20 minute read
Seniors Learn Life Skills at
Elberta High
Elberta High School Seniors
Baldwin County Virtual Elementary/ Middle Spelling Bee Winners
Baldwin County Virtual Elementary/ Middle School spellers all did an amazing job showcasing their word knowledge in the spelling bee! Congratulations to our first-place winner, and our runner-up Matilda Cagle!
Foley Middle Science Labs Study Matter
States of matter labs are the best! Students in Mrs. Stewart’s classroom and Mrs. Baker’s classroom at Foley Middle School completed labs this week related to the states of matter. In Mrs. Stewart’s class, students examined the properties of different solids and liquids. In Mrs. Baker’s class, students explored phase changes and recorded data to support phase changes at specific temperatures.
Autauga County Schools
at the Ingalls Stem
Fairhope Middle First Priority Raises Funds for Cancer
Fairhope Middle First Priority raised $654 for the organization Kids Join The Fight. Kids join The fight is an organization that raises money to fight pediatric cancer.
Robertsdale Elementary Learn About Block Coding
Students in 4th- 6th grades at Robertsdale Elementary learned about block coding using the Sphero Bolts and Sphero RVRs in the STEAM Lab. Thank you Central Baldwin Public Schools
Autauga County Schools
Spanish Fort High Student Named UTV 44 Athlete of the Year
Workout Wednesdays at J. Larry Newton
It’s Workout Wednesday at J. Larry Newton School. Our school staff is using January to focus on health and wellness with a friendly team step competition and after school workouts. What a great way to stay fit and fellowship too.
Daphne High Trojans Adulting
While the underclassmen were taking the Winter CERT test, Daphne High School Seniors were “adulting”!
Rotations Included:
Mechanic-How to change the Oil and a Ties with Mr. Ling Traffic Stops
FAFSA- Sponsored by Alabama Fast, is a comprehensive toolkit that includes materials that address many avenues of the FAFSA application process. From help determining if you should file for FAFSA to avoiding scams, this rotation has something for every student.
Senior Seminar- Graduation Checklist, Scholarships, and everything seniors need to know before graduation
Reality Check- Sponsored by Auburn Extension, Seniors were given a paycheck based on current careers. They traveled through life stations to see how far their paycheck would go. Life stations included: Buying or renting a home
Phone and utility plans
Vehicle purchase
Medical costs
Recreational activities and more...
They also had to place money in savings and in addition to the routine monthly responsibilities above. They faced unexpected medical bills and maintenance costs. At the end of the circuit they were met by a career counselor who talks with them about their career decision and the outcome of the Reality Check -whether they had money left or not.
This event helps students understand the importance of planning for a career early, budgets, and the cost of living.
Some of the students were blown away! This whole rotation was a great exercise
It’s essential to keep our kids as healthy as possible to prevent illness. Maintaining good overall health in children is important, so they grow and develop appropriately. A child’s health encompasses physical, mental, and social well-being. My grandfather used to say, “if you have your health, you have everything.” If you and your child are healthy, you will have more energy, lower medical costs, and improved moods. Here are some ways to promote healthy habits within your child:
Create a Bedtime Routine and Regular Bedtime
Sleep helps the brain function properly, which improves learning. Studies show sleep deficiency increases the risk of obesity, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Receiving the proper amount of sleep promotes proper growth and development, improves social interactions, and increases immunity against diseases.
NIH recommends school-age children and teens should sleep for 9-10 hours per night. Bad sleep habits will affect both your physical and emotional health. One way to ensure your child receives enough sleep is to create a scheduled bedtime based on when they need to wake up in the morning. If you maintain the same bedtime every night, it will be easier to fall asleep and create a healthy habit.
Another way to help your child receive the proper amount of sleep is to have a bedtime routine beginning a half-hour before the expected sleep time. This routine will help your child relax, leading to falling asleep more easily. Some suggested bedtime routines are reading, a warm bath, drawing, listening to soothing music, or other calming activities.
Read Food Labels
According to the CDC, childhood obesity has more than tripled since 1970. Childhood obesity has short- and long- term effects on a child’s physical, social, and emotional health. For this reason, a child needs to maintain a healthy weight.
Reading and understanding food labels is a way for a child to determine if food is healthy. The food label will demonstrate the number of calories, sugar, and fat content and also break down the recommended daily intake percentage to help create a balanced diet. It also helps to become more aware of what you are eating since you might think a food is healthy only to learn it isn’t after reading the food label.
Exercise with Your Kids
The CDC recommends that children and teens be physically active for 60 minutes daily. Physical activity should include aerobic, muscle-strengthening, and bone-strengthening activities. If you exercise with your child and select something you both view as fun, you will be more likely to do it. Some suggested family activities are walking, running, hiking, dancing, biking, and a workout class or video. Create a weekly scheduled routine to incorporate the movement into your lives, which would create a healthy habit.
Limit Screen Time
Screen time consists of watching television, playing video games, or using electronic devices. When a child is in front of a screen, they are typically sedentary and not interacting with others. A research study at UCLA found that kids with too much a child’s positive mental health. These skills will also enable a child to learn more effectively in the classroom.
Discuss Physical and Emotional Safety with Kids
According to the CDC, car accidents are one of the leading causes of death in children. One study found over 600,000 children did not use the proper car seat or seat belt, which could prevent death during an accident. Other accidental deaths include drowning, fire/burns, guns, poisoning, and suffocation. To prevent injuries and death, it is important to discuss safety issues regarding all of these potentially dangerous situations. Children and teenagers may be in situations where they are offered drugs or subjected to physical or sexual abuse. Discuss with your child healthy and appropriate relationships.
“My creation of KEYs Southern Spice ® seasoning was a result of pure luck and experimentation,” shares 16-year-old Kari Yarbrough from Fairhope, AL.
This young entrepreneur’s website describes KEYs Southern Spice ® seasoning as a fusion of the South’s greatest flavors and traits. Because of this, the seasoning can be found in several markets throughout the Southeast.
“When I was eight, I often played around in the kitchen. With my parents’ permission, I would literally throw together different ‘concoctions.’ One day, I experimented with spices,” said Kari. “After tweaking it a few times, I asked my parents to try it. To our surprise, it was really good! So good, in fact, we started cooking with it at home and then for others during cookouts. Through word of mouth, the requests for the seasoning grew quickly.”
In 2016, the family decided to start production on this ‘all Alabama’ product at a company located in Calera, AL.
“I should mention that my product is low in sodium, all-natural, has no preservatives or MSG, and is Gluten Free,” Kari shared. “KEYs Southern Spice ® is good on so many things: all proteins whether you grill, bake, fry or sauté. It is the perfect seasoning when roasting veggies. My favorite way to use it is by sprinkling a little on my bacon while cooking it. Bill-E’s Small Batch Bacon is the best!”
When Kari isn’t promoting her spice, she is just a typical junior in high school. She loves to hang out with friends, listen to music, hunt, and spend time with her furry family members.
“We all have hectic schedules so most of our quality time is spent in the kitchen and eating meals together,” said Kari of her mom Melissa, dad Chad and older sister, Samantha. “We all love exploring new recipes and sharing food pics on my company’s social media pages. My dad is a pretty awesome grill master, too! We love music playing over the speakers while we have fun cooking and talking. Meals are truly a family affair for us.”
Business is also a family affair for Kari and the Yarbrough family. Her mom Melissa shares that while Kari is the ‘genius creator’ of the seasoning, every family member plays a part in the operation of KEYs Southern Spice ®.
“We believe her story as a young entrepreneur sets the example for other young children and teenagers to be creative and have fun,” said Melissa. She continued, “Dream BIG and Believe in Yourself!”
Kari loves making pasta dishes, and one of her favorite meals is a Cheese Tortellini with Chicken and Creamy Pesto. She originally made this dish for the first time for her grandmother’s birthday, and while the recipe is sim ple, it is packed with flavor, especially since it features her very own seasoning to spice it up!
You can learn more about Kari and KEYs Southern Spice ® by visiting http:// mykeysllc.com/.
Creamy Tortellini with Chicken and Creamy Pesto
Ingredients:
• olive oil
• 1 pound chicken breast or tenderloins (cut in 1-in cubes)
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 ½ cups milk
• 2 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup heavy cream
• ¼ cup pesto
• ½ c parmesan cheese (freshly shredded)
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 pound cheese tortellini
• Fresh basil for garnishing (optional)
• KEYs Southern Spice ® to taste (optional)
Directions:
• In a skillet with tall sides, heat a drizzle of olive oil over medium-high heat. Season both sides of the chicken with salt and pepper and/or KEYs Southern Spice ®
• Cook the chicken for about 5 minutes on each side or until golden brown and cooked through. Remove chicken to a plate and set aside.
• Boil the tortellini according to package directions.
• In the same skillet that you cooked the chicken, add the butter and garlic. Reduce the heat to medium and cook until the butter is melted, then whisk in the flour and cook for one minute. Pour in the milk and whisk until thickened, about 2-3 minutes. Whisk in the cream cheese until smooth. Add the heavy cream, pesto and parmesan. Simmer until thickened, another 2-3 minutes.
• Add the cooked tortellini and chicken to the pesto cream sauce. Simmer until the chicken is warm, about 3-5 minutes.
• Serve with fresh basil and more pesto, if desired.
Gabriele has been married to her husband Daniel for 17 years. Together they have three incredible children – two boys, ages 16 and nine, and a sweet girl who will be two in August.
Gabriele is a full-time Sales Director for Mary Kay Cosmetics. When she isn’t spending time with family or building her business, she supports her husband who is the Lead Pastor and Planter of Forward Church in Gulf Shores.
Finding safe, suitable daycare is one of the more stressful undertakings parents of young children face. You have to contend with the logistics, such as the convenience of location and hours of operation, and of utmost concern is the safety and development of your child.
• Are all areas used by or accessible
• Are there safety plugs in all electrical add yours as well. Childcare providers expect parents to have many questions, and a good provider will be happy to answer them.
• What is the maximum number of children in your care at any time?
• Do exterior doors have safety locks
• Is there a pool or hot tub in the area?
• Is there a fenced outdoor play area?
• Is the home or facility tidy aside from
• What are the age ranges of children in your care?
• What types of activities do you do with them?
• Are meals and snacks provided? If so, what do they consist of? Also, what time do the kids eat?
• Can I drop in unannounced?
• How do you handle discipline?
• Do you ever take children in the car? If so, are there enough child seats and seat belts for each child?
• Do cribs, playpens, and other baby
Does the daycare also meet the appropri-
• Does it smell clean? Or do you smell
• Are the children happy and content?
• How does the staff interact with the Take this list of questions with you and
• Are there other members living in your home or outside staff who will care for the children? If so, who are they and what are their ages?
• How are naps handled?
• What is the experience or education of the daycare provider and staff?
• What is your policy when a child is sick?
• Can I talk to the parents of other children in your care?
• Is video available so I can peek in at my child on my computer or phone?
Visit https://dhr.alabama.gov/child-care/ for more information.
Baldwin County
Gulf Regional Early Childhood Services ad on page 39
Ages: Infants - 3 years childcare@grecs.org www.grecs.org
Baldwin County Public School System PreK
Ages: 4 years old by September 1 www.bcbe.org/Page/9446
Bay Minette
First Baptist Church Child Development Center
1201 Hand Avenue, Bay Minette 36507
Hours: Monday - Friday 6:00am - 6:00pm
Ages: 6 weeks – PreK4, After-school program for elementary school aged children Cathy@fbcbm.com www.FBCBM.com
Kinder-Kastle
115 North Dobson Avenue, 36507
Hours: Monday - Friday 7:00am - 5:30pm
Ages: 6 weeks - 4 years www.facebook.com/KinderKastleLLC
Visions of North Baldwin Child Development Center
801 West 14th Street, 36507
Hours: Monday - Friday 6:30am - 5:30pm
Ages: 6 weeks - School Age
Daphne Bayside Academy ad on page 29
303 Dryer Avenue, Daphne 36526
Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 3:00pm
Ages: PK-3 - 12th grade admissions@baysideacademy.org www.baysideacademy.org
Resurrection Academy ad on page 21
2401 Main Street, 36526
Hours: Monday-Friday 7:00am-5:30pm (Full Time), 9:00am-1:00pm (Part Time)
Ages: PreK2-PreK4 academy@resurrection.cc www.resurrectionacademy.cc
Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church Preschool ad on page 19
28788 North Main Street, 36526
Hours: Monday - Friday 7:00am - 5:30pm
Ages: 12 months – PreK4 stpaulspreschooldaphne@gmail.com www.stpaulseasternshore.com
3Circle Church Mom’s Day Out
10080 County Road 64, 36526
Hours: Monday - Friday 9am - 1pm Ages: K2 - K4 tephanie@3circlechurch.com 3circlechurch.com
Abiding Love Preschool & Childcare
1030 Stanton Road, 36526
Hours: Monday - Friday 7:00am - 6:00pm
Ages: 2 months - 5 years www.facebook.com/abidinglovepreschool
Ascension Christian School
8888 County Road 64, 36526
Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 11:45pm; Extended Care 12pm-5:00pm Ages: PreK3 - PreK4 www.christian.school
AUC Resource Center
8355 Jonesboro Road, 36526
Hours: Monday - Friday 6:30am - 6:00pm
Ages: 6 weeks - 14 years www.africanuniversalchurch.org
Big Blue Marble Academy
29669 Renaissance Boulevard, 36526
Hours: Monday - Friday 6:30am - 6:00pm
Ages: 6 weeks - 12 years www.bbmacademy.com/location/daphne/
Christ the King Catholic Preschool
708 Dryer Ave, 36526
Hours: PreK-3 Half Day- 7:45-11:45am. PreK-3 Full Day & PreK-4-7:45-2:45am Ages: Pre K-3/K-4 www.ctkcsdaphne.org/over-view
Coastal Kids Academy
11101 County Road 64, 36526
Hours: Monday - Friday 7:00am - 5:00pm
Ages: 18 months - K4 www.coastalchurch.tv/coastal-kids-academy-1
Color Us Kids Learning Center
26000 Nelson Street, 36526
Hours: Monday - Friday 6:30am - 6:00pm
Ages: infants – PK www.coloruskidslearningcenter.com
Eastern Shore Montessori School
980 Main Street, 36526
Hours: Monday - Friday 7:30am - 5:30pm
Ages: 18 months – 5 years esmontessorischool@gmail.com
Eastern Shore Preschool
@ Eastern Shore Baptist Church
6847 Park Drive (Building C), 36526
Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 2:30pm, VPK 8:00am - 11:15am, Extended Care available
Ages: 6 weeks – 4 years espreschool@myesbc.net www.myesbc.net
God’s Living Sea/Jubilee KidsJubilee Baptist Church
9264 Pleasant Road, 36526
Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00am - 1:00pm (Extended hours 7:30am - 4:30pm)
Ages: 6 weeks - 4 years www.jubileebaptist.com
Hermes Enchanted Garden (RPC)
1005 Main Street Suite 200, 36526
Hours: Monday - Friday 7:00am - 5:30pm
Ages: Infant - Pre-K www.facebook.com/hermesenchantedgarden
Kids Kabin Daycare
27730 Main Street , 36526
Hours: Monday - Friday 7:00am - 5:30pm
Ages: 10 weeks - 6 years www.facebook.com/daycareKidsKabinDC
KinderKids Learning Center
10142 County Road 64, 36526
25270 County Road 54 West, 36526
Hours: Monday - Friday 6:30am - 5:45pm
Ages: 6 weeks - 4 years www.kinderkidslc.com
Little Crusaders Learning Center
9023 Lawson Road, 36526
Hours: Monday - Friday 6:30am - 5:30pm
Ages: 6 weeks – K4 www.littlecrusadersllc.com
Our Little Sprouts
28848 North Main Street, 36526
Hours: Monday - Friday 6am - 6pm
Ages: 6 weeks - 5 years olsdaycareprek@gmail.com
The Neighborhood School
26481 Kensington Place (Suite A), 36526
Hours: Monday - Friday 7:00am - 6:00pm
Infant - After School Program tnsdaphne@gmail.com www.facebook.com/ TheNeighborhoodSchoolDaphne/
Tiny Tots Academy, LLC
25478 Friendship Road, 36526
Monday – Friday 6:30am - 6:00pm
Tinytots25478@gmail.com www.facebook.com/tinytotsacademyllc/
Weinacker’s Montessori School
28765 North Main Street , 36526
Monday - Friday 6:00am - 6:00pm www.weinackersmontessori.com
Elberta
Saint Benedict Catholic School ad on page 31
12786 South Illinois Street, 36530
Hours: Monday - Friday 7:45am - 3:00pm
Ages: PreK3 - 8th Grade rkrehlingsbcs@gmail.com www.saintbenedict.net
Good Shepherd Lutheran School
13220 North Main Street, Elberta 36530
Hours: Monday - Friday School Hours
8:00am - 3:00pm, drop off and pick up 7:00am - 3:30pm, (Extended hours available until 5:30pm)
Ages: PreK3 - PreK4 goodshepherdlutheranschool.business.site
Fairhope
Bayshore Christian School
ad on page 23
316 Presbyterian Drive, Fairhope 36532
Hours: Half-day program 5 days a week for PreK Ages: K4 - 12th grade BCSadmin@bayshorechristian.org www.bayshorechristian.org
Fairhope-Point Clear Rotary
Youth Club Pre-K ad on page 37
19128 Young Street, 36532
Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 2:30pm
Ages: 4 years by September 1st tmiller@rotaryyouthclub.org www.rotaryyouthclub.org
Nature Connect ad on page 28
Outdoor School in Fairhope, 36532
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00am - 3:00pm
Ages: 3 years - 5 years
Brittany@natureconnectalabama.org www.natureconnectalabama.org
Saint James Episcopal School ad on page 25
860 North Section Street, 36532
Hours: Monday - Friday 7:30am - 5:30pm (Full Day); 8:00am - 2:30pm (School Day)
Ages: 30 months - 3rd grade schooldirector@stjamesfairhope.org www.stjamesfairhope.school
Country Day School
23800 US Highway 98, 36532
Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 9am - 12pm and Wednesday 9am - 1pm
Ages: 18 months - Kindergarten countrydayfairhope@gmail.com www.countrydayfairhope.com
Eastern Shore Academy of Excellence
23946-B US Highway 98, 36532
Hours: Monday - Friday 6:30am - 6:00pm
Ages: 6 weeks - 12 years jamie.snowden76@gmail.com www.facebook.com/EasternShoreAcademy
Eastern Shore Early Childhood Center
1090 Fairhope Avenue, 36532
Hours: Monday – Friday 6:30am – 5:30pm
Ages: 18 months - 12 years csaltz04@bellsouth.net
Eastern Shore Kids Kastle, Inc.
10291 B County Road 48, 36532
Hours: Monday - Friday 6:00am - 5:00pm
Ages: 6 weeks - 5 years eskki@bellsouth.net
Fairhope UMC Preschool Ministry
155 South Section Street, 36532
Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00am - 12:00pm
Ages: 2 years - PreK terry.lowell@fairhopeumc.org www.fairhopeumc.org
Jubilee Head Start Center
24044 Highway 98, 36532
Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 2:30pm
Ages: 6 weeks - 5 years jubileeheadstart@grecs.org www.facebook.com/JubileeHSFairhope/
Jubilee Shores WeeSchool
17261 State Highway 181, 36532
Hours: Monday - Friday 7:30am - 5:00pm
Ages: 10 months – 5 years weeschooloffice@gmail.com www.jubileeshoresumc.org/wee-school
Marietta Johnson School of Organic Education
8 Marietta Drive, 36532
Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 3:00pm
Ages: 4 years - 10 years marietta.school@mchsi.com www.fairhopeorganicschool.org
STARS Early Learning Academy
8209 Gayfer Road Extension, 36532
Hours: Monday - Friday 6:30am - 6:00pm
Ages: 6 weeks - Kindergarten www.starsearlylearningacademy.com
The Learning Tree Preschool at First Fairhope
300 South Section Street, 36532
Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00am - 1:00pm, extended day 1:00pm-3:00pm
Ages: 6 months - 4 years www.firstfairhope.org
Quality Care Close to Home Since 1985
Quality Care Close to Home Since 1985
Pediatric
Pediatric ENT Patients
Nasal & Endoscopic
Nasal & Endoscopic Sinus Surgery
Allergy Testing & Treatment
Allergy Testing & Treatment
Ear & Mastoid
Thyroid & Salivary Gland
Ear & Mastoid Surgery
Thyroid & Salivary Gland Surgery
Airway & Voice Disorders
Cancer of
Airway & Voice Disorders
Cancer of the Head &
Foley
Cradle 2 Crayons, Inc.
507 West Rose Avenue, Foley 36535
Hours: Monday - Friday 6:00am - 6:00pm
Ages: 6 weeks - 12 years cradle2crayons@gulftel.com www.cradle2crayonsinc.net
Little Learners Kiddie School
708 West Laurel Avenue, 36535
Hours: Monday - Friday 6:30am - 5:30pm
Ages: 6 weeks – 4 years
Precious Moments Learning Center
1900 South Oak Street, 36535
Hours: Monday - Friday 6:00am - 6:00pm
Ages: infants - 13 years
Snook Christian Academy
18930 County Road 28, 36535
Hours: Monday-Friday 7:45am - 3:00pm (before care 7:00am - 7:45am, after care 3:30pm5:30pm) Ages: Prek3 - 12th Grade sca@snookchristian.org www.snookchristian.org
The Stepping Stone Academy
230 West Laurel Avenue, 36535
Hours: Monday - Friday 7:30am - 5:00pm
Ages: infant - 4 years foleyssa@gmail.com www.thesteppingstoneacademy.com
Heavenly Sent Learning Center, Inc.
12710 County Road 65, 36535
Hours: Monday - Friday 6:00am - 6:00pm
Ages: 6 weeks - 12 years poohbear64@gulftel.com
Kid Plus Child Development Center
900 South Bay Street, 36535
Hours: Monday - Friday 6:00am - 6:00pm
Ages: 6 weeks - 11 years kidpluscdc@gmail.com www.facebook.com/ kidplusfoley
Swift Church Preschool
23208 Swift Church Road, 36535
Hours: Monday - Friday 7:00am - 5:30pm
Ages: 6 weeks - Pre-K4 swiftchurchpreschool@gmail.com www.swiftchurchpreschool.com/home
Gulf Shores
First Baptist Child Development Center
– Gulf Shores
2200 West 1st Street, Gulf Shores 36542
Hours: Monday - Friday 7:30am - 5:30pm
Ages: 6 weeks – PreK4 www.fbcgulf.com/children
Gulf Shores United Methodist Church Preschool and Mother’s Day Out
1900 Gulf Shores Parkway, 36542
Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00am - 2:45pm
Ages: 12 months - 4 years lana@gulfshoresumc.org www.gulfshoresumc.org
Holy Spirit Episcopal Day School
616 West Fort Morgan Road, 36542
Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 2:30pm, Ex- tended hours 7:30am-4:30pm
Ages: 16 months - 4 years www.hseds616.com
South Baldwin Christian Academy
6900 Highway 59, 36542
Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 5:30pm
Ages: K3 - 12th Grade admissions@southbaldwinca.org www.southbaldwinca.org
Loxley
East Coast Migrant Head Start Program
16742 County Road 68, Loxley 36551
Hours: Monday - Friday 6:00am - 4:30pm
Ages: 6 weeks- 5 year lconway@ecmhsp.org www.ecmhsp.org
Kidz Learning Center
1074 North Hickory Street, 36551
Hours: Monday - Friday 6:30am - 5:30pm
Ages: 6 weeks – 4 years kidz@gulftel.com
Orange Beach
Bright Beginnings Preschool
Orange Beach UMC
28751 Canal Road, Orange Beach 36561
Hours: Monday - Friday 8:10am - 2:30pm (Extended care 2:30pm - 5:30pm)
Ages: 12 months - 4 years brightbeginnings@orangebeachumc.org www.orangebeachumc.org/brightbeginnings
Discovery Island Child Development
24843 Commercial Avenue, 36561
Hours: Monday - Friday 7:00am - 6:00pm
Ages: 6 weeks - 5 years www.discoveryislandcdc.com
Robertsdale
Central Christian School ad on page 15
17395 Highway 104, Robertsdale 36567
Hours: Monday-Friday 7:00am-5:30pm
Ages: K3 - 12th grade www.ccssaints.com
Central Kids Daycare
17395 Highway 104, 36567
Hours: Monday-Friday 7:00am-5:30pm
Ages: 6 weeks - 3 years
Children’s Learning Center
22305 Palmer Street, 36567
Hours: Monday - Friday 7:00am - 5:30pm
Ages: 6 weeks – 5 years
Little Anchors Preschool
18200 Hwy 104, 36567
Hours: Monday - Friday 8:15am - 2:30pm; Extended hours available Ages: 1 - 4 years littleanchorspreschoolfbc@gmail.com www.firstrobertsdale.com
Saint Patrick Catholic School 23070 Highway 59 North, 36567
Hours: Monday – Friday 7:45am - 3:00pm
Ages: PreK3 - 8th Grade school@stpatcatholic.com school.stpatcatholic.com
Spanish Fort
Faith Family Fellowship
Preschool ad on page 7
7100 Spanish Fort Boulevard, Spanish Fort 36527
Hours: Monday - Friday 7:30am – 3:00pm (Extended hours 7:00am – 6:00pm)
Ages: 2 years - PreK4 www.faithfamilyonline.com
Spanish Fort Presbyterian Preschool ad on page 26
6620 Spanish Fort Boulevard, 36527
Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00am - 1:00pm; Extended care 7:30am - 4:30pm
Ages: 2 Years- 4 Years sfppreschool@gmail.com www.spanishfortpresbyterian.com
Jubilee Early Child Development Center
8930 Spanish Fort Boulevard, 36527
Hours: Monday - Friday 7:00am - 5:45pm
Ages: 9 weeks - PreK4 www.jubileechildcare.com
New Life Assembly of God
After School Program
10424 Old Highway 31, 36527
Hours: Monday - Friday, 3:00pm - 6:00pm, We pick up at Rockwell Elementary, Spanish Fort Elementary and Stonebridge Elementary
Ages: K5 - 5th Grade www.newlifecarespanishfort.org
New Life Assembly of God Preschool
10424 Old Highway 31 , 36527
Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00am to 1:00pm; K4 now offering 5 days per week
Ages: 12 months - K4 www.facebook.com/NewLifePreschoolMomsDayOut
Spanish Fort UMC Preschool
6690 Spanish Fort Boulevard, 36527
Hours: 2 day, 3 day, and 5 day availability. Hours 9:00am - 12:00pm Ages: 2 years - Pre-K4 preschool@spanishfortumc.org www.sfumpreschool.org
Tiny Toros Learning Academy
11065 US Highway 31, 36527
Hours: Monday - Friday 6:30am - 5:30pm
Ages: 8 weeks - K4 tinytoroslearningacademy@gmail.com
Eastern Shore Academy
9543 Stagecoach Commercial Park Circle, 36527
Hours: Monday - Friday 7:00am - 5:30pm
Ages: 8 weeks - K4 stephaniewilson@easternshoreacademy.com
If you know of a child care center that we haven’t included, please email lynn@easternshoreparents.com and we will add it to our online edition. ESP
Do your kids complain about being stressed?
How do you help them cope with it?
Experts agree on the following points:
Listen to Them: What’s Going On? How Are They Feeling?
It’s important to sit your kids down and ask them what’s happening and how they feel. Then, listen calmly and non-judgmentally to what they have to say. “Children learn (and take cues) from the adults around them,” says child psychologist Dr. Lyn O’Grady, “so adults need to be mindful of how they approach stressful situations.” If you overreact to what they are telling you, they most likely will overreact, too. But if you stay calm and collected, you will have a much easier time helping them cope with whatever they are dealing with. As clinical psychologist, Dr. Barbara Greenberg succinctly puts it, “No child wants to talk to a parent who is losing her cool.”
Child psychotherapist Katie Hurley, The Happy Kids Handbook’s author, says that “knowing that you will listen and help them empowers them to work through their stress, instead of stuffing it down and potentially making it worse.” Remember that your kids are not looking for you to solve all of their problems once and for all. Instead, they are looking for you to truly listen to them as a way for them to work through their issues independently. “Sometimes,” says child psychologist Dr. Jamie Howard, “parents avoid having conversations with kids because they’re worried they won’t say the right thing or they won’t know how to answer their questions.” But the truth is that there is no such thing as the one correct answer. Failing to make yourself available to your kids when they need you the most is the only wrong thing.
Reassure Your Kids That They Are Strong and Capable
Listening to your kids is an important first step, but you also need to reassure them that they are strong and capable of coping with whatever stresses them out. Experts agree that you should try to convince your kids that it’s better to confront their stressors head-on than to shy away from them. “If a child faces his or her fears,” says professor of child psychology Dr. Amy Przeworski, “the child will learn that the anxiety reduces naturally over time.”
Dr. Przeworski says it’s also important to cultivate a positive outlook since stressed kids tend to get lost in negative thoughts and self-criticism. She explains, “They may focus on how the glass is half empty instead of half-full and worry about future events. The more you are able to focus on your child’s positive attributes and the good aspects of a situation, the more that will remind your child to focus on the positives.”
It’s helpful to give your kids some perspective by reminding them of how they dealt with similar situations in the past, which turned out all right. When confronted by a stressful situation, it’s easy for kids and adults to lose perspective and forget the previous times they faced a similar situation and that the outcome was not so bad after all.
Help Your Kids Experiment With Various Coping Techniques
Once your kids are reassured that they can handle stressful situations, try to experiment with various coping techniques. A one-size-fits-all strategy for dealing with stress doesn’t exist, but specific, time-test- ed techniques have proven effective. One useful coping technique is to have your kids write down what’s causing them to be stressed. It teaches them to articulate what’s bothering them instead of bottling it up and helps them work through the problem and what to do about it. Mrs. Hurley suggests that they write down their stressors “on a piece of paper, read them to you, and then tear them up and throw them away for the night. This helps kids express their worries and let go of them.”
Another coping technique is to aim for balance in your kids’ lives. Instead of insisting they do well at school at all costs, emphasize that to be happy and stressfree, kids also need time for play and physical exercise. Dr. Greenberg suggests that parents sit down with their kids “and come up with a well-balanced schedule that includes all three of these important aspects of life.” When engaged in play or physical exercise, kids have the time to let their minds be free to come up with creative solutions to their sources of stress.
Make Sure Your Kids’ Physical Needs Are Met
As Dr. Greenberg puts it, “none of us at any age can deal with pressure effectively if we’re exhausted and hungry.” This advice applies to you as much as it does to your kids. You need to be well-rested and satisfied to listen to and support your kids.
