Flu vaccine before Halloween GET the flu shot.
Everyone 6 months of age and older should get the flu shot. Influenza can be a serious illness for pregnant women and breastfeeding women. Your flu shot protects you and your baby.
WASH your hands.
Wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.ď Ź ď Ź
COVER your cough.
Cover you mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If you do not have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve or elbow, not your hands.
STAY home when sick. Keep sick children at home. Teach them to avoid touching their eyes, nose, and mouth. Germs spread easily this way.
Learn more at EscambiaHealth.com or 1 @HealthyEscambia www.facebook.com/auburnopelika.parents greater-pensacola-flu-halloween.indd 1
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October2020
Columns
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Volume 5 Number 8
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Publisher’s Note Lynn Knighton
Helping Generations Stay Connected
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COVID-Friendly Halloween
Technology fun across the miles.
Celebrate with these fun ideas!
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Therapeutic Parenting Sonia Martin, LICSW, PIP
21 Parenting, Media &
Everything in Between Common Sense Media
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Dave Says Dave Ramsey
Screen Overload?
Learn the signs children exhibit as a result of too much screen time.
Our guide shares what’s going on around town and nearby. Make plans now to enjoy these events!
Departments 6
On The Cover Monroe (7) Isla (5), Arden (3) and Oakes (11 months), children of Jon and Audrey McDonald. Grandparents are Neil and Mary Lynn McDonald, Michael and Suzie Farthing, and Barry and Jennifer Hale. Monroe loves all plants and flowers, and is the youngest member of the Pensacola Camellia Club! Isla enjoys dancing and making people laugh. Arden loves to sing and all things “Frozen”. Oakes loves his Mama.
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Bits and Pieces 10
School Bits 25
Movie Reviews
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FromThePublisher
Greater Pensacola Greater Pensacola’s Foremost Parenting Source
When I originally sat down to write this letter it was September 13. I was going to write about how reminiscing over 9/11 made me frustrated. I had been thinking about how the country had pulled together as one to heal and how looking at the country now, with all the divisiveness, has me frustrated and questioning my faith in humanity. Who knew only four days later, our local communities would face another enemy, Sally. What we were told would be a tropical storm for our area quickly moved to a hurricane. And she wasn’t just stronger than predicted, she lingered for hours and hours, moving slower than I probably walk. With her relentless beating on our precious Gulf Coast, Sally brought mass destruction. It was terrifying being in the dark of night, hearing the haunting sounds. Also being completely cut off from communication with the outside world with no idea when it would end. As we walked outside to see Sally’s wrath, it broke my heart. But in that same moment and the days to come, what I saw restored my faith in humanity. Out in the rain, with the winds still whipping around, were neighbors and strangers with chain saws and rakes, helping one another. People were offering to check on family members for those out of town, neighbors shared generators, strangers handed out water and ice, linemen from around the country came in on convoys. In the midst of the darkness was the beauty of humanity, and it gave my heart the joy it so desperately needed. No politics, no pandemic, just a community coming together to love on each other... and it was spectacular. As I mentioned, the lack of ability to communicate during the storm, and even days after, was incredibly frustrating and isolating. It was difficult for me to call and let my mom know we were okay, and it was tough to check on friends and family in the community. Texts were not going through, calls were constantly being dropped and we had barely any data or Internet. That was just verification of how much many of us need and value human interaction. Like the communication difficulties after Sally, the pandemic has also kept us distanced from others. We must stay resilient and keep in contact with each other as much as possible, the best that we can. This is especially important with those more vulnerable and isolated, like grandparents. While we may not be able to visit grandparents in person as much as we would like (if at all), Tanni Haas, Ph.D. has some great ideas for staying connected on page 16 in her article, Keeping In Touch With Grandparents During The Pandemic. As I write this, we are obviously still dealing with Sally recovery, but one thing I do know about the Gulf Coast is we always bounce back. I know in the time that will pass, from now until this issue hits the stands, most (hopefully all) will have power. Much more will be cleaned up, the kids will be back in school, and our precious area will be healing and ready for a little bit of normalcy. Well, whatever “normal” is in 2020. Typical of this year, Halloween and fall activities may look a little different, but Sandi Schwartz has some ways you can still participate while staying safe in her article, COVID-Friendly Ways To Celebrate Halloween This Year, on page 18. We have also put together a listing of Fall Festivities and Halloween Fun on page 22. We do urge you to please double check with the location before attending any activities to make sure the information is still accurate. As we head into a new month, I wish everyone a brighter October and a happy fall!
Greater Pensacola Parents Magazine is founded on the principle that parenting is an exciting, diverse, challenging, and significant role in our community. Greater Pensacola Parents Magazine is a community advocate for families and the parenting process.
Publisher Lynn Knighton lynn@greaterpensacolaparents.com Editor DeAnne Watson editor@greaterpensacolaparents.com Associate Editor Alison Rouse Contributing Writers Rhonda Abernethy Mandy Fernandez Sonia Martin, LICSW, PIP Dave Ramsey Sandi Schwartz Cover Photography Naomi McIntosh Photography Facebook.com/NaomiMcIntoshPhotography @naomimcintoshphotography
President Jason Watson Advertising Sales Lynn Knighton ads@greaterpensacolaparents.com (850) 426-6222 Account Manager Eleanor Williams Ad Design Tim Welch
Visit us at www.greaterpensacolaparents.com
Lynn
lynn@greaterpensacolaparents.com
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Greater Pensacola Parents magazine is published monthly by KeepSharing, LLC. Mailing address: PO Box 6241 Pensacola, FL 32503. The phone number for voice and fax is (850) 426-6222. Greater Pensacola Parents is copyrighted 2020 by KeepSharing LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. Opinions expressed in Greater Pensacola Parents magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of the owners, nor do they constitute an endorsement of products and services herein.
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TherapeuticParenting by Sonia Martin, LICSW, PIP
Riding the Waves of Parenting I was at the beach recently, soaking in one last weekend of summer. As I sat in that sand taking in the vast ocean scene before me, I couldn’t help but watch a group of three girls attempting to navigate the intricacies of a paddleboard in Atlantic Ocean waves. Overall, they were incredibly successful when the waves were calm, however the problem entered in when a large wave would come and one of them would inevitably fall off. Because I can do nothing in this life without viewing everything through the lens of a social worker, I was impressed with their problem-solving ability. Most notable was the way they would shift positions and attempt to counterbalance their collective weight, in an effort to keep their craft afloat. At one point, the one that was solidly and securely navigating the board with her paddle decided to jump off, in an effort to better allow everyone else to readjust their position and approach. Though on the surface, her behavior and actions didn’t make any logical
sense, it ended up being the key to their eventual success and stabilization. That’s because as they tried and failed and tried and failed and tried and failed, it turned out that a major adjustment was needed in order to move forward. The “leader” of the three eventually realized that and she took action to bring about a better end result. I think this is such a perfect picture of parenting. It might be all smooth sailing for awhile, everyone safe and grounded in their current roles and responsibilities. However, when a rogue wave comes, it can necessitate some alteration in your navigation and approach. I say this to encourage you that when you feel like you are operating out of your depth, don’t be afraid to make some adjustments. Have the clarity to recognize those deep waters and understand that you can gain some success, but it is going to necessitate some parental adjustment and flexibility. And here’s the good news: That’s okay!
If you’ve ever watched a young toddler begin to learn to walk, you know that he doesn’t get it right the first try. He falls and gets back up. And he falls, and he gets back up. This process stays on repeat until he figures out the rhythm and cadence required to, literally, put one foot in front of the other. Very few toddlers that age get frustrated when they {inevitably} fall down 72 times a day. They just keep getting back up and getting back up and, eventually, they have solidified a skill set wherein they now have capacity and ability to walk successfully. The same is true for you and your parenting process. The waves will come, it will be scary and uncertain, but hang in. Stay the course while making some necessary adjustments, and just watch what can happen. Sonia is a licensed social worker and holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Social Work. Her clinical focus is on helping parents and professionals understand the role of the brain in behavior and how to adopt therapeutic parenting techniques to mitigate negative behaviors. She is the Director of Central Alabama for Lifeline Children’s Services and is a mother to 7 sons, 3 of which were internationally adopted and she is a foster parent.
MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF PENSACOLA CREATING LIFELONG LEARNERS SINCE 1977 MSP Entry Level & Preschool Programs Offer:
• Daily Playime • Montessori certified teachers that are caring and experienced • Age appropriate and stimulating environment • Low student-teacher ratios • Spanish, Sign Language, Art, Music & More! 850.469.8138 • www.montessoripensacola.com Accredited by AMS, AdvancED, & NCPSA Greater Pensacola Parents I October 2020
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Navarre Beach Fishing Rodeo
Pensacola Little Theatre Auditions Christmas Show, Presents Switzerland
October 3 & 4 Tournament competition is open from 12:01 a.m. Saturday until 4 p.m. Sunday. Fish from the shore, a boat or kayak, or from the pier. (You just can’t “fish” from the seafood market!) Prizes will be awarded in all divisions. Weigh-in is at Juana’s on Navarre Beach Causeway and scales close promptly at 4 p.m. on both days. Junior anglers 12 and under can compete in the Junior Division for free. Proceeds from this event will benefit the Navarre Beach Marine Park including the Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center, the Navarre Beach Marine Sanctuary, Marine Science Station, and Take a Kid Fishing. Captain’s bags will have goodies. For details, contact Sandi at (850) 939-1900 or info@navarrefishingrodeo.com. Visit www.navarrefishingrodeo.com.
Pensacola Little Theatre will hold auditions October 12-13 at 6:30 p.m. for Junie B. Jones in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells. The play will be performed December 11-20.This is a hilarious and endearing tale based on the best-selling book series by Barbara Park. It is a fun, silly show for children and adults with an underlying message of kindness and charity. Junie B. and her classmates must appear to be the same age. Looking for ages 8 and up of any race (and one adult to play the teacher). All classmates should be prepared to sing a Christmas carol of their choice. Family groups are encouraged to audition.Looking for 9 actors (4 females/4 males; and one preferred male but flexible). Tickets will go on sale October 5 for Switzerland. Showtimes include: October 23-24 at 7:30 p.m.; October 25 at 2:30 p.m.; and October 29-31 at 7:30 p.m. Written by Joanna Murray-Smith and directed by Billy Buff, tickets are $15-$31. Seating is limited and masks are required in the theatre. Somewhere in the Swiss Alps, grande dame of crime literature Patricia Highsmith lives with an impressive collection of books, and a somewhat sinister collection of guns and knives. She finds solace in her solitude, her cats and cigarettes. But when a mysterious international visitor arrives at her perfectly secluded home, her love of fictional murders becomes a dangerous reality. For tickets or more info, visit https://www.pensacolalittletheatre.com/ or call (850) 432-2042.
12th Annual Run for the Reef: Navarre Beach
10K Run & 5K Run/Walk and 1 Mile Kids Fun Run Saturday, October 10 * Windjammers on the Pier Race start time 7:30 a.m. – Race Day Registration 6-7 a.m. Benefiting Navarre Beach Marine Sanctuary’s snorkeling and diving reefs. 5K Course: Beautiful Out and Back 5K (3.1 mi) along Gulf Blvd. Start near the boat ramp parking lot. 10K Course: Similar course to the 5K with start near boat ramp parking lot. One-Mile Fun Run (for children 12 & under): Starts at Sea Turtle Center on Park Nature Trail after 5K course closes. Register at RunSignUp or visit https://navarrebeachmarinesanctuary.org/ for additional race information.
Trick or Treat with the Animals at Gulf Breeze Zoo!
October 10-11,17-18, 24-25 & 31 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Designed for a younger audience, families can enjoy seven days of scare-free, daytime fun for children and the young at heart. Gulf Breeze Zoo’s Boo at the Zoo festival includes Halloween entertainment and kidfriendly fun around every corner. Explore our trick-or-treat trail complete with candy, treats and toys, bounce houses, face painting, and of course our Ambassador Animal Headquarters, not to mention the entire Zoo! Please note: Our trick or treat trail has been expanded to incorporate social distancing and CDC guidelines. Tickets must be pre-purchased in order to comply with these recommendations to ensure a safe, fun environment for everyone. Vendors at trickor-treat stations will be following CDC guidelines as well. Visit www.gbzoo.com/ or call (850) 932-2229 for more info. Greater Pensacola Parents I October 2020
Pensacola Beach Food Truck Events
October 24, 25 & 31 & November 1 @ 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Sample some of the Pensacola area’s best food truck fare on beautiful Pensacola Beach. Park East and Park West will each host five food trucks on these weekends. For more info, find us on Facebook or call (850) 797-2957.
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Pensacola Children’s Chorus Offers Two Participation Options
Pensacola Children’s Chorus audiences will be treated to a festival fall concert, PCC in the Plaza, on October 4, in addition to PCC’s mainstage performance series. Christmas on the Coast, held December 11-13, will be a dazzling holiday spectacular that transforms sunny weather into a winter wonderland. One World, Many Voices, held on February 21, 2021, celebrates the power of what is accomplished when voices unite in song. Our final performance, Showtime, held May 7-9, 2021, is a Broadway-quality variety show featuring the best music from both stage and screen. Singers who are interested in participating in the 2020-2021 season should visit our website (www.pensacolasings.org/reopening) and register for the start date of their choosing (in-person September, in-person October, or virtual). No prior experience or training required. New members entering grades 4-12 do need to audition.
Sea Turtle Extravaganza
Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center Saturday, October 10 * 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Annual event to shell-e-brate sea turtles! Outdoor activities and crafts, free admission to the conservation center. For more info, visit https://navarrebeachseaturtles.org/ or call (850) 684-3347.
Pensacola Food Truck Festival
Saturday, October 17 * 11 a.m.- 7 p.m. Pensacola Habitat for Humanity, 300 W Leonard St. This food truck event will feature vendors with a variety of cooking styles and flavors that come together to support Pensacola Habitat for Humanity and our mission of building homes, communities, and hope in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties! All proceeds from the Pensacola Food Truck Festival benefit our local community. Although this year’s event looks a little different than usual due to COVID-19, this event features an eclectic mix of food trucks, live music, food tasting competition and more. Tickets will be sold at the gate for $2 each. We can accept cash or credit card. Kids 12 and under are free!
Celebrate National Dyslexia Awareness Month with Paradise Learning We’re planning a special event October 17! Visit www.paradiselearning.us for details or call Tina or Rita at (850) 218-5956.
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Bud Light Charity Challenge
Pensacola MESS Hall Offers Science IRL This Fall
October 23-25 Roger Scott Tennis Center Pensacola Sports and The Lewis Bear Company present the 16th annual Bud Light Charity Challenge Tennis Tournament. This event benefits Arc Gateway, an organization that provides the best possible life experiences for more than 800 children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and Pensacola Sports, a not-for-profit agency that focuses on education, inspiration and participation in various team, individual, amateur and professional sports activities. In order to promote social distancing we are moving to a three-day tournament where the play format will be as follows: Friday night – women; Saturday morning – men; Saturday afternoon – women; and Sunday – men. Notification of time of play will be sent out closer to tournament time. For more info, visit https://pensacolasports.org/budlighttennis/ or call (850) 434-2800.
Enrich your child’s homeschool or virtual learning this fall with the Pensacola MESS Hall’s new program, Science IRL. This is a once per week (for four weeks) drop-off series for 1st-8th grades. Topics and subjects explored during October include Earth and Space Science (astronomy, exoplanets, geology, water cycle, fossils and weather). Dates and times for 1st-5th grades will include Tuesdays (October 6, 13, 20 & 27) from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. 6th-8th grade programs will be available Fridays (October 9, 16, 23, & 30) from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Four-week sessions for 1st-8th grades are $120 for members/$150 for nonmembers. After-school IRL is also available for 1st-5th grades from 3:30-5 p.m. October 6, 13, 20 & 27. The four-week session costs $52 for members/$65 for nonmembers. To register or for more info, call 877-YES-MESS (937-6377) or visit www.pensacolamesshall.org.
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2020 Walk to End Alzheimer’s Pensacola Bay Area
Sunday, October 4 Opening Ceremony Broadcast: 2 p.m. Watch the Opening and Promise Garden Ceremony on Mainstage: 2:15 p.m. Walk in your neighborhood Drive through Promise Garden: 3-7 p.m. Experience the view-only planted Promise Garden Community Maritime Park, Pensacola For more info, call (407) 9517992 or visit https://act.alz.org/ site/TR?fr_id=13352&pg=entry
White Tie Rock Ensemble at Blue Wahoos Stadium
October 3 * 7-9:30 p.m. An epic night of family-friendly rock! The White Tie Rock Ensemble, known across the Panhandle for combining fanfavorite classic rock hits with vibrant multimedia and the technical precision of an orchestra, will perform a full-length concert on the field at the ballpark. Gates will open at the stadium at 6 p.m. and the band will take the stage accompanied by an electric string quartet at 7 to play two 45-minute sets filled with classic hits from bands like Journey, Led Zeppelin, Queen, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Aerosmith. General admission seating will be available in the stadium’s stands for $25. Exclusive front-row VIP tickets are also available. All general admission seating will follow physical distancing guidelines with alternating rows blocked off in the stadium’s seating bowl. Ballpark staff will be in place throughout the stadium to ensure physical distancing is maintained. Masks are required for all staff and guests in the ballpark but may be removed when eating/drinking or when seated to enjoy the show with proper distancing. For tickets, visit mpv.tickets.com.
Flicks On The Field Halloween Edition
Friday, October 30 * 6-10 p.m. 951 Dog Track Road, Pensacola Join us at the Pensacola Greyhound Track for a FREE family-friendly drive-in movie! The fun starts at 6 p.m. with a costume contest and trunk or treating. The movie will start at dusk on the Wind Creek Casino outdoor movie screen. Watch from the comfort of your vehicle, or bring lawn chairs or a blanket to watch while safely socially distancing. Concessions will be available.
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Red, White & Birdies Military Classic Golf Tournament
41st Annual Pensacola Seafood Festival
November 6-8 * Seville Square * Free admission Times: Friday 11 a.m.-11 p.m. * Saturday 10 a.m.-11 p.m. * Sunday 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Savor delicious seafood, enjoy various musical acts and immerse yourself in historic downtown Pensacola during the Annual Pensacola Seafood Festival, produced by Fiesta Pensacola. This festival is normally one of the largest arts and crafts fairs in northwest Florida with artisans and craftsmen who travel from around the country to participate. It’s free to attend. We only ask that you not bring in coolers or pets. Parking is available throughout the downtown area on a firstcome, first-served basis. All downtown lots are owned by private businesses and will likely charge a parking fee. Handicapped parking available after 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday evening at the Port of Pensacola parking lot, 700 South Barracks Street. At this time, even with the outdoor nature of this event, we recommend wearing masks and social distancing whenever possible. For the latest updates, please visit fiestapensacola.org or pensacolaseafoodfestival.com. Or call (850) 433-6512.
Saturday, November 7 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Registration and lunch at 10 a.m. Shotgun start at 11 a.m. Perdido Bay Golf Club, Pensacola 10% discount if you register by October 15. $100 per golfer or $400 per team. Military discount is $75 per golfer or $300 per team. The 2020 Red, White & Birdies Military Classic Golf Scramble is a major fundraising event for support of our military. This year a portion of the proceeds will support the HER Foundation. The HER Foundation is committed to providing meals, lodging, access to medical care and job placement services for identified women veterans who are homeless or in danger of becoming homeless. For more info, contact Tammy Thurow at (850) 492-4660.
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Autauga County Schools
Warrington Offers Positive Reward Program
Warrington Elementary School’s PBIS program (positive behavior incentives) is “Hitting the Road” to take Bucket Ticket Friday around the school to keep those incentives for positive behavior coming!
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New Safety Features at SPCS
St. Paul Catholic School has always been committed to the health and safety of its students but now, in light of COVID-19, the administration has been working hard to put new safety features in place. This year students have the choice to attend classes in person or virtually. Students choosing the traditional option were met with a school fine-tuned to meet rising health standards. In addition to temperature checks for all entering the campus, students (first grade and above), faculty and staff wear masks in the hallways, during all transitions, and when social distancing is not possible. Each student has a desk shield set up in the classroom. Touchless toilets and sinks have been installed in all bathrooms and wall hand sanitizer stations have been installed in all classrooms. A day custodian regularly cleans high-touch surfaces and on-campus volunteers and visitors are very limited.
East Hill Athletic Teams Start New Year
The sports season at East Hill Christian School is in full swing. Our Eagles cheerleaders participated in cheer camp over the summer and have been practicing for the upcoming basketball season. The EHCS cross country, volleyball and golf teams are competing in the FHSAA and Panhandle Christian Conference leagues. Despite the late start, our student athletes and coaches are thrilled to build team character through hard work, perseverance and teamwork!
CLA Students Take on Science
Students at Creative Learning Academy are taught to face challenges with confidence and enjoy conquering those challenges daily. Our first-graders love taking on their Mystery Science assignments and seeing how their innovative skills help them accomplish even more than they expected. CLA students are encouraged to think beyond the classroom walls, explore creative ideas, and take intellectual risks. Faculty help with engaging in effective communication and developing collaboration skills in order to become innovative problem-solvers. 11
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Autauga County Schools
St. Paul Students Organize Food Drive
St. Paul Catholic School strives to teach the students how to live a virtuous life. Reopening the school has been so important to fulfilling the school’s mission of growing in spirit by serving others in our community. Students at St. Paul organized a food drive benefiting St. Vincent de Paul in early September after hearing that the food pantry shelves were running low. Students and their families donated more than 1,000 items in just a short time to help those in need demonstrating the virtues of justice and generosity.
ECSD Receives Mask Donations
Escambia County School District was honored to accept mask donations from two wonderful sources. Phaedora Jones, a local professional costumer, used her skills with a sewing machine to help the children attending Global Learning Academy. She brought the first 50 handmade cloth masks to Superintendent Malcolm Thomas’s office to meet with him, GLA Principal Judy LaBounty and GLA Assistant Principal Lalla Pierce. The next donation was from South Palafox Group, LLC, who donated 20,000 K95 face masks to ECSD and also donated 10,000 to Santa Rosa County School District.
ENJOY A SPOOKTACULAR HALLOWEEN WITH HEALTHIER TREATS!
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St. Paul Returns to Campus
St. Paul Catholic School is back in session! Our Spartan Community is ready to tackle the challenges of the year with a school year theme of “Anchored in Faith.” A surprise visit from Bishop Bill early in the school year bolstered faith and brought even more smiles from our Spartans who are excited to be back together in school.
Creative Learning Academy Recognizes Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
On August 28, Creative Learning Academy teachers and staff dressed in black and white to show their support for the Emmett Till Legacy Foundation. This year marked the 65th anniversary of Emmett Till’s death. CLA believes in the dignity of every human being and strives to instill qualities of justice and peace in its students. Students must pursue knowledge, challenge assumptions, value humanity and possess an appreciation for others’ thoughts and beliefs. CLA continues to look at how the school teaches and celebrates diversity in all of its many forms. This year a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee will be established. The committee will set goals for the school which will guide and inform our practices and initiatives. The school is constantly searching for opportunities to grow and improve, and joining with many educators throughout our country, working for justice and an end to racism. CLA understands that the best way to affect change is through intentional and meaningful educational experiences. The hope is that the school will provide a unique and inclusive learning environment where cultural identity and race are recognized, understood and celebrated.
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Autauga County Schools
Radio Reporter Visits Ferry Pass for Back to School Preparations
Sandra Averhart from WUWF radio reported on Back to School preparations at Ferry Pass Elementary School in 2020. Like so many things, orientation this year comes with some new twists. For example, families bringing supplies drove up to the front entrance where a teacher with a radio asked for the student’s name and grade. Then their homeroom teacher came out, masked, to say hello and get the supplies from the student. The day before, many kindergarten students came in, by appointment, so they could meet their teachers and see their classroom. Another twist, some students will attend classes via the computer and they had a day to themselves to come by and pick up supplies from their teachers. It has been like a logistical puzzle and Aug. 24, it all came together for the first day of the 2020-2021 school year! Here are some photos taken during Averhart’s visit.
St. Paul Offers New Electives
The elective offerings for grades 4-8 at St. Paul Catholic School are rich, varied and growing! This year, SPCS is offering several new electives to its sixth- through eighth-grade students. Spartans can explore their musical aspirations in Chamber Orchestra or Fretted Strings, hone their writing and speaking skills in Creative Writing and Public Speaking, or delve into Intro to Law or Mock Trial to try out a possible future. With so many diverse offerings, the future is limitless for our Spartans! Shown above are two cellists.
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www.ehcs.org | 1301 E. Gonzalez St. Greater Pensacola Parents I October 2020
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Creative Learning Academy is Mindful
Creative Learning Academy participated in its first Dragoncon Community Meeting recently. Although it looks a little different this year, since the school can’t all gather together in the gym, a sense of community was still established and great pride for the school was felt from all. The students synchronously said the Pledge of Allegiance, sang the school’s anthem, celebrated each others’ accomplishments for the year so far, and even practiced mindful breathing as part of their monthly mindfulness Dragoncon feature. This year, perhaps more than ever, it is important for not only the students but for the faculty, staff and CLA community to practice good mindfulness habits and remember to be each other’s keepers.
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Back-to-School at EHCS
East Hill Christian School teachers, parents and students are happy to be back in session for the 2020-21 school year. We have kicked off the year with both virtual and on-campus classes with added precautions and procedures in place. Even though we know there will be additional challenges to this unique year, we are eager to impact the next generation for God’s glory!
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Grandchildren have been physicallydistancing themselves from their elders this year. Some families are finding creative ways to socially-engage grandparents and grandchildren.
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Challenges Help Us Face Difficulties
2020 has been a tough year but Mimi, Vivian and Lana faced the difficult times by choosing personal challenges. When this family set their minds to achieve these goals, they gained a sense of control. They viewed the challenges positively, unlike external challenges. The daily interactions gave Mimi, Vivian and Lana joy - something to look forward to for a whole month. Vivian’s daily photos to Mimi resulted in funny responses and compliments. Lana’s daily drawing lifted her spirits and gave her an artistic outlet. The daily challenge helped Mimi get out of her sad rut. “The challenges I did with my grandchildren gave me a boost I needed during this difficult time,” said Mimi.
Pensacola residents Vivian (age 12) and Lana (age 8) performed personal challenges with their grandmother, Mimi, who lives in Louisiana. Vivian and Mimi implemented a photo challenge. They took various pictures on their cell phones and sent them to each other. Photos ranged from nature to food. Lana and Mimi drew for 30 days sketching a new object, animal or person. The challenge ideas came from an online list the family found. Greater Pensacola Parents I October 2020
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Keep Challenging Yourself
When 30 days ended and 30 drawings finished, Lana asked Mimi if they could take on another challenge. Neither wanted that bonding time to end. “I want to spend more time with Mimi,” said Lana. She and Mimi decided to create round two of the drawing challenge. They came up with a list of 30 new items to draw. “I love spending time with my grandchildren, and we had established a routine, so I told Lana we could make up new ones as we go,” said Mimi.
Stay Connected
Debbie Douma, a grandmother living in Pensacola, has grandchildren living in Colorado and Rhode Island. She and her two oldest granddaughters began doing weekend cooking adventures in March. She is grandma to Keira (age 15) and Sera (age 13). These granddaughters asked Debbie to join them during a cooking activity. They had questions during the process and Grandma had the answers they needed. After that, Debbie joined every weekly cooking session with Keira and Sera. Debbie explained how their adventures occur on the weekend. During the week they begin with texts from the girls deciding on a recipe. They allow three days to gather the ingredients. The granddaughters begin each session with general chatter before Grandma shares stories about family history. “There have been opportunities for me to share stories about their moms growing up,” said Debbie. “They are the perfect age to enjoy these stories.”
Practice Life Skills
The grandchildren are practicing life skills like project and time management, research, leadership, innovation and adapting from mistakes. Mimi said that she and Lana took turns calling for accountability. They omitted some evenings, but did all 30 days of the challenge. Sera is the one who sets up the cooking adventure calls while Keira handles making collages of their final cooking pictures. Each granddaughter has a role and follows through with it. Debbie said her granddaughters witness her making mistakes during the baking process, and they all laugh about it. Their weekly sessions have moved to twice a month since school and activities have begun, but their relationship is stronger than ever. These grandmothers can pass along wisdom in a fun format since bonding time is focused on the activity. With these challenges or adventures, the grandchildren see results and feel accomplished with Grandma’s help and support.
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Both grandmothers realize that technology allows them these special moments with their grandchildren. “The technology we have available now is what provides a major advantage in keeping in touch and having the opportunity to do these adventures,” said Debbie. Connect children with their grandparents. Encourage them to use technology and find an activity they can do together. The social, emotional and intellectual connections each generation makes will be meaningful. GPP
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Mandy Fernandez began writing and observing life at age 10 and hasn’t stopped since! She uses real-life inspiration such as her family (two kids, ages 12 and 8), pets, friends, foods, health and funny misadventures to influence her writing muse. Mandy is an award-winning essay and short story writer and the author of Kazoo Makes the Team, the beloved children’s book about the Pensacola Blue Wahoos mascot, Kazoo. Learn more about her at www.writtenbymandy.com.
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Fall has arrived, which means Halloween will be here before we know it. Of course, it will not look or feel exactly as it has in the past due to Covid. But with a little bit of creative, out-of-the-box thinking, we can still make this holiday extra special for our kids. Now is the perfect time to start planning your safe—yet still super fun—Halloween celebration that your family will look back on in a few years and smile. Greater Pensacola Parents I October 2020
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Here are a few ideas to get you started on your Halloween plans for your family. The goal
is to keep kids socially distanced and prevent them from all touching the same candy, which seemed so normal just last year. It is also a wonderful chance to start new family traditions and try celebrating in a way you never even considered.
Say Boo on Zoom. When my daughter’s eighth birthday rolled around in April, we had to think fast to make sure she did not miss out on an enjoyable party with her friends. We had planned to have an animal-themed birthday at a local nature center, so we took the party online. The kids absolutely loved seeing all the creatures on their computer screens and asked tons of questions. For Halloween, you can set up an online party with family and friends and play lots of games. Some ideas include trying to guess who everyone is in their costumes, having a costume contest, doing a quiz like Name That Tune, and playing Halloween Bingo. Parade Safely. We have seen many families over the past several months celebrate special occasions like birthdays and graduations with a socially distanced parade either on foot or from their cars. My neighborhood held a meaningful parade for all the graduates in May. All the kids wore matching grad shirts and stayed the recommended six feet apart from one another as they made their way through the community. This can easily be done for Halloween as well. A car of golf cart parade would also be a hit since they could be decorated in a spooky way. Dig into Some DIY. Take the focus off your kids missing the trick-ortreating by working on several creative projects together as a family. Let this be the year you plan ahead and make all of your costumes from scratch. This will be such a rewarding experience for your kids as they get to choose exactly who they want to be and wear what they worked so hard on. You can also fill the day with many enjoyable arts and crafts projects that you typically do not have time for if you are running around your neighborhood and off to Halloween parties. 19
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Have Your Own Haunted House at Home. Many kids look forward to walking through a haunted house at school or in their neighborhood. With social distancing being an issue, this just will not be possible this year. A great project for your kids is to set up their own haunted house. Not only will this be a creative endeavor, it will also take up lots of time and keep them very busy for a while. Depending on your own family’s Covid rules, maybe you can invite grandparents or cousins over for a fright night.
Focus on Fall Foods. We can so easily get sucked into all the sugary sweets during Halloween. In my house, that candy ends up sitting in the pantry for months anyway. Plus, so many kids these days have bad reactions to junk food. This can be the year we focus more on all the wonderful fall foods that go along with Halloween time. Stock up on apples, pumpkins, and different types of squash and turn them into tasty dishes. We always love toasting our own fresh pumpkin seeds after we finish carving our jack-o’-lanterns. If you feel comfortable and live in an area near an apple orchard or farm with pumpkins, you can head over and pick your own. Make it a Movie Night. Another wonderful way to distract your kids from missing out on typical activities like trick-or-treating is to set up the big screen to scare them silly. Well, we don’t really want to scare our kids too much. Look for age-appropriate movies for Halloween that they will love, such as The Addams Family, Ghostbusters, Hocus Pocus, Hotel Transylvania, Beetlejuice, and of course It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.
Go Against the Grain. With so much upside down in 2020, this might just be the best year to go contrarian and ditch all the sugar and spook. Why not make it a healthy family night by putting together colorful, delicious treats out of fruits and veggies? Just hop on Pinterest for endless ideas to turn fresh produce into incredible creations that your kids will love. I know this year feels different, but there are so many ways to make it even better than before. Take advantage of this opportunity to spark some creativity for your family and you all may be thrilled with the memories you make that you will cherish forever. GPP Sandi Schwartz is a freelance writer.
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5 Signs of Screen Overload. . . and How to Handle Them
minutes to look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Help them strengthen their distance vision by getting outdoors. And then set some time limits on screens to help them get more balance. If these don’t help, see an eye doctor. Trouble sleeping. If your kid isn’t sleeping, there’s a chance devices are one of the culprits. Kids may be overstimulated from their devices’ blue light, tired from checking their phones throughout the night, staying up late watching television, distressed by bad news, or having troubling online interactions. Whatever the cause, a good night’s sleep is an essential foundation for many things, including mental well-being, a healthy lifestyle, and keeping kids’ minds alert for learning. What to do. Make sleep a priority. Collect devices at night, turn off the Wi-Fi, and enable screen limits on devices so that they can’t get online. Help kids wind down about an hour before bedtime -- meaning no screens. Try meditation (with or without an app), soothing music, and bedtime stories to help kids settle. And if kids are still having trouble, there may be something deeper going on, so you should see your pediatrician.
Gymnasts know that there’s a fraction of an inch between a flawless routine -- and total disaster. Parents, too, know that managing screen time can be a balancing act. Sure, movies, games, television, and online activities can be lifesavers when you’re juggling caregiving, homeschooling, and working. But even when you’re on your game -- choosing high-quality, age-appropriate content, getting outside, talking to kids about their games and shows -- your kid can have a complete meltdown after three (or was it four?) episodes of Avatar: The Last Airbender. Recognizing the moment between “all good” and “my bad!” isn’t always obvious. We’ve identified five common warning signs that your kid’s screen balance is tipping into the trouble zone, and effective strategies for getting back on solid ground. Inappropriate outsized reactions. We’ve all seen the extreme behaviors -- meltdowns, defiance, irritation, or just bouncing off the walls -that kids exhibit at times after screen use. Some parents blame fast-action games like Fortnite, but really anything could trigger this behavior. Kids simply don’t always have the language -or the patience -- to explain what’s happening to them, so they tell you by acting out. What to do. While there’s no magic number of “good” screen-time hours, you can figure out what your kid’s personal limit is by noting their reactions and making changes. Two hours of Xbox = dinner-time meltdown? Next time cut them off at one hour and see if things change. Identify “good stopping points” before kids go online (at the end of an episode or match), which gives kids more agency. Also help them develop self-soothing skills. Establish a more regular schedule so that they can pace themselves throughout the day. Substitute screen-free games like chess or 20 Questions with family to help your kid work on waiting their turn, delaying gratification, and practicing communication skills. Apps that help kids manage their emotions, which you can download onto your own phone, may also help.
Isolation, sadness, crying. If your kid is exhibiting these symptoms, negative online experiences could add to their despair. Combined with what some kids are readily exposed to on social media -- bullying, hate speech, scary news, and brutal videos -- it’s completely natural for them to feel this way. What to do. Some social media may provide a supportive environment for your kid, so while you may be tempted to make them feel better by forcing a total break from screens, take it slow. Talk to them about how they’re feeling, what they do on social media, how they’re treated, and whether their online interactions are mostly positive. Help them cut back on their online time and stick to social media that’s positive and supportive. You can use parental controls to restrict access to sites and apps that may be triggering. When they do go online, it may provide some relief to use social media more as an outlet for creative expression rather than an endless slog through other people’s lives. Keep an eye on your kid, and if things don’t turn around, call your pediatrician. Loss of focus and energy. You know the look: glazed zombie eyes, wishy-washy replies, flitting from thing to thing. While there’s ongoing research exploring whether devices can cause inattention -- and even ADHD -- it’s more likely that your kid is just, well, acting like kids do when they don’t know what to do with themselves. What to do. Change things up -- starting with your expectations. You may need to rely on screens more than usual right now, but that doesn’t give your kid permission to opt out of meaningful participation in family life. If your kid has a bad case of the blahs, let them know that they need to interact and engage with folks at home as much as they do with, say, Animal Crossing. Aside from screen time, provide offline activities that require focused attention, including puzzles, audio stories and podcasts, and reading. Ask them questions to encourage deeper thinking, comprehension, and making connections.
Headaches. Has your kid complained of headaches or trouble seeing? It could be their eyes. Vision problems, eye fatigue, and eye strain can cause real pain -- and could be a sign that kids are doing too much “near work,” such as reading or overdoing the screens. Check for watery eyes, squinting, or kids rubbing their eyes a lot. What to do. You don’t want to waste time on this one. With your kid’s help, figure out the point at which the symptoms crop up; doctors say it’s usually at about the two-hour mark. Reduce screen time by half to see if the issue resolves. Also, make screen time dependent on your kid maintaining healthy screen “hygiene”: good posture, positioning the screen at least 18 inches away, not leaning in and squinting. Follow the 20-20-20 rule: Move away from the screen every 20 21
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October 10-11, 17-18, 24-25, & 31
Boo at the Zoo ad on page 3
Gulf Breeze Zoo 5701 Gulf Breeze Parkway Gulf Breeze, FL 32563 Boo at the Zoo offers 7 days of scare-free fun, highlighted by trick-or-treating on the expanded trick-or-treat trail, encounters at the Animal Ambassador Headquarters, fun activities and all the fun associated with a visit to the Gulf Breeze Zoo! (850) 932-2229
www.GBZoo.com
October 30
Spooky Sing-A-Long Play Date ad on page 17
Kindermusik by the Bay 4628 Woodbine Road, Pace, FL 6 pm. Come sing, dance, make music, craft, and trick or treat in the plaza. Costumes encouraged! $25 (first child, $12.50 second child). (850) 292-0519 www.bythebay.kindermusik.com
October 31
Spooky Sing-A-Long Play Date ad on page 17
Kindermusik by the Bay 4628 Woodbine Road, Pace, FL 4 pm and 6 pm. Come sing, dance, make music, craft, and trick or treat in the plaza. Costumes encouraged! $25 (first child, $12.50 second child). (850) 292-0519 www.bythebay.kindermusik.com
September 19 - November 7
Holland Farm Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze
Holland Farm 2055 Homer Holland Road Milton, FL 32570 Corn maze, pedal tractor carts, petting zoo, zip lines, rat racers, gem mining and more. Visit our Greater Pensacola Parents I October 2020
website for pricing. Monday - Saturday 8am - 6pm, Sundays 9am - 6pm. (850) 675-6876 hollandfarms@gmail.com www.hollandfarmsonline.com
October
Bellview UMC Pumpkin Patch
Bellview United Methodist Church 4945 Saufley Field Road Pensacola, FL 32526 Come to the little patch on the west side for pictures, memories and pumpkins! Pumpkins sold support the church youth program. Monday-Saturday 10:00am-6:30pm, Sunday 11:30am-6:30pm (850) 456-4828 fishyministries@gmail.com www.bellviewumc.org
October 2 - 31
Pumpkin Patch
Christ United Methodist Church 5983 Dogwood Drive Milton, FL 32570 Join us at the pumpkin patch opening October 2. (850) 623-8820 christunitedm247@bellsouth.net www.christumcmilton.com
Pumpkin Patch Express & Scary Night Train
Wales West RV Park & Railway 13670 Smiley Street Silverhill, AL 36576 All Aboard the Pumpkin Patch Express and Scary Night Train! Enjoy Pumpkin Patch, pumpkin decorating, Haunted Maze, Mini-train, Hayless Hayride, Potato Cannon, Cafe with outside dining and more. Open Fri’s, Sat’s, and Sun’s, 4PM-9PM. Oct 28-Oct. 31, nightly. Ticket sales are online. (888) 569-5337 or (251) 232-2322 www.waleswest.com
October 3-29
The Original Pumpkin Patch
St. Mark United Methodist Church 2203 North 12th Avenue Pensacola, FL 32503 Come get your pumpkins! Bring your family and your camera for fall photo opportunities. Hours of operation: Weekdays and Saturdays from 9am 6pm, Sundays from 12pm - 6pm. (850) 432-7777 info@stmarkpensacola.com www.stmarkpensacola.com
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October 3-November 8 Sweet Season Farms
Sweet Seasons Farms 2260 Horn Road, Milton, FL 32570 Corn maze, U-Pick pumpkins and more. See our website for details!
(850) 675-3573 info@sweetseasonfarms.com www.sweetseasonfarms.com
October 5-31
1st Annual Pumpkin PatchFirst Baptist Church of Beulah
First Baptist Church of Beulah 5805 Beulah Church Road Pensacola, FL 32526 We are welcoming all to our 1st annual pumpkin patch. Open to the public to purchase pumpkins, photo ops, story time, and family fun! beulahmom3@gmail.com Find us on Facebook!
October 10 - 31
St. Luke UMC Pumpkin Patch
St. Luke United Methodist Church 1394 East Nine Mile Road Pensacola, FL 32514 Monday through Saturday 10am - 7pm and Sundays 11pm - 7pm. Prices are based on the size of the pumpkin. Follow us on Facebook at St. Luke United Methodist Church for event updates. (850) 477-3145 welcome@stluke-umc.org www.stluke-umc.org
October 17
Fall Festival First Baptist Church of Beulah
First Baptist Church of Beulah 5805 Beulah Church Road Pensacola, FL 32526 Fall Festival with free games set up throughout the parking lot adjacent to the pumpkin patch, kids crafts, and snacks. Kona Ice will have a truck here selling snow cones also! 4pm beulahmom3@gmail.com Find us on Facebook!
First City Art’s Pumpkin Patch
Blue Wahoo Stadium 351 West Cedar Street Pensacola, FL 32514 Hand blown glass & ceramic pumpkins, acorns,
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gourds and more. This fundraiser supports FCAC, a nonprofit center for the arts, providing education and outreach programs. 2pm.-7pm (850) 429-1222 info@firstcityart.org www.firstcityart.org
Pensacola Food Truck Festival
300 West Leonard Street Pensacola, FL 32501 Pensacola Food Truck Festival is a food truck event featuring vendors with a variety of cooking styles and flavors that come together to support Pensacola Habitat for Humanity. 11:00am-7:00pm.
or Treat on the church campus from 6pm 8pm. Visit our Facebook page for details. (850) 932-3625
www.gbpresbyterian.org
October 22-November 1
Pensacola Interstate Fair
6655 West Mobile Highway Pensacola, FL 32526 Amazing food, thrilling rides and more. Come see us at The Fair!
info@pensacolahabitat.org pensacolafoodtruckfest.org
(850) 944-4500 info@pensacolafair.com www.pensacolafair.com
October 17, 23, 24, 31
October 23
Haunted House Walking & Trolley Tours
117 East Government St, Pensacola, FL 32502 Explore Pensacola’s haunted history while helping to raise funds for Historic Pensacola. Walking Tours-$15/adult, $8/child 12 and under. Trolley Tours-$20/adult, $10/child 12 and under. Tickets available for purchase online. (850) 595-5985 wdavis4@uwf.edu www.historicpensacola.org
October 18
Trunk or Treat
Gulf Breeze Presbyterian Church 100 Andrew Jackson Trail Gulf Breeze, FL 32561 Join us for a Drive-thru, socially distanced, Trunk
Beach-O-Ween
Pensacola Beach Boardwalk Pensacola, FL 32561 Bring the family out to the Pensacola Beach Boardwalk to enjoy a free night of fun! Games, face painting, candy, food, and more. (800) 635-4803
www.visitpensacolabeach.com
October 24
Pinelands Fall Festival
Pinelands Nursery 8365 Highway 90 Milton, FL 32583 Please come join us for our Fall festival from 10:00am-2:00pm. Fun family event!
(850) 623-0602 pinelandsnursery@bellsouth.net www.pinelandsFL.com
October 31
Pensacon Halloweenfest
Museum Plaza-Downtown Pensacola Pensacola, FL 32502 A full day of spooky pop-culture fun in Museum Plaza, downtown Pensacola. Offering an outdoor, convention-style atmosphere with a Halloween theme, with vendors, live entertainment, celebrity guests, artists, panels, food trucks, trick-ortreating in a safe and family friendly environment. 10am-6pm www.pensacon.com
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Potential Church Trunk-or-Treat Potential Church 3351 Creighton Road Pensacola, FL 32504 Potential Church invites families to join in on the fun at our annual Trunk-or-Treat from 6:30pm8:30pm. This family event is a great alternative to the traditional trick-or-treat for Halloween with COVID precautions in place. (850) 549-3880 www.eventbrite.com/e/ trunk-or-treat-potential-church-pensacola-tickets-121555223947; www.potentialchurch.com
Sam’s Spooky City Sam’s Fun City 6709 Pensacola Boulevard Pensacola, FL 32505 We will be handing out candy in a safe environment, enjoy the park and Attractions. (850) 505-0800 information@samsfuncity.com www.samsfuncity.com
November 6-8
41st Annual Pensacola Seafood Festival Seville Square Pensacola, FL 32502 Food, Arts & Crafts, Kids Activities and more. Open Friday-11-11, Saturday 10-11, Sunday 11-5. (850) 433-6512 www.pensacolaseafoodfestival.com
November 7
November 28
First Baptist Church of Beulah 5805 Beulah Church Road Pensacola, FL 32526 Family friendly and fun time. Live music, arts and crafts, and of course the famous Beulah sausage dogs.9:00am - 3:00pm.
Seville Square 311 East Government Street Pensacola, FL 32502 Pumpkin Patch, Bounce House, Vendors, Food Trucks, , Live Entertainment, and more. A portion of the proceeds benefit the National Breast Cancer Foundation. 9:00am-4:00pm.
Beulah Craft and Sausage Festival
beulahmom3@gmail.com Find us on Facebook!
November 7-November 14 35th Great Pumpkin 5K & Fun Run Virtual Edition
Pensacola, FL 32503 Walk or Run 5K, at your convenience, at your location of choice. Your t-shirt and race swag will be delivered or shipped to you starting 11/01/2020! Log your time on the Results tab and be eligible for great prizes! (850) 436-6440 pumpkinrun@shcs.ptdiocese.org www.runsignup.com/Race/FL/Pensacola/GreatPumpkinRun5Kandwalk
2nd Annual Harvest Market
(850) 376-9350 orangebeachbreeze@gmail.com www.orangebeachbreeze.com
Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays in October
Creepy Hollow Woods
2251 Wade Road Jay, FL 32565 Gates open at 6pm, Haunt opens at dark! Thursdays are kid friendly nights and very tame. Find us on Facebook for pricing and more. (850) 380-8292 www.facebook.com/Creepy HollowWoodsFL
Halloween at OWA
November 14
2020 Food Truck Fest
Plaza De Luna Downtown Pensacola Pensacola, FL 32502 Food Trucks, Vendors, Bounce House, Live Entertainment and Culinary Competition. $2 entry fee, 12 and under are free. Portion of proceeds goes to Feeding the Gulf Coast. (850) 376-9350 orangebeachbreeze@gmail.com www.orangebeachbreeze.com
OWA 1501 South OWA Blvd Foley, AL 36535 OWA is currently making plans for their October events. For updated information visit https://visitowa.com/explore/halloween-at-owa/ (251) 923-2111
Because of ever-changing circumstances due to Covid-19 and Hurricane Sally, please check with each venue prior to attending the event to verify the information provided is still accurate and up to date.
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Fun Ways To Strengthen
Your Child’s Fine Motor Skills Preschool teachers are realizing that young childrens’ fine motor skills are very low. Children can swipe at a phone or tablet all day long, but can’t hold a crayon properly. As a preschool teacher, I find this is a big problem. Fine motor skills are the ability to make movements using the small muscles in our hands and wrists. Some activities we use these skills for are writing, drawing, using scissors, painting, etc. Children rely on these skills to master tasks in school and everyday life. Here are some fun ways to help strengthen your child’s fine motor skills.
1. Manipulating Play-doh. Chil-
ing a picture, which is usually at around 3 years old. Cutting with scissors is a great way to strengthen their skills, but you will definitely need to supervise this.
4. Building with Legos or blocks.
Kids love to build and design their own creations with Legos and blocks. Every
time they pick up a Lego or block and position it to where they want it to go, they are using their fine motor skills. They are also using their hand and eye coordination, because they are having to look at where they want to place the block, grasping it, and then placing it where they want it to go. These are just a few examples of how to strengthen your child’s fine motor skills. Playing with anything that a child will have to use their hands and fingers will help them with these skills. So let your kids play, let them scribble, manipulate Play-doh, etc. and they will get those muscles strengthened and be ready to learn to write! Rhonda Abernethy has 4 children of her own. She has worked at Jubilee Christian Academy for 20 years. She has taught the 2 year old, 3 year old and VPK classes. She has lived in Pensacola, Florida all her life.
dren love to play with Play-doh! This is a great way to strengthen their finger muscles. Every time they pinch, squeeze, and roll out the Play-doh they are working out their small hand muscles. They also get to use their imagination to create something new!
2. Threading Beads. This is an
activity that I use every morning with my 3 year olds! My kids come in the classroom after breakfast, wash their hands, then they have to thread five beads before they can go play. As they get better at it, they will move to 10, then 15. After getting to 15, most of the kids start racing to see who can fill their thread all the way up first.
3. Coloring, Sidewalk Chalk, Painting, Cutting with Scissors.
All of these activities will strengthen your child’s fine motor skills. At first a 1 or 2 year old is going to grasp a crayon with their whole hand. This is part of the learning process; they have to learn this in order to eventually learn the three point hold. Young children should be allowed to scribble as much as they need to until they can start to focus on color25
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Blame biology. “Understand that your kids aren’t just
Ever looked at your child in bewilderment and asked:
being stupid and emotional about things. The adolescent brain is very uneven. Some parts of the brain are very adult in their structure and function while other parts are very immature,” says pediatric psychologist Stephen Lassen, Ph.D. The prefrontal cortex of the brain, which handles decision-making, isn’t fully developed until around the age of 25. Given the number of decisions kids must make as they move into early adulthood—college, career, relationships—this “makes for a challenging environment for parents,” Lassen says.
“What were you thinking?!” Then you know that kids, especially teens, can make some profoundly poor decisions. Luckily, we can help them learn smart decision-making skills and manage mistakes— without helicoptering their every move.
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While we can’t manipulate biology, we can take steps to nurture thoughtful, independent decisionmaking.
Give choices from an early age.
Decision Reflections What are/were my options? Pros/Cons? Do/did I need additional information? Which option did I choose? Why? Given another chance, would I choose differently?
Prime the decision-making pump beginning in toddlerhood. Offer your child simple choices that you can live with like: “Would you like to wear the red shirt or the yellow shirt?” “Would you like to take a bath before or after dinner?” “Giving options like that not only helps them start to think through decisions, make decisions and accept consequences of those decisions, but it also sends the message that kids can do it, which tends to build self-confidence,” Lassen says.
Offer age-appropriate decisions.
You know best what decisions your child is ready for based on past history, development and personality. But in general, experts say that teens are ready to choose their own friends, their after-school activities, clothing and hairstyles, and the type of summer job they’d like to get. “Those are totally appropriate decisions for teens to make that don’t have an impact on their safety or potential for a significant long-term consequences,” says pediatric psychologist Christina Low Kapalu, Ph.D. “When decisions do involve their safety or potential for significant longterm consequences, that’s when we want to involve parents’ input.” Low Kapalu also recommends involving teens in their healthcare decision-making. They should be part of the conversation with their healthcare providers, like participating with you in scheduling their appointments and asking questions about treatment options and side effects. “If they can’t do that by the time they’re 18, they’re going to really struggle to access medical care,” Low Kapalu says.
Create a supportive framework. Think of how scaffolding supports buildings that are under construction. As the building becomes more secure and able to stand on its own, we remove pieces of the scaffolding. In the same vein, “scaffolding is gradually removed as kids demonstrate mastery of different skills and the deci-
sion-making process,” Lassen says. “We’re not directly making all of the decisions for them, but the scaffolding—the structure—is around them to help them grow into this skill of making decisions
in a safe, monitored way.”
Establish ground rules. With each
new freedom, clearly explain your expectations with the understanding that privileges can be pulled back again. “It’s a process. The research really shows that authoritative parenting style, which is just setting limits and enforcing clear limits with lots of warmth and engagement serves us well in the teenage years,” says therapist Julie Gettings, MSW-LSCSW. “If they make a poor decision or if we’ve given them too much freedom, then sometimes we have to pull the rope back a little bit.”
“The more decisions you make, the more comfortable you are with things maybe not working out perfectly, maybe even failing,” Lassen says. “But life goes on and as kids repeat that, they come to see that making a bad decision is not the end of the world. And, in fact, it can really teach us a lot.”
Wait to be needed. Resist swoop-
ing in and rescuing your child from the consequences of their poor decision. For example, if they forgot their science homework, they’ll have to face the consequence. “Rushing in too quickly sends the message to kids that they can’t do it, and it tends to push kids away from parents. It promotes dependence, which is the opposite of what we’re trying to as parents,” Lassen says. “We want our kids to be happy and do well, but so much of being a healthy, well-functioning adult is learning from difficult experiences where decisions didn’t go well.”
Reflect on decisions. We all make
decisions that we later regret. “Stress to your child that you love them even if you don’t like their decision,” Low Kapalu says. Rather than harshly interrogating or criticizing your child, facilitate a thoughtful,
Offer permission with parameters. “Kids will come
to us with a request, and we immediately want to say, ‘no, you can’t do that.’ But take a step back, pause and think about ‘what can I be okay with within that request?’” Gettings advises. For example, maybe your 14-year-old wants to go to the mall with friends. Instead of dismissing the idea, determine who they plan to go with and which adults will handle pick up and drop off. Set expectations like: “I expect you to answer your phone when I call you while you’re there.” or “I expect you to check in with me periodically while you are there.” And, reinforce the positive by consistently praising the wise choices your child makes.
Build confidence. For kids who experience anxiety around decision-making, give them multiple opportunities to make small decisions and praise them for simply making a choice even if you aren’t a fan of the decision. Avoid causing them to second-guess by saying things like, “Are you sure you want to do that?” which can further breed uncertainty. 27
logical discussion, which will help them feel safe coming to you when they make mistakes. “Unfortunately, we can’t always see our blind spots and teens are no different,” Low Kapalu says. “They may not be aware of their inability to see the long-term consequences or be able to identify all of the possible outcomes because they don’t have the life experience that their parents do.” GPP
Christa Melnyk Hines is a nationally published writer. She has two adolescent sons, whose decisions sometimes leave her scratching her head.
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Christmas in...October?
Q. I know it may be early to talk about Christmas, but do you have any advice on saving for the holiday season? A. It’s never too early to talk about Christmas! I’m glad you’re thinking about things ahead of time. A lot of people wait until December to buy gifts and make plans. That’s fine if they’ve got the money set aside to handle things, but most of them don’t. Then, they panic and turn to credit cards. You don’t want to end up in a situation where you’re still paying off Christmas in April. If you don’t have anything put aside yet, I’d suggest setting some spending goals now. Taking a close look at your income and living expenses should be part of this. If you’re not doing it already, what I’m talking about here is living on a written, monthly budget. Look at how much you can afford to put toward Christmas each month,
Greater Pensacola Parents I October 2020
make a gift-giving goal amount, and stick to it. Along with this, you might consider opening a separate account just for your Christmas savings. Start looking for gift deals now, too. There are end-of-summer sales still going on, and you never know what you might find. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to have a wonderful Christmas or make the season special for others—even when it comes to giving. Thoughtful handmade items, meaningful photographs set in a frame, or special baked goods are great ways to show the folks in your life you’re thinking about them and how much you care. Now, let’s talk about next year. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with including a line just for Christmas in your budget each month. Putting a little money aside all year long might just take some of the stress out of your Yuletide planning.
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Simple Steps
Q.
With COVID-19 and all the resulting economic problems, do you have advice for what a person can do to prepare for the future?
A.
Regardless of the coronavirus or any economic situation that might arise, there are always a few smart, simple things people can do to protect themselves financially. The number one thing is to live on a written, monthly budget. When you give every dollar a name, and write it down on paper, you’re telling your money what to do, instead of scratching your head and wondering where it went. Staying out of debt and saving as much money as possible are two other great ideas. Remember, your income is your biggest wealth building tool. If you’re saddled with a bunch of debt, your money goes to creditors—not into your pocket. Saving prepares you for the future and all the unexpected things, good and bad, life will throw at you. These are all simple things. But they’ll make a huge difference in your financial situation now and in the years to come!
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