february 2016 • FREE
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Our 18th Year of Serving New Hanover, Brunswick & Pender County Families!
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Party Guide winter party ideas i party pair-ups i party resource listings dental tips i leap year adventures i valentine’s day family fun
We specialize in dentistry for infants, children, adolescents and children with special needs. Our goal is to provide an easy and enjoyable dental experience for both children and parents. Call to make an appointment to meet our caring and compassionate team.
HALLEY WHITE, DDS, MPH ANDY JOHNSON, DDS 8115 Market Street Suite 204 Wilmington, NC 910.686.1869 910.319.6014-fax
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Wilmington Parent | February 2016 | 1
WI L MING TON
Christian Academy Now Enrolling – Tours Available
FAITH INTELLECT CHARACTER High School • Middle School • Elementary School • Preschool www.w i l m i n g tonc h r is t ia n.com • 140 1 N. C ol l ege Rd • 910.7 91.4 24 8
2 | February 2016 | Wilmington Parent
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How can speech and occupational therapists treat a child with a reading problem? • Reads and rereads the same information or story and still does not understand it • Difficulty following and connecting to a conversation • Gets bits and pieces from oral or written information- cannot grasp the whole • May be labeled ADHD or a poor listener • Difficulty following directions • Writing is unorganized • Difficulty with test questions • May have difficulty learning letter names and sounds in Kindergarten • May be labeled learning disabled, dyslexic, or underachiever. In addition to speech (OT can help kids with various needs improve their cognitive, physical, sensory, and motor skills and enhance their self-esteem.
What to do? Call to get an evaluation. We accept all forms of insurance and Medicaid. Supply Clinic 58 Physician Drive. Suite 106 Supply, NC 28462 Phone-910-754-5773 Wilmington Clinic 6770 Parker Farm Drive, Suite 102 Wilmington, NC 28405 Phone-910-679-8385 Fax-910-679-8387 www.coastaltherapypartners.com
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Wilmington Parent | February 2016 | 3
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February 2016 SPecial Section: Party Guide
20 21 22 25
11 17 19 27
Great Winter Party ideas Pairing up parties Birthday Party Crafts dental tips
plan a leap year adventure valentine’s day family fun Because I Said So
cover credits
12 Calendar 15 Childcare Listing guide 18 fit family 26 school notes 28 Peanut Gallery
Cover by Katie Mathews Photography 910-297-5378 • www.katiemathewsphotography.com 4 | February 2016 | Wilmington Parent
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party resource listings
5 Editor’s Note 6 have you heard 7 Product Review 8 growing up online 10 your Health
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editor’s note
I
hope everyone is spending this season of love spreading thoughtfulness and caring to everyone you meet. Although this holiday is marketed towards romantic love, I believe this can also be a time to spread kindness and unconditional love to all the people in your life. Everyone needs to feel loved! If you need some ideas on how to include your whole family in the Valentine’s Day festivities, check out pg. 19 for some fun loving motivation. This February, we have an extra special day tacked on to the end of the month. Leap Year only comes along every four years, so look to pg. 17 for ways to not let this gift of time pass unnoticed! Speaking of gifts, do you know someone with an upcoming birthday? Our February Party Guide starts on pg. 20 and is packed full of party planning resources. Wilmington Parent magazine wants to make sure Children’s Dental Health Month does not go unrecognized this February. Our smiles are important, and Wilmington’s local dentists have worked together to pass along some critical dental health tips for our readers. In this issue, we have a unique essay contribution from a local high school student on pg. 27. Delaney Mitchell, a local 10th grader, gives us an opportunity to hear about the benefits of children’s arguments from a teen’s perspective in her essay, “Because I Said So”.
Wilmington Pediatric Dentistry SKIP TYSON, D.D.S. STEPHANIE HEANEY, D.D.S.
Spread love and kindness, and Happy Valentine’s Day!
791-7380
Danielle www.wilmingtonparent.com
2606 Iron Gate Dr. Suite 200,Wilmington, NC surf our website
www.catchasmile.net Wilmington Parent | February 2016 | 5
Wilmington School of Ballet & Dance
have you heard….? It’s the season of love! Have you found the perfect gift for the special love in your life? The Cape Fear Chordsmen Barbershop Quartet of Wilmington are offering unforgettable experiences from February 12-14th. This handsome quartet will present a Singing Valentine (2 songs), a rose and a card to your Valentine. Call 541-1256 to schedule a beautifully sung Valentine’s Day memory. Another special treat for Valentine’s Day, Horsedrawn Tours in downtown Wilmington is offering Valentine Carriage Rides. Surprise your loved one with a rose, some chocolates, and private French evening coach. Call 251-8889 to book a reservation.
Princess dance classes, birthday parties and summer camps
www.wilmingtonschoolofballet.com
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Kathy Bush Real Estate Broker
1001 Military Cutoff, Suite 101 Wilmington, NC 28405
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I will make the buying and selling process as easy as possible! www.kbush.seacoastrealty.com www.facebook.com/kbushseacoast 6 | February 2016 | Wilmington Parent
You can also show a bit of love to some very special athletes this month. The 2016 Polar Plunge and 5K will be held Saturday, February 13 at the Carolina Beach boardwalk. Special Olympics is a Year-round program that supports about 600 local athletes. With no government funding they rely solely on individual and corporate support as well as volunteers to help make the program a success. Here are a few ways to participate and show your support for Special Olympics NHC: 1) Run the 5K only 2) Walk in the 1 Mile All Abilities Fun Walk only 3) Take the Polar Plunge into the Atlantic Ocean only 4) Combo: Plunge and Run/Walk 5) Become a spectator and join in on the fun with the bands, auction and much more.
The Super Bowl and super parties happen on February 7th this year! Football, food, and fun are readily available for the adults, but if you need to keep your littlest football fans busy that day, here are some ideas: Have a small football, yellow piece of cloth or some other small footballthemed object on hand for a game of Find It! Start them off by helping the youngest kid hide the object somewhere in the house. Whoever finds it gets to hide it next. This simple game will be surprisingly entertaining for hours! Popcorn bar. Pop up a big bowl of plain popcorn and offer a variety of flavor shakers. Provide red plastic “keg” cups, a stack of small paper bags or small baskets lined with paper towels for guests to serve themselves. You can even put out a few bowls of add-ins like Peanut M&M’s, chopped dried fruit or honey roasted nuts.
Thalian Association Community Theater starts their Youth Academy Spring Semester February 1st. The classes will be held in two convenient locations: The Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center, and New Hanover County Library Executive Development Center (at Landfall). Classes are available for ages 3-teen, with a variety of topics such as: Acting for Film/TV, Audition Technique, Behind the Curtain (Tech), and many more. Find out more and enroll for classes at www.thalian.org.
Two local museums are having big events this month! On February 5th at 5pm, The Children’s Museum of Wilmington will host a Mardi Gras Masquerade Ball. Kids will have an opportunity to dress up, make necklaces and shakers, decorate masks, and dance the evening away with the well-known Port City DJ, DJ Battle. The evening culminates in a celebratory parade at 6:30pm. On February 19th from 6-8pm, at Cape Fear Museum, families can attend a Planetarium Pajama Party for only $5. Featuring bedtime under the stars in the museum’s digital planetarium, kids and adults can explore the night sky, make star pictures, and sing star songs. Bring your pajamas, blankets, stuffed animals and get comfy! Space is limited to 50 and registration is required. Call 798-4362 to register.
Have a tip, lead, or just an interesting bit of news to share? I want to hear all about it! Send me an email to danielle.wilmingtonparent@gmail.com.
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Product Review
Who Loves Me? Valentine Edition Storybook “Who Loves Me” personalized books from ISeeMe.com are great gifts for Valentine’s Day. These books are adorable, personalized, and make lasting memories! The story features different rhymes with eight names of people who love your child (mom, dad, grandma, brother, sister, etc). This beautiful book reassures the child that he or she is loved “so much” by each person. When ordering, you have the option to upload a photo of your child to appear on the dedication page of the book. Children will love seeing their names and photos in print and that makes this a special gift for Valentine’s Day! The Valentine’s Day set even comes with matching Valentine’s Day stickers with your child’s name. These unique storybooks can be ordered at www.iseeme.com.
Contact Sport: A Story of Champions, Airwaves, and a One-Day Race around the World In honor of World Radio Day on February 13th, this book is an excellent story about the competition of “radiosporting”. This book has two goals, the author J.K. George would like to bring readers directly into the drama and fun of the arduous and little-known competition of “radiosporting” while also encouraging STEM education for children and teens. While describing the technology of the hobby, Contact Sport also captures the magic and fantasy of radio, and radio waves, which know no man-made boundaries. “Amateur radio is an excellent vehicle and fun way to introduce young people into STEM educational choices and technical careers,” says George. George describes radiosporting as the ultimate video game without the video. Contact Sport is an intriguing story of the people who thrive on the rigors and possibilities of amateur-radio competition, while teaching kids about an area of technology they may have never heard of before!
HoMedics Humidifier The cold weather has finally arrived and I was forced to crank up the heat in my home. One of the downsides of winter weather is the dry air that takes over in my house. My lungs and skin feel the impact and I battle this problem until the cold spell breaks and warm weather returns. Humidifiers are a good solution, but the one from HoMedics I have grown to love because it is a stand-alone unit that works for a large area. The LCD digital readout displays room humidity level, programmed humidity target, timer setting, mist intensity and mist temperature. The tank is easy to remove and fill, I especially like that I can choose a cool or warm mist, and even though it says the unit can run up to 60 hours per filling, I’ve found it actually only runs about half that time. This humidifier is absolutely silent, which is another major plus for me, and it shuts off automatically when the tank is empty. I can already tell this will be a permanent fixture in our home, and hopefully the solution to winter’s dryness. v
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910-795-2511 www.DrEggDental.com Mayfaire Town Center
Little mouths are a big deal.
Accepting New Patients Wilmington Parent | February 2016 | 7
growing up online
Protecting Your Family’s Medical Information By Carolyn Jabs
H
ealth information is valuable. Obviously, your doctors need swift and easy access if they are going to provide effective treatment, especially in an emergency. But health data also has value to researchers and advertisers. And medical financial information is attractive to criminals who can use it to steal medications, equipment and services. Now that medical records are being kept electronically, they can more easily be misappropriated. Healthcare providers and insurers have been hacked, creating worries about privacy as well financial vulnerability. Medical companies that get access to health information may bombard you or your child with advertising for treatments that you don’t want or need. A thief who gets access to insurance information can ruin your credit and max out your benefits. Just as worrisome, a person who accesses health services under the name of a family member may have their information entered into the medical record, creating confusion that can have serious consequences. Protecting your family from these problems requires vigilance. Get into the habit of following these rules:
Study statements. Check provider names, dates of service, and the type of
lifetime, you may want to use the same file to record medical conditions of ancestors and other family members as you learn about them.
Keep records safe. Use a password to protect health records stored online. Store paper records in a safe place—a locked filing cabinet is ideal. Shred outdated health insurance forms, prescription receipts, physician statements, and even the labels from prescription bottles. Guard your numbers. Treat your insurance card as carefully as your credit card. If you lose it, call the insurance company immediately. Avoid putting social security numbers on health information forms. Numbers for children are especially desirable to thieves because you may not detect a problem until the child applies for a driver’s license. If forms from medical providers, or for that matter schools or sports teams, ask for social security numbers, leave the space blank. Don’t share medical or insurance information on the phone unless you initiated the contact. Don’t provide it in response to an e-mail either.
Check EOB’s. An Explanation of Benefits from your insurance company usually says, “This is not a bill” at the top. That’s not a reason to ignore it. Match EOB’s to statements from medical providers. If there are any discrepancies, contact your insurance company immediately. An inaccurate EOB may be your first indicator that someone else is using your insurance information.
Be smart online. Thanks to HIPAA, medical providers must take privacy seriously. Those rules don’t apply to social media, message boards or, for that matter, companies that sell wearable medical devices. Think carefully about sharing health information online. You may want to restrict it to an inner circle of family and close friends. Consider using a nickname if you decide to share health information in online support groups or forums. Think carefully about equipping children with any kind of wearable medical device—even a pedometer—that shares or aggregates health data.
Sign up for online accounts. Many doctors and pharmacies provide
Be skeptical about free. Medical identity thieves try to trick people into
patients with password-protected access to personal medical files. Not only is this an easy way to check the accuracy of records, but it also keeps anyone else from setting up an account under your name.
revealing sensitive medical information by offering free products and services. Drug companies and other suppliers set up free forums to harvest information that may be useful in marketing. Free medical apps may collect information that is sold to advertisers. Before accepting a deal that seems too good to be true, read the fine print--and especially the privacy policy.
service provided. Does anything look unfamiliar? Were you billed for the same thing twice? If you see a mistake, report the problem as soon as possible.
Correct misinformation. Fraudulent medical claims can introduce inaccurate information into medical records. If you become aware of errors in your medical files, ask that they be corrected. Keep in mind that the medical provider that created the record has responsibility for changing it but won’t necessarily notify any other providers who may have received the information. Follow up with each of them to be sure records are accurate. Set Up Personal Health Records. Having your own records makes it easier if you need to change health care providers. MyPHR.com has an extensive list of record-keeping apps and programs as well as paper forms that can be downloaded. Regardless of format, you’ll want to record the following information for each family member: · Dates of immunizations · Lab results including blood type · Allergies and sensitivities to medications, foods, and materials · Prescribed medications including dosages · Treatment for chronic conditions such as asthma · Treatment for unusual conditions including hospitalization or ER visits Because genetic history is likely to become more important in your child’s 8 | February 2016 | Wilmington Parent
If, despite all these precautions, you suspect someone has stolen the medical identity of a family member, act swiftly, following the steps outlined at identitytheft.gov. You can also request an Accounting of Disclosures, a record that details when, what, who and why your medical information was shared by your provider. Even if you don’t suspect medical fraud, you may want to request a disclosure report as well as a report from the three major credit agencies annualcreditreport.com. By law, you are entitled to a free copy of each of these reports each year, and you may sleep better at night if you know they’ve given your family a clean bill of health. v Carolyn Jabs, M.A., raised three computer savvy kids including one with special needs. She has been writing Growing Up Online for over ten year, and other columns appear at www.growing-up-online.com. In 2016, she will publish Cooperative Wisdom: Bringing People Together When Things Fall Apart.
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AAI LEARNING CENTER School Age Program (5yr-12yr) V Five Star Child Care Center V
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We Put the Fun & Adventure in After School Care After School Curriculum We provide a wide variety of activities including arts, crafts, and indoor & outdoor games. We also provide homework time and homework assistance. Pick Up Locations: Winter Park, Alderman, Forest Hills, Gregory, CFCI, Ogden, Murrayville, Wrightsboro, Calvary, Douglas Academy, Eaton, Castle Hayne Two Classrooms! Small group sizes! Grouped Separately! Younger Children (5yr-7yr) & Older Children (8 yr -12yr)
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PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY Douglas S. Fry, DDS
Now recycle me downtown!
Find new recycling containers downtown!
Recycle More with the City of Wilmington wilmingtonnc.gov/recycling 910.341.7875 www.wilmingtonparent.com
NORTH CAROLINA
Happy Valentine's Day! 2203 Delaney Avenue Wilmington NC www.drfry.dental.com • office@drfrydental.com 910-762-7736 Wilmington Parent | February 2016 | 9
your health
Wondering about Whitening? By Malia Jacobson
A
bright, white smile is a major confidence-booster. If you need a little help in that department, brightening products and treatments are readily available: at malls and salons nationwide, teeth-whitening kiosks will easily administer bleaching treatments with hardly any wait. The kiosks are staffed with official-looking personnel in lab coats or scrubs, but that doesn’t mean the treatments are safe. According to Dr. Paul S. Casamassimo, D.D.S., M.S., chief of dentistry at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, most kiosk workers have little or no medical training to help them administer the powerful bleaching chemicals they sell. This trend has dental experts concerned, because the chemicals used to whiten teeth are potentially caustic, says Casamassimo. Misusing these powerful chemical agents can harm gum tissue, injure tooth nerves and pulp, increase tooth sensitivity, and interfere with plastic and composite fillings. That’s a poor trade-off for a temporarily whiter smile, he notes. But dentists say that you can achieve a brighter smile without harming teeth.
Rooting Out The Problem Your dentist can tell you whether you are a good candidate for teeth whitening. According to the American Dental Association, whitening products are meant for natural tooth enamel, and won’t work on fillings, crowns, or veneers. Sensitive teeth, cavities, cracked teeth, and gum disease should be addressed before bleaching, because whitening treatments can aggravate these problems, causing unneeded pain or more damage. A dentist can also diagnose the reasons behind discoloration. Teeth can be darker because of injury, dental treatment, vitamins, iron supplements, decay, or antibiotic treatment. It’s also possible that perceived discoloration isn’t really discoloration at all, and just a reflection of the natural variations in human tooth coloring. “Natural teeth are rarely perfectly white,” says Casamassimo.
Keep Baby Teeth Bleach-Free Bleaching treatments should be considered off-limits until kids hit the teen years. Dr. Carolyn Taggart-Burns, D.D.S., spokesperson for the Academy of General Dentistry, recommends waiting until children reach the mid-teens and teeth are fully grown before considering any kind of whitening procedure.
Consider Targeted Treatments Full-mouth whitening treatments should be considered only if the majority of your teeth need brightening, but that’s often not the case. Some conditions that darken enamel, like dental fluorosis, or brownish mottling caused by exposure to excessive amounts of fluoride, often affect only a few teeth. If discoloration affects a small number of teeth, a dentist can
10 | February 2016 | Wilmington Parent
safely treat only the affected tooth or area with abrasion or single-tooth treatments. These targeted tactics minimize the impact on gums and surrounding teeth and can be less costly than a full-mouth treatment.
Give Whitening Products a Whirl Whitening can cost hundreds of dollars, but it doesn’t have to. Before shelling out for professional bleaching treatments, consider trying over-the-counter products like whitening toothpaste, floss, and the popular whitening strips sold in drugstores. When used properly, they may provide a safe alternative to more powerful professional treatments for less cash.
Choose Snacks Carefully Your diet could be dulling your pearly whites. From heavily pigmented sauces to syrupy sodas, many food products can leave lasting stains on teeth. To keep smiles bright, make sure you brush after eating. Avoid heavily pigmented foods and drinks for a day or two after teeth-whitening treatments.
Guard the Gums One of the biggest concerns about bleaching is the potential harm to gum tissue. Over time, bleaching chemicals can cause gum irritation and pain, and research links bleaching chemicals to cellular changes in gum tissue, says Casamassimo. To head off potential gum damage, you should make an effort to keep bleaching chemicals off your gums. Custom-made bleaching trays ordered from a dentist’s office can minimize contact between gums and bleaching agents, and lessen the chance for irritation. It’s important to note that the results of teeth bleaching treatments are temporary; over time teeth will return to their original hue, and bleaching treatments will need to be repeated. That means proper precautions are paramount, because continued misuse of bleaching products is what causes the most harm. For superior safety, Taggart-Burns recommends that everyone entrust their teeth to a trained dentist. “Dentists are not only trained in the bleaching treatment systems, but the biological and chemical effects of bleach to the teeth,” she says. “They are also trained to resolve problems a patient may experience, like sensitivity or gum irritation.” v Malia Jacobson is an award-winning health and parenting journalist and mom of three. Her latest book is Sleep Tight, Every Night: Helping Toddlers and Preschoolers Sleep Well Without Tears, Tricks, or Tirades.
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dental tips from our local practitioners “Use an ageappropriate toothbrush and fluoridated toothpaste once teeth are in the mouth. Under age 3, toothpaste application should be the size of an uncooked grain of rice; age 3 and up, the size of a pea.”
—Dr. Egg Pediatric Dentistry
Allison Egglestone, DDS, MS
“Get your childs first dental visit at 1 year of age.”
—Pediatric Dentistry
Douglas S. Fry, DDS
“Your children learn by watching you so show them that you value a healthy smile. Brush and floss your teeth, make regular dental visits, and take good care of yourself.” —Coastal Carolina Pediatric Dentistry
Dimock, Weinberg & Cherry, DDS
“Since toddlers thrive on routine, one way to make the daily experience of toothbrushing more enjoyable, is to be consistent with your child’s schedule, and follow the same teeth brushing pattern each and every night at approximately the same time.” —White & Johnson Pediatric Dentistry Halley White, DDS, MPH
“There are basically three things that you need to make a habit of for the sake of your child’s dental health: nutritious diet, proper toothbrushing/flossing, and regular dental visits. “ —White & Johnson Pediatric Dentistry Andy Johnson, DDS
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“For 18 years, our practice motto has been simple and to the point... Brush, Floss, Drink Water!!! “ —Wilmington Pediatric Dentistry
Skip Tyson, DDS and Stephanie Heaney, DDS, PA
Wilmington Parent | February 2016 | 11
• PLAN YOUR MONTH WITH US
CALENDAR
February | 2016 All Month Long! Haunted Cotton Exchange Tours Daily (Year Round). Cotton Exchange, Downtown. Haunted Cotton Exchange Tours in downtown Wilmington features one of the most haunted locations in the Port City, and are conducted by an acclaimed storyteller. Under age 12 admitted free. Call for tour times. $10/Adults. $8/Students & Seniors. Free/Under age 12. Visit www.TourOldWilmington. blogspot.com or call 409-4300 for information. Downtown Wilmington Trolley Tour Downtown at Water St. Wilmington Trolley offers a tour through the Port City on an authentically reproduced trolley. Tour highlights include: museums, beautiful mansions, birthplaces of famous natives, TV & movie locations, fine dining ideas, shopping, history and more! www. wilmingtontrolley.com.
1 Monday New Horizons Elementary Open House 9am-12pm and 5:30-7pm, 3705 S College Road. Discover New Horizons Elementary School. We invite you to tour our school, interact with faculty, and learn how NHES provides a nurturing environment promoting student achievement and personal development through a whole child approach. Visit www.newhorizonselementary.org for more information. Railroad Storytime 10:30am. Wilmington Railroad Museum. Hear stories and enjoy creative activities in the Children’s Hall. $5/Family. Free/Members. Call 763-2634 for more information. Mom to Mom: BYOB 1-2pm, Mondays. Main Library. Moms, bring baby/toddler to the library and discuss all things baby related with other moms. Parenting books and guest speakers will be available to help answer questions. During this hour it’s okay to: be late, nurse/feed baby, change diapers, and cry (baby or mom). Free 2 hour parking on ground floor of library parking deck. Contact Librarian (and new mom) Susan DeMarco at 798-6301 for more details. Mini Monets Clay & Sculpture Art Class 4:45-5:30pm, Mondays. Kings Grant Area. Let’s get our hands dirty with clay! All projects will be handmade in dif-
12 | February 2016 | Wilmington Parent
ferent types of clay and sculpting materials. This session is a great opportunity to create art in three dimension. Visit www. minimonetsart.com or call 399-1708 for more information.
2 Tuesday - Groundhog Day Tale Tuesdays 9:30am, Tuesdays. Manta’s Cuts Kids Salon, 1427 Military Cutoff Rd. The sunken pirate ship will be transformed into a storytime boat every Tuesday. Manta’s stylists will be entertaining visitors with fun stories, however, this will be no ordinary storytime. While one stylist reads tales of adventure our other stylists will be offering your children a free simple braid or a product styled look. At 10am the salon officially opens and stylists will be happy to perform any other services such as kids & adult haircuts or mommy and me pedicures. Call 239-9096 for details. Storytime at the Library 9:30am; 10am; 10:30, Tuesdays. Main Library. Babies up to 18 months at 9:30 are invited to bring an adult lap and enjoy up to 20 minutes of books, songs, fingerplays & rhymes. Toddlers 18 months to 3 years old are invited at 10am to 20 minutes of books, music, and pre-literacy activities in Story Place. Preschoolers aged 3 to 5 are invited at 10:30am to 20-30 minutes of books, music, and pre-literacy activities in our storytime room! Call 798-6303 for details. Happy Little Singers 9:45am, Tuesdays. Hannah Block USO/Community Arts Center. Music and Movement program for children 6 months to 6 years. Sing, Dance, Instruments, Creative Play with your child. Drop-ins welcome, $10 per family. Please call or text in advance 777-8889. Fancy Nancy Soiree 10:30am & 3:30pm. Pleasure Island Branch Library. Morning time for ages 3-7; Afternoon time for ages 8-10. You are cordially invited to celebrate our favorite fashionista’s latest literary endeavor at a morning soiree! (That’s a fancy way of saying we’re having a party for Fancy Nancy’s NEW book!) Wear your favorite fancy outfit and have Fancy Nancy Clancy style fun! No R.S.V.P. required. Call 798-6385 for more information. Kid’s Cooking Club 3:30 - 4:30pm Tuesdays. Children’s Museum. Learn new skills and explore fun seasonal recipes. Then savor the flavor of your hard work. Kids Cooking Club is sponsored by Harris
Teeter. Visit www.playwilmington.org for weekly themes and call 254-3534 to pre-register.
3 Wednesday Storytime and Music & Movement 9:30am; 10am; 10:30, Wednesdays. Myrtle Grove & Northeast Libraries. Babies up to 18 months at 9:30 are invited to bring an adult lap and enjoy up to 20 minutes of books, songs, fingerplays & rhymes. Toddlers 18 months to 3 years old are invited at 10am to 20 minutes of books, music, and pre-literacy activities in Story Place. Preschoolers aged 3 to 5 are invited at 10:30am to 20-30 minutes of books, music, and pre-literacy activities in our storytime room! Call 798-6303 for details. S.T.E.M. Explorations 10am & 3:30pm, Wednesdays. Children’s Museum. STEM programs explore Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics by applying them in fun, hands-on activities. Children will learn about the scientific process while measuring and recording in mathematical terms, developing critical thinking skills in the process. Please pre-register. Visit www. playwilmington.org for more information. Mini Monets Clay & Sculpture Art Class 4:15-5pm, Wednesdays. Carolina Beach Rec Center. Let’s get our hands dirty with clay! All projects will be handmade in different types of clay and sculpting materials. This session is a great opportunity to create art in three dimension. Visit www. minimonetsart.com or call 399-1708 for more information.
4 Thursday Storytime at the Library 9:30am; 10am; 10:30, Thursdays. Myrtle Grove & Northeast Libraries. Babies up to 18 months at 9:30 are invited to bring an adult lap and enjoy up to 20 minutes of books, songs, fingerplays & rhymes. Toddlers 18 months to 3 years old are invited at 10am to 20 minutes of books, music, and pre-literacy activities in Story Place. Preschoolers aged 3 to 5 are invited at 10:30am to 20-30 minutes of books, music, and pre-literacy activities in our storytime room! Call 798-6303 for details. Messy Hands Toddler Art 10am. Main Library. Toddlers and their adults will be intro-
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duced to a variety of hands-on art experiences. The focus of this program will be on child driven art exploration. Make sure you wear your play clothes! This program is designed for toddlers, 2’s and 3’s and their adults. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Registration is required.
Little Explorers: Everyday Shapes 10am. Cape Fear Museum Park. Explore the world around us with hands-on activities, experiments and fun in Museum Park! Enjoy interactive story time, exploration stations and play related to a weekly theme. In event of inclement weather, program moved inside. Perfect for children ages 3 to 6 and their adult helpers. Parental participation is required. FREE! Visit www.capefearmuseum.com for more information. StoryCOOKS 10am, Thursdays. Children’s Museum. A cooking club for preschoolers where we read a story and make a dish inspired by the book. Visit www.playwilmington.org for more information and weekly themes. Nature Navigators 3:30pm, Thursdays. Children’s Museum. Join us in exploring the beauty of the world around us! Nature Navigators will help foster a love of nature in children of all ages. From animal tracks to scavenger hunts come explore some North Carolinian nature with us! Ideal for ages 5 - 9. Visit www.playwilmington.org for more information.
5 Friday - Wear Red Day Toddler Time 10am, Fridays. Children’s Museum. No registration necessary. Projects and activities for our youngest visitors (ages 4 and under) and their special grownups to work on together. Call 2543534 or visit www.playwilmington.org for more information. Family Yoga Storytime 10:30am, Fridays. Main Library. Parents & children birth- 5 will have fun listening to stories while stretching and learning basic yoga postures with Miss Susan. Children must have an adult present. Wear comfortable clothing and bring a yoga mat or beach towel. No registration required! Call 798-6353 for more details. Baby Play! 11am, Fridays. Children’s Museum. No registration necessary. An informal playtime for babies to explore the world around them through hands-on discovery, sensory play, music, baby sign language, early creative experiences, and more! (Ideal for ages 6 - 18 months). Bienvenidos Amigos! 1:30, 2:30, 3:30pm, Fridays. Children’s Museum. Free with admission or membership (Ideal for ages 4 and up) – No registration necessary. This is a fun opportunity for children to learn basic Spanish phrases and vocabulary, while also having hands-on activities, such as science experiments, interactive storytelling, and crafts! Adventures in the Arts 3:30pm, Fridays. Children’s Museum. Please pre-register. Bring your child to express their creativity through various forms of art including but not limited to painting, sculpture, music, theater, dance, drawing, and printing. Visit www.playwilmington.org for details. Children’s Mardi Gras Masquerade 5-7pm. Children’s Museum. Dress up as fancy as you’d like and enjoy crafts such as making necklaces and shakers, decorate your very own mask, and dance the evening away in blue blocks with well-known Wilmington DJ, DJ Battle! The evening will end with a colorful parade where patrons can march, dance and make tons of noise for the celebration! Visit www.playwilmington.org for more information.
6 Saturday Silly Wonderful You Storytime 11am. Barnes & Noble, Mayfaire. Join us for Storytime and activities. From bestselling author Sherri Duskey Rinker and award-winning artist Patrick McDonnell comes this funny and
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tender love letter from a parent to a child. “Silly Wonderful You” expresses how life is so new and different and filled with love with a little one around. Call 509-1880 for details.
Super Saturday Fun Time 3pm Saturdays. TheatreNow. Join DOCK, the dog, and his twolegged friends as they uncover mysteries and discover artifacts (courtesy of Cape Fear Museum). Different adventure each week. Families welcome. $8/person. Visit www.theatrewilmington.com for tickets.
7 Sunday - Super Bowl Sunday Family Fun Day 9am - 5pm. Airlie Gardens. Visit the parks and Arboretum for a full day of family fun. Contact 798-7700 or visit www.airliegardens.org for more information. Residents Free Day - Cape Fear Museum 1 – 5pm. Cape Fear Museum. NHC residents are admitted free to the Museum the first Sunday of every month. Call 798-4350 or visit www.capefearmuseum.com for information.
8 Monday - Chinese New Year Natures Valentines 10am. Halyburton Park. Bring your “Little Explorers” ages 2-5 out to the park and discover nature through stories, songs, hands-on activities, hikes and crafts. Your children will delight in the many nature themes we explore each month. Space is limited and pre-registration is required for these popular programs. Registration required $3/participant. Call 341-0075. Mom to Mom: BYOB 1-2pm, Mondays. Main Library. Moms, bring baby/toddler to the library and discuss all things baby related with other moms. Parenting books and guest speakers will be available to help answer questions. During this hour it’s okay to: be late, nurse/feed baby, change diapers, and cry (baby or mom). Free 2-hour parking on ground floor of library parking deck. Contact Librarian (and new mom) Susan DeMarco at 7986301 for more details.
The Bump & Beyond is a place for families. Our entire inventory has been chosen with our own children in mind. We are very driven in providing local and US made items that are eco-friendly and safe. Our goal is to provide a fun and casual shopping atmosphere where moms can meet up for a class, let the kids play in the “Kids Only” area and pick up a few necessitates while they’re in.
The Bump & Beyond Wilmington's premiere mother, child, and baby boutique. #ShopLearnGrow 890 S. Kerr Ave. Wilmington NC 28403 910-769-6443 www.thebumpandbeyond.com
9 Tuesday Natures Valentines 10am. Halyburton Park. Bring your “Little Explorers” ages 2-5 out to the park and discover nature through stories, songs, hands-on activities, hikes and crafts. Your children will delight in the many nature themes we explore each month. Space is limited and pre-registration is required for these popular programs. Registration required $3/participant. Call 341-0075.
10 Wednesday
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Stuffed Animal Sleepover 5pm. Pleasure Island Branch Library. Bring a stuffed animal for a short storytime then leave your stuffed animal overnight at the library for a special stuffed animals only sleepover! They’ll enjoy special treats and games! You can pick them up the next day. Enjoy the pictures of their overnight fun on the library’s Facebook page. No RSVP’s required.
11 Thursday Little Explorers: Opposites Attract 10am. Cape Fear Museum Park. Explore the world around us with hands-on activities, experiments and fun in Museum Park! Enjoy interactive story time, exploration stations and play related to a weekly theme. In event of inclement weather, program moves inside. Perfect for children ages 3 to 6 and their adult helpers. Parental participation is required. FREE! Visit www.capefearmuseum.com for more information. LEGOS at the Library 3:30pm. Main Library. Create Lego structures by yourself or with a friend. Monthly theme challenges will be given at the beginning of each meeting. There are no fees, but registration is required. Sign up online, by phone, or in person. Due to choke hazards, this program recommended for ages 6 and up. Visit www.nhclibrary.org to register.
Wilmington Parent | February 2016 | 13
12 Friday
Now enrolling for 2016-17 Call for a tour (910) 367-0287 I www.jpawilmington.com I 7888 Market St
Saturday, March 12 Bring the whole family to dash down the beach and experience over 8 obstacles with various blast stations throughout! This family-friendly event is approximately 1.4 miles in length with obstacles geared for all ages and fitness levels! Learn Morewilmingtonfamilyymca.org/races
Bienvenidos Amigos! 1:30, 2:30, 3:30pm, Fridays. Children’s Museum. Free with admission or membership (ideal for ages 4 and up) – no registration necessary. This is a fun opportunity for children to learn basic Spanish phrases and vocabulary, while also having hands-on activities, such as science experiments, interactive storytelling, and crafts! Hugs and Fishes Valentine’s Sleepover 6pm. Fort Fisher Aquarium. What’s not to love about a night with sharks and hearts? The Aquarium transforms into a kidsonly zone Valentine’s Weekend. The Aquarium hosts “Hugs and Fishes Valentine’s Lock-In,” for children ages 5 to 12. Play games, make crafts and enjoy animal programs. When it’s time to settle down for the evening, the little ones will drift off in front of the Cape Fear Shoals with sharks, rays, schooling fish and a sea turtle lulling them to sleep. Trained Aquarium staff will supervise all activities. Visit www.ncaquariums.com/ fortfisher to register. The Snow Queen “a faery tale for a mid-winter’s eve” 8pm. Community Arts Center 2nd St. Stage. Inspired by the Hans Christian Anderson classic tale and book by Eileen Kernaghan. Adapted for the stage and directed by Cherri McKay this coming of age story is about best friends who learn that life does not stand still, winters turn to spring, young people become adults and friendship can turn into love. This re-telling of the classic tale blends adventure, humor and warmth with the music stylings from yesterday and today. An entertaining evening for the whole family or the perfect choice for date night. Presented by Journey P.E.T. Project & Cape Fear Shakespeare, Ltd. Visit www.wilmingtoncac.org for ticket information.
13 Saturday Wrightsville Beach Valentine 10K 9am. Wrightsville Beach Park. Celebrate love with the Wrightsville Beach Valentine 10K! This race consists of a 10K or a loop walk that begins in Wrightsville Beach Park. Runners can enjoy beautiful waterway views with their Valentines and are encouraged to wear red, white and pink! Call 256-7925 for more information. Family Science Saturday: Wonders of Light 10am-1pm. Cape Fear Museum. Why is the sky blue? What makes a rainbow? Discover the colors of light and make a colored shadow. Conduct fun mirror experiments and learn how light travels. Explore the mysteries of light and color and even make an object disappear! Parental participation required.10 AM: Preschool; 11 AM and 12 PM: Ages 5-14. Visit www. capefearmuseum.com for more information. Special Olympics Polar Plunge & 5K 11am. Carolina Beach. Run the 5K, walk in the 1 Mile All Abilities Fun Walk, take the Polar Plunge into the Atlantic Ocean, or do any combination of the three! If you only want to watch, become a spectator and join in on the fun with the bands, auction and much more. Visit www.pleasureislandnc.org for more information. Love Monster and the Last Chocolate Storytime 11am. Barnes & Noble, Mayfaire. Join us for a special Storytime featuring “Love Monster and the Last Chocolate.” Monster comes home from vacation and discovers a box of chocolates on his doorstep. He knows he should share it with his friends, but what if there’s none left for him after everyone has a piece? Activities and coloring to follow. Call 509-1880 for details. Engineering Explorations 1-4:30pm. UNCW Natural Sciences Trailer. During the month of February, we’ll be working with hydraulics and pneumatics to see how differently air and water behave under pressure. Learn how engineers harness their power to do useful work as you design and construct a device to lift a heavy load. Ages 6-7 & 8-9. Visit uncw.edu/youth/programs to register. MarineQuest Spring ArtSea Series 1:30-4:30pm. UNCW Center for Marine Science. Join MarineQuest this spring to express your inner artist in our fun filled Saturday Afternoon ArtSea Workshop series. This month we will focus on Plastic Ocean. Ages 7-9 & 10-12. Visit www.unce.edu/
14 | February 2016 | Wilmington Parent
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marinequest to register.
Hugs and Fishes Valentine’s Sleepover 6pm. Fort Fisher Aquarium. What’s not to love about a night with sharks and hearts? The Aquarium transforms into a kidsonly zone Valentine’s Weekend. The Aquarium hosts “Hugs and Fishes Valentine’s Lock-In,” for children ages 5 to 12. Play games, make crafts and enjoy animal programs. When it’s time to settle down for the evening, the little ones will drift off in front of the Cape Fear Shoals with sharks, rays, schooling fish and a sea turtle lulling them to sleep. Trained Aquarium staff will supervise all activities. Visit www.ncaquariums.com/ fortfisher to register. The Snow Queen “a faery tale for a mid-winter’s eve” 8pm. Community Arts Center 2nd St. Stage. See 02/12.
Childcare Listing Guide
14 Sunday - Valentine’s Day The Snow Queen “a faery tale for a mid-winter’s eve” 3pm. Community Arts Center 2nd St. Stage. See 02/12. North Carolina Symphony Concert 7:30pm. CFCC Humanities and Fine Arts Center. Featuring The Firebird including works by Handel: Music for the Royal Fireworks; Haydn: Symphony No. 59, “Fire”; Sean Shepherd: Blue Blazes; and Stravinsky: Suite from The Firebird. Conducted by Grant Llewellyn. Visit www.ncsymphony.org for ticket information.
15 Monday - President’s Day Railroad Storytime 10:30am. Wilmington Railroad Museum. Hear stories and enjoy creative activities in the Children’s Hall. $5/Family. Free/ Members. Call 763-2634 for more information.
16 Tuesday Tale Tuesdays 9:30am, Tuesdays. Manta’s Cuts Kids Salon, 1427 Military Cutoff Rd. The sunken pirate ship will be transformed into a storytime boat every Tuesday. Manta’s stylists will be entertaining visitors with fun stories, however, this will be no ordinary storytime. While one stylist reads tales of adventure our other stylists will be offering your children a free simple braid or a product styled look. At 10am the salon officially opens and stylists will be happy to perform any other services such as kids & adult haircuts or mommy and me pedicures. Call 239-9096 for details.
Childcare – Preschools
AAI Pharma Learning Center 2320 Scientific Park Drive Wilmington, NC 28405 910-254-7384 • denise.ward@aaipharma.om Ages 6 weeks-12 years. 5 star program with degreed teachers,low staff /child ratios, and a Project Approach based curriculum. Full day, After School and morning programs available. Childcare Network 8 convenient locations in Wilmington, Southport and Leland 866-521-KIDS • www.childcarenetwork.com Ages 6-weeks to 12-years The Children’s Schoolhouse Montessori 612 South College Rd. Wilmington, NC 28403 910-799-1531 • www.childrensschoolhouse.org Now enrolling students ages 3-5, for 2, 3, or 5 day programs. Jenkins Preschool Academy 7888 Market St. Wilmington, NC 28411 910-367-7210 • www.jpawilmington.com Half day programs 9am-12pm, 2 or 3 day classes for 2-3 yr. olds, 5-day programs for 4 y.o. And PreK
Friends School of Wilmington PreK 207 Pine Grove Drive, Wilmington, NC 28403 910-791-8221 • www.fsow.org A truly unique and desirable educational experience. Montessori teaching principles are used for preschool. Pax Natura Academy 4202 Wilshire Blvd. Wilmington, NC 910-791-2080 • www.childcarenetwork.net/159 Early Foundations Infant & Toddler Programs. Preschool for 2 & 3 yo. Kindergarten Prep for 4 & 5 yo. After School Program. Wilmington Christian Academy 1401 North College Road 910-791-4248 • www.wilmingtonchristian.com Ages 3 & up, WCA offers a year-round, full-day program including developmental, experiential & academic elements in a secure, faith-based environment.
17 Wednesday Preschool Math and Science Program 3:30pm. Northeast Library. Play, learn, and explore with your child. Math and science concepts will be introduced through interactive story times, hands-on science experiments and exploration stations. This program is designed for children between the ages of 3-6. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Registration is required. Snake and Turtle Feeding 4-4:30pm. Halyburton Park. Enjoy a brief presentation about the live animals on display in the Event Center and then watch them feed. At least one snake and a turtle will be fed during the demonstration. Ages 3 & up. $1/participant. Call 341-0075 to register.
18 Thursday Little Explorers: How My Body Moves 10am. Cape Fear Museum Park. Explore the world around us with hands-on activities, experiments and fun in Museum Park! Enjoy interactive story time, exploration stations and play related to a weekly theme. In event of inclement weather, program moved inside. Perfect for children ages 3 to 6 and their adult helpers. Parental participation is required. FREE! Visit www.capefearmuseum.com for more information. The Snow Queen “a faery tale for a mid-winter’s eve” 7:30pm. Community Arts Center 2nd St. Stage. See 02/12.
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Drop in childcare Porter’s Neck Playhouse 7946 Market Street #200 Wilmington, NC 28411 910-319-7879 • www.PNPlayhouse.com The Play House is a drop in play center that cares for children 12 months and older on an as needed, no reservation required, basis. Daily play involves lots of art, games, computers, pretend play, dancing, relay races, movies (sometimes), puzzles and story time. No matter what time of day you stop in your child will have a great time! Promise. After school care available. Weekly and monthly packages available.
Parents Night Out Carolina Gymnastics Academy 3529 Carolina Beach Rd. Wilmingon, NC 28412 910-796-1896 www.carolinagymnasticsacademy.com Friday & Saturday night, 6-10pm, for ages 3 – 10.
The Little Gym of Wilmington 132 Racine Drive, Unit 1, Wilmington, NC 238403 910-799-3771 • www.tlgwilmingtonnc.com 3-12 years. The Little Gym of Wilmington Parentsʼ Survival Nights lets you enjoy some adult time to see a movie, catch up with friends or enjoy a meal. We schedule Parentsʼ Survival Nights for select Friday and Saturday evenings.
Wilmington Parent | February 2016 | 15
19 Friday
Photo credit: Ashley T. Clemmer
Planetarium Pajama Party 6-8pm. Cape Fear Museum. $5 Admission. Enjoy bedtime stories under the stars in the Museum’s digital planetarium! Children and parents will explore the night sky, make star pictures, and sing star songs. Pajamas and blankies are encouraged and kids are welcome to bring their favorite bedtime stuffed animal. Perfect for children ages 3 to 6 and their adult helpers. Parental participation is required. Space is limited to 50; participants must pre-register by calling 910-798-4362 or email cfmprograms@nhcgov.com. The Snow Queen “a faery tale for a mid-winter’s eve” 8pm. Community Arts Center 2nd St. Stage. See 02/12.
20 Saturday Purple Carpet Event: Hope in LIFE 10am-2pm. Port City Community Church. This special event is for children with life threatening illnesses and their families to come and have fun. The day includes lunch, games, a magic show, and more and is completely free to families. The goal is to give the families a day without worry about doctor appointments and bills, but a day of fun! Call 612-2334 for more information.
Photo credit: M Peterson
Peter Rabbit Storytime 11am. Barnes & Noble, Mayfaire. Join us on for a special Storytime in celebration of the 150th Anniversary of Peter Rabbit. We will be reading “The Classic Tale of Peter Rabbit: And Other Cherished Stories.” Activities will round out the fun. Call 509-1880 for details. Engineering Explorations 1-4:30pm. UNCW Natural Sciences Trailer. During the month of February, we’ll be working with hydraulics and pneumatics to see how differently air and water behave under pressure. Learn how engineers harness their power to do useful work as you design and construct a device to lift a heavy load. Ages 10-11 & 12-14. Visit uncw.edu/youth/programs to register. The Snow Queen “a faery tale for a mid-winter’s eve” 8pm. Community Arts Center 2nd St. Stage. See 02/12.
24 Wednesday Friends School of Wilmington Open House 10-11am. FSOW, 207 Pine Grove Dr. Ages 18 months-2nd grade. We welcome the opportunity to introduce you to Friends School of Wilmington at our Open House events. Tour the campuses and grounds, visit classrooms, and meet dedicated faculty, administrators and current parents. Visit www.fsow.org for more information.
25 Thursday Little Explorers: Fur and Feathers - Rolling With Ramps 10am. Cape Fear Museum Park. Explore the world around us with hands-on activities, experiments and fun in Museum Park! Enjoy interactive story time, exploration stations and play related to a weekly theme. In event of inclement weather, program moved inside. Perfect for children ages 3 to 6 and their adult helpers. Parental participation is required. FREE! Visit www.capefearmuseum.com for more information. Technology Tools that Support Students 6pm. UNCW. A free workshop provided by The Hill School of Wilmington, designed for parents. This workshop can help parents weed through the hundreds of apps and devices promoted to serve student learning. A practical approach to proven strategies and tools will be introduced and demonstrated. Also provides ideas on ways to take the stress out of overwhelming assignments and to help students utilize their individual strengths will be presented. Register at www.HillSchoolofWilmington.org.
26 Friday
The Snow Queen “a faery tale for a mid-winter’s eve” 3pm. Community Arts Center 2nd St. Stage. See 02/12.
101 Dalmatians 7pm. Community Arts Center, 2nd St. Stage. Thalian Association Youth Theatre presents 101 Dalmatians at the Hannah Block Historic USO/Community Arts Center in downtown Wilmington, NC. The production is directed by Thom Behm and choreographed by Tina Leak & Katie Auletti-Smith. Visit www. wilmingtoncommunityarts.org for ticket information.
22 Monday
27 Saturday
ABC’s of Nature 10am. Halyburton Park. Bring your “Little Explorers” ages 2-5 out to the park and discover nature through stories, songs, hands-on activities, hikes and crafts. Your children will delight in the many nature themes we explore each month. Space is limited and pre-registration is required for these popular programs. Registration required $3/participant. Call 341-0075.
Dr. Seuss’s Birthday Celebration Storytime 11am. Barnes & Noble, Mayfaire. Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss! Join us in celebrating the beloved Dr. Seuss’s birthday (March 2). At this fun celebration you can pin the tail on Horton, decorate your own Cat in the Hat hat and more. Don’t miss out on this fun-filled Storytime! Call 509-1880 for details.
21 Sunday
Photo credit: Stella McTaggart
Friends School of Wilmington Open House 12:30-1:30pm. FSOW, 350 Peiffer Ave. Grades 3-8. We welcome the opportunity to introduce you to Friends School of Wilmington at our Open House events. Tour the campuses and grounds, visit classrooms, and meet dedicated faculty, administrators and current parents. Visit www.fsow.org for more information.
Mom to Mom: BYOB 1-2pm, Mondays. Main Library. Moms, bring baby/toddler to the library and discuss all things baby related with other moms. Parenting books and guest speakers will be available to help answer questions. During this hour it’s okay to: be late, nurse/feed baby, change diapers, and cry (baby or mom). Free 2 hour parking on ground floor of library parking deck. Contact Librarian (and new mom) Susan DeMarco at 798-6301 for more details.
23 Tuesday ABC’s of Nature 10am. Halyburton Park. Bring your “Little Explorers” ages 2-5 out to the park and discover nature through stories, songs, hands-on activities, hikes and crafts. Your children will delight in the many nature themes we explore each month. Space is limited and pre-registration is required for these popular programs. Registration required $3/participant. Call 341-0075.
101 Dalmatians 7pm. Community Arts Center, 2nd St. Stage. See 02/26.
28 Sunday 101 Dalmatians 3pm. Community Arts Center, 2nd St. Stage. See 02/26.
29 Monday Mom to Mom: BYOB 1-2pm, Mondays. Main Library. Moms, bring baby/toddler to the library and discuss all things baby related with other moms. Parenting books and guest speakers will be available to help answer questions. During this hour it’s okay to: be late, nurse/ feed baby, change diapers, and cry (baby or mom). Free 2 hour parking on ground floor of library parking deck. Contact Librarian (and new mom) Susan DeMarco at 798-6301 for more details.
To submit events to the calendar, please email calendar.wilmingtonparent@gmail.com. Deadline for submissions to the March issue is February 9, 2016. 16 | February 2016 | Wilmington Parent
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Plan a Leap Year Adventure By Sara Marchessault
E
very four years we get an extra day added to the calendar – February 29th. This year it’s a Monday. This day is not always on our calendar and it could be considered extra time, or a gift of time.
Leap day can be special by baking or cooking together. Invite your young chef to learn how to make his or her favorite meal and enjoy some quality time together.
Before this day is filled with normal routines, it’s fun to consider that we could take a small “leap” and do something out of the ordinary. We still have responsibilities – work, school, homework – but in order to enjoy this gift of time we can step outside of our routine for a few hours. Here are ten ideas to help you get started – use one or two or think of your own.
Eat new foods. If your kids are a little bit older, or have an adventurous
Outdoor adventure. It’s February and a lot of places are still cold and
you’ve lived in the same city for a long time, but moved to a new neighborhood or your kids have switched school. Visit a place that you’ve been before but rarely go back to – a playground with a great swing set, a walk down a favorite street, a church you used to go to, or even the kids section of the library. Choose a place that you feel good about visiting and are eager to return to.
dark by 4:30pm. It’s not always easy to squeeze an outdoor adventure into the afternoon. Between getting home from school, snacks, unpacking bags, etc. we run out of time quickly. Leap day could be the day that the adventure is made a priority. It’s a special day. Head outside for an hour or two in the afternoon. Explore your neighborhood. Look at what bugs you can find. Climb trees. Then go inside and have hot chocolate afterward.
Craft day. My kids love it when they wake up in the morning, or come home from school, to find what we call “the art sheet” on the floor. We put our kid-size table on top of the sheet and break out the craft supplies. Colored paper, scissors, glue, glitter, pipe cleaners, hole punchers…anything that we have comes out on craft day. The table is left out for most of the day and they can come and go as they please. We listen to music and talk, take breaks for food, and at the end of the day, they are proud of what they’ve created. And the time we’ve spent together is well worth the mess.
Cook with the kids. A lot of kids probably don’t get to spend a whole lot of time in the kitchen. Between school, homework, and extracurricular activities, kids are just as busy as parents with ten to twelve hour days. www.wilmingtonparent.com
palette at any age, this could be a fun day to try a new ethnic meal. See what you can find in your community for a meal experience you or the kids have never had before. Try Ethiopian, Indian, French, or Hawaiian. Ask lots of questions and enjoy your time together.
Return to an old stomping ground. This can be especially fun if
Start a new routine. Is there anything that you, or your family as a whole, committed to establishing or starting at the start of the New Year, and now has fizzled out? Use February 29th as your chance to reassess and recommit. Any of these suggestions can be combined with special treats or snacks (think hot cocoa and popcorn for the kiddos, lattes or tea for mom and dad), gadget free time, or getting together with another family. Whatever you choose to do, enjoy your gift of extra time – it won’t “leap” back around for another four years. v Sara Marchessault is a writer and coach. Her work helps clients to more fully experience joy in their daily life. Sara is an avid diarist and keeper of her family’s stories. These days her journals are getting lots of details about playing with her kids and the awesome ups and downs of being a mom. Learn more about her work at saramarchessault.com.
Wilmington Parent | February 2016 | 17
fit family
Go Red For Women Support Go Red For Women by participating in National Wear Red Day® on Friday, February 5, 2016 and donating to help fund research during American Health Month. Why Go Red? Heart disease and stroke cause 1 in 3 deaths among women each year, killing approximately one woman every 80 seconds. Fortunately, we can change that because 80 percent of cardiac and stroke events may be prevented with education and action. That’s why this year we are asking that you wear red on National Wear Red Day® and Donate to Go Red For Women. By doing so you help support educational programs to increase women’s awareness and critical research to discover scientific knowledge about cardiovascular health. And don’t forget to make your heart health a priority. Schedule your Well-Woman Visit, a prevention check-up to review a woman’s overall health so her doctor can measure blood pressure, check cholesterol and look for signs of heart disease, stroke and other illnesses. Then encourage others through your social channels to do the same using the hashtags, #GoRedWearRed and #WellWomenVisit. Visit www.goredforwomen.org for more information.
Lose Weight and Win Free Food To celebrate the launch of MyFitnessPal’s new restaurant logging feature, Panera Bread® and MyFitnessPal have teamed up to give one lucky person a free year of Panera! Download the MyFitnessPal app for Android or Apple and enter to win at http://blog.myfitnesspal.com/winpanera. The MyFitnessPal is a free health and fitness app with a fast and easy to use calorie counter. Using this app you can track your diet and exercise in less than 5 minutes a day. If you are one of the many who received an Apple Watch this Christmas, the MyFitnessApp is now available for your wrist. To make logging calories easier there is a fast food entry method that remembers your favorites, allows you to add multiple foods at once, save and add entire meals, and now there is a restaurant logging feature. If you are already using a fitness app, you can connect with over 50 devices and apps including Fitbit, Jawbone UP, Garmin, MapMyFitness, Runkeeper, Strava, Runtastic, Misfit, Withings, Healthkit, and more! How it works: Download the app and fill out some basic information The app creates a personalized diet and exercise program just for you Start tracking your meals and exercise and gain insights so you can make healthier choices MyFitnessApp also has a social option that allows you to connect with friends and easily track and motivate each other, or meet new friends from the MyFitnessPal community!
Healthy Strawberry Valentine’s Day Treats Strawberry Heart Fruit Kabobs Hull a few large strawberries and cut them in half from top to bottom. Place the berry halves cut-side down on a cutting board and push a small heart-shaped cutter straight down through them to make perfect little hearts. Thread the berry hearts onto a skewer, alternating with grapes, blueberries, Mandarin orange wedges or other small pieces of fruit. Strawberry Cream Cheese Heart Sandwiches Strawberry cream cheese is a grocery store staple, but it can be high in sugar. This homemade version of the spread comes together quickly and bursts with strawberry flavor. To make strawberry cream cheese, combine 4 oz. of 1/3 less fat cream cheese, 5 or 6 chopped strawberries, and one teaspoon of brown sugar. Combine the ingredients by squishing them together with a fork until the mixture is fairly smooth and an even pink color.Cut two heart shapes from a piece of whole wheat bread with a 2 inch heart cutter. Cut another heart from the center of one of the bread pieces with a smaller cutter. Spread a layer of the cream cheese on the solid heart and top with the second piece so some of the pretty, pink cream cheese peeks through. This recipe will make several small sandwiches. If you don’t use it all immediately, it stores well sealed in an air-tight container for a couple days in the refrigerator. Source: www.modernparentsmessykids.com
18 | February 2016 | Wilmington Parent
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Valentine’s Day Family Fun By Christa Melnyk Hines
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alentine’s Day isn’t just for couples in the heady throes of young love. Deliver sweet somethings to every important person in your life. Here’s the plan for a perfectly playful V-Day for the whole family.
Create a Sweet Tweets jar. Decorate a mason jar for your child. On slips of paper, write adjectives or short sentences in 140 characters or less that describe traits you most appreciate, admire and love about him or her. Hunt for Cupid’s treasure. Challenge your kids to a scavenger hunt. Give them clues on a trail of paper hearts or cupid cut-outs. One clue leads to the next until they find a Valentine’s Day surprise. Check online for scavenger hunt clue ideas.
Play the Queen of Hearts. Ace V-Day by sending love notes in a pack of red playing cards for your beloved. Punch holes in the corner of each card. On paper squares, write down 52 reasons why you love or appreciate him. Paste each sentiment in the middle of a playing card. Title the deck “I love you because...” and paste it on the top card. Attach the cards with a c-clip.
Toy with chemistry. Put candy conversation hearts to the test. Gather vinegar, salt water, tap water and bleach (with adult guidance). Place a candy heart in four bowls. Ask your child to hypothesize about what will happen when each liquid is dropped over the candy. Using an eye dropper, test her theory. How does the candy react to different liquids? Did your young chemist’s predictions prove true?
Valentine’s Day, mom of four, Alexis Sanchez posts a heart-shaped note on her kids’ doors each night after they go to bed. By Valentine’s Day, their doors are covered. “Usually it’s just characteristics I see in them or ways that they’re kind to others. They really love this, “ Sanchez says.
Get those hearts pumping. Using a poster board, make a grid of nine different exercises (sit-ups, somersaults, jumping jacks, pushups, etc). Players take turns tossing a beanbag (or other item) onto the grid. Then they rolling the dice to see how many times they have to do the exercise that their beanbag landed on. For more ideas, check out 12345 Fit-Tastic! on Pinterest, a healthy lifestyles initiative for families. v
Send a singing telegram. Video your preschooler singing a ditty like: “I made this little valentine; Of red, white and blue; I made this little valentine; Especially for you!” (point at the camera). Email the file to grandparents or another relative your youngster is crazy about.
Freelance journalist, Christa Melnyk Hines and her beloved Valentine of nearly 20 years share their hearts and home with two active children, a pair of nutty dogs and a cricket-lovin’ lizard. Christa is the author of Happy, Healthy & Hyperconnected: Raise a Thoughtful Communicator in a Digital World.
“Attack” them with hearts. On each of the thirteen days leading up to
Make a Heart-Shaped Bird Feeder
Ingredients: 3/4 c. flour 1/2 c. water 1 envelope unflavored gelatin 3 tbsp corn syrup 4 cups of birdseed
Directions: 1. Stir the ingredients together in a bowl. 2. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or waxed paper.
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3. Spray the inside of a heart-shaped cookie cutter with non-stick cooking spray. 4. Place the cookie cutter onto the lined cookie sheet and press the birdseed mixture into the cookie cutter. Spray cooking spray on your hands to help keep the mixture from sticking. 5. Use a chopstick to poke a hole in the upper center of the heart. 6. Remove the cookie cutter. 7. Let the hearts sit overnight. 8. Thread a ribbon through each heart and hang on a tree. Source: www.wineandglue.com
Wilmington Parent | February 2016 | 19
Lattitude Longitude 34.236575 -77.954144
Great Winter Party Ideas By Michelle Shirk
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elebrating your children’s milestones is one of the best parts of being a parent. Unfortunately, kids with winter birthdays may feel like they have fewer options for fun than their friends who were born in milder weather. Don’t worry – below you’ll find a roundup of seasonally appropriate party ideas guaranteed to be just as much fun as an outdoor pool party!
Craft Store – An inside birthday venue is a safe bet during the winter months, and local craft stores have party options in most stores. Michaels Craft Store has themed parties, or design your own party. They provide an associate to lead the craft activities and there are options for preschool aged children up to teens.
To learn more, visit battleshipnc.com/visit/birthdayparty or call 910-251-5797, ext. 3024
Active Affair - Would you rather see young party guests moving than sitting? Kiddie gyms and gymnastic facilities will often provide action-packed party itineraries filled with games and activities. Our local YMCA and YWCA open their pools and gyms to party groups during designated hours.
Skating Soiree – Embrace the season by planning your celebration at the ice rink. When it’s time for refreshments, offer guests a hot chocolate bar featuring tasty toppings like whipped cream, flavored marshmallows and chocolate sprinkles. Book a couple of lanes, order some pizza,then let the friendly competition begin! Many alleys also have optional bumpers and lighter weight balls, guaranteeing that even young partygoers get a chance at a decent score.
Museum Mania – Combine fun and learning by holding your child’s party at one of Wilmington’s local museums. Cape Fear Museum, Cameron Art Museum, and the Children’s Museum all have party options that will keep everyone busy and warm inside. USN
SPECIAL SECTION: Party Guide
Bowling Bash – For good-old fashioned fun and value, it’s tough to beat this classic party idea.
Movie Night – Even in this age of Netflix and Amazon Prime, heading out to see a movie still feels like a special outing. Planning your child’s party at a movie theater ensures both entertainment and snacks will be covered. Potential party picks for winter 2016 include “Snowtime” (February 19), Disney’s “Zootopia” (March 4th). Browse www.imdb.com for more ideas and release dates. Overnight Excursion – For a child who prefers one-on-one fun to large group gatherings, an overnight hotel stay with family members or a single close friend may be the perfect solution. The birthday boy or girl will have a blast swimming in the hotel indoor pool and raiding the vending machines. A single night in a moderately priced hotel may even cost less than a traditional party! v Michelle Shirk is an attorney and freelance writer. She writes about family, travel and seasonal events for parenting publications throughout the United States.
Toddler Tuesday $7 all day Offering all new bounce and obstacle inflatables, a toddler only soft play zone and toddler only bouncer and obstacle course, redemption games, snack bar, birthday parties, group and fundraising events.
Book your party online today!
4310 Shipyard Blvd. Ste. 101 Wilmington, NC 28403
www.bounce-wilmington.com 910-769-1080 20 | February 2016 | Wilmington Parent
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Have your party with us and play in 12,000 NEW purple pit blocks!
Double Up On Birthday Fun:
Only YOUR party is in the gym with you!
Pair Parties for More Fun and Less Work By Malia Jacobson
Get Input The first step to a successful double party: Ask the kids involved if it’s what they want (if kids are too young to ask, it’s probably a safe bet that they don’t mind sharing the spotlight). Parents shouldn’t assume that all kids necessarily want a combined party. And some children with very different temperaments—one who’s a scene-stealer, and another who’s more retiring, for example—may not make compatible party-mates. If the guests of honor are on board, give both kids equal say in planning decisions.
Register Online:
www.carolinagymnasticsacademy.com 3529 Carolina Beach Road • 910-796-1896
Theme Scheme If the birthday kids can’t agree on a theme, don’t choose—let each child pick a theme, and use both. Instead of deciding between two themes, the family can have separate decorations and a cake for each child in different rooms of the house.
Gift Guidelines Buying double the birthday gifts can cause sticker shock for some guests. To ensure that people aren’t disinclined from attending because of the burden of purchasing two gifts, consider specifying simple gifts, or setting a no-gift policy. Book exchanges, where each guest brings a book to exchange in lieu of a gift, are a popular way to skirt the gift issue.
Solo Spotlight Even at a combined party, kids should still feel special at their birthday shindig. Two birthday cakes are a must, as well as taking turns being first during games and activities. Double parties can be a blast, but they’re not for everyone. Sibling rivalry can be intense during certain times in a child’s development—do parents want to put up with more sibling bickering during what’s supposed to be a fun event? Solo birthday parties also give kids in large families a rare chance to be the center of attention. But for many kids, double parties mean double the fun. So set a budget, set realistic expectations, get both birthday kids involved in planning, and get ready for a double-dose of frosting-fueled birthday memories. v Malia Jacobson is a nationally published freelance writer and mom. She blogs about sleep and family health at www.thewellrestedfamily.com.
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or a double-scoop of fun at your child’s next birthday, why not host a dual party? Combined parties for siblings, cousins, or friends with close birthdays are a growing trend. With kids’ parties becoming bigger, grander affairs, double parties let moms share the workload and the expense of birthday festivities. Think a double-decker party might work for your family? Here’s how to host a sweet soiree that your child (or children) will cherish for years.
Birthday Party Listings 10 years running!
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NoSleevesMagic.com birthday parties for teens
60 Minutes. Can you Escape? Clock's ticking... 5747a Oleander Drive, Wilmington, NC
new downtown location opens Feb. 29
910-769-4926 www.capefearescaperoom.com
Fairytales and Dreams by the Sea Princess and Superhero Parties and Events
10% off when you mention this ad
www.fairytalesanddreamsbythesea.com 910.368.7385 • #fadbts
will travel to any location 22 | February 2016 | Wilmington Parent
Party Places Battleship North Carolina #1 Battleship Road, Wilmington 910-251-5797 www .battleshipnc.com
For kids of all ages, the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA is the best place in Wilmington to hold your next birthday party. You will instantly become the coolest parent as your party will be the most talked about among all the children. For only $200** you will receive the following: * A private space onboard the ship for two hours. * Admission for the birthday child and his/her guests (including adults). * A sailor hat and a Battleship t-shirt. * Tables and chairs. **This fee does not include any food, drinks, or decorations.**
Bounce Parties & Games 4310 Shipyard Blvd. Suite 101 Wilmington, NC 28403 910-763-1080 www.Bounce-Wilmington.com
We have 7 bounce houses and obstacle courses including a toddler only bounce house and a soft play toddler zone along with an arcade with prizes! Parties include a unlimited time on the bouncers, a private party room for two hours, a personal party host, pizza, drinks and many other add-ons are available for your convenience. Check out our website for more info!
Cape Fear Escape Room Contact: Kim Wilt 5747a Oleander Drive, Wilmington, NC 28403 910-769-4926 hello@capefearescaperoom.com www.capefearescaperoom.com
Cape Fear Escape Room is Wilmington’s first real life exit room experience. The concept is simple: as a team, you must work together to uncover clues, find hidden keys, solve puzzles, and escape the room. But watch out. Distractions are everywhere and nothing is what it seems. This high adrenaline adventure will test all your skills. You have just 60 minutes to solve the mystery. Can you escape the room?
Carolina Gymnastics Academy Contact: Michele Zapple/Rebecca Bishop 3529 Carolina Beach Road Wilmington, NC 28412 910-796-1896 www.carolinagymnasticsacademy.com Have your child’’s PRIVATE party at Carolina Gymnastics Academy, and leave the entertainment and supervision to us! Your party is the ONLY party in the
gym! For the first hour, children can play in the gym, use the inflatables, swing on the rings, jump on the trampoline, and play in our 2 foam block pits. After that, you have a half hour in the party room to enjoy your birthday cake. We provide the facility, coaches, tables, maps/invitations, and goodie bags; you provide whatever food, drink, paper products, and decorations that you want. Cost of the party is $250, payable upon reservation. Parties are non-refundable 2 weeks prior to date. There is a $50 cancellation fee with 2 week notice. Click on “View Monthly Events Calendar” to book online, or call the gym. 30 children MAXIMUM! Due to time constraints, we do not open presents at the gym.
Coastal Therapy Partners contact: Holly 6770 Parker Farm Drive #102, Wilmington NC 28405 910-679-8385 Marissa@coastaltherapypartners.com www.coastaltherapypartners.com
Coastal Therapy Partners is a multi-disciplinary company who treats all ages in the areas of Speech-Language Pathology and Occupational Therapy. We have multiple locations across the southeast region. We strive to provide a whole-hearted, caring, team approach and seek to provide the best therapeutic programs and approaches. We are excited to build lasting relationships as we promote superior care! We offer rental of the gym and space up to full service parties. The party rental will include an hour and a half room rental, cake and clean up. You can also choose to rent the gym for an hour and a half with clean up. Contact us for rates.
Hullbaloo contact person: Amber Lee 16717 Highway 17N STE 210, Hampstead, NC 28443 910-821-1250 info@hullabalooplay.com www.hullabalooplay.com
Offering a variety of birthday party options from play to themed parties! Choose from endless themes such as Tea Parties, Super Hero Parties, Nerf Gun Wars, Science Parties, Pirate Parties and more! Add a super-hero or princess character to your party for even more excitemen
Jonkheer Jewelry 4410 Wrightsville Avenue 910-523-5208 Jonkheerjewelry@gmail.com
Custom jewelry making /art birthday party for 5-10 children www.wilmingtonparent.com
North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher 900 Loggerhead Rd. Kure Beach, N.C. www.ncaquariums.com/fort-fisher 910-458-8257 910-772-0530 – Onsite Parties 910-772-0509 – Offsite Parties
Manta’s Cuts Kids Salon 1427 Military Cutoff Rd, Unit 102 Wilmington, NC 28403 910-239-9096 contact@mantascuts.com www.mantascuts.com www.facebook.com/mantascuts
Manta’s Cuts is your new and unique birthday or party spot. We currently have parties for princesses, divas, rock stars, pirates, scientists, magicians and aquanauts. Plus, we offer a ton of additions so you can easily and fully customize any of our party packages for the best birthday party your child can imagine. Think limo pick up service, 3D sculpted birthday cakes, a parent “party” zone, costumed character visit, dress up box, filling eats, and much more. Our standard parties last about 1.5-2 hours and include; digital invites, themed salon decorations, decorated party table, juice boxes and water, small goody-bags, and a take-home mylar balloon for the guest of honor. If you check out our website and do not see the perfect match give us a call or e-mail us and we can probably make some incredible modifications to create a dream worthy birthday party!
The Little Gym of Wilmington 132 Racine Drive, Unit 1 Wilmington, NC 28403 910-799-3771 tlgwilmingtonnc@thelittlegym.com
Birthdays only happen once a year, so let us make your child’s day extra special with an Awesome Birthday Bash at The Little Gym! Princess, pirates, dance party ...we cater to you! Book your party today! Also offering classes for children 4 months to 12 years old!
Power of Play 6644 Gordon Road Wilmington, NC 910-332-1660 www.wilmingtonparent.com
For ages 1-11 Play time for your birthday party includes an indoor jungle gym, play sets, climbing walls, tire swings, trike track and 12 imagination stations. Parties are two hours and include a private party room, party host, pizza, drinks and many other add ons for your convenience. Check out our website for more info!
TheatreNOW Contact: Alisa Harris 19 South 10th Street Wilmington, NC 28401 910-399-3669 info@theatrewilmington.com www.theatrewilmington.com
TheatreNOW offers custom kid’s birthday parties for all ages. Super Saturday Fun Time party packages are great for ages 4-10 and features our awardwinning kid’s show “Super Saturday Fun Time” with live music, live theater, videos and more. Super Saturday Fun Time packages start at just $7 per child. Let us customize a show or event for your next party or join us for Super Saturday Fun Time!
Wilmington School of Ballet Dance Studio 3834 Oleander Drive Wilmington, NC 28403 910-794-9590 www.wilmingtonschoolofballet.com
The Princess Palace is an enchanted place that makes every little girl feel like royalty. The magic begins when you walk through the Palace doors and meet your favorite princess. The Palace provides you with the opportunity to not only make your daughter feel like the princess she has grown up watching, but also allows you to fully enjoy and cherish every memorable moment! Allow us to take the lead and do the work for you. Let us take a journey together and see what fun lies ahead at the Princess Palace. Choose a princess from Elsa, Anna, & Cinderella (Belle coming soon!) and a package and start making dreams come true.
Awesome Birthday Bash! Princess, pirate, dance party ... we cater to you! Book your party today! Also offering classes for children 4 months to 12 years old!
The Little Gym of Wilmington
132 Racine Drive, Unit 1 Wilmington, NC 28403
www.tlgwilmingtonnc.com 910-799-3771
Party at Your Place Fairytales and Dreams by the Sea Contact: Megan Creech Based in Wilmington, will travel to you 910-368-7385 Fairytalesanddreamsbythesea.com bookings@fairytalesanddreamsbythesea.com Facebook.com/fairytalesanddreamsbythesea Instagram: @fairytalesanddreamsbythesea #fabdts #fairytalesanddreamsbythesea We offer princesses, superheroes, and fairytale characters for all occasions! Serving all of NC and SC, our princesses bring magic to parties all year long. Let us sprinkle our special brand of pixie dust on your next occasion! We have packages for girls and boys and options for every budget including military discounts and monthly specials! This is a great option for both party entertainment or a magical gift to someone on a special occasion!
Birthday Parties Open Play Drop In Care After School Care Intersession & Summer Camp Open 7 days a week!
www.PowerofPlayWilmington.com
910-332-1660
powerofplaywilm@yahoo.com 6644 Gordon Road Wilmington, NC
Home of Playnation of Wilmington Wilmington Parent | February 2016 | 23
SPECIAL SECTION: Party Guide
Aquarium Parties! Celebrate your child’s special day with a birthday party at the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher. Program birthdays include a T-shirt craft with T-shirts and all art supplies included, a live animal presentation, use of the Aquarium’s classroom and a self-guided tour of the Aquarium. You can choose the following themes for a live animal presentation: Amphibians – Frogs, toads, salamanders, Reptiles - Turtles, alligators, snakes, Invertebrates – Sea urchins, starfish, crabs. Time Length: 2 hours. Parties are recommended for ages 4-10. Call for pricing. Aquarium Outreach Programs - Let our education staff bring a fun, interactive program to your classroom or other location. Each program is specifically adapted to fit your needs, customized for age, size and focus of your group. Live animals, props, hands-on learning activities and costumes make Aquarium Outreach parties enriching for groups of all ages. Please contact Special Activities Coordinator at 910-7720530 for onsite parties or our Outreach Coordinator at 910-772-0509 for offsite parties.
www.PowerofPlayWilmington.com
Mini Monets Mini Monets Birthdays Greater Wilmington Area 910-399-1708 www.minimonetsart.com www.Facebook.com/Minimonets
Does your artist have a birthday coming up? Why not celebrate with an art project designed by your artist! Art projects range from clay sculptures to painting on canvas. Mini Monets will come to your party, bring all of the supplies and materials, and the party guests get to keep what they make. Children 2-12 years old enjoy projects and the cost starts at $12.00 per artist. Please call or email for more details. I look forward to celebrating with you soon!
North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher 900 Loggerhead Rd. Kure Beach, N.C. www.ncaquariums.com/fort-fisher 910-458-8257 910-772-0509 – Offsite Parties See listing in Party Places
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Port City Xtreme Contact: Bradley Carter Address: Mobile 910-859-GAME (4263) portcityxtreme@gmail.com www.portcityxtreme.com
Port City Xtreme – Wilmington’s Ultimate Mobile Video Game Truck – bringing the best idea in entertainment for birthday parties, school and
1427 Military Cutoff Rd, Unit 102 www.mantascuts.com • 910.239.9096 •
church events, fundraisers, corporate parties, family reunions and more! Serving New Hanover County, Brunswick and Pender County from our Wilmington location.
Wow Factor of Wilmington Contact: Mr. Ray or Joey K. 107 Cinema Drive, Wilmington NC 28403 910-520-7925 wowfactorofwilmington@gmail.com wowfactorofwilmington.com
We offer family fun,interactive entertainment, inflatable water slides, bounce houses and themed birthday parties with a visit from your favorite Super Hero or Princess. Wow!
Party Entertainers No Sleeves Magic 910-200-5300 www.nosleevesmagic.com
Voted Wilmington’s Best Party Entertainer since 2006! If you want to give your child one of the craziest and most FUNnominal Parties they will never forget, then take a RUN on the Wacky-Side with No Sleeves Magic. We provide an adrenaline rush of Magic mixed with comedy that’s great for the whole family. Some party packages include tricks, games & more! So, Sit Back, Relax and Laugh, while No Sleeves makes your event a success!To find out which package is best for you, contact one of our PARTYOLOGISTS or visit our website. We have different themes to suit your event and even offer magic telegrams as well as summer magic camps programs.
KIDS SALON
Find more resources at www.wilmingtonparent.com
24 | February 2016 | Wilmington Parent
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Birthday Party Crafts By Danielle Villegas
Handcrafted Jewelry and Art Birthday parties
Jonkheer jewelry 910.523.5208
Custom T-shirts There are many varieties of kids’ craft T-shirts, and whichever one you choose, it’s a smart idea to ask children to bring their own blank shirts to the party. Otherwise, you risk running out of certain sizes and spending a lot of money purchasing them. Four- to 6-year-olds will probably do better with fabric painted shirts. Visit www.favecrafts.com/Shirts/11-Creative-T-Shirt-Crafts-for-Kids-and-Teens for stencil, tie dye, and fabric paint t-shirt ideas.
Come Party with US! Visit Us at wowfactorofwilmington.com Or Call (910)520-7925
Craft Projects that Focus on Recycling Kids are a lot more environmentally savvy these days, and crafts that showcase Earth friendly practices like repurposing are timely and almost certain to inspire an enthusiastic response. Even better, you can start gathering the materials weeks or even months ahead, and many of them won’t cost you a cent. Visit http://lifestyle.howstuffworks.com/crafts/recycled/projects for project ideas.
Memorable Magnets Magnets are a solid bet for children’s parties since they’re things that parents can enjoy and easily display. For the host, the great part about craft magnets is their versatility; you can think up some kind of magnet art that will fit most common birthday party themes. For example, kids can make sea creature magnets for an ocean-themed party or T-rexes for a dinosaur theme. Crafts magnet supplies can be purchased in bulk for just a few dollars at http://factorydirectcraft.com.
Kaleidoscopes These neat gizmos are especially suitable for older age groups since they require more advanced cutting skills and involve more detailed directions. You can find many variations for constructing kids’ kaleidoscopes online, but here are a few supplies you will need: 3 small mirrors of the same size, tape, waxed paper, pencil, scissors, construction paper (multiple colors).
Nature Crafts One big advantage to using natural materials in crafts is that pine cones, flowers, stones and seeds all have a story to tell. Putting together a card describing what the material is and where it comes from adds to the fun -- and could impart one or two lifelong lessons about the natural world. Another plus is that you may be able to gather some of the materials from your own backyard. Materials: •Large sheets of paper (and/or a white piece of cardboard) •Paintbrushes and paints (and/or contact paper and wax paper) •Items such as flowers, leaves, seeds, twigs, shells, pebbles, blades of grass and whatever else you can find -- pending parental approval. Instructions: To create a colorful print, paint each of the objects you’ve found, turn them over and press them into the paper like they’re stamps. You can experiment by using various amounts of paint, as well as by mixing different colors together. Create a wild scene or a more orderly montage. v Source: www.lifestyle.howstuffworks.com
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SPECIAL SECTION: Party Guide
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he best birthday party activities keep little hands busy, while giving them a memory to take home and cherish. A well planned craft is a fun way to fill time between cake and presents. Party hosts can save money by sending home the finished crafts in place of candy and goodie bags. Below are a few creative ideas for your next birthday bash!
school notes
School’s Out! New Hanover County: Traditional Schools: 2/19 - Half Day for Students
NHCS and UNCW Named 2016 Kennedy Center Partners in Education New Hanover County Schools, in partnership with the Office of the Arts at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, is proud to announce its selection as one of ten teams to join with the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts as Partners in Education.
CFCI Charter School: 2/18 - Half Day for Students 2/19 - No School, Teacher Workday
In April 2016, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts will host the 14th Partners in Education Institute. The four-day intensive program is designed for arts organizations and school districts interested in partnering to initiate or expand professional development programs for teachers. The Kennedy Center selected 10 teams of arts organizations and school systems from across the nation to participate in the Partners in Education Institute, April 27-30, 2016. The Institute promotes partnerships between arts organizations and local schools in communities across the nation,focusing on the development of education programs for teachers.
WECHS 2/19 - Half Day for Students
While at the Kennedy Center, each team develops a plan customized to their community for the partners to establish or expand arts-based professional development programs for teachers.
Year Round Schools: 2/19 - Half Day for Students
Brunswick: Traditional Schools: 2/22 - No School, Teacher Workday Roger Bacon Academy: 2/5 - Half Day for Students Pender: Traditional Schools: 2/17 - Half Day for Students Penderlea: 2/17 - Half Day for Students Pender Early College: 2/17 - Half Day for Students
Visit www.nhcs.net, www.co.brunswick.k12.nc.us or www.pendercountyschools.net for more information.
7th Annual Holly Tree Elementary Cardinal Strut Holly Tree Elementary is announcing its 7th annual Holly Tree Cardinal Strut for the community on Saturday, March 5, 2016, starting at 8:30 a.m. at Holly Tree Elementary School. This year’s Cardinal Strut returns with the same great 5k, 10k, Fun Run and 5k walk events. Holly Tree is also excited to announce that they will be bringing back the Cardinal DASH – a competitive 1 mile race! Who will be the fastest man, woman and child in Wilmington? The post race party will feature breakfast for all participants, music, great awards and more. The deadline to register and guarantee a race t-shirt is February 2, 2016. All registrations should be completed online this year at www.cardinalstrut.com.
Thirty-one NHCS Band Students Selected for Middle School Eastern District Honor Band Six New Hanover County middle schools had band members selected for the North Carolina Band Association (NCBA) Eastern District Middle School Honor Band, totaling 31 students overall. The selected students will travel to East Carolina University (ECU) in Greenville on February 5th to rehearse with other members of the All-District Band. They will spend two intense days rehearsing and will perform a concert on Saturday, February 6, 2016, in the Wright Auditorium on the ECU campus. The concert is free and open to the public.
Two Changes Approved for the NHCS 2016/2017 School Year The International School at Gregory The International School at Gregory will open for students in the 2016-17 school year. This is a Dual Language Immersion Program school. The program is transferring from Forest Hills Global Elementary. This move allows expansion, enabling NHCS to grow the Dual Immersion, offering Grades 6-8 through partnership with Williston. J.C. Roe Suspension Center The J.C. Roe Suspension Center will begin full implementation for students in the 2016-17 school year. The purpose of this Center is to provide a transition or “step-down” program for students needing transition or re-entry support. This Center will provide an alternative to suspension program for students who have been short-term suspended (10 days or less), and provide an alternative placement for students who have been long-termed suspended.
26 | February 2016 | Wilmington Parent
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Because I Said So
Dad (Charles), Delaney, Brother (Dalton), Mom (Wendy)
By Delaney Mitchell
W
hether it be about curfew, who they can hang out with, or if they can get their tongue pierced, all adolescents argue with their parents. Usually what happens is the kid brings up something they’re upset about and the conversation goes one of two ways. The preferred of the two is for the parents and the child to have a reasonable argument with both sides listening to what the other has to say until they reach an agreement. However, most discussions end with the teenager upset because they don’t feel that their ideas are heard and the parent telling them to do something “because they said so”. The reasoning behind this is that most parents find arguing with their adolescents to be exhausting and pointless because they are questioning authority. The parents, however, are missing a crucial piece to the puzzle; how much having these disagreements actually benefit their child in life. Contrary to many parents’ beliefs, teenagers who argue gain skills that will help them to be successful in the real world. Having disagreements with parents teaches kids to be confident and to stand up for what they think is right. According to a study conducted by Joseph P. Allen, adolescents who frequently yet calmly argued with their parents “were 40 percent more likely to say no than kids who didn’t argue with their parents” to drugs and alcohol.
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When parents of the argumentative teenagers listen to what they have to say, they are encouraging them to express themselves freely. Arguing also gives parents insight into the mind of their child. Parents don’t need to think of arguing as their child going against their rules just for the sake of rebellion. Rather, they should think of it as their teenager telling them what matters to them and how they perceive what’s going on. This is not at all negative, but just another way for kids to express themselves and who they’re becoming to their parents. When done in the right manner, arguing is actually a sign that the child respects their parent. If the child was disrespectful, they wouldn’t put in the effort to disagree, because they would disregard everything their parent had to say from the beginning. Arguing shows that the teenager realizes that the parent has authority and is challenging their authority to prepare themselves for being on their own later in life. Parents should think about the benefits of having a disagreement with their child and how it will prepare them for the world before they pull the “because I said so” excuse and send their child into their adulthood lacking the essential skills that arguing provides. v Delaney Mitchell is a 10th grade student at Cape Fear Academy.
Wilmington Parent | February 2016 | 27
peanut gallery
Gia C. 2/7• 9yo
Lucas W. 2/13
Jack S. 2/9• 5yo
Bruce J. 2/1• 5yo
Loch M. 2/23• 5yo
Samuel H. 2/18• 3yo
Ashlyn 2/8 • 2yo
Joey G. 2/15• 4yo
Laura 2/18• 10yo
Brandon F. 2/24• 2yo
Gray H 2/9• 11yo
Divia S. 2/10 • 3yo
Does your child or grandchild have a birthday iN March?
Gianni M. 2/20• 2yo
Declan S. 2/9• 3yo
28 | February 2016 | Wilmington Parent
Honor them by having their photo published in Wilmington Parent. Here's how: e-mail image (size not to exceed 1mb) to birthday@wilmingtonparent.com. Deadline for publication: 2/12. We have a limited number of spots, so if you sent your child’s picture and do not see it this issue, please check back next month! www.wilmingtonparent.com
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Coming in March... Summer Camp Guide 2016
Your Guide to Find the Perfect Camp www.wilmingtonparent.com
Wilmington Parent | February 2016 | 29
Wilmington Parent’s 13th annual
Summer Camp Fair Saturday, March 5, 2016 10am - 3pm Independence Mall
FREE ADMISSION & FREE PARKING!
Camps for Every Interest and Age: Local Residential Sports Day Camps Science Athletic Drama Eco Art Nature Surfing Magic & Much More! Booths & Sponsorships Packages available now reserve your space! Sponsored by:
www.nosleevesmagic.com