PARENT GUIDE SUMMER ISSUE

COOL FINDS Products You Can’t Live Without

A DAD’S LIFE Kurt Goerke

MONEY TALKS Dave Ramsey

FUN ON A SHOESTRING page 15

®

YOUR HANDBOOK TO PARENTING FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Joel Fuhrman, M.D. page 27

SAFE SKIN For Children page 17

AMAZING TRIPS ON A TANKFUL page 36 HELPING YOUR SHY CHILD WITH CAMPpage 30 Summer 2011 I www.ParentGuide.com

Summer 2011

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Summer 2011

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PARENT GUIDE Summer 2011

Looking to maintain a healthy lifestyle?

Watch WEDU this month!

ThrEE STEpS To IncrEDIblE hEalTh WITh JoEl FUhrman, mD Thursday, August 4 @ 8 pm Dr. Fuhrman’s revolutionary health plan offers a healthy, effective way to shed weight quickly and reclaim vitality and good health.

 Dr. Fuhrman will be LIVE in the WEDU studios!

SmarT hEalTh Thursday, August 25 @ 9 pm WEDU’s Emmy award-winning show offers the latest info on breakthrough advancements in medicine, healthy aging, innovative treatments and personal triumphs — real life stories that produce practical advice, insight and inspiration. SMART HEALTH is part of HealthyState.org, a collaborative of public media outlets throughout Florida.

aWaY: ThE STorY oF TraSh Thursday, August 25 @ 10 pm Produced by St. Petersburg College Media Arts students, in partnership with WEDU, this documentary will both educate and entertain viewers about the history of waste management – the current practices, problems and what the average American’s perception of “throwing away” garbage really means.

The viewer will ultimately walk away with an understanding of what they can do to help — Reduce, Reuse, Recycle — the three R’s of waste management.

For more information on the many ways you can support public media in your community:

Visit us at wedu.org Find us

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PARENT GUIDEus Summer 2011 Follow

A valued resource in your community.

®

YOUR HANDBOOK TO PARENTING Publishing Group MONK-EMEDIA™, LTD. Chief Executive Officer MARK MCVEY President JACK HALL Executive Editor GEODIE BAXTER PADGETT Associate Editor CHRISTINE SILVA Creative Director MARGIE CRANE ROSENSTEIN Production, Web Editor ANNE BARCA Associate Production Deisgner PAPANDE NEWMAN Mailing/Dist MD@PARENTGUIDE.COM Social Media CRYSTAL WEIR CARPENTER, COURTNEY ALBERIGO Event Director ANDREA FESKOWETZ Marketing/Partnerships MP@PARENTGUIDE.COM Products/Reviews SAGE@PARENTGUIDE.COM PARENT GUIDE® 13575 58th St. N. Suite 157 • Clearwater, FL 33760 727-538-4137 info@parentguide.com

Become a fan on FACEBOOK! Follow us on TWITTER! For marketing and advertising opportunities, e-mail INFO@PARENTGUIDE.COM or call JACK HALL AT 727-538-4137 Contributing Writers DR. SUSAN BARTELL, JACQUELINE BODNAR, DR. SETH FORMAN, JOEL FUHRMAN, M.D., KURT GOERKE, MALIA JACOBSON, KERRIE MCLOUGHLIN, DAVE RAMSEY, KIMBERLY SANTAMARIA, AND KYLA STEINKRAUS

Parent Guide® is published four times a year and is distributed to readers at no charge. Unless otherwise noted, all photographs, artwork, designs and editorials printed in Parent Guide® are the sole property of Monk-emedia™, LTD. No portion of this magazine may be duplicated or reproduced without the express written permission of Monk-emedia™, LTD. Parent Guide® and Monk-emedia™, LTD. are not responsible for typographical errors, the accuracy of information provided or the actions of our advertisers. Readers should verify advertising information with advertisers. Unless otherwise specified, all advertising specials are only valid until the publication of the next issue.

Parent Guide® reserves the right to designate one company per advertisement and to refuse any advertising for any reason. The views expressed in the Parent Guide® are not necessarily those of the publisher. Parent Guide® assumes no responsibility for the outcome arising from the contents of the publication. Copyright 2011 by Monk-emedia™, LTD. All rights reserved.

Summer 2011

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MONTESSORI ACADEMIES Join Us for a Summer of Fun! 2

Toddlers through the 6th Grade

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Early Reading Program

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Hands-on Math Activities

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Cooking

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Arts & Crafts

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Music & Movement

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PARENT GUIDE Summer 2011

contents

COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS

PAGE 19

PAGE 12

PRODUCTS YOU CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT

5 EDITOR’S NOTE

Join Parent Guide on our exciting, new journey.

12 COOL FINDS

Backyard games to iPhone cases, you’ve got to check these out!

15 FUN ON A SHOESTRING

PAGE 27

19 MONEY TALKS

Dave Ramsey talks about adult children who aren’t good with money.

20 A DAD’S LIFE

When the kids go to camp for the summer, what will mom and dad do?

22 TOGETHER TIME

Fun things to do this summer even if you’re on a budget.

How to survive a family vacation in an RV.

17 SAFE SKIN FOR CHILDREN

Joel Fuhrman, M.D. serves up some key nutritional information.

Tips to keep your child’s skin healthy for a lifetime.

27 FOOD FOR THOUGHT

To Come

Behavior Ad - Margie is creating

WHEN YOUR CHILD TOOK THEIR FIRST BREATH...

THEY TOOK YOURS AWAY. 速

YOUR HANDBOOK TO PARENTING 10

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PARENT GUIDE Summer 2011

contents SUMMER 2011

I PARENT GUIDE

®

THIS MONTH’S FEATURES

HELPING YOUR SHY 30 CHILD FEEL CONFIDENT ABOUT CAMP Jacqueline Bodnar

BANISH HOMESICKNESS 33 Dr. Susan Bartell

FLORIDA VACATION ON 36 A TANKFUL? YOU BET! Kyla Steinkraus

BULB FICTION: THE TRUTH 44 ABOUT TEENS AND TANNING BEDS Malia Jacobson

PAGE 43 CAMP BE IT! DIVE INTO THE MUSIC BUSINESS

ON THE COVER Photography by Livingston Galleries Above; Photograph by Livingston Galleries.

BE SOMEONE WORTH LOOKING UP TO. You’ll teach him to ride a bike, tie his shoes and throw a ball. But if you use tobacco, you’re teaching him that as well. Children of tobacco users are twice as likely to use it themselves.

Quit today, for his sake as well as your own. Contact the Quitline today for free counseling information and tips to help you succeed. BE RESPONSIBLE. BE RESPECTED. BE FREE.

Call 1-877-U-CAN-NOW or visit FloridaQuitline.com © Florida Department of Health

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CAMP OUT. Camping doesn’t have to be a big ordeal. In fact, it can be as simple as setting up a tent in your own backyard (or Grandma’s or someone else’s if you live in an apartment). Don’t forget the flashlights, snacks, sleeping bags and scary stories.

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CHILL OUT. One of my kids’ favorite parts of summer is our ice cream dates. You can simply grab a cheap soft-serve cone on the fly. If you’re looking for healthy, try out one of the new flavored frozen yogurt places where you can add your own toppings. Another option would be to borrow or buy an electric ice cream machine and make your own ice cream in any flavor you like.

10 11

CATCH A FISH. Buy (or borrow) a rod, reel and bait and head to the beach and fish off the shore or dock or to a lake and fish off the bank. Keep the fish for dinner or throw them back. (You may need a fishing license, so check first with your state.) Fishing provides a great opportunity to just hang out and talk with your kids.

HIT A CARNIVAL OR FAIR. If a carnival never comes to your town, consider making a weekend trip to a fair. Every kid will forever remember the games, the attractions, the greasy food and the fast rides.

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TEE OFF. An evening game of miniature golf is a great way to top off the summer. Make the game competitive and keep score, or just play for fun.

Kerrie McLoughlin (TheKerrieShow.com), her husband and 5 kids attempt all 12 summer traditions above every year.

To find other great activities for the summer, visit parentguide.com. Images courtesy of Courtney Vickers Photography.

08/31/11.

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Summer 2011

PARENT GUIDE 19

MEN CAN ALWAYS COME UP WITH AN ANSWER TO “WHAT WILL WE DO WITHOUT THE KIDS?”

Kurt Goerke is a father of two, an almost bearable husband, master of Cocoa the dog, professional writer and a Regional Director with the American Lung Association of Florida.

iStockphoto.com

The kids were almost as excited as I was when the big day arrived, and we loaded them on the bus. “I’m gonna miss them,” she blurted out. “Me too, baby,” I blubbered right back at her. “Let’s go home, so we can be alone. I don’t want anyone to see me cry,” I said, feeling my vision for our week alone was about to realized.

What I didn’t know was that the ping pong ball had kept bouncing and had planned a week’s worth of honey-do activities for me, so I “would be so busy I wouldn’t miss the kids.”

Next thing I knew, I was walking down the aisles of Home Depot as she talked about how surprised they’d be when they returned and saw their repainted bedrooms. And before the day was out, I had a paintbrush in my hand and a wife who had discovered she had a low tolerance for paint fumes. She spent the week at her mother’s while I painted.

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All photos; iStockphoto.com

later, our eggs were salted. This was so cool. It doesn’t take much to excite me.)

Before our first trip, I mapped, planned and booked campsites in advance. Unfortunately, that forced us to hurry through some things we enjoyed and stay too long elsewhere.

Most campsites have a one-night deposit, so changing plans can cost you. Through experience, we have decided to travel loosely. We map out a basic path highlighting destinations and special campsites, then let the wind blow. We generally drive less than four or five hours a day, and when ready, we consult our campground guide to choose a nearby park. It’s rare to be turned away (except in Florida over spring break or at popular national parks in the summer).

Of course, there are drawbacks. Living in a box the size of your family room, privacy is traded in for togetherness. Because of limited storage space, we each bring seven changes of clothes, and that means weekly laundry. We grocery shop often and enjoy fresh roadside stand produce as the refrigerator is smaller than at home. RVing requires work, and even the kids have assigned duties (nothing difficult—the rental company trains you).

After one of our lengthy summer trips, someone com-

mented, “What happened? Why aren’t the kids fighting? They look like best friends.” I can’t explain it. That’s the magic of RV togetherness. Unplugging from the daily grind and living in close quarters creates stronger family bonds and lasting memories.

Kimberly Santamaria is a mom, writer and avid RV enthusiast.

Summer Summer2011 2011 PARENT PARENTGUIDE GUIDE2321

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As we walk along our path of destiny, our journey leads us to unexpected and wonderful destinations.

We change. We grow. We are enriched.

Our journey is taking us global.

Please join us as we launch an exciting new parenting experience.

From the most respected parenting guide in Tampa Bay. 速

YOUR HANDBOOK TO PARENTING www.ParentGuide.com

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     

  26

PARENT GUIDE Summer 2011

AVital Message to Parents I Joel Fuhrman, M.D.

FOR

food thought YOUR FAMILY’S HEALTHY MEALS

A VITAL MESSAGE TO PARENTS FROM JOEL FUHRMAN, M.D. — FAMILY PHYSICIAN AND NUTRITIONAL EXPERT. As parents, we want what is best for our children. We would never intentionally harm them. In fact, we make sure to seek out the best care possible, but when it comes to children and food, somehow we don’t know what the

best thing to do is. Our children seem finicky and only eat cheese, pasta, chicken fingers or milk and cookies. At the same time, we notice that they are frequently ill. They suffer from recurring ear infections, runny noses, stomachaches and headaches. We note their symptoms and haul them in to the doctor who prescribes yet another round of anti-biotics. Although by today’s standards it seems normal, it is not.

The body is a self-repairing, self-defending organism, which has the innate ability to defend itself against microbes and prevent chronic illnesses when its cared for properly.

Proper care involves being particular about the quality of raw materials we fuel it with or in other words feeding the body adequately to satisfy it’s nutritional requirements. Failing to do this will result in poor health and the development of bizarre diseases.

There is an issue of vital importance that most well-meaning parents don’t know about.

They don’t know because they didn’t learn it growing up—it wasn’t taught to them in school, and most pediatricians don’t understand it themselves. The issue is this: the modern diet that most children are eating today creates a fertile cellular environment for cancer and other chronic diseases to emerge at a later age. In other words, childhood diets create adult cancers.

That’s right: when our children don’t eat fruits and vegetables, and instead are fed junk food, the groundwork may be laid for cancer and other diseases down the road.

Summer 2011

PARENT GUIDE 27

17 YEARS

13 YEARS

9 YEARS

5 YEARS

2 YEARS

AVital Message to Parents junk food, the groundwork may be laid for cancer and other diseases down the road.

The science behind these surprising statements is addressed in my book, Disease Proof your Child. This Web site section will only touch the tip of the iceberg. However, worth noting is the following dismal fact: many children today are very often recurrently sick with ear infections, allergies, asthma and then, later in life, may develop autoimmune illnesses such as lupus, ulcerative colitis and rheumatoid arthritis. This is not because children just naturally pass around germs or have bad genes, but it is because their diets are inadequate. Antibiotics cannot prevent these problems. Only a diet of nutritional excellence can.

I implore you to learn more about nutritional excellence and how to feed your children for optimal health.

When you have a child, you have the unique opportunity to mold a developing person. One of your greatest gifts to them can be a disease-resistant body created from excellent food choices beginning at youth. Ear infections, strep throats, allergies, attention deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADD or ADHD), and even autoimmune diseases can be prevented by sound nutritional practices early in life. Common childhood illnesses are not only avoidable, but they’re more effectively managed by incorporating nutritional excellence into one’s diet. This is far superior to the dependence on drugs to which we are accustomed. No parent would disagree that our children deserve only the best.

If you are a parent, you may want to follow this course of action: • Read my book, Disease-Proof Your Child, as a source of sound nutritional information • Offer healthy, high nutrient meals and snacks in place of junk food • Model eating a high nutrient diet-style yourself • Give your child a high quality children’s multivitamin and mineral supplement daily • Make it fun — cook together, explore new varieties of fruits, veggies, beans, nuts and seeds

6 MONTHS

NEWBORN

2028 THE PARENT GUIDESummer Summer 2011 PARENT GUIDE 2011

JOEL FUHRMAN, M.D. Joel Fuhrman, M.D. is a board–certified family physician, best-selling author and nutritional researcher who specializes in preventing and reversing disease through nutritional and natural methods. As one of the country’s leading experts on nutrition and natural healing, Dr. Fuhrman has appeared on hundreds of radio and television shows including: ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, CNN, “Today,”“Good Morning America,” the Discovery Channel, TV Food Network, CNBC and the “Dr. Oz Show.” His own PBS television show, “3 Steps to Incredible Health” will air nationwide in June 2011.

His best-selling book, Eat to Live, published in 2003 (Little Brown) has gone through more than 20 printings and been published in multiple foreign language editions. The revised version was released by Little Brown in Jan 2011. His recent works include Disease-Proof Your Child, and he has published a total of seven books on human nutrition to date.

Dr. Fuhrman is actively involved in scientific research in human nutrition. His discoveries on food addiction and human hunger were published in the scientific journal Nutrition Journal in Nov 2010. The article was entitled, “The Changing Perception of Hunger on a High Nutrient Density Diet.” His research activities include working with researchers at the National Institute of Health on nutrition and diet interventions for specific autoimmune diseases.

A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine (1988), Dr. Fuhrman is a former world-class figure skater and fitness enthusiast and has been professionally involved with sports medical committees and advising professional and Olympic athletes.

速

YOUR HANDBOOK TO PARENTING Summer 2011

PARENT GUIDE 29

HELPING YOUR

SHY CHILD Feel Confident ABOUT CAMP!

Shyness is something many of us have felt or have watched our children experience at some time. For a shy child, the thought of going to camp can be a little overwhelming. Understanding what shyness is and why some children are shy is a big key to helping them feel more comfortable and confident. Summer camps can be a particularly trying time for shy children because they are around unfamiliar people and their parents aren’t around to give them that secure feeling.

You can determine if your child is shy by observing their behavior. Along with your child avoiding social situations you may observe them being noticeably uncomfortable. Hiding behind or clinging to a parent is a common technique that young shy children have mastered. Others may just be quiet or have a hard time trying to express themselves. They may especially have a difficult time in new situations, around strangers, speaking up in school or making eye contact with people. Some children experience uneasiness when moving or starting a new school.

BY JACQUELINE BODNAR

30

PARENT GUIDE GUIDE Summer 2011 2011 30 PARENT Summer

Andi Diamond Photography

iStockphoto.com

REASONS FOR SHYNESS Gregory Markway, Ph.D, co-author of the book Nurturing the Shy Child: Practical Help for Raising Confident and Socially Skilled Kids and Teens, explains that it’s difficult to try to identify a single cause for shyness. There are several factors that can contribute to a child being shy, including being born shy. “There is considerable research evidence that shyness may be inherited,” says Dr. Markway. “Shyness is simply part of the temperament of some children.”

Dr. Markway points out that there has been research that has indicated that infants have varying degrees of behavioral inhibition, where they will be visibly distressed in certain new situations or with new objects. Other reasons that can contribute to shyness are having gone through

• Accept and respect the fact that your child is shy and that it’s not necessarily a bad thing.

• Support and discuss their shyness with them.

• Offer encouragement to try new things and participate in social activity.

• Rehearse situations and responses that your child can use for particular events.

• Compliment them when they do well in social situations.

• Help them to make friends by inviting another child over to play.

• Talk to your child’s teachers to see if they can help at school.

humiliating experiences and lacking good social skills.

Other children fear that they are being judged by those

• Let them know that they are not alone in being shy.

around them.

• Be open to input from others that spend time around your child.

• Avoid labeling or calling them shy to other people.

IS SHYNESS BAD? Being mildly shy is not necessarily a bad thing. Dr. Markway explains that in some cultures it is considered a desired trait, such as in China where shy children are rated as being the most popular. Being shy as a child is a normal part of growing up for many, and parents should not make their child

Another great way to help your child to learn to be more comfortable in social situations is to help get them involved in activities that interest them. Taking karate, dance or playing a team sport may be just the thing they need to open up.

Don’t be so quick to rescue your child from camp if you get

feel as though there is something wrong with them because

a phone call that first day. Give them and the staff the chance

they experience shyness. Shy children are often very obser-

to work through the awkward period. You just might be sur-

vant and have sensitivity towards other people’s feelings.

prised by how much fun they end up having and how much

However, as Dr. Markway explains, it may also prevent the

confidence they gain through the experience.

child from giving their best effort because they are more

CHANGING FOCUS

introverted in their behavior.

Instead of focusing on the shyness, take a different approach

HOW TO HELP

and concentrate on their strengths and play those up to help

You can’t force a child to not be shy, but there are some

them build confidence. “We don’t help children to not be

things you can start doing to help them feel more comfort-

shy,” says Dr. Markway, “as much as we want to make sure

able about going to camp.

children are able to do what they need to in school or in life.”

Jacqueline Bodnar is a freelance writer that lives in Ormond Beach, Fla. with her husband and two children.

Livingston Galleries

SIGNS THAT YOUR CHILD MAY BE SHY • Avoiding eye contact.

• Having a difficult time making friends.

• Having a hard time talking in social settings.

• Avoiding sleep-overs or parties with peers.

• Not answering questions in school.

• Refusing to participate in activities.

• Acting nervous around strangers.

Summer 2011

PARENT GUIDE 31

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32

PARENT GUIDE Summer 2011

BANISH HOMESICKNESS

BOTHYOU AND YOURCHILDWILL BEGLADYOUDID! DR. SUSAN BARTELL

Every summer, trunks are packed and excited kids wave goodbye to parents for a week or more as they head for sleep-away camp.

I admit that my kids, husband and I are fans of camp! This will be the ninth summer my children are counting the days until they return to Surprise Lake Camp. If you ask them, they bide their time for ten months, just to get to the two months they spend swimming, singing and hiking in the mountains, on the banks of a sparkling lake.

Summer Summer 2011 2011

PARENT GUIDE 33 33

HOMESICKNESS

Aside from the obvious fresh air and exercise, sleep away camp offers kids a chance to master independent and cooperative living skills, form relationships with peers from different communities and try out new personalities.

Camp also offers parents a hiatus from parenting—yes, admit it, the break is a bonus!

But for a number of kids, homesickness interferes with a successful camp experience. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be this way! By following some simple strategies, you can help your child develop the skills needed to combat homesickness. This is important not only for sleep-away camp, but for all separations from home. By learning that he can master homesickness, your child will become more self-confident and self-sufficient.

Homesickness is common for both first-time and veteran campers, and you can begin to combat it before the summer has even arrived! To start, make sure you ask a prospective camp about staff-training to support homesick campers. A great camp will train group leaders and counselors to manage homesick campers and their parents with skill and sensitivity. The camp director should be able to articulate their strategies to you, and you shouldn’t accept anything less.

2034 PARENT GUIDE Summer 2011 PARENT GUIDE Summer 2011 34 THE PARENT GUIDE Summer 2011

“ HOMESICKNESS IS NORMAL— ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT.” Homesickness should not be a deterrent to sending your child to camp. Tell your child that homesickness is normal—especially at night. If she is prepared, she won’t be surprised, and neither will you.

Explain that if she feels homesick she should speak to her counselors; remind her that homesickness is not a reason to leave camp. If your child goes to camp knowing she can leave, she will not help herself manage the tough feelings. If she leaves early, she will feel like she failed.

Except in extreme circumstances (the camp director will inform you if your situation is one), it is better for a child to stay at camp until the end, even if she is homesick.

Inoculating your child against homesickness continues on departure day. If it is an option, send your child on the

bus, rather than driving him to camp. Good-byes are easier at the bus stop than they are at camp, and your child will have a chance to get to know other kids during the trip.

When you say good-bye, expect tears from your child, but control your feelings. Don’t say you’ll miss her; that the house will feel empty; or any similar words that may make her wish she wasn’t leaving. Your goal is to help her leave for camp guilt-free and feeling strong. Tell her you know she will have a great time and that you can’t wait to hear all about it!

Expect the first letter from camp to be filled with words of homesickness. Then remember that it was written several days earlier. Call and speak to your child’s group leader, who will undoubtedly reassure you that your child is great.

Even if he is still homesick, remember that you picked this camp because you felt confident that they could manage a homesick child. They can.

Many camps permit kids to phone home. I don’t like this policy because phone calls trigger homesickness in even the most secure camper. If your child is homesick, I suggest you request that phone calls be waived. Discuss this with your child before camp, or have your child’s

group leader discuss it with her. One summer, just before a scheduled call from my middle child, we received a call from her group leader saying my daughter hoped we wouldn’t be upset, but she didn’t want her call home.

She was having a great time and knew the call would make her homesick and ruin her fun. We couldn’t have been more proud of her.

Homesickness is not a disease; it is a life experience that almost all children can master, given the opportunity.

The solution for homesickness requires two parts: a great sleep- away camp—there are many—and a parent willing to let a child experience and master his own feelings.

So send your child to camp—he or she will be fine, but you should hang on to this article so when you get your first homesick letter you can re-read it—then you will be fine too.

Dr. Susan Bartell is a nationally recognized psychologist and author. Her latest book is The Top 50 Questions Kids Ask. Learn more about her and her work at www.DrSusanBartell.com.

ONA TA

SUMMER VACATION

BY KYLA STEINKRAUS

TRADEWINDS ISLAND GRAND RESORT, ST. PETE Located on the pure white sand of St. Pete Beach, Tradewinds Resort offers a fine mix of relaxing luxury for the grown-ups and endless water activities for the kids. Explore the meandering waterway by paddle boat¸ spin some tall tales with Redbeard the

WEEKI WACHEE SPRINGS, SPRING HILL An original roadside attraction from the 1940s, the mermaids of Weeki Wachee remain a rich part of Florida’s heritage, and a fun day trip to boot. Watch the mermaids perform the aquatic version of “The Little Mermaid” from the 400-seat underwater-viewing theater. Cruise down the river on a narrated tour or take in an animal encounter show featuring snakes and alligators. Bring your swimsuit for Buccaneer Bay, which includes flume rides, tubing down a lazy river and a water-play area for the little ones. Admission including Buccaneer Bay, for adults: $26. Kids 6-12: $12. Five and under: free.

20 GUIDE 2011 36 PARENT PARENT GUIDESummer Summer 2011

Pirate, sample some salty fare at the unique Flying Bridge—actually a floating Florida cracker cottage— or get back out to the beach and whoosh down the three-story inflatable slide. In April 2011, the resort debuted Splash Island, a 15,750 square-foot floating inflatable water park boasting such features as a giant trampoline, 10-person rocking seesaw, slides, climbers, and of course, plenty of lounging rafts. www.tradewindsresort.com. Summer rates from $149.

ANKFUL

OF GAS?...YOU BET! One of the perks of living in Tampa is the close proximity to world-class theme parks and natural attractions that other folks have to travel thousands of miles (and drop some heavy cash) in order to enjoy. We have several vacation destinations in our own backyard—some well known, some a little more o the beaten track. Airline prices going up? No sweat. Gas prices sky rocketing? Not a problem. We can help you plan a summer packed with great memories at places close enough to visit and get back to your own sweet abode on a tank of gas or less.

GAYLORD PALMS HOTEL, ORLANDO Reminiscent of a stately mansion, the Gaylord Palms Hotel combines old Florida charm with topnotch service and amenities while still maintaining a kid-friendly environment. Take a leisurely stroll through the four acres of lush, tropical gardens enclosed in three distinct, Florida-inspired atriums: the steamy Everglades, fun and funky Key West and Spanish-infused St. Augustine. At Clearwater Cove, the zero-entry pool is perfect for the tiniest guests, while toddlers on up will love the Octopus water slide, marine life climbing structures, pop-up fountains, sand play area and waterfall. Or try your hand at bocce ball, croquet, a nine-hole golf putting course or sand volleyball. http://www.gaylordhotels.com/gaylord-palms.

Summer rates from $149 plus 4th night free.

Summer 2011 PARENTGUIDE GUIDE 137 37 Summer 2011 PARENT 3

NICKELODEON SUITES RESORT, ORLANDO This hotel is a theme park unto itself, boasting a zerodepth entry pool and a four-story tower that includes water flumes, slides, jets, climbing nets and of course the 400-gallon bucket that drops massive amounts of green slime all over you. High energy staff provides kid-friendly, Nickelodeon-themed entertainment both poolside and with nightly game shows in the state-of-the-art theater. Kids

DINOSAURWORLD,PLANTCITY

love being surrounded by favorite Nickelodeon celebrities,

Let aspiring paleontologists roam among the 150

whether they’re nodding off in the themed Kidsuites or

life-size dinosaurs crouched among the trees and

noshing on waffles and pausing for hugs and photos with

native vegetation at Dinosaur World in Plant City.

Dora and Diego at a character breakfast. www.nickhotel.

The dinosaurs, carefully crafted from fiberglass,

com. Florida residents receive 20% off family suites.

steel and concrete, reach up to 80 feet in length.

Rates from $119 plus $25 resort fee per night.

After dinosaur hunting, kids can explore the Prehistoric Museum, brush up on their dinoknowledge in the Movie Cave or sift through sand in search of real fossils at the Fossil Dig. Kids can keep up to three fossils, which may be shark’s teeth, dinosaur bone fragments or petrified sea urchins. A new playground, museum and several brand new dinosaurs will be unveiled in the fall of 2011. www.dinosaurworld.com. Adults: $12.75, Children 3-12: $9.75.

SEA WORLD, ORLANDO Explore an undersea universe at Sea World, a 200-acre park dedicated to the creatures of the deep. Feel like a giant ray as you skim, glide and soar head-first and face-down on Manta, Seaworld’s newest coaster. Get soaked in the splash zone during the “Blue Horizons” or brand new “One Ocean” shows, where dolphins and orcas leap, dive, spin and splash. Feed and pet the dolphins at Dolphin Cove. Visit with penguins, seals and sea lions, otters, manatees, sea turtles and stingrays, walruses, and of course, Shamu the killer whale. When hunger strikes, dine with the sharks at Shark’s Underwater Grill, where you can enjoy filet mignon while a nurse shark drifts by in the massive aquarium next to you. www.seaworldorlando.com. Adults and kids’ tickets $71.99 when purchased online.

38 GUIDE 2011 38 PARENT PARENT GUIDESummer Summer 2011

BUSCH GARDENS,TAMPA BAY Can’t decide whether you feel like visiting the zoo or an amusement park? Knock both items off your list at Busch Gardens, which not only boasts eight roller coasters but houses lush, sprawling habitats for tigers, lions, zebras, elephants, rhinos and more. Busch’s newest coaster, Cheetah Hunt,

ADVENTURE ISLAND,TAMPA BAY

mimics the feel of a cheetah sprinting over the

When the pavement is burning, it’s time to get

Serengeti plains as it launches guests down into

drenched. The 30-acre park’s newest ride, Riptide, is

subterranean trenches, around a canyon gushing

a four-lane matt slide that lets you race against your

with whitewater rapids and through a heart-

friends as you twist through a hairpin turn and then

pounding roll inversion at speeds up to 60 miles

drop into a splash pool. Or try Key West Rapids, which

per hour. Also part of the new mega-attraction is

plunges riders down six stories of twisting slide. Spend

Cheetah Run, an 11,000 square foot habitat for 14

some time frolicking amongst the five-foot waves in the

cheetahs. Daily sprinting exercises allow guests

wave pool, chill out on the mile Rambling Bayou lazy

to witness the fastest land animals on earth do

river or spike it out on the sand volleyball courts. The

what they are so famous for--run.

little ones can climb and splash to their heart’s content

www.buschgardens.com/BGT. Adults

on the water jungle gym at Fabian’s Fun Port. Don’t

$77.99. Kids 3-9 $69.99.

miss Island Nights every Thursday through Saturday night June 9th through August 15th. From 5-9 p.m., the park transforms into a Caribbean island, complete with live bands, tropical treats, and Polynesian dancers.

Adults $41.95, kids 3-9 $37.95.

UNIVERSAL STUDIOS AND ISLANDSOFADVENTURE,ORLANDO Spend a day or two exploring the sister parks. Both parks combine movies, TV shows, and pop culture with thrilling rides and coasters. You can soar above skyscrapers with Spiderman, battle aliens with the Men in Black or whirl through the pages of The Cat in the Hat. Islands of Adventure’s newest attraction, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, creates a fully immersive experience in the wonder and magic of Hogwarts and Hogsmeade. Make it a mini-vacation with a night or two at the Royal Pacific Resort, which transports guests to the South Seas with lush, tropical surroundings and a luau featuring hula and fire dancers. www.universalorlando.com. One park: Adults: $82.00 Kids 3-9: $74.00.

Summer PARENTGUIDE GUIDE3939 Summer2011 2011 PARENT

It’s like

Summer Camp for the entire family!

At TradeWinds, we’ve got 101 things to do on vacation. Discover the perfect family vacation destination right in your own backyard! The kids are thrilled with RedBeard the Pirate, bungee trampoline and their own supervised programs.

For you, sway in a beachside hammock … soar on a parasail … feast on fresh seafood and tropical coolers. Everyone has a blast on the new Splash Island Water Park.

It’s time to

866.JustLetGo | JustLetGo.com/101Things

40

PARENT GUIDE Summer 2011

Summer 2011

PARENT GUIDE 41

TECHNOLOGY FOR THE

MODERN FAMILY Reviews - News - Buying Guides

www.digitaltrends.com 42 PARENT GUIDE Summer 2011

AT CAMP BE IT!, CAMPERS DIVE INTO THE REAL WORLD OF THE MUSIC BUSINESS.

BY GEODIE BAXTER PADGETT PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARGIE ROSENSTEIN

CRAFTINGTHE ARTIST

{

I

T’S A ONE-OF-A-KIND CAMP WHERE talented campers get the kind of serious experience most aspiring artists can only dream of: a full week of artist development, image creation and performance training with an emphasis on personal growth.

“The ultimate goal of ‘Be IT!’ is to professionally prepare artists and their support teams for success in the music industry,” says Shawn Bray one of the co-founders of the camp. Bray and his partner, Jim McMahan, founded the camp when they realized that record labels were no longer “developing artists” so they were commercially viable. The pair combined their 40 years of industry know-how and designed an experience that really moves a vocal performer to the next level. There are no medals or prizes, just a wealth of training, information, resources and contacts.

So, what do campers do at Camp Be IT!? A typical day would start with a filling breakfast, followed by exercise in a cabana overlooking a valley. Then campers would enjoy “learning with activities that include live performance training; vocal lessons; photo shoots, stage movement and light

choreography; personal growth exercises, like ropes courses; hiking; swimming; and making some incredible new friends,” says Bray.

Parents are invited to attend with their children so they can learn how to support their child in the business. In fact, the camp offers several programs just for parents that include valuable information such as “how to spend wisely and how to properly conduct themselves and not come off like a ‘stage parent.’”

When campers leave Camp Be IT!, they will take with them far more than just wonderful memories. According to Bray, he and McMahan are committed to helping to “create break-through realizations and life changing memories.” In addition, campers will have “photos to use as part of their EPK (electronic press kit); videos of their choreographed stage performances and of their camp experience; a music artist web page hosted under the Camp Be IT label; and contacts.”

{

Camp Be IT! • July 16-22, 2011 • High Valley Ranch • (in Northern California) 11650 High Valley Road • Clearlake Oaks, CA 95423 • www.highvalleyranchevents.com Preferred ages 12-23 • (there are younger and older exceptions) Visit www.campbeit.com for information on submitting an audition tape, or contact Shawn Bray at shawn@campbeit.com • Shawn Bray – 727.637.1663

Summer 2011 PARENT GUIDE 43

The warmer days of summer usher in a season of sundresses, sandals and swimsuits. For many teens, visits to the tanning salon are another summertime tradition. According to one study, 24 percent of teens have visited a tanning bed at least once; many are frequent customers. Another study reports tanning bed use in children as young as 11.

“In many areas, there are more tanning salons than there are McDonald’s and Starbucks,” says pediatrician Sophie J. Balk, M.D., lead author of the American Academy of Pediatrics 2011 policy statement on the risks of ultraviolet radiation to children and adolescents.

Balk is one of many health experts working to raise awareness of the hazards of teenage tanning. The World Health Organization, the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Dermatology support legislation banning minors from tanning, and 60 percent of US states already regulate the practice.

Many parents simply aren’t aware of the risks, says Balk. “If most parents knew that going tanning at a young age raises their child’s risk of developing skin cancer later on, they would not allow it.”

SAFE TANNING: MYTH AND REALITY Many habitual tanners believe the tanning industry’s claim that artificial

44

PARENT GUIDE Summer 2011

rays are a safe alternative to the sun. Not true, says the

Like Balk, Agarwal-Antal compares indoor tanning to

AAP. Their 2011 report states that UV radiation produced by

smoking. “There are no benefits to using a tanning bed. It’s

artificial tanning beds can be 10 to 15 times stronger than

not okay, even in moderation,” she says.

the midday sun.

UV radiation is a known carcinogen, like arsenic, asbes-

Tanning bed users can suffer from other maladies, including early cataracts, rashes and prescription drug

tos and cigarette smoke, says Balk. The rates of melanoma,

interactions. “You can get all sorts of infections in tanning

the deadliest form of skin cancer, have been on the rise for

beds—herpes, warts, molescum, viral disease, fungus.

the past 30 years, with rapid increases in recent years in

They’re not exactly bastions of cleanliness,” notes Agarwal-

white women aged 20-29. According to the AAP report,

Antal. Early aging, wrinkles, and sagging skin add to the

tanning beds are partly to blame.

list of unsightly effects.

The statistics are sobering. Melanomas represent only five percent of skin cancers, but they cause three times more

ADDICTED TO TANNING?

deaths than nonmelanoma skin cancers. Early detection is

Even when faced with disturbing evidence, many teens

key, because melanomas that have metastasized (spread)

are undeterred in their quest for sun-kissed skin. Why

have no good treatment options. The five year survival rate

is it such a difficult habit to break? Are some teens truly

for metastic melanoma is only 20 percent.

addicted to tanning? Possibly, says Agarwal-Antal. “My

This deadly cancer is now striking teens. “I have a patient

patients tell me that they’re addicted to how they look

who developed a melanoma at 18,” says Neera Agarwal-

when they tan,” she says. “They feel social pressure to be

Antal, M.D., director of pediatric dermatology for Akron

tan. That needs to change.”

Children’s Hospital. “She started tanning at 14.”

One step is promoting a new beauty ideal. The fashion Original image; iStockphoto.com

Summer 2011

PARENT GUIDE 45

industry is doing its part; some fashion magazines,

To safeguard skin health, experts recommend

including Cosmopolitan, are working to change cultural

avoiding sun exposure during peak hours between 10

messaging that promotes indoor tanning.

a.m. and 4 p.m.; wearing hats with a three-inch brim;

Surprisingly, Hollywood is helping, too. Many of to-

choosing clothing with built-in sun protection; and

day’s biggest stars are living proof that pale is pretty. “It

always using protective sunscreen (apply one ounce

girls” Amanda Seyfried, Scarlett Johansson, Taylor Swift

per application: that’s one-fourth of a four-ounce bottle).

and Kristin Stewart are glamorous examples of young

Agarwal-Antal advises patients to choose an SPF of at

celebrities who stay out of the sun.

least 50 for the body and 70 for the face.

TOWARD SAFER SUN

TRUE COLORS

The best tan is no tan at all, says Agarwal-Antal.

Moms can wield great influence over their tanning teens

Parents and teens need to regard tanning the same

by embracing their natural complexions. Don’t show

way they see recreational drug use, smoking or sex:

your kids that you need a tan to feel good or attractive,

a risky behavior that can have long-lasting health

says Agarwal-Antal. Accept your own natural skin tone,

consequences, she says. “We need to teach our kids

and you’ll encourage teens to do the same. The payoff: a

to be wary of the sun.”

healthier, more beautiful future for you, and your teen.

The safest sun is shade, agrees Charles Shubin, M.D., director of pediatrics at Mercy FamilyCare. Even with sunscreen, there’s no safe way to bake in the sun or in a

Malia Jacobson is a freelance writer and mom of two.

tanning bed. Sunscreens aren’t foolproof, he notes; they

She frequently covers health topics for parenting

wear off, and most people don’t use enough.

publications.

®

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PARENT GUIDE Summer 2011

YOUR HANDBOOK TO PARENTING

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Summer 2011

PARENT GUIDE 47

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PARENT GUIDE Summer 2011