ChattValley_JUNE25

JUNE 2025

Wise Choices for Moms & Families

2025

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

raising BOYS

HOO’s PARENTING3

W

hile it is true that every child has a unique set of personality characteristics, there are some key differences between boys and girls that are worth noting as you develop your approach to parenting your child.

Boys need strong emotional support

Society tries to teach us that boys, even at an early age, need to ‘man up.’ However, instead of trying to teach boys to dismiss or bury their feelings, parents need to provide boys with the emotional support they need to learn to manage their feelings and learn empathy. Physiological differences, such as more testosterone and slower development of the brain, mean that boys are often more reliant on the emotional support from their parents in the first few months and years of life. Boys are more likely to act aggressively when upset, making it harder to manage emotions.

⏺ Establish a strong bond with your baby boy from birth

and maintain an open line of communication with your son as he grows.

⏺ Toddler boys need hugs and cuddling just as much as toddler girls do. Hugs can help your toddler boy feel secure and safe.

⏺ Let your son know you are willing to listen to him when he needs help processing his feelings.

By Linda Ligon, Family & Kids

Provide an outlet for energy

Due to physiological and developmental differences, boys are prone to acting impulsively, wanting to explore and attempt new things without giving thought to risks and consequences. Every child is unique, but in general, boys may be more prone to aggressive, competitive behavior.

Your job is to set boundaries without breaking your son’s spirit.

Teach your son that there is a time and place to ‘let loose’ and expend his energy, and there are other times, such as when he is in the classroom or at church, that he needs to keep his behavior low-key. If you feel like certain ‘boy behaviors’, such as chasing his sister with a spider, are out of control, set limits and consequences for violating them. For example, explain to him that he can observe bugs outside, but they are not allowed in the house or near his sister. Consistently enforce boundaries and provide positive reinforcement by praising him when you see him doing a good job of respecting others.

Provide your son with outlets for his energy and desire to explore his environment. Some boys may enjoy expending their energy in a competitive team sport while others enjoy individual activities, such as martial arts. Find the outlet that best fits your son’s personality and interests. However, be careful to avoid gender stereotypes. For example, if he wants to try gymnastics, let him explore it.

⏺ Help your son identify how he feels and set boundar- Teach your son responsibility ies that teach him to properly deal with strong feelings, such as anger.

Impulsive behavior and difficulty with self-regulation can get in the way of boys completing assigned tasks.

⏺ Using gentle guidance and positive reinforcement, Assign your son appropriate chores and involve your son in help your son learn empathy and how to be kind to others. Understanding his own feelings and the feelings of others helps build what is often referred to as emotional intelligence and leads to the ability to form strong relationships.

projects around the house that can provide hands-on learning. Set expectations for the completion of chores and teach accountability by enforcing consequences. Gradually increase the complexity of his responsibilities and, when he is ready, start involving him in the planning of projects.

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

The Scoop!

HOO’s CUTE

CONTEST Have a cute kid? Well, Of course you do! Send us a photo of them so we may feature them in a future issue! One child per photo. www.FamilyAndKidsGA.com/hooscute

Where to Find HOO? Check your local kid-friendly doctors, dentists, attractions, retail shops & restaurants; or see our interactive distro map at: familyandkidsga.com/get-a-copy

TO SUBMIT AD OR EVENT: Tammy Usie, Publisher tammy@familyandkidsga.com 253-212-7270 FamilyAndKidsGA

www.FamilyAndKidsGA.com

www.FamilyAndKidsGA.com

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

6

data dangers on

HOO’s tips

platforms

By Linda Ligon, Family & Kids

an AI diagnostic app to check if your symptoms require some types of sensitive data Using immediate medical attention or using an AI app to update your should never be put in ai apps.

resume are seemingly harmless uses of AI applications. However, en- There are some types of information and documents that you should tering private data into AI platforms may put it at risk for misuse or never upload and share with AI Large Language Models (LLM) like ChatGPT. Never upload medical records, credit card statements, legal exposure. documents or propriety code into an AI LLM. Once you upload the document into cloud-based AI applications, it may stay there indefiyour data may be collected nitely, be used to train new AI models and be vulnerable to exposure. without your consent.

Before entering your data into an AI platform or into a website, read Cybercriminals may try to steal your credit card information and use it the privacy policy. Does it explicitly ask your consent to use your for malicious purposes. Someone could maliciously hack health care private data to train AI models? There have been some incidents data and create a data breach that could affect your personal life as where users agreed to a privacy policy, but their data was then used well as your professional life. for purposes beyond what the users believed they were agreeing to. ai applications may be vulnerable If it is difficult to tell what your data will be used for, how it will be to cyber attacks stored and who it can be shared with, ask for clarification from the Some AI platforms may be vulnerable to phishing attacks. Hackers organization before entering your data into their AI tool or website. may try to trick you into revealing sensitive information. Be wary of Taking precautions before sharing data can help prevent having to emails related to AI apps that contain links that do not look quite right or chatbots that ask for sensitive personal information such as fight to have your sensitive data removed from AI datasets. your social security number or account credentials.

Structured Snacks

HOO’s Healthy

TODDLERS

for

By Linda Ligon, Family & Kids

T

oddlers need a large amount of energy to support their growth and high activity levels. Snacks can help provide a variety of vitamins and minerals and the extra calories that toddlers need to support them between meals. Dietitians estimate that toddlers get about 25% of their calories from snacks each day.

t If your toddler is going through a growth phase and he is hungry an hour or so before his next meal despite having had his regular snack, you could offer him an extra snack of healthy fruits and veggies that are not his favorite but he will eat if he is truly so hungry he cannot wait.

It may seem like a good idea to keep snacks accessible to your toddler so that he can refuel when he needs to. However, here are some reasons why giving toddlers unlimited access to snacks is not the best approach.

t Toddlers with unlimited access to food may get used to eating the snacks just because they can, not because they are hungry.

This continuous grazing from the snack drawer can cause your toddler to overeat and not be hungry for the nutrient-dense meals you prepare for him.

t Toddlers do not yet have the ability to self-regulate and they thrive in a structured environment. Your role as a parent is to provide the boundaries that define your toddler’s structured environment. Develop a meal schedule for your family that includes your toddler’s snack times. This structure helps your toddler feel secure, as he will know what to expect during his day. In general, toddlers need to eat about every 2 to 3 hours on a schedule that includes 3 main meals a day and 2-3 snacks.

t Toddlers are still learning to self-feed and choking is a risk. It is better to have your toddler seated at the table for snack time than to have your toddler pulling snacks out of a snack drawer then running around and eating them. There is also the possibility of a food allergy to a new food. When introducing a new food, carefully watch for signs of an allergic reaction.

HOO’s Fun

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

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Celebration

for the th

HOO’s PICKS

Army’s 250 Birthday ay

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he Army’s will be 250 years old on its June 14 birthday this year. On this day, The National Infantry Museum will host a grand-scale, free community event in collaboration with Fort Benning, called ‘Salute to the Army 250.’ This joint celebration will take the place of FreedomFest, the Independence Day destination for Columbus and the Chattahoochee Valley.

ticipate in the hot dog eating contests and test your skills with The Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office mobile gaming trailer.

Visitors will enjoy the similar food trucks, bounce houses, free movies, and free VR Simulators of FreedomFest but coupled with extra Army specialties and appearances for a once in a lifetime event. It will be a day of family fun, community pride, and heartfelt appreciThe day-long birthday celebration will start with a bang at 10am ation for the men and women of the United States Army. and runs till 4pm. The museum’s galleries will spring to life with interactive Soldiers in full period dress. Visitors have the unique op- Festivities will be held at the NIM on 1775 Legacy Way, Columbus. portunity for a helicopter ride (with ticket purchase) by the Friends Post access to Fort Benning is not required. For more, visit the of Army Aviation, taking off from Inouye Field. The Maneuver Center Facebook event link at: https://www.facebook.com/share/1AMdXof Excellence Band will keep the party going all day! Be sure to par- BYgJ9/

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Wise Choices for You & Your Family

www.FamilyAndKidsGA.com

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HOO’s HUNGRY

Gelatin

•

CLOUD JELLIES If you’re looking for an easy healthy treat for the kids with wow factor, this is it. Read on for the health benefits of our secret ingredient - gelatin!

INSTRUCTIONS

INGREDIENTS

1. Blend fruit until smooth. At this point, you can strain to remove any seeds (berries) if desired.

2. Combine all ingredients in a small pot and sprinkle the gelatin across the top. Allow to sit for 5 or so minutes so that gelatin can start to absorb the liquid.

3. Over a very low heat, slowly whisk to dissolve the gelatin fully.

4. Once dissolved, pour mixture into a small tray or molds to set in the fridge. If in tray, slice into squares and store in an airtight container in fridge.

• 1.5 cups bleneded fresh or frozen mango strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, banana, etc (note: the more acidic fruit do not work, such as kiwi or pineapple) • 2 tbs lime juice • Pinch sea salt • 2-3 tbs raw honey or maple syrup • 4 tbs Great Lakes or Vital Proteins gelatin • 1 cup of plain full fat yogurt • ¼ cup kombucha filtered water or fresh juice (Note: kombucha is great for extra probiotics. If using juice, you may want to reduce the honey/ maple syrup)

BENEFITS OF Gelatin

By Juliette Francois, nutritionist, mom, lunchbox packer

T

reats can be healthy, especially when they are made with real gelatin and not that from the brightly colored packets we see in our supermarkets, that doesn’t contain any refined sugar, colors, additives and preservatives.

Real gelatin has an increased nutrient profile that you just won’t find in the average run-of-the-mill supermarket variety and by starting to include good quality gelatin into your family's daily diet, not only will you start to see a myriad of health benefits, your kids will love it too!

One of the main reasons gelatin, either in the form of bone broths and stews or in its powdered form, is one of the most highly recommended additions is because our modern diet is greatly lacking in these nutrients. Today, we are mostly interested in muscle meats which lack the anti-inflammatory amino acids contained in gelatin.

Gelatin has long been known to be a curative for many illnesses, particularly cold’s and flu; hence the reason our grandparents would always give chicken soup in times of sickness – it is incredibly immune-boosting.

Gelatin has a number of other wonderful health benefits for children, including: • It is fabulous for bone and joint health.

• It is anti-inflammatory, improving immunity and wound-healing.

• It improves digestion. It is gut-healing and hence has been seen to assist with the improvement of food allergies and intolerances.

• It is detoxifying to the body by helping the liver to efficiently remove toxins from our body.

• It assists the body to fully utilize consumed proteins and hence is a wonderful way to add extra protein into your child’s diet.

• It is calming to the brain, improves focus, memory and assists with stress reduction.

• And for many parents, the most important of all; gelatin can induce sleep as well as improve the quality of sleep.

Now the health benefits don’t stop at children, gelatin is wonderful for the big kids too! In addition to the above, gelatin assists with blood sugar regulation, inhibiting sugar cravings and boosting metabolism – fabulous news for those wanting to lose weight. It also improves the strength and appearance of hair, skin, nails and teeth and additionally improves the elasticity of your skin.. what is there not to love?

If you’re looking for an extra healthy treat for the kids with wow factor, the cloud jelly recipe above is it.

Courtesy of: Kidgredients.com

Wise Choices for You & Your Family

12

Sou t

d che

nS her tit

CHILDREN’S RESALE AND MORE

Decisions,

www.FamilyAndKidsGA.com

HOO’s PARENTING13

Decisions!

By Christa Melnyk Hines Family & Kids

A

s a parent, you’ve probably heard the mantra: To help your child, offer two choices you can both live with. But, what do you do if even two choices become an agonizing struggle as your child painstakingly worries over seemingly simple decisions?

Dr. Jane Sosland, a clinical psychologist in behavioral pediatrics, says decision-making occurs in the area of the brain that handles problem-solving. While we’re all born with the ability to make decisions, our environment and personality can influence our confidence when weighing options.

“A child who is particularly anxious or worried or cares a lot about what other people think, may be one who is much more careful about making decisions,” Sosland says.

Weigh the importance. Help your child learn to differ-

entiate between minor decisions and more important decisions, in which the pros and cons should be considered. Kelly Hill models decision-making to her indecisive daughter Jolie, 4 1/2. “If I have a choice to make, talking about it out loud with her and explaining the different options...of each may help her make her choices, too.”

Targeted praise. When your child decides, reaffirm her

choice and reinforce desired behavior with specific praise. For example, “I like that red shirt you chose to wear” or “Good call on the restaurant you chose for your birthday dinner. It will be fun to try something new!”

Practice builds confidence. Making decisions

is essentially taking risks, especially if you’re unsure about the choices. A child who harbors strong self-doubt may begin to avoid making any significant decisions for fear of making the wrong choice. But, the last thing you want is for your child to start giving away his decision-making power to others. Begin with small, easier decisions to help your child feel the sweetness of success. “It’s important for kids to feel successful when going out of their comfort zone,” Sosland says.

Avoid criticism. Naturally, decisions don’t always work

out in our favor. “Empathize with your child, but don’t criticize,” Sosland says. “The key is to keep encouraging them to learn new skills and try new things.” If your child decides to play a sport, but then says he doesn’t like it, explain that he has to finish out the season since he made the commitment, but that you’re proud of him for taking the risk and trying something new.

Set limits. Too expansive an array of options can fuel anxiety

and indecision. Guidelines can help your child further simplify the decision. For example, before taking your child to the toy aisle to spend her birthday money, discuss what type of toy she would like to purchase. Tell her she’ll have 15 minutes to decide and then you’ll be moving on to finish your other shopping. Point out items on the aisle she can afford to further narrow down choices. If she doesn’t decide within the designated time limit, tell her you’ll have to come back later.

External motivation. To motivate your child, offer

simple incentives to achieve desired goals. Sosland suggests turning privileges that your child may already receive for “free” into incentives. For example, if your child sticks to his initial decision about what to eat for breakfast without argument, helping to keep the family on schedule, he can listen to the music of his choice or play his Nintendo DS on the way to school. Not only will he enjoy the external reward, he’ll feel an internal boost of self-confidence as well.

If indecision causes severe distress, meltdowns and disruption to your child’s life, consult with your pediatrician or pediatric mental health provider.

Wise Choices for You & Your Family

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HOO’s HEALTHY Kawasaki Disease is one of the leading causes of heart disease in children. It causes inflammation in the walls of small to medium-sized blood vessels. Most often, in children, Kawasaki disease affects the arteries that supply oxygenated blood to the heart and can cause damage to the heart and the blood vessels.

The symptoms of Kawasaki disease include a fever higher than 102.2 degrees F for five or more days, enlarged lymph nodes, very red lips and tongue, a red rash that often involves the groin area, red eyes without discharge and swollen and red hands and feet.

Later, the skin on the hands and feet may peel. Some kids may also experience abdominal pain and vomiting. There is not a lab test specifically for Kawasaki disease. Instead, the doctor will determine if the patient’s symptoms match a number of these key symptoms of Kawasaki disease. If the Kawasaki disease is suspected, lab tests, imaging studies and an EKG may be ordered to help support the diagnosis and rule out other diseases with similar symptoms.

The exact cause of Kawasaki disease is not yet known but research suggests that a viral or bacterial infection could

By Linda, Ligon, Family & Kids

W h a t is : KAWASAKI DISEA

SE

help trigger the immune response that occurs in Kawasaki disease. Research studies also suggest that certain inherited genetic factors may make someone more likely to get Kawasaki disease. Kawasaki disease is not contagious and cannot be spread from person to person.

The treatment for Kawasaki disease consists of a combination of IV immunoglobulin (IVIG) and aspirin. This treatment helps reduce the chances of serious complications, and most children recover from Kawasaki disease. However, serious complications sometimes occur and can include aneurysm in a coronary artery, which may require coronary bypass surgery, blood clots and stenosis (narrowing) in the coronary arteries, rupture of a coronary artery, heart valve issues, inflammation of the heart muscle, heart failure or heart attack.

Prompt treatment is important in preventing these serious complications. With prompt treatment, most children recover fully and do not experience permanent damage to the heart.

Resources: https://bit.ly/3Sem1vr

www.FamilyAndKidsGA.com

BOOK NOOK REVIEW

Winning Begins At Home

by Randy Gravitt

Purchase: https://amzn.to/42lU0Ij

Winning Begins at Home, Gravitt flips the script on modern Iin nsuccess.

He reminds us that the real scoreboard is not measured status or salary but in the strength of your relationships, the character of your children, and the example you set when no one is watching. If you’re tired of living divided between your professional image and personal life or if you want to lead with integrity in both, this book is a wake-up call and it might just change the way you define “winning.”

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<<<<< 7 Impactful Lessons >>>>>

Your Greatest Leadership Role Is in Your Own House. Before you lead teams, clients, or communities, your most important audience is your spouse, your children, and your inner circle. If your home life is in shambles, your public victories will feel hollow. Leadership is not about performance, it’s about presence, and it starts with how you show up when you walk through your front door.

Success at Work Cannot Compensate for Failure at Home.

Gravitt shares stories and examples of leaders who built empires but lost their families and how that kind of success always ends in regret. He challenges readers to reorder their priorities: no promotion, paycheck, or applause is worth the cost of losing trust at home.

Winning at home isn’t just desirable, it’s non-negotiable if you want a life of integrity and wholeness.

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You Can’t Lead Well If You’re Absent. Leadership is spelled T-IM-E. Gravitt is clear: being physically present is not the same as being emotionally available. He encourages men and women alike to resist the cultural norm of busyness and choose intentional moments at home family dinners, one-on-one time with kids, and undistracted conversations with your spouse. You can’t outsource connection. Your home needs more of you, not just your schedule.

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Your Values Are Measured in the Mundane. Gravitt emphasizes that it’s not the big gestures that define character, it’s the small, repeated behaviors - How you respond under stress. Whether you keep your promises. Whether you speak with kindness or sarcasm. Children don’t listen to what you say nearly as much as they watch what you do.

Integrity at home is revealed in how you treat people when the cameras are off and no one is clapping.

Be the Same Person in Every Room. The healthiest, most respected leaders are those who live with alignment where their private life reinforces their public message. When your words and actions match across every context, you don’t have to fear being “found out.” That consistency builds trust, both at home and beyond.

Winning at Home Requires Intentional Habits. Gravitt provides practical habits for building stronger relationships at home daily check-ins, unplugged time, affirming your kids, praying with your spouse, shared goals. Just like leadership at work requires vision and strategy, so does leadership at home. And the more intentional you are, the more culture you create within your four walls.

Legacy is Built in the Living Room, Not the Spotlight. Gravitt urges readers to think beyond achievements and accolades. What will your children remember? What values will echo into future generations? Winning at home isn’t always glamorous, but it’s eternal. The impact you make in your family far outweighs any award you’ll win elsewhere. Build something lasting. Start where it matters most: at home.

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Free exhibition of artifacts and memorabilia

American Legend

“Images From Space that Fire the Imagination” From Apollo Astronaut David R. Scott

Bo Bartlett Center

June 2, 2025 - August 3, 2025 www.columbusstate.edu/bartlett-center

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June E

2 Summer Cinema: Wicked (PG). Families.

RSVP. 10am. North Columbus Library; 706748-2855 2 Family Fun Night: Claude Monet Water Lilies Finger Painting. 4pm. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813 2- 6 Camp NIM Kids. 9am-4pm. Ages 9-11.

National Infantry Museum; 706-685-5800 2-7Summer String Camp. 8:30am4:30pm. $300. Ages 8-18. CSU Schwob School of Music; yocg.org 3 Little Sprouts. 10am. Ages 0-5. $5/family.

Columbus Botanical Garden, 706-327-8400 3 Color Your World: Summer Craft Series – Art Journal. RSVP. Families. 11am. Mildred L. Terry Library; 706-243-2782 3 Museum Sleuths with the Columbus Museum. Ages 8-13. 3pm. South Columbus Library; 706-683-8805 3 Pony Bead Party. Ages 5-12. 4pm. RSVP for groups of 7 or more. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813 4 Summer Cinema: Aladdin (G, 1992). Families. 2pm. RSVP for groups of 7 or more. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813 4 Museum Sleuths with the Columbus Museum. Ages 8-13. 3pm. South Columbus Library; 706-683-8805 4 Graphic Novel Book Club for Kids. Ages 6-11. 4pm. North Columbus Library; 706748-2855 5 Simple Steps: Play. Ages 2-5. 10am. South Columbus Library; 706-683-8805 5 Creative Kids: Cardboard Costumes. Ages 6-11. 3pm. North Columbus Library; 706748-2855 5 Museum Sleuths with the Columbus Museum. Ages 8-13. 3pm. South Columbus Library; 706-683-8805

6 Side Quest: Mini Adventure – Dragon

Boats. Families. 4pm. Columbus Library; 706243-2813 7Summer Market. 11am-3pm. Midland Commons; 706-987-3723 7-8 Day Out with Thomas Train. 9am5pm. GA Veterans State Park; ticketweb.com 8 Sunny Days Market. Noon-6pm. 32 Hwy 165, Phenix City; facebook.com 9-13 Animal Antics Summer Camp. 9am4pm. Ages 6-9. $250/week. Oxbow Meadows; 706-507-8550 9-13 Camp NIM Kids. 9am-4pm. Ages 1214. National Infantry Museum; 706-685-5800 10 Kids Art Studio. Ages 5-12. 4pm. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813 10 Tabletop Tuesday. Teen. 4pm. South Columbus Library; 706-683-8805 10 Canvas & Clay Breakout Adventure. Teen.

6pm. Mildred L. Terry Library; 706-243-2782 1 1 Simple Steps Storytime with Shana Banana. Ages 0-5. 11am. Mildred L. Terry Library; 706-243-2782 1 1 MAMA B.E.A.R.S.(Part 2) Breastfeeding Support meeting. 12:30-1:30pm. Columbus Pediatric Assoc; 706-221-4602 1 1 Summer Cinema: Peter Pan (G). Families.

2pm. RSVP for groups of 7 or more. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813 12 Budding Naturalists. 10-11am. $7.18.

Columbus Botanical Garden, 706-327-8400 12 Simple Steps Storytime: Family. Ages 0-5. 10am. South Columbus Library; 706683-8805 12 Creative Kids: Make Your Own Comic Book. Ages 6-11. 3pm. North Columbus Library; 706-748-2855 13 Summer Cinema. Families. 2pm. Mildred L. Terry Library; 706-243-2782

13 Fingerpaint Friday. Ages 1-5. 3pm. North

Columbus Library; 706-748-2855 13 Dads & Dinos: A Father’s Day Dinosaur Dig Adventure. Families. 4pm. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813 14 Summer Closet Cleanout. 10am-2pm.

Columbus Convention & Trade Ctr; 706-3274522 14-15 Day Out with Thomas Train. 9am5pm. GA Veterans State Park, Cordele; ticketweb.com 1 6 Summer Cinema: Moana (PG). Families.

10am. RSVP. North Columbus Library; 706748-2855 1 6 Family Fun Night: Van Gogh Sunflower Playdough Art. 4pm. Columbus Library; 706243-2813 16-19 Rose Hill Church of Christ Vacation Bible School. Ages 4-11. 6-8pm. 7479 Old Moon Rd, Columbus; rosehillchurch.com 16-20 Cascade Hills Kids Week. 4yrs-2nd grade. Free; cascadehills.com/kids-week 16-20 Camp NIM Kids. 9am-4pm. Ages 7-8. Infantry Museum; 706-685-5800 16-20 CTG Hockey Training Camp. 9am3pm. Ages 8-14. Ice Rink; 910-670-6004 17 Color Your World: Summer Craft Series – Kaleidoscope. RSVP. Families. 11am. Mildred L. Terry Library; 706-243-2782 17 The World in Your Backyard. Families.

3pm. South Columbus Library; 706-683-8805 17 Pony Bead Party. Ages 5-12. 4pm. RSVP for groups of 7 or more. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813 17 Juneteenth Celebration. Families. 6pm.

Mildred L. Terry Library; 706-243-2782 18 Summer Cinema: The Little Mermaid Sing Along (G). Families. 2pm. RSVP for groups of 7 or more. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813

Events

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PROVIDED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH:

2 1 Uno, Dos, Tres Craft! Ages 4-8. 3pm.

RSVP. Mildred L. Terry Library; 706-243-2782 2 1 D&D After-Hours. Teen. RSVP. 4pm.

North Columbus Library; 706-748-2855 21-22 Day Out with Thomas Train.

9am-5pm. GA Veterans State Park, Cordele; ticketweb.com 23-27 Cascade Hills Kids Week. 3rd5th grade and special needs. Free; cascadehills.com/kids-week 23-27 Into the Wild Summer Camp.

9am-4pm. Ages 8-11. $250/week. Oxbow Meadows; 706-507-8550 23-27 Camp NIM Kids. 9am-4pm.

Ages 9-12. National Infantry Museum; 706685-5800 2 4 Kids Art Studio. Ages 5-12. 4pm. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813 25 Cozy Read-A-Thon. Families. 10am7pm. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813 25 Seedling Storytime. 10-11am. $7.18.

Columbus Botanical Garden, 706-327-8400 25 MAMA B.E.A.R.S. (Part 2) Breastfeeding Support meeting. 12:30-1:30pm. Columbus Pediatric Assoc; 706-221-4602 25 Summer Cinema: The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea (G). Families. 2pm. RSVP for groups of 7 or more. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813 2 6 An All-Day Celebration of Lilo & Stitch.

South Columbus Library; 706-683-8805 2 6 Creative Kids: Squeegee Art. Ages 6-11.

3pm. North Columbus Library; 706-748-2855 2 7 Summer Cinema. Families. 2pm. Mildred L. Terry Library; 706-243-2782 28 Astronomy Night. 9-9:30pm. Free. Coca-Cola Space Science Center; ccssc.org 28 Family Saturday: Summer Festival.

Free. 10am-2pm. Columbus Museum. comuga.org

28 Sensory Studio: Yarn Art. Ages 6-11.

3pm. RSVP. North Columbus Library; 706748-2855 28 Plains, Trains & Fireworks. 6pm. $32$92. SAM Shortline, GA Veterans State Park; 1-877-GA-RAILS 28 Independence Day Celebration. 4pm.

Free. York & Gardner Fields, Fort Benning; benning.armymwr.com 3 0 Summer Cinema: Wild Robot (PG).

Families. 10am. RSVP. North Columbus Library; 706-748-2855 July4-5 Star Spangled Beach Party & Fireworks. All day. Callaway Gardens; 855-885-3841

WEDNESDAY

Simple Steps Storytime. Ages 0-5. 11am. Mildred L. Terry Library; 706-243-2782 Discovery Hub. Ages 3-5. 11am. RSVP for groups of 7 or more. Columbus Library; 706243-2813 Story Time with Grammy Trish. 11am. Columbus Bound Bookshop; 706-243-1034

THURSDAY

Simple Steps Storytime: Family. Ages 0-5.

10am. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813 Toddler Tales. 10am. Barnes & Noble Columbus; 706-653-7880 LEGOS®. Families. 3pm. RSVP for groups of 7 or more. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813

Weekly FRIDAY Events

Simple Steps Storytime: Rhythm & Rhyme.

Ages 0-5. 10am. Columbus Library; 706243-2813

MONDAY

Simple Steps Storytime: Babies & Toddlers.

Ages 0-36mo. 10am. Columbus Library; 706243-2813 Simple Steps: Play. Ages 0-5. 10am. Mildred L. Terry Library; 706-243-2782

TUESDAY

Simple Steps Storytime. Babies & Toddlers.

Ages 0-24 mo. 10am; Preschoolers. Ages 3-5. 11am. North Columbus Library; 706748-2855 Color Our World Family Stories. Ages 6-11.

12noon. North Columbus Library; 706-7482855 Get On Board With Board Games: Chess & More. Families. 4:30pm. Mildred L. Terry Library; 706-243-2782

SATURDAY

Market Days on Broadway. 9am-Noon; uptowncolumbusga.com Toddler Time. 10am-Noon. $10. Ages 5 and under. Launch Trampoline Park; 706-2218680 Nature Play. 10am-Noon. Oxbow Meadows; 706-507-8550 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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2025

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camps are designed for ages 3-8 years old.

Visit our website to learn more! prodigydancecentrega.com

706.221.5566

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FREE GAMES OF BOWLING MONDAY-FRIDAY OPEN - 5PM SATURDAY OPEN - NOON SHOE RENTAL REGULAR PRICE

ALL SUMMER ALL SUMMER

APRIL 28th THROUGH OCTOBER 31st

SCAN TO REGISTER!

www.StarsAndStrikes.com

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4YRS-2ND GRADE

3RD-5TH GRADE

June 16-20

June 23-27

& SPECIAL NEEDS

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aColorful

HOO’s learning

Summer

with Chattahoochee Valley Libraries

By Brittany Harte, Children’s Librarian, South Columbus Public Library

M

ake this summer one to remember with our Summer Reading Program: Color Our World! It’s a season-long celebration of reading, creativity, and imagination—with something for every age.

It’s easier than ever to join in. Young children and families can track books read by coloring their paper logs, while older kids, teens, and adults log every 15 minutes of reading. Each completed log earns a prize and counts as an entry for our Summer Reading Grand Prizes!

Prefer to go digital? The free Beanstack app lets families track reading, earn badges, and even receive credit for attending programs. Got a competitive reader at home? Use Beanstack’s leaderboard to see who can log the most minutes each week! And don’t worry—“reading” doesn’t just mean books. Audiobooks, online articles, podcasts, and even museum exhibit labels all count. Reading happens everywhere!

• Listen to audiobooks together on road trips using the Libby or

• Pair screen-free time with puzzles or crafts while listening to a Hoopla apps from CVL.

• Explore creativity with DIY books like How to Be a Color Wizard by story or podcast.

• Visit a local museum and count time spent reading labels and Jason Logan—or follow along with a new blog or recipe.

• Join us for events like Columbus Public Library’s Cozy Readmaps as part of your log.

A-Thon (June 25, 10am–7pm) or the Color Our World Family Stories series at North Columbus and South Columbus branches.

• Get hands-on with crafts during the Color Our World Summer Craft Series at Mildred L. Terry Library and special programming across all CVL branches.

Here are some fun ways your family can Color Our World and help us Let’s make reading a colorful adventure for the whole family—and reach 2,000,025 minutes together! reach our community goal of 2,000,025 minutes read:

ACTIVITY PROVIDERS! Showcase your fall activity or program to over 20,000 area parents who will be turning to us to shop & compare in our July through September issues!

AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES GUIDE DEADLINES: June 3 for July, June 30 for August, August 1 for Sept issue.

CONTACT: Tammy Usie, 253-212-7270 tammy@familyandkidsga.com

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Create DOWNTIME for

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HOO’s INSPIRED

Teachable Moments W

hat is your primary goal for your child’s education? Is it getting good grades, collecting as many awards and scholarships as possible, or participating in as many sports and activities as possible?

Leonard Sax MD, PhD is the author of School Choice: An Elon Musk School or a Mother Teresa School? According to Dr. Sax, the mindset of an Elon Musk school is achievement. Unfortunately, most of us have subscribed to the thought that this is the only type of education that encourages “success.” However, the downfall of this style of education is that it prioritizes self-enhancement and achievement. This focus on achievement is causing a deficit in empathy.

Empathy is a crucial virtue. Empathy is critical for healthy relationships, cultivates understanding, and generates compassion.

Dr. Sax encourages parents to prioritize a Sister Teresa style of education, which teaches children to look outward by focusing on helping others, making the world a better place, learning about different cultures, and appreciating nature. The benefit of this education is self-transcendence, which leads to the development of empathy.

As a parent, SLOWING DOWN, is vital for giving your children a Sister Teresa style of education and developing the virtue of empathy.

The need to SLOW DOWN is supported by the famous Good Samaritan Study. A group of Princeton Seminary students were asked to give a speech on The Good Samaritan, a Bible story about an abused man left to die on the side of the road. The victim was rescued by the good Samaritan but ignored by several ‘religious’ people.

The students were individually sent to give their speech on The Good Samaritan. One-third of the students were told that they were going to be early, one-third were told they were going to be on time, and one-third were told they were going to be late.

While the students were on their way to give the speech, a stranger was staged to fall in front of them. Overall, only 40% of the students stopped to offer help. Of those that helped, 63% believed they were early, 45% believed they were on time, and 10% believed they were late.

The bottom line is this, the students who had a little extra time to pay attention to the stranger, were more likely to stop and help. We can talk to our children about the importance of helping others, we can make our children watch movies and read books about helping others, we can even make our children write and give speeches about helping others, but if we do not leave time for our children to take the focus off themselves, we are not helping them develop empathy.

Leave time in your children’s day for them to truly see the people, animals, plants, and beauty around them. Allow them to see how truly small they are in the grandness of the world. Let them wander off and pick flowers for your neighbor, let them have an extended conversation with the other mother at the park, give them time to draw a card to give their teacher. Do not keep them so busy focusing on success that they do not have the opportunity to build the virtue of empathy.

Beth Long, PhD is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Board-Certified Behavior Analyst who owns Works of Wonder in Montgomery, AL. She and her colleagues host the Works of Wonder parenting podcast. Beth is the author of “Beyond Words: The Art of Listening in Parenting” and soon to release, “Beyond Emotions: The Art of Raising Resilient Children.”

Mail - Watson Katrina - Outlook

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SEEK GREAT PRICES & DISCOVER CASH FOR YOUR KIDS’ STUFF.

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Dining Deals

for Kids

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

MONDAY

friday

Sapo’s

Denny’s

5pm until close: free kid's meal with adult entree, dine in only

4-10pm: Up to two free kids entrées with adult entrée for kids 10 and under

Tuesday

Saturday

Chicken Salad Chick

The Food Mill

Free Little Chick Meal with purchase of adult meal

Denny’s

Free kid's meal with any regular priced brunch item from 9am-2pm

4-10pm: Up to two free kids entrées with adult entrée for kids 10 and under

multiple days

Ruby Tuesday

Bruster’s Ice Cream

5-10pm: Kids 12 and under eat free with adult entrée

wednesDAY Your Pie

Kid's meals half off with adult entree

Kids under 40” get free baby cone

McAlister’s

Kid’s meals are $2.79 with dine-in order

Red Robin

Does your restaurant have a special offer for kids?!

thursDAY

Let us know and we can promote it here for free to 20K local parents monthly.

Kid’s meal half off with adult meal, for kids 11 and under

Tuesday's Street Tacos & Burritos Free kids meal with adult purchase; dine-in only

Email it to us at: Tammy@familyandkidsga.com

All locations are Columbus, GA unless noted. Specials are subject to change without notice, so please verify them directly before dining. Send kids deals to Tammy@FamilyAndKidsGA.com.

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APPS to LOVE HOO’s PICKS

Whether you're a voracious reader or just like to read the occasional yarn, you can save money with free ebooks and audio books online by using these APPS. MANY BOOKS This website includes more than 50,000 public domain titles and self-published works. More recent titles are available for as little as .99 cents. Manybooks.com Tune in This app is known for streaming radio stations and podcasts, but it also offers a selection of free audiobooks (with ads built-in). tunein.com

Librivox More than 40,000 audiobooks of works in the public domain are available for free listening. librivox.org Hoopla Many libraries such as the Chattahoochee Valley Libraries, offer free access to card holders to these free ebook and audio books. You can check out current best sellers for free too!

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