T H E M A G A Z I N E PA R E N T S L I V E B Y I N D E N T O N C O U N T Y

BACK-TO-SCHOOL

ISSUE

for starting school off right

MEET OUR MOMS NEXT DOOR

AUGUSTREASONS TO LOVE

72august 2016

BREATHDEEPHOW TO HELP KIDS WITH ASTHMA BREATHE EASY

theparentrsquos

primerOILOGIC lsquoSJORDANMORROW amp WORTH ANNE HERRELL

THE RICHARDS GROUP

TRG JOB TSH-16-0016

CLIENT Texas Scottish RiteHospital

AD NAME Autumn-Rose Gregory

PUB(S)Dallas ChildNorth Texas Child

INSERTION DATE 2016

TRIM 825 x 1075

LIVE 775 x 9625

BLEED 875 x 1125

COLORCMYK

LS150

QUESTIONS Pam Zmud214-891-5205

This moment

made possibleby this moment

Autumn-Rose Hip Dysplasia

When it comes to pediatric orthopedics no onersquos better at giving children back their childhood

scottishritehospitalorg

TSH160016_ARG_DCNTC_8_2x10_7indd 1 71516 141 PM

THE RICHARDS GROUP

TRG JOB TSH-16-0016

CLIENT Texas Scottish RiteHospital

AD NAME Autumn-Rose Gregory

PUB(S)Dallas ChildNorth Texas Child

INSERTION DATE 2016

TRIM 825 x 1075

LIVE 775 x 9625

BLEED 875 x 1125

COLORCMYK

LS150

QUESTIONS Pam Zmud214-891-5205

This moment

made possibleby this moment

Autumn-Rose Hip Dysplasia

When it comes to pediatric orthopedics no onersquos better at giving children back their childhood

scottishritehospitalorg

TSH160016_ARG_DCNTC_8_2x10_7indd 1 71516 141 PM

n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d a u g u s t 2 0 1 6 3

14 18

34 Manifesto words Rudy Klancnik

NOTED 5 Itrsquos All Fun amp Games Untilhellip

OPINIONATED 6 Is It OK to Spank

REAL MOMS 9 Moms Next Door Jordan Morrow amp Worth Anne Herrell 10 From Reese With Love 10 Tex-Mex (But Better) 10 Express Service 12 Routines Medhavi Balachandran

KID CULTURE 23 Agenda 25 EveryDay

WHEN ASTHMA ATTACKSLearning about the condition that leaves so many North Texas kids breathlesswords Stephanie Emma Pfefferillustrations Elliot Stokes

FEATURES

COLUMNS

DEPARTMENTS

ON THE COVER

3-year-old Finnian of Roanoke Photography Nick Prendergast HairMakeup Shane Monden Wallflower Management Styling Lauren Niebes

NorthTexasChild is published monthly by Lauren Publications Inc NorthTexasChild is distributed free of charge one copy per reader Only NorthTexasChild authorized distributors may deliver or pick up the magazines Additional or back copies of NorthTexasChild are available for $2 per copy at the offices of Lauren Publications Inc We reserve the right to edit reject or comment editorially on all material contributed We cannot be responsible for the return of any unsolicited material NorthTexasChild is copy2016 by Lauren Publications Inc All rights reserved Reproduction in whole or part without express written permission prohibited

BACK-TO-SCHOOL SURVIVAL GUIDE 2016 Seven tips and tricks from the pros to help you breeze through prepping for the new school year words Pamela Hammonds

Is your child at risk for asthma The triggers treatments and frustrations for parents p 14

PUBLISHEREDITOR-IN-CHIEFJoylyn Niebes

CREATIVE DIRECTORLauren Niebes

EDITORIALExecutive EditorWendy Manwarren Generes

Managing EditorCarrie Steingruber

Web EditorAlex Mitchell Mortenson

Assistant EditorJessica Myers

Calendar EditorElizabeth Smith

ARTGraphic DesignerSusan Horn

Editorial DesignerKatie Galasso

ADVERTISINGAssociate PublisherDiana Whitworth Nelson

Account ExecutivesSamantha Barnhart Lisa Hammel Susan Hassel Nancy McDaniel Kristen Niebes Sandi Tijerina Kerensa Vest

Advertising CoordinatorAmy Klembara

PRMARKETINGMarketing InternBeth Powell

ADMINISTRATIONOffice ManagerRobbie Scott

page s A U G U S T 2 0 1 6

THE BACK-TO-SCHOOL

ISSUE

From the urgent to the chronic wersquore with you every inch of the way bull PsychologyPsychiatry bull ENTbull Orthopedics bull Surgerybull Neurology bull Nephrologybull Pulmonology bull Endocrinologybull Gastroenterology bull Cardiologybull Urgent Care

Coming soon Alliance Urgent Care amp Specialty Center

Coming Soon

n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d a u g u s t 2 0 1 6 5

rin Newmark was gone less than 10 minutes when she got a call from her sonsrsquo sitters Her three boys had been playing on the

backyard playset when 5-year-old Owen lost his grip while swinging on the monkey bars and fell to the hard ground below landing on his arm X-rays in the emergency room revealed that Owen broke his arm in two places

Owen is part of a growing statis-tic According to a new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention more than 200000 children are treated in emergency

rooms each year for playground-related injuries broken bones frac-tures contusions even concussions The study showed monkey bars climbing equipment and swings are the biggest culprits

That doesnrsquot surprise Sharon Evans the trauma injury preven-tion coordinator with Cook Chil-drenrsquos Health Care System in Fort Worth Of the average 150ndash200 playground-related injuries Cook Childrenrsquos sees each year about 65 percent are connected to monkey bars or playground gyms

But most medical professionals and even the studyrsquos authors arenrsquot advocating that kids stay away from

play structures Instead they rec-ommend taking steps to minimize risks of injury

WHATrsquoS ON THE SURFACE COUNTSIn Texas any playground equip-ment installed using public funds must comply with the US Con-sumer Product Safety Commis-sion (CPSC) guidelines As a result most public playgrounds now have safer surfacing mdash one of the most important factors in reducing injuries

ldquoYou want a shock-absorbing surface that will take an impact if kids fallrdquo says Marissa Rodriguez the inju-ry prevention coor-dinator at Childrenrsquos Health in Dallas The CPSC recom-mends loose fill such as wood chips shredded rubber or pea gravel which should go about a foot deep or rubber mats and tiles

ldquoThe problem is where the kids play mdash around the slides and monkey bars mdash the surfac-ing gets scraped awayrdquo Evans says After speaking with local schools Evans learned that maintenance only comes out around one to two times per year to inspect the grounds and re-spread the fill material The same is often true for public playgrounds Safety experts advise checking areas where kids are most likely to fall and ensuring the fill is the appropriate depth

ALL EYES ON THE KIDSStudies show that a lack of adult supervision plays a role in 40 per-cent of playground-related injuries

Parents should make sure their kids are not using equipment inap-

propriately such as climbing on top of monkey bars or on the outside of tube slides Rodriguez says

Blind spots are another hazardldquoYou should be able to see every-

thingrdquo says Dr Sandra McClintic a certified early

childhood outdoor play

inspector in Argyle ldquoIf there are places on the

playground where you

cannot see your child then you need to be up and mov-ing around to make sure you know where your child is [at all times]rdquo

ONE SET DOES NOT FIT ALL AGESWhile play is essen-tial to the social and intellectual development of all kids a toddler and a school-age child donrsquot share the same gross motor skills The National Program for Play-ground Safety (NPPS) recom-mends that playsets have separate areas for children ages 2ndash5 and ages 5ndash12 Areas for the youngest tots should have crawl spaces low plat-forms and smaller steps Ramps need places to grasp and slides should be no taller than 4 feet Areas appropriate

for children ages 5ndash12 can include more challenging equipment such as monkey bars and taller slides

Active supervision is crucial for guiding kids to use age-appropriate equipment Rodriguez says ldquoKids cannot perceive the dangers as well as an adult can because their brains are not developed enough to know whatrsquos dangerous for themrdquo ntc

noted

monkey bars mean risky play for kids

E

W O R D S N A T A L I E S M I T H

games untilhellipitrsquos all fun amp

PLAYGROUND SAFETY CHECKLISTHeading to the park Scope out the playground before setting your little monkeys loose

Do a quick check of the equipment and make sure there are no sharp edges broken or loose parts protruding bolts or nails or rusted materials

Dress kids appropri-ately Remove any neck-laces scarves or clothing with drawstrings that can get caught on structures Avoid sandals and other open-toe shoes

The CPSC recom-mends monkey bars be less than 60 inches from the ground and 12 inches apart for younger children and no higher than 84 inches and 15 inches apart for older kids

If you do spot any safety hazards report them immediately to school administrators or your local parks and recreation department or look for signs with contact information Donrsquot let children play on the equip-ment until itrsquos safe

FIND A SAFE PLAYGROUND

NEAR YOU mdash VISIT DFWCHILDCOM

PLAYGROUNDS TO SEE REVIEWS OF MORE THAN 160 LOCAL

PARKS

6 a u g u s t 2 0 1 6 n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d

opinionated

y son was 18 months old when I spanked him It had been a long

day my patience was thin and I still had a list a mile long of things that needed to be accomplished before I called it a night I donrsquot even remem-ber what my toddler did but in a moment of frustration I smacked his bottom And I immediately regretted it His startled screams ripped through our home I grabbed him held him and cried with him I couldnrsquot apologize enough Had I just taught my son a lesson or made him afraid of Mommy

Obviously Irsquom not the only parent to spank a child According to a 2014 UNICEF report as many as 80 percent of parents around the world spank their children

But 50 years of research now shows that spanking kids does way more harm than good Experts at The University of Texas at Austin and the University of Michigan released a study earlier this year that was published in the Journal of Family Psychology and concluded that the more a child is spanked the more likely he is to experience increased antisocial behavior aggression mental health problems and cogni-tive difficulties and to defy his par-ents mdash essentially the opposite of what parents hope to achieve

And the American Academy of Pediatrics officially advises against any form of physical discipline because evidence shows that itrsquos

ineffective and can create aggressive behaviors in children

My husband and I agreed early on that spanking wouldnrsquot be used as a means of discipline in our household My response to my sonrsquos behavior that night was completely reactionary mdash and took even me totally by surprise

Using other types of discipline is not easy My husband and I have worked very hard to manage our

levels of frustration to have more patience with our son and to modi-fy his bad behavior through distrac-tions and explanations

Research shows that the most effective forms of discipline are those that teach children to control their behavior through internal measures So spanking doesnrsquot teach him real consequences or even how to control his behavior

How does one teach a child to control his behavior Talk to your pediatrician He can help you develop strategies understand what behavior is developmentally realistic for your child at each age

and stage and find positive behav-iors to praise

Effective tools may include things wersquove all tried but that we need to stick to like timeouts and showing the consequences of a bad behavior For instance if a child refuses to pick up her room try removing all the toys left out

Those on the other side of the spanking issue who see nothing wrong with it as a disciplinary tactic were often

spanked as children and have a false belief that itrsquos effective (especially if it scares the child into correcting the behav-ior in that instance)

Sure Irsquove thought ldquoI was spanked and I turned out finerdquo and I hon-estly donrsquot think Irsquove caused my son any sort of perma-nent damage with the one spanking incident However

it has made me re-evaluate how I parent The spanking

happened in a moment of weak-ness not while I was assuming my leadership role as Mom or modeling acceptable behavior I donrsquot want my son to think that itrsquos OK to hit someone who frustrates him

Every parent blows up at some point So sometimes we need to take a timeout ourselves instead of rushing to react Take a minute to cool off Leave the room and count to 10 Showing anger isnrsquot going to do long-term harm to your kids but striking them just might

After all we send people to jail for hitting a spouse so why is it ever OK to raise a hand to a child ntc

hitting proves to be a major no-noW O R D S A S H L E Y B I X L E R

is it ok to spank

BY THE NUMBERS

HANDS OFFIs it OK to spank your kids

We polled our readers to see where they stand

NO ITrsquoS NEVER OK

IT DEPENDS ON THE SITUATION

32

44

YES ITrsquoS OK24

of readers

I only spank when my child does something that is going to hurt herself or others mdash for ex-ample running away from me in the parking lotrdquo

In our house itrsquos never accept-able While it was something we both grew up with and we acknowledge that it can lsquoworkrsquo we feel that it doesnrsquot teach good problem-solv-ing behaviorsrdquo

Real OpinionsWe asked local parents to chime in anonymously on the issue Herersquos what they had to say

M

copyIS

TOC

KCO

MM

ARY

LB M

AXG

ER

n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d a u g u s t 2 0 1 6 7

The Perot Museum is an AAM-accredited institution supported in part by the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs and the Texas Commission on the Arts Satellite image of globe used within the Perot Museum logo provided courtesy of NASA

2201 N FIELD STREETNEAR DOWNTOWN DALLAS

Amaze Your BrainSKIP THE LINE PURCHASE TICKETS AT PEROTMUSEUMORG

AND WErsquoLL SCAN THEM FROM YOUR SMARTPHONE AT ENTRY

Amazing Fact No 256

1608-DFWChild-August-AYB-CarSpace-138279indd 1 7816 1227 PM

Your Child Deserves The BestCALL FOR A VISIT TO A ldquoBEST OF THE BESTrdquo EDUCATIONAL PRE-SCHOOL

972-869-9145

Warm Loving amp Nurturing Environment6 Weeks ndash Kindergarten

Carefully chosen and highly acclaimed Pre-K thru Kindergarten curriculumExcellent phonics-based reading program New iPad Lab Spanish

Art amp Music Classes with Specialty TeachersSwimming Pool with Red Cross Certified Swim Lessons

5100 Riverside Dr Irving TX 75039Just off Hwy 114 between 114 amp I-635

HOURS 630 AM - 615 PM

INEZ BLOOMINGDALE OWNER Master Teacher 50 yearsTexas Lifetime Teaching Credentials

www missbloomingdalescom

From the urgent to the chronic wersquore with you every inch of the way bull PsychologyPsychiatry bull ENTbull Orthopedics bull Surgerybull Neurology bull Nephrologybull Pulmonology bull Endocrinologybull Gastroenterology bull Cardiologybull Urgent Care

Coming soon Alliance Urgent Care amp Specialty Center

Coming Soon

n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d a u g u s t 2 0 1 6 5

rin Newmark was gone less than 10 minutes when she got a call from her sonsrsquo sitters Her three boys had been playing on the

backyard playset when 5-year-old Owen lost his grip while swinging on the monkey bars and fell to the hard ground below landing on his arm X-rays in the emergency room revealed that Owen broke his arm in two places

Owen is part of a growing statis-tic According to a new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention more than 200000 children are treated in emergency

rooms each year for playground-related injuries broken bones frac-tures contusions even concussions The study showed monkey bars climbing equipment and swings are the biggest culprits

That doesnrsquot surprise Sharon Evans the trauma injury preven-tion coordinator with Cook Chil-drenrsquos Health Care System in Fort Worth Of the average 150ndash200 playground-related injuries Cook Childrenrsquos sees each year about 65 percent are connected to monkey bars or playground gyms

But most medical professionals and even the studyrsquos authors arenrsquot advocating that kids stay away from

play structures Instead they rec-ommend taking steps to minimize risks of injury

WHATrsquoS ON THE SURFACE COUNTSIn Texas any playground equip-ment installed using public funds must comply with the US Con-sumer Product Safety Commis-sion (CPSC) guidelines As a result most public playgrounds now have safer surfacing mdash one of the most important factors in reducing injuries

ldquoYou want a shock-absorbing surface that will take an impact if kids fallrdquo says Marissa Rodriguez the inju-ry prevention coor-dinator at Childrenrsquos Health in Dallas The CPSC recom-mends loose fill such as wood chips shredded rubber or pea gravel which should go about a foot deep or rubber mats and tiles

ldquoThe problem is where the kids play mdash around the slides and monkey bars mdash the surfac-ing gets scraped awayrdquo Evans says After speaking with local schools Evans learned that maintenance only comes out around one to two times per year to inspect the grounds and re-spread the fill material The same is often true for public playgrounds Safety experts advise checking areas where kids are most likely to fall and ensuring the fill is the appropriate depth

ALL EYES ON THE KIDSStudies show that a lack of adult supervision plays a role in 40 per-cent of playground-related injuries

Parents should make sure their kids are not using equipment inap-

propriately such as climbing on top of monkey bars or on the outside of tube slides Rodriguez says

Blind spots are another hazardldquoYou should be able to see every-

thingrdquo says Dr Sandra McClintic a certified early

childhood outdoor play

inspector in Argyle ldquoIf there are places on the

playground where you

cannot see your child then you need to be up and mov-ing around to make sure you know where your child is [at all times]rdquo

ONE SET DOES NOT FIT ALL AGESWhile play is essen-tial to the social and intellectual development of all kids a toddler and a school-age child donrsquot share the same gross motor skills The National Program for Play-ground Safety (NPPS) recom-mends that playsets have separate areas for children ages 2ndash5 and ages 5ndash12 Areas for the youngest tots should have crawl spaces low plat-forms and smaller steps Ramps need places to grasp and slides should be no taller than 4 feet Areas appropriate

for children ages 5ndash12 can include more challenging equipment such as monkey bars and taller slides

Active supervision is crucial for guiding kids to use age-appropriate equipment Rodriguez says ldquoKids cannot perceive the dangers as well as an adult can because their brains are not developed enough to know whatrsquos dangerous for themrdquo ntc

noted

monkey bars mean risky play for kids

E

W O R D S N A T A L I E S M I T H

games untilhellipitrsquos all fun amp

PLAYGROUND SAFETY CHECKLISTHeading to the park Scope out the playground before setting your little monkeys loose

Do a quick check of the equipment and make sure there are no sharp edges broken or loose parts protruding bolts or nails or rusted materials

Dress kids appropri-ately Remove any neck-laces scarves or clothing with drawstrings that can get caught on structures Avoid sandals and other open-toe shoes

The CPSC recom-mends monkey bars be less than 60 inches from the ground and 12 inches apart for younger children and no higher than 84 inches and 15 inches apart for older kids

If you do spot any safety hazards report them immediately to school administrators or your local parks and recreation department or look for signs with contact information Donrsquot let children play on the equip-ment until itrsquos safe

FIND A SAFE PLAYGROUND

NEAR YOU mdash VISIT DFWCHILDCOM

PLAYGROUNDS TO SEE REVIEWS OF MORE THAN 160 LOCAL

PARKS

6 a u g u s t 2 0 1 6 n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d

opinionated

y son was 18 months old when I spanked him It had been a long

day my patience was thin and I still had a list a mile long of things that needed to be accomplished before I called it a night I donrsquot even remem-ber what my toddler did but in a moment of frustration I smacked his bottom And I immediately regretted it His startled screams ripped through our home I grabbed him held him and cried with him I couldnrsquot apologize enough Had I just taught my son a lesson or made him afraid of Mommy

Obviously Irsquom not the only parent to spank a child According to a 2014 UNICEF report as many as 80 percent of parents around the world spank their children

But 50 years of research now shows that spanking kids does way more harm than good Experts at The University of Texas at Austin and the University of Michigan released a study earlier this year that was published in the Journal of Family Psychology and concluded that the more a child is spanked the more likely he is to experience increased antisocial behavior aggression mental health problems and cogni-tive difficulties and to defy his par-ents mdash essentially the opposite of what parents hope to achieve

And the American Academy of Pediatrics officially advises against any form of physical discipline because evidence shows that itrsquos

ineffective and can create aggressive behaviors in children

My husband and I agreed early on that spanking wouldnrsquot be used as a means of discipline in our household My response to my sonrsquos behavior that night was completely reactionary mdash and took even me totally by surprise

Using other types of discipline is not easy My husband and I have worked very hard to manage our

levels of frustration to have more patience with our son and to modi-fy his bad behavior through distrac-tions and explanations

Research shows that the most effective forms of discipline are those that teach children to control their behavior through internal measures So spanking doesnrsquot teach him real consequences or even how to control his behavior

How does one teach a child to control his behavior Talk to your pediatrician He can help you develop strategies understand what behavior is developmentally realistic for your child at each age

and stage and find positive behav-iors to praise

Effective tools may include things wersquove all tried but that we need to stick to like timeouts and showing the consequences of a bad behavior For instance if a child refuses to pick up her room try removing all the toys left out

Those on the other side of the spanking issue who see nothing wrong with it as a disciplinary tactic were often

spanked as children and have a false belief that itrsquos effective (especially if it scares the child into correcting the behav-ior in that instance)

Sure Irsquove thought ldquoI was spanked and I turned out finerdquo and I hon-estly donrsquot think Irsquove caused my son any sort of perma-nent damage with the one spanking incident However

it has made me re-evaluate how I parent The spanking

happened in a moment of weak-ness not while I was assuming my leadership role as Mom or modeling acceptable behavior I donrsquot want my son to think that itrsquos OK to hit someone who frustrates him

Every parent blows up at some point So sometimes we need to take a timeout ourselves instead of rushing to react Take a minute to cool off Leave the room and count to 10 Showing anger isnrsquot going to do long-term harm to your kids but striking them just might

After all we send people to jail for hitting a spouse so why is it ever OK to raise a hand to a child ntc

hitting proves to be a major no-noW O R D S A S H L E Y B I X L E R

is it ok to spank

BY THE NUMBERS

HANDS OFFIs it OK to spank your kids

We polled our readers to see where they stand

NO ITrsquoS NEVER OK

IT DEPENDS ON THE SITUATION

32

44

YES ITrsquoS OK24

of readers

I only spank when my child does something that is going to hurt herself or others mdash for ex-ample running away from me in the parking lotrdquo

In our house itrsquos never accept-able While it was something we both grew up with and we acknowledge that it can lsquoworkrsquo we feel that it doesnrsquot teach good problem-solv-ing behaviorsrdquo

Real OpinionsWe asked local parents to chime in anonymously on the issue Herersquos what they had to say

M

copyIS

TOC

KCO

MM

ARY

LB M

AXG

ER

n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d a u g u s t 2 0 1 6 7

The Perot Museum is an AAM-accredited institution supported in part by the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs and the Texas Commission on the Arts Satellite image of globe used within the Perot Museum logo provided courtesy of NASA

2201 N FIELD STREETNEAR DOWNTOWN DALLAS

Amaze Your BrainSKIP THE LINE PURCHASE TICKETS AT PEROTMUSEUMORG

AND WErsquoLL SCAN THEM FROM YOUR SMARTPHONE AT ENTRY

Amazing Fact No 256

1608-DFWChild-August-AYB-CarSpace-138279indd 1 7816 1227 PM

Your Child Deserves The BestCALL FOR A VISIT TO A ldquoBEST OF THE BESTrdquo EDUCATIONAL PRE-SCHOOL

972-869-9145

Warm Loving amp Nurturing Environment6 Weeks ndash Kindergarten

Carefully chosen and highly acclaimed Pre-K thru Kindergarten curriculumExcellent phonics-based reading program New iPad Lab Spanish

Art amp Music Classes with Specialty TeachersSwimming Pool with Red Cross Certified Swim Lessons

5100 Riverside Dr Irving TX 75039Just off Hwy 114 between 114 amp I-635

HOURS 630 AM - 615 PM

INEZ BLOOMINGDALE OWNER Master Teacher 50 yearsTexas Lifetime Teaching Credentials

www missbloomingdalescom

n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d a u g u s t 2 0 1 6 5

rin Newmark was gone less than 10 minutes when she got a call from her sonsrsquo sitters Her three boys had been playing on the

backyard playset when 5-year-old Owen lost his grip while swinging on the monkey bars and fell to the hard ground below landing on his arm X-rays in the emergency room revealed that Owen broke his arm in two places

Owen is part of a growing statis-tic According to a new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention more than 200000 children are treated in emergency

rooms each year for playground-related injuries broken bones frac-tures contusions even concussions The study showed monkey bars climbing equipment and swings are the biggest culprits

That doesnrsquot surprise Sharon Evans the trauma injury preven-tion coordinator with Cook Chil-drenrsquos Health Care System in Fort Worth Of the average 150ndash200 playground-related injuries Cook Childrenrsquos sees each year about 65 percent are connected to monkey bars or playground gyms

But most medical professionals and even the studyrsquos authors arenrsquot advocating that kids stay away from

play structures Instead they rec-ommend taking steps to minimize risks of injury

WHATrsquoS ON THE SURFACE COUNTSIn Texas any playground equip-ment installed using public funds must comply with the US Con-sumer Product Safety Commis-sion (CPSC) guidelines As a result most public playgrounds now have safer surfacing mdash one of the most important factors in reducing injuries

ldquoYou want a shock-absorbing surface that will take an impact if kids fallrdquo says Marissa Rodriguez the inju-ry prevention coor-dinator at Childrenrsquos Health in Dallas The CPSC recom-mends loose fill such as wood chips shredded rubber or pea gravel which should go about a foot deep or rubber mats and tiles

ldquoThe problem is where the kids play mdash around the slides and monkey bars mdash the surfac-ing gets scraped awayrdquo Evans says After speaking with local schools Evans learned that maintenance only comes out around one to two times per year to inspect the grounds and re-spread the fill material The same is often true for public playgrounds Safety experts advise checking areas where kids are most likely to fall and ensuring the fill is the appropriate depth

ALL EYES ON THE KIDSStudies show that a lack of adult supervision plays a role in 40 per-cent of playground-related injuries

Parents should make sure their kids are not using equipment inap-

propriately such as climbing on top of monkey bars or on the outside of tube slides Rodriguez says

Blind spots are another hazardldquoYou should be able to see every-

thingrdquo says Dr Sandra McClintic a certified early

childhood outdoor play

inspector in Argyle ldquoIf there are places on the

playground where you

cannot see your child then you need to be up and mov-ing around to make sure you know where your child is [at all times]rdquo

ONE SET DOES NOT FIT ALL AGESWhile play is essen-tial to the social and intellectual development of all kids a toddler and a school-age child donrsquot share the same gross motor skills The National Program for Play-ground Safety (NPPS) recom-mends that playsets have separate areas for children ages 2ndash5 and ages 5ndash12 Areas for the youngest tots should have crawl spaces low plat-forms and smaller steps Ramps need places to grasp and slides should be no taller than 4 feet Areas appropriate

for children ages 5ndash12 can include more challenging equipment such as monkey bars and taller slides

Active supervision is crucial for guiding kids to use age-appropriate equipment Rodriguez says ldquoKids cannot perceive the dangers as well as an adult can because their brains are not developed enough to know whatrsquos dangerous for themrdquo ntc

noted

monkey bars mean risky play for kids

E

W O R D S N A T A L I E S M I T H

games untilhellipitrsquos all fun amp

PLAYGROUND SAFETY CHECKLISTHeading to the park Scope out the playground before setting your little monkeys loose

Do a quick check of the equipment and make sure there are no sharp edges broken or loose parts protruding bolts or nails or rusted materials

Dress kids appropri-ately Remove any neck-laces scarves or clothing with drawstrings that can get caught on structures Avoid sandals and other open-toe shoes

The CPSC recom-mends monkey bars be less than 60 inches from the ground and 12 inches apart for younger children and no higher than 84 inches and 15 inches apart for older kids

If you do spot any safety hazards report them immediately to school administrators or your local parks and recreation department or look for signs with contact information Donrsquot let children play on the equip-ment until itrsquos safe

FIND A SAFE PLAYGROUND

NEAR YOU mdash VISIT DFWCHILDCOM

PLAYGROUNDS TO SEE REVIEWS OF MORE THAN 160 LOCAL

PARKS

6 a u g u s t 2 0 1 6 n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d

opinionated

y son was 18 months old when I spanked him It had been a long

day my patience was thin and I still had a list a mile long of things that needed to be accomplished before I called it a night I donrsquot even remem-ber what my toddler did but in a moment of frustration I smacked his bottom And I immediately regretted it His startled screams ripped through our home I grabbed him held him and cried with him I couldnrsquot apologize enough Had I just taught my son a lesson or made him afraid of Mommy

Obviously Irsquom not the only parent to spank a child According to a 2014 UNICEF report as many as 80 percent of parents around the world spank their children

But 50 years of research now shows that spanking kids does way more harm than good Experts at The University of Texas at Austin and the University of Michigan released a study earlier this year that was published in the Journal of Family Psychology and concluded that the more a child is spanked the more likely he is to experience increased antisocial behavior aggression mental health problems and cogni-tive difficulties and to defy his par-ents mdash essentially the opposite of what parents hope to achieve

And the American Academy of Pediatrics officially advises against any form of physical discipline because evidence shows that itrsquos

ineffective and can create aggressive behaviors in children

My husband and I agreed early on that spanking wouldnrsquot be used as a means of discipline in our household My response to my sonrsquos behavior that night was completely reactionary mdash and took even me totally by surprise

Using other types of discipline is not easy My husband and I have worked very hard to manage our

levels of frustration to have more patience with our son and to modi-fy his bad behavior through distrac-tions and explanations

Research shows that the most effective forms of discipline are those that teach children to control their behavior through internal measures So spanking doesnrsquot teach him real consequences or even how to control his behavior

How does one teach a child to control his behavior Talk to your pediatrician He can help you develop strategies understand what behavior is developmentally realistic for your child at each age

and stage and find positive behav-iors to praise

Effective tools may include things wersquove all tried but that we need to stick to like timeouts and showing the consequences of a bad behavior For instance if a child refuses to pick up her room try removing all the toys left out

Those on the other side of the spanking issue who see nothing wrong with it as a disciplinary tactic were often

spanked as children and have a false belief that itrsquos effective (especially if it scares the child into correcting the behav-ior in that instance)

Sure Irsquove thought ldquoI was spanked and I turned out finerdquo and I hon-estly donrsquot think Irsquove caused my son any sort of perma-nent damage with the one spanking incident However

it has made me re-evaluate how I parent The spanking

happened in a moment of weak-ness not while I was assuming my leadership role as Mom or modeling acceptable behavior I donrsquot want my son to think that itrsquos OK to hit someone who frustrates him

Every parent blows up at some point So sometimes we need to take a timeout ourselves instead of rushing to react Take a minute to cool off Leave the room and count to 10 Showing anger isnrsquot going to do long-term harm to your kids but striking them just might

After all we send people to jail for hitting a spouse so why is it ever OK to raise a hand to a child ntc

hitting proves to be a major no-noW O R D S A S H L E Y B I X L E R

is it ok to spank

BY THE NUMBERS

HANDS OFFIs it OK to spank your kids

We polled our readers to see where they stand

NO ITrsquoS NEVER OK

IT DEPENDS ON THE SITUATION

32

44

YES ITrsquoS OK24

of readers

I only spank when my child does something that is going to hurt herself or others mdash for ex-ample running away from me in the parking lotrdquo

In our house itrsquos never accept-able While it was something we both grew up with and we acknowledge that it can lsquoworkrsquo we feel that it doesnrsquot teach good problem-solv-ing behaviorsrdquo

Real OpinionsWe asked local parents to chime in anonymously on the issue Herersquos what they had to say

M

copyIS

TOC

KCO

MM

ARY

LB M

AXG

ER

n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d a u g u s t 2 0 1 6 7

The Perot Museum is an AAM-accredited institution supported in part by the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs and the Texas Commission on the Arts Satellite image of globe used within the Perot Museum logo provided courtesy of NASA

2201 N FIELD STREETNEAR DOWNTOWN DALLAS

Amaze Your BrainSKIP THE LINE PURCHASE TICKETS AT PEROTMUSEUMORG

AND WErsquoLL SCAN THEM FROM YOUR SMARTPHONE AT ENTRY

Amazing Fact No 256

1608-DFWChild-August-AYB-CarSpace-138279indd 1 7816 1227 PM

Your Child Deserves The BestCALL FOR A VISIT TO A ldquoBEST OF THE BESTrdquo EDUCATIONAL PRE-SCHOOL

972-869-9145

Warm Loving amp Nurturing Environment6 Weeks ndash Kindergarten

Carefully chosen and highly acclaimed Pre-K thru Kindergarten curriculumExcellent phonics-based reading program New iPad Lab Spanish

Art amp Music Classes with Specialty TeachersSwimming Pool with Red Cross Certified Swim Lessons

5100 Riverside Dr Irving TX 75039Just off Hwy 114 between 114 amp I-635

HOURS 630 AM - 615 PM

INEZ BLOOMINGDALE OWNER Master Teacher 50 yearsTexas Lifetime Teaching Credentials

www missbloomingdalescom

6 a u g u s t 2 0 1 6 n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d

opinionated

y son was 18 months old when I spanked him It had been a long

day my patience was thin and I still had a list a mile long of things that needed to be accomplished before I called it a night I donrsquot even remem-ber what my toddler did but in a moment of frustration I smacked his bottom And I immediately regretted it His startled screams ripped through our home I grabbed him held him and cried with him I couldnrsquot apologize enough Had I just taught my son a lesson or made him afraid of Mommy

Obviously Irsquom not the only parent to spank a child According to a 2014 UNICEF report as many as 80 percent of parents around the world spank their children

But 50 years of research now shows that spanking kids does way more harm than good Experts at The University of Texas at Austin and the University of Michigan released a study earlier this year that was published in the Journal of Family Psychology and concluded that the more a child is spanked the more likely he is to experience increased antisocial behavior aggression mental health problems and cogni-tive difficulties and to defy his par-ents mdash essentially the opposite of what parents hope to achieve

And the American Academy of Pediatrics officially advises against any form of physical discipline because evidence shows that itrsquos

ineffective and can create aggressive behaviors in children

My husband and I agreed early on that spanking wouldnrsquot be used as a means of discipline in our household My response to my sonrsquos behavior that night was completely reactionary mdash and took even me totally by surprise

Using other types of discipline is not easy My husband and I have worked very hard to manage our

levels of frustration to have more patience with our son and to modi-fy his bad behavior through distrac-tions and explanations

Research shows that the most effective forms of discipline are those that teach children to control their behavior through internal measures So spanking doesnrsquot teach him real consequences or even how to control his behavior

How does one teach a child to control his behavior Talk to your pediatrician He can help you develop strategies understand what behavior is developmentally realistic for your child at each age

and stage and find positive behav-iors to praise

Effective tools may include things wersquove all tried but that we need to stick to like timeouts and showing the consequences of a bad behavior For instance if a child refuses to pick up her room try removing all the toys left out

Those on the other side of the spanking issue who see nothing wrong with it as a disciplinary tactic were often

spanked as children and have a false belief that itrsquos effective (especially if it scares the child into correcting the behav-ior in that instance)

Sure Irsquove thought ldquoI was spanked and I turned out finerdquo and I hon-estly donrsquot think Irsquove caused my son any sort of perma-nent damage with the one spanking incident However

it has made me re-evaluate how I parent The spanking

happened in a moment of weak-ness not while I was assuming my leadership role as Mom or modeling acceptable behavior I donrsquot want my son to think that itrsquos OK to hit someone who frustrates him

Every parent blows up at some point So sometimes we need to take a timeout ourselves instead of rushing to react Take a minute to cool off Leave the room and count to 10 Showing anger isnrsquot going to do long-term harm to your kids but striking them just might

After all we send people to jail for hitting a spouse so why is it ever OK to raise a hand to a child ntc

hitting proves to be a major no-noW O R D S A S H L E Y B I X L E R

is it ok to spank

BY THE NUMBERS

HANDS OFFIs it OK to spank your kids

We polled our readers to see where they stand

NO ITrsquoS NEVER OK

IT DEPENDS ON THE SITUATION

32

44

YES ITrsquoS OK24

of readers

I only spank when my child does something that is going to hurt herself or others mdash for ex-ample running away from me in the parking lotrdquo

In our house itrsquos never accept-able While it was something we both grew up with and we acknowledge that it can lsquoworkrsquo we feel that it doesnrsquot teach good problem-solv-ing behaviorsrdquo

Real OpinionsWe asked local parents to chime in anonymously on the issue Herersquos what they had to say

M

copyIS

TOC

KCO

MM

ARY

LB M

AXG

ER

n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d a u g u s t 2 0 1 6 7

The Perot Museum is an AAM-accredited institution supported in part by the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs and the Texas Commission on the Arts Satellite image of globe used within the Perot Museum logo provided courtesy of NASA

2201 N FIELD STREETNEAR DOWNTOWN DALLAS

Amaze Your BrainSKIP THE LINE PURCHASE TICKETS AT PEROTMUSEUMORG

AND WErsquoLL SCAN THEM FROM YOUR SMARTPHONE AT ENTRY

Amazing Fact No 256

1608-DFWChild-August-AYB-CarSpace-138279indd 1 7816 1227 PM

Your Child Deserves The BestCALL FOR A VISIT TO A ldquoBEST OF THE BESTrdquo EDUCATIONAL PRE-SCHOOL

972-869-9145

Warm Loving amp Nurturing Environment6 Weeks ndash Kindergarten

Carefully chosen and highly acclaimed Pre-K thru Kindergarten curriculumExcellent phonics-based reading program New iPad Lab Spanish

Art amp Music Classes with Specialty TeachersSwimming Pool with Red Cross Certified Swim Lessons

5100 Riverside Dr Irving TX 75039Just off Hwy 114 between 114 amp I-635

HOURS 630 AM - 615 PM

INEZ BLOOMINGDALE OWNER Master Teacher 50 yearsTexas Lifetime Teaching Credentials

www missbloomingdalescom

n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d a u g u s t 2 0 1 6 7

The Perot Museum is an AAM-accredited institution supported in part by the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs and the Texas Commission on the Arts Satellite image of globe used within the Perot Museum logo provided courtesy of NASA

2201 N FIELD STREETNEAR DOWNTOWN DALLAS

Amaze Your BrainSKIP THE LINE PURCHASE TICKETS AT PEROTMUSEUMORG

AND WErsquoLL SCAN THEM FROM YOUR SMARTPHONE AT ENTRY

Amazing Fact No 256

1608-DFWChild-August-AYB-CarSpace-138279indd 1 7816 1227 PM

Your Child Deserves The BestCALL FOR A VISIT TO A ldquoBEST OF THE BESTrdquo EDUCATIONAL PRE-SCHOOL

972-869-9145

Warm Loving amp Nurturing Environment6 Weeks ndash Kindergarten

Carefully chosen and highly acclaimed Pre-K thru Kindergarten curriculumExcellent phonics-based reading program New iPad Lab Spanish

Art amp Music Classes with Specialty TeachersSwimming Pool with Red Cross Certified Swim Lessons

5100 Riverside Dr Irving TX 75039Just off Hwy 114 between 114 amp I-635

HOURS 630 AM - 615 PM

INEZ BLOOMINGDALE OWNER Master Teacher 50 yearsTexas Lifetime Teaching Credentials

www missbloomingdalescom

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n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d a u g u s t 2 0 1 6 9

I N T E R V I E W M A R G I E J A C I N T O

orth Texas moms Jordan

Morrow and Worth Anne Herrell go way back The former co-workers turned best friends are also the founders of Oilogic Essential Oil Care a line of con-centrated 100 per-cent pure essential oil blends diluted and formulated specifically for kids Taking their back-grounds on product development and marketing the duo came up with the line based not only on what they felt moms and their lit-tle ones needed but also on the desire to run their own business in order to spend more time with their children

Morrow 38 is a mom of three mdash two daughters Carson 6 and Taylor 3 and one boy Jack 18 months Herrell 38 has two boys Mack 7 and Houston 4

HOW DID OILOGIC COME ABOUT MORROW I had a lot of pregnancy complica-tions [with my third child] mdash and was never allowed to take medication One of my friends introduced me to essential oils HERRELL We looked at the marketplace and saw that there was a real need for an easier way to use natural essential oils to care for kids We started talking to all the mom friends we had to really see if there were moms out there who would use this stuff Sure enough there was and thatrsquos how Oilogic was born

HOW DID YOU FEEL WHEN YOU FIRST FOUND OUT YOU WERE PREGNANT WITH YOUR FIRST AND LAST CHILD HERRELL So with my first child I was not trying to get

pregnant I was on birth control It was a big shock With my second one I was trying and was very fortunate that it was not hard for me to get pregnant When I found out I was extreme-ly excited and so was my husband So I had two polar opposite reactions With our first child we were scared to death and the second time we were very excited MORROW Mine is pret-ty opposite too With my first one we definitely tried for her and ended up getting pregnant pretty quickly with her and we were beyond excited After Carson we had three miscarriag-es before having Taylor When I got pregnant with Jack we were initially scared that I wasnrsquot going to be able to keep him and then we were excited that he was a healthy baby and that he was a boy

THREE WORDS TO DESCRIBE EACH OTHER HERRELL Loud friendly and has the most generous heart MORROW Funny fiercely loyal and she has an amazing faith mdash it is defi-nitely something I strive for

PROUDEST MOM MOMENTS HERRELL When my son [Houston] scored his first goal on his soccer team I ran on to the field and gave him a hug because I was so excited for him MORROW For my last birthday my daughter [Carson] gave me a card she had made and she gave me her tooth fairy money I wept when I opened it

THOUGHTS ON THE WORK-MOTHER-HOOD BALANCE HERRELL Itrsquos something that I have struggled with for several years Itrsquos one of the reasons why Jordan and I wanted to start our own business because I wanted to be able to have more flexibility with my kidsrsquo schedules I think there is so much pressure on moms these days whether you stay at home or if you work I lean on my friends and fam-ily all the time to make sure to keep myself in

check MORROW I think you have to do what

you can when you can At

the end of the day you just have to say ldquoI did the best I could and what I messed up

please forgive me and where

I shined glory to Godrdquo ntc

Co-Founders Oilogic Essential Oil Care

real moms

1 After searching for an easier way to blend and dilute essential oils for their littles Morrow and Herrell leaned on their product development expertise to

create a kid-friendly line of vapor baths creams and roll-on oilsPHO

TO C

OU

RTES

Y O

F ST

EFA

NIE

MO

RRO

W O

F H

AM

PTO

N M

ORR

OW

PH

OTO

GRA

PHY

OIL

OG

IC

MOMS NEXT DOOR

Jordan Morrow amp Worth Anne Herrell

N

1

OWNING THEIR OWN COMPANY GIVES BEST FRIENDS JORDAN MORROW AND WORTH ANNE HERRELL MORE

TIME FOR THEIR OTHER JOB mdash MOMMYHOOD

10 a u g u s t 2 0 1 6 n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d

Tennessee-bred Reese Witherspoon launched Draper James a brand of cloth-ing accessories and home goods to pay homage to her southern roots (and her grandparents the brandrsquos name inspiration) and infuse the retail landscape with a bit of country flair Following the success of the e-commerce site she opened her first brick-and-mortar store in Nashville late last year

Her next stop One of our favorite Dallas shopping haunts Draper Jamesrsquo second location is slated to open in Highland Park Village in mid-September In keeping with the flagship the local boutique will feature an aesthetic reminiscent of the department stores the A-lister grew up frequenting and an assortment of merchandise in classic silhouettes and bright colorways

FROM REESE WITH LOVE

Draper James Dallas

draperjamescom

W O R D S N I C O L E J O R D A N

Your de facto search engine is about to become your de facto delivery service Recently launched in the Dallas-Fort Worth area Google Express provides overnight or two-day delivery from stores you already shop at Babies R Us Sur La Table Whole Foods and more Stock up on coffee cosmetics even pet food without stepping foot in a store (cold stuff and alcohol are not available in our area mdash yet) You can also save store loyalty and membership card information to earn your usual perks Delivery is free for Google Express members on eligible orders that meet store minimums and starts at $499 for nonmembers Membership is only $10 a month or $95 per year and the first three months are free

EXPRESS SERVICE

real moms 3 T H I N G S hellip

Google Express $10 per month googlecomexpress

Urbano Enchilada and Taco BarFlower Mound 469763-9582

Fact Dallas-Fort Worth has

no shortage of Tex-Mex

restaurants Yet there

always seems to be anoth-

er one popping up around

the corner The just-

opened Urbano Enchilada

and Taco Bar on Flower

Mound Road intention-

ally sets itself apart from

the rest A project by the

former owners of Mi Sueno

in Argyle the restaurant

elevates standard Mexican

fare by offering craft enchi-

ladas and tacos mdash along

with the standbys expect

to find ingredients like

ahi tuna (sushi-grade no

less) and plenty of veg-

etarian items Adding to

the draw (and date-night

appeal) exposed brick and

reclaimed wood through-

out giving the space an

atmosphere thatrsquos less

theme park and more

industrial chic

tex-mex (but better)

PHO

TOS

COU

RTES

Y O

F D

RAPE

R JA

MES

copyIS

TOC

KCO

M

ELEN

A_D

AN

ILEI

KO I

LLU

STRA

TIO

N B

Y KA

TIE

GA

LASS

O

n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d a u g u s t 2 0 1 6 11

Exceptionaldental careone smile at a time

972-393-9779632 E Sandy Lake Rd Coppell TX 75019

wwwRozasDDScom

Board Certified DiplomatesAmerican Board of Pediatric Dentistry

Dr Melissa Rozas

Dr Loria NahatisDr Terra Compton

copy

Ads

with

copy a

re copy

of L

aure

n P

ublic

atio

ns I

nc 2

016

Grapevine Mills bull 9725395001Rainforestcafecom

With the purchase of an adult entreacutee Not valid with any other offer discount or promotion including Landryrsquos Select Club Offer valid at Grapevine location only

Donrsquot miss our Wednesday Kidrsquos Nights

Treat your tadpole to a free kids meal

10 a u g u s t 2 0 1 6 n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d

Tennessee-bred Reese Witherspoon launched Draper James a brand of cloth-ing accessories and home goods to pay homage to her southern roots (and her grandparents the brandrsquos name inspiration) and infuse the retail landscape with a bit of country flair Following the success of the e-commerce site she opened her first brick-and-mortar store in Nashville late last year

Her next stop One of our favorite Dallas shopping haunts Draper Jamesrsquo second location is slated to open in Highland Park Village in mid-September In keeping with the flagship the local boutique will feature an aesthetic reminiscent of the department stores the A-lister grew up frequenting and an assortment of merchandise in classic silhouettes and bright colorways

FROM REESE WITH LOVE

Draper James Dallas

draperjamescom

W O R D S N I C O L E J O R D A N

Your de facto search engine is about to become your de facto delivery service Recently launched in the Dallas-Fort Worth area Google Express provides overnight or two-day delivery from stores you already shop at Babies R Us Sur La Table Whole Foods and more Stock up on coffee cosmetics even pet food without stepping foot in a store (cold stuff and alcohol are not available in our area mdash yet) You can also save store loyalty and membership card information to earn your usual perks Delivery is free for Google Express members on eligible orders that meet store minimums and starts at $499 for nonmembers Membership is only $10 a month or $95 per year and the first three months are free

EXPRESS SERVICE

real moms 3 T H I N G S hellip

Google Express $10 per month googlecomexpress

Urbano Enchilada and Taco BarFlower Mound 469763-9582

Fact Dallas-Fort Worth has

no shortage of Tex-Mex

restaurants Yet there

always seems to be anoth-

er one popping up around

the corner The just-

opened Urbano Enchilada

and Taco Bar on Flower

Mound Road intention-

ally sets itself apart from

the rest A project by the

former owners of Mi Sueno

in Argyle the restaurant

elevates standard Mexican

fare by offering craft enchi-

ladas and tacos mdash along

with the standbys expect

to find ingredients like

ahi tuna (sushi-grade no

less) and plenty of veg-

etarian items Adding to

the draw (and date-night

appeal) exposed brick and

reclaimed wood through-

out giving the space an

atmosphere thatrsquos less

theme park and more

industrial chic

tex-mex (but better)

PHO

TOS

COU

RTES

Y O

F D

RAPE

R JA

MES

copyIS

TOC

KCO

M

ELEN

A_D

AN

ILEI

KO I

LLU

STRA

TIO

N B

Y KA

TIE

GA

LASS

O

n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d a u g u s t 2 0 1 6 11

Exceptionaldental careone smile at a time

972-393-9779632 E Sandy Lake Rd Coppell TX 75019

wwwRozasDDScom

Board Certified DiplomatesAmerican Board of Pediatric Dentistry

Dr Melissa Rozas

Dr Loria NahatisDr Terra Compton

copy

Ads

with

copy a

re copy

of L

aure

n P

ublic

atio

ns I

nc 2

016

Grapevine Mills bull 9725395001Rainforestcafecom

With the purchase of an adult entreacutee Not valid with any other offer discount or promotion including Landryrsquos Select Club Offer valid at Grapevine location only

Donrsquot miss our Wednesday Kidrsquos Nights

Treat your tadpole to a free kids meal

n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d a u g u s t 2 0 1 6 11

Exceptionaldental careone smile at a time

972-393-9779632 E Sandy Lake Rd Coppell TX 75019

wwwRozasDDScom

Board Certified DiplomatesAmerican Board of Pediatric Dentistry

Dr Melissa Rozas

Dr Loria NahatisDr Terra Compton

copy

Ads

with

copy a

re copy

of L

aure

n P

ublic

atio

ns I

nc 2

016

Grapevine Mills bull 9725395001Rainforestcafecom

With the purchase of an adult entreacutee Not valid with any other offer discount or promotion including Landryrsquos Select Club Offer valid at Grapevine location only

Donrsquot miss our Wednesday Kidrsquos Nights

Treat your tadpole to a free kids meal

12 a u g u s t 2 0 1 6 n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d

real moms R O U T I N E S

Diaries are penned by moms (and dads) in the North Texas area The authors volunteer to share a day of their choosing and are not paid or endorsed by NorthTexasChild Send your diary to

editorialdfwchildcom All submissions are subject to editing and may be cut for space

the fine

PHO

TO C

OU

RTES

Y O

F N

AT C

HIT

TAM

AI

645AM Breakfast is ready I get Devin up Kirin is already having her breakfast Devin walks into the kitchen still half asleep and sits down at the breakfast table I also sit down with the kids to have my Earl Grey tea and oatmeal I check my work schedule I donrsquot have any in-person client meetings so I decide to go to my downtown office today I also determine that I can take Kirin to her figure skating lesson this afternoon and that Nancy our nanny of nearly six years doesnrsquot need to take her and can stay with Devin at home He doesnrsquot have ice hockey or karate today 7AM The kids brush their teeth and freshen up Roshan and I help the kids put on their clothes although Kirin can do that pretty well all by herself I check to make sure the kids have everything they need for the day 735AM I kiss the kids goodbye and wish them a good day I check my work email and send a couple of quick emails 740AM I text my neighbor friend to see if shersquos ready to go for a walk 745AM Take Weston mdash our dog a shepherd-husky mix mdash for a walk with my neighbor She and Irsquove been taking Weston for a walk for the last several months Itrsquos a great way for us to chitchat and start the day815AM Roshan and I talk about our schedules today I then head off to our room to get ready for work Each day is different for us and wersquore lucky to have flexible schedules As long as I donrsquot have any 9am calls or meetings we stick to this routine 845AM I drive to my office in downtown Dallas 915AM I arrive at my office and log in to email and check todayrsquos schedule Irsquom pleased to see that I donrsquot have any client calls until this after-noon which is unusual So I get a cup of coffee and walk around the office to talk to colleagues about client project statuses and other to-dorsquos 945AM I go back to my office and look at my list of things I need to accomplish today I finally work through emails and add a few things to my list12PM I head downstairs in the tunnels to get something for lunch which takes 20 minutes I take another 20 minutes to eat lunch and use my remaining 20 minutes to complete some personal phone calls 1PM I join client phone calls and work on strat-egy decks 315PM I leave work to drive home to pick up Kirin for figure skating practice 4PM I arrive home and run inside to get Kirin I say hi to Nancy and Devin Kirin is all ready so we pack up the car and head to figure skating practice in Farmers Branch 430PM We arrive at the skating rink Kirin runs inside while I park I find a quiet spot so that I can get some work done while watching Kirinrsquos lesson I take a video of her when shersquos going through her competition routine 530PM We drive back home and I think about what to make for dinner

medhavi balachandran

5 30AM My first alarm goes off I automatically hit the snooze button mdash I have 15 more minutes to sleep 545AM That was the best 15 min-utes of sleep ever Ugh hellip have to

roll out of bed brush teeth and get dressed to work out My dear daughter rolls into the bedroom to make sure Irsquom up and donrsquot slack off Nothing like your own child holding you accountable Irsquod rather work out with my daughter than get up at 5am to work which was my life last year I am determined to do things differently now6AM Depending on the weather Kirin and I either go running or do a workout video at home Today we run Working out together in the morning is a new tradition that wersquove started It gives us a chance to bond before the boys wake up 640AM We finish the workout and I get breakfast ready for Kirin and Devin Then I go wake up Devin who wants to sleep in for another five minutes

A MONDAY IN THE L IFE OF

Medhavi is a health management strategy consultant She lives in

Coppell with Roshan her husband of nearly 13 years who is legal

counsel for Ericsson and a major in the

Army Reserve serving with the 505th Military

Intelligence Brigade and their two kids mdash Kirin 9 and Devin 5

n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d a u g u s t 2 0 1 6 13

FAVORITE INDULGENCE Monthly massages FAVORITE MOVIE The Holiday with Jude Law Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz WHATrsquoS ON HER IPOD Everything from the latest pop music to Guns Nrsquo Roses to Indian classical music GO-TO UNIFORM Jeans and a T-shirt or sweatshirt BY HER BED Are You Fully Charged The 3 Keys to Energizing Your Work and Life by Tom Rath WHAT SHE DOES WHEN LIFE GETS STRESSFUL Clean and take a few min-utes to breathe deeply or meditate DREAM VACATION To visit as many countries as possible in Southeast Asia LEAST FAVORITE CHORE Folding laundry RESTAURANT SHE FREQUENTS WITH THE FAMILY Black Walnut Cafe or Via Real FAVORITE DATE NIGHT SPOT We are on a mission to try as many of Dallasrsquo top 100 restaurants as we can so we donrsquot have one particular spot we go to WHAT SHErsquoS READING Bitter Is the New Black by Jen Lancaster BEVERAGE OF CHOICE Water with lemon no ice BIGGEST CHALLENGE Juggling family and work and ensuring each is priori-tized appropriately WORDS SHE LIVES BY Everything happens for a reason

printthe fine

ILLU

STRA

TIO

N B

Y KA

TIE

GA

LASS

O

6PM We arrive home and I get a status report on how things went while we were at practice Then I go to my room and change and decide to make some pasta and salad for dinner 615PM I open a bottle of wine and pour a glass for myself Finally a minute to relax before starting dinner 7PM Roshan arrives home from work and gets himself a glass of bourbon All the electronics go off and the four of us sit down for dinner and talk about our day and other topics that the kids bring up 730PM Dinnerrsquos done I sit down with Kirin to do her homework while Roshan does the dishes745PM Roshan reads with Devin while Kirin reads in bed 815PM Time for the kids to turn the lights out and get ready for tomorrow Roshan and I hang out for a little while 9PM I log back in to work and finish some things that need to get done today 1030PM I finish up work Lights out Itrsquos been a great day ntc

2021 N MacArthur Blvd Ste 250Irving TX 75061

6750 N MacArthur Blvd Ste 206Irving TX 75039

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Celebrating Godrsquos Greatest Creation a Child

n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d a u g u s t 2 0 1 6 13

FAVORITE INDULGENCE Monthly massages FAVORITE MOVIE The Holiday with Jude Law Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz WHATrsquoS ON HER IPOD Everything from the latest pop music to Guns Nrsquo Roses to Indian classical music GO-TO UNIFORM Jeans and a T-shirt or sweatshirt BY HER BED Are You Fully Charged The 3 Keys to Energizing Your Work and Life by Tom Rath WHAT SHE DOES WHEN LIFE GETS STRESSFUL Clean and take a few min-utes to breathe deeply or meditate DREAM VACATION To visit as many countries as possible in Southeast Asia LEAST FAVORITE CHORE Folding laundry RESTAURANT SHE FREQUENTS WITH THE FAMILY Black Walnut Cafe or Via Real FAVORITE DATE NIGHT SPOT We are on a mission to try as many of Dallasrsquo top 100 restaurants as we can so we donrsquot have one particular spot we go to WHAT SHErsquoS READING Bitter Is the New Black by Jen Lancaster BEVERAGE OF CHOICE Water with lemon no ice BIGGEST CHALLENGE Juggling family and work and ensuring each is priori-tized appropriately WORDS SHE LIVES BY Everything happens for a reason

printthe fine

ILLU

STRA

TIO

N B

Y KA

TIE

GA

LASS

O

6PM We arrive home and I get a status report on how things went while we were at practice Then I go to my room and change and decide to make some pasta and salad for dinner 615PM I open a bottle of wine and pour a glass for myself Finally a minute to relax before starting dinner 7PM Roshan arrives home from work and gets himself a glass of bourbon All the electronics go off and the four of us sit down for dinner and talk about our day and other topics that the kids bring up 730PM Dinnerrsquos done I sit down with Kirin to do her homework while Roshan does the dishes745PM Roshan reads with Devin while Kirin reads in bed 815PM Time for the kids to turn the lights out and get ready for tomorrow Roshan and I hang out for a little while 9PM I log back in to work and finish some things that need to get done today 1030PM I finish up work Lights out Itrsquos been a great day ntc

2021 N MacArthur Blvd Ste 250Irving TX 75061

6750 N MacArthur Blvd Ste 206Irving TX 75039

We Care About Your Family

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Celebrating Godrsquos Greatest Creation a Child

n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d a u g u s t 2 0 1 6 15

n January during a middle school gym class 12-year-old Indiyah Rush was carrying her rescue inhaler as she does every day The Rowlett girl has asthma her mom Monique Rush says she wants Indiyah to be prepared in case of a debilitat-ing attack But in this case the emergency wasnrsquot Indiyahrsquos When Alexis Kyle 13 began having an

asthma attack Indiyah didnrsquot hesitate to share her medica-tion with her classmate

Although Rush says her daughter thought she was doing the right thing mdash potentially saving a life mdash Schrade Middle School didnrsquot agree Citing its zero-tolerance policy on shar-ing controlled substances (prescription asthma medication included) Garland ISD automatically suspended both girls pending an appeals process The suspensions were lifted within a week but Rush still has reservations about how the school will react in an emergency ldquoMy fears were what would have happened to [Alexis] if my daughter hadnrsquot done what she didrdquo

Properly planning for emergencies in the classroom is just one more source of stress for parents of kids with asthma a chronic disease that inflames and narrows airways in the lungs making it difficult to breathe Asthma has a serious impact on local families affecting nearly 100000 North Texas kids In 2013 more than 1500 children in the Dallas-Fort Worth area visited hospital emergency rooms or were admitted to a hospital with a primary or secondary diagnosis of asthma And 54 percent of Texas kids with asthma missed at least one day of school in the past 12 months

IW O R D S

S T E P H A N I E E M M AP F E F F E R

I L L U S T R A T I O N SE L L I O T S T O K E S

WHENASTHMAATTACKS

Learning about the condition that leaves so many North Texas kids breathless

While the exact cause of asthma is unknown doctors say there is a genetic predisposition for it People with a family history of asthma or allergies are more prone to developing asthma other risk factors include obesity exposure to secondhand smoke and environmental factors such

as air pollution Children from low-income households are more likely to have asthma because of lack of affordable health care and without access to medications they are more likely to land in the hospital with flare-ups

Asthmatic kids experience wheezing tightness in the chest and persistent coughing due to inflammation of lung tissue tightening of airways and increased mucus produc-tion according to Dr Sam Foster of the North Texas Allergy

amp Asthma Center in Denton ldquoSymptoms may be worse at night or with more intense activity like

playing sports or runningrdquo he says ldquoSometimes just laughing can worsen asthma symptomsrdquo

Jack Mitchell was only 8 months old when he landed in the emergency room because he couldnrsquot breathe

ldquoIt was awfulrdquo says mom Emily Mitchell of Lakewood ldquoHe had a combi-nation of a high fever and wheezing It broke my heart that there was nothing I could dordquo A year and a half later Jack was officially diagnosed with asthma

Therersquos no cure for asthma and it can be life-threatening if not prop-erly managed The key to reducing flare-ups is preventive treatment mdash both knowing and avoiding triggers that cause a reaction mdash and taking medicine to alleviate symptoms before they get out of control

16 a u g u s t 2 0 1 6 n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d

THE TRIGGERS AROUND US While some asthma triggers such as allergens or illness are present all year long back-to-school time is especially challenging for chil-dren with asthma

ldquoKids are getting together in classrooms and passing respirato-ry viruses around to each otherrdquo explains Dr Nancy Dambro medical director of Pulmonary Services at Cook Childrenrsquos in Fort Worth

The weather is also partially to blame

ldquoFor children who have pollen allergies as a trigger for asthma the change in season is a peak periodrdquo adds Dr Angela Moemeka medical director Community Health at Childrenrsquos Health in Dallas ldquoGoing from winter to spring or summer to fall can cause an increase in asthma symptomsrdquo

Exercise triggered Arlington mom Kala Battsrsquo son Micahrsquos asthma The now 8-year-old developed respiratory issues when he was playing sports ldquoHe was my regular active kid up until he was 4 frac12 years old and all of a sudden he couldnrsquot breathe rightrdquo she says

ldquoDuring soccer he would start this short shallow cough He would be running and then I would physically see his shoulders go up to his ears He would clutch his shirt slowly slouch and walk over to the sidelinesrdquo

And that was just the beginning ldquoHe would freak himself outrdquo

she remembers ldquoHe was strug-gling to breathe so badly that he got scared And the more you cry the more you hyperventilate so it just made it worserdquo

At 5 Micah was diagnosed with activity onset asthma as well as allergy onset asthma

ldquoOnce we found out what triggered him it was like lsquoOh my gosh Hersquos got all of these environmental and seasonal threats hitting him and then hersquos running so hersquos got the physical activity on top of that Thatrsquos why he canrsquot breathe I get thisrsquordquo

Micahrsquos case is typical say doctors Kids usually show signs of asthma before age 5 Itrsquos more common in boys before puberty and in girls after puberty leading

HOUSE HYGIENE

Keep your household free of asthma-

triggering allergens

some doctors to believe that hor-mones play a role

ldquoThe diagnosis of asthma is based on symptoms the num-ber of times a child goes to the doctorrsquos office or ER and how often he requires certain types of medications to improve his symptomsrdquo Moemeka says And even if a child presents with wheezing in the first few years of life due to viral infections for example doc-tors prefer to hold off on an asthma diagno-sis ldquoEverything that wheezes isnrsquot asthmardquo Moemoeka says

TAKE YOUR MEDICINE Experts clas-sify asthma as ldquointermittentrdquo if a child has an asthmatic episode only once or twice per week and ldquopersistentrdquo if it happens daily

ldquoPeople who have infrequent symptoms may only use medications on demand whereas more severe and frequent symp-toms usually require daily medicationsrdquo Foster says An albuterol inhaler or treatment administered through a nebulizer breathing machine for example is known as a fast-acting ldquorescuerdquo medi-cine and used when a child first shows symptoms However the first line of defense in a child with persistent asthma is an inhaled steroid or daily oral anti-inflammatory medication

Thatrsquos what finally worked for Jack whose asthma is triggered by colds Today the 4-year-oldrsquos

condition is under control but itrsquos been a long road to learning how to manage the disease After a particularly bad cold at age 2 he was admitted to the hospital for several days and prescribed a daily steroid

These days he also takes albuterol to open his breath-

ing passages and relax his muscles when a flare-up seems to be coming on ldquoIf I hear a lot of coughing at night I will start using alb-uterol because I know where this is goingrdquo Mitchell says ldquoI finally feel like wersquore on top of it mdash after being afraid of colds for yearsrdquo

Batts took a different approach supplementing traditional nebu-lizing breath-ing treatments (which Micah once had to do up to four times a day including at school) with essential oils Using natural remedies to help control asthma is controversial at best within the medical community though Batts claims the com-bination has been successful for Micah ldquoYou

know when your kid needs extra helprdquo she says ldquoMoms know their kids bestrdquo

CLEARING THE AIR There are certainly many moms trading asthma survival stories in North Texas The Dallas-Fort Worth area is the 11th most pol-luted city for ozone according to the American Lung Association which can trigger asthma attacks

ldquoOzone pollution is likely due in part to old factories in the area with outdated equipment and infrastructurerdquo says Cheryl McCarver executive director of the Health and Wellness Alliance for Children in Dallas a coalition of community-based organiza-tions ldquoThe pollutants in the air particles are still very high and the air comes into the area and causes breathing problemsrdquo

McCarver emphasizes that therersquos more to asthma than the outside environment whatrsquos inside homes matters as well

ldquoOne of the things we work through is the actual quality of the indoor environment the car-pet whether children are allergic to pets or insects mold things like thatrdquo she says

So whatrsquos a parent to do if their kid seems to be showing signs First mdash and this is critical Dambro says mdash is to define the pattern of symptoms

ldquoThe most common thing I see is patients who are defined in the intermittent category and not given preventive medicine Then they get really sick and land in the intensive care unitrdquo she says Thatrsquos because parents tend to downplay symptoms to doctors ldquoTherersquos an old-fashioned notion that a lot of people didnrsquot want to be labeled with the diagnosis of asthmardquo Dambro explains But this step is crucial to getting kids the right treatment plan

Second be informed ldquoThe patient has to partner

with the doctor and be educated about how the illness works and how the medicine worksrdquo Dambro explains

In fact developing a written action plan with your doctor is one of the best ways to avoid a visit to the emergency room

ldquoWriting things down helps a person control and own their diseaserdquo Foster adds ldquoAnd itrsquos enabling for parents Rather than looking online or talking to Grandma or trying to figure out what to do they have written instructionsrdquo The plan which should also be given to schools day-care providers and after-school programs details a childrsquos triggers what to do during a flare-up mdash including when and

D U S T M I T E S Vacuum carpets and furniture Use pillow and mattress covers

Wash sheets in hot water once a week

P E T D A N D E R If you have pets keep them out

of bedrooms

M O L D Close windows and use air

conditioning when possible Monitor humidity

S T R O N G S M E L L S Use cleaning agents that

are non-irritating and skip perfumes and air fresheners

R O A C H E S Fix leaks to avoid standing

water Store items in plastic boxes not cardboard

S M O K E Donrsquot let anyone smoke around

your child Avoid barbecues and bonfires

n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d a u g u s t 2 0 1 6 17

how to give fast-acting rescue medicine mdash and when to call the doctor or seek emergency care

In addition to submitting an action plan to your childrsquos school familiarize yourself with district resources and policies mdash which as Indiyah Rush and Alexis Kyle found out can be a source of uncertainty Per the Texas Education Code students can carry and self-administer prescription asthma medication (with the right documentation) but districts may have differing asthma management programs and emergency protocols so itrsquos important to do your homework Communicate with your school nurse and administrators to learn what paperwork you need to have on file who can administer your childrsquos medication and when what kind of asthma training the teachers and staff have received and how the school will respond in an emergency

Third administer the medi-cines as prescribed

ldquoItrsquos a pretty simple thing to do to give two puffs in the morning and two puffs in the night but an incredible number of parents forget to give it donrsquot give it regularly or stop giving itrdquo Dambro says

One of the reasons parents stop is because they start to see fewer symptoms and mistakenly think their child has outgrown the asthma Unfortunately that can backfire and lead to an even worse attack Other parents stop giving medicine because they simply donrsquot want their kids to take pharmaceutical drugs or are wary of the side effects of steroids (although experts in the medical community say small doses of inhaled steroids are gen-erally safe)

Of course identifying and learning to minimize or avoid triggers is also a big piece of the puzzle in keeping the disease under control

For Batts that means not let-ting Micah sign up for soccer

ldquoHersquos playing baseball right now because therersquos less run-ningrdquo she says But since he can breathe and actually enjoy him-self on the field he doesnrsquot mind ldquoNow that we have his condi-

tion under control he is vibrant againrdquo Batts says

BREATHING BETTER TOGETHER Fortunately there are also steps that can be taken on a communi-ty-wide level according to Foster

ldquoVaccinate for the flu itrsquos a leading cause of hospitalization for children with asthmardquo he says ldquoEncourage exercise and an age-appro-priate diet Breastfeed when pos-sible mdash itrsquos believed to reduce the riskrdquo

But the best solution for now is educating North Texas residents In addition to teaching par-ents to create a healthy indoor envi-ronment for their kids groups like the Health and Wellness Alliance for Children examine social determinants that impact families

This is again where socioeco-nomic factors can come into play ldquoA lot of chil-dren live in poverty and that affects their familyrsquos ability to fight asthmardquo McCarver says ldquoWe donrsquot want them to have to choose health over paying bills to keep the lights onrdquo

Comprehensive approaches may be one reason asthma-related ER visits in the area have declined ldquoOver the last 10 years or so we have seen decreased rates of hospitalization and fewer deaths in children with asthmardquo Foster says From 2012

LOCALRESOURCES

to 2015 patient visits for asthma to Childrenrsquos Health Emergency Department decreased by 49 percent ldquoAll of this shows that changes in guidelines and increased awareness in the medi-cal community and community at large is making some stridesrdquo Foster adds

While experts will be watch-ing to see if this trend continues there is one thing they can all

agree on in the meantime the impor-tance of the parentrsquos role in helping doctors diag-nose treat and manage asthma

ldquoA mom should trust what she knows about her child and to bring that informa-tion to the pediatricianrdquo McCarver says ldquoParents are the experts mdash their in-stincts and concerns are valid mdash and they should be eager to share that informa-tion to help pediatricians support the well being of their childrenrdquo

For Mitchell it was a matter of not only

trusting her instincts but also finding the right care especially since she has started to see signs of asthma in her 2-year-old daughter Nora as well

ldquoI am actually thankful for the time Jack was admitted to the hospitalrdquo she says looking back on her scary experience ldquoI learned so much The doctors and the nurses were fantastic They taught me everything about asth-ma I needed to knowrdquo ntc

Where to go to help your little one mdash and you mdash breathe a little easier

ASTHMA MANAGEMENT PROGRAM AT CHILDRENrsquoS

MEDICAL CENTERThree- to six-month education and

care coordination plan that requires a doctor referral Children receive a peak flow meter hypoallergenic pillowcase and more plus a home visit from an asthma expert to talk through specific allergens and how

to limit or control them Dallas 214456-5864

childrenscom

ASTHMA MANAGEMENT APPSChildrenrsquos Healthrsquos MY ASTHMA

PAL (mobilesmithcom) ASTHMAMD (asthmamdorg) and ASTHMASENSE (asthmasensecom) allow users to log asthma attacks chart severity

and get medicine reminders Follow action plans by coupling the app

with a peak flow meter that gauges lung performance

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR RESPIRATORY CARE

A national organization of respirato-ry therapists that offers a free peak-

flow based program for schools Irving 972243-2272 aarcorg

NORTH TEXAS ASTHMA CONSORTIUM

Develops and implements chari-table educational and scientific programs to help North Texans

with asthma achieve optimal health One example is the School Flag Program which makes staff and

students aware of daily air quality conditions using flags color coded according to the Air Quality Index214456-4789 northtexasasthmaorg

ASTHMA EDUCATION CLASS AT COOK CHILDRENrsquoS

Review asthma symptoms triggers and medication as well as home

management plans $25 for up to two adults free for children older

than 6 who have asthma Fort Worth 682885-4170

cookchildrensorg

ACTION PLAN EXAMPLES An asthma action plan tells you

what to do when your child is feel-ing well (known as green zone)

starting to feel sick (yellow zone) and isnrsquot getting better (red zone)

The Health amp Wellness Alliance offers a good example

healthandwellnessalliancecom

ldquoThe patient has to partner with the doctor

and be educated about how the illness works and how the

medicine worksrdquo

W O R D S P A M E L A H A M M O N D S

pathways Sufficient sleep is vital for cognitive function memory mood and good health

Last year the National Sleep Foundation released their recommendations for the ideal amount of sleep

3ndash5 Y E A R S 10ndash13 hours per night6ndash13 Y E A R S 9ndash11 hours each night The expertsrsquo sound sleep advice Create a

cave-like atmosphere in the kidsrsquo rooms Make them cool dark quiet and void of distractions like electronics

And if summertime sleep patterns have changed significantly it can be a struggle to shift

from late nights and lazy days to a more de-manding earlier-to-bed early-to-rise rou-

tine So start now Experts recommend moving the bedtime schedule up by 15 to 30 minutes every few nights

If you think sleep might be an is-sue for your little one mdash whether you

After nearly three months of basically no bed-time fun with Grandma and cousins swimming trips to the beach and sleeping in mdash bam mdash Au-gust has arrived And with it mounting to-do lists for you that include school registrations doctorsrsquo checkups shopping and more

You already get lots of back-to-school informa-tion mdash reading lists supply lists names of kids in the class perhaps mdash but no one gives Mom a list to prep for the weeks leading up to school and to make the transition easier for the kids (and you) So we gathered the best local resources and assembled tips to help you and your littles start school stress-free

KIDS NEED ZZZZZrsquoS TO MAKE ArsquoSItrsquos no secret that tired kids (and adults) donrsquot perform well Brains need downtime in order to form new

B A C K - T O - S C H O O L

18 a u g u s t 2 0 1 6 n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d

Seven tips and tricks

from the pros to help

you breeze through prepping

for the new school year

2 0 1 6S U R V I V A L G U I D E

sons prevents you from making an ill-advised fast-food pit stop Local grocers stock freshly cut fruit and veggies or stop in Snap Kitchen My Fit Foods or other health-conscious shops for meals and snacks to go

S N A P K I TC H E N multiple locations snapkitchencomMY F I T F O O D S multiple locations myfitfoodscom

Fresh fruit (apples oranges grapes and ba-nanas) and veggies (carrots with hummus colorful peppers with low-fat ranch dressing) are naturally good choices according to Laura Walker clinical dietitian at Childrenrsquos Health but she also suggests low-fat turkey or ham rolled around a cheese stick protein-rich nut butters such as peanut or almond as a fruit dip salsa with cucumbers jicama or celery sticks pretzels with soft cheese popcorn without butter brown rice cakes whole-grain cereals nuts trail mix with dried unsweetened fruit and kale chips

Aim to keep snacks between 150 to 200 calories ldquoAny more than that and kids will be too full for dinnerrdquo Walker advises She also says water is best and to avoid juice or sports drinks with sweeteners and artificial colors ldquoYou can add in cucumber slices with mint or lemon lime or or-ange juice to mineral water for flavor All of these are good choices to replenish lost electrolytes after sports or outdoor activitiesrdquo

AFTER-SCHOOL VANSPORTATION Sometimes itrsquos not possible to get your child to where she needs to be and burdening another (equally busy) mom to shuttle your kiddo may not be an option

Luckily on-demand kid-friendly services cart the kids to extracurricular activities throughout the North Texas area KAM Kidrsquos Cab and Goin My Way drive kids as young as 3 and charge a flat daily rate that starts at $15 round trip and varies depending on the distance traveled

K AM K I D rsquoS C A B 214295-2409 kamkidscabcom

G O I N MY WAY 972644-5437 kidtransportationcom

Both of these services require drivers to pass background checks and drug and alcohol testing Drivers must also be trained in first aid and

CPR plus vans are equipped with a first aid kit and fire extinguisher mdash all safety

must-haves to look for when vetting any car service for your kids Also be sure to ask

how yoursquoll be notified when your child arrives at his or her destination

PARENT PARTICIPATIONHats off to parents who volunteer their time to support their childrenrsquos schools mdash a move thatrsquos been shown to positively impact teachersrsquo job

satisfaction and student motivation Whether your school encourages in-class participation such as reading to kids (or listening to them

read) or prefers parents keep to serving on the PTA look for ways to get involved

Some teachers opt to assign duties to parents on an as-needed basis others want room parents to handle the delegation of tasks If a demand-ing job (or littles at home) prohibits your in-class involvement ask to perform activities off-campus such as cutting out items for bulletin boards Or donate teacher wishlist supplies like books and other learning tools

Join the PTA Therersquos no better way to know whatrsquos going on inside the school that that

Choose only the tasks or volunteer duties that you have the time for Itrsquos always better to under-promise and overdeliver

OFF-BEAT AFTER-SCHOOL ENRICHMENTTherersquos no shortage of after-school classes activi-ties and sports for kids to explore Need proof Check out our DFWEverything guide (dfwchildcomdfweverything) and turn to page 21 for more after-school activities in this issue

This fall why not look for something a bit more unexpected than the requisite soccer or dance classes Let kids spend the afternoon or weekend learning a second (or third) language such as German or Spanish Semester tuition varies from around $250ndash$330 for one class per week

DA L L A S G O E T H E C E N T E R Dallas 972207-4319dallasgoethecenterorg T H E G E R MA N S C H O O L O F DA L L A S Southlake 972416-3421 germanschooldallasorg S PA N I S H S C H O O L H O U S E multiple locations 972618-2500 spanishschoolhousecom

Are the Summer Olympics inspiring an inner athlete in your little Sign kids ages 4 and older up for horseback riding and jump-ing lessons through Bridlewood Stables amp

Equestrian Center or Summer Hill Farms both of which offer group and private lessons Circle

D Ranch also offers after-school private or group roping and barrel lessons to riders ages 8 and older Expect to pay about $50 per hour-long lesson with discounts for group lessons or package rates

B R I D L E WO O D S TA B L E S amp E Q U E S T R I A N C E N T E R Flower Mound 972355-7866 bridlewoodequestriancomS U M M E R H I L L FA R M S Flower Mound 817875-9082 summerhillfarmsorgC I R C L E D R A N C H Hickory Creek 214335-6404 circledranchboardinglessonstrainingtexascom

Or enlist them to volunteer after school Check Wee Volunteer and ask at your commu-nityrsquos library senior center and activity center for afternoon volunteer opportunities for students While Boy and Girl Scouts and Junior Achievement are national orga-nizations with solid reputa-tions with a little investigat-ing you can find other outlets for growing kidsrsquo characters including your place of worship ntc

W E E VO LU N T E E R weevolunteerorg

S U R V I V A L G U I D E

n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d a u g u s t 2 0 1 6 19

worry shersquos not getting enough or sleeping too much mdash schedule an appointment with the pe-diatrician The doctor might suggest diet changes a better before-bed routine or a sleep study After all adults arenrsquot the only ones who suffer from disorders such as sleep apnea and insomnia

IN-HOUSE HOMEWORK HELPWhile tutors once focused on helping children who were falling behind in a certain subject they are now being hired to guide students through a challenging course or ensure that your sonrsquos grades match or exceed his peersrsquo

Teachers might have recommendations and school districts often provide lists of potential tutors online but companies like Club Z Varsity Tutors Grade Potential DallasHomeTutorscom and In-Home Tutors Dallas offer in-home tutor-ing services to students in grades Kndash12 (Varsity

Tutors Grade Potential and In-Home Tutors Dallas actually start with

kids in pre-K) throughout North Texas saving you time in the car and making your child feel more relaxed and comfortable Expect to pay an hourly rate that

can vary from $25ndash$68 for these tutors equipped to help

kids with a myriad of subjects including test prep

C LU B Z 888434-2582 clubztutoringcomVA R S I T Y T U TO R S 214206-7940 varsitytutorscomG R A D E P OT E N T I A L 888978-3364 gradepotentialtutoringcomDA L L A S H O M E T U TO R SCO M 972559-4484dallashometutorscom I N - H O M E T U TO R S DA L L A S 214347-9400inhometutorsdallascom

SHOP SMARTERHit the malls and stores the weekend of August 5ndash7 to buy the kidsrsquo backpacks clothing footwear and school supplies and save the sales tax on items that are less than $100 each

Follow favorite local shops on Facebook and Twitter and watch for deals they post Some stores even offer coupons via text or special promotions if you check in on Foursquare or Facebook while yoursquore there

And even if shopping secondhand isnrsquot your thing sell the kidsrsquo gently used clothing to make extra spending money you can use elsewhere Once Upon a Child and Kid to Kid have locations across North Texas and pay cash on the spot for lightly worn shoes and clothing

O N C E U P O N A C H I L D multiple locations onceuponachildcomK I D TO K I D multiple locations kidtokidcomtexas

SERVE HEALTHIER SNACKSA well-stocked fridge and pantry are key to curb-ing after-school hunger pangs without spoiling your littlersquos appetite and preparing snacks for eating on the way to lacrosse practice or piano les-

20 a u g u s t 2 0 1 6 n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d

New in 2016Print-At-home Tickets amp

Coupon Vouchers

ON SALE NOW AT

BIGTEXCOM

sept 30 - oct 23fair park middot Dallas

air northtexas

Biking with your child on the way to school gives you more quality time together and allows you to avoid

idling in the drop off and pick up lines By driving less yoursquoll help to reduce emissions and keep North Texas

air clean Learn more at wwwairnorthtexasorg

pedaling therehelps the air

Biking with your child on the way to school gives you more quality time together and allows you to avoid

idling in the drop off and pick up lines By driving less yoursquoll help to reduce emissions and keep North Texas

air clean Learn more at wwwairnorthtexasorg

16 a u g u s t 2 0 1 6 n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d

THE TRIGGERS AROUND US While some asthma triggers such as allergens or illness are present all year long back-to-school time is especially challenging for chil-dren with asthma

ldquoKids are getting together in classrooms and passing respirato-ry viruses around to each otherrdquo explains Dr Nancy Dambro medical director of Pulmonary Services at Cook Childrenrsquos in Fort Worth

The weather is also partially to blame

ldquoFor children who have pollen allergies as a trigger for asthma the change in season is a peak periodrdquo adds Dr Angela Moemeka medical director Community Health at Childrenrsquos Health in Dallas ldquoGoing from winter to spring or summer to fall can cause an increase in asthma symptomsrdquo

Exercise triggered Arlington mom Kala Battsrsquo son Micahrsquos asthma The now 8-year-old developed respiratory issues when he was playing sports ldquoHe was my regular active kid up until he was 4 frac12 years old and all of a sudden he couldnrsquot breathe rightrdquo she says

ldquoDuring soccer he would start this short shallow cough He would be running and then I would physically see his shoulders go up to his ears He would clutch his shirt slowly slouch and walk over to the sidelinesrdquo

And that was just the beginning ldquoHe would freak himself outrdquo

she remembers ldquoHe was strug-gling to breathe so badly that he got scared And the more you cry the more you hyperventilate so it just made it worserdquo

At 5 Micah was diagnosed with activity onset asthma as well as allergy onset asthma

ldquoOnce we found out what triggered him it was like lsquoOh my gosh Hersquos got all of these environmental and seasonal threats hitting him and then hersquos running so hersquos got the physical activity on top of that Thatrsquos why he canrsquot breathe I get thisrsquordquo

Micahrsquos case is typical say doctors Kids usually show signs of asthma before age 5 Itrsquos more common in boys before puberty and in girls after puberty leading

HOUSE HYGIENE

Keep your household free of asthma-

triggering allergens

some doctors to believe that hor-mones play a role

ldquoThe diagnosis of asthma is based on symptoms the num-ber of times a child goes to the doctorrsquos office or ER and how often he requires certain types of medications to improve his symptomsrdquo Moemeka says And even if a child presents with wheezing in the first few years of life due to viral infections for example doc-tors prefer to hold off on an asthma diagno-sis ldquoEverything that wheezes isnrsquot asthmardquo Moemoeka says

TAKE YOUR MEDICINE Experts clas-sify asthma as ldquointermittentrdquo if a child has an asthmatic episode only once or twice per week and ldquopersistentrdquo if it happens daily

ldquoPeople who have infrequent symptoms may only use medications on demand whereas more severe and frequent symp-toms usually require daily medicationsrdquo Foster says An albuterol inhaler or treatment administered through a nebulizer breathing machine for example is known as a fast-acting ldquorescuerdquo medi-cine and used when a child first shows symptoms However the first line of defense in a child with persistent asthma is an inhaled steroid or daily oral anti-inflammatory medication

Thatrsquos what finally worked for Jack whose asthma is triggered by colds Today the 4-year-oldrsquos

condition is under control but itrsquos been a long road to learning how to manage the disease After a particularly bad cold at age 2 he was admitted to the hospital for several days and prescribed a daily steroid

These days he also takes albuterol to open his breath-

ing passages and relax his muscles when a flare-up seems to be coming on ldquoIf I hear a lot of coughing at night I will start using alb-uterol because I know where this is goingrdquo Mitchell says ldquoI finally feel like wersquore on top of it mdash after being afraid of colds for yearsrdquo

Batts took a different approach supplementing traditional nebu-lizing breath-ing treatments (which Micah once had to do up to four times a day including at school) with essential oils Using natural remedies to help control asthma is controversial at best within the medical community though Batts claims the com-bination has been successful for Micah ldquoYou

know when your kid needs extra helprdquo she says ldquoMoms know their kids bestrdquo

CLEARING THE AIR There are certainly many moms trading asthma survival stories in North Texas The Dallas-Fort Worth area is the 11th most pol-luted city for ozone according to the American Lung Association which can trigger asthma attacks

ldquoOzone pollution is likely due in part to old factories in the area with outdated equipment and infrastructurerdquo says Cheryl McCarver executive director of the Health and Wellness Alliance for Children in Dallas a coalition of community-based organiza-tions ldquoThe pollutants in the air particles are still very high and the air comes into the area and causes breathing problemsrdquo

McCarver emphasizes that therersquos more to asthma than the outside environment whatrsquos inside homes matters as well

ldquoOne of the things we work through is the actual quality of the indoor environment the car-pet whether children are allergic to pets or insects mold things like thatrdquo she says

So whatrsquos a parent to do if their kid seems to be showing signs First mdash and this is critical Dambro says mdash is to define the pattern of symptoms

ldquoThe most common thing I see is patients who are defined in the intermittent category and not given preventive medicine Then they get really sick and land in the intensive care unitrdquo she says Thatrsquos because parents tend to downplay symptoms to doctors ldquoTherersquos an old-fashioned notion that a lot of people didnrsquot want to be labeled with the diagnosis of asthmardquo Dambro explains But this step is crucial to getting kids the right treatment plan

Second be informed ldquoThe patient has to partner

with the doctor and be educated about how the illness works and how the medicine worksrdquo Dambro explains

In fact developing a written action plan with your doctor is one of the best ways to avoid a visit to the emergency room

ldquoWriting things down helps a person control and own their diseaserdquo Foster adds ldquoAnd itrsquos enabling for parents Rather than looking online or talking to Grandma or trying to figure out what to do they have written instructionsrdquo The plan which should also be given to schools day-care providers and after-school programs details a childrsquos triggers what to do during a flare-up mdash including when and

D U S T M I T E S Vacuum carpets and furniture Use pillow and mattress covers

Wash sheets in hot water once a week

P E T D A N D E R If you have pets keep them out

of bedrooms

M O L D Close windows and use air

conditioning when possible Monitor humidity

S T R O N G S M E L L S Use cleaning agents that

are non-irritating and skip perfumes and air fresheners

R O A C H E S Fix leaks to avoid standing

water Store items in plastic boxes not cardboard

S M O K E Donrsquot let anyone smoke around

your child Avoid barbecues and bonfires

n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d a u g u s t 2 0 1 6 17

how to give fast-acting rescue medicine mdash and when to call the doctor or seek emergency care

In addition to submitting an action plan to your childrsquos school familiarize yourself with district resources and policies mdash which as Indiyah Rush and Alexis Kyle found out can be a source of uncertainty Per the Texas Education Code students can carry and self-administer prescription asthma medication (with the right documentation) but districts may have differing asthma management programs and emergency protocols so itrsquos important to do your homework Communicate with your school nurse and administrators to learn what paperwork you need to have on file who can administer your childrsquos medication and when what kind of asthma training the teachers and staff have received and how the school will respond in an emergency

Third administer the medi-cines as prescribed

ldquoItrsquos a pretty simple thing to do to give two puffs in the morning and two puffs in the night but an incredible number of parents forget to give it donrsquot give it regularly or stop giving itrdquo Dambro says

One of the reasons parents stop is because they start to see fewer symptoms and mistakenly think their child has outgrown the asthma Unfortunately that can backfire and lead to an even worse attack Other parents stop giving medicine because they simply donrsquot want their kids to take pharmaceutical drugs or are wary of the side effects of steroids (although experts in the medical community say small doses of inhaled steroids are gen-erally safe)

Of course identifying and learning to minimize or avoid triggers is also a big piece of the puzzle in keeping the disease under control

For Batts that means not let-ting Micah sign up for soccer

ldquoHersquos playing baseball right now because therersquos less run-ningrdquo she says But since he can breathe and actually enjoy him-self on the field he doesnrsquot mind ldquoNow that we have his condi-

tion under control he is vibrant againrdquo Batts says

BREATHING BETTER TOGETHER Fortunately there are also steps that can be taken on a communi-ty-wide level according to Foster

ldquoVaccinate for the flu itrsquos a leading cause of hospitalization for children with asthmardquo he says ldquoEncourage exercise and an age-appro-priate diet Breastfeed when pos-sible mdash itrsquos believed to reduce the riskrdquo

But the best solution for now is educating North Texas residents In addition to teaching par-ents to create a healthy indoor envi-ronment for their kids groups like the Health and Wellness Alliance for Children examine social determinants that impact families

This is again where socioeco-nomic factors can come into play ldquoA lot of chil-dren live in poverty and that affects their familyrsquos ability to fight asthmardquo McCarver says ldquoWe donrsquot want them to have to choose health over paying bills to keep the lights onrdquo

Comprehensive approaches may be one reason asthma-related ER visits in the area have declined ldquoOver the last 10 years or so we have seen decreased rates of hospitalization and fewer deaths in children with asthmardquo Foster says From 2012

LOCALRESOURCES

to 2015 patient visits for asthma to Childrenrsquos Health Emergency Department decreased by 49 percent ldquoAll of this shows that changes in guidelines and increased awareness in the medi-cal community and community at large is making some stridesrdquo Foster adds

While experts will be watch-ing to see if this trend continues there is one thing they can all

agree on in the meantime the impor-tance of the parentrsquos role in helping doctors diag-nose treat and manage asthma

ldquoA mom should trust what she knows about her child and to bring that informa-tion to the pediatricianrdquo McCarver says ldquoParents are the experts mdash their in-stincts and concerns are valid mdash and they should be eager to share that informa-tion to help pediatricians support the well being of their childrenrdquo

For Mitchell it was a matter of not only

trusting her instincts but also finding the right care especially since she has started to see signs of asthma in her 2-year-old daughter Nora as well

ldquoI am actually thankful for the time Jack was admitted to the hospitalrdquo she says looking back on her scary experience ldquoI learned so much The doctors and the nurses were fantastic They taught me everything about asth-ma I needed to knowrdquo ntc

Where to go to help your little one mdash and you mdash breathe a little easier

ASTHMA MANAGEMENT PROGRAM AT CHILDRENrsquoS

MEDICAL CENTERThree- to six-month education and

care coordination plan that requires a doctor referral Children receive a peak flow meter hypoallergenic pillowcase and more plus a home visit from an asthma expert to talk through specific allergens and how

to limit or control them Dallas 214456-5864

childrenscom

ASTHMA MANAGEMENT APPSChildrenrsquos Healthrsquos MY ASTHMA

PAL (mobilesmithcom) ASTHMAMD (asthmamdorg) and ASTHMASENSE (asthmasensecom) allow users to log asthma attacks chart severity

and get medicine reminders Follow action plans by coupling the app

with a peak flow meter that gauges lung performance

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR RESPIRATORY CARE

A national organization of respirato-ry therapists that offers a free peak-

flow based program for schools Irving 972243-2272 aarcorg

NORTH TEXAS ASTHMA CONSORTIUM

Develops and implements chari-table educational and scientific programs to help North Texans

with asthma achieve optimal health One example is the School Flag Program which makes staff and

students aware of daily air quality conditions using flags color coded according to the Air Quality Index214456-4789 northtexasasthmaorg

ASTHMA EDUCATION CLASS AT COOK CHILDRENrsquoS

Review asthma symptoms triggers and medication as well as home

management plans $25 for up to two adults free for children older

than 6 who have asthma Fort Worth 682885-4170

cookchildrensorg

ACTION PLAN EXAMPLES An asthma action plan tells you

what to do when your child is feel-ing well (known as green zone)

starting to feel sick (yellow zone) and isnrsquot getting better (red zone)

The Health amp Wellness Alliance offers a good example

healthandwellnessalliancecom

ldquoThe patient has to partner with the doctor

and be educated about how the illness works and how the

medicine worksrdquo

W O R D S P A M E L A H A M M O N D S

pathways Sufficient sleep is vital for cognitive function memory mood and good health

Last year the National Sleep Foundation released their recommendations for the ideal amount of sleep

3ndash5 Y E A R S 10ndash13 hours per night6ndash13 Y E A R S 9ndash11 hours each night The expertsrsquo sound sleep advice Create a

cave-like atmosphere in the kidsrsquo rooms Make them cool dark quiet and void of distractions like electronics

And if summertime sleep patterns have changed significantly it can be a struggle to shift

from late nights and lazy days to a more de-manding earlier-to-bed early-to-rise rou-

tine So start now Experts recommend moving the bedtime schedule up by 15 to 30 minutes every few nights

If you think sleep might be an is-sue for your little one mdash whether you

After nearly three months of basically no bed-time fun with Grandma and cousins swimming trips to the beach and sleeping in mdash bam mdash Au-gust has arrived And with it mounting to-do lists for you that include school registrations doctorsrsquo checkups shopping and more

You already get lots of back-to-school informa-tion mdash reading lists supply lists names of kids in the class perhaps mdash but no one gives Mom a list to prep for the weeks leading up to school and to make the transition easier for the kids (and you) So we gathered the best local resources and assembled tips to help you and your littles start school stress-free

KIDS NEED ZZZZZrsquoS TO MAKE ArsquoSItrsquos no secret that tired kids (and adults) donrsquot perform well Brains need downtime in order to form new

B A C K - T O - S C H O O L

18 a u g u s t 2 0 1 6 n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d

Seven tips and tricks

from the pros to help

you breeze through prepping

for the new school year

2 0 1 6S U R V I V A L G U I D E

sons prevents you from making an ill-advised fast-food pit stop Local grocers stock freshly cut fruit and veggies or stop in Snap Kitchen My Fit Foods or other health-conscious shops for meals and snacks to go

S N A P K I TC H E N multiple locations snapkitchencomMY F I T F O O D S multiple locations myfitfoodscom

Fresh fruit (apples oranges grapes and ba-nanas) and veggies (carrots with hummus colorful peppers with low-fat ranch dressing) are naturally good choices according to Laura Walker clinical dietitian at Childrenrsquos Health but she also suggests low-fat turkey or ham rolled around a cheese stick protein-rich nut butters such as peanut or almond as a fruit dip salsa with cucumbers jicama or celery sticks pretzels with soft cheese popcorn without butter brown rice cakes whole-grain cereals nuts trail mix with dried unsweetened fruit and kale chips

Aim to keep snacks between 150 to 200 calories ldquoAny more than that and kids will be too full for dinnerrdquo Walker advises She also says water is best and to avoid juice or sports drinks with sweeteners and artificial colors ldquoYou can add in cucumber slices with mint or lemon lime or or-ange juice to mineral water for flavor All of these are good choices to replenish lost electrolytes after sports or outdoor activitiesrdquo

AFTER-SCHOOL VANSPORTATION Sometimes itrsquos not possible to get your child to where she needs to be and burdening another (equally busy) mom to shuttle your kiddo may not be an option

Luckily on-demand kid-friendly services cart the kids to extracurricular activities throughout the North Texas area KAM Kidrsquos Cab and Goin My Way drive kids as young as 3 and charge a flat daily rate that starts at $15 round trip and varies depending on the distance traveled

K AM K I D rsquoS C A B 214295-2409 kamkidscabcom

G O I N MY WAY 972644-5437 kidtransportationcom

Both of these services require drivers to pass background checks and drug and alcohol testing Drivers must also be trained in first aid and

CPR plus vans are equipped with a first aid kit and fire extinguisher mdash all safety

must-haves to look for when vetting any car service for your kids Also be sure to ask

how yoursquoll be notified when your child arrives at his or her destination

PARENT PARTICIPATIONHats off to parents who volunteer their time to support their childrenrsquos schools mdash a move thatrsquos been shown to positively impact teachersrsquo job

satisfaction and student motivation Whether your school encourages in-class participation such as reading to kids (or listening to them

read) or prefers parents keep to serving on the PTA look for ways to get involved

Some teachers opt to assign duties to parents on an as-needed basis others want room parents to handle the delegation of tasks If a demand-ing job (or littles at home) prohibits your in-class involvement ask to perform activities off-campus such as cutting out items for bulletin boards Or donate teacher wishlist supplies like books and other learning tools

Join the PTA Therersquos no better way to know whatrsquos going on inside the school that that

Choose only the tasks or volunteer duties that you have the time for Itrsquos always better to under-promise and overdeliver

OFF-BEAT AFTER-SCHOOL ENRICHMENTTherersquos no shortage of after-school classes activi-ties and sports for kids to explore Need proof Check out our DFWEverything guide (dfwchildcomdfweverything) and turn to page 21 for more after-school activities in this issue

This fall why not look for something a bit more unexpected than the requisite soccer or dance classes Let kids spend the afternoon or weekend learning a second (or third) language such as German or Spanish Semester tuition varies from around $250ndash$330 for one class per week

DA L L A S G O E T H E C E N T E R Dallas 972207-4319dallasgoethecenterorg T H E G E R MA N S C H O O L O F DA L L A S Southlake 972416-3421 germanschooldallasorg S PA N I S H S C H O O L H O U S E multiple locations 972618-2500 spanishschoolhousecom

Are the Summer Olympics inspiring an inner athlete in your little Sign kids ages 4 and older up for horseback riding and jump-ing lessons through Bridlewood Stables amp

Equestrian Center or Summer Hill Farms both of which offer group and private lessons Circle

D Ranch also offers after-school private or group roping and barrel lessons to riders ages 8 and older Expect to pay about $50 per hour-long lesson with discounts for group lessons or package rates

B R I D L E WO O D S TA B L E S amp E Q U E S T R I A N C E N T E R Flower Mound 972355-7866 bridlewoodequestriancomS U M M E R H I L L FA R M S Flower Mound 817875-9082 summerhillfarmsorgC I R C L E D R A N C H Hickory Creek 214335-6404 circledranchboardinglessonstrainingtexascom

Or enlist them to volunteer after school Check Wee Volunteer and ask at your commu-nityrsquos library senior center and activity center for afternoon volunteer opportunities for students While Boy and Girl Scouts and Junior Achievement are national orga-nizations with solid reputa-tions with a little investigat-ing you can find other outlets for growing kidsrsquo characters including your place of worship ntc

W E E VO LU N T E E R weevolunteerorg

S U R V I V A L G U I D E

n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d a u g u s t 2 0 1 6 19

worry shersquos not getting enough or sleeping too much mdash schedule an appointment with the pe-diatrician The doctor might suggest diet changes a better before-bed routine or a sleep study After all adults arenrsquot the only ones who suffer from disorders such as sleep apnea and insomnia

IN-HOUSE HOMEWORK HELPWhile tutors once focused on helping children who were falling behind in a certain subject they are now being hired to guide students through a challenging course or ensure that your sonrsquos grades match or exceed his peersrsquo

Teachers might have recommendations and school districts often provide lists of potential tutors online but companies like Club Z Varsity Tutors Grade Potential DallasHomeTutorscom and In-Home Tutors Dallas offer in-home tutor-ing services to students in grades Kndash12 (Varsity

Tutors Grade Potential and In-Home Tutors Dallas actually start with

kids in pre-K) throughout North Texas saving you time in the car and making your child feel more relaxed and comfortable Expect to pay an hourly rate that

can vary from $25ndash$68 for these tutors equipped to help

kids with a myriad of subjects including test prep

C LU B Z 888434-2582 clubztutoringcomVA R S I T Y T U TO R S 214206-7940 varsitytutorscomG R A D E P OT E N T I A L 888978-3364 gradepotentialtutoringcomDA L L A S H O M E T U TO R SCO M 972559-4484dallashometutorscom I N - H O M E T U TO R S DA L L A S 214347-9400inhometutorsdallascom

SHOP SMARTERHit the malls and stores the weekend of August 5ndash7 to buy the kidsrsquo backpacks clothing footwear and school supplies and save the sales tax on items that are less than $100 each

Follow favorite local shops on Facebook and Twitter and watch for deals they post Some stores even offer coupons via text or special promotions if you check in on Foursquare or Facebook while yoursquore there

And even if shopping secondhand isnrsquot your thing sell the kidsrsquo gently used clothing to make extra spending money you can use elsewhere Once Upon a Child and Kid to Kid have locations across North Texas and pay cash on the spot for lightly worn shoes and clothing

O N C E U P O N A C H I L D multiple locations onceuponachildcomK I D TO K I D multiple locations kidtokidcomtexas

SERVE HEALTHIER SNACKSA well-stocked fridge and pantry are key to curb-ing after-school hunger pangs without spoiling your littlersquos appetite and preparing snacks for eating on the way to lacrosse practice or piano les-

20 a u g u s t 2 0 1 6 n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d

New in 2016Print-At-home Tickets amp

Coupon Vouchers

ON SALE NOW AT

BIGTEXCOM

sept 30 - oct 23fair park middot Dallas

air northtexas

Biking with your child on the way to school gives you more quality time together and allows you to avoid

idling in the drop off and pick up lines By driving less yoursquoll help to reduce emissions and keep North Texas

air clean Learn more at wwwairnorthtexasorg

pedaling therehelps the air

Biking with your child on the way to school gives you more quality time together and allows you to avoid

idling in the drop off and pick up lines By driving less yoursquoll help to reduce emissions and keep North Texas

air clean Learn more at wwwairnorthtexasorg

n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d a u g u s t 2 0 1 6 17

how to give fast-acting rescue medicine mdash and when to call the doctor or seek emergency care

In addition to submitting an action plan to your childrsquos school familiarize yourself with district resources and policies mdash which as Indiyah Rush and Alexis Kyle found out can be a source of uncertainty Per the Texas Education Code students can carry and self-administer prescription asthma medication (with the right documentation) but districts may have differing asthma management programs and emergency protocols so itrsquos important to do your homework Communicate with your school nurse and administrators to learn what paperwork you need to have on file who can administer your childrsquos medication and when what kind of asthma training the teachers and staff have received and how the school will respond in an emergency

Third administer the medi-cines as prescribed

ldquoItrsquos a pretty simple thing to do to give two puffs in the morning and two puffs in the night but an incredible number of parents forget to give it donrsquot give it regularly or stop giving itrdquo Dambro says

One of the reasons parents stop is because they start to see fewer symptoms and mistakenly think their child has outgrown the asthma Unfortunately that can backfire and lead to an even worse attack Other parents stop giving medicine because they simply donrsquot want their kids to take pharmaceutical drugs or are wary of the side effects of steroids (although experts in the medical community say small doses of inhaled steroids are gen-erally safe)

Of course identifying and learning to minimize or avoid triggers is also a big piece of the puzzle in keeping the disease under control

For Batts that means not let-ting Micah sign up for soccer

ldquoHersquos playing baseball right now because therersquos less run-ningrdquo she says But since he can breathe and actually enjoy him-self on the field he doesnrsquot mind ldquoNow that we have his condi-

tion under control he is vibrant againrdquo Batts says

BREATHING BETTER TOGETHER Fortunately there are also steps that can be taken on a communi-ty-wide level according to Foster

ldquoVaccinate for the flu itrsquos a leading cause of hospitalization for children with asthmardquo he says ldquoEncourage exercise and an age-appro-priate diet Breastfeed when pos-sible mdash itrsquos believed to reduce the riskrdquo

But the best solution for now is educating North Texas residents In addition to teaching par-ents to create a healthy indoor envi-ronment for their kids groups like the Health and Wellness Alliance for Children examine social determinants that impact families

This is again where socioeco-nomic factors can come into play ldquoA lot of chil-dren live in poverty and that affects their familyrsquos ability to fight asthmardquo McCarver says ldquoWe donrsquot want them to have to choose health over paying bills to keep the lights onrdquo

Comprehensive approaches may be one reason asthma-related ER visits in the area have declined ldquoOver the last 10 years or so we have seen decreased rates of hospitalization and fewer deaths in children with asthmardquo Foster says From 2012

LOCALRESOURCES

to 2015 patient visits for asthma to Childrenrsquos Health Emergency Department decreased by 49 percent ldquoAll of this shows that changes in guidelines and increased awareness in the medi-cal community and community at large is making some stridesrdquo Foster adds

While experts will be watch-ing to see if this trend continues there is one thing they can all

agree on in the meantime the impor-tance of the parentrsquos role in helping doctors diag-nose treat and manage asthma

ldquoA mom should trust what she knows about her child and to bring that informa-tion to the pediatricianrdquo McCarver says ldquoParents are the experts mdash their in-stincts and concerns are valid mdash and they should be eager to share that informa-tion to help pediatricians support the well being of their childrenrdquo

For Mitchell it was a matter of not only

trusting her instincts but also finding the right care especially since she has started to see signs of asthma in her 2-year-old daughter Nora as well

ldquoI am actually thankful for the time Jack was admitted to the hospitalrdquo she says looking back on her scary experience ldquoI learned so much The doctors and the nurses were fantastic They taught me everything about asth-ma I needed to knowrdquo ntc

Where to go to help your little one mdash and you mdash breathe a little easier

ASTHMA MANAGEMENT PROGRAM AT CHILDRENrsquoS

MEDICAL CENTERThree- to six-month education and

care coordination plan that requires a doctor referral Children receive a peak flow meter hypoallergenic pillowcase and more plus a home visit from an asthma expert to talk through specific allergens and how

to limit or control them Dallas 214456-5864

childrenscom

ASTHMA MANAGEMENT APPSChildrenrsquos Healthrsquos MY ASTHMA

PAL (mobilesmithcom) ASTHMAMD (asthmamdorg) and ASTHMASENSE (asthmasensecom) allow users to log asthma attacks chart severity

and get medicine reminders Follow action plans by coupling the app

with a peak flow meter that gauges lung performance

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR RESPIRATORY CARE

A national organization of respirato-ry therapists that offers a free peak-

flow based program for schools Irving 972243-2272 aarcorg

NORTH TEXAS ASTHMA CONSORTIUM

Develops and implements chari-table educational and scientific programs to help North Texans

with asthma achieve optimal health One example is the School Flag Program which makes staff and

students aware of daily air quality conditions using flags color coded according to the Air Quality Index214456-4789 northtexasasthmaorg

ASTHMA EDUCATION CLASS AT COOK CHILDRENrsquoS

Review asthma symptoms triggers and medication as well as home

management plans $25 for up to two adults free for children older

than 6 who have asthma Fort Worth 682885-4170

cookchildrensorg

ACTION PLAN EXAMPLES An asthma action plan tells you

what to do when your child is feel-ing well (known as green zone)

starting to feel sick (yellow zone) and isnrsquot getting better (red zone)

The Health amp Wellness Alliance offers a good example

healthandwellnessalliancecom

ldquoThe patient has to partner with the doctor

and be educated about how the illness works and how the

medicine worksrdquo

W O R D S P A M E L A H A M M O N D S

pathways Sufficient sleep is vital for cognitive function memory mood and good health

Last year the National Sleep Foundation released their recommendations for the ideal amount of sleep

3ndash5 Y E A R S 10ndash13 hours per night6ndash13 Y E A R S 9ndash11 hours each night The expertsrsquo sound sleep advice Create a

cave-like atmosphere in the kidsrsquo rooms Make them cool dark quiet and void of distractions like electronics

And if summertime sleep patterns have changed significantly it can be a struggle to shift

from late nights and lazy days to a more de-manding earlier-to-bed early-to-rise rou-

tine So start now Experts recommend moving the bedtime schedule up by 15 to 30 minutes every few nights

If you think sleep might be an is-sue for your little one mdash whether you

After nearly three months of basically no bed-time fun with Grandma and cousins swimming trips to the beach and sleeping in mdash bam mdash Au-gust has arrived And with it mounting to-do lists for you that include school registrations doctorsrsquo checkups shopping and more

You already get lots of back-to-school informa-tion mdash reading lists supply lists names of kids in the class perhaps mdash but no one gives Mom a list to prep for the weeks leading up to school and to make the transition easier for the kids (and you) So we gathered the best local resources and assembled tips to help you and your littles start school stress-free

KIDS NEED ZZZZZrsquoS TO MAKE ArsquoSItrsquos no secret that tired kids (and adults) donrsquot perform well Brains need downtime in order to form new

B A C K - T O - S C H O O L

18 a u g u s t 2 0 1 6 n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d

Seven tips and tricks

from the pros to help

you breeze through prepping

for the new school year

2 0 1 6S U R V I V A L G U I D E

sons prevents you from making an ill-advised fast-food pit stop Local grocers stock freshly cut fruit and veggies or stop in Snap Kitchen My Fit Foods or other health-conscious shops for meals and snacks to go

S N A P K I TC H E N multiple locations snapkitchencomMY F I T F O O D S multiple locations myfitfoodscom

Fresh fruit (apples oranges grapes and ba-nanas) and veggies (carrots with hummus colorful peppers with low-fat ranch dressing) are naturally good choices according to Laura Walker clinical dietitian at Childrenrsquos Health but she also suggests low-fat turkey or ham rolled around a cheese stick protein-rich nut butters such as peanut or almond as a fruit dip salsa with cucumbers jicama or celery sticks pretzels with soft cheese popcorn without butter brown rice cakes whole-grain cereals nuts trail mix with dried unsweetened fruit and kale chips

Aim to keep snacks between 150 to 200 calories ldquoAny more than that and kids will be too full for dinnerrdquo Walker advises She also says water is best and to avoid juice or sports drinks with sweeteners and artificial colors ldquoYou can add in cucumber slices with mint or lemon lime or or-ange juice to mineral water for flavor All of these are good choices to replenish lost electrolytes after sports or outdoor activitiesrdquo

AFTER-SCHOOL VANSPORTATION Sometimes itrsquos not possible to get your child to where she needs to be and burdening another (equally busy) mom to shuttle your kiddo may not be an option

Luckily on-demand kid-friendly services cart the kids to extracurricular activities throughout the North Texas area KAM Kidrsquos Cab and Goin My Way drive kids as young as 3 and charge a flat daily rate that starts at $15 round trip and varies depending on the distance traveled

K AM K I D rsquoS C A B 214295-2409 kamkidscabcom

G O I N MY WAY 972644-5437 kidtransportationcom

Both of these services require drivers to pass background checks and drug and alcohol testing Drivers must also be trained in first aid and

CPR plus vans are equipped with a first aid kit and fire extinguisher mdash all safety

must-haves to look for when vetting any car service for your kids Also be sure to ask

how yoursquoll be notified when your child arrives at his or her destination

PARENT PARTICIPATIONHats off to parents who volunteer their time to support their childrenrsquos schools mdash a move thatrsquos been shown to positively impact teachersrsquo job

satisfaction and student motivation Whether your school encourages in-class participation such as reading to kids (or listening to them

read) or prefers parents keep to serving on the PTA look for ways to get involved

Some teachers opt to assign duties to parents on an as-needed basis others want room parents to handle the delegation of tasks If a demand-ing job (or littles at home) prohibits your in-class involvement ask to perform activities off-campus such as cutting out items for bulletin boards Or donate teacher wishlist supplies like books and other learning tools

Join the PTA Therersquos no better way to know whatrsquos going on inside the school that that

Choose only the tasks or volunteer duties that you have the time for Itrsquos always better to under-promise and overdeliver

OFF-BEAT AFTER-SCHOOL ENRICHMENTTherersquos no shortage of after-school classes activi-ties and sports for kids to explore Need proof Check out our DFWEverything guide (dfwchildcomdfweverything) and turn to page 21 for more after-school activities in this issue

This fall why not look for something a bit more unexpected than the requisite soccer or dance classes Let kids spend the afternoon or weekend learning a second (or third) language such as German or Spanish Semester tuition varies from around $250ndash$330 for one class per week

DA L L A S G O E T H E C E N T E R Dallas 972207-4319dallasgoethecenterorg T H E G E R MA N S C H O O L O F DA L L A S Southlake 972416-3421 germanschooldallasorg S PA N I S H S C H O O L H O U S E multiple locations 972618-2500 spanishschoolhousecom

Are the Summer Olympics inspiring an inner athlete in your little Sign kids ages 4 and older up for horseback riding and jump-ing lessons through Bridlewood Stables amp

Equestrian Center or Summer Hill Farms both of which offer group and private lessons Circle

D Ranch also offers after-school private or group roping and barrel lessons to riders ages 8 and older Expect to pay about $50 per hour-long lesson with discounts for group lessons or package rates

B R I D L E WO O D S TA B L E S amp E Q U E S T R I A N C E N T E R Flower Mound 972355-7866 bridlewoodequestriancomS U M M E R H I L L FA R M S Flower Mound 817875-9082 summerhillfarmsorgC I R C L E D R A N C H Hickory Creek 214335-6404 circledranchboardinglessonstrainingtexascom

Or enlist them to volunteer after school Check Wee Volunteer and ask at your commu-nityrsquos library senior center and activity center for afternoon volunteer opportunities for students While Boy and Girl Scouts and Junior Achievement are national orga-nizations with solid reputa-tions with a little investigat-ing you can find other outlets for growing kidsrsquo characters including your place of worship ntc

W E E VO LU N T E E R weevolunteerorg

S U R V I V A L G U I D E

n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d a u g u s t 2 0 1 6 19

worry shersquos not getting enough or sleeping too much mdash schedule an appointment with the pe-diatrician The doctor might suggest diet changes a better before-bed routine or a sleep study After all adults arenrsquot the only ones who suffer from disorders such as sleep apnea and insomnia

IN-HOUSE HOMEWORK HELPWhile tutors once focused on helping children who were falling behind in a certain subject they are now being hired to guide students through a challenging course or ensure that your sonrsquos grades match or exceed his peersrsquo

Teachers might have recommendations and school districts often provide lists of potential tutors online but companies like Club Z Varsity Tutors Grade Potential DallasHomeTutorscom and In-Home Tutors Dallas offer in-home tutor-ing services to students in grades Kndash12 (Varsity

Tutors Grade Potential and In-Home Tutors Dallas actually start with

kids in pre-K) throughout North Texas saving you time in the car and making your child feel more relaxed and comfortable Expect to pay an hourly rate that

can vary from $25ndash$68 for these tutors equipped to help

kids with a myriad of subjects including test prep

C LU B Z 888434-2582 clubztutoringcomVA R S I T Y T U TO R S 214206-7940 varsitytutorscomG R A D E P OT E N T I A L 888978-3364 gradepotentialtutoringcomDA L L A S H O M E T U TO R SCO M 972559-4484dallashometutorscom I N - H O M E T U TO R S DA L L A S 214347-9400inhometutorsdallascom

SHOP SMARTERHit the malls and stores the weekend of August 5ndash7 to buy the kidsrsquo backpacks clothing footwear and school supplies and save the sales tax on items that are less than $100 each

Follow favorite local shops on Facebook and Twitter and watch for deals they post Some stores even offer coupons via text or special promotions if you check in on Foursquare or Facebook while yoursquore there

And even if shopping secondhand isnrsquot your thing sell the kidsrsquo gently used clothing to make extra spending money you can use elsewhere Once Upon a Child and Kid to Kid have locations across North Texas and pay cash on the spot for lightly worn shoes and clothing

O N C E U P O N A C H I L D multiple locations onceuponachildcomK I D TO K I D multiple locations kidtokidcomtexas

SERVE HEALTHIER SNACKSA well-stocked fridge and pantry are key to curb-ing after-school hunger pangs without spoiling your littlersquos appetite and preparing snacks for eating on the way to lacrosse practice or piano les-

20 a u g u s t 2 0 1 6 n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d

New in 2016Print-At-home Tickets amp

Coupon Vouchers

ON SALE NOW AT

BIGTEXCOM

sept 30 - oct 23fair park middot Dallas

air northtexas

Biking with your child on the way to school gives you more quality time together and allows you to avoid

idling in the drop off and pick up lines By driving less yoursquoll help to reduce emissions and keep North Texas

air clean Learn more at wwwairnorthtexasorg

pedaling therehelps the air

Biking with your child on the way to school gives you more quality time together and allows you to avoid

idling in the drop off and pick up lines By driving less yoursquoll help to reduce emissions and keep North Texas

air clean Learn more at wwwairnorthtexasorg

W O R D S P A M E L A H A M M O N D S

pathways Sufficient sleep is vital for cognitive function memory mood and good health

Last year the National Sleep Foundation released their recommendations for the ideal amount of sleep

3ndash5 Y E A R S 10ndash13 hours per night6ndash13 Y E A R S 9ndash11 hours each night The expertsrsquo sound sleep advice Create a

cave-like atmosphere in the kidsrsquo rooms Make them cool dark quiet and void of distractions like electronics

And if summertime sleep patterns have changed significantly it can be a struggle to shift

from late nights and lazy days to a more de-manding earlier-to-bed early-to-rise rou-

tine So start now Experts recommend moving the bedtime schedule up by 15 to 30 minutes every few nights

If you think sleep might be an is-sue for your little one mdash whether you

After nearly three months of basically no bed-time fun with Grandma and cousins swimming trips to the beach and sleeping in mdash bam mdash Au-gust has arrived And with it mounting to-do lists for you that include school registrations doctorsrsquo checkups shopping and more

You already get lots of back-to-school informa-tion mdash reading lists supply lists names of kids in the class perhaps mdash but no one gives Mom a list to prep for the weeks leading up to school and to make the transition easier for the kids (and you) So we gathered the best local resources and assembled tips to help you and your littles start school stress-free

KIDS NEED ZZZZZrsquoS TO MAKE ArsquoSItrsquos no secret that tired kids (and adults) donrsquot perform well Brains need downtime in order to form new

B A C K - T O - S C H O O L

18 a u g u s t 2 0 1 6 n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d

Seven tips and tricks

from the pros to help

you breeze through prepping

for the new school year

2 0 1 6S U R V I V A L G U I D E

sons prevents you from making an ill-advised fast-food pit stop Local grocers stock freshly cut fruit and veggies or stop in Snap Kitchen My Fit Foods or other health-conscious shops for meals and snacks to go

S N A P K I TC H E N multiple locations snapkitchencomMY F I T F O O D S multiple locations myfitfoodscom

Fresh fruit (apples oranges grapes and ba-nanas) and veggies (carrots with hummus colorful peppers with low-fat ranch dressing) are naturally good choices according to Laura Walker clinical dietitian at Childrenrsquos Health but she also suggests low-fat turkey or ham rolled around a cheese stick protein-rich nut butters such as peanut or almond as a fruit dip salsa with cucumbers jicama or celery sticks pretzels with soft cheese popcorn without butter brown rice cakes whole-grain cereals nuts trail mix with dried unsweetened fruit and kale chips

Aim to keep snacks between 150 to 200 calories ldquoAny more than that and kids will be too full for dinnerrdquo Walker advises She also says water is best and to avoid juice or sports drinks with sweeteners and artificial colors ldquoYou can add in cucumber slices with mint or lemon lime or or-ange juice to mineral water for flavor All of these are good choices to replenish lost electrolytes after sports or outdoor activitiesrdquo

AFTER-SCHOOL VANSPORTATION Sometimes itrsquos not possible to get your child to where she needs to be and burdening another (equally busy) mom to shuttle your kiddo may not be an option

Luckily on-demand kid-friendly services cart the kids to extracurricular activities throughout the North Texas area KAM Kidrsquos Cab and Goin My Way drive kids as young as 3 and charge a flat daily rate that starts at $15 round trip and varies depending on the distance traveled

K AM K I D rsquoS C A B 214295-2409 kamkidscabcom

G O I N MY WAY 972644-5437 kidtransportationcom

Both of these services require drivers to pass background checks and drug and alcohol testing Drivers must also be trained in first aid and

CPR plus vans are equipped with a first aid kit and fire extinguisher mdash all safety

must-haves to look for when vetting any car service for your kids Also be sure to ask

how yoursquoll be notified when your child arrives at his or her destination

PARENT PARTICIPATIONHats off to parents who volunteer their time to support their childrenrsquos schools mdash a move thatrsquos been shown to positively impact teachersrsquo job

satisfaction and student motivation Whether your school encourages in-class participation such as reading to kids (or listening to them

read) or prefers parents keep to serving on the PTA look for ways to get involved

Some teachers opt to assign duties to parents on an as-needed basis others want room parents to handle the delegation of tasks If a demand-ing job (or littles at home) prohibits your in-class involvement ask to perform activities off-campus such as cutting out items for bulletin boards Or donate teacher wishlist supplies like books and other learning tools

Join the PTA Therersquos no better way to know whatrsquos going on inside the school that that

Choose only the tasks or volunteer duties that you have the time for Itrsquos always better to under-promise and overdeliver

OFF-BEAT AFTER-SCHOOL ENRICHMENTTherersquos no shortage of after-school classes activi-ties and sports for kids to explore Need proof Check out our DFWEverything guide (dfwchildcomdfweverything) and turn to page 21 for more after-school activities in this issue

This fall why not look for something a bit more unexpected than the requisite soccer or dance classes Let kids spend the afternoon or weekend learning a second (or third) language such as German or Spanish Semester tuition varies from around $250ndash$330 for one class per week

DA L L A S G O E T H E C E N T E R Dallas 972207-4319dallasgoethecenterorg T H E G E R MA N S C H O O L O F DA L L A S Southlake 972416-3421 germanschooldallasorg S PA N I S H S C H O O L H O U S E multiple locations 972618-2500 spanishschoolhousecom

Are the Summer Olympics inspiring an inner athlete in your little Sign kids ages 4 and older up for horseback riding and jump-ing lessons through Bridlewood Stables amp

Equestrian Center or Summer Hill Farms both of which offer group and private lessons Circle

D Ranch also offers after-school private or group roping and barrel lessons to riders ages 8 and older Expect to pay about $50 per hour-long lesson with discounts for group lessons or package rates

B R I D L E WO O D S TA B L E S amp E Q U E S T R I A N C E N T E R Flower Mound 972355-7866 bridlewoodequestriancomS U M M E R H I L L FA R M S Flower Mound 817875-9082 summerhillfarmsorgC I R C L E D R A N C H Hickory Creek 214335-6404 circledranchboardinglessonstrainingtexascom

Or enlist them to volunteer after school Check Wee Volunteer and ask at your commu-nityrsquos library senior center and activity center for afternoon volunteer opportunities for students While Boy and Girl Scouts and Junior Achievement are national orga-nizations with solid reputa-tions with a little investigat-ing you can find other outlets for growing kidsrsquo characters including your place of worship ntc

W E E VO LU N T E E R weevolunteerorg

S U R V I V A L G U I D E

n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d a u g u s t 2 0 1 6 19

worry shersquos not getting enough or sleeping too much mdash schedule an appointment with the pe-diatrician The doctor might suggest diet changes a better before-bed routine or a sleep study After all adults arenrsquot the only ones who suffer from disorders such as sleep apnea and insomnia

IN-HOUSE HOMEWORK HELPWhile tutors once focused on helping children who were falling behind in a certain subject they are now being hired to guide students through a challenging course or ensure that your sonrsquos grades match or exceed his peersrsquo

Teachers might have recommendations and school districts often provide lists of potential tutors online but companies like Club Z Varsity Tutors Grade Potential DallasHomeTutorscom and In-Home Tutors Dallas offer in-home tutor-ing services to students in grades Kndash12 (Varsity

Tutors Grade Potential and In-Home Tutors Dallas actually start with

kids in pre-K) throughout North Texas saving you time in the car and making your child feel more relaxed and comfortable Expect to pay an hourly rate that

can vary from $25ndash$68 for these tutors equipped to help

kids with a myriad of subjects including test prep

C LU B Z 888434-2582 clubztutoringcomVA R S I T Y T U TO R S 214206-7940 varsitytutorscomG R A D E P OT E N T I A L 888978-3364 gradepotentialtutoringcomDA L L A S H O M E T U TO R SCO M 972559-4484dallashometutorscom I N - H O M E T U TO R S DA L L A S 214347-9400inhometutorsdallascom

SHOP SMARTERHit the malls and stores the weekend of August 5ndash7 to buy the kidsrsquo backpacks clothing footwear and school supplies and save the sales tax on items that are less than $100 each

Follow favorite local shops on Facebook and Twitter and watch for deals they post Some stores even offer coupons via text or special promotions if you check in on Foursquare or Facebook while yoursquore there

And even if shopping secondhand isnrsquot your thing sell the kidsrsquo gently used clothing to make extra spending money you can use elsewhere Once Upon a Child and Kid to Kid have locations across North Texas and pay cash on the spot for lightly worn shoes and clothing

O N C E U P O N A C H I L D multiple locations onceuponachildcomK I D TO K I D multiple locations kidtokidcomtexas

SERVE HEALTHIER SNACKSA well-stocked fridge and pantry are key to curb-ing after-school hunger pangs without spoiling your littlersquos appetite and preparing snacks for eating on the way to lacrosse practice or piano les-

20 a u g u s t 2 0 1 6 n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d

New in 2016Print-At-home Tickets amp

Coupon Vouchers

ON SALE NOW AT

BIGTEXCOM

sept 30 - oct 23fair park middot Dallas

air northtexas

Biking with your child on the way to school gives you more quality time together and allows you to avoid

idling in the drop off and pick up lines By driving less yoursquoll help to reduce emissions and keep North Texas

air clean Learn more at wwwairnorthtexasorg

pedaling therehelps the air

Biking with your child on the way to school gives you more quality time together and allows you to avoid

idling in the drop off and pick up lines By driving less yoursquoll help to reduce emissions and keep North Texas

air clean Learn more at wwwairnorthtexasorg

sons prevents you from making an ill-advised fast-food pit stop Local grocers stock freshly cut fruit and veggies or stop in Snap Kitchen My Fit Foods or other health-conscious shops for meals and snacks to go

S N A P K I TC H E N multiple locations snapkitchencomMY F I T F O O D S multiple locations myfitfoodscom

Fresh fruit (apples oranges grapes and ba-nanas) and veggies (carrots with hummus colorful peppers with low-fat ranch dressing) are naturally good choices according to Laura Walker clinical dietitian at Childrenrsquos Health but she also suggests low-fat turkey or ham rolled around a cheese stick protein-rich nut butters such as peanut or almond as a fruit dip salsa with cucumbers jicama or celery sticks pretzels with soft cheese popcorn without butter brown rice cakes whole-grain cereals nuts trail mix with dried unsweetened fruit and kale chips

Aim to keep snacks between 150 to 200 calories ldquoAny more than that and kids will be too full for dinnerrdquo Walker advises She also says water is best and to avoid juice or sports drinks with sweeteners and artificial colors ldquoYou can add in cucumber slices with mint or lemon lime or or-ange juice to mineral water for flavor All of these are good choices to replenish lost electrolytes after sports or outdoor activitiesrdquo

AFTER-SCHOOL VANSPORTATION Sometimes itrsquos not possible to get your child to where she needs to be and burdening another (equally busy) mom to shuttle your kiddo may not be an option

Luckily on-demand kid-friendly services cart the kids to extracurricular activities throughout the North Texas area KAM Kidrsquos Cab and Goin My Way drive kids as young as 3 and charge a flat daily rate that starts at $15 round trip and varies depending on the distance traveled

K AM K I D rsquoS C A B 214295-2409 kamkidscabcom

G O I N MY WAY 972644-5437 kidtransportationcom

Both of these services require drivers to pass background checks and drug and alcohol testing Drivers must also be trained in first aid and

CPR plus vans are equipped with a first aid kit and fire extinguisher mdash all safety

must-haves to look for when vetting any car service for your kids Also be sure to ask

how yoursquoll be notified when your child arrives at his or her destination

PARENT PARTICIPATIONHats off to parents who volunteer their time to support their childrenrsquos schools mdash a move thatrsquos been shown to positively impact teachersrsquo job

satisfaction and student motivation Whether your school encourages in-class participation such as reading to kids (or listening to them

read) or prefers parents keep to serving on the PTA look for ways to get involved

Some teachers opt to assign duties to parents on an as-needed basis others want room parents to handle the delegation of tasks If a demand-ing job (or littles at home) prohibits your in-class involvement ask to perform activities off-campus such as cutting out items for bulletin boards Or donate teacher wishlist supplies like books and other learning tools

Join the PTA Therersquos no better way to know whatrsquos going on inside the school that that

Choose only the tasks or volunteer duties that you have the time for Itrsquos always better to under-promise and overdeliver

OFF-BEAT AFTER-SCHOOL ENRICHMENTTherersquos no shortage of after-school classes activi-ties and sports for kids to explore Need proof Check out our DFWEverything guide (dfwchildcomdfweverything) and turn to page 21 for more after-school activities in this issue

This fall why not look for something a bit more unexpected than the requisite soccer or dance classes Let kids spend the afternoon or weekend learning a second (or third) language such as German or Spanish Semester tuition varies from around $250ndash$330 for one class per week

DA L L A S G O E T H E C E N T E R Dallas 972207-4319dallasgoethecenterorg T H E G E R MA N S C H O O L O F DA L L A S Southlake 972416-3421 germanschooldallasorg S PA N I S H S C H O O L H O U S E multiple locations 972618-2500 spanishschoolhousecom

Are the Summer Olympics inspiring an inner athlete in your little Sign kids ages 4 and older up for horseback riding and jump-ing lessons through Bridlewood Stables amp

Equestrian Center or Summer Hill Farms both of which offer group and private lessons Circle

D Ranch also offers after-school private or group roping and barrel lessons to riders ages 8 and older Expect to pay about $50 per hour-long lesson with discounts for group lessons or package rates

B R I D L E WO O D S TA B L E S amp E Q U E S T R I A N C E N T E R Flower Mound 972355-7866 bridlewoodequestriancomS U M M E R H I L L FA R M S Flower Mound 817875-9082 summerhillfarmsorgC I R C L E D R A N C H Hickory Creek 214335-6404 circledranchboardinglessonstrainingtexascom

Or enlist them to volunteer after school Check Wee Volunteer and ask at your commu-nityrsquos library senior center and activity center for afternoon volunteer opportunities for students While Boy and Girl Scouts and Junior Achievement are national orga-nizations with solid reputa-tions with a little investigat-ing you can find other outlets for growing kidsrsquo characters including your place of worship ntc

W E E VO LU N T E E R weevolunteerorg

S U R V I V A L G U I D E

n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d a u g u s t 2 0 1 6 19

worry shersquos not getting enough or sleeping too much mdash schedule an appointment with the pe-diatrician The doctor might suggest diet changes a better before-bed routine or a sleep study After all adults arenrsquot the only ones who suffer from disorders such as sleep apnea and insomnia

IN-HOUSE HOMEWORK HELPWhile tutors once focused on helping children who were falling behind in a certain subject they are now being hired to guide students through a challenging course or ensure that your sonrsquos grades match or exceed his peersrsquo

Teachers might have recommendations and school districts often provide lists of potential tutors online but companies like Club Z Varsity Tutors Grade Potential DallasHomeTutorscom and In-Home Tutors Dallas offer in-home tutor-ing services to students in grades Kndash12 (Varsity

Tutors Grade Potential and In-Home Tutors Dallas actually start with

kids in pre-K) throughout North Texas saving you time in the car and making your child feel more relaxed and comfortable Expect to pay an hourly rate that

can vary from $25ndash$68 for these tutors equipped to help

kids with a myriad of subjects including test prep

C LU B Z 888434-2582 clubztutoringcomVA R S I T Y T U TO R S 214206-7940 varsitytutorscomG R A D E P OT E N T I A L 888978-3364 gradepotentialtutoringcomDA L L A S H O M E T U TO R SCO M 972559-4484dallashometutorscom I N - H O M E T U TO R S DA L L A S 214347-9400inhometutorsdallascom

SHOP SMARTERHit the malls and stores the weekend of August 5ndash7 to buy the kidsrsquo backpacks clothing footwear and school supplies and save the sales tax on items that are less than $100 each

Follow favorite local shops on Facebook and Twitter and watch for deals they post Some stores even offer coupons via text or special promotions if you check in on Foursquare or Facebook while yoursquore there

And even if shopping secondhand isnrsquot your thing sell the kidsrsquo gently used clothing to make extra spending money you can use elsewhere Once Upon a Child and Kid to Kid have locations across North Texas and pay cash on the spot for lightly worn shoes and clothing

O N C E U P O N A C H I L D multiple locations onceuponachildcomK I D TO K I D multiple locations kidtokidcomtexas

SERVE HEALTHIER SNACKSA well-stocked fridge and pantry are key to curb-ing after-school hunger pangs without spoiling your littlersquos appetite and preparing snacks for eating on the way to lacrosse practice or piano les-

20 a u g u s t 2 0 1 6 n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d

New in 2016Print-At-home Tickets amp

Coupon Vouchers

ON SALE NOW AT

BIGTEXCOM

sept 30 - oct 23fair park middot Dallas

air northtexas

Biking with your child on the way to school gives you more quality time together and allows you to avoid

idling in the drop off and pick up lines By driving less yoursquoll help to reduce emissions and keep North Texas

air clean Learn more at wwwairnorthtexasorg

pedaling therehelps the air

Biking with your child on the way to school gives you more quality time together and allows you to avoid

idling in the drop off and pick up lines By driving less yoursquoll help to reduce emissions and keep North Texas

air clean Learn more at wwwairnorthtexasorg

20 a u g u s t 2 0 1 6 n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d

New in 2016Print-At-home Tickets amp

Coupon Vouchers

ON SALE NOW AT

BIGTEXCOM

sept 30 - oct 23fair park middot Dallas

air northtexas

Biking with your child on the way to school gives you more quality time together and allows you to avoid

idling in the drop off and pick up lines By driving less yoursquoll help to reduce emissions and keep North Texas

air clean Learn more at wwwairnorthtexasorg

pedaling therehelps the air

Biking with your child on the way to school gives you more quality time together and allows you to avoid

idling in the drop off and pick up lines By driving less yoursquoll help to reduce emissions and keep North Texas

air clean Learn more at wwwairnorthtexasorg

Chri

stia

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Reg

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5067

lcap

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830

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and

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Mis

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loom

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rsquos A

cadem

y

5100

Riv

ersi

de

Dr

Irvi

ng 7

5039

m

issb

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com

630

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Blo

om

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ale

s o

ffer

s ch

ild c

are

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We

off

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cad

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afe

nur

turi

ng a

nd jo

yful

atm

osp

here

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on p

age

7

Pri

mro

se S

chools

Mul

tiple

loca

tions

prim

rose

scho

ols

com

dfw

NA

6 w

ksndashK

NA

Yes

No

N

atio

nal f

amily

of d

edic

ated

lead

ers

serv

ing

child

ren

fam

ilies

and

co

mm

uniti

es in

our

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rem

ier

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seeUnless yoursquore planning

a trip to Albuquerque

this fall do not miss

the Highland Village Lions Club Hot Air

Balloon Festival August 19ndash21 for spec-

tacular views of colorful

balloons races and

evening balloon glows

at Unity Park To see

the park from higher

up step in line for a

tethered balloon ride

$20 adults $15 kids 12

and younger Kids zone

wristbands start at $5

Highland Village 972317-9073

lionsballoonfestcom

make The nonprofit Health

Services of North Texas

has come up with a

creative and frugal way

to brighten up their

waiting rooms a com-

munity-based splatter

balloon art project

From 1030amndash1pm

on Friday August

5 help Decorate HSNTrsquos Waiting

Rooms by throwing

darts and bursting the

paint-filled balloons

onto a white back-

ground Open to all

ages Three throws for

$5 10 throws for $15

Denton 800974-2437healthntxorg

playThe circus is coming to

town mdash that is towns

Ringling Bros and Barnum amp Baileyrsquos

Circus Xtreme is

headed for the Ame-

rican Airlines Center

August 3ndash14 and the

Fort Worth Convention

Center August 18ndash21

Come an hour early

for the All Access Pre-

Show for the kids to

clown around in Clown

Alley and join a dance

party on the show

floor Tickets from $12

Dallas and Fort Worth 800745-3000

ringlingcom

do For many North

Texans rodeo is not a

spectator sport mdash itrsquos

a lifestyle Cowboy up

for the 88th annual

North Texas Fair and Rodeo August 19ndash27

with live country music

carnival rides and the

kids tractor pull Have

a particularly fearless

3- to 7-year-old Sign

rsquoem up for the mutton

bustinrsquo competition

for $30 Fair admission

starts at $15 for adults

$5 for kids 7ndash12

Denton 940387-2632ntfaircom

eat Water is best of course

for quenching your

thirst but on a swelte-

ring summer day

nothing hits the spot

like ice cream Get your

fill of soft serve snow

cones and ice cream

sandwiches from

on-site food trucks

at the Square at Old

Town Coppell during

the Back to School Ice Cream Social on

Saturday August 20

then splash around the

interactive fountain

from 6ndash8pm Cost for

treats varies

Coppell 972462-5100coppelltxgov

kid culture A G E N D A

5 best things to do this hellip

WANT TO FIND

MORE OF THE BEST

FAMILY-FRIENDLY

ENTERTAINMENT

IN NORTH TEXAS

SIGN UP FOR THE

WEEKEND GUIDE

AT DFWCHILDCOM

NEWSLETTER

W O R D S E L I Z A B E T H S M I T H

I L L U S T R A T I O N A M Y N O R T M A N

ZUMIEZ bull GYMBOREE bull RUNWAY TOO bull BUCKLECLAIRErsquoS bull PIGTAILS amp CREWCUTS bull JACKrsquoS OUTFITTERS

NW corner of FM 2499 amp FM 407 | 9723177500

theshopsathighlandvillagecom |

AUGUST 5THndash7THTAX FREE WEEKEND

ZUMIEZ bull GYMBOREE bull RUNWAY TOO bull BUCKLECLAIRErsquoS bull PIGTAILS amp CREWCUTS bull JACKrsquoS OUTFITTERS

NW corner of FM 2499 amp FM 407 | 9723177500

theshopsathighlandvillagecom |

AUGUST 5THndash7THTAX FREE WEEKEND

n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d a u g u s t 2 0 1 6 25

PHO

TOS

COU

RTES

Y O

F SA

RAH

GA

RDN

ER T

EXA

S D

ISCO

VERY

GA

RDEN

S M

ICH

AEL

NG

UYE

N

0813 BUTTERFLIES AND BUGS FAMILY FESTIVAL TEXAS DISCOVERY GARDENS

kid cultureeveryday E D I T E D B Y E L I Z A B E T H S M I T H

502 Oakland St Denton 940349-8752 dentonlibrarycom 4ndash5pm Meet furry animals from around the world in this educational show by Critterman For ages 6 and older Free tickets are available starting one hour before showtime on a first-come first-served basis FREE

ON STAGE James Wandrsquos Secret Agent Magic Show South Branch Library 3228 Teasley Ln Denton 940349-8752 dentonlibrarycom 3ndash4pm Watch the super spy magician as he finds clues secret codes and magic for his top-secret mission Free tickets are available starting one hour before show time on a first-come first-served basis FREE

ARTS amp CRAFTS JumpstART Stories amp Art Irving Arts Center 3333 N MacArthur Blvd Irving 972252-2787 irvingartscen-tercom 10am Join this story time and art program themed around summer sports and games For ages 2 and older FREE

CONTINUING August Dollar Days See Aug 1 Fort Worth Herd See Aug 1 SummerFest See Aug 1 Modern Kids See Aug 2 Ringling Bros and Barnum amp Bailey See Aug 3

5 FRIDAYON STAGE

Children of Eden Casa Mantildeana Theatre 3101 W Lancaster Ave Fort Worth 817332-2272 casamananaorg 8pm Aug 5 and 7 2 and 8pm Aug 6 Watch this musical about the biblical stories of Adam Eve Noah and the Father who created them Tickets start at $25

FILM Dive-In Movie Night Cimarron Park Recreation Center 201 Red River Trl Irving 972910-0702 cityofirvingorg 8ndash1030pm Watch a family-friendly movie while floating in the pool and eat snacks from the concession stand Registration is required in advance at the recreation center FREE

1 MONDAYNATURE

August Dollar Days Dallas Arboretum 8525 Garland Rd Dallas 214515-6615 dallasarboretumorg 9amndash5pm daily through Aug 31 Explore the arboretum with discounted admission during the entire month $1 for garden admission $1 for Childrenrsquos Adventure Garden

PARADE Fort Worth Herd Fort Worth Stockyards 130 E Exchange Ave Fort Worth 817625-9715 stockyardsstationcom 1130am and 4pm daily weather permitting Line up along the streets and watch genuine cowhands drive a herd of 15 Texas longhorns through the stockyards FREE

SPECIAL EVENT SummerFest Gaylord Texan Resort 1501 Gaylord Trl Grapevine 817778-1000 gaylordtexancom Through Sep 5 Times vary by activity Enjoy a variety of family activities throughout the resort all themed on the 1865 classic Alicersquos Adventures in Wonderland such as giant glow checkers the Mad Hatterrsquos tea party junior chef camps crafts strolling characters and film screenings Prices vary by activity

CONTINUING See dfwchildcom for more events

2 TUESDAYFILM

Modern Kids ndash Summer Flicks The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth 3200 Darnell St Fort Worth 817738-9215 themodernorg Aug 2ndash3 11am for ages 3ndash8 2pm for 8 and up Aug 4 2pm film for all ages Watch a series of short innovative films including those shown in the New York Childrenlsquos Film Festival Come early or stay after to explore the museumlsquos galleries FREE

ARTS amp CRAFTS Pictures and Pages Kimbell Art Museum 3333 Camp Bowie Blvd Fort Worth 817332-8451 kimbellartorg

0819 HIGHLAND VILLAGE LIONS

CLUB HOT AIR BALLOON

FESTIVAL UNITY PARK AUGUST

1030ndash1145am Aug 2ndash3 Meet in the Piano Pavilion Education Studios for this

program featuring the book The Iridescence of Birds ndash A Book About Henri Matisse written by

Patricia MacLachlan For ages 4ndash6 Max of two kids per adult Call to register FREE

FILM Summer at the MampE Kids Camp Moviehouse amp Eatery 951 Long Prairie Rd Flower Mound 972355-6363 themo-viehousecomflowermound 10am every Tue through Aug 23 Watch a different movie each week Limited tickets are available at 9am Home on Aug 2 Alvin and the Chipmunks on Aug 9 Night at the Museum 2 on Aug 16 Monsters vs Aliens on Aug 23 FREE

CONTINUING August Dollar Days See Aug 1 Fort Worth Herd See Aug 1 SummerFest See Aug 1

3 WEDNESDAYON STAGE

Ringling Bros and Barnum amp Bailey ndash Circus Xtreme American Airlines Center 2500 Victory Ave Dallas 800745-3000 americanairlinescentercom Multiple showtimes Aug 3ndash7 and 10ndash14 Join performers on the show floor at the All Access Pre-Show one hour before the performance and then see aerialists BMX riders a high-wire troupe clowns exotic animals and more in the new show Ticke-ts start at $19 Opening night tickets start at $12 Kids 2 and older must have a ticket

CONTINUING August Dollar Days See Aug 1 Fort Worth Herd See Aug 1 SummerFest See Aug 1 Modern Kids See Aug 2 Pictures and Pages See Aug 2

4 THURSDAYNATURE

Critterman ndash Extra Furry Emily Fowler Central Library

kid culture E V E R Y D A Y

26 a u g u s t 2 0 1 6 n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d

HISTORY First Fridays at the Farm Nash Farm 626 Ball St Gra-pevine 817410-3185 nashfarmorg 10amndash12pm Learn about how cotton was grown harvested and sold and how the cash crop helped to build the region For all ages Registration is required $3 for ages 3 and older

RECREATION Splish Splash Story Time The CORE 234 E Parkway Blvd Coppell 972304-7077 coppelltxgov 11amndash1245pm Aug 5 and 12 Meet at the pool for songs splashing and a special story time hosted by the library in conjunction with Tot Swim For parents and kids ages 8 and younger FREE

CONTINUING August Dollar Days See Aug 1 Fort Worth Herd See Aug 1 SummerFest See Aug 1 Ringling Bros and Barnum amp Bailey See Aug 3

6 SATURDAYMOM

Family Expo amp Big Latch On Fort Worth Botanic Garden 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd Fort Worth 817871-7686 tarrantbfcoalitioncom 9amndash1pm Celebrate World Breastfeeding Month at the fifth annual event with more than 50 family-friendly vendors inside the Redbud amp Oak Hall Latch your child at 1030am for one minute and help break the record of latching 277 children simultaneously FREE

HISTORY Great Train Robberies Cotton Belt Depot 705 S Main St Grapevine 817410-3185 gvrrcom 1ndash545pm each Sat and Sun through Labor Day weekend Experience a mock train robbery in progress as you ride on the Grapevine Vintage Railroad a Victo-rian-style train coach from Grapevine to Fort Worth $26 for first class $18 for touring class

EDUCATIONAL Itty-Bitty Art ndash Early Literacy Amon Carter Museum of American Art 3501 Camp Bowie Blvd Fort Worth 817738-1933 cartermuseumorg 930ndash1015am Bring a blanket and discover age-appropriate activi-ties inspired by the museumrsquos collection presented by an early literacy consultant For babies 11 months and younger Space is limited and registration is required FREE

ARTS amp CRAFTS Kimbell Kids Drop-In Studio Kimbell Art Museum 3333 Camp Bowie Blvd Fort Worth 817332-8451 kimbellartorg 1ndash145pm Aug 6 20 and 27 Paint shapes inspired by the work of Pablo Picasso during this program for children 12 and younger and their parents Held in the Piano Pavilion Education Studios Sign-up begins one hour prior to the program FREE

NATURE Nature Center History Tour Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge 9601 Fossil Ridge Rd Fort Worth 817392-7410 fwnaturecenterorg 1ndash230pm Join a naturalist to learn about the features that led to the nature centerrsquos creation in 1964 and hike through its various habitats Free with admission $5 adults $2 ages 3ndash12

FILM Planetarium Shows UNT Sky Theater 1704 W Mulberry St Denton 940369-8213 skytheateruntedu 2 and 8pm each Sat Watch short films about space and space exploration on the planetariumrsquos high-de-finition projection system Check the website for scheduled shows $5 adults $3 kids 12 and younger Cash only

NATURE Star Party Rafes Urban Astronomy Center 2350 Tom Cole Rd Denton 940369-8213 astronomyuntedu 30 minutes after sunset weather permitting Held each first Sat monthly Gaze at celestial bodies through telescopes see the Hudson Planetwalk and learn about the night sky from University of North Texas staff members and students $5 free for kids 4

and younger Cash only First Saturday Sky TheaterStar Party combo deal $9 adults $7 kids under 12

ARTS amp CRAFTS Target First Saturday Nasher Sculpture Center 2001 Flora St Dallas 214242-5100 nashersculpturecen-terorg Open 10amndash5pm Activities 10amndash2pm Make a puzzle listen to a story reading join a yoga session in the garden and enjoy more family programming during this family day for preschoolers and elementary-aged children FREE

CONTINUING August Dollar Days See Aug 1 Fort Worth Herd See Aug 1 SummerFest See Aug 1 Ringling Bros and Barnum amp Bailey See Aug 3 Children of Eden See Aug 5

7 SUNDAYARTS amp CRAFTS

Drawing from the Collection for Children The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth 3200 Darnell St Fort Worth 817738-9215 themodernorg 2ndash330pm Bring a sketchbook and pencils to join informal drawing exercises led by artists Sarah Westrup and Devyn Gaudet Sign up at the information desk before the program For ages 5ndash12 FREE

NATURE Out of Sight Insects Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge 9601 Fossil Ridge Rd Fort Worth 817392-7410 fwnaturecenterorg 11amndash12pm Watch a slide presentation on caterpillars butterflies grasshop-pers beetles bees and flies Then take a walk to see how many you can find Bring a camera and come help observe and record Free with admission $5 adults $2 ages 3ndash12

RECREATION Sunday Funday Panther Island Pavilion 395 Purcey St Fort Worth 817698-0700 pantherislandpavilioncom 12ndash6pm every Sun through Sep 4 Enjoy a variety of water sports and activities on the Trinity River including pedal boating kayaking stand up paddle boarding canoeing yoga and disc golf Free admission Tube rentals are $5

CONTINUING August Dollar Days See Aug 1 Fort Worth Herd See Aug 1 SummerFest See Aug 1 Ringling Bros and Barnum amp Bailey See Aug 3 Children of Eden See Aug 5 Great Train Robberies See Aug 6

8 MONDAYARTS amp CRAFTS

Art Babies ndash Zoo Babies Dallas Museum of Art 1717 N Harwood St Dallas 214922-1200 dmaorg 10 and 11am 12pm Search for animals hiding in art and enjoy animal-themed sensory play stations For children 24 months and younger Adults do not need a ticket $8 $5 for DMA members

CONTINUING August Dollar Days See Aug 1 Fort Worth Herd See Aug 1 SummerFest See Aug 1

9 TUESDAYARTS amp CRAFTS

Toddler Art ndash Bugs Bugs Bugs Dallas Museum of Art 1717 N Harwood St Dallas 214922-1200 dmaorg 11amndash12pm Aug 9 12 and 19 Search the galleries for insects and use puppets to act out The Very Hungry Caterpillar in Arturolsquos Nest For ages 2ndash3 Adults and younger siblings do not need a ticket $8 $5 DMA members

CONTINUING August Dollar Days See Aug 1 Fort Worth Herd See Aug 1 SummerFest See Aug 1 Summer at the MampE Kids Camp See Aug 2

10 WEDNESDAYARTS amp CRAFTS

Arturorsquos Art amp Me ndash Robot Go Bot Dallas Museum of Art

Phot

o by N

ick Pr

ende

rgas

t

DFWCHILDrsquoS 18th Annual

model search

Benefitting

SATURDAY OCTOBER 22Grapevine Mills bull 10amndash3pm

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 5 NorthPark Center bull 10amndash3pm

DFWCHILDCOMMODELSEARCH

bull Ages 0ndash12 yearsbull $35 online registration fee or $45 day of event

Online registration begins August 15

kid culture E V E R Y D A Y

26 a u g u s t 2 0 1 6 n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d

HISTORY First Fridays at the Farm Nash Farm 626 Ball St Gra-pevine 817410-3185 nashfarmorg 10amndash12pm Learn about how cotton was grown harvested and sold and how the cash crop helped to build the region For all ages Registration is required $3 for ages 3 and older

RECREATION Splish Splash Story Time The CORE 234 E Parkway Blvd Coppell 972304-7077 coppelltxgov 11amndash1245pm Aug 5 and 12 Meet at the pool for songs splashing and a special story time hosted by the library in conjunction with Tot Swim For parents and kids ages 8 and younger FREE

CONTINUING August Dollar Days See Aug 1 Fort Worth Herd See Aug 1 SummerFest See Aug 1 Ringling Bros and Barnum amp Bailey See Aug 3

6 SATURDAYMOM

Family Expo amp Big Latch On Fort Worth Botanic Garden 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd Fort Worth 817871-7686 tarrantbfcoalitioncom 9amndash1pm Celebrate World Breastfeeding Month at the fifth annual event with more than 50 family-friendly vendors inside the Redbud amp Oak Hall Latch your child at 1030am for one minute and help break the record of latching 277 children simultaneously FREE

HISTORY Great Train Robberies Cotton Belt Depot 705 S Main St Grapevine 817410-3185 gvrrcom 1ndash545pm each Sat and Sun through Labor Day weekend Experience a mock train robbery in progress as you ride on the Grapevine Vintage Railroad a Victo-rian-style train coach from Grapevine to Fort Worth $26 for first class $18 for touring class

EDUCATIONAL Itty-Bitty Art ndash Early Literacy Amon Carter Museum of American Art 3501 Camp Bowie Blvd Fort Worth 817738-1933 cartermuseumorg 930ndash1015am Bring a blanket and discover age-appropriate activi-ties inspired by the museumrsquos collection presented by an early literacy consultant For babies 11 months and younger Space is limited and registration is required FREE

ARTS amp CRAFTS Kimbell Kids Drop-In Studio Kimbell Art Museum 3333 Camp Bowie Blvd Fort Worth 817332-8451 kimbellartorg 1ndash145pm Aug 6 20 and 27 Paint shapes inspired by the work of Pablo Picasso during this program for children 12 and younger and their parents Held in the Piano Pavilion Education Studios Sign-up begins one hour prior to the program FREE

NATURE Nature Center History Tour Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge 9601 Fossil Ridge Rd Fort Worth 817392-7410 fwnaturecenterorg 1ndash230pm Join a naturalist to learn about the features that led to the nature centerrsquos creation in 1964 and hike through its various habitats Free with admission $5 adults $2 ages 3ndash12

FILM Planetarium Shows UNT Sky Theater 1704 W Mulberry St Denton 940369-8213 skytheateruntedu 2 and 8pm each Sat Watch short films about space and space exploration on the planetariumrsquos high-de-finition projection system Check the website for scheduled shows $5 adults $3 kids 12 and younger Cash only

NATURE Star Party Rafes Urban Astronomy Center 2350 Tom Cole Rd Denton 940369-8213 astronomyuntedu 30 minutes after sunset weather permitting Held each first Sat monthly Gaze at celestial bodies through telescopes see the Hudson Planetwalk and learn about the night sky from University of North Texas staff members and students $5 free for kids 4

and younger Cash only First Saturday Sky TheaterStar Party combo deal $9 adults $7 kids under 12

ARTS amp CRAFTS Target First Saturday Nasher Sculpture Center 2001 Flora St Dallas 214242-5100 nashersculpturecen-terorg Open 10amndash5pm Activities 10amndash2pm Make a puzzle listen to a story reading join a yoga session in the garden and enjoy more family programming during this family day for preschoolers and elementary-aged children FREE

CONTINUING August Dollar Days See Aug 1 Fort Worth Herd See Aug 1 SummerFest See Aug 1 Ringling Bros and Barnum amp Bailey See Aug 3 Children of Eden See Aug 5

7 SUNDAYARTS amp CRAFTS

Drawing from the Collection for Children The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth 3200 Darnell St Fort Worth 817738-9215 themodernorg 2ndash330pm Bring a sketchbook and pencils to join informal drawing exercises led by artists Sarah Westrup and Devyn Gaudet Sign up at the information desk before the program For ages 5ndash12 FREE

NATURE Out of Sight Insects Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge 9601 Fossil Ridge Rd Fort Worth 817392-7410 fwnaturecenterorg 11amndash12pm Watch a slide presentation on caterpillars butterflies grasshop-pers beetles bees and flies Then take a walk to see how many you can find Bring a camera and come help observe and record Free with admission $5 adults $2 ages 3ndash12

RECREATION Sunday Funday Panther Island Pavilion 395 Purcey St Fort Worth 817698-0700 pantherislandpavilioncom 12ndash6pm every Sun through Sep 4 Enjoy a variety of water sports and activities on the Trinity River including pedal boating kayaking stand up paddle boarding canoeing yoga and disc golf Free admission Tube rentals are $5

CONTINUING August Dollar Days See Aug 1 Fort Worth Herd See Aug 1 SummerFest See Aug 1 Ringling Bros and Barnum amp Bailey See Aug 3 Children of Eden See Aug 5 Great Train Robberies See Aug 6

8 MONDAYARTS amp CRAFTS

Art Babies ndash Zoo Babies Dallas Museum of Art 1717 N Harwood St Dallas 214922-1200 dmaorg 10 and 11am 12pm Search for animals hiding in art and enjoy animal-themed sensory play stations For children 24 months and younger Adults do not need a ticket $8 $5 for DMA members

CONTINUING August Dollar Days See Aug 1 Fort Worth Herd See Aug 1 SummerFest See Aug 1

9 TUESDAYARTS amp CRAFTS

Toddler Art ndash Bugs Bugs Bugs Dallas Museum of Art 1717 N Harwood St Dallas 214922-1200 dmaorg 11amndash12pm Aug 9 12 and 19 Search the galleries for insects and use puppets to act out The Very Hungry Caterpillar in Arturolsquos Nest For ages 2ndash3 Adults and younger siblings do not need a ticket $8 $5 DMA members

CONTINUING August Dollar Days See Aug 1 Fort Worth Herd See Aug 1 SummerFest See Aug 1 Summer at the MampE Kids Camp See Aug 2

10 WEDNESDAYARTS amp CRAFTS

Arturorsquos Art amp Me ndash Robot Go Bot Dallas Museum of Art

Phot

o by N

ick Pr

ende

rgas

t

DFWCHILDrsquoS 18th Annual

model search

Benefitting

SATURDAY OCTOBER 22Grapevine Mills bull 10amndash3pm

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 5 NorthPark Center bull 10amndash3pm

DFWCHILDCOMMODELSEARCH

bull Ages 0ndash12 yearsbull $35 online registration fee or $45 day of event

Online registration begins August 15

Phot

o by N

ick Pr

ende

rgas

t

DFWCHILDrsquoS 18th Annual

model search

Benefitting

SATURDAY OCTOBER 22Grapevine Mills bull 10amndash3pm

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 5 NorthPark Center bull 10amndash3pm

DFWCHILDCOMMODELSEARCH

bull Ages 0ndash12 yearsbull $35 online registration fee or $45 day of event

Online registration begins August 15

kid culture E V E R Y D A Y

28 a u g u s t 2 0 1 6 n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d

bull InfantsToddlers (6 wksndash18 mos)bull Beginner (18 mosndash3 yrs)bull Primary (3ndash6 yrs)bull Kindergarten

Preschool programsavailable for half-day

full-day amp extended care

In addition to academics your child will discover

Spanish bull Dance bull MusicArts bull Physical Education

Rockbrook Montessori Academyat Flower Mound

2501 Simmons Rd Flower Mound TX 75022972 874 7000

Rockbrook Montessori Academyat Valley Ranch

1201 Ranch Trail Irving TX 75063972 831 0200

wwwrockbrookmontessoricom

After school care for elementary childrenpick-up and drop-off available

1717 N Harwood St Dallas 214922-1200 dmaorg 11amndash1230pm Aug 10 11 and 13 Listen to a story look at works of art and play games in the galleries before creating an original work of art in the Art Studio For ages 3ndash5 $8 $5 DMA members

RECREATION Back to School Water Balloon Wars South Branch Library 3228 Teasley Ln Denton 940349-8752 dentonli-brarycom 3ndash4pm Bring a towel and celebrate the end of summer with a giant water balloon fight with balloons provided by the library For ages 10ndash17 FREE

ARTS amp CRAFTS Wonderful Wednesdays The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth 3200 Darnell St Fort Worth 817738-9215 themodernorg 4ndash445pm Visit the work of Frank Stella during this docent-led program with a story and short gallery project For ages 4 and older Sign up at the information desk on the day of the program FREE

CONTINUING August Dollar Days See Aug 1 Fort Worth Herd See Aug 1 SummerFest See Aug 1 Ringling Bros and Barnum amp Bailey See Aug 3

11 THURSDAYCONTINUING

August Dollar Days See Aug 1 Fort Worth Herd See Aug 1 SummerFest See Aug 1 Ringling Bros and Barnum amp Bailey See Aug 3 Arturolsquos Art amp Me See Aug 10

12 FRIDAYHISTORY

Back to School Friday Fun Train Cotton Belt Depot 705 S Main St Grapevine 817410-3185 gvrrcom 10ndash11am Take a nostalgic one-hour excursion on the Grapevine Vintage Railroad before school begins $10 adults $8 kids 13 monthsndash12 years

NATURE Family Safari Night Hike Dallas Zoo 650 S RL Thornton Fwy Dallas 469554-7500 dallaszoocomeducationnight-programsfamily-nights 7ndash10pm Take a special zoo tour after dark join kid-friendly activities and see some of the education animals up close $20 per participant

GAMES Lego Builders Club Emily Fowler Central Library 502 Oakland St Denton 940349-8752 dentonlibrarycom 430ndash530pm Aug 12 and 27 Drop in and get creative by building with Lego blocks provided by the library For ages 6 and older FREE

RECREATION Night Hike Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area 201 E Jones St Lewisville 972219-7980 llelaorg 8ndash10pm Join trail guides on a twilight stroll through forest prairie and marsh trails Wear long pants and closed-toe shoes and bring a water bottle For ages 5 and older Registration is required $10

CONTINUING August Dollar Days See Aug 1 Fort Worth Herd See Aug 1 SummerFest See Aug 1 Ringling Bros and Barnum amp Bailey See Aug 3 Splish Splash Story Time See Aug 5 Toddler Art See Aug 9

13 SATURDAYNATURE

Butterflies and Bugs Family Festival Texas Disco-very Gardens 3601 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd Dallas 214428-7476 texasdiscoverygardensorg 10amndash3pm Join the annual celebration of insects for live and pinned insects activities butterfly house tours and crafts Free with admission $8 adults $4 kids 3ndash11

NATURE Butterfly Gardens Biodiversity Education Center 367 Freeport Pkwy Coppell 972304-3581 coppelltxgovbec 11amndash1230pm Learn how to plant nectar sources that will attract butterflies as they migrate

and what you can do to ensure they return to North Texas gardens year after year FREE

ARTS amp CRAFTS Childrenrsquos Workshop ndash Family Feast Kimbell Art Muse-um 3333 Camp Bowie Blvd Fort Worth 817332-8451 kimbellartorg 10amndash12pm Create still-life paintings during this Saturday workshop for ages 6ndash12 Held in the Piano Pavilion Education Studios Call to register $12 members $15 nonmembers

NATURE Cozy Nests Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge 9601 Fossil Ridge Rd Fort Worth 817392-7410 fwnaturecenterorg 1ndash3pm See the diversity of bird nests left behind by the local bird community and learn which birds may have grown up in your backyard this summer Free with admission $5 adults $2 ages 3ndash12

SCIENCE Discovery Day ndash Super Scientists Perot Museum of Nature and Science at Victory Park 2201 N Field St Dallas 214428-5555 perotmuseumorg 830ndash10am museum members 10amndash4pm nonmembers Dress up like a scientist meet real scientists explore some of the professions you can pursue and learn what it takes to achieve your goals For all ages Free with admission $19 adults $12 kids 2ndash17

ARTS amp CRAFTS Family Workshop ndash Winnerrsquos Circle Dallas Museum of Art 1717 N Harwood St Dallas 214922-1200 dmaorg 1ndash230pm Explore artworks with connections to spor-ts and then create art worthy of the Summer Olympics winners circle For ages 6ndash12 Class size is limited Adults do not need a ticket $8 $5 for DMA members

MUSIC Itty-Bitty Art ndash Music Amon Carter Museum of American Art 3501 Camp Bowie Blvd Fort Worth 817738-1933 cartermuseumorg 930ndash1015am Bring a blanket and discover music-making activities inspired by the museumrsquos collection presented by a certified Music Together teacher For babies 11 mon-ths and younger Space is limited and registration is required FREE

CONTINUING August Dollar Days See Aug 1 Fort Worth Herd See Aug 1 SummerFest See Aug 1 Ringling Bros and Barnum amp Bailey See Aug 3 Great Train Robberies See Aug 6 Planetarium Shows See Aug 6 Arturolsquos Art amp Me See Aug 10

14 SUNDAYGAMES

Checks and Mates Flower Mound Public Library 3030 Broadmoor Ln Flower Mound 972874-6167 fmli-brarynet 2ndash4pm Play an afternoon game of chess at the library For all ages Held on the second Sun of each month FREE

NATURE Nature en Espantildeol El Verano Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge 9601 Fossil Ridge Rd Fort Worth 817392-7410 fwnaturecenterorg 1ndash230pm Learn or practice the Spanish language by joining a bilin-gual naturalist on a hike on the refuge trails in search of interesting fauna and flora Free with admission $5 adults $2 ages 3ndash12

CONTINUING August Dollar Days See Aug 1 Fort Worth Herd See Aug 1 SummerFest See Aug 1 Ringling Bros and Barnum amp Bailey See Aug 3 Great Train Robberies See Aug 6 Sunday Funday See Aug 7

15 MONDAYFILM

Monday Movie Madness Flower Mound Community Activity Center 1200 Gerault Rd Flower Mound 972874-7275 flower-moundcomcac 730ndash9pm Bring your floats and watch Ferris Buellerrsquos Day Off

n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d a u g u s t 2 0 1 6 29

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䬀攀氀氀漀最最猀吀漀甀爀挀漀洀

匀䔀倀吀䔀䴀䈀䔀刀 㤀2250 Highland Village Road Ste 200

Highland Village TX 75077972-317-WELL

wwwtrinitywellnesscentercom

OFFERING THESE SERVICES bull Chiropractic bull Acupuncture bull Massage Therapy bull Nutrition Naturopathy bull Therapy Rehab

Dr Michelle D MartzDC DACBN CCN CTN

BENEFITS OF NATURAL HEALINGBoosted Immunity

Improved Balance amp CoordinationIncreased Mental Function

Accelerated Injury RecoveryEnhanced Relaxation Sleep

and Well Being

Family Wellness Starts Here

972-436-7233wwwfirstlewisvilleorgccdc-preschool

907 W MAIN STREET LEWISVILLE TX 75067

Visit us on Facebook CCDC Lewisville

CCDC Preschooland KindergartenServing the community for 45 years

Now Enrolling

Nurturing Today

Preparing for Tomorrow

bull Frog Street Press Curriculum

bull Conscious Discipline

bull Science Computer Lab Music amp Chapel Classes

bull After school Enrichment Classes Cooking Science Cheerleading Art STEM

Ages 18 months throughKindergarten

Full and Part Time Available

kid culture E V E R Y D A Y

30 a u g u s t 2 0 1 6 n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d

ARTS amp CRAFTS Late Night at the DMA Dallas Museum of Art 1717 N Harwood St Dallas 214922-1200 dmaorg 6pmndash12am Listen to a talk about the founding of the modern Olympic Games dance to Latin music in the atrium watch a screening of the 2016 movie Race and enjoy more family-friendly activities at the museum $15 free for ages 11 and younger

FESTIVAL North Texas Fair and Rodeo North Texas Fair Grounds 2217 N Carroll Blvd Denton 940387-2632 ntfaircom Through Aug 27 Gates open at 6pm MonndashFri and at 1pm SatndashSun Enjoy live concerts horse and livestock shows exhibitions contests cook-offs food and games at this annual nine-day fair and rodeo Adult admission starts at $15 $5 for kids 7ndash12

CONTINUING August Dollar Days See Aug 1 Fort Worth Herd See Aug 1 SummerFest See Aug 1 Toddler Art See Aug 9 The Sound of Music See Aug 17 Ringling Bros and Barnum amp Bailey See Aug 18

20 SATURDAYSPECIAL EVENT

Back to School Ice Cream Social The Square at Old Town Coppell 768 W Main St Coppell 972462-5100 coppelltxgov 6ndash8pm Enjoy an icy treat and toppings from ice cream trucks plus face painters balloon artists and music and play on the Old Town playground and Main Street interactive fountain Donations will be accepted for the school supply drive Free admission cost for ice cream

FILM Big Hoss TV Ultimate Drive-In Texas Motor Speedway 3545 Lone Star Cir Fort Worth 817215-8500 texasspeedwaycharitiesorg Gates open at 630pm movie begins at 8pm Bring your lawn chairs and coolers and watch Inside Out on the worldrsquos largest high-definition TV in the infield Proceeds benefit Speedway Childrenrsquos Charities $20 per car at the gate $15 in advance

NATURE Build Like a Beaver Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge 9601 Fossil Ridge Rd Fort Worth 817392-7410 fwnaturecenterorg 1ndash3pm Learn some of the tricks beavers use to build their dams look at real beaver artifacts and go on a short hike along the River Bottom Trail to look for beaver signs Free with admission $5 adults $2 ages 3ndash12

BOOKS amp AUTHORS Chapter Books and Cozy Nooks South Irving Library 601 Schulze Dr Irving 972721-4612 cityofirvingorglibrary 230ndash330pm Read Greetings from Somewhere ndash The Mystery Across the Secret Bridge by Harper Paris and join travel-themed crafts and games For kids in firstndashthird grades FREE

FITNESS Itty-Bitty Art ndash Yoga Amon Carter Museum of American Art 3501 Camp Bowie Blvd Fort Worth 817738-1933 cartermuseumorg 930ndash1015am Join a yoga session for parents and babies 11 months and younger presented by the owner of PerfectFit Front-carrying baby carriers are encoura-ged Bring your own yoga mat or use provided mats Space is limited registration is required FREE

GAMES Pokeacutemon Tournament South Branch Library 3228 Teasley Ln Denton 940349-8752 dentonlibrarycom 2ndash5pm Bring your Pokeacutemon deck of cards and battle other fans for prizes For ages 8ndash15 Registrati-on is required FREE

CONTINUING August Dollar Days See Aug 1 Fort Worth Herd See Aug 1 SummerFest See Aug 1 Great Train Robberies See Aug 6 Kimbell Kids Drop-In Studio See Aug 6 Planetarium Shows See Aug 6 The Sound of Music See Aug 17 Ringling Bros and Barnum amp Bailey See Aug 18 Highland Village Lions Club Hot Air Balloon Festival See Aug 19 North Texas Fair and Rodeo See Aug 19

while swimming in the indoor pool Nonresidents $8 adults $6 children Residents $6 adults $4 children

CONTINUING August Dollar Days See Aug 1 Fort Worth Herd See Aug 1 SummerFest See Aug 1

16 TUESDAYCONTINUING

August Dollar Days See Aug 1 Fort Worth Herd See Aug 1 SummerFest See Aug 1 Summer at the MampE Kids Camp See Aug 2

17 WEDNESDAYSCIENCE

Science in 30 ndash Back to School Science That Sticks East Branch Library 440 S Nursery Rd Irving 972721-3722 cityofirvingorglibrary 230ndash3pm Meet in the program room and make elephant toothpaste during a kid-friendly experiment that demonstrates exothermic reactions For ages 4ndash12 FREE

EDUCATIONAL Summer Art and Science Series North Branch Library 3020 N Locust St Denton 940349-8752 denton-librarycom 2ndash3pm Take a break from the heat by making erupting snowballs and exploring art scien-ce and creativity at the library For ages 5ndash8 FREE

ON STAGE The Sound of Music Bass Performance Hall 525 Commerce St Fort Worth 817212-4280 basshallcom Multiple showtimes Aug 17ndash21 Watch this brand-new production of Rodgers amp Hammersteinrsquos musical story of Maria and the Von Trapp family Tickets start at $44

CONTINUING August Dollar Days See Aug 1 Fort Worth Herd See Aug 1 SummerFest See Aug 1

18 THURSDAYON STAGE

Ringling Bros and Barnum amp Bailey ndash Circus Xtreme Fort Worth Convention Center 1201 Houston St Fort Worth 800745-3000 ringlingcom Multiple showtimes Aug 18ndash21 See aerialists BMX riders a high-wire troupe clowns exotic animals and more in the new show The Animal Open House begins 90 minutes before the show and the All Access Pre-Show an hour before the show Tickets start at $12

CONTINUING August Dollar Days See Aug 1 Fort Worth Herd See Aug 1 SummerFest See Aug 1 The Sound of Music See Aug 17

19 FRIDAYRECREATION

Back to School Bash Flower Mound Community Activity Center 1200 Gerault Rd Flower Mound 972874-7275 flower-moundcomcac 6ndash9pm Enjoy a night of free food entertainment games and prizes at the CAC outdoor waterpark For kids ages 10ndash15 Register online or at the CAC $7 CAC members $8 nonmembers

HISTORY Frugal Farm Wife Nash Farm 626 Ball St Grapevine 817410-3185 nashfarmorg 10amndash2pm Step inside the 19th-century home to meet with costumed interpreters and learn about the domestic duties of a farm family For all ages Registration is required $3

FESTIVAL Highland Village Lions Club Hot Air Balloon Festival Unity Park 2200 Briarhill Blvd Highland Village 972317-9073 lionsballoonfestcom 5ndash10pm Aug 19 7amndash10pm Aug 20 7amndash12pm Aug 21 See a number of colorful hot air balloons ascend and race over the park watch evening balloon glows and go on tethered balloon rides The 29th annual festival includes a 1K fun run and 5K and classic car show FREE

n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d a u g u s t 2 0 1 6 31

See where learning growsTAKE A TOUR TODAY

Visit us online to find a nearby center

16-MKT-FLD-101882 copy 2016 KinderCare Education LLC All rights reserved

$40 OFFPresent this postcard at

the time of registration for

a class and get $40 off the

Annual Registration Fee

Not to be used in combination with other offers No cash or credit value $40 off per family

Expires August 31 2016

Win KidsGO FOR THE GOLDNEW BACK-TO-SCHOOL CLASSES

NOW ENROLLINGH GymnasticsH Parent amp Child ClassesH Karate ClassesH Dance ClassesH Ninja Warriors

H Tumbling amp TrampolineH Sports SkillsH Piano Guitar amp DrumsH Gym-N-Learn

Preschool

3000 WAKETON ROADFLOWER MOUND TEXAS 75028(Corner of 2499Waketon Road)

CALL TO RESERVE YOUR CHILDrsquoS SPOT

972-355-9988

To view our School Year Schedule visit our web site at wwwwinkidsnet

The Westwood Difference

Westwood encourages responsible citizenship enabling each student to make a positive personal

contribution in the classroom and in global communities

NEW

Part-tim

e Toddler c

lasses

The Westwood School

14340 Proton Road Dallas TX 75244 bull 972-239-8598 bull wwwwestwoodschoolorg

Montessori mdash International Baccalaureate

Preschool through High School

NEW

Part-tim

e Toddler c

lasses

n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d a u g u s t 2 0 1 6 31

See where learning growsTAKE A TOUR TODAY

Visit us online to find a nearby center

16-MKT-FLD-101882 copy 2016 KinderCare Education LLC All rights reserved

$40 OFFPresent this postcard at

the time of registration for

a class and get $40 off the

Annual Registration Fee

Not to be used in combination with other offers No cash or credit value $40 off per family

Expires August 31 2016

Win KidsGO FOR THE GOLDNEW BACK-TO-SCHOOL CLASSES

NOW ENROLLINGH GymnasticsH Parent amp Child ClassesH Karate ClassesH Dance ClassesH Ninja Warriors

H Tumbling amp TrampolineH Sports SkillsH Piano Guitar amp DrumsH Gym-N-Learn

Preschool

3000 WAKETON ROADFLOWER MOUND TEXAS 75028(Corner of 2499Waketon Road)

CALL TO RESERVE YOUR CHILDrsquoS SPOT

972-355-9988

To view our School Year Schedule visit our web site at wwwwinkidsnet

The Westwood Difference

Westwood encourages responsible citizenship enabling each student to make a positive personal

contribution in the classroom and in global communities

NEW

Part-tim

e Toddler c

lasses

The Westwood School

14340 Proton Road Dallas TX 75244 bull 972-239-8598 bull wwwwestwoodschoolorg

Montessori mdash International Baccalaureate

Preschool through High School

NEW

Part-tim

e Toddler c

lasses

kid culture E V E R Y D A Y

32 a u g u s t 2 0 1 6 n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d

2323 Cheyenne St Irving 75062

wwwhfca-irvingorg

NOW ENROLLINGPre-K 3ndash8th grade

Please contact972-255-0205

HOLY FAMILYCATHOLICACADEMY FREE denotes free event admission Other costs such as parking may apply

Times dates and locations are subject to change Please call ahead before every event If you have an event that yoursquod like us to consider for the next calendar please go to dfwchildcom and click on calendar to submit your event Or fax to 972447-0633 by the 10th of the month prior to the month of publication Events must be open to the public and of interest to families in the North Texas area Please include name and description of event address phone number website time date cost and age served We reserve the right to edit or withhold submissions

Want to see even more events Search our up-to-the-minute online calendar by date location and event type at dfwchildcom

21 SUNDAYEDUCATIONAL

PAWS for Reading South Irving Library 601 Schulze Dr Irving 972721-2606 cityofirvingorglibrary 130ndash3pm Read to a therapy dog in a warm and nonjudgmental environment to help increase read-ing level and confidence For all ages Participation is on a first-come first-served basis Meet in the Discovery Zone FREE

CONTINUING August Dollar Days See Aug 1 Fort Worth Herd See Aug 1 SummerFest See Aug 1 Great Train Robberies See Aug 6 Sunday Funday See Aug 7 The Sound of Music See Aug 17 Ringling Bros and Barnum amp Bailey See Aug 18 Highland Village Lions Club Hot Air Balloon Festival See Aug 19 North Texas Fair and Rodeo See Aug 19

22 MONDAYCONTINUING

August Dollar Days See Aug 1 Fort Worth Herd See Aug 1 SummerFest See Aug 1 North Texas Fair and Rodeo See Aug 19

23 TUESDAYCONTINUING

August Dollar Days See Aug 1 Fort Worth Herd See Aug 1 SummerFest See Aug 1 Summer at the MampE Kids Camp See Aug 2 North Texas Fair and Rodeo See Aug 19

24 WEDNESDAYCONTINUING

August Dollar Days See Aug 1 Fort Worth Herd See Aug 1 SummerFest See Aug 1 North Texas Fair and Rodeo See Aug 19

25 THURSDAYNATURE

Nature Center After Hours Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge 9601 Fossil Ridge Rd Fort Worth 817392-7410 fwnaturecenterorg 730ndash9pm Learn about the nine-banded armadillo go on a hike to look for evidence of this after-hours forager and learn about their natural history and other forms of wildlife you may encounter Registration is required $10 with paid admission $5 for members

CONTINUING August Dollar Days See Aug 1 Fort Worth Herd See Aug 1 SummerFest See Aug 1 North Texas Fair and Rodeo See Aug 19

26 FRIDAYFILM

Fourth Friday Films The Park at The Rec 1175 Municipal Way Grapevine 817410-3450 grape-vinetexasgov Movie begins at dusk Bring snacks lawn chairs and blankets to watch The Sandlot under the stars FREE

NATURE Preschool Discovery Club Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge 9601 Fossil Ridge Rd Fort Worth 817392-7410 fwnaturecenterorg 1030ndash1130am Learn about skunks and meet the refugersquos skunk am-bassador animal up close For preschoolers and their adult companions $8 per child with paid admission $5 for members

NATURE Stars on the Prairie Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area 201 E Jones St Lewisville 972219-7980 llelaorg 815ndash1015pm Get a view of the night sky from LLELArsquos prairie restoration area Wear long pants and closed-toe shoes and bring a water bottle and a blanket or chair For ages 5 and older Registration is required $10 per person

CONTINUING August Dollar Days See Aug 1 Fort Worth Herd See Aug 1 SummerFest See Aug 1 North Texas Fair and Rodeo See Aug 19

27 SATURDAYNATURE

Egrets and Herons Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge 9601 Fossil Ridge Rd Fort Worth 817392-7410 fwnaturecenterorg 1ndash2pm Learn about the natural history of the nature centerrsquos two most visible birds and visit them in their natural habitat Free with admission $5 adults $2 ages 3ndash12

EDUCATIONAL Itty-Bitty Art ndash Movement Amon Carter Museum of American Art 3501 Camp Bowie Blvd Fort Worth 817738-1933 cartermuseumorg 930ndash1015am Join movement activities led by an instructor at The Little Gym during this program for parents and babies 11 months and younger Wear comfortable clothing and bring a burp cloth Space is limited registration is required FREE

CONTINUING August Dollar Days See Aug 1 Fort Worth Herd See Aug 1 SummerFest See Aug 1 Great Train Robberies See Aug 6 Kimbell Kids Drop-In Studio See Aug 6 Planeta-rium Shows See Aug 6 Lego Builders Club See Aug 12 North Texas Fair and Rodeo See Aug 19

28 SUNDAYGAMES

LegoMania Lewisville Public Library 1197 W Main St Lewisville 972219-3570 librarycityoflewisvillecom 2ndash3pm Build with Lego blocks and Duplo blocks (for younger builders) Children younger than 6 years must be accompanied by an adult Meet in the Ben-nett Program Room FREE

CONTINUING August Dollar Days See Aug 1 Fort Worth Herd See Aug 1 SummerFest See Aug 1 Great Train Robberies See Aug 6 Sunday Funday See Aug 7

29 MONDAYCONTINUING

August Dollar Days See Aug 1 Fort Worth Herd See Aug 1 SummerFest See Aug 1

30 TUESDAYCONTINUING

August Dollar Days See Aug 1 Fort Worth Herd See Aug 1 SummerFest See Aug 1

31 WEDNESDAYCONTINUING

August Dollar Days See Aug 1 Fort Worth Herd See Aug 1 SummerFest See Aug 1

cityoflewisvillecom

9722193560 or 9722195061

DoggieDive InSaturday September 10

930 amndashNoonSun Valley Aquatic Center$4 per dog humans free

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Theatre Classes begin August 27Registration and more info at

wwwgetintotheactorg

Main stage auditions August 20wwwgetintotheactorgauditions

ACT Academy

Crittermanreg

D MagazineReaderrsquos ChoiceBest ChildrenrsquosEntertainer 2013

Serving Texas KidsSincSince 1990

(940) 365-9741wwwcrittermancom

copy

Teacher consignment sales are a great way of connecting individuals who want to sell their

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Heart of a Teacher Consignment Sale

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Wildlife EducationEnrichment classes stage shows and exotic animal exhibits

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Survey begins September 1st

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They canrsquot be Mom-Approved without your

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favorite OBGYNs midwives and

fertility specialists for your chance to

win a $150 Visa gift card

34 a u g u s t 2 0 1 6 n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d

manife sto

Cupcakes might be a tad over-rated

in the dessert category while Braumrsquos mint chocolate chip ice cream is definitely an under-rated flavor

And would it be blasphemy to call the classic comedy Caddyshack overrated

Irsquom pretty confident you havenrsquot given any of this much thought Yoursquove got more important issues to consider such as the best day care for your little one the right select youth sports league for your athlete or which neighbor should host the next neighborhood happy hour I get it Yoursquore busy

I just completed a 10-hour drive from Gulf Shores back home to Flower Mound and had more than enough time to con-template such important matters After all what else is there to do other than count Confederate flags dodge state troopers and try desperately to find a Starbucks in Ruston Louisiana

What I came up with on that long haul home is a Dadrsquos List of Underrated and Overrated Things in the World (Irsquom still working on the official name)

Any movie commercial or TV show that includes Tina Fey is overrated and not that funny The same holds true for Amy Poehler and Amy Schumer Itrsquos not that Irsquom against female come-dians I just think they should be you know funny

The movie Elf on the other hand is vastly underrated I

should confess that I actually walked out on the film in the theater but I gave it another go and now itrsquos my favorite kids Christmas movie I reserve the right to be wrong from time to time Irsquom sure Tina Fey fans are rejoicing

Terminator 2 Judgment Day Aliens The Dark Knight Rises the third installment in the Batman Dark Knight trilogy and all sequels after The Matrix The Hangover and Jaws All overrated

Yet the follow-up to National Lampoonrsquos Vacation National Lampoonrsquos Christmas Vacation was genius and is totally underrated

In terms of TV shows Friends while funny at times doesnrsquot hold a candle to legendary comedies like Seinfeld or MASH

And as far as kidsrsquo program-ming goes the Disney Channelrsquos Phineas and Ferb is totally underrated The writing works

for kids and adults alike so this show tops the list of things to watch as a family

In the baby gear category the Diaper Genie is extremely over-rated Chances are if yoursquore a first-time parent you registered for one of these contraptions In concept itrsquos great but nothing mdash I mean nothing mdash masks the stink of 20 or so messy diapers

Old-school Lincoln Logs have become an under-rated toy Legos get so much press with movies amusement parks and special events I understand After all a child can build the Death Star out of freaking Legos But Irsquoll stick

with Lincoln Logs every time The thrill of completing a frontier out-post is second only to the birth of your first child Hyperbole Well maybe a little But Lincoln Logs are pretty awesome

The bounce house a main-stay at all kids birthday parties it seems is not just overrated mdash

itrsquos a lawsuit wait-ing to happen

Anything made by Nerf from balls to blasters is way safer (read wonrsquot cause a concussion) mdash and underrated

Youth baseball has become overrated Surprising I know coming from a youth baseball coach but until the age of 10 youth baseball is just a bunch of standing around while Dad tries to find the strike zone Kids have a better chance breaking a sweat on the walk from the parking lot to the ballpark

Youth soccer however is an underrated sport and is the abso-lute best sport for all kids to play until theyrsquore 10 Boys and girls should be mandated to play soc-cer It combines cardio and team-work Plus itrsquos a fun spectator sport for parents mdash even if your kid doesnrsquot touch the ball shersquoll be a sweaty mess by the end

I donrsquot even get why the outdoor shopping mall exists in Texas Obviously overrated

I realize that indoor malls are quickly becoming a thing of the past in terms of the way we shop Call me old-fashioned but I think the indoor shopping mall is underrated I like to walk into Grapevine Mills or Stonebriar Centre get a bowl of Dippinrsquo Dots and stroll through Foot Locker and Lids When I tire of walking I pop in to one of those on-site chair massage places Whatrsquos not to love people

Writing to word-count spec-ifications outlined by my editor is overrated

Giving you something to laugh at here on this page Now thatrsquos underrated for sure ntc

I L L U S T R A T I O N M A R Y D U N NW O R D S R U D Y K L A N C N I K

the overunder list

Rudy lives in Flower Mound sells stuff to

make the house payment spends weekends on dusty ballfields and

recently had a GPS chip attached to his daughter Follow him on Twitter

Manifesto10

I FEED HER BRAIN A HEALTHY BREAKFASTGO PUBLIC

KERA Kids has a world of teacher-tested kid-approved content

online and on the air Go for the shows videos and games Go because

fun and learning go hand-in-hand Go to enrich their education with

the same member-supported organization that probably helped

support yours Go Public

KERAKIDSORG

16-KERA-0201_DFWchild_PrtAd_8-25x10-75indd 1 4516 453 PM

I FEED HER BRAIN A HEALTHY BREAKFASTGO PUBLIC

KERA Kids has a world of teacher-tested kid-approved content

online and on the air Go for the shows videos and games Go because

fun and learning go hand-in-hand Go to enrich their education with

the same member-supported organization that probably helped

support yours Go Public

KERAKIDSORG

16-KERA-0201_DFWchild_PrtAd_8-25x10-75indd 1 4516 453 PM

I FEED HER BRAIN A HEALTHY BREAKFASTGO PUBLIC

KERA Kids has a world of teacher-tested kid-approved content

online and on the air Go for the shows videos and games Go because

fun and learning go hand-in-hand Go to enrich their education with

the same member-supported organization that probably helped

support yours Go Public

KERAKIDSORG

16-KERA-0201_DFWchild_PrtAd_8-25x10-75indd 1 4516 453 PM

By your sidereg easing the stress of back to school

Visit childrenscombacktoschool for more tips

FOLLOW US ON

Another school year is just around the corner and Childrenrsquos HealthSM is here to help you

and your child prepare Anxiety disorders affect one in eight children With the pressure

of fi nding friends making good grades try-outs and bullying going back to school

can take an emotional toll on your child When school starts some anxiety is to be

expected but pay attention to any signifi cant changes in your childrsquos behavior and keep

an open dialogue asking questions and listening Reach out to your childrsquos teachers and

counselors to track progress and talk to your childrsquos doctor if you have concerns

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