DECEMBER
By Linda Ligon, Family & Kids
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HOO’s PARENTING using the 3Method to EasE anxiEty
t is normal to feel anxious sometimes. We all encounter stressful situations that make us feel uneasy and nervous. In those situations, your body is in ‘fight or flight mode’ and anxiety may cause physical, emotional and behavioral symptoms. This temporary bout of worry can help provide energy and focus on the issue, such as a project deadline. You manage the issue at hand, and the episode passes. However, sometimes anxiety can spiral out of control and have negative results, such as a feeling of panic.
Why kids experience anxiety
Just as adults can feel anxiety from daily pressures at work, it is normal for kids to feel anxiety due to academic expectations at school, and social norms and pressures to perform well in sports. Kids also feel anxiety at developmental milestones, such as being separated from a caregiver when attending preschool for the first time.
Toddlers and preschoolers often develop sudden fears due to their vivid imaginations and misunderstanding of what they hear and see, such as loud noises or seeing something scary on TV.
How to tell if your child is experiencing anxiety?
With young children who have not yet learned to express themselves verbally, it can be difficult to tell if your child is feeling anxious. Is he screaming and clinging to you because he is trying to exert control and oppose you, or is he afraid and anxious? Older kids, when experiencing anxiety, may seem irritable and angry and try to avoid what is causing the anxiety by staying home from school or an activity. However, older kids are better able to express how they feel and may tell you they are worried about a situation.
Anxiety can cause a feeling of sadness in kids of all ages as well as physical symptoms and sleep disturbance. Your child may have difficulty falling and staying asleep and may have vivid nightmares. A school age child may report to the school nurse
By Linda Ligon, Family & Kids
because his stomach hurts without realizing that this is a physical symptom of anxiety.
teaching kids to cope With anxiety
Experiencing anxiety occasionally due to a stressful situation is a normal part of everyday life. It is impossible to shield your child from every possible stressful situation and, as an adult, he will need to have the coping skills to deal with them. Start teaching your child coping strategies early that help him regulate his emotions and ride out episodes of anxiety.
There are many different strategies kids can use to manage anxiety, such as breathing techniques and grounding techniques. One particular grounding technique, the 3-3-3 method, is perfect for kids of all ages. It is simple to explain and helps your child regulate his thoughts and his body during an episode of anxiety. This grounding technique works by helping your child re-set from the ‘fight or flight’ mode that is keeping him from thinking clearly and helps him re-focus on the present moment.
There are three steps in the technique. To encourage your child to participate, ask him to play the ‘3-3-3 Game':
1. name three things you can see
2. name three things you can hear
3. move three parts of your body
This technique is easy enough to learn and use, that an older child can use it independently when he is not with you.
However, seek professional help for your child if you notice anxiety symptoms are persistent or excessive and make it difficult for your child to function normally. While coping techniques can help, they are not a substitute for the treatments for anxiety disorders.
Christmas Word Search
CHRISTMAS Word Search
SLEIGH PRESENTS TOYS BAG HAT GLOVES BELT BOOTS SUIT DASHER DANCER PRANCER VIXEN COMET CUPID DONNER BLITZEN RUDOLPH
It’s Christmas Eve, and Santa Claus is running late! Help Santa find what he needs by circling the words below Search up-to-down, left-to-right, and diagonally The solution is on the next page.
HOO’s FUN
Word List:
Sleigh, Presents, Toys, Bag, Hat, Gloves, Belt, Boots, Suit, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, Rudolph
HOO’s HUNGRY
CHRISTMAS
COOKIE DIP
this dip is the perfect holiday appetizer recipe....a little sweet, a little tangy. Courtesy of oldhousetonewhome.net
DIRECTIONS
In a medium bowl, add the cream cheese, yogurt, and butter and then blend together with a hand mixer until light and fluffy. Add in 1/4 cup powdered sugar, flour, and vanilla. Blend again until well incorporated. Taste and add in more powdered sugar if you want a sweeter dip. Fold in the sprinkles with a spatula. Stir very slowly and lightly so you don't melt the sprinkles. You may get streaks of color in your dip! Cover and refrigerate for at least two hours before serving.
Note: This dip is on the tangier side due to the use of Greek yogurt. Add more sugar until it tastes as sweet as you prefer.
INGREDIENTS
• 1/2 cup Greek vanilla yogurt
• 3 oz. cream cheese softened
• 3 tbsp. butter softened
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1/4-3/4 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tbsp. flour
• 1/3 cup red and green sprinkles
• Gingerbread cookies
Not-So-Typical
Celebrations
Are you tired of the same ‘ol Christmas activities every year? Does the obligation of gifts for everyone intimidate you to the point of declining invites? Do you dread the 24th and 25th because it involves a trip to every family member’s house in less than a 48-hour period? You are not alone. This holiday season, break the monotony and toss the anxiety by creating new traditions for a more festive celebration.
Here are some suggestions for an enjoyable, holiday-themed get-together with your loved
Gingerbread Decorating Party:
Clear out your pantry, stop by Dollar Tree and have yourself a party. To make this party a success, you need lots of supplies! Pretzels for trees, cereal for shingles and Oreos for windows. Your imagination is the only limit. If you’re catering this party towards young children, consider creating simple gingerbread houses with graham cracker cookies glued together, building many for the kids to decorate. If the party is for adults, ask each adult to bring a kit and you provide the supplies for decorating.
Gift Wrap Holiday Party:
I spend hours on my living room floor late at night wrapping Christmas presents. I curl every ribbon, decorate each name tag, and assign wrapping paper based on interests and personalities. Wait, you do this too? So why are we doing it alone? Invite your friends over for some wrapping fun. Supply wine, cheese, tape, scissors and some ribbon. Ask each friend to bring rolls of paper and share. When you’ve got good company, the time passes so much faster. Be sure to set the date well in advance, so shopping is completed, and the time is reserved.
Cookie Exchange Party
It’s the most delicious time of the year! The first time I attended a cookie exchange party, I was a bit intimidated. Thankfully, chocolate chip cookies are always a hit and easy to make. But I was also blown away. The cookies were thoughtfully decorated with pearls and glitter, displayed in ready-to-go bags with beautiful recipe cards and festive charm. Quite honestly, a cookie exchange is genius. You bring a lot of one kind of cookie, and in return leave with a whole lot of every kind of cookie, perfect for gifting to neighbors, the mailman and more. Simply ask guests to bring a dozen cookies to taste and a dozen cookies to take, more or less depending on the number of guests. Visit our website Familyandkidsga.com/ cookie-exchange-recipes for some simple, yet tasty cookie recipes.
Ugly Sweater Party:
‘Tis the season to be tacky! Invite your friends to create the ugliest sweater of them all. Award trophies for the ugliest sweater, the most festive, the most unique and the most questionable. Sip hot cocoa, play caroler karaoke and set up a selfie station.
Movie-Viewing Party
“Maybe Christmas doesn’t come from a store, maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more!” or “Fraa-JeelAay, huh. Must be Italian!” Whatever your Christmas movie style is, there’s a themed party behind it. Invite friends over for a viewing of your favorite Christmas film and include moviethemed games, snacks and décor. If you want to make a real event out of it, choose a few different seasonal films and have yourself a sleepover movie marathon. Hello Christmas PJs.
We want to know!
What kind of Christmas celebrations do you have? Email us at Info@Family andKidsGA.com with your celebrations. We may feature it in a future issue!
HOO’s PICKS
Holiday shopping for toddlers’ gifts can be a challenge. Parents want to purchase toys their toddler will enjoy and play with on a regular basis, not ones that are quickly set aside and forgotten. Of the large number of toddler toys available, which ones should be considered? Here are a few tips on selecting toddler toys that are engaging and will benefit your toddler’s development.
Select open-ended toys
Open-ended toys, such as a beginner LEGO® set, encourages your child to use her imagination and create her own stories and games. These toys are flexible and can accommodate both individual play and group play. Other examples of open-ended toys are wooden block sets and train sets.
Toddlers enjoy practicing motor skills
Select toys that encourage your child to move and refine her motor skills. Push toys and wooden, toddler-sized, indoor playsets are sure to keep your toddler busy. To help your child build her fine motor skills, look for toys such as dolls she can dress and undress, stacking toys and wooden puzzles.
Holiday Toddler Toy Guide
Toddlers love pretend play
By Linda Ligon, Family & Kids
Toys such as dress-up outfits and play kitchen help your toddler use her imagination and participate in pretend play. These toys encourage your child to exercise her social skills and storytelling skills. For example, your toddler may enjoy pretending she is cooking and selling food to everyone in the family from her play kitchen or that she is using her play tools to help dad fix something.
Select gifts that encourage creative play
Toddler-friendly washable finger paints and musical piano toys that allow your toddler to create her own music are examples of creative toys. Creative toys that are age-appropriate provide plenty of safe fun, allowing your toddler to express herself and exercise her fine motor skills. Toddlers also benefit from the sensory experience of interacting with the different textures and colors of art materials and making sounds with toy instruments.
Delay exposure to electronic devices
Buying a tablet for your toddler to use as her individual device is not recommended by developmental experts, as it can cause delays in brain development, speech and social skills.
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.
More and more shoppers are flocking to Aldi for affordable prices on organic items. If you’re curious what kind of deals you can find at Aldi, follow the hashtag #Aldifinds. It offers recipe ideas, limited release items and new items too delicious to pass up
For Every Mom
A place online where women can experience the essentials of motherhood: spirituality, laughter, community and awesome parenting tips. This is a place where we’re all in it together: working moms, stay-athome-moms, step-moms, adoptive moms, foster moms, single moms, married moms, new moms and experienced moms. You are ALL welcome here.
Trending
Trending
Respectful Parenting: Janet Lansbury
Published author and parenting expert, Janet Lansbury, offers reassuring advice to help parents become calm guardians. Each episode addresses a reader’s parenting issue through the lens of Janet’s respectful parenting philosophy.
Dollar Tree Addicts
The dollar store is full of opportunity. This large Facebook group takes simple, inexpensvie items and repurposes them into beautiful decor, gifts and handy hacks. The group also offers members a chance to find deals, create affordable snacks and see humor in being frugal.
Turn last year’s must-haves into this year’s holiday cash then shop and save up to 70% o mall prices!
HOO knew?
Crazy Christmas Facts
llll The world’s largest Christmas stocking was 106 feet and 9 inches (32.56 m) long and 49 feet and 1 inch (14.97 m) wide. It weighed as much as five reindeer and held almost 1,000 presents. It was made by the Children’s Society in London on December 14, 2007.
ll Approximately 33 million real (living) Christmas trees are sold each year in the U.S.
l llllllllll In 1836, Alabama became the first state in the US to declare Christmas a legal holiday. In June of 1870, Christmas became a federal holiday in the US and Oklahoma became the last state to declare Christmas a legal holiday in 1907.
ll lll The tallest Christmas tree ever displayed was in Seattle, Washington in 1950. The Christmas tree was 221 feet tall!
ll lll During the Christmas season, nearly 28 sets of LEGOs are sold every second.
PROTEIN POWDERS in CAUTION:
By Linda Ligon, Family & Kids
There are many reasons why people choose to use protein powders. They can be used for weight loss, to build muscle mass and improve sports performance and as a nutritional supplement to promote wellness. However, there are so many choices available on the market that it is hard to know which ones to choose and the recent discovery of lead in some protein powders adds an extra concern when selecting one.
Why is lead in protein powders a concern?
Lead is a heavy metal, and exposure can lead to health issues, such as neurological damage, reproductive damage, hypertension and kidney disease. Even low levels of lead exposure can be harmful over time, since it can accumulate in the body. When lead enters the body, it is distributed throughout the body in the bloodstream and stored in the tissues of the body such as the bones and teeth.
A recent Consumer Reports investigation found that about 70% of protein powders tested had 120% of the 0.5 micrograms per day limit of lead permitted by California Prop 65, which is much lower than the FDA suggested daily lead intake limit for adults of 8.8 micrograms. The
Healthy
researchers chose the lower limit for their investigation since it was more conservative and protective of health.
How does lead get into protein powders?
Studies show that plant-based protein powders, in general, are more likely to contain higher levels of lead than whey-based products. Lead and other heavy metals can be present in the soil and then absorbed into crops. Lead may also enter the protein powder during the manufacturing process, through contaminated machinery, packaging material and water.
How to select a protein powder that is safe?
Most of the protein powders tested have low levels of lead. However, most people in the US are already exposed to lead from other food sources and water on a daily basis, and consuming protein powders daily, over time, may lead to a concerning level of chronic lead exposure. To reduce your exposure, select a protein powder that is third party certified to have lower contaminant levels and that has a simple list of ingredients.
Resource: https://bit.ly/3LxOxYV
HOO’s HEALTHY
Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis (SSPE) is a serious and almost always fatal progressive brain disorder that is a rare complication of measles. An SSPE patient will appear to have recovered from the measles infection, but then several months or years later, starts to develop symptoms of SSPE. SSPE is thought of as a long-term measles infection, caused by the measles virus entering the brain but not causing symptoms for months or years, until suddenly the measles virus is re-activated and SSPE symptoms begin.
The first symptoms of SSPE include a reduction in school performance, an increase in temper outbursts, hallucinations, trouble sleeping and forgetfulness. The muscles in the body may suddenly jerk. As the brain damage from SSPE progresses, the patient may start to experience seizures, loss of vision and a decline in cognitive function. In the later stages of SSPE, the jerking movements are replaced by rigidity in the muscles and death may occur from complications. In the last stage, the brain damage spreads to the parts of the brain that regulate breathing, heart rate and blood pressure and coma and death follow.
By Linda, Ligon, Family & Kids
What is:
SUBACUTE SCLEROSING PANENCEPHALITIS
Someone is at risk for SSPE if they have had a non-vaccine (‘wild’) measles infection, especially if they had it before the age of 2. SSPE does not occur after measles vaccination because the vaccine virus in not the type that causes SSPE.
The prevention of SSPE involves preventing someone from being infected with the measles virus in the first place. The measles vaccine is the most effective way to prevent the disease. A child who is not vaccinated should not have contact with someone infected with the measles virus until that person has recovered.
SSPE is diagnosed through clinical symptoms as well as through testing of the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) and blood for antibodies. An electroencephalography (EEG) may be used to look for periodic discharges that are typical of SSPE.
While there is no cure for SSPE, treatments such as antiviral and anticonvulsant drugs can be used to slow the progression of the disease and to manage symptoms.
December
2 Santa Visit. Families. 10:30-11:30am. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813
2 Little Sprouts. 10am. Ages 0-5. $5/family. Columbus Botanical Garden; 706-327-8400
2 Crafty Kids: A Dough-able Snowman. Ages 6-11. 3pm. South Columbus Library; 706-683-8805
2 Kid’s Art Studio. Ages 5-12. 4pm. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813
2 Dungeons & Dragons Winter One-Shot. Teens. RSVP. 6pm. Mildred L. Terry Library; 706-243-2782
2 A Motown Christmas. 7pm. $58-$88. RiverCenter; 706-256-3612
4 Simple Steps: Play. Ages 2-5. 10am. South Columbus Library; 706-683-8805
4 Books & Cookies with Santa. Ages 11 & Under. 4pm. North Columbus Library; 706-748-2855
4 Santa at Riverside & Tree Lighting Ceremony. 5:30-8:30pm. Lawn of Riverside, Fort Benning; 706545-0522
4 - 5 Gingerbread Village. 10am-3pm. RiverCenter Lobby; 706-256-3612
4 - 6 Disney’s Frozen: The Broadway Musical. Times vary. $30-$75. Springer Opera House; 706-327-3688
5 WSC Holiday Marketplace. 11am-7pm. Wynnbrook Conference Center; 706-464-6378
5 Cozy Holiday Mystery. Families. 4pm. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813
5 Teen Takeover: Snack Taste Test. 4:30pm. Columbus Library; 706-243-2811
5 Snopelika Christmas Parade & Tree Lighting. 6:3010pm. Downtown Opelika; opelikachamber.com
5 Broadway Holiday Parade & Tree Lighting. 6:308pm. 1100 Broadway; alwaysuptown.com
5 - 6 Shine: Holiday Light Festival. Fri & Sat 6-9pm, Sun 6-8pm. $5-$15. Columbus Botanical Garden; 706-327-8400
5 - 6 River Dragons Hockey Game. Times vary. Columbus Civic Center; 706-507-4625
5 - 6 Candlelight Weekend. 10am-8pm. Historic Warm Springs; 706-655-3322
6 Pictures with Santa 10am-1pm, free, and Parents Day Out 10am-5pm, $30, at Momentum After School & TKD. RSVP 706-251-8808.
6 Breakfast with Santa. 8-11am. $15-$25. Columbus Convention & Trade Center; eventbright.com
6 Elf on the Run 5K. 9am. $15-$25. Doughboy Stadium; 706-329-1034 or benning.armymwr.com
6 Country’s Reindeer Run. 9-10am. $25. Ages 1-13. Country’s on Broad; Runsignup.com
6 A Christmas Extravaganza. 9am-1pm. Common Grounds Coffee Shop, Phenix City; 706-358-8478
6 Christmas Craft Fair. 9am-2pm. Midland Community Farmers Market; midlandmarket.org
6 Bi-City Christmas Parade. 10am. Phenix City to Broadway, Columbus; parks.columbusga.gov
6 Concert: Christmas with The WAVE. 10am. RiverCenter; 706-256-3612
6 Fort Benning MCoE Band Holiday Concert. 7:30pm. RiverCenter; 706-256-3612
6 - 7 The Polar Express 2D & 3D (G). 10am & 2pm. $8-$10. Giant Screen Theater, National Infantry Museum; 706-685-5809
6 - 7 The Nightmare Before Christmas (PG). 5pm. $8-$10. Giant Screen Theater, National Infantry Museum; 706-685-5809
6 - 7 “Tidings of Joy”Voices of the Valley Children’s Chorus Concert. Sat 7pm, Sun 2pm. RiverCenter; voicesofthevalleychorus.org
7 Downtown Auburn Christmas Parade 2-4pm. Downtown Auburn; aotourism.com
8 Mommy & Me Play Date. 10am-Noon. RSVP required. Peachtree Mall play area; 706-326-0423
8 Connecting Georgia Multicultural Festival. 1-5pm. Woodruff Park; connectinggeorgia.org/Columbus
8 Family Fun Night: Winter Holidays Around the World. 4pm. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813
8 The Prophecy Show: A Tribute to Trans-Siberian Orchestra. 7:30pm. $75-$110. RiverCenter; 706256-3612
8-12 Gingerbread Village. 10am-3pm. RiverCenter Lobby; 706-256-3612
9 Pony Bead Party. Ages 5-12. 4pm. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813
9 After School Art Break. 2:30-4:30pm. Ages 5-10. Columbus Museum; 706-748-2562
9 Teen Takeover: Escape Room. 4:30pm. South Columbus Library; 706-683-8805
9 Gift Painting Workshop. Teens. 6pm. Mildred L. Terry Library; 706-243-2782
10 MAMA B.E.A.R.S. Breastfeeding Support meeting (part 2). 12:30-1:30pm. Columbus Pediatric Assoc; 706-221-4602
10 Santa Visit. Families. 11am. Mildred L. Terry Library; 706-243-2782
10-14 Opelika Victorian Front Porch Tour. 6-10pm. Northside Historic District, Opelika; facebook.com
11 Sensory-Friendly Santa Visit. Ages 11 and under. Appointment required. 10:30am. North Columbus Library; 706-748-2855
11 Budding Naturalists. 10-11am. $7.18. Columbus Botanical Garden, 706-327-8400
11 Santa Visit. Families. 3pm. South Columbus Library; 706-683-8805
11-14 Disney’s Frozen: The Broadway Musical. Times vary. $30-$75. Springer Opera House; 706327-3688
12 Fall Back Into Grannycore: Crochet Circle. Families. 4pm. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813
12 Christmas in a Railroad Town. 6-9pm. Downtown Opelika; opelikamainstreet.org
12-13 Candlelight Weekend. 10am-8pm. Historic Warm Springs; 706-655-3322
12-14
Shine: Holiday Light Festival. Fri & Sat 6-9pm, Sun 6-8pm. $5-$15. Columbus Botanical Garden; 706-327-8400
13 Breakfast with the Grinch & Santa. 9-11am. Lane Southern Orchard, Fort Valley; lanesouthernorchard.com
December Events
13 North Pole Holiday Kids’ Crafts. Ages 11 & Under. 3pm. North Columbus Library; 706-748-2855
13-14 The Polar Express 2D & 3D (G). 10am & 2pm. $8-$10. Giant Screen Theater, National Infantry Museum; 706-685-5809
13-14 Elf (PG). 5pm. $8-$10. Giant Screen Theater, National Infantry Museum; 706-685-5809
13-14
The Columbus Ballet presents The Nutcracker. Sat 7:30pm, Sun 2:30pm. $35-$59. RiverCenter; 76-256-3612
14 A Merry Little Christmas Market. 1-4pm. Midland Commons; facebook.com
15 Creative Kids Theatre. Families. 4pm. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813
15-19 Gingerbread Village. 10am-3pm. RiverCenter Lobby; 706-256-3612
16 Kid’s Art Studio. Ages 5-12. 4pm. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813
16 Get Your Game On: Teens vs Librarians. 4:30pm. Columbus Library; 706-243-2811
16 Teen Takeover: Anime Club. 4:30pm. South Columbus Library; 706-683-8805
17 Cookies & Cocoa with Santa. 3-6pm. Headquarter Nissan, 1725 Whittlesey Rd; 706-225-8100
17 MAMA B.E.A.R.S. Breastfeeding Support meeting (part 1). 5:30-7pm. Columbus Pediatric Assoc; 706-221-4602
18 Simple Steps Storytime: Family. Ages 0-5. 10am. South Columbus Library; 706-683-8805
18 3rd Annual Neighborhood Parade. 7pm ET. Smith Station Junior High; facebook.com
18 Holiday Sing-Off. Families. 4:30pm. Mildred L. Terry Library; 706-243-2782
18 Winter Wonderland at COMU. 4-7:30pm. The Columbus Museum; 706-748-2562
18 Tabletop Games for Teens. 6pm. North Columbus Library; 706-748-2855
18-21 Disney’s Frozen: The Broadway Musical. Times vary. $30-$75. Springer Opera House; 706327-3688
19-20 River Dragons Hockey Game. Times vary. Columbus Civic Center; 706-507-4625
19-20 Candlelight Weekend. 10am-8pm. Historic Warm Springs; 706-655-3322
19-23 Shine: Holiday Light Festival. Fri & Sat 6-9pm, Sun 6-8pm. $5-$15. Columbus Botanical Garden; 706-327-8400
20 Big Dog Jingle 5K. 9am. $30-$40. Big Dog Fleet Street; runsignupcom
20 Holiday Pop Up Shop. 11am. Peachtree Mall; facebook.com
20 11th Annual Lion and Lamb Music Christmas Bash. 3pm. Peachtree Mall; facebook.com
20 Anime Club: End-of-Year Party. Teen. 3pm. North Columbus Library; 706-748-2855
20-21 The Polar Express 2D & 3D (G). 10am & 2pm. $8-$10. Giant Screen Theater, National Infantry Museum; 706-685-5809
20-21 Elf (PG). 5pm. $8-$10. Giant Screen Theater, National Infantry Museum; 706-685-5809
22 Gingerbread Village. 10am-3pm. RiverCenter Lobby; 706-256-3612
23 Pony Bead Party. Ages 5-12. 4pm. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813
26-27 River Dragons Hockey Game. Times vary. Columbus Civic Center; 706-507-4625
30 Best Year Ever! A Barbie-Themed New Year’s Celebration. Families. 11am-12:30pm. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813
30 Kid’s Art Studio. Ages 5-12. 4pm. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813
31 Seedling Storytime. 10-11am. $7.18. Columbus Botanical Garden, 706-327-8400
Weekly Events
MONDAY
Simple Steps Storytime: Babies & Toddlers. Ages 0-36mo. 10am. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813
TUESDAY
Simple Steps Storytime. Babies & Toddlers. Ages 0-24 mo. 10am; Preschoolers. Ages 3-5. 11am. North Columbus Library; 706-748-2855. (Not 12/23 or 12/30)
Get On Board with Board Games: Chess & More. Families. 4:30pm. Mildred L. Terry Library; 706243-2782 (Not 12/23 or 12/30)
WEDNESDAY
Simple Steps Storytime. Ages 0-5. 11am. Mildred L. Terry Library; 706-243-2782 (Not 12/24 or 12/31)
Discovery Hub. Ages 3-5. 11am. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813. (Not 12/24 or 12/31)
Kids’ Corner. 4pm. Columbus Library; 706-2432813 (Not 12/24 or 12/31)
THURSDAY
Simple Steps Storytime: Family. Ages 0-5. 10am. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813 (Not 12/25)
Sight Word Support. K-3. 3-5pm. Mildred L. Terry Library; 706-243-2782. (Not 12/25)
LEGOS®. Families. 3pm. Columbus Library; 706243-2813 (Not 12/25)
Toddler Tales. 10:30am. Barnes & Noble (Not 12/25)
FRIDAY
Simple Steps Storytime: Rhythm & Rhyme. Ages 0-5. 10am. Columbus Library; 706-243-2813 (Not 12/26)
Fun Fridays. Ages 5-12. 2pm. North Columbus Library; 706-748-2855. (Not 12/26)
EVERY DAY
Fantasy In Lights. 6-8:30pm. Callaway Gardens, Pine Mountain; 800-CALLAWAY
Santa Pictures at Center Court. All day. Reservations encouraged. Peachtree Mall; 706-327-1598
Please call ahead to confirm event dates, times and age-appropriateness, in case changes were made after the info was obtained.
By Linda Ligon,Family & Kids
grandparent grandparent connection Benefits of
If your child’s grandparents live close enough to provide babysitting, you may already be familiar with the benefits of having someone you trust and know well to provide occasional child care. However, the benefits of your child spending time with grandparents go beyond the comfort of having someone you know babysit your child. Here are some other benefits of allowing your child to build a strong relationship with grandparents.
Your child will feel like she has a team of people cheering her on. No matter what challenge your child is taking on, she knows she has both her parents and grandparents supporting her. Even if your child’s grandparents do not live locally, communicating with them over the phone or internet gives your child a chance to share her adventures. For many kids, grandparents attending their games and cheering for their team or giving them a hug and flowers after a dance recital is a cherished memory.
If your parents still work and your kids have a busy schedule, work together to set up times for them to chat with your kids over the internet in between the in-person visits. This can be especially valuable if the grandparents live out of town. Meeting over the internet became part of the norm during the COVID pandemic, so many older adults are familiar with it.
In a world where the future can feel uncertain due to rapidly changing technologies, sharing family history and traditions can provide a sense of stability, identity, and self-esteem. This sense of belonging is valuable when kids go through disruptions such as moving, going to a new school or the arrival of a new sibling. Your child feels secure and knows that despite any turmoil, she has grandparents available to listen to her and provide wisdom and guidance. Often, a grandparent can provide advice and inspiration through stories from family history and their own experiences. Grandpa’s
story about how he designed a large building downtown or Grandma’s story about her career as a professional musician can provide examples of persisting through difficult challenges.
Your child’s grandparents have different interests and hobbies than you and can provide different experiences and perspectives. For example, a grandparent that loves to garden can provide hours of fun helping your child grow her own backyard vegetable garden, a life skill she will take into adulthood. Life skills, such as cooking, will seem enjoyable when done with a grandparent instead of a tedious chore. Personally, helping grandparents harvest vegetables from their garden and watching my grandfather work in his wood shop are memories I will always cherish.
A relationship with grandparents can help a child learn respect for older people and can help them understand how to establish and maintain relationships with extended family. Once your child reaches adulthood and is on her own, understanding how to maintain a social network of extended family is a valuable skill. If your child has experienced the love and caring of a grandparent, when she grows up, she will understand how important it is to share the same sort of unconditional love and caring for other extended family members. Also, watching you interact with your parents sets an example for how she will interact with you when she becomes an adult.
Research has shown that there are many cognitive, developmental and emotional benefits for kids who are able to spend time with loving, caring grandparents. The benefits make it worth working with your child’s grandparents to set aside any small differences so your child can spend time with them.
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Extra
HOO’s learning
The 2026 Winter Reading Challenge!
WARMUP with a good book!
By Sal Woessner, Chattahoochee Libraries Community Engagement
When the temperatures drop, there’s no better time to curl up with a great story. This winter, the Chattahoochee Valley Libraries invite readers of all ages to join our 2026 Winter Reading Challenge—a simple, cozy way to keep minds active, spark imagination, and enjoy quality time with the people you love.
The challenge is easy: Between December 19 and January 31, read for a total of 300 minutes. That’s just 20 minutes a day for three weeks—perfect for bedtime routines, quiet moments before school, or a family reading break on those chilly afternoons when no one wants to go outside. You can choose anything you’d like to read: picture books, graphic novels, mysteries, nonfiction, audiobooks, or a comfort read you’ve enjoyed a dozen times. Families can participate together, or kids can read independently—every minute counts.
You can track your progress in the way that works best for you:
On Paper: Pick up a printed reading log at any CVL branch or download one at CVLGA.org. Color in one icon for every 20 minutes you read and
watch the page fill with your progress—a great visual motivator for readers of all ages.
Online with Beanstack: Prefer digital? Log your minutes in the Beanstack Reading App, available through our website. If you joined us for Summer Reading, your account is already set—just sign in and get reading.
Once you reach the 300-minute mark, return your completed log to your favorite branch. Everyone listed will receive a cozy Winter Reading completion prize and be entered into our grand prize drawing for $100 VISA gift cards.
Looking for inspiration? Our librarians are ready with curated Winter Reading lists, personalized recommendations, and themed book bundles. Discover something new, revisit an old favorite, or challenge your family to see who can find the funniest read-aloud of the season.
So grab a blanket, pour some cocoa, and open your next adventure. Great stories don’t just warm up winter—they make memories.
Visit CVLGA.org for details.
OUR FREE ANNUAL OPEN HOUSE FEATURING OUR COMMUNITYCREATED GINGERBREAD VILLAGE, HOLIDAY MUSIC ON THE WAVE THEATRE ORGAN, AND MAYBE A SURPRISE VISIT FROM SANTA! SCAN TO JOIN OUR GINGERBREAD VILLAGE!
HOO’s CRAFTY
MELTED CRAYON ORNAMENT
DIRECTIONS
First you need a bunch of peeled crayons in many different festive colors. Then, take off the top of the glass ornament, and put two or three small bits of crayon inside each ball. We found less crayon wax was better, since it doesn’t take much to coat the inside of the ball. It worked best when we used pieces about 1/2 an inch long. One of my favorite combinations was the orange, yellow and red crayons, which made an ornament that reminds me of a crackling fire. Then use the pliers to hold the end of the ornament and a hair dryer to melt the wax. Once the hair dryer heats up, it starts to melt the crayon bits so they flow inside the ornament. As the crayon wax melts, turn the ball to create swirling patterns. Once you are satisfied with the design, simply wait for the ornament to cool and put the top back in the ornament.
Dining Deals for Kids
With deals this good, save the mess and dine out!
MONDAY
Sapo’s
5pm until close: free kid's meal with adult entrée, dine in only
Tuesday
Chick fil A - Manchester
5-7pm: Free kids meal with purchase of adult meal or salad and drink
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
Your Pie
Kid's meals half off with adult entrée
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.
Thursday
Tuesday's Street Tacos & Burritos
Free kids meal with adult purchase; dine-in only
FRIDAY
Denny’s
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
Multiple
days
Bruster’s Ice Cream
Kids under 40” get free baby cone
McAlister’s
Kid’s meals are $2.79 with dine-in order
Smokey Bones
Free kid's meal off kid's menu with adult entrée
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
Holiday Fun
in collaboration with @ColGaWithKids
in the valley christmas Lights
Shine at the Columbus Botanical Garden – See ad in this issue for more. Admission is $15 for adults and $8 for children. Families can add on a Cookies and Crafts with Mrs. Claus experience at 7or 8pm. Be sure to purchase your Cookies and Cocoa tickets in advance, as space is limited. Columbusbotanicalgarden.org
Fantasy in Lights at Callaway Gardens – One of the South’s most beloved light displays! Tickets range from $25$40 for adults and $20-$35 for children, depending on the night. Callawaygardens.com
Foster’s Family House of Christmas – A local favorite neighborhood light display. Visit 1024 Crosswinds Dr, Columbus. https://bit.ly/3LpY7x9
Fort Benning Events
Benning.armymwr.com
Elf Run 5K – December 7, 8am - Kick off the holidays with this festive 5K at Fort Moore’s Smith Fitness Center!
Santa at Riverside & Tree Lighting Ceremony –December 7, 5:30–8pm - Gather at Riverside for one of Fort Moore’s most anticipated holiday celebrations!
Brunch with Santa – December 8, 10am–2pm - Join Santa for a delicious holiday brunch at The Benning Club.
Holiday Performances
The Nutcracker – The classic holiday ballet comes to life at the River Center on Dec. 13-14 (prices vary). For homeschool families, there’s a special one-hour performance on Dec. 12 at 10:30am for $5 per person. thecolumbusballet.org
Holiday Experiences
Rocky Top Farms Country Christmas – On Dec. 6-7, 13-14, and 19-21, experience farm fun, holiday treats, and festive activities for $12.50 per person. thefarmatrockytop.com
Holi-Daze at Oakhurst Farms – Celebrate the season with festive farm fun at Oakhurst Farms every weekend through Dec 21. Enjoy holiday lights, a Christmas market, children’s activities, and family photo ops in a cozy country setting. $10 a person oakhurstfarm.com
The Little Village on 13th Christmas Tea Party – Dec. 9 at 3pm. Join them for a fun “Kid Formal” tea party! Tickets are $20-25 Thelittlevillageon13th.com
Breakfast with Santa at Callaway Resort & Gardens – Enjoy a delicious breakfast and meet Santa on Dec. 6, 13, and 20. Tickets start at $65+ for adults and $25+ for children. callawaygardens.com
Breakfast with Santa at the Columbus Trade Center – On Dec. 6, kids can enjoy a meal and a visit from Santa. $15 for adults and $25 for children. https://bit.ly/3WOnKKs
Breakfast with the Grinch and Santa at Lane Orchards – On Dec. 13, share pancakes with both Santa and the Grinch for a fun twist on the traditional holiday event. lanesouthernorchards.com
Santa at Golden Donut – December 13, 10am-12pm. Stop by Golden Donut for a sweet morning visit with Santa! Goldendonut.com
Santa at the Library - Meet Santa at your local Chattahoochee Valley Library Branch. Cvlga.org. Columbus Public Library – Dec. 2 | 10:30am
North Columbus Public Library – Dec. 4 | 4pm and Dec. 11 | 11am (sensory session; appointment required)
Parks Memorial Public Library – Dec. 6 | 2pm
Mildred L. Terry Public Library – Dec. 10 | 11am
South Columbus Public Library – Dec. 11 | 3pm
Marion County Public Library – Dec. 12 | 4pm Cusseta-Chattahoochee Public Library – Dec. 13 | 12pm
National Infantry Museum Holiday Movies – Select weekends in December. Enjoy a holiday movie day at the National Infantry Museum’s Giant Screen Theater, featuring family favorites all month long. December 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21: Polar Express 2D at 12pm, Polar Express 3D at 2pm, The Nightmare Before Christmas at 5pm Nationalinfantrymuseum.org
Winter Wonderland at the Columbus Museum – December 18, 4-7:30pm. Celebrate the season with a magical evening of free holiday fun at COMU. Pictures with Santa end at 6:45pm. comuga.org
