february 2013 • FREE
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Our 15th Year of Serving New Hanover,
ick & Pender County Families!
INSIDE:
Great Party Ideas
• Party Listings • Down on the Farm Parties • Avoiding the Gift Glut
The classroom flip -New Trend in Education? Cover Kid: Neeka
Mud -The New Medicine
Dental Care Tip #2 Always be PASSIONATE about great oral hygiene and your teeth from the very beginning!
Julie B. Dimock, DDS, MS • Adam W. Weinberg, DDS Board Certified
3505 Converse Dr, Ste 175
PHN
910-794-2266
info@ccpedo.com • www.ccpedo.com
Now Scheduling Appointments in Leland at . . .
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2013 Open House Dates Sunday, February 10th 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm Thursday, February 21st 9:00 am to 12:00 noon Wilmington Christian Phonics to Physics . . . and a whole lot more!
Open House February, 24th 3-5PM
Friends School of Wilmington’s VIGOROUS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM is ROOTED in the QUAKER VALUES of INTEGRITY, COMMUNITY and SERVICE. Call us today to schedule a tour and experience Friends School.
www.fsow.org
18 months - 2nd Grade l 207 Pine Grove Dr. l 910.791.8221 3rd - 8th Grade l 350 Peiffer Ave. l 910.792.1811 l www.fsow.org
Robert T. Kelly, DDS & William R. Cherry III, DDS, MS
Pediatric Dentistry February is National Children's Dental Health Month Call us today to schedule a visit and ensure your child has a great start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums
1635 Doctors Circle Wilmington, NC • (910) 343-1735 • www.drkellydds.com www.wilmingtonparent.com
Wilmington Parent | February 2013 | 1
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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.
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| in this issue
Have a cute photo you’d like to share?
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Publisher/Editor in Chief Keith Jaworski 910 343-1226
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February 2013 SPecial Section: Party Guide
24 26 30 31 13 35
how to avoid the gift glut party listings Birthday Breakfasts down on the farm parties
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mud - the new medicine show a little love
5 Editor’s Note 6 short stuff 8 family finance 10 Growing Up Online 12 Reel life 14 Calendar
23 school notes 32 FIT FAMILY 34 Going Green 35 story time 36 Peanut Gallery
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
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Cover by Nichole Louise Photography 910-367-5151 • www.nicholelouisephotography.com 4 | February 2013 | Wilmington Parent
Please recycle this magazine
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| editor’s note
Wilmington's Oldest Montessori School
The Children's Schoolhouse
I
t’s party planning time again! This February we have plenty of information about party venues, gift registry, party treats, and more in our Party Guide starting on pg. 26. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the thought of Birthday Party gift overload , browse through the article on pg. 24, “How to Avoid Birthday Party Gift Glut”. Author Mary Helen Berg offers new ways to cut down on unneeded gifts and even a way to combine parties! Looking for a low-stress way to celebrate? Check out pg. 31 to start planning some farm-time fun! A party on the farm makes it easy to include everyone, from Grandparents to best friends, and is a wonderful way to create a special day! Have you noticed with the new year, a new need to reorganize your budget? While considering your financial decisions, Robyn Passante’s article on pg. 8 reminds us how important it is to make saving for emergencies a priority. Not only does she explain why, but she also gives us helpful tips on how to get started. Show everyone a little extra love this month for Valentines Day! If your looking for a gift that keeps giving all year, visit our website at www.wilmingtonparent. com for information on a Love with Food subscription that is guaranteed to be better than your typical box of chocolates! Love each other, be kind, and Happy Valentines Day!
Danielle
Now Registering for 2013 and Summer Camp! 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
PARENTING IS Parenting Causing YouHARD! Stress?
THE PARENTING PROFESSIONALS CAN HELP THE PARENTING PROFESSIONALS CAN HELP! Learn proven techniques for tantrums, defiance, issues, We Offer the Following school Services for Parents: ADHD, sibling rivalry, co-parenting, • Personal parenting guidance and improving communication and more. skills training in your home or our offices • Individual parenting • Learn proven strategies for key skills sessions parenting • Small groupchallenges parenting like discipline, sibling rivalry, skills workshopstantrums, adolescent attitude and ADHD • Individual, couples, child and • Child-focused parent counseling family psychotherapy • Individual, couples and family • Large group parenting seminars psychotherapy
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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 www.wilmingtonparent.com
Wilmington Parent | February 2013 | 5
|
short stuff Kids Learning Languages A local donor has given The Children’s Museum of Wilmington The Language Workshop For Children® license! Elizabeth DeBiasi, owner of Accents On Fun, Inc. has given The Children’s Museum the LWFC license so that the Museum will be able to staff certified foreign language teachers and offer language classes to children ages 6 months to 9 years old.
Leland Youth Art Day Brunswick Arts Council and the North Carolina Arts Council are sponsoring Leland’s third annual Youth Art Day! This event will be held on Saturday, Feb. 16 from 10 am to 2 pm at the Leland Recreation Municipal Park. Various forms of art and music activities for kids will be available, including pottery, face painting, African drumming, and other crafts. This is a wonderful opportunity for children to spend the day experiencing various forms of art and music. The event is recommended for kids 8 and up, but children of all ages can attend. Hot dogs and drinks will be available for the kids..
Jenkins
“Since creating Accents on Fun and bringing The Language Workshop for Children® programs to Wilmington in 2009, we have had the distinct honor of exposing hundreds of children and toddlers to French, Spanish and Chinese. We have now finished the Fall 2012 session and we wanted to share some exciting news with you: The Children’s Museum of Wilmington, a supporter of our program since its inception, will become the licensee of the Language Workshop For Children®. Language classes will continue to be held at the Children’s Museum, with Marie and Karina as French and Spanish teachers,” DeBiasi said. Language Workshop For Children® free trial classes will be held at both Learning Express Toys store locations: Spanish: February 11th (Military Cutoff) and February 25th (Oleander) French: February 5th (Oleander Drive) and February 19th (Military Cutoff) Please call 910-313-3100 to pre-register for the trial classes at the Oleander Drive location and call 910-509-0153 to pre-register at the Military Cutoff location. Semester registration will begin in January for the spring semester. Look for announcements soon about this transition, as well as enrollment opportunities for the next session on www.playwilmington.org. For more information call The Children’s Museum of Wilmington at 910-254-3534.
More than play at JPA JPA
P reschool A cademy
Half day classes Open Enrollment for 2013-14 Certified teachers February 1st Limited spaces open
Call to schedule a tour
Small sizes Call class to schedule a visit today!
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(910) 367-7210 | www.jpawilmington.com | 7888 Market St
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6 | February 2013 | Wilmington Parent
Decor for the classroom & Home • Learning Place mats
Incentive Charts • Stickers • Pencils • Erasers • Flash cards • Workbooks • Reward Items • Toys • Games
A unique half-day academic program for students in grades 1-8 with learning disabilities and/or attention deficit disorder 4:1 teacher to student ratio Empowering children who have learning differences with the skills needed to become confident, independent learners
www.wilmingtonparent.com
The Posh Whale Upscale Consignment Sale Wilmington’s exclusive overstock, upscale & boutique consignment event earning consignors the most money.
Save the Date: 2nd Annual Blue Ribbon Run The 2nd Annual Blue Ribbon Run will take place at 4pm on Saturday, March 23 at Autumn Hall with a reception following at Dockside. This race honors two young women—Julie Brown and Christina Gianopolis—who lost their battles with colon cancer in 2011. All proceeds from this race will benefit colon cancer research through the American Cancer Society. Go to www.theblueribbonrun.com to learn more about the race, including sponsorship and volunteer opportunities. Sign up now to help kick butt on colon cancer!!
February 27th (preview sale)-March 1st Elks Club * 5102 Oleander Drive Consignors earn 70% * Tagging services available * Vendor space available * Goody bag sponsorships
For more information about hours, brands, consigning and sponsorships, visit
www.whaleofasaleconsignment.com
Rock the Prom 2013 Date: Saturday, February 9, 2013 Location: Coastline Conference and Event Center Wilmington, North Carolina Do you have teens that are looking for ways they can “Rock the Prom”? Kenny Barnes Studio is proud to announce the 2nd annual “Rock the Prom Fashion Showcase and Expo”! Rock the Prom is an event where vendors of promrelated products and services will be on hand to showcase prom products and services available to view and purchase. It’s a fun way to save time and money and ROCK YOUR PROM! Young ladies will be able to try on and purchase oneof-kind designer prom dress from Isabella Grape with special Rock the Prom discounts and prom dress registry! Designer fashion shows will be held throughout the day at “Rock the Prom 2013” Have a great time in an atmosphere filled with fashion, music and energy! Tickets are $5 each purchased in advance; $7 each at the door. VIP tickets are also available for $10 each. VIP tickets get you seats on either side of the Fashion Show runway.
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Vote for Your Favorites! Calm Reminders for Peace There are many important reasons that we should be calm: to think clearly, to create healthy relationships, to be fully present in the moment, and to respond instead of react are just a few. In the heat of the moment, it can be difficult to remember to be calm. Be Calm Beads are locally handmade necklaces and bracelets that serve as a visual reminder to be calm. And since we can all benefit from a little help, they make wonderful gifts for special friends. Designed and created by Nancy Kotz, director of Successful Parenting Institute in Wilmington, she is committed to helping children grow up peacefully so they can become their best selves. She created Be Calm Beads and Messages to Mom to help parents be calm so their children can feel emotionally safe and happy. More than half of all net profits from the sale of Be Calm Beads products go directly to help fund Messages to Mom, a program that encourages children to speak up and parents to calmly listen. To order Be Calm Beads, or for more information about Messages to Mom, visit bcb.successfulparentinginstitute.com.
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wilmingtonparent.com Wilmington Parent | February 2013 | 7
| family finance | By Robyn Passante
The Emergency Fund: How You Can Do It, And Why You Should
F
or as long as I’ve been reading and writing about personal finances, I’ve been given the same emphatic directive by financial planners: Build an emergency fund. You better have an emergency fund, they say. You need to save three months worth of your living expenses, they command, as if amassing a small mountain of extra cash is as simple as snapping one’s fingers. You know what most of us think when we read the words “emergency fund”? “I wish. Can’t be done.” And then our eyes dart anxiously to the next personal finance tip, because suddenly tackling our oppressive student loan or credit card situation seems like a breeze. But all those financial planners can’t be wrong. It’s important. So there has to be a way to make it happen. Right?
That kind of singular focus is essential, but it might also be necessary to scale back your initial emergency fund goal in order to get the ball, and your confidence, rolling.
Absolutely, says Curtis Chambers, certified financial planner and founder of Chambers Financial Group in Clearwater, Fla. “The key is prioritization,” says Chambers, who has more than 20 years of experience in financial services and a painstakingly built emergency fund of his own. “You have to put 100 percent of your focus on that emergency fund. You can’t say ‘Well I’m also going to have my 401K at work, or do my IRA, or buy new furniture.’ You have to put everything on hold and focus 100 percent of your effort on building your emergency fund.” That kind of singular focus is essential, but it might also be necessary to scale back your initial emergency fund goal in order to get the ball, and your confidence, rolling.
“The first thing is just to have a fund,” Chambers says. Open a separate savings account (don’t worry about the interest rate) and put something in it. “The goal would be to have three months of expenses – and six months would be fantastic – but even if you get a little bit in a fund, say $500 or even $300, you’re breaking that cycle.” “That cycle” is the one that keeps so many living paycheck to paycheck, relying on one’s credit card to be the answer in a crisis. “We’re trained by the credit card companies early,” he says. “They’re training us to use credit cards as our emergency fund.” But saddling ourselves with more debt whenever the minivan’s brakes need to be fixed or the water heater goes keeps us in a downward financial spiral that becomes harder and harder to reverse. That is perhaps where the emergency fund becomes most powerful – its ability, with just the first few hundred dollars we set aside, to change our mindset about our money, and our control over it instead of its control over us. “It changes your entire behavior financially,” Chamber says. “It’s a change in psychology.” Once you’re empowered with the ability to save some, it will get easier to save more. And you’ll not only be able to save more than you thought, but you’ll be more careful about how you spend those precious “emergency” dollars. “It takes so much work and discipline to build that emergency fund that once you build it, you’re fairly protective of that fund,” he says. “By doing that hard work and having that focus to build it, it’s something you’ll value. So you’ll use it only for emergencies.” Besides the dreaded job loss or health emergencies, Chambers includes car repairs, home repairs, and even new car purchases among legitimate reasons to dip into the fund. The emergency fund brings peace of mind during a crisis, but it also provides an everyday cushion between you and the stress that comes from worrying about all of life’s “what ifs.” “Nothing will drop your anxiety level like knowing that an emergency fund is there. Because those emergencies are a regular part of life,” Chambers says. “An emergency fund is definitely a sleep-at-night thing.” v Robyn Passante is a freelance journalist and mother of two whose emergency fund is small but growing. She can be reached at rspassante@ gmail.com.
8 | February 2013 | Wilmington Parent
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Now Enrolling!
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your outgrown children's items and earn 2/3rds of your asking price! Simply pick your own prices, tag your items, drop them off at the sale, and we do the rest. Sign up today on our website.
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New Horizons Elementary School New Horizons Elementary School has developed a learning community that nurtures student achievement and personal development. Your child will never be “lost in a crowd” as the small size of New Horizons ensures personal attention for each student. We have developed an environment that allows every individual to feel valued for their unique gifts and talents. By developing the whole child - socially, emotionally, academically, and ethically - our program fosters our mission statement everyday: “Developing Leaders One Child at a Time.” k-5th grade Small class sizes Challenging academics
Nurturing learning environment Stellar standardized test scores Strong physical education emphasis
Spanish, music, & art Afterschool program Art, music, & language clubs
3705 South College Rd. • Wilmington, NC • 910-392-5209 www.newhorizonselementary.org www.wilmingtonparent.com
Wilmington Parent | February 2013 | 9
| growing up online
| By Carolyn Jabs
Is Your Child’s Classroom Upside Down?
I
f you’ve noticed something different about the homework your child is doing lately, you’re not alone. More and more teachers are flipping their classrooms so “events that have traditionally taken place inside the classroom now take place outside the classroom” and vice versa. Although college professors have been experimenting with flipping for some time, the movement really picked up steam in the last two years because of two intersecting trends. On the one hand, teachers were complaining that they simply couldn’t get students to do traditional homework. On the other hand, they were trying to hold the inclass attention of easily distracted students by showing online lectures and presentations. Flipping the classroom frees the teachers to interact more directly with students. Instead of standing at the front of the room, knowing they are boring some students and confusing others, teachers turn lectures and presentations over to gifted and inspiring communicators. In the classroom, they take advantage of face-time to personalize education, answer questions, lead discussions, encourage collaboration, and coach students through challenging material. Many teachers find they prefer being “the guide on the side” rather than the “sage on the stage.” Flipped classrooms are relatively new, so there hasn’t been systematic research about their effectiveness though small studies show promising gains, especially in science and math. The benefits seem most obvious in high school, though some middle and even elementary schools are adapting flipped techniques for their students. If your child’s school has introduced this new approach, you’ll want to ask some very specific questions:
What kind of technology will my child need? Some teachers put materials online so your child will be able to “study” with any Internet ready device including a cell phone. Other teachers distrib-
10 | February 2013 | Wilmington Parent
ute materials on DVD’s or flash drives. Ask about what arrangements can be made for students who don’t have access to technology at home. Can students stay after school or go to the local library to view teaching materials?
What type of materials will be assigned? Some teachers create their own podcasts, videos and powerpoints. Others depend upon materials developed by a textbook company or teachers from another school. Still others take advantage of the rich variety of online resources, assigning students to watch everything from TED talks to materials from the Khan Academy. Because your child will use these materials at home, be sure to sit in occasionally so you’ll have a deeper understanding of presentation style as well as the content your child is expected to master.
How much time should my child spend on homework? Some students (and parents) may be under the impression that flipped homework is “easy” because all that’s required is watching a video or visiting a website. Most teachers expect students to treat these materials the same way they would an in-class lecture. Often students will be asked to take notes, answer questions or write a short summary after watching the presentation. Parents can help by treating flipped work as seriously as they would any other kind of homework. Encourage your child to give the assignment his or her full attention, pausing and rewinding if something is hard to understand.
What support will my child need at home? Provide a quiet place where your child won’t be distracted while studying. Headphones may be helpful, especially if there are other children in the room. As you would with other homework, encourage your child to block out a study time when he or she is alert. After 10 o’clock is usually not a good time for mastering new material in any form.
What goes on in class? In the best flipped classrooms, students don’t spend much class time doing passive listening or paperwork. De-
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pending on the subject, teachers may lead discussions, assign collaborative work or give students problems and projects that ask them to apply what they learned the night before. This active learning encourages deeper thinking that is often much more satisfying for students. Instead of sitting at home, feeling frustrated by a problem or a concept they don’t understand, they can instantly enlist the help of the teacher or even a fellow student.
How does your child feel about learning? One of the best indications that a flipped classroom is working is that students stop treating education as a spectator sport. Instead of simply mastering information “because it will be on the test,” they connect with a subject, asking questions and seeking out answers for themselves. Gifted students often thrive in these classrooms because they can delve more deeply into subjects that interest them. Students who would have struggled to keep up in a traditional classroom are also likely to benefit because they get more individualized attention from the teacher and they can pause and rewatch materials at home.
How are your child’s grades? No approach to education works for every student. If your child seems disengaged or you see grades dropping, schedule a conference with the teacher. If your child’s teachers haven’t yet discovered flipped learning, you may want to take the initiative and introduce your child to some of the terrific instructional materials to be found online. An excellent list is available at openculture.com. Just remember that watching these materials is only the first step in flipped learning. Children still need adults who can help them evaluate and make sense of what they’ve learned, so draw your children into conversations and activities that help them put new knowledge into context. Students who get this kind of guidance at school and at home will eventually become sophisticated lifelong learners, better able to make good use of educational resources wherever they find them. v
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Robert B. Campbell, DDS Specializing in Braces for Children & Adults Two Locations: 1516 Doctors Circle • 8066-A Market Street (910) 251-1100 • www.campbellsmiles.com
WE’RE OPENING OUR DOORS AND YOURS Join us for Open House on March 26. Information presentations and campus tours from 8:15 to 9:45 AM.
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 see past columns.
Financial Aid and Scholarships available A PK3 - 12th grade college preparatory school
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•
C A P E F E A R A C A D E M Y. O R G Wilmington Parent | February 2013 | 11
|
reel life
| By Jane Louise Boursaw
February brings zombies, aliens, and another love story from Nicholas Sparks. Here’s a sneak peek at what’s new in theaters this month.
Safe Haven
Not yet rated; likely PG-13. In theaters February 14. Ok for kids 13+. http://www.facebook.com/safehavenmovie. Lasse Hallstrom (Dear John, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen) directs this romantic drama based on a book by Nicholas Sparks. The story centers on a young woman named Katie (Julianne Hough) whose sudden appearance in the small town of Southport, North Carolina raises questions about her past. She forms relationships with Alex (Josh Duhamel), a widowed storeowner with a kind heart and two kids, and Jo (Cobie Smulders), a no-nonsense neighbor. But Katie struggles with a dark secret that still haunts and terrifies her. It’s a Nicholas Sparks movie so, of course, there’s a hopeful message: love is the only true safe haven.
Escape From Planet Earth Not yet rated; likely PG. In theaters February 14. Ok for kids 7+.
Warm Bodies
Rated PG-13 for zombie violence and some language. In theaters February 1. Ok for kids 13+. http://warmbodiesmovie.com/. Are zombies the new vampires? Summit Entertainment sure hopes so. Jonathan Levine (50/50) directs this comedy-horror flick about a zombie (Nicholas Hoult) who becomes involved with the girlfriend of one of his victims. Their romance sets in motion a sequence of events that might transform their entire lifeless world. Maybe love truly does conquer all. Even zombies. Dave Franco, Teresa Palmer, Rob Corddry and John Malkovich also star.
The long-delayed Weinstein Company animated film is finally hitting the big screen. The story centers on astronaut Scorch Supernova (voiced by Brendan Fraser), who finds himself caught in a trap when he responds to an SOS from a notoriously dangerous alien planet— namely, ours. A master of daring rescues, Scorch pulls off astonishing feats with the quiet aid of his nerdy brother, Gary (Rob Corddry), head of mission control at BASA. Jessica Alba, Jane Lynch, James Gandolfini and Sarah Jessica Parker also lend their voices to this cute movie directed by Callan Brunker (a storyboard artist on Despicable Me, 9, and other family films).
Jane Boursaw is a syndicated family entertainment writer 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 | February 2013 | Wilmington Parent
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Mud —the New Medicine By Ashley Talmadge
K
ids love mud—it’s just a fact. Whether it’s the batter for fresh muffins, or the building material for mini dams and roadways, or perhaps just the satisfying squish between toes during a hike through a streambed, a young child seems drawn to the stuff as if by design. Parents, on the other hand, may be less enthusiastic about mud. For one thing—mud is dirty. But there are still plenty of good reasons to let your kids play in mud. The National Wildlife Federation’s recent report The Dirt on Dirt: How Getting Dirty Outdoors Benefits Kids (2012) states, “The things small children want to do outside, like building mud castles, splashing around in puddles and rolling down hills…may, in fact, be a grubby little prescription for health and happiness.” Here’s more on the benefits of getting muddy.
Physical health. There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that early contact with some of the infectious microbes found in soil can result in a lower risk of heart disease later in life. Other studies have linked the over-use of sanitizers and sterilizing products to a higher incidence of allergies and autoimmune disorders. In addition, many experts have noted the connection between a sedentary lifestyle and an unhealthy body. “We have an epidemic of obesity in this country, says pediatrician Dr. Bruce Birk. “All the best efforts to change diet are important, but secondary to the importance of regular physical activity, especially outdoors.”
Mental health. Look at a child’s face as she splashes in a muddy puddle, and you know she just feels good. Studies suggest that this feeling of well-being may result, at least in part, from a child’s contact with the soil. A bacterium found in dirt (M. vaccae) has actually been linked to increased levels of serotonin, a compound in the brain related to feelings of happiness. Give children a break! Remember how good mud feels
between the toes? Physical play outdoors can also result in gains in independence and creativity. Chrissy Larson, an outdoor educator and preschool teacher, observes that a child’s “play in natural spaces is much more creative because of the lack of structure and the constant change with the seasons (and) weather.”
Educational benefits. Young children learn by engaging in hands-on activities with real objects. Put simply, children learn by getting their hands dirty. Unstructured play (that is, play initiated by the child and not led by an adult) is an important part of their education. Yet today, a child’s schedule is often packed with hours of directed activities in school, sports, or aftercare programs. Free time is spent in front of one screen or another. There seems to be less and less time to “just muck about.” Unstructured free play has been shown to promote cognitive growth and to positively influence social interactions. Connection with nature. Many experts agree that our children are quickly losing any connection to the natural world. Larson talks about how her young students learn to make use of the immediate environment. “At first they don’t notice that some trees are better than others for shelter from the rain, but after a few weeks in the class they are very good at finding the cedar trees and the giant sequoias and the spruces and Douglas firs.” Today our children have more on their plates (often literally) than ever before. We tend to lead over-scheduled, yet sedentary lives. The CDC reports that obesity rates among our youth have tripled in the last 30 years. Pediatric use of antidepressants and medications for ADHD has skyrocketed in the last decade. But it seems that playing in the dirt and mud, whether in the backyard or hiking along a creek bed might be the perfect antidote. Couldn’t your kids use a little mud medicine?
Make Your Own Mud Pit No rain in the weather forecast? With some planning, you can create a backyard mud pit that will provide hours of good clean (yes!) hands-on entertainment for your kids. And who knows? They may just learn something too…
Create a boundary. Find a corner of the yard on which you won’t miss the grass, or whatever else was growing there. Kids will enjoy excavating the area with you. (Be sure they understand they are not to “work on” other areas of the yard without your approval.)
Add lots of water for masses of ooey-gooey mud. Decide which aspects of water flow your kids can control. Can they have access to the hose? If so, will there be a time limit? A limit as to how high the pressure can be? If there is no hose available to them, be sure to provide some kind of water source. Buckets, tubs, and coolers all work well.
Provide props. Old pots, pans, and utensils (or even margarine cups, sticks, and stones) will help your little baker make fresh mud muffins. PVC pipe in various sizes, along with an array of connecting joints can keep your pint-sized engineer occupied for hours. Add a hose, sprinkler, and wading pool for more excitement. Treasure-seekers will be delighted to find buried booty of all kinds: marbles, glass stones, shells, and miniature plastic animals are some you might try. Clean-up time. You will save your sanity (and the mud pit) if you establish clean-up rules in advance. For instance, you may want your kids to use specific clothing for mud play. Try placing a large dishpan of water and an old towel near the door, and ask them to rinse and dry their hands and feet before coming in. Showers are often still necessary, but pre-rinsing is a must. www.wilmingtonparent.com
Wilmington Parent | February 2013 | 13
• P L A N YOUR MO N TH WITH US
CALENDAR
february | 2013
1 Friday (National Freedom Day) The Transformative Power of Friendship
Daily (through 02/10). Cameron Art Museum. Enjoy the exhibit from artists Minnie Evans, Elisabeth Chant and Claude Howell. Admission $8. Members Free. Call 395-5999 or visit www.cameronartmuseum.com for details.
Shopping Around Wilmington Exhibit
Daily (through 02/17). Cape Fear Museum. Explore more than 100 years of shopping in Wilmington (beginning when shopping was centered around downtown). Visit www.capefearmuseum.com for more information.
Sometimes Madness is Wisdom
Daily (through 03/10). Cameron Art Museum. View artwork (on loan from Montgomery Museum of Fine Art) of Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald, wife of F. Scott Fitzgerald. Call 395-5999 for event details.
Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition
Daily (through 04/20). NC Museum of Natural Science, Raleigh. Experience the wonder and tragedy of the ill-fated “ship of dreams” on a journey through history. $14/Adults. $11/Seniors. $9/Ages 3-12. Purchase tickets through www.tickets.naturalsciences.org.
14 | February 2013 | Wilmington Parent
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.
Family Yoga Storytime
10:30am Fridays. NHC Main Library. Parents and children 6 months and older have fun listening to stories while stretching and learning basic yoga postures. Bring yoga mat or beach towel. Call 7986353 with questions.
American Legion Fish Fry
11am – 7pm. American Legion Post 129. $8/plate includes whiting or catfish filet, hush puppies, slaw, potato salad, tea or coffee. Call 458-4253 for more information.
Red Dress Luncheon & Fashion Show
11:30am. Wilmington Convention Center. 8th annual event to raise funds for the NHRMC Heart Center. $50/person. Register at www.nhrmc.org/ reddress. Contact 343-7000 for details.
Adventures in Art
3:30pm Fridays. Children’s Museum. Experience different forms of art each week. Ages 5-8. Space is limited. Call 254-3534 to pre-register and visit www.playwilmington.org for weekly projects.
Beginner Rainbow Loom Class
4 – 5pm. Learning Express Toys, Military Cutoff. Bring a loom and materials to learn how to create and share woven rubber band bracelets. Ages 8+. Call 509-0153 for reservations.
The Diary of Adam & Eve
6pm. TheatreNOW, 19 S. 10th St. Dinner theatre includes 3-course dinner and amusing play. $20$28. Visit http://theatrewilmington.com or contact info@theatrewilmington.com for tickets and age appropriate information.
Barnes & Noble Story Time
7pm Fridays. Barnes & Noble. Enjoy weekly story time in the Children’s section. Call 509-1880 for details.
Wilmington Wine and Chocolate Festival
7 - 10pm. Coastline Conference & Event Center. “Sample & Sale” from regional wineries and chocolatiers. $50/Advance. $55/Door. Call 742-0120 or 510-9948 for tickets.
Xanadu
8 – 10pm (through 02/10). Thalian Hall. A Wilmington premier inspired by the 1980’s movie where a magical Greek muse descends to Venice Beach to inspire a struggling artist. Tickets $25. Call 632-2285 or visit www.thalianhall.org for information. www.wilmingtonparent.com
2 Saturday (Ground Hog Day)
Arboretum for a full day of family fun. Contact 798-7700 or visit www.airliegardens.org for more information.
Katie B. Hines Senior Center Pancake Breakfast
Wilmington Wine and Chocolate Festival
7:30 – 11am. Senior Center, 308 Cape Fear Blvd. $6 includes pancakes, sausage, eggs, juice and coffee. Call 458-6609 for details.
12 - 4pm. Coastline Conference & Event Center. “Marketplace Tasting Tour.” $15/Advance. $17/Door. See 02/01.
Luv2Run 5K & 1.2 Mile Fun Run
Residents Free Day - Cape Fear Museum
8am. Mayfaire Town Center. Visit www.wilmingtonroadrunners.org to register.
The Whistle Pig 5K and 1-Mile Run
9am. Westgate Nature Park, Leland. Inaugural run held in brand new Nature Park. $15 - $30. Visit http:// its-go-time.com to register.
Sensational Storytime
10am Saturdays. Northeast Library. Read stories and other fun things. Call 798-6371 with questions.
Wilmington Wine and Chocolate Festival
11am – 7pm. Coastline Conference & Event Center. “Marketplace Tasting Tour.” $20/Advance. $25/Door. See 02/01.
Screen Gems Studios Tour
12pm & 2pm Saturdays. Screen Gems Studios, 1223 N 23rd St. Learn how filming is done and view sets from previous productions. One hour walking tour. Arrive 15 minutes prior to tour time. $12/Adults. $5/ Ages 5-12. For details, call 343-3433 or visit www.screengemstudios.com.
Young Writer’s Club
2pm Sundays. Children’s Museum. Experiment with becoming a writer. Free with admission. Call 2543534 to reserve a spot. Visit www.playwilmington.org for weekly schedule.
4 Monday Little Sprouts Story Time
10am Mondays (Museum closed 02/11). Children’s Museum. Preschoolers meet new people, hear wonderful stories, and enjoy an activity. Visit www.playwilmington.org or call 254-3534 to pre-register.
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.
Go Green Engineer Team
Groundhog Day Adventures
5 Tuesday
1:30pm. Halyburton Park. Youth Nature Program designed for ages 5-14 to discover the unique habits and characteristics of the groundhog. Includes hike and craft. $3/person. Call 341-0075 to register.
Intermediate Rainbow Loom Class
3 – 4pm. Learning Express Toys, Oleander. Bring a loom and materials to learn how to create and share woven rubber band bracelets. Ages 8+. Call 313-3100 for reservations.
The Diary of Adam & Eve
6pm. TheatreNOW. See 02/01.
Jerry Seinfeld
To all the parents and young artists, thank you for appreciating me.
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.
Learning Center: Building Wilmington
1 – 4pm. Cape Fear Museum. Conduct fun and creative building experiments to explore Lower Cape Fear architecture. Free to Members or with General Admission. Parental participation required. Visit www. capefearmuseum.com for registration information.
Art Classes Young Artist’s Series
Kids Classes Adult Classes
• drawing • painting Abby Kampschroeder Age 7
Nationally Recognized, Professional Artist & Art Educator Carolyn Faulkner 3803 Wrightsville Ave #8, Downey Branch Office Park
www.studiocrealart.com
Call 910-685-5137
3:30pm Mondays (Museum closed 02/11). Children’s Museum. 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.
AquaSchool for Tots
8:30 – 11:30am. NC Aquarium Fort Fisher. 4 week sessions. Preschool learning experiences learning about aquatic animals in a socially interactive environment. Contact (800) 832-3474 or admin@ ncaquariums.com for fees and reservations.
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 332-4823 to pre-register.
Play Café
9am – 12pm. Tmuffin. Children and parents connect 7 & 9:30pm. Durham Performing Arts Center. $90.65. with ever-changing open play, creative crafts and Visit www.dpacnc.com/events for tickets. activities. Complimentary Wi-Fi. Coffee and snacks available for purchase. $6/child. Ages 1-6. Visit http:// 3 Sunday tmuffin.com/play-cafe for details.
(NFL Super Bowl)
Airlie Gardens Family Fun Day
9am - 5pm. Airlie Gardens. Visit the parks and www.wilmingtonparent.com
Lap Sit Story Time
9:30am Tuesdays. NHC Main Library. Designed for babies under 18 months. Features stories, songs, Wilmington Parent | February 2013 | 15
rhymes and activities. No reservations required. Call 798-6303 for more information.
Happy Little Singers
9:30am & 4pm Tuesdays. Community Arts Center, 2nd & Orange Streets. Early childhood music and movement class designed for ages 6 months to 6 years (and their parents). $10/family. $5/add’l child. Drop-ins welcome. For more information, visit www. happylittlesingers.com.
Barnes & Noble Story Time
10am Tuesdays. Barnes & Noble. Enjoy weekly story time in the Children’s section. Call 509-1880 for details.
French for Tots
10am. Learning Express, Oleander. Accents on Fun teaches language through music, vocabulary, visuals, games and more. Ages 6 months – 5 years. Free. Call 313-3100 to register.
Toddler Story Time
10am Tuesdays. NHC Main Library. Children 18 - 36 months are invited to enjoy stories, songs, and pre-literacy activities. No reservations required. Call 7986303 for further details.
Brilliant Sky Story Time
10:30am Tuesdays. NHC Main Library. Ages 3-5 come for stories, finger play, and songs. No registration required. Groups welcomed. Call 798-6303 with questions.
Pawsitive Reading
3:15 – 4:30pm Tuesdays. Northeast Library. Join canines Maggie May and Dorothy to practice reading skills. Must be independent reader. Call 798-6373 to schedule appointment.
CHEW Parent Meeting
6:45pm. Winter Park Baptist Church. Contact kathyiandoli7@gmail.com for more information.
Mavis Staples
8pm. UNCW Kenan Auditorium. Enjoy one of greatest voices of our times. $35/Reserved Seating A. $25/ Reserved Seating B. Call 962-3500 for Box Office.
6 Wednesday
Kids Cooking Club
Lap Sit Story Time
3:30 - 4:30pm Tuesdays. Children’s Museum. Harris Teeter sponsors fun time of learning new skills and seasonal recipes. Visit www.playwilmington.org or call 254-3534 to pre-register.
9am Wednesdays. Myrtle Grove Library. Designed for babies up to 18 months. Features stories, songs, rhymes and activities. No reservations required. Call 798-6393 for details.
Family Reading Night
Lap Sit Story Time
4:30pm. Carolina Beach Branch. Stuffed Animal Sleepover. Call 798-6385 for details.
Family Night
5:30 – 7pm. Chick-fil-A Mayfaire. “PJ Party with the Cow.” Call 256-0854 or visit www.cfarestaurant.com/ mayfaire for event information.
Job Search Game Plan
6 - 8pm. Northeast Regional Library. Participants learn to craft an individualized job search strategy. Free. For required pre-registration call 798-6323.
9am Wednesdays. Northeast Library. Designed for babies up to 18 months. Features stories, songs, rhymes and activities. No reservations required. Call 798-6371 for more information.
Preschool Science
10am Wednesdays. Children’s Museum. Hands-on activities for preschoolers to explore the world around them! Call 254-3534 or visit www.playwilmington. org to pre-register.
Lily (6), Isabella (10), and Sophia (3), photo credit: Amanda Garcia
10:30am Tuesdays. Mayfaire Town Center. Includes games and crafts. Visit www.brilliantskytoys.com or contact 509-3353 for details.
Preschool Story Time
16 | February 2013 | Wilmington Parent
www.wilmingtonparent.com
Toddler Story Time
10am Wednesdays. Myrtle Grove Library. Children 18 - 36 months are invited to story time. Enjoy stories, songs, and pre-literacy activities. No reservations required. Call 798-6393 for further details.
Toddler Story Time
10am Wednesdays. Northeast Library. Children 18 35 months are invited to story time. Enjoy stories, songs, and pre-literacy activities. No reservations required. Call 798-6371 for more information.
Hampstead Toddler Story Time
10:15am Wednesdays. Hampstead Library, 75 Library Dr. Call 270-4603 for details.
Advantages of Breastfeeding
10:30am. Wrightsville United Methodist Church, 4 Live Oak Dr. Join La Leche League for information. Babies welcome. Call 256-4471 for details.
Preschool Story Time
10:30am Wednesdays. Northeast Library. Ages 3-5 come for stories, songs, and activities. No registration required. Groups welcomed. Call 798-6371 with questions.
Preschool Story Time
10:30am Wednesdays. Myrtle Grove Library. Ages 3-5 come for stories, finger play, and songs. No registration required. Groups welcomed. Call 798-6391 with questions.
Help your child succeed in school! When forced to read, does he or she struggle, make careless mistakes and then quit reading? A A A A
Reverses words, numbers or letters A Has difficulty remembering spelling words Has poor reading comprehension A Has been labeled LD, ADD, ADHD or dyslexic Frequently loses his place, skips words or whole lines of text Has difficulty copying from the board or a book, has sloppy handwriting or excessive erasures
We specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of visual efficiency and visual processing problems.
The Vision Therapy Center 5034 New Centre Dr. Wilmington, NC 28403 www.visiontherapycenter.org
Stephen J. Kaluzne, O.D., P.A. • 910-319-7996
Hampstead Preschool Story Time
11am Wednesdays. Hampstead Library, 75 Library Dr. Call 270-4603 for details.
Discover Science
3:30pm Wednesdays. Children’s Museum. Explore and learn about the scientific process through critical thinking. Call 254-3534 or visit www.playwilmington. org to pre-register.
Rap Club
3:30 – 4:30pm Wednesdays. Myrtle Grove Library. Choose the beat. Write the lyrics. Record the song. Work as a group to compose an original hip hop song about the library. Ages 6-12. Free Call 798-6391 to register.
Mini Math
4pm Wednesdays. Children’s Museum. Children become comfortable with math and familiarize themselves with new concepts. Free with membership or admission. Contact 254-3534 or visit www.playwilmington.org to register.
Toddler Story Time
10am Thursdays. Northeast Library. Children ages 18 – 36 months join others for stories, songs and other fun activities. No registration required. Call 798-6373 for details.
Preschool Story Time
10:30am Thursdays. Northeast Library. Ages 3 to 5 years are invited to enjoy a different weekly theme. Includes stories, songs, and activities. No pre-registration. Call 798-6373 with questions.
Burgaw Story Time
11am Thursdays. Burgaw Library, 103 S. Cowan St. Call 259-1234 for details.
Pawsitive Reading
7 Thursday
3 – 4pm Thursdays. Northeast Library. Independent readers ages 5-11 practice reading to one of the Canines for Literacy teams trained by Carolina Canines. Call 798-6373 for 15 minute appointment.
Lapsit StoryTime
stART with a Story
9:30am Thursdays. Northeast Library. Babies 3 - 18 months enjoy fun stories and songs. No registration required. Call 798-6373 for more information.
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. www.wilmingtonparent.com
3:30pm Thursdays. Children’s Museum. Create a masterpiece that reinforces a fun book. Call 254-3534 or visit www.playwilmington.org with questions.
Zoom with Fetch
4 – 5pm Thursdays. Burgaw Library, 103 S. Cowan St. Call 259-1234 for details.
Daddy/Daughter Date Night
5:30 – 7pm. Chick-fil-A Mayfaire. Call 256-0854 or visit www.cfarestaurant.com/mayfaire for event information and to make reservations.
WAAS Open House
6pm. Wilmington Academy of Arts & Sciences. Call 392-3139 or visit www.wilmingtonacademy.org for information.
NC Jazz Festival
7:30 – 10:30pm. Hilton Riverside Hotel, 301 Water St. Enjoy 3 hours of different jazz styles. Tickets: $15 -$35. Visit http://ncjazzfestival.com or call 793-1111 for tickets.
8 Friday Play Café
9am – 12pm. Tmuffin. See 02/05.
Intermediate Rainbow Loom Class
4 – 5pm. Learning Express Toys, Military Cutoff. Bring a loom and materials to learn how to create and share woven rubber band bracelets. Ages 8+. Call 509-0153 for reservations.
Romeo & Juliet Children’s Theatre
7pm (through 02/17). Community Art Center, 2nd & Orange Streets. Fridays/Saturdays 7pm. Sundays 3pm. $12/General Admission. 02/09 performance includes 225th birthday celebration for Thalian Association. Call 262-0470 for tickets. Wilmington Parent | February 2013 | 17
PizzaPutt
7:30 – 9:30pm. Children’s Museum of Wilmington. Play mini golf and sample pizza at each of the 18 holes. $18/Single Ticket. $30/Pair of Tickets. All proceeds benefit The Children’s Museum. For more information, visit www.playwilmington.org or call 254-3534.
NC Jazz Festival
7:30pm - Midnight. Hilton Riverside Hotel, 301 Water St. 7 sets of jazz with a different leader for each set. Tickets $15 - $50. Call 793-1111 or visit http:// ncjazzfestival.com for tickets.
The Family and the Breastfed Baby
10am. T-Muffin, 2133 Wrightsville Ave (Parking on Newton). Join the La Leche League for breastfeeding education. Babies welcome! Call 397-5722 for more information.
Get Bink’d for Free
1 – 3pm. Learning Express Toys, Oleander & Military Cutoff locations. Temporary tattoo tie dye heart “earrings” applied for free (while supplies last). Call 3133100 or 509-0153 for details.
11 Monday Wilmington Area Homeschool Spelling Bee
10am. NHCPL Northeast Branch. Open to homeschool students in 1st – 8th grades. Awards for winners in categories 1st-3rd, 4th-6th & 7th-8th. Contact ChewChatter@yahoogroups.com for details.
Spanish for Tots
9 Saturday
1 – 4pm. Cape Fear Museum. See 02/02.
10am. Learning Express, Military Cutoff. Accents on Fun teaches language through music, vocabulary, visuals, games and more. Ages 6 months – 5 years. Free. Call 509-0153 to register.
Marine Explorers: Be a (Sea) Star!
Marine Adventures: Be a (Sea) Star!
1:30 – 3:30pm. UNCW Center for Marine Science. Explore echinoderms and meet some spectacular stars of the sea and their spiny relatives. Ages 10-12. Small cost to include supplies. Call 962-3195 or visit www.uncw.edu/marinequest to register.
Nature’s Valentine
9am – 12pm. UNCW Center for Marine Science. Explore echinoderms and meet some spectacular stars of the sea and their spiny relatives. Ages 7-9. Small cost to include supplies. Call 962-3195 or visit www.uncw.edu/marinequest to register.
UNCW Engineering Expectations “Pump it Up”
9am – 12pm. UNCW Social & Behavioral Sciences Bldg, Rm 107. Explore fluid mechanics and hydraulics. Ages 7-9. Small cost to include supplies. Visit www.uncw.edu/youth/programs/engineeringrobotics.html or call 962-3195 to register.
Learning Center: Building Wilmington
UNCW Engineering Expectations “Pump it Up”
5:30pm. NHC Main Library. Stuffed Animal Sleepover. Call 798-6353 for details.
12 Tuesday (Abraham Lincoln’s Birthday)
Beginner Rainbow Loom Classes
Nature’s Valentine
Cape Fear Heart Ball
6pm. Wilmington Convention Center. Celebrate the mission of building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular disease and stroke. $150/person. Features gourmet dinner, live auction and music. Contact 538-9270 for tickets.
NC Jazz Festival
7:30pm - Midnight. Hilton Riverside Hotel. See 02/08.
Wilmington Symphony Orchestra
8pm. UNCW Kenan Auditorium. Enjoy Big Band Blast featuring Rich Ridenour, pianist and entertainer, and Laura McFayden, vocalist. $40/Adults. $20/Students & Youth. Visit www.wilmingtonsymphony.org or call 962-3500 for details.
Beauty and the Beast
8pm. Crown Theater, Fayetteville. Disney’s Beauty and the Beast comes to NC and comes to life for families to enjoy the much loved musical. $25 - $45. Visit www.crowncoliseum.com for tickets.
Gia, photo credit: A. Clemmer
Family Reading Night
1:30 – 3:30pm. UNCW Social & Behavioral Sciences Bldg, Rm 107. Explore fluid mechanics and hydraulics. Ages 10-12. Small cost to include supplies. Visit www.uncw.edu/youth/programs/engineeringrobotics.html or call 962-3195 to register. 3 – 4pm. Learning Express Toys, Oleander. Bring a loom and materials to learn how to create and share woven rubber band bracelets. Ages 8+. Call 3133100 for reservations.
10 Sunday (Chinese New Year) Chinese New Year
1 – 3pm. Children’s Museum of Wilmington. Celebrate the year of the Snake. Free with admission. Call 254-3534 or visit www.playwilmington.org for details. 18 | February 2013 | Wilmington Parent
10am. Halyburton Park. Little Explorers ages 2-5 learn new animal songs, colors and other things that show affection. $3. Call 341-0075 to pre-register.
Play Café
9am – 12pm. Tmuffin. See 02/05. 10am. Halyburton Park. See 02/11.
Family Night
5:30 – 7pm. Chick-fil-A Mayfaire. “Valentine Card Buffet.” See 02/05.
American Girl Night
7pm. Barnes & Noble. Discuss American Girl books, enjoy a craft activity and have fun. Free. Contact 5091880 for more information.
Mary Poppins
7:30pm (Through 02/17). Durham Performing Arts Center. Step in time with Broadway magic that overdelivers on every level. $79.50 - $111. Visit www. dpacnc.com/events for tickets.
13 Wednesday (Ash Wednesday) Airlie Bird Hike
8 – 9:30am. Airlie Gardens. Free to members or free with Garden admission. $5/Adults & $3/Children (ages 6-12 years). Bring binoculars. Bird guides provided. Visit www.airliegardens.org or call 798-7700 for more information.
OLLI Dinner with The Schoolboys
6pm. UNCW OLLI. Enjoy the dinner performance featuring five UNCW faculty members specializing in rock classics. Tickets $40 - $60. Call 962-3195 to register by 02/08.
www.wilmingtonparent.com
CPR Certification Class
6 – 10:30pm. Leland Fire and Rescue. Call 371-0148 for details or visit www. townofleland.com for details.
14 Thursday (Valentine’s Day) Valentines in the Woods
1:30pm. Halyburton Park. Ages 5-14 learn about changes in seasons that help nature’s sweethearts find each other. Includes hike and Valentine craft. $3. Call 241-0075 for required pre-registration.
Jazz at the CAM
6:30pm. Cameron Art Museum. “Julie Rehder & Jack Krupicka Quartet.” Enjoy jazz for the romantic mood for Valentine’s Day. Series of 7 Concerts: Members/$40. Non-Members/$60. Students/$30 (with ID). Single Performance: Members/$7. NonMembers/$10. Students/$5. Call 3955999 for information.
Live at Birdland
7pm. UNCW Kenan Auditorium. Comprises classic jazz pieces with new arrangements. Visit http://uncw.edu/ presents for details.
The Who’s Tommy
8pm (Through 03/03). Brooklyn Arts Center. Live theatre production of a young boy’s journey from pain to triumph when he becomes an international pinball superstar. $22/person. Call 264-2602 for all performance dates and tickets.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
8pm. UNCW Cultural Arts Bldg. Shakespeare’s classic comedy gets an upgrade with 21st century technology. Tickets $5 - $12. Call 962-3500 for information.
“Fannin’ the Heat Away”
7pm. St. John’s Episcopal Church. Multimedia performance featuring William McNeill’s collection of more than 400 vintage church fans. $7. Visit www.stjohnsepiscopalchurch.net for more information.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream 8pm. UNCW Cultural Arts Bldg. See 02/14.
16 Saturday
Family Medicine
High Tea
•Healthcare for all ages •Chronic Illness Management •Women's Healthare •Well Visits and Physicals
Katie B. Hines Senior Center. Call 4587912 for annual event schedule.
Wilmington Garden Show
9am – 5pm. CFCC Schwartz Center. Veteran and novice gardeners visit this premier event with over 50 vendors with garden items for sale, interactive demonstrations, and lectures. $7/ Adults. Free/Children under 12 & active service military personnel. Call 7987670 for details.
Battleship Firepower
9am – 5pm. Battleship NC. Learn about and explore the Battleship’s 16 inch & 5 inch guns. Presenter discussions. Box lunch included. Ages 16+. $95/person due by 02/14. Call 251-5797 or visit www.battleshipnc.com for reservations.
Youth Art Day
10am – 2pm. Leland Recreation Bldg, 102 Town Hall Drive. DREAMS of Wilmington provides hands-on stations for youth to experience pottery, crafts, & African drumming. WAWA provides woodturning instruction. Hot dogs & drinks free to kids. Ages 8+. Free. Contact Aryan@townofleland.com or 332-4823 with questions.
East Coast Shag Classic Competition
Play Café
12pm. Blockade Beach Runner Resort. Call 256-7112 or visit www.eastcoastshagclassic.com to enter. $25/couple. See 02/15.
East Coast Shag Sock Hop
Learning Center: Building Wilmington
15 Friday 9am – 12pm. Tmuffin. See 02/05. 12pm. Blockade Beach Runner Resort. Call 256-7112 or visit www.eastcoastshagclassic.com for details.
Beginner Rainbow Loom Classes
4 – 5pm. Learning Express Toys, Military Cutoff. Bring a loom and materials to learn how to create and share woven rubber band bracelets. Ages 8+. Call 509-0153 for reservations. www.wilmingtonparent.com
www.carolinafamilymedicine.com
1 – 4pm. Cape Fear Museum. See 02/02.
Birdhouse Building Workshop & Contest
2pm. Halyburton Park. Ages 6 – Adult (3 age divisions) assemble, paint and decorate a birdhouse for annual contest. $15. Call 341-0075 for required pre-registration.
Urgent Care •Walk-ins Welcome •Treatment for
Acute Illnesses •Sprains, Strains, Fractur Care, and Lacerations
Pain Management •Treatment for acute
and Chronic Pain •Joint Injections •Pain Medication Management
Sports Medicine •Treatment for Sports or
other Physical Injuries •Physical Therapy
Now Accepting New Patients 2 Locations to serve you:
1328 North Lake Park Boulevard Carolina Beach, NC 28428 509 Olde Waterford Way Ste 101, Leland, NC 28451
910-210-0656 same day appointments and walk ins welcome open 7 days a week • all insurance accepted Wilmington Parent | February 2013 | 19
Intermediate Rainbow Loom Classes
3 – 4pm. Learning Express Toys, Oleander. Bring a loom and materials to learn how to create and share woven rubber band bracelets. Ages 8+. Call 3133100 for reservations.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
8pm. UNCW Cultural Arts Bldg. See 02/14.
17 Sunday 6th Annual Pet Expo
11am – 4pm. Coastline Convention Center. Largest area indoor pet event featuring over 70 vendors showcasing food, toys, nutritional information and more. $5/person. Free/Ages 11 and under. (No pets allowed indoors.) Contact 259-7911 for information.
Wilmington Garden Show
12 – 4pm. CFCC Schwartz Center. See 02/16.
Southern Cape Fear Bridal Show
1 – 4pm. Southport Community Bldg. Reps from catering firms, florists, photographers and more. $5 Admission (Free for Brides). Visit www.southportoakisland.com for details.
Cape Fear Skies: Starlit Romance
1:30, 2:30 & 3:30pm. Cape Fear Museum. 3-2-1Blast off! Bring a sweetheart and enjoy an intimate setting of Star Lab. Hear secret tales of romance whispered by the stars. Visit www.capefearmuseum. com for more information.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
2pm. UNCW Cultural Arts Bldg. See 02/14.
NC Symphony
Cape Fear Chordsmen, Jim Bader & daughter, Photo credit: Jim Bader
8pm. UNCW Kenan Auditorium. Call 962-3500 for tickets.
18 Monday (President’s Day) 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 Reading Night
5:30pm. Northeast Library. Stuffed Animal Sleepover. Call 798-6373 for details.
Fire on the Dock
7pm (through 04/03). Bluewater Grill. “Got to Be NC” Competition Dining Series statewide competition featuring Chef-style cook-off. $59-$69/person. Call 256-8696 with questions. Visit www.competiondining.com/events for reservations.
Joe Klein: The Next Greatest Generation
7 – 8:30pm. UNCW Burney Center. Leadership lessons from Veterans of Iraq & Afghanistan. Includes Q & A. $10/person. Free/UNCW Students, Faculty & Staff. Visit http://uncw.edu/presents for details.
19 Tuesday Play Café
9am – 12pm. Tmuffin. See 02/05.
Nutrition and Weaning
10am. Grace United Methodist Church, 4th & Grace. Join La Leche League for nutrition education. Babies welcome. Call 763-5197 for more information.
French for Tots
10am. Learning Express, Military Cutoff. Accents on Fun teaches language through music, vocabulary, visuals, games and more. Ages 6 months – 5 years.
Free. Call 509-0153 to register.
Family Night
5:30 – 7pm. Chick-fil-A Mayfaire. “Fat Tuesday/Mardi Gras.” See 02/05.
Olivia Newton-John
7:30pm. Durham Performing Arts Center. $48.25 $84.75. Visit www.dpacnc.com/events for tickets.
21 Thursday The Art of Breastfeeding and Overcoming Difficulties
6:30pm. Pine Valley United Methodist Church, 3788 Shipyard, Bldg B/Rm 3. Join the La Leche League for an evening of information. Babies and dads welcome. Call 200-6324 for details.
Magic Tree House Night
7 - 8pm. Barnes & Noble. Discuss High Tide in Hawaii. Contact 509-1880 for more information.
22 Friday (George Washington’s Birthday) Mom Heart Conference
All Day. Sheraton Imperial Hotel, Durham. 2-day women’s conference with theme “I Take Hope… Moving through Desperate to Destiny” with speaker Sally Clarkson. $119. Visit http://www.wholeheart. org to register.
Play Café
9am – 12pm. Tmuffin. See 02/05.
ACS Spring Home Show
11am – 8pm. Wilmington Convention Center. Event designed for homeowners showcasing remodeling, landscaping and decorating. Free admission. Visit www.acshomeshow.com for details.
Beginner Rainbow Loom Class
3 – 4pm. Learning Express Toys, Military Cutoff & Oleander. Bring a loom and materials to learn how to create and share woven rubber band bracelets. Ages 8+. Call 509-0153 or 313-3100 for reservations.
Intermediate Rainbow Loom Class
4 - 5pm. Learning Express Toys, Military Cutoff & Oleander. Bring a loom and materials to learn how to create and share woven rubber band bracelets. Ages 8+. Call 509-0153 or 313-3100 for reservations.
Fourth Friday Gallery Walk
6 – 9pm. Downtown Wilmington. A self-guided tour through several Wilmington galleries and studios. Includes artist discussions, live music, wine tasting and other art-based activities. Call 343-8997 for more information.
CFCC Men’s Basketball
7pm. CFCC Schwartz Center. CFCC plays USC Salkehatchie. $3. Kids 12 & Under Free. Call 3627010 for tickets. 20 | February 2013 | Wilmington Parent
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Vintage & Vine
7 – 10pm. Cape Fear Museum. Enjoy a relaxing night of fine wines, gourmet cheeses, divine chocolates, and live music while browsing the galleries. $50/ person. Proceeds benefit the Museum’s 19th-Century Cape Fear Stories and Discovery Galleries. Visit www.capefearmuseum.com for details.
23 Saturday Mom Heart Conference
All Day. Sheraton Imperial Hotel, Durham. See 02/22.
Run for Ray Trail Run
8:45am. Brunswick Nature Park. 3-Mile, 9-mile and 18-mile trail loop to benefit the Chordoma Cancer Foundation. $25 - $45. Register at http:// its-go-time.com.
Nesting Birds in Southeastern NC
9am. Halyburton Park. Adult nature program teaching about area birds. Free. Call 343-6001 for details.
Special Olympics Polar Plunge
9am – 3pm. Carolina Beach Boardwalk. 9th annual event includes 5K Run-N-Plunge. (Plunge at 3pm.) Visit www.plungenhc.com or call 341-7253 for registration.
Battle of Moores Creek Bridge
9am – 5pm. Moores Creek National Battlefield, Currie. 237 Anniversary Reenactment. Visit www.nps. gov/mocr for event details.
Go Bananas with Curious George
10 – 11am. Learning Express Toys, Oleander. Bring the camera and the kids for a fun character appearance. Call 313-3100 for more information.
ACS Spring Home Show
10am – 8pm. Wilmington Convention Center. See 02/22.
Purple Carpet Event: Hope in LIFE
11am. Port City Community Church, Cardinal Drive. A PC3 8th grade small group hosts a fun-filled luncheon event for children battling chronic or lifethreatening illnesses. Free to the children and their families. RSVP at thepurplecarpet2013@gmail.com and please pass on the information to other families.
“Jazzy Strings”
1 – 2pm. NHC Main Library. Mixture of puppetry and music presented by Mountain Marionettes. Call 7986303 for details.
Literacy Live “From a Roller Coaster”
1 – 3pm. UNCW Education Bldg Atrium. Have a rolling good time learning all about coasters and build one! Investigate potential and kinetic energy and discover gravity and friction. Free. Ages 4-7 (accompanied by an adult). Call 962-7291 or visit http://library.uncw.edu/cmc/literacy_live for required registration.
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Wilmington Parent | February 2013 | 21
Learning Center: Building Wilmington 1 – 4pm. Cape Fear Museum. See 02/02.
Tidewater Camellia Club Annual Show
1 – 5pm. Arab Shrine Club, 4510 S. College Rd. 63rd annual event where Camellia experts display over 1,000 blooms. Free admission. Visit www.tidewatercamelliaclub.org for detailed event list.
UNCW Choirs
4pm. UNCW Beckwith Recital Hall. Enjoy the main choral ensemble. $5/person. Free/Students with UNCW ID. Contact 962-3415 or visit Cultural Arts Box Office 1 hour prior to show for tickets.
Family Night
5:30 – 7pm. Chick-fil-A Mayfaire. “Dental Education Month.” See 02/05.
27 Wednesday
Cucalorus Fundraiser
Snake & Turtle Feeding
7 – 11pm. Screen Gems Studios, 1223 N. 23rd St. “An Evening at the Oscars” features red carpet madness, dinner and viewing of Academy Awards on big screens. $100/person. Call 343-5995 for details.
4pm. Halyburton Park. Brief presentation about the live animals on display in the Events Center and view feeding of at least one animal. $1. Call 341-0075 to pre-register.
UNCW String Ensemble
Squonk Opera: Mayhem & Majesty
5pm. CFCC Schwartz Center. CFCC plays Aiken Technical College. $3. Kids 12 & under free. Call 3627010 for tickets.
7:30pm. UNCW Beckwith Recital Hall. Don’t miss the music of this ensemble. $5/person. Free/Students with UNCW ID. Contact 962-3415 or visit Cultural Arts Box Office 1 hour prior to performance for tickets.
7pm. UNCW Kenan Auditorium. Surreal musical theater conveying meaning through music and performance art. Visit http://uncw.edu/presents for more information.
Contra-Tiempo/Urban Latin Dance Theatre
25 Monday
28 Thursday
French for Tots
Introduction to Painting
Go Bananas with Curious George
3 – 4pm. Learning Express Toys, Military Cutoff. Bring the camera and the kids for a fun character appearance. Call 509-0153 for more information.
CFCC Men’s Basketball
8pm. UNCW Kenan Auditorium. Enjoy the company’s blend of Salsa, Afro-Cuban and Urban dance styles. $20/General Public. $8/Students & Youth. Visit www.uncw.edu/kenan or call Box Office at 962-3500 for tickets.
24 Sunday Battle of Moores Creek Bridge
10am. Learning Express, Oleander. Accents on Fun teaches language through music, vocabulary, visuals, games and more. Ages 6 months – 5 years. Free. Call 313-3100 to register.
Animal Moves and Sounds
9am – 5pm. Moores Creek National Battlefield, Currie. See 02/23.
10am. Halyburton Park. Little Explorers ages 2-5 learn about different animals in the park and hike to find them. $3. Call 341-0075 to pre-register.
ACS Spring Home Show
Family Reading Night
10am – 6pm. Wilmington Convention Center. See 02/22.
Admissions Open House
3 - 5pm. Friends School of Wilmington. Tour campuses and learn more about the school. 207 Pine Grove (18 months – 2nd grade) and 350 Peiffer Ave (3rd – 8th grades). Contact 791-8221 for details.
5:30pm. Myrtle Grove Library. Stuffed Animal Sleepover. Call 798-6391 for details.
26 Tuesday Play Café
9am – 12pm. Tmuffin. See 02/05.
Animal Moves and Sounds
10am. Halyburton Park. See 02/25.
22 | February 2013 | Wilmington Parent
1:30pm. Halyburton Park. Ages 5-14 dive into the world of nature while learning basics of painting using water color. Bring water colors in tubes, brushes, pad, #2 pencils and drawing eraser. $10. Call 341-0075 to pre-register.
UNCW Wind Symphony
7:30pm. UNCW Kenan Auditorium. UNCW’s premiere symphony band performs. $5/person. Free/ Students with UNCW ID. Tickets sold at Kenan Box Office 1 hour prior to performance.
Tammy Pescatelli: Finding the Funny
8pm. Thalian Hall Main Stage. Laugh with the finalist of NBC’s “Last Comic Standing” in a bubbly, friendly, no-nonsense comedy. Tickets: $25/$20/$14. Call 632-2285 or visit www.thalianhall.org for purchases. To submit events to the calendar, please email calendar@wilmingtonparent.com Deadline for submissions to the March issue is February 9, 2013.
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| school notes Seasonal Health Reminders Due to the sudden rise in students diagnosed with various illnesses, the local Health Departments ask families to take precautions when dealing with communicable diseases like the Flu, Pertussis (Whooping Cough), and Strep Throat. 1. Keep your child home from school if he/she is sick. 2. If your child has been diagnosed with the flu, notify the school. Keep your child home until he/she is fever-free for at least 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medications). 3. If your child is tested for Pertussis, he/she MUST stay home until all prescription medication has been administered or until receiving a negative test result upon recheck.
CFCI Students Remember Sandy Hook Victims in a Special Way After learning of the tragedy in Connecticut, 7th Grade CFCI Social Studies Teacher, Tara Adams, spoke with her students on the following Monday morning. The students and their teacher expressed their thoughts of sadness, fear, and confusion about the tragedy. When asked what they thought would be an appropriate way for their class to honor the families affected by the shooting, the students were inspired to create an art piece. The following morning, the 7th graders brought in quotes about hope and peace that they shared with one another and followed with a moment of silence. Then, the children wrote their quotes on paper circles, cut petals from scrapbook paper, and added the names of the victims to construct a collage of flowers, creating a work of art that reflects their feelings … and now hangs in their classroom as a reminder of hope and remembrance.
4. If your child is tested positive for Strep Throat, he/she may return to school (with doctor approval) after completing one full day of antibiotics and remaining fever-free for at least 24 hours (without use of feverreducing medications). If you feel your child may have a contagious illness, call your family doctor or your local Health Department right away. Brunswick County Health Department: New Hanover County Health Department: Pender County Health Department:
(910) 253-2250 (910) 798-6667 (910) 259-1230
Source: www.pendercountyschools.net
School’s Out!
Plans for Charter School to Open in Downtown Wilmington
New Hanover County: Traditional Schools: 02/15 – Student Half Day / Staff Development Day
The State Board of Education unanimously voted to approve charter school, Douglass Academy, to open in downtown Wilmington in the fall of 2013. The charter is still subject to final approval this spring by the State Board, with the contingency of satisfactory plans for a facility.
Year Round Schools: 02/15 – Student Half Day / Staff Development Day
The application calls for an elementary charter school to serve up to 425 students (grades K-5) located in the Greenfield and Houston-Moore communities of Wilmington. If Douglass Academy opens this fall as proposed, it will operate with kindergarten, first grade and second grade classes initially, adding new kindergarten classes each year until all six grades are served.
IBEC High School: 02/01 – Student Half Day / Staff Development Day CFCI Charter School: 02/14 – Early Release 02/15 – Teacher Work Day Brunswick: Traditional Schools: 02/18 – Teacher Work Day & Parent Conferences Roger Bacon Academy/Charter Day School 02/08 – Professional Development Day 02/18 – President’s Day Pender: Traditional Schools: 02/06 – Early Release / Staff Development Day 02/18 – Staff Work Day Penderlea Year Round School: 02/06 – Early Release / Staff Development Day 02/18 – Staff Work Day Pender Early College: 02/06 – Early Release / Staff Development Day 02/18 – Staff Work Day Visit www.nhcs.net, www.co.brunswick.k12.nc.us or www.pendercountyschools.net for more information. If your child’s public school is not listed, please check the county site to confirm there are no “days off” during the month of February.
www.wilmingtonparent.com
Douglass Academy will be a tuition-free public charter school and open to all children whose parents believe the school’s mission and values will benefit their children. For more information and updates, visit www.rogerbaconacademy.net/newsandupdates/blog.
MATHCOUNTS Competition New Hanover County middle school students from Holly Shelter, Murray, Myrtle Grove, Noble, Roland-Grise, Trask, and Williston competed on January 11 in the local MATHCOUNTS Competition. This area event challenged students with exercises involving Algebra, Geometry, word problems and other math-related concepts in preparation for the Regional MATHCOUNTS Competition to be held on Saturday, February 16 at CFCC’s North Campus (4500 Blue Clay Road, Castle Hayne). Show your support by cheering on these teams at the Regional event! View http://cfcc.edu/campusmap/northcampus.html for campus map and directions. MATHCOUNTS is a national competition that provides students with fun and challenging math problems to increase academic and professional opportunities.
Wilmington Parent | February 2013 | 23
How to Avoid Birthday Party Gift Glut W
hen my daughter planned her last birthday party, she wanted to invite her entire class. I admired her instinct to be inclusive but the image of a table groaning under the weight of dozens of presents flashed through my brain. She didn’t need one more toy, much less the boatload that her generous guests would no doubt deliver. How could I limit this gift glut when any birthday girl can tell you that the most important part of her big day is opening the countless presents? It may seem an impossible task to address, but there are alternatives that can promote empathy and generosity while helping to contain the materialism and excess that can accompany a typical birthday party.
SPECIAL SECTION: Party Guide
Prime The Parents Some people love to give presents, even if the invitation clearly states “no gifts.” It may be as hard to explain this idea to some parents as it is to some children. Try to get parents on board in advance so that they don’t buy a gift unnecessarily. Ask them to respect your efforts to limit the amount of “stuff” in your child’s life. Downsizing is a trend these days. Who knows? You may be a cultural trendsetter in your circle.
Age Appropriate Approach Explaining to a child that her guests won’t give presents on her birthday may feel like telling her that Santa Claus will skip your house this year. Regardless of your child’s age, if you want to present alternatives to collecting a pile of birthday gifts, such as donating gifts to a charity, make sure to introduce it well before the party to give them a chance to get used to the concept. Read on to see ways to adjust your plan to your child’s age.
Make A Gift (pre-school) Marilyn Price-Mitchell Ph.D., a developmental psychologist and researcher and who has written about mindful gift-giving for Psychology Today Magazine, says pre-school children may be too young to grasp the concept of collecting gifts at a party to give to charity. However, they love to make gifts for people they know. Tell your guests they do not need to bring a gift—they will make one as part of the party. Provide gift-wrap and the kids can wrap them up, take them home and give them to whomever they like.
Give a Book-Take a Book (early elementary) How many times has your child come home from a party with a bag full of plastic trinkets that soon end up in the garbage? This simple, inexpensive idea promotes reading and big heartedness while offering a fun surprise for each guest to open. Ask each guest to gift-wrap a favorite book and bring it to the party. When they arrive, they will place the books into a basket. Add a book from your child as well. When guests leave, they can select a book from the basket as a “goody” to take away. Your child will be able to open a book as well and this becomes her birthday “present” from all her guests.
24 | February 2013 | Wilmington Parent
Make It Personal (older elementary) Perhaps a family at your school or in your neighborhood is going through a rough time. At our school, one girl’s aunt and uncle died in a plane crash, leaving children behind. In response to the tragedy, children from school who had birthday parties began to ask for donations to this family, in lieu of presents. When guests arrived at a party, they simply dropped money into a bowl. Kids at the school raised thousands of dollars to help the orphaned children with food, housing and education costs.
Choose A Charity (tween) Instead of bringing a fancy birthday gift, ask that each child bring a pair of new or gently used shoes to donate to children who need them. Homeless shelters, orphanages and other non-profits are always in need of children’s shoes, new socks and underwear. Donating items for children will make more sense to young guests than asking them to give to an organization that serves other populations. Place a box near the front door for guests to drop their donation in. Once you select an organization for your donation, invite your child’s friends to accompany you to drop off the goods so they can see where their donation is going.
Work Party (teen) Your teenager is old enough to really contribute the time and elbow grease it takes to help others by volunteering with a nonprofit organization. Instead of a traditional teen slumber party, organize an outing to feed the homeless, clean up a beach or help build shelters. Opportunities for young volunteers are countless and your teen will gain a sense of purpose and pride knowing she can make a difference in the world.
Birthday Party Burnout Materialism is something that needs to be addressed year-round, not just at birthday time, advises Dr. PriceMitchell. But the birthday party circuit is always a good place to start. Talk with other parents. If attending multiple events every weekend seems overwhelming to you, you are probably not alone. Consider coordinating events by grouping birthdays together. Kids can have fun planning a party with their friends and some may even find it a relief to share the glare of the spotlight and the burden of hosting. Several families can cohost a party each month or each season for all the kids born during that time. Pitch in on expenses and host the event at a park, ice rink or bowling alley so that no one family has to accommodate the whole crowd at home. v Mary Helen Berg is a freelance writer and mother of three. Last year, her daughter shared her birthday party with a friend and instead of receiving presents, they collected money for a family in need.
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Think Inside The * , Kim s Gym 4 Kids is locally owned and operated by Kim Bassano, Certified Health and P.E. Teacher. We provide an introduction to sports and fitness through fun, creative games and activities in our new air-conditioned gym with equipment geared toward children ages 3 to 6. Some of our sports include soccer, T-ball, golf, basketball, volleyball, tennis, and bike riding.
AfoYodPopAtioRnsT, anIEdSfu!n HD BrtIRy thTem es, Pa
e! music availabl
910- 297-0179
"fabulous place for a birthday party! the girls are so awesome and nothing to clean up! something for every age!" —S. Whitaker
Like us on facebook
791-0022 3818 Oleander Drive www.playsimplyplay.com
Be sure to visit Simply Kids Too, a children's resale boutique located right next door! M-Th 8:30am - 8:30pm • F-Sa 8:30am - 11:30pm
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Personalized
FREE Box Registry
Gift Wrapping
www.wilmington.learningexpresstoys.com
PROGRESS POINT • 1437 Military Cutoff Road • 509-0153 OLEANDER PLACE • 3804 Oleander Dr • 313-3100 (Next to Whole Foods)
...has the parents laughing just as hard, if not harder than, their children." -StarNews Different Themed Shows For Any Event. Call now before spaces disappear!
910•200•5300 www.NoSleevesMagic.com Wilmington Parent | February 2013 | 25
SPECIAL SECTION: Birthday Party Guide
facebook.com/kimsgym4kids
• Make Birthday Wishes • Fill Your Birthday Box • Tell Your Friends • Happy Birthday!
Birthday Party Listings Entertainment Futureshine Family Entertainment & Art with Mr. Mark and Friends 910-228-6210 Email: mark@artwasteland.com www.futureshine.com
Want your next birthday party or big event to be a smash hit? Contact Futureshine Family Entertainment & Art with Mr. Mark and Friends. Musical Birthday packages start from just $150. We also offer themed parties: •Pirate Parties from $175 •Art Parties for up to 10 children $100 •Large Events and Fundraisers from $250 •Puppet making play parties from $300 Includes all materials, instruction, and a musical performance to rock your sock puppets. This package also includes a video. Call today to reserve our services for your next event.
SPECIAL SECTION: Party Guide
Pony Parties Hanover Stables Phone: 910-675-8923 www.hanoverstables.net
Birthday parties or Company Events at Hanover Stables. Celebrate your celebration pony style!! Ride ponies in a safe, fun relaxing setting with our basic one or two hour pony instructional package. Want more than a pony ride? Personalize your party with some fun-filled extras! Build your party: •Basic Pony Ride Package •Extras (Choose as many as you’d like): •Relay Games on horseback $25 •Roast old fashion hot dogs and marshmallows over a campfire by the pond $100 •Nature Hike and Scavenger Hunt $25 •“My Pretty Pony Party”-/”My Handsome Pony” Pony decorating and parade $50 •Magic with Whistles the Clown/ $125 Call us today for prices, dates and information to schedule your unique pony party! Basic Pony Ride Package: 1 pony 1 hour $150.00 2 ponies 2 hours $250 Extras - may add an extra hour to your party!
Barnyard Parties Old McFaye’s Farm 2814 Petersprings Dr Castle Hayne, NC 28429 910-602-7845 oldmcfayes@yahoo.com www.oldmcfayesfarm.net Facebook: Old McFaye’s Farm
A wonderful place full of laughter and fun! Old McFaye’s Farm is located on 2.5 acres in Castle Hayne. It is a relaxing family environment available for barnyard parties that include pony rides, hay rides and feeding farm animals. Hide party favors/goodies in the haystack and picnic with us under large shade trees! A fire pit is available for roasting hot dogs and marshmallows. Hot charcoal grill is also available.
Gifts and Gift Registry Learning Express Progress Point, 1437 Military Cutoff Rd Wilmington, NC 28403 910-509-0153 and Oleander Place, 3804 Oleander Dr. (Next to Whole Foods) Wilmington, NC 28403 910-313-3100 www.learningexpresstoys.com/wilmington/
Learning Express offers a Birthday Wish Box gift registry for kids who love to make birthday wishes. It’s popular with kids and convenient
26 | February 2013 | Wilmington Parent
for busy parents who can also call and shop by phone. The birthday child fills a jumbo bucket with wished-for toys ten days before his/ her party and receives a personalized mini-box filled with treats. A “Birthday Box” is created, and friends and family can call or come in and choose a gift from the child¹s box. The elves at Learning Express will help with party favors, personalize, and even wrap your gifts, free of charge. Birthday kids can also make an online wish list and email it to friends and relatives.
Icy Party Treats Kona-Ice of Coastal Carolina, LLC 910-270-2575 www.kona-ice.com facebook.com/kona.ice.cc twitter.com/KonaIceCC
Kona Ice is a one of a kind experience that serves a premium tropical shaved ice; the finest icy treat on the planet. This is NOT your typical lack-luster snow cone. Our flavors are bold & delicious... like nothing you’ve ever had! Kona Ice is dairy-free, gluten-free and we even offer flavors that are sugar-free and dye-free! What really sets Kona Ice apart is our patented FlavorWave®! Those top 10 flavors that YOU can apply yourself!! Or choose from over 50 custom flavors we can create for you! Kona-Ice can do anything with fundraising or fun ¨C sports leagues, school events, festivals and fairs, school sports, birthday parties, corporate events, picnics, church events, block parties, daycares and preschools. Contact us to schedule your event today!
Artsy Parties Mini Monets Mini Monets Birthdays Greater Wilmington Area 910-399-1708 www.minimonets.wordpress.com www.facebook.com/minimonets
Does your artistic child have a birthday coming up? Why not celebrate with an art project designed by your child! Art projects range from drawing or painting on canvas or a clay sculpture. Mini Monets will come to your party, bring all the supplies and materials, and the party guests get to keep what they make! Children 2 - 12 years old enjoy projects and the cost starts at $10 per child. Please call or email for more details. I look forward to celebrating with you soon.
Magic Parties No Sleeves Magic 910-200-5300 www.nosleevesmagic.com
Voted Wilmington’s Best Party Entertainer since 2006! If you want to give your child one of the craziest and most FUNnominal Parties they will never forget, then take a RUN on the Wacky-Side with No Sleeves Magic. We provide an adrenaline rush of Magic mixed with comedy that’s great for the whole family. Some party packages include goodie bags, tricks, games & more! So, Sit Back, Relax and Laugh, while No Sleeves makes your event a success!To find out which package is best for you, contact one of our PARTYOLOGISTS or visit our website. We have different themes to suit your event and even offer magic telegrams as well as summer magic camps programs.
Ice Skating Parties The Wilmington Ice House 7201 Ogden Business Lane Wilmington, NC 28411 Phone: 910-686-1987 www.wilmingtonice.com
The Wilmington Ice House has the “Coolest Party” venue in town. Have your next Birthday Party on Ice! We take care of the details and provide fun on ice. All you have to do is give us a call to schedule your party date and mail out your invitations! Our party hosts will take care of the rest. Get ready to put on your skates and have fun on ice with the “Coolest Party” in town. Call or visit our website for details. See the local Attractions book for a coupon good on public skate or party packages. A $25.00 deposit is required at time of book
Theme Parties The Children’s Museum of Wilmington 116 Orange Street Wilmington, NC 28401 910-254-3534 x 132 www.playwilmington.org mypartyis@playwilmington.org
The Museum is pleased to offer parties featuring great themes that provide a worry-free experience for parents and an exciting time for children. Our celebrations will make everyone SMILE! Come And Party With Us! •Exclusive use of a private party room for 2 hours (adults are free, however siblings will be counted in the guest total). •Full day admission for all party guests, so children can play after the party. •Children’s Museum of Wilmington birthday invitations and envelopes •Includes a fun, educational activity for all children. (Choose from one of our party themes, listed below) •Party supplies include table decorations napkins, plates, cups, tablecloths, forks, candles and cake knife. •Each party guest will receive a goody bag full of fun trinkets to remember their day at the Children’s Museum of Wilmington including a FREE child’s return guest pass. •Birthday child will receive a Children’s Museum of Wilmington t-shirt and 4 free guest passes. •Set up and Clean up by CMOW’s friendly staff Theme Parties Our themes are exciting and complimented by fun table decorations, props and party music. Birthday Parties are held in 2 great locations within The Children’s Museum of Wilmington: Secret Cove under the Sea Room and Make Merry Birthday Room. Both locations have plenty of room, fun designs and privacy for your child’s special day! Locations are chosen based on availability. •Become a REAL Princess! PRINCESS PARTY: Activity - Make Lip Gloss! •Arrrg! Mateys! PIRATE PARTY: Activity - Go on a Treasure Hunt! •Oooooh Ahhhh! SCIENCE PARTY: Activity - Make Slime! •Get Creative! ART PARTY: Activity - Paint on Canvas!
The Wow Factor of Wilmington 910-520-7925 www.wowfactorofwilmington.com
We bring the party to you! Backyards, hospitals, churches, company parties and more (Military Thank You Discount). Our hostess will set it up and take it all down. We provide all the bells and whistles from table settings, chairs, decorations, balloons, party favors, props for photo ops, goodie baskets/bags and all supplies for cake time. All you have to do is be there and enjoy. Our party packages starts at 135.00 for 8 children, 10.00 for each additional child or call for a large group pricing. We have something for everyone. Add-ons available for each party such as a bounce house, a visit from a Princess, special up-dos, mani’s or pedi’s, or a UFO landing in your yard! Parties include: •Princess/Mini Azalea Belle Party Give your little princess what she deserves with “The Royal Treatment.” Dress up, play with jewels, enjoy glamorous table settings and possibly a visit from a Princess! •The Enchanted Tea Party This delightful, enchanted party brings out the Fairy or Princess in your little one with porcelain teacups, face painting or a girly craft. •Spa Party Wow, the Spa Treatment! They’ll enjoy mini spa facials, hand and foot soak, glitter face art or making spa lotions. Each guest will enjoy a soft luxurious robe, slippers, plush pillows, vibrating foot massager, a fun game about the birthday girl, chocolate fountain, platter of goodies, glass bowls of color candy and gumballs. •UFO Laser Encounter I bet you’ve never played laser tag like this before. This party is for the young at heart. The Alien Spaceship has landed! Kenter at your own risk! We provide the laser guns, laser beams, fog machine, robot props and obstacles so you don’t get tagged or tazed. This is an incredible party during the day or an awesome laser party at night. •Carnival Party Your guests will enjoy playing backyard carnival games and winning prizes. We’ll provide a pony hops race, sack race, football toss, milk jug toss, fishing game, a visit from our very own Clown Giggles, Clown Joey, balloon animals, carnival tent, candy cart loaded with popcorn, cotton candy, and an assortment of candies.
www.wilmingtonparent.com
Downtown Darlings 112 Market Street Unit A Wilmington, NC 28401 910-251-2233 www.downtowndarlings.net
Indoor Play Parties Simply Play 3818 Oleander Drive Wilmington, NC 28403 910-791-0022 www.playsimplyplay.com simplyplay@yahoo.com
Simply Play offers private birthday parties in their award winning 3200 square foot play center. You are welcome to invite 30 of your closest friends, play for 2 hours and the cost is only $150! Staff members will be available to assist with your party needs and play a few games too! Parents are welcome to bring party decorations and food. We celebrate children ages 1-12. Simply Play birthdays are Simply the Best!
SPECIAL SECTION: Party Guide
It’s a Girl Thing! All of Downtown Darlings party packages include a dedicated party host, plates, napkins, utensils, candles, and one drink per child. All party attendees and the birthday girl receive special items to take home. All parties take place in our special Laugh-A-Lot Lounge and culminate with cake under the spectacular crystal chandelier. Inquire for times, rates and add-ons. •Under the Sea Starfish, shells and mermaids galore. What treasures are you looking for? This party includes handmade mermaid tail aprons, kid-crafted starfish wands, seashell necklaces plus fun, music and games! •Enchanted Fairy Pixie dust anyone? Float and flitter around with us! This party includes handmade tulle tutus, kid-crafted wands, fairy wings, colorful halos plus fun, music and games! •Royal Princess Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo! Robes, wands and tiaras too! This party includes special princess robes, kid-crafted tiaras, princess gloves plus fun, music and games! •Tea Time! Afternoon or morning will do, Come and drink a cup or two! This party includes make your own tea party hat, real cup, saucer and teaspoon to take home, boas, pearls, gloves plus fun, music and games! •Little Princess Dress Up Crowns, wands and fancy shoes, little ones are princesses too! This party includes dress up outfits provided by Downtown Darlings, kid-crafted crowns, princess-like wands plus fun princess
games and music! •Mad Hatter Tea Party Are you late for a very important date? Join us for a fun and crazy tea time! This party includes kidcrafted fascinators (mini hats), make your own edible tea cup, boas, pearls, gloves plus the clean cup game and music! •Rock Star Party Dance and sing your hearts out with all the makings of a rock star! This party includes kid-crafted project, glitter microphone, boas, sequin diva hats, plus real karaoke! •Pamper Me Glamour, glitz and fun¡K all in one! This party includes kid-crafted headbands, painted fingers or toes, mini makeup session, make your own lip gloss or lotion plus fun and music! •Hello Dolly Bring your doll to all the fun! Making things for her is number one! This party includes kid-crafted items for your doll, a special hair-style for your doll, a new doll outfit plus fun, music and games!
Your Birthday! Themed Birthday Party Packages
(Pamper Me, Doll, Royal Princess, Under the Sea, Rockstar, Tea Time! Enchanted Fairy, Little Princess Dress Up, Mad Hatter Tea)
Gift Registry Always Available. Come fill your birthday bag today!
Is your little darling worth it? We think so!
112 Market Street • downtown Wilmington
downtowndarlings.net • 910-251-2233
www.wilmingtonparent.com
Wilmington Parent | February 2013 | 27
SPECIAL SECTION: Party Guide
Best Birthday Parties in Wilmington!
I LOVE CGA!
Gym parties are FUN!
Book Your Party Now ~ call or go online
910-796-1896
www.carolinagymnasticsacademy.com 3529 Carolina Beach Road
7201 Ogden Business Lane Wilmington NC 28411 910 - 686 - 1987 www.wilmingtonice.com
To book: call 910-520-7925 or visit our website
www.wowfactorofwilmington.com
Use this coupon to receive a $10.00 discount Good for any: Birthday Party Package or “Learn to Skate” Programs
Group lesson programs beginning year round.
INFLATABLE RENTALS Our Party Packages: Fairy Party Package Spa Spectacular Super Hero Party Princess Party Carnival Party Harry Potter Party Pirate Party Space Party Laser Tag Party Nerf Blast Polar Express Party Drive Inn Movie Party
28 | February 2013 | Wilmington Parent
Call the rink for info on our “Party Package” options and to schedule your Birthday on ICE! Visit our website to check out our weekly Public Skate Sessions !
www.wilmingtonice.com Phone: 910 - 686 - 1987 Coupon good through May 31, 2013.
www.wilmingtonparent.com
Gymnastics Parties
Photography - Photobooths
Carolina Gymnastics 3529 Carolina Beach Road 910-796-1896 Register online @ www.carolinagymnasticsacademy.com
In Loving Memory Photography Studio and Photobooth Jennifer Hardee, photographer 2030 Eastwood Road, Suite 8, Wrightsville Beach 910-599-6215 ILMPhotographystudio@gmail.com ILMPhotographystudio.com
Enjoy a private party in the gym! The birthday child and friends can play in the gym, and jump in the inflatables, the tumbletrak, and the foam block pits, while parents relax and socialize. Our coaches supervise gym time and they also help serve cake, clean up, and load presents into your car after the party. A stress free time for parents; a safe and active party place for boys & girls, ages 2-12. Cost is $250 per party for 1.5 hours - unlimited number of children, Saturdays only.
Sports Parties Kim’s Gym 4 Kids 7946 Market Street Unit 200 Wilmington, NC 28411 910-297-0179 www.kimsgym4kids.com www.facebook.com/kimsgym4kids
Kim’s Gym 4 Kids is locally owned and operated by Kim Bassano, Certified Health and P.E. Teacher. We provide an introduction to sports and fitness utilizing fun, creative games and activities in our new air conditioned gym with equipment that is geared toward children ages 3-6 years of age. Some of our sports include: soccer, t-ball, basketball, volleyball, tennis, golf and bike riding. Have your child’s birthday party at Kim’s Gym 4 Kids. Party theme and food options are available and fun music too!
North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher 900 Loggerhead Rd. Kure Beach, N.C. 28449 www.ncaquariums.com/fort-fisher 910-458-8257
Register now and Dance Free in February
k
Photography studio offering commerical, maternity, children and family portraits, senior portraits, sport photography and open-air photobooth to make your events more fun and memorable.
k k k
princess birthday parties
Wilmington School of Ballet and Creative Arts Center www.wilmingtonschoolofballet.com
794-9590 • 3834 Oleander Drive
Aquarium Parties or Sleepovers. We can even come to you! Celebrate your child’s special day with a birthday party at the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher. Program birthdays include a T-shirt craft with T-shirts and all art supplies included, a live animal presentation, use of the Aquarium’s classroom and a self-guided tour of the Aquarium. You can choose the following themes for a live animal presentation: •Amphibians - Frogs, toads, salamanders •Reptiles - Turtles, alligators, snakes •Invertebrates - Sea urchins, starfish, crabs Cost: $205.00 for up to 12 children and 12 adults, $10.00 for each additional child, $6.80 for each additional adult Time Length: 2 hours. Parties are recommended for ages 4-10. •Aquarium Outreach Programs Let our education staff bring a fun, interactive program to your classroom or other location. Each program is specifically adapted to fit your needs, customized for age, size and focus of your group. Live animals, props,hands-on learning activities and costumes make Aquarium Outreach parties enriching for groups of all ages. •Registration Information Please contact Special Activities Coordinator at 910-458-8257 ext 206 or via email:renee.weeks@ncaquariums.com to schedule a birthday party for your child or to arrange an outreach contact the Outreach Coordinator at (910) 458-8257ext. 236 or email ncaff.outreach@ncaquariums.com
Princess Parties Wilmington School of Ballet & Creative Arts Center 3834 Oleander Drive Wilmington, NC 29403 910-794-9590
Treat your daughter like the princess she is with a fairy princess birthday party! Your princess and her friends will enjoy a day of dress up, runway, dance, crafts, and bounce house time in the birthday rooms at the Wilmington School of Fine Arts. Please see the office for availability and reservation of your birthday party. We will provide the table, chairs, decorations, instructor, princess gear, and loads of fun. You provide refreshments, paper products, & cake. The cost is $150 for 1.5 hour.
See what has caught everyone’s attention At
Hanover Stables Horsemanship Camps for Kids Lady’s Day Camps and Trail Rides Birthday Parties and Riding Lessons www.hanoverstables.net 910-675-8923
www.wilmingtonparent.com
Wilmington Parent | February 2013 | 29
SPECIAL SECTION: Party Guide
Sea-Worthy Parties
From preschool to pre-professional
No More Boring Birthday Breakfasts! Danielle Villegas
S
tart your child’s birthday off with a memorable breakfast. What better way to set the tone for a perfectly special day!
Fruit and Waffle Bouquet Ingredients: • Frozen or homemade waffles
SPECIAL SECTION: Party Guide
• Favorite fruit pieces • Syrup or Nutella
ll of a wonderful place fu
laughter & fun!
• Skewers • Cookie cutters • Florist foam
•Barnyard Birthday Parties •Educational Field Trips •Church Groups •Teacher Work Day Camps •Play Groups
• Decorative container Directions: • Prepare either toasted frozen waffles or homemade waffles. Use the cookie cutters to cut the waffles into fun bite size shapes. • Alternately slide the waffle shapes and fruit pieces onto the skewers.
Old McFaye’s Farm is a relaxing family environment. Parties include pony rides, hay rides, & feeding farm animals!
• Place the florist foam into a decorative (heavy) container. • Press the skewers into the foam.
Old McFaye’s Farm
• Dip the filled skewers in the syrup, or (my favorite) Nutella.
2814 PeterSprings Dr. Castle Hayne, NC (910) 602-7845 • oldmcfayes@yahoo.com follow us on Facebook
English-muffin Egg Pizzas Ingredients:
www.
• English muffins
wilmingtonparent
.com
Offering you creative ways to target your audience and grow your business.
30 | February 2013 | Wilmington Parent
• Sliced hard-boiled eggs • Tomato slices • Shredded Cheese Directions: • Slightly toast the English muffins. • Place a tomato slice on each muffin half. • Place 2-3 egg slices on top of each tomato slice. • Sprinkle cheese on top. Toast in toaster oven until cheese is melted. v
www.wilmingtonparent.com
Down on the Farm Birthday Parties! Danielle Villegas
B
eing outside, enjoying the animals, picking fruit and veggies, getting dirty, and having fun is all part of the excitement of a birthday party on the farm! Faye Hodges, owner of Old McFaye’s Farm in Castle Hayne, says that she has unforgettable memories of her time spent on her grandfather’s farm, and now she wants to share that experience with as many children as possible. Ms. Hodges says, “Spending time on a real working farm is an experience all children should have the opportunity to enjoy. Many of the children that visit Old McFaye’s, have never even seen a chicken or know anything about how vegetables grow.” Ms. Hodges has worked with special needs children in the New Hanover County Schools for 14 years, and now she wants to continue her work, but on a different path. Her heart’s desire is to have Old McFaye’s Farm be a place that children come to learn and have fun. She has tirelessly worked to ensure that her farm is accessible to everyone. This includes accommodations for wheelchairs in almost every area! “Visiting our farm for a school trip, family outing, or a birthday party is a wonderful way to include everyone of all ages and abilities. When families plan a child’s birthday party, they often must plan two separate parties –one for the kids, and one for the rest of the family,” says Ms. Hodges. However, when you celebrate on the farm there is no need to exclude anyone! All members of the family can enjoy different aspects of their time on the farm.
It might seem strange to be thinking spring-like thoughts in February, but if you want a good ‘ol down on the farm, berry pickin’ birthday – now’s the time to start planning! Here are a few other Southeastern NC farms that offer plenty of outdoor, country fun!
Old McFaye’s Farm 2814 Peter Springs Dr. Castle Hayne Phone: (910) 602-7845 Also on Facebook! Hours: Call for hours! Activities: Hayride, pony ride, feeding farm animals, fire pit for roasting marshmallows and hotdogs – everything is completely handicapped accessible! Birthday Prices: $225 for 20 children, bring your own food
Lewis Farms
6509 Gordon Road, Wilmington, NC Phone: 910-452-9659 or (910) 762-5065 & Email: Lnfcss@bizec.rr.com; also on Facebook! Crops: Blackberry, Blueberries, Strawberries Hours: Sunday 1 pm-6 pm; Monday-Saturday 8 am-6 pm Typical harvest dates: Strawberries & Blueberries - mid May-June; Seasonal Vegetables - April-June; Blackberries – June Birthday Prices: Call for prices
Monday-Saturday 8 am-5:30 pm (Varies with season) Typical harvest dates: Strawberries – February- May & Thanksgiving-New Year; Asparagus - March-May; Blueberries & Blackberries - May-August; Persimmons & Pumpkin – Fall; Grapes – September; Melon, Tomatoes, Sweet Corn -June-August Birthday Prices: Call for prices
Max’s strawberries
911 N. Railroad Street, Wallace, NC Phone: (910) 285-2184 Crops: Beans, Cantaloupe, Cucumber, Potatoes, Squash, Strawberries, Tomatoes, Watermelon, Vegetables Typical harvest dates: Strawberries - April-May; Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Squash, Pole beans, Okra, Potatoes, Watermelon & Cantaloupes - June-August Birthday Prices: Call for prices
Mike’s Farm
184 Berry Patch Road, Hampstead, NC Phone: (910) 270-4618 or (910) 352-4692 & Email: mlhendri@ncsu.edu Crops: Blueberries Activities: U-Pick, farm animals Hours: 7am-8pm daily, including Saturday and Sunday, throughout the harvest season Typical harvest dates: Blueberries late May - late June Birthday prices: Call for prices
1600 Haw Branch Road, Beulaville, NC Phone: (910) 324-3422 or 888-820-FARM; Email: mikesfarmandrestaurant@yahoo.com Crops: Pumpkins, Strawberries Activities: Gift shop, snacks and refreshment stand, picnic area, farm animals, hayride (fall & Christmas), hot dog roast for groups of 20 or more, full service bakery & restaurant Hours: January 3rd-September 30th – Thursday-Saturday noon-8:00pm Typical harvest dates: Strawberries- late Aprilend of May Birthday prices: Call for prices
Indigo Farms
Odom Farming Company
Farmer Macs Berries
1542 Hickman Road NW, Calabash, NC Phone: (910) 287-6794 or (910) 287-6403 Crops: Asparagus, Blackberry, Blueberries, Corn, Flowers, Greens, Grapes, Muscadine Grapes, Peaches, Pumpkins, Strawberries, Tomatoes, Vegetables, Watermelon Activities: Hay rides, tours, pick your own (best to call as it may vary with crops and temperatures) Hours:
www.wilmingtonparent.com
Hours: April 16-end of May - Monday-Saturday 8am-6pm; Sunday 1pm- 6pm. Typical harvest dates: Strawberries mid-April-end of May arms. Birthday prices: $80 up to 10 kids and $160 for up to 20
1426 Claridge Nursery Road, Goldsboro, NC Phone: (919) 738-2905 & Email: odomfarmingcoinc@nc.rr.com & also on Facebook! Crops: Strawberries, Honey from Hives Activities: U-pick, concessions & refreshment stand, picnic area, playground, farm animal feeding, ice cream; corn maze & hayride (fall)
Wilmington Parent | February 2013 | 31
SPECIAL SECTION: Education Guide SPECIAL SECTION: Party Guide
The most important part of visiting Old McFaye’s, is the quality time spent enjoying the outdoors with family and friends. Between your time enjoying the bonfire, roasting marshmallows and hotdogs, feeding the farm animals, pony and hayrides, and exploring the garden and the soon to erected green bean teepee, you can be guaranteed one thing – everyone will leave for home exhausted with cherished memories from a unique experience! v
| fit family
Change Your Salty Ways February is American Heart Month. Join the American Heart Association’s Sodium Swap Challenge and watch your family’s heart health start to improve! The theme “Change Your Salty Ways in 21 Days” is designed to educate and encourage you to be aware of how much sodium you consume in a day while reading nutrition labels and shopping with your heart-health in mind by choosing lower sodium options.
Walk for Your Heart – But How?
Learn how to participate in the challenge at www.heart.org.
Walking is one of the easiest ways to increase your physical activity and improve your health, but how do you know you’re doing it right?
Know the Salty Six Here are some common foods that may be loaded with excess sodium.
Physical activity increases your heart rate, strengthens your heart, and increases blood circulation through your body. Here are some ways to guarantee your walk is giving you the benefits you need! • Start out slowly at first, with a warm-up in the beginning, a faster pace in the middle, and a cool down at the end. • Try to do at least 2½ hours of moderate exercise a week. One way to do this is to be active 30 minutes a day, at least 5 days a week.
1.Breads & Rolls
• To get the heart-healthy benefits of walking, you need to walk briskly enough to increase your pulse and breathing, but not so fast that you can’t talk comfortably.
2. Cold Cuts & Cured Meats
If you’re looking for small ways to add walks to your day, here are some ideas:
3. Pizza 4. Poultry
• Walk before or after work or on your lunch break. Instead of taking a snack or coffee break, take a walk break.
5. Soup
• Walk to work, school, the grocery store, or a restaurant.
6. Sandwiches
• Schedule walks on your business calendar. Turn a walk into a brainstorming session with a coworker. • Plan family outings around walks together. • Take your dog on a walk.
eterinary Ho Neck V s r te A Full Service, Small sp r o Animal Hospital
l ita
P
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
686-6297 Emergencies 791-7387 8129 Market St. (behind TLC Auto Wash)
www.portersneckvets.com 32 | February 2013 | Wilmington Parent
www.wilmingtonparent.com
Healthy Lifestyle vs. Performance Testing For as long as most of us can remember, this is the time of year when school kids prepare for the Physical Fitness Test. This school year is the last time the Presidential Physical Fitness Test will be available. The new program, The Presidential Youth Fitness Program, focuses on making kids healthy and active for life. Some schools have already implemented this new test. The new assessment measures a child’s health – not just performance in physical tests.
pediatric dentistry
Two Locations
The FITNESSGRAM® assessment measures five areas of healthrelated fitness through a variety of test items. • Aerobic Capacity • Body Composition • Muscular Strength, Endurance, and Flexibility 1. Abdominal—curl-up 2. Low back strength/functionality— trunk lift 3. Upper body—push-up, modified pull-up, or flexed arm hang 4. Flexibility—back saver sit and reach test for hip flexibility or the shoulder stretch for upper arm/shoulder girdle flexibility You can help your kids prepare for their tests by making sure they stay active all year!
Specialized Dentistry for Infants, Children, Adolescents and Children with Special Needs 8115 Market Street Ste. 204 • 910-686-1869 • www.GrowingGrins.com Conveniently located on the 2nd floor of the Medac Building in Porters Neck
306 Dolphin Drive, Jacksonville • 910-333-0343 University of North Carolina Wilmington
The Presidential Youth Fitness Program aims to help educators understand that a tool like FITNESSGRAM® is more than just the assessment used at the beginning and end of each school year. Rather, fitness assessments serve as the foundation for a year-long effort to help students achieve and maintain health enhancing levels of fitness – all in a manner that maintains student integrity.
Registration for the summer camps you love is now open. UNCW MarineQuest Engineering Expectations
Source: www.presidentialyouthfitnessprogram.org
www.uncw.edu/youth/registration.html 910.962.3195
Local Races Luv2Run 5K & 1.2 Mile Fun Run Saturday 02/02 @ 8am Mayfaire Town Center
We still have some openings in our spring Saturday programs, too. An EEO/AA Institution
The Whistle Pig 5K & 1 Mile Saturday 02/02 @ 9am Westgate Park, Leland 2013 Run for Ray Saturday 02/23 @ 8am Brunswick Nature Trails, Winnabow Run N Plunge 5K (& Polar Plunge) for Special Olympics Saturday 02/23 @ 10am Carolina Beach Marriott *Visit www.wilmingtonroadrunners.org, http://its-go-time.com or www.trifind.com/gs_running/RunningRaces.html information and registration.
www.wilmingtonparent.com
Wilmington Parent | February 2013 | 33
| going green | By Brandy Metzger
A Healthy Smile and a Happy Planet
O Many manufacturers include potentially harmful ingredients in their products. This is one reason why we are told not to swallow toothpaste or mouthwash and to keep it out of the reach of small children.
ral health is important to overall health and well-being. However, in an effort to accomplish good oral hygiene, we may be taking in toxic chemicals. Additionally, we create a lot of waste that often ends up in a landfill. So why not try a few simple steps to ensure a healthy smile— and keep the Earth clean.
Know your toothpaste and mouthwash. Many manufacturers include potentially harmful ingredients in their products. This is one reason why we are told not to swallow toothpaste or mouthwash and to keep it out of the reach of small children. There are conflicting opinions in the medical/dental community about the benefits of fluoride (a main component in most toothpaste). Make a point to speak with your pediatric or family dentist about your family’s fluoride requirements. Other ingredients in toothpaste, such as sodium laurel sulfate,
triclosan, propylene glycol and DEA, have been linked to health concerns that range from organ abnormalities to cancer. The Environmental Working Group has developed a great website that is a database for thousands of cosmetic products including oral care items. Consumers can do a search of their favorite brands of toothpaste and other personal care items to determine if they contain any potentially hazardous ingredients. This site can be found at http://www. ewg.org/skindeep.
Recycle tubes and brushes. At first glance, it may appear that toothpaste tubes and toothbrushes are not recyclable. However, this is not true. Toothpaste tubes are either made of aluminum or plastic, therefore, many local curbside-recycling bins will accept these tubes. A quick phone call to your recycling collection company will verify whether or not they will recycle the tubes. If the company accepts them, make sure to do the following: For aluminum tubes, squeeze out as much of the leftover toothpaste as possible, remove the lid and cut off the plastic threading on the neck of the tube. If curbside recycling is not an option, there are alternatives. Some companies such as Tom’s of Maine and Terracycle will accept toothpaste tubes for recycling. You simply have to box them up and ship them off. Toothbrushes are a bit trickier when it comes to recycling. Many curbside collection companies will not pick these up due to the type of plastic used to manufacture them. However, toothbrushes can be recycled through Terracycle. Or consider the Earth-friendly options from companies like “Preserve” that makes toothbrushes from recycled plastic and offers the product in a mail-back pack. Also notable is the Radius toothbrush that is made from cellulose derived from sustainable forests, and lasts 2 to 3 times longer than a traditional toothbrush. Careful selection of oral care products can lead to better health for your family—and the environment. 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).
34 | February 2013 | Wilmington Parent
www.wilmingtonparent.com
Show a Little Everyday L ve Danielle Villegas
W
ith all the hectic schedules families keep, sometimes we forget to slow down and just show a little love. This Valentine’s Day, don’t let the holiday pass with just a few cute cards and some candy. Take this as an opportunity to teach your family how important it is to show those you care about how much you love them on a daily basis. Expressing your love for someone shouldn’t just happen on holidays, fill your house with love every day! Here are a few tips to get you started:
1
Weekly Love Notes – One night a week, during dinner, each member of the family pick a member’s name from an attractive bowl. Then they write a love note telling that person why they love them.
2 3 4
One-on-one time – Make plans to spend time alone with each member of your family doing something they enjoy. Say “I Love You” - Don’t forget to say, “I love you” to children of all ages and to your spouse - everyday! Compliment – Make an effort to compliment your family and friends in public. Teach your kids to do the same! v
Story Time New Hanover County Libraries
http://www.nhcgov.com/AgnAndDpt/LIBR/Pages/DeptInfo.aspx Main Library – 201 Chestnut Street – 798-6301 Myrtle Grove Branch – 5155 South College Road – 798-6391 Northeast Branch – 1241 Military Cutoff Road – 798-6371 Carolina Beach Branch – 300 Cape Fear Blvd. – 798-6385 (Current storytime schedule runs through April 27) Lapsit Storytime (Babies under 18 months) @ 9:30am Main Branch: Tuesdays Myrtle Grove Branch: Wednesdays Northeast Branch: Wednesdays & Thursdays Toddler Storytime (18 – 36 months) @ 10am Main Branch: Tuesdays Myrtle Grove Branch: Wednesdays Northeast Branch: Wednesdays & Thursdays Preschool Storytime (3 – 5 years) @ 10:30am Main Branch: Tuesdays Myrtle Grove Branch: Wednesdays Northeast Branch: Wednesdays & Thursdays Sensational Storytime (All ages) @ 10am Northeast Branch: Saturdays Spanish/English Storytime (All ages) @ 10:30am Northeast Branch: Tuesdays Family Yoga Storytime (All ages) @ 10:30am Main Branch: Fridays
www.wilmingtonparent.com
Family Storytime @ 10:30am Carolina Beach Branch: Monday 01/07, 01/14, 01/28 Rap Club (Elementary to pre-teens) @ 3:30pm Myrtle Grove Branch: Wednesdays
Harper Library – 109 West Moore Street – 457-6237 Hickmans Crossroads – 1040 Calabash Road – 575-0173 Leland Library – 487 Village Road – 371-9442 Rourk Library – 5068 Main St. – 754-6578
Family Reading Night - Stuffed Animal Sleepover (Pre-school) Carolina Beach Branch: Tuesday 02/05 from 4:30 – 5:30pm Main Branch: Monday 02/11 from 5:30 – 6:30pm Northeast Branch: Monday 02/18 from 5:30 – 6:30pm Myrtle Grove Branch: Monday 02/25 from 5:30 – 6:30pm
Contact branch for February schedule.
Special Events “Jazzy Strings” by Mountain Marionettes Main Branch: Saturday 02/23 from 1 – 2pm
Pender County Public Libraries
www.youseemore.com/PENDERPL/ Burgaw Central Library – 103 S. Cowan Street – 259-1234 Hampstead Branch Library – 75 Library Drive – 270-4603 Burgaw Storytime: Thursdays from 11 – 11:30am Zoom with Fetch: Thursdays from 4 – 5pm Hampstead Toddler Storytime: Wednesdays from 10:15 - 10:30am Preschool Storytime: Wednesdays from 11 - 11:30am
Brunswick County Public Libraries http://library.brunsco.net/”http://library.brunsco.net/ Barbee Library – 8200 East Oak Island Drive – 278-4283
Brilliant Sky Toys & Books www.brilliantskytoys.com Mayfaire Town Center – 509-3353 Storytime Tuesdays at 10:30am
Barnes & Noble
http://store-locator.barnesandnoble.com/store/2156 Mayfaire Town Center – 509-1880 Toddler Storytime Tuesday at 10am Fridays at 7pm
Wilmington Railroad Museum
www.wrrm.org 505 Nutt Street (910) 763-2634 Preschool/Early Elementary Storytime ($4/Family) 1st & 3rd Mondays at 10:30am
Leland Town Hall
www.townoflealand.com/Towncalendar 102 Town Hall Drive (910) 332-4818 Leland’s Little Learners (ages 3-5) Tuesdays at 9am
Wilmington Parent | February 2013 | 35
| peanut gallery
Easton 1/19• 3yo
Marla R.
1/5• 3yo
Chase L. 2/25• 11yo
Kadriana K. 1/11• 2yo
Bryanna H. 2/11• 2yo
Averee B.
Mikayla J. 2/1• 1yo
Ben.
2/23• 7yo
2/25 • 10yo
Caroline M. 2/19 • 3yo
Sasha M. 2/26• 3yo
Skyler B. 1/26
Sean C. 2/6 • 2yo
Hayden A. 2/3• 7yo
Oscar A 1/20 • 4yo
Gia C. 2/7 • 6yo
Casey F. 2/27• 2yo
Reese L. 2/17 • 8yo
Isabella 2/1• 1yo
Charlotte T. 2/17 • 9yo
Ariel W.
2/2• 3yo
Does your child or grandchild have a birthday iN march? Honor them by having their photo published in Wilmington Parent. Here's how: e-mail image (size not to exceed 1mb) to birthday@wilmingtonparent.com. Deadline for publication: 2/13.
Madylin A. 2/26• 9yo
Sophia K.
2/10• 7yo
36 | February 2013 | Wilmington Parent
Lyla F. 2/15
We have a limited number of spots, so if you sent your child’s picture and do not see it this issue, please check back next month! www.wilmingtonparent.com
The 2nd Annual FORE the Children Golf Tournament Monday, March 25th Cape Fear Country Club Includes golf cart, practice range, gift bag, beverage cart, and lunch! $200 per golfer $800 per foursome to support The Children’s Museum
Visit the special events section on www.playwilmington.org to register! COME PLAY! DOWNTOWN 116 ORANGE STREET 910.254.3534 MONDAY-SATURDAY 9-5 SUNDAY 1-5
Wilmington Parent Summer Camp Fair
10th annual
Saturday, March 9, 2013 10am - 4pm NEW LOCATION: Independence Mall
W
ilmington Parent Magazine will host its 10th Annual Summer Camp Fair on Saturday, March 9, 2013 at Independence Mall, Center Court. The Wilmington Parent Summer Camp Fair is the only event of its kind in the area, providing families with a unique opportunity to explore the summer camp and enrichment options available to their children during summer break.
Camps for every interest: Local • Residential • Sports • Day Camps Science • Athletic • Drama Horseback Riding • Art • History • Nature Surfing • Magic & Much More! Sponsored by: Camps - Reserve your booth now! Contact your Acct Exec for information
We Make Frugal Look Fabulous
WE'VE NOW EXPANDED!! Come See For Yourself Why Everyone LOVES Clothes Mentor
4720-C New Centre Dr. Wilmington, NC Across from Target (910) 794-6888 www.clothesmentor.com
We Buy and Sell Gently Used Brand Name Clothing and Accessories for Teens and Young Adults. 4720-B New Centre Dr. Wilmington, NC Across from Target
(910)792-1572
www.platosclosetwilmington.com
“Kids Stuff With Previous Experience”™ Clean out your kids' closets and get $$$ on the spot for their gently used kids stuff! No appointment is ever necessary. And remember, we've got the lowest prices on everything your kids need. Target Shopping Center
4719-J New Centre Drive Wilmington, NC
(910) 452-9976
www.onceuponachildwilmington.com • Store Hours: Mon-Sat 9-8; Sun. 12-6