Wilmington Parent December 2013 by Seaside Media

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Our 16th Year of Serving New Hanover, Brunswick & Pender County Families!

Holiday Happenings Check out our Calendar!

Ho Ho Oh NO!

When Your Child Fears Santa

Mom! She Got More!

Dealing with Holiday Rivalry

Your 1st Disney Trip Where to go, What to do DIY Gingerbread House Healthy Recipe You Can Make

Cover Kid: Henry

Free to

explore learn excel

Motivated to

Challenged to

A passion for learning starts early at Friends School of Wilmington. Here, in a vibrant learning community known for its vigorous academics, exceptional teaching, and time-honored Quaker values, students are provided a world of opportunity to discover, learn and grow. Confident, independent thinkers, our graduates are fully prepared to step up to the most ambitious high school setting â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and to conquer the world ahead.

Call 910.791.8221 and Schedule a Tour Today! 18 months â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 8th grade | An Independent Quaker School | 910.791.8221 | www.fsow.org FSW-002 7.25x4.1825 4 color Ad.indd 1

11/1/13 1:22 PM

You can see the wonderful impact The Little Gym can have on your child when you join us for a FREE introductory class. SCHEDULE YOUR FREE CLASS TODAY! OPENING IN JANUARY!

The Little Gym of Wilmington www.tlgwilmingtonnc.com (910) 398-1190

Experiential learning and physical development programs for children ages 4 months through 12 years www.wilmingtonparent.com

Wilmington Parent | December 2013 | 1

2 | December 2013 | Wilmington Parent

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Is Your Child Struggling in School? Below average reading skills, careless errors, poor memory and concentration, reverses letters? If this sounds like your child, we can help.

How Can Our Center Help?

First, we test and diagnose if a child has learning-related vision problems. If such a difficulty exists, a vision therapy program is recommended to meet the child's special needs. Your child will work on specific goals with a certified optometric therapist, under the supervision of a developmental optometrist. The ultimate goal is to allow the individual to perform up to his/her potential in the classroom without unnecessary struggling.

What Do I Need To Do?

If your student is in the 1st grade-college, and is struggling academically, call us to set up an initial appointment. When diagnosed early, we can significantly improve and often alleviate the problem entirely. Many insurances help cover the cost of testing.

Tracey Glendenning, OD, FCOVD 201 Racine Drive 395-6050

Bring out the Best AND THE BRIGHTEST

The CFA Scholars Program provides multiple gifts ranging from $1000 - full tuition. Students in grades 6 -12 who demonstrate academic achievement, talent, leadership, and exemplary character are encouraged to apply.

Scholarship Exams SATURDAY, JANUARY 18, 9 am â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 12 pm

Learn more at our PK3

â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Grade 12 Open House January 7 at 8:15 am.

9 1 0.791.0287 www.wilmingtonparent.com

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| in this issue

Publisher/Editor in Chief Keith Jaworski 910 343-1226

E-Mail: WilmingtonParent@ec.rr.com

Photo credit: Lauren Hiltbrand

Have a cute photo you’d like to share? Submit your photo for consideration seasidemedia1@gmail.com January Theme Winter Fun

December 2013

SPecial Section:

Features Editor Danielle Villegas 910 343-1226

E-Mail: danielle.wilmingtonparent@gmail.com

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or E-Mail: calendar@wilmingtonparent.com or Fax: 910 343-1227

Opinions/Suggestions/Feedback We value our readers opinions — help us to serve you better! Our mailing address is: Wilmington Parent

1st Disney Trip

PO Box 1336, Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480 or E-Mail: WilmingtonParent@ec.rr.com

Afraid of santa? Dear Santa Recipe: Healthy Gingerbread house it’s not fair - holiday rivalry Editor’s Note short stuff Growing Up Online school notes Reel life Calendar

Public Service Announcements/Calendar Please submit items/photos before the 2nd Friday of the prior month

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Childcare Listing guide your health Fit Family Challenge Going Green Peanut Gallery Party Pages

Wilmington Parent is published 12 times a year. Distribution of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of information, products or services. The publisher reserves the right to reject any advertisement or listing that is not in keeping with the publication's standards. All contents of Wilmington Parent are protected under copyright. Reproduction of any content requires permission of the publisher. All rights reserved. Wilmington Parent • PO Box 1336, Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480 © Wilmington Parent 2010 Seaside Media, LLC Complimentary copies of Wilmington Parent are available to the public at various locations in the greater Wilmington area. One copy per family is permitted. Additional copies require the written permission of the Publisher. Subscription rates for home delivery are $24 for one year. member

cover credits

Cover by Nichole Louise Photography 910-367-5151 • www.nicholelouisephotography.com 4 | December 2013 | Wilmington Parent

Please recycle this magazine

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| editor’s note

Wilmington's Oldest Montessori School

The Children's Schoolhouse

ecember is such a festive month! Full of sugar plums dancing across stages, festivals and markets with a never-ending supply of hot chocolate, holiday music, and Santa Clauses, sparkling lights around every corner, and of course parades! If you’re looking for a few of these events around town, the calendar starting on pg. 14 should be kept with you at all times. You will not be in danger of running out of things to do! This month is full of articles on how to handle some of the Holiday craziness. Read up on how to manage scary Santas, sugary houses, and gift arguments. When you feel ready to tackle the Holidays, take a break and enjoy the letter to Santa on pg. 27 from a mom that has a few wishes of her own! It’s hard to believe that 2013 is almost over! These past few months have been exciting as we’ve followed our Fit Family Challenge participants, and I would like to congratulate all of them on their hard work! J’nelle from Wilmington Health has helped the families reach goals and learn how to be healthier families. Thank you J’nelle, and all of our sponsors for your donations and time spent working with the families! Don’t let yourself get caught up in too much Holiday madness, find time for your family to escape this month. Even if you only escape to your backyard for some quiet family time! Happy Holidays!

Danielle

www.wilmingtonparent.com

Now Enrolling for Fall and Summer 2014! The Children’s Schoolhouse is a small traditional Montessori School committed to a high quality of individual academic experience, administered with an enthusiastic but gentle approach. Now Enrolling students for 2, 3 or 5 day programs: ages 3-5, NC State recognized elementary kindergarten for 5-6 year olds, 1/2 day on-site Marine Science camp. Each classroom Directress is Montessori Certified Location: 612 South College Rd. (across from UNCW) Housed in St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church Lucy Hieronymus, Directress (910) 799-1531 TCSH admits students regardless of race, religion, national or ethnic origin

http://www.childrensschoolhouse.net

PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY infants • children • teens SKIP TYSON, D.D.S. STEPHANIE HEANEY, D.D.S. 791-7380

2606 Iron Gate Dr. Suite 200, Wilmington, NC

457-0111

4330 Southport Supply Road Southport, NC 28461

surf our website

www.catchasmile.net

Wilmington Parent | December 2013 | 5

short stuff

Nominate a Children’s Champion Smart Start of New Hanover County is seeking nominations for Children’s Champions. They are soliciting nominations for individuals who have provided exceptional service to young children, birth through age 5, and/or their families in New Hanover County. Smart Start of New Hanover County says, “It is important to encourage action in our community that supports the high quality early care and education of young children and their families.” Each year Smart Start hosts the annual Breakfast for Children’s Champions as an opportunity to recognize New Hanover County citizens, nominated by their peers, for their outstanding efforts on behalf of young children. This year’s champions will be announced and all nominees will be honored at the 13th Annual Breakfast for Children’s Champions on April 2, 2014 at the Country Club of Landfall. Deadline for nominations is 5:00pm, Friday, January 10, 2014. You may nominate by phone at (910) 815-3731 or visit www. newhanoverkids.org and click on Breakfast for Children’s Champions on the home page for a nomination form and submission instructions.

Holiday Parades Downtown Wilmington 11th Annual Holiday Parade Dec. 8th 5:45pm. The 11th Annual Holiday Parade in historic downtown Wilmington, NC, begins at North Front and Walnut streets and travels south on Front Street to Orange Street, then back north on Water Street. The reviewing stand is located at Riverfront Park. Island of Lights Festival: Christmas Parade Dec. 6th 7:30pm. The Island of Lights Festival Christmas Parade proceeds from Atlanta Avenue down Lake Park Boulevard to the Federal Point Plaza in Carolina Beach, NC. Floats, bands and Santa Clause will be there to add to the festive holiday atmosphere.

Customized Banners • Photocopies • Border

910-799-0101 www.teachersaidnc.com

(Free Shipping from Site to Store)

www.facebook.com/teachersaidnc

Teacher’s Aid Has That “One Of A Kind” Gift For That “One Of A Kind” Child!

Receive 20% OFF A Single Item. Valid: 12/1/2013-12/31/2013

*Can not be combined with any other coupon or promotion. Excludes special orders, Girl Scout product, Clearance and Sale Items.

Homeschool Consignment • Homework Helpers • Project supplies • Bulletin Board Paper • Puzzles • Globes

Jenkins

Decor for the classroom & Home • Learning Place mats

Incentive Charts • Stickers • Pencils • Erasers • Flash cards • Workbooks • Reward Items • Toys • Games

More than play at JPA

Half day classes Open Enrollment for next school year Certified teachers begins Feb 1st Small sizes Call toclass schedule your tour Nurturing & fun NOW (910) 367-0287 367-7210 |I www.jpawilmington.com (910) www.jpawilmington.com |I 7888 7888 Market MarketStSt

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6 | December 2013 | Wilmington Parent

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The Wilmington Ballet Company’s, The Nutcracker Come see the Cape Fear’s only full-length, traditional, and professional production of The Nutcracker Ballet. Wilmington Ballet Company is proud to present enchanting characters brought to life by the area’s most talented dancers, professional company dancers & special guest artists. Start a family tradition filled with music, sugar plum fairies, Christmas parties, and dancing soldiers! Showtimes: December 7th – 1pm & 5:30pm December 8th – 3pm Visit www.wilmingtonballetcompany.org for ticket information.

DIY - Make Your Own Wrapping Paper • Large roll of brown packaging paper • Paper grocery bags • Cookie Cutters • Holiday shaped rubber stamps • Stencils

call now to enroll your child! Openings for Codington and Pine Valley

• New Afterschool Campus! • 910-796-1896 www.carolinagymnasticsacademy.com

3529 Carolina Beach Road

• Stickers • Holiday issues of magazines • Finger paint • Crayons, colored pencils, markers Unroll the brown packaging paper and cut the paper grocery bags open so they are flat. Tape them down to a flat surface. Invite your child to print shapes with the cookie cutters, stamps, stencils, and decorate with everything and anything Holiday related you can find! Of course, encourage hand prints! Get creative by drawing details or coloring inside the printed outlines when they are dry. Set out pots of crayons, oil pastels, pens and stickers as an invitation to play, sit back and watch them get creative! Use the finished papers to wrap gifts or to cut out and thread ribbon through to make gift tags.

910-795-2511 www.DrEggDental.com

6781 Parker Farm Drive Suite100 Wilmington, NC

Now open in Mayfaire www.wilmingtonparent.com

Wilmington Parent | December 2013 | 7

| growing up online

| By Carolyn Jabs

Stay One Step Ahead of Facebook Scammers

ith over one billion people on Facebook, it’s inevitable that some will be crooks. Over the years, scammers have figured out plenty of ways to get Facebook users to give up important information including user names, passwords, cellphone numbers and even credit card data.

You may think that you and your kids are savvy enough not to share that kind of personal detail. Unfortunately, clicking on the wrong Facebook link can make you a victim or an unwitting accomplice who “shares” the scam with friends. The only way to protect yourself and your network is to be aware—and make your kids aware—of the telltale signs that mischief is afoot. Here are some of the most common scams:

Freebies. Everyone loves a deal, but online as well as off, it’s wise to be skeptical about offers for free gadgets, gift cards, airline tickets, etc. Some companies do offer legitimate giveaways but don’t take Facebook’s word for it. Go directly to the website of the company that is making the offer to be sure it’s legit.

Very Special Videos. Hard as it is to resist a video of your favorite celebrity, it’s even harder to turn down a video that arrives with a heading like “I can’t believe they got you on film!” Clicking on these links often results in a message inviting you to download a new media player. Don’t!! If you feel you must see the video in question, search for it by name. If it’s not on YouTube or another well-known site, it’s probably a ruse to get you to download malware. Apps and Ads. Most ads and apps are damaging only because they waste your time. Some, however, are nothing more than pretexts for collecting personal information. Be suspicious whenever you are asked to provide a user name, password or any other kind of identifying data. If the app steers you to a new page, check the domain name to see if it’s long and weird-looking. Any legitimate e-commerce site will have a web address that starts with https. Never respond to pop-ups that ask you to fill out a survey or download an additional bit of software.

Facebook Features. Some scams promise to improve your Facebook experience by, for example, changing the look of your page or allowing you to see a list of people who have looked at your profile. Facebook doesn’t allow other companies to mess with the structure of their site, so don’t even consider downloading anything that suggests otherwise. Also, some scammers claim to be part of the Facebook security team and threaten to close your account of you don’t provide account information. On its website, Facebook makes it clear that the company will never ask for an account password, social security number, credit card or pin number. If you are worried about the status of your account, go directly to the Facebook Help Section. Links from Friends. Scammers take advantage of the fact that Facebook users trust their friends, so you have to be wary of links even when they are

8 | December 2013 | Wilmington Parent

embedded in posts or messages from people you know. If a link seems out of character—a weight loss message from someone who hates dieting—send a private message. It’s possible your friend has been hacked and doesn’t realize what’s being posted in his or her name. If you or your kids realize—after the fact—that you’ve clicked on something you shouldn’t, don’t panic. Here are specific steps that will restore security to your Facebook account: • Change your password at facebook.com/hacked. Choose a sequence of characters that will mean something to you but not to others. If you’ve used the same password for other accounts, change those passwords too. • Delete every copy of the scammy post or link post so other people won’t get infected. To remove a post, move the cursor to its upper right corner. When the pencil icon appears, click “delete.” • Alert your friends. Tell them your account has been compromised so they should be cautious about any messages that seem to be from you. • Review your “likes” to be sure you actually added each one. Go through your app list too at https://www.facebook.com/settings?tab=applications. If you see any you don’t recognize, delete it. • Run your anti-virus software. Update it if necessary. Activate the “Safe” feature on your browser so you and your kids will get warnings about risky websites. • Tighten privacy and security settings by going to the Account Settings section of Facebook (upper right corner). While you are there, click on “Active Sessions” to be sure no one else is logging onto your account. • Report scams and other problems by clicking on the “Report a Problem” button under Settings. The people who engineer Facebook scams are nothing if not creative, so make it a habit to visit websites that report on new scams and hoaxes. At Snopes.com, putting Facebook into their search engine brings up the real story behind a variety of common schemes. Facecrooks.com, a website devoted entirely to Facebook, has a helpful section called Scam Watch. Like any other neighborhood, Facebook is populated mostly by trustworthy people. When those people watch out for each other, the occasional scoundrel is less likely to find gullible victims. v Carolyn Jabs, M.A., raised three computer savvy kids including one with special needs. She has been writing Growing Up Online for ten years and is working on a book about constructive responses to conflict. Visit www.growing-up-online.com to read other columns.

www.wilmingtonparent.com

Now Enrolling!

Santa wants to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Smile! Douglas S. Fry, DDS Pediatric Dentistry for infants, children, and adolescents

• 2 to 4 Year Old Morning Program 8:30am-12:30pm (2, 3 & 4 days a week) • 2 to 4 Year Old Preschool Classes Preparing your child for Kindergarten • Infant & Toddler Program Safe, Nurturing & Loving environment • After School Program Homework, Fun Activities, Crafts & Games • We are an official 4-h club Located off 23rd St. w/ easy access from MLK or Market St

Start the new year off with a dental checkup for your child. Establish a "dental home." Both the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend children get early dental check ups and good nutritional counseling at an early age. Board Certified, The American Board of Pediatric Dentistry • Fellow of the American Academy Pediatric Dentistry • Life Time Member of the American Dental Association

New patients welcomed

2203 Delaney Avenue Wilmington NC www.drfry.dental.com • office@drfrydental.com 910-762-7736

Let Us Help…

www.papafins.com

5621 Carolina Beach Road Wilmington, NC 28412

Your Family Turn a New Leaf • Parenting Program • Family & Individual Counseling • Anger Management Groups • Stress and Anxiety Reduction

Call Us Today!

910-792-9888 Bridge Builders Counseling Center 311 Judges Rd. Building 1, Unit E, Wilmington, NC 28405

www.bridgebuilderscounseling.com www.wilmingtonparent.com

910-399-8555 MILITARY SPECIAL HALF OFF LET US CATER!

20% OFF Active or Retired

Valid only with this coupon. Not Valid with any other offer. Expires 12/31/13.

1/2 OFF ICECREAM with the purchase of a combo meal Valid only with this coupon. Not Valid with any other offer.

FREE SWEET TEA OR LEMONADE Carry-out service only. Valid only with this coupon. Not Valid with any other offer. Expires 03/31/14.

Wilmington Parent | December 2013 | 9

| school notes

School’s Out! New Hanover County: Traditional Schools: 12/20 – Half Day 12/23-1/3 – No School, Winter Break Year Round Schools: 12/20 – Half Day 12/23-1/3 – No School, Winter Break

Four NHCS Middle School Students Selected for Honors Chorus Four New Hanover County Schools (NHCS) middle school students were selected out of over 900 other middle school singers in North Carolina to perform in the North Carolina Music Educators Association’s 2013 Middle School Honors Chorus. These distinguished singers traveled with their family and chorus teacher to Winston-Salem the second weekend of November. The concert was held in the Stevens Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Winston-Salem. The clinician for this year’s Middle School Honors Chorus is Dr. Alfred Sturgis, the North Carolina General Assembly chorus artistic director.

CFCI Charter School: 12/20 – No School, Teacher Workday 12/23-1/3 – No School, Winter Break

Murray Music teacher: Ryan Southerland Katelyn Copenhaver Brianna Cunliffe Nathan Kinsey

IBEC: 12/23-1/3 – No School, Winter Break

Myrtle Grove Music Teacher: Kaitlyn Baden Parker Tanner

WEC: 12/19 – Half Day 12/20 – No School, Teacher Work Day 12/23-1/3 – No School, Winter Break Brunswick:

Noble Middle School Student Wins State Soil and Water Conservation District Contest

Traditional Schools: 12/19 – Half Day 12/20-1/1 – No School, Winter Break

Olivia Reeves is the first New Hanover County Schools student to win at the state level for this contest

Roger Bacon Academy/ Charter Day School: 12/11 – Half Day 12/20 – Half Day 12/23-1/3 – No School, Winter Break Brunswick Early College: 12/20-1/3 – No School, Winter Break Pender: Traditional Schools: 12/20 – Half Day 12/23-1/3 – No School, Winter Break Penderlea Year Round School: 12/20 – Half Day 12/23-1/7 – No School, Winter Break Pender Early College: 12/20 – Half Day 12/23-1/3 – No School, Winter Break Visit www.nhcs.net, www.co.brunswick.k12.nc.us or www.pendercountyschools.net for more information.

Olivia Reeves, an eighth grader at Noble Middle School, is New Hanover County Schools (NHCS) first statewide winner for the Soil and Water Conservation District Public Speaking contest. Her speech entitled “Water, The Cycle of Life” won at the county and area levels before going on to win first place at the state level. Miss Reeves received a monetary prize sponsored by the North Carolina Association of Soil and Water Conservation District (NCASWCD). The New Hanover Soil and Water Conservation District (NHSWCD) mission is to protect and enhance water quality throughout New Hanover County through various avenues such as conservation education and outreach activities. For more information on the NHSWCD, please visit their website: http://www.nhswcd.org/.

Wrightsville Beach Elementary Mobile App Wrightsville Beach Elementary understands the importance of technology in today’s world of mobile devices. They have created an app using Infinite Monkeys, a free DIY mobile app creation service. When parents download this app to their mobile device, it gives them instant access to the school calendar, hours, Twitter and Facebook feeds, website links, and an instant call button. This app even has an option that takes you directly to teacher websites! Way to go Wrightsville Beach for staying ahead in the technology race!

Kid Friendly Search Engines You want to encourage independence when your child is working on their homework. However, when that research project requires thorough internet searches, you do not want your 4th grader accidentally stumbling on an inappropriate site. Here is a list of search engines that limit the types of results without limiting your child’s curiosity. • Safe Search Kids – www.safesearchkids.com • Google Junior – www.googlejunior.com – Looks just like Google, except Junior. • Kidtopia – www.kidtopia.info – Powered by Google, more colorful, and easy subject guides. • Mymunka – mymunka.com – Education focused for all ages. • Pics 4 Learning – www.pics4learning.com – Safe, free, copyright-friendly image library. • Kids Click – www.kidsclick.org – Designed for kids, by librarians. Even features a Dewey Decimal Search! • GoGooligans – www.gogooligans.com – Advanced safe search for kids and teens. Offers pop-up accessible keyboard to accommodate disabilities. Source: sites.google.com/a/nhcs.net/amyyork

10 | December 2013 | Wilmington Parent

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Check out our Parents Night Out Ages 3 & up every Saturday night 6-10pm with early drop off available

• Drop in Care • Birthday Parties • After school care

Now open on Sunday too!

Give the gift of active play! - gift cards available

www.PowerofPlayWilmington.com

910-332-1660

powerofplaywilm@yahoo.com 6644 Gordon Road Wilmington, NC

of Wilmington something for everyone’s budget

Give the gift of active play! - gift cards available

• Magic Circle Trampolines • Playnation swing sets • Gorilla Swing Sets • Mulch • Borders • Synthetic Turf • Basketball Goals

www.PlaynationofWilmington.com

taking Christmas orders

910-332-1660

BRILLIANT SKY TOYS 6864 MAIN STREET, WILMINGTON

located inside Power of Play

on Gordon Road

www.wilmingtonparent.com

Wilmington Parent | December 2013 | 11

reel life

| By Jane Louise Boursaw

December brings hobbits, dinosaurs, and the story behind Disney’s classic “Mary Poppins.” Here’s a sneak peek at what’s new in theaters this month. Madea gets coaxed into helping a friend pay her daughter a surprise visit in the country for Christmas, but the biggest surprise is what they’ll find when they arrive. As the small town prepares for its annual Christmas Jubilee, new secrets are revealed and old relationships are tested while Madea dishes her own brand of Christmas Spirit to all. Tyler Perry directs, produces, wrote the script, and yes, stars in this year’s “Madea” movie. Sure, these movies are predictable, but the message is always good.

The Hobbitt: The Desolation of Smaug

Walking With Dinosaurs 3D

Not yet rated; likely PG. In theaters December 20. Ok for kids 7+. www.walkingwithdinosaurs.com.

Not yet rated; likely PG-13. In theaters December 13. Ok for kids 12+. www.thehobbit.com. Yay! Another ‘Hobbit” movie! After successfully crossing over (and under) the Misty Mountains, Thorin and Company must seek aid from a powerful stranger before taking on the dangers of Mirkwood Forest—without their Wizard. If they reach the human settlement of Lake-town, it will be time for the hobbit Bilbo Baggins to fulfill his contract with the dwarves. The party must complete the journey to Lonely Mountain, and burglar Baggins must find the Secret Door that will give them access to the hoard of the dragon Smaug. But where has Gandalf got off to? And what is his secret business to the south? Find out in this second installment of “The Hobbit.”

Tyler Perry’s A Madea Christmas

Rated PG-13 for sexual references, crude humor and language. In theaters December13. Ok for kids 13+. www.amadeachristmasmovie.com.

The BBC television series strides its way to the big screen with this live-action/CG-animated feature film following a courageous young dinosaur on an incredible adventure through the prehistoric world. See and feel what it was like when dinosaurs ruled the Earth with this ultimate immersive experience, utilizing state of the art 3D that puts you right in the middle of an epic prehistoric world. Awesome.

Saving Mr. Banks

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, including some unsettling images. In theaters December 20. Ok for kids 12+. movies.disney.com/saving-mr-banks.

Ever wonder about the story behind Disney’s classic family movie, “Mary Poppins”? Now we’ll know. When Walt Disney’s daughters begged him to make a movie of their favorite book by P.L. Travers, he made them a promise - one that he didn’t realize would take 20 years to keep. In his quest to obtain the rights, Walt (Tom Hanks) comes up against a curmudgeonly, uncompromising writer (Emma Thompson) who has absolutely no intention of letting her beloved magical nanny get mauled by the Hollywood machine (good for her!). But, as the books stop selling and money grows short, Travers reluctantly travels to Los Angeles to hear Disney’s plans for the adaptation.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty Not yet rated; likely PG-13. In theaters December 25. Ok for kids 12+. www.facebook.com/WalterMitty.

In this comedic adaptation of James Thurber’s short story, Ben Stiller stars as Walter Mitty a milquetoast proofreader for a publishing firm. Walter is incapable of standing up for himself, so he retreats into his fantasy world, where he’s heroic, poised, self-assured, and the master of his fate. Stiller directs from a script by Steven Conrad, with Kristen Wiig, Patton Oswalt, and Shirley MacLaine rounding out the starring cast.

Jane Boursaw is founder and editor-in-chief of Reel Life With Jane, a family entertainment site specializing in movies, TV and celebrities. Visit her at http://www.reellifewithjane.com or email jboursaw@charter.net.

Jane’s Reel Rating System 1 Reel - Even the Force can’t save it. 2 Reels - Coulda’ been a contender. 3 Reels - Something to talk about. 4 Reels - You want the truth? Greatflick! 5 Reels- Wow! The stuff dreams are made of.

12 | December 2013 | Wilmington Parent

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1st

Disney Trip what to do,

where to go

By Brandy Metzger

isney World is a magical place for children, but choosing what to see and do can be overwhelming for adults. Before my family’s recent trip to Disney, we allowed our 5 year old daughter to watch the vacation planning video, look at a map of the Magic Kingdom and explore the website at https://disneyworld.disney.go.com to determine what she was most interested in seeing and doing. Friends and family that have recently taken their young children to Disney also gave us some helpful suggestions. After experiencing the Magic Kingdom with my 5 year old, I would advise anyone taking a young child to Disney for the first time to include the following activities:

1. Classic Rides: Fantasyland (the largest “land” in the Magic Kingdom) has many rides that are wonderful for small children because they are not scary or fast paced. Many include classic characters such as Winnie the Pooh, Dumbo and Peter Pan. Parents who visited the park as a child will also want to take a walk down memory lane and introduce their children to rides they remember such as “It’s a Small World” and the “Mad Tea Party” (otherwise known as the teacups).

2. Meeting Characters: If your child loves Disney characters, whether it be Mickey and Minnie Mouse, princesses, pirates or fairies, it is worth standing in line to have a short visit with them. Characters will sign autograph books, pose for pictures and often have a quick conversation with each visitor. Make sure to visit the Disney website before-hand or pick up a character list on your way into the park to know where and when the characters will be the day you visit.

3. Shows: There are many different types of shows available throughout the park including 3-D movies, interactive shows and parades. Mickey’s PhilharMagic is a great 12 minutes 3-D extravaganza of music from Disney movies featuring many different characters. Enchanted Tales with Belle is an interactive show in which all children get to play a part in the retelling of the classic story of Beauty and the Beast. For comedy lovers, Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor is a great choice.

Sweet Stacks Cupcakery BOGO:

Buy one 4 count standard size cupcakes and get one free. Up to 2 flavors of their choice. When ordering online or over the phone, customer must mention the BOGO promo and have coupon at the time of delivery in order to redeem. Limit of 2 coupons per household.

sweetstackscupcakery.com smeggett@sweetstackscupcakes.com 919-244-0360

Find more resources at

www. wilmingtonparent .com

4. Castle Dining: If you are going to eat a meal in the Magic Kingdom, you may as well eat in a castle! Be Our Guest Restaurant is located inside the Beast’s castle and has beautiful decor. The food quality is very good for the moderate price that you pay and the ambiance is amazing! Cinderella’s castle is also a great option for children that love princesses. They offer meals in a castle setting along with the opportunity to spend time with several princesses. If you decide to dine with Cinderella, however, make your reservations several months in advance of your trip. 5. Evening Activities: The Magic Kingdom is a whole new world when the sun goes down and it is worth spending some time there at night. There are parades and fireworks and often the park is less crowded. Depending on the time of year you visit, there may also be special evening events. We went in October and were there for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. We thoroughly enjoyed the party and I’d have to say the fireworks were the best display I have ever seen in my life! Disney World should be a very magical and memorable experience for the whole family and this can be accomplished with a little planning. v

Faith...Intellect...Character

Wilmington Christian Academy

HigH ScHool • Middle ScHool e l e M e n ta r y S c H o o l • P r e S c H o o l

wilmingtonchristian.com • 910.791.4248 1401 N. College Road • Wilmington, NC

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Wilmington Parent | December 2013 | 13

• PLA N YOUR MO N TH WITH US

CALEN D AR

December | 2013

ALL MONTH LONG Cotton Exchange Tours

Daily (Year Round). Cotton Exchange, Downtown. Tales of mystery of the Cotton Exchange ghosts. $10/Adults. $8/Students & Seniors. Free/Under age 12. Visit www.TourOldWilmington.blogspot.com or call 409-4300 for information. Horsedrawn Tours

10am – 10pm Daily. Water & Market Streets, downtown. Costumed driver narrates a unique adventure along the riverfront, driven by rescued horses. $12/Adults. $5/Children under 12. Call 251-8889 with questions. Visit www.horsedrawntours.com for coupon. Island of Lights Festival

7pm. Carolina Beach Lake Park. Nightly. Pleasure Island is home to an island-wide holiday festival featuring lighted displays around Carolina Beach Lake along with businesses and residences decorated for the season. Enjoy the fantastic light displays and holiday cheer with signature events taking place through December 31. Visit www.islandoflights.org for complete holiday schedule. Enchanted Airlie

5-7pm & 7-9pm. Airlie Gardens. December 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22. Take in the sparkling sights and festive sounds of the season. Guests stroll through the Gardens on a self-guided tour while feasting their eyes on a spectacular array of lights, holiday displays, a spectacular LEGO display,

14 | December 2013 | Wilmington Parent

and of course Santa Claus! Snacks and drinks available for purchase. Visit www.airliegardens.org for ticket information. Christmas Train and Light Spectacular

6:30-8:30pm. Wilmington Railroad Museum. December 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 26, 27, 28. Continuous shows with 20,000 twinkling lights, musical animations, special decorations, visits with Santa, new scenes and effects on the layouts, cider & cookies. Admission $5 each, free for kids under age 2. Visit www.wilmingtonrailroadmuseum.org for details. Polar Express Family Shows

4:30 & 5:30pm. Wilmington Railroad Museum. December 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22. Hear the classic story told by WWAY-TV personalities, visit with Santa, get a special “first gift” and goodies, enjoy hot chocolate afterward. By prepaid reservation only $5 each, kids under age 2 free. Call 763-2634 to reserve your golden tickets. Cape Fear Festival of Trees

Cameron Art Museum. December 1-8th. Wander through a winter wonderland featuring holiday trees sponsored and decorated by local businesses and organizations. Visit capefearfestivaloftrees.org for a performance schedule and ticket information. Christmas by the Sea

6:30-8:30pm. Carolina Beach Boardwalk. Decem-

ber 7, 14, 21. Decorated and lit up the boardwalk will host many activities including Santa at the Welcome Center, fire pit with storytelling, hot chocolate at the Welcome Center, live nativity scene, caroling, holiday themed movies at the Gazebo, puppet shows and an arts & crafts area with ornament making activities for kids.

1 Sunday Grinch Day

3:30pm. Barnes & Noble, Mayfaire. Celebrate all things related to the Grinch Who Stole Christmas! by Dr. Seuss. Storytime, games and activities for the whole family. Call 509-1880 for details.

2 Monday Railroad Story Time

10:30am. Wilmington Railroad Museum. Hear stories and enjoy creative activities in the Children’s Hall. $4/Family. Free/Members. Call 763-2634 for more information. Family Storytime

10:30 Mondays. Carolina Beach Library. All ages invited for stories, fingerplays, and other pre-literacy enhancing activities. Meet at the Carolina Beach Community Building (directly behind the Library). No registration is required, but all children should bring an adult chaperone.

www.wilmingtonparent.com

Go Green Engineer Team – Touchdown

3:30pm Mondays. Children’s Museum. “Touchdown.” Hands-on challenges that focus on the engineering design process using simple materials. Ages 5-9. Visit www.playwilmington.org or call 254-3534 to pre-register.

3 Tuesday Leland’s Little Learners

9 – 10am Tuesdays. Town of Leland. Enjoy story time, arts & crafts, and playground time. Free. Ages 3-5 (parents/guardians remain with children). Contact 3324823 to pre-register. Storytime at the Library

9:30; 10:00; 10:30am Tuesdays. Main Library. Lapsit, Toddler, and Preschool storytimes. Stories, songs, and age appropriate activities for each group. Call 7986303 with questions. Happy Little Singers

9:45am Tuesdays. Ms. Susan’s Room. Ages 6 months to 6 years. Sing, Dance and Creative Play. $10 per family with one child, $5 each additional child. Drop-ins welcome. Call 777-8889 for more information. Barnes & Noble Story Time

10am Tuesdays. Barnes & Noble. Enjoy weekly story time in the Children’s section. Call 509-1880 for details. Petite Picasso 1 & 2

10am & 11am, Tuesdays. Hullabaloo, Hampstead. Bring your petite-est Picasso for the 10am class (up to 2

½ ) and your slightly older artists to the 11am class, all taught by Francesca! Visit www.hullabalooplay.com for more information. Kids Cooking Club – Reindeer Dip

3:30 - 4:30pm Tuesdays. Children’s Museum. “Reindeer Dip.” Harris Teeter sponsors fun time of learning new skills and seasonal recipes. Visit www.playwilmington.org or call 254-3534 to pre-register. Family Night at Chick-fil-A

5:30 – 7pm Tuesdays. Chick-fil-A Mayfaire. Don’t miss the fun family events. Call 256-0854 for weekly details. College Foundation of NC for K-5th Graders

6:30pm. Northeast Library. Join April Morey from CFNC. This program is for parents with young children to learn about North Carolina’s 529 College Savings Program, Paws in Jobland on CFNC.org (free career exploration tool) and discuss the general college process. Call 798-6303 for details.

4 Wednesday Poplar Grover Farmer’s Market

for each group. Call 798-6303 with questions. Happy Bigger Singers

9:45am Wednesdays. Ms. Susan’s Room. Ages 4 ½ to 8 years. Sing, Dance and Creative Play. $10 per family with one child, $5 each additional child. Drop-ins welcome. Call 777-8889 for more information. Preschool Science

10am Wednesdays. Children’s Museum. Hands-on activities geared for little ones allowing them to explore the world around them. Visit www.playwilmington.org for details. Baby Dance Boogie

10am. Learning Express, Military Cutoff Rd. Boogie down and have fun with Dance with Me director Danielle Tisdale! Ages 1-3. Reservations required. Call 313-3100 for details. Silly Science Lab

11am, Wednesdays. Hullabaloo, Hampstead. Explore and create with our silly science lab. Featuring a different experiment every week! Visit www.hullabalooplay. com for details on each class.

8am – 1pm Wednesdays (through 11/27). Poplar Grove Plantation. Featuring many new items for the holidays! Plus, fresh local fruits, veggies, dairy, meats, baked goods, cut flowers and more. Free admission. Visit poplargrove.com for more events.

Discover Science – Balancing Point Mobil

Storytime at the Library

Make Your Own Gingerbread Houses

9:30; 10:00; 10:30am Wednesdays. Northeast & Myrtle Grove Library. Lapsit, Toddler, and Preschool storytimes! Stories, songs, and age appropriate activities

3:30pm Wednesdays. Children’s Museum. “Balancing Point Mobil.” Explore and learn about the scientific process through critical thinking. Call 254-3534 or visit www.playwilmington.org to pre-register. 3:30pm. Main Library. Using graham crackers, icing, and a variety of candies, create your own gingerbread house. Be sure to wear an apron or clothes you don’t

GREAT GIFTS

FOR LESS at 3501 Oleander Dr. in Wilmington Find the best selection of new and used holiday toys, outfits and more at Kid to Kid! Plus, trade in the great stuff your kids have outgrown for cash or 20% more in store credit.

OFF

Your $30 purchase* *Must present coupon. Not good with other offers. One per family. Expires 12/31/13. CPNWP1213B

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Wilmington Parent | December 2013 | 15

mind getting a little messy. All materials are provided thanks to The Friends of New Hanover County Public Library. Ages 5-12. Call 798-6303 to reserve your spot! Mini Math

4pm Wednesdays. Children’s Museum. Reinforce information learned in school and learn new concepts. Call 254-3534 or visit www.playwilmington.org for details. Photo credit: Kara B.

5 Thursday Happy Little Singers

9:45am Thursdays. Ms. Susan’s Room. Ages 6 months to 6 years. Sing, Dance and Creative Play. $10 per family with one child, $5 each additional child. Drop-ins welcome. Call 777-8889 for more information. Musical Munchkins

10am, Thursdays. Hullabaloo, Hampstead. Music time at Hullabaloo! Let your Munchkin stomp, dance, march to the beat. Try a musical instrument and more! Visit www.hullabalooplay.com for details. StoryCOOKS

10am Thursdays. Children’s Museum. Cooking club for preschoolers. Read a story and create a dish inspired by the book. Call 254-3534 to pre-register. Christmas Fun for Kids

Photo Credit: Maria U.

3pm. Wrightsville Beach Museum. Ages 5-9. Elaine Henson, a local educator and historian, will read from one of her vintage editions of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. The event includes a hands-on craft and light refreshments. Call 256-2569 for registration. stART with a Story

3:30pm Thursdays. Children’s Museum. Create a masterpiece that reinforces a fun book. Call 254-3534 or visit www.playwilmington.org with questions. Greenfield Park Christmas Tree Lighting

6pm. Greenfield Lake Park. Join the holiday festivities with the lighting of the City of Wilmington’s Christmas tree. Tree lighting will be followed by a visit from Santa, hot and cold beverages and snacks. At 6:30 pm enjoy a special viewing of the Christmas Classic “A Christmas Story” in the park’s amphitheater. Ballet for Young Audiences: Snow White

Photo credit: Courtney H.

7pm. Thalian Hall. New York’s Ballet for Young Audiences entertains Wilmington with the iconic showing of Snow White. Perfect for the whole family, this show will be a narrated sixty minute version that will keep little ones spell bound! Call 6322241 for details.

6 Friday Toddler Time

10am Fridays. Children’s Museum. Projects and activities for ages 4 and under (and their special grownups to work on together). Call 254-3534 or visit www.playwilmington.org for more information. Story time at Hullabaloo

10am, Fridays. Hullabaloo, Hampstead. Bring your preschoolers and listen to a story followed by a themed activity. Themes change weekly. Visit www.hullabalooplay. com for a complete schedule. Family Yoga Story Time

Photo credit: Beth B.

10:30am Fridays. NHC Main Library. Parents and children 6 months+ have fun listening to stories while learning basic yoga postures. Bring mat or beach towel. Call 798-6303 with questions. Adventures in Art – Piet Mondrian Inspired Canvases

3:30pm Fridays. Children’s Museum. Experience different forms of art each week. This week, Piet Mondrian Inspired Canvases. Ages 5-8. Space is limited. Call 2543534 to pre-register and visit www.playwilmington.org. Rainbow Loom Club for Beginners

4-5pm. Learning Express, Military Cutoff & Oleander. Work on completing your beginner level club card by mastering 10 beginning bracelets. Bring your loom 16 | December 2013 | Wilmington Parent

www.wilmingtonparent.com

and bands. Reservations suggested. Call 509-0153 or 313-3100 for details.

Musical Munchkins, snacks, drinks, and more! Visit www.hullabalooplay.com for details.

Barnes & Noble Story Time

Wilmington Ballet Company’s The Nutcracker

7pm Fridays. Barnes & Noble. Enjoy weekly story time in the Children’s section. Call 509-1880 for details. Ballet for Young Audiences: The Nutcracker

7pm. Thalian Hall. New York’s Ballet for Young Audiences entertains Wilmington with the classic story of The Nutcracker. Perfect for the whole family, this show will be a narrated sixty minute version that will help get you in the holiday spirit! Call 632-2241 for details. Island of Lights Christmas Parade

7:30pm. Carolina Beach. Floats, bands and Santa Clause will be there to add to the festivities of the Season and provide a night of entertainment for families. Call 458-5507 for details.

7 Saturday Riverfront Farmer’s Market

8am – 1pm Saturdays (through 12/21). North Water Street. Features local farmers, produce, arts and crafts, music, and more. Call 538-6223 with questions. Marine Explorers – Jingle Shells

9am-noon. UNCW. Ages 6-9. Jingle shells, jingle shells, jingle all the way! Explore the festive world of marine shells and discover the organisms that inhabit them. Learn some holiday traditions that feature sea shells. Visit www.uncw.edu/marinequest/explorers for registration information.

1 & 5:30pm. Minnie Evans Art Center. The WBC has Cape Fear’s only full-length, traditional, and professional production of The Nutcracker Ballet. WBC is proud to present enchanting characters brought to life by the area’s most talented dancers, professional company dancers & special guest artists. Visit www. wilmingtonballetcompany.org for ticket information. 1-4pm. Cape Fear Museum. Write your own “Victory Mail” to discover ways military families have kept in touch. Send a “snail-mail” letter with a stamp, examine some historic telephones, and visit the Museum’s 1960s telephone booth! Explore modern communication links and imagine how we will stay in touch in the future. Parental participation required. Visit www. capefearmuseum.com for more information. Engineering Explorations – Goldilocks and the Three Bears

1:30-4:30pm. UNCW. Ages 6-7. Help! It’s almost time to hibernate and baby bear needs you to engineer a bed that is just right for a winter’s sleep. Visit www.uncw.edu/youth/programs for registration information. Annual Elf on the Shelf Scavenger Hunt

2-5pm. Learning Express, Military Cutoff Rd. Find the elves. Write down their names, and enter to win a $25 gift card! Super Saturday Fun Time

Annual Elf on the Shelf Scavenger Hunt

Rainbow Loom Club for I ntermediates and Experts

9:30am-12:30pm. Learning Express, Oleander Dr. Find the elves. Write down their names, and enter to win a $25 gift card! Happy Little Singers

9:45am Saturdays. Ms. Susan’s Room. Ages 6 months to 6 years. Sing, Dance and Creative Play. $10 per family with one child, $5 each additional child. Drop-ins welcome. Call 777-8889 for more information. Ballet for Young Audiences: The Nutcracker

10am. Thalian Hall. See 12/06. Art for Kids

11am-1pm. Totally Personalize It, 4314 Market St. Free. Art program for kids ages 3 to 12 featuring holiday themed projects that children can keep or use as a gift. Visit www.totallypersonalizeit.com for more information. ‘Tis the Season to Share

12pm. Hullaballoo, Hampstead. Pay it forward this Holiday season while having fun with the kids. Bring 3 cans of food to Hullaballoo and get $1 off admission. Featuring Santa Clause, Holiday story time, Holiday www.wilmingtonparent.com

• drawing • painting

V-mail to Vlogs Learning Center

Fitness – Grow to Health

9-10am Saturdays. Hullabaloo, Hampstead. Grow to Health offers a variety of fun, imaginative, and energetic games. Games that promote exercise, develop motor skills, and build friendships. Kindergarten5th grade. Visit www.hullabalooplay.com for more information.

Art Classes Young Artist’s Series

Kids Classes Adult Classes Sydney

Nationally Recognized, Professional Artist & Art Educator Carolyn Faulkner 3803 Wrightsville Ave #8, Downey Branch Office Park

www.studiocrealart.com

Call 910-685-5137

3pm Saturdays. TheatreNow. Join DOCK, the dog, and his two-legged 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.

3-4pm. Learning Express, Military Cutoff & Oleander. Work on completing your intermediate and expert level club cards by learning from our teachers and one another. Bring your loom and bands and your own original designs to demonstrate. Reservations suggested. Call 509-0153 or 313-3100 for details. Old Wilmington by Candlelight Tour

• Bug Kids Room • Rock Climbing Wall • Plasma Cars • Play House • Slide • Dress-up • Toddler Fun • Basketball • Video Games • Birthday Parties • More!

Island of Lights Holiday Flotilla

Happy Holidays!

4-8 pm. Latimer House. Tour 18 beautiful historic homes decorated for Christmas in Wilmington. Call 762-0492 for ticket information. 6pm. Carolina Beach. Fishing boats and pleasure craft electrically decorated with thousands of lights present a spectacular display on the Intracoastal Waterway. They cruise from Snows Cut to the Carolina Beach Boat Basin and back. The boats compete for prizes and add to the wonderful holiday spirit. A panel of judges will be on hand to choose the winners. Call 458-0211 for details.

We think children are the greatest gift!

8 Sunday Family Fun Day

9am - 5pm. Airlie Gardens. Visit the parks and Arbore-

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Wilmington Parent | December 2013 | 17

tum for a full day of family fun. Contact 798-7700 or visit www.airliegardens.org for more information. Arts & Craft Sale and Open House

11am. Poplar Grove Plantation. Annual celebration features a back lawn showcase of local and one-of-a-kind gifts; craft demonstrations; plus a visit from Mr. and Mrs. Claus. Enjoy a wagon ride through the woods ($5), and the 1853 Manor House and grounds will be adorned with seasonal decorations. Visit www.poplargrove.org for details. 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. Candyland Christmas

Photo credit: Toni Z.

1-5pm. Children’s Museum. Celebrate the magic of the season with your entire family & SANTA! Children will make candy cottages, enjoy goodies, make handmade ornaments, story time, share wish list with Santa, mix reindeer food, enjoy special holiday performances, and more! Call 254-3534 to order and arrange pick up of your child’s ticket before the event! Parents and Grandparents are free! Old Wilmington by Candlelight Tour 2-6 pm. Latimer House. Tour 18 beautiful historic homes decorated for Christmas in Wilmington. Call 762-0492 for ticket information. Wilmington Ballet Company’s The Nutcracker

3pm. Minnie Evans Art Center. The WBC has Cape Fear’s only full-length, traditional, and professional production of The Nutcracker Ballet. WBC is proud to present enchanting characters brought to life by our area’s most talented dancers, professional company dancers & special guest artists. Visit www.wilmingtonballetcompany.org for ticket information. Annual Wilmington Holiday Parade

5:40pm. Downtown Wilmington. Marching bands, floats, entertainers and of course, Santa Claus bring this holiday tradition to all ages. Parade will begin at N. Front and Walnut traveling south on Front to Orange and back north on Water Street. Call 254-0907 for details. Photo credit: Karla F.

9 Monday Animal Armor

10-11am. Halyburton Park. Ages 2 to 5, enjoy stories, songs, hands-on activities, hikes, and crafts. Registration required. $3. Call 341-0075 for details. Go Green Engineer Team – Detect Magnetic Fields

3:30pm Mondays. Children’s Museum. “Detect Magnetic Fields.” Hands-on challenges that focus on the engineering design process using simple materials. Ages 5-9. Visit www.playwilmington.org or call 254-3534 to pre-register.

10 Tuesday Animal Armor

10-11am. Halyburton Park. See 12/09. Kindermusik for Babies

10am. Learning Express, Military Cutoff. Gentle music and movement with you, your child and Kindermusik educator Catherine Szuch. Ages newborn-1 year. Reservations required. Call 509-0153 for details. Fort Fisher Holiday Open House

10-4pm. Fort Fisher. Celebrate the season at Fort Fisher State Historic Site. Enjoy seasonal refreshments, decorations, and entertainment throughout the day, including musical performances guaranteed to delight. Call 458-5538 for details. Photo Credit: Lana B.

Kids Cooking Club – Bagel Wreath Pizza

3:30 - 4:30pm Tuesdays. Children’s Museum. “Bagel Wreath Pizza.” Harris Teeter sponsors fun time of learning new skills and seasonal recipes. Visit www.playwilmington.org or call 254-3534 to pre-register. American Girl Night

7pm. Barnes & Noble, Mayfaire. Activities and crafts related to American Girl dolls and stories. Call 509-1880 for details. 18 | December 2013 | Wilmington Parent

www.wilmingtonparent.com

11 Wednesday Poplar Grover Farmer’s Market

10am. Learning Express, Oleander Dr. Boogie down and have fun with Dance with Me director Danielle Tisdale! Ages 1-3. Reservations required. Call 313-3100 for details. Hobbit Day

2-4pm. Northeast Library. Join us for our monthly teen/ pre-teen programming. This month we will celebrate everything Hobbit. No reservations or fees are necessary. Call 798-6373 for details. Discover Science – Robo Arm

3:30pm Wednesdays. Children’s Museum. “Robo Arm.” Explore and learn about the scientific process through critical thinking. Call 254-3534 or visit www. playwilmington.org to pre-register. Make Your Own Gingerbread Houses

3:30pm. Myrtle Grove Library. Using graham crackers, icing, and a variety of candies, create your own gingerbread house. Be sure to wear an apron or clothes you don’t mind getting a little messy. All materials are provided thanks to The Friends of New Hanover County Public Library. Ages 5-12. Call 798-6303 to reserve your spot!

12 Thursday French for Tots

Adventures in Art – Tree Cookie Dish Ornaments

3:30pm Fridays. Children’s Museum. Experience different forms of art each week. This week--Tree Cookie Dish Ornaments. Ages 5-8. Space is limited. Call 254-3534 to pre-register and visit www.playwilmington.org. Rainbow Loom Club for Beginners

4-5pm. Learning Express, Military Cutoff & Oleander. Work on completing your beginner level club card by mastering 10 beginning bracelets. Bring your loom and bands. Reservations suggested. Call 509-0153 or 313-3100 for details. Kure Beach Fantasy Christmas Show

6:30pm. Downtown Kure Beach. FREE. Enjoy Frosty and his penguin friend, Harriet Hippo, The Grinch, Cookie Monster, the dancing bears and more, along with Santa Claus and crazy elves, as they entertain you with song, dance and their zany antics. Dress warm because it always snows at the show! Call 458-8216 for details.

14 Saturday 25th Anniversary Santa Clause Cruise

Call for times. Downtown Wilmington. Cruise aboard the Henrietta III to the North Pole and pick up Santa Claus! Talk to Santa and enjoy some holiday cheer on the Cape Fear River. All admissions (non-perishable food items) will be donated to the Wilmington Salvation Army. Call 343-1611 to reserve your spot. 5k Jingle Bell Run

7:30am. Wrightsville Beach Museum of History. Race participants are encouraged to dress in holiday apparel and will of course all receive jingle bells to wear during the race! Visit www.its-go-time.com for entry information.

10am. Learning Express, Military Cutoff. Language Workshop for Children from the Children’s Museum. Say “bonjour” to fun in French with Marie Field. Ages 6 months and up. Reservations required. Call 509-0153 for details.

Riverfront Farmer’s Market

Holidays in the Woods

10-11am. Learning Express, Oleander Dr. Bring the kids for a special visit from Elmo Claus!

1:30-3:30pm. Halyburton Park. Ages 6 to 11, enjoy a chance to learn about plants and animals living in the park through fun, hands-on activities. Registration required. Call 341-0075 for details. Make Your Own Gingerbread Houses

3:45pm. Northeast Library. Using graham crackers, icing, and a variety of candies, create your own gingerbread house. Be sure to wear an apron or clothes you don’t mind getting a little messy. All materials are provided thanks to The Friends of New Hanover County Public Library. Ages 5-12. Call 798-6303 to reserve your spot!

13 Friday Art and Craft Friday – Finger, Feet, Hand, and Body Painting

10am Fridays. The Art Works, 200 Willard St. Children ages 3+ enjoy a weekly Art/Craft project. $10/family. $5/add’l child. Visit www.ms-susans-room.com for weekly events. Contact 777-8889 or info@ms-susansroom.com to register. www.wilmingtonparent.com

8am – 1pm Saturdays (through 12/21). North Water Street. Features local farmers, produce, arts and crafts, music, and more. Call 538-6223 with questions. Elmo Claus!

Art for Kids

Engineering Explorations – Holiday Slush Rush

1:30-4:30pm. UNCW. Ages 8-12. Engineer a sleigh to compete in our winter holiday Slush Rush. Join your fellow engineers to design and build a sleigh to compete in our Winter Holiday Slush Rush. Learn about friction. Visit www.uncw.edu/youth/programs for registrations information. Elmo Claus!

2-3pm. Learning Express, Military Cutoff Rd. Bring the kids for a special visit from Elmo Claus! Rainbow Loom Club for Intermediates and Experts

4-9pm. Carolina Beach. Take a self-guided tour through some of Pleasure Island’s most beautiful homes when they are decorated for the holidays. Enjoy Southern hospitality at its best as the owners welcome you into the privacy of their homes for this special holiday treat. Call 458-5006 for ticket information. Santa by the Sea

5:30-8:30pm. Fort Fisher Aquarium. Join the jolly ol’ elf for a unique holiday experience. Enjoy holiday crafts, decorating cookies, playing games, share in story time and much more. Meet Santa and a few of his wild friends. Don’t miss him diving alongside sharks, eels, and his favorite sea turtle friend, Shelldon. Visit www.ncaquariums.com for ticket information. Kure Beach Fantasy Christmas Show

6:30pm. Downtown Kure Beach. FREE. See 12/13.

15 Sunday Kure Beach Fantasy Christmas Show

6:30pm. Downtown Kure Beach. FREE. See 12/13. A Christmas Spectacular: Sing Joy

7pm. Wrightsboro UMC. Sing Joy is a musical composed by Nashville gospel writer Geron Davis, and features the Wilmington Celebration Choir, the Wrightsboro United Methodist Church Choir and other community members combined to make an 80-voice choir. Call 762-2583 for details.

16 Monday

Adopt an Elf: Elf on the Shelf Event

Reindeer Games

V-mail to Vlogs Learning Center

Railroad Story Time

12:30pm. Barnes & Noble, Mayfaire. Join us for The Elf on the Shelf: A Holiday Tradition, featuring storytime and activities. Call 509-1880 for details. 1-4pm. Cape Fear Museum. Write your own “Victory Mail” to discover ways military families have kept in touch. Send a “snail-mail” letter with a stamp, examine some historic telephones, and visit the Museum’s 1960s telephone booth! Explore modern communication links and imagine how we will stay in touch in the future. Parental participation required. Visit www. capefearmuseum.com for more information.

10-11am. Halyburton Park. Ages 2 to 5, enjoy stories, songs, hands-on activities, hikes, and crafts. Registration required. $3. Call 341-0075 for details. 10:30am. Wilmington Railroad Museum. Hear stories and enjoy creative activities in the Children’s Hall. $4/ Family. Free/Members. Call 763-2634 for more information. Holiday Tea

2pm. Bellamy Mansion. Includes three courses: finger sandwiches, scones, desserts and confections served with tea, followed by door prizes, raffles, and giveWilmington Parent | December 2013 | 19

aways. Goodies provided by some of the area’s finest eateries: Hot Pink Cake Stand, Panera Bread, the Fresh Market and Pizzetta’s. Call 232-0127 for more information. Go Green Engineer Team – Ping Pong Ball Inventions

3:30pm Mondays. Children’s Museum. “Ping Pong Ball Inventions.” Hands-on challenges that focus on the engineering design process using simple materials. Ages 5-9. Visit www.playwilmington.org or call 254-3534 to pre-register.

17 Tuesday Reindeer Games

10-11am. Halyburton Park. See 12/16. Preschool Math and Science Program

Photo credit: Julia A.

3:30pm. Myrtle Grove Library. Math and science concepts will be introduced through interactive storytimes, hands on science experiments, and exploration stations. Ages 2-5 years. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Call 798-6365 for registration. Kids Cooking Club – Cookies and Cocoa

3:30 - 4:30pm Tuesdays. Children’s Museum. “Cookies and Cocoa.” Harris Teeter sponsors fun time of learning new skills and seasonal recipes. Visit www.playwilmington.org or call 254-3534 to pre-register.

18 Wednesday Poplar Grover Farmer’s Market

10am. Learning Express, Oleander. Gentle music and movement with you, your child and Kindermusik educator Catherine Szuch. Ages newborn-1 year. Reservations required. Call 313-3100 for details. Preschool Math and Science Program

Photo credit: Tim B.

3:30pm. Northeast Library. Math and science concepts will be introduced through interactive storytimes, hands on science experiments, and exploration stations. Ages 2-5 years. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Call 798-6365 for registration. Discover Science – A Matter of Patterns

3:30pm Wednesdays. Children’s Museum. “A Matter of Patterns.” Explore and learn about the scientific process through critical thinking. Call 254-3534 or visit www. playwilmington.org to pre-register.

19 Thursday French for Tots

10am. Learning Express, Oleander. Language Workshop for Children from the Children’s Museum. Say “bonjour” to fun in French with Marie Field. Ages 6 months and up. Reservations required. Call 313-3100 for details. Magic Tree House Night

7pm. Barnes & Noble, Mayfaire. Christmas in Camelot (‘Magic Tree House’ Series #29). On Christmas Eve, Jack and Annie’s tree house transports them to King Arthur’s castle at Camelot, where they undertake a quest to the castle of the Otherworld. Call 509-1880 for details.

20 Friday Art and Craft Friday – Snowman Art Photo credit: Julia A.

10am Fridays. The Art Works, 200 Willard St. Children ages 3+ enjoy a weekly Art/ Craft project. $10/family. $5/add’l child. Visit www.ms-susans-room.com for weekly events. Contact 777-8889 or info@ms-susans-room.com to register. Adventures in Art – Shrinky Dink Ornaments

3:30pm Fridays. Children’s Museum. Experience different forms of art each week. This week, Shrinky Dink Ornaments. Ages 5-8. Space is limited. Call 254-3534 to pre-register and visit www.playwilmington.org. 20 | December 2013 | Wilmington Parent

www.wilmingtonparent.com

21 Saturday Riverfront Farmer’s Market

8am – 1pm Saturdays (through 12/21). North Water Street. Features local farmers, produce, arts and crafts, music, and more. Call 538-6223 with questions. V-mail to Vlogs Learning Center

1-4pm. Cape Fear Museum. Write your own “Victory Mail” to discover ways military families have kept in touch. Send a “snail-mail” letter with a stamp, examine some historic telephones, and visit the Museum’s 1960s telephone booth! Explore modern communication links and imagine how we will stay in touch in the future. Parental participation required. Visit www.capefearmuseum.com for more information.

Childcare Listing Guide Childcare

Santa by the Sea

AAI Pharma Learning Center 2320 Scientific Park Drive, Wilmington, NC 28405 910-254-7384 or 910-254-7385 2-4 y.o.AM programs, preschool classes, infant & toddler programs

23 Monday

Childcare Network 8 convenient locations in Wilmington,Southport and Leland 866-521-KIDS www.childcarenetwork.com Ages 6-weeks to 12-years

Go Green Engineer Team – Pop-Up Cards

3:30pm Mondays. Children’s Museum. “Pop-Up Cards.” Hands-on challenges that focus on the engineering design process using simple materials. Ages 5-9. Visit www. playwilmington.org or call 254-3534 to pre-register.

24 Tuesday – Christmas Eve 25 Wednesday - Christmas 27 Friday Adventures in Art – 2014 Kids Calendar

3:30pm Fridays. Children’s Museum. Experience different forms of art each week. This week, Holiday Card Printmaking. Ages 5-8. Space is limited. Call 254-3534 to pre-register and visit www.playwilmington.org. Fourth Friday Gallery Walk

6 – 9pm. Downtown Galleries & Studios. An after-hours celebration of art and culture through a self-guided tour. Free. Visit www.wilmingtondowntown.com or call 3438997 for map of participants.

28 Saturday

Children’s Schoolhouse 612 South College Rd. Wilmington, NC 28403 910-799-1531 www.childrensschoolhouse.net Now enrolling students ages 3-5, for 2, 3, or 5 day programs.

V-mail to Vlogs Learning Center

29 Sunday Sacred Harp Singing

1:30pm. Cameron Art Museum. Cameron Art Museum and WHQR Public Radio present the Wilmington Sacred Harp Singers, an a cappella social singing style dating to Colonial America. The music is loud, vigorous and intense. No previous experience necessary (instruction for beginners in first half hour). Songbooks provided. Visit www.cameronartmuseum.com for more information.

www.wilmingtonparent.com

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

Drop in childcare The Children’s Corner of Wilmington Hourly Play Care 29 Van Campen Blvd. 910-791-1624 www.thechildrenscornerwilmington.com Fully insured. Adjacent to Walmart/ behind Cracker Barrel, Market St. Newborn to 12 yrs. Drop in. No reservations necessary. Open 7 days.

Riverfront Farmer’s Market

8am – 1pm Saturdays (through 12/21). North Water Street. Features local farmers, produce, arts and crafts, music, and more. Call 538-6223 with questions.

Island Montessori School 222 Winner Ave. Carolina Beach, NC 28428 www.IslandMontessoriSchool.com 910-707-1200 Island Montessori School’s classrooms are based on the Montessori philosophy, which uses a thoughtfully prepared environment to foster independence, curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking. Full Day openings for ages 1-4 years.

Simply Play Drop In Child Care 3818 Oleander Dr, Wilmington, NC 28403 910-791-0022 www.playsimplyplay.com Simply Play is an hourly drop-in child care center, specializing in part-time child care that’s fun, flexible and convenient. Mon-Thurs 8:30am-8:30pm, Fri-Sat. 8:30am-11:30pm

Nanny Services Nancy’s Nannies, Inc. 252-726-6575 www.nancysnannies.com nancy@nancysnannies.com Providing Screened & Referenced sitters in your home, from Morehead City to Wilmington, NC since 1991.

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.

Power of Play 6644 Gordon Road, Wilmington, NC 28411 910-332-1660 www.powerofplaywilmington.com popwilmington@gmail.com Parents Night Out every Saturday 6pm-10pm,ages 3-11. Reservations suggested.

Wilmington Parent | December 2013 | 21

PARENTING IS Parenting Causing YouHARD! Stress?

THE PARENTING PROFESSIONALS CAN HELP THE PARENTING PROFESSIONALS CAN HELP!

• We Individual parenting Offer the Following Services for Parents: skills sessions • Personal parenting guidance and skills training in your home or • Small group parenting our offices skills workshops • Learn proven strategies for key • Individual, couples, parenting challenges like discipline, child and family sibling rivalry, tantrums, adolescent psychotherapy attitude and ADHD • Child-focused parent counseling • Large group • Individual, couples and family parenting seminars psychotherapy

call us or VisitOUR our website for dates of parenting VISIT WEBSITE FOR DATES OF workshops and seminars PARENTING WORKSHOPS AND SEMINARS

Schedule aSchedule personal consultation to learn how to quickly create peace in your a personal consultation to learn how to family quickly create peace in your family 910-777-4728 or www.successfulparentinginstitute.com 910-777-4728 or www.successfulparentinginstitute.com Nancy B. Kotz MSW, LCSW I Arthur J. Frankel LCSW, PhD I David L.L.HillHill MD, FAAP Nancy B. Kotz MSW, LCSW | Arthur J. Frankel LCSW, PhD | David MD, FAAP Natasha Nunes, MS, NCC, LPC I Gail Richardson, MA

22 | December 2013 | Wilmington Parent

30 Monday Go Green Engineer Team – Confetti Launcher

3:30pm Mondays. Children’s Museum. “Confetti Launcher.” Hands-on challenges that focus on the engineering design process using simple materials. Ages 5-9. Visit www.playwilmington.org or call 2543534 to pre-register.

31 Tuesday - New Year’s Eve New Year’s Noon

11am-1pm. Children’s Museum. Celebrate the New Year at noon! Visit www.playwilmington.org for more information. Kids Cooking Club – Snowmen on a Stick

3:30 - 4:30pm Tuesdays. Children’s Museum. “Snowmen on a Stick.” Harris Teeter sponsors fun time of learning new skills and seasonal recipes. Visit www. playwilmington.org or call 254-3534 to pre-register. Island of Lights New Year’s Celebration

9pm. Carolina Beach Boardwalk. Free. Don’t miss the giant lighted beach ball being dropped at midnight followed by a spectacular fireworks demonstration. Event will feature a DJ and dancing with refreshments and party favors available for purchase. Visit www. islandoflights.org for more information.

To submit events to the calendar, please email

calendar.wilmingtonparent @gmail.com Deadline for submissions to the January issue is Dec. 9, 2013.

www.wilmingtonparent.com

Afraid of Santa? Easing Your Child’s Fears Y

By Danielle Villegas

ou know those photos featuring a tearful toddler sitting on Santa’s lap? Some even consider them priceless, and look back on them years later with a chuckle. However, most people would like to avoid the traumatic, screaming Santa experience. Although a fear of a stranger in a costume offering candy and presents is normal, healthy, and usually should be encouraged – visiting the jolly elf during the Holidays is a treasured tradition. Here are some ideas that might make the Santa visit more enjoyable. 1. Read stories, watch videos of successful Santa visits with happy kids, and talk about what your child should expect on their visit. 2. Prepare them for a happy time. Use positive language, and don’t use the dreaded words, “don’t be scared”. You will only set them up to think this trip may be potentially fearful. 3. Allow an older sibling, cousin, or friend to go first. Modeling by others can be a useful strategy for reducing fear. 4. Allow your child to approach Santa at their own pace. Start far away and gradually encourage your child to get closer as he or she becomes more comfortable. It may take two or three practice trips. Start with just a wave from a distance, then maybe a high five or a handshake. 5. Wait until your child is ready to sit with Santa. Don’t just walk up and place them on his lap. 6. Bribery is always an option. Consider offering small rewards (e.g. - ice cream, a small toy) for having a picture taken with Santa. If all else fails, don’t sweat it. Children eventually outgrow their fear of Santa and may want to take a photo with him when they are older. v

www.wilmingtonparent.com

Wilmington Parent | December 2013 | 23

Holiday Shopping

GUIDE

Give the Gift of Membership

Surprise your family with a membership to the N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher. Just $60 a year. Enjoy unlimited free admission for a full year at all three North Carolina Aquariums. Family memberships receive free admission for two adults named on the card and their children or grandchildren under the age of 18. As an added bonus members receive free or discounted admission to more than 150 zoos and aquariums around the country including the NC Zoo. Call us for details 800-832-FISH (3474) or go online and join today! www.ncaquariums.com/membership

Looking for that extra special holiday gift? Playnation offers swing sets, accessories and Magic Circle trampolines! We are now taking orders for Christmas so give us a call!

www.PlaynationofWilmington.com 910-332-1660 6644 Gordon Road Wilmington, NC

A Gift from Once Upon A Child is always the Perfect Gift!

“Kids Stuff With Previous Experience”™ 4719-J New Centre Drive Wilmington, NC (910)452-9976 Store Hours: Mon-Sat 9-8; Sun. 12-6.

Introducing the most amazing and unique learning play material: Living Sands. The materials sensation is similar to cookie dough. 100% non toxic and antibacterial, Living Sands won’t stain and easily removes from your hands. The large set comes with 4 pounds of Living Sands, a large plastic tray with legs, 13 molding tools and one sand roller. Ages 3+. Large Set $79.99. Small Set $24.99 Learning Express Toys http://wilmington.learningexpresstoys.com 2 locations: Oleander Place, 3804 Oleander Drive 910-509-0153 Progress Point, 1437 Military Cutoff Road 910-313-3100

24 | December 2013 | Wilmington Parent

Give the gift of unlimited playtime and fun: A Membership to The Children’s Museum of Wilmington!

Membership will allow a whole family to play to their heart’s content and take advantage of special member-only benefits. Membership runs for 12 months from the date of purchase. Visit www.playwilmington.org or call 910-254-3534 for more information!

Let’s Play School Kit - $24.99 (Up to $10 in Savings!) “Play is the exultation of the possible.” —Martin Buber A choice of select products including a calendar, a pointer, pack of stickers, $5 Teacher’s Aid Gift Card and more! We will box and wrap the Kit for you! Contact info: 4310 Shipyard Blvd. Ste 103 Wilmington, NC 28403. www.teachersaidnc.com • 910-799-0101

10% off New Patient Visit

if you call to schedule the appointment by December 31, 2013 (appointment does not have to be by December 31, just the call to make the appointment needs to be made by December 31). Mention this ad to receive 10% off. Dr. Egg Pediatric Dentistry 6781 Parker Farm Drive Suite 100 Wilmington, NC 28405 (910) 795-2511 • www.DrEggDental.com

www.wilmingtonparent.com

Shop Power of Play this year for all your holiday gift giving. We offer admission passes, Melissa and Doug toys, as well as annual memberships! Don’t forget, we offer “Drop and Go” care so you can get all your holiday shopping completed. Call us today or stop in and check out our amazing toy collection.

www.PowerofPlayWilmington.com 910-332-1660 powerofplaywilm@yahoo.com 6644 Gordon Road Wilmington, NC

Let us cater your next holiday party!

We proudly feature Boars Head Deli Meats and Cheeses in all of our sandwiches. Our gift certificates are the perfect gift for your co-workers or stocking stuffers for your good girls and boys. Take a night off from cooking and enjoy the convenience of a healthy and delicious meal prepared just for you! Papa Fins offers a variety of menu options the whole family will enjoy, including dessert! Free Tea or Lemonade with any catering order through December 31st. 5621 Carolina Beach Road Wilmington, NC 2412 910-399-8555 • www.papafins.com

Kid to Kid pays 20% more in store credit when you trade in the toys your kids no longer use: Then trade up to our great selection of new toys in any price range!. Kid to Kid 3501 Oleander Drive #12 Wilmington, NC 28403 (910) 833-8857 • www.kidtokid/wilmington

Sweet Stacks Cupcakery

Stacks of Honest Goodness...

Exclusive holiday flavors (only available during November and December): Pumpkin Spice, Egg Nog, Chocolate Peppermint and Gingerbread. Send Holiday Grams in quantities of 4, 6 or 12 standard size only. The 4 count for $6.00, the 6 count for $8.00 and the 12 count for $16.00. Choose up to 2 flavors per box. Place your order by email request online or phone call. sweetstackscupcakery.com smeggett@sweetstackscupcakes.com 919- 244-0360

Bunny Peek A Boo

Released in spring of 2013, the multiple award-winning Bunny Peek A Boo is a fun brain game for children as young as two years old. Sturdy wooden blocks allow children to develop spatial perception, logic, and problemsolving skills as they “pull a rabbit out of the box” with this 3D puzzle from SmartGames. The game offers 60 challenges that prepare children for more difficult single player logic games. Children can solve the challenges alone or collaboratively, as well as play with the Bunny and blocks as a toy for endless hours of fun. www.smarttoysandgames.com

Make your holiday boarding reservation TODAY!! Space is limited and filling up fast! Receive 10% off Holiday boarding

Gladly accepting Dogs, Cats & Exotics. 5333 Oleander Dr., Wilmington 910-399-3768 www.pawsclawsah.com

Make your holiday boarding reservation TODAY!!

Space is limited and filling up fast! Receive 10% off Holiday boarding Gladly accepting Dogs, Cats & Exotics. www.wilmingtonparent.com 5333 Oleander Dr., Wilmington * 910-399-3768 * www.pawsclawsah.com

Wilmington Parent | December 2013 | 25

Holiday Shopping

GUIDE

Give the gift of dance.

All levels of Classical Ballet, Hip Hop and Contemporary dance. Plus, Mommy & Me, Fairy Princess Ballet, and Princess Camps. Get a free tutu with the purchase of a $100.00 gift certificate. The Wilmington School of Ballet. 3834 Oleander Drive Wilmington, NC 28403 (910) 794-9590 www.wilmingtonschoolofballet.com

Gifts for kids and moms.

Don’t need more toys? Memberships are always a great gift! Tmuffin 3534 S. College Rd Unit i Wilmington, NC 28412 910-367-5722 http://Tmuffin.com

Creating personalized children’s Silhouettes, Name Signs, and Height Charts.

These pieces are styled to personal ideas where each design is as individual as the child it is designed for. Themes include, but are not limited to: animals, butterflies, collegiate teams, butterflies, cartoons, fairies, jungle, princesses, sports, sea life, and transportation. All height charts and name signs are painted on wood. Silhouettes are painted on canvas paper and are available in a variety of sizes. Silhouette prices start at $15, Name Signs at $45, and Height Charts at $75 Contact Jennie at jennie_wenk@yahoo.com or 910.399.1708.

Give a gift from the Airlie Gardens Gift Shop!

Did you know that you can visit the gift shop at Airlie Gardens year-round without paying garden admission? Stop to shop for one-of-a-kind gifts from a unique and beautiful location. Find anything from ornaments and stocking stuffers, to garden themed merchandise. You can even give the gift of membership! 300 Airlie Road, Wilmington, NC 28403, www.airliegardens.org , or call us at 910.798.7700

Christmas Special Receive 10% off any 5, 10, or 20 class punch card

when purchased online at www. njoyfitness.org using discount code “wilmingtonparent”. NJOY Fitness is dedicated to offering affordable Zumba® Fitness classes in a joyfilled, fun and motivating environment for anyone of any race, gender, age or fitness level! NJOY FITNESS - 2501 N. College Rd, Wilmington (910) 367-5315 Zumba® Fitness | Zumba® Toning | Zumba Gold® | Zumba Sentao™

Give the gift of laughter and fun this holiday with a trip to The Little Gym.

We offer a diverse line-up of Core Season and Summer Session programs filled with movement, music, learning and laughter. From week to week and from year to year, our ageappropriate curriculum is designed to facilitate ongoing skill development and maximum fun. The Little Gym also offers birthday parties places for kids that are full-blown bashes, camps that cure even the bluest boredom and Survival Nights for parents and kids alike. The Little Gym of Wilmington www.tlgwilmingtonnc.com (910) 398-1190

Need a fun way to spend the holidays? Stop by and check out Hullabaloo, a children’s play and party boutique.

We offer annual membership cards too which are a great holiday gift and gives you access to all standard classes, unlimited play, as well as 10% off the concessions and 10% off parties. Hullabaloo also offers monthly membership cards too which make the perfect stocking stuffer. 16747 Highway 17, Hampstead, North Carolina 28443 (910) 821-1250 www.hullabalooplay.com

26 | December 2013 | Wilmington Parent

www.wilmingtonparent.com

Dear Santa, By Pam Molnar

can’t believe another year has gone by. Is it just me or are the years passing faster? I think I have been a pretty good mom this year. I have driven my kids to every social event, practice and friend’s house. My wallet has been an endless fountain of money. I have clocked countless hours at soccer fields, basketball courts, and music auditoriums. With a little help from our friend, Google, I continue to help with homework in subjects I have long forgotten. Sure, I might have lost it a few times, but I live with teenagers, Santa. They are God’s version of the Elf on the Shelf - sent down to keep us in check, but if left without supervision, they get into mischief. I know you are busy, so I will be brief. To start, I need a few things for the bathroom – a sink that repels toothpaste, a splash free mirror and a never ending roll of toilet paper. Changing the roll is just too complicated for my family. I’d like a copy of “The Busy Mom’s Exercise-Free Weight Loss Plan”. I heard it is hard to find, but hey, you are Santa. As a backup, I would be happy with a copy of “The Wine Diet” instead. Unlike other programs, I think I could really stick to this one. If you have a time machine in storage at the North Pole, I would love the ability to send a letter to my younger self. I could save her hours of unnecessary worry about career choices, raising children and neighborhood drama. I think that is what caused these “blond” highlights I keep finding in my hair. If it isn’t too much trouble, I would like to have a whole week free of arguments about who rides in the front seat, who drank the last Gatorade and whose turn it is to do the dishes. This is the season of miracles, right? Lastly, I would be thrilled to serve a meal that no one complains about. I’ve given up asking for a meal that everyone eats together before 9:00pm. Our crazy schedule is something even Santa can’t fix. Well Santa, I can hear my daughter beeping the car horn in the driveway. I have to start round two of my carpool. Travel safe. I’m sorry if the cookies are gone when you get here. The dogs eat anything left on the coffee table. Since I made them, it’s probably better that the dogs ate them anyway. Love, Mom

P.S. All I really want for Christmas is to see the magic of Christmas morning in my teenagers’ eyes. v Pam Molnar is a freelance writer and the mother of two teens and a tween. This is the actual letter she sent to Santa this year.

www.wilmingtonparent.com

Wilmington Parent | December 2013 | 27

| Your health

1/6 Vertical

NJOY Carnitine: The New Culprit in the Fight Against Heart Disease FITNESS, LLC.

2501 N. College Rd Wilmington www.njoyﬁtness.org

Zumba Fitness ! Zumba Toning! Zumba Gold! Zumba Sentao

eterinary Ho Neck V s r te A Full Service, Small sp r o Animal Hospital

l ita

We’ll treat your pet like one of our own!

Ron & Sharon Harris, DVM Dr. Rebecca Simmons - Resnick, DVM Stan Griffith, DVM Amy K. White, DVM • Vaccines • Surgery • Geriatric • Dentistry Wellness • X-Rays • Spay/Neuter • Boarding • Bathing Family owned & operated since 1999

By J’nelle Ruscetti, MS, PA-C

eart disease is a significant health issue for women, with more than one in three women in the United States suffering from the condition. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in our country.1 Although heart disease usually affects older adults, studies have revealed that plaques on the arteries begin early in life, so primary prevention efforts need to start in childhood: healthy eating, maintaining a healthy weight, and exercise. Researchers have recently revealed what they believe could be a culprit in heart disease: the consumption of red meats, a common source of protein in the U.S. diet. Red meats are high in protein but are also high in saturated fats, cholesterol, and calories. The cholesterol that is found in red meats has a tendency to stay in the body after consumption and is more likely to form plaques along the arteries, which can lead to coronary artery disease. Protein is an important nutrient, and its primary job is to provide amino acids that aid in the building and repair of muscles. Protein is especially important in children during their early years, when they are experiencing rapid growth. The right proteins can provide nutrition that creates fullness and gives the body essential vitamins and iron, but the wrong proteins tend to be the ones that Americans are consuming the highest amount of. In a study published in 2013, researchers did an analysis on almost 450,000 people. When looking at known risk factors associated with strokes and heart disease—diet, smoking, physical activity, and body mass index—it was found that a diet that was high in red meats showed the highest cause of death. Poultry and fish consumption were not related at all to an increase in mortality.2 And, the daily consumption of nuts, a great source of protein, has been found to reduce mortality rate by 20 percent.3 In April 2013, a study came out that revealed that it likely is not just the cholesterol and the fats in red meats that are having negative effects on the cardiovascular system but a substance found in red meat called carnitine. Carnitine is a compound that is also sold as a dietary supplement and found in some energy drinks. When carnitine is consumed it is converted in the stomach to another metabolite, TMAO, which promotes thickening of the arteries and increases the likelihood of having a heart attack and stroke. In the study, the patients who had the highest levels of carnitine in their blood also had an increase in the likelihood of heart attacks and strokes.4 As with all good things in life, there needs to be a balance. The body does need protein, but this protein does not need to come from red meat, which we now know may lead to dire health consequences down the road. I thought of this study immediately when I heard about former President George W. Bush and his heart surgery in 2013. He is a healthy weight, does not smoke, and always modeled a healthy lifestyle with regular exercise—but he also spent many years of his life on a cattle ranch! If you ask most Americans what foods have protein, they will tell you red meat, but there are other great sources of protein! Dried beans, fish, poultry, chickpeas, tofu, nuts, and soy products are great choices. These foods are not only full of protein; they are naturally low in saturated fats and cholesterol, and they are high in fiber. Eggs, in moderation, are a great source of protein as long as they are boiled and not cooked in margarine or high-fat oils. If someone has high cholesterol, he or she can eat the egg white for protein and avoid the yolks. Oftentimes there are foods that in their original form are healthy, but the way they are prepared in the American diet makes them unhealthy! v J’nelle Ruscetti, MS, PA-C, is a physician assistant with Wilmington Health Family Medicine at Monkey Junction, 5245 South College Road, Wilmington. 1. www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/facts.htm

686-6297 Emergencies 791-7387 8129 Market St. (behind TLC Auto Wash)

www.portersneckvets.com 28 | December 2013 | Wilmington Parent

2. S. Rohrmann et al, “Meat Consumption and Mortality-Results from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition,” BMC Medicine 11, No. 63 (2013): 1-12. 3. A. Pan et al, “Red Meat Consumption and Mortality: Results From 2 Prospective Cohort Studies,” Archives of Internal Medicine 172, no. 7 (2012): 555–63. 4. R. Koeth et al, “Intestinal Microbiota Metabolism of L-carnitine, a Nutrient in Red Meat, Promotes Atherosclerosis,” Nature Medicine 19, no. 5 (May 2013): 576-85.

www.wilmingtonparent.com

Reduce, Reuse,

Recycle

I want to be a

Kayak!

Healthy Gingerbread House

By Danielle Villegas

he candy rush of Halloween has passed, and Thanksgiving gave us all a reason to stuff ourselves with pie and other desserts. Now, Christmas is upon us with more than enough opportunities to keep the kids sailing along on a constant sugar high. Perhaps you would like to steer them in another direction. Take a break from the candy chaos without losing the fun and tradition! The kids can still enjoy creatively decorating their gingerbread houses this year, with just a few different ingredients.

Building the house: For the gingerbread walls and roof, you can use your normal building materials if that is easier. If you want a healthier alternative try graham crackers!

Icing:

Ever wonder what happens to recycled plastic water bottles? They become kayaks, clothing, toys, decks, and even bridges!

Recycle More with the City of Wilmington wilmingtonnc.gov/recycling 910.341.7875 NORTH CAROLINA

Wilmington Parent’s Summer Camp Fair

11th

Since this has to be strong enough to hold everything together, it’s tough to find a healthy alternative. If you want to stick with the traditional icing, the recipe is below. 3 egg whites 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar 1 pound organic powdered sugar, sifted or whirled in a food processor Beat the egg whites and cream of tartar until stiff peaks form. Gradually beat in the sugar until the frosting stands in firm peaks and is stiff enough to hold a sharp line when cut through with a knife. “Glue” Alternatives – Cream cheese, prune puree, or peanut butter!

Decorations: Dried cranberries Dried raspberries Pecans Sunflower seeds Pumpkin seeds Pretzel sticks for fences Pretzel waffle shapes make great windows. Banana chips Coconut flakes Dried strawberry fruit strips Popcorn = Snow! Fresh thyme, design a wreath

www.wilmingtonparent.com

Saturday, March 8, 2014 10am - 3pm Center Court Independence Mall Wilmington Parent | December 2013 | 29

| fit family Presented by

Back row L to R: Rocco Villari, Christine Villari, J’nelle Ruscetti, Mike Riggs, Amy Riggs, Heather King, Kate King, Brittany Wilson. Front Row: L to R: Sophia Villari, Stella Villari, Aubrie Ruscetti, Mason Riggs, Ella King, Alice King and Autumn Wilson.

Congratulations to all our Fit Family Challenge participants! They have worked so hard over the past few months, bravely tried new products and activities, and made changes to their lifestyles that will hopefully continue for years to come. J’nelle Ruscetti at Wilmington Health has seen the improvements first hand. She met with the families every week and taught them new ways to think about food and showed them how to stay active as a family! J’nelle reports that as a group they lost 50.25 pounds, 26 inches off their waists, and reduced their blood pressures by 56 points. This was amazing considering how many normal weight people were enrolled in the class. The kids started out a healthy BMI at the beginning of the program. Although they all maintained a healthy BMI at the end (some went down slightly) the children’s main success was that they lost inches off their waists- which reduces cardiovascular risks, as they adopted some of the healthy habits learned in the program. J’nelle says, “They were a great group! Thanks so much for allowing Wilmington Health to partner with Wilmington Parent on this endeavor!”

Participating Sponsors:

Wilmington School of Ballet Murrayville/North College

30 | December 2013 | Wilmington Parent

Knight Fitness

www.wilmingtonparent.com

Jingle Bell 5k Run 2013 Get the whole family together and join the most festive race of the season! Wrightsville Beach Jingle Bell 5k Run will be a sight you do not want to miss! Race participants come dressed up in their best holiday costume. Each year snowmen, elves, reindeer, and even Santa make appearances at the Jingle Bell Run. Participants will also receive jingle bells to wear during the race. Proceeds from the race benefit the Wrightsville Beach Museum of History. Of course, with so many creatively dressed runners there must also be a costume contest. Awards will be given for best overall costume, best group costume and best family costume. Overall Male & Female Finishers will participate in the annual cutting down of the Holiday Wreath from Finish Line, and awards will be given to the top 3 in each age group. Race Information: December 14, 2013 9am start, check-in starts at 7:30am. Visit its-go-time.com to register.

Save a Life When a person has a sudden cardiac arrest, his or her chances of survival greatly increase if someone nearby can immediately perform CPR. Unfortunately, fewer than 1/3 of those people who experience a cardiac arrest at home, work or in a public location get that help. To encourage more people to step in and help, the American Heart Association has simplified the CPR recommendations. New Hanover Regional Medical Center’s Emergency Medical Services team is asking you to be a lifesaver by learning Hands-Only CPR. Hands-Only CPR, performed by a bystander, has been shown to be as effective as “conventional” CPR in emergencies that occur at home, work or in public. There are only three steps to remember:

Specialized dentistry for infants, children, adolescents and children with special needs.

www.GrowingGrins.com For more information call 910-686-1869 or 910-333-0343 W I L M I N G T O N

J A C K S O N V I L L E

Come meet the caring and compassionate team of Halley White Pediatric Dentistry today!

1. Call 911 2. Push hard and fast in the center of the chest 3. Utilize AED (Automated External Defibrillators) if available Most bystanders are worried that they might do something wrong or make things worse, but your actions can only help. Any attempt at CPR is better than no attempt!

TWO LOCATNI:O8N11S5: Market TO WILMING

Street, Suite 2 04

JACKSO NVILLE : 306 Dol

phin Dr

ive

Visit www.nhrmc.org for more information about Hands-Only CPR and to find out about Hands-Only CPR events.

www.wilmingtonparent.com

Wilmington Parent | December 2013 | 31

| going green | By Brandy Metzger

Eco-Friendly Stocking Stuffers

or many people celebrating the holiday season, it can be difficult to find stocking stuffers that are practical, while also being eco-friendly. After investigating options for “green” stocking stuffers, I have developed a list of a few items that may suit the needs of your loved ones.

A stocking stuffed with unique and environmentally-friendly gifts will be greatly appreciated by all.

For the men in your life, Sasquatch Soap is a great choice. This soap is made by a small company dedicated to making quality products with ingredients like natural oils, lye and essential oils. The soaps are approximately 5 ounces in weight and can be used on the face, body and hair. An added bonus of Sasquatch soaps is that they have “manly” scents such as Bay Rum and Pine Tar that will remind your man of being out in nature. A small journal makes a nice gift for a woman’s stocking. This gift allows her to record special moments in life or just ideas

that she’d like to jot down. Eccolo makes a small eco-friendly journal. Their Terra journals are bound with recycled leather and filled with paper sourced from a certified regrowth forest. Girls of any age will appreciate cosmetics from 100 % Pure. The products do not contain synthetic chemicals, chemical preservatives, artificial fragrances, artificial colors or harsh detergents. They are made from natural ingredients including fruit pigments and work just as well as traditional cosmetics without the harmful ingredients. Products range from lip balm and gloss that are perfect for younger girls—to foundations, blush and eye shadows for teens and women. Socks may seem to be a cliché gift to give as a stocking stuffer, but who doesn’t love a fun pair of warm socks? Boys will really love the cool tie-dye socks made by Maggie’s Organics. Not only are they fun footwear, but they are made from soft, organic cotton in familyowned mills in North Carolina. So, in addition to being “green,” a purchase of these socks contributes to our state’s economy. A t-shirt from We Add Up is a great choice for anyone who is passionate about “green” living. The company makes organic t-shirts in all sizes that allow the wearer to express their passion, whether it be purchasing organic foods, drinking tap water, using solar power, etc. The company customizes a shirt with a number on the front that signifies how many people have made a commitment to the particular cause printed on the back of the shirt. The shirts make great conversation starters that allow activists to express their views on what they are most passionate about. In addition to these ideas, seek out local products to purchase for the holidays. A stocking stuffed with unique and environmentally-friendly gifts will be greatly appreciated by all. v Brandy Metzger is a freelance writer with a passion for green living. She is also a mother and a principal educator with STIZZil (an online education company).

32 | December 2013 | Wilmington Parent

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“It’s Not Fair!” How to Handle Holiday Rivalry By Heidi Smith Luedtke, Ph.D.

ou shop ‘til you drop for holiday gifts. Then, as the flurry of wrapping and ribbons settles on the living room floor, you hear a shrill, small voice whine, “Mom, she got seven presents and I only got five. It’s not fair!”

Sometimes parents do discriminate, even unconsciously. Parents may buy ‘better’ gifts for a child whose interests match their own, or buy practical presents for one who needs items like a backpack and bike helmet.

Material gifts are no substitute for parental affection. Still, kids make the connection between what parents give and how parents feel. If we teach kids that gift-giving is an expression of caring, it makes sense they’d take note of just how much loot (or love) they receive.

Ask each child for a wish list and use it as a shopping guide. Taking kids’ preferences into account makes them feel special.

How Much Did I Get? Kids’ understanding of equity-related concepts like count, cost and kind develop throughout childhood. Young kids think in concrete, egocentric terms. A toddler understands a big piece of cake is better than a small piece. A kindergartener knows seven gifts is more than five. Older kids are more cost-aware and may choose one expensive item they really want over many less-costly ones. Gift-related gripes are seldom about the material objects themselves, experts say, they’re a reflection of the meaning kids attach to those objects. Fairness concerns express kids’ fears that parents favor one sibling more than another. “Sibling rivalry is developmentally appropriate throughout childhood and into middle adolescence,” says Stephanie Mihalas, Ph.D.

How Much Did She Get? Kids are hypersensitive at holiday time because they’re comparing gift lists with peers at school and with siblings at home.

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How to Deal with the Drama It’s impossible to win the fairness game. Even if you give each child six gifts, and spend precisely the same amount. Children will always be able to find some way in which their sibling was given more or treated differently. If kids raise concerns, don’t get caught up in lengthy discussion of who got more; you’ll only fuel frustrations. Take a detached, inquisitive approach. Ask “how does your gift make you feel?” or “what were you hoping to get?” Kids’ answers can give parents great insight into their feelings about competition and caring. Hearing kids out doesn’t mean you agree with them. Your goal is to ensure your child feels respected. Reflect her concerns back so she knows you get it, offer a hug and spend some time one-on-one. Support your child while she wrestles with her feelings. Don’t let equity issues put a damper on your holiday spirit. “This is a perfect opportunity to have a discussion about your family values regarding material things and your love for your children,” says Shulman. Select thoughtful gifts based on kids’ unique interests and wishes, and tell them you love them more than gifts could ever express. v

Wilmington Parent | December 2013 | 33

| peanut gallery

Christian H. 12/30• 9yo

Aiyanah J.

Briley H. 12/22• 2yo

Malia H.

Quez 11/24• 9yo

Victoria H.

Carl B. 11/20• 8yo

Gretchen B.

11/30

12/25• 8yo

12/28• 12yo

11/20 • 8yo

Cian P.

11/8 • 8yo

Noelle S. 12/24• 2yo

Landen G.

12/5 • 1yo

Elizabeth-Ann T. 12/15• 6yo

Braelynn J.

12/13 • 2yo

Simone S. 12/26• 10yo

Zayne H.

12/23 • 5yo

Lyric 12/11• 1yo

Does your child or grandchild have a birthday iN January? 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: 12/13. We have a limited Gabriella F. 12/15• 8yo

Marina B. 12/28• 7yo

34 | December 2013 | Wilmington Parent

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

T H E

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Wilmington Parent | December 2013 | 35

Enter Learning Express Toy’s Funny Holiday Photo Contest!

and you could win a $50 Gift Card! Submit your photo on wilmingtonparent.com... You, your friends & relatives can vote daily for your favorite. The Photo with most votes wins! Submission Period: 11/20-12/11/13 Voting Period: 11/27-12/31/13

6th 5th Annual

Education Fair

Explore Your Options Saturday, January 11, 2014 9:00am-1:00pm First Baptist Church Activity Center 1939 Independence Blvd (near Independence Mall)

Free Admission, Free Parking

Education, an important decision...

Wilmington Parent’s Education Fair provides parents all the educational options they need to make decisions about their child’s education from preschool to high school. Parents and children can visit with representatives from private school systems, parochial, boarding, and special education.

36 | December 2013 | Wilmington Parent

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