ChattValley_March26

MARCH 2026

© Tom Scott Photography

Wise Choices for Moms & Families

2026

Cover Sponsor See Pg. 24

Learn to Fly at Aerial Arts Circus Camp! Summer Dance, Acro Classes & More!

22

Wise Choices for You & Your Family

Tragedy Talkwith kids

HOO’s PARENTING 3

By Linda Ligon, Family & Kids

T

alking to kids about a tragedy is something that can be difficult. It may feel like it would be better to just shield your child from the information about a tragic event, However, if your child interacts socially with others outside your home, it is likely he will hear about the event. Kids hear about events from peers at school and at activities and older kids who have access to the internet may come across detailed information on their own.

Here are some tips on having difficult conversations with your child about tragic events that touch your community and your family.

R ea c h o ut to oth er pa ren ts When a tragedy touches your community and your family, reach out to the other parents in your community for support as you process what has happened and then decide how to talk about it with your kids. This is especially important if the tragic event touched your family directly and you are in the process of grieving for a lost family member or friend. Ask your friends for help walking this difficult path. They may be able to give you tips on parenting strategies that worked when they faced a similar situation.

Li m i t a cc ess to m ed i a Kids do not need repeated exposure to graphic details and images. As much as possible, you want to be able to filter out details that are too graphic and verify the information your child sees. Also, young kids may not understand the coverage is for the same event and feel as if the same tragedy is occurring over and over again.

Mo d el h o w to m a na g e em oti o n a n d co llect yo u r th o u g hts It is okay to let your child see you cry or hear you say that you are feeling sad or angry about the tragedy or a death in your family. Avoid reacting strongly to feelings of anger and frustration and instead model how to manage those emotions properly. Go for a run, take a few moments to practice a calming technique, whatever you find works to stay calm. During

this time, you could focus on planning how you will approach your conversation with your child. You know your child best and are the best person to decide what information you will share with him.

A s k yo u r c h i ld w hat h e k n o ws Ideally, you would be the person your child hears the information about the tragic event from. However, he may hear it from someone else when he is at school. You could say, ‘While you were at school, this is what happened. What have you heard about it?’ Ask your child if he has any questions about what happened. It is okay to give a generalized answer to difficult questions like ‘Why would someone do that?’ You could say something like, 'Sometimes people make a bad decision and do not do the right thing.’ Reassure your child that he is safe and that there are first responders working on the situation to help the people affected by the event.

Filter your responses to only include what you think your child will understand and what will not scare him, but be honest with him. For example, when discussing a family member that has passed away, avoid saying things like ‘Your aunt has gone away for awhile’ in an attempt to shield your child from the finality of death when he asks if his aunt will ever come back.

Try to get your child’s routine back to normal as quickly as possible. However, continue to check in with him to see if he has any more questions and concerns.

4

Wise Choices for You & Your Family

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

HOO’s PARENTING 5

Toddlers Benefit from

E

MUSIC

njoying music with your baby is something you can do at home and does not have to be expensive. Making music a part of your baby’s routine can be beneficial in many ways. Even if music is not one of your strengths, your child does not care if you can stay in tune. She just wants to hear your voice and enjoy singing with you.

Music helps babies with speech development

Music and speech share three important characteristics – pitch, rhythm and tone. This means that the pathways in the brain that are used to process music are similar to those used to process speech. Research shows that babies who are good at recognizing patterns in rhythm, pitch and tone while listening to music can apply the same skills to recognize the patterns that make up words and language. Songs that introduce new words can also help build your baby’s vocabulary, and song lyrics can help your baby learn grammar and the syntax of spoken language.

Music can help resolve meltdowns and improve mood

Transitioning toddlers from one activity to the next can sometimes be a trigger for meltdowns.

To help with some of the more difficult transitions, make a song with an enjoyable tune part of your routine. For example, you could create a fun ‘clean up’ song that you and your toddler can dance to as you clean up or a calming ‘time to go’ song that helps soothe your toddler as she leaves the playground.

Even if you don’t think you are the best singer, sing to your baby instead of playing recorded music. Hold her and move with her to the rhythm of the song. Singing to your baby helps form an emotional connection with her. She recognizes your voice and feels safe, and a gen-

tle melody helps reduce stress. Research shows that singing to babies can help improve their overall mood and is more effective in helping babies calm down than just talking to them.

You can use music to help your toddler understand her emotions and help her learn emotional self-regulation. Make up your own ‘happy’ and ‘sad’ songs that help her label how she is feeling.

If you are not feeling creative, you could take a familiar tune and substitute words about being sad or being happy. A song about an emotion helps your baby connect how she feels with the name of the emotion, an important step in emotional regulation. Singing to your baby also helps you focus on your baby and her feelings, strengthening the emotional bond with her.

Combine singing with dancing or playing a musical instrument

Playing a musical instrument when singing a song helps your toddler improve her motor skills and helps her interact with the different musical elements, such as tempo and rhythm, in the song. Provide a variety of toddler-sized musical instruments for her to explore. Dancing and moving to the music can both help improve motor skills and help strengthen your child’s understanding of rhythm.

Even if your baby does not have a strong aptitude for music, she will benefit developmentally from interactive music play sessions, where she moves, sings and plays instruments. Make music an integral part of your baby’s routine and help her lay a foundation for strong language and communication skills later in life. Remember to focus on your baby during these sessions and interact with her. You are using the music to help her learn communication and emotional self-regulation, not just as something to listen to in the background while attending to other tasks.

Wise Choices for You & Your Family

66

newborn

HOO’s Healthy

INTERVENTIONS

By Linda Ligon, Family & Kids

T

he CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics strongly recom- time. This means that serious bleeding in the intestines and into the mend two interventions within the first few hours of life to help brain may occur, and bleeding into the brain can cause brain damage prevent complications in newborns. Here is why these interventions or even death. are important to keep your newborn safe.

The CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that Vitamin K Injection: Vitamin K is necessary for the blood newborns receive a vitamin K injection shortly after birth to prevent to clot normally, and a newborn has only a very small amount stored in VKDB. Research studies have shown that there is no association behis body. The body gets vitamin K from food, and some is also made by tween vitamin K injections and childhood cancer. the ‘good’ bacteria in the intestine. The intestine of the newborn does Erythromycin Eye Ointment: This medication is not have many bacteria, thus, a newborn cannot make vitamin K on his applied to the eyes of the newborn shortly after birth to prevent seriown. Also, neither formula nor breast milk provides enough vitamin K ous eye infections that may be caused by bacteria, such as Gonococcal during the first few months of life. Research shows that a mother takophthalmia neonatorum (GON). GON can cause scarring of the cornea, ing vitamin K supplements does not increase the amount of vitamin K blindness and ocular perforation, and these complications can occur in in breast milk. The newborn starts making his own vitamin K at about as little as 24 hours after birth. Thus, the application of erythromycin 6 months of age, when he starts eating solid food. ointment after birth is the standard of care for newborns in the United When a newborn is deficient in vitamin K, bleeding may occur any- States and is recommended by the CDC and the American Academy of where in the body, which is a condition called vitamin K deficiency Pediatrics. bleeding (VKDB). Bleeding from a bruise may continue for a very long

Full Spectrum

DOULA Support Specialist

The Village, Empowered!

I provide my clients with physical, emotional, informational, and even spiritual support. I advocate for my clients to ensure they are centered in their care. I assist clients in empowering themselves through education and increased self confidence.

All are welcome, especially teens and young adults navigating the beginning stages of parenthood.

Fertility / Adoption / Pregnancy & Childbirth / Postpartum End-of-Life & Bereavement / Parenting / CBE Monday - Friday: 8am - 4pm Saturdays: by appointment Sundays: Closed

Contact Jessica Asani Text: 706.366.9753 Email: jendayi.fsd@gmail.com

www.FamilyAndKidsGA.com

HOO’s CUTE

CONTEST Have a cute kid? Well, Of course you do! Send us a photo of them by themselves so we may feature them in a future issue for all to enjoy! www.FamilyAndKidsGA.com/hooscute .

7 7

Wise Choices for You & Your Family

8

OPEerNy FINridCayO&LSUMatuBr US Ev

Meet our

HISTORIC INTERPRETERS

706.221.9330

Watch

LIVE DEMONSTRATIONS

1 0am until 4pm

Create

YOUR OWN MASTERPIECE

3557 S Lumpkin Rd, Columbus 31903

day

Shop for SITE MADE ITEMS

info@westville.org

www.FamilyAndKidsGA.com

Dining Deals for Kids

99

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 entrée, dine in only

tuesday Denny’s

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

The Food Mill

Make it a family night! Buy a family meal, get 2 kids meals for free!

Ruby Tuesday

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

wednesday

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

Ruby Tuesday

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

SUNDAY Vallarta Mexican Restaurant

Free kids' meal with the purchase of adult entrée

everyday Bruster’s Ice Cream

Kids under 40” get free baby cone

McAlister’s

Your Pie

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

Crumbl

Free kid's meal off kid's menu with adult entrée

Kid's meals half off with adult entrée

Smokey Bones

Free mini cookie with purchase of regular cookie

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

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.

Does your restaurant have a special offer for kids?!

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

Email it to us at: Tammy@familyandkidsga.com

10 10

Wise Choices for You & Your Family EDUCATION/CARE GUIDE

To feature your school option, call Tammy 253-212-7270 or email tammy@ familyandkidsga.com.

www.FamilyAndKidsGA.com EDUCATION/CARE GUIDE

Ages 6wks-12yrs

www.GrowingRoomUSA.com

Be A Viking!

Limited Space Available for 2026-2027 Christ-centered education

National Blue Ribbon School

Age 1 - 12th grade

Safe and supportive environment

College preparatory

16 sports and 50+ clubs

APPLY NOW

2020 Kay Circle Columbus, GA 31907 706-561-8232

BeAViking.com

11 11

Wise Choices for You & Your Family

12 12

FREE FAMILY PHOTO | COOKIES & CRAFTS FACE PAINTING | FAMILY FUN $10 FOR KIDS | $5 FOR ADULTS

MARCH MARCH 14TH, 14TH, 2026 2026 || 10AM 10AM -- 12PM 12PM LOCATED AT THE COLUMBUS TRADE CENTER 706.327.4522

801 FRONT AVE, COLUMBUS, GA

ets! ick

scan for t

HOO’s PICKS

13

PICKS H

osting a birthday party can feel overwhelming, but Columbus offers plenty of kid-friendly venues that do the work for you. From high-energy adventures to creative celebrations, these party spots make birthdays fun for kids and stress-free for parents. Here are some top birthday party destinations around Columbus.

When booking a party at one of these popular venues, be sure to reserve your date early and ask what’s included, along with any guest limits. For more local party ideas and links to all of these places, visit: familyandkidsga.com/birthday-party-venues.

Bare Ware Pottery

Just Breathe for Kids

Bowlero

Kids Empire

Burger King

Launch Trampoline Park

For a budget-friendly option, Burger King allows parties in their play areas with the purchase of party food. Kids love the play place, and parents love the savings.

Launch Trampoline Park delivers high-flying birthday fun with wall-to-wall trampolines, dodgeball, and foam pits. Party packages include jump time and a private party area, making it an easy, energetic option for kids who love to move.

Chick-fil-A (Bradley Park & Columbus Park Crossing)

Oxbow Meadows

Creative kids will love a paint party. Choose from canvases, glass art, tiles, or collectibles. Outside food is welcome, or pizza can be added for convenience. Tea parties are also available.

Bowlero puts a modern twist on classic bowling with kid-friendly lanes, arcade games, and a lively atmosphere. Birthday party packages include bowling, shoe rentals, and food options - perfect for an easy, fun-filled celebration for all ages.

Select locations offer party hosting with gifts, activities, and everyone’s favorite nuggets—all in a clean, family-friendly environment.

Clutch Indoor Golf

Perfect for older kids and teens, Clutch Indoor Golf offers a modern party experience with interactive golf games and a fun atmosphere.

Columbus Ice Rink

Celebrate on the ice with skating, skate rentals, and a private party space for cake and gifts. A fun, active birthday option for kids of all skating levels.

Coca-Cola Space & Science Center

Blast off into an unforgettable birthday at the Coca-Cola Space & Science Center. Parties include access to exhibits and a show in the Omnisphere, making it a stellar choice for space-loving kids.

Columbus Aquatic Center

Available year-round, this venue offers poolside parties with private party space—perfect for water-loving kids.

Golden Donut

A calming and mindful party experience featuring kids’ yoga, movement, and relaxation activities—great for a low-key celebration.

Designed especially for younger children, Kids Empire offers a colorful indoor playground with soft play structures, slides, and a private party area.

This environmental education center hosts unique parties featuring animal encounters, science experiments, and nature crafts.

Themes include Mad Scientist, Walking with Dinosaurs, and Slithering Snakes, plus special night adventures.

Stars & Strikes

With bowling, laser tag, bumper carts, and a massive arcade, Stars & Strikes delivers non-stop entertainment for kids and adults alike.

SkyZone Trampoline Park

SkyZone offers all-inclusive party packages with jump time, pizza, and drinks. For something extra exciting, book a glow party where the lights go down and the music turns up.

The Little Village (13th Street)

A charming, imaginative play space where kids can explore and it is ideal for younger children who love pretend play. They have an assortment of themes to choose from while planning your party and can offer refreshments and snacks as well.

Treadstone Climbing Gym

A sweet and simple party option where kids can enjoy treats and celebrate in a relaxed setting.

This colorful indoor climbing gym provides guided climbing adventures for party guests. All equipment is included, and parties end in a dedicated space for cake and presents.

Hollywood Connection

Urban Air Adventure Park

Choose your private party room, then pick the fun—roller skating, mini golf, laser tag, or arcade games. Themes like princesses or dinosaurs add an extra layer of excitement.

An action-packed option with climbing walls, trampolines, obstacle courses, and more. Urban Air’s party packages keep high-energy kids entertained from start to finish.

Wise Choices for You & Your Family

14 14

When Little Hands

HOO’s learning

Get Busy, Big Ideas Take Shape at the Library M

By Tiffany Wilson, Community Engagement Coordinator

arch is a season of growth—longer days, blooming flowers, and the perfect time for curiosity to flourish too.

At Chattahoochee Valley Libraries, children don’t just read—they explore, experiment, and make discoveries that bring big ideas to life. While the library still houses thousands of books, it’s so much more: a place where imagination takes center stage and learning happens in hands-on, playful ways.

early literacy development. Children can identify primary colors in the flowers, notice different textures, and experiment with outdoor instruments to hear how sounds and rhythms change. These experiences help develop listening skills, pattern recognition, and observation—early skills that form the foundation of literacy and learning.

The garden encourages children to wonder, ask questions, and make connections between what they see, hear, and understand.

STEAM kits, Wonderbooks, and musical instruments provide endless opportunities for exploration. Kids can experiment with sound, test simple machines, and discover how things move, connect, and work together. These activities spark problem-solving, creativity, and curiosity, turning each small experiment into a big learning moment. Take-home origami kits and Kawaii Club projects let children fold, decorate, and create in ways that reinforce patience, confidence, and imaginative thinking.

For parents, the magic is simple. No elaborate planning. No Pinterest-perfect crafts. Just a welcoming space where children can explore, make a mess, and try again. The Library is where creativity is safe, curiosity is encouraged, and ideas—big or small—can flourish.

This March, as the season nudges us toward fresh beginnings, Chattahoochee Valley Libraries offers a simple promise: a place where children’s ideas take root, imagination blooms, and big things start in The Ruth Brooks Yancy Children’s Garden at the Columbus Public small hands. Every visit reminds families that learning can be playful, Library serves as a dedicated space for sensory exploration and hands-on, and full of joy. Visit us today! Learn more at cvlga.org.

www.FamilyAndKidsGA.com

HOO’s HEALTHY

Measles is a respiratory illness that is caused by a virus that is highly contagious. A measles infection can have serious complications. The symptoms of measles at first often include a high fever, cough, red watery eyes and a runny nose, with a rash that looks like flat red spots appearing three to five days later. The rash often begins on the face at the hairline and then moves downward.

Small raised bumps may also appear on top of the flat red spots. When the rash appears, the fever may spike to around 104 degrees F. After someone recovers from a measles infection, one serious complication that may occur is called ‘immune amnesia.’

Immune amnesia occurs when the measles virus destroys part of the immune system’s memory. The immune system has what are called memory cells, which are white blood cells that recognize pathogens that have attacked the body previously and were fought off. The memory cells, when they make contact with a

By Linda, Ligon, Family & Kids

15 15

WhMEAaSLt is: ES pathogen that has been previously encountered, attack the pathogen with the specific antibodies necessary to destroy that particular pathogen. When the measles virus attacks the cells of the immune system and destroys the memory cells, the immune system no longer has a record of previously encountered pathogens.

This suppression of the immune system may last anywhere from a couple of months to two years after someone recovers from the measles virus. The immune system has no memory of every cold, instance of flu, stomach virus or other illness that the body had previously fought off, and it takes time to rebuild the memory. A child with immune amnesia due to a measles infection is thus more likely to become ill during the time the body is rebuilding the memory of the immune system by encountering pathogens and then fighting them off.

RESOURCE: https://bit.ly/46qmUZi

16 16

March 9 Teen Takeover: Crack the Case. 4:30pm. 14 Mini Makers. 10:30am. Ages 2-4.

Columbus Library; 706-243-2811

1A Bad Case of the Stripes. Sun 2pm. $20$25. Springer Opera House; 706-327-3688 2 Teen Takeover: Movie Mondays. 4pm.

South Columbus Library; 706-683-8805 2 Teen Takeover: First Monday Fieri-Fest.

4:30pm. Columbus Library; 706-243-2811 3 Little Sprouts. 10am & 2:30pm. $5-$7.

Ages 3-5. Columbus Botanical Garden; 706327-8400 3 Kid’s Art Studio. Ages 5-12. 4pm. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813 3 Legends: Music Under the Dome Series. 5pm. $10. Coca-Cola Space Science Center; 706-649-1477 4 Resilient Parenting Series. Families.

11am. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813 5 Simple Steps: What A Colorful World.

Ages 2-5. 10am. South Columbus Library; 706-683-8805 5 Fox in a Box Exhibit Program: Musical Theatre Karaoke. 3pm. North Columbus Library; 706-748-2855 6-7 River Dragons Hockey Game. Times vary. Columbus Civic Center; 706-653-4460 7 Artful Babies. 10:30am. Ages 6-24mo.

The Columbus Museum; 706-748-2562 ext 6520 7 K-Pop Trivia for Teens. 3pm. North Columbus Library; 706-748-2855 7 A Bad Case of the Stripes. 11am & 2pm. $20-$25. Springer Opera House; 706-3273688 8 A Bad Case of the Stripes. 2pm. $20-$25.

Springer Opera House; 706-327-3688 9 Family Fun Night: Puff Paint Desserts.

4pm. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813

10 Artful Babies. 10:30am. Ages

6-24mo. The Columbus Museum; 706-7482562 ext 6520 10 The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales. 10:30am. Ages 5-10. $18. RiverCenter; 706-256-3612 10 After School Art Break. 2:30-4:30pm.

Ages 5-10. The Columbus Museum; 706748-2562 ext 6520 10 Pony Bead Party. Ages 5-12. 4pm.

Columbus Library. 3000 Macon Rd. 706243-2813 10 Teen Crafternoon: Stitch & Chill – Crochet. 4:30pm. Columbus Library; 706243-2811 11 Real Voices. Real You: Healthy Self-Expression in Social Media. Teen. 4:30pm. Columbus Library; 706-243-2811 11MomCo of First Baptist Church.

6-7:30pm. First Baptist Church, Columbus; odonawhiddon@gmail.com 11- 29 J4K Consignments Sale.

Times vary. Landing Shopping Ctr, 2521-1 Airport Thruway; 706-587-1819 12 Fox in a Box Exhibit Program: Costume Creations. 3pm. North Columbus Library; 706-748-2855 12 Squidward Games. Teen. 6pm. North Columbus Library; 706-748-2855 13-15 Tulip Fest. Fri 3-7pm, Sat & Sun 11am-5pm. $9.95-$14.95. Ashmore Rd, Shiloh; fieldsofgraceflowerfarm.com 14 Spring Fling Craft Market. 9am-2pm.

Midland Commons; 706-987-3723 or midlandmarket.org 14 Cookies with the Easter Bunny.

10am-Noon. $5-$10. Columbus Convention & Trade Ctr; eventbright.com

The Columbus Museum; 706-748-2562 ext 6520 14 Second Saturday Tours. 11am. Historic Westville; 706-221-9330 14 Protect Your Peeps! Ages 6-11. 11am.

Mildred L. Terry Library; 706-243-2782 14 Mardi Gras 5K, Parade & Festival.

9am 5K/Fun Run; 10am Food trucks; Noon Parade. Uptown Columbus; @FCMardiGras 14 CSO Open Rehearsal. 2:30pm. Free.

All ages. RiverCenter; 706-323-5059 15 Birds, Bugs and Blooms BioBlitz Kids Day! 1-4pm. $8-$12. Columbus Botanical Garden; 706-327-8400 15 Youth Volleyball Skills Clinic. 2pm.

Ages 9-14. Northside Rec Center; 706-6420491 or visitcolumbusga.com 17 Mini Makers. 10:30am. Ages 2-4.

The Columbus Museum; 706-748-2562 ext 6520 17 Crafty Kids: Lucky Backpack Charms.

Ages 6-11. 3pm. South Columbus Library; 706-683-8805 17 Kid’s Art Studio. Ages 5-12. 4pm. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813 17 Teen Takeover: Save the Drama…

Improv Games. 4:30pm. Columbus Library; 706-243-2811 17 Shen Yun. 7:30pm. $102--$212. RiverCenter; 706-256-3612 20-21 Friends of Libraries Annual Spring Book Sale. 10am-5pm. Columbus Library; 706-243-2705 20 Dragon Racing Obstacle Course.

Ages 5-12. 4pm. Columbus Library; 706243-2813 20-22 Hairspray: The Broadway Musical. Times vary. $30-$65. Springer Opera House; 706-327-3688

Events

17 17

21 Spring Kickoff Outdoor Market. 28 Junior League of Columbus Character

11am-4pm. Bluebelle Local Mercantile; 706-327-1181 21 Uno, Dos, Tres Crafts! Ages 4-8. 3pm.

Mildred L. Terry Library; 706-243-2782 21 Fox in a Box Exhibit Program: Orchestra Up Close with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra. 3pm. North Columbus Library; 706-748-2855 22 Friends of Libraries Annual Spring Book Sale. 1:30-5pm. Columbus Library; 24 Pony Bead Party. Ages 5-12. 4pm.

Columbus Library; 706-243-2813 24 Teen Crafternoon: Book Beautification. 4:30pm. Columbus Library; 706-2432811 24 Teen Takeover: Anime & Manga Club.

4:30pm. South Columbus Library; 706-6838805 25 Seedling Storytime. 10-11am. $7.

Columbus Botanical Garden; 706-327-8400 25 MomCo of First Baptist Church.

6-7:30pm. First Baptist Church, Columbus; odonawhiddon@gmail.com 27 My Teen & Me: Food for the Soul: Dips & DIY. 6pm. North Columbus Library; 706748-2855 27-28 River Dragons Hockey Game.

Times vary. Columbus Civic Center; 706653-4460 27-29 Hairspray: The Broadway Musical. Times vary. $30-$65. Springer Opera House; 706-327-3688 28 Ladonia Spring Festival. 9am-3pm.

24 Woodland Dr, Phenix City; facebook.com 28 Spectacular Science Saturdays. 9am4pm. $5/program. Oxbow Meadows; 706507-8550

Breakfast. 10am-1pm. Tickets required, Columbus Convention & Trade Center; columbusga.jl.org 28 Family Saturday. 10am-Noon. The Columbus Museum; 706-748-2562 ext 6520 28 Mercer School of Medicine Teddy Bear Clinic. 10:30am. South Columbus Library; 706-683-8805 30 Staycation Spring Break Cinema: Lilo & Stitch (PG). Families. 2pm. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813 31 Staycation Spring Break Cinema: The Parent Trap (PG). Families. 2pm. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813 31 Kid’s Art Studio. Ages 5-12. 4pm. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813 31 Open Studio. 10am-Noon. Columbus Museum; 706-748-2562

Story Time with Grammy Trish. 11am.

Columbus Bound Bookshop; 706243-1034

THURSDAY

Simple Steps Storytime: Families.

Ages 0-5. 10am. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813 Simple Steps Storytime: Families. Ages 0-5. 10am. South Columbus Library; 706683-8805

Weekly

Toddler Tales. 10am. Barnes & Noble; 706653-7880

Simple Steps Storytime: Babies & Toddlers.

Ages 0-36 mo. 10am. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813

LEGOS® in the Library. Families. 3pm. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813

TUESDAY

Simple Steps Storytime: Rhythm & Rhyme.

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

MONDAY

Simple Steps Storytime. Babies & Toddlers.

Ages 0-24 mo. 10am; Preschoolers. Ages 3-5. 11am. North Columbus Library; 706748-2855 Get On Board With Board Games: Chess & More. Families. 4:30pm. Mildred L. Terry Library; 706-243-2782

WEDNESDAY

Simple Steps Storytime. Ages 0-5. 11am.

Mildred L. Terry Library; 706-243-2782 Discovery Hub. Ages 3-5. 11am. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813

Sight Word Support. K-3. 3-5pm. Mildred L. Terry Library; 706-243-2782

FRIDAY

Fun Fridays: Storybook Characters.

Characters. Ages 6-11. 2pm. North Columbus Library; 706748-2855

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

18 18

2026

BROOKSTONE SUMMER 2026 REGISTRATION OPENS SOON! SAVE THE DATE! WEEK 1 JUNE 1 - 4 WEEK 2 JUNE 8 - 11 WEEK 3 JUNE 15 - 18 WEEK 4 JUNE 22 - 25

COUGAR CUBS AGES 3-5 9:00AM -12:00PM | $140/WEEK EARLY DROP OFF AVAILABLE AT 8:30AM

CAMP B

RISING 2ND GRADERS - RISING 5TH GRADERS 8:30AM -12:30PM | $160/WEEK

CAMP B EXTENDED 12:30 - 3:00PM | $180/WEEK

MUST BRING OWN LUNCH FOR EXTENDED CAMPS

COUGAR KIDS RISING KINDERGARTEN - RISING 1ST GRADERS 9:00AM -12:00PM | $160/WEEK EARLY DROP OFF AVAILABLE AT 8:30AM

CAMP B MIDDLE SCHOOL

RISING 6TH GRADERS - RISING 8TH GRADERS 1:00PM -3:30PM | $200/WEEK

SCAN QR CODE TO LEARN MORE!

www.FamilyAndKidsGA.com

19

22

Wise Choices for You & Your Family

www.FamilyAndKidsGA.com

23

24

Summer Camps & Activities Guide

Summer Camps & Activities Guide

25

26

Summer Camps & Activities Guide Summer Camp Series! camps are designed for ages 3-8 years old. Visit our website to learn more!

Enroll Now for a summer of fun & dance! prodigydancecentrega.com

706.221.5566

Summer Camps & Activities Guide

27

Open to Scouts and Non-Scouts

JOIN THE ADVENTURE June 14–20, 2026 June 21–27, 2026

Lagrange, GA.

CAMP FGL

Ultimate summer Scouting adventure on the shores of West Point Lake. From aquatics and climbing to merit badges and STEM, Scouts build skills, confidence, and lifelong memories.

Adventure doesn’t stop at camp— with exciting off-site experiences that take Scouting even further.

Sign-Up by Sign-Up

by March March st st 31 31 for for $25 $25 off! off!

ASK US ABOUT OUR PAYMENT PLANS

28

Wise Choices for You & Your Family

A Book Nook

www.FamilyAndKidsGA.com

HOO’s learning29

REVIEW:

BOY MOM

by Monica Swanson I

looked at my son recently - really looked at him - and felt this weight settle in my chest that I've been trying to ignore for years. He's not a little boy anymore. He's becoming a man.

And somehow, without me noticing the exact moment it shifted, I stopped being the center of his universe and started being the woman whose voice he'll hear in his head for the rest of his life. When he's choosing how to treat his future wife. When he's deciding what kind of father to be. When he's navigating what it means to be a good man in a world that's confused about what that even looks like. And I realized with terrifying clarity: I have maybe a handful of years left to shape that voice. To give him what he'll need when I'm not there to guide him anymore.

Monica Swanson's "Boy Mom" found me in that realization. She's a mother of four sons; boys who are now men - and she narrates this audiobook with the voice of someone who's been where I am and came out the other side. Not perfectly. Not without mistakes. But with sons who became the kind of men she'd want her daughters to marry, the kind of men the world desperately needs more of. And she's honest about what that took: intentionality, sacrifice, and the willingness to prioritize what her sons needed over what was easy or what everyone else was doing.

Lessons to Learn

1. Your son needs you to teach him what

healthy masculinity looks like.

We're raising boys in a culture that's either telling them masculinity is toxic or offering them broken versions of manhood built on dominance, emotional suppression, and violence. Swanson says our sons need us to show them there's a third way: strong but gentle, confident but humble, capable of both protecting and nurturing. They need to see that being a man isn't about never being vulnerable; it's about being strong enough to be vulnerable when it matters.

2. He needs you to let him fail while you're still there to catch him.

Every instinct wants to protect our sons from pain, from failure, from the consequences of their choices. But Swanson is clear: if we rescue them from every hard thing now, we're sending them into adulthood with no resilience, no problem-solving skills, no understanding that failure isn't fatal. Let them fail the test. Let them lose the friendship.

Let them face consequences while the stakes are still manageable.

Because if they don't learn to fail at twelve, they'll be learning at twenty-five or thirty-five, and the costs will be catastrophic.

3. He's watching how you treat his father.

If you're married or co-parenting, your son is absorbing every interaction. How you speak to his dad. Whether you show respect even in disagreement. How you handle conflict. That's his blueprint for how women and men relate to each other. Swanson doesn't sugarcoat this: if we want our sons to treat women with respect, we have to model what respectful partnership looks like. Not perfect. Just real, committed, and honoring even when it's hard.

4. He needs you to stay connected, even when he pulls away.

Somewhere around middle school, boys start withdrawing. They stop talking as much. Stop seeking affection. Start needing space and independence. And our instinct is to give them that space, to back off, to assume they don't need us anymore. But Swanson insists: they still need us desperately. They just need us differently. We have to find new ways to connect through shared activities, through being present without forcing conversation, and through showing up consistently even when they act like they don't care.

5. The world needs good men, and you're raising one.

You see, this isn't only about your son's individual happiness. It's about what kind of husband, father, leader, and human he becomes.

The world is desperate for men who are emotionally intelligent, morally grounded, and capable of both strength and tenderness.

Men who respect women, who take responsibility, who lead with integrity. That man doesn't just happen. He's raised. By mothers who were intentional about what they were building, even when it was exhausting, even when it meant going against cultural norms, and even when it would have been easier to just let him figure it out on his own.

To purchase this book, visit:

https://amzn.to/45H7wHR

HOO’s PARENTING

30

T

eens by nature crave independence and privacy. As parents, how far should we go to respect their privacy while still ensuring that they’re making sound decisions? “The goal is for teens to gradually assume more responsibility for their own judgment about things,” says Dr. Rochelle Harris, a clinical psychologist.

Determining how much oversight a tween or teen requires depends on their level of maturity, their friends and their personality. Maturity can vary greatly in the middle school years. Where one tween might not have completely put away her dolls, another might be more keyed into social issues and sexual experimentation —which means you’ll need to have a stronger handle on what’s happening in their social circle.

“Who our kids hang out with will determine who they become,” says Tom Kersting, psychotherapist and author of Disconnected: How to Reconnect Our Digitally Distracted Kids.

As our kids get older, we may be less likely to know their friends’ parents and how much wiggle room they give their kids. While your teen will try to make you feel as if you’re the lone drill sergeant compared to their friends’ parents, stand firm about what you feel is appropriate for your child.

No mysteries.

As soon as your child has access to any digital device, create a “digital citizenship contract” to make your expectations for online behavior and your house rules crystal clear. Establish sensible consequences to help your kids learn from their mistakes. For example, rather than taking away their phone for two months, set tighter limits like less daily phone time and increased oversight from you until they prove they’re responsible enough to handle it.

Besides sleep deprivation, research suggests that the more time a teen spends online, the more likely she’ll experience cyberbullying. A study presented to the American Public Health Association, also found that teens who spend three or more hours a day on social networking sites, were 84 percent more likely to have used illicit drugs and three and a half times more likely to have had sex.

By Christa Melnyk Hines, Family & Kids

Inquiring Minds Want To Know.

Teens are likely to shut you out if you get too nosy. Instead ask “naive” questions to get them thinking critically about issues they may encounter. For example: “If someone says something nasty and you push ‘like’ on it, does that mean you’re part of that bullying or are you saying you like that person? What does that mean?”

“Use that as an opportunity to talk about the fundamentals of communication,” Dr. Harris says, “such as, don’t text a friend when you’re upset and don’t spread gossip.” And ask if they’d be comfortable with someone they love and respect, like Grandma, seeing what they’ve posted on their Snapchat account.

When to pry.

Tell your kids that you’ll be checking their social media content and text messages. “If kids know that a parent may be looking through their stuff, they’re less likely to get themselves in a pickle somewhere with inappropriate content or private sites,” Kersting says.

Before snooping through their room, talk to your teen to see if you can figure out why he seems troubled. Consult with your child’s physician if you notice changes in behavior, school avoidance, changes in diet or sleep, or withdrawing from favorite activities, family and friends.

Set aside time together.

Carve out 15 to 20 minutes each evening for “mandatory family talk time” that is device-free. Then, at least once a month, let your teen pick an activity to spend one-on-one time with you. If done without device distractions, siblings present, homework to be done, or an activity to rush to, the conversation will flow easier.

“Kids that actually enjoy hanging out with their parents are the ones that all of the research shows are overall better human beings as they progress in terms of their happiness, well-being, self-esteem, achievements and so forth,” said Kersting.

www.FamilyAndKidsGA.com

31

St. Francis Emory Healthcare is proud to be the Heart Hospital for Columbus and the Chattahoochee Valley, delivering nationally recognized cardiac care close to home.

Our cardiology program earned multiple Healthgrades® 2026 awards, based on Medicare data evaluating clinical outcomes among more than 4,500 hospitals nationwide—placing St. Francis among the top 10% in the nation for coronary interventional procedures.

Healthgrades 2026 Cardiac Care Recognitions include: Coronary Intervention Excellence Award™ Five-Star Recipient for Coronary Interventional Procedures Top 10% in the Nation for Coronary Interventional Procedures

MyStFrancis.com/Heart

We’re also proud to welcome two new cardiothoracic surgeons in 2026—Dr. Patrick Murrah and Dr. Curtis Bryan—further strengthening heart care for our community.

Comprehensive heart care. Nationally recognized. Right here in The Valley.