SAVVY | October 2018

OCTOBER 2018 · SAVVYKIDSAR.COM

Fall Family Fun Guide

FINDING A VOICE SOCIAL DISTORTION DOMESTIC ABUSE SURVIVORS FIND THEIR WORTH

PROTECTING TWEENS & TEENS IN A DIGITAL AGE

Sports Injuries don’t take

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Open Saturday Mornings No Appointment Necessary Sept. 1 - Nov. 10 9 AM – 11 AM Located in Arkansas Children’s Hospital Orthopedic Clinic

archildrens.org/sportsmedicine

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OCTOBER 2018 | SAVVYKIDSAR.COM

Saturday Morning Sports Injury Clinic

specialized sports medicine and orthopedic care for your developing athlete.

Sometimes sports injuries are your child’s biggest competition. That’s why we’re open on Saturdays this fall treating fractures, dislocations, sprains, strains and more.

At Arkansas Children’s Hospital, your child will see the state’s leading experts in sports injury diagnosis, treatment, surgery and physical therapy.

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OCTOBER 2018 5 EDITOR’S NOTE 8 ADVENTURE & FUN CALENDAR, CRAFTS & MORE!

10 MAMA SAID

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN

12 HEALTH & WELLNESS

IMMUNIZATIONS MYTHS, FACTS, AGES AND OUTBREAKS

16 SOCIAL DISTORTION

KEEPING YOUR KIDS GROUNDED IN THE DIGITAL AGE

19 FINDING A VOICE

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS FIND THEIR WORTH

26 GOOD EATS

THRIFTY HALLOWEEN THRILLERS

OCTOBER CALENDAR

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38 FALL FAMILY FUN GUIDE 46 KID APPROVED

SHELLY STROZYK-GROSS

JAJUAN ARCHER OF WOMEN'S OWN WORTH PUMPKIN PIZZA POCKETS

COVER PHOTO BY KATIE CHILDS

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OCTOBER 2018 | SAVVYKIDSAR.COM

Parenting Tricks & Treats Some people live all year for the scent of a freshly cut fir tree and simmering apple cider during the holidays. That’s all fine and good, but give me a cackling witch and haunted house full of spooks and I’m in heaven. Halloween is my absolute favorite holiday; I love seeing handmade costumes and all the creepy creative juices that get going when we’re challenged to dress up and be anything for one night of the year.

If you and your family love Halloween as much as me, then flip to page 26 to check out some easy, thrifty ideas for DIY costumes, party snacks, crafts and more to get everyone in a haunting mood.

There’s only one thing that’s more terrifying than Halloween and that’s figuring out how to help your tweens and teens navigate social media. On page 16 we talk to some mental health experts and Troy Urquhart, head of the Upper School at Episcopal Collegiate School in Little Rock, about what they are seeing in the world of social media and advice on how to best guide your kids through the digital age.

As parents, it’s our job to stay informed on all matters of our kids’ health. From infancy to adulthood, there are numerous vaccinations to help keep us safe from disease. After last year’s horrible flu season—and being bed ridden for a week with what my doctor called a “mild” case—you better believe I’ll be first in line for my flu shot this year! We chat with the Arkansas Health Department, beginning on page 12 to cover ground on immunizations: Separate myths from facts, find out which outbreaks are affecting Arkansas, and what vaccines doctors recommend as your kids age.

Whatever you do, don’t let fear of the flu keep you inside all season long. Grab the hand sanitizer and get your family out and about to enjoy the exciting lineup of fall activities throughout Central Arkansas. From pumpkin patches to festivals, chili cook-offs, haunted houses and more, we’ve got your autumn plans all lined up in our Fall Family Fun Guide on page 38. Get out, enjoy the brisk, fall temps and enjoy the sounds of cackling witches floating through the air!

Amy Gordy Editor, Savvy Kids amy@arktimes.com

SAVVYKIDSAR.COM | OCTOBER 2018

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Save Now for Their Future.

It’s never too early to open an Arkansas 529 account to help you save for your child’s education. Starting an account is easy and the new Arkansas 529 App makes it easier to manage!

To learn more, visit Arkansas529.org or download the Arkansas 529 App today.

PUBLISHER KATHERINE DANIELS | katherine@arktimes.com EDITOR AMY GORDY | amy@arktimes.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR MANDY KEENER ART DIRECTOR KATIE HASSELL SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE LESA THOMAS ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES JENNIFER CORBITT STEPHANIE HENRY HEATHER SHOEMAKE PRODUCTION MANAGER | CONTROLLER WELDON WILSON ADVERTISING TRAFFIC MANAGER ROLAND R. GLADDEN ADVERTISING COORDINATOR LARISSA GUDINO GRAPHIC DESIGNERS MIKE SPAIN

Are you feeding your baby Similac Advance?

IT DIRECTOR ROBERT CURFMAN ACCOUNTING LINDA PHILLIPS CIRCULATION DIRECTOR ANITRA HICKMAN ARKANSAS TIMES LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

Your child may qualify for a nutrition research study for 3-month old infants.

To thank you for your participation, a 3 month supply of diapers will be provided.

Call 501-364-3309 ACNCstudies@archildrens.org 6

OCTOBER 2018 | SAVVYKIDSAR.COM

FIND US ON

PROUD PARTNER OF

contributors

Busy Moms,

Order your prescriptions online!

ANGELA E. THOMAS is a proud University of Arkansas at Little Rock graduate and a member of its Alumni Board. For 11 years, she served Central Arkansas as editor for a locally owned magazine. Thomas is founder and owner of the greeting card company GODsent Greetings.

DWAIN HEBDA is a writer and editor living in Little Rock. He and his wife, Darlene, are the parents of four grown children. The empty-nesters spend their time traveling, working out and spoiling their two dogs.

2801 Kavanaugh, Little Rock • 501.663.4131

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NO LONG CONTRACTS PAY BY THE MONTH KATIE CHILDS is a wedding, lifestyle and commercial photographer based in North Little Rock. When she’s not behind the camera, Katie and her husband, Jon, can be found rock climbing with their two pups in Northwest Arkansas and listening to embarrassing rap music.

See our website for kids and adult schedules, awesome summer camps, and a video demonstration www.unitymartialarts.com

or call

(501) 664-0604 MELISSA TUCKER spends her days working in web marketing. When not at work, youzll probably find her at the gym, on the playground with her kids or checking out too many books from the library.

M ART I AL ART S SAVVYKIDSAR.COM | OCTOBER 2018

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October ADVENTURE & FUN

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CONWAY ECO+ARTS FEST

Learn all about how to take care of Mother Earth and have a great time doing it. Now in its 10th year, the Conway Eco+Arts Fest offers vendors and exhibitors, food and fun while reinforcing the important lessons of sustainability. conwayecofest.com

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HOT WATER HILLS MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL, HOT SPRINGS

Who doesn’t love an excuse to spend time in Hot Springs? This event, now in its 8th year, provides a little something for everyone including great music, terrific food and drink, local art, free workshops and even attractions for the kids. Get out and get a taste of the Spa City. hotwaterhills.com

OCTOBER 13

ARKANSAS

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VS. OLE MISS AT WAR MEMORIAL

ARKANSAS STATE FAIR

It wouldn’t be autumn without a midway of rides, carnival food and the great entertainment of the Arkansas State Fair.

Save on parking and tickets by attending “Thrifty Thursday” on Oct. 11. And don’t miss the musical acts (ranging from the Charlie Daniels Band to ’80s rockers RATT) plus free entertainment every day during the fair. arkansasstatefair.com

OCTOBER 11-21 2018

Time to call those Hogs! The state’s beloved Razorbacks return to War Memorial Stadium for a matchup with their SEC rival, the Ole Miss Rebels. Grab the family and come out to be a part of the tradition that makes Arkansas football a one-ofa-kind experience. Go Hogs! arkansasrazorbacks.com

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WORLD CHEESE DIP CHAMPIONSHIP

Cheese dip aficionados rejoice! Arkansas’s unofficial state appetizer once again takes center stage at the Clinton Presidential Center where professionals and amateurs alike will battle it out to see whose golden brew is the best in the world. Attendees’ votes count toward naming champions, so turn out to do your civic duty. cheesedip.net

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OCTOBER 2018 | SAVVYKIDSAR.COM

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Some of the most awe-inspiring creations you’ve ever seen are coming to the Statehouse Convention Center, all made from one of the world’s most popular toys. From cityscapes to “Star Wars,” you won’t believe what little plastic bricks can do. There will also be plenty of loose Legos and Duplos at building stations where you and your youngster can create together. brickuniverse.com/littlerock CMY

LITTLE ROCK PINE BLUFF

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OCT. 26-NOV. 11 Get a fresh take on the story of Hansel and Gretel, a not-so-grim musical at the Arkansas Arts Center’s Children’s Theatre that follows our two child-heroes along bread crumb trails, through dark and spooky woods and finally to a house that you can actually eat. arkansasartscenter.org

40TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON

NOV. 3

SUSAN G. KOMEN RACE FOR THE CURE Be part of the biggest race you’ve ever seen as Little Rock paints the town pink in support of breast cancer research. Women of all ages (and the men who love them) will be running to raise money and awareness or lining the course to cheer them on. Come out and be a part of it. komenarkansas.org

DANCERS: BALLET ARKANSAS COMPANY ARTISTS LAUREN HILL, AMANDA SEWELL, LYNSIE JO OGDEN, MEGAN HUSTEL • PHOTOGRAPHY BY MELISSA DOOLEY PHOTOGRAPHY • DESIGN BY KATHRINE KUO

“HANSEL AND GRETEL'S GINGERBREAD GAMES”

OCTOBER 14

Reynolds Performance Hall, Conway

OCTOBER 19-21

UA Pulaski Tech CHARTS Theater, North Little Rock

FOR TICKETS: balletarkansas.org · 515-812-2710 2018/19 SEASON SPONSORS

SAVVYKIDSAR.COM | OCTOBER 2018

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MAMA SAID...

The Other Side of the Mountain

T

here’s an old children’s song my mom used to sing in the car on the way to my grandparents' house, nestled in a Canadian river valley where the worn nubs of ancient mountains undulate one after the other for as far as the eye can see. Maybe you’ve heard it before.

“The bear went over the mountain, the bear went over the mountain, the bear went over the mountain, to see what he could see, to see what he could see, to see what he could see.”

(Spoiler alert) “The other side of the mountain, the other side of the mountain, the other side of the mountain, was all that he could see.”

I’ve been humming it lately, as I reach for a way to describe what it’s like to stand on the next threshold of my life, taking in the wholly new territory of parenting an adult person. Mama Bear has come to the other side of the mountain. It’s been just over a year since we tearfully and triumphantly dropped our firstborn off at college. My husband and I high-fived in the campus parking lot. We had not only managed to bring this amazing creature into the world, we had apparently managed to not screw it up so—we were the proud parents of an high school honors graduate with a generous scholarship to an excellent private school and a loving family to cheer him on. “I’m too happy for you to be sad for me,” I told him as we hugged goodbye.

All I’ve ever wanted for him is everything. But it turns out everything he wants and needs from life are not necessarily the same things I had in mind. Two months into his second semester, he came home and told us that college was not the right thing for him, right now. I can’t say we were blindsided. We knew he was struggling with finding his purpose there, and that downsizing from a diverse, bustling urban high school to a tiny rural campus had been a culture shock. “Give it a year,” I urged him. By Valentine’s Day, I was making peace with the probability that we

were looking at a transfer to another school in the fall. “Come home for a visit and we’ll make a new plan,” I said. But he had already made a plan. Without me.

It’s hard to explain the depth of grief I felt in those first few weeks after his announcement. It hardly made sense. He moved in with friends a mere 15 minutes across town and immediately began looking for work. But as much I had missed him when he was living on campus 100 miles away, this was different. All through the first semester, the last thing I saw every night was the little circle on my phone assuring me he was safely in his dorm. Even though I’d officially released him from the obligation to share his location with me (a condition of my teens having smartphones), he hadn’t bothered to turn it off. Looking at that screen was the long distance version of tucking him in each night as I’d done for 19 years. But his circle was finally gone, and with it the illusion that college was just another room in our family house, down a 100-mile hallway. My son had actually left home.

That’s what grown children do, right? It’s not supposed to come as a surprise. I’m not a mother who has lived for or through her kids alone. I’ve taken care to cultivate an existence beyond them. Because I knew this day would come. For two decades of my life, I have been steadily trudging up this mountain. What did I think I would see on the other side? Somehow, I thought the descent would match the incline—my child-rearing years plotted along an equilateral triangle. But it turns out the other side of the mountain has a much steeper slope. The kind you want to schootch down slowly on your backside. I’m still feeling my way along. Meantime, my son is off and running, learning firsthand if his culinary ambitions measure up to the reality of six days a week in a busy restaurant kitchen, figuring out how to make rent and keep the lights on. I’m proud of his hard work and his determination. It’s not the path I thought he should take. But it’s his own mountain he’s climbing now. To see what he can see.

MY OLDEST SON FEELING A LITTLE POST-GRADUATION JOY.

Kyran Pittman is mom to three sons, sweetheart to their dad, and author of numerous stories about life with all four. Her memoir, “Planting Dandelions,” was published by Riverhead in 2011.

10 OCTOBER 2018 | SAVVYKIDSAR.COM

Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center presents:

Games Crafts Prizes

Join us for a fun FREE family event!

Special Guests:

Face Painting Snacks And more!

*While supplies last!

Museum of Discovery Petting Zoo Little Rock Firefighters & Fire Truck The Mad Scientist AR Children's Ambulance & EMT's Presenting Sponsor:

For more information 501.364.3309 or ACNCstudies@archildrens.org SAVVYKIDSAR.COM | OCTOBER 2018

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

Immunizations

Myths, facts, ages and outbreaks

BY MELISSA TUCKER

H

ot on the heels of school supply lists, uniforms and packs of freshly sharpened pencils are often calls from the school nurse about immunizations.

Many schools require children to have routine vaccinations completed by a certain age. But even if your child is up-to-date on those, parents will soon see consent forms for immunizations like influenza, coming home in backpacks.

To determine which vaccines are required for enrollment, the Arkansas Board of Health looks to the immunization recommendations set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but doesn’t follow that schedule exactly, said Dr. Jennifer Dillaha, medical director for immunizations at the Department of Health.

“A lot of people don’t know how the immunization recommendations are made, and they are fearful because of misinformation that vaccines are not being properly studied or reviewed,” Dillaha said.

The organization in charge of that is the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices or ACIP. “ACIP makes recommendations to the CDC,” she said. “They

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take their recommendations, which the committee has voted on, and publish them in a journal called MMWR. When it’s published in MMWR, that’s when it becomes the official recommendations.”

She said ACIP reviews and updates recommendation each year as new studies come out and new vaccines become available. The committee reviews all information, including studies done by the manufacturer as well as independent studies.

The Arkansas Board of Health has the authority to make certain vaccinations required for daycare and school attendance in the state. Often, it’s based on what ACIP recommends, but it’s not everything.

“That’s an important distinction. Because for the most part, the requirements for school attendance have to do with vaccinepreventable diseases that are communicable in schools,” she said. “Some are not required, and a good example is the HPV vaccination. Another example, even though it’s transmissible in school, is the influenza vaccination. It’s also not required, but both of those vaccine-preventable disease can have dramatic long-term impacts on the health of a person.”

Vaccine Myths

Dillaha says she frequently hears two concerns among parents when it comes to immunizations. First is the fear that vaccines cause autism, which she says is not accurate.

“There was a study that raised the concern in the late 1990s, and that study was found to have been falsified,” she said. “It was a fake study, so what it did was raise a lot of alarm, and so many other studies on hundreds of thousands of kids looked at whether there is an association between the MMR vaccines, and there’s no association. You would think if there was a link, when the vaccination rate for MMR goes down, then autism rates go down, but they don’t.”

She said if you compare the autism rates before the MMR vaccine was introduced, you would see an increase, but it doesn’t correlate.

“People fear it because there’s a time association. Autism is oftentimes diagnosed at about 2 to 3 years of age, and that’s about the time children are getting a number of recommended vaccines.”

She said doctors are able to diagnose autism earlier and could soon be able to see it at birth, which may help to further dispel the myth that autism and vaccines are linked.

“The other concern I hear is that children receive too many vaccines too soon,” she said. “We talked about the ACIP recommendations, and they review not only the vaccines but they also review the patterns of disease and make their recommendations based on what is the best timing to protect the children who are at highest risk for the disease the vaccine protects against.”

She said delaying vaccines doesn’t help the children avoid harm, but it increases their risk for harm.

“People don’t realize nowadays, with improvements in technology, what’s in the vaccines is very focused, so the number of antigens in vaccines is actually lower,” she said.

The antigen is the component of the vaccine that stimulates an immune response and provides protection from the disease.

“We have more vaccines, but the total number of antigens is a lot less than what they used to have 10 or 20 years ago,” she said.

SAVVYKIDSAR.COM | OCTOBER 2018

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

Resurgences

Right now, there’s an outbreak of Hepatitis A in the northeastern part of the state, Dillaha said.

“It’s routinely recommended for children, but not required for school attendance after the first grade,” she said. “That’s an example of something recommended by ACIP; parents may wish to consider getting this vaccine for their children if they haven’t had it already.”

Another disease seeing a resurgence is pertussis, which is one of the four recommended vaccines at the 11-year-old well-child visit.

“That’s an important vaccine, especially for the pertussis which is also known as whooping cough,” she said. “People don’t develop lasting immunity to pertussis, and they may get it multiple times.

They may have partial immunity, but the concern is it could be transmitted to a younger child under the age of 1 who can’t be fully immunized against pertussis. Children under 6 years of age are at much higher risk of having complications and dying from pertussis.”

Pregnant women and adolescents are also encouraged to get the vaccine to decrease the spread of pertussis in the community.

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Back-to-flu Season

This year, the Health Department will once again provide influenza vaccines in schools in anticipation of flu season.

Parents must give permission for children to get the flu shot, and should be looking for consent forms in backpacks around the last week of September or the first of October, she said.

“This year there’s two kinds of vaccines: there’s the shot, and there’s the nasal spray that will be available in some locations,” she said. “The Health Department may have nasal spray later in the season, but we don’t have any right now. Unless we happen to get the nasal spray in time, the flu shot is recommended for everyone from ages 6 months through age 8.”

Any child younger than 9, if they have not had two doses of the vaccine before, this year they’ll need two doses about four weeks apart.

“We had five children last year in Arkansas who died of the flu,” she said. “There’s so many respiratory viruses out there that sometimes people think they’ve had the flu, and they get hit with the flu and there’s a big difference. We don’t often think of flu as being a serious disease, but it can be deadly.”

Joe Elser, MD Pediatrician

Headache Clinic Moves to CHI St. Vincent Dr. Joe Elser has moved his Pediatric Headache Clinic to CHI St. Vincent West in Chenal.

This new location offers more convenient access for the children and youth who need his specialized care.

Established in 1987, Dr. Elser has been treating children’s headaches and migraines for more than three decades. His colleague and nurse practitioner, Lee Elliott, will be joining him.

Medical Group

Learn more at chistvincent.com/peds-headache or call 501.552.8150.

Primary and Convenient Care – Chenal | 16221 St. Vincent Way | 501.552.8150

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

SOCIAL DISTORTION

How to keep your kids grounded in the digital age

BY DWAIN HEBDA

T

roy Urquhart, head of Upper School at Episcopal Collegiate School in Little Rock, minces his words when describing the suggested strategies parents offer for controlling their children’s social media use.

“One of the questions that we get sometimes from parents is, ‘Well, shouldn’t we just keep our kids off social media?

Shouldn’t we just not let them use Snapchat or Instagram or whatever it is?’” he said. “My answer to that is, this isn’t a question of whether social media is good or evil. It just is.

Digital communication is going to exist.”

It’s hard to imagine the parent who could legitimately enforce an absolute ban on social media, given the many on-ramps to the information superhighway that exist. Whether on their own handhelds, a friend’s device or logging on in the friendly confines of the local library, it’s nearly impossible to keep children shielded from some form of social media. This is particularly true when you consider the number of companies, institutions and even

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educators who communicate partially or totally by email, which technically falls under the social media header.

While there’s an obvious difference between swapping emails with a teacher during a snow day and the kind of social media use that affects grades, social development and even mental health, the latter is precisely what is happening in startling numbers among children and young people.

“Social media use has skyrocketed over the past few years.

There are surveys that have estimated that kids now spend between 50 and 60 hours a week on some type of device, some type of screen time,” said Tiffany Howell, pediatric psychologist with Arkansas Children’s Hospital. “That, of course, can be detrimental to the other four senses that are being neglected.

Not only that, but other dangers accompany spending too much time in cyberspace, from opening oneself up to predators to negative comments from peers.

“The three biggest issues I see from too much social media or being glued to it includes bullying that they are receiving or giving,” said Katie Walker with Chenal Family Therapy in North Little Rock. “The second one that is really common that parents often forget about or think it won’t happen to their kids is how they accidentally get addicted to porn through social media.”

“And the third one is, it can lead to an increase in depression due to what they see on social media. People take a picture, they filter it and then they put it online and give this perception to others that their peers or their friends have these great lives. It’s this false pretense which can lead kids to high anxiety, issues with negative body image and depression.”

What’s more, there’s evidence to suggest that social media usage is not the teenage fad that some parents think it is.

“The earlier you introduce video time or any kind of media, the more difficult it is for people to put it down as adults,” Howell said. “If a kid is constantly playing video games, whenever they reach adulthood it’s almost like an addiction and it’s harder for them to give up in the young adult years.

So no, this is not something they’ll just outgrow.”

For this reason, some schools have begun to address social media usage either as a health issue or, in the case of Episcopal, a sociological one.

“If our position were to be one that says, ‘Thou shalt not,’ and prohibit it, we’re not equipping students to live in that world as adults when they leave here,” Urquhart said. “We need to make sure they understand, certainly, what are some of the risks that are involved, but more than that, what’s the appropriate use?”

To do this, the school has partnered with the Social Institute, a North Carolina-based program that helps parents and students understand the positive and useful elements of social media and defines and reinforces correct behaviors.

After a successful first year last year, Episcopal signed on for three more years of the curriculum, which starts in the fourth grade.

“I think this is an issue that schools are going to have to work with forever because we never know what’s going to happen with technology and how that’s going to evolve,” Urquhart said. “It’s an issue of citizenshi; it’s an issue of how we relate to other people; it’s an issue of how we present ourselves. We want to make sure students are really equipped to do that.”

Managing Social Media

Consider the following suggestions from Tiffany Howell and Katie Walker for setting limits on your child’s social media use.

1. No Technology In the Kid’s Room

Allowing young people to have devices in their room is a recipe for disaster. Not only can you not monitor usage, but some studies say screen time affects melatonin levels and thus, your child’s ability to sleep.

“Don’t let them have the tablet, computer or cell phone in their room at night, especially under the age of 15, because they just don’t have the ability to not engage,” Howell said.

“Also try to eliminate all screen time within an hour of bedtime so it doesn’t interfere with their release of melatonin.”

2. Charge In Public

On a related note, Walker says phone charging should happen in the open, too.

“There needs to be a public space where, when it’s bedtime, you plug your phone up in the kitchen or wherever and then you go to bed,” she said. “There is too much temptation and too much availability to children to have the whole world sitting right next to them.”

3. Be a Friend—Literally

It’s non-negotiable whether parents should have access to their kids’ social media accounts. They should. Period.

“Parents should have an open agreement with their kids that they will be checking in on the social media use and what’s posted and what’s said,” Howell said. “And parents must have access to passwords at all times.”

4. Know How This Thing Works

Parents should be familiar enough with platforms to check their kids’ privacy settings and browser, as well as help them understand the importance of limiting their social media circle.

“A number one rule I give my clients is, you don’t let people follow you or you don’t follow people who aren’t your friends,” Walker said. “There also needs to be random checkups by parents to see who their kids are following and what kind of pages they are watching.”

SAVVYKIDSAR.COM | OCTOBER 2018

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18 OCTOBER 2018 | SAVVYKIDSAR.COM

Every 60 seconds, 20 Americans—men and women—are physically abused by an intimate partner. That equates to more than 10 million individuals who are injured by the person with whom they are closest.* Just as startling: half of all homicide victims are killed by their intimate partners.

They are daughters, sisters, mothers and grandmothers like Stacy Jo Moss.

Photo by Brian Chilson

BY ANGELA E. THOMAS

Jajuan Archer picks up Women's Own Worth pamphlets at the courthouse for distribution in hair salons throughout Central Arkansas.

SAVVYKIDSAR.COM | OCTOBER 2018

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S

tacy Jo and Bobby Don Moss were married for 16 years.

Stacy Jo’s daughter Brandi Strickland said the two had a typical courtship and married in 2000. Initially Moss was a great stepfather, Strickland said. The three got along well. However, the newlyweds moved to Moss’ hometown of McRae, and within six months, “it all went downhill,” and Moss became abusive.

Strickland said Moss became abusive toward Stacy Jo late in 2001.

“Bob didn’t like children”—he had two children, but they didn’t live with him—“and I’d come to live with Mom. He was a hard man, very manipulative. He ‘played the part’ in front of others, but behind closed doors, I was a problem, money-wise, food-wise. He didn’t want to take care of someone else’s kids,” Strickland said.

When Moss became abusive, Strickland fought back. "I only lived with them for about six months. I moved in with my uncle [then, later, with my grandmother]. I was back and forth for a while, depending on the circumstances.”

In 2004, Stacy Jo, who battle diabetes and high blood pressure, suffered a stroke. The combination caused her to become disabled, and Moss took advantage of this.

“Bob controlled everything. Nothing was ever really Mom’s—her disability checks were his,” Strickland said. She isn’t certain when their drug use began; however, looking back, she knows they lived in poverty as Moss was unable to keep a steady job.

Strickland said Stacy Jo was admitted to the hospital numerous times due to her chronic illness; she’d get clean and take her medications properly and do well.

“But then she’d get back with Bob and the next thing you know they were using again.”

The marriage deteriorated, and the couple split. Eventually, the two reunited and remarried in 2008.

Brandi Strickland, a guest of honor at 2017 WOWapalooza, honors her late mother, Stacy Jo Moss, a victim of domestic violence.

"He was a hard man, very manipulative. He ‘played the part’ in front of others, but behind closed doors, I was a problem, money-wise, food-wise. He didn’t want to take care of someone else’s kids."

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SIGNS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE

In the summer of 2016, Moss spent several months in jail due to nonpayment of child support. His mother, who’d been in hospice passed away and Moss was released. In anticipation of his release, Stacy Jo used her money to get Moss’ home ready, reconnecting utilities, paying his insurance and so forth. Moss, according to witnesses, accused Stacy Jo of pawning a laptop that had been in the house. The two fought, and at some point, between Aug. 5 and the morning of Aug. 6, Moss killed Stacy Jo. On the morning of Aug. 6, 2016, a roommate called police because he’d found the 51-year-old underneath Moss’ car. Police arrived to find Moss inside the home. He admitted to the crime.

Strickland was, of course, devastated. When she saw the news coverage of events surrounding her mother’s death, she couldn’t believe it.

“It looked like Mom was just an addict. I called FOX16 and spoke with reporter Isabella Moeller. I needed them to know she was more than that. She was a mother and a grandmother. I didn’t want her memory to be just that. Isabella gave me the phone number for WOW.”

Perhaps you’re concerned that someone you know is being abused.

Here are some signs to look for: • His/her partner puts them down in front of other people.

• He/she is constantly worried about making their partner angry.

• He/she makes excuses for their partner’s behavior.

• His/her partner is extremely jealous or possessive.

• He/she has unexplained marks or injuries.

• He/she has stopped spending time with friends and family.

• He/she is depressed or anxious, or you notice changes in his/her personality.

Photo by Brian Chilson

Remember, you cannot force a victim to leave an abusive situation (statistically, many women leave their partners seven times before finally leaving for good).

Abuse is about power and control; he/she is fearful of his/her partner. The decision must be his/hers. Be supportive, but nonjudgmental, while encouraging him/her to get help.

Information from The National Domestic Violence Hotline, thehotline.org, 800-799-7233 Note: We include men, as it’s estimated 1 in 7 men are victims of severe physical violence by an intimate partner in his lifetime.*

This WOW booklet can be found in hair salons throughout Central Arkansas.

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WOW, or Women’s Own Worth, was founded in 2012

by Jajuan Archer. Archer, once a victim of domestic violence, started the organization to bridge the gap between state- and government-funded organizations and victims. She realized the gap when she sought reimbursement for counseling services from the Crime Victims Reparation Fund.

“I didn’t realize I was being abused because it wasn’t physical—it was all verbal. It wasn’t until he’d held a gun to my head that I realized ‘this is abuse.’ It was like something on TV. But I knew I couldn’t be in a relationship with this man. I had an 11-year-old daughter. So I ended the relationship,” Archer said.

This, she believes, was what escalated the situation.

“In his mind, I was his and I’d betrayed him. When he realized I was serious, it pushed him over the edge,” she said. “Looking back, I now know, I was in a stalking situation. When he tried to kidnap me, I went to the police.”

Archer narrowly escaped with her life. Her abuser threatened the life of a contractor who’d come to her home to do some repair work and forced her into her car. Miraculously, she escaped, shooting her abuser.

Even as she ran away, he’d aimed a shotgun at her.

It was a harrowing experience, and eventually Archer sought counseling, which was not covered by her insurance. So, she submitted the expenses to the Crime Victims Reparation Fund, only to be turned down.

“I knew that if I couldn’t get reimbursed for therapy that there would be others in my same situation. So, my first goal was to help women address their mental health. God aligned me with people who step-by-step helped me make this desire a reality,” she said.

Archer is a cosmetologist, and one of her clients worked for the Friday Law Firm. An attorney there helped WOW gain nonprofit status. Things took off from there, and the organization held its first

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Photo by Brian Chilson

“I didn’t realize I was being abused because it wasn’t physical—it was all verbal. It wasn’t until he’d held a gun to my head that I realized ‘this is abuse.’"

fundraiser in 2014 and raised $14,000. Last year, the annual event—WOWapalooza—raised $70,000, which helps domestic violence victims with expenses, such as counseling, transitional housing costs (including first-month rent and deposits), meals, dental care and more. Thus far, WOW has awarded two scholarships to help victims pursue their educational goals, and they’ve given away three cars.

The organization also assists individuals who have been victims of sex crimes and even some who were part of cults.

Archer said the organization has great community partners including Little Rock Family Dental, which has donated more than $70,000 of dental care including two full restorations.

WOW is also there to serve as an advocate, to help victims and their families through the legal process. This is what Archer did for Strickland.

“I was out of my mind,” she said. “WOW walked me through the reparation process, and Jajuan was at every court date. I could never thank her or WOW enough.” (Moss was sentenced to 40 years in prison.)

Archer is excited about what WOW has accomplished thus far.

Currently, they are distributing a booklet “Domestic Violence: A Practical Guide for Navigating the Legal System in Arkansas” to salons throughout the state.

“Clients tell their hairstylists everything. We do more than cut and color hair; we’re their friends. I really feel that if stylists have this information to refer to, they can help their clients [escape a dangerous situation],” Archer said.

Next on WOW’s agenda: advocating for an amendment to Arkansas’s victim’s statement law that would require the accused to remain in court while the statement is read.

“Victims have a right to have their abusers know how their actions have affected them,” Archer said.

While this year’s WOWapoolza is sold out, there are other ways in which you can support WOW. Log on to their website womensownworth.com for more information. *National Coalition Against Domestic Violence

HOPE & HEALING TO OVERCOME TRAUMA THE PARENT CENTER OUTPATIENT COUNSELING CENTER SCHOOL BASED SERVICES DAY TREATMENT SCHOOL PARTIAL HOSPITALIZATION RESIDENTIAL INPATIENT CARE THERAPEUTIC FOSTER CARE PROGRAM HUMAN TRAFFICKING TREATMENT CENTER

M

6601 West 12th Street | Little Rock, AR 72204 | 501.666.8686 Monticello: 870.460.0066 | 888.868.0023| www.cfyf.org Find us online /TheCentersAR SAVVYKIDSAR.COM | OCTOBER 2018

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Snapshots from a day of remembrance at a 2017 Women's Own Worth retreat where Jajuan presented Brandi with a bracelet, and the pair planted a tree in remembrance of Brandi's mother, Stacy Jo.

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"I needed them to know she was more than [an addict]. She was a mother and a grandmother."

. l a . e E R L s i B I e S l S g O g P u s i r Y t S e R h E T V O C d an RE In Arkansas, mental health issues are affecting people of all ages and the suicide rate across all ages is at an all-time high.

But there is hope. The BridgeWay provides a continuum of care that is safe, secure and serene. Just as each patient is different, so too are our programs. The BridgeWay is the only psychiatric hospital in Arkansas with distinct programs for seniors 55 and older, adults 18 and older, adolescents, ages 13-17, and children, ages 4-12. Whether it is for mood, thought or substance abuse disorders, we provide separate units for each population.

21 BridgeWay Road, North Little Rock, AR 72113 1-800-BRIDGEWAY | thebridgeway.com SAVVYKIDSAR.COM | OCTOBER 2018

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STORY AND STYLING BY AMY GORDY AND KATIE HASSELL, PHOTOGRAPHY BY KATIE CHILDS

K

ids of all ages love Halloween. It’s a fun time of year to get creative and let your spooky side shine!

Throwing a Halloween party doesn’t have to be expensive; there are tons of DIY options for costumes, crafts and edible concoctions that won’t have you slaving away for weeks in preparation. Check out Savvy’s suggestions for how to have a low-budget, high-thrill Halloween.

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You’ll need:

White pull-string bag Black permanent marker

How to:

1. Insert paper inside of bag so that the marker will not bleed through.

2. Draw a $ symbol in pencil. Fill it in with the permanent marker.

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Kids love orange soda! Top that off with a frothy scoop of vanilla ice cream and you have a spooky dessert drink everyone is sure to scream for. Just fill a cup 2/3 full with orange soda, plop in a scoop of ice cream and add a sprinkle of candy corn if you need a little more sugar.

Your mini mad scientist will love this interactive drink! Just fill a glass with ice and Sprite about 2/3 full and let them slowly inject it with a plastic toy syringe filled with an ounce of grenadine. The sweet cherry syrup will trickle through the ice for a spooky effect, and add a fun, fruity twist to the lemon/lime soda!

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These desserts are pretty messy but worth the amount of wicked fun they bring to the party (just have wipes handy!).

You’ll need:

Sugar cones Semi-sweet chocolate chips Round cookie wafers Icing Sprinkles Small candies for filler

Melt the chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl by zapping them in 30-second increments and then stirring until the chocolate is warm and smooth. Paint the chocolate onto the sugar cone, decorate with sprinkles and fill the cone with candies (we used M&Ms, Reeces Pieces and candy corn). Paint a ring of chocolate around the rim of the cone and seal it shut with a cookie or wafer. Place the filled cone in the fridge to let the chocolate set for 10 minutes. Remove the cone and use icing to create the hat’s band and buckle and serve!

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It’s a good idea to serve a savory, hearty item or two to help absorb all that sugar! Kids will love these cute pumpkin-shaped pizza pockets. Feel free to get creative when carving the faces and fill them with your own favorite ingredients.

You’ll need:

9-inch roll-out pie crust Pepperoni Shredded mozzerella Marinara sauce for dipping A sharp knife Wax paper Flour Egg

Let the pie crust come to room temperature and roll it out on wax paper sprinkled in flour. Roll the crust out to about 12 inches diameter, and, using a sharp knife, cut out a large pumpkin shape. Place that shape on top of the dough and trace around it with the knife so you get two pumpkins the same size and shape. Carve a pumpkin face into one of the shapes. Sprinkle the cheese on the faceless shape (leave a small border clear around the edges), top it with pepperonis and lay the Jacko-lantern face on top. Seal it by going around the edges and pressing with the teeth of a fork. Make an egg wash by whisking one egg and a tablespoon of water, brush the tops of the pizzas with the egg wash.

Place the pumpkin pizzas on a baking dish lined with wax paper and bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.

30 OCTOBER 2018 | SAVVYKIDSAR.COM

This easy craft has it all: pretty fall colors, captivating movement and a required nature walk. Go on a hunt for the perfect twig and pinecones to create this autumnal “snow” globe.

You’ll need:

A Mason jar with a lid and seal Hot glue gun Leaf-shaped confetti Twig Small pinecones Water

How to:

1. Go for a nature walk and find a tree-like twig and small pinecones.

2. Hot glue the twig to the inside of the Mason jar lid, hold it and let it set until the glue becomes opaque. Glue the pinecones to the twig.

3. Add in a couple of handfulls of leaf-shaped confetti and fill the jar ¾ full with water.

4. Submerge the twig and seal the lid.

These hanging cuties are easy and fun for little ones. Feel free to get creative with colors and funny faces and hang them anywhere that needs a spooky touch.

You’ll need:

Toilet paper tube (or paper towel) Black tempera paint Black construction paper Black pipe cleaners Scissors Glue Googly eyes White chalk pen

How to:

1. Paint the cardboard tubes black and set aside to dry.

2. While the paint is drying, draw bat wings on the construction paper and cut them out. We made a wing template and traced it on the construction paper to make multiple wings.

3. After the paint has dried, fold one side of the tube closed, leaving pointed sides for ears.

4. Glue the bat wings on the back and the googly eyes on the front. Then draw a little smile on the bat face.

5. Punch two holes in the bottom of your cardboard tube to attach the legs.

6. Cut a black pipe cleaner in half. Twist one end of each pipe cleaner through each punched hole.

7. Curl the bottom of the feet a little to make hooks. This will allow you to hang the bats.

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You’ll need:

T-shirt several sizes larger than your child Scissors

How to:

1. Lay your shirt out flat with the front facing up.

2. Cut only one layer of the shirt starting at the bottom edge at the side seams and going towards the arms. Cut behind the arms and over the shoulders.

Then around the neckline.

You’ll need:

Felt in any color you want Ribbon Scissors Hot glue No-sew Velcro

Mask how-to:

1. Draw out a mask template, then trace the template on the felt.

2. Cut out your mask and eyeholes.

3. Cut two 12-inch lengths of ribbon. Then glue one length to each side of the back of the mask.

Powerband how-to:

1. Cut 2-inch-wide strips of felt.

2. Attach the Velcro to one end and wrap the felt strip around your child’s wrist. Cut off any excess felt and attach the other end of the Velcro.

3. Use leftover felt to cut out stars and shapes to decorate the mask and wristbands.

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NOBODY HAS HALLOWEEN

36 OCTOBER 2018 | SAVVYKIDSAR.COM

wicked Newwicked

decorations decorations && costumes!!

11218 N. RODNEY PARHAM RD. / LITTLE ROCK 501.223.4929

4822 N. HILLS BLVD. / NORTH LITTLE ROCK 501.978.3154 SAVVYKIDSAR.COM | OCTOBER 2018

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Fall Family Fun Guide

Fall in Arkansas is filled with family-friendly events. From pumpkin patches to festivals, hayrides, craft fairs and more, you’re sure to find something to fill your family’s calendar in our Fall Family Fun Guide!

BY DWAIN HEBDA

The Pumpkin Patch at BoBrook Farm, Roland October 1-28 Take the short drive out to Roland for one of the prettiest pumpkin patches you will ever see. Throw a one-of-a-kind birthday party or field trip and if you’re there on the weekend, Mom and Dad can check out River Bottom Winery, right there on the farm. bobrookfarms.com

Arkansas Frontier, Quitman October 1-31 Step back in time and learn how the native people and pioneers lived, worked and played in frontier Arkansas. Take the guided tour of various buildings, or just breathe in the fall air while the kids enjoy a hayride among the farm animals. arkansasfrontier.com

Motley ’s Pumpkin Patch, Little Rock October 1-29 A fall tradition in Central Arkansas for the past 35 years, Motley’s provides old-fashioned family fun. Pick-your-own pumpkins, tractordrawn wagon rides and a petting zoo keep the kids entertained for hours. Check out the new Kangaroo Pillows, unique in-ground trampolines you have to try. motleyspumpkinpatch.com

38 OCTOBER 2018 | SAVVYKIDSAR.COM

Magic Screams at Magic Springs Water and Theme Park, Hot Springs October 6-28 The scary good fun is back at Magic Springs. Check out the trick-ortreat trail, show off your best costume and ride the spooky-themed rides.

A family movie will also be shown at 7 p.m. each night of the festival. magicsprings.com

Arkansas Razorbacks Football, Fayetteville October 6-November 10 Arkansas plays five straight home games this fall, including four on the Hill and one at Little Rock’s War Memorial Stadium versus Ole Miss on Oct. 13. Fayetteville opponents include Alabama (10/6), Tulsa (10/20), Vanderbilt (10/27) and LSU (Nov. 10). Come call the Hogs and cheer them to victory! arkansasrazorbacks.com

Fort Smith Fall Festival October 6-7 Part of the city’s yearlong Bicentennial Celebration, this free event includes vendors, food trucks, living history encampments, historical vignettes, an antique tractor show, Judge Parker’s birthday (with free cake and ice cream) kids’ games, face painting and more. fortsmith.org

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Arkansas Honey Festival at Bemis Honey Farm, Little Rock October 7 Have a sweet time at the honey farm with live music, children’s activities and food while learning about one of our favorite insects. You can also bottle your own honey onsite or learn how to start a hive of your own. bemishoneybeefarm.com

Homestead Festival, Harrisburg October 14-15, October 21-22 Visit the restored Parker Homestead, a 19th century town that features several homes, a blacksmith shop, post office, broom shop and a oneroom school house, to name a few. Take a fascinating look at history. parkerhomestead.com

Spook City/Arkansas Coffin Races, Benton October 19-21 Two spooktacular events with lots to see and do, including a Lil’ Miss and Little Man Zombie Pageant (ages 3-10), zombie parade, Undead 5K, music, food, carnival and capped off by the 2nd Annual Arkansas Coffin Races.

Naturally, costumes are encouraged. mysaline.com/events

War Eagle Mill Fall Arts & Crafts Fair, Rogers October 19-22 Handmade arts and crafts, live music and great food match beautiful scenery at this annual event. The craft fair attracts more than 250 local artisans and hosts 125,000 visitors over four days. wareaglemill.com

40 OCTOBER 2018 | SAVVYKIDSAR.COM

Moonlight Zip/Haunted Forest Zip, Hot Springs October 20/27 Don’t miss this once-a-year adventure of ziplining through the treetops in the dark of night. Watch out for ghosts, or just bask in the light of the moon during your adventure. Moonlight Zip Tours start at dusk October 20; Haunted Forest Zip Tours are at 7 p.m., 7:30 p.m., 8 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. October 27. adventureworks.com/adventurepark-hotsprings-ziplines

Boo at the Zoo, Little Rock October 24-31 Little Rock’s biggest Halloween party, Boo at the Zoo provides carnival rides, a haunted house and nightly dance parties for ghosts and goblins of all ages. Tickets are on sale now. littlerockzoo.com

rties

hday pa t ir b t o g e ’v e w

down to a science

Quillie Nelson is one of the animals you can meet in a Safari party!

Party Theme Options: NEW! Super Power Science LEGO Engineering Frozen Science Mad Scientist Safari DIY

museumofdiscovery.org

500 President Clinton Ave, Stemembership 150 Little Rock,is ARonly 72201$85! www.museumofdiscovery.org a family

501.396.7050

SAVVYKIDSAR.COM | OCTOBER 2018

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Bean Festival and Championship Outhouse Races, Mountain View October 26-27 Now in its 36th year, the Bean Festival and Championship Outhouse Races in this picturesque community is an autumnal tradition. Feast on free beans and cornbread, then cheer your favorite entrant to the winner’s circle. Craft vendors and talent show round out the fun. yourplaceinthemountains.com

Boo on The Bayou, Pine Bluff October 26-27 Governor Mike Huckabee Delta Rivers Nature Center is the setting for this familyfriendly event, featuring games and educational activities, prizes, inflatables, trail of terror, scary maze, food concessions and other treats.

For more information call 870-534-0011.

Arkansas Cornbread Festival October 27 A true Little Rock original, the festival raises funds for South Main (SoMa) community improvements while celebrating Southern culture and heritage. Browse crafts and listen to live music while you sample the best cornbread in the South. arkansascornbreadfestival.com

Creep ‘N Crawl 10K/5K October 27 The Creep ‘N Crawl 10K/5K & Lil’ Monsters Dash is a family-oriented event offering some Halloween fun with a healthy dose of physical fitness. Come in costume and join the fun at Little Rock’s Two Rivers Park. creepncrawl.com

42 OCTOBER 2018 | SAVVYKIDSAR.COM

Dogtown Derby IV, North Little Rock October 27 Take in one of the most unique racing sites you’ll ever see as drivers of all ages steer their gravity-fed cars on the downhill course on the Main Street viaduct bridge. It’s one-of-a-kind entertainment. Call 501-771-8250 for details.

Diamonds in The Fall Festival, Murfreesboro October 27-28 Craft and food vendors, pumpkin painting, a costume contest, music and trick-or-treat for kids await you at this charming community festival. While you’re there, try your luck at Crater of Diamonds State Park. mboroarkansas.com

Sorghum Festival, Mount Ida October 28 Held at the Heritage House Museum in Mount Ida, visitors can see how the pioneers made molasses to sweeten their food. The process is performed by an authentic mule-drawn sorghum mill squeeze. The gingerbread and molasses cookies alone are worth the trip. hhmmc.org

k r a P n u F & lf o G i in M k c Big Ro OF THE WEEK ALL YEAR LONG! OPEN EVERY DAY

• A m az in g M az e • A er ia l A dv en tu re ol f • G o- K ar ts • M in i G • La ze r Fr en zy ad e • N ew ly U pd at ed A rc • B um pe r B oa ts • B at ti ng Ca ge s

501-455-3750 | BigRockFunPark.com 11411 Baseline Road Little Rock (Near Bass Pro Shops) SAVVYKIDSAR.COM | OCTOBER 2018

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HarvestFest, Little Rock November 3 Presented by the Hillcrest Merchants Association, HarvestFest provides lots of family fun, music, food and more. Set in the historic and highly walkable Hillcrest Neighborhood, it’s been voted one of the best festivals in the state. harvestfest.us

Thanksgiving Food Crafts, Dee Brown Library November 16 This free workshop will teach kids how to make fun, edible treats. Open to kids ages 6 to 11. Workshop runs 4:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m. Call Dee Brown Library at 501-568-7494 for more information.

Wings Over the Prairie Festival, Stuttgart November 17-23 Wings Over the Prairie is a celebration of all things duck, featuring the 83rd annual World’s Championship Duck Calling Contest, World Championship Duck Gumbo Cookoff, a midway, arts and crafts fair and more. Don’t know how to blow? Take a beginner’s duck calling lesson, open to all ages. stuttgartarkansas.org

44 OCTOBER 2018 | SAVVYKIDSAR.COM

Gobbler 5K, Little Rock November 22 Join hundreds of runners for a pre-turkey run through Little Rock’s Heights neighborhood, all while supporting a great cause.

The Gobbler is a Little Rock tradition, and the price is right; a can of food is all you need to get in on the fun. Don’t forget your costume, either. Call Go! Running at 501-663-6800 for more information.

River Trail Guided Tour, Little Rock November 26 Take a leisurely walk along the Arkansas River Trail and on the William E. "Bill" Clark Presidential Park Wetlands boardwalk. This half-mile guided stroll will offer opportunities to view native plants and wildlife, discover the benefits of wetlands and explore nature downtown. Contact the Witt Stephens Jr. Central Arkansas Nature Center at 501-907-0636.

IN HAUNTED TRA TY PAR ZOMBIE DANCE ING T TRICK OR TREA ES CARNIVAL RID THE NIGHT! CREATURES OF

LITTLE ROCK

CAUTION Zoo. f the Little Rock o ty ni ci vi e th een reported in the ZOO. Zombies have b n risk to BOO at ow ur yo at ed Proce

ou dare: y if w o n s t e k 15 Get your tic At the Door $ e $10

G: In Advanc MEMBER PRICIN vance PRICING: In Ad NON-MEMBER

$15

20 At the Door $

MEET MICHAEL CUDLITZ OF THE WALKING DEAD!

GET MORE INFO AT

littlerockzoo.com/boo SAVVYKIDSAR.COM | OCTOBER 2018

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kid approved

INSTEAD OF A PURSE TO LUG AROUND, BRING A SMALLER BACKPACK. YOU CAN BRING A WATER BOTTLE OR TWO INSTEAD OF DRINKING THE SUGARY DRINKS THAT ARE SO VERY TEMPTING, AND YOU CAN ALSO SAVE SOME MONEY.

DON'T FORGET WET WIPES AND HAND SANITIZER, ESPECIALLY AT THE FAIR WHERE MESSY FOOD AND DELICIOUS TREATS ARE GUARANTEED TO BE ENJOYED. I USUALLY PUT A PILE IN A ZIPLOC BAG FOR EASY STORAGE.

SHELLY STROZYK-GROSS IS THE LICENSING COORDINATOR FOR THE ARKANSAS CONTRACTORS LICENSING BOARD AND LIVES IN LITTLE ROCK. SHE IS MOM TO A VERY ADVENTUROUS FIFTH GRADER, LACEY. SHELLY AND HER HUSBAND, WES, LOVE TO BE WITH LACEY AND HER FRIENDS DOING FUN THINGS TOGETHER AND MAKING MEMORIES, LIKE AT THE ARKANSAS STATE FAIR!

FOR SMALLER CHILDREN, WRITE YOUR PHONE NUMBER IN PERMANENT MARKER ON THEIR UPPER ARM OR STOMACH (THEY HAVE WRISTBANDS BUT I ALWAYS THINK THAT THOSE CAN TEAR OFF). BE SURE TO WRITE IT ON A PLACE WHERE IT CAN BE COVERED BY THEIR CLOTHES. ALSO, POINT OUT SECURITY OR STAFF TO LET THEM KNOW THAT IF THEY DO GET SEPARATED FROM YOU THAT THESE ARE PEOPLE TO APPROACH. FOR OLDER KIDS, CHOSE A PLACE TO MEET IN CASE THEY GET SEPARATED.

$

BRING CASH. SOME OF THE VENDORS DO NOT TAKE DEBIT/CREDIT CARDS.

PACK AN EMERGENCY KIT, SUCH AS BAND-AIDS, SUNSCREEN, TYLENOL AND OTHER MEDICATION THAT KIDS MIGHT NEED.

46 OCTOBER 2018 | SAVVYKIDSAR.COM

EXTRA BAG(S)! IF YOUR CHILD IS ANYTHING LIKE MINE, THEY WILL LIKELY TALK YOU INTO PLAYING ONE OF THE GAMES OR GOING INTO THE HALL OF INDUSTRY AND GETTING ALL KINDS OF FREE STUFF FROM THE VENDORS. BRING ONE OR MORE OF THE LIGHTWEIGHT CLOTH OR PLASTIC SLING BAGS SO THE CHILDREN CAN CARRY THEIR OWN STUFF AROUND.

FOR YOUNGER KIDS, BRING A STROLLER. THE STROLLER CAN HOLD YOUR BACKPACK, PLUS IT GIVES THEM A PLACE TO SIT INSTEAD OF YOU HAVING TO HOLD THEM WHEN THEY GET TIRED.

St. Jude patient Ryder | acute lymphoblastic leukemia St. Jude patient Ryder | acute lymphoblastic leukemia

St. Jude patient Ryder | acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Ryder’s Story Ryder’s Story

Ryder’s Story

Ryder is a little guy on the go. Even when inpatient for high-dose chemotherapy at St. Jude Children’s

Research Hospital®, where he Even received treatment myeloid leukemia, Ryder a regular around Ryder is a little guy on the go. when inpatientfor foracute high-dose chemotherapy at St.was Jude Children’s the hospital.

“He does not he stay in his room.

All thefor nurses know, if Ryder’s there, they’ll see out,” around said his Research Hospital®, where received treatment acute myeloid leukemia, Ryder was a us regular

mom, Caylin.

“We usually go walking.

He’ll either sit in theknow, stroller and we’ll walkthey’ll around the orsaid he’llhis Ryder is athe little guy on the go.not Even when for high-dose chemotherapy at St.see Jude Children’s hospital.

“He does stay in his inpatient room.

All the nurses if Ryder’s there, usunit, out,” walk and I’ll push pole.”

Treatments invented atthe St.myeloid Jude have helped push the was overall childhood Caylin.

“We the usually go walking.

He’ll either in stroller and we’ll walk around theaunit, or he’ll Researchmom, Hospital®, where heIVreceived treatment forsitacute leukemia, Ryder regular around cancer rate from percent than 80 percent since it opened more than years walk andsurvival I’ll push the IV pole.”

Treatments invented at St. Judeifhave helped push the overall childhood the hospital.

“He does not stay in20 his room.to Allmore the nurses know, Ryder’s there, they’ll see50 us out,”ago. said his St. Jude is working to drive the overall survival rate for childhood cancer to 90 percent, and we won’t

cancer survival rate from 20 percent to more than 80 percent since it opened more than 50 years ago. mom, Caylin.

“We usually go walking. He’ll either sit in the stroller and we’ll walk around the unit, or he’ll

stop until child dies from cancer.

“St. Jude is a wonderful place,” said Caylin.

“You may not St. Jude is no working to drive the overall survival rate for childhood cancer to 90 percent, and weunderstand won’t everything until youcancer. see it firsthand, an amazing place.” stop until nothey childdo dies from “St. Jude but is a it’s wonderful place,” said Caylin. “You may not understand

walk and I’ll push the IV pole.” Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood

cancer survival rate from 20 percent to more than 80 percent since it opened more than 50 years ago. everything they do until you see it firsthand, but it’s an amazing place.”

St. Jude is working to drive the overall survival rate for childhood cancer to 90 percent, and we won’t stop until no child dies from cancer. “St. Jude is a wonderful place,” said Caylin. “You may not understand everything they do until you see it firsthand, but it’s an amazing place.”

stjude.org stjude.org SAVVYKIDSAR.COM | OCTOBER 2018

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Building STRONG SCHOOLS and Even STRONGER COMMUNITIES.

Find out what’s NEW and EXCITING in the LRSD! LRSD offers a variety of educational opportunities to meet your child’s needs. If you are looking for classrooms that are interesting, innovative and rigorous, be sure to check out the Little Rock School District! Our mission is to equip students with skills and knowledge to realize aspirations, think critically and independently, learn continuously and become productive citizens. We do this through open access to a diverse, innovative and challenging curriculum in a secure environment.

• Nearly 200 National Board Certified Teachers • Parkview and Central ranked 3rd and 6th nationally in US News & World Report

CHECK US OUT TOURS: ALL SCHOOLS — 9am - 1:30pm Mon, October 8 Tue, October 9 Wed, October 10

• Roberts Elementary (2017) joined Forest Park Elementary (2012) with National Blue Ribbon designation • State’s only K-8 STEM Academy • Home of the 2017-18 6A State Basketball & 6A/7A Swimming Champions • $20 Million in scholarships awarded in 2018 • New Little Rock Southwest High School opening in 2020

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48 OCTOBER 2018 | SAVVYKIDSAR.COM

THE P OWER OF US!