October 2019

tampabayparenting.com

OCTOBER 2019

50

FALL FESTIVALS AND HALLOWEE N EVENTS

MILES OF SMILES

WITH DR. FELDMAN OF BLUE WAVE ORTHODONTICS

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Mario and Tatiana Cruz with their daughter Analisse Cruz, 5, at Sesame Street® Safari of Fun at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.

GUIDE TO TAMPA BAY SCHOOLS OCTOBER 2019 TampaBayParenting.com

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TampaBayParenting.com OCTOBER 2019

Your Source for Exceptional Pediatric Care

With more than 200 pediatricians, pediatric specialists and family medicine physicians in Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas and Polk counties, care for your family is always nearby.

As the area’s premier pediatric providers, we will continue to help your children stay healthy, with a wide range of services, including: n Asthma management n Extended care: Weekend and holiday hours n Hospital newborn care

n Now accepting new patients. n Most major insurance plans are accepted.

For assistance with a referral: (855) 466-6686

n New baby care and separate well baby waiting room n Pediatric sick visits n Well child care

n Immunizations Find a pediatrician and make an appointment online: BMGKids.org 18-467309-0718

OCTOBER 2019 TampaBayParenting.com

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OCTOBER 2019 12/ Creating Miles of Smiles with Dr. Randy Feldman of Blue Wave Orthodontics 14/ Moms to KNOW Tampa Bay moms who are owning it in business 16/ Trick-or-Treat Style The secret to great family costumes 18/ Charlie and the Chocolate Factory A treat for the Straz Center in Tampa 23/ The Sweet Life Five Tampa Bay doughnut shops create tasty treats

Photo by Darlene Barlows Photography

COVER STORY

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BUSCH GARDENS SESAME STREET® SAFARI OF FUN KIDS' WEEKENDS Celebrate the season with your favorite Sesame Street® characters

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E D U C ATI O N G U I D E

27-55

find the perfect school

30/ Mindfulness in the Classroom How Corbett Prep in Tampa makes it work in the classroom 49/ Bust that Bully Hillsborough County Schools and students are working together to prevent bullying 50/ Explore and Energize Through STEM Learning Learn how Shorecrest Prep in St. Petersburg incorporates STEM into the classroom 52/ Generalizaton The key to successful learning 55/ Frightfully Good Books Spooky stories for all ages 57/ Scare Safely 12 Halloween safety tips from Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital 62/ Safety on the Street Eight tips for bicycle and pedestrian safety every parent needs to know 64/ UnMonsters™ at Glazer St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital exhibit opens at the Glazer Children’s Museum 66/ Technology and Your Kids How to thoughtfully incorporate technology into your child’s life

S PE C I A L S E C TI O N BEGINNING ON PAGE 73

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50 pumpkin patches, fall festivals and haunted houses Six pages of the best spots to find your chills and thrills in Tampa Bay this Halloween.

TampaBayParenting.com OCTOBER 2019

EVERY ISSUE 10 // NOTEWORTHY OCTOBER PEOPLE AND PLACES TO GET EXCITED ABOUT! 69 // GET OUT AND ENJOY OCTOBER OUR FAVORITE FAMILY-FRIENDLY EVENTS 84 // WHAT'S TRENDING ON TAMPABAYPARENTING.COM

OCTOBER 2019 TampaBayParenting.com

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GUEST EDITOR Dr. Randy Feldman CREATIVE DIRECTOR AND EDITORIAL MANAGER Laura Byrne ASSOCIATE EDITOR Anu Varma Panchal EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Sarah Stoulil CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Dr. Randy Feldman Anu Varma Panchal Laura Byrne Chloe Boehm Holly Lindberg Julie Tingley Kate White Cassady Watson Maggie Rodriguez Courtney Cairns Pastor Laura Cross Rachel Martin Barrett Jessica Stoppiello Pastorino, MA BCB Dr. Rachel Dawkins Tara Payor, Ph.D. Heather DeManche Katelyn Schur CALENDAR Sarah Stoulil Jori Ayers ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Ralf Gonzalez Craig Collins LAYOUT & DESIGN Nicole Barolo of Page Four Creative CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Darlene Barlows Photography Jessica Fredericks Photography Christina Jones Photography Joan Marcus

IF YOU GET AN EARLY START,

DR. RANDY FELDMAN

your kids should have a healthy smile with straight white teeth by the beginning of high school.

Raising my family in Tampa over the past 37 years after moving here from Columbus, Ohio, in 1982 has provided lots of challenges as well as opportunities and excitement!

We see this growth right in our office as all sorts of new families come to Kids Smiles Pediatric Dentistry and Blue Wave Orthodontics. We’ve led them through innovations in the industry, such as teaching parents to start their kids early at the dentist. With a first visit to the pediatric dentist at age 2 and early to the orthodontist by age 7, you will be able to lower the costs and learn all you need to get the kids through the elementary, tween and early teen dental years. If you get an early start, your kids should have a great healthy smile with straight white teeth by the beginning of high school. I know—I have been there with all three of my children.

Tampa sure has seen many changes in education, transportation, construction, health care and military presence. One of the most recognizable changes really started when University of South Florida president Judy Genshaft worked to make USF part of the Big East sports conference. More Northeasterners started taking greater notice of USF and University of Tampa as well as what Tampa Bay has to offer in education, culture and lifestyle. During the economic reversal of 20082013, our region not only survived, but prospered, thanks to the arrival of civic luminaries such as Jeff Vinik, the Tampa Bay Lighting and Strategic Properties.

Tampa is now really on the map with building cranes everywhere and projects like Sparkman Wharf, Mid-Town and Armature works that demonstrate our abundant growth and progress.

Our city is now on the fast track to become the very best place in the United States to raise a family

Dr. Randy Feldman

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

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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TampaBayParenting.com OCTOBER 2019

(From left) Feldman's niece, Ivy; brother-inlaw Jason; sister-in-law, Shellie; Feldman's son, Dalton; wife, Kelly, and Feldman.

loving care, 365 days a year

family benefits Most Insurance and Medicaid Accepted 24-Hour Nurse Line Online Appointments and Bill Pay Same-Day Sick Appointments

cONVENIENTLY LOCATED NEAR YOU! RIVERVIEW 813-689-7571

11260 Sullivan Street Riverview, FL 33578

TRINITY

727-376-4040 www.PediatricAssociates.com

10710 State Road 54 Suite 108 Trinity, FL 34655 OCTOBER 2019 TampaBayParenting.com

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Meet our contributors

thank you advertisers and sponsors

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

ANU VARMA PANCHAL Anu Varma Panchal has

Kate White is the Director of

written and edited for area

Marketing and Communications at

publications for nearly 20

the Glazer Children's Museum. She

years. She’s ac­t ive on her

believes that play matters and is

children’s PTA boards, loves

passionate about educating Tampa

theatre, concerts, the local

Bay on the benefits of playing with

brewery scene and travel,

purpose. She and her husband

and spends way too much

have two wonderful daughters who

time schlepping her 11 and 14-year-olds around in her minivan. She never leaves home without her library card. You can find her at youreditingsolutions.com.

COURTNEY CAIRNS PASTOR

JULIE TINGLEY Julie Tingley is an 8-year Tampa transplant who has found her way through numerous professional and parenting transitions by maintaining focus on her daily inspirations: Ella, 5, and Kate, 2.

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.

HEATHER DEMANCHE

love that their mommy works at the

KATE WHITE

children's museum!

Heather DeManche is a fourth generation Tampanian and a graduate of the University of Tampa. She worked in news for ten years, from WFLA In Tampa to C-SPAN in Washington, DC. She left the fast paced news environment for an even crazier beast, taking on the role of domestic engineer after having her second child.

She now spends her days

MAGGIE RODRIGUEZ

JENNIFER HODGES

and nights planning fun and

Maggie Rodriguez is a former

Jennifer Hodges is the

educational outings in and

network news anchor who

Supervisory Librarian in

around the Tampa Bay area to

now lives in South Tampa with

Community Engagement

Courtney Cairns Pastor

keep her three boys busy and

her husband and their two

for Tampa-Hillsborough

is the communications

out of trouble.

children. She is best known

County Public Library. She

as the host of the nationally-

lives in Land O' Lakes with

coordinator for Corbett Prep, a PreK3-8th grade

Nicole Barolo is the print designer

televised morning news

her husband James, a web

school in North Tampa.

for Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine.

program, The Early Show on

application developer, and

Previously she covered

She owns boutique design studio

CBS, as well as a substitute

her three children. Jennifer

parenting, features and

Page Four Creative. Prior to

anchor on The CBS Evening

and her family love theatre/

education for The Tampa

starting her own design business,

News with Katie Couric. Since

Broadway, listening to

Tribune.

she spent nearly 10 years helping

relocating to Tampa Bay,

audiobooks and singing all

local schools create and publish

Rodriguez has been busy

20,520 words to "Hamilton:

yearbooks. She and her husband

rekindling her love for writing,

An American Musical."

share their home with an 8-year-

volunteering and enjoying

old ninja-in-training, a 10-year-old

weekend adventures.

NICOLE BAROLO

drummer and a Boston terrier

Story idea?

Are you a local blogger or writer? If you have a content idea or a story to tell, email us. editor@tbparenting.com

named Porter.

DR. RACHEL DAWKINS Dr. Rachel Dawkins is medical director of the Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine Clinics in the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Department of Pediatric Medicine, seeing patients in St. Petersburg, Florida. She is active nationally with the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Board of Pediatrics. Her research and teaching interests are in childhood resilience,

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advocacy, resident education and obesity.

TampaBayParenting.com OCTOBER 2019

OCTOBER 2019 TampaBayParenting.com

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[ noteworthy ]

october Don't miss this NEW THRILLS COMING

WHILE YOU'RE OUT AND ABOUT

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay will add its

Stroller cover by Petit Coulou

10th roller coaster in the spring! When Iron

Don’t worry about those pesky

Gwazi opens this spring, it will be the

mosquitoes on Halloween night

world’s fastest and steepest hybrid coaster

or any day of the week with this

and America’s tallest.

stroller cover designed for hot summer days and nights. The

Adventure

semi-rigid rods provide support for

Island will

this cover that not only protects

open its 10th water slide this spring.

baby against bugs,

Solar Vortex will be the first ever

harmful UV rays

aqualescents to interact with the Florida sunlight. The family-

CASCADIAN FARM FOOD FOR GOOD TRUCK IS HERE IN TAMPA BAY

with an UPF

friendly slide can take 2-4 passengers per raft.

See if you can catch the

dual tail spin slide incorporating

but also from

Cascadian Farm truck while it

of 50+. Prices start at $49.99

SeaWorld Orlando is also going big with

visits Tampa Bay. Visit the truck

petitcoulou.com

thrills! Ice Breaker, a four-launch coaster

for free samples of their new

featuring a 93-foot tall spike up, will open in

gluten-free cereal, fruit-infused

the Wild Arctic area of the park early next

granola bars and much more!

year.

facebook.com/pg/ CascadianFarm/events

CORBETT PREP ALUM ON THE SILVER SCREEN

Hurricane DORIAN RELIEF EFFORTS

Corbett Prep alum, Ryan Foust, is going from Broadway to the silver screen, starring as Nicole Kidman's son in the recent film, "The Goldfinch."

He got his big break playing

SCHOOLS PREPARED TO HELP

By Laura Cross

Hillsborough County Public Schools

LEGOL AND FLORIDA COLLECTS DONATIONS

By Chloe Boehm

the relief and recovery efforts

LEGOLAND Florida offered

of those directly impacted by

a deeply discounted $25

Hurricane Dorian. In addition,

Charlie in the Broadway production

teachers and staff aren’t just here for

single-day theme park ticket for

LEGOLAND Florida Resort

of "Charlie and The Chocolate

the students; they’re here for our entire

one weekend only with $10 of

served as a collection point for

Factory" in 2017. This is the same

community.

each ticket to be donated to the

4,500 pounds of items including

American Red Cross.

nonperishable goods, water,

year he appeared on our March

On the Friday before Labor Day

cover! He now lives in New York City

weekend, many stayed late to prepare

with his family where he continues

their classrooms to act as shelters—not

to pursue his acting career.

just for us locally, but in case people from the east coast had to evacuate.

Every desk was moved against a wall, supplies were stored in cabinets and sweet messages were written on whiteboards, welcoming evacuees.

When Dorian took the sharp turn, many of the same staff came in to make sure

toiletries, baby products, radios,

collection of $126,760 to support

batteries, candles and bedding.

BABYCYCLE GATHERS GOODIES FOR FA MILIES IN THE BAHA MAS

By Holly Lindberg

Babycycle is a nonprofit organization that serves the Tampa Bay Area through various partner agencies and is the only diaper bank in South Pinellas County.

our schools would be ready the next day

Recently, Babycycle gathered and distributed diapers and wipes

and our students could immediately get

to the Bahamas in the wake of Hurricane Dorian's devastation. The

back to learning!

organization has managed to get donated items to even the interior

Thank you for all you do!

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The special offer resulted in the

islands that have been difficult to access by boat and plane.Babycycle continues to collect donations for disaster relief for as long as it is

TampaBayParenting.com OCTOBER 2019

needed. More at Babycycle.org

Call 2-1-1. Your Gateway to Help, Hope, and Healing!

• Confidential, emotional support

• Developmental screenings & assistance

• Child care & youth services

• Counseling for emotional trauma

• Medical & dental resources

• Help with food, clothing & shelter Funded by:

OCTOBER 2019 TampaBayParenting.com 11 One Crisis Center Plaza • Tampa, Florida 33613 • (813) 964-1964 | www.crisiscenter.com

GUEST EDITOR

By Dr. Randy Feldman

creating miles

of smiles

TampaBayParenting.com OCTOBER 2019

istock.com/seamartini

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T

hank you, Tampa Bay Parenting, for the opportunity to pen this piece on today’s orthodontic practice in general, and our regional locations of Blue Wave Orthodontics and Kids Smiles Pediatric Dentistry. Our locations throughout Tampa Bay, Wesley Chapel, St. Petersburg and Health Park East in Bradenton provide the highest level of care and experience for you and your children.

Whether your children need fillings or a thorough cleaning, or if you and/or your children require braces or Invisalign, Blue Wave Orthodontics and Kids Smiles Pediatric Dentistry has the experience and expertise to make it a fun, fast, easy and affordable process. We explain everything as we go, and we love to teach. That is what sets us apart: We are constantly learning and teaching, as we all STILL love what we do.

Our senior doctors have over 100 years of experience! Dr. Jackson has 42 years, Dr. Feldman has 37 years, Dr. McDowell has 31 years and Dr. Sierra, 25 years! Our newer doctors have been with us over several years, and if you add their experience to the mix,

our amazing and award-winning staff boasts almost 400+ years of experience collectively!

All of this is to make sure that you and your family not only attain the most excellent results, but also the most amazing dental experience.

Our pediatric dentists are extremely well trained, highly skilled and have the latest equipment for decay detection, decay prevention and all the necessary information and knowledge to make sure your little one starts off with great dental health. Around 2 years old or when baby's second molars erupt is the best time to see a Kids Smiles dentist.

Recommendations about fluoride, diet and ways to prevent tooth decay can be explained to ensure a future of excellent oral health.

If your child has more involved issues, our Kids Smiles Pediatric Dental Care Team can see those kids either as a hospital inpatient or even day-op if required. Not only are the Kids Smiles Team the very best at knowing, they are the very best at caring—and people do not care how much you know, until they know how much you care! We are truly blessed to have the very best of both at Kids Smiles Pediatric Dentistry.

Once your children are closer to 6 years of age, or when their 6-year molars erupt, that will be the time when issues of dental crowding, oral habits and jaw discrepancies arise.

This is the perfect time for our FREE orthodontic checkup (no later than age 7) to check for missing adult teeth, cross bites, open bites, thumb or finger habits, airway and/or allergy issues, speech problems, tongue thrusts, transposed teeth or any jaw growth discrepancy problems. Our Blue Wave Orthodontic Teams are extremely well versed in education and prevention as well as early intervention.

Often, early treatment of kids ages 7-10 years can avoid expensive and more involved orthodontic braces in the adolescent years. Adult tooth extractions and even jaw surgery can be avoided if the child is brought in early enough to see the orthodontic specialist. Many problems can be more easily and effectively handled with early treatment, especially growth disturbances like an underor over-developed lower jaw.

Our orthodontic teams have the experience and knowledge to

1 After 37 years, Dr. Feldman still practices personal hands-on care.

2 Dr. Feldman specializes in helping patients who were told they were "not a candidate" other places.

3 Dr. Feldman and his treatment coordinator review Invisalign treatment plans.

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treat more extensive craniofacial anomalies such as cleft lip and palate, Cruzon’s, Apert’s, Treacher-Collins and a myriad of other facial birth defects. Drs. Sierra and Feldman have over 65 years of experience as craniofacial specialists at St. Pete’s All Children’s Hospital/Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Adults can come to us too! If you weren’t the best in wearing your retainers and have some crowding and relapse, or if you have always wanted the perfect, beautiful, heathy smile, come see us. Our staff has treated more than 7,000 patients with Invisalign. With proper experience and treatment, Invisalign is a wonderful alternative to braces, and in the right specialist’s hands can be very fast efficient and cost effective, creating

a beautiful new smile in as little as 12 months. No metal, no pain, all gain!

So, if you want the best, then let Blue Wave Orthodontics, the most experienced orthodontic providers in the Tampa Bay area, provide you with a free new patient appointment for a free orthodontic evaluation (new patients only). Come see what Blue Wave can do for you!

LEARN MORE KidsSmiles.com BlueWaveOrtho.com Look Good. Do Good. Feel Good.

OCTOBER 2019 TampaBayParenting.com

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moms

to KNOW

two women focused on lifting others through beauty and fashion

By Julie Tingley, KNOW Tampa and KNOW St. Pete/Clearwater

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he mission of the KNOW Book + Tribe is simple: women empowering women, promoting collaboration over competition. The mantra is straightforward: “lift and rise.”

There aren’t many “rules” when it comes to building the community, but one is a non-negotiable: No mean girls allowed.

While the women that have joined the movement from across Tampa Bay, the United States and Canada represent diverse backgrounds and different industries, one common sentiment builds solidarity: Individually, we are strong,

but together, we are better. The women of KNOW St Pete | Clearwater and KNOW Tampa lead with this vision. My favorite example comes with the exciting launch of BAE Beauty Bar in St. Pete, a beauty sanctuary established with the everyday woman in mind. A second unique concept launch for Youfit founder Christy Stross (with partners Jessica Spencer and Rose Johnson), and a second location for established boutique owner Rachel Mazzuco, BAE represents a perfect collaboration of two business owners that embody the mission of KNOW to encourage the rise of women in the Bay.

Christy Stross

Rachel Mazzuco

BAE BEAUTY BAR | YOUFIT

HADEN REID If being an entrepreneur, attorney, wife and mother has taught Christy Stross anything, it is how to maximize her time by outsourcing what she can. As one of the masterminds behind the chain of 120 fitness clubs across 15 states, Stross struggled to find salons offering both hair and makeup services to help transform her jet-lagged self into the puttogether persona she strove to project. This void in the industry along with her empathy for the maxed-out “everywoman” inspired her to team up with partners and launch BAE Beauty Bar: an innovative hair and makeup “escape” and beauty sanctuary that invites its BAEs to hand over their primping to the professionals.

While the blow-dry bar concept might read familiar, BAE’s makeup team is not. They specialize in any look from first-date-fresh to red-carpet-ready. Beauty memberships are designed to show that pampered doesn’t have to be pretentious, and “just because” is a legit reason to treat yourself to a smoky eye.

Image by Jessica Fredericks Photography

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TampaBayParenting.com OCTOBER 2019

Image by Christina Jones Photography

Owner and buyer Rachel Mazzuco founded haden reid in 2008 as an online boutique.

Named after two of her sons, the store opened its first brick-and-mortar doors in South Tampa in the fall of 2013. Six years later, Mazzuco opened her second location in St. Petersburg inside the same space that BAE Beauty Bar occupies.

Mazzuco joined the fashion industry for her love of fashion and to offer what’s now, next and not likely to be found anywhere else.

Each season she travels to be inspired by contemporary collections from seasoned to emerging designers, and hand-selects each piece that hangs in haden reid.

LEARN MORE about the KNOW books at theknowtribe.com

GROWING TOGETHER

A NEW Pediatric ER for your family’s emergencies!

Tailored exclusively for young patients, the Pediatric Center at Brandon Regional Hospital provides advanced pediatric care for kids of all ages.

As your family grows, our Pediatric Center experts are here for you:

All NEW Pediatric ER with dedicated entrance and family areas Advanced Pediatric Inpatient and Intensive Care Units Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) NICU and Pediatric Surgical Care from All Children’s Specialty Physicians

For more information on the Pediatric Center, or to find a pediatric specialist for your child call (813) 653-1065.

OCTOBER 2019 TampaBayParenting.com

119 Oakfield Drive I Brandon, Florida

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Trick-or-treat style THE SECRET TO A GREAT FAMILY COSTUME

H

By Kate White, Glazer Children's Museum

alloween is one of my all-time favorite family holidays! With two young kids at home, I start planning our ensemble costume months in advance.

I enjoy the creativity and imagination it takes to consider every detail and coordinate costumes that complement each other. This year, my daughters have requested a “pirate fairy” theme, so I have my work cut out for me! While I love making our costumes, I also love seeing what others dream up. I’m lucky to work at the Glazer Children’s Museum where I get to witness some of the best family ensemble costumes at our annual Halloween Spree. As I plan for this year, I have been asking myself what makes a great ensemble costume. Here are the elements that tie together some of the best family costumes I’ve seen:

MAKE SURE THE KIDS ARE THE STARS! Sorry parents, but your role is to be

an accessory that enhances your little ones’ costumes. The best example that I’ve seen is a kid dressed as President Obama with his parents as secret service agents.

pumpkin coach, a velociraptor cage or a race car, the wagon or stroller can enhance your group costume. And you’ll be glad you have it when your kids get tired of walking six blocks from home during trick-or-treating.

INCLUDE THE BUMP! I love it when pregnant moms embrace their bumps at Halloween. I’ve seen baby bumps dressed as Slimer from "Ghostbusters," the Death Star from "Star Wars," and Mike Wazowski from "Monsters, Inc." to name a few. Just because baby isn’t on the outside yet, doesn’t mean your littlest family member shouldn’t have a big job this Halloween!

ENJOY THE BABY PHASE WHILE IT LASTS. When your kids are really little,

you can opt for sarcastic or ironic costumes to make other grownups laugh! My favorite was a "Game of Thrones" theme with dad as Khal Drogo, the kids as dragons, and mom as Daenerys Targaryen, Mother of Dragons.

Embrace this phase while you can because as they get older, you better believe they will have their own ideas.

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TampaBayParenting.com OCTOBER 2019

birthday party photo hopefully

DON’T FORGET THE PETS. If your

pets are into it, they can really bring the whole theme together. My favorite examples are Sven from "Frozen," Willy Wonka, Sebastian from "The Little Mermaid" and Yoshi from Mario Brothers. In a city that is so pet-friendly, I can’t wait to see the creative pet costumes on the Tampa Riverwalk this year!

The most important ingredient to a great family ensemble costume is a little silliness. Don’t take it too seriously and don’t worry about being too literal. Just have fun with it. I hope to see what you come up with at Halloween Spree at the Glazer Children’s Museum on Oct. 26! Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m on a mission to find a pair of fairy wings and some pirate hats.

Photo s courtesy Glazer Childrens Museum

INCORPORATE THE STROLLER OR WAGON. Whether it becomes Cinderella’s

HALLOWEEN SPREE

O CTO B E R 2 6 4 - 8 PM $5 Admission | Members Free Bring your little ghouls and goblins to GCM for the ultimate Halloween Party with safe, indoor trick-or-treating, spooky experiments, creepy crafts, costume parades, and more!

SPONSORED BY

PLUS A

SENSORY-FRIENDLY HALLOWEEN SPREE

O CTO B E R 2 7 1 0 A M - 1 PM $5 Admission | Members Free Join GCM’s Sensory-Friendly Halloween Spree, where children with special needs and their families can explore the Museum and all of our Halloween programs with lights and sounds turned down and sensory adapted tools.

Open 7 Days a Week 110 W Gasparilla Plaza 33602 Downtown Tampa GlazerMuseum.org

OCTOBER 2019 TampaBayParenting.com

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for Tampa's Stage

By Straz Center for the Performing Arts

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oald Dahl’s amazing tale is now Tampa Bay’s golden ticket! It’s the perfect recipe for a delectable treat: songs from the original film, including “Pure Imagination,” “The Candy Man” and “I’ve Got a Golden Ticket,” alongside a toe-tapping and ear-tickling new score from the songwriters of “Hairspray.”

Willy Wonka is opening his marvelous and mysterious chocolate factory ... to a lucky few. That includes Charlie Bucket, whose bland life is about to burst with color and confection beyond his wildest dreams. He and four other golden ticket winners will embark on a mesmerizing joyride through a world of pure imagination. Now’s your chance to experience the wonders of Wonka like never before. Get ready for Oompa-Loompas, incredible inventions, the great glass elevator and more, more, more at this everlasting showstopper.

Show runs Oct. 8-13. For tickets: strazcenter.org Both Photos by Joan Marcus

The cast of Roald Dahl’s "Charlie And The Chocolate Factory."

Henry Boshart as Charlie Bucket.

Roald Dahl’s "Charlie And The Chocolate Factory."

THINK YOU'VE GOT THE GOLDEN TICKET? TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF WILLY WONKA WITH THIS QUIZ.

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What song does Willy Wonka sing in the Chocolate Room?

TampaBayParenting.com OCTOBER 2019

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What does Violet Beauregarde turn into while finishing her chewing gum meal?

Which of the following is not a Golden Ticket winner?

A. Violet Beauregarde B. Veruca Salt C. Mike Teavee D. Matilda Wormwood

What happens to Augustus Gloop in the Chocolate Room?

A. He falls in love with Veruca B. He falls prey to the Oompa Loompas C. He falls into the Chocolate River D. He finds nothing to eat

istock.com/moonery

Which member of the Bucket family accompanies Charlie to Wonka’s Factory?

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What are the little people who work in the chocolate factory called?

ANSWERS 1 Charlie (Bucket) 2 Oompa-Loompas 3 A blueberry 4 Grandpa Joe 5 “Pure Imagination” 6 C. He falls into the Chocolate River. 7 D. Matilda Wormwood

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What is the name of the last Golden Ticket winner?

OCTOBER 2019 TampaBayParenting.com

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COVER STORY

Each weekend is organized around a theme featuring special characters.

MONSTERS & FAIRIES OCT. 5 & 6

Kick off fall by becoming a monster or fairy during the event’s opening weekend. Enjoy crafts that will transform your little ones into a magical fairy like Abby Cadabby or a loveable monster like Elmo.

SPOOKY SAFARI OCT. 12 & 13

Join the search for spooky animals on a fun scavenger hunt throughout Sesame Street® Safari of Fun. Guests can meet Bert and Ernie, encounter animal ambassadors and make safari-inspired Halloween crafts.

SUPER GROVER - OCT. 19 & 20

Channel your inner superhero while exploring unique superhero-inspired crafts and character encounters led by Super Grover himself.

Photo by Darlene Barlows Photography

ROSITA’S HALLOWEEN FIESTA OCT. 26 & 27

LEARN MORE ABOUT SESAME STREET® SAFARI OF FUN KIDS' WEEKENDS AT BUSCHGARDENS.COM/TAMPA.

more treats S than tricks SESAME STREET® SAFARI OF FUN KIDS’ WEEKENDS RETURNS TO BUSCH GARDENS.

By Cassady Watson, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

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TampaBayParenting.com OCTOBER 2019

esame Street® Safari of Fun Kids’ Weekends is back! Kids of all ages can celebrate Halloween with family fun for everyone. On Saturdays and Sundays from Oct. 5-27, enjoy hands-on activities, trickor-treating, a hay maze and more. Fan-favorite characters such as Elmo, Abby Cadabby and Cookie Monster will be dressed in their Halloween best and ready to participate in dance parties and meet-and-greets. Just like their Sesame Street® friends, kids of all ages can dress in their favorite costumes.

Celebrate Rosita and her heritage during the event’s final weekend. Join in creating festive maracas and dancing during the fiesta while meeting Rosita and her friends.

Be sure to check out the popular live The Not-Too-Spooky Howl-O-Ween Radio Show exclusively during the fall season. Count-Von-Count serves as the master of “scaremonies” as he leads his pals through some of his favorite tunes. With help from his Sesame Street friends—Abby Cadabby, Cookie Monster, Zoe, Grover, Oscar and Elmo— The Count produces a not-too-spooky Halloween show that features song and dance numbers that get everyone involved! This spooky spectacular takes place at the Sunny Day Theater, with performance times varying each day.

Don’t forget, the best way to play all year is with a Busch Gardens Annual Pass. Not yet a Pass Member? Join today to get special benefits and offers all year long. Passes start at less than $11 a month.

OCTOBER 2019 TampaBayParenting.com

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World Leader in Advanced Spine Surgery

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TAMPA BAY

Photo Courtesy Little Donut House

the life

Story and Pictures By Maggie Rodriguez

W

e set out to find Tampa Bay’s best doughnuts. And boy, did we! But something else happened, too. With every decadent bite at each doughnut shop, similar stories began to emerge—stories of risk and reward, passion and perseverance. It became clear that the more involved and invested the shop owner, the better the doughnut. They say that success tastes sweeter the harder you work for it. In this case, that’s definitely true.

istock.com/VikiVector

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NICOLA'S DONUTS IN NORTH TAMPA

Diane Rosario never liked doughnuts.

“I would always get that lardy taste in my mouth,” she says of the “commercial” doughnuts she remembers eating throughout her life. That changed the day she walked into Nicola’s Donuts as a customer and tasted her first handmade doughnuts. “I couldn’t believe the difference.” Two years later, she owns Nicola’s and makes the kind of doughnuts that turned her from detractor to devotee, from critic to connoisseur. It was a turn Rosario never expected, but after teaching kindergarten for 22 years, she decided she was ready to try something new. “The

5 TAMPA BAY DOUGHNUT SHOPS CREATE TASTY TREATS

opportunity to buy Nicola’s became available and I took it,” she says of her life-changing decision a year ago. “Everything was a learning curve— from making doughnuts to creating recipes to handling commercial clients.” Rosario enlisted the help of her nephew, a culinary-trained chef, and quickly mastered the trade. She spends most nights at the shop singing karaoke with her team of four and making doughnuts from scratch, including original creations like Oreo-fried and guava-filled, until the morning hours.

Business is thriving, but she says the best reward is the reaction from customers: “People always say, ‘I can taste the love.’”

Rosario behind the counter at Nicola's Donuts OCTOBER 2019 TampaBayParenting.com

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sweet life

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HOLE IN ONE DONUTS IN NORTH TAMPA

His doughnut shop may be called “Hole In One,” but An Pum definitely wasn’t that lucky when he first opened his doors for business. “The first day, we had $151.00 in sales. That doesn’t even cover raw materials. The slowest day, we had $12.59,” he remembers of the rough start 15 years ago. When his landlord raised the rent, the Cambodian immigrant

An Pum and family at Hole In One Donuts

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LITTLE DONUT HOUSE IN SOUTH TAMPA

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aunt who ran a bakery in Plant City, Pum personally makes the doughnuts every day— beginning at 2 a.m. and continuing long past opening time at 5 a.m. On the morning we visit, he is still bringing out fresh trays of their popular “cronuts” at 10 a.m. and greeting long-time customers by name. A customer of 13 years reassures him that she will remain loyal because, “You are a friend, and you make the best doughnuts.”

Little Donut House

FRAY'S DONUT HOUSE IN PINELLAS PARK

Tim Siev grew up in a doughnut shop in California. His parents were the owners. His uncle was the baker. And Siev was the curious kid who observed, memorized and absorbed the intricacies of doughnut-making. After working as a baker for 31 years in Lake Tahoe, he decided to leave the snow for yearround sun and open his own shop in Pinellas Park. “I bought this place from Mr. Bill Fray as soon as I moved here 10 years ago,” Tim tells us during our recent visit. Working alongside his wife, they have built a fruitful business with a loyal following.

“People come from Tampa and as far as Palm Harbor to buy our doughnuts, especially the apple fritters and honey-dipped,” he says with pride. Tim makes all the doughnuts himself and his wife “controls the quality” of the breakfast sandwiches, which are just as popular. He says he owes his success to hard work and meticulous attention to detail. “I even take the weather into consideration when making my doughnuts. If it’s too hot, I add ice to control the yeast.”

TampaBayParenting.com OCTOBER 2019

Tim Siev with his wife and daughter at Fray's Donut House

Dough

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DOUGH IN SOUTH TAMPA

Because fresh, delicious doughnuts should be available from the early morning until late at night, there is Dough. Located on the side of busy South MacDill Avenue in South Tampa, the popular spot has been a local favorite since 2012. Owners Suzanne and Roger Perry started making desserts in-house at their first restaurant, Datz. They quickly found that the kitchen wasn’t big enough, so they purchased the bakery next door and reimagined it as a late-night spot where Datz customers could go for dessert. Dough was born, and customers began pouring in throughout the day. During our lunchtime visit, we sample the three top-sellers: creme brûlée, maple bacon and stuffed birthday cake— which tastes like Neapolitan ice cream. We can see why the team at Dough describes their doughnuts as “sweet, round masterclasses in delight.” They pride themselves in their product, which they bake onsite overnight, every night. But they don’t take all the credit, insisting that “some of our most popular seasonal doughnuts have been suggested by our customers.”

istock.com/VikiVector

Do you ever dream of leaving your 9-to-5 office job behind and diving into something completely new and exciting? Stephen Schab didn’t just dream it. He did it. A CPA sick of the corporate world, he walked away from the rat race and opened Little Donut House. “I just fell in love with the idea,” he says. But like most dreams, making Schab’s a reality was not easy. “The store was an empty shell. I designed the place on Excel, worked with the city and the contractors. I had to learn how to fry doughnuts, do toppings.” Finally opening his doors two years ago, Stephen faced a rough nine months before things started to pick up.

Now, his doughnuts are a hit: tiny works of art which he exhibits and describes with pride. Like a father who insists he loves all his children equally, he refuses to name a favorite, but concedes that the maple bacon is the “hands-down best-seller.”

Having mastered doughnuts, Stephen has now added food to the menu and is planning to change the name of the shop to “Take Three Café.”

Looking back, he says he’s glad he took the gamble. It taught him that “perseverance wins.”

Hole In One Donuts

decided to close up shop and give up on his American dream. But a storefront for rent at a busy corner caught his eye and he decided to give it one more try. His luck changed immediately. “We made $759.18 at that grand opening,” Pum exclaims. Business has been booming ever since, and it’s become a family affair.

Pum’s wife, brother, nephew and cousins are all on the payroll. Having learned the art of doughnut-making from an

Jake Owen

Fireworks

Pig Jig Market + Silent Auction

Food + Drink

BBQ Competition

JOIN US FOR THE 9TH ANNUAL TAMPA PIG JIG ON THE RIVER

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COME JOIN OUR

DAY OF DISCOVERY!

FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WITH SENSORY AND OTHER DISABILITIES

ry – senso dly frien

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12 AT MOSI 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. | Exhibits MOSI is excited to host Day of Discovery. A sensory – friendly Trick or Treat event! We will set up a low stress environment of lights and sounds and invite guests to trick or treat throughout the museum. The event will allow children to enjoy some treats that are organic, gluten free and dye free.

FREE FOR MOSI MEMBERS!!

Non-Members – Only $5.00 before event and $8.00 on day of event Purchase tickets at mosi.org!

MOSI is an autism-friendly venue as designated by CARD through the University of South Florida.

I S O M 4 26 80 1 E A S T FOCTOBER O W L2019 E R AV E • TA M P A • 8 1 3 - 9 8 7 - 6 0 0 0 • M O S I . O R G TampaBayParenting.com

guide to TAMPA BAY'S BEST SCHOOLS WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TO MAKE THE BEST CHOICE FOR YOUR CHILD

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The Tampa Bay area is lucky to have such a wealth of incredible private, charter and magnet education options.

However, the thought of sifting through options to find the best fit for your child can be daunting. We've put together The Guide to Tampa Bay Schools to serve as a starting point as you delve deeper into what these schools have to offer. We hope it helps you make the best education decisions for your family.

OCTOBER 2019 TampaBayParenting.com

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Program Profiles From total French immersion to Montessori learning and Amazonian exploration, take your child's learning beyond the ordinary with these exciting, enriching and even entertaining programs from local schools.

Academy at the Lakes At the Academy at the Lakes, everything is done with intention, every step of the way from 3 years old to high school graduation. The school offers excellence in academics, athletics, fine arts and college acceptances, but more importantly, the students are prepped for life.

Inside the beautiful campus, they grow into interesting, compassionate humans within a warm environment full of opportunities and experiences provided by an outstanding faculty and a unique culture.

Layered into the stellar academics of the school are 10 signature programs that create a rare learning environment: Public Speaking, AP Capstone, Medical Seminar, Moffitt Cancer Center Partnership, Environmental Science, Amazon Adventure and Internship, Dale Carnegie Leadership Training, Student

Retreats, Extended Trips and a House System.

Academy at the Lakes students are expected to graduate with the skills to become inspiring leaders who embrace opportunities and challenges with poise and self-confidence. They think critically and creatively to seek solutions and develop new ideas. They can balance passion and responsibility in order to achieve individual growth and success, all while creating and nurturing meaningful relationships with respect, empathy and joy.

Points of pride include a student-to-teacher ratio of 7.5 to 1 and four State Championships in the past two years.

However, the most important sign of success begins and ends with the expectation with which families enter the school: “You matter here.” ACADEMYATTHELAKES.ORG

Berkeley Preparatory School The educational journey at Berkeley is truly extraordinary, with a focus on developing strong character, promoting innovation and growth and desiring excellence. The Berkeley student can choose from an expansive list of AP courses, more than 100 extracurricular activities, a comprehensive Global Scholars program, the Berkeley Academy and a robust community service initiative that results in more than 30,000 service hours a year.

Berkeley’s mission states: "Berkeley puts people in the world who make a positive difference,” and every aspect of a student’s day is dedicated to that goal.

The exceptional and diverse community of learners follows personalized paths. Students relish the supportive, nurturing culture, the school’s Episcopal identity, its ongoing commitment to continual self-

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TampaBayParenting.com OCTOBER 2019

improvement, and a deeply authentic dedication to making a positive difference in the world.

Berkeley is equally distinguished by a close-knit community where students of every talent are welcomed and celebrated in a uniquely positive learning environment on a beautiful campus.

Surrounded by opportunity, encouraged by one another, Berkeley students feel empowered to pursue their passions and reach their full potential.

Berkeley parents share a common bond in wanting an exceptional education for their children. The Parents’ Club allows parents to strengthen that bond with each other, with students, and with faculty and staff, elevating the experience of the whole family through a deeper connection with the entire Berkeley community. BERKELEYPREP.ORG

The French American School of Tampa Bay At this unique language immersion school, students ages 3-7 learn all their subjects in French, with their young brains learning the language first by listening and understanding, then speaking with authentic accents that they pick up by mimicking the French native-speaking teachers. By age 8, an English language class is added so that by 5th grade, students are able to speak, understand, read and write equally in both French and English.

Language acquisition is the primary focus of the school, but an equally key component is the robust French national curriculum, adapted to prepare students to transition to American schools. A strong focus on the arts helps students develop lifetime skills with Suzuki violin or piano lessons and the Music Together™ in-school program. The belief is that music, like language, is most effectively learned at a young age.

In its second year of existence, the school is modeled on the successful 19-year track record of L'Ecole Française du Maine, the founders’ first venture.

Parents receive regular in-person and newsletter communications and have ample opportunity to get to know each other through events and field trips. In addition to a thoroughly renovated campus and small class sizes, students can take advantage of financial assistance, including Florida Scholarship programs for grades K and up, administered by Step Up for Students and AAA Scholarships, as well as a limited amount of school financial aid.

Learning a second language at a young age teaches children that there is more than one way to look at an issue or solve a problem. Young minds learn a global perspective, which develops a sense of empathy and openness to differences, qualities that will serve FASTB students well throughout their lives. FASTB.ORG

Palm Harbor Montessori Academy At Palm Harbor Montessori Academy, families will find an environment uniquely tailored to facilitate each child’s individual learning. Following the Montessori philosophy and curriculum, each classroom has different grade levels with different ages. Teachers approach each student individually at their developmental level and continue to help them to grow. Classrooms feel like homes. Rather than sitting at rows of desks, students can work on the couch, the floor and other homelike areas.

A particular point of pride for Palm Harbor Montessori Academy is the Secondary Leadership Academy. The popular program has grown from

eight to 21 students in seventh through ninth grades.

The rigorous preparation students receive here has helped them thrive at exceptional high schools as well.

Parents whose children enter this school understand that their commitment is reciprocated in equal measure by the faculty and staff, who strive to follow through with their vision to create a loving community. When new students come to Palm Harbor, they are met with kindness by the existing students, and when children graduate from this school, they leave firmly entrenched in a mindset of respect and kindness. PALMHARBORMONTESSORI.COM

St. John's Episcopal Parish Day School In Central Florida’s oldest Episcopal school, students ages 4 through eighth grade are engaged in a transformative, values-driven educational experience designed to inspire wonder, develop character and build leadership skills essential to flourishing in the 21st century.

With a vigorous core curriculum that cultivates independent thinking, creativity, empathy and a passion for learning, St. John’s prepares each student for lifelong intellectual and spiritual growth. St. John’s student-centered, whole-child approach to educating children prepares the students for high school and beyond. Students are expected to leave EDUCATION DIRECTORY | SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

here with impressive character and citizenship, along with leadership skills that will help them thrive today and into the future.

Involved families usually “join” a school alongside their children; when a family joins St. John’s, they can expect to become part of a community in which the school-parent partnership is encouraged in the raising of their children. St John’s welcomes families into a joyful environment of passion, commitment, optimism, positive energy, respect and an ongoing desire for thoughtful change and excellence.

STJOHNSEAGLES.ORG

OCTOBER 2019 TampaBayParenting.com

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SPONSORED

MINDFULNESS MATTERS IN THE CLASSROOM Corbett kindergarten students sit and concentrate on their breathing and being still.

By Courtney Cairns Pastor, Corbett Prep

Q

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TampaBayParenting.com OCTOBER 2019

The calm in the classroom is temporary, but the results can last a long time. Researchers have found evidence that mindfulness can change your brain.

MINDFULNESS MATTERS

STUDENTS FOCUS BETTER, IMPROVE THEIR BEHAVIOR, INCREASE EMPATHY TOWARD OTHERS AND STRENGTHEN THEIR ABILITY TO REGULATE THEIR EMOTIONS.

Mindfulness is a type of focused attention that increases awareness of the present moment without judgment.

In 2011, Harvard researchers discovered that the brain’s structure changed after eight weeks of a mindfulness stressreduction program.

The Harvard team found that certain regions of the brain that control empathy and emotion regulation

HOW TO START

Anyone can practice mindfulness. PreK3 students at Corbett Prep learn to sit quietly and breathe just as well as their older middle school schoolmates. Start with a short time focusing on your breath and gradually increase how long you sit. Corbett Prep teachers tell students to breathe normally but pay closer attention to how their bodies feel. Distractions are normal, and students learn to acknowledge them and let them go.

You can also be mindful while you’re moving around. Mindfulness involves staying focused on the present, and adults and children can practice mindfulness while taking a walk and soaking in all the sensations around them. You can mindfully eat your lunch. Parents can even pass time in the car pickup line with mindfulness.

It’s more than a break from busy days. It’s a boost for your brain.

Image courtesy Corbett Prep

uiet settles across the classroom as Corbett Prep kindergartners prepare for a moment of mindfulness.

Sitting on the floor with teachers, students close their eyes and pick an anchor spot – placing their hands in front of their faces to feel their breath or on their chests or bellies to notice them rise and fall.

For a couple of minutes, everyone is still. Then, teachers softly encourage the students to wiggle their fingers and toes, listen to the sounds around them and think about how they feel as they gradually open their eyes.

“My breath is warm,” a girl confides.

“I feel calm,” one little boy says.

Mindfulness has entered the mainstream in schools, workplaces and at home as people gain understanding of its many benefits.

thickened. Meanwhile, brain cell volume decreased in the amygdala, the area of the brain that controls our “fight or flight” response to stress and the tension and anxiety we feel in those situations.

But mindfulness research goes back decades. The Contentment Foundation, which developed a researchbased wellbeing curriculum for schools, points to more than 50 years of studies on the practice.

Studies have shown that mindfulness in schools can help students focus better, improve their behavior, increase empathy toward others and strengthen their ability to regulate their emotions. For adults, a regular mindfulness practice can reduce stress, stave off burnout and improve memory.

Corbett Prep worked with the Contentment Foundation to pilot its wellbeing curriculum, known as the Four Pillars of Wellbeing. A nonprofit organization, the Contentment Foundation is made up of a team of international experts from many different disciplines, including educators and researchers from top universities such as Yale and the University of California, Berkeley.

The Four Pillars offers schools tools to STUDIES HAVE cultivate wellbeing, starting with mindfulness.

SHOWN THAT Corbett Prep tested the curriculum in 2016, MINDFULNESS providing feedback and recommending changes.

IN SCHOOLS Now the school is an international model school CAN HELP for the program, available to train others.

PreK3-8th Grade

ADMISSIONS OPEN HOUSE Nov. 14 ~ 8:30 a.m.

RSVP - (813) 961-3087 www.corbettprep.com

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OCTOBER 2019 TampaBayParenting.com

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THE TAMPABayArea's BAY AREA’S ONLY SCHOOL DEDICATED The Tampa only school dedicated to TO GIFTED AND ADVANCED LEARNERS Gifted and Advanced Learners.

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•Discussion-based, with emphasis on critical & creative thinking• •Discussion-based, with emphasis on critical & creative thinking• •Discussion-based, with emphasis on critical & creative thinking• •Stress-free setting on a beautiful five acre, non-institutional lakefront campus•

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TampaBayParenting.com OCTOBER 2019

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EDUCATION DIRECTORY | SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

find the perfect school FOR YOUR CHILD

ACADEMY AT THE LAKES 2331 Collier Parkway, Land O’ Lakes 34639 813-909-7919; academyatthelakes.org Academy at the Lakes is a PreK3–12 independent school located in North Tampa offering everything you’d expect from an exceptional private school: excellence in academics, athletics, fine arts and college acceptances. Our students are prepped for life. Everything we do is done with intention, every step of the way from 3 years old through high school graduation. enrollment: 450 class size: 7.5 to 1 grades: PreK3-12 tuition range: $11,930-$24,520 ACADEMY OF THE HOLY NAMES 3319 Bayshore Blvd., Tampa 33629 813-839-5371; holynamestpa.org The Academy of the Holy Names empowers students to be authentic individuals who engage in independent thought, are inspired by creativity and lead culturally aware, spiritually rich lives. Our innovative approach to curriculum integrates technology, encourages artistic expression and actively engages students in exploration and inquiry. enrollment: 970 class size: varies grades: Pre-K to 8 Coed, tuition range: $12,640 (Pre-K) to

$19,930 (High school)

9-12 all girl

ADMIRAL FARRAGUT ACADEMY 501 Park St. N., St. Petersburg 33710 727-384-5500; farragut.org Admiral Farragut Academy is a co-ed, private PreK-12 school that offers boarding for grades 8-12. Farragut offers more than just an education—it’s an experience, a journey, a launch point for life. The student body represents an average of 32 countries and 17 U.S. states.

Signature programs include aviation, marine science, scuba, sailing, engineering, NJROTC and leadership. Summer day and boarding camps also offered. enrollment: 510 class size: 18 grades: PreK3-12 tuition range: $13,000-$25,000 (day)

$43,000-$51,000 (boarding)

ALEGRIA MONTESSORI SCHOOL 5995 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. S., St. Petersburg 33705 727-310-8243; alegriamontessori.com Alegria Montessori School is an authentic Montessori program that creates a rich learning environment and supports individual development. We are also a bilingual program, with students receiving Spanish instruction throughout the week from native Spanish speakers. We offer a true Montessori education through middle school. Come discover the joy of Montessori. enrollment: 140 class size: varies grades: 12 months tuition range: varies by grade -grade 8 AVANT GARDE ACADEMY OF WESTCHASE 13901 Sheldon Road, Tampa 33626 813-551-2144; agawestchase.org Avant Garde Academy of Westchase is developing tomorrow’s leaders by providing critical thinking and problem-solving project-based learning through an integrated curriculum. With a growing elective program, passionate educators and exceptionally supportive and involved PTO, every student matters in the AGA family. enrollment: 422 class size: 18 grades: K-8 tuition range: free BAYSHORE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 3909 S. MacDill Ave., Tampa 33611 813-839-4297; bayshorechristianschool.org Bayshore Christian School is a college preparatory, accredited, non-denominational Christian school serving students 2 years old through 12th grade. Founded in 1971, Bayshore Christian School is located on 10 acres in residential South Tampa. BCS provides athletics and fine arts opportunities in addition to a rigorous and challenging academic curriculum. enrollment: 220 class size: 10 to 1 grades: PreK2 - 12 tuition range: $8,600-$10,495

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TampaBayParenting.com OCTOBER 2019

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OCTOBER 2019 TampaBayParenting.com

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EDUCATION DIRECTORY | SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION BERKELEY PREPARATORY SCHOOL 4811 Kelly Road, Tampa 33615 813-885-1673; berkeleyprep.org Berkeley Preparatory School presents a safe, nurturing environment featuring inspiring teaching, engaged parents and alumni, and outstanding resources, including incomparable facilities on a beautiful campus. We offer an exceedingly broad curricular and extracurricular program for an exceptional and diverse community of learners following personalized paths. enrollment: 1,380 class size: 20 grades: PreK-12 tuition range: $17,910-$26,730 BISHOP MCLAUGHLIN CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL 13651 Hays Road, Spring Hill 34610 727-857-2600; bmchs.com Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School provides a Christ-centered education that nurtures the development of the whole person. Bishop has a 100% graduation rate and a 100% college-acceptance rate. We are the number one college-prep, private high school in Pasco County and offer a wide variety of class options, sports and extracurricular activities. enrollment: 323 class size: 20-25 grades: 9-12 tuition range: $11,700-$13,200 BRANDON ACADEMY 801 Limona Road, Brandon 33510 813-689-1952; brandon-academy.com Brandon Academy is a nationally-recognized, college preparatory Blue Ribbon school, the only one in Eastern Hillsborough County fully accredited by the Florida Council of Independent Schools (FCIS) and the Florida Kindergarten Council (FKC). Our motto, “A Community of Respect,” is apparent in our students and faculty inside and beyond the classroom. enrollment: 270 class size: 25 grades: PreK3-12 tuition range: $6,000- $11,800

CALVARY CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL 110 N. McMullen Booth Road, Clearwater 33759 727-449-2247; cchs.us Calvary offers an advanced college preparatory education in an environment where students are taught a Christian worldview with the Word of God being integrated into each subject. Calvary also offers many extra-curricular activities for your child including athletics, fine arts, SGA, clubs, leadership opportunities and more! Come for a visit today! enrollment: 660 class size: 13 to 1 grades: 9-12 tuition range: $13,500 plus fees CANTERBURY SCHOOL OF FLORIDA (PreK3-grade 4) 1200 Snell Isle Blvd. NE, St. Petersburg 33704 (Grades 5-12) 990 62nd Ave. NE, St. Petersburg 33702 727-525-1419; canterburyflorida.org Canterbury School of Florida is a private, co-ed, college preparatory school on two campuses in St. Petersburg serving ages 3 through grade 12. Founded in 1968, Canterbury School of Florida educates and nurtures the whole child in mind, body and spirit in preparation for college and an honorable life as a responsible steward of our world. enrollment: 430 class size: 15 grades: PreK3-12 tuition range: $5,750-$21,300 CARROLLWOOD DAY SCHOOL 1515 W. Bearss Ave., Tampa 33613 813-920-2288; carrollwooddayschool.org Carrollwood Day School is a world class co-ed IB school in Tampa for college-bound students age 2 through 12th grade. CDS fosters the development of the entire student not only in academics, but also ethically, emotionally and through social experience. Our goal is to help students discover and develop their own talents and interests and use these to better the world. enrollment: 1,008 class size: varies grades: PreK-12 tuition range: $6,000-$23,000

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CENTER ACADEMY 6710 86th Ave. N., Pinellas Park 33782 727-541-5716; centeracademy.com Founded in 1968 and AdvancED accredited, Center Academy provides a small, safe setting to help students to focus, organize and learn. We work with students in grades 4-12 with ADHD and learning differences and accept McKay, Gardiner and Tax Credit Scholarships.

Dual enrolment and summer programs are available. enrollment: 90 class size: 18 grades: 4-12 tuition range: $12,680-$15,180 uniforms arts financial aid TampaBayParenting.com OCTOBER 2019 KEY

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ANYTIME ADMISSIONS THE BCS DIFFERENCE Personal Attention - With our small class sizes, you can be sure your child is getting the attention they need to succeed.

Academic Excellence - It doesn’t take a BIG private school to help students achieve. Our graduates prove this with their 4.4 GPA average and the millions of dollars in scholarships they have earned.

Values Based Education - We’re an interdenominational Christian School, and that informs every part of what we do.

ANYTIME ADMISSIONS We understand you may need to change your child’s school mid-year in order to create the best life possible. Whether it is

Christian Values, Small Class Sizes and Academic Excellence That’s what the parents of Bayshore Christian School love best about their school. Our students find a warm and supportive environment with teachers they love, fine arts and athletic opportunities, and the Christian values they live at home are reflected in the people around them. And as one young mid-year transfer student said, "Here, I feel like I’m learning much more. The teachers care about me."

Our family has found a perfect home for our kids. We are still in the elementary division but our boys love their teachers. The parent-teacher relationships we've built are remarkable and the sta f creates an environment that is positive and Christian. It's "cool" to be smart and the whole student is appreciated.

The arts program is phenomenal and BCS athletics department is amazing too. This is the best kept secret in South Tampa. With all the great choices in our town, we still didn't hesitate to choose BCS.

due to a recent move to Tampa, or simply a need for a different school, the Anytime Admissions program at BCS is designed to

My husband and I are very happy and our kids are even happier. They like school and love their teachers.

Families are from all over Tampa, and there’s a heavy military presence. Hidden gem in south Tampa.

help families like yours. If your child needs a new school now, we’re ready to help.

Accredited - (Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI); Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS and AdvancED); Florida Council of Independent Schools (FCIS); and Florida Kindergarten Council (FKC).

SCHEDULE YOUR CAMPUS TOUR NOW calendly.com/bcstampa (813) 839-4297 40

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3909 South MacDill Avenue Tampa, FL 33611 bayshorechristianschool.org

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION CHARTER SCHOOL ASSOCIATES, INC. Multiple Locations 954-414-5767; charterschoolassociates.com Tuition-Free public charter schools offering Cambridge Advanced Studies, a STEAM enriched curriculum, and project-based learning. With schools throughout Florida, there are currently 10 locations in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties serving VPK and grades K-12.

Visit CharterSchoolAssociates.com for a complete listing of schools.

CHRIST THE KING CATHOLIC SCHOOL 3809 W. Morrison Ave., Tampa 33629 813-876-8770; cks-school.org Christ the King Catholic School offers an academically challenging Pre-K through 8th grade curriculum in a nurturing, Christ-centered environment. Our outstanding faculty, joyful campus and enriching academics provide our students with a strong foundation of skills, compassion and confidence to excel at the area’s leading high schools. enrollment: 524 class size: 25 grades: PreK4-8 tuition range: $7,950-$9,600 COMMUNITY MONTESSORI SCHOOL Toddler & Primary Campus, 4930 Webb Road, Tampa 33615; 813-886-2050 Elementary & Middle Campus, 8411 Civic Road, Tampa 33615; 813-886-3969 communitymontessori.org Community Montessori School provides a prepared environment that responds to the developmental needs of the child and cultivates the unique potential of each individual by adhering to Montessori principles. CMS is a warm, secure community with a high expectation for the quality of thought, work and mastery of content and skill. enrollment: 133 class size: 25 grades: 18 mo.tuition range: $6,880-$10,350 15 years CORBETT PREPARATORY SCHOOL OF IDS 12015 Orange Grove Drive, Tampa 33618 813-961-3087; corbettprep.com Founded ​51 years ago, Corbett Prep offers the International Baccalaureate curriculum for all students. Teachers use research-based strategies to create hands-on learning experiences.

Visual and performing arts, team sports, and social-emotional learning curriculum align to develop confident, creative, innovative thinkers with character ready to contribute to the world in a meaningful, positive way. enrollment: 539 class size: varies grades: PreK3-8 tuition range: $12,500-$17,020 ELITE SCHOLAR ACADEMY 3626 Henderson Blvd., Tampa 33609 813-382-6106; elitescholaracademy.com Elite Scholar Academy is a boutique private school in South Tampa offering an exclusive educational experience. A limited number of K4-12th grade Scholars are individually guided to critically think and reach their full academic potential in a true private setting. enrollment: 10-40 class size: 1-6 grades: PreK4-12 tuition range: $12,000-$29,000

THE FRENCH AMERICAN SCHOOL OF TAMPA BAY 2100 62nd Ave. N., St. Petersburg 33702 727-800-2159; fastb.org The French American School of Tampa Bay offers a multicultural educational experience that is unique to our region. French is the language of instruction and children learn the language in context, becoming bilingual naturally. Contact us to schedule a visit and explore the gift of language for your child. Merci! enrollment: 40 class size: 15 grades: PreK3-8 tuition range: $6,500-$13,500 GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH & SCHOOL 4301 16th St. N., St. Petersburg 33703 727-527-6213; glsfl.org We offer a Christ-centered exceptional education where parents are our partners in their child’s education. Grace teachers and staff provide rigorous and relevant learning.

21st Century skills, Spanish, performing arts, AVID and sports are key features of our school.

It’s always a great day to be a Wildcat! enrollment: 250 class size: 20 grades: PreK-8 tuition range: varies KEY

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EDUCATION DIRECTORY | SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC SCHOOL 250 78th Ave. NE, St. Petersburg 33702 727-526-8194; holyfamilycatholicschool.com Holy Family Catholic School is a faith-based school located in Northeast St. Petersburg.

We offer a data-driven, rigorous curriculum that is infused with the values of the Catholic church. We serve children ages 1 to grade 8, and strive to nurture the whole child, mind, body and soul. enrollment: 287 class size: 30 or grades: PreK-8 tuition range: $6,000 -$7,000 less HOLY TRINITY LUTHERAN SCHOOL 3712 W El. Prado Blvd., Tampa, 33629 813-839-0665; htlstampa.org Holy Trinity Lutheran School is a co-educational school located in the heart of South Tampa. Founded in 1958, HTLS offers an enriching and rewarding academic education in a loving and safe Christian environment. Our mission is to provide Christ-centered academic excellence and care for the whole child that equips them for lifelong learning and service. enrollment: 191 class size: 16 grades: PreK-5 tuition range: $5,950 INCARNATION CATHOLIC SCHOOL 5111 Webb Road, Tampa 33615 813-884-4502; ICStampa.org Incarnation Catholic School has been making a world of difference in the lives of students in PreK-3 through 8th grade by providing a challenging, personalized and quality education based in faith and joy. We invite you to tour our campus to see firsthand what over 50 years of tradition has built. enrollment: 227 class size: varies grades: PreK3-8 tuition range: varies LAND O’ LAKES CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 5105 School Road, Land O’ Lakes 34638 813-995-9040; lolcs.org A Christ-honoring atmosphere for preschool through high school, LOLCS trains students to develop and grow spiritually, intellectually, socially and physically. We offer a fully accredited, balanced program that emphasizes spiritual life, challenging academics for college preparation, and opportunities for students to explore their interests and talents in fine arts and athletics. enrollment: 378 class size:20 grades: PreK3-12 tuition range: $1,940-$6,950 LCC DAY SCHOOL 4400 Chancellor St. NE, St. Petersburg 33703 727-552-8331; lccdayschool.com LCC Day School is a partnership of school, church and families, inspiring superior academic performance while instilling leadership, responsibility and values in a nurturing environment.

Our mission is to meet the changing needs of our students as they develop their God-given potential from early childhood through adolescence.

PreK $3,786-$5,549 enrollment: 532 class size: 8-17 grades: PreK-8 tuition range: Elementary-Middle $10,073-$11,910

LEE ACADEMY FOR GIFTED EDUCATION 3001 Lee Academy Court, Tampa 33614 813-931-3316; leegiftedacademy.com Lee Academy offers a unique experience for advanced, motivated learners Pre-K through 12th grade. Set on five acres of lakefront property, Lee Academy offers a flexible program that encourages reflective and creative thinking, problem solving, critical evaluation and opportunity to pursue special interests. Call to schedule a personal tour. enrollment: 80 class size: 8-10 grades: PreK-12 tuition range: $11,600-$12,750 LLT ACADEMY 6771 Madison Ave., Tampa 33619 813-234-0940; lltacademy.com Leading the way in Tampa since 2005, Literacy Leadership Technology Academy is an independent, not-for-profit, K-8 charter school. The mission of LLT is to empower a community of life-long learners to lead the way in literacy, leadership and technology. LLT Academy has excelled through innovation and commitment. enrollment: 630 class size: 15 to 1 grades: K-8 tuition range: free

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FREE DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENINGS AND NAVIGATION OF RESOURCES AND COMMUNITY SERVICES Visit; www.asqonline.com/family/02cfdc or call 813-466-4462

AN OUTSTANDING

PRIVATE SCHOOL EXPERIENCE

FOR STUDENTS IN P re K-12 TH GRADE www.farragut.org DAY & BOARDING SCUBA | AVIATION MARINE SCIENCE SAILING ENGINEERING LEADERSHIP NAVAL JR. ROTC OCTOBER 2019 TampaBayParenting.com

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EDUCATION DIRECTORY | SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION MATHNASIUM Multiple Locations in Tampa Bay 877-601-MATH; mathnasium.com Mathnasium is your neighborhood math-only learning center that teaches kids math the way that makes sense to them. Our specially-trained math instructors utilize our proprietary teaching materials and techniques. We pinpoint your child’s learning needs, meet them where they are, and take them where they need to go. The results are transformative – kids will see measurable changes in attitude, confidence and school progress.

MIRACLES SCHOOLS 15830 Greenglen Lane, Shady Hills, FL 34610 727-858-5909; miraclesschools.com Miracles Schools believes that every student deserves the opportunity to learn in the capacity that best meets their needs. We strive to achieve excellence to ensure that every student will achieve their maximum potential in school and in life. Voted People's Choice Best of The Best for 2019. enrollment: 22 class size: 1:1 grades: K-12 tuition range: $7,500-$25,000 NORTH TAMPA CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 5585 E. County Line Road, Wesley Chapel 33544 813-991-0801; northtampaca.com New, contemporary 23-acre campus that provides a safe, secure Christian learning environment. North Tampa Christian Academy fosters an educational program where student engagement meets real-world problem solving. We combine technology with cooperative, hands-on learning while encouraging students to reach their full potential. enrollment: 295 class size: varies grades: K-12 tuition range: $12,500-$16,250 NORTH TAMPA CHRISTIAN EXPLORERS PRESCHOOL 5585 E. County Line Road, Wesley Chapel 33544 813-991-0820; northtampaca.com/preschool We support young children as they develop skills of exploring, choosing, creating and solving for God’s glory. Children are challenged to stretch themselves and persevere as they make sense of the world around them. Our safe and secure facility is nature inspired, diverse and family oriented. Located at North Tampa Christian Academy. enrollment: 135 class size: varies grades: 12 months - tuition range: $115-390 per month PreK ODESSA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 19521 Michigan Ave., Odessa 33556 813-792-1825; odessachristianschool.org Superior learning starts with authentic experiences cultivated through high expectations and yields world changers for Christ. Via a blended learning model that includes direct instruction, hard copy components, online resources and tools and collaborative projects, OCS students truly own their learning and love it! enrollment: 75 class size: varies grades: K-12 tuition range: $9,900-$10,100 PAIDEIA CLASSICAL CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 7834 N. 56th St., Tampa 33617 813-988-7700; paideiatampa.com Paideia Classical Christian School is a community of parents and teachers who share a commitment for educating children to love learning and grow in godliness. We are intentional about developing passionate disciples, exceptional scholars and virtuous citizens. As a nationally accredited, classical school we employ time-proven curriculum and methods of education which teach students not primarily what to think, but how to think: thoroughly, maturely and biblically. enrollment: 113 class size: 10 grades: K-12 tuition range: $7,745-$8,487

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PALM HARBOR MONTESSORI ACADEMY 2355 Nebraska Ave., Palm Harbor 34683 727-786-1854; palmharbormontessori.com Our mission is to nurture the potential of the whole child and cultivate the growth of a diverse, international community. We provide a respectful and peaceful Montessori environment that promotes academic excellence. Our child-centric Montessori approach provides students with an individualized education that fosters spontaneous learning opportunities. enrollment: 234 class size: 18 grades: 12 months-8 tuition range: $6,300-$14,000 uniforms arts financial aid TampaBayParenting.com OCTOBER 2019 KEY

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19_BP_004_2019_09.14_TampaBayParenting_7.75x4.75_BRONSON_CHLOE_AD_v1_jm_PRESS.pdf

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9/3/19

4:35 PM

BRONSON AND CHLOE CLASS OF 2031

T HE P O S S IBIL I T IE S

B E R K E L E Y P R E P. O R G / O P E NH O U S E

An Independent Episcopal Day School for Boys and Girls in Pre-K to Grade 12

FALL ADMISSIONS OPEN HOUSES: GRADES 6 TO 12: NOV 3 | PRE-K TO GRADE 5: NOV 5 | BERKELEYPREP.ORG/OPENHOUSE

For young children immersed in a second language, becoming bilingual is virtually effortless.

We Don’t Teach French, We Teach IN French.

Accepting Applications Today: Pre-K through Grade 8 All Are Welcome At Our October Events:

Open Houses: October 16, 5-7pm and October 17, 8:45-10:45am Family Craft & Crêpe Day: October 26, 10am-12:30pm

52511985542

2100 62nd Avenue North, St. Petersburg, FL 33702 | 727-800-2159 | www.FASTB.org OCTOBER 2019 TampaBayParenting.com

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Engaging, Holistic, Authentic We offer the highest quality Montessori education experience which develops well-rounded students, with a focus on independence, courtesy and respect.

• Individualized academic program, addressing specific needs and goals.

• More than 33 years of experience providing high quality, authentic Montessori education.

• Five spacious acres of beautiful, secure indoor and outdoor environments with a pool.

• Incredibly engaged parent and volunteer community.

We can’t wait to show you what makes our school special.

Schedule your tour today!

Palm Harbor Montessori Academy 2355 Nebraska Avenue Palm Harbor, FL 34683

727-786-1854

PalmHarborMontessori.com Serving Students Ages 12 months - 15 years.

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION PATEL CONSERVATORY 1010 N. W.C. MacInnes Place, Tampa 33602 813-222-1040; patelconservatory.org At the Patel Conservatory, every student deserves the opportunity to discover their creative potential. Our programs provide training in dance, theater and music. Camps and classes vary by length, age and skill level. Patel Conservatory classes require active learning participation by students and result in a performance. enrollment: 1,000 class size: varies grades: all ages tuition range: varies by program PEPIN ACADEMIES Campus locations in Tampa, Riverview and New Port Richey pepinacademies.com Pepin Academies are non-profit, tuition-free, public charter schools serving students with learning and learning-related disabilities in grades 3-12 and offering a transitional job training program for young adults ages 18 to 22. Our mission is to empower students with learning disabilities to maximize their potential in a positive therapeutic educational environment. enrollment: 1,000+ class size: 12:2 grades: 3-12 tuition range: free SHORECREST PREPARATORY SCHOOL 5101 1st St., NE, St. Petersburg 33703 727-522-2111; shorecrest.org Founded in 1923, Shorecrest is a coed, nonsectarian, PK3-12 independent school in St. Petersburg. In a safe, student-centered environment, Shorecrest educates a diverse community of students to become lifelong learners in the pursuit of personal and academic excellence, physical well-being, creative achievement and the development of a commitment to social responsibility. enrollment: 1,017 class size: 15 grades: PreK3-12 tuition range: $10,900-25,800 ST. JOHN'S EPISCOPAL PARISH DAY SCHOOL 240 S. Plant Ave., Tampa 33606 813-840-4200; stjohnseagles.org St. John’s provides students in grades K(4) through 8 with a transformative, values-driven education that develops character and builds leadership skills. St. John's honors tradition and fosters innovation through vigorous academic programming that cultivates independent thinking, creativity and a passion for learning, preparing students for lifelong intellectual and spiritual growth. enrollment: 508 class size: 20 grades: PreK4-8 tuition range: $13,080-$14,070 ST. MARY'S EPISCOPAL DAY SCHOOL 2101 S. Hubert Ave., Tampa, 33629 813-258-5508; smeds.org St. Mary’s Episcopal Day School provides challenging academics, performing and visual arts, competitive athletics, technology, public speaking, foreign language, global studies, community service, religious education and more. St. Mary’s highly-qualified PreK-8 faculty inspires students to achieve their best, developing well-rounded individuals ready for the challenges ahead. enrollment: 445 class size: 22 grades: PreK-8 tuition range: $14,900 THE VANGUARD SCHOOL 22000 U.S. Highway 27, Lake Wales, 33859 863-676-6091; vanguardschool.org The Vanguard School is a co-educational boarding and day school for students in grades 6-12. Vanguard specializes in educating students who experience academic learning challenges in an environment that works with academic strategies, executive functioning, social skills, celebrates student strengths and assists in transitioning into higher educational opportunities and independent living. enrollment: 120 class size: 6-10 grades: 6-12 tuition range: $25,500-$49,000 WESTLAKE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 1551 Belcher Road, Palm Harbor, 34683 727-781-3808; westlakechristianschool.org Westlake Christian School, a National Blue Ribbon School, is accredited by the Florida Council of Independent Schools and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools/AdvancED. Our mission is to help students develop in their faith, academics, fine arts and athletics. Serving students from northern Pinellas, southern Pasco, Trinity, Westchase and surrounding areas. enrollment: 425 class size: 1 to 18 grades: K-8 tuition range: $8,950 to $9,275 KEY

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Award-Winning Hillsborough County Public Schools

#1 Elementary Magnet School in the USA

MacFarlane Park

Magnet Schools of America has honored Tampa’s own MacFarlane Park as the best.

MacFarlane Park is one of more than 50 tuition-free school options available from Hillsborough Schools.

Join us at the School Choice Expo on November 1 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Florida State Fairgrounds to learn about Magnet schools, career and technical options, Hillsborough Virtual School and more.

Register for the School Choice Expo now at HillsboroughSchools.org/SchoolChoiceExpo

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HillsboroughSchools.org

BUST THAT

HOW SCHOOLS AND STUDENTS IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY TACKLE BULLYING PREVENTION

bully

B

Image courtesy Hillsborough County Schools

By Laura Cross, Hillsborough County Schools

ullying” is a word we never want to hear come out of our child’s mouth. We don’t want to RAISE a bully and we certainly don’t want our child to BE bullied.

That’s why, in Hillsborough County Public Schools, we embrace October as National Bullying Prevention Month. Many of our schools hold contests and events to stand united against bullying—and some schools take it a step further.

Lewis Elementary in Temple Terrace has a group dedicated to bully prevention. It’s called Bully Busters and it was started by a young girl named Riley. When Riley was in third grade, she went to the school counselor about a bully.

Amanda Leonard was that counselor.

“Riley came to me and asked for my help talking to a bully,” Leonard said. “The next day, we all met during lunch and resolved the problem.”

From that one incident, Bully Busters was born!

The group meets once a month before school. They play games and perform skits to try to recognize the difference between bullying and teasing. There is a big difference, Leonard says. Bullying happens repeatedly, it gets progressively worse, and typically the bully seeks out a particular student. Teasing is usually more good-natured and has some backand-forth to it.

During October, the Bully Busters take over the school. They hang posters and film videos for the morning show and demonstrate their anti-bullying stance by picking one day where everyone in the school is encouraged to wear blue.

For Leonard, it’s important the entire school is educated about bullying, but that education is done in different ways.

“For younger students—kindergarteners and first graders—they’re still navigating friendships and they’re still learning people are different from them. We teach them not to stare, or say something insensitive. In later years, they’re becoming pre-teens.

They have hormones and there are often a lot of misunderstandings. We try to teach them how to handle those misunderstandings without giving off the wrong perception.”

If a child has a concern about bullying or teasing, they should be encouraged to report it or talk to a trusted adult.

As for Riley, she’s moved on to Greco Middle School this year—but she’s not leaving her Bully Busting behind. Riley has already had a meeting with her new principal to discuss starting a similar program to make sure her new school continues to be a welcoming place for everyone.

Unfortunately, sometimes bullying does happen. There are several ways for students and parents to report acts of bullying in our district: • • •

•

Verbally report the bullying to an adult at the school.

Fill out a Bullying Reporting Form, which is available at every school.

Report the bullying via email or phone call to a school administrator, area superintendent or district office.

Report it online at our district’s website; go to hillsboroughschools. org and type “bullying prevention” in the search box. All reports go directly to the principal or assistant principal of the respective school to investigate and resolve.

OCTOBER 2019 TampaBayParenting.com

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SPONSORED

explore and engage through STEAM learning

By Rachel Martin Barrett, Director of Marketing and Communications, Shorecrest Prep

Images courtesy Shorecres Prep

A

group of 3-year-olds brush gold paint across a giant canvas. Nearby, a cluster of new kindergarten friends grind fresh herbs with a mortar and pestle. The adjacent classrooms are full of similar scenes - children engaged in playful learning alongside expert teachers. It's a school setting, but it's a Saturday, and the children are begging to go to school.

The scene is one of many at STEAMakers, an annual community event for toddlers through fourth graders.

For the third year, the STEAMakers Open House offers families of young children a free event that allows children to experience Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math activities designed just for them.

The event is hosted by the innovative faculty of the Experiential and Lower Schools at Shorecrest Preparatory School, the number one school for STEM in St. Petersburg according to Niche.com.

At Shorecrest, the popular acronym includes a fifth letter - “A” - for Art, to make STEAM. Engaging in STEAM subjects supports creativity, collaboration, critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

In addition to STEAMakers, Shorecrest has also sponsored and hosted St. Pete STEAMfest since its inception in 2016. The outdoor festival features robotics demonstrations, arts and crafts, design and engineering challenges, mad scientist games, coding apps and more.

“STEAM subjects and projects are a part of what we do every day at Shorecrest,” says Dr. Anna Baralt, Shorecrest Director of Educational Technology. “We launched STEAMakers and STEAMfest as ways of sharing engaging, experiential learning with the greater community.”

STEAMakers is on Saturday, Oct. 19 from 9:3011:30 a.m. at Shorecrest Preparatory School, 5101 1st St. N.E., St. Petersburg.

The free event is open to the public with registration. Families interested in learning more about The Experiential School (3, 4, and 5-year-old program) and Lower School (Kindergarten-fourth grade) at Shorecrest may take advantage of an info session and campus tour while at the event.

For more information and to register, visit shorecrest.org/openhouse.

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OPEN HOUSE Showcasing Innovation in Early Childhood at Shorecrest

Join us for a morning of hands-on STEAM learning activities for toddlers through 4th graders. n n n

Explore our classrooms Engage with our experiential curriculum Ignite your child’s love of learning!

Admissions information and campus tours available at the event. Student-led tours every half hour.

For more info and register visit

www.shorecrest.org/OpenHouse

isn’t just for the big kids!

Science Technology Engineering Art Math

when where

Saturday, October 19 | 9:30-11:30am Shorecrest Preparatory School, 5101 1st St. NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33703 OCTOBER 2019 TampaBayParenting.com

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SPONSORED

Stock images provided by Invo Therpay

generalization

THE KEY TO SUCCESSFUL LEARNING

by Jessica Stoppiello Pastorino, MA BCB

W

hat if you could only drive your car on a familiar road to a single destination? The ability to be flexible about where you go and how to get there is crucial to driving effectively. That is true for every skill: It’s only valuable if you can use it in familiar and new situations.

The ability to apply skills to new places, situations and people is called “generalization.”

Generalization is essential to effective learning for everyone, but it is especially important for children with autism.

Most neurotypical children generalize automatically. Kids with autism usually need to be taught how to apply a skill beyond the setting in which they learned it.

LE A R N M O R E Check out invotherapies.com or call 844.356.4049

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GENERALIZATION AND ABA Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) uses positive reinforcement to help children with autism learn age-appropriate behavior, communication and social skills, and reduce challenging behavior.

Most parents should look for an ABA provider who helps kids generalize skills in many locations, such as home and the playground, the doctor’s office and so on. Many providers also have therapy centers, which create more opportunities for children to practice social skills with other kids.

Each of these also involves many skills. Take tooth brushing: It requires putting a toothbrush in their mouth, accepting the taste and texture of toothpaste, brushing and rinsing.

What if a child learns to use only one toothbrush in one bathroom?

Brushes wear out and need to be

START EARLY FOR BEST RESULTS

GENERALIZE FOR INDEPENDENCE

Generalization plays a fundamental role in helping kids with autism become more independent. A daily activity such as getting ready for bed may seem simple, but it requires a long list of skills. A child has to put on pajamas, use the toilet, wash their hands, brush their teeth and get in bed.

TampaBayParenting.com OCTOBER 2019

Once a child can brush their teeth with one brush in one place, the therapist will slowly add new elements to the sequence: a new toothbrush, a different color or a new toothpaste. Then the therapist may introduce new locations, such as brushing in a different bathroom and at Grandma’s house. When a child can brush their teeth using various toothbrushes in a number of places, they have effectively generalized the skill.

replaced. It’s sometimes necessary to brush their teeth in a different location.

With ABA, a therapist divides the process of tooth brushing into small steps. The therapist teaches the child each step and provides plenty of positive reinforcement for every success.

Generalization is another reason to start ABA early. Younger children who have intensive ABA therapy often learn to generalize more quickly and may need to spend less therapy time generalizing skills as they get older.

It’s impossible to overstate the importance of teaching children with autism to generalize skills to new situations, environments and people. Without generalization, children will learn skills and behavior, but the result may be an age-appropriate version of being able to drive only on a familiar road to a single destination.

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OCTOBER 2019 TampaBayParenting.com

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TampaBayParenting.com OCTOBER 2019

frightfully good BOOKS SPOOKY STORIES TO READ AT ANY AGE

By Jennifer Hodges, Hillsborough County Public Library

W

HIGH SCHOOL / YOUNG ADULT

hether telling scary stories or searching for monsters under the bed, children and adults alike often enjoy being scared.

Books allow children to explore concepts like love, empathy, loneliness, death and fear while safe and sound at home. Spooky stories help children face the monsters of everyday life, and

children’s horror spans from cute, not-thatscary picture books to tales that have haunted for decades.

What is the right blend of frightening and funny? Librarians are experts at finding titles to excite your family’s imagination and can help match you with your next thrilling read.

PRESCHOOLER / READ ALOUD Monsters, ghosts and goblins do not have to be too scary for young readers! These silly and not-so-spooky tales are perfect for little ones.

“If You're A Monster and You Know It” by Rebecca Emberley Children will stomp their paws, twitch their tails, snort and growl, and wiggle and wriggle along with this bright and bold picture book twist on "If You're Happy and You Know It." “I Will Not Eat You” by Adam Lehrhaupt Theodore the dragon resists the urge to eat the animals that wander into his cave in this suspenseful and darkly funny picture book.

ELEMENTARY Sometimes a good fright sounds just right, and these well-written books for school-aged children provide all the creepiness without any of the gore.

“Ghost Knight” by Cornelia Caroline Funke Eleven-year-old Jon Whitcroft never expected to enjoy boarding school or be confronted by a pack of vengeful ghosts. Together with his new friend Ella, they work to uncover the secrets of a centuries-old murder.

“The Peculiar Incident on Shady Street” by Lindsay Currie A girl unravels a decades-old mystery with some unlikely new friends after moving into a haunted house.

UPPER ELEMENTARY/ MIDDLE SCHOOL If your tween is ready for something a little scarier, try these spooky titles that deliver thrills and chills.

“Small Spaces” by Katherine Arden A bus breaks down, children disappear and the main character knows to run and hide from what’s coming in this creepy, spellbinding ghost story.

“The Screaming Staircase” by Jonathan Stroud Only children are keen enough to detect and combat the ghosts running rampant and disrupting the lives of mortals in this spooky story.

For more horror books and spooky stories visit your local public library or HCPLC.org.

Young adult fiction is full of horror, and these titles may keep you awake at night.

“The Sacrifice Box”

by Martin J. Stewart Five friends discover an ancient stone box and each sacrifices something special to them to the box forever. Four years later, someone breaks the pact and a series of strange and terrifying events take place.

“The Wicked Deep”

by Shea Ernshaw Over 200 years ago, three sisters were sentenced to death for witchery. Now the sisters return seeking their revenge by stealing the bodies of three weakhearted girls.

ADULT Horror novels let the reader use their own imagination to interpret what they read on the page and make for a good literary scare.

“The Cabin at the End of the World”

by Paul Tremblay A beloved daughter opens the door to a stranger and lets him inside her family’s remote vacation home.

This suspenseful tale of paranoia, sacrifice and survival is a parent’s worst nightmare.

“The Invited”

by Jennifer McMahon A city couple trades their fast-paced lifestyle for rural Vermont, running headlong into a few ghosts along the way.

OCTOBER 2019 TampaBayParenting.com

55

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TampaBayParenting.com OCTOBER 2019

scare safely

SPONSORED

12 SAFETY TIPS

HALLOWEEN

By Dr. Rachel Dawkins

Halloween is a festive, fun and spooky time of year, but it can quickly turn downright scary with an unexpected trip to the emergency center.

Two of the most common Halloween injuries that experts see at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital are kids being hit by a car or bicycle while trick-or-treating and accidental ingestions of glow sticks and glow jewelry. Rachel Dawkins, M.D., medical director of the Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine Clinics at John Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, shares these Halloween safety tips:

1

Children under 12 should have adult supervision while trick-or-treating.

2

Make sure that your kids are obeying traffic laws as they go from house to house—many kids get so excited that they dart across the streets without looking.

3

If kids are mature enough to be out without supervision, they should stick to familiar areas, go in groups, carry a cell phone for emergencies and have a planned time to be home.

8

4

9

Remind kids not to chew on or break open glow sticks. If a child does ingest some of the material inside a glow-in-the-dark product, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.

5

Stock image provided by All Childrens Hospital

Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape and use light colors if possible. It makes children easier to see for passing motorists.

6

Avoid masks, which can obstruct a child’s vision, and consider using face paint instead. Be sure to check the face paint ingredients for any possible skin allergies.

7

Give kids a flashlight to carry to help them see and be seen.

Make sure your child’s costume fits—this can prevent trips and falls.

Inspect the candy and only allow kids to eat treats in original, unopened wrappers. Make sure none of the candy would be a choking hazard for your child.

10

Think about limiting the number of pieces your child can have per day. Consider rationing the candy over the following days or even donating the candy.

11

Keep candy and chocolate up and away from smaller children and pets.

12

Drivers should keep in mind that even if they see kids crossing the street, the kids may not see them simply because they are excited and may not be paying attention.

“If you are out driving, make sure to be extra vigilant on the roads,” says Dawkins. “We want everyone to have fun on Halloween, but above all – safety comes first.”

OCTOBER 2019 TampaBayParenting.com

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TampaBayParenting.com OCTOBER 2019

Day 14

Day 13

Day 12

Day 11

Day 10

Day 9

Day 8

body, mind and spirit.

Use this calendar to go through the

complete each day’s challenge. day’s challenge.

Above, fill out what you’ll do to what you’lleach do to complete

challenges challenges Above, fill out

never tried before

healthy meal you’ve 8 make houseathat causes you stress before make atried healthy meal you’ve 8 never

organize space in your 7 buy freshaingredients 6 house that causesinyou stress your 7 organize a space

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share with someone what challenge 5 the passionate about share with someone what 5 you’re

going through 21!) drink it more water todayDay (and 3 keep someone every day of keepfor it going through Day 21!)

4 pray the challenge 4 pray for someone every day of

do something 19 someone you’ve a gift 18 give wantedyou’ve to try do something 19 always

someone a gift 18 give you joy

frame someone a photo that brings 17 make laugh 16 joya photo that brings frame 17 you

16 make someone laugh

your mood

to music to improve 15 plant something 14 listen listenmood to music to improve 15 your

12 analyze grateful your for & bedtime tell them time to schedule 20 take always wanted to try a routine & find ways to sleep care 12 analyze your bedtime take time to schedule a 20 preventative better appointment routine & find ways to sleep preventative care 13 volunteer better 21 reflect on this experience appointment something 14 plant volunteer 13 21 reflect on this experience

someone you’re 11 think beforeofbed for & tell them think of someone you’re 11 grateful

get moving and commit to out your challenges 2 1 plan a new book to read something physical friend get moving and commit todaily 10 find 2 doing bedbook to read water physical today (and find a new doingmore something daily 10 before 3 drink

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challenge, you’ve completed everything.

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9 try a new exercise with a try a new exercise with a 9 friend

Day 21 Day 20

Day 19

Day 18

Day 17

Day 16

Day 15

swap order of ayou couple up anythe challenges miss.days or make

up any challenges you miss.

Day 21 Day 20

Day 19

Day 18

Day 17

Day 16

Day 15

experience, but of don’t worrydays if youorneed swap the order a couple maketo

Use this calendar to go through the experience, but don’t worry if you need to

Day 14

Day 13

Day 12

Day 11

Day 10

Day 9

Day 8

Day 7

Day 6

Day 5

Day 4

Day 3

Day 2

Day 1

For themind nextand 21 days, body, spirit.you’ll focus on your

For the next 21 days, you’ll focus on your

Day 7

Day 6

Day 5

Day 4

Day 3

Day 2

Day 1

Infants, Children

Young Adults

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Visit afterhourspediatrics.com/rightdose to download our dosage chart.

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OCTOBER 2019 TampaBayParenting.com

61

safety on the street 8 TIPS FOR BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY FROM ST. JOSEPH’S CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL EXPERTS

By Anu Varma Panchal

O

ctober is bookended by two events that give our little monsters and goblins plenty of opportunity to take to the streets. Oct. 2 is International Walk to School Day, when participating schools encourage parents and students to leave the car in the garage and start off their morning with a pleasant walk to school. And of course, Oct. 31 is when trick-or-treaters fill their neighborhood sidewalks—and streets—with unusual activity.

That makes October an excellent time for Michelle Sterling, a Wellness and Safety Specialist with St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital, to give us a reminder about bike and pedestrian safety.

“Unintentional pedestrian injuries are the fifth leading cause of injury-related deaths in kids ages 5-19,” Sterling says. Especially with the levels of excitement that surround kids on both Halloween and unusual days like Walk to School Day, it’s important that adults pay extra attention to their own actions as well as those of their little ones and model proper practices. The number one thing parents can do to be sure their children are safe? “Teach good behavior from the beginning,” says Sterling. “If you start then, they will be willing to continue as they get older.”

RIGHT TURN

2 3 4 5 6 7

RULES OF THE RIDE

LEFT TURN

1

STOPPING OR SLOWING

Teach your kids these hand signals to alert drivers and fellow riders of their actions.

Source: SafeKids Worldwide

8

HERE ARE STERLING’S TOP EIGHT TIPS FOR PEDESTRIAN AND BIKE SAFETY:

Put your cell phones down. Whether you’re reading texts as you walk down a sidewalk, are absorbed in a phone call when crossing the street or riding a bicycle with earphones plugged in, you are distracted. So is your child.

Teach even the tiniest children the Left-Right-Left rule. Look left, look right, look left again. Continue looking until you are safely across.

It’s also a good idea to teach children to try and make eye contact with an approaching driver before crossing.

Walk on sidewalks and cross at crosswalks. If there is no sidewalk and you must walk on the street, face oncoming traffic and walk as far left as possible. If you are riding a bicycle on the street, ride in the same direction as the traffic, and ride as far to the right as possible.

When walking at night, early morning or dusk, wear or have your children wear bright-colored clothing so they can be spotted easily. Reflective jackets and blinking lights are useful accessories, as are reflective stickers to put on yourself or your bicycle.

Teach children to pause at driveways. Drivers are often focused on closing their garage doors or adjusting vehicle controls and may not be focused on the pathway behind them. Children should stop and make sure the car has reversed onto the street, or that the driver has acknowledged them before proceeding.

When riding a bicycle, be predictable. Don’t turn fast, or make sudden unexpected movements and make sure you use hand signals.

Whatever you “wheel” around on, make sure you wear a properly-fitted helmet. Helmets should sit two finger-widths above eyebrows, and straps should form a “V” over the ears. You should be able to insert no more than a finger between the chin strap and the chin. To make sure it fits properly, have your child tilt their head from side to side to do the “wobble test” to ensure the helmet doesn’t move.

Make sure your child’s vision isn’t impeded in any way. Especially during Halloween, try and avoid masks that might block their view of the street.

See if your school or community is participating in International Walk or Bike to School Day, at walkbiketoschool.org/ istock.com/Jacoblund

62

TampaBayParenting.com OCTOBER 2019

Team Work makes the Dream “Smiles” Work

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OCTOBER 2019 TampaBayParenting.com

63

UnMonsters make hospitals TM

less scary ST. JOSEPH’S CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL EXHIBIT NOW OPEN AT THE GLAZER CHILDREN’S MUSEUM

By Kate White

T

he Glazer Children’s Museum has teamed up with BayCare Health System to give its hospital exhibit a new look! In the new St. Joseph's Children's Hospital Featuring the UnMonsters™, children can try on the white coats or scrubs of different hospital workers and treat the un-scary UnMonsters™. “This exhibit is a fun and interactive way of furthering our mission to provide everything needed for the health and well-being of the children in our community,” says Sarah Naumowich, president of St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital. “We can’t wait for visitors to the Glazer Children’s Museum to meet our UnMonsters: Tizzy, Ooz, Jitters and Fretta. From educating families on wellness and safety during community events to being a friendly face at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital, our UnMonsters help children understand that hospitals aren’t so scary after all.”

The Glazer Children’s Museum specializes in imaginative play, allowing kids’ imaginations to run wild as they try on different identities. The St. Joseph's Children's Hospital exhibit will be located on the museum’s Main Street along with other role-play areas including a Publix, Fire Station, Pizza Place, Vet Clinic and Little Stars Theater. In the new exhibit, little learners will take on the diverse roles of hospital workers in an immersive environment featuring 10 interactive stations.

AMBULANCE Take the driver seat as you control the siren and flashing lights, or care for a patient on the gurney in the back. calls, and watch videos of the different roles of hospital workers at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital.

MEDICAL EQUIPMENT Try on scrubs

UNMONSTERS ™ GAME Travel

or a white coat, grab a stethoscope, and treat your patient with bandages.

patient into the CT Scanner to see images of what’s inside.

BODY SOUNDS Place the stethoscope

MEDICAL MATCHING GAME Match different tasks to the hospital worker who performs them and get to know the UnMonsters™.

through the different areas of St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital and earn points as you find the UnMonsters™ in each space.

DIGITAL CARD Create a digital

card to send to current patients at St. Joseph's Children's Hospital.

Image courtesy Glazer Children's Museum

over the image of a human body to hear the sounds made by that body part.

TampaBayParenting.com OCTOBER 2019

sensor to see yourself as a skeleton, then move around or do a dance!

HUMAN BODY SYSTEMS Learn about the circulatory, skeletal and nervous systems inside us all, then layer the systems to see how they work together.

WELCOME DESK Greet guests, answer

CT SCANNER Slide your UnMonsters™

64

SKELEVISION Stand in front of the

high risk hope - full

OCTOBER 2019 TampaBayParenting.com

65

technology

THOUGHTFULLY THREADED THROUGHOUT LIFE

By Tara Payor, Ph. D.

T Payor's eighthgrade students use technology to take notes and draft a news report.

TampaBayParenting.com OCTOBER 2019

TECHNOLOGY IN THE BRICK & MORTAR CLASSROOM

Picture this: your workplace. Whether it’s in or out of the home, chances are your vision included technology. In 2019, most job postings mention proficiency in numerous technologies as prerequisites for job applicants. Recently, attempting to diminish students’ dependency on smart phones and tablets, France banned them in elementary and middle schools. As a veteran educator, I understand the frustrations. However, I take the stance that “banning” is a disservice to students. Rather, I believe scaffolding students’ learning experience with technologies in age-appropriate ways is a more logical approach. If it is part of a school’s mission and vision to prepare students for a successful life outside of its walls, students must know how to responsibly navigate technology in a technology-laden world.

The National Council of Teachers of English, in its position statement “Beliefs for Integrating Technology into the English Language Arts Classroom” notes: “Digital technologies offer new opportunities to read, write, listen, view, record, compose, and interact with both the texts

istock.com/LSOphoto, mortenf

66

echnology is here. Technology is everywhere.

Technology is staying. The catchall term covers a variety of smart devices—from phones to watches to televisions, types of artificial intelligence and scores of video games. Technologies are threaded through both my mothering and my teaching, and I’m not looking to unravel those threads and go back to the yesterdays of stitching everything by hand. In fact, I believe attempts to eliminate technologies from kids’ lives, specifically, are counterproductive and detrimental.

We don’t need to fear technology. Through good, oldfashioned conversation and leading by example, we can help kids mindfully use various technologies. In this way, they leave the nest with the capacity to soar in a “smart” world. themselves and with other people.” In the most effective classrooms, technology isn’t used because it’s novel. The best professional educators understand that any technology, new or old, is used to complement teaching that is thoughtfully planned with educators’ subject matter expertise, awareness of learners’ diverse needs, and clear learning objectives.

Paula Jones, an experienced middle school teacher, uses technology in numerous ways in her English language arts classroom. Her students utilize the Microsoft Surface for both online reading and drafting—skills they’ll need in most any workplace. While willing to try new technologies, she’s not afraid to abandon them if they compromise students’ learning. Jones explained, “I tried a virtual reading game. But, by the third level, students lost interest.” She chose a more traditional approach because it best supported students’ deep subject matter learning. In Jones’ classroom, technology complements the classics. In her experience, devices distract students in different ways. “Boys are more distracted by games and girls by what devices can do, like pens enabling drawing on a device’s screen,” she says. Jones encourages students to close all windows/programs they don’t need to complete a particular task.

TECHNOLOGY IN THE CONCRETE BLOCK HOME

Victoria Thaxton, an educator with 20-plus years of classroom experience, is also a mother of five: ages 31,27 and 15-year-old triplets. She’s earned her badge teaching about and managing technology use both inside the classroom and at home.

While her now 31-year-old son never played much, the 27-year-old was big into gaming because he wanted to pursue game design.

Wisdom-of-parenting-practice brought about changes in how she and her husband approached computer use and videogames with the triplets: “The triplets didn’t start playing online games until they were nine. I felt it wasn’t good for them.” Now freshmen in high school, the triplets aren’t hooked to devices because they were brought up with a balanced approach to technology use: “Video games have a time and place.

Drinking soda is bad. Overeating is bad.

Everything in moderation.”

For the Thaxton triplets, gaming time must be earned by going above and beyond household chores—doing things like cleaning the driveway. While not always the easiest route, Thaxton’s approach is practical and effective. “We never shoved a phone in their faces just to have them be quiet. It’s important to engage kids in conversation instead of just allowing them to play with devices.” The family’s balanced approach means that there is no gaming time Monday through Thursday unless all schoolwork is complete. Even then, there is a one-hour limit. But for this busy family (one of the girls just won the Little League World Series with her Tampa Bay Little League team), weekends don’t leave much open time for gaming either. Says Thaxton: “The busier kids are, the likelihood for overplaying decreases.”

The girls are most interested in videogames involving movement “If there’s action, like dancing or tennis, they’ll play.”

Thaxton and her husband get a kick out of watching, too, as all gaming and online

activities happen in an open area of the house: “It’s another check and balance—allowing us to monitor the kids’ online activities. Inappropriate talk? It’s stopped. Playing virtually with people they don’t know? We’re actively monitoring.”

The Thaxton triplets, at school and home, have developed healthy techie habits—maintaining As and Bs is a prereq for gaming and online time.

“Life doesn’t have a reset button. We can’t just skip some levels. Kids need constant reminders that real life is not virtual reality. Balance is key.”

Thaxton triplets JC, Charlie and Zoe.

TECH TIPS • • • •

Power up. Visit & create a Family Media Plan http://bit.ly/2lP6Woo Be consistent with a balanced approach to technology use Have gaming consoles and computers in home’s common area Power down. Designate certain periods of time as technology free OCTOBER 2019 TampaBayParenting.com

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One Giant Leap With NASA Video

A stellar concert with selections from Holst’s The Planets, Williams’ E.T. and more. Come early for the Instrument Petting Zoo. Daniel Black conducts.

Sun, Oct 27, 2 pm, Straz Center Sun, Nov 3, 2 pm, Palladium Theater $8 per person in advance; $10 at the door Ages 3 and under free

Film Concert

National Geographic Live JANE in Concert Based on 100 hours of unseen footage, the stunning documentary of Jane Goodall and her chimpanzee research plays on the big screen while the orchestra performs the score by Philip Glass LIVE. Sat, Nov 2, 8 pm, Straz Center Prices: $48.75, $58.75, $68.75, $78.75

IN CONCERT Who ya gonna call? The Florida Orchestra, of course, who will perform the iconic score live while Ivan Reitman’s 1984 comedic masterpiece plays on the big screen. All under the baton of composer and conductor Peter Bernstein.

Sat, Nov 23, 7:30 pm, Mahaffey Theater Tickets: $28, $38, $48, $58 $10 discount for kids 18 and under

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TampaBayParenting.com OCTOBER 2019

Tampa Bay Parent HP.indd 1

9/11/2019 2:22:49 PM

get out and enjoy family friendly events you can't miss in

OCTOBER nation” and “I’ve Got a Golden Ticket.” Ticket prices start at $41.00. strazcenter.org BREWS BY THE BAY Oct. 11, 8-11 p.m.

Hosted by the Florida Aquarium, Brews by the Bay boasts samples of 100-plus beers, food tastings from 30-plus restaurants, live entertainment by #NoFilter and Frankie Raye and a silent disco. All aquarium exhibits will also be open for the public to view and enjoy.

Tickets start at $69. flaquarium.org

CHILDREN’S BOARD FREE TUESDAY Oct. 1, Noon to 6 p.m.

Join the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County and the Glazer Museum on the first Tuesday of every month for free admission from noon to 6 p.m. The event promotes the well-being of children and families by uniting them with community partners. glazermuseum.org PEPPA PIG LIVE! Oct. 4, 6 p.m.

Join Peppa Pig and all your favorites as they come to life in Peppa Pig Live! Embark on Peppa Pig’s Adventure with Peppa, her friends and Daddy Pig as they laugh, sing, dance and more. rutheckerdhall.com REVOLUTION: MUSIC OF THE BEATLES - A SYMPHONIC EXPERIENCE Oct. 4-6, various times If you’re a huge Beatles fan, you’re in luck because the Beatles are in town! Join the Symphonic Experience in “Revolution: Music of the Beatles” and journey through time with Grammy winner Jeff Tyrik’s orchestra as they play the original Abbey Road recordings. There will be rare photos and video with vocalists singing their top hits. floridaorchestra.org BABY SHARK LIVE! Oct. 5, 2 p.m. & 5:30 p.m.

Pinkfong’s vigorous viral tune is making its way to the Straz Center stage! Bring your kiddos out to sing and dance

with Baby Shark and his friend Pinkfong. Accompany them on their sea adventure and learn about colors and numbers while jamming to new and classic tunes. strazcenter.org SILLY SAM THE MUSIC MAN Oct. 5, 11 a.m.

Silly Sam will delight audiences with his performances and love for wind instruments, strings, percussions and electronics.

Allow your child to feel the wonder of music and sound through Silly Sam the Music Man. strazcenter.org TAILGATE TASTE FEST Oct. 5, 3-10:30 p.m.

Located at Curtis Hixon Park, Tailgate Taste Fest is a FREE, family-friendly event perfect for the “casual event-goer and the sports fanatic alike.” Enjoy mouth-watering tailgate food, live bands, corn hole tournaments and huge LED screens playing the day’s most exciting college football moments. tailgatetastefest.com ROALD DAHL’S CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY Oct. 8-13, various times Tampa’s won the golden ticket, and now you get to visit Join Charlie Bucket and four other golden ticket winners as they venture inside this Willy Wonka’s magical and mysterious chocolate factory! Come out to the Straz for a sweet treat featuring the original songs from the film like “Pure Imagi-

9TH ANNUAL TAMPA PIG JIG Oct. 19, 1-10 p.m.

The Tampa Pig Jig is back at Curtis Hixon Park. Enjoy live music by Jake Owen, LANCO, Dr. Dog and more, plus great food, a barbecue competition, drinks and games. The event benefits NephCure Kidney International. Tickets start at $25. tampapigjig.com

LIVEFOR24 5K/MILE RELAY Oct. 19, 8 a.m.

The University of Tampa’s campus is the setting for the second annual Livefor24 5K/Mile Relay, hosted by The Live for 24 Foundation and The University of Tampa Athletic Department.

Proceeds will go towards life-enriching opportunities to deserving youth in Tampa Bay. Runners can do a 5K or a four-member team mile relay.

A family-friendly pre-race party, with food, music and more, will happen at Pepin Field at 6:30 a.m. livefor24.org FREE POPS IN THE PARK Oct. 19-20, 7 p.m.

In need of a date night or a family night? Free Pops in the Park is just the right night out for you and your family, or your significant other—a night full of music featuring film scores, Broadway hits and of course, some symphonic goodies. floridaorchestra.org CAT AND NAT #MOMTRUTHS LIVE! Oct. 22, 7 p.m.

This is a night out for you moms! Watch the comical best

friend duo Cat and Nat as they are in town with their live show #MOMTRUTHS where they tell their gnarly stories of being a mother. Whether you’re with your girls or alone, you will leave with a sense of community of women who are all in the same shoes as you. rutheckerdhall.com 19TH ANNUAL BOLT RUN Oct. 27, various start times Presented by AdventHealth, The 19th Annual Bolt Run will be held at Amalie Arena and include the 5 Mile, 5K, a Family Fun Run/Walk and family-friendly activities. The race will finish inside Amalie Arena. runsignup.com CIRQUE DU SOLEIL AXEL Oct. 31- Nov. 3, Times Vary Cirque du Soleil is back on ice with AXEL, an electrifying new experience fusing world-class ice skating with breathtaking acrobatics and astonishing projections. Tickets are on sale at amaliearena.com

special needs events DOWN 2 RUN 5K Oct. 19, 8 a.m.

5K Walk/Run and 9 a.m. Kids Fun Walk Support the Down Syndrome Association of Tampa Bay at the 2nd Annual Down 2 Run 5K through Gadsden Park. Proceeds go to Down Syndrome Association of Tampa Bay and benefit the Down syndrome community and families. runsignup.com THE 4TH FDSWF BUDDY WALK Oct. 26th, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Hosted by F.R.I.E.N.D.S. Down Syndrome West Florida (FDSWF), the 4th FDSWF Buddy Walk at Raymond James Stadium unites all those interested in the common cause to support Down syndrome.

Volunteers, children and those with Down syndrome are free and will receive a Buddy Walk t-shirt and a Down syndrome awareness bracelet. Register online for a guaranteed t-shirt. ds-stride.org/fdswfbuddywalk

Find the full list of events at TAMPABAYPARENTING.COM OCTOBER 2019 TampaBayParenting.com

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ZooTampa's Creatures of the Night has fun for even the littlest of your Halloween crew.

Haunted houses and hay rides.

Pumpkin patches and pirate taxis with spooky captains. Corn mazes and creepy movies.

Check out our very comprehensive list of all the best spots to find your chills and thrills in Tampa Bay this Halloween.

» Must Do Boo page 74 » Theme Park Halloween Haunts page 79 » Spooktacular Fall Family Events, pages 81-83 OCTOBER 2019 TampaBayParenting.com

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must-Do BOO

Turn to page 79 and 81-83 for even more local spooky events

HAVE THE MOST GHOULISH HALLOWEEN IN TAMPA BAY AND ADD THESE EVENTS TO YOUR CANDY BUCKET!

By Heather DeManche

T

here’s no shortage of Halloween events throughout the Bay Area this fall, from farms to haunted stories by water-taxi, to spooky train rides and trick-or-treating along the river. Your calendar is sure to fill up faster than you can keep candy in a bowl this time of year. With so many fall-tabulous options, we asked our Family Fun Contributor, Heather DeManche, to narrow down her top bucket list of fang-tastic spots: Says DeManche: Living in the sunshiniest place on earth affords us the ability to enjoy the season to its fullest with a variety of outdoor venues. I can’t promise vibrant foliage or brisk breezes for your flannel shirt wearing days, but we will have plenty of seasonal fun that’s sure to invigorate those fall feelings.

The Pickin' Patch in Dunnellon

Here are my top picks for Fall events in and around the Bay Area.

THE PICKIN’ PATCH IN DUNNELLON Opening day: Sept. 28.

Fall is synonymous with pumpkins, so what better way to kick off the season than to pick your very own white or orange pumpkin from the vine, as well as fall sunflowers and gourds?

Admission is $5 (ages 3 and under free) and includes hayrides, a corn maze, hay fort, kiddie hay maze, live bluegrass music and lots of great photo ops. Dunnellon is a drive, so make it a day trip. Go early to beat the heat and pack a lunch and check out nearby Rainbow Springs State Park, a great spot to cool off and enjoy a picnic just minutes up the road. dunnellonpumpkinpatch.com

HARVESTMOON FUN FARM IN MASARYKTOWN

Bounce pillow at the Harvestmoon Fun Farm in Masaryktown

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Weekends only, opening: Oct. 5.

HarvestMoon Farm offers five acres of nonstop fun for the whole family with ample amounts of shade. What really makes this farm stand out for my boys is the 70-foot jumping pillow, the petal carts and wizzes, a one-of-akind spinning ride. Explore the farm as a Farm Scene Investigator or challenge your little pumpkins through the corn maze twists and turns, finding clues at each stop while reading passages of Spookley the Square Pumpkin.

The farm’s other draws include the cow train ride, slide, pumpkin patch, expanded petting farm and tree house. Tickets are $11.95 plus tax for 3 and up. They also offer a $2 military discount. On Oct. 6, wear Bolts gear to receive $2 off admission. Appearances will also be made by Rolling Thunder, the Lightning Girls and ThunderBug. On Saturdays Oct. 13 through Nov. 10, stay after dark when the farm and other attractions are closed, and enjoy Harvestmoon Fun Farm night-time corn maze runs, a family friendly nighttime walk through the maze in the dark with flashlights. Cost for the night walk is $10 per person for ages 3 and up. harvestmoonfl.com

HORSEPOWER FOR KIDS & ANIMAL SANCTUARY’S 12TH ANNUAL FALL FESTIVAL FUNDRAISER Weekends only: Oct. 5 - 27.

This non-profit animal sanctuary right outside the Westchase area hosts a fall festival that includes pony and hay rides, as well as a kiddie train ride around the farm animals. Fall games, a playground set and a bonfire—with an unlimited number of marshmallows—will keep everyone busy. horsepowerforkids.com

SCARECROW FESTIVAL AT THE PIONEER FLORIDA MUSEUM IN DADE CITY Oct. 13, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

At one of the Pioneer Florida Museum’s biggest events, one major draw is the build-your-own-scarecrow activity, which is also a fundraiser for Special Olympics and the museum. All the supplies, hay and donated clothing to make your scarecrow is provided, but feel free to bring your own clothing as well for the event. Other activities include pumpkin painting, a petting zoo, barrel train rides through the crazy eight corn maze, a touch-a-truck station, face painting and carnival rides.

Watch blacksmith demonstrations and explore the various buildings that make up the museum.

Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for students and free for children under 5. No pets, coolers, food or beverages allowed. pioneerfloridamuseum.org Scarecrow Festival at the Pioneer Florida Museum in Dade City

COLOR PUMPKINS WITH HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY DEPUTIES Oct. 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

If your kids love the fine men and women in green, then this is a must-attend event to have on your calendar. Join the Hillsborough County sheriff deputies at a makeshift pumpkin patch in front of the Sheriff’s Operation Center in Ybor City. Your little ones can pick a pumpkin and get one-on-one training decorating with a deputy.

Also, enjoy a walkthrough of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s History Museum as well as face painting, popcorn, ice cream and candy.

This event coincides with the Fantasma Fest in Centro Ybor, so use the free TECO Line Street Car to hop between events.

8TH ANNUAL FANTASMA FEST IN CENTRO YBOR-LITTLE MONSTERS PUMPKIN PATCH Oct. 26, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Your littlest monsters can enjoy a day of trick-or-treating and pumpkin decorating on 7th Avenue for this delightful, not so frightful event in historic Ybor City. Costumes are encouraged.

If you can stick around, the always popular Big Monster's Bed Race will take place later in the afternoon. Come cheer on the Ybor City merchants as they speed down 7th Avenue in handcrafted beds on wheels.

HALLOWEEN IN THE PARK HONEYMOON ISLAND Oct. 26 - 27, 6-10 p.m.

No Florida event calendar is complete without at least one beach event, so be sure to include this spooky haunted trail with your fall outings.

Family-friendly costumers are encouraged to stroll through the park trails with ghosts, goblins and ghouls. The event will also include children’s games, a bungee jump and spooky storytelling.

PIRATE WATER TAXI HAUNTED RIVER TOURS Held on Oct. 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27. Event times vary with tickets starting at $25.

Hop aboard the Pirate Water Taxi for a frighteningly good time on the eerie Hillsborough River as the cursed taxi crew entertain you with tales of ghosts. Each tour will be led by a dead-lightful docent who will tell spooky stories of Tampa’s past. NEW for the 2019 season: a batty fiend will hop on the taxi for new thrills. piratewatertaxi.com

spook, then opt for an early train ride for a less frightful adventure. Arrive early as the lines can get long for the later rides. A big screen TV was set up last year to keep the crowd from becoming real monsters, so plan accordingly.

Tickets sales are from 5:30 - 9 p.m., with the trains running from 6 - 9 p.m. Tickets are $6 per person, under one year free. Due to insurance regulations, expectant mothers are not permitted to ride.

RIVERWALK TRICK-OR-TREAT Oct. 26, from 4-7 p.m.

Come out and enjoy trick-or-treating along the Hillsborough River at the fourth annual Tampa Riverwalk event, sure to be a ghostly adventure-filled evening for those in costume.

More than 50 businesses and organizations will pass out candy along the route. The event will conclude with a movie on the lawn at Water Works Park hosted by Friends of Tampa Recreation.

A NIGHTMARE ON FRANKLIN STREET AT TAMPA THEATRE Oct. 18-31, various times From eerie tours to 14 nights of back-toback classic horror films, Tampa’s historic and most-haunted movie palace has just enough fright for everyone in the family with creepy cult favorites, family-friendly frights, paranormal experiences and spooky special guests. For schedule details and tickets, visit tampatheatre.org/Nightmare.

HUNSADER FARMS PUMPKIN FESTIVAL Oct. 12-13, 19-20, 26-27, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Going into their 28th year, this crowd pleaser offers live music, charity pumpkin games, Pioneer Trades Village, hayrides, pony rides, a chainsaw sculptor, a corn maze, scarecrow displays, a petting zoo and barnyard playground. More active thrill seekers can head for the rock-climbing wall, power jump or zipline. Children can also go on a train ride at the farm or channel their inner cowboy or cowgirl on a pony ride. Expect plenty of food offerings, including farm-roasted sweet corn and homemade ice cream.

Admission is $10 and parking is $5. Children 10 and younger are free. hunsaderfarms.com

EXTRA TIPS FOR

FALL FUN 1 If possible, always go when places first open.

It’s less crowded and the heat won’t be at its peak.

2 Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!

3

Bring sunscreen and bug spray.

4 Bring cash, as some places operate without card readers.

5 When possible, pack a lunch and eat picnic style, but it’s best to check the event websites as some do not allow outside food.

Pumpkin decorating at the Fantasma Fest in Centro Ybor

HALLOWEEN TRAIN RIDE AT CREWS LAKE PARK IN SPRING HILL Oct. 18, 19, 25, 26 Take in a spooky scenic train ride through the park at night. If your little ones are too cute to OCTOBER 2019 TampaBayParenting.com

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EXPERIENCE A SEA OF MAGIC

Members' Night Oct. 25, 5:30 – 8 p.m.

Sensory Guppyween Oct. 26, 8 – 9:30 a.m.

We request your presence at the Codwarts School of Fishcraft and Squidery in The Florida Aquarium. Young wizards will be sorted into their Codwarts House before embarking on a quest to further their Fishcraft knowledge. There will be dazzling treats and magical adventures. All exhibits will be open, including our 4-D Theater and our kids’ water play zone, The Splash Pad. 76

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Guppyween Oct. 26 & 27

ht A Nig at the MuseuM tampa bay history center HAUNT THE HISTORY CENTER!

Trick or treat through the museum and collect candy from historical figures come to life!

Star Wars characters, including Darth Vader and Stormtroopers, will join the Halloween fun.

TRICK OR TREAT

CRAFTS & GAMES

COSTUME CONTEST

S U N D aY

OCTOBER

2 0 TH

2-3:30 p.m.

OR 4:30-6 p.m.

TickeTs On sale nOw! TampaBayHisTOrycenTer.Org

AT THE TAMPA BAY HISTORY CENTER

Walk through history in LEGO® bricks OPENS OCT. 19th ©2019 The LEGO® Group. Brick History is not sponsored, endorsed or otherwise supported by the LEGO Group.

813.228.0097

Smithsonian Affiliate

@tampabayhistory

801 OLD WATER STREET | TAMPA RIVERWALK OCTOBER 2019 TampaBayParenting.com

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LET THE

GOOD TIMES “See EWE ” there

GROW

October 17-20 & 24-27 Hours: TH 5 PM – 10 PM | FRI 5 PM – 11 PM SAT 10 AM – 11 PM | SUN 10 AM – 8 PM Tickets: Adults $7.00 Students $5.00 (K-12) Seniors $4.00 4 & Younger FREE

rking!

FREE Pa

Arena Events: $10.00 Plus Admission

(Advanced Ticket Sales Include Admission)

Hillsborough County Fairgrounds 215 Sydney Washer Road, Dover, FL 33527 For More Information, Visit:

hillsboroughcountyfair.com

TAMPA CONVENTION CENTER

Part Of

All Weekend Long!

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Spooktacular

halloween events HAUNTS HAPPENING AT OUR FAVORITE THEME PARKS MICKEY’S NOT-SO-SCARY HALLOWEEN PARTY

Image by Darlene Barlows Photography

Select Nights through Nov. 1, various times Visit Disney World’s Magic Kingdom for a night of trick-or-treating fun with some of your favorite Disney characters. Check out the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular, Boo-to-You Halloween Parade and NEW this year, Disney’s Not So Spooky Spectacular! Guests are encouraged to arrive in costume. disneyworld.com

HALLOWEEN HORROR NIGHTS Select Nights through Nov. 2, various times Dare yourself to experience Halloween at its most frightening at this Universal Studios Orlando event.

This year’s haunted houses include “Stranger Things,” “Ghostbusters,” Jordan Peele’s “Us” and more! Flex tickets are available so visitors can decide what night is best for them. halloweenhorrornights.com

HOWL-O-SCREAM: 20 YEARS OF FEAR Select Nights through Nov. 2, various times Experience terrors around every corner at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. Meet up with hundreds of roaming creatures, explore new haunted houses and see live, interactive entertainment. Don’t miss the NEW First Fear scare zone bringing 20 years of history back to life! buschgardenstampabay.com

SESAME STREET® SAFARI OF FUN KIDS’ WEEKENDS Saturdays and Sundays Oct. 5-27 from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Celebrate Halloween with Elmo, Abby and all your favorite Sesame Street® friends every Saturday and Sunday in October. Show off your costumes, trick-ortreat, make crafts, explore through a hay bale maze and so much more! Don’t forget to join in for the character dance party! buschgardens.com

SEAWORLD ORLANDO’S HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR Images courtesy Busch Gardens , ZooTampa

Weekends through Oct. 27 Kids can dress in their favorite Halloween costume to trick-or-treat at SeaWorld Orlando and meet up with everyone’s favorite neighbors on Sesame Street as The Count, Elmo, Abby, and others perform in the all-new Sesame Street Halloween Parade! Other Halloween fun includes Pets Ahoy Halloween, Halloween Dance Party and Count von Count’s Spooktacular Breakfast. seaworldorlando.com

CREATURES OF THE NIGHT Fridays and Saturdays Oct. 4-26, 4-10 p.m.

Return to ZooTampa for a Halloween event even spookier than last year. Ghouls and goblins of all ages can watch the zoo transform into an eerie and immersive Halloween adventure for the whole family. Creatures emerge at dusk with startling surprises but without the horror or gore.

Guests are encouraged to arrive dressed up in their best family-friendly costumes! NEW this year is the Twisted Tale Trail and Rising Waters! zootampa.org

BRICK OR TREAT AT LEGOLAND FLORIDA Weekends in October, various times Enjoy a Halloween party built just for kids at LEGOLAND Florida Resort in Winter Haven. Kids can enjoy spooky LEGO building activities, Brick-or-Treat Trail and Scavenger Hunt, meet-and-greets with spooky characters and The Tale of Pirates’ Cove Fireworks Spectacular. legolandflorida.com OCTOBER 2019 TampaBayParenting.com

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EERIE FAMILY FRIGHTS Who is brave enough to face the frights that await at Creatures of the Night? Join Little Red as she steps out of the storybook and into the shadows of ZooTampa at Lowry Park. The Bay’s No. 1 family-friendly Halloween adventure returns with spooky favorites and new characters, haunted scare zones, fun festivities, and special animal encounters for all ages! Will the night end happily ever after? There’s only one way to find out!

Every Fri & Sat in October

Open til 10PM

Visit ZooTampa.org/Creatures for tickets and more information 80

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Spooktacular fun CORN MAZES Head right out into the country for some old-fashioned fall fun with these corn maze destinations that have so much to offer.

HARVEST HOLLER CORN MAZE Weekends through Nov. 10, various times Come out for a fun fall tradition and stroll the fields of this year’s corn maze at Harvest Holler Farm, a working family farm in Polk City. Check out the pumpkin patch, go on a hayride and meet up with live farm animals. Families also can ride the cow train, play corn hole, swing on the tire swings and climb the hay fort. They even have mini-golf! harvestholler.com

SWEETFIELD FARMS FALL CORN MAZE AND FARM ACTIVITIES Select days through Nov. 3, various times Come out for corn maze fun at Sweetfield Farms in Masaryktown, but stay for the Pitcher Pump Duck Race, hay ride, farm animals and free craft of the season. Stick around to meet up with special visiting vendors including Brenda Parish face painting, Heyman Kettle Corn, Ex-Squeeze-Me Lemonade, Fresh Pressed Apple Cider and more. sweetfieldsfarm.com

8TH ANNUAL FOX SQUIRREL CORN MAZE Weekends, Oct. 5-27, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Take part in exciting, family-friendly fall games and activities at Fox Squirrel Corn Maze in Plant City. Tackle the corn maze, check out fun duck races, challenge friends to a game of cornhole or badminton and shop for a pumpkin in the patch.

Free parking. Maze cost is $11 plus tax for adults and $10 plus tax for children ages 3-17. futchentertainment.com

GROWN UP GOOD TIMES Halloween is for adults too, and for these attractions, it may be more fun to find a sitter and head out a deux.

SCREAM-AGEDDON Oct. 3. - Nov. 2, 7:30 p.m. to midnight.

It’s officially that time of year! Scream-A-Geddon is returning to Dade City to terrify guests once again with haunted house attractions and creepy crawlies wandering the grounds to give you your first frights of

the season. New this year, make sure to visit Bonzo’s Beer Garden! *Please don’t bring kiddos to this—it’s quite intense. screamageddon.com

OKTOBERFEST TAMPA Oct. 11-13, various times Celebrate all things German - German music, dance, food and fun - as part of this fall tradition at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park in downtown Tampa. The event features games and competitions all weekend long, and of course, beer! oktoberfesttampa.com

There are so many creepy, haunted or fall celebrations happening we created our biggest event list yet! Find even more on TampaBayParenting.com

PUMPKIN FESTIVALS It isn’t fall until you’ve come up close and personal with a pumpkin. Here’s where you can find one, decorate one and party with some!

SEAL SWIM SCHOOL’S PUMPKIN PATCH & FAMILY FUN FESTIVAL Oct. 5-31, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Pick out this year’s jack-olantern wannabes, participate in activities, and enjoy the photo ops at Seal Swim School with two locations in Lutz and South Tampa. Admission is free and open to the public. Plus, stop by 4-7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 12 for their Family Fun Festival. sealswimschool.com

Registration ends Oct. 4 and admission is $5. Heritage Gardens, 900 E. Broadway Ave. eventbrite.com

PINT SIZE PUMPKIN PARTY

16TH ANNUAL PUMPKIN PALOOZA FALL FESTIVAL Oct. 5, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Pack up the whole family for a day of fall fun at this GWFC St. Petersburg Junior Woman's Club event held at Northside Baptist Church in St. Pete. The event offers a pumpkin patch, kids’ games, face and hair painting, inflatables, food and treats, arts and crafts vendors and more. Admission is free. Tickets and wristbands for games and activities will be available for purchase. gfwc-spjwc.org

PICK AND PAINT YOUR OWN PUMPKIN Oct. 11, 5:30-7 p.m.

Wanna get crafty? Well come on out to pick and paint your own pumpkin! The kids can pick out their own pint-sized pumpkin to paint however they please! There will also be a costume contest so dress to impress, or to scare!

Parent participation required.

Oct. 12 at 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Enjoy games, food and crafts at Highland Recreation Complex in Largo. Come dressed in costume for a contest and parade for little ones.

Ages 6 and under. Cost is $8-$10 per child. For information, call 727-5876720. playlargo.com

PUMPKIN PATCH EXPRESS Oct. 19, 20, 26 and 27 The Florida Railroad Museum is calling “all aboard” for young and old train enthusiasts as you embark on the Pumpkin Patch Express to a field full of pumpkins to pick, as well as kid-friendly activities on your 2-hour journey. Children are invited to pick their own pumpkin to take home.

Everyone is also invited to participate in other crafts and activities. Train rides from Parish to the pumpkin patch range from $14.50 to $32.50 a person. frrm.org

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even more

Spooktacular fun FALL FESTIVALS

Celebrate the season with all things fall—hayrides, food, games and music at these fall festivals.

OUR LADY OF LOURDES FALL FESTIVAL Oct. 10-13, various times Experience this Dunedin tradition on the grounds of Our Lady of Lourdes. There’s tasty fair food, craft beer, sports tent, rides, games and music. Admission and parking are free with free trolley shuttle service available. Proceeds benefit Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School. ollfallfestival.com

SACRED HEART FALL FESTIVAL Oct. 16-20, various times Get ready for Sacred Heart Church’s annual fall celebration and fundraiser held at 4661 82nd Ave. N. in Pinellas Park. The event includes games, Midway rides, food, music, and prizes.

Free admission and parking; rides ticket sheets start at $12 when purchased online in advance, can be purchased on site as well. sacredheartfestival.com

15TH ANNUAL WESLEY CHAPEL FALL FESTIVAL Oct. 26-27, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The 15th Annual Wesley Chapel Fall Festival presented by Suncoast Credit Union and Grove at Wesley Chapel will include a carnival with rides and games, live music, delicious fall food and beverages, arts and craft area, local business expo and a pumpkin pageant. Come get spooky! simplyeventsfl.com

TARPON SPRINGS HOLIDAY SAFETY FESTIVAL TOUCH A TRUCK EVENT Oct. 26, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Head to Lowe's of Tarpon Springs located at 41800 U.S. Highway 19 N. for a day of free holiday safety fun with trucks and safety demonstrations for your kids to see up close and personal. The Recreation Center will have games, activities, bounce houses, food and more. There will also be a costume parade so come dressed up! Concessions will be available for purchase. exploretarponsprings.com

FOR THE VERY LITTLEST MONSTERS

Here are some great options guaranteed to let the very littlest ghouls and goblins have more treats and fewer scary tricks.

HALLOWEEN SPREE Oct. 26, 4-8 p.m.

It’s time to show up and show out in that cool spunky costume!

Bring your little monsters to celebrate a safe Halloween Party with indoor trick or treating, spooky experiments and crafts, costume parades and more haunts! Tickets are available now and also at the door. There will also be a Sensory-Friendly Halloween Spree Sunday Oct. 27 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. glazermuseum.org

MR. TOMMY'S VERY UN-SCARY HALLOWEEN PARTY Oct. 20, 2 p.m.

Catch the children's entertainer in action as he hosts a fun, scare-free Halloween party at Carrollwood Cultural Center in Tampa. Dress in costume and be ready to sing along and dance to monster hits. Cost is $7 members and $8 general admission, with a $28 family four-pack available.

Children ages 4 and younger are free. carrollwoodcenter.org

31ST ANNUAL TOTS TRICK OR TREAT STREET

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Oct. 26, 2-6 p.m.

Come dressed up in your best family-friendly costume and walk along booths in a safe environment to get your treats.

The 31th Annual Trick or Treat Street event hosted by the Greater Riverview Chamber of Commerce, Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, Hillsborough County Parks & Recreation and

Riverview High School will include fun, free activities as well as extended activities and food for purchase. riverviewchamber.com

KNOTS SO SCARY HALLOWEEN ON THE LAKE Oct. 31, 6-9 p.m.

Bring the little ones to Knotted Roots on The Lake in Land O’ Lakes for pumpkin patch photos, crafts and of course goodies and candies for all the trick-or-treaters! Take a spooky walk through the haunted bridal house. There will be costume contests and prizes so come through with your best costume! eventbrite.com

MORE HALLOWEEN HAPPENINGS IN EVERY COUNTY!

From Pinellas County to Orlando, there’s something happening in every corner of Tampa, St. Pete and in between. Catch one of these awesome events to add a truly local flair to your Halloween.

SCREAMIN’ GREEN HAUNTOWEEN AT CRAYOLA EXPERIENCE Through Oct. 31, various times Beware of werewolves, witches and monsters at the Crayola Experience inside The Florida Mall in Orlando. Check out 27 exciting hands-on attractions.

Create monster crafts, snap character photos, go on a themed scavenger hunt and trick-or-treat throughout the attraction (weekends only). Buy tickets online and save. crayolaexperience.com/ orlando

TALL TALES OF OLD FLORIDA Oct. 12, Gates open at 6:30 p.m.

Come out and join Tall Tales of Old Florida as they tell some mysterious stories of the past!

You will encounter six tellers who will share some spooky Florida stories that will have you on the edge of your seat wanting more! There will be a magic lantern show and old tales of ghouls and pirates you don’t want to miss it.

Come early and enjoy harvest games and decor while you wait for your tour to begin. crackercountry.org

NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM Oct. 20, 2-3:30 p.m. or 4:30-6 p.m.

All your favorites from pirates, pioneers to even Star Wars characters will be sneaking around the museum during Night at the Museum. Bring the family and haunt and explore the history center at its spookiest time! The little ones can trick or treat around the gallery and enjoy some Halloween fun with Storm Troopers and other Star Wars characters from the 501st Legion! $10 per child, $12 per adult, discounted admission for members. tampabayhistorycenter.org

OWL-O-WEEN Oct. 25, 6-9 p.m.

A spooky nature trail, a raffle, candy and toasted marshmallows and ghosts and goblins are on the agenda for this night in McGough Nature Park in Largo. $5 per person. For more information and to preregister, call 727-587-6720. playlargo.com

HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR 2019 Oct. 26, noon to 5 p.m.

Enjoy this popular, family-friendly event at Largo Central Park with free trick-or-treating from noon-4 p.m. and carnival of activities from noon-5 p.m. Wristbands are required for carnival games, inflatables and petting zoo and are $8 in advance ($7 with rec card), $10 per person day of. Buy yours at any Largo recreation facilities. Limited on-site parking is available for $10.For more information call 727-587-6720. playlargo.com

HALLOWEEN HOWL Oct. 26, 4-9 p.m.

Join Main Street Zephyrhills, Inc. as they host their annual Halloween Howl, which is 5 hours of fun...and FRIGHT, if you choose to enter their haunted house! Free to attend with trick-or-treating, a haunted house, hay ride (gets scary after dark), costume parade, bounce house, games, free entertainment and more. mainstreetzephyrhills.org

DUNEDIN HALLOWEEN HAPPENINGS Oct. 26, 5:30-9:30 p.m.

Don’t miss this spooktacular annual event at Highlander Park including a haunted hayride, carnival games, crafts, bounce houses, costume contests for all ages, DJ music jams, as well as Boo in the Zoo and Little Goblins Hayride for little ones. Cost is $5 parking, $5 for Haunted Hayride and $10 for a wristband for children’s activities. For more information, call 727-8124530. dunedingov.com/events

SPOOKY EMPIRE Oct. 31- Nov. 3, various times For the first time in their 17 years in operation, Spooky Empire is taking their thrills and chills to the Tampa Convention Center. From cosplay to costume contests, exhibitors, vendors and even trick-or-treating, Spooky Empire is the best place to be this Halloween. On Halloween, the ticket to enter the convention is just $20 and free for children 12 and under. While the kids trick-or-treat, parents can walk around the convention and discover the one-of-a-kind exhibitors and vendors to get some treats of their own. For more details on dates, pricing and the full list of celebrity guests in attendance, visit spookyempire.com.

2019 SYLVAN RAMBLE LIGHTS HALLOWEEN LIGHTS SHOW Select nights Oct. 18-31, various times What started a small neighborhood Christmas light display has become city-wide entertainment with a Halloween angle added.

Head to West Sylvan Ramble Street for an eye-catching, spooky light show. Along with your favorite Halloween tunes there will be strobes, fog and ghostly effects to keep you on the edge of your seat! eventbrite.com

HAPPY HEALTHY HALLOWEENTRUNK OR TREAT Oct. 31, 5-8 p.m.

Bring the whole family to First Unity Spiritual Campus in St. Pete for Happy Healthy Halloween-Trunk or Treat, a safe event that includes pumpkin painting, hayrides across campus and a costume contest. Children of all ages are welcome! eventbrite.com

GUPPYWEEN HOSTED BY HARRY OTTER Oct. 26-27, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Let’s take a trip to Codwarts School of Fishcraft and Squidery as Harry Otter embarks on a journey as a wizard! Your young wizards can come along with Harry Otter as he makes a splash around the Florida Aquarium and learn more Fishcraft spells! Sensory-Friendly event will be Oct 26 from 8-9:30 a.m. Admission prices vary. flaquarium.org

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PUMPKIN PATCHES AND CORN MAZES IN TAMPA BAY

is a 21+ Ice Cream shop that just opened the doors to its Tampa location and is the perfect spot to incorporate some sugar into your next date night!

EXPERIENCE CIRQUE DU SOLEIL’S AXEL THIS OCTOBER Enjoy all of the incredible acrobatics that you know and love on ice with world-class skaters.

b e st p l ace s to vo lu n te er a s a f a m i l y in Ta m p a B ay COMING TO THE TAMPA THEATRE THIS OCTOBER Movies, shows and events perfect for a spooky date night this Halloween or a showing of one of

INSTA LOVE

The new hybrid coaster Iron Gwazi is going up at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. The ride will incorporate 25 percent of the wood from the original Gwazi.

your favorites.

We got a sneak peek of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios before it opened to the public.

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tampabayparentingmagazine

We took advantage of the TPA All Access Pass which gets you on your chosen Airside at Tampa International Airport.

@ tampabayparenting

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OCTOBER 2019 TampaBayParenting.com

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Cascadian Farm creates wholesome, organic food that’s as good for the planet as it is tasty for you.

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BLUEBERRIES & CRANBERRIES ORGANIC DRIED FRUIT is packed with flavor and fiber. And did you know that berry crops support native bee populations?

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VISIT CASCADIANFARM.COM ©2019 Cascadian Farm

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WHOLE GRAIN OATS OATS are a delicious source of organic whole grains, and a crop that helps keep farmers’ soil in place during heavy rain.

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