Savvy Kids August 2012

New Monthly Feature:

Little Bites Yummy Family-Friendly Restaurants

Field Trip Guide Tons of great educational

adventures are available this year!

+

Gearing up for school Shopping Guide DOs & DON’Ts First Day Fun

Cover Contest Winners Announced

AUGUST 2012 www.savvykidsofarkansas.com August 2012 savvy kids

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contents August 2012

12

Field Trip Guide

From animal adventures to scientific explorations, find the perfect field trip for your school group this year!

26

Back-to-School Shopping

Find every thing you need to head back to school here.

22 First Day Fantastic 30 Do’s & Don’ts of Middle School 34 School Updates 42 Spending Wisely 46 Pathfinder Preschool 50 A Foundation for Learning 52 School and Diabetes 54 Special Needs Calendar of Events 56 PopTopics 58 B ook of the Month App of the Month Ask the Doctor

59 Savvy Arts 60 Kids Eat Free 61 Savvy Recipe 62 Little Bites 64 Calendar of Events 66 Savvy Kids Cover Contest Winners 78 Savvy Project 4 | savvy kids August 2012

ON THE COVER: Jaden Williams, Savvy Kids Cover Contest Winner, photographed

by Christian Avery Photography.

Back To SchoolBasics For Busy Parents!

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Available at these locations: edwards food giant liKe Us!

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August 2012 savvy kids

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PUBLISHER’S NOTE

H

ere at Savvy Kids we are excited about the new school year!

Each new school year brings so many wonderful things for children, from picking out new school supplies to learning about new fun topics. Starting on page 22 read though our back-to-school section.

In this issue we are also happy to share with you our Field Trip Guide.

Our editorial intern, Ariel Blackwood, called around the state to find exciting and educational field trips for students to take this year. Find all the information you need to plan your next field trip starting on page 12.

Photo by Christy Hollingshead

On page 42, get some tips about teaching your children to be financially responsible. Writer Erica Sweeney spoke with First Arkansas Bank and Trust for some expert advice. On page 62, you will find a new monthly feature called Little Bites where you can learn about a few of the many family-friendly restaurants across central Arkansas and see what they have to offer. (You can also find discounts and savings for the restaurants on page 63!)

As always, be sure to sign up for the Savvy Kids Club by visiting our website: savvykidsofarkansas.com. Club members receive e-newsletters filled with upcoming events, the latest Savvy news, and, of course, discounts and promotions from tons of central Arkansas retailers.

While you’re on our site, be sure to submit your kids’ upcoming events. Whether there is a birthday party in the near future, a team gathering, or school fundraiser, we want to hear about it! Fill out the event form on our site and your kids’ event could be featured in the next issue of Savvy Kids!

Follow us on Twitter

Become A Facebook Fan

Publisher hbaker@arktimes.com

savvykidsofarkansas.com

publisher Heather Baker, heatherbaker@arktimes.com editor Emily Griffin, emily@arktimes.com online editor Meredith Martin-Moats editorial art directors Patrick Jones, Bryan Moats account executives Erin Holland erin@arktimes.com Emily Withem emilyw@arktimes.com Michelle Miller michelle@arktimescom Tamara Adkins tamara@arktimes.com advertising sales assistant Kelly Lyles, kellylyles@arktimes.com production manager Weldon Wilson advertising coordinators Roland Gladden, roland@arktimes.com Kelly Schlachter, kellys@arktimes.com Tracy Whitaker, tracy@arktimes.com graphic artists Kai Caddy, Rafael Mendez, Bryan Moats, Patrick Jones, Mike Spain, Sandy Sarlo photographers Brian Chilson, Patrick Jones, Nick Hillemann, Ali Hibbard controller Weldon Wilson accounts payable Angie Fambrough it director Robert Curfman billing/collections Linda Phillips circulation director Anitra Hickman ALL MATERIALS ARE HANDLED WITH DUE CARE; HOWEVER, THE PUBLISHER ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR CARE AND SAFE RETURN OF UNSOLICITED MATERIALS. ALL LETTERS AND PICTURES SENT TO SAVVYKIDS™ WILL BE TREATED AS INTENDED FOR PUBLICATION AND ARE SUBJECT TO SAVVYKIDS'™ UNRESTRICTED RIGHT TO EDIT OR TO COMMENT EDITORIALLY. 201 E. MARKHAM ST. SUITE 200, LITTLE ROCK, AR 72201 501-375-2985.

ALL CONTENTS ©2012 SAVVY KIDS™

On the Web Do you want some really great tips for teaching your children financial responsibility? The moneyasyougrow.org site has gathered “20 Things Kids Need to Know to Live Financially Smart Lives” and break the information up by age group.

6 | savvy kids August 2012

At Kiplinger.com/tools/budget/ you will find a family financial planning worksheet to help you get on top of your monthly living costs. The site also offers helpful tools for planning for your family’s financial future, including saving for college, retirement and investing.

At monkeysee.com, search for “Teaching Kids Responsible Spending Habits.” The short video offers great tips for teaching your kids about money management. Enjoy the video? The site also offers three other videos in the Kids and Money series.

How To AccessAUs place where pain is met with compassion,

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For a no charge assessment 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, simply call us at: 501-316-1255 or 800-264-5640 or

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We offer a mobile assessment that is available in most areas by appointment.

Healing doesn’t have to hurt.

The ACADEMY at Rivendell An educational treatment program for emotional and behavioral challenges for ages 13 - 17.

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Directions to Rivendell: 100 Rivendell Drive | Benton, AR 72019 From Little Rock, take I-30 West toward Hot Springs/Texarkana • Take exit 121 (Alcoa Road) • Turn right onto Alcoa Road, at the stoplight turn right onto

Highway 5. Rivendell Drive is the first street on the left.

From Hot Springs, take Hwy 70 East to I-30 East toward Little Rock • Take exit 121 (Alcoa Road) • Turn left onto Alcoa Road (follow directions above)

Short term inpatient care for ages 4 to 17 suffering from depression, anxiety, grief or loss. Treatment for mood swings, disruptive behavior, suicidal thoughts, trauma and abuse.

Acute Care for Adults An evaluation and stabilization unit to treat psychiatric and substance abuse issues in adults.

Call Us Today To Schedule A Confidential Assessment At No Charge!

Changing Lives Through Compassionate Healing

1-800-264-5640 We accept Arkansas Medicaid (AR KIDS 1st “A”) ages 20 and under, most private insurances, as well as Adult MEDICARE. Call for questions on eligibility.

1-800-264-5640

100 Rivendell Drive • Benton • www.rivendellofarkansas.com August 2012 savvy kids

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SAVVY FAMILY

Scotty and Lana Lawrence

Photos by Ali Hibbard

DAD: Scotty Lawrence, Maintenance Reliability Team Leader, Kimberly-Clark Conway Personal Care Facility MOM: Lana Lawrence, Business Teacher, Vilonia High School CHILDREN: four daughters, and one son CURRENT PROJECTS: We work with The C.A.L.L. of Faulkner County to recruit, train, and support foster/adoptive families within our community. We also work closely with the Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS) to reunite our foster children with their biological families. If reunification is not possible, we work to transition foster children to permanent adoptive homes. We are actively involved with many aspects of Vilonia Public Schools. From participating on the Vilonia Middle School Parental Advisory Board to attending Vilonia Eagle athletic events, we are dedicated to our alma mater and credit many of our teachers, administrators, and coaches for helping shape us and our children into who we are today.

PARENTING STYLE: Our children are our priority. We strive to teach our children to put the Lord first, trust his plan for them, and pray for guidance in their daily decisions.

This sometimes means that the easiest path is not always the right one. We do our best to lead by example. We all love each other unconditionally. None of us are perfect and we do not let our pride stand in the way of admitting when we are wrong, apologizing when we owe an apology and forgiveness is vital. We feel parents play an extensive role in helping their children apply what they learn at school to everyday life, so we make sure we are up-to-date on what our kids are learning in the classroom so that we can build on that at home. Once our children are grown and on their own, our ultimate goal is for them to be happy, caring adults, who are willing to lend a helping hand when needed, love people for who they are and not what they do, and never jeopardize who they are or what they believe for anyone.

8 | savvy kids August 2012

LIFE LESSON LEARNED FROM PARENTHOOD: Parenthood has taught us what really matters in this world. The everyday hustle and bustle is not what we will remember at the end of our lives. It will be the memories we have of spending time with our kids and each other. Although elaborate vacations are great, the best memories are the simple ones. Baking cakes that don’t rise, being scared to death when riding with our teenager for the first time, reading and telling stories, and acting goofy when it is just us are a few memories we will look back on as some of the best times of our lives. We are building memories every day and so we choose to make those memories count by focusing on the big picture. In the big scheme of things, the only thing that matters is faith, family, and, Scotty says, Razorback football.

ADVICE FOR KEEPING IT TOGETHER: Our advice is to keep things in perspective, choose your battles, and treat your children as a member of your family team. Children are not guests in your home; they are part of the family. With that said, show your children that they are important by respecting their feelings, personality, and opinions.

Show them they are needed by allowing them to clean their own room, help cook their favorite meal, or weed the garden. They probably will not do a perfect job, but that’s okay. They learn by doing so next time they will do a better job and so on. Focus on what your children are doing right and build on that.

Favorites: Book: The Holy Bible Music: Country Music, especially Keith Urban Place to shop for you: Scotty-J & D Supply; Lana-Dillard’s Place to shop for kids: Hay’s in Searcy Family Activity: Vilonia Eagle games and playing cards with Grandma and Pa Guilty pleasure: Lana-cupcakes; Scotty-Mom’s Amazing Peach Cobbler Place to go for date night: Razorback Game

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August 2012 savvy kids

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little hero

HERO

Big Heart The story of how one young lady is helping to create awareness of heart disease.

By Emily Griffin

If you were to meet Sabrina Chambers for the first time, you would meet a happy teen who enjoys spending time with her friends and family. You would never know that she is living with Long QT syndrome, a rare heart defect.

Long QT syndrome, according to the Mayo Clinic, is a heart rhythm disorder that can potentially cause fast, chaotic heartbeats. These rapid heartbeats may trigger a sudden fainting spell or seizure. In some cases, your heart may beat erratically for so long that it can cause sudden death.

Sabrina, who was born in Utah, recalls being six years old and jumping on her neighbor’s trampoline with the neighborhood kids when she collapsed. “My friends ran and got my dad,” Sabrina said. “They told me I was out for 8-10 minutes. I woke up in the Ambulance.”

There were no warning signs before that day, and, in most cases, a person wouldn’t know they even had Long QT syndrome unless doctors had tested for it.

This past year, Sabrina was chosen to participate in the Sweetheart program for the American Heart Association Heart Ball in Hot Springs. The Sweethearts are a group of high school girls who make a commitment to learn about cardiovascular disease and help raise money and awareness within the community on behalf of the American Heart Association.

Sabrina spent 70 hours at the National Park Medical Center, and 100 volunteer hours total helping to file paper work in the emergency room, filling out wristbands and even learned CPR. She held bake sales, helped sell tickets to the Heart Ball, collected auction items for the Heart Ball silent auction, and went door-to-door asking businesses to donate to the non-profit organization.

photo by brian chilson

More than $21,000 later, her hard work paid off and she was awarded top honors during the Heart Ball held earlier this year. Sabrina explained that she didn’t apply for the Sweetheart program to win an award but rather to help teach others about heart disease and living a heart healthy lifestyle. “I would really like to see a pediatric cardiologist come to the Hot Springs area,” she added.

Sabrina Chambers not only raised more than $21,000 for the American Heart Association, she is also a heart disease survivor.

10 | savvy kids August 2012

Sabrina has volunteered with other local organizations as well. She and her family work closely with Jackson House, volunteer through church programs and more. She plans to continue volunteering however she can and offers this advice to her peers: “Don’t be afraid to try to make a difference—step up to the plate and swing. Start small and work your way up.”

Sabrina is now 16 years old and hopes to continue telling her story to inspire others to live a heart healthy lifestyle and someday hopes to help kids with heart defects similar to hers.

The mission of the American Heart Association is to build healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke. Each year they host multiple events in central Arkansas and surrounding areas to bring awareness and education about key issues and to raise support for invaluable heart disease and stroke research. Join in the fight against heart disease and stroke by attending one of the events or volunteering, including joining You’re the Cure to lend your voice to advocacy efforts, distributing materials at a health fair, finding a CPR Class, or contributing to one of their online communities. For more information visit www.heart.org

August 2012 savvy kids

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Field Trips:

More than just fun outside the school building.

By Emily Griffin Each school year kids anxiously wait to hear when and where their field trips will be. Many kids consider field trips fun days outside of the classroom, and they are. Kids learn so much during these days, they just don’t realize it!

Field trips come in many forms and fashions. From trips outside of town to exploring town hall, field trips present a way for teachers to approach knowledge in a completely new environment and for students to have fun while learning.

The boredom of the classroom may lead some kids to lose interest in a particular subject. This is especially true of difficult subjects. New environments can provide challenges that allow for more individual learning, while classroom teaching is often generalized. During field trips, kids have a chance to go the extra step and take in a ton of information. Kids will have the opportunity to put what they are studying in the classroom into effect. They will make the connection between bookwork and how it applies to real life.

While most parents would do their best to introduce kids to the arts and cultural events, the truth is that, many times, lack of time, money or knowledge prevents families from attending such events. Field trips are an excellent way for kids to be introduced to the arts and enjoy activities and sights that they may otherwise not be exposed to.

Things to consider when choosing a field trip destination Choose a field trip destination of interest to students. Many a field trip has failed because it was dull. If your class is studying the environmental sciences, consider taking a field trip to a state park rather than a science lab. Giving your students an opportunity to actually explore the environment themselves will teach them more than touring a lab in an orderly, straight line.

Monitor student response to tour guide. Does he respond to student questions? Does he seem rushed or uptight? Note how students responded

to tour guide. Did they seem interested and engaged or bored and uninterested? Are students asking questions? A great tour guide can make a less than thrilling venue interesting and a lackluster tour guide can make even the most exciting field trip dull.

Think outside the box with field trip ideas. Repeat what works, but don’t be afraid to try new field trip venues. Ask other teachers what trips their students enjoyed and which ones they didn’t.

When you call to book your field trip give the facility/business plenty of notice. Some field trip destinations even offer a discount for booking in advance.

Also, be sure to ask if the facility offers any teacher resources.

Many field trip hot spots, like the Clinton Presidential Center, the Little Rock Zoo, and the Heifer Village, offer worksheets and curriculum supplements to engage your students in before you leave the school building.

12 | savvy kids August 2012

>

EvEry ChilD DEsErvEs Our BEst.

Let us help you find high quality child care throughout the year.

Better Beginnings is Arkansas’ quality rating system for child care, early education and school-age programs that have gone above and beyond the state licensing requirements.

Visit ARBetterBeginnings.com to Get Started.

The Better Beginnings website makes it easy for parents to: • find Better Beginnings participating child care providers in their area • learn what to look for in a child care environment Get off to a good start by equipping yourself with the knowledge and information to choose a Better Beginning for your child!

Department of human services Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education

www.ARBetterBeginnings.com • 1-800-445-3316 Ask the Right Questions When You’re Looking for Child Care.

Child care checklists are great tools to use when visiting various child care environments. Because each type of facility or home has its unique personality, you may find it helpful to use various checklists to help you remember the different qualities of every program you visit. Scan the QR Code with your smart phone or visit our website to download some good examples of checklists we have selected to share with you.

August 2012 savvy kids

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Field Trip H

Company

G

u

Phone Number

i

d

Address

e

Rate ANIMALS

H

>>>>>

By Ariel Blackwood

Description

Arkansas Alligator Farm and Petting Zoo

501-623-6172

847 Whittington $4.50/person for Avenue, Hot Springs group of 20 or more- must pay at one time

Students will experience wild animals and have the option to pet a baby alligator.

Barnyard Friends and Stables

501-208-7287

110 Jones Lane, Morrilton

$3.50/person (min.

10 people), additional fees may apply

Build your own field trip! Students can learn about barnyard animals while enjoying stable activities.

Little Rock Zoo

501-666-2406

1 Jonesboro Drive, Little Rock

$5/person for group Students will observe animals in their natural environments. of 15 or more, $8/ Show includes four special animals- students can be up close person for tour or and personal with birds, birds of prey, reptiles or a mix show

Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge

479-253-5841

239 Turpentine Creek Lane, Eureka Springs

Ages 12+ $13/ person, Under 12 $8/person (11-20 students)

Students will see the behind-the-scenes process of maintaining wildlife and receive special tour of the compound.

ARTS Arkansas Arts Center

501-372-4000

501 East 9th Street, Little Rock

Free

The Intense Tour focuses on specific art pieces. The Learn to Look Tour focuses on the basics of appreciating art.

Arkansas Arts Center Children’s Theater

501-372-4000

501 East 9th Street, Little Rock

$7/Student

Students can learn to appreciate art and enjoy a theatre production.

Arkansas Repertory 501-378-0405 Theater

601 Main Street, Little Rock

$8/student nonmusical, $10/ student musical

Students can see a live professional theatre performance.

Matinee shows for students begin September 13.

Arts & Science 870-536-3375 Center for Southeast Arkansas

701 South Main Street, Pine Bluff

Scholarships avail- Hands-on art or science activity and guided tour for groups of able for free admis- 10 or more. Students can get in touch with the artist or scientist sion or $5/person within and receive a guided tour of exhibits.

Joella Peck Originals

501-256-3758

2900 Horizon Street, Ste. 8, Bryant

Starting at $8/ student

Artist travels to schools for classes of any size. Painting, 3D crafts, introduction to art, etc. Students will have the opportunity to create their own piece of art or craft.

Pottery Worx

501-847-3205

5407 Highway 5, Bryant

Starting at $4/ person

Groups of up to 20 students can choose a special piece and paint their own pottery.

Wildwood Park for the Arts

501-821-7275

20919 Denny Road, Little Rock

$5-$7/Person

Two field trips will be offered this fall: Pumpkin Hill Hay Rides at Wildwood Park for the Arts and Lily and the Apple Seed (the field trip comes to your school).

xxxxxxxxxxxxx Allfam Bowling

501-941-3225

2350 Lakewood Drive, Cabot

$5.59 per student per game (ask about group discounts)

Students can practice bowling with friendly competition.

Arkansas Skatium

501-227-4333

1311 South Bowman Road, Little Rock

$8/student for two hours

Students can learn to ice or roller skate at a low cost.

14 | savvy kids August 2012

Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum Invites you to take a tour through U.S. Naval History.

Learn what it was really like to serve aboard a WWII submarine!

Special rates and hours for group tours.

120 Riverfront Park Drive North Little Rock, AR 72114 501-371-8320 Events@AIMM.museum www.AIMM.museum

Where history comes alive!

Fashion Flash: Spots Are IN

.com

erockzoo

www.littl

Zoo newcomers Zazi and daughter Maggie are setting the style this summer on the “catwalk” of the new Laura P. Nichols Cheetah Outpost. If you want to be in style too, do the zoo this summer – all the coolest cats will be there. #1 Zoo Drive • Little Rock, Arkansas • 501.666.2406 • Like us on August 2012 savvy kids

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Arkansas Symphony Orchestra

501-666-1761

2417 North Tyler Street, Little Rock

Free orchestra performances for any group K-12

Students will enjoy an Orchestra show. Call in advance to schedule an upcoming show

Arkansas Travelers Baseball Club

501-664-1555

400 West Broadway $9/student for seat Street, North Little and meal Rock

Students will experience an Arkansas Travelers Minor League Baseball game. School Day games begin in April.

Celebrity Attractions 501-244-8800

300 S. Spring Street, Little Rock

Call for Price

Students will enjoy a Broadway-quality stage performances from Nov-June.

Joyland Skating

501-843-7341

2020 South 2nd Street, Cabot

$3 per student two Students can enjoy roller skating or rollerblading with classhours of skating mates and teachers. and snack, teachers skate for FREE

The Little Gym

501-225-5437

1121 S. Bowman Road, Suite C-1, Little Rock

Call for Price

Magic Springs and Crystal Falls

501-318-5370

1701 East Grand Education in Motion Students can ride roller coasters as well as water rides and Avenue, Hot Springs special- $19.99/ other amusement park activities. student

Party Central

501-315-8300

3805 Benton Parkway, Benton

$5/student

Students can enjoy inflatables and a 5,000 square foot play area. Play time is 1.5 hours.

Playtime Pizza

501-227-7529

600 Colonel Glenn Plaza Loop, Little Rock

$16.99/student for group of 20 (includes buffet, dessert, drinks and $10 game card) or $24.99/ student for group of 20 (includes buffet, dessert, drinks and unlimited play)

Students can enjoy arcade games and a pizza buffet.

Verizon Arena

501-975-9032

1 Verizon Arena Way, North Little Rock

FREE

Students will receive a 45 min tour of the box office, backstage, dressing rooms, locker rooms, dining area, arena bowl, suite and main concourse

Wild River Country

501-753-8600

6820 Crystal Hill Road, North Little Rock

Group of 12 or more: $23.09/ person

Students can explore Arkansas’ largest water park.

Students can freely explore a fun play gym facility in one hour intervals, and enjoy snack time in the party room.

CIVICS/GOVERNMENT AETN

501-682-2386

350 S Donaghey Avenue, Conway

FREE

Tours of basic technical facilities ages 3rd grade and older (9and older)

Arkansas State Capitol

501-682-5080

500 Woodlane Avenue, Little Rock

FREE

Students will receive a complete tour of the Capitol as well as an up-close look at the purpose and processes of the legislative branch.

Governor’s Mansion 501-324-9805

1800 Center Street, FREE Little Rock

Students will get a closer look at the work of the Governor and political staff.

Little Rock Fire Department

Any local fire department

Students will tour the facilities and learn about the process of firefighting.

501-918-3759

Call for Cost HISTORY

Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum

501-371-8320

Little Rock Central 501-374-1957 High School National Historic Site 16 | savvy kids August 2012

120 Riverfront Park Drive, North Little Rock

Call for Price

2120 Daisy L. Call for Cost Gatson Bates Drive, Little Rock

Students will go on guided tours through submarine, tour the museum and watch a video. Scavenger hunts and worksheets will be provided to teachers.

Students will enjoy a two hour tour and program that includes a pre- and post-visit activity.

A neighborhood shop for all ages!

Brought to you By Box turtle.

Featuring fun and nostalgic toys and candy from our past and unique toys from the present.

Hours: 9 am-5 pm, Monday-Saturday; 1 pm-5 pm, Sunday The Old State House Museum is a museum of the Department of Arkansas Heritage.

ka Boo y. Ask ol a d o t cho tour r cool s r. u ut o tobe abo n Oc i r i fa

You have the students, studying their history. We have the programs, making it real.

Bring your students to us. Depending on the program, we’ll churn butter, fluff a bed or trade an Osage pelt.

We’ll take them to Little Rock’s oldest house, introduce them to a living history character or a blacksmith and let them explore the lives of American Indians in Arkansas.

History really happened here.

Come experience it with us. Call today.

Grades K-3: Explore the basics of Arkansas’s historic Indians and/or pioneers. Compare and contrast the past with today. Choose from 4 programs!

Located below Box Turtle • 2616 Kavanaugh Blvd Hillcrest • (501) 661-1167

Grades 4–6: Explore in depth Arkansas’s historic Indians and/or pioneers. Do hands-on activities on Tuesdays at the 1850s log house farmstead. Choose from 4 programs!

A museum of the Department of Arkansas Heritage

200 E. Third St. Downtown Little Rock 501-324-9351

HistoricArkansas.org

Grades 7-12: Use our historic Arkansas homes to delve into the issues of early 19th century life. Tour historic houses any day.

Learn more about our school programs or find resources to use in your own classroom at HistoricArkansas.org August 2012 savvy kids

| 17

Delta Cultural Center

870-338-4350

141 Cherry Street, Helena

Call for Cost

Grant County Museum

870-942-4496

521 Shackleford Road, Sheridan

FREE for Grant Students will explore World War II and Civil War Eras.

County students, $1 for students outside Grant County

Historic Arkansas Museum

501-324-9351

200 E 3rd Street, Little Rock

$1-$6 per person

Students will learn about historic Arkansas and explore historical sites.

Jacksonville Museum of Military History

501-241-1943

100 Veteran’s Circle, Jacksonville

$1/student, FREE for chaperones

Students will learn about Arkansas Military History.

MacArthur Museum 501-376-4602 of Arkansas Military History

503 E 9th Street, Little Rock

FREE

Students will learn about Arkansas Military History through various activities.

Mosaic Templars Cultural Center

501-683-3593

FREE

Museum Hours: Tues-Sat 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Museum of the Arkansas Grand Prairie

870-673-7001

501 W. 9th Street, Little Rock 921 E 4th Street,

FREE

Tour and information tailored according to age/study. Students will be introduced to various historical and agricultural studies.

Stuttgart

Students will enjoy a tour of Visitor’s Center and the exhibits.

National Civil Rights 901-521-9699 Museum

450 Mulberry Street, Memphis

Call for Price

Students will learn the history and importance of the Civil Rights.

Old State House Museum

501-324-9685

300 West Markham Street, Little Rock

Call for Price

Students will tour the museum and participate in hands-on crafts and activities as they learn about early Arkansas history.

Different programs are offered by age group.

Ozark Folk Center State Park

870-269-3871

1032 Park Avenue, Mountain View

Call for Price

Students will be immersed in a pioneer atmosphere and learn about historical Arkansas.

Plantation Agriculture Museum

501-961-1409

U.S. 165, Scott

$3/person

Schools can choose to base their trips around photography, life in 1836, geology, geography, historic restoration, the Civil War, land use, public relations or ecology.

Toltec Mounds Archeological State Park

501-961-9442

490 Toltec Road, Scott

$2/student, FREE for chaperones

Students can become archeologists for a day and learn the history of the ancient mounds.

William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum

501-748-0419

1200 President Clinton Avenue, Little Rock

Call for Price

Students will tour and learn about the presidency of Bill Clinton and the importance of the US government.

seasonal Bo Brook Farms

13810 Combee Lane, Roland

$6/child

Students will enjoy hay ride, small pumpkin, farm animals, hay bale maze, sunflower maze, corn pit, examine cotton and rice crops and receive information on agriculture .

Bradbury Tree Farm 501-602-2449

9427 Donna Lane, Mabelvale

Call for Price

Students will enjoy a hayride, learn about Christmas trees, enjoy candy canes, a cup of hot cocoa and a coloring book.

Hicks Family Farms

501-941-2703

184 Lasiter Road, Lonoke

$6/student, FREE for teachers and bus drivers

Students will experience a family farm, enjoy a corn maze and take home a pumpkin.

Johnston Pumpkin Farm

501-679-5078

31 Rocky Road, Greenbrier

$5-7/student

Guided tours are available in addition to a pumpkin farm tour, hay ride, farm animals, story time, picnic area, sorghum mill demonstration and country store.

Mary’s Place

501-920-6854

3505 Arkansas 5, Bryant

$5/person or $7.50 with take-home pumpkin

Students will enjoy train ride, hay ride, tree house, walkthrough maze, covered tent area for picnics or snacks, hay mountain, playground equipment, farm animals for petting, pumpkins, bouncy house.

Motley’s Pumpkin Patch

501-888-1129

13724 Sandy Ann Drive, Little Rock

$6/person

Students will enjoy picking pumpkins and playing games at a pumpkin patch.

18 | savvy kids August 2012

501-519-5666

The PerfecT DesTinaTion for your fielD TriP!

enhance your classroom exPerience!

n

free guiDeD anD self-guiDeD exhibiTion Tours n ThemeD exhibiTion Tours n chilDren’s TheaTre Performances for schools

call 372-4000 To scheDule your visiT ToDay! arkansas arts center

9th & commerce

501 372 4000

www.arkarts.com

4-H Center: Arkansas Outdoor School (AOS) It’s our goal to help teachers connect their students to the natural world by taking them out of the classroom and into the outdoors.

Our classrooms are comprised of more than 220 acres of forests, creeks, fields, and a six-acre flat-water lake.

AOS is located west of Little Rock at the C.A. Vines Arkansas 4-H Center.

Through these options, we create hands-on adventures for learners of all ages: • Archery • Fishing • Outdoor Navigation • Nature Photography

• Arkansas Wildlife • Hiking • Ecology • Teambuilding • Survival Skills • Canoeing • Rock Climbing • Astronomy AOS can build the right program for your group or class, whether it’s a day, overnight or a multi-day visit.

We aim to make a positive difference in the lives of youth by creating a unique opportunity for students to learn in an environment conducive to developing a love of learning and essential life skills.

All educational activities are taught by U of A facilitators.

As a project-based organization, 4-H and its programming complement the Common Core state standards. Learn By Doing!

Call Holly Wirth 501.821.6884 or Email: AOS@uaex.edu www.arkansas4hcenter.org/AOS

ARKANSAS OUTDOOR SCHOOL August 2012 savvy kids

| 19

Peebles Farm

501-919-6162

Hwy 64, between Augusta and McCrory

Call for Prices

Pumpkin Hill at Wildwood Park for the Arts

501-821-7275

20919 County Road $5 for kids and $2 40, Little Rock for adults

Scott Pumpkin Patch

501-920-2901

11221 Craig Road, Scott

Students will enjoy a corn maze, hay ride, a pumpkin to take home, pick cotton, and picnic under shaded area.

Students can enjoy a pumpkin adventure through Wildwood and pick their own pumpkins. Open weekdays from Oct. 9-30.

$5/student, FREE for Students will enjoy hay rides, pig races, patch playground, kid’s maze, teachers and parents Barnyard petting zoo and nursery. Each student receives a pie pumpkin.

OUTDOORS

Arkansas Outdoor 501-821-6884 School at the Arkansas 4-H Center

1 Four-H Way, Little Rock

Call for Price

Hands-on adventures, including archery, fishing, outdoor navigation, nature photography, and wildlife, will be tailored to your school’s interest, while complementing the new Common Core state standards.

Arkansas Forestry Commission

501-296-1940

3821 W. Roosevelt Road, Little Rock

Call for Price

Students will learn how to conserve local forests and practice safe environmental activities.

Loco Ropes

870-269-6566

1025A Park Avenue, Call for Price Mountain View

Students will receive the ultimate canopy experience through an unusual adventure.

Peabody Park

501-375-2552

202 E. LaHarpe Blvd., Little Rock

FREE

Students can explore playground equipment and splash around in the fountain.

Petit Jean State Park

501-727-5441

1285 Petit Jean Mountain Road, Morrilton

Call for Price

Students will learn the historical significance of the rocks of Petit Jean Mountain.

Pinnacle Mountain State Park

501-868-5806

11901 Pinnacle Valley Road, Little Rock

FREE

Educational guides are available for several activities throughout the park including canoeing, hiking, playground equipment, open fields, covered picnic area.

Witt Stephens Jr. Central Arkansas Nature Center

501-907-0636

602 President Clinton Avenue, Little Rock

Call for Price

Students will learn about maintaining Arkansas wildlife and the scientific aspect of it all. Special activities take place on various days.

READING Central Arkansas Library System Main Library

501-918-3000

100 Rock Street, Little Rock

FREE

Students can tour Arkansas’ principle library and participate in the daily library activities.

Faulkner County Library

501-327-7482

1900 Tyler Street, Conway

FREE

Students will tour the library, story time and have the opportunity to get a library card.

Saline County Library

501-327-7482

1800 Smithers Drive, Benton

FREE

Students will enjoy class story times and tours of the library.

William F. Lama 501-758-1720 Public Library System

2801 Orange Street, FREE North Little Rock

Students can tour and explore books throughout the library.

SCIENCE

Mid-America Science Museum

501-767-3461

500 Mid America Call for Prices Boulevard, Hot Springs

Museum of Discovery

501-396-7061

500 President Clinton Avenue, Little Rock

Students will gain imagination and observation skills while learning about scientific curriculum.

$7/Student, $1 per Tour interactive exhibits, tornado alley, crafts available and can student for each addibe tailored to school’s preference. Ask about available museum tional museum program programs.

SPORTS

Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame

501-663-4328

3 Verizon Arena Way, North Little Rock

Free for students ages 6 and under, $3 for ages 6-17

Students can learn about Arkansas Athletes and their journey to the Hall of Fame.

War Memorial 501-663-6385 Stadium/AT&T Field

1 Stadium Drive, Little Rock

Call for Price

Students can tour and play on a popular Razorback field and stadium.

WORLD CULTURE Heifer Village 20 | savvy kids August 2012

501-907-2697

1 World Avenue, Little Rock

Call for Price

Programs include Entrepreneur classes, food system explorations, Nutrition at Home and Around the World, and many more.

WILDWOOD PARK FIELD TRIPS We Come To You With Our

2012 Fall Education Tour WRITTEN BY APRIL GENTRY-SUTTERFIELD BOOKING NOW SEPTEMBER 10 – NOVEMBER 21, 2012 Kindergarten – 5th Graders Will Enjoy This Inspiring Play That Demonstrates The Triumph Of A Nutritious Diet And Healthy Lifestyle.

Join Us At The Park This Fall

Save The Date October 13-14, 2012!

Pumpkin Hill Hayrides

FOR KINDERGARTEN – 5TH GRADERS SCHEDULE RIDES FROM OCTOBER 8 – NOVEMBER 2, 2012 (Weekdays Only) • Interactive Tall Tales • Pumpkin Painting • Take Home A Lil’ Pumpkin • Pumpkin Push And Other Games • Pumpkin Hill Hay Fort Supported In Part By:

CONTACT SHERIDAN POSEY, EDUCATION AT 501-821-7275 EXT 253 OR SHERIDAN@WILDWOODPARK.ORG TO RESERVE TODAY! 20919 DENNY ROAD • 501-821-7275 • WWW.WILDWOODPARK.ORG

Go behind the scenes to see how video game developers, music producers, disc jockeys, skate park designers and other creative problem solvers use math to do awesome things!

DESIGN ZONE was produced by the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI).

The exhibit was made possible by a National Science Foundation grant.

.

Donald W. Reynolds Science Center 500 President Clinton Ave

Opens Aug 11

. Little Rock, AR 72201 . www.museumofdiscovery.org . 501.396.7050 August 2012 savvy kids

| 21

Make their First Day

fantastic

By Emily Griffin

Whether your child is going back to school or just starting out, the first day of the school year is one every child anticipates. Some may be scared and anxious and some may be excited, pacing the house ready to leave the morning of. Either way, doing something special on their first day of school will help to get the school year off right. Here are a few first day ideas inspired by Pinterest. For more ideas, visit our Pinterest page: www.pinterest.com/savvykidsmag.

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1. Let your little scholar know you’re thinking of them by sneaking this cute treat in their lunch box on the first day. Find a variety of printable templates at bethproudfoot. blogspot.com, as well as a variety of other fun projects.

2.Kids aren’t the only ones who sometimes experience anxiety on the first day of school! Sometimes the first day of school is hard on mom too. As you drop off your children, pass around these coffee travel mugs to your friends and invite them to meet up after the school bell rings. Find the printable signs and tips for putting it all together at jacolynmurphy.com.

3. Who wouldn’t giggle if this is what they saw when they opened their lunchbox? Make lunchtime exciting by creating a lunch with personality. For instructions on creating this lunch, as well as other lunches with personality, visit lisastorms.typepad.com.

4. Few kids will walk out of the house on the first day of school without having a photo taken to commemorate the event. Add a little flare to your photos by downloading one of the many free printable signs for your child to hold, at howdoesshe.com.

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5. After your kids get home, sit down together to talk about all the exciting things they did during the day while munching on a healthy after-school snack. Visit cutefoodforkids.com for tips on creating this Very Hungry Caterpillar inspired treat, and many other creative food ideas.

6. You’ve read The Kissing Hand, it seems, a thousand times, in hopes of easing your child’s anxiety of going to school. Don’t let them leave the house without their very own “kissing hand.” Checkout motherhoodonadime.com for more tips.

22 | savvy kids August 2012

6

Preparing for Back-to-School

by Belinda Mooney

Before you can say, “Where’s your homework?”, it will be time to buy the clothes, supplies and lunchboxes necessary for the new school year.

• Start getting back on track ahead of time by getting up a half hour earlier each week, until you reach the normal school-day waking time.

• I nclude your child when shopping for back-to-school supplies and clothes.

$100 Bleaching Special

Complete Kit Includes Upper And Lower Trays

cAll AnD MAke your APPoinTMenT ToDAy!

• Start talking about school in a relaxed casual way. But don’t over prepare, which in itself can cause anxiety.

• Meet the teacher before school starts. If your school has a kick-off event be sure and go.

• Let your child wear comfortable clothes on the first day, rather than a new outfit that hasn’t been broken in yet.

• Make sure your child is getting the proper rest and nutrition. Both are necessary for good academic performance.

• Get a copy of the school’s calendar and talk about upcoming events. Get them excited about what is ahead.

• Prepare a special first day breakfast. Make sure everything is ready to go the night before so there is no last minute shoe hunting.

• Take a tour of the building with your child so she is familiar with her surroundings.

Look for bathrooms and the cafeteria. Point out fun things, like activity centers, in the classroom.

• Spend quality time with your child beforehand. Letting them know you love them is the best security you can offer your children.

• If your child is upset, say good-bye and leave. Prolonging the separation only makes it worse.

Dr. Steven ray

• Read to your child. It gives a solid foundation for all academics.

The BesT DenTisTry AT The MosT AfforDABle Price

If you and your child are prepared for the new school year, they will be ready and excited and you can relax. School should be a learning adventure not something you both dread.

Dr. Steven Ray does a full spectrum of dental services from basic cleanings to advanced cosmetic restorations.

(501) 312-1127 11811 Hinson Road, Suite 200 • Little Rock

www.docspray.com

August 2012 savvy kids

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Honoring the Class of 2012

Teaching Professional full swing - shorT game & sPorTs Psychology

Justin Hill

10 years coaching on tour 214.542.7613 www.justinhillgolf.com jayhillgolf@me.com

High speed Video Analysis Private & Group lessons Available · 3 Presidential Scholar Nominees; 1 Presidential Scholar Semifinalist · 5 National Merit Honorees; 4 National Merit Finalists in class of 44 students · Over $3.4 million in merit-based scholarships awarded

Junior camP..................................$170 august 6, 7 & 8, 5-6 pm (including food & prizes)

ladies clinic....................................$45 every Friday (aug. 10, 17, 24 & 31), 7-8 pm

· Received numerous academic, athletic and fine arts awards

Junior clinic ..................................$30

· Performed over 6,000 hours of community service in high school · Will enroll in 28 different colleges or universities in 14 different states and the District of Columbia

every saturday (aug. 11, 18, 25 & sept. 1), 7-8 am sign up today!

Call Greystone Country Club or Justin Hill

Jackson T. Stephens Campus 1701 Cantrell Road, Little Rock, Arkansas 501.372.1194

Explore the difference at episcopalcollegiate.org.

Episcopal Collegiate School welcomes students of any race, color, religion and national or ethnic origin.

57 Greystone Blvd., CaBot 501.941.4444 www.golfgreystonecc.com

PCSSD

Pulaski County Special School District

School starts

AUGUST 20

For a smart start, go to pcssd.org Registration information Open house dates School supply lists Uniform policies Bus routes

Register or check-in today! facebook.com/pcssdschools

24 | savvy kids August 2012

twitter.com/pcssdschools

501.234.2000

Complete ChildCare in 3 loCations

6 weeks to 12 years

now enrolling For Back to school!

no enrollment fee for the months of august and september.

After School cAre • “Kid KAmp” • picKS up At AreA SchoolS nutritious breakfast, formulas, lunch and snacks included

Benton/ Bryant/sWlr Mabelvale west & I-30

(501) 455-2690

West little rock

Conway

2611 PrInce street

11610 Huron lane

3 Star Rated Program

(501) 224-2003

(501) 336-8881

ArKAnSAS rAted Better BeginningS centerS

Better Beginnings Centers • UAMs tiPs For greAt Kids stAte LiCensed And VoUCher APProVed

www.TheChildrensCenTerAr.Com

We’re

GROWING! New class sections have been added in multiple grades for the 2012-13 school year.

For enrollment information contact: Robbie Bennett Director of Admissions 227-7077 Ext. 368 rbennett@abhs.org www.arkansasbaptistschoolsystem.com

August 2012 savvy kids

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Head back to school in style this year!

Find every thing you will need by shopping locally.

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O SCH T O

Don’t be late for school! Use one of these adorable tiny alarm clocks by Wanted. Find them in a variety of colors at Box Turtle, 2616 Kavanaugh Blvd., Little Rock.

P

G G IN U

Known for fashionable clothing and accessories for women, Apricot Girls Boutique and Party Studio, 9870 Brockington Rd., Sherwood, also carries trendy back-to-school gear like these items by Color.

Stay ahead of the game this year with a new iPad by Apple. The user-friendly iPad is capable of running educational apps, browsing the internet, scheduling alerts for homework assignments, and so much more! Find yours at the Apple store at The Promenade at Chenal, 17711 Chenal Parkway, Little Rock.

Lunchtime will be a scream this year with this eyeball lunch bag

by Archie McPhee. Canvas on the outside for durability, and lined with waterproof material inside, this lunch bag is available at Box Turtle, 2616 Kavanaugh Blvd., Little Rock.

26 | savvy kids August 2012

Want the hottest locker in school? Shop the Locker Lookz line of accessories. From magnets, mirrors, pencil holders, wallpaper, and even chandeliers, you can find it at June’s Hallmark, 11525 Cantrell Rd., Little Rock.

From pencils, pens, crayons and glue, to paper and binders you can find all of your school supplies at Edwards Food Giant, edwardsfootgiant.com. You will also find fresh, nutritious food perfect for lunch.

Back To School Style Durability and functionality meet awesomeness in the line of backpacks designed by Nike. Shop the Nike store at The Promenade at Chenal, 17711 Chenal Parkway, Little Rock today for the latest styles!

Find fashionable outfits at a great value for girls and boys sizes 0-14 at Crazy8 located at The Promenade at Chenal, 17711 Chenal Parkway, Little Rock. In addition to the latest trends for kids, you will also find uniforms and backpacks.

Discover the hottest new fashions and must-have gear for back to school at a great collection of stores located at The Promenade at Chenal.

Apple | J. Crew | Nike | Justice DSW | Aeropostale | Crazy 8 W by Azwell | Warren’s Shoes The Children’s Place & Much More

Looking for the latest styles at affordable prices? Look no further than Plato’s Closet, 2621 Lakewood Village Dr., North Little Rock. You will find gently used name-brand clothing for teen girls and guys.

Chenal Parkway l Little Rock ChenalShopping.com

Stop fumbling through your purse for a pen and a scrap of paper every time you need to exchange numbers with other moms and dads. Use a Mommy Calling Card designed by Christie Designs, christiedesigns.com.

August 2012 savvy kids

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It’s true, there is no place like home. Show your Arkansas pride with this organic T-shirt available at Box Turtle, 2616 Kavanaugh Blvd., Little Rock.

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Customize your lunchbox this year with Christie Designs, christiedesigns.com. Lunch boxes are made of lead-free tin and include a chalkboard on the inside lid for writing notes to your loved ones.

Totes, lunchboxes, pencil bags, locker accessories, and more, you can find the latest in back-to-school gear and accessories at June’s Hallmark, 11525 Cantrell Rd., Little Rock.

Looking for school uniforms? Find them at Justice in The Promenade at Chenal, 17711 Chenal Parkway, Little Rock. While you’re there, pick up some of those sparkly and brightly-colored accessories every little girl loves to add some personality to your uniform.

28 | savvy kids August 2012

SH O P

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Now that you have all of your school supplies, be sure to label them with your child’s name by using waterproof, dishwasher, microwave and laundry safe labels

by Sticky Monkey Labels (stickymonkeylabels.com).

Available in a variety of styles and sizes, visit the online store to customize your order.

Shop the latest fall looks for back-to-school at The Children’s Place, now open in The Promenade at Chenal, 17711 Chenal Parkway, Little Rock. Also, be sure to check out their selection of backpacks, lunchboxes, and more.

where school, family and church connect to equip students for academic excellence, athletic achievement and artistic endeavor.

501-868-9822

www.littlerockchristian.com

August 2012 savvy kids

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TOP TEN

DO’S DONT’S OF MIDDLE SCHOOL

By Alexander and Gabriella Davidson

If you are going into middle school for the first time, or you haven’t had a great time so far, we know how you feel. Middle school can seem new and scary, but the truth is it’s not all that bad. We promise you’ll have a great time if just follow these tips.

1. DON’T let your mom convince you that a rolling backpack is cool.

Rolling backpacks will have everyone trying to avoid you as you walk down the hall. We know from firsthand experience. You don’t want to be the ONE kid responsible for everyone’s bruised up feet and ankles. Besides, why use a rolling backpack when you can one-strap a normal backpack?

3. DO Make sure your binder is big enough.

A good binder size is three inches. You want to be able to fit books in there as well as plenty of paper. Don’t get the one-incher, or you’ll be cramming sheets of paper down your pockets. Another good thing to have is a binder with a front pocket. You don’t want to be zipping and unzipping your binder every time you need a pencil.

2. DON’T EVER tell people that you have chewing gum.

Gum is currency in middle school. Treat every strip of gum as if it is your last. Don’t believe your so-called “friends” when they tell you that you won’t miss just one little piece of gum. You will miss that piece of gum, right at the beginning of the dreadful seventh period.

4. DON’T waste your money on locker decorations.

It’s just not worth it. You’re in your locker about two minutes a day. That’s just not enough time to appreciate your rug, chandelier, and wallpaper. It’s a total waste of your hard earned money, unless of course your parents offer to buy them for you! In that case, they are a wonderful thing to have.

30 | savvy kids August 2012

Another Anthony Success Story

5. DO Get a top locker!!!

Unless you are three feet tall, make sure you get a top locker. If you get a bottom locker make sure to wear a helmet to school. If you don’t, you’ll be suffering from sever head injuries because of all the falling textbooks.

6. DO Bring snacks for after school.

As soon as the school bell goes off for the end of the day, your mind will be set on food. After school snacks are like gum, everyone wants it. Trust us you’ll be hungry after school, and you don’t want to be that kid who asks everyone for food.

7. DON’T use too much aerosol deodorant.

Middle school is the time of your life that you will go through many changes.

You may notice a fowl smell coming from your body. It’s okay to use a small amount of aerosol deodorant, but be careful. If you use too much, people will be able to smell you from the end of the hall.

8. DON’T save your homework for the last minute Homework is something that we all dread, and middle school is when it starts piling up. This isn’t elementary school anymore. No more coloring sheets that you can put off until the morning before it’s due. Manage your time and be smart about your homework. It only gets harder from here.

9. DO remember it’s only middle school, and DON’T buy the ring.

In middle school, you will often find yourself being attracted by the opposite gender. If you somehow end up “in a relationship” don’t believe that it’s going to lead you into a church saying “I do.” You’ve got your whole life ahead of you and you don’t have to start thinking about these kinds of things now. There are plenty of fish in the sea! (Just don’t eat the ones from the cafeteria.)

“My ten years at The Anthony School gave me lots of firsts. The most memorable was my first stage appearance when I discovered what I wanted to be.”

Name: Case Dillard Current Position: Starring as “Bert” in the national tour of Mary Poppins Education: Virginia School of the Arts, BFA in musical theatre from Point Park University Accomplishments: Original Broadway cast member of Mary Poppins, Workshop production of Cry-Baby the musical for John Waters, Performed for the Obama family at the 2010 4th of July Celebration at Ford’s Theatre Foundation for Success: The Anthony School

We’ve been producing outstanding students for nearly 70 years. For a personal tour call 225-6629 or visit anthonyschool.org.

PREK3 Eighth Grade

STRONG

TRADITION.

10. DO make the most out of your middle school experience.

You always hear adults complaining about how they wish they could be a kid again. So what makes you think you won’t miss your childhood? The teenage years are the prime of your life, and you might as well enjoy them before gray hairs start sprouting out of your scalp.

Alexander and Gabriella Davidson live with their parents and dog, Libby, in Rogers, Arkansas. Together, they have a combined four years of middle school experience and keep a close eye on their gum.

ACCREDITED BY ANSAA AND ISACS

7700 Ohio St.•225-6629 AnthonySchool.org August 2012 savvy kids

| 31

Cupcake Bar & Gift Shop 521 W. Main Str eet • Cabot Thursday-Fr iday 10 am-5:30 pm

Godly Instruction for the Development Of Christian Character

Satur day 11 am-4 pm Buy One, Get One FREE exp. 8/31/12 withacherryontopcabot@gmail.com facebook.com/withacher ryontop

Don’t Lose It, Label It! Waterproof Name Labels for School, Daycare and More Waterproof Dishwasher Safe Microwave Safe Laundry Safe Iron-O n’s Durable Removable

www.stickymonkeylabels.com

Register Now For Fall 2012 Ages 2-1/2 thru 6th Grade • Advanced Curriculum • Low Student to Teacher Ratio • Before & After School Care • Tutoring Services • Computer Lab • Foreign Language • Athletics Program

Accredited by:

For more information or to schedule a personal tour please call 501-225-0068 or visit us at www.agapeacademyonline.org

701 Napa Valley Dr. • Little Rock

Consignment Boutique

join us facebook.com/savvykids 32 | savvy kids August 2012

50% OFF All Summer Clothing & Shoes!

FALL CLOTHING ARRIVING DAILY Lilly Pulitzer · Baby Nay · Baby Lulu · Chez Ami · Beaux et Belles The Orient Expressed · Bailey Boys · Feltman Brothers

NEWBORN - PRETEEN Costumes · Beautiful Smocked Outfits for Boys & Girls · Cotillion Attire Furniture & Equipment · Ballet Dance Shoes & Accessories Monogramming Also Available!

Mary Adkins: 501.614.9294

1917 N. Grant, Little Rock • Tues.-Fri. 10:30-5:00 • Sat. 11:00-4:00

entary King Elem — s y e n r u Math Jo ESL C amp Can D o—B ale E lemen tary

It’s Back to School Time!

Check-in August 1-2 10am - 7pm

Students with assignment letters for the 2012-13 school year may check in at their assigned school. All other students go to the Student Registration Office. 501 Sherman St. • 447-2950

First Day of School August 20 ____________________________ LRSD Open Houses

September 6

Elementary Schools

September 18

High Schools

September 13

Middle Schools

NEW

Giveaw ! ays & Celebr ity Gu ests

Research shows that the most successful schools have a high percentage of parent involvement. Make plans to attend your child’s Open House this year.

• •

•

Show your child your support Tour your child’s school and become familiar with the campus Make a personal connection with your child’s teachers

Little Rock School District

Creating Excellence for Tomorrow

PERFORMANCE WORKPLAN

RROW ENCE FOR TOMO www.lrsd.org

CREATING EXCELL

August 2012 savvy kids

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Little Rock School District embraces technology

By Emily Griffin

The digital age is upon us and the Little Rock School District is embracing technology to help keep parents in the loop this school year.

For some time now the Little Rock School District has offered ParentLink Connection on their website. ParentLink Connection is the communications system the district uses to accomplish rapid, mas communications (phone, text and email) with parents regarding both general district announcements and information particular to individual schools and students. The district is working to enhance many of the system’s features.

“This is pretty exciting for parents and administrators,” Pam Smith, Director of Communications, said. “The district is trying to do unique and interesting things for our students and parents.”

Initially parents will receive a username and password from the school, and once logged on, parents can reset both. With ParentLink 9, comes many new features including “teacher reach” in which teachers can communicate directly with parents. Smith explained, “Teachers will be able to put parents on notice about homework assignments and tests but will also be able to leave positive feedback for parents to read as well.”

Parents will also be able to receive important announcements, like school closings. “The system is designed to send messages district wide or to a very

targeted audience,” Smith explained.

Parents should also be on the lookout for a ParentLink app available soon.

The app will offer all of the same features, but in a smart phone-friendly format. “We are very excited about this. Technology is no longer the future, technology is now,” Smith added.

Links for the ParentLink Connection system can be found on the district’s website: www.lrsd.org.

LRSD is on Pinterest Pinterst has quickly become a favorite site for many and the Little Rock School District is working to “pin” some educational ideas on their new Pinterest page: www.pinterest.com/myLRSD. Be sure to follow the district’s boards for great craft ideas, book suggestions, and healthy family recipes.

Homework Hotline Students needing a little extra help with homework this year will be able to utilize the Homework Hotline. Students can call in to the hotline with their questions, or access help via Facebook and Twitter. Someone will be on hand to guide students in the right direction.

Free Immunizations

There will be free immunizations for Little Rock School District students at the following locations. Please arrive on time and ready to receive immunizations and please bring shot records.

Greater Second Baptist Church 5615 Geyer Springs Road Free Immunizations Monday, August 6, 20 3-6:30 pm 34 | savvy kids August 2012

Mosaic Church of Central Arkansas 6420 Colonel Glenn Rd, Store 1 Free Immunizations Tuesday, August 7th 2-4 pm

Heaven’s Loft 518 W. 26th Street, NLR Free Immunizations Wednesday, August 8th 10 am – 2 pm

Baptist Health-Southwest 11401 Interstate 30 Free Immunizations Monday, August 13th 3-6:30 pm

Rose City Community Church of Christ 5601 Lynch Drive Free Immunizations Saturday, August 18th 10 am – 2 pm

Orientation and Open House Schedule NLRHS West Campus (10th - 12th grade) CAT Camp: August 7 & 8 (various times for each grade)

Open House: September 18, 6:00 pm School Location: 22nd & Main Streets NLRHS Sophomore Campus (10th grade) CAT Camp (Orientation): August 8, 8:00 am - 11:00 am at West Campus Open House: September 18, 6:00 pm School Location: former Poplar Street Middle School, 2300 Poplar St.

NLRHS Freshman Campus (9th grade) Orientation/Tour: August 8, 11:00 am - 3:00 pm Open House: September 17, 6:00 pm School Location: former Lakewood Middle School, 2300 Lakeview Rd. Lakewood Middle School (6th - 8th grade) Orientation/Tour: 6:00 pm in large auditorium 6th grade: August 13 7th & 8th grade: August 14 Open House: September 11, 6:00 pm School Location: former NLRHS East Campus, 2400 Lakeview Rd.

Ridgeroad Middle School (6th - 8th grade) Orientation/Tour: August 7, 6:00 pm Open House: September 11, 6:00 pm School Location: former Ridgeroad Middle Charter School, 4601 Ridge Rd. NLR Academy (Alternative School for 6th - 12th grade)

Registration Kickoff: August 6, 6:00-8:00 pm Open House: September 11, 6:00 pm School Location: former Rose City Middle School, 5500 Lynch Dr.

NLRSD Elementary School OPEN HOUSE Thursday, August 16 • 5:30-7:00pm

Parents will receive an update on the progress of the District Capital Improvement Plan, Common Core State Standards, Homework Policies, PTA information, sign-up for School Messenger and Edline, test data and interpretation results and much more!

August 2012 savvy kids

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Think World Class:

A NewVision on the horizon for North Little Rock Schools

By Shara Brazear, Communications Specialist, North Little Rock Schools

On February 14 of this year,North Little Rock voters passed a millage increase to fund roughly a fourth of a $265.6 million Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for the North Little Rock School District.Half of the money to fund the CIP will come from District savings and the other fourth will hopefully come from funds from the State Facilities Fund.The District will receive notification by May 1,2013 on the actual amount the North Little Rock School District will receive for facilities from the state.

The CIP was developed in 2011 after school district administrators and school board members held numerous community meetings, facilitated by a consultant, the DLR Group, during the fall of 2010 and gathered input from parents, students, teachers and business leaders throughout the city. Working with the DLR Group, the District will implement the CIP in three phases beginning with the 2012-2013 school year.

The District Executive Committee will oversee both the Secondary and Elementary Visionary Teams, all school Design Teams and also make recommendations to the North Little Rock Board of Education. Both of the Visionary Teams were organized in April and have met numerous times to identify the direction the District plans to proceed. The North Little Rock Board of Education approved the recommendation from the District Executive Committee for the elementary prototype at the June board meeting. The prototype can be viewed on the North Little Rock District web site at www. nlrsd.org The District Executive Committee is comprised of the following individuals: 1) Ken Kirspel, Superintendent of Schools; 2) Bobby Acklin, Assistant Superintendent; 3) Rosie Coleman, elementary education; 4) Rhonda Dickey, secondary education; 5) Luke King and 6) Wes Havens, representing the interests of the community; 7) Shara Brazear, communications; 8) Michael Stone, 36 | savvy kids August 2012

federal programs; and 9) Greg Daniels, technology.

The Elementary Visionary Team, lead by Rosie Coleman, Administrative Director of Elementary Education, is comprised of teachers from across the district, community representatives, pta representative, technology specialists as well as a couple of building principals. The District’s Design Team of DLR Group, Taggart Architects and Baldwin Shell Construction Manager have finished the first phase of Programmatic Design for the new elementary school projects. The attached design manual documents the research, exploration, implementation, collaboration, and the resolution of a 21st Century Learning Environment for our new elementary schools. The District Design Team engaged local stakeholders of business people, teachers, students, staff, parents and other community partners in a series of meeting to explore, experiment in design and take virtual tours of other schools around the country.

The Secondary Visionary Team, lead by Rhonda Dickey, Administrative Director of Secondary Education, has also spent many hours reviewing, researching, discussing and customizing the vision for the middle and high school buildings. Teachers across all subjects are represented on this team as well as community, pta and technology representatives. The Vision that has emerged during this process has identified the need for planned change in the instructional program design which will be addressed , in part, before the final

vision is turned over to the Design Team in the Fall. Program needs are being identified by the Visionary Team and early this fall.

The end result is a program identifying the educational areas and size of those areas required to deliver instruction, along with a series of floor plans and design images that begin to identify the character of these new schools.

To deliver what the District promised our community and patrons who supported the millage campaign, the District has adopted this concept as a “prototype design” for the new elementary schools replacing the current elementary schools on our campuses. This prototype will deliver parity and equity across the district while allowing this concept to be tailored through meetings at each campus to fit the surrounding character of the neighborhood which it resides in.

Design Teams are currently being organized for each elementary school, the middle school and the high school. Design Teams will begin meeting this fall.

DLR and the District Executive Committee will meet this summer with all District Administrators, Principals and Assistant Principals to update them on the CIP and the direction of the Visionary Teams. On August 13, all North Little Rock School District staff will report to the auditorium at NLR High School East Campus to hear the same message. Communication is a priority of the North Little Rock Board of Education. The school board is hiring a local communications firm to work with the NLRSD Communication Department and the Superintendent to disseminate information to District employees, the

community as well as the press and media on a regular basis. The District will announce a micro web site this fall containing information on the CIP that will be updated on a regular basis.

District employees have worked all summer to move furniture, teacher’s rooms, paint, clean and make necessary updates for all of the changes for the 2012-2013 school year. Other changes include: • Belwood Elementary School is closed...students have been notified of which school they will attend for the 2012-2013 school year: Amboy, Boone Park or North Heights Elementary.

• Argenta Academy, the District’s alternative school, has been moved to the former Rose City Middle School Building and will now be called North Little Rock Academy.

• All 10th graders in the District will attend school in the former Poplar Street Middle School Building. Additional parking of 110 spaces has been created on the football practice field on the north end of this property. Painting, plumbing, and changes to the cafeteria are just a few of the additional changes on this campus.

• All 9th graders in the District will attend school in the former Lakewood Middle School Building.

• Students in grades 6-8 will attend either Ridgeroad Middle or Lakewood Middle. Ridgeroad Middle School will be located at the former Ridgeroad Middle Charter School. Lakewood Middle School will be located at the former NLR High School East Campus.

2012-2013 NLRSD Principals/Assistant Principals SECONDARY (6TH-12TH GRADES): NLRHS West Campus (11th - 12th grade) Administrator: Brian Brown Assistant Principals: Winston Turner, Karen Coleman, and TBA Location: NLRHS West Campus, 22nd & Main Street, NLR, 771-8100 NLRHS Sophomore Campus (10th grade) Administrator: Chris Sierra Assistant Principals: Karla Whisnant and Richard Woods Location: Former Poplar Street Middle School, 2300 Poplar Street, NLR, 771-8275 NLRHS Freshman Campus (9th grade) Administrator: Caroline Faulkner Assistant Principals: Rickey Jones and Perry Carr Location: Former Lakewood Middle School, 2300 Lakeview Road, NLR, 771-8250 Lakewood Middle School (6th - 8th grade): Administrator: Lee Tackett Assistant Principals: Robyn Randolph, George Taylor and Michael Clark Location: Former NLRHS East Campus, 2400 Lakeview Road, NLR, 771-8200 Ridgeroad Middle School (6th - 8th grade): Administrator: Bill Bowers Assistant Principals: Daphne Knighten and Perry Cohen Location: Former Ridgeroad Middle Charter School, 4601 Ridge Road, NLR, 771-8155

NLR Academy (Alternative School for 6th - 12th grade): Administrator: Charles Jones Assistant Principal: Myesha Haywood Location: Former Rose City Middle School, 5500 Lynch Drive, NLR, 955-3600 ELEMENTARY (PREK - 5TH GRADES): Amboy Elementary School* Principal: Shanda Coleman Assistant Principal: Brenda Martin 2400 West 58th Street, NLR, 771-8185 Boone Park Elementary School* Principal: Mavis Cherry Assistant Principal: Abby Stone 1400 Crutcher Street, NLR, 340-5160 Crestwood Elementary School Principal: Lori Smith Assistant Principal: Cindy Melton 1901 Crestwood Drive, NLR, 771-8190 Glenview Elementary School* Principal: Carol Thornton 1901 Edmond Street, NLR, 955-3630 Indian Hills Elementary School Principal: Kim Starr Assistant Principal: Matt Binford 6800 Indian Hills Drive, NLR, 835-5622 Lakewood Elementary School Principal: Sara Logan Assistant Principal: Karen Pounders 1800 Fairway Avenue, NLR, 771-8270

Lynch Drive Elementary School* Principal: Phyllis McDonald Assistant Principal: Abby Stone 5800 Alpha Street, NLR, 955-3610 Meadow Park Elementary School* Principal: Allen Pennington 400 Eureka Gardens Road, NLR, 955-3620 North Heights Elementary School* Principal: Dana Snowden Assistant Principal: Brenda Martin 4901 North Allen, NLR, 771-8180 Park Hill Elementary School* Principal: Barbara Hartwick Assistant Principal: Cindy Melton 3801 JFK Blvd, NLR, 771-8175 Pike View Elementary School* Principal: Melanie Landrum Assistant Principal: Karen Pounders 441 McCain Blvd., NLR, 771-8170 Redwood Early Childhood Center Coordinator of Early Childhood: Jody Edrington 401 Redwood Street, NLR, 955-3640 Seventh Street Elementary* Principal: Pam Wilcox 1200 East 7th Street, NLR, 340-5170 * Pre-k classes located in these elementary schools

August 2012 savvy kids

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School Updates for the Pulaski County Special School District

By Emily Griffin Every school year brings a few changes to any school district. The Pulaski County Special School District has a few changes parents should be aware of as they prepare to send their kids back to school this year.

Registration: If you haven’t registered/check-in your children with the school district yet, a second round of registration is underway.

For students in grades 6-12, registration is scheduled for July 30, 2012, through August 3, 2012, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the registration hub for the student’s corresponding school: • All students entering or returning to Jacksonville Middle/High, Sylvan Hills Middle/High, Northwood Middle, or North Pulaski High will need to check-in/register at the North Hub located at Sylvan Hills Middle School.

• All students entering or returning to Maumelle Middle/High or Robinson Middle/High will need to check-in/register at the West Hub located at Maumelle High School.

• All students entering or returning to Fuller Middle or Mills High will need to check-in/register at the South Hub located at the District Office.

Parents of returning students will need to update their proof of residence.

This can be in the form of a recent utility bill (gas, water, or electric) or a copy of lease/mortgage papers.

Elementary students may check-in/register at their elementary schools after August 13. For more information, contact Equity and Pupil Services at 501.234.2018 Student Nutrition Department takes a leap toward better nutrition This fall all PCSSD school cafeterias will be implementing new meal pattern guidelines for school lunch, ensuring that meals are healthy, well-balanced and provide students the nutrition they need to succeed at school. School meals currently offer students milk, fruits and vegetables, proteins and grains, but for the upcoming 2012-2013 school year they must meet strict limits on saturated fat and portion size. Starting in School Year 2012-2013, school lunches will meet additional standards requiring: • Age-appropriate calorie limits • Larger servings of vegetables and fruits (students must take at least one serving of produce) • A wider variety of vegetables, including dark green, red/orange vegetables and legumes • Fat-free or 1% milk (flavored milk must be fat-free) • More whole grains 38 | savvy kids August 2012

•L ess sodium (The regulation for sodium reduction in school lunches actually does not go into effect until school year 2014-2015, but our cafeterias will gradually begin to enforce this guideline over the next couple years.)

•A pplying the new meal-pattern guidelines to our menus will help provide your children a high quality, nutritious lunch. We’re always working to offer PCSSD students healthier and delicious choices. Healthy creative meals, lots of fresh fruits and vegetables will be a few of the benefits of this new meal pattern.

• School meals are a great value and a huge convenience for busy families too!

There are also new meal prices for students and non-students. Elementary and Secondary School Breakfast will be $1.50, $.30 for students on the “Reduced” meal program and $1.80 for non-students. Elementary lunch will be $2.25, $.40 for students on the “Reduced” meal program and $3.10 for non-students. Secondary Lunch will be $2.50, $.40 for students on the “Reduced” meal program and $3.10 for non-students.

All accounts can be paid in advance by going online to www.mypaymentsplus. com.To find out more about PCSSD healthy school meals, you may contact PCSSD Student Nutrition staff at any time at 501.490.5800.

New Bell Schedule and Bus Routes The PCSSD School Board has also approved new bell schedules and bus routes for the 2012-13 school year. To view the changes, visit the district’s website: www.pcssd.org.

Students at Bayou Meto Elementary creating rhombicosidodecahedrons using triangles, squares and pentagons. The finished product is a colorful sphere shape. Creating shapes helps students learn geometry and problem-solving skills.

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August 2012 savvy kids

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Spending Wisely Teaching Kids the Value of a Dollar

By Erica Sweeney

Teaching kids that money doesn’t grow on trees and that a penny saved is a penny earned will put them on the path to a bright, even prosperous, financial future.

April Washington works to ensure that her three boys – Kenjuan, 15; Kennedy, 9; and, Keegan, 3 – understand these valuable concepts and put them into practice.

“We try to teach them that spending a lot on something you don’t need isn’t smart, and saving money is better in the long run,” she says. “If you don’t need it, don’t waste your money on it.”

Teaching kids about earning money and the difference between needs and wants are important steps in helping them achieve financial literacy, says Jeff Knoedl, a registered financial consultant in Maumelle. He says earning money for chores or positive behavior is the best way to teach kids the value of money.

Knoedl’s 8-year-old daughter, Ava, has certain required chores, like making her bed, but she can earn a few dollars for anything “over and above,” he says.

Similarly, Washington says her boys are responsible for some regular chores, but if they do a few extra ones, they can earn about $5 a week.

“Keep it fun and simple. The reward system provides value and makes them feel good,” Knoedl says, adding that Ava is also financially rewarded for making good grades and having good conduct at school.

Keeping her boys on track with money management is not always easy, Washington admits, but it is essential for parents to stick to a plan. She says when her kids want to buy something, most often a new video game, the family talks it over and the boys must think about it overnight to avoid spending impulsively.

“I tell them, ‘if you spend it all now, it will take you a long time to earn it back.’ It makes them think, ‘do I really want it enough to spend all my money on it?’” she says. “I want to make them understand how important it is to spend wisely.”

Continued on page 44

42 | savvy kids August 2012

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Continued from page 42 Knoedl says as a parent, it can be difficult to not give his daughter money if she wants to buy something and is just a few dollars short. But, he says, teaching her that she shouldn’t buy something if she can’t afford it is much more important.

Knoedl has encouraged Ava with the same incentive. He says if she accumulates $8,000 by the time she’s 16, he will match it so she can buy a car.

A savings account is a good start in teaching kids about handling money responsibly, says Brian Kaelin, First Arkansas Bank and Trust regional manager. He encourages parents to bring their kids to the bank and engage them with bank staff and in the process of making deposits and balancing accounts.

Outside organizations sometimes visit schools to reinforce these lessons learned at home. First Arkansas Bank and Trust partners with Radio Disney to promote Cash Club at local schools, says Elizondo. They have a mascot, a golden retriever named Cash, and use skits and games to teach kids about saving, spending responsibly, making money, understanding need versus want and being charitable, she says.

“It gives them hands-on experience and direct ownership,” Kaelin says. “It’s their money and they take pride in it.”

The bank’s savings account for kids, called Cash Club, offers account holders a VIP All Access Card, with discounts at local businesses, says Marketing Specialist Leslie Elizondo.

Each of Washington’s sons has his own savings account. The boys went along to open the accounts, and when it’s time to make a deposit, each fills out his own deposit slip and hands it to the bank teller. The boys are also responsible for balancing their savings statements, she says.

Washington says learning financial literacy has not been part of her sons’ school curriculum. She says it’s up to parents to teach these valuable lessons.

As part of the Arkansas Society of Certified Public Accountants’ Kids Count program, CPAs visit schools to “make kids aware of beginning a savings habit at an early age,” says Communications and Member Services Manager Robin Harris. Students are provided with a plastic piggy bank and handouts, and teachers are given lesson plans for classroom activities on financial literacy, she says.

“We encourage students to be good stewards of money,” she says. “We want them to know that they can take control of their finances at any age. It will help them make better decisions in the future.”

“Get them involved and excited, so they’ll stay on that path,” Washington says.

Knoedl’s daughter also has a savings account. He says encouraging saving creates good habits and makes kids more confident.

“They can see their money grow in the bank,” he says. “It makes them feel good to have money saved.”

Setting goals and providing incentives for kids encourages saving, Washington says. To get 15-year-old Kenjuan excited about saving, Washington says she and her husband told him they will match whatever he saves to help him buy a car when he turns 16.

In his line of work, Knoedl says he has many clients with debt. He says learning to save money and be debt-free at an early age is invaluable. All parents want a better future for their child, and learning financial responsibility will put kids on the path to stability and peace of mind, he says.

“These are principles that carry on for the rest of your life,” he says. “Being debt free can give you more freedom and more peace in retirement.”

Washington says she’s had a job since age 15 and wishes she had saved more money as a teenager. She hopes by teaching her boys about saving now, “they will always be responsible and, in the long run, live comfortably.”

Tips for Teaching Kids About Money: The Arkansas Society of Certified Public Accountants teaches children about money through its Kids Count program and offers these tips to help parents guide their kids to financial literacy.

• Give kids an allowance for good grades, good behavior, doing chores or just because. This starts kids off learning to save and budget money. Set clear guidelines for earning and using the allowance, the allowance amount and when it will be paid. And, stick to the plan.

• Open a savings account. Many banks offer savings accounts specifically for kids, which can be opened for as little as $10. Take your child to the bank to open the account and involve them in making deposits and

44 | savvy kids August 2012

balancing statements.

• Let kids set their own financial goals, within reason. Encourage them to set aside a portion of their money for savings.

• Teach kids to be smart consumers by comparing prices and quality of items, and making good buying decisions. Explain the difference between needs and wants.

Kids Count is part of the national American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ 360 Degrees of Financial Literacy campaign. For more information, visit www.feedthepig.org or www.360financialliteracy.org. Contact the ASCPA at (800) 482-8739 to bring the Kids Count program to your child’s school.

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Brain-stimulating games to play with your kids

You’re a progressive, 21st Century parent, right? You buy organic when you can, steer clear of anything with high fructose corn syrup, and even considered cloth diapers (for about 20 seconds). You’d do anything to increase your child’s chances for success later in life – so here’s one of the cheapest and easiest ways to make a big difference in their future: brain-stimulating games.

How – and why – brain games help “The root of later learning is grounded in strong cognitive skills,” explains psychologist Keith Gibson, Ph.D. “By helping their children build skills like memory, comprehension, logic and reasoning among others EARLY – even before school years – parents are actually increasing the chance of academic success, and likely life success.”

The cognitive skills that Gibson refers to are what his brother, Dr. Ken Gibson, writes about in his book, “Unlock the Einstein Inside: Applying New Brain Science to Wake up the Smart in your Child.” In it, Dr. Gibson explains the importance of building strong cognitive skills early – even before kindergarten – to help prevent learning disabilities.

“It’s not about teaching your kids the ABCs,” says Dr. Gibson, who is also the founder of the national brain-training franchise, LearningRx. “Processing skills, like sound analysis in fun rhyming games, are much more important because they help successfully think, understand, visualize and create useful associations, which will help with reading later. What good does it do if a child can point out the letter B in a story, but doesn’t know what it sounds like?”

Best of all, honing cognitive skills is something that can help ALL children.

No- or low-cost brain games For toy store addicts, there are many store-bought games that can help 46 | savvy kids August 2012

By Learning RX

improve a wide variety of cognitive skills. The original echo game, “Simon,” is great for auditory processing, memory and processing speed. “Mastermind for Kids” is a new version of an old classic that increases logic and reasoning.

For older kids, board games like “Stratego,” chess and checkers can also help with mental tools like planning, memory, comprehension and focus. For very young children, phonic flashcards can be a great springboard to early reading skills, like sound analysis, sound blending and segmenting.

Of course, there are plenty of free games that you can play to increase cognitive skills. The trick is to find several that are age-appropriate and that your kids find enjoyable. Here are a few favorites:

Paperless Tic-Tac-Toe: Take the classic game of tick-tac-toe and assign each box a number. Have your child visualize this grid in her mind and call off the box number in which she wants to place her mark. Also, try playing tic-tac-toe by drawing the grid in the air and pointing to the box you want to place your mark in.

What it helps: Memory, visualization, planning, focus, problem solving

20 Questions: Think of a person or object and give your child 20 chances to narrow down what you’re thinking of by asking yes or no questions. To help them improve their logic and reasoning, teach them to strategize by using questions that will significantly narrow down the categories, such as “Are they alive?” or “Do we have one in our house?”

What it helps: Logic, reasoning, memory Continued on page 48

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Continued from page 46

Poetry: Have you child choose four words that rhyme and then ask them to create a poem.

What it helps: Auditory analysis, verbal rhythm, memory

The Twinkle Twinkle song: Have your child replace the words to “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” with state capitals. Want a twist for older kids? Have them include a rhyme at the end of each sentence. “Montpelier is the capital of Vermont state, and I think Phoenix, Arizona is great…”

What it helps: Mnemonics, memory, strategy, rhyming

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Concerned About Your Child’s Development?

We provide early intervention services for children with developmental, medical or behavioral health concerns.

The Picture-less Book: Read a passage from a book aloud but don’t show your child the pictures. Have him/her describe the scene of what they heard using all their senses. “I hear the ocean hitting the sand, I smell the fish, I can see the white clouds and the blue sky…”

What it helps: attention to detail, visual discrimination, comprehension, executive thinking

Abstract Storytelling: Have your child demonstrate a story, such as “Humpty Dumpty,” by using objects from around the house, such as paper clips, cups, pillows, etc. to represent items and thoughts from the story. For older kids, make this more difficult by having your child demonstrate more abstract thoughts, such as representing math word problems through illustrations.

What it helps: Executive thinking, comprehension, visual processing

The Visual Spelling Test: When studying with your child for an upcoming spelling test, ask her to visualize each word instead of writing it down and to write each letter in the air with her finger. Have her point to the location where each letter is visualized. Try spelling each word forward and backward.

What it helps: Visualization, sound analysis, segmenting and blending

Needle in a Haystack: Take a page from a newspaper and time your child as she circles all occurrences of a specific letter. Identify which sound symbols are more easily found than others and focus on increasing both accuracy and speed.

Therapeutic & Rehabilitative Day Treatment Facility On-Site Testing & Services:

• Speech Therapy • Occupational Therapy • Physical Therapy • Mental Health Therapy (individual, family & group therapy) • On-site Nursing & Medication Management • Board Certified Psychiatrists • Psychiatric Consulting • Outpatient OT, PT, ST & Mental Health

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What it helps: Visual processing speed

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Remember, whatever brain games you choose, make them fun for you and your kids!

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www.ascentchs.com 48 | savvy kids August 2012

As Keith Gibson, Ph.D. explains, “The importance of brain stimulation starts as soon as children are born. “We now know that the more fun children have while they’re making these neural connections, the more they’ll actually learn.

That’s why age-appropriate brain games work so well – kids don’t even realize they’re learning.”

Removing academic and behavioral barriers to higher achievement through specialized educational practices and Biblical principles.

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The Institute of Educational Sciences, the research arm of the U.S. Department of Education, concludes that class size reduction has been proven to increase student achievement. ACA educators know first-hand that this profound benefit applies even more for Learning Disabled and special needs children!

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SPECIAL NEEDS

Mary Gardner from Forrest City working with Andrew Steffen.

Photo by Easter Seals

A Foundation for Learning

By Easter Seals Arkansas Staff “It is not the inability to learn that keeps my students from being in a regular class, it is their inability to communicate and interact which comes across as behavior disruptions,” says Adrienne Green, a second and third grade teacher at Caldwell Elementary in Benton who successfully uses the STAR curriculum for her students with ASD. It is difficult for a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to participate successfully in school without the right tools and support from parents, teachers, therapists and friends. For these children to succeed, parents, teachers, therapists and administrators must be open to providing different learning environments and strategies.

Since 2007, Easter Seals Outreach, in collaboration with STAR™ Autism Support, has provided training and consultation throughout the state in an effort to create an education infrastructure that will insure that children with ASD can actively and successfully participate in learning, communicating and interacting with their peers. Through week long “BASIC” (Behavioral Approaches using STAR Implementation and Coaching) trainings, teachers, therapists and teaching assistants learn how to use the “STAR” (Strategies for Teaching based on Autism Research) curriculum. “STAR” is a research based curriculum that uses the instructional methods of discrete trial training, pivotal response training and functional routines to teach children with ASD the critical skills identified by the National Research Council. By using a combination of modeling, coaching and hands-on experiences with children also attending BASIC, teachers, therapists and teaching assistants learn how to implement the STAR curriculum in their classroom.

50 | savvy kids August 2012

Over 50 school districts have sent their staff to BASIC training. “We are excited by the number of participants that report how much progress their students are making using STAR,” states Debbie Ware, Easter Seals Coordinator of BASIC. Keeping children with ASD engaged in meaningful learning is always a challenge. When all of the components of the STAR curriculum are implemented consistently and correctly, children have a balanced and individualized program that promotes learning and participation with their peers.

This fall, Easter Seals will also introduce a new preschool classroom that will utilize the STAR curriculum for 3 and 4 year olds with ASD. Early intervention for children diagnosed with ASD allows parents, teachers and therapist to start helping children develop the critical skills needed for successful learning and interacting with peers. This classroom is designed to provide appropriate levels of structure to meet each child’s individualized learning styles with staffing to include a master’s level teacher, two specially trained teaching assistants and a speech-language pathologist for 6 – 8 children. As the children master various skills, they will learn how to use those skills in their regular preschool classroom with continued specialized programming and supports.

For more information on the new preschool classroom or how to get the STAR curriculum in your child’s school, please contact Suzie Baker, Director of Outreach at 501-227-3770 or sbaker@eastersealsar. com. You can also learn more about the STAR curriculum at www. starautismsupport.com.

August 2012 savvy kids

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SPECIAL NEEDS

School and Diabetes Schools might be prepared to deal with kids with diabetes, but parents also should be part of the process. This usually means gathering the information that the school needs, making sure that it gets to the right people, and meeting with school officials to discuss their plans. You’ll also need to prepare your child to manage diabetes away from home.

It may sound complicated, but your child’s diabetes health care team can help.

And school administrators and nurses often have experience in helping kids with diabetes participate safely and successfully at school.

Working Withthe School Most of the things you need to care for your child at home are needed at school, including a specific diabetes management plan, diabetes medications, and testing supplies.

At school,kids might needto: • check their blood sugar levels • take insulin or other diabetes medications • eat snacks when necessary • eat lunch at a certain time, with plenty of time to finish • have easy access to water and time to take bathroom breaks • get physical activity and participate in school events like field trips • recognize and get treatment for low blood sugar episodes Diabetes management materials that need to go to school might include: medications, testing supplies, snacks, and a medical identification bracelet or necklace. You might arrange these items into packages for teachers, the school nurse, coaches, your child, and others.

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends giving the school a packet with general diabetes information, including how to recognize and treat hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia, in addition to the management plan. Also include emergency contact information for you and other caregivers, your child’s doctor, and other members of the diabetes health care team.

Communicating With Educators The school staff should be made aware of your child’s diagnosis and current 52 | savvy kids August 2012

health status. To keep the school staff informed, consider reviewing your child’s diabetes management plan with the school annually — or whenever it is updated or changed.

You might also want to meet with school staff, such as the principal, your child’s teachers (including the gym teacher), the school nurse, and any coaches. They will tell you if they need anything else from you. Be sure to ask about their experience and preparedness for dealing with diabetes. Ask questions and let them know if you feel they need to learn more. For example, a staff member who seems unfamiliar with diabetes or is anxious about dealing with it might be too restrictive or make kids with diabetes feel different. You want to build an open exchange with the staff and meet or talk with them regularly to ensure a healthy educational environment for your child.

Preparing Your Child Parents often feel nervous about sending a child with diabetes off to school.

It’s important to educate kids about diabetes without passing along feelings of fear or nervousness. Kids should understand how to monitor and treat the disease at a level appropriate to their age and development. Kids need close supervision at school, but they also need to feel that they fit in with their peers. By preparing both the school and your child, you can ease your fears and help your child feel confident.

While at school,kids with diabetes should: • know whom to contact for help, such as a teacher, nurse, or coach • know how to handle lunchtime and other eating situations • have all the supplies and snacks needed to manage diabetes easily Tell your child to inform you about any issues related to diabetes management at school, and be sure you regularly ask how things are going.

Organizing your child and the school seems like a big project at first, but your child’s doctor and school staff are there to help. © 1995-2012 . The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth®. Reprinted with permission.

Fall Openings!

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A place where children with learning differences and developmental disabilities can grow and develop in an environment tailored to meet their unique needs.

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Some kids really do love school Call today or visit oxfordlearning.com Conway 501.329.3232 2850 Prince St, Suite J Conway, Arkansas, 72034 conway@oxfordlearning.com

A School & A Therapy Clinic Small Class Sizes (maximum of 8 children per class) Occupational, Physical & Speech Therapy

Therapy is available on an outpatient basis.

*Now taking applications for kindergarten.

If your child has been diagnosed with a development disorder: Autism, Asperger syndrome, PDD, Down syndrome, Apraxia or other language disorders, or sensory integration issues, contact us today for more information or to schedule an evaluation for your child.

(501) 663-6965 • 1600 Riverfront Drive, Little Rock, Arkansas We work with a variety of private insurance providers as well as ARKids 1st, Medicaid, TEFRA and TRICARE.

Kidsource Therapy Pediatric Therapies OT, PT, Speech & Early Intervention Services Feeding & Swallowing Therapy Hippotherapy Aquatic Therapy

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17706 I30, Ste. 3 • Benton 300 Rodney Parham, Ste. 167 • Little Rock 5301 Warden Rd., Ste. I-1 • North Little Rock 501.315.4414 • www.kidsourcetherapy.com August 2012 savvy kids

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SPECIAL NEEDS CALENDAR

SPECIAL NEEDS EVENTS FOR Praise Autism Benefit Concert August 3, 2-8 p.m.

Hot Springs Memorial Airport Join Autism Speaks for their inaguaral Praise Autism Benefit Concert on Friday, Aug. 3. The free event will include music by Kyle Thurman, Frank Fromback, and 3 River Run. It will also include a silent auction and raffle prizes. Families and children of all ages are welcome to attend.

For more information, visit www. autismspeaks.org.

6th Annual Walk for Children and Families Benefiting Methodist Family Health August 3, 6 p.m.

The Big Dam Bridge, North Little Rock Are you ready to walk? The 6th Annual Walk for Children and Families is coming up August 3 at the Big Dam Bridge over the Arkansas River, starting at 6 p.m. on the North Little Rock side. This family-friendly event benefits the more than 1,400 children and families served daily by Methodist Family Health. There’ll be food, music, games and the natural beauty of the Arkansas River. Cost is $20 individual or $50 family. All registrants receive a T-shirt. To register or receive more information, contact Annie Davis at adavis@methodistfamily.org or 501.661.0720 ext. 7301.

Mini Health Fair and Blood Drive August 9, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Pathfinder, Inc., 2520 W. Main St., Jacksonville Gain valuable information during the Pathfinder Inc., Mini Health Fair and Blood Drive. For more information or to sign up to donate blood, visit www.pathfinderinc.org.

7th Annual Golf Ball Drop Sept. 6, 5:30 p.m.

Centennial Valley Country Club, Conway Independent Living Services will host the 7th Annual Golf Ball Drop on Thursday, Sept. 6. at Centennial Valley Country Club’s driving range in Conway. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. with food and fun for the whole family. Donated golf balls will be dropped from a hot air balloon at 6:30 p.m. with the grand prize of $2,012 awarded to the donor whose ball lands closest to the hole.

54 | savvy kids August 2012

August

Festivities will include hamburgers and hotdogs provided by Centennial Bank. An inflatable bounce house, face painting, shaved ice, and a silent auction featuring special items from the UCA basketball and football team are all part of the family fun and entertainment. Admission is free. Funds raised by the Golf Ball Drop will help ILS make improvements to its transportation fleet.

Golf balls are available for purchase through donations online at www. indliving.org, in person at 615 East Robins, Conway, or mailed to P. O. Box 1070, Conway, AR 72033. The balls will be dropped over a target hole on the driving range out of a hot air balloon. ILS is a nonprofit agency whose purpose is to assist in making a better life possible for over 250 people with developmental and intellectual disabilities in central Arkansas. For more information, questions concerning sponsorship, or to purchase golf balls, contact Lisa Garner at 501.327.5234 x 313 or lisa@indliving.org.

Helping Hand Blook Drive Sept. 28, Noon-5 p.m.

4901 Northshore Dr., North Little Rock Help save lives at the Helping Hand Blood Drive on Sept 28th from noon-5p.m., at 4901 Northshore Dr., North Little Rock. Open to the entire community, donating blood takes less time than your lunch break and makes you a hero! Snacks and Drinks provided. Call to sign up if time is an issue otherwise walk-ins are welcome! For more information contact Susie, 791-3331 or visit www.helpinghandcc.com.

Recurring Events:

First Baptist Church 105 South Spring St., Searcy We have a special place for individuals with Developmental Disabilities. Every Sunday morning, we have a special Sunday School class devoted to those with “special needs.” They meet on the First Floor of the Howle Building from 9:30 am to 10:30 am. For more information call 501-268-3561 or e-mail fbcsearcy@sbcglobal.net.

Park Hill Baptist Church 201 E. C Ave., North Little Rock Manipulatives, sensory integration,

motivators, visual supports and schedules, etc. Are these words foreign to you? Do you understand how they can make Sunday School more enjoyable and meaningful to a child with special needs? We, at Park Hill, have been led to reach these children in ways beyond traditional teaching methods, and minister to families through meeting the needs of their children. The class meets every Sunday at XXXXX. For more information call 501-753-3413 or visit www.parkhillbaptist.org.

Disc Golf I CAN! Arts Center in Little Rock Saturdays at 10:00 a.m. August 18-September 8 Register online at www.communityconnectionsar.org ACTS Jr. Theatre Classes available in Conway and Little Rock Mondays from 4:00-5:00 p.m. for ages 7-17 Register online at www.communityconnectionsar.org RUFL Football Fellowship Bible Church, Little Rock Tuesday evenings from 5:30-6:30

p.m. for ages 5-18 Register online at www.communityconnectionsar.org I Can! Dance Classes offered in Conway, Sherwood, Little Rock and Hot Springs Various days and times of the week for ages 4-17 Register online at www.communityconnectionsar.org Showstoppers Cheerleading Classes offered in Conway and Little Rock Saturdays throughout the fall (times TBD) for ages 4-18 Register online at www.communityconnectionsar.org My Art Faulkner County Library in Conway Wednesdays from 4:00-4:45 p.m.

(3-7 year olds) and 5:00-5:45p.m. (8 and up) I Can! Make Music I Can! Center, Little Rock Tuesdays 5:45-6:30 p.m. and 5:457:30 p.m.

Conway dates and times TBD Register online at www.communityconnectionsar.org

Therapy Services

Developmental Preschool

Physical, Occupational & Speech Therapy for children birth to 21 years Preschool integrated with typical peers for children 6 weeks to 6 years Specialty classrooms for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders & Social/Emotional Delays Early Intervention Services through the Arkansas First Connections Program Family Support & Care Coordination Community Connections extra-curricular activities for children with special needs and developmental delays

Community Connections

Serving Children.

Supporting Families.

Locations in: Conway Little Rock North Little Rock Russellville pedsplustherapy.com facebook.com/PedsPlus twitter.com/pediatricsplus

Our new Little Rock clinic and developmental preschool facility opening Fall 2012 at 1900 Aldersgate Rd! For more information and pictures, check us out on Facebook.

August 2012 savvy kids

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POP TOPICS

Nobody told me this stuff:

Pride

By Robert Bell Illustration by Bryan Moats

The first time it happened, I was folding laundry.

My son was about eight weeks old. I grabbed a bright yellow onesie with the words “Cool Dude” emblazoned across the front in big red letters. In all honesty, I can’t recall where the thing came from.

Probably it was one of the many, many baby items that our friends with older boys had graciously given us.

Prior to that moment, I’d never really “gotten” those funny kids’ shirts that sport messages such as “Dad Rules!” and “My Mom Rocks!” and so forth. Several years ago, when some friends got pregnant with their first child, I bought them an “Al Sharpton for President” onesie, but that’s really not the same thing. That one was legitimately humorous, on account of how babies can’t vote and don’t understand what a president is.

Anyway, as I looked at the tiny shirt, I was overcome with emotion. “He is a cool dude,” I thought, my eyes welling up ever so slightly. “Sure he’s basically a tiny creature that eats and poops and screams and sleeps most of the time, but he’s my tiny creature that eats and poops and screams and sleeps most of the time. And he’s awesome! He’s a cool dude, way cooler than any of those other dudes I know!”

It’s highly possible that I was just a little bit sleep-deprived.

56 | savvy kids August 2012

I also totally got the “My Mom Rocks!” type of baby stuff as well.

It is some tough going in those early days of parenthood and you need all the encouragement you can get, even if it’s just a reminder on a T-shirt.

It was a strange new sensation, though, this feeling of pride on a level that nothing else I’ve ever done can even come close to.

It’s weird, too, to love someone the way you love your child. I was blindsided by it. Obviously I knew that I’d love the little bugger, but I was utterly unprepared for the new emotional vistas I’d experience.

In those carefree, childless years of my 20s, before I got all domesticated, pretty much all I cared about was beer and pizza and going to the bar with friends and maybe hitting up the record store once a week or so. I’d get really worked up over what now seem like ridiculously inconsequential things: “Did you read what that one guy wrote about that one thing in that magazine?

Uh, the nerve!” or “Man, I can’t believe they raised the price of sixpacks of Old Style to $4.25!” and so forth.

Nowadays, I get excited about taking my boy to the Zoo or the Museum of Discovery or the park.

Another new thing that made me feel all proud and excited: seeing this kids’ carnival ride at Riverfest.

It was a carousel with all these cute little motorcycles, and all of a sudden all I could think about was putting my son on one of those and watching him ride it, probably squealing with the sort of pure joy that only children can experience.

Similar feelings have been prompted by awesome-looking toys at Target or wherever.

I suppose you’re blind to these sorts of things when you don’t have kids. Or at least I was. But man, how I can see them now.

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BOOK OF THE MONTH

Countdown to Kindergarten Witten by Alison McGhee, Illustrated by Harry Bliss

It’s just ten days before kindergarten, and this little girl has heard all there is to know--from a first grader--about what it’s going to be like. You can’t bring your cat, you can’t bring a stuffed animal, and the number one rule? You can’t ask anyone for help. Ever. So what do you do when your shoes come untied, if you’re the only one in the class who doesn’t know how to tie them up again? Told with gentle humor by Alison McGhee and brought to exuberant life by New Yorker cartoonist Harry Bliss, this lighthearted take on pre-kindergarten anxiety will bring a smile to the face of every child--and parent--having first-day jitters.

APP OF THE MONTH

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Description: Don’t get behind on class assignments this year, organize your homework with myHomework.

With myHomework you can easily know what’s due and when so you will never forget a homework assignment again. The app includes: Track your classes, homework, tests, assignments; Time & Block based class schedules; Beautiful calendar display; iPhone Retina display support; Multitasking support; Universal (Both iPhone and iPad). myHomework is also available on the web so you can quickly sync and access your homework from your computer at myhomeworkapp.com

ASK THE D CTOR Q

.The school recently sent home a note with my child to let me know one of the kids in class was sent home with head lice. Is there anything I can do to prevent my child from getting head lice? I’m worried about sending him to school when some of the other kids in his class may have head lice too. --Kelly B., Little Rock

A. The thought of head lice in the school seems to strike fear in the hearts of parents and students. These annoying little critters are easily spread within schools, like many other colds and illnesses, because of the close contact between students. Thankfully, head lice do not spread other diseases and can be eliminated with proper treatment. Head lice are small insects that live in the 58 | savvy kids August 2012

Aaron Strong, M.D. is a general pediatrician at the Little Rock Pediatric Clinic. His special interests include child development, asthma and allergy, ADHD, and adolescent medicine. If you have a question you would like to see answered in Savvy Kids, e-mail it to emily@arktimes.com.

hair and multiply by attaching their eggs, called nits, to the base of individual hairs. Nits appear as tiny white dots attached to the hair that do not come out with regular brushing or washing. Lice live by biting the scalp and this can cause a red and very itchy rash. Because lice require close contact between two people to spread, the best way to prevent this is by asking your child to avoid sharing brushes, combs, hats, scarves, or jackets with other children. Most schools require children found to have head lice to stay home until they have been properly treated and no live lice are found in the hair.

If you think that your child might have head lice it is important to keep them home and treat the lice in order to prevent spreading this to others. It is also important to know that anyone can get head lice, and having this

does not mean that a child has bad hygiene. Head lice can be difficult to treat. A fine toothed/nit comb or your fingernails can be used to remove eggs from the hair.

There are also over-the-counter shampoos available at your pharmacy, but some lice are becoming resistant to these medications. You may want to talk to your child’s doctor about what the best options are for treatment.

Always follow the instructions on the packaging or as given by the doctor when using medication for your child. –Dr. Strong The Savvy Kids “Ask the Doctor” feature is for informational purposes only and any advice given should not be taken as a diagnosis. If you have a medical concern regarding your child, contact your pediatrician or family physician.

I CAN! Dance

SAVVY ARTS

By Erica Sweeney

The I CAN! Dance program give kids with disabilities the chance to have fun and showcase their talents and abilities.

Through the program, students not only get to wear fancy costumes, perform and learn about dance, they also make friends, get some physical activity and learn to be self-confident, says Julie Mayberry, the program’s founder.

“It’s a way to show that these kids can do more,” she says. “Sometimes we don’t set high enough expectations for them, and if we don’t, they won’t achieve all that they can.”

Fall dance programs will be offered at the new I CAN! Arts and Resource Center in the East End Community in Saline Co., which opened in early July as the program’s first building. Mayberry says countless volunteers and contributors helped make the center possible and she feels blessed to be part of such an “incredible journey.”

Photos by Mary Buffington Photography & Additonal photos by Andy and July Mayberry

“The center will bring awareness to the community that these kids are like any other,” Mayberry says. “They want to enjoy life like any other child. We want people to not see their differences but how much they are alike.”

The fall 10-week dance program is Sept. 13 to Nov. 15, and the six-week session is Oct. 8 to Nov. 19. Music, art, disc golf, soccer and cheerleading will also be offered, Mayberry says. All programs are free and open to kids ages 4 to 17, and similar classes will be offered at other locations in Little Rock, Conway and other areas.

Dancers who do not have disabilities, called “dance buddies,” also take part in the classes to help children who need extra assistance in learning the routine by propelling wheelchairs or just keeping everyone focused, Mayberry says.

“Performance is a big part of it,” Mayberry says. “It shows people what they can do and changes their perspectives.”

I CAN! Dance held its first recital last fall. This year’s recital will most likely be in November, but an official date has not been set, she says. Groups also perform at the Greek Food Festival and Riverfest each year.

Dancers have even gone on the road, Mayberry says. They have performed at Disney World and Morgan’s Wonderland, a theme park in San Antonio for specialneeds kids, and auditioned for the TV show “America’s Got Talent” in Dallas.

“The joy on their faces says it all,” Mayberry says. “They’re not nervous about doing it perfectly or if the steps are out of sync. You see pure joy coming from their hearts.”

Mayberry started I CAN! Dance when her daughter, Katie, who was born with spina bifida, wanted to take a dance class like her older sister. I CAN! Dance is part of Community Connections, a nonprofit started in 2005 by Todd and Amy Denton, owners of Pediatrics Plus Therapy Services, to provide extracurricular activities for kids with disabilities, Mayberry says. About 300 to 400 kids are involved with Community Connections, she says.

For more information or to sign up, call (501) 329-5459 or visit www.communityconnectionsar.org.

August 2012 savvy kids

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KIDS EAT FREE

Kids Eat FREE!

Below is a listing of locations and days in which kids, 12 and under, can eat free with a paid adult (unless otherwise noted).

If you would like to add your Kids Eat Free information to this list, contact us at 501-375-2985.

EVERY DAY

TUESDAY

CICI’S PIZZA Ages 3 and under eat free at buffet.

• Conway: 1250 Old Morrilton Hwy, 764-0600 • Hot Springs: 3321 Central Avenue, 321-2400 • Jacksonville: 120 John Harden Dr, Jacksonville, 241-2224 • North Little Rock: 2815 Lakewood Village Dr, 753-1182

BEEF O BRADY’S 4 p.m.-close.

• Maumelle:115 Audubon Dr., 803-3500

JJ’s Grill Free kid’s meal with the purchase of adult meal for kids 12 and under (all day).

Conway: 1010 Main Street

THE BALL DENNY’SHOPE RESTAURANT

March 10: The10Hope Ball is an annual gala event hosted by 4-7 p.m.

Ages and under. the 20th Century to raise funding for the continued • Little Rock: 4300Club S University, 562-5651 operation of the 20th Century Club’s Lodge. The 2012 Ball, themed “Garden of Hope”, will be held in the GOLDEN CORRAL Ages 3 and under eat freeCenter, at buffet.

Discounted prices The Statehouse Convention Wally Allen Ballroom. for kids on Tuesday. elegant evening will include both live and silent auctions, Little Rock:dinner, 5001 Warden a• North delicious seated cocktails,Road, and 771-4605 dancing until midnight. For more information call 501-907-1760 or visit LARRY’S PIZZA www.hopeawayfromhome.org.

Ages 4 and under.

• Bryant: 4500 Hwy. 5 North, 847-5003 • Conway: 1068 Markham, 329-3131 • Little Rock: 12th & Center St., 372-6004; 12911

Cantrell Rd., 224-8804 San Francisco Bread Co. One FREE Kid’s Meal with the purchase of Adult Meal, after 5 p.m.

• Hot Springs: 261 Cornerstone Blvd., 525-7322 ZAXBY’S 5 p.m.-close, dine-in only.

• Jacksonville: 209 Marshall Rd., 241-0546 • Maumelle: 104 Carnahan Dr., 851-9777 • Sherwood: 208 Brookswood Rd., 833-9777

MONDAY

American Pie Pizza Kids eat free after 4 p.m.

• Little Rock: 10912 Colonel Glenn Rd., 225-1900 • Maumelle: 9709 Maumelle Blvd., 758-8800 • North Little Rock: 4830 N. Hills Blvd., 753-0081 CHICK-FIL-A First and third Monday of each month.

• North Little Rock: 3929 McCain Blvd, 945-1818 NYPD Pizza Free Kids entree, for children ages 10 and under, with the purchase of adult entree. Dine-in only, 4-6 p.m.

• Little Rock: 6015 Chenonceau Blvd., 868-3911 SHORTY SMALL’S Up to two kids meals free per paying adult.

• Conway: 1475 Hogan Ln, 764-0604 • Little Rock: 1110 N. Rodney Parham, 224-3344 • North Little Rock: 4317 Warden Rd, 753-8111 TA MOLLY’S 5-9 p.m.

• Bryant: 206 W. Commerce St., 653-2600 60 | savvy kids August 2012

Arkansas Burger Company One free kid’s meal per adult meal.

Dine-in only, 5:30-9 p.m.

• Little Rock: 7410 Cantrell Road, 663-0600

MOOYAH BURGER One free kid's meal with the purchase of adult meal.

• Little Rock: 14810 Cantrell Rd., 868-1091 NYPD Pizza Free Kids entree, for children ages 10 and under, with the purchase of adult entree. Dine-in only, 4-6 p.m.

• Little Rock: 6015 Chenonceau Blvd., 868-3911 DENNY’S RESTAURANT 4-7 p.m. Ages 10 and under.

• Little Rock: 310 S. Shackleford Rd., 224-8264

• Little Rock: 12312 Chenal Pkwy., 228-5553; 10300 Rodney Parham, 225-2001 • Maumelle: 11617 Maumelle Blvd., 753-9898 • North Little Rock: 2811 Lakewood Village Dr., 812-5002 LARRY’S PIZZA 4-8 p.m. With purchase of one adult meal, up to two kids get a small one topping pizza, drink, and $1 in tokens.

• Cabot: 2798 South Second Street, 843-7992 JIM’S Razorback Pizza Kids 12 and under receive a FREE six inch pizza with the purchase of an adult entree (Dine-in only).

• Little Rock: 16101 Cantrell Rd. • Maumelle: 20608 Hwy 365 North • Hot Springs: 4330 Central Ave. Western Sizzlin Up to 2 children eat Free with the purchase of an adult meal.

• Benton: 1916 Congo Rd., 778-9656

THURSDAY

JIM’S Razorback Pizza Kids 12 and under receive a FREE six inch pizza with the purchase of an adult entree (Dine-in only).

• Little Rock: 16101 Cantrell Rd. • Maumelle: 20608 Hwy 365 North • Hot Springs: 4330 Central Ave.

CAPTAIN D’s • Benton: 1419 Military Rd, 778-7909 • Hot Springs: 1906 Central St., 321-4288 • Jacksonville: 1109 West Main St., 982-3330 • Little Rock: 6301 Colonel Glen Rd., 568-6244 • North Little Rock: 5320 JFK Blvd., 758-5144

LONESTAR STEAKHOUSE 4 p.m.-close.

• Little Rock:10901 Rodney Parham, 227-8898

Mexico Chiquito One FREE kid's meal per adult entree for kids 12 and under (Dine-in only).

• Conway: 1135 Skyline Dr., 205-1985 • Jacksonville: 1524 W. Main St., 982-0533 • Little Rock: 13924 Cantrell, 217-0700; 102 S. Rodney Parham, 224-8600; 4511 Camp Robinson, 771-1604; 11406 W. Markham, 217-0647

PIZZA HUT 5-8 p.m.. Dine in only.

• Little Rock: 11410 W. Markham St., 228-7000 Stromboli’s One FREE Kid’s Meal (12 or under) per adult meal purchased at regular price. Kids may choose from the Kid’s Menu or Pizza By-the-Slice with up to two toppings.

Dine-in only. Cannot be combined with any other offer.

• Conway: 605 Salem Rd., 327-3700 THE VILLA ITALIAN RESTAURANT • Little Rock: 1211 West Markham, 219-2244 TROPICAL SMOOTHIE CAFE Kids 12 years of age or younger eat free with purchase of a Paradise Combo (dine-in only).

• Conway: 705 Club Lane, 764-4800 and 790 Elsinger Blvd, 764-1500 • Jacksonville: 140 John Harden Dr, 241-2233 • Little Rock: 11900 Kanis Rd., 221-6773; 12911 Cantrell Rd., 224-1113 • North Little Rock: 12007 Maumelle Blvd, 851-9555

WEDNESDAY

FAMOUS DAVE’S 4 p.m.-close.

• Little Rock: 225 North Shackleford Road, 221-3283 FIREHOUSE SUBS • Bryant: 3108 Horizon St., 653-3700

MOE’S SOUTHWEST GRILL 4 p.m.-close. One free kids meal with paid adult meal.

• Bryant: 7409 Alcoa Rd., 778-3111 • Conway: 625 Salem Rd., 336-6500 • Little Rock: 12312 Chenal Pkwy., 223-3378 • North Little Rock: 4834 North Hills Blvd., 812-5577

SATURDAY

BOSTON’S GOURMET PIZZA RESTAURANT • Little Rock: 3201 Bankhead Dr., 235-2000 LUBY’S CAFETERIA • Little Rock: 12501 West Markham, 219-1567

SUNDAY

BOSTON’S GOURMET PIZZA RESTAURANT • Little Rock: 3201 Bankhead Dr., 235-2000 DENNY’S RESTAURANT 4-7 p.m. Ages 10 and under.

• Little Rock: 310 S. Shackleford Rd., 224-8264 CORKY’S Kid's meals 1/2 off.

4 p.m.-close.

• Little Rock: 12005 Westhaven Dr., 954-7427

SAVVY RECIPE

kids eat free!

Thursdays

At Dine-In Locations

TexT M ex To G o to

90210 For A Chance To Win A $25 Gift Card

Bento Box Inspired Lunches

2 cheese dip $

By Emily Griffin Bento boxes are a great way to break out of the traditional sandwich and chips school lunchbox meal. Bento is a single-portion meal common in Japanese cuisine and traditionally consists of rice, meat, and vegetables, packed in a box-shaped container. It’s a great way to control portion sizes and make your child’s lunch a bit more exciting. For this bento inspired lunch we started by creating a well-balanced lunch any picky-eater would gobble up, including crackers, oven roasted turkey, cheddar cheese squares, blueberries, carrots, edamame and a granola bar. Of course, the combination possibilities are endless. Looking for other bento inspired lunches for your children, check out our Pinterest page: Pinterest.com/ savvykidsmag.

Off

Large or Extra Large

mexicochiquito.net 13924 Cantrell Rd.

1524 W. Main St.

Little Rock • 501-217-0700

Jacksonville • 501-982-0533

Mex-To-Go • 501-217-0647

Conway • 501-205-1985

11406 W. Markham St.

4511 Camp Robinson Rd.

1135 Skyline Dr.

North Little Rock • 501-771-1604

Join Us On Facebook For Additional Coupons

August 2012 savvy kids

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LITTLE BITES

littlebites Colton’s Steak House & Grill of Cabot

Colton’s Steak House & Grill of Cabot is located at 195 Northport Drive and is locally owned and operated by Brian Knowles.

Colton’s is a full-service restaurant with a fun, casual atmosphere where guests are welcome to snack on all the peanuts you can eat. It serves Choice hand-cut steaks, ribs, chicken, and seafood, as well as salads and burgers. Meals are served with hot homemade yeast rolls, and lunch specials are available during the week. The décor in Colton’s is reminiscent of the American West, with hand-painted murals covering the walls.

Start your meal with our “J.T.’s Onion Blossom,” a large deep fried onion served with a creamy dipping sauce, or any of a number of other appetizers. Salads and soups are also available, including our unique grilled sirloin salad.

Colton’s specializes in hand-cut steaks, which are cut in-house daily.

Our thick, juicy steaks include sirloins, ribeyes, bacon-wrapped filet mignon, and more. Our smoked ribs are available in half or full orders on the dinner menu. Some of our seafood choices include fried catfish, grilled salmon and grilled or fried 62 | savvy kids August 2012

shrimp. We also feature three different perfectly grilled chicken dishes, and grilled pork chops. All entrees are served with a choice of side dishes, plus homemade yeast rolls, which are baked fresh all day long.

Colton’s offers a lunch menu with items ranging from tender sirloin tips, mesquite grilled chicken, smoked ribs to a number of salads and sandwiches.

The lunch menu is available Monday through Friday, from 11 am til 2pm.

Colton’s also offers a kid’s menu for children 12 and under. Entrees include a choice of side, rolls, and a drink. Entrees include some kid favorites like mini corn dogs and chicken strips to Jr. size of adultstyle entrees like our lonesome burger, sirloin tips, and mesquite chicken. We offer healthier side options like applesauce, mandarin oranges, and green beans. There is something your kid will love.

You can dine in or take-out. Call 843-1905 to place your order over the phone or order online at ColtonsSteakHouse.com Place your order park in a curbside space and we will bring it right out to you.

ON THE MENU

So, what did we order?

J.T.’s Onion Blossom Hand-cut Steaks Fried Catfish Boneless Honey Barbeque Wings

“The wings are sweet and spicy. I love them dipped in Ranch – it’s my menu favorite!” -Kailee Ayers

Grilled Chicken Dishes Homemade Yeast Rolls

“The homemade yeast rolls are sweet and scrumptious and taste best dipped in honey.” -Abby Ayers

Lonesome Burger

Colton’s Steak House & Grill of Cabot Hawaiian Chicken

“I order the Hawaiin Chicken every time we visit Colton’s. It has great flavor.”

-Kimberly Ayers

Del Rio Ribeye

“I started ordering the Del Rio Ribeye at the suggestion of the Colton’s staff. The Del Rio sauce has unique flavor. I order this often.” -Brian Ayers

(501) 843-1905 195 Northport Drive Cabot

EAT

HERE!

All Aboard Restaurant and Grill is a FUN family restaurant that serves fresh food in a unique way – via the All Aboard train! Whether it is the veggie burger, home-cut fries or strawberry salad, each meal is made to order with the freshest ingredients. Where possible, we use locally and organically grown ingredients.

Then we get your food to you fresh – whisked along a complex rail system right to your table.

Lil’ Engineers Lunch Club punch cards now available! Our Lil’ Engineers who purchase 3 meals, will receive their fourth meal FREE! Reading counts too.

Read a book and receive a punch toward a free lunch!

Each month, Savvy Kids will feature some of central Arkansas’ tasty, family-friendly restaurants, including special offers for Savvy Kids readers. If your restaurant would like to be included, call us at 501-375-2985.

American Pie Pizza is a family owned operation. Our pizzas are thin crust, and considered by some as the best around. We only use the freshest ingredients on all of our items.

Our salads can be a meal and the sandwiches are sure to fill you up. Check out the menu for all the great choices. There is something for everyone. We hope you delight in our food and our staff and have an enjoyable visit as our guests at American Pie Pizza. Kids Eat Free Every Monday! See you at “The Pie”. www.americanpiepizza.net

Cantrell Rd., Little Rock. 501-975-7401 www.all-aboardrestaurant.com

Maumelle: 9709 Maumelle Blvd (501) 758-8800 North Little Rock: 4830 N Hills Blvd (501) 753-0081 Little Rock: 10912 Colonel Glenn Rd (501) 225-1900

Dempsey Bakery Looking for fresh lunchbox ideas for your kids with food allergies?

Visit Dempsey Bakery today! Dempsey Bakery offers up 100% gluten, wheat, soy and nut-free foods. Find breads, pizza, cakes, pies, cupcakes, cookies, and more, made fresh daily and will make your child’s school lunch box exciting again. You will also find a wide variety of soups and sandwiches available for lunch. Plus, their entire staff is ready to answer your questions about their products or about the benefits of eating gluten-free.

Loganberry Frozen Yogurt Kids craving Ice Cream? Satisfy their desire with a healthy alternative at Loganberry Frozen Yogurt. Made fresh in Russellville, AR, in a boutique dairy farm, Loganberry Yogurt is cultured, probiotic yogurt with real fruit purees and natural ingredients. Fresh berries and fruit, nuts, and granola are some of the 50+ toppings at Loganberry Frozen Yogurt topping bar. 12 delicious, low fat, low sugar flavors range from Triple Dark Chocolate to Pink Lemonade sorbet. Treat your family to a healthy dessert they can have fun serving themselves.

323 Cross St., Little Rock. (501) 375-2257 dempseybakery.com Open Tuesday-Friday from 10am-6pm and 9am-3pm Saturday.

MOOYAH Looking for a way to raise money for your organization? MOOYAH is eager to partner with you for a fundraising event. We’ve got a program that allows your organization to raise money doing something you already love — eating your favorite burgers, fries and shakes with family and friends! Request a fundraiser for your organization at the restaurant of your choice and MOOYAH will donate a percentage of sales generated by your organization at the fundraiser — the more people you bring in to eat, the more money your organization can make: Go to mooyah.com or call Kim at (501) 658-6703 to book your event today! 14810

Cantrell Road • Pinnacle Creek Shopping Center (Behind Buffalo Wild Wings & Walgreens) (501) 868-1091, 11am-10pm, 7 days a week. www.mooyah.com

Tropical Smoothie Cafe’s menu boasts bold, flavorful food and smoothies with a healthy appeal. Our food and smoothies are made to order with fresh ingredients. Our smoothies are made from superior simple ingredients including real fruit and natural sugar. Our toasted wraps, bistro sandwiches, grilled flatbreads, and gourmet salads are made fresh with high quality meats and cheeses; and topped with fresh produce and flavorful sauces. Combine that with a fun atmosphere and friendly hospitality and you see why people return again and again!

Sign up for Club Tropical absolutely free for special offers, freebies & more! Follow us on Twitter @tscarkansas for even more great rewards.

Order online at order.TropicalSmoothie.com

6015 Chenonceau Blvd., Little Rock. 501-868-8194 www.facebook.com/LoganberryFrozenYogurt

NYPD Pizzeria Kids love pizza and NYPD Pizzeria loves kids. Coupon offer: Every Tuesday is “Two for Tuesday” at NYPD Pizza offering a free 14” cheese pizza when any other 14” pizza is purchased when you dine in. Crayons and coloring sheets are distributed and one of the many large TV screens offers something kids like to watch while parents enjoy the game or a movie. Renown for their homemade crust, pizzas are topped with hi quality, premium fresh toppings. Dairy free and gluten free options are available as well as a children’s menu.

6015 Chenonceau Blvd., Little Rock. 501-868-3911 www.facebook.com/NYPDPizzaLittleRock

US Pizza We pride ourselves in offering our guests the very best pizza, salads and sandwiches, and we value your patronage. Our oldfashioned stone hearth ovens are one of the reasons our pizzas are worth the wait. From our Salad Supreme to our spicy Trey’s Chloroplast Blast pizza, you won’t find our award winning original creations anywhere else.

Little Rock: Heights, Hillcrest, Fair Park, Rodney Parham; North Little Rock: Pike, Fair Park, JFK Maumelle • Sherwood • Conway • Bryant • Fayetteville www.uspizzaco.net

Little Rock • North Little Rock • Maumelle • Conway • Jacksonville

August 2012 savvy kids

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AUGUST 2012 SAVVY CALENDAR

AUGUST ODYSSEY’S SHIPWRECK! PIRATES & TREASURES August 1 thru 31: Mid-America Science Museum is proud to host this exciting special Exhibition in the spring & summer of 2012. This exhibit encompasses 8,000 sq. ft. and features more than 500 authentic artifacts recovered by Odyssey from various shipwrecks in the Atlantic Ocean, the English Channel & Mediterranean Sea. It takes visitors through the thrilling quest to discover the ocean’s greatest shipwreck stories & treasures. It fuses history, science & technology into an exciting educational experience through the use of interactive elements & real life treasure displays from some of the most extraordinary shipwrecks in the world! A fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the research & technology used to be involved in hands-on activities relating to shipwreck exploration. With the opportunity to participate in the pioneering exploration of shipwrecks, while learning about the cutting-edge technology, archaeology & fascinating stories of ships lost at sea over the centuries.

To come on board with the Odyssey crew & explore the exciting world of deep-ocean exploration, science, technology & history as your journey through thousands of years of maritime travel. For more information and hours of operation call 501-767-3461 or visit www.midamericamuseum.org.

“PLAY BALL” EXHIBIT August 1 thru Sept. 16: This exhibition will feature over 100 items such as the World Series trophy from 2006 and 2011, championship rings, and artifacts. Join us as we reflect on the joy, the heartache and the fun that comes with being a baseball fan.

Event place: Clinton Presidential Library during regular business hours. For a limited time only! July 4 thru July 22 will exhibit World Series Trophy, July 4 thru September 16 will exhibit World Series Ring, and August 3 thru September 16 will exhibit Stan Musials’ newly-restored uniform. On loan from St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame & Museum. For more information contact 501-374-4242.

ASTRONOMY, IT’S A BLAST August 1 thru Sept. 17: It is part of the Road Trip series, traveling through the Arkansas Discovery Network. The Network is an innovative collaboration of seven museums and educational centers in Arkansas. The network focuses on making hands-on, interactive 64 | savvy kids August 2012

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museum experience more accessible to approximately 500,000 school children and their families. Event will take place at the Museum of Discovery during regular business hours and general admission will apply. For more information call 501-396-7050.

“THE SOUND OF MUSIC” August 1 thru Sept. 1: The story of the Von Trapp family and how their governess, Maria, brings music, hope and prayer into their lives in pre-World War II Austria. Songs include “Do Re Mi”, ‘Climb Every Mountain”, and “My Favorite Things”. Bring the family and relive the magic that is “The Sound of Music” at Murry’s Dinner Playhouse. For more information call 501-562-3131.

LAMANPALOOZA August 3: Lamanpalooza is an endof-summer bash at Laman Library.

This year we have two musical acts.

Marshall Mitchell will perform songs for the younger set from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Then at 7 p.m. we will switch musical gears with The Rockets.

They will have you singing and dancing to classic rock and pop music from the last five decades. Bring your dancing shoes! There will also be crafts and games and lots of other special entertainment that will be sure to bring smiles to everyone in attendance. Some of this year’s prizes include: ipad2, bikes and trikes, Xbox360, Kinect, HDTV, and gift cards. There will be food vendors selling a variety of delicious treats. All food sales are cash only. Parking will be available at the North Little Rock High School—West Campus parking lot. A trolly will be available to take you to and from the festivities. The Thea Foundation will have a booth with arts activities for the kiddos. For more information visit www.lamanlibrary.org or call 501-758-1720.

BETWEEN THE COVERS PHOTO GALLERY August 3, 7, 10, 14, 17, 21, 24, 28, and 31: Photographers join us every Tuesday and Friday in the month of August for our photo gallery. The Maumelle Photo Gallery is returning this summer as part of our Summer Reading Club. Take photos of books, displays, or be creative! Photos must be approved by staff. Bring a printed photo for the library gallery or e-mail your photos to scarnahan@cals.org to

be included in our digital gallery on facebook. For more information call 501-851-2551.

CREW HANDFUL OF HEARTS TOURNAMENT August 4: Don’t miss the 2012 CREW Handful of Hearts Texas Hold ‘em Tournament.

This event will take place at the Arkansas Arts Center (501 E. 9th Street) in Little Rock. Registration begins at 4 p.m.

Play begins at 5 p.m. 100% of proceeds benefit Make-A-Wish Mid-South.

Sponsored by First Security, The Point 94.1, and 103.7 The Buzz. Free entry with purchase of a $50 unlimited food and beverage bar. $25 spouse registration includes free food and drink and tour of the art galleries. Prizes awarded throughout the evening and for top players. Call 501-376-9474 to register.

2ND ANNUAL JOHN HUDDLESTON HERITAGE DAY August 4: Join us as we celebrate the 106th anniversary of John Huddleston’s discovery of diamonds in Arkansas!

Learn about “Diamond John” and the early history of commercial diamond mining in our state during this event that will feature special programming and guest speakers. Admission is free.

Event time: 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. Meeting place: Visitor Center. For more information call Crater of Diamonds State Park at 870-285-3113.

SUPER SUMMER SATURDAYS August 4 and 11: Each Saturday this summer, a special section of the Clinton Center will be transformed into a baseball diamond, filled with hands-on activity stations including interactive baseball games, puzzles, coloring, trivia, and more. Each participant will receive commemorative baseball cards and Crackerjacks. Additionally, little league baseball players in their uniform, along with their team coach, can enjoy a free tour of “Play Ball: The St. Louis Cardinals” exhibit throughout the summer. Super Summer Saturday activities are free, however, regular admission fees apply to tour the library. For more information contact 501-374-4242.

DIVAS, INC. KICK-OFF SOIREE August 11: Come celebrate with us!

We are having our 2nd Annual Mixer

to kick-off our Girls Leadership & Empowerment Summit. This event will take place at Arkansas Studies Institute (401 President Clinton Ave.) from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. There will be food, fun, a chance to win door prizes, and a surprise speaker. RSVP is required. To RSVP e-mail sheena@divasinconline.com by Friday, August 3rd. For more information visit www.divasinconline.com.

BACK TO SCHOOL LUAU August 11: Get ready to go back to school at Diamond Springs! We’re throwing a luau-style party with decorations, refreshments, music, games, and prizes for all ages. Wear your “loudest” Hawaiian shirt or swimwear for our peoples’ choice awards. Admission: Regular water park admission is $5.50 for (42” and over), $3.75 for (under 42”), and $2 chaperone “non-swimmer”, and under 2 free. Event time: 6:30 p.m. until 9 p.m. Meeting place: Diamond Springs Water Park. For more information call 870-285-3113.

METEOR SHOWER MANIA August 11: View shooting stars from the middle of Lake Maumelle! Join a park interpreter on the guided cruise to learn about stars and constellations then watch a slice of the annual Perseid meteor shower. Advance payment is required. Admission: $12 adults, $6 children ages 6 -12. Event time: 9 p.m. until 11 p.m. Meeting place: Jolly Roger’s Marina. For more information call Pinnacle Mountain State Park at 501-868-5806.

DIVAS, INC. 2ND ANNUAL GIRLS LEADERSHIP & EMPOWERMENT SUMMIT August 13 thru 17: This week-long girls extravaganza is sure to get your tweens and teens ready for the new school year! The summit focuses on issues that affect girls such as: teen dating violence, living a healthy liftestyle, exercise, promoting volunteerism, building high self confidence, goal-setting, encouraging positive decision making skills, drug & alcohol prevention, safety, diversity training, financial literacy skills, community building, and fun activities sprinkled throughout! We will have a series of motivational speakers and mentoring opportunities. Meeting place: Arkansas Studies Institute (401 President Clinton Ave.) Meeting time: 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Register today at www.divasinconline.com. It is only $50 per girl. For more information call

TAX FREE WEEKEND BACK TO SCHOOL BASH

August 4: This event will take place at The Promenade at Chenal from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. The bash will include Museum of Discovery Mad Scientist, Free Photo Booth, Salvation Army will be accepting school supply donations to help us reach our goal to fill 100 backpacks, oral hygiene goodie bags from Suri Orthodontics, giveaways, games, and much more! Plus, to help you save even more during Tax Free Weekend purchase a $50 or higher Promenade at Chenal Gift Card during the event and receive a $5 Promenade Gift Card for FREE! Limited four (4) $5 Free Promenade at Chenal Gift Cards per person. While supplies last. Visit www.chenalshopping.com to find out more.

501-470-6897 or via e-mail sheena@ divasinconline.com.

more! For more information visit www. rmhclittlerock.org.

STAR PARTY August 18: Join amateur astronomers at the visitor center for an evening with the stars and other celestial phenomena. As twilight settles in, the Central Arkansas Astronomical Society will provide telescopes for viewing objects in the night sky. If cloudy skies prevent observation, an indoor program on astronomy will be presented at 9 p.m.

Admission is free. Event time: 9 p.m. until 11 p.m. Meeting place: Visitor Center. For more information call Pinnacle Mountain State Park at 501868-5806.

KAYAK COVE ADVENTURE August 22: Want to see Lake Catherine in a whole new way? Join a park interpreter for a kayaking adventure.

Our stable, flat-water kayaks are easy to navigate and incredibly relaxing! No experience is necessary, but you should be comfortable around water. Kayaks, paddles, and life jackets are provided.

Spaces are limited. Pre-register and pre-pay at the visitor center. Admission: $15. Meeting time: 9:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. Meeting place: Marina. For more information call 501-844-4176.

THE RONALD MCDONALD GOLF CLASSIC August 19 and 20: It’s Tee Time! Join us for our 19th Annual Ronald McDonald Golf Classic at Pleasant Valley Country Club. This premiere tournament boasts great gifts, team prizes, fabulous food, and award-winning golf course, and best of all, it all benefits a great cause!

Kick-off Cocktail Party on the 19th at the Pleasant Valley Country Club Ballroom at 6 p.m. There will be silent & live auctions, a live band, cocktails and heavy hors d’oeuvres. On the 20th there will be two flights one at 8 a.m. and the other at 1 p.m. 4 person scramble format. All teams get complimentary tickets to the Cocktail Party. Tournament features an array of competitive holes and chances to win prizes, such as a new car, premium golf clubs, and

ROLLIN’ ON THE RIVER August 25: Easter Seals is having their 5k Race/2k Fun Walk on the river again. Rollin’ on the River is unique because participants form teams that are each represented by a child or adult who receives services at Easter Seals.

Registration: 6:15 a.m. at the Clinton Library. 5k Race: 7:15 a.m. 2k Walk 8:15 a.m. For more information visit www.ar.easterseals.com.

BREAKFAST WITH RHINOS August 25: Join the Little Rock Zoo for a delicious breakfast buffet in Café Africa and a unique keeper chat during our breakfast with animals series. The Zoo highlights several animals during our breakfast series and provides guests with a special up-close-and-personal look at some of our most interesting creatures! Maximum capacity is 40

guests per breakfast, unless noted. Seating is very limited and prior reservations are a must! Breakfast with Animals starts at 8 a.m. sharp! Please be on time.

Admission: Member Adult $16.95, Member Child $12.95, Non-Member Adult $21.95, and Non-Member Child $16.95. Reservation require a Visa, Master Card, or Discover Card. Changes or cancellations are accepted through the Friday before the event by 2 p.m. For more information or to make reservations, contact 501-661-7218.

18th ANNUAL END OF SUMMER FLY-IN August 25 and 26: Join the Central Arkansas Mountain Pilots (C.A.M.P) this weekend to watch and learn about hang gliding. Come in the morning to watch them set up and talk to the pilots, then watch in the afternoon as they launch and soar through the air!

Due to the sport’s high dependence on weather and wind, no flight times will be announced. However, weather permitting the pilots will fly Saturday and Sunday afternoon. Admission if free.

Meeting place: Mount Nebo State Park’s visitor center. For more information call 479-229-3655.

GEOCACHING WEEKEND August 25 and 26: Let us immerse you and your family into the world of geocaching. Throughout the weekend, our scheduled programs and activities will be designed to help you learn about Arkansas State Park’s geocache tour and geocaches found right in

SAVVY CALENDAR

our park. This is a great weekend for introducing geocaching to people who are interested, but don’t know how to get started. Contact Pinnacle Mountain State Park for more information at 501868-5806.

RHEA LANA’S IN CONWAY August 26 thru September 1: Come shop for all your children’s needs in one spot. You’ll find clothing, toys, baby equipment, nursery furniture, and maternity. Sell your children’s items as a consignor and earn 70-80%. Volunteer and shop before the public to get the best deals first. Join our mailing list at www.rhealana.com. We’ve been clothing and connecting with families since 1997! This event will take place at the Conway Expo Center (2505 East Oak Street) Hwy. 64 East. For more information call 501-499-0009 or via e-mail rhealana@rhealana.com.

END OF SUMMER BLOWOUT August 31 thru September 3: Join us as we celebrate the official end of summer and daily interpretive programming (we’ll still offer weekend programs in the autumn season).

Bring the whole family to enjoy the lake and kayak tours, hikes, crafts, and educational programs! Join us as we close the nature cabin down for the summer and have a release party for its animal inhabitants. Admission free.

Contact Lake Catherine State Park for a schedule as this event draws near at 501-844-4176.

LABOR DAY WEEKEND ACTIVITIES August 31 and September 3: Summertime is coming to an end, and Mount Nebo State Park is celebrating one last time. We will have games, hikes, nature programs, and an ice cream social on Saturday! Contact the park for a detailed schedule. Remember, the pool closes after Labor Day! Admission: free.

Meeting place: Visitor Center. For more information call 479-229-3655.

August 2012 savvy kids

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winners

covercontest

FIRST

SECOND The 4th Annual Savvy Kids Cover Contest was a tough one to judge! With nearly 1,000 photos entered, our judges had a tough job narrowing them down to the top three. Photographed

by Hether Embrey of Christian Avery Photography, the first place winner is Jaden Williams, age 7; second place winner is Megan Atkins, age 12; and third place winners are Madison and Mylie Jones, age 2. Of course, we couldn’t leave out the other judges’ favorites. Here you will also see the top finalists.

Cover photo by Hether Embrey of Christian Avery Photography, christianaveryphotography.com 66 | savvy kids August 2012

THIRD

August 2012 savvy kids

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Jack Rector turns one!

Photos by nick hillemann

SAVVY EVENTS

Jack Rector celebrated his 1st birthday with his friends and family during a circus themed party. The kids had a blast jumping in the inflatable bounce house and were entertained by Giggles the Clown. Jack’s three tier circus cake was created by The Blue Cake Company in Little Rock. Party guests also enjoyed carnival treats like popcorn and cotton candy.

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Ella Nelson Bounce House Fun! Tripp Rector Cruise Wolfe Jett Johansson Jack Rector Lizzie Bacon Finley Daniel Beckham Wolfe Cake by The Blue Cake Company 11. Savannah Gammill 1.

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Anecia Riley turns three!

Photos submitted

Anecia Riley celebrated her 3rd birthday with her friends and family at the Museum of Discovery in Little Rock.

Anecia and her party guests had a blast exploring the many rooms of the museum including Amazing You!, Discovery Hall, Earth Journeys, Room to Grow and the Tinkering Studio. Next, everyone gathered in the party room where they shared Dora the Explorer birthday cupcakes and opened presents.

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Anecia Riley Anecia Riley Jaiden Smith Tyler & Michael Nelson Andrea Kinsley Smith Jayden Tucker

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501-791-3100 Birthday Parties Corporate Events Schools - Daycares Marketing & More!

Beautiful SmileS make Happy people!

ChiLDren anD aDuLtS We accept: AR-KIDS, Medicaid and all types of insurance.

Payment Plans • Monday-Saturday

www.faithdentalclinic.com

Lilliam Prado, DDS

7301 Baseline Rd • Little Rock • (501) 565-3009

BaCk To SCHool SplASH Friday, august 24 7:30 – 9:30pm

Pleasure Park Complex 201 W. Martin St. Jacksonville 501.982.SWIM(7946) www.cityofjacksonville.net

Kids ages 11-15 slip, slide & dive into the night and dance to the music By dJ chad mansField $2 at the door $1 For slides must Be 48” or taller to ride slides

Concessions Available • Handicap accessible.

Dates, times, & location subject to change.

(in lieu of rain location will move to the Community Center)

For More InFo Call 501-982-4171

Time well spent.

• 100+ hands-on exhibits bring science concepts to life • Spark curiosity; improve skills • ADE Frameworks for your grade • Teacher resources available on- line to enhance your field trip • Discounted rates • Free parking & eating area

Reserve your trip now!

501.767.3461 x13 www.MidAmericaMuseum.org

Mid-America Science Museum August 2012 savvy kids

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LILLY MCAFEE turns seven!

SAVVY EVENTS

Photos by TRACY WHITAKER

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Lilly May McAfee celebrated her 7th birthday with friends and family at the outdoor pool at Jim Dailey Fitness & Aquatic Center. Lilly and her party guests enjoyed cake and snacks on the party deck in between cooling off as often as they wanted with a dip in the pool. The deck fun wound down with opening of many presents, including Lilly’s first real guitar! A good, refreshing time was had by all!

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Audrey Holt Rebekah Jackson & Lilly McAfee Aiden McHan William Harris Liam Whitaker Devon Johnson Lilly McAfee & Clara Ilseven Lilly McAfee & Molly Whitaker Cake by Melissa McHan

Mikaela Delgado turns 12!

Photos submitted

Mikaela Delgado celebrated her 12th birthday with her friends at Broadway Performance Productions in West Little Rock for an afternoon of glitter, glamour, and New York City lights. Party guests enjoyed the fun-filled celebration, which included all the trimmings and feel of Broadway in New York. In fact, the party kicked off with a fashion show and ended with a lively music video performed by Mikaela and her guests.

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Mikaela Delgado Maria Delgado Cake provided by BPP Eden Blank Mikaela and Party Guests Fashion Show

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Now Enrolling For The 2012-2013 Season!

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9871 Brockington Rd ✿ Sherwood, AR ✿ 501.833.1000 ✿ apricotboutique.com ✿ TU-FR 10:30 am-5:30 pm ✿ SAT 10 am-5 pm August 2012 savvy kids

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Jackson King turns three!

SAVVY EVENTS

Photos by patrick jones

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Jackson King celebrated his 3rd birthday with his friends at All Aboard Restaurant and Grill in Little Rock during a Thomas the Train themed party. Each guest received a boarding pass, favor bag and a personalized coloring book titled “Jackson’s Coloring Book of Js.” Jackson and his pals had fun watching the All Aboard trains chug along overhead as they delivered food from table to table! After lunch, the kids ate cupcakes and ice cream provided by All Aboard Restaurant & Grill.

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the Promenade at chenal hosts arkansas travelers event Photos by Brian chilson

Kids had the opportunity to bring their dads to The Promenade at Chenal during Father’s Day weekend to meet the Arkansas Travelers baseball team. The first 50 kids to arrive at the event were given a free baseball. Players were on hand to sign baseballs, and kids could participate in games and win prizes. In fact, kids could enter their dads in the Dad is Rad contest by giving an explanation of why their dad is “rad.” The winner, James Wilson, was awarded a gift basked filled with all sorts of products from The Promenade at Chenal and the Arkansas Travelers, valued at $750.

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Drayce Wallace Carsyn Brakebill A’Miya Goolsby Chugging along!

Jackson King Bryan Williams Jr. Kristyn Galloway Macaylen Smith, Jackson King & Jalen Miller Jackson King & Darian King

 AFTER-school cARE

pAREnT’s nighT ouT

THe PediaTriC CliniC, P.a. of north little rock Over 50 Years Of Caring fOr Children Of Central arkansas

BiRThdAy pARTiEs

savvy AD PROOF PROOFCOPY COPY august 3 and 17 (back to school bash)

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SOCIAL SCENE OF THE SOPHISTIKID SOCIAL SCENE OF THE SOPHISTIKID

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day or evening. Private or group lessons starting at 6 months. non-mEmBERs wElcomE

We have everything you need for your celebration! choose one of our six party packages and we take care of the rest. ages 2-12

n Accepting new Please contact contact your your rep rep with with approval approval or or changes: Please changes: pAtients Jennifer 590-2236 590-2236   Laura Laura 590-9140 590-9140   Ronda Ronda 590-3340 Jennifer 590-3340 n Birth through Sabra 590-6992 or fax changes to 501-975-6780 Sabra 590-6992 or fax changes to 501-975-6780 Adolescence n Most Please respond by: by: __________________ __________________ insurAnce Please respond © amber walker photography Accepted

™ ™

VAn picK-up FRom:

Anthony • Baker Elem. • Chenal Elem.

Christ The King(501) • Crystal975-6776 Hill* • Forest Park (501) 975-6776 Fulbright • Robinson • LRCA • PA • Jefferson Elem.

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Lourie Battles, Md • Robert Choate, Md • Kim Clinton, Md Matthew Hadley, ApN, phd • Kim Hurlbut, Md Stephen Fiedorek, Md • Eric Fraser, Md • Gary Fowler, ApN Bishawn Morris, Md • JoAnne Wilson, ApN I understand that thisthis proof is provided so so that I may correct anyany typographical errors.

I have checked this adad I understand that proof is provided that I may correct typographical errors.

I have checked this thoroughly andand authorize it for publication.

Kid’s Directory bears nono liability. thoroughly authorize it for publication.

Kid’s Directory bears liability.

AdsAds areare copyrighted andand intended forfor useuse solely in Kid’s Directory ofof Central Arkansas unless expressly authorized copyrighted intended solely in Kid’s Directory Central Arkansas unless expressly authorized by by publisher of Kid’s Directory.

Using adsads produced by by Kid’s Directory in in other media will result in in a usage fee. publisher of Kid’s Directory.

Using produced Kid’s Directory other media will result a usage fee.

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3401 springhill drive, ste. 245 North Little Rock, AR • 501.758.1530 CliniC Hours: MoNdAy-FRidAy 8AM – 6pM Walk in siCk CliniC: SAtuRdAy 8AM 203 B plaza Boulevard Cabot, AR • 501.843.0068 CliniC Hours: MoNdAy-FRidAy 8AM-5pM

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Please contact your rep with approval or changes: Please contact your rep with approvalorRonda changes: Jennifer 590-2236  Laura 590-9140 590-3340 Jennifer 590-2236  Laura 590-9140  Ronda 590-3340 Sabra 590-6992 or fax changes to 501-975-6780 Sabra 590-6992 or fax changes to 501-975-6780

You Need Need You to Get Get the the to Party Started!

Started!

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Little Rock 11218 Rodney Parham 11218 Rodney (Pleasant Valley Parham Plaza) (Pleasant Valley Plaza) 501-223-4929

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Over 600 stores nationwide. Not responsible for typographical errors. Product selection and everyday low prices may vary by store.

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Over 600 stores nationwide. Not responsible for typographical errors. Product selection and everyday low prices may vary by store.

Party City reserves the right to limit quantities. Prices available at participating stores.

August 2012 savvy kids

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Tatum Pinney turns four!

SAVVY EVENTS

Photos by patrick jones

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2nd Annual Curtain Call For A Cause Photos by Heather Baker

More than $20,000 was raised during the recent 2nd Annual Curtain Call for a Cause event held at the Argenta Community Theater in North Little Rock. The event benefits the Arkansas Enterprises for the Developmentally Disabled (AEDD) Children’s Learning Center. AEDD is a non-profit organization founded in 1971 that provides services to children and adults with developmental disabilities and/or delays. Guests to the event enjoyed a reception, silent auction, dinner, and live performances, including the I Can! Dance dancers and their “Dancing Buddies.”

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Tatum Pinney celebrated her 4th birthday with her friends while being pampered. Tatum and her guests kicked off the party by putting on their spa robes (made by her mother, Christie, and her Mimi), then the makeovers started. Pedicures, musical manicures, nail art, “hair extensions” and make-up, were just a few of the activities offered for the girls. Next, everyone gathered for refreshments.

Frost It created Tatum’s birthday cake and fingernail polish bottle shaped cake balls for everyone to enjoy.

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Lilly Melton Olivia Perry Getting dressed for the spa Spa robes Tatum Pinney Getting the robe ready Cake by Frost It Pedicures!

Brynn Bohannan Makeovers!

NEW Arkansas Children’s Hospital

EmErGENCY DEPArtmENt PARKING GARAGE ENTRANCE

NORTH

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Construction is complete on the new South Wing addition at Arkansas Children’s Hospital! Look for our brand new EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT opening in the South Wing.

Be sure to note the new Emergency Department entrance accessible from 10th street.

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Arkansas’s Largest Supplier of Printed Music Come Take A Musical Journey!

PROvIdING INStRuCtION IN: Banjo Cello Clarinet Guitar Drums Flute Harmonica Harp Mandolin

Musical Theatre Piano Saxophone String Bass Tuba Ukulele Viola Violin Voice

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(501) 217-0275 • Market Place Shopping Center 11121 N Rodney Parham Rd • Little Rock lewis.anthonymusic@gmail.com • www.carolynskeyboardcorner.com August 2012 savvy kids

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Austin turns 5!

Photos by emily griffin

SAVVY EVENTS

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NOw ThAT The KiDs Are GOiNG BACK TO sChOOL… Joni

(left) lost 40 1/4 pounds, 51 inches & 12.5% body fat

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Piñata!

Gathering candy!

Austin Michael Austin Brayden Austin Take Home Bags Maddie Pull-apart cupcakes by Kroger Mary Adrianne

After

Do Something For You!

76 | savvy kids AUGUST 2012

Austin celebrated his 5th birthday with his friends and family. Everyone enjoyed pizza and cupcakes in the shape of a big number five, created

by Kroger in Cabot. Party goers then tried their skills at busting a piñata full of candy and toys. After a few rounds, Emma cracked open the piñata and everyone gathered the goodies in their take-home goodie bags. After presents, the birthday boy and his entourage visited Big Ben’s Playhouse in Vilonia where they enjoyed arcade games, a carousel and the huge indoor playland.

5901 “R” Street

Before

Back To School BaSh Friday, august 17

Saturday, August 11, 2012 10 AM to 2 PM JLNLRJunior Headquarters Junior League of Of North North Little League LittleRock Rock Presents E. O. Manees House Presents 216 W. 4th Street North Little Rock, AR

Back To School Health Health & Event includes:& Literacy Expo •Health and Vision Screenings •Nutrition Information•

literacy Expo

Gross out NiGht & PuddiNG EatiNG CoNtEst •Complimentary Books and School Supplies• Saturday, August 11, 10am – 2pm Friday, auGust 24 •Lots of Food and Family E.O. Manees House, 216 W.Activities• 4th St. · North Little Rock

Weekly night fun!

• Mondays - Christian Skate • Thursdays – Roller Derby • Fridays – Top 40 Music • Saturdays – Family Fun Night Call For Information On School Functions, Field Trips & Regular Day Care Events

Joyland Skating Center 2020 S. Second Street • Cabot 501-843-7341 joylandskating.com

Saturday, August 11, 2012 Vision Screenings 10 Health AM to 2&PM

Nutrition Information

JLNLR Headquarters Complimentary Books E. O. Manees House 216 W. 4th Street School Supplies North Little Rock, AR

&

Food & Family Activities

Event includes: Contact Walker at tdwalker76@yahoo.com •Health Tamaya and Vision Screenings •Nutrition Information• or call 501.960.1226 for additional •Complimentary Books and Schoolinformation.

Supplies• •Lots of Food and Family Activities•

C r a t e r o f D i a m o n d s St a t e Pa r k

f r i e n d r eques t a cce p t e d Reconnect at one of Arkansas’s 52 state parks.

SCAN FOR INFO

888-AT-PARKS • ArkansasStateParks.com August 2012 savvy kids

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SAVVY PROJECT

Wall of Achievement

By Emily Griffin

With school back in session, your kids will be coming home with all sorts of art projects and graded papers. Show them how proud you are of them by displaying their good grades and exciting works of art by creating a Wall of Achievement on a blank wall in your home. This low cost project will make a big impact on your child’s self-esteem this school year.

Supplies: Old picture frames in various sizes Paint (Any Color) Paint Brushes

Directions: Start by gathering your unused picture frames. If you don’t have any on hand, you can pick some up at a local resale shop, thrift store or garage sale. Look for a variety of sizes and shapes. (It was my experience that frames with texture look best when painted.) Prepare the frames to be painted by removing the glass and backing, and by wiping the frames clear of any dust. Then, paint the frames with the paint color you chose. Depending on the type of paint you use, painting the frames may take multiple coats. Be sure to let the paint dry completely between applications. Once your frames are completely dry, hang them together on your wall. (You may want to lay the frames out on a table or on the floor so you can rearrange them until you like the order of placement.)

For more ideas, visit our Pinterest page: www.pinterest.com/savvykidsmag.

78 | savvy kids August 2012

KNOW

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Arkansas Department of Health Keeping Your Hometown Healthy

August 2012 savvy kids

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Pinnacle Pointe HosPital

Pinnacle Pointe Behavioral HealthCare System Pinnacle Pointe helps families learn to live calmer, happier, and more productive lives by providing high quality behavioral health treatment programs in the following settings:

Acute Inpatient Residential Inpatient Outpatient • School-Based Let good things happen for your family.

Contact us for a free and confidential assessment by calling 1-800-880-3322.

School-Based and Outpatient Services Offered Statewide The Pointe Outpatient Behavioral Health Services offer

2011 Governor’s Quality Award

2009 President’s Award for Outstanding Juvenile Programs

2011 & 2008 ATRS Facility of the Year

2007 “TRICARE” is a registered trademark of the TRICARE Management Activity. All rights reserved.

80 | savvy kids August 2012

the same quality care for all ages.

When your family needs help, please contact a facility near you.

APA Residential Facility of the Year for Outstanding Service

Pinnacle Pointe Behavioral HealthCare System

www.pinnaclepointehospital.com 1-800-880-3322 11501 Financial Centre Parkway Little Rock, AR 72211