South Florida Parenting

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APRIL 2016

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DEPARTMENTS 6

Editor’s Note JENNIFER JHON

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South Florida News Program gets female triathletes on their feet; Busch Gardens plans new family coaster; Rapids Water Park adds thrill

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Family Health & Safety How technology affects child development; lead poisoning; taking kids temperatures

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Travel Bringing pets on vacation

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Stuff We Love ProBugs snacks, ARCKIT model kit, versatile rugs and more

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Mom-Approved Advice Earth Day celebrations and healthy honey

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Glamazon Glamazon is having the time of her life

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Loud Moms Don't judge mainstream music

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MoMENts

22 Allergies in schools Parents, schools must work together to keep kids safe.

24 Rashes and Runny Noses Avoidance is key to allergy maintenance.

26 Saving the Planet Ways to make your family environmentally friendly.

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57 Broadening the Senses

First-graders experience sound, sight and taste outside the classroom.

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Broward Camps Palm Beach Camps Miami-Dade Camps Camps Attractions Classes & After School Party Planner Professional Restaurants Schools Special Needs

58 CPR in Schools Teachers hope students take lessons to heart.

74 Girl Power Miami girl takes on extreme race challenge.

VOTING STARTS APRIL 4

O N T H E C O VER T H E C H ILD

Nyah Williams, 6, of Sunrise A 2016 Cover Kids Award Winner T H E P H O T O G R A P H ER

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Serving Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach

APRIL 2016

CONCUSSION AWARENESS Traveling with A PUBLICATION OF

Kids and Concussions Awareness, good technique are key to safety.

Rising to the softball challenge

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april

FREE

SEE O

GIVEAWUR AYS Page 39

Financial Matters Learning about money online

41 Naming a Guardian

STAGES 60

Maternity

62

Paternity

Great gifts to give new moms Helping first-time fathers adjust

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Baby Snotsucker: Lots of benefits, lots of gross

68

Child

71

Child

Chill out about tantrums.

Storytelling can teach kids to listen

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Preteen Gratitude journal can combat materialism in children

CALENDAR 76

Calendar of Events Our day-by-day calendar for April, plus Theater, Shows & Concerts, Fairs & Festivals and Exhibits for Families

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Planning ahead is important for parents.

44 Reusable Menstrual Products Washable pads, natural sponges and silicon cups are on the rise.

46 CDC Issues Alcohol Warning Social sphere reacts loudly to message.

47 Power Poses

Expert says posture can change your outlook on life.

APRIL 2016

3/23/16 1:42 PM

Serving Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties The mission of South Florida Parenting is to be the most valuable source of parenting information and local resources for families in South Florida. We are committed to enhancing the lives of families by maintaining excellence in editorial content, presenting high-quality events and encouraging community awareness.

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editor's » note

Love is everywhere One of the most amazing things about having children is the unexpected gift they often give you.

A few moments with your children can totally turn your day around on those special occasions.

I had an experience recently when I came home from a long day at the office to face some bad news at home as well. I scooped up the kids and went to my dad’s house to try to deal with my issues, but my despair came with me.

After about 10 minutes at JENNIFER their Papa’s house, my daughter noticed the plastic hearts entwined in the vase of flowers on the kitchen counter. She grabbed two of the hearts, holding them by their sticks like wands, and marched over to me as I sat brooding at the table.

She handed one of them to me.

“Come on, Mom,” she said in her ador-

able, little-girl voice. “We’re going to have a parade.” And she turned around and started marching through the house, chanting, “Love is everywhere! Love is everywhere! Love is everywhere!”

After her first chant, she turned around and said, “Come on, Mom; you’re in the parade too!” So I joined her, waving my wand and chanting her motto (one octave lower).

We hadn’t even made it to the front door when I felt the power of the words we were JHON chanting. By the time we had done our first lap of the house, I was smiling, and I felt worlds better than I had only 45 seconds before.

My daughter, in her innocence and exuberance, had reminded me of a very basic truth: love IS everywhere.

Even when we aren’t feeling very loved, love is all around us.

I felt so very grateful for my daughter in that moment, for her just being herself: confident, carefree and excited about life.

It is times like these when I wonder what life would be like without my children and where I would be without their incredible presence in my life.

They have changed me for the better, and I hope I can be with them for a lifetime of lessons as valuable as the one my daughter taught me last week.

Write to us Mail: E-mail:

6501 Nob Hill Road Tamarac, FL 33321 JJhon@tribpub.com

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3/23/16 1:41 PM

south florida » news

Free Boca program helps get female triathletes to the starting line

BY GARY CURRERI FORUM PUBLISHING GROUP More than 40 South Florida women helped kick off the “So you want to do a Tri” six-month program with the Boca Raton Triathletes recently in Delray Beach. The program is geared toward increasing women’s involvement in triathlons.

“The meeting went amazing,” said the Boca Raton Triathletes president, Kristy Breslaw, whose running club was one of only 27 chosen across the county for a grant from the national Women for Tri/ Ironman Foundation. “Women are interested in getting to the start line of their first triathlon.”

The race being targeted for the newcomers is the July 4th triathlon put on by Multirace at Coconut Creek’s Tradewinds Park.

During the kickoff gathering, Nicole Boger, a member of the Women for Tri Committee and Boca Raton Triathletes’ board of directors, spoke about triathlons, what’s needed to get started, and eliminating any reservations associated with competing in triathlons.

Certified coaches and experienced triathletes hosted the meeting and covered such topics as the various levels of triathlons (swim, bike, run), transitions, rules, nutrition, how to balance mom/work life and tri life, recovery, acupuncture, injury prevention and more.

Boca Raton’s June Kobayashi was able to secure the grant for the local group and is the coordinator of the initiative.

“This is absolutely very cool,” Kobayashi said. “This is the first time that the (Women for Tri) foundation has awarded a grant for grassroots people like us, and being one of just 27 around the country is amazing. Being able to get something like that to promote a sport I absolutely love is fantastic.”

Women participating in the local program were also given the option of joining the Boca Raton Triathletes at a reduced rate of $25. Membership includes clinics, discounts on races, gear and nutrition products, training opportunities, four socials year with free drinks and food, a Family Summer Bash and an end-of-the-season party.

As part of the free program, women participate in numerous clinics designed to help train them for their first triathlon.

Kobayashi did her first triathlon in 2012 and her first Ironman last July. The initial goal was to add 24 new triathletes in six months. However, in a little more than a week, the sport gained 18 “students” seeking to compete in their first triathlon in July.

“This is very important,” Kobayashi said. “It is available for everybody. Youngsters can do it all the way up to seniors, or a working mom like me. People who are out there just running, just biking or just swimming ... this type of cross-training actually helps.”

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROGRAM, EMAIL INFO@BOCARATONTRIATHLETES.COM

GETTING REAL AT COBRA’S CURSE ORLANDO SENTINEL REPORT

Snakes aren’t the point of Cobra’s Curse, a roller coaster under construction at Busch Gardens. Yet it sounds like the Tampa theme park is making them impossible to escape.

For instance, there’s a 80-foot-tall one that folks meet head-on at the beginning of the ride. It hisses at riders. Before that, in the queue, there is an enclosure with four species of venomous snakes. Yikes. Busch sees beauty in that, though.

“This is going to be the prettiest, most elaborately themed snake habitat that you’ve ever seen,” said Jeff Hornick, regional director of design and engineering for SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, which owns the park.

They’ve thought this through, opting for species that get along and have different hanging-out habits in the 400 cubic-foot space, which visitors will view through a 7-foot-by-8-foot window while hanging out in the airconditioned queue.

Hornick classifies Cobra’s Curse as a “family thrill ride” that will fit with the Busch Gardens mix. It has a 42-inch height restriction. “Nearly everyone in the whole family can enjoy it together,” he said.

SAVE MONEY ON SWIMS From April 4 to June 5, Florida residents can enjoy up to 35 percent off the dolphin and seal swim and the reef encounter programs at Miami Seaquarium.

The Seal Swim and dolphin interaction programs get guests age 5 and older up close with those mammals.

The Sea Trek Reef Encounter (age 10 and older) is an underwater helmet diving experience that allows guests to dive 15 feet below the surface of the water in the 300,000-gallon reef aquarium and still keep their heads completely dry.

Expectant mothers are not allowed to participate in animal interaction programs.

VISIT MIAMISEAQUARIUM.COM OR CALL 305-365-2501

DOWN THE DRAIN AT RAPIDS WATER PARK SUN SENTINEL REPORT

Rapids Water Park in Riviera Beach is expanding its already loaded lineup of water slides with the addition of Brain Drain, a new thrill ride expected to open sometime in April.

Rapids, which opened for its 195-day season in March, already has 42 water slides and attractions.

Brain Drain is a capsule-style slide where the floor drops out from under guests, sending them on a 70-foot free fall down twists and turns.

The water park is also holding a “Flow Jams” event every Saturday through April 23. The flowboarding competition will give a weekly winner free registration for the FLOW Tour Pro-Am on April 30.

VISIT RAPIDSWATERPARK.COM

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APRIL 2016

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family » health

& safety

Is technology hurting your child’s development?

Everyone knows this picture: Parent or babysitter sits in a coffee shop staring at a smartphone, while a baby sits gurgling in a stroller.

Those who’ve been in those trenches are perhaps less likely to judge, knowing that the space between joyful bursts of smiling baby talk includes vast, numbing stretches of infant-parenting boredom. But experts say there’s a deeper problem brewing.

“It’s a huge issue,” said Dana Suskind, an author and associate professor of pediatric surgery at the University of Chicago, referring to device-distracted parents. “Language in those first few years of life is the food for the developing brain.”

Suskind and others worry that parents and caregivers, too distracted by their smartphones and other devices, aren’t talking to babies enough. And researchers say talking is critical, activating little brains and filling their gurgling heads with words they’ll figure out more quickly than babies who sit in silence.

Suskind is founder and director of the Thirty Million Words initiative, which takes its name from the number of words babies are said to hear by the time they are 4 if their parents talk to them regularly. And she’s author of “Thirty Million Words: Building a Child’s Brain.”

Yet she and others say it’s crazy to expect parents never to look at their phones.

BY JOHN CARPENTER CHICAGO TRIBUNE

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family » health

& safety

“I don’t think that being a good parent means gazing adoringly at your baby at all times,” said Eileen Kennedy-Moore, a psychologist who writes frequently about early childhood development.

She said research has established that babies benefit not only from hearing words but from interaction. She cited a phenomenon called the “still-face paradigm” in which a baby “freaks out” when a mother, after being responsive, turns unresponsive.

“It’s not just the total amount of attention that’s the key,” she said. “It’s that responsiveness.”

Adults know this feeling, she said.

“Tuning out can be distressing for anyone.”

Brock Ferguson, a Northwestern University graduate student who recently published a paper on infant vocabulary development, said one way to think of it is as a running narration.

“You talk to your baby about what you are seeing and what they are seeing,” he said.

Suskind cited research that showed the areas of the brain associated with speech “lighting up” as babies interacted with adults.

“You can see them trying” to talk, she said, referring to the brain images.

Research shows that our devices could be getting in the way.

A 2014 study published in the journal “Pediatrics” observed caregivers with children in a restaurant. Forty out of 55 observed used a smartphone during the meal. The author of the study, titled “Patterns of Mobile Device Use by Caregivers and Children During Meals at Fast Food Restaurants,” said those most deeply absorbed with their devices tended to respond harshly to children.

Another study found that 54 percent of children say their parents check their phones too often.

Chip Donohue, director of Technology in Early Childhood Center at the Chicagobased Erikson Institute, said “clearly there are digital distractions. And clearly there are cases where we are losing the battle.”

He said it comes down to mindfulness.

“It’s complicated to be a parent in the digital age,” Donohue said. “Parents need to remember that talking (to infants) is teaching and that this device could get in the way of that, and they need to take control of the device.”

Kennedy-Moore offered a more succinct takeaway for potentially smartphonedistracted parents.

“Don’t be a jerk with your phone,” she said.

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APRIL 2016 |

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family » health

& safety

What every parent needs to know about lead poisoning

BY KRISTEN JORDAN SHAMUS TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY It’s hard to sort through all the information swirling about lead contamination in the public drinking water in Flint, Mich., and how it has affected and will continue to impact the people who unknowingly drank the water.

Dr. Sharon Swindell, a pediatrician and assistant professor of pediatrics from the University of Michigan, and Dr. Kanta J. Bhambhani, director of the Lead Poisoning Clinic at Children’s Hospital of Michigan and co-director of its neuro-oncology program, offered insight into the shortand long-term effects of lead poisoning in children, how to tell whether your child has been exposed and how parents can help limit the damage in their children.

One important thing to know is that even kids outside of Flint have been exposed to lead, not through the drinking water, but from other sources.

“The biggest source of lead exposure is paint or dust from paint in older houses,” Bhambhani said, referring to any home built before 1978, when lead in paint was banned. “But, obviously, water is on a lot of people’s minds, and there are good tests for both,” Bhambhani said. “It’s possible to test the paint, and it’s possible to test the water. And so if families have concerns, they should have their home tested. They should have the water tested, and they should bring their concerns to the child’s pediatrician and if we have any concern that a child has risk for exposure, we do a test of the child’s blood-lead level.”

Lead also can be found in the soil of former industrial sites or where older homes have been demolished. Other sources of lead exposure include batteries,

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solder, pipes, pottery, roofing materials and some cosmetics.

If you’re doing renovations to your home, or refinishing old furniture, consider lead paint as a possibility.

In 2013, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services reported 5,702 children under the age of 6 with blood-lead levels of at least 5 ug/dl, and 653 with blood-lead levels of at least 10 ug/dl. No level of lead in the bloodstream is considered safe. And yet, 142,153 Michigan children under the age of 6 tested positive for small amounts up to 5 ug/dl.

“Older homes are among the biggest sources,” Swindell said. “If you’re living in poor-quality, older housing sources, and the paint isn’t in good repair, that has always been the biggest source of lead exposure for kids.”

Q: HOW DO YOU KNOW WHETHER YOUR CHILD HAS BEEN LEAD POISONED? A: Ask your doctor to have your child’s blood-lead level tested.

A simple blood test will show lead exposure within the last 20 to 30 days, but will not show earlier exposure because lead settles into a person’s bones, like calcium.

All children enrolled in Medicaid are tested at ages 1 and 2, and kids who live in high-risk ZIP codes also should be tested at ages 1 and 2, as well as any child in a home built prior to 1978 with chipping paint, or in any older home where renovations have recently taken place.

And if any parent is concerned about the possibility of lead exposure, the recommendation is to talk to a doctor about testing.

Q: WHY IS EVERYONE SO CONCERNED ABOUT KIDS BEING LEAD POISONED? A: Children, but especially kids under the age of 6, are more vulnerable to the effects of lead poisoning because they are still growing and developing. They also are so small, their bodies ingest more of the toxin. Lead poisoning cannot be reversed or undone. The damage is permanent.

“After age 6, the effect on the brain is not as severe,” Bhambhani said. “Not only that, young children will absorb about 50 percent of the lead they’re exposed to. Compared to older children, which is about 5 to 10 percent. And it’s even less for an adult. The absorption of lead is much, much higher in young children.

And of course the effects are also greater in younger children. The risk is greatest at less than 6 years of age, and the younger the child, the greater the risk.”

Q: ARE THERE SYMPTOMS OF LEAD POISONING IN CHILDREN? A: Every child is different. Young children with lead poisoning may fail to meet developmental milestones or lose the ability to do things they once were able to do. Other children may have a delayed response and show lead exposure through behavioral problems or attention deficit disorder as they get older. Other kids may have an entirely different response.

“There’s not a set milestone in very young children that we’re looking for to say lead is the problem because there are so many things that are affecting a child’s development at that age,” Swindell said.

“We are trying to assess, do we think the child is seeing and hearing well? Are

APRIL 2016

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family » health they doing the things they should be doing? Are they making progress from the previous milestones in the way we expect? Have they lost any milestones that they used to have?”

ACCORDING TO THE MAYO CLINIC, OTHER SYMPTOMS IN CHILDREN INCLUDE: + Learning difficulties + Irritability + Loss of appetite + Weight loss + Sluggishness and fatigue + Abdominal pain + Vomiting + Constipation + Hearing loss In cases of very high exposure, it can cause seizures, coma and death.

“You don’t want symptoms to occur,” said Bhambhani, urging parents to have their children tested if there is any possibility of lead exposure.

“The earliest changes you might see in a child, depending on the age they were exposed to lead, may be delays in

speech and language development. On the extreme end, if lead levels are extremely high, it can cause brain damage and even death. . It’s a very broad variation in the way children can present, and it all depends on the levels that they have.”

Q: ARE EVEN SMALL AMOUNTS OF LEAD EXPOSURE OK? A: No. There is no safe level of lead in the body.

“Lead is a neurotoxin and affects the growing brain,” Bhambhani said. “That is why it is so critical that these children are tested for lead levels and if the lead levels are high, then appropriate interventions are in place as soon as possible.”

Q: WHAT CAN I DO IF MY CHILD’S BLOOD TEST SHOWS HE OR SHE HAS BEEN EXPOSED TO LEAD? A: “First and foremost,” Bhambani said, “is to remove the source of lead.”

“Everything we know about the effects of lead in children is that prevention is, by far, our No. 1 goal because once the damage has been done, there’s not been research to show you can undo it,” Swindell said. “Then, our next step is to halt

& safety

any additional exposure and progression of any effects. And then, the third thing is to buffer those effects as much as we can by optimizing the child’s development in every other way making sure they have good access to health care, and access to good nutrition.”

Q: CAN A SPECIAL DIET HELP? A: Yes, a low-fat diet that is high in calcium, iron and Vitamin C can make a difference.

“A diet that contains enough calcium and other trace minerals,” helps to ensure less lead is metabolized, Bhambhani said.

“A number of these children eat a lot of fried foods. We ask them to stay away from fried foods. It’s hard to do, but we adhere to it. The reason is that fat sits in the stomach for a long time, and there’s more time for the lead to be absorbed.”

Q: HOW SHOULD I KNOW WHEN TO TAKE MY CHILD TO THE DOCTOR ABOUT POTENTIAL LEAD EXPOSURE? A: “Don’t wait. If you have a concern, or if there is a possibility of lead exposure in the environment, talk to your doctor about it.” Swindell said.

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family » health “I think one of the most important things from the standpoint of a pediatrician is access to regular health care because we do regular checkups on children not just to give them immunizations, but one of our tasks at every one of their well-child visits is to monitor their development,” Swindell said.

“We typically see children at 1 month, 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 9 months, 1 year, 1.5, 2 years and every year after that. We have regular intervals, and at each of those visits, we’re often giving a questionnaire to ask about development, and checking things with our physical exam with development.”

Q: WHAT IF I LIVE IN AN OLD HOUSE WITH CHIPPING PAINT? A: Any house built before 1978 likely has some lead paint on walls, even if they’ve been repainted and recovered, Bhambhani said.

“The lead-based paint in older homes is oil-based, and the paint they sell now is water-based, so they aren’t really compatible,” Bhambhani said. “It’s really like a Band-Aid if you put the new paint on the old paint. If the underlying problem isn’t

taken care of - it’s going to peel and chip again and be available to the child.”

In any older home that isn’t well-maintained or where there is chipping paint, children are at risk.

“Get rid of peeling and chipping paint, and generally that is done with the help of the Health Department, or with their direction using licensed contractors, and also, there are some nonprofit organizations . that have helped families try to get rid of environmental lead from old leadbased paint. ”We also talk to the families about windows that go up and down. With the friction of opening and closing the windows, paint in the window wells can chip and collect at the base of the window. If the child is standing - and the window is sort of low, and the child is standing over there - the child can have access to the paint that’s collected in the window wells.

“We ask the parent to use a wet rag to pick up all the paint, discard it and cover the area with contact paper.”

Additionally, use a wet mop to regularly clean the floors. Do not dry sweep, which will lift the dust into the air where it can be inhaled.

& safety

Q: I’M PREGNANT, AND WAS EXPOSED TO LEAD. CAN IT HURT MY BABY? A: Yes. If a woman has been exposed to lead, it accumulates in her body and is stored in the bones. When she is pregnant, the lead is released from the bones and is used to form the bones of her fetus, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Lead also crosses the placental barrier and exposes the developing baby to lead, which can also cause premature birth, low birth weight, lower IQ, developmental delays and other health effects, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Q: SHOULD WOMEN WHO’VE BEEN EXPOSED TO LEAD BREASTFEED THEIR BABIES? A: The CDC issued guidelines in 2010 for pregnant women who’ve been exposed to lead and recommended that if a mother’s blood-lead levels are lower than 40 ug/dl, she should be encouraged to breastfeed. Women with levels higher than 40 ug/dl should pump her milk and throw it out until her levels fall below 40 ug/dl.

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family » health

& safety

The Kid’s Doctor:

Methods for taking a child’s temperature vary with age

BY SUE HUBBARD, M.D. WWW.KIDSDR.COM Throughout the year, especially during flu season, the questions surrounding how to take a child’s temperature and how to treat a fever seem never-ending.

There are many different thermometers out there, and many different methods for taking a child’s temperature. One way I know that is not accurate is by “touch of hand.”

Many parents report that their child had a fever, but have never taken their temperature. Neither your hand, nor mine is accurate in detecting a fever in a child. I am not a fanatic about taking temperatures all day long, but it is important to document your child’s body temperature with a thermometer if you think they have a fever.

Also, a fever to a parent may mean 99.6 degrees (I know your child has a different body temperature than others), but in terms of true fever, most doctors use 100.4 degrees or higher – for everyone.

Body temperature in infants is very important, and a fever in a child under 2 months of age is something that always needs to be documented.

The easiest way to take a temperature in an infant is rectally, and it is actually quite easy. Lay your child down, like you would be changing their diaper, and hold their legs in one hand while you gently insert a digital thermometer (lubricating it with some Vaseline, makes it slide in more easily) into their rectum (bottom). It will not go too far, don’t worry, only about 1/2 inch.

Keep the thermometer in their bottom for about a minute and by then you will be able to see if they have a fever. Again: 100.4 degrees or higher.

I use rectal thermometers in children up to about 2 years old, as they are usually pretty easy to hold and it is not painful at all. It is also accurate. Keep this digital thermometer labeled for rectal use.

Axillary temperatures are taken under the arm and can also be taken with a digital thermometer. It is often confusing if your child’s temperature is in the 99 to 100 degree range, so if in doubt, take rectal or oral temperature. I am not a

huge fan of axillary temperatures, and it actually requires more cooperation than a rectal temp.

An oral digital thermometer, which is placed under the tongue, is easy to use on a cooperative child. By the time your child is 3 or 4 years old, it is fun to teach them how to hold up their tongue and then hold the tip of the thermometer under their tongue and close their lips.

Especially with digital thermometers, elementary children like to read you what the thermometer says and discuss their temperatures.

My children always loved to show me they were REALLY sick when it said 103 degrees. It is then a ”sick day activity” to take the acetaminophen and watch your temperature come down over the next several hours.

They loved making charts of their body temps. It won’t win a science fair, but does keep them busy. Also, if they can play this game, they are not too sick.

Lastly, do not let your child drink a hot or cold beverage right before taking an

oral temp (note for parents of older kids, remember Ferris Bueller?) as the reading may not be accurate.

There are also fancy tympanic (ear) thermometers and temporal artery thermometers. I still prefer digital in my own house, and I have never purchased a “fancy” thermometer. You can buy tons of digital thermometers for every child to have their own and still save money.

We also often hear parents report that there was more than a degree of difference between the same child’s ear. I also do not like ear thermometers in little ones, as their ear canals are too small to get accurate readings.

Dr. Sue Hubbard is an award-winning pediatrician, medical editor and media host. “The Kid’s Doctor” TV feature can be seen on more than 90 stations across the U.S. Submit questions at kidsdr.com. The Kid’s Doctor e-book, “Tattoos to Texting: Parenting Today’s Teen,” is now available from Amazon and other e-book vendors.

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family » travel

Ruffing it: Traveling with pets Good times alert! First come Mother’s Day and Memorial Day weekends, then summer vacation.

Why should you have all the fun when your faithful pet has waited all this time for some “us” time? Here are places in Florida where pets can be truly a part of the family trip: Dinosaur World, Plant City (between Lakeland and Tampa), is a 20-acre Jurassic wonderland filled with life-size dinosaurs.

Leashed dogs are welcome to accompany your family on a day of discovery. Doggie watering stations dot the park. Paved walkways throughout the lush gardens make the park stroller and wheelchair friendly.

Take selfies with 200 realistic beasts.

Attend educational shows, dig for bones and see real fossils in the museum. This is one of Central Florida’s growing number of affordable theme parks where a family of four can spend the day for less than $100. Parking is free, and you can bring a picnic if you wish. Many modestly priced, dog-friendly motels are nearby.

Dog Wood Park, Jacksonville, is one of the largest fenced dog parks in the nation.

Spend all day playing with the pup, picnicking, running, exploring miles of trails, swimming, playing Frisbee and entering your dog in contests and other special events. Facilities are even provided for bathing the dog. Training sessions can be arranged.

Special rules apply in this unique park.

Puppies must have had their second set of shots; male dogs ages 8 months and older must be neutered. Children under age 4 must be in a stroller or stay in the Kids and Dogs area of the park. Located west of Ponte Vedra Beach, this 40-acre park is handy to beach communities and to Jacksonville attractions and spectator sports. It’s just off I-95, handy to many pet-friendly motels, including several La Quinta inns.

Naples Bay Resort, Naples. Picture an earlier Florida, when smartly dressed tourists walked their designer dogs on Fifth Avenue, stopping at chic boutiques, galleries and sidewalk cafes. You can find it today in downtown Naples. The upscale Naples Bay Resort allows up to two pets per unit, each under 40 pounds, with pay-

BY JANET GROENE

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ment of a refundable $350 deposit and $75 cleaning fee.

Book a one- or two-bedroom suite for the family. Balconies overlook the waterway or the marina. Dine in a selection of on-site restaurants. Resort activities include tennis, swimming in four pools, floating a lazy river, and fitness workouts or classes One of the state’s finest wilderness experiences awaits at Keewaydin Island, an eight-mile-long barrier island reached by rental boat from the resort’s marina.

Part of the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, the island has no roads nor bridges.

Leashed dogs are welcome, making it an excellent place for walks, wildlife photography and bird watching. Bring all supplies, including food and drinking water for your dog.

TradeWinds Resorts Island Grand, St. Pete Beach. Pets aren’t allowed on the public beach here, so this Gulf-front resort complex created its own Pet Fun Zone. Up to two pets can join you in a spacious suite.

Use your room key to access the Doggie Accessory Center, where you can borrow a leash, bowl, towels or toys. On check-in, introduce your four-legged friend to its Bow Wow Welcome Package with treats and a toy.

Order your pet’s supper from the Paw Court Bistro, then walk on paths that meander through greenery and scenery along the waterway. Along the way are doggie water fountains, umbrellas for shade, and rest stops where humans can snuggle with pets in a hammock and take a snooze. A companion resort, Guy Harvey’s Outpost, is also part of TradeWinds.

Pet owners who stay there will also find a dog walk area, and they’re welcome to use the Island Grand facilities, including the Pet Fun Zone.

For children, TradeWinds has KONK Club activities, such as shore fishing with Captain Tim, educational ocean activities, arts and crafts. For grownups, there’s a lavish spa offering more than 40 treatments. Choose from 14 places to dine and seven heated swimming pools. Beachcomb the long, sandy beach sans pet, or make a family outing to Fort DeSoto Park Paw Playground 10 minutes away.

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family Âť travel TRAVELING WITH A PET *Pet policies are spelled out at each place. Read them carefully. Pet size limits usually range from 10 to 80 pounds.

Pets are not permitted in public areas or pools. Even at pet-friendly places, only some rooms and suites are available.

Make sure your reservations specify that you have a pet. * Know what charges apply. La Quinta motels have one of the most generous pet policies. Bring up to two pets, large or small, at no extra charge. The inns are a budget-priced choice if your recreation goals are nearby. Many other places require a deposit (refundable and/or nonrefundable) and a pet charge per day or per stay. An extra cleaning fee applies for pet accidents. * If the pet is left alone in the room, housekeepers won’t enter unless the owner is in the room or the pet is in a crate. TradeWinds offers crates for rent, but check ahead. * A beachfront resort may allow pets, but that doesn’t mean that pets are allowed on the public beach. Ask if a dog walk area is provided on hotel grounds.

You may have to use the street. * Booking services might not list pet policies. Check with the resort directly.

Proof of shots might be required. In addition to rabies, other vaccinations might be required. * Many campgrounds and most Florida state parks allow leashed pets. Some pet-friendly campsites are available at Fort Wilderness campground in Walt Disney World. Reserve well ahead. A rental RV can be delivered and set up for you by services such as Greenberg Renta-Camper (greenbergrvflorida.com) or Florida Camper Rental (fortwildernessrvrentals.com).

IF YOU GO Dog Wood Park, Jacksonville, 904-296-3636, jaxdog.com Dinosaur World, Plant City, 813-717-9865, dinosaurworld. com Naples Bay Resort, Naples, 866-605-1199, naplesbayresort. com Tradewinds Resort, St. Pete Beach, 800-460-4016, tradewindsresort.com.

Janet Groene is a Florida-based travel writer whose family includes a Belgian sheep dog.

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HEALING BUMPS ’N BRUISES The Hyland’s Bumps ’n Bruises With Arnica stick is perfect for my 5-year-old who doesn’t like to put ice on his bumps and bruises.

The topical ointment stick contains Arnica Montana, which is a homeopathic remedy used for bruising and swelling and is free of PABA, synthetic preservatives, fragrances, parabens and dyes. The stick fits easily in a purse or diaper bag and is so easy to apply that older kids can apply it themselves. $7.99, available at Target or hylands.com

PROBIOTICS, ONE BITE AT A TIME Lifeway’s Probugs bites are freeze-dried discs of a yogurt-like kefir that are gluten-free, free of artificial flavors and colors, and contain 10 live and active probiotic cultures. The bites dissolve in your mouth, making bi still ill llearning i h lf f d them a perfect food for babies how to self-feed and eat solid foods. Older kids will also enjoy them, and my 3-year-old would have finished the entire bag if I had let him. Available in three flavors: Orange Creamy Crawler, Goo-Berry Pie and Strawnana Split. $3.99, Lifewaykefir.com

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Taking Your Allergies to School

BY CAROL J. ALEXANDER I knew something was wrong with my son.

Some days he just didn’t act right. He was hyperactive and angry. He would not cuddle or let me hold him longer than a few minutes, and he refused to wear clothes. If I tried to discipline him, he would sit and rock back and forth.

Other days, he was fine. He loved learning but his work was inconsistent. When he was “off,’ his drawings were no more than scribbles, his coloring all over the page. When he was “on,” you could tell the difference between his trees and his people; he colored inside the lines.

I lost babysitter after babysitter. Then he was kicked out of Sunday school. “Don’t bring him back,” the teacher said, “I don’t know what to do with him.” She only had him one hour, once a week and she didn’t know what to do with him? I just cried.

By this time I had four children under 6, and I didn’t know what to do.

My sister recommended a book “Is This Your Child?” by pediatric allergist Doris Rapp. I devoured that book; it gave me hope. It helped us to figure out our son’s problem: food coloring.

Once I eliminated food coloring from his diet, I had a new child. So did the Sunday school teacher; she just had to quit giving him Kool-Aid at snack time.

I couldn’t blame my pediatrician for not knowing what was wrong with my son; 20-some years ago, food allergies and intolerances were not as prevalent as today.

Now, however, about one in 13 school children suffer with food allergies in the United States alone. In the 10 years from 1997-2007, allergic incidences increased by 18 percent, except for peanut allergies, which tripled by 2008.

The most common food allergies in children are milk, egg, peanut, soy and wheat. Most children outgrow allergies to milk, egg, soy and wheat by age 10-15.

Not so for peanuts.

Only 15-20 percent of children outgrow peanut, tree nut or shellfish allergies, and reactions to these foods account for most allergy-related deaths.

Scott Commins, MD, PhD, and an assistant professor of medicine and pediatrics at the University of Virginia, performed a clinical trial involving peanut-allergic individuals. He said the symptoms from peanut reactions are not necessarily severe. They

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can vary from itching around the mouth h sets and lips, hives and gastro-intestinal upsets to anaphylaxis.

But just because your child has neverr had a severe reaction, it doesn’t mean it couldn’t happen. o Reactions from foods manifest in two ways. A true allergy, said Dr. Madeline iatDillon, a board certified adult and pediatm ric allergist, involves an immune system ies response that produces certain antibodies ds to the offending proteins. In other words, your body treats the food as an enemy and produces antibodies to attack it.

If that immunologic response is not present, the reaction is referred to as a food intolerance.

But to most parents, this terminology doesn’t matter. They just want to protect their children from an experience that could range from uncomfortable to lifethreatening — especially when they are in the care of others, like at school.

Studies show that up to 15 percent of children with food allergies will experience a reaction while at school and that about 25 percent of anaphylaxis cases in a school setting involve children with no prior diagnosis of allergies.

So what’s a parent to do?

Communicate with your child’s school personnel. Whether your child exhibited symptoms of an allergy yesterday or years ago, let the school know. Primarily this is done by filling out the proper health history forms. Some school districts request the child’s physician add his specific instructions in case of a reaction and orders for medication when necessary.

Parents should begin this process early enough that the child is not starting the school year without the proper document tation in place.

Supply the school with any medicattion your child may need should a rreaction occur, and replenish that s supply when it expires. Since epinephrine injectors (Epi-pens) come in a two-pack, parents will frequently purchase one pack and send one Epi-pen to school and keep one at home. But accordingg to Dr. Dillon, if the child is in danger of anaphylaxis, two Epi-pens should b available at all times. To make this be p possible, she encourages parents to purchase two packs — one for home and one for school.

Discuss the issue with your child. Make sure he understands what he can and

cannot eat. Tell him to never share food with his classmates. Darlene, mom of two, says that her child’s private school has a “no food sharing” policy for the younger grades to protect them from a mishap.

Discuss incident protocol with your school nurse. Ask where the child’s medication is stored. Should your child exhibit signs of anaphylaxis, exactly what would happen?

OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER: • Read all papers that come home promptly. If your child’s class is having a birthday party or some other celebration which might pose a threat, it should be communicated in a letter.

• If you are preparing food for special occasions for your child’s class, ask the teacher if there are any dietary restrictions in the classroom.

• Pack your child’s lunch to ensure avoidance of the foods and food colorings your child might be sensitive to.

Parents and schools must continue to work together to protect children.

However, parents agree that the allergic child’s classmates make the biggest difference. “They are quick to comment that it may not be safe for my son,” one parent said, “or remind someone to read a label.

Good friends can make all the difference at school.”

RESOURCES FOR ALLERGY INFORMATION: American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology 414-272-6071 or aaaai.org Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America 800-7-ASTHMA or aafa.org Allergy and Asthma Network/Mothers of Asthmatics, Inc. 800-878-4403 or aanma.org Alletess Medical 800-225-5404 or foodallergy.com

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3/23/16 1:24 PM

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All aboardTri-Rail for a day of fun complete with costumed characters, balloon artists and magicians on 4 select trains.* RideTri-Rail and enjoy special admission prices and offers from select attractions by showing a validatedTri-Rail ticket or EASY card.

Experience these popular venues and more accessible by Tri-Rail: • Bayside Marketplace • CityPlace • Museum of Discovery and Science • Perez Art Museum Miami • Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

For special offers and train schedule tri-rail.com • 1-800-TRI-RAIL Weekend fares are $5 all day, children under 5 ride free. *NorthboundTrains P670, P672 • SouthboundTrains P669, P671

Part of the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority

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ashes and runny noses: R Environmental and food allergies are on the rise

BY E. TINA ALLISON

I

f you were to ask the parent of a school-aged child if they know a child with allergies, the answer would most likely be a resounding yes.

According to a 2013 study by the Centers for Disease Control, food allergies alone have increased by 50 percent between the years 1997 and 2011 – and that number does not take into account the increase in environmental allergies.

BUT WHAT SCIENCE CANNOT TELL US IS WHY. Dr. Vivian Hernandez-Trujillo, medical director of the Division of Allergy and Immunology at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami, said there has been a definite increase in common food allergies, such as milk, eggs and peanuts, and environmental allergies caused by dust, cockroaches, animal dander and pollen.

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HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOUR CHILD HAS AN ALLERGY? Parents who suspect an allergy can look for some common systems, NAET practitioner Desiri Curtis said, such as a child who is colicky or fidgety or who has vomiting, diarrhea, rashes or diaper rashes. Mouth breathing in children might indicate that their sinus cavities are swollen and they can’t breathe through their noses.

“If you see that your kid is experiencing any unusual physical or emotional symptom and there is just no reason that you can come up with, you might suspect a food allergy,” Curtis said.

There are many possibilities and theories why, from environmental changes or the way food is grown and processed to becoming better at diagnosing allergies.

“There’s no good answer. I believe that it is probably multifactorial,” HernandezTrujillo said. “If it was straightforward, we would have prevented this train from coming a long time ago.”

As a parent, determining if your child has an allergy can seem daunting.

Depending on the allergen, you will see different symptoms in your child.

Hernandez-Trujillo said environmental allergy symptoms are “a child that doesn’t seem to get over what looks to be a cold, or a child that has a constant runny nose, constant sneezing or frequent nasal congestion.”

Food allergies show themselves in other ways, such as “dry patches [on the child’s skin] that are itchy – you may see hives – or a child that eats a food then starts coughing or vomiting after.”

She recommends talking to your child’s pediatrician about a suspected allergy first, and they can refer you to an allergist/ immunologist if needed.

When it comes to treatment options, “a mainstay of treatment, when you’re talking about almost anything, is avoidance of whatever the trigger is. So with food, right now it’s avoiding whatever food you’re allergic to. If it is environmental, like pets or dust, it’s really controlling your environment and avoiding exposure as much as humanly possible,” Hernandez-Trujillo said.

In some environmental allergies, she said, there’s immunotherapy, which are shots to try to help you become tolerant of that allergen.

Medicines can also help, and “if it is a severe life-threatening reaction that a child is having, like anaphylactic, they need to have an auto-injectable Epi on them, without question, at all times.”

While working closely with their child’s allergist, parents can develop a treatment plan to ease both the child’s and their concerns.

Hernandez-Trujillo also recommends the American Academy Of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (aaaai.org) and the American College of Allergy, Asthma &

Immunology (acaai.org) for more resources and information.

Parents of children with milk and egg allergies can also be encouraged by the possibility that their child may outgrow those allergies. In the past, the threshold for a child to outgrown an allergy was 5, but that has changed.

“The good news is yes, in the vast majority, it does go away,” HernandezTrujillo said. “However, it takes a lot longer than we used to think. There’s a good chance that even up to the age of 15 and 16 years old, you may still outgrow milk and egg allergies.”

Other allergies tend to be lifelong.

“Unfortunately we are not yet at the point where we can predict who’s going to outgrow or who will not outgrow allergies,” she said. “I think eventually we will get there.”

Doctors are working to determine how to treat allergies with the hope of one day eliminating them altogether. However, some believe that ability is already here.

NAET, or Nambudripads Allergy Elimination Techniques, is a noninvasive, drugfree, allergy elimination technique based on holistic principals.

Acupuncture physician Desiri Curtis holds a master’s degree in Oriental medicine and is a certified NAET practitioner.

She uses acupuncture or acupressure and allergy avoidance to change the body’s reaction to allergic substances.

“An allergic substance has an effect on the body’s energy flow. … It causes a blockage in one of our energy pathways,” she said. “These blockages interfere with communication that goes on between the brain and the body and the nervous system. That can set off an entire chain of events that will manifest in an allergic reaction.

“So what NAET effectively does is reprogram the brain and remove the blockages from the energy pathways, and that allows the energy to go perfectly through the channels, and the body can rebalance and function normally and at optimal health,” she said.

Curtis asks parents considering NAET to visit the website and read “An open letter from Dr. Nambudripad” (NAET. com/Patients/news.aspx) to learn what to

expect at their first NAET visit and how the treatment works.

Among other things, “When your doctor performs real NAET on you, your allergies will be alleviated,” the letter states. “This means that you will be able to eat foods, use items and go places that had previously caused adverse effects.”

Critics brush NAET off as hocus pocus, but Curtis disagrees. “We know the western world actually likes proof, so there have been several studies done with NAET and autism, and we are currently doing a global autism study,” Curtis said.

“Part of the process that we are doing is proving that it does work with doubleblind placebo studies. … So that’s a study based in the western world’s acceptable measures.

“And we also utilize labwork,” she said.

“So you can bring me bloodwork with your IgE markers and your IgG markers, and we can effectively do the treatments, and you will see these markers change on the bloodwork. And in the western world, you can’t change an Ig marker, but we are proving otherwise.”

Curtis recommends parents find a certified practitioner on NAET.com to ensure they have met the current and appropriate level of NAET education.

“In order to become a certified NAET practitioner,” Curtis said, “you actually have to show before and after labwork.

Obviously we can maintain the privacy of the patient, but we show verifiable drops in Ig markers. So the western world is having a much harder time discounting this modality when we are using their testing measures to prove that we’ve made a change in the physiology of the person.”

In her 20 years of experience with NAET, Curtis said she can only remember three people who did not respond to treatment, although sometimes when children are treated when they are young, they might need to go back to re-treat and rebalance because of the change in their hormones as they age. “This is usually a fairly permanent solution,” she said.

Both Hernandez-Trujillo and Curtis encouraged parents to be proactive in searching for the best allergy treatment options for their children and then to be patient with the treatment they choose.

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Empower Your Family

to Save the Planet

BY MARGARET SAGARESE You can’t catch a newsfeed without hearing about climate change: President Obama marshalling world leaders, China closing schools and highways due to a dangerous smog alert and king tides flooding South Florida streets.

While adults have the responsibility of facing climate change challenges, ultimately it is the next generation who will make the difference (or not) in saving the planet.

A recent “Kidsday” survey asked fourthgraders, “If you met a genie, and it gave you one wish, what would it be?” One girl wished for an end to endangered animals.

Young adolescents are activists and idealists by nature, “naturals” at jumping on the environmental bandwagon. That’s the spirit we can all build upon.

Parents, have your family adopt some of these: 1. Buy recycled products. Did you know that 30 percent of our food ends up in landfills each year? Support companies that use other’s trash. The Republic of Tea’s new line of Sonoma Teas uses grape skins discarded by wineries in Northern California. Revive’s Strawberry Jam comes from excess produce. Fallen orchard apples become Handcrafted and Hopeful Cinnamon Apple Chips. Invent a recipe at home with what you once disposed of.

2. Reduce your water footprint by nixing disposable plastic water bottles.

Choosing to drink water over high-sugar soda is healthy, yes. Yet buying plastic bottles of water negatively impacts the environment. As much as 18 billion pounds of plastic gets discarded into the world’s water every year. Puerto Rican activist Amira Odeh reported to university students that one liter of bottled water takes three liters to produce. She lobbied for a bottle ban and refurbishing the

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school’s water fountains. Drink filtered tap water instead.

3. Look for Lego play sets that enable your kids to construct the Everglades National Parks, and research and visit the state or national parks in your area.

Richard Louv, cofounder of the Children & Nature Network, insists that “vitamin N” (that you get from spending time out in nature) improves memory and attention span, reduces stress and depression, and increases creativity.

4. Broaden your knowledge. The first wild condor to be born in California’s Big Sur in more than 100 years had to be treated for lead poisoning. Watch a documentary about conservation issues such as Discovery’s “Racing Extinction.”

It explores crimes against whales and sharks. Read a book like “Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel” by naturalist Carl Safina and pledge to protect the animals on our planet.

5. Science project, anyone? With Mon-

santo killing milkweed with Roundup, monarch butterflies are down 90 percent, and they are still not recognized as a federally endangered species. If you grow your own milkweed plant, you can witness the caterpillar-to-butterfly miracle.

Seeds and guidance are available at www.

LiveMonarch.com and www.Got-Milkweed.com. Plants can be purchased at local nurseries.

6. Introduce meatless Monday. “The amount of land we use to grow cow, chicken and pig food, and the amount of carbon and methane emitted because of cows – that scared me,” Fisher Stevens, producer of “Racing Extinction” said in a “USA Today” report. “Such gases warm the environment and acidify the oceans.”

Cutting your consumption once a week can have an impact.

7. Become a family of birders. Rainforests may be dwindling (Ecuador plans to auction off one-third of its rainforest to Chinese oil companies) but one antidote

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is right in our own backyard. “National Wildlife” magazine reported a survey of 25 areas in greater Chicago done by University of Illinois-Chicago biologists. They were surprised by the diversity of bird species. Backyards with avian-friendly vegetation such as berry-producing shrubs and a mix of evergreen and deciduous trees had twice the number of bird types.

Start your count in your own well-planted yard.

8. Write to your congressmen and women to fund scientific research. Hurricanes, droughts and floods cost families and businesses. The U.S. economy suffers half a trillion dollars or more in lost growth annually. Being able to predict the weather more accurately could save us millions. The proposed 2016 budget threatens to cut NASA Earth science funding by 18-32 percent. Government agencies including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Science Foundation need our help.

9. Fish for dinner? Choose carefully.

There aren’t too many fish in the sea anymore. We need to make better seafood choices for a healthy ocean, namely sustainable fish. Go to www.seafoodwatch.org and get a Seafood Watch Consumer Guide that features best choices, good alternatives and what to avoid in your area.

10. Don’t waste the rain or let the rain waste your property. If you live in an area where you don’t get enough rain, buy a rain barrel and collect run-off from your roof to water plants. If you get so much rain that your street gets flooded with a runoff mix of lawn chemicals, car oil and animal waste, plant a “rain garden.” In the old days, cities built concrete structures to control run-off. Now communities are turning to natural solutions. Neighbors in Washington state worked with landscape designers and local authorities to build curbside gardens that serve as sponges.

The gardens are beautiful, enhancing property values.

Make no mistake. We can have an impact on our Earth, one family at a time.

Margaret Sagarese is the coauthor of “Good Parents, Tough Times.”

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T

you’re feeling more adventurous, try sweet peppers or cinnamon basil.

FUN PROJECT: REDUCE, REUSE AND RECYCLE

Three Kid-Approved Ways to Celebrate

Creating something new from something old is probably one of the most effective and fun ways to teach kids about the importance of reducing our carbon foot print, reusing what we can and properly recycling so someone else can reuse the things we no longer have use for.

Try something fun and easy, like melting broken crayons into fun shaped silicone molds. You can mix different colors to make crazy combos.

Earth Day

By Jessica beautydelicacy.com

Celebrating Earth Day is one of those important things that happens every year and gives parents a chance to teach little ones the importance of taking care of the planet while learning new ways to do just that. There are everyday things we do to help, such as recycling and reducing our carbon footprint by walking to school, but sometimes you just have to throw a little fun and sun in there.

pletely removed), empty candle jars (put them in the freezer for a few hours to pop the wax out, then wash with soapy water) or mason jars to start an indoor garden.

Some of the easiest plants to start with are herbs, plus they can be used in lieu of store-purchased herbs. Try sweet basil, mint, lemongrass or chives to start. And if

Mommy to three little ones, Jessica just finished a 3-year stretch earning her B.B.A. degree, and she continues to write for her lifestyle blog, The Beauty Delicacy. Her passion for blogging began with the birth of her third child, when she began voicing her love for a more natural lifestyle, opinions + advice based on real lives at beautydelicacy.com.

GET OUTSIDE

It sounds cheesy and almost too basic to make much sense, but one of the most important ways to show our little ones how to love the Earth is to show them what it’s made of! And honestly, have you ever heard a kid complain about going outside to play? So go visit a park, or take a walk in your neighborhood or on a local beach. You can point out earth-friendly landmarks, such as recycling signs and benches and playgrounds made from recycled materials, while getting some serious playtime in.

START AN INDOOR HERB GARDEN

The rainy season is upon us, and getting outside might not be the best idea during an afternoon downpour. Enter “the perfect day to start an indoor garden” day. Use empty yogurt cups (lids and foil top com-

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So Sweet: Health Benefits of Honey

By Erica Chao, MamasMission.com

Do you think of honey as just a sweetener?

Perhaps a healthier alternative to white sugar?

Well, it is a good, healthy sweetener, but it’s actually much more than just that. Even our pediatrician recommends we give the girls at least three teaspoons of honey a day when they are sick.

Honey has many helpful properties, both when digested and when applied topically. You may be surprised at these 5 health benefits: REDUCES ALLERGY SYMPTOMS Because honey is anti-inflammatory, it can help reduce allergy symptoms. It can also help you to become less allergic to seasonal allergens. One of the many benefits of honey is that it contains pollen. When you ingest it, your body is able to produce antibodies in response to that pollen. Over time, those antibodies build up, and you don’t get as sick from your usual seasonal allergens. This is something we are hoping will help my daughter, who seems to have some outdoor allergies. This is even more likely if you use locally sourced honey, because the pollen will be from local plants. Stop by your local farmers market to stock up on honey – and even try new flavors. The girls love Orange Blossom honey.

GOOD FOR YOUR BRAIN Honey is also great for your brain.

One of the best benefits of honey is that its antioxidants can help repair damage to brain cells. It also aids your body in absorbing calcium, which is critical to brain function. The result of the help of honey’s antioxidants and calcium assistance is better cognitive functioning, even in old age. Eat honey every day, and you should see better memory and decisionmaking over time.

ANTI-CANCER You wouldn’t think that something sweet like honey could have anti-cancer properties, but it does. Honey gains this property from the number of flavonoids it includes. While all high-quality honey

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has helpful anti-cancer fighting abilities, one of the best may be Tualang honey.

This kind of honey has been seen to kill cancer cells while leaving healthy cells behind.

GOOD FOR YOUR SKIN AND HAIR One of the benefits of honey is that it’s great for your skin and hair. Besides using it in food dishes, you can make honey into a face mask, face wash or even a DIY spottreatment acne ointment. It helps to clean your skin and make it soft and smooth.

You can also make your own honey hair conditioner to get smooth, shiny hair. To get the best results, use a high quality variety of honey.

HEALS WOUNDS Did you know that before penicillin, many people used honey to help heal their wounds? It is now believed that honey may be just as powerful as antibiotics, if not more so. The only catch is that

you have to use high quality raw honey, not the inexpensive sugary stuff you usually find in the grocery store. Cheap honey can actually be more detrimental than helpful, so make sure to double-check which kind you have before rubbing it over a wound. Raw Manuka honey is possibly one of the best kinds to use for wound healing.

My daughter always asks for “honeywater” (I add about a teaspoon of honey to water) before bed. I wanted her to drink more water and adding the honey helped.

Much like many super foods, honey provides great health benefits.

Want to see more super food health benefits? Learn more at mamasmission.com.

Erica is a multitasking mama to 3 living in Miami. She blogs about parenting, lifestyle, cooking and traveling, covering everything from diapers to dorm rooms. Follow her at mamasmission.com.

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CONCUSSION CARE Experts say proper technique is key to avoiding head injuries

St. Thomas Aquinas soccer player Chloe O’Neill, right, wears protective headgear while playing against Archbishop McCarthy's Sofia Mallardi. Awareness has led to a number of policies in South Florida to protect young athletes in various sports from head injuries. SUN SENTINEL PHOTO / MICHAEL LAUGHLIN

BY GARY CURRERI High school sophomore Chloe O’Neill estimates she has sustained multiple concussions in the past three years.

The 16-year-old, who plays for the nationally-ranked St. Thomas Aquinas girls soccer team in Fort Lauderdale, recalled the first bump to the head when she was 13.

“I was, like, out for a couple of seconds,” said O’Neill, of Plantation. “I actually continued to play in that game because I didn’t know what a concussion was. That night, I couldn’t sleep. It was a terrible feeling.”

Afterward she started wearing a headband designed to limit the impact of hits to the head.

“I have had, like, three to four concussions,” O’Neill said. “I had one when I was 14, and then I think two when I was 15. … [The doctors] said if I get another major one, they don’t think I can play again, so it’s kind of a risk.”

O’Neill said she now plays the game with less abandon. “I have to think,” she said. “I

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can’t do something stupid or go in for a ball that I can’t reach. I can definitely get a concussion, and it could end my career.

That would be so sad because I have played since I was 4, and this is all I do.”

St. Thomas Aquinas requires its players to wear protective headbands and pays the $60 cost for each. O’Neill, who enjoys jumping and heading the ball, says she hasn’t had a concussion while wearing the headgear. “It actually does give me a sense of safety. I feel secure.”

About 3.8 million concussions occur in sports annually, according to the American Medical Society for Sport Medicine.

In 2009, Washington State enacted a law that prohibits youth athletes from returning to practice or games after a concussion without written approval of a licensed health-care practitioner.

The law was named for Zachery Lystedt, then a 13-year-old middle school football player, who collapsed from a traumatic brain injury when he was allowed back into a game just 15 minutes after suffering a concussion. He spent the next nine months in a coma and has since

had to relearn everything from speech to physical activities.

Since 2009, every state – including Florida – has implemented similar legislation.

THE COST OF CARE An estimated 750,000 emergency room visits annually in the U.S. are the result of pediatric concussions – a rate that has doubled over the past decade, according to a Journal of the American Medical Association report released March 8.

Even though most athletes return to normal activity within weeks, an estimated 33 percent (1 in 3) experience ongoing physical, cognitive and psychological symptoms.

Symptoms that persist beyond 28 days can have serious adverse effects, including school absenteeism, impaired academic performance, depression and social isolation.

U.S. Soccer last fall recommended eliminating one of the sport’s most beloved skills – heading the ball – in both practice and games for children 10 and younger.

Children 11 to 13 may head the ball in games, but it’s limited in practice.

U.S. Youth Soccer Coaching Director Sam Snow said it is premature to conclude that heading a soccer ball is dangerous. “Head injuries during soccer are more likely to be from accidental contacts such as head-ground, head-opponent or the rare head-goalpost,” he said.

Snow, who echoes the sentiments of many coaches at all levels, emphasized that proper technique for heading can ensure safety.

Former U.S. women’s soccer team member Brandi Chastain recently said she would donate her brain to the Concussion Legacy Foundation and to researchers at Boston University, pioneers in the study of concussions and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

Chastain, 47, who scored the gamewinning goal in the 1999 World Cup final against China, says she suffered numerous concussions during her career. She said in a recent “New York Times” interview that having played soccer for 40 years, it seemed like her responsibility, but not in

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a burdensome way, to provide information in such a study. “There are definitely days when I turn a corner and I’m like, ‘Why did I come into this room?’ � she said in the interview. “I have definitely, from time to time, thought, ‘Hmm, I wonder if this is connected to the past 40 years of playing sports?’ “I love playing sports,� she continued. “Injuries and accidents are somewhat inherent in sports. But if you can protect your kids, you should. That’s your responsibility as a coach.�

CTE, believed to be caused by blows to the head, is a controversial topic within boxing and football – and the subject of the recent Hollywood drama “Concussion,� starring Will Smith as Bennet Omalu, the research pathologist who linked CTE to football and the NFL. But concern about the degenerative brain disease has moved beyond football to other sports, including soccer.

Dr. Michael E. Hoffer, a concussion researcher and ear, nose and throat doctor at UHealth in the University of Miami

Health System, said he thinks it is great that Chastain is donating her brain to science, but there are better ways to get involved. “Donate money to people who are studying the day-to-day concussions. ‌ I think they should contribute to something that will help youth sports programs.â€?

Hoffer said the movie “Concussion� has served two purposes – increased awareness on one hand and caused unnecessary panic on the other. “I think it is totally unwarranted,� Hoffer said. “There is no activity that is not dangerous, but youth sports are bigger than they have ever been, and it is much more dangerous to have your child not play sports.�

Hoffer said if an athlete sustains a concussion on top of a concussion, the symptoms could last for months. But he said “99.99 percent� of young athletes won’t get CTE, and “maybe 1 in 10� will sustain a head injury.

Hoffer recommends players ages 6-12 get good training and learn to use proper technique.

Dr. Matthew Fazekas, a pediatric sports medicine physician and concussion specialist with the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital department of orthopaedics in Hollywood, said the Will Smith movie has heightened awareness because more parents and athletes are asking questions about concussions.

He shares their concerns, and he points out the brain isn’t fully developed until the early 20s. With concussions, “the younger you are, the longer it can take to get back to (normal),� he said.

The keys to reducing the chances of getting a concussion, he said, are to strengthen your upper body and neck muscles and to use proper techniques.

As far as concussion recovery, Fazekas said, “There needs to be a period of rest from a mental and physical standpoint, especially in the first three to five days.�

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the U.S. to adopt a comprehensive concussion protocol and return-to-play policy.

It addresses removal from competition and return-to-play guidelines in a 30-minute video shown to every student-athlete and coach before each season.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offer a HeadsUp to Youth Sports online training course that has been adopted by most U.S. sports organizations. More than 1.5 million coaches have completed the online training since the program was launched in 2003.

In order to coach or referee in the Florida Youth Soccer Association, you must pass the online concussion test.

In the American Youth Football League (AYFL) based in Broward County, there are more than 3,000 participants, including football players and cheerleaders.

Rick Rue, the AYFL secretary and chair of the HeadsUp football initiative for the 13 member programs in the league, said they introduced their own concussion policy in 2014 and went to HeadsUp last year. Each of the 13 programs have a “safety” coach who attends a mandatory

concussion clinic and then makes sure the teams at their parks are in compliance and helping identify concussions.

“Concussions are a huge thing, especially in youth football,” said Rue, who is assisted by Bernard Wright of the AYFL program Delray Rocks. “They take certification courses online. It has gotten bigger, bigger and bigger and gotten more notice.

We want all of the coaches in the AYFL to make sure it is something they have to do.”

Rue said he collected “between four and five” reports of concussions last year.

“That was a very, very good number,” said Rue, who has been with the Davie Broncos program since 2008 and has been with the AYFL administration for 12 years. “As a youth football coach, it is one of the things I try to teach by telling them to keep their head up (when making a tackle). I tell them I want to see them keep walking around and not in a hospital.”

EDUCATION AND RECOVERY At IMPACT Sports Performance in Boca Raton, athletic trainers and special-

ists work with athletes in most sports – including hockey, soccer, basketball and lacrosse – in both education about sports-related injuries and assisting them in returning to competition.

“Kids should definitely do sports because any injury can happen,” said Michael Patrarca, a certified athletic trainer at IMPACT, who also works with local high schools, the Statewide Florida Hockey League (SFHL), Team Boca (soccer) and Boca Hoops (basketball).

“Concussions are serious, but if managed properly, you can return to any sport.

There are safety precautions out there, and no concussion is ever preventable.”

Patrarca said IMPACT offers baseline concussion testing that will last two years.

If an athlete sustains a concussion, trainers will monitor the athlete’s vital signs while putting them through a series of drills that mimic their sports, such as a treadmill for hockey and cone drills for soccer.

He said if their blood pressure spikes or there is another abnormality, the athletes are not ready to return to action.

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“We try and educate the parents and the coaches as well as to what to look for,” said IMPACT Sports Performance Director Richard Woodroof, who noted that Brown University requires every athlete in every sport get a baseline concussion test.

“I grew up in the era, ‘Oh, you got knocked down and had your bell rung; get back up, rub some dirt on it and get back in there.’ We’ve come a long way since then.”

Concussions come in all forms, he said. “It is not always the big hit; sometimes it can be rather innocuous. When in doubt, keep them out.”

IF YOUR CHILD HAS A POSSIBLE CONCUSSION, YOU SHOULD: Remove your child from play.

Keep your child out of play the day of the injury. Your child should be seen by a healthcare provider and only return to play with permission from a health-care provider who is experienced in evaluating for concussion.

Ask your child’s health-care provider for written instructions on helping your child return to school. You can give the instructions to your child’s school nurse and teacher(s) and return-to-play instructions to the coach and/or athletic trainer.

DO NOT try to judge the severity of the injury yourself. Only a health-care provider should assess your child for a possible concussion.

Concussion signs and symptoms often show up soon after the injury. But you may not know how serious the concussion is at first, and some symptoms may not show up for hours or days.

The brain needs time to heal after a concussion. A child’s return to school and sports should be a gradual process that is carefully managed and monitored by a health care provider.

– Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

CONCUSSION SYMPTOMS

Headache Dizziness Blurred vision Difficulty thinking clearly Sensitivity to noise and light One pupil larger than the other Drowsiness or inability to wake up Slurred speech, weakness, numbness or decreased coordination Repeated vomiting or nausea, convulsions or seizures (shaking or twitching) Unusual behavior, increased confusion, restlessness or agitation Loss of consciousness (passed out/knocked out) Even a brief loss of consciousness should be taken seriously

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APRIL Winners PRESENTED BY

BROWARD COUNTY

PALM BEACH COUNTY

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

Mrs. Smolich has one of the most beautiful souls. She is so passionate about teaching.

She saved all of our work throughout the year and made a binder for each of us so at graduation time we could show the binders to our families. The love that she gives to each and every one of us is wonderful. She is a beautiful example of what a teacher should be. She is very kind, funny and smart. She has a beautiful energy, and I never wanted to be sick because I never wanted to miss her class. I learned so much from Mrs. Smolich, and I wish she could be my teacher every year.

Mrs. VanWinkle is the absolutely perfect teacher and person.

She is always friendly and helpful, and my daughter absolutely loves her. Every Friday when school is finished, she tells me all the time, “Mom I miss Ms. VanWinkle so much!” She is the best teacher ever.

Ms. Vecin is an extraordinary teacher who goes above and beyond with her students and other students. My daughter is in the 4th grade and has several health issues, including Selective Mutism. She did not talk to any of her teachers and was struggling in class. However, since Ms. Vecin has been tutoring her, she has been able to come out of her shell, and her work has increased tremendously, something not even years of therapy has been able to do. She is a true blessing in any student’s life.

Mrs. Lisa Smolich Kindergarten Sawgrass Elementary School

Nominated by Alani Brumley

Ms. Jamie VanWinkle First Grade Verde Elementary School

Nominated by Zselyke Havellant

Ms. Adriana Vecin Fifth Grade The Charter School at Waterstone

Nominated by Leandra Sanchez

Nominate a teacher who deserves recognition PRESENTED BY

Throughout the 2016-17 school year, we ask parents and students from elementary schools in the tri-county area to nominate their favorite teachers who deserve to be recognized. A teacher and nominator from each county will be awarded each month and will be featured in print and online.

Tell us in 150 words or less why your teacher rocks,and you could win tickets to local attractions compliments of Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital.

Go to SouthFloridaParenting.com to nominate.

Click on “My Kid’s Teacher Rocks” and fill out the form.

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Winners will be chosen monthly from eligible entries from each county. Essays will be judged on content, creativity and clarity.

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WHO WILL RAISE YOUR CHILD?

BY ALICE REITER FELD, ESQ.

T

here is nothing better than celebrating the birth of a new baby.

If it is the first baby, there are many “first time” experiences to be enjoyed, as well as some “first time” decisions to be made. Naming a guardian is one of those.

One of the most important decisions that parents make is choosing a guardian for their children in the event that both parents die unexpectedly.

The realization of all the responsibilities of raising children and the fear that a terrible event may occur, leaving their child an orphan, can cause young parents to pause.

Naming a guardian is not an easy decision. For this reason, parents should take time to talk through all of the various aspects of their choice. Once decided, the name or names need to be included in estate-planning documents.

In many cases, this is the reason married couples write their first will.

HERE ARE A FEW FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN MAKING YOUR SELECTION: • Values. You need to determine the important values that you would like the chosen guardian to hold. These may include moral and social standards, recognition of similar educational values, as well as the practice of a particular religion.

• Personality. While you want someone who will take the guardian responsibilities seriously, consider qualities such as maturity, humor, patience, and how

he/she will relate to your children.

• Parenting Skills and Lifestyle. Is it important for your chosen guardian to have experience as a parent? If he/she does not have children, would their lifestyle be compatible with suddenly becoming a parent?

• Age and Location. Many times an obvious choice for guardian is the grandparents. While this may be an easy and comfortable decision, consider their age when your children go off to college. Will the older generation be able to meet the needs of active children? Another consideration is where the potential guardian lives. Will the difference in geography create a hardship or other concerns?

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You simply make the best decision given what you know today about your children and the potential guardians.

Children are required to have legal guardians until the age of 18. As your children get older, you may identify needs and decide a different person may be a better choice.

Likewise, the circumstances of a guardian may change, creating a need to name someone else.

You can change the guardian as often as you desire by simply revising your will document.

In addition to naming a guardian, include in your will a second person to serve if your first choice is unable or unwilling for any reason.

If your choice for guardian is a married couple, then you can name them as coguardians. However, this may complicate issues in the future if the couple divorces.

insurance is an important part of the planning for a young family.

When it comes to handling the money issues, it is advisable for someone other than the guardian to be named as the trustee.

Dividing these responsibilities can be beneficial for two reasons.

One, the trustee needs to have the knowledge and skill to handle decisions regarding investments as well as expenses.

The second reason is to avoid any conflicts. If the guardian is making decisions regarding the spending of the children’s funds, there could be a perceived or real concern on behalf of other family members as to the wisdom of some expenditures.

Having two separate people, the trustee and guardian, agree on these financial issues may produce the best outcome for the children.

HAVE A FINANCIAL PLAN If both parents are deceased, then it is likely that the family assets will be available to meet the needs of the children.

Ideally, parents will have completed the necessary financial planning to ensure their children can be well cared for. Life

COMMUNICATE YOUR WISHES Once you know your preference for the guardian and contingent guardian, it is appropriate to have a conversation with them.

First, you need to ask their permission.

Second, you want them to understand

your expectations.

In addition to a conversation, it is advisable to write a letter of instruction.

This document is not legally binding, but it can provide additional clarity regarding your wishes and desires for your children.

Make sure the guardian has a copy of the letter as well as any updated versions.

NEXT STEPS Choose a guardian that you believe is the best choice today, communicate with that person and write a will that reflects your choice.

If you do not and the circumstance arises, a court will be required to name a guardian for your minor children.

Someone in your family may come forward to accept the responsibility, and the court may approve them, but it may or may not be your preference.

Only by naming a guardian in your estate documents will your wishes be known.

Don’t let something this important be decided by someone else.

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w o l f e h t h t i Go w Reusable pads, sponges and cups help cut waste, cost from women’s cycles

BY E. TINA ALLISON The average female will begin her period between the ages of 10 and 15 and experience menopause about the age of 51. Even factoring in pregnancy and other situations, an average woman can expect to have more than 400 periods in her lifetime. That breaks down into more than 5½ years of menstruation.

The monthly period is a major part of a woman’s life. So it comes as no surprise that women are starting to look for ways to make the experience as uncomplicated and as comfortable as possible.

The use of reusable menstrual products is on the rise, so a South Florida Parenting review panel decided to find out about the different options available.

Four common products are used. The most well-known is the menstrual cup, a flexible bell-shaped cup usually made of medical-grade silicone that catches menstrual blood during a women’s cycle.

There are also cloth menstrual pads (pads that can be washed after each use during a woman’s period). Women can also choose natural sea sponges, real sponges from the ocean that are inserted, removed when full, rinsed and re-inserted.

The newest addition to the market, period underwear, are washable underwear designed with a cloth menstrual pad built in.

There are several reasons to make the switch to reusable menstrual products.

Many women are becoming increasing concerned with the possible risks associated with traditional tampons and pads because of Toxic Shock Syndrome or because of the effects of bleached rayon, cotton and plastics on the body.

Other reasons are the cost savings and the positive environmental effect of using reusable menstrual products. It’s estimated that a woman can easily spend more than $1,700 on tampons alone in her lifetime.

That doesn’t take into consideration the cost of pads, medicines and other items that women use while menstruating. Reusable menstruation products can cut that cost tremendously.

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Environmentally, it’s estimated that more than 2 billion feminine hygiene products are disposed of annually. If women began switching to reusable products, that waste would decrease exponentially.

However, most women have one major hesitation: Aren’t the alternatives really messy?

Honestly, if you are squeamish about your period, or blood in general, reusable products might not be the way to go.

Whichever method you choose, you will be coming into contact with blood more than you would with traditional tampons or pads.

However, once you prepare yourself for that possibility, the switch can be a positive one.

When it came to menstrual cups, our panel was able to test the Lunette, Femmecup, Lily Cup and Lily Cup Compact, and The DivaCup Menstrual Cups.

Cups are a great option for women looking to transition from tampons or pads.

Unlike tampons, cups can be used for up to 10-12 hours at a time, are free of toxins and chemicals, and don’t pose a risk of TSS. If properly cared for, cups can be used for years.

“When I first heard of ‘the cup,’ I was hesitant,” one of our testers said. “Skeptical, really. However, after using [the DivaCup] for a couple of months, I’ve been very pleased by how easy and convenient it is compared to the usual alternatives.

There is a big learning curve, so definitely use it at least for two cycles before deciding if it’s for you or not. ... It can get messy the first time around, so I recommend having a backup pad to avoid any embarrassing moments.”

A favorite was the Lily Cup Compact, a menstrual cup that can collapse flat.

Because it collapses, it is easy to carry around in the provided protective case.

After testing various cups, one panelist suggested owning more than one brand to have the option to switch cups based on

your need at the moment. For example, the Femmecup is made of a slightly thinner silicone than other cups and provided a more comfortable fit; other days, the more narrow shape of the Lunette was more comfortable.

Cups commonly come in two size options: a smaller size for women who have not given birth vaginally, and a larger size for those who have.

No two cups are exactly alike. Fit and comfort level are key, and it might take trying a few before you find the one right for you.

Natural sea sponges are incredibly environmentally friendly. Sponges last 3-6 cycles and are completely compostable.

HolySponge sponges are harvested in Florida, according to the company website, “under strict conservation laws, meaning that they are only trimmed from the top, which extends their life cycle, and also that there is a rotation method used in harvesting so no single area gets depleted.”

Our tester expected to like sponges the least but ended up liking them best. “I love how easy sponges are. I don’t have to worry about placement or a proper seal, like with a cup. I also used sponges while on a short trip out of town, and unlike other trips, where you would be concerned with packing the right amount of products, everything I needed fit into a small pouch the size of my palm.”

Sponges are the most “hands-on” of the products out there, so they might not be for everyone. Follow the instructions and remove the sponge while sitting on the toilet – you’ll save yourself some major cleanup.

If you’re not bothered by the rinse/reuse process of sponges, they are a great option for women who want the cost, health and environmental benefits without the hassle of cups or washable pads.

Our panel tested a Jade & Pearl Sea Pearls Premium Multi Pack. However, their website now has a disclaimer on the

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sponges: “Due to FDA regulations, we are no longer able to market our Sea Pearls specifically for menstruation. ... By definition, our Sea Pearls are not tampons, they are just sponges.

“Due to these restrictions, we can no longer advise customers on the use of their sponges. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Rest assured, we are still selling the same high-quality sea sponges that we have offered to the women of the world for the past 40 years.”

Consumers can still buy the set, but instructions are no longer included.

So sea sponges might require some research on proper use, care and maintenance, but “in my opinion, it is totally worth the extra step,” our tester said.

Cloth Pads and underwear are a great alternative for women who are not comfortable with an internal menstrual product, or for young girls who are just beginning menstruation. Our panelists tried several brands.

Gladrags night pads “were nice and soft, and the additional bulk was easy to get used to. They did shift slightly, which made me nervous. But I loved knowing they were safe against my skin,” one said.

“I loved how soft the Nixi Reusable Femme Pads are and how the micro-fleece prevents them from feeling too wet against your skin,” another wrote.

The nightime options provided by some brands can give users peace of mind for nighttime wear, which is when many leaks occur. The extra absorbance and coverage a longer pad offers can lead to less mess and less worry.

The Performa Pads and Lunapanties

by Lunapads were favorites. Both were incredibly comfortable and easy to care for, with good absorbency. A simple wash and line dry, and they were ready to be used again. The Lunapanties have an absorbent, leakproof panel and comes with removable inserts, so you can change inserts throughout the day while staying dry and leak-free. The Lunapanties “are so comfortable, you will want a pair to wear even when you do not have your period,” our tester wrote.

The cloth pad is good to have in your menstrual arsenal even if they aren’t your top choice. The extra light Nixi Reusable Femme Pads can be worn with a cup to alleviate any worries about slight leakage.

If you decide to test the waters of reusable menstrual products, plenty of options and resources are available. YouTube is a great resource for finding reviews as well as tips on various products.

Something as simple as an internet search on product reviews can lead you to the right product for you, and it provided the following tips:

PRODUCTS TESTED: 1. Sea Sponge Ritual Moon Kit, by Holy Sponge,$20, etsy.com or holysponge.net 2. Jade & Pearl Sea Pearls Premium Multi Pack, $33, jadeandpearl.com 3. GladRags Day and Night Pads, $14.99 and up, GladRags.com 4. Performa Pads and Lunapanties, $14.99-$34.99, lunapads.com 5. Set of 3 Nixi Reusable Femme Pads, $14.95 and up, bumkins.com 6. Lunette Menstrual Cup, available in 5 different colors, $39.99, lunette.com 7. Femmecup Menstrual Cup, $28.28, femmecup.com 8. Lily Cup and Lily Cup Compact by Intimina, $39.95, intimina.com 9. The DivaCup, $39.99, divacup.com

When starting out, try a few “dry runs” of products when you are near the end of your period and your flow is lighter.

Try the removal process of cups or sponges in the tub. That way if things get messy, you are in a great place to make cleanup easier.

Speak to your doctor before trying new

products, and seek their input about what products might work best for your body.

WHATEVER YOU DO CHOOSE, TRY A FEW OPTIONS AND BE PATIENT. WITH A NEW OPPORTUNITY EVERY MONTH, MOST WOMEN HAVE MORE THAN ENOUGH TIME TO FIGURE IT OUT.

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CDC warning about young women and drinking sets off ‘WTH’ outrage on social media WELL, THAT DIDN’T GO WELL.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in February issued new advice aimed at preventing fetal alcohol syndrome– and the warning went over like a flat beer.

Here’s what the CDC said: Women, abstain from drinking if you are trying to get pregnant or are not using birth control when you have sex.

Here’s why the CDC said that: It found that three in four women who plan to get pregnant soon are still drinking alcohol when they stop using birth control.

It estimated that about 3 million women between the ages of 15 and 44 “are at risk of exposing their developing baby to alcohol because they are drinking, sexually active and not using birth control to prevent pregnancy.”

Here’s what social media thought about that message.

“The language insinuates that your womb is a Schrodinger’s box and you shouldn’t pour alcohol into it unless you’ve peeked in there to be 100 percent sure the coast is clear,” said an article in “The Atlantic.”

Story headlines reflected the anger over what some people took as preachy, condescending advice about “hypothetical babies.”

“Protect Your Womb From the Devil Drink.”

“CDC Says Women Shouldn’t Drink Unless They’re on Birth Control. Is It Drunk?!?”

“The CDC Has Some Insulting Advice For Women Who Drink.”

The CDC scored love, though, from the Daily Caller with its headline: “Women Freak Out When CDC Recommends Not Poisoning Their Babies.”

But that did not reflect the majority opinion.

“The agency’s logic is that about half of all American pregnancies are unplanned, and many women don’t know they’re pregnant for the first month or so,” wrote Ruth Graham for “Slate.”

“But it’s the kind of swath-yourself-in-bubble-wrap thinking that

BY LISA GUTIERREZ TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY

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has turned modern pregnancy into a nine-month slog of joyless paranoia.”

Drinking alcohol during a pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, premature birth, stillbirth or sudden infant death syndrome. Babies born with a type of alcohol spectrum disorder can face a wide range of mental, behavioral and physical problems that can stay with them their entire lives.

The CDC’s report also pointed out that drinking can make a woman more vulnerable to injuries or violence and sexually transmitted diseases.

That message bombed, too.

Where’s the advice warning men that drinking can lead to violent behavior and STDs, social media fumed?

“The assumption that women should avoid drinking so they don’t become the subject of unwanted sexual attention, which can lead to an unintended pregnancy or an STD, is one of the many victim-blaming pieces of advice that women regularly hear about how they should avoid being raped,” wrote the ThinkProgress blog.

The CDC’s principal deputy director, Anne Schuchat, told reporters that the agency’s new message was aimed at more than just women.

“It’s important to note that women who are drinking during pregnancy are not trying to harm their babies,” she said. “They are either not aware of their risks, are not aware they are pregnant or need help to stop drinking.

“We urge women and their partners and their friends to be supportive of that idea. ‘I’m not going to drink for a while, because I’m thinking about getting pregnant.’ ” Emily Oster, an economist at Brown University who wrote a book about the advice women get when they’re pregnant, told NPR that the CDC has an important message to spread, but “the way (the CDC) stated this is very extreme.”

Given the tone and judgment in the message, Oster said, it touched a nerve.

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Balancing Act:

Amy Cuddy discusses how power poses can change us

BY HEIDI STEVENS CHICAGO TRIBUNE

I chatted with Cuddy before her Chicago event. Below is an edited transcript.

Who knew posture could be so provocative?

It’s at the heart of the second-most-watched TED Talk of all time, delivered by Amy Cuddy, social psychologist and author of “Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest Challenges” (Little, Brown and Co.).

In her talk and her book, Cuddy explores the way we carry ourselves and how that affects people’s perceptions of us – and, more importantly, our perception of ourselves.

“We know our minds change our bodies,” she says in her TED Talk. “But do our bodies change our minds?”

Yes, she contends, which has lifechanging ramifications for job interviews, dates, public speaking engagements and more. Better posture, she says, can even help us overcome impostor syndrome – that nagging suspicion that we don’t truly measure up to our surroundings.

Since Cuddy’s TED Talk, power poses have shown up everywhere from Dilbert comic strips to Secret deodorant commercials. She has heard from veterans, athletes, school kids who’ve been bullied, beleaguered job hunters and more, all devotees of power posing and its ability to change the way we go through the world.

Cuddy took her show on the road early this year (2016), which brought her to Chicago for a Family Action Network event that attracted a standing-room-only crowd of 900 people. There she elaborated on power pose research, which finds that simply changing the way you stand or sit for as little as two minutes – from armscrossed, legs-tucked-in meek to handso on-hips, straight-spine empowered – floods your brain with chemiicals that make you feel more dominant and less anxious.

Q: We often hear about girls not raising their hands in class and, generally, not wanting to take up space. Does your message have particular resonance for them?

A: “When girls hit middle school, they really start to fold in and collapse and make themselves small, and when boys hit middle school, they start to sprawl out. So I think middle school is a window where, with girls in particular, we need to be careful about the messages we send about how they carry themselves. I think open, expansive posture certainly is associated with masculinity, and part of that is learned. Is part of it innate? Based on the structure of our bodies, I’m sure it is. But a lot of it is about posture and girls learning to be dainty and frail and small. There are so many images we could be showing them of women and girls carrying themselves with power and pride.”

Q: SUCH AS? A: “You hear expansive, dominant behavior and you think manspreading. I don’t want anyone to sit with their knees spread far apart, because I think it’s rude.

But carrying yourself with pride and not wrapping your arms around yourself makes a big difference. I love Misty Copeland’s Instagram feed so much because she’s posting these beautiful, proud images of herself, and you can see her muscles and her strength. I would love for us to be showing girls more images like that.”

Q: WHAT SHOULD WE TELL KIDS ABOUT POSTURE? A: “We need to move away from, ‘Sit up straight to show respect to others,’ to, ‘Sit up straight to show respect for yourself.’ When you learn that, actually, this is really good for how confident you will feel, I think kids will be more open to it. I’ll be watching my son – he’s 13 and

generally has good posture – when he’s on his phone, and I can see instantly from his posture if something bad happens. If something is wrong, he starts to slouch and slump down. I think kids learning early that their body and mind are connected, and that you can really control your mind with your body, gives them ... power to be what they want to be.”

Q: AFTER YOUR TED TALK, WAS THERE A GROUP OF PEOPLE YOU WERE ESPECIALLY PROUD TO HEAR FROM? A: “I feel like the message really connects with young women who are going through job interview after job interview and experiencing lots of rejection and feeling more and more demoralized. They tell me not just, ‘This helped me get a job,’ but, ‘I learned I do deserve to take up space. I do deserve to be here as much as anyone else.’ I didn’t think I’d be writing a book about social anxiety, but so many of our experiences are about the fear of rejection or judgment.”

Q: YOU ALSO HEAR FROM PEOPLE WHO’VE EXPERIENCED SIGNIFICANT TRAUMA IN THEIR LIVES, DON’T YOU? A: “I hear a lot from combat veterans. ...

A guy stopped me recently, he was probably 50, and he said, ‘I want to thank you for giving me my father back.’ He was crying, and he said, ‘My dad has Alzheimer’s.

He’s pretty far along and he’s a WWII vet, and he used to be such a proud, strong person and so lively, and Alzheimer’s just takes away that pride and power completely. I saw your talk and decided to get him into power poses every morning for five minutes. He doesn’t always understand why I’m having him do this, but for five minutes I get my father back.

He’s proud and he’s strong and he’s clear, and it’s five minutes of having him back.’

That makes sense to me. There is a real relationship between expansiveness and power.”

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glamazon » mama

Glamazon Mama is having the time of her life

BY JOANIE COX-HENRY Nobody puts baby in a corner! Yes, that iconic line from Dirty Dancing often plays through my mind when a hostess places my son’s high chair in the corner at a restaurant.

Now that famous line is available in an adorable pink or blue baby bib for $10 on Dirtydancingontourshop.com.

It’s almost impossible for me to wrap my head around the fact that “Dirty Dancing” first hit movie theaters 29 years ago. My cousin Vanessa Giambalvo and I wore out a VHS copy of the film while watching obsessively during the summer of 1989. We were little girls when we saw that film, and I do feel it changed both of our lives.

Now in 2016, we’re both mothers to amazing sons, and we’re still having the “Time of Our Lives” re-living this film as the play gets ready to hit the stage at Broward Center for the Performing Arts April 12-24.

I recently had the pleasure of chatting with Margot White, who plays Marjorie Houseman in “Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage.”

“This is really such a fun night at the theater,” said White, who also has fond memories of seeing the “Dirty Dancing” movie when it came out. “This show has all the iconic, nostalgic lines from the movie you hope to hear. People in the audience will recite some of the lines before we do.”

Although White said “Dirty Dancing – The Classic Story On Stage” contains many of the same components as the movie, the stage production focuses more on what was going in the world at the time.

“Baby is losing her innocence while our country was also at a ripe and vulnerable time,” said White about the show, which is set in the summer of 1963. “Playing Baby’s mother in this production was

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Sophisticated loungewear, a moment with Jonathan Adler and a look back at a childhood obsession interesting for me. Marjorie is always the loving mother and wife, but she also has a lot of intuition and knows there is something up with her daughter. I think all women have this intuition. I hadn’t done musical roles in awhile, but getting the part of Marjorie Houseman has just been an amazing experience.”

White said the stage production of “Dirty Dancing” also contains ontains a campfire scene that was not in the movie. “This is a very uplifting show, and something I’m so proud to be part of,” said White who also has a Shakespeare-inspired d baking business called Sweets of Adversity. b “It’s a great date night or a wonderful girl’s night out at the theater. r. People are definitely movin’ and groovin’ vin’ in the audience during this show.”

for no one to notice you might have just rolled off your coach after a power nap.

The line, which was started by Rosario Chozas and Julia Ford-Carther, consists of six key pieces and is meant to be mixed and matched. It’s already selling out on Bammies.com.

Chozas, who is well-known as a stylist and spent many years working on film sets and with advertisingg

ALL DAY MAMA PAJAMAS I’ll admit, since becoming a mom, I wear pajamas almost as much as I did in college. I mean, is anyone really y going to notice I’m in the checkout line at Target in pajama pants? The answer is yes. es. And as luck would have it, I typically run into someone I haven’t seen in a while hile in this embarrassing attire, and then en I spend the whole afternoon chasstising myself for not taking more pride in my everyday ensemble.

Fortunately, two Miami Beach-based women have come up with a solution for wardrobe-challenged women everywhere. They’ve invented Bammies, a line of “business pajamas” ajamas” that are designed to take you from om breakfast meetings to happy hour. ur. The clothing is comfortable enough to sleep in and sophisticated enough ugh

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glamazon » mama agencies, got the idea for the Bammies line when she moved to Miami. “I was working in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and when I came to Miami, I quickly realized I didn’t dress like anyone around me,” Chozas said. “I started crafting a work wardrobe, and I wanted to be respectful of my surroundings. Everyone would always comment that I looked so comfortable. I started telling people I was wearing ‘business jammies.’”

Chozas then met media guru FordCarther at a work event, and they instantly clicked.

“We wanted to create a collection for the modern woman that was both practical and beautiful,” Chozas said. “Each piece is made to transition from work life to home life. The revolution is now elasticized.”

The collection includes a dress, a tank top, gaucho pants, wide leg pants, a blazer and a chic white T-shirt and is currently sized as 1, 2 and 3, which equates to small, medium and large. After a flood of requests for expanded sizing, the duo

plans to add plus sizes to their next collection. “We’re hoping to expand our size offerings with our crowd-funding campaign,” Ford-Carther said. “We’d like to put Bammies on everyone.”

Remarkably, Bammies is also produced locally in Kendall. “We launched our line in January of this year, and we’re so proud to be doing this line locally,” Ford-Car Ford-Carther arth ar t er e said.

Ford-Carther Choher and Cho h zas often travel, avel e , and they said the e li lline ne iiss ne ideal for travel. vel. “Every piece is machine chi h ne e washable, and nd we selected the bes best st fabb rics,” Ford-Carther C rtther Ca said. “This clothing iss comfy and mean meant be nt to b e worn a lot. It also fe feels eels great wearing airng it on an air iplane.” Visitt Bammies.life fe to check out the hee full collection. on.

GIVE YOURSELVES A HAND I recently interviewed home decor designer Jonathan Adler at Neiman Marcus in Boca Raton, and I could not wait to ask him what he recommends for mamas to update their home accessories this spring. Adler has a home in Palm Beach now, and he has deemed South Florida “a place of sunshine, optimism, fantasy and gglamour.” gl amo think all moms on the go should get “I th one of o my little brass ring bowls,” Adler said o of his Brass Ring Holder, which retails reta t ils for $128 on Jonathanadler.com. make “I mak ak these little brass ring bowls that come in the shape of a hand. I feel like moms m mo m are so harried, so it’s about the little ms things thin ngs that are just for them. A little ring hits the spot.” bowl w h Honestly, I dig this idea so much more Hon than a a jewelry box, where I stash my rings away ay y in a drawer and forget I have them. could all use a helping hand when it We e co comes to our accessories. co

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loud moms » loud

Are you a

life

mainstream mom?

BY TEANA MCDONALD Music is a big part of our lives. In the car ride to and from school, on the way to sports activities, running errands and during dance parties that we have at home on the TEANA MCDONALD weekends.

Do I allow my kids to listen to every song on the radio? Of course not. Do I push the envelope and let them listen to some mainstream tunes?

Yep, I am 100 percent guilty of that (don’t judge).

We mix in a little “Hotline Bling” by Drake, “Bad Blood” by Taylor Swift, “Hello” by Adele, “Sugar” by Maroon 5 and some old-school Heavy D & The Boyz, Queen Latifah and Salt N Pepa. (I know, I’m taking you way back to the 90s).

I don’t feel like we always have to listen to the “Kids Bop” version of every song made. Let’s face it: Our kids are going to learn how to “Wobble” and “Whip & Nae Nae” with or without us.

Why not take the lead and listen to mainstream music with them and explain and discuss what the songs mean (in a “Sesame Street” kind of way)?

It’s just music, and if singing “Bad Blood” on the way to every soccer game and playing “Hotline Bling” on the way to gymnastics competitions get my kids in a good mood and ready to win, I’m all for it.

In our home, we have dance parties on the weekends. This usually consists of my husband teaching us the latest line dances (which I am terrible at). From the “Electric Slide” all the way to the “Cha Cha,” my kids just love to dance and genuinely enjoy the music. On the way to school, I roll up with the music booming playing “Lovely Day” by Bill Withers (every day). Of course, there are those parents who look and stare, but I believe I’m creating moments that my kids will remember every time they hear a special song.

Isn’t that what happens to you when you hear that special song? The music creates the memories. As long as we parents are responsible in our music choices (non-explicit versions, etc.), I think it’s OK to play mainstream music and have fun with the kids.

One BIG lesson that I did learn was to discuss which songs are appropriate to sing in public (mainly school). When I heard from a teacher that my daughter was singing “It’s Raining Men” at lunch, I’ll admit I did have to have a chat. But in her defense, it was very innocent, and I did explain why certain things should remain within our four walls.

If you’re a mainstream mom like me, embrace it and stop worrying about being judged. It doesn’t mean that you’re a bad mother with bad morals. It just means that you like to step outside of the box, and that’s OK. Teana McDonald shares her enthusiasm and passion for social media, public relations and event marketing by running a thriving business, 3E Connections, Inc. Connect and continue the conversation with her on social media @3EConnections.

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Tears to

BY PATRICK HEMPFING “We did it, Dad!” Jessie ran across the yard and leapt into my arms. After the hug, we slapped a high five. Jessie and I had reached our goal. Her smile told the neighborhood.

Last summer, 10-year-old Jessie and I set out to catch 100 softballs in a row. We stood in our front yard, about 12 yards away from each other, and tossed the ball between my tan leather glove and Jessie’s pink one. We often had to pick the ball up off the grass, sometimes from our neighbor’s yard.

By the end of the summer, our record stood at 33 consecutive catches. Though we fell 67 catches shy, we kept 100 as our goal. Winners keep trying – that’s what my wife, Mattie, and I have taught Jessie since she was a toddler.

Last October, Jessie and I recorded a brief video to promote a Halloween contest. Jessie did great. I did, too, if you don’t count the first 99 takes. As my eyes focused on the bright light and camera, my mouth forgot the words. It didn’t help that I only had about four hours of sleep the night before, at least that’s what I told myself.

Although it was not my finest moment, I am proud I did it. I stepped out of my comfort zone and gave it my best effort. I did feel extra pressure, though, as I wanted to make Jessie proud of her dad. She tickled me when it was finally over, after what felt like “take 100.” She came over to my chair and gave me hug. “You did great, Dad.” Getting back to our 100-softball-catch goal, Jessie and I kept tossing, catching and dropping softballs throughout the fall and winter. A few weeks ago, we tried again. We had only tossed a few balls when one of my throws glanced off Jessie’s glove and hit her leg above her right ankle. She fell to the ground, holding her ankle, and cried.

I remained calm. Jessie has many strengths, and drama is one of them.

“Shake it off, you’ll be OK,” I said. Mattie, hearing the commotion, ran out of the house. I told her there was a “minor incident” and “possibly there will be a black and blue mark.”

Jessie’s story differed slightly. “Mom, my leg is broken.” After a little Mom sympathy, Jessie said, “I think I passed out for a minute.” Mattie broke out in laughter.

Mattie went back into the house, and

moMENts » a

cheers

Jessie and I began tossing again. Before long, we had broken our record of 33 catches. Could we make it to 100?

I threw the ball to Jessie. She caught it, 97. She threw it back and I caught it, 98.

As I pitched number 99 to Jessie, the ball felt like a 50-pound weight, but my throw was on target, and Jessie caught it. All Jessie needed to do was to make one more good toss, and Dad had to catch it. She did, which is where this story began.

After our celebration, I said, “Let’s see how high we can go.” I tossed the ball; it hit the end of Jessie’s glove and fell to the ground.

Though our success was short-lived, I’m proud Jessie recovered from her “broken leg” and continued on, like her dad did with the video. Sometimes we need to get past the tears of pain or embarrassment before we can appreciate the victory cheers.

In the years ahead, Jessie and I will continue to set new goals and strive to achieve them. Chances are, we’ll end up

with a few bumps and bruises along the way, and probably some tears. But we’ll also share hugs, high fives and cheers.

I just hope I don’t pass out, even for a minute, and miss any of the “We did it” moments.

Until next month, remember to cherish the moments.

If you enjoyed this column, you’ll like Patrick’s first book, MoMENts: A Dad Holds On. The book compiles favorite stories and new material and is scheduled for release May 1 on Amazon.com.

Patrick Hempfing had a 20-year professional career in banking, accounting and auditing before he became a father at age 44.

He is now a full-time husband, stay-at-home dad and writer. Follow Patrick at www.facebook.com/patricklhempfing and on Twitter @PatrickHempfing.

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financial » matters

Apps, websites use technology to teach kids about money

BY ELIZABETH ROBERTS Talking about money may be taboo, but you would never know it, judging from the Internet.

Online games teach toddlers to recognize and count money. Apps help teens budget for prom.

It’s tempting to let media do all the financial education for you. Experts suggest resisting that temptation. A look through the offerings explains why: Most personal finance games and apps are stultifying.

Practical Money Skills for Life, for example, is a website with a promising title run by Visa. It pledges to provide “high-quality personal finance materials … (to advance) the cause of financial literacy. A selection of tabs offers topics for grade schoolers through teenagers, but I don’t know a kid who would suffer through Peter Pig’s Money, a “game” for sorting coins.

Older kids fare equally badly. Financial Football is a multiple choice quiz punctuated by random movements of virtual football players your child could have drawn. Road Trip to Savings has players maneuver through animated objects representing spending (a cheeseburger) and earnings; but in no time, I was thinking less about saving and more about avoiding what was in the path of my virtual car.

Even Khan Academy, that trusted voice of clarity amid confusion, has a sleepinducing product, the main feature of which is a chalk board.

Six hours later, I concluded good options exist, but finding the right one for you and your child will take some experimentation. One child may enjoy a virtual store. Another may enjoy dodging virtual financial pitfalls.

I found two good and free places to start for kids ages 3-5: SesameStreet.org and Gotkidsgames.com/ pb/index.html, a free math game allowing players to recognize coins and add them up to $1. Exactly. Or the game starts again.

The Sesame Street website has a primer on saving, spending and sharing, with Elmo as the instructor. Nine videos (including, perplexingly, a rendition of Ernie singing Rubber Duckie) show Elmo learning that work is how to earn money; money provides choices – buy flowers or ice cream; and saving provides more choices. In this case, getting a “Stupendous Ball,” means Elmo saves money in a

special jar until he has enough.

Links for parents are less helpful, but they do include a “play money” printable and a printable of jar labels to teach kids how to divide their money into spending, saving and sharing.

Apps are likely to be more relevant. A survey of 2,290 American parents found most children get their first tablet or cell phone by the age of 6. Any parent will tell you, moments later, it is a child’s favorite tool, friend and security blanket. So why not use it to advantage?

A universally recommended app for younger children is Kids Money by Apps Rocket, available on iTunes. “Forbes” magazine calls it an “easy-to-use tool to teach arguably the most fundamental of all personal finance skills: Budgeting.”

Kids pick a goal and log their progress toward it on the app. My son would have loved this. Instead of packing money into a jar, he could have walked to the bank where he has his account, made a deposit

at the ATM and recorded it on his phone.

The free app tracks the goal – a $225 bicycle – and includes bar charts showing total earnings and the amount saved.

My personal favorite? Bank of Mom. It isn’t free, but it is the next best thing to real life. The $1.99 iOS app offers families a virtual reward system. Kids earn credit on a virtual credit line by completing chores or making good grades. They can make a withdrawal from their “bank,” i.e.

Mom (or Dad).

Marketing materials point out the app has one other advantage: Kids can bank time. If hanging up clothes for a week earns $5, that credit can be exchanged for time spent with friends at the mall.

But don’t discount old-fashioned board games. Pairing younger children with adults for a game of Monopoly will foster money counting skills as well as awareness of the perils of failing to save and insure those lessons come packaged in family values.

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First-grade field trip tickles the senses

BY DEBORAH WORK When the Trinity Lutheran first-graders caught sight of the oversized musical swing set, they raced across the downtown West Palm Beach lot, seized the brightly colored seats and clambered on. The higher they flew, the more peals of laughter and melodic notes filled the air.

“Look how high we’re going,” sang out 6-year-old Charlotte Woolley, sharing a green swing with classmate Maddie Rocha, also 6. “And listen! I hear a piano!”

The Musical Swings, a giant musical installation on Clematis Street surrounded by vivid murals, was the first stop for the young students on their recent Three Senses Field Trip. The trip was created and hosted by Lori Durante as part of her Taste History Culinary Tours of Historic Palm Beach.

Durante’s tours combine food tastings at bakeries and eateries with visits to cultural and historical districts. For these youngsters, she designed a fun-filled and hands-on educational experience, combining The Musical Swings and then cannolimaking at Palermo’s Bakery in Boynton Beach. Her Three Senses Field Trip touched on sound, sight and taste.

“Visiting The Musical Swings is a vibrant and enlightening experience for the first-graders,” said Durante, who incorporated local history, geography, music, mural art and even a gravity lesson in the day trip. “It’s a thinking-outside-the-box field trip, and it’s the first time this group visited Clematis Street in downtown West Palm Beach.”

The 21 first-graders, teacher Kathy Wilsher and the chaperoning moms were wowed by the melodic swings. Created by the Montreal-based studio Daily tous les jours, the traveling installation made its first U.S. tour stop on Clematis Street. The swings have since moved to New York.

Durante and West Palm Beach’s Art in Public Places Program Director Sybille Welter held the students’ attention as they described how the swing set’s sensor links to a computer and responds to motion with music. Each swing emits the notes of a guitar, a piano, a vibraphone or a harp.

The higher the swing, the higher the note.

And when moving in unison, the swings

The Three Senses Field Trip taken by Trinity Lutheran School was enjoyed by the students and their Moms. (from left) Aliza Moody with son Derek, Elle Jaspert and son Jagger and Kim Melvin and daughter Riley all enjoyed the first step at the Musical Swings in West Palm Beach where the children made beautiful music with the swings as they learned about sound. FPG PHOTO / BETH BLACK

compose a song.

Their lesson: Melodies emerge through cooperation, which brings pleasure and encourages further cooperation.

“The higher you go, you’ll hear all the musical notes,” Welter said. “And if you swing together and collaborate, you can make beautiful harmony together.”

“I’ll count to three and then you push off,” called Durante as the children rushed back to the swing set to collaborate. “Let’s get swinging together!”

West Palm Beach Commissioner Sylvia Moffett met the youngsters on the lot and got right into the swing of things.

“Swinging is soothing,” said Moffett, bemoaning the fact that the swings are not a permanent fixture. “It’s a way to center yourself, to put your cares away and think. And frankly, play is important for adults, as well as children. Play is a way of give and take, of sharing and cooperating.”

Delray Beach parent Tiffany Woolley agreed that the swinging session – plus the music and art component – was therapeutic for everyone. “It’s so peaceful, so artistic,” she said. “To feel it and hear it is to believe it.”

Parent Elle Jaspert said the experience– feeling the swings, hearing the music, seeing the murals – made for an enlightening outing. “We have music and art at our house; it’s something we value,” she said, admiring the colorful murals surrounding the swings.

Jaspert’s son Jagger said he had been looking forward to the musical swings and was not disappointed.

“I thought it was going to be like a regular playground, so when I saw this … wow! I just had to get on a swing immediately,” said Jagger, 7. “And then I heard the sounds. ... I’m amazed.”

Then it was on to Palermo’s Bakery, where a lesson in cannoli-making awaited.

The first-graders donned their handmade tall white chef’s hats and even brought one for bakery owner Anna Orlando.

Palermo’s Bakery is located on Taste History’s Bakery Trail. The bakery, which uses only organic ingredients and no refined sugar, was established more than 125 years ago in Sicily, Italy, and is still family-owned and operated by the Palermo-Orlando family. The featured pastry for the field trip was the cannoli, which the students learned originated in the 1920s in Palermo City, Sicily.

While Chef Orlando led the first-graders in filling cannoli pastry shells, Durante held up cards reinforcing vocabulary words: Cannoli. Italy. Sicily. She talked about the geography of Sicily, and how the Palermo family had immigrated to America, arriving in New York. “Cannoli means little tube,” Durante instructed.

Chef Orlando said the bakery field trip is a good way to awaken the children’s senses. “Food is an essential part of our lives,” said Orlando, demonstrating the creation of her homemade ricotta cheese.

“We eat food every day, and children should know what the ingredients in their products are and what is healthy for them.

“And everyone in the kitchen together is what’s important,” Orlando said. “Parents, children and grandparents, too.

That’s what increases enjoyment and makes children excited to come home and try something new.”

Mom Tiffany Woolley said when the mothers heard the word “organic,” they were all pleased. “This is so hands-on, so sweet,” she said. “It’s fresh, it’s delicious, and something we can all do at home.”

Elle Jaspert agreed. “It’s a wonderful learning experience outside of the classroom. And it’s awesome to hear that all the ingredients are organic. But the best part? It’s delicious.”

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A course that saves lives: Palm Beach County teaching students CPR

BY EMILY MILLER SUN SENTINEL

More Palm Beach County students are getting schooled in CPR — a skill teachers hope their students will take to heart.

In February, the American Heart Association taught teachers from around the county about hands-only CPR. Since then, 4,000 students in nine middle and high schools have learned how to administer the aid, said Eric Stern, who oversees physical education for the district.

“It’s a great start,” Stern said. “We would love to see it spread.”

Boca Raton Community Middle School just completed training on the largest scale, with about 1,200 physical education and health students participating in 50-minute sessions taught over three days in March, Stern said.

Boca Raton’s Fire Rescue joined in the training.

“It’s important because they are in a community of people who also can be involved in cardiac arrest,” said Fire Rescue Lt. Tony Armijo, who helped teach the students. “We’re finding cardiac arrest in very young people due to congenial heart defects that might have been overlooked.”

The hands-only CPR method requires just two steps: call 911 and push hard and fast in the center of the chest.

“Part of the anxiety of doing CPR is the mouth-to-mouth because of the fear of communicable diseases,” Armijo said.

“Now, with it being only hands-on, it takes out the component of having to breathe into someone, and it concentrates solely on the chest compressions.”

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Armijo said research shows the two things that actually work in CPR are fast and hard compressions and Automated External Defibrillators. He said as long as students are able to compress the chest an adequate depth and rate, they can save lives.

In fact, since the incorporation of hands-only CPR training in the Boca Raton community, the fire department’s resuscitation rates have improved dramatically, said Armijo, who has been with the fire department since 1990. This is because doing chest compressions during the roughly six minutes it takes emergency responders to arrive helps sustain brain, heart and lung tissue, Armijo said.

“It gives the victim time, it gives us time,” he said. “Our advanced life support interventions will work better than if no one had done anything at all.”

During the training, students watched an informational video to learn the terminology and proper techniques. Then, they were divided into small groups to practice on mannequins.

Students from the school’s Premedical Academy, who are certified in CPR, oversaw the small groups. On the second day of training, students also learned the Heimlich maneuver.

“You can mark my words — by the end of this year, we’re going to be hearing success stories,” said Tania Martinez, head of the school’s Premedical Academy. “These kids are going to be saving their family members.”

Martinez said over the years, her students have shared stories of using their training. One student, for example, used the Heimlich maneuver to save her mother who had been choking on shrimp.

“It’s bound to happen,” Armijo said.

“You train 1,200 students — something is going to happen when they’re around.”

Eighth-grader Claire Cutler, 14, said the most surprising part of the training was learning the different CPR techniques for adults and infants.

“I think it’s really good that we’re learning it because if there was an emergency, we’d know how to handle it,” she said.

HOW TO ADMINISTER HANDS-ONLY CPR There are two steps: call 911 and push hard and fast in the center of the chest.

During CPR, you should push on the chest at a rate of at least 100 compressions per minute. The beat in the Bee Gees song “Stayin’ Alive” is a perfect match for this.

Visit heart.org/handsonlycpr to watch a 60-second video on handsonly CPR. SOURCE: THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION

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» maternity

Beyond the Baby Registry:

17 Great Gifts to Give New Moms Baby registries are a wonderful tool for helping new parents stock their nurseries with the infant essentials every growing family needs. But while registries include important items, such as car seats and travel systems, they tend to overlook gifts that can help a new mom relax, celebrate and adjust to her new role in life.

Next time you are shopping for a new or expectant mom, consider going off the registry and purchasing one of these thoughtful gifts instead.

BY ALYSSA CHIRCO

4. A PRE-DELIVERY PEDICURE Few moms can reach their toes during those final months of pregnancy, so why not give her a gift certificate to get her nails prepped and polished before delivery? Better yet, schedule the appointment and go with her for a pre-baby girls’ day.

6. A MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION With so many parenting magazines available in both print and digital format, it won’t be hard to find one she will appreciate. Give the gift of a year-long subscription as a resource to help her through that first year of motherhood.

7. A BUBBLE BATH BASKET Fill a basket with an assortment of luxurious bath salts and bubble bath so she can soak away her stress. Include some cocoa butter massage cream, which can minimize stretch marks, for her to apply after the bath.

8. A BREASTFEEDING BASKET If you know she’s planning to breastfeed, fill a basket with items to make her experience easier. Nursing pads, purified lanolin nipple ointment, a comfy nursing tank top and a copy of the book “Breastfeeding Made Simple” by Nancy Mohrbacher are all good places to start.

1. A MATERNITY PHOTO SESSION Maternity photos are a wonderful way for an expectant mom to commemorate her pregnancy. If you think she may be interested in documenting the actual birth of her baby, you could even hire a birth photographer to take photos during delivery.

2. A NEWBORN PHOTO SESSION New moms love to have lots of pictures taken, but the cost of newborn photos can add up quickly. A session with a professional photographer is a gift she will remember forever, especially if the package includes a couple of the prints.

3. A MATERNITY MASSAGE Pamper her with the gift of a massage to relax her tired muscles and soothe her aches and pains. Be sure to find a skilled practitioner who is knowledgeable about the do’s and don’ts of massage during pregnancy.

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5. PRENATAL (OR POSTNATAL) YOGA CLASSES Studies suggest that yoga can improve sleep, decrease anxiety and help mothers prepare for (and recover from) labor and delivery. Since many yoga studios and community centers offer drop-in classes, it’s easy to buy a punch card she can use whenever she likes.

9. A COFFEE SHOP GIFT CARD New moms are notoriously sleepdeprived, and caffeine is a perfect antidote to all those sleepless nights. If she isn’t a coffee drinker, or if she is breastfeeding, opt for a selection of her favorite herbal teas instead.

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stages 10. A CLEANING SERVICE Even if you can only afford a month or two, any new mom will appreciate having somebody else take responsibility for the dusting and vacuuming while she recuperates and bonds with baby.

11. A SERVICE COUPON BOOK What do new moms need most in those first few weeks after giving birth? Help.

Create a coupon book filled with coupons she can redeem for services like grocery shopping, running errands and holding the baby while she showers.

12. A POSTPARTUM DOULA The word doula literally means “woman’s servant.” While some doulas serve women during labor, a postpartum doula focuses on a mother’s physical and emotional needs after delivery. As any experienced mom knows, postpartum support is one of the best gifts you can receive.

13. A MEAL TRAIN WEBSITE It’s easy–and free–to set up an interactive, online meal calendar at MealTrain. com, but it’s also a perfect gift for a hungry new mom. Invite her friends and family to participate so that after baby’s birth, she receives delicious meals delivered right to her doorstep.

15. A MOM’S GROUP MEMBERSHIP Help her get out of the house and meet new friends by investing in a membership with a local mom’s group in her name.

Or buy a gift certificate for a Mommy and Me activity – think infant massage, music circles or a stroller fitness class – in your area.

16. MATERNITY/NURSING LINGERIE Most moms feel a bit frumpy during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Help her feel beautiful by wrapping up some fashionable (yet comfortable) loungewear or lingerie designed specifically with a new mom in mind.

Don’t Forget About Dad! Mom may get most of the glory – and the gifts – when a new little bundle of joy arrives, but don’t forget about Dad. Today’s fathers are highly involved, hands-on parents, so don’t they deserve a few baby gifts, too? Here a few ideas:

17. A BOTTLE OF BUBBLY There’s no drinking during pregnancy, but a bottle of champagne or sparkling cider makes a festive gift once baby arrives. Mom can toast to the birth of her baby and the amazing journey she has just begun.

Alyssa Chirco is a freelance journalist and mother of two who writes about parenting and family life.

14. A HIGH-QUALITY BABY CARRIER Baby carriers have gained popularity in recent years, but not all brands are created equal. Give her the gift of a high-quality carrier like a Mei Tai or Stretchy Wrap so she can carry baby hands-free and feel comfortable and safe while doing so.

» maternity

A PUSH PACK. Help a nervous dad-to-be support his partner during labor by creating what some refer to as a “push pack.” Include items like high protein snacks, aromatherapy candles and a book of relaxation techniques to help both parents through the delivery.

A DADDY DIAPER BAG. Mom shouldn’t be the only one responsible for changing diapers. Look for a more masculine backpack or messenger bag style, or you can even order a diaper bag emblazoned with the logo of his favorite Major League Baseball team online.

While you are at it, visit CafePress.com and order a “Real Men Change Diapers” T-shirt for him, too.

A BOOK ABOUT BEING A DAD. If he’s the type that will enjoy a humorous, light-hearted take on fatherhood, try “The New Dad’s Survival Guide” by Scott Mactavish. For a more serious look at what dads should expect, give him a copy of “The Expectant Father” by Armin A. Brott.

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Helping first-time fathers adjust

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When a child is born, much emphasis is placed on helping the new mother and baby adjust. But they aren’t the only ones undergoing change. Most first-time fathers experience stress due to sleep deprivation, change in routines and their own apprehensions about parenting.

“There are a myriad of emotions that come with being a new father,” said Armin Brott, author of multiple books and one DVD on fatherhood. “Most often it’s a feeling of pride and excitement. At the same time, there can be apprehensions: ‘Will I be a good father?’ ‘Can we afford this?’ ‘How is this going to change our lives?’ ” This was what David Wuttke found.

“When my son David Jr. was born, I had overwhelming feelings of anxiety and excitement all at once,” he said. “I had been babysitting since I was 16, so my anxiety wasn’t about child care. It was the reality of the responsibility that this was my son. And that sent a shock to my system.”

Just knowing there’s another person to care for can be a big stressor for first-time fathers. Couple that with the fact that many men don’t initially know how to bond with their newborns.

“If a mother is nursing, it naturally brings her in contact with the baby,” Brott said. “Dads don’t have that same natural bonding method, so they often get stuck doing the dirty work. But it shouldn’t be that way.”

Susan Maroto, LCSW and parent educator in prenatal care and postpartum adjustment, agreed. “There are things moms can do to help dads feel competent in that role,” she said. “Encourage them to take part in all areas of child care – feeding, bathing, reading and putting the baby down. Just be careful you aren’t overly critical. Standing behind your husband and correcting his every move will only frustrate him. Show him what needs to be done then let him develop his own style.”

Fortunately for Wuttke, basic training occurred as a teen sitter and paid big dividends when his son was born. Soon after his wife Christine delivered, she enrolled in college and David was thrust into solo evening child care.

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stages » “I never had to think about how to take care David. I just fell back on my babysitting days,” Wuttke said. “If he was crying, I would say, ‘OK, let’s guess what he needs.’ Then I’d check his diaper. If that was OK, I’d try to feed him. If he wasn’t hungry, I thought maybe he had gas or needed to sleep. One of those usually did the trick.”

For Anthony Franco, the adjustment wasn’t that easy. When his wife Lisa gave birth to the twins, Franco seemed to be fine. But four months into it, things changed.

“I started experiencing panic attacks and didn’t know why,” he said. “I would be in the supermarket when all of the sudden I would get this overwhelming sense of dread and lightheadedness.”

This went on for several months until Franco finally went to the doctor.

“He asked me where it was happening, and I told him it was when I was buying diapers, formula and other things for the twins,” he said. “That’s when he pinpointed the problem. He said this happens to a lot of new fathers. He prescribed a little anti-anxiety medication, and then I was fine.”

Brott said it’s important for men to have someone with whom they can share their stress. “Some men have close friends they can confide in. But a lot don’t, so they keep all those concerns in and the stress level builds,” he said. “They shouldn’t be afraid to talk with other men and find out what they have gone through. Chances are they’ll find others felt the same way, too.”

One concern most new fathers share is fatigue. Franco and Wuttke both had a hard time with this.

“The one thing I really didn’t expect was that time on a 24-hour clock had no meaning anymore,” said Franco. “It

paternity

became irrelevant after a while, and we just fit sleep in whenever we could.”

The Wuttkes solved this problem by enlisting the help of relatives. “There were times Chris and I said, ‘We need a break,’ and my mom would take David so we could rest. We even called my grandparents so we could have an occasional night out.”

Extended family and friends can be a huge help or add significant stress, depending upon the dynamic of the relationship, say experts. This is where husbands can help their wives by setting boundaries.

“Dad should take the role of communicator outside the family and, if needed, limit visitors,” Maroto said. “Encourage others to help in practical ways such as dropping off meals, running errands or watching the baby for 20 minutes so the couple can take a quick walk.”

What’s most important is to realize this is a period of adjustment and life does get easier.

“It’s like anything new, it takes a little time,” Franco said. “It took about 18 months before I became completely comfortable with the twins. Now we’re pretty much inseparable.”

RESOURCES FOR NEW FATHERS

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"Be Prepared: A Practical Handbook for New Dads" by Gary Greenberg and Jeannie Hayden "The Expectant Father: Facts, Tips and Advice for Dads-to-Be" by Armin Brott "The Father’s Almanac: From Pregnancy to Pre-school, Baby Care to Behavior, the Complete and Indispensable Book of Practical Advice and Ideas for Every Man Discovering the Fun and Challenge of Fatherhood" by S. Adams Sullivan "New Father Book: What Every New Father Needs to Know to be a Good Dad" by Wade F. Horn, Ph.D. and Jeffrey Rosenberg, MSW "Toolbox for New Dads: Because Babies Don’t Come with Instructions" by Armin Brott (DVD) www.newdads.com www.mrdad.com

Denise Yearian is the former editor of two parenting magazines and the mother of three children and four grandchildren.

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stages » baby

Snotsuckers make parents cheer,

columnist gag

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I tried hard not to gag while writing this column. No luck.

A few days ago, I met John Nutter of North Canton, Ohio, an interesting young man with a 2-year-old. Somehow we became engaged in a conversation about babies and boogers. That’s when he asked me if I had heard about the NoseFrida Snotsucker (no kidding). He said it was a real hit with moms and dads with small children who had stuffy noses.

Hmm, I thought. I’ll be the judge of that.

So I posted a question on my Facebook page to learn the truth. And I found a YouTube video that demonstrates how it works: bit.ly/23Jp1Aq Basically, one end of a tube goes near the child’s nostril and the other end into the mouth of an adult who sucks out the snot. The Swedish-made device, which sells for about $15 at stores and on the Internet, has a filter that keeps the mucus from getting into the mouth of the inhaler.

Chrissy Lockhart Gashash: “I can attest that this is awesome!”

Me: “Did it take you a few seconds to get over the gross factor? I would have to imagine myself on a secluded, serene beach before I sucked in.”

Gashash: “LOL. At the time, my infant daughter had a terrible cold, and we were desperate to get rid of the boogers because the traditional bulb sucker just was not cutting it. You think it’s going to be super gross, but seeing all the boogers instantly fill the chamber and your child’s nose is completely clear is extremely gratifying.”

Me: “Gag.” Gashash: “The funniest thing to me is people want to demo this online. They

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3/23/16 12:23 PM

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,

baby

definitely are doing a public service for parents, but I draw the line at posting a video of myself sucking boogers. That’s for my eyes only.”

Chrissy’s enthusiasm for the Snotsucker was repeated again and again on Facebook. But there were others who weren’t fond of the invention.

Stacie Morrison: “Makes my dinner want to revisit.”

Lois Heffernan: “Not on your life. Love ends at the tip of the nose.”

I think she might be right. I offered my husband, Chris, $100 to use it on me.

“There is no amount of money that would make me do that,” he said, more interested in watching a CSI rerun than assisting in my little investigation.

Cindy Kindig: “Gross. No way.”

Sandi Vasko: “Oh yuck!”

Donna Stillo Aller: “I don’t want to know what they do when the kids are constipated.”

Me: “Gag.” Jaime Kirbawy admitted using the Snotsucker was strange at first.

“But,” as she said, “desperate times call for desperate measures.”

When we become parents, we do all sorts of things we couldn’t have imagined doing pre-kid. That, of course, includes using things like the now wildly popular NoseFrida Snotsucker, which is a common baby gift. After all, we want our children to feel better when they are ill.

John, who first told me about the Snotsucker, admitted that his daughter does not like when he or his wife use the device on her. But once she is able to breathe, it melts his heart when she looks up at him and shyly says, “Thank you.”

Me: “Aw.” John also mentioned another product during our discussion that he was keen about.

“Have you ever heard of Dude Wipes?”

Nutter asked, completely innocently.

The product was pitched successfully on ABC’s Shark Tank last fall.

The Dude Wipes’ website describes the product this way: “Whether it was some unexpected physical activity or the aftermath of the lunchtime burrito, we guys were destined to smell. So we set out to change history and the bathroom forever by creating the award-winning Dude Wipes. These flushable wipes are guaranteed to combat stank and put you back on your game wherever or whenever nature calls.”

Me: “Gag.”

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Chill Out:

To stop a child’s tantrum, sometimes you just have to go with it

BY HEIDI STEVENS CHICAGO TRIBUNE My son was near tears when I picked him up from school the other day, barely able to contain his sorrow long enough to walk to the car, where he could break down in relative privacy.

Run-in with a bully, I wondered? Tragedy in a classmate’s family? Internal organ damage sustained during gym class?

“My halo disc didn’t come,” he sobbed.

“Your what?”

“My halo disc!” he repeated. “It was supposed to come

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and it didn’t come!”

He earned a halo disc – like a Frisbee, only cheaper – during his school’s fundraiser, and it was running late, his firstgrade teacher had explained to him. It would probably arrive the following day.

No biggie.

Except it was totally a biggie.

My instinct in these situations is to gently point out to my child that he is failing to see the big picture.

The halo disc will still arrive, bud, just a little later! Plus you have 4,782 other toys at home to play with in the meantime. One of them might even be a halo disc, for all we know! And think of all that we have to be grateful for: Food, shelter, loving family members. Is it really worth losing your marbles over a halo disc?

This time, though, I went with it.

“Oh, man,” I said. “That is the worst!

You were so excited about that thing!”

“I know!” he wailed.

“And then it just doesn’t show up?” I said. “Seriously! That’s the worst!”

“I know,” he said, growing a little bored. “Can I have a piece of gum?”

Wait, what? That’s it? We’re skipping the rending-of-garments phase?

I decided I was onto something. For the next few days, I started agreeing with my kids about their feelings, no matter how badly I wanted to point out, gently, that they were being ridiculous ingrates.

And it worked. Every time. They aired their grievances, I heard their grievances.

They moved on.

I called Katie Hurley, a child and adolescent psychotherapist and author of “The Happy Kid Handbook: How to Raise Joyful Children in a Stressful World” (TarcherPerigee), to get her take.

Is this wise, what I’m doing? Or am I raising young narcissists with no ability to match their emotions to the gravity of the situation?

“The thing no one ever tells parents is that a tiny bit of empathy can go a long way toward helping kids feel heard,” Hurley said.

All day long, she said, kids are being told what to do, by parents, teachers,

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coaches, peers. Very few of them have (or take) the time to kneel down every time something goes wrong and say, “I get it.

That’s really hard.”

A few days of holding their chins up during a series of setbacks and letdowns, and suddenly our kids are sobbing over halo discs.

“Kids very often don’t feel heard and understood,” Hurley said. “When we meet them where they are – ‘That’s really hard’ – their response is, ‘Oh, wow. Somebody gets me.’ You’re not fixing it for them, and you’re not going to change the thing that happened, but you understand it feels hard, and you allow them to be upset.”

Hurley said parents often fear this approach will backfire: “If I give them permission to feel, does that mean they’re going to feel out loud all the time?”

It doesn’t.

“The truth is, they turn around and show empathy and kindness in return,” she said. “They learn, ‘It felt good when mom understood me.’ And they learn to say, ‘I know how you feel.’ We need to reduce our own fears about ‘What am I raising?’ and say to ourselves, ‘I’m raising a kid who knows what it feels like to be understood.’ ” And if we want to raise them with perspective – the ability to feel gratitude for their food and shelter and the realization that halo discs don’t breed true happiness – we need to live that example daily.

“Instead of saying, ‘You’re upset I didn’t get you a hot chocolate? That guy hasn’t eaten in three days!’ ” Hurley said, “keep a jar in the kitchen for spare change and after three months donate it. When kids are calm, that’s the time to talk about homelessness and hunger and what we can do about global issues. That’s when they will want to make a difference. If we throw all that at them when they’re upset, they can’t even hear it.”

This is life-changing advice for me. And it seems pretty simple, doesn’t it?

No pressure to find the magic combination of words that will both stop the tantrum in its tracks and prevent another from occurring. Just listen. And empathize. Like you’d do with a friend. And leave the character-building for the nontearful moments.

“To raise empathetic kids, we have to be empathetic people, and that starts at home,” Hurley said. “Those little conversations that might seem like an afterthought to adults really matter. That’s how we raise adults who will go out and help someone.”

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Tell Me a Story:

Interactive Storytelling with Children

BY KAREN DEERWESTER, ED.S. Where do stories come from, and where can a good story go? Shhhhh, if you listen, you will know! The perfect antidote to the stresses of today’s fast-paced, high-tech childhood may just be storytelling.

Storytelling is different from other story-related activities, such as book reading and watching movies. The National Storytelling Network defines storytelling as interactive, cooperative and coordinated between the teller and the listener or listeners.

That means the storytelling experience is different each time, depending on what is happening between the storyteller and the listener.

Storytelling is active and in-themoment. It engages everyone’s full imagination and full creativity.

“Because storytelling is oral and interactive, it demands that we are present in the moment with our children,” says Dr. Caren Neile, who teaches storytelling studies at Florida Atlantic University and is the former chair of the National Storytelling Network. “That forges a strong bond with them. Because it’s imaginative, it helps them imagine alternatives to behavior, attitudes – anything negative in their lives. It involves narrative, so children learn about sequencing, cause and effect, and all those other great language arts skills – even listening. It gives solutions to problems, which helps give children hope and resilience. And because it’s fun, they can enjoy learning anything the story is about.”

A story might be two minutes or 20 minutes. It might be quiet and calming or wild and rambunctious. A favorite familiar storyline might veer into strange new storylines because that’s where the moment takes it.

For the child who can’t sit still, who seems to struggle with listening, who wants to be part of the story, storytelling says “YES, COME ON IN. This is YOUR story!”

Are you ready to create a new kind of story time? Actually, it’s an old story tradition that was shared by old and young in the family and in the community.

Here are some tips from local storyteller Caren Neile, who is helping launch The Storytelling Tent at the Boca Raton Children’s Museum through May. TIPS FOR ONE-ON-ONE STORYTELLING WITH CHILDREN Use the book to the best advantage. Be sure children can see and interact with the pictures and ask them questions about them. Use the printed word to help them begin to read. Even letting them turn the pages (or pressing the key) involves them in the experience.

Make storytime a special experience.

Maybe you have a certain part of the house or room where you sit. Maybe the child holds a certain toy or eats a special treat. Encourage her to love stories by refraining from correcting her if possible during the session.

And remember, children learn even when they don’t seem to be paying attention, as long as they can hear.

Tell your own stories. Sharing a family story is a win-win. You already know the plots, and your child learns another dimension of family life. You can even tell them stories of when they were “little.”

TIPS FOR ENCOURAGING THE STORYTELLING CHILD The more stories you share, the more your child will tell stories herself. She will begin to think imaginatively and connect individual pieces of experience together.

Ask open-ended questions. Instead of “Did you have a good time?” or even “What did you do?” some children respond better to “Tell me about your day” or “How did that happen?”

SOUTH FLORIDA PARENTING 2016 COVER KIDS ZURI AND NYAH. FPG PHOTO

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child

TIPS FOR SHARING IN PUBLIC STORYTELLING EXPERIENCES WITH CHILDREN Do your best to make storytime a nocellphone-zone. If you are into the activity, your child will be, too. That goes for singing and helping them interact with the storyteller in other ways, too.

Reinforce the stories at home. You could take out the books the storyteller reads from the library, or retell the stories together with your child. You can ask questions and encourage dramatic play (acting out stories).

Try to make storytime a reward or treat for your child rather than one more stop on your itinerary. This will help her look forward to storytelling – and, quite possibly, live happily ever after.

Dr. Neile’s suggestions are invaluable for stories at home, in schools or shared in public places. A family story binds a family together with laughter and sometimes tears, chasing away fears and cherishing stages long gone. A classroom story connects children to independence and belonging. A community story gathers children into an even bigger celebration of shared feelings and adventures.

Everyone has a story to tell, especially children. Hearing another’s story creates connections and empathy for people and situations who are the same and who are different.

Start now in that magical place: Once upon a time ...

THE STORYTELLING TENT AT BOCA RATON CHILDREN’S MUSEUM Professional storyteller Miss Caren will be joining the Boca Raton Children’s Museum to share Story Time at 11:30 a.m.

Tuesdays and noon Saturdays. Miss Caren (Caren S. Neile, Ph.D., MFA) is a professional storyteller who has taught storytelling studies at Florida Atlantic University since 2000 as well as throughout the U.S. and overseas.

Karen Deerwester is the owner of Family Time Coaching & Consulting, writing and lecturing on parenting and early childhood topics since 1984. She is the director of Family Time classes at The Ruth and Edward Taubman Early Childhood Center at B’nai Torah Congregation in Boca Raton and the host of the parenting podcast “See Me Hear Me Love Me.” Karen is the author of “The Potty Training Answer Book,” “The Playskool Guide to Potty Training” and “The Entitlement-Free Child.”

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stages » preteen

Greedy kids?

New study says a gratitude journal will help

BY HEIDI STEVENS CHICAGO TRIBUNE

Materialistic kids aren’t just tough to shop with at Target (“TeenyMates!

Shopkins! Legos! Need! Them! All!”). They’re at an increased risk of developing long-term social and psychological issues, according to a new study.

Aric Rindfleisch, professor of business administration at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, has spent 20 years researching materialism, and he calls it a learned value that can negatively impact a person’s lifelong well-being.

“Materialism is a value,” Rindfleisch said. “And people who hold strongly to it tend to suffer both psychologically and socially, in terms of a reduced sense of well-being, lower levels of happiness, reduced life satisfaction and increased rates of anxiety, depression, stress and loneliness.”

But he also has some good news.

In a new study, Rindfleisch found that materialism can be curbed with a simple series of gratitude exercises.

“When we’re grateful, we reflect on the generosity of others,” he said.

“Given that we’re social humans, this idea of reciprocity kicks off the notion that we should be generous to others.”

After studying a nationwide sample of 900 adolescents ages 11 to 17, Rindfleisch’s team found a definitive link between gratitude and materialism, suggesting that strategies to induce more gratitude could possibly lower materialism in teens.

They gathered 61 adolescents (29 boys and 32 girls) and asked them to complete a five-item gratitude measure and an eight-item materialism measure. Then the kids were assigned to keep a daily journal for two weeks. One group was asked to record what they were thankful for each day, and one group was asked to simply record their daily activities.

Next, they were each given 10 $1 bills for participating, and told they could keep all the money or donate some of it to charity.

After two weeks, participants completed the same gratitude and materialism measures. The kids who recorded what they were grateful for each day showed a significant increase in gratitude and a significant decrease in materialism. The other group retained their pre-journal levels of gratitude and materialism.

In addition, the gratitude journal participants donated 60 percent more of their earnings than the kids who simply recorded their daily activities.

“The findings show that cultivating a grateful disposition among adolescents is not only a powerful counterweight to materialism, but also notably reduces its negative effects on generosity,” the study states.

Feelings of gratitude can be fostered through a variety of methods, the study points out: daily reflection around the dinner table, keeping a gratitude jar where kids write down something they’re grateful for each week, art projects that ask children to list what they’re thankful for, etc.

Which is a lot easier than trying to avoid the messages and temptations that lead to materialism in the first place: commercials, friends who have more than you, trips to Target.

“It’s an easy work-around that combats materialism, rather than trying to stop it from forming in the first place,” Rindfleisch said. “The low-cost, easy solution of simply reflecting once a day on something to be thankful for can, over time, reduce materialism and make children and society kinder and gentler to one another.”

Yes, please.

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SPONSORED CONTENT

What should you do about the Zika virus?

BY OTTO M. RAMOS, M.D. Many South Florida women and men are concerned about the Zika virus, which is being investigated in connection with a dangerous birth defect called microcephaly.

In the Caribbean, Latin America in other parts of the world, pregnant women who have been bitten by a mosquito carrying the Zika virus have given birth to babies with abnormally small heads who have severe developmental problems and often die at an early age.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is now analyzing these cases to determine if there is a direct linkage between the virus and microcephaly, which can have many causes. The CDC has also warned pregnant women against travel to tropical areas. Women and their partners who have traveled to those areas should be tested for the virus within two to 12 weeks after returning home.

A growing number of Zika virus cases have been reported in South Florida, whose warm humid climate makes it a natural breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Recently, the World Health Organization

estimated that 3 to 4 million people across the Americas will be infected by the Zika virus, which can be transmitted by the aggressive Aedes aegypti and A. albopictus mosquitos or sexual intercourse.

In many, the Zika fever caused by the virus is a mild illness, whose symptoms may include a low fever, rash, pain in the joints, pinkeye (conjunctivitis), body aches, headaches or vomiting. But many people carrying the virus show no symptoms at all. Because there is no specific treatment for the virus, these symptoms are usually treated with over-the-counter pain medications, along with rest and drinking plenty of fluids.

REDUCING THE RISK Whether you’re staying at home or traveling abroad, preventing mosquito bites is the best way to reduce the risk of Zika and other diseases such as yellow fever and malaria. Since mosquito activity in Florida rises in the spring and summer, here are some recommendations from the Florida Department of Health to reduce the risk for yourself and your family.

• Use insect repellant containing

Picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, paramenthane diol or IR3535.

• Young children and pregnant or nursing women should avoid repellants containing DEET. Consider Skin-So-Soft.

• Follow the label instructions.

• Apply to bare skin or clothing but not on underwear.

• Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants.

• Consider clothing that is pre-treated with repellent.

• Run the air conditioner, or make sure windows and doors have screens. Otherwise, sleep under a mosquito bed net.

• To avoid breeding mosquitoes, drain standing water from garbage cans, pool covers, and any other containers around your home.

• Empty and clean pets’ water bowls and birdbaths in your yard at least once or twice a week.

•Maintain chemical balance of swimming pools Dr. Ramos is director of the Virus Laboratory at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, part of Miami Children’s Health System.

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Zika adds import to GMO mosquito test proposed in Florida Keys

BY JENNIFER KAY ASSOCIATED PRESS The spread of the Zika virus in Latin America is giving a boost to a British biotech firm’s proposal to deploy a genetically modified mosquito to try to stop transmission of the disease.

Oxitec has genetically modified the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which also transmits dengue and chikungunya, so the males produce offspring that do not live.

But until recently, its proposal to test the mosquito in the Florida Keys has languished at the Food and Drug Administration while the company conducted similar field trials outside the United States.

“The data seems to be promising in terms of reducing the mosquito populations in those small field trials, but we need to go through our process, and we are greatly expediting the process,” FDA Assistant Commissioner Dr. Luciana Borio said in March at a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee hearing on Zika preparedness.

Here are some things to know about genetically modified mosquitoes.

HOW ARE THEY MODIFIED? Oxitec modifies Aedes aegypti mosquitoes with synthetic DNA to produce offspring that won’t survive outside a lab.

Modified females are manually separated in the lab from the modified males, which do not bite and are released to mate with wild female mosquitoes.

DOES IT WORK? Oxitec says it has completed successful tests in Panama and the Cayman Islands, along with a test as part of a denguefighting program in Piracicaba, Brazil. The city’s health department has confirmed Oxitec’s results: a reduction in the wild Aedes larvae population in the targeted neighborhood by over 80 percent.

Some experts have questioned whether the use of genetically modified mosquitoes is feasible on a countrywide scale or is efficient for controlling mosquito populations and the spread of diseases over the long term.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told the March congressional hearing that researchers would have to show that a reduction in the mosquito population led to a decline in disease.

“Scalability is really going to be a problem,” he said.” You don’t want to scale up unless you know it works.”

Tom Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said tests of the genetically modified mosquitoes have only been done in small areas involving the release of tens of millions of mosquitoes. “So while they’re promising technologies that we absolutely need to pursue, I think we also have to be realistic about what the impact in this mosquito season is likely to be,” he said.

World Health Organization’s MariePaule Kieny has called for “extreme rigor” in evaluating the effectiveness of modified mosquitoes.

WHAT ARE THE RISKS? Oxitec says it has received no reports of adverse impacts from its modified mosquitoes.

Anti-GMO activists say they want more proof that stray female modified mosquitoes that leave Oxitec labs aren’t spreading genetic material through bites or that there are no other environmental risks, such as opening areas to infestation by another disease-carrying mosquito species.

Outside researchers say Oxitec’s method is safe and worth exploring as a weapon against a hard-to-eliminate mosquito, but some also say public perceptions about GMOs pose a significant challenge for Oxitec, which was bought last year by the biotechnology company Intrexon.

In a preliminary finding, the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine said March 11 that the release of genetically modified mosquitoes as part of a field trial in the Florida Keys would not be harmful to people or the environment.

OTHER TESTS Before the trial started in Brazil last April, Oxitec spent months on public outreach, including a radio jingle explaining how the technology worked and fliers about the “friendly mosquito.” Oxitec also invited residents to place their bare arms in “bug dorms” containing hundreds of its modified mosquitoes, to demonstrate that the insects would not bite.

About 35 million modified mosquitoes have been released in the middle-income residential neighborhood of Eldorado in Brazil, flying from vans equipped with bladeless fans to blow insects out their windows.

Piracicaba’s mayor and health secretary say they hope to continue and expand the trial, because traditional eradication methods hadn’t been effective.

THE FLORIDA PROPOSAL The Florida Keys Mosquito Control District wants Oxitec to test its modified mosquitoes in a neighborhood of 444 homes clustered on a relatively isolated peninsula north of Key West. With or without the test, the district is looking for additional options to kill Aedes aegypti, which it considers a significant and expensive threat in the tourism-dependent island chain. In a statement March 11, executive director Michael Doyle said the district is looking at several different eradication technologies, but those other methods take years to develop, and Oxitec is furthest along.

A residents’ group called the Florida Keys Environmental Coalition wants the district to instead try infecting mosquitoes with a bacteria that curbs their ability to transmit disease, arguing that Oxitec’s proposal is mostly marketing hype and won’t be subject to adequate federal oversight.

WHEN WILL THEY BE RELEASED IN FLORIDA? Not anytime soon. The FDA still needs to review public comments on Oxitec’s proposal and may require more documentation from the company before deciding whether to approve the trial — and there is no deadline for this process. The draft environmental assessment will be available for public comment for 30 days, through April 13.

HAVE GENETICALLY MODIFIED INSECTS EVER BEEN RELEASED IN THE U.S.?

Yes. Oxitec has released genetically modified pink bollworms in field tests aimed at reducing the population of the cotton pest in Arizona. Last summer, the company received approval for field cage trials in upstate New York for genetically modified diamondback moths, another agricultural pest, and Oxitec plans to continue further field trials in conjunction with Cornell University this summer. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has overseen both projects.

Associated Press writer Bruce Douglas in Rio de Janeiro contributed to this report.

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April

Events updated daily on our website

NG.COM

IDAPARENTI

SOUTHFLOR

» Calendar

Find more fun things to do online.

» calendar index

BROWARD

Rhythm Learning Time. Ages 3-5. 11 a.m. Miramar

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Editor’s Picks

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Theater, Shows, Concerts

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Festival Highlights

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Exhibits for Families

1 Friday MIAMI-DADE

Cultural Fridays. Enjoy music and discover works by local artists and artisans. 7-11 p.m. Domino Park, SW 15th Avenue and 8th St., Miami. Free. 305-643-5500 Free Fridays Tours at the Wolf. Free 45-minute guided tour of the permanent collection or temporary exhibitions. 6-6:45 p.m. The Wolfsonian-FIU, 1001 Washington Ave., Miami Beach. 305-531-1001 or wolfsonian.org Friday Night Food Trucks. 5:30-10 p.m. Palmetto Bay Village Center, 18001 Old Cutler Road, Palmetto Bay. Free Folklife Fridays Festival Liberty City. Entertainment, food, and clothing. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. 9th Street Pedestrian Mall (NW 9th Street & NW 2nd Ave) Miami.

Branch Library & Education Center, 2050 Civic Center Place, Miramar. Free. RSVP. 954-357-8090 Play Dates @ YAA. Ages 5 and under. “Move It Fridays” with toddler yoga, balance, dance, tumbling and more. 11:30 a.m.-Noon. Young At Art Museum, 751 SW 121st Ave., Davie. $12-$14. 954-424-0085 or youngatartmuseum.org Friday Night Sound Waves. Visit website for complete schedule of performances. 5:30-8:30 p.m. the Hub, Las Olas Boulevard and A1A, Fort Lauderdale. FridayNightSoundWaves.com Cool De Sac Movie Night. Movie, food and activities. Call for movie titles. 6-9 p.m. The Village at Gulfstream Park, 501 S. Federal Highway, Hallandale Beach.

Child drop off $27 per child; Stay and play, regular prices.

RSVP. 954-399-9953 or thevillageatgulfstreampark.com Artspark Funtastic Fridays And Movie Night.

Bounce house, face painters and more. Movie begins at 8 p.m. 5-8 p.m. ArtsPark, 1 Young Circle, Hollywood. Free.

954-921-3500 or visithollywoodfl.org First Friday Food Trucks. Food trucks and live music. 5-9 p.m. Flamingo Gardens, 3750 S. Flamingo Road, Davie. Free. 954-473-2955 PALM BEACH Movies in the Park. Bring your lawn chair or blanket and view feature films under the stars. Food and drink available. Dewey Park, 100 NE 4th St. Ocean Ave., Boynton Beach. 561-600-9097 Evening On The Avenue. Music, food trucks, art, specialty vendors. 6-10 p.m. Lake Worth Cultural Plaza, 414 Lake Ave., Lake Worth. Free. lakeworth.org Food Truck Pow Wow. Music and food trucks. 5-9 p.m. Constitution Park 399 Seabrook Road, Jupiter.

2 Saturday MIAMI-DADE

City of Aventura Movie Night. “The Peanuts Movie.” 8 p.m. Founders Park, 3105 NE 190 St., Aventura. cityofaventura.com Annual Kickball Tournament. Register as a team of 15, 8 or as individual and will receive a T-shirt, snacks and lunch 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Peacock Park, 2820 McFarlane Road, Miami. chapmanpartnership.org/wpq_events/6thannual-nextgen-kickball-tournament Junior Ranger Day. Free activities while celebrating Junior Ranger Day. Everglades National Park 40001 State Road 9336, Homestead. nps.gov/ever/learn/kidsyouth/ beajuniorranger.htm Home Depot Kids Workshop. Ages 5-12. First come/first served. 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Home Depot. Free.

Find participating store at homedepot.com

BROWARD

Youth Chess Club. 10:30 a.m. Southwest Regional Library, 16835 Sheridan St., Pembroke Pines. Free.

RSVP. 954-357-6580 Pediatric Associates New Parent Class. Learn what to expect with a new baby and other topics about preparing for your new arrival. 12:30-1:30 p.m. Chapel

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editor’s picks

April 9, Saturday BROWARD COUNTY

10th annual KID Duck Fest Derby. Bounce houses, petting zoo, face painting, photo opportunities, meet and greet with Splash, the Duck Fest Derby Mascot, food trucks, and more.

Noon-3 p.m. Esplanade Park, 400 SW 2nd St., Fort Lauderdale. support.kidinc.org

April 16, Saturday & Sunday MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

MIAMI SEAQUARIUM TOTALLY TEACHERS WEEKEND. Free admission for Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach County teachers and school employees, in both private and public schools, with school ID or pay stub along with picture ID. Miami Seaquarium, 4400 Rickenbacker Causeway. 305-361-5705 or miamiseaquarium.com

Trail Plaza, 18425 W. Pines Blvd., Pembroke Pines. RSVP. 877-334-5437 or pediatricassociates.com Archaeofest 2016. Replicas, fossils, “Expedition Conquistador” (a living history exhibit with costumed actors), children’s dig box, instruction in ancient weapons, and more. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. 6620 University Drive, Parkland.

954-757-4207 or cityofparkland.org 11th annual Rally For The Cure. Golf activities, 9 Hole golf tournament. All levels welcome. All must wear pink. Lunch and equipment provided. 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Lauderhill Golf Course, 4141 NW 16th St., Lauderhill. $25 donation. RSVP. 786-554-6056 Fox Observatory. View the night sky at the park’s observatory. Sunset- midnight. Call for prices. Markham

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» theater, shows & concerts THE CONCH FRITTERS GUMBO FOR KIDS April 2. Grades K-8. Performance introduces young people to the musical styles and dominant instruments of the tropics with a live performance and a description of the instruments.

Free face-painting, storytelling, art activities and meet Kids Culture Mascot, Buddy the Bookworm, one hour before performance. 2 p.m. Miramar Cultural Center, 2400 Civic Center Place. Miramar. $15. 954-602-4530 or miramarculturalcenter.org DISNEY ON ICE PRESENTS FROZEN Through April 3. Hosted

by Mickey and Minnie, with special appearances by beloved Disney princesses and characters.

American Airlines Arena, 601 Biscayne Blvd., Miami. Tickets start at $20. 800-745-3000 or ticketmaster.com ROCKIN CONCERT EVENT April 3. PJ Library recording artists Mama Doni & Eric, make and take art projects, balloon twisting, storytime, pictures with a balloon sculpture, and family photo station.”

1 p.m. Benvenuto, 1730 N Federal Highway, Boynton Beach. adults, $8; children, $3. 561209-2616 or e.simon@cjepb.org LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS Through April 10. The story of Seymour Krelborn, a hapless clerk in a Skid Row flower shop who discovers a small plant sent by aliens to take over the earth. Delray Beach Playhouse, 950 NW 9th St., Delray Beach. $30; ages 18 and younger, $15. 561-2721281, ext. 4, or delraybeachplayhouse.com A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM April 1-3. Presented by the Miami City Ballet. A new interpretation of the Balanchine/ Shakespeare/ Mendelssohn masterpiece.

Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach. $20.

561-832-7469 or kravis.org LEGALLY BLONDE April 2, 9. Based on the Broadway musical and motion picture. 4 p.m. Showtime Performing Arts Theatre, 503 SE Mizner Blvd #73, Park, 16001 W State Road 84, Sunrise. Gate entrance fee of $1.50. 954-357-8868 or sfaaa.com Aquarium: Behind The Scenes. Learn about the aquarium inhabitants and observe them feeding.2-2;30 p.m. Anne Kolb Nature Center, 751 Sheridan St., Hollywood. $2 plus tax/person exhibit hall fee. 954-357-5161 or broward.org/parks Pony Rides. Ages 9 and under. 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Tradewinds Park & Stables, 3600 W Sample Road, Coconut Creek. Gate entrance fee, $1.50; $3 per ride.

954-357-8870 Weekend Farm Tours. Tours to see the numerous farm animals. 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Tradewinds Park &

Boca Raton. Adults, $14; under 12, $10. 561394-2626 or ShowtimeBoca.com DISNEY’S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST JR. April 3. Presented by Hochberg Preparatory School’s Rousso musical theater program. 11:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Aventura Arts & Cultural Center, 3385 NE 188th St., Aventura. $10. browardcenter.org SING MIAMI 2016 April 9. A community sing-along with guest artist Cristian Grases, assistant professor USC Thornton School of Music. 2 p.m. Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, 1300 Biscayne Blvd., Miami. RSVP. 305662-7494 or miamichildrenschorus.org COPPÉLIA FOR KIDS April 9-10. Actors from the Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida and musicians from Orchestra Miami present a mini-version of the comic ballet Coppélia, set to music by French composer Leo Delibes.

The story of the inventor Dr. Coppelius, who makes a dancing doll so lifelike that a young village lad falls in love with her, is narrated in both English and Spanish. April 9 at Hialeah High School, 251 E. 47th St., Hialeah. April 10 at Norman S. Edelcup/ Sunny Isles Beach K-8 Center, 201 182nd Drive, Sunny Isles Beach. Adults, $45; children, $32. 305-274 -2103 or orchestramiami.org GUYS AND DOLLS April 13-17, 20-23. Ages 7 and up. Frank Loesser’s celebrated 1950 musical comedy about rolling the dice and falling in love under the bright lights of Broadway. Jerry Herman Ring Theatre, 1312 Miller Drive, Coral Gables. $10-$25. 305284-3355 or ringtheatre@miami.edu AFRICAN CHILDREN’S CHOIR April 15. African tunes, accompanied by ethnic instrumentation. The program features well-loved children’s songs, hand clapping, traditional spirituals and contemporary music. 8 p.m. Miramar Cultural Center, 2400 Civic Center Place, Miramar. $35-$40. 954-602-4500 or miramarculturalcenter.org DISNEY’S CHOO-CHOO SOUL WITH GENEVIEVE! April 16. Contemporary, kid- and parent-friendly songs about ABCs, 1-2-3s, being polite and more.

All $73 tickets include a meet-and-greet with Stables, 3600 W Sample Road, Coconut Creek. $3; gate entrance fee, $1.50. 954-357-8870 Weekend Guided Trail Rides. Ages 9 and up.

One-hour guided trail rides. 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Tradewinds Park & Stables, 3600 W Sample Road, Coconut Creek. $35 plus tax/person per hour. 954-357-8720 Home Depot Kids Workshop. Ages 5-12. First come/first served. 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Home Depot. Free.

Find participating store at homedepot.com.

PALM BEACH

Seining The Lagoon. Ages 10 and up. Catch and release fish, shrimp, crabs, and more. 2-3:30 p.m. Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, 1801 N Ocean Blvd Boca Raton. $10. 561-544-8605 or gumbolimbo.org

cast and photo opportunity. 2 p.m. Parker Playhouse, 707 NE 8th St., Fort Lauderdale. $23-$73. 954-462-0222 or parkerplayhouse. com THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: SYMPHONY OF THE GODDESSES MASTER QUEST April 16. Featuring a live 56-piece orchestra, 20-person choir, video presentation of gameplay imagery, live orchestral performances from Nintendo’s The Legend of Zelda, and scenes from “Tri Force Heroes,” the latest The Legend of Zelda video game. 8 p.m. Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, 1300 Biscayne Blvd., Miami. $35-$125. 305-9496722, arshtcenter.org, or zelda-symphony.com CINDERELLA KIDS April 19-21, 26-27. Disney musical adaptation of the animated film by Mack David, Al Hoffman & Jerry Livingston Area Stage Company, 1560 S Dixie Highway, Coral Gables. $10-25. areastagecompany.com WITCHES, WIZARDS, SPELLS & ELVES: THE MAGIC OF SHAKESPEARE April 24. Shakespeare Miami actors and Orchestra Miami musicians commemorate the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death with music by Bruce Adolphe and words by Shakespeare. 4 p.m. Pinecrest Gardens, 11000 SW 57th Ave., Pinecrest. Adults, $45; children, $32. 305-274 -2103 or orchestramiami.org ORQUESTA NOSTALGIA April 24. Mambo, Cha Cha and Bolero of the 1950s and ‘60s. Part of the Big Band Concert Series. The Willow Theatre, 300 S. Military Trail, Boca Raton. $25. 561-347-3948 or willowtheatre.org ACROBATS OF CIRQUE-TACULAR April 24. Elite aerialists, acrobats, contortionists, jugglers, specialty acts and more. 7:30 p.m. Lauderhill Performing Arts Center, 3800 NW 11th Place, Lauderhill. $38.10-$59.30. lpacfl.com WITCHES, WIZARDS, SPELLS & ELVES: THE MAGIC OF SHAKESPEARE April 30. Shakespeare Miami actors and Orchestra Miami musicians commemorate the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death with music by Bruce Adolphe and words by Shakespeare. 1 p.m. Ronald Reagan Senior High School, 8600 NW 107th Ave., Doral.

Adults, $45; children, $32. 305-274 -2103 or orchestramiami.org

Home Depot Kids Workshop. Ages 5-12. First come/first served. 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Home Depot. Free.

Find participating store at homedepot.com Family Storytime. Teddy Bear Picnic. 10:30-11:30 a.m. Four Arts Children’s Library, 2 4 Arts Plaza, Palm Beach. 561-655-2776 or fourarts.org Bookworm Storytime. Ages 1-5. 10 a.m. Highland Beach Library, 3618 S. Ocean Blvd., Highland Beach.

561-278-5455 or highlandbeachlibrary.org Pediatric Associates New Parent Class. Learn what to expect with a new baby and other topics about preparing for your new arrival. 12:30-1:30 p.m. 379 N Congress Ave., Boynton Beach. RSVP. 877-344-5437

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APRIL 2016

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3 Sunday MIAMI-DADE

IKEA Family Event. Explore the effects of liquid nitrogen on everyday items with the Frost Science Museum. Experiments include creating indoor clouds and freezing bubbles in midair. 1-4 p.m. IKEA, 1801 NW 117th Ave., Miami. 305-434-9571 or miamisci.org Sunday Sounds at Fairchild. Live music performed by students of University of Miami’s Frost School of Music. 1-2 p.m. Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, 10901 Old Cutler Road, Coral Gables. Free with paid admission. Adults, $25; ages 6-17,$12. 305-667-1651 Sunday Family 4-Pack. Four 1-hour timed-play game cards plus a large 1-topping pizza for $39.99. 1 a.m.-11 p.m. GameTime, 5701 Sunset Drive, Suite 330, Miami. 305- 667-4263

BROWARD

Guided Nature Walk. 9:30-10:30 a.m. and 3:304:30 p.m. Secret Woods Nature Center, 2701 W State Road 84, Dania. RSVP. 954-357-8884 1-2 p.m. Fern Forest Nature Center, 201 Lyons Road South, Coconut Creek. RSVP. 954-357-5198 Be Kind to Animals. Critters Matter. Each week guests will be introduced to a featured animal. 11 a.m. Sundays. Sawgrass Nature Center & Wildlife Hospital 3000 Sportsplex Drive, Coral Springs. Donations appreciated. 954-752-9453 or sawgrassnaturecenter.org Artist Encounter Series at IKEA Sunrise. Live demonstrations, performances or hands on workshops.

1-4p.m. IKEA Sunrise, 151 NW 136th Ave., Sunrise.

888- 888-4532 or ikea.com

Downtown Hollywood Dream Car Classic Car Show. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Downtown Hollywood on Hollywood Blvd. 954-825-1027

Sunday Jazz Brunch. Free, outdoor concert series.

Bring chairs, blankets and picnic baskets. 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Performances take place along the Riverwalk area off Las Olas Blvd. 954-828-5363.

Horseback Riding Lessons • Beginner-Advanced Riding Lessons • Birthday Parties • Pony Club • Summer Camps *Call for Pricing*

SUMME MEERR BBASKET MER ASKETBALL

CAMP 2016 June 13th - July 29th 4000 NW 43rd Street Coconut Creek , FL 33073

954-326-2528

www.acts2acres.com t 2

Hola Mundo

DAILY SKILLS CONTEST & 3 ON 3 TOURNAMENTS WEEKLY FIELD TRIPS Camp Instruction will Include: Ball Handling Passing Stationary Shooting Defense Offense Fundamentals

954-809-5131 | www.sflbasketball.com

Beach Sports and Surf Camp Nonstop Bilingual Learning and Sports at the Beach Featuring 3 Different Camps this year: Beach Sports Camp | Surf Camp Tennis and Golf Camp at Palm Aire Country Club

www.holamundocamp.com

(754) 235-0995

Championship Academy Gymnasium 3367 N. University Drive, Davie FL 33024

BROWARD CAMP DIRECTORY

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Performing Arts Theatre

SUMMER CAMP 2016 SESSION 1 JUNE 6th-JULY 1 st

MINI CAMPS SESSION 1 AUGUST 1–5 ALL AGES

PALM BEACH CAMP DIRECTORY

HEALTHY AND STRONG ALL SUMMER LONG!

YOU’RE INVITED TO OUR

(GRADES K-5)

HEALTHY KIDS DAY EVENT APRIL 16, 2016 | 10-2pm FREE EVENTS and

$

MINI CAMPS SESSION 2 AUGUST 8–12 ALL AGES

AFTERNOON SUMMER CLASS SPECIALS!

ONE DAY ONLY

Acting, Dance, Voice

Only $10 each!

PRESENTING SPONSOR

ymcaspbc.org/healthykids Peter Blum Family YMCA of Boca Raton 800-250-1987

Voted Best Academic/Arts Program in Palm Beach County 2015 And Best Children’s Theatre in South Florida!

DeVos-Blum Family YMCA of Boynton Beach 800-322-8453

503 SE MIZNER BLVD. ROYAL PALM PLACE BOCA RATON 33432

*Joining fee waived for new memberships on day of event.

10% Off summer camp when purchased day of event. To apply discount see your local family center for details.

BROWARD CAMP DIRECTORY

SUMMER CAMP FUN AT MARKHAM PARK! June 13-August 12,2016

• (3) Three-week sessions or by the week!

• Field trips EVERYDAY! • Fun park activities!

• Extended hours included 7:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m.

Call 954-815-9054 Register at campchameleon.com

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(561) 394-2626 www.showtimeboca.com

NATURE • CREATIVE ARTS • ATHLETICS • AQUATICS • FIELD TRIPS

A fun and friendly summer camp for boys and girls ages 5-15

(MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOL)

SESSION 2 JULY 5 th-29 th

0 JOINING FEE*

SPECIAL OFFERS!

WORKSHOP MINI CAMPS

REGISTER NOW FOR THE 2016 - 2017 SCHOOL YEAR

THE PRESCHOOL AT TEMPLE BETH EL

• Fully Accredited Program • Ages 12 Months to 5 Years • Free VPKK

954-921-7096 9 5 templebethelhollywood.org

• ADVANCED PRE-K CURRICULUM • EARLY LITERACY • EXTENDED CARE templebethelhollywood.org

APRIL 2016

3/23/16 2:33 PM

The 2nd annual Power Wheel Car Show.

Food, face painting, and bounce houses. Call for more information. 1-5 p.m. Mills Pond Park, 2201 NW 9th Ave., Fort. Lauderdale. 954-857-1200

PALM BEACH

Green Turtle Gallop & Turtle Trot. 10K run and 1-mile Turtle Trot to benefit Gumbo Limbo Nature Center’s Sea Turtle Programs. Contact for cost. 7:15 a.m. Spanish River Park, 3001 N. Ocean Blvd., Boca Raton. gumbolimbo.org or greenturtlegallop@hotmail.com Fitness in the Park. Free fitness class. 10 a.m.

Delray Marketplace, 14851 Lyons Road, Delray Beach.

561-865-4613 Sunday Movies. Check website for movie title. $1 includes beverage & popcorn. 11 a.m. Sugar Sand Park Community Center, 300 S. Military Trail, Boca Raton.

561-347-3900 or SugarSandPark.org Special Needs Family Fun Night. All children receive 50% off admission. Socks required. 6-8 p.m. Cool Beans, 11701 Lake Victoria Gardens Ave., Palm Beach Gardens. $10.95; 6 months-2, $8.95; siblings, $6.95.

561-627-1782 A Rockin’ Concert Event for Families. Ages 8 and under. PJ Library recording artists Mama Doni & Eric, activities and giveaways. 1-3:30 p.m. Benvenuto, 1730 N. Federal Highway, Boynton Beach. adults, $8; children over 2, $3. RSVP 561-209-2616 or e.simon@cjepb.org Free Family Fun Fest. “Superhero Spectacular.”

Meet superheroes and princesses, entertainment, fire truck, police and community heroes, bounce houses, face painting, crafts, and more. 1-4 p.m. 700 S. Rosemary Ave., West Palm Beach. 561-366-1000 or cityplace.com

4 Monday MIAMI-DADE

Sharing Stories. Ages 3-5. 11 a.m. Country Walk Branch Library, 15433 SW 137th Ave., Miami. Free. 786293-4577

The Weiss School Summer Camps Aerospace Camps Grades 3-5 & 6-8 June 6 - July 1 • 8am-12pm Led by Einstein Fellow, Kevin Simmons, whose work with NASA & The Space Foundation allowed students to FLY in ZERO G. Can sign up by the week

Music Camps Taught by the BOSTON BRASS, Julliard-trained conductor, Andrew Gekoskie, and best-in-class private instructors.

Middle School Band Camp led by The Boston Brass Grades 5-8 • June 20-23 • 8am-1pm (Thurs 4pm, lunch incl.)

Piano Camp Grades 3-8 for the 2016/17 school year June 6-9 • 8am-1pm • Designed for beginners The Art of Conducting - Conducting Symposium June 14-17 • Open to ALL teachers, artists & conductors

Camp Cooperation Early Childhood - 3rd Grade • May 31 - July 29 8:15am-3:15pm • Aftercare available until 6pm Led by The Weiss School Teachers - Small Class Sizes Bricks 4 Kidz, Mad Science, Kids Zumba, Mind Lab, Art Van Go, Fundamentals, Splash Days, Detective Agency Weeks.

Weiss Debate Institute Entering Grades 6-8 for 2016/17 school year July 11-15 • 8am-11:30am Instruction will culminate in a Congressional debate for parents!

SHARK

MONTHS JUNE 1 - August 31

MAKE RESERVATIONS NOW FOR A FIELD TRIP WHICH INCLUDES A SHARK FEEDING! NEW this year…

Fossil and modern Sawfish and Saw sharks!

•100 genuine shark and ray jaws!

• Hawaiian Shark Tooth Weapons!

•Fossil dig to find a shark tooth!

•Take a photo in a giant Megalodon Jaw! •Shark Feedings Tues-Sat at 10:30am and Sundays at 1:30pm •Admission is only $5 per person ages 3 and up.

• We now have Stingray feedings Tues-Sun at 2:45pm

142 S. OCEAN BLVD. DELRAY BEACH, FL 33483 For more information call: 561-274-7263 or visit our website at: www.sandoway.org

Register Here: https://www.weissschool.org/summer 4176 Burns Road | Palm Beach Gardens | FL | 33410 Phone: 561.627.0740 | Fax: 561.775.7794

info@weissschool.org

SUMMER CAMP ADVENTURES SUMMER CAMPS 2016

0% Financing Available

Register now with a deposit

We Have (All Inclusive) Hands-On FUN! Engineering Labs CHEMISTRY LABS Physics Labs Rocketry Labs Coding and Programming Labs Video & Gaming Labs Outdoor Recreation Sports & Games

High Tech Club Minecraft Club Lego Robotics Club Tuition starts at $200.

Plus a $50. registration fee.

See all rates and discounts on website.

www.thescienceacademy.org Or call 561.285.7552

Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County!

ENJOY Field Trips | Arts & Crafts | Summer Reading | Sports Camps | Science Camps | Fitness | Music | Recreation | Free Breakfast & Lunch 13 locations to choose from!

Belle Glade (7 locations) Boca Raton Delray Beach Riviera Beach Wellington West Palm Beach (2 locations) Accepting ages 6-18 10 weeks of camp!

June 3rd - August 12th Register in 2 wk sessions Mon. - Fri. 7:30a.m. - 6:00p.m.

Low cost; Scholarships available

Registration begins February 22 Call (561) 683-3287 or visit www.bgcpbc.org to find a Club near you!

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PALM BEACH CAMP DIRECTORY

@ Morikami Park Elementary 6201 Morikami Park Rd – Boca Raton, Fl. Summer Camp Starts June 6TH, 2016 Monday to Friday 8am To 5pm Extended Hours Available For K - 5TH Graders from any School

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This summer, let your kids go wild at Jungle Edventure Camp.

P

Ages: 5 – 12 years Dates: June 13 -Augus t5 Camp Times: 9:00am – 4:30pm Early and Late Care av ailable

There’s summer camp—and then there’s Jungle Island, where every day begins and ends with a great big adventure. Like walking in the footsteps of a zookeeper, learning how to care for the world’s

camp experience, but then again, it’s Jungle Island.

To register your child, visit JungleIsland.com/camp 1111 Parrot Jungle Trail, Miami, Florida 33132 | 305-400-7000

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The Family That Reads Together. Toddler

Surprise Storytime. Ages 5-12. 4 p.m. Northeast

stories, games, and songs. 11 a.m. Arcola Lakes Branch Library, 8240 NW 7th Ave., Miami. Free. RSVP. 305694-2707

YOUmake Miami: Pin Your Dream upon a Star. Ages 8 and up. Create an image using a variety of media and turn it into a button. 3 p.m. Miami Beach Regional Library, 227 22nd St., Miami Beach. Free.

RSVP. 305-535-4219

BROWARD

Mr Richard’s Storytime. Ages 3-5. 10:30 a.m.

North Regional/BC Library, 1100 Coconut Creek Blvd., Coconut Creek. Free. RSVP. 954-201-2600 Play Dates @ YAA. Ages 5 and under. “Art Amazing” sensory art project. 11:30 a.m.-Noon. Young At Art Museum, 751 SW 121st Ave., Davie. $12-$14. 954424-0085 or youngatartmuseum.org Monday Morning Storytime. Ages 4 and under.

10:30 a.m. Richard Sullivan Public Library, 500 NE 26th St., Wilton Manors. 954-390-2195 or wiltonmanors.com Food Trucks At Artspark. Over 20 different food trucks. 5:30-10 p.m. ArtsPark at Young Circle, 1 Young Circle, Hollywood. Free admission. 954-921-3500.

PALM BEACH

Preschool Storytime. Flower Day. 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Four Arts Children’s Library, 2 4 Arts Plaza, Palm Beach.

561-655-2776 or fourarts.org Springtime Stomp. Ages 2-3. Storytime tunes. 10:30 a.m. Gardens Branch Library, 11303 Campus Drive, Palm Beach Gardens. RSVP. 561-626-6133 Crazy 8s Math Club. Grades K-2. 4 p.m. Glades Road Branch Library, 20701 95th Ave., South Boca Raton. RSVP. 561-482-4554

5 Tuesday MIAMI-DADE

Anime and Manga Club. Ages 8-12. 4 p.m. Main Library, 101 W. Flagler St., Miami. Free. RSVP. 305375- 2665

Dade - Aventura Branch Library, 2930 Aventura Blvd., Aventura. RSVP. 305-931-5512 Make Recycled Paper Beads. Ages 8 and up.

Materials provided. 4:30 p.m. North Dade Regional Library, 2455 NW 183rd St., Miami Gardens. Free. RSVP. 305-625-6424 Match Play Tuesday. Video game arcade and family entertainment center. GameTime will match your food bill with equal game credits. 4-7 p.m. GameTime, 5701 Sunset Drive, Suite 330, Miami. 305- 667-4263 Donation Day. Free admission to Lowe Art Museum.

Gallery tour at 11 a.m. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Lowe Art Museum, 1301 Stanford Drive, Coral Gables.

BROWARD

Baby Lapsit. Ages: 3-11 months. Story and songs.

10:30 a.m. Northwest Regional Library, 3151 University Drive, Coral Springs. Free. RSVP. 954-357-7990 Finger Paints & Coffee. Ages 2 to 5. Coffee, light snacks and juice will be provided. 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Recreation Complex, 4455 Sol Press Blvd., Coconut Creek. $30-$40. RSVP. 954-956-1580 or coconutcreek. net/webtrac Family Nights With Food Trucks. 5:30-9:30 p.m. Plantation Heritage Park, 1100 S. Fig Tree Lane, Plantation. Free. 954-357-5135 Kids Eat Free Tuesdays. Kids 12 and under eat free with paying adult. 9 a.m.-8:30 p.m. IKEA Sunrise. 888888-4532 or ikea.com

City of North Miami Beach Parks and R.E.C. Department’s

Summer Camp 2016 June 13 – August 5 Monday – Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

PALM BEACH

A Walk On The Ashley Trail. Free guided walk along a quarter-mile natural trail. 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, 1801 N Ocean Blvd Boca Raton. 561-544-8605 or gumbolimbo.org Mother Nature & Me. Ages 2-5. “A is for Alligator.” 10:30 a.m. Daggerwing Nature Center, 11435 Park Access Road, Boca Raton. $4 per child. RSVP. 561-6298760 or pbcgov.com/parks/nature/daggerwing_nature_center

Weekly Field Trips • Daily Activities • Games Special Events • Sports • Swimming For fees, locations and registration information, please call (305) 948-2957.

AMP! C S IRL AN ALL G

MIAMI-DADE CAMP DIRECTORY

Summer Camps Around the World • Sports • Movie Makers Academic SuperCamp • STEM • Debate Registration opens online March 1st, 2016.

For more information visit www.carrollton.org.

3747 Main Highway, Coconut Grove • 305-446-5673, ext. 2340 APRIL 2016 |

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Paintb

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SUMMER CAMPS and FIELD TRIPS

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Party Packages Starting at

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199

Inflatab

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• Laser Tag Arena • Rock Climbing • Video Arcade • Birthday Parties • Bumper Cars • Glow in the Dark Mini Golf • Canon Blaster • Basketball Court • Inflatable City • BEST PAINTBALL EXPERIENCE Play on all terrains shooting from a window on our village field or wooded battlefield… get ready for action!

www.actiontownfl.com

7925 7 5 W. W 2nd Court • Hialeah, FL 33014 • 305-647-3343 7-3 -3343 3

MIAMI-DADE CAMP DIRECTORY

SM

2016 MCM EXPLORERS

SUMMER CAMP

For children Pre-K (4) - 5th Grade Before and After Care Available

BECOME AN MCM EXPLORER just in time for the Summer Olympic Games as we explore sports and cultures from around the world!

Ask about our toddler summer program!

REGISTER TODAY! summercamp.michimu.net 84

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APRIL 2016

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6 Wednesday

7 Thursday

MIAMI-DADE

MIAMI-DADE

BASS Babies. Ages 19 months-3. Song, gallery activi-

Anime Nation. Ages 8 and up. Watch a film, practice

ties, and art making. 10:30 a.m. Miami Beach Regional Library, 227 22nd St., Miami Beach. Free. RSVP. 305535-4219 YOUmake Miami: Jewelry Makers. Ages 8 and up. 2:30 p.m. Miami Beach Regional Library, 227 22nd St., Miami Beach. Free. RSVP. 305-535-4219 WII U Wednesday. Ages 8 and up. 3:30 p.m. Main Library, 101 W. Flagler St., Miami. Free. RSVP. 305-3752665

drawing, participate in a cosplay. 3:30 p.m. Shenandoah Branch Library, 2111 SW 19th St., Miami. Free. RSVP. 305-250-4688 Bark & Read. Ages 5-12. Children read stories to Flora a licensed therapy greyhound. 3:30 p.m. West End Regional Library, 10201 Hammocks Blvd., Miami. Free.

RSVP. 305-385-7135 Tinkering with Tech. An introduction to computer programming for children. 4:30 p.m. Arcola Lakes Branch Library, 8240 NW 7th Ave., Miami. Free. RSVP. 305694-2707

BROWARD

Bookworms Storytime and Craft. 10 a.m. Deerfield Beach Percy White Branch Library, 837 E. Hillsboro Blvd., Deerfield Beach. Free. RSVP. 954-357-7680 Bilingual Family Storytime. Ages 3 and up. 6:30 p.m. Richard C. Sullivan Public Library, 500 NE 26th St., Wilton Manors. 954-390-2195 or wiltonmanors.com Polliwogs. Ages 3 to 5. Stories, crafts, games and an exploratory hike. 9:30-11 a.m. Hillsboro Pineland Natural Area, 5591 NW 74th Place, Coconut Creek. $5. 954357-5100 or webtrac.broward.org Tamarac Food Trucks. 5:30- 9:30 p.m. Tamarac Park, 7501 N University Drive, Tamarac. Free. 954-5973620 Wednesday Night Cheap Skate. $6 skating Wednesdays. Skates included. 6-8:30 p.m. Galaxy Skateway, 7500 Southgate Blvd., 954-721-0580 or 3737 N Davie Road Extension, 954-435-3300

PALM BEACH

A Walk On The Ashley Trail. Free guided walk along a quarter-mile natural trail. 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, 1801 N Ocean Blvd Boca Raton. 561-544-8605 or gumbolimbo.org Fun @ Four. Ages 5-12. Weekly after-school activities. 4 p.m. Greenacres Branch Library, 3750 Jog Road, Greenacres. RSVP. 561-641-9100

The ideal camp for all fashionistas!

BROWARD

Itsy Bitsy Babies. Ages 3-18 months. Stories, music, bubbles, and rhymes followed by free play time. 10:30 a.m. North Regional/BC Library, 1100 Coconut Creek Blvd., Coconut Creek. Free. RSVP. 954-201-2600 Know Your Neighborhood. Take a walk with Hallandale Beach Police around the neighborhood in a program designed to get neighbors talking and aware of their surroundings. 8:30-9:30 a.m. Ingalls Park, 735 SW 1st St., Hallandale Beach. Free. 954-457-1644 or hallandalebeachfl.gov Superstars Dance And Baton Class. Ages 4 and up. Beginning and intermediate dance and baton classes 4-6 p.m. Tree Tops Park, 3900 SW 100th Ave., Davie. $50 per month unlimited classes. 954-438-2075 or floridasuperstars.com Food Truck Invasion. 5-10 p.m. Quiet Waters Park, 401 S Powerline Road, Deerfield Beach. Free. broward.org Free Library Art Classes. 2-4 p.m. Dania Beach Library, 100 West Dania Beach Boulevard Dania Beach. ci.dania-beach.fl.us

PALM BEACH

Clematis by Night. Drink specials, food vendors, and music. 6-9 p.m. West Palm Beach Waterfront, 101 S. Flagler Drive, West Palm Beach. wpb.org/events

MIAMI-DADE CAMP DIRECTORY

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» exhibits for families DIPLOMAT RESORT’S SECOND ANNUAL PEEPS ART SHOW Through April 2. Pop-up art exhibit using the iconic Easter candy – PEEPS, created by Miami International University of Art & Design students. 3555 S. Ocean Drive, Hollywood.

954-602-6000

STEP RIGHT UP: 38TH ANNUAL STUDENT EXHIBITION Through April 13. Exhibition showcases the works of Broward College art students. The Rosemary Duffy Larson Gallery, 3501 SW Davie Road, Building 6, Davie. 954-201-6984 or aclyman@broward.edu

OUR PROGRAMS

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MIAMI-DADE CAMP DIRECTORY

INFANT / TOD

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ementary Our lower el phasizes em um curricul n as well io at uc Cosmic Ed orida’s Fl of as the State re in a co on m m co er setting. Low Montessori fully a es ud cl in Elementary m.

EAM Progra integrated ST

4760 Pine Tree Drive, Miami Beach, FL 33140 (305) 534-8234 www.miamibeachmontessori.com PROGRAM ENRICHMENTS Students in our Pre-K/K and Lower Elementary take part in our integrated program that incorporates: Spanish Language Immersion, STEAM, Lego & Robotics, Research, Yoga, and Gardening.

Enrolling Now for Fall 2016-2017 Ages 9 Months - 9 Years Starting June 6, 2016 Weekly Themed Summer Camp for Ages 16 Months - 7 Years

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DINOSAURS AROUND THE WORLD: THE EXHIBITION Through April 16. View 13 life-sized roaring, breathing dinosaurs. Learn about the latest paleontological research, discover and name a dinosaur, determine what colors dinosaurs actually were and more. South Florida Science Center and Aquarium, 4801 Dreher Trail North, West Palm Beach. 561-370-7710 or sfsciencecenter.org INVITATION TO THE BALL: MARJORIE MERRIWEATHER POST’S FANCY DRESS COSTUMES Through April 17. Exhibition focuses on intricate dress costumes that were designed specifically for Post when she attended elaborate charity balls. The Society of the Four Arts, 2 Four Arts Plaza, Palm Beach. $5; ages 14 and younger, free. 561-655-7226 or fourarts.org THE ART OF VIDEO GAMES Through April 17. Explore the 40-year evolution of video games as an artistic medium, with a focus on striking visual effects and the creative use of new technologies. The exhibition focuses on the interplay of graphics, technology and storytelling through some of the best games for 20 gaming systems ranging from the Atari VCS to the PlayStation. The Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum at FIU, 10975 SW 17th St., Miami. 305-348-2890 or

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lies

of D p m ntrts Thea r A

thefrost.fiu.edu MINDBENDER MANSION Through May 1. Forty individual brain teasers and the five group activities, puzzles, tabletop brainteasers and interactive challenges.

Those who conquer the challenges become members of the Mindbender Society and add their portrait to the “Wall of Fame.” Museum of Discovery and Science and AutoNation IMAX 3D Theater, 401 SW Second St., Fort Lauderdale. 954463-IMAX (4629) or mods. org VOYAGE TO VIETNAM EXHIBIT Through May 8. Exhibit showcases traditions, customs and values exemplified by the annual celebration of Tet and the New Year. Miami Children’s Museum, 980 MacArthur Causeway, Miami. 305-373-5437 or miamichildrensmuseum.org MAGIC & MAYHEM: THE ART OF ICONIC TOYS Through May 30. Featuring toy collections of Transformers and My Little Pony, interactive art stations, merchandise displays, first-hand accounts by local collectors, murals, sculpture, photography, mixed-media works and more. Young At Art Museum, 751 SW 121 Ave., Davie. 954-4240085 or youngatartmuseum.org

E R T A E TH R E M SUM DEMY 2016 ACA

Fi rs t Se ss io n: Ju ne 13 th - Ju ly 1 st Se co nd Se ss io n: Ju ly 5 th - Ju ly 22 nd

The Summer Theatre Academy at the University of Miami’s Department of Theatre Arts promises six weeks of fun and learning! Whether in grade school, middle school or high school, your child will gain valuable skills, confidence, self-esteem, and a love of creativity through theatre games and acting exercises led by our well-trained, caring staff. facebook.com/ summertheatreacademy @STAatUM

(305)284-4474

WWW.AS.MIAMI.EDU/STA STA@MIAMI.EDU

ONGOING

MIAMI-DADE CAMP DIRECTORY

BAPTIST CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL HEALTH & WELLNESS CENTER Gallery will help teach young visitors and their parents the importance of leading a healthy and active lifestyle with exercise stations, food facts, sports interactives and more.

Miami Children’s Museum, 980 MacArthur Causeway, Miami. 305-373-5437 or miamichildrensmuseum.org THE MARY ALICE FORTIN CHILDREN’S ART GALLERY Through July. “Illustrating Words: The Wondrous Fantasy World of Robert L. Forbes, poet and Ronald Searle, artist.” 10 a.m.-4:45 p.m. Monday-Friday; 10 a.m.-12:45 p.m.

Saturdays. Free. The Society of the Four Arts, 2 Four Arts Plaza, Palm Beach. 561-655-2776 or fourarts.org CLYDE BUTCHER PHOTOGRAPHY Butcher is a nationally recognized conservationist who uses his photography to help preserve natural environments throughout the nation. Museum of Discovery and Science and AutoNation IMAX 3D Theater, 401 SW Second St., Fort Lauderdale. 954-463-IMAX (4629) or mods.org

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Beach Treasures. Learn about shells and sea life; caravan to Red Reef Beach Park, for beachcombing with the experts. 3-4:30 p.m. Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, 1801 N. Ocean Blvd Boca Raton. Member, $5; non-member, $8. 561-544-8605 or gumbolimbo.org Preschool Storytime. Bird Day. 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Four Arts Children’s Library, 2 4 Arts Plaza, Palm Beach.

561-655-2776 or fourarts.org

8 Friday MIAMI-DADE

Kids Day Off. Indoor/outdoor activities, sports, arts and crafts, swimming and more. 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Surfside Community Center, 9301 Collins Ave., Surfside. $30-$45.

305-866-3635 or townofsurfsidefl.gov Cultural Fridays. Enjoy music and discover works by local artists and artisans. 7-11 p.m. Domino Park, SW 15th Avenue and 8th St., Miami. Free. 305-643-5500

BROWARD

Pompano Beach Library Storytime. 10:30 a.m.

Pompano Beach Branch Library, 1213 E. Atlantic Blvd., Pompano Beach. Free. RSVP. 954-357-7595 Rhythm Learning Time. Ages 3-5.11 a.m. Miramar Branch Library & Education Center, 2050 Civic Center Place, Miramar. Free. RSVP. 954-357-8090 Concert in the Park. “Lazy Bones” 80’s rock hits.

7-9 p.m. Tamarac Sports Complex, 9901 NW 77 St., Tamarac. Free. 954-597-3620 or tamarac.org Music on Main Street. Live music and food trucks.

6-10 p.m. Oakland Park City Hall 3650 NE 12th Ave., Oakland Park. Free. 954-630 – 4251 or oaklandparkfl.gov Home Grown Concert Series. Beatlemaniax: Tribute to the Beatles. Bring blankets and lawn chairs. Food Trucks will be on site. 7-8:30 p.m. Band Shell, 1100 Lyons Road, Coconut Creek. Free. 954-545-6620 or CoconutCreek.net/Events Family Fun Fridays. Free entertainment, and a different line up of activities and entertainers every week. 7-9 p.m. Fridays. The Village at Gulfstream Park, Champions Plaza, 501 S. Federal Highway, Hallandale Beach. 954399-9953 or thevillageatgulfstreampark.com Artspark Funtastic Fridays And Movie Night.

Bounce house, face painters and more. 5-8 p.m. Movie begins at 8 p.m. ArtsPark, 1 Young Circle, Hollywood.

Free. 954-921-3500 or visithollywoodfl.org Music Under the Stars. Bring chairs and blankets.

7 p.m. Great Lawn, Atlantic Boulevard and Pompano Beach Boulevard, Pompano Beach. 954-786-4111

PALM BEACH

Screen On The Green. “Inside Out.”Movie under the stars. 8 p.m. Waterfront Commons, 101 N Flagler Drive, West Palm Beach. Free. wpb.org/screen-on-the-green Wetlands & Wildlife. Ages 7 and up. ¾-mile guided boardwalk tour. 3-5 p.m. Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, 1801 N. Ocean Blvd Boca Raton. Free. 561-544-8605 or gumbolimbo.org Stories in the Garden. Ages 2-6. Our Beautiful Butterflies nature-themed program. 10-11:30 a.m. Mounts Garden Pavilion, 531 N. Military Trail, West Palm Beach.

561-233-1757 or mounts.org Free Movie Night. “The Peanuts Movie.” 8 p.m. Wellington Amphitheater, 12100 Forest Hill Blvd., Wellington. wellingtonfl.gov

Pediatric Associates New Parent Class. Learn what to expect with a new baby and other topics about preparing for your new arrival. 12:30-1:30 p.m. Doral Centre, 9655 NW 41st St., Doral. RSVP: 877-334-5437 or pediatricassociates.com Autism Awareness Day. Meet community professionals, such as an Occupational Therapist and a Speech Pathologist. Explore different assistive technologies. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Miami Children’s Museum, 980 MacArthur Causeway, Miami. 305-373-5437 or miamichildrensmuseum.org HistoryMiami Family Fun Day. “Cuban Rhythms.” Celebrate Cuban music and culture with perfor-

August 2 - 16, 2016 CampSAY.org

Outstanding Staff-to-Camper Ratio All-Inclusive Tuition Financial Aid Available

828.393.4244

Outstanding Staff-to-Camper Ratio Financial Aid Available

SUMMER HAPPENS HERE!

• archery • games • fishing • kayaking • zip line • arts and • swimming crafts • riflery • water toys • canoeing • paintball and so much more!

YMCA CAMP WINONA 898 Camp Winona Road DeLeon Springs, FL 32130 386.985.4544 | campwinona.org APRIL 2016 |

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9 Saturday MIAMI-DADE

is a life-changing 2-week sleep-away camp for young people who stutter.

Camp builds confidence, communication skills, and friendships for kids & teens, ages 8-18. Camp SAY is located on a 500-acre, ACA-accredited facility in Hendersonville, NC.

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Camp ASP Enrichment 3-Day Rate: $107 • 5-Day Rate $140 AM Enrichment Activities

CAMP DIRECTORY

INSTRUCTED BY SCHOOL BOARD TEACHERS FROM EACH SCHOOL PM Activity Schedule: 3 Trips per Week LOCATIONS Park Trails Elementary in Parkland Manatee Bay Elementary in Weston Foxtrail Elementary in Davie Mirror Lake Elementary in Plantation (5-Day Rate: $135 per week) Winston Park Elementary in Coconut Creek

Camp ASP On–Site: $95 per week On-Campus Activities: 2 Trips per Week LOCATIONS Deerfield Beach Elementary in Deerfield Beach ($85 per week) Chapel Trail Elementary in West Pembroke Pines Hollywood Central ($85 per week) Tradewinds Elementary in Coconut Creek

Camp ASP & Renegade at Parks Camp Renegade at CB Smith Park for only $95 per week!

CAMPS OPEN 7:30AM – 6:00PM • SERVING CHILDREN AGES 6 THROUGH 13 (must have completed kindergarten)

Registration Fee at our Elementary Schools: $12.00 per Child or $18.00 per Family Early Registration $35.00 per family (by May 1st) • Regular Registration $45 per family (by June 1st) • Late Registration $55 per family (after June 1st)

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mances, demonstrations, cuisine, craft, and an interactive music corner. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. HistoryMiami Museum, 101 West Flagler St., Miami. Free. historymiami.org Spring Fling. Dance and buffet dinner. 6-9 p.m. Pelican Community Park, 18115 North Bay Road, Sunny Isles Beach. Resident, $10; non-resident, $20. sibfl.net

Family Day on Aragon Family And Youth Films. Admission includes a free popcorn and soda. 11 a.m. Coral Gables Art Cinema, 260 Aragon Ave., Coral Gables. $5. 786-385-9689 or gablescinema.com Museum Free Second Saturday. Hands-on activities and guided tours. 1-4 p.m. Pérez Art Museum, 1103 Biscayne Blvd., Miami. Free. 786-345-5643

BROWARD

LEGO Club. 2 p.m. Pompano Beach Branch Library, 1213 E. Atlantic Blvd., Pompano Beach. Free. RSVP. 954-357-7595

Pediatric Associates Car Seat Inspection.

Bring child, car seat and vehicle to the event. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Chapel Trail Plaza, 18425 W Pines Blvd., Pembroke Pines. RSVP. 877-334-5437 or pediatricassociates.com Pediatric Associates New Parent Class. Learn what to expect with a new baby and other topics about preparing for your new arrival. 12:30-1:30 p.m. Royal Eagle Plaza, 9120-A Wiles Road, Coral Springs.

12:30-1:30 p.m. Emerald Hills Medical Square, 4500 Sheridan St., Hollywood.

12:30-1:30 p.m. Chapel Trail Plaza, 18425 W Pines Blvd., Pembroke Pines.

12:30-1:30 p.m. The Professional Centre at Pembroke Lakes Mall, 400 N Hiatus Road, Suite 105, Pembroke Pines.

RSVP. 877-334-5437 or pediatricassociates.com Spring Fling at Bonnet House. Live music by the Gold Coast Youth Orchestra and storytelling by author and historian Bill Sydnor. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Bonnet House Museum & Gardens, 900 North Birch Road, Fort Lauderdale.

Ages 13 and up, $10. 954-703-2606, lindaschaller@ bonnethouse.org, or bonnethouse.org At Tertulia - Spanish Language Book Club.

Book & Discussion in Spanish. 2-4 p.m. Margate Catha-

rine Young Library, 5810 Park Drive, Margate. 954-3577500, awenger@broward.org, or margatefl.com Sounds at Sundown. “Pitbull of Bulls.” Music and food trucks. 5-10 p.m. At NW Corner of Margate Blvd. & 441, Margate. margatefl.com Pines Day Celebration. Children’s rides, music and entertainment, food, games, Pines Day, Royal Court Pageant, Stroller Parade, and more. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Pines Recreation Center 7400 Pines Blvd., Pembroke Pines.

954-435-6525 or pinesday.com Hollywood West Concert Series. Let It Be-Tribute to The Beatles. Food available for purchase. 7-9 p.m.

Boulevard Heights Community Center, 6770 Garfield St., Hollywood. 954-967-4235 Live at the Sherman Library. Ages 6 and up. Zak Morgan Children’s musician. Younger siblings welcome.

2-3 p.m. NSU Alvin Sherman Library, 3100 Ray Ferrero, Jr. Blvd., Fort Lauderdale. Free. RSVP. 954-262-5477 or sherman.library.nova.edu National Pet Day. Photo booth pictures, giveaways, contests, prizes and vendors. Donations accepted. 1-4 p.m. Coral Springs Animal Hospital, 2160 N University Drive, Coral Springs. coralsprings.org 10th annual KID Duck Fest Derby. Bounce houses, petting zoo, face painting, photo opportunities, meet and greet with Splash, the Duck Fest Derby Mascot, food trucks, and more. Noon-3 p.m. Esplanade Park, 400 SW 2nd St., Fort Lauderdale. support.kidinc.org Thin Mint Sprint. Tagalong Trot 100-yard dash for ages 8 & under starts at 8:30 a.m. 7:30 a.m. Topeekeegee Yugnee Park, 3300 N Park Road, Hollywood. 561427-0190 or tinyurl.com/ThinMintSprint Free Puppet Show. Pre-K-2nd grade. Jeremy’s Jungle Adventure by Bob Nathanson Puppets To Go. 1:30 and 3 p.m. Weston Community Center, 20200 Saddle Club Road, Weston. 954-389-4321 or Westonfl.org Moonlight Movie in the Park. “Alvin & The Chipmunks: The Road Chip.” Bring lawn chairs or blankets.

8 p.m. Weston Regional Park, 20200 Saddle Club Road, Weston. 954-389-4321 or Westonfl.org Community Garage Sale. 7:30 a.m.-Noon. Tamarac Park, 7501 N. University Drive, Tamarac. 954-597-3620

Register early to reserve your spot for

Spring and Summer Camp!

A TRAVEL THRU TIME Environmental Day Camp at Birch and Oleta State Parks Ancient Times • Meteorites • Migration Mania Mastodons • La Florida • Riding the Wave Conquistadors • Ocean Quest

PROGRAMS

DISCOVERY OF THE SEAS

Summer Science of the Sea Camp at John Lloyd State Park APRIL 5-Lloyd • Sense of Sharks APRIL 6-Birch • Turtle Hurdles APRIL 7-Oleta 4:30 to 6 pm • Colorful Corals CALL FOR • Nestled Nurseries and DETAILS Growing Gardens

OPEN HOUSE

3 SOUTH FLORIDA LOCATIONS:

CAMP DIRECTORY

• Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, Ft. Lauderdale • Oleta River State Park, North Miami Beach • John U. Lloyd Dania Beach Science of the Sea

10% SIBLING DISCOUNT • EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT • Spring Camp: Daily and Weekly rates • Summer Camp: Weekly & Session rates • Ages 5 to 16. Extended care, lunch, transportation available Fort Lauderdale 954-563-4880 • Miami 305-940-4748

FOR MORE DETAILS & ONLINE REGISTRATION

• www.campliveoakfl.com APRIL 2016 |

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Events are subject to change CALL AHEAD TO CONFIRM PALM BEACH

Cruise Night at Packy’s. View classic cars to new cars, DJ music, and refreshments. 4 p.m. Packy’s Sports Grill, 11379 W. Palmetto Park Road, Boca Raton. Free.

561-482-0052

IMACS Hi-Tech Summer Camp Open House Boca Raton. Ages 6-15. Get a glimpse of the IMACS summer program. 3:30-5 p.m. IMACS Boca Raton, 23172 Sandalfoot Plaza Drive Boca Raton. RSVP. 561470-1178 or imacs.org/summercamp Pajama Jams Storytime with Miss Mij. Stories, music and pretend play in pajamas. 10-10:45 a.m., ages 18 months-2. 11 a.m.-Noon, ages 3-4. $5 per child, includes one carousel token per child. Sugar Sand Park, 300 S. Military Trail, Boca Raton. 561-347-3900 or sugarsandpark.org Family Storytime. Zoo Day. 10:30-11:30 a.m. Four Arts Children’s Library, 2 4 Arts Plaza, Palm Beach. 561655-2776 or fourarts.org Pediatric Associates New Parent Class. Learn what to expect with a new baby and other topics about preparing for your new arrival. 12:30-1:30 p.m. 379 N Congress Ave., Boynton Beach. RSVP. 877-344-5437

10 Sunday MIAMI-DADE

The Barnacle under Moonlight Concert. DeBlois Milledge. 6:30-8:30 p.m. The Barnacle Historic State Park, 3485 Main Highway, Miami. Adults: $10; ages 6-9: $3. 305-442-6866 or floridastateparks.org/park-events/ The-Barnacle Let’s Explore at Fairchild (LEAF). Children crafts, games, worksheets, planting, and more. 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, 10901 Old Cutler Road, Coral Gables. Adults, $25; children 6-17, $12. 305-667-1651 or fairchildgarden.org Biscayne National Park Family Fun Fest.

“Parks and Recreation” theme. 1-4 p.m. Dante Fascell Visitor Center, Biscayne National Park, 9700 SW 328th St., Homestead. Free. 305-230-7275 or nps.gov/bisc

YOUmake Miami: Robotics Ages 8 and up.

Make your own robot using Lego Mindstorm. 3 p.m. Miami Beach Regional Library, 227 22nd St., Miami Beach.

Free. RSVP. 305-535-4219 Girl Scout Flower Garden. Ages 5-12. Craft and story event open to both boys and girls. 3:30 p.m. Palmetto Bay Branch Library, 17641 Old Cutler Road, Palmetto Bay. Free. RSVP. 305-232-1771

BROWARD

Musical Storytime. Birth-4. songs, rhymes, stories and more. 10:30 a.m. Tamarac Branch Library, 8701 W. Commercial Blvd., Tamarac. Free. 954-765-1500 Play Dates @ YAA. Ages 5 and under. “Art Amazing” sensory art project. 11:30 a.m.-Noon. Young At Art Museum, 751 SW 121st Ave., Davie. $12-$14. 954424-0085 or youngatartmuseum.org Food Trucks At Artspark. Over 20 different food trucks. 5:30-10 p.m. ArtsPark at Young Circle, 1 Young Circle, Hollywood. Free admission. 954-921-3500

PALM BEACH

Lake Worth Food Truck Invasion. 6-10 p.m.

Cultural Plaza, Lake Worth. Free. lakeworth.org or foodtruckinvasion.com Preschool Storytime. Caterpillar to Butterfly Day. 10:30-11:30 a.m. Four Arts Children’s Library, 2 4 Arts Plaza, Palm Beach. 561-655-2776 or fourarts.org Kids Wii U Gaming and More. Ages 7-12. 3:30 p.m. Royal Palm Beach Branch Library, 500 Civic Center Way, Royal Palm Beach. RSVP. 561-790-6030

BROWARD

Storytime. 10:30 a.m. Century Plaza/Leon Slatin Branch Library, 1856 A W. Hillsboro Blvd., Deerfield Beach. Free.

RSVP. 954-357-7740 Family Nights With Food Trucks. 5:30-9:30 p.m. Plantation Heritage Park, 1100 S. Fig Tree Lane, Plantation. Free. 954-357-5135 $6 Movie Tuesday. Valid for most movies and restrictions may apply. Paragon Ridge 8, 9200 W. State Road 84, Davie. 954-472-4940 Builders’ Club. Ages 5-10. Build and create with the library’s LEGO blocks. 3:30-4:30 p.m. NSU Alvin Sherman Library, 3100 Ray Ferrero, Jr. Blvd., Fort Lauderdale.

Free. RSVP. 954-262-5477 or sherman.library.nova.edu

PALM BEACH

$6 Movie Tuesdays. Movies before 4 p.m. Excluding IMAX and FDX. Delray MarketPlace Stadium 12, 14775 Lyons Road, Delray Beach. 561-454-8002

Interactive Acoustic Music and Art in the Park. Bring family, friends, and musical instruments to Veterans Park and enjoy interactive music and art. Art supplies will be provided free of charge. 6-9 p.m. Veterans Park, 802 NE First St., Delray Beach. Free. 243-7350 Sustainable Energy. Learn to power lights, buzzers, LEDs, and motors using muscle, solar rays, and wind power, and discuss sustainable energy. 4:30-5:30 p.m.

Glades Road Branch Library, 20701 95th Ave S, Boca Raton. Free. 305-434-9571, dmannina@frostscience.org, or miamisci.org

12 Tuesday

13 Wednesday

MIAMI-DADE

Bilingual Toddler Storytime. 11 a.m. Doral Branch Library, 10785 NW 58th St., Doral. Free. RSVP. 305716-9598 Match Play Tuesday. Video game arcade and family entertainment center. GameTime will match your food bill with equal game credits. 4-7 p.m. GameTime, 5701 Sunset Drive, Suite 330, Miami. 305- 667-4263

MIAMI-DADE

Storytelling for Preschoolers. 11 a.m. Allapattah Branch Library, 1799 NW 35th St., Miami. Free. RSVP. 305-638-6086 Science Project Presentations. Ages 5-12. Science projects are presented by homeschool students of Miami-Dade County. Call for more information. 11:30 a.m.

Family Day on Aragon Family And Youth Films. Admission includes a free popcorn and soda. 11 a.m. Coral Gables Art Cinema, 260 Aragon Ave., Coral Gables. $5. 786-385-9689 or gablescinema.com

BROWARD

Mayor’s Jazz Picnic in the Park Concert Series. “WT Heck.” 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Ilene Lieberman Botanical Gardens, 3801 Inverrary Blvd., Lauderhill. lauderhill-fl.gov Soulful Sundays. 6-9 p.m. Ali Cultural Arts Center, 353 MLK Blvd., Pompano Beach. pompanobeachfl.gov Guided Nature Walk. 9:30-10:30 a.m.; 3:30-4:30 p.m. Secret Woods Nature Center, 2701 W State Road 84, Dania. RSVP. 954-357-8884 1-2 p.m. Fern Forest Nature Center, 201 Lyons Road South, Coconut Creek. RSVP. 954-357-5198 Jammin’. Unplugged jam session for musicians and listeners interested in folk, mountain, and bluegrass music.

Bring an instrument if you like. 2-4 p.m. Fern Forest Nature Center, 201 Lyons Road South, Coconut Creek.

Free. 954-357-5198

• Established in 1976 • Safe, Secure Environment • Full Academic Curriculum • Athletic Program • Low Student-Teacher Ratio • Blended Learning Tools • Differentiated Instruction

• Strong Parent-Teacher Communication • Social Skills • Promethean Boards and IPad use for Interactive Education Technology • Hands-On Life Skills & Transition Program • Grades K-12

Sunday Movies. Check website for movie title. $1 includes beverage & popcorn. 11 a.m. Sugar Sand Park Community Center, 300 S. Military Trail, Boca Raton.

561-347-3900 or SugarSandPark.org Thin Mint Sprint. Tagalong Trot 100-yard dash for ages 8 & under starts at 8:30 a.m. 7:30 a.m. Okeeheelee Park, 7715 Forest Hill Blvd., West Palm Beach. 561-4270190 or tinyurl.com/ThinMintSprint

11 Monday MIAMI-DADE

After School Club: Games and More. 3 p.m.

Opa-locka Branch Library, 780 Fisherman St., Suite 140, Opa-locka. Free. RSVP. 305-688-1134

Scholarships Accepted John McKay • PLSA • Florida Tax Credit (FTC) Atlantis Academy is proudly accredited by SACS and CASI, an accrediting division of AdvancED

www.atlantisacademy.com MIAMI 9600 SW 107th Avenue Tel: 305.271.9771

CORAL SPRINGS 10193 NW 31 Street Tel: 954.752.7571

WEST PALM BEACH 1950 Prairie Road Tel: 561.642.3100

Academy does not discriminate against any applicant due to race, sex, religion or national origin.

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ENROLL NOW FOR 2016-2017 SCHOOL YEAR! REGISTER FOR SUMMER CAMP! CLASSICAL EDUCATION CHRISTIAN VIRTUES

ATTRACTIONS DIRECTORY

ADVANCED CURRICULUM SMALL CLASS SIZE GREEK-LATINSPANISH BEAUTIFUL 10 ACRE CAMPUS! ORGANIC AND GREEN SCHOOL PRIVATE TUTORING FOR ALL LEVELS!

C ll for Call f a Tour

(954) 974-1121

Open House on April 15th

www.paideiaclassical.org 2370 Hammock Blvd., Coconut Creek, FL 33063 PAIDEIA CLASSICAL ACADEMY Pre-K to 10th Grade

SM

autism awareness day APRIL 9th | 9am - 6pm CAMP DIRECTORY

Meet community professionals, such as an Occupational Therapist and a Speech Pathologist. Explore different assistive technologies and sensory friendly activities.

With the support of the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners.

The Miami Children’s Museum is funded in part by The Children’s Trust. The Children's Trust is a dedicated source of revenue established by voter referendum to improve the lives of children and families in Miami-Dade County by making strategic investments in their future.

980 macarthur causeway, miami, fl 33132 · 305.373.KIDS(5437) · miamichildrensmuseum.org 94

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Pinecrest Branch Library, 5835 SW 111th St., Pinecrest.

Free. RSVP. 305-668-4571

BROWARD

Frost Museum at NW Regional Library.

Grades 3-8. Learn about Squids through Poetry and presentation. Northwest Regional Library, 3151 University Drive, Coral Springs. Free. RSVP. 954-357-7990 Storytime. 11 a.m. Riverland Branch Library, 2710 W. Davie Blvd., Fort Lauderdale. Free. RSVP. 954-357-7455 Learn about marine taxonomy. Interactive presentation, then dissect a squid, identifying key elements such as its beak, ink sack, and other anatomy crucial to this cephalopod. 4-5 p.m. Northwest Regional Branch Library, 3151 N University Drive, Coral Springs. 305-4349571, dmannina@frostscience.org, or miamisci.org

Game and Family Movie Night with Hallandale Beach Police. Enjoy board games or watch a family movie with Hallandale Beach Police. 6-9 p.m. Austin Hepburn Center, 750 NW 8th Ave., Hallandale Beach.

Free. 954-457-1644 or hallandalebeachfl.gov

PALM BEACH

Faulk Center For Counseling Seminars. “Collaborative Divorce Presentation.” Presented by the South Palm Beach County Collaborative Law Group. 11 a.m.Noon. First Wednesdays of each month. Faulk Center for Counseling, 22455 Boca Rio Road, Boca Raton.

Spring Has Sprung. Ages 3-5. spring themed activities. 3:15 p.m. Gardens Branch Library, 11303 Campus Drive, Palm Beach Gardens. RSVP. 561-626-6133

14 Thursday MIAMI-DADE

YOUmake Miami: Construction. Ages 8 and up. Learn to construct different items with LEGO, duct tape, paper and other elements. 2:30 p.m. Miami Beach Regional Library, 227 22nd St., Miami Beach. Free.

RSVP. 305-535-4219 “Build-a-Coaster.” Teams of kids compete to build roller coasters. 4:30-5:30 p.m. Kendale Lakes Branch

IN 10 LESSONS

1451 S. Olive Ave., West Palm Beach. Adults, $12; ages 13-21, $5. 561-832-5196 Preschool Storytime. Garden Day with the Garden Club of the Palm Beach. 10:30-11:30 a.m. Four Arts Children’s Library, 2 4 Arts Plaza, Palm Beach. 561-6552776 or fourarts.org

BROWARD

15 Friday

Cool Pre-School Storytime. 10:30 a.m. Imperial Point Branch Library, 5985 N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale. Free. RSVP. 954-357-6530 After School At Your Library. 2 p.m. Lauderdale Lakes Library, 3580 West Oakland Park Blvd., Lauderdale Lakes. Free. RSVP. 954-357-8650 Storytime Explorers. Ages 3 to 5. “I Love Books.”

12:30 p.m. Pembroke Pines/ Walter C. Young Resource Center, 955 NW 129 Ave., Pembroke Pines. Free. RSVP. 954-357-6750 Cultural Arts Open House. Art activitie, photo ops, face painting, balloon artist, refreshments and more. 5-7 p.m. 11401 NW 56th Drive, Coral Springs. Free. 954345-6500 or browardcommunitycharterwest.com Superstars Dance And Baton Class. Ages 4 and up. Beginning and intermediate dance and baton classes 4-6 p.m. Tree Tops Park, 3900 SW 100th Ave., Davie. $50 per month unlimited classes. 954-438-2075 or floridasuperstars.com Concerts in the Park. Live music, bounce house, and food trucks. 6-9 p.m. Old Davie School Bandshell, 6650 Griffin Road, Davie. Free. 954-797-1166 Spring Painters. Ages 7 to 12. Mixing, tinting and shading colors to create beautiful Spring landscape, still life and abstract works of art. 5-7. p.m. Recreation Complex, 4455 Sol Press Blvd., Coconut Creek. residents, $75; non-residents, $85. 954-956-1580 or coconutcreek. net/webtrac

PALM BEACH

Art After Dark. The museum stays open until 9 p.m.

Special exhibitions, live music, films, tours, cash bar, and food. Every Thursday evening. Norton Museum of Art,

MIAMI-DADE

Target Free Third Friday. The Miami Children’s Museum is free. Due to space - no strollers please. 3-9 p.m. Miami Children’s Museum, 980 MacArthur Causeway, Miami. 305-373-5437 ext. 100 or ext. 145

BROWARD

Crafternoon at the Library. Drop in anytime for make-and-take crafts. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. NSU Alvin Sherman Library, 3100 Ray Ferrero, Jr. Blvd., Fort Lauderdale.

Free. RSVP. 954-262-5477 or sherman.library.nova.edu Friday Night Family Ceramics Class. $6 optional pizza dinner at 6 p.m. Call to reserve. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Community Center, 9000 SW 50th Place, Cooper City. $10 per family plus $10 material fee per child.

954-434-4300 #233 or coopercityfl.org Movie in the Park. “Big Hero 6.” Bring blankets and lawn chairs. No pets. 8:15 p.m. Sabal Pines Park, 5005 NW 39th Ave., Coconut Creek. coconutcreek.net Music at Mickel. Ty Billings Band. Rock & Classic Rock. Free live-music concert series with food trucks.

Bring chairs and blankets. 7-9 p.m. Third Friday of each month. Mickel Park, 2675 NW 7th Ave., Wilton Manors.

954-390-2130 or wiltonmanors.com Night Hike By The Seashore. See creatures of the night and hike the beach and coastal areas. Preregistration and prepayment are required. 7:30-8:30 p.m. Anne Kolb Nature Center, 751 Sheridan St., Hollywood. $5.

954-357-5161 or broward.org/parks Tunes ‘N Trucks. Turnstiles - a tribute to Billy Joel.

Bring chairs or blankets. 6 p.m. Sunrise Civic Center, 10610 W. Oakland Park Blvd., Sunrise. Free. 954-7474600

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Movies on the Lawn. “The Good Dino in 3D.” Bring lawn chairs, and blankets. 8 p.m. The Great Lawn, Corner of Atlantic and Pompano Beach Blvd., Pompano Beach.

954-786-4111 or pompanobeachfl.gov

PALM BEACH

Music on the Rocks: Free Concert. South Florida bands perform. With Food Truck Invasion from 5-9 p.m. Bring lawn chairs or blankets. 6-9 p.m. Ocean Avenue Amphitheatre, 129 E. Ocean Ave., Boynton Beach.

561-600-9093 Evening On The Avenue. Music, food trucks, art, specialty vendors. 6-10 p.m. Lake Worth Cultural Plaza, 414 Lake Ave., Lake Worth. Free. lakeworth.org Concert Series and Food Truck Invasion. 5-9 p.m. Commons Park, 11600 Poinciana Blvd, Royal Palm Beach.

16 Saturday MIAMI-DADE

Go Green & Clean-up North Miami for Earth Day. Enjoy kids activities while learning about nature.

8:30 a.m. Enchanted Forest Elaine Gordon Park, 1725 NE 135 St., North Miami. and Joe Celestin Center, 1525 NW 135 St., North Miami. 305-895-9840 or northmiamifl.gov Family Fun Fishing Tournament. Compete for your chance at $500 in prize money. Contestants must provide their own fishing equipment and bait. 9 a.m.Noon. Sunny Isles Beach Newport Fishing Pier, 16501 Collins Ave., Sunny Isles Beach. $5-$10. RSVP. sibfl.net

Miami Seaquarium Totally Teachers Weekend. Free admission for Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm

CLASSES & AFTER-SCHOOL DIRECTORY

Beach County teachers and school employees, in both private and public schools, with school ID or pay stub along with picture ID. Miami Seaquarium, 4400 Rickenbacker Causeway. 305-361-5705 or miamiseaquarium.com

BROWARD

Earth Day Craft. Ages 3 & up. 2 p.m. South Regional/ BC College Library, 7300 Pines Blvd., Pembroke Pines.

Free. RSVP. 954-201-8825 Jammin in the Park & Art Fest. Music, art, and international food. 4-10 p.m. Ilene Lieberman Botanical Gardens, 3801 Inverrary Blvd., Lauderhill. Free. lauderhill-fl.gov Painting for Fun at ArtsPark Art Walk. 7:309:45 p.m. Art Studio at ArtsPark at Young Circle, 1 Young Circle, Hollywood. Free. hollywoodfl.org GreenFest 2016. Learn about how to save water and energy, vendors with displays, and seminars to help save money and the environment. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. City Hall, 400 S. Federal Highway, Hallandale Beach. 954-4571617 or hallandalebeachfl.gov EarthFest. Wildlife exhibits, guided tours, plant giveaways for Coral Springs residents, children’s activities and refreshments.9 a.m.-1 p.m. Sawgrass Nature Center, 3000 Sportsplex Drive, Coral Springs. 954-344-1117 or coralsprings.org Concert at the Park. Solid Brass, classic rock. Blankets, lawn chairs and coolers are welcome. Refreshments available for purchase. 7 p.m. Betti Stradling Park, 10301 Wiles Road, Coral Springs. coralsprings.org

The Jungle Book Sensory Friendly Screening. Music will be low and the lights will be on. In addition, theater guests can donate to the National Autism Association. 10 a.m. Paragon Theater, 9200 State Road 84, Davie. $6. 954-472-4940 or paragontheaters.com 3rd annual Gridiron Cooking Challenge.

Cooking competition for elementary and middle school students. Student chef finalists will prepare their recipe entries on-site for a panel of judges for a chance to win the championship title and other prizes. 9 a.m.-Noon.

Miami Dolphins Training Facility, 7500 SW 30th St., Davie. floridamilk.com Kids Night at the Museum. Ages 5 to 12. Exhibit exploration, art activities, pizza, popcorn and a feature film. Bring pillow or blanket and wear PJs. 6 to 11 p.m.

Spun Gold Equestrian Center CAMP SPECIAL

Young At Art Museum, 751 SW 121st Ave., Davie. $35$40. 954-424-0085 or youngatartmuseum.org Earth Day Beach Cleanup for Kids. 4 p.m.

Hugh Taylor Birch State Park, 3109 E. Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale. one-beautiful-world.org/beach-cleanups/

20th annual Waterway Clean-up & Trash Splash. Help clean and pick up trash from the canal banks followed by Trash Splash pool party. 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Davie Town Hall, 6591 Orange Drive, Davie. Trash Splash” will be held at the Pine Island Park Pool, 3800 SW 92nd Ave., Davie. davie-fl.gov Fox Observatory. View the night sky at the park’s observatory. Sunset- midnight. Call for prices. Markham Park, 16001 W State Road 84, Sunrise. Gate entrance fee of $1.50. 954-357-8868 or sfaaa.com Go Native Plant Sale. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Secret Woods Nature Center, 2701 W State Road 84, Dania Beach.

954-357-8884 or broward.org/parks Model Steam Train Rides. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Tradewinds Park, 3600 W. Sample Road, Coconut Creek.

Gate entrance fee of $1.50. $1.50 per ride cash only.

954-357-8720 Jungle Book Meet the Animals. Super scaly snake show, jungle masks, the bare necessities, jungle mural and more. Noon-4 p.m. The Museum of Discovery and Science, 401 SW Second St., Fort Lauderdale. 954467-6637 or mods.org

PALM BEACH

Seining The Lagoon. Ages 10 and up. Catch and release fish, shrimp, crabs, and more. . 2-3:30 p.m.

Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, 1801 N Ocean Blvd Boca Raton. $10. 561-544-8605 or gumbolimbo.org West Palm Beach Greenmarket. 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Saturdays. West Palm Beach Waterfront, 101 S. Flagler Drive, West Palm Beach. Free. wpb.org/events YMCA Healthy Kids Day. Free events and special offers. Joining fee waived for new memberships on day of event. Visit website for locations. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. ymcaspbc.org/healthykids

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APRIL 2016

3/23/16 2:26 PM

Sassy the Magical Clown

90th Anniversary Celebration. Music, performances, family fun, birthday cake and inflatable amusements. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Greenacres Community Park, 2905 Jog Road, Greenacres. Free admission. ci.greenacres.fl.us

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17 Sunday MIAMI-DADE

Young Pianists Concert. Young Pianists Concerts will perform part of the Chopin For All 2015-16 Free Concert Series. 3 p.m. Granada Presbyterian Church, 950 University Drive, Coral Gables. coralgables.com Our AG Memories. Ages 8 and up. Share entertaining conversation starters, create a special craft, take home exclusive activities, and a meal. American Girl - Miami, 8888 SW 136 St. Suite #395A, Miami. $38 per person.

877-247-5223 or americangirl.com

BROWARD

Guided Nature Walk. 9:30-10:30 a.m.; 3:30-4:30 p.m. Secret Woods Nature Center, 2701 W State Road 84, Dania. RSVP. 954-357-8884 1-2 p.m. Fern Forest Nature Center, 201 Lyons Road South, Coconut Creek. RSVP. 954-357-5198 Aquarium: Behind The Scenes. Learn about the aquarium inhabitants and observe them feeding. 2-2;30 p.m. Anne Kolb Nature Center, 751 Sheridan St., Hollywood. $2; exhibit hall fee. 954-357-5161 or broward. org/parks Model Steam Train Rides. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Tradewinds Park, 3600 W. Sample Road, Coconut Creek.

Gate entrance fee of $1.50. $1.50 per ride cash only.

954-357-8720 Be Kind to Animals. Critters Matter. Each week guests will be introduced to a featured animal. 11 a.m. Sundays. Sawgrass Nature Center & Wildlife Hospital 3000 Sportsplex Drive, Coral Springs. Donations appreciated. 954-752-9453 or sawgrassnaturecenter.org

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PALM BEACH

Sunday Movies. Check website for movie title. $1 includes beverage & popcorn. 11 a.m. Sugar Sand Park Community Center, 300 S. Military Trail, Boca Raton.

561-347-3900 or SugarSandPark.org Sunday on the Waterfront. Nicole Henry (Jazz).

National and regional recording artists along Flagler Drive waterfront. 4:30 -7:30 p.m. Meyer Amphitheatre, 105 Evernia St., West Palm Beach. Free. 561- 822-1515 or wpb.org/sunday-on-the-waterfront PJ Library’s Third Birthday Party. Petting zoo, singing with Miss Susan, photo booth, sports, crafts, face painting, and guest story readers from local synagogues.

Kosher snacks will be available for purchase. 2-5 p.m.

South County Regional Park, 11200 Park Access Road at the Sunset Pavilion, Boca Raton. Suggested donation of new pair of pajamas. RSVP. At jewishboca.org/birthdaybash. 561-852-6080 or PJLibrary@bocafed.org

Recycling Artists. Ages 5-9. Making art pieces with recycled materials and found objects in nature. 1-2 p.m.

Residents, $10; non-residents, $12.50. Sugar Sand Park, 300 S. Military Trail, Boca Raton 561-347-3900 or sugarsandpark.org

18 Monday MIAMI-DADE

Toddler Storytime: Celebrate Earth Day. Ages 19 months-3. 10 :30 a.m. West End Regional Library, 10201 Hammocks Blvd., Miami. Free. 305-385-7135 YOUmake Miami: Robotics. Ages 8 and up. Make your own robot using LEGO Mindstorm. 3 p.m. Miami Beach Regional Library, 227 22nd St., Miami Beach.

Free. RSVP. 305-535-4219 Toddler Storytime. 10 a.m. Sunny Isles Beach Branch Library, 18070 Collins Ave., Sunny Isles Beach. Free.

RSVP. 305-682-0726

BROWARD

Musical Storytime. Birth-4. Songs, rhymes, stories DO YOU KNOW WHAT’S ON YOUR CHILD’S LUNGS??

Are they bothered by Allergies, Headaches, Watery or Itchy Eyes, Sneezing???

Chances are there is hidden, Black Mold in your Home

and more. 10:30 a.m. Tamarac Branch Library, 8701 W. Commercial Blvd., Tamarac. Free. 954-765-1500 Play Dates @ YAA. Ages 5 and under. “Art Amazing” sensory art project. 11:30 a.m.-Noon. Young At Art Museum, 751 SW 121st Ave., Davie. $12-$14. 954424-0085 or youngatartmuseum.org Monday Morning Storytime. Ages 4 and under.

10:30 a.m. Richard C. Sullivan Public Library, 500 NE 26th St., Wilton Manors. 954-390-2195 or wiltonmanors. com Food Trucks At Artspark. Over 20 different food trucks. 5:30-10 p.m. ArtsPark at Young Circle, 1 Young Circle, Hollywood. Free admission. 954-921-3500

PALM BEACH

Preschool Storytime. Rain Day. 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Test your home for dangerous mold!

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Four Arts Children’s Library, 2 4 Arts Plaza, Palm Beach.

561-655-2776 or fourarts.org Internet Safety Week. Ages 7-11. 3:15 p.m. Gardens Branch Library, 11303 Campus Drive, Palm Beach Gardens. RSVP. 561-626-6133 Shaving Cream Finger Painting. Ages 4-7. 3:30 p.m. Lantana Road Branch Library, 4020 Lantana Road, Lake Worth. RSVP. 561-304-4500

19 Tuesday MIAMI-DADE

Creative Corner. Ages 4-12. Crafts, games and activities. Northeast Dade - Aventura Branch Library, 2930 Aventura Blvd., Aventura. 305-931-5512 Preschool Storytime. Ages 3-5. 6:30 p.m. Fairlawn Branch Library, 6376 SW 8th St., Miami. Free. RSVP. 305-261-1571

BROWARD

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discussion. 3:30 p.m. Hollywood Branch Library, 2600 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. Free. RSVP. 954-357-7760 Waste Management Earth Day. Open House with Young At Art Museum recyclable art station, landfill tours, environmental education, photos with former Miami Dolphins stars and more. Noon-3 p.m. Monarch Hill Renewable Energy Park, 2700 Wiles Road, Pompano Beach.

954-424-0085 or youngatartmuseum.org Mommy and Me Baby Cakes Group. Topics: Child Abuse Prevention Month, Help Me Grow, 211 Broward, and Mother Earth Cloth Diapers. Noon-1:30 p.m.

Memorial Regional Hospital, The Family Birthplace, 3501 Johnson St., Hollywood. 954-265-5930 or memorialregional.com CHADD Of North Broward Support Group.

Meeting for parents of children diagnosed with ADD/ ADHD. Meet and greet, question and answer session, raffle, and refreshments. 6:30-8 p.m. third Tuesday of the month. Atlantis Academy Coral Springs, 10193 NW 31st St., Coral Springs. 561-603-6154 or 954-752-7571 Read-Along with Troop 10863. Girl Scouts will read to kids in the IKEA Children’s department. 6-7 p.m.

IKEA Sunrise, 151 NW 136th Ave., Sunrise. 888-8884532 or ikea.com

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APRIL 2016

3/23/16 2:25 PM

PALM BEACH

Mother Nature & Me. Ages 2-5. “Clean and Green.”

10:30 a.m. Daggerwing Nature Center, 11435 Park Access Road, Boca Raton. $4. RSVP. 561-629-8760 or pbcgov.com/parks/nature/daggerwing_nature_center

20 Wednesday MIAMI-DADE

Florida Marlins Public Health Awareness Night. Marlins vs WAS. Children 12 and younger will receive a voucher good for a free hot dog and drink. 7:10 p.m. 501 Marlins Way, Miami. $25-$45. mlb.mlb.com Preschool Storytime: Celebrate Earth Day. Ages 3-5. 10:30 a.m. West Dade Regional Library, 9445 Coral Way, Miami. Free. RSVP. 305-553-1134 Celebrate Earth Day. Ages 3-5. Celebrate Earth Day with stories, songs, and activities. 3:30 p.m. Coconut Grove Branch Library, 2875 McFarlane Road, Miami.

Free. 305-442-8695

BROWARD

Recycling Craft. Make a terrarium with a recycled 2-liter soda bottle. 5:30 p.m. African-American Research Library & Cultural Center, 2650 Sistrunk Blvd., Fort Lauderdale. Free. RSVP. 954-357-6282 Bilingual Family Storytime. Ages 3 and up. 6:30 p.m. Richard C. Sullivan Public Library, 500 NE 26th St., Wilton Manors. 954-390-2195 or wiltonmanors.com Tamarac Food Trucks. 5:30- 9:30 p.m. Tamarac Park, 7501 N University Drive, Tamarac. Free. 954-5973620 Wednesday Night Cheap Skate. $6 skating Wednesdays. Skates included. 6-8:30 p.m. Galaxy Skateway, 7500 Southgate Blvd., 954-721-0580 or 3737 N Davie Road Extension, 954-435-3300

PALM BEACH

Stories and Songs for You. Ages 2 and up. students of the John I. Leonard Community High School Club La Casa de Las Americas and the International Spanish Academy will read stories and act them out in both Spanish and English. 6:30 p.m. Royal Palm Beach Branch

Library, 500 Civic Center Way, Royal Palm Beach. RSVP. 561-790-6030 Storytime for Children With Special Needs.

Ages 3-10. 3:15 p.m. Gardens Branch Library, 11303 Campus Drive, Palm Beach Gardens. RSVP. 561-6266133

PALM BEACH

Beach Treasures. Learn about shells and sea life; caravan to Red Reef Beach Park, for beachcombing with the experts. 3-4:30 p.m. Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, 1801 N. Ocean Blvd Boca Raton. Member, $5; non-member, $8. 561-544-8605 or gumbolimbo.org Preschool Storytime. Earth Day. 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Four Arts Children’s Library, 2 4 Arts Plaza, Palm Beach.

561-655-2776 or fourarts.org Special Earth Day Storytime. Birth-6 years. Book readings, songs, interaction with the touch tank animals, crafts and special activities. 9:30 a.m. 2500 Jupiter Park Drive, Jupiter. 561-743-7123 or loxahatcheeriver.org

Interactive Internet Safety: Earn Your Web License. Ages 6-9. 4 p.m. Hagen Ranch Road Branch Library, 14350 Hagen Ranch Road, Delray Beach. RSVP. 561-894-7500

21 Thursday MIAMI-DADE

Kid Lit: Book Club. Discuss books, comics, poetry

22 Friday

and more. 4:30 p.m. North Dade Regional Library, 2455 NW 183rd St., Miami Gardens. Free. RSVP. 305-6256424 In-B-Tweeners Book Club. Ages 9-12. 6 p.m.

Palmetto Bay Branch Library, 17641 Old Cutler Road, Palmetto Bay. Free. RSVP. 305-232-1771 Thank you Earth: Celebrate Earth Day. Ages 5-12. Stories, songs and activities. 6:30 p.m. West Dade Regional Library, 9445 Coral Way, Miami. Free. RSVP. 305-553-1134

MIAMI-DADE

Movie Night in the Park. “Minions” movie and food trucks. 6 p.m. Goodlet Park, 4200 West 8th Ave., Hialeah. hialeahfl.gov Cultural Fridays. Enjoy music and discover works by local artists and artisans. 7-11 p.m. Domino Park, SW 15th Avenue and 8th St., Miami. Free. 305-643-5500 Free Fridays Tours at the Wolf. Free 45-minute guided tour of the permanent collection or temporary exhibitions. 6-6:45 p.m. The Wolfsonian-FIU, 1001 Washington Ave., Miami Beach. 305-531-1001 or wolfsonian.org

BROWARD

Children Reading Festival & Festival. Celebration of children, their languages and their cultures.

Bilingual presenters, interactive reading STEAM stations, art exhibit and a book giveaway. 10 a.m. North Lauderdale Saraniero Branch Library, 6901 Kimberly Blvd., North Lauderdale. Free. RSVP. 954-357-6660 Storytime Explorers. Ages 3-5. “Nature in Our Backyard.” 12:30 p.m. Pembroke Pines/ Walter C. Young Resource Center, 955 NW 129 Ave., Pembroke Pines.

Free. RSVP. 954-357-6750 Know Your Neighborhood. Take a walk with Hallandale Beach Police. 8:30-9:30 a.m. Ingalls Park, 735 SW 1st St., Hallandale Beach. Free. 954-457-1644 or hallandalebeachfl.gov

BROWARD

Earth Day in the Garden. Ages 3-5. 10 a.m. Miramar Branch Library & Education Center, 2050 Civic Center Place, Miramar. Free. RSVP. 954-357-8090 Storytime. 10:30 a.m. Pompano Beach Branch Library, 1213 E. Atlantic Blvd., Pompano Beach. Free. RSVP. 954-357-7595 Friday Night Sound Waves. Visit website for complete schedule of performances. 5:30-8:30 p.m. the Hub, Las Olas Boulevard and A1A, Fort Lauderdale. FridayNightSoundWaves.com Night Hike. 7:30-8:30 p.m. Secret Woods Nature Center, 2701 W State Road 84, Dania Beach. $5. 954-3578884 or broward.org/parks

Kids Eat FREE

*

Monday – Friday RESTAURANT DIRECTORY

Buy One Adult Meal & Kids Under 12 Get a FREE Kids’ Meal *One free kids menu item for each adult meal purchase Monday-Friday. Cannot be combined with other offers. Not valid with Senior Meals. Not valid on holidays. Valid at participating Florida locations only.

www.OriginalPancakeHouseFlorida.com

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» fairs & festivals MIAMI-DADE COUNTY FAIR & EXPOSITION Through April 10. Rides, exhibits, food, live concerts, entertainment and more. Fair Expo Center, 10901 Coral Way, Miami. Tickets start at $10. 305-223-7060 or thefair.me SOUTH FLORIDA SURFERS FOR AUTISM BEACH FESTIVAL April 1-3. Concerts, surfing, food trucks and paddleboarding. Participants must have autism or other related developmental delay with an IEP or equivalent and be at least 4 years old.

9 a.m.-4 p.m. 149 SE 21st Ave., Deerfield Beach. Free. surfersforautism.org MIAMI RIVERDAY FESTIVAL April 2. Free Miami River boat tours, live music, historic re-enactors, environmental education and kids activities. 1- 6 p.m. Lummus Park, 250 NW North River Drive, Miami.

305- 644-0544 or miamirivercommission.org GREEN BABY FAIR April 2. Showcasing eco-friendly resources and pregnancy, birth and parenting products and services. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Little Haiti Cultural Center, 212 NE 59th Terrace, Miami. $15 online, $20 at door. Age 13 and younger free. 786-953-6417 or greenbabyfair.com DANIA BEACH ARTS & SEAFOOD CELEBRATION April 2-3. Live music, performance art, juried fine art vendors, family activities and seafood.

Frost Park, 300 NE 2nd St., Dania. Free. daniabeachartsandseafoodcelebration.com LAS OLAS ART FAIR PART II April 2-3. Life-size sculptures, paintings, jewels, photography and more. 600 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale. Free. artfestival.com CRAWDEBAUCHERY FOOD & MUSIC FESTIVAL April 2-3. Live music, New Orleans food and drinks, arts and crafts booth area, KidZone, and crawfish boil. $35, under 10 free. 12 p.m.

Pompano Beach Amphitheater Field, 1806 NE 6th St. Pompano Beach. crawdebauchery.com WORLDFEST April 3. Food, entertainment, arts, crafts, Kid’s World. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. 2575 Sportsplex Drive, Coral Springs. Parking $3. 954-344-1063 GRILLIN N CHILLIN April 3. BBQ in every style, pop-up sports bar, live band, arts and crafts, food vendors, and Kids Zone. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. MANA Wynwood, 2250 NW 2nd Ave., Miami. $8-$13. 305-4612700 or WynwoodBBQFest.com 54TH ANNUAL DELRAY AFFAIR April 8-10. Fine art and crafts from around the world. 51 N. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach.

Free. delrayaffair.com SPRING GARDEN FESTIVAL AT FAIRCHILD April 9-10. Garden tips, local food, artisan vendors, and Plant Sale. Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, 10901 Old Cutler Road, Coral Gables. 305-667-1651 or fairchildgarden.org

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CITY OF SUNRISE EARTH DAY FESTIVAL April 9. Music, Kids’ Korner, bounce houses, face painting, arts and crafts, tree planting ceremony and more. First 1,500 get a reusable shopping tote and a BPA-free water bottle. 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Sawgrass Sanctuary, 237 N. New River Circle, Sunrise. sunrisefl.gov

p.m. Pinecrest Gardens, 11000 Red Road, Pinecrest. Free. 305-669-6990 or pinecrestfl.gov

TORTUGA MUSIC FESTIVAL April 15-17. Blake Shelton, Tim McGraw and Dierks Bentley to headline. 1100 Seabreeze Blvd., Fort Lauderdale. Tickets $100-$199. tortugamusicfestival.com

YOUNG AT ART ARTFUL EARTH DAY WEEKEND April 21-23. Explore Greenscapes exhibit; bring to life the power of music by playing street-object instruments; make a puppet out of recycled materials; and create a unique painted postcard that reacts to sunlight. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Young At Art Museum, 751 SW 121st Ave., Davie. $12-$14. 954-424-0085 or youngatartmuseum.org

EARTHFEST April 16. Wildlife exhibits, guided tours, plant giveaways for residents, raffle and auction, and children’s activities. 9 a.m. Sawgrass Nature Center, 3000 Sportsplex Drive, Coral Springs.

954-344-1181 or coralsprings.org

LION COUNTRY SAFARI: PARTY FOR THE PLANET April 22-23. Party for the planet. Free crafts and fun games with staff art show. 12-4 p.m.

2003 Lion Country Safari Road, Loxahatchee.

561-793-1084 or lioncountrysafari.com

DEERING ESTATE’S FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS EXHIBITION April 16. Site-specific works and performances.

Indoor and outdoor exhibit, Curator’s and Artists’ Tour, Literary Lounge, Bring Your Own Perspective (BYOP) photography competition, artful scavenger hunt and more. 3:30-10 p.m. Deering Estate at Cutler, 16701 SW 72nd Ave., Miami.

Free. 305-235-1668 or deeringestate.org

FLORIDA EARTH FESTIVAL’S EARTH DAY FAIR April 23. Food, entertainment, alternative fuel vehicles, Eco-Park for green vendors, music, green kid garden, more. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. University Woodlands Park, 2501 St. Andrews Blvd., Boca Raton. Free. 561-880-0510 or floridaearthfestival.com

NATIONAL WATER DANCE April 16. Featuring 90 dancers and 100 singers and musicians. Artists will perform to an original percussion score based on Beethovan’s “Ode to Joy.” 4 p.m. Deering Estate at Cutler, 16701 SW 72nd Ave., Miami. Free. nationalwaterdance.org NATIONAL PARK WEEK April 16-24. Free Entrance days at all National Parks. Visit website for locations. nps.gov 37TH ANNUAL HATSUME FAIR April 16-17. Entertainment, artisans, plant vendors, Japanese foods, martial arts, bonsai & Japanese flower arranging demonstrations, taiko drumming, characters, anime costume contest, fashion show. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, 4000 Morikami Park Road, Delray Beach. Adults, $15; ages 4-10, $10. 561-495-0233 or morikami.org/hatsume GARDEN FESTIVAL & BONSAI SHOW April 16-17. Plants, supplies, garden art and accessories, demonstrations, lectures, tours, performances, garden displays, and a Kid’s Gardening Zone. 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Flamingo Gardens, 3750 S. Flamingo Road, Davie. $19.95; ages 3-11, $12.95. 954-473-2955 ZOO MIAMI PARTY FOR THE PLANET April 16-17. “Green” activities and entertainment, animal enrichment, plant show and sale.

Recycle a cellphone for free admission. 11 a.m.4 p.m. 1 Zoo Blvd., 12400 SW 152nd St., Miami.

305-251-0400 or zoomiami.org EARTH DAY AT PINECREST GARDENS April 17. Workshops organized by the CLEO Institute and Plant Societies, food demos, planting activities, plant sales, an eco-fashion show, wildlife shows, local school performances, crafts for kids, lady bug releases, and more. 12-4

FESTIVAL OF THE AMERICAS April 23. Traditional food and international vendors from countries around North, South and Central America and the Caribbean, activities for kids, live music and bull riding. Noon11 p.m. Bergeron Rodeo Grounds, 4271 Davie Road, Davie. 752-244-8582, joanabueno.com, or info@festivaloftheamericas.com GREAT CLOTH DIAPER CHANGE April 23. Set a world record for the number of cloth diapers changed at one time. Visit website for locations. greatclothdiaperchange.com

BLUE WILD OCEAN ADVENTURE AND MARINE ART EXPO April 23-24. See 150 exhibitors, seminars and demonstrations covering watersports, adventure travel, beachwear fashion, water toys, and a Kids Corner. Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center, 1950 Eisenhower Blvd., Fort Lauderdale. 13 and older, $25. thebluewild.com OUR KIDS WORLD FAMILY FUN FEST April 23-24. Educational activities, entertainment, sports mascots, petting zoo, and more.

Free ticket available on website. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. South Florida Fairgrounds, 9067 Southern Blvd., West Palm. $8; ages 12 and under, $5. Play-all-day wristbands, $10. 561- 8681100 or adayforkids.com REDLAND BLUES AND BBQ FESTIVAL April 23. Award-winning BBQ, blues & country music, kids activities, pony rides. 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. 24801 SW 187th Ave., Homestead. Ages 12 and up, $8. fruitandspicepark.org SUNFEST April 27-May 1. Waterfront music and art festival. 112 S Clematis St., West Palm Beach. $10-75. sunfest.com

APRIL 2016

3/23/16 2:25 PM

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SCHOOL DIRECTORY

• 1:1 Digital learning environment with take home iPads & Apple computers • Excellent standardized test scores well above state and national averages • Strong values in a Christian environment • Our students go on to the area’s most prominent high schools • Full-time & Part-time PreK and VPK programs available • State of the art Science Lab • Competitive Boys and Girls Sports • Students take PE, Art & Music through 8th Grade • Spanish Program including native speakers • Before & After School Care & Clubs (Robotics, Ballet, Gymnastics, Band)

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Full Moon Hike. Watch the moonrise, and listen to sto-

Serving children with autism and related disabilities

ries, myths, and legends about it from around the world.

8 p.m. Long Key Natural Area and Nature Center, 3501 SW 130th Ave., Davie. $5. 954-357-8797 or broward. org/parks Family Fun Fridays. Free entertainment, and a different line up of activities and entertainers every week. 7-9 p.m. Fridays. The Village at Gulfstream Park, Champions Plaza, 501 South Federal Highway, Hallandale Beach.

954-399-9953 or thevillageatgulfstreampark.com Cool De Sac Movie Night. Movie, food and activities. Call for movie titles. 6-9 p.m. The Village at Gulfstream Park, 501 South Federal Highway, Hallandale Beach. Child drop off $27 per child; Stay and play, regular admission prices. RSVP. 954-399-9953 or thevillageatgulfstreampark.com Artspark Funtastic Fridays And Movie Night.

Bounce house, face painters and more. Movie begins at 8 p.m. 5-8 p.m. ArtsPark, 1 Young Circle, Hollywood. Free.

954-921-3500 or visithollywoodfl.org

ArtsPark Live! Listen to live bands in the park. 8-10 p.m. ArtsPark, 1 Young Circle, Hollywood.

Free. 954-921-3500 or visithollywoodfl.org

Broward Academy is a private, Mckay approved school for students with Autism and related disabilities in grades K-12 providing intensive instruction in Language skills, academics, daily living skills, and vocational skills.

Maria Preston, M.S. Ed, BCBA Behavior Analyst and Educator Summer Camps Available

PALM BEACH

Wetlands & Wildlife. Ages 7 and up. ¾ mile guided boardwalk tour to learn more about Florida’s wetland birds and ecosystems. 3-5 p.m. Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, 1801 N. Ocean Blvd Boca Raton. Free. 561-544-8605 or gumbolimbo.org Free Movie Night. “Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip.” 8 p.m. Wellington Amphitheater, 12100 Forest Hill Blvd., Wellington. wellingtonfl.gov

Broward Academy mariaprestonbcba@gmail.com

(954) 401-2024

23 Saturday MIAMI-DADE

DIY Craft. Ages 5 and up. 1 p.m. Little River Branch

th

7601 SW 39 St., Davie, Florida 33328

SPECIAL NEEDS SECTION

www.browardacademy.org

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Library, 160 NE 79th St., Miami. Free. RSVP. 305-7518689

Family Storytime with Annabelle: Paws to Read. Ages 5-12. Children read books to therapy dogs.

2 p.m. Lakes of the Meadow Branch Library, 4284 SW 152nd Ave., Miami. Free. RSVP. 305-222-2149 Fun French Storytime. Ages 3 and up. Read in French and practice French vocabulary for beginners.

3:30 p.m. Pinecrest Branch Library, 5835 SW 111th St., Pinecrest. Free. RSVP. 305-668-4571 Let’s Explore at Fairchild (LEAF). “Earth Day weekend.” Crafts, games, worksheets and planting. 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, 10901 Old Cutler Road Coral Gables. Adults, $25; children 6-17, $12. 305-667-1651 or fairchildgarden.org Fishing Derby and Breakfast. Help remove invasive fish species to improve habitat quality and create room for native fish and wildlife. Rods and bait provided.

6:30-9:30 a.m. Zoo Miami, 12400 SW 152 St., Miami. $20-$50. 305-255-5551, education@zoomiami.org, or zoomiami.org/fishing Tri-Rail Ride and Play. Costumed characters, balloon artists and magicians on 4 select trains. Enjoy special admission prices and offers from select attractions by showing a validated Tri-Rail ticket or EASY card. Call or visit website for more information. $5 all day, children under 5 ride free. 1-800-TRI-RAIL or tri-rail.com

BROWARD

Afternoon Movie. Ages 6-11. Call for movie title. 2 p.m. West Regional Library, 8601 W. Broward Blvd., Plantation. Free. RSVP. 954-765-1560 Shocking Science Show. 2 p.m. Weston Branch Library, 4205 Bonaventure Blvd., Weston. Free. RSVP. 954-357-5430 MODS Family Overnight. “Jungle Adventure Family Overnight.” Watch The Jungle Book in IMAX 3D, ride Jungle roller coaster simulator, meet reptiles and arachnids, creepy crawly snack, and more. The Museum of Discovery and Science, 401 SW Second St., Fort Lauderdale.

Adults, $20; children 2 -12, $16. RSVP 954-713-0930 or mods.org

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Kids Fishing With The Pros. Ages of 6-16. All equipment provided. 10 a.m. Bass Pro Shops, 200 Gulf Stream Way, Dania Beach. Free. 954-929-7710 or basspro.com Country Music Festival. Noon-9 p.m. Main Beach Parking Lot, 149 SE 21st Ave., Deerfield Beach. deerfield-beach.com Family Fun Day: Grow with Lowe’s. Celebrate Earth Day at Pompano Citi Centre with Lowe’s Home Improvement and The Garden Gate. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Pompano Citi Centre, 1955 North Federal Highway, Pompano Beach. 954-943-4683 or pompanociticentre.com Tri-Rail Ride and Play. Costumed characters, balloon artists and magicians on 4 select trains. Enjoy special admission prices and offers from select attractions by showing a validated Tri-Rail ticket or EASY card. Call or visit website for more information. $5 all day, children under 5 ride free. 1-800-TRI-RAIL or tri-rail.com The Color Run. 7:30 a.m. Huizenga Plaza 32 East Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale. thecolorrun.com

PALM BEACH

Special Event: Earth Day. Science demonstrations, crafts, stories, lady bug release, raffle for a phone controlled BB-8 robot, and more 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Daggerwing Nature Center, 11435 Park Access Road, Boca Raton.

Free. 561-629-8760 or pbcgov.com/parks/nature/daggerwing_nature_center Children’s Day/Book Day. Come ready to sing, dance and enjoy stories for the whole family. 11:30 a.m.

Main Library, 3650 Summit Blvd., West Palm Beach.

RSVP. 561-233-2600 The “Under Construction” LEGO Crew. Ages 7-12. 10:30 a.m. Royal Palm Beach Branch Library, 500 Civic Center Way, Royal Palm Beach. RSVP. 561-7906030 Internet Superhero. Ages 5-11. create a superhero cape and wrist cuffs. 10:30 a.m. West Boca Branch Library, 18685 State Road 7, Boca Raton. RSVP. 561470-1600 Tri-Rail Ride and Play. Costumed characters, balloon artists and magicians on 4 select trains. Enjoy special admission prices and offers from select attractions by showing a validated Tri-Rail ticket or EASY card. Call or visit website for more information. $5 all day, children under 5 ride free. 1-800-TRI-RAIL or tri-rail.com

24 Sunday MIAMI-DADE

Art in the Park with Marie. Ages toddlers- 8. Cre-

We Rock The Spectrum Opening. Live DJ,

Fun & Games at the Library. Ages 7 and up.

storybook characters, face painting, autism resources and local vendors, sensory-play activities, and previews of new classes. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 19635 FL-7, Suite 46, Boca Raton. $12 per child. werockthespectrumbocaraton.com

25 Monday MIAMI-DADE

Toddler Storytime. 1:30 p.m. Northeast Dade -

BROWARD

Aventura Branch Library, 2930 Aventura Blvd., Aventura.

RSVP. 305-931-5512 After School Club: Games and More. Learn after school with board games and other fun activities. 3 p.m. Opa-locka Branch Library, 780 Fisherman St., Suite 140, Opa-locka. Free. RSVP. 305-688-1134

Storytime. 11 a.m. Riverland Branch Library, 2710 W.

YOUmake Miami: Pin Your Dream upon a Star. Create an image using a variety of media and turn it into a button. 3 p.m. Miami Beach Regional Library, 227 22nd St., Miami Beach. Free. RSVP. 305-535-4219

BROWARD

PALM BEACH

Not Your Grandma’s Bingo. Ages 5-12. 3:30 p.m.

PALM BEACH

MIAMI-DADE

Preschool Storytime. PJ Day. 10:30-11:30 a.m. Four

Paws to Read. Ages 5-12. Children read to Flora a

Arts Children’s Library, 2 4 Arts Plaza, Palm Beach. 561655-2776 or fourarts.org Bouncing Babies. Ages 3-12 months. stories, songs and finger plays. 10:30 a.m. West Boca Branch Library, 18685 State Road 7, Boca Raton. RSVP. 561-470-1600 Craftapalooza. Ages 2-8. create multiple crafts. 2:30 p.m. Wellington Branch Library, 1951 Royal Fern Drive, Wellington. RSVP. 561-790-6070 Pretzel Party. Ages 5-8. Trivia and balloon pretzels.

3:15 p.m. Gardens Branch Library, 11303 Campus Drive, Palm Beach Gardens. RSVP. 561-626-6133

licensed therapy greyhound. 3:30 p.m. Kendall Branch Library, 9101 SW 97th Ave., Miami. Free. RSVP. 305279-0520 Lyrical Verse Disperse. Ages 8 and up. Write a poem, read a rhyme, or sing a song. 5 p.m. Virrick Park Branch Library, 3255 Plaza St., Miami. Free. RSVP. 305442-7872

Wellington Branch Library, 1951 Royal Fern Drive, Wellington. RSVP. 561-790-6070 Pajama Storytime. Ages 3-6. 6:30 p.m. Glades Road Branch Library, 20701 95th Ave., South Boca Raton.

RSVP. 561-482-4554

28 Thursday

26 Tuesday MIAMI-DADE

Surprise Storytime. 4 p.m. Northeast Dade - Aventura Branch Library, 2930 Aventura Blvd., Aventura. RSVP. 305-931-5512

Regional Library, 8601 W. Broward Blvd., Plantation.

Free. RSVP. 954-765-1560 Storytime. 10:30 a.m. Dania Beach Paul DeMaio Branch Library, 1 Park Ave. East, Dania Beach. Free. RSVP. 954357-7073 Hoops with the Cops. Evening of friendly competition with Hallandale Beach Police. 5-8 p.m. BF James Park, 777 NW 1st Ave., Hallandale Beach. Free. 954457-1466 or hallandalebeachfl.gov

Fitness in the Park. Free fitness class. 10 a.m.

Delray Marketplace, 14851 Lyons Road, Delray Beach.

561-865-4613 Sunday Movies. Check website for movie title. $1 includes beverage & popcorn. 11 a.m. Sugar Sand Park Community Center, 300 S. Military Trail, Boca Raton.

561-347-3900 or SugarSandPark.org

BROWARD

6 p.m. Delray Beach Public Library, 100 West Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach. 561-665-1718 or tavitandlynn@ gmail.com

27 Wednesday MIAMI-DADE

Zumba for Kids. Ages 4-8. 4:30 p.m. West Dade Regional Library, 9445 Coral Way, Miami. Free. RSVP. 305-553-1134

Library, 2600 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. Free. RSVP. 954-357-7760 Superstars Dance And Baton Class. Ages 4 and up. Beginning and intermediate dance and baton classes 4-6 p.m. Tree Tops Park, 3900 SW 100th Ave., Davie. $50 per month unlimited classes. 954-438-2075 or floridasuperstars.com

Amphitheater, 12300 Forest Hill Blvd., Wellington. Free. foodtruckinvasion.com Preschool Storytime. Pirate Day- End of Season Party. 10:30-11:30 a.m. Four Arts Children’s Library, 2 4 Arts Plaza, Palm Beach. 561-655-2776 or fourarts.org

29 Friday MIAMI-DADE

Bedtime Stories. Stories and crafts. 6:30 p.m. West

Ukulele Workshop for Beginners & Players.

Playgroup Fun. Birth- 2. 11:15 a.m. Hollywood Branch

Wellington Food Trucks. 5-9:30 p.m. Wellington

mation. 5 p.m. Miami Beach Regional Library, 227 22nd St., Miami Beach. Free. RSVP. 305-535-4219 Match Play Tuesday. Video game arcade and family entertainment center. GameTime will match your food bill with equal game credits. 4-7 p.m. GameTime, 5701 Sunset Drive, Suite 330, Miami. 305- 667-4263

PALM BEACH

BROWARD

PALM BEACH

BROWARD

PALM BEACH

what to expect with a new baby and other topics about preparing for your new arrival. 12:30-1:30 p.m. The Professional Centre at Pembroke Lakes Mall, 400 N Hiatus Road, Suite 105, Pembroke Pines. RSVP. 877-334-5437 or pediatricassociates.com Bilingual Family Storytime. Ages 3 and up. 6:30 p.m. Richard C. Sullivan Public Library, 500 NE 26th St., Wilton Manors. 954-390-2195 or wiltonmanors.com

Branch Library, 5985 N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale. Free. RSVP. 954-357-6530 STEM Home School Classes. Grades 3-5. “Into the Jungle.” Bring bag lunch or purchase on site. IMAX movie and exhibits exploration following class. 9:45 a.m.

Museum of Discovery and Science, 401 SW Second St., Fort Lauderdale. $15 per person student or adult. IMAX movie, $5. 954-467-6637 or mods.org/stem/stem.html

BASS Creativity in the Community Workshop. Ages 2-8. family art program. Call for more infor-

Farmers Market. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Veterans’ Memorial Park, 7825 Southgate Blvd., Tamarac. Free. 954-597-3620 or tamarac.org MADD Dash 5K. Walk to help raise awareness and funds to eliminate drunk driving. 7:30 a.m. Huizenga Plaza, 32 E Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale. walklikemadd.org 4th Sundays Beach Entertainment Series.

Bring lawn chairs for music at the beach. 2-5 p.m. South City Beach Park, 1870 S. Ocean Drive, Hallandale Beach.

954-457-1452. Free. hallandalebeachfl.gov

Davie Blvd., Fort Lauderdale. Free. RSVP. 954-357-7455

Pediatric Associates New Parent Class. Learn

Toddler Time Storytime. 10:30 a.m. Imperial Point

ate something new each month out on the lawn under the shade of the Banyan tree. Supplies included. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. last Sunday of every month. Miami Beach Botanical Garden, 2000 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach.

Free admission. 305-673-7256 Let’s Explore at Fairchild (LEAF). “Earth Day weekend.” Crafts, games, worksheets and planting. 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, 10901 Old Cutler Road Coral Gables. Adults, $25; children 6-17, $12. 305-667-1651 or fairchildgarden.org

Earth Day Celebration. Eco-friendly vendors and

Sharpen your game skills by playing a variety of table games. 3 p.m. Culmer/Overtown Branch Library, 350 NW 13th St., Miami. Free. RSVP. 305-579-5322 Miami Beach Food Truck & Music Fest. Food trucks, free entertainment and participation by area restaurants. 5-10 p.m. North Shore Park Bandshell, Collins Avenue and 73 Street. mbculture.com.

Cultural Fridays. Enjoy music and discover works by local artists and artisans. 7-11 p.m. Domino Park, SW 15th Avenue and 8th St., Miami. Free. 305-643-5500 Jazz Friday. Live jazz. 8 p.m. Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami, 770 NE 125th St., North Miami. Free.

305 893 6211

BROWARD

Rhythm Learning Time. Ages 3-5. 11 a.m. Miramar Branch Library & Education Center, 2050 Civic Center Place, Miramar. Free. RSVP. 954-357-8090 Storytime. 10:30 a.m. Pompano Beach Branch Library, 1213 E. Atlantic Blvd., Pompano Beach. Free. RSVP. 954-357-7595

PALM BEACH

Sunset Celebration. Free concert on the Intracoastal.

6-9 p.m. Lake Park Harbor Marina, 105 Lake Shore Drive, Lake Park. 561-881-3311 Movie Night and Food Truck Invasion. Food trucks and movies. Movie starts at 8 p.m. Bring folding chairs or blankets to picnic at the park grass surroundings.

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5-9 p.m. Royal Palm Beach Commons, Royal Palm Beach.

Free. 561-790-5149. foodtruckinvasion.com

30 Saturday MIAMI-DADE

Children’s Poetry Storytime. Celebrate National

EDUCATIONAL SCHOOL For Special Needs Children K-12

We Accept Students Who Qualify for PLSA Accepted

WE OFFER PT/OT/SLP & ABA

SPECIAL NEEDS SECTION

These students are not able to come within a mainstream school program due to the expectations being overwhelmed. Bright Steps Forward, Inc. is a specialized life skill program catering to students whose needs are not being met in traditional school settings. BSF serves low to average functioning children, adolescents and teenagers diagnosed with Autism, Aspergers, PDD, NVLD and other Autistic Spectrum Disorders.

Our staff is dedicated to making sure that every child is given an equal opportunity to get the education all children deserve and thus provide them with the greatest chance of success.

• Physical Therapy • Occupational Therapy • Speech Language Therapy • Behavioral Therapy (ABA)

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West Regional Library, 8601 W. Broward Blvd., Plantation.

Free. RSVP. 954-765-1560 El Día de los Niños/Libros. Celebration of children, families, reading, and diversity. Stories, songs, and crafts that promote diversity. Snacks will be served. 2 p.m. Tamarac Branch Library, 8701 W. Commercial Blvd., Tamarac.

Free. RSVP. 954-765-1500 Eats n’ Beats. Live music and food trucks. 5:30-9:30 p.m. Amphitheater 10561 Trails End, Parkland. 954-7574105 or cityofparkland.org/836/Eats-Beats Tribute Concert. “ Fleetwood Mac.” 7-9:15 p.m. Lauderhill Sports Park, 7500 W Oakland Park Blvd., Lauderhill. oaklandparkfl.org

summer program. 3:30-5 p.m. IMACS Plantation, 7435 NW 4th St., Plantation. RSVP. 954-791-2333 or imacs. org/summercamp March for Babies. 3-mile course. Food, entertainment, Kid’s Corner, and exercise and activities for all ages. Registration 7 a.m.; race 8 a.m. Nova Southeastern University, 3301 College Ave., Davie. marchofdimes.org

Family Fun Ride & Moonlight Movie in the Park. “Bee Movie,” helmet giveaway, repurposed bike and helmet raffle, bike ride, and more. 5:30-9:30 p.m.

Dottie Mancini Park, 6520 NE 22 Ave., Fort Lauderdale.

954-828-5226 or fortlauderdale.gov 57th Founder’s Day Parade & Festivities.

Ages 6 and up. Pancake breakfast, family fun run/walk/ stroll, kiddy entertainment, and parade. Community Center, 9000 SW 50th Place , Cooper City. Afternoon at Brian Piccolo County Park: Car show, food booths, allstar baseball & softball games, bingo, police & fire expo, children’s activities, concert and fireworks. 9501 Sheridan St., Cooper City. 7:30 a.m.-9 p.m. $1.50 per person. coopercityfl.org, 954-434-4300 #233 or 954-357-5150 Bingo for Besties. Bingo, used book sale, refreshments, rummage sale, 50/50 raffle, Plinko game, furry friends and more. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Humane Society of Broward County, 2070 Griffin Road, Fort Lauderdale. $20.

954-266-6822 or humanebroward.com Spring Swim Bash Party. Music, free popsicle, and raffle prizes. Noon- 4 p.m. Caporella Aquatic Complex, 9300 NW 58th St., Tamarac. Adults, $4; ages 17 and under, $3.50. 954-597-3620

Family Storytime. Pirate Day - End of Season Party.

10:30-11:30 a.m. Four Arts Children’s Library, 2 4 Arts Plaza, Palm Beach. 561-655-2776 or fourarts.org

Sandoway House Nature Center Daily Shark Feedings. Learn facts about the oceans top predators,

1750 N. University Drive #105 Coral Springs, FL 33071 218 Almeria Avenue Coral Gables, FL 33134

www.brightstepsforward.org southfloridaparenting.com |

Chess Club. Ages 5-18. Raffle prize awarded. 11 a.m.

PALM BEACH

Open Saturdays

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IMACS Hi-Tech Summer Camp Open House Plantation. Ages 6-15. Get a glimpse of the IMACS

BRIGHT STEPS FORWARD Provides a unique therapeutic social environment. Students attending Bright Steps Forward, Inc. come from educational or home environments where they have been unsuccessful. Many of these students have been diagnosed with Aspergers, PDD, and other Autistic Spectrum Disorders.

2233 N. Commerce Parkway #1 Weston, FL 33326 10261 Pines Boulevard Pembroke Pines, FL 33026

Poetry Month reading and reciting your favorite poems.

11 a.m. Northeast Dade - Aventura Branch Library, 2930 Aventura Blvd., Aventura. RSVP. 305-931-5512 Fun & Games at the Library. Ages 7 and up.

Sharpen your game skills by playing a variety of table games. 3 p.m. Culmer/Overtown Branch Library, 350 NW 13th St., Miami. Free. RSVP. 305-579-5322

www.therapies4kids.com

while watching them eat. 10:30 a.m., Tuesday-Saturday and 1:30 p.m., Sunday. Ages 3 and up, $5. 142 S. Ocean Blvd., Delray Beach. 561-274-7263 or sandowayhouse.org

Weekend Fun at Bedner’s Farm Fresh Market. Petting zoo, feeding area, pony rides, and bounce house. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 10066 Lee Road, Boynton Beach.

Free. 561-733-5490 Delray Beach Green Market. Pet friendly. 9 a.m.Noon, Saturday. 201 W. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach.

561-276-7511 Pediatric Associates New Parent Class. Learn what to expect with a new baby and other topics about preparing for your new arrival. 12:30-1:30 p.m. 379 N Congress Ave., Boynton Beach. RSVP. 877-344-5437

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We Now st ope Bi rd n at Pl az a

Because sore throats are never convenient.

Walk-in Urgent Care Available 7 Days a Week.

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For Health. For Life.

Download our It’s free!

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Now open at West Bird Plaza

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Palm Beach Gardens = Urgent Care Location

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