FT Parent Spring 2013

Midlands’ Magazine for Smart Families

SPRING 2013

Next Stop, College!

What kids and parents should do to prepare activities

The Importance of ‘Play’ health

Mirror Image (For Better or Worse) life

Instilling Self-Discipline family finance

Talking to Kids About Money

A better way of building for your today, and their tomorrow.

essexhomes.net/ebuilt

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contents

Published by Resorts Media

ctivities a 6 The Importance of ‘Play’ 8 Listings

life

health

family finance

28 How to Instill Self-Discipline 29 Listings 30 How to Talk to Your Kids About Money

12 Mirror Image (For Better or Worse) 14 The Irreverent Parent’s Guide to Healthy Eating 16 Listings

1534 Main Street, Columbia, SC 29201 (803) 765.0707 free-times.com EDITORIAL EDITOR: Dan Cook editor@free-times.com | ext. 133 LISTINGS EDITOR: Patrick Wall CONTRIBUTORS: Allison Caldwell, Heather Green, Rachel Kuhnle, Kevin Oliver, Anne Wolfe Postic, Amanda Ladymon-Stockard, Katie Alice Walker, Rodney Welch

PRODUCTION PRODUCTION MANAGER: Lisa Willis GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Wilbert Fields GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Joey Ayer

religion & spirtuality 32 Still Searching

media

calendar

22 Events and Programming

learning

24 Ready or Not, College is Coming 26 Listings

34 Music and DVD Reviews 35 Book Reviews 36 Listings

ADVERTISING ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER: Kerry Powers kpowers@free-times.com | ext. 128 ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: Zach Johnston, Ginny Kuhn, Christina Scott, Brian Wingard ADVERTISING ASSISTANT: Jaimie Small CLASSIFIED SALES MANAGER: Cale Johnson CLASSIFIED ACCOUNT EXECUTIVEs: Jason Stroman, Melissa Kyzer

DISTRIBUTION CIRCULATION MANAGER: Tammy Figurski DOCK MANAGER: David Alexander

BUSINESS OPERATIONS MANAGER: Jen Coody

resorts media Charlie Nutt, Publisher

Did you know 95% of car seats are not installed or used safely?

Buckle Buddies provides education and community outreach on Child Passenger Safety. Learn how you can: • Get your car seat checked by a nationally certified technician • Attend a general education class on child passenger safety • Access new and safe car seats at a discounted price Visit www.bucklebuddiessc.org to view our calendar of events and learn more about our programs!

bucklebuddiessc.org

bucklebuddiessc@gmail.com

803.434.2955

Actual patient of Vista Smiles of Columbia

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activities

Y

oung people who participate in the arts for at least three hours on three days a week through at least one full year are:

• Four times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement • Three times more likely to be elected to class office within their schools • Four times more likely to participate in a math and science fair • Three times more likely to win an award for school attendance • Four times more likely to win an award for writing an essay or poem Source: Americans for the Arts

Beauty and the Beast at Columbia Children’s Theatre. Courtesy photo

The Importance of ‘Play’ Theater Teaches Vital Life Skills

By Rachel Kuhnle

I

n the age of standardized tests, it’s easy to see drama as nonessential. But research shows the opposite: Students who participate in drama do better in school; score better on the SATs; have better reading comprehension, critical thinking and problem solving skills; and are more likely to read for fun.

Students who get involved in theater also stretch valuable emotional muscles, such as empathy and understanding different points of view, and gain confidence by stepping out of their comfort zones.

So, do you want to get your kids involved in local theater? Here are some places to start.

Columbia Children’s Theatre 3400 Forest Drive, Suite 57 (Second floor, Richland Mall), 691-4548 columbiachildrenstheatre.com

The Columbia Children’s Theatre began as a theater with no kids on stage — just adults performing for kids.

“That didn’t make sense to anyone down here,” laughs Jim Litzinger, who founded Columbia Children’s Theatre eight years ago with artistic director Jerry Stevenson.

If your kids aren’t ready to hit the stage, taking them to see a show with this company might get them excited about theater.

In fact, it was the high demand of student audiences that led Litzinger and Stevenson to begin YouTheatre, a second stage series presenting fall and spring shows and cast entirely of K-12 students. Participation in YouTheatre shows is free.

Columbia Children’s Theatre also offers a six-week program of weekly classes and weeklong summer camps on a variety of theatre related topics. Tuition averages $175.

Check out mainstage show Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical April 12-21 and YouTheatre show Seussical (a Dr. Seuss musical) March 1-10; tickets are $8.

Town Theatre 1012 Sumter St., 799-2510 towntheatre.com

If your child has never auditioned before and the thought of not being cast makes terrifies them (or you), then Town Theatre is where you should start.

Unlike other programs, Town eliminates audition stress by accepting all K-12 kids up to a pre-determined cast size and guaranteeing everyone a speaking part. (It might be a small one, but it still counts.)

Cast members meet for classes once per week from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for a semester,

Success Stories “A few days after the show closed, [a student’s] mother sent an email thanking us for the experience because her daughter’s teacher asked what had happened to her in the last week. Almost overnight she had gone from being the most quiet student in the class to one of the most outgoing: the first to volunteer, answer questions and engage her classmates. Her mother felt that her experience being in that one production helped her daughter completely come out of her shell.”

— Jim Litzinger, Columbia Children’s Theatre “We have one alumna who just got off the Broadway tour of Miss Saigon and she’ll every now and then post something to me on Facebook saying, ‘As mad as I was at you for pushing me ... thank you!’”

— Dedra Daniels Mount, Workshop Theatre

with additional rehearsals leading up to performance dates.

While learning stage presence, dance and songs for the culminating production, students also learn how to create and think on their toes.

“We get kids to think outside the box and use their imagination,” says Jamie Harrington, director of youth theater. “We have a game we play with the little kids where they have an object in their hand, but they have to call it something else. They learn to problem solve.”

Classes are $200 for a semester. A threeweek summer camp is in the works for 2013.

Catch the spring show The Rockin’ Tale of Snow White April 6 and 7 at 3 p.m.; Tickets are $10.

Workshop Theatre 635 Elmwood Ave., 799-1009 workshoptheatre.com

This is the place for hardcore kids ready to take it up a notch.

What really sets Workshop apart is its musical theater troupe Broadway Bound, which gives teams of performers ages 5 to 18 the opportunity to see how they measure up at regional competitions.

Led by founder Dedra Daniels Mount, Broadway Bound holds auditions each summer in the form of four sessions called Mid-Week Masters.

Kids meet by age group, learning songs, stage presence and improvisation through theater games. Prices for the sessions depend on the child’s age and range from $15-$40.

At the end of the summer, standouts from the Mid-Week Masters sessions are invited to join Broadway Bound — a commitment that spans the school year.

Once in Broadway Bound, students are placed on a team that meets weekly for 60 to 90 minutes at a monthly tuition of $40-$45; students also have the option to take a variety of dance and voice classes at an additional cost.

Broadway students perform two showcases open to the public and compete once a year.

Workshop Theatre School also offers a few six-week classes each semester students from first through 12 grade, with costs ranging from $60 to $130. There are also some private coaching options and an improvisational sketch comedy group called ReWired led by local actor and educator Vicky Saye Henderson.

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activities Columbia Children’s Theatre 3400 Forest Dr, 691-4548 columbiachildrenstheatre.com Professional theater company for young audiences and families.

Columbia Marionette Theatre 401 Laurel St., 252-7366 cmtpuppet.org Founded in 1988 by famed puppeteer Allie Scollon and her son John, the Columbia Marionette Theatre has established itself as a premiere children’s theater in South Carolina. Its mission is to entertain and educate children and adults through the long-standing tradition and artistry of puppetry.

Columbia Museum of Art 1515 Main St., 799-2810 columbiamuseum.org Offers plenty of fun programming for kids, from its Passport to Art semimonthly open studio program to its weekly Wee Wednesday art exploration sessions to its summer camps and school programs.

Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum 301 Gervais St., 737-8095 www.crr.sc.gov

Colonial Life Area hosts Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus March 7 through 10. Courtesy photo

W

ith the myriad options for children’s programming on television these days, it’s tempting to plop your kid down in front of the flat-screen to keep him or her occupied. But kids like to be active, and we know you dig that whole quality-time shebang. So we have put together a select list of places where you and junior can play … and play together.

All4Fun Party Rental

Carolina CrossFit

Colonial Life Arena

all4funbouncehouses.com

1804 Blanding St., carolinacrossfit.com

801 Lincoln St. coloniallifearena.com

Rents bounce houses and slides.

Offers kids’ Crossfit classes.

Art Smart Academy

Chuck E. Cheese’s

732o Broad River Rd., 667-9912 artsmartacademy.com

1775 Burning Tree Dr., 772-0435 chuckecheese.com

Walk-in pottery and painting, birthday parties and more.

The motto of the nationwide family entertainment center chain: Where a kid can be a kid. Often home to birthdays, play groups and school fundraising events, Chuck E. Cheese’s features games, rides, prizes, food and entertainment for all ages.

Bouncerific 921 Longtown Rd., 865-7939 bouncerific.com No, Bouncerific isn’t a place to send your kid to learn to be a doorman; it’s an indoor party and play center for kids and families. Inflatable bouncers, slides, dress-up, games, more.

Capital Karate capitalkaratesc.com Develops character, discipline and focus as well as physical conditioning and skills.

City of Columbia Parks & Recreation columbiasc.net/parksandrec Family-friendly Columbia boasts 52 public parks where your wee ones can run and jump and skip and play, plus a host of community gardens, three swimming pools, one splash pad water park, and a public skate park. The city also offers a host of youth sports — baseball, basketball, football, golf, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, volleyball — and outdoor environmental programs.

When Disney princesses and the Sesame Street gang come to Columbia, this is where they play.

Columbia Arts Academy 787-0931, columbiaartsacademy.com The largest music school in the state of South Carolina, the Columbia Arts Academy boasts a large and qualified staff to train your kids in electric and acoustic guitar, voice, piano, bass, drums and year-round rock band classes.

Columbia Blowfish 254-3474, blowfishbaseball.com Take ‘em out to the ballgame: During the summer months, Capital City Stadium hosts the Columbia Blowfish, which play in the Coastal Plain League, a collegiate wood-bat summer league. And, yes: They sell peanuts and Crackerjack.

For more than a century, the Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum’s has collected and preserved the military history of this state.

Congaree National Park 776-4396, nps.gov/cong This 22,000-acre park boasts the largest old-growth, floodplain forest on the continent. It’s also an International Biosphere Reserve, a Globally Important Bird Area and a National Natural Landmark. Activities include hiking, boating, camping, canoeing, fishing, kayaking, nature walks and more. Located in Hopkins, 20 miles southeast of Columbia.

Cottle Strawberry Farm 2533 Trotter Rd., 695-1714 cottlestrawberryfarm.com This 30-plus-year-old strawberry farm tucked in Southeast Columbia is open to the public every spring — usually from April through May, and sometimes into June. Mmm … freshly picked strawberries.

Dreher Island State Recreation Park 3677 State Park Rd., 364-4152, southcarolinaparks.com Located 30 miles northwest of Columbia in Prosperity, the Dreher Island recreation area consists of three islands encompassing 12 miles of shoreline on Lake Murray. Especially popular for fishing and boating, Dreher Island also offers lakefront camping, cabin and villa rentals, water skiing and picnicking.

Drew Park Splash Pad 2101 Walker Solomon Way drewwellnesscenter.com Sure, there’s a playground, a jogging track and a gazebo, but you’re coming

activities

summer camps directory www.heathwood.org/summer Venue: Heathwood Hall Episcopal School

www.artsandsciences.sc.edu/thea

Heathwood Hall Summer Programs

www.701cca.org

3000 S. Beltline Blvd., Columbia Cost: $125 to $300 Dates: June 3-Aug. 2 Contact: Valerie Moore camps@heathwood.org (803) 231-7710

Venue: 701 Center for Contemporary Art

701 Whaley St., Columbia (2nd floor) Cost: $115 to $135 Date(s): June 10-Aug. 9 Drawing and Printmaking – all levels (ages 6-17); Bookmaking (ages 6-17); Ceramics – level I (ages 6-10); Ceramics – level II (ages 11-17); Mixed Media and Recycled Materials (ages 6-17); Drawing and Painting (ages 6-7); Photography (ages 11-17, must have digital camera); Elementary Art (ages 6-10); Arts and Crafts, Japanese Comic Books (ages 1117, two hours each Saturday in July).

Contact: For dates and details go to www.701cca.org

Highlander Day Camp www.heathwood.org/summer Venue: Heathwood Hall Episcopal School

S.C. Railroad Museum www.scrm.org Venue: 110 Industrial Park Rd.,

Winnsboro Cost: Charter cost depends on size of

group. Please contact us for details.

Dates: Year round Charters for parties, historical and informational trips. Educational experiences.

We can help cater to your needs.

Contact: Henry Nechemias, (215) 8885104, Rodger Stroup, (803) 318-7086 or call the ticket line at (803) 712-4135 for information.

3000 S. Beltline Blvd., Columbia Cost: $200/week for a full-day, 8 a.m.-4

p.m.; $120/week for half-day. Extended care available until 5:30 p.m.

Dates: June 3-Aug. 2 Experienced teachers guide age-appropriate groups of campers, ages three years through sixth grade through a funfilled day of activities. Arts and crafts, science, drama, nature explorations, field trips and swimming help your child grow and have a memorable summer!

Contact: Valerie Moore camps@heathwood.org (803) 231-7710

Camp Gesher www.jcccolumbia.org Venue: Katie & Irwin Kahn Jewish

Community Center, 306 Flora Dr. Dates: June 10-Aug. 16

Weekly day camp for ages 3 to rising ninth-graders. Includes swimming. Registration forms online.

Contact: (803) 787-2023, ext. 216.

PA I D A DV E R T I S I N G

DRAMA-COM 2013 USC Summer Drama Conservatory

701 Center for Contemporary Art Youth Summer Workshops

Hammond Summer Programs www.hammondschool.org

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Venue: Columbia campus of

the University of SC Dates: June 10-28

For rising first through twelfth-graders; four age divisions.

Contact: theatre@sc.edu; (803) 777-4288

USC String Project Day Camp www.music.sc.edu/Special_Programs/StringProject/index.html Venue: String Project Building

851 Park St. (ground floor of Discovery parking garage) Cost: $125 + $15 for T-shirt Dates: July 15-19 USC String Project Day Camp promotes the excitement of developing skills on an orchestra stringed instrument. Students will have daily group music instruction culminating with a Friday afternoon concert. The faculty are all certified teachers. Open to all students who have completed a school year of instruction.

Contact: uscsp@mozart.sc.edu; (803) 777-9568

Venue: A majority of summer camps will

be held on Hammond School’s 107-acre campus.

Cost: $65 to $350 Dates: June 3-Aug. 2 Hammond offers a wide selection of summer programs for students and adults throughout the community. Whether it’s learning a new and exciting skill, exploring outdoors, or preparing for the upcoming academic year, Hammond has a program for all ages and interests.

Contact: Kevin N. White Director of Summer Programs kwhite@hammondschool.org (803) 695-8624

Find

Free Times

Summer Camps Guide March 6, March 20 April 3 29

Call to advertise (803) 765-0707 ext. 2 calej@free-times.com

online at free-times.com

10 activities here to get wet in the gigantic spray pad and lighted fountain. (Many of the city’s public parks offer smaller spray pools, too.)

EdVenture Children’s Museum 211 Gervais St., 779-3100 edventure.org The South’s largest children’s museum, with more than 70,000 square feet of cool stuff to keep the kids occupied.

Frankie’s Fun Park

Harbison State Forest

Lexington County Soccer Club

896-8890 state.sc.us/forest/refharb.htm

lexingtoncountysoccerclub.org

If you didn’t know it was there, you’d never expect to find 2,177 acres of forest along the sprawling mess that is Broad River Road. But there it is — one of the largest public green spaces inside the city limits of a metropolitan area in the eastern United States. Features more than 16 miles of roads and trails (popular for biking) and a canoe landing.

140 Parkridge Dr., 781-2342 frankiesfunpark.com

Irmo-Chapin Recreation Commission

This Harbison-area entertainment center packs three go-kart tracks, three 18-hole mini-golf courses, batting cages, bumper boats, an arcade, a 5,000-square foot multi-tiered laser tag arena and a super-tall drop zone that says “In your face, gravity!” into 14 acres filled with fun for all ages. What, do you hate fun or something?

The Irmo-Chapin Recreation Commission offers kids sports, programs and activities at Crooked Creek Park, Saluda Shoals Park and Seven Oaks Park.

Flying High Academy flyinghighacademysc.com Dance, tumbling, gymnastics and cheerleading programs.

icrc.net

Laugh N Leap 647-960, laughnleap.com Need to buy or rent an inflatable bounce house, water slide, dunk tank or obstacle course? Laugh N Leap has you covered.

Lexington County Recreation Commission lcrac.com Offers youth sports, programs and activities at parks, playgrounds and activity centers in Lexington County.

Live in Lexington Country? Think your kid’s the next Ronaldo? Sign him or her up with this club team, which offers playing options from recreational to elite traveling squads.

Lexington School of Music

your-own pottery studio, where they can throw clay, paint plates and explore their creative sides.

Mad Science midlands.madscience.org Offers a wide variety of fun science programs at birthday parties, summer camps, pre-schools and more.

711 E. Main St., 929-7867 lexingtonschoolofmusic.com

Monkey Joe’s

Offers flexible schedules for lessons on guitar, voice, bass, piano and more.

171 Newland Rd., 788-1102 monkeyjoes.com/columbia

Little Gym 2005 N. Beltline Blvd., 738-1115 thelittlegym.com The Little Gym is an experiential learning and physical development center offering children’s physical activities centered on movement, music and learning.

Little Loggerheads Swim School littleloggerheads.net Offers morning, afternoon and evening swim lessons for children between the ages of 6 months and 6 years.

The Mad Platter 3101 Millwood Ave., 771-8080 mymadplatter.com Art, studies have shown, makes kids smarter. So take your tykes here, a paint-

For kids, Monkey Joe’s offers a place to monkey around, with wall-to-wall inflatable slides, jumps, climbing walls and obstacle courses. And for parents, there’s comfortable seating, free Wi-Fi, concessions and sports on large, flatscreen TVs.

My Gym 110 Forum Dr., 788-1230, my-gym.com A non-competitive gymnastics and play center keeping children healthy by making fitness fun.

Owens Field Skate Park Jim Hamilton Blvd.

The 14,500-square-foot custom concrete park, when it opened in 2010, replaced a small skate park many local skaters considered bogus. Ramps, bowls, rails, more.

activities Palmetto Children’s Music palmettochildrensmusic.com Offers Music Together classes — Music Together is an internationally recognized early childhood music and movement program for infants through five-year-olds and the grownups who love them.

fishing spots, picnic shelters, art exhibits, summer camps, health and wellness programs, meeting facilities and more.

Good trout fishing, too, if your wee ones are into that.

Samurai Karate Studio samuraikaratestudio.net

Palmetto Falls Waterpark

Offers classes for children and adults, as well as conducting strangerdanger and anti-bully workshops.

3381 Marion Ave., 751-3475 fortjacksonmwr.com/waterpark/

Sesquicentennial State Park

Tucked just inside of Fort Jackson’s Gate 2 entrance, Palmetto Falls Water Park offers a 10,000-square foot family pool, two water slides, a 600-square foot splashdown pool, a 2,500-square foot kiddie pool, a lazy river stretching 800 feet, and a snack bar. Open to the public Tuesdays through Fridays during the summer.

The Patch 3807 Augusta Hwy., 359-3276 This Gilbert strawberry patch is open for picking during strawberry season, typically April through May.

Patchwork Playhouse 1508 Columbia College Dr., 333-0372 patchworkplayers-sc.com A long-running children’s theater featuring child-sized puppets and actors.

Plex Indoor Sports plexindoorsports.com There are two locations of this local indoor sports complex franchise: The Sandhills location, by the Village at Sandhill, offers indoor soccer, basketball courts and a skate park; the Irmo location, off the Peak exit on I-26, features an ice rink, an indoor soccer field and an remote-controlled car track. Both locations offer summer camps, birthday party packages, after-school programs and youth sports.

Richland County Recreation Commission richlandcountyrecreation.com Offers youth sports, programs and activities at parks, playgrounds and activity centers in Richland County.

Riverbanks Zoo & Gardens

9564 Two Notch Rd., 788-2706, www.southcarolinaparks.com This 1,419-acre park features a 30acre lake surrounded by trails, picnic areas and campsites. Also offers boating, fishing, swimming, meeting facilities and trails. Trails include a 6.1-mile mountain bike trail, a 1.9-mile nature trail, and a 3.5-mile walking and jogging trail.

South Carolina State Museum 301 Gervais St., 898-4921 scmuseum.org.

The South Carolina State Museum, named one of the top three museums in the Southeast by readers of Southern Living, offers a wide variety of kids programming, such as camp-ins, birthday parties, summer camps and living history re-enactments.

Talbot Swim School 792-7298, talbotswimschool.com.

Before you can run, you gotta walk, right? Well, before you go to the pool, you gotta learn to swim, and Talbot Swim School offers private lessons year-round .

Topspin Racquet and Swim Club topspinsc.com

Clay tennis courts in Lexington offering family clinics.

Trenholm Little League eteamz.com/trenholmbaseball Fun, intensive baseball league. Parents can choose clinics only or clinics and team play. Fall and spring seasons.

U.S. National Whitewater Center 5000 Whitewater Center Pkwy., Charlotte, N.C., 704-391-3900, usnwc.org

It’s a natural fact that kids love animals. And Riverbanks Zoo — one of the nation’s finest, according to TripAdvisor — offers plenty of ‘em, from elephants to gorillas to ibexes to an aquarium and reptile complex stocked with fish, frogs, lizards are more. Riverbanks also offers myriad educational programs, day camps, overnight adventures and other fun kids’ events.

OK, so the U.S. National Whitewater Center isn’t in Columbia; it’s a little more than an hour north in Charlotte. But it’s worth the trip up I-77: An official Olympic Training Site for whitewater slalom racing, the nonprofit U.S. National Whitewater Center is a huge outdoor adventure and environmental education center dedicated to promoting healthy and active lifestyles and developing environmental stewardship. Offers whitewater rafting and kayaking, flatwater kayaking, mountain biking, rock climbing, zip lines and more.

Saluda Shoals Park

YMCA

500 Wildlife Parkway 779-8717, riverbanks.org

5605 Bush River Rd., 731-5208 icrc.net Situated on 270 acres downstream from the Lake Murray Dam, Saluda Shoals features a popular water park, an environmental education center, canoe trips, nature hikes, biking trails,

columbiaymca.org The YMCA in downtown Columbia was one of the first 50 Ys in the United States. It now has five branches — including locations in Northeast Columbia, Lexington, Irmo and Orangeburg —with which to provide childcare, camps and after-school programs.

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health

Mirror Image (For Better or for Worse) On Being Fitfluential Parents

By Allison Caldwell

“M

otherhood ebbs and flows,” says Judy Shriner, owner of the Columbia franchise of Stroller Strides, a company that offers full-body workouts to parents with stroller-aged children. “We have our good days and then we have the days where our kid has thrown up six times, the house smells from a dirty diaper you haven’t had time to put outside in the trash. And, you feel like you have absolutely no one over the age of 1 to talk with.”

That feeling changes when parents can commune with other parents. And if they can exercise at the same time — and set an example for their kids in the process — that’s even better.

Monkey See, Monkey Do The adages are endless: Like father, like son. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

Monkey see, monkey do.

Turns out these sayings are especially true for developing healthy habits in your children.

And given the rising obesity rates in South Carolina and across the country, there’s no better time than now to start.

The good news? Your family doesn’t have to end up a statistic. If you need a formal program to help get you started, there are countless local options. If you’d rather just get started on your own, Columbia has plenty of parks, trails and recreation facilities, with almost year-round Famously Hot weather to enjoy as a family.

Obesity in South Carolina Obesity rates in South Carolina have more than doubled since 1990. In 2009, S.C. had the 14th worst overweight or obesity rate in the nation.

• Childhood obesity has nearly tripled in one generation. About 16.9 percent of children (2-19 years) in the U.S. are considered obese. In South Carolina, about 15.3 percent were found to be obese in 2010.

• Obesity costs the state over $1 billion dollars annually, with over half of the costs being financed by Medicaid and Medicare.

• Nearly one third (31 percent) of S.C. high school students are overweight, and almost two-thirds of adults (66 percent) are overweight or obese.

• Based on current projections, one in every three children born in the year 2000 will develop Type 2 diabetes, primarily due to poor diet and lack of physical activity.

Source: Eat Smart, Move More South Carolina, a coalition that leads the implementation of the state’s Obesity Prevention Plan.

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So study up, connect with others, make smart choices, and get out and play.

Following are a couple of local programs that might help get you started.

Stroller Strides strollerstrides.net/Columbia

Stroller Strides is a national company offering a total body workout for moms (and dads!), accompanied by their stroller-age children (typically birth to three years). USC grad Judy Shriner owns the Columbia franchise, which offers outdoor classes from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Archer’s Lake in Harbison and Gibson Pond Park in Lexington. Between the two locations, classes meet six days a week.

“I really love that my job is to help other women out,” Shriner says.

“Mothers come to class wondering why they woke up early to load their car with snacks, a stroller and their child after getting only five hours of sleep. After class, the change is remarkable: It’s amazing what a little social interaction can do to brighten someone’s day.

It’s very touching to have a mother tell me Stroller Strides was her saving grace.”

If you want to check it out, the first class is always free — just show up about 15 minutes early to fill out some paperwork. Passes run five classes for $60, 10 for $100, and a monthly membership (open for both locations) for $50 per month with a one-time registration fee of $75. Free weekly playgroups are also listed on Meetup at meetup.com/plummomsclubofcolumbia.

“A lot of moms say their child emulates what we do in class, and my two-and-a-half year-old daughter is no exception,” Shriner says. “She can lunge-walk around the house in perfect form, and loves to run her own Stroller Strides classes with her dollies.”

“We’re showing these children that taking care of your health, getting outside and away from a TV or computer is the norm. We can only hope that as they get older, they’ll keep their positive views on exercise and continue to incorporate it into their lives. Setting the example is key to keeping those kids off the sofa.”

GoodBodies sph.sc.edu/exsc/goodbodies

Operated by USC’s Department of Exercise Science at the Arnold School of Public Health, GoodBodies is a fun weight management program for children, teens and their families (ages 4 and up). Weekly sessions are held Monday through Thursday at the Blatt Physical Education Center (1300 Wheat St.). Program clinicians are USC juniors and seniors majoring in exercise science, with an emphasis in motor development. All students are certified in CPR and First Aid and have had courses in human anatomy and physiology, exercise physiology and health fitness.

“GoodBodies provides a positive atmosphere for children and their families to learn basic lifestyle changes and become physically

active,” says director Barbara Cuevas. “Our goal is to educate, practice and encourage overall family wellness with each participant, while having plenty of fun.”

“Each child is carefully paired with a clinician who we feel is the best match for him or her,” says Cuevas. “We tailor each lesson to their interest, so they enjoy reaching their ultimate goal of having fun while being physically active and learning the importance of eating right.”

Seven Healthy Tips for a Happier, Healthier Family Rethink your drink. It’s easy to grab a high-calorie soda or fruit drink on the go, but those extra calories quickly add up.

Think about choosing something healthy instead like water or low-fat or non-fat milk.

Right size your portions. Portion sizes have increased greatly, which leads to eating more calories than we really need.

Super-sized meals may seem like a good value, but we pay for it with poor health.

Tame the tube. How much TV does your family watch? Most children today spend more time watching TV than ever before.

Turn off the TV, lower your family’s risk for being overweight, and enjoy more quality time together.

General lessons include understanding correct portion sizes, healthy snacking, dealing with stress and more.

“Family support is vital to achieving success in the program. Participants with strong family involvement, who reinforce what is learned during the program and encourage each other to be physically active at home, have the best results.”

To check availability and enroll, call 777-3050.

Move more every day. Even small amounts of regular physical activity can improve your health. Make simple changes like taking the stairs instead of the elevator, and parking further from a store entrance.

You can also walk or bike your kids to school — every step adds up.

Eat more healthy meals at home.

Eating smart at home not only reduces the amount of fat and calories you consume; it saves you time and money! Have the family help with planning, shopping and preparing meals to make it a true team effort.

Eat more fruits and vegetables. Fruits and veggies offer important nutrients and can help prevent some diseases. Whether fresh, frozen, canned or dried, fruits and vegetables will help keep you healthy all year round.

Provide the best start. More women are choosing to breastfeed their babies, which is the best start to eating smart. Breastfed babies are more resistant to illness and have less risk of being overweight. Mothers who breastfeed also have less risk of ovarian cancer.

Source: eatsmartmovemore.org.

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health

The Irreverent Parent’s Guide to Healthy Eating Control What You Can, Don’t Sweat the Rest

By Anne Wolfe Postic

I

f you think about it too much, parenting is terrifying.

Weren’t you curious about all sorts of things when you were 13? What if you’d had the Internet? Now stop thinking about the horrors your child might find on the Internet — because you know you would have done it, too, and you didn’t grow up to be a pervert (or maybe you did?). There isn’t much you can do about it, because they will circumvent parental controls before you can remember your password. Your only option is to tell them your ISP keeps a browsing history, but they’ll figure out sooner rather than later that the Juvenile Internet Monitor is about as real as the Tooth Fairy.

You can insist they take all sorts of things with them when they leave your sight — jackets, bike helmets, toothbrushes, feminist literature, good anti-aging cream — but you can’t make them use any of it. The only thing you can control is what happens when they are actually in your presence. So go ahead and let go. Really.

Food is one thing you can do right.

With the state of school lunches, your brood might even prefer bringing sandwiches and fruit from home. (Except on Chickfil-A Day, when they will struggle to ignore the call of the sweet, crispy and sparsely garnished chicken sandwich, because you might or might not have told them that each one of those sandwiches is full of deathly MSG and homophobia.) Children eat a lot, especially as they reach adolescence, and they’ll pretty much inhale whatever you put in front of them.

Here are a few tongue-incheek — but workable — ideas on trying to get more of the good stuff into them.

Leave healthy food in plain sight

Don’t make eye contact

We always leave bowls of carrots, celery and nuts on the counter. And we keep our fruit bowl full. The kids come home from school and start with what’s in plain sight rather than take the extra effort to open the fridge. Children are lazy.

If you look at them as you serve food, they’ll take it as an invitation to critique the meal.

Refuse to engage in power struggles over food.

Your parents were right: Put it on the table and ask how everyone’s day went. Children love to talk about themselves.

Make sure the healthy food tastes good

Give them some choice …

I was once awarded the prize for “Best Cooker Ever.” For the win, I combined rice, frozen vegetables, fried egg and a little soy sauce in a pan and called it fried rice. Children like restaurant food, so make that. It’s pretty easy to slip broccoli or spinach into a quesadilla.

Children are suckers.

Take them with you to the farmers’ market, where you might or might not tell them the friendly guy that sells you greens has a family at home who will starve if they don’t eat his wares. Let them pick a few of your vegetables for the week and make them help cook. Respect their preferences to an extent. Even children deserve to have a few opinions.

… But not too much choice Make them say “thank you,” whether they like dinner or not. This is excellent training for real life, when they’ll need to appear grateful for all sorts of things they’ll hate — like awkward work birthday parties and close talkers. Yes, you want your crew to have discriminating palates, but if they insist on umami, they’ll become boorish grown-ups. Do you want to raise sanctimonious foodies who will never charm a partner or make a friend? Then they’ll live with you forever.

Have fun Don’t forget to laugh and talk at the table. This is not the time to ask about homework or a lost jacket. If you can, invite random people to join you. Let them use swear words. The children will finish their vegetables without noticing, because they are easily distracted by random people using swear words.

And if you already eat well at home? Don’t worry about what else they eat. There are a million studies proving that children rebel against militant control. So, there’s that.

Anne Wolfe Postic blogs at theshoptart.com.

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16

health Children’s Dental Group of South Carolina 7210 K Broad River Rd., Irmo, 781-5141 childrensdentalgroupsc@gmail.com Children’s Dental Group of South Carolina is the fastest growing children’s dental office in Columbia, offering oral conscious sedation for a more pleasant dental experience. We gladly accept Insurance and Medicaid for ages 1-21.

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Healthy cooking classes for kids 9 and older and adults.

Colonial Family Practice 3930 Devine St., 256-1511 colonialfamilypractice.com Part of a Sumter-based practice group.

Creative Cooking

I

f your kid has a legitimate emergency, you take him or her to the emergency room. If your kid has a bad case of the sniffles, you go to an urgent care facility.

But for check-ups, vaccines, boosters and general wellness, you’ll need a family practitioner or pediatrician.

Here’s a list to help get you started, along with a list of dentists, orthopedists and other health-related resources to keep your kids fit as fiddles.

Advanced Dentistry Columbia

Carolina Teen Health

1701 St. Julian Place, 254-6763 advanceddentistrycolumbia.com

carolinateenhealth.org

Super-friendly, family owned practice led by Drs. Nicholas and George Gee.

Ballentine Pediatrics 11134 Broad River Rd., 732-0920 ballentinepediatrics.com

Questions about sex and STDs answered in a teen-oriented format.

Child Care Services childcare.sc.gov

811 W. Main St., Suite 205 (Lexington) lakesidepediatric.com

Classes and camps for children ages 3 to 12.

Lexington Family Practice

Eat Smart Move More South Carolina eatsmartmovemoresc.org Offers events, live training and web training to assist local organizers in creating, managing and maintaining obesity prevention programs.

Family Medicine Centers of South Carolina Downtown: 1910 Gregg St., 931-0100 Hardscrabble: 300 Rice Meadow Way, 227-7777 Irmo: 7611 St. Andrews Rd., 724-1100 Lexington: 3630 Sunset Blvd., 239-1600 Northeast: 1721 Horseshoe Dr., 788-7884 Southeast: 813 Leesburg Rd., 783-4433 fmcofsc.com Private family practice group.

Five Points Pediatric & Walk-in Care

Camden Family Care

Chapin Family Practice

gotrcolumbia.org

1017 Fair St.,424-1260 camdenfamilycare.com

1612 Chapin Rd., 345-3414

Children’s Choice Pediatrics

Inspires pre-teen girls to be joyful, healthy and confident through a fun curriculum that creatively integrates running.

6108 Garners Ferry Rd., 647-1265 childrenschoicepeds.com

Hutchinson Family Dentistry

Carolina Children’s Dentistry

Chrysostom Family Dentistry

209 W. Main St., 359-0566 lexingtonscdentistry.com

7701 Trenholm Rd., 736-6000 carolinachildrensdentistry.com

3308 Platt Springs Rd., 350-9124 drdeno.com

Kids First Dental

Carolina Pediatrics

City of Columbia Community Gardens

2700 Broad River Rd., 772-4949, kidsfirstdentalsc.com

Downtown: 2113 Adams Grove Rd., 256-0531 Irmo: 7033 St. Andrews Rd., 376-2838 carolinapediatrics.com

Five-by-12-foot publicly owned plots available for lease to residents and organizations. Cost is $20 per year.

655 St. Andrews Rd., 252-7775

Lakeside Pediatrics Led by Dr. Douglas Luberoff; part of the Lexington Medical Center network.

3533 Dreher Shoals Rd., 732-3001

Capital Children’s Dental Center

740 Old Lexington Hwy., 345-2483

creativecookingsc.com

An arm of the Department of Social Services, this childcare.sc.gov is an online hub with information on everything from child-care center licensing to Head Start programs. Also see related site scchildcare.org.

Ballentine Family Dentistry

Lake Murray Pediatric Dentistry

Ballentine: 1846 Dutch Fork Rd., 7813843, lfp.lexmednetwork.org Irmo: 7037 St. Andrews Rd., 732-0963 Lake Murray: 2006 Augusta Hwy., 785-4747, lfplakemurray.lexmednetwork.org Lake Ridge: 557 Columbia Ave., lakeridge.lexmednetwork.org Lexington: 122 Powell Dr., 957-0780 Northeast: 76 Polo Rd., 699-7255, lfpnortheast.lexmednetwork.org Sandhills: 811 W. Main St., 358-6420, sfm.lexmednetwork.org Spring Valley: 229 Longtown Rd., 4194949, svfp.lexmednetwork.org West Columbia: 3314 Platt Spring Rd., 791-3494, lfpwestcolumbia.lexmednetwork.org White Knoll: 5535 Platt Spring Rd., 951-1880, lfpwhiteknoll.lexmednetwork.org The Lexington Family Practice network is an umbrella group of the Lexington Medical Center.

1228 Harden St., 748-7002, ecchc.org

Lexington Medical Center

Part of the Eau Claire Cooperative Health Centers.

2720 Sunset Blvd., 791-2000 lexmed.com

Girls on the Run

A frequent winner of Best Hospital in Free Times’ Best of Columbia poll.

columbiasc.net/communitygardens

The Kids Group 206 Medical Cir., 796-9200 thekidsgroup.com

Dr. Samuel J. Marsh Pediatric Dentistry 2302 Bush River Rd., 798-8675 wemakekidssmile.com

Medcare Urgent Care Center 110 Medical Cir., 509-7316 medcareurgentcare.com

Midlands Orthopedics 1910 Blanding St., 256-4107, midlandsortho.com

Milestones Pediatrics 120 Wildewood Park Dr., 788-7882

The Columbia Museum of Art is for families!

You may be wondering how you can share art with your child in a fun way — we can help!

We provide special backpacks for kids at the admissions desk that are loaded with games and guides to use in the galleries.

We also have an Education Gallery that features creative handson activities.

Our current exhibition, Impressionism from Monet to Matisse, includes beautiful works that have inspired our education team to create several programs designed for family fun.

Wee Wednesdays: Monet and Me

One Room School House: Luminous Landscapes

Travel through the colorful landscapes in Impressionism from Monet to Matisse and create a landscape overflowing with color. Participants (ages 2-5) and their adult companions explore art through the introduction of elementary art terms such as color, line, shape and texture during this series. This program includes story time and a creative studio activity.

Students travel through the exhibition, Impressionism from Monet to Matisse, learning about landscapes, color and light. In the studio, they use what they learned to make luscious and colorful landscapes. This program is designed especially for home-school children (ages 4 and up) and their parents.

Wednesday, March 6 | 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.

Friday, March 8 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. or 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Passport to Art: Watery Landscapes

Sunday, March 10 | noon - 3:00 p.m.

Get inspired by the exhibition, Impressionism from Monet to Matisse, and create water-filled landscapes during this FREE monthly open studio program for families. Enjoy a family tour at 1:00 p.m. or take a self-guided tour any time.

PLUS - Enjoy the Impressionism galleries for the price you choose on CMA’s Pay What You Wish Day.

Spring Break Workshops

Monday, April 1 and Tuesday, April 2 Spring workshops engage kids in hands-on learning and spark creativity!

Drop off begins at 8:30 a.m. Full-day campers please bring a brown bag lunch each day.

From Caterpillars to Butterflies

Monet to Matisse

Mosaic Motifs

Painting 101

9:00 a.m. – Noon (4 – 5K) Pull out those binoculars and explore our galleries looking out for all of the Museum’s flora and fauna. Then, in the studios create works of art inspired by the Museum’s critters and plant life. $75 / $60 for Kids Plus! members and above.

9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (Grades 5th – 8th) Students learn how to create their own mosaic based on pattern and color. First they travel through the galleries looking for inspiring patterns, then in the studio they manipulate and draft the patterns they found to create their own design that they will then translate to a mosaic. $90 / $72 for Kids Plus! members and above.

9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (Grades 1st – 4th) Travel through CMA’s temporary exhibition, Impressionism from Monet to Matisse, learning all about color and light. Then, in the studios create your own colorful and textured Monet-inspired works of art. $90 / $72 for Kids Plus! members and above.

9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (Grades 9th – 12th) Tour through CMA’s temporary collection Impression from Monet to Matisse, learning about brushstrokes, light and color. Once in the studios, students will learn about glazes, luminosity and how using tools, like palette knives and brayers can create a different aesthetic in their works of art. $90 / $72 for Kids Plus! members and above.

Details and registration available at columbiamuseum.org. Questions? Call Kayleigh at 803.343.2163.

18

health

Moore Orthopaedic Clinic Columbia: 14 Medical Park, 227-8000 Columbia: 114 Gateway Corp., 227-8000 Lexington: 104 Saluda Pointe Dr., 227-8000

Northeast Children’s Dentistry 147 Summit Cir., 865-1421 northeastchildrensdentistry.com

Palmetto Health palmettohealth.org A frequent runner-up for Best Hospital in Free Times’ Best of Columbia poll.

Palmetto Health Children’s Hospital 7 Richland Medical Park Dr., ch.palmettohealth.org A state-of-the-art children’s hospital with comfortable family-centered spaces, age-appropriate play areas and therapeutic diversions to help reduce stress and encourage healing.

Palmetto Health Family Medicine Practices Harbison: 190 Parkridge Dr., 407-3857 Irmo: 190 Parkridge Dr., 749-0693 Lakeview: 1316 N. Lake Dr., 358-1191 Northeast: 115 Blarney Dr., 736-6262 South Hampton: 5900 Garners Ferry Rd., 695-5450

Twelve Mile Creek: 4711 Sunset Blvd., 356-3609 University: 4311 Hardscrabble Rd., 419-6334 palmettohealth.org Family practice wing of Palmetto Health.

Palmetto Pediatric & Adolescent Clinic Downtown: 140 Park Central, 7794001 Harbison: 16 Woodcross Dr., 732-0140 Lexington: 1970 Augusta Hwy., 3582370 Northeast: 74 Polo Rd., 788-4886 Rice Creek: 300 Rice Meadow Way, 788-6360 Affiliated with Richland, Baptist, Palmetto Richland Children’s and Lexington Hospitals.

Palmetto Smiles 139 Whiteford Way, 951-9100, palmetto-smiles.com

Pediatric Dentistry 8905 Two Notch Rd., 788-9353 wecaredentalsc.com

Providence Hospitals Downtown: 2435 Forest Dr. Northeast: 120 Gateway Corporate Blvd.

teenpregnancysc.org Provides information and resources for teens, parents, educators and community organizations.

South Carolina Dental Center

Another of Columbia’s top-flight hospital systems.

2020 Laurel St., 254-4543 southcarolinadentalcenter.com

Providence Northeast Family

South Lake Family Dental

300 Long Pointe Ln., 462-7193 providencehospitals.com

1223 S. Lake Dr., 520-5580 southlakedmd.com

Rice Creek Family Dentistry

Sterling Sharpe Pediatric Center

101 Rice Bent Way, 788-2676, ricecreekdmd.com

4605 Monticello Rd., 252-7001 ecchc.org

Safe Kids Midlands

Part of the Eau Claire Cooperative Health Centers.

7 Richland Medical Park Dr., Suite 7186 safekidsmidlands.org

Teen Talk

114 Gateway Corporate Blvd., 865-4900

Dedicated to decreasing the number of injuries to children. Offers information on safe car-seat practices, product recalls, safety with household products and more.

Open 6-10 p.m., Mon-Fri; 2-8 p.m., Sat-Sun.

Smile Columbia

Pediatric After Hours Care

South Carolina Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy

690A Columbiana Dr., 781-9090 smilecolumbia.com

palmettohealth.org/teentalk 296-2273 Offers numerous resources for teens, including Teen Talk newsletter, peer-to-peer discussions and an ask-anexpert program.

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Calendar

art terms such as color, line, shape and texture.

FEBRUARY Backyard Buds: The Winter Garden Riverbanks Zoo riverbanks.org Feb. 28. What happens in the garden under a blanket of snow? Discover what plants and animals do when it is cold outside. Kids’ garden programs include a lesson, craft and story. Ages 3-4 with an adult, located in Botanical Garden.

MARCH About Face: Plein Air Painting Columbia Museum of Art columbiamuseum.org Mar. 16. Plein air means “in the open air” and is used to describe the act of painting outdoors. Want to join in?

Bring your art supplies and the museum provides the easel. Free.

Adventures with Clifford The Big Red Dog Edventure Children’s Museum edventure.org Mar. 2-May 5. Journey to the world of Clifford, America’s beloved big red dog. This interactive exhibit features “paws-on” adventures that reinforce Clifford’s Big Ideas — 10 simple life lessons designed to help young children navigate their world.

Art School: Learn to Print in a Day Columbia Museum of Art columbiamuseum.org Mar. 9. For students 16 and up. Learn to make monotypes, a single print from a metal or glass plate on which an image has been painted. This technique has been favored by artists since the 17th century. All supplies included.

Clifford the Big Red Dog is at EdVenture Children’s Museum Mar. 2 through May 5. Courtesy photo

Backyard Buds: Curious Clover

T

Riverbanks Zoo riverbanks.org Mar. 7 & Mar. 14. Take a close look at these three-leafed wonders and discover what makes this plant so special.

Kids’ garden programs include a lesson, craft and story. Ages 3-4 with an adult, located in Botanical Garden.

his is by no means a comprehensive list — institutions like the Columbia Museum of Art, EdVenture Children’s Museum, Riverbanks Zoo, Richland Library and the city and county parks departments offer myriad events for kids on a daily basis. Check the What’s Happening section of Free Times for weekly listings or visit the websites of institutions offering children’s programs.

ONGOING Beauty and the Beast Columbia Marionette Theatre cmtpuppet.org Saturdays and third Mondays through March 16. An arrogant prince and a goodhearted Beauty cross paths, and a classic story is born. Visit website for show times.

Edventure Family Night EdVenture Children’s Museum edventure.org

Easter Bunny Eggspress

Second Tuesdays. $1 museum admission between 5 and 8 p.m.

parents. That sounds like a win-win situation.

S.C. Railroad Museum scrm.org Mar. 23, 30. Train rides for kids. Call 712-4135.

Mudpie Mondays

Toddler Take Over

Hands on Art

Riverbanks Zoo riverbanks.org Drop in at the Botanical Garden Visitors Center in the Bloom Room anytime during Mudpie Mondays for a fun nature-based activity.

EdVenture Children’s Museum edventure.org First Monday of every month. Kids ages 1 to 5 play freely throughout the museum with kids of their own size.

Richland Library, Main Branch richlandlibrary.com Mar. 1. Simple art fun for ages 2-5 with special guests from the Columbia Museum of Art. Dress for a mess.

Wee Wednesdays

Darby O’Gill and the Little People

Columbia Museum of Art columbiamuseum.org Wednesdays. Participants ages 2-5 and their adult companions explore art through the introduction of elementary

Richland Library, Main Branch richlandlibrary.com Mar. 17. Out of the eerie blackness, a headless coachman beckons Darby O’Gill into a fantastic world of love and

Parents’ Survival Night The Little Gym thelittlegym.com/columbiasc Fridays. Parents call it a break from the kids. Kids call it a break from their

23 leprechauns, magic and spirits, stars and superstitions. Part of the iPick Film Series.

The Little Prince Tea Koger Center columbiacityballet.com Mar. 9. With the Columbia City Ballet.

Features a sit-down tea, cakes and cookies with the principal characters in the ballet.

Morning of Puppets Richland Library, Main Branch richlandlibrary.com Mar. 22. Watch your favorite stories performed by the Children’s Room puppets.

One Room School House: Luminous Landscapes Columbia Museum of Art columbiamuseum.org Mar. 8. Students travel through the exhibition Impressionism from Monet to Matisse and use what they learned to make luscious and colorful landscapes. For home-schooled children ages 4 and up and their parents.

child’s specific needs; attendance is limited.

Kids Fun Run! Palmetto Half Marathon palmettohalfmarathon.com Apr. 13. For kids under the age of 10, the Kids Fun Run will start behind the fountain at the center of Village at Sandhill and proceed around the small loop. After the race they can enjoy plenty of kid friendly activities.

Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical Columbia Children’s Theatre columbiachildrenstheatre.com Apr. 12-21. A tale of firsts: a stuffed animal’s first trip in the laundry, a little girl’s first words and a Daddy’s first time dealing with his child going “boneless.” Visit website for show times.

LEGO Madness!

Richland Library, Northeast Branch richlandlibrary.com Apr. 15. Create robots, cities, creatures and more using LEGOs!

Opera For Kids

The Rockin’ Tale of Snow White

Richland Library, Main Branch richlandlibrary.com Mar. 3. Join us for an afternoon of family fairytale fun as nationally known FBN Productions presents and operatic version of The Three Little Pigs.

Town Theatre towntheatre.com Apr. 6-7. Enchanting characters and comedic twists come to life as a modern mom reads the Brothers Grimm tale to her restless children.

Passport to Art: Watery Landscapes

Spring Break Workshop: Monet to Matisse

Columbia Museum of Art columbiamuseum.org Mar. 10. Get inspired by the exhibition Impressionism from Monet to Matisse and create a water-filled landscapes during this free monthly open studio program for families.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus’ Dragons Colonial Life Arena coloniallifearena.com Mar. 7-10. Dragons! Acrobats! Fire!

Kung Fu! Experience incredible circus spectacles.

Seussical Jr. Columbia Children’s Theatre columbiachildrenstheatre.com Mar. 1-10. Kids perform a musical based on Dr. Seuss.

APRIL Cirque Du Soleil: Quidam Colonial Life Arena coloniallifearena.com Apr. 24-28. Quidam is an entire show imagined by a bored young girl named Zoe who is alienated and ignored by her parents. Children’s ticket prices available.

Exceptional You Richland Library, Northeast Branch richlandlibrary.com Apr. 8. Stories, songs, and tactile activities for children with special needs and their families. Call ahead to register and let staff know about your

Columbia Museum of Art columbiamuseum.org Apr. 1-2. Students grades 1 through 4 learn about color and light in the exhibition Impressionism from Monet to Matisse and create colorful and textured Monet-inspired works.

Spring Break Workshop: Mosaic Motifs Columbia Museum of Art columbiamuseum.org Apr. 1-2. During this two-day workshop, students grades 5 through 8 learn how to create their own mosaic, based on pattern and color.

Spring Break Workshop: From Caterpillars to Butterflies!

Columbia Museum of Art columbiamuseum.org Apr. 1-2. Kids aged 4 to 5 will pull out those binoculars and look through the galleries out for all of the museum’s flora and fauna. Then they’ll head to the studios to create works of art inspired by the critters and plant life.

Spring Break Zoo Camp: Animation Riverbanks Zoo riverbanks.org Apr. 1-5. Campers ages 5 to 9 will have a hopping good time discovering the wide variety of animal motions through daily animal encounters, behind-thescenes tours, zoo walks, arts and crafts, games and more.

Hands on Art

Can We Talk: For Teen Boys Only

Richland Library, Cooper Branch richlandlibrary.com Apr. 30. Simple art fun for ages 2 to 5.

Dress for a mess.

Richland Library, Main Branch richlandlibrary.com May 15. Teen boys (13-18) will participate in workshops to help them navigate through the challenges in life with more ease and understanding. They will learn the importance of education and how to become competitive in the workforce.

MAY Read to a Dog Richland Library, Sandhills Branch richlandlibrary.com May 1. Practice your reading with one of our furry friends.

24

learning

Ready or Not, College is Coming What to Expect as Your High-Schooler Approaches Graduation

By Rodney Welch

F

or any high school student planning on attending college, there’s no time like the present to start planning.

That means making the best possible grades, knowing (or at least thinking about) the kind of career you want, and understanding the education you’ll need to pursue that career.

If you’re a parent with a son or daughter in high school, you might already know this. If you’re a student, it’s part of your day-to-day curriculum.

“Knowing the criteria, knowing what’s required for college, starts in the ninth grade,” says Renee Scott, guidance counselor with Lower Richland High School.

If college is the goal, students are advised early on that they’re going to need good grades, either to be admitted or to qualify for scholarships. They’re also going to need to meet course requirements and perform well on standardized tests.

For More Info

American Student Assistance asa.org College Goal South Carolina collegegoalsc.org Federal Student Aid studentaid.ed.gov

College Preparation Resources collegeprep101.com

College and Career Resources mappingyourfuture.org South Carolina Student Loan scstudentloan.org

Test Early, Test Often

Usually in the second semester of their junior year, college-bound students take the SAT (Standardized Assessment Test) and/ or the ACT (American College Testing), tests required by most colleges and universities for entrance into college. By that time, students will have already taken the PSAT — some of them more than once.

The SAT is divided into three sections — reading, math and writing — with a potential score on each of 800 points. The ACT is comprised of four multiple choice tests — in English, math, reading, and science — which together result in a composite score between 1 (lowest) and 36.

Mary Wagner, admissions director at the University of South Carolina, advises taking these tests at least once, and as early as pos-

learning

Paying For It

Getting federal aid for college can be a dicey proposition unless you come from a low-income family.

“Federal aid is completely based on family income, period,” says Brant Freeman, guidance counselor at Camden High.

Most students applying for college have to fill out the form known as FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), which takes full account of family income, and determines what kind of financial aid or loans are available to a student. Students can get help with these forms at collegegoalsc.org.

“Most colleges require [the application for] each student, whether they qualify for financial aid or not,” Freeman says, “and most people don’t, obviously.”

Lacking federal aid, there are scholarships and private student loans.

sible, to give some idea of where you stand competitively.

Some students, angling for the best possible score, take the tests several times, although Camden High guidance counselor Brant Freeman says that after a certain point, the law of diminishing returns kicks in. If your score hasn’t dramatically risen after three times, it likely won’t. But taking practice tests or enrolling in tutoring can help.

Finding the Right College

Students should probably start looking at potential colleges in their junior year, if not earlier.

Wagner suggests starting as early as the sophomore year, when a student is free to explore without being under pressure to make a decision.

When it comes time to start visiting campuses, students might want to check out whether the prospective college or university has a virtual tour on their website, just to see the place. But Freeman says nothing gives you a feel for real campus life like making an actual physical visit.

“I always tell [students]: You don’t buy a pair of shoes without trying them on,” Freeman says.

“We strongly promote in-state,” says Scott at Lower Richland, “because we want to start here. We want to build our state, but we don’t discourage anyone who wants to go out of state.”

The Application Process

When it comes time to apply, Freeman tells students to make a list of about four schools: a dream school (Ivy League, out-of-state, hard

Scholarships Freeman says there are basically three ways to get scholarships.

First, there’s money from the S.C. State Lottery. If you have a 3.0 GPA, you can receive full tuition at a two-year school. That, Freeman said, is what a lot of students do — either to pursue a technical or academic degree.

If you’re going to a four-year institution, there’s the HOPE scholarship, which is worth $2,800. If you’re in the top 30 percent of your class, or score 1100 on SAT (reading and math only) or at least 24 (out of a possible 36) on ACT, there’s the LIFE scholarship, which is worth $5,000.

If you’re in the top 6 percent and you have upwards of 1200 on the SAT, you can get $6,700 a year, which can go up to $7,500.

There’s more where that came from — as much as $10,000 — if you’re majoring in math, science or computers.

Second, upon acceptance to college, you are in the scholarship pool for that particular institution.

to get into, etc.), as well as three solid schools where you’re reasonably sure admission won’t be an issue.

At the University of South Carolina, Mary Wagner says admissions basically come down to four criteria: classes, the strength of the curriculum, test scores and overall GPA. “The most important thing we’re looking for at the University of South Carolina are what kinds of classes you’re taking in school, so we look for a college prep curriculum,” she said.

“We do look at admission test scores, like SAT and ACT, and then we look at the strengths of the curriculum that student is taking.”

Renee Scott tells her students at Lower Richland that getting into college is about more than just academics, and encourages them to bring clubs, sports and extracurricular activities come into the mix as well.

For Wagner, it is also a matter of quality over quantity.

“I always have been in favor of the depth of leadership in a few things rather than membership in a lot,” she said. “Just saying I’m a member of X, Y and Z and just going to a couple of meetings doesn’t show me much about leadership or commitment long-term.”

It’s more important to show “you’ve done a few things that require a considerable amount of your time.”

Fierce Competition

Be aware: the competition for getting into college is tough and getting tougher.

On a national level, there are more students graduating and more are applying, many hoping to maximize their chances both of getting accepted and getting a good financial aid package.

25

Third, there are miscellaneous scholarships that students pursue on their own — and Freeman encourages students to pursue every available resource.

On the Internet, there’s fastweb.com, a valuable resource for researching scholarships. In bookstores, you can get the latest edition of The Scholarship Book: The Complete Guide to Private-Sector Scholarships, Fellowships, Grants, and Loans for the Undergraduate by Daniel J. Cassidy, which covers every school in the country.

Private Loans Not everyone can qualify for scholarships or federal loans. Students or their parents may also resort to private student loans through their bank or credit union. Though interest rates will be higher than with subsidized loans, private student loans are relatively easy to obtain, as banks generally consider education loans to be “good debt” that will pay off for the borrower, rather than “bad debt,” like consumer credit.

“We have more students apply [to USC] than have ever applied before,” Mary Wagner said, “and we are also experiencing increasing selectivity at the institution.”

Wagner said that since 2001, applications for the fall freshman class have increased by more than 110 percent and enrollment in the freshman class has increased by more than 42 percent.

Also, students are getting smarter — or at least testing better.

“The SAT average has increased by 83 points, rising from 1118 in 2001 to 1201 in 2012,” she said. “We expect to receive more than 23,000 applications for this fall’s freshman class. That’s about five applications for every freshman slot.”

Wagner said USC tries to admit all qualified South Carolina residents first. From there, the school looks at the out-of-state pool to meet class size goals.

Demographic trends, however, are making college admissions even for in-state students tougher than ever.

For one thing, she points out, South Carolina is small, and doesn’t have as many students as some others. Also, there is a downward trend statewide in high school graduation rates.

A study from the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education projects a slump in high school graduation rates through 201617.

Wagner said it’s a reflection of the fact that the baby boom echo has come to an end, and that fewer people are having children.

“That makes competition for South Carolina residents that much more fierce for us,” she said, “because we do want to enroll as many South Carolina students as possible.”

26

learning

R

eading, writing, ‘rithmetic, sure — but what if your child has trouble with the three Rs? Or what if your child shows exemplary skill in them? Each child learns differently, and each child has different interests — from math to science, from foreign languages to outer space. To help your kid learn, check out the following.

Aim High Education

Challenger Learning Center

4801 Hardscrabble Rd., 788-6894 aimhigheducationsc.com

2600A Barhamville Rd. 929-3951, thechallengercenter.net

Customized after-school education programs and tutoring.

The Challenger Learning Center of Richland County School District One is an aeronautics- and space-themed learning program designed to provide interactive learning experiences, integrating science, technology, engineering and math curricula with 21st century life skills.

The Afterschool Zone theafterschoozone.com Offers afterschool pickup from Lexington/Richland 5 and Richland 1 schools. Students engage in physical and educational activities.

Discovery Program of South Carolina 8807 Two Notch Rd., 419-0126 discoveryprogramsc.org

Bright Start 720 Gracern Rd., 929-1112 brightstartsc.com Provides quality comprehensive services to all individuals with special needs and developmental delays.

Noted as a program of excellence with the National Institute for Learning Development (NILD), the Discovery Program helps those struggling to learn — whether via learning disabilities or other learning disorders — to become independent students.

Glenforest School

My Amigos

glenforest.org

myamigosbec.org

Works with K-12 students who have not thrived in traditional learning environments, including students with dyslexia, attention-deficit disorder or other developmental challenges.

Language immersion programs for ages 30 months to 5th grade.

Head Start 1400 St. Andrews Rd., 898-2550 A comprehensive school readiness program serving kids 0-5 that has a strong focus on ensuring that they start school ready to learn.

Lango South Carolina langosouthcarolina.com At Lango, your child will learn another language, make developmental strides, explore other cultures. At various Midlands locations.

The Language Buzz

Get your high sch ool diploma online!

Now you can earn your diploma AND have flexibility!

Provost Academy South Carolina is a tuition-free online school that lets you attend high school from anywhere.

Learn more at sc.provostacademy.com or call 877-265-3195

Pearson Professional Centers 107 Westpark Blvd., 798-3001 Offers GMAT testing.

Personal Pathways to Success scpathways.org Provides educational and career planning resources.

Provost Academy South Carolina sc.provostacademy A tuition-free, online-only public high school. Live online classrooms give students the ability to includes the ability to participate in discussions and ask questions.

1921 Henderson St., 252-7002 thelanguagebuzz.com

REACH

A unique foreign language learning center that promotes the early command of languages through language immersion, contextualized learning, and the learning and acceptance of different cultures.

A support group for Columbia-area home schoolers; provides information and activities, offers information about academic résumés and transcripts.

Mathnasium

rcfirststeps.org

mathnasium.com Offers math help for students from grades 2 through 12.

reachgroup.org

Richland County First Steps Works with kids, parents, schools and childcare providers to promote health, literacy and school readiness in young children.

28

life

Instilling Self-Discipline Parents Share Thoughts on How to Get It Right

By Heather Green

R

aising children who are self-sufficient, responsible and resilient are major goals to most parents. But we can’t be around our kids all of the time, so how do we know if the self-discipline and other values we’re trying to instill are being practiced outside the home?

How do we know that we are raising children who are problem solvers, critical thinkers and responsible beings?

Basically, the best we can do is try. I enlisted the help of some Columbia parents to talk about how they try to instill self-discipline.

Parents’ Perspectives Will and Beki Gettys have two sons, Eli (7) and Hugh (4) Jennifer Bailey Bergen has two children, CJ (15) and Meredith (12) Beth McAlhany has one child, CeCe (7) Studies suggest that kids who manage self-discipline do better in school, are more resilient and are better equipped with successful life skills. How do you instill selfdiscipline into your children?

Will: We try to have a reasonable framework of common sense values, rules and guidelines. When we are present, we try to consistently explain them, apply them and appropriately discipline, even when it is inconvenient.

Jennifer: When I was a new mom, I was very focused on creating and supporting attachment — the idea that a strong relationship between parent and child helps create a selfassured and confident kid. As they got older and I matured as a parent, it became important to me to teach CJ and Meredith to be critical thinkers; to grow into individuals who ask questions and express opinions.

Beth: I try to model my own self-discipline by vocalizing my thought process when I am faced with a decision. Then I ask my daughter’s opinion as to what she thinks I should choose. It is always easy to give advice, even when you’re a seven year-old.

Do you instill such values “on the fly” or do you and your partner think about what skills should be modeled during specific development stages?

Jennifer: Both. Now that we’re raising teenagers, my husband (the kids’ stepfather) and I find ourselves having more frequent conversations with the children about theory more than specific situations. They’re old enough now to work out and work on the hows and whys of values and life skills … this means they are needing to rely on us for the bottom-line type rules less often as they navigate situations where they need to apply skills on their own.

Will: It would be nice if we had a recipe for properly handling each stage and challenge, but for us in practice everything is studied improvisation. I think we have evolved over the years and come to understand what values are most important to our family, but as new issues or situations arise, there is room to adapt.

When we blow it or handle something badly, my wife and I will often talk it out — debriefing the situation, making plans for similar situations.

What benefits do you see as a result of instilling self-discipline? For example, during a difficult homework night or tantrum?*

Will: It’s nice when we can see that they have internalized those values and interactions with friends, peers, and family. We have seen evidence of self-discipline already in both boys. For example, on a full day of air travel, when both kids were visibly frayed, exhausted and frustrated, they were able to keep themselves together, carry on and not collapse in a whiny heap.

Have you had to approach self-discipline methods differently with each child?

Will: Our (almost) 4-year-old can take verbal direction pretty well for his age. Our oldest responds pretty well to big-picture values like honesty and fairness but needs guidance in understanding the nuance in complex social situations. The oldest has always responded very immediately to real-world consequences like time-outs and losing of privileges, while the youngest is somewhat more savvy and will sometimes test his — and our — limits.

Jennifer: When my second child was born, it somehow came as a huge shock to me how utterly separate and distinct she was from her older brother. What worked with the elder did not and does not always work with the child younger. One of my children often needs practical experience, sometimes the hard way, before life lessons will stick, while the other is

Tips for teaching self-discipline • Start early: Preschool kids are like sponges.

• Help kids learn to manage their emotions. Showing empathy for the child’s feelings is important. Come with a menu of choices the child could use to cope with feelings.

• Provide a consistent structure and routine. As they get older, these routines become more flexible.

• Have a behavior management system and stick to it. Self-control is a core component of self-discipline.

• Younger children can learn about self-discipline from activities such as dance, music, and sports. Part-time jobs strengthen self-discipline in teens.

• Encourage kids to set goals.

• Praise kids when you see them demonstrating self-control, effort and perseverance.

• Process failures and mistakes with your children. Acknowledge the effort they made and encourage problemsolving about what choices or strategies could work in the future.

Source: Michelle Trask, a clinical social worker with over 20 years of professional counseling experience.

much more willing to apply “crowd-sourced” or theoretical information to decision-making processes.

As you look into the future, what challenges do you see facing your children and their journey to self-control and self-discipline?

Will: I am a little concerned about peer pressure with our oldest. He likes to run with the pack, and I worry about him in the future impulsively making bad decisions to fit in. I try to remind him to plan and consider what happens “after” as well as talking through situations when he has gotten in trouble, why it’s important to follow our rules and the potential consequences of his actions.

Jennifer: Looking into the future makes me miss the days of the past. My son, now a sophomore in high school, faces challenges which can significantly impact the rest of his adult life; that absolutely boggles my mind. My partner and I still occasionally find ourselves locked in a battle of wills with a resident teen but more often than not we’re just continuing to have – or trying to have – rational conversations with them. We’re listening to them, hoping they listen to us, and trying to keep a sense of humor. When these young people grow up and head out into the world as adults, which isn’t all that far off in the future, that’s what I hope that they’ll carry with them.

life

29

credit counseling, child dental clinics, an eye care clinic and more.

Lake Murray Counseling Center 7511 St. Andrews Rd., 781-1003 lakemurraycounseling.com Offering counseling for children’s and adolescent issues.

Leadership Institute at Columbia College columbiacollegesc.edu/ leadership_inst/ Girls Empowered and LEAD residential programs.

Lexington-Richland Anti-Drug Abuse Council Lexington County: 1068 S. Lake Dr., 726-9400 Richland County: 2711 Colonial Dr., 726-9300 lradac.org Alcohol and drug abuse authority offering a wide array of prevention, intervention and treatment programs, including child and adolescent programs.

Mental Health America of South Carolina 1823 Gadsden St., 779-5363 mha-sc.org

NAMI Mid Carolina namimidcarolina.org

L

ife is full of tough questions. Is your 4-year-old ready for a sleeper?

Should your 12-year-old be on Facebook? How do you talk to your 16-year-old about sexting? Teach your children well, or so the song says — and here’s how you can help them learn how to live.

ASY Counseling Services

serving youth and families from Fairfield, Lexington and Richland Counties.

Columbia Counseling Center

1825 St. Julian Pl., 254-1210 asycounseling.com

Children’s Chance

900 St. Andrews Rd., 731-4708 columbiacounseling.accountsupport.com

Providing quality mental health services to children and families in the Columbia area.

Behavior Consulting Services 3227 Sunset Blvd. behaviorconsultingservices.com Serves children with a variety of special needs, including autism spectrum disorders, behavioral difficulties and academic difficulties.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Columbia bbbs.org Oldest and largest youth mentoring organization in the United States. Serves children ages 6 through 18.

Boys & Girls Club of the Midlands bgcmidland.org Formed in 1959, operates 31 clubs, eight summer camps and a teen center

609 Sims Ave., 254-5996 childrenschance.org Children’s Chance’s mission is to improve the quality of life of children and families who are dealing with the trauma of pediatric cancer.

Children’s Trust of SC 1634 Main St., 733-5430 scchildren.org Aims to promote healthy, nurturing relationships between children and adults — because strengthening families is the best way to prevent abuse, neglect and unintentional injuries.

Christian Counseling Center

A Christian perspective on counseling.

Crossroads Counseling Center 130 Whiteford Way, 808-1800 solutionsforlife.org Counseling for adults, adolescents, children and marriages.

Family Connections of South Carolina 2712 Middleburg Dr., 252-0914 familyconnectionsc.org Statewide organization of parents helping parents of children with disabilities, developmental delays, and chronic illnesses.

1500 Lady St., 779-1995 christiancounseling.ws

Family Service Center of South Carolina

Offers counseling on a variety of topics; also offers spiritual and religious counseling. Offered by First Presbyterian Church.

A multi-service non-profit agency offering adoption services, consumer

2712 Middleburg Dr., 733-5450 fsconline.org

Local chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

Palmetto Counseling Associates 1911 Gadsden St., 254-9767 palmettocounseling.com

South Carolina Youth Advocate Program 779-5500 Nonprofit child-placing agency offering training, support and compensation to qualified families who provide a home to a foster child.

Three Rivers Behavioral Health West Columbia: 200 Ermine Rd., 791-9918 West Columbia: 2900 Sunset Blvd., 796-9911 threeriversbehavioral.org Provides comprehensive residential treatment for children and adolescents providing treatment for psychiatric and chemical dependency related illnesses.

University of South Carolina Speech and Hearing Research Center 1601 St. Julian Pl., 77-2614 sph.sc.edu/shc/ Provides a variety of evaluation and treatment programs for individuals of all ages.

30

family finance

Tips for Teaching About Money • Start early • Be consistent • Teach difference between needs and wants

• Give age-appropriate amounts

Teaching Your Kids About Money Kids Model Parents — and Allowances Can Teach Responsibility

By Katie Alice Walker

M

oney, bills, savings — like it or not, these things replay in our minds constantly.

And when you have kids, it’s only louder noise. Everyone thinks about mortgage payments, rent and utility bills, but parents have the added worries of trying to save for college at the same time they’re paying for childcare, summer camps, sports and music lessons.

With concerns about money swirling around in your head, these thoughts are bound to come out from time to time when you’re talking with your kids. Or are they? Should parents just let ignorance be bliss?

When it comes to talking to your kids about money, there’s a fine line between educating them on fiscal responsibility and burdening them with too much information about your family’s financial situation. The key is to explain things in terms they can understand — and to get them thinking about how they manage their own money, not worrying about how you manage yours.

Never Too Early Believe it or not, experts say children between the ages of 3 and 7 are not too young to start learning about money.

If you are out shopping with your child, “you might say things like, ‘I can’t buy this right now, I have to save more money and buy it next time,’ or, “That’s great, these apples are a really good price today — I can buy more,’” reports the website 360financialliteracy.com. “These types of comments sink in and hopefully will get your child thinking about money and spending.”

You can also present financial issues to your

child in terms of choices. If your child has $10 from a birthday gift, for example, talk to him or her about choices: Saving it versus buying something, and about how $10 might be enough money to buy one type of toy, but if they continue to save they might be able to buy something else they want more. Talk to your child about the difference between wants and needs. Encourage your child to come up with a special place to keep their money: a piggy bank, jar, or box.

As your child gets older, of course, your conversations can get more detailed, and you might want to discuss anything from buying clothes to buying a car or house.

Allowances If actions are louder than words, some parents are finding it helpful to teach the ins and outs of managing finances through providing their kids with an allowance. A few of our readers weighed in on Facebook about whether they give allowances.

“Yes, it teaches them the importance of work and savings,” says Kirk Truel, responding to a Facebook question from Free Times. To earn it,

Resources SC Economics sceconomics.org, (888) 861-6345 National Financial Educators Council financialeducatorscouncil.org American Institute of CPAs, 360 Degrees of Financial Literacy 360financialliteracy.org

though, “Grades have to be a ‘B’ or better before they get paid.”

Susan Jennings gives her son what she calls “a commission.” He “works to get paid,” she says. “It’s important for kids to learn to manage money at a young age in order to (hopefully) avoid major money mistakes as adults.”

This line of thinking is indicative of the parent camp that says kids need to earn allowance based on good behavior, good grades or helping around the house. On the flip side, some parents prefer to just provide their kids with spending money that isn’t tied directly to grades or chores.

Kerry Myers says her son helps her out around the house — but not because he’s paid to.

In return, she spends on him. “I buy him food, clothes, football, soccer, karate, field trips to New York.”

Be Age-Appropriate — and Consistent According to a recent survey by the American Institute of CPAs, kids that earn an allowance are making an average of $780 a year, or about $15 a week. That’s far more than the $5 some parents may have earned each month when they were young. And most of that nearly $800 is spent buying toys or hanging out with friends, leaving little money for the piggy bank, according to the survey.

With that in mind, it’s important to be consistent, emphasize responsible spending and give age-appropriate amounts. A $5 allowance might work for your 7-year-old, but it won’t go very far for a 13-year-old.

Choose to give your children allowance weekly, monthly or in some other regular time increment, and a set dollar amount that they’ll receive. Tell your children up front what kind of behavior, chores or grades they will or won’t get allowance for, and then stick to it. And if you’re aiming to teach them about fiscal responsibility, it’s probably a good idea to regularly discuss the importance of saving money and choosing wisely when it comes to spending.

Whether you grew up with an allowance and are excited to continue the tradition with your kids — or you’re grudgingly passing along spending money because your children’s friends all receive an allowance — set the tone for the transaction by laying ground rules that become part of the routine. As part of those ground rules, some parents build savings into the equation, stipulating that children put a certain proportion of their allowance into a savings account, for example.

At every stage — from a 5-year-old eyeing a candy bar to an 18-year-old off at college for the first time — the ability to choose wisely will be all-important for your child.

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32

religion & spirituality

Still Searching

Resources

Young Couples Grapple with Evolving Landscape of Faith

By Amanda Ladymon-Stockard

L

iving in the Bible Belt is a somewhat new experience for my husband and me. We were raised in large Southwestern cities that were melting pots of religion, culture, societal norms and political views. Having moved to South Carolina five and six years ago, respectively, we have laid roots and plan to call Columbia our home indefinitely. But whereas traditional approaches to religion are still prevalent in many areas of the South, my husband and I don’t fit so easily into the traditional mold.

“We went, putting zero pressure on our children to dress or act a certain way. Surprise! Our children loved it. They joined the choir, they attend youth group, they go to early morning Bible studies — something I never, ever would have done — they go to Sunday school and church, and they like it. ” In many respects, our parenting style is evolving into something that combines traditional and liberal ideals. My husband and I share many hobbies and a similar mindset on many things, but we have drastically different opinions on religion and spirituality. I had little to no exposure to organized religion growing up, while my husband was raised in a strict Catholic family, attending services regularly. Taking an interest in Christianity on my own as a teenager, I continue to remain a Christian with fairly liberal, open-minded beliefs. My husband, however, has rejected his religious upbringing: He’s left the church and his faith completely and is now a selfproclaimed agnostic.

In spite of our different beliefs, we would like to have some sort of plan in addressing religion and spiritual beliefs with our daughter.

Like me, many of my fellow mothers and friends come from families with a mixed set of beliefs and traditions. A few were happy to share their experiences, but they did not want their names used. Some have found what they’re looking for within organized religion; others are still searching.

At Home in the Church One good friend and new fellow mom had not been active religiously for years, but decided after having her first child last year to attend her family’s Baptist church. Growing up in the outskirts of Columbia, she has a lot of

family here and feels that attending the same church is an important way she can keep family bond closes and cultivate shared beliefs.

“The way I have always thought about raising my children was that I would teach them what I believe and show them how my faith affects my life, but let them choose what they want to believe for themselves,” she says.

Forcing religion on kids, she says, is likely to lead to rebellion later. Better to try to lead by example and hope they follow.

“The important thing is marrying and having children with someone who shares your child-raising philosophy in the most important aspects,” she says. “Faith and spirituality is definitely one of those important things.”

Another mom with three children was conflicted as to organized religion when she was a new mom, but decided to have her first son baptized in the church where she had been a longtime member but not a regular attendee.

Over time, she and her family started attending more regularly — on sort of a trial basis.

“We went, putting zero pressure on our children to dress or act a certain way,” she says.

“Surprise! Our children loved it. They joined the choir, they attend youth group, they go to early morning Bible studies — something I never, ever would have done — they go to Sunday school and church, and they like it. They also seem to think about God and religion as it applies to other parts of their lives.”

Still Searching A third mother I talked to was raised in a strict Baptist family, an experience that led her to “not wanting to continue as a Christian,” as she puts it. Therefore, she takes an open approach with her daughters, informing them about all types of religion and spirituality. Still, she is unsure on whether to expose them to an organized religion.

“I struggle with whether or not I should give my children the experience so they can make their own decision,” she says. “For now, we try to teach about love and respect, right from wrong, talk about lessons from the Bible, and pray to God,” she says.

Another mother says she decided to introduce religion to her daughters when they were in kindergarten and first grade. To her, it was an educational opportunity to help them understand the “sacred and the profane,” in her words. They joined a Presbyterian church, but make it a point to respect other forms of worship and to be wary of literalist interpretations

Whether you’re an atheist or a Buddhist, Christian or agnostic, these resources can help give you the tools to talk to your children about religion and faith.

beliefnet.com christianmomthoughts.com healthguidance.org ministry-to-children.com atheistparents.org parenting.com/article/teach-spirituality-kids thesecularparent.com uri.org/kids/world.htm

of the Bible.

“We researched which denomination to enter and landed on Presbyterian USA because it seemed to be more open to racial diversity and the role of women in the church,” she says.

After being with the church for 6 or 7 years, however, the issue of ordination of gays and lesbians came up in the church leadership and a lengthy debate took place. While she and her family were supportive of this idea, the majority was not. As a result, they decided to leave the church.

“Now”, she says, “I think we’d all probably identify ourselves as secular humanists: We believe there is something greater out there, but we also believe there are many ways of approaching that greatness.”

A Generation Grapples with Faith It’s clear that my husband and I aren’t alone in our differences about faith, or in our lack of a home in an organized religion. Among adults under the age of 30, one-third do not lay claim to any religion at all, according to the Pew Research Center. And according to the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, the number of Americans who consider themselves religiously unaffiliated is increasing with each new generation.

Declining adherence to tradition doesn’t mean people aren’t searching for some sense of spirituality, though. While some parents plan to carry on the tradition of beliefs that have been passed down to them, others do not have a firm set of beliefs to begin with — or want to be uprooted from their old beliefs and begin anew in another spiritual pathway.

Some families will ultimately find a place of worship that feels right. Others will split the difference: One parent will attend a religious service while the other stays home, and they’ll have to find a compromise when it comes to the children. For my family, the jury is still out.

33

religion directory Beth Shalom Synagogue bethshalomcolumbia.org 5827 N Trenholm Rd., 782-2500

Bishop Memorial AME Church 2221 Washington St., 254-6686

Brookland Baptist Church

Saint John Neumann Catholic Church stjohnneumannsc.com 100 Polo Rd., 788-0811

Shandon Baptist Church www.shandon.org 5250 Forest Dr., 782-1300

www.brooklandbaptist.org 1066 Sunset Blvd., 796-7525

Shandon United Methodist Church

Ebenezer Lutheran Church

shandon-umc.org 3407 Devine St., 256-8383

www.ebenezerlutheran.org 1301 Richland St., 765-9430

Incarnation Lutheran Church www.incarnationlutheran.com 3005 Devine St., 256-2381

Islamic Center of Columbia Masjid al-Muslimiin www.almasjid.com 1929 Gervais St., 254-7242

Lexington Presbyterian Church

St. David’s Episcopal Church stdavidscolumbia.org 605 Polo Rd., 736 0866

Transfiguration Catholic Church www.transfigurationsc.org 306 N. Pines Rd., 735-0512 Blythewood

Tree of LIfe Congregation www.tolsc.org 6719 North Trenholm Rd., 787-2182

www.lexpreschurch.com 246 Barr Rd., 359-9501

Trinity Episcopal Cathedral

Newspring Church

www.trinitysc.org 1100 Sumter St., 771-7300

newspring.cc 657 Bush River Rd., 803-726-4361

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbia www.uucolumbia.org 2701 Heyward St., 799-0845

family finance directory AllSouth Federal Credit Union

Palmetto Citizen’s Federal Credit Union

www.allsouth.org 6923 North Trenholm Rd., 736-3110

www.palmettocitizens.org 1320 Washington St., 732-5000

BB&T Checking Savings and Investments

Regions Bank

bbt.com 1901 Assembly St., 251-1300

Congaree State Bank www.congareestatebank.com 1201 Knox Abbot Dr., 794-2265

www.regions.com 1010 Gervais St., 779-3836

SC State Credit Union www.scscu.com 800 Huger St., (800) 868-8740

First Citizen’s Bank

South Carolina Bank and Trust

www.firstcitizensonline.com 1015 Lady St., 612-4444

www.scbtonline.com 520 Gervais St., 771-2265

First Community Bank www.firstcommunitysc.com 5455 Sunset Blvd., 951-0555

34

media

Music & DVD Reviews

By Kevin Oliver

music artists, Milkshake’s music isn’t aimed at a particular age group — it’s just fun, and last time I checked there wasn’t an age limit on that.

Julianna Bright, Cat Doorman Songbook Night & Day Studios

Milkshake, Got a Minute?

Milkshake Music

Milkshake came to the attention of most of us from a series of 13 short video songs the band wrote for PBS KIDS in 2006 that aired between shows. One of those kid’s music groups that doesn’t sound like a kid’s band, Milkshake’s sound is diverse but generally in an upbeat pop-rock style that entertains the little ones and won’t annoy mom and dad.

This upcoming album, scheduled for a March 26 release, is the band’s first since 2009’s Grammy-nominated Great Day, and it includes guest appearances from two-time Grammy winners Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer as well as singer/bagpiper Kyf Brewer of the band Barleyjuice.

The new songs expand on the PBS KIDS concept, presenting the original 13 PBS tracks plus 20 more of what the band refers to as “Milkshake Miniatures,” most of them less than two minutes long.

The short run time of each tune is perfect for the attention deficit disorder in all of us, and the songs are catchy enough to sing along to either in the car or the playroom. Unlike many children’s

Not just an album of children’s songs, this new media project by illustrator and Portland indie music scene veteran Julianna Bright includes 14 songs, an 18-page booklet of hand-lettered lyrics and Bright’s colorful, cheery illustrations. One of those songs is Bright’s version of the classic “Little Red Wagon,” and Night & Day Studios is launching a companion Little Red Wagon app for iPhone that also includes hundreds of Bright’s illustrations.

Members of Bright’s band Golden Bears appear, as do Chris Funk of the Decemberists, Seth Lorinczi of the Corin Tucker Band and Annalisa Tornfelt of Black Prairie. The result is a rollicking good time of an album that wouldn’t sound out of place on the average college radio station, with strings, horns, piano and more augmenting the basic guitar-bass-drums lineup throughout. Bright’s voice is clear and radiant, perfectly suited to children’s music.

Parents with record collections will want to note the inclusion of Syd Barrett’s “Effervescing Elephant,” which fits here more naturally than one might suppose with its silly lyrics that fall all over themselves before ending abruptly — perfect for that “play it again!” demand so common to our little ones.

This is one of those children’s music releases that just doesn’t feel much like a kid’s record; think of it as the perfect opportunity to transition the kids over to Sufjan Stevens.

Animaniacs, Vol. 4 DVD Warner Bros.

Animation fans fondly remember Steven Spielberg’s venture into the field with Animaniacs, a Warner Brothers vehicle that did pop culture send-ups better than anyone else in the 1990s. This new DVD release completes the 99 episode series for the collector and fan, with all the favorite characters and shorts included from the last few seasons of the show.

Made as much for adults as it was for kids, the Animaniacs episodes ran like classic sketch comedy routines, following no real time or subject restrictions, so one could have movie send-ups like “Goodfeathers” (based on the characters from Goodfellas) and then an ABC song to the tune of a classic folk tune (such as one based on “Turkey in the Straw”).

Yakko, Wakko, and Dot tied all of the segments together as Warner siblings escaped from a 1930s studio vault; they headed up a large cast of characters including Slappy Squirrel, Dr. Otto Scratchnsniff, and the infamous villains Pinky and the Brain, which were spun off into their own series for a while.

Kids who were too young to have seen Animaniacs when it first aired will howl with laughter at the silly antics of the characters, while their parents will finally get all the jokes that went over their heads as youngsters.

media

Books

By Heather Green

Teen Cuisine: New Vegetarian Matthew Locricchio (author) and James Peterson (photographer) Amazon Children’s Publishing, 207 pages, $24.95 Ages: Teen

A lot of teens experiment with vegetarianism. Some stick with it and some don’t, but either way young foodies should be delighted to know that there’s a new cookbook out just for teens — especially vegetarian teens. Features more than 50 recipes from appetizers to desserts and each labeled as vegetarian, vegan, or even raw. One of my favorite sections, Snazzy Sips, features fruit blended drinks and homemade ginger ale. Aspiring young chefs should take notice.

It’s a Tiger!

David LaRochelle (author) and Jeremy Tankard (illustrator)

Gingersnap Patricia Reilly Giff (author) Wendy Lamb Books, $15.99 Ages: 8 and up

Gingersnap, by Newberry Award winner Patricia Reilly Giff, is a historical journey set in New York during World War II. It’s a tale about two orphaned siblings, Rob and Jayna, and their experiences during wartime struggles.

Jayna dreads having to stay with their strict landlord after Rob is deployed to assist with war efforts. After a ghostly encounter and some sad news about her brother, Jayna finds an old recipe book that gives clues about her family’s past. Young readers who enjoy historical fiction will really enjoy this new release.

This is great story about a little girl’s quest to find a sense of belonging, security and hope.

Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs Mo Willems (author & illustrator)

Chronicle Books, 36 pages, $16.99

Balzer + Bray, 40 pages, $17.99

Ages: Pre-K

Ages: 4 to 8

“It’s not easy to find picture books with this level of verbal and visual sophistication that manage to remain kid-friendly to even the littlest of lap readers,” wrote The Boston Globe.

A wonderful read-aloud picture book full of humor, It’s a Tiger will delight even the oldest reader. (I even laughed out loud.) We start in the jungle where we see monkeys — but oh no!, there’s a tiger following us! Will we be his lunch? Will the tiger follow us throughout the whole book? Run for it! Told in humorous detail and with bright illustration, It’s a Tiger is sure to be both a story time and bedtime hit.

Ever read to you child and wonder, ‘How much longer is this story going to go on?’ That doesn’t happen with Willems’ titles. You can never go wrong with a book by Mo Willems, award-winning author of the Pigeon, Knuffle Bunny and Elephant and Piggie series. Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs is no different.

When family of dinosaurs leaves a trap for an unsuspecting Goldilocks in the hopes of catching dinner, they are disappointed when their plan is foiled. This new version has just enough sass to entertain adults and silliness to entertain your children.

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36 media child understand them, too. Offers classes, book clubs, homework help, kids’ events and much more.

Rainy Day Pal Books 711 E. Main St., 951-2780 Located on the bottom floor of Lexington’s historic Old Mill, Rainy Day Pal Used Books is known for its wide selection, and it specializes in children’s books.

Richland County Public Library Main Branch: 1431 Assembly St., 799-9084 Ballentine: 1321 Dutch Fork Rd., 781-5026 Blythewood: 218 McNulty Rd., 691-9806.

Cooper: 5317 N. Trenholm Rd., 787-3462 Eastover: 608 Main St., 353-8584 North Main: 5306 N. Main St., 754-7734 Northeast: 7490 Parklane Rd., 736-6575 Sandhills: 1 Summit Pkwy., 699-9230 Southeast: 7421 Garners Ferry Rd., 776-0855 St. Andrews: 2916 Broad River Rd., 772-6675 Wheatley: 931 Woodrow St., 799-5873 myrcpl.com.

For many years running, the Richland County Public Library won the Best Place to Expand Your Mind category in the Free Times Best of Columbia awards.

Like the library system across the river, the 11-branch Richland County Public Library system stocks tons of books for kids, but will also help your child understand them, too. Offers classes, book clubs, homework help, kids’ events and much more.

W

e know we just said, not three listings sections ago, that active kids are happy kids. But the mind and imagination are to be nurtured, too, and here are a few places where you can do just that.

Barnes & Noble

Books Revisited

Forest Acres: 3400 Forest Dr., 787-5600 Harbison: 278-A Harbison Blvd., 749-9009 barnesandnoble.com

7366A Two Notch Rd., 865-9990 booksrevisitedsc.com

The mega-chain bookstore stocks tons of reading material for kids, sure, but it hosts kid-friendly events — storytimes, games, etc. — too.

The Book Dispensary 710 Gracern Rd.,798-4739 mybookdispensary.com The best books, often, are ones that have been treasured and cared for, and Columbia’s oldest specializes in preloved books.

Books-A-Million Forest Acres: 4840 Forest Dr., 782-4475 Harbison: 275 Harbison Blvd., 749-9378 Northeast: 164 Forum Dr., 788-4349 booksamillion.com The mega-chain bookstore stocks tons of reading material for kids, sure, but hosts kid-friendly events — storytimes, games, etc. — too.

A quality source for quality used books; also hosts storytimes, book clubs, writing workshops and more.

Ed’s Editions 406 Meeting St., 791-8002 edseditions.com This quaint, family-owned bookstore is a nigh-yearly winner in the Free Times Best of Columbia awards.

GameStop gamestop.com A recent study, ABC News reported, from the Education Development Center and the U.S. Congress-supported Ready To Learn Initiative found that a curriculum that involved digital media such as video games could improve early literacy skills when coupled with strong parental and teacher involvement. The key was having educational video games, but video games also improve hand-eye coordination, teach basic skills, improve multitasking and can promote exercise and social play. There are some 15

GameStop locations in Columbia, so buy Junior that Zelda title if he does well in school, OK?

Heroes and Dragons

Rolling Video Games rollingvideogamescolumbia.com Rolling Video Games delivers what it promises: a mobile video game theater stocked with the latest titles available for birthday parties, bar mitzvahs, whatever.

Silver City Comics 538 Knox Abbott Dr., 791-4021 Remember what we said about Heroes and Dragons? Ditto for Silver City.

510 Bush River Rd., 731-4376

South Carolina State Library

Like video games, comic books, too, provide benefits, stimulating the imagination and creativity. So don’t toss your kids’ Avengers comics.

1430 Senate St. statelibrary.sc.gov

Lexington County Library Main Branch: 5440 Augusta Rd., 785-2600 Batesburg-Leesville: 203 Armory St., 532-9223 Cayce-West Columbia: 1500 Augusta Rd., 794-6791 Chapin: 129 NW Columbia Ave., 345-5479 Gaston: 214 S. Main St., 791-3208 Gilbert-Summit: 405 Broad St., 785-5387 Irmo: 6251 St. Andrews Rd., 798-7880 Pelion: 206 Pine St., 785-3272 Swansea: 199 N. Lawrence Ave., 785-3519 South Congaree: 200 Sunset Dr., 785-3050 lex.lib.sc.us Books are invaluable to a child’s development. The 10-branch Lexington County Library system stocks tons of books for kids, but will also help your

The South Carolina State Library is home to the South Carolina Center for the Book, which co-sponsor adult and adolescent literary events, such as the South Carolina Book Festival, the State Library Read-In, Letters About Literature, and many workshops.

Thomas Lee Hall Library 4679 Lee Rd., 751-5589 fortjacksonmwr.com/library Military kids don’t have to go off-post to find a great library.

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Childhood is full of bangs, bumps and bacteria.

Parenthood may be fun, but it sure isn’t easy.

That’s why the pediatric practices of Lexington Medical Center make children’s health care fast and easy. Get compassionate, comprehensive and acute pediatric care from experienced physicians with convenient office hours. And protect your children with the added strength of Lexington Medical Center and our extensive physician network of care.

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