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JULY 2009

The Big Cheer for local special needs kids who are excelling in activities

Special Needs Issue

Eat smart: treat yourself to brain food

Discover the family fun in Ponca City

How to establish and nurture your family team

T h e E s s e nt i a l Res o u rce fo r Cent ra l O k l a h o m a F a m i l i es

w w w. M et roFa m i l yM aga z i n e.comw w w. M et roFa m i l yM aga z i n e.comw w w

Engage the mind and you inspire the soul.

An active mind is a critical part of a solid foundation for success. That, in combination with a healthy body and a happy heart is what we like to call the Primrose difference. With our proven, accredited curriculum and commitment to personal growth, it’s no wonder we’ve been inspiring children and parents alike for over 25 years. To learn more about our educational child care for infants through private kindergarten and after school, call 1.800.PRIMROSE or visit our website today.

primroseschools.com/MetroFamily

With The Right Foundation, Anything Is Possible®

Each Primrose School is privately owned and operated. Primrose Schools, The Leader in Educational Child Care, and With The Right Foundation, Anything Is Possible are trademarks of Primrose Schools. © 2009 Primrose Schools. All rights reserved.

July 2009

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The Top Ten Reasons to visit MetroFamilyMagazine.com this month:

You love MetroFamily in print….

Now connect with us digitally through t Our award-winning website, MetroFamilyMagazine.com t Our interactive digital edition on the home page at MetroFamilyMagazine.com. t Our weekly E-Update that sends the best family weekend events to your in-box every Wednesday (MetroFamilyMagazine. com/subscribe-to-E-Update)

And now you can easily NETWORK with MetroFamily!

Exclusive contests and vendor offers—even exclusive events—just for being a “follower” on Twitter and a “fan” on Facebook!

Sign up today and find out what the “BUZZ” is all about.

1. Check out our list of Top Ten Local Water Fun Spots MetroFamilyMagazine.com/Places-For-Water-Fun 2. Discover our Top Ten FREE things to do at MetroFamilyMagazine. com/Free-Places 3. Sign up for our popular weekly E-Updates and you’ll never be bored over the weekend. MetroFamilyMagazine.com/ Subscribe-To-E-Update 4. Enter your child into our Cover Kids Search contest, sponsored by Delta Dental and Brock’s Photography. MetroFamilyMagazine.com/ Cover-Kids 5. Learn about the chocolate Tweetup that we are supporting.

MetroFamilyMagazine.com/Chocolate-Tweetup 6. Find exclusive online-only features, including an article about the highly-debated Nick’s Law. MetroFamilyMagazine.com/July09Exclusives 7. Discover great summer camps and Vacation Bible Schools for your kids. MetroFamilyMagazine.com/2009-Summer-Camps-andActivities-Guide and MetroFamilyMagazine.com/2009-VBS-Listing 8. Enter our monthly giveaway featuring a grand prize of fun products valued over $500. MetroFamilyMagazine.com/Contests 9. Read our blogs, with topics ranging from getting fit and health to “frugal” tips. MetroFamilyMagazine.com/Blog 10. Learn all about ”Exploring Oklahoma with Children,” including how to find our Kids Pass with discounts to over 40 attractions statewide. MetroFamilyMagazine.com/Exploring-Oklahoma

The Essential ONLINE Resource for Central Oklahoma Families

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Visit the award-winning MetroFamilyMagazine.com every day!

July 2009

Special Needs and Your Family 35 Calendar

A pyramid with the award-winning Empire Elite team.

Events and activities

32 Character First Tips for helping your children develop compassion and tolerance

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Dear MetroFamily Editor’s Note

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Exploring Oklahoma Adventures in Ponca City

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30 Family Finances How to create a Special Needs Trust

Dance and cheer with local kids who have overcome their disabilities to excel in sports and activities!

10 Family Shorts News you can use

34 In Touch with Relationships The importance of establishing and nurturing your family team

22 Let’s Eat: Review Jo’s Famous Pizza comes to Edmond

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The museums and water parks of Ponca City provide family-friendly fun for all ages, just 90 miles north of the Metro area.

24 Oklahoma Reads

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Book reviews

How to manage sensory processing disorders in your autistic child

28 Q & A with the Beasleys What to do when kids feel “different”

On our cover: L to R: Courtney Blazek, age 12, daughter Frank and Heather Blazek of Moore; Allison Elwood, age 13, daughter of Pat and Connie Elwood, Moore; Hannah Bailey, age 12, daughter of John and Kate Bailey, Norman. All three are members of the Shining Starz cheer group of Shock Cheer in Norman.

14 Your Healthy Family What to eat to boost your brain power

Photography by Aimee Adams Photography, Norman (AimeeAdamsPhoto.com)

July 2009

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Dear MetroFamily, Hot enough for ya?

I for one am happy that July is here if only that a change of forecast might be in store for us with the change in the calendar page.

My family took advantage of the “cold front” that recently came through, knocking the thermostat down from 100° to 90° We headed to the Oklahoma City Zoo armed with sunscreen and plenty of water. I never thought I would consider 90° as cool, but sometimes circumstances change your mind in ways you never anticipate.

Our Special Needs focus in this issue has a similar feel for me—it seems we never know what life is going to throw at us, but in our willingness and ability to adapt is where we find success. I’ve been inspired by the stories in this issue, and I hope that you also find information that inspires and enlightens.

We continue to encourage you to find an Oklahoma family adventure this summer, and in our Parting Shots page (page 42), you’ll find some local families who did just that, taking their Exploring Oklahoma with Children issue along with them to snap a picture and enter our photo contest.

So enjoy all that Oklahoma has to offer you. Just remember to pack your water and sunscreen before you go!

Cheers,

Info And Questions: 405-340-1404 To submit events to our calendar Calendar@MetroFamilyMagazine.com Publisher Sarah L. Taylor Sarah@MetroFamilyMagazine.com Editor Mari M. Farthing Editor@MetroFamilyMagazine.com Art Director Mitzi Massie Mitzi@MetroFamilyMagazine.com Advertising Sales Athena Delce Dara Price Donna Stewart Aaron Wignall Teresa Wilson Office and Distribution Manager Kathy Alberty Kathy@MetroFamilyMagazine.com Marketing Specialist Whitney Fleming Calendar Editor & Special Projects Assistant Terri Fields Calendar@MetroFamilyMagazine.com Editorial Assistant Sherrie Horton

• We want to know what you think about MetroFamily! Take the short survey at readexsurvey.net/ppa/metrofamily.asp. Your comments will help us better serve you and give you a chance to win a $1000 American Express gift card. If you don’t have Internet access, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to PPA, 1970 E. Grand Avenue, Suite 330, El Segundo, CA 90245. Hurry! Deadline is July 31st!

• You’ll never hear your children cry “I’m bored!” with our Exploring Oklahoma with Children annual travel guide. Find fabulous weekend and day trips perfect for the entire family and the popular Kids Pass featuring discounts to over 40 attractions statewide. While vacationing, take photos of your family holding the cover of the Exploring Oklahoma publication and submit it to be eligible for three great vacation prizes (deadline is July 31).

Details at ExploringOK.com.

• Our annual Cover Kids Search has begun. Find all the details and enter at MetroFamilyMagazine.com/Cover-Kids or go to page 25. Our thanks to Delta Dental, Presenting Sponsor, and Brock’s Photography, Photography Sponsor.

• Get ready for school (and the after-school activities that come with it) through our popular August issue! You won’t want to miss our comprehensive Extracurricular Activities Guide! Advertising deadline is July 15. Call today! 405.340.1404.

•

Become a fan of MetroFamily at Facebook. com/metrofamily and follow us on Twitter. com/metrofamily. By doing so, you’ll be the first to know about great local family information and our next “tweetup.”

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Graphics Assistant Kathryne Taylor Kathryne@MetroFamilyMagazine.com Contributing Writers Drs Lori & Stewart Beasley Jamie Lober Ann Benjamin Karen Mitchell Lisa Carpenter Annie Nashert Mari Farthing Gayleen Rabakkuk Shannon Fields Sue Lynn Sasser Leslie Garrett Lori Williams Circulation 35,000 – OKC, Edmond, Nichols Hills, Norman, Moore, Midwest City, Yukon Also available as a digital edition at MetroFamilyMagazine.com.

Articles and advertisements in MetroFamily do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the magazine or Inprint Publishing, Inc. We do not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. The acceptance of advertising by MetroFamily does not constitute an endorsement of the products, services, or information. We do not knowingly present any product or service which is fraudulent or misleading in nature.

MetroFamily Magazine is published monthly

By Inprint Publishing, Inc. 306 S. Bryant, Suite C152 • Edmond, OK 73034 Fax: 405-340-1490 E-mail: Info@MetroFamilyMagazine.com ©Inprint Publishing, Inc. 2009, All Rights Reserved.

Volume 12, Number 07

You could walk away with $1000 just by completing a short survey

For spending a few minutes sharing your opinions, you will automatically be entered in a drawing for a $1,000 American Express gift card!

Help MetroFamily better meet your needs by logging onto the site shown below and completing the survey.

Log onto... www.readexsurvey.net/ppa/metrofamily.asp

Hurry! Deadline is July 31, 2009!

Those without access to the internet may obtain an entry form and survey by sending a stamped, self-addressed envelope to PPA, 1970 E. Grand Ave, Ste 330, El Segundo, CA 90245.

Exploring Oklahoma Ponca City, close by and perfect for families

W

museum showcases women who have pioneered in various fields throughout Oklahoma’s history and honors the daily life of early Cherokee Strip woman settlers. Admission is $3; open TuesdaySaturday 9am-5pm, Sunday 1-5pm.

580-765-6108.

as I pleasantly surprised by my recent visit to Ponca City. I’ve not been to this city since a friend’s wedding many years ago, but had I done my research earlier, this would have been on our family’s summer activity “must see and do” list when our kids were young. Ideally, an overnight stay is needed. But, only 90 miles from the Oklahoma City Metro makes Ponca City an easy destination to come back to for multiple visits.

The Marland Mansion (901 Monument Rd). Constructed in the style of an Italian Renaissance villa in 1928, this opulent 43,561 square foot mansion showcases the intricate ornamentation of E.W. Marland’s second custom-built home that boasted a $5.5 million price tag at the time. Open daily 10am-5pm, Sundays 1-5pm. Group and guided tours are available. (Marland’s first home is also on tour at 1000 E Grand).

TravelOK.com

Conoco Museum (501 W South Ave). Ponca City may be best known for its oil industry, and the Conoco Museum provides the story. Visitors will enjoy the colorful and interactive displays. Parents will appreciate the old commercials. (Remember when service attendants dressed in hats and uniforms cleaned your window with a smile?)

Kids can play service attendant in a replica station complete with a working gravity-fed gas pump. Free admission.

Open Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 1-5pm.

Poncan Theatre (104 E Grand). Built in 1927, the beautiful and ornate Poncan Theatre is a museum in its own right. Now used as a performing arts center, the lobby’s walls are adorned with vintage movie posters. July’s events include free family film festival

Pioneer Woman Statue

Rich in History Named after one of the six Native American tribes that once surrounded the area, Ponca City was formed in 1893 with the first known “town lot drawing” whereby lots were literally drawn out of a hat for residents and/or business owners. From there, the history of Ponca City just gets richer and is shown off in the 14 museums offered throughout the city. Here are a few that I recommend:

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TravelOK.com

The Pioneer Woman Museum (701 Monument Rd). Most Oklahomans are familiar with the famous statue depicting a pioneer mother standing defiantly with her young son. The corresponding 10,000 square foot

Marland Mansion

July 2009

showings and a live production of the musical, “Grease.” Call 866-763-8092 or visit PoncaCityTourism.com for schedules and tickets.

Outside Fun There are plenty of options for having fun in the sun in Ponca City. Oh, my kids would have loved these places!

Sun’N Fun Water Park (8900 Lake Rd). Celebrating its 30th anniversary, this cool retreat will thrill with water slides, a wave pool, bumper boats and a lazy river, arcade, kiddy rides and food grill. Located west of town, general admission is $11.95, less for children under six, groups of 20 or more and at sunset. Phone: 580-762-5999.

Wentz Pool (905 W Hartford Ave).

Donated by one of Ponca City’s biggest philanthropists, Lew Wentz, this large pool is 50 feet wide and 150 feet long with two diving boards. Built in 1928 as part of a group camp, Wentz Pool is beautifully located off Lake Ponca.

While part of Wentz Camp (a group camp with cabins available for rental), the pool is open to the public for an affordable daily rate of $2 for adults and $1 for children.

Kaw Lake and Lake Ponca. These two lakes are available for all the usual family lake recreation—but you’ll need to bring your own boat and supplies. At 16,000 surface acres, Kaw Lake is the larger of the two and is run by the Army Corp of Engineers. Ponca Lake is a beautiful, smaller oasis run by the city.

Wentz Pool

Where to Eat Great restaurants abound in Ponca City.

Here are a couple of suggestions: Zino’s Italian Restaurant (200 N Second). “Yum” is just one word to describe the unique Italian fare. We sat on the shaded patio of this quaint, corner downtown area gem for lunch.

Owner, Zinee Rhazi, suggested the stuffed mushroom appetizer and my

TravelOK.com

husband and I opted to split the Zino’s Veal entree served with dill, mushrooms, shallots and brandy cream sauce.

Everything was scrumptious and what family member doesn’t love good Italian food? Open daily, closed Sundays.

Phone: 580-718-0104.

Karen Mitchell, a lifelong resident of the Oklahoma City metro area, lives in Edmond with her husband, Mark, teenage son, Ryan, and one spoiled Welsh Corgi. Daughter, Megan, attends college in Stillwater.

Daily Grind (202 E Grand Ave).

A “small” coffee shop, this local favorite offers a large menu of unique and sizeable sandwiches, salads, and beverages for breakfast, lunch and dinner. View the menu at TheDailyGrinder.com. 580-762-5594.

Whether for a day, multiple visits or an overnight or two, Ponca City is a definite must see and do family destination. But take your kids now or before you know it, they’ll be grown. For more information on attractions, eateries or overnight accommodations, call 866763-8092 or visit PoncaCityTourism.com.

Summer Reading Takes R You On Fun Adventures!

Author Signings • Story Time • Art Activities • Puzzles • Journals • Audio Books & More!

Kickingbird Square Danforth & Bryant • Edmond

340-9202

Locally owned and operated Mon —Sat 9a - 8p • Sun 1-5p

www.bestofbooksedmond.com

Preparing Christ-Centered Servant Leaders

Now accepting applications for grades PreK - 10th For more information or application materials, call

(405) 842-8495 or visit crossingsschool.org.

14400 N. Portland Ave. Oklahoma City, OK 73134 July 2009

• • • • • • • • •

Highly Qualified Teachers Beautiful New Facilities High Tech Classrooms Athletics Fine Arts Core Knowledge Curriculum Student Leadership Institute Skills for a Global Economy All integrated with a biblical wordview

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Nutrition and the Special Needs Child

Summer Arts Fun

Is there a connection between learning and behavior disorders (such as auti autism, Asperger’s, ADHD, sensory processing ddisorders and learning disabilities) and nutrition? disabilit Licensed, registered dietitian Licens Judy Converse C is one of the many in the medical community who now bbelieves that a connection does exist.

Two exclusive exclusiv web-only features by Judy Converse Convers are on our website addressing nutrition nut therapy. Converse is the author oof the new book SpecialNeeds Kids Eat Ea Right: Strategies to Help Kids on the Au Autism Spectrum Focus, Learn, and Thrive, Thr and the NutritionCare. net website, wh where parents can find a about nutrition multitude of resources res care and how it can be used.

Converse’s articles, Doc, Can Find Converse’ You Give My Special Needs Child S Help? and The Importance Nutritional He of Balancing G Gut Flora in a Special Needs Child through the link on our website, MetroFamilyMagazine.com/ Me Special-Needs-Resources.

Special-Nee © Kurhan | Dreamstime.com

MFM Question of the Month When was the Poncan Theatre built?

(Hint: see page 8 ) To enter, visit MetroFamilyMagazine.com/FS-Giveaway and complete the entry form. By doing so, you’ll be eligible to win a prize package valued over $500 Deadline is Thursday, July 23.

Families can enjoy a variety of fun arts-themed programs around the Metro this summer.

Neighborhood Arts celebrates 25 years of summer programs this year with worldwide folk tales at 14 Metro Library locations.

Neighborhood Arts is made possible with the assistance of Oklahoma Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts and Allied Arts.

The schedule for July events includes: • June 29-July 3: folktales with Al Bostick • July 6-10: puppetry with Balcum Rancum • July 13-17: folktales with Joe Hayes • July 20-24: Children’s Music Festival Weekly performance schedule is as follows: • Mondays: 10:30am (Ralph Ellison), 1pm (Capitol Hill), 3pm (Midwest City) • Tuesdays: 9:30am and 10:30am (Bethany), 1pm (Downtown), 3pm (Southern Oaks) • Wednesdays: 10:30am (Del City), 2pm (Warr Acres) • Thursdays: 9:30am and 10:30am (Edmond), 1pm (Village), 3pm (Belle Isle) • Fridays: 10:30am (Harrah), 1pm (Choctaw), 3pm (Nicoma Park) Call 405-270-4848 or visit ArtsCouncilOKC. com to learn more about Neighborhood Arts.

The OU Summer Theatre in Norman hosts low-cost family productions at the Weitzenhoffer Theatre on the OU campus.

From July 1-11, families can enjoy the Bremen Town Musicians, a musical adaptation of the Brothers Grimm tale that is set in 1930s America. The traditional donkey, cat dog and rooster combine with country, bluegrass and gospel music for a fun-for-all ages program.

Henry IV, Part I is a lesser-known work by Shakespeare, featuring the coming-of-age story of Prince Hal and his jovial sidekick Falstaff.

Performances will be held July 17-26.

The winning entry will receive a prize package including the items pictured above. Full description of giveaway items listed at MetroFamilyMagazine.com/ FS-Giveaway. * Winner agrees to pick up items from NW OKC area.

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All OU Summer Theatre program tickets are $5.

Conact the OU Fine Arts Box Office at 405-3254101 for times and tickets.

Music therapist Rachel Nowels works with Kyle Tilley on the Soundbeam at The Children’s Center.

Ultrasonic Music Therapy The Children’s Center in Bethany serves medically and physically disabled children with a multitude of services. One of these services is the Soundbeam, an innovative machine that translates motion to music via ultrasonic beam.

“Giving patients this unique opportunity to create music allows therapy to become more meaningful and rewarding to them,” said music therapist Rachel Nowels.

Soundbeam can be used to create 188 different instruments and sound effects, activated by large movements such as jumping, or very small movements such as a finger movement or even a soap bubble passing through the wave.

The Soundbeam can be used for one person or a large group, and benefits to patients include increased physical ability (range of motion and coordination), cognitive abilities (cause-and-effect, spatial concepts, following direction) and social skills (taking turns, peer interaction, self expression).

At the Children’s Center, it is used during music therapy sessions, cooperative treatments with special education, physical, occupational, speech and recreational therapies. “One of the great things about having Soundbeam here is that our music therapists use it along with our physical therapists, occupational therapists, and even our special education teachers,” said Jamie Davis of the Children’s Center. “They set it up when we have events such as prom, or Fall Festival.”

Learn more about the Children’s Center by calling 405-789-6711 or visiting TCCOKC.org.

Attention Job Seekers! Help for Kids with Lazy Eye Oklahoma City may be considered “recession-proof” by some, but there are still many in the Metro out of work.

The OKC Pink Slipped Party will bring together all the components for a successful job hunt—hiring managers, recruiters and human resources professionals—to offer job seekers a high-profile yet casual networking opportunity.

Sponsored by Xceptional HR Consulting, a recruiting, human resources, and social media consulting company, the Party will be held Wednesday, July 8, 5:30-7:30pm at Rococo’s Restaurant. Tickets for job-seekers are $20 in advance ($25 at the door).

Highlights of the evening include swag bags, appetizers, resume critiques, and interview tips. For details, contact Jessica Miller-Merrell at 405-343-5751 or visit OKCPinkSlipped.EventBrite.com.

Jessica also maintains a blog (bloggingforjobs.blogspot. com) where she offers advice to job seekers. Some networking tips from Jessica: • Join online social networking sites (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn) for free networking opportunities.

Amblyopia, or lazy eye, is a common early childhood ailment that can be easily treated with an eye patch.

Kelly Harmsen’s twoyear-old son was given an eye patch to treat his own amblyopia, but he resisted wearing it. “The doctor told me that Joshua needed to be ‘patched’ over his right eye for three hours each day so that his left eye would grow stronger,” said Kelly. “When I asked the doctor how I was supposed to get Joshua to not only put on the eye patch, but to also wear it for up to three hours each day, he replied ‘I don’t know.’ That’s when I realized there were no good resources for parents dealing with children suffering from this condition.”

After watching a cartoon featuring an eye patch-wearing pirate, Kelly’s son was eager to wear his patch; this led Kelly to develop a DVD to reach the approximately 12 million other children suffering from amblyopia and other disorders that require patching for treatment. “The Eye Patch Kids” show features puppets singing, dancing and encouraging children to wear their patches.

• Volunteer your time and expertise to a local organization to keep your skills sharp and forge connections.

Kelly saw immediate results. “Even after seeing the rough cut of the video, my son has been so good with his patching because he now associates wearing the patch to having fun with the puppets,” said Kelly. “He now begins his morning ritual by picking out which eye patch he wants to wear and placing it on before he watches the video. We no longer fight about him wearing his patch and we are both so much happier as a result.”

• Become active in your community—from the local chamber of commerce to the local toastmasters club, opportunities to increase connections are all around.

Recommended by Prevent Blindness America as a useful resource for children who need eye patches, “The Eye Patch Kids” DVD is available at BjortAndCompany.com for $15.99.

• Research professional organizations in your field; membership might be very reasonable and will provide a myriad of resources.

July 2009

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Resources for Savvy Dads There is no shortage of information on parenting. A quick search of a popular book website turns up 47,555 titles for parenting books. If you refine the search to include “fathers,” that number drops to 1,438. Even though small in number, there are a few notable titles for dads new and old to seek out at the local bookstore.

Being Dad Alhough this is a DVD, not a book, the film contains an abundance of information for new dads and dads-to-be. A journey from conception to birth with interviews of dads and experts. ($29.99; BeingDadUSA.com)

National Ice Cream Month

By Lisa Carpenter

In 1984, President Ronald Reagan designated July as National Ice Cream Month and the third Sunday of the month as National Ice Cream Day. He recognized ice cream as a fun and nutritious food enjoyed by 90 percent of the nation’s households. What flavor is tops for all those families? According to a national eating trends survey, the top five individual flavors in the United States are vanilla (30%), chocolate (10%), butter pecan (4%), strawberry (3.7%) and chocolate chip mint (3.2%).

In President Reagan’s proclamation, he called for all people of the United States to observe National Ice Cream Month and National Ice Cream Day with “appropriate ceremonies and activities.” Make the most of this year’s National Ice Cream Day— Sunday, July 19—with these yummy treats from the International Dairy Foods Association: candy sprinkles whipped cream maraschino cherry

Place toasted waffle on serving dish. Scoop ice cream onto center of toasted waffle. Insert cookie halves at an angle into ice cream. Top with chocolate topping, sprinkles and whipped cream. Garnish with cherry. Makes 1 serving.

Triple Chocolate Crunch Shake: 2 chocolate cookies, broken into pieces 2 scoops chocolate ice cream, softened 2 tablespoons chocolate syrup 1/3 cup milk Garnishes: whipped cream, candy sprinkles Place all ingredients except garnishes in blender. Cover and blend for 30 seconds or until smooth. Garnish blended mixture with whipped cream and sprinkles. Makes 1 serving.

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Green Green Your Travels Keep these tips in mind so that your summer vacation creates only great memories.

Dads, Teach Your Child (Ages 2-6) About the Computer Because some days, even Superman probably wished he had a guidebook. This “Wonderdads” book will help dads teach their kids how to use one of the coolest machines in the house—the computer. Even the not-so-tech-savvy dads will be able to provide lessons using the clear plans with website recommendations. ($14.95; WonderDads.com)

Seven-Layer Sundae: 1 frozen waffle, toasted 1 scoop chocolate ice cream 1 peanut butter cookie, cut in half chocolate topping

Easy to be

Food for thought: Before you travel, invest in a fair-trade picnic basket (find locally or check out TenThousandVillages.com), with plates, cutlery, glasses and linens. Pack fresh fruit and snacks so you’ll be less tempted to stop for fast food.

If your kids just have to have the little toys these meals offer, pack a few treats like colored pencils, coloring books, and a magnifying glass.

Use your feet: Get your family on their feet to get around when you arrive at your destination. Rent bikes or simply walk—it’s a great way to explore a city or the countryside.

You can’t (always) take it with you: When buying souvenirs, most tourists never dream that they’re complicit in the thriving black market for endangered plants and animals—a market second only to drugs, according to the folks at the World Wildlife Fund.

Check out this quick list of no-nos: • any sea turtle products • wild bird feathers and mounted birds • certain leather products, including some made from caiman, crocodiles, lizards and snakes • some corals, coral products and shells For a more complete list, log on to: Traffic.org or wwf.org/buyerbeware.

Leslie Garrett is an award-winning journalist, mother of three and author of The Virtuous Consumer: Your Essential Shopping Guide for a Better, Kinder, Healthier World (and one our kids will thank us for!). Visit her at VirtuousConsumer.com

Don’t forget—when you are done with this issue, pass it on to a friend or drop it in your recycle bin!

Problem-Solving Contemporary Dance Festival Perpetual Motion/Modern Dance Oklahoma Products is hosting the fourth annual Oklahoma When we hear about new or helpful products, we like to let our readers know! Here are a few of the interesting items we’ve recently found.

Problem: Ugh! Where are my keys!?

Solution: The EZ-Find ($59.95) system includes a locator unit and four tags that can be attached to keys, remote controls and more. (EZ-Find.com)

Problem: I can’t find a one-piece bodysuit for my special-needs son. Help!

Solution: Essential Whites bodysuits ($8-$10) are made of soft 100% cotton and come in sleeveless, short- and long-sleeve styles up to 5T. Great for late potty trainers or children with special needs.

(EssentialWhites.com)

Problem: Is there hope for my messy closet?

Solution: Kangaroom Storage boxes ($18.99 and up) can tame even the messiest closet shelves with three sizes of sturdy bins that fold flat when not in use.

(KangaRoomStorage.com)

Problem: I’m bored, mom!

Solution: A Busy Tot Box ($12 and up per month) provides a fun craft, snack and educational information for children ages 3 and up. Sign up for a subscription and the boxes will be sent directly to your door. (BusyTotBox.com).

Problem: Dirty, dirty toes.

Solution: Soapy Hands and Toes for Kids ($14.95) includes a foot and hand scrubber that will effectively and gently clean the dirtiest and tiniest of digits.

(McNaughtonInc.com).

Contemporary Dance Festival July 31-August 1. The festival features performances by 40 local dancers and seven guest choreographers.

“Hosting the Festival helps fulfill our goal of creating and sustaining a collaborative network of artists by bringing together various community dancers, choreographers, and dance organizations in a supportive environment,” said Michelle Dexter, Director of Perpetual Motion/Modern Dance Oklahoma.

Dancers are chosen by audition and performances feature a variety of techniques, Perpetual Motion dancers Kim Kieffer-Williams and including modern, Afro-Cuban and Rebecca vonBargen perform “Semblance” at the contemporary ballet. “The festival provides Out of the Loop Festival in Texas. opportunities for these student dancers to gain experience in a professional environment and allows the professional dancers and choreographers to become mentors while discovering new talent,” said Dexter. “The festival will also inspire the young dancers to embrace their abilities, create their own works and eventually become a part of Oklahoma City’s emerging professional modern dance community.”

The Contemporary Dance Festival will be held at Stage Center’s Mary Noble Tolbert Theater (400 W Sheridan), Show begins 8pm nightly. Tickets, ($15 adults, $10 students, $8 under 12) available at 405-297-2264 or OKCCivicCenter.org. Learn more at PerpetualMotionDance.org.

Bored? Use Your Noodle!

Kids may need exercise, but what they want is fun. Obesity rates in preschool children have tripled from 5.8 percent in 1970 to 18.4 percent in 2008. The National Association for Sport and Physical Education recommends a minimum of one hour structured and one hour unstructured physical activity daily. Make it fun by using your noodle—pool noodle, that is!

• Tunnel crawl: Line up chairs and lay noodles across the top to form a tunnel.

Kids can crawl through the tunnel on hands and knees, on elbows and tummys or shimmy on their backs.

• Tug of war: Parents, this one is too fun to miss, so be sure to join in the fun. Grab a noodle and let the war begin.

• Noodle rockets: Cut noodle in half or thirds using a sharp, serrated knife. Launch the rockets by tossing straight up in the air and try to catch them before they fall, or challenge children to perform an activity (such as squat and touch the ground) before the rocket falls.

• Bowling: Use tape to secure noodles parallel to each other, about one or two feet apart. Recycle empty plastic bottles to use as pins and a beach ball to knock them down.

• Noodle cut-ups: Cut noodles into four- or five-inch segments using a sharp, serrated knife. Think up fun ways to use these segments—have races as children carry them without their hands, jump over segments in an obstacle course or play hot potato.

Visit HeadStartBodyStart.org for more fun active ideas for children.

July 2009

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Your Healthy Family What to Feed Your Brain

L

ike most moms out there, I have years of life was inadequate. In fact, always tried to make sensible food nutrition can affect cognitive processing choices for my family. I keep junk throughout a person’s life. food to a minimum, limit the amount of fast food we eat and try to include plenty Antioxidants of fruits and vegetables in our diets.

Studies have shown that a diet rich in Although I’m not always as diligent as antioxidants can improve cognitive I should be, I have really buckled down function by improving transmissions in the past year, mostly as a result of between the synapses. Colorful foods article research. With nutrition affecting so many health issues, I decided to clean such as fresh fruits and vegetables tend to have higher antioxidant content. Here up my pantry. I expected everyone’s is a breakdown of some of the best overall health to improve, and it did! I choices: didn’t necessarily expect my daughter’s grades to go up and her attention span to • Blueberries can improve learning improve, but it happened. Coincidence? capacity and motor skills, and studies Perhaps. But it sure made me wonder: show that eating them regularly may are there foods we can eat to maximize help reduce the risk of developing our mental acuity? dementia.

The idea that nutrition plays a role in • Tea is packed with powerful cognitive (brain) function isn’t exactly antioxidants, and has been shown to a new one. For decades, scientists help boost immunity and increase considered the connection between blood flow, which is key to good nutrition and cognitive function to be brain function. fairly straightforward. From conception to around age two is a critical period for • Dark chocolate is loaded with antioxidants and contains natural intellectual development, when the brain stimulants that boost concentration grows to approximately 80% of its adult and focus. Stick with a quality dark size. It was thought that poor nutrition chocolate containing at least 70% during this time period could lead to cocoa. structural malformations in the brain, thus affecting cognitive development.

Gradually, scientists began to realize Essential Fatty Acids that this model was too simplistic, and Our brain cells are comprised of that the emphasis on the first two approximately 60% fat, and as such, the

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types of fat we consume play a key role in the development and maintenance of a healthy brain. Essential fatty acids, namely Omega-3 and Omega-6, are often lacking in American diets, because of our society’s tendency to rely on “convenient” processed foods containing hydrogenated fats.

Pharmacist Dave Mason is in the process of completing his certification in Clinical Nutrition, and believes these fatty acids are essential for good health.

“Omega-3s are a type of good fat that’s necessary for so many reasons. They promote a healthy immune system, are required for visual function, and help stimulate the metabolism. They also help with joint support and adrenal function, and people who don’t have enough of it in their diets are going to feel those effects.” Foods such as cold July 2009

water fish, avocadoes, and flax seed oil are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids.

Supplementing Your Mind While most agree that dietary intake is the most effective way of obtaining these brain-healthy nutrients, moms out there know how challenging it can be to get those five to seven servings of fruits and veggies into our kids, let alone get them to eat salmon. Mason generally advises patients to “do your best, and then make up the difference with a quality supplement. There are some great antioxidant formulas out there that can boost those levels.” He strongly advises patients to reduce the amount of processed foods in their diet, and choose organic foods whenever possible. “Studies suggest that the added chemicals and hormones can negatively affect cognitive function.” A father of four, he jokes, “I want my kids’ brains to be as clean as possible!”

With regard to Omega-3 supplements, Mason advises patients to read labels carefully. A good Omega-3 supplement should contain an approximate 2:1 ratio of EPA and DHA from cold water fish.

“With fish oil supplements, patients tend to get what they pay for. Inferior supplements may include filler fish oils that can upset the digestive system, and may even be polluted by harmful metals such as mercury.” Many quality fish oil supplements are enteric-coated to avoid a fishy aftertaste.

Having seen the positive impact of better nutrition in my own children, you can rest assured I will be adding even more of these brain-healthy foods into our diet. Consider including additional antioxidants and essential fatty acids in your own family’s menu—it just might be the smartest dietary choice you ever make!

Shannon Fields is a freelance writer and a Certified Pharmacy Technician at Innovative Pharmacy Solutions.

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• Children with ADHD act first and think later.

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If this sounds like your child, take this opportunity to learn more about your child’s behavior and this study. A pharmaceutical company is studying an investigational medication that may help girls and boys who experience these symptoms.

If your boy or girl is between the ages of 10 and 16 and has ADHD and/or a reading disability contact: Child Study Center At 405-271-5700 EXT. #45167 Email lora-tusing@ouhsc.edu or brenda-schlinke@ouhsc.edu THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY INSTITUTION

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The music was loud, the mirrors were bright and the pace was fast. So five-year-old Cooper covered his ears and climbed into a costume bin. It was his own safe spectator zone.

Nearby, Cooper’s sister Erin clutched a stick horse and twirled to the merry-go-round dance.

This was fun! Joseph and Miranda, also siblings, frolicked to the oompah-pah rhythm. It was the first day of Special Delivery dance class at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Oklahoma City. Aptly named Samuel’s Call, St. Luke’s special needs ministry works to affirm that God calls children of all abilities to do God’s work in the world.

Each Saturday, the kids returned with their moms in tow. Joseph and Miranda’s mother, Leah, suspected that the class would be a hit with her kids. “They simply process better when something’s put to music,” she notes.

Seven-year-old Joseph, who has Williams Syndrome (a rare condition causing medical and developmental problems), has progressed by leaps and bounds. “His listening, sequencing, and processing abilities have just taken off,” marvels Leah. “Plus, now he’s the huggiest kid ever, whereas he used to be so rigid. The dance class has really helped him.”

Lessons from the Bin While Joseph learned through participating, Cooper first learned by observing. “After Cooper escaped to that bin for several weeks in a row,” recalls his mom Rachel, “I wondered if we should keep trying.” ©D

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But try they did, and by the sixth week Cooper ventured out to do a few dance steps in front of the mirror. Four months later, he was fully participating, and last spring he danced in a class recital. For a child with mild high functioning active but odd autism, Cooper’s progress is a giant step in the right direction. “Now he knows that if he keeps trying, he’s going to get it,” remarks Rachel, who has a suggestion for other parents of special needs children: “Be sure to give it a really, good long try.

It’s worth it when your child lights up and then checks to see if you saw them get it right.”

Long Distance Smiles Cooper isn’t the only one lighting up the dance floor. When nineteen-year-old Carrie dances, “she has a beautiful smile that extends across the room,” says her mom Maureen. Watching Carrie leap gracefully during a grand jeté, it’s hard to fathom that she’s dancing with titanium rods in her back. “Fusion surgery helped correct some of Carrie’s double spine curvature,” explains Maureen, “and dance class has improved her coordination and confidence.”

Above: CoraBeth, center, with her helpers.

Below: Brandon Wall.

Carrie is in a class for older students; the first 30 minutes is jazz, while the remainder is for tap. The macarena is a favorite among Carrie and her fellow classmates, including Shay, who has Down’s Syndrome. “This kind of class is like therapy to music,” says Merradyth, Shay’s mom. “I can see big improvements in Shay’s coordination and movement.”

“Carrie begins talking about Saturday dance class on Thursday,” says her mom. “It’s become an integral part of her life.”

It’s much the same with Shay. “She packs her dance bag the night before,” says Merradyth. As if that weren’t enough proof of enthusiasm, Shay then says, “I’m soooooo excited! I love dance class!”

Life Lessons from the Dance Floor That love is what keeps these kids coming back. It’s also the reason why Shannon Wrights teaches Carrie, Shay and 100 other students every week. “My heart and passion is to dance,” says Shannon, “but I don’t just teach dance steps. When my students learn to control their body, that self-confidence flows into other areas of their life.”

Shannon knows about self-confidence; after all, she has a degree in Dance Management. In college, she learned to dance by feel, not by sight. You see, Shannon is a dancer who also happens to be legally blind.

“I found a private dance teacher who didn’t exclude me because of my vision challenges,” recalls Shannon. “She empowered me to pursue my dream, which is to teach dance to kids and adults, no matter their ability or disability.”

Yet Shannon definitely keeps the focus on ability. “I have a student with cerebral palsy who’s getting out of her wheelchair and doing straight rolls across the gymnastics mat,” Shannon says joyfully. “She tells me she loves coming because it’s so much more fun than therapy.”

Three Cheers for Empire Elite It sounds like Shannon’s found a winning combination: a therapeutic activity that doesn’t feel like therapy. The same can also be said about David Owens, the head coach at Empire Elite Cheer in Bethany.

“I started cheerleading in high school, and have been doing it ever since,” says David.

“During my busy season, I coach 17 squads, with kids aged 3-26.”

So David didn’t really have time to add another squad. But that’s exactly what happened a year ago after he saw an out-of-state special needs team competition.

Jennifer Wall also watched that competition, and she teared up when her son Brandon said, “I want to do this. When is it my turn?” Brandon, who has Down’s Syndrome, always cheered from the sidelines as his sister Madison competed with her squad.

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Jennifer asked David to coach a special needs team, and the rest is history. History as in the formation of Heart of the Empire, Oklahoma’s first special needs cheerleading squad (four others have since started across the state). History as in the Heart of the Empire becoming NCA National Champions in February of 2009. “I don’t know anything about working with special needs kids,” David admitted from the start. “I’ll treat them like anyone else and have high expectations.” That kind of attitude has grown a team of three to what is now a squad of twenty.

Seventeen-year-old Brandon has a short cameo—some call it a “booty shake”— during the routine, and it invariably brings the house down. Mom Jennifer is rightfully proud, yet she says, “I’m proudest when I see what the whole team has accomplished.”

Seven-year-old Katie feels the same way. “My team needs me,” she tells her mom Casey on the way to practice. Signing up for cheerleading was Casey’s way of encouraging her daughter, who has high functioning autism, to be more social. “She has greater self-confidence now,” says Casey. “And since she’s getting extra sensory input, we’re taking a break from private occupational therapy sessions.”

The team performs at about eight competitions during their ten month season. “I not nervous, I not,” says fifteen-year-old Tiffany, who has developmental delays. And why should she be nervous? She’s been waiting for this ever since she saw a cheer group perform a decade ago and announced, “I cheer, I wanna cheer too.”

Watching the cheer routine is mesmerizing. It’s choreographed, but somehow doesn’t seem rehearsed. There are stunts, tumbles, dance moves, and even a pyramid. For parents like Robin, whose twelve-year-old daughter Ieashia has a list of disabilities, seeing is believing. “Cheering makes Ieashia happy,” says Robin.

“Special needs chidren are often overlooked, but I don’t want Ieashia to ever be invisible. I want her to try and enjoy new things.”

Six-year-old CoraBeth also loves cheering, even though it means sweating.

That’s because Coach David encourages CoraBeth, who has cerebral palsy, to navigate without her walker.

Breakaway program Bethany First Church of the Nazarene; Marcia Adams, Special Needs Coordinator 405-623-9585, BethanyNaz.org/ special-needs-kids Free program one Friday night per month for special needs individuals grade 4 and up Dance with Shannon Wrights Dance and creative movement Oklahoma City, 388-5048 $15/45-minute session private lessons; $45/month group lessons Empire Elite Cheerleading Head Coach David Owens Bethany; 405-789-9996 $20/month; dance and tumbling Make Promises Happen Overnight Camping Programs Central Christian Campgrounds, Guthrie; James Wheeler, director 405-282-2811, CentralChristianCamp.org Camping for children with any disability, age 6 and up Samuel’s Call Parent’s Day Out Program St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, OKC; Kim Parris, Coordinator of Special Needs Ministries 405-609-1010, StLukesOKC.org/sc Free program held third Saturday of the month, 1-5pm for children through age 18 along with siblings

“Twice-weekly cheer practice is therapy that doesn’t feel like therapy,” says CoraBeth’s mom. “It’s absolutely priceless what David’s done for CoraBeth.

He expects her to succeed.”

Shining Starz Program Shock Cheer, Norman Leslee Boswell, Instructor 405-573-9974, NormanShock.com $35/month, Mondays 6-7pm

“The stunts are my favorite part,” says CoraBeth. “My mom and dad are the most excited ones in the crowd when I’m up on top.”

Special Olympics Oklahoma Statewide sporting programs for age groups 4-7 and 8 and up 800-722-9004, sook.org; Teri Hockett, Program Director Sports offered include aquatics, basketball and golf; full listing available online.

The team has made CoraBeth’s high climb an easy one. No wonder she’s smiling and standing ten feet tall.

Lori Williams is a freelance writer who lives in Bethany.

Her daughter Aurelia loved her time as an Empire Elite cheerleader and a Special Delivery dancer.

Sports and Activities for Special Needs Families:

NOTE: If you know of other sports and arts programs that serve special needs kids, please email the details about the program to info@ metrofamilymagazine.com and we’ll add it to our online list.

CoraBeth with her trophy.

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Let’s Eat: Restaurant Review Jo’s Famous Pizza, Edmond

J

o’s Famous Pizza has been a landmark south of the Metro in Purcell since 1962. Recently, Jo’s opened an Edmond location in the rustic cabin vacated by Lottinvilles. Having heard the buzz about the original Jo’s location, I was excited to try out this new-to-Edmond pizzeria.

Jo’s is known for their Canadian bacon pizzas, featuring finely-chopped meat rather than sliced. Even if you aren’t a big fan of Canadian bacon, you should give it a try.

For our appetizers, we just had to find out what the “boomers” and “rollers” were. A boomer is a jalapeno pepper stuffed with mozzarella cheese, better known as a popper. Rollers are thin pizza dough stuffed with Canadian bacon and cheese, then baked and rolled in olive oil and garlic, served with marinara for dipping. The rollers sounded too interesting to pass by, but we wish we had. The oil was overpowering and dripping off each bite. I could not find any garlic flavor, and we endured just a few bites before we had to set the rollers aside. We later learned that you may request that the rollers not be rolled in oil, which might be worth a try—I only wish I had known this sooner.

Jo’s menu also offers salads, four sandwich varieties and, of course, pizza.

Three varieties of salad dressing are available: Holli’s house (a slightly sweet vinaigrette), Pa’s garlic (a thousand island cream style), and their ranch,

which I highly recommend as it is very flavorful. The pizza toppings include the typical offerings you expect plus hot links as a topping, which I have never heard of as a pizza topping, but sounds yummy. The pizza sizes range from mini 6” to x-large 16.”

A lunch special with any mini pizza or sandwich, small salad and drink sounded good, and we ordered two lunch specials with pizza—one with Canadian bacon and the other with Canadian bacon, onion, pineapple and jalapenos. On the lunch special you may have as many toppings as you like, so it’s easy to create your own taste sensation. The salad is served in a small stainless steel bowl with fresh baby greens topped with chopped Canadian bacon, black olives, a tiny bit of tomato and cheese. This salad could easily feed two people. We both had the Holli’s house dressing and should have requested extra on the side.

The crust on the mini’s was thin but not really crispy enough for us, but the Canadian bacon had a nice, mild flavor and Jo’s doesn’t skimp on the toppings for the pizzas. In hindsight, we wished we had ordered more variety to taste more of the flavors. At a table next to us the patrons had ordered a large sausage pizza which looked like it was topped with a generous amount of sausage.

The staff was friendly and attentive but needed to be a little more informative about some of the dishes to avoid unsavory surprises. I was disappointed

by the olives in the salad (I would have omitted them had I known about them) and the unappetizingly oily rollers we had as appetizers. The overall flavors at Jo’s were fine but just not enticing enough to demand a return visit.

Annie Nashert has a husband and teenage daughter who assume everybody has homemade dessert nightly.

Annie’s Restaurant Rating

2 of 4 forks

Jo’s Famous Pizza 900 S Kelly, Edmond 405-340-7070

Hours Monday-Saturday 11am-10pm Closed Sunday Prices $2.95-$24.95

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July 2009

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July 2009

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So do you think you know the story of Little Red Riding Hood? Here we learn the wolf’s side of the story, how Red helped him to become the nicest creature in the forest before she realized that she liked him better when he was mean. A fun, imaginitive book with interactive pages will encourage young readers to get involved in the story. Whose side will you be on in the end?

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by Grady Thrasher, illustrated by Elaine Hearn Rabon (Hill Street Press, hardcover, $18.95) Written in verse and featuring expressive watercolor illustrations, this is the story of Tim, Sally and dog Flip as they visit the beach for the first time with their family. A fun adventure for all ages, experience the ocean and beach through the eyes of the children and their dog.

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by Benedict Carey (Amulet Books, hardcover, $16.95) In a trailerpark called Adjacent, next to the Folsom Energy Plant and near Mount Trashmore, a mystery unfolded one summer when a number of people, including beloved math tutor Mrs. Clarke, disappeared. A gang of misfits use clues (in the form of math equations) left for them by Mrs. Clarke to solve the mystery.

MetroFamilyMagazine.com/ Cover-Kids Reviews by MetroFamily Magazine editor Mari Farthing.

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Here’s Your Chance!444 The search is on to find fresh faces and smiles to light up MetroFamily’s covers in 2010!

Categories include: Ages 0-18 months 19 mos-3 years 4-7 years 8-11 years 12-18 years Special Needs (All Ages 0-18)

Photos submitted should only show the child being nominated (group photos are not allowed); should have been taken within the last two months; and should be candid snapshots, not professionally-taken photos (unless taken by Brock’s Photography, see below for details).

Deadline is October 15, 2009.

Ten semi-finalists will be selected for each category. The six category winners will be selected by MetroFamily readers through an online voting process. Each winner will be professionally photographed and featured on one of our covers in 2010!

Enter soon! First 300 entrants will receive a “thank you” mailing of coupons and discounts to local businesses, including a ticket to a RedHawks game, admission to local attractions, and more!

Plus, have your child’s photo taken by our official Cover Kids photographer, Brock’s Photography, and you’ll receive up to $100 in print credit.

Two ways to enter: 1.

2.

PREFERRED: Go online to MetroFamilyMagazine.com/cover-kids, complete the form, upload your child’s digital photo and pay using a credit/debit card. Photo must be print quality.

Send the completed form and a 4X6 or 5X7 snapshot with $25 check or credit card info submitted on form below. (Find details and address on form below.)

A portion of the proceeds from this contest will be donated to the Special Olympics Special Smiles Program

Questions? Please email Info@MetroFamilyMagazine.com or call 405.340.1404.

NOTE: This is the only way to be able to submit a professionally-taken photo into the contest. Credit not to be combined with other offers.

ONLY ONE CHILD PER ENTRY Either send this form by mail or go online to MetroFamilyMagazine.com/cover-kids Name of Child _______________________________________________ Date of birth (mm/dd/yy) ____________________________ Age ________ Category (Circle One) 0-18mos 12-18yrs.

19mos-3yrs 4-7yrs Special Needs (all ages)

8-11yrs

Address ___________________________________________________ City __________________________ State _______Zip _____________ Home Phone __________________ Mobile Phone ____________________ Parent/Guardian Name _________________________________________ Signature: _________________________________________________ My signatures indicates that I give permission for my child’s photo to be used by MetroFamily without restriction. The entry fee is non-refundable and all photos will become property of MetroFamily. Photos will not be returned. It is further understood that my child’s photo may be placed on MetroFamilyMagazine.com but will be identified only by a first name, age and city.

$25 per entry. Make check payable to MetroFamily or pay here by credit card.

Check

VISA

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Account Number: _____________________________________________ Expiration Date: ______________________________________________ Billing Address: ______________________________________________ City __________________________ State _______Zip _____________ E-mail: ___________________________________________________ Signature: _________________________________________________ Mail completed form, photo and $25 fee for each entry to: Cover Kids Search, MetroFamily, 306 S Bryant, Suite C152, Edmond, OK 73034

How to Manage Sensory Processing Disorders © Subnurbs | Dreamstime.com

Sara is a six year old who wears the same soft pink dress each day. She is very fussy about her clothes and how the textures feel on her sensitive skin. She will cry easily if made to wear something new. John is an 11 year old who will only eat chicken strips and French fries. At a glance, some may call John a picky eater, but the explanation is more complex. He has a strong preference for foods that are cut lengthwise, just the right size for him to place on the center of his tongue while not touching any other area.

Sara and John are two of many children who experience the symptoms of a sensory processing disorder, also known as sensory integration dysfunction, and defensiveness related to the developmental disorder of autism.

A sensory processing disorder (SPD) inhibits a child from reacting to ordinary sensations and experiences in an expected way due to his abnormally functioning central nervous system.

Difficulty in processing may be mild to severe. Although every child (autistic or not), may struggle with processing sensory information from time to time, in children with SPD, the struggle interferes with their daily life. A child may be hypersensitive to touch and avoid taking a shower, stepping outside in the rain or walking barefoot in the sand; he may be under-sensitive to movement and find it hard to sit still or get 26

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a thrill out of recess activities like jumping on a trampoline, spinning on the tire swing or swinging on monkey bars.

Sensory Issues Children with autism do not perceive and integrate senses in the same way as others. There may be a deficiency in processing, interpreting and responding to the world around him. No two children with autism are alike, although there may be commonalities. “Autistic children may have sensory preferences and sensitivities that other children might not have which cause them to display behaviors like flapping hands in front of their face or staring at lights,” said Christina Newendorp, Development Director of the Tulsa Autism Foundation.

This can present a challenge for parents, as sensory issues can be much more than specific clothing or food preferences.

A child who is more sensory-seeking than average might find himself in unsafe situations while a child who is less sensory-seeking than average might be disconnected from his surroundings. This makes it important to strive for a balance closer to a normal range of sensory functioning. Steps toward normal sensory functioning include being able to interpret body language, reacting to situations and predicting how someone may feel.

An occupational therapist may help you use a Sensory Profile to identify your child’s preferences and come up with strategies to make you and your child’s life easier. Rene Damon, therapist and director of the Oklahoma Autism Network, recommends that parents work with a professional through early intervention at school or privately. “It is a matter of making accommodations,” Damon says. For example, if your child is oversensitive to touch, you may want to consider which type of clothing and fabric will be most comfortable for him; while some children like deep pressure and others prefer light touch, some children with SPD are painfully sensitive to touch.

At Home To improve your child’s behavior and decrease anxiety, start at home. Some ideas include: • Make a chart with words or pictures that sequence familiar routines such as bedtime or brushing teeth. “You can make a visual schedule to help your child predict what is coming next and communicate when he is having trouble expressing himself,” explains speech therapist Cathy Ross of Therapy Solutions.

• Maintain structured routines to avoid changes that might frustrate your child.

• Therapeutic Listening is recommended by Mercy Health Center occupational therapist Laura Smith. This strategy uses specially-modulated music over headphones to help children with SPD or autism to process visual information, movement and auditory information at the same time.

• Watch for signals of sensory overload. Try oral input to overcome stress and give your child gum, raw vegetables or Tootsie Rolls to chew on, which he may find calming.

• Provide tangible rewards when your child does something well. Fill a goodie bag with small, meaningful items (such as small toys), and let him choose one as a reward for good behavior. This may properly teach him to identify and react to social, emotional and behavioral cues in his environment while encouraging him to repeat the good behavior.

• Consider an aquarium at home—many children with SPD find soothing comfort in watching the movement of the fish and water. This also provides an opportunity for him to help you to care for the fish and the tank, providing an important sense of responsibility and accomplishment.

At School Children with SPD should not be mistaken as developmentally delayed; they just require new information to be taught in accordance with their sensory preference.

Increase your child’s comfort at school by talking to his teachers about ways he can productively manage his sensory deficits. Some things to consider: • If your child requires movement to concentrate, he may find comfort in passing out papers, distributing books, sharpening pencils or wiping the chalkboard.

• During silent reading time, it may be easier for him to sit in a beanbag rather than a standard chair.

• It may be calming for an autistic or SPD child to care for the classroom pet.

• Familiar objects may help to provide comfort to your child. Laura Smith encourages including familiar scents on a cotton ball in a small container, a ball or toy to squeeze, small rocks or found objects that have meaning. It may be comforting to take these familiar objects of interest with him through the day.

Finding Help Be aware of the resources and support available in your community. The Center for Disease Control’s “Learn the Signs, Act Early” campaign provides general child development checklists to assist you in recognizing if you should be concerned about your child’s behavior. You may also want to visit FirstSigns.org to review their child development checklist. Networking with other parents of autistic children can be comforting and helpful. However, you should bring remaining questions to your pediatrician and other health care professionals who may work with your child.

Most importantly, remember you are not alone. Visit MetroFamilyMagazine.com/ Special-Needs-Resources for a listing of local and national resources.

Occupational Therapy and SPD: Lorraine Auchter is an Occupational Therapist with Sensational Kids in Oklahoma City, which provides occupational therapy for children who don’t qualify for services in school or for parents who want additional services.

Occupational Therapists help children in their primary activities or “occupations”—which include playing, school work, social interaction and self-care.

“Improving sensory processing is imperative for many children having difficulty with their occupations,” said Auchter.

Why is sensory processing so important? Consider that in an average day, children are bombarded with visual and audio information. The ability to sort through this information can mean the difference between success and failure in learning.

In addition to the five senses of taste, touch, hearing sight and smell, the hidden senses of vestibular input (movement registration in the inner ear) and proprioceptive input (registered in muscles and joints) are an important part of managing SPD. For example, a fidgety child who has trouble sitting still or is distracted by the smallest noise may be over-responsive to auditory information but under-responsive to vestibular information. This is where occupational therapies can help.

Occupational therapy sessions may include many areas of activity, including fine motor skills (dressing, handwriting), coordination and dexterity, attention and focus and regulation and moderation of senses.

Occupational therapists create a plan through tests and checklists, and primarily work with children to overcome their issues through play activities.

Find out more about Sensational Kids by calling 405-840-1686 or going to SensationalKidsOKC.com.

Jamie Lober, has a MS in Psychology and through her writing seeks to promote healthy environments, lifestyles and policies with the goal of preventing and managing disease.

July 2009

www.MetroFamilyMagazine.com

27

Q & A with the Beasleys Helping Your Child Who Feels “Different�

Dr. Lori: You—and your children—have a valuable opportunity to develop cultural diversity and it would be a shame to skip it. I’m not sure you will necessarily find a friendlier school as children universally have a tendency to give any child who is different in any way a difficult time. Therefore, you may eliminate the problem temporarily by transferring your daughter, but in the long run, your daughter needs help handling her uniqueness and children who make her life difficult.

Drs. Stewart and Lori: We live in a neighborhood where there are children of many races and cultures. We consider ourselves “rich� to have such a setting for our children. However, in her 2nd grade classroom, my nine year old daughter is the only Caucasian child and to top things off, she has my red hair, fair skin, and freckles. She came home crying from school one day because a few of the boys in her class made fun of the way she looks and called her crude and derogatory names. I spoke with her teacher and the teacher assured me she would speak to the boys in question. However, my daughter who used to love school doesn’t want to go back. Should we consider transferring her to a friendlier school?

Dr. Stewart: Lori is right. Most schools have diversity and multicultural activities embedded in their curriculum to sensitize children to the differences in us all—and especially understanding and accepting children who are in the minority within their classroom and school. The

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multicultural opportunities at your daughter’s school can provide a rich educational experience for her and her classmates. Hopefully, her teacher can explain the school’s multicultural curriculum to you and explain how it is implemented in her classroom.

Dr. Lori: If you have the time and inclination, I suggest you volunteer at your daughter’s school to see for yourself how much diversity there is among students and teachers. You can then bring some of your insight and understanding home to assist your daughter in understanding her classmates and how to defuse their negative effects on her.

Dr. Stewart: As parents of schoolage children, an important parental role we have is to help our child feel competent and confident about herself.

How you boost her self-esteem will depend on how you feel about your own appearance and school experiences.

Much as we teach other minority children to say to themselves “Black is beautiful� or “Brown is beautiful,� your daughter needs to believe that red hair, fair skin and freckles are beautiful. These self-affirmations help children program their inner voice to be approving rather than disapproving and critical.

Dr. Lori: As your daughter learns to accept and appreciate her uniqueness,

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she will be learning to appreciate the uniqueness of others—including those children and adults with physical and/or mental limitations. Bigotry develops when these differences are neither addressed nor discussed in families. Encourage your daughter to invite children who are culturally and developmentally diverse to her home for play dates. Hopefully those children will reciprocate and provide opportunities for her to see their home and family and appreciate their diversity.

Dr. Stewart: And while we have so far focused on helping your daughter improve her self-concept and appreciation of others, we need to address the issue of the boys in her class teasing your daughter and saying disparaging things to her. Today, parents and teachers recognize there is a fine line between “teasing� and “bullying.�

The former is tolerated to a certain extent in schools; the latter is not. If, after discussing the situation with your daughter’s teacher, the behaviors on the part of the boys continue, don’t hesitate to talk with the school principal. Be firm. Explain that the boys’ behavior is offensive to both you and your daughter. Insist the offensive behaviors stop immediately—and don’t accept the excuse that boys will be boys. Bullying on the part of either sex should neither be tolerated nor explained away.

Dr. Lori: That’s true, and even though children may not recognize their behavior as bullying and therefore unacceptable, it’s important they learn the difference.

Dr. Stewart: Any child, whether developmentally challenged, educationally challenged, socially challenged, or not challenged in any way deserves a happy and carefree school experience. It is up to us as parents to see to it that it happens for our child. It sounds to us as if you can and will do that. Your daughter is very fortunate!

Best wishes for success.

Children, despite delays or disabilities, can improve their skills allowing them to reach their highest potential.

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Lori Beasley, EdD is Asst. Vice President of Academic Affairs and Professor of Family Life Education at the University of Central Oklahoma. Stewart R. Beasley, PhD is a licensed psychologist who practices in Edmond and Oklahoma City and is Clinical Professor of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine.

Do you have a question about early childhood issues for the Beasleys? E-mail it to SRB@DRStewartBeasley.com.

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29

Family Finances The Dos and Don’ts of Creating a Special Needs Trust

C

aring for a child with special needs adds additional responsibility to a family’s finances. It includes ensuring the child is provided for throughout his life, especially after parents or guardians are no longer able to provide that care.

but it can be part of a Last Will and Testament. Supplemental Needs Trusts have been in use for many years and were given an official legal status by the United States Congress in 1993.

One solution is establishing a Special Needs Trust for the child. A trust is a legal arrangement to hold money or property that the grantor (the person who sets up the trust) leaves for the beneficiary (the recipient of the trust funds). A Special Needs Trust is a specific type of trust designed to provide for someone who does not have the capacity to care for their own future financial matters. In this case, the parent or guardian is most likely the grantor and the child is most likely the beneficiary.

A Special Needs Trust may also be called a Supplemental Needs Trust.

Generally is it a stand-alone document,

30

www.MetroFamilyMagazine.com

Unlike giving a gift or an inheritance with a will, a trust generally has carefully written instructions on how and when to use the available funds.

Parents or others can set up a trust while they are still alive or as part of their will. If parents set up the trust while they are living, they can be the trustee or manager of the trust. Parents may also assign that responsibility to another adult or to a financial institution.

A trust may be designed to distribute the available funds to one or more beneficiaries at certain times or under certain conditions. The terms and conditions are established by the grantor and can only be modified under certain circumstances. Some trusts make distributions to the beneficiary

July 2009

(or beneficiaries) over a period of time while others provide instructions to distribute those funds for specific purposes.

A Special Needs Trust allows parents to invest and save money on behalf of their child, creating a fund that can be used to provide a secure and comfortable lifestyle by meeting the child’s financial needs. In most situations, funds in a Special Needs Trust will not impact a child’s eligibility for government benefits such as Social Security, Medicaid, rehabilitative care and transportation assistance.

Because a Special Needs Trust is a legal document, an attorney is needed to set it up. A Trustee or manager of the trust will need to be named at the time it is established. While family members or close friends often serve in this role, some families may prefer designating a professional trustee to administer the funds.

Sue Lynn Sasser, PhD, is an associate professor of economics at the University of Central Oklahoma.

Choosing an appropriate trustee is one of the most important decisions to be made when establishing a Special Needs Trust for a special needs child. The responsibilities of a Special Needs Trust trustee are complex and broad-based.

• Does this person have the ability to prepare and file the appropriate tax returns annually?

Considerations

• Will this person maintain appropriate and adequate communication with the beneficiary and all service providers?

Following are several factors to consider when designating a Special Needs Trust trustee: • It this person willing and able to meet the needs established in the trust? • Does this person have a good understanding of the beneficiary’s situation and special needs? • Will this person prudently and responsibly manage the trust assets? • Will this person be willing and able to maintain the appropriate records and account for all transactions made?

• Is this person sufficiently responsible to assist in emergency situations regarding the beneficiary?

D Devonne Carter, LCSW, has b counseling adults and been ch children for over 18 years and knows the heartache and ppain that people feel in life.

A Special Needs Trust is an option for families with special needs children to consider as a means to ensure their children have a secure financial future for years to come.

Let Devonne help you work through your emotional problems.

Note: This article is only a general overview of a Special Needs Trust. Families should work with a knowledgeable attorney or financial planner to explore other options of planning prior to establishing a trust fund or making other legally binding decisions.

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31

Character First Compassion and Tolerance

I

t’s one of those blistering hot Oklahoma days. The weatherman says the temperature is going to top 100°, but you don’t care. You’ve rounded up the kids, slathered on the sunscreen and headed to the neighborhood pool.

Your youngsters are splashing away and you’ve just read the first page of the novel you bought yesterday. Your outing is pretty close to paradise.

Then a dripping child appears at your side. “Mommy, we have to go now.”

“But, we just got here. You haven’t even gone down the slide yet.”

“We can’t stay. A girl just got in the pool and... some of her is missing.”

You glance over and see that a handicapped girl is sitting all alone in the kiddie area, a spot that was swarming with kids only a minute ago.

Situations like this provide us with a unique opportunity to talk with our

children about tolerance and compassion. are often small compared with the Tolerance recognizes that other people things we have in common. are sometimes different, but those An excellent middle school novel that differences don’t have to be a barrier. illustrates compassion and tolerance is Compassion means looking beyond our Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer situation to see the needs of another and Choldenko.

Set on Alcatraz in 1935, the render comfort. book focuses on 12-year-old Moose “Think about how hard it must be for her Flanagan, son of a prison guard. For to play in the pool with just one arm. a few years, the warden insisted the And how brave she is to come here when guards and their families live on the some people might not want to play with island. Against this backdrop, Moose her because she’s different.” takes care of his autistic older sister, Natalie, and struggles to fit in with the By urging your child to look at the other kids. Best of all, this book weaves situation from a different perspective, the positive character traits into a very you plant the seeds of tolerance and compelling story. I recommend reading compassion. With the nurturing it along with kids 10 and up so you can guidance of a good example, those talk about it together. “seeds” can help your child grow into a thoughtful and caring person who sets aside her own prejudices in favor of the feelings of others. When we look Gayleen Rabakukk is a freelance writer who spends her time in Edmond keeping up with within ourselves to face situations with her teenage and preschool daughters. compassion and tolerance, it is easier to see that the things that make us different

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Whether the student is a Kindergartner or teen, whether the act is simple or time consuming, we want to hear about your outstanding student. Monthly winner receives a $50 savings bond.

Nominate them for MetroFamily Magazine’s Spotlight on Character Award.

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Spotlight on Character Winner Destiny Riese consistently displays the character traits of responsibility and joyfulness. Destiny’s Grandmother, Tera Lyons told us how Destiny helps her great grandmother, Julia, in the mornings by bringing her a warm washcloth and her toothbrush.

Throughout the day, Destiny helps Ge-Ge with the television remote, answering the phone and opening doors.

Destiny and her great grandmother also share joyfulness by singing, reading and playing board games together.

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33

In Touch With Relationships Why Teamwork Does a Family Good!

T

eamwork has been on the top of my mind for the last few months as I have had the opportunity to administer several business training sessions about the subject. I have been trying to fine-tune the theory behind teams and the practicality of how teams work.

Relly Nadler outlined the core ingredients of a team in his article “Teamwork is an Unnatural Act” (businessexpertwebinars.com/content/ view/636/29/). These business team tips are also helpful for family teams, worship teams, community teams and sports teams.

The definition of a team is “more than one person working together toward a common goal.” The dictionary makes it sound easy, but teamwork in a family can be extremely difficult. A successful family has a myriad of goals which may include things like raising children to be successful adults, educating all members of the family team, providing spiritual growth opportunities, balancing finances and learning about responsible money management, building and maintaining healthy relationships, keeping the family team safe, tackling good health through physical exercise and nutrition, handling medical necessities—and this is just a sampling.

• Shared Vision. What is required of the members of this family, and why?

• Trust among members. Admit mistakes and keep promises to improve team strength.

• Established expectations and guidelines. Clearly state the responsibilities of each family member.

• Communication skill and conflict resolution. Set up guidelines for communication and allow all members to express thoughts and opinions; practice active listening skills.

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• Personal leadership. Parents need to be aware that each team member is an individual and may require a different engagement style. Individuals need to be responsible for their own areas.

• Appreciation of differences. Listen to the family team members when they suggest alternative or new ways of accomplishing goals. Value each team member for their own strengths and skills.

• Accountability and consequences.

Clearly define was is expected of each team member and the resulting consequences if and when goals are not met.

• Mentoring others. Each member of your family team has something valuable to teach the other team members.

Family teams form the first interaction for our children, and the skills learned in the family team setting will help to lead to success in the other teams encountered in life. I recently inventoried some of the teams that I have been a part of and realized some of the life-altering lessons that have stayed with me throughout my life.

Take a moment to think about your family team. How is the team functioning? What can be improved?

How are you providing leadership for your team? Develop your own team skills and those of your family members and together you’ll be able to step into the future with confidence.

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JULY S

Summer Fun Ideas!

It’s somethi something you hear us say often at MetroFamily—there is no shor shortage of fun to be had in the Metro! Here are five of our ffavorite, low-cost ways to find fun this summer: 1. Head He to the library! The list of Metropolitan Library and Pioneer Library branches on this page Lib will wil help you uncover a gem near you. The summer reading re program is free and fun, and the library offers of everything from computers to puppets to engage en visitors of all ages. Air conditioned and free—my favorite kind of fun. fre 2.

2 Cool off at the park. Splashpads and spraygrounds s provide a free cool activity for aall. Visit MetroFamilyMagazine.com/Places-ForWater-Fun for great ideas.

Wa

© Irochka | Dreamstime.com

3. Have Hav a backyard adventure. Look for bugs, plants, strange stran an unusual flora and fauna in your own yard and neighborhood and make a scrapbook of the interesting or common items that you find. inter 4. Revisit your childhood, mom and dad. Dig out old board games or grab the sidewalk chalk and head outside outs for hopscotch. Play follow-the-leader, Simon Says, Red Rover, egg toss, potato sack races; and these games are even more fun when you relive them through your children. Cap off the adventure with roasted marshmallows over the grill.

5. Explore Oklahoma! We love Oklahoma, and there are so many reasons why. Find fun and informative day and weekend trip itineraries for places all over the Sooner State in our Exploring Oklahoma with Children travel guide. And don’t worry. If you can’t find a copy, you can find it online at ExploringOK.com.

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Metropolitan Library System MetroLibrary.org Belle Isle, 5501 N Villa, 843-9601 Bethany, 3510 N Mueller, 789-8363 Capitol Hill, 334 SW 26th, 634-6308 Choctaw, 2525 Muzzy, 390-8418 Del City, 4509 SE 15th, 672-1377 Downtown, 300 Park Ave, 231-8650 Edmond, 10 S Boulevard, 341-9282 Midwest City, 8143 E Reno, 732-4828 Ralph Ellison, 2000 NE 23rd, 424-1437 Southern Oaks, 6900 S Walker, 631-4468 The Village, 10307 N Penn, 755-0710 Warr Acres, 5901 NW 63rd, 721-2616 Harrah, 1930 N Church Ave, 454-2001 Jones, 111 E Main, 399-5471 Luther, 310 NE 3rd, 277-9967 Nicoma Park, 2240 Overholser, 769-9452

Weekly

The UCO Jazz Lab features performances each Friday and Saturday at 8pm. $7 adults, $5 age 12 and under.

359-7989, UCOJazzLab.com.

FREE Make & Take craft activities at Lakeshore Learning (6300 N May, OKC), 11am-3pm every Saturday. Ages 3 and up. 858-8778, LakeshoreLearning. com.

FREE Children’s Storytime at Full Circle Bookstore (1900 NW Expressway) every Saturday, 10:15am. 8422900, FullCircleBooks.com.

FREE Children’s Story Time at Edmond’s Best of Books, Saturdays, 11-11:30am. 340-9202.

Family Fun Night at JumpZone (SW 104th & Western) 4:30-8pm every Tuesday and Thursday. 2 adults, 2 children, 1 large pizza, 2 liter pop for $25. For open play hours call 200-1691, JumpZoneParty.com.

FREE StoryTime at Gymboree Penn Square, first Friday of every month, 10am. 842-7540.

Silly Sundays at Unpluggits Playstudio (575 Enterprise Dr, Edmond) Every Sunday, 1-6pm. Free face painting with paid admission or craft purchase. 340-7584, Unpluggits.com.

Wright Library, 2101 Exchange, 235-5035

Pioneer Library System pls.lib.ok.us Blanchard, 300 N Main, 485-2275 McLoud, 133 N Main, 964-2960

Drop in Art at the OKC Museum of Art. Saturdays, 1-4pm. Create art inspired by the Museum’s collection, exhibitions, and special occasions. FREE with paid admission.

Moore, 225 S Howard, 793-5100

Sunday Nature Hikes at Martin Park Nature Center.

Guided park tour and nature hike each Sunday 2:30pm.

Reservations and a fee of $2 are required. 755-0676.

Norman, 225 N Webster, 701-2600

FREE Thursday Noon Tunes at the Downtown Library, 11:30-1pm. Free live music each Thursday.

Shawnee, 101 N Philadelphia, 275-6353

July 2009

Newcastle, 705 NW Tenth, 387-5076 Noble, 204 N 5th, 872-5713 Purcell, 919 N Ninth, 527-5546 Tecumseh, 114 N Broadway, 598-5955

www.MetroFamilyMagazine.com

35

Quick Reference City Arts Center Fair Park, 3000 Pershing Blvd, OKC 951-0000, CityArtsCenter.org.

Fine Arts Institute of Edmond 27 E. Edwards, Edmond 340-4481, EdmondFineArts.com Fred Jones Jr Museum of Art 555 Elm Ave, Norman 325-3272, ou.edu/fjjma Little River Zoo Hwy 9, Norman 366-7229, LittleRiverZoo.com Myriad Botanical Gardens 301 W Reno, OKC 297-3995, MyriadGardens.com National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum 1700 NE 63rd St, OKC 478-2250, NationalCowboyMuseum.org Oklahoma Aquarium 300 Aquarium Dr, Jenks 918-296-FISH, OKAquarium.org OKC Museum of Art 415 Couch Dr, OKC 236-3100, okcmoa.org OKC National Memorial 620 N Harvey, OKC 235-3313, OklahomaCityNationalMemorial.org OKC Zoo 2101 NE 50th St, OKC 424-3344, OKCZoo.com Oklahoma Children’s Theatre 2501 N Blackwelder, OKC 606-7003, OklahomaChildrensTheatre.com Oklahoma Heritage Center 13th & Shartel, OKC 235-4458, OklahomaHeritage.com Oklahoma History Center 2401 N Laird Ave, OKC 522-5248, OklahomaHistoryCenter.org

FREE Toddler Storytime at the Norman Library. Every Monday 9:30-10am.

235-3700, OklahomaShakespeare.com.

FREE Art Adventures at Norman’s Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, 10:30am. Activities for children ages 3-5 with adult held each Tuesday.

FREE American Quarter Horse Youth Show at the State Fairgrounds, 8am-10pm. AQHA.com/Youth/Index.

Tea Parties with Mrs. Sniketywiggins at Unpluggits Playstudio in Edmond, Thursdays at 4pm. Dress up or come as you are. Party included with regular admission.

Ages 5 and up. 340-7584, Unpluggits.com.

Classic Playground Games at Unpluggits Playstudio in Edmond every Wesnesday, 10:30am. For ages 2-5.

340-7584, Unpluggits.com.

Monthly

Gymboree of Norman Family Arts Studio is held the third Saturday, 11am-noon. Includes arts & crafts for children 18mos–5 years. $5 per child. Reservations required; 307-8454, GymboreeClasses.com.

Through July 11

Shakespeare in the Park presents As You Like It at the Myriad Gardens Water Stage, 8pm. Tickets $10 adults, $8 students. 235-3700, OklahomaShakespeare.com

Through July 12

Did She Kill ‘em All?! Martha Maxwell, Colorado Huntress Exhibit at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. Exhibit explores Maxwell’s life and career.

July 24-January 10

Not Just a Housewife: The Changing Roles of Women in the West exhibit at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum focuses on women who tackled non-traditional roles including prospecting, politics, artists and business owners.

July 30-August 22

Shakespeare in the Park presents Hamlet at the Myriad Gardens Water Stage, 8pm. Tickets $10, $8 students.

July 31-August 8 Through July 31

Summer Movie Fun at Harkins Theatre. Discounted weekly family movies at 9:45am. Visit HarkinsTheatres. com for schedule. 800-601-4763.

Through August 4

Amateur Talent Night on Tuesday evenings at Edmond’s Hafer Park, 6:15pm. For application form visit the MAC Center in Edmond or online EdmondOK.com/ Parks/Rec. 216-7635.

Through August 7

FREE Play in the Park at locations throughout OKC. OKC Parks and Recreation Department’s summer program with arts, crafts, games, sports and field trips.

For complete location list visit OKC.gov/Parks. 297-2211.

Through August 12

Summer Farmers Market at the Festival Market Place in Downtown Edmond, 8am-1pm each Saturday and Wednesday. 359-4630.

Through August 16

Bob the Builder at Frontier City. Join Bob and two members of his crew. Singing, dancing, and building.

FREE with park admission. FrontierCity.com.

Through August 23

One Hundred Summers: A Kiowa Calendar Record at the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History.

Featuring the art of renowned Kiowa artist Silver Horn.

The exhibit shows the political, religious, economic and social spheres of Kiowa life.

Through August 28

The First Person: Stories of Hope program features

Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History 2401 Chautauqua Ave, Norman 325-4712, snomnh.ou.edu Science Museum Oklahoma 2100 NE 52nd St, OKC 602-6664, ScienceMuseumOK.org

weekly E-Updates keep you in-the-know

Do you have an event for our calendar?

MetroFamilyMagazine.com/ subscribe-to-e-update

Email it to Calendar Editor Terri Fields, Calendar@MetroFamilyMagazine.com.

36

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July 2009

inspiring speakers who were affected by the Oklahoma City bombing but have been able to persevere. Fridays, 1:30pm, Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum.

FREE with admission.

July 1-11

Through August 29

3-5

Inside Peanuts: The Life and Art of Charles M. Schulz Exhibit at the Edmond Historical Society.

Featuring art work from Charlie Brown to the whole Peanuts gang. 340-0078, EdmondHistory.org.

Through August 30

FREE Sunday Twilight Concert Series at the Myriad Gardens, 7pm. 270-4848, ArtsCouncilOKC.com.

Through September 5

Farmers’ Market at the Children’s Center, (6800 N.W. 39th Expressway in Bethany). 100% Oklahoma-grown produce. Open Thursdays 2:30-6pm and Saturdays 8am–12pm. 789-6711, TCCOKC.org.

Through September 13

Spirit Red: Visions of Native American Artists from the Rennard Strickland Collection at Norman’s Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art. Includes paintings, baskets, pottery, textiles and sculpture.

Through September 26

Saturday Morning Cartoon Cruises depart at 10am from Regatta park landing, 11:30am from Meridian Landing. Roundtrip tickets $12 adults, $8 children 6-12.

Children under 6 free with paying adult. 702-7755, OKRiverCruises.com.

Through October

Cocktails on the Skyline at the OKC Museum of Art, 5-10:30pm. Every Thursday and Friday. A full bar, complimentary chips and salsa, and the Oklahoma City skyline. All ages are welcome. $12 adults, $10 seniors and students, FREE for members.

Sunset Cruises with the Oklahoma River Cruises.

Every Friday and Saturday, 7:30pm. Enjoy the climatecontrolled cabin with drinks and light hors d’oeuvres. All passengers must be 21 years of age or older to board. $35 per person. 702-7755, OKRiverCruises.com.

Through December

ConservaStory at the Myriad Gardens. A tropical adventure of the storybook kind. A pirate ship, giants and fairies.

Through January 2010

Another Hot Oklahoma Night exhibit at the Oklahoma History Center celebrates rock & roll in Oklahoma.

AnotherHotOklahomaNight.org.

The OU Summer Theatre production of Bremen Town Musicians at the Weitzenhoffer Theatre. All-ages, $5. 325-4101.

FREE The Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall at Piedmont High School’s Stout Field. A three-quarterscale traveling replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC, will be open for public viewing.

Happy July 4th from the MetroFamily Staff!

Find Independence Day activities online at MetroFamilyMagazine.com

Quality Uniforms for Public and Private Schools In-House Embroidery In-House Digital Printing Locally Owned & Operated #SJTUPM 1BSL #MWE t &ENPOE Located south off 33rd between Santa Fe & Kelly t TheUniformClub.net Open Monday-Friday 9-6 4BUVSEBZ

4 • Saturday

Inspiration Hill Concert at 880669 S 3330 Rd, (2.5 miles north of Wellston) 7pm. Performing The Franz Family. Love offering will be taken. 356-4051.

FREE Admission to the Myriad Gardens for visitors wearing red, white and blue.

6 • Monday

Ă•Â?ÞÊ£‡££]ĂŠ7iÂˆĂŒĂ˘i˜…œvviÀÊ/Â…i>ĂŒĂ€i "1ĂŠV>Â“ÂŤĂ•ĂƒĂŠ ÂœĂ€Â“>˜

Henry IV Part I

FREE Fun Science at the Choctaw Library, 2:30pm.

From liquid nitrogen to ice cream. Pre-registration required.

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6-9

Pirate and Princess Boot Camp at Unpluggits Playstudio in Edmond, 9am-12:30pm. Ages 4-12 will enjoy pirate-themed crafts and activities.$75. Also held 7/13-16, 20-23, 27-30. 340-7584, Unpluggits.com.

6-10

Neighborhood Arts performances at Metro Library locations. Also held 7/13-17, 20-24. See page 10 for details.

Sewing Camps for kids age 9-18 at the Oklahoma County OSU Extension Center. 9am-noon, 1-4pm. $50 plus supplies. 930 N Portland, OKC. Also held 7/20-24. Short session ($30 plus supplies) held 7/29-31.

713-1125.

7 • Tuesday

FREE Little River Zoo program at the Noble Library, 10-11am. 872-5713, Pioneeer.Lib.OK.US. FREE Barn Dancing with Jean Hill at the Edmond Library, 2pm. Ages 7 and up.

Okietales at the Oklahoma History Center, 10-11am.

Admission $3 and includes museum admission. Preregistration required. Also held 7/15, 22, 29.

July 2009

The best Shakespeare you’ve never seen!

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37

7-11

The Music Man produced by Lyric Theatre and held at the Civic Center Music Hall, 8pm. Tickets $28 and up.

524-9312, LyricTheatreOKC.com.

from Meridian landing. Roundtrip tickets $12 adults, $8 children 6-12. Children under 6 free with paying adult.

702-7755, OKRiverCruises.com. Also held 7/25.

8 • Wednesday

Greater Oklahoma Bluegrass Music Society Concert/Jam. 3925 SE 29th, Del City. Tickets $6, age 12 and under free. Appropriate for all ages. 677-7515, GOBMS.org

9 • Thursday

FREE Kids Fishing Clinic at Metro Tech Springlake, (NE 36th and Springlake Drive) 8-10:30am. Kids 5-15 learn fishing skills, equipment provided. Registration required. 316-FISH, OKC.gov/Parks.

FREE Teen Movie Time at the Moore Library, 2-4pm.

793-5100, Pioneer.Lib.OK.US FREE Drum Circle with Billy Thompson at the Mabel C. Fry Public Library, (1200 Lakeshore Drive) 10:30-11:30am and 1-2pm. For 6-12 grade. Registration required. 354-8232.

10 • Friday

Art A La Carte at Norman’s Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art includes basketmaking, live music and a short film featuring the best of the deadCENTER film festival.

6-9pm.

10-11

FREE Midsummer Nights Fair at Norman’s Lions Park is open 6-11pm each evening. Features highquality artist booths, kids and adults art walls and live entertainment. Details, 329-4523 or NormanFirehouse.

Moonfruit.com.

10-12

FREE The Original RV and Boat Show at the State Fairgrounds, 11am-8pm. AbernathyAgency.com.

11 • Saturday

History Comes Alive reenactments on the Oklahoma River Cruises. 1pm from Regatta Park landing, 2:30pm

Geo-caching at Martin Nature Park, (5000 W Memorial Rd) 1-4pm. Find hidden treasures throughout the park. $2. Equipment provided. Registration required.

755-0676, OKC.gov/Parks The OKC Yard Dawgz take on the Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings at the Cox Convention Center, 7:05pm.

Tickets $10 and up. OKCYardDawgz.com.

12 • Sunday

FREE Summer Breeze Concert Series presents Wanda Jackson at Andrews Park in Norman, 7:30pm.

Bring your own lawn chairs and drinks.

FREE Blues at the Belle Isle Library, 2pm.

Performance by Justin White.

13-18

International Finals Youth Rodeo at the Heart of Oklahoma Expo Center in Shawnee, 9am-7:30pm.

Barrel racing, pole bending, breakaway roping, goat tying, steer wrestling, and bareback riding. $10 adults, $5 children 11 and under. 275-7020, ShawneeExpo.org.

Enroll Now!

Ginger’s of Oklahoma Cityy

E Parties AWESOM Play en GREAT Op Arena BIGGEST

A free world-wide Kindermusik class demonstration

RSVP July 20 and August 11 Come to a Free Kindermusik Demonstration Class! songs, movement activities, stories and more for children ages 0-7

$

2 OFF

Book Your Entire Party Now on our website for a Free JZ T-shirt

Open Play

1 per child 1 per child. Expires 7/31/09 Expires 2/29/08

Join Club JZ for Discounts

Visit our website for information about Demo Days and Fall Classes! www.GingersKindermusik.com 405-722-2379

(405) 200-1691 1BMBHJP 4IPQT t 48 th 8FTUFSO XXX KVNQ[POFQBSUZ DPN 38

www.MetroFamilyMagazine.com

July 2009

Guitar for Kids

14 • Tuesday

FREE Graffiti at the Village Library, 4pm. Learn the basics of graffiti as an art form and how to make a masterpiece. Pre-registration required.

16 • Thursday

FREE Create your own Collage Box at the Mabel C. Fry Public Library, (1200 Lakeshore Drive) 10am-noon and 2-4pm. For 6-12 grade. Registration required.

354-8232.

Youth Passages: Peacemaking for Kids at OBU International Graduate School in Downtown OKC, 6:158:45pm. Ages 13-17 learn about peace, self-connection, feelings, needs, and wants through experiential learning and fun games. $8. 314-7175, YouthPassages.org.

16-25

Shakespeare in the Park presents Misalliance at the Myriad Gardens Water Stage, 8pm. $10 adults, $8 students. 235-3700, OklahomaShakespeare.com.

17 • Friday

Public Landscaping at the Will Rogers Gardens, (3400 NW 36th) 9:30am-12:30pm. Learn the basics of caring for adopted parks and other public spaces. Registration required. 943-0827, OKC.gov/Parks.

Bright Night of Harry Potter at Science Museum Oklahoma. $45 per child/adult pair, 6pm Friday-8:30am Saturday. Includes exhibit admission, special activities and productions, snacks and breakfast. Registration required.

17-26

The OU Summer Theatre production of Henry IV, Part I at the Weitzenhoffer Theatre. All-ages, $5.

325-4101.

“Does my child have autism?”

Now there is a short screening available to determine if children ages 24-36 months are “at risk” for autism.

UÊ ` ÃÌiÀi`ÊLÞÊ>ÊV `Ê`iÛi « i Ì ÊiÝ«iÀÌÊ vÊÓäÊÞi>Àð UÊ/À> i`Êv ÀÊÌ iÊ-/ /ÊÃVÀii iÀÊ>ÌÊ 6> `iÀL ÌÊ1 ÛiÀà ÌÞ° UÊÓä ÕÌiÊÃVÀii }Ê>ÃÃiÃÃiÃÊà ÃÊÃÕV Ê >ÃÊ Ì>Ì ]Ê« >ÞÊ> `Ê` ÀiVÌ }Ê>ÌÌi Ì ° UÊ ÃÕ Ì>Ì Ê>vÌiÀÊÌ iÊÃVÀii }Ê ÃÊ V Õ`i`° Call Gay Snyder M.Ed. at 471-9303 to find out more and schedule your child’s screening.

Gsnyderchilddevelopment.com

18 • Saturday

FREE Kids Fishing Clinic at Edwards Park Lake, (1515 N Bryant, OKC) 8-10:30am. Children 5-15 learn casting skills, knot-tying and fish identification. Equipment provided. Registration required. 316-FISH, OKC.gov/Parks.

School of Rock & Acoustic Guitar for ages 6 thru adult Designed for the Beginning Student Join the Cool School & learn to play in a Rock Band!

Call Doug at 340-8294 t www.guitarforcoolkids.com

FREE Draw Comic Book Style at the Southern Oaks Library, 11am-3pm. Learn comic book fundamentals.

Ages 11-19. Space limited. Pre-registration required.

Create Your Own Gourd Basket Workshop for adults at Shawnee’s Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art, 10am-5pm.

Learn how to decorate, stain and add hand-coiled trim. $75, $65 members. Registration required.

FREE Oklahoma Historical Society Summer Film Program at the Oklahoma History Museum, 1-4pm. See three early films.

Youth Passages: A Mother/Daughter Event: Joyful Communication & Connection at OBU International Graduate School in Downtown OKC, 10am-4pm.

Mothers and daughters will learn to listen to and value feelings and needs, and those of the other. Ages 10-17 with mother or female guardians. $15 per pair, $7.50 for additional daughter. Light lunch provided. 314-7175, YouthPassages.org.

FREE Shred Day at the Allegiance Credit Union (4235 N Meridian), 10am-1pm. Drop off up to five standard boxes of paper records, statements, and files for destruction and recycling. Plus enjoy hot dogs and prizes. Also held 8/1. AllegianceCU.org

19 • Sunday

FREE: Screen on the Green at the Myriad Gardens, 9pm. Showing “Casablanca.” 297-3995.

Become a fan of MetroFamily at

facebook.com/metrofamily

ERNA KROUCH

PRESCHOOL Continually operating since 1955

Music, Art, Science, Spanish, Dramatic Play & Motor Development

2 year olds - PreK

Enroll Now for Fall 2009!

There are still openings in our 2 year, 2 1/2 year and 3 year old classes.

Classes fill quickly, call for information.

Fun For All Ages!

Pony Rides • Hay Rides • Petting Zoo Horse Shoes • Karaoke • Pumpkin Patch Farm Hand Olympics • Comedy Shows Weenie Roast • Mystery Maze & Much More Plan your Birthday Party, Company Picnic, Field Trip, Cowboy Camps, Celebrations & More!

New in 2009!

Chester's Event Barn

Seating up to 250. Reserve now!

Limited Space Available!

Please call 848-5926 4901 N. Pennsylvania

405-373-1595 5201 Cimarron Rd. NW, Piedmont, OK

www.chesterspartybarn.com July 2009

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39

Create the room of your child’s dreams!

Interior design Custom murals Painting/faux ďŹ nishes Custom curtains/bedding & furniture painting

For your child’s best birthday ever, call Pony Parties of Piedmont nt nt Ponies to pet and ride Our place or yours Outdoor or indoor in the barn Call Michelle TODAY! 405.823.4081

SUMMER CAMPS Give your child an amazing summer... with a Mad Science Summer Camp! t Secret Agent Lab: 2nd-6th Grades t Moving with Science: 2nd-6th Grades t Crazy Chemistry: 2nd-6th Grades t The World Around Me: Pre-K-1st Grade t Science & Art Combo Camps: 2nd-6th Grades June through August Half-day: $145/child - Full day: $239-$249/child Ask us about multiple registration discounts.

For locations, dates, and to register, please call us or check out our website!

405-285-9643 643 www.madscience.org/centraloklahoma 344 Santa Fe Ave, Edmond

Junk Sculpture at the OKC Museum of Art, 2-4pm.

Explore three-dimensional art. $10 members, $15 nonmembers. For ages 6-9. Pre-registration required.

21-25

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat production by Lyric Theatre and held at the Civic Center Music Hall, 8pm. Tickets $28 and up. 524-9312, LyricTheatreOKC.com.

Beauty and the Beast Jr musical presented by OCU Performing Arts. 7:30pm, Burg Auditorium (2501 N Blackwelder). 208-5000, OKCU.edu.

24 • Friday

26 • Sunday

Art After Hours program for adults at the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art focuses on the work of Fritz Scholder.

6pm, 45-minute talk and light refreshments. FREE with paid admission.

24-25

Krazy Daze at Downtown Edmond Shops, 10am-6pm.

Huge Weekend Sale with a Rock n’ Roll theme. Elvis is in the building. 249-9391, DowntownEdmondOK.com

25 • Saturday

Dinos and Desserts at the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, 7-10pm. A grown-up night at the museum featuring live music and refreshments. Must be 21 to enter. $12 members, $15 non-members.

National Day of the American Cowboy at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. Meet the Miss Rodeo Oklahoma contestants and enjoy other fun activities. Details at NationalCowboyMuseum.org.

FREE Summer Breeze Concert Series presents Dorian Small at Lions Park in Norman, 7:30pm.

27 • Monday

12th Annual Boomer Sooner Golf Classic at Lincoln Park Golf Course. Tee off 8am. A benefit tournament for Children’s Miracle Network. Trophies and cash prizes will be awarded. Registration required. 533-5171.

30-31

Seussical the Musical presented by OCU Performing Arts. 7:30pm, Burg Auditorium (2501 N Blackwelder).

208-5000, OKCU.edu.

August 3

Library Night at the Ballpark. MetroLibrary readers who completed goal 2 in the Summer at the Library program receive free admission (with prize voucher) at the Redhawks ticket office. Game begins 7:05pm, Bricktown Ballpark.

FREE Kids Fishing Clinic at Dolese Youth Park

s Punky Pottery s Bridal Parties s Teen Parties

s Birthday Parties s Walk-in Anytime

Paint your own pottery studio . -AY /+# s 842-7770 www.MetroFamilyMagazine.com

Focus on the Line at the OKC Museum of Art, 10am12pm. Students will learn to write their name in different ways. $10 members, $15 non-members. For ages 10-13.

Pre-registration required.

5th Annual Midnight Streak at the City Arts Center, Fair Park. Proceeds benefit the City Arts Center. The 1 mile fun run starts at 10:30pm and 5k starts at 11pm.

Entry $25 the day of the event. Food, drinks, and music.

951-0000, CityArtsCenter.org.

23-24

Paint your own pottery masterpiece!

40

Pond, (NW 36th & Meridian, OKC) 8-10:30am. Children 5-15 learn casting techniques, knot-tying and fish identification. Equipment provided. Registration required.

316-FISH, OKC.gov/Parks

July 2009

Reach over

80,000

readers at reasonable rates.

Call Today!

405.340.1404

There are as many support groups in the Metro as there are needs for them. To include your group in our listing, please email details to Calendar@MetroFamilyMagazine.com.

Childbirth & Babies

DACO (Doula Association of Central OK), 455-1500, DACOinc.org.

La Leche League meets at Gymboree Play & Music in Norman the second Saturday of each month, 10amnoon. Family Gym is available at $5 per family for partners and children of meeting attendees.

La Leche League breastfeeding information and support. Meetings in Moore and NW OKC. Visit the calendar at MetroFamilyMagazine.com for dates, times, and contact info. lllusa.org.

Buckle Up and Boogie Workshop at Babies R Us. Expectant parents learn about features and benefits of car safety seats. Last Tuesday of the month, 6:30pm.

840-2820, BabiesRUs.com.

Counseling & Support

Divorce Recovery Group, Wednesdays at 7pm, Quail Springs Church of Christ (14401 N May), room 308.

755-4790.

Free drug and alcohol addiction classes offered by A Chance to Change Foundation at the Last Frontier Council Scout Service Center (3031 NW 64th), 6:308pm Mondays. 840-9000, AChanceToChange.org.

Monday, 7pm. Eastside Church of Christ (916 S Douglas), 732-0393.

Breast Cancer support group at the OU Breast Institute (825 NE10th), Suite 3500, third Thursday, noon1pm. Lunch provided; register 271-8001, ext 48592, or 271-8001 ext. 48527.

Amputees’ Next Step support group, second Tuesday 1-3pm. O’Donoghue Rehabilitation Institute (1122 NE 13th, room 252). OUPhysicians.com.

Parents of Children with Cancer support group, second Wednesday at noon (complimentary lunch).

Children’s Hospital (930 NE 13th). 943-8888.

Parents Helping Parents confidential meetings for parents of children who abuse drugs. First and third Tuesdays. Oklahoma Blood Institute in Edmond, 6428198, ParentsHelpingParents.info.

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society-sponsored Family Support Group. First Thursday, 6pm, Integris Baptist Medical Center. 943-8888.

Myeloma Support Group. Third Thursday, 6pm, 7th floor Conference room, Presbyterian Tower, OU Medical Center, 271-6557.

Grief Support Group, Wednesdays at 7pm, Quail Springs Church of Christ (14401 N May), room 110.

755-4790.

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society-sponsored Spanish-Speaking Group. First Tuesday, 6pm at Integris Southwest Medical Center, 636-7560; and first Wednesday, 5pm at the 7th floor Conference room, Presbyterian Tower, OU Medical Center, 271-7930.

H.O.P.E. Gynecologic Cancer Support at the OU Physicians Building, (5th floor) the first Saturday of each month at 10am. 271-8001 ext 48165, 672-1748.

Family Support Group for leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma survivors and caregivers, second Tuesday, 6pm. Mercy Cancer Center, 943-8888.

Mondays Friends Breast Cancer Support Group second Monday, 7pm. Midwest Regional Breast Care Center. 610-8872, jean.pitzer@mrmc.hma-corp.com.

Head Injury Support Group, third Tuesday at 5100 N Brookline, Suite 100, 6-8pm.

BrainInjuryOklahoma.org/okc.

Birth Parent support group, first Monday, 6-7:30pm.

Deaconess Pregnancy & Adoption Services (5300 N Meridian). 949-4200 ext 13.

GriefShare, Thursdays 7pm. Henderson Hills Baptist Church (15th & I-35, Edmond) Room 100.

HendersonHills.com.

United Methodist Church of the Servant (14343 N MacArthur), holds Discoveries Program classes for adults. Call Gayle 720-8480 for full listing.

DivorceCare, Wednesdays 7:45pm. Henderson Hills Baptist Church (15th & I-35, Edmond) Room 100.

HendersonHills.com.

Crossings Community Church (14600 N Portland) holds a variety of Care Series classes and support groups. 755-2227 or CrossingsOKC.org.

Celebrate Recovery, Mondays 6pm. Henderson Hills Baptist Church (15th & I-35, Edmond) Hillside Café.

HendersonHills.com.

Pancreatic Cancer support group, last Thursday, 6pm. O’Donoghue Research Building (1122 NE 13th Street), 3rd Floor Surgery Research Conference Room.

271-2108 or ouhsc.edu/surgery/pancan.

Parenting Groups

Breast Cancer Survivor support group, second Thursday, 6:30pm. Young Survival Coalition (for women under 40), third Wednesday, noon. Breast Imaging of OK (2601 Kelley Pointe Pkwy, Edmond).

844-2601 ext 1031.

Breast Cancer awareness group for women. First

Mom’s Got Connections Christian group for moms with young children (birth-5yrs). Chapel Hill United Methodist Church, OKC, 9:30-11am Tuesdays. jlreser@ yahoo.com or 720-7164.

MOMS Club (Moms Offering Moms Support) activity groups meet in Edmond, OKC, Moore, Midwest/Del City and Norman. MOMSClub.org.

meet in Choctaw, Norman, Edmond and OKC. Visit MetroFamilyMagazine.com/Calendar for dates, times, and contact info.

Edmond’s Mothers of Multiples, second Thursday at Edmond Hospital, 7pm. 285-5208 and 315-0338, EdmondMoms.com.

Special Needs

Parents Fighting Autism, St. Stephens United Methodist Church, Norman, third Monday of the month at 7pm. Meeting time subject to change please contact parentsfightingautism@gmail.com.

OKC Area Stuttering Support Group for adults. Third Tuesday, 6:30-7:30pm. First United Methodist Church, 303 E Hurd, Edmond. okcssg@yahoo.com.

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren support group for grandparents and other relatives raising children.

First and third Tuesday, 6pm, Trinity Church of the Nazarene. 634-4400 ext. 140.

CHADD ADD/ADHD support meeting, second Tuesday at 7pm. Deaconess Medical Offices North. 7221ADD, 419-4176, or CHADD.org.

The free Talking Hands sign language class meets Thursdays, 6:30-7:30pm, 300 N Air Depot, Midwest City.

Talkinghands@rocketmail.com.

Hope Link meetings for parents of special-needs children or children with undiagnosed disorders. Integris Baptist Medical Center, first Thursday, 6pm. 271-5072, OKCHopeLink.org.

11 • Saturday

Creating Presence and Connection in Ourselves and With Youth at the OBU International Graduate School in Downtown OKC, 10am-4pm. For adults who wish to make a contribution to the young people in their lives. $60, includes sack lunch. 314-7175, YouthPassages.org.

15 • Wednesday

FREE Prenatal Yoga at the Belle Isle Babies R Us, 6pm. Learn a few simple techniques that can make your changing body feel better day and night. 840-2820, BabiesRUs.com.

Youth Passages Community Potluck at OBU International Graduate School in Downtown OKC, 6-8:30pm. Ages 13 and up, bring a side dish to feed 8-10 people or $7 to contribute towards the main entrée.

314-7175, YouthPassages.org.

18 • Saturday

Babywearing Class at Heaven Sent Birth Center, (4212 NW 23rd) 10am. $5. 773-4333, BabywearingDoula.com.

MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) support groups July 2009

www.MetroFamilyMagazine.com

41

Parting Shots Exploring Oklahoma Contest Entries

H

ave you taken advantage of an exciting Oklahoma getaway yet this summer? These readers did, and they brought their Exploring Oklahoma with Children travel guide with them to snap a picture for our Photo Contest.

Becky and Trace Karpe of Yukon have visited Alabaster Caverns and Enid with their two year old son, Max, finding a fun sandbox to play in at Leonardo’s Discovery Warehouse on their trip. “We didn’t even know that Leonardo’s existed until we read about it in the Exploring Oklahoma with Children magazine,” said Becky. Trace and Max are pictured in the photos below.

Amy and Clint Drabek of Moore visited Mount Scott with daughter Brigette, pictured at right. “The day we went was great; it was cloudy and then the sun would peek through at times,” said Amy. “The views are gorgeous!”

“We drove up really high,” said Brigette. “From down below it doesn’t seem that neat, but from the top it’s really pretty!”

Where will the Red Dirt Road lead you this summer?

Enter the Exploring Oklahoma with Children Photo Contest and you could win an Oklahoma family getaway!

While you travel the state this summer, bring along your copy of MetroFamily’s Exploring Oklahoma with Children and show it to us in your photo, just like the readers here have done. Send your photos to us by July 31, 2009.

All photos will be put online for everyone to enjoy. After the deadline, three winners will be randomly selected to win one of the following prizes:

• A three-day, two-night trip to Oklahoma City, including accommodations, tickets to local attractions and restaurant gift certificates.

• A two night stay for a family of four at an Oklahoma State Park lodge or cabin.

Find the entry form with all contest details and rules at ExploringOK.com/exploring-oklahoma-photo-contest.

• A three-day, two-night trip to Tulsa, including accommodations, tickets to local attractions and restaurant gift certificates.

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