OCTOBER 2019 · SAVVYKIDSAR.COM
a e k a M Mess
us p lGIRL, BE BRAVE
A FAMILY'S BATTLE WITH BREAST CANCER
HALLOWEEN HOCUS POCUS
BOUNCING OFF THE WALLS TAMING ADHD
2 OCTOBER 2019 | SAVVYKIDSAR.COM
A NEW APPROACH TO EDUCATION At Pulaski County Special School District, we’re implementing programs that help improve and evolve our educational processes. AVID - Advancement Via Individual Determination AVID is a college and career readiness system centered on engaging professional learning. AVID shows educators how to increase student engagement, promote classroom collaboration and activate deeper levels of learning in their classrooms with practical, immediately useful tools and instructional strategies. It is research-based with nearly 40 years of evidence. Teachers who participate in AVID professional learning begin to shift their beliefs about teaching and learning, allowing them to cultivate a growth mindset both for themselves and their students.
The AVID Advantage 1) Reduces variation in classroom instruction. 2) Leverages grit and determination of students. 3) Emphasizes rigorous coursework, relevance of instruction and relationships. 4) Raises expectations of educators, students and their families. 5) Re-energizes the staff on campus and in the district. Our goal is to partner with AVID and implement the system in Fall 2019 at all elementary schools and in the sixth grade at all middle schools (Maumelle, Mills, Robinson and Sylvan Hills) and ninth grade at all high schools (Maumelle, Mills, Robinson and Sylvan Hills-North).
pcssd.org
501.234.2000
According to Dr. Janice Warren, Assistant Superintendent for Equity and Pupil Services and the district’s AVID Director, over 200 PCSSD educators attended AVID’s Summer Institute in Dallas or San Antonio this summer. Our professional staff returned energized and committed to implementing AVID strategies throughout the district. Our focus is to close the opportunity gap before it begins and introduce our students to college and career thinking early on. SAVVYKIDSAR.COM | OCTOBER 2019
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SPOOKY RECIPES ON PAGE 26 PAINTED PUMPKIN IDEAS ON PAGE 13
OCTOBER 2019 5 EDITOR’S NOTE 8 ADVENTURE & FUN CALENDAR, CRAFT & MORE!
14 MAMA SAID ...
FIND A CREATIVE SPACE FOR KIDS TO MAKE A MESS ON PAGE 20!
A PROPOSAL FOR PARENTS — GANELLE HOLMAN
16 HEALTH & WELLNESS GIRL, BE BRAVE
20 EXPLORE & LEARN MAKE A MESS!
26 GOOD EATS
MIX UP A BATCH OF HOCUS POCUS
34 FAMILY & PARENTING
BOUNCING OFF THE WALLS
38 KID APPROVED
GIRL, BE BRAVE! THE PITTMAN FAMILY'S BATTLE WITH BREAST CANCER ON PAGE 16.
HALLOWEEN FUN AND SAFETY — JEANNIE WILLIAMS GUTHRIE
(FROM LEFT) ALICE AND CLARE GUTHRIE GET MESSY AT ZIG ZAG IN LITTLE ROCK.
4 OCTOBER 2019 | SAVVYKIDSAR.COM
Photo by Stacy Kinzler
October Is Coming In Hot October seems to have really hit the ground running this year. You can tell with one glance at this month’s News and Notes section that there are TONS of events happening—so many you could fill any night of the week (if it weren’t already jam-packed with basketball practice, dance, club meetings, cotillion, scouts…I could go on, but my anxiety levels are already up). If you are looking for a fun, festive break from the work/school schedule flip to page 8 and pick any of these family-friendly fall happenings to shake things up and share some smiles with the kids. And, at the end of this crazy month we can all look forward to my personal favorite holiday, Halloween! Zara Abbasi brings some creepy creativity to her Good Eats column on page 26. You’ll find lots of spooky recipes for treats, dips, drinks and more to indulge your appetite for the eerie. Tired of carving the same old pumpkin every year? The folks at Southern Studio take over the craft this month to bring some fun ideas on how to paint a pumpkin. Check it out and get ready to make a monstrous mess on page 13. Speaking of messes, there really is nothing better than sitting back and watching the kids tap into their creative side to build, paint, create and make a total mess…at someone else’s house. Save the rugs, furniture, walls and upholstery when you take the little ones to any of the several local art studios that specialize in kid creativity. Find a list on page 20, grab a smock and let the kids get messy with no regrets! Kids love to learn, and some need a little extra help to get there. In the Explore and Learn section, we take a look at ADHD and get advice from Dr. Mark Edwards, UAMS professor of pediatrics and a clinical psychologist specializing in ADHD. Turn to page 34 to see what he has to say on statistics, treatment and the big decision parents face about whether to try medication. Those families who have been touched by a cancer diagnosis can’t think of October without thinking of the color pink. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and we turn our focus onto the difficult task of parenting young kids through a breast cancer diagnosis. Kelly Pittman and husband Ben open up about Kelly’s recent diagnosis, treatment and how the couple navigated this complete life upset while trying to maintain some normalcy at home for their two young kids. Read Kelly’s brave story on page 16. I guarantee you’ll be inspired.
Amy Gordy Editor, Savvykids amy@arktimes.com
SAVVYKIDSAR.COM | OCTOBER 2019
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PUBLISHER BROOKE WALLACE | brooke@arktimes.com EDITOR AMY GORDY | amy@arktimes.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR MANDY KEENER ART DIRECTOR | DIGITAL MANAGER KATIE HASSELL SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE LESA THOMAS ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE KRYSTAL RHODES PRODUCTION MANAGER | CONTROLLER WELDON WILSON ADVERTISING TRAFFIC MANAGER ROLAND R. GLADDEN ADVERTISING ART DIRECTOR MIKE SPAIN
Arkansas Times local ticketing: CentralArkansasTickets.com
UPCOMING EVENTS OCT 5
Clinton Parking Grounds 2019 World Cheese Dip Championship
OCT 10
The Mixing Room Preservation Conversation: Historic Hardware with Mike Smith
OCT 18
Curran Hall Specters, Spirits, and Stories: A Haunted History Tour
OCT 25 Diamond Bear Brewing Co. Arkansas Times Craft Beer Festival
OCT 5
Argenta Main & Maple 4th Street Block Party Headquarters R&B Cook Off!: Rhythm & Blues,Ribs & Butts BBQ Competition
OCT 12
Bus Trip Arkansas Times Blues Bus to the King Biscuit Blues Festival
OCT 23
Mood Distributors, Inc. QQA Membership Meeting & Greater Little Rock Preservation Awards
OCT 31
Rusty Tractor Vineyards Don Julio Presents the Arkansas Times Costumes & Cocktails Halloween Bash!
Go to CentralArkansasTickets.com to purchase these tickets and more! Arkansas Times local ticketing site! If you’re a non-profit, freestanding venue or business selling tickets thru eventbrite or another national seller – email us phyllis@arktimes.com or hannah@arktimes.com – we’re local, independent and offer a marketing package!
LOCAL TICKETS, ONE PLACE
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GRAPHIS DESIGNER SARAH HOLDERFIELD DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL STRATEGY JORDAN LITTLE PHOTOGRAPHER BRIAN CHILSON IT DIRECTOR ROBERT CURFMAN ACCOUNTING CHARLOTTE KEY CIRCULATION DIRECTOR ANITRA HICKMAN PRESIDENT ALAN LEVERITT
©2019 ARKANSAS TIMES LIMITED PARTNERSHIP 201 E. MARKHAM ST., SUITE 200 LITTLE ROCK, AR 72201 501-375-2985
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S AV V Y K I D S A R . CO M
contributors 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.
ZARA ABBASI lives in Little Rock with her husband and three children. She is a licensed attorney, but you know her better as Little Rock’s friendly pastry chef and custom cake maker. She keeps busy with dessert orders, pop-up dinners, writing articles and doing anything food-related. Follow her on Instagram @Zaramadeit for her newest cake creations and dinner ideas.
KATIE CHILDS is a wedding, lifestyle and commercial photographer based in North Little Rock. When she's not behind the camera, Katie, her husband, Jon, and their new addition, baby Jonas, can be found traveling the U.S. in a DIY camper van.
MELISSA TUCKER spends her days working in web marketing. When not at work, you'll probably find her at the gym, on the playground with her kids or checking out too many books from the library.
GANELLE HOLMAN is the owner of The Giovanna Group—strategic consultants committed to increasing the transformational capacity of organizations through evidencebased decisions about mission, equity and outcomes. She is a public servant and the mother of super princess Bronx Giovanna Blake. For more info visit thegiovannagroup.com.
SAVVYKIDSAR.COM | OCTOBER 2019
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Photo by Gaelle Marcel on Unsplash
ADVENTURE & FUN
OCTOBER 2019 FALL FESTIVITIES!
Oct. 10
WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY
Oct. 4
NATIONAL TACO DAY
Oct. 11-20
ARKANSAS STATE FAIR
Oct. 4-25
SPOOKY FILMS AT RON ROBINSON THEATER Enjoy some family-friendly films with a haunting Halloween theme at CALS Ron Robinson Theater throughout the month. Doors open at 6 p.m., films begin at 7 p.m. Concessions, beer and wine are available. $5 admission.
cals.org/ron-robinson-theater
Oct. 4 “Ghostbusters” (1984, PG) Oct. 11 “The Nightmare Before Christmas” (1993, PG) Oct. 18 “Beetlejuice” (1988, PG)
Oct. 5
9TH ANNUAL WORLD CHEESE DIP CHAMPIONSHIP Go cheese dippin’ from noon-4 p.m. at this annual event at the Clinton Presidential Center. Sample warm, gooey goodness with fresh tortilla chips prepared by restaurants, culinary professionals and amateur teams all competing for the title of World Champion. All proceeds benefit Harmony Health Clinic, where thousands of patients each year access life-saving and life-changing medical and health services they could not otherwise afford.
cheesedip.net
Oct. 25 “Hocus Pocus” (1993, PG)
Strap in tight for the Arkansas State Fair with thrilling rides, new and exciting foods, professional rodeo events and live music. The entertainment lineup includes Rick Springfield, The Oak Ridge Boys, Gin Blossoms, Sawyer Brown and more.
arkansasstatefair.com
Oct. 17-19
“SLEEPY HOLLOW” Ballet Arkansas twirls into the fall season with a spooky performance of “Sleepy Hollow” at UAPulaski Technical College CHARTS Theater. Don’t miss this high-tech, multimedia show designed in collaboration with the creative team at Cranford Co.
balletarkansas.org
Oct. 12
HARVESTFEST IN HILLCREST Celebrate the season all day long at this annual festival presented by the Hillcrest Merchants Association. This family-friendly event includes a wide array of activities for kids and adults, vendors selling their wares, food, fashion, live music and more. harvestfest.us
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LOCAL PUMPKIN PATCHES!
Oct. 19
FANCYFUL PRINCESS BALL Bring your little princess to this fun-filled day at the Junior League building. Children are invited to meet 10 of their favorite princesses and participate in princess-themed activities, crafts, singing and dancing. Tickets $30.
MOTLEY’S PUMPKIN PATCH
Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 27
fancyful.com/princess-ball
Oct. 19
AUTISM SPEAKS ARKANSAS WALK Raise awareness and funding for autism at this walk fueled by the love of people with autism and the parents, grandparents, siblings, friends, relatives and providers who support them. Registration and check in begins at 8:30 a.m. at the Clinton Presidential Center.
Oct. 24
BIG BOO!SEUM BASH
Trick-or-treat and explore favorite downtown museums with the whole family at this free annual Halloween event. It’s a safe trick-or-treat experience that also allows kids to visit many of Little Rock’s museums and cultural attractions to play games and have fun.
autismspeaks.org
A fall tradition in Central Arkansas for the past 35 years, Motley’s provides old-fashioned family fun. Pick-your-own pumpkins, tractor-drawn wagon rides, pig races, a petting zoo, in-ground trampolines and more keep the kids entertained for hours.
motleyspumpkinpatch.com
THE PUMPKIN PATCH AT BOBROOK FARM
onday-Friday 9 a.m.-5 M p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays 9a.m.-6 p.m. through Oct. 31 Take the short drive out to Roland for one of the prettiest pumpkin patches you will ever see and activities including: mazes, a corn pit, h ayride, snack bar and more.
Oct. 19
CENTRAL ARKANSAS PRIDE FEST
bobrookfarms.com
Celebrate LGBTQ pride at this free festival with live entertainment, vendors, food trucks, adult beverages, a family zone and more. Parade begins at 1 p.m. and will travel down President Clinton Ave. in the River Market.
Oct. 24-Nov. 1
The Little Rock Zoo does Halloween big each year at Boo at the Zoo with spooky decorations and lights as well as a haunted house, hay maze, dance parties, costume contests, live music, kids’ games, carnival, carousel, train rides, food, candy and more. Entry is $15 for members and $20 for non-members.
littlerockzoo.com
Oct. 25
NATIONAL FRANKENSTEIN FRIDAY
Photo by Gillian Lingard on Unsplash
BOO AT THE ZOO
SAVVYKIDSAR.COM | OCTOBER 2019
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ADVENTURE & FUN CONTINUED Oct. 26
SUSAN G. KOMEN MORE THAN PINK WALK Susan G. Komen launches a new spin on the famous Race for the Cure. In addition to the new name, the new experience involves, engages and drives a more personal connection to the breast cancer movement for the thousands of people who walk in the Komen event each year.
Oct. 26
NATIONAL PUMPKIN DAY
Photo by Yulia Khlebnikova on Unsplash
komenarkansas.org/more-than-pink-walk
Oct. 26
CHILI FIGHTS IN THE HEIGHTS Help raise money for the Arkansas Foodbank while enjoying samples of delicious chili and more at this family-friendly festival in the Heights neighborhood from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Admission is free, but tasting kits, beer and wine are available for purchase.
Oct. 26
ARKANSAS CORNBREAD FESTIVAL Sample delectable cornbread and all the fixin’s in the South Main neighborhood from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Visit area shops and celebrate community and southern culture through music, activities, local brews and, of course, food.
arkansascornbreadfestival.com
facebook.com/ChiliFightsInTheHeights
Oct. 27
DOWNTOWN ON THE FARM Head to the River Market from noon-6 p.m. for a fun agricultural experience right in the heart of downtown. This free festival presented by Arkansas Rice and Downtown Little Rock Partnership will feature live music from Adam Hambrick, Bonnie Montgomery, The Going Jessies and Rodney Block as well as food trucks, pumpkin painting, petting zoo, beer garden, rice dig, plenty of up-close tractors and much more!
arkansasrice.org/downtown
Oct. 30
“PEPPA PIG LIVE!” Don’t miss your favorite pig in this all new action-packed live show at Robinson Center. Peppa takes audience members on an exciting camping trip to the woods with George and her school friends, including Pedro Pony, Suzy Sheep and Gerald Giraffe. Kids will love this show filled with singing, dancing, games and surprises!
robinsoncenter.com
Oct. 31
10 OCTOBER 2019 | SAVVYKIDSAR.COM
VISIT TODAY! CLOSING OCTOBER 27. This interactive exhibit features giant sea life sculptures made entirely of trash!
www.ClintonPresidentialCenter.org @ClintonCenter
Sponsored by:
Big Rock Mini Golf & Fun Park OPEN YEAR ROUND FOR ALL YOUR FAMILY OUTINGS!
rial Adventure Newly Updated Arcade • Amazing Mazeer• Ae Boats • Batting Cages Go-Karts • Mini Golf • Lazer Frenzy • Bump ages!
Party house available for all
501-455-3750 | bigrockfunpark.com 11411 Baseline Road Little Rock (Near Bass Pro Shops) SAVVYKIDSAR.COM | OCTOBER 2019
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Spotlight on Nonprofits Harmony Health Clinic
Who’s Leading? Justin Wise took over as executive director of the organization in 2017. He said the clinic fills a critical need within the community, providing free medical, dental and pharmaceutical services to people in most need of care. “One hundred percent of our patients have no insurance,” Wise said. “They have no benefits of any kind. They are the patients that oftentimes get overlooked or slip between the cracks when it comes to health care. “Our job is to level that playing field for these patients and to bring health care to them that otherwise they wouldn’t have the opportunity to take part in.” What’s It All About? Harmony Health Clinic provides a range of medical services, including primary medical, dental and pharmaceutical care, as well as more advanced specialties, including endocrinology, ophthalmology and even health coaching clinics for patients with chronic illnesses. “In addition to focusing our efforts on the underserved and the uninsured, we have also connected with the VA Hospital to help find veterans who are missing dental coverage and cannot be seen anywhere else,” Wise said. “We work with not just the VA Hospital, but the day treatment centers and several of the veteran nonprofits that are in town, like St. Francis House.” Where Can I Find It? The health clinic is located at 201 E. Roosevelt Road in Little Rock, across the street from Our House homeless shelter. When Can I Attend? The organization provides many opportunities for volunteers to get involved. Office support, greeters or handing out food and water to the homeless are just a few random examples of tasks that volunteers complete every day. There’s even a community garden to tend for those who like to work outdoors. “Folks think, ‘I’m not a medical professional and therefore I can’t volunteer,’ and it’s quite the opposite,” Wise said. “Every single day we are aggressively seeking volunteers that can help. Just pick up the phone to see some of the needs we have at the clinic that you might be able to step in to help.” Why Is It Important? Without Harmony Health Clinic, the organization’s clientele would be hard-pressed to find decent, quality medical and dental care elsewhere. This is especially true when you consider the reach of the organization through its many partnerships with other groups and agencies in Little Rock.
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“We serve the underserved, uninsured segment of the community, the homeless and indigent,” Wise said. “From there, you can drill down to see we provide services for veterans and folks going through some type of a re-entry program. We also partner with Our House and Jericho Way.” The medical and dental services are an outward expression of the organization’s mission and philosophy — that is, the advancement of social justice through the provision of quality health care to those who are denied it because of various barriers. “We believe that universal access to decent health care is integral to the sanctity, development and enjoyment of life, and vital to an individual’s ability to fully realize one’s dignity and potential,” Wise said. How Can I Help? The group has a unique avenue for community support, and a fun one at that. Harmony Health Clinic owns the rights to the World Cheese Dip Championship and is the sole beneficiary of the proceeds from the annual event. “This year’s competition is scheduled for Oct. 5,” Wise said. “Our goal is to have 50 teams competing in one of two categories, either professional or amateur. We’re expecting 10,000 folks to come out and support Harmony Health Clinic and to eat as much cheese dip as they humanly, possibly can.” The event will be held at the Clinton Presidential Center beginning at noon Oct. 5.
Harmony Health Clinic 201 E. Roosevelt Road Little Rock, AR 72206 501-375-4400 justinwise@harmonyclinicar.org
CREATED BY SOUTHERN STUDIO PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIAN CHILSON
Paint Your Pumpkins
Paint it, drip it or splatter paint to make a unique personalized fall pumpkin
You will need:
How to:
Prep the pumpkins 1. Wash the pumpkins with warm soapy water to remove any dirt. 2. Next, you will want to give the pumpkins a quick bleach bath. Fill your sink with water and add about half a cup of bleach. Leave the pumpkins in the water for about 30 minutes or longer, making sure to rotate them every 15 minutes until the entire thing has been soaked. 3. Remove them and allow them to air dry.
Pumpkins Acrylic paint Brushes Bleach Disposable cups or squeeze bottles Stencils (optional)
WE USED REAL ONES!
LOOK AT THIS LITTLE CUTIE!
The fun part: 1. Set up your working area with all the paints and brushes you will need. 2. Paint the pumpkins in any way you like. Splatter the paint. Drip it using a cup to pour the paint or a squeeze bottle. Paint the pumpkin a solid color and add circles of gold. SAVVYKIDSAR.COM | OCTOBER 2019
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MAMA SAID ...
A Proposal For Parents BY GANELLE HOLMAN
W
hen I was 9 years old at Washington Elementary, my best girlfriends told me they didn’t want to be my friend anymore because I liked white people more than black people. Not two years later, my parents sold our house on 20th and Arch streets, then bought a one-level with a big yard off Pebble Beach Drive in West Little Rock. When I transferred to Fulbright Elementary, with one semester left before junior high, my teacher told my mother that I’d need additional tutoring because I came from a school on the south end of the district. In fact, I was a full textbook ahead of her class in mathematics. The gifted and talented program at Fulbright paled in comparison to what I’d known at Washington, and I coasted through that semester learning nothing that I remember. By the time I got to Forest Heights Junior High, I was praying on the way to school, “Please, God, let me make friends with black girls.” In the absence of academic rigor, my need for acceptance trumped my interest in studying. At Little Rock Central High, I was quite prepared academically for college but drove home alone on graduation night, missed by no one. The result of having dark skin and drifting between social spaces as a child in the Little Rock School District is that I have very little expectation that someone will treat me well based on the color of their skin. I have had to extend both apologies and forgiveness to people as necessary, regardless of color. Now I’m a parent of a 3-year-old in the LRSD, and I have every intention of staying that way for the next 15 years. I’ve been talking to parents all over the city about the state takeover, and themes have emerged which I find remarkable. First, people are having a hard time knowing what to say. I’ve heard, “I don’t know enough about what’s going on,” or “My kids aren’t in public school,” or “I feel like I may say the wrong thing.” Second, our community already possesses the resources to build a world-class school district: money, teachers, creativity and leadership abound. Third, and this may be what is different from 1957 — we all want the same things for our kids. This time around, most parents really would love to send their kids to school with other children who aren’t like them. Finally, when we do get the district back, we have to succeed together.
GANELLE (FAR RIGHT), A STUDENT AT WASHINGTON ELEMENTARY, WITH HER FAMILY IN 1990.
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The details of the LRSD state takeover are hairy and messy, but the fundamental principle is not. My child should have access to world-class public education and so should yours. That is all. If you have questions, you don’t need permission to ask them, even if your kids don’t go to public school. If you live in Little Rock and you are paying both private school tuition and property taxes, you have a right to know the money you contribute affords an excellent education to the children it serves. Everyone prefers a good school in their neighborhood over bussing their child across town. That’s the thing about equity — everyone gets exactly what suits their specific needs. I am offering that supplying those needs may be easier than we think. What if we — this generation — could help heal Little Rock from the last several decades of racial trauma? Could we give each other enough grace to see that none of us would knowingly risk our child’s education if we thought they were in danger, academically or otherwise? Could parents, citywide, discern a plan for what to do with our kids, should the district not be returned to local control? That kind of public solidarity might even prevent the need to implement it. Say we did have the hard conversations and got the district back by coming together of one accord. Wouldn’t it be easier then to pass a millage increase, in agreement, about how that money would be spent? The LRSD has a tax base of $3.8 billion. Our current millage rate is 46.4. That’s over $177 million in annual tax revenue for our schools. The NLRSD and Jacksonville/North Pulaski both have millage rates at 48.3. And doesn’t the district have current bonds that can be restructured from the 2017 failed bid? If so, a
KIDS SAFETY
GANELLE AND DAUGHTER BRONX BLAKE.
Practice makes instinct when escaping a single-handed grab from a larger person ballot proposal with a very modest 1.9 mill increase coupled with a bond restructuring could net the district several hundreds of millions of dollars. A mill is one one-thousandth of a percentage point … like a millennia. Call me a dreamer, but I believe the majority of $200,000 property owners in Little Rock might accept, say, an $80 annual increase? Certainly so, if they knew that every kid in the district had a world-class neighborhood school, with competitive teacher salaries, adequate staffing and the resources needed to excel. We have our own children now, many of them with a decade or more remaining before high school graduation. We’re making long-term decisions about education today that will affect this city for generations. Some people are never going to send their kids to a public district. Some people understand the necessity of public education for democracy and are still asking, “Are you going private or charter?” They are unsure, and they simply aren’t willing to risk their child’s education to figure it out. As I work through my own racist thoughts about myself and others, I can understand the urge to devalue another person’s pain. Black people are disproportionately affected by the racist policies that created our status quo, and white people have benefited from that inequity. I believe the pain I experience as a result of that fact hurts more than yours does, because I don’t think we are the same. But, in fact, we are. We want the same opportunities for the entire district, without blame or animosity from people on the other side of I-630. A millage increase won’t fix that, but uniting toward a common goal will. I owe my capacity for justness to my experience in the Little Rock School District, and I am not alone. I will fight for your right to a worldclass community-based school, if you will mine.
W
hile there are many ways to escape a grab and many variations of grabs, you’re better off practicing one a thousand times than trying to learn a thousand variations. We call this one “Thumb Escape” because you’ll lead with the thumb and also push or pull your hand toward the attacker’s thumb. Most people pull away when grabbed, leading to a tug-of-war where size and strength win. Technique can beat size, but must be performed correctly. When you realize you’ve been grabbed, shout in the face of the person who grabbed you and use your free hand to push or pull the grabbed hand toward your attacker’s thumb while using your legs to swing your whole body into the movement. Now is not the time to attack but to escape, screaming to draw attention to your attacker. 80 percent of abductions happen within a quarter-mile of home and are generally focused on getting the victim into a car. This means that running away will lead through your home turf with parents and neighbors nearby and home not far off. The only way for any technique to work effectively is by practicing it over and over, and you can do this at home with your kids. Start lightly until they understand how to turn with their whole body. Over time you can increase the intensity of the grab as they increase their ability to escape. Before long, their instinct will be technique instead of tug-of-war and they’ll be able to escape even a full-power grasp. This is a very effective escape, even more so with proper practice and instruction. To learn more, get fit and make new friends, come try a free class at Unity Martial Arts.
(501) 664-0604 • WWW.UNITYMARTIALARTS.COM SAVVYKIDSAR.COM | OCTOBER 2019
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HEALTH & WELLNESS
Girl, Be Brave
Last fall, 3-year old Bennett jumped in his mom’s lap to play. The toddler accidently hit mom Kelly Pittman’s chest, unknowingly causing her a bit of unusual pain. He also unknowingly helped save Kelly’s life. BY ANGELA E. THOMAS
K
elly and Ben Pittman were pretty much living the American dream — Kelly works as a speech therapist, and Ben is a chiropractor with his own practice. They have “the house with the white picket fence,” two adorable children, daughter Austyn, 9, and son Bennett, 3. They take vacations, hang out with friends and family. Life was simply good. Last fall, Kelly noticed the pain from Bennett’s bump wouldn’t go away. Then a lump appeared. “We’re pretty active. I mean, we’ve always considered ourselves healthy. So I wasn’t alarmed. I called my OB-GYN, but we agreed that I could wait until my regular appointment in January,” Kelly said. There was no cause for alarm: She’s 36 and has no family history of breast cancer. On Jan. 7, she went in for her annual exam and, though not overly concerned, her doctor scheduled her for a mammogram. The morning of the mammogram — Jan. 14, Kelly’s birthday — she almost rescheduled — the kids were back in school and her life was busy, but she decided to keep the appointment. The doctors did a mammogram, then a sonogram. Then they delivered the news: There was a 95 percent chance that her right breast had malignant tumors as well as two calcifications.
16 OCTOBER 2019 | SAVVYKIDSAR.COM
Meet your new, better 3D mammogram.
“I was speechless. When the doctor asked if I had any questions, all I could say was ‘It’s my birthday.’ I decided to hang on to the 5 percent chance that it wasn’t cancer.” Ben had cleared his morning schedule and gone to the Jan. 14 appointment with Kelly; however, as quite a bit of time passed, he had to leave to see patients. “I was with a patient when Kelly called, crying and said, ‘It doesn’t look good. They’re 95 percent sure it’s cancer.’” Kelly’s doctor ordered a biopsy — 10 days away. In the meantime, the couple “played the waiting game.” They told Kelly’s mother and Ben’s parents, but decided to wait before telling anyone else. After all, Ben’s family was already dealing with the disease: His aunt and grandfather had recently been diagnosed with cancer.
“Cancer has taught me to be calmer. I’m so grateful for a second chance to be a better parent." Kelly was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer and her doctors decided an aggressive course of treatment: six months of chemotherapy and a mastectomy, which took place in August. “We didn’t know what to expect,” Ben said. “I remember being scared of chemo. I had just seen my aunt lose her hair. I laid there thinking about what chemotherapy could do to Kelly and just got this sinking feeling. That call was a reality check. That’s when things really started to sink in.” “While Bennett was just 3 at the time, Austyn is a bright, intuitive girl. So when we saw my aunt and Austyn understood that she had cancer, she also knew it was life-threatening. She didn’t fully understand it or the severity of it, but we knew she’d be upset,” Ben said. The couple understandably still gets emotional when speaking of the process overall. “You know, sometimes I still get angry but I also see a lot of blessing. I felt I’d done everything right. I had my boy, my girl and my husband. You hear the word ‘cancer,’ and go straight to death. I was afraid it would take me away from being a mom,” Kelly said. Today, the Pittmans say their family dynamic has changed. Ben said, “This has actually been good for us — it hasn’t been easy, but it’s been good. My way of dealing with Kelly’s diagnosis and treatment has been to be task-oriented. What can I do to help Kelly?”
At The Breast Center at CARTI, mammograms are nothing to fear—a compassionate team, tranquil environment and precise imaging make it an easy and comfortable experience. From routine screenings to the early detection and treatment of breast cancer, The Breast Center at CARTI is committed to providing patients with the very best in expertise, technology, care and convenience.
Expert Care
The Breast Center at CARTI is led by Stacy Smith-Foley, M.D., Arkansas native and fellowship-trained breast imaging radiologist. Dr. SmithFoley and her team provide supportive, expert care for patients who are proactively concentrating on breast health as part of their overall wellness.
Leading-Edge Technology
The Breast Center at CARTI features the most innovative technologies, including Genius 3D Mammography complete with a SmartCurve paddle for a more comfortable exam. 3D screenings are clinically proven to detect 20-65 percent more invasive breast cancers compared to 2D alone. Additionally, they allow for a faster exam, less time in compression and as much as a 40 percent reduction in radiation exposure. The SmartCurve paddle is curved like the breast, which allows for more comfortable compression and a more inclusive visualization of all of the breast tissue.
Exceptional Experience
Patients are welcomed by a spa-inspired environment that helps to provide an anxiety-free setting. From dedicated front door parking and private dressing rooms in each mammogram suite to soft waffle-weave robes and same-day results for diagnostic patients, a visit to The Breast Center at CARTI is unlike any other mammogram visit. Patients can choose to have their annual breast services at The Breast Center at CARTI. A physician referral is not needed to schedule an appointment.
Schedule your mammogram by calling 501-537-MAMO or visiting CARTI.com/breastcenter.
SAVVYKIDSAR.COM | OCTOBER 2019
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“My father has been my best friend for a long time. This was hard for him. However, I too think this has been good for me in a lot of ways,” Kelly said. “I’ve learned to delegate and ask for help.” They are also transparent about the challenges that come with a cancer diagnosis and treatment. Ben has had to be Mom and Dad quite often, taking the kids for outings and doing things his wife usually did, balancing fatherhood with providing for his family as a business owner. “I’ve felt a lot of stress, and at times I have been frustrated. I’m so thankful for Kelly’s mom — she’s been there every step of the way,” Ben said. Kelly completed chemotherapy July 9 and is officially in remission. She is thankful for Drs. James Hagans and Rhonda Gentry and the staff at CARTI, all of whom she leaned on for treatment and care. She’s recently participated in Susan G. Komen’s Runway for the Cure and is raising money for this month’s More Than Pink Walk. “Cancer has taught me to be calmer. I’m so grateful for a second chance to be a better parent. I’ve learned more about faith. Bennett prays each night — he prays for my hair, eyebrows and eyelashes,” Kelly said, laughing. Ben added, “Cancer cuts through the BS. It makes things raw, and teaches you not to worry about the petty stuff. We’ve really learned to lean on each other.” “We are more of a team now,” Kelly said.
BEN AND I HAD A PRE-VALENTINES DINNER SINCE MY FIRST CHEMO WAS TO START ON FEB. 13. LAST PICTURE OF ME WITH MY HAIR BEFORE IT STARTED FALLING OUT.
A FRIEND SET UP A T-SHIRT DRIVE CALLED GIRL BE BRAVE. I WAS OVERWHELMED WITH THE PICTURES THAT CAME IN OF FRIENDS WHO SUPPORTED ME.
ONE OF THE BEST PARTS ABOUT TREATMENT IS BEING DONE! ON JULY 9 I WAS ABLE TO RING THAT BELL.
18 OCTOBER 2019 | SAVVYKIDSAR.COM
DELIVERING DIAGNOSIS NEWS TO CHILDREN For Kelly Pittman, telling her children of her breast cancer diagnosis was especially hard. “Telling Austyn was … awful. We waited until a Friday, so she’d have time to deal with it. We were very careful not to use the word ‘sick’ or to say ‘I wasn’t feeling well’ so she didn’t think it was contagious. We told her that what I was going through was similar to Aunt Debbie. She cried and screamed, ‘No! No! No!’ then she let it all soak in.” However, as Austyn watched her mother undergo treatment, she realized cancer does not equate to death. The American Cancer Society (ACS) suggests parents take into consideration their child(ren)’s age and maturity. Give them the name of the cancer, the body part that is affected and how it will be treated and explain how their lives will be impacted. Additionally, it’s very important to tell your child when you’re calm and in a quiet area when and where you won’t be interrupted. The website also suggests that both parents or a grandparent or close adult friend be present. Kelly’s decision to make sure Austyn understood cancer isn’t contagious was good, as children can often worry about this. Lastly, make sure you check in with your child(ren) often as they may have follow-up questions and need assurance. Kelly’s son’s reaction was priceless. “Bennett was a bit oblivious. After all he was only 3, but when I started losing my hair — after the second treatment — I had a friend come over with clippers to shave my head. We made a music video,” she said. “Bennett saw us and announced, ‘I want to do my hair like Mommy,’ so we cut a ribbon in his hair.”
I’M CHOOSING CARTI. E
ach year, thousands of women trust CARTI to help them stay healthy. So you can feel confident choosing to have your annual mammogram at The Breast Center at CARTI. The Breast Center features the most leading-edge technologies, including 3D mammography with a SmartCurve paddle for a more comfortable exam. Enjoy an unparalleled experience, including dedicated parking, personal dressing rooms and results within 24 hours. Switching to The Breast Center at CARTI is easy, too!
CHOOSE THE BREAST CENTER AT CARTI. Schedule your mammogram today.
501.537. MAMO Toll Free: 833.323.6266
MY GOOD FRIEND JESSICA CAME OVER TO CUT MY HAIR ONCE IT STARTED FALLING OUT. BENNETT DECIDED HE WANTED HAIR JUST LIKE MOMMY. SAVVYKIDSAR.COM | OCTOBER 2019
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EXPLORE & LEARN
a e k a M ZIG ZAG STUDIO PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIAN CHILSON
20 OCTOBER 2019 | SAVVYKIDSAR.COM
! ss Me Building, creating, painting and hands-on mess-making are all essential to a child’s development. Here are a few local spots that offer up their space, supplies and patience to give your kid room to explore. BY MELISSA TUCKER SAVVYKIDSAR.COM | OCTOBER 2019
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n the car, in restaurants, at play dates, in the tub — pretty much everywhere kids go, messes follow. They are experts! Though this can be exasperating, caregivers should try to remember that getting messy is good for a child’s cognitive development. They learn about shapes, colors, size and problem-solving. They can also develop socially and emotionally, according to an article in Early Childhood News. “Sensory experiences provide children with the opportunity to feel good about their decision-making skills — they control their actions and experience,” the article said. “Self-discovery occurs as children become eager scientists. They take pride in their predictions, make observations, and respond to their findings … Pounding, squishing, feeling water through their hands are all ways of staying in contact with feelings while learning to control what he does about them.” While most parents begrudgingly agree children learn much through messes, they may also be weary of the toll it takes on the household furniture. The good news is, plenty of places are available for kids to explore their creative sides — on other people’s property.
Zig Zag Studio
623A Beechwood, Little Rock zigzaglittlerock.com Jeannie Guthrie, owner of Zig Zag Studio in Little Rock, said, “Art that focuses on the process and not the end result helps with problem-solving and engineering, self-expression and selfesteem. It’s an excellent tool no matter the artistic ability.” Guthrie started out hosting art sessions on her back porch, and her husband playfully called this area the “messatarium” or the “glitter tank.” When Zig Zag opened, she finally had a dedicated space for the mess-making. Zig Zag offers classes for elementary-age kids as well as open studio on Saturday mornings where, for $20 per child, parents and kids can drop in and spend time creating together. “All of the projects have a tinkering component,” she said. “Some were essentially my recycling plus hot glue, duct tape, masking tape, etc. When I started teaching, that was an afterthought, but it turned into that’s what the kids wanted to do all the time — take random parts and put them together.” (FROM LEFT) ALICE AND CLARE LOVE GETTING MESSY AT ZIG ZAG!
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Photo by Katie Childs
Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub
204 E. Fourth St., North Little Rock arhub.org While children previously needed a membership to attend, this fall the Innovation Hub will offer monthly classes for a drop-in rate. The after-school sessions are offered Tuesdays or Thursdays and organized by age group. Classes have a STEAM focus with pixel art, 3D modeling and printing, ceramics, and even engraving with lasers. Errin Stanger, deputy director of the Innovation Hub, said the classes teach kids STEAM principles but also that it’s OK to fail. “We have a structure that was made by our 3D printers, and it reads, ‘Failure is an option,’ and it’s filled with failed 3D prints. It looks really beautiful and shows you still can create beauty and learn from your failures.”
The Painted Pig
5611 Kavanaugh Blvd., Little Rock paintedpigstudio.com Open since 2007, the Painted Pig Studio is one of the original artwork destinations for families in the Central Arkansas area. Kids can pick a pottery piece and paint it, learn to make glass or mosaic pieces, or create one-of-a-kind jewelry. One-time classes for kids and adults are also available. Check the schedule on the website for more information.
Painting with a Twist
400 N. Bowman Road, Little Rock paintingwithatwist.com Though Painting with a Twist may be known for grown-up time with paint and wine, children are also welcome to create. Plenty of kid-friendly classes for ages 6 and up can be found on the calendar, typically on Saturday mornings. However, Painting with a Twist has something going on almost every day of the week, so visit the website to find the class that’s right for you.
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Photo by Brian Chilson
Southern Studio
323 S. Cross St., Little Rock southernstudiolr.com Though most of Southern Studio is geared toward adults, the Splatter Cave gives kids a canvas and the ability to create splatter paint pieces. The 45-minute sessions in the Cave are available Wednesdays through Saturdays and include a 12-by-16-inch canvas and all necessary supplies for $18. You can book online and then arrive dressed to make a mess.
THERE IS TONS OF SPACE FOR KIDS TO PLAY AT SOUTHERN STUDIO. THE "SPLATTER ROOM" IS A FAVORITE!
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JC Thompson Trust
Judy Fletcher, In Memory of Arkansas Arts Center
John R. Fletcher Riverdale Shopping Center, Little Rock (temporary) arkansasartscenter.org Belinda Shults Maybe the longest-running place for kids and adults to dip a toe Sandage into the world of art, the Arkansas Arts Center’sLaura Museum School Harden and Lon Clark has classes in everything from print-making to photography Holleman &toAssociates, P.A. woodworking. Kids can register for eight-session courses each season Barbara House in handbuilding, ceramics, drawing, mixed media or painting. Shorter Tim Jordan workshops are also available. Parents can also getRhonda in on the and creation with classes in photography, woodworking, pottery and more. The summer theater program gives kids an intro to stagecraft, while The Children’s Theatre exposes them to live performances of some of their favorite stories. Rotating exhibitions give kids (and adults) a taste of professional art made by regional and national artists.
Photo courtesy of Arkansas Arts Center
9TH & COMMERCE 5013724000 ARKANSASARTSCENTER.ORG
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MAGNET SCHOOL FAIR
OCT 12 • 10am - 2pm • Park Plaza Mall LRSD offers a variety of educational opportunities to meet your child’s needs. Each Magnet school emphasizes a specialized theme: Arts, Math and Science; International Studies and Foreign Languages; Gifted & Talented; and Traditional Studies. If you are looking for classrooms that are interesting, innovative and rigorous, be sure to attend our “Magnet School Fair” event for details on what each location has to offer.
Participating Schools:
ArtLab Creative Studio
Pavilion in the Park 8201 Cantrell Road #130, Little Rock artlabofarkansas.com Another place for children to explore process art is at ArtLab in Pavilion in the Park. Kids can take classes or create in the open studio. Materials include painting, Play-Doh, weaving looms, chalk and craft supplies on the “art buffet.” Families can also participate in The Abstract Project, which allows kids to create a custom piece to hang in their home. The kids are guided through the process, and once the project is complete, the Art Lab staff will add the finishing touches.
Booker Arts Magnet Elementary School, Carver Math-Science Magnet Elementary School, Horace Mann Arts & Science Magnet Middle School, Parkview Arts/Science Magnet High School, Central International Studies High School, Dunbar Gifted & Talented/ International Studies Magnet Middle School, Gibbs Magnet School of International Studies and Foreign Languages, Williams Traditional Studies Magnet School Elementary, and Forest Heights STEM Academy.
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GOOD EATS
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Mix Up a Batch of
Hocus Pocus
Let that cauldron bubble over with some creepy Halloween party ideas! BY ZARA ABBASI PHOTOGRAPHY BY KATIE CHILDS
“S
issssssssssterrrrsss!!” If you don’t know what movie that’s from, then we can’t be friends. Don’t even continue reading this article. Kidding! It was just a trick, but fret not, this article is packed full of treats! And, I’m even throwing in a couple of extras just because I love October so much! Not only is it my birthday month, but more importantly it’s the month to turn every normal thing into a ghoulish version of itself. Sandwiches for lunch? Pffft, don’t you mean sandwiches shaped like coffins? And who would dare even think of eating cookies without first adding eyeballs to them?! And, don’t even try to serve anything in a non-Jack-o’-lantern shape. Nope. No ma’am. Not acceptable. Bring out the cookie cutters, fake spiders and red food coloring. October is serious business, guys. It’s HALLOWEEN! It’s the one time of the year, apart from daily on social media, that we can pretend to be something we are not and get accolades for how scary we can behave in public! Wink, wink. OK, but seriously. I truly love October. I love that it’s finally fall and that the weather is at least trying to behave. Growing up in Massachusetts, you can only imagine what a big deal Halloween was in that area. The Salem witch trials weren’t far away, there was a ton of history and a lot of it revolved around haunted houses, cemeteries and witches. There were Halloween parades and the streets were decorated to the nines with spooky banners and décor. Our teachers dressed up and so did we! We had school Halloween parties and there was hardly any work done if Halloween fell on a school day! It was always such an innocent and childish time that I love to pass that fun and innocence on to my kids. We watch all the Halloween movies, we bake, make spooky dinner themes and send goodies to school. We never really go too overboard or expensive, but we do try to pepper in little things throughout the month because it’s just too fun not to! So as an ode to my childhood, I want to do a very classic Halloween spread. Classic to me means: spooky, witches, ghosts, skeletons, etc.
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Witches Brew
There are probably a million punches out there with the same name, but it’s what you put in it that makes it personal just to you. I like a few add-ins because it’s visually a little more exciting for kids. And, if I know anything about little kids, it’s that they love things that are out of the ordinary. For this punch, I like to add in little “shrunken heads” and “goo” and dry ice to make it really stand out. Feel free to experiment with your own version! 6 small apples ½ cup lemon juice 1 liter ginger ale 1 liter Sprite 4 cups pineapple juice 1 gallon lime or coconut sherbet 1 block dry ice 1 packet flavored drink mix, color of your choice. 1. Preheat oven to 248 degrees. 2. Peel and core apples and cut in half. Carve out scary or funny faces into the round side of the apples and completely coat with lemon juice — use a pastry brush to do this. 3. Place apples on parchment sheet-lined baking pan and bake for 1½-2 hours, or until the apples have shrunk and browned a bit. Ovens may vary, so be sure to check at the 1½-hour mark. 4. Once apples are done, set aside to cool. 5. To make punch: Combine all the ingredients in a large punch bowl, adding apples in last. Chill and add in dry ice when ready to serve, for a spooky and foggy element.
28 OCTOBER 2019 | SAVVYKIDSAR.COM
YOU CAN FIND ALL THE CREEPY DECORATIONS AND HALLOWEEN PARTY ESSENTIALS ON ZARA'S TABLE AT PARTY CITY.
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Feet Loaf
You know how that old saying goes, “Trick or treat, smell my feet … loaf …” No? Maybe we remember it differently. Ha! But this scary dinner will definitely get some reactions at the table when you set it down in front of your guests. 2 pounds ground beef or turkey 1 large onion, diced (reserve 10 larger pieces to use as toe nails … it’s gross typing that) 2 to 3 tablespoons minced garlic or garlic paste 3 teaspoons minced thyme ¼ chopped parsley 2 eggs 1 cup bread crumbs 1/3 cup broth 1 tablespoon oil Salt and pepper to taste Topping: ½ cup ketchup 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 2 teaspoons brown sugar
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1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix topping ingredients in a small bowl and set aside. Line baking sheet with foil and mix all ingredients in a large mixing bowl. 2. Divide in half and form each half into the shape of a foot. Place side by side and use reserved onion pieces as nails. Again, gross! 3. Top with half the ketchup mixture and bake for 45 minutes or until the internal temp reaches 165 degrees. 4. When finished baking, top with remaining ketchup mixture and serve.
Brain Dip
This one looks as disgusting as it sounds, but you will have difficulty pulling yourself and your guests away from this dip! It’s a yummy tiramisu dip disguised as a brain and served with ladyfingers. Give this a try if you dare! 1 cup mascarpone cheese ½ cup cold heavy whipping cream, whipped and set aside to chill ¼ cup powdered sugar 1 tablespoon strong coffee or 2 teaspoons espresso powder (can add more if you want a stronger coffee flavor) 3-4 drops red food coloring Ladyfingers for dipping Optional: 1 tablespoon Kahlua 1. Using a stand or hand mixer, whip the cheese until light and fluffy about 2 minutes. 2. Slowly add in the food coloring, sugar and coffee (and Kahlua, if using). 3. Fold in the whipped cream to ensure it’s nice and fluffy. 4. Add half the dip into a piping bag, or large Ziploc and snip the end. 5. Make a little dome with the remaining half of the dip on a platter or bowl. 6. Pipe the shape of a brain over the mound and serve with ladyfingers.
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Ghost Cookies or Lollipops
If you need some treat ideas for your child’s classmates, there are plenty of quick and easy ideas out there. A couple of ideas that I like a lot because of the outcome and level of ease are ghost pops! I’m giving you two versions here because they’re both just so cute! One requires zero baking or cooking and the other merely requires a microwave. They’re simple to make, and even your kids can hop in on the fun! Cookie supplies: Oreo or other sandwich cookie (enough for the amount of people you are serving) 2 cups white candy melts ½ cup black or chocolate candy melts Thin popsicle sticks Parchment paper Optional: a block of foam 1. Line either a clean countertop or a large baking dish with parchment paper. 2. In a microwave-safe cup, melt each color of the candy melts separately. Go slow in 30-second intervals to ensure you don’t scorch the candy. 3. Once fully melted, stir both and set aside the white candy melts. Pour the black candy melts into a small Ziploc bag and set aside. 4. Dip each of the popsicle sticks about an inch into the white candy melts and stick inside each cookie and lay on parchment paper to harden. Work quickly so the candy melts stay melted. 5. Once all the popsicle sticks have been inserted and cooled for a minute or two, take the cookie and dip completely it into the white candy melts, letting the excess drip off. Place them either on the parchment paper to harden or upright into a foam block if you’d like. 6. Once all the cookies have hardened, snip a tiny hole at one of the Ziploc bag tips and use as a piping bag to pipe a ghost face. Let harden. 7. Package as you’d like. I like to use small candy cellophane bags and tie closed with a ribbon. Lollipop supplies: Lollipops of your choice (enough for the amount of people you are serving) Coffee filters (same amount as lollipops) Sharpie or black marker Ribbon or raffia to tie closed 1. Place a lollipop in the center of each coffee filter and bring sides down to form a gown. 2. Use pre-cut ribbon or raffia to tie a bow where the candy meets the stick. 3. Use marker to draw a scary ghost face. 4. Look around and bow for your newly earned “Pinterest Mom” status. See? It’s not that bad!
32 OCTOBER 2019 | SAVVYKIDSAR.COM
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FAMILY & PARENTING
34 OCTOBER 2019 | SAVVYKIDSAR.COM
Bouncing Off the Walls Though ADHD is incurable, effective treatments include a combination of medicine and behavioral therapy
T
BY DWAIN HEBDA
wo bright, happy third-graders sit across the classroom aisle from one another. It’s early in the school year and hard for the youngsters to downshift from summertime freedom to the confining space of the classroom. Noon recess doesn’t seem to burn much energy, either, merely reinvigorating their desire to roam the playground and ride the swing set. Within the hour, both kids will be shushed more than once by their teacher, who reminds them to pay attention and stop disturbing others. The two try, but eventually their minds wander in search of more interesting subject matter. Watching them through a two-way mirror, you probably couldn’t tell which child had Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and which one didn’t. All children, at one time or another, have difficulty sitting still. But if you stretch that afternoon’s viewing across years, the picture would come into sharper focus. Left unchecked, ADHD affects a person’s behavior, learning, relationships and even puts them at higher risk for injury, depression and anxiety. As in a lot of medical fields, diagnosis protocol and treatment strategies for ADHD have evolved considerably from the days when a child was simply labeled “hyper” and told to settle down and try harder. Still, dealing with ADHD is an ongoing battle for many families. “We would say to parents, there’s no cure for ADHD, there’s just management of it,” said Dr. Mark Edwards, UAMS professor of SAVVYKIDSAR.COM | OCTOBER 2019
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pediatrics and a clinical psychologist specializing in ADHD. “When we talk about effective treatments, we’re talking about those treatments that are showing some positive response. That would include medicines. That would include behavioral interventions that are put in place in the setting that it’s needed.” “If we’re talking about a school-aged kid, generally 5 and older, probably the most common treatment that’s used is medication, just because that’s the most available treatment and it’s the most effective treatment as well.” Edwards noted the medicinal options themselves haven’t altered that much, particularly for mild or routine cases. “Not very much has changed and a lot has changed,” he said. “What I mean by that is, the first foray in medicines for ADHD remain what we would classify the stimulant medications. Those are the category of medicines we’ve been using for 50-plus years for this condition. There
said. “Whenever I’m presenting treatments to families, I talk them through it to give them information that will allow them to assess the risks of medicines. The other way of looking at it is, there’s risks to not treating as well. “Most of the kids with ADHD are going to be dealt with at the primary care physician level and the ‘easy cases,’ or the ones that are less severe, most of the time can be handled through their primary care doctor. They would get them started on medicine and that seems to resolve the issue.” Edwards said he almost always recommends behavioral treatment in tandem with a medicine regimen, modified according to the severity of each individual case. “That’s just structuring the environment in ways that helps them be successful,” he said. “That’s always a good practice, whether in the school or at home. It’s a little bit more intensive to do behavioral interventions; there’s more commitment, especially if multiple sessions are involved.
“A kid who’s very severely affected, having lots of school problems,
lots of social problems, lots of behavioral problems, lots of emotional problems, it’s highly likely we would recommend several things.” have been some nonstimulant medicines that have come out, but they haven’t been as effective, so stimulants still remain the first line of medicines. “What’s changed is, there’s lots of different preparations of the two stimulants that are used, and the preparations are different in meaningful ways. Some of it has to do with short-acting versus long-acting. You also have different ways of getting it ingested; we have skin patches versus a capsule, for instance. We have some things you can break open and sprinkle on applesauce or pudding or something for kids that don’t swallow pills.” About 6.1 million U.S. children between the ages of 2 and 17 have ADHD, according to the American Psychiatric Association’s 2016 estimates. That’s just a hair under 10 percent of all the kids in the country, and some studies place the statistics even higher than that. In 2014, the New York-based ADD Resource Center ranked Arkansas second in the nation for number of children with ADHD at 14.6 percent, just behind Kentucky at 14.8 percent. While this statistic is sobering, other data shows a decent percentage of these kids are getting access to treatment. Rates of children receiving ADHD medicinal treatment, behavioral treatment or a combination of the two place Arkansas at roughly the midpoint among all states. “Deciding to use medicines with children, especially the younger they are, is a difficult decision for parents,” Edwards
36 OCTOBER 2019 | SAVVYKIDSAR.COM
“We look at what we would term functional impairment, which is, how is the condition interfering with the child’s life. The more that it’s interfering, the more aggressive we might want to be with treatment. A kid who’s very severely affected, having lots of school problems, lots of social problems, lots of behavioral problems, lots of emotional problems, it’s highly likely we would recommend several things.” Another reason for a multipronged approach is because in an overwhelming majority of cases — 67 percent, to be precise, per the APA — ADHD presents itself in conjunction with other conditions. “A straight-forward case of ADHD, that’s the minority of kids, a small subset of the kids that would have just ADHD,” Edwards said. “Most of them have what we would call either associated problems or they could be termed comorbid diagnoses, which is just another diagnosis that comes alongside of ADHD. A kid could have an anxiety disorder and ADHD, or they could have a learning disability and ADHD, or they could have a behavioral disorder and ADHD. “In the research that we’ve done, the majority of kids have comorbid associated problems that may need some treatment in and of themselves. Oftentimes, what we’re talking about is a treatment plan, not so much one specific treatment.”
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kid approved
halloween fun & safety
ALICE, JEANNIE AND CLARE
WE MAKE HOMEMADE COSTUMES EACH YEAR AND COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT A GLUE GUN AND A LOAD OF GLITTER! USE A COOL GLUE GUN SO THE KIDS CAN HELP, AND MARTHA STEWART'S GLITTER PALETTE IS GORGE!
JEANNIE WILLIAMS GUTHRIE IS
AN ART TEACHER AND OWNER OF ZIG ZAG, AN ART STUDIO FOR ALL AGES IN HILLCREST. SHE AND HUSBAND ROB HAVE TWO GIRLS, CLARE, 9, AND ALICE, 3, WHO LOVE TO PLAY DRESS UP WHETHER IT'S HALLOWEEN OR NOT. WHEN THEY AREN'T MAKING MESSES AND MASTERPIECES IN THE STUDIO, THE GUTHRIES LIKE TO SPEND TIME OUTDOORS PLAYING WITH THEIR DOGS AND LAUGHING TOGETHER. HALLOWEEN IS THEIR FAVORITE TIME OF YEAR — THEY LOVE CRAFTING COSTUMES, EATING PUMPKIN-Y FOODS AND HANGING WITH FRIENDS IN THE COOLER WEATHER.
THE MEHRON PARADISE PALETTE IS THE BOMB FOR PAINTING KIDDO FACES! ALICE WENT THROUGH A HUGE FACE-PAINTING PHASE AND THIS STUFF LOOKS GREAT, AND WASHES OFF EASILY.
YOU CAN'T DO OCTOBER WITHOUT A RED WAGON. FROM THE PUMPKIN PATCH TO TRICK-OR-TREATING WITH LITTLE KIDS, IT'S A CLASSIC FAMILY STAPLE.
“THE BURBS” IS A GUTHRIE FAMILY ALLTIME-FAVORITE MOVIE AND OCTOBER IS THE BEST MONTH TO WATCH A CHEESY, SPOOKY FLICK. I LOVE GETTING OUT THE HALLOWEEN BOOKS, AND THE KING OF THEM ALL IS “POPCORN” BY FRANK ASCH. IT WAS MY FAVORITE AS A LITTLE KID. WE ALSO LOVE “THE DWINDLING PARTY” BY EDWARD GORIE (ANOTHER CHILDHOOD FAVORITE OF MINE).
EACH YEAR I MAKE TWO THINGS ON HALLOWEEN — PUMPKIN FONDUE (CHEESE FONDUE IN A BAKED PUMPKIN) AND TOASTED PUMPKIN SEEDS WITH CAVENDER’S GREEK SEASONING (AN AWESOME ARKANSAS PRODUCT!).
38 OCTOBER 2019 | SAVVYKIDSAR.COM
THE SOLO STOVE IS AWESOME FOR BACKYARD BONFIRES. IT'S DESIGNED WITH EFFICIENT AIRFLOW, SO NO MORE SMOKE IN THE FACE WHEN YOU'RE TOASTING MARSHMALLOWS.
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