DFWChild August/September 2021

BACK TO NATURE PRESCHOOL IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS

30

M AG RU CS HT/2021 AU S E P T E M B E R 2021

HOW TO START HOLIDAY TRADITIONS OF THE SEASON’S BEST FAMILYFRIENDLY MOM EVENTSNEXT

DOOR MARI HIDALGO KING

ONE & DONE

IS SPECIALIZATION IN ONE ACTIVITY HOW NORTH TEXANS COPED IN HELPING OR HURTING YOUR CHILD? A CHALLENGING YEAR

MEET MOM NEXT DOOR: NBC 5’S KATY BLAKEY

+

HOW TO AVOID RAISING AN ENTITLED CHILD

+

MOMAPPROVED WELLNESS PROFESSIONALS T H E M A G A Z I N E PA R E N T S L I V E B Y I N D A L L A S -F O R T W O R T H

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august/september 2021 | DFWCHILD

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pages / A U G U S T / S E P T E M B E R

2021

DEPARTMENTS NOTED 9 Curbing Entitlement

12

We love making our kids happy—but are they becoming entitled?

Ask the Experts / Sound Advice

Experts weigh in on parenting questions, including when to get help for extrapicky eaters

REAL MOMS 15 Mom Next Door / Katy Blakey

This NBC 5 anchor and reporter talks

15 9

ABOVE // Dallas-Fort Worth news anchor Katy Blakey had a big reason to smile in 2020, despite the pandemic: She and husband, Joey Mongaras, welcomed baby Harper in May of that year.

FEATURE

ON THE COVER

Club sports, multiple teams and yearround play—here’s why hyper-focused kids (and parents) should consider taking a step back words Erin Hayes Burt

Briefs / Bag of (Sports) Tricks From shade structures to a bag that won’t tip over, everything you need to make it through your child’s games—all recommended by local moms

SPECIAL NEEDS 37 The Night Shift

Sleep troubles are extremely common in children with autism, but better rest is possible

57 Good Natured

Outdoor learning and nature-based preschools in Dallas-Fort Worth

KID CULTURE

61 Agenda

Who says back to school means no more fun?! 30 events, exhibits and performances coming your way in August and September

SPECIAL SECTION 26 Mom Approved Wellness Providers Find the Dallas-Fort Worth therapists, chiropractors and other providers our readers love for their families

COURTESY OF JULIA NEWMAN PHOTOGRAPHY; ©ISTOCK; COURTESY OF AMAZON

about giving birth wearing a mask, the best mom advice she has received and the elusive work-life balance

PLAYBOOK

20 Overspecialized

18

18

COLUMNS

6 Hello / The Long Game

Keeping the big picture in mind words Alexis Patterson

66 Looking Back

A throwback of DallasChild’s January 1994 cover, and a look at where the cover girl is now Cover Kid: Koralyn, 5, of Fort Worth Photography: Cindy James / Alyssa Pizer Management Hair/Makeup: Gary Parson / Kim Dawson Agency DFWCHILD | august/september 2021

5

hello / E D I T O R ’ S

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Let us know what’s on your mind. editorial@dfwchild.com

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M

Y 7-YEAR-OLD SON STARTED GOLF LESSONS over the summer. We’ve had a lot of fun, and he’s got a pretty darn good swing. The other day, our family watched the documentary The Short Game (about world-class kid golfers) on Netflix. I turned to my husband and said, “We are way behind with golf lessons.” After all, since we started golf, I’ve been daydreaming about seeing my child in a green jacket one day. The kids in the documentary were his age but already competing in a world championship. I felt like we should have started lessons a long time ago.

But while it would be nice to be raising the next [insert name of wildly successful golfer here]—I’m not too up on the current it-players—I really just want my son to have fun and be active. If he decided golf wasn’t his thing, I’d be disappointed, but we’d move on to something else. And as it turns out, we should probably be looking into other activities anyway. In our current feature (p. 20), we take a look at the phenomenon of overspecialization—when kids get hyperfocused on an activity, running the risk of injury and burnout. It’s a good read for other parents who think they might be raising the next Lionel Messi, Lindsey Stirling or Jordan Spieth. (There, I knew a pro golfer after all!)

This issue also includes an interview with my friend and new mom Katy Blakey (p. 15). Katy is an anchor-reporter at NBC 5, and I produced for her in my last job. She’s just as sweet in real life as she seems in this interview and on television, and I love her perspective on how the workforce should change as a result of the pandemic. A silver lining in all of this has been more time with our kiddos, and I too want to see that flexibility continue for parents whose jobs can accommodate it. That’s especially important as we head into the school year, and our children are home fewer hours during the day.

There’s a lot of valuable info in DFWChild’s August/September issue, so I’m glad you’ve picked it up. Here’s to a great (and healthy) school year.

Cheers,

6

august/september 2021 | DFWCHILD

the long game

COURTESY OF ALEXIS PATTERSON

ABOVE // Alexis Patterson at House of Shine in Grapevine with her son, Grayson.

NOTE

PUBLISHER/ EDITOR IN CHIEF Joylyn Niebes ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Lauren Niebes EDITORIAL Managing Editor Alexis Patterson Contributing Writers Erin Hayes Burt Gina Mayfield Kelly Wooley DIGITAL Web + Calendar Editor Elizabeth Smith ART Graphic Designer Susan Horn ADVERTISING Account Executives Alison Davis Nancy McDaniel Jennifer Rutherford Sandi Tijerina Advertising Coordinator Isabel Pisani ADMINISTRATION Business Manager Leah Wagner Office Manager/Bookkeeper Ann Mathai HOW TO CONTACT US: Address: P.O. Box 2269

Addison, Texas 75001 Phone: 800/638-4461 or 972/447-9188 Fax: 972/447-0633 or 972/447-0425 Online: dfwchild.com DFWChild is published monthly by Lauren Publications, Inc. DFWChild is distributed free of charge, one copy per reader. Only authorized distributors may deliver or pick up the magazines. Additional or back copies are available for $2 per copy at the offices of Lauren Publications, Inc. We reserve the right to edit, reject or comment editorially on all material contributed. We cannot be responsible for the return of any unsolicited material. DFWChild is ©2021 by Lauren Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without express written permission prohibited.

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noted.

CURBING ENTITLEMENT how to stop indulging your kids’ every want GINA MAYFIELD

©ISTOCK

WORDS

S

EVERAL YEARS AGO, our family moved to a sleepy town on the border of Tarrant and Denton counties. Back then, we felt like we lived in a little house on the prairie.

Then it happened. Progress. Like so many others, our young suburb slowly but surely grew up to become “affluent.” Before I knew it, Range Rovers filled the carpool line at school, girls carried their lunches in Lululemon bags, and the end-of-year award ceremony could have doubled for a LoveShackFancy fashion show.

I found myself wondering, How do I raise children in this brave new world, where everything they want seems to be within reach? Sure, I want them to be happy. But I don’t want them to feel entitled. Here’s what I’ve learned.

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“As a baby, it can all start there,” says Koy Roberts, Ph.D., a child, adolescent and family psychologist based in Coppell. “As a new parent, you’re mostly concerned with your infant’s health and comfort, not their psychological development. If you pick up your baby every time [they cry], and never let your baby learn to cry a little bit and soothe [themself], you could unknowingly set the stage for entitlement.”

Setting that precedent right away is important, says Holly Lockett, a licensed professional counselor supervisor with Frisco Counseling and Wellness. “We need to nurture [children], love them and let them know they’re safe—and also teach them to self-soothe and be independent.”

Lockett, who does a lot of work with children who have attachment disorders, suggests standing out in the hallway and talking to a crying baby. “Use a calm, reactive voice. I think that when children, even babies, hear us be very calm, it helps them to calm down too,” she explains.

“THERE ARE LIMITS AND EXPECTATIONS …

[KIDS] HAVE TO GET USED TO THAT.” TAME THE TARGET TANTRUMS

As your children get older and inevitably want something they can’t have, particularly at the store, resist the urge to just give in. Lockett says to go with a simple, “Not this time, ” or “We’re not going to get that today.” Roberts advises parents to let their kids learn to hear “no” and work through it.

But what if that means creating a scene in the checkout lane? What’s the best response?

“Honestly, it’s to not react,” Lockett says. “If we start reacting to them, then they’re going to escalate and we’re going to escalate and it’s just going to be a mess. Just don’t buy into it.”

If you’re worried about stares from innocent bystanders, chances are they’re not going to be the disapproving glares you imagine. “Look around you and see how many other parents are like, Got it. Totally get it. Been there. Done that. They’re way more supportive than we think. We don’t have to be embarrassed,” Lockett says.

HANDLE THE BIG ASKS

As kids get older, the “asks” grow with them. Before you know it, their friends 10

august/september 2021 | DFWCHILD

are all socializing remotely over Sony PlayStation 5 and wearing big kid Nike Air Force 1s. Now what?

“I’m a big believer in working for things,” Lockett shares. Chores, improved grades, better behavior—go with what makes sense for your family. “Consider the individual child, what they can do, what their capacity is as well as maturity and age.

Choose achievements that are realistic for them,” she says.

Our kids have grown up in a world where an Amazon Buy Now button can deliver whatever we want to our door in an hour. “Everything is instant gratification, and that does a disservice to them,” Lockett says. “As adults we have to wait for things.

So if we can teach work ethic and delay instant gratification, things will mean more to our children because they had to work for them—and it feels good to earn something.”

SET UP STRUCTURE

Consistent bedtimes, rules, and clear limits and expectations really are worth the effort.

“Kids do much better when they have structure. That allows them to internalize habits that they can carry with them later in life,” Roberts says. “There are limits and expectations that they’ll have to deal with in school and in society, with teachers and bosses later on in life. They have to get used to that. Mentally, emotionally and psychologically, we just function a lot better with structure.”

So what about those of us who may have gotten a little off course, especially during virtual learning or the lax summer months?

It’s time to sit down with the kids and hit the reset button. Simply start off with, “We made some mistakes. Things are not working in our household right now and we need to make some changes,” Lockett suggests.

Start small, maybe with a consistent bedtime, and go from there.

LET YOUR KIDS GROW UP

Allow your child to fight their own battles and develop coping skills in difficult situations so they have the confidence and tools to overcome challenges on their own. Step up if they get in over their head, but resist the urge to constantly rescue them. Model behavior that teaches them how to react when things don’t go their way. As a family, volunteer for those less fortunate and teach your kids that the world does not revolve around them. At the end of day, you’ll be doing them a favor.

“When you have to deal with ‘no,’ adversity, expectations, limits and challenges as a kid, you’re learning adult stress management skills and resiliency,” Roberts says.

“You have to cultivate and develop those things over time. You can’t flip that switch at 21.”

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SOUND A DV ICE

parenting questions, answered.

BLISSFULLY BREASTFEEDING

Q: My child and I both enjoy breastfeed-

ing. I’ve heard you can continue as long as you both want to, but it obviously can’t last forever. When do I need to stop breastfeeding her?

Holly Erwin, virtual lactation specialist with Cook Children’s, responds: Breastfeeding is considered healthy when it’s beneficial to both parties. Exclusive breast milk is preferred for the first six months, and benefits don’t disappear at any certain age and are around for the life of the milk supply.

Why stop? Extended breastfeeding can become overwhelming, one-sided and draining, and it is often judged as weird and abnormal. As a child inches into toddlerhood, the antibacterial, antiviral, immuneboosting agents are still in the milk and passed into the child. Similarly, the longer the mother breastfeeds, the lower her risk of Type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancers. For that, the decision comes down to cost versus reward.

The worldwide average for ending breastfeeding is around 4 years, mainly because there are areas where clean water is scarce. In America, that’s rarely a concern. So when do you stop? My answer would likely be another question: “Why are you asking?” If you and your child are thriving in the feeding relationship, but you are feeling pressure from outside sources or norms, then I am going to help you lay it all out and isolate your wants from your pressures. If you are mentally, physically, emotionally done but have guilt, then we will develop a plan to wean. There is no longer shared benefit.

I always stand by this: If your baby is growing, you are happy, and your baby is happy, then we have done our job. This can include breastfeeding, formula, pumping or, in this case, extended nursing.

FUSSY FEEDER

Q: How do I know if my very picky eater

needs feeding therapy?

Mikie Rangel, registered dietitian at Children’s Health, replies: When picky eating becomes problem eating, it may be time to seek help. Weight gain below normal, weight loss or dropping percentiles on the growth chart can all be cause for concern.

A registered dietitian will assess growth and recommend healthy ways to increase energy intake within accepted foods as well as ageappropriate supplements as needed.

Vegetables and meat are foods most often refused and cause concern in parents.

It can be reassuring to know that while both groups have important nutrients, those nutrients are readily available from fruits and other protein sources. Parents should remember that a child’s health is affected by their entire lifestyle, not by one specific meal.

Problem eating likely requires intervention by a feeding specialist. Three behaviors to watch for include: when the number of accepted foods is below 20, when kids stop eating a previously accepted food, and when they refuse entire food groups or will only eat certain textures. A feeding therapist can help with introducing new foods as well as mealtime coping behaviors.

If you have a parenting question that you’d like our experts to answer, message us on Instagram @dfwchildmag or email us at editorial@dfwchild.com.

©ISTOCK/IGOR LEVIN

Forming Habits. Training Minds. Shaping Hearts.

THE EXPERTS

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real moms. mom next door /

K AT Y BL A K EY living out her dreams INTERVIEW BY

K E L LY W O O L E Y

RÉSUMÉ AGE 37 JOB Emmy Award–winning NBC 5 weekend evening anchor and daytime reporter LIVES IN East Dallas HAILS FROM McKinney ALMA MATER Southern Methodist University, where she graduated as president of her class with a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism and political science SIGNIFICANT OTHER Husband Joey Mongaras, a criminal defense attorney she met through their adult kickball league CHILD Daughter Harper, 1 WHERE TO FIND HER facebook.com/ katyblakeyjournalist; @katyblakeynbc5 on Instagram

COURTESY OF JOEY MONGARAS

NBC 5 anchor KATY BLAKEY welcomed daughter Harper Jane in May 2020.

B

EING PREGNANT AND GIVING BIRTH

to your first child can be overwhelming enough—but experiencing both during a worldwide pandemic is something Katy Blakey and her husband Joey Mongaras will never forget. Even more unique was that Blakey, an NBC 5 anchor and reporter, was more immersed in the pandemic than most, reporting about it almost 24/7 during her last 6 weeks of pregnancy.

During that time and after daughter Harper’s birth, Blakey and Mongaras were both working from home—so they had more time together to prepare and learn to parent than most new moms and dads get. And because of all the support Blakey received, sometimes from virtual strangers, she felt surrounded even during COVID-19 isolation. So while 2020 was incredibly challenging, for Blakey, the year turned out to have the shiniest of silver linings.

DFWCHILD | august/september 2021

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DFWChild: DID YOU ALWAYS KNOW YOU WANTED TO BE A REPORTER?

Katy Blakey: Yes. My parents were always big

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C: WHAT ABOUT BEING A MOM? DID YOU ALWAYS KNOW YOU WANTED THAT, TOO? KB: I did, but my first focus was my career.

C: YOU AND JOEY MET IN 2008, MARRIED IN 2012 AND HAD HARPER 8 YEARS LATER. WAS THE LONG WAIT TO BECOME PARENTS INTENTIONAL? KB: Yes and no. When Joey and I were dating

and even once we were married, our relationship was either long distance [due to career], or our work schedules were the complete opposite, so we barely saw each other.

C: HOW DID YOU TWO DECIDE YOU WERE READY FOR A LITTLE ONE? KB: Living

together and then being on the same schedule felt like it needed to come first.

We wanted to make sure we were stable both financially and with our careers.

even though I was 36 and he was 40. They were obviously thrilled when we did make our announcement.

C: DO YOU AND JOEY FOLLOW A PARTICULAR PARENTING STYLE? KB: Winging it and Googling things at

night. We’re just doing the best we can. We both had such great parents, so we’re just doing what feels natural.

C: HAS ANYONE GIVEN YOU MOM

ADVICE THAT YOU WOULD PASS ON? KB: Yes, from fellow NBC 5 reporter Diana

Zoga: “Don’t mom alone.” And it’s the only advice I’ll ever give to others, unless they ask.

C: HOW DID COVID-19 AFFECT YOUR EXPERIENCE OF BEING PREGNANT AND GIVING BIRTH? KB: It was definitely a different experience.

During the last six weeks of pregnancy, Joey couldn’t come to any of my doctor’s appointments. And then when I went into labor, he had to sit in the car at first while we confirmed I really was in labor. My family sat in the car the entire time. Oh, and I had to wear a mask during birth. I bought an extra cute one just for the birth. august/september 2021 | DFWCHILD

But that’s where I will be forever grateful to everyone for their love and support. Even viewers from NBC 5 that were fellow moms reached out to me through social media to check on me and tell me that I wasn’t alone.

Either they had also experienced or were experiencing similar anxiety. I’m truly grateful for their guidance.

C: WHAT ABOUT BECOMING A MOM HAS SURPRISED YOU THE MOST? KB: How much fun it is. Sure, it’s challenging,

but we’ve had so much fun, especially [getting] to be around her more because of the pandemic.

“[AS PARENTS, WE’RE] WINGING IT AND GOOGLING THINGS AT NIGHT. WE’RE JUST DOING THE BEST WE CAN.”

C: YOU’RE BOTH ONLY CHILDREN—WERE YOUR PARENTS GETTING ANXIOUS FOR A GRANDBABY? KB: We felt no pressure from either side

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C: ONCE YOU BROUGHT HARPER HOME, DID YOU EXPERIENCE ANY ANXIETY, GIVEN THAT EVERYONE WAS STILL ISOLATED? KB: Yes, and I wasn’t prepared for it.

C: HAVE YOU AND JOEY TALKED ABOUT HAVING ANOTHER CHILD? KB: We’re trying

to figure out what we want to do. We’re both only children so we know what that life is like. Two could be really interesting but for now, we’re just enjoying having Harper.

C: NOW TO THE SUBJECT OF WORKLIFE BALANCE: FACT OR FICTION? KB: During the

pandemic, I was literally reporting around the clock. And then when I was on maternity leave, Joey was still working from home, doing depositions at the kitchen counter. Now that things are getting back to normal, we work hard to find a groove of how to balance work and being with her, knowing that every day is different.

C: DO YOU THINK YOU’LL ALWAYS BE A WORKING MOM? KB: Yes. I love being a mom, but I also real-

ly love my job. I believe journalism is a public service, and becoming a mom has definitely made me a better journalist.

C: HOW HAS IT AFFECTED THE WAY YOU APPROACH STORIES? KB: I’ve always tried to put myself in the

position of who I’m interviewing, but the stories I cover definitely hit me harder now. And if children are a part of the story, I think, What if this had been Harper?

C: DO YOU THINK THE PANDEMIC WILL CAUSE A SHIFT IN HOW WE WORK? KB: I hope it’s opened employers’ eyes to

the vital and multiple roles moms and women play in our communities. And hopefully we can start looking at alternatives to the traditional workday and find better ways to support strong families and a strong female workforce.

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Overspecialized WORDS

Many children put hours, days and years into an activity, often at the urging of their parents. What is the cost of that nonstop drive for greatness?

BASEBALLS: ©ISTOCK

D

YLAN RICE HAS BEEN PLAYING BASEBALL

since he was 4 years old.

That sentence could apply to millions of children over the past three decades, the name swapped out as trends come and go. Some things will never change, such as boys taking to baseball the first time they play it, whether they are 4 years old or 14 years old. But what has changed in the past 30 years, besides what names are popular, is the level of intensity at which kids play—and the ferocity with which parents seek out the best training, opportunities and teams for their kids. This is not your father’s baseball.

Organized youth sports originated with the start of compulsory education. With the advent of designated free time (hours not spent in school), there was increased focus on recreation opportunities for kids in urban areas. Adults weren’t necessarily comfortable with children—particularly those from poor, immigrant families—playing on their own, so organized sports leagues were born. You could say that grown-ups have been interfering in youth sports since free time was invented.

By the 1930s, Pop Warner and Little League were household names, and after World War II, many youth sports participants came from middle- and upper-class families. In the 1960s, parental anxiety hit a new high over the competitiveness of college entry. As the baby boomers became parents, they took it up a notch, involving their kids

ERIN HAYES BURT

in even more competitive teams—viewing athletics as a way around the limits of academic entry into college. As a result, between 1995 and 2005 alone, the Amateur Athletic Union saw the number of national championships for youth sports increase by more than 150%.

Of course, college admissions anxiety is only one part of the increasingly competitive nature of youth sports; another part is keeping up with the Joneses. It’s led to more and more children specializing in a sport earlier and playing nothing but that sport year-round.

This phenomenon is called overspecialization, and since 1991, it’s exploded. It may also be why, according to the Open Access Journal of Sports Medicine, 80% of young athletes quit after age 15.

WHAT DOES OVERSPECIALIZATION LOOK LIKE?

A University of Michigan study found that from 1981 to 1997, children doubled the time they spent playing an organized sport.

That results in more injuries. Dr. Dustin Loveland, surgical director and chief of Children’s Health Andrews Institute for Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine in Plano, says that in the last 10 years, he’s seen an increase in the number of children who are having pro-level surgeries for youth-level sports. “My whole life, growing up, I knew one kid who had ACL surgery. Now, every season I have multiple teams with multiple players where I’m doing their ACL surgery.”

Loveland attributes the increase to the number of hours kids now spend in training and practice. Sports that used to be two or three months out of the year are now year-round with no breaks. “A few decades ago,” Loveland says, “it was very odd to see kids who played the same sport year-round. It was a few hours a week of practice and a game on Sunday.” The lack of breaks—recommended for two to three months out of the year and one to two days a week—is contributing to overuse injuries. “These are preventable injuries in kids.”

In 2008, Malcolm Gladwell’s book Outliers introduced a theory about greatness that took root in popular culture: that it takes 10,000 hours of practice to master a set of complex skills, such as playing a sport or an instrument. The theory was formed after a 1993 study of violinists, which found that top musicians had put in 10,000 hours of

DFWCHILD | august/september 2021

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feature / O V E R S P E C I A L I Z E D practice on average, and that this effort was what separated them from their peers.

This democratization of greatness is understandably attractive to parents. It takes away all the unknowns—innate talent, body composition, determination, drive and motivation—and pares everything down to playing time, which is something parents have control over. “It used to be that [age] 13 was when you really saw heavy involvement in club and select teams,” says Brantley Freeman, co-founder of Atlet Sports, an athletic performance training group based in Midlothian.

“Now it’s 10 years old. There are even travel teams for T-ball, for 3- to 5-year-olds.”

“I’m not ignorant of the reason people do it,” notes Loveland of the new intensity at which parents approach sports that used to be viewed more as hobbies. “We paint a picture of the dad who dreams of his kid making the major leagues, but a lot of it is that if you want to be a competitive gymnast, if you go to school and don’t homeschool, it’s impossible for you to have the hours to compete at the highest level.” Because school sports still operate in seasons, club teams are more than happy to provide the answer to how to get those additional practice hours.

summer hockey, and it’s free ice time, so they go.” When asked how many games they play a year, she responds, “How many weekends are there?”

Ninth grader Savannah Woosley started playing volleyball in second grade and in the past has competed in as many as 15 tournaments a year with her club team, Fort Worth Fire. She would like to play for a Division I (DI) college, but her father, David, has tried to get across the importance of staying focused on school. “She’s seen players blow out their knees or mess up their hitting hand, and they’re done. No one can take your education away from you, but blow out your knee and you’re done.” You can almost hear him knocking on wood through the phone.

Aside from acute injuries, such as the ones caused by player collisions, there’s also a risk of overuse injuries, especially in children who are still growing. “The ones that stand out are elbow injuries in baseball players and gymnasts. Shoulder injuries in throwers,” says Loveland. “There are two concepts for overuse, and [repetition] is one. The other is if a kid with open growth plates is throwing or pitching year-round, it’s more at risk for being inflamed and at risk for being injured.”

Overtraining is also a risk, says Freeman.

Overtraining symptoms range from physical ailments to mental blocks, such as what Simone Biles faced at this year’s Olympics in Tokyo. “The main overtraining symptoms we look out for are lack of focus, lethargy and disinterest,” Freeman shares.

These athletes may also catch colds, feel irritable, lose their appetites, experience training plateaus or sustain persistent injuries. In kids who are participating in school sports and club teams, this sometimes happens because the different coaches aren’t communicating, says Freeman, and the child is being overworked in one area or skill.

Overtraining risks aside, Freeman says it’s not especially helpful from a skills perspective to just focus on playing time in younger kids. “For younger athletes, we also limit sports-specific training in favor of general skills training, like speed, agility and developing the overall skills you need to succeed in any sport.”

This approach is borne out by research.

A study of DI athletes found that early diversification, or playing a variety of sports, provided athletes with “valuable physical, cognitive and psychosocial environments, and promotes motivation.” In fact, among high-level athletes, the greater the number of activities the athletes experienced up to age 12, the less sports-specific practice they

This democratization of greatness is understandably attractive to parents.

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Back to Dylan Rice, the Rockwall kid who started playing baseball at 4 years old. Neither of his parents played baseball or softball as kids, so they didn’t push him into it. Other sports that he tried just didn’t stick. So that’s how, at 9 years old, Dylan ended up on a select travel team, playing baseball every weekend, year-round.

He’s now 15 and he wants to play college ball, so he has a batting cage in the backyard, and his mom, Candice, plans family events and gatherings around games and three-times-a-week practice. Last year, they canceled their vacation so Dylan could join a more competitive team. Candice says her son has to play year-round, or he’ll fall behind.

“There are scouts at the tournaments that the clubs bring in, and you just can’t stay competitive unless you play every season.”

Candice Rice isn’t alone in feeling this way. In Frisco, mom of two Melanie Shepard feels her pain. Doubled. Her boys Jack and Jacoby, who are 14 and 11, play on teams for Frisco Ice Hockey Association and the Dallas Stars Metro Hockey League. Jacoby has played hockey since he was 4 after dabbling briefly in soccer. Today, he plays 8–10 hours per week year-round as well as two to three tournaments per year. “They get the summers off,” Shepard adds, “but there’s

needed to excel in their sport of choice.

Freeman points out that there are many general skills athletes need to succeed, and those skills cross the boundaries between most sports.

In addition, the benefits of skill-specific mastery, such as throwing or shooting, may be short-lived, but it’s often emphasized when winning is prioritized over athlete development. “We find [on club teams] there’s less time spent on trying to get better at the sport,” says Freeman. “It’s just playing a ton of games.”

This single-focus mindset can also lead to burnout in sports, something parents see firsthand. Isabella Araujo, a tenth grader, recently quit her club volleyball team to focus on the arts in her junior year. “She decided to focus on the fine arts because it would have an impact on her future,” says her mom, Ilka Araujo, a professor of piano at Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth. “It can be negative because many times they are burned out by middle school because of all the tournaments and games.

It’s a bit more of a business.”

BUSTING THE 10,000 HOURS MYTH

In 2019, Brooke Macnamara, a psychologist at Case Western Reserve University in Ohio, set out to test the 10,000-hour rule from the 1993 violinist study to see if she could duplicate the results. What she found was that practice told only part of the story. The original study didn’t account for factors such as quality of instruction, physical compatibility with the activity, or student motivation to do things that would further their skills.

In addition, there are physiological advantages some individuals have in addition to finding their sport early or being unusually motivated to compete. There are endurance athletes, like decorated Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps, whose muscles just produce less lactic acid and therefore cause him to feel less pain and fatigue than another swimmer who has trained just as hard as he has. No amount of practice can make up for luck like that. “Practice can make you a better

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Look Out

Do you see any of these signs in your child? Experts identify them as symptoms of overtraining.

• Chronic muscle or joint pain • Personality changes • Elevated resting heart rate • Decreased performance • Fatigue • Lack of enthusiasm about

practice or competition • Difficulty with successfully

completing usual routines DFWCHILD | august/september 2021

23

feature / O V E R S P E C I A L I Z E D player than you were yesterday,” Macnamara concluded. “But it won’t necessarily make you better than someone else.”

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In the end, it may come down to how we define success in sports, or in any other pursuit. American piano legend and Fort Worth icon Van Cliburn, for whom the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition is named, was often viewed as not living up to his musical potential after his landmark win at the International Tchaikovsky Competition in Russia during the height of the Cold War. He began playing at age 3 and retired at just 44, his obituary in the New York Times calling him a musician of “unfulfilled promise and potential.” But an interview just after his overwhelming fame hit tells a different story.

“A man’s loneliest hours begin when public recognition begins,” Cliburn told the reporter.

“Prestige or simple recognition is often mistaken for success. Nothing could be further from the truth. For me, the greatest possible success would be to be utterly alone without feeling the need to talk to anyone. You can achieve this only when you achieve control over a fixed idea.”

In the end, parents do as much to help their children form what that idea looks like as they do to help them succeed. “As a parent and a professor, from what I see, the most important thing is that you don’t live your dreams through your children, and secondly don’t set all their goals for them,” says Araujo. “Every human being is made for something, but it’s up to that human being to decide what that is.”

Savannah isn’t missing out on anything else to play sports. “If I didn’t play volleyball, I’d be playing basketball. My goal is to play DI volleyball, and maybe go to the Olympics.

I always know I’m going to get better every practice, so that motivates me to go.” Dylan, Jack and Jacoby all mentioned DI sports as a goal, despite the increasing competition for scholarship spots and even for walk-on opportunities across college sports. COVID-19 caused schools across the country to drop less popular programs, and even popular ones if they didn’t bring in sufficient revenue. There are fewer opportunities for kids to realize their college sports dreams than ever, and that’s the closest to going pro that most students will ever experience in their sport.

Isabella, who gave up volleyball to focus on arts, just saw more of a future there than in sports, says her mother. Although the risks caused by overspecialization are high in sports, in music, children are encouraged to start some instruments, such as piano, as early as age 5 because of the benefits of fine-motor skill development. There’s not the drop off or burnout you see in youth sports, says Araujo. “With volleyball, it was more about just getting a college scholarship, not a whole mind-body development, which the arts were. They aren’t being taught the other side of the sport, like collaborating as a team. Music is for the love of music, What’s the Pointe? and at the same time it’s There’s not much cuter than a little kid in a tutu. And you fun for them. There is don’t have to be too concerned about starting them early— competition, but it’s not classes for the youngest dancers are less about technique all about competing.” and more about building full spatial awareness (something The skills learned in that serves kids well in their overall development). music are highly transferAs dancers get older and begin to develop a strong able, which may prevent interest in one dance form or another, teachers typically burnout, says Jill Sprenger, encourage them to continue other classes. Sydney Blalock owner of Fort Worth ConRitchie—a former DFWChild editor who teaches at Gotta servatory of Music and Dance, home of Plano Metropolitan Ballet—says ballet is Fine Arts. While athletics the foundation for most dance forms (except tap, hip-hop don’t translate to academic and other cultural dances), so it’s a great choice. success, commitment to Children committed to the highly competitive world music is often an indicator of ballet shouldn’t ignore different dance forms either. “I of it. “I have had so many always encourage my ballet students to take other classes,” private piano students who says Ritchie. “It gets them out of their head, and if I give pursued piano study at them choreography that’s even slightly outside the ballet an early, intense level and norm, they can handle it better. They know different ways went on to be pre-med to move.” students at Johns Hopkins, Keep in mind, even if your young ballet dancer has Oberlin, UT and other madreams of going professional, there may be some physijor universities,” Sprenger ological limits. Certain people have limited ankle mobility remarks. “I have personand hip turnout that make elite ballet more challenging, ally found the correlation and overuse injuries are not uncommon in serious dancers. between private, intense Being well-rounded, even within the discipline of dance, sustained music study and can ensure your child can continue the joy of movement. success in medical school —Alexis Patterson to be consistently clear.”

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SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL SECTION

Back TO Basics

N

A MOM APPROVED WELLNESS GLOSSARY

EARLY 1,000 READERS RESPONDED TO OUR Mom Approved survey last spring and nominated the local wellness practitioners who have made a positive impact on their families’ well-being. We gave them our own examination, calling them up and fact-checking their credentials. Our survey covered a broad selection of disciplines in the health-and-wellness field, some of which may be unfamiliar to you—so we compiled a glossary of terms.

ABA Therapy

Applied behavior analysis (ABA), on which behavioral therapy is often based, is a widely accepted approach that tracks a child’s progress in improving his or her skills. Different types of ABA therapy are commonly used to treat autism spectrum disorder. Source: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, nichd.nih.gov // Licensed by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board, bacb.com

Chiropractic

Chiropractic is a licensed health care profession that emphasizes the body’s ability to heal itself. Treatment typically involves manual therapy, often including spinal manipulation.

Other forms of treatment, such as exercise and nutritional counseling, may be used as well.

Source: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, nccih.nih.gov // Licensed by the Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners, tbce.state.tx.us

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one type of psychotherapy that can help people with anxiety disorders. It teaches different ways of thinking, behaving and reacting to anxietyproducing and fearful objects and situations.

CBT can also help people learn and practice social skills, which is vital for treating social anxiety disorder. Source: National Institute of Mental Health, nimh.nih.gov // Licensed by the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council, bhec.texas.gov

Counseling

Counseling is a professional relationship that empowers individuals, families and groups to accomplish mental health, wellness, education 26

august/september 2021 | DFWCHILD

and career goals. Types of specialists include licensed professional counselors (LPC), licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFT) and licensed clinical social workers (LCSW).

Source: American Counseling Association, counseling.org // Licensed by the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council, bhec.texas.gov

Holistic Medicine

While there’s no state licensing for holistic medicine specifically, it’s generally considered an approach to healing that considers the whole person—body, mind and soul—and that optimal health can be achieved by gaining proper balance in life. Source: WebMD, webmd.com

Occupational Therapy

Through the therapeutic use of everyday activities, occupational therapists help injured, ill or disabled patients to develop, recover, improve or maintain the skills needed for daily living and working. Therapists also may provide early intervention therapy to infants and toddlers who have, or are at risk of having, developmental delays. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, bls.gov // Licensed by the Executive Council of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Examiners, ptot.texas.gov

Psychiatry

Of all the mental health providers in the United States, only psychiatrists are fully licensed medical doctors. Because they are physicians, psychiatrists can prescribe medication, order medical tests, and perform a full range of medical laboratory and psychological tests that provide a complete picture of a patient’s physical

and mental state. Source: Federation of Texas Psychiatry, txpsych.org // Licensed by the Texas Medical Board, tmb.state.tx.us

Psychology

Generally, psychologists treat many kinds of problems using evidenced-based interventions.

Psychologists administer and interpret tests and assessment tools that help diagnose a condition or tell more about the way a person thinks, feels and behaves. For example, they can test children for learning disabilities or ADHD, or people experiencing strong emotional temperaments like depression, anxiety or anger management problems. Source: Texas Psychological Association, texaspsyc.org // Licensed by the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council, bhec.texas.gov

Physical Therapy

Physical therapists, sometimes called PTs, help improve movement and manage pain in patients of all ages with chronic conditions, illnesses or injuries. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, bls.gov // Licensed by the Executive Council of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Examiners, ptot.texas.gov

Speech Therapy

Speech-language pathologists work with children and adults who have problems with speech and language, including related cognitive or social communication problems. Those treated may be unable to speak at all, or they may speak with difficulty or have rhythm and fluency problems, such as stuttering. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, bls.gov // Licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, tdlr.texas.gov

Play Therapy

Through play therapy, children learn to communicate with others, express feelings, modify behavior, develop problem-solving skills, and learn a variety of ways of relating to others. Play provides a safe psychological distance from their problems and allows expression of thoughts and feelings appropriate to their development. Source: Association for Play

Therapy, a4pt.org // Registered Play Therapist (RPT) credentials, awarded by the Association for Play Therapy, are not required for mental health professionals to practice play therapy but signify their additional education, supervision and experience.

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SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL SECTION

Mom Approved 2021

WELLNESS PROFESSIONALS

ABA THERAPY ARLINGTON Skelton, Evan BCBA, LBA

Shine Behavioral See ad on page 33

CARROLLTON Crone, Regina PhD, BCBA-D, LBA

Therapy & Beyond See ad on page 31

Dean, Aria MEd, BCBA, LBA

Easterseals North Texas COLLEYVILLE Crone, Regina PhD, BCBA-D, LBA

Therapy & Beyond See ad on page 31

DALLAS Gammon, Sarah BCBA, LBA

Yellow Door ABA

Miller, Lyssa Rae MS, BCBA, LBA

BlueSprig Pediatrics

DENTON Cox, Reagan MS, BCBA, LBA

Waypoint Behavioral Health Solutions See ad on page 30

FLOWER MOUND Bolden, Charmaine MEd, BCBA, LBA

BlueSprig Pediatrics

KELLER Cox, Reagan MS, BCBA, LBA

Waypoint Behavioral Health Solutions See ad on page 30

MCKINNEY Coffey, Amanda PhD, BCBA-D, LBA

Behavior Network – Autism Treatment Center and Day Program See ad on page 34 PLANO Moses, Nikki MEd, LBABCBA

4 the Spectrum Prep, LLC

CROWLEY Butler, Brandon DC

Krempein, Margie DC, Webster-Certified

PLANO Chin, Shannon DC

Whaley, Rachel DC

Jackson, Nicole DC, Webster-Certified

Farrar, Kevin DC

The Chiropractic Wellness Cafe The Chiropractic Wellness Cafe Winn-Milrany, Hannah DC, EMT-B

The Chiropractic Wellness Cafe Youssef, Peter DC

The Chiropractic Wellness Cafe DALLAS Asby, Brittney DC

Dallas Synergy Chiropractic

CHIROPRACTIC ADDISON Gowin, Courtney DC

Free to be Chiropractic ALEDO Parker, Michelle DC, DACCP, IBCLC

The Chiropractic Place for Mommy & Me ALLEN Castillo, Samuel DC

Asby, Bryan DC

Dallas Synergy Chiropractic

Berry, Stephanie DC, Webster-Certified

Mother Me Chiropractic Carlin, Max DC

Vibrant Life Chiropractic Gore, Autumn DC

Cafe of Life Chiropractic

Illumin8 Chiropractic

Therapy & Beyond See ad on page 31

ARLINGTON Cardwell, Katrina DC

Our Wellness Community

Enciso-Romero, Diana BCBA Therapy & Beyond

Porteus, Nikki DC

Sow Graceful Chiropractic

Richard, Kelli-Jo DC

Renew & Restore Wellness

FRISCO Kahla, Courtney DC, Webster-Certified

BURLESON Hosaka, Kristen DC

Katz, Brianne DC

BlueSprig Pediatrics

Moulton, Kael DC

ARGYLE Bulkley, Emily DC

Restoring Life Chiropractic Renew & Restore Wellness

Turning Point Wellness

Uprise Chiropractic Loughridge, Shelby DC Meleski, Lexi DC

DESOTO Osarollor, JaNair DC

Our Well House

Uprise Chiropractic

Office of Dr. Jackie Romanies DC Family & Pediatric Chiropractor

Moulton Chiropractic

Spector, Ashley DC

HIGHLAND VILLAGE Martz, Michelle DC, DACBN, DCBCN, CCN, CTN

SOUTHLAKE Annas, Mary Beth DC

Trinity Wellness Center, PC KELLER Barker, Brandi DC

Spector Chiropractic

Prime Chiropractic Kendall, Jud DC

Kendall Acupuncture and Chiropractic

Vitality Chiropractic See ad on page 34

Porteus, Nikki DC

Bulkley, Emily DC Embrace Balance Family

Richard, Kelli-Jo DC

Chiropractic

Renew & Restore Wellness

Moore, Rachel DC

York, Meghan DC, CACCP

Align My Spine

Loving Life Chiropractic

LEWISVILLE Upchurch, Christina DC

SUNNYVALE Pankoke, Alexandria DC

WEATHERFORD Goode, Darcy DC, CAC

MCKINNEY Bhatia-Mendoza, Aanchal DC

Embrace Balance Family Chiropractic

GARLAND Miller, Lyssa Rae MS, BCBA, LBA

Romanies, Jackie DC

Hands on Health Chiropractic

Katz, Brianne DC

M2 Chiropractic

Pankoke, Alexandria DC

GRAPEVINE Grady, Meredith DC

Adjusted Life Family Chiropractic

Hooten Family Healing Center

Farrar Family Chiropractic Dr. Mama Bird at enKindle Chiropractic

Hooten, Brian DC

New Directions Chiropractic

Power & Life Family Chiropractic

Our Well House

Harrison, Jonathon DC

Cafe of Life Chiropractic

FORT WORTH Crone, Regina PhD, BCBA-D, LBA

PediaPlex

Murray, Amanda DC

Gore, Tom DC

Secord, Evan DC

Ramirez, Antonio RBT

Grounded Wellness

Forever Wellness Family Chiropractic

FRISCO Barbee, Jordan MEd, BCBA, LBA

Action Behavior Centers

Grounded Wellness See ad on page 33

Tula Chiropractic & Wellness

Hall, Camhy DC, MAOM

Family Tree Chiropractic & Acupuncture Loughridge, Shelby DC

Illumin8 Chiropractic Osterman, Lacey DC

Invigorate Chiropractic NORTH RICHLAND HILLS Paeltz, Justin DC

City Point Chiropractic Paeltz, Kara DC

City Point Chiropractic

Renew & Restore Wellness

Dr. Mama Bird at enKindle Chiropractic

HQ Chiropractic

COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY ADDISON Lozano, Rusty MEd, LPC, BCB, IMC

Center for Biofeedback & Behavior Therapy DALLAS Lozano, Rusty MEd, LPC, BCB, IMC

Center for Biofeedback & Behavior Therapy

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Schofield, Kathleen MA, LPC

Clear View Counseling

COUNSELING ALLEN Minhas, Abida MA, LPC-S

The Impact Counselors See ad on page 35

Morehead, Emily MA, LPC

The Couch Therapy ARLINGTON Skinner, Ebony LPC

Alliance Child & Family Solutions

Wicks, Tiffany EdD, MS, LPC, NCC

Push Counseling & Coaching

DENTON Brumit, Brittany MMFT, LPC, LMFT

Hope for the Heart Counseling

McCoy, Jason LMSW, LCSW-S, RPT-S

BURLESON Melton, Brooke LPC

TREEfort Child & Family Therapy See ad on page 35

Selby, Stacey LPC

FLOWER MOUND Trotter, Kay PhD, LPC-S, RPT-S

Alliance Child & Family Solutions Alliance Child & Family Solutions Steffens, Marie LCSW

Alliance Child & Family Solutions COLLEYVILLE Fincher, Jennie PhD, LPC-S

North Texas Counseling Associates

McAdams, Bailey MEd, LPC

North Texas Counseling Associates

DALLAS Davis, Taylor MCRC, LPCAssociate

Center for Social Success Fedro, Holly MS, LCSW

Center for Social Success Grisham, Zac MS, LPC-S, ADHD-CCSP

Clear View Counseling

Hahn, Heather PhD, LPC-S, TIYT

Aspen Counseling Services, PLLC

Hicks, Courtney MS, LMFT-S

North Texas DBT Associates

Istre, Susan PhD, LPC-S, BCPC

Kaleidoscope Behavioral Health FORT WORTH Aasletten, Vanessa MS, LPC, NCC

Beth Lewis Therapy Group See ad on page 59 Alvarez, Cristina MS, LPC, RPT, EMDR-trained

Center for Counseling & Family Relationships See ad on page 19

Booher, Erin PhD, LPC-S, NCC

Erin Booher Counseling East, Ashli MEd, LPC-Associate, PhD candidate

Beth Lewis Therapy Group See ad on page 59 Ellis-Crnkovich, Carrie LCSW

Alliance Child & Family Solutions Freymuth, Lauren LPC

Alliance Child & Family Solutions Goldman, Molly MS, LPCAssociate

Center for Social Success

Alliance Child & Family Solutions

Johannsen, Ellen LPC

Hackler, Rachael MS, LPC

Center for Social Success Kiriaki, Romilyn MA, LPC, NCC

Clear View Counseling

Manes, Gretchen MEd, LPC, NCC

Gretchen Manes, MEd, LPC, RPT Morale, Beth LPC, ATR-BC

Beth Morale, LPC, ATR-BC Page, Shicago MA, LPC

P & C Legacy Counseling and Consultation Peterson, Wade Christian MA, LPC, NCC

Dallas Counseling & Treatment Center 28

FRISCO Alexander, William LPC-S, LCDC, CEAP, CSAT, SAP

Taking Steps Counseling Center Fischer, Lizelle MA, LPC

Office of Lizelle Fischer MA, LPC at Intentional Counseling Larsen, Dani MS, LPC

Apple Counseling & Consulting Network

Singhvi, Priya LPC, LMFT, CCDP

Rey See ad on page 32

HASLET Bird, Bina MA, LMFT-S, PMH-C

Haslet Counseling

KELLER VanSchaick, Brandon LPC

Alliance Child & Family Solutions

Willis, Jennifer LPC, PMH-C

Jennifer Willis

MCKINNEY Abbasi, Fariba LPC

New Horizons Center for Healing Jackson, Mary LPC-Associate

Therapy on the Square PLANO Hashem, Masa LPC

Think Tank Counseling Perez, Colby LMFT

Alliance Child & Family Solutions RICHARDSON Butts, Courtney LCSW

Realistic Expectations, PLLC SOUTHLAKE Missimo, Christopher LPC, MA, NCC

Avanti Counseling & Consulting, and Missimo Motivation

WYLIE Hughes, Jennifer MA, LPC

TrueSelf Counseling and Coaching, PLLC See ad on page 35

Sage Minds Counseling

Lewis, Beth MA, LPC-S

HOLISTIC MEDICINE

Beth Lewis Therapy Group See ad on page 59 Melton, Brooke LPC

Alliance Child & Family Solutions Mims, Christine MA, LPCAssociate

Beth Lewis Therapy Group See ad on page 59 Thompson, Kareecia MS, LMFT

Center for Counseling & Family Relationships See ad on page 19

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DALLAS Métoyer, Melissa MRC, RYT, RCYT

My Resurrection Fern

MCKINNEY Sridharan, Sowmya BHMS, ND

Hygieia Homeopathic Clinic SOUTHLAKE Barker, Matthew DO

Integrative Pain and Wellness Center

ROANOKE Villarreal, David PT, DPT

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ALLEN Johansson, Kristina MOT, OTR

Kidz Therapy Zone

BEDFORD Burget, Frankie OTR/LC, LMT/MI, BCIM, BCIP, CST, SEP, CNDT

Windsong Therapy and Wellness

DFW AREA Catlett, Leslie MS, OTR/L

The Penmanship Lab

SOUTHLAKE Johnson, Monica OTR

PediaPlex

Kern, Olivia MOT, OTR

PediaPlex

FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Center

PLAY THERAPY DALLAS Lozano, Erin MEd, LPCSupervisor, RPT-S

Center for Social Success Makan, Trisha MS, LPC

Beckloff Pediatric Behavioral Center See ad on page 33

Mullins, Kimberly MA, LPC, RPT

Open Table Counseling and HOPE Child & Family Center of Texas West, Brooke PhD, LPC-S, RPT-S

HOPE Child & Family Center of Texas

PHYSICAL THERAPY ALEDO Woerner, Marie PT, DPT, WCS, CLT

Woerner Physical Therapy COLLEYVILLE Spacek, Logan PT, DPT

Reclaim Wellness & Postpartum Support

DALLAS Allen, Becky PT, DPT

Genesis PT & Wellness

FORT WORTH Colatriano, Jaime LPC-S, RPT-S, EMDR-certified, Somatic Experiencing Practitioner in Training

Center for Counseling & Family Relationships See ad on page 19 Dorough, Chelsea LCSW, EMDR-trained

Center for Counseling & Family Relationships See ad on page 19 Gill, Sarah LPC-S

Maguire, Corrie PT, DPT

Genesis PT & Wellness

Terra Therapies See ad on page 29

Martinez-Burnap, Kayla PT, DPT

Guhl, Courtney LPC-S, RPTS, NCC

Genesis PT & Wellness

Ponchur, Amelia PT, DPT

Genesis PT & Wellness

FRISCO Harkins, Chelsea PT, DPT

Dallas Pelvic Health at Our Well House Spacek, Logan PT, DPT

Dallas Pelvic Health at Our Well House FORT WORTH Bowman, Jessica PT, DPT

Fort Worth Pelvic Health

Dinkin Rose, Mandy PT, DPT

Woerner Physical Therapy

Terra Therapies See ad on page 29

Johnson, Nik MS, LPC, RPT, EMDR-certified

Center for Counseling & Family Relationships See ad on page 19 Johnson, Rhonda LPC-S, LMFT-S, RPT-S, EMDRcertified, Somatic Experiencing Practitioner in Training, TBRI Practitioner

Center for Counseling & Family Relationships See ad on page 19 Oakes, Emily MA, LPC

Woerner, Marie PT, DPT, WCS, CLT

Center for Counseling & Family Relationships See ad on page 19

PLANO Hartoon, Cara PT, DPT

FRISCO Heath, Robi MEd, LPC-S, RPT-S

Woerner Physical Therapy

Centre of Physical Rehabilitation RICHARDSON Mills, Lissa MSPT

Comprehensive Therapy Services

Kid Talk

MCKINNEY Schumann, Brandy PhD, LPC-S, NCC, RPT-S, CCPT-S, CPRT-S

Therapy on the Square

mom approved

SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL SECTION

PLANO Carlson, Sarah PhD, LPC-S, RPT-S, E-RYT 200, YACEP

Mighty Oaks Counseling, PLLC See ad on page 34

D’Amore, Kelsey LPC, RPT, EMDR-trained

Connect to Thrive See ad on page 34

Gorman Dunham, Katie LPC, RPT, EMDR-trained

Connect to Thrive See ad on page 34

Cato, Jamie MS, CCC-SLP

Kirk, Eden MS, CCC-SLP

DENTON Harrier, Laurie LP, LSSP, NCSP

Kirk, Eden MS, CCC-SLP

Lawson, Kelsey MS, CCC-SLP

FORT WORTH Mortimer, Jordana PhD, LP, LSSP

Morgan, Kelsie MS, CCC-SLP

McFarlin, Michelle MS, CCC-SLP

Holland Speech & Consulting

PSYCHOLOGY United Through H.O.P.E.

Brainstorm Learning See ad on page 35

FRISCO Harrier, Laurie LP, LSSP, NCSP

United Through H.O.P.E.

House, Kim MEd, LPC-S, RPT

Brave Space

Rees, Sarah MS, LPC-S, RPT-S, NCC

Brave Space See ad on page 35

RICHARDSON Hawkins, Joshua MS, LPC, RPT

Bright Spot Counseling

PSYCHIATRY ALLEN Reid, Shauna MD

North Texas Child Psychiatry

SPEECH THERAPY ADDISON Lim, Claire MS, CCC-SLP

Holland Speech & Consulting Holland Speech & Consulting

DALLAS Betzen, Rachel MA, CCC-SLP

Dallas Reading & Language Services

Pourchot Neale, Hannah PhD, CCC-SLP

Holland Speech & Consulting

Davidson, Megan MS, CCC-SLP

Vazquez, Natalie BS, SLPAssistant

CARROLLTON Collier, Whitley MS, CCC-SLP

Apraxia Dallas

Holland Speech & Consulting

The Social Communication Connection

Sorokwasz, Meredith MA, CCC-SLP

Creating Voices

COPPELL Augustine, Molly MS, CCC-SLP

Callier Center for Communication Disorders

Bushong, Laura MS, CCCSLP Apraxia Dallas

KidSpeak, LLC See ad on page 33

Therapy & Beyond See ad on page 31

Holland Speech & Consulting

Dyer, Jennifer MS, CCC-SLP Friedman, Laura MS, CCCSLP

PediaPlex

MCKINNEY Hancock, Christian MS, CCC-SLP

Heart & Soul Speech

MIDLOTHIAN Fields, Lakeisha MS, CCCSLP

Magnolia Speaks Speech Therapy Center

SOUTHLAKE Morris, Harriet MA, CCC-SLP

PediaPlex

Let’s Talk Speech Therapy

Dallas Reading & Language Services

Waldrup, Breanna MS, CCC-SLP

Apraxia Dallas

Bloom Speech & Language Therapy

Wright, Taylor MS, CCC-SLP

Holder, Emma MS, CCC-SLP

FORT WORTH Davis, Shelley MS, CCC-SLP

The Social Communication Connection

FRISCO Morris, Harriet MA, CCC-SLP

Apraxia Dallas

To see all our Mom Approved health providers, visit our newly revamped online directory at dfwchild.com/doctors.

You’ll find an interactive map showing which providers are closest to you as well as comments from the local parents who nominated them.

Unique Speech Services

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Courtney Guhl, LPC-S, RPT-S, NCC Sarah Gill, LPC-S Play Therapy 2x Mom Approved Courtney Guhl is the founder and owner of Terra Therapies. As a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor, Registered Play Therapist Supervisor and National Certified Counselor, she has worked in mental health serving the Fort Worth community for over 16 years. Working with children, adolescents, adults and families, Courtney focuses on creating a welcoming, non-judgmental, and positive environment for each individual.

Sarah Gill is a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor who joined Terra Therapies in 2020. Sarah has worked in a variety of mental health settings over the last 10 years. She believes a good relationship between counselor and client is the core of great therapeutic work. Sarah creates positive, encouraging, and fun interactions with her clients and loves to see their amazing bravery and growth.

The Terra Therapies office is located in the heart of Fort Worth on the Trinity Trails. Our mission is to provide compassionate, professional and ethical mental health support. Tailoring mental health services to each individual client, we provide traditional talk therapy, play therapy, walk-and-talk therapy, and eco-therapy.

Terra Therapies, PLLC 3200 Riverfront Dr., Ste. 108 Fort Worth, TX 76107 817-887-9505 • info@TerraTherapiesTX.com TerraTherapiesTX.com

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mom approved

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Reagan Cox, MS, BCBA, LBA ABA Therapy

Reagan Cox, clinical director at Waypoint Behavioral Health Solutions, came to the field of ABA with a passion to change the trajectory for individuals with autism and their families. Her passion is born from experience, the experience of growing up with a brother with autism and the understanding of how that impacted her and her family. That is the passion that she pursues in her work at Waypoint and the passion that allows her to remove barriers for her clients through compassion and dedication. This is a passion that is matched by the entire Waypoint team, and a philosophy of care for Waypoint. Waypoint’s owner and the director is the mother of two children with autism and believes that the experience of parenting a child with autism has changed the way that they practice ABA. “Autism is beautiful and powerful, “says Jessica Bowers, owner and executive director of Waypoint BHS. “Our clients with autism are blocked from reaching their potential because of barriers, but not because of their autism. The barriers are the enemy.

Our care needs to be dedicated to eradicating the barriers, while honoring the strengths of the individual.”

This philosophy directs the standard of care for Reagan and Waypoint. Waypoint values quality over quantity and compassion over corporation. “We’ve stayed purposefully small so we can honor our values of providing individualized care that consistently meets the needs of families,” says Bowers. “When we start to treat ABA like a business, instead of a personal service that changes the lives of individuals, everyone loses.” To meet those values, Waypoint offers both in-home, in-center, and hybrid-based services that allow families to take advantage of all modes of service. Caseloads for BCBAs, like Reagan, are kept purposely small so that they can provide focused care to the families they serve.

Waypoint serves across the lifespan, with clients ranging from 2 to adulthood and believes that no family should be turned away from services because of their child’s age or severity of behavior. Waypoint’s focused approach allows their practice to serve a wide variety of needs with a specialization in newly diagnosed preschoolers whose parents want to learn more about autism, school aged children with severe behavior, and non-verbal individuals of any age. Reagan’s specialty in verbal behavior allows her to consistently guide nonverbal individuals to communication success.

Waypoint differentiates its care by providing holistic support to families, including family counseling. support, and training in resilience for families. Waypoint practitioners believe parents are the most important person in a child’s life and partner with them to give them the skills that they need to feel capable in guiding their child to success. At Waypoint, the philosophy that “we have been there, we can show you the way” is the guidepost for our standard of care.

Waypoint Behavioral Health Solutions 2790 Keller Hicks Rd., Keller, TX 76244 608 E. Hickory St., Denton, TX 76205 940-222-8556 waypointbhs.com

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Regina Crone, PhD, BCBA-D, LBA Whitley Collier, MS, CCC-SLP ABA Therapy, Speech Therapy & Occupational Therapy 3x Mom Approved

Dr. Regina Crone is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctorate (BCBA-D), receiving her PhD and a certificate in Autism Intervention from the University of North Texas. As the Founder and CEO of Therapy and Beyond, Teach Me Academy, and Camden Hill Montessori, Dr. Crone leads a passionate team of individuals delivering high-quality ABA therapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy across Texas, Oklahoma, and Colorado.

Receiving the Mom Approved Health Care Professionals nomination this year with Dr. Crone is Whitley Collier, MS, CCC-SLP. Whitley specializes in picky eating and apraxia and, due to her RBT background, is able to work with any atypical learning and behavior

challenges. Whitley continues to be a candidate for ASHA’s ACE Award given to professionals who demonstrate above-and-beyond commitment to lifelong learning. Cristina Romo, Behavior Technician, specializes in ages two to five and uses her creativity to help kids explore, grow, and strengthen in their own unique way!

goal outlined in their individualized, non-cookie-cutter program.

Dr. Crone would personally like to thank her entire Therapy & Beyond family for making a difference every day!

• Coordination with Teach Me Academy offers a preschool inclusion program and elementary classroom focused on social emotional skills, language development, and individualized academics, with specialists in Autism Intervention. This program is for children who show classroom readiness yet still need support.

At Therapy & Beyond...

• Collaboration is KEY! By combining ABA, speech, and occupational therapy your child is promised a collaborative care program that ensures everyone is working toward the same

• Treatment is family-focused and incorporating all therapies in one place is not only essential for ethical and effective treatment but takes the hassle out of commuting from one therapy center to another.

Therapy and Beyond | Teach Me Academy Carrollton. Colleyville. Fort Worth. McKinney. info@therapyandbeyond.com | learnmore@myteachme.com therapyandbeyond.com | teachme-academy.com

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mom approved

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Priya Singhvi, LPC, LMFT, CCDP Counseling

Priya Singhvi is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT).

She earned a certification as a Diversity Professional from Cornell (CCDP), her Master of Science degree from Southern Methodist University with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy and Counseling, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Austin College.

Priya is on a mission to help people feel seen and heard. As a first generation American daughter of Indian immigrants, she specializes in bringing mental and emotional health awareness to the South Asian and Asian American communities. She also has a passion for supporting women as they navigate major life transitions. She seeks to promote identity exploration and the de-stigmatization of therapy through empathy and insight.

Insatiably curious and always learning, Priya leans towards holistic wellness, positive psychology, neuroscience, and a creative mix of non-traditional modalities, such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Emotional Transformation Therapy (ETT), and mindfulness which allow her to flex and adapt to the unique needs of individual clients.

Currently, Priya serves as the Director of Clinical Operations and Lead Therapist at Rey, a membership-based mental health service focused on tech-leveraged, high-quality care.

She has employed visualization techniques with clients, and now, with technologies like virtual reality, she can build immersive worlds for members to help them get better, faster.

Rey specializes in treating a number of different conditions, including fear, anxiety, and trauma, which are particularly relevant for children and families ramping up to re-engage in our post-pandemic world.

Priya’s previous work in Dallas spanned a wide range of mental health fields, including pediatric psychiatry, non-profit organizations, private practice, schools, and community agencies. Born and raised in DFW, she feels immense local pride now adding a Texas-based mental health “start-up” to her portfolio.

This is especially gratifying for Priya, who has ambitions of growing a local network of clinicians, training them in innovative techniques, and creating positive impact at scale. At Rey, she is hopeful about revolutionizing mental health care and increasing personal agency amongst the members, empowering them to take ownership of their wellness.

Priya feels deep gratitude for the DFWChild Mom Approved Wellness Professional distinction. She is both humbled and honored to celebrate this honor with the members that Rey has served. She is excited to return to her roots and expand her practice.

Outside of serving the mental health needs of the Dallas community, you can find Priya on the hunt for the perfect coffee shop after a hot yoga or spin class. Newly married, she and her husband, Andrew, are overjoyed to be back home.

For more information on Rey, or to schedule a complimentary screening call, please visit us online at getrey.com.

Rey — An Oxford VR Company Call or text: 888-305-4190 psinghvi@oxfordvr.org getrey.com

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mom approved

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Trisha Makan, MS, LPC Play Therapy

2x Mom Approved

Trisha is one of the counselors at Beckloff Behavioral Health Center. She is simply one of the best in terms of her counseling with kids, teens, and families. Not only is she a skilled clinician, but also one who applies those skills from the heart. She has the heart of a counselor: friendly, warm, empathetic, and genuine in her work with folks. Trisha works with kids in a deep way, helping them to soothe their fears, anxieties, and anger. She helps them build skills to assist them on their journey of growing up. Her work with teens is also profound. She knows how to connect, and assist them as they deal with the many twists and turns of the teen years. Trisha is very skilled in her work with adults and conveys concepts in ways that are enlightening and healing on their journeys as well. Trisha practices therapy from a person-centered theoretical orientation that is also trauma and attachment-informed. She believes deeply that the power of vulnerability is a driving force for lasting change. Through her warm and empathic approach with clients and their families, she hopes to advocate, guide, and add value to each and every client she works with.

BBHC

Beckloff Behavioral Health Center

where kids become kids again

17210 Campbell Rd., Ste. 200 Dallas, TX 75252 972-250-1700 drbeckloff.com

Evan Skelton, BCBA, LBA ABA Therapy

2x Mom Approved

The entire Shine team wants to congratulate Evan on the amazing accomplishment of being a Mom Approved Healthcare Professional in the field of ABA for 2021! Evan has been recognized not just once, but now TWO YEARS IN A ROW for her excellence! That Evan’s consistent dedication to support individuals with Autism has been recognized in such an honored way by the mothers of our children truly touches us all. Evan is a professional who combines a deep intellectual understanding of the principals of ABA with love and patience.

Evan Skelton is the Lead BCBA, LBA and Clinical Director at Shine Behavioral. She holds both her Bachelor’s degree in psychology and her Masters’ in Applied Behavior Analysis from USF. She is certified by the national Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) as a BCBA and has over 11 years of experience.

We love you Evan and we are honored to work with you each and every day! — Your Shine Family Shine Behavioral

1205 B W. Green Oaks Blvd.

Arlington, TX 76013 817-457-3088 shinebehavioral.com

Margie Krempein, DC, Webster-Certified Chiropractic At Grounded Wellness, Dr. Margie is committed to providing a balanced holistic chiropractic experience for the entire family. She believes the best experience for each patient is based upon trust and being attentive to the patients’ needs and concerns. One of her greatest pleasures is treating a mom and baby through pregnancy and birth, then continuing that relationship through each stage of the family’s growth and development. Member of ICPA, NBCE Acupuncture Certified Grounded Wellness

4645 Avon Ln., Suite #360, Frisco, TX 75033 469-626-7343 • groundedwellness.co

Claire Lim, MS, CCC-SLP Speech Therapy Claire Lim is a Speech and Language Pathologist at KidSpeak, LLC; where she specializes in using SCERTS® and Social Thinking®. She is dedicated to helping children and teenagers with autism; ADHD; anxiety; emotional difficulties; speech and language delays and disorders; social communication disorders; and more. She loves collaborating with families, siblings, teachers and other professionals to provide the best overall family-centered care. Give us a call today at 214-636-0871.

KidSpeak, LLC

4530 Beltway Dr., Addison, TX 75001 214-636-0871 • kidspeakdallas.com

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mom approved

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Brandi Barker, DC Chiropractic

Dr. Brandi owns Vitality Chiropractic in Keller, TX. She has a passion for helping people get well and stay well so they can live life to the fullest. As a family wellness chiropractor, she strives to empower her families with knowledge and provide the best chiropractic care available. Dr. Brandi places a high priority on providing an exceptional chiropractic experience. She has extensive expertise in caring for prenatal and pediatric patients using a variety of methods such as Webster Technique. She has trained through Epic Pediatrics, the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA) and the Academy Council of Chiropractic Pediatrics (CACCP).

Vitality Chiropractic 1675 N. Tarrant Pkwy., Suite 100 Keller, TX 76248 817-770-0987 • info@vitalitychirotx.com vitalitychirotx.com

Sarah E. Carlson, PhD, LPC-S, RPT-S, E-RYT 200, YACEP Play Therapy 3x Mom Approved Even the smallest seeds lead to great oak trees! At Mighty Oaks, owner and director Dr. Sarah E. Carlson leads a team of LPCs and LPC Associates, who provide play therapy, adolescent counseling, adult counseling, parenting support, social skills groups, and yoga and mindfulness classes. Our mission is to help clients feel empowered to gain confidence and find success in their individual abilities. Working from a holistic approach, we see children and families dealing with ADHD, anxiety, depression, autism, regulation difficulties, perfectionism, twice exceptionalism, and life changes. Let us support you and your family in growing your own branches! “What can you do to promote world peace? Go home and love your family.” — Mother Theresa Mighty Oaks Counseling, PLLC 4100 West 15th St., Suite 220, Plano, TX 75093 469-844-0625 • mightyoakscounseling@gmail.com mightyoakscounseling.com

Amanda Coffey, PhD, BCBA-D, LBA ABA Therapy

3x Mom Approved Behavior Network was founded on the principle of providing evidence-based Applied Behavior Analysis for individuals of all ages. Dr. Coffey and her devoted team specialize in the treatment of severe challenging behavior. We recognize the challenges families face when navigating behavioral health services alone and work in collaboration with local agencies, school districts and other professionals to meet each family’s unique needs. Our program recently expanded services to offer residential treatment through Behavior Living. This facility will further the community impact of our mission statement, to “teach individuals to function and live as independently as possible.”

Behavior Network 4601 Medical Center Dr., Ste. F McKinney, TX 75069 469-731-0957 • behaviornetwork.net

Kelsey D’Amore, LPC, RPT, EMDR-trained Katie Gorman Dunham, LPC, RPT, EMDR-trained Play Therapy & Counseling 3x Mom Approved At Connect to Thrive, we believe all children, teens, and adults are capable of living happy, fulfilling lives. We utilize play therapy, animal assisted therapy, art therapy, sand tray therapy, therapeutic yoga, and EMDR to help children, teens, and parents cope with life’s struggles and heal. We know counseling is a collaborative process with parents, teachers, and all those involved in a client’s life. We offer parenting support to help parents feel confident and happy in their parenting abilities. Our work together will empower you or your child to live life confidently!

Connect to Thrive, LLC 6300 Stonewood Dr., Suite B and D Plano, TX 75024 972-872-8498 • thriveplano.com 34

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Rachael Hackler MS, LPC Counseling

2x Mom Approved Rachael Hackler MS, LPC is the owner and lead therapist of TrueSelf Counseling. Rachael has been a licensed therapist for more than 10 years and began TrueSelf in 2019. At TrueSelf Counseling, we focus on providing individualized therapeutic services for children, teens, young adults and their families. We utilize a variety of holistic and unique approaches guided by those we serve. We offer play therapy, art/ sand play, therapeutic yoga, in-home behavioral intervention, support groups, and walk & talk therapy to name a few. We are thrilled to offer social skills groups as well as continue our Girl Power teen group.

TrueSelf Counseling and Coaching, PLLC 101 South Jennings Ave., Ste. 104 Fort Worth, TX76104 817-200-7429 • trueselfcounselingfw.com

Jason McCoy, LMSW, LCSW-S, RPT-S Counseling

7x Mom Approved I help families, kids and teens who feel anxious, frustrated and overwhelmed.

We look at what’s happening, why it’s happening, and what to do about it. This includes exploring how the brain works and how to use that knowledge to bring change. We also identify patterns of interaction in the family, how needs get expressed and met, and then create effective strategies to use at home. I love to help families bring out the best in each other, and get back to the family culture they always wanted.

TREEfort Child and Family Therapy 2548 Lillian Miller Pkwy., Ste. #110 Denton, TX 76210 469-200-2399 • treeforttherapy.com

Abida Minhas, MA, LPC-S Counseling

Abida has been passionate about promoting mental health, particularly for minority communities and founded the Muslim Association Psychological Services (MAPS) network over 4 years ago, an organization that focuses on psycho-educational work in the Muslim community. She also takes a collaborative and hands-on approach in training her supervisees as well. She’s proud to be an Impact Counselor who is ready to help you align and meet your goals in your therapeutic journey! She is a clinical supervisor and has been practicing for 11 years.

The Impact Counselors 550 South Watters Road, Suite #239, Allen, TX 75013 214-778 2836 • theimpactcounselors.com

Jordana Mortimer, PhD, LP, LSSP Psychology 2x Mom Approved Brainstorm Learning is co-owned by Drs. Lowther and Mortimer, whom are both Licensed Psychologists and moms. Our practice specializes in assessments to determine diagnosis across neuropsychological and psychological areas. Our primary focus is to direct parents to evidence-based treatment and resources to support their child across all areas of functioning.

Brainstorm Learning

1208 W. Magnolia Ave., Ste. 234, Fort Worth, TX 76104 817-989-6312 • brainstormlearningllc.com

Sarah Rees, MS, LPC-S, RPT-S, NCC Play Therapy

3x Mom Approved Brave Space specializes in Play Therapy and Counseling for children ages 2–18. We help awesome kiddos develop coping skills and effective communication so they can succeed in their relationships and in life.

We also equip parents with tools to better respond and connect with their child, building confidence and making parenting easier. We collaborate amongst parents, schools, and providers to best support families.

We provide your family with a safe space for hope and healing!

Brave Space Counseling 6517 W. Plano Pkwy., Ste. C, Plano, TX 75093 469-215-2890 • bravespacecounseling.com

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MAXIMIZE YOUR CHILD’S POTENTIAL. ABA. SPEECH. OT. FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM

THERAPY THAT HELPS WITH...

COMMUNICATION SOCIAL INTERACTION PLAY SKILLS EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING CHALLENGING BEHAVIOR ...AND MORE!

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asleep within 15 minutes of their head touching the pillow.”

It might be difficult for a child with autism to grasp the pre-bed routine. Consider using pictures or videos of bedtime activities.

TUCK-IN TROUBLES

What if your child cries? What if they leave their room or wake up frequently? Try these ideas: Graduated extinction—in which a parent gradually lowers their level of support and comfort-giving at night, such as allowing the child to cry for a few minutes before returning to briefly soothe the child and gradually extending those intervals.

Bedtime passes—a card a child can exchange to leave their bedroom for a drink, a hug, etc.; if it isn’t used, the child may redeem the card for a reward the next day.

Scheduled awakenings—if night wakeups happen at routine times, awaken the child a bit earlier while they are still in deeper sleep. Children will have an easier time going back to bed.

THE NIGHT SHIFT

FAMILY RESOURCES

how to achieve better sleep for kids with autism

I

WORDS ALEXIS PATTERSON

F YOU STRUGGLE WITH GETTING YOUR CHILD TO SLEEP, you are far from

alone. And if your child has autism, sleep troubles are even more common. Research shows at least 25% and up to 40% of neurotypical children have sleep-related problems; among children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), that rate doubles.

“Children with ASD typically have a harder time falling asleep, which may relate to disruptive behavior at bedtime,” explains Lee Mason, applied behavior analyst with Cook Children’s Child Study Center. “They are also more likely to have decreased sleep efficiency

[the amount of time they’re in bed compared to their actual time asleep], fewer total hours of sleep and shorter sleep durations.”

For most parents, the outcome of a bad night of sleep is a cranky kiddo. But when your child has ASD, there can be more serious issues. “The core characteristics of autism are deficits in communication and social skills, along with an excess of restrictive and repetitive behaviors,” says Mason. “Lack of sleep can exacerbate each of these in children with ASD. Sleep difficulties can also contribute to poor attention and more severe challenging behaviors like aggression and self-injury.”

GAME PLAN FOR ZZZS

First, set a standard bedtime and wake-up time. “You don’t have to be perfect,” says Mason, “but it gives you something to aim for.”

Eliminate caffeine at least six hours before it’s time for sleep, and wrap up exercise before dinner.

Mason also stresses the importance of a balanced diet and turning off screens at least one hour before bed.

With about 30 minutes to go, start winding down: bath, pajamas, toothbrushing and story. Finally, tuck your child in bed, which Mason emphasizes is for sleep only. “No playing games in bed. No songs or conversations. No stories.

Your goal is for the child to be

If your child has ongoing sleep problems, talk to your pediatrician or other provider about personalized solutions. Mason points parents to Sleep Better! A Guide to Improving Sleep for Children with Special Needs by V. Mark Durand.

You’ll also find tools online. The website for Slumber Yard, which focuses on mattress information, has a sleep tool kit for kids with ASD, with downloadable visual schedules and bedtime passes, along with more tips and info. (Go to myslumberyard.com/sleep and scroll through the articles to find “Autism and Sleep: Empowering Children with ASD for Better Sleep.”) Autism Speaks’ website (autismspeaks.org/ sleep) includes strategies to help kids sleep and videos on good bedtime routines and daytime habits; the organization also provides strategies and information specific to teenagers. Here’s to a good night’s rest for the whole family.

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special needs

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Serving Children Ages: 0–21

• Highly Experienced Clinical Team • Specialized Feeding Program • Achieving your child’s greatest potential Our therapists create a fun and nurturing therapy experience for children with special needs.

Serving the greater DFW area 214-295-5374

fax

Se Habla Español

214-245-5217

sagecaretherapy.com

Looking for fun things to do with your family?

Check out the Calendar on dfwchild.com to see what cool things are happening­—festivals, events and family-friendly destinations.

Visit our calendar: dfwchild.com/calendar

Scan with your phone’s camera

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special needs

SPECIAL advertising SECTION

CREATIVE + INTEGRATED approaches to speech + feeding therapy

• Preschool through high school

Speech | Orofacial Myofunctional | Feeding Therapy

• Small class sizes

• Rolling admissions throughout school year

We believe in a multi-sensory holistic approach to therapy to meet individual needs.

• Social learning curriculum at all grade levels

• On-site therapy (speech, OT, and DIR Floortime)

SAFETY IS A PRIORITY

• Preschool and kindergarten classes taught by licensed speech therapists

• Executive functioning curriculum, transition and life skills classes • Counselor and behavior specialist on staff

+ Checking temperature at door + Wash hands upon entering and leaving + Clean and sanitize rooms between each client + All therapists and clients wear face shields 7002 Lebanon, Suite 102 Frisco, TX 75034 469-408-4634 • F: 972-618-1051 walkeztalkez@gmail.com

Oak Hill Academy is dedicated to providing individualized academic and social-emotional learning programs not found in traditional learning environments. Through a multi-sensory instructional model, we take a whole-child approach, preparing our students for life after graduation.

walkeztalkez.com ©

Rebecca L. Dana M.S. CCC/SLP, P.C., SIPT-C, LSVT-C, COM

Ads with © are © of Lauren Publications, Inc. 2021.

9407 MIDWAY ROAD, DALLAS 75220 | 214-353-8804 | oakhillacademy.org

Our safety measures include:

DFWCHILD | august/september 2021

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PROMOTED CONTENT | BACK-TO-SCHOOL CHECKLIST

Back-To-School Checklist Tips and advice from experts to keep your family healthy

How you can boost your child’s immune system naturally As children are returning to school, I am frequently asked by parents what supplements to use to boost children’s immune system. Before considering any store-bought vitamins, it’s crucial to talk about nutrition! Below are some simple tips on how to use food to boost your child’s immune system: • Eliminate all processed food and artificial dyes and preservatives • Check out the Environmental Working Group’s website (www. ewg.org) for information on what produce to buy organic • Brightly colored veggies and fruits, at least 5-8 servings/day • Healthy fats: fish, eggs, nuts, seeds, olive oil, coconut oil • Fermented foods: sauerkraut, pickled vegetables, kefir

Top 3 Tips for Immune Support

and sleep: 1 Nurture • Have a soothing bedtime

routine • No screen time two hours before bedtime • Stress management for the entire family as parental stress can trigger children’s anxiety

and physical activity: 2 Nature • Encourage outdoor play • Physically active at least an hour a day

and water: 3 Nutrition • Eliminate all processed food and sweeten beverages • A diet rich in vegetables, fruits, but also meat, fish, eggs, lentils, nuts and seeds • Keep hydrated with water

wholechildtexas.com facebook.com/wholechildtexas twitter.com/alinaolteanu

Alina Olteanu, MD, PhD 42

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instagram.com/dralinaolteanu

Best Places

in Dallas-Fort Worth for Kids

For additional resources to help your family start the school year off right, visit our Best Places directory, at dfwchild.com.

T:7.25"

PROMOTED CONTENT | BACK-TO-SCHOOL CHECKLIST S:6.75"

Back in the Swing of Things Finally! School and sports are a go for many in the fall.

That means it’s time to get kids connecting again and safely ready for play.

IT HAS BEEN A WHILE, TO SAY THE LEAST. The buzz of children in classrooms. The cheer of sports fans in the stands.

The melding of work and play. It all has become somewhat of a distant memory for many families in the past year.

Now, as the country opens back up, families are once again preparing for in-person learning, getting back to the playing fields, and just being active. It will surely feel good to get moving, but “first things first” cautions one local orthopedic surgeon.

As an advocate for healthy bones and active lifestyles, Dr. Dietrich wants to ensure young athletes are able to enjoy their sports for a whole season. Too often passion for the game and willingness to push a young body to the highest level results in injury. Dr. Dietrich recommends that before children get back to sports activities this school year, families first take a few steps to promote safe play.

1. Start by having a physician or athletic trainer do an assessment of current health. A plan can then be created that will focus on those muscle groups and movements most beneficial for performance.

2. A pattern of combined run/walk workouts is a way to get the body built back up. Start with a tolerable combination of running and walking, then each week increase running time or distance by 15 to 20%.

3. Work in some interval training, which means alternating bursts of higher intensity with short periods of recovery.

4. Add in 30 minutes of stretching and flexibility training 2 to 3 times per week.

5. Set realistic goals to reduce the risk of early injury.

“Young athletes who are well conditioned and properly trained will be more likely to weather a season of intense, competitive play without serious injury and fatigue,” Dr. Dietrich says.

Should an injury occur during sports play, the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine offers some guidelines for a safe return to the game.

The return-to-play process begins with a young athlete getting back to school and their other regular activities.

Dr. Dietrich notes, however, that it is up to the child’s health care team to give the final okay for when to release a patient for play.

GUIDELINES FOR PLAY, RE-INJURY PREVENTION • Movement should be pain-free. If something still hurts, it shouldn’t be used.

• For lower-body injuries, bearing full weight on an injured hip, knee or ankle without limping is key.

• For upper-body injuries, executing a throwing movement with proper form and no pain is key.

• Swelling is a sign of inflammation, so any evidence of it means it’s too early to return to sports.

• Compare the injured part with its uninjured part on the opposite side of the body to see if full range of motion and good strength have been regained.

“Keep in mind that even when your young athlete feels 100 percent, his or her strength, joint stability, flexibility or skill may be lagging. Plan to have them work back into full sports and exercise goals gradually, and consult with your child’s physician if any problem persists,” Dr. Dietrich says.

Schedule an appointment.

DFWSportsDoc.com 817-527-8924

Sideline Orthopedics & Sports is a Texas Health Physicians Group practice. Providers employed by Texas Health Physicians Group are not employees or agents of Texas Health Resources hospitals.

DFWCHILD | august/september 2021

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T:9.625"

“Habits have changed over the course of the last year, and those habits might have led to some muscle imbalances,” she adds.

“Youths who haven’t been in conditioning mode or cross-training for multiple sports for some time will need to slowly rebuild their stamina before swinging a bat, throwing a football or re-engaging in sports some other way. The last thing any parent wants is for their child to experience an injury halfway through a season when the child has been chomping at the bit to play for months or longer.”

THE BASICS OF HEALTHY ACTIVITY

S:9.125"

“Many of us have been less active than usual since the pandemic hit,” says Lindsey Dietrich, M.D., of Sideline Orthopedics and Sports, a Texas Health Physicians Group practice in Arlington.

“There needs to be preparation for the body to be ready to participate in sports again.”

SCHOOL GUIDE //

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School G U I D E

Are you looking for a school that’s as passionate about your child’s education as you are? Get to know the institutions that excel in fostering a lifetime of learning.

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SCHOOL GUIDE //

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

YOUR CHILD. READY FOR LIFE. Your child’s readiness for college or a successful career is built through a strong K-12 experience.

Life School is a public charter school that creates an environment where your child can discover their strengths for success in school and beyond!

Enroll today!

lifeschool.net/mychild

DFWCHILD | august/september 2021

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SCHOOL GUIDE //

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Possibilities Await You at Parish Episcopal School.

Hillcrest (PreK 3yrs old - 2nd grade) Sunday, October 24 1:30 - 3:30 p.m.

Midway (3rd - 12th grade) Saturday, November 13 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Visit us online at parish.org or contact our Admission office at 972.852.8737

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SCHOOL GUIDE //

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

THE COVENANT SCHOOL “Pursuing Truth, Goodness, and Beauty” The Covenant School is a Charlotte Mason-inspired K-12 community of faith and learning emphasizing the classical arts and sciences.

At The Covenant School, a proven model of classical Christian education is used to teach students to confidently engage the world for Christ through authentic Christian living, wisdom, and virtue.

Covenant offers: • A rigorous curriculum using Socratic instruction • Championship winning sports teams • Rich fine arts program • Small class sizes • Highly-skilled faculty

To learn more, schedule a visit or attend an open house please visit our website at www.covenantdallas.com 7300 Valley View Lane,

Dallas, Texas 75240

214-358-5818

DFWCHILD | august/september 2021

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SCHOOL GUIDE //

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Providing the safest possible school environment for learning different students

• • • • • • •

Fully Accredited School Grades 1-12 College Preparatory Curriculum Multi-Sensory Instruction Small Student-Teacher Ratio Dyslexia Intervention Executive Functions Program Sports, Fine Arts and Leadership Opportunities

16150 Preston Rd, Dallas, TX 75248 972.233.1026 16150 Preston Rd, Dallas, TX 75248 972.233.1026 | fairhill.org | fairhill@fairhill.org fairhill.org | fairhill@fairhill.org

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SCHOOL GUIDE //

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Ann & Nate Levine Academy is an inclusive, dynamic, Jewish Day School which fosters creativity, critical thinking, and Jewish values while empowering its students with moral character, selfconfidence and intellectual curiosity.

FOR ENROLLMENT INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT OUR ADMISSIONS OFFICE

972-248-3032

admissions@levineacademy.org

FIND YOUR

GSESDALLAS.ORG

|

(214) 357-1610

DFWCHILD | august/september 2021

49

SCHOOL GUIDE //

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

FAITH | ACADEMICS | COMMUNITY

OPEN HOUSE

Educating students ages 3–8th grade Prince of Peace Catholic School Influencing the World for Christ 5100 West Plano Pkwy., Plano, TX 75093 972-380-5505 | popschool.net ©

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Ads with © are © of Lauren Publications, Inc. 2021.

Wednesday, November 3 at 9:00 a.m.

SCHOOL GUIDE //

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

ARE YOU READY FOR A CHANGE?

TCA FALL PREVIEW WEEK

Sept. 27–Oct. 1 Sign up at tcaeagles.org

TRINITY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 4954 E. I-20 Service Rd South Willow Park, TX 76087 817-441-5897 tcaeagles.org #TCAMADEFORMORE

Ads with © are © of Lauren Publications, Inc. 2021.

©

DFWCHILD | august/september 2021

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SCHOOL GUIDE //

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Maximizing Potential, IGNITING PASSION!

SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTERS Celebrating Bright Students Who Learn Differently ® College Preparatory K-12th Grade

Contact Admissions

Today!

Winston-School.org

214-691-6950

Get all the sweet stuff delivered to your inbox: the latest parenting trends, mom favorites, and DFW’s best family-friendly events.

Scan with your phone’s camera WW 1/6 pg ad Dallas Child AugSept.qxp_Layout 1 7

Cultivating Character DAY-BY-DAY

Montessori Lower School Community

TODDLER THROUGH GRADE 6

OPEN HOUSE DATES: Sat, Oct 9 • 11 am - 2 pm Wed, Nov 10 • 5 pm - 7:30 pm Limited Spots Available - Reserve Today: dgiorgini@westwoodschool.org | 972-239-8598

PRESCHOOL PARENT PREVIEW View video online: bit.ly/3h2WYH6

THE WESTWOOD SCHOOL WestwoodSchool.org

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES DIRECTORY

AGES DESCRIPTION

Aaron Family JCC Dallas • 214/739-2737 jccdallas.org

3–12yrs

The Dallas JCC offers a variety of amazing programs for your child to participate in afterschool. Programs include gymnastics, tennis, soccer, basketball, swim lessons and youth performing arts classes. See ad on page 10.

Beacon Hill Preparatory Institute Dallas • 972/329-7779 beaconhillprep.org

6–18yrs

Has COVID-19 affected your child's performance this year? Beacon Hill Preparatory provides personalized math and reading tutoring at a 3:1 student-to-tutor ratio.

Virtually or in-person, Beacon Hill Preparatory has you covered.

Cooper Fitness Center Dallas • 972/233-4832 cooperaerobics.com/cooper-fitnesscenter-dallas/youth-activities.aspx

5–15yrs

Keep your kids active and having fun while instilling healthy habits early with Cooper Fitness Center. Fall youth programs include tennis, swimming, Kids in the Kitchen cooking classes and more! Full details on website.

Fencing Institute of Texas Carrollton • 972/242-0399 fenceintexas.org

6–17yrs

Recreational through Olympic and Paralympic level training in foil, épée, sabre and wheelchair. We use the USOPC recommended Athlete Development Module for developmentally correct training. See ad on page 22.

Fort Worth Conservatory of Music and Fine Arts Fort Worth • 817/680-1611 fwconservatoryofmusic.com

6mos– adult

We offer quality music instruction for kids and adults of all ages and levels through private lessons, early childhood music classes, and keyboard exploration classes.

Piano, violin, guitar, flute, and voice. Excellence, inspiration, and fun!

Fort Worth Museum of Science and History Fort Worth • 817/255-9309 fwmuseum.org/fwmsh-steam-academy

5–8 yrs

FWMSH STEAM Academy's equitable learning environment will serve kindergarten, first and second grade students in its inaugural year. It is a comprehensive, STEAM-centered, learning model that emphasizes science, humanities, math, arts, and engineering. See ad on page 58.

J's Art Studio, Inc. Dallas • 972/931-1933 jsartstudio.com

4yrs+

Teaching creative art in North Dallas for 30 years! J's Art introduces students to different art media. Experienced, nurturing teachers guide the artist in small classes. Adult classes, too! Check our website and Facebook updates! See ad on page 16.

Life School Dallas • 469/850-5433 lifeschool.net/childcare/before-and-after-school-care

K–12th grade

Life School provides before- and after-school care through campus partners Powerhouse, After School All Stars, Lighthouse Learning Center, and Covenant Kids Club.

Grades and details by campus can be viewed online. See ad on page 45.

Margo Dean School of Ballet Fort Worth • 817/738-7915 margodeanballet.com

3yrs– adult

Offering ballet for all ages and levels, flamenco dance, jazz/contemporary, adult ballet and flamenco, the real barre fitness class, and Gyrotonic® exercise. Home of Ballet Concerto, inspiring dance since 1950. See ad on page 67.

North Texas Dance Arts Academy Roanoke • 940/390-1270 northtexasdancearts.com

K–12th grade

The North Texas Dance Arts Academy is a daytime dance program offering full time academy program for 7th–12th grade students, and dance classes for K–12th grade homeschool students. See ad on page 66.

River Legacy Living Science Center Arlington • 817/860-6752 riverlegacy.org

K–6th grade

Students have the unique experience of exploring a riparian forest in the middle of the Metroplex. From frogs to trees to weather, children learn about a new topic each month, then go outside to explore! See ad on page 22.

TCU Music Preparatory Division Fort Worth • 817/257-7604 musicprep.tcu.edu

infant– adult

From early childhood music to private lessons for all ages. Offerings include: Music Together for infants to age 8, private piano, voice, instrumental and string lessons for all levels. See ad on page 65.

Texas Ballet Theater School Dallas, Fort Worth • 877/828-9200 texasballettheater.org/tbt-school

3–18yrs

TBT School offers classes that range from beginner ballet to elite professional training, with studios in Dallas County and Fort Worth. Virtual and in-person classes available this fall. See ad on page 6.

Theatre Arlington A.C.T.S. Arlington • 817/261-9628 theatrearlington.org

3–18yrs

A.C.T.S. utilizes a progressive curriculum for students to build upon what they learned in a previous level to reach their performing potential. Private voice, dance and piano are also available. See ad on page 65.

YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas Multiple locations • 469/348-9622 ymcadallas.org/afterschool

PK–8th grade

YMCA Afterschool programs are conveniently located at your child’s school, a neighboring school, or a YMCA branch. With over 90 locations throughout the Dallas Metro, we are committed to supporting the whole child. See ad on page 11.

DFWCHILD | august/september 2021

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CHILD CARE & PRESCHOOL DIRECTORY //

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

CHILD CARE & PRESCHOOL DIRECTORY

Feeling overwhelmed by all the local child care and preschool options? It’s tough to find the right people to care for your child when you’re not around. Here’s a handy guide to make that important decision easier.

Ann & Nate Levine Academy, Weinreb Early Childhood

18011 Hillcrest Road Dallas, TX 75252 levineacademy.org Hours: M–Th, 8am–6pm; F, 8am– 5:30pm Ages (Primary Care): 3mos–PK Capacity: N/A Before School Program: Yes After School Program: Yes We are an inclusive Jewish day school. Children learn according to cognitive, physical, linguistic and social/emotional growth stages.

See ad on page 49.

Camden Hill Montessori

2020 E Hebron Pkwy. #130 Carrollton, TX 75007 camdenhill.com Hours: 6am–6pm Ages (Primary Care): 6wks–6yrs Capacity: 100 Before School Program: No After School Program: No Our education blends the distinctive student-centered approach of Maria Montessori with traditional/ progressive teaching methods to help your child succeed.

Challenger School

Multiple locations, Collin Co. area challengerschool.com Hours: 8:30am–5:30pm Ages (Primary Care): Preschool–K Capacity: Varies Before School Program: Yes

54

After School Program: Yes Two Plano area campuses, Legacy and Independence. You can drop in for a tour anytime. Curriculum details are on the website. See ad on page 8.

Dallas International School

Multiple locations, Dallas area dallasinternationalschool.org Hours: 7:30am–6pm Ages (Primary Care): 2–18yrs Capacity: Varies Before School Program: Yes After School Program: Yes With over 33 nationalities represented, Dallas International School is a secular, bilingual French-English immersion school for grades pre-K2 through 12th.

See ad on page 47.

Dallas ISD, Early Learning

Multiple locations, Dallas area prekdallas.org Hours: 8am–5pm Ages (Primary Care): 3–4 yrs Capacity: Varies Before School Program: Yes After School Program: Yes Dallas ISD offers free, scholarship and tuition PreK. Our schools provide full-day and half-day PreK3 and full-day PreK4. See ad on page 13.

The Day School at Highland Park Presbyterian 3821 University Blvd.

Dallas, TX 75225

august/september 2021 | DFWCHILD

thedayschool.org Hours: 8am–3pm Ages (Primary Care): 1yr–K Capacity: 280 After School Program: Yes The Day School partners with families to educate the whole child within a nurturing Christian environment. See ad on page 50.

Fort Worth Zoo

1989 Colonial Parkway Fort Worth, TX 76110 fortworthzoo.org Hours: M–F, 9am–noon, 1–4pm Ages (Primary Care): 3–5yrs Capacity: 240 Before School Program: No After School Program: No Zoo Preschool offers an immersive learning environment for your little explorer. Shake, rattle and enroll now! See ad on page 60.

The Goldberg Early Childhood Center

7900 Northaven Road Dallas, TX 75230 jccdallas.org/gecc Hours: 7:45am–5:45pm Ages (Primary Care): 3mos–5yrs Capacity: 230 Before School Program: Yes After School Program: Yes We create a thriving educational culture that inspires and nourishes every family. Come visit us!

See ad on page 10.

Grace Academy of Dallas

11306A Inwood Rd. Dallas, TX 75229 graceacademy.com Hours: 8am–6pm Ages (Primary Care): PK3–6th Grade Capacity: 220 Before School Program: Yes After School Program: Yes Serving students in Pre-K3 through the sixth grade and conveniently located in Preston Hollow. Currently accepting applications for the fall! See ad on page 50.

Greenville Avenue Child Development Center

1013 South Greenville Ave. Richardson, TX 75081 gacdc.org Hours: 7am–5:30pm Ages (Primary Care): 2–5yrs Capacity: 73 Before School Program: No After School Program: No Our Early Learning Program provides quality care, a safe environment and a platform where children can learn through play and exploring. See ad on page 63.

The Hockaday School

11600 Welch Road Dallas, TX 75229 hockaday.org Hours: 7:30am–5pm Ages (Primary Care): 4–18yrs

CHILD CARE & PRESCHOOL DIRECTORY // Capacity: 1,116 Before School Program: No After School Program: Yes Hockaday develops resilient, confident women who are educated and inspired to lead lives of purpose and impact. See ad on page 52.

KinderCare Learning Center

Multiple locations, DFW area kindercare.com Hours: 6:30am–6:30pm Ages (Primary Care): 6wks–12yrs Capacity: Varies Before School Program: Yes After School Program: Yes For 50 years, KinderCare— America’s largest, most accredited childcare provider—has been creating safe, encouraging environments where kids build confidence for life. See ad on page 3.

The Lamplighter School

11611 Inwood Road Dallas, TX 75229 thelamplighterschool.org Hours: 8:15am–3:15pm Ages (Primary Care): PK3–4th Grade Capacity: 450 Before School Program: Yes After School Program: Yes Lamplighter delivers serious education wrapped in the wonder of childhood. See ad on page 48.

Merryhill Preschool & Elementary School

711 West Arbrook Blvd.

Arlington, TX 76015 merryhillarlington.com Hours: 6:30am–6pm Ages (Primary Care):6wks–6th Grade Capacity: N/A Before School Program: Yes After School Program: Yes We combine a rigorous, standards-based curriculum with experiences that develop 21stcentury skills such as creativity, collaboration and communication.

See ad on page 11.

Messiah Lutheran Classical Academy

1308 Whitley Road Keller, TX 76248 mlcatexas.org Hours: 8am–4pm Ages (Primary Care): 2yrs–8th Grade Capacity: 100 Before School Program: Yes After School Program: Yes Messiah Lutheran Classical Academy has a family atmosphere, with caring professional teachers that ignite the love of learning.

See ad on page 16.

Mosaic Academy

1400 College Ave. Fort Worth, TX 76104 mosaicacademy.org Hours: 9am–4pm Ages (Primary Care): 18mos–13yrs Capacity: Varies Before School Program: No After School Program: No Discover the distinct approach Mosaic Academy uses to empower and support home educators.

See ad on page 45.

Oak Hill Academy

9407 Midway Road Dallas, TX 75220 oakhillacademy.org Hours: 8am–4pm Ages (Primary Care): 3–5yrs Capacity: 12 Before School Program: Yes After School Program: Yes Our preschool program is a language and speech curriculum for children with learning differences, speech language disorders, and developmental delays. See ad on page 41.

Parish Episcopal School

Multiple locations, Dallas area parish.org Hours: 7:30am–6pm Ages (Primary Care): PK3–12th Grade Capacity: 1,140 Before School Program: No After School Program: Yes Parish promotes belonging and engagement across all disciplines, helping students find balance and joy in their educational journey.

See ad on page 46.

Pediatrics Plus

6025 Sports Village Road Frisco, TX 75033 pediatricsplus.com Hours: M–F, 8am–5pm Ages (Primary Care): Birth–21yrs Capacity: Varies Before School Program: Yes After School Program: Yes We are a specialized healthcare provider that offers a developmental preschool and therapy services to help children conquer their world! See ad on page 38.

Providence Christian School of Texas

5002 West Lovers Lane Dallas, TX 75209 pcstx.org Hours: 7:30am–4pm Ages (Primary Care): 4–14yrs Capacity: 480 Before School Program: No After School Program: No Providence is a classical, Christian school for ages 4–14. We focus on

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

forming habits, training minds, and shaping hearts. See ad on page 12.

River Legacy Living Science Center

703 NW Green Oaks Blvd.

Arlington,TX 76006 riverlegacy.org Hours: 9am–5pm Ages (Primary Care): 3–5yrs Capacity: Varies Before School Program: No After School Program: Yes River Legacy Nature School encourages a child’s inborn sense of wonder and curiosity to flourish with indoor and outdoor explorations! See ad on page 22.

Small Miracles Academy

Multiple locations, DFW area smallmiraclesacademy.org Hours: 6am–6:30pm Ages (Primary Care): Birth–12yrs Capacity: 160 per center Before School Program: Yes After School Program: Yes Small Miracles Academy where every child is a small miracle! See ad on page 25.

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic School

2016 Willis Ln. Keller, TX 76248 seton.school Hours: 7:30am–3:45pm Ages (Primary Care): 3yrs–8th Grade Capacity: 705 Before School Program: Yes After School Program: Yes We are a classical Catholic school helping students fall in love with truth, goodness, and beauty. Tour today! See ad on page 48.

St. Philip’s School and Community Center

1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Dallas, TX 75215 stphilips1600.com Hours: M–F, 7am–6pm Ages (Primary Care): 2yrs–7th Grade Capacity: 250 Before School Program: Yes After School Program: Yes Students receive a robust academic experience enriched with project-based learning, differentiated instruction, STEM, robotics, and fine arts. See ad on page 6.

St. Rita Catholic School

12525 Inwood Road Dallas, TX 75244 strita.net Hours: M–F, 7:30–4pm Ages (Primary Care): PK4–8th Grade Capacity: 750 Before School Program: No After School Program: Yes Catholic school, PK4 to 8th Grade,

uniforms, Student Success Center — Accommodations, advanced academics, innovations labs, new science labs. See ad on page 58.

Teach Me Academy

2020 E. Hebron Pkwy. #100 Carrollton, TX 75007 teachme-academy.com Hours: 9am–3pm Ages (Primary Care): 3–13yrs Capacity: 20 Before School Program: No After School Program: No Teach Me Academy offers a preschool inclusion program and elementary classroom focused on social-emotional skills, language development and individualized academics. See ads on pages 31 and 36.

Trinity Christian Academy

4954 E Interstate 20 Service Rd. S. Willow Park, TX 76087 tcaeagles.org Hours: 8am–4pm Ages (Primary Care): PK3–12th Grade Capacity: 530 Before School Program: No After School Program: Yes Trinity Christian Academy is dedicated to developing excellence in education, character, and servant leadership through a Christ-centered, biblical perspective. See ad on page 51.

The Westwood School

14340 Proton Road Dallas, TX 75244 westwoodschool.org Hours: 7:15am–6pm Ages (Primary Care): 18mos–12th Grade Capacity: 300 Before School Program: Yes After School Program: Yes We help children grow into caring young adults who are inquisitive, informed and inspired to succeed in an ever-changing world. See ad on page 52.

Xplor Preschool

Multiple locations, DFW area xplorpreschool.com Hours: Varies Ages (Primary Care): 6wks–PK Capacity: Varies Before School Program: Yes After School Program: Yes Xplor Preschool prepares children for kindergarten and beyond by developing important academic, social and emotional skills. See ad on page 65.

For more child care options, visit our online Best Places directory at dfwchild.com/directory.

DFWCHILD | august/september 2021

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playbook.

“There are no math worksheets; instead, worms are counted and piles of rocks are split into equal parts.”

GOOD NATURED the benefits of outdoor learning

NOUN PROJECT; IMAGE COURTESY OF CROSS TIMBERS FOREST PRESCHOOL

WORDS

W

ALEXIS PATTERSON

HEN DALLAS MOM ELIZABETH HOFFMAN BEGAN LOOKING AT PRESCHOOLS for her daughter Adelaide

a couple of years ago, her excitement about the milestone quickly dimmed.

“I was so sad to learn how much time was spent inside, with only a few opportunities to be outside,” recalls Hoffman, “and the outside time was in very controlled environments—playgrounds, but little nature. I knew that so much of Adelaide’s future would likely be inside and at a desk—I wanted to preserve as much natural time for her as I could.”

Hoffman, who decided to enroll her daughter at Dallas Zoo’s Wild Earth Preschool, is on board a movement to increase time young children

spend outside and in nature. And there are multiple opportunities to engage them in nature play across Dallas-Fort Worth as they learn typical early childhood skills.

HAPPIER, HEALTHIER

“Children and families who spend time in nature are healthier and happier, and the kids perform better in school,” shares Sarah Coles, Texas Children in Nature Network executive director. She points to research showing that natural environments are tied to higher activity levels, stronger self-esteem and increased creativity, and that children who spend time in nature boost their ability to follow directions, work cooperatively and problem-solve.

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playbook / G O O D

YOUR MUSEUM HAS REOPENED!

TOP 10 SCIENCE MUSEUM The results are in for USA Today’s Readers’ Choice awards, and we are proud to announce we’ve been voted the 9th Best Science Museum in America!

USA Today assembled a panel of industry experts to identify the top 20 science museums in the U.S. The publication then opened the list to voting, asking the public to choose their top 10, and YOU helped us receive the #9 spot! Thank you for helping the Museum win this national recognition!

Fort Worth Museum of Science & History 1600 Gendy Street, Fort Worth, TX 76107

Many early childhood programs offer activities such as garden planting or petting zoo visits. But the benefits multiply when children have extended time outdoors and learn through the lens of nature.

That’s the M.O. at Cross Timbers Forest Preschool, located at the City of Southlake’s Bob Jones Nature Center. Curriculum is customized to the local ecosystem, and each class (which kids attend once or twice a week) includes running and playing in the center’s field; outdoor circle time; and hikes full of splashing in puddles, searching for bugs and flowers, and enjoying the shore along Grapevine Lake.

“Every week we continue building on environmental stewardship, sense of place and encouraging curiosity, and I think being on a weekly schedule helps our kids explore very confidently,” explains Hannah Nyquist, Southlake’s outdoor experience programs coordinator.

Children at Wild Earth Preschool attend five days a week at the zoo. The curriculum begins with an investigation of social and emotional topics inspired by backyard animals. Preschool takes place in outdoor environments, such as the nature-rich playground, forest and meadow areas, and habitat restoration pollinator garden. “In these areas, we invite children to participate in literacy, construction, dramatic play, loose-parts play [with various objects] and art centers to expand the investigation and build pre-academic skills,” says Katie Grimes, Dallas Zoo’s early childhood manager. “We extend our investigation to a global perspective when we visit habitat areas of the zoo.”

The program was everything Hoffman wanted for Adelaide, who is now 5. “I may have even cried tears of relief,” Hoffman says. “So many academic skills are taught organically. There are no math worksheets; instead, worms are counted and piles of rocks are split into equal parts.

Additionally, many motor skills are naturally fostered in an outdoor setting. There is no need for adult-planned sensory play when Go Wild kids are allowed to dig in the dirt, Here are eight nature-focused prepick up sticks, sit in the grass and schools you can explore in the Dallasget muddy. And the connection Fort Worth area: to nature and animals gives a Bob Jones Nature Center’s Cross platform for the teachers to speak Timbers Forest Preschool, Southlake about social and emotional skills.”

Ages: 3–5 years

817/748-8658; experiencesouthlaketexas.com

Dallas Zoo’s Wild Earth Preschool, Dallas Ages: 3–5 years 469/554-7500; dallaszoo.com Fort Worth Museum of Science and History’s Museum School, Fort Worth Ages: 3–6 years 817/255-9333; fwmuseum.org Fort Worth Zoo Preschool and Nature’s Navigators, Fort Worth Ages: 3–5 years (preschool), 4–5 (Nature’s Navigators) 817/759-7200; fortworthzoo.org

JOIN OUR ST. RITA SPARTAN FAMILY! Admission information and application available at WWW.STRITA.NET Questions? Call 972-239-3203 ST. RITA CATHOLIC SCHOOL Serving students in grades PreK4-8 12525 Inwood Rd., Dallas, TX 75244

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NATURED

Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary’s Preschool Nature Explorers, McKinney Ages: 3–4 years 972/562-5566; heardmuseum.org River Legacy Nature School, Arlington Ages: 3–6 years (if not enrolled in kindergarten) 817/860-6752; riverlegacy.org Seedschool, Dallas Ages: 4–8 years ​214/546-6214; seedpreschool.org Tinkergarten, Multiple locations Ages: 18 months–8 years tinkergarten.com

METAMORPHOSIS

Outdoor learning and nature play are more appealing than ever, as adults seek ways to unplug kids from mindless screen time and as COVID-19 drags on. Since classes resumed after a pandemicinduced break, Cross Timbers Forest Preschool has been near capacity. Grimes says some parents told her that if it wasn’t for Wild Earth Preschool’s outdoor environment, they would not have felt comfortable with group care.

For many kids, the experience has proven transformative.

“When children start with us,” Grimes shares, “we see them tentatively climb up to balance on a short rock or log; when they leave they are often walking on that log backwards or with their eyes closed, they are walking long distances without undue fatigue, and they are seeking new challenges. The physical activity and sensory integration that they get through nature play prepare them for a lifetime of healthy habits.”

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Zoo Preschool offers an immersive learning environment that moves as quick as your little explorer’s mind. Children ages 3 to 5 will take the classroom outside to enjoy fun, educational encounters with some of the world’s most impressive animals. Don’t wait, spots fill fast!

September 2021 to May 2022:

Zoo Members Save 10%

• Once a week for three hours • NEW: Twice a week for five hours • Student-teacher ratio: 7 to 1

Registration now open fortworthzoo.org/preschool

Imagine Only Rain Water Down the Stormwater Drains JOB #:

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JOB TITLE:

DFW Child Full Page Preschool

CLIENT:

Fort Worth Zoo

DATE:

4/21/2021

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YARD WORK TIPS: GUIDELINES FOR GENERAL SPECIFICATION ONLY

Sweeping or blowing yard waste into storm drains can result in a fine of up to $2000.

DIELINE - DO NOT PRINT LIVE AREA - DO NOT PRINT

• Never sweep or blow yard waste into the street or down storm drains.

• Sweep or blow grass clippings back onto your yard because it acts as fertilizer.

• Fallen leaves can be mulched and left on the lawn.

• Leaves can be bagged and stored until bulk waste collection day in your neighborhood.

• Or compost leaves and grass clippings turning them into wonderful natural fertilizer Contact City of Dallas Stormwater Management at Stormwater@DallasCityHall.com or 214-948-4022 to learn more or to request a presentation for your organization, school or business.

www.wheredoesitgo.com

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CYAN

BL CMYK COLORS: Leaves and grass washed down the city’s MAGENTA YELLOW KF 8.25x10.75 ACCT SERV.: storm drainage TRIM: system causes algae to grow.

BLACK Bleed BLEED: Large algae blooms depleteNowater of life giving WHITE INK 7.25x9.625 LIVE AREA: VARNISH oxygen for aquatic animals and plant life. BLEED - DO NOT PRINT ART DIR.:

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3 0 F A M I LY- F R I E N D LY E V E N T S T O R O C K Y O U R

AU G U S T/ S E P T E M B E R GOOD DOGGIE

ROAR WITH THE DINOS

CAMP DALLAS Through October 31 Join the pack of brave pups in this immersive new experience celebrating PAW Patrol: The Movie, set to be released in theaters on August 20.

The exhibit is packed with family challenges and skillbased activities throughout Adventure City, like sailing down an indoor zip line, communicating through an intercom system from Adventure Bay’s Lookout Tower, and grabbing a fire hose to help Marshall douse an out-ofcontrol fireworks display at City Hall. Book your timed tickets online. $15 per person.

9830 North Central Expy., Dallas; 214/612-0451; camp. com/paw-patrol

GRANDSCAPE Through September 5 This exhibit of exceptionally lifelike animatronic dinosaurs brings all the awe you remember from the blockbuster movie franchise. Friendly guides lead you through the sky-high wooden gates of Jurassic World to areas with the towering Brachiosaurus, the hybrid Indominus Rex, the Hammond Creation Lab where it all began, and a seriously huge (but not too scary) T. rex at the end of the tour. Plus, there are plenty of photo ops including one with new baby Bumpy from the Netflix show Camp Cretaceous. Be sure to get your tickets online in advance to nix your wait time and guarantee your timed admission. Tickets from $29.50 for adults 16 and older; $19.50 for children 3–15; free for children 2 and younger with accompanying parent.

5752 Grandscape Blvd., The Colony; 972/668-2222; jurassicworldexhibition.com

THE PAW PATROL EXPERIENCE

SQUAD GOALS

SPACE JAM: A NEW LEGACY POP-UP ACTIVATION

AT&T DISCOVERY DISTRICT Now Open Daily If the little dribblers in your family can’t get enough of the Space Jam reboot starring LeBron James, Bugs Bunny and crew, then it’s worth the trip out to this exhibit at the new AT&T Discovery District venue in downtown Dallas. You’ll watch clips from the movie play on the 104-foot-tall media wall outdoors, then head inside the AT&T Experience Store for more fun. You’ll see rows of basketballs on display with handprints from each Looney Tunes character, design your own Tune Squad player in a digital touchscreen and shoot some hoops in the deckedout court. FREE 208 S. Akard St., Dallas; discoverydistrict. att.com/space-jam

JURASSIC WORLD: THE EXHIBITION

FLOAT YOUR BOAT

SUNDAY FUNDAYS

PANTHER ISLAND PAVILION Through September 5 On the remaining Sundays through Labor Day weekend, head out to Panther Island and float for free along the shores of the Trinity River.

Pump up those inflatables from home or, if you need to borrow one, rent a tube for $5 all day. $20 per hour for pedal boats. Rentals are available too for kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and canoes from Backwoods Paddlesports. Kids must be at least 30 inches tall to enter

the water, and lifejackets are provided for free for those 12 and younger. FREE 395 Purcey St., Fort Worth, pantherislandpavilion.com BEAT A WORLD RECORD

THE SCIENCE OF GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS

PEROT MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE Through September 6 Can you break the world record for the highest PacMan score? Or solve three Rubik’s Cubes simultaneously while juggling? Discover these impressive and sometimes bizarre world records in this limited-time exhibit designed to help you set your own records. Create your own digital avatar and track your progress on leaderboards throughout the exhibit as you, for example, crawl through the capybara (i.e., the largest rodent) house or try to squeeze through the smallest couple’s door. $8 adults and $6 children 2–12, plus general admission: $20 adults, $13 children, free for children under 2. 2201 N. Field St., Dallas; 214/4285555; perotmuseum.org MOVING PICTURES

IMMERSIVE VAN GOGH

LIGHTHOUSE DALLAS Through October 31 In this much buzzed-about exhibit, Vincent Van Gogh’s most famous works—“Starry Night” (1889), “Sunflowers” (1888) and “The Bedroom” (1889)—are digitally projected high onto the walls and across the floors inside Lighthouse Dallas (the former Masonic Temple), located in the up-and-coming East Quarter. Reserve your timed tickets online for this worldtouring installation (now with new dates). $39.99

off-peak days; $49.99 peak days; $29.99 children for ages 6–16; 5 and younger do not need a ticket. $99.99 VIP tickets get you souvenirs, priority access and flexibly in your arrival time.

507 S. Harwood St., Dallas; 844/307-4644; dallasvangogh.com RODEO IS A VERB

NORTH TEXAS FAIR & RODEO

NORTH TEXAS STATE FAIRGROUNDS August 20–28 This nearly century-old tradition brings back all the favorites: carnival rides, livestock shows, live country music every night, pig races and—for your little ones who want to get in on the action— mutton bustin’ open to kids ages 3–7. Take a note out of the bull riders’ playbook (they’ll be in the rodeo arena too) and let your littles ride the furry sheep as long as they can hang on. Register by Aug. 15 to join competitions beginning Aug. 24. $40 per night. The champion buster earns a trophy belt buckle.

Daily admission from $15 for adults; $5 for children 7–12; free for children ages 6 and younger. $30 to see headliner Midland on Aug. 26.

2217 N. Carroll Blvd., Denton; 940/387-2632; ntfair.com BIG CATS, BIG STACKS

PANTHERS, PUMAS AND PANCAKES

IN-SYNC EXOTICS WILDLIFE RESCUE AND EDUCATIONAL CENTER August 21 Chow down on an all-youcan-eat pancake breakfast during this annual event benefiting In-Sync Exotics, the nonprofit sanctuary where dozens of big cats—pumas,

tigers, lions and many more species—live out their lives in peace and comfort. Breakfast includes all the usual pancake toppings, plus coffee, juice, fruit and yogurt. While you’re digesting, take a self-guided tour around the doublefenced enclosures for a wide-eyed view of the cats as they receive their own sweet treats. Go online to preorder your pancakes, which are included with the suggested donation for admission: $25 adults; $15 children 4–12; free for children 3 and younger. 3430 Skyview Drive, Wylie; 972/442-6888; insyncexotics.org EIGHT SECONDS

PBR’S ELITE UNLEASH THE BEAST

DICKIES ARENA August 28–29 Thirty of the world’s best bull riders bring the action to Fort Worth for a deathdefying chance at the event title. The top two contenders are Jose Vitor Leme and Kaique Pacheco (both Brazilians), but we’re rooting for the third-ranking Cooper Davis, a young father and native Texan who now lives in Dallas. Single-day tickets from $27.50; two days from $44. Enhance the fun with a tour of the bull housing for $60, or a meet and greet with one of the riders for $75. Want even more bull riding? Stay tuned for expanded PBR programming coming to Cowtown Coliseum in the Stockyards, thanks to a partnership announced earlier in the summer.

1911 Montgomery St., Fort Worth; 800/732-1727; dickiesarena.com BACK TO LIFE

COCO MOVIE IN CONCERT

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calendar MEYERSON SYMPHONY CENTER September 3–5 This heartwarming Disney film from 2017 returns to the big screen thanks to a weekend of special performances by the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. As the film is projected onto a big screen over the Meyerson’s grand stage, you’ll relive Miguel’s journey to the Land of the Dead in search of his great-greatgrandfather as conductor Jayce Ogren leads the live orchestra and multiple classical guitarists. Tickets from $30. 2301 Flora St., Dallas; 214/849-4376; dallassymphony.org THAT’S ALL FOLKS

BUGS BUNNY AT THE SYMPHONY

BASS PERFORMANCE HALL September 3–5 With Looney Tunes’ renewed popularity (thank you, Space Jam reboot), it’ll be easy to talk your kids into getting excited for this live concert by the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. Relive the Saturday mornings of your childhood with Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd, Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner, all starring in Bugs Bunny at the Symphony. This 30th anniversary show will be projected on the big screen over the stage, along with classics like What’s Opera, Doc?, three new 3-D Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner Looney Tunes shorts. This concert runs 2 hours including a 20-minute intermission. Tickets from $35. 525 Commerce St., Fort Worth; 817/665-6500; fwsymphony.org HEAR ME ROAR

DINOSAURS LIVE!

HEARD NATURAL SCIENCE MUSEUM & WILDLIFE SANCTUARY Begins September 4 The 46-foot-long T. rex and 10 other harder-to-pronounce dinosaurs return to the Heard for their 6-month residency. Take a family stroll down the hiking trail to experience the snarls and movements from each of the animatronic dinos, created

by Billings Productions here in Allen. At the end of the trail, you’ll find a fossil dig and several more dinosaurs designed for kids to climb on top. Note: The dinosaur trail is jogging stroller-friendly but not suitable for regular strollers with small wheels or wheelchairs. Free with regular admission (varies slightly 62

by season): $12 adults; $9 children ages 3–12; free for Heard members. 1 Nature Place, McKinney; 972/5625566; heardmuseum.org ANCIENT HISTORY

SHEN YUN

EISEMANN CENTER September 4–5 Shen Yun translates to “the beauty of divine beings dancing,” a phrase that still doesn’t do justice to describe the artistry and athleticism of the world-touring performing arts company. Claim your tickets for the grand production reviving centuries of ancient Chinese culture and mythology, starring classical Chinese dancers, bel canto singers, and a live orchestra of both classical Western and Eastern instruments. Tickets from $80. The show runs 2 hours and 15 minutes including an intermission. Kids must be 4 years or older to attend.

2351 Performance Drive, Richardson; 877/663-7469; shenyun.com/dfw SMALL BUT MIGHTY

LITTLE BUGGY KIDS TRIATHLON

OAK POINT CENTER September 6 If you would best describe your child as “exceedingly competitive,” then take note of this USA Triathlonsanctioned race designed for just for kids. Register in advance for this race on Labor Day Monday and get set to complete one of two courses based on your kids’ age: a 100-meter swim, 3-mile bike and a 1K run for kids 6–10, or a 200-meter swim, 6-mile bike and a 2K run for ages 11–15. All finishers receive a commemorative medal with the image of a Volkswagen Beetle.

Registration is $70 for the triathlon and $40 for the splash and dash only. 6000 Jupiter Road, Plano; littlebuggykidstri.com GIVE YOUR TIME

VOLY IN THE PARK

KLYDE WARREN PARK September 11 “Voly” is short for volunteer, and this mission-focused festival hosted by VolunteerNow is where you’ll find 75 nonprofit groups looking for locals to help make a positive impact in the community.

Find the causes that speak to your heart—education, the arts, hunger, animal welfare— and the hands-on activities that appeal to your kids. And enjoy some live entertainment along the way. (Previous

august/september 2021 | DFWCHILD

years have included adorable miniature horses from Equest, so fingers crossed they return!) FREE 2012 Woodall Rodgers Fwy., Dallas; 214/826-6767; volnow.org ANIMAL FRIENDS

CRITTER CLUB

FAIRVIEW TOWN CENTER September 11–October 30 On Saturdays from 11am– noon, head out to The Park to meet a new critter each week. The lineup includes bees (completely contained in enclosed hive), a polecat (we had to Google that one), tortoise, ruffled lemur, Burmese badger and a warthog. You’ll get a chance to interact with each featured animal, in some cases feed it, and even get a face painting specifically of that week’s featured animal friend.

Recommended for children ages 3–12. Lawn chairs and blankets welcome at The Park. FREE 239 Town Place, Fairview; 972/363-2209; fairviewtowncenter.com BUTTERFLY KISSES

KIWANIS BUTTERFLY FESTIVAL

SOUTHLAKE TOWN SQUARE September 11–12 Want to be the most popular person under the butterfly tent? Hold out the provided slice of watermelon and let the sugar-loving butterflies come to you. The Northeast Tarrant County Kiwanis makes these quietly thrilling experiences possible with its annual outdoor exhibit of live Texas butterflies. Come on Sunday to see the butterflies released en masse from the pavilion at 5pm. $7 adults; $5 children ages 3–12; free for kids 2 and younger. 1350 E. Southlake Blvd., Southlake; 817/703-5266; netckiwanis.org THIS STEIN IS MINE

ADDISON OKTOBERFEST

ADDISON CIRCLE PARK September 16–19 Think stein-holding competitions are for adults only?

Let your littles take a test of strength and endurance in the Mini Masskrug, to see who can hold a mug of water at shoulder level the longest. Check out all the Oktoberfest Kids’ Games planned for this year, including the pretzel toss and “Valina Says” (like the game “Simon Says”), and don’t miss the always adorable dachshund races on Sunday.

Check the full entertain-

ment schedule online for this family-friendly German festival. Admission: $10 on Friday and Saturday for ages 11 and older; free for all ages on Thursday and Sunday.

4970 Addison Circle Drive, Addison; 972/450-2800; addisonoktoberfest.com HEARD IT THROUGH THE…

GRAPEFEST

DOWNTOWN GRAPEVINE September 16–19 Texas wine is the star of the show at this 35th annual wine festival, but plenty of family fun awaits for the under 21 crowd, including the carnival rides and midway games, the GrapeStomp, and the Would-Be Train Robbers on the Glockenspiel Clock Tower (think cuckoo clock meets mock gunfight 75 feet up).

Make your own souvenir on a vintage printing press each day at 2pm at Settlement to City Museums, and for you history buffs, check out the unveiling of the Peace Circle art installation at 1pm on Saturday. Single-day admission is $8 for adults, $5 for children ages 6–12; free for children 5 and younger and free for everyone on Thursday.

636 S. Main St., Grapevine; 817/410-3185; grapefest.com UP, UP AND AWAY

PLANO BALLOON FESTIVAL & RUN

OAK POINT PARK September 17–19 The only thing that makes a sunset even more beautiful: the glow of a hot air balloon.

Don’t miss the pilots fire up their burners on Friday and Saturday nights, collectively illuminating 30 balloons like colorful lightbulbs. Come during the early morning and early evening hours to learn more about the balloons and even climb inside the baskets on tethered rides, open to adults for $25 and to kids 6–12 for $15. One-day admission is $10 for adults; $5 kids 3–12; free for kids 36 inches and younger. Race registration starts at $20 for the 1K, 5K and 10K races on Sunday morning. 2801 E. Spring Creek Parkway, Plano; 972/867-7566; planoballoonfest.org WET BEHIND THE EARS

W.A.T.E.R. FESTIVAL

RIVER LEGACY LIVING SCIENCE CENTER September 18 It’s the most abundant resource on earth and we can’t get enough of it. Let your littles experience first-

hand how and why water is so important to our lives by visiting the annual W.A.T.E.R. (Water Awareness Through Education and Recreation) science fair at River Legacy.

You’ll join guided hikes along Snider Creek, which runs through the park, and more volunteer-led activities such as backyard bass fishing, watercolor painting, and meet and greets with the live aquatic animals who live at the center. FREE 703 NW Green Oaks Blvd., Arlington, 817/860-6752, riverlegacy.org NOTHING TO FEAR

FRIGHT FEST

SIX FLAGS OVER TEXAS Opens September 18 It’s scary how fast time flies.

Did you know the Six Flags in Arlington opened its gates exactly 60 years ago? If it’s been a while since you’ve ridden the world-class roller coasters at this mainstay theme park, there’s no better time (or weather) than during the coming fall season’s Fright Fest. Every weekend until Halloween, come during daylight hours for not-soscary entertainment with the little ones, after dark with the fog and props in four Halloween zones throughout the park, or into the haunted houses for a real scare. Grab a glow necklace and make an evening of it, but first, download the Six Flags mobile app for interactive park maps, ride wait times, and to purchase tickets directly from your phone. Single-day admission from $39.99. 2201 Road to Six Flags, Arlington, sixflags.com/overtexas DON’T SQUASH THESE BUGS

AUTUMN AT THE ARBORETUM

DALLAS ARBORETUM Opens September 18 Drumroll, please. This year’s theme for the nationally acclaimed Pumpkin Village is ... Bugtopia! The signature display—crawling with largerthan-life insect topiaries and 20-foot-tall pumpkin houses—remains open through Thanksgiving weekend, which leaves plenty of opportunity to see the 150,000 autumn flowers accented by 90,000 pumpkins, gourds and squash from Floydada, known as the pumpkin capital of Texas.

Special activities including the hay bale maze, Mommy and Me Mondays, Tiny Tot Tuesdays and a pumpkin patch continue through

TCU Music Preparatory Division

From early childhood music to private lessons for all ages, TCU’s Music Preparatory Program offers a wide variety of instruction. Music Together for infants to age 8, private piano, voice, instrumental and string lessons for all levels.

• Private Lessons, Piano & Instrumental (ages 6–adult): 817-257-7604 • Computer Lab for Theory Instruction: 817-257-5458 • Private Voice Lessons (ages 12–adult): 817-257-7604 • Private Lessons in Strings (ages 3–adult): 817-257-5505 • Music Together® (infant–age 4): 817-257-6134 • Music Together® Rhythm Kids™ (ages 4–8): 817-257-6134 • Music Together® Generations (infant–age 4): 817-257-6134

REGISTER ONLINE:

musicprep.tcu.edu

musicprep@tcu.edu

Now Enrolling Children Ages 2 to 5

Contact us now to schedule a tour!

We offer full time services to families who are seeking a Christian environment and high-quality care for their child.

• Our faculty is carefully selected and trained to offer you the most outstanding educational programs and childcare possible.

• Accredited program, developmentally appropriate • Nutritious breakfast, lunch and a snack • Located inside Greenville Avenue Church of Christ

1013 South Greenville Avenue Richardson, TX 75081 972-644-0134 www.gacdc.org DFWCHILD | august/september 2021

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calendar Halloween. Free with general admission: $17 adults; $12 children 2–12 years; varies by season. 8525 Garland Road, Dallas; 214/515-6615; dallasarboretum.org HERE PIGGY, PIGGY

PEPPA PIG’S ADVENTURE

ALLEN EVENT CENTER September 21 The sassy piglet you know from the British cartoon makes an appearance in this 60-minute live musical in Allen for one night only.

Bring your preschoolers out to Allen to watch Peppa, her little brother George and their school friends on stage as larger-than-life-size puppets as they embark upon a camping trip in the woods.

Tickets from $31; $50 per person for VIP meet and greet after the show when Peppa and her human friend Daisy are available for family photos in a special scene featuring, of all things, a nice muddy puddle. Oh, goody! 200 E. Stacy Road, Suite 1350, Allen; 972/9121057; peppapigliveus.com

North Texas Dance Arts Academy A daytime dance program offering a focused full-time schedule for 7th–12th grade students and a part-time schedule for 3rd–12th grade homeschool students.

Full-time students will do academics in the morning and dance in the afternoons daily.

Homeschool students attend classes up to 3 times a week.

For more information: info@northtexasdancearts.com

northtexasdancearts.com Roanoke, TX

POLKA POLKA POLKA

OKTOBERFEST FORT WORTH

©

Ads with © are © of Lauren Publications, Inc. 2021.

PANTHER ISLAND PAVILION September 23–25 Grammy-nominated accordionist Alex Meixner rocks out with his polka band, headlining three nights of live concerts at this annual Munich-style festival. Kick up your heels and join the dancing in between bites of pretzels, schnitzel, sausage and every other kind of traditional German food you can think of inside air-conditioned halls. Let the kids enjoy the dachshund races on Saturday, and parents can enjoy a craft bier or a glass of wine from the Reata Haus’ Weinbar. Admission $5 on Thursday, $10 on Friday and Saturday; $15 for three-day pass; free for children under 12 with a paying adult. Registration required for the Oktoberfest Run und Ride on Saturday. 395 Purcey St., Fort Worth; 817/698-0700; oktoberfestfw.com

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HOWDY, FOLKS

STATE FAIR OF TEXAS

FAIR PARK September 24–October 17 Big Tex makes a (dare we

say, triumphant?) return to Fair Park with all of your old favorites, including the carnival barker (how does he have no body?!) welcoming you to the midway, strongman Mighty Mike, the milking parlor—genuinely so much more than you could possibly experience in one visit. Look at the schedule online and plan your day around your kids’ must-do activities. New for 2021: rodeo returns to Fair Park Coliseum, and every rodeo is free with your admission ticket. Admission prices vary by day but start at $15 for adults and $10 for children 3–12; free for 2 and younger. 3921 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Dallas; 214/5659931; bigtex.com I THINK I WILL

DAY OUT WITH THOMAS

GRAPEVINE VINTAGE RAILROAD September 24–26 and October 1–3 Bust my buffers! Thomas the Tank Engine chugs into downtown Grapevine for two weekends of train rides and a day of playtime for your preschoolers. Book your seats for a 25-minute, roundtrip ride on a vintage railcar pulled by a life-size Thomas. Wave to Sir Topham Hatt, then stick around after you disembark— because with the tour comes lots more entertainment for families: a model train layout, sandbox dig, bubbles and lawn games at the Party Bash Corner. Activities run from 9:30am–4:30pm on Fridays and Sundays and from 9:30am–5:30pm on Saturdays. Tickets are $24.

705 S. Main St., Grapevine; 866/468-7630; ticketwebdowt.com HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

60TH BIRTHDAY BASH FEATURING SHAKEY GRAVES

AMON CARTER MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART September 25 The Carter breaks out the big guns for this milestone anniversary, throwing a huge outdoor party on Saturday night featuring a free concert by Austin-native Shakey Graves, DIY party favors with community artists, and two new exhibitions debuting inside the museum. Head

up to the second floor to see Imagined Realism, a retrospective by brothers Scott and Stuart Gentling, and A Beautiful Despair by Pakistani-American artist Anila Quayyum Agha, featuring a laser-cut box hung from the ceiling and casting shadows all over the room.

And to cap off the night, a fireworks show over the lawn.

Free tickets available online.

FREE 3501 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth; 817/738-1933; cartermuseum.org GET THAT POSTWORKOUT GLOW

GLOW RUN

MCINNISH DOG PARK & SPORTS COMPLEX September 25 Running shoes, check.

Racing bib, check. Glow necklaces, check check check. Grab your gear and show up early for the preparty with a glow paint bar, photo booth and a live DJ to pump you up before this third annual race with lights and glow along the route.

Everyone’s swag bag comes with glow gear, and the registration price is the same for the 1K and 5K: $25 by Sep. 20, and $35 on race day.

Dogs are welcome to join too at no extra cost. 1845 Legends Trail, Carrollton; 972/466-9816; cityofcarrollton.com/events TRICK SHOTS GUARANTEED

DUDE PERFECT TOUR

DICKIES ARENA September 30 The Dudes are five best friends from Frisco—Tyler Toney, Cody Jones, Garrett Hilbert, and twins Coby and Cory Cotton—who’ve racked up 5.6 million YouTube subscribers thanks to their unbelievable trick shot videos of everything from water bottle flips to blindfolded archery. Their creativity and energy seem never-ending.

(Remind you of anyone?)

Tickets to witness their stunts live in person on their second-ever tour start at $39. VIP meet and greet packages available. 1911 Montgomery St., Fort Worth; 817/402-9801; dudeperfect.com *Note: Mask guidance may vary by event. Please check with the venue first for the most updated information.

F O R M O R E K I D - F R I E N D LY E N T E R T A I N M E N T E V E R Y D AY O F T H E W E E K, C H EC K U S O U T O N L I N E AT D F W C H I L D.CO M/C A L E N DA R.

HOME OF BALLET CONCERTO 3803 Camp Bowie Blvd. Fort Worth, TX 76107

Making Lifelong Learning Connections

ONE-ON-ONE INDIVIDUALIZED LEARNING SESSIONS Reading and math therapy for all students, including those struggling with dyslexia and/or dysgraphia and dsycalculia

FORT WORTH MAGAZINE

Margo Dean Ballet

BEST DANCE STUDIO

Offering ballet for all ages and levels, age 3 to professional. Also flamenco dance, jazz for ballet dancers, adult ballet, and the “real barre” fitness class for adults, and the GYROTONIC® method of physical conditioning.

3145 McCart Avenue Fort Worth, TX 76110

817-924-2000 reading-connection.com Dr. Kary Johnson

BILINGUAL READING SPECIALIST AND OWNER

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www.margodeanballet.com 817-738-7915

The perfect balance of learning and play ®

NOW ENROLLING Contact us to schedule a tour today!

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XplorPreschool.com 7/15/21 4:26 PM DFWCHILD | august/september 2021 65

past + present

A ’90S THROWBACK: Our January 1994 cover featured 11-month-old Meredith Mortberg (now 28-year-old Meredith Mortberg-Pokatayev).

She was photographed by Michael Clements, using the kitchen in her family’s home as a makeshift studio. In her post-cover days, Mortberg-Pokatayev studied at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle.

While on the West Coast, Mortberg-Pokatayev moon- C lighted as a freelance illus- M trator, even illustrating for this magazine (and winning Y awards for it!) under the CM pseudonym of Meredith Mosshart. She then made a MY leap to a career in science. CY These days, MortbergCMY Pokatayev lives in Boston and works as a research K associate at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard University. Last May, she married a fellow scientist, Vlad Pokatayev, and together they adopted a Shih-Poo rescue dog, Bob. —Lauren Niebes

Looking back 66

august/september 2021 | DFWCHILD

Mortberg-Pokatayev with her husband, Vlad.

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HOME

Buying or selling a home does not need to be stressful.

I can confidently lead you through the process, advocate for your best interests and lovingly guide you home. As a member of the Turner Fortune Real Estate team, I am backed by one of DFW's most successful boutique agencies, who place our Client's satisfaction above all else. Contact me today so I can guide you and your family to your next dream home.

ROB SUMNER REALTOR®

Turner Fortune Real Estate | 214-316-9500 | rsumner@turnerfortune.com

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BABY QUESTION #156

HOW CAN I BOND WITH MY NEW BABY?

Newborn questions? We’ve got answers.

When you’re a new parent, the questions never end.

At Cook Children’s, our pediatricians are here to help answer all of them.

Schedule a consultation with a pediatrician, explore articles from experts and sign up for a free newborn class at newborncenter.org.