Family & Kids Chatt Valley February 2016

FEBRUARY 2016

Wise Choices for Moms & Families

CHATTAHOOCHEE VALLEY

See page 7 for details on a complimentary fluoride treatment.

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

Dr. Cathy Cook

Gentle Dentistry for the Entire Family!

ACCEPTING ALL MAJOR INSURANCES, CARE CREDIT AND OFFERING FINANCIAL OPTIONS

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Register to Win with

Harlem Globetrotters Pri ze Pack

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• 4 Courtside Seats • 4 Meet & Greet Passes • 2 Autographed Basketballs • 2 Basketball Jerseys

Friday, March 4 Columbus Civic Center

Visit HooKnowsTheValley.com. Enter email on website’s CONTEST page. Drawing March 1st.

HOO’s PARENTING Your six year old comes home from school and proudly announces that a boy likes her and is her boyfriend. She finishes her announcement by inviting you to come to the playground tomorrow during recess for her wedding. This first crush may seem both adorable and worrisome at the same time. Here is some advice parenting experts provide to help you survive your child’s first case of ‘puppy love.’

First, it is important to lend a listening ear to your child. Don’t overreact and try to take her mind off her feelings for her newfound love by saying something like ‘you are too young to have a

boyfriend.’ Parenting experts say that kids between 6 and 8 years old start to hit a developmental milestone where they become curious about how relationships work. Instead of dismissing your child’s feelings, ask her to share them with you. Ask her questions like ‘what do you like about him’ that help her explore her feelings and what she values in others.

Next, have a willingness to answer your child’s questions about relationships. Kids this age love to learn from and imitate their parents. As a result, you may find yourself answering questions about relationships like ‘how did mommy and daddy

y pupp

love

meet?’ Take the time to answer such questions, and use them as an opportunity to add in some age appropriate information on how relationships work and how you should treat others.

By not dismissing your child’s feelings or embarrassing her by making a big deal of her first crush, you are keeping the door of communication about relationships open. This will prove invaluable in the preteen years when your child becomes more serious about relationships and dating.

Wise Choices for You & Your Family

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Tammy Usie Publisher

TheValley.com

Tammy@HooKnows

253-212-7270 Cell

Dear Parents of the Chattahoochee Valley, Welcome to our handy, 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, handy resources and fun features.

If you like our magazine, then you’ll love our website, www.

HooKnowsTheValley.com. There you can read our magazine online, find other resources and use our SHOPPING DIRECTORY. This virtual buying guide provides our readers with a comprehensive list of local, family-friendly businesses. 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

The 1st of the month for the next month’s issue

Tammy Usie

HOO KNOWS SPECIAL FEATURES Hoo’s crafty.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 13

HOO Knew?.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 5

HOO’S Fit.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 12

HOO’S hungry.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 7

HOO’S Fun.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 20 & 28

HOO’S learning.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page 27

HOO’S Healthy.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 9 & 24

hoo’s parenting.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page 3

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? Publix: Columbus & Phenix City Chick fil-A: Columbus & Phenix City Starbucks: Columbus Family & Kids of the Chattahoochee Valley

PLUS: Check your local kid-friendly doctors & dentists, attractions, restaurants & retail shops.

Children attending FT Benning daycares, preschools & elementary schools each receive a copy, as well as elementary students at most all private schools in Columbus & Phenix City...plus all kids attending major daycares and preschools.

www.HooKnowsTheValley.com

www.FamilyAndKidsDigest.com

HOO knew?

Foodie Facts During your lifetime, you will eat sixty thousand pounds of food - the weight of six elephants.

l l l l

l l l l l l The amount of potato chips Americans eat each year weighs six times more than the Titanic.

l l

Two million different combinations of sandwiches can be created at Subway.

Americans eat eighteen acres of pizza every day on average. Saturday night is the biggest night of the week for eating pizza.

l l l l l l l l

l l l

The estimated number of M&Ms sold each day in the US is two hundred million.

l l l l l l l l l l l

The biggest selling restaurant food is french fries.

The average American chews 190 sticks of gum, drinks 600 sodas and 800 gallons of water, and eats 135 pounds of sugar and 19 pounds of cereal per year.

l l l l l

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

SHOPPING guide activities Academy Dance Center....................22 Chattahoochee Valley Libraries....30 Harlem Globetrotters.......................... 2 IFM Arts Academy..............................11 Mother & Son Buccaneer Ball.......... 8 My Gym.................................................22 Performance Dance Centre............. 21 RiverCenter for Performing Arts... 18 The Columbus Museum...................22

Childcare/ education Calvary Christian...............................29 TELL THEM First Presbyterian Day.....................29 Grace Christian School....................29 Kumon...................................................28 YOU!......28 Lakewood ChildSENT Development Oasis After School Program........... 25 St. Anne-Pacelli..................................29 St. Luke Schools.................................26 Sylvan Learning Center...................29 Westminster Christian.....................26

food & beverage

healthcare Columbus Counseling...................... 15 Columbus Spine & Performance... 19 Cook Dental Care.................................. 2 James Lopez, DDS................................ 7 Pediatrics After Hours...................... 21 Pediatric Dentistry of Columbus..... 5 Pediatrics at Brookstone Center....11 Rivertown Pediatrics........................ 21 Stork Vision Ultrasound..................24

Home/ Handy Sparkles Cleaning Service.............. 19 Turfscapes Lawncare........................ 19 Warehouse World Storage............... 19

Shopping/ Retail Baby Elements.....................................11 Giggles and Grins Photography.... 19 Jessica Fowler Photography.......... 13 Mickayla’s Place - Resale................ 15 Once Upon A Child - Resale............. 8 Wee Blessings..................................... 15

Chick-fil-A.............................................11 Chill Yogurt Cafe................................ 13 Moe’s Southwest Grill....................... 31 Stevi B’s Pizza Buffet........................22

TELL THEM

SENT YOU!

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HOO’s HUNGRY

Skinny strawberry chip muffins

These little muffins will help keep your table pretty and your resolutions on track, by swapping the fats and oils with simple applesauce.

DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 350° and spray 10 muffin pan spaces or 10 muffin liners with non-stick cooking spray.

In a large bowl, combine the applesauce and the two sugars and mix until it is smooth.

Then add the other dry ingredients and mix just until combined. Be careful not to overmix. Now, gently fold in your strawberries and your chocolate chips.

Divide the mixture between 10 muffin cups and bake them for 15-20 minutes, just until they are golden brown and a toothpick comes out of the center cleanly.

Muffins can be kept in airtight container at room temperature or in the fridge for 5-7 days.

Ingredients • 1 1/4 cup all purpose flour • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon • 1/4 cup granulated sugar • 1/4 cup light brown sugar • 1/2 cup + 2 TBS applesauce • 1 egg white, beaten • 2/3 cup dried strawberries • 1/3 cup mini chocolate chips

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

PerFect We buy and sell the cutest styles.

Located in The Landings at exit 8 off I-185 | 2521 Airport Thruway, Columbus, GA 31904 706.507.3737 | onceuponachildcolumbusga.com |

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www.FamilyAndKidsDigest.com

HOO’s HEALTHY

heart disease prevention Heart disease is often called a ‘silent killer’ because you can’t see or feel the beginnings. However, by having an awareness of the risk factors and then taking steps to reduce the risk, your family can make an effort to avoid this hidden threat.

What is heart disease?

Who is at risk?

Heart disease is term used to describe a group of heart conditions that include cardiovascular disease, arrhythmias, heart valve conditions, and conditions affecting the heart muscle. A few types are due to congenital heart defects present at birth, but many of them, especially cardiovascular disease, can be prevented by making good lifestyle choices. Cardiovascular disease is a heart condition in which plaque formed from cholesterol builds up in the blood vessels (a process called atherosclerosis), and in many cases is the cause of other heart conditions. This process narrows the blood vessels cincreasing the likelihood of a blood clot forming. If a blood clot forms and then blocks an artery that feeds blood to a part of the heart, a heart attack can occur. A blood clot can also block an artery that feeds blood to the brain, causing a stroke.

Atherosclerosis, the root cause of many types of heart disease, is a lifelong process, so steps should be taken early in life to prevent it. Knowing if members of your family are at increased risk can help you develop an appropriate heart disease prevention plan.

• Medical studies show that genetics may increase your risk of heart disease. Research your family history to see if anyone has developed heart disease and at what age.

• Medical conditions such as obesity and diabetes can cause high levels of LDL (‘bad’) blood cholesterol and lead to atherosclerosis. High blood pressure also increases the risk by damaging the artery walls, making them more prone to collecting deposits of cholesterol. High blood pressure is often a result of other conditions, like diabetes or obesity, but it can also occur in someone who is otherwise healthy.

What can be done to prevent heart disease?

Share your research on your family medical history with the doctor as soon as possible. It will help him form a heart disease prevention plan appropriate for your level of risk.

Know your blood pressure, blood cholesterol, and blood sugar ‘numbers.’ These help indicate the risk of developing one of the conditions that put you at risk for heart disease. The American Association of Pediatrics recommends that kids 9 - 11 years old be tested for the LDL (‘bad’) cholesterol and receive periodic blood sugar screening. Kids age 3 and up should receive annual blood pressure screenings. If any of these numbers are outside of normal, adhere to the plan your doctor provides for bringing them back to normal.

Exercise moderately, with your doctor’s approval, five times a week for 30 minutes. Exercise helps keep your weight under control and encourages the production of the ‘good cholesterol’. Also, your heart is a muscle, so it needs a workout to keep it fit.

Eat right. Eat a heart healthy diet that is low in saturated fats and trans fats.

With the assistance of your doctor, manage your weight by watching how many calories you take in. Remember, you don’t have to be thin. The amount of excess body fat you have, especially around your waist, is more important than your BMI.

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Dining Deals

Wise Choices for You & Your Family

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

MONDAY

thursday

Chick-fil-A, Phenix City

Captain D’s

5-8pm: Free kid’s meal with regular priced combo

Chick-fil-A, Wynnton Rd

5-8pm: $.99 kid’s meal with regular priced combo

Chill Yogurt Cafe & Pizzeria

Kids 12 & under eat free (1 topping 8” pizza & drink) with purchase of adult ‘entree (11” pizza and a drink). Limit 1 per adult. Dine in only.

Get 2 free kids’ meals with purchase of an adult ‘entree. Dine in only

MOE’s Southwest Grill

5-9pm: Free kid’s meal per $5 minimum adult ‘entree Ryan’s Family Steakhouse Thursday Nights: Kids 11 and under eat for $1.99

Sweet Frog Yogurt

6-8pm. Buy one yogurt mix, get one 50% off

Zaxby’s

saturday

5-8pm: Free kid’s meal with adult ‘entree

Steak & Shake

Tuesday Atlanta Bread Company

5pm-close: Free kid’s meal with an adult meal Chill Yogurt Cafe & Pizzeria Buy one regular 11” pizza, get one of equal or less value at 50% off with valid school ID. Limit 1 per customer, with ID only.

Free kid’s meal with every $8 purchase

sunday Steak & Shake

Free kid’s meal with every $8 purchase

Stevi B’s Pizza

Kids eat for $.99 after 4pm

Denny’s

Texas Roadhouse

TGIF Friday’s

Willy T’s

3-10pm: Kids under 13 eat free with adult ‘entree

11-5pm: 1 free kid’s meal per regular meal purchase

Willy T’s

every day

wednesday

Golden Corral

4-10pm: Up to two free kids’ entrees with adult ‘entree. For kids 10 and under

4-9pm: 1 free kid’s meal per regular meal purchase

Applebee’s Kids meals are half off with the purchase of an adult ‘entree. Limit: 4 kids per adult

Sundays: Kids 12 & under get Jr. Kids Meal for $1.99 with adult ‘entree (certain holidays are excluded)

Kids 3 & under eat free with adult meal purchase

Hartz Chicken Buffet

Children 3 & under eat free with purchase of an adult ‘entree. Kids ages 5-7 get discounted prices

PhoVy

Free kid’s meal when you show their “Family & Kids” ad in this issue

All locations are Columbus, GA unless noted. Specials are subject to change without notice.

Please verify them directly before dining. If you know of a kids’ special not listed here, contact Tammy@HooKnowsTheValley.com.

www.FamilyAndKidsDigest.com

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IFM Arts Academy Piano - Violin - Cello - Art - Dance For children and adults to help them develop their talents and skills for the glory of God.

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5828C Moon Rd, Columbus/ BabyElementsBoutique.com

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3400 University Ave. Columbus, GA www.ifmga.org (706) 653-0097

Wise Choices for You & Your Family

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HOO’s FIT Filling your family’s meal plan with heart healthy foods is an important part of heart disease prevention. When choosing foods to include in your weekly menu, limit the amount of saturated fats from meat and dairy foods, and select plenty of items from the following choices.

Heart Healthy

Whole Grains: Whole grains have an amazing 15 grams of fiber per and nutrients which help keep your serving and are packed full of protein.

heart healthy. Fruits and vegetables different colors have different Berries: According to research ofantioxidants, so try to fill your plate studies, berries contain anthocyanin, with a rainbow of colors. a specific antioxidant, which may help dilate the arteries and fight the Nuts: Walnuts, almonds, peanuts, plaque accumulation that leads to and other nuts are a good source of Vegetables: Vegetables are cardiovascular disease. The studies polyunsaturated fats, making them packed full of important vitamins involved strawberries and blueberries, a good replacement for less heart and nutrients, such as folate, that but pomegranates and elderberries are healthy sources of protein. Research studies show that consuming some have anti-inflammatory properties. In also a source of anthocyanin. types of nuts may also reduce the risk addition, vegetables are low in calories Fruits: Many fruits, like and high in fiber, which helps keep your bananas, contain potassium, which of heart disease. One exciting research weight and blood cholesterol levels in can help lower blood pressure. Fruits finding is that walnuts seem to help check. This includes legumes, which also contain a variety of antioxidants keep arteries clear of plaque buildup. are made up of three parts - the bran, germ, and the starchy endosperm. Each of these three parts contains dietary fiber, which helps lower levels of ‘bad’ blood cholesterol, and nutrients beneficial to heart health.

www.FamilyAndKidsDigest.com

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HOO’s CRAFTY valentine, i chews you

Gumball machines

You can whip up these cute Valentines in about a minute. These would make an awesome Valentine’s gift for friends, or teachers, or just as Valentine decor.

Directions Start by rinsing your Coca-Cola bottles out and letting them dry thoroughly. Then, fill the bottle with gumballs or another candy of your choice. The brighter the colors the better. Now, take your candy bottles and glue them to the Solo cup. If you are going to use hot glue, I would recommend using low-temp so you don’t melt the cup. Let the glue dry. And last, but not least, make some cute little gift tags or a sign to go with your new gumball machine. We chose the saying “Valentine, I chews you!”, but feel free to get creative!

supplies round Coca-Cola bottles gumballs/ candy red Solo cups glue gift tags

A Page In A Book

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Recommending the Best Books

Wise Choices for You & Your Family

for Children and Teens By Gerry P. Smith

Alternative Alphabets

The ‘A is for apple, B is for ball’ formats are always popular and usually feature recognizable objects from kids’ environments to introduce the alphabet sounds. But the building blocks of our language offer much broader opportunities for artistic treatments that go beyond the customary ‘ABC’ fare. The following titles explore and celebrate the alphabet through captivating alternative avenues!

Alpha

By Isabelle Arsenault (Isabelle Arsenault)

Based on the NATO phonetic alphabet, this title features the words that military branches, first responders and relief organizations use to clarify letters as they are spoken.

For example, letters for the word ‘five’ would be called ‘Foxtrot - India – Victor – Echo’ for clarification. Each letter in this book is part of a two-page spread that features images and pictures to inspire thoughtful exploration and conversation between readers. Part ABC primer, part art book, ALPHA is a Tango – Oscar – Papa choice for the alphabet book shelf.

The Numberlys

By William Joyce & Christina Ellis (Atheneum / Simon & Schuster)

In a place without words, there can be no books, or colors, or even pizza. So five friends in this digital city join forces to create something ...more. They begin to manipulate the numbers around them to build new shapes that will enrich their bland and orderly world. With Art Deco sensibilities, the rich sepia-tone edge-to-edge illustrations demand study as color is slowly introduced and the evolution of the alphabet breathes life into the world formerly dictated by numbers. With endless secrets to discover in the art, The Numberlys can be counted on for repeat reading.

8 An Animal Alphabet

By Elisha Cooper (Orchard / Scholastic Press)

This title from Elisha Cooper offers a refreshing challenge to readers. Introducing an unparalleled menagerie of creatures, each page dedicated to a letter of the alphabet features a menagerie of creatures whose name begins with the letter. In addition to learning about more uncommon animals, readers are also encouraged to explore counting on each page to find the ‘eight’ among the many. With a fine glossary at the end of the book, this animal alphabet is a choice title to both reinforce alphabet sounds and to introduce cool trivia about more obscure creatures around the world.

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Buying Days Mon - Thurs 10 AM - 5 PM Drop off any day

Store Hours Mon - Fri: 9 AM - 7 PM Saturday: 10 AM - 6 PM Sunday: Closed

a children’s resale shop

706-221-1154 I 2401 Whittlesey Rd I Columbus, GA 31909

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American Girl Book Club.

6:30pm. Ages 6-9. Barnes & Noble, 5555 Whittlesey Blvd, Columbus; 706-653-7880

Minecraft Monday. 4pm. North Columbus Library; www.cvlga. org/events

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MOPS meeting. 9am-Noon.

Wynnbrook Baptist Church, 500 River Knoll, Columbus; www. wynnbrookbaptist.com

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Columbus Cottonmouths vs.

Huntsville Havoc. 7:30pm. Tickets $9-$30. Columbus Civic Center; columbusciviccenter.com

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Home Depot Kids Workshop.

9am-Noon. Free. Ages 5-12. Columbus 706-322-9240. Phenix 334-297-2045

Librar y activities Chattahoochee Valley www.CVLGA.org

Phenix City-Russell County www.phenixcitylibrary.com

Troup-Harris

www.thclibrary.net

Columbus Cottonmouths vs.

Louisiana Ice Gators. 4pm. Tickets $9-$30. Columbus Civic Center; columbusciviccenter.com American Girl Book Club.

6:30pm. Ages 10+. Barnes & Noble, 5555 Whittlesey Blvd, Columbus; 706-653-7880 Celebrate Chinese New Year!

4:30pm. Free. North Columbus Public Library; cvlga.org/events

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Kidz Flicks. 2pm. Free. Columbus Public Library; cvlga.org/events

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La Leche League meeting.

10am. Columbus Public Library, 3000 Macon Rd; http://www. lllofga.org/columbus.html

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Columbus Cottonmouths vs.

Huntsville Havoc. 7:30pm. Tickets $9-$30. Columbus Civic Center; columbusciviccenter.com

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Second Saturday: Family Fun Day. 10am. Free. Columbus Museum; edu@columbusmuseum. org

Daddy and Donuts Storytime: Valentine’s Day Tea Party.

11:30am-12pm. Free. Columbus Public Library; cvlga.org/events Lowes Build & Grow Clinic. 1011am. Free. 1st-5th grades.

6750 Veterans Pkwy, Columbus; 706-320-9292 Columbus Cottonmouths vs.

Mississippi Riverkings. 4pm.

Tickets $9-$30. Columbus Civic Center; columbusciviccenter.com

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Columbus Kids Market Consignment. Central Baptist Church, 8303 Whitesville, Columbus; columbuskidsmarket.net

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Disney on Ice: Treasure Trove. $17-$52. $5 parking. Columbus Civic Center; www.columbusciviccenter.org

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Family Theatre presents Stone Soup. 7:30pm. $8-$12. 2100 Hamilton Road, Columbus; www.familytheatre.org

y Events

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pr o vi d e d in partne r ship with:

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MOPS meeting. 9am-Noon.

Wynnbrook Baptist Church, 500 River Knoll, Columbus; www. wynnbrookbaptist.com

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Puppy Tails. 2pm. Free. Columbus Public Library; www.cvlga. org/events

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Fancy Nancy Tea Party. 1011:45am. Free. Mildred Terry Public Library. cvlga.org/events

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Family Fun: Black History Trivia Challenge. 3pm. Free. South Columbus Public Library; www. cvlga.org/events

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Moscow Festival Ballet presents “Sleeping Beauty.” 7:30pm. $49. www.rivercenter.org

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The Art of Story Time. 4:305:30pm. Columbus Public Library. www.cvlga.org/events

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Friday Family Flicks. 3pm. Free.

South Columbus Public Library; www.cvlga.org/events

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Tuesday

Family Theatre presents Stone Soup. 7:30pm. $8-$12. 2100 Hamilton Road, Columbus; www.familytheatre.org

MOPS meeting. 9am-Noon. First Presbyterian Church, 1100 First Avenue, Columbus; www.columbusfpc.org/mops

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Thursday

Young Eagles Day at Flightways Columbus. 8:30-11:30am. Free.

Ages 8-17. Columbus Airport; 706-323-6565 or youngeagles. com/flightplan/flight.asp

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Dr Seuss’s Birthday Celebration storytime. 11am. Barnes & Noble, 5555 Whittlesey Blvd. 706653-7880

Weekly Events Monday

Family Night at Chick-fil-A Wynnton Road/Midtown. 5-7:30pm.

Crafts and fun. Buy a combo at regular price and get a kid’s 4-pc meal free. 2421 Wynnton Road, Columbus Family Night at Chick-fil-A Phenix City. 5-7:30pm. Crafts and fun. Buy a combo at regular price and get a kid’s 4-pc meal free. 3711 U.S Hwy 280, Phenix City

Toddler Tales at Barnes & Noble.

10am. 5555 Whittlesey Blvd.

706-653-7880

Saturday

Market Days on Broadway. 9amnoon. Different activities each week. 900, 1000, & 1100 blocks of Broadway, Columbus; 706596-0111 or www.uptowncolumbusga.com Michael’s Kids Club Meeting.

10am-Noon. Ages 3+. See store for details.

Saturday Storytimes at Barnes & Noble. 11am. 5555 Whittlesey Blvd. 706-653-7880 Please call ahead to confirm event dates, times and age appropriateness, in case changes were made after the info was obtained. For more event info, visit MuscogeeMoms.com.

Wise Choices for You & Your Family 900 18 BROADWAY, COLUMBUS, GA | 706.256.3612 | rivercenter.org

Moscow Festival Ballet presents

feb 25 • 7:30 PM supported by

www.FamilyAndKidsDigest.com

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Moms Marketplace You could reach over 15,000 moms in this space for only $65.

Call 253-212-7270

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

HOO’s FUN

Learn To Draw Cupid

www.FamilyAndKidsDigest.com

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

February 13

During this exciting program guest artist Yadira Padilla will help you explore the art of mixed media.

Story time: 11 A.M., Draw What You See: The Life and Art of Benny Andrews by Kathleen Benson.

Millions of kids agree. . .

For a Sweet ‘16, Start Your New Year at My Gym! (706) 507-2966 • mygym.com/columbus MyGymColumbus

www.FamilyAndKidsDigest.com

HOO’S at the Movies

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riSen PG-13 | Ok for kids 14+ Directed by Kevin Reynolds, “Risen” is the epic Biblical story of the Resurrection, as told through the eyes of a non-believer. Clavius (Joseph Fiennes), a powerful Roman Military Tribune, and his aide Lucius (Tom Felton) are tasked with solving the mystery of what happened to Jesus in the weeks following the crucifixion, in order to disprove the rumors of a risen Messiah and prevent an uprising in Jerusalem. Also stars Cliff Curtis and Peter Firth.

gods of egypt PG-13 | Ok for kids 13+ In this action-adventure directed by Alex Proyas and inspired by the classic mythology of Egypt, the survival of mankind hangs in the balance as an unexpected mortal hero Bek (Brenton Thwaites) embarks on a journey to save the world and rescue his true love. He must enlist the help of the powerful god Horus (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) in an unlikely alliance against Set (Gerard Butler), the merciless god of darkness who has usurped Egypt’s throne, plunging the once peaceful and prosperous empire into chaos and conflict.

pride and prejudice and zombies PG-13 | Ok for kids 14+ A zombie outbreak has gripped the land in Jane Austen’s classic tale of the tangled relationships between lovers from different social classes in 19th century England. Feisty heroine Elizabeth Bennet (Lily James) is a master of martial arts and weaponry, and the handsome Mr. Darcy (Sam Reilly) is a fierce zombie killer and the epitome of upper class. As the outbreak intensifies, our heroes must join forces on the blood-soaked battlefield. Directed by Burr Steers, this movie also stars Lena Headey, Jack Huston, Bella Heathcote, and Matt Smith.

NEW ON DVD | BLU-RAY: iron giant: signature edition PG | Ok for kids 6+ It’s October, 1957, and 9-year-old Hogarth Hughes (Eli Marienthal) who is always on the lookout for mutant aliens, finds a huge, metal-eating robot (Vin Diesel) with an insatiable curiosity and equally insatiable appetite. But the extraterrestrial’s presence unleashes a wave of paranoia that threatens to engulf the quiet town of Rockwell, unless Hogarth and his 50-foot friend can stop it.

Acclaimed animation director and writer Brad Bird brings his creative talents to this unique tale of two heroes. Also stars Jennifer Aniston, Harry Connick Jr. and Cloris Leachman.

snow white and the seven dwarfs G | Ok for kids 7+ Now in High Definition Blu-ray and on Digital HD, this classic Disney film includes Special Features: “Iconography” (explore how this film influences pop culture, art and fashion); “@DisneyAnimation: Designing Disney’s First Princess”; “The Fairest Facts Of Them All” (Disney Channel star Sofia Carson reveals seven intriguing facts about “Snow White”); Alternate Sequence (never-beforeseen storyboard sequence where The Prince meets Snow White); and more.

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

HOO’s HEALTHY

My child has started to stutter

The

Kids

Doctor

Sue Hubbard, MD kidsdr.com

I received an email from a mother who is concerned about her 2 1/2-year-old daughter who has started stuttering in the last week. She asked, “Is this something to be worried about or just watch it and see?”

The best medicine for stuttering is for parents to reassure their child that it is OK to slow down, as sometimes it is hard to make the words correctly. A hug from Mom or Dad while they are reassuring their child is also helpful.

This is a common question from parents with preschool aged children, and it is typically most frequent between 18 months and 5 years of age. Stuttering at this age is called disfluency (or pseudo stuttering) and is quite common as children learn to speak and develop more complex speech patterns.

Practice slow and relaxed speech when you are talking to your child, and try not to rush them when they are talking even if the stuttering is bothering you. When your child asks you a question, pause before answering to also model behaviors with speaking. Reading aloud with your child in a slow, normal manner is also beneficial (I remember nights of trying to rush through those early books and get everyone in bed!).

In many cases the stuttering occurs out of the blue, may last for several weeks and resolve; but it may return off and on during the preschool years as a child is learning more and more language. When a preschooler is stuttering, the parents usually note that the child repeats an initial sound such as “l-li-like” or “s-st-star” or the child may have frequent pauses with “um” and “er.” It is not uncommon to see this happen when a child is excited, anxious or tired.

In most cases a child’s stuttering will not last more than weeks to several months and will resolve on its own. If you think the problem is increasing in severity or is causing stress and anxiety for your child, it may be time for a discussion with your pediatrician.

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There’s no better way to make it through the day than with some tunes, a couple laughs, and someone to listen and listen to. We hear you, we thank you for listening and voting us your READER’S CHOICE favorite radio personalities.

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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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Come Find Their Fun!

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