Family & Kids Bayou Region Dec 17

DECEMBER 2017

Wise Choices for Moms & Families

BAYOU REGION

Cover Sponsor, Page 32

See Santa daily for visits & photos through Christmas Eve!

Wise Choices for You & Your Family

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HOO’s learning Learning disabilities are often called ‘hidden disabilities’ because they are not always immediately obvious until it is time for your child to start learning to read, write, and do math. This is due to the fact that children with a learning disability have normal vision, hearing, and normal or even above normal IQs. Instead of being caused by a physical impairment (like vision loss, hearing loss, or motor impairment) or by mental retardation, a learning disability is a result of a neurological condition that makes it difficult to process audio and visual sensory input.

For kids with undiagnosed learning disabilities, school can be frustrating. They learn differently from other students and they will not ‘outgrow’ the learning disability. A learning disability is a lifelong challenge, so it is important to take action to diagnose a learning disability as soon as possible. Once a diagnosis is made, accommodations for your child can be put in place at school.

If your child has struggled in the first half of the school year and you don’t know why, consult your child’s doctor and his teacher to see if an evaluation for a learning disability may be needed. Also, spend some time carefully observing your child at home to see if you can spot any symptoms. Here are some of the more common learning disabilities and symptoms associated with them that you should watch for.

LEARNING DISABILITIES

DYSLEXIA

is a learning disability that affects the ability to read, comprehend, and other language-based processing skills, such as spelling. One indicator that your child may have dyslexia is a large disparity between listening comprehension scores and reading comprehension scores. Other indicators include reading slowly and with much effort, mixing up the order of letters when trying to ‘sound out’ a new word, and trouble remembering the ‘sight words’ that should be familiar to him. Kids may also struggle with math equations.

DYSGRAPHIA

affects the ability to write and use fine motor skills.

A child with dysgraphia may have trouble writing legibly, even when he is making an effort to form the letters and words correctly. Also, his writing may be a mix of print and cursive, and capital letters may be jumbled in with lower-case letters. Sentences may be missing words and words may be missing letters. Kids with dysgraphia often hold their pencil in an awkward position or position their paper at a strange angle.

Taking notes is a challenge for anyone with dysgraphia, since thinking and writing at the same time may be difficult.

DYSCALCULIA

causes difficulty in understanding numbers and performing mathematical equations and processes.

Mathematical symbols may be difficult for them to understand and they may have trouble memorizing math facts. Students with dyscalculia perform poorly on word problems and may have trouble understanding how to make change or tell time.

AUDITORY PROCESSING DISORDER (APD)

is a learning disability that results from the brain being unable to properly process the auditory sounds. A child with an APD has normal hearing, but has trouble distinguishing between sounds in words and difficulty telling which direction a sound is coming from. Also, APD makes it hard to process and to follow verbal instructions. Kids with APD may even seem to be ignoring the person who has spoken to them.

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

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Tammy Usie Publisher

sDigest.com

Sales@FamilyandKid

253-212-7270 Cell

Dear Parents of Terrebonne & Lafourche Parishes, Welcome to your handy, local, parenting resource guide. I hope you will find lots of helpful choices on products and services for you and your family, along with some informative articles, fun features, handy resources and things to do.

If you like our magazine, then you’ll enjoy our website too, www.FamilyAndKidsDigest.com. There you can read our digital magazine and use our ONLINE SHOPPING DIRECTORY. This virtual buying guide will provide you with a list of local, family-friendly businesses that we intend to grow into something more comprehensive in time. Plus with the ability for consumers to leave reviews on these businesses, it will help other parents make buying decisions. I invite you to go leave a few reviews to help us build this resource and share them with other parents like yourself.

AD DEADLINES

1st of the Month for the Next Month’s Issue

Tammy Usie

HOO KNOWS SPECIAL FEATURES Hoo’s crafty.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 5

Hoo Knew.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 28

HOO’S fit.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 12 & 25

Hoo’s Hungry.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 8 & 13

HOO’S healthy.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 15 &21

HOO’S Learning.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 3 & 24

Hoo’s Helpful.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7, 11 & 27

HOO’S parenting.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page 30

HOO KNOWS® Community Digest does not assume responsibility for products and services listed in this magazine. Ads may not be reproduced, in any way, without written consent. HOO KNOWS® is a trademark of Cinah Media Group LLC. For information on operating your own digest, contact us at 1-888-HOO-5609.

Where to Find HOO? Check your local kid-friendly doctors, dentists, attractions, retail shops and restaurants. Plus grocery stores, coffee shops, and many more places of business in Terrebonne and Lafourche Parishes.

Plus read our digital edition at:

www.familyandkidsdigest.com Find us on Facebook

Family & Kids Bayou Region

www.FamilyAndKidsDigest.com

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HOO’s CRAFTY

WINTER WONDERLAND

SPARKLY ICICLES Whether you want to decorate a window or a nook in your house, or you want to hang these from your tree, these easy little crafts are sure to put a twinkle in your eye.

DIRECTIONS Start by cutting or tearing a piece of aluminum foil a bit longer than you want your icicle to be. Then tear off the lower corners to give a blunt triangle. This helps your icicle craft taper.

Now lay your triangle shiny side down and tie your cord into a knotted loop, and glue it to the top of your currently flat icicle, leaving the top part sticking out, of course.

Then carefully roll your foil into your icicle shape. Once it’s shaped, using a brush or your finger, smear glue on your icicle, and then sprinkle it will glitter and watch it sparkle!

SUPPLIES aluminum foil silver cord thread glue blue and white fine glitter Courtesy of: kidscraftroom.com

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SHOPPING GUIDE healthcare

Activities Alstarz Cheerleading Academy........ 20

Coastal Urgent Care.............................. 26

Bayou Country Children’s Museum. 22

Dr. Jake E. Bordelon, Chiropractor... 20

Bricks 4 Kidz............................................14

Ellender Orthodontics............................ 9

Brushworks Art & Music Academy.. 25

Thieler Orthodontics.............................14

Clutch Time Athletics..............................8

Total Urgent Care......................................5

Greenwood Gator Farm & Tours........ 22 Gymnastics Development Center..... 24

Shopping/ Retail

Houma’s #1 After School Program.... 25 James Academy Gymnastics............ 29 Mix It Up Cooking Classes.................. 24 Voice & Piano Lessons..........................14

TELL THEM

Food & Beverage SENT YOU! Healthe Cafe.............................................14

Allie’s Day Spa..........................................31 Clearwater Pools & Spas...................... 28 Felger’s Foot Wear....................................2 Kiki & Co.....................................................12 Lagniappe 103.7FM................................ 20 Lil’ Sweet Pea’s Boutique........................2 Randi Usie, Beauty Artist.......................7 Southland Mall....................................... 32 Synergy Bank.......................................... 22

TELL THEM

PARENTS’ ONLINE SHOPPING GUIDE

www.FamilyAndKidsDigest.com

SENT YOU!

www.FamilyAndKidsDigest.com

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CHRISTMAS TREE

Hoo’s helpful

REAL OR FAKE?

It’s that time of the year again! Christmas tree extravaganza! What kind of tree will you choose this year?

Real or artificial? Real trees come with upkeep, but have a certain nostalgia to them. Will it be a Blue Spruce or Fir this Christmas? Artificial trees have no maintenance and can be set up within minutes. Artistry can be somewhat painted over the branches. So, here are some pros and cons to both sides of the needles.

FAKE TREES

REAL TREES PROS Tradition Evergreen aroma The essence of “real”

CONS Dries out easily High flammability Consistent watering Falling needles

PROS Easy Setup Pre-Lit Option Creativity Family Bonding No mess

CONS Artificial features Storing hassles No sense of “realness” No aroma

Real trees do come with maintenance, but here are some tips to help. realchristmastrees.org/dnn/All-About-Trees/Care-Tips

Whatever type of tree you choose this year, I’m sure it will be the perfect fit for your family. Don’t forget to make it unforgettable! Make it an all-day event. Pick out a tree, Christmas movie, and pop some popcorn. Find the ornaments and lights (if you need them) and let the festivities begin! The kids will always remember their “pick-a-tree” day.

Wise Choices for You & Your Family

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HOO’s HUNGRY

PEPPERMINT

FUDGE SQUARES These delicious, minty squares from lilluna.com are sure to be a hit with the whole family! Not only that, they are gorgeous to look at.

DIRECTIONS Peeling the wrappers off the kisses and cut them into fours and line a 9x9 pan with parchment paper. Now put the white chocolate chips and the marshmallow fluff into a big bowl and set aside. In a pan melt the sugar, heavy cream, salt and butter on medium heat until it starts to boil. Cook for 5 minutes. Then pour into the bowl of chocolate chips and mix with the mixer until it’s smooth and soft. Mix in ¾ of the Kisses and pour into your lined pan. Sprinkle the rest of the Kisses on the top along with the Andes Bits. Press down a bit. Put in the fridge for 3-5 hours to let it set. Hope you enjoy!

INGREDIENTS

• 1 bag Candy Cane Kisses (about 30 pieces) • ½ cup Andes peppermint baking chips • 1 cup sugar • ½ cup heavy cream • ½ tsp. salt • ½ cup butter • 1 bag white chocolate chips • 1 small tub Marshmallow Fluff

www.FamilyAndKidsDigest.com

HOO’s Fun

LEARN TO DRAW A Reindeer

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Dining Deals

Wise Choices for You & Your Family

With deals this good, save the mess and dine out!

MONDAY

wednesday

Cajun Critters. 6240 W Main St, Houma. Kids eat free from kids’ menu. 5-9:30pm. Balloon art face painting.

Big Mike’s BBQ. 3034 Barrow St, Houma. From 4pm to close. Kids’ meals $.99.

IHOP. 1719 MLK Blvd, Houma. 4-9pm. Free kid’s meal with adult entrée.

Buffalo Wild Wings. 1783 MLK, Houma. Up to two kid’s meals for $1.99, per adult meal, all day.

La Casa Del Sol. 141 Westover Rd. Thib. 5-8pm. Kids’ meals $2.99 for12 and under. Face painting.

El Paso Mexican Grill. 4560 Louisiana 1, Raceland.

6-8pm. Free balloon art and face painting.

Santa Fe Cattle Company. 632 Canal Blvd, Thib.

Kids 12 and under. Free kid’s meal with adult entrée.

Tuesday Applebee’s.1039 W Tunnel Blvd, Houma. Kids eat free from kids’ menu from 3-9pm (1 kid per adult).

thursday Dynasty Buffet. 6425 West Park Ave, Houma. Kids 3-6 eat free. Free balloon art and face painting.

sunday

Golden Corral.1724 MLK Blvd, Houma. Free balloon art and face painting.

Crabby Crab. 5726 LA 1, Lockport. Free ice cream for kids, balloon art & facepainting from 6-8pm

La Casa Del Sol. 4647 Louisiana 1, Raceland and 169 Monarch Dr, Houma. 5-8pm. Kids’ meals $2.99 for12 and under.

Ground Pati. 101 Bayou Gardens, Houma. Up to 2 kids eat free per adult, required drinks not included.

Dine in only.

Pepper’s Pizzeria. 600 W 3rd St, Thib. Kids 12 and under get $1.99 pizza and free ice cream.

Hooters. 1619 MLK, Houma. Free kid’s meal with each paid adult, all day. Drinks not included.

Santa Fe Cattle Company. 632 Canal Blvd, Thib.

Kids 12 and under. Free kid’s meal with adult entrée.

Sicily’s Buffet. 1539 MLK Blvd, Houma. Up to 2 free kids’ buffets for kids 12 and under with paid adult.

everyday Foundry on The Bayou. 15 West 1st St, Thib.

From10:30am-2pm, free ice cream & face painting.

Specials are subject to change without notice. Please verify them directly before dining. “Family & Kids” and the restaurants listed accept no liability, so please call them first to verify. If you know of a kid’s special not listed here, contact Sales@FamilyAndKidsDigest.com.

www.FamilyAndKidsDigest.com

Hoo’s helpful

Getting the family out the door on time every morning is no small feat. Seemingly simple tasks like getting dressed, packing backpacks and making breakfast can quickly turn into chaos. Before you know it, you’re running late and the kids haven’t even eaten as you dash to the car.

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y you plif m

routine Select a week’s worth of clothes Sunday night.

Instead of choosing outfits the night prior, supersize your time-saving efforts by doing this task just once on Sunday night. Involve kids in selecting their clothes for the week so they feel empowered in their choices. Then hang entire outfits in the closet or stack in one drawer dedicated to weekday wear. When mornings come, kids know exactly where to find the day’s duds. Bonus: you don’t have to worry about midweek laundry.

Create a routine and set alarms.

Create a morning routine and stick to it. For example, kids wake at 7 am, eat breakfast at 7:15 am, get dressed and ready at 7:30 am, then out the door by 8 am. And if the kids need to share a bathroom, set a daily bathroom schedule with alarms to keep kids on track and avoid arguments in the morning.

Get ready before waking up the kids.

Trying to ready yourself for the day while helping the kids is a recipe for disaster. This is why waking before the rest of the family really makes mornings happier. Try getting up 30 minutes before the kids so you have time to get ready and enjoy a cup of coffee. You’ll be fully awake, much happier and can focus on helping the kids stay on-task.

Stop dreading the stressful start to the day and start taking control of your mornings.

A few simple tips and tricks will turn the morning craze into smooth sailing. Plus, when you have a stress-free start, the rest of the day just seems to go better.

Create morning rules.

Just like you don’t let kids eat dessert before dinner to ensure they eat well, set rules for the morning to keep things moving. For example, no TV until all morning tasks are completed. For teens, smartphones and other mobile devices must remain on the kitchen table until they are ready to go.

Sundays = meal prep.

If you have to prepare your child’s lunch, try to make five servings ahead of time, like even freezing PB&J sandwiches works well to pop in a lunch box and have it defrosted by lunch. Take it one step further and do the same for dinner. Then that just leaves you to worry with breakfast each morning. If you are really short on time, set out shelf-stable items the kids can make and take themselves, such as nut butter toast, fruit and cereal. Or want to up the ante for breakfast without spending extra morning time?

Get a recipe for delicious overnight oats that can be made in the evening and customized for each family member at www.familyandkidsga.com/overnight-oats-recipe.

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

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1437 St. Charles St. Ste 131 Houma, LA 985.346.6895

@kikiandcohouma

HOO’s FIT

WEIGHT LOSS PLAN FOR KIDS If your child’s pediatrician informs you that he is overweight and needs to slim down, be sure to ask for a specific weight loss goal and advice on how to help your child safely lose weight. Losing weight can help prevent your child from developing type 2 diabetes and other health issues later in life. In addition to the plan provided by the pediatrician, there are some steps you can take at home to help your child safely meet his weight loss goal.

The key to helping your child lose weight is to provide him a diet full of low and medium glycemic index foods.

The glycemic index measures how fast carbohydrates are processed by the body into sugar. High glycemic index foods are starchy, low fiber, or highly processed foods like white bread, pancakes, potatoes, and corn. Tropical fruits like bananas and pineapples, stone ground whole wheat bread, pasta, ice cream, and high fiber cereals are examples of medium glycemic index food and are more likely to cause weight gain than low glycemic index foods. Examples of

low glycemic index foods are broccoli, carrots, apples, pears, unsweetened peanut butter and unsweetened yogurt.

The low and medium glycemic index foods help your child keep his blood sugar steady and feel full longer, unlike high glycemic index foods. When your child eats a meal loaded with high glycemic index foods, such as pizza, his blood sugar will rise quickly and then fall, leaving him feeling grouchy and hungry later. Shift the menu for family meals towards more low and medium glycemic index foods.

Include protein with every meal and snack. Avoid highly processed food, like cheese puffs, and fast food as much as possible, and encourage your child to exercise daily.

However, don’t limit calories, totally ban certain food types, or restrict your child to low fat foods. Also, the latest diet fad and diet supplements used by adults can be harmful to kids and should never be used to help kids lose weight.

www.FamilyAndKidsDigest.com

HOO’s HUNGRY

SALSA

FRUIT

this is a fresh appetizer to make for holiday parties, plus the kids love it like a dessert.

DIRECTIONS In a large bowl, thoroughly mix kiwis, apples, raspberries, strawberries, white sugar, brown sugar and fruit preserves. Cover and chill in the refrigerator at least 15 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Coat one side of each flour tortilla with butter flavored cooking spray. Cut into wedges and arrange in a single layer on a large baking sheet. Sprinkle wedges with desired amount of cinnamon sugar. Spray again with cooking spray.

Bake in the preheated oven 8 to 10 minutes. Repeat with any remaining tortilla wedges. Allow to cool approximately 15 minutes.

Serve with chilled fruit mixture.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 kiwis, peeled and diced • 2 apples - peeled, cored and diced • 8 oz raspberries • 1 lb strawberries • 1 tbs white sugar • 1/2 tbs brown sugar • 3 tbs fruit preserves (can be sugar free) • 10 (10 inch) flour tortillas • butter flavored cooking spray • 1 tbs cinnamon sugar

HOO’s CUTE

CONTEST Visit our website to enter:

w w w. F a m i l y A n d K i d s D i g e s t . c o m

Sophie, 1 year Thibodaux

Mattelina, 1 year Houma

Kinsley, 1 year Houma

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

www.FamilyAndKidsDigest.com

HOO’s HEALTHY

where should the baby go to sleep?

It’s an age-old question, should your newborn sleep in his or her own bed in the parents’ bedroom for a while or start their sleeping habits in their own room?

A new study suggests infants benefit from sleeping in their own room, but the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says the dangers may offset the benefit. Recent research from a hospital in Philadelphia says babies go to sleep earlier, take less time to fall asleep, get more total sleep over the course of 24 hours, and spend more time asleep at night when they don’t share a bedroom with their parents. Parents also report that they get more rest as well.

“There are a number of possible reasons that babies sleep better in their own room,” said lead study author Jodi Mindell, associate director of the Sleep Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “One main reason is that they are more likely to self-soothe to sleep,” Mindell said by email.

During the study, researchers found that parents who put babies to sleep in a separate room were less likely to feed infants to help them fall asleep at bedtime or when they awoke during the night.

The study focused on infants 6 to 12 months old.

Researchers examined data from a questionnaire completed by parents of 6,236 infants in the U.S. and 3,798 babies in an international sample from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Great Britain and New Zealand. All participants were users of a publicly available smartphone app for baby sleep. The researchers noted that because of the use of the smartphone app, results might not be the same for a larger population of households.

The

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Kids

Doctor

Sue Hubbard, MD kidsdr.com

The AAP recommends that newborns sleep in their own bed in their parents’ bedroom till the infant is at least 6 months of age to minimize the risk of sleep-related death. Ideally, babies should stay in their parents’ rooms at night for a full year, AAP advised.

The reason for the AAP recommendation is because babies sleeping in the same room as parents, but not the same bed, may have a lower risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

The safest spot for infant sleep is on a firm surface such as a crib or bassinet without any soft bedding, bumpers or pillows, the guidelines stressed.

“Pediatric providers have been struggling with what to tell parents since the release of the AAP recommendations,” Mindell said. “Once a baby is past the risk of SIDS, by 6 months of age, parents need to decide what works best for them and their family, which enables everyone in the family to get the sleep they need.”

SIDS deaths occur most often from birth to six months but can also happen in older babies that were the focus on the study, said Dr. Lori FeldmanWinter, a coauthor of the AAP guidelines and pediatrics researcher at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University in Camden, New Jersey.

“If the only goal is to increase sleep, then the results may be compelling,” Feldman-Winter said in an email to Reuters Health. “However, since we don’t know the causes of SIDS and evidence supports room sharing as a method to decrease SIDS, giving up some sleep may be worth it.”

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TOYS THAT BUILD A BALANCING ACT!

Wise Choices for You & Your Family

Balance is key to reaching many of a child’s developmental milestones. It’s marvelous how our bodies take in a variety of stimulus while making a multitude of minute adjustments, all to achieve a physical equilibrium. As kids grow and change, their bodies benefit from constant new challenges that calibrate and improve their balancing abilities. The following recommendations are ideal for encouraging and building a child’s sense of balance as they grow.

Gonge River Stones

(Gonge)

Leaping from stone to stone by the creek’s edge is an outdoor rite of passage. But when waterways aren’t available, Gonge’s River Stones replicate the experience in both indoor and dry land settings. Placed in a path of their own design this set of six steps offer varying degrees of steepness and difficulty for young adventurers making their way from stone to stone. The sturdy rubber marked bases offer stability as well as a measure of protection for floor surfaces. As children build their confidence and improve coordination, they can create new balancing challenges as they reconfigure their high and dry paths across imaginary rivers (or the lava floor)

Teeter Popper

(Fat Brain)

Offering a versatile range of play options, the Teeter Popper encourages all kinds of balancing moves for the kid in control. Cupped in the curve for seated maneuvers, young athletes can wobble and spin their way to better balance. Improved coordination follows when kids take a stand on the edges, twisting and tilting the Teeter Popper.

Especially cool for kids who love the satisfaction of popping bubble wrap, the suction cups peppered around the bottom of this gadget generate rapid-fire pops as they engage and disengage with a hard floor. It’s an irresistible sensory challenge for kids.

Ice Cream Balance Game

(Little Treasures)

A delicately perched dessert stand is ready to host the sweet challenge of players vying to build the best confection without knocking the whole tray over. While it can be played solo as a balance building challenge, this game is most rewarding when multiple dessert chefs take turns using tongs to select and place the colorful cookies, cones and ice cream scoops on the tower without disturbing other pieces. As players strive to build a balanced diet of ice cream, the risk increases with each play that the tasty tower will topple.

Supporting the development of steady hands and cool coordination, only the best balancing act will finish dessert first.

www.FamilyAndKidsDigest.com

HOO’s Fun

Silly Reindeer which 2 are not the same?

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December Legend: TM - Terrebonne Main Library TD

1 Polar Express Outdoor Movie Night. Houma Courthouse Square. 6:30pm.

6 Pokémon Gym. TM. 4pm. Open play to build decks, trade and battle.

16 LEGO Club. TM. 11am and 3pm. 2nd Grade and Up.

1 Polar Express Parent’s Night Out. Mix it Up, Houma. Mixitupcooks.com.

6 Christmas Cupcake Decorating. 4pm. TD. Ages 6+.

2 Son Rise Christian Music Fest. 12-8pm.

Houma Civic Center. Sonrisemusicfest.net.

8 Kidz Night Out with Bricks 4 Kidz. 6-9pm.

Ages 4 and up. Bricks4kidz.com/Houma.

16 Papa Noel at BCCM. 3-5pm and 6-8pm.

Santa, crafts play in snow and more. Bccm. info.

2 Breakfast with Santa Kiwanis event. Van-

9 Parent’s Night Out by Vandebilt High Theater Dept. K-7th grade. 6-9pm $15 or 6-10pm for $20.

20 Wonder Workshop Dash & Dot Robots for Kindle Fire. 2pm. TD. Ages 12+. RSVP 447-4119. Coding concepts.

9 Fiddle Stitches Club. TM. 11am. 4th & up.

Club of crocheters, knitters and fiber artists.

All skill levels. Some supplies provided.

20 Pokémon Gym. TM. 4pm. Open play to build decks, trade and battle.

debilt High, Houma. 7am. $7 at the door.

2 Houma Downtown Christmas Festival.

11am-5pm festival, 5-7:30pm parade and 7:30pm tree lighting.

2 Community garage sale. Bayouland YMCA. 7am-noon. 985-873-9622 rsvp booth.

2 Lockport Christmas Parade. 985-532-3117.

2 DIY Christmas Ornaments. 10:30am. TD. Ages 8+.

3 Edible Christmas Gifts. Mix it Up, Houma.

Mixitupcooks.com.

3 Thibodaux Christmas Parade. 985-446-

1187.

3 Reindeer Run 5K. Southdown Plantation,

Houma. 2pm. www.gotrbayouregion.org.

3 Noise Makers: Movement and Music. TM.

3pm. Improve reading through movement.

4-22 TPR basketball registration begins.

Ages 5-6 and 13-14. 985-873-6584.

5 Craft night at Chick-fil-A on MLK, Houma.

5-8pm.

9 Papa Noel’s Cajun Christmas Celebration.

5-9pm. Houma Visitors Center.

9-17 Bayou Christmas Teddy Bear Tea. Chez Felicite’ B & B, Raceland. Chezfelicite.com.

10 Gingerbread Houses. Mix it Up, Houma.

Mixitupcooks.com.

10 Bayou Veg Fest. Downtown Houma.

11am-5pm.

10 Game day. 3pm. TM. 12 Christmas Extravaganza with Mrs. Claus.

3-5:30pm. TD. Crafts, games and refreshments.

13 Magna Tiles STEM Playtime. Ages 2+. TD.

11:30am.

16 Paint sample tree card craft. 2pm. TD.

Ages 11+.

19 Family Christmas bingo. 4pm. TD.

20 Spanish storytime. 2pm. TM. 20-22 Winter break camp. BCCM. 10am3pm. Ages 4-10. Bccm.info.

20-22 Holiday Cooking Camp. Mix it Up Houma. Mixitupcooks.com

21

Pancakes & Pajama’s. Alstarz Cheer, Larose & Thibodaux. 10am. Alstarzacademy. com.

21 Cheer Tryout Workshop. Alstarz Cheer.

Alstarzacademy.com.

22 Basic sewing. 10am. TD. Ages 11+. RSVP 447-4119.

22 Pokémon Gym. TM. 4pm. Open play to build decks, trade and battle

22 Parent’s Night Out by Vandebilt High Theater Dept for K-7th grade. 6-9pm. $15 or 6-10pm for $20.

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r Events - Thibodaux

Branch

Library BCCM - Bayou Country Children’s Museum

TD.

22 Arthur Christmas movie & snacks. 1pm.

Family Storytime. TM. 10am newborns-18mon, & 6pm 4-8 year olds. (none12/26)

23 MoboRobo Robotics Lab for PreK and up.

WEDNESDAY

TM. 4pm. RSVP 876-5861.

Pre-K storytime. TM. 10am.

23 Despicable Me 3 movie and snacks.

Sensory storytime. TM. 4pm. Ages 3-7.

10:30am. TD.

27-29 New Year’s Cooking Camp. Mix it Up,

Houma. Mixitupcooks.com.

27 Sleepover at Alstarz Cheer in Larose &

Thibodaux. 8p-8a. $25. Alstarzacademy. com.

28 Animal Tales Holiday Safari with live ani-

All ages storytime with craft. 10:30am. TD.

THURSDAY

Tales for Tots. BCCM. 10:30am. Ages 2-5. bccm.info Interactive Storytime for infants and toddlers. TD. 10:30am. (not 12/28)

mals. 10:30am. TD.

Toddler Storytime. TM. 2pm. 19 mon-3 years.

28 National card playing day. Card games and snacks. 2pm. TD.

Crafternoons for PreK-6th. 4pm. TM. Craft varies. RSVP 876-5861.

29 Noon Year’s Eve Party. 11am. TM. Noise-

ESL Class. 6:30pm. TM. (none 12/28)

maker crafts, story time, music and dancing.

30 LEGO Robotics. Ages 8+. 10:30am. TD. RSVP 447-4119.

30 Family movie matinee: Cars 3. 3pm. TM.

FRIDAY

Open Gym. JAG. 7-9pm. $7. $10 non-mem.

Adult required for ages 5 and under. 308 Venture Blvd, Houma. 985-851-3001.

31 Noon Year’s Eve. BCCM. 10am-noon. Baloon drop. Bccm.info.

Open Gym. Alstarz Cheer, Larose & Thibodaux. 6-9pm. $10. 605 St. Mary St, Thibodaux. alstarzacademy.

WEEKLY EVENTS

Toddler Time. Ages 0-4. Alstarz Cheer.

10:30am. $7. Alstarzacademy.com.

MONDAY

SATURDAY

Toddler Time. TM. 10am and 6pm for 19mon3yrs. (none 12/25)

TUESDAY

Open Gym. JAG. 7-9pm. $7. $10 non-mem.

Adult required for ages 5 and under. 308 Venture Blvd, Houma. 985-851-3001.

STEMulating Saturday. Sylvan of Houma.

12-1pm. Classes in robotics, coding and engineering. 985-223-3798.

Downtown Houma Market. Courthouse Square. 8am-noon. Local produce and artisans.

Lafourche Central Market. Farmers, fishermen, artisans and activities. 8a-noon.

Thibodaux Main Street Market. 8am-1pm, next to Jean Lafitte Park. Buy fresh, buy local.

Kids’ Club. Michael’s, Houma. 10am-12pm. $2. Adult required. 985-872-3132.

Build and Grow Clinic. Lowe’s, Houma. 10am.

Free. RSVP lowes.com/buildandgrow. 985223-7575.

Kids’ Workshop. Home Depot, Houma. 9am12pm. Ages 5-12. Adult required. Free. RSVP homedepot.com/workshops/kids-workshops. 985-223-1485.

Please call ahead to confirm event dates, times and age appropriateness, in case changes were made after the info was obtained.

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

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HOO’s HEALTHY

breast pump cleaning guide� lines

Breastfeeding provides your newborn with health advantages, such as an improved immunity to infections and an almost perfect balance of nutrients. The benefits can make all the work that goes into pumping breast worth it. However, every mom who pumps should read the new Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines for keeping a breast pump clean.

The new guidelines for breast pump care were prompted by a case of an infant becoming sick after consuming breast milk that was contaminated with Cronobacter bacteria. The CDC investigated this case to see how the infant contracted this serious infection and found that it resulted from a contamination of breast pump parts. After finding that there was little or no scientific documentation on how to keep breast pump parts clean and free of contamination, the CDC has written a new set of cleaning guidelines for breast pumps. These guidelines add some time onto your daily routine, but are intended to prevent the type of tragedy that was investigated.

Wash your hands well before using your pump, handling •pumped milk or pump parts to avoid introducing bacteria.

Before using your pump, clean the exterior with •sanitizing wipes. Inspect the kit and tubing to see if it has become moldy or soiled while it was stored. sink.

•AfterDon’teacheveruseputof thebreastpump,pumptakepartsapartinthethepartskitchenand rinse them under running water. As soon as possible after each use, wash the breast pump parts with hot, soapy water in a wash basin and a brush solely dedicated for cleaning the breast pump parts. parts with fresh, running water or in a separate •basinRinsecontaining fresh water. This rinse basin should only be used to rinse breast pump parts, nothing else. Place the pump parts on a clean kitchen towel to air dry. Do not dry them with a towel, to avoid contamination.

If you choose to use the dishwasher instead of hand •washing the parts in basins, use a hot wash/heated dry cycle or the sanitizing cycle. Put small parts in the closed

top basket so that they do not end up in the dishwasher filter. After the cycle completes, wash your hands before taking the parts out of the dishwasher and allow them to air dry on a clean kitchen towel.

Once pump parts have air dried, stored them in a clean, •protected area. the wash basin, rinse basin, and the brush clean •by Keep washing them thoroughly every few days either in the dishwasher or with hot soapy water. are hand washing your pump parts, you may •wantIf youto sanitize your pump parts once a day after they have been washed. Take apart the pump parts and place those that can be boiled in a pot and cover with water. Boil them for 5 minutes, then remove them with tongs and put them on a dish towel to air dry. Do not dry them with a dish towel. After they are dry, store them in a clean, protected place, such as a new, sealed food storage bag. Sanitizing pump parts is especially important if your infant is under 3 months or has a weakened immune system.

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

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Open a Minor Savings Account for your child today!

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A Page In A Book

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Recommending the Best Books for Children and Teens By Gerry P. Smith

Help Wanted: Big Jobs for Little Kids Once a child is old enough to help, parents can often find themselves with a surplus of assistance. When children are invited to participate, it creates a sense of value and responsibility. Sorting clothes, mixing batter, carrying the mail, can be a vital part of supporting their positive self-image. This empowerment of the child can also lead to young ones seeking innovative and bold ways to ‘help’. The following titles explore the lighter side of youthful assistance and the humorous results of their enthusiastic help.

Laundry Day

By Jessixa Bagley (Roaring Brook Press)

Tic and Tac are badger brothers who are bored beyond measure, so their mother makes suggestions while she does the laundry. The brothers discard all her ideas, until she offers something they’ve never done before; hang up the wet laundry on her clothesline. Armed with instructions, Tic and Tac make quick work of getting the laundry on the line. But their excess energy (and new-found talent) give them grander ideas for helping that may put their mother’s patience on the line. Saluting the enthusiasm that comes with teaching kids new skills, this charming picture book tips its hat to the rewards of chores.

Nanette’s Baguette

By Mo Willems (Disney / Hyperion)

Nothing delights young Nanette’s taste buds like a warm baguette.

When her mother gives her a coin to make her first solo trip to the bakery for a fresh loaf, Nanette is delighted to help. Navigating a journey fraught with distractions (from Brett with his clarinet to Mr. Barnett with his pet, Antoinette), Nanette and her coin reach the bakery. Once the baguette is bought, the return home with the hot, crispy loaf is all that remains. But how long can a tempting baguette last in the hands of a hungry Nanette? Celebrating a child’s first taste of responsibility and the hazards that can come along the task, this delightful romp will whet every young readers appetite for opportunities to help.

Sprout Helps Out

By Rosie Winstead (Penguin / Dial)

Even though Sprout is young, she’s older and bigger than her baby sister, Bea. So while her mom works from home, Sprout has big ideas about how she can help with the baby. Sprout’s enthusiastic confidence in her ability to help powers her grand plans for entertaining Bea. The actual chaos that Sprout’s ‘help’ generates only makes her successful assistance more powerful. Pencil and watercolors soften the edges of the mess, leaving the helpful spirit of Sprout to shine in this sweet story of a girl who takes on responsibility with love and wonderful abandon.

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

HOMEWORK STRUGGLES

HOO’s learning

EVERY PARENT KNOWS WE CAN’T FORCE OUR KIDS TO PICK UP THEIR PENCIL AND COMPLETE A MATH PROBLEM. WE CAN GIVE THEM A BOOK, BUT WE CAN’T MAKE THEM READ IT. THANKFULLY, THERE ARE WAYS WE CAN HELP OUR KIDS WANT TO DO THEIR HOMEWORK.

Settle in your mind the question of how much homework is OK. If kids today seem to have more homework than ever, statistics disagree. Homework loads have remained virtually unchanged for the past 30 years, reports Brooking Institution’s Brown Center on Education Policy. Acceptable amounts, says the National Education Association (NEA), are 10-20 minutes per night in the first grade, and an additional 10 minutes per grade level thereafter (e.g., 20 minutes for second grade, 120 minutes for twelfth). High school students may do more, depending on the level of classes they take. As kids progress in school, those who do homework perform better. However, there is such thing as “too much homework.” At some point when homework is assigned beyond the recommended levels, the law of diminishing returns takes effect, reports the Journal of Educational Psychology. If your child has excessive homework that causes a lot of stress, talk to their teacher.

When it comes to getting your kids to do their homework, your confidence that they have an appropriate amount will go a long way.

Get your priorities straight. Parental support plays a major role in encouraging children’s academic success. In fact, nearly half of a child’s achievement in school, says Ronald Ferguson, Harvard Graduate School of Education, can be accounted for by outside factors, including parental support. One way parents do this is by helping their kids prioritize homework above other activities. Kids will be more motivated to do homework if they see parents place a high value on providing the place, the time, the tools, and the support to complete the work.

Set aside a work space that is free of distractions. Turn off the TV and electronics, yours too. Have a snack available, or start supper. Make homework a part of the daily family routine.

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HOO’s FIT YOU NEED MORE FRUITS & VEGGIES:

5 EASY WAYS TO GET THERE Research shows that only 10 percent of Americans

If you hostareplaydates yourrecommendations child to meeting or thetake MyPlate for the playground often,ofyou occasionally daily intake fruitsmay and veggies, according to the for Disease and else's Prevention. As a experience Centers a situation whereControl someone rule too of thumb, foods you eat child is playing rough,half or the won't share.

Herefor any given mealonshould up ofsomeone fruits and veggies are some tips how be to made discipline incorporating a range else's child preferably and endones problem-behavior, andof different colors and nutrients. avoid a hostile confrontation with the other parent. Here are some quick and easy tips for how you can include more fruits and veggies in your diet.

1. Chop, eat, repeat. Not into cooking? Simply buy whatever looks good, wash it, cut into slices and enjoy, perhaps dipping it into salad dressing or a yogurt dip.

2. Shop the frozen-food aisle. Delicious and easy-toprepare frozen foods can provide wholesome meals without requiring lengthy prep time. Simply pair with tasty side dishes made with fruits and vegetables for a balanced meal.

3. Divide and conquer. Each Sunday night mix your favorite veggies into a big salad bowl with a cover, combining Romaine and iceberg lettuce with darker green varieties and throwing in other tasty ingredients that will motivate you to want more; consider slices of grilled meat or shrimp, boiled eggs, or small amounts of nuts, cheeses, dried fruit, etc. Then divide the mix into individual plastic containers for the week’s lunches.

4. Top it off. As soon as your favorite frozen pizza comes out of the oven, boost its nutrient punch by adding pieces of fresh tomato, basil, pineapple, spinach or arugula.

5. Stir it in. Add complementary veggies to your favorite comfort food, like mac & cheese. Suggested stir-ins: roasted broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, carrots or butternut squash.

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

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WARD OFF

Hoo’s helpful

WINTER WEIGHT GAIN

WEIGHT GAIN

With cold weather and short days, it’s easy to fall off healthy eating and exercise routines.

Here are tips on how to eat right and stay motivated to exercise during the winter months.

EAT RIGHT

STAY FIT

It’s easy to fall into eating calorie-loaded or nutrientempty comfort foods in the winter, but take time and plan ahead. The optimum winter foods for weight loss and maintenance are packed with nutrients and filling fiber, so we feel full longer and eat less. Here are five suggestions for your shopping list.

It’s too hard to get motivated to exercise on cold, dark mornings, and by nighttime, you just want to get home and eat something warm. But there are tricks to staying motivated to move during the winter months.

PISTACHIOS. The fiber-rich green nut makes the perfect wintertime snack for many reasons. Research shows that pistachios promote healthy, stable blood-sugar levels and can help improve various risk factors for heart disease when snacked on regularly.

WINTER SQUASH. In season, butternut squash delivers a sweet, nutty flavor for fewer carbs and more fiber than you would expect. It is rich in beta-carotene and vitamin C, both antioxidants that will help keep your immune system in top shape. Add into soup and give your body what it craves: cold weather comfort.

MUSHROOMS. Mushrooms are a great cold-weather food that is in season all winter long. They are not only a unique source of a potent antioxidant called ergothioneine, but they are also a low-calorie, appetite-filling food that can be roasted, braised or sautéed.

CABBAGE. Cruciferous vegetables like cabbage are fibrous low-calorie foods that are perfect for the winter.

They also contain powerful antioxidants like glucosinolates that help reinforce your body’s cellular detoxification pathways.

GREEN TEA. Green tea is one of the few truly fat-burning foods. The antioxidants in green tea work to increase the amount of calories that your body burns as heat while also stimulating the liberation of stored fat in your body.

SET A NEW GOAL AND REWARD YOURSELF. Whether you want to lose weight, get stronger or move faster, set reasonable and specific goals that involve numbers or tangible accomplishments. Once you’ve attained your goal, treat yourself with a massage, new outfit or whatever tickles your fancy.

FIND A WORKOUT BUDDY. Accountability is a great way to stay on track. Make a commitment with a friend or personal trainer for set times. This not only forces you to show up, but it can also make you push harder when you have someone cheering you on - and it’s fun!

Think outside the box. Do something different like a dance class, HIIT (high-intensity interval training) class, join a running group, or grab friends and go ice-skating.

DRESS THE PART. Invest in some new gear. It’s a known fact we all feel better and perform better in the appropriate attire. Invest in a couple of great pieces.

AMP UP YOUR PLAYLIST. Music motivates. Create a bunch of playlists that get you up and going. Play songs as you get ready.

FOCUS ON NUTRITION. Food is fuel to get moving.

Every week, set yourself up by preparing healthy snacks that you can just grab and go if needed, such as portable pistachios, hard-boiled eggs or chopped vegetables.

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HOO knew?

Breakfast Menus In America, a kid’s breakfast can be full meals like pancakes, eggs, and bacon, or simple things, like Pop Tarts, yogurt, or cereal. Here’s what kids around the world eat: l l l l l l France: 1 scoopable kiwi, a baguette with butter and blackberry jam, cereal with milk, and a glass of OJ.

Japan: A bowl of fermented soybeans, miso soup, white rice, a rolled omelette called tomagoyaki, grilled salmon and pickled cucumber.

l l l l l l l l

l l l Malawi: Sweet corn cake called chikondamoyo made in an aluminum pot over a fire, boiled potatoes and black tea with a heaping spoonful or two of sugar.

Istanbul: Toasted bread with honey and “clotted cream,” green and black olives, fresh veggies like tomatoes and radishes, hard boiled eggs and a glass of OJ and milk.

l l l l l

l l l l l l l l l l l l l Brazil: A cup of coffee (Yes! coffee for kids!), paired with ham and cheese roll ups and a slice of bread with butter..

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HOO’s PICKS

APPS to LOVE elf yourself The annual holiday tradition allows you to “elf” yourself and become the star of a personalized video featuring your photos on holiday dancing elves. Simply upload up to five photos of you, your friends, family and more from your camera roll or Facebook

baby milestones live Baby Milestones Live is the very first App of its kind! Select from over 500 pieces of Animated Artwork to add to your photos.

Or, you can also create still photos using over 1000 pieces of our traditional artwork. This app makes every photo a work of art!

pump log An app for the moms who are exclusively pumping, and it’s great! Keep track of milk production, set reminders to pump, tracks trends, and you can swap between ounces and milliliters. You can even export your data to an excel spreadsheet. It breaks pumping down to a science.

In Mibi Surprise Eggs Animals your little ones will open an egg and get a surprise each time. With up to 24 animals and 4 habitats, kids get to practice colors, the names of the animals, and their sounds and watch them dance! And all with custom designed music, graphics and sound effects!

mibi surprise egg animals

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

HOO’s PARENTING For some kids who have a sensitive or spirited nature, melodramatic performances brought on by even the smallest issues seem to disrupt every step of their routine. Parenting these kids can be a challenge, since they need to be coached on how to manage their emotions without crushing their passionate nature. Here are some tips for channeling your dramatic child’s emotional energy away from over the top performances and into more positive, effective means of communicating how she feels.

&

King

THE SENSITIVE DRAMA QUEEN OR KING

THE SPIRITED DRAMA QUEEN OR KING

For a sensitive child, the drama may be a result of not only being emotionally sensitive but also due to a sensitivity to her surroundings. Drama is produced from social interactions, such as getting upset because she thought someone gave her a mean look. In addition, noisy, busy environments may be overwhelming to her and being able to feel anything slightly out of place, like a bump in her sock, is a drama producing disaster.

The spirited drama queen feels strongly about what she wants or feels is right and uses her displays of drama to try to have things her way. Your parenting goal is to help her channel those strong emotions into more effective forms of communication than over the top dramatic displays, while leaving her passionate spirit intact. Being filled with passion and spirit can actually be a gift, when used properly to motivate and set goals.

First, accept your child is sensitive and embrace it, don’t try to change it. Your goal is to reduce the dramatic outbursts, not make her less sensitive.

Trying to reason with her won’t work very well.

Instead, provide a structured environment, where your expectations are well laid out, and discipline her gently. Harsh discipline will only lead to the type of dramatic display of tears you are trying to prevent.

The first step is let her know that you will not provide an audience for her drama productions.

Leave the room when one starts. When she calms down, try asking her to communicate to you what she wants and why in a more calm and appropriate manner. You may even try role playing, with your child playing the parent and you playing the child, to demonstrate what an appropriate response might be. Ask her to stop and consider if a minor situation really did warrant an over the top display of emotion.

Also, help her see a situation as an opportunity for action and setting goals to improve it, instead of a reaction (like a dramatic outburst).

When your sensitive child has to face a new environment that she might find challenging, such as a busy playground, ease her into it slowly.

One good approach is to pair her up with another sensitive child on a play date. When the environment at home gets too busy for her liking, have a ‘quiet corner’ she can retreat to find some peace. To help your child handle situations where she feels overwhelmed, teach her to use coping skills like breathing exercises, instead of resorting to drama.

On your part, take action to reduce what may be feeding the drama. Give her some control by giving her choices appropriate for her age group, such as what clothes to wear each day. In addition, adults who interact with your child should model good management of emotions and a positive use of all that energy that comes with feeling strongly about an issue.

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