December/January 2024 Valley Parent

Valley

Parent Time to

Purge Toys?

FREE December ‘23/January ‘24

YOU R LO CAL PA R E NTING R ESOU RCE

SLEEP for ANY STAGE

10 Books 7 APPS TO

Boost Creativity

to Give

INTRODUCING THE

Guzzle Vortex

Valley Parent 2 P A R E N T Parent

T

he December calendar is filling up fast. I want to catch the myriad of family-friendly shows, visit the sip and shop events and support all the amazing local businesses that we have here in the Chattahoochee Valley.

I also must acknowledge that the chance of a few boxes being delivered to my doorstep is high. With a teen and twenty-year old to shop for, the wish lists and ordering online are probably going to factor in my Christmas shopping. Having already done a little early shopping locally, I’m hoping the ‘treasures’ I have found will be well received.

After the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, the quiet of the New Year brings the opportunity to loll around. Kick back and relax. What do you call it in your household?

Maybe pajama-fest, duvet day, blanket bathing or lay-on-the-sofa day. Gear up the kitchen with leftovers, cookies and hot chocolate and chill out. Hopefully the gifts that arrived under the tree with an instruction manual have been assembled and peace ensues.

Don’t be so quick to throw those boxes away. Reading through this issue of Valley Parent made me think about the humble, plain cardboard box—the one that arrives inconspicuously but is always greeted with ‘Oh it’s here!’ What’s with the box? The ages and stages of the large cardboard box creations is all in the power of the imagination—a skill that is not always encouraged in our era of prefab toys. It’s a fort, treehouse, book nook and bedroom camp out, or if your child is inspired by a trip to the Coca-Cola Space Science Center, it’s their very own Guzzle Vortex or space shuttle. Get those creative minds working and your child could be on the pathway to a career in science or engineering. The possibilities are endless. At the end of the day if your box is still intact, it may be time to fill it—read the article on page one and purge those toys and make way for the new toys that arrived under the tree.

Here’s to all the ‘happies’—holidays, exploring, creating, shopping and lolling that this time of year brings. Wishing you and your family all the very best of the season from all of us here at Columbus and the Valley and Valley Parent magazines.

Jodi Saunders Editor & Publisher

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The Life-Changing Magic of

Purging Toys

by Pam Moore

U

ntil recently, I was convinced my life would be better if we only we had more space.

Until we got a bigger house or remodeled, I thought a special organizing system for our burgeoning collection of toys and books would do the trick. I lived in constant fear of a painful Lego-meets-foot disaster. I felt suffocated by the sea of toys covering every surface of our house. And then I purged.

Our lives changed for the better, overnight. It turned out, we didn’t need more space, more labels or more baskets. My kids certainly didn’t need more “friendly reminders” to pick up toys. What we actually needed was less. Here’s four reasons why:

1 It’s simple.

Before The Great Purge, I had this awesome idea—I would rotate the toys every few months. I put a huge bin of toys on a shelf with the extra diapers and good intentions, but organization is not my forte. Not surprisingly, I never got around to rotating the toys. I just couldn’t muster the energy to get the bin down, empty it and fill it back up with different toys, all under the watchful eye of my opinionated three-year-old. But collecting the books I was tired of reading and gathering the annoying, battery-operated toys (you know the type) and dropping them in a garbage bag instead of the basket? That was easy.

2 It’s energizing.

Once I got the urge to purge, I couldn’t stop. I began to look at everything in my house with a fresh perspective. Instead of asking myself, “Where should I put this?”

I asked myself “Do I really need it?” If the answer was no, into the bag it went. Along with the kids’ toys and books, I got rid of clothes I didn’t love but was saving for just in case, socks without mates, half a dozen books I’d been meaning to read, a stack of

expired coupons and jewelry I’d forgotten I owned. Without the burden of extra stuff in my house, I literally felt lighter.

3 It’s a learning opportunity.

being asked to put her toys away used to elicit tears and cries of “It’s just too much!” from my three-year-old, now she generally cleans up with minimal pushback. On the nights when the tidying falls to me, I get it done in under five minutes. Meanwhile, my kids don’t seem to miss any of their old toys. If anything, they have more space to create forts out of blankets and end tables.

Having less means less to put away, less to think about and less chaos. Less time spent dealing with stuff leaves more time for the stuff that matters. I only wish I’d purged sooner. vp

My three-year-old learned it’s important to share. I learned she’s happy to share if I give her the chance. Initially, I worried about how she would feel about letting go of her things. I thought about restricting my adventures in purging to after bedtime, but her bedroom is where most of her toys are, so that was not an option. I considered lying, but I feel it’s important to be honest with my kids (although I maintain it’s not hurting anyone if they think my chocolate is a spicy adult vitamin). I explained to my daughter that she and her baby sister are lucky to have lots of books and toys because some kids don’t have any, so we need to share. I braced myself for tears and screams. They never came. Instead, my daughter happily nodded and helped me add toys to the give-away bag.

4 Everyone is happier.

With less stuff, there is less mess. Less mess means I am not perpetually an inch away from tripping over a Lego or doll. While DECEMBER 2023 - JANUARY 2024 | Valley Parent

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Dec. 23/Jan. 24

VOLUME 18 NO. 6

Cassidy Griffin enjoys lunch.

See more Valley Smiles on page 13.

D E PA R T M E N T S Party Guide VP Fun Page Family Fun Calendar VP Locations Valley Smiles

7 10 12 12 13

F E AT U R E S Purge Your Kids Toys

1

Sleep for Any Stage

3

Holiday Gift Guide

4

Books Make the Best Gifts

6

7 Creativity Boosting Apps

8

Introducing the "Guzzle Vortex"

11

Eliminating toys alleviates headaches.

Tips on how to adhere to sleep schedules Shop local finds this holiday season.

10 classic feel-good books for any child Inspire your kids to start creating.

On the Go? Read Valley Parent everywhere on your mobile devices.

New exhibit at CSU's Coca-Cola Space Science Center

ON THE COVER Cali Lawrence, 3, loves the holidays.

She is the daughter of Arielle Jones and Christopher Lawrence of Columbus. photos by Ritchie White Photography

Q&A 2

What do you want for Christmas?

Mickey Mouse car

Valley Parent | DECEMBER 2023 - JANUARY 2024

Do you prefer candy or cookies?

Candy!

What is your favorite color?

Pink

Sleep for Any Stage INFANT STAGE According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), infants need 12-16 hours of sleep per day. It is important during this stage for babies to sleep in a dedicated area cleared of suffocation and fall hazards. Initially, your baby should be placed on their back to sleep and when they are old enough to roll, they determine their own sleep position. Later in this stage, it is imperative to allow time for self-soothing.

The knee jerk tendency to hold and comfort them when they are crying will undercut their ability to trust themselves and their environment. To continue building this independence, it is valuable to put them down when sleepy but not asleep. It’s not too early during infancy to start a bedtime routine that will pay off in dividends.

TODDLER STAGE This is a fun stage toward their independence and free will. Recommended by the AASM, your toddler should have 11-14 hours of sleep per night. They can finally have a “big kid bed.” Toddlers may try to sneak in your bed every night, but a bedtime routine that is clear and consistent is crucial. Being consistent trains their brains to not fight the process (bath, brush, book, bed). If you already have a little intruder in your bed, there is still hope! The first week the child should sleep in their bed with parents in the room but physically apart (chair or on the floor).

Your child should not get in the habit of having physical reinforcement (cuddling) from you during this process. The parent should not engage but be a “fly on the wall.” The next week parents sit outside the bedroom but still within vocal reassurance range until they fall asleep. During the last week, parents let the child know they will leave and come back to check on them every five, seven or 10 minutes until they’re asleep. It is important to keep your word with the promised number of minutes. If your child is still awake when you check on them, give a brief physical

reassurance and let them know you’ll be back in a few minutes. During your checks, maintain the same “fly on the wall” mentality. This process can be slow but eventually they build the confidence they need to sleep on their own.

SCHOOL AGE STAGE At this stage your child needs nine to 12 hours of sleep for effective performance in school and extracurricular activities.

Reward systems like sticker charts and special gifts for consecutive nights in their own bed is an effective technique.

Rewards don’t have to be monetary.

Non-Monetary rewards include choosing dinner, staying up a little extra at night or a special 1:1 with parents. If your child insists on co-sleeping, I usually suggest the confidence building stepwise technique from the toddler stage. During this stage, regulation of screen time, physical activity and caffeine intake are paramount and discussed further with the goal of drifting off to dreamland.

by Dr. Britney Farmer

beverages should not be consumed within six hours of bedtime. Caffeine promotes wakefulness and can lead to decreased sleep quantity and altered sleep quality. If your teen is having trouble sleeping, consider cutting the daytime naps. It is best for your teen not to nap at all to be able to build enough sleep inertia for their bedtime. If they must nap, limit those daytime naps to 30 minutes or less for best results.

I hope by sharing some tips for each stage your children will start to sleep more soundly. If your child’s sleep concern is not covered in this article, please consult your pediatrician or family physician. vp Dr. Britney Farmer is a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist originally from California currently living in Columbus. Practicing at Martin Army Community Hospital, she takes care of Department of Defense soldiers and their families. Farmer has a passion for children with mental health disorders, learning disabilities and autism.

TEENAGER STAGE During the teenage stage, your child needs eight to 10 hours of sleep according to the AASM. A large part is controlling the access to electronics. There are several parental control apps that will inactivate a device at a predetermined time. There’s also the low tech option of keeping the charging station for devices outside their room. Many patients state they use the phone as their alarm, to listen to music or to watch videos to fall asleep. Suspending all screen usage 60 minutes before bed will promote a natural progression into sleep and allow your sleep centers to turn on at the proper time. If your child does need music/white noise to fall asleep or an alarm there are some low tech options that will suffice and eliminate the blue light that affects sleep drive (i.e. Google Nest, Amazon Echo, Sonos Era).

Parents should educate teens on the use of caffeine before bedtime. Caffeinated DECEMBER 2023 - JANUARY 2024 | Valley Parent

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GIFT GUIDE 2023

Tutoring Sessions

Dinglewood Gift Card

Starting at $42/hour

Starting at $5

SYLVAN LEARNING CENTER OF COLUMBUS 5256 Armour Rd. 706.405.2304 SylvanLearning.com

DINGLEWOOD PHARMACY 1939 Wynnton Rd. • 706.322.0616 DinglewoodPharmacy.com

Magazine Subscription $18/YEAR COLUMBUS & THE VALLEY MAGAZINE 706.324.6214 ColumbusAndTheValley.com

Canyon Leaf Mommy/ Daughter Jewelry $36-$48 MICKAYLA'S PLACE 3151 Williams Rd. Suite A 706.221.1154 MickaylasPlaceResale.com

Elf the Musical Tickets Tickets: $18-$35 DECEMBER 1-23 AT SPRINGER OPERA HOUSE 103 E 10th Street • 706.327.3688 SpringerOperaHouse.org

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Valley Parent | DECEMBER 2023 - JANUARY 2024

Timeless Baby Clothes & Bibs Starting at $46.

SCHOMBURG’S JEWELERS 1640 Rollins Way • 706.327.7489 • Schomburgs.com

Holes Tickets

Tickets: $18-$21.

FEBRUARY 23-MARCH 3 AT SPRINGER OPERA HOUSE 103 E 10th Street • 706.327.3688 • SpringerOperaHouse.org

Books with Character Plushy Starting at $8.99 SCHOMBURG’S JEWELERS 1640 Rollins Way • 706.327.7489 • Schomburgs.com

DECEMBER 2023 - JANUARY 2024 | Valley Parent

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Books 10 Feel-Good Books to Give

by Pam Moore

That’s Me Loving You

BY AMY KROUSE ROSENTHAL

A soft breeze, a clap of thunder, a rainbow… These are the ways a child will feel his mother’s love when she’s not there to hug. This book would have been sweet enough if it weren’t published months shy of the author’s untimely death. I double dog dare any parent to read this with a kid in your lap without a box of tissues in arm’s reach.

Love You Forever

BY ROBERT MUNSCH

A roundup of books that make parents bawl would be incomplete without this story of the enduring bond between parent and child. This book is so sweet that readers young and old alike overlook the creepiness of the mom sneaking into her son’s room just to sing him the special lullaby she’s sang to him since he was born. And if reading this story doesn’t completely destroy you, it probably will once you understand its genesis; Munsch was inspired to write it after he and his wife had two stillborn babies.

I'd Know You Anywhere, My Love

BY NANCY TILLMAN

This tender story uses rhyme and humor to show the deep ocean of love a mother feels for her child. No matter where he goes or what form he takes, be it a snowy owl or a grinning camel, his mom promises she’ll recognize him. “I know you by heart, so my heart never misses.”

Nana Upstairs & Nana Downstairs

BY TOMIE dePAOLA

This is for anyone who has ever felt the love of a grandparent. Four-year-old Tommy has a special bond with his great-grandmother.

Basing the story on events from his own life, dePaola uses vivid language and pictures to illustrate Tommy’s joy in his connection to his beloved “Nana Upstairs” as well as the pain he feels when she passes away.

The Velveteen Rabbit

BY MARGERY WILLIAMS

This book is the definition of a classic; a story of friendship and love that never gets old. While the boy’s love for the rabbit breathes life into the rabbit’s stuffed body, it also finds him with patches of fur worn thin and countless other “age spots.” This story offers a powerful lesson on the beauty that exists inside us when we are real—not in spite of, but because of our imperfections.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

All the Places to Love

BY JK ROWLING

BY PATRICIA MacLACHLAN

Reading this with my daughter—the first time for both of us—we were both captivated by the story. It has richly drawn characters, villains, heroes, magic and suspense for days.

It also has this scene where Harry discovers the Mirror of Erised, which completely killed me. I’m talking full-on ugly crying. If you’ve read it, you know exactly what I’m talking about. If you haven’t, you’ve been warned.

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MAKE THE BEST GIFTS

Valley Parent | DECEMBER 2023 - JANUARY 2024

A family welcomes a baby boy, and later, his little sister. Woven into the fabric of the family’s lives are the beautiful places they love. Together, in these places, they play, explore and make memories. The only thing more touching (read: tear-jerking) than the big brother showing his little sister his favorite place is the fact that the grandfather cries when each child is born.

The Giving Tree

Wonder

BY SHEL SILVERSTEIN

BY R. J. PALACIO

This is the story of a boy and his tree but it’s also a story of generosity, kindness, selflessness and love. A beautiful, heart-wrenching story, it can also spark a conversation about boundaries and friendship.

Charlotte's Web

BY E.B. WHITE

This story of love, friendship, life and death is one that will captivate you and leave you with your heart cracked wide open. I read this one when I was younger, so I knew what I was in for the first time I read it with my daughter.

While she was surprisingly stoic, I cried enough for both of us.

The Perfect

P

Wonder is the heartwarming story of Auggie and his quest for belonging. He’s your typical ten-year-old boy—except for the fact that he’s been homeschooled his whole life and is entering public school for the first time as he starts the fifth grade. And he has a significant facial deformity. As parents, we’d take our kids’ pain a thousand times if it meant we wouldn’t have to watch them suffer.

Auggie’s loving parents watch as he takes on more than his fair share of heartache as he navigates the social dynamics of his new prep school. Which is why it is pretty much impossible to read this book without tearing up. vp

A R

T Y

E D G U I

DECEMBER 2023 - JANUARY 2024 | Valley Parent

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CREATIVITY BOOSTING APPS for KIDS January is International Creativity Month; a great occasion to inspire your kids to become more creative. Here are some of the best creativity-boosting apps for kids.

They’re all completely free, so encourage your kids to download an app—or three!

by Tanni Haas, PhD

Color Band Available: Apple Appstore; Ages: 5-8

Color Band introduces young kids to the fun of making music while at the same time encourages them to draw. It has 80 pre-recorded instruments and sound effects that are represented by different colors. Some colors contain multiple sound effects, while others include entire scales or chords. Using different colors to draw a picture, they create unique musical compositions, which they can play back by waving their hands in front of the screen.

Let’s Create! Pottery Available: Apple Appstore, Google Play; Ages: 9-18

Kids will learn to sculpt pottery and make beautiful pieces of artwork without the messiness of real clay. They can choose to copy pre-existing pieces from different cultures, or create their own pottery from scratch. While the virtual clay is spinning on the pottery wheel, kids mold it by tapping or pressing lightly on the screen. Once they’re done, they get to fire their pottery in the kiln and then decorate their creations with colors and patterns.

Paper Available: Apple Appstore; Ages: 13-18

Paper is great for kids who love to draw.

It resembles a digital notebook and has various tools for outlining, sketching and coloring drawings. The app makes it easy to rearrange objects on the page. Kids can also import photos and incorporate them into their drawings.

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Valley Parent | DECEMBER 2023 - JANUARY 2024

Toontastic 3D

Plum’s Creaturizer

Available: Google Play; Ages: 5-12

Available: Apple Appstore; Ages: 5-8

Few things are more fun than making your own cartoons. This app that lets you do just that. It includes various story outlines, scenes as well as dozens of colorful characters. Kids can either use those characters or create their own with simple drawing tools, press “record” and then move characters around and narrate the story with their own voice recording. They can add a musical score, and put all the pieces together in a single 3D cartoon.

Plum’s Creaturizer will get your kids interested in photography.

Developed by PBS Kids, this award-winning app lets kids create their own colorful creatures by combining different body parts, and then encourages them to photograph these creatures in four different “habitats.” The photos can be combined into slideshows depicting a day in the life of their creations.

Video Star Available: Apple Appstore, Google Play; Ages: 13-18

Video Star teaches kids how to create and star in their own music videos. After selecting a favorite song, they shoot a video that shows them lip-syncing and/or dancing to the music. The app has hundreds of built-in visual and sound effects that they can use in their videos.

Story Dice – Story Telling Available: Apple Appstore; Ages: 5-18

Story Dice – Story Telling is sure to get the creative juices flowing. This app has 40 virtual dice, each with six images from different categories, for a total of 240 images. Kids shake their devices to roll the dice and create stories that connect all the images. Encourage your kids to use this app with their friends to see who comes up with the most suspenseful or fun stories. vp

DECEMBER 2023 - JANUARY 2024 | Valley Parent

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FUN PA G E

Valley

Parent So Funny!

Where do snowmen love to dance?

At a snowball!

What is Santa’s favorite candy?

Jolly Ranchers

Why did Princess Elsa fall off her sled?

She let it go.

Holiday Word

Scramble

What could these words be?

ONMSWNA ERENDIER SMHCARIST

WINTER Word Search Find these words:

BLIZZARD SCARF SKIER SWEATER COCOA FROZEN SNOWFLAKE COZY

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N E Z O R F B H R W A C R I E L W R T S N O C R I D E S B H D C O Z V T O K E B S O Z R A H T I I C K A Y E G V F E A I R P W B Q R E R O D C S S N O W F L A K E

Valley Parent | DECEMBER 2023 - JANUARY 2024

Happy Holidays!

‘G UZ Z LE VO RTE X’ finds a home on planet Earth at CSU’s Coca-Cola Space Science Center

by Jodi Saunders

C

alling all budding scientists from ages two to 102. The CocaCola Space Science Center (CCSSC) recently unveiled its newest interactive exhibit—a must-see, hands-on exploratory learning experience that is sure to delight multigenerational family members.

The “Guzzle Vortex” was created as part of an ongoing and long-time partnership with Pratt & Whitney and Columbus State University (CSU). CSU’s own team developed and designed the exhibit as a joint investment to inspire and educate future young scientists. The CCSSC’s educational team consisting of the assistant planetarium director Lance Tankersley alongside system administrator Chris Johnson conceived the concept, designed and installed the exhibit fully in-house. CSU students had the opportunity to name the exhibit ensuring that everybody was invested in the venture.

Scaling a humongous wall-space, the intrinsic design of tubes, lights, buttons, “Noulies” to ‘feed,’ along with key questions provides entertainment for the whole family. You can feed the “Noulies” with the “Noulie delights”—the name a take on Bernoulli’s principle—and watch the plastic scraps travel through the maze of suction-powered plastic tubing. A series of switches can change the direction of the colorful delights as they travel through the tubes and then jettison out the tube exits. The anticipation and excitement of your “Noulie” traveling the vortex is palpable—take it from me as I ‘played’ during my recent meeting with assistant director of the CCSSC, Wanja Ngugi, and Chris Johnson.

Pratt & Whitney’s long-term partnership with the CCSSC is to develop a locally grown, highly trained, competitive workforce.

Working with the Muscogee County School District, they emphasize STEM programs, computer, earth and space science and robotics engineering. Along with the “Guzzle Vortex,” Pratt & Whitney have partnered with the CCSSC on the inflated models of the planets that float from the ceiling with QR code information signage and the extensive space shuttle collection on display. In addition, they support the CCSSC’s summer academy for students ages nine to 18.

Director of the CCSSC, Dr. Shawn Cruzen, hopes the exhibit will inspire future CSU students to pursue degrees in the sciences.

The CCSSC is a vital resource for CSU’s Department of Earth and Social Sciences where it houses its astronomy courses and supports faculty and student research.

According to Cruzen, “It’s hard to look around the CCSSC and not see Pratt & Whitney’s hand at work. They model what an education-focused, corporate-university partnership looks

like, and we are grateful for how they invest in our mission of broadening an appreciation of science and technology.”

Mark a date on your calendar to check out the “Guzzle Vortex” along with the 7,500 square feet of gallery space and 300 NASA artifacts documenting the Gemini, Apollo and space shuttle programs. The space shuttle collection is the most extensive of its kind in Georgia as it has four flight simulators and numerous interactive displays.

Coincide your visit with the omnisphere theater planetarium schedule to catch a documentary or a constellation-mapping event on the full-dome digital projection system. Also, the WestRock Observatory is one of Georgia’s premier public observatories and houses a research-grade telescope in addition to 20 portable telescopes.

Support your local attractions and visit the CCSSC today. For more information and to check their planetarium showtimes, visit cccsc.org. vp DECEMBER 2023 - JANUARY 2024 | Valley Parent

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Calendar

2-28 Shine: A Celebration of Nature and Wonder at the Columbus Botanical Garden

DECEMBER

Info: ColumbusBotanicalGarden.org/shine

1 Broadway Holiday and Tree Lighting in Uptown Columbus

9 The Golden Donut Fun Run, 5K and Holiday Festival

Info: AlwaysUptown.com

Info: TheFoodMill.org

1-31 Fantasy in Lights at Callaway Gardens

10 & 11 A Christmas to Believe In at RiverCenter

Info & tickets: CallawayGardens.com

Info & tickets: RiverCenter.org

JANUARY 9 Family Discovery Hike at Kreher Preserve & Nature Center Info: wp.Auburn.edu/preserve/events

4 & 11 Toddler Tales Storytime at Barnes and Noble at 10 a.m.

11 Garden Volunteer Work Day at the Columbus Museum Info: ColumbusMuseum.com

1-23 Elf the Musical at the Springer Opera House

15 The Harlem Globetrotters at the Columbus Civic Center

Info: SpringerOperaHouse.org

Info & tickets: CivicCenter.ColumbusGa.gov

13 Annual MLK Parade in Downtown LaGrange at 1 p.m.

Info: LaGrangeZetas.com

2 Bi-City Christmas Parade Info: PhenixCityAL.us/events

16 Breakfast with Santa at the National Infantry Museum Info & tickets: NationalInfantryMuseum.org

2 Christmas with the Wave and Gingerbread Village Open House in RiverCenter’s Lobby

17 & 18 The Columbus Ballet presents The Nutcracker

Info: RiverCenter.org

Info & tickets: RiverCenter.org

Pick up your copy of the latest Valley Parent at one of these convenient locations:

Academy Dance Center Acute Care Express All About Kids Learning Center Devica Alappan, MD Angel Academy Aranas & Stitt, OB/GYN Bare Ware Pottery Basilio Pediatrics Behavioral Health Partners Bluebelle Artist Market The Blushing Brunette Boutique Julie Braddy-Roberts, MD Regina Carpenter, MD Center Pharmacy Central Christian Church Central OBGYN Chambers OB/GYN Ritu Chandra, MD Chick-fil-a Bradley Park

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Childcare Network (Hamilton Rd) Clement Arts Columbus Children’s Dentistry Columbus Clinic Columbus Museum Columbus Pediatrics Columbus Public Library Columbus Regional Family Practice Columbus Roberts Center CSU Elizabeth Bradley Turner Ctr. Curves for Women (Phenix City) Curves for Women (Veterans) Dinglewood Pharmacy Divine Childcare Learning Ctr. James Dorchak, MD Easter Seals Miranda Y. Edwards, MD Fairview Baptist Preschool The Family Center Family Physicians of Columbus First Baptist Church Child Dev./PC Foot & Ankle of West Ga. Fort Benning Housing Services Fountain City Coffee Generations Knowledge & Care Ctr.

Valley Parent | DECEMBER 2023 - JANUARY 2024

20 Open Rehearsal with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra Info: CsoGa.com/open-rehearsals

See more local events at ValleyParent.com

Goo Goo Car Wash (Manchester Exp) Panvelkar & Panvelkar, MD Great Beginnings Child Care Pastoral Institute Greystone Falls Pediatric Rehab Greystone at Columbus Park Pediatrics at Brookstone Ctr. Greystone Inverness Phenix City-Russell County Library Growing Room Pierce Chapel Methodist Preschool Growing Room Too Polka-Dots Early Childhood Dev. Ctr. Hollywood Connection Preppy Pets Imagination Station Project Launch Imagination Station Too Puddle Jumpers Child Enrichment Ctr. International Friendship Ministries Rising Star Child Development Ctr. Joyful Journeys Childcare Rivertown Pediatrics Just for Kids Russell County DHR Kool Smiles Second Avenue Animal Hospital Mark Lawrence, DDS Jeffrey Serff, DMD La Bella Party and Tea Smile Doctors Lil’ Rascals Resale & Boutique Smiths Station Baptist Church Little Angels Child Dev. Ctr. Smiths Station Pharmacy Little Paws Preschool St. Francis Gift Shop James Lopez, DMD St. John AME Church Thomas Malone, MD St. Luke Early Learning Ctr. Mathnasium St. Mark UMC Child Dev. Ctr. Mica’s Child Development Ctr. Lisa Alexander Strickland, DMD Mickayla’s Place Summerville Baptist Preschool Midtown Medical Center Sylvan Learning Center Midtown OBGYN Nora Tan-Ngo, MD Mildred L. Terry Library Toni’s Dancing Studio My Gym TSYS Childcare Center Necco Foster Care Uptown Pediatrics North Columbus Library West Georgia Pediatrics Northside Recreation Center Wynnton UMC Pre-school OBGYN Associates ZÖe Pediatrics Lirio E. Palmos, MD Distribution sites committed at press time.

Valley Smiles

Connor and Amelia Regan dressed as Monkey D. Luffy and Sailor Moon for Halloween

Send your photos and captions to ContactUs@ValleyParent.com.

Hazel Price and James Griffin met their families for lunch.

Adriti Shrivastava enjoyed celebrating Diwali in her traditional Indian attire.

Ward Upchurch, Charlie Bettin and Ama Wehrhahn in their Halloween costumes.

Camille Pease, Bennett Fields and Mims Watkins had fun at Midtown Mingle.

DECEMBER 2023 - JANUARY 2024 | Valley Parent

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