Chatt Valley July 2020

JULY 2020

Wise Choices for Moms & Families

© Timeless Memories by Jessica

CHATTAHOOCHEE VALLEY

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

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Offer only valid Monday 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Kids 10 and under only. Limit one Zax Kidz Meal per adult meal purchase. Adult meals include any Zalad®, Sandwich Meal or Most Popular Meal. Dine-in only. Not valid at any other locations. © 2018 Zaxby’s Franchising LLC “Zaxby’s,” “Zax Kidz” and “Zalad” are registered trademarks of Zaxby’s Franchising LLC. Each Zaxby’s restaurant is independently owned and operated under a license agreement with Zaxby’s Franchising LLC.

HOO’s PARENTINGwww.FamilyAndKidsGA.com

TEACHING KIDS a SECOND language

Teaching your kids to speak a second language can be beneficial and an enjoyable family activity. Kids who learn a second language are more prepared to enter a globally interconnected workforce where being bilingual is an advantage and also improve their analytical and critical thinking skills.

WHEN TO START?

Start teaching your child a second language as early as possible. When babies are born, they can discern all sounds in spoken languages, but between 6 and 12 months of age, they start focusing on the sounds they hear spoken by their caregivers and lose the ability to process and mimic sounds from languages they are not exposed to.

For this reason, it will be much more difficult for your child to learn to speak the second language like a native if he did not start learning it during his first year. Also, immersing children in a second language early means they have a head start on the very long process of absorbing vocabulary.

However, it is never too late to get started learning a second language. One recent study performed by researchers at MIT suggests that the ability to learn a second language does not start declining until about age 18. Another study showed that older kids who may not have had the advantage of being immersed in the second language at home while young can make significant progress in learning if they apply good study skills.

HOW TO START?

Introduce a second language to a baby or toddler in the same way you teach the vocabulary of his primary language. If one parent is fluent in the second language being taught, that caregiver can ‘immerse’ the baby in that language by speaking it exclusively, while the other caregiver speaks the primary language. The baby needs to hear the second language spoken by a native speaker. If no one in your household is a native speaker

of the second language, play nursery rhyme eBooks and songs that are recorded by native speakers of the second language. You could also enlist the help of a bilingual babysitter willing to speak her native language to your child.

Once kids reach school age, look for after school language lessons and opportunities to practice speaking the second language, such as an after school foreign language club.

As kids get older, they develop the ability to use analytical skills to learn a new language and may benefit from studying it in a classroom setting.

MAKE IT FUN

Deciding to teach your child a second language is a big commitment but there are many ways to make it an enjoyable activity the family can participate in together.

• Read bilingual books with your child.

• Sing a favorite song in the second language and dance to it.

• When your child starts to learn to read, place sticky notes on items that contain the name of the item both in the primary and secondary language.

• When you do an activity, such as a craft, do it one time, reading the words in the primary language, and the second time reading the instructions in the second language.

Even if your child is not able to spend enough time practicing the second language to become fluent, the hard work is worth the analytical skills and language skills he will gain from studying it.

For the resources to this story as well as recommendations for bilingual books and songs, visit www.familyandkidsga.com/teaching-second-language

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The Scoop!

Wise Choices for You & Your Family

Due to Covid-19 related event cancellations and scheduling uncertainties, we did not include an event calendar in this month’s issue. We will post events once they confirm to our website at:

FamilyAndKidsGA.com

Where to Find HOO? Check your local kid-friendly doctors, dentists, attractions, retail shops & restaurants; or see our interactive distro map at: familyandkidsga.com/get-a-copy

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

www.Familyandkidsga.com

HOO’s PARENTINGwww.FamilyAndKidsGA.com

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HELPING KIDS COPE

with Aging or Ill

loved ones

By Pamela Kleibrink Thompson

Summer often means family reunions with grandparents. If it’s been awhile since your kids have seen Grandma or Grandpa, they may be surprised that they act different from what they remember.

Parents caught between caring for children and aging parents are often torn between priorities of loved ones which can be emotionally stressful. “It can be very difficult to be a caregiver for aging parents,” states Beth Bland, Director of Senior Services, Harrisonburg/Rockingham Valley Program for Aging Services, based in Harrisonburg, Virginia. “Caregivers should be encouraged to reach out and ask for help. They should also be encouraged to accept help.”

Watching the aging, illness, and death of grandparents can be difficult for children as well as parents. Parents can prepare kids to deal with aging grandparents by having plenty of conversations to explain what is going on and help them through the process. “When an older family member gets sick, the adults go into crisis mode and forget to talk to the kids,” observes Elizabeth Britton, a Certified Senior Advisor and Owner at Home Instead Senior Care in Meridian, Idaho. “Keep communication open and involve the kids. Address their fears. Let children know their feelings are normal.”

Acknowledge your feelings. Concealing or minimizing them can backfire, because children may imagine the worst when family routines are significantly disrupted or sense their parents’ distress. Give your children an opportunity to express their feelings in a healthy way.

"

Give the child a chance to ask questions and express their concerns, fears and feelings.

draw a picture for the grandparent. Remind the children that they can still spend time with their ill grandparent and show how much he or she is loved.

Ask your ailing family member about how and when he/she wants to tell people about his/her illness. This is particularly important if the illness isn’t obvious. Ask the family member what level of visitation he/she would like to have with the children, but don’t cut them off from each other.

Explaining aging and illness to a child requires honesty and sensitivity. Keep explanations simple. Listen carefully to your children’s questions to determine what they want to know.

Answer questions calmly. Use language appropriate to the age level of the child. For a younger child, you might say ‘Grandma’s brain is broken’ if there are memory issues. For an older child, you might explore a website about the illness together.

Don’t overload kids with technical details about the family member’s illness. Children often have delayed reactions to news of a family member’s illness. Let the kids know that it is okay to be sad and to cry when someone they love is sick or dying and that you’re sad too. Honesty and plenty of hugs will help them cope with the reality of a terminally ill grandparent.

Honesty and plenty of hugs will help them cope with the reality of a terminally ill grandparent.

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Bland shares, “I helped my mother care for my father until his death. It was one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done.”

To reduce stress when dealing with an aging parent, Bland has the following tips: l “Adjust activities to the parent’s tolerance level. l Ask them what they want to do.

Bland suggests, “Be honest with the child. Explain what is happening with the grandparent in an age-appropriate way.” Give the child a chance to ask questions and express concerns, fears and feelings. Reassure the child that the grandparent loves him, even if he can’t show it. Ask the child to make a card or

l Try to stay on the normal meal and nap schedule. l Large gatherings may be too overwhelming so consider smaller groups and shorter visits. l Serve food that is consistent with the grandparent’s normal diet. Take time to just be together.”

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

Trending

Yoga With Adriene

We Don’t Deserve Dogs

They welcome all levels, all bodies, all genders, all souls! Browse their library of free yoga videos to find a practice that suits your mood or start a journey toward healing. If you’re brand-new to yoga, check out Yoga For Beginners and Foundations of Yoga series. These are designed to give you the tools to build a happy, healthy at home yoga practice. If you’re ready to work up a sweat, try the Yoga for Weight Loss or Total Body Yoga playlists.

Get to know some of the world’s funniest comedians and your favorite celebrities in an entirely new way: by hearing all about the pets they’re obsessed with! The notoriously irreverent comedian Richie Redding and celebrity veterinarian Dr. Lisa Lippman are unlikely cohosts...and also a loving couple. The result is an extremely informative show that is surprisingly funny. They also get real vet advice from Dr. Lisa and get to play stump the doctor with all the silliest animal questions they have.

Houseparty

Open Book - Jessica Simpson

Open Book is an opportunity to laugh and cry with a close friend, one that will inspire you to live your best, most authentic life, now that she is finally living hers. In her new memoir, Jessica Simpson writes honestly about her career as a pop singer, her marriage to and divorce from Nick Lachey, her stint on reality TV, and her time with John Mayer.

But she also opens up about sexual abuse she experienced in childhood — and addiction.

APP

Houseparty is the face-to-face social network where you can connect with the people you care about most. The app makes connecting face-toface effortless, alerting you when your friends are “in the house” and ready to chat so you can jump right into the conversation. The same goes for you opening the app! Your friends will know you’re in the app and ready to chat, so they can join you (… because rejected calls are so last year). Houseparty is truly the next best thing to hanging out in person.

www.FamilyAndKidsGA.com

Taming the

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HOO’s tips

summertime

snack monster

By Adrienne Greenwalt, RN, Certified Health Coach and local mom of three

How many times have your kids yelled: I’m hungry! and your first thought was: again?!

It’s the dreaded snack attack! I’ve heard from several parents that their kids seem to be constantly asking for snacks all day, and some parents have resorted to using snacks as a bribe to finish school work or chores.

Instead, start with these suggestions to kick the snack monster to the curb:

1. Make snack time (along with all mealtimes) a planned part of the day.

Children thrive on routine. By setting expectations for when meals and snacks happen, you’ll have an answer when they come asking for a snack.

2.

Serve snacks that are wholesome and filling. Instead of chips or animal crackers, provide a snack with protein, healthy fats and complex carbohydrates to provide sustained energy to hold them through until your next meal time.

3. Have a teenager digging through your pantry? Stick with standard mealtimes and have a variety of snack offerings in the fridge or pantry, from which they can choose one or two in between meals.

4. If your kids have gotten used to asking for snack after snack, tell

them the “The Kitchen is Closed,” until the next meal or snack time.

Wipe down the counters and tidy up the dishes after each meal to reinforce that the kitchen is not open for business.

Nutritious and satisfying snacks can be as simple as carrots and wheat crackers with hummus, or strawberries and kiwis dipped in plain yogurt.

Make a fun ‘pinwheel’ snack with a whole wheat tortilla spread with cream cheese, mashed up blueberries or banana, and a sprinkle of cinnamon, then rolled and sliced.

Make smoothies their new favorite, packed with fruit and veggies, and made with nut butter, coconut milk, or avocado for healthy fats, plain yogurt or chia seeds for protein, and dark leafy greens for fiber. For a mid-afternoon treat, we love snack balls made with rolled oats, nut butter, flaxseed, honey, and sprinkled with mini chocolate chips.

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family HOO’ s learning EDUCATION/TUTOR L O C AGUIDE L

Learning Enrolling kids in summer learning activities helps keep their academic skills sharp and prepares them to enter the next grade in the fall. Parents in the Chattahoochee Valley who are seeking summer learning opportunities for their children have a variety of in-person and virtual opportunities to choose from.

BTG LEARNING

3100 Gentian Blvd, #121, Columbus Btglearning.com 762-208-5048 The program at BTG Learning is for kids from 4 years old to 5th grade. Students are evaluated to determine their academic level and a personalized program is designed for each student. Parents have an opportunity to collaborate with instructors on the design of the personalized program and provide information on their child’s preferred learning method. The curriculum combines sports and physical activities to create a learning method that is a blend of the kinesthetic/tactile, visual and auditory methods. The learning environment is designed to be engaging for students who get restless sitting through a traditional classroom lesson.

SYLVAN LEARNING CENTER

6367 Whitesville Rd, #300, Columbus sylvanlearning.com 706-225-8273 The Sylvan Learning Center offers both virtual and in-center tutoring. Instruction is available in math, reading, study skills, writing, credit recovery and ACT/SAT Prep. Tutoring hours are Monday and Wednesday from 1-8pm, Tuesday and Thursday from 10am to 8pm and Saturday from 9am to 1pm.

A comprehensive assessment is available to evaluate skills and design an individualized learning plan.

A STEM camp that includes robotics, coding and engineering will be held July 13-17 from 9am-12 pm. The camp is for students K – 8th grade and the tuition for the week is $149.

MATHNASIUM

6501 Whitesville Rd, #100, Columbus mathnasium.com/ColumbusBradleyPark 706-322-4244 The Mathnasium@home math learning program can be done in the Mathnasium learning center or at home. A summer tutoring package is available until August 31, Monday to Thursday from 3-6pm and Fridays from 3-5pm. The online program is taught by instructors from the local Mathnasium center, so returning students choosing to participate at home will enjoy seeing a familiar face. The instruction is in real time, and instant feedback and help are available on the virtual whiteboard. Each student is provided with a customized learning plan which targets any math knowledge gaps identified by an initial math skills evaluation.

KUMON LEARNING CENTER

1290 Double Churches Rd, #K, Columbus kumon.com/Columbus-north 706-322-3524 The Kumon Learning Center is offering a virtual tutoring program, with an in-center tutoring option available for new students. The program is for kids ages 3 to 12th grade and online instruction is available from 9am to 7pm. The learning center is set up per CDC guidelines to protect both students and learning center staff. The in-person learning for new students ensures they get the face-to-face individual instruction they need. An individualized program is designed for each child to help improve reading and math skills. The Kumon program goes beyond just tutoring and also teaches important critical thinking skills.

CENTER STAGE EDUCATIONAL CONSULTING SUMMER CAMP

6003 Veterans Pkwy, Columbus centerstageeducation.org 404-618-6853

This virtual summer camp is for grades Pre-K through the 6th grade from June 1-July 31. Each week, parents log into the CenterStage website to see the weekly camp curriculum and students can log in at any time during the week to complete their work. The academic curriculum focuses on reading and math skills. Students have a chance each Wednesday to participate in virtual extra-curricular activities. On Fridays, students have the opportunity to attend a virtual field trip.

www.FamilyAndKidsGA.com EDUCATION/TUTOR GUIDE

Learning through physical activity & Sports

Math & Reading Tutoring & Enrichment

Ages

3-11 free academic assessment

Bridging The Gap for Learning and Opportunity

Sign up Online btglearning.com (762) 208-5048

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

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HOO’s CUTE

CONTEST VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO ENTER YOUR CUTIE: www.FamilyAndKidsGA.com

Kiara, 7 years Columbus

Anna Rose, 2 years Phenix City

Mary, 8 years Columbus

HOO’s Fun

Summer Fun on the Farm is Back!

This summer, the Rock Ranch, a 1,500-acre cattle ranch located about an hour from Columbus, is offering the opportunity for families to visit and enjoy fun farm activities and the ranch’s beautiful scenery. The ranch is open to the public on Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10am-4pm.

Adam Pugh, general manager of the Rock Ranch, says, “In our new normal, guests have multiple options.

They can visit simply to have lunch or enjoy our famous strawberry Icedream® and walk about the farm on marked walking paths. They may choose to extend their stay by purchasing a punch card to enjoy select attractions and food items, make an appointment online for a zipline experience…or make a reservation for a personal guided VIP experience.”

There is no admission fee to enter the farm and enjoy the walking paths. Guests who would like to enjoy the attractions are encouraged to make reservations for the zipline and purchase punch cards online. There is a discount for buying the punch cards online. Pugh says,

“There is a limited quantity for each time slot throughout the day and tickets may sell out, so we really advise guests to buy online in advance of their visit.”

The attractions available this summer include a cow train, fishing, pedal carts, a petting zoo, paddle boats, fun farm games and gem mining. Lunch is available in the Café in The Country Store and guests can shop for home-cooked casseroles, meat and other products in The Country Store. Appropriate precautions, such as adding hand sanitizing stations and spacing the café tables for social distancing, have been taken to ensure the safety of guests. Curbside pickup is available for online orders from The Country Store that are placed in advance.

Families who are interested in turning their visit to the ranch into a getaway can go online to reserve the Farm Stay Houses or make reservations to camp in one of the Conestoga Wagons located on the property.

Visit therockranch.com for more info or to RSVP.

www.FamilyAndKidsGA.com

HOO’s PICKS

Highlight On Does your child know how to set a table? How to hold a fork and knife correctly? How about the confidence to introduce his/herself to someone new? Do they look people in the eyes when speaking and put their device away when eating? Do they feel comfortable and confident in social situations?

Columbus Junior Cotillion, now in its 26th year, helps teach area young people good manners and the importance of knowing, through practice, why etiquette is important in today’s world. We focus on character education, so each child can be the best version of his/herself during the formative years. Our programs are about learning and showing honor, dignity and respect for others.

They teach the tools so young people can be more self-confident.

Many of the topics covered in our programs include interview skills, social media etiquette, manners for the home, theatre etiquette, sports etiquette, restaurant etiquette, flag etiquette, team-building and much more.

Their goal is to develop: 1) well-rounded members of society that are confident and poised in social situations; 2) aware of

COLUMBUS JUNIOR COTILLION appropriate boundaries within society; 3) able to respectfully conduct oneself in an appropriate manner.

The Cotillion’s programs are for students in grades 5-12. The small classes meet on either Sunday afternoons or Monday evenings, depending on the program; beginning in August and completing the season in late November/early December. There may be more than one class or event each month. They offer four programs: • YEAR I for students in 5th and 6th grades • YEAR II for students in the 6th grade with Year I experience and 7th grade students with no prior program experience • PREMIERE for 7th grade students with prior experience and 8th grade students new to our program • HIGH SCHOOL Cotillion Club for 9th-12th grade students Tuition varies by program. They offer sibling discounts after the first enrollment and military discounts. For more information, visit www.nljc.com/chapter/greatercolumbus or email the director Jackie Dudley at columbusjrcotillion@gmail.com.

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

Tuesdays Kids Eat Free!

From 5-9pm with each adult entrée

Over 10 Kids Meals under $4 each!! (includes drink)

FREE ICE CREAM Because everyone deserves dessert!

All-natural

ingredients

Diet Restriction Friendly

jasonsdeli.com

706-494-8857 • 5555 Whittlesey Blvd, Columbus • Hours: 10am-10pm

Online Ordering Catering

Dining Deals

www.FamilyAndKidsGA.com

for Kids

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

MONDAY Barberitos

Free kid’s meal with adult entrée

Sapo’s

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

Zaxby’s

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

Tuesday

The Chicken Lady’s COOP 5-8pm: Kids’ chicken plate for $3.25

Denny’s 4-10pm: Up to two free kids’ entrées with adult entrée for kids 10 and under

Hudson’s Free kids’ meal for 12 and under with adult entrée

Jason’s Deli 5-9pm: Free kids’ meal for kids 12 and under with each adult entrée; dine-in only

Ruby Tuesday

Thursday MOE’s Southwest Grill 5-9pm: Free kid’s meal per $5 minimum adult entrée

Captain D’s Kids’ meals .99 cents all day

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 free kids bowl with purchase of regular bowl or pita

Every day 219 On The Lake 5-9pm: Kids eat for $2.19 on kids menu (M-TH)

5-10pm: Kids 12 and under eat free with adult entrée

Bruster’s Ice Cream

TGI Friday’s

Kids under 40” get free baby cone

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

Wednesday Applebee’s Half off kid’s meal per adult entrée. Limit: 4 kids to adult

Pita Street Food 4-9pm: Kids eat free, per $8 min. adult buy; dine-in

Golden Corral Kids 3 & under eat free with adult meal purchase

McAlister’s Kids’ meals are $1.99 with dine-in order

Newk’s 4pm-close: free kid’s meal with adult meal (M-W)

O’Charley’s

Your Pie

Free kid’s meal per adult entrée for kids 10 & under

Kid’s meal $1.99 (pizza, drink & gelato) w/ adult meal

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.

Red Robin Kid’s meal $1.99 w/ adult meal for kids 11 and under

Wise Choices for You & Your Family

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HOO’s HUNGRY

STEAK AND POTATO

PACKETS For the GRILL, OVEN OR CAMPFIRE! DIRECTIONS Cut the steak into pieces (2.5 - 3 inches for well done, 3 - 4 inches for medium, 5 inches for rarer steak). Marinate it if you like. Place the steak, potatoes, onion, olive oil, and all seasonings in a large bowl and toss well. Set out 4 pieces of aluminum foil, at least 12x12 inches. Evenly divide the steak and potatoes between the middles of the foil sheets. Top with butter cubes, then fold the foil over the steak and potatoes and seal well.

ON THE GRILL/FIRE: On a hot grill, cook the foil packets for 10-12 minutes per side, or until the potatoes are tender. If you’re cooking the packets on a fire without a grill, place them on a 2-inch bed of coal.

IN THE OVEN: Bake the steak foil packets at 425°F for around 2530 minutes, or until done to your liking. If you want a char on the steaks, open the packets and broil for 3-4 minutes in the end.

INGREDIENTS • 1.5 pounds steak • 1 pound baby potatoes • 1 onion • 1 tablespoon olive oil • 2 tablespoons chopped parsley • 1 tablespoon minced garlic • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning • salt and pepper to taste • 2 tablespoons butter Courtesy of www.savorynothings.com

www.FamilyAndKidsGA.com

HOO’s INSPIRED

An Inside Look

Sleep in Heavenly PEACE In 2012, Luke Mickelson’s kids were bored over Christmas break, the new Christmas gifts were not cutting it. So, Mickelson, of Kimberly, Idaho, decided to do a service project. He grabbed some wood from his shed and his family built a bunk bed. Afterwards, he went to his church to find someone in need. One of the parishioners raised their hand, confessing their children sleep on the floor. Mickelson was shocked, attending an affluent church, he did not expect “bedlessness” to be an issue.

After doing some more research, he learned children sleeping on the floor is a big problem.

Mickelson started Sleep in Heavenly Peace with the mission of “No Kid Sleeps on the Floor in Our Town.”

However, the non-profit has rapidly expanded internationally, with over 200 chapters throughout the U.S., Canada and Bermuda. In Columbus, Sleep in Heavenly Peace got its start after founder, Michael Wood, heard about the non-profit on Joy FM. After attending a build in LaGrange, he was hooked and created a local chapter in September 2019. “Right now, the demand has been keeping up with supply,” explains Wood.

“We’re still growing, I wouldn’t even say growing, we’re still trying to get the word out—get volunteers,” he continues, “Which is kind of a catch22. We need beds and inventory to cover any requests. But, when we get the word out, what happens most is the requests.”

Since its start, SHP has built 26 beds for local children.

Each bed is made from the same plans. The beds are dipped in a tank of vinegar and steel wool and each bed is branded with the SHP logo. SHP offers single beds or ladder-free bunks. The non-profit provides beds for youths in need within a 30-minute radius from the Columbus Metro area. Those in need of a bed can request one online. SHP delivers the bed and dresses it. When the volunteers leave, the bed is ready for a peaceful sleep.

How to Help: If you’re interested in volunteering

with Sleep in Heavenly Peace, visit their website and click “VOLUNTEER.” Volunteers of all ages and experience levels are welcome. No tools are required. Most builds begin at 8am with tear down before noon. If you are not able to volunteer for a build, SHP is also in need of new, twin sized bedding, pillows and mattresses. Additionally, SHP will be hosting a large build on September 26th for Bunks Across America, sponsored by Calvary Church.

Follow SHP on social media for more info on local builds and ways to help @SHPColumbus or visit them online www.shpbeds.org/chapter/ga-columbus.

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

FOR MORE SUMMER CAMP INFO AND LISTINGS, VISIT: FAMILYANDKIDSGA.COM/SUMMER-CAMPS-COLUMBUS-GA

www.FamilyAndKidsGA.com

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

www.FamilyAndKidsGA.com

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

www.FamilyAndKidsGA.com

BE THE ONE WHO MAKES HISTORY C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S C L A S S O F 2 0 2 0 BROOKSTONESCHOOL.ORG

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

HEAD START ages 7-10 JUNIOR VARSITY ages 11-14 VARSITY ages 15-19 ADULT ages 20+ Go to www.ImpactPerformanceRX.com or call 706-984-8150 for a FREE class today

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

YOU ARE THE GENERATION THAT WILL BE STEPPING FOOT ON MARS. TIERA FLETCHER

STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS ENGINEER, BOEING

GIRLS IN STEM BECOME WOMEN WHO CHANGE THE WORLD. LEARN MORE @SHECANSTEM ON INSTAGRAM

HOO’s PARENTINGwww.FamilyAndKidsGA.com

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Preparing kids

for jobs of the future Today's technology evolves so rapidly, it's impossible to predict what new inventions are coming. How can parents and educators today prepare children for technology and jobs that may not even exist yet? A recent education study by Harris Poll reveals that hands-on, collaborative learning experiences increase children's confidence and ability to learn new things. The study showed that children worldwide who are confident learning STEAM subjects (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) feel more confident about their ability to learn overall. And that confidence translates into a willingness to try new things - an essential trait in education and business, where changes occur at a rapid pace.

LEGO Master Educator Aaron Maurer provides tips for teachers and parents on fostering confidence in STEAM subjects, drawing on his many years of experience using LEGO Education solutions and as a FIRST LEGO League robotics coach.

1. LET KIDS TRY & FAIL Children build confidence when they're given the opportunity to try new things, even if they feel unsure of themselves. Experiencing trial and error, and learning from setbacks, means children can also fully own their successes. If kids are free from the pressure of needing to achieve constant success, they are more willing to learn from their failures.

The Harris Poll found that most parents, children and educators from several countries acknowledge the role of failure as a necessary part of learning. And overcoming that failure is the foundation for genuine confidence.

As Maurer describes, "When something doesn't work and kids have the opportunity to troubleshoot and make it work, you can see their confidence light up."

2. ENCOURAGE HANDS-ON While the study found that the vast majority of educators worldwide (95%) highly value hands-on learning, teachers said their schools did not provide enough hands-on learning experiences, due to time limitations and curriculum constraints.

Maurer explains, "Hands-on learning, learning through building, through trial and error, through collaboration has the power to engage kids in a way that lectures and worksheets simply don't. Getting hands-on with a chal-

lenge or a task allows them to explore and realize there isn't just one answer. It allows them to experience failure in a healthy way and realize that failing at a task is a natural part of the learning process and does not mean a subject is out of their reach."

Parents wanting their children to experience more handson learning may want to seek after-school classes and clubs, or games and activities to do at home that foster more hands-on experiences in a variety of subjects.

3. ENCOURAGE SOFT SKILLS While we can't anticipate every technological advance that may occur in our children's lifetimes, one thing doesn't change: communicating and collaborating with others is a vital part of any job, in any field.

How can you help children develop these skills? Provide opportunities where kids work together to solve problems, create - or just play together. Try a sports team, music group or social club. Any opportunity to interact with others positively and working toward common goals, can boost their confidence and ability to be part of a team.

Future jobs may be hard to predict, but helping kids develop confidence and their ability in STEAM skills - and soft skills will provide a strong foundation to tackle future challenges.

For a directory of local extra-curricular activity providers, visit https://familyandkidsga.com/cat/activities/

Wise Choices for You & Your Family

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HOO’s FUN

Patriotic Shape Search

HOO’s CRAFTY

SEE THE OCEAN IN A

BOTTLE Courtesy of: happyhooligans.ca

DIRECTIONS Fill approximately 1/3 of your bottle with water. Add sever al drops of food coloring. Have your child shake the bottle to disperse the food coloring. Now, simply top up the bottle with oil. I filled ours right to the top and then popped the lid on. Tip the bottle upside down and watch your ocean come to life.

TIP: a mouthwash bottle is perfect, as it has a child-proof lid to prevent the kids from opening it when playing with it.

SUPPLIES WATER COOKING OIL BLUE FOOD COLORING FUNNEL LARGE BOTTLE

www.FamilyAndKidsGA.com

7 2 7 5 4 t h St r e e t C o l u m b u s , GA 3 1 9 0 4

S AT U R DAY S 4:30PM | 6:00PM

S U N DAY S 9:30AM | 11:00AM *CHILD CARE IS PROVIDED AT ALL SERVICES

WATCH ONLINE! www.cascadehills.com

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Today is full of possibilities.

For more than 70 years, St. Francis has been at the heart of care for Columbus. Today, we begin the next chapter of care for our community. Embracing new possibilities together. Our combined legacies of compassionate, quality care means we are positioned better than ever before to make our communities healthier. We are St. Francis – Emory Healthcare.

MyStFrancis.com