Memphis Parent, January 2016

EDUCATION THINKING ABOUT PRESCHOOL?

A GUIDE FOR YOUR 2’S, 3’S, & 4’S

BIG EASY, BIG FUN

DISCOVER NEW ORLEANS FAMILY-STYLE

PLUS

•GET READY FOR THAT SCHOOL VISIT •8 GREAT GAMES TO PLAY INSIDE WITH TODDLERS

Free

M E M PH I S PA R ENT.COM

1

COME SEE WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER AT THE 2016 OPTIONAL SCHOOLS FAIR! January 10, 2016 | 1 – 4 p.m. | University of Memphis | University Center our principals and teachers! Tour schools and experience OPEN HOUSES ALL MONTH Meet campus life! Learn about entrance requirements!

ELEMENTARY

BALMORAL-RIDGEWAY Jan. 12 – 9 - 11 a.m. | 3 - 5 p.m.

BREWSTER Jan. 19-21 – 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Jan. 28 – 5:30 p.m.

BROWNSVILLE ROAD Jan. 25-28 – 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

CARNES Jan. 19-22 – 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

3:30 - 5:30 p.m.

Jan. 21 – 5:30 p.m.

DOUBLE TREE Jan. 26 – 9, 11 a.m. & 1 p.m. (Tours) 6 p.m.

OAK FOREST Jan. 21 – 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.

(Tours)

DOUGLASS (K-8) Jan. 21 – 9 a.m. | 5 p.m.

PEABODY Jan. 13 – 8:30 a.m. | 6 p.m.

DOWNTOWN Jan. 13-15 – 8:30 - 11:30 a.m.

Jan. 15 – 4:30 - 6 p.m.

RIVERWOOD Jan. 14 – 9 a.m. | 5 p.m.

GERMANTOWN Jan. 14 – 9:45 a.m. | 6 p.m.

GRAHAMWOOD Jan. 19 – 6 p.m.

Jan. 20 – 9 a.m.

Jan. 21 – 5 p.m.

ROZELLE Jan. 27 – 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Jan. 28 – 5:30 p.m.

SHERWOOD Jan. 13 – 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

3:45 - 5 p.m.

CORDOVA Jan. 12 – 9:00 a.m. & 6:30 p.m.

IDLEWILD Jan. 12-15 – 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. (Tours)

SNOWDEN (1-8) Jan. 14 – 9 - 11 a.m. | 6 p.m.

CUMMINGS (1-8) Jan. 20 – 8:30 - 11:30 a.m.

5:30 p.m.

JOHN P. FREEMAN (1-8) Jan. 19 – 6 p.m.

Jan. 20 – 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. (Tours)

SPRINGDALE Jan. 11 – 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.

4:30 - 5:30 p.m.

KEYSTONE Jan. 5-15 – 8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Jan. 7 – 3:30 - 6 p.m.

TREADWELL Jan. 11 – 9 a.m. | 5 p.m.

Jan. 26 – 9 a.m. | 5 p.m.

DELANO Jan. 12 – 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. | 6 p.m.

Learn more at www.scsk12.org/optional 2

MEMPH IS PARE NT

JANUARY 2016

VOLLENTINE Jan. 28 – 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

DOUGLASS (K-8) Jan. 21 – 9 a.m. | 5 p.m.

CENTRAL Jan. 21 | 6 p.m.

WHITEHAVEN Jan. 14 – 9:30 a.m. | 5:30 p.m.

GERMANTOWN Jan. 28 – 6 p.m.

CRAIGMONT Jan. 28 – 6 p.m.

WILLOW OAKS Jan. 14 – 3:30 - 5:30 p.m.

Jan. 15 – 8:30 - 11 a.m.

HAVENVIEW Jan. 27 – 6 p.m.

EAST Jan. 25 – 6 p.m.

GERMANTOWN Jan. 7 – 6 p.m.

MIDDLE

JOHN P. FREEMAN (1-8) Jan. 19 – 6 p.m.

Jan. 20 – 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. (Tours)

BELLEVUE Jan. 7 – 6 p.m.

RIDGEWAY Jan. 20 – 6 p.m.

COLONIAL Jan. 26 – 9:30 a.m. | 6 p.m.

MAXINE SMITH STEAM ACADEMY Jan. 20 – 6 p.m.

CORDOVA Jan. 21 – 6 p.m.

SNOWDEN (1-8) Jan. 14 – 9 - 11 a.m. | 6 p.m.

WHITE STATION Jan. 12 – 6 p.m.

CRAIGMONT Jan. 19 – 6 p.m.

CUMMINGS (1-8) Jan. 20 – 8:30 - 11:30 a.m.

5:30 p.m.

KINGSBURY Jan. 26 – 6 p.m.

OVERTON Jan. 26 – 6 p.m.

RIDGEWAY Jan. 12 – 6 p.m.

WHITEHAVEN Jan. 6 – 6 p.m.

HIGH

WHITE STATION Jan. 14 – 6 p.m.

BOLTON Jan. 19 – 5 p.m.

WOODDALE Jan. 19 – 6 p.m.

Supported by SchoolSeed Foundation

DRIVE A TOYOTA FOR LESS THAN A CUP OF COFFEE A DAY!

* All advertised payments are closed-end leases based on 36-months/36,000-miles, and $4,999 due at signing with the security deposit waived; payments exclude dealer documentary fee of $499.50, state and local taxes, tags, registration, and title and insurance, and must have approved credit through Toyota Financial Services at Tier 1 Plus only. 2016 COROLLA S: $79/Month ($2.63 times 30-days = $79/month) / Model #1862 / 36 Months / 36-month payments total $2,844 / MSRP $20,330 / Lease-end purchase option $13,418 / Lease Factor 0.00060 / Adjusted Capitalized Cost is $19,300* based on dealer participation. 2016 CAMRY SE: $99/Month ($3.30 times 30-days = $99/month) / Model #2546 / 36 Months / 36-month payments total $3,564 / MSRP $24,979 / Lease-end purchase option $15,737 / Lease Factor 0.00035 / Adjusted Capitalized Cost is $23,300* based on dealer participation. 2016 RAV4 LE: $129/Month ($4.30 times 30-days = $129/month) / Model #4430 / 36 Months / 36-month payments total $4,644 / MSRP $26,402 / Lease-end purchase option $16,897 / Lease Factor 0.00060 / Adjusted Capitalized Cost is $25,200* based on dealer participation.

Lessee may be charged for excessive wear based on Toyota Financial Services standards for normal use and for mileage in excess of 36,000 miles at the rate of $0.15 per mile. A $350 Disposition Fee is due at lease termination.

Lease offers are good through February 29, 2016.

M E M PH I S PA R ENT.COM

3

memphisparent

memphis-parent

memphisparent

memphisparent

THIS MONTH O U R C OV E R K I D

Helping people adopt healthy lifestyle habits one generation at a time!

Improve your health and fItness lose weIght learn a healthIer lIfestyle

14

Your Preschool Questions Answered

by Jane Schneider

16

When Glasses Aren’t Enough

by Kristi Cook

Be a healthy role model

Tia (3) with her mom, Tenika Riley.

For more info: call (901) 366-2866 or visit www.yvettesmith.com

Photo: Marci Lambert

20

Cops and Kids

by Jennifer Boren

24

Big Easy, Big Fun New Orleans Travel

by John Lambert

Favorite activity: Acting and surfing on her Nabi tablet Newest talent: Singing.

“But it’s not spectacular, now!” says Tenika.

Next big thing: Goodbye ballet, hello soccer

DEPARTMENTS

Threshold

Montessori School 581 Ellsworth Memphis, TN 38111

901-327-4980

6 Around Town Master Classes at The Orpheum, MOST scholarships

10 Media Notes Raising a passionate reader, help for the high-gear teen

26 Family Table Ward off cold with hot cocoa and cider

7 Dear Teacher Rise above a bad day, speech problems

12 Health Matters Your roadmap to family fitness

28 Early Years Learning to be patient, Eight fun ways to play indoors

8 Savvy Shopper How to save phone pics; dine, drink, & play ideas

18 Parent to Parent Overprotective parenting 22 School Notes Prep now for school visits

OUR STAFF Editor Jane Schneider Art Director Bryan Rollins Advertising Art Director Christopher Myers Graphic Designer Dominique Pere “Building the Joy of Learning” NEW Opening time 6:30 a.m.

Starting Students at 18 months.

Close to U of M, Midtown and East Memphis.

We accept DHS vouchers.

Visit us at ThresholdMontessori.com 4 4

ME EM MP PH H II S S P EN NT M PA AR RE T

Advertising Manager Sheryl Butler Account Executive March Gates Production Operations Director Margie Neal Calendar Editor Meena Viswanathan Copy Editor Shara Clark STATEMENT OF PURPOSE Memphis Parent strives to provide information of value to all who are invested in our children’s future.

AN NU UA AR RY Y 2 20 0 11 6 6 JJ A

30 Calendar & Events 38 Our Favorite Moments Kid funnies & photos

Memphis Parent is published by Contemporary Media, Inc. Publisher/CEO Kenneth Neill Director of New Business Development Jeffrey A. Goldberg Editorial Director Bruce VanWyngarden Chief Operating Officer Molly Willmott Events Manager Jackie Sparks-Davila Marketing/Communications Manager Kendrea Collins Email Marketing Manager Britt Ervin Distribution Manager Lynn Sparagowski Controller Ashley Haeger IT Director Joseph Carey 460 Tennessee Street, Suite 200 Memphis, TN 38103 p: 901.521.9000 • f: 901.521.0129 Send advertising queries to: sheryl@memphisparent.com Visit us online at memphisparent.com

EDITOR’S NOTE

MAKING THE GRADE JANE SCHNEIDER

janes@memphisparent.com Follow me on Twitter @membelle

I had a proud father call me aside at the office recent, eager to share some good news. Knowing his competitive nature, I teasingly asked him, “So, what did you win?”

“Nothing,” he replied as a grin swept across his face. “It’s better than that.”

He then pulled out his cell phone, tapped on its face, and summoned up his son’s report card. As I glanced at the screen, I could read the report — a gleaming column of As and Bs. “Isn’t that terrific?” he asked. I could almost feel him puffing out his chest. It wasn’t like he routinely bragged on his kid’s achievements, so I knew this report meant a lot to him. He and his wife had been working with their son on his reading skills and this was proof that their persistance was paying off.

As a parent, I understand the pressures we all face when our children are working to master new skills.

The next week, I heard from another dad who was telling me how frustrated he was feeling for his child, who had been working mightily to master her math homework. Despite the many hours she was putting in each night, her grades weren’t reflecting her effort and my friend felt the teacher was to blame.

Those exchanges came on the heels of a call from my own son, now a junior in college, giving me a report on his

grades. A test he had felt less than confident about came back with an A. I could tell from his voice he was pleased.

I was too, since my son has never been very bookish. In fact, I remember all too well the many (many!) nights we anguished over homework and school projects.

I frequently hear from parents about the homework and testing. The pressure we place to achieve in school creates a lot of stress for families.

Yet I’m reminded that our children’s abilities aren’t determined solely by book work and test scores. When my son was a 12, he built a loft from scraps of lumber he scavenged from our garage. It was a sizeable clubhouse, cobbled together in a matter of hours while I was out for the evening. He could sleep on the upper level and had a room down below. What this project

reflected in my mind were a host of skills, some of which don’t always show up on tests, like critical-thinking skills, creativity, and problem solving.

I think as parents we have to remember that our children are multifaceted, complicated creatures and book learning is but one form of intelligence. The traits I see in my own son — his emotional intelligence, competitiveness, fairness, and street smarts — are all abilities that will help him excel in life.

While the school drill often drives us crazy, we must take the long view and trust that, in addition to gaining book smarts, our kids are also acquiring a host of personal skills that will enter into their competence as adults.

Perhaps if we focused more on that and less on homework, we’d all get a better night’s sleep.

“But I’m reminded that our children’s abilities aren’t measured solely by grades and test scores they receive.”

EN TIRE FAMILY

35 $

A M O NT H

You’re not the only one in your family who wants to work out.

Family memberships at Church Health Center Wellness are only $35/month.

No enrollment fees.

No add-ons. No hassles.

Call 901-259-4673 to get started.

1115 UNION•CHURCHHEALTHCENTER.ORG

THE EDUCATION

FOR A L IFET I M E Westminster Academy offers parents a tool for teaching their children to reason, discern, and apply truth by way of Scripture and the classical liberal arts. Our teaching curriculum is guided by your child’s natural developmental stages and our approach focuses on small class sizes and encouragement of critical thinking through a classical Christian education. Schedule a tour and discover the education for a lifetime!

JK–12

•

CL ASSICAL

•

9 01.3 8 0.919 2

CHRISTIAN

•

INDEPENDENT

wamemphis.com

ME EM MP PH H II S SP EN M PA AR RE NT T .. C CO OM M

5 5

AROUND TOWN

STEPPIN’ OUT

Local teens dance, sing, and volunteer at the Halloran Centre

By JENNIFER WILLIAMS-FIELDS

Five. Six. 5-6-7-8… On cue, the music starts and 22 energetic high school students begin to dance with a real Broadway star.

The Orpheum Memphis Broadway 101 Master Class Series is just one of many educational opportunities offered at the Halloran Centre For Performing Arts & Education. For the past five years, approximately 600 kids from grades 7 to 12 have sung and danced their way through the program, which now takes place in the new education center.

“The classes are a way to awaken the love of theater in the kids,” says Jennifer Douberly, field trips and classes manager for the Halloran Centre. “You feel more connected to the show when you meet the actual performer.”

On this night, students are learning the choreography to “Magic To Do,” the opening song in the musical, Pippin. Bradley Benjamin, who plays Catherine in the musical, leads the way.

The teens, many of whom have studied dance locally, move in sync with Benjamin’s instructions.

Although there is a lot of laughter and a few missteps along the way, they soon have the routine down pat and are moving across the room with, if not ease, at least fun and excitement.

“I’m not looking for perfect steps,” Benjamin reminds the kids. “Bring spirit and energy to your movement!”

The original Pippin was choreographed and directed by Bob Fossey. So the students get to practice their Fossey walk and calypso runs. Although some have never heard of the famous choreographer, they quickly perk up when they learn that the choreography of Michael Jackson and Beyonce’s are both heavily Fossey-inspired.

“It’s an opportunity to teach history to the younger

MARK YOUR CALENDAR Broadway 101 Master Class Series

master class participants with broadway dancer bradley benjamin (bottom right)

generation. I get to introduce them to another world,” says Benjamin.

Douberly says when scheduling the itinerary for the Orpheum summer camps, they choose one song from each of the upcoming Broadway musicals to help generate excitement for the master classes.

Briarcrest Christian School students Olivia Cheng, 11, and her brother, Benjamin, 13, have attended many master classes. Both students, along with older sister Megan, hope for careers in the performing arts.

“It’s exciting to learn parts of the show here, and then to see it on stage that night,” says Benjamin, who recently played Billy in Playhouse’s Billy Elliott the Musical.

“The choreography pushes you to learn this really hard dance in a short time,” adds Olivia. “Just like a professional performer.”

Seventeen-year-old Madison Alexander has been attending master classes for six years. Although her dream of performing one day on Broadway is shared by many young girls, she would also like to teach

Matilda

Thursday, January 14

musical theater to special needs students. Alexander is active with Christian Brother’s University’s musical theater program and participates on the Orpheum’s STAR Council.

The STAR (Students Take A Role) Council is a student advisory board that gives local teens the opportunity to help plan Orpheum events, including Family Series shows and the High School Musical Theater Awards. This year’s STAR Council is made up of 40 students. The application process takes place each May. “It’s a great opportunity to see the ins and outs of a large theatre,” says Douberly. As for participating in master classes?

“It is a one-on-one experience with actors who have been where we young actors are, and they give us true insight into the theatre business,” says Alexander. “One of the most vital things I've learned from the master classes is that we are all actors; whether we are singing or dancing, we are always playing a major role in the art of musical theatre.”

A Gentleman’s Guide To Love & Murder Thursday, February 11

Bullets Over Broadway Thursday May 19

Registration: $60. Tuition includes the master class (4 p.m.), dinner, and a ticket to the show. • For details, 529-4242 or education@orpheum-memphis.com

THINKING PRIVATE SCHOOL? Scholarship funds are available through MOST

More than 500 students receive scholarship funds from Memphis Opportunity Scholarship Trust (MOST), a trust aimed at helping low-income families in Shelby County with private school tuition. “It doesn’t cover the full scope of education, but it helps make a difference for parents,” says MOST’s communications director Courtney Shove.

The application process for 2016 goes live on the MOST website (memphisscholarship.org) February 1st. To apply, eligible parents must meet income-level guidelines and have a child entering pre-K through first grade. The average family income is $33,186, says Shove, and the average scholarship is $1,913.

Once the application process has ended, a lottery takes place to allot scholarship funds. By mid-March, all who have applied will receive a letter stating if their student has been funded, wait-listed, or not funded at this time.

MOST was launched in 1998 by businessman Robert Solmson, who was inspired by a similar program in Indianapolis. MOST is funded via private donations and the Children’s Scholarship Fund. MOST has also been involved with the development of the Memphis School Guide website. • memphisscholarships.org — Jane Schneider 6 6

ME EM MP PH H II S S P M PA AR RE EN NT T

AN NU UA AR RY Y 2 20 0 11 6 6 JJ A

DEAR TEACHER

Meet Cayden RAIN, RAIN, GO AWAY Ways to help your kid manage a no good, very bad day

HOW DO YOU BOOST YOUR CHILDREN'S SPIRITS WHEN THEY COME HOME FEELING LOW BECAUSE SOMETHING BAD HAPPENED TO THEM AT SCHOOL? When something bad happens to you, who likes to hear, “Feh, that was nothing!” or “You're making too much out of what happened.” No one.

Such comments make you feel small. The same goes for kids. Don’t tell your child he’s being a baby if he’s bothered by something that has happened at school. Avoid the blame game, too.

“What did you do or say that caused the teacher to get upset with you?” Such remarks, if they happen repeatedly, may gradually stop your child from sharing such worries with you.

The best approach is to let him vent and talk about the upsetting incident. Ask open-ended questions and help him identify his feelings.

You can agree that what happened was upsetting. Quite often, this is sufficient enough, often a child simply wants you to acknowledge his hurt. At this point, ask your child to consider what he or she might do in the future when faced with a similar situation. Together, you can discuss some problem-solving strategies. Plus, you can build his self-confidence by reminding him that he has handled unpleasant situations successfully in the past. Finally, if it’s truly a serious sitation and one likely to continue, i.e. bullying or criticism, it is time to step in and ask the teacher for help.

CHILD HAVE A SPEECH PROBLEM? Listen closely to your child

EVERYONE IN OUR FAMILY CAN UNDERSTAND OUR 4-YEAROLD. HOWEVER, VISITORS ARE OFTEN PUZZLED BY WHAT HE IS SAYING. COULD HE HAVE A SPEECH PROBLEM AND WE DON’T EVEN RECOGNIZE IT?

Class of 2027 cat trainer

dress-up star

number cruncher

Apply Now! www.stmarysschool.org | 901-537-1405 | All girls from age 2 through 12th grade. lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

THE SCHOOL FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE. THE SCHOOL FOR BOYS.

Not being understood by people outside family is one sign that your preschooler could have a speech disorder. Other signs, according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, include NOT mastering most of the following skills. By age 4, your child should be able to: • Use sentences with four or five words.

• Talk easily without repeating syllables or words.

• Use sentences that give a lot of details. (The biggest peach is mine.)

• Have a vocabulary that is between 1,000 to 1,500 words.

Speech problems can stem from several sources: Your child may not be hearing properly, he may spend time around other adults or children who don’t speak clearly, or he may a developmental delay of some kind.

To address the situation, get your child a hearing test. The earlier you seek help, the quicker you can provide necessary intervention. Causes of language issues include learning disabilities, hearing loss, and intellectual disability, among others. If you have doubts, get your child tested.

GR ADES 7-12 | 6191 PARK AVENUE, MEMPHIS, TN 38119 (901) 260-1304 | MUSO W LS.O RG

Call us today.

Do you have a question? Send your comments to dearteacher@dearteacher.com or ask questions online at dearteacher.com.

ME EM MP PH H II S SP EN M PA AR RE NT T .. C CO OM M

7 7

SAVVY SHOPPER

Now Taking Applications for 2016-2017! d School

An International Baccalaureate Worl

The International Baccalaureate Experience Lausanne is the only PK - 12th grade independent International Baccalaureate World School in Tennessee, giving students a competitive advantage in the college admission process. The Lausanne curriculum is vertically aligned from PK-3 through 12th grade to provide students with a well-rounded academic experience that develops critical-thinking, strong research and communication skills from an early age. Each student is empowered as an individual through meaningful relationships with faculty and peers and continual opportunities for self-reflection and success. The wide range of classes and co-curricular programs allow students to engage in a joyful and challenging academic environment while pursuing and developing special interests. By the end of 2015, more than 100 college representatives will have visited the campus to recruit Lausanne students.

Monthly Admission Previews at Lausanne

All-School Preview January 27 at 9:00 a.m.

Each month you’ll find division-specific presentations designed to help you learn how Lausanne can empower your child as an individual and prepare him or her for college and for life in a global environment. Help your child start ahead, come visit Lausanne as soon as you can! Please RSVP for the All-School Previews so materials can best be prepared for you and your child. www.lausanneschool.com/previews.

Individual tours are also available!

Early Explorer Experiences

First Wednesday of the Month September – May, 8:30 – 9:30 a.m.

January 6 - Music February 3 - Spanish

Make plans to bring your little ones to a special hands-on experience each month in the Lausanne library and explore how enhanced literature, language, art, music and science studies in early childhood and lower school create greater connections for students in the classroom and a stronger knowledge base for success in upper levels of study. Activities will include story time and a special activity followed by time playing in Lausanne’s new Outdoor Discovery Center. Sign up for an upcoming event: www.lausanneschool.com/EEE

Lausanne, whe re we emp owe r indi viduals to be The Rea l Me”!

Watch how! “

admission@lausanneschool.com | 901.474.1030 | www.lausanneschool.com | Memphis, TN

8 8

ME EM MP PH H II S S P EN NT M PA AR RE T

JJ A NU UA AR RY Y 2 20 0 11 6 6 AN

LIFE IN THE CLOUD Ways to store holiday and everyday photos

By JENNIFER WILLIAMS-FIELDS

I currently have 278 photos saved to my iPhone camera roll. I would have more had I not lost all my data when I somehow clicked a wrong button in a backup attempt. The lost contacts, calendar events, and playlists can be recreated. But those 700 photos — of my daughter’s dance recital and our trip to the West Coast — are gone forever.

If you’re like me, start the New Year by becoming more techsavvy. Here are some cost-effective, easy-to-use ways to save your photos.

DROPBOX • A tiered service that not only saves photos and other important documents, but will also syncs between all of your devices. When ready to share your pictures, simply click the share button (from your computer or phone) and enter the email address. Friends and relatives who don’t have to have a Dropbox account can see the photos with a link you send. Dropbox also has several built-in safety feature, so, if your phone goes for a swim, your pictures will still be available via your account and can be restored to a new phone.

COST: Free for 2 GB of storage space; $9.99/month for 1 TB (1,000 GB) EASE OF USE: Simple. Dropbox tutorials and help are available. iCLOUD PHOTO LIBRARY • Best for Apple device users. Similar to Dropbox, all photos from any connected device are saved (by date and location) into the Cloud, making them easily searchable. iCloud Photo Sharing allows you to create photo streams that other iCloud users can view and save. If you have less than 1,000 photos, My Photo Stream might be enough for your needs.

COST: Free for 5 GB of storage space; 99 cents/month for 50 GB; $2.99/month for 200 GB; $9.99/month for 1 TB EASE OF USE: Takes a little getting used to. You manually save each individual picture when using the My Photo Stream option.

HOMESTEAD Outdoor Woodcrafts Your destination for all your swing set needs!

We Build FUN in Your Backyard! homesteadoutdoor.com

8390 Hwy 64 Bolivar, TN 38008 • For more info, call 731-658-4906

GOOGLE PHOTOS • Best for Android users. Functions like the iCloud Photo Library.

COST: Free.

EASE OF USE: Searching pictures is easier because Google technology allows you to search keywords.

EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE • Best for basic extra storage. Often bigger than internal hard drives in your home PC, an external hard drive holds more and bigger files. The downside is they are just as susceptible to failure as your computer. If the external hard drive crashes, you lose your stored data. Sometimes a data recovery service can save some files, but they don’t always work and are very expensive.

COST: $60-$400, depending on storage space EASE OF USE: Saving photos or files requires the drag-and-drop method, which is tedious. Also, an external hard drive is similar to putting all your photos in a big cardboard box. Searching for just one photo will be time consuming.

SAME-DAY PHOTO DEVELOPING • If you prefer actual photos you can touch and scrapbook, look no further than your corner drugstore. CVS, Walgreens, and Wal-Mart have on-site, same-day photo developing. Choose photos from your phone, crop or enhance, then walk out with pictures in hand. I’ve made my children’s birthday party invitations this way for the past two years. And recently, my teen daughter printed 72 pictures from her phone to make a collage for her bedroom. Thanks to a coupon, we paid $10 and change for her photos.

COST: Varies.

EASE OF USE: Simple. Bring a USB cord to download pictures from your phone to the store kiosk.

Dine: Crazy Italians • Next time you’re out east, treat your family to a delicious, home-cooked Italian meal.

Nope, not expensive. And yes, it’s the real deal. The owners of this new, cheery bistro hail from Italy and serve a variety of pasta dishes that are creamy, dense, and delicious. Read our review at memphisparent.com

Meet Charlie

Class of 2023 gymnast

Dr. Who fan

future paleontologist

Apply Now! www.stmarysschool.org | 901-537-1405 | All girls from age 2 through 12th grade. lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

1250 N. Germantown Pkwy #105, Cordova, TN 38016 (next to Party City) • crazyitalians.com Drink: Got a bike that lurches along with jammed gears or a flat? Wheel it over to the newly opened Bikesmith in the Broad Avenue Arts District. You can watch while mechanics work their magic, or shop for a new ride while sipping cold drafts and sodas.

509 N. Hollywood • bikesmith.com

Wonder: For an interesting take on American history and creativity, check out the current folk art exhibit, Wonder, Whimsy, Wild: Folk Art in America, at Memphis Brooks Museum of Art. And don’t miss the museum’s Community Day, January 30, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Open through February 28 • brooksmuseum.org

Need Help With Your House Cleaning?

Let Us Help…

My Friendly Helper, Inc. Live Well, We’ll Clean Standard Cleaning of: 3 Bedrooms, Dining Room, Living Room, Kitchen and 3 Bathrooms

or

Your Choice of any 6 Room Areas and 3 Bathrooms for only: $88.00 no contract necessary

Call Now!!! (901) 414-2653 or visit us at our website at

www.myfriendlyhelper.net

People you can trust!

Licensed, Bonded and Insured

ME EM MP PH H II S SP EN M PA AR RE NT T .. C CO OM M

9 9

MEDIA NOTES The authors deliver a wealth of information for building early literacy skills, with tips arranged in short sections using photos.

Concise and comprehensive, it covers everything from age-appropriate booklists and vocabulary-boosting ideas to printable activity sheets, and app recommendations.

I spoke to Mascott and McDonald about their new venture.

MEMPHIS PARENT: You say you’ve had your own “Rock-Star Reader” moments with your children. What practices have you found most helpful?

READY, SET, READ! New parenting book offers tips for raising strong readers

By MEENA VISWANATHAN Long-time parenting blogging buddies Amy Mascott (Teachmama.com) and Allison McDonald (NoTimeforFlashCards. com) have pooled their experience and resources to produce their first book together, Raising a Rock-Star Reader. This go-to guide is loaded with tips for busy parents who want to instill a passion for reading in their children.

FUN READ-ALOUD TITLES From Raising A Rock-Star Reader

Amy: I say that because learning to read is a complex process and often, parents think they have to be certified teachers to help their children with reading, but that’s not the case. Remember, reading is everywhere.

MP: I’ve often heard from literary experts that reading is a sales job. What common mistakes do parents make when encouraging their child to read?

Allison: Allowing your child to choose his or her own reading material and respecting that choice is part of the sales pitch you’re talking about. Reading takes practice, and if a child is going to read 50 comic books versus you forcing her to read 10 pages of a book she isn’t interested in, which will be a greater benefit? By all means, work in other things but respect their choices to help make it fun.

Amy: Talk about reading every single day in some way; mention something you read in the newspaper, ask what they’re reading in school, or point out words on a billboard.

This simple act demonstrates awareness about reading that will soon be mirrored by your child.

Toddlers

Preschoolers

MOO, BAA, LA LA LA! by Sandra Boynton QUIET LOUD by Leslie Patricelli THAT’S NOT MY PUPPY … ITS COAT IS TOO HAIRY by Fionna Watt

CLAP YOUR HANDS

by Lorinda Bryan Cauley ONE DUCK STUCK by Phyllis Root TRASHY TOWN by Andrea Zimmerman and David Clemesha

WHOEVER YOU ARE by Mem Fox SOMETHING FROM NOTHING

by Phoebe Gilman THE PAPER BAG PRINCESS

by Robert Munsch

Transitioning from high school to real life just got a little easier

By JANE SCHNEIDER For teens entering college or preparing for the work world, PR professionals Amy Howell and Anne Deeter Gallaher provide a handy roadmap, sharing advice on how to develop your A-game for life. They speak from experience. Each leads their own marketing and public relations firms; Memphis-based Howell is CEO of Howell Marketing Strategies, and Gallaher heads Deeter Gallaher Group LLC in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Both have also walked this

M ME EM MP PH H II S S P PA AR RE EN NT T

MP: Can you explain what you mean by “Reading is no cakewalk”? Any suggestions for helping the reluctant reader?

Allison: Something often overlooked is that a lot of children are easily embarrassed when reading aloud until they can do it very well.

Don’t force a reluctant reader to read to you, try letting them practice with a sibling, a stuffed animal, or a family pet. Sometimes kids just need to feel like no one is judging them in order to really shine.

Babies

A ROADMAP TO SUCCESS

0 11 0

Allison: My five, almost totally fool-proof tips, are these: • Make reading part of your nightly routine from day one.

• Be a reading role model — even if you are only reading People magazine, show your kids that reading is fun.

• Fill your house with books.

• Talk to your children, not just at them.

Vocabularies are built conversation by conversation.

• Let children choose their own reading materials.

Our reluctant readers may not want to sit down with a novel, but they may play word games. They may not voluntarily grab a book to read in the evening, but they may cozy up with a parent who reads a favorite book aloud to them.

JJ A NU UA AR RY Y 2 20 0 11 6 6 AN

path with their own children; Howell currently has two teenage boys preparing for this important passage.

The pair taps their vast networks to include feedback and personal anecdotes from professionals on a variety of subjects, and the insights they provide are strong. They discuss the importance of a well-developed resume, why personal drive matters, and the importance of making good choices in college, among others.

Some of what they write may seem apparent to adults, but perhaps not as much to young people. For example, the digital footprint teens leave online — including snarky Twitter remarks or the Saturday night kegger photos on Instagram — may say more about your teen’s priorities than the volunteer work noted on his resume.

Their point is that in order to be in high gear for the career path that lies ahead, one must be strategic in how life is conducted during the college years. Words, tone, and accuracy matters — on resumes and in life. Parents and guidance counselors will want to pass this book along to their ambitious teens.

Meet Jessica

Spring / Summer 2016 Event Kids’ Clothes, Toys, Furniture, Baby equipment, Nursery items and More!

Limited amount of NEW Boutique Clothing @ Huge Discounts!

Thursday, February 4th th

Friday, February 5 Saturday, February 6th

10am - 7pm 10am - 6pm 9am - 4pm*

Class of 2021

*1/2 price sale

cat lover

Items with No Disc on tag will remain full price

Agricenter 7777 Walnut Grove Rd Memphis, TN 38120

beach seeker

cross-country runner

www.consignkidstown.com 901-569-5543

Apply Now! www.stmarysschool.org | 901-537-1405 | All girls from age 2 through 12th grade. lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

T:9”

T:5.875”

We’ve been friends for a long time – before we could even spell “mammogram.”

Make a pact with a friend to support each other in getting regular mammograms. Then follow through.

Call 1-844-SIS-PACT or log on to sisterpact.com for more information. Ask a doctor if a mammogram is right for you.

PER/061915/0082

TM

M E M PH I S PA R ENT.COM

11

HEALTH MATTERS

JUMP TO IT

Childhood may be more fast-paced, but today’s children aren’t.

This year, work together to get your family fit.

By MALIA JACOBSON

New research from the American Heart Association indicates that children today are slower and less fit than their parents were, taking 90 seconds longer to run a mile than kids did 30 years ago. Children’s cardiovascular fitness has also dropped five percent per decade since 1975. This problem isn’t confined to the U.S. either. According to the World Health Organization, roughly 80 percent of the world’s children aren’t getting enough exercise.

Commit yourself to reversing this trend with your family. These tactics will help your crew develop better health and improved energy while having fun.

TODDLER/PRESCHOOL YEARS • Ages 2-5

ELEMENTARY YEARS • Ages 6-12

TEEN YEARS • Ages 13-18

PLAY TOGETHER

EMBRACE VARIETY

WATCH OUT FOR SPORTS INJURIES

The good news: Toddlers usually get plenty of exercise, says Beverly J. Allen, professor of physical education and recreation at North Carolina Central University. “Children this age are very active and get the exercise they need from running, jumping, climbing, rolling, bending, and dancing.”

Get physical with your preschooler by playing tag or wrestling together. Have a dance party in the living room, get out the hula hoops, or play Simon Says.

Just don’t encourage copycat workouts — very young kids shouldn’t follow along with grown-up exercises, says Coach Dale Speckman, director and head trainer at Athletic Revolution of Northeast Indianapolis.

“Young children simply aren’t ready for highrepetition, high-intensity workouts like jogging or interval training,” he says. The key instead should be making movement easy and fun.

For children who like sports, the elementary years bring a whirlwind of new opportunities to stay active, from soccer to softball. But less athletic kids may begin to shirk exercise, particularly if they feel inept at sports.

Fortunately, competitive sports play isn’t the only way kids can get needed exercise, says Allen.

Parents can encourage kids to get exercise by establishing a regular family outing, like riding bikes on the Greenline, swimming, or playing at the park or zoo. They can also explore less competitive physical pursuits, like biking or skateboarding. Even jumping on a trampoline can be very heart healthy while developing coordination, and balance.

Whatever pastimes your kids gravitate toward, model the notion that physical activity is enjoyable, not work, says Allen. “Make sure kids have access to fun equipment like skates, Frisbees, and hula hoops.” Then join in the fun.

Trend-loving teens may hop on the latest fitness bandwagon to get “shredded” — teen-speak for having a muscular physique. But high-intensity workouts like CrossFit and P90x aren’t suitable for teenagers, says Speckman.

“CrossFit utilizes many Olympic-style lifts that are extremely technical and require high levels of joint mobility and stability. These technical lifts take several weeks to teach in order to perform safely and effectively.” Sports injuries are on the rise in children and teens, something experts attribute to early sport specialization and teens with still-growing bodies performing too many repetitions.

Parents of young fitness enthusiasts should seek trainers who are certified in youth fitness.

Even if a trainer has a background in strength or sports training, youth training is vastly different and should be left to a certified professional.

Malia Jacobson is a nationally published health and parenting journalist and the mother of three.

APPLY NOW! www.cmdsmemphis.org 901.261.2157

2 11 2

ME EM MP PH H II S S P RE EN NT M PA AR T

AN NU UA AR RY Y 2 20 0 11 6 6 JJ A

imagination

T CR

AY ON

L®

DDARD SCHO GO O HE CRAYON N CRAYO

N

RA YO

Call today to enroll!

C

The Goddard School® uses its playbased F.L.EX.® Learning Program (Fun, Learning Experience) to introduce STEAM concepts (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) to help children develop a strong foundation for their future education and a passion for STEAM learning.

Meet Karmen

GERMANY • SWITZERLAND AUSTRALIA • SOUTH AFRICA CHINA • INDIA • IRELAND ARGENTINA • ENGLAND

POWERED BY STEAM. FUELED BY FUN!

problem solver

Class of 2016 humorist

honor council rep

MAY 31 - JULY 29 • 6 - 8 YEARS

Apply Now!

ENROLL TODAY! COLLIERVILLE • 901-861-0108

www.stmarysschool.org | 901-537-1405 | All girls from age 2 through 12th grade. lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

GoddardSchool.com The Goddard Schools are operated by independent franchisees under a license agreement with Goddard Systems, Inc. Programs and ages may vary. Goddard Systems, Inc. program is AdvancED accredited. © Goddard Systems Inc. 2015

WHAT AGE SHOULD CHILDREN

FIRST SEE THEIR PEDIATRIC DENTIST? AGE 5 AGE 3 AGE 1 Yes, that’s right!

Actually within 6 months of their first birthday!

m xander Two) E e U e Frheildren Valuatients P C For $58 ails. New1/31/16. rred et pires D a r ( Call foOnly. Ex s may beainsceus. c e al fe ual ition divid Add in in

Pediatric Dentists

Steven J. Fuson, D.D.S., M.S., John A. Acosta, D.D.S., Toddrick Smith, D.D.S., Ryan Wilson, D.D.S., Martha Wells, D.M.D., M.S.

Family Dentists

Clayton Floriani, D.D.S., Natalie Carruth, D.D.S.

Orthodontists

Bob Lorentz, D.D.S., M.S., Kyle Fagala, D.D.S., M.D.S., Gregg Bouldien, D.D.S., M.S.

Germantown

901.453.4382 Kirby

www.pdg4kids.com

901.453.4383

Olive Branch

662.985.6047 Southaven

662.985.6048 M E M PH I S PA R ENT.COM

13

COVER STORY

THINKING ABOUT PRESCHOOL? What to expect when your child is entering the school world

By JANE SCHNEIDER If you’re new parents with a baby or raising young children, then you’ve likely discussed when and where to send your little ones to preschool. What’s required, what will your child’s day look like, what sort of gains will your child make each year? We asked several preschool directors to give us the lay of the land, and also consulted NAEYC, the National Association of Early Childhood Educators, an accrediting body for early childhood centers.

We spoke with early childhood directors Deborah Isom with Presbyterian Day School and Lindsey Chase with Memphis Jewish Community Center’s Early Childhood Center. Here is what they shared.

WHY ARE CHILDREN ATTENDING PRESCHOOL AT AGE 2 OR 3?

Preschool used to be reserved for 4-year-olds, as a primer to kindergarten. But as more parents have needed full-time care for their children, private schools have begun to develop programs for 2- and 3-year-olds. While called preschool, these classrooms won’t share the same academic goals as a 4-year-old classroom. At age 2, children are just beginning to expand their vocabulary as they associate sounds with objects (“brown cow”). By age 4, they’re stringing together complete sentences and using words in different contexts (“I saw a brown cow on my grandma’s farm and at the zoo.”) Preschool helps bridge those gaps and paves the way for kindergarten readiness.

your child to have regular outdoor time, which can help develop gross motor skills and expose children to the natural world. Centers may be teacher-facilitated for 2s and 3s, becoming more independent for those turning 4.

Most early classrooms should also be introducing small doses of academicds, with subjects like color, shape, and number recognition, counting, and an introduction to letter recognition. Young children shouldn’t be expected to know their letters or write, says Lindsay Chase with the JCC. That will come as they prepare for kindergarten. “It’s important to be realistic about what’s appropriate for the age of the child,” adds Isom. “Parents miss how critical it is for kids to explore and learn from their environment, not necessarily that they know by rote the alphabet.”

LEARNING TAKES PLACE, BUT SHOULDN’T CHILDREN BE PLAYING INSTEAD? Yes, play is the work of the young child. You want to see classroom activities that engage children in a number of different ways. Centers should focus on dramatic play (costumes, puppets), structured play, manipulatives, reading, art, and science. You also want

HOW WILL PRESCHOOL HELP MY CHILD’S SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT? Your young child will gradually be expected to follow simple rules and to pay attention from five to 15 minutes at a time, says Isom. Overall, preschool helps young, naturally egocentric kids learn how to exist with their peers and teachers in a classroom. Part of

4 11 4

M ME EM MP PH H II S S P PA AR RE EN NT T

JJ A UA AR AN NU RY Y 2 20 0 11 6 6

that experience includes learning how to take turns, stand in line, follow directions, and use words (instead of acting out) to express themselves.

Even at age 2, children are beginning to work on self-help skills. You’ll notice your child beginning to assert her independence. During this year, she should be learning how to dress herself, wash her hands, follow simple, one- or two-step commands, and listen.

IS TOILET TRAINING EXPECTED FOR 2-YEAR-OLDS? Many schools are now helping parents with toileting issues. Ask your school or day care center what their expectations are. And remember that strides made at school won’t be maintained if you don’t follow a similar routine at home.

HOW LONG SHOULD THE SCHOOL DAY RUN? Many schools offer a range of programs that are halfor full-days, five days a week. For some, scheduling depends on the needs of the parents. Be sure to ask about the flexibility of the program. Centers also may offer before- and after-care for an additional fee.

FIVE THINGS YOU CAN DO TO PREPARE FOR PRESCHOOL

WHAT ARE EXPECTATIONS PER DISCIPLINE? Much of teaching children at this age focuses on helping students learn self-control. Isom says they have changed the conversation they have with students at her school to focus more on what it means to make a strong choice versus a weak choice. They also link consequences to poor • WORK ON TAKING TURNS. Help your child choices. “What we’ve found is that a child doesn’t understand the importance of considering learn that much from time-outs. They sometimes others when waiting for his turn. Developing need to cool down, but they also need the empathy is a lifelong trait worth cultivating. education piece to help teach them how to selfcorrect,” she says.

• HONE LISTENING SKILLS. At the table or in the carpool line, have your child wait to speak WHEN SHOULD I INQUIRE ABOUT until after her brother finishes. When it’s her ENROLLMENT? turn, remind her, “Now it’s your turn to talk.

Most schools suggest six months out for a fall Thank you for being patient and for being such enrollment. So if you are considering fall of 2016, a good listener while your brother was talking.” you should start the process in the spring.

WHAT ARE SOME SIGNS A PROGRAM MIGHT NOT BE A GOOD FIT FOR MY CHILD? Your child is unhappy about going to school.

When children are first adjusting to a new environment, some separation anxiety is normal, particularly for a child who is leaving home for the first time. But once your preschooler becomes familiar with his surroundings and begins to bond with caregivers, that problem should resolve itself. If your child shows signs of unhappiness when getting ready for school (upset stomach, crying, etc.), have a conversation with the teacher or caregiver to find out what’s going on in the classroom.

YOUR CHILD IS NOT EXCELLING ACADEMICALLY. When choosing a school, be sure to consider whether the school’s academic goals are in line with your own. “Have realistic ideas about what your child can do,” says Isom.

• PRACTICE SHARING. Having friends over to play or working with siblings can teach sharing.

• LEARN HOW TO TAKE DIRECTION. Children who won’t take direction well are at a distinct disadvantage when they come into a preschool environment. Work with your child to help him learn how to follow direction. Consider consequences when he doesn’t do as he’s told.

No one wants to handle an unruly child, and such behavior ultimately hurts your child by making life more difficult for him.

• BUILD VOCABULARY BY READING. Reading aloud helps to develop attention span, listening and observation skills, and letter/sound recognition. Make reading interactive by asking questions about each picture, talk about the action or story’s characters, and have your child predict what comes next in the story.

Want to feel this good about your school?

Come learn about our excellent Christian education at our upcoming open houses!

Immanuel Lutheran School

Open Houses

Thursday, January 21st, Noon and 6pm Sunday, January 24th, 2pm (Light meal provided)

Immanuel Lutheran School Christian Education for PK3-8th Grade 6319 Raleigh LaGrange Road Memphis, TN 38134 901-388-0205 • www.ilsmemphis.org

Woodland combines small class sizes, dedicated teachers, and personalized instruction to help grow your child’s success. Call 901-685-0976 to schedule a tour, or email admissions@woodlandschool.org.

Currently accepting applications for the Fall of 2016 A co-ed, 2-year-old – 8th grade independent school in the heart of East Memphis. | woodlandschool.org ©2015 Woodland Presbyterian School. All rights reserved.

ME EM MP PH H II S SP EN M PA AR RE NT T .. C CO OM M

5 11 5

FEATURE

when glasses aren’t enough Vision disorders often go undiagnosed, vision therapy can help

by KRISTI COOK • illustration by DERRICK DENT

Every parent wants to hear that his or her child has 20/20 vision.

But good eyesight doesn’t always mean perfect vision.

Vision disorders — a common cause behind poor academic achievement and misbehavior — often go undetected. The good news is one treatment, vision therapy (VT), may provide a solution.

THE VISION/LEARNING CONNECTION Nearly 80 percent of what our brain takes in occurs visually, making good vision essential to academic success. If your child is diagnosed as farsighted or nearsighted, glasses generally correct the problem, allowing him to take in all of the visual information thrown his way.

However, image processing doesn’t stop with the eyes, notes Dr. Marc Taub, chief of vision therapy and rehabilitative therapy for The Eye Center at Southern College of Optometry. Instead, once the eyes take in information, the brain must interpret what is being seen. With a visual disorder, that brain/eye partnership doesn’t function as it should, which can result in eye fatigue, reduced 3D vision, double vision, letter reversal, and/or line skipping during reading.

CANDIDATES FOR VISION THERAPY Sheryl Butler’s 10-year-old son was diagnosed with strabismus when he was 3; the disorder causes one eye to turn out when he’s tired. After years of patching, Butler says there was some improvement. But, “Over time, he basically quit using the eye and used the stronger eye instead,” says Butler. Later, her ophthalmologist told her after age 9, her son’s vision would no longer improve. Researching online, Butler read about vision therapy, which can help people with strabismus at any age.

So Butler took her son to the Eye Center at the Southern College of Optometry. After several months of weekly visits, she began to see results.

“It’s amazing,” she says. “His eyes are working together, and his eyesight, depth perception, and 3D vision have improved greatly.” Vision therapy was able to correct his vision from 20/60 to 20/20 minus 2. His reading has improved, a result of better tracking, since his eyes don’t skip lines as often. As an added bonus, his sports activities have improved, thanks to improved vision.

Taub stresses that vision therapy is not for refractive conditions related to eye structure, such as nearsightedness or farsightedness. Rather, VT helps with amblyopia (lazy eye), strabismus (eye turn), eye teaming, tracking, and other perceptual problems that essentially stem not from problems with the eyes but from the brain.

THERAPY MEANS BRAIN TRAINING Taub best describes VT as being similar to physical therapy for the brain. “Vision therapy is a way to train the brain, which includes the visual system, to more efficiently take information and process that information.” Each treatment is specialized to the specific diagnosis and conducted under a doctor’s supervision. Therapy utilizes various non-surgical instruments, tools, and exercises during in-office visits once or twice a week, depending on the individual’s needs.

Surprisingly, vision disorders share many of the same signs and symptoms as dyslexia, ADD, and ADHD. Taub is a perfect example. As a young student, he recalls being able to listen to information and give it

does my child have Vision issues?

Source: College of Optometrists in Vision Development • covd.org Dance Scholars, Inc. with Matthew Keefe “BALLET/MODERN/JAZZ/CONTEMPORARY PIECE”

Come prepared in ballet attire bring: ballet shoes & jazz shoes.

WHEN: Mon. Jan. 18th @ 6:00 -*8:45pm 1738 Galloway Ave.38112 - 2nd flr. DANCERS, INC. Rehearsals: 4 days only Mon. Jan. 18-21st Rehearsals continue Saturdays Starting Jan.23rd @ 2:15-3:15pm

PERFORMANCE - SAT. MAY 14, 2016 At Southwest Tennessee Community College Union Campus Theatre.

Call for more information: 901 301-3262 | www.dancescholarsinc.org ME EM MP PH H II S S P PA AR RE EN NT T M

AN NU UA AR RY Y 2 20 0 11 6 6 JJ A

LEARN MORE HERE The Eye Center | Southern College of Optometry tec.sco.edu/the-eye-center • 722-3250 Children’s Eye Foundation childrenseyefoundation.org

• Skips and rereads lines • Poor reading comprehension • Homework takes much longer than it should • Reverses letters like “b” into “d” when reading • Short attention span with reading and schoolwork

AUDITIONS

6 11 6

back verbally, yet was incapable of processing visual information. “I couldn’t learn in a traditional manner, yet I was a kid who on the surface seemed smart.”

Taub also had behavior issues. “I was what I would call an ADHD type of kid. I couldn’t sit in my seat.”

Once the headaches and eyestrain started each day after half an hour of study, he would lose the ability to concentrate, and thus, begin to misbehave.

Fortunately, he was correctly diagnosed as a child and began vision therapy at age 6. His academic performance steadily improved once he began therapy. “I can honestly say I would not be doing what I am doing today if it wasn’t for vision therapy.”

Because of the potential for the misdiagnosis of vision-related problems, Taub advises parents to get a comprehensive eye exam — not just a traditional chart eye exam — if your child is having difficulty reading, is diagnosed with ADD or ADHD, or is having other learning problems. While many schools and pediatricians perform eye checkups, those screenings check for visual acuity, not visual skills such as tracking or focusing. Taub recommends seeing a qualified optometrist. “You want an exam that checks the visual system, including eye health.”

• Double vision after reading • Headaches when reading • Excessive eye rubbing or blinking • Uses finger to keep place • Trouble with mathematical concepts

For the Scholar.

For the Spirit.

With 21 schools across the Catholic Diocese of Memphis and more than 100 years of educating students in the Memphis area, we offer parents and children: • Excellent academics • Safe, nurturing atmosphere • Affordable tuition

• Virtues-based education • Small class size • Christ-centered environment

At our Catholic schools, we partner with parents to raise faith-filled children who lead by example, serve others and excel academically.

S L

CATHOLIC SCHOOL

Diocese of Memphis Catholic Schools / For the Scholar. For the Spirit.

St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School

Learning Today Leading Tomorrow

fostering careful reflection

encouraging healthy risks

so our children bravely embrace challenge

OPEN HOUSE Tuesday, February 2, 2016, 9:00a.m.-11:00a.m.

Grades PreK-8

Challenging classes and programs for advanced students Specialized programs to support students with learning differences

2100 N. Germantown Pkwy.

Cordova, TN 38016 901-388-7321 www.sfawolves.org

Apply today! Deadline for priority consideration is January 15.

ST. GEORGE’S INDEPENDENT SCHOOL Germantown Memphis Collierville

PK—Grade 12

sgis.org

M E M PH I S PA R ENT.COM

17

PARENT TO PARENT

WHEN DID HOVERING BECOME THE NEW NORMAL?

Time to rethink being overprotective with our kids

By STEPHANIE PAINTER

If you watch for new parenting books, you’ve probably come across the name Julie Lythcott-Haims. Her book, How to Raise an Adult: Break Free of the Overparenting Trap and Prepare Your Kid for Success, is currently on the New York Times best seller list, and she has appeared on programs like CBS This Morning and Good Morning America.

When my daughter’s high school invited this former Stanford University dean to speak in the fall, I warily scanned the announcement in the PTA newsletter. The ‘helicopter parent’ club has many members, the author states. Helicopter parenting describes a style of hovering that runs counter to a parent’s responsibility to raise a child to become independent. Baby boomers were the first to earn the label, and their kids are today’s Millennials. Would I find my parenting style meeting the criteria for club membership? I dutifully typed the event into my phone.

ANXIOUS PARENTS, HOBBLED KIDS During her presentation at Houston High School, Lythcott-Haims got right to the point: Cultural trends are making parents anxious for their childrens’ safety and academic success. This leads them to be hyper-attentive supervisors who direct everything from toddler play dates to college graduate job searches. Early on, parents vow to ensure that their kids will succeed in a competitive world, but by overprotecting and over-directing, they cheat their children of opportunities to stumble and learn from their

MORE THAN JUST A PARTY,

THE KROC IS A BIRTHDAY BLOWOUT.

Celebrate With Us. For more information call 901.729.8031

Mention this ad for 10% off your next Splash Bash birthday! Offer expires March 31, 2016.

8 11 8

ME EM MP PH H II S S P RE EN M PA AR NT T

AN NU UA AR RY Y 2 20 0 11 6 6 JJ A

own mistakes, thus developing resilience and gaining independence. The net result of such excessive hand-holding? Kids who are poorly equipped for adulthood.

Now I was taking notes in my parenting journal.

What’s the harm in establishing “bumpers and guardrails between our kids and the world”? After all, it’s love and concern that leads us to stay so involved, right? Lythcott-Haims, the mother of two teens, urges us to consider that our goal is to raise confident, competent young adults. A former dean of freshmen and undergraduate advising at Stanford, Lythcott-Haims worked with thousands of students and their overly involved parents. Despite having strong academic accomplishments, she saw many college students flounder when it came to handling everyday challenges of campus life. They frequently texted mom or dad for advice, and parents routinely met with professors to complain about their students’ grades.

By over-parenting, Lythcott-Haims says we affect more than our child’s ability to handle a meeting with a professor. A 2011 study at the University of Tennessee in Chattanooga looked at more than 300 students and found that students whose parents were overly involved were more likely to be medicated for anxiety and/or depression.

LET KIDS THINK FOR THEMSELVES After the event, I picked up her book, finding bits of myself as well as fellow parents, reflected in its pages. In compelling style, Lythcott-Haims blends research and conversations with parents, teens, educators, counselors, and employers, as well as stories from the dean’s office. From adolescent mental health to the college admissions “arms race,” she covers much ground

and offers practical suggestions for changing our course. “It’ll involve letting go of an illusory sense that we can control or manufacture everything in our children’s lives, and letting them go about the important work of figuring things out for themselves.”

As little ones begin preschool, many parents are already calculating strategies aimed at gaining acceptance to an elite college. Children are steered through the “check-listed childhood,” experiences aimed at boosting their chance of success. We have become ‘concierge parents,’ writes Lythcott-Haims, serving as our kids’ eyes, ears, and brains. We frantically track homework, encourage kids to specialize in one sport, even write students’ college application essays, all to gain admission to one of the U.S. News and World Report’s 25 “best” colleges. Perhaps our egos are tied to their accomplishments, she suggests.

The importance of doing chores and mastering basic life skills resonates with me. I regularly clean my daughters’ rooms, convinced their time is best reserved for homework. Between ages 14 and 18, Lythcott-Haims says teens should learn how to inflate a tire, cook a meal, and interview for a job. My family still has some work ahead.

I also appreciate her focus on the stress this adds to our lives as parents. While we may believe it’s critical to show up and cheer for our child at every game, it’s okay instead to go for a jog or pursue a hobby of our own. Parents need to reclaim their own lives and not be so kid-centric.

Then, children can get a life, too.

“They need to pass this book out when you register your children for school,” advises former preschool teacher Angela Arnoult, who also attended the event. “Mapping out our kids’ lives is an epidemic.” In contrast, Arnoult was a latchkey kid who made her own lunches, caught

“PARENTS NEED TO RECLAIM THEIR OWN LIVES AND NOT BE SO KIDCENTRIC. THEN, CHILDREN CAN GET A LIFE, TOO.” the bus to school, and did laundry. Upon reflection, she says, “All that responsibility gave me confidence.”

Now a stay-at-home parent, she has the time to make her teenaged sons’ beds and tidy their bathroom, but she leaves those chores to them instead. “I tend to my children and love them. But if they can do something for themselves and I’m doing it for them, I’m enabling them.”

When her boys counter by telling her some of their friends don’t have chores, she shoots back, “I hope you don’t marry one of those people.”

Sometimes Arnoult feels out-of-step with parents who believe hovering is a way to show they care about their kids. But she is convinced giving her boys space to make decisions and take responsibility pays off. “Kids need to build up thick skin and think for themselves.”

This evening, I am one of many parents who wait to meet Lythcott-Haims. She’s a woman on a mission — one I expect will prove worthwhile — if we can stop doing long enough to listen.

Need a minute?

Kid Station can help!

Bring your little ones (ages 1-5) to play for a few hours a day at discounted rates.

Choose the days and times that work for you. Visit, click or call and ask for more information on our

Mommy Minutes Prepaid Plans.

Kid Station Drop in & Play Center Visit: 579 Erin Drive, Memphis Call: 901-761-PLAY (7529) Click: www.kidstationonline.com

honoring proven traditions

modeling entrepreneurial resolve

so our children advance as problem-solving scholars

Apply today! Deadline for priority consideration is January 15.

ST. GEORGE’S INDEPENDENT SCHOOL Germantown Memphis Collierville

PK—Grade 12

sgis.org

ME EM MP PH H II S SP EN M PA AR RE NT T .. C CO OM M

9 11 9

FEATURE

COPS & KIDS School resource officers do more than keep schools safe

By JENNIFER BOREN | Photos by MARCI LAMBERT

As students return to school after the holidays, they are greeted by teachers, coaches, and school resource officers (SROs). Shelby County Schools and the municipal school districts place fully trained and certified police officers in schools to prevent violence, deter crime, and build positive relationships between students, faculty, and law enforcement. Most officers are employed at least part-time in some elementary, middle, and high schools across Shelby County.

The town of Collierville fully backs the program and its police department has become the first in the state to employ full-time SROs in every public school. The city’s mayor and board of aldermen view it as a critical step in forming positive relationships with the town’s youth.

A CALMING PRESENCE

While on campus, the SRO’s day is filled with mentoring students, teaching safety-related programs, monitoring the cafeteria, and directing traffic. SROs reinforce school rules, leaving discipline to school administrators unless law enforcement is required.

“I feel very safe at school because I know there’s a police officer at Bon Lin,” says sixthgrader Tommy Baum. “Officer Estavon Garces knows everyone’s name. He knows the bad kids and the good kids. All the kids love him.”

Even though she has never needed him, Emma Onek, a junior at Houston High School, feels more comfortable knowing there’s an officer on campus. “Having an SRO at my school really does make me feel safer. I don't talk to him that much, but when I do see him, he'll ask me how I'm doing and just check up on me.”

BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS

“Our SRO definitely spends time in the role of counselor,” says Kristi Murin, assistant principal at Bon Lin Middle. “He listens to the students, gets to know their interests, and makes a connection with them. He builds strong relationships with the faculty, and many consider him an important part of our school family.”

Last year, Officer Garces received a letter of gratitude from one parent, who shared the impact he made in the life of her child. Garces checked in with her child during lunch and spent time listening and talking to him. “If this student was having a bad day or just struggling in a class, he would talk to the SRO about it. This relationship had a tremendous impact on this student during a trying time in this student's life,” says Murin.

20 0 2

M ME EM MP PH H II S S P PA AR RE EN NT T

AN NU UA AR RY Y 2 20 0 11 6 6 JJ A

Officer Cliff Priestley walking the halls and reading to students at Bailey Station Elementary.

Officer Cliff Priestley, who is stationed at Bailey Station Elementary, greets students in the hallways with police-badge stickers, monitors video surveillance footage, and has even started a special story time for young students. He visits primary classrooms to read Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann, a humorous tale about a police officer who takes his dog along to give a safety speech at school. Students create and share a safety-rules poster and are invited to sit inside his patrol car. These lessons leave lasting impressions.

“It would be nice if every student was able to say they’re friends with at least one police officer; I think that’s a great goal,” says Priestley. “We want students to be comfortable talking to police and trust us as they become adults.”

The school resource officer’s day doesn’t end with the dismissal bell. Officers also work special events, including football games, track meets, and school fairs. Often, teachers and parents go to the officers to discuss issues that arise in the home or to ask specific questions about the law.

Officer Priestley has even taught classes on social media and cell phone use for parent groups.

Priestley enjoys these special duties. “It really reinforces the relationship we have with students to see them in and outside of school.”

Engaging with the officers can also provide kids peace of mind, knowing that their welfare, as well as the entire school, is the SRO’s top priority.

and

ful lo fp

ot en

Memphis Jewish Community Center

l.

W e

v lie

are capable, competent,

tia

be

h et

n ildre h c at

IS’ BEST D PH AY M E

GOLD

Beginning at 6 weeks

PH

IS ’B

O

L

MEM

Toddlers 12 months to 3 years

RE CA

Infant Care

M

Preschool E S T PR E SC H

O

Pre-Kindergarten Jr. Kindergarten Our caring educators cultivate learning though play and active engagement.

By supporting children in the important early years, we are investing in their future.

Guided by Jewish values and traditions, students of all faiths learn to appreciate our diverse world.

For more information or to schedule a tour, contact Lindsey Chase, Early Childhood Director, at (901) 259-9205 or lchase@jccmemphis.org.

Memphis Jewish Community Center 6560 Poplar Ave. jccmemphis.org (901) 761-0810

cementing timeless concepts

inspiring intrepid thinking

so our children confidently navigate school and society

Apply today! Deadline for priority consideration is January 15.

ST. GEORGE’S INDEPENDENT SCHOOL Germantown Memphis Collierville

PK—Grade 12

sgis.org

M E M PH I S PA R ENT.COM

21

SCHOOL NOTES

WELCOME TO OUR SCHOOL January is school-choosing season; be smart and go prepared

By GINGER SPICKLER • MEMPHISSCHOOLGUIDE.ORG

BEFORE YOU GO Before you set up tours or attend open houses, you’ll want to do a little prep work. First, spend some time thinking about what you’re really looking for in a school for your child. Knowing that you want an environment that will nurture her vocal talents, for example, will save you from wasting time at a school that doesn’t have a choir.

Make a list of the attributes you’re looking for — a real list, not just a mental one — so that you won’t forget to ask about them when you visit.

Once you have a school profile in mind, begin your search online.

On MemphisSchoolGuide.org, you can filter the huge list of local schools into a manageable set of your favorites. From there, dig into each school’s website or social media presence a little more. A school that puts some effort into keeping its online presence up-to-date is demonstrating that it cares what families know about it. Also, keep an eye out for parent- or student-created websites — those can give you insight into the larger school community.

Finally, talk to other parents to get a sense for the school’s strengths and weaknesses. But not just any parents, rather those who have had recent personal experience. Things can change quickly, and you want to make sure the feedback you get from other parents is relevant to what’s going on in the school right now, not what they heard from a neighbor five years ago.

The holidays are over and I know you’re looking forward to some downtime during the cold winter evenings. But if you have a child who will need to be in a new school in the fall, don’t curl up on the couch for a Scandal marathon just yet. January is a crucial month in the local school-choosing season, as public schools begin open enrollment periods and private schools continue accepting applications. One of the best ways to determine which schools should be on your short list is to pay them a visit.

the principal. Your kid can even get in on the action by shadowing a student for a day. Some schools advertise this opportunity, but it’s worth asking about anywhere.

WHAT TO LISTEN AND LOOK FOR Remember your checklist? Bring it and make notes of what you see and hear. Don’t be afraid to ask pointed questions that go beyond the school’s prepared slideshow, such as: • What supports are in place if you see a student struggling?

• How do you help students set and meet high expectations?

• How do you encourage parent and community involvement in the school?

• How do teachers communicate with parents about student progress?

• Are there formal policies about homework or recess?

• What are your biggest challenges and how are you working to address them?

If you get vague or incomplete answers to any of these questions, consider that a red flag — a good school will be able to give specific examples to illustrate what they have done in practice, not just recite the generic platitudes they think you want to hear.

You’re sure to hear a lot of positive spin from your tour guide, but use your eyes and ears. Do all students seem engaged? Do teachers seem happy? If you’re there after kids have gone home for the day, WHEN TO GO Now it’s time to follow up, to see if reality lives up to what you’ve check out student work on the walls — does it look like the kind of read and heard. Many schools hold open houses this month, and assignment your child would enjoy doing and be challenged (but not while attending these can be a good way to learn about a school’s frustrated) by? highlights, Lischa Brooks, principal of Maxine Smith STEAM Academy, a public middle school in Midtown, cautions, “An open house is really TRUST YOUR GUT the school’s opportunity to put forth the very best it has to offer. You may not be an education expert, but you are an expert on at least You’re not necessarily going to hear about its challenges in that one thing — your child. Spending even just a little time inside a school will give you a much better sense of whether it will be a good fit for setting.”

To get a more balanced look, Brooks recommends scheduling a him and your family. So, do the legwork now — February’s a better visit and sitting in on classes on a regular school day. She and her staff month for couch surfing anyway. will even try to accommodate parents who drop by unannounced, but regular school business must take priority over curious For information on opportunities to visit specific schools or details on prospective parents. With a little advance notice, however, staff enrollment procedures, visit MemphisSchoolGuide.org. should be willing to set up a time for you to visit, including time with

WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR IN A SCHOOL? 22 2 2

ME EM MP PH H II S S P M PA AR RE EN NT T

AN NU UA AR RY Y 2 20 0 11 6 6 JJ A

READ: Picky Parent Guide, by Bryan and Emily Ayscue Hassel.

Free download • pickyparent.com

MORE THAN FINDING Your Shot, IT’S FINDING YOURSELF. At Briarcrest, we believe in the journey of discovery. The stops and starts. The challenges and the breakthroughs. Whether it’s academics, athletics, fine arts or missions, we are with your student all of the way. To schedule a tour, call 901.765.4605 or visit www.briarcrest.com.

F I N D

Y O U R

B A L A N C E

Open Houses: School Wide — Sun. Jan. 31 @ 2:00 p.m. • Houston Levee & East Memphis

Speech Therapy

Discover Your Unique Design and Thrive in it!

Feeding Therapy

• Educational & Occupational Assessments available

Occupational Therapy

• Find more satisfaction in life by choosing the right career • Avoid wasting time and money in a job or college major that is not for you

Donna W. Walker

Certified Career Direct Consultant

(901) 577-0929

email: ruwalking@yahoo.com https://careerdirect-ge.org

Physical Therapy Register now for January feeding groups! ph: (901) 309-3077 www.brightsong.net M E M PH I S PA R ENT.COM

23

DAYTRIPPER

big easy, big fun

by JOHN LAMBERT Photography by Marci and John Lambert

Okay, we know. As a Memphian, you’ve been to New Orleans. You’ve eaten a few too many crustaceans and mollusks (raw and fried), sung (off-key) at Pat O’s, consumed (several) frozen beverages poured from machines, and cursed the mid-morning sunshine from your hotel bed.

We’ve all been there — in one 24-hour period.

Now we have kids. We’re respectable, mortgage-paying, job-holding adults. But New Orleans is still NOLA, one of the coolest places you can reach in less than a day’s drive. How do you share this fantastic place with your kids? What will they eat? What does the French Quarter look like in daylight?

For fall break this year, our family decided to take on the challenge with a teen and a tween for their first visit to the Big Easy. Here’s how it went.

24 4 2

ME EM MP PH H II S S P PA AR RE EN NT T M

JJ A NU UA AR RY Y 2 20 0 11 6 6 AN

Day One • Monday

We leave Memphis around 8 a.m., and roll into New Orleans around 2 p.m., driving straight to the French Quarter.

When introducing my family to a new city, we like to take a tour that gives a feel for the city’s story. Several years ago, we took advantage of a hop-on, hop-off bus tour in Chicago that came with a city pass package. It was really informative and convenient, so when I saw that New Orleans offered a similar service, I signed us up for a three-day pass (CitySightSeeingNewOrleans.com).

We park near Jackson Square and check in at the tour headquarters on Decatur, right in front of the square’s front gate. Since it’s too late to start the full bus tour, we decide instead to take the French Quarter walking tour. Our guide describes several points of interest and explains the various roles played by the French and Spanish in the formation of this city. As we walk, we learn the Creole culture emerged as a mixture of the two.

After the tour, the girls experience their first Cajun meal at The Original Pierre Maspero’s (est. 1788), then we take in Jackson Square with its palm readers, caricature artists, hustlers, and musicians, before dipping into Cafe Du Monde for their heavenly beignets.

With tired feet and full bellies, we check into the Hilton New Orleans/St. Charles Avenue and relax for the night. I’ve found that staying in the Central Business District (on the opposite side of Canal from the French Quarter) results in sounder sleep without sacrificing location. From here we can walk or take a streetcar everywhere we want to go.

Day Two • Tuesday

After brunch at the legendary Mother’s, our first destination is the Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium. I thought the Insectarium might be too “babyish” for us, but I am completely wrong, as all four of us love it. Live leaf-cutter ants, giant hissing cockroaches, and butterflies in flight — what’s not to love?

Our next stop is Audubon Aquarium of the Americas. I visited many years ago and am disappointed to see not much has been updated. If your family enjoys aquariums, make a stop. If they’re iffy, pass.

The rain holds off, so we decide to hop back on the tour bus and take the full loop of the downtown district, which takes about two hours. We learn a lot as the double-decker bus winds through the Garden and Central Business District. The tour wraps with a return to the French Quarter before we hop off near our hotel.

After taking a breather, we head over to Bourbon Street (gasp!) on the way to ACME Oyster House, as it’s late afternoon. We encounter a jazz funeral at the top of Bourbon. As the girls had just learned about these on the bus a few hours earlier, it was interesting to see a procession up close. We discover a lengthy line for ACME, so we instead try out Jimmy J’s, based on a friend’s recommendation.

The food is reasonably priced and very tasty. The crowds on Bourbon are becoming a bit more boisterous, so we hustle back to the hotel and unwind at the indoor pool before turning in.

Day Three • Wednesday

For our last full day, the National World War II Museum in the Warehouse District is our first stop mid-morning. Already a great museum, they now issue visitors your own “dog tag” card. You are assigned a real person from WWII and learn about them at different points in the exhibits by scanning your card. This process is so well done that it serves to further immerse you into what is already an moving experience. The focus is always on the people, not the machines or strategy or politics of war. All those elements are, of course, covered in great detail in the exhibits, but these personal stories told by the men and women who served makes this a very powerful presentation.

After a tasty lunch at the nearby Warehouse Grille, we hop on the tour bus once more to view the Garden District. My younger daughter and I tour the historic Lafayette Cemetery #1 while my wife and older daughter do boutique shopping on Magazine Street. Our final destination is the Outlet Collection at Riverwalk back in the Warehouse District for a final shop before returning to the hotel and wrapping up with pizza and ice cream delivered to the room.

TOP LEFT TO RIGHT: Powdered delights, beignets at Café Du Monde

•

Close encounters of an aquatic kind at the Audubon Aquarium

So, were we successful? I think the verdict was definitely “yes.” The temperature was bearable, we learned a lot about NOLA’s history, and, of course, the food was outstanding. We even managed to find something to please our girls’ non-spicy palates.

Kids and New Orleans mix fine after all. Laissez les bons temps rouler — at least while there’s daylight.

The combat airplanes of the National World War II Museum Buskers, making music and the scene, at historic Jackson Square A stingray seems suspended in air as it swims above our camera ME EM MP PH H II S SP EN M PA AR RE NT T .. C CO OM M

25 5 2

FAMILY TABLE

SNOW DAY IN THE FORECAST? Shake off winter’s chill with a steaming mug of hot cocoa or cider

By LIZ PHILLIPS Memphis kids learn early that to long for snow is a sure path to sorrow. Nonetheless, they have rituals rooted in hope. Some employ reverse psychology, perversely chanting “don’t snow” at the clouds. Others do an atavistic snow dance. A fourth-grader named Poppy instructed me in her family’s method: “You drop two ice cubes in the toilet, don’t flush, and wear your pajamas insideout.” My kids haven’t tried this one yet, but once they hear of it, I’m sure our icemaker will be hard-pressed to keep up.

With winter getting off to a warm start, this year could be tough. After two rounds of polar vortexinduced snow events, expectations are high. As parents, we can’t control the weather. We can provide winter comforts, though. A steaming mug of cocoa doesn’t replace a snow day, but it might sweeten a cold, wet, brown winter afternoon.

So when the kids are driving you mad and you crack and send them outside to play in the cold mud for a while, give them and yourself the gift of a homemade hot drink. You don’t need those packets with a picture of a little Teutonic girl to serve up a cup of chocolatey love. A little extra effort and a few pantry ingredients can spare your children the sadness of water-based cocoa. (I used to steal those packets and eat the powder, all by itself. Now that’s good. But naughty.)

Hot cider has curative properties, too, and is clinically shown to blunt the force of no-snow-day letdown.

It’s worth using real cider. Unlike apple juice, it has a complex, tart flavor that shines when spiked with spices.

And it lends itself to an adult upgrade, if needed. After a real snow day, when the kids and parents have been cooped up together for a little too long, some moms and dads might enjoy adding a jigger of rum to this beverage when the kids are looking the other way… I won’t tell.

Hot Cocoa

Adapted from the recipe on the Hershey’s Cocoa box Single serving 2 tablespoons sugar 1-2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, depending on how intense your kids (or you) like your flavor A pinch of salt 1 cup milk, preferably whole A few drops of vanilla extract (or try peppermint extract) In a generous mug, stir together the sugar, cocoa powder, and salt.

In a heatproof measuring cup, microwave milk on high for 1-1 ½ minutes, or until hot. Gradually add milk to dry ingredients, starting with a small splash and stirring to break up lumps before adding more. Add vanilla and stir. Pop in a candy cane for extra fun.

Hot Mulled Cider

Adapted, over time, from Joy of Cooking 4 servings 1 quart apple cider (real cider is so much better than juice here) 2-4 tablespoons brown sugar 4 cinnamon sticks 8 cloves A navel orange or two lemons

Winter Fantasy Tea Saturday, January 23 11am-12pm & 1pm-2pm

It’s a Winter Fantasy Tea where all of your dreams can come true! Guests are invited to sip on tea and nibble on pastries with the snow princess. Costumes and formal dresses are encouraged, kissing frogs is optional.

For 4 servings ½ cup sugar ¼-½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder Dash salt ⅓ cup hot water 4 cups (1 qt.) milk ¾ teaspoon vanilla extract Stir together sugar, cocoa and salt in medium saucepan; gradually stir in water, eliminating lumps. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a boil. Boil and stir for a minute. Add milk; stirring constantly, and heat to serving temperature. Do not boil milk mixture.

Remove from heat; add vanilla. Garnish with whipped cream, tiny marshmallows, leftover candy canes, or even cinnamon sticks.

In a medium saucepan, set the cider over medium heat. Add spices and stir in sugar.

Use a vegetable peeler to strip at least four good-sized strips of peel from the orange or lemons, and drop those into the cider. (For the bartender’s touch, twist the strips of peel over the cider first to release the fragrant oils.)

Cut citrus in half and squeeze for juice. When the cider comes to a boil, reduce to a simmer. After about 10 minutes, add about half of the citrus juice and taste.

Add more sugar or juice as needed, and simmer for up to 45 minutes longer. (If too much boils off, add water, a half-cup at a time.) Serve in mugs, with a cinnamon stick in each.

A Kids’ Music Class that Really Rocks Come Jam with Music for Aardvarks, Memphis!

An interactive music program for children 6 months to 5 years and their parents/caregivers

Winter Registration • Straight from New York City Now Open!

• Great music • Live guitar and storytelling, singing and dancing • Fun for parents too!

• Great for birthday parties, special events, & school programs

Newcomers welcome to drop in for one FREE class

Admission is $15 for members and $20 for non-members.

Space is limited and reservations are required. Call 901-458-2678 or visit CMOM.COM for more details.

458-2678 w CMOM.COM

Open 7 days a week 9am-5pm

at The Katherine and John Dobbs Family Center 26 6 2

M ME EM MP PH H II S S P PA AR RE EN NT T

AN NU UA AR RY Y 2 20 0 11 6 6 JJ A

CLASSES IN BARTLETT inner nowNEW WClasses in Midtown, East Memphis, Collierville, and Cordova Classes also in Midtown and East Memphis Visit theweb webatatwww.memphisaardvarks.com www.memphisaardvarks.com Visit us us onon the or contactususatat871-0227 871-0227or orinfo@memphisaardvarks.com info@memphisaardvarks.com or contact

EARLY YEARS

THE WAITING GAME Establishing routines can help your child learn the value of patience

By MATTHEW TIMBERLAKE

My 3-year-old wants a cracker. Naturally, five minutes ago in the grocery store, she refused one near the fancy cheese, but now, as I nose the car into the wild Poplar traffic, hunger rages and she is desperate to satisfy it.

events also help you plan your day, by articulate and understand time, patience, GIRL. MUST. HAVE. A. CRACKER. Alas, there are no crackers. The crackers are preparing food when you need to, and saving and waiting will have a long-term effect.

They will begin to understand that 20 at home, seven minutes away. But I don’t certain tasks for their naptime.

Children thrive on routine; it takes the minutes is finite, and there are other factors, panic; my child (and yours) has what it takes guesswork out of having needs met. This in addition to their own needs, that dictate to survive the ride home.

Young children are bundles of needs and frees them to live in the moment, when a snack takes place. wants, driven by the natural urge to satisfy. concentrating on the activities you or their This comes from our biology; we need caregivers plan for the day. It also regularly MODELING PATIENCE certain things to survive, and our brains are forces them to wait for hunger and other When your car is third in line at the bank animal urges to be satisfied, which makes drive-through, how do you handle the wait? hard-wired to understand these needs.

Out in the wild, we’d rely on this instinct them more accustomed to practicing If you grip the steering wheel and glare at the other customers, groaning — “How could to stay alive. But humans live among other patience. this possibly be taking so long?” — don’t be humans, all with their own wants and needs. surprised when your child shows a similar When children learn early in life how their GIVE LANGUAGE TO WAITING needs fit among other members of the “You’ll have to wait for a cracker until we get annoyance at waiting.

Take a breath, commit to your spot as one family or classroom, they’re primed for solid home, but that’s only five minutes. That social and emotional well-being through sounds like a lot of time, but we can be customer among many, and, within reason, patient. And then, you can have a cracker, endure the wait. You’ll demonstrate that childhood and beyond. plus an orange or some grapes,” I say to my waiting is something we all must do at times, and by being patient, you eventually get ravenous daughter.

START EARLY Of course, this kind of comment won’t what you want.

Establishing routines from the beginning lays the foundation for a patient child. Your magically calm a raging cracker fit (or other child knows activities like mealtime, naptime, types of fits, for that matter), but helping and bedtime come at regular intervals. Such your child develop language that lets her

The foundation of self-control is trust.

Can your kids trust you?

Go to TUCI.org for a copy of the Parents Guide to Kindergarten Readiness.

MG-15

ME EM MP PH H II S SP EN M PA AR RE NT T .. C CO OM M

27 7 2

EARLY YEARS

8 FUN INDOOR ACTIVITIES FOR TODDLERS Ways to keep your tot busy when it’s cold outdoors

By KRISTI COOK | Photography by BRANDON DILL

Whether you have one toddler or a house full, the cold winter months can be a challenge as cooped up youngsters explode with unspent energy. Try these boredom-busting ideas to keep creativity and exercise going until spring arrives.

ELIZA DILL (2) AND HER FAMILY LOVE SPENDING TIME PLAYING UNDER SHEET FORTS.

CREATE WITH HOMEMADE DOUGH. Help your toddler create her own custom-made playdough. Mix 1/2 cup salt, 2 cups flour, 2 tbsp. cream of tartar, 2 tbsp. vegetable oil, and glitter (optional) in a large bowl. Add food coloring (optional) to 1 1/2 cups boiling water.

Slowly add water to dry ingredients until a sticky dough forms. Cool. Knead dough for a few minutes until it reaches the desired consistency. If too wet, add more flour. If too dry, add water, a teaspoon at a time.

Once cooled, it’s ready for little hands to create. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for another day.

perfect place to hang his birdfeeder. Then go back twirl like fairies, hop like rabbits, wiggle puppy tails, inside, sip hot cocoa, and watch the birds enjoy their and laugh like hyenas. special treat.

PLAY LEAPFROG. Gather small pillows, rugs, or MAKE YOUR OWN SNOW. You don’t have to wait for towels, and place them in a line through the house, a snow day to play in the snow. Grab a can of dad’s leaving a foot or two of space between each one, shaving cream and a bottle of white Elmer’s-style glue. depending on the child’s age. Let children (and grown Mix together equal parts to create a creamy snow ups, too) leap like a frog from lily pad to lily pad and paint that dries to a puffy texture. Fingerpaint a see who can go the farthest before missing a pad and snowman on construction paper, then add ‘falling’ into the water. embellishments like pom-poms, sequins, felt, or yarn BUILD A FORT. Gather several sheets and light to make the painting extra special. blanket to make a roof, walls, and even separate rooms FEED THE BIRDS. When it’s too cold to venture out, HOLD A SCAVENGER HUNT. Hide small objects for kids to hide under and have picnics and tea parties keep kids connected to nature by feeding birds a (consider Easter eggs or building blocks) around the in all day long. peanut butter and seed sandwich. Take a piece of toast house and then give verbal cues to help your tot find GET OUTDOORS. Sometimes little ones just have to and tear a small hole in one end. Thread twine through the hiding place of each object. the hole to make a hanger. Help your toddler smear a HAVE A DANCE PARTY. Sometimes toddlers just get outside in spite of the frigid temperatures. Bundle thick layer of peanut butter onto one side. Pour a cup can’t sit still long enough for playdough or gooey them up and trek through the neighborhood in search of bird seed into the center of a plate. Place the toast peanut butter. The best energy burner is music and of pinecones, acorns, leaves, and twigs to take home. peanut-butter side down onto the seed, patting firmly dancing. Dress in silly costumes, then put on your Then, sip another cup of cocoa and chat about the to ensure the peanut butter is covered. Place the favorite music and host a dance contest. Have your treasures you found on your hike. bread on a wire rack and let it dry overnight. In the child dance as different people — grandpa, his best morning, go outdoors and let your little one pick the friend, his favorite teacher. Use your imagination to

HAS YOUR IMAGINATION FIZZLED?

OUR FAVORITE DESTINATIONS FOR TOTS!

I like to reach out to other moms and borrow their kid-approved activities for my energetic tots.

Here are a few of my favorite links: pbsparents.org handsonaswegrow.com kidspot.com learning4kids.net theimaginationtree.com

Where Learning Begins and Scholars Attend...

• Infant, Toddler, Preschool & before- and after-school programs • Advanced Preschool Curriculum • Christian education • High Quality Infant/Toddler Program 1639 & 1643 Madison Ave. • Preschool Reading Program Memphis, TN 38104 • We Offer Gymnastics and Taekwondo & Office: 901-276-8781 Spanish www.theacademyonmadison.com • Game Room for before- and after-school programs Center Hours: 6:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m.

Private Pay & DHS Certificates Welcome Open House for prospective parents every Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. & Thursday evenings at 5:30 p.m.

HIGH QUALITY CHILDCARE AND SCHOOL AGED CARE 28 2 8

M ME EM MP PH H II S S P PA AR RE EN NT T

AN NU UA AR RY Y 2 20 0 11 6 6 JJ A

Memphis Zoo

memphiszoo.com

Children’s Museum of Memphis cmom.com

The Art Project at Overton Square

artprojectmemphis.com

ST. DOMINIC SCHOOL ST. AGNES ACADEMY ST. DOMINIC SCHOOL

LEARNERS TO LEADERS A Catholic Tradition Since 1851.

to Study, Prayer, Community and Service — we prepare students to be leaders who will make the world a better place.

The Pool School’s UNDER THREE SWIMBOREE A NEW SELF-PACED, INTERACTIVE APPROACH TO PARENT/TOT SWIM LESSONS BEGIN YOUR CHILDS WATER EDUCATION IN A FUN, NONTHREATENING ATMOSPHERE

ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

WATER TEMPERATURE 90 DEGREES YEAR AROUND CLASSES SATURDAY MORNINGS TO ENROLL, GO TO: WWW.SWIMPOOLSCHOOL.COM, CLICK ON ENROLL HERE

For more information contact 901-767-1356 or

Admissions@saa-sds.org WWW.SAA-SDS.ORG

CLASSES BEGIN MONTHLY

FOR ADDITIONAL INFO CALL: 901-386-1999

ST. AGNES ACADEMY-ST. DOMINIC SCHOOL 4830 Walnut Grove Road • Memphis, Tennessee 38117

ST. AGNES ACADEMY 2K-12

ST. DOMINIC SCHOOL 2K-8

M E M PH I S PA R ENT.COM

29

JANUARY CALENDAR

by MEENA VISHWANATHAN

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration Monday, January 18 • National Civil Rights Museum • 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

Outdoor activities include main stage performances, children’s arts & crafts, trivia giveaways, food trucks, museum vendors, and community resources. $5 special King Day museum admission.

Mid-South Food Bank drive and Lifeblood blood donations for extra discount on admission. $2 off admission with non-perishable food donation. Free admission for up to 4 persons with blood drive donation. 521-9699.

Time for Three

Buckman Arts Center, St. Mary’s School.

Thursday, January 28 7 p.m.

This classically trained garage band performs Bach to the Beatles, Mumford & Sons, Katy Perry, and Kanye West. $28/ adult. $23/child. 537-1483.

1 · FRIDAY

Eagle Tours. Reelfoot Lake State Park in Tiptonville, TN. Through February 29. American Bald Eagle and Waterfowl Tours begin January and continue through the end of February. Buses leave at 10 a.m. daily and on Saturday and Sunday at 10 a.m. & 1:30 p.m. Tour lasts approximately two hours. For reservations, call (731) 253-9652.

Ice Skating at the Memphis Zoo: Theme Nights.

Memphis Zoo. Through January 3. 5:30-9:30 p.m.

Join for themed ice skating nights at the zoo.

January 1: 80s Night. January 2: Elvis Night. $6. Includes skate rentals. 333-6500.

First Hike. Reelfoot Lake State Park in Tiptonville.

At this First Hike of the New Year, you might see a majestic bald eagle fly over head, ice formations at Kiwanis Park, snow geese and ducks roosting at Long Point or Black Bayou, or have a chance to capture a picture of a gorgeous sunset. For hike reservations, call 731-253-9652.

30 0 3

M ME EM MP PH H II S S P PA AR RE EN NT T

AN NU UA AR RY Y 2 20 0 11 6 6 JJ A

Peter Pan. Playhouse on the Square. Through January 10. This beloved musical takes audiences on a trip to Neverland with Peter and his friends. $35/adult. $10/child. 726-4656.

2 · SATURDAY

Family Studio. Dixon Gallery and Gardens.

10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Drop in to the Dixon and create art, open-studio style. Free. 761-5250.

5 • TUESDAY

Mini Masters. Dixon Gallery and Gardens. Tuesdays from 10:30-11:15 a.m. This parent-child workshop designed for toddlers features story time, an art activity, and a snack. $8/child. Call 761-5250 to pre-register/pre-pay by noon the day before class.

Community Music School - Information Night.

University of Memphis/South Campus. 7-8:30 p.m.

Parents enrolling for spring and summer semesters learn about Suzuki programs. Information night includes a mini recital by students. Free. 678-4244.

Folk Art in America Community Day.

Memphis Brooks Museum of Art. Saturday, January 30 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Families can engage in art activities inspired by Wonder, Whimsy, Wild: Folk Art in America exhibit. Enjoy the interactive display, listen to live music, and explore this unique body of work. Free. 544-6200.

6 · WEDNESDAY

School of the Rock: Creative Arts Program.

Christ United Methodist Church. Through April 20.

Wednesdays from 6-7:30 p.m. Children preK4-5th grade participate in classes including art, theater arts, AV/animation, karate, creative cooking, and outdoor adventure arts. Each group presents their work during the showcase on the final evening of the program. Free. Registration required. Register online at CUMCmemphis.org/rock or contact Danny Shivers at 261-2168.

7 • THURSDAY

SmART Kids. Dixon Gallery and Gardens. Thursdays from 10:30-11:15 a.m. Children ages 4-5 are invited to explore art and horticulture activities. $8/child.

Reservations required. 761-5250.

8 · FRIDAY

Story Time. Morton Museum of Collierville History.

Fridays from 10:30-11 a.m. Features stories, songs, and activities related to Collierville with different themes each week. Free. 457-2650.

Swimming Lessons

• Ages 6mo and Up • Baby & Me Classes • Private Swim Lessons • Group Lessons

Year ‘round in our HEATED indoor pool!

SCUBA RANGERS Come Join the Fun with Scuba Rangers Ages 8 - 11

RISING 5TH-7TH GRADERS! You are invited to attend a FREE

SCAVENGER HUNT Saturday, February 6, 2016 4:00-6:00 p.m.

Come join in the fun!

Reservations Required

• Scuba Skills • Accomplishment • Community Awareness • Teamwork • Goal setting • Snorkel & Scuba Classes • Confidence Gift Cards make great gifts!

999 South Yates, Memphis, TN 901-763-3483 www.diveshop1.com

To make your reservation, or for information contact us at 901-435-5819 or Admissions@saa-sds.org.

START HERE.

go anywhere. www.gslschool.org

MIDTOWN. COED. Age 2 – Grade 8

COME SEE US.

enroll@gslschool.org

ST. AGNES ACADEMY-ST. DOMINIC SCHOOL 4830 Walnut Grove Road • Memphis, Tennessee 38117

WWW.SAA-SDS.ORG

LEARNERS TO LEADERS A Catholic tradition since 1851

ST. AGNES ACADEMY 2K-12

ST. DOMINIC SCHOOL 2K-8

M E M PH I S PA R ENT.COM

31

CALENDAR

OPEN HOUSE Sunday, January 31, 2016 12:00—1:30 pm

9 · SATURDAY

INCARNATION

Catholic School Preschool-8th Grade

901.853.7804 goICS.org

Peanut Butter and Jam: Momandpop.

Germantown Performing Arts Center (GPAC). 9:30 & 10:30 a.m. The musical comedy show, created by songwriting duo Virginia Ralph and Bobby Matthews, combines original pop music for kids with out-of-this-world characters. $8/child with up to two adults free per ticket. 751-7500.

12 • TUESDAY

MATILDA THE MUSICAL. The Orpheum.

Through January 17. Tuesday-Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Friday at 8 p.m. Saturday at 2 & 8 p.m. Sunday at 1 & 6:30 p.m.

This award-winning musical based on the beloved novel by Roald Dahl shares the story of how an extraordinary girl dares to take a stand and change her own destiny. $25-$125.

For tickets, call 525-3000.

18 · MONDAY

We provide a We offer Parent and patient specialized team comprehensive counseling, of experts to ADHD and autism medication address your child’s evaluations & and tutoring is neurological and developmental available. Many behavioral needs. testing with of our services are individualized covered by your treatment options. insurance plan.

Tutoring Available Dr. Felicia Knowles and her staff including nurse

practitioner, behavioral therapist and psychological examiner are here to meet your ADHD needs.

Call (901) 759-7977 for more information.

1709 Kirby Parkway Memphis TN 38120 www. KnowlesMD.com 32 2 3

ME EM MP PH H II S S P M PA AR RE EN NT T

JJ A AN NU UA AR RY Y 2 20 0 11 6 6

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration. National Civil Rights Museum. 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Outdoor activities include main stage performances, children’s arts & crafts, trivia giveaways, food trucks, museum vendors, and community resources. $5 King Day museum admission.

Mid-South Food Bank drive and Lifeblood blood donations gives extra discount on admission. $2 off admission with non-perishable food donation. Free admission for up to four visitors with blood drive donation.

521-9699.

23 · SATURDAY

Spotlight Saturday: Native American Culture. Morton Museum of Collierville History. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Explore Native American culture through a special program at 10:30 a.m. and take part in related craft activity offered throughout the day. Free. 457-2650.

Magic Carpet featuring Mexican Folkloric Dance with Tierra Mestiza.

Buckman Arts Center at St. Mary's School. 10 a.m. Children ages 2 to 8 will go on a Mexican adventure exploring folk dances with Tierra Mestiza. $5/child. Free for adults.

537-1483.

Winter Fantasy Tea. Children’s Museum of Memphis (CMOM). 11 a.m. & 1 p.m. It’s Frozen at CMOM during the Winter Fantasy Tea. Join in a sing-along with your favorite Ice Princess, bring your autograph books, pose for pictures, make a jeweled crown, and enjoy tea and gourmet pastries. Costumes and formal wear encouraged, frog kissing optional. $20.

Reservations required. 458-2678 IRIS Orchestra Family Concert and Instrument Petting Zoo. Germantown Community Library. 1 p.m. Musicians from the IRIS Orchestra perform a 45-minute, kid-friendly concert with interactive audience participation.

After the concert, children can take part in an instrument “petting zoo” exploring the different musical instruments. Free. 757-7323.

26 • TUESDAY

Caterpillar Club: Sculpture Garden: Let's Make Art! Memphis Botanic Garden. Also a Wednesday session from 10-11 a.m. Children ages 2-5 are invited to join for stories, music & movement, nature-inspired art, and adventure hikes in My Big Backyard.

Semester theme: “Gardens at the Garden.” Six-class semester fee: $75.

Registration required. 636-4122.

30 · SATURDAY

Folk Art in America Community Day. Memphis Brooks Museum of Art. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Families are invited to engage in art activities inspired by “Wonder, Whimsy, Wild: Folk Art in America” exhibit. Enjoy the interactive gallery, listen to live music, and explore the art. Free. 544-6200.

Store winners are selected to compete at the regional level; regional winners will head to national competition.

National prizes include $5,000 for the teacher, $5,000 for the school, and a $500 gift card and NOOK device for the student. Free. For details, contact Mandy at 386-2468.

Mallory-Neely House Tour. MalloryNeely House, 652 Adams. Fridays & Saturdays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $7/adult. $5/child (ages 3-12). 523-1484.

CLASSES & WORKSHOPS

Bill Maher

The Orpheum Saturday, January 23 at 8 p.m. $47.50-$102 Reservations, 525-3000

ONGOING EVENTS

Museums and Exhibits Memphis Brooks Museum of Art. “Wonder, Whimsy, Wild: Folk Art in America.” Through February 28.

544-6200.

CTI 3D Giant Theater. Journey to Space 3D. January 9 through March 4.

Experience space flight history and the Space Shuttle program as we get ready for humanity’s next stop… Mars.

Prehistoric Planet: Walking With Dinosaurs 3D. January 9 through March 4. Experience a year in the life of dinosaurs. Living in the Age of Airplanes in 2D. January 9 through March 4. 636-2362.

The Sharpe Planetarium reopens with new Full-Dome Digital Video on January 30. 636-2362 Morton Museum of Collierville History. “Slaves and Slaveholders of Wessyngton Plantation.” January 8 through March 5. Using images, artifacts, and films to examine the lives of enslaved , the exhibit examines African-Americans and their white owners on the 13,000-acre plantation in Robertson County, TN. Free.

457-2650

OTHER PROGRAMS

Memphis Ambassadors Program (MAP) and MPLOY Youth Summer Experience Applications Open. Office of Youth Services. Application deadline: January 15. Memphis residents ages 14-21 can earn money while participating in on-the-job training, college and career planning, and leadership development. Eligible MAP applicants include teens entering grades 9 to 12 in the 2016 school year.

MPLOY applicants include teens who are 14 to 21 by June 1, 2016. Apply online at cityofmemphisyouth.org

My Favorite Teacher Contest. Barnes & Noble Wolfchase. Contest runs January 4 through March 1. Middle and high school students can submit an essay, poem, or thank-you letter about their favorite teacher and win prizes.

Open Studio. Dixon Gallery and Gardens. Fridays, 4-5 p.m. Ages 15+.

Sketch the masters, learning how to advance your skills from an instructor.

Walk-in program. Free with admission.

761-5250.

Junior Archivist Workshop. Morton Museum of Collierville History. On select Saturdays (January 2 & 9), 11 a.m.-noon, grades 4-8. A perfect program for young historians-intraining. Participants will learn how to sort through primary source documents related to individuals from the “Slaves and Slaveholders of Wessyngton Plantation” exhibit.

Free. Register at SignUpGenius.com/ go/30E0944A8AC2CA4FC1-junior or call 457-2650 to sign up.

Ice House Entrepreneurship Program.

Central Library. On select Tuesdays (January 5 & 12) from 6-7:30 p.m.

Students learn the skills, attitudes, and behaviors that successful entrepreneurs utilize. Free. 415-2700.

Kaleidoscope Club. Dixon Gallery and Gardens. Wednesdays from 4-5 p.m.

Ages 5-9. This after-school program explores a project involving horticulture, art, or literature. $8. Snack provided. Call 761-5250 to register.

Community Music School Classes Winter Session opens. Community Music School at University of Memphis South Campus. Classes include: Group Class Guitar and Keyboard for Kids (both for ages 8 and up), Pre-Twinkle Class (ages 3, 4, & 5), Early Preschool Orff Music (ages 2-3), and Preschool Orff Music (ages 4-5). Classes start in January and run through April. $192 for 12-week session. To registrater, go to Memphis.edu/cms or call 678-4244.

Girl Talk Class. Methodist Le Bonheur Germantown. January 29 & 30.

Parents only on Friday night from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Parent-child event on Saturday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. For girls ages 9-12 and their mothers.

Educational program designed to enhance communication between parents and their preteen daughters about sexuality, family values, decision-making, and responsibility. $60 for mother-daughter pair.

516-6645 to register.

LITTLE HARDING N E W Y E AR-ROU ND OFFERI NGS F O R 1 8 M O NT HS–JU NI OR K! With extended hours, competitive pricing, and options for two, three, and five days, we have a program designed to fit your real-life needs.

OPEN HOUSE Thursday, January 14 | 3:30–5:30 p.m.

18 months–Junior K Cordova Little Harding: 8350 Macon Rd. East Memphis Little Harding: 1106 Colonial Rd. RSVP: www.HardingLions.org/AdmissionsEvents

www.HardingLions.org/LittleHarding

P R E V I E W D AY S Strong students needs a strong start. At our two lower school campuses, students follow a rigorous curriculum designed to prepare them for upper school dual-enrollment and advanced placement opportunities.

CORDOVA LOWER SCHOOL CAMPUS

Thursday, March 17 | 9:00 a.m.–10:30 a.m.

18 months–Grade 6 | 8350 Macon Rd. EAST MEMPHIS LOWER SCHOOL CAMPUS

Tuesday, March 22 | 9:00 a.m.–10:30 a.m.

18 months–Grade 6 | 1106 Colonial Rd. RSVP : www.HardingLions.org/AdmissionsEvents SCHEDULE A TOUR

Schedule a tour any time by calling 901-767-4494 or visiting us online at www.HardingLions.org/Tour.

www.HardingLions.org | 901-767-4494 ME EM MP PH H II S SP EN M PA AR RE NT T .. C CO OM M

33 3 3

Helping Children with Learning Differences

CALENDAR

Succeed!

MATILDA THE MUSICAL The Orpheum January 12-17 $25-$125.

For tickets, call 525-3000.

Our program is designed to meet the needs of students with ADD, ADHD, Dyslexia and other Learning Difficulties • Small student/teacher ratio • Rebuilding self-confidence and self-esteem • Building social skills

• Individualized instruction • Multi-sensory reading and phonics program • Well-rounded curriculum including music, Spanish, and karate

Preparing your child for a bright future since 1973.

Ages 7 - 14

Shady Oaks School

2000 N. Germantown Rd., Cordova | 901.737.3355 shadyoaksmemphis.com

Hands-On Activity: Etching. Metal Museum. Saturday, January 30, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Visit the Maker’s Space in the Library for this hands-on activity focused on metal etching techniques. $10/person. 774-6380.

You’re invited to our

PREVIEW DAY for Prospective Families (Kids are invited too!)

Sunday, January 31st • 12:00 noon - 2:00 pm Saint Ann Catholic School • 6529 Stage Road, Bartlett

Discover the STREAM Difference!

Saint Ann provides a Christ-centered education for ages 3 through Grade 8.

Saint Ann follows the project-based, inquiry-driven STREAM (Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Arts, Math) model designed to open student’s minds and imaginations to endless possibilities.

A Catholic education is more affordable than you think.

Phone (901) 386-3328 Fax: (901) 386-1030 www.stanncolts.org Can’t make it to the Preview Day? Call us any time for a private tour.

34 4 3

M RE EN NT T ME EM MP PH H II S S P PA AR

AN NU UA AR RY Y 2 20 0 11 6 6 JJ A

Auditions for All Children’s Theatre: Grapes of Wrath. Germantown Community Theatre. Saturday, January 9, 10 a.m. and Sunday, January 10, 2 p.m. Children ages 6-18 can audition for this all-youth version of Grapes of Wrath. Performance on June 24-July 3.

Free. 453-7447.

The Birds & the Seeds – Winter Workshops and Seed Swap.

Lichterman Nature Center. Saturday, January 30, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Highlights include gardening and birdwatching workshops, activity stations, tool sharpening (fee applies), and seed swap. Participants take home a free pamphlet filled with birding and gardening information. Free.

636-2210.

Dance Scholars Inc. Auditions.

Trinity’s Educational Center. Monday, January 18, 6 p.m. Children ages 14+ with experience in ballet, modern, or jazz. Rehearsals run January 18-21 from 6-8:30 p.m. with guest choreographer Matthew Keefe. Free.

Call 301-3262 to make appointments.

HOMESCHOOL CLASSES

THEATRE PERFORMANCES

Homeschool Academy. Memphis Zoo. January 11-15, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Kindergarten-2nd grade: Habitat – What’s That? 3rd-5th grade: For Better or Worse – Symbiosis. 6th-8th grade: DNA and Cellular Devices. 9th-12th grade: Biology: Heredity and Biodiversity. This week-long program includes animal visits, tours of exhibits, chats with keepers, and more. Bring a non-refrigerated, non-microwavable lunch. Cost: $135 for grades K-8. $150 for grades 9-12. Register online at memphiszoo.org or call 333-6576.

Mention Memphis Parent Magazine and receive a FREE book tote and spirit gear just for attending.

AUDITIONS

FUND-RAISERS

Tree Recycling at The Yard. The Yard is just off Covington Pike and Pleasant View. January 4-29. Recycle your Christmas tree and support the Memphis Botanic Garden’s environmental efforts. The Yard is a recycling and composting facility that helps keep materials out of the landfill.

The Yard will donate $5 per tree when you mention Memphis Botanic Garden.

Trees accepted for free. • 833-9273.

Little Helpers Make Sandwiches for the Homeless. Neshoba Unitarian Universalist Church in Cordova.

Sunday, January 17, 1-2 p.m. Families with children up to age 12. Each volunteer family brings all the ingredients to assemble sandwiches for the homeless. The specific homeless shelter recipe requires white bread (regular thickness, no wheat or whole grain), thick-slice bologna, and American cheese. RSVP on facebook. com/events/1258694430814748/ For details, call 337-9132.

Audio release of Theseus and the Minotaur. Chatterbox Audio Theater.

Release date: Tuesday, January 1. This fully soundscaped audio production of the Greek legend features a cast of talented Memphis performers.

Available for free streaming and download from chatterboxtheater.org and iTunes.

The Brothers Size. Hattiloo Theatre.

January 7 through February 7.

Thursday & Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday at 2 & 7:30 p.m. Sunday at 3 p.m. Pay-What-You-Want on Thursday, January 14, at 7:30 p.m.

This lyrical tale of brotherly love by McArthur Genius Award Winner Tarrell Alvin McCraney explores the tension between fear and desire on the elusive road to freedom. Ticket prices: Thursday-Sunday: $26/adult. $22/child. Saturday matinee: $22/ adult. $18/child. 525-0009.

Maniacal 4. Harris Concert Hall at UM. Saturday, January 23, at 7:30 p.m. This internationally acclaimed group of four musicians tells one unified, inspiring musical story after another.

Maniacal 4 performs a classical, jazz, and pop repertoire. Free. 678-2541.

Bill Maher. The Orpheum. Comedian brings his biting satire to Memphis.

Saturday, January 23, at 8 p.m. $47.50-$102. Reservations, 525-3000.

Time for Three. Buckman Arts Center at St. Mary’s School. Thursday, January 28, at 7 p.m. This classically trained garage band performs Bach to its own arrangements by the Beatles,

RATED A

BEST CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL

RECOGNIZED BY THEBESTSCHOOLS.ORG FOR:

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE EXTRACURRICULAR RICHNESS CHRISTIAN FAITH TAKEN SERIOUSLY

Apply Now

Now accepting applications for 2016-2017 school year. ecseagles.com | ( 901 ) 754-7217

A nurturing educational environment that encourages discovery and play for children 12 months through Senior Kindergarten.

Now accepting applications for 2016-2017 school year.

CALL TODAY TO SCHEDULE A TOUR 901-754-3607.

(901) 754-3607 | 2404 Kirby Road | Memphis, TN 38119

www.eumk.org

M E M PH I S PA R ENT.COM

35

CALENDAR

Building a foundation that lasts a lifetime

Coed Pre-K3 – 8th grade

Open House

MOMANDPOP GPAC January 9 9:30 & 10:30 a.m.

751-7500

Monday, January 11, 2016 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

4841 Park Avenue Memphis, TN 38117 901.685.1231 classes start January 15th www.holyrosarymemphis.org

Mumford & Sons, Katy Perry, and Kanye West. $28/adult. $23/child.

537-1483.

STAR TREK: THE ULTIMATE VOYAGE. The Orpheum. Friday, January 29, 7:30 p.m. The show features a live symphony orchestra and international solo instruments bringing five decades of Star Trek music to the concert hall in the backdrop of the film and TV footage projected in high-definition on a 40-foot screen. $40-$70.

VIP tickets: $125. Reservations.

525-3000.

Story Time at Area Bookstores Barnes & Noble Booksellers The Avenue Carriage Crossing Mall, 853-3264 Mondays at 11 a.m. Ages 1-6.

Barnes & Noble Booksellers 2774 N. Germantown Pkwy.

386-2468 Tuesdays and Saturdays at 11 a.m.

Ages PreK-6.

Groundhog Day Story Time: Groundhog’s Dilemma & Groundhog’s Day Off. Saturday, January 30, 11-11:30 a.m. Join for a special story time and activity celebrating Groundhog Day. Free.

The Booksellers at Laurelwood 387 Perkins Rd. Ext. 683-9801 Story time with Miss Marjorie Tuesday and Thursday at 11 a.m.

Classes start January 15th

Trillium celebrating a healthy and authentic motherhood prenatal care ~ home birth water birth monitrice and doula services certified professional midwifery licensed by NARM and The State of Tennessee

2610 Autumn Avenue, Memphis, TN 38112 p:901-292-5354 • p:901-603-9662 www.trilliumbirth.com

Winter Class Schedule January 9, 10-12pm Infant Massage

Teresa Gohegan Brown, LMT teaches parent how to comfort and connect with their baby

January 22, 6-9:00pm Dad School

learn pregnancy basics, how to be supportive during labor, what to expect after the baby comes, and baby care basics. Q&A with our Guest Dad following class.

find more information and register online at www.trilliumbirth.com or call 901-292-5354 36 6 3

ME EM MP PH H II S S P RE EN NT T M PA AR

AN NU UA AR RY Y 2 20 0 11 6 6 JJ A

Calming the Chaos - Special Book Event and Workshop. Thursday, January 28, at 6:30 p.m. Author Jackie Woodside shares her methods on managing a chaotic life through this Energy Management workshop. Free.

Germantown Community Library 1925 Exeter Rd. 757-7323 After School Lounge. Mondays (except January 18, MLK Day) and Tuesdays in January, 3-6 p.m. Teens, come study and unwind. Bring your own snacks and drinks. Study groups and volunteer tutors welcome. Free.

Wild, Wild Wednesday. On select Wednesdays (January 6 & 20) at 1 or 4:30 p.m. Ages 6-12. Participants exercise STEM skills, learn basic home economic practices, and enjoy fun literary experiences. Free.

Drama Kids. Saturday, January 23, at 11 a.m. Program introduces preschoolers to acting. Free.

Story Time at Knowledge Tree Mondays - Germantown store.

Tuesdays - Horn Lake store.

Wednesdays - Summer Avenue store Thursdays - Cordova store. Enjoy a story, snack, and craft each week from 10-11 a.m. Free. For details, theknowledgetree.com

MEMPHIS LIBRARY EVENTS

For library events, stop by your local branch and pick up “Infodates,” the library’s monthly calendar memphislibrary.org

CENTRAL 3030 Poplar Ave., 415-2700 • Read with Me, Sign with Me Family Story Time. Saturday, January 9, 11 a.m. until noon. Family story time and activity for deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing families in collaboration with Deaf Family Literacy Mid-South.

CORDOVA 8457 Trinity Road 754-8443 International Story Time. Saturday, January 9, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Celebrate the country and culture of Zimbabwe.

Calligraphy for Kids. Saturday, January 23, 11 a.m-12:30 p.m.

Celebrate National Handwriting Day by learning how to make beautiful lettering with the art of calligraphy.

FRAYSER 3712 Argonne 357-4115 Martin Luther King Poetry/Art Contest. Monday, January 18, 2-3 p.m.

Teens are invited to submit poems and posters portraying Martin Luther King’s leadership, courage, or ideas.

NORTH 1192 Vollintine 276-6631 Teen Creation Thursday. On select Thursdays (January 7, 14, 21, & 28), 4-5 p.m. Series teaches teens how to make different types of craft projects.

PARKWAY VILLAGE 4655 Knight Arnold 363-8923 Ice Cream Party. Tuesday, January 12, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Local daycares learn how to make ice cream.

Ice Cream Party. Thursday, January 14, 3:45-5:45 p.m. Children and teens learn how to make ice cream.

Plarning Class – Go Green.

Wednesday, January 27, 10:30-12:30 p.m. Learn to make backpacks, purses, and water bottles using grocery bags.

OPEN HOUSES: 2-4PM SUNDAY, JAN 24 & SUNDAY, FEB 21

I found my True North .

Maybe it’s music. Or biology. Or basketball. Whatever your child’s passion and inspiration, we will help them to discover and develop it. All in a Christcentered, nurturing environment that prepares them for their unique future.

COMMUNITY DAY SAT JAN 30 | 10am - 2pm | FREE

Enjoy Wonder, Whimsy, Wild: Folk Art in America, plus art making, live music, and artist demos.

7400 Getwell Road Southaven, MS 38672 662.349.5127 www.ncstrojans.com

MID-SOUTH SCHOLASTIC ART AWARDS EXHIBITION JANUARY 30 – FEBRUARY 28

PRESENTED BY THE BROOKS MUSEUM LEAGUE Showcasing artists in grades 7 - 12.

Hannah Wisdom, SPF 0, Arlington High School

COMING SOON

A hands-on family gallery

Chalkware Cat, unidentified artist, 1850-1900, gypsum and paint, Courtesy of the Barbara L. Gordon Collection. This exhibition is drawn from the Barbara L. Gordon Collection and is organized and circulated by Art Services International, Alexandria, Virginia.

IN OVERTON PARK

brooksmuseum.org

Wed 10 am - 8 pm | Thurs/Fri 10 am - 4 pm Sat 10 am - 5 pm | Sun 11 am - 5 pm

M E M PH I S PA R ENT.COM

37

y letter. s an apologber he is g n ri b ) (6 Antonio s Santa will remem He hope usually good.

Mariah (3) celebrated her birthday at the roller rink. She also lit a candle in memory of Cardell, her cousin.

Lainey (5) lo oking p tt y for h the Peabore dy Hotel. er visit to

-old Mom Diana tells us that 3-mzonth ily’s Mia Caroline is the Gonzale fam “new precious princess.”

s going Keion like

to the lib

Brando (7 months) is already football fan.

rary.

Tyreke (4) & Ke lton (4) love Ba tman Teenage Mutan t Ninja Turtles.and the

KID FUNNIES

I overheard a 7-year-old boy, who was seated at the Bistro’s counter of The Booksellers at Laurelwood, ask his mom if he could go to the children’s book section. “Do you know where it is?” she replied. “Don’t worry, mom,” he answered with confidence. “I know this place like the back of my head.”

—Thanks to Krista

As I was putting on my makeup the other My 4-year-old daughter and I were riding on morning, my 4-year-old daughter watched the bus one afternoon when a gentleman sat intently before coming up with this gem. “Is down in front of us. Never one to QUIETLY that makeup so you don’t look old? Cause ask questions, my daughter said loudly, you don’t look old… your face is still straight.” “Mom! Why does that man have a circle of —Thanks to Lisa skin in the middle of his hair?”

—Thanks to Julie

THANKS FOR ALL THE LOVE! Facebook fans weigh in on our redesign:

38 8 3

M ME EM MP PH H II S S P PA AR RE EN NT T

JJ A NU UA AR RY Y 2 20 0 11 6 6 AN

“Love the new look!” — Ashley C. “It’s cool and refreshing.” — Shantra J. “Looks great!” — Katy D. “Love the new cover! It’s colorful & cheerful.” — Paula G.

a

HELP YOUR CHILD REACH HIS OR HER DESTINATION

IN SHELBY COUNTY SCHOOLS!

OPTIONAL SCHOOLS ENROLLMENT BEGINS JANUARY 25, 2016 GENERAL CHOICE TRANSFER ENROLLMENT BEGINS SPRING 2016 WWW.SCSK12.ORG M E M PH I S PA R ENT.COM

39

Make a pediatrician part of your family.

Pediatricians are skilled at diagnosing and treating childhood issues. They’re also experts on child development. The more they see your child and get to know your family, the better they can serve each of you. At Le Bonheur we believe every child matters, and it matters to have a pediatrician involved at every step in your child’s health. lebonheur.org

Where Every Child Matters

Dr. Patrice Reed Memphis Pediatrics