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Exclusively for
To support family wellness and celebrate dads in our communities, St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital and the Tampa Yankees invite dads and their kids to a day at the ballpark. Come early and enjoy pregame sports and health-related games and activities, including running the bases before the game.
And Dads
Dad’s Day at Steinbrenner Field
Saturday, June 27 Pregame activities: 3:30–5pm Run the bases: 5–5:15pm Game time: 6pm
Registration is required: (813) 443-3068
Dad and kids each receive a free game ticket, food voucher and gift.
StJoes BC1503287-0515
.org
Contents
14
20
features
26
28
22|preschool prep
10|what's next
Summer is the best time to start preparing
What to do if your baby has a stroke
26|book smarts
14|swim safe As summer heats up so does the potential for toddler drowning
Fun while learning this summer
28|super dads Dads that inspire
18|sibling rivalry How to tell when things go too far
42|oh baby! The best baby products and gifts for dad
20|get your body back!
Photograph by Amy Pezzicara of Pezz Photo
Ways to shed the post-baby bump
every month
on the cover
For this month’s cover photo, we visited Tampa Bay Aviation
06|Letter From The Editor
Pg. 42
in Clearwater, where we met
10|health and wellness
Oh Baby! The best baby
cover kid James Horrisberger
products and gifts for dad.
and his dad. James’ dad (also
26|summer camp
named James) is one of this
40|what's happening 48|south Hillsborough News 50|north Hillsborough News
month’s Super Dads, featured on page 28. The dads that we have featured balance their busy lives and always make
52|south pinellas News
time for their families. They
54|north pinellas News
are their childrens’ biggest
56|pasco News
supporters, and they shape and mold the lives of not only
58|Around Town
their children, but of members
60|Calendar of Events
of the community.
65|directory
To read about more Super Dads the
and scenes
to
see
behind
photos,
TBParenting.com/Dads.
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TAMPA BAY PARENTING
• JUNE 2015 • TBParenting.com
visit
JU N E 8 -A U G U ST 14
ea You don’t have to travel far in order to hav en’s fantastic summer! Join the Glazer Childr explore Museum’s Summer Camp Connect and t art, science, and world culture in ways tha excite and encourage further learning for everyone. Exploration is endless when you te can take a trip to the Serengeti, investiga the weather, and use your imagination to the inspire amazing works of art. Don’t forget too! Wizard of Oz™ Traveling Exhibit is here
CAMPS ARE WEEK-LONG | Half Day and Full Day Options ADVENTURES Ages 5-6 | EXPLORERS Ages 6-7 | INVESTIGATORS Ages 7-9 R EG I STRATI O N I S N OW O P E N · G L A Z E R M U S E U M .O RG
DID YOU KNOW?
The Children’s Board of Hillsborough County proudly presents a Free Admission Tuesday held on the first Tuesday of every month between 2-7pm. For more information, visit
G L A Z E R M U S E U M .O RG
Founder & Editorial Director
Angela L. Ardolino Editorial Assistant
Krista Byrd Associate Editor
Anu Panchal Contributing Writers
Gayla Grace Lisa Thompson Jill Heckman, MD Lindsay Perez Regina Hord Ashley Talmadge Nekeshia Hammond, PsyD Stephanie Doudounis Robi Tavoloni Aimee Popalis Dr. Julie Omodio-Griess Calendar & Neighborhood Stories
Chris Kuhn Director of Sales & events
David E. Estevez Events Director
Nakia Kelley account executive
Ralf Gonzalez Melissa McClung public relations
Elisa Santana Katherine Lavacca Contributing photographers
Nicole Geller Jeanine McLeod Amy Pezzicara Social Moms
Lisa-Marie Leihy Rachel Long Peggy Stines-Munnings Ana Peralta Laurie Winkles Tampa Bay parenting Magazine
Me and my little sister, Christie, riding our Dad like horsie when we were little kids.
thank you dads! Parents of multiple kids are surely familiar with the sound of their children bickering and arguing about things. Sometimes these disagreements can result in physical fights, which was the case many times with my younger sister Christie and me. Full disclosure: although I am older than Christie, she was generally the victor if our arguments grew into a physical duel. On page 18, Dr. Nekeshia Hammond explores some conflict resolution techniques for you to try with the sparring siblings in your home. Over the next few months, your kids may not even pick up a book, choosing to spend countless summer hours outdoors getting dirty with friends. This lack of reading can be detrimental to any knowledge gained over the last year. That’s why our friends over at the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County want to make sure Bay Area families know about the MyOn program. With over 8,000 available titles at absolutely no cost, parents and kids are sure to find great things to read this summer. Learn more about the program and how to register on page 26. This summer is also a transition period for kids entering preschool. For those students just entering an academic program, we’ve compiled a list of activities and tasks your little one should be familiar with as they enter the academic realm. These great tips are on page 22. I’ve been eagerly awaiting one of my favorite editorial features and it’s finally arrived: Super Dads. Each year we find local fathers who are not only impacting the lives of their immediate families but making a difference in Tampa Bay. This year we’re featuring a sheriff, college professor, pilot and several other awesome dads. Read and share their stories starting on page 28. And don’t forget to mark your calendar for Father’s Day on June 19! With the unofficial start of summer having been marked last month by Memorial Day, you’ve probably been inundated with get your summer body back promotions and gym memberships. For busy moms, heading to the gym doesn’t always make it into the daily schedule. On page 20, Regina Hord offers up some exercises that can easily be added to your daily routine while making a big impact on your weight management goals. You can also check out our baby guide starting on page 10, and can find all of the best baby products on page 42. Lastly, don’t forget to check out the Summer Camp Guide starting on page 23. If you haven’t yet chosen where your kids are spending the summer or if you’re looking for additional camp options, we’ve got you covered. You can also check out TBParenting.com/summercamps for full listings and information on all of the best camps.
P.0. Box 13365 Tampa, Florida 33681 Phone: 813-949-4400 Fax: 813-315-6688 info@tbparenting.com editor@tbparenting.com Become A Fan at:
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Tampa Bay Parenting is published twelve times per year and distributed throughout the Tampa Bay community. Tampa Bay Parenting is not responsible for any errors, inaccuracies, omissions or incorrect information (or the consequences related thereto) contained within the magazine or online; readers should not rely on any information contained in the magazine and they should always consult with an appropriate professional for guidance. Tampa Bay Parenting accepts no responsibility for the consequences of error or for any loss or damage suffered by users of any of the information or materials provided by Tampa Bay Parenting. Some content published by Tampa Bay Parenting is sponsored or paid for advertising content, and some individuals quoted or cited in articles have paid for advertising or sponsorships; this content or opinions do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Tampa Bay Parenting.
YOUR CHILD’S FREEDOM. YOUR PEACE OF MIND. CONTINUOUS, INSTANT ACCESS TO YOUR CHILD. Stay connected to your child with the GizmoPal by LG, a wearable for children ages 4 and up. GizmoPal can easily make and receive calls with a single button and be located on a map with your smartphone. Made with a kid-friendly design, GizmoPal is water resistant, durable and fun to wear. The GizmoPal is available in Pink or Blue (subject to availability).
GET A $25 TOYS”R”US GIFT CARD WITH THE PURCHASE OF A NEW GIZMOPAL™ BY LG.
Offer ends 7/31/2015. Terms and conditions: Use of gift card constitutes acceptance of these terms: Card may be used for purchases at Toy“R”Us and Babies“R”Us stores in the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada, or at Toysrus.com or Babiesrus.com. Not redeemable for cash, except as required by law. Remaining value on a lost, stolen or damaged card may be replaced with proof of purchase. Toys“R”Us, Inc. is not a sponsor or cosponsor of this promotion and is not liable for any actual or alleged claims related to this offer. See back of card for terms and conditions and use. Requires $5 Connected Device Monthly Line Access on The MORE Everything Plan∞. Download of GizmoPal companion app is required. Compatible with smartphones running Android™ 4.0 or higher and iOS 7 or higher. Data usage applies for app download/use.
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At Brandon Regional Hospital
All Babies Get The
Benefits of Delivering at the Baby Suites at Brandon Regional: n n n n
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Attend one of our monthly childbirth education classes or take a tour of our Baby Suites. Call (813) 653-1065 or visit BrandonHospital.com to register.
what's next What to do and how to tell if your baby has a stroke By Krista Byrd
Beckett McDarby today. Below, the ultrasound of Beckett’s first stroke.
T
he moonlight was leaking through the cracks in the blinds when Courtney McDarby heard her phone buzz. Bleary eyed and exhausted, she turned over in the hospital bed, spent from having delivered a beautiful baby boy and the subsequent long afternoon unexpectedly filled with unrest. It was 1 a.m.
“He had a stroke,” is all the text message said. Frustrated, she replied, “why are you telling me about some old man? I only care about our baby.” And then, all at once it hit her. Her baby had had a stroke. All day, she had been afraid. Her first son had such a complicated delivery, surely the second baby would be the same. But Beckett McDarby came with ease, introduced to this world at 10:22 a.m. on February 12, 2014. Beckett was a healthy weight and size, born at full term, and seemingly perfect. Around 2 p.m., though, when Beckett was nursing, he stopped breathing. He was rushed to another building in the hospital by ambulance, with little information given. McDarby’s husband, Jason, followed the doctors and nurses who had just helped welcome Beckett into the world, desperate for information, but certain that their little boy was okay. Exhausted, Courtney McDarby decided to try to get some rest while her husband found out what was going on. Beckett had his first ever MRI just hours after he was born. He also had an ultrasound-- his first outside of the womb. The ultrasound found that Beckett had a mass on his brain. The MRI found that he had had an ischemic stroke in the left middle cerebral artery (L-MCA) of his brain. The MRI also found that he had the stroke during the last week that Courtney was pregnant. He hadn’t even entered the world yet. Hours later, Beckett had his second stroke while in the hospital, which caused him to turn purple. The McDarby family is not the first family to go through this scary scenario. In fact, nearly 30 out of every 1,000 children has a pediatric or neonatal stroke.
“It is more common than people realize and the incidence of stroke in infants and children is much higher than previously estimated due to improved medical imaging techniques and an increase in awareness,” says Nancy Atwood, director of CHASA. Atwood and her team at CHASA have been working to not only raise awareness for childhood stroke, but to help families dealing with strokes find a support system. Children can have a stroke as early as before birth. If they have a stroke from birth until 28 days old, like Beckett, it is called a neonatal stroke. If a child has a stroke from 28 days old up into their teens, it is called a pediatric stroke. These strokes can be ischemic or hemorrhagic strokes. Beckett had an ischemic stroke. The difference between ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke is fairly simple. Ischemic stroke is when a clot travels into the brain, causing a lack of blood flow and subsequently, damage. A hemorrhagic stroke is what happens when a blood vessel on or in the brain ruptures. Pediatric and neonatal stroke can be caused by a variety of different things. “Some of the most common causes of strokes in kids are congenital heart defects, which are heart defects a child is born with. Some other causes can be autoimmune disorders, blood problems, sickle cell problems and blood vessel injuries,” says Huszar. “Strokes can also be caused by traumatic neck injuries.” Huszar says that in adults, risk factors such as drug or alcohol use can also cause a stroke, but are less likely causes in children.
“The incidence is much higher in infants than for regular childhood stroke,” says Dr. Peter Huszar, MD, a neurologist with All Children’s Hospital Johns Hopkins Medicine. Huszar works on the stroke team, which deals with not only preventing future strokes but rehabilitating kids with strokes.
One issue with neonatal and pediatric stroke is that many children go undiagnosed. Parents may not know that their child had a stroke while in the womb, or they may not catch the stroke because they aren’t sure what to look for.
When McDarby found out how common childhood strokes are, she was shocked. She connected with the Children’s Hemiplegia and Stroke Association (CHASA) and was able to not only learn more about what is to come, but to connect with families that have experienced the same thing.
“Some prenatal strokes are diagnosed when the baby has seizures shortly after birth, but for children who don’t initially have seizures, the diagnosis is often delayed or missed,” says Atwood.
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TAMPA BAY PARENTING
• JUNE 2015 • TBParenting.com
It’s an extraordinary journey back to ordinary. Every minute of every day, we give our all so kids like Jude can go from a fragile 1-pound, 8-ounce baby, born four months early, to a typical 2-year-old full of giggles and boundless energy. It’s a promise that has made us Tampa Bay’s only hospital ranked by U.S. News & World Report in pediatric specialties.
See stories like Jude’s at allkids.org/journeys
For many children, especially those that go untreated, cerebral palsy and hemiplegia are just a few of the problems that can arise. Depending on the area of the brain that was affected, children can have learning disabilities, dyslexia, and whole host of other mental and psychological issues. Some signs to look for if you think your child has had a pediatric or neonatal stroke include seizures and turning blue. When they are babies, you should also try to notice if your child is only rolling over onto one side, or making a fist with one hand. Because their internal organs may be affected, they may also have stomach problems or frequent digestion issues. Symptoms also tend to come out when the child is tired, like Beckett, whose right side is affected when he’s sleepy. Your child also should not show a hand preference before 18 months. “Parents say ‘oh, it’s so cute my baby is a righty’ or ‘my baby is a lefty,’ but if they are showing hand preference that early, it can be a sign of a stroke when they were younger or when they were born,” says McDarby. Although pediatric stroke is scary, it doesn’t mean the same thing as an adult stroke. A child’s brain is still developing, and children can learn how to do things differently, whereas an adult might lose an ability to do something forever. That’s why Huszar says that it is imperative to get your child treated as soon as possible. “A child’s brain is quite rubbery, so they can learn how to do things differently even if they had a stroke. They can learn to do things with the other side of their brains that adults with strokes can’t re-learn,” Huszar says. “But about 70 percent of kids with strokes have some kind of abnormality going forward that they need to address.” Unlike thousands of other children, Beckett was diagnosed, and he was diagnosed early. One of the keys to reversing or repairing damage to your child’s brain is time. “Time saves,” says Huszar. “That is our motto here.” At All Children’s Hospital, the stroke team doesn’t only focus on the stroke itself. They specialize in what comes next, after a stroke. “The hard part is, the first day wasn’t even the worst day. It’s after you know, and the unknown that goes with it. Why did he have it, was it something you did, what will be affected, when will he start to show it, how will he handle it, all of those unknown things are probably the hardest to deal with,” McDarby says. Beckett is being treated at All Children’s Hospital, where he will receive further testing as he gets older to make sure that his brain is developing properly. His treatment has included taking low doses of caffeine, and many children in his situation are able to be treated with aspirin and other medications depending on the severity of the strokes. He also receives physical, occupational and speech therapy. Only time will tell what the future holds for Beckett and the McDarby family, like so many others. With the support of friends and family, and caring doctors who are at the forefront of medicine, the future for pediatric and neonatal stroke patients does not have to be dark. “Time will help,” says Huszar. “Time saves.” For more information on the stroke team at All Children’s Hospital, visit AllKids. org. To find out how to get involved and how CHASA can help you, visit CHASA.org. CHASA is also holding an event to help families get involved on July 18 from 5-9 p.m. at Tijuana Flats in Carrollwood.
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TAMPA BAY PARENTING
• JUNE 2015 • TBParenting.com
We’ve thought of everything, so you can focus on one thing.
Take a virtual tour of the TGH Women’s Center at www.tgh.org/womenscenter Affiliated with the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine
Swim Safe As summer heats up, so does the potential for toddler drownings By Anu Varma Panchal
H
Torrey Ethan Davis, age 5
e may only have been 5, but his adoring family already knew Torrey Ethan Davis was destined to be an athlete. The outgoing kindergartener loved sports, SpongeBob SquarePants, chicken, fries and cornbread. He had just started to read, and filled the homes of his family with his energy and laughter.
“And he was spoiled,” recalls his grandmother, Sheila Johnson, laughing softly. “Oh my goodness, was he spoiled.” Last Mother’s Day, at around 8 p.m., Johnson was home with her son (Torrey’s father) and mother when the phone rang. The caller told Torrey’s father to go to the hospital immediately. Something had happened to his son. “I was frantic,” Johnson says. “My mind was going crazy. I had no idea what was going on. An hour later I got the call. Torrey had drowned. That’s all I know. I wasn’t there.” A year later, the family is still struggling to come to terms with the tragedy. Torrey had allegedly been left unattended for mere minutes in the swimming pool of the Riverview apartment complex in which he lived with his mother when he had drowned. Two minutes is all it takes for a child to lose consciousness; four to six minutes, the length of time in which permanent brain damage can occur from being submerged in water. In 2012, 440 Florida residents drowned, 13 percent of whom were children between ages 1 and 4, according to the Florida Department of Health. Drowning is the leading cause of accidental death in that age group. In fact, enough children drown each year in Florida to fill three to four preschool classrooms. For Bevin Maynard, supervisor of the Child Advocacy Center at St Joseph’s Children’s Hospital, those numbers are especially tragic because drowning is preventable. Unfortunately, Florida’s biggest lure can also be its biggest danger—sparkling blue water beckoning from ponds, lakes and pools (Florida ranks third in the nation for numbers of pools), not to mention off the edge of docks and boats. “The American dream in Florida is to have a home pool,” Maynard says. “Yes, it’s fun and wonderful, but you have to take responsibility for the safety of the children living in or visiting your home.” In 2000, the Florida legislature enacted the Residential Pool Safety Act that mandated that new pools need to have one of four safety features installed: a safety pool cover; a barrier that is at least four feet high; door and window alarms for exits that lead to the pool area; or self-closing, self-latching devices on doors or windows leading to the pool no less than 54 inches above the floor. The legislation was a wonderful step, says Maynard, but it has not brought down the drowning numbers, partly because the law does not apply to pools built before 2000—and more than 90 percent of existing Florida pools were built before 2000. The other problem is enforcement. “You can choose between one of the four safety measures,” Maynard explains. “As soon as the inspector leaves, many homeowners remove them. They might think that door alarms are annoying or that a pool fence is an
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TAMPA BAY PARENTING
• JUNE 2015 • TBParenting.com
inconvenience. They say things like ‘I don’t have toddlers,’ ‘My child is not an explorer,’ or ‘My doors are always locked.’ But that’s not good enough. Toddlers are unpredictable and curious.” “Unlike what most people think, younger children don’t usually drown at busy parties or crowded beaches,” explains Maynard. Drowning often occurs where parents think they are the safest: at home. According to the Florida Department of Health, 62 percent of children ages 1 to 5 drowned in the home—of those, 56 percent in a swimming pool, and 6 percent in a bathtub. It’s ironic, says Maynard, that when it comes to checking out daycare or preschool for their toddlers, parents research options exhaustively to make sure safety precautions are in place, but when it comes to their homes, people fall under the illusion that home is a safe place and either don’t put barriers in place or ignore them. For each child who dies by drowning, three times as many make it to the emergency room alive, Maynard says. Of these, the lucky ones have their lungs cleared and are sent home. About half of those that come in, however, are hospitalized with brain damage, and the long-term effects for these kids are heartbreaking. She is still haunted by a young boy who was brought in to the Emergency Center after being found in a pool. Before the incident he was a healthy and very active child. Now he no longer has the ability to sit up by himself. “It’s devastating,” Maynard says. “The drowning part was just the beginning of a long road of major medical issues.” Such damage occurs because the child was found too late. A missing child is often sought under beds, inside closets, in the garage—every place but the most dangerous one. “If you can’t find your child and you have a pool or your neighbor has a pool—check the pool first,” says Maynard.
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That’s what happened in 2011 to Aoife Kennedy, a toddler whose family was renting a home that had no pool fence. When she was 13 months old, Aoife was found floating face down in her family’s pool, and her father, Gary Kennedy, told ABC Action News that she fell in and under the water without a sound. Luckily, Aoife was found quickly and her father and a neighbor began CPR immediately. As a result, although she spent five weeks in St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital’s Pediatric ICU— three of those weeks in a coma—she is healthy today. Swiftly pulling the child out and administering CPR immediately can make all the difference in the world. “If you can find them within three to five minutes, the chances of survival skyrocket,” says Maynard. Maynard and St Joseph’s Children’s Hospital are part of a network of community organizations working to decrease the possibility of drowning. Interventions include swim lesson vouchers for low-income families, mobile swim lessons, and CPR certification. “Barriers are layers of protection, but nothing beats active supervision,” says Maynard. “It can happen to anyone—money, education—all of these make no difference.” In the year since little Torrey’s death, Johnson says the pain has receded very little. She struggles with her anger, grief and regrets, such as not taking Torrey to swimming lessons. But she has found an outlet campaigning actively for water safety. “I just felt so strongly that I needed to do something,” says Johnson. “I was so angry about this. For me, it helps trying to participate, trying to do something to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”
The 411 on pool Safety • • • • •
•
• • • •
•
• •
Source: American Academy of Pediatrics.
Johnson has worked with the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County and with the Safety Rocks Foundation to push for measures such as more access to swimming lessons and lifeguards at apartment pool complexes. One day she hopes to start a foundation to help prevent children from drowning. “I just have to take things day by day, but my progress has been at a snail’s pace,” she says. “It hasn’t been a whole lot easier. This is something we’re going to have to live with now.” For more information on water safety or to sign up for an Infant and Child CPR class, visit StJosephsChildrens.org or call (813) 615-0589.
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TAMPA BAY PARENTING
Never leave children alone in or near the pool or spa, even for a moment. Whenever infants or toddlers are in or around water, an adult – preferably one who knows how to swim and perform CPR – should be within arm’s length, providing “touch supervision.” Install a fence at least 4 feet high around all four sides of the pool. The fence should not have openings or protrusions that a young child could use to get over, under, or through. Make sure pool gates open out from the pool, and self-close and self-latch at a height children can’t reach. Consider alarms on the gate to alert you when someone opens the gate. Consider surface wave or underwater alarms as an added layer of protection. If the house serves as the fourth side of a fence surrounding a pool, install an alarm on the exit door to the yard and the pool. For additional protection, install window guards on windows facing the pool. Drowning victims have also used pet doors to gain access to pools. Keep all of your barriers and alarms in good repair with fresh batteries. Keep rescue equipment (a shepherd’s hook-- a long pole with a hook on the end — and life preserver) and a portable telephone near the pool. Choose a shepherd’s hook and other rescue equipment made of fiberglass or other materials that do not conduct electricity. Avoid inflatable swimming aids such as “floaties.” They are not a substitute for approved life vests and can give children and parents a false sense of security. Children ages 1 to 4 may be at a lower risk of drowning if they have had some formal swimming instruction. However, there is no evidence that swimming lessons or water survival skills courses can prevent drowning in babies younger than 1 year of age. The decision to enroll a 1- to 4-year-old child in swimming lessons should be made by the parent and based on the child’s developmental readiness, but swim programs should never be seen as “drown proofing” a child of any age. Avoid entrapment: Suction from pool and spa drains can trap a swimmer underwater. Do not use a pool or spa if there are broken or missing drain covers. Ask your pool operator if your pool or spa’s drains are compliant with the Pool and Spa Safety Act. If you have a swimming pool or spa, ask your pool service representative to update your drains and other suction fitting with anti-entrapment drain covers and other devices or systems. See PoolSafely.gov for more information on the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act. Large, inflatable, above-ground pools have become increasingly popular for backyard use. Children may fall in if they lean against the soft side of an inflatable pool. Although such pools are often exempt from local pool fencing requirements, it is essential that they be surrounded by an appropriate fence just as a permanent pool would be so that children cannot gain unsupervised access. If a child is missing, look for him or her in the pool or spa first. Share safety instructions with family, friends and neighbors.
• JUNE 2015 • TBParenting.com
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s sibling rivalry How to tell when things go too far By Nekeshia Hammond, PsyD, Stephanie Doudounis and Robi Tavoloni
ibling rivalry is common in families with more than one child. Many parents may view sibling rivalry as “typical” behavior that they hope will improve over time. The question then becomes, at what point does sibling rivalry start going too far?
There are many reasons children argue with one another. Arguments can be triggered by something as simple as boredom. In fact, our office has heard many stories about children who have walked by their sibling and pushed, shoved or called their sibling a mean name, all because they were bored. Unfortunately, sibling rivalry can easily escalate to a degree much worse than just teasing and mild disagreements. This can lead to children becoming emotionally damaged or physically injured, which could lead to bigger issues in the future. How can you tell if your kids’ squabbling has crossed the line? If children are arguing with damaging comments, such as teasing a sibling about a disability or major disappointment in their life, that is not okay. Another red flag is when siblings begin fighting to the point of physical altercations. When a child is actively preoccupied with protecting themselves, demonstrating negative behavior and feelings towards their sibling, or demonstrating submissive behavior, these are all warning signs that the relationship needs help. It is important to remember that while placid sibling competition is common, it can easily progress to a point that creates serious problems for families. As parents, it can be hard to know what to do about it. Therefore, consider these tips in order to prevent sibling rivalry from going too far: • Spend time with each of your children one-on-one. Even though it may not always be easy, make sure you spend equal alone time with each child to avoid jealousy. • Avoid comparing your children. In other words, avoid statements like, “Your brother’s grades are much better than yours” or “why can’t you be more like your sister?” • Praise each of your children’s unique strengths and talents. Focus your praise on their qualities as a person, rather than on their accomplishments. • Don’t play the blame game. It doesn’t matter who started it. Instead, teach your children conflict resolution skills to help them resolve the issue as peacefully as possible. For example, you could ask each child to express their feelings, why they feel that way and what would solve the problem. • Host sibling bonding activities such as going out for ice cream, watching movies together and having fun video game competitions together as a family. • Be a role model to your children in how to deal with frustration and express to your children what a healthy sibling relationship looks like. • Finally, try not to intervene with every issue that comes up. Only when it escalates too much should you step in. Until that happens, give children confidence by allowing them to try and work out their differences on their own.
Hammond Psychology & Associates, P.A. is a private practice in Brandon, Florida dedicated to serving children, teens, families and adults. For more info, please visit HammondPsychology.com.
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get your body back! Ways to shed the post-baby bump By Regina Hord
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o you’ve had your baby. You’re not sleeping, you don’t know when you last showered, you can’t remember what you had for breakfast, or even if you HAD breakfast today, and you’d be lucky if you got to brush your teeth. On top of all of this, your body has gone through so many changes that you barely recognize it anymore. You try to relax and turn on the TV to see J-Lo showing off her six-pack two weeks post-partum with twins and Beyoncé in a belly shirt talking about how she lost 60 pounds four months after having her baby. You want to fit right back into those pre-pregnancy jeans. But how will you work out when you can’t finish laundry, cook dinner and get a 4 hour stretch of sleep? How can you eat healthy food when you can barely manage to drink a cup of coffee? I’ve got news for you mama: YOU CAN DO IT! Here are a few realistic tips to get you on your way to getting your body back! 1. Take it slow! Remember, it took nine months to put on the weight; it will realistically take at LEAST that to take it back off. Don’t compare yourself to celebrities whose JOB it is to be fit and lean. Your job is MOM. Your only competition is yourself. 2. Step off the scale! Your weight is not the only measurement of wellness. Focus on other measurements such as how you feel, how your clothes are fitting and your energy level. 3. Eat whole foods! Focus on eating whole, real foods. These are the foods usually found on the outside aisles of the grocery store. Limit your processed sugar and artificial ingredients. 4. Exercise with your baby! Working out with your baby is the best way to fit exercise into your busy schedule as a mom. Try some of these methods: • Go for a walk or jog with your baby. Not only will this give your baby lots of new things to experience and enjoy, but it will push you to keep going. • Go for a bike ride with a baby seat attached, and don’t forget your helmets! The extra weight of the baby can help strengthen your leg muscles.
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• JUNE 2015 • TBParenting.com
• Work out at home with your baby. A workout doesn’t have to mean leaving the house, you can lift milk jugs for weights, or even do lunges while holding your baby. You can also get outside and with a little help from your stroller and baby, get a great workout in. Lean Mommy by Lisa Druxman is a great resource for including your stroller and for using fitness as a way to bond with your baby. • Try out Stroller Strides – a fitness program taught by certified pre and postnatal instructors who are also moms. Plus, you can do the whole program with your baby having fun in the stroller and no gym daycare required! It also gives you the chance to connect with other moms who are going through exactly what you are going through—without any negative post-baby body judgement. • If you are able to carve out half an hour for yourself a day, try yoga. It will not only help you get fit, but can provide the much needed quiet time (no matter how short) to keep you sane, and will teach you breathing exercises that can help you stay calm when your baby is screaming and you are exhausted. If you don’t have time to get to the gym for yoga, no problem! There are a ton of great yoga DVDs out there, as well as some yoga classes you can stream on Netflix. • Check out classes at your local YMCA. Not only do they have a variety of physical activities, but they also have child care and things your baby can do, too. Even if you aren’t a fan of the class approach, they have fitness equipment that you can use to get back in shape. • Take advantage of the Florida summer and try a swim class. Swimming is low-impact, which means your knees won’t ache after a long swim and you can still burn calories and build muscle. Many places also offer swim classes for your baby as well. Not only can you get back in shape, but your baby can learn how to be safe in the water. Whatever path you choose, remember that your baby is watching you. Modeling good eating and exercising is the best thing you can do for your family! Regina Hord is a Florida native, USF grad, wife, and mother to two boys ages 4 and 18 months. She is certified in pre and post natal fitness and the co-owner with Andrea Bowe of Fit4Mom and Stroller Strides of Tampa Bay.
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preschool prep The summer is the best time to start preparing By Aimee Popalis and Dr. Julie Omodio-Griess
D
oes your 3 or 4 year old seem to squirm and wiggle more than he or she sits still? Good! The majority of preschool-aged children are kinesthetic learners-- they have to move to learn; it’s how they are wired. It’s no surprise then that using their sensory and motor skills makes little ones happy, and happy little ones learn. So how do you prepare this little mover and shaker for a classroom setting? Approaching your daily routine differently or playing simple games using household items can work wonders in helping children develop fine motor skills, improve reading readiness and hone social skills. Corbett Preparatory School of IDS prekindergarten teachers share 10 tips to create a hands-on summer of learning with your preschooler: FINE MOTOR SKILL DEVELOPMENT 1. Practice the “pincer” grip. The pincer grip (thumb and forefinger only) helps children develop the dexterity needed to turn pages, zip and unzip, and use pencils, crayons, and scissors more precisely. You can even work in some science, math and literacy lessons! Try these suggestions: Use eye droppers (and create a science experiment!), tweezers (sort trail mix into muffin cups or beads to create patterns!), or clothespins (add dot sticker with a letter of the alphabet to the clothespin and attach it to a box with the same letter!). Serve small finger foods — grapes are great as there is only one way to pick up a grape! Get an easel- or an incline! When kids write on an inclined surface, they must start at the top so the pincer grip is forced. And if the mess doesn’t bother you, bathtub crayons are fun and work on the pincer too. 2. Strengthen those little hands. Kids need hand strength for grasping, holding, and performing many of the tasks they will need in school and at home. Electronic gadgets don’t require hand strength, so limit time on the tablets and hand your preschooler some barbecue tongs to pick up toys or a spray bottle to spritz the plants that decorate the driveway. Old-fashioned play dough, bought or homemade, also lets children create masterpieces while building stronger hand muscles.
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TAMPA BAY PARENTING
READING READINESS 3. Make predictions when you prepare to read. Note the cover art and the title, and ask your child what he thinks the book is about and whether it is real or pretend. Stop throughout the story as the plot changes to make more predictions! 4. Step into a character’s shoes. Discuss the characters and the problem and solution to help your child put herself in someone else’s shoes to see others’ perspectives. A great example is found in “Goldilocks and the Three Bears,” which has four different perspectives, says Corbett Prep PreK3 teacher Aimee Popalis. 5. Talk about book basics. How does a book work? Show your child how you read left to right, point out title pages and “the end,” and let your child turn the pages. 6. Learn letters everywhere you go. In the grocery store, for example, stop in the cereal aisle, show your child the letter you choose and have him or her look for it on the cereal boxes. 7. Laugh! When you child is learning letter sounds, play the “first letter substitute game.” If trash started with an “l” the word trash becomes lash! Silly! This skill also practices rhyming which is very important in phonemic awareness and the rhythm of language. Research shows that learning how to manipulate words by rhyming and playing rhyming word games is a crucial reading, spelling and writing skill. 8. Work with words. For kids who are ready, give them a sight word to find while reading a book and make it their job to read that word when they see it. Or label items in your house with cards. You can do room by room, then take them down after a week or so and move to another. In the kitchen, for example, label the sink, cabinet and trash can. LIFE SKILLS 9. Make a mistake. There’s an upside to slipping up! Modeling how to handle mistakes shows your child that it is OK to slip up, and that it is actually a great way to learn. In a calm voice, tell your child, “Oh, I needed to remember to …” Little children can be hard on themselves, prekindergarten teachers say, so it is so important that parents create opportunities to show they too make mistakes, correct them when possible, forgive themselves, and move on. It happens in art, too. If your child is frustrated with a drawing that went wrong, you can teach them that even a stray mark on the paper can be turned into a creative masterpiece. Check out the book “Beautiful Oops” by Barney Saltzberg that teaches children how to embrace their mistakes. 10. Be a good friend. So simple, but not always easy. So much of what goes on in a prekindergarten classroom hinges on this concept. Learning to work together cooperatively starts early and is important throughout school and life. Point out when you see others being a good friend. It’s important to continue to reinforce the idea of putting yourself in other people’s shoes. Most importantly, have fun with your child this summer as you prepare for preschool! Hands-on learning opportunities are everywhere to build the fine motor skills, the prereading and writing experiences, and the social/emotional confidence your child needs to thrive in school. Corbett Preparatory School of IDS teaches children from PreK3-8th grade. Early Primary teachers use a variety of brain-based methods to engage students in learning.
• JUNE 2015 • TBParenting.com
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TAMPA BAY PARENTING
• JUNE 2015 • TBParenting.com
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p
icture this: It is 7 p.m. on a warm summer evening. The house is silent; you can hear nothing but a clock ticking and the faint sound of a train in the distance. Your children are in the living room. One child is in an epic battle on a pirate ship; one is sailing on a river with Huckleberry Finn; one is laughing as Ramona Quimby runs through her living room throwing tissues out of the box. Yet, it is still silent. No, this is not an impossible dream. This is a reality that many Bay Area families are experiencing this summer. The Children’s Board of Hillsborough County, along with several local agencies including the Early Learning Coalition, the Healthy Start Coalition and the Hillsborough County Public Library Coalition have teamed up with MyOn to bring the children of Hillsborough County access to over 8,000 free enhanced books. The effort is not only to encourage literacy in kids through the school year, but to keep them learning all summer long. “There’s tons of research that shows that when kids don’t read during the summer, they can lose a lot of the skills they gain through the school year,” says Doris Linville, project manager with MyOn. “It can be as much as one to three months of achievement that they reached during the year before that can be lost.” Any student from kindergarten through eighth grade can use MyOn for free in Hillsborough County. This includes kids in public, magnet, private and home schools. “Every child gets to read through MyOn,” says Linville.
“MyOn gives kids the choices to read what they like. They can pick anything they want. They don’t have to find it and check it out,” says Linville. “We know that boys tend to think they don’t have a lot of choices with books, so we have a lot of graphic novels and a lot of really great choices for boys and girls alike.” Reading through the summer not only helps keep your kids sharp and saves them from what many call “the summer slide,” but can improve their testing skills throughout the year. MyOn also offers kids extra practice for much-needed computer skills. “If you don’t know how to read, you can’t follow directions on any kind of assessment,” says Linville. “The new Florida standard tests are taken online, but some kids don’t know how to type or have keyboarding skills. They don’t know how to copy and paste, or highlight. So being on MyOn also helps them learn how to do these things without them even knowing. It won’t be all brand new to them.” Helping your child foster a love for reading can start right now, and it can start with a little of your help. Encourage your child to sit down and read for at least 30 minutes a day, and they can enter completely new worlds of learning. Linville says that reading can make a huge difference in your child’s life. “It’s okay if kids want to read comic books, or about super-heroes or scary things,” she says. “As long as they are reading, they are learning.” Kids can register for free online at www.ReadOnMyOn.com.
Many of us have fond memories of hours spent at our local library while growing up, but the truth is that many parents work during the day, making it hard for kids to get to the public library. One advantage of your child using MyOn is that the books are all accessible online. You don’t need an e-reader or tablet because they can be accessed through a regular web browser. You can download the books as well so that you can read them offline without an internet connection. The books are also enhanced, which means that kids can have the books read to them by a natural Spanish or English speaking actor, they can make notes throughout the text, and they can also keep a reading journal. “We don’t just want kids to read and memorize information to be tested on it. We want kids to read and comprehend what they read,” says Linville. It’s tempting to use summer to catch the kids up on classroom material or get through next year’s required reading, but Linville advises that this is not necessary. “It is important that they keep reading. It doesn’t matter if it is fiction, non-fiction, graphic novels-- the point is that they need to keep reading over the summer,” says Linville. MyOn offers a variety of titles, including graphic novels, which Linville says are very popular during the summer. The program also has 30 percent Spanish dual language books to help your child learn other languages. John Milbourne, the supervisor of media for Hillsborough County Public Schools, says, “kids will get better at reading if they read. And they will read if they can have choice and if they can pick the books that they like.”
book smarts Fun while learning this
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summer
By Krista Byrd TAMPA BAY PARENTING
• JUNE 2015 • TBParenting.com
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super dads Dads can mean so much. That’s why we’d like to take an opportunity to introduce you to some truly awesome dads who skillfully balance their busy lives to always make time for their family. This is no small feat, and these gentlemen are truly Super Dads!
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TAMPA BAY PARENTING
• JUNE 2015 • TBParenting.com
Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco spends his days finding the bad guys. He followed in his father’s footsteps and serves in law enforcement, but the most important title he wears is “Dad”. In his words, “I am the blessed husband to a wonderful, beautiful and very understanding wife and mother of our children who understands my schedule is flexible and that I am always on call.” He has three beautiful and energetic children who love getting to see their super dad.
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CHR IS NOCCO
What’s the most rewarding part of being a dad? The most rewarding part for me is to see my children building a relationship with our Lord. I know there will be times in the future when they will have to make tough decisions on their own and I pray that their faith will guide them. What is your favorite thing to do with your kids? My favorite thing to do with our kids is to drive on road trips with them. As with any trip, it is fun to see them excited and driving with them is fun because it’s pure family time. Sometimes with so many stops and an argument here and there it is a little challenging, but in our hectic world, it feels great to have real family time when it’s just us together. What is the most challenging part of fatherhood? One of the hardest parts of fatherhood for me is leaving the horrible things in society that law enforcement officers see and hear about every day at the front door before I walk inside. It is sometimes difficult to flip that switch to be “happy dad” walking into the house, but I know it’s critical for my family’s success. What role model in your life influenced the kind of father you are? My dad is still showing me how to be a great husband, father and leader. He is selfless and put others before himself. Whether it was sacrificing for our family, volunteering countless hours coaching youth sports or at the church, or ensuring the people he worked with were taken care of, his positive actions have been a tremendous influence on me. As a father, how do you view your responsibilities? I believe one of my primary roles is to ensure my children have confidence and a strong foundation to be successful in life. Whether it’s self-discipline, responsibility or self-sacrifice, those core principles will help them with whatever they do in life and it’s my role to prepare them now for the future. What advice would you give other fathers? It’s sad when you see parents who put so much pressure on kids to be successful in a particular sport. Success may not come on the sports field, but if we allow children to explore different activities, they will find one they will like and then they will work hard on their own to be successful at it. It is often difficult to balance a career with spending time with your family. How do you deal with this and make time for them? I am fortunate to have a great wife who understands that my hours are not normal and I have to step away to take a call or go somewhere because a critical incident has occurred. What is something people don’t know about you? What used to be not very well known but has spread like wildfire in the Pasco Sheriff’s Office recently in an old video, is that I was a contestant on “The Price Is Right.” I never made it out of contestant’s row, but I did get Turtle Car Wax as a departing gift.
Sheriff Nocco at his Wesley Chapel Home where he loves to spend time with his family.. Photo by Jeanine McLeod, Cloud 9 Studios
What is your biggest fear? My biggest fear is having regret. I try to make every moment count, especially with family. What makes you happy? Seeing a big smile on our kids’ eyes when they are proud that they did something great in school, sports or an activity they are excited about. Where is your favorite place to go in Tampa? Besides being at home and playing with the kids around the house, I probably have the most fun going to the Lightning games with my family. Besides my boys cheering on the players, my wife and I couldn’t stop laughing the last game we went to when our 5-year-old daughter kept yelling out, “Let’s go Victor (Hedman)!” She is still learning the sport but even when Victor was on the bench she found it important to cheer him on. Those are the special moments I truly cherish.
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life. My good intentions can sometimes come across as nagging or “harping” as my family calls it. I inherited this bad habit from my mother and it drives my daughters crazy! The most challenging part of fatherhood is knowing when to sit back, be quiet and let your child take the lead, even when they make mistakes. That is when they learn the most about themselves.
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JOHNNY BUSH
What role model in your life influenced the kind of father you are? I grew up one of seven children. My mother was a single mom with little education but deeply held values and a great deal of pride. My best friend’s mother was also a single mom and I saw the struggles our mothers went through to provide for their families working two, sometimes three jobs. This had a profound impact on me. I think most young men who are the products of single mothers envision having a two parent family and being there for their children. My best friend and I are in our 50s now and I am happy to say we have both been married for 15+ years and have 2 daughters each. As a father, how do you view your responsibilities? I feel my responsibility as a father is to provide my daughters with a solid foundation of unconditional love and support for them to grow. For those formative years between birth and 18 years, you are helping them make sense of the world, teaching them right from wrong and guiding them in their decision making. Your responsibility as a parent never ends. You hope that the foundation you have provided is strong enough to support them through the ups and downs in life and that they are guided by the values you have instilled in them. What advice would you give other fathers? Recently, I adopted a new motto that I saw posted in my teacher’s room that says “If it is important to you, you will find a way, if not, you will find an excuse.” That’s a powerful statement for fatherhood and life.
Johnny at his South Tampa home after spending a day with the kids of Robinson High School. Photo by Amy Pezzicara, Pezz Photo
Johnny Bush is the principal of T.R. Robinson High School, and although his job is making sure
that hundreds of kids get the most out of their education, his main focus is on his two daughters, Mia Anneliese and Celia Lane, and his wife Lauren. He has been a teacher all over the state of Florida, including teaching at the Florida School for the Deaf, and has been an educator for over 26 years. His passion for leading kids has transformed the lives of many, especially those in his supportive and beautiful family. What’s the most rewarding part of being a dad? As a parent, there is nothing more rewarding than watching your children grow into kind and compassionate people who care about the world around them. I am so grateful my girls have these characteristics but I am not surprised since they are the product of two giving souls. My wife and daughters will be going on their third mission trip right after school ends. This year they are going to the Dominican Republic. Although my wife spearheads these trips, I feel the experience is invaluable for my girls in developing their faith and instilling a lifelong desire to help others. I have yet to join them on a mission trip. What is your favorite thing to do with your kids? I taught both my daughters how to swim at a very early age and I have loved being in the water with them ever since. We especially enjoy time together at the beach: swimming, boating, surfing, paddle boarding---you name it! What is the most challenging part of fatherhood? Like most parents, I want what is best for my children and I feel it is my role to help them navigate
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• JUNE 2015 • TBParenting.com
It is often difficult to balance a career with spending time with your family. How do you deal with this and make time for them? It is a struggle since my job is very demanding on my time. Living less than three miles from Robinson High does make it easier for me to be involved in the girls’ activities and to share the parenting responsibilities. Both my daughters play competitive soccer so there is always a practice, game or tournament that I can take them to. I am forever trying to find the right balance and I depend a great deal on my wife. I could not ask for a better mother for my children and partner in life. What is something people don’t know about you? Before moving to Tampa, I was a teacher of the deaf in St. Augustine. Having summers off, I worked as an ocean rescue swimmer. In 2002 I actually won a gold medal at the World Lifesaving Championship when it was held in Daytona Beach. What is your biggest fear? As a child I had many fears about my future and how I was going to reach my goals. I never imagined that my life would be this good. That said, I really don’t fear much these days. Although a little selfish, I do fear not being able to enjoy retirement with good health and many years to surf. What makes you happy? Surfing. I love being in the water on the east coast of Florida and pretending that I can surf as well as I did 20 years ago. As a parent and a principal, it makes me happy when my children and my Robinson High students do well in school, succeed in sports and extracurricular activities, and make smart decisions for their future.
.............................. DR. PAUL DANIELSON
Dr. Danielson enjoying the beautiful view at his St. Petersburg home. Photo by Jeanine McLeod, Cloud 9 Studios
Dr. Danielson is part of the first nationally recognized academic children’s hospital in Tampa Bay, All Children’s Hospital. He is a pediatric surgeon, saving lives every day, and has also helped start a surgical research program which includes a research fellowship for surgeons. He serves as one of six All Children’s Specialty Physicians providing 24/7 state of the art pediatric surgical care at Florida Hospital Tampa. As if that wasn’t enough he also is the father of three amazing children, Matthew, Ethan and Kate. He and his wife, Kristen Danielson, MD (who is also a pediatrician at All Children’s) have dedicated their lives to raising kids and saving kids’ lives, all at the same time. What is the most rewarding part of being a dad? As part of my work as a surgeon, I am lucky to be able to interact with all sorts of children every day. It really is uplifting to see their curiosity, energy and idealism. They are our future. I think the same can be said about being a parent. My kids are constantly reminding me about what is important in life. It is rewarding to watch them grow: as they discover new things, as they overcome challenges and as they start to make their mark on the world. What is your favorite thing to do with your kids? Well, my boys like video games, so I enjoy trying to play along, although they always crush me. People worry that kids today have too much “screen time.” I have to agree, but the fact is this is how their generation learns and interacts. So, rather than fight them about it, I try to join in. Then, after some “quality console time,” we try to move on to something else like fishing, boating or ice cream
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--those timeless, fun things to do. My daughter is a tougher one to figure out. At times she is incredibly “girlie” with dresses, shoes and hair styles. Then an hour later, she’ll be racing her little sailboat against a bunch of boys in the winds and chop of Tampa Bay. So I try to be a part of both of her worlds. One weekend it might be a daddy-daughter dance at school, then next it might be cheering her on in a race. What is the most challenging part of fatherhood? Letting your kids fail. No one ever wants to see a person suffer disappointment, especially if it is one’s child. However, I think children need to learn at an early age that success is not the ability to accomplish something that comes easy to them. Success in life will be determined by how they handle failure. Will they have the grit to keep going? That’s a hard thing to teach. It’s gut wrenching to see one’s kid be sad, but for kids, such emotional states are usually short-lived, and then they are back at it. I try to remind myself that overcoming adversity in childhood will help them in the long run. What role model in your life influenced the kind of father you are? I owe a lot to my father who suffered through numerous rainy Boy Scout outings during my childhood and worked tirelessly to provide a safe home and chance for me to go to some good schools and ultimately college. I think my mother complemented their parenting team very well and it was really the two of them who boxed my moral compass at a young age and pushed me along when I needed encouragement. My wife and I
• JUNE 2015 • TBParenting.com
share that same approach. We tend to balance each other and form a mutual support group during those trials of parenthood (from sleepless nights with infants to the rebellious moods of teenagers). How do you view your responsibilities? From a purely practical stand, I think a parent needs to provide a safe place to live, access to good education and a stable emotional environment in which children can grow. Men were traditionally the breadwinners, but these days it might differ from family to family. So, it may be better classified as the responsibilities of “parenthood.” From a more philosophical standpoint, my biggest responsibility is to set a good example. Actions tend to speak louder than words. I think kids will model a parent’s behavior, so I’ve found that the pressure to act accordingly has made me a better person. Lastly, and this is difficult, I think fathers (and mothers) need to remain non-judgmental. It’s the old adage that one might not approve of an action, but one must always love the child, even when they think they do something wrong. It’s tricky figuring that out. How do you balance career and family? My job brings me into the hospital days and nights, weekends, holidays and birthdays. I am not complaining. There are fathers around the world who work dawn to dusk who rarely see their children or are migrant workers who may not see their children for weeks or months at a time. I think that my wife and my kids understand this and the way I try to strike that balance is by focusing on them whenever I can. The stretch of time may not be long, but by putting aside the phone and just giving them undivided attention, playing a game, talking, I try to let them know how important they are to me.
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JAMES HORRISBERG ER
James at Tampa Bay Aviation and the Clearwater Airport. Photo by Amy Pezzicara, Pezz Photo
James Horrisberger spends his days with his head in the clouds—literally. As the chief flight instructor at Tampa Bay Aviation in Clearwater, he says “aviation is in my blood.” A former golfer, he has a passion for golfing and loves to not only fly but to teach his students how to safely fly as well. He can fly everything from small planes to helicopters. But, his favorite and most important role is being his son James’ dad. What is the most rewarding part about being a father? The most rewarding part about being a father is watching the development of my son. His milestones and accomplishments bring me as much joy as he exhibits in attaining them. Whether it is the little things like dressing himself or his ability to remember all the call signs of the aircraft I fly, it is absolutely amazing to watch a child grow. What is your favorite thing to do with your kids? My favorite thing to do with James is fly. Growing up, my father was a private pilot and my grandfather was a pilot in WWII. Being able to share that passion with my son completes the circle. His curiosity and amazement every time we fly makes me reminisce about my childhood. I clearly remember the first time we flew in a small aircraft, much like I remember the first time my father took me flying and that excitement and wonder of being able to soar into the sky and the tinge of fear in realizing that your life depends on your skill and the aircraft you control.
What is the most challenging part of fatherhood? The most challenging part about being a father is time management. Working a full time job, maintaining a home and raising a child takes more time than I ever realized. As with most working parents, the day begins with getting both of us ready to go and taking James to school while keeping my fingers crossed that traffic cooperates so I can get to work on time. When the work day is complete the real job begins, time to pick James up from school, talk about the day, do homework, cook dinner, play for a while and take a bath. Often, by the time James is settled, I’m ready to call it a day myself. The days go by too quickly. What role model in your life influenced the kind of father you are? My mother is the most influential person in my life with respect to raising my son. She was a kindergarten teacher and is often my resource for helping my son academically. As a father, how do you view your responsibilites? As a father my primary responsibility is raising my son to be respectful and a gentleman. Manners are important to me as well as teaching my son to be kind to others. I want him to be considerate of others’ feelings and know how to handle himself in different situations such as when I take him to my office or we go to a movie or out to eat at a restaurant. Do you have any advice for other fathers? My advice to other fathers would be, do not take a
single minute with your child for granted. As with anything else in life, it is hard to realize what is in front of you until it is gone. These years when your child is young go by so quickly, value them; even the simplest moments are precious. Have patience, remember everything your child knows early in his or her life is a product of your actions ,and be mindful of your actions. Children hear and see everything!! It is often difficult to balance a career with spending time with your family. How do you deal with this and make time for them? Balancing a career and raising a child is the most difficult task I have ever attempted. Time management is always a challenge. What is something people don’t know about you? I was once run over by a tractor while pulling a private plane out of its hanger. What is your biggest fear? My biggest fear is not being able to spend time with my son. What makes you happy? Spending time with my son. This year he and I went to New York City to celebrate my birthday. We had the best time just sightseeing and being together. He says we should do it every year, so it may become our own private tradition. Where is your favorite place to go in Tampa? James and I like going to the beach to watch the sunset.
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......................... RICHARD GASPAR
Dr. Gaspar and his children Natalee, Manny, and Emele at the tree that bears their family name at Little Harbor in Ruskin. . Photo by Jeanine McLeod, Cloud 9 Studios
Dr. Richard F. Gaspar is a full professor of mass communication and has taught for more than 20 years. He has been recognized as a site level, county level and state level teacher of the year. He has sponsored the Hillsborough Community College student publications the “Hawkeye,” “Triad,” and “Galeria” and the Hawk Media Club for the past 12 years, helping some of the nation’s best journalists find their start. He has published works in newspapers, magazines, textbooks and online. He has attended numerous state, national and international journalism and mass communication conferences. He has won countless awards, including being elected in to the East Bay Wall of Legends. Most importantly, he is the father to four beautiful children, Sarah, Emelé, Natalee and Manny, and spouse of his radiant wife, Judy. What’s the most rewarding part of being a dad? The most rewarding part of being a dad is being a role model, comedian, entertainer, chef, playmate and caregiver for another human being. There is nothing more satisfying than knowing a child sincerely wants to make you proud, and she values your time, dedication and love. The true reward is immeasurable. What is your favorite thing to do with your kids? My favorite thing to do with my kids is listen to their stories, questions and observations. From asking me: “What’s a tarter (Charter) school?” to why am I backing up the truck? (when I back in to a parking space at the YMCA),” I really never know how they view things until they share their interpretations with me. I also enjoy traveling with my kids. I try to take them everywhere I go, from China, to across the state, to across the street. I want them to experience everything.
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TAMPA BAY PARENTING
What is the most challenging part of fatherhood? The most challenging part of fatherhood is acting on what is important. All parents know that attending a chorus concert, talent show and soccer game is way more important than filing taxes, paying bills, making client calls or completing housework, but sometimes we forget to take action to prioritize what is truly rewarding. What role model in your life influenced the kind of father you are? My parents will always be my most important and influential role models. My dad was the youngest son of nine children and spent his early years in a Cambridge orphanage while my grandfather served in WWII. He was the first in his family to attend and complete high school, and worked tirelessly to make sure I had a better life than he did growing up in poverty. Both he and my mother took time every day to read, play and teach us right from wrong, and share with us anything they were doing. As a father, how do you view your responsibilities? Responsibilities makes fatherhood sound like a chore. Fatherhood is a choice. It is a conscious decision to accept the obligation to bond with another human being that is part of your life. It is a commitment that should be the most important choice anyone ever makes. What advice would you give other fathers? The best advice I have for other fathers is to recognize we are all fallible, but we learn from our mistakes. Make sure your children do so as well. Spend as much time listening to your children as you can. They are from a different time, era and planet than you are. Learn what it is like to live in their world, and then move there.
• JUNE 2015 • TBParenting.com
It is often difficult to balance a career with spending time with your family. How do you deal with this and make time for them? Balancing a career and family is a fallacy. There is no true balance. You can plan, schedule and commit to a balance, but your family always comes first. You may be in the most important career situation of your life, but when you child falls and breaks his arm, or another child needs you to attend her speech contest, you need to drop everything and be there. Parents need to realize you are not as important as you think, but your children think you’re the most important person in the world. Be that person. What is something people don’t know about you? Most people don’t know I was the first Mr. East Bay in the inaugural Hillsborough County Bodybuilding Championships in 1983 that was held at King High School for the entire county. Most of my students get a big chuckle when they see the plaque and press clippings in my office. What makes you happy? Waking up each morning is a real joyful experience. My 5-year old is usually hanging on my neck, and then we make our way to drag his 9 and 11-year old sisters out of bed. I love being able to wake them up and drive them to school each morning. Where is your favorite place to go in Tampa? Tampa is such a great place to raise a family. We enjoy going to MOSI, the Glazer Children’s Museums and other venues, but one of our favorite spots is the beach and dock at Little Harbor in Ruskin. I worked there as a busboy when I was in high school. We play in the sand, walk the beach, watch the sun set and relax as a family. There is even a magnolia tree that somehow has the “Gaspar” pirates name carved in one of the lowhanging branches.
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........................... JUAN AND PATRICK
Juan and Patrick with daughter Lily, and son Lorenzo. Photo by Daniel Gorman Photography
Patrick Duffy and Juan Luque Duffy are the parents of four beautiful children, Lorenzo, Lily, Liam, and Leo. Patrick works as a board certified physician assistant in dermatology, and Juan works as an architect in the Bay Area. Featured on www.gayswithkids.com, the dads also share their lives on social media as “2 Dads + 4 Kids”, which chronicles their journey of parenthood, from building picnic tables to celebrating Father’s Day with four kids. Juan and Patrick recently married in Tampa on April 18, 2015.
that affected me in any way. To be honest, as any other child, I wouldn’t even want to know anything about my parents’ sexuality! That was the moment I realized kids don’t need a father or a mother or both in order to develop; what they need are good parents, period. Then I was ready to be a parent, ready to give all my love and experience and care without expecting anything in return. There are days when I feel that I receive so much more from my four children than I give. Parenthood is the richest and most rewarding experience I have ever had.
What’s the most rewarding part of being a dad? Juan: At first I was a little skeptical and afraid to build a family without the presence of a mother or a female. I had to profoundly search for an answer before I decided to become a father. Even when I know that being gay is totally OK, I still had in my mind the idea of a traditional family as the only possibility. Then, one day I had this “aha” moment when I visualized my own mother as something other than a female. I realized that the love, admiration and respect I had for my own mother has nothing to do with the fact she is was a female, but everything to do with her quality as a person and as a parent. Her love, dedication and care don’t depend on her gender or sexual orientation. In fact her sexual orientation never was something
Patrick: Watching these four amazing human beings grow. I sometimes sit back and think to myself about what an amazing life I have. I am so grateful that I am able to experience fatherhood. It’s rewarding to see the children hit milestones: their first smiles, first laugh, first steps and the first time they said Daddy.
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What is your favorite thing to do with your kids? Juan: Even though I am a horrible singer, I love to sing for them, play an instrument and make them dance. I love drawing for them and seeing their amazement in their eyes. Sharing playing time with them is hard because I am always tired but when I do, it’s just magical. Patrick: Travel. I believe traveling is always a
TAMPA BAY PARENTING• • JUNE 2015• •TBParenting.com TBParenting.com TAMPA BAY PARENTING JUNE 2015
learning experience. What is the most challenging part of fatherhood? Juan: Communicating with four toddlers (we have a 3-year-old singleton and 2-year-old triplets). Understanding their feelings and teaching them to be peaceful and content is the hardest part. There is always drama and the rivalry and competition between them for my attention can be draining for all of us. Patrick: For me, worrying if I made the right decision or not. What role model in your life influenced the kind of father you are? Juan: My parents, mostly. They raised seven children and they have been together for 50 years. They are the perfect couple to me. My partner Patrick is an amazing father too and he teaches me more that I want to admit. What makes you happy? Juan: My children laughing, when they listen to me, when they see me with admiration, when they kiss me and tell me “I love you, dad.” Patrick: Watching my husband playing and engaging with the children. I love to sit back and watch the five of them sing, play, and learn.
SAINT PAUL’S
CLEARWATER’S INDEPENDENT SCHOOL
summer camp 2015
• • • • • • •
Camp Invention Field Trip Camps Grand Slam Baseball Camp Fine Arts Camps Mad Science Adventure Camp And much, much more!
Register today at www.st.pauls.edu/SummerCamp Camps for Children Entering PreK-3 through 8th Grade 727.536.2756 | www.st.pauls.edu
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....................... JON DELA CRUZ
Jon Dela Cruz pictured in Hyde Park Village where his son, Jake, got his start as a DJ. Photo by Jeanine McLeod, Cloud 9 Studios
Jon Dela Cruz is the proud parent of two boys, Jake and Joseph. Known as “DJ Jake Dela Cruz’s Dad”, he has helped his son become one of the youngest and most successful DJs in the Bay Area. He also spends his time cheering on his son Joseph as he sets his sight on a black belt. He points to his wife Arlene as his biggest supporter and best friend. In his words, “And at times when I need her to set me straight, she can also be brutally honest. That’s where Jake gets it from.” What’s the most rewarding part of being a dad? I always tell my kids that “children are a product of their parents”. Everything we share with you helps influence and guide you as you grow. The most rewarding part of being a Dad is watching your children take the information and put it to use. How great is it when you see your child interact with others with respect, good manners and grace? I also get excited when my son Jake makes good business decisions. For example when Jake first started his Mobile DJ business he would rent speakers for all of his events. After time and many events later, he earned enough to purchase his own speaker system. So one day, Jake comes to me and says “Dad, I now have enough money to get the new iPad. Its awesome. I can play games, watch movies, surf the Internet and it also has a great camera so I can take awesome pictures.
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TAMPA BAY PARENTING
I really want to get one.” I told Jake sure, it is your money and you can decide what you want to do with it. He knew that on Saturday he had to DJ an event, so he reminded me to make sure that I picked up the rental speakers. At that time he asked me,” how much does a speaker system cost anyway?” I told him about the same price as the new iPad. Here is where the decision part comes in…. I could see that Jake was struggling with what he wanted vs.what he needed. He really wanted the iPad because how cool and fun would that be, plus he would be the first out of his friends to get it. But he knew that in order to grow his business, it would be more cost effective to own his own speaker system. An hour later, Jake comes up to me and tells me, let’s go ahead and order a new speaker system. This is an investment in my business and I can get the iPad next time. What is your favorite thing to do with your kids? We love to travel, watch movies, listen to music, watch TV. I think my favorite thing is just to spend time with them. Hang out!! Both of my sons have different interests, but I am lucky that each of my sons is interested in things I loved as a child, music and martial arts. Jake is a professional DJ, so we spend a lot of time honing and practicing his DJ skills and listening to ton of new music. My youngest son Joseph loves marital arts, so we spend a lot of time
• JUNE 2015 • TBParenting.com
practicing his techniques and sparring. He is my little Bruce Lee. What is the most challenging part of fatherhood? I think the most challenging part of fatherhood is allowing my children to make mistakes and sometime fail. As parents we want to fix everything, and sometimes we need to let our children work it out on their own. Our job is to support and guide them to learn from their mistakes. That is easier said than done. What role model in your life influenced the kind of father you are? My family is from the Philippines, and in the Philippines it is not uncommon for multiple generations to live all under one roof. I am talking about mother, father, children, their children and their children’s children. When I was a kid in Chicago, my family and l lived in a multi-level apartment building with my aunts and uncles. We all had our own apartment, but technically we were all under one roof. I learned so much from all of them. So, I would have to say that it’s not just one person, but everyone in my family. What is something people don’t know about you? I was also a DJ in high school and I still know how to scratch.
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To see the full matriculation list and learn more about the Shorecrest Class of 2015, visit www.CanYouBeMore.com or call 727-522-2111.
84 Graduates will attend
55
Colleges & Universities
COMPLETED NEARLY
13,00
HOURS OF SERVICE during high school — exceeding their service requirement by
50%
8
STUDENTS RECOGNIZED BY
10 NCAA signings & commitments
The
Jimmy Award Winner for Musical Theatre TOP HIGH SCHOOL THESPIAN ACCOLADE IN THE STATE
National Merit Program Class of 2015 Valedictorian Named
UNITED STATES PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLAR
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What's Happening tampa bay parenting 2016 cover kid search It’s that time of year again! Tampa Bay Parenting is holding its seventh annual Cover Kid Search. Starting June 15, upload a photo of your handsome guy or gorgeous girl to tbparenting.com/coverkidsearch. Then, encourage your family, friends and co-workers to vote for your cutie starting July 15! Voting will be open through October, and you can vote for your favorites once a day per device (computer, laptop, cell phone or tablet). Our cover kids get to explore the best locations that the Bay has to offer, so make sure to enter your child for a chance to win! TBParenting.com/CoverKidSearch
Busch gardens summer nights Starting June 27 and running through August 16, families can come out to Busch Gardens and enjoy the park in the dark! At Busch Gardens’ signature summer event, thrill seekers can challenge North America’s tallest freestanding drop tower, Falcon’s Fury, and Florida’s first triple-launch coaster, Cheetah Hunt, in the DARK! Plus, the fan-favorite, award-winning Kinetix show returns to Summer Nights with nightly performances of its rock-fueled blast of music and acrobatics. Every night will also end with an amazing fireworks show. The later hours are included in regular admission. BuschGardensTampa.com
strike out cancer night Join the Tampa Bay Yankees on June 6 at 6 p.m. for a night to strike out cancer! Festivities for the night will include a BayCare water bottle giveaway to the first 500 fans, a food truck rally and post-game fireworks. Players will be wearing custom jerseys which will be auctioned during the game in a silent auction with proceeds from the event to benefit BayCare. Tickets start at $4, gates open at 5 pm, and parking is always free. This is a great event for everyone in the family and will give you a reason to get out and enjoy the summer for a great cause! TYBaseball.com
father's day events Celebrate the family mechanic, handy-man, boo boo fixer, taxi-driver, and more-- Dad-- with some of the amazing events happening around the Bay Area. Take the dads in your life to Lowry Park Zoo or the Florida Aquarium for free admission. If your dad loves to laugh, take him to the Pre-Father’s Day Comedy Show with David Mann at the Tampa Theatre. You can also bring them to a fun day at the museum, with discounts at MOSI and Great Explorations. You can also make some memories at the Great Father’s Day Race in Tampa. For more great events visit TBParenting.com/FathersDay2015.
summer classics movie series Starting on June 7, the historic Tampa Theatre will be holding its annual summer classics movie series. Starting with the Wizard of Oz, films including Key Largo, Caddyshack, Vertigo, Back to the Future, Top Hat, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, The Sound of Music, Gone with the Wind, and so many more will be shown on Sundays throughout the summer. Perfect for families of all ages, you can even come early to the shows for a tour of the theatre. Tickets are only $10 and are available online or at the box office. TampaTheatre.org
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Enjoy 2X the Thrills Take your family’s summer to new heights and new speeds with Florida’s top thrills. Dive facedown at 60mph on North America’s tallest freestanding drop tower, Falcon’s Fury®, only at Busch Gardens® Tampa. Then, hurtle high and experience weightlessness aboard Colossal CurlTM , Adventure Island’s newest family thrill slide.
buschgardenstampa.com
© 2015 SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc. All rights reserved.
Tbp product guide
our favorite
hugaboo pillow The Hugaboo is made with a unique 360-degree support system that’s adept at keeping tiny tots from tipping forward or sliding out of their seat.It’s a snuggly, cuddly, spot for them to take in their brand new surroundings and observe what mom and dad are up to. $60 www.hugaboo.com
tilty tripleflo cup When your baby isn’t an infant anymore, he may want to try sippy cups. The Tilty angle promotes smooth transition and introduction
oh baby!
to cups for your little one. The adorable designs are also great for keeping your kids having fun while learning. $6 www.evenflofeeding.com
core shakes Get your pre-baby body back with these delicious shakes. This patented formula with TruCELLE effectively curbs hunger and fights cravings. Slow digestion results in a sustained release of amino acids to the bloodstream, protecting lean muscle and providing a lasting feeling of satiety. $57 www.corein8.com
zen swaddle Zen Swaddle is the only infant swaddle blanket to authentically mimic Mom’s touch. It also reduces stress on the baby and fosters comfort and warmth. You can also get a gift set with purchase that includes fun books for your baby. $35 www.nestedbean.com
angelcare bath support
Baby B'air
Designed for comfort, the bath support is mildew free and
The FAA-approved Baby B’Air Flight Vest is the only
hygienic. The Angelcare bath seat support is recommended
safety solution for lap held children while traveling in
for babies up to 6 months of age. Your baby will love
an airplane. The Baby B’Air is worn by the infant like
bathtime with this comfy bath support.
a vest. The Baby B’Air is used by simply connecting it
$30 www.angelcarebaby.com
to the seat belt of the adult. $35 www.babybair.com
boppy baby chair Part highchair, part booster seat, part floor seat, the new Boppy Baby Chair was designed to go from floor seat to table seat. The Boppy Baby Chair passes all US safety standards and includes a three-point harness for baby and chair attachment straps. $50 www.boppy.com
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TAMPA BAY PARENTING
• JUNE 2015 • TBParenting.com
dyson am09 hot and cool This amazing fan is 75% queiter than other models and has the power to not only cool a room, but to heat it as well. This bladeless fan directs air to everyone in the room and even has a sleep timer. The Jet Focus Technology makes this fan a must-have and is the perfect gift for dads and grads this summer. $450 www.dyson.com
Something cool
mug madness Perfect for hot cocoa, dad can slam dunk marshmallows or sugar cubes right into his cocoa or tea. It is also great for soups and slam dunking oyster crackers! Who says Father’s Day gifts have to be serious? $24 www.uncommongoods.com
rec tec portable grill
man meets stove cookbook
This revolutionary new type of grill uses wood pellets instead of
This cookbook is perfect for dads, especially
charcoal or gas. With the push of a button, your REC TEC Mini
dads who rely on a microwave for their
Portable Wood Pellet Grill will automatically light and heat to the
meals. This comedy cookbook includes quick
temperature you have selected and will maintain that temperature
and cheap recipes that anyone can make--
throughout the cooking process. Take it with you to the beach,
whether you are a dad, a college student,
tailgating parties and more. $499 www.rectecgrills.com
or if you just need a little help cooking. No Ramen noodles and instant rice needed. $14 www.booksformen.com
britax b safe carseat This highly rated carseat features side impact protection, distributes crash forces, and shields from vehicle intrusion and contains the head and body. Its tangle free, five-point harness distributes crash forces across the strongest parts of the body and provides a secure fit. It also can be snapped into Britax strollers! $135 www.britaxusa.com
mission belt A modernist’s take on the classic 1.25” wide
stwrap Stwrap is a brand new product in a category of its own providing a collectable to decorate the previously unused real estate of a bag strap. The fact that it is licensed by every professional sports league and the NCAA means there is a Stwrap for every Dad & Grad in your life this year. They are also available for a variety of teams! $5 www.stwrap.com
leather belt, you’ll want to wear this number from the office/studio/shop to the soiree. A Shark Tank darling that helps fight global hunger and poverty with every belt sold, the no-holes leather belts come in a variety of colors and also includes licensed belts for the NCAA, NBA and NHL. $35 www.missionbelt.com
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SAINT PAUL’S CLEARWATER’S INDEPENDENT SCHOOL
From Here, Anywhere
Redesigned Middle School Building Opening Fall 2015!
PreK-3 to 8th Grade
www.ClearwatersIndependentSchool.org
727.536.2756
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• JUNE 2015 • TBParenting.com
Rogers Behavioral Health
Tampa Bay
Specialized, evidence-based treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or anxiety from nationally recognized provider. Rediscover life worth living. Call 844-220-4411 for a free screening or visit rogersbh.org.
It’s Your Time to Celebrate with a $100 Resort Credit! Make any occasion special at Gaylord Palms Resort From finding a new job to your child receiving straight A’s, we’ll help make your celebration getaway extra special by offering a $50 resort credit per night up to a maximum of $100 per stay. Luxurious spa treatments, delicious dining, unique shopping and fun recreation options provide everything you need for a joyous occasion.
Book your getaway today!
GaylordPalms.com or call (407) 586-2000 (refer to promo code ZJL) Valid through December 30, 2015. Limited number of rooms available for this promotion. Offer does not apply to groups of 10 or more rooms. Offer cannot be combined with any other promotion. Limit One (1) $50 resort credit per night (maximum of $100 per stay). A stay is defined as consecutive nights at the same hotel, regardless of check-in/check-out activity. See website for complete terms and conditions.
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AN HOUR AND A HALF
COMMERICAL FREE
ALL THROUGH THE WORKDAY!
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TAMPABAYSMIX.COM TAMPA BAY PARENTING
• JUNE 2015 • TBParenting.com
@TAMPABAYSMIX
Cover 2016 Kids Search
Enter your child for the chance to be on the cover of Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine.
TBParenting.com 47
South hillsborough apollo beach | lithia | riverview ruskin | south tampa | valrico | fishhawk
Tampa YMCA Is Focusing on Family The Tampa Metropolitan YMCA is expanding its focus on family-friendly programming for families across Hillsborough and East Pasco counties. Free family activities, which can range from movie nights and themed cookouts to story time and pool relays are included with YMCA membership and offered on select weeknights, Friday evenings and weekend afternoons across all 13 of the Tampa YMCA family branches. As part of its revitalized focus on family programming, the Tampa YMCA is offering a double bonus to new members: zero enrollment fees and a $25 program discount to those who join by May 30. The $25 discount is valid until September 2015 and can be used with any YMCA program, including, but not limited to summer camp, personal training, youth sports and swim lessons. “Families are central to the communities we serve. They look to the Y to be that parenting partner for afterschool care in a safe environment, youth sports that keep their kids active, or swim lessons that teach their kids a lifelong skill,” says Tampa YMCA President & CEO Tom Looby. “We recognize our role in supporting families and are re-committing to them with quality, fun programming, which helps us strengthen families and our local Y communities even more.” One such demonstration of the organization’s commitment to families is a new toddler program now being offered through the Tampa Y’s Plant City Family YMCA location for parents, relatives and caregivers of children ages 5 and under. Caring and Learning with Me is an evidence-based program providing both child and caregiver with developmentallyappropriate and culturally-sensitive curriculum to help young children enter school ready to learn and succeed. Through the program, facilitators use music, story time, art and outdoor play to prepare young kids for school. Healthy snacks are also provided. Caring and Learning with me is held twice a week 10 a.m. to noon on Monday/Wednesday and Tuesday/Thursday year-round at the Plant City Y and is free and open to the Plant City community. To learn more about the Tampa YMCA and its various family programs, go to www.tampaymca. org. For information about Caring and Learning with me, contact Marta Laos at marta.laos@ tampaymca.org or 813.676.5070 ext.1279.
Skateboarding Contest Series To resume in Apollo Beach Part two of a three-part skateboarding contest continues this month at Apollo Beach Skate Park Saturday, June 21 in honor of International Go Skate Day. The park, located at 664 Golf and Sea Blvd., is an 11,000-square-foot park uniquely shaped as a three-pointed star with an elevated center. Skateboard enthusiasts of all ages and fans of the sport showed up for part one of the BowlB-Q Skate Jam competition held Friday, April 24 at Hillsborough County’s Brandon Skate Park in Riverview. During these contests, participants show off their best skate techniques as part of this multi-event competition to name the Best Shredder of the County Skate Parks. The final contest will take place in the fall at the Northwest Skate Park located at 8612 Jackson Springs Road in Tampa. For details about this year’s International Go Skate event, visit www.hillsboroughcounty.org or contact Apollo Beach Skate Park at 813-671-7635.
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dates: May 30, 3-10 p.m. Taste of Brandon Sample cuisine from area restaurants, caterers and bakeries at The Barn at Winthrop in Riverview. Cast your vote for the 2015 Best Taste and Best Dessert Awards and participate in beer and wine tastings. Tickets are $15 adults and $5 children ages 3-11. VIP tickets are $25 and include beer and wine. www.brandonchamber.com
June 6, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Be a TGH SuperSitter Aspiring sitters ages 11-15 can get fundamentals about childcare at this babysitting class and CPR orientation at Tampa General Hospital. Participants can learn about basic first aid, handling emergency situations and age-appropriate play activities. Cost is $35. Register at 813-287-5032.
June 15, 2-4 p.m. Interactive Superhero Movie Kids grades K-5 can be part of a fun, animated movie at Bloomingdale Regional Library in Valrico. Interactive props and actions will be made available to the first 48 participants. For more info, call 813- 273-3652.
June 18-20, various times The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood See a performance of the classic fairy tale when PuppetWorld Playhouse brings three of the hero’s stories to its Dover stage. Shows are 10:30 a.m. Thursday and Friday, and 11 a.m. Saturday. For tickets and reservations, call 813-659-0659. www.puppetworld.com
June 25-28, various times Patel Conservatory Presents Disney’s Aladdin Journey to the mystical land of Agrabah where a resourceful young hero and wise-cracking genie come to life in the Conservatory’s adaptation of the popular animated film onstage at Straz Center’s TECO Theater in Tampa. Tickets are $20. www.strazcenter.com
June 27-June 28, various times Basic Outdoor Leadership Training Sign up for this Girls Scouts of West Central Florida course offered at Camp Dorothy Thomas in Riverview. Event is ideal for Scout volunteers and other adults interested in getting their daughters outside for camp outings and interactions with nature. Get helpful tips and strategies for avoiding common pitfalls of first outdoor experiences. Cost is $17. Register by June 21. www. gswcf.org
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north hillsborough carrollwood | citrus park | lutz | new tampa odessa | temple terrace | westchase
Calling All Artists: Inspiration Awaits The Gallery at Carrollwood Cultural Center is inviting local artists, sculptors, illustrators and photographers to participate in an upcoming exhibit focused on what inspires titled Inspiration, on display during July and August. An open reception and awards presentation will take place at the Gallery at Carrollwood Cultural Center, located at 4537 Lowell Road, Tampa, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, July 10. Ribbons and prizes will be awarded for this latest exhibit at the reception. Artists interested in taking part must formally apply by Friday, June 19 and deliver their artwork between noon and 6 p.m. Monday, June 29. Entry forms are posted online at www. carrollwoodcenter.org. All work must be original. The Gallery at Carrollwood Cultural Center features a constantly changing collection of work by creative visual talents – both local and international – with exhibits and featured art in four unique spaces at the Center: the Main Theatre, The Atrium, The Main Entrance and The Corridor. For more information about this upcoming exhibit or other art events, contact Nancy Kirkpatrick, the Center’s art curator, at nancy@carrollwoodcenter.org or 813-731-7056.
New Child Adoption Event Debuts in June Those interested in learning more about what is involved with child adoption can attend the First Annual Tampa Bay Child Adoption Education Day Saturday, June 13 at Old McMicky’s Farm in Odessa. The popular local attraction is hosting this informative event that brings together key agencies and organizations involved in the child adoption process so they can answer questions and provide a brief, easy-to-under guide to the steps required to adopt, as well as background information about what support is available both before and after making the decision. “There are many children right here in the Tampa Bay area who absolutely deserve and want to be a part of a loving family,” says Ralph Zuckerman of Old McMicky’s Farm. “In one afternoon, let us show you how easy it is to adopt, all of the support available both pre and post adoption, and the amazing rewards of adoption and starting or growing your family.” Agencies taking part in this inaugural event include Eckerd Community Alternatives, serving as the event’s lead agency, as well as other organizations and agencies representing Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties including the Foster and Adoptive Parent Association, Adoption Support Services, Guardian Ad Litem, The Heart Gallery and The Children’s Home. Attendees will also have an opportunity to interact with current adoptive parents and children about what the adoption process has meant to them and brought to their lives. Those considering the start or expansion of their families are invited, as well as those interested in supporting child adoption and the agencies that assist them. Children are also welcome to attend. To register to attend this event, visit www.oldmcmickys.com/childadoption-education-day/.
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dates: June 5-27, various times Five Women Wearing the Same Dress Meet five different bridesmaids in this edgy, contemporary comedy at Carrollwood Players in Tampa. Shows are 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $20 adults and $17 seniors, students and military with ID. Make reservations online at www. carrollwoodplayers.org.
June 9, 1-2:30 p.m. Coping with Motherhood Attend a support group designed for women having a difficult time adjusting to motherhood, hosted by St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital in Tampa. Discuss everyday stresses, difficulties breastfeeding and other challenges. Cost is free and open to all postpartum women who delivered up to one year ago. www.baycare.org
June 12, 2-3:30 p.m. Interactive Toy Movie Kids grades K-5 go on a quest with Emmet the construction worker as part of a fun afternoon at Lutz Branch Library. Guests can be part of the action with interactive props. Materials available for the first 48 participants. Reserve a spot after 1 p.m. that day. For more info, call 813-273-3652.
June 13, 5:30-7 p.m. Shana Banana’s Pajama Pizza Party The whole family can don their jammies for this special event with the popular children’s entertainer at Carrollwood Cultural Center. Party features song, dance and storytelling about healthy bedtime routines. Cost is $7 members and $8 non-members with a $28 family four-pack available. www.carrollwoodcenter.org
June 13, 6:30 p.m. Broadway on the Terrace Come out to support local theater at this event hosted by Temple Terrace Golf and Country Club. Evening includes cocktails and dinner and entertainment courtesy of the Wesley Chapel Wind Ensemble and Masque Theatre. Tickets are $40 with proceeds to benefit the Theatre and Wind Ensemble. www.masquetheatre.net
June 19, 2:30-3:45 p.m. Painting Posters (for Kids) Kids can gear up for a step-by-step instructional art class led by The Color Wheelz at Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library in Carrollwood with poster, paint and brushes provided. Class is designed for grades K-5. www.hcplc. org
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South pinellas pinellas park | seminole | st. pete beach largo | st. petersburg | treasure island
New Largo Teen Idol Crowned Blue Rose Yordan was announced as winner of the 2015 Largo Teen Idol Competition held April 9 at Largo Cultural Center. In addition to the grand prize package, Yordan, 16, has been offered the opportunity to perform the national anthem at a Blue Jays Game and perform at local shows with the City of Largo’s Special Events department. One of the most popular events of the spring season at the Largo Cultural Center, Largo Teen Idol is a showcase of the best teen talent from Largo and surrounding cities. All teens ages 13-18 were eligible to participate in this vocal performance competition. Each of the 11 finalists presented one song of their choice. Yordan impressed the judges with a compelling performance of “Bound to You,” and wowed the crowd with her take on Bruno Mars’ hit song, “Uptown Funk,” in the final round. Yordan and her family are originally from Brooklyn, New York, and have been living in Florida for 11 years. She has been singing since age 3, won her first talent show in sixth grade, and has appeared in talent shows ever since. She is currently a student at Pinellas Park High School and enrolled in the magnet program for First Responders, as well as a member of the National Junior Honor Society, National Society of High School Scholars and the Girlfriends Club. In her free time, Yordan enjoys singing, drawing, writing, working on school projects and volunteering.
Farragut regimental Staff Announced Farragut Academy recently announced the school’s transition to its 2015 regiment staff of sixteen cadets, a selection process led by Commandant Todd Wallingford. This year’s promotion board was led by the Commandant and also consisted of members of the Academy staff and instructors as well as three current officers from the Class of 2015. “I’m really excited about the change,” says Kollyne Thomas ‘16, who was named Battalion Commander of the Delta Battalion during the announcement. “We’re giving a lot more responsibility to the incoming cadets and taking ownership on how to shape our character and being accountable for our actions.” Inclusion of Farragut staff and instructors in this year’s selection process was a departure from previous years, a change initiated by Wallingford. “Teachers are in the trenches and know the kids better than anyone else. They see them on a regular basis. I am a firm believer in teachers being involved in the process,” he says. Other battalion commanders named during appointments include George Dyche as head of Bravo Battalion and Michael Cooney as Headquarters Battalion. Brooke Liu was assigned to lead the regiment as Regimental Commander.The day after the announcement, incoming staff learned how to properly press iron their pants or skirts, how to perform drill in an effective manner, and how to implement programs designed to incorporate discipline and structure. As the new staff takes the reins of leadership, members like Thomas know their mission will have a long-lasting impact. “We will shape the cadets who will take on the leadership roles after we leave. And they will then shape the ones after them. For us, it will help us shape others we come across in our future endeavors,” he says.
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dates: June 6, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Train Weekend Ride the miniature trains of Largo Central Railroad at this fun family-friendly event at Largo Central Park. Pack a picnic lunch, bring a ball to toss or a kite to fly and enjoy the playground with refreshments available for purchase from area nonprofits. Admission is free but donations encouraged to keep the trains running on the first full weekend of every month. www.largo.com
June 6-7, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Annual St. Pete Beach Corey Area Craft Festival Browse fine art from around the county in this showcase along Corey Avenue and Gulf Boulevard in downtown St. Pete Beach. Check out a wide array of affordable crafts, functional art and unique gift items. Shop the Green market for exotic plants, gourmet foods and more. Free admission. www.artfestival.com
June 6-7, various times Tampa Bay Caribbean Festival Celebrate all things Caribbean at this special event for the whole family at Albert Whitted Park in St. Pete. Carnival Day fun begins at noon Saturday with steel bands, a 3 p.m. King and Queen Costume Competition, and headline entertainment at 8 p.m. On Sunday, the parade starts at noon followed by live music and DJs at 4 p.m. www.tampacarnival.com
June 9, 9 a.m. - noon Free Clothing Swap Bring in up to five garments to exchange for free with other swap participants or purchase vouchers for $3 each to select clothing at this monthly event at Gulfport Art Village in Gulfport. Extra clothing donations are encouraged with all proceeds and remaining clothing to benefit CASA. For more info, call 727-453-9093 or 727-902-2326.
June 19, 7 p.m. Friday Flicks Enjoy an evening at the movies at Largo Community Center. Movies are free with limited concessions available for purchase. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. For the latest show listing, call 727-581-3131.
June 26, 5:45-8 p.m. Date Night for Parents/Book Club for Kids Parents can enjoy an evening out while the kids have fun at the Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg. Evening includes pizza, a discussion of the book From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, and hands-on activities. Cost is $15 per child for members and $20 for non-members. To register, call 727-896-2667, ext. 210.
north pinellas oldsmar | clearwater | dunedin palm harbor | safety harbor East Lake | tarpon springs
Great American Campout Kicks off June 27 Families can take part in a popular event this month and help a good cause in the process. The National Wildlife Federation celebrates its 10th year of the Great American Campout, a nationwide event promoting people’s connection to the great outdoors and protection of wildlife and their native environments. This year, Nick Offerman, one of the stars of NBC’s Parks & Recreation series, serves as Official Celebrity Spokesman in promotional online and print ads for the event which launches Saturday, June 27 and runs through Monday, Sept. 7 (Labor Day). “Of course it’s great,” says Offerman. “It’s camping, and it’s American.” To participate, National Wildlife Federation asks people of all ages to make an online pledge to camp anywhere - from a forest to their own backyards – at least once this summer and provides all the information needed, including a directory of hosted Great American Campout locations, tips on what to bring, lists of campout activities and recipes, and more. Campers are encouraged to take #Campies (Camping Selfies) and submit them to NWF’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages to share their experiences and create an extended community of participants year round. For more information, and to register for this year’s event, visit www.nwf.org/campout.
Triathlon, Fun for Athletes of All Ages One of the state’s most popular sprint distance triathlon events returns this month. Attracting as many as 700 registered athletes since its launch in 2004, The Dunedin Triathlon begins at approximately 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, June 7 at Honeymoon Island Park. Participants are asked to arrive on the island between 6 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. with parking staff on hand to assist. There will be no fee to enter the island for the race. The first wave of participants will begin the swim portion at 7:30 a.m. with successive waves to be announced at packet pick-up and throughout race morning. Participants can pick up their packets 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, June 5 at Chainwheel Drive, 1770 Drew St., Clearwater, and from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 6 at Cricketer’s British Pub and Restaurant, 2634 Bayshore Blvd., Dunedin. Athletes will be given timing chips to wear on their ankles and will be timed in five areas of the race: the 1/4 mile swim, transition one, 12-mile bike, transition 2 after passing on the bike, and the 5K (3.1 mile) run. Most athletes will register in their appropriate “age group” division. However, this year, there will also be a Clydesdale Division for men who weigh in over 200 pounds and an Athena Division for ladies over 150 pounds who wish to be placed in those divisions instead. For relay competition, teams should comprise two or three members, either male or female or a combination. Awards also will be given for a variety of other special categories as well as the Youth Wave Division, with an early wave at 7:20 a.m. for ages 8-16 racing super sprint distance. Top Youth Triathlete awards will be given to the Top 3 in each age for male and female. For the latest information about this year’s event, visit www.dunedintriathlon.com.
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dates: May 30, 6:30-10 p.m. Clearwater Centennial Parade Join in for a celebration of the city’s first 100 years as floats travel through downtown Clearwater along Highland Avenue and Drew Street to Coachman Park. Evening concludes with a fireworks display. www. myclearwater.com
June 2, 4-5 p.m. Managing Motherhood Sign up for this monthly event for new moms at Mease Countryside Hospital in Safety Harbor. Interact and support other moms through the challenges of motherhood, new roles and emotional changes. Free. Register at www. baycare.org.
June 3, 10, 17 and 24, 6-7 p.m. Art by Me - Kids Encourage the kids to embrace their inner Picasso as part of this weekly art event at Cypress Forest Recreation Center in Oldsmar. Projects will range from drawing to painting to pottery with supplies included. Cost is $5 per class with recreation card and $7.50 per class for nonmembers. For more info, call 813-749-1152.
June 5, 6 p.m. Pajama 5K and Beer Bash Run or walk in your PJs for this unique evening 5K for the whole family. Race starts at Safety Harbor Marina and features a variety of amenities and fun activities for all ages. For more about this special event, call 727-724-1572.
June 20, 8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Summertime Farmer’s Market Browse fresh produce, flowers, plants and organic goods at this event for the whole family at John Wilson Park gazebo in Safety Harbor. Free. www.cityofsafetyharbor. com
June 24, 12:30-1:30 p.m. N. Pinellas Social Luncheon Catch up with others in the community while learning valuable information about healthy living at this monthly event hosted by the N. Pinellas Y in Palm Harbor.www. suncoastymca.org
June 27-28, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Annual Downtown Dunedin Craft Festival See a showcase of work from crafters across the country at this annual event throughout Dunedin’s Main Street. Shop handmade art to gift items and explore a Green Market. Free entry. www.artfestival.com
pasco dade city | land o' lakes | new port richey trinity | wesley chapel | zephyrhills
Autism Support Group Available in Trinity Medical Center of Trinity has announced the launch of Helping HANDs (offering Hope for Autism and Neurological Disorders), a community support group for parents, family members, and friends impacted by autism and related neurological disorders such as Tourette’s, Sensory Processing Disorder, ADHD, Aspergers, or other Autism Spectrum disorders. Participants have an opportunity to meet with other parents and relatives facing similar challenges at regularly scheduled monthly meetings. The primary goal is to connect special needs families by bringing the community together to support each other, gain more knowledge, raise awareness, and pool resources to effectively help children impacted by autistm and related neurological disorders. The Helping HANDs support group meets monthly on the second Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. at Medical Center of Trinity, located at 9330 S.R. 54 in Trinity. The group meets in the main building off the lobby in Conference Rooms A and B. For more information, contact Jonica Chittum, who coordinates speakers and resource fairs for the group, by emailing her at jonica.chittum@hcahealthcare.com. Families can also visit the group’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/HelpingHANDs.Trinity.
Girl Scouts and Troop Leaders: It's renewal Time Girl Scouts of West Central Florida is offering members and troop leaders incentives as part of its Early Bird membership renewal campaign, which started April 15. Members can renew by logging in to the Girl Scout Member community at http://members.girlscouts.org/ using their email address associated with their membership. Any members who experience difficulties while renewing can reach out for support at customerconnections@gswcf.org. All girls who register during Early Bird will receive an Early Bird path. Daisy, Brownie and Junior Girl members who registered by May 15 were entered into a drawing for a free ticket to GS Fest. Cadette, Senior and Ambassador Girls who register during Early Bird will be entered into a drawing to receive a VIP ticket and “swag” bag to the Older Girl Kick-off event being held in October. Only 30 winners will be chosen for this drawing and notified on July 6. Troop leaders who register 90 percent of their troop by June 30 will be entered for a drawing to receive $50 towards a troop camping trip or troop program event, or a 2-hour private STEM party with their troop. Three winners will be chosen and notified on July 6. Any troop leaders who renewed 80 percent of their troop by May 15 were entered into a drawing to receive a Girl Scout tablet sleeve, with 25 winners to be chosen and notified on July 6. There are even incentives to be earned on a community-wide basis. The top three communities with the highest renewal percentage rate will win lunch with the new GSWCF CEO at a restaurant in their area. Only official community team members will be invited to the lunch and a maximum number may apply. Winners will be announced for this recognition on July 6, as well.
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Girl Scouts of West Central Florida is also offering troops other incentives regarding their participation in the Opportunity Catalog, online magazine sales, and nuts/candy item sales. For more information about Early Bird renewal, visit www.gswcf.org.
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dates: Through June 7, various times A Chorus Line Meet a group of determined dancers and singers as they audition for a coveted spot in a production as this Broadway classic takes the stage at the Show Palace Dinner Theater in Hudson. Tickets range from $24.95-$49.50. Dinner is at 6:30 p.m. with show to follow at 7:30 p.m. www.showpalace.net
June 3, 10, 17 and 24, 10-11 a.m. Kids Club Bring the kids to center court for fun activities every Wednesday at the Shops at Wiregrass in Wesley Chapel. This month, meet up with My Gym (June 3); Energia Wellness (June 10); Mr. Tommy (June 17); and Color Wheelz (June 24). Free. www. theshopsatwiregrass.com
June 6, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Every Hero Has a Story Summer Reading Kickoff Kick off summer at Land O Lakes Library and meet up with superheroes and community heroes. Day includes games, face painting, balloons, food and more fun for the whole family. Visitors are also encouraged to come dressed as their favorite “hero.” For more info, call 813-929-1214.
June 6 and 20, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Fresh Market at Wiregrass Browse 50-plus vendors at this outdoor market at Shops at Wiregrass in Wesley Chapel. Listen to live music and shop for local, certified, organic, hydroponic and conventional produce, Florida grown plants, herbs and flowers and homemade foods. www.theshopsatwiregrass.com
June 17, 9:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. Free Car Seat Inspection New parents can ensure their precious cargo’s safety as part of this free event co-sponsored by Pediatric Associates Tampa Bay and Safe Kids of Tampa at the Pediatric Associates office in Trinity. RSVP to schedule a free appointment at 727-519-1200.
June 24, 7-9 pm. Family Movie Night Wear your PJs and bring your favorite blanket for a fun, family-friendly feature film at South Holiday Branch Library in Holiday. Night includes popcorn and refreshments. For more info, call 727-834-3331.
Club of Wesley Chapel
at the shops at wiregrass
July 3 4-9pm bicycle decorating watermelon eating contest pageant
Fireworks presented by:
Macy’s, Dillard’s, JCPenney and over 100 stores and restaurants Bruce B. Downs and SR. 56 . Wesley Chapel (813) 994-2242| TheShopsAtWiregrass.com
polk auburndale | bartow | haines city lakeland | lake wales | winter haven
County offers Helpful parenting Classes The Polk County’s Healthy Families program offers positive parenting classes for current parents, expectant parents and caregivers of babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Classes are open to the community and focus on children from birth to age 12. Cost for the program is $25 per person or $40 per couple. For Healthy Families participants, there is no charge. Fee includes a six-week course, all class materials and a certificate of completion, distributed during the last class for those who attend. Advanced registration is required. For more information about the program and future Positive Parenting classes, call 863-534-5344.
Area Students Honored with Awards Polk students earned top prizes at the 60th Annual State Science and Engineering Fair held in April in Lakeland. The Fair is a three-day display of science project exhibits developed by nearly 900 student finalists in sixth through twelfth grade. The competition is designed to foster an interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) related career fields, introduce students to organized research and provide teachers and students a forum for exchanging ideas. Logan Armagost, a student at Haines City High School IB, and Divya Ravinder, a student at Bartow IB, were awarded $8,000 scholarships by New College of Florida for their projects. Students who progressed to this competition were winners in this year’s Polk Regional Science and Engineering Fair. For a complete listing of all area students awarded top prizes, go to www.polk-fl.net.
Mulberry Middle Celebrates New parent resource Center Polk County Public Schools recently celebrated the grand opening of its fifth Title I Parent Resource Center, located at Mulberry Middle School. The opening celebration took place on Tuesday, April 7 at the school located at 500 Martin Luther King Ave. in Mulberry. The Mulberry Parent Resource Center provides literature, computers, and classes to local parents. The objective of the Center is to educate, equip and partner with students and their support systems by offering a variety of relevant programs and resources that make a positive impact on the individual and the community. The program supports Polk County Public Schools’ general premise that building stronger parent-learning communities can increase student achievement. The Mulberry Parent Resource Center will follow the Polk County School Board calendar and will be open Monday through Friday. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays the Center will be open 8a.m. to 3:30 p.m. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, the Center will be open from 10:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. more information about the new center, visit the school’s website at http:// mms.polk-fl. 14 For net/.
dates: Through June 4, various times Harrison School for the Arts “Blurred Vision” Art Exhibit Support young artists by checking out the latest art showcase in its final days in that Visual Arts Gallery at the Lakeland school for the arts. Pieces on display represent the work of students in grades 9-11. www.harrisonarts.com
June 2, 5:30-6:45 p.m. Happiest Baby Learn how to help your baby sleep longer or quickly soothe fussiness at this valuable class at Winter Haven Women’s Hospital. Get information about the Calming Reflex, the Five Ss, Cuddle Cure and more. Cost is $20. To register, go to www.baycare.org.
June 13 and 27, 9 a.m. 1 p.m. Lake Wales Downtown Farmer’s Market Shop for homegrown, fresh produce and other local goods, including handmade items at this monthly Farmer’s Market held the second and fourth Saturday in Market Square between Stuart Av. and Park Av. in Lake Wales. Free. For info, call 8634554219.
june 19, 6:30-9:30 p.m. Art+Sk8 Come out for a unique 80s style indoor block party at the Polk Museum of Art. Enjoy food, music and a cash bar. Cost is $10 members and $15 non-members. To attend, register at www.polkmuseumofart.org.
June 19-21, various times Disney’s High School Musical, Jr. Watch the Disney Channel’s smash hit musical come to life onstage at Lake Mirror Theatre in Lakeland. Tickets are $12. www.lakelandcommunitytheatre.com
June 20, 8 a.m. Kiwanis “Serving Our Children” Charity Golf Tournament Sign up to participate in this 18th annual fundraiser hosted by Cypresswood Golf & Country Club in Winter Haven. Proceeds benefit the efforts of the Kiwanis Club of Winter Haven Foundation. For more information, contact whkiwanisgolf@gmail.com or call 863-221-7867.
June 20, 5:15-6:45 p.m. Cypress Gardens Water Ski Show Pack up the family and bring lawn chairs to catch a special monthly performance by the Cypress Gardens Aquamaids and their Champions for daring stunts upon Lake Silver in Winter Haven. Free admission. Snacks and drinks will be available for purchase. 863-412-7578
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to see more photos visit facebook.com/tampabayparentingmagazine
Around Town
To see more photos, visit: TBParenting.com/Facebook
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Lizandra Ramirez and Jose Friasat the St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital prom night. Prom night was held for pediatric patients who were unable to attend their own dance due to life threatening illnesses or hospitalization.
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2015 St. John’s State Odyssey Winners coach Adam Burden, coach Mychael Fenlon, Isaac Addison, Hayden Merrill, Katie Terrana, Sam Valenti, Ryan Kelly, Ava Hajjar, and Danny Farley.
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Nathan Gall and Isabella Denisulk dressed up and ready for the St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital prom night, which had over 200 people in attendance.
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John Travolta and Aspen Stuart Cunningham from King High School at the gala screening of The Forger at the Capitol Theatre, where Bay Area students were recognized with scholarships.
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Blue, the Tampa Yankees mascot enjoying YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park.
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The winning Clay Shoot Team, the Schaer Development Team, at the Saxon 4 Safe Kids Clay Shoot to benefit Pasco Kids First and the West Pasco Chamber of Commerce.
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Campbells Park Elementary “Girlfriends” visited All Children’s Hospital and took part in events to help girls connect.
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Reagan and Kavita from the Campo Family YMCA at YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park.
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Tampa Police Chief Jane Castor and Stephen Gay presenting Nanci Newton, USF Victim Advocate with the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay Award.
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Volunteers from the Florida Aquarium releasing six sea turtles into the ocean at Canaveral National Seashore, which helps sea turtle conservation.
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june Events June 2, 2-7 p.m. Take part in a free admission promotion offered during designated hours at Glazer Children’s Museum. See the museum’s current exhibits and interact with featured guest characters. Adults must be accompanied by a child and vice versa. www.glazermuseum.org Everyone
breast feeding support group
e v e n t s & f e s t i va l s The Wizard of oz at Glazer Children's Museum
Through September, various times Check out the Glazer Museum’s popular traveling exhibit that celebrates the film and literary classic. Travel the yellow brick road through Munchkinland, check out the ruby red slippers, and find your courage, heart and smarts via an interactive adventure through Oz. www. glazermuseum.org Everyone
official Ghost Tour of Ybor City
All month, 7:30 p.m. Wander through Ybor and hear spine-tingling stories about real people and legends associated with the city along with related history, folklore and ghost tales. Guided tour takes approximately 120 minutes with frequent stops. Tour begins at King Corona Cigars. For ticket info and reservations, go to www.yborghosttour.com. 8 & Older
Tampa's Lowry park zoo Zoominations
Various nights Lose yourself in the wonder of custom-made Chinese lanterns on display throughout Lowry Park Zoo. This popular event has been extended through June and features an artisan market, handmade crafts, and acrobatics. For tickets visit www.lowryparkzoo.com Everyone
holy hormones advanced workshop
June 1, 6:45 p.m. Join Maximized Living for their workshop on hormones. They will teach you how to take control of your future with small everyday changes that can help balance your homones and lead you to a healthier and more fulfilling life. Discover the power within! www.seagatechiropractic.com
Moms, Dads
Children's Board Free Tuesdays at the Glazer
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S.T.E.A.M activities as part of MOSI’s summer science program. Participants can launch pumpkins, create video games, mix slime, design clothes and more. Camps are available across science, technology, engineering, art and math in both half-day and full-day formats. MOSI members can save 25 percent on program fees. www.mosi. org 4-12
June 5, 12 - 1 p.m. All pregnant women and women with babies are welcome to attend thebreastfeeding support group at St. Pete General Hospital. Topics will include: Breastfeeding benefits for the baby, techniques, education and helpful hints; networking with other breastfeeding moms and making new friends; and a Q & A with one of their International Board Certified Lactation Consultants. Moms learn from one another and from community resources that periodically provide a short presentation for the group.No Fee. www.stpetegeneral.com Moms
daddy boot camp class
Summer Celebration
June 10, 7 p.m. Gather single friends to come out for this exciting benefit event at Tampa Theatre in downtown Tampa featuring a headlining performance by musical artist Matt Bellina. Bid on a customized date package with proceeds to benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Tickets start at $25. www.tampatheatre.org Girls Night Out
June 6, 10 a.m. - 6 pm. Kick off summer at Glazer Children’s Museum in Tampa with this fun event. Celebration includes activities for the whole family. www. glazermuseum.org Everyone
Ybor City Saturday Morning Market
June 6, 13, 20, and 27, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Browse this year-round, pet-friendly, outdoor market in Ybor City’s Centennial Park. Shop for fresh produce, gourmet foods and sauces, fresh baked breads, herbs, plants, unique gifts and artwork. Free admission and parking. www. ybormarket.com Everyone
Strike out cancer
June 7, 6 p.m. Come out to the George M. Steinbrenner field for a Tampa Yankees night to remember. Festivities for the night will include a BayCare water bottle giveaway to the first 500 fans, a food truck rally and post-game fireworks. Players will be wearing custom jerseys that will be auctioned during the game in a silent auction with proceeds from the event to benefit BayCare. Tickets start at $4, gates open at 5 p.m., and parking is always free.www. tybaseball.com Everyone
Member Mornings at the Glazer
June 7, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Museum members can take advantage of special members-only access to the Glazer Children’s Museum. Invite an additional family member to join (up to five guests will be admitted at no charge; must include an adult). Guest family can purchase a membership for 20 percent off regular membership that day only. www.glazermuseum. org Everyone
Summer Science Camps at Mosi
June 8 - Aug. 21, various times Register kids over the summer months for fun
• JUNE 2015 • TBParenting.com
June 10, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. This class is for the men in the family. Happening at St. Pete General Hospital, this is great for all kinds of dads. New to family life or want to sharpen your skills? This is the place for you! Taught by a veteran fire and EMS expert, learn everything from how to hold your infant, diapering, bathing and what to do in an emergency. No Fee. www. stpetegeneral.com Dads
Tampa Bay Bachelor Auction 2015
kids eat free night
June 10, 7 p.m. All kids 14 and under receive a coupon for a free scooter dog, Cracker Jacks, and SM soda or juice with the purchase of a reserved ticket ($5). The ticket and food special can only be purchased at the George M. Steinbrenner Field box office. Gates open at 6 p.m. and parking is always free.www. tybaseball.com 14 & under
Antique Appraisal Fair
June 13, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Talk to local antique experts about the value of your stored treasures at this fundraiser presented by the Pinellas County Historical Society at Heritage Village with portion of proceeds to benefit the Village. Fee to participate is $5 per item or $12 for 3 items. www.pinellascounty.org/heritage.
Everyone
child adoption education day
June 13, 2 - 5 p.m. Come out to Old McMicky’s Farm for the first annual Tampa Bay Child Adoption Education Day. You will get to hear presentations by all of the key family service agencies in Tampa Bay, and get advice from real adoptive parents and children. You can also find out all about the adoption process and connect with other families looking to adopt as well. Cost: free. www.oldmcmickys.com/ child-adoption-education-day/. Moms, Dads
Build-A-Model Camp
June 14, 12:30-2 p.m. Sign up the kids for this unique one-day monthly camp at the Armed Forces History Museum in Largo. Kids receive a take home model to build alongside professionals as well as a set
While great care was taken in compiling the calendar, it’s always best to phone ahead to confirm information.
of customized dog tags, a ride on the museum’s Virtual Voyager Simulator, full access to the museum and discount admission for parents. Cost is $18 per camper. Advance registration suggested. www.armedforcesmuseum.com 5-12
Miss Florida/Miss Florida's outstanding Teen Scholarship pageant Week June 15-20, various times Follow the progress of the participants in this teen scholarship event hosted by Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg. For a full schedule of events, visit www.missflorida.org. Everyone
Federation International de volleyball St. petersburg Grand Slam
June 15-21, various times Watch some of the world’s premier volleyball players as this Association of Volleyball Professional tour stops at St. Petersburg’s Spa Beach Park. General admission to the Grand Slam is free with exclusive premium tickets available for purchase. www.avp.com Everyone
Latin Nights
June 18, 9 p.m. Experience a delectable evening of Latin-inspired food and dancing at Maestro’s Restaurant in downtown Tampa. Enjoy tapas and drink specials while moving to the rhythms of a live salsa band and DJ. Dance instructors also will be on hand from Simone Salsa dance studios. Tickets are $15. www.strazcenter.org Girls Night Out, Date Night
child passenger safety class
June 19, 9 a.m. Keep your child safe by learning how to install and use a car seat correctly. Classes are free at the All Children’s Hospital Outpatient Care Center in Tampa. Car seats are available at a reduced cost for those that meet program criteria. Register online: 727-767-7835 or www.allkids.org/carseats
Everyone
babysitter safety program
June 19, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Designed for young teens ages 11-14, this all-day course taught at All Children’s Hospital Johns Hopkins Medicine in St. Petersburg will help babysitters learn the importance of responsibility, how to recognize an emergency, personal safety tips, and basic first aid and fire safety. Cost: $30. www. allkids.org/events Call 727-767-4798. Teens
Tampa Theatre's BeerFest 2015
June 20, 8 p.m. Sample craft beers and local brewers while indulging in samples and snacks from the area’s top independent restaurants at this year’s beer festival at Tampa Theatre. This year’s tonguein-cheek movie theme is “O Brewer, Where Art Thou?” Guests are encouraged to dress as their favorite character or an “O Brewer”-inspired costume. Premium sampling starts at 7 p.m. with advance tickets $70; grand sampling at 8 p.m. for $45 (advance). www.tampatheatre.org Moms,
Dads
patios, pools and the Invention of the American Backyard
June 20 - Aug. 30, various times Check out the latest addition to the exhibit galleries at Tampa Bay History Center in downtown Tampa. This exhibition explores the rise of the suburbs, the beauty of post-war garden design and birth of the environmental movement in this celebration featuring vintage photographs, historic drawings and period advertisements. www.tampabayhistorycenter.org Everyone
rays on the runway
June 24, 6:30 p.m. Step out for this signature fashion event and celebrity benefit runway show at Hilton St. Petersburg Bayfront. Mingle with members of the Tampa Bay Rays, their wives and dream children who are part of the Children’s Dream Fund at this event featuring a meet and greet, cocktails and fashion show. Tickets are $125 general and $250 patron (reserved seating and program listing). www.childrensdreamfund.org Moms, Dads
Thromb/stroke care conference
June 25, 12:30 p.m. Learn about pediatric stroke and how to care for a child who has had a stroke a this conference at All Children’s Hospital. Find out more information by emailing Laurel.McDevitt@jhmi.edu. www.allkids. org Moms, Dads
Busch Gardens Summer Nights
June 27-Aug. 16, various times Stay late at Busch Gardens Tampa during summer months as part of this popular promotion and enjoy thrill rides in the dark, live entertainment and summer-infused grilled food items and craft beers. Each evening closes with a breathtaking fireworks display. www.buschgardenstampabay. com Everyone
pediatric first aid and child cpr class
spECIAL NEEDS
Sponsored by Early Autism Project www.EAPTampa.com
Family Support Group
June 2, 6:30-7:30 a.m. Meet with other parents of special needs children to discuss challenges and offer each other advice at this monthly parent-to-parent support event at the All Children’s Hospital Child Development and Rehabilitation Center in St. Petersburg. RSVP to 727-767-2885. www.allkids.org Moms, Dads
Toodles Early Steps playtime
June 3, 12, 16, 22 and 26, various times Bring the kids for an open gym playtime for infants and toddlers with special needs in the Early Step program at various Bay area locations this month. Playtimes scheduled in Odessa, Land O’Lakes, St. Pete and Clearwater. Fees vary by location. For schedule and location info, call 727-767-6705. www.allkids.org 1-4
Free Homeschool Social Skills Group
June 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29, 11 a.m. - noon Register students in grades 2-5 for a free, interactive weekly social skills group with Hammond Psychology. Sign up online or call 813567-3253. www.hammondpsychology.com 7-10
June 27, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Come out to St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital to learn how to handle emergencies and prevent injuries in this course. This teaches American Heart Association Pediatric First Aid for all ages and CPR, which can save a child’s life. Cost: $70. www.baycareevents.org Everyone
Great Connections
bark at the ballpark
Art and Sign Language
June 27, 6 p.m. Bring your K-9 pal out to the George M. Steinbrenner stadium for a pet-friendly evening of baseball! All dogs must have a $4 ticket with all proceeds going to the Animal Coalition of Tampa. There will be local pet businesses set up on the concourse pre-game to hand out giveaways, coupons, and interact with fans. Human tickets start at $4, gates open at 4:30 p.m., and parking is always free. www.tybaseball.com Everyone
June 14, 10 a.m. - noon Explore Great Explorations Children’s Museum when it is closed to the general public and features modified lights and sound, as well as a cool down room for families. Cost is $5 per person. www. greatex.org 6 & Older
June 19, 10-11 a.m. Discover art and a new language as a family at this introduction to American Sign Language at the Museum of Fine Art in St. Pete. Learn from a certified ASL instructor and interpreter and tour the galleries.Cost: $5 per family. This event is designed for parents/guardians and their children up to age 6. www.fine-arts.org Everyone
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june Events
Special Needs Movie Screening: Disney's Inside out June 27, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Catch a special sensory-friendly screening of the new film release Disney’s Inside Out at Studio Movie Grill at University Mall in Tampa. Adults are $6 and kids are free. www.studiomoviegrill.com 8
& Older
with this latest art exhibit on display honoring the beautiful tradition and craft of Japanese woodblock printing. Work extends from the late 18th century to today. www.fine-arts.org
Everyone
MFA Make and Take
June 6 and 20, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Kids can create their own masterpiece inspired by works in the collection at the Museum of Fine Arts in St. Pete on the first and third Saturday each month. For June, participants can explore photography while using sunlight to make sun prints. Free with museum admission; no registration necessary. www.fine-arts.org 5 &
Older
Drum Corps at the Movies: 2015 DCI Tour Premiere
June 17, 8:30 p.m. Experience an up-close view behind the scenes of marching music’s top ensembles in this documentary being presented at select Bay Area theaters in Brandon, Oldsmar, Pinellas Park, Tampa and Sarasota. For locations and tickets, go to www.fathomevents.com. Everyone
Flicks & Food Trucks
June 18, 6-10 p.m. Dig in and partake in gourmet foods, independent short films, microbrews and live music the third Thursday every month at The Grand Central at Kennedy in Tampa. For more info, go to www. tampabaymarkets.com/flicks-and-food-trucks.
Everyone
Disney's Inside out
Coming June 19 Meet a young girl who moves into her new house and finds emotions vying for control of her mind in this imaginative animated film from the creators of Up. Features the voice talents of Diane Lane, Amy Poehler and Mindy Kaling. Rated PG. Running time, 102 minutes. Check local theaters for showtimes.
8 & Older
Frog Kingdom
Available June 30 Take the journey of a lifetime when this funny, action-filled film from Lionsgate Home Entertainment is released on DVD. The animated film features the voice talents of teen favorites Bella Thorne, Cameron Dallas, Drake Bell and Gregg Sulkin. DVD includes special feature on the making of the film. Rated PG. Running time, 88 minutes. Suggested retail price is $19.98. 8 & Older
Art Boundary Lines Exhibition
Through June 13, various times Check out this innovative exhibit in which five artists explore the issue of personal space through sculpture, embroidery and ceramics at the Florida Craftsmen Gallery in St. Pete. Free admission. www.floridacraftart.org Everyone
film
Jim reynolds: CityScapes at FMopA
Through June 30, various times See this compelling photographic exhibit which celebrates the dynamic landscape of city life before it closes end of the month at the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts. www.fmopa.org
Everyone
Dali & da vinci: Minds, Machines & Masterpieces
Through July 26, various times Catch this unique study of two geniuses and their creations in this show featuring more than 75 works and reproductions on display at The Dali in St. Pete. Visitors will explore five major thematic groupings that demonstrate the range of shared interests and dialogue between the two artists across centuries. www.thedali.org Everyone
Images of the Floating World and Beyond: Japanese Woodblock prints Through Aug. 16, various times Celebrate 50 years of the Museum of Fine Arts
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TAMPA BAY PARENTING
Children's Summer Series at Studio Movie Grill
June 8-12, 15-19, 22-26, 29-30, July 1-3, 11 a.m. Pack up the kids for this annual film series at Studio Movie Grill at University Mall in Tampa. Enjoy family-friendly, affordable movies Monday through Friday at 11 a.m. for $3. For June, see Madagascar, Rio 2, Shrek 2 and Chicken Run. www.studiomoviegrill.com 4-10
Summer Movie Express at regal Cinemas
June 9-10, 16-17, 23-24, 30 and July 1, 10 a.m. Take advantage of special discounted movie admission at participating Bay Area Regal cinemas. All films in the series are rated G or PG. This month, see Nut Job, Annie, Earth to Echo, Box Trolls, Paddington, Turbo, Rio 2 and How to Train Your Dragon 2. Admission is $1 with portion of proceeds to benefit the Will Rogers Institute. www.regmovies.com 4-12
• JUNE 2015 • TBParenting.com
t h e at e r & d a n c e CHuGGINGToN LIvE! The Great rescue Adventure
June 17, 6:30 p.m. Catch up on the latest adventures of Wilson, Koko and Brewster as this live version of the popular Disney Jr. TV show takes the stage at Straz Center in downtown Tampa. Join in and sing along in this interactive and musical journey. Tickets are $19.50$45.75. www.strazcenter.org 4-8
Junior Intensive Showcase
June 19, 4:30 p.m. Watch the grace and strength of dancers from the Patel Conservatory Youth Ballet as they share what
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they have accomplished during this showcase of ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary and character dance in Ferguson Hall at Tampa’s Straz Center. Tickets are $10. www.strazcenter.org Everyone
red
May 29 - June 21, various times Catch a performance of this provocative Tony Award-winning play when American Stage brings it to the St. Pete venue. Follow the story of master abstract expressionist painter Mark Rothko as he lands the biggest commission in the history of modern art and the challenges the visionary faces to create it. For tickets and showtimes, visit www. americanstage.org Moms, Dads
Mamma Mia!
June 23-28, various times Gather a group of friends and head to Straz Center for the ultimate feel-good show and enchanting tale of love, laughter, friendship and awesome ABBA tunes. Sing along to classics like “Dancing Queen,” “Take a Chance on Me,” and “S.O.S.” Tickets start at $37.50. www.strazcenter.org Girls
Night Out
Move Live on Tour
June 28, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. See the exciting and high-impact choreography in this fresh new showcase of the talents of brother and sister dancing superstars Julianne and Derek Hough as they bring their show to Clearwater’s Ruth Eckerd Hall. Tickets are $38.75-$150. www. rutheckerdhall.com Everyone
Train: picasso at the Wheel Summer Tour 2015
June 6, 7 p.m. Spend an evening with the chart-topping pop group at MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre at the Florida State Fairgrounds. Train will be joined by The Fray and Matt Nathanson. Tickets are $18-$72.50. www.livenation.com 10 & Older
Chris Tucker
pre-Father's Day Comedy Show with David Mann
The Gypsy Kings
Dads
June 14, 7:30 p.m. Get lost in the heat and power of the Grammywinning group’s unique blend of flamenco, rumba, salsa and pop when they come to The Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg. The world music band featuring Nicolas Reyes and Tonino Baliardo will be joined by special guest Elijah Wolf. Tickets are $52.50-$92.50. www.themahaffey.com Everyone
Father's Day Weekend at The Florida Aquarium
June 20-21, various times Share the wonders of the sea with Dad for free with the purchase of one full paid admission. www.flaquarium.org Dads
Father's Day Weekend at MoSI
June 23, 7 p.m. Relive the 80s (minus the hair) with this hit-making rock group joined on tour by Tesla and Styx for a visit to MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa. Tickets start at $18. www.livenation.com 10 & Older
June 20-21, various times Bring Dad to MOSI for Father’s Day and he will receive free general admission with the purchase of a child’s admission. Check out Kids in Charge, relax in the butterfly garden and catch a film in the IMAX dome theater. www.mosi.org Dads
Billy Gardell
Father's Day BoGo Weekend at Tampa's Lowry park Zoo
June 26, 8-9:30 p.m. Be there when last summer’s sold-out performers return for an encore show at Carrollwood Cultural Center in Tampa to celebrate the great summer Motown classics. Advance tickets are $29 members and $33 general admission; day of the show, $31 members and $35 general admission. www.carrollwoodcenter.org Everyone
The Garth Brooks World Tour with Trisha Yearwood June 5-6, 7 p.m. Experience the legendary country singer live as he takes his world tour to Amalie Arena in Tampa. Brooks will be joined by his talented wife, country vocalist Trisha Yearwood. Tickets are $74.98 with tax, facility fee and service charge. www. amaliearena.com Everyone
TAMPA BAY PARENTING
June 19, 8 p.m. Start Father’s Day festivities early with a special family-friendly comedy show at Tampa Theatre. Mann is joined by comedy writer Akintunde and gospel singer Amber Bullock (Sunday Best). Tickets are $28.50-$48.50. www.tampatheatre.org
Def Leppard
Motown Heat with the Sounds of Soul
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June 20, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. All dads will receive FREE admission on June 20 in honor of Father’s Day weekend. Create special gifts for the special guys in your life including SuperDad masks, picture frames, a “pop” game and more. All activities included with admission. www.greatex.org Dads
June 12, 8 p.m. Enjoy a night of laughs as the international award-winning actor and comedian best known for his role in the Rush Hour film series brings his latest comedy tour to the stage at Straz Center in Tampa. Tickets start at $45.75. www.strazcenter. org Moms, Dads
June 26, 8 p.m. Catch the standup comedian and star of the hit CBS comedy series Mike & Molly when he brings his own brand of humor to the stage of The Mahaffey. Tickets are $32.50-$62.50. www. themahaffey.com Teen & Older
music & comedy
Fabulous Fathers at Great Explorations
• JUNE 2015 • TBParenting.com
June 20-21, 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Dads receive free admission Saturday or Sunday with the purchase of their son’s or daughter’s fullpriced admission ticket (paid ticket can be child or adult admission, as applicable). For dads to receive free ticket, paid ticket must be purchased on June 20 or 21 only. Offer cannot be combined with other discounts. www.lowryparkzoo.com Dads
The Great Father's Day race Tampa 5K run/Walk
June 21, 7 a.m. Sign up the whole family to take part in creating a unique, lasting family memory with this 5K race at Al Lopez Park in Tampa. The 5K starts at 8 a.m.; the walk begins at 8:10 a.m. with award ceremony to follow. Registration is $35 by June 20. www. greatfathersdayrace.com/tampa Everyone
Dad's day
June 27, 3:30 - 9 p.m. Celebrate dad by taking him to a Tampa Yankee’s Game at Steinbrenner Field, courtesy of BayCare! There will be pre-game seminars on sports nutrition, injuries, and more. Cost: free. www. baycareevents.org Everyone
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