Birmingham Parent August 2018 Issue

THE PREMIER PARENTING MAGAZINE FOR CENTRAL ALABAMA — NOW IN OUR 15TH YEAR OF PUBLISHING

AUGUST 2018

BACK TO SCHOOL ALABAMA STEM: WORKING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

ROCK & ROLL: BIKE BASICS

PRESBYTERIAN CHILDREN'S HOME CELEBRATES 150TH ANNIVERSARY

RAISE GREEN KIDS: THINK BEYOND THE BACK-TO-SCHOOL SALES

FREE

Discover toe-tapping family fun in Music City!

Now – September 3, 2018 Create memories to cherish this summer at Gaylord Opryland.

• Heart-pounding live performances at the NEW “Music, Magic & Memories” atrium show presented by bubly™ • Scavenger hunt and musical art tour in the resort’s indoor gardens • Hootenanny Hoedown with line dancing, limbo and kids’ karaoke • General Jackson Showboat and Delta Riverboat cruises • An array of dining events, including Junior Chefs Camps • Award-winning spa, golf course, bubly™ Pool Party and more!

Book Your Summer Getaway Today!

GaylordOpryland.com/SummerFest AQUAFINA is a registered trademark of PepsiCo, Inc. © 2018 BUBLY and the Bubly Designs are trademarks.

| (888) 677-9872

ed note IT’S BACK TO SCHOOL IN BIRMINGHAM! It’s hard to believe summer for kids in Alabama is already drawing to an end, and we’re going back to school!

Our back-to-school issue this month has some great stories for you, Alabama STEM, to learning about dyslexia and raising green kids during back to school shopping, plus much, much more!

There’s lots of great information in our annual Education and Enrichment Guide, starting on page 14. And be sure and check out the new columns – Chatting with Child’sPlay Therapy (page 38), Sean of the South (page 42) and Ask the Attorney (page 46). They join other great monthly columns like Ask the Specialist, Parenting with Dr. Friedman and Poetry Party.

Also for back to school, don’t miss our annual Happy Healthy Kids Fair at the Riverchase Galleria on Saturday, August 25, 2018, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is FREE. Great giveaways, local entertainment, important vendors and sponsors to share information with you face to face, and The Joe Lockett Show will be there again with FREE school supplies for TEACHERS this year! You can pick up these supplies beginning at 9 a.m. in the food court, while they last. Free swag bags full of coupons and prizes to the first 200 people at the Birmingham Parent booth. Vendor booths and sponsorship are STILL available – contact us at info@birminghamparent.com or 205-624-2405 for more information.

Please check out my story on the Presbyterian Home for Children in Talledega on page 30. Its president and CEO Doug Marshall is an old and dear friend of mine, and what they are doing with this home to help the homeless in Alabama is nothing short of amazing. Some of their programs are trailblazing, and this institution is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year. I have friends and family members that have lived there through the years, so it holds a special place in my heart. Funding keeps the work going. If you are so inclined, please consider a donation to the Home. They have provided an envelope in this issue to make it easy to give, or you can go to www.phfc.org.

Hope you have a safe and happy return to school this month!

Carol Muse Evans publisher/editor carol@birminghamparent.com

ABOUT THE EDITORS: Carol Muse Evans is the publisher/editor/owner of Birmingham Parent magazine, a publication she and her husband David began in 2004. The Birmingham, Alabama-based parenting publication attracts more than 60,000 readers monthly in a four-county area and receives 10,000 hits per month on its website. The magazine has a 20,000+ print circulation, plus several thousand in readership of the digital edition online. It is the only independently audited free publication in our area. Evans is an award-winning writer and editor who has also has written for several other publications as a freelance writer since the late 80s. She is a graduate of Auburn University in journalism and is a graduate of Scottsboro High School. She is married with two grown children and lives in Alabaster. She is a member of the National Federation of Press Women, Alabama Media Professionals and Southeastern Advertisers and Publishers Association (SAPA).

Evans also serves on the board of directors of Childcare Resources.

Lori Chandler Pruitt is associate editor of Birmingham Parent, where she is responsible for the calendar and editorial editing. She also is a freelancer for Business Alabama magazine and has written/edited for several other publications. This award-winning writer and editor is a graduate of the University of Alabama in news/editorial and Hueytown High School. She is married with two children.

4 | birminghamparent | august 2018

P.O. Box 326 (add 800 Hwy. 52 E. for pkg) Helena, AL 35080 205-624-2405 205-624-2515 FAX www.birminghamparent.com

editorial PUBLISHERS David & Carol Evans EDITOR Carol Muse Evans ASSOCIATE EDITOR Lori Chandler Pruitt CALENDAR Lori Chandler Pruitt CONTRIBUTORS Dr. Vivian Friedman, Paige Townley, Malia Jacobson, Christina Katz, Dr. Marie Pittman, Sean Dietrich, Erin Chase, Melanie B. Holliman, Becky J. Beall, Child'sPlay Therapy Center

sales SR. MARKETING CONSULTANT Kayla Fricks MARKETING CONSULTANT Natalie Julian WEB & SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Bethany Adams Hunley

art & production ART DIRECTOR Hilary Moreno DISTRIBUTION T&P Deliveries LEGAL COUNSEL Balch & Bingham LLP

BIRMINGHAM PARENT IS A PUBLICATION OF EVANS PUBLISHING, LLC. Publishers: Carol Muse Evans, David K. Evans Sr. Birmingham Parent (EIN200694149) is published monthly by Evans Publishing LLC. www.birminghamparent.com or editor@birminghamparent. com. Birmingham Parent is © 2018 by Evans Publishing LLC. Family Connections Media ©2018 by Evans Publishing LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. Editorial submissions are welcome. For back issues, please send a self-addressed 10” x 13” envelope with $4 for postage and handling.

LEARNING TODAY LEADING TOMORROW

IMPACT FOR LIFE: OUR FOCUS IS YOUTH DEVELOPMENT The YMCA of Greater Birmingham Afterschool Academies are designed to help youth in every community succeed developmentally and academically.

PROGRAM BENEFITS

• Curriculum-based program focusing on academics, STEM, and fun • Low staff-to-child ratio • Healthy snack served each day • Commitment to continous staff training • Scholarships available based on need • Daily physical activity using evidencebased curriculum

AFTERSCHOOL ACADEMY

• Program focuses on developing the whole child, using social-emotional learning curriculum

REGISTER NOW ymcabham.org/afterschoolacademy

We believe in... saying yes to ice cream.

Milk allergies can be hard on a kid. With Oral Immunotherapy treatments at Alabama Allergy, you can start saying yes to more things, like a yummy ice cream cone.

#webelieve

205-871-9661 alabamaallergy.com Homewood • Hoover • Chelsea Alabaster • Cullman • Trussville

Weily Soong, MD Maxcie Sikora, MD John Anderson, MD Sunena Argo, MD William Massey, MD Carolyn Comer, MD Lorena Wilson, MD birminghamparent.com | 5

contents

10

ALABAMA STEM

Juanita Graham spends hours every week at Alabama STEM Education working with children, creating fun and exciting programs her students will enjoy, managing volunteers, and finding ways to reach more children. These tasks are certainly time consuming, but to her, it’s not a job. It’s her calling.

our focus

our features

BACK-TO-SCHOOL! Alabama STEM Education: Working to Make A Difference.....10 Birmingham Parent’s Education & Enrichment Guide 2018........................................ 14 6 Tips for Staying on Your Back-To-School Budget................19 Rock & Roll: Bike Basics, Age by Age...............20 Raising Green Kids: Think Beyond Back-to-School Sales.....22 Are You Eligible for WIC?............ 24

28 FAMILY TRAVEL Toy Story Land at Disney World....................................28 The Presbyterian Home for Children: Celebrating 150 Years...................30

our regulars EDITOR’S NOTE It’s Back to School in Birmingham!....................................4 PARENTING with Dr. Friedman...............................7 SHORT STUFF.................................. 8 ASK THE SPECIALIST Eating Healthy on Vacation.........40 SEAN OF THE SOUTH Sister................................................... 42

Dealing with Dyslexia................... 34 SafeHouse: Breaking the Cycle of Domestic Violence.........................36 Chatting With Child’sPlay: Is Handwriting Still Important in the Age of Technology?................38 Saint George Middle Eastern Food Festival is Coming in September................ 41

DINING WITHOUT WHINING Ham & Cheese Sliders..................44 ASK THE ATTORNEY Use Caution Making Gifts to Your Grandchildren with Special Needs..................................46 CALENDAR OF EVENTS..............49 POETRY PARTY Goodbye Summer...........................54

ON THE COVER: Tre, age 12, of Birmingham, is getting ready for back to school. Photo by Christy Pierce Photography, http://www.christypiercephotographyllc.com, 205-902-0385.

6 | birminghamparent | august 2018

PAR E N TI N G

Parenting with Dr. Friedman

Q:

I have read a lot about single parenting, but I have seen little on my specific situation. I too am a single parent of two, five and eight-year-old children – but only

some of the time. My husband is in the military and is deployed overseas or across the U.S. from time to time. Some of the deployments are as long as six months or even a year.

After a period of adjustment, the children and I do OK when he is gone but when he comes back we need to adjust all over again. We get used to doing everything our way and when he returns he tries to make changes that upset the apple cart. Do you have any suggestions for intermittent single moms?

Human beings are capable of a wide range of adaptation. It is not the adapting that seems to be the problem. It is the change back and forth. At times, you are a single parent making all the decisions on your own. At times, you are part of a parent team making decisions in tandem and compromising to accommodate your partner.

In generations past, there was a clear division of labor in the family unit that we seem to have lost today. Typically, the dad was the breadwinner, in charge of financial matters and often acting as the final disciplinarian with the children. The mother was typically the primary caretaker, in charge of the daily decisions with the children. It was the mom who decided if the children were allowed to attend a party or not; play outside or not. She decided what was served for dinner and she prepared it.

Presently, roles are overlapping and fluid and therefore there is more competition for control. When dad is away you decide the

bedtime. When he comes home he wants to make changes. By returning to a system of more clearly defined roles, you and your husband might be better able to navigate his comings and goings.

Your husband should not expect to take over the daily decisions with the children, when he is not there to do so consistently but he certainly can be in charge of the long-term financial goals and the big picture of how the children are raised. These should not change from moment to moment so his absence will not cause swings in policy as he enters and exits.

Your husband will need to accept and embrace the lifestyle he has chosen and to understand that there is something lost and something gained in every choice we make. He cannot choose to be absent much of the time and then come back home and take over the details you have run in his absence.

To keep dad part of the family and to help the children remember him, you might want to

SEEING CLEARLY STARTS HERE Call and schedule an appointment today.

Now accepting Blue Cross, Davis, Superior, Spectera, Met Life, All Kids, Cigna, Tri Care, Avesis and many other insurance plans.

hang pictures of him around the house. Be sure to include not only portraits but action pictures of family activities that show the children with their dad as well. The younger the children, the more important this step will be. Toddlers have a very short memory and you don’t want dad to return home to a child who reacts to him as if he were a stranger.

Encourage the children to be excited about his return by baking a special “welcome home” cake. Encourage them to call or write to him while he is away. Ask dad to buy each child a special teddy bear to sleep with while dad is gone. This can help them hold onto dad when dad is not home.

Vivian K. Friedman, Ph.D. is a child and family psychologist at UAB, Department of Psychiatry. Send questions for response in this column to Viviankf@gmail.com. No personal replies are sent.

New Patients Welcome!

(205)870-0892

205-987-2308 | www.dayeyecenter.com 2122 Old Montgomery Hwy. | Pelham, AL 35124 birminghamparent.com | 7

S H O RT STU FF

PHOTO COURTESY OF AL ARGO

New Children’s Book Tells a Story of Hiccups

Playground Safety – Parents Can Help

—Courtesy of Children’s of Alabama

Uniforms Now Optional at Birmingham City Schools Birmingham City School students now have a choice on what to wear to school. After several years of requiring school uniforms, students now have the option of adhering to the school system’s dress code or continue to wear a school uniform.

The Birmingham City School Board made the decision to allow teachers and administrators to spend more time in instruction rather than enforcing the uniform policy.

The school year begins August 6.

8 | birminghamparent | august 2018

Veteran Stepmom’s Book Offers God’s Grace to Blended Families BOOK IMAGE PROVIDED BY GAYLA GRACE

Kids love to play on the playground. Playgrounds are an opportunity for kids to get fresh air, sunshine, exercise and to make new friends.

It’s also important that parents do their part to ensure their child’s time on the playground is fun and injury-free. Each year, more than 200,000 kids are treated in hospital emergency departments for playground-related injuries. Many of these accidents are preventable with the proper supervision.

“That’s the big thing. We want parents to be with their children,” says Marie Crew, director of Alabama Safe Kids at Children’s of Alabama. “Parents should check the playground to be sure it’s in good repair. We want parents to put their phones down and interact with their children.”

Children should never play on a playground unsupervised. Young children can’t always judge distances properly and can’t foresee dangerous situations while older children like to test their limits. Before play on a playground, an adult should always make sure the playground equipment is in good shape. Many playgrounds indicate the recommended age range for children. Toddlers should be on a separate playground with special equipment that is lower to the ground.

A proper playground surface is important as well, Crew says. “It’s best to have a soft, spongy surface that can cushion falls. Shredded tires, pea gravel and mulch are options as well.” Concrete, asphalt, grass and packed earth surfaces are not safe.

Modern playgrounds are often made of plastic instead of metal, which also can get too hot, so parents need to check the equipment for excessive heat.

Children love for their parents to engage with them when they’re playing on the playground. Adults should be close by, encouraging and watching their child while they play. Play is an important part of kids’ physical, social, intellectual and emotional development. By taking a few extra precautions, they can learn and grow through play while being more likely to stay safe and injury-free.

Author Al Argo’s first children’s book, Chris Gets the Hiccups! is a true, funny story of Chris, an Australian boy who gets the hiccups while eating ice cream. The short, rhyming picture book also includes a few crazy, fun and very true hiccup facts.

Argo, originally from Anniston, AL, has lived in Asia since 2003, where he serves full-time with WMM/Upward Sports, overseeing its expansion in Asia. He also conducts leadership training and development for several groups.

The book is available at www.amazon.com.

Uniting two families into one is not an easy task. The stepmom journey includes days of bumpy roads and overwhelming emotions. Struggles with ex-spouses, complicated schedules, bickering kids, and financial concerns can easily threaten a hoped-for idyllic home and leave you longing for a white picket fence.

But where do stepmoms go when they just need a little encouragement? Stepparenting with Grace: A Devotional for Blended Families, to be released this month, is the resource veteran stepmom Gayla Grace wanted but couldn’t find.

The StepFamily Foundation reports that there are more than 1,300 new stepfamilies forming every day, and 75 percent of stepfamilies complain they don’t have access to resources specific to their situation.

“As a young stepmom,” writes Grace, “I longed for a devotional that offered encouraging words for my unique needs. But I found limited resources to help combat my emotions during a confusing transition.”

Knowing that blended family dynamics are complicated and the demands are many, Grace set out to write a devotional that could provide both a soothing salve and daily encouragement for the thousands of other stepparents navigating the rocky terrain of creating a blended family. Through scriptural support and the wisdom gleaned from her own experiences as a stepmother, Grace offers much-needed companionship, encouragement, understanding and biblical inspiration.

BUNDLES OF HOPE 4TH ANNUAL

STUFF THE BUS EVENT September 21st-30th Contact us today to learn how you can participate.

SHERIFF’S CORNER:

Avoid Heat Stroke

By JEFFCO Sheriff Mike Hale

Avoiding heat stroke during the summer may seem like a breeze, but it can creep up when you least expect it. Keeping cool is the key.

Heat stroke is a form of hyperthermia resulting in abnormally elevated body temperature accompanied by physical symptoms including changes in the nervous system function. Unlike heat cramps and heat exhaustion, which are less severe, heat stroke is a true medical emergency that can be fatal if not properly treated.

Heat stroke is also sometimes referred to as sun stroke. Severe hyperthermia is defined as a body temperature of 104 degrees F or higher.

We offer hope to families during times of financial hardship by providing their infants and toddlers with diapers.

TOGETHER WE CAN KEEP BIRMINGHAM BABIES CLEAN & DRY!

205-607-2112

www.bundlesdiaperbank.org

Checklist for recognizing heat stroke: Heat rash: Heat rash looks like a red cluster of pimples or small blisters.

Heat cramps: Symptoms are painful muscle spasms in the arms, legs, or abdomen.

Heat exhaustion is a warning that the body is getting too hot.

Heat stroke is a serious, life-threatening condition that occurs when the body loses its ability to control its temperature.

Treating Heat Stroke: • Get the victim to a shady area, remove clothing, and apply cool or tepid water to the skin (for example, spray with cool water from a garden hose), fan the victim to promote sweating and evaporation, and place ice packs under the armpits and groin.

• If the person is able to drink liquids, have them drink cool water or other cool beverages that do not contain alcohol or caffeine.

• Monitor body temperature with a thermometer and continue cooling efforts until the body temperature drops to 101 F to 102 F. • Always notify emergency services (911) immediately. If their arrival is delayed, they can give you further instructions for treatment of the victim. birminghamparent.com | 9

BAC K TO S CH O O L BIRMINGHAM PARENT’S 2018

appyhealthykidsfair

Alabama STEM Education: Working to Make a Difference

By Paige Townley

Juanita Graham spends hours every week at Alabama STEM Education working with children, creating fun and exciting programs her students will enjoy, managing volunteers, and finding ways to reach more children. These tasks are certainly time consuming, but to her, it’s not a job. It’s her calling.

Graham started Alabama STEM Education really by chance. It was 2014, and she had simply approached some contacts at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) regarding help on a patent. They were so impressed with her research and writing that they assumed she had a background in engineering – but she didn’t.

Her background was working as an operation support specialist for the U.S. postal service and as a broker in real estate.

They were so impressed with her thoroughness, they encouraged her to be their liaison to reach underserved students in various Birmingham communities with STEM education. STEM – which stands for science, technology, engineering, and math – was a 10 | birminghamparent | august 2018

completely new idea for her. “They first had to explain to me what STEM was, and I was very apprehensive,” she says. “They gave me a pamphlet to take home and read over, and so I did.”

Reading that information was world-changing for Graham, especially when she learned that minorities were given little to no access to STEM education learning and thus held fewer jobs in those fields. “I started crying,” she says. “Being an African-American female, it really hit me that there are so many underrepresented, underserved students that don’t have access to this education that can give them a little more advantage in life. After I was done crying, I got mad. And when I get mad, I go into action. For me it was a must that they get those opportunities.”

Graham began researching the topic, and she learned even more statistics about how students in the United States fall behind many of their peers around the world when it comes to STEM. “We’re falling behind, and it’s no coincidence

that we have a large group of the population with no accessibility to these disciplines,” she adds.

“If we teach these underrepresented, underserved students these four disciplines, we can be number one in STEM-related careers.”

From that research came Alabama STEM Education, a nonprofit organization that targets middle and high school students in Birmingham and teaches them about STEM education.

Instead of going into schools, the organization has its own facilities for students to attend. “The environment is very critical in order to get kids to concentrate and understand what you’re teaching them,” she says. “We had to have our own space outside of the schools.”

Graham bought office space in Bessemer, and after lots of mentoring with UAB professors, started programs for kids to participate in after school. With each visit, students are motivated to learn about STEM through hands-on, engaging teaching in a fun environment. “We want energetic, hands-on learning and teaching, no one standing behind a podium lecturing kids,” she adds. “We make it a point not to have the space look like a classroom.”

The organization’s very first program, Raise the Bar, is a 10-week program that’s held on Saturdays. Elementary-age kids attend in the morning, and then middle and high school

“Being an African-American female, it really hit me that there are so many underrepresented, underserved students that don’t have access to this education that can give them a little more advantage in life. After I was done crying, I got mad.

And when I get mad, I go into action. For me it was a must that they get those opportunities.”

— JUANITA GRAHAM

students attend in the afternoon. Each Saturday has its own curriculum, and it can vary from coding to aeronautics to robotics to biotechnology.

During the summer Alabama STEM Education focuses on its summer camp. Running from June until August, the camp includes exposure trips for students, which are all centered around STEM topics. Students are taken on at least two trips a week. “We go to all sorts of places, like the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville and the forensic science department at Jacksonville State University, and unexpected places like the military base in Gadsden to see how STEM plays a factor into the military.

“We try to think outside the box for these students because they haven’t been exposed to very much. We try to give them the best of everything and let them see there are options out there.”

The organization hosts multiple camps each summer at various locations around the Birmingham area. Along with STEM education, students attending the summer camps also learn how to perform with the utmost of excellence. Life skills are a major part of the camp’s agenda. Students are taught how to negotiate, debate, and disagree. “We try to show them that you

BACK-TO-SCHOOL! ARE YOU READY? Reading H Writing H Regular Math H Higher Math AP Math H Enrichment H ACT/SAT Prep Pre K & Kindergarten Programs

ONE-to-ONE INSTRUCTION

FALL SPECIAL TWO FREE SESSIONS with this ad

GRADES K-12 GUARANTEED RESULTS FREE DIAGNOSTIC ASSESSMENT NO CONTRACTS INDIVIDUALIZED PROGRAMS ACT/SAT PREP PROGRAMS

205-987-9577

www.hoover.tutoringcenter.com

2804 John Hawkins Pkwy, Suite 100, Hoover, AL 35244 birminghamparent.com | 11

BAC K TO S CH O O L BIRMINGHAM PARENT’S 2018

appyhealthykidsfair

can have a disagreement with no one right and no one wrong,” Graham adds. “We try to show them how to look at both sides of a disagreement, and that it’s OK to disagree. We want them to leave having the right perspective on that. We really pride ourselves on teaching life skills like these along with STEMrelated education.”

Another significant program of Alabama STEM Education is T.A.P.E. (tutoring and practical exposure). Held during the school week, the program works to tutor students on various school subjects, including reading and writing. “We teach them how to build their grammar and make sure they understand the usage of words,” she says. “We want to make sure they really know how to read and understand the usage of words and make sentences.”

Graham’s two sons recently graduated with STEM education-focused degrees – one already landing a job in his chosen industry – and she knows her kids could so easily have been part of the statistics she so desperately wants to change. “I have huge faith, and I was determined that my two weren’t going to be another statistic,” she says. “Statistics say that they were supposed to fail, and they didn’t. They are proof that you don’t have to fail. So I know that if I can do it for my two that gives me enough validation to know I can help others too.”

For more information, visit alabamastemeducation.org.

Paige Townley is a Birmingham freelance writer.

Bring a Lesson Alive

TRAIN WITH THE PROS!

at the

ALABAMA BALLET SCHOOL THE OFFICIAL SCHOOL OF THE ALABAMA BALLET

Dauphin Island Sea Lab Booking Fall/Spring Discovery HalL Programs Field Trips Now! 251-861-2141

101 Bienville Blvd., Dauphin Island, Alabama

PHOTO BY: MELISSA DOOLEY

Ask about our Teacher Workshops

disl.org/dhp

12 | birminghamparent | august 2018

FALL REGISTRATION NOW OPEN! FOR MORE INFO, VISIT ALABAMABALLET.ORG OR CALL 322.1874

Succeed at a high school where

learning is fun!

Find out how the Alabama School of Math and Science can lead you on a path to success.

ASMS is our state’s only fully public, residential high school for highly motivated sophomores, juniors, and seniors seeking advanced studies in math, science, and the humanities.

Applying to ASMS is FREE – and so are tuition, room, and board if you are admitted! Start your online application September 1, 2018 at www.asms.net.

Many people ask, “Do I have to be a ‘genius’ to be accepted to ASMS?” Answer: Absolutely NOT! ASMS is made up of students who are intelligent and work hard for academic success. The 2018 senior class earned $10 million in merit-based scholarships and scored a composite 29.7 on the ACT. Current Alabama 9th or 10th graders can apply. Questions? Email admissions@asms.net or call 251.441.3250.

Alabama School of Mathematics and Science 1255 Dauphin St., Mobile, AL 36604 251.441.2100 - www.asms.net

E D U CAT I O N & E N R I C H M E N T GU I DE 2018

FOR HAPPY, appyhealthykidsfair BIRMINGHAM PARENT’S 2018

HEALTHY KIDS GOING BACK TO SCHOOL!

PRIVATE SCHOOLS Ascension Leadership Academy 130 E. North St. Talladega, AL 35160 256-362-4314 We recognize the potential of each students and to convince them that the only limiting factor to their achievement is willingness and dedication to excel. A separate school in the Presbyterian Home for Children educational system.

Advent Episcopal School 2019 Sixth Ave. N. Birmingham, AL 35203 205-252-2535 sfawal@adventepiscopalschool.org www.adventepiscopalschool.org Advent Episcopal School, located in downtown Birmingham, offers a highly accelerated curriculum for bright students in prekindergarten through 8th grade.

Before-school and afterschool care is available.

Creative Montessori School 2800 Montessori Way Homewood, AL 35209 205-879-3278 www.cmskids.org CMS cultivates a life-long love of learning and fosters self-control and self-direction from 18 months through eighth grade. Students learn at their own pace, under the thoughtful guidance of a professionally-trained Montessori teacher.

Holy Family Cristo Rey Catholic High School 2001 19th St. Ensley Birmingham, AL 35218 205-263-0133 admissions@hfcristorey.org www.hfcristorey.org Combining academic rigor and a corporate workstudy program to empower students from economically challenged families to graduate high school prepared to persist in college ​and flourish in life. Transforming Birmingham, One Student At A Time.

Integrity Christian Academy 216 Roebuck Dr. Birmingham, AL 35215 205-833-4416 secretary@integritychristianacademy.org

www.integritychristianacademy.org Preschool, kindergarten and elementary classes. ABEKA academic, Bible curriculum and training. Character development and discipline. After school care available. n Joseph Bruno Montessori Academy - HHKF SPONSOR 5509 Timber Hill Rd. Birmingham, AL 35242 205-995-8709 www.jbma.org JBMA provides children & families with an education according to the Montessori philosophy. At JBMA, we treat each child as individuals, building on their strengths to become lifelong global learners. Enrolling toddlers 8th grade.

The Altamont School 4801 Altamont Rd. S. Birmingham, AL 35222 205.445.1232 tgoldsmith@altamontschool.org www.altamontschool.org The Mission of the Altamont School is to improve the fabric of society by graduating compassionate, well-educated students capable of independent thinking and innovative ideas.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind 205 South Street E. Talladega, AL 35160 256-761-3284 www.aidb.org AIDB is the world’s most comprehensive education, rehabilitation and service program for individuals of all ages who are deaf, blind, deaf-blind and multi-disabled.

Serving nearly 25,000 infants, toddlers, children, and adults in Alabama each year.

Alabama School of Fine Arts 1800 Rev. Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd.

Birmingham, AL 35203 205-252-9241 jlittle@asfa.k12.al.us www.asfaschool.org ASFA is a public school for students-grades 7-12.

Admission is by audition in one of six areas: writing, dance, music, theatre arts, visual arts or math and science.

14 | birminghamparent | august 2018

Alabama School of Mathematics and Science 1255 Dauphin St. Mobile, AL 36604 251-441-2152 admissions@asms.net www.asms.net ASMS is a public, residential high school accepting applications from highly motivated 9th and 10th graders seeking advanced studies in math, science and the humanities.

PRESCHOOLS & DAYCARE n Odyssey Early Sch​ools HHKF SPONSOR • Inverness Campus 104 Heatherbrooke Park Dr. Birmingham, AL 35242 205-991-0039 • Trace Crossings Campus 401 Emery Dr. Hoover, AL 35244 205-988-8829 www.odysseyearlyschool.com Created by educators featuring ​state-of-the-art facilities​, nurturing teachers ​ with Education degrees, and comprehensive curriculum ​that provides your child with age appropriate exploration into the world of learning.

EDUCATIONAL SERVICES/ THERAPY Birmingham Public Library Central Location 2100 Park Place Birmingham, AL 35203 205-226-3600 bplonline.org The Birmingham Public Library strives to provide the highest quality experience to our community for lifelong learning, cultural enrichment, and enjoyment. 19 locations throughout the city of Birmingham.

Child’sPlay Therapy Center 3057 Lorna Rd. Birmingham, AL 35216 Hoover: 205-978-9939 48 Chesser Crane Rd. Suite I Chelsea, AL 35043 205-618-8095 www.childsplaytherapy.com Occupational, physical and speech therapy, along with a variety of special programs.

Two beautiful, fully-equipped facilities. Our experienced, loving staff will exceed your expectations.

n GradePower Learning HHKF SPONSOR Two Locations • 1401 Doug Baker Blvd. #105 Birmingham, AL 35242 205-980-5745 • 349 Huntley Pkwy.

Pelham, AL 35124 205-620-2373 www.gradepowerlearning.com GradePower Learning promotes self-confidence and academic success. Offering assistance and enrichment in all subject areas, any child will benefit from the extra academic attention offered here.

The Tutoring Center 2804 John Hawkins Pkwy.

Suite 100 Hoover, AL 35244 (near Academy Sports) 205- 987-9577 isaaczeidan@tutoringcenter.com www.hoover.tutorcenter.com One-to-one tutoring designed to help your child develop stronger academic skills, earn better grades, score higher on standardized tests, while gaining confidence, motivation and focus.

PAL Alabama’s Parenting Assistance Line 651 5th Ave. E. Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 1-866-962-3030 www.pal.ua.edu PAL is a free, confidential service that provides helpful parenting assistance to moms, dads, grandparents and relatives whose children are aged birth through adolescence.

Visit www.pal.ua.edu or call 1-866-962-3030 to speak with a parenting expert.

DENTISTS, ORTHODONTISTS & ORAL SURGEONS Angelica Rohner Pediatric Dentistry 2045 Brookwood Medical Ctr. Dr. Suite 21 Birmingham, AL 35209 205-870-0892 www.drrohner.com office@drrohner.com Dr. Rohner is a specialist of pediatric and adolescent dentistry. We love what we do and it shows in the care we provide!

Liberty Park Children’s Dentistry Dr. Quyen Ying 1950 Stonegate Dr. #100, Vestavia Hills, AL 35242 205-403-5423 www.libertyparkchildrensdentistry.com We are a new pediatric dental office caring for children of all ages, including those with special healthcare needs. We are conveniently located off I-459 in Liberty Park and are now accepting new patients.

McCalla Orthodontics & Pediatric Dentistry 4814 Bell Hill Rd. Bessemer, AL 35022 205-477-8004 www.mccallasmiles.com Dentistry for children, adolescents and patients with disabilities. Orthodontics for children and adults. We offer traditional metal brackets as well as clear invisalign option. n Ortho South HHKF SPONSOR Dr. Brandon Boggan 2705 Pelham Pkwy.

Suite 200 Pelham, AL 35124 205-642-8505 ander@orthosouth.com www.orthosouth.com Ortho South, Dr. Brandon Boggan, provides braces and is Alabama’s top provider of Invisalign. Located in Pelham and Calera, convenient to Jefferson, Shelby and Chilton counties.

to providing you and your family exceptional orthodontic care in a fun and comfortable environment.

Thomas Pediatric Dentistry 721 Montclair Rd. Birmingham, AL 35213 205-879-6150 info@thomaspediatricdentistry.com www.thomaspediatricdentistry.com As one of Birmingham’s most trusted children’s dentists, Dr. Thomas offers a safe, nurturing environment in a state of the art oral health facility for infants, children, teenagers and those with special needs.

Vital Smiles • Midfield 111 B.Y. Williams Sr. Dr. Midfield, AL 35228 205-923-3172(General dentistry) 205-923-3175(Ortho) • Center Point 2302 Center Point Pkwy.

Center Point, AL 35215 205-853-9170 Vital Smiles Orthodontic Office: 2525 Center Point Pkwy.

Center Point, AL 35215 205-854-8093 www.vitalsmiles.com Vital Smiles believes every child deserves a dental home.

We strive to make quality general dental care affordable and available to children, 20 years of age and younger.

The School That Works Rigorous College Prep Academics.

Unique Corporate Work Study Program.

Affordable, Quality Catholic Education.

Learn More at www.hfcristorey.org

205.263.0133 · admissions@hfcristorey.org

BIRMINGHAM’S PREMIER DAYCARE & PRESCHOOL

FAVORITE PRE-SCHOOL/ DAYCARE

HEALTHCARE & SPECIALISTS

Alabama Allergy Pediatric Smiles, LLC & Asthma Center Dr. Tabitha Jarman Gatrey Homewood | Hoover ​4823 Promenade Pkwy.

Chelsea | Alabaster Suite 101 Trussville | Cullman Bessemer, AL 35022 205-871-9661 205-230-9000 www.alabamaallergy.com tabgat@psmilesal.com Our board certified allergists/ www.psmilesal.com Our top priority is helping your immunologists provide specialized diagnosis and treatment child achieve and maintain for pediatric and adult patients a beautiful, healthy smile! with allergies, asthma, skin Providing dental care for conditions, sinus issues, and children of all ages, including those with special needs. Now immunological disorders. accepting new patients and Brookwood Baptist Health most insurance accepted.

Four locations in Central Alabama Sarver Orthodontics BBHob.com 1705 Vestavia Pkwy.

• Brookwood Baptist Birmingham, AL 35216 Medical Center 205-979-7072 2010 Brookwood Medical www.sarverortho.com Center Drive Creating beautiful smiles since 1979! We are committed Birmingham, AL 35209 continued on page 16

FAVORITE DAY CAMP FAVORITE AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM

Our goal is to be the best educational daycare and preschool program in the country.

FAVORITE SUMMER PROGRAM

INVERNESS CAMPUS 205-991-0039

Free Internet Video Monitoring

Since 1995, Odyssey has offered incredible childto-teacher ratios, certified teachers and a curriculum that prepares our children for elementary school, all in safe, clean, beautiful facilities.

Music, Spanish, Computers and Youth Fitness/Sports programs

LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE NOW

Preschool Teachers with Degrees in Early Childhood Education Exceeds All StateStudent Ratio Standards Professionally Developed Age-Appropriate Curriculum

Best Playgrounds in Birmingham

TRACE CROSSINGS CAMPUS 205-988-8829

FOR CHILDREN 6 WEEKS THROUGH 3rd GRADE

WWW.ODYSSEYEARLYSCHOOL.COM birminghamparent.com | 15

E D U CAT I O N & E N R I C H M E N T GU I DE 2018 BIRMINGHAM PARENT’S 2018

appyhealthykidsfair

• Princeton Baptist Medical Center 701 Princeton Ave SW Birmingham, AL 35211 • Shelby Baptist Medical Center 1000 1st St N Alabaster, AL 35007 • Walker Baptist Medical Center 3400 Hwy 78 E Jasper, AL 35501 With four hospitals delivering throughout central Alabama, access to an entire network of specialists, and countless ways to customize your experience, Brookwood Baptist Health is a community of care dedicated to making your new beginning a happy one. n Children’s of Alabama HHKF SPONSOR 1600 Seventh Ave. S. Birmingham, AL 35233 205-638-9100 www.childrensal.org Children’s of Alabama has provided specialized medical care for ill and injured children since 1911, offering inpatient, outpatient, and primary care services throughout Alabama.

Day Eye Center 2122 Old Montgomery Hwy. Pelham, AL 35124 205-987-2308 Seeing Clearly Starts Here.

Now accepting Blue Cross, Davis, Superior, Spectera, Met Life, All Kids, Cogna, Tri Care, Avesis and many other insurance plans.

Montgomery Children’s Specialty Center www.montgomerychildrenscare.com 334-261-3445 A preferred children’s nursing and rehabilitation facility in Montgomery, AL. Providing services to children with severe developmental disabilities that require ongoing nursing care.

Pediatric Nephrology of Alabama, P.C. 1425 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. S., Suite 206 Birmingham, AL 35205 205-558-3200 www.pednephal.com With over 25 years of experience in caring for children with kidney disease, Dr. Mark Benfield established Pediatric Nephrology of Alabama in 2010. Accepting new patients.

DANCE, MUSIC & PERFORMANCE ARTS Alabama Ballet​ 2726 First Ave. S. Birmingham, AL 35233 205-322-4300 information@alabamaballet.org www.alabamaballet.org Since 1981, changing lives through dance by promoting and fostering the development of classical and contemporary ballet through high-quality performances, dance education, and community outreach.

Alabama Dance Academy 3221 Old Columbiana Rd. Hoover, AL 35226 205-978-6820 www.aladance.com A state-of-the-art dance instruction facility in the disciplines of ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, hip hop, lyrical/contemporary and Pilates. Founded by professional ballet dancer Pamela Merkel in 1995.

Pre-school classes offered.

Birmingham Dance Theatre 1694 Montgomery Hwy. Suite 200 Hoover, AL 25216 205-822-3012 Bdtdance.com BDT is devoted to aspire all ages to excel in dance.

We nurture, educate, guide and encourage all to their personal best. New state of the art building with 6 spacious studios including a theatre.

Briarwood Ballet 2200 Briarwood Way Birmingham, AL 35243 205-776-5284 briarwoodballet.com Briarwood Ballet has been investing in lives for 38 years by offering quality instruction in classical ballet and dance education within a Christ-centered environment.

We welcome students ages 3-high school.

The Dance Foundation 1715 27th Court S. Homewood, AL 35209 205-870-0073 www.thedancefoundation.org Our non-competitive dance education nurtures creativity,

16 | birminghamparent | august 2018

engages the imagination, and promotes social and developmental skills in a safe and enriching environment for self-expression and collaboration.

AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS Girl Scouts of North Central Alabama 105 Heatherbrooke Park Dr. Birmingham, AL 35242 800-734-4541 205-980-4753 (fax) info@girlscoutsnca.org www.girlscoutsnca.org With over 100 years of experience in girl-focused programing, Girl Scouts unleashes girls’ potential to seek out new challenges, take the lead, and change their world. Join a local troop today!

EXERCISE & HEALTHY BODIES American Cheerleading Centers 4400 Valley Rd. Trussville, AL 35235 & 3104 Morgan Rd. Hoover, AL 35022 205-985-1330 www.americancheerleadingcenters.com We are a family-oriented program with Christian values that produces champions on and off the competition floor. Our routines are crowd pleasers, fun and entertaining at every level! We welcome children of all ages.

Head Over Heels Gymnastics 500 Caldwell Trace Birmingham, AL 35242 205-981-2720 www.headoverheelsgyms.com Helping children gain fitness, gymnastics skills, confidence and self-esteem for over 20 years! Offering gymnastics, tumbling, aerial silks, trampoline, cheer, acro, Ninja classes plus fantastic camps & birthday parties!

Juice Plus+ 205-332-5255 vickieverett.juiceplus.com Juice Plus+, farm fresh fruits, vegetables and berries in capsule or soft chews, bridging the gap between what you should eat and what you do eat every day.

Profile

by Sanford 628 Montgomery Hwy. Vestavia Hills, AL 35216 205-512-3314 www.profileplan.net Our Certified Profile Coaches are changing the way people approach weight loss! We create a personalized nutrition, activity and lifestyle coaching program designed to educate and motivate members lose weight and keep it off. n The YMCA of Greater Birmingham HHKF SPONSOR 10 Branch Locations Alabaster, Downtown, Greystone, Hoover, Mt. Brook, Northeast, Pelham, Shades Valley, Trussville and Vestavia Contact: Rhonda Elmore relmore@ymcabham.org www.ymcabham.org At the YMCA of Greater Birmingham, it’s about your community, your family, and your health. With a mission centered on balance, the Y encourages good health, brings families closer together, and fosters personal connections.

RETAIL SERVICES Applause Dancewear 1629 Oxmoor Rd. Birmingham, AL 35209 205-871-STEP www.appausedancewear.net Applause has the largest selection of dancewear in the Southeast. Clothing, shoes and accessories for all types of dance that fit toddler to plus size, teams and individuals.

Matilda Jane Clothing Micheal Looney 205-746-3127 micheall@matildajaneclothing.com www.matildajaneclothing. com/micheallooney A whimsical approach to textures, patterns and colors featuring designs that are youthful & expressive. We offer girls, tweens, and adult clothing that will bring a smile to your face every time you get dressed! continued on page 18

birminghamparent.com | 17

E D U CAT I O N & E N R I C H M E N T GU I DE 2018 BIRMINGHAM PARENT’S 2018

appyhealthykidsfair

n MetroPCS HHKF SPONSOR www.metropcs MetroPCS is a prepaid wireless service part of T-Mobile network. Providing nationwide talk, text & data. Get Your Family 4 Lines for $100/Mo. No Overages. 24/7 Customer Service. Customizable Plans.

No Contracts. No Hidden Fees.

FINANCIAL & LEGAL SERVICES CollegeCounts Alabama’s 529 Fund www.collegecounts529.com Ensure the success of your children’s future with CollegeCounts, a 529-qualified tuition program that provides flexible investment options specifically designed to help you build college savings. Program managed through Union Bank & Trust. n America’s First Federal Credit Union HHKF SPONSOR ​Main Office 1200 Fourth Ave. N. Birmingham, AL 35203 205-320-4150 www.amfirst.org Save with our Kids 1st Club account! Visit www.amfirst. org to learn more. Available to qualifying members only.

Some restrictions apply.

Federally insured by NCUA. Bradford & Holliman, LLC 2491 Pelham Pkwy.

Pelham, AL 35124 205-663-0281 john@bradfordholliman.com

melanie@bradfordholliman.com www.bradfordholliman.com Estate and long-term care planning for young families, blended families, the disabled, empty nesters & the elderly.

MUSEUMS & ATTRACTIONS Alabama Symphony Orchestra 3621 Sixth Ave.S. Birmingham, AL 35222 205-251-6929 www.alabamasymphony.org The Alabama Symphony Orchestra entertains, educates and inspires students in schools, concert halls, and public venues throughout the state. ASO presents specially designed youth performances that leave a lasting impression for all.

Birmingham Museum of Art 2000 Rev. Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd.

Birmingham, AL 35203 205.254.2565 www.artsbma.org Bart’s ArtVenture combines high tech art-making tools with hands-on creation stations to let kids and families develop their art education in a creative, communal environment.

McWane Science Center 200 19th St. N. Birmingham, AL 35203 205-714-8414 info@mcwane.org www.mcwane.org Fun and learning never end at McWane Science Center, a

nonprofit, hands-on museum with aquarium and IMAX® Dome Theater. Four floors of interactive exhibits celebrate science and wonder.

Vulcan Park and Museum 1701 Valley View Dr. Birmingham, AL 35209 205-933-1409 www.visitvulcan.com Birmingham’s beloved icon, Vulcan, is the world’s largest cast iron statue. Featuring breathtaking views of the city, an interactive history museum and a beautiful public park.

EVENTS & SPECIAL ORGANIZATIONS Alabama Department of Public Health www.alabamapublichealth.gov Promotes, protects and improves the health of individuals and communities of Alabama.

Alabama Family Rights Association (ALFRA) P.O. Box 6028 Huntsville, AL 35813-0028 205-626-9458 www.alfra.org ALFRA is an all-volunteer organization working to preserve, promote and protect family relationships by educating the public and government officials concerning the importance of equal involvement of both fit parents in a child’s life.

A special back-to-school event from Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce. Enjoy inflatables for kids, tweens, teens and adults. Fun freebies and a free movie. FREE ADMISSION (Rain date is Aug. 17) Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office https://jeffcosheriff.net/ Metro Birmingham Children’s Business Fair www.childrensbusinessfair. org/birmingham-al Kids create a product or service, develop a brand, build a marketing strategy, and then open for customers at this one-day marketplace.

The fair was designed to ignite the kids’ creativity and sense of pride in doing this all by themselves.

Presbyterian Home for Children 905 Gertrude Michaels Dr. Talladega, AL 35160 256-362-2114 See our ad on page 33

PHOTOGRAPHY Christy Pierce Photography, LLC www.christypiercephotographyllc.com 205-902-0385 His Hands Photographs Samantha Ferguson, photographer www.hishandsphotographs.com 205-862-3374

Back 2 School in the Hills AUGUST 10, 2018 at 6:30 p.m.

Fox Field at Cahaba Heights Elementary School

YMCA OF GREATER BIRMINGHAM

You know the Y. You know us as the place where you played team sports. You know us as the place where you work off stress and those

extra pounds you don’t need.

You know us for our personal trainers who urge you to do just one more rep, or for our group exercise classes like Barre and Zumba®, Pilates, and yoga that help keep our hearts and minds in shape. You know us as a place where 50 laps in the pool is morning therapy and ten minutes in a sauna after a hard workout is pretty near a perfect moment.

But you may not know The WHY Behind the Y. You may not

18 | birminghamparent | august 2018

know about the disadvantaged children we teach to swim for free or the after-school care we provide to families who have no other options. You may not know the Y that provides summer camp to kids who’ve never seen a lake, never been off “the bricks,” or the Y that helps senior folks who have no access to good healthcare look after their bodies.

We’re the Y. And we’re The WHY Behind the Y.

www.ymcabham.org

B AC K TO S C H O O L BIRMINGHAM PARENT’S 2018

happyhealthykidsfair

6 TIPS

for Staying on Your Back-to-School Budget

Back-to-school shopping can be burdensome for many families who do not have the funds to spend a lot of money at one time, says University of Alabama at Birmingham Regions Institute for Financial E ducat ion D i r e ctor Stephanie Yates, Ph.D., who is also an associate professor of finance in UAB’s Collat School of Business.

“That’s why budgeting is key to shopping smart and saving as much as possible,” Yates explains. “Families who prepare and are knowledgeable about sales and different offers out there really benefit from the budget processing.”

Yates offers six tips to stay within a back-to-school budget: Create an estimated cost list. Look at your student’s school supplies list, estimate the total costs of basic purchases, and set aside funds for your shopping trip. Determine how many of each item your student will need so that you do not end up overbuying items and stocking up on supplies that will never get used.

DENTISTRY FOR

CHILDREN & SPECIAL NEEDS PERSONS

Dr. Tabitha Jarman Gatrey, DMD

4823 Promenade Pkwy., Suite 101 Bessemer, AL 35022 p 205-230-9000 f 205-230-0188

www.psmilesal.com

Know all your options. Not every deal is found at a big box store. Thrift stores are priced low, and many offer additional discounts. Auction websites are another platform that often offers lower prices on new and used items. If your child wears a uniform, check with your school to see if they re-sell previously worn uniforms.

Look online first. Shopping online can be convenient for the busy parent or college student who does not want to make a few extra trips to the store, and it is a great way to compare prices and find coupon codes. Consider the cost of shipping and taxes when making higher-priced purchases. Also check the return policy in case you do not really need something or end up having to buy a different style, brand or item. Look for the option of buying online and picking up at your local store to avoid shipping fees.

a place of discovery.

Shop with a gift card. A major benefit to using a gift card is that it can be used online and in the store.

Watch for sales. Many retailers are offering 48-hour sales in conjunction with tax-free weekend, which potentially increases savings.

Coupons are good online and in-store. When adding coupons on top of sale prices and tax-free discounts, there are great deals to be had. Websites like Retail Me Not are great for finding coupon codes. Keep an eye on mailers and newspaper circulars for in-store savings.

Courtesy of UAB birminghamparent.com | 19

BAC K TO S CH O O L BIRMINGHAM PARENT’S 2018

appyhealthykidsfair

Rock & Roll: Bike Basics, Age by Age

By Malia Jacobson

Want to encourage a lifetime of fitness, fun and freedom? Bicycling offers all three, and today’s young riders are safer than ever. Per government statistics, kids’ fatalities from bike accidents have dropped 62 percent since 1999.

But that doesn’t mean you should turn your kid loose on two wheels without proper preparation. Bikerelated accidents still send more than 240,000 kids to the emergency room each year, and 26,000 of those have traumatic brain injuries. Locally, of 144 bike crash victims seen in Children’s of Alabama’s emergency room, at least half weren’t wearing any helmet or protective equipment.

Wearing helmets have been proven to significantly decrease head injuries.

Here’s how to get tots, teens and in-betweens rolling safely.

Photo by Christy Pierce Photography

Early years 0-5: Balancing act

20 | birminghamparent | august 2018

Training wheels and trikes aren’t the only options for toddlers who want to ride. These days, more children are hopping on balance bikes – two-wheeled bikes without pedals to get up to speed before graduating to a pedal bicycle. Balance bikes can help kids as young as 18 months build strength and confidence and may get them riding a traditional bike sooner.

You can make your own balance bike by taking the pedals off the bicycle, says Julie Cole Farmer, bike safety educator and Alabama chapter director of ThinkFirst Alabama

Injury Prevention Program. “It’s a good way to teach balance, and it’s easy on and off. A big part of how you ride is balance.”

Pick a balance bike based on your child’s height (visit twowheelingtots.com) for sizing guidance; proper fit allows kids to straddle the bike easily and keep both feet solidly on the ground.

Elementary years 6-12: Ready set roll

While some kids are happily riding a two-wheeled bike by first grade, others need more practice and support to feel confident on a bike. If your child is a reluctant rider, don’t give up. Just keep practice sessions fun and brief. And let your child choose a helmet and bike she loves.

Since safety slipups can cause major setbacks for already hesitant kids, take a few minutes to make sure your child’s bike sessions are dramafree. Farmer recommends tying up shoelaces that could get caught in spokes, wearing covered-toe shoes (no riding barefoot or in sandals) and teaching kids to ride single-file, never side-by-side.

“It’s important for kids to know that there is a state law that requires kids wear a bicycle helmet if they are less than 16 years old while riding a bike,” Farmer says. “And parents need to model the right behavior for kids. That means wearing a helmet, too.”

Want to encourage a lifetime of fitness, fun and freedom? Bicycling offers all three, and today’s young riders are safer than ever. Per government statistics, kids’ fatalities from bike accidents have dropped 62 percent since 1999.

Marie Crew, state chapter director of Safe Kids Alabama, says parents should make sure the helmet fits correctly. “Make a Y around the ears with the straps and make sure the straps touch the chin,” she says. For more information on bike safety and the state law, go to www.childrensal. org and search “bike helmet” and “bike law.”

Perhaps the most important thing about bike safety, especially with young children, is parental supervision, Farmer and Crew add.

“Until kids are about 10 years old, they can’t really discern where sounds are coming from, and it’s hard for them to determine where traffic is coming from and how fast. If a child is young, stay on the sidewalk.”

Teen years 13-18: Noggin nation

Bigger bikers take bigger risks. While kids 10-14 have more bike-related ER visits than older teens, riders 15-19 account for more than half of bike-related deaths. The vast majority (88 percent) of

teen bike fatalities are boys. Since your teen probably rides with minimal adult supervision, it’s vital to instill sound helmet habits to keep teens safe, even out of parents’ sight.

Make sure your teen knows the rules for the road for bicycles, Crew says. Bicyclists need to ride in the same direction as traffic, and learn hand signals. “Parents need to be active in teaching these rules,” she adds.

Riding after dark or on slick, wet streets increases the risk of crash and injury, so ask teens to call for a ride if they’re out after dark or caught in the rain. Teens are old enough to take some responsibility for maintaining their bike; make regular wheel, frame, drive train and brake checks part of your teen’s regular bike-care routine for years of safe, two-wheeled fun.

Malia Jacobson is a nationally published health and parenting journalist. Lori Pruitt, Birmingham Parent associate editor, contributed to this story.

GROWNUPS WERE STUNNED AS HE CHARMED THE SERVER INTO GIVING HIM ICE CREAM WITH SPRINKLES AND HOT FUDGE, ON THE HOUSE!

C O N G R AT U L AT I O N S G R E E N V A L E P E D I AT R I C S , 2 0 1 8 F A M I LY F AV O R I T E S P E D I AT R I C I A N S

CHILDREN A M A Z E U S E V E R Y D AY

and at Children’s of Alabama, we want to see every child grow up and live to their fullest potential. That’s why we recruit, train and retain the most inquiring minds, the most skilled hands and the most compassionate hearts in pediatric medicine.

1 6 0 0 7 T H AV E N U E S O U T H B I R M I N G H A M , A L 3 5 2 3 3 ( 2 0 5 ) 6 3 8 - 9 1 0 0

Ice Cream- Valor 7.25 x 4.8 - BhamParentMag.indd 1

ChildrensAL.org

birminghamparent.com 21 6/6/18 2:33| PM

BAC K TO S CH O O L BIRMINGHAM PARENT’S 2018

appyhealthykidsfair

Raise Green Kids:

Think Beyond the Back-to-School Sales

By Christina Katz

10 TIPS FOR HOMEMADE LUNCHES: At the grocery store, skip pre-packaged foods with excess sugar and preservatives and try these savvy shopping strategies instead: • Plan lunches for the week on Sundays • Start each day right with a hearty breakfast • Make protein the star of each lunch • Include organic veggies and fruit • Shop local and in-season • Choose whole-grain breads • Encourage drinking water at school all day • Shop the bulk section for inexpensive variety • Use up dinner leftovers each week • Hand-portion snacks for mid-morning and after school

REUSABLE SCHOOL SUPPLIES: These purchases are well worth the investment and will last for years: • Insulated lunch bag • Non-breakable water bottle • Re-freezable ice cube pack • BPA-free food storage containers • Washable fabric food pouches • Dishwasher-safe bento boxes • Silverware from home • Cloth napkins • Energy Star computers/electronics • Resale T-shirts, jeans, dress clothes and school supplies • Organic cotton clothing • Annual daily/weekly/monthly planner • Athletic bag

REUSE LAST YEAR’S: • Backpack The older kids get, the longer their school supplies can endure. An elementary school child may wear out most school supplies each year or exhaust them as part of the classes’ shared supply. But a tween or teen can reuse many school supplies over and over throughout junior high and high school, and this is encouraging news for the planet.

Shopping smarter for school supplies is not the only way to create a greener backto-school. There are many ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle academic supplies, including packing earth-friendly lunches from home. See how many of these strategies can be implemented and improve your green game each year you have kids in 22 | birminghamparent | august 2018

school. Enlist your child’s help in thinking beyond the back-to-school sale and you will teach them valuable lessons about global citizenship.

Plan ahead on purchases. While last-

minute sales on cheaply-made items may be tempting, look for products that will last.

Select a backpack that will be around for two or three years, not merely one. Water bottles disappear frequently, especially if they are the expensive, adorable kind. So choose a less fetching, sturdier water bottle that is less likely to need replacing. If you pause to think long-term on each purchase, you will make wiser choices in the long run.

• Combination lock • Pencil pouch • Insulated lunch tote • Solar-powered calculator • Manual metal pencil sharpener • Rulers, protractor and compasses • Pens, markers, highlighters • Scissors • Note cards/unused paper • Binders • USB drive • Athletic equipment

Share the wealth. Host a back-to-school potluck, school supply

and clothing swap about a month before school starts. Invite friends from the neighborhood with kids a bit younger and older than your children and have each guest bring a few higher ticket and lower ticket items in good condition to trade. Consider sorting supplies into bags by school grade for swapping. Children often tire of what they already have, whereas someone’s lightly used school supplies will feel new to them.

Hit the resale shop. Shopping green means being strategic.

If you go to the retail store first, you will likely fill your cart with brand new items. But if you start at your local resale shop, you are more likely to find clothes, supplies, and organizational products to sustainably equip your students for the entire academic year. Resale items also don’t typically come in bulky packaging, but be sure to recycle whatever packaging you acquire this season. If things wear out before next year, replace them on an as-needed basis.

Donate your overflow. Even if you shop smart on supplies every year and swap with friends and neighbors, there is a good chance you will still have some extra school items that are no longer wanted or needed. Donate them to your local resale shop by midsummer, so they can be out on display for the upcoming school year. Your school supply trash can become another family’s green treasure.

Find recycled products. Once you’ve done your green diligence, you may still require a few things from the retail store, but never fear. If you track down highly recycled, post-consumer products like notebook paper, recycled wood pencils, and even post-it notes, you can feel good about your purchases. Ask local retail salespeople to direct you to the recycled products areas of their store. Fortunately, the selection of sustainable products increases each year.

Support the class. Remember, whenever students share supplies, waste is reduced. So if you are asked to contribute school supplies to your school classroom, go ahead and participate and even contribute a bit extra, if you can. Some families in your community will likely not be able to afford to pitch in. Check with your child’s new teachers one week after school starts to discover classroom supply gaps you can fill.

Model sustainability. The best way to get your kids interested in thrift shopping is to do it together when they are young. If they see you scoring designer deals and wearing them with satisfaction, kids will learn to thrift shop first and retail shop second by the time they are old enough to control their spending. Having an annual or semi-annual family yard sale is another great way to model making room for the new in a sustainable, community-building manner. At the very least, gather used clothing from your family members to donate to the local resale shop at least two or three times a year.

Send lunch from home. Collaborating with kids on creating healthy school lunches that suit their tastes is an opportunity to model healthy eating for a lifetime. Check out the tips for healthier and less expensive school lunches below. A favorite homemade treat can still be included as long as the rest of the lunch and snack choices are nutritious. Encourage students to drink lots of water throughout the day rather than sugary beverages.

Christina Katz is an author and journalist.

GET Y UR SMILE ON. Call Now to schedule your free consultation

205-216-2917

Pelham + Calera | OrthoSouth.com

+ braces Alabama’s most experienced invisalign provider.

birminghamparent.com | 23

BAC K TO S CH O O L BIRMINGHAM PARENT’S 2018

appyhealthykidsfair

Are You Eligible for WIC?

Alabama families may qualify for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, better known as WIC. If you are a woman who is pregnant, who had a baby within the past six months, who is breastfeeding or who is the parent or guardian of a child up to age 5, you are encouraged to apply for WIC at your local county health department or WIC agency.

Participants in the program receive free nutrition education and breastfeeding peer counseling support. In addition, participants have the option to receive up to three months of food benefits at a time for each qualified family member. Food benefits are redeemable at WIC-authorized stores throughout Alabama.

WIC participants must have both a limited income and a nutritional need. Families who receive Medicaid, SNAP or Family Assistance already meet the income qualifications for WIC. Even families who do not qualify for these programs may be eligible for WIC because of its higher income limits.

Amanda Martin, WIC Director, Alabama Department of Public Health, says, “WIC encourages families to be healthy by providing nutritious foods. Nutritious foods help children grow to be healthy adults and pregnant women to have healthy babies.”

For more information please go to http://www.alabamapublichealth.gov/wic or call the statewide toll-free line at 1-888-942-4673.

Courtesy of Alabama Department of Public Health

• Bible Teaching & Training

• Absolute Academic Excellence

• Character Development & Discipline

• A-Beka Academic & Bible Curriculum WE ARE A PRIVATE, NON-DENOMINATIONAL, PK-6TH GRADE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

For more information, call 205-833-4416 216 Roebuck Drive, Birmingham, AL 35215

WWW.INTEGRITYCHRISTIANACADEMY.ORG

ASFA is a tuition-free, public school for students entering grades 7-11. Specialties include: Creative Writing, Dance, Math-Science, Music, Theatre Arts and Visual Arts.

24 | birminghamparent | august 2018

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS Under the 2018 federal poverty guidelines, more families may be eligible for the program. WIC is open to participants with incomes up to 185 percent of the federal poverty level. Check the table below to see if your family qualifies: Family Size* 2 3 4 5 6

Annual Income Weekly Income $30,451 $586 $38,443 $740 $46,435 $893 $54,427 $1,047 $62,419 $1,201

*Each unborn infant counts as one in the family size.

ADVENT EPISCOPAL SCHOOL

TAKE A TRIP Now Accepting Registrations for our 2018-2019 Classes!

Pre-Ballet • Ballet • Pre-Pointe Pointe • Jazz • Lyrical • Tap • Hip Hop

Mention this ad & receive 50% OFF registration for new students!

Schedule your tour today and introduce your class or family to Birmingham’s BIGGEST ambassador.

Mention this ad when booking to receive $1 off the cost for each student. birminghamparent.com | 25

VULCAN PARK AND MUSEUM For more than 100 years, Vulcan has embodied the story of Birmingham.

At Vulcan Park and Museum, we bring this story to life for students through tours, exhibits, live theater and dance performances. Classroom resources, enrichment activities and outreach programs enhance the experiences. Our educational programs excite students through inquiry-based learning and serve students of all ages and learning styles.

Offering more than just guided tours and field trips aligned with the Alabama Course of Study and college & career ready standards, Vulcan Park and Museum collaborates with local educational institutions to create enticing programs like the Annual Education Symposium and Teacher’s Workshop, Vulcan’s Traveling Trunk and Anything is Possible. Local Girl Scouts are also invited to participate in any of four patch programs offered through the Camps & Clubs program and Birmingham History on the Road, is available for regional middle and high schools.

To learn more about the education programs at Vulcan Park and Museum or to book a tour, email cgamble@visitvulcan.com or call 205.933.1409 x114. More information is available on visitvulcan.com

visitvulcan.com • 1701 Valley View Dr. Birmingham, AL 35209

Explorer Concerts

Sept. 27, Oct. 9, 11, 12, 2018 The Alabama Symphony Orchestra presents a musical adventure for pre-K-2nd Graders, one that is lots of fun!

Our Explorer Concerts are a perfect introduction to the orchestra. Tickets $6.

Tickets at alsymphony.org/explorer

DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR KIDS WANT TO DO NEXT SUMMER?

2019

MOMMY & ME for ages 18-36 mos.

Session 1: September 11 - October 30 Session 2: January 15 - March 12 Tuesdays 9:15-10:00 a.m.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2019 10-3 MCWANE SCIENCE CENTER 26 | birminghamparent | august 2018

Briarwood Ballet

205-776-5284 • briarwood.org/balletclasses

One of the nation’s premier college preparatory schools for students in grades 5-12

Join us for an Open House Oct. 18, 2018, Jan. 24 and March 14, 2019 altamontschool.org | 205-445-1232

Family Favorite

2018

W W W.T H O M A S P E D I AT R I C D E N T I S T R Y. C O M 721 MONTCLAIR RD . BIRMINGHAM, AL 35213

2 0 5 - 8 79 - 6 15 0

birminghamparent.com | 27

FAMILY TRAVEL

Toy Story Land

Comes to Disney’s Hollywood Studios

By Becky J. Beall

The latest addition to Walt Disney World is none other than Toy Story Land, fashioned after the successful Pixar film that debuted in 1995. Set on about 11 acres in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the fun, new land is aptly dubbed Andy’s backyard and houses a scattering of oversized toys guaranteed to resonate with every age group in your vacationing party.

Toy Story Land, three years in the making, opened June 30 to huge crowds and long lines. New rides, fabulous eats and an immersive experience is what guests will find including a giant Sheriff Woody overlooking the park upon entrance. A primary color scheme is noted throughout the land as well as strings of multi-colored Christmas lights overhead, which are so fabulous in the evening.

Strolling through Andy’s backyard, guests will feel small among the oversized, larger-than-life toys. Common sightings include wooden blocks, dominos, tinker toys, little green army men and scrabble tiles just to name a few of them. And, the new rides are patterned after familiar icons from the hit films as well.

28 | birminghamparent | august 2018

the

THE RIDES OF TOY STORY LAND Slinky Dog Dash is a mild-mannered rollercoaster perfect for the entire family. Andy built this in his backyard from a Mega Coaster Play Kit and then, for kicks and giggles, added Slinky Dog, creating the most amazing coaster around!

No huge drops or upside-down loops, but awesome fun and a great introduction for little ones to the world of coasters. (Note: check out fun scenes in this attraction like Cowgirl Jessie and T Rex. Keep your eyes open!)

Alien Swirling Saucers is also a new ride, bringing back memories of Pizza Planet’s alien claw game from the original Toy Story film.

Guests will enjoy riding on a spinning toy rocket ship sure to please all ages.

Toy Story Mania! is the crowd-pleasing attraction that came with the land, gaining a new entrance to correctly incorporate into the landscape. Open in 2008, Toy Story Mania! recently received a new, third track for the grand opening of Toy Story Land. Guests will marvel at this 4D attraction zipping through a virtual gallery of carnival games. All ages will love this new addition to an old favorite.

Other Notes from Toy Story Land Character encounters are a big deal at Disney parks and little guests will be thrilled to meet up with Buzz Lightyear, Sheriff Woody and Cowgirl Jessie for autographs and photo opportunities.

Sarge and the little green army men randomly roam about the park and often interact with guests including performances, audibles and perhaps preparing the men for anything that doesn’t look

right. Be on the lookout for the full-grown men who, in true Disney fashion, look exactly like little green army men (well, maybe not so little).

Hungry guests need look no further than Woody’s Lunchbox for creative, yet simple, snacks and meals. Choose from grilled sandwiches, kids meals, grown-up drinks, ice cream floats and breakfast-time favorite – S’mores French Toast Sandwich. Adults and kids alike will enjoy this tasty treat to fuel a long, fun day in the new land.

Don’t miss the Fisher-Price Family Camper, also known as the souvenir stand! It’s so cute and there are fantastic, unique treasures to see and purchase.

TRAVEL

VOICE

BY BECKY The only voice in travel that MATTERS!

Tips for Enjoying Toy Story Land Try to hit up a new theme-land like this one during park extra hours when staying on property. It’ll definitely be less crowded. Early morning and late evening are also times when crowds start to thin, so plan to visit then if you are able, with the added nighttime benefit of seeing Toy Story Land all lit up!

Plan well with fast passes! Download the My Disney Experience app and set fast passes for both Alien Swirling Saucers and Slinky Dog Dash as soon as possible to avoid lengthy wait times.

Relax and take it all in. Sit on a bench and look around. Andy’s things are everywhere – and they look a lot like your things, too.

Catch The Travel Voice by Becky on Saturday’s in Shelby County on FM 99.9 APH Radio at 11 a.m. and anytime on iHeart Radio!

Becky J. Beall is a freelance travel journalist who enjoys Disney as much as the kiddos. Follow her for more travel inspiration at TheTravelVoiceByBecky.com.

For more information, visit thetravelvoicebybecky.com

Great travel information, special deals, awesome guests, spectacular on location LIVE events and amazing giveaways!

birminghamparent.com | 29

FAM ILY

The Presbyterian Home for Children: CELEBRATING 150 YEARS

By Carol Muse Evans

Photos by Samantha Ferguson, His Hands Photographs

It’s a staggering statistic. The average age of a homeless person in Alabama is age 6. This is the approximate age of a first grader.

One organization in Alabama is seeking to make a huge difference in the lives of homeless children and mothers in Alabama – and one that has been for the last 150 years – is the Presbyterian Home for Children (PHFC) in Talladega, says its president and CEO Doug Marshall. In fact, this organization serves children and families who seek healing and hope for their troubled lives.

The PHFC is helping to answer a critical need for Alabama’s homeless children and families,” according to Jacque Cordle-Ramey, director of development. “So many children are separated from their moms due to simple poverty and the mom’s inability to find and hold employment due to a lack of education or job skills.

“At the Home we are able to not only work in partnership with mothers and help them obtain the education or training that they need to become successful and independent from assistance, we also work in tandem with her family providing parenting classes and counseling encouraging their family unit to regain its strength and potential, Cordle-Ramey explains.

The PHFC is a ministry of Alabama’s three presbyteries of the Presbyterian Church (USA): North Alabama, the Sheppards and the Lapsleys, and South Alabama; and led by a 25-member board of trustees. Visitors will feel the love from among staff members, many who have worked their entire work lives here and remain committed to the organization.

Talk to anyone who has lived here on this beautiful, rolling, 80-acre campus, and you’ll find a basket of emotions associated with the home. While all seem thankful and have grown from being here, memories can be different, because most people come to this home when they have hit rock bottom – whether it’s the child or the mother, or both. It is usually bad 30 | birminghamparent | august 2018

things that have brought them here, Marshall says. Whether the former resident is in her 30s, like Cindy, or in her 80s, like Mary, some memories are raw, but this organization may well have saved them during a difficult time.

Both Mary and Cindy say it made them better people. “We help place them on a path of hope and surround them with love,” Marshall adds.

“Many of the children and families that we serve have been going from crisis to crisis and just trying to survive,” Cordle-Ramey adds.

“We are able to bring them back together to a place of calmness so that they can reestablish what it’s like to be a normal, healthy family.”

There are many outstanding programs here, but the newest Family Bridges intensive in-home services might be one of the few, if not the only service in the state to offer assistance to families in need of in-home services that focus on successful permanency within a safe, stable family setting in a timely manner for children, according to Felicia Ayers Storey, LGSW, program director. This program is performed in partnership with the referring county DHR worker. Amazingly, this program is accessibly 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Counties currently served are Talladega and east central Alabama such as Clay, Randolph, St. Clair and Cleburne Counties, Storey adds. One of the main goals is to keep families together or to reunify them later.

The transition to the Adult Living Program provides room, board and support services for young women, ages 19-24, while educating, equipping and empowering them to move toward full independence, according to Sharon J. Moore, program director. The room and board is cozy, homey, and inviting. This program is wonderful for young women who have aged out of the foster care system and need some help, encouragement and guidance toward adult living. The home even provides assistance with student aid, scholarships, jobs, volunteer assignments and life skills.

The Secure Dwellings program provides transitional housing on the Presbyterian Home campus and ministers to homeless children and their female caregivers. Giving them a home, they can rest, grow, go to school and the moms/ caregivers can develop education, vocational and social skills with the goal of being self-sufficient, Storey says. Again, the dwellings are much more homey than institutional, a credit to the organization. Residents here are helped with things like monthly budgeting and money management, finding daycare for children, job applications, and basic life skills. “This program usually stays full,” Marshall adds, but the organization is building additional new units to house more families. “The goal is to keep mom and child together,” Marshall adds. “This is a faith-based safe haven, where

HISTORY The Orphans’ Home of the Synod of Alabama (which is today the Presbyterian Home for Children) was born during the Southern Confederacy in 1868 as a home for children orphaned by the Civil War, particularly for children of confederate soldiers. While it held several locations in Mobile and Birmingham, it eventually was moved to Talladega and dedicated in 1892. Some of the same buildings dedicated then still stand on the campus today.

birminghamparent.com | 31

FAM ILY

we provide programs which nurture, educate and equip them to become the full functioning persons whom God created them to be.”

The Moderate Care Residential Therapeutic Program offers girls a home in a residential cottage with full-time house parents. This program is for girls who have experienced some of the more severe trauma or abuse, with the hopes of making them whole again and healing in such a way that they can move forward with their lives, says Sharon C. Britt, LGSW, program director. Restorative services here are key, and each girl has a program tailored to her specific needs. “The Home pulls more than 100 years of collective experience from its leadership team in serving and leading children,” Marshall adds.

And while at Presbyterian Home for Children, all the children are able to attend Ascension Leadership Academy, formerly known as Hope Academy (which opened in 1997), the home’s SACS accredited on-campus school, and many children whose parents seek a private, Christian education, mixed with the children who are housed at the home offer kids some normalcy, according to Linda Harris, director of education. With its low student/ teacher ratio, even children who are behind in school can advance and reach their fullest academic potential, according to Marshall.

While children from any municipality are welcome, many of the area children served 32 | birminghamparent | august 2018

come from Anniston, Oxford, Munford, Sylacauga, Pell City and Talladega.

In addition to all of these services, The Presbyterian Home for Children offers other services such as independent living skills, crisis intervention, individual, group and family counseling. Family support, social skills and even local transportation including health care appointments and employment.

This is an amazing amount of work for a ministry. Marshall says the home is primarily funded by individual and church donations during the year and the Home is now now focusing more on sustained giving, as well as events like the Bike Ride in the fall, the Children’s Home Challenge.

“The difference is that we are able to make for the children’s isn’t just for today or next week, these are changes that will transform not only their entire life but the lives of their children and grandchildren,” Cordle-Ramey says.

The PHFC home must have donations to continue to serve these children, young adults and families. For more information, or to donate, you can visit www.phfc.org, contact the Home at 256-362-2114, or use the envelope inside this month’s issue of Birmingham Parent to contribute.

THE PHFC THRIFT STORE In 2015 the Presbyterian Home for Children opened the PHFC Thrift Store on its campus in Talladega.

Open Tuesday- Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. - noon, the goal is to provide part-time employment and job training for women in the Secure Dwellings Program. Donations for the store are

Carol Muse Evans is publisher/editor of Birmingham Parent.

welcomed. There is also pick up in the greater Birmingham area.

Before they come to us, children are focused on survival – not learning.

This fall will mark the beginning of school for the 151st class of students served by the Presbyterian Home for Children. The typical child who is a resident at PHFC arrives behind grade level in all areas, especially in vocabulary and reading.

Through our accredited private school, Ascension Leadership Academy, PHFC offers an accredited Christian education to homeless children from all over Alabama. Housing on our campus allows homeless single mother families to have a safe place to rebuild their family.

We believe that education is the key to building a better life for the children we serve. Please use the enclosed envelope or donate online and join us in giving Alabama’s homeless children hope – hope for a good job, hope that their generation will break the cycle of poverty and abuse, and hope for a better tomorrow. Your gift will help fund teachers, textbooks, and school supplies. Your gift will fund hope.

DID YOU KNOW?

Children who have been homeless are four times more likely than other children to score at or below the tenth percentile in vocabulary and reading.

The average age of a homeless person in Alabama is age 6, the age of a first grader.

www.phfc.org . 256-362-2114 P.O. Drawer 577, Talladega, Alabama 35161

Dealing with Dyslexia Many people think that dyslexia is just a problem of “reading backwards.” But it’s much more than that. Dyslexia is a language-based learning disability that causes difficulty with spelling, writing and pronouncing words.

It also doesn’t just affect boys. Studies show that dyslexia affects both genders in nearly equal numbers. Dyslexia is also not a sign of low intelligence – dyslexic individuals are gifted in many other areas, such as being more intuitive, visual, and artistic. In fact, many successful entrepreneurs are classified as dyslexic.

Dyslexia also is not curable – it’s a lifelong challenge for those who have it. And it’s also extremely common: studies show that it affects one in five people in the United States. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Service estimates that approximately 15 percent of the population has dyslexia.

Furthermore, according to “The Nation’s Report Card,” more than 60 percent of fourth graders in the United States aren’t proficient at reading. “So often children are having to fail in the school system before the problem of dyslexia is being recognized,” says Dr. Stephanie Denton, the medical director and co-founder of Alabama Game Changers, a 34 | birminghamparent | august 2018

By Paige Townley

nonprofit organization that exists to help the children and families struggling with dyslexia.

“Then, the children are by that time in the third or fourth grade and can’t read well, and there are many problems that stem from the inability to read.”

And that’s precisely why Denton, a pediatrician, and Karen Belcher, a pediatric nurse, started Alabama Game Changers. The organization merges the medical and educational communities with respect to childhood literacy, and it actually supports those with other learning differences/disabilities as well, but the majority of those they see are dyslexic.

“Both of us have kids who are dyslexic,” Denton explains. “We realized that schools weren’t really appropriately servicing these kids. Schools do well in some areas with kids who are struggling, but not those classified as dyslexic. We realized that these children really needed more support, proper evaluation, and early intervention.”

That support, evaluation, and intervention should happen sooner rather than later, Denton notes. In fact, often by the end of kindergarten a child can be diagnosed. “Weaknesses reveal themselves early,” she says. “A lot of people

don’t realize that, but you can tell which children are struggling with dyslexia by the end of kindergarten. It used to be that dyslexics had to totally fail and be nonreaders in third or fourth grade before intervention was taken, and that’s too late. You need to catch these children early so that you can teach them to read. If we can capture these children early, we can make a huge difference in their struggles.”

Comprehensive reading evaluations are what Alabama Game Changers provides to children from six years to 24 years old, and through that they can determine the child’s strengths and weaknesses and where they are on the path to reading. Importantly, as part of that process they sit down with parents and explain the results. “So often we see parents who are frustrated because perhaps their child has had testing, but they don’t understand what the testing means. So we explain everything and then work with them to develop an educational plan for their child based on his or her strengths and weaknesses.”

In addition to diagnosing a child and encouraging parents to take back the medicallyreviewed reading evaluation to their child’s school, Alabama Game Changers also can help

parents put together a plan to get their child help outside of school. While the nonprofit doesn’t do actual treatment, they can refer families to organizations that do, such as Child’sPlay Therapy Center.

Child’sPlay Therapy Center provides comprehensive pediatric therapy services, including treatment for dyslexia.

“We typically do testing in-house to determine a child’s reading skills, then tailor our approach to the exact needs of that child,” says Lindsay Vargas, a speech language pathologist at Child’sPlay. “And the earlier we can get started with a child diagnosed with dyslexia, the better.”

Child’sPlay utilizes the Orton-Gillingham approach, which was developed by a neurologist, Dr. Samuel T. Orton, and an educator, Anna Gillingham. It was created specifically for children with dyslexia, and it’s multi-sensory, kinesthetic, and phonics based.

Treatment with the Orton-Gillingham method includes things like the child being shown flash cards with letters and getting them to say aloud the name of the letter and sound it makes, writing words and sentences and blending letter sounds and vowel sounds. “We also incorporate touch as we have them use their fingers to write a letter with sand or shaving cream,” Vargas says. “That way they are hearing it, feeling it, touching it, and speaking it aloud. That helps them learn and maintain the skills they are learning.”

Studies show that dyslexia affects both genders in nearly equal numbers. Dyslexia is also not a sign of low intelligence – dyslexic individuals are gifted in many other areas, such as being more intuitive, visual, and artistic. In fact, many successful entrepreneurs are classified as dyslexic.

In October 2015, the Alabama State Board of Education passed the Dyslexia Amendments, which defined dyslexia in the school system, recognized the significant educational difficulties caused by dyslexia, and acknowledged that certain services needed to be provided to students with dyslexia to encourage their success. “For years schools didn’t recognize dyslexia,” says Angela Fletcher, Alabama Game Changer’s executive director. “In fact, teachers couldn’t say anything about a child being dyslexic in schools until the Dyslexia Amendments.”

The amendments now require that any child reading below benchmark should be screened for dyslexia at their public school, and if they fail the screening, the school should then provide specific reading intervention for dyslexia within the classroom. The hope behind the amendments is that they will help dyslexic children get the assistance they need at an earlier age. “Getting the right diagnosis as early as possible is so important to helping set a child up for success,” Denton says.

For more information, visit alabamagamechangers.org or childsplaytherapycenter.com.

Over 25 years experience in caring for children & young adults with kidney disease.

CLINIC S IN BIRMINGH A M, MONTGOMERY A ND HUNTSV ILLE

Blood or Protein in Urine Childhood Obesity Bedwetting Urinary Tract Infection Transplantation MARK BENFIELD, M.D.

Babies born with Kidney Disease

BIRMINGHAM’S SUPER DOCTORS HONOREE SINCE 2012

Kidney Stones

BEST DOCTORS IN AMERICA LIST SINCE 2005

High Blood Pressure

(205) 558-3200 www.pednephal.com

Nephrotic Syndrome Lupus birminghamparent.com | 35

COM M U N I T Y

SafeHouse: Breaking the Cycle of Domestic Violence

By Paige Townley

Though we may not realize it, we all know someone who is affected by domestic violence.

A neighbor. A co-worker. Perhaps a friend, or even a family member. In fact, one in three women and one in four men have been the victim of some form of physical violence by an intimate partner in their life.

The sad fact is, domestic violence is often a silent crime – it’s not talked about, it’s not typically witnessed, and no one ever wants to think it could happen to them or someone they know. Yet it happens every day, and it’s those victims SafeHouse works so tirelessly to help.

SafeHouse was started by a group of volunteers in 1989 that identified the need in the community to house victims who were fleeing domestic violence. From there, it expanded to include victims and survivors of sexual violence as well. “We soon saw the need for helping victims of sexual violence,” says Dotti Bailey, SafeHouse executive director Dotti Bailey.

“A lot of times, domestic violence and sexual violence go hand in hand.”

The housing has changed and grown over the years. Today, SafeHouse operates a 56-bed emergency shelter that accommodates survivors and their children. The facility is staffed 24 hours a day and utilizes a 24-hour crisis line so that they can help anyone at any time. “The needs of each and every victim who comes to us is different, and we do our best to accommodate that,” Bailey says. “Sometimes they just need to stay for a little while to get situated, or they may not need to stay long at all because they have a support system with family or friends they can stay with. It could just be a safety issue where the abuser hasn’t gone through the court process yet, so they need to stay until that happens.”

In addition to providing a safe place to stay, the nonprofit organization also focuses on offering comprehensive services to those they serve. Those services include advocacy and support through offerings like group counseling, legal advocacy, referrals, and case management. “We offer pretty much anything they need to start their life free from abuse,” Bailey says. “Research shows that a victim may leave five to seven times before they leave for good. We utilize every opportunity we have to show them that there are options available. They do have a choice.”

36 | birminghamparent | august 2018

“Research shows that a victim may leave five to seven times before they leave for good. We utilize every opportunity we have to show them that there are options available. They do have a choice.”

— DOTTI BAILEY

Those comprehensive services can be utilized by domestic and sexual violence survivors whether they are staying at SafeHouse or not.

Safe Shelby, a new clinic for people ages 14 and up who have been sexually assaulted, has nurses and advocates on call 24 hours a day who can provide forensic exams and evidence collection for someone who has been sexually assaulted.

The clinic also has a counselor on hand who does group and individual counseling.

“The clinic is confidential and private, and it’s much more comfortable than having to go to the hospital,” Bailey adds. “We try to put someone at ease and really take into consideration what that person has experienced. And it’s great because with all of the services the clinic offers, we can support the person throughout the entire process and help them navigate the challenges if it does go on through the court system.”

This past year alone, SafeHouse has received more than 2,500 calls for help on its crisis line and provided emergency shelter to

nearly 300 victims and their children. More than 600 victims have received SafeHouse’s services through its community outreach services and SafeShelby.

While the organization is helping every survivor it can, it hopes to reduce the need for their services by continuing to focus on its prevention education program – which takes the topic to schools and community youth – and its professional training, which is designed for all members of the community. But until then, SafeHouse will continue to stand up and help those in need. “Domestic and sexual violence are unlike any other crime,” Bailey says. “They are very personal in nature. They really do get at the core of your being. To help someone potentially find their way through – to experience that healing and recovery process – is huge.”

Paige Townley is a Birmingham freelance writer.

AIDB invites you to experience

Deaf.Blind.Limitless.

Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind is the world’s most comprehensive education, rehabilitation and service program serving individuals of all ages who are deaf, blind, deafblind and multi-disabled and their families.

To schedule a tour, contact the AIDB Admissions Office | (800)532-4622 | www.aidb.org Birmingham | Dothan | Huntsville | Mobile | Montgomery | Talladega | Tuscaloosa | Tuscumbia

FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED FOR 37 YEARS!!

Over 2700 square feet of unique dancewear, shoes, tights, liturgical and tutus from the top industry brands.

family children newborn seniors couples maternity wedding boudoir photogenic

@applause_ dancewear

modeling events engagement

Toddler to Adult sizes. Professional Shoe Fitting.

Family Favorite

2018

www.applausedancewear.net

1629 Oxmoor Rd | Birmingham, AL 35209 | 205-871-STEP

No Sitting or Session Fees!

In studio or outdoor photography available 205-902-0385 www.ChristyPiercePhotographyLLC.com birminghamparent.com | 37

CHATT ING WIT H CHILD' S PLAY sponsored by

Comprehensive Pediatric Therapy Services

…we’re just for kids!

Comprehensive Pediatric Therapy Services

…we’re just for kids!

• Occupational Therapy • Physical Therapy • Speech Therapy • Focal Point for ADD/ADHD • Reading Therapy • Counseling Services • Feeding/Nutrition Therapy • Integrated Listening • Interactive Metronome Chelsea: 205-618-8095 | Hoover: 205-978-9939

www.ChildsPlayTherapyCenter.com “Like” us on facebook!

38 | birminghamparent | august 2018

Is Handwriting Still Important in the Age of Technology?

No one can question the fact that technology has changed how we do things. Most of us depend on technology on a daily basis to communicate via e-mails and texts. Today’s schools provide students with access to computers and tablets for research as well as for completing some written assignments.

However, did you know that first and second graders spend about 70 percent of their day with a pencil in their hand? The pencil is still the number one form of written communication in elementary school classrooms, and that’s the way it should be!

Studies show that there is a neurological process that takes place when children hand write their letters that doesn’t take place when you hit a key on a keyboard. That neurological process not only improves writing skills, but it also helps children learn to read. As the hand graphically creates the letters and the brain interprets that letter both visually and kinesthetically, children make a connection between the eyes, the brain, and the hand that just won’t happen with keyboarding.

You may see this conflict as “handwriting vs. technology,” but that doesn’t have to be the case. Children who can write effectively and be efficient users of today’s technology are success bound! Can you imagine how crippled you would feel if you were without either of those skills? Many of our classrooms are no longer instructing children to write properly and just let children copy letters from a model without regard to how the letters are formed. Consistent letter formation is extremely important, both for legibility as well as for speed.

We shouldn’t let the presence of technology eliminate the good, foundational skill of actually teaching children to write. If your child struggles with handwriting, Child’sPlay occupational therapists can help!

Call today to schedule a free screening at 978-9939 in Hoover or 618-8095 in Chelsea, www.childsplaytherapycenter.com.

RAISING AWARENESS OF THE THREAT OF ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF APPROPRIATE ANTIBIOTIC PRESCRIBING AND USE IN THE COMMUNITIES, IN HEALTHCARE FACILITIES, AND ON THE FARM

• At least 80 million antibiotic prescriptions each year are unnecessary.

• Antibiotics are only needed for treating certain infections caused by bacteria.

• Antibiotics do not work on viruses such as colds and flu.

• Antibiotics are not always the answer. Everyone can help improve antibiotic prescribing and use.

• Stay healthy and keep others healthy by washing hands, covering cough, staying home when sick and getting recommended vaccines.

Viruses or Bacteria: What’s got you sick?

Common Condition:

Common Cause Bacteria

Bacteria or Virus

Virus

Are antibiotics needed?

Strep throat

✔

YES

Whooping cough

✔

YES

Urinary tract infection

✔

YES

Sinus infection

✔

MAYBE

Middle ear infection

✔

MAYBE

Bronchitis/chest cold (in otherwise healthy children and adults)*

✔

NO*

Common cold/runny nose

✔

NO

Sore throat (except strep)

✔

NO

Flu

✔

NO

*Studies show that in otherwise healthy children and adults, antibiotics for bronchitis won’t help you feel better.

www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use

ASK T H E S P E C I AL I ST

sponsored by

Eating Healthy on Vacation

By Dr. Marie Pittman

Who says eating veggies can’t be fun? Answer: toddlers, young kids and teenagers.

Does this sound like your family? This makes eating healthy while traveling on vacation that much harder. Here are a few tips to help you on your next vacation: No junk food during the car ride. While traveling, it’s easy to get sucked into buying snacks at convenience stores or rest stops. Try preparing snacks such as sandwiches, trail mix, pretzels, chopped raw vegetables or fresh fruit in a small cooler for when you’re filling up at the gas station or your kids just want a snack. Another option is going to the grocery store instead of fast food restaurants and going on a lunch picnic.

If you have to go to a fast food restaurant, pick at least one healthy option for your child to eat even if that comes down to choosing milk or water over juice or a soda for them to drink.

Shop while you’re on vacation – at a local grocery store. When you arrive, plan to go to a local grocery store and stock up on healthy snacks for the hotel and to take with you while out for the day. Let your child or children to pick the “Snack of the Day.” Give each child their own day improvising if there is an odd number of days giving “Snack of the Day” honors to mom, dad or their favorite cartoon character.

Plan ahead. When going on vacation, it’s easy to fall into the often unhealthy trap of thinking it will be easy to grab something nearby on your commute to the next museum or during the 30 minutes you have until it’s time for your next activity to start. This is usually when fast food comes in handy. Therefore, I recommend planning every meal down to snacks and lunches. Look for local and convenient healthy restaurants where you can still get the authenticity of the city you’re in without resorting to fast food.

Conquering dinner. Sharing meals will help cut down on portion sizes. If you have a family of four, you can usually split 2 or 3 entrees as standard serving sizes at restaurants can usually feed two people. Even if there aren’t any healthy options, eating less of an unhealthy option is always better.

No junk food during the car ride.

While traveling, it’s easy to get sucked into buying snacks at convenience stores or rest stops. Try preparing snacks such as sandwiches, trail mix, pretzels, chopped raw vegetables or fresh fruit in a small cooler for when you’re filling up at the gas station or

Safe travels!

your kids just want a snack. Another option is going to the grocery store instead of fast food restaurants and going on a lunch picnic. If you have to go to a fast food restaurant, pick at least one healthy option for your child to eat even if that comes down to choosing milk or water over juice or a soda for them to drink.

40 | birminghamparent | august 2018

CELEBR AT I O NS

Saint George Middle Eastern Food Festival is Coming in September A yearly favorite for delicious, homemade Middle Eastern food and much more, the 37th Saint George Middle Eastern Food Festival will be held September 27-29 at Saint George Melkite Catholic Church, 425 16th Ave. S. in Birmingham. All the delicious, traditional favorite food will be on hand to purchase, along with craft vendors, church tours and live entertainment.

Father Justin Rose, the church’s newly appointed priest, arrived last year on September 5, just in time for the 2017 festival. “Coming from Southern California which offers diverse cuisines, I did not expect exciting culinary choices here,” he says. “I am proud that our festival can be a part of Birmingham’s culinary renaissance.”

The festival, near UAB, is open from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. each day. There is plenty of space to dine in, or the festival offers a convenient drive-through service between the hours of 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Lunch orders of $75 or more can be delivered to the downtown area on Thursday

and Friday. For takeout and delivery orders call 205-492-9621 or email foodorders@saintgeorgeonline.org Delivery orders must be placed the day before by 5 p.m.

Food choices include kibbee, chicken, spinach and beef pies, rolled grape leaves, falafel and more. Plates, sandwiches and sides are available.

There also are several delicious desserts, including the zalabieh (Arabic doughnut), with the option to purchase a pastry variety box. Soft drinks, tea, bottled water and Arabic coffee also will be served.

Informative church tours will be conducted daily until 8 p.m. Live entertainment, which include an Arabic band and Arabic dancing performed by the church’s youth, will be presented on Friday evening, Saturday afternoon and Saturday evening. Crafts for sale include handmade crafts, Byzantine icons, olive wood artifacts from the Holy Land, and a church cookbook, “Our Favorite Recipes.”

A portion of the proceeds from the festival will benefit local charities, including Three

Photos courtesy of Saint George

Hots and A Cot, Pathways of Birmingham, and Habitat for Humanity. The festival also enables the parish to feed the homeless, prepare hot meals for women in shelters, provide diapers and other paper products to local charities, and sponsor an “Angel Tree” at Christmas.

For more information, visit www.saintgeorgeonline.org and follow the event on Facebook, St George 2018 Middle Eastern Food Festival.

Courtesy of St. George Middle Eastern Food Festival

HOOVER/BESSEMER ON MORGAN ROAD - 425-5525 | TRUSSVILLE/IRONDALE ON CLIFFORD CIRCLE - 518-5441

birminghamparent.com | 41

SE AN O F T H E S O U TH

Sister

By Sean Dietrich

She’s a woman. So help me, a woman. She has a husband, a daughter, a good job. I don’t know how she survived our sad childhood without getting hurt. God knows, it wasn’t easy.

I was the second person to hold her. Daddy said to me, “Whatever you do, don’t drop her.”

She looked like a white bullfrog. She smelled like vanilla and grass clippings. I promised I’d take care of her forever.

That was harder than it sounded. This girl grew into a kid who did reckless things.

She used to leap off round hay bales, flapping her arms, yelling, “CATCH ME!” She liked to see how long she could hold her breath underwater. She climbed trees that were too high. She ate too much bacon.

Her first word was, “NO!” Her second word was “NONONO!” She used these words when I tried to force an oyster past her lips.

She pitched a fit.

I’d never known anyone who didn’t like oysters. They were the food of our forefathers.

Our ancestors consumed oysters when they learned the War Between the States was over.

She was four when Daddy died. The morning of his death, I sobbed alone on our back porch.

She crawled onto my lap.

“Don’t cry,” she said.

42 | birminghamparent | august 2018

I did anyway.

We took care of each other. I did her laundry and taught her how to fry bacon. And when our dog had puppies, I showed her how to hold them – there’s an art to handling newborn pups.

Once, I rented a library book on French braiding. She let me practice until her hair resembled overcooked spaghetti.

She tried out for the school play. I attended her audition. She was nervous, and the smug drama teacher told her she had no talent.

I’m a quiet man, but I wasn’t that day. I called the teacher a greasy communist who didn’t love the Lord.

Throughout her high-school years, she worked different jobs. Once, she worked in an ice-cream shop. Each day, I’d clock out of my job and visit her.

When the store was slow, she gave me ice cream for free – with Heath Bar crumbles. I gained eight pounds during that time.

I saw her last night. It was a party. People wore nice clothes. She wore a dress straight from a magazine. Not many women compete with her.

She is long, strong, and big-eyed. She inherited my ancestor’s looks. I inherited an affection for oysters.

I stood, watching her.

She saw me across the room. We hugged.

She gives good hugs. Always has.

She’s a woman. So help me, a woman. She has a husband, a daughter, a good job. I don’t know how she survived our sad childhood without getting hurt. God knows, it wasn’t easy.

But seeing her in cocktail attire, I felt something I don’t often feel. It’s the same feeling I’ll bet Daddy felt when he handed her to me.

Some might call it pride. Maybe that’s what it is. Whatever you call it, it feels so good it throbs in my throat and makes my smile hurt.

You’d be proud of me, Daddy.

I didn’t drop her.

Sean Dietrich is a columnist, and novelist, known for his commentary on life in the American South. His work has appeared in Southern Living, The Tallahassee Democrat, Good Grit, South Magazine, Yellowhammer News, the Bitter Southerner, Thom Magazine, The Mobile Press Register, and he has authored seven books.

Prescription opioids can be ADDICTIVE and DANGEROUS.

IT ONLY TAKES A LITTLE TO LOSE A LOT. www.alabamapublichealth.gov/pharmacy

D IN IN G W I T H O U T WH I N I N G

HOU

T

G

IT W W

N

DI

N NI G

5 Dollar Dinners with Erin Chase

H I NI

HAM & CHEESE SLIDERS WITH HONEY MUSTARD Yield – 12 sliders Prep Time – 10 minutes Cooking Time – 0 minutes INGREDIENTS 12 slider buns or dinner rolls

●

12 slices of provolone or Swiss cheese

●

12 slices ham deli meat

●

2 Tbsp spicy brown mustard

●

2 Tbsp honey

●

Chips & fresh fruit, as side options

●

DIRECTIONS Assemble the ham and cheese sliders. Fold the cheese slices into quarters so it fits on the smaller buns.

●

In a small mixing bowl, mix the honey and spicy brown mustard with a fork and then drizzle onto the sandwiches.

●

Cut up some fresh fruit and set out your favorite chips.

●

Serve sliders with your favorite chips and fresh fruit.

●

Erin Chase is the home chef behind www.5dollardinners. com and author of The $5 Dinner Mom Cookbook series.

She lives with her husband, four boys and one furry boy in San Antonio, Texas.

A DV ERTISE HER E NE X T MON TH!

A tasty option for any budget!

Only $299/month. Ad size: 6.7” wide x 1.9” high

Call 205-985-7700 today for more information

44 | birminghamparent | august 2018

Life is busy enough already. But when you or a loved one is sick, it makes everything harder. That’s why Brookwood Baptist Health offers the largest primary and specialty care network in the state, with convenient locations all over central Alabama. We’re there for fevers, injuries, vaccinations, women’s care, chronic condition management, and everything in between. For convenient care, backed by all the resources and expertise of Brookwood Baptist Health, let our family care for yours.

Book Online at bbhcarenetwork.com or call (205) 967-1772.

Comprehensive, compassionate care, close to home.

Are your child’s doctors and pediatric healthcare professionals exceptional?

Do they take time to listen and respond to your concerns?

Has your child received medical care that exceeded your expectations?

If so, make sure they are recognized and honored in the December 2018 issue of Birmingham Parent by nominating your favorite doc today!

It’ll only take 5 minutes!

Visit www.birminghamparent.com to tell us your nominee and WHY.

Testimonials and nominations must be submitted by local moms or dads of real patients. Nominations or testimonials submitted and/or written directly by practices will not be accepted.

birminghamparent.com | 45

ASK T H E AT TO R N E Y

sponsored by

GRANDPARENTS: Use Caution Making Gifts to Your Grandchildren with Special Needs

By Melanie B. Holliman, Estate Planning & Special Needs Attorney, Executive Director of Alabama Family Trust

Grandparents love to spoil their grandchildren.

Their generosity ranges from ice cream cones and teddy bears to cars, college tuition, and large sums of money. Grandparents are even known to designate grandchildren as the beneficiaries of life insurance policies and large IRA accounts.

While it is wonderful for grandparents to help their grandchildren get a start on life, it can have disastrous results if the grandchild has a disability. In fact, instead of helping a grandchild accumulate assets for the future, it may force a grandchild to spend the assets immediately just to retain health insurance.

If the child is receiving SSI and Medicaid, gifts from a grandparent (especially monetary gifts) can cause the child to accumulate more assets than are allowed by the government programs. The grandchild could lose SSI and Medicaid until the extra assets are spent. In other words, the effect is the exact opposite of the grandparent’s intent.

Fortunately, there is a better way.

Grandparents should consider creating a special needs trust instead of giving money directly to a disabled grandchild or making the grandchild the beneficiary of a life insurance policy or IRA account. Federal and state law permit these trusts to hold gifts and inheritance without causing the loss of SSI and Medicaid benefits.

With a special needs trust, the grandchild can keep SSI and Medicaid benefits while the grandparent also achieves the goal of giving money to help the grandchild over his or her lifetime.

Special needs trusts are generally created as part of the grandparent’s Last Will and Testament or Living Trust. However, grandparents may also create a special needs trust that is separate from the estate plan.

Be sure to seek legal counsel that is experienced with special needs trusts. Learn more about special needs trusts at www.alabamafamilytrust.com.

Melanie B. Holliman, Executive Director of Alabama Family Trust and Law Partner at Bradford & Holliman. www.alabamafamilytrust.com. This article is for educational purposes and is not intended for specific legal advice.

Plan Your Tomorrows Today Today is a good time to plan ahead for your estate and family members with special needs.

John R. Holliman, JD and Melanie B. Holliman, JD can help you plan your tomorrows.

BIR

s

ne

w

ye

ars

of good

2491 Pelham Pkwy. Pelham, AL 35124

No representation is made that the quality of legal service to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services to be performed by other lawyers.

46 | birminghamparent | august 2018

GHA

M CHRISTIAN

FA LY

205-663-0281

18

• 2018 Top Flight Attorneys Awards, B-Metro: Melanie and John Holliman

www.bradfordholliman.com

IN

MI

• 2018 Top Attorney Awards, Birmingham Magazine: Melanie and John Holliman

M

• Top Attorneys to Watch in 2018: Melanie B. Holliman

CELEBRATIONS

Tumblebus

Birthdays in Birmingham

Central Alabama www.tumblebusal.com

WHERE EXERCISE, LEARNING, AND FITNESS ARE FUN!!!

Your local birthday party resource

★ Birthday Parties ★ Corporate Events

Loved by Parents since 1997

★ Daycare Programs

birthdaysinbirmingham.com

★ Special Events (256)

207-5496

Places to Go  Entertainment Party Supplies & Rentals  Facilities  Coupons

A GYM ON WHEELS!

thefacepaintingfairy@yahoo.com facebook.com/Thefacepaintingfairy

205-527-2134

Celebrating over 20 years of blockbuster fun!

Outdoor movies for private parties, churches, schools & large-scale events.

You name it.

We can do it!

205-595-3549

SPECIAL

Free Bundtlet!

Does not expire.

Expires 8/31/18.

backyardmovieparties.com

IZING IN

AY BIRTHDIES T R PA 205-545-9923

COME ON IN AND GET A

OFFTHEWALLFAMILYFUN.COM

YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL

BIRTHDAY PARTIES AND CELEBRATIONS FOR ANY OCCASION! Girls ages 3-13

Hairstyles Nail Painting Makeup

1812 28TH AVE S. HOMEWOOD AL 35209 . 2052220531

birminghamparent.com | 47

NATI ONA L C L ASS I F I E D AD S

ANNOUNCEMENTS

MISCELLANEOUS

Beware of loan fraud. Please check with the Better Business Bureau or Consumer Protection Agency before sending any money to any loan company. SAPA

SAVE YOUR HOME! Are you behind paying your MORTGAGE? Denied a Loan Modification? Is the bank threatening foreclosure? CALL Homeowner’s Relief Line now! FREE CONSULTATION 844-359-4330

EMPLOYMENT / HELP WANTED

A PLACE FOR MOM. The nation’s largest senior living referral service. Contact our trusted, local experts today!

Our service is FREE/no obligation. CALL 1-855-4016444.

Easy $2,000 Week Sales Job: Selling Direct TV, Home Alarm Systems and AT&T Phones. Send your name, phone and e-mail to davidsmith7777@hotmail.com Dave 330-559-8638.

A PLACE FOR MOM has helped over a million families find senior living. Our trusted local advisors help solutions to your unique needs at NO COST TO YOU! Call 844432-3281

FOR SALE Lung Cancer? And Age 60+?

You And Your Family May Be Entitled To Significant Cash Award. Call 866-5903140 for Information. No Risk.

No Money Out Of Pocket.

NEW AUTHORS WANTED! Page Publishing will help you self-publish your own book.

FREE author submission kit! Limited offer! Why wait?

Call now: 844-660-6943

Lowest Rx Prices, Every Day! Go to BlinkHealth.com to get the guaranteed lowest price on nearly all generic medications at a nearby pharmacy.

Have an idea for an invention/new product? We help everyday inventors try to patent and submit their ideas to companies! Call InventHelp®, FREE INFORMATION! 866-783-0557

INTERNET SERVICES HughesNet Satellite Internet - 25mbps starting at $49.99/ mo! Get More Data FREE Off-Peak Data. FAST download speeds. WiFi built in!

FREE Standard Installation for lease customers! Limited Time, Call 1-800-916-7609

BATHROOM RENOVATIONS. EASY, ONE DAY updates!

We specialize in safe

bathing. Grab bars, no slip flooring & seated showers.

Call for a free in-home consultation: 877-661-6587 DRINKING PROBLEM? DRUG ABUSE? Take control of your life today. Find out the Addiction Treatment option that’s right for you. Take the first step toward recovery & call now 1-866-943-7748.

Were you an INDUSTRIAL TRADESMAN (machinist/ boilermaker/pipefitter etc) and recently diagnosed with LUNG CANCER? You may be entitled to a SIGNIFICANT CASH AWARD. Risk free consultation! 855-677-0507 Fed Up With CREDIT CARD DEBT? CONSOLIDATED CREDIT Can Help Reduce Interest Rates & Get you out of DEBT FAST… FREE Consultation. 24/7 Call Now: 855-977-7398 Call Empire Today® to schedule a FREE in-home estimate on Carpeting & Flooring. Call Today! 1-855-929-7756 FREE AUTO INSURANCE QUOTES. See how much you can save! High risk SR22 driver policies available! Call 855-970-1224

er decrease. Policy will only be cancelled for non-payment. 855-569-0658 MAKE A Connection. Real People, Firty Chat. Meet singles right now! Call LiveLinks. Try it FREE. Call now 1-888-909-9978 18+.

SAPA Do you owe more tha $5,000 in Tax Debt? Call Wells & Associates INC. We solve Tax Problems!

Personal or Businesses! IRS, State and Local. 30 years in Business. Call NOW for a free consultation at an office near you. 1-844-290-2092 SATELLITE TV DISH TV $59.99 For 190 Channels $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR Included, Free Voice Remote.

Some restrictions apply. Call 1-855-419-7188 DIRECTV SELECT PACKAGE! Over 150 Channels, ONLY $35/month (for 12 mos.) Order Now! Get a $100 AT&T Visa Rewards Gift Card (some restrictions apply) CALL 1- 877-666-2821

Guaranteed Life Insurance!

(Ages 50 to 80). No medical exam. Affordable premiums never increase. Benefits nev-

THE ABOVE ADS HAVE NOT BEEN SCREENED BY THE SOUTHEASTERN ADVERTISING PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION (SAPA) or BIRMINGHAM PARENT; Therefore, any discrepancies thereof shall not be the responsibility of the aforementioned association or this publication. Your publisher has agreed to participate in this program and run these ads as a service to the Southeastern Advertising Publishers Association.

DENTAL Insurance Physicians Mutual Insurance Company

A less expensive way to help get the dental care you deserve If you’re over 50, you can get coverage for

about $1 a day*

No wait for preventive care and no deductibles – you could get a checkup

Keep your own dentist! You can go to any

tomorrow

NO annual or lifetime cap on the cash

including cleanings, exams, fillings, crowns… even dentures

dentist you want

benefits you can receive

Coverage for over 350 procedures

FREE Information Kit

1-866-694-6148

www.dental50plus.com/southern *Individual plan.

Product not available in MN, MT, NH, NM, RI, VT, WA. Acceptance guaranteed for one insurance policy/certificate of this type. Contact us for complete details about this insurance solicitation. This specific offer is not available in CO, NY; call 1-800-969-4781 or respond for similar offer. Certificate C250A (ID: C250E; PA: C250Q); Insurance Policy P150 (GA: P150GA; NY: P150NY; OK: P150OK; TN: P150TN)

6096E-0917

48 | birminghamparent | august 2018

MB17-NM008Ec

calendar highlights

Sponsored by

August is back-to-school month for most, but it’s still summertime – and there’s lots of family fun left to do! From canoe trips

AUGUST 2018

to farmers markets to raising money for a good cause, make

25th

the best of the last month of summer.

10th

BIRMINGHAM PARENT HAPPY HEALTHY KIDS FAIR

BACK 2 SCHOOL IN THE HILLS 6:30-10pm, Fox Field, Cahaba Heights Elementary School, 440 Dolly Ridge Road. Rides, inflatables for kids, tweens and teens, music and a family movie!

Birmingham Parent is a sponsor! Rain date: August 17. FREE admission. www.vestaviahills.org.

June 16– Dec 30 · 2018

10am-3pm, Riverchase Galleria. A free, day-long exhibition where families can learn about health care, nutrition, sports, exercise, opportunities, education, camps, insurance and more for children of all ages.

Great giveaways and swag bags to the first 200 at the Birmingham Parent booth! www.birminghamparent.com.

Folk Art from the Cargo Collection

Birmingham Museum of Art The Original Makers: Folk Art from the Cargo Collection has been made possible by grants from the Henry Luce Foundation, Alabama State Council on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Alabama Power Foundation, and The Lydia Eustis Rogers Fund. We also extend our gratitude to the City of Birmingham for their sustained support for the Museum and its mission.

Angel Choir with Director (detail), 1983–1987, painted wood; Collection of the Art Fund, Inc. at the Birmingham Museum of Art; Robert Cargo Folk Art Collection; Gift of Caroline Cargo, AFI.239.2013.1–.3a–g

birminghamparent.com | 49

calendar

Sponsored by

Bessemer Farmers Market 4-6:30pm, 2 19th St. N.

10 FRIDAY Back 2 School in the Hills 6:30-10pm, Fox Field, Cahaba Heights Elementary School, 440 Dolly Ridge Road. Rides, inflatables for kids, tweens and teens, music and a family movie!

Birmingham Parent is a sponsor!

Rain date: August 17. FREE admission. www.vestaviahills.org.

11 SATURDAY Pepper Place Outdoor Market 7am-noon, Pepper Place, 29th St. S. Celebrate Alabama’s best! www.pepperplacemarket.com.

East Lake Farmers Market 8am-noon, 7753 First Ave. S. Valleydale Farmers Market 8am-noon, 4601 Valleydale Road. www.valleydalefarmersmarket.com.

Catch a Birmingham Barons game at Regions Park this month!

2 THURSDAY Gardendale Farmers Market 9am-1pm, Gardendale Civic Center.

Bessemer Farmers Market 4-6:30pm, 2 19th St. N. Birmingham Barons vs. Mobile BayBears 7:05pm, Regions Park. www.barons.com.

3 FRIDAY Alabama Wildlife Center Chirps and Chips 7-10pm, Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Alabama Wildlife Center’s junior board, Raptor Force, hosts this 7th annual event where patrons will be “Betting on the Birds.” This event benefiting AWC includes casino style games, silent auction, complimentary hors d’oeuvres, wine & beer. Tickets: $50 per person.

See website or Facebook for

event updates: awrc.org 205663-7930 Ext. 8, http://www. awrc.org.

Birmingham Barons vs. Mobile BayBears 6:30pm, Regions Park. www.barons.com.

Birmingham Barons vs. Mobile BayBears 7:05pm, Regions Park. www.barons.com.

5 SUNDAY

4 SATURDAY Pepper Place Outdoor Market 7am-noon, Pepper Place, 29th St. S. Celebrate Alabama’s best! www.pepperplacemarket.com.

East Lake Farmers Market 8am-noon, 7753 First Ave. S. Valleydale Farmers Market 8am-noon, 4601 Valleydale Road. www.valleydalefarmersmarket.com.

Free Fencing 10:30-11:30am, Birmingham Fencing Club. Try the sport of fencing!

50 | birminghamparent | august 2018

Birmingham Barons vs. Mobile BayBears 3pm, Regions Park. www.barons.com.

Jazz in the Park 6-9pm, W.C. Patton Park. Joe Carnaggio Trio and Overfloe.

FREE.

6 MONDAY Birmingham Barons vs. Mobile BayBears 7:30pm, Regions Park. www. barons.com.

9 THURSDAY Gardendale Farmers Market 9am-1pm, Gardendale Civic Center.

Southeastern Outings Easy River Float 9am, Locust Fork, Cleveland, AL. Float, picnic, swim and short, moderate hike. Must be able to swim. Children 7-up and able to swim welcome. Meet 8:45am at Cleveland Chevron service station. Information, Dan Frederick, 205-631-4680, seoutings@bellsouth.net.

Fifth Annual Block Party!

5-8pm, Homewood Library parking lot. The Homewood Library Foundation’s fundraiser is filled with food and fun for the whole family! Games, live music, bounce houses, climbing wall and more. Tickets $25 adults (ages16+), $5 children (ages 4-15) and children 3-under free with adult purchase. Rain or shine. 205-332-6621, hcover@ bham.lib.al.us.

Hand in Paw Picasso Pets 6-9:30 pm, The Harbert Center.

Hand in Paw’s largest fundraiser and one of Birmingham’s liveliest galas. Mingle with star therapy animals, silent auction, craft beer, wine and specialty cocktails, a seated dinner, live auction and more. Debut of paintings created by pets belonging to prominent members of the community! Reserve tables available. Information, tickets, www.picassopets.com.

14 TUESDAY Birmingham Barons vs.

Tennessee Smokies 7:05pm, Regions Park. www.barons.com.

15 WEDNESDAY Birmingham Barons vs.

Tennessee Smokies 7:05pm, Regions Park. www.barons.com.

mission to the zoo. Children are encouraged to dress up in their favorite costume.

All royal subjects attending will receive a crown (while supplies last) and have a chance to get their face painted. Photo opportunities with several costumed characters, too! Special keeper chats and animal demonstrations, arts and crafts and a “Toad”ally awesome sampling booth provided by Coca-Cola. www.birminghamzoo.com.

Pancakes and Princesses 8-9:30am, Birmingham Zoo. Costumes encouraged!

Come for a meet and greet with our court of princesses at this royal breakfast! Tickets include a pancake breakfast, coffee, orange juice, photo opportunities, zoo admission, an unlimited ride wristband and a craft project.

Each child receives a gift upon arrival! Tickets limited.

Tickets, information, www. birminghamzoo.com.

16 THURSDAY Gardendale Farmers Market 9am-1pm, Gardendale Civic Center.

Bessemer Farmers Market 4-6:30pm, 2 19th St. N. Birmingham Barons vs.

Tennessee Smokies 7:05pm, Regions Park. www.barons.com.

17 FRIDAY Art on the Rocks 7-11pm, Birmingham Museum of Art. An after-dark event that includes music guests Tank and the Bangas, winners of NPR’s 2017 Tiny Desk Contest. Food, cocktails and more. Tickets, information, www.artsbma.org.

18 SATURDAY 3rd Annual Fairytales and Frogs Day 10am-2pm, Birmingham Zoo. Princes, princesses and fairytale characters are invited to join the celebration!

Festivities are free for zoo members or with paid ad-

Pepper Place Outdoor Market 7am-noon, Pepper Place, 29th St. S. Celebrate Alabama’s best! www.pepperplacemarket.com.

East Lake Farmers Market 8am-noon, 7753 First Ave. S. Valleydale Farmers Market 8am-noon, 4601 Valleydale Road. www.valleydalefarmersmarket.com.

Southeastern Outings River Beach Party 9am, Barton’s Beach, Perry County. Beach party; bring swimsuit, towel, picnic lunch and drink. Depart 9am from Riverchase Galleria. Optional dinner. Must be able to swim.

Children 7-up able to swim welcome. 205-631-4680, seoutings@bellsouth.net.

Find upcoming events, great deals, kids activities in Birmingham, Alabama.

Birmingham Parent - the best in local parenting info and tips.

Rewind at the Zoo – 80s Fest 7-11pm, Birmingham Zoo. Relive the 80s at Henley Park! Family-friendly event and a fundraiser for the zoo!

Dance to favorite music hits with opening local 80s band Legal Limit, followed by Electric Avenue from Atlanta!

VJ legend Alan Hunter, live entertainment, video game truck, caricatures, lawn games, views of the zoo’s amazing animals and more! Wear 80s attire! Cash bar, made to order food from Nourish 205 and Wild Burger! Bring lawn chairs and blankets. www.birminghamzoo.com.

birminghamparent.com

Sponsored by

birminghamparent.com | 51

calendar

Sponsored by

giveaways and swag bags to the first 200 at the Birmingham Parent booth! www.birminghamparent.com.

Tech Savvy Kids 10:30am, Homewood Library. Dr. Desiree Smith, Homewood City Schools’ director of technology, speaks to elementary aged students and their parents about digital responsibility and digital literacy.

Birmingham Barons vs. Jackson Generals 6:30pm, Regions Park. www.barons.com.

26 SUNDAY Birmingham Barons vs. Jackson Generals 3pm, Regions Park. www.barons.com.

26th Special Siblings: 3:30pm, Homewood Library. A support group to share ideas, experiences and the ever-changing needs of having a special needs sibling.

Birmingham Barons vs.

Tennessee Smokies 6:30pm, Regions Park. www.barons.com.

21 TUESDAY Birmingham Sci Café 6-8pm, John’s City Diner. Join other science geeks and novices for an exciting presentation, lively discussion and a little science trivia! Event free to public. www.mcwane.org.

23 THURSDAY Gardendale Farmers Market 9am-1pm, Gardendale Civic Center.

Bessemer Farmers Market 4-6:30pm, 2 19th St. N.

24 FRIDAY Doggone-Good Science 3:30pm, Homewood Library.

What do dogs see? How do puppies change as they grow up? Hang out with the author of National Geographic Kids’ Dog Science Unleashed, Jodi Wheeler-Toppen.

Birmingham Barons vs. Jackson Generals 7:05pm, Regions Park. www.barons.com.

25 SATURDAY Pepper Place Outdoor Market 7am-noon, Pepper Place, 29th St. S. Celebrate Alabama’s best! www.pepperplacemarket.com.

East Lake Farmers Market 8am-noon, 7753 First Ave. S. Valleydale Farmers Market 8am-noon, 4601 Valleydale Road. www.valleydalefarmersmarket.com.

Walk to Defeat ALS 10am, Railroad Park. Walk, kids zone, lunch, local vendors and more. Free admission. 205-6377833, alsalabama.org.

Birmingham Parent Happy Healthy Kids Fair 10am-3pm, Riverchase Galleria. A free, day-long exhibition where families can learn about health care, nutrition, sports, exercise, opportunities, education, camps, insurance and more for children of all ages. Great

Special Siblings 3:30pm, Homewood Library. A support group to share ideas, experiences and the everchanging needs of having a special needs sibling.

27 MONDAY Birmingham Barons vs. Jackson Generals 6:30pm, Regions Park. www.barons.com.

28 TUESDAY Birmingham Barons vs. Jackson Generals 7:05pm, Regions Park. www.barons.com.

30 THURSDAY Gardendale Farmers Market 9am-1pm, Gardendale Civic Center.

Bessemer Farmers Market 4-6:30pm, 2 19th St. N.

PLEASE NOTE: Events may change after publication deadline; please phone ahead to confirm important information. The deadline for submitting calendar items for the September 2018 print issue is August 7. Mail calendar items to: Calendar, Birmingham Parent, P.O. Box 326, Helena, AL 35080; fax to 624-2515; e-mail to calendar@BirminghamParent.com; or enter directly to the online calendar at www.birminghamparent.com. Entries added online after the print deadline will not appear in the print version. Information cannot be accepted over the phone. Birmingham Parent publishes a calendar 11 times a year. January events are included in the December issue.

Guidelines: Birmingham Parent’s calendar is intended to be a resource and service to the community and our readers. Events which are open to the public, fundraisers, free classes, etc., are events that may be included in our monthly calendar. We reserve the right to reject any event or listing due to rules or space restrictions. For questions regarding calendar entries, call 624-2405 or e-mail calendar@birminghamparent.com.

52 | birminghamparent | august 2018

events & attractions

Sponsored by

n Aldridge Botanical Gardens

n Birmingham

n Jefferson County

3530 Lorna Road, Hoover.

205-682-8019, www.aldridgegardens.com

Civil Rights Institute 16th St. N., Birmingham.

205-328-9696, www.bcri.org

n Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame

n Birmingham

Library Cooperative Find a library close to you for all kinds of fun events and enrichment! www.jclc.org

1631 Fourth Ave. N., Birmingham. 205-254-2731, www.jazzhall.com

2150 Richard Arrington Blvd. N., Birmingham. 323-6665, www.ashof.org

Museum of Art • Bart’s Art Cart! Free drop-in art program for kids and families features a different theme from galleries and art activity each month. Saturdays from 11am1pm.

• Bart’s Books. A storytelling program for children ages 4-7.

2000 Rev. Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd., Birmingham. 205-2542565, www.artsbma.org

n Alabama Wildlife Center

n Birmingham Public Libraries

100 Terrace Drive, Pelham.

205-663-7930. www.awrc.org

Find a library near you for all kinds of fun events and enrichment! www.bplonline.org

n Alabama School of Fine Arts 1800 Rev. Abraham Woods, Jr. Blvd., www.asfa.k12.al.us

n Alabama Sports Hall of Fame

n American Village Highway 119, Montevallo.

205-665-3535, www.americanvillage.org

n Barber Motorsports Park 6040 Barber Motorsports Parkway, Leeds. 205-298-9040, www.barbermotorsports.com

n Birmingham Botanical Gardens When visiting the Gardens, be sure to download the treasure map to take with you! www.bbgardens.org/documents/treasuremapforweb.pdf 2612 Lane Park Road, Birmingham. 205-414-3900, www.bbgardens.org

n Birmingham Zoo • In-park Special Attractions: Special Saturdays. On the second Saturday of each month from 10-11am for ages 8-up, the Birmingham Zoo and KultureCity will present a series of zoobased learning experiences for children and adolescents with cognitive or physical disabilities. Caregivers must attend all classes. FREE; space is limited to 10 students per class. Information, Roger Torbert, rtorbert@ birminghamzoo.com.

2630 Cahaba Road, Birmingham. 205-879-0409, www.birminghamzoo.com

1001 19th St. North, Birmingham, AL, 35203, 205-458-8181, www.bct123.org

• Throwback Prices! On the 20th of every month this year, McWane will offer admission at the same price as it was when it opened 20 years ago!

• Home School Day! On the first Monday of each month, home school students and their families can come for special programs, live science demonstrations, giveaways and a discounted ticket price. FREE for home school parents, $7 kids, $6 for accompanying adults.

• Dinosaurs in Motion. Fully interactive, life-size metal dinosaur sculptures display an amazing blend of art, science and innovation. Through September 3.

• Member Mondays. Every Monday, McWane Science Center members receive extra perks while visiting! Includes a special gift for kids when checking in, 30 percent discount on gift shop purchases, $1 small popcorn at IMAX concession stand and a free members-only evening event each month. Also, on the second Monday of each month, McWane opens its doors from 5-8pm for its members.

IMAX Movies: • Pandas. This film follows a researcher at Chengdu Panda Base in China, where scientists are dedicated to protecting the species by breeding adult Giant

n Heart of Dixie n Birmingham Children’s Theatre

n McWane Science Center

Railroad Museum 1919 Ninth St., Calera.

205-668-3435, www.hodrrm.org

Pandas in order to introduce cubs into the wild.

• Backyard Wilderness. Explore the unexpected wonders of nature right under our noses – in our own back yards! This movie spans a seasonal year around a suburban home.

• Everest. The dramatic true story of a team of climbers who found hope, strength and triumph in the wake of tragedy.

200 19th St. N., Birmingham.

205-714-8300, www.mcwane.org.

n Moss Rock Preserve Preserve Parkway, Hoover.

205-739-7141, www.hooveral.org.

n Oak Mountain State Park 200 Terrace Drive, Pelham.

205-620-2520, www.alapark.com.

n Ruffner Mountain Nature Center 1214 81st St. S., Birmingham.

205-833-8264, www.ruffnermountain.org.

n Shelby County Public Libraries Find a library near you for all kinds of fun events and enrichment! www.shelbycounty-al.org

n Southern Museum of Flight 4343 73rd St. N., Birmingham.

205-833-8226, www.southernmuseumofflight.org

n Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park 12632 Confederate Parkway, McCalla. 205-477-5711, www.tannehill.org

n Vulcan Park 1701 Valley View Dr., Birmingham. 205-933-1409, www.vulcanpark.org

First times are FUN times!

A new picture book from award-winning author

Charles Ghigna

aka Father Goose.

(205) 879-3278 www.cmskids.org First Times endpapers.indd 1

First Times Ad Birmingham Parent Magazine.indd 1

birminghamparent.com | 53

6/1/17 2:21 PM

8/11/17 9:37 AM

PO ET RY PARTY

Goodbye Summer Laughter. Teases.

Summer breezes.

One last trip To the local pool.

What a bummer.

Farewell summer— New friends coming.

Hello school!

—©Charles Ghigna

Send us your poems and we will publish them here!

Parents and teachers! Send us poems written by your children ages 4-14. Include the poet’s name & age and the name of person submitting the poem. Please include your relationship to the poet (parent, teacher, etc.). Send original poems to Father Goose at PaGoose@aol.com.

For information on “How to Write a Poem,” visit the Father Goose® website at FatherGoose.com.

54 | birminghamparent | august 2018

DINOSAURS IN MOTION is an amazing blend of science, art and innovation using magnificent, fully interactive, anatomically inspired, recycled life-size metal dinosaur sculptures to ENGAGE and EDUCATE.

LEAVES SEPT. 3

Presented by

Linn-Henley Charitable Trust

WWW.MCWANE.ORG

RS! TEACHkEup your

ic Come p to school ck FREE ba from The Joe g a b ly sup p hile they Show, w 0 a.m. tt e k c o 1 L r ting at last, sta KF, first floor, H at the H the food near cour t.

BIRMINGHAM

IT’ DO SA N’ LL TM AB ISS OU OU T O T TH EK N AL ID S! LT HE FU N! PARENT’S

happyhealthykidsfair2016

SATURDAY, AUG. 25TH, 10-3 @ RIVERCHASE GALLERIA

GREAT VENDORS WITH HEALTH, EXERCISE, EDUCATION, SPORTS, EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, LOCAL ENTERTAINMENT, AND MORE! SPONSORED BY

COVER

KIDS Get aGet FREE your COVER KIDS SEARCH HEAD SHOT headshot here!

10-3 with Christy Pierce Photography!

Booths & Sponsorships available! CALL NOW! 205-987-7700 or carol@birminghamparent.com

AMERICA’S FIRST FEDERAL CREDIT UNION ORTHO SOUTH . ODYSSEY EARLY SCHOOLS . MetroPCS JOSEPH BRUNO MONTESSORI ACADEMY . GRADEPOWER LEARNING

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN BEING PART OF HAPPY HEALTHY KIDS FAIR CONTACT 205-624-2405 OR INFO@BIRMINGHAMPARENT.COM