Family & Kids Bayou Region Nov 16

NOVEMBER 2016

Wise Choices for Moms & Families

© JoAnn LeBoeuf Photography

BAYOU REGION

Cover Sponsor, Page 2

A traditional children’s boutique with gifts and monogramming

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Children’s Clothing Girls : Pre -16 Boys : Pre-8

Locations

Boutique hair bows Skin & Hair Care • Gifts & toys Monogramming • Baptismal supplies

CUT OFF LOCATION 17020 West Main St. Cut Off, LA 70345 985-325-7327 M-F 10-6 Sat. 10-3

HOUMA LOCATION 1795B MLK Blvd, Suite B Houma, La 70360 986-868-5280 M-F 10-6 Sat. 10-3

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Is It OK to Eat...

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HOO’s tips

EXPIRED FOOD? For most people, expiration dates on food are like red lights.

If the date has passed, you stop—and the food goes into the trash. But the reality is, you should treat them more like yield signs. Slow down, use caution, and if the coast is clear ... gun it!

Sometimes, food can be perfectly good a day, a week, a year, or even multiple years after the date on a package.

In fact, Doug Rauch—the former president of Trader Joe’s supermarkets—is turning “expired food” into a business of his own. Come May, he’s opening a grocery store in the Boston area called The Daily Table—it’ll be a market where all the items have one thing in common: They’re past their “sell-by” date.

“The terminology of shelf life labeling can be confusing,” explains Men’s Health nutrition advisor Alan Aragon, M.S. People are confused by three popular terms, he explains.

Here’s your cheat sheet.

1. SELL-BY DATE: This is a guideline for stores regarding how the food looks. It has nothing to do with whether a food is expired, unsafe, or won’t taste good. It’s not the same as an expiration date.

2. BEST BEFORE (OR BEST IF USED BY) DATE: This is an indicator of a food’s flavor and look, but not necessarily an indicator of its safety.

3. USE BY (OR EXPIRATION) DATE: This is the strongest indicator of safety. If you consume a food after its “use by” date, you could be taking a gamble.

How much of a gamble? That’s hard to know, because it’s difficult to study, says Aragon. It’s impossible to pinpoint the exact day a food crosses the line from tasting bad to being dangerous. “Food can be safe to eat even when it doesn’t look great or taste amazing,” he says.

NUTRITION LABELS, DECODED: Soon, the FDA will be updating food labels. Here’s a look at what may be different—and what you need to know.

A general rule of thumb: “The more refined and processed a food is, the longer you can keep it past the expiration date,” says Aragon. Chalk that up to very low (or no) water content in these foods—environments microbes can’t thrive in, especially when preservatives are added, he says. The exception: meat. Toss deli sandwich meat, hot dogs, and sausage the day they expire, Aragon says. They have a particularly high risk of listeria, a bacteria that can cause an infection called listeriosis, which can even manifest as meningitis.

Below, Aragon outlines seven food types and how long you can keep them past their expiration dates.

Canned goods: Most expiration dates on cans range from 1 to 4 years. But if you keep cans in a cool dark place, and undented, the food inside will keep for 3 to 6 years.

Frozen foods: They’re much like canned goods: pretty much expiration-proof. The exception? Meat.

Pasta: Pasta won’t spoil—it has no water content. As long as it doesn’t smell odd, you can keep it past the expiration date.

Eggs: Put the egg in a bowl of water. If it floats, there’s too much gas (created by high levels of bacteria) inside. Toss it.

Bread: You can keep bread dramatically longer than the date on the box if you put it in fridge or freezer. As long as you don’t see mold, it’s good.

Fresh fruits and vegetables: Look at them, smell them, and feel them—if you’re still hungry, they’re still good.

By Bill Phillips, Men’s Health

Wise Choices for You & Your Family

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Tammy Usie Publisher

sDigest.com

Sales@FamilyandKid

253-212-7270 Cell

Dear Parents of Terrebonne & Lafourche Parishes, Welcome to your handy, local, parenting resource guide. I hope you will find lots of helpful choices on products and services for you and your family, along with some informative articles, fun features, handy resources and things to do.

If you like our magazine, then you’ll enjoy our website too, www.FamilyAndKidsDigest.com. There you can read our digital magazine and use our ONLINE SHOPPING DIRECTORY. This virtual buying guide will provide you with a list of local, family-friendly businesses that we intend to grow into something more comprehensive in time. Plus with the ability for consumers to leave reviews on these businesses, it will help other parents make buying decisions. I invite you to go leave a few reviews to help us build this resource and share them with other parents like yourself.

AD DEADLINES

1st of the Month for the Next Month’s Issue

Tammy Usie

HOO KNOWS SPECIAL FEATURES Hoo’s crafty.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page 27

Hoo’s Hungry.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 8 & 30

HOO’S Fun.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 18 & 26

Hoo’s parenting.. . . . . page 13, 15 & 23

HOO’S healthy.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page 29

Hoo’s Picks.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 19

Hoo’s Knew?.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 7

Hoo’s Tips.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page 9

HOO KNOWS® Community Digest does not assume responsibility for products and services listed in this magazine. Ads may not be reproduced, in any way, without written consent. HOO KNOWS® is a trademark of Cinah Media Group LLC. For information on operating your own digest, contact us at 1-888-HOO-5609.

Where to Find HOO? Check your local kid-friendly doctors, dentists, attractions, retail shops and restaurants. Plus grocery stores, coffee shops, and many more places of business in Terrebonne and Lafourche Parishes.

Plus read our digital edition at:

www.familyandkidsdigest.com Find us on Facebook

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TM/©2016 Sesame Workshop. All Rights Reserved. 68148 10/16

November 17

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SHOPPING GUIDE Activities Alstarz Cheerleading Academy.........12 Bayou Country Children’s Museum. 27 Bayouland YMCA................................... 28 Blacklist Martial Arts & Fitness........ 20 Bricks 4 Kidz........................................... 22 Brushworks Art & Music..................... 22 Carol Bruno’s Cheernastics................. 28 Creative U..................................................15 Greenwood Gator Farm & Tours........ 30 Gymnastics Development Center..... 30 Houma Christmas Festival..................31 James Academy of Gymnastics.........18 La Tea Da Party Palace......................... 23 Mix It Up....................................................19 Santa’s Land & Reindeer Rowe............ 9 TELL THEM Sesame Street Live...................................5 STAGE Performing Arts School......... 20 Tiger-Rock...................................................8

Food & Beverage Chick-fil-A on MLK.................................12

healthcare Breast Care Center..................................15 Center for Pediatric Therapy................ 6 Ellender Orthodontics.......................... 25 Pelican Medical Supply......................... 6 Thieler Orthodontics............................ 23 Total Urgent Care................................... 20

party Bayou Inflatables................................... 25

SENT YOU!

Childcare/ education Houma’s #1 After School Program.... 28 The Learning Ladder............................. 20

Shopping/ Retail Clearwater Pools & Spas...................... 25 Felger’s Foot Wear..................................12 Lil’ Sweet Pea’s Boutique........................2

www.FamilyAndKidsDigest.com

Tammy Usie creative boutique & brokerage

MARKETING l DESIGN l SALES l EVENTS 253.212.7270 TammyUsie@gmail.com

HOO knew?

What’s in a phrase? l l l l You may have heard someone say, “It’s raining cats and dogs.” There have been actual documented cases from all over the world of fish, frogs, dead birds, snakes, snails, beetles, worms and jellyfish raining down from the sky in great numbers, but no reports of showers of cats or dogs.

Have you ever heard the expression, “knock your socks off?” If you are struck by lightning, your socks and shoes may be knocked off. Rapid evaporation and expansion of sweat on your skin blows your clothes off. You may not be hurt if the current does not enter your body.

l l l l l l l l l l l

The phrase “once in a blue moon” is used colloquially to reference something that doesn’t happen very often. A blue moon is the second full moon in a single calendar month, and its rareness ended up making for a great little saying with an easy to recognize meaning.

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

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HOO’s HUNGRY FANCY APPLE PIE

STUFFED APPLES This recipe has everything you love about apple pie, deconstructed, and baked right inside the apple for an adorably, sweet dessert!

DIRECTIONS Peel and dice 2 of the apples. Add to a saucepan with extract, cinnamon, and sugar. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for about 20-25 minutes.

Cut off tops of the other 4 apples. Core and scoop out the center of the apples and place in a baking dish. When filling is cool, divide and fill hollowed apples.

Cut pie crusts into 1/4” strips and lay in lattice pattern over top of apples. Trim excess pie crust, then brush tops with melted butter.

Bake at 375° F for 25-30 minutes, until tops are golden brown. Let them cool 10-15 minutes before serving.

INGREDIENTS • 6 large Granny Smith apples • 1 tsp. cinnamon • 1/2 cup sugar • 1/2 tsp. rum or vanilla extract • 1 refrigerated pie crust • 2 tbs butter, melted

www.FamilyAndKidsDigest.com

Hoo’s Tips

MEAL PLANNING TIPS Planning for family mealtime can be tough, but it doesn’t have to be. Take the stress out of planning and preparing family meals with these tips and begin reaping the benefits of more time together around the dinner table.

Commit to having one additional meal with your family each week at home. It doesn’t matter whether it is breakfast, lunch or dinner. The benefits are the same. After a month, you may be surprised by how easily your new commitment has become a habit for the entire family.

Rely on the resources available at your local grocery store.

Even when you don’t feel like cooking, there are countless meal planning solutions such as pre-prepped fresh ingredients, delicious ready-made entrées and wholesome heat-and-eat dishes.

Make meal planning a family affair. List each family member’s

favorite foods in each of the main food groups and see how many combinations you can create. Then ask your children to accompany you to the store to help select the ingredients (and use the trip for age-appropriate learning, such as comparing prices, reading labels, etc.).

Save time by engaging the whole family in meal preparation.

Even the littlest hands can help with tasks like setting the table.

Set a regular meal time so you can plan other activities around it. Sit around the table, turn off the TV and put away phones and electronic devices. Keep the focus on each other.

Eating together with your children regularly can have an important impact on their development and behavior. See our article on page 23 for more on why.

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

HOO’S at the Movies FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM Rated PG-13 | Ok for kids 13+

This all-new adventure from J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter universe is directed by David Yates, who helmed the last four “Harry Potter” blockbusters. The movie opens in 1926, as magizoologist Newt Scamander (Academy Award winner Eddie Redmayne) has just completed a global excursion to find and document an extraordinary array of magical creatures. Arriving in New York for a brief stopover, he might have come and gone without incident were it not for a No-Maj (American for Muggle) named Jacob, a misplaced magical case, and the escape of some of Newt’s fantastic beasts, which could spell trouble for both the wizarding and No-Maj worlds.

MOANA PG | Ok for kids 6+

Tyler Perry once again writes, produces, directs, and stars in his latest project with the popular character Madea. In Boo! A Madea Halloween, Madea winds up in the middle of mayhem when she spends a hilarious, haunted Halloween fending off killers, paranormal poltergeists, ghosts, ghouls, and zombies while keeping a watchful eye on a group of misbehaving teens. In addition to Madea, Perry also plays the roles of “Joe” and “Brian.” Also stars Bella Thorne, Cassie Davis and Andre Hall.

THE EDGE OF SEVENTEEN Rated PG-13 | Ok for kids 13+

In the vein of “Sixteen Candles” and “The Breakfast Club” this new coming-of- age movie offers an honest, candid, often hilarious look at what it’s like to grow up as a young woman in today’s modern world.

Everyone knows that growing up is hard, and life is no easier for high school junior Nadine (Hailee Steinfeld), who is already at peak awkwardness when her all-star older brother Darian (Blake Jenner) starts dating her best friend Krista (Haley Lu Richardson). All at once, Nadine feels more alone than ever, until the unexpected friendship of a thoughtful boy (Hayden Szeto) gives her a glimmer of hope that things just might not be so terrible after all.

TROLLS PG | Ok for kids 6+

From the creators of “Shrek”, this cute movie transports audiences to a colorful world populated by the overly optimistic Trolls, and the comically pessimistic Bergens. After the Bergens invade Troll Village, Poppy (Anna Kendrick), the happiest Troll ever born, and the curmudgeonly Branch (Justin Timberlake) set off on a journey to rescue her friends. Together, this mismatched duo embark on a rescue mission full of adventure and mishaps - trying to tolerate each other long enough to get the job done. The soundtrack is produced

by Justin Timberlake and features five original songs, including songs by Timberlake and Gwen Stefani, in addition to a number of classic hits from the 1960’s through the 1980’s.

ALMOST CHRISTMAS PG-13 | Ok for kids 13+

A new comedy from writer/director David E. Talbert “Baggage Claim” and producer Will Packer “Ride Along” and “Think Like a Man,” this movie tells the festive story of a dysfunctional family who gather together for their first Thanksgiving since their mom died, and the beloved patriarch who asks his family for one gift this holiday season: to get along. If they can honor that wish and spend five days under the same roof without killing each other, it will be a Christmas miracle. This movie stars Kimberly Elise, Omar Epps, Danny Glover, Gabrielle Union, Jessie T. Usher, Nicole Ari Parker, Romany Malco, and Mo’Nique.

www.FamilyAndKidsDigest.com

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

SCHOOLS! Secure your space in our

biggest independent school directory of the year!

Runs in 1st Quarter 2017.

DEADLINE DEC. 1 Childcare options invited too!

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HOO’s PARENTING

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TEACHING

Life Skills

Many children have calendars filled with activities and obligations, so finding time to teach your child basic life skills can be a challenge. However, finding time to teach your kids basic life skills is essential, since these skills are necessary for them to succeed in becoming happy, successful teens and young adults. Here are a few skills kids should know before they reach high school.

LAUNDRY: Taking the time to teach your child how to properly operate the washing machine and dryer and fold clothes means laundry is one more daily chore your child can be responsible for. Even if your child is too young to operate the machines on his own, show him how to sort clothes and properly load the washer and dryer. He could then at least by responsible for loading and unloading his own laundry, in addition to folding it.

Don’t forget to pass along tips on how to remove stains safety and replace a button that falls off in the wash.

GOOD ETIQUETTE: Making a good first impression in person is very important to succeeding at any activity your child participates in. When your child interacts with others, he is often immediately judged by his manners. Start teaching your child good manners when he is very young and they will become second nature. Be sure to include interpersonal skills, like making good eye contact, and use every opportunity possible to ask him to practice them. For example, let him answer when the server at the restaurant asks him which kid’s meal he wants to order. By the time he is a teen looking for his first job, he will be ready to ace his first interview.

While you are discussing being respectful and having good manners with your child, don’t forget to cover

good etiquette online. Unfortunately, what is posted online is there forever and can have long-standing effects on your child’s reputation.

WRITING LETTERS: Yes, writing a letter does sound old fashioned but it is a very valuable skill to have. The need for cover letters for resumes and applications or letters written for legal purposes is still there, so your child will benefit in knowing how to write a wellstructured letter. These days, a letter might be emailed, but it has the same structure as one that is printed out and put in the mail. Help him write a letter to Santa or to grandma, with an address line, salutation, body, complimentary close, and a signature line.

COMPARISON SHOPPING: Your child may not be ready to learn how to lay out a complete household budget, but you can show him how comparison shopping is used to stay within a budget. Involve your child when you build your shopping list by looking through store ads to find the best bargain on products you use. If you are buying a big ticket item like a new TV, share with your child the process you are using to compare product features and find the best one that fits your budget.

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Dining Deals

Wise Choices for You & Your Family

With deals this good, save the mess and dine out!

MONDAY Cajun Critters. 1029 W Tunnel Blvd, Houma. Kids eat free from kids’ menu. Balloon art and face painting.

El Paso Mexican Grill. 602 N Canal Blvd, Thibodaux.

Kids10 and under. Free kid’s meal with adult entrée.

Face painting.

IHOP. 1719 MLK Blvd, Houma. 4-9pm. Free kid’s meal with adult entrée.

La Casa Del Sol. 141 Westover Rd. Thibodaux.

5-8pm. Kids’ meals $2.99 for12 and under. Face painting.

Santa Fe Cattle Company. 632 Canal Blvd, Thibodaux. Kids 12 and under. Free kid’s meal with adult entrée.

Sicily’s Buffet. 1539 MLK Blvd, Houma. Up to 2 free kids buffets for kids 12 and under with paid adult.

wednesday Big Mike’s BBQ. 3034 Barrow St, Houma. From 4pm to close. Kids’ meals $.99.

El Paso Mexican Grill. 4560 Louisiana 1, Raceland.

6-8pm. Free balloon art and face painting.

La Casa Del Sol. 1257 Grand Caillou Rd, Houma.

5-8pm. Kids’ meals $2.99 for12 and under.

thursday Dynasty Buffet. 6425 West Park Ave, Houma. Kids 3-6 eat free. Free balloon art and face painting.

Tuesday

sunday

Applebee’s.1039 W Tunnel Blvd, Houma. Kids eat free from kids’ menu from 3-9pm (1 kid per adult).

Crabby Crab. 5726 LA 1, Lockport. Free ice cream for kids, live mermaid, balloon art and facepainting from 6-8pm.

Chick-fil-A. 1741 MLK Blvd, Houma. Free 4 count kid’s meal with any meal purchase from 5-8pm. First Tuesday of each month is Kid’s Craft Night.

everyday

Golden Corral.1724 MLK Blvd, Houma. Free balloon art and face painting.

Foundry on The Bayou. 15 West 1st St, Thibodaux.

For brunch (10:30am-2pm), free ice cream for kids and free face painting.

La Casa Del Sol. 4647 Louisiana 1, Raceland and 169 Monarch Dr, Houma. 5-8pm. Kids’ meals $2.99 for12 and under.

Dave’s Cajun Kitchen. 6240 West Main, Houma. Kids 10 & under get kid’s meal for $.99 with a purchase of a drink. Dinner only.

Pepper’s Pizzeria. 600 W 3rd St, Thibodaux. Kids 12 and under get $1.99 pizza and free ice cream.

Santa Fe Cattle Company. 632 Canal Blvd, Thibodaux. Kids 12 and under. Free kid’s meal with adult entrée.

Specials are subject to change without notice. Please verify them directly before dining. “Family & Kids” and the restaurants listed accept no liability, so please call them first to verify. If you know of a kid’s special not listed here, contact Sales@FamilyAndKidsDigest.com.

www.FamilyAndKidsDigest.com

PARENT’S ONLINE SHOPPING GUIDE

www.FamilyAndKidsDigest.com 166 Corporate Dr, Houma 985-858-3333

Caring for women is a

WAY OF LIFE for us.

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NOVEMBE Legend: TM - Terrebonne Main Library TD - Thibodaux

1-23 Disguise a Turkey Contest. 8 Cooking Camp. Mix It Up. RSVP 18 BCCM. $5 entry fee. Bccm.info for rules and registration.

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Craft night at Chick-fil-A on MLK, Houma. 5-8pm.

985-868-3534.

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MoboRobo Robotics Lab for 4-6th graders. TM. 4pm. RSVP 876-5861.

2 Pokémon Gym. TM. 4pm. Build 9 Pokémon League at Thibodaux decks, trade and battle

Library. Ages 10 and up. 4pm.

2 STEM for preschoolers. Ages 11 3+. TD. 11:30am.

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Open Gym. Alstarz Cheer.

6-9pm. $10. 13347 W Main St, Larose. 985-693-7109.

5 Community garage sale at Bay-

ouland YMCA. 7am-noon. 985873-9622 to reserve a booth.

Pokémon Gym. TM. 4pm.

Open play to build decks, trade and battle

11 Big Boy’s Main Street Cook-off.

5pm cooking entry, 6pm entertainment. Downtown Thibodaux.

11 Camo Campout Kids Night. Mix

It Up. 6-9pm. RSVP 985-868-3534.

5 Marketplace Artisan Craft Show. 12 300 booths and activities. Southdown Plantation. 8am-4pm. $5.

Parent & Child Toy Poodle Cakes. Mix It Up. RSVP 985-8683534.

Open Gym. Alstarz Cheer.

6-9pm. $10. 13347 W Main St, Larose. 985-693-7109.

18 Zumba for all. TM. 4pm.

18 Mickey Mouse’s Birthday Party.

1pm. TD. RSVP 447-4119

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LEGO Robotics. Ages 8+.

10am. TD. RSVP 447-4119.

19 Parent’s Night Out at Martial Arts Studio. 6-9:30pm. $20. RSVP 985-772-1861.

19 Santa arrives at Southland Mall.

10am.

19 International Game Day. TM. 2pm.

21 Movie Madness (Ice Age: Collision Course). 1pm. TD.

5 Louisiana Swamp Stomp Festi- 12 LEGO Club. TM. 11am and 21 Family game & puzzle chalval. 4484 Hwy 1 Raceland. 11am7pm. Music and food.

6 Noise Makers: Movement and

Music. TM. 3pm. Build reading skills through movement.

8 Camp at Martial Arts Studio.

7:15am-6pm. RSVP 985-772-1861.

LIBRAR Y ACTIVITIES Terrebonne Parish

http://mytpl.evanced.info/signup/ EventCalendar.aspx

Lafourche Parish

www.lafourche.org Click on Locations & Contacts

3pm. All ages.

lenge. TD. 1:30pm.

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21 Wizardry World of Harry. 1pm.

Brushworks hosts Sidewalk Chalk event with Bricks 4 Kidz.

3-5pm. $35. RSVP 985-868-0580.

Bricks 4 Kidz, Houma. RSVP 985872-2772.

13 Board Game Day for all ages. 21-22 Thanksgiving Art Camps.

TM. 3pm.

14 Kids Bully Prevention class at Evolution Training. Ages 6 & up.

4:30-5:30pm. 407 N Hollywood Rd, Houma. 985-226-8846.

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Sesame Street Live: Elmo Makes Music. 6:30pm. Houma Civic Center. Tickets through Ticketmaster.

Brushworks. $35. Sessions 9amnoon and 12:30-3:30pm. RSVP 985-868-0580.

21-23

Thanksgiving Cooking Camp. Mix It Up. RSVP 985-8683534.

21-23 Thanksgiving Kids Camp.

Creative U Houma, Thibodaux & Morgan City. Ages 4-13. RSVP 985-873-5706.

ER EVENTS

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Branch Library BCCM - Bayou Country Children’s Museum

21-25 Holiday Camp at Martial

Arts Studio. 7:15am-6pm. RSVP 985-772-1861.

22 Lady Chops Music. TD. 10am.

22 Turkey Tuesday Camp. BCCM. 9am-3pm. RSVP bccm.info.

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Bricksgiving Fun Day. 1pm.

Bricks 4 Kidz, Houma. RSVP 985872-2772.

22 Kid’s Craft (Sand art in a jar).

Ages 5-12. TD. 1pm. RSVP 4474119

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Black Friday Kidz Day Out. 10am. Bricks 4 Kidz, Houma. RSVP 985-872-2772.

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Black Friday Kids Cooking Camp. Mix It Up. RSVP 985-8683534.

25 Zumba for all. TM. 4pm.

27 Family Movie Matinee: Happy

Bingo. TD. 10am. All ages. Prizes awarded.

Board Game night. TD. 5pm. All ages. Prizes awarded. Snacks provided.

Storytime for PreK-3rd grade. TM. 10am.

Open Gym. LA Sports Gym. 6:309pm. $10. Toddler Time 10amnoon. $7. Kids 4 and under. 544 S Hollywood Rd, Houma. 985-5809746.

Pre-K storytime. TM. 10am for 3-5 year olds.

Exercise class. 11am. TD. Style varies.

WEDNESDAY

Storytime with craft. TD. 10:30am.

All ages welcome.

Baby OHM/ Prenatal Yoga. Anela’s. 4pm. 7720 Main St, Houma. anelaslounge.com.

Thursday Interactive Storytime for infants and toddlers. TD. 10:30am.

Toddler Storytime. 19 mon-3 years. TM. 2pm.

Feet. 2pm. TM.

Crafternoons. TM. 4pm. PreK-6th.

RSVP 985-876-5861. (24th)

MONDAY

Free kids’ yoga. Anela’s. 6:30pm.

7720 Main St, Houma. anelaslounge.com

Weekly events Toddler Time. TM. 10am and 6pm for 19mon-3yrs. (not 9/3)

TUESDAY

Prenatal yoga. Anela’s. 6pm. anelaslounge.com.

Storytime. TM. 10am for newborns-18mon, and 6pm for 4-8 year olds and their families. (not on 25th)

Computer instruction classes.

2pm. TD. RSVP 447-4119.

Family storytime. 6pm. TM. 4-8yr olds & families.

THURSDAY

Tales for Tots. BCCM. 10:30pm. bccm.info

Open Gym. JAG. 7-9pm. $7-$10 for non members. Adult required for ages 5 and under. 308 Venture Blvd, Houma. 985-851-3001.

English as a second language.

TM. 6:30pm.

Wiggle, Move & Giggle. BCCM. 1:30pm. bccm.info

SATURDAY

Downtown Houma Market. Courthouse Square. 8am-noon. Local produce and artisans.

Lafourche Central Market. Farmers, fishermen, artisans and activities. 8a-noon.

Thibodaux Main Street Market.

8am-12:30pm next to Jean Lafitte Park. Buy fresh, buy local.

Kids’ Club. Michael’s, Houma.

10am-12pm. $2. Adult required.

985-872-3132.

Build and Grow Clinic. Lowe’s, Houma. 10am. Free. RSVP lowes. com/buildandgrow.

985-2237575.

Kids’ Workshop. Home Depot, Houma. 9am-12pm. Ages 5-12. Adult required. Free. RSVP homedepot.com/workshops/ kids-workshops. 985-223-1485.

Please call ahead to confirm event dates, times and age appropriateness, in case changes were made after the info was obtained.

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

’

Talking!

HOO’s FUN Jokin’ Around about Thanksgiving

What do math teachers do for Thanksgiving?

Count their blessings!

Why did the turkey cross the road?

To prove he wasn’t chicken!

When does Christmas come before Thanksgiving?

More

Take each hand and bring the thumb and fingers together, making a bird beak shape. Then bring their hands together, to teach your little one to sign that they would like “more.”

In the dictionary!

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HOO’s PICKS

APPS to LOVE KEY RING Never carry loyalty, membership, or library cards again! Key Ring is the app for loyalty cards and savings while shopping. Plan, save, and organize by carrying your cards, stores’ weekly ads, coupons, and your shopping lists – all in one app.

COZI CALENDAR There’s nothing stationary about your life, so why depend on a family calendar that hangs on a fridge or wall? Cozi turns all your devices into ultimate family organizers with a shared calendar, shopping lists, to do lists, recipe box, and more everyone can access on the go.

POTTY TIME From hugs and high-fives to stickers and Snickers, there are many ways to encourage potty training. With the new POTTY TIME app, you have eight new ways to celebrate your child’s potty training success.

ABC kids ABC Kids is a free phonics and alphabet teaching app that makes learning fun for children, from toddlers all the way to preschoolers and kindergartners. It features a series of tracing games to help kids recognize letter shapes, associate them with phonic sounds, and put their alphabet knowledge to use in fun matching exercises.

We thoroughly enjoyed the party and our guests did too. They were entertained the entire 90 minutes. Fabulous job!

-Jill

PA R T I E S C O O K I N G C L A S S E S C A M P S

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

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Come join our family.

“We’ve been with Blacklist since 2008 and it has been an integral part of our children’s upbringing. All kids are bullied at some point and mine are no exception. The difference is that Blacklist students are equipped with the ability to deal with all types of bullying. Not just physical. Our family of 6 all train at Blacklist. There’s a program for all skill and age levels.” - Todd Manno

Jiu-Jitsu – Kickboxing – MMAKids Classes for 3-14 – Skillz Fit 5756 W Main St, Houma / 985-303-0170

We have holiday hours!

Open 8AM-3PM Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve 314 Hwy 3162 • Cut Off, LA 70345 (985) 632-1820 Mon-Fri 8AM-8PM • Sat & Sun 8AM-5PM MyTotalUrgentCare.com

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A Page In A Book Recommending the Best Books for Children and Teens By Gerry P. Smith

Getting Lost in a Book

One sock, the best pacifier, a favorite blanket, an irreplaceable toy – all these things gain critical importance when a child realizes that they are ‘lost’. And the search begins, sometimes yielding unexpected treasures along the way. The following titles examine the process of finding something that is hidden or lost, and what is revealed in the journey of discovery.

Alfie’s Lost Sharkie

By Anna Walker (Clarion / Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)

When Dad announces bath time, Alfie becomes instantly aware that his beloved Sharkie is missing. The search begins as Alfie looks for his favorite toy in all the customary places (and many outside the norm). With his Dad struggling to keep the evening routine on track, every step along the way is punctuated by new places that Alfie needs to explore in his effort to find Sharkie. With a Dad who is exasperated by all the side-trips, delays and restless resistance from a child who refuses to give up the search, parents will find familiar scenarios throughout this charming journey toward bed time.

Clark in the Deep Sea

By R.W. Alley (Clarion / Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)

It’s a rainy afternoon on the porch as a group of siblings each find their own way to stay busy and dry. But the mood changes when youngest sister Annabelle’s star attraction of her imaginary circus, her beloved stuffed bear, launches out into the soggy sea of the yard. Brother Clark springs into action and dives deep within the wet surrounds (and his own colorful musings) as he seeks to find and bring back the lost bear. A make-believe search and rescue has very real implications when a beloved member of the party needs finding!

Where’s the Elephant

By Stephane-Yves Barroux (Candlewick Press)

An elephant, a snake and a parrot enter a wilderness, effectively disappearing in a riot of foliage and color. With only a brief introduction to the animals, young eyes begin searching each subsequent two-page spread to see if they can find the hidden trio in a shrinking environment. Inspired by his trip to the Amazon where he saw deforestation first-hand, Barroux subtly illustrates the effects of habitat loss within this colorfully rendered and hopeful adventure.

Eye-opening in more ways than one, Where’s the Elephant is an inspirational twist on the traditional seek-and-find title.

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

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HOO’s CUTE

CONTEST Visit our website to enter:

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November’s Special Events:

Nov. 21 Wizardry World of Harry – 1pm Nov. 22 Bricksgiving Fun Day – 1pm Nov. 25 Black Friday Kidz Day Out – 10am

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Braces for Children, Teenagers, and Adults Nicole Thieler, DDS, MSD 206 Mystic Boulevard Houma, LA 70360

Call for a complimentary consultation!

(985) 876-4484

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HOO’s PARENTING

FAMILY MEALS

Make a Difference Juggling jobs, kids and the demands of a busy, modern life often comes at the expense of family mealtime at home.

Even though life never seems to slow down, now is the perfect time to renew your commitment to creating and serving meals at home that nourish your kids’ brains and help them flourish.

Not only is time together around the table an opportunity to catch up and reconnect, numerous studies provide evidence that regular family meals lead to higher grades and self-esteem, healthier eating habits and less risky behaviors.

For example, according to research published in the “Journal of Pediatrics,” kids and teens who share meals with their

published in the “Journal of Adolescent Health,” found that teens who have infrequent family dinners (fewer than three per week) are 3.5 times more likely to have abused prescription drugs or have Other studies have shown that children used an illegal drug; 2.5 times more likely who grow up sharing family meals are to have used tobacco and 1.5 times more more likely to exhibit positive social likely to have used alcohol. behavior as adults, such as sharing, Learn more about the positive impact fairness and respect. regular meals at home together On the other hand, research also suggests can have for your kids’ emotional, that aside from missing out on the intellectual and physical well-being at benefits, families that have fewer meals nationalfamilymealsmonth.org. together can also experience adverse effects when it comes to certain risky See our meal planning tips on page behaviors. A study on the relationship 9 to help you make eating together between certain family characteristics easier. and adolescent problem behaviors, families three or more times per week are significantly less likely to be overweight, more likely to eat healthy foods and less likely to have eating disorders.

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TOYS FOR TUB TIME! It seems simple enough to find water-worthy toys for the tub. When you rule out the ones that channel water out of the tub, onto the floor, toys that collect water inside, and those with metal bits that rust, you might come up short in the bath fun department.

But there are always some well-designed playthings that float to the top of the list.

The following toys for the tub are recommended as water-friendly, parent-pleasing and fast favorites for kids in the bath!

Moby Waterfall Bath Rinser

(Skip Hop)

Rinsing a child’s head in the tub is rarely an easy task. Finding a way to get the job done quickly and efficiently is the grail of shampoo-weary parents. Unlike regular pitchers and buckets which scoop up water, but pour unevenly and imprecisely, the Moby is designed with a child’s limits in mind. The wide mouth and interior channels moderate and direct the flow of water evenly and across the whole head so the rinse is complete in just 1-2 pours. The soft rubber lip of the rinser molds to the contour of a child’s head keeping water away from their face. After the rinsing is over, Moby (in the shape of its namesake whale) becomes a fun tub toy for the rest of bath time!

Green Toys Seacopter

(Green Toys)

Aviation pretend-play moves easily to the water with Green Toys Seacopter. Ready to rule the skies and ride the waves, the Seacopter features top and tail rotors that move manually, pontoons that fill and spill to control buoyancy, and a small bear pilot figure for the open cockpit. Perfect for floating and flying, the Seacopter is made in the U.S.A. from recycled milk jugs and is dishwasher-safe for occasional cleaning. Amphibious fun both in and out of the tub, the Green Toys Seacopter is a versatile and worry-free addition to the bath toy box.

Boon Water Pipes

(Boon)

A big part of water’s enchantment in the tub is the way it moves.

Waves, bubbles, and every other kind of hydrodynamic is a siren’s call to kids. Boon Water Pipes are colorful transparent pipes that suction onto bathtub walls creating channels for water to travel along. Each pipe features a distinct action or shape that affects the water passing through it. The pipes can be arranged singly or grouped together in a series so that water poured from the top travels through each consecutive pipe on its way back to the bath.

Ready to rearrange for repeated water shows, Boon’s Water Pipes bring the dynamic of moving water to the fore with crystal clarity.

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HOO’S PLUGGED IN WWW.familyandkidsdigest.COM

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

HOO’s Fun

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Fall Word Scramble

8/10/15, 4:54

Use the images to give you clues!

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HOO’s CRAFTY WASHI TAPE

PINECONE TURKEYS This little Thanksgiving craft is easy peasy and fun to make! Plus, they’re perfect for place settings or even as a Thanksgiving centerpiece.

DIRECTIONS Cut four popsicle sticks in half and place each piece on the sticky side of a strip of washi tape, and press down firmly.

Use your exacto to cut off the excess tape from the stick.

Now cut a yellow triangle for your turkey’s beak, and a red, elongated, teardrop shape of red felt for his gobble. And glue those on, along with his googly eyes.

Finally, glue your popsicle sticks in a fan shape at the back of your pine cone, to make your turkey’s tail feathers.

SUPPLIES washi tape popsicle sticks red/yellow felt googly eyes hot glue gun pinecone exacto/scissors

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

s Houmtae’r Af ool h

#Pr1ogram Sc

Membership Includes:

• Martial arts, dance, gymnastics • Daily A+ homework assistance • Open during school closings • Fun & safe environment • Exciting outdoor sports activities F • Free Transportation each day from: Mulberry, Oakshire, Houma Christian, Maria Immaculata, Lisa Park, Parents like you Broadmoor, St. Bernadette, are rushing to save St. Francis & Messiah Montessori a spo

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Call to save a spot! I 985.262.3321 I HoumaAfterSchoolProgram.com

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HOO’s HEALTHY

The great homework debate Does homework improve a student’s academic achievement or does it interfere with family time and create a negative learning experience?

Brandy Young, a second grade teacher in Godley, Texas, recently made the news when a letter she gave to her students’ parents, went viral on social media. Young said that she was dropping homework from her curriculum for the new school year. “Research has been unable to prove that homework improves student performance,” Young wrote. “Rather, I ask that you spend your evenings doing things that are proven to correlate with student success. Eat dinner as a family, read together, play outside, and get your child to bed early.” That made a lot of Young’s students very happy.

According to the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD), homework has had a fluid history. Throughout the first few decades of the 20th century, educators commonly believed that homework helped create disciplined minds. By 1940, growing concern that homework interfered with other home activities sparked a reaction against it. This trend was reversed in the late 1950s when the Soviets’ launch of Sputnik led to concern that U.S. education lacked rigor; schools viewed more rigorous homework as a partial solution to the problem. By 1980, the trend had reversed again, with some learning theorists claiming that homework could be detrimental to students’ mental health. Since then, impassioned arguments for and against homework have continued to proliferate.

The case for doing homework involves studies noting that students’ academic achievements improve when they are given meaningful homework and they complete assignments.

A number of studies have been conducted on

The

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Kids

Doctor

Sue Hubbard, MD kidsdr.com

homework, and the conclusions from these studies stated, “The relationship between the amount of homework students do and their achievement outcomes was found to be positive and statistically significant. Therefore, based on the evidence in hand, we can conclude that doing homework causes improved academic achievement.”

The case against homework also cites several studies that suggest homework doesn’t improve students’ learning but instead overvalues work to the detriment of personal and familial well-being.

Several popular books have been written taking the no-homework stand; one is The Homework Myth: Why Our Kids Get Too Much of a Bad Thing

by Alfie Kohn. If homework needs to be assigned, Kohn suggests teachers should make sure that the assignments are involving students in activities appropriate for the home, such as experimenting in the kitchen, cooking, doing crossword puzzles with the family, watching good TV shows, or reading. The idea is that family participatory homework exercises can help students learn practical applications with school subjects and receive more bonding time in the process.

Students are now assigned homework from Kindergarten to 12th grade, but there has been no consensus on the benefits of homework at the early elementary grade levels, however, older students do improve their grades with homework.

Many parents are still uncertain about how they feel about homework. Some will tell you their child has too much assigned, but they are not quite ready to chuck homework altogether.

It’s an interesting debate that will continue to garner attention.

Wise Choices for You & Your Family

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HOO’s HUNGRY

CROCKPOT

PUMPKIN PIE DIRECTIONS

In a large bowl, mix the pumpkin and cream cheese together. Then mix in the eggs, butter, and sugar. Now add the flour, baking soda, and cinnamon. Finally, gently stir in the chocolate chips.

Spray bottom of slow cooker with baking spray and pour batter into it. Cover and cook on HIGH for 3 hours or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.

The outsides might be a little darker brown, just make sure the inside is done so it isn’t gooey.

When done, remove slowcooker from heat and let cool for 10-15 minutes. Flip onto a platter and serve at warm or room temperature. Serve with Honey butter, butter, or even ice cream!

INGREDIENTS • 3/4 cup canned pumpkin • 4 ounces cream cheese, softened • 2 eggs • 1 cup sugar or substitute • 1 teaspoon baking soda • 2 cups flour • 1 teaspoon cinnamon • 8 tablespoons of butter, melted • 1 cup chocolate/carob chips • 1 cup chopped nuts if desired

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