Athens oconee parent july august 17

A Resource for Families in Athens, Oconee County and the Surrounding Area

Building Families...

Building Businesses

25 Back to school, baby!

LOCALLY OWNED & OPERATED SINCE 1998!

Baby & Toddler Must-Haves Movement,Touch ... and Love

Healthy Snacks Feed the Mind Listen and Learn The Dirt on Dirt

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Don’t let your kids become strangers in your own house

free August 2017

July/August 2017 Vol. 19 No. 5

“Building Families...Building Businesses�

Locally Owned and Operated.

Now In Our 19th Year!

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR A.W. Blalock MANAGING EDITOR Sarah Danis WEB DESIGN/CALENDAR Chris Parsons DISTRIBUTION Claire Phillips FOUNDER Shannon H. Baker

WRITERS AND CONTRIBUTORS

Jonah Berkowitz, Liz Conroy, Candace Couch, Sarah Danis, Amy S. Lasseter, Chris Parsons, Dr. Jon Robinson, Kaeti Lindsay Shurling, Michelle Turner

Athens-Oconee Parent Magazine is published six times a year. Reader correspondence and editorial submission welcome.We reserve the right to edit, reject or comment editorially on all material contributed. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced without express written consent of the publisher. Athens-Oconee Parent Magazine reserves the right to refuse any advertising for any reason.

The opinions expressed by contributors or writers do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this magazine. Distribution of this product does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services herein.

Athens-Oconee Parent Magazine P.O. Box 465,Watkinsville, GA 30677 Advertising: ads@athensparent.com Editorial: editor@athensparent.com Office & Production: office@athensparent.com Calendar: calendar@athensparent.com Website: web@athensparent.com

www.athensparent.com PUBLISHED BY

on the cover MISS CHARLOTTE DUNCAN Photo by Kemberly Mixon, Full of Grace Photography www.athensparent.com

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e made it through the summer break! I hope yours was fun and at least occasionally relaxing. My husband, Michael, and I had a great time taking our older son to New York City during the break. It was an early celebration for my husband finishing his degree.After enjoying some time off, I got excited thinking about this issue.The Baby and Back to School edition is my favorite issue that we put out for the whole year! Having a new little one, I obviously love babies and, having a big kid, I enjoy the excitement that comes around with starting a brand new school year and meeting his new teacher. As a teacher myself, no matter how long I have been teaching, I always get butterflies in my stomach the night before a new school year.Take some extra time to love on your kids this time of year, as going back to school is a huge deal!

In this issue, we have a mix of topics related to our kids going back to school and a pregnancy and infant focus as well. Liz Conroy gives us an eye-opening perspective about keeping our kids healthy when they go back to school. Dr. Jon Robinson has responses to two parent questions we received. Candace Couch has suggestions of how to hold conversations with our kids, while Jonah Berkowitz has some ideas of how we can reconnect with them. Kaeti Lindsay Shurling shares with us some yummy but healthy snack ideas we can prepare for our kids. Michelle Turner offers ideas about how to help our newborns learn to move more effectively.The stressful topic of the struggle of infertility is tackled by Amy S. Lasseter. And Helen Anderson and I compiled a list of baby and toddler must-haves that I think you might enjoy too!

We would love to hear from you if you have any suggestions or feedback about this issue.We hope this school year is great for your family!

contents

FEATURES

Strangers In Your Own House 14 Talking WITH Your Kids, NOT AT Them 18 ACC Leisure Services Scholarship Program 20 The Dirt On Dirt

the baby pages!

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22 25 Baby & Toddler Must-Haves 26 My Struggle With Infertility 28 Movement,Touch ... and Love

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DEPARTMENTS

6 Show & Tell 12 On Your Mind:

Sarah Danis

Sarah, Trey and Michael in New York City.

Like us on Facebook!

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8 Feeding the Mind 10 Don’t Let Your Kids Become

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Bring It On 16 Calendar 30 ‘Til We Meet Again

>read us online!

Read Athens-Oconee Parent Magazine anywhere, any time ... online!

Visit athensparent.com and click “read online.” Also, check out our online calendar for up-to-date, family-friendly events. www.athensparent.com

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tell

Compiled by Sarah Danis

big chill!

PackIt is a freezable lunch box that chills healthy food for hours. Freezable gel is built into the lunch box so you’ll never waste money on ice packs again. Each lunch box's individual design makes it easy to pack all sorts of containers, even flat containers like bento boxes. Great for packing a lunch for school or work!

snack pack!

I’m always on the hunt for something easy to send to school for my son’s snack. He enjoys Munk Pack’s Oatmeal Fruit Squeezes! This breakthrough healthy snack brand is offering delicious and nutritionally balanced fuel that is specialty-diet friendly, nutritious, yummy, and portable!

PHOTO BY KAETI LINDSAY SHURLING

apple “pizza”

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eep nuts, dried fruit, mini-marshmallows and peanut butter in the cupboard along with fresh sliced apples and cheese cubes in the fridge and you’ve always got a quick and healthy way to satisfy those afterschool eating binges.There are no hidden ingredients like you’ll find in frozen microwave “snacks”!

healthy snacks!

Don’t let convenience win out when it comes to lunchbox and after-school snacks.

Keeping the ingredients at hand – many of which can be kept in the pantry when you need them – makes it easy for kids to prepare their own. Snack on that!

See more about easy & healthy snacks on page 8

get a boost!

Make school carpooling a breeze with the Mifold Grab and Go Booster Seat. It’s more than 10x smaller than a regular child’s car booster seat making it the most advanced, compact, and portable booster seat ever invented! The Mifold easily fits 3 seats in a row in the back seat. Plus, it is just as safe as a bulkier booster seat – meeting or exceeding the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards in crash tests!

For use with children 4-12 years (40-57” tall).

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“Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere.”

Chinese Proverb

Send your ideas & photos to P.O. Box 465, Watkinsville, GA 30677 or e-mail editor@athensparent.com 6

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baby talk

MotherToBaby Georgia is a free, confidential service parents can contact (by phone, email, text message, or live chat) to learn of the risks of medications, substances of abuse, herbal remedies, vaccines, environmental exposures, and much more during pregnancy and breastfeeding. www.mothertobaby.org

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power tool!

There is now a new instructional pregnancy app – Pregnancy Power. This app presents a simple, interactive and fun way to learn about your pregnancy. Pregnancy Power offers a unique question and answer format that goes step by step through the maze of prenatal care, only available with this distinctive system for learning about your pregnancy. The tools you need are at your fingertips! The Pregnancy Power app allows the user to easily track their pregnancy progress, post pictures, write notes and, most importantly, allow the user to feel the POWER of the PREGNANCY filled with knowledge.

“A baby fills a place in your heart that you never knew was empty.”

Anonymous

bottoms up!

50 Strong’s Simply Better Bottles is a smart, stylish line of water bottles offering a bottle for every lifestyle, drinking personality and activity. Want a straw that gets every last drop? A bottle that fits ice? One that mixes, but doesn’t leave clumps in protein shakes? There’s a bottle for that! All bottles are made of BPAfree, durable Tritan plastic, are top-rack dishwasher safe, designed to fit in most cup holders and kitchen cabinets, and are proudly 100% designed and made in the U.S.A. Plus, 10% of profits are donated to the 50 Strong Foundation.

read this!

Kisses for Kindergarten

by Livingstone Crouse chool is about to begin and Stella Isabella Harden decides that kindergarten just isn’t for her. Instead, she decides to spend the day learning from her puppy named Buster.

Together these two adventurers plan a day full of playtime, teatime, naptime, and storytime.

After every “lesson,” Stella gets the best reward: a kiss from her best friend and favorite puppy. But will she change her mind about kindergarten before the first day of school? Join Stella and Buster in this lyrical read-aloud and heartwarming story about growing up.

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there goes the sun!

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ugust 21, 2017 is the day we will get to experience the solar eclipse! There will be an Eclipse Viewing Party at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia Visitor Center and plaza. Join them at the Garden for this free event as the sun, moon and earth align from 1:30 to 3:30 pm.They will have a supply of viewing glasses, plus snacks, beverages, live music, and games inside the air-conditioned conservatory. Free, but please register at botgarden.uga.edu. Sponsored by Friends of the Garden.You can get your own viewing glasses online as well and find out more about the eclipse at www.space.com/ 33797-total-solar-eclipse2017-guide.html

www.athensparent.com

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brain food

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Story and Photos by Kaeti Lindsay Shurling

Feeding the Mind

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here are many approaches we take to stocking our pantries with healthy lunchbox and after-school snacks, and despite our efforts to keep it nutritious, convenience usually wins! You know proper nutrition is key in your child’s growth and development, but did you realize its impact on the brain? The brain needs energizing fuel just as much as the growing body, especially during the school year. Just as we lack motivation when we are tired and “hangry” (hungry/angry), so does our mind. So let’s feed our children snacks that promote an ambitious brain!

What is a healthy snack composed of?

Nutrient Balance. Fruits and vegetables are a rich source of vitamins and minerals, but most are not filling by themselves. The quick burst of energy they provide can be lost very quickly. Try pairing your child’s favorite fruits and veggies with a fat and/or protein to slow down the rise in blood sugar and keep your child full until their next meal. This can be as simple as adding a cheese stick, nut butter or yogurt.

Kaeti Lindsay Shurling

Trail Mix

NEED SUGGESTIONS? These ideas and more can be found at www.doublethebatch.com/ 25-fun-and-healthy-snacks-for-kids/. For other ideas, visit ChooseMyPlate.gov.

Yogurt Parfait

Healthy Fats. Fat gets a bad wrap, but it is important to remember that healthy fats like omega 3’s and monounsaturated fats provide great health benefits, especially for children. Fats are much slower to digest than carbohydrates and proteins.This means fats do a better job of keeping your child satiated throughout the school day. Nuts and nut butters are good examples of those healthy fats! Maybe this is the year the trail mixes come back.

Protein-Packed. Our body requires protein as deep as the cellular level to build, power and repair our tissues and organs.This is especially crucial while your child is growing. No, your child doesn’t need to snack on protein shakes and chicken breasts. In fact, there are many other animal- and non-animal protein sources, such as dairy foods, eggs, nuts, seeds, and beans! ■ Kaeti Lindsay Shurling MS, RD, CSP is a registered dietitian specialized in pediatric nutrition. www.kaetird.com/ 8

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Fruit & Cheese Kabobs

www.athensparent.com

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family time

By Jonah Berkowitz

Don’t Let Your Kids Become ...

Strangers in Your Own House!

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he beginning of any school year presents a unique challenge to parents and kids alike. During the long, hot summer, parents have the tendency to find time to do fun things as a family.There are visits to the pool, vacations and movie afternoons in the cool air conditioning. Kids and parents alike enjoy grabbing an ice cream cone together.The days are long, and the possibilities endless.

But something happens once school starts back in August. Suddenly, the kids are at school all day, and doing homework until dinner.

Weekends can be spent by kids catching up with friends or with that homework that they never got around to doing. So just how are parents supposed to set aside the time to keep a connection with their kids when they also must take care of themselves? After all, there are bills to pay, lawns to mow, and toilets to clean.

Never fear! We are here to provide some easy ideas to make sure parents and kids don’t become strangers to each other in their own houses.

Schedule “Dates” Look at your calendar ahead of time and schedule a date with your kids at least once a month. If you have more than one kid, make sure you have individual dates with each kid.

Do the Necessities Together Include kids in the things you must do anyway. When you are cooking, think about what parts of the cooking process a kid can do. Get a cutting knife that is kid sized (and not too sharp) for them to use. Let them rinse veggies, pour things into pans, and strip leaves from herbs. Not into cooking?

Get them to help in the yard. Give the kids a small task in the garden to keep up, and work on it together. It doesn’t stop there, as plenty of things that seem like ‘chores’ to adults can feel like a fun activity for kids.

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Put it on the calendar and do not cancel, no matter what.These can be as simple as going to your kid’s favorite restaurant or to a local bookstore.Take turns picking the date activity.

This way, you can also open your kid up to new experiences.

Put the Phone (or Tablet) Down There is no denying that America in 2017 is an electronic world.We all have tiny computers sitting in our pockets or purses in the form of phones, and it’s almost impossible to go a day without using those devices. Dinner is the ideal time to put those devices away and just have family time.Talk about your day with your kids. Ask them about their day.

Just put the electronic devices in another room, turn on some music, and enjoy being with your family.

Institute Family Reading Time Your kids probably have to read for school, so get together after dinner for family reading time. Even though nobody is talking, you’re all in the same room, doing the same activity.You might find that your kids even start asking about what you are reading out of curiosity.

Tell them all about whatever it is you are reading.The most important part of family reading time is to make it sacred. Don’t allow

distractions like phone calls or the Internet to take away this time.

Take Weekend Family Trips A few times a year, schedule a family trip somewhere, even if it’s not for any real purpose.

Think about the people or places you have always wanted to visit, get in the car, and go! In the Athens area, we live within a heartbeat of some incredible places.You don’t have to go too far to find adventure with your kids.

Plan a Movie Night Have a weekend movie night, and take turns picking the movie. One week, let your kids pick the movie, but the next week, pick a movie from your own childhood and share the experience of having your kids watch something you grew up with.There is something about seeing your kids watch Labyrinth for the first time that can warm even the coldest heart.Tell your kids that you are picking a movie that you used to watch as a kid and you may be surprised at how much they want to see it and talk about it.

Prioritize The biggest key to insuring that your kids don’t become strangers in your own house comes in the form of prioritizing your time with them. All parents need time for themselves to avoid becoming a stressed-out mess.

Prioritize the parent-kid activities that are meaningful for you. If family reading time doesn’t work and leads to your kid complaining, don’t do it! If you find something else that isn’t on this list, but that feels meaningful, do it! We all have a limited amount of time in the day, but parents seem to have even less time than the average person. Don’t let the time suck of the back-to-school schedule cause havoc on your family. Pick a couple of these suggestions and try them out. ■ Jonah Berkowitz has previously written for other local publications. He is an instructor at Athens Technical College and lives in Athens with his wife and 6-yearold daughter.

www.athensparent.com

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on your mind

By Dr. Jon Robinson

“Bring It On” Dear Dr. Robinson, It’s almost time for my kids to start back to school. Am I a bad mother for feeling relieved and overjoyed? Seriously, though, there is so much to do.We want to squeeze every inch out of summer vacation and yet still get ready for school. My eight- and tenyear-olds just want to ignore the inevitable and play, play, play.What to do?

- Signed, Reluctant Taskmaster Dear Reluctant, Don’t beat yourself up too much for only being human. Such seasons always bring mixed emotions. However, a common issue with many children is difficulty with transitions.As school approaches, all of you are in transition.

Hopefully, your summer has gone well because you all had a family meeting to discuss summer plans, came up with a list, and put the list on a family event calendar on the wall in a common area in your home. Your kids are old enough to accept individual responsibility, check the calendar daily, and bug you just a little bit.

Now, however, with the new school year approaching, move on to the next family thing.

That would be TRANSITION. Most families can look at a week of transition into the next thing.

Allow two weeks if you think that’s better for your family. Start with that family meeting, complete with the required round of audible groans. Create a do-list for each family member. No need for all of the shopping for supplies to be on you. Begin limiting screen time for your kids and have them do something to put their minds in school gear. Perhaps monitor their creating a three-page report or a poster about what they did this summer that was fun.

Perhaps crank them up with pleasure reading.

Most importantly, give them a week of school night bedtimes and early morning awakenings. (More groans.) Have a nice breakfast for them and plan something invigorating in the early morning hours. Perhaps a brisk walk? A swim? A trip to the local fast food for a fun breakfast outing?

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Am I a bad mother for feeling relieved and overjoyed that the kids are starting back to school?

Planned transition time with these kinds of elements will help your kids adapt to the changing circumstances, starting another school year, in a better frame of mind. After they leave for the first day of school, then you can feel relieved and overjoyed.

Dear Dr. Robinson, I’ve got two toddler boys, ages 2 and 4. My two-year-old, Jesse, idol worships his older brother, Adam.They can play nicely together.

Adam’s thrilled that his brother is “not a baby anymore.” Sometimes, however, Jesse can be overbearing and gets on his big brother’s nerves. Someday I think Jesse will become physically bigger than his older brother and I worry about bullying behavior. Suggestions?

- Signed, Concerned Mom Dear Concerned, Good for you for staying on top of how your boys are getting along. Did you have siblings growing up? If not, you’re in noman’s land, so ask some of your friends

about their experiences. Raising boys is not the issue, since you are now into raising boy number two. But, let me caution you.

Don’t overthink this parenting thing.

Most parents have no formal training on how to be a parent. As such, we are left with on-the-job training and a hint of parenting the way we were parented growing up.That can be a bit dicey, both because of our parental role models and because of rapid changes in technology and resources nowadays. Some parents want to be just like their mom and dad, while others want to be opposite of their mom and dad.

Three words of advice come to mind – include, mix, and confront. First, when you have questions about activities and play time, include your boys’ thoughts and feelings. Ask each what they want to do.

Actively listen to their feelings and needs, so you can manage and direct activity accordingly.

Put options on a family events calendar.To kids, that means you are taking them seriously.

Second, mix it up. Children’s attention spans are notoriously short, so allow for maybe three alternating activities (this, of course, in the middle of everything else you are trying to do, LOL). Also, mix it up so that each child has some of your time and attention individually.

With children so close together, and the same gender, it seems easier to just include them both. However, each has his own interests, strengths and weaknesses and part of your job is to help them form an individual identity.This mixing it up, of course, is much easier with coparenting and including your “village.”

Finally, confront.That doesn’t necessarily mean punish, but you do want to stop bullying behavior, bad choices, and selfishness with a spotlight question like,“Hold on there, buster.

This isn’t like you.What else is going on here?”

This gets their attention. Of course separate them to talk to them individually. Listen to their needs and feelings. Help each understand the impact of their words and actions and give natural consequences if indicated.

This is a lot to take in, but hang in there and you’ll become less “Concerned” and more “On Top Of Things.” ■ Dr. Robinson is a licensed, clinical psychologist. His specialty is in school-clinical, child psychology, with emphasis on child development, parenting and family counseling. He is also author of Teachable Moments: Building Blocks of Christian Parenting, now available nationwide in bookstores and on-line as an e-book.

www.athensparent.com

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listen & learn

By Candace Couch

Talking WITH your kids, NOT AT them

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alking with children and teenagers about important topics can seem daunting, especially when it’s a new school year and your kids come home exhausted. Sometimes even having a “productive” discussion about things that aren’t that important like “How was your day?” can feel uncomfortable and challenging.

When important topics need to be discussed, parents often fear they may say the wrong thing. In reality, there is rarely a “right” or “wrong” thing to say.The actual process of having the conversation is most important. Instead of skipping it, putting it off until later or pretending it doesn’t need to be discussed, your willingness to engage in the process of listening and responding is what matters.

The goal is to simply allow your 14

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child to feel heard and understood (or to know you are trying to understand).

Below are some tips that can help create a more inviting and less confrontational discussion when talking with your child or teenager.

Understand the Brain The pre-frontal cortex is important to understand when explaining the thoughts or behaviors of children and teenagers.This part of the brain is responsible for planning, decision making, interacting with others, and inhibiting behavior that is inappropriate.These are often areas of concern in parenting. Parents get frustrated when their child doesn’t plan study time appropriately for an upcoming test, or says or does something inappropriate. It is

important to remember that during childhood and the teen years, the pre-frontal cortex is still developing.While planning to work on a project for days in advance may seem obvious to the parent who has a fully developed pre-frontal cortex, the same is not true for a teen.The goal for parents is to train their child in these areas so that as the brain develops and grows, it becomes more and more efficient at planning, making decisions and interacting with others, and not participating in behavior that is inappropriate or unacceptable. Providing discipline through choices and consequences helps the brain grow and mature in these areas.

Understanding your teen’s brain development enables you to empathize with your child’s perspective of the world and have

meaningful conversations.This also helps explain why reasoning and offering logical arguments and lectures can be dead ends in communication with children and teenagers.

Don’t Talk Ok, maybe you can talk a little, but keep in mind that the more you talk the less they listen. And the more you are talking, the less space you are giving your child to talk. Most importantly, avoid lecturing or jumping into “fix it” mode.

Use Empathy Think about how the situation your child is discussing with you would make you feel and then explore if that is similar to how your child feels. For example, an empathetic parent may say, “That must have really made you feel _______ [insert feeling word].”

Give Attention to Emotions Consider the power of emotions in shaping your child’s thoughts, behaviors and their understanding of their circumstances. Help them create an emotional vocabulary. John Gottman’s book, Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child, offers valuable information about parents acting as “emotional coaches” for their children. Gottman explains that “studies indicate that the act of labeling emotions can have a soothing effect on the nervous system.” When helping your child label how they are feeling, think beyond happy, sad and mad. The more descriptive they can be the more clearly they can communicate with you about their life. This can also increase their ability to feel understood. Having a “Feelings Chart” on your refrigerator can be a helpful tool for kids (and their parents!).

Ask Questions Asking questions can encourage your child to examine his/her thoughts and consider other possible perspectives. Be careful not to communicate judgment, but instead, communicate your curiosity about what your child has to say.The goal is to understand your child better, not conduct an investigation.

Encourage Them Encourage them to make their own plan and ask if they want your input.While your fully developed adult brain can create a better plan than your child’s, it is important to let them think through choices and possible consequences and practice problem solving on their own.

Offering to help if they need it is a good way to communicate your support and willingness to help while not “over-parenting.”

Make Your Own Plans for Teaching in the Future While listening (remember Tip

#2?), collect valuable data about your child and how they think and see the world.This is helpful information to use in the future when you have the opportunity to teach.

Spark Your Child’s Interest in Future Conversations Greg Smith, LCSW, encourages parents to make statements like, “I know a little bit about _______ [insert topic that you would like to teach your child]. Let me know if you ever want to talk about it.”

Hopefully, this will trigger your child’s curiosity about the topic and your child will pursue you for your wisdom.

Enjoy learning about your child.

Your efforts to better understand them as you listen to him/her will pay off relationally for years to come! Reframe the challenging moments of communicating with your child as a chance to be more creative in your parenting approach. Keep in mind, these tips don’t take the place of getting professional help if you have concerns about your child or teen. Counseling can offer an opportunity to have an even more in-depth understanding of yourself and your child. ■ RESOURCES: • Sarah Jane Blakemore’s TEDTalk - The Mysterious Workings of the Adolescent Brain • Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child by John Gottman, PhD • Building Resilience in Children and Teens: Giving Kids Roots and Wings by Kenneth Ginsburg, MD Candace is a wife and mother of two children. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor with a practice in Athens where she works with individual adults, couples, children and teenagers, along with their parents. Candace specializes in decreasing parent-child conflict and helping families enjoy being together.

For more resources visit www.candacecouchcounseling.com. www.athensparent.com 15

calendar Ongoing ■ Fantastic Fridays Beginning August 18: Drop in gymnastics for ages 10 months to 4 years. An instructor supervises the fun while parents and/or caregivers lead their little ones through amazing obstacle courses. Bishop Park Gym, 1011:30am, $5-$7.50/child, 613-3589

■ Knee High Naturalist Who pooped here? What crept by the river?

Who left this mess? Come discover an outdoor adventure where we look for signs of animals throughout the Sandy Creek Nature Center. Ages: 3-5 years, with adult. Alternate Wednesdays, 9/6-11/15, 3:30-4:30pm, $24$36, preregistration required online. athensclarkecounty.com/148/Leisure-Services, 613-3615

■ Farmers Markets Enjoy locally and naturally grown food, crafts, art and sometimes music and cooking demonstrations at these weekly events.

Athens: Saturdays at Bishop Park 8am-noon; Wednesdays at Creature Comforts Brewing Company 4-7pm, athensfarmersmarket.net Watkinsville: Saturdays at Oconee County Courthouse 8am-1pm downtown Watkinsville, oconeefarmersmarket.org

■ Athens Mothers’ Center Social Group Are you a new or expectant mom or have you recently moved to the Athens area? Are you seeking new friends for yourself and your children? Come and meet other moms experiencing similar joys and challenges! We support moms by offering casual chat and activity groups, social events, and information about community resources in a non-judgmental, non-denominational setting. AMC meets Tuesday and Friday mornings from 9:30-11:30am year round (except when Clarke County Schools are closed). Dads are welcome on Fridays. Children are welcome in all groups, but moms of toddlers and preschoolers may take advantage of wonderful on-site childcare for a nominal fee.

Covenant Presbyterian Church, athensga.mom-mentum.org

August 2017 8 Toddler Tuesday: Martin Johnson Heade Join us for a special tour, storytime in the galleries and and art activity just for little ones.

This free, 40-minute program is designed for 16

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Compiled by Chris Parsons

Some events, dates and times are subject to change.

Please call individual event organizers to confirm schedules.

All area codes are 706 unless otherwise noted.

families with children ages 18 months to 3 years, and will focus on the art of Martin Johnson Heade. Space is limited; please email sagekincaid@uga.edu or call 706-542-0448 to reserve a spot. Georgia Museum of Art, 10:00-11:00am

19 Family Day: The Science of Art

Creature Comforts, in downtown Athens.

Visit indiesouthfair.com for additional details.

Celebrate STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) and explore the relationship between science and art in this special back-to-school family program. Try out hands-on gallery stations in the permanent collection wing, fun activities in a special makerspace, artmaking projects and more. Georgia Museum of Art, 10:00am12:00pm, 542-4662

13 Athens Brass Choir

20 2nd Annual East Side Eats

This popular annual concert by brass musicians often includes classical music, marches, and show tunes. Spend a hot August afternoon relaxing at this free indoor concert. State Botanical Garden, 2:00-3:00pm, 542-6156

The YWCO hosts East Side Eats, a celebration of Athens’ East Side, from 5:00-7:00pm in the YWCO gym located at 562 Research Drive in Athens. Enjoy this tasting event for the whole family, with food and drink samples from east side businesses, live music, silent auction, and fun for kids! Tickets $15 or 4 for $50 and available at ywco.org, the YWCO, or at the door on the day of the event. Children under five are free with a parent.

13 Indie South Eclectic Bazaar

15 Sunflower Music Series: The Whiskey Gentry Summer was made for outdoor concerts – and so was the amphitheater and terraced lawns in the Flower Garden at the State Botanical Garden. Atlanta-based band The Whiskey Gentry brings deep country, Americana, honky-tonk, bluegrass and a stiff shot of gritty rock ‘n’ roll. 7:00-9:00pm, $15; $5 children ages 6-12, 542-6156

17 Baby Music Jam! Join us for a sing-a-long and lots of fun! Children and caregivers play musical instruments, sing, and dance together. Oconee County Library, 10:30am 769-3950. Also on 9/14.

100’s more events at athensparent.com!

21 Eclipse Viewing Party Join us at the State Botanical Garden for this free event as the sun, moon and earth align. from 1:30-3:30 pm.We will have a supply of viewing glasses, plus snacks, beverages, live music, and games inside the airconditioned conservatory. Free, but please register at botgarden.uga.edu. Sponsored

by Friends of the Garden.

NOTE: Look at this spectacular event through your viewing glasses only!

26 Zoo Day 2017: Code Quest Participants will play the part of the zoo’s brand new zoo keeper and search the zoo for clues for the code that will unlock the kitchen so animals can feed.The zoo animals will help you in your quest. Complete the challenges and puzzles stationed throughout the zoo to obtain the pieces of the secret code. Put it all together to complete your quest! Zoo Day will also feature arts and crafts, educational animal encounters, and special guests. Bear Hollow Zoo at Memorial Park, noon-3pm, $2-$3/person, children 2 and under are free. 613-3616

September 2017 2 Fireworks at Lanier Islands Celebrate Labor Day with fireworks.Visit lanierislands.com for details.

7 Lego Robots Workshop Come learn how to build real, working LEGO Robots! Practice your teamwork and see how you can make them move. Ages 7 and up.

Registration required – call the library or ask at the desk to register. Oconee County Library, 4:00pm 769-3950

8 Family Program “Going Batty!”

What has thumbs and can fly? A bat! Join us for an evening learning about bats and searching the evening sky with eyes and a bat detector. Ages 5 and up, children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult. Sandy Creek Nature Center, 7:30-9:00pm, $2-$3. 613-3615

10 Celebrate Grandparents Day 12 Toddler Tuesday: Giò Ponti Join us for a special tour, storytime in the galleries and an art activity just for little ones.

This free, 40-minute program is designed for families with children ages 18 months to 3

years, and will focus on the design of Gió Ponti. Space is limited; please email sagekincaid@uga.edu or call 706-542-0448 after August 1 to reserve a spot. Georgia Musuem of Art, 10:00-11:00am

19 Pirate Day For all you land lubbers, in honor of Talk Like A Pirate Day, join us on a treasure hunt around the nature center. Be sure to speak and dress like a pirate! Sandy Creek Nature Center, 3:00-4:30pm, 613-3615

23 25th Annual Insect-ival A creepy, crawly, and definitely fun family festival. Discovery stations, roach and beetle races, an insect café, puppet shows and, of course, lots of live insects will highlight this year’s event!

The annual butterfly release on the lawn of the International Garden takes place at 11:00 am.

Don’t miss this wonderful opportunity to view dozens of native butterflies flap their wings!

Insect-ival is sponsored by the State Botanical Garden, the UGA Lund Club, the UGA Department of Entomology, and the Georgia Museum of Natural History. Pre-registration is not required. State Botanical Garden, 9:30am12:30pm, $5/person, $20max/family, children under 2 Free, 542-6156 ■

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leisure lesson

From ACC Leisure Services

Everything you need to know about the new ACC Leisure Services

Scholarship Program

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thens-Clarke County Leisure Services new scholarship program offers an opportunity for families to pay less than the full fee for youth programs.This new program became effective on July 1, 2017.

How do I apply for a scholarship? Parents/legal guardians must apply in person by taking the required documentation to any ACC Leisure Services facility office during regular hours of operation. Please note that scholarship applications must be submitted at least five (5) business days prior to registering for a program or camp.

How long will it take for me to receive information about my approval status? Up to five (5) business days.You will receive an email stating whether your application was approved, and if approved, the discount percentage applied to your online account.

Do you have to be an Athens-Clarke County resident in order to qualify for a scholarship? Yes, the scholarship program is only available to qualifying ACC residents under the age of 18.

Which documents are now accepted when applying for an ACC Leisure Services Department Scholarship?

The documents accepted are the most recent IRS Tax Form 1040 with your children’s names listed as dependents and a recent utility bill (within last 90 days) for the

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dependency, income, and residency requirement.

What if an applicant does not have a current tax return or utility bill?

Applicants without a current tax return and utility bill can continue to apply for hardship consideration. A designated Leisure Services staff member will accept other documents for review and determination.

How are scholarship discounts determined?

Scholarship discounts are based on dependency, income, and residency verification and the amount awarded is based on annual income and household size as compared to the Federal Poverty Guidelines information produced annually.

What is the scholarship discount? Scholarships are available in 25%, 50%, and 75% amounts.The 100% scholarship is no longer available.

Is there a maximum scholarship discount per child? Yes, the maximum scholarship subsidy provided is $400 per child, per year. Once the $400 is completely used,

parents/legal guardians will not be able to receive discounts for other programs for that particular child.

Do scholarships expire?

Yes, all scholarships expire June 30 and must be renewed each year.

I qualified at X amount last year, will I qualify for the same amount this year? Scholarship applications are reviewed individually based on the most recent federal tax form and the most recent Federal Poverty Guidelines, so some people do not qualify for the same amount every year. No one will qualify for the same amount this year that they had last year, due to the discounts categories changing to 75%, 50%, and 25% which are all different from last year.

My friend got X amount of discount and I did not why not? Each application’s qualifying documentation is reviewed and rarely are these documents exactly the same incomes, households, etc, from person to person Whom do I contact with questions? Please call 706613-3800. â–

www.athensparent.com

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good germs

Book Review by Liz Conroy

The Dirt On

DIRT

“Nobody else but the rosebush knows How nice mud feels Between the toes.”

I

n “Mud,” Polly Chase Boyden captures the joy a child feels when exploring the outdoors and getting dirty. My husband and I grew up attracted to mud and puddles.

When his parents warned him not to step in puddles while wearing new shoes, Mike removed his shoes and floated them in the first puddle he found. He obeyed the rule, yet still had fun. I recall patting mud into cakes for my dolls. Mud was merry; dirt was delightful.

Our two daughters enjoyed playing in mud, dirt and sand whenever possible.We had rules about not wearing good clothes in mud.

But we also had play clothes for wading in the creek and sand box activities.

When my younger daughter, Laura, was a toddler and sick with chicken pox, she begged to go to the “san bok” late at night. After all, that’s where she felt happy.Today, researchers encourage parents to let their children go outside and get dirty. Playing in dirt, mud, and sand makes many kids happier as well as healthier than staying clean indoors.

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LEFT TO

A recently published book, Let Them Eat Dirt: Saving Your Child from an Oversanitized World, includes reasons why parents need to relax about keeping kids constantly clean.

Contact with dirt is necessary for good health, according to authors B. Brett Finlay, Ph.D. and Marie-Claire Arrieta, Ph.D. (All following quotes are from Let Them Eat Dirt.)

How can this be? Aren’t germs bad for us? That’s what most of us learned in the past.

The two authors – both distin-

RIGHT: Claire, 8, Lisa

(mom), and Lauren, 10

guished researchers – alert us to the world of microbes and their importance to our health.

Finlay is a father and a professor at the University of British Columbia and studied microbes for more than three decades.

Arrieta is a mother and assistant professor at the University of Calgary. Her recent study connected asthma in young babies to their lack of key intestinal bacterial species.

Finlay and Arrieta explain that the human microbiota consists of tiny forms of life such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa.These organisms inhabit our skin, mouth, nasal cavities, lungs, urinary tract, and gastrointestinal tract.The intestinal tract is a great place for

T

microbes to live and “our gut is packed with them.” The intestinal microbiota “teaches” our immune cells which microbes to tolerate and which ones to fight.

Studies on mice raised in microbe-free environments show that their immune systems remain “immature, sloppy, and unable to fight off diseases properly.” If we want our children to have strong immune systems, we need to pay attention to caring for their microbes and NOT try to raise children like “germ-free mice.”

For babies, breast milk helps give the microbes the perfect environment to thrive in the gut.When breastfeeding isn’t possible, the book discusses the value and use of supplementary probiotics.

Children’s first five years are important because microbiota takes three to five years to become well established.Tips for parents include regular outside play time for children. Allow kids to dig in the garden, plant seeds, and run barefoot. Let them experience how good mud feels between the toes. Sandy Creek Nature Center in Athens deserves praise for guiding kids outdoors in nature, permitting them to get dirty, and for celebrating “Mud Day” each June.

What about handwashing? It’s an important practice to prevent kids from contracting and spreading infectious illnesses.The authors agree handwashing must continue, especially before eating, after being in public places, using the toilet, touching garbage, waste products, farm animals, or playing in the sandbox. Do check the sandbox for animal waste (cats like to use it as a litter box). If found, scoop it out along with the sand surrounding it.

If kids are just playing outdoors, however, they don’t need to come in and wash their hands regularly (unless it’s time to eat).Then regular soap and water are fine. Avoid antibacterial soap! “A Food and Drug Administration (FDA) committee found that antibacterial soaps provide no benefits over regular soap and water. . . . and the FDA states the long-term use of antibacterial soaps may outweigh their benefits.”

Interactions of dogs with family members also help increase the diversity of the human microbiota. “Dogs are great spreaders of healthy outdoor microbiota,” the authors note. They recommend allowing the family dog to play and snuggle with young children.

“Epidemiological research shows that kids that are exposed to dogs early in life have a decreased risk of developing asthma and allergies.”

Don’t get a dog, however, simply to decrease a child’s risk of asthma.

Dogs need regular exercise, healthy diets, proper training, veterinary care, and consistent routines for their health and wellbeing. “Expose a child to a dog you know if you can’t have one at home,” they urge.

Parents can use diet to promote healthy microbiota in their children’s bodies.When a baby starts eating solid foods, parents should offer a variety of vegetables, legumes, fiber and fermented foods such as kefir and yogurt.“For either yogurt or kefir, it’s optimal to choose a brand low in sugar and without artificial sweeteners.” A diet based on refined carbohydrates (white flour and sugar) and high fats means most nutrients will be digested and absorbed in the upper part of the digestive tract, eventually starving the microbes in the larger intestine. Over time, the diversity of microbes in the gut decreases.

The authors present many ideas on helping children have healthy microbiota for better health, beginning with pregnancy and birth.They also discuss health issues such as diabetes and asthma.The index allows readers to go straight to specific topics. ■ [Let Them Eat Dirt, Chapel Hill, North Carolina: Algonquin Books, 2016; www.letthemeatdirt.com] Liz Conroy is an Athens-based freelance journalist who enjoys learning about microbes. www.athensparent.com

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the baby pages!

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Compiled by Sarah Danis and Helen Anderson

Newborn 101 is that go-to fourth trimester resource.

New parents could all benefit from some expert advice.

They’re past the pregnancy stage, and they don’t have time to read about the whole first year.They need straightforward advice on what’s right in front of them and you get that from this great book.

25 must-haves baby & toddler

THERE ARE ALWAYS NEW and fun products to use with our babies and toddlers. Following are some of the great ones I’ve learned about and tried.

*

We will have several of these must-haves as giveaways on our Athens-Oconee Parent Magazine Facebook page!

Be sure to like our Facebook page and then share the “must-haves” posts for a chance to win!

The Toddler Survival Guide is

a new book from Mike and Heather Spohr and will leave parents laughing out loud even as it provides practical advice on how they can make it to the other side of toddlerhood intact. Written by two parents who have studied toddlers up-close in their natural habitat, the book will cover survival skills including how you can outfit your home to outlast a toddler occupation (baby gate, cabinet locks, wine), how you can subdue an angry toddler (“Elmo’s Song,” mac and cheese, smartphone) and even how you can safely venture out in public together without your toddler – or you – bursting into tears.

Tray Buddi says “What goes on the tray, stays on the tray!” Moms know what other parents need ... a solution for keeping everything on the tray and off the floor at mealtime and more!

The Tray Buddi is designed to attach to most high chairs, booster seats, strollers, and wheelchairs to keep food, cups, toys and objects on the tray and off the floor.An ingenious solution that keeps messes to a minimum, the Tray Buddi can be easily cleaned with soap and water, and is top rack dishwasher-safe.

Robeez is well-known for their shoes, with colorful and fun prints and animal icons as well as a full apparel line. Robeez Soft Soles baby shoes mimic bare feet, by supporting – not constricting – baby, infant and toddler feet as they begin to crawl and learn to walk.

The soft suede soles flex and bend with every step.

BabyBum Diaper Cream Brush keeps Beco 8 Baby Carrier lets you wear your baby – newborn through toddlerhood – facing in, out, on your hip or back. Carry a baby weighing between 7 lbs and 45 lbs in added comfort with adjustable straps, expandable waist belt and padded crossable shoulder straps.

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your fingers clean from diaper cream.

Ointment goes on smoother, thicker, and faster.You will never want to apply diaper cream with your fingers again!

Choose from 4 bright, fun colors.

MAM Glow-in-the-Dark Pacifiers are so handy because the button in the middle glows in the dark. It makes it easy to find for parents and babies too!

Babycup First Cup is changing the face of how babies intake their first nonbottle liquid.The mission is simple: create a completely non-toxic cup that tackles some of the most common challenges and ailments present in small children today including poor dental health, crooked smiles, poorly developed jaws and speech impediments by fixing the main culprit: sucking-based drinking apparatuses. (Yes, they mean the ever-loved sippy cup, straw cup, and bottles that our children are used to using.) The use of real cups also has additional brain development and physical dexterity benefits that have been recognized by Montessori schools, physical therapists, and child psychologists.Through years of work with dental professionals and other experts in development, the Babycup First Cup, while small in stature (the size of a shot glass,) is now one of the top selling cups in the UK and is now available in the US.

DockATot has been designed to offer a safe, snug, and soothing environment for babies. Babies can rest, play, and lounge without the restrictions of buckles or the distraction of bells and whistles. It is lightweight and simple to travel with and is the ideal spot to let your little one get their tummy time in.

Babytime!

Nurturing Balm The Happy Family Organic Superfoods Cookbook for Baby & Toddler makes healthy eating for the whole family yummy, while bringing smiles all around. It offers parents a solution for a fresh and wholesome approach to feeding the entire family.The cookbook features over 60 simple yet delicious recipes, incorporating all-natural ingredients specifically chosen to allow a child’s palate to properly develop.The book features recipes that are perfect for the entire family – from baby to mom and dad – plus an expert nutrition guide and sample menus for busy families, making it the ultimate food guide for parenthood and beyond.

is the #1 organic skincare brand that will solve the issue of chapped or cracked skin, which not only hurts, but is not the most appealing either. It creates a soothing relief to you or your children with severely chapped, cracked, or irritated skin using its highlevel barrier of sine, tea tree oil and organic calendula.

Lullaby Earth’s Breeze Breathable Crib Mattress is designed to maximize airflow between your baby and their mattress.We start with a flat, firm, waterproof crib mattress for safety and add a breathable mattress pad to keep baby cool and dry for a more comfortable sleep without overheating.

www.athensparent.com

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baby & toddler must-haves The Teething Egg is a teether with a cute egg shape. It’s the perfect size for little hands to hold on to.The texture is similar to a baby’s gums, so they love chewing and rubbing their gums on the soft surface.You can attach it to a baby’s clothes so it’s always in reach and stays clean.Toss it in the fridge for a cool, soothing sensation. Made of food-grade material and free of latex, BPA, PVC, phthalates, metal and lead.

Kleynimals (“clean key animals”) are innovative stainless steel toy keys with adorable animal faces that your child will love. Kleynimals were founded by a mom looking for toxinfree baby keys that her baby could play with as an alternative to real keys.They are environmentally friendly, non-toxic, and dishwasher-safe. Kleynimals are proudly made in the USA.

Kepi’s Kozy Support Swaddle helps just about anyone – even anxiety-filled firsttime parents – to be swaddle masters in no time! Each Kepi Support Swaddle comes with the Kepi Board, a patented spoonshaped support that promotes a well-rounded head, reducing the risk of flat head syndrome.

It also helps support a baby’s head, neck and spine.

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Baby Booster is an OBGYN approved protein shake that has the perfect amount of protein (20 grams) and vitamins (even DHA) for pregnant or nursing moms.

WeeRead United Way Success By 6 and local community volunteers have partnered with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library to send a colorful, new, age-appropriate book each month to every AthensClarke and Oconee County child under 5 years of age!

Sign up at www.wee-read.org or email your information to uwsb6@bellsouth.net.

Athens-Oconee Parent

Ciao!Baby is the go-anywhere

Diono’s Radian rXT Car Seat is designed with your child’s security and safety as top priorities. Premium materials and thoughtful safety features like a steel alloy frame, aluminum reinforced side walls, energy absorbing EPS foam, and a five-point harness put your mind at ease as your little one stays safe and sound.The reinforced adjustable head support provides additional side impact protection. Fits infants from 5 pounds to kids up to 120 pounds and converts from rear-facing, to forward-facing, to booster. It’s the only seat you’ll need!

high chair invented by two moms.

Created for families on the go with small children, Ciao!Baby is a time saving, transportable highchair created for babies up to toddlers 3 years old.This userfriendly, no-fuss, freestanding chair with its proprietary flexible seat and tray requires no assembly.

With a cup holder built-in and a clear vinyl tray cover, it easily wipes clean.The chair unfolds easily, locks into place and folds up in seconds when parents and their tots are ready to go.

Sound+Sleep MINI makes for a good night’s sleep and for being ready to take on the challenges of a new day. Audio sleep therapy helps you get the rest you deserve with soothing background sounds designed to block ambient noise and put you at ease.

Eclipse Curtains block over 99% of intrusive light, reduce unwanted noise, and help keep the heat in during the colder months as well as keep the room cool during the summer months to create a harmonious nursery.Available in both traditional and contemporary designs, Eclipse offers curtains for every style nursery.

Baby Change-N-Go is a portable diaper changing station that hangs from bathroom stall doors or walls and then folds up to fit in your diaper bag, backpack or stroller when not in use.This convenient, sanitary, and safe solution for changing your little one is a necessity for crowded restaurants, airports, rest stops and more – providing peace of mind to moms, dads and caregivers. Can hold up to 40 pounds.

YEMA Baby Carrier offers three carrying positions – front, hip and back – promoting a natural spread squat position that is important for baby’s hip development.

The adjustable seat panel and headrest ensure that the YEMA grows with the child.

YEMA is available in a range of colors and themes including pure denim, embossed crocodile, and prints including Birds of Paradise and butterfly.

Onelink by First Alert Environment Monitor features advanced sensing technologies that detect low-level carbon monoxide which typical CO alarms cannot trace. Compatible with Apple HomeKit, the monitor delivers information on indoor atmospheric conditions and emergency notifications via iOS devices, helping users ensure healthy air quality at home and protect those most vulnerable to CO exposure. Individuals can simply ask Siri, “What is the baby’s room monitor temperature?” and Siri will answer, keeping parents updated and giving them peace of mind.

Lalabu Soothe Shirt for moms and the Lalabu Dad Shirt feature an easy-touse pouch that calms newborns and grows with the baby, plus an inner mesh panel which provides cool breathability.

The Soothe shirt also features a built-in nursing bra that makes breastfeeding convenient at home or on the go. www.athensparent.com

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the baby pages!

By Amy S. Lasseter

My Struggle With

i

INFERTILITY I sent my three beautiful hoodlums off to school this morning. My heart was so full of love that I started to tear up a bit. When you look at my family, it’s hard to imagine that it almost didn’t happen.

IT WASN’T THAT LONG AGO that my hopes of having a family had begun to fade. I wondered if the day would ever come where I would hear the pounding of little feet on our floors.

Fear began that I would never hear the shouts of laughter as yet another imaginary game ensued. I was never going to hear the words “I love you, mom.”

If you don’t know this about me, my husband and I struggled with infertility and recurrent pregnancy loss. After 18 months of unrelenting attempts at getting and *staying* pregnant I had reached a place in my mind where the pain and hurt was too much to bear and I could no longer imagine trying to put my heart back together.

The burden of infertility and recurrent

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Athens-Oconee Parent

miscarriage is real. It’s heavy, painful, and terrifying. I often felt like I was an explorer in a new world and all I could see was what was directly in front of me.Very intelligent doctors with years of training and experience helped me along the way. One was considered the best in the field when it came to recurrent pregnancy loss. But none of them were me, nor my husband … and none of them had to call and tell my loved ones that yet another pregnancy had been lost.

Getting help My husband and I eventually reached a part in our journey where even our very capable and experienced doctors were operating off guesses. Our leaders no longer had a map.

I remember our 5th pregnancy fairly clearly.

It was the first time we had made it to a heartbeat. It was a December baby and for some reason I had always wanted a December baby.

Surely, this was the pregnancy that was going to stick because “all the signs are there, right?”

The universe and God had aligned to make our dream a reality.This was it.

But when we went back for our second ultrasound, our baby was gone.The heartbeat was no more.What happened that day or what happened the following weeks is something I can not describe. I can only tell you there was intense crying, spells of serious anger, and absolute emotional depletion.

There are vague snapshots in my mind of talking to the doctor about the results from the D/C and he said that tissue was that of a normal female. I remember thinking, “I lost my baby girl. I lost my daughter.”

We have kept her ultrasound picture to this day.

And then there were three When we became pregnant with our 6th baby, I knew in my heart that this was going to be our last attempt. My husband’s pain, men are the unsung heroes of infertility, was just as real as mine.We were mentally and emotionally exhausted and there was no way we could keep walking down the path we were on. It was the end of the line. Our last ditch effort worked.At the end of it all, we experienced a total of 10 pregnancies with 3 resulting in healthy, full-term live births.The three children I got to send off to school today.

When I tuck my kids in at night I tell them how glad I am they decided to stay with us.

Though there are moments of yelling, frustration and tears (and not just from me!) at the end of the day, they are a gift.They have a deeper purpose to fill because these three beautiful souls are meant to be here.They have a destiny to fulfill that has nothing to do with me and I cannot wait to see what it is.

At the end of even the longest day, it is never lost on me this family came very close to never existing.

We are the family that almost wasn’t. ■ Amy S. Lasseter has over 11 years of experience in the professional field of therapy and 7 years of experience in the business world. Inside the therapy room, Amy supports women who are struggling with parenting skills, unfulfilling relationships, fertility issues, and anticipatory grief & loss. The moms she works with LOVE that she has a specialization in telehealth because sick kids don’t stand in their way of getting the support they need! https://lassetertherapies.com/ www.athensparent.com

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the baby pages!

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By Michelle Turner

All You Need is a Blanket

Movement,Touch ... and Love

THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS to remember when you become a new parent.Your baby is the love of your life and you want to keep him/her safe and secure.You have all the information that you need for car seats, feedings and which crib to use. However, did you know that how your baby moves during its first few days can map out his entire future? Here are some tips to help you bond with your baby and offer the opportunities needed for the initiation of key developmental movement patterns.

Touch As you feed, diaper, and bathe your baby, touch and move them from side to side.

Feel how they move and respond to your gentle touch. Their new bodies are designed to respond to any and all stimuli. The only toy that a new baby needs is you! They want to respond and move around you. It’s 28

Athens-Oconee Parent

much more rewarding curling around your fingers than a ball during their first few months of new life.

Movement Did you know that any and all movement that a baby is doing during the first three months are the foundations for all their movements? Although it doesn’t seem like your new baby is doing much during the first few months, key developmental movement patterns are initiating and establishing their presence.The significance of breast feeding is that your child is learning to do this from both sides of their bodies and are going to a food source.Typically, when they receive a bottle, it’s from the hand dominance of the feeder and the food comes to them. Allowing your child to experience the movement of feeding from different angles helps them later

When you Google the best baby gifts, 9 out of 10 restrict movement in your child.The restriction of a car seat, for example, is necessary to keep you baby safe in the car. But when you get to your destination, take your baby out and let them move. Swings and chairs (more restriction of movement) are not needed. A nice blanket on the floor where they can learn to breathe and move their entire body is a better choice. with variation and problem solving.

Establishing tummy time strengthens breathing from all directions and establishes spine functions for crawling to standing.The simple act of letting them sleep on your chest and in your arms while you gently touch their backs and bellies, creates movement and bonding that lasts their entire lives. ■ Michelle Turner, author of the brand new book Newborn Movement Assessment, offers a hands-on approach to your baby’s personal development. Her new book offers step-by-step instructions of the B.R.I.G.H.T system: Birthing process, assessing the Rotation and Initiating a Gentle Healthy Touch. These gentle movements that parents can do on their own can help baby eat, sleep and move more efficiently.You can find great videos that show examples of how you can help your baby move and thrive at her web site: www.newbornmovementassessment.com.

www.athensparent.com

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‘til we meet again

Kids love to see their picture, and you’ll love the keepsake!

Send your photos and info to facebook at Athens-Oconee Parent Magazine Victoria, 12

Mae, 10

Brooklyn, 9 mos.; Izabella, 11; Jacob, 11; Colt, 2;Trey, 10; Ripley, 3

Claire, 7, Carter, 9, & Caroline, 7

Harlin, 7

Tyler, 8

CJ, 12

Kylie, 5

Elliot, 5 1/2, Ozzy, 7 mos., and Norah, 2

Angelina, 15

Evelyn, 19 mos.

JC, 4, and Mavis, 9

Daniel, 2 1/2, and Emma, 1

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Rush Trampoline Park 4

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Newell Orthodontics 29

St. Joseph Catholic Parish School 27

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Athens-Oconee Parent