June 2020 by Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine

JUNE 2020

FOR LOCAL FAMILIES. BY LOCAL FAMILIES.

STAYING SAFE: How to Cope as Florida Reopens

SOCIAL DISTANCING FAMILY FUN

BOOST YOUR IMMUNITY

WITH FOOD AND MOVEMENT

MORE!

MOSI Hosts New Summer Exhibit: Space for Art!

JUNE 2020 TampaBayParenting.com

ENHANCED OFFICE PROTOCOLS AS A RESULT OF COVID-19 separating well and sick visits by sessions increasing our cleaning protocols taking patient and caregiver temperatures upon arrival allowing patients and caregivers to wait in their cars prior to appointment outfitting all office staff and clinicians with proper protective equipment requiring all visitors and patients over the age of two wear a face covering reducing the number of caregivers per patient at each appointment

New Location! CITRUS PARK

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TRINITY

813.471.4445

813.689.7571

727.376.4040

12871 Citrus Plaza Drive Tampa, FL 33625

11260 Sullivan Street Riverview, FL 33578

10710 State Road 54, Suite 108 Trinity, FL 34655

www.PediatricAssociates.com TampaBayParenting.com JUNE 2020

Good news. If your child is up in the middle of the night, so is our online doctor. BayCareAnywhere® makes getting care for any child age 2 or older easier. Bringing the doctor to you 24/7, no matter where you are. Even if it’s 3am and the doctor’s office is closed, children age 2 and older can have a face-to-face video visit with a board-certified family medicine doctor or pediatrician. All you need is a smartphone, tablet or computer with a webcam to connect to BayCareAnywhere. The online doctor can diagnose and treat your child for conditions such as fever, sore throat, cough, skin rashes and even pink eye. We know that nothing can comfort a sick child like their parents, but what better way to comfort a parent than with an online doctor available anywhere, anytime. Download the BayCareAnywhere app today or create an account at BayCareAnywhere.org.

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JUNE 2020 TampaBayParenting.com

JUNE 2020 INSIDE 12 / FATHERHOOD: HEROIC ACTS OF LOVE: Meet two Tampa Bay dads working on the frontlines 14 / HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS DURING A PANDEMIC: Take these extra steps to make sure your family is ready for hurricane season 16 / A SAFER SUMMER: Expert advice on how to keep your kids safe as they venture out and about after months in quarantine 19 / CAR SEAT SAFETY: 5 things to check before you get on the road

COVER STORY: Former NASA astronaut and Tampa Bay mom Nicole Stott goes one-on-one with us to talk about the new exhibit debuting at MOSI, Space for Art!

EVERY ISSUE 10 / NOTEWORTHY: To celebrate Father's Day, we focus on two cool dad-owned businesses that take play seriously

26 / MOMS TO KNOW: Lennise Germany, founder of catering company Livy O's, tells of her pandemic pivot 46 / WHAT’S ON TAMPABAYPARENTING.COM: Check out our top trending stories online and see what’s happening on social media!

20 / SOCIAL DISTANCING-FRIENDLY THINGS TO DO IN TAMPA BAY: Stay safe and avoid crowds at our favorite destinations 22 / NEW EXHIBIT DEBUTS AT MOSI: SPACE FOR ART: Former NASA astronaut Nicole Stott tells why this new exhibit should be on your family's bucket list 30 / 5 WAYS TO PREVENT SUMMER SLIDE: Hillsborough County Schools share ways to keep the learning going all summer long 33 / LEARNING AT HOME WITH PBS: See how you can take advantage of at-home learning tools from WEDU 34 / EARLY LEARNING HIVES: Learn through play with tips from the Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library 36 / WATER SAFETY 101: Advice from Johns Hopkins All Children's that every family needs to know to keep kids safe around water 38 / IMMUNITY-BOOSTING MOVEMENT: Easy immunity-boosting exercises from the YMCA to get the whole family moving 40 / 10 FOODS TO BOOST YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM: Stay healthy all year long with these colorful and delicious foods 42 / PUT YOUR PEDIATRICIAN ON YOUR MUST-SEE LIST: Doctors at Pediatric Associates of Tampa Bay remind families to keep their appointments

SOCIAL DISTANCING FRIENDLY THINGS TO DO 4

TampaBayParenting.com JUNE 2020

16 summer safety

20 SUMME

S PAC E F O R : T I AR IB H

V I S I

Starting on Saturday, May 30th discover our new summer exhibit: Space for Art.

sp a ce fora r tfou n dation .org

A wonderful collaboration of creativity by children, scientists, engineers and astronauts focusing on space-themed art and healing programs brought together through the awe and wonder of space exploration!

4 8 0 1 E A S T F OW L E R AV E â&#x20AC;˘ TA M PA 8 1 3 - 9 8 7- 6 0 0 0 â&#x20AC;˘ M O S I .O R G JUNE 2020 TampaBayParenting.com

Pandemic Parenting CREATIVE DIRECTOR AND EDITORIAL MANAGER Laura Byrne ASSOCIATE EDITOR Anu Varma Panchal EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Sarah Rigby CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Nicole Stott Laura Byrne Anu Varma Panchal Tara Payor, PhD Bobby Deskins Michelle Pratt Julie Tingley Laura Cross Paul Grove Allison Brazis Petra Vybiralova Angela Fulgieri Alexa Schuman C. Rocky Slonaker, MD, CHCO, FA AP

Life after Safer at Home orders The Tampa Bay Parenting team shares their adventures with their kids as we all make the adjustment to the new normal of social distancing. One highlight was celebrating a quarantine birthday. We hid gifts around the house and texted the birthday girl a location tagged with a photo from a previous birthday, starting from the day she was born. Any project that takes up hours is a win—which is why I loved this gift, a pack of build-it-yourself wood dollhouse furniture with which she f lexed her design muscles. - Anu Varma Panchal, associate editor

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Ralf Gonzalez Craig Collins LAYOUT & DESIGN Nicole Barolo of Page Four Creative Sarah Rigby

When the Safer at Home order lifted, we kept our activities outdoors. We love beach days and enjoyed Fort De Soto’s North Beach! We also spent a morning on a local organic U-pick farm and on a different day, paid a visit to Dinosaur World to treat our dino-loving 4-year-old. Overall, it has been a positive experience. Everyone has been very respectful of each other’s space and practicing social distancing.

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Howie Mac Photo BOOKKEEPING Employee of the Month, LLC TAMPA BAY PARENTING MAGAZINE 320 W. Kennedy Blvd. Ste. 220 Tampa, Florida 33606 Phone 813-949-4400 Fax 813-315-6688 info@tbparenting.com editor@tbparenting.com BECOME A FAN tampabayparentingmagazine @tampabayparenting @TBParenting

-Laura Byrne, editor

One of the things we’ve enjoyed the most is cooking with our girls. Pizza is a favorite around here so big sister took the lead in preparing it. Then we got all dressed up and had a fancy dinner! -Ralf Gonzalez, account executive

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.

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Luca tries a recipe for monkey bread from “The Complete Cookbook for Young Chefs.” -Nicole Barolo, layout and design

We loved joining Grady Goat Yoga. We practiced social distancing from humans and remained one with the goats and nature. We’ve found a lot of joy and comfort spending time with animals the past few weeks. We’re holding on to country life long after quarantine. -Tara Payor, writer

Flip to page 16 for expert advice on how to keep your family safe as you venture outside your home. We’re also sharing more social distancing-friendly things to do in Tampa Bay on page 20!

During COVID-19 we have noticed an increase in child deaths related to DROWNING and UNSAFE INFANT SLEEP. HERE ARE A FEW TIPS TO KEEP YOU AND YOUR FAMILY SAFE DURING THE PANDEMIC WATER SAFETY TIPS

SAFE INFANT SLEEP TIPS

HERE ARE ADDITIONAL TIPS TO KEEP YOUR FAMILY SAFE: Be vigilant when your children are around water.

Drowning can occur in unlikely places. Be aware of ponds, lakes, pet water bowls, bathtubs and toilets.

Children up to six months old can drown in as little as one inch of water.

Keep your baby’s face uncovered for easy breathing. Use a one-piece sleeper instead of a blanket.

No pillows, blankets, stuffed animals or bumpers should be in your baby’s crib or bassinet.

For more information please visit PreventNeedlessDeaths.com JUNE 2020 TampaBayParenting.com

Meet our contributors

thank you advertisers and sponsors

ANU VARMA PANCHAL Anu Varma Panchal has written and edited for area publications for nearly 20 years. She’s active on her children’s PTA boards, loves theatre, concerts, the local brewery scene and travel, and spends way too much time schlepping her 12- and 15-year olds around in her minivan. She never leaves home without her library card. You can find her at youreditingsolutions.com.

JULIE TINGLEY

SARAH RIGBY

Julie Tingley is an 8-year

TBPM Editorial Assistant Sarah Rigby has a degree in Vocal Performance Musical Theatre, as well as minors in business and entrepreneurship. When not keeping Tampa Bay Parenting organized behind the scenes, you may see her portraying many of your favorite princesses with Parties with Character or dancing around Tampa Bay.

Tampa transplant who has found her way through numerous professional and parenting transitions by maintaining focus on her daily inspirations: Ella, 6, and Kate, 3. With a vision of a better future for her girls, she has introduced the KNOW Book + Tribe, a women’s publication and community, to Tampa Bay.

Story idea?

Are you a local blogger or writer? If you have a content idea or a story to tell, tell us.

TARA PAYOR, PH.D.

editor@tbparenting.com

Tara Payor, Ph.D. has a

Because of them, we are able to provide this family-friendly resource to you for FREE.

ALLISON BRAZIS

ALEXA SCHUMAN

ANGELA FULGIERI

Alexa Schuman is the founder of Uprooted Wellness and Holistic Motherhood. She is a holistic lifestyle expert and certified integrative nutrition health coach who turned her own experience and passion for the women’s wellness movement into a collective space for new mothers to live holistically. Now she’s planting the seeds to show you how you can create an intentional foundation from day one!

Angela Fulgieri is the program director of Senior Health and Well-Being at the Campo Family YMCA in Valrico. In this role, Angela works with the community’s ever-expanding active older adult population, helping grow current offerings while also developing new and innovative senior programming. Prior to that, Fulgieri served as the Wellness Experience Director for the Plant City Family YMCA for two years. She began working for the Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA years ago as a Welcome Center representative, group exercise instructor and wellness coordinator.

doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction. She is a contributing faculty member for Walden University, where she guides doctoral students through their dissertations. She is also a language arts educator. Reach her at tpayor@gmail.com.

PETRA VYBIRALOVA STANTON 8

TampaBayParenting.com JUNE 2020

Allison Brazis is an administrative librarian with the Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library. She always wants to know what people are reading and loves matching the right book for the right person. She and her husband have a 4-year-old son and twin 2-year-old girls. Her favorite part of the day is reading to them before bedtime.

Petra Vybiralova Stanton, MSW, is the supervisor for the Safe Kids Florida Suncoast led by Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. Safe Kids Florida Suncoast is an organization of community partners that collaborates to reduce unintentional injuries. Stanton joined Johns Hopkins All Children’s in 2011 and has been working on reducing pediatric unintentional injuries since. She received her master's degree in social work from Saint Leo University and has a passion to provide education, empowerment, and resources to all families.

Let’s start healing. We’re really looking forward to seeing you again. And we want you to know -- whether you’re checking in for a check-up, needing a knee replacement, or making time for a mammogram, we’re taking every measure to keep you and your family safe when you’re here.

6ft

• Social distancing in all our facilities • Temperature checks at every entrance • Masks worn by all team members and visitors • Frequent sanitizing of all spaces • Timely team member testing

When you’re ready, we’re ready.

AdventHealth.com

JUNE 2020 TampaBayParenting.com

[ noteworthy ]

JUNE COOL DAD BUSINESSES: Bricks for Kidz Tampa: John Fontana

The Toothless Monster: Ryan Dean

Bricks4Kidz.com

Thetoothlessmonster.com

First, we have to ask. For a dad of newborn twins, how’s life?

Tell us about yourself and your family!

Dad life is great! Having twins during a pandemic wasn’t ideal, but has definitely made my wife and I stronger and it will hopefully make us better parents because of it. You know when parents say, “I can’t believe my baby is already x years old. Where does the time go?” I’ve only been a parent for a short time, but I can tell you that the time definitely doesn’t go towards sleep. But other than the lack of sleep, it’s been wonderful!

What inspired you to start your business? I was inspired to open Bricks 4 Kidz because I saw an opportunity to work with and educate kids using my favorite toy when I was growing up, LEGO Bricks. In high school and college I spent my summers working at summer camps for kids, and after college I was a Big Brother in the Big Brother Big Sister program. I didn’t really like my job out of college, but when Bricks 4 Kidz came along and I saw I could work with kids, teach creativity and be creative myself, and play with LEGOs all day, it was a no brainer.

Let’s talk about the pandemic pivot you’ve had to make. The pandemic has caused all of us to pivot our businesses operationally. We had over 30 schools worth of after school classes to teach, so we moved everything online and teach weekly classes on Facebook for our students. We plan to move forward with our in-person summer camps, but of course we have had to rethink the ways we are going to operate them to stay in accordance with safety guidelines, while also taking into consideration what will make our families feel safe. The one great thing about this whole experience is it’s forced us to think outside the box and develop new skills. This will make Bricks 4 Kidz a much stronger and better business in the long run and a better experience for our families.

TampaBayParenting.com JUNE 2020

My wife Jennifer and I are lifelong Tampa residents, which seems to be increasingly rare these days. We currently reside in the quiet (but growing) suburb of Valrico. As we are both USF accounting grads, jumping into the toy industry has been a fun, albeit challenging experience. Our daughter Cooper is 8, and our son Brooks just turned 6.

What inspired you to create the Toothless Monster? It was a total accident, really. Taking the advice of everyone that has ever said “cherish them while they’re young,” we took a year off from our jobs to travel with our kids before they were of school age. While cruising down a dirt road in a Costa Rican jungle, Cooper piped up from the back seat to ask what the Tooth Fairy does with all the teeth? Uhh, great question! An off-the-cuff reply --she uses the teeth to help others--led to more questions. What kind of creature? Where? How does she get the teeth there? While answering her endless stream of questions, a story developed that one such creature was a friendly monster that lived in the very jungle we were driving through. This monster had no teeth, of course, and was in need of a little help! Somewhere in there, we had the idea for a toy that children could give “their” teeth to. The whole tooth-for-cash swap is kind of a half-baked tradition, after all. We knew we’d have to write a story to bring the characters to life, and began working on that as we finished our travels living in a tiny RV as we criss-crossed the US.

How has the pandemic impacted your business? We did see a major dip in online sales through our website and Amazon. Fortunately, that has since rebounded, which I think is in line with things beginning to normalize. Our main concern has been for our retail partners (brick and mortar toy stores and pediatric dental practices). They have been hit much harder with the mandated closures, and we look forward to a quick return to business as usual for them. For now, we continue shipping Toothless Monsters to wiggly-toothed children all over the United States. Seeing their pictures on social media and getting awesome feedback from their parents gives us plenty of reason to smile during these crazy times!

VIRTUAL LEARNING WITH PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS

DANCE • THEATER • MUSIC Our stages may be experiencing a brief intermission, but our classes and camps continue virtually. Private Lessons and classes for all ages and experience levels.

PATEL CONSERVATORY

STRAZ CENTER

PATELCONSERVATORY.ORG • 813.222.1040 JUNE 2020 TampaBayParenting.com 11

Love

FATHERHOOD: Heroic Acts of

If you’re a dad, chances are at least one person thinks you’re a hero. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, frontline workers have been increasingly recognized as heroes. From law enforcement officials to physicians, from firefighters to nurses, many men fulfilling these professional roles also proudly play the role of dad. Two Tampa Bay area hero dads, one a physician and the other a firefighter, share how they navigate fatherhood in this era of uncertainty—without even wearing capes.

Fear’s Antidote: A Father’s Love Alex Furman, an interventional pulmonologist and critical care doctor at various Tampa Bay area hospitals, is a father of four. His 20-year-old is in college, studying how music affects the brain, and his younger three (ages 9, 7 and 4) are being guided through distance learning by Furman’s wife, Dora. Given the nature of Furman’s work, the couple quickly established at-home-protocols, like giving certain items direct sunlight as a form of added decontamination. “Now, I only wear scrubs at work and leave my clothes in the garage. There’s a lot of hand washing and decreased touching. I have a special robe and it cues the kids that it’s not okay for us to hug, yet.” At work, Furman also sits on a committee that counts PPE. “It took a few weeks to understand the best approaches and make decisions about transitioning things to the virtual environment,” he says. “Rationing of personal protective equipment is a top

priority. Though numbers show we’re ahead of the curve, we haven’t seen it all.” Constant thoughts about COVID-19, for both family and work, affect Furman’s ability to sleep. However, in true dad fashion, he is intentional in his efforts to minimize pressure at home. “I don’t spend a ton of time talking about it with the kids.” He acknowledges there’s a virus and explains how it spreads, but most conversations center on school and Zoom. Interested in doctoring, the kids previously bandaged their own injuries with toilet paper and paper towels. “Since we’re now rationing paper products, that’s become a no-go.” The family now prioritizes activities done as a unit. “Changes in schedules mean there’s no guarantee we’ll all be together at some point in the day. So, we make time for bike rides, swimming and cooking. We’re growing a garden, and I teach the kids about the science behind everything.” While Furman is on the front lines, he’s cognizant of what his wife faces. “Given forced togetherness, I’m beyond lucky. I don’t just love my wife; I actually like her. She’s no longer travelling for work, which she’s used to in her position in econometrics. She’s essential, now, not only to helping restaurants survive but our family as well.” As Dora is an avid runner with a goal to run in all 50 states before turning 50, the couple came up with a safe route she can run but still be somewhat alone. Real heroes recognize that all human beings need some sense of normalcy. Despite taking calls at all hours of the night, Furman is counting his blessings. “This isn’t going away, and we’re using this time with our kids to do good. This is no detriment to our family life.”

Learn more about Dr. Furman’s practice: https://bit.ly/2Z3w8ZA 12

TampaBayParenting.com JUNE 2020

istockphoto.com/ iarti

By Tara Payor, Ph.D.

Fear’s Extinguisher: A Father’s Compassion

Learn more about Captain Schaer: https://bit.ly/2zwOJTr

Mar k your Calendar s! Fat h e r 's Day is J u n e 21

Mike Schaer has been with the Temple Terrace fire department for 17 years and currently serves as a Captain. Hero is a word he doesn’t buy into: “I believe this is my calling and I love it.” Surely his wife, Allison, and two daughters, Kennedy (10) and Rylee (8), view him as a superhero. Schaer is strong in his conviction that he’s blessed with two families. “Bonds made running the calls we run in the department, and spending 24 hours at a time together, make us family. Coming home to be a husband and father, and doing our best to raise our girls right, being their biggest, forever fans, is an awesome thing.” The Schaers have realized family fun days don’t require trips and lots of money. “We’ve spent hours in the yard— enjoying talking and the slower pace.” The past few months have also underscored risks associated with the fire department. “Leading a crew, this is also about the 15 members on my shift who have families and worries of their own.” Firefighters have an ability to f lip a switch when they walk into the firehouse. “COVID-19 changed that. Now, we bring risks home. Now, we could be the reason family gets infected.”

Times like these, when Schaer wants to be with his wife and girls the most, protecting them, is when he sees them least. “I’m blessed with a strong wife. She puts her own fears and worries aside and serves as a strong, reassuring voice for our girls.” As they grow up, the girls grasp more about their dad’s line of work: “They were born into it, and I hope I can help them understand the dynamics of it all.” The Schaers broached the COVID-19 topic with the girls early on. “We wanted to be the ones to discuss it with them—dramafree. It reminds them of our imperfect world and the importance of helping others.” Within both the fire and Schaer houses, Mike has relayed similar messages: “Focus on the positive and enjoy the small moments that were overlooked four months ago. Along the way, the voices and actions of helpers gained traction and we need to support the many inspiring things taking place.” A hero is forward thinking. A hero focuses on assets. A hero loves genuinely. A hero is a humble leader. A hero is a hard-working dad. He’s your dad. He’s their dad. He’s the person straddling two worlds—with compassion, strength and grace. Happy Father’s Day.

JUNE 2020 TampaBayParenting.com

A New Normal:

Hurricane Preparedness During a Pandemic The 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season is June 1-Nov. 30 by Laura Byrne

This is most important hurricane season your family has ever prepared for. Let that sink in for a minute. Whether you are new to the Tampa Bay area or a native, local emergency managers are reminding all residents it is absolutely vital that every family has a fully stocked disaster kit and hurricane plan due to the added threat of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

What does this mean exactly for your family? ● First, know your evacuation zone if you don’t already. ● Make sure your disaster kit is fully stocked, including with new additions due to COVID-19 like hand sanitizer, gloves and face masks. As you have likely experienced over the last few months, this may take a few shopping trips as stores restock these high-demand items. ● If you live in an evacuation zone, make arrangements now to stay with friends or family who When it live further inland or on higher ground. comes to evacEnsure there is room for you all to safely uating, the general social distance if you must. rule of thumb is ● If you live in an area outside evacuation tens of miles zones, reach out to friends and family who not hundreds of may need your help if a storm strikes. miles.

Get familiar with your local emergency management office: Hillsborough County: HillsboroughCounty.org Sign up for HCFL Alert emergency alerts: Text StaySafe to 888-777 Pasco County: Pascocountyf l.net Be sure to sign up for Alert Pasco while visiting the site. Pinellas County: PinellasCounty.org/emergency You can sign up for Alert Pinellas on this site too to stay connected during emergencies.

Disaster kit additions due to COVID-19: ● 72 hours of food and water (for drinking and sanitization) for each person in your family. You can add a few extra days worth of each if you don’t want to immediately head out to stores after the storm. ● Gloves ● Hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes ● Disinfecting wipes for surfaces ● Cloth face masks ● Mess kits: paper cups, plates and utensils (good to have on you if you leave your house) Find a complete list of what you’ll need in your disaster kit at Ready.gov

TampaBayParenting.com JUNE 2020

Every year, we ask our local meteorologist dads at 10 Tampa Bay to weigh in on the season with advice and how they’re preparing their own families. GRANT GILMORE, MORNING METEOROLOGIST AT 10 TAMPA BAY “There’s a lot that’s different about our world now because of the coronavirus. As we’ve learned, there’s a lot that is out of our control, but taking steps to plan and prepare our families for a potential storm is something we can all take charge of.”

BOBBY DESKINS, CHIEF METEOROLOGIST AT 10 TAMPA BAY Hurricane season is upon us once again, and most signs are pointing to a busier-than-normal season! It’s hard to believe that the season is already here, but then again, we have been living in a time warp thanks to our COVID-19 quarantine. For me, the silver lining in all of this has been the time that I have been able to spend with my family. Turns out time is more precious than toilet paper—but just barely! Homeschooling has been interesting. I’ve spent a lot of time chaperoning recess for my kids, but there has also been a little bit of learning in our household as well. If you have any homeschooling left in you, now would be a good time to teach your kids the basics about severe weather. You don’t have to go into the details, but it may help your child to have a little knowledge of severe weather to lower any fears they may have. I’ve talked to my kids about hurricanes, tornadoes, what to do during tornado warnings and how we prepare for storms. My kids are 9 and 7 so they are old hats at this since Hurricane Irma, but a refresher course can’t hurt. As they grow, their understanding of the weather changes and so will their questions. One of the things we talked about was getting prepared and getting our hurricane kit together. With COVID-19 in the mix, your plans may change a bit. For instance, if you need to evacuate during a storm, do you want to go to a crowded shelter? City governments are doing what they can to come up with a plan that utilizes more shelters thus lowering the density in each, but would you rather evacuate to a friend or family member’s house? Make that plan now. It would likely be more comfortable, but if COVID-19 is prevalent, can you shelter with family or friends who are especially sensitive to the virus? Have an idea of where you would go, who will be with you and what their health concerns are. These are things to consider when making your PLAN. Putting your KIT together will also require a few changes. You guessed it, more Lysol wipes and hand sanitizer! I always suggest Lysol wipes for cleanup, but this year you will want to add another tub or two. Don’t forget about that first-aid kit. Most don’t include a thermometer, but you may want to have one in case someone isn’t feeling well. Last, but not least, throw in a few rolls of toilet paper. Not that you would need more during a hurricane, but because who knew it would be such a hot commodity during COVID-19?

JUNE 2020 TampaBayParenting.com

A By Anu Varma Panchal

Safer Summer

Stay At Home regulations are slowly easing through the summer, but while it may be tempting to fill a table at our favorite eatery or gather with the family at the beach, it’s important to take sensible precautions as we venture out. Dr. Juan Dumois, a pediatric infectious diseases physician at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, would like everyone to remember that COVID-19 is still out there—and will probably last through this year and into 2021, or until a vaccine is developed.

“Everyone needs to remember that just because some restrictions are relaxed, it does not mean that the pandemic is winding down,” he cautions. “There’s a lot of misinformation on T V and the Internet when in fact, science says this virus will continue to spread because it is very contagious, and most people have not had it yet. When families want to venture out, be aware that there are still people out there with the virus transmitting it to people.”

HERE ARE SOME TIPS FROM DUMOIS TO HELP YOU ENJOY TAMPA BAY SAFELY. •

•

Children are not as affected by COVID-19, but can catch the disease, remain asymptomatic and pass it along to more vulnerable adults in their home. That’s why it’s still not a good idea to have playdates or to be in crowded places. Choose larger parks and deserted beaches.

PRECAUTIONS FOR THE PINT-SIZE CROWD Dr. Jennifer Katzenstein is the director of psychology and neuropsychology at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, and the mother of a 3-year-old son. She recommends following CDC guidelines for masks for all children 2 years of age and above, but admits that with toddlers, “All of this is truly aspirational.”

•

Monitor kids closely when out to ensure they are practicing social distancing and cleaning their hands before touching their face. No phone conversations or chats with other adults: Always keep an eye on your child. The 6 feet of social distancing rule applies indoors. Once you’re outdoors and there’s potential for a breeze, you could be breathing what someone coughed out far upwind of you. Some physics studies show that you should keep the following distances: 15 feet if walking; 20 feet if running; and 50-60 feet if bicycling. When using hand sanitizer, remember that you need enough that it takes 15 seconds for your hands to dry. This could mean 1 ½ to 2 squirts.

•

Introducing a little fun is key. For physical distancing measures, she suggests teaching little ones to stay the distance of one alligator away from their friend. “I’ve made hand sanitizer super fun. It has special powers. We use it before the mask goes on and use it after the mask goes off. He loves to sing a song.” Outdoor exercise is great, but take sensible precautions, like the family Katzenstein saw that made a 6-foot rock border around their spot on the beach. When out, note high-touch locations like elevator buttons, banisters and doors and ensure your child either avoids them or sanitizes right after touching. Monitor mental health, especially because memories from toddlerhood are tied to a strong emotion. “Every thing about going out causes anxiety.” she says. “As parents, it’s important to monitor our own anxiety and not pass it on. Kids look to us for safety. Stay as calm as possible so our kids can sense that. If we do experience stress and anxiety and our kids see it, have a frank and open conversation about that.” Yoga, meditation and breathing exercises are all part of Katzenstein’s routine. She suggests checking in on older kids, asking how they are feeling, and making sure they are getting adequate rest and socialization. Says Katzenstein: “Good sleep and social support are the best predictors of reduced anxiety of stress and quarantine reported by other countries."

istockphoto.com/ puruan

TampaBayParenting.com JUNE 2020

HOW TO BE A GOOD CAMPER Area organizations like MOSI, the Y MCA, ZooTampa and Glazer Children’s Museum have been busy prepping for summer campers by adhering to safety guidelines established by the CDC and American Camp Association. Parents can expect staggered and curbside check-ins, smaller groups, limited supply sharing, masks for counselors, constant handwashing and temperature checks prior to check-in.

HERE ARE SOME TIPS FOR HOW YOU CAN PREPARE YOUR LITTLE ONES FOR SUMMER CAMP DURING COVID-19. ★ ★ ★

★

Use disposable paper bags instead of lunch boxes or backpacks. Send a change of clothes. Teach your child handsfree ways to open doors, push elevator buttons and turn on faucets. Invent a fun contactless “handshake” that your child can do with friends to avoid hugging.

Kate White, Glazer Children’s Museum

★ Teach your child not to share food or drinks

Keep your children home if they or anyone in the same household are sick or showing signs of becoming sick. Communicate openly with us about sicknesses and symptoms within your household. We know kids can carry germs and during these precarious times, we each need to do our part to be socially responsible, keeping our community safe and healthy.

with their friends, and not to share use of cameras, iPhones, iPads or any thing else brought from home.

★ Explain that although the first thing your

child will want to do is give a big hug to their best friend, they can’t do that right now! No touching others and stay 6 feet away from other campers. This is about the length of a cow, or the length of your bed at home.

★ Send your child with a mask, they are all the rage! Wearing a mask can protect your kids and their friends from potential germs.

Lalita Llerena, Tampa YMCA

Cara Treadway, ZooTampa

DAYCARE DILEMMA

DOCTOR VISITS

As the economy opens up and many head back to work, daycare for little ones becomes a pressing issue. Dumois recommends:

Your doctor or dentist might be open for business and ready to see you. At BayCare's network of clinics, here are some safety measures you may notice if you opt for an in-person visit rather than a telehealth one.

•

Ideally, find a daycare situation where the child has fewer contacts, such as a home daycare with an adult and at most 1-2 other kids. If that’s not an option, ask a relative or friend who is out of work to watch your child and offer to pay them. If group daycare is the only option, ask the facility how often workers will wash their hands and sanitize the environment. Ask about diaper-changing procedures and the ratio of adults to children.

• • • • •

istockphoto.com/ shushunya13

• • • • •

Appointment registration and check-in completed online prior to office visit A requirement for all doctors, staff and patients to wear masks in the clinic Segregation of potential COVID-19 patients from other patients Minimizing or eliminating the time in the waiting room Clinics cleaned throughout the day with medicalgrade sanitizers and antibacterial agents Limited seating in waiting areas that has been reoriented to accommodate for social distancing Hand sanitizer readily available for patients and staff Contact-free payment Visitors and guests limited to the patient’s parent or caregiver when needed All BayCare team members have their temperatures checked when they report to work every day. Team members that are symptomatic are not allowed to come to work.

JUNE 2020 TampaBayParenting.com

When youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re here, you can feel it: the currents of life gently flowing around and through you. This is where you can be truly present, and reconnect with what matters most. Where you can embrace the tides of change, and help push towards a brighter tomorrow for our blue backyard. This is The Florida Aquarium. 18

Memberships start at $80 and help fund conservation efforts that protect Floridaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s seas and beyond. flaquarium.org | 813.273.4000

TampaBayParenting.com JUNE 2020

Car Seat Safety:

Things to Check Before You Get on the Road By Michelle Pratt

Your car may have had a break over the last few months while you spent more time at home. As you begin to venture out, Tampa mom and car seat safety expert Michelle Pratt of Safe in the Seat shares pointers on ensuring your kids are safe on the road.

1 2 3 4 5

GROWTH SPURT? Chances are your child has grown over the last few months. Time to check that they are still within the height and weight limits of the car seat stage they are in. HARNESS HEIGHT. Remember that harness straps should be at or below the shoulders for children who are rear facing, and at or above for children who are forward facing. Put your child in their car seat and see if that potential growth spurt also means you need to adjust their harness strap height. LOWER ANCHORS HAVE WEIGHT LIMITS! If you are using lower anchors to install your car seat, make sure your child is still within the weight limit to use those. The formula is: car seat weight plus child weight must be less than 65 combined pounds. If you have hit that 65 pounds, then it is time to seatbelt-install your car seat! CHECK FOR TIGHTNESS. While our kiddos haven’t been in our cars for a while, their seats have. Let’s make sure they are still tightly secured. Use your nondominant hand and give the seat a handshake at the belt path (the path where the lower anchor strap or seatbelt routes to connect the car seat to the vehicle). Make sure the seat doesn’t move more than 1 inch in any direction—up/down, front/back, side/side. If it does, it’s time to work some installation magic and tighten that seat up!

TETHER IN USE FOR FORWARD FACING. If your child is sitting

in a forward-facing seat, let’s make sure that the tether is in use and connected to the right place. That strap on the back of your car seat needs to be routed above, below or around the headrest and secured to a designated tether location (your vehicle manual will tell you where that is) and then pulled tight.

FINAL NOTE: While we are tempted to Lysol and Clorox everything in sight right now, remember that car seats have very specific cleaning rules. Check your manual for what cleaning products and methods your car seat allows. Going against this could jeopardize the integrity of the car seat and compromise the parts that are designed to protect our littles in a crash.

Connect with Pratt: Safeintheseat.com | On Instagram: @safeintheseat JUNE 2020 TampaBayParenting.com

Social Distancing

Friendly Things to Do By Laura Byrne

As Florida reopens, families are venturing outside of their homes, with a bit more caution, of course. While you’ll want to give yourself space from others to be safe and bring the hand sanitizer and cloth masks with you, there are some really great places to explore and things to do while avoiding crowds. Here are some of our favorite spots to take the kids and social distance in Tampa Bay!

ONE: Go to the Beach Aim to visit the less crowded beaches, including our favorites, Honeymoon Island and Caladesi Island. Be aware that there will be extra patrols by law enforcement along the coastlines and plenty of signage, so be smart and practice social distancing and don’t go with a big group. In general, most beaches in our area allow you stay at least 6 feet away from the people over on the next towel.

Some other favorite family beaches:

Beach

• Shell Key and Egmont Key

Preserve (accessible via ferry service from Fort De Soto)

• St. Pete Beach • Pass-A-Grille Beach • Indian Rocks Beach • Treasure Island • Madeira Beach/John’s Pass • Anna Maria Island

TWO: Visit Local Parks and Preserves: Go for a hike on a nature trail! Discover nature preserves in Pinellas county like Weedon Island Preserve in St. Petersburg, Brooker Creek Preserve and Shell Creek Preserve. Some kidapproved nature trails to try: Boyd Hill Nature Preserve in St. Petersburg and Boca Ciega Millennium Park in Pinellas. Fort De Soto State Park is another family favorite.

FORT DE SOTO NORTH BEACH

THREE: Go for a D rive-Thru Experience! If you don’t mind the drive, Wild Florida’s Safari Drive-Thru in Kenansville south of Orlando is super cool. You can purchase tickets online and you stay in your car the whole time, so you don’t have to worry about too much person-to-person contact. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 per child. wildf loridaairboats.com Safari Wilderness in Lakeland is offering a Drive-Thru Safari during the COVID-19 pandemic. For $100 per vehicle on weekdays and $125 per vehicle on weekends, you can participate in this limited time reservation only experience! Food buckets are an additional $10. safariwilderness.com

FOUR: H ead to the D rive-I n Theatre:

Favorites parks to go for a walk in Hillsborough County: Lettuce Lake Park, Eureka Springs, Riverwalk and Bayshore Boulevard. The wide open spaces of Julian B. Lane Waterfront Park and Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park are also family favorites.

FloridaHikes.com is a great resource! Bring snacks and plenty of water for an all-day adventure amidst nature and in the shade of beautiful trees! Keep in mind picnic table areas and playground equipment may still be off limits. TAMPA RIVERWALK

TampaBayParenting.com JUNE 2020

The Ruskin Family Drive-In Theatre is another local family favorite. You can back up into your spot and snuggle up with the kids in the trunk or bring chairs and sit next to your car to enjoy the movie! You can learn more on their Facebook page to stay up to date. Tickets are $6 per person ages 6 and older. Admission for kids 5-8 are $1. Kids 4 and younger are free. Ruskinfamilydrivein.com

istockphoto.com/ allnikart

• Clearwater Beach • Sand Key Beach and Park • Fort De Soto Beach-North

Tampa with the Kids in Bay: FIVE: Go Prehistoric or Go Fossil H unting! The Tampa Bay Fossil Club is a great resource for fossil hunting in Tampa Bay. Popular spots include the Peace River and Venice Beach which has been deemed the “Shark Tooth Capital of the World.” Want to get up close with the dinosaurs? Head to Dinosaur World in Plant City. The hands-on activities are closed for now, but you can walk the winding trails and boardwalk to see hundreds of life-sized dinos. ZooTampa will also have its temporary exhibit Dinos Alive! for you to explore! There are 30+ life-sized dinos to meet as you wind your way through a prehistoric adventure.

Pirate Water Taxi is sailing once again. To ensure your safety, they will be limiting the number of guests on the boats to allow for social distancing. Stay up to date on routes and times at piratewatertaxi.com.

DINOS ALIVE! AT ZOOTAMPA

SEVEN: H ead to the M useum . Museums are opening to a limited number of guests. This is a great time to go and explore our local museums like Glazer Children’s Museum, MOSI and the Tampa Bay History Center. All will be enforcing social distancing, increasing sanitization and cleaning, and limiting the number of guests in the museum. Visit each museum’s website to learn more. WINTER AND HOPE AT CLEARWATER MARINE AQUARIUM

EIGHT: Get U p Close with Nature, but not too close . ZooTampa announced it will be opening with limited capacity on or about June 1. Since it’s mostly all outdoors, this is a great place to get outside while practicing social distancing. The Florida Aquarium and Clearwater Marine Aquarium are also welcoming a limited number of guests by reservation only to ensure your ability to safely practice social distancing. JUNE 2020 TampaBayParenting.com

Photo: Howie Mac Photo

SIX: Go by Boat!

COVER STORY

MOSI is reopening with an exciting new exhibit in partnership with the Space for Art Foundation and veteran NASA astronaut Nicole Stott. We wanted to learn more about the Tampa Bay mom who has made two spaceflights, one space walk and has spent 104 days living in space! It’s safe to say she’s out of this world and so is this new exhibit she’s helped bring to life.

New Exhibit at MOSI: Space for Art What inspired you to become an astronaut? Stott: I grew up in Clearwater. My grandparents on my dad’s side and parents moved to Florida from New York when I was about a year old. I went to Plumb and Palmetto Elementary schools and Oak Grove Middle School and graduated from Clearwater High in 1980. My parents shared what they loved with me and my two younger sisters. My mom was a nurse and is very creative – she sewed all of our clothes growing up! Since it was back in the ‘70s, she was creating hooked rugs and pottery and macramé and always involved us too. My dad was a businessman. He loved to build and f ly small airplanes. We grew up with airplanes being built in our garage and hanging out at Clearwater Airpark. I learned to love f lying out there and discovered that I wanted to know how things f ly. I earned my private pilot’s license through St Petersburg College’s (St Pete Jr College back then) Aviation Administration program, then went on to study aeronautical engineering at Embry Riddle Aeronautical

TampaBayParenting.com JUNE 2020

University in Daytona Beach. I moved away for school and work to West Palm Beach, Cocoa Beach, Huntington Beach, California, and Houston, Texas, but always with the intent of coming home to the Tampa Bay Area. After 20 years in Houston, we are so happy to be back! My husband is also in the space industry, in satellite telecommunications. My son–who I’m very pleased to say is learning how to f ly and loves SCUBA diving—is a junior in high school. Wanting to know how things f ly is what led me to wanting to know how rocket ships f ly and ultimately to wanting to work for NASA. I always thought (from the time I saw the Moon landing) that the astronaut job was really interesting, but it wasn’t until much later in life that I even considered it to be something other than a job that “only other special people” get to do. I almost doubted myself right out of picking up the pen to apply. I’m thankful to mentors for encouraging me.

You have seen the magnificent beauty of our planet from the best seat in the house. How has this changed your perspective on our planet, and what role does this play with your love of art? Stott:

I’m very thankful to have experienced the view of our planet from the very special vantage point of space. It’s a pretty complex thing to launch people on rockets safely to space, to live and work in space even for a short time and to return home safely—not to mention the science and work we’re doing in space that’s all about improving life on Earth and the peaceful and successful relationships we’ve established with our 15 partner countries on the International Space Station (ISS). [It’s] such a wonderful model for how we could be living peacefully and successfully as crew members here on Spaceship Earth. In all that complexity though, I came home with three very simple lessons in mind. We all know these things by the time we’re in elementary school, but for some reason most of us have let the significance of them drop out of consciousness in our lives. We live on a planet. We are all Earthlings. The only border that matters is the thin blue line of atmosphere that blankets and protects us all. I had the opportunity to paint with watercolors while I was in space, and since retiring from NASA, I want my artwork to be a way to share my spacef light experience with anyone who will listen, with the hope that they will incorporate them into their daily lives like I have. I think they are powerful lessons to consider in everything we do.

Let’s talk about the Space for Art Foundation. Stott: We are on a mission of Space, Art and Healing. We use large-scale community art projects to inspire and unite children in hospitals, refugee centers and schools around the world with each other and our interdisciplinary team of art, aerospace, astronaut and health professionals. Our first art spacesuit, Hope, was created in 2016. Since then we have created 8 different global community art projects (including five art spacesuits) and have worked with children in hospitals and refugee centers in over 45 different countries. These projects focus on the awe and wonder of space exploration and the connection between personal and planetary health, and raise awareness of our role as crew members, not just passengers, on Spaceship Earth. Our strategy is to facilitate and implement spacethemed art and healing programs; to award scholarships and grants to art students and artists who want to develop their own space-themed art therapy ideas; and to document our work in support of on-going research in the field of art and healing. Our current project is BEYOND. We are hopeful to have children participating from every country on the planet.

We are excited about the Space for Art exhibit at MOSI! What can families expect when we go? Stott:

We’re excited about it too! This will be the second large-scale exhibit that we’ve done. The first was held in 2016 at the Space Center Houston visitor complex. We are thrilled to have MOSI hosting this event. We’ll have a beautiful display of several of the different Space for Art projects and a Lunarscape and Earthrise experience, all surrounded by artwork and interactive experiences created by people you would normally think of as technical (e.g. astronauts, scientists, local engineers and science students). We want to present a story of how beautifully and meaningfully art and science come together. MOSI is the perfect place for Space for Art, as their permanent space and science collection and their makerspace activities are wonderfully complementary to the Space for Art mission. We hope that anyone who visits the exhibit will leave inspired by space exploration and the intersection between art and science. We hope they will find some awe and wonder through the creativity they experience and that they will leave feeling like crew members of Spaceship Earth.

Many families are discovering a new love for art after weeks at home due to the pandemic. Why do you think it’s important we introduce our children to art? Stott: I believe our children should be using their whole brains. We want our children to be creative problem solvers; that’s why we send them to school, to learn how to use their brains and talents to help make the world a better place and overcome challenges. Art helps us communicate really complex things—astrophysicists have been using false colored images from spacecraft like the Hubble Space Telescope for years. They color the images to understand the composition of the universe because our brains process the images much better than they do the 1’s and 0’s, and as a result we get some really pretty pictures too. I also think that art and the humanities and social studies are the best way for us to understand ourselves and each other, our cultures and history and our hopes for the future.

What are some of your favorite things to do in Tampa Bay as a family? Stott: Enjoying the outdoors – kayaking and boating on the intracoastal, walking our dogs on the beach (Fort De Soto), visiting museums and galleries, exploring what’s new in St. Pete, and eating at all of the amazing restaurants in the area.

Learn more: MOSI.org Spaceforartfoundation.org NicoleStott.com JUNE 2020 TampaBayParenting.com

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moms to KNOW By Julie Tingley, The KNOW Book + Tribe Director, KNOW Tampa and KNOW St. Pete | Clearwater

Lennise Germany | Livy O's

Photo credit: Howie Mac Photo

When life hands you lemons…well, you can make lemonade. Or you can do what Lennise Germany does and sprinkle them over shrimp in a Creole seafood pasta or prepare a homemade mojo citrus for roasted pork. As a thriving business in the event industry, Liv y O’s experienced a significant shift in the midst of a global healthcare and economic crisis, but the team did not falter. When parties cancelled and celebrations were postponed, Lennise pivoted her company to offering family-style meals for take-out and delivery. And when her son was diagnosed at the start of the shut-downs with rhabdomyosarcoma, she never withdrew from the helm of her family’s organization. Instead, she increased production to feed Tampa’s frontline workers, bringing joy and the best comfort food in the city to our healthcare professionals. If you don’t K NOW Lennise Germany, it’s not too late to support and follow one of the most beautiful souls I’ve come to love and adore.

Visit livyos.com L ennise ,

Why

We are a family-owned and operated entity that offers corporate and private catering, culinary club for kids and teens, and an intimate meeting and event space located in Brandon. Our business was founded in October 2014 by selling meals from the trunk of our car. After two years of selling meals, we received our first opportunity to cater for a Fortune 500 company and have been on the rise ever since. The name Liv y O’s derives from our children, our daughter Liv y (10), twins Olena and Obree (8), and son Omar (12). We are a blended family. Sons Jamaar (21) and Key (19) are also a large contribution to the grow th of our family business.

It’s important to us to give back simply because we’re supposed to. We are not takers in our community or in our everyday life. It is our due diligence to freely give, expecting nothing in return. In doing so, we will automatically receive in ways indescribable. Even when we feel we have nothing to give, we give our time, talents and treasures. To withhold those is a disservice to the grow th of our business and to ourselves.

tell us about yourself and your family business !

What

has the pandemic taught you about our community in Tampa

was it so important for you to give back ?

TampaBayParenting.com JUNE 2020

With

your eyes on the future , what ’ s next for you?

What’s next for us is expansion. COVID-19 and our son’s cancer diagnosis revealed that we were playing it safe. Our original vision was to have multiple locations and to become an everyday household brand. With this new found revolution we decided to no longer play it safe. The plan to expand has begun and we’re on our way!

What do you Tampa B ay ? Bay?

The pandemic has taught me that Tampa Bay is not a city that cracks under pressure! In addition to COVID-19, one of our children, Omar, was recently diagnosed with cancer and is currently undergoing chemotherapy. The fact that our community has not only supported our business but saw that we are a small business and a family in the midst of a crisis that needed support was overwhelming. There are no words to express our gratitude.

LEARN MORE about the KNOW books at theknowtribe.com

love about living in

We love living in the Tampa Bay area because it’s home. The phrase “home is where the heart is” is ever so true to Liv y O’s and The Germany Family. Our heart is imbedded in the Bay Area. Complete strangers are praying for our son. Customers know our children’s name. We’re natives of Tampa Bay and have seen its grow th and a glimpse of its future...there’s no money that moves us out of The Bay.

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Preventing the

SummerSlide

By Laura Cross, Hillsborough County Public Schools

The school year is over—thank goodness! eLearning has come to an end, for now at least. It’s time for summer, sun and relaxation. But wait… Have you heard of the Summer Slide? That’s the tendency for students to lose some of the gains they made during the previous school year. It makes sense. If you don’t practice, you’re not going to keep your skills up. It’s true in sports and it’s true in academics. And let’s be honest, our kids cannot stand to lose any of what they learned these past few months. That’s especially true this year, with the challenges of eLearning.

Here are a few facts about the Summer Slide: • The average child reads for only six hours over summer vacation.

• Children in low-income households fall behind an

average of two months in reading during the summer.

• Each new school year, teachers spend an average of four to six weeks re-teaching skills and content.

So, how do you prevent the Summer Slide? Read. Read, read, read. It’s the most important thing you and your child can do to prevent the Summer Slide. Optimally, they should be reading 20 minutes every day. It doesn’t always have to be a book. It can be a magazine, a comic book or a recipe. Just make sure they are reading. In this day of COVID-19, you may have to use your imagination a bit if you’re not comfortable visiting libraries. Have them Facetime a relative and read to them!

Cook with your kids. This is one of the best ways to integrate math, reading and following directions. For extra credit, double the recipe!

Take a field trip to a museum, zoo or local park (as long as you’re comfortable and can social distance). If not, there are plenty of virtual options. You can find some great ideas on the Resource Page of Hillsborough Schools’ website Hillsboroughschools.org.

Hillsborough County Public Schools' virtual summer curriculum also includes your middle and high schoolers with virtual classes to enhance their language arts, math, science and social studies. These can keep them on track to advance to the next grade level or to graduate.

Again, we all can use a break. We’ve been eLearning for months now and we’re exhausted. The thought of “teaching” our kids over the summer may make some of us curl up into a ball and cry. However, a few minutes of reading every day over the summer could make a HUGE difference in making sure our kids are on level and, in some cases, ahead of the game when it’s time for the new school year.

TampaBayParenting.com JUNE 2020

If your child needs help with reading and math, you can take advantage of Hillsborough County Public Schools' summer instructional Grab and Go Book Packs for students in Kindergarten through fourth grade. The packs will include a collection of books, supportive worksheets and a Family Guide to Literacy for milestones and fun activities at home. They will help to provide independent reading and practice to spark imagination and keep children on their path to becoming lifelong readers.

All 27 Hillsborough County High Schools Rank Top in the Country Award-Winning Hillsborough County Public Schools

Alonso High School Armwood High School Blake High School Bloomingdale High School Brandon High School Chamberlain High School Durant High School East Bay High School Freedom High School Gaither High School Hillsborough High School Jefferson High School King High School Lennard High School Leto High School Middleton High School Newsome High School Plant City High School Plant High School Riverview High School Robinson High School Sickles High School Spoto High School Steinbrenner High School Strawberry Crest High School Tampa Bay Tech High School Wharton High School

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Every one of our high school graduates is graduating from a nationally-ranked high school.

BEST HIGH SCHOOLS LIST

Congratulations go to our high school students, teachers, principals, and support staff! All 27 of Hillsborough Schoolsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; traditional high schools made the U.S. News and World Reportâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2020 Best High Schools Ranking! The rankings include data on more than 24,000 public high schools in 50 states and the District of Columbia. The schools were ranked on six factors based on their performance on state assessments and how well they prepare students for college. If your child is entering elementary, middle or high school, be sure to check out our School Choice Options to find out what types of programs are available to meet their interests and needs for an award-winning education at bitly.com/hillsboroughschooloptions Congratulations Graduates!

HillsboroughSchools.org

Keep learning during the summer! WEDU PBS is offering an At-Home Learning Summer Boost that includes educational TV programming on WEDU and free digital learning resources for students, educators and families in West Central Florida.

Visit wedu.org/edconnect to explore WEDUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s At-Home Learning resources. Proudly supported by

TampaBayParenting.com JUNE 2020

WEDU PBS

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provides at home learning By Paul Grove, WEDU PBS President and CEO

Are you as happy as I am that summer is almost here? My kids aren’t the only ones grousing, “Is it summer break yet?” If you’re any thing like our family, we’re still trying to navigate learning at home while battling the effects of cabin fever. I can’t help but wonder if I did enough to create some sort of consistent and effective classroom experience while also strategically trying to make summer plans that adhere to CDC guidelines that change on a daily basis. Life is more complicated than ever. I also want to ensure that our kids don’t become victims of the “summer slide.” According to the Hechinger Report, a national nonprofit newsroom that reports solely on education, it is expected that students may retain less than 50 percent of the school year learning gains. This year, it is more important than ever since most students will not have set foot in a classroom for six months by the time schools open again in the fall. Ultimately, this could put students almost a year behind in subjects like math by the time school is back in session. There are also many students in our area who do not have the resources at home that they have in the classroom. Summertime can exaggerate that challenge. Lack of at-home computers or internet service could make learning impossible in an at-home environment, but most homes do have a television.

With summer in sight, WEDU is still here for you and addressing the “summer slide” by providing a “summer boost” for students! WEDU PBS At-Home Learning, which launched March 23 in response to school closures, is not taking a summer vacation. Visit www.WEDU.org/EdConnect to find WEDU’s weekday television schedule of educational programs which are aligned to state standards. These programs are broken into blocks serving grades PK-3, 4-8, and 9-12 so you can tune in during a block tailored to your student’s grade level. For example, programs highlighting math skills for your third-grader are on at 7:30 a.m. with “Cyberchase,” and your eighth-grader can explore history at 9 a.m. with “History Detectives.” Beyond the dedicated on-air broadcast, WEDU is also providing free online services that highlight specific lessons, articles and other PreK-12 subjects on a rotating basis so you can take WEDU along wherever your summer vacation or staycation takes you. Of course, if I thought teaching our kids at home was tough, forcing educational moments during summer vacation could mean outright war with our kids. But thankfully summer learning doesn’t have to be as structured, or as daunting, as the regular at-home school year. That’s because WEDU At-Home Learning is full of play-based and exploratory learning experiences that are a perfect fit for our summer vacation state of mind. Despite all the challenges we’ve faced this school year, I do have to admit that one silver lining to at-home learning is that this #OldSchoolDad is getting more efficient at using today’s technology.

JUNE 2020 TampaBayParenting.com

Early Learning Hives =

LEARNING THROUGH PLAY By Allison Brazis, Photos provided by Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library

“Momma, look! Look momma, look!” Think of how many times your children have wanted your attention to show you something they built out of Legos or a funny costume they put together consisting of fairy wings and gardening gloves. Children love to create and express themselves through play, and do you know play is part of healthy development? Play stimulates children mentally and physically and teaches them language and literacy skills. Children learn about language through playing as the activities help them put thoughts into words and talk about what they are doing. Children develop cognitive and motor skills, mature emotionally and gain confidence during play. Often children become so absorbed in the world of their creation that it increases their ability to concentrate, problem solve and demonstrate f lexible thinking. Playing with others develops important social skills including communication, empathy and cooperation. When children play with other children, they learn how to share, take turns and make friends. Parents and caregivers who actively participate in play activities with their child are supporting their little one’s emotional development. A child’s sense of security and self-esteem increases during play time with a parent. Setting expectations such as picking up toys and following the rules also can be learned through play and helps the child prepare for school.

Elements of Play: Creative Spontaneous Unstructured/no end goals Active Chosen by the child Fun and enjoyable

The Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library has created designated spaces, called Early Learning Hives, for children from birth through age 6 to develop skills through play. These Early Learning Hives are a safe, dynamic and low-pressure environment for children to discover the world around them. Adults play an important role in early education, and these spaces include activities for children and adults to enjoy together. Furnished with age appropriate toys, puzzles and games, children are engaged and encouraged to explore from the moment they step or crawl through the door. Currently the New Tampa Regional Library and the Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library have Early Learning Hives, and plans are underway to add Early Learning Hives for the new Riverview Branch Library and SouthShore Regional Library. Each location features a variety of activities where children can learn colors, shapes, letters and numbers. Fine and gross motor skills can be developed as children play with blocks, trains and an assortment of sensory toys. The puppet theatres allow children to retell their favorite stories or make up new ones using their imagination. Areas for dramatic play where children can dress up like a fire fighter, police officer or veterinarian and pretend play with props are among the most popular activities in the Early Learning Hives. These Early Learning Hives are made possible through the generous support of the Unnasch family, the Friedman family, the Kazor family and the Friends of the Library of Tampa-Hillsborough County, Inc.

Read and play with the characters in these titles. BOOKLIST: https://bit.ly/35jyy7x LEAR N MOR E: https://hcplc.org/kids/early-learning-hive 34

TampaBayParenting.com JUNE 2020

VPK is FREE for ALL Florida 4-year olds. Your child must turn 4 by September 1st to be eligible. Please visit our Families page on www.phelc.org for VPK Registration on the Family Portal.

Early Learning Coalition of Pasco and Hernando Counties, Inc. Spring Hill Location: 15506 County Line Road Suite 104 Spring Hill, FL 34610 Phone: (727) 233-8291

Dade City Location: Dade City Business Center 15000 US Hwy 301 Dade City, FL 33523 Phone: (352) 834-0052

New Port Richey Location: 7334 Little Road, Suite 102 Courtside Commons New Port Richey, FL 34654 Phone: (727) 569-1004

JUNE 2020 TampaBayParenting.com