Wilmington Parent June 2014 by Seaside Media

June 2014 • FREE

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

INSIDE:

choosing childcare

What Dads do Best

- Finding The Right Program - Get A Backup Plan In Place - Listing Guide Including

Ruin your kids’ lives -They’ll Love You For It! The World Cup comes home

Childcare, Preschool, Drop-In, Parents Night-Out and NannyBabysitting Resources

Cover Kids: Steve and Tony

The financial abundance always flowing in to this magazine!

New Kids Wellness Programs Ages 5 - 13 Tri-Club • Swim Camp • Run Camp Kick-off Party– June 2nd, 6:30pm at Y Come & learn about the 8 week programs below and meet your coaches Tri-Club: This club will help your child build endurance for the July 26 Y Kids Triathlon Race! Weekly swim, bike, and run practices instructed by experienced coaches. Swim Camp: Is your child interested in a year round swim team but you want them to try it out first? This camp will help your child improve their strokes, build up their endurance and increase confidence. Run Camp: Our Girls on the Run and Stride Department has added a summer run program. Develop new cognitive, physical, and social skills through running

Museum School

STUDIO CLASSES Middle & High School

Registration

NOW OPEN

www.wilmingtonfamilyymca.org • 910-251-9622 ext. 224

Enter your child in the Me & My Pet Photo Contest! Submission Period 6/1-6/30/14

Enter online @ wilmingtonparent.com Grand Prize Winner will appear on the cover of Wilmington Parent with their pet!

Still Life painting by Museum School instructor Kirah Van Sickle

Museum School at Cameron Art Museum 910.395.5999

www.cameronartmuseum.org

Free to

explore learn excel

Motivated to

Challenged to

A passion for learning starts early at Friends School of Wilmington in our Montessori Preschool. A passion learning startscommunity early at Friends School of Wilmington. Here, in a vibrant learning community Here, in a for vibrant learning known for its vigorous academics, exceptional teaching, and time-honored Quakeracademics, values, students are provided world of opportunity to discover, learn and known for its vigorous exceptional teaching,aand time-honored Quaker values, students are grow. Confident, independent thinkers, graduates areConfident, fully prepared for thethinkers, most ambitious high provided a world of opportunity to discover,our learn and grow. independent our graduates school – and the up world ahead. are fullysetting prepared to step to the most ambitious high school setting – and to conquer the world ahead. Call 910.791.8221 and Schedule a Tour Today! 18 months – 8th grade | An Independent Quaker School | 910.791.8221 | www.fsow.org FSW-002 7.25x4.1825 4 color Ad.indd 1

11/1/13 1:22 PM

3505 Converse Dr, Ste 175 910-794-2266

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Wilmington Parent | June 2014 | 1

Specialized dentistry for infants, children adolescents and children with special needs Come meet the caring and compassionate team of Halley White Pediatric Dentistry today! For more information:

GrowingGrins.com 910-686-1869 Wilmington

910-333-0343 Jacksonville

Two Locations: Wilmington: 8115 Market Street, Suite 204 - Jacksonville: 306 Dolphine Drive

2 | June 2014 | Wilmington Parent

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Wilmington Parent | June 2014 | 3

| in this issue

Have a cute photo you’d like to share?

Publisher/Editor in Chief Keith Jaworski 910 343-1226

E-Mail: WilmingtonParent@ec.rr.com

Submit your photo for consideration seasidemedia1@gmail.com July Theme - Salt Life

Features Editor Danielle Villegas 910 343-1226

Photo credit: Thea Gregory

E-Mail: danielle.wilmingtonparent@gmail.com

Events Calendar:

E-Mail: calendar@wilmingtonparent.com

Design/Layout Department: Yulia Zarubina - Brill 910 343-1226

E-Mail: ads@wilmingtonparent.com

Customer Service 910 343-1226

E-Mail: wilmingtonparent@wilmingtonparent.com

June 2014

To Advertise Contact: Andrea Knight 910-632-0283

SPecial Section:

Choices in childcare pg.28 28 choosing the right program 30 what’s your backup plan? 32 resource listing 22 25 27 34

how to ruin your kids’ lives what dads do best the world cup comes home what help do SAH/single dads really need?

Editor’s Note

Childcare Listing guide

short stuff

Fit Family

Growing Up Online

your health

school notes

Party Pages

Calendar

Peanut Gallery

E-mail: andreailmparent@gmail.com

Dermot Gibney 910-352-8270

E-mail: dgwilmparent@yahoo.com

Savvy Moms Amanda Swift 910-506-8662

E-mail: wilmparentsavvymom@gmail.com Public Service Announcements/Calendar Please submit items/photos before the 2nd Friday of the prior month

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

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

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

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 2014 Seaside Media, LLC Complimentary copies of Wilmington Parent are available to the public at various locations in the greater Wilmington area. One copy per family is permitted. Additional copies require the written permission of the Publisher. Subscription rates for home delivery are $24 for one year. member

cover credits

Cover by Nichole Louise Photography 910-367-5151 • www.nicholelouisephotography.com 4 | June 2014 | Wilmington Parent

Please recycle this magazine

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| editor’s note at The Children's Schoolhouse

Wilmington's Oldest Montessori School 29 Years of Academic Excellence

ummertime!! In my flip flops, with beach towel and sunscreen in hand, I have waited long enough. Finally, the kids are out of school and we can enjoy a few of those lazy summer days that have been teasing at the edges of my daydreams, while I wait in endless school pickup and dropoff lines. This month’s calendar is all you’ve hoped for, full of outdoor concerts, festivals, and farmer’s markets. Enjoy! While you’re planning your summer activities, check out a special article this month from a former Wilmington resident, current adventure mommy Crystal Blue Mascaro, who gives us all some fabulous ideas on how to completely ruin our kids this summer. Also, enjoy a brilliant article by Dermot Gibney on pg. 27. The World Cup begins in June and continues through July and there is no better time to teach your kids about the various countries that come together to play the “Beautiful Game” of soccer. June is also our Childcare issue, and this special section dedicated to helping parents navigate the confusing path towards quality childcare for their little ones begins on pg. 28. Whether you’re looking for a preschool program that will prepare you child for Kindergarten, drop-in care, or after school care - you will find guidance in this section. Last, but definitely not least, let’s celebrate the fathers this month! These hardworking, dedicated, playful, and caring men that earn the title - Dad. We all know Dads have their own way of doing things, and maybe they don’t always get the appreciation they deserve. Be sure to read “What Dads Do Best” by Heidi Smith Luedtke, on pg. 25. Her article is a perfect reminder for all of us that Dad’s knowledge and ways of handling situations are just as useful as Mom’s multitasking super powers.

Now Enrolling for 1/2 Day On-Site Summer Camp and 2014/2015 School Year

Session I June 9-20 Session II July 7-18

Young children learn about our wonderful coastal environment in the safety of the Montessori classroom. This exciting marine experience is appropriate for children ages 3-6. Curriculum includes many sea critters, art, music, movement and many exciting takes of the sea! Sea life provided by Hieronymus Fishing Charter and Guide Service

Wilmington PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY infants • children • teens

SKIP TYSON, D.D.S. STEPHANIE HEANEY, D.D.S. 791-7380

2606 Iron Gate Dr. Suite 200, Wilmington, NC

Have a relaxing summer and Happy Father’s Day!

Danielle

surf our website

www.catchasmile.net www.wilmingtonparent.com

Wilmington Parent | June 2014 | 5

short stuff

Make Your Own Crystal Geodes If you’d like to keep your kids learning a bit this summer, and you happen to have some leftover plastic Easter eggs, then this little science project is for you! What you need: • Alum Powder - Potassium Aluminum Sulfate (getting the right one is important) • Plastic Easter eggs or real eggshells broken in half • Glue (Elmer’s is fine) • Paintbrush (for painting on glue) • A box or something to keep eggs safe while drying • Bowl, whisk, and measuring cup Prep Directions: • Paint the eggshells with thin layer of glue. Make sure to paint a bit around the rim. For younger kids, let them go crazy painting. You can always brush off the excess later. • While glue is still wet, sprinkle the egg with alum powder. • Let the eggs dry overnight. Make Alum Solution • Boil 2 cups of water (stir in food coloring if you want colored crystals, if you use colored eggs then the color will show through) • Pour ¾ cup of alum powder into water and stir until dissolved. You want the solution saturated. • Place 2 eggshells in at a time, and wait… • By the next day you should be able to pull them out and see crystal growth. Put them back in the solution and keep checking daily until you have the results you want.

2014 Great American Backyard Campout On June 28, 2014, thousands of people across the nation will gather in their backyards, neighborhoods, communities and parks to take part in an annual event that provides a funfilled evening for all generations to get outside and connect with nature. Great American Backyard Campout is a part of National Wildlife Federation’s efforts to help inspire Americans to protect wildlife, including a three-year campaign to get 10 million kids to spend regular outdoor time in nature. New to camping, or need some fresh ideas to enjoy your time outdoors? Have fun with a few tips below: • Pie Iron Pizza - Heavily butter two pieces of bread, place in pie iron, spread on pizza sauce, cheese and toppings, close pie iron and cook over medium coals or low campfire flame. (hotter flame = faster cooking & burnt pizza) • Wrap your meat in cabbage leaves while cooking to avoid burning. • Add Sage to your campfire to repel bugs and mosquitos. • Do the kids have any connectable foam pieces? Layer your tent with these to increase your sleeping comfort. • Don’t forget the best part of camping - Smores. Try twisting open an Oreo cookie and put in a small square of chocolate and a toasted marshmallow. Visit www.nwf.org and pledge to Campout for Wildlife!

salon & shop for kids Boy & Girl Haircuts First Haircut Packages Birthday Parties Natural Haircare Products Manicures/Pedicures

Ages 1st grade and up... Weekly camps • Private lessons Small group lessons

(910) 399-4252 www.RibbetSalon.com

3610-E S. College Road Wilmington, NC 6 | June 2014 | Wilmington Parent

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Summer Movie Schedules for Carmike Cinemas and Regal Mayfaire Regal Mayfaire Summer Movie Express $1 Movies The 2014 Summer Movie Express starts June 17th at Regal Mayfaire 16 and runs for 9 weeks every Tuesday and Wednesday throughout the summer. All movies start at 10am and admission is only $1. June 17 June 18 June 24 June 25 July 1 July 2 July 8 July 9 July 15 July 16 July 22 July 23 July 29 July 30 Aug 5 Aug 6 Aug 12 Aug 13

Hotel Transylvania The Smurfs 2 Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 The Pirates: Band of Misfits Arthur Christmas Despicable Me 2 The Lego Movie Free Birds Adventures of Tin Tin Rise of the Guardians Kung Fu Panda 2 Madagascar 3 The Croods Epic Turbo Walking with Dinosaurs Mr. Peabody and Sherman Rio 2

Opening early July 2014 Employment applications available online on our website Offering all new bounce and obstacle inflatables, a toddler only soft play zone and toddler only bouncer and obstacle course, redemption games, snack bar, birthday parties, group and fundraising events.

Taking birthday, group and fundraising reservations via email.

Carmike Cinemas: Summer Kids Series Every Wednesday at Carmike Cinemas, enjoy a kids movie, small popcorn and small drink all for $4! Movies start at 10am, doors open 9:30. Come early to guarantee a seat. June 18 June 25 July 2 July 9 July 16 July 23 July 30 Aug 6 Aug 13 Aug 20

Epic The Croods Turbo Despicable Me Despicable Me 2 The Nut Job The Lego Movie Rio Mr. Peabody and Sherman Rio 2

4310 Shipyard Blvd. Ste. 101 Wilmington, NC 28403

www.bounce-wilmington.com

Fun Fashion - OPPOS

Avery G. and Noelia M.

Do you have a dancer or gymnast in your house that seems to never wear anything but leggings every day? Or maybe your little girl just likes fun, funky, fashion. OPPOS has created a new type of leggings with interchangeable legs. Yes, one leg can be purple, and the other can be polka dots...basically any combination you can think up.

910-795-2511 www.DrEggDental.com

6781 Parker Farm Drive Suite100 Wilmington, NC

We received some legs to try, and a couple dancers were recruited to experiment with their usefulness. First of all, the legs connect with a zipper that zips from front to back. The girls got a giggle from that at first, but once the legs were attached they were happy dancers! The leggings hold up well while dancing and the zipper is not noticeable and stays in place. Fun patterns and the ability to mix and match make these a cool product for girls who want to stand out and express their creativity. Visit www.oppos.com to find out more information.

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Accepting New Patients Wilmington Parent | June 2014 | 7

| growing up online

| By Carolyn Jabs

Protecting Your Family’s Online Assets

utomatic locks on the family car. Check. Safety deposit box for valuable papers. Check. Padlocks for bicycles. Check. Secure passwords for online assets. Uh-oh. Now that families conduct so much of their social and financial business online, strong passwords are every bit as important as sturdy locks on the doors of your house. Unfortunately, parents who are very conscientious about other forms of family security often do the virtual equivalent of leaving the key under the doormat. The recent security scare called Heartbleed should have been a wake up call. If you haven’t already changed passwords for your online accounts, now is the time. And while you’re at it, teach your kids to create smart passwords too. (A curriculum for doing just that is available from Common Sense Media—check it out at commonsensemedia.org/educators/lesson/strong-passwords-3-5). The simplest way to manage passwords is to store them all in a vaultlike piece of software that will generate, encrypt and remember highly secure passwords on your behalf. Free and reliable programs are available from LastPass, KeePass and Norton Identity Safe. Just be sure that the program you choose will allow easy access on all the devices you use. Unfortunately, setting up password software requires time that busy parents may not have. Also, the password that gets you into the software becomes the equivalent of the one ring that binds them all, so if you forget it you are doomed. Those who decide to forgo software need to get serious about creating tough passwords. The first rule is to avoid weaknesses that create openings for trolls, bullies, hackers, and identify thieves. Here are three things you don’t want to do:

No personal information. Professional hackers know that it’s easier to remember details from your own life, so if you become a target the first passwords they’ll try are names of people and places that are meaningful to you. Google yourself. Anything that comes up won’t be a good password. That includes birthdates, addresses, employers, phone number, names of family and friends. Next, review your social media profiles. Don’t use anything that’s ever been listed as a favorite. Avoid recognizable words. Many programs have been designed to crack passwords, and most start with a dictionary of words in English and other languages. Using any recognizable word including proper nouns makes you more vulnerable. Adding an unexpected capital letter, a random number or an exclamation point makes the password a bit stronger but not much. Don’t be cute—or lazy. Despite years of warnings, people still use “default” passwords like “guest” and “password” as well as sequences of keys on the keyboard such as 890-=\ or qwert. Hackers are also acquainted with obvious substitutions like & for E or @ for A or 2 for “to.” And it’s not especially clever to use well-known number sequences like Pi or the Fibonnaci series. Strong passwords are long—use at least 8 and preferably 12 charac-

8 | June 2014 | Wilmington Parent

ters. Make it varied—use a combination of letters, numbers, punctuation marks and symbols. Of course, a long and varied password is harder to remember. Here are several ways to generate passwords that are both random and memorable:

Initialing. Choose a title, phrase or quotation that means something to you. Use the initial letter of each word as your password. Toss in caps, numbers and symbols to make it harder to hack. Letter Scramble. Start with a longish word or short phrase that you will remember. Scramble the letters and substitute numbers and symbols for some of them. Mix it Up. Choose two words that mean something to you and alternate their letters. If your dog’s name is Skippy and you live at 345 Woodside, your password would be 3S4k5iWpopoyd. Diceware. To get really random results, roll the dice. Diceware.com lists 7776 words corresponding to all the combinations that are possible when you throw five dice. The website also provides detailed instructions about how to use the list to create very secure passwords and phrases. Websites. Although many websites offer to generate passwords on your behalf, don’t use one unless you trust the company behind it. For example, the well-known Norton Security company offers a free password generator at identitysafe.norton.com/password-generator. Experts disagree about whether passwords should be recorded. Most say that a password that’s hard to crack will also be hard to remember, so you’ll probably want to keep a copy somewhere safe. Consider a locked drawer or between the pages of a favorite book. A Post-It on the computer monitor is not a good place for password. Eventually everyone forgets a password, so be sure your password recovery systems are up-to-date. Many websites send a prompt or reset option to an e-mail address. If you change your e-mail, update the sites that require passwords. Providing a cellphone number also provides a layer of security, especially if you have a cellphone that can be locked if it’s lost. Once you’ve found what seems like a great password, there’s a temptation to use it often and keep it forever. Don’t. Experts recommend using different passwords, especially for sites that involve financial information. And put a “Change passwords” reminder on the calendar so you do it at least as often as you change the oil in the car. Many security experts argue that passwords are obsolete. Perhaps, by the time your kids are adults, they may be able to protect their online assets with a fingerprint or a DNA scan. In the meantime, however, mastering the art of strong passwords is just one more way, as a parent, that you can have the peace of mind knowing you’ve protected what is precious to your family. v Carolyn Jabs, M.A., raised three computer savvy kids including one with special needs. She has been writing Growing Up Online for over ten years and is working on a book about constructive responses to conflict.

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Sesame Street® and associated characters, trademarks and design elements are owned and licensed by Sesame Workshop. © 2014 Sesame Workshop. All Rights Reserved. © 2014 SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Two great parks, one amazing summer From the thrilling rides, captivating shows and animal encounters of Busch Gardens ® to the drenching rides and water slides of nearby Water Country USA®, there’s no better place to enjoy summer.

Best offers online

New in 2014 Colossal Curl™

buschgardens.com/va www.wilmingtonparent.com

Wilmington Parent | June 2014 | 9

| school notes

School’s Out! New Hanover County: Traditional Schools: 6/13 - Half Day, Last Day for Students Year Round Schools: 6/20 - Half Day, Last Day for Students CFCI Charter School: 6/11 - Half Day, Last Day for Students IBEC: 6/6 - Half Day, Last Day for Students Brunswick: Traditional Schools: 6/12 - Half Day, Last Day for Students

Roger Bacon Academy/ Charter Day School: 6/13 - Half Day, Last Day for Students Pender: Traditional Schools: 6/13 - Half Day, Last Day for Students Penderlea Year Round School: 6/11 - Half Day, Last Day for Students Pender Early College: 6/3 - Half Day, Last Day for Students

Visit www.nhcs.net, www.co.brunswick.k12.nc.us or www.pendercountyschools.net for more information.

National History Day Awards Congratulations to these bright, hardworking, Wilmington Academy of Arts and Science students! Jane Lewis and Hanna Azizi won an award (and cash prize) for Outstanding Exhibit. Sophia Donner won an award (and cash prize) for her exhibit in Colonial History.

Colonial Days at Cape Fear Academy Every year at Cape Fear Academy the 4th graders study the history of colonial America. Through project based learning, they study the beginning of America and travel through the creation of the 13 colonies. This fourth grade tradition happens each year in April as they celebrate Colonial Week. This year’s daily activities ranged from herb study, log cabin construction, calligraphy, and presentations from the Daughters of the Revolution. Fourth graders finished the week with a visit from Camp Flintlock. Camp Flintlock conducts daytime field trips based around authentic colonial experiences. The fourth grade students created beeswax candles, played colonial games, crafted Indian bead necklaces, threw a tomahawk, and participated in sword fighting. Students spent the day dressed in colonial inspired dresses, bonnets, and tri-corn hats. It is a true celebration and the anticipation began on the first day of school.

Substitute Teachers Needed New Hanover County Schools is looking for substitute teachers for the upcoming school year. You do not need a teaching certificate to work as a substitute teacher in New Hanover County. However, the Effective Teacher Training Certificate is required and Cape Fear Community College is offering these classes all summer. CFCC class schedule Course Fee: $73.00 Cape Fear Community College 910-362-7199. June 2, 3, 4, 5 (M,T,W,TH) 9am-3:30pm July 21, 22, 23, 24 (M,T,W,TH) 9am-3:30pm Aug. 4, 5, 6, 7 (M,T,W,TH) 9am-3:30pm Find out more information about substitute teacher qualifications and expectations, and apply online at http://www.nhcs.net/humanresources.

AREA ODYSSEY OF THE MIND TEAM TAKES ON WORLD —Team Finishes First in State and Regional Competition, Advances to Compete with 26 Countries— St. Mark Catholic School’s middle school Odyssey of the Mind team advanced to international competition in May for their creative solution to a problem called ‘The Not So Haunted House.’ The seven-member team of boys and girls combined scientific, engineering, and creative forces for their presentation on— of all things—puberty. A unique subject and fitting topic for their age group, the team’s presentation on ‘Puberty’ propelled them to place first over ten Division 2 teams in the state competition at Wingate University last weekend and in regional competition in Kitty Hawk. These consecutive first place awards are a first in the history of St. Mark School. We anxiously await the results of this year’s Odyssey of the Mind World Finals at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa that occurred this last weekend in May. Over 850 teams representing 26 countries worldwide competed. Odyssey of the Mind is an eight-year running extra-curricular activity for Kindergarten through 8th grade students at St. Mark and involves creative problem solving, math, science, engineering, and teamwork. Team members work together at length for months to solve a predefined problem and present their solution as a theatrical, entertaining presentation. Teams are also challenged by ‘spontaneous’ competition that involves quick-thinking solutions and creative presentations to on-the-spot problems. Visit www.ncom.org for a complete history of the program. The seven-member St. Mark team includes four (4) eighth graders; Anna Sawyer, Chloe Messineo, Anna Cameron, and Katie Gregory, and three (3) seventh graders; Pryce Dickens, Andrew Harris, and Liam Crowley. The team is coached by eight-year Odyssey veteran and mother of four, Catherine Sawyer. “These kids are creative and driven—it’s unbelievable that they completed this project at this level and still maintained great grades and their involvement in team sports,” said Sawyer. “They gave up many weekends to build props, write scripts, and rehearse—they are a dedicated and incredible group of teens,” Sawyer added.

10 | June 2014 | Wilmington Parent

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We’re #1 in the Southeastern U.S. in Wrinkle Correction.

Not only the regional leader in injectables, Wilmington Plastic Surgery is also the only practice in the area with the revolutionary Forever Young laser and one of a select few offering Ultherapy, the nonsurgical facelift. So when you’re looking for youth-restoring facial treatments, it’s wise to go with the proven leaders.

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June 2014 11 jeFFrey S. ChurCh MD,Wilmington DDS, FACS Parent MArK W.|MorgAn MD,|FACS

• PLA N YOUR MO N TH WITH US

CALENDAR

June | 2014

All Month Long! Cotton Exchange Tours

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

Horsedrawn Tours

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

A View from Space

Tues-Sat 9am-5pm; Sun 1-5pm. Through Sept. 7th. Cape Fear Museum. Since the launch of the world’s first artificial satellite Sputnik in 1957, satellites have dramatically changed the way we study our planet. A View from Space, a new, bilingual (Spanish and English), highly interactive, hands-on science exhibit, will allow visitors to see the world from a satellite’s perspective. They can track a hurricane from space, send a satellite spinning into orbit around a model Earth, study incredible images of our planet captured by NASA’s Earth Observing System, and more! Visit www.capefearmuseum.com for details.

Butterfly Bungalow

9am-5pm. NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher. Through September. This new temporary exhibit is unlike many at the Aquarium; this experience does not include scales or fins. Yet, it continues the Aquarium’s mission of inspiring conservation and appreciation of the natural world.

12 | June 2014 | Wilmington Parent

Visitors will delight in the beauty of hundreds of exotic butterflies from around the world. Through the encounter, guests gain a better understanding of the importance of butterflies and other insect pollinators. Inside the Butterfly Bungalow, a greenhouse-like enclosure, hundreds of exotic butterflies fly free and land on tropical plants and, occasionally, on visitors’ heads, arms and noses. Tickets for the exhibit are $3, general Aquarium admission is additional. Visit www.ncaquariums.com for more information.

1 Sunday Family Fun Day

9am - 5pm. Airlie Gardens. Visit the parks and Arboretum for a full day of family fun. Contact 798-7700 or visit www.airliegardens.org for more information.

Residents Free Day - Cape Fear Museum

1 – 5pm. Cape Fear Museum. NHC residents are admitted free to the Museum the first Sunday of every month. Call 798-4350 or visit www.capefearmuseum.com for information.

Boogie in the Park: The Central Park Band

5-8pm. Kure Beach Ocean Front Park. Get ready for summer and enjoy the classic rock, pop, dance, & beach tunes from The Central Park Band playing a variety of music from the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. Grab a lawn chair or blanket and your boogie shoes for some free, family-friendly entertainment! Visit www.townofkurebeach.org for complete summer schedule.

Shakespeare on the Green: As You Like It

8pm. Greenfield Lake Amphitheater. The Shakespeare Youth Company kicks off the 22nd season of Shake-

speare on the Green at Greenfield Lake Amphitheater in Wilmington, NC, with a staging of As You Like It. Directed by Cherri McKay. Call 399-2878 for details.

Movies at the Lake: Tom & Jerry - Robin Hood and His Merry Mouse

8:45pm. Carolina Beach Lake. Bring your chairs and find a spot on the lawn where the whole family can enjoy newly released movies every Sunday night throughout the summer. Popcorn, candy, soft drinks, cotton candy, and more for sale at reasonable prices or bring your own food and beverages.

2 Monday Wrightsville Beach Farmer’s Market

8am-1pm Mondays. Wrightsville Beach Municipal Grounds. Through Sept 1st. Free and open to the public. This unique Farmer’s Market is the only one on the island and provides an opportunity for residents and visitors of Wrightsville Beach to purchase fresh, locally grown produce. In addition to produce vendors and various other consumables vendors, the market includes a variety of unique craft vendors.

Little Sprouts Storytime – The Very Hungry Caterpillar

10am. Mondays. Children’s Museum. Please pre-register. For our preschoolers. Each week we’ll read a new story and do an activity inspired by the book. Pre-register by calling 254-3534 and visit www.playwilmington.org for weekly themes.

Yoga for Moms

10:30-11:30am Mondays. Hullabaloo, Hampstead.

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Bring your mat and $10. Childcare for your little one provided at $7. Call 821-1250 for details.

Family Storytime

10:30am, Mondays. Carolina Beach Library. All ages are invited to enjoy stories, fingerplays, and other pre-literacy enhancing activities. No registration is required. Call 7986303 for details.

Railroad Storytime

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.

Superb Soccer Stars

11-11:30am. Children’s Museum. A fun and exciting way for your child to develop important building blocks for ages 3 to 6 years. Call 254-3534 for details.

Go Green Engineer Team Design a Water Scope

3:30pm Mondays. Children’s Museum. Activities are handson challenges that focus on the engineering design process. They use simple materials, allow for multiple solutions, and are ideal for ages 5-10. Please pre-register by calling 2543534 and visit www.playwilmington.org for weekly themes.

Family Pirate Games

6-6:45pm, Mondays. Museum of Coastal Carolina. Families explore the museum together and play pirate-themed games. Craft activity for kids. Visit www.museumplanetarium.org for more information.

3 Tuesday Happy Little Singers

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

Petite Picasso 1 & 2

10am, Tuesdays. Hullabaloo, Hampstead. Bring your petiteest Picasso for the 10am class (up to 2 ½) and your slightly older artists to the 11am class, all taught by Francesca! Visit www.hullabalooplay.com for more information.

Barnes & Noble Toddler Storytime: Where’s My Tushy?

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

Messy Art

11:15-11:45am, Tuesdays. Brilliant Sky Toys & Books, Mayfaire. Ages 2-6. Call 509-3353 for details.

Kid’s Cooking Club – Going French: Stuffed Crepes

3:30 - 4:30pm Tuesdays. Children’s Museum. Learn new skills and explore fun seasonal recipes. Then savor the flavor of your hard work. Kids Cooking Club is sponsored by Harris Teeter. Visit www.playwilmington.org for weekly themes and call 254-3534 to pre-register.

Family Night at Chick-fil-A

5:30 – 7pm Tuesdays. Chick-fil-A Mayfaire. Don’t miss the fun family events. Call 256-0854 for weekly details.

4 Wednesday Poplar Grove Farmer’s Market

8am-1pm Wednesdays, Poplar Grove Plantation. Join us at the beautiful historic Poplar Grove Mansion every Wednesday for the Farmer’s Market. Interact with the people growing, catching, baking and producing your food and other products. This is a great way to connect with the community and find one-of-a kind goods including crafts and delicious foods for the whole family! Visit www.poplargrove.com for more information.

about the scientific process through critical thinking skills. Call 254-3534 or visit www.playwilmington.org to pre-register.

Stop Animation

3:30pm. Wednesdays. Myrtle Grove Library. Create your own Stop Animation movie using ReadyANIMATOR, iStopMotion and iMovie! Appointments available at 3:30pm & 4:15pm. Registration required. Call 798-6393. Ages 8 & up. Limit two children per session. Call 798-6353 for details.

5 Thursday Storytime at the Library

9:30; 10:00; 10:30am Thursdays. Myrtle Grove Library. Lapsit, Toddler, and Preschool storytimes! Stories, songs, and age appropriate activities for each group. Call 798-6303 with questions.

Happy Little Singers

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

Storytime at the Library

Musical Munchkins

Leland’s Little Learners

StoryCOOKS – Goldilocks and the Three Bears: Ultimate Porridge

9:30; 10:00; 10:30am Wednesdays. Myrtle Grove Library. Lapsit, Toddler, and Preschool storytimes! Stories, songs, and age appropriate activities for each group. Call 798-6303 with questions. 9:30 – 10:30am Wednesdays. Town of Leland. Free program for children ages 3-5 seeks to stimulate the minds of Leland’s children through story time, arts and crafts/activities and time outside on the playground! During the program, parents or guardians must remain with their children. Please contact Amy Ryan at (910) 332-4823 for registration or more information. Space is limited.

Happy Little Singers

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

Preschool Science – Exploding Art

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

Yoga for Moms

10:30-11:30am Wednesdays. Hullabaloo, Hampstead. Bring your mat and $10. Childcare for your little one provided at $7. Call 821-1250 for details.

Discover Science – Rubber Band Helicopters

3:30pm Wednesdays. Children’s Museum. Explore and learn

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

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

stART with a Story – The Magical Garden of Claude Monet - Fresh Flower Prints

3:30pm Thursdays. Children’s Museum. Start with a story and then add ART! It’s the perfect way to connect literacy with the arts. Join us each week to create a masterpiece that reinforces a fun book. Call 254-3534 or visit www.playwilmington.org for more information.

Happy Bigger Singers

4:15pm Thursdays. Ms. Susan’s Room in The Art Works. Ages 4-8 years. Sing, Dance and Creative Play. $10 per family with one to two children, $5 each additional child. Drop-ins welcome. Please text 910-777-8889 or email info@happylittlesingers.com to register.

Paint & Play

5:30-8:30pm, Thursdays. Hullabaloo, Hampstead. Ever want to get lost in the world of painting? Now’s your chance, bring your kids to play while you take a class! Call 821-1250 for pricing information.

1 5 SUMMER READING ALL

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Wilmington Parent | June 2014 | 13

Fireworks by the Sea and Boardwalk Blast: Machine Gun

6:30pm Thursdays. Carolina Beach Boardwalk. Enjoy free fireworks by the sea on Carolina Beach at 9:00 pm and the Hard Rock music of Machine Gun at 6:30 pm at the gazebo. The fireworks and gazebo entertainment are free and open to all, weather permitting. Visit www.pleasureislandnc.org for a complete summer schedule.

6 Friday Art and Craft Friday – Hot Mess Finger/Feet/ Body Painting

10am Fridays. Ms. Susan’s Room in The Art Works, 200 Willard St. Children ages 3+ enjoy a weekly Art/Craft project. $10 per child. Visit www.ms-susans-room.com for weekly events. RSVP required in advance by texting 910-777-8889 or emailing info@ms-susans-room.com.

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7pm. Barnes & Noble, Mayfaire. Meet Clifford in person! We’ll read Clifford’s Puppy Days. As a puppy, Clifford was so small Emily Elizabeth gave him a bath in a soup bowl! Call 509-1880 for details.

7 Saturday Riverfront Farmer’s Market

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

Toddler Time – Ocean in a Bag

Junior Chef Classes - Summer Sides

10am Fridays. Children’s Museum. No registration necessary. Projects and activities for our youngest visitors (ages 4 and under) and their special grownups to work on together. Call 2543534 or visit www.playwilmington.org for more information.

Music and Movement Storytime

10:30-11am, Fridays. Northeast Library. Have fun moving with stories and music! Learn basic musical concepts and enjoy exciting and active stories. We’ll incorporate several movement disciplines including yoga. No pre-registration or any equipment is needed. Please wear clothing that is comfortable for active play or dance. Ages 5 years and younger. Call 798-6373 for details.

9:30am. Williams Sonoma, Mayfaire. Free. Getting ready to grill? After this class, you’ll be ready to help mom and dad with creating delicious summer side dishes to go with bbq chicken, hamburgers and steak. Suitable for ages 8-12. Call 256-0266 for details.

Happy Little Singers

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

29th Annual Carolina Beach Music Festival

2:30-3pm. Children’s Museum. A fun and exciting way for your child to develop important building blocks for ages 3 to 6 years. Call 254-3534 for details.

10am. Carolina Beach. One of the longest running beach music festivals in the United States. Enjoy a full day of live entertainment with the hottest beach music bands in the South. For more information about the festival, call the Chamber at 910-458-8434

Adventures in Art – Monet Painting

Beginner Skateboard Clinic

Airlie Gardens Summer Concert Series: 40 East Band

Weather Wise Learning Center

Superb Soccer Stars

3:30pm Fridays. Children’s Museum. Experience different forms of art each week. This class is limited to 15 children and designed for children ages 5-8 years. Call 254-3534 to pre-register and visit www.playwilmington.org for weekly themes.

6-8pm. Airlie Gardens. The Summer Concert Series continues with the country sounds of 40 East Band. Visit www.airliegardens.org for more information.

Downtown Sundown Concert Series: Same As It Ever Was

6pm. Riverfront Park. Free. Come downtown to the river and enjoy The Talking Heads tribute band, Same As It Ever Was. Beer, wine and food are available for purchase during the performances. The event takes place either rain or shine. Visit wilmingtondowntown.com for details.

Mayfaire’s Music on the Town: Eastbound

6pm. Mayfaire Event Lawn. Bring your blankets, chairs, food, and come out and enjoy the new country sounds of Eastbound. Concert and parking are free. Pets and coolers permitted. Visit www.mayfairetown.com for complete summer schedule.

Kure Beach Variety Entertainment Series: Magic and Music (Quilted Sky)

6:30-10pm. Kure Beach Ocean Front Park. Join Kure Beach

14 | June 2014 | Wilmington Parent

Family Storytime with Clifford the Big Red Dog

8am-1pm, Saturdays. Riverfront Park. A weekly market in the historic downtown river district. The market features local farmers, producers, artists and crafters. Products include fresh fruits and berries, vegetables, plants, herbs, flowers, eggs, cheeses, meats, seafood, honey, baked goods, legumes, pickled items, jams and jellies, wine, art, crafts and more. Call 910-538-6223 for more information.

Storytime at Hullabaloo

Get Your Business Noticed!

on select Fridays throughout the summer for some incredible family-fun! Pick from a variety of comedy shows, concerts, impersonators and magicians to find the very best fit for your night out! This week enjoy some magic at 6:30 followed by the sounds of Quilted Sky! Bring a chair or blanket, sit back and enjoy the show! Visit www.townofkurebeach.org for a complete summer schedule.

10:30am. Greenfield Grind Skatepark. Intended for ages 7 to 12. Skaters will become familiar with his/her equipment, and establish and begin to develop fundamental skateboarding skills. Admission is $15 and includes 2 free day passes to come back and skate. Pre Registration required. Call 3628222 for details. 1-4pm. Cape Fear Museum. What is wind? How does weather impact our daily lives? Explore air, atmospheric pressure, and air temperature. Examine the tools meterologists use and conduct a scientific experiment to review the states of matter and the Earth’s water cycle. Parental participation is required. Free for members or with general admission. Visit www. capefearmuseum.com for more information.

Super Saturday Fun Time

3pm Saturdays. TheatreNow. Join DOCK, the dog, and his two-legged friends as they uncover mysteries and discover artifacts (courtesy of Cape Fear Museum). Different adventure each week. Families welcome. $8/person. Visit www. theatrewilmington.com for tickets.

8 Sunday - World Oceans Day 5K Race for the Planet

8am. Fort Fisher Aquarium. Fort Fisher will be your route as this race starts and ends at the Aquarium. This flat, mostly asphalt course is scenic with views of the ocean, maritime forest, and historic Fort Fisher Civil War site. Visit www. ncaquariums.com/fort-fisher to register.

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Boogie in the Park: Uncle Hairy

5-8pm. Kure Beach Ocean Front Park. Get ready for summer and enjoy the motown, soul and rock tunes from Uncle Hairy playing a variety of music. Grab a lawn chair or blanket and your boogie shoes for some free, familyfriendly entertainment! Visit www.townofkurebeach.org for complete summer schedule.

Movies at the Lake: Big Miracle

9 Monday Wrightsville Beach Farmer’s Market

Little Sprouts Storytime – Fancy Nancy: Bonjour, Butterfly

10am. Mondays. Children’s Museum. Please pre-register. For our preschoolers. Each week we’ll read a new story and do an activity inspired by the book. Pre-register by calling 2543534 and visit www.playwilmington.org for weekly themes.

Superb Soccer Stars

11-11:30am. Children’s Museum. A fun and exciting way for your child to develop important building blocks for ages 3 to 6 years. Call 254-3534 for details.

Go Green Engineer Team – Design a Kite

10 Tuesday Kure Beach Market

8am-1pm, Tuesdays. Kure Beach. Open till 8/26. Shop for locally grown produce and hand crafted goods! Visit www. townofkurebeach.org for more information.

Barnes & Noble Toddler Storytime – Thank You Octopus--Ahoy! 10am Tuesdays. Barnes & Noble. Enjoy weekly story time in the Children’s section. Call 509-1880 for details.

Kid’s Cooking Club – Going Moroccan: Cous Cous

American Girl Event

7pm. Barnes & Noble, Mayfaire. Join us for an American Girl Night! We’ll have fun crafts and activities. All are welcome to join the fun in the Children’s Department. Call 509-1880 for details.

11 Wednesday Poplar Grove Farmer’s Market

8am-1pm Wednesdays, Poplar Grove Plantation. Join us at the beautiful historic Poplar Grove Mansion every Wednes-

www.wilmingtonparent.com

day for the Farmer’s Market. Interact with the people growing, catching, baking and producing your food and other products. This is a great way to connect with the community and find one-of-a kind goods including crafts and delicious foods for the whole family! Visit www.poplargrove.com for more information.

Art Classes Young Artist’s Series • drawing • painting

Preschool Science – Exploring Watermelons

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

Storytime by the Sea

10-11:30am, Wednesdays through 8/27. Kure Beach. Join the Princess and her fairytale friends from Fairytales and Dreams by the Sea. Fun activities for both boys and girls. Don’t forget your camera to get a picture taken with the Princess!

Discover Science – Make a Vehicle: Part Car, Part Sailboat

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

12 Thursday StoryCOOKS – Wemberly’s Ice Cream Star: Ice Cream Soup

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

stART with a Story – Swimmy: Fish Prints

LEGOS in the Library

3:30pm. Main Library. Come, create, play! See if you can meet the challenge of the day - singly or with a friend. Bring your imagination. No fees, but registration is required. Call 798-6303 to reserve a spot.

Fireworks by the Sea and Boardwalk Blast: Chris Bellamy Band

Kids Classes Adult Classes Summer Camps

Sydney

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

www.studiocrealart.com

Call 910-685-5137

Summer Princess Camps and Birthday Parties

6:30pm Thursdays. Carolina Beach Boardwalk. Enjoy free fireworks by the sea on Carolina Beach at 9:00 pm and the Easy Listening music of the Chris Bellamy Band at 6:30 pm at the gazebo. The fireworks and gazebo entertainment are free and open to all, weather permitting. Visit www.pleasureislandnc. org for a complete summer schedule.

13 Friday Splash Into Summer

9am-1pm. Children’s Museum. Kick off the start to summer with a Children’s Museum-style pool party! Splash in our inflatable pools, help wash the school bus, play in foam soap (a favorite!), stop by the baby washing station, and if you’re brave, test the ice pool! Bring a swimsuit and a towel to dry off. Call 254-3534 for more details.

Toddler Time – Splash into Summer

10am Fridays. Children’s Museum. No registration necessary. Projects and activities for our youngest visitors (ages 4 and under) and their special grownups to work on together. Call 254-3534 or visit www.playwilmington.org for more information.

Art and Craft Friday – Let’s Make Some Bugs! 10am Fridays. Ms. Susan’s Room in The Art Works, 200

www.wilmingtonschoolofballet.com

910-794-9590

Wilmington Parent | June 2014 | 15

Superb Soccer Stars

2:30-3pm. Children’s Museum. A fun and exciting way for your child to develop important building blocks for ages 3 to 6 years. Call 254-3534 for details.

Adventures in Art – Bubble Prints

3:30pm Fridays. Children’s Museum. Experience different forms of art each week. This class is limited to 15 children and designed for children ages 5-8 years. Call 254-3534 to preregister and visit www.playwilmington.org for weekly themes.

Downtown Sundown Concert Series: The Breakfast Club

6pm. Riverfront Park. Free. Come downtown to the river and enjoy America’s Premier 1980’s tribute band, The Breakfast Club. Beer, wine and food are available for purchase during the performances. The event takes place either rain or shine. Visit wilmingtondowntown.com for details.

Carolina Beach Farmer’s Market

Kid’s Music Fest

6pm. Mayfaire Event Lawn. Bring your blankets, chairs, food, and come out and enjoy the country rock & blues sounds of Beach Billy Brothers. Concert and parking are free. Pets and coolers permitted. Visit www.mayfairetown.com for complete summer schedule.

Free Summer Concert Series - Heart & Soul

Splash Into Summer

6:30-8:30pm. Fort Fisher Recreation Area. Bring blankets and chairs for the whole family and prepare to boogie the night away. Food is allowed so pack your picnic and enjoy dinner to the grooves of live music - for free! This week enjoy the R&B, soul, jam sounds of Heart & Soul. We do ask that you please do not bring pets or beverages. Beverages will be for sale. Visit www.pleasureislandnc.org for more information.

Barnes & Noble Family Storytime – Veggies with Wedgies

7pm Fridays. Barnes & Noble. Enjoy weekly story time in the Children’s section. Call 509-1880 for details.

14 Saturday - Flag Day Riverfront Farmer’s Market

9am-1pm. Children’s Museum. See 06/13.

Father’s Day Childrens Event

11am. Barnes & Noble, Mayfaire. Join us in celebrating hardworking dads for Father’s Day Storytime featuring Mighty Dads. Includes activities and a Father’s Day card-making craft. Call 509-1880 for details.

Weather Wise Learning Center

1-4pm. Cape Fear Museum. What is wind? How does weather impact our daily lives? Explore air, atmospheric pressure, and air temperature. Examine the tools meterologists use and conduct a scientific experiment to review the states of matter and the Earth’s water cycle. Parental participation is required. Free for members or with general admission. Visit www. capefearmuseum.com for more information.

Photo credit: Katie Turner

Photo credit: Aldo Cairney

8am-1pm, Saturdays. Riverfront Park. A weekly market in the

16 | June 2014 | Wilmington Parent

Boogie in the Park: Port City Shakedown

8am-1pm Saturdays. Carolina Beach Lake Park. Through October 4th. Enjoy the Farmer’s Market on the island! Vendors will feature locally-produced fruits and vegetables, plants, baked goods, dairy products, meats, crafts, wines and more. Each market will feature live entertainment from local musicians and informational opportunities from local non-profit organizations. Free Parking is located at the Lake and on Lake Park Boulevard. Paid parking is also provided in close proximity. Visit www.carolinabeachfarmersmarket.com for more information. 9am-12pm. Ocean Front Park, Kure Beach. NHCPL’s 1st Annual Music Festival for Children. Free admission for the whole family.Featuring performances by: Mommie, Mr. Mark, Port City Irish Band, Zach Hanner & NHCPL Rap Club! Activities include: Summer Reading Kickoff & registration, first 500 attendees get special bag, Kure Beach Fire Department fire truck, rock star makeovers, bubble station with Island Montessori, Make a Maraca with the Children’s Museum, Cape Fear Museum, free comic books with Memory Lane Comics, and face painting with Fairytales & Dreams by the Sea! Call 7986393 for more information.

Mayfaire’s Music on the Town: Beach Billy Brothers

15 Sunday - Father’s Day

historic downtown river district. The market features local farmers, producers, artists and crafters. Products include fresh fruits and berries, vegetables, plants, herbs, flowers, eggs, cheeses, meats, seafood, honey, baked goods, legumes, pickled items, jams and jellies, wine, art, crafts and more. Call 910-538-6223 for more information.

5-8pm. Kure Beach Ocean Front Park. Get ready for summer and enjoy the motown, soul and rock tunes from the Port City Shakedown playing a variety of music from the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. Grab a lawn chair or blanket and your boogie shoes for some free, family-friendly entertainment! Visit www. townofkurebeach.org for complete summer schedule.

Movies at the Lake: Despicable Me 2

16 Monday Wrightsville Beach Farmer’s Market

Little Sprouts Storytime – Garden Wigglers

10am. Mondays. Children’s Museum. Please pre-register. For our preschoolers. Each week we’ll read a new story and do an activity inspired by the book. Please pre-register by calling 254-3534 and visit www.playwilmington.org for weekly themes.

Railroad Storytime

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.

Superb Soccer Stars

11-11:30am. Children’s Museum. A fun and exciting way for your child to develop important building blocks for ages 3 to 6 years. Call 254-3534 for details.

Water Play

1-1:45pm. Carolina Beach Library. Join Mr. Scooter for 45 minutes of rambunctious water activities! Ages 6-12. Call 798-6303 to register.

Photo credit: Jason Shea

Willard St. Children ages 3+ enjoy a weekly Art/Craft project. $10 per child. Visit www.ms-susans-room.com for weekly events. RSVP required in advance by texting 910-777-8889 or emailing info@ms-susans-room.com.

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Film Club for Kids

3-4pm. Carolina Beach Library. Film Club is a three-part program series that teaches children how to make their own movies. Over the course of a month, children will drive the process of creating one short film. By registering for Film Club, your child will need to attend ALL THREE sessions: 6/16; 6/23; 6/30. Ages 8 & up. To register contact Mr. Scooter at shayes@ nhcgov.com or 798-6303.

Stop Animation Camp

Childcare Listing Guide

3-4pm. Myrtle Grove Library. Create your own Stop Animation movie using ReadyANIMATOR, iStopMotion and iMovie. To register call Mr. Max at 798-6393 or e-mail mnunez@ nhcgov.com. By registering, your child is required to attend all four sessions during the week. Monday – Stop Animation 101, Tuesday – Set Design, Wednesday – iStopMotion, Thursday – iMovie.

Childcare – Preschools

Go Green Engineer Team – Stomp Rockets

Cape Fear Isshin-Ryu 2704 B Exchange Dr., Wilmington NC 28405 910-392-3703 Cape Fear Isshin-Ryu offers a summer karate camp. In addition we will take field trips and have special activities and mini camps. Our field trips will include, but are not limited to the movies, sword fighting at the park, swimming, and more!

17 Tuesday

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

Kure Beach Market

8am-1pm, Tuesdays. Kure Beach. Open till 8/26. Shop for locally grown produce and hand crafted goods! Visit www. townofkurebeach.org for more information.

Barnes & Noble Toddler Storytime – This is a Moose

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

Kid’s Cooking Club – Going Vietnamese: Summer Rolls and Peanut Dipping Sauce

18 Wednesday Poplar Grove Farmer’s Market

AAI Pharma Learning Center 2320 Scientific Park Drive 910-254-7384 denise.ward@aaipharma.com Ages: 6 weeks to 12 years, 5-Star Program with degreed teachers, low staff/child ratios, and a Project Approach based curriculum. Full day, After School and Morning Programs available.

The Children’s Schoolhouse Montessori 612 South College Rd. Wilmington, NC 28403 910-799-1531 www.childrensschoolhouse.net Now enrolling students ages 3-5, for 2, 3, or 5 day programs. Covenant Preschool 210 Station Rd., Wilmington, NC 28405 910-395-5800 www.covenantchurchnc.com/preschool/ We offer a morning preschool program for ages 1 year to Pre-K, affordable pricing and set your own schedule with an option for lunch bunch add-on. Jenkins Preschool Academy 7888 Market St. Wilmington, NC 28411 910-367-7210 www.jpawilmington.com Half day programs 9am-12pm, 2 or 3 day classes for 2-3 yr. olds, 5-day programs for 4 y.o. And PreK Friends School of Wilmington PreK 207 Pine Grove Drive, City of Wilmington, North Carolina 28403 910-791-8221 www.fsow.org A truly unique and desirable educational experience. Montessori teaching principles are used for preschool.

Preschool Science – Is a Shadow Always Black?

Northside Weekday Preschool 2501 N. College Road Wilmington, NC 28405 Phone: 910-791-6053 www.enorthside.org 2, 3, and 5 day programs for 2 and 3 year olds, 3 day or 5 day programs for Pre-K (4-5 year olds) We offer a Biblically based program that is age appropriate for each child.

Sock Puppet Creations

SPEC 165 Vision Drive, Wilmington, NC 28403 910-793-4884 www.speckids.com Ages 6 wks to 12 years, Preschool and school age programs, summer camp.

10am. Wednesdays. Children’s Museum. Hands-on activities geared for little ones allowing them to explore the world around them. Visit www.playwilmington.org for details. 2-3pm. Main Library. Create a simple sock puppet using provided supplies. After the puppets are done, we’ll visit Story Place to use the Puppet Theatre to put on our own show. No fees, but registration is required. Call 798-6303 to register.

Family Movie at the Library

3-4:30pm. Northeast Library. Join us for a wonderful family movie. Bring your own snacks and drinks. Call 798-6373 for more information.

Discover Science – Ping Pong Ball Catapult

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

www.wilmingtonparent.com

Wilmington Christian Academy 1401 North College Road 910-791-4248 www.wilmingtonchristian.com Ages 3 & up, WCA offers a year-round, full-day program including developmental, experiential & academic elements in a secure, faith-based environment. Winter Park Presbyterian Preschool 4501 Wrightsville Avenue, Wilmington, NC 28403 910-791-5893 www.wppc-preschool.org Toddler – Pre-K, Half-Day Preschool Program September - May, Summer Camp Ages 2 - 6 years We are a half-day Christian preschool, with low student/teacher ratios, an experienced, nurturing staff and a fun preschool environment.

Drop In Childcare Giggles Drop-In Childcare 6781 Parker Farm Drive, Suite 110, Wilmington, NC 28405 910-799-3700 www.gigglesdaycareinc.com 12 months to 12 years, Monday – Saturday Giggles offers daycare services that are safe and fun for your child to be creative, socialize and simply have a great time, and we provide parents with free time for leisure activities. Power of Play Drop-N-Go 6644 Gordon Road Wilmington, NC 28411 910-332-1660 www.powerofplaywilmington.com Open Monday-Saturday during operating hours for potty-trained children ages 4-11. Simply Play Drop-In Childcare 3818 Oleander Dr. Wilmington, Nc 28403 910-791-0022 www.playsimplyplay.com 12 months-12 years, Monday-Thursday 830am-830 pm, FridaySaturday 830 am-1130pm. Simply Play is an award winning drop-in childcare center created by a Kindergarten teacher to meet the needs of today’s busy families.

Babysitting and Nanny Services Nancy’s Nannies, Inc. 252-726-6575 www.nancysnannies.com nancy@nancysnannies.com Providing Babysitting & Nanny Service, from Morehead City to Wilmington, NC since 1991.

Parents Night Out Carolina Gymnastics Academy 3529 Carolina Beach Rd. Wilmingon, NC 28412 910-796-1896 www.carolinagymnasticsacademy.com Friday & Saturday night, 6-10pm, for ages 3 – 10. The Little Gym of Wilmington 132 Racine Drive, Unit 1, Wilmington, NC 238403 910-799-3771 www.tlgwilmingtonnc.com 3-12 years The Little Gym of Wilmington Parentsʼ Survival Nights lets you enjoy some adult time to see a movie, catch up with friends or enjoy a meal. We schedule Parentsʼ Survival Nights for select Friday and Saturday evenings. Power of Play 6644 Gordon Rd. Wilmington, NC 28411 910-332-1660 www.powerofplaywilmington.com Saturday night, 6-10pm, for ages 3-11

Resources Smart Start of New Hanover 3534 South College Rd., Suite F, Wilmington 910-815-3731 www.newhanoverkids.org Birth-5 years, Smart Start of New Hanover County, a non-profit agency, offers a wide array of support to families with young children including helping parents find childcare, after school programs, and summer camps; assisting parents accessing community services to meet their child’s needs; and offering a lending library with educational materials and toys, children’s books, activity ideas, informational books for adults.

Wilmington Parent | June 2014 | 17

19 Thursday StoryCOOKS – Growing Vegetable Soup: Vegetable Soup

11th Annual NC Blueberry Festival

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

11am-8pm. Downtown Burgaw. Celebrate the historic, economic, and cultural significance of blueberries in the southeastern region of the state. Visit www.ncblueberryfestival.com for a complete event schedule.

stART with a Story – I’m the Biggest Thing in the Ocean: Jellyfish

Brooklyn Art Center. There will be live music, food catered by Bon Appetit, dance and costume prizes. This is a fundraiser for KIDS MAKING IT. Don’t miss the Best Party of the Summer! Tickets, $45. Call (910) 763-6001.

2:30-3pm. Children’s Museum. A fun and exciting way for your child to develop important building blocks for ages 3 to 6 years. Call 254-3534 for details.

21 Saturday - Summer Solstice Riverfront Farmer’s Market

Adventures in Art – Japanese Fish Kites

Fireworks by the Sea and Boardwalk Blast: Eastbound

6:30pm Thursdays. Carolina Beach Boardwalk. Enjoy free fireworks by the sea on Carolina Beach at 9:00 pm and the Country Pop music of Eastbound at 6:30 pm at the gazebo. The fireworks and gazebo entertainment are free and open to all, weather permitting. Visit www.pleasureislandnc.org for a complete summer schedule.

Airlie Gardens Summer Concert Series: Shine

6-8pm. Airlie Gardens. The Summer Concert Series continues with the soft rock sounds of Shine. Visit www.airliegardens. org for more information.

WECT Sounds of Summer: Machine Gun Band

Carolina Beach Farmer’s Market

6pm. Riverfront Park. Free. Come downtown to the river and enjoy the Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute band, Tuesday’s Gone. Beer, wine and food are available for purchase during the performances. The event takes place either rain or shine. Visit wilmingtondowntown.com for details.

Mayfaire’s Music on the Town: The Other Guys

Junior Chef Classes - I Love Zoku!

Barnes & Noble Family Storytime – A Boy and His Bunny

Stormfest

Downtown Sundown Concert Series: Tuesday’s Gone

6:30-8pm. Wrightsville Beach Park. Bring a blanket or chairs and relax to the sounds of Machine Gun Band. Concert is free and open to the public. Visit www.townofwrightsvillebeach. com for more information.

Magic Tree House Event

7pm. Barnes & Noble, Mayfaire. Join us for an Magic Tree House Night! We’ll have fun crafts and activities. All are welcome to join the fun in the Children’s Department.Call 509-1880 for details.

6pm. Mayfaire Event Lawn. Bring your blankets, chairs, food, and come out and enjoy the acoustic rock & pop sounds of The Other Guys. Concert and parking are free. Pets and coolers permitted. Visit www.mayfairetown.com for complete summer schedule.

20 Friday Art and Craft Friday – Paper Flowers

9:30am. Williams Sonoma, Mayfaire. Free. If you love slushies, popsicles and ice cream, then you will love Zoku. Join us and learn how to make these tasty treats. Suitable for ages 5-12. Call 256-0266 for details. 10am-4pm. Cape Fear Museum. Explore the science of weather with the National Weather Service, local broadcast meteorologists, and community safety experts. Engage in fun, hands-on experiments to investigate air pressure, precipitation, and wind. Present your own forecast and make weather tools you can use at home. Free and open to the public. Visit www.capefearmuseum. com for more information.

7pm Fridays. Barnes & Noble. Enjoy weekly story time in the Children’s section. Call 509-1880 for details.

Kure Beach Variety Entertainment Series: South of K Band

Toddler Time – Discovery Bottles

10am Fridays. Children’s Museum. No registration necessary. Projects and activities for our youngest visitors

Photo credit: Alyona Suslova

7-10pm. Kure Beach Ocean Front Park. Join Kure Beach on select Fridays throughout the summer for some incredible

Photo credit: Kimberly Jones

Photo credit: Donyell Roseboro

3rd Annual Hippie Ball

Superb Soccer Stars

18 | June 2014 | Wilmington Parent

family-fun! Pick from a variety of comedy shows, concerts, impersonators and magicians to find the very best fit for your night out! This week enjoy the sounds of South of K Band! Bring a chair or blanket, sit back and enjoy the show! Visit www.townofkurebeach.org for a complete summer schedule.

(ages 4 and under) and their special grownups to work on together. Call 254-3534 or visit www.playwilmington.org for more information.

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Beginner Skateboard Clinic

11th Annual NC Blueberry Festival 11am-8pm. Downtown Burgaw. See 06/20.

Build a Rubber Band Race Car

2pm. Barnes & Noble, Mayfaire. Learn the cool aspects of physics by building your own speeding race car! For ages 7 and up. Space is limited so please register at the in-store Information Desk. Call 509-1880 for more information.

Mad Science Fire & Ice

2-3pm. Northeast Library. Explore “magical” chemical reactions and the wonders of dry ice. Call 798-6373 for details.

22 Sunday Movies at the Lake: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2

8:45pm. Carolina Beach Lake. This week’s free movie: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2. Bring your chairs and find a spot on the lawn where the whole family can enjoy newly released movies every Sunday night throughout the summer. Popcorn, candy, soft drinks, cotton candy, and more for sale at reasonable prices or bring your own food and beverages.

5 in 1 Diaper Tote Bag

Boogie in the Park: M-80’s

5-8pm. Kure Beach Ocean Front Park. Get ready for summer and enjoy the 80’s pop and rock tunes from the M-80’s playing a variety of music. Grab a lawn chair or blanket and your boogie shoes for some free, family-friendly entertainment! Visit www.townofkurebeach.org for complete summer schedule.

Located inside Blue Moon Gift Shops • 203 Racine Dr. , Ste.102 • 910.685.6080

23 Monday Wrightsville Beach Farmer’s Market

Little Sprouts Storytime – The Grouchy Lady Bug

10am. Mondays. Children’s Museum. Please pre-register. For our preschoolers. Each week we’ll read a new story and do an activity inspired by the book. Pre-register by calling 2543534 and visit www.playwilmington.org for weekly themes.

Superb Soccer Stars

11-11:30am. Children’s Museum. A fun and exciting way for your child to develop important building blocks for ages 3 to 6 years. Call 254-3534 for details.

Go Green Engineer Team – Make a Chair Out of Paper

24 Tuesday Kure Beach Market

8am-1pm, Tuesdays. Kure Beach. Open till 8/26. Shop for locally grown produce and hand crafted goods! Visit www. townofkurebeach.org for more information.

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Jacksonville and Legion Stadium Surf City and Wrightsville Beach Jacksonville Legion Stadium Kinston and Wilmingotn Family YMCA Carolina Beach and Wrightsville Beach

Barnes & Noble Toddler Storytime – Froodle

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

Water Play

1-1:45pm. Myrtle Grove Library. Join Mr. Scooter for 45 minutes of rambunctious water activities! Ages 6-12. Call 798-6303 to register.

Kid’s Cooking Club – Going Indian: Mango Lassi Photo credit: Kevina Casaletto

25 Wednesday Poplar Grove Farmer’s Market

Preschool Science – Nature Sun Catchers

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

Book Swap for Teens

2-3pm. Main Library. Need a new book to read? You are not required to bring a book, but if you have any to swap, please do! Free ARC’s will be given away as well. What’s an ARC? Come and find out! Call 798-6303 for more information.

Discover Science – Egg Carton Glider Photo credit: Tara Sullivan

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

26 Thursday StoryCOOKS – Blueberries for Sal: Blueberry Pie 10am Thursdays. Children’s Museum. Cooking club for preschoolers. Read a story and create a dish inspired by the book. Sponsored by Harris Teeter. Call 254-3534 to pre-register.

LEGOS in the Library

stART with a Story – The Giving Tree: Gustav Klimt Tree of Life

Crazy 8’s Club

3:30-4:30pm. Northeast Library. Join the Crazy 8s Math Club if you love math. Every week you will have fun activities using math. This is a club and we need you to sign-up for all the sessions. We will meet Thursdays, June 26-July 24 (except July 3 no meeting). Space is limited so register online or call 798-7363. 3rd-5th grade. Free and all supplies will be provided. You supply the brain power.

Fireworks by the Sea and Boardwalk Blast: L Shaped Lot

6:30pm Thursdays. Carolina Beach Boardwalk. Enjoy free fireworks by the sea on Carolina Beach at 9:00 pm and the Contemporary Bluegrass music of L Shaped Lot at 6:30 pm at the gazebo. The fireworks and gazebo entertainment are free and open to all, weather permitting. Visit www.pleasureislandnc.org for a complete summer schedule.

WECT Sounds of Summer: Jack Jack 180

27 Friday Art and Craft Friday – Painting (Finger/Brush)

Toddler Time – Flyswatter Painting

Superb Soccer Stars

2:30-3pm. Children’s Museum. A fun and exciting way for your child to develop important building blocks for ages 3 to 6 years. Call 254-3534 for details.

Adventures in Art - Sailboats at Sunset

Photo credit: Kimberly Jones

Photo credit: Tiffany Johnson

3:30pm Fridays. Children’s Museum. Experience different forms of art each week. This class is limited to 15 children and designed for children ages 5-8 years. Call 254-3534 to preregister and visit www.playwilmington.org for weekly themes.

20 | June 2014 | Wilmington Parent

Downtown Sundown Concert Series: Abbey Road Live

6pm. Riverfront Park. Free. Come downtown to the river and enjoy the Beatles tribute band, Abbey Road Live. Beer, wine and food are available for purchase during the performances. The event takes place either rain or shine. Visit wilmingtondowntown.com for details.

Mayfaire’s Music on the Town: Blivet

6pm. Mayfaire Event Lawn. Bring your blankets, chairs, food, and come out and enjoy the eclectic rock/pop sounds of Blivet. Concert and parking are free. Pets and coolers permitted. Visit www.mayfairetown.com for complete summer schedule.

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Fourth Friday Gallery Walk

6 – 9pm. Downtown Galleries & Studios. An after-hours celebration of art and culture through a self-guided tour. Free. Visit www.wilmingtondowntown.com or call 343-8997 for map of participants.

Free Summer Concert Series Polar Bear Blues Band

Photo credit: Dona Shelby

6:30-8:30pm. Fort Fisher Recreation Area. Bring blankets and chairs for the whole family and prepare to boogie the night away. Food is allowed so pack your picnic and enjoy dinner to the grooves of live music - for free! This week enjoy the R&B, soul, jam sounds of Polar Bear Blues Band. We do ask that you please do not bring pets or beverages. Beverages will be for sale. Visit www.pleasureislandnc.org for more information.

Barnes & Noble Family Storytime – A Pet for Fly Guy

7pm Fridays. Barnes & Noble. Enjoy weekly story time in the Children’s section. Call 509-1880 for details.

28 Saturday Riverfront Farmer’s Market

Junior Chef Classes - Ice Cream in Minutes

9:30am. Williams Sonoma, Mayfaire. Free. Want to learn how you can make ice cream in minutes? Join us and learn how! Suitable for ages 5-12. Call 256-0266 for details.

Concert w/ Mr. Erik

10-11am @ Myrtle Grove Library. & 2-3pm @ Main Library. Join Mr. Erik as he performs a free 45 minute rock music concert for kids. Children will enjoy singing along to Mr. Erik’s groovy songs and dancing to his epic guitar riffs. His experience as a touring rock musician and children’s librarian background make his music the perfect mix for children of all ages. Call 798-6303 for details.

Weather Wise Learning Center

Wilmington Hammerheads - World Cup Night

Legion Stadium. Come watch a double header, one game against the Richmond Kickers on the field and a World Cup game live on the Jumbotron. Visit www.wilmingtonhammerheads.com for more information.

Wilmington Sacred Harp Singers

1:30-4pm. Cameron Art Museum. Group Singing, all Songbooks provided, beginners welcome! Free and open to the public, donations appreciated. Visit www.cameronartmuseum.org for details.

Boogie in the Park: BLP

5-8pm. Kure Beach Ocean Front Park. Get ready for summer and enjoy the pop, dance, classic, and progressive rock tunes from the BLP playing a variety of music. Grab a lawn chair or blanket and your boogie shoes for some free, family-friendly entertainment! Visit www.townofkurebeach.org for complete summer schedule.

Movies at the Lake: Monsters University

Photo credit: Tonya Sales

Carolina Beach Farmer’s Market

29 Sunday

30 Monday Little Sprouts Storytime – Fireflies

10am. Mondays. Children’s Museum. Please pre-register. For our preschoolers. Each week we’ll read a new story and do an activity inspired by the book. Pre-register by calling 2543534 and visit www.playwilmington.org for weekly themes.

Superb Soccer Stars

11-11:30am. Children’s Museum. A fun and exciting way for your child to develop important building blocks for ages 3 to 6 years. Call 254-3534 for details.

Water Play

1-1:45pm. Carolina Beach Library. Join Mr. Scooter for 45 minutes of rambunctious water activities! Ages 6-12. Call 798-6303 to register.

Go Green Engineer Team – Build a High Rise

3:30pm Mondays. Children’s Museum. Activities are hands-on challenges that focus on the engineering design process. They use simple materials, allow for multiple solutions, and are ideal for ages 5-10. This week, build a tower that can support a tennis ball at least 18 inches off the ground while withstanding the wind from a fan. Please pre-register by calling 254-3534 and visit www.playwilmington.org for weekly themes.

Photo credit: Yulia Brill

To submit events to the calendar, please email calendar.wilmingtonparent@gmail.com Deadline for submissions to the July issue is June 9, 2014. www.wilmingtonparent.com

Wilmington Parent | June 2014 | 21

How to Ruin Your Kids’ Lives PS: They’ll Thank You Later By Crystal Blue Mascaro

ast year I took a leap into the unknown with my 6 year old daughter. We packed up and left our beautiful home in Wilmington, NC to embark on a world of nomadic paradise adventures. So far I can say, I fear that this decision has ruined her life forever. Its not so much in her words, but in her actions, that I can tell that this has caused total destruction to her little soul. Don’t worry! I know you are just as anxious to ruin your own children’s lives, but maybe moving to another country is not an option for you right now. Below I have explained how my daughter’s life has been forever changed by this adventure, and how you can make small changes to your life at home in order to incorporate and instill some of these valuable life ruining lessons for your children and family

She is unfamiliar with current, popular TV shows, because we don’t have a TV. Instead, we spend our time outdoors. Together. Snorkeling and freediving the open ocean, exploring cenotes, and hiking ancient ruins. We exercise, find adventures, and discover nature coming to life right before our very eyes. I mean, TV is so much better. I wish we had one.

She becomes confused as to what language to speak, sing, or write. She equally flows between the two, allowing her to fully communicate in another language, as well as understand another culture’s perspective. She has had to understand and respect what other cultures are like at such a young age. This has in turn brought knowledge about global diversity, universal understandings, and cultural respect. What a bummer.

She doesn’t have a big house and a new car. In fact, she has no house, and no car. She has a cuarto (room) and a bike. And I feel bad not providing her with this American dream anymore, and replacing it with an international dream of experiences rather than material items and luxurious extras that make you comfortable but don’t challenge your soul. She doesn’t have a lot of plastic toys. She has a few Barbies, but not the Barbie accessories. We keep it simple. Take the Barbie to the cenote; that’s her jacuzzi. Brush the Barbie’s hair; that’s her salon. She has long forgotten about her entire playroom full of dollies, horsies, blocks and purses and whatever I packed up in a million boxes and drove off to Goodwill last year. Now we don’t buy new toys. We go outside and play with our beautiful earth. I hope she can someday forgive me when she doesn’t know how to play any video games, or wins an Olympic medal for freediving.

22 | June 2014 | Wilmington Parent

She doesn’t know about stress. Her mother is there for her. And not running here and there, always on the cell phone, always stuck in traffic, always late, rushed, and frustrated. Now, she knows flow and ease and patience. Her mom is not too busy anymore making money to provide for her big house or new car that we didn’t need. She does not realize that she should be afraid to try new things, eat different foods, run and hike barefoot, and meet new people. She is brave. She is strong, independent, intelligent and learns from her mistakes and finds answers for herself. Talk about adaptation and zest for life! Strength, courage, and independence are a triple threat. Now what good will come of that?

She does not understand that a brand new, shiny, expensive piece of electronics is a wonderful thing. She is thankful for the little, free things in life. Like sunshine, seahorses, baby turtles, fresh drinking water, time with mommy, rainbows, and picnics. She is thankful for adventures and experiences, not stuff.

There are no colors anymore. No languages. Just people. Beautiful human beings waiting to share friendship and be loved, waiting to be understood and accepted. She realizes that we are all equal, no matter what we look like, where we live, or how much money we have.

Worst of all, she is learning that dreams come true and nothing is impossible. How will she ever be stopped! She is learning that anything we dream up and want in this life, we can make happen. And anything we don’t like, we have the power to change. She is learning that we have one life, and we deserve to live that the way we desire. That dreams are not meant to be dreams, but inspiration and encouragement to live and achieve and believe, and hope, and pray, and lead, and do.

Start Ruining Your Kids Today! • Skip the cruise or theme park crawling with princesses and cartoon characters. Think outside the box. Do something, go somewhere, different. Be brave and venture off the beaten path. • Put away the technology. This includes TV, video games, ipads, cell phones, computers. ALL of it. For you and for them. It’s tough at first for the older ones, but with practice they will talk, laugh, learn, engage, and interact.

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• Teach them about nature. Let them get dirty and join in the fun! • Give your children freedom to learn and experience. Trust them. Let them explore and test their limits. Don’t project your fears onto them. Let them climb as high as they want in the tree. Let them swim as far out as they can. Let them do to their limit. Not to your limit of comfort. • Make friends with people of different cultures.Visit every cultural festival in town, then travel farther and visit those too. Volunteer to help families that move here from different countries. Open your home to an exchange student. • Learn a new language together as a family, and practice it at home. • Make natural toys together using sticks, leaves, rocks, shells, and anything not made of plastic. Get creative! • Downsize and simplify. If the big house and expensive cars are creating bills that require you to spend more time making money than you spend with your children, then you don’t need those things.

Summer Camp

• Be strong, be happy, be brave. They are always watching you. • Don’t stop dreaming your dreams. Instead, make them bigger. And then make them come true. This is the single greatest example we can show our children. v Crystal Blue Mascaro, is a writer/cultural anthropologist/international education/free thinker/dreamer/adventure mommy that is currently living in Tulum, Mexico with her daughter, River, and will soon move to Majuro, Marshall Islands. Crystal is a former employee of UNCW, is finishing her PhD in International Education, and is a teacher at Colegio Inter de la Riviera. She is working on her first book entitled: The Enlightened Globetrekker. Follow her adventures on Facebook: The Blonde Mexican Project or Website: www.enlightenedglobetrekker.wordpress.com.

After School Care

for 2014-2015 school year

Birthday Parties Open Play Intersession Camp Drop In Care

Open 7 days a week!

www.PowerofPlayWilmington.com

910-332-1660

powerofplaywilm@yahoo.com 6644 Gordon Road Wilmington, NC

Home of Playnation of Wilmington

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

l ita

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

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

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

www.portersneckvets.com www.wilmingtonparent.com

Wilmington Parent | June 2014 | 23

| fit family

Stay Hydrated! Keeping kids hydrated can be a challenge. Here are some tips that will ensure your little ones get the water intake they need! • Have them drink water before they go out to play. • Take water breaks every 20 minutes. • Sports drinks are only helpful after extremely vigorous play. • Fruits such as watermelon, grapes, and oranges are good rehydration sources. • Freeze some fruit juice and make a tasty frozen treat that requires no coaxing to enjoy! Watch for these signs of dehydration: • Dry mouth or tongue • Lethargy • Crankiness • Dark urine, or minimal to no urine output • Headaches • Few or no tears when crying

Summer Pool Games Summer is here, and lazy days at the pool are on many family’s lists of summertime fun, but honestly, kids aren’t interested in relaxing when there is a pool around. Before long, a game of Marco Polo starts and although this is a tried and true summertime favorite, it’s time to add some fresh new games to the pooltime fun! Butterfinger Ball Needed: • Suntan Lotion • Beach ball • 2 or more players How to Play: Butter each child’s hands with suntan lotion and then wet a large beach ball. The kids throw the ball back and forth to each other and enjoy a good time trying to hold on. Watermelon Relay Needed: • One watermelon per team • Two or more groups of players How to Play: Each team lines up in the pool behind a floating watermelon. The first person in line pushes the watermelon to the other side and back without letting their feet touch the bottom of the pool. They then pass it to the next person. First team done wins.

Bottle Brigade Race Needed: • Two or more empty plastic bottles • Two or more players How to Play: Contestants race across the pool while pushing an empty plastic bottle with their feet What Time is it Mr. Sharky? Needed: Three or more players How to Play: One person is Mr. Sharky and stands at the end of the pool while the other kids stand at the other end. The kids call out “What time is is Mr. Sharky?” and Mr. Sharky says a time, such as 4 o’clock. Then all the kids take four swim strokes toward him. This continues until Mr. Sharky says “It’s lunch time!” and the kids all turn and swim back to the starting end of the pool. If Mr. Sharky tags one of the kids, he or she is now Mr Sharky.

Local Races AlzNC Run and Walk to Remember Saturday, June 7th @ 9am Wilmington, NC Pier to Pier Run & Crab Crawl Saturday, June 7th @ 8am Wrightsville Beach, NC Bridge to Bridge 4 Mile Run & 1 Mile Walk Thursday, June 12th @ 6:30pm Isabel Holmes Bridge, Wilmington NC Blueberry Festival 5K Saturday, June 21st @ 7:30am Burgaw, NC Visit http://its-go-time.com for more information and to register for these races.

24 | June 2014 | Wilmington Parent

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What Dads Do Best By Heidi Smith Luedtke, Ph.D.

op culture doesn’t appreciate dads. Sitcoms make fun of their diapering (in)abilities or portray dads as irresponsible babysitters who feed the kids pizza, ice cream and sugary soda while mom is out for the evening. Personal experience tells me there may some truth in this. My own husband shows our kids zombie movies then acts surprised when they refuse to sleep with the lights out. Really.

expectations and cultural pressures. “If my hubby didn’t bring everything down to its simplicity I would get lost loving my children in the grey,” Shelton says.

Stereotypes aside, it can be hard to move past the mom-knows best mentality and make room for dads’ different style of parenting. All moms can learn valuable lessons from watching what dads do best. Here’s how.

While moms might see kids’ behavior in shades of gray, dads can take a more black-and-white view. Men are less likely to shy away from conflict because they don’t take it personally. That means they step in and confront interpersonal issues head-on. The key to parenting well is to figure out which situations require a firm, rule-based response and which ones call for deeper conversation. Dads seem to know this intuitively.

Dads are good with good enough

Dads don’t fret

Most moms I know struggle to drown out the nagging inner critic who says we aren’t good enough. We feel intense pressure to keep the house (and kids!) clean and to respond cheerfully to every social obligation. Our to-do lists never get done. And it’s stressful.

Women often wish men would listen to our problems without trying to solve them, but that’s not how men are wired. When things go wrong, dads jump into problem-solving mode and determine what steps they can take to change the situation.

Dads recognize the 80% solution is often good enough. They can walk away from a sink full of unwashed dishes – without feeling guilty – to spend time playing with the kids before bedtime. Moms can’t deny there is wisdom in this approach. Dishes don’t grow up and go off to college. Kids do.

C. Lee Reed of Beachside, Florida recalls her father often told his kids to “suck it up” in the face of disappointment. “It sounds crazy but we learned to put on our big girl panties when things didn’t go our way,” Reed says.

Dads encourage risk-taking

Dads’ emotional balance allows them to keep parenting problems in perspective. Crowe says she often panicked at her son’s inability to sleep through the night or the fact that he didn’t crawl when other babies did. But her husband took a longer view. “He taught me not to worry so much about the little things, unless they become a bigger concern,” says Crowe. A calm response is both comforting and practical.

While moms’ protective instincts lead us to discourage kids from taking physical risks, studies show dads give kids more personal space to explore the environment, even if there is risk involved. “At the park, I’m nervous about my 2-year-old going down the big slide, and, at home, I protect my baby from face-planting very time he attempts to crawl,” says San Diego, Calif., mom Anna Crowe. Dads often push kids to go outside their comfort zones. Physical challenges help kids develop strength, coordination and confidence. By testing their physical prowess, “kids learn valuable skills that could prevent them from getting into serious trouble in the future,” Crowe admits. Dads allow kids to learn by doing when moms might be more likely to teach by talking.

Dads set boundaries Mom of four Tsara Shelton of Teague, Tex., admits she struggles to establish clear, firm rules for her kids. She sees most issues as gray areas and enjoys discussing the connections between kids’ behaviors, social

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Dads are present Moms take pride in our super-human ability to do five things at once, but there is an undeniable downside. Multitasking prevents us from seizing the joys of the present moment. Reed is inspired by her husband’s presence. While Reed, who calls herself “Helicopter Mom” is busy multitasking, her husband, “Just Plane Dad,” knows how to be fully present in the moment, she says. “When he spends time with our daughter, he’s not worried about the laundry or paying the bills. He is all there.” Tuning in completely allows dads to see children as growing, loving little people. And it reminds us all that we’re blessed by our children – and their dads – in big and small ways every day. v

Wilmington Parent | June 2014 | 25

| your health

Some Facts about Vasectomy By Victor Abraham, MD, FACS

s much as we love our children, the cost of raising them is significant. The costs include:

I. Giving birth ranges from $5K to $25K II. Raising a child to age 18 is estimated to be between $240K and $440K III. Sending them to college will be $16K to $60K per year If you are done having babies and want to quit taking the pill, the two most effective options for birth control are a tubal ligation for Mom or a vasectomy for Dad. Both are comparable in their success rates of avoiding pregnancy. Both procedures block the tube that transports eggs in women and sperm in men. However….that is where the similarities end. A Tubal Ligation: Most are done laproscopically and under general anesthesia in an outpatient surgical center. Tubal ligations are more complicated and expensive than vasectomies. They can also be associated with significantly more pain and longer recovery times. The No Scalpel/No Pain Vasectomy: A tiny incision (about the size of pencil eraser) is made in the scrotum. A small section of each vas (the sperm conduit) is excised and the ends occluded with both a clip and cautery. It is a 7 minute office procedure done under Valium sedation and a Lidocaine block. Guys are encouraged to spend the rest of the day on bed rest and avoid any heavy lifting or straining for the next 2-3 days. He can shower, walk and leave the house by the next morning. Most men return to work in 2-3 days. Many patients choose to have their Vasectomy done on Thursday or Friday so they have the weekend to recover. Having done more than 1200 no scalpel vasectomies over the past 16 years, there is no question that guys tolerate it very well. Nearly 100% of

26 | June 2014 | Wilmington Parent

them are pleasantly surprised as to how fast and painless the procedure is. Infertility is not immediately achieved, as there are still viable sperm in the vas for a few weeks after vasectomy. So, it is imperative to use an alternative form of contraception such as condoms or birth control pills until a specimen examined under the microscope confirms the absence of any sperm, usually about 8 weeks later. The vasectomy does not affect a man’s libido or erectile function. Some common questions are: (Q) What happens to the sperm? (A) It is broken down and locally reabsorbed. (Q) Will my libido (sexual drive/appetite) and or erectile function deteriorate? (A) NO...all the above remain unchanged. (Q) How about the volume of ejaculate…will that change? (A) The volume will decrease by no more than 5%. (Q) Is the quality of the orgasm affected? (A) Not at all. (Q) Can it help with premature ejaculation? (A) No, but a low dose of a SSRI such as Zoloft or Paxil can improve it. v Victor Abraham, MD, FACS is the physician owner of Coastal Urology PLLC. Dr. Abraham has been practicing urology in Wilmington for over 16 years and has performed more than 1200 vasectomies in his career. Visit either website www.coastalurology.net, www.wilmingtonvasectomies.com or call 254-9995 for more information.

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The World Cup: The Beautiful Game Comes Home By Dermot Gibney

n the twelfth of June the attention of the world will turn to Brazil as the World Cup of football returns to its “spiritual home.” While England is known as the home of football throughout the world, Brazil represents the “beautiful” game and it’s players and fans have long been regarded as the embodiment of the sport’s passion and spirit. Living in the United States it is sometimes difficult to see the scope of things outside our own borders, so maybe a little perspective is in order! There are approximately 250 million soccer players in the world, just a wee bit shy of the population of the USA. Upon release of World Cup tickets there were about 6 million online requests. That’s about two thirds of the population of the state of North Carolina. The prize money for this tournament is estimated at $454 million! Let’s just say there will be a lot of people playing hooky from work for the duration of the event. The history of the game in England can be traced back to the 8th century with the modern rules of the game being solidified in the mid 19th century. Eleven clubs agreed on the thirteen basic rules of the game in 1872, right about the time Ulysses S. Grant was defeating Horace Greeley to win his second term as United States president. It is interesting to note that many clubs refused to join this group because of two omitted rules: no running with the ball in your hand, and not being allowed to obstruct a player by bodily tackling the opponent particularly by kicking him in the shins. These clubs went on to form their own league which gave birth to the game of rugby! The impact that this game has had on world culture ranges from the sublime to the tragic. In 2006, civil war raged in the Ivory Coast. Every attempt at peace talks erupted in bitter and sometimes fatal conflict. The national soccer team decided to put aside their differences and play a game in the nations war torn capital. It was the first time that both sides sat together peacefully and enjoyed a simple game of football. That occasion was the first step in the eventual ceasefire and end to the war. Unfortunately, the beautiful game has also seen it’s share of tragedy. Violent clashes between rival supporters have all too often ended up in rioting and even death. This has led to some teams having to play official league games in totally empty stadiums due to sanctions imposed by the sports governing bodies. Can you imagine how odd it would be to have a NFL

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game played with no crowd in attendance?! Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of this phenomenon is the sport’s humble origins. Even though some of the worlds most highly paid athletes will be on display in Brazil, most of them learned their trade on the streets of the most far flung places in the world. Brazil’s own Pele, considered to be the greatest player ever to lace up a pair of boots, learned his skills playing barefoot using an orange for a ball. Here in the Port City, we have the privilege of hosting our own professional team, The Wilmington Hammerheads. The team’s roster boasts a variety of international players on the squad and is also represented by one of our very own, Cody Arnoux. Cody’s soccer career has taken him around the globe and back again. He attended Wake Forest University where he was a member of the 2007 National Championship team. From there, he has enjoyed success with the Vancouver Whitecaps and Real Salt Lake in the MLS and even got to play for Everton F.C. in the game’s most elite English Premier League. In reminiscing about his youth as a soccer player in Wilmington Cody said, “Soccer gave me structure and a sense of belonging to something. It taught me honesty and togetherness and that working hard as a team is important in accomplishing our common goals. It helped me develop the things that are vital for a kid to learn.” The benefits of organized sports for our children is well documented and validated. Soccer is simply set apart. It is a social movement that spans generations and it unites people on all levels. It doesn’t just make kids better athletes, it makes them better people. This summer we have the opportunity to witness all that is great about a game played with representation from all of the people on our planet. When the world champions are crowned in Rio De Janeiro on July 13th, they will have vanquished all comers and have no equal. On June 28th at Legion Stadium, the Hammerheads are are offering a very unique “doubleheader.” They will be bringing in a JumboTron to screen a World Cup game live before the team takes the field against their arch rival Richmond Kickers. For diehard fans of the beautiful game and newcomers alike, it promises to be a wonderful evening to watch the worlds greatest game on display. v

Wilmington Parent | June 2014 | 27

Choosing the Right Child Care Program By Danielle Villegas

C SPECIAL SECTION: Choices in Childcare

hoosing quality child care for your children is one of the most important decisions a parent will make. A high quality child care program will help your children become more ready for school. Also, parents are more productive and focused on work knowing their children are being nurtured and interacted with in ways that promotes all areas of their development. The trick, of course, is finding the right child care program for your family. Qualified caregivers, safety, caring staff, challenging curriculum, artistic offerings, are just some of the qualities parents seek when looking for child care. How can parents accurately determine if a child care center meets their desires and needs?

Visit and Observe Caregivers/Teachers • Do the caregivers/teachers get down on each child’s level to speak with the child? • Are children greeted when they arrive? • Are children’s needs quickly met even when things get busy? • Do the caregivers/teachers and children enjoy being together? • Is there enough staff to serve the children? Setting • Is the atmosphere bright and pleasant? • Is there a fenced-in outdoor play area with a variety of safe equipment? Can the caregivers/teachers see the entire playground at all times? • Are there different areas for

resting, quiet play and active play? Is there enough space for the children in all of these areas? • Do you hear the sounds of happy children? Activities • Is there a daily balance of play time, story time, activity time and nap time? • Are the activities right for each age group? • Are there enough toys and learning materials for the number of children? • Are toys clean, safe and within reach of the children?

Ask The Right Questions • Are the caregivers/teachers trained in CPR, first aid, and early childhood education? • Are the caregivers/teachers involved in continuing education programs? • Will the caregivers/teachers always be ready to answer your questions? • Will the caregivers/teachers tell you what your child is doing every day? • Are parents’ ideas welcomed? Are there ways for you to get involved? • Have caregivers/teachers participated in early childhood development classes? • What are the discipline procedures? • Is the program licensed or regulated? What is their star rating?

Do Your Research There are a few ways to research a child care provider before even setting foot in the facility. • ncchildcaresearch.dhhs.state.nc.us - offers a search engine that can provide you with information. • (919) 662-4499 is the number for NC Dept of Health and Human Services Child Care division. Give them a call and they can answer specific questions. • Get recommendations from friends, family, co-workers, neighbors. • www.newhanoverkids.org Visit Smart Start of NHC’s website and click on their PUZZLES Center. This is a free, confidential child care referral service. v Sources: childcareaware. org; ncchildcaresearch. dhhs.state.nc.us; www. newhanoverkids.org

28 | June 2014 | Wilmington Parent

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W I L M I NG TON Christian Academy

High School • Middle School • Elementary School • Preschool

FAITH • INTELLECT • CHARACTER

Drop in Child Care From Trains to Tutus, Basketball and a Rock Climbing Wall, We Have It All! Celebrating Children 12 months to 12 years

M-Th 8:30am - 8:30pm • F-Sa 8:30am - 11:30pm

Wilmington Christian Academy is a fully accredited school offering an incredible education at an affordable price. Serving students in preschool through high school, WCA has a rich history of excellence in academics, athletics, and fine arts in an environment that encourages spiritual growth. From phonics-based reading in elementary to college credit, honors and AP classes in high school, WCA offers all students the tools they need to succeed. w w w.wilmingtonchristian.com • 1401 N. College Rd • 910.791.4248

SUMMER CAMP

2 0 1 4

GET ON THE VAN! DIFFERENT FIELD TRIPS DAILY! ONLY $200 PER WEEK Lunch Included

13 SPACES AVAILABLE EACH WEEK

910.799.3700 www.gigglesdaycareinc.com www.facebook.com/GigglesChildcare

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Wilmington Parent | June 2014 | 29

SPECIAL SECTION: Choices in Childcare

791-0022 us on 3818 Oleander Drive Like facebook www.playsimplyplay.com

What’s Your Back Up Plan?

W Covenant Preschool prides itself on individualized attention for each child, as we share the Gospel of Jesus Christ and prepare our children for kindergarten. Now registering for fall 2014 school year.

SPECIAL SECTION: Choices in Childcare

910-395-5800

Find more resources at

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By Danielle Villegas

hen emergencies arise, often the best laid plans crumble, and disasters occur. Have a Plan B...and C, D, E, for your child care needs. You followed all the rules, and did your research when you initially sought out a child care provider. Use the same diligence when preparing for your back up plan. There may be times when you know your provider will not be available and there will be times when your provider may have to be closed on short notice due to illness or an emergency. Parents called in to work unexpectedly? Parent illness/ accident, other family member emergency? Any of these personal emergencies can also put parents in a position of panic that may lead to hasty child care decisions.

Back Up Strategies • Check with your provider. Your child care provider may have information about back up child care that they suggest or have made arrangements with. • Create a list of those willing to help out when back up care is needed.Trusted family member in the area willing to help out occasionally, or a stayat-home mother who has mentioned that she’s available if you ever need someone. • Will your employer help out? Check to see if there are any back up child care programs available through your company. Some employers may offer on-site back up care that employees are able to access. There are also companies that have designated “back up spots” at child care centers within the community. Back up is not just back up. When locating a back up provider take the same steps you did in your initial search. Ask the questions, conduct the interviews, visit the location, and ask for references. A temporary solution can still leave a lasting impact on your child. You want to make sure you and your child are both comfortable with the arrangement you select. v Source: childcareaware.org

Jenkins

More than play at JPA

JPA

P reschool A cademy

Half day classes Summer Camps Certified teachers for ages 3-5

Juneclass 30-July3 Small sizes

July 14-18 Aug 4-8 (910) 367-0287 367-7210 |I www.jpawilmington.com (910) www.jpawilmington.com |I 7888 7888 Market MarketStSt 30 | June 2014 | Wilmington Parent

Nurturing & fun

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High Quality Childcare That Will Last Your Child A Lifetime

AAI Learning Center

Community Enrollment in Our School Age Program! Two classrooms with small group sizes – Younger children (5yr-7yr) and older children (8 yr-12yr)

Summer Camp Program

Activities Including: Messy Day • Game Day • Pajama Day • Movie Day Outdoor Waterplay • Exciting Field Trips

After-School Program Homework time/assistance, arts, crafts & games, pick-up at several schools

Located off 23rd St. w/ easy access from MLK or Market St

All Day & Half Day Camps Book Your Party Now ~ call or go online

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www.carolinagymnasticsacademy.com 3529 Carolina Beach Road

Reduce, Reuse,

Recycle

I want to be a

Kayak!

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

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

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Wilmington Parent | June 2014 | 31

SPECIAL SECTION: Choices in Childcare

We are an official 4-H club

Childcare – Preschools AAI Pharma Learning Center

2320 Scientific Park Drive Denise Ward or Mary Kosterman 910-254-7384 denise.ward@aaipharma.com Ages: 6 weeks to 12 years Availability: Call for openings Comments: A 5-Star Program with degreed teachers, low staff/child ratios, and a Project Approach based curriculum. Full day, After School and Morning Programs available.

SPECIAL SECTION: Choices in Childcare

Cape Fear Isshin-Ryu

2704 B Exchange Dr Wilmington NC 28405 910-392-3703 Cape Fear Isshin-Ryu offers a summer karate camp. Our program offers karate for over an hour each day and participation in active play such as dodge ball, nerf games, frisbee tag, obstacle courses, team building excercises, sword fighting, and more. In addition we will take field trips and have special activities and mini camps. Our field trips will include, but are not limited to the movies, sword fighting at the park, swimming, and more! 5 days per week - $110.00 week, 3 days per week - $70.00 One time summer registration cost of $50.00. Daily field trip costs are included in weekly tuition cost.

Childcare Network

10 Locations in New Hanover, Brunswick and Bladen Counties 866-521-KIDS www.childcarenetwork.net Ages: 6 weeks – 12 years Availability: Infant and toddler early learning curriculums, Preschool, PreK, and More at Four Programs. Young Achievers Program for school agers, including Summer Camp Comments: We offer working parents the best value in childcare with the best combination of learning, safety and fun at an affordable price.

The Children’s Schoolhouse Montessori

612 S. College Road Wilmington Lucy Hieronymus 910-799-1531 lhieronymus@aol.com www.childrenschoolhouse.com Ages: 3 years to 6 years Availability: Call for details Comments: Wilmington’s Oldest Montessori School, 30 years of excellence, also offering Montessori Marine Science Camp.

Covenant Preschool

210 Station Rd Wilmington, NC 28405 Cerisa Trakimowicz 910-395-5800 Cerisa27@yahoo.com www.covenantchurchnc.com/preschool We offer a morning preschool program for ages 1 year to Pre-K. We have affordable pricing and set your own schedule with an option for lunch bunch add-on.

3 day or 5 day programs for Pre-K (4-5 year olds) Description of what you offer: We offer a Biblically based program that is age appropriate for each child. We follow the W.E.E. Learn and Starfall curriculums and also Handwriting without Tears for 3 year olds and Pre-K. Each week we also have Stretch N Grow for all of our children! All of our teachers are certified teachers and strive to develop the God given potential in each child academically, emotionally, physically and spiritually.

Friends School of Wilmington PreK

SPEC

207 Pine Grove Drive, City of Wilmington, North Carolina 28403 Ann SOuder 910-791-8221 www.fsow.org A truly unique and desirable educational experience. Academic excellence is not just a goal, it’s the natural and consistent result of a rich and creative educational environment where students enjoy and are truly engaged in learning and questioning. Rooted in the core Quaker principles of respect for others, personal responsibility, integrity, equality, simplicity, and service, Friends School students belong to a vibrant learning community committed to educating each student intellectually, aesthetically, socially, physically, and spiritually. Montessori teaching principles are used for preschool.

Jenkins Preschool Academy

7888 Market Street Wilmington 28411 Contact: Alethea Jenkins 910-367-0287 momofktj@aol.com www.jpawilmington.com Ages: 2-4/preK Availability: limited for all age groups Comments: Also offer summer camp sessions; Call for a tour. Voted a Wilmington Parent Family Favorite 2 years in a row!

Northside Weekday Preschool

2501 N. College Road Wilmington, NC 28405 Jennifer Groves 910-791-6053 jennifer.groves@enorthside.org www.enorthside.org Ages: 2 years old-Pre-K Hours:8:30-12:30 Availability: 2, 3, and 5 day programs for 2 and 3 year olds,

165 Vision Drive Wilmington, NC 28403 Director: Wanda Mitchell 910-793-4884 Spec7@speckids.com www.speckids.com Ages: 6 wks to 12 years Availability: all age groups Preschool and school age programs, summer camp

Wilmington Christian Academy

1401 North College Road Dr. Cathy Dotson 910-791-4248 info@wilmingtonchristian.com www.wilmingtonchristian.com Ages 3 & up Call for availability WCA offers a year-round, full-day program including developmental, experiential & academic elements in a secure, faith-based environment. Phonics-based reading instruction and strong math skills are combined with many extra fine arts and age-appropriate physical/sports activities to create a comprehensive learning experience.

Winter Park Presbyterian Preschool

4501 Wrightsville Avenue Wilmington, NC 28403 Mary Jane Coble 910-791-5893 preschool@winterparkpres.org www.wppc-preschool.org Ages: Toddler - Pre-K Availability: Half-Day Preschool Program September - May, Summer Camp Ages 2 - 6 years Comments: We are a half-day Christian preschool. We offer low student/teacher ratios, an experienced, nurturing staff and a fun preschool environment. We use Creative Curriculum and Handwriting Without Tears. Kindermusik and Stretch-n-Grow classes provided at no extra charge.

Parents Night Out Carolina Gymnastics Academy

3529 Carolina Beach Road Wilmington, NC 28412 Michele Zapple/Rebecca Bishop 910-796-1896 contact@carolinagymnasticsacademy.com For the first time, we are offering All Day (8am-6pm) Summer Camp for 5-10 year olds at $200/week. Our Morning (9am1pm) Summer Camp is for ages 3-5 year olds at $150 per week. Campers will do gymnastics class, inflatables, free play inside & outside plus arts & crafts. All Day Campers will go on daily field trips. All campers bring a snack and lunch from home. We also offer Parents Night Out every Friday & Saturday from 6pm until 10pm. Ages 3-10 years. $7.75 per hour.

32 | June 2014 | Wilmington Parent

The Little Gym of Wilmington

132 Racine Drive, Unit 1 Wilmington, NC 238403 910- 799-3771 tlgwilmingtonnc@thelittlegym.com www.tlgwilmingtonnc.com 3-12 years Summer Camps: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9-12pm; Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 1-4pm; Optional Extended 1 hour Lunch Bunch Parents call it a break from the kids. Kids call it a break from their parents. That sounds like a win-win situation to us. The Little Gym of Wilmington Parentsʼ Survival

Nights let you enjoy some adult time to see a movie, catch up with friends or enjoy a meal without—ahem— your pint-sized food critics in tow. Meanwhile, your children get some quality “kid time” in a safe, fun, familiar place with trained instructors who lead them through games and music-filled activities. We schedule Parentsʼ Survival Nights for select Friday and Saturday evenings. Spots fill quickly, so call 910-799-3771 to book your win-win parents’ night out.

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Drop-In Childcare Giggles Drop-In Childcare

6781 Parker Farm Drive, Suite 110, Wilmington, NC 28405 Michelle Richards 910-799-3700 info@gigglesdaycareinc.com www.gigglesdaycareinc.com 12 months to 12 years Monday - Saturday Giggles fills two very important needs for families. First, we offer daycare services that are safe and fun for your child to be creative, socialize and simply have a great time. Second, we provide parents with free time for leisure activities. It is a win/ win combination. We absolutely love children of all ages! We offer drop-in childcare services, after school programs and summer camps.

Power of Play

Simply Play Drop-In Childcare

3818 Oleander Dr. Wilmington, Nc 28403 Contact: Any of our fabulous employees! Owner Jodi Butler 910-791-0022 simplyplay@yahoo.com www.playsimplyplay.com Ages: 12 months-12 years Availability: Monday-Thursday 830am-830 pm, Friday-Saturday 830 am-1130pm; Private Birthdays held on Sunday Comments: Simply Play is an award winning drop-in childcare center created by a Kindergarten teacher to meet the needs of today’s busy families. We celebrate children ages 12 months to 12 years and they are welcome to play for up to 4 hours a day. Simply Play offers safe, flexible hourly care when you need it! From the moment you walk through the white picket gate you can see that this fun filled playspace was designed to stimulate the curiosity of all children. Playing in the bubbles, dressing up and building block towers, the fun here never stops. Simply Play is full of active areas including plasma cars, a rock climbing wall, indoor basketball, jungle gym, slides and a rollercoaster! Simply Play - it’s what kids want to do!

Northside Weekday Preschool 2501 N. College Road Wilmington, NC 28405 (910) 791-6053 www.enorthside.org Ages: 2 years old-Pre-K

Find more resources at

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Babysitting and Nannies Nancy’s Nannies, Inc.

252-726-6575 www.nancysnannies.com nancy@nancysnannies.com Providing Babysitting & Nanny Service, from Morehead City to Wilmington, NC since 1991.

Resources Smart Start of New Hanover

3534 South College Rd., Suite F, Wilmington 910-815-3731 info@newhanoverkids.org www.newhanoverkids.org Ages: Birth-5 years Smart Start of New Hanover County, a non-profit agency, offers a wide array of support to families with young children including helping parents find childcare, after school programs, and summer camps; assisting parents accessing community services to meet their child’s needs; and offering a lending library with educational materials and toys, children’s books, activity ideas, informational books for adults.

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Wilmington Parent | June 2014 | 33

SPECIAL SECTION: Choices in Childcare

6644 Gordon Rd Wilmington, NC 910-332-1660 www.powerofplaywilmington.com powerofplaywilm@yahoo.com Hours: Monday-Friday 9am-6pm (9am-3pm open play when school is in session, 3-6 private after school and drop in care); Saturday 10am-6pm and Parent’s Night Out 6 -10pm; Sunday 1- 5pm, ages 1-11 Power of Play is a children’s entertainment center with an expansive indoor play area. The services we offer are open play, drop in care, after school care, summer camp, intersession camp, birthday parties and Parent’s Night Out. POP also sells swing sets, trampolines, basketball goals and other outdoor recreational products.

Leading preschoolers in their first steps toward a walk with Christ.

What Help Do SAH/Single Dads Really Need? By Rachael Moshman

oes a stay at home or single dad have a tougher job than a mom? Many people treat them that way.

My husband was the one to care for our daughter after school while I worked. His duties included taking her to Wednesday evening gymnastics classes while I taught at the local community college. I was sad that I was missing out on seeing her splits and flips every week, so I was excited I got to take her when the college was on spring break. The mothers in the parent observation room asked me who I was there for, thinking my child must be new to the class. I pointed out my daughter and they began heaping compliments on my husband. “That’s so great that he takes her to gymnastics every week!”; “He doesn’t just drop her off either. He stays right here and watches!”; “It’s so nice to see a man involved with his child.”

give unsolicited advice on everything from diapering to nutrition. Here are five ways to support stay at home dads without stepping on his toes.

1. Treat them like any other parent. They don’t need or want praise for taking care of their children. They’re just handling their responsibilities as parents.

2. Check in. Being a stay-at-home parent is overwhelming at times no matter what gender is doing it. A simple, “How are you doing?” goes a long way.

3. Don’t make assumptions. I know a dad who kept getting asked to make repairs at his child’s preschool. He didn’t know anything about carpentry. However, he loved to bake and was the first to volunteer to head up the school’s bake sale.

My husband had mentioned the gymnastics moms making similar comments to him. It made him uncomfortable. He wasn’t doing anything extraordinary; after all, the women were doing the exact same thing.

4. Include them. Having a conversation with the other parents in the pediatrician’s waiting room? Don’t leave out the dad sitting in the corner.

My friend’s husband has been a stay at home dad since they brought their first child home. They now have three little ones under the age of six.

the outskirts. When the mom is able to come to functions, make sure to make her feel welcome.

That dad is constantly praised in public for caring for the children. When is the last time a stranger complimented a woman for taking her children grocery shopping? Yet he hears, “Oh, you are so brave to come out alone with three children!” all the time.

When you see a man shuttling his daughter to gymnastics class or organizing the preschool bake sale, you can mention his being involved, but don’t throw a parade unless you’d do the same for a woman. v

He also gets his parenting skills questioned often. Women stop him to

34 | June 2014 | Wilmington Parent

5. Don’t forget about the other parent. Working moms often feel on

Rachael Moshman is a mom, freelance writer and blogger. She’s blessed with an amazing Super Dad for a husband. Find her at www.rachaelmoshman.com.

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A customized day full of imaginative adventures for them. A stress-free party for you, or in other words an

At a The Little Gym Awesome Birthday Bash, your child and their friends will have the whole place to themselves for fun activities created especially for them. Plus weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll handle everything from set-up to clean-up, making birthdays at The Little Gym a big wish come true for parents too. Call to schedule your childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s next birthday at The Little Gym The Little Gym of Wilmington www.tlgwilmingtonnc.com 910-799-3771

Ask about our special on summer camps and classes. Bring this ad in by August 31st and Save $25!

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Go to www.wilmingtonparent.com/guides/party-planning Wilmington Parent | June 2014 | 35

| peanut gallery

Madyleine Mae D. 5/30• 1yo

M.Love J. 5/5•3yo

Ryleigh M. 5/29• 4yo

Meagen M. 6/5• 15yo

Keira F. 6/12• 7yo

Caleb B. 6/26•3yo

Fiona H. 6/2• 4yo

Tiara A. 6/25• 6yo

Soleil D. 6/1• 1yo

Emily 6/30• 11yo

Jeremiah S. 6/3• 3yo

Bailey G. 6/1• 2yo

Katie K. 6/18• 8yo

Henry 6/18• 3yo

Vincent C. 6/3• 4yo

Kaitlyn J. 6/23• 13yo

Jack M. 6/15• 3yo

Lily 5/23• 3yo

Zachary D.

6/22• 3yo

Dylan W. 6/8• 4yo

Does your child or grandchild have a birthday iN July? 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: 6/11/14. 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! 36 | June 2014 | Wilmington Parent

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itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ok when they share their history notes, not

their prescription

pills.

misuse of prescription drugs is a growing cause of death among teens today. and it can happen when friends share pills, take medicine intended for other family members or use their own medication improperly. the confidential carolinas poison center help line is open 24/7 if you need help or want to know more.

sharing pills can kill.

sharingpillscankill.com www.wilmingtonparent.com

Wilmington Parent | June 2014 | 37

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