the mess and dine out!
1 Artful Babies (Columbus Museum at the Library) Ages 0-24mo. RSVP. 10:30am. Columbus Public Library; 706-243-2813
1 Spring Food Truck Festival. 11am-5pm. Woodruff Riverfront Park; facebook.com
1 Easter Outreach & Vendor Fair. 11-3pm. 1 Layfield St, Phenix City; 334-298-2060
1 Spring Eggstravaganza & MCoE Band Concert on the Lawn at Riverside. 11am-3pm. Fort Benning; benning.armymwr.com
2 Columbus Rapids Indoor Soccer. 1:50pm. Columbus Civic Center; 706-653-4460
3-7 Activ8 Spring Break Camp. 8am-5pm. Ages 4-14. CSU Elizabeth Bradley Turner Center; 706-507-8070
3-7 Spring Break Staycation. 9am4:30pm. $150. BTG Learning; 762-208-5048
4 Artful Babies (Columbus Museum at the Library). Ages 0-24mo. RSVP. 10:30am. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813
4 STEAMpunks-Stories & Science. 3pm. South Columbus Library; 706-683-8805
4 Teen Takeover. 4pm. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813
4 Harry Potter Night. Families. 6:30pm. Mildred L. Terry Library; 706-243-2782
4 Little Sprouts. 10:30am. $5/family. Columbus Botanical Garden; 706-327-8400
4 Music Under the Dome. 5pm. Coca-Cola Space Science Center; 706-649-1470
5 Teen Takeover: Spring Break Movie. 4pm. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813
5 Whimsical Watercolors. Ages 5-12yrs. 4pm. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813
6 Teen Crafternoon: Take & Makes. 3pm. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813
6 Family Fun-Nights at the Library: Winniethe-Pooh Springtime with Roo Movie Night. 4pm. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813
7 Teddy Bear Tea Party. Families. 11am. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813
7 Fun Friday. Families. 3pm. North Columbus Library; 706-748-2855
7 Egg Hunt at the Library. Ages 0-10 yrs ONLY. 4pm. North Columbus Library; 706748-2855
7 Teen Takeover: Fandom Club. 4pm. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813
7-8 River Dragons Hockey Game. 7:30pm. Columbus Civic Center; 706-653-4460
8 Mini Makers (Columbus Museum at the Library). Ages 2-4yrs. RSVP. 10:30am. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813
11 Mini Makers (Columbus Museum at the Library). Ages 2-4yrs. RSVP. 10:30am. Columbus Public Library; 706-243-2813
11 Columbus Children’s Book Festival Party. Families. 3pm. South Columbus Library; 706683-8805
11 Teen Takeover. 4pm. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813
11 Teen Takeover: Career Path Fair. 6pm. Mildred L. Terry Library; 706-243-2782
12 MAMA B.E.A.R.S. Breastfeeding Support meeting (part 2). 12:30pm. Columbus Pediatric Assoc; 706-221-4602
12 MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) meeting. 6pm. First Baptist Church, Columbus; facebook.com
13 LEGOS®. Ages 5-12yrs. 4pm. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813
14 A Blessing of Unicorns: a Mythical Party. Ages 5-12yrs. 4pm. Columbus Library; 706243-2813
14 Teen Time & Parents Night Out with Autism Hope Center. 6:30-8:30pm. RSVP. Cascade Hill Church; 706-604-6333
15 River Dragons Hockey Game. 7:30pm. Columbus Civic Center; 706-653-4460
15-16 Spring Fling Festival. 10am-5pm. Free. Warm Springs; WarmSpringsGA.com
16 Columbus Rapids Soccer Game. 1:50pm. Columbus Civic Center; 706-653-4460
18 LEGOS® in the Library. Ages 5-12yrs. 3pm. South Columbus Library; 706-683-8805
21 My Mad Science Lab: Brain Games. Ages 7-12yrs. 4pm. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813
21 TBR: Teens Be Reading. 4pm. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813
21-22 Tuck Everlasting: The Musical. 7:30pm. Family Theatre; 706-431-3752
22 Reptile Fest. 10-2pm. $5. Oxbow Meadows; 706-507-8550
22 2nd Autism Awareness Carnival. Noon3pm. CSU Frank Brown Hall, 1127 Broadway; facebook.com
22 Earth Day Family Fun Day and Plant Sale. Columbus Botanical Gardens. 9am-3pm. Free for members. $10 non-member adults, $5 kids 4 and under.
22 Get Your Game ON! - Unplugged. 3pm. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813
24 Code Club: Videogames. Ages 5-12yrs. 4pm. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813
24 Picture Book Playdates. Ages 5-12yrs. 3pm. South Columbus Library; 706-683-8805
25 Teen Takeover. 4pm. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813
25 Family Fitness with Grannies on Guard. 5:30pm. Mildred L. Terry Library; 706-243-2782
26 MAMA B.E.A.R.S. Breastfeeding Support meeting (part 2). 12:30pm. Columbus Pediatric Assoc; 706-221-4602
26 MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) meeting. 6pm. First Baptist Church, Columbus; facebook.com
27 LEGOS® in the Library. Ages 5-12yrs. 4pm. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813
28-29 Tuck Everlasting: The Musical. 7:30pm. Family Theatre; 706-431-3752
29 Columbus Children's Book Festival. Columbus Library. 10am-2pm. Visit cvlga.org for the full schedule of activities.
29 Uno, Dos, Tres Craft! Ages 4-8yrs. 3pm. Mildred L. Terry Library; 706-243-2782
30 From Broadway to Hollywood. 2:30pm. RiverCenter; 706-256-3612
MONDAY
Simple Steps Storytime: Babies & Toddlers (Ages 0-36mo.) 10am; Preschoolers (Ages 3-5yrs.) 11am. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813
Teen Takeover: Merry Pop-Ins. 3pm. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813
TUESDAY
Simple Steps Storytime. Babies (Ages 0-24 mo.) 10am; Preschoolers (Ages 2-5 yrs.) 11am. North Columbus Library; 706-748-2855
Simple Steps Storytime: Family. 10:30am. South Columbus Library; 706-683-8805
Unplug…For Chess’ Sake! Families. 4:30pm. Mildred L. Terry Library; 706-243-2782
WEDNESDAY
Simple Steps Storytime. Preschoolers (Ages
3-5 yrs.) 10am; Babies (Ages 0-36 mo.)
11:15am. Mildred L. Terry Library; 706-2432782
Discovery Hub. Ages 3-5yrs. 11am. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813
Teen Takeover. Teens. 4pm. South Columbus Library; 706-683-8805
Library Games. 4pm. Columbus Library; 706243-2813
THURSDAY
Simple Steps Storytime: Family. Ages 0-5yrs. and Families. 10am. Columbus Library; 706243-2813
Discovery Hub. Ages 5 and under. 1pm. North Columbus Library; 706-748-2855 (Not 20th or 27th)
Sight Words Support @ Your Library. Families.3-5pm. 30-min one-on-one practice session. Mildred L. Terry Library; 706-243-2782
Get Your Game ON! 4pm. South Columbus Library; 706-683-8805
Teen Takeover. 6pm. North Columbus Library; 706-748-2855. (Not 20th or 27th)
FRIDAY
Simple Steps Storytime: Rhythm & Rhyme. Ages 0-5yrs. 10am. Columbus Library; 706243-2813
Uptown Columbus Concert Series. 7-10pm. Uptown Columbus/Broadway; uptowncolumbusga.com
SATURDAY
Market Days on Broadway. 9am-Noon. 1100 Broadway, Columbus; 706-596-0111
Toddler Time. 10am-Noon. Launch Trampoline Park; 706-221-8680
Please call ahead to confirm event dates, times and age-appropriateness, in case changes were made after the info was obtained.
This introductory league focuses on skill development, fun, and confidence building. Participants learn teamwork, sportsmanship, and baseball fundamentals.
Coaches and volunteers needed.
SEASON: May - June
LOCATION: D.A. Turner YMCA 4384 Warm Springs Rd, Columbus (706) 563-7
COST: $65 YMCA Membe $80 Non-Members
CONTACT:
Antonio Mathis amathis@ymcacolumbusga.com
For more about T-Ball and other YMCA Programs: : Columbusymca.com or contact our other locations below
Aj McClung Youth + Teen Center 1175 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd Columbus, GA 31906 (706) 322-8269
John P. Thayer YMCA 24 14th St. Columbus, GA 31901 (706) 322-8269
AUTOMATION BEYOND EARTH
Monday, June 26 - Friday, June 30, 2023
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Learn to design, program, and build di erent kinds of robotic systems to solve real-world problems!
Apply by April 16, 2023
www.ccssc.org
Did you know that science is frequently hidden in many everyday activities that children participate in all the time. There is science in helping bake a cake, kicking a ball, riding in a car and taking care of pets. Taking the time to showcase the science at work to your child could be invaluable in their ability to learn, and to create a desire for continued learning.
Research from the University of Texas at El Paso showed that only about 20% of high school graduates are prepared for college-level educational programs geared towards STEM such as engineering and medicine. STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) occupations, which often provide a high income for em-
ployees, are predicted to increase. According to the Pew Research Center, STEM employment has already increased by about 80% since the 1990s.
In many classrooms today, teachers infuse STEAM into their lessons because it promotes engagement and understanding beyond books.
STEAM activities provide enrichment for children, real-life applications of knowledge, hands-on learning, opportunities for creativity, the use of critical thinking skills and collaboration between students.
Utilizing STEAM activities at home can help reinforce concepts and expand your child’s understanding beyond what may be achievable in a school setting. For example, have your kids learn about butterfly migration patterns as they practice writing a story on life cycles; create butterfly art and calculate the distance the butterflies make on the Monarch butterflies’ migration to Mexico. Then engineer a STEM device out of toothpicks, popsicle sticks, rubber bands and cotton balls that could get the butterflies there faster. An-
By Amanda Merrill, Family & Kidsother idea is to use art materials to construct a car and ramp. Then calculate the speed and velocity of the vehicle. After recording the results, re-engineer the car to make it faster. Adding STEAM into your days makes life a little more fun. Next time you are ordering from Chick-fil-a, have your kids add up the coins to pay for their meal, watch the staff mix the lemonade and then have them time themselves going down the slide on the playground. They will be doing STEAM and won’t even realize it!
VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO ENTER YOUR CUTIE: www.FamilyAndKidsGA.com
Despite originating in Germany, hot dogs are an essential American food — an estimated 7 billion hot dogs are served up each summer in the U.S. alone. And with that many sausages on the grill, the name for a food that doesn’t involve any actual dogs has become completely mainstream. But where did it come from? Some food historians believe that early songs and jokes gave the wieners their name, suggesting that sausage meat came from dogs. But a more likely story is that German butchers named early American frankfurters “dachshund sausages” after the long and skinny dogs they resembled, which was eventually shortened to “hot dogs.”
Resource: www.interestingfacts.com
These no-bake bars are a no-joke, easy and fun whole grain treat.
Gather ingredients below. Place all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Add more liquid to help it blend if it’s too thick. Transfer the smoothie to a bowl or container, rinse the blender and prep the next smoothie.
RED LAYER:
• 1 frozen banana
• ½ cup Greek yogurt, vanilla or plain
• ½ cup frozen raspberries
• ½ cup frozen strawberries
• water or liquid for blending
GREEN LAYER
• 2 frozen bananas
• ½ cup Greek yogurt, vanilla or plain
• 1 handful, or more spinach
• 1 cup frozen pineapple
• water or liquid for blending
ORANGE LAYER
• 1 frozen banana
• ½ cup Greek yogurt, vanilla or plain
• ½ cup frozen peaches
• 1 small orange
• ¼ cup frozen mango
• water or liquid for blending
BLUE LAYER
• 2 frozen bananas
• ½ cup Greek yogurt, vanilla or plain
• 1 cup frozen pineapple
• small amount of blue food coloring
• water or liquid for blending
YELLOW LAYER
• 2 frozen bananas
• ½ cup Greek yogurt, vanilla or plain
• 1 cup frozen pineapple
• water or liquid for blending
PURPLE LAYER
• 1 frozen banana
• ½ cup Greek yogurt, vanilla or plain
• 1 cup frozen mixed berries
• water or liquid for blending
Welcoming a new baby is one of life’s most joyous events. We know that compassionate quality care for you and your baby is one of the most important parts of your family’s journey. We’re here for your first step and all the possibilities after.
To learn more about our childbirth services or to schedule a tour call us at 706-320-8001 or visit online at MyStFrancis.com
