Houston Family Magazine- January 2022 Issue

January 22 | Vol. 34 | Issue 1

It’s A New Year

BABY

TOP SCHOOL DIRECTORY LOSE WEIGHT

THE FASTER WAY

let’s celebrate

LYING OR PRETEND

TEACHING TRUTH TELLING

MONEY MASTERS FINANCE FOR KIDS

LEARNING DISABILITIES WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

THE ATTENTION YOU NEED RIGHT NOW

GET MEMORIAL HERMANN QUALITY CARE 7 DAYS A WEEK, PLUS EXTENDED HOURS Memorial Hermann Urgent Care is ready to help you feel better.

No appointment is necessary, and our enhanced safety measures are in place to keep you protected. You’ll receive quality treatment for illnesses and minor injuries right when you need it.

CHECK IN ONLINE BEFORE YOU ARRIVE memorialhermann.org/urgentcare BENDERS LANDING · CLEAR LAKE · FRIENDSWOOD · FULSHEAR · GREATER HEIGHTS · TELFAIR · TOWN & COUNTRY · WASHINGTON AVE · WEST UNIVERSITY

2 | HOUSTON FAMILY MAGAZINE January 2022

SOCIETY FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

FUN FOR ALL AGES 21/22 SEASON

FOR THE SCIENTIST IN THE FAMILY

HELLO, DATE NIGHT

NEIL deGRASSE TYSON: ASTRONOMY BIZARRE

JEFF GOLDBLUM & THE MILDRED SNITZER ORCHESTRA

Mon, Jan 17, 2022

NEW SHOW— ON SALE Date NOW!

Venue DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD LIVE: www.danieltigerlive.com NEIGHBOR DAY

DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD © 2021, The Fred Rogers Company. All rights reserved. PBS and PBS KIDS are registered trademarks of the Public Broadcasting Service and are used with permission

Jones Hall | 7:30

Fri, Jan 28, 2022

Sun, Apr 10, 2020

Explore cosmic quandaries with astrophysicist and Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey host Neil deGrasse Tyson.

Jones Hall | 7:30

Jones Hall | 2 PM & 5:30 PM

Actor Jeff Goldblum will ask you trivia, play classic jazz with his band and make you laugh—a lot.

Daniel Tiger and all his friends from the beloved Emmy Award-winning PBS KIDS television series are back!

S PA H O U S T O N . O R G

SEASON SPONSOR

OFFICIAL AIRLINE

FUNDED IN PART BY

THE CITY OF HOUSTON

THROUGH HOUSTON ARTS ALLIANCE

3 | HOUSTON FAMILY MAGAZINE January 2022

TABLE OF CONTENTS

8 10 12 14 16 18 20 34

ON THE COVER

36

It's a New Year Baby!

Meet Ella, Publisher Kim's one and only granddaughter.

LOSE THE BABY WEIGHT THE FASTER WAY written by Tish Petty

BE A FITNESS ROLE MODEL TO YOUR KIDS written by Sandi Schwarts

MEMORIES: WHICH SIDE OF THE CAMERA ARE YOU ON? written by Pam Molnar

LYING OR PRETENDING written by Jan Pierce

TEACH KIDS TO BECOME MONEY MA$TER$ written by Sandra Gordon

LEARNING DISABILITIES: WHAT PARENTS NEED TO KNOW written by Sarah Lyons

WHY SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING IS IMPORTANT FOR KIDS written by Ghazal Qureshi

CRUISE TRAVEL

Hit the open seas in 2022 out of Galveston

HOW TO CELEBRATE EVERY MONTH IN THE NEW YEAR written by Katy Clark

pictured: Latesa, Chris and Ella

IN EVERY ISSUE 6 PUBLISHER'S NOTE It's a new year Baby!

30 BOOK BITES

7 FAMILY FYI

38 THE BIG TO-DO

The Mom Edition

Top Schools DIRECTORY

D I S C O V E R

Things you need to know

Explore all the fun things happening in the Greater Houston area.

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P R I V A T E

T H E

B E S T

S C H O O L S

G R E A T E R

I N

H O U S T O N

CHECK OUT OUR TOP SCHOOLS DIRECTORY

PAGE 22

Village Medical Primary Care Now Open in Houston

Voted Texas Family Physician of the Year Dr. Troy Fiesinger

VillageMedical.com 5 | HOUSTON FAMILY MAGAZINE January 2022

publisher/editor

Kimberly Davis Guerra kim@houstonfamilymagazine.com

associate editor

Chantal Lemieux chantal@houstonfamilymagazine.com

creative director/ production

Casey Johnson casey@houstonfamilymagazine.com

staff photographer Amy Garrett

contributing authors Katy Clark Sandra Gordon Chantal Lemieux Sarah Lyons Pam Molnar Tish Petty Jan Pierce Ghazal Qureshi Sandi Schwartz

advertising sales Beverly Davis Tish Petty

printing

Publication Printers Denver, Colorado

contact us:

1334 Brittmoore Rd. Box #1000B Houston, TX 77043 (P) 713.266.1885 (F) 713.266.1915 www.HoustonFamilyMagazine.com

It's A New Year BABY! I can't be more excited about 2022!

Time for new energy! New Habits! A New YOU! This issue is dedicated to getting on the right track with your mind & your health.

Within you will find helpful tips, tricks products & services to get you and your family healthy, happy & sound this year.

Cheers to leaving 2021 in the dust!

Happy New Year

Kimberly Davis Guerra, publisher

FIND US ON FACEBOOK @houstonfamilymagazine FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM @houstonfamilymagazine CONTACT US Let us know how we’re doing. kim@houstonfamilymagazine.com Houston Family is published monthly by Houston Family Magazine, LLC. Houston Family is distributed free of charge, one copy per reader. Only Houston Family authorized distributors may deliver or pick up the magazines. We reserve the right to edit, reject or comment editorially on all submitted material. We cannot be responsible for the return of any submitted material.

Houston Family is ©2020 by Houston Family Magazine,LLC. All rights reserved.

Reproduction in whole or part without express permission is prohibited.

6 | HOUSTON FAMILY MAGAZINE January 2022

FYI

VISIT GALVESTON LOST YOUR MARBLES? Galveston Arts Center is excited to welcome the San Antonio-based Esferas Perdidas to the island for an exhibition and interactive search for lost marbles.

GAC will host an exhibition of artist-made marbles and collections from the group’s ongoing hunt in the 2nd floor 1878 Gallery at 2127 Strand fthrough February 13th.

In conjunction with the exhibition and with the support of the Galveston Visitor and Convention Bureau, Esferas Perdidas will expand the marble hunt to Galveston during the course of the exhibition.

Artists will be actively hiding their marbles around Galveston Island on November 27th, in conjunction with Galveston ArtWalk, and January 29th, in conjunction with Galveston Museum Day, with a few surprises hides happening during the course of the exhibition. The public is encouraged to participate by following the ongoing hunt via the Esferas Perdidas group online.

Museum Day Jan 29-30, 2022

Start your new year off with a glimpse into the Island’s storied past !

Many visitors to Galveston are familiar with the island’s 32 miles of Gulf Coast beaches.

Some may not be familiar with the wide variety of museums and attractions in this historic beach town. During Galveston Museum Week, visitors can explore many Galveston museums at special rates.

VisitGalveston.com for details!

BRIGHT LITTLES IS A NEW CHILDREN'S COMPANY CREATED BY AUSTIN, TX, MOMPRENEUR, AND ASIAN AMERICAN, TARA BALLENTINE Bright Littles’ mission is to empower parents to have “outside the box” conversations with their little ones about important issues through the lens of the child's world and experiences. Bright Littles' first product, Convo Cards, is made up of 100 question cards and 25 activity cards that cover the following range of topics: diversity, health, nature safety, and self.

Real change starts with real conversations. www.brightlittles.com

Restaurant Week Jan 17th - Feb 13th, 2022

Throughout the month of January and February again in 2022, visitors are welcome to experience a true taste of the gulf with more than 40 local restaurants participating to showcase the unique flavor of Galveston.

During this culinary adventure, diners can sample dishes from lunch and dinner menus at attractive price points. Two- and three-course dinners will be priced between $20 and $35 while two-course lunches, breakfasts and brunches will cost between $10 and $20.

VisitGalveston.com for details!

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PROFILE

POSTMODERN PAINTING. Stella alternately paints in oil and watercolor

The FASTer Way to Fat Loss is the leading digital health & wellness program that differs from anything else out there. It pairs cutting-edge nutrition strategies with effective workouts to fuel your body properly, burn fat effectively, give you energy, improve your overall health and wellness, and give you back that confidence.

These quick fixes will work, but this 36-year old mama knew better…they won’t last. You won’t be able to sustain it, and you’ll end up gaining the weight back and starting all over again…and again…and again.

Here's my story. I came across the FASTer Way to Fat Loss when my third baby was about to turn one. Life was rough. I remember always being tired. I had no patience. I was in a constant brain fog. I barely had any energy to make it through the day, let alone to keep up with my three tots running around. I had lost all my confidence and I was finally done.

The FASTer Way is a 6-week program designed to educate you on how to feel your very best. It’s not just another diet. It teaches you how to fuel your body so you can be strong, healthy, and confident! It teaches you about intermittent fasting, carb cycling, and whole food nutrition…which all sound very intimidating but have no fear!

You are guided on these FWTFL strategies one week at a time. Then, you’re able to put it all together and practice week by week with your certified FASTer Way coach. After 6-weeks, the goal is to feel comfortable and confident living the FASTer Way lifestyle!

I knew I had to do something. Not only that, but I had to do something the right way.

We’ve all tried diets…the 7-day juice cleanse, diet pills, no carbs, grapefruit diet, extreme calorie restriction, the list goes on.

I wasn’t searching for another yo-yo diet. I was searching for was a healthy, sustainable long-term solution.

8 | HOUSTON FAMILY MAGAZINE January 2022

Tish Petty, a certified FASTer Way Coach, shares her mama life & weightloss journey one INSTAGRAM post at a time. Follow her @TISH.PETTY

“This is a program that’s easy to follow, perfect for the busy mom, and gets you the results you want."

Here are my top 4 reasons why I love the FASTer Way! "By living the FASTer Way, I finally started eating better. I finally started feeling better. I finally started having more energy. I finally started to feel confident again. I lost the baby weight the FASTer Way and got my LIFE back."

I’M A FOOD JUNKIE, & MY FAVORITE PART OF LIVING THE FASTER WAY IS THAT I EAT REAL FOOD. The fact that I found a way to eat good food, AND have amazing results, still blows my mind. The FASTer Way lifestyle is all about balance and finding food freedom. I finally learned how to properly fuel my body with the right macronutrients (protein, carbs, and fats) while still being able to enjoy the good stuff on occasion too.

QUICK & EFFECTIVE 30-MINUTE WORKOUTS YOU CAN DO STRAIGHT FROM YOUR LIVING ROOM WITH LITTLE TO NO GYM EQUIPMENT. As a busy mom, I need to be able to squeeze in a workout at home between work & balancing the kids’ activities. I still can’t believe I lost the baby weight and toned up without spending hours at the gym every day. Paired with a strategic weekly food cycle, the FASTer Way workouts are designed to give you maximum results helping you burn fat and tone up!

INTERMITTENT FASTING IS NOT A DIET, BUT AN EATING SCHEDULE. Thanks to the FWTFL, I learned what foods to eat, how much to eat, and WHEN to eat.

It’s nothing drastic. I eat my meals in an 8hour eating window and learned how to say NO THANK YOU to those late-night snacks.

This method helps burn through fat stores and helps you get toned even faster. Plus the health benefits to intermittent fasting are incredible - increased energy, greater mental clarity, reduced inflammation, improved hormone function, boosted immunity, & decreased insulin levels.

EVERYONE NEEDS A SUPPORT SYSTEM AND THE FASTER WAY HAS AN AWESOME COMMUNITY! Whether you’re looking for a place every day to be held accountable in order to crush your goals, or you just need somewhere to vent your daily HIGHs and LOWs, this is the spot!

We learn, we laugh, we share recipes, tips, and most importantly we keep showing up and supporting each other.

Want to learn more and join my next 6-week round of the FASTer Way? Visit www.fasterwaycoach.com/#tishpetty for all the details.

H O W I T ST AR T E D VS .

H OW I T'S G O I N G Well I'm down 2 pant sizes, 15 pounds...and tons of inches...I'd say it's going pretty good.

You want to know the secret??

I DID THIS WITH AT-HOME, 30-MINUTE WORKOUTS (WITH 3 KIDS RUNNING AROUND).

I DI D THI S W I T H ON L Y D UM BBE L LS. N O F ANCY , EX PE N SI VE GYM E Q UIP M EN T. I DI D T HI S WI T HOUT SUPPLE M E NTS , PI LLS, OR SHAK E S. I DID THIS BY EATING THE SAME FOODS AS MY FAMILY. I DI D THI S BY E A TI N G... GE T R EA D Y F OR I T ...G OOD O LE N UT R I T I OUS WH OL E F OODS. YE S I PI GGE D OU T E VE R Y ONCE IN A WHI LE (I 'M ONLY HUM A N, K ? ). Y ES I HAD A GLASS (OR TW O) OF W IN E EV ER Y ON C E I N A WHI L E. YE S I A TE C AR BS. YE S I HAD DE SSE R T . & I L OV E D EV ER Y M I N UT E OF I T !

@TISH.PETTY

And that is the reason I will continue to tell my story.

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BE A FITNESS ROLE MODEL TO YOUR KIDS

By Sandi Schwartz

As we all know, being a parent is the most important job in the world. Our children look up to us for guidance on everything in life, even if we don’t realize it. One way that you can be a positive role model to your kids is in the area of fitness. Staying fit is critical to our health and well-being—including our mental health and happiness. We can help shape our children’s views on exercise by modeling healthy behavior and making fitness a fun part of our family’s daily routine.

10 | HOUSTON FAMILY MAGAZINE January 2022

Why Exercise Is Important For Managing Stress and Anxiety Experts have found a clear link between exercise and stress reduction. Harvard scientists concluded that “Regular aerobic exercise has a unique capacity to exhilarate and relax, to provide stimulation and calm, to counter depression and dissipate stress.”

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, some studies show that consistent exercise can be just as effective as medication for some people to reduce symptoms of anxiety.

Other research shows that physically active people have lower rates of anxiety than those who do not exercise. In one study, researchers found that those who got regular vigorous exercise were 25 percent less likely to develop depression or an anxiety disorder over the next five years.

Here are several ways in which exercise helps reduce stress and anxiety: Produces Endorphins.

When we exercise, our body releases feelgood neurotransmitters called endorphins. These chemicals in our brain act as natural painkillers, making us feel better and less stressed. Endorphins are responsible for the natural high we get from a hard workout.

Reduces Stress Hormones.

Exercise reduces the level of stress hormones in our body like adrenaline and cortisol, helping us feel calmer.

Minimizes Fatigue.

Exercise improves blood flow and our body’s ability to use oxygen efficiently.

These changes in our brain then reduce fatigue and improve alertness, concentration, and cognitive function. This helps us when we are stressed out because we are depleted and need to return to a more balanced level of energy.

When we are stressed, many nerves in our brain and throughout out body are impacted. Scientists conclude, therefore, that if our body feels better, then our mind will also feel better.

Improves Self-Esteem.

Behavioral factors also contribute to the emotional benefits of exercise. When we gain strength and begin to see a difference in our body, we feel better about ourselves and become happier and more confident. Feeling better about ourselves shifts our focus to positive thoughts and away from fear and anxiety.

Provides A Fun Distraction.

One of the best parts about exercise is that it gives us a time to take a fun break from the stresses in our daily lives.

Whether you are jogging to your favorite upbeat music or socializing with friends on the tennis court, your mind is distracted and you can just have a good time.

Makes Sleeping Easier.

According to Mayo Clinic, exercise can also improve how we sleep. This is great news for those suffering from insomnia due to stress and anxiety.

Encourages Mindfulness.

A great bonus of exercise is that it provides the perfect opportunity to enjoy a mindful moment. While we work out, we can fully engage in the present moment instead of letting our mind run wild with worries. To get the best result, experts suggest doing rhythmic activities that engage the whole body like running, walking, swimming, dancing, rowing, or climbing. Helpguide.org suggests that “as you move, instead of continuing to focus on your thoughts, focus on the sensations in your limbs and how your breathing complements your movement. If your mind wanders to other thoughts, gently return to focusing on your breathing and movement. If walking or running, for example, focus on each step—the sensation of your feet touching the ground, the rhythm of your breath while moving, and the feeling of the wind against your face.”

How To Be A Good Fitness Role Model.

It’s important we play actively with our kids from a young age and that we consistently exercise in front of them (and sometimes with them) to show them how importance physical fitness is. From going on family bike rides to coaching one of their sports teams, there are so many helpful ways for you to be a fitness role model to your children throughout their lives.

11 | HOUSTON FAMILY MAGAZINE January 2022

Here are some more ideas to get you moving: Go for a hike outdoors.

Not only are walks and hikes wonderful, safe exercise that the entire family can enjoy, they are also an opportunity to connect to the beauty of nature to bring you a sense of calm. Try adding some fun to your family hikes by turning them into a race or scavenger hunt, and by venturing to new parks and trails in your area and while on vacation.

Take a yoga class together.

Yoga offers so many incredible benefits to both you and our children including balance, strength training, time for inner focus, and an opportunity to connect with our bodies in ways we aren’t used to. Sign up for a yoga class that you can take together or pop in a video or load an App so you can do some yoga together in your living room, or better yet in your backyard.

Make exercise a priority even in bad weather.

Show your kids that you still go on your morning run even if it’s not sunny outside.

On days when it’s cold or rainy, set up your fitness routine indoors and get your kids involved. Put on a workout video and have them join in. There are also lots of fun ways to use your indoor space to get everyone moving. Some of the easiest exercises to perform indoors include jumping rope and calisthenics like pushups, sit ups, and jumping jacks. Or put on some peppy music and play freeze dance or have a hula hoop contest. Before you know it, you will all be working up a sweat!

Give sports-related gifts.

Another way to make fitness a priority in your home is to choose gifts like workout clothes, sports equipment, and how to books about sports during birthday and holiday time. You can also choose some tickets for a sporting event and make it a fun family outing to cheer on your team together.

For daily ideas, be sure to subscribe to HFM's Daily ENewsletter, "The Family Feed" for recipes, crafts, giveaways and more great stories on how to improve your family's lives every day.

Simply visit HoustonFamilyMagazine.com and subscribe for FREE. You will never be short for ideas again.

MEMORIES Which Side of the Camera are You On?

By Pam Molnar

My 17-year-old son and I were planning to attend his high school’s Mother-Son Brunch. We were asked to send in two pictures of ourselves with our son for a then and now slide show presentation.

Finding a current picture of the two of us was easy. I had some on my phone that we had taken at his soccer senior night.

I dug out the photo albums to find an older picture of the two of us, because let’s face it, my electronic filing system of pictures is a hot mess. As I flipped through photo albums, I found tons of pictures of my son – at birth, in preschool, playing soccer, at school events and holidays. But I struggled to find one of just him and I.

"The story of my search for a picture of just my son and I for a Mother-Son brunch slideshow.

When I have trouble finding one of just him and I, I realize that my absence may be intentional."

My son is the youngest of three, so most of the pictures I took of him in the early days include his sisters or all five of us. There are even several of him and his dad doing “boy things”. After an hour of searching, I had come up with three pictures of just the two of us. Three! For each picture, I remember another mom asking me if I would like her to take a picture of us (probably hoping I would, in exchange, take a picture of her and her son).

Frustrated that I only had a few pictures of my son and I alone, I searched for some of me and my daughters. Sadly, I ran into the same problem. Why weren’t there any pictures of me and my kids alone? And then it hit me. I was never in the pictures because it was my job to take the pictures.

When I look back at the photographs of my son smiling ear to ear, I have to assume that I was smiling, too. Those were happy times in his life and important enough to want to save and remember again another day. I only felt it was important to catch his reaction of the event. My reaction, from the other side of the camera, was simply pride.

I guess that is how life is supposed to be.

We are meant to stand across from our children and watch their lives happen. It gives us a better perspective to help guide them through their lives, warning them of upcoming turns or bumps in the road.

When you are standing next to your child, you have a tendency to want to take the lead, the credit and the blame.

12 | HOUSTON FAMILY MAGAZINE January 2022

While I regret not being able to look back on my younger self in my son’s pictures, I have to remember that those moments were not about me. I already had my first trip to Disney, special Halloween costumes and school awards ceremonies. Those were my moments. The funny thing is, when I look back at the pictures of my moments, my parents must have stood somewhere outside the frame, too.

If I would have captured myself at my son’s moments, I would have pictures of a younger me sitting in chairs on the sideline, holding everyone’s things, cheering, yawning, crying, checking my watch, talking to the people around me and clapping at all the right times.

There might even be pictures of me on my phone, catching up on social media while waiting for my son to do his thing.

One day my son might look back at the pictures and notice that I am not in very many of them. I will tell him I was there, just on the other side of the camera, smiling as I watched him grow into the person he is today.

Pam Molnar is a suburban mother of three and a founding member of Unorganized Photos Anonymous. Despite lack of a filing system, she has captured some of the best moments in her kids’ lives.

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LYING or

Pretending?

Teaching kids to tell the truth

by Jan Pierce

S

omewhere around the age of three, when children begin to understand parents may not know what they actually did or didn’t do, your precious little angel may begin to tell big whoppers. “Baby Jack made that mess,” or “I played with a dinosaur today and rode on his back.”

Before you panic, thinking your child is destined for a life of crime, let’s take a look at when children lie, why they lie, and how to teach them to tell the truth.

Why Children tell lies for a variety of reasons. They’re afraid of getting in trouble, they want attention, they’re testing boundaries, or quite often with the very young, they just enjoy a good story and haven’t yet learned the distinction between fantasy and real life.

If a child breaks a family rule, or makes a big mess, he may be afraid of the consequences. Parents need to first discern whether the infraction was intentional or a normal childhood accident such as spilling milk. When parents see the lie was meant to cover a normal child “accident,” it’s best to reassure that we all make mistakes and work together to clean it up. When the lie was meant to cover breaking a family rule, it’s best to set a consequence in line with the infraction---perhaps forgoing play with a favorite toy for a period of time. Setting reasonable consequences builds trust yet reinforces the family value of both the rule and truth-telling. When consequences involve physical punishment, children are much more likely to lie in an effort to avoid the pain.

14 | HOUSTON FAMILY MAGAZINE January 2022

Some “lies” are merely pretending.

Wouldn’t it be fun to have an imaginary friend, or be able to fly to the moon and back? This is absolutely normal behavior and part of a child’s growth and development. Young children are learning right and wrong and need experience to tell the difference between truthfulness and lying. Plus we adults read them stories filled with creativity, pretending and magical acts.

So children need experience and practice in separating fun, creative fantasy from everyday real life.

When Children begin to experiment with telling fibs at about age three when their language is developed enough to express their thoughts clearly. They are experimenting with the lines between fact and fantasy. They understand they may displease adults with some behaviors and want to avoid being in trouble.

From ages four to six children are able to tell more sophisticated lies. However, when questioned about the circumstances most children will eventually relent and tell the truth.

As children grow older they learn they can tell a lie and not get caught. They’ve learned more about how other people think, and know when their fabrication is believable. That’s why it’s so important as parents to take the time to teach honesty as a family value from babyhood on up.

Whenever your child tells an untruth, you have the opportunity to teach. If they share a creative idea as fact, “My doll says she is hungry now.” You have the opportunity to teach, “It would be fun if your doll could talk, wouldn’t it?”

If a mess is made and a fib told, “The dog spilled the juice.” You can say, “It’s okay if you accidently spilled. We all spill sometimes. Let’s clean up the mess.”

And when lies are blatantly told to cover up a broken rule, “I didn’t hit my brother.” Then a fair and reasonable consequence is imposed to set the boundary. “We don’t hit and our family tells the truth.”

How to Teach Truth-telling Everyday family life offers countless opportunities to mold and shape our children’s moral code. We all want our children to be honest, upright citizens.

Here are some ways to teach our children to be truth-tellers: Be a good role model.

You can talk all day about being honest, but if your children hear you tell a lie, they’ll know you don’t really mean it. Even small fibs told by parents are confusing to children trying to navigate the rules of the home.

Notice and encourage whenever truth is told.

Both in real-life situations and when watching television or videos, there are opportunities to notice who is telling the truth and who is not. “Oh, dear, that character is telling a lie. What will happen now?”

Or, when your child does tell the truth, make a point of complimenting him or patting her on the back. Applaud truthtelling whenever it happens.

Help children understand the difference between truth and fantasy.

Enjoy fantasy tales with your children, but talk about reality. “It would be fun if animals could really talk, but it’s just pretend.”

Tell your children you know they can do the right thing.

Children need to hear your praise and encouragement. “I know you can do the right thing.” And “I know you can make the right choices.”

Talk about the importance of being honest.

“When people don’t tell the truth they feel bad. They may be worried or feel guilty. It’s so much better to tell the truth.”

Play games and do activities that promote honesty.

Play a game in which you draw a card with a sentence written on it. Read it aloud for everyone to hear. Is it reallife or fantasy? Or role-play with puppets that either tell the truth or lie.

15 | HOUSTON FAMILY MAGAZINE January 2022

Avoid tempting your child to lie.

Explosive anger or asking “Who did that?” will tempt a child to lie to avoid trouble. Whenever possible, stay calm and get to the bottom of the problem.

Additionally we want children to trust us enough to tell the truth in the event of any kind of dangerous or abusive situations. Children have to know it’s safe to admit a problem.

Share childhood memories that help teach honesty.

Kids love to hear stories of their parents as young children. Tell how you learned to tell the truth and resist lying. Share hard lessons learned.

Read books that lead to discussion about truth and lies.

We all know about the boy who cried wolf. Take the time to find stories that teach the importance of telling truth.

Some recent ones are: The Honest to Goodness Truth by Patricia McKissack and Giselle Potter What Should Danny Do? By Adir Levy Scout’s Honor: A Kid’s Book about Lying and Telling the Truth by Tiffany Obeng.

We want our children to thrive as responsible citizens. We want them to be people of character and moral goodness. Honesty is one of those character traits that take some work to instill. It needs to be held up and valued in our everyday lives.

The value of creativity and fantasy has its place in our lives, but children need to be taught the difference between fantasy and reality.

So remember, an occasional fib is a normal part of a child’s life, and for most kids it doesn’t become a habit.

With patient teaching and understanding your child will master truthfulness.

TEACH KIDS TO BECOME MONEY MA$TER$

By Sandra Gordon

“BECAUSE “BECAUSE II TAUGHT TAUGHT MY MY BOYS BOYS ABOUT ABOUT

W hen Sunny Lee’s identical twin boys,

Jason and Matthew, were 2 years old, she began teaching them about money by

working up to the concept. “If I was folding

MONEY MONEY PRINCIPLES PRINCIPLES FROM FROM A A VERY VERY YOUNG YOUNG

laundry or sweeping the floor, I would say, ‘Mommy needs your help,’” says Lee, author

AGE, AGE, IT IT MADE MADE LIFE LIFE

of Is Your Child a Money Master or Money Monster? Each tiny contribution was

EASIER EASIER FOR FOR OUR OUR

followed by an enthusiastic, “That was so helpful! Thank you so much!” and a hug.

ENTIRE ENTIRE FAMILY.” FAMILY.”

Starting in kindergarten, the boys began earning a weekly $3 “commission” for not only doing these sorts of household chores, but for reading books they checked out from the local library and writing a short book report. Lee created a reward chart she initialed when the boys finished their projects. “To earn their commission, they had not only had to complete their tasks, but do them with a good attitude,” says Lee. At age 7, each son opened a checking account at a bank they chose so they could see where their money was growing safely, and a few years later, a 529 college fund and a Roth retirement IRA at a brokerage firm so they could learn how to invest their earnings.

By the third grade, the boys had each finished more than 200 book reports. Their third-grade teacher gave them full credit for the reading she required in class. But the boys wanted to participate anyway because they liked to read!

16 | HOUSTON FAMILY MAGAZINE January 2022

As time went on, Lee and her husband,

Lee offers these 6 money habits she developed to help her sons learn to thrive

Thomas, began upping the ante,

financially that you may find invaluable, too.

incentivizing each boy for good grades as well. Every A grade they earned in a subject netted them $5. All As on their semester report card netted them a bonus of $120. Over time, their earnings began to mount. Now, at 15, both sons have more than $10,000 in each of their college funds. “They both want to become doctors,” Lee says. They have their college picked out and have already taken a tour.

“They understand that they will pay for

1. Talk about money. From an early age, Jason and Matthew began hearing positive messages about money Lee repeated whenever she felt it was appropriate, such as “Money is a vehicle to make our lives comfortable and enjoyable” and “money is meant to be shared.” “Positive messages toward money are fundamental to helping children develop the good habits that will help them learn to manage their money well,” Lee says. It’s never too early to start talking about money. “Even 2 year olds can begin to understand,” she says.

2. Start saving early. When you’re shopping and your kids ask you to buy

their college, not their parents,” Lee says.

them things, don’t give in. Instead, encourage them to create their own

Lee’s passion for teaching her boys about

themselves; suggest age-appropriate chores around the house, such as

money through a system of reminders,

folding laundry and watering the plants. “Even 2 and 3 year olds can water a

routines and rewards grew from her own

plant or fold their own socks,” Lee says. The results may not be perfect, but if

experience with poverty. Growing up in

done to the best of their ability and with a positive attitude, that’s good

Suncheon, a scenic agricultural and

enough.

industrial city in South Korea, Lee saw her factory-worker parents struggle financially. Inspired by their work ethic, however, Lee asked her mother for a job.

At 7, Lee began to clean the house after school. Her mother helped her open a personal bank account to deposit her earnings. Lee dreamed about becoming a millionaire. Years later, however, when Lee estimated her savings to be around 1 million Won in Korean currency ($1,000 US dollars), she went to deposit more money but discovered that her bank account was bare. Desperate to pay the

spending power by thinking about what they could do to buy that for

3. “When you pay your kids for their chores, tell them: “This money is like a seed. If you plant it now and take great care of it, it will grow into a big tree in your future. You can do it because you’re a money master!”

Lee says. “Your children will begin to think of themselves and their money in a positive way, which is the first building block of success.”

4. Make results visible. For young children, a small transparent piggy bank that can fill up fast is an important teaching tool. “The success of seeing their money increase will inspire them to keep going,” Lee says. When the piggy bank is full, take a trip to the bank; have your child deposit his earnings into his own bank account, with a reward for the deposit, such as enjoying the bank’s free hot chocolate. “Every time we came back from the bank, Jason and Matthew were eager to earn extra money by doing more chores around the house,” Lee says.

bills, her mother had taken Lee’s savings

5. Share your shopping strategies. When you’re shopping with your kids, talk

without telling her. “It was devastating,”

about your savings strategies. Do you use coupons or money-saving apps at

Lee says.

the supermarket? Why are you shopping at Marshall’s rather than Nordstrom (or vice versa), or using that Groupon in a restaurant? Are you

The experience fueled Lee’s resolve to become a professional investment advisor and help her boys become master masters. “From the beginning, it was important to me that my sons understand financial security and build the confidence to know they’re in charge of their money and their life, even if they work for someone else,” she says.

From getting the “gimmes” in retail stores to saving for college, money is tough

taking the kids to an orthodontist in a distant town because it’s 50 percent less? Don’t keep your saving strategies to yourself. Kids learn to be smart spenders by soaking up your real-world examples, Lee says.

6. Play money games. Learning about personal finance should be fun, so encourage your kids to play money-related interactive online video games.

PracticalMoneySkills.com is a site Lee recommends, especially for its games for all ages, including Cash Puzzler, Financial Football, Financial Soccer, Money Metropolis, Road Trip to Savings, Peter’s Pig Money Counter and Countdown to Retirement.

7. Celebrate successes. Every Saturday, after Jason and Matthew completed their weekly tasks, Lee would present each boy with their $3 earnings. If they

parenting stuff. But if we teach kids how

did anything extra, such as taking out the trash, she would give them an

to ride a bicycle and learn to play well

extra dollar as a bonus. “Every time I handed the money to one of them, the

with others, money should be in the mix

rest of the family clapped, wore big smiles and said, ‘Great job! You did it!’”

too. In addition to paying kids a

Celebrating another person’s accomplishment teaches us to be generous,”

“commission” to complete weekly tasks

Lee says. It’s motivating too. “Children need to know their works are

with a positive attitude,

appreciated and that their parents are proud of them.”

17 | HOUSTON FAMILY MAGAZINE January 2022

LEARNING DISABILITIES What Parents need to Know

by Sarah Lyons

O

ften, parents don't suspect learning disabilities because many people associate it with low IQ. But LDs affect children of all intelligence levels and has nothing to do with IQ. In fact, it isn't uncommon for a child with a learning disability to excel in one or multiple subjects, while struggling in another. Also, kids with LDs or ADHD may do well under certain conditions. Yet, in other situations, they have great difficulty.

Depending on the LD and severity of it, a child might struggle in all areas.

Forms of learning disabilities There are multiple forms of LDs. Some pose input problems, which means a child struggles with either sound or visual input. What happens is the information isn't processed correctly or gets stored incorrectly in

the brain. This can pose problems with the retrieval of information as well as short or long-term memory.

An LD can also cause output problems. This can sometimes be seen in motor skills such as handwriting difficulties. Another common problem is verbal output.

This is usually evident in kids that have trouble organizing their thoughts either in writing or orally.

Punctuation, grammar, and spelling may also suffer as a result.

Dyscalculia Dyscalculia is a math learning disability. Kids with dyscalculia may have difficulty learning to tell time, counting money or counting in general, learning math facts, calculating, understanding measurement, or performing mental math.

18 | HOUSTON FAMILY MAGAZINE January 2022

Approx 10% of American school-age children suffer from a learning disability (LD) and/or ADHD. About 4% of children have both.

Dyslexia Dyslexia is a reading disability, although the symptoms are not exclusive to reading. Children with this disorder may have difficulty with spelling, vocabulary, or comprehension. They may read slow, have trouble learning left from right, or have organizational problems with both written and spoken language.

Dysgraphia Dysgraphia is a writing disability. Poor handwriting and often, an awkward style of holding a pencil or even contorting the body while writing are hallmarks. A child may also have trouble drawing lines. With dysgraphia, kids can often better express their understanding of the material through speech than in writing.

Auditory Processing Disorder Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) is a problem with input. It isn't a hearing problem. Instead, the brain has difficulty processing sounds. As a result, kids with APD can be distracted by loud noise or struggle to follow conversations. This can be especially problematic when there's a lot of background noise, which makes it difficult to distinguish sounds.

Visual Processing Disorder Visual Processing Disorders (VPD) are also a problem with input. But VPD isn't a vision problem. It's actually a problem with the brain processing what the eyes see. It can result in a child bumping into things or being unable to distinguish the shapes they see. It can also pose difficulty in identifying letters or numbers or result in problems with visual sequencing, among other symptoms.

Nonverbal Learning Disorder Nonverbal Learning Disorder (NLD) is similar to Asperger Syndrome and shows up as difficulties with social skills. Academic problems are sometimes present as well. But often, these don't show up until kids reach higher grade levels. Those with NLD may be afraid of new situations, struggle to make friends, lack common sense, and experience social withdrawal. Academic problems can include reading comprehension and working out math story problems.

ADHD ADHD is marked by attention problems and/or hyperactivity and impulsivity. Girls often have only attention issues, while boys are more commonly impulsive or hyperactive.

Symptoms can include difficulty staying on task or paying attention.

Yet, they often hyperfocus on stimulating activity. Children with ADHD may fidget or have trouble staying seated, interrupt, and act without thinking.

The symptoms listed above for each of the LDs aren't exhaustive. You can learn more about symptoms by visiting the website of the Learning Disabilities Association of America at https://ldaamerica.org/types-oflearning-disabilities/.

What to do if you suspect your child has an LD or ADHD The first step is to talk with your child's teacher and find out what the teacher has observed. Then speak to the school principal. Public schools are required by law to provide an assessment. This should include an IQ test, assessments of math, reading, and writing, and testing of processing skills. If your child is in a private school and it doesn't offer this service, you can request it through your public school district.

Once your child has received a diagnosis, your school psychologist should be able to recommend and help you set up services or accommodations for your kid.

Depending on the specific learning disability, your child may qualify for special education services under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) or accommodations through Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Keep in mind, you are your child's best advocate. So read books and articles on your child's LD and learn how you and your school can help. Talk to your child's teacher about additional ways the teacher can assist your child. Most teachers are eager to help. Although, depending on the student-teacher ratio and the school's resources, it's sometimes challenging for teachers to do as much as they'd like. There are likely other kids in their classrooms with special needs as well.

If you feel your child isn't getting the help needed, talk to the school administrator. If that doesn't help, you may want to consider switching schools. There are many private schools that offer specialized curriculum specifically for your child's needs.

Check out this issues "Top Schools' Directory for options or visit our website for more choices HoustonFamilyMagazine.com/educati on.

You can also search our archives for related articles on dealing with speial needs.

19 | HOUSTON FAMILY MAGAZINE January 2022

Telltale Sign: Poor handwriting and often an awkward style of holding a pencil or even contorting the body while writing are hallmarks of learning disabilities.

Why Social Emotional Learning is important for kids

By Ghazal Qureshi

Being from a Pakistani American background where being a doctor or being an Engineer is typically the only perceived road to success, I still remember the day my mom was so distraught over my decision to forgo a guaranteed admission to medical school that she cried. This is just a small example of how our culture teaches us to be over achievers and to put out the best effort at all costs. And all this does not come without an immense emotional toll which unfortunately due to another cultural norm of not showing any weakness, exacerbates the emotional wellness issues among our youth.

All of these pressures in our culture allows for little breathing room for things such as mental wellness which automatically deems you as a weaker being. The stigma behind mental wellness was something I never understood myself or gave a second thought to as it was never a topic of discussion growing up. The reasoning for why we didn’t have any cases of mental illness has always been attributed to strong family dynamics and support structures. It was not till very late in life, in fact just one and a half years ago, that I realized that it was not so.

Mental illness has been lurking all around us but has purposely been kept hidden as a taboo subject. It was our fear of appearing weak and the fear of not being able to be in control that has over generations made it a taboo subject. I did not even open up my mind to the possibility of something like this being around us. This is indicative of the stigma minority communities in general, not just the Pakistani Americans, typically associate with mental illness according to research published by The Commonwealth Fund.

20 | HOUSTON FAMILY MAGAZINE January 2022

When it came to my own kids, I too was oblivious to the effects of mental health that the pressures of society, the effort to be the best of the best whether it was in academics or sports had on my own kids. We consistently applied the pressure and expected the best of them in school as well as their other non-academic pursuits.

It was not until a year and half ago that we went through our own revelation as my college-aged daughter, along with thousands of other US students was sent back from a study abroad program in Europe during the height of Covid.

My daughter was isolated in her bedroom for 14 days. She stayed in her bed buried in her own thoughts and that’s when the ugly head of bipolar disorder emerged in full force. As parents we were ill equipped to understand what was happening and mental illness never crossed our mind. It was our daughter that begged and pleaded to get help which eventually made us take notice. It seemed she had been suffering in silence for many years, however the upheaval due to Covid and the added stress of isolation burst open her silent struggle. In the past, she had been scared to ask for help knowing what our culture demands and had been doing her best to handle the situation on her own. Being home for Covid allowed her to open up and ask for help and finally my daughter was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

For us as parents, it has been a hard and exhausting journey riddled with every emotion conceivable. The denial, the understanding, the acceptance, the grief, especially the guilt and then the road to recovery are all phases that have not been standalone, they all jumble and mix at every step of the way as my husband and I have finally opened up our eyes and realized the reality that mental illness is a disease and just

like any other disease, it requires intervention, support and medical help.

In our traditional Pakistani American family, as in other minority communities, families are known for putting on the best foot forward and a positive spin on everything.

Something perceived as shameful as mental illness is never talked about openly.

With the rise of remote learning and the upheaval in the normal lives of kids for the past 2 years, cases of mental illness and emotional stress are on the rise. Psychiatrists across the country are reporting an increase in suicide in children as young as 6 years old. As parents, our job is to look out for any opportunity to support our kids and provide them with positive outlets to understand their emotions and apply techniques to ease stress. Mental health is often referred to as the second pandemic and is something we need to address now.

Over this past year and a half, my team and I have made it my mission to raise awareness and provide support for kids and for them to have access to quality Social Emotional Learning.

For this reason, our team has put together Free K12 Mental Wellness programs on our digital platform which can easily be used by teachers in the classroom, parents at home or students on their own to receive some amazing tools and skill set to help combat this new epidemic.

In addition, a completely free to use e-book that helps students reflect and employ strategies can also be downloaded here: https://lnkd.in/ep7NSBd

21 | HOUSTON FAMILY MAGAZINE January 2022

Why Social Emotional Learning is important for kids?

SEL helps students excel academically, build stronger relationships, and lead happier, healthier, more fulfilling lives.

SEL helps young kids thrive personally and academically, develop and maintain positive relationships, become lifelong learners, and contribute to a more caring, just world.

Ghazal Qureshi is a (now) native Houstonian who came to Houston with her family from Pakistan in 12th grade. She is a Computer Scientist and has worked for over 20 years in the technology space. When she saw a lack of adaptive educational programs focused on developing critical thinking skills, she formed her first educational company in 2011, offering STEM afterschool programs.

She grew from 1 location in Houston to over multiple countries.

In early 2020, she was dissatisfied with the lack of innovation in education. For this reason, she exited her first company and formed UpBrainery which is an Innovative and Immersive educational technology platform coupled with neuroscience research-based programs in order to provide adaptive learning and individualized pathways for students at home or in the classroom. UpBrainery takes advantage of the technological advances in AI, Machine Learning and game-based education in order to provide an immersive and engaging educational experience.

Since inception, UpBrainery has won major accolades through Google for Startups, Forbes Next 1000, Houston Business Journal and others.

UpBrainery is also the exclusive K12 educational pathway provider for the US Congressional App Challenge. www.UpBrainery.com

Top Schools DIRECTORY

D I S C O V E R P R I V A T E

T H E

B E S T

S C H O O L S

G R E A T E R

I N

H O U S T O N

22 | HOUSTON FAMILY MAGAZINE January 2022

SPECIAL ADVERTISING | TOP SCHOOLS

Incarnate Word Academy A Catholic College Preparatory for Young Women, Est. in 1873

FAST FACTS Established: 1873 Grades: 9-12

Enrollment: 310 – Total Enrollment

Awards: 2020 College Board AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award Student/Faculty Ratio: 9:1 Sports: 8 Athletics Teams Other Things of Note:

86% Students who are Catholic 100% Students accepted to college

INCARNATE WORD ACADEMY

33% Class of 2021 members who earned a Distinguished Leader distinction 1400 – Average SAT score of the top 10% of the Class of 2021 14 Advanced Placement (AP) classes

A CATHOLIC COLLEGE PREPARATORY FOR YOUNG WOMEN SINCE 1873

F

or nearly 150 years, Incarnate Word Academy has provided young women with a Catholic, college preparatory high school education in the heart of downtown Houston.

With pillars of academics, values and spirituality, we help our students grow into confident, caring young women who are able to advocate for themselves and for others. IWA's rigorous academic program includes 14 Advanced Placement (AP) classes, a wealth of STEM and humanities opportunities, as well as courses in the fine and performing arts.

Our Young Leaders Program, unique among U.S. high schools, offers four years of progressive classes that help students develop their leadership abilities through

hands-on projects in our school and throughout our community.

IWA’s Catholic mission allows students grow in their relationship with Jesus, the Incarnate Word, and live according to His values. This compels students to embrace service as an integral part of their daily lives, and become bold, authentic servant leaders who embody kindness, problem solving and compassion.

Incarnate Word Academy provides rich, experiential learning opportunities and our diverse student body brings together young women from across Houston. Our graduates go on to some of the country's top schools, prepared to succeed in college and beyond.

Andrea Smith, M.Ed., LPC, NCC - Principal Our all-girls environment gives our students a tangible and unique sisterhood. They empower and encourage each other to achieve their goals. Our students cultivate confidence, embrace challenges and leave the Academy ready for their future.

CONTACT EMAIL:

admissions@incarnateword.org

SCHOOL WEBSITE:

www.incarnateword.org 23 | HOUSTON FAMILY MAGAZINE January 2022

SPECIAL ADVERTISING | TOP SCHOOLS

PRIVATE SCHOOL: PRESCHOOL-GRADE 8 1424 Sherwood Forest, Houston, TX 77043 thebranchschool.org | 713.465.0288

WHERE CHILDREN LOVE, LEARN & LEAD In this hurry-up world, The Branch School offers a culture of loving kindness, where accomplished educators help children develop as inquisitive scholars and kind people with authentic regard for one another and our world.

Our STEAM-infused, project-based curriculum taps students’ creative energy for deep and lasting learning.

Schedule Your Visit Today!

thebranchschool.org

1424 Sherwood Forest Houston, TX 77043 713.465.0288

LEADING WITH LOVE Our purpose at The Branch School is to inspire every child to love, learn, and lead in an atmosphere of genuine acceptance and support. Because Branch students feel secure socially and emotionally, they also blossom intellectually and academically. We see each child as unlimited—and they learn to see their own potential and possibilities.

LOVING TO LEARN Across our preschool-8th grade continuum, we instill a drive toward discovery, intellectual resilience, and leadership ability.

All our students experience hands-on, project-based learning with a Science, Technology, Engineering, the arts, and Math (STEAM) focus. We offer challenging academics and collaborative learning opportunities and help each student develop critical-thinking capacities, creative problem-solving skills, and a lifelong love of learning.

LEARNING TO LEAD Our students learn that great leadership begins with good listening and with respect for the ideas and feelings of those around you. At Branch, our philosophical approach and programming encourage thoughtful character development, support a strong sense of citizenship and stewardship, and teach important peacemaking skills.

To learn more about where The Branch School—one of the best private schools in Houston—can lead your child, please explore our website at www.thebranchschool.org.

24 | HOUSTON FAMILY MAGAZINE January 2022

SPECIAL ADVERTISING | TOP SCHOOLS

www.stlaurenceschool.org

DYSLEXIA SCHOOL OF HOUSTON 1001 West Loop South, Suite 500 • Houston, TX 77027 https://xavieracademy.org | info@xavieracademy.org (832) 533-2652 Educating the Whole Christian Person in Body, Mind and Spirit

CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION Join us for our 30th Anniversary Celebration!

Saturday, January 29, 2022 | 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Anniversary Mass | 5:00 p.m.

Serving Grades Pre-K to 8th Come tour our campus and see what makes SLCS a leader in providing a well-rounded education.

National Recognitions: 2005, 2014: Blue Ribbon School of Excellence 2017: Innovations in Catholic Education Award Regis Quarter Page Ad (October).pdf 1 Land, 9/21/21 12:55 281-980-0500 | 2630 Austin Parkway • Sugar TX 77479

FAST FACTS Year Established: 2007 Student Ratio: 7 to 1 Accreditations: Cognia (Formerly Advanc-ED Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the world’s largest education improvement organization) Grades Served: Elementary to High School

Xavier Academy is an independent private school offering a unique educational experience for elementary through twelfth-grade students in the Houston area. Founded on the belief that children who are seen and heard grow into capable, compassionate adults, Xavier Academy tends to the entirety of each child, from their academic curiosities to their creative pursuits.

C

M

Y

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MY

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At Xavier Academy, our educational approach balances the academic as well as the student’s social-emotional needs.

Xavier cultivates each student to realize their greatest potential through highly individualized learning practices that foster their passion and lead to a successful, well-rounded student.

To request more information about Xavier Academy, visit

https://xaviereducationalacademy.com/requestinformation

Authentic.

Diverse.

Empowering.

Passionate.

Inspiring.

Nurturing.

Inclusive.

Faithful.

All-boys.

CMY

K

START YOUR REGIS EXPERIENCE TODAY www.theREGISschool.org/Learn-More

25 | HOUSTON FAMILY MAGAZINE January 2022

PM

SPECIAL ADVERTISING | TOP SCHOOLS

A College Prep Montessori School, Teaching Early Childhood through Grade 12. www.schoolofthewoods.org 713.686.8811 1321 Wirt Rd. Houston, TX 77055

RSM is an after-school K–12 math enrichment program with locations in 11 states and a virtual classroom. www.russianschool.com/ locations/houston 346.704.0374 3005 W Loop S #146, Houston, TX 77027

School of the Woods, the oldest continuously operating Montessori school in the Houston area, provides an educational program proven and strengthened through more than four decades of successful experience.

The Main campus is nestled cozily in a close-in neighborhood in Spring Branch approximately 1 mile north of I-10 off Wirt Rd. The campus is heavily wooded and landscaped with native Texas plants. The sylvan environment is an integral part of the curriculum. The buildings were designed to integrate with the natural environment of the campus.

They are cottage style structures sized to fit the needs of the students.

In addition to a robust academic program, students at School of the Woods participate in both sports & the arts. Music, Theater, Dance and Performance Arts, as well as Volleyball, Soccer, Basketball, Swimming and Track & Field are all available!

For over two decades, our award-winning K-12 after-school math program has delivered knowledge and abilities that empower our students to achieve excellence. With multiple levels for every grade as well as a selective competitions program, we are able to best serve each child’s development based on his or her knowledge and ability.

Our students post remarkable scores on math competitions, in school, and see greater confidence in their math and learning abilities overall.

Our alumni go on to attend the best universities in the world. Fall math classes now enrolling from Houston.

Recently featured in NPR and the Atlantic magazine as one of the key players in the “Math Revolution,” and ranked one of the best schools in the world by the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth, RSM helps children of all levels build a solid math foundation and develop their critical-thinking and problem-solving skills.

New Location Now Open! 2555 Cordes Dr, Sugar Land, TX 77479

LUTHERAN HIGH NORTH

FAST FACTS Year Established: 1980

COLLEGE PREPARATORY

Grades Served: 9-12 1:1 MacBook STEM Endorsement: 61% Grads Address: 1130 W 34th St, Houston, TX 77018 Website: www.lutheranhighnorth.org Email: admissions@lhnlions.org Phone: 713-880-3131 Social Media: Facebook/ Instagram @lhnhouston

ABOUT LUTHERAN HIGH NORTH Lutheran High North has a rich history of preparing and equipping students to become Christian leaders in their communities and places of vocation.

Our college-prep curriculum will challenge and prepare each student for the next step in their life. Many opportunities exist at Lutheran

High North, both academically and within the numerous extracurricular activities that develop our students’ leadership qualities. We are ranked among the top 15 percent most diverse private high schools in Texas.

We welcome you to discover and join our community.

For more information, visit

www.lutheranhighnorth.org.

26 | HOUSTON FAMILY MAGAZINE January 2022

Mission: Lutheran High North provides Excellence in Academics and Meaningful Ministry, placing Christ First in all that we do.

Student/Faculty Ratio: 16:1 20-21 3A State Champs: Girls Basketball, Performance Band, Boys Track & Field, Boys Swim 20-21 3A District Champs: Basketball, Football, Track & Field, Boys Soccer

SPECIAL ADVERTISING | TOP SCHOOLS

Now accepting applications!

Apply at: www.sttheresaschool.cc/admissions-process

YORKSHIRE ACADEMY 14120 Memorial Dr, Houston, TX 77079 www.yorkshireacademy.com | Phone :281-531-6088

Educating students from Pre-K to 8th grade since 1947

For more information contact Kelly McCarty, Admissions Director

k.mccarty@sttheresa.cc | 346-335-1706

FAST FACTS • Grades Served: 18 month - 5th grade • School Type: Private Elementary School & Pre-School • Afterschool Programs: Coding, Yoga, Chess, Piano, Tae Kwon Do, Golf, and dozens more • Recognitions: The first and only Ocean Guardian School in the Houston area.

ABOUT THE SCHOOL Yorkshire Academy, a private school located in the Memorial area, was established in 1984 with its primary goal being to create an environment in which children can develop to their fullest potential at their own individual rate. Yorkshire’s tag line “A Little School Making a Big Impact” rings true.

Yorkshire provides top notch academics, stellar enrichment classes, and a nurturing environment which makes students feel welcome and secure. Yorkshire strives to develop the whole person, guiding each child with experiences to enhance his or her own self-image, whether it be excelling within dynamic classroom academics, singing and dancing in amazing musical productions, earning a 1st place academic competition ribbon in math, or mastering the latest technology in the computer lab. Yorkshire students graduate with all the tools necessary for middle school success.

Visit www.yorkshireacademy.com for more information or call 281.531.6088 to schedule a personal tour.

27 | HOUSTON FAMILY MAGAZINE January 2022

SPECIAL ADVERTISING | TOP SCHOOLS

FAST FACTS Name of School: The Village School Principal/Director: Bill Delbrugge Year Established: 1966

Address: 13051 Whittington Drive, Houston, TX 77077 Website: www.thevillageschool.com

Email: admissions@thevillageschool.com Phone: (281) 496-7900

Grades Served: PreK - 12th grade

School Type: Day and Boarding school

School Ranking: Ranked #1 most diverse private school in Houston (Niche.com) Diplomas offered: IB, American, Entrepreneurship

THE VILLAGE SCHOOL DAY AND BOARDING SCHOOL

T

he Village School, a pre-k through 12th grade private day and boarding school in Houston, delivers a global perspective, exceptional learning experiences, and access to world-class teachers.

Voted the #1 most diverse private school in Houston, Village is home to a collaborative, supportive and global community.

Recognized for our excellence in STEAM education, world-class internships and differentiated programs, we offer a rigorous but nurturing individualized environment.

The Village School provides a rich selection of academic, arts, and athletics to help our students prepare for future success at the best colleges and universities around the world.

EXCEPTIONAL LEARNING EXPERIENCES At Village, we offer a unique and enriched approach inclusive of entrepreneurship, internships, and experiential learning, along with collaborations with world-leading institutions. Our visionary teachers inspire your child to excel and foster a thirst for knowledge. This unique approach to teaching and learning enables our students to gain a better grasp of concepts, think more creatively, and allows for greater reflection on experiences.

CULTIVATING A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE The Village School student body represents over 80 different countries across almost every continent, offering our students the opportunity to interact with and learn from students across the globe. This culturally rich environment helps cultivate a global perspective and awareness and provides access to people from other ethnicities, cultures, schools of thought, and viewpoints.

PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE We offer our students access to experienced college advisors who know the ins and outs of the application process and university requirements for schools both nationally and abroad. Our advisors have a proven trackrecord for helping Village students gain acceptance into the top colleges and universities. In addition, our recent graduating class earned an impressive total of $12.2M in scholarships towards higher education institutions around the world.

28 | HOUSTON FAMILY MAGAZINE January 2022

Bill Delbrugge, Head of School The Village School is an international community committed to developing inquisitive lifelong learners prepared to think critically, to collaborate genuinely, and to give of themselves generously, as they prepare to lead the next generation into an ever-changing world.

Now enrolling PreK-12th grade!

Call (281) 496-7900 or visit www.thevillageschool.com

SPECIAL ADVERTISING | TOP SCHOOLS

DYSLEXIA SCHOOL OF HOUSTON 3642 University Blvd. Suite 101 • Houston, TX 77005 https://dyslexiahouston.org | info@dyslexiahouston.org (832) 767-0915

Sharing His Vision. Teaching His Values.

Contact the Admissions Office Today admissions@stannecs.org or 713.526.3279

www.stannecs.org C AT H O L I C S C H O O L S

THEN...

FAST FACTS Year Established: 2020 Certifications: All instructors are certified Texas Educators and thoroughly trained in dyslexia and related disorders Grades: Dyslexia School of Houston offers literacy-first educational instruction to learners ranging from three to 10 years of age (and, we always support our students once they “age out” of our program!).

Sessions: Dyslexia School of Houston offers a half-day of school with 2 sessions to choose from: 8:30 AM – 11:30 AM or 1 PM – 4 PM or after school tutorials (1-hour sessions 4x per week)

S.T.R.E.A.M. PRO GRA MS

& NOW!

COL LEG E PRE P CUR RIC ULU M

At Dyslexia School of Houston, we understand how many families struggle to receive the proper dyslexia diagnosis for their child, and how often students lack the essential foundation they need to move forward in their education.

Dyslexia School of Houston provides the innovation and support for students and educators, and the resources necessary for parents to obtain a better understanding of dyslexia to watch their child thrive for what many, becomes their first good instruction.

RO BO TIC S

F IN E A R T S SPORTS

At the first dyslexia school in Houston, we take pride in unlocking literacy – we believe if they can’t learn the way we teach, we can teach the way they learn.

For more information, or to get in touch with someone on our team, visit https://dyslexiahouston.org/enrollment

Join Us At: ChooseCatholicSchools.org

29 | HOUSTON FAMILY MAGAZINE January 2022

k o o B Bites

n o i t i d E m Mo

There’s something magical about reading a good book, especially when you can climb in a hot bath with a glass of your favorite wine and unwind with a little self-care time. Here are a few good reads to get you started on your journey to relaxation.

The Working Mom Blueprint

The Woman in the Purple Skirt

The book encourages working mothers to identify their priorities and align their lives accordingly in this upbeat and practical guide. Millennial moms especially will appreciate the encouragement and sensibility found in this book.

A novel about a real-life voyeur seems appropriate in the age of social media, The stalker of this novel, a woman who works as a cleaner at a hotel, performs her surveillance in broad daylight, tracking the movements of a seemingly random woman who lives a totally unremarkable life.

Why the obsession, then?

By Whitney Casares, MD, MPH,FAAP

Greenlights

by Natsuko Imamura

By Matthew McConaughey

The Switch: A Novel

The acclaimed published journals of this famous Texan actor is an insight into how are everyday self can influence the outcome of our future self. Inspiring in its simplicity and clarity.

Leena and her grandmother Eileen decide to switch lives while Leena grieves the loss of her sister and Eileen looks for a companion after her husband

By: Beth O'Leary

has left her. There are plenty of laughs and poignant moments.

The Last Thing He Told Me: A Novel By: Laura Dave

Hannah is a woodturner with a thriving business. She has recently married Owen, a top coder for a San Francisco start up. They live on a houseboat in Sausalito with Owen's teenage daughter Bailey. That's the backstory. The story starts on page one when Hannah answers the door to a young girl from the school with a note from her husband. It says "Protect her".

Things go from bad to worse.

30 | HOUSTON FAMILY MAGAZINE January 2022

The Yellow House: A Novel By: Patricia Falvey

Eileen O'Neill's family is torn apart by religious intolerance and secrets from the past.

Determined to reclaim her ancestral home and reunite her family, Eileen begins working at the local mill, saving her money and holding fast to her dream.

Torn between the love of two men, turmoil sets in.

R E A L C H A N G E S TA R T S W I T H R E A L C O N V E R S AT I O N

Let’s chat!

Convo Cards were created by a mom on a mission to empower parents to have meaningful, “outside the box” conversations with their little ones about important issues across the topics of diversity, health, safety, nature and self.

100 QUESTIONS 25 ACTIVITIES

Each question is designed to be open-ended to invite exploration into the conversation.

There are no right or wrong answers! See sample questions below: DIVERSITY • Do you know someone from another country?

Do they speak another language or have an accent?

• How many religions can you name?

SAFETY • What should you do if you see a friend playing with a gun?

• What should you do if you are separated from your parents?

HEALTH • Why is it important to drink water every day?

• When we see someone else feeling sad, how can we help them feel happy?

NATURE • How are bees and the food we eat connected?

• How can you support your local farmers?

SELF • Who can touch your body?

• Differences are special and should be celebrated.

What makes you different?

Tara Miko Ballentine | hello@brightlittles.com | 323-513-5812 | www.brightlittles.com 31 | HOUSTON FAMILY MAGAZINE January 2022

presents

NOV 15 – JAN 9 Celebrate 10 years of a well-loved Houston holiday tradition.

Stroll through the beautiful Zoo grounds as you take in the sights and sounds of the season.

Surround yourself with hundreds of illuminated tulips synchronized to music, visit a glowing undersea immersive experience, walk under a canopy of glowing butterflies, visit Santa’s Workshop to take a photo with Santa, and much more!

Buy early for the best price!

Tickets: houstonzoo.org/zoolights

Cornerstone Partners 32 | HOUSTON FAMILY MAGAZINE January 2022

33 | HOUSTON FAMILY MAGAZINE January 2022

CRUISE TRAVEL HIT THE OPEN SEAS IN 2022

34 | HOUSTON FAMILY MAGAZINE January 2022

Looking for some high seas adventure in the New Year?

Why not check out one of the cruises out of Galveston?

With 4 Cruise Lines to choose from, there is something for every budget and every wish list!

DISNEY CRUISE LINE

Everyday Excitement Infused With The Magic Of Discovery 4-7 DAY CRUISES - WESTERN CARIBBEAN JAN 2022 - FEB 2023 $637 - $9800

NORWEIGAN CRUISE LINE

Cruise Your Way 7-11 DAY CRUISES - CARIBBEAN OCT 2022 - MAR 2024 $948 - $5804

ROYAL CARIBBEAN

Get out there 4-13 DAY CRUISES - CARIBBEAN JAN 2022 - OCT 2023 $159 - $4160

CARNIVAL CRUISE LINE

Get Back to FUN 4-14 DAY CRUISES - CARIBBEAN OR Panama Canal JAN 2022 - APR 2024 $189 - $5299 Plan your next family adventure!

To find specific dates & details, visit Cruises.com 35 | HOUSTON FAMILY MAGAZINE January 2022

2022

IT'S TIME HOW TO CELEBRATE EVERY MONTH IN THE NEW YEAR!!

By Katy Clark

After the excitement of ringing in the New Year, many of us are faced with the January blues.

The festive feel of the holiday season is gone and the winter days can be gloomy.

However, each month of the new year brings something to celebrate. Whether it’s enjoying food, honoring animals, or just being silly, here are 12 unique and fun days to commemorate as you keep the party going long into the new year.

January 13 National Rubber Ducky Day

February 20 National Love Your Pet Day

March 4-5 National Day of Unplugging

We celebrate the rubber ducky on January 13 after the date appeared circled on a calendar in a 1973 episode of Sesame Street.

From sundown on March 4 to sundown on March 5, this period aims to help families disconnect from technology and reconnect as people.

Spend the day counting, collecting, or just taking a bath (of course!) with your rubber ducky.

Whether your family pet is a dog, cat, or chinchilla, this day is all about giving extra love to the fur babies in your family.

You and your kids can pamper your pet with special treats, cuddles or new toys, while reflecting on the special bond you share.

April 9 National Unicorn Day

May 31 National Smile Day

This day honors the most popular mythical animal worldwide. The unicorn represents magic, fantasy, and happiness. Learn about its appearances in ancient cultures like those of the Celts, Romans and Persians. Then draw pictures, read books, and wear your favorite clothing item with the beloved creature.

Turn that frown upside down and smile! Flash a beautiful grin at home, at school, and in your neighborhood.

June 17 National Eat Your Vegetables Day

Little ones can count how many smiles they see throughout the day on a clipboard while bigger kids can be encouraged to simply smile in order to brighten someone's day.

Enjoy a device-free dinner party and put your phone away. Take this time to unplug, unwind, and relax.

This day is all about making more vegetables a part of your healthy diet.

However, if your kids balk at the idea of celebrating peas and carrots, then your family can honor June 17 in a sweeter way.

It’s also National Apple Strudel Day.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS 36 | HOUSTON FAMILY MAGAZINE January 2022

2022

FAMILY FUN ALL YEAR! July 17 National Ice Cream Day Did you know that President Reaagan established the third Sunday of July as National Ice Cream Day back in 1984?

Beat the summer heat and indulge in scoops from your favorite spot or try your hand at making your own. Your family can discuss favorite flavors or think up new ones to try.

August 8th Global Sleep Under the Stars Night

September 19 Talk Like A Pirate Day Ahoy mateys!

This night encourages everyone to spend a night under the stars. Pitch a tent or bundle up under blankets in the backyard or on your patio. Read books about constellations, shine a flashlight in the sky to make your own, and enjoy the outdoors as you turn your gaze upward.

Spend the day talking like your favorite swashbuckler. Whether you don an eye patch, dig for buried treasure, or nosh on some chocolate gold coins, you and your kids will walk the plank to celebrate this day.

Shiver me timbers!

November 14 National Family PJ Day

December 13 National Cocoa Day

You and your family can show kindness in big and small ways on this day.

Who doesn’t want to spend the day in their favorite pjs?

Put on your matched or mismatched pajamas and then sleep in or snuggle up. Get your pets in the game, too.

Prepare to welcome winter by indulging in a cup of hot chocolate.

Try giving compliments, holding the door for someone, writing a letter to a relative, or paying for the order of the person behind you in line.

If you’re really planning ahead, now is the perfect time to snap that holiday card photo.

October 5 National Do Something Nice Day

Your family can learn about the origin of drinking cocoa, said to be started by the Mayans as early as 500 BC, or have a taste test to decide which is the perfect topping: marshmallows or whipped cream.

Visit houstonfamilymagazine.com/calendar for other great family outings/ideas/activities

37 | HOUSTON FAMILY MAGAZINE January 2022

the big to do | C A L E N DA R O F E V E N T S

the big to do

the big to do | C A L E N DA R O F E V E N T S

Pick up some bargains, enjoy winter activities and make the most of Houston’s free attractions in January.

Location: Bryan Museum, Galveston Photo: Galveston CVB

All events listed are FREE unless otherwise noted.

Don’t forget to check out our online calendar at www.houstonfamilymagazine.com/event-directory/ for even more family friendly activities.

JANUARY 1 Zoo Lights (through Jan. 9, 2022) Sip hot chocolate as you stroll through the beautiful Houston Zoo. Interact with Candy the Zoo Lights Zebra presented

by HEB, take a selfie on a giant ice throne, and take a socially distanced photo with Santa in his workshop.

Houstonzoo.org Houston Zoo 5:30-10:30pm. All ages. Admission tickets are required.

Sugarland Holiday Lights (through Jan. 9, 2022) Celebrate the season in the most magical way at the 7th annual Sugarland Holiday Lights cooled by Just Fix It! This sparkling wonderland features more than 3 million lights and numerous themed displays.

sugarlandholidaylights.com

Constellation Field, Sugarland Every day. Opening/closing times vary All ages. Adult tickets starting at $15, senior $12 and youth $12.

JANUARY 2 “Time No Longer” in the Cistern (through January 17, 2022) multimedia artist Anri Sala (b. 1974 Tirana, Albania) offers an immersive, other-worldly experience of film and sound within this vast, subterranean reservoir on the edge of downtown Houston. https://buffalobayou.org/visit/ destination/the-cistern/ The Cistern All week, Monday closed. Tours start on the hour. Ages 9+. Tickets $12 adult, seniors and children $12

Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit – Houston (Through February. 6, 2022) The exhibit features state-of-the-art technology and immersive storytelling, with approximately 100 state-of-the-art projectors illuminating over the exhibit space. houstonvangogh.com 1314 Brittmoore Rd. Various time slots available on various days. All ages but the exhibit volume can be loud for some.

JANUARY 3 Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary Escape to this small but enchanting nature sanctuary for a reprieve from the city. Within its 17.5 acres of hardwood and pine forest and freshwater habitats. houstonaudubon.org Edith Moore Nature Sanctuary 7am-7pm. All ages

JANUARY 4

Prelude Family Concerts

Tuesday afternoon at the zoo

Prelude Family Concerts nurture creativity, self-expression and development through a variety of musical styles arranged and pitched for young children. https://www.levyparkhouston.org/

Enjoy a fun filled family afternoon learning and viewing all of these amazing creatures. houstonzoo.org

Levy Park 4:30pm. Age: toddler and preschool aged children

38 | HOUSTON FAMILY MAGAZINE January 2022

Houston Zoo 12:00pm until closing. All ages

January 2022 Family Storytime and Craft

Architecture Tour

Enjoy a captivating literacy experience! Family Storytime features a story followed by a craft that accompanies the reading. All craft supplies are included as a part of this free program.

Levyparkhouston.org

Guided tours of Asia Society Texas Center provide opportunities to see Yoshio Taniguchi’s first free-standing structure in the United States. They focus on the materials, influences, and ambience of the building. https://asiasociety.org/texas/events/ architecture-tour-78

Levy Park 10am. Ages: under 6

Book reading and conversation with Yoon Ha Lee, Tiger Honor DRAGON PEARL is Yoon Ha Lee’s companion to another space opera inspired

by Korean mythology, this time told from the point of view of a nonbinary tiger spirit. https://www.bluewillowbookshop.com/ event/yoon-ha-lee-tiger-honor Virtual. Please RSVP. 5pm. All ages

JANUARY 5 Take a self-guided tour of Moody Mansion Restored to its turn of the century splendor, this 28,000 square-foot, four-story Galveston historic home was completed in 1895. https://www.moodymansion.org Moody Mansion, Galveston Every day. All ages. Tickets $7

JANUARY 6 Blue Willow Storytime Join us each Thursday virtually as we read stories, sing songs, and do an art activity. The themes change weekly. www.bluewillowbookshop.com

10am. Age: toddlers and preschoolers.

Cistern History Tours Learn about the architecture of this unique space and the history of Houston’s water system during a guided 30-minute tour. Free every Thursday. https://buffalobayou.org/visit/ destination/the-cistern/ The Cistern 11:30am, 2:30pm, 4:30pm. Ages: 9+

JANUARY 7 Go Bat Watching at the Waugh Street Bridge The Waugh Bridge Bat Colony between Memorial Drive and Allen Parkway is a great place to watch the Mexican freetailed bats fly out for their dinner. https://buffalobayou.org/visit/ destination/buffalo-bayou-park/ Waugh Bridge At sunset. All ages

JANUARY 8 3D Pattern-Making with HCCC Join Houston Center for Contemporary Craft for a fun, pattern inspired, three-dimensional cut-out craft. All supplies are provided. Family Art Workshops sponsored by PNC Bank. https://www.discoverygreen.com/ Discovery Green 1-3pm. All ages

Asia Society Texas Center 10am. All ages

JANUARY 9 Go underground with a downtown tunnel tour Wander the connecting ninety-five city blocks that are color coded.

Visithouston.com Downtown Houston All day, every day. All ages

JANUARY 10 Peruse Historic Houston at the Houston Heritage Society There are nine historic houses downtown and a well-maintained museum gallery.

You can take the tour on your phone.

Heritagesociety.org Downtown 1100 Bagby St. Every day. All day. All ages

JANUARY 11 The Menil Collection Take a walk around the cluster of buildings that make up the museum art which spans over 30 acres in the heart of Houston. Between the various buildings that hold art collections, there are several green spaces beautified by contemporary sculptures. menil.org The Menil collection All day. every day. All ages.

Family Storytime and Craft Enjoy a captivating literacy experience! Family Storytime features a story followed by a craft that accompanies the reading. All craft supplies are included as a part of this free program.

Levyparkhouston.org Levy Park 10am. Ages: under 6

JANUARY 12 Nature Story Time and Discovery Center Enjoy storytime on the front lawn of the nature discovery center. Please bring your own blanket. naturediscoverycenter.org Nature Discovery Center 4pm. Age: 0-5

Get your Zen back at the Houston Japanese Garden Take a serene walk with the kids through the Japanese Garden in Hermann Park to chill out on a sunny afternoon. It’s stone paths, waterfalls, bridges and sculptures make for a nice stroll. hermannpark.org Japanese Garden in Hermann Park All day. All ages

JANUARY 13 Blue Willow Storytime Join us each Thursday virtually as we read stories, sing songs, and do an art activity. The themes change weekly. www.bluewillowbookshop.com

10am. Age: toddlers and preschoolers.

Cistern History Tours Learn about the architecture of this unique space and the history of Houston’s water system during a guided 30-minute tour. Free every Thursday. https://buffalobayou.org/visit/ destination/the-cistern/ The Cistern 11:30am, 2:30pm, 4:30pm. Ages: 9+

At Home in Asiatown Virtual Tour Learn about the history of Asians and Asian Americans in Houston including the Cantonese tradition of dim sum; how and what to order from a range of steamed, pan-fried, deep-fried, and baked foods including dumplings, rice noodle rolls, egg rolls, congees, and baos! https://asiasociety.org/texas/events/ home-asiatown-virtual-tour-2

Virtual from Asia Society Texas Center 6-7pm. All ages

Book Reading and Conversation with Kerri Maher, The Paris Bookseller Kerri Maher will appear in conversation with Brenda Janowitz for Kerri’s new novel The Paris Bookseller. https://www.bluewillowbookshop.com/ event/kerri-maher-paris-bookseller Virtual. Please RSVP 7pm. All ages

ROCO Connections: Beer and Brass Featuring traditional beer hall music and favorite brass arrangements, with craft beers (plus root beer!) and yummy bites

by Saint Arnold–it’s an evening of fellowship and fun the whole family will enjoy. https://roco.org/performances/ connections-beer-and-brass-2022/ Brewery’s Beer Hall, on the 2nd Floor 6pm. All ages

JANUARY 14 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince™ in Concert (Jan.14,15,16) Based on J.K. Rowling’s classic saga, experience the thrilling tale of Harry’s obsession with a mysterious potions book accompanied by the music of a live symphony orchestra. https://houstonsymphony.org/tickets/ concerts/harry-potter-and-the-halfblood-prince-in-concert/ Houston Symphony Orchestra at Jones Hall 7:30pm and 2:30pm on Sunday, January 16. All ages. Tickets start at $34.

39 | HOUSTON FAMILY MAGAZINE January 2022

FREE DAYS IN THE HOUSTON MUSEUM DISTRICT EVERY THURSDAY, MANY OF HOUSTON’S MUSEUMS OFFER FREE ADMISSION. Children’s Museum of Houston 5-8pm • 1500 Binz St. www.cmhouston.org **FREE Admission for Bank of America cardholders the first FULL weekend of the month.

Health Museum 2-7pm • 1515 Hermann Dr. www.thehealthmuseum.org

Museum of Fine Arts, Houston 10am-9pm • 1001 Bissonnet www.mfah.org **FREE MFAH admission Saturdays & Sundays for all kids 18 & under with a library card

Houston Museum of Natural Science 2-5pm • 5555 Hermann Park Dr. www.hmns.org

Buffalo Soldiers National Museum 1-5pm • 3816 Caroline St. www.buffalosoldiermuseum.com

Houston Museum of African American Culture 6-8pm • 4807 Caroline St. www.hmaac.org

FREE SUNDAYS Holocaust Museum Houston 2-5pm • 9220 Kirby Dr., ste. 100 www.hmh.org

FREE WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY Menil Collection 11am-7pm • 1533 Sul Ross Street www.menil.org

FREE THURSDAY WITH RESERVATION Cistern History Tours, Houston 1-5:30pm • The Water Works at 105 Sabine Street • Age: 9+ www.buffalobayou.org

FREE TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY Contemporary Arts Museum Houston Tuesday-Friday 10am-7pm, Sat.10am-6pm, Sun. 12-6pm • 5216 Montrose Boulevard www.camh.org

the big to do | C A L E N DA R O F E V E N T S 26th Annual Martin Luther King Day Celebration

Your Plough Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk

Head down to the CMH for a roster of activities to celebrate MLK. https://www.cmhouston.org/events

Coffee Cake Book Club meets the third Wednesday of each month. https://www.bluewillowbookshop.com/ event/coffee-cake-book-club-103

Children’s Museum Houston All day. All ages. Admission ticket is required.

Virtual. Email Valerie for log in information girlboss@ bluewillowbookshop.com 11am. Ages: adult

JANUARY 16

C E N T E R S TA G E | T H E AT E R & P E R F O R M I N G A R T S

A.D. PLAYERS

No One Owns Me

Macy has dreams of becoming a singer-songwriter, however, she’s gotten caught up in the world of trafficking. www.adplayers.org Show starts on January 26, 2022

ALLEY THEATRE

High School Play: A Nostalgia Fest Dara is trying to rally his teammates, while new kid Paul disrupts Dara’s complete understanding of himself and his small-town suburban life. https://www.alleytheatre.org/plays/ production-detail/high-school-play Show starts January 21, 2022

HOUSTON GRAND OPERA

Dialogues of the Carmelites

Poulenc’s tragedy in two parts, takes place during the French Revolution and asks the question: who gets to be a martyr? Seeking to protect herself from the guillotine, young aristocrat Blanche leaves her family and trembles her way to the Carmelite convent. www.houstongrandopera.org/eventstickets/2021-22-season/dialogues-ofthe-carmelites/ January 14-22, 2022

MAIN STREET THEATER

THE WATSONS GO TO BIRMINGHAM – 1963 It’s 1963 and the Watsons, an African-American family, journey from Flint, Michigan to Birmingham, Alabama to take their troublesome son, Byron, to live with his grandmother, a trip that lands them in one of the darkest moments in America’s racial history. www.mainstreettheater.com January 19 – February 13, 2022

THE GRAND

Mavis Staples

Chart-topping Soul, Gospel and R&B Pioneer, Mavis Staples brings her powerhouse vocals and deep pocket grooves to The Grand! http://thegrand.com/ January 7, 2022

Match Family Fun Day An entire city block will be filled with performances and activities for all ages— bounce houses, face painters, stilt walkers, and more to celebrate the Midtown Arts & Theater Center. https://matchouston.org Midtown (3400 Main Street) 1-5:30pm. All ages.

JANUARY 17 Family Full Moon Hikes Explore the Arboretum trails at night while the moon is at its brightest. Experience the thrilling sights, smells, and sounds of the Arboretum’s habitats after dark. “HOO” knows what animals we might encounter along the way! https://houstonarboretum.org/

Houston Arboretum and Nature Center 5:30pm. All ages. Tickets $10/person

Join a virtual Family Capoeira class, a unique Afro-Brazilian martial art that develops discipline, coordination, strength, and rhythm. Instruction is provided by the Brazilian Cultural Institute and is open to family of all sizes and skill levels. midtownhouston.com Midtown Park 10am. All ages

Arbor Day Celebration Enjoy nature walks, take home a free tree sapling and be sure to stop by the Family Tree craft table where kids can participate in face painting, make beautiful leaf rubbings, and even build their own family tree. https://www.hcp4.net/parks/jjp/events/

Jesse H. Jones Park and Nature Center 10am-4pm. All ages.

Nature Story Time and Discovery Center Enjoy storytime on the front lawn of the nature discovery center. Please bring your own blanket. naturediscoverycenter.org Nature Discovery Center 4pm. Age: 0-5

Cistern History Tours Learn about the architecture of this unique space and the history of Houston’s water system during a guided 30-minute tour. Free every Thursday. https://buffalobayou.org/visit/ destination/the-cistern/ The Cistern 11:30am, 2:30pm, 4:30pm. Ages: 9+

JANUARY 21

mlk youth parade

Donovan Park

Kick off the MLK weekend as parade floats and marching bands perform throughout the streets of Downtown Houston! www.mlkgrandeparade.org

Explore the Heights neighborhood by taking the kids to play at one of the city’s most historical parks.

700 Heights Blvd, Houston , TX , 77007 All day. Every day. All ages

JANUARY 22

Get listed in our calendar in print and online!

Reach out to our calendar editor at

CALENDAR@HOUSTONFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM

Open hangar at Houston wing World War II Aircraft Museum The Commemorative Air Force maintains WW II airplanes in flying condition and invites the public to tour inside and out the static display planes. Family friendly tours on the First & Third Saturday of the month. houstonwing.org West Houston Airport, 18000 Groschke Road 10-4pm. All ages

Wings & Wheels Come out to the museum for a fun and family-friendly day at Wings & Wheels! https://www.1940airterminal.org/ museum-events 1940 Air Terminal Museum 10am-3pm. All ages.

Family Owl Prowl Looking for a family adventure? Head out at nighttime to prowl for owls! In this fun, relaxed event, enjoy refreshments (light snacks, hot chocolate, coffee, water, and – for the grown-ups – Saint Arnold Brewing Company beer). Learn about these wise and wonderful birds, and go on a hike with a Naturalists. https://houstonarboretum.org/event/ family-owl-prowl/ Houston Arboretum and Nature Center 6pm. Ages: 5+. Tickets $30 member / $45 nonmember / $20 child age 5-12 (per person)

JANUARY 15 Family Capoeira

JANUARY 20

Mid-town Houston (San Jacinto Street) 10pm. All ages

JANUARY 18 Family Storytime and Craft Enjoy a captivating literacy experience! Family Storytime features a story followed by a craft that accompanies the reading. All craft supplies are included as a part of this free program.

Levyparkhouston.org Levy Park 10am. Ages: under 6

JANUARY 19 Coffee Cake Book Club: Drive

40 | HOUSTON FAMILY MAGAZINE January 2022

Monthly Volunteer Workday Houstonians are invited to join Buffalo Bayou Partnership for community-wide volunteer days at Buffalo Bayou Park happening the third Saturday of each month. buffalobayou.org Buffalo Bayou Park 8:30-11:30. Ages: 9+

JANUARY 23 Brazos Bend State Park 5,000-acre gem 40 miles from downtown Houston, offers a variety of activities for every age: biking, fishing, hiking, birding, camping, star-gazing, and opportunities to learn about Texas’ bountiful natural history via free programs and guided hikes.

January 2022 http://www.brazosbend.org/ Brazos Bend State Park Every day. All day. All ages

Explore our galaxy at the George Observatory Located in Brazos Bend State Park and far enough from the Houston lights, explore the galaxy with its three huge domed telescopes. Make a day of it – hiking and picnicking while the sun is up and stargazing at night.

Hmns.org/George-observatory George Observatory Every day. Various times. All ages.

Admission tickets are required.

JANUARY 24 Connect with Houston’s Past at the Julia Ideson Building If you’re into local history, there are professional archivists who make exploring the old photographs, maps, manuscripts and architectural drawings very interesting.

Houstonlibrary.org

Julia Ideson Building, 550 McKinney St. Every day. All ages

JANUARY 25 Family Storytime and Craft Enjoy a captivating literacy experience! Family Storytime features a story followed by a craft that accompanies the reading. All craft supplies are included as a part of this free program.

Levyparkhouston.org Levy Park 10am. Ages: under 6

Tough Broads Out at Night Book Club: Saint X by Alexis Schaitkin Tough Broads Book Club meets the fourth Tuesday of each month. https://www.bluewillowbookshop.com/ event/tough-broads-out-night-bookclub-62

Virtual. Please email Valerie at girlboss@ bluewillowbookshop.com for log in information.

7pm. Ages: adult

JANUARY 26 Buffalo Bayou Park Wellness Walk Join Buffalo Bayou Partnership on a free Wellness Walk led by Laura Conely, founder of Urban Paths. Walk through the paths of Buffalo Bayou Park while discussing topics including mental and physical health as well as the benefits of being exposed to nature. https://buffalobayou.org/ Buffalo Bayou Park 6:30pm. Ages: adult

Film Screening: ‘Sun Children’ Ali is a 12-year-old in Tehran working hard to survive and support himself, doing small jobs in a garage and committing petty crimes to make fast money. Part of the 29th Festival of Films from Iran. https://asiasociety.org/texas/events/filmscreening-sun-children

Blacklist: the Hollywood Red Scare MHolocaust Museum

7pm. Ages: 15+. Tickets $10 nonmembers, $5 members

JANUARY 27 Nature Story Time and Discovery Center Enjoy storytime on the front lawn of the nature discovery center. Please bring your own blanket. naturediscoverycenter.org Nature Discovery Center 4pm. Age: 0-5

Cistern History Tours Learn about the architecture of this unique space and the history of Houston’s water system during a guided 30-minute tour. Free every Thursday. https://buffalobayou.org/visit/ destination/the-cistern/ The Cistern 11:30am, 2:30pm, 4:30pm. Ages: 9+

JANUARY 28 Find Houston’s history at Glenwood Cemetery Situated on 84 acres along the Washington Corridor, Glenwood Cemetery serves as a serene resting place for some of Houston’s most iconic residents. Among the ornate headstones are those of more than 20 mayors, past governors, oil tycoons and Howard Hughes-the famous aviator, engineer and movie director. glenwoodcemetery.org Daily. All ages

JANUARY 29 Arbor Day Enjoy informative booths and tree hikes, grab a tree craft to make at home, learn about what trees do for us in the Discovery Room, and learn about local tree species. Program will be held rain or shine. Crafts will be available while supplies last. https://houstonarboretum.org/event/ arbor-day/ Houston Arboretum and Nature Center 10am-2pm. All ages

Galveston Museum Day (Jan.29&30) During Galveston Museum Week, visitors can explore many Galveston museums at special rates. https://www.visitgalveston.com/events/ annual-events/galveston-museum-day/ Various Museum in Galveston Various times. All ages. Discounted admission tickets are available.

JANUARY 30 Take in one of Houston’s winter exhibits

JANUARY 31 Take in one of Houston’s shows and plays

NOW EXHIBITING | MUSEUM CALENDAR

CONTEMPORARY CRAFT MUSEUM

Crafthouston.org

Hours: Thursday – Saturday, 10 AM – 5 PM. Admission: Free

LATER, LONGER, FEWER: THE WORK OF JENNIFER LING DATCHUK Explore an exhibition of blue-andwhite porcelain sculptures, largescale multimedia installations, and performance video that critiques the realities and contemporary perceptions of women’s access and liberation.

Through January 8, 2022

THE HEALTH MUSEUM

www.thehealthmuseum.org Hours: Mon.-Sat. 9am-5pm., Thurs.

9am-7pm., Sun. 12-5pm

Admission: $10 adult, $8 senior 65+, free for children under 2 FREE on Thursdays 2-7pm

Beautiful Minds-Dyslexia and the Creative Advantage This exhibition explores the successes of those who think outside the box when faced with the challenges of dyslexia and learn about some of the tools and resources for diagnosis and pathways to success.

Through May, 2022

HOLOCAUST MUSEUM

hmh.org

Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9am-5pm., Sat. 10am5pm., Sun. 12-5pm

Blacklist: The Hollywood Red Scare Blacklist: The Hollywood Red Scare is a multi-sensory exhibition that explores the intersection of politics, art, economics, and the social dynamics that impacted the American First Amendment rights of speech, religion, and assembly, during Hollywood’s Red Scare.

Through February 20, 2022

Asia Society Texas Center

41 | HOUSTON FAMILY MAGAZINE January 2022

Speaking Up! Confronting Hate Speech The exhibition provides historical and current examples and connection between speech and the commission of atrocities, while examining the strategies that might counter “hate speech.”

Through May 1, 2022

HOUSTON MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCE

hmns.org

9am-5pm Mon-Sun

Treasures in Gold & Jade Masterworks from Taiwan features works of incredible beauty and complexity by two of Taiwan’s premier artists.

Included with admission into the permanent exhibit

MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS HOUSTON

mfah.org

Hours: Wed 11am-5pm, Thur 11am-9pm, Fri & Sat 11am-6pm, Sun 12:30pm- 6pm.

Admission: $19 adult, $16 for seniors, $12 students and college-level students with valid ID. Free for children under 12.

Calder-Picasso Alexander Calder and Pablo Picasso—two of the foremost figures in 20th-century art—come together for a fascinating encounter in this presentation.

Opens October 31, 2021

Incomparable Impressionism from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston 100 of the most significant paintings and works on paper from the renowned Impressionist collection is finally in Houston.

Through March 27, 2022

INTRODUCING

Natalie

addison

CLASS OF 2022 HFM KID AMBASSADORS

orissa

Viviana

Batu

Giselle

Jy'rah

London

Thomas

Dylan

tamir

CALL AMBER 089790436 Gabriel

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CONGRATULATIONS

thalia

Janel

We look forward to working with you and accompanying you on all your new adventures!

Stay tuned for more in the coming weeks

jiselle

Lucas

McKenna Berkley

kyndal

jayson

ben

brandt

calvin

CALL AMBER 089790436 Avery

43 | HOUSTON FAMILY MAGAZINE January 2022

Start the New Year

HEALTHIER Safe, convenient primary care — at a location near you.

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At Houston Methodist, we provide personalized care for you and your family, including physicals, immunizations and preventive care.

Many of our practices: • Provide in-person and virtual visits with online scheduling • Offer same-day sick visits • Are conveniently located close to work or home • Accept most major insurance plans

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You can be confident we are taking every necessary precaution to keep you safe, including requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for all of our physicians, staff and employees.

houstonmethodist.org/pcg 713.394.6724

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