Houston Family Magazine October 2020 Issue by Houston Family Magazine

OCTOBER 2020 | Vol. 32 | Issue 10

CELEBRATE FALL WITH

Dewberry Farm HELPING KIDS

STAY FOCUSED ONLINE

CYBERBULLYING

PROTECT YOUR KIDS

HALLOWEEN ALTERNATIVES

+ TOP SCHOOLS IN HOUSTON

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 Safe Wait™ 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 houston family magazine

October 2020

contents

OCTOBER 2020

departments

features|in this issue 6 8

on the cover

HFM Kid Ambassadors Kate, Michael & Bella enjoy a fun time at Dewberry Farm located in Brookshire, Texas. Photographer: Amy Garrett of Pop of Color Photography

12 20

what to know about cyberbullying

Learn how to protect your children and teens.

Helping kids learn to make good decisions Organizing kids' school papers & projects

Helping kids focus and stay focused during remote instruction

20 22

show support

Letter from the publisher

Community Involvement

mind, body & soul

Book Bites

Family Fun Spotlight

Meditation 101, A Workshop To Learn The Basics

Fall Reads From Blue Willow Bookshop

Dewberry Farm, Texas Size Fun For The Whole Family!

resources

top schools

the big to-do

Education Directory

Activities for Families

Teaching smart decision-making skills.

Learn how to stay organized while still keeping precious memories from our children.

Tips and tricks to help kids push through online learning with minimal distractions.

The history of spooky fairy tales

Get the real story behind our favorite Disney fairy tales.

Halloween alternatives to the trick or treat Options to help you celebrate the holiday safely.

dia de los muertos

Celebrating the Day of the Dead plus a Sugar Skull Tutorial.

Teaching kids about civic responsibility

Taking pride in your country and learning about government. October 2020

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Letter from the editor publisher/editor

FALL HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY FAVORITE SEASON. THE TIME WHEN EVERYTHING BURSTS WITH ITS LAST BEAUTY, AS IF NATURE HAD BEEN SAVING UP ALL YEAR FOR THE GRAND FINALE

Kimberly Davis Guerra kim@houstonfamilymagazine.com

associate editor

Chantal Lemieux chantal@houstonfamilymagazine.com

creative director/ production

Casey Johnson casey@houstonfamilymagazine.com

event director

Mary Sue Kent marysue@houstonfamilymagazine.com

LAUREN DESTEFANO

contributing authors Kimberly Davis Guerra Tanni Haas Christa Melnyk Hines Elizabeth Irvine Casey Johnson Valerie Kohler Sarah Lyons Sandi Schwartz

contributing photographers

Brandy Dykes Photography CiCi Loo Photography Heart & Lens Photography Pop of Color Photography by Amy Garrett Traci-Marie Photography

advertising sales

ABOVE// Kim along with some of our HFM Kid Ambassadors at Dewberry Farm in Brookshire, TX. Kim, Kate, Gael, Jack, Michael, Bella, Hudson, Abby

THE BIG TO DO Did you know our online calender is packed with even more great family friendly events? Check it out at houstonfamilymagazine.com.

Beverly Davis Mary Sue Kent Tish Petty

FIND US ON FACEBOOK @houstonfamilymagazine

printing

RR Donnelley Houston, Texas

14123 Bluebird Lane Houston, TX 77079 (P) 713.266.1885 (F) 713.266.1915 www.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. houston family magazine

October 2020

ABOVE// Our HFM Ambassadors hang out at the new Pirate Ship Museum.

I love fall for so many reasons. That cool breeze that blows the turning leaves.Sweaters and hot cider. The smell of bonfires burning and friends gathering (in small groups this year). And fall festivals and attractions! Never more was there such a need to get the heck out of dodge and head out of town to the country. Doesn’t a day out at the farm sound wonderful? I think so! I recently was fortunate enough to spend an afternoon out at Dewberry Farm with (7) of our HFM Kid Ambassadors for this month’s cover shoot with A Pop of Color Photography. Not only did we have the entire place to ourselves (can you say heaven?), but it had just started to cool off a little bit. It couldn’t have been more perfect evening for a shoot as evidence by the cover! If you have never visited, I couldn’t recommend it high enough. My son is 12 and we have gone out pretty much 10 of his 12 years! Kids a little older? Well, we also visited the Texas Renaissance Festival with our older HFM Kid Ambassadors to check out their new Pirate Ship and a couple of other new rides. When you check out the pictures in this issue, I think you will see how much they enjoyed the adventure. I think everyone is looking for some normalcy wherever and whenever you can. With Halloween approaching, our staff was trying to speculate as to what everyone was going to be able to do. We have come up with some alternatives to the traditional trick or treating for those still unsure about getting out in crowds or being exposed to too many households. WE want to make it fun for the kiddos no matter what path you choose to follow this year. Speaking of choices, our kids have more to deal with than ever. Wearing a mask or not. Putting yourself around too many people who aren’t following the rules can literally kill you. So, how do we empower our kids to make the right choices? Check out Christa Hine’s article this month to find out how best to support your kids through these tough times. As we roll into the final quarter of 2020, there are many more hurdles to overcome before we make it out of this year. Let’s count our blessings for what we have accomplished. The fact that we are still here is a BIG one! Hold those close to you. 2020 is almost over!!

show support | C O M M U N I T Y I N V O LV E M E N T

Support show your

CHRISTOPHER J. KRAFT MISSION CONTROL (1965) PHOTO BY AMY WALTON

HALLOWEEN IS NOT CANCELED: UNICEF USA launches virtual trick-or-treat for UNICEF experience, celebrating 70 years of iconic campaign. For more information and to get your Virtual Collection Box please visit www.trickortreatforunicef.org.

PUTTING TEXAS MODERNISM ON THE MAP Strangers Join Forces to Crowd-Source Documenting Architecture of the Midcentury. #modTEXAS

Get it off your chest!

modTEXAS (@modTEXAS) is calling upon Texans to participate in Mapping Mod, an Instagram-based initiative to document modernist architecture and design in 2020. Participants are invited to seek-out subjects on a monthly theme and use the #modtexas tag to create a cache of sites worth celebrating. Join the group on facebook @modTEXAS.

www.therose.org

NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH It’s Breast Cancer Awareness month and we want to encourage all of our readers to be sure to get your checkup. If times are tougher than normal and you have lost your insurance, that’s no excuse. The Rose Center for Breast Health Excellence has you covered. Regardless of a woman’s ability to pay, they provide access to screening, diagnostics and treatment services. An annual mammogram offers peace of mind. Get yours scheduled today.

If you, or someone you know is suffering, there is help. Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse (AVDA) has been helping victims of domestic abuse in Houston for 40 years through advocacy, counseling and services. For more information, visit www.avda.org

October 2020

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family life | F E AT U R E Protecting Children and Teens From The Stress of

CYBERBULLYING written by Sandi Schwartz

ne of the biggest challenges parents currently face is how to manage our children’s access to technology. When they are young, we worry about them spending too much time staring at screens and not getting outside to play. As they get older, they start asking for their own cell phone, and then the world (the good, the bad, and the ugly) is available right in the palm of their hand. Sadly, the rise in popularity of the internet, smartphones, and text messaging has led to a major bullying problem online, called cyberbullying.

THE SCARY STATISTICS Nearly 43 percent of kids have been bullied online, according to PACER, the organization who developed National Bullying Prevention Month that is held every October to unite communities nationwide to inspire, educate, and raise awareness about bullying prevention. Cyberbullying is now the single largest type of bullying, and 25 percent of kids who have been bullied say they have experienced it more than once. Cyberbullying typically involves spreading rumors or writing hurtful comments to another person using technology. The spread of technology has made bullying so much easier because it has removed the traditional barriers of time and space between bullies and their houston family magazine

October 2020

victims. They can interact in real time at any moment throughout the day, whether it be during or after school. The technology to hurt someone is constantly on—available 24/7. The most common places where cyberbullying occurs are social media (Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter), text messages, instant messages (Facebook Messenger), and email. Why are kids being bullied? According to TeenSafe data: • 72 percent of children are cyberbullied because of their looks. • 26 percent of victims are chosen due to their race or religion. • 22 percent of harassed children feel that their sexuality was the cause of the bullying. Other reasons include weak athletic ability, intelligence level, strong artistic skills, strong morals, refusal to join the crowd, or having a small build (i.e., too short or too thin).

HOW CYBERBULLYING CAUSES STRESS AND ANXIETY Like any traumatic event, cyberbullying can cause immediate and lingering stress and anxiety for the victims. They often are left feeling lonely, isolated, vulnerable, depressed, and anxious. The top four anxiety disorders that victims of bullying can

experience include posttraumatic stress disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, panic attacks, and social anxiety disorder. Several recent studies show a clear link between bullying and anxiety. In 2011, Elizabeth Carll, PhD, of the American Psychological Association presented the findings about the negative aspects of the internet in a talk entitled, “Electronic Harassment and Cyberstalking: Intervention, Prevention and Public Policy.” She concluded that cyberbullying can cause intense stress that may even be worse than being harassed in person. Students who were bullied online felt socially anxious, lonely, frustrated, sad, and

helpless. Next, a 2013 study published in JAMA Psychiatry by researchers at Duke University found that both bullies and people who are bullied have an increased risk of depression; panic disorder; and behavioral, educational, and emotional problems. Finally, a 2014 study found that victims of frequent bullying had higher rates of depression, anxiety disorders, and suicidal feelings nearly four decades after a bullying incident. It is important to keep an eye out for possible warning signs that your child is being cyberbullied, such as these highlighted by stopbullying. gov:

• Noticeable increase or decrease in device use, including texting. • They show strong emotional responses, like anger, to what is happening on their device. • They hide their device from you and won’t tell you what they are doing on it. • Social media accounts are shut down or new ones appear. • They avoid social situations. • They become withdrawn or depressed, or lose interest in friends, family, and activities. • Difficulty sleeping. • Physical complaints like headaches, nervousness, and stomachaches. • They no longer want to go to school.

WAYS TO PROTECT YOUR KIDS Maneuvering through the world of ever-changing technology can be quite tricky, but it is now a huge part of parenthood. Just like we teach our children how to cross the street and not talk to strangers, it is imperative that we help keep our children safe online as well. There are several ways that you can keep tabs on your children’s online activity and help prevent cyberbullying or manage it if it happens. Use Parental Controls Digital parental controls are tools and software that are used to block inappropriate websites, impose screen time limits, and prevent strangers from coming into contact with your children online. Installing the parental control app on your child’s device will allow you to monitor their activities and control what they are and are not exposed to. You will also be able to view their messages, contacts, internet browsing history, and emails. There are many parental control programs available, including free options to get

started with. Of course, each offers different tools and levels of control to consider. For example, restrictions for a child in elementary school may not be appropriate for a high school student. You don’t have to secretly monitor your child’s online behavior. In fact, experts believe that you will have more success if you talk to your children about proper digital etiquette and cyberbullying so that they will be comfortable to open up to you if they witness a bullying situation. Also, be aware that parental controls do not necessarily decrease the risk of cyberbullying, but can serve as a very helpful data collection tool in case an issue does occur either to or by your child. Set Limits We need to work together with our kids to figure out how best to manage screen time. Establish boundaries and limitations about appropriate digital behavior, content, and apps. If you see a message that looks inappropriate, speak to them about it immediately. If you read about a dangerous game, talk to your child about why you do not want them playing it. Let them know that you are not trying to invade their privacy. Make sure they know that you love them, are on their side, and just want to keep them safe.

Educate Them Our children need our guidance. According to a recent survey, 24 percent of kids and teens report that they do not know what they would do if they were harassed online and 39 percent do not enable their privacy settings on social media. Educate your kids about online dangers including the cyberbullying. Explain to them that the “friends” they meet online may not always be who they say they are. They should be careful about the type of information that they share with others. Teach them how to block accounts and set up security features in various programs. Overall, we need to guide them so they can make responsible decisions about technology on their own, and to speak up when a situation feels uncomfortable. Encourage Them To Take A Stand Against Bullies The actions of peers are more likely to stop a bully than anything else. Help your children understand that reporting a cyberbullying incident is not tattling. Most social media platforms and schools have clear policies and reporting procedures. If a classmate is cyberbullying someone, help your child report the situation to the school. If a child has received physical threats, or if a potential crime or illegal behavior is occurring, report it to the police. Let’s give our children the power to stand up and speak out against bullying. By raising confident, emotionally intelligent, kind children, we are giving them the tools to recognize when a situation just doesn’t feel right. And remember to always love and support them through these challenging times.

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family life | F E AT U R E

Helping Kids Learn to Make Good Decisions written by Christa Melnyk Hines

Ever looked at your child in bewilderment and asked: “What were you thinking?!” Then you know that kids, especially teens, can make some profoundly poor decisions. Luckily, we can help them learn smart decision-making skills and manage mistakes—without helicoptering their every move.

BLAME BIOLOGY. “Understand that your kids aren’t just being stupid and emotional about things. The adolescent brain is very uneven. Some parts of the brain are very adult in their structure and function while other parts are very immature,” says pediatric psychologist Stephen Lassen, Ph.D. The prefrontal cortex of the brain, which handles decisionmaking, isn’t fully developed until around the age of 25. Given the number of decisions kids must make as they move into early adulthood—college, houston family magazine

October 2020

career, relationships—this “makes for a challenging environment for parents,” Lassen says. While we can’t manipulate biology, we can take steps to nurture thoughtful, independent decision-making.

GIVE CHOICES FROM AN EARLY AGE. Prime the decision-making pump beginning in toddlerhood. Offer your child simple choices that you can live with like: “Would you like to wear the red shirt or the yellow

shirt?” “Would you like to take a bath before or after dinner?” “Giving options like that not only helps them start to think through decisions, make decisions and accept consequences of those decisions, but it also sends the message that kids can do it, which tends to build selfconfidence,” Lassen says.

OFFER AGEAPPROPRIATE DECISIONS. You know best what decisions your child is ready for based

on past history, development and personality. But in general, experts say that teens are ready to choose their own friends, their after-school activities, clothing and hairstyles, and the type of summer job they’d like to get. “Those are totally appropriate decisions for teens to make that don’t have an impact on their safety or potential for a significant long-term consequences,” says pediatric psychologist Christina Low Kapalu, Ph.D. “When decisions do involve their safety or potential for significant

“The more decisions you make, the more comfortable you are with things maybe not working out perfectly, maybe even failing,” long-term consequences, that’s when we want to involve parents’ input.” Low Kapalu also recommends involving teens in their healthcare decisionmaking. They should be part of the conversation with their healthcare providers, like participating with you in scheduling their appointments and asking questions about treatment options and side effects. “If they can’t do that by the time they’re 18, they’re going to really struggle to access medical care,” Low Kapalu says.

CREATE A SUPPORTIVE FRAMEWORK. Think of how scaffolding supports buildings that are under construction. As the building becomes more secure and able to stand on its own, we remove pieces of the scaffolding. In the same vein, “scaffolding is gradually removed as kids demonstrate mastery of different skills and the decision-making process,” Lassen says. “We’re not directly making all of the decisions for them, but the scaffolding—the structure—is around them to help them grow into this skill of making decisions in a safe, monitored way.”

ESTABLISH GROUND RULES. With each new freedom, clearly explain your expectations with the understanding that privileges can be pulled back again. “It’s a process. The research really shows that authoritative parenting style, which is just setting limits and enforcing clear limits with lots of warmth and engagement serves us well in the teenage years,” says therapist Julie Gettings, MSW-LSCSW.

“If they make a poor decision or if we’ve given them too much freedom, then sometimes we have to pull the rope back a little bit.”

OFFER PERMISSION WITH PARAMETERS. “Kids will come to us with a request, and we immediately want to say, ‘no, you can’t do that.’ But take a step back, pause and think about ‘what can I be okay with within that request?’” Gettings advises. For example, maybe your 14-year-old wants to go to the mall with friends. Instead of dismissing the idea, determine who they plan to go with and which adults will handle pick up and drop off. Set expectations like: “I expect you to answer your phone when I call you while you’re there.” or “I expect you to check in with me periodically while you are there.” And, reinforce the positive by consistently praising the wise choices your child makes.

BUILD CONFIDENCE. For kids who experience anxiety around decision-making, give them multiple opportunities to make small decisions and praise them for simply making a choice even if you aren’t a fan of the decision. Avoid causing them to second-guess by saying things like, “Are you sure you want to do that?” which can further breed uncertainty. “The more decisions you make, the more comfortable you are with things maybe not working out perfectly, maybe even failing,” Lassen says. “But life goes on and as kids repeat that, they come to see that making a bad decision is not the end of the world. And in fact, it can really teach us a lot.”

WAIT TO BE NEEDED. Resist swooping in and rescuing your child from the consequences of their poor decision. For example, if they forgot their science homework, they’ll have to face the consequence. “Rushing in too quickly sends the message to kids that they can’t do it, and it tends to push kids away from parents. It promotes dependence, which is the opposite of what we’re trying to as parents,” Lassen says. “We want our kids to be happy and do well, but so much of being a healthy, well-functioning adult is learning from difficult experiences where decisions didn’t go well.”

REFLECT ON DECISIONS. We all make decisions that we later regret. “Stress to your child that you love them even if you don’t like their decision,” Low Kapalu says. Rather than harshly interrogating or criticizing your child, facilitate a thoughtful, logical discussion, which will help them feel safe coming to you when they make mistakes. “Unfortunately, we can’t always see our blind spots and teens are no different,” Low Kapalu says. “They may not be aware of their inability to see the long-term consequences or be able to identify all of the possible outcomes because they don’t have the life experience that their parents do.”

DECISION REFLECTIONS • What are/were my options? • Pros/Cons? • Do/did I need additional information? • Which option did I choose? Why? • Given another chance, would I choose differently? *Remind your teen that drug/ alcohol-use impairs good judgement.

Christa Melnyk Hines is a nationally published writer. She has two adolescent sons, whose decisions sometimes leave her scratching her head.

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family life | F E AT U R E

Organizing Kidsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; School Papers & Art Projects written by Sarah Lyons | photos by Brandy Dykes Photography

Brandy Dykes Photography www.brandydykes.com houston family magazine

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If you have school-age children, you are most likely dealing with an ever-growing stack of school papers and artwork. Some of the papers may go straight to the recycle bin but what do you do with the important papers and special artwork you would like to keep?

START BY SORTING Before you can start organizing your child’s paperwork and art projects you need to decide what to discard and what to keep. “I keep things that reveal his personality” says Kara Thomas, mom to a ten-year-old son. Set aside papers that show your child’s writing skills and artwork that you feel is unique to your child’s personality. Discard worksheets or daily papers. Make another stack of papers that have information you need such as calendars, directories, or spelling lists. Try to sort items at least once a week so the paper stack does not get out of control. “Parents may want to feature their child’s artwork by hanging it frames on the wall. This gives them the opportunity to enjoy it, then change the pictures over time.” says Stephanie Davis, a Certified Professional Organizer, from Let’s Get Organized in Ridgeland.

START A KEEPSAKE BOX A keepsake box is a space for you to save items that mean something to you or your child. Davis, suggests using a file box. “A keepsake box causes you to constantly purge and evaluate what you really want to keep” says Davis. Some parents may have a file for each grade level but Stephanie suggests sorting items by type, such as artwork, invitations, pictures, projects, and adventures. This will give the file box a more defined purpose and is easier for the parent to maintain. “The keepsake boxes should be stored where they are easy to get to. If

it is stored on a closet shelf it is less likely to be used than if it is stored somewhere that is easily accessed.”

CREATE A FAMILY BINDER As a mom of six, our family has our fair share of paperwork. Creating a family binder for important information has helped me stay organized. Each family member has a tab and their sports calendars, school directories, and medical information are stored there. When I need something in a hurry, I know right where to look. “I encourage families to go digital. They can use one family calendar app so everyone knows what is going on and important papers can be scanned and computerized as well.” says Davis. “I try to be flexible and figure out what works for each family.”

now. Parents should never feel guilty about not keeping every single paper, painting, and essay. Realistically it’s only important to keep the items that mean the most. Sarah Lyons is a freelance writer and stay at home mom to six children, including 3 year old triplets. She loves reading, cooking, and spending time outdoors. With six children in three schools, she is very familiar with the need to organize school papers and art projects.

GO DIGITAL Some parents may find it easier to go digital when it comes to storing their child’s artwork and school papers. Joanna Cline, mother of three, says “I use the Artkive app to store my kids’ art. At the end of the year I will make a photobook of their artwork.” Other apps that help save artwork are DearMuse or Keepy. Many of these apps have family sharing available. The main thing to remember is the items we want to keep will develop and change over time. As you add to your keepsake box, you may find that some items don’t seem as important a few years later and it is okay to discard them to make room for the things that you value

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education | F E AT U R E

Helping Kids Focus And Stay Focused DURING REMOTE INSTRUCTION written by Tanni Haas, Ph.D.

The new school year has begun and many kids either still receive remote instruction from home or take part in hybrid learning where they spend part of the week at home and part in-person at their regular schools. Either way, remote instruction continues to be a big part of their education. How can parents help their kids focus – and stay focused – during the many hours at home in front of their computers? Here’s what the experts say:

houston family magazine

October 2020

CREATE A DAILY SCHEDULE

ELIMINATE DISTRACTIONS

The first and most important you can do is to help your kids create a daily schedule. The schedule should include, says educational psychologist Dr. Carey Heller, “the assignments they’re going to complete that day and when they’ve live classes to attend.” It’ll give them a good idea of what they need to accomplish and how much time they have for each assignment.

You can also help your kids focus better if you eliminate the temptation to access nonschool-related sites like gaming or social media sites. As Dr. Heller says, “help your children stay on task while using a computer by blocking access to distracting websites.” Some of the best parental control software programs, according to PC Magazine, include Kaspersky Safe Kids, Norton Family Premier, and Quostodio.

FOCUS ON ONE ASSIGNMENT AT A TIME Your kids have many assignments to do each day, but that doesn’t mean that they should focus on several assignments simultaneously. The evidence is clear, says clinical psychologist Dr. Jamie Howard: “multitasking reduces concentration.” Dr. Rick Bavaria of Sylvan Learning, a large tutoring service, agrees: “You can’t give one hundred percent of your attention to more than one thing at a time. It’s as simple as that.” Encourage your kids to keep their focus fully on one assignment before they move on to the next one. Teach your kids how to prioritize assignments, and explain to them how to break down an assignment into multiple parts. Kids “handle large or difficult tasks better if they’re broken down into smaller, more manageable pieces,” says educational psychologist Dr. Tali Shenfield.

TAKE FREQUENT BREAKS They should take a break from their school work every once in a while. “Kids need to get up, move around, and do something different and not too taxing after spending some time concentrating,” Dr. Howard says. Good activities include physical exercise, playing an instrument, or just taking a brief walk outside – anything that helps to relax and recharge them.

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KEEP SCHOOL SUPPLIES WITHIN REACH A helpful way to keep them on track is to make sure that everything they need is within easy reach. Kids are best able to focus, says counseling psychologist Dr. Shireen Stephen, when you keep “everything that’s required at hand so that your child doesn’t need to get up to get anything.” This includes textbooks, workbooks, math supplies, and snacks.

GIVE THEM NUTRITIOUS FOOD AND DRINKS Experts agree that kids need nutritious food and drinks to focus on their school work. “Eating junk food or food rich in sugar makes a child sluggish,” says Dr. Stephen, “while food rich in proteins such as almonds, eggs and lean meat have the ability to raise awareness and increase concentration levels.” The same goes for drinks. Kids need healthy drinks like fruit juice, milk or water, rather than sodas and energy drinks which only give them a shortlived sugar high. Tanni Haas, Ph.D. is a Professor in the Department of Communication Arts, Sciences, and Disorders at the City University of New York – Brooklyn College.

BRANDY DYKES PHOTOGRAPHY Family & lifestyle photography www.brandydykes.com

@BRANDYDYKES

Family Lifestyle Photography

families · babies · Children · couples · love www.rorphoto.com // RELICS.OF.RAINBOWS October 2020

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TOP SCHOOLS â&#x20AC;&#x201D;IN HOUSTONâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;

Education is hard these days. What many of us used to take for granted, has become an obstacle to overcome. Families are having to make difficult choices on how to navigate schooling due to COVID-19. Often, this means looking at alternatives to public schools. If this is something your family is dealing with, we pulled together a few of the outstanding ones for your consideration.

houston family magazine

October 2020

top schools | S P E C I A L A D V E R T I S I N G S E C T I O N

2700 W Sam Houston Parkway N. | Houston, TX 77043 www.houstonchristian.org | Phone: (713) 580-6000

Scholars and Gentlemen The Regis School of the Sacred Heart is Houston’s only all-boys 3 Pre-K through 8th grade school. Through a unique mix of challenging academics and the values of the Sacred Heart, Regis empowers students of all faiths to become authentic, compassionate leaders. Regis graduates typically go on to attend the high school of their choice, the next important step in their journeys. Through their Regis experience, they develop a passion for learning and a foundation of moral character that serves them—and allows them to serve others—for a lifetime. Regardless of how they ultimately define success.

theREGISschool.org 7330 Westview Drive • Houston, Texas 77055 • (713) 682-8383

WHERE LEARNING BECOMES LEADING Houston Christian High School engages students to become impactful leaders through an empowering, dynamic education within a spiritual worldview. Houston Christian is an independent, nonprofit, coed day school accredited by Independent Schools Association of the Southwest (ISAS) and serves nearly 500 students in ninth through twelfth grades. Each one of our students graduates with unparalleled leadership training through curricular and co-curricular opportunities. Houston Christian is home to The George and Barbara Bush Center for Scholars and Leaders, which provides a learning environment where students build the skills and competencies needed to be moral and ethical leaders. With established leadership courses and an integrated approach through all disciplines, this is a center of learning like no other in Houston, the nation, and the world.

For nearly 150 years, Incarnate Word Academy has provided young women with a rigorous, Catholic, college-preparatory education, rooted in the pillars of academics, values and spirituality. Our four-year Young Leaders Program is a unique curriculum, empowering students to become bold, authentic servant leaders on our campus, in the community and throughout their lives. Small classes and a broad selection of humanities and STEM courses prepare students for success in college and the careers of the 21st century. We instill in our students a passion for learning and a desire to serve others.

Learn More!

www.incarnateword.org

609 Crawford Street Houston, TX 77002

713.227.3637

With nearly 70 percent of its faculty awarded advanced degrees, Houston Christian provides rigorous, collegiatestyle academic programs where students are challenged to discover their potential and to become difference-makers in their communities. Our method of encouraging student inquiry has produced National Merit Scholars, Fulbright Scholars, perfect SAT and ACT scores, and graduates who attend the most esteemed universities in the country. In addition, our graduating classes are regularly offered more than $8 million in collegiate scholarships. Our alumni grace the boardrooms, Broadway stages, courtrooms, pulpits, and classrooms of our nation, and we are proud to hear of each success along their path.

w w w. hous tonchri s ti an. org October 2020

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top schools | S P E C I A L A D V E R T I S I N G S E C T I O N

CALL TODAY

Learn more at rcseagles.org

For Your Private Tour.

INSPIRE. EDUCATE. TRANSFORM.

NOW ENROLLING PRE-SCHOOL - 8TH GRADE Rainard is offering in-person classes, 5 days per week! We offer both remote and blended learning options. • Students at Rainard are encouraged to ask difficult questions and pursue what they love about learning.

NOW ENROLLING PRE-K - 12 19830 FM 2920 Tomball, TX 77377 281.351.8114

• Gifted students and their families choose to attend Rainard for our small student to teacher ratio and dedication to differentiated instruction.

• Classes are kept small, so teachers truly learn about each of their students. • They know exactly where to challenge and when to support.

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• Students in our Primary, Elementary and Middle School benefit from multi-age classrooms where they are able to experience learning as a member of a community of like-minded peers.

E-mail: info@rainard.org or bspringer@rainard.org Online: www.rainard.org • Phone: 713.647.7246 Address: 11059 Timberline Rd, Houston, TX 77043

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.

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family life | F E AT U R E

Spooky Fairy Tales THE HISTORY OF

written by Sarah Lyons photo by Traci-Marie Photography www.traci-marie.com

loved watching Disney princess movies as a child and I enjoy sharing them with my kids. You may know that most Disney fairy tales are based on original stories from hundreds of years ago, but what you may not know is the original tales are very dark and even gruesome. Let’s do a quick comparison.

Cinderella

Disney movie - 1950 In the Disney version, Cinderella lives with her evil stepmother and two ugly stepsisters. A fairy godmother and animal friends help her attend the ball where her and Prince Charming fall in love. When the clock strikes midnight, she rushes out leaving her glass slipper behind. Prince Charming scours the land for the owner of the slipper. Eventually they are reunited and live happily ever after. Original story by Brothers’ Grimm version - 1812

Model: Bailey Johnson houston family magazine

October 2020

The story starts out similar, minus the fairy Godmother. Instead, Cinderella plants a tree by her mother’s grave and prays under it daily. The dress for the ball is found under this tree. The

prince uses tar to set a trap for Cinderella and instead of getting stuck, she loses a shoe. In order to get the shoe to fit one stepsister cuts off her toes and the other her heel. The prince is told by doves that there is blood in the shoe and discovers the true owner is Cinderella. The stepsisters decide they should be nice to Cinderella, since she will be queen, and they attend her wedding where birds peck their eyes out. Harsh.

The Little Mermaid

Disney movie - 1989 A rebellious 16 year old mermaid, Ariel, wants nothing more than to become human. When she visits the surface, she falls in love with Prince Eric. She makes a deal with Ursula, the sea witch, and trades her voice for legs. Her voice will only be returned with true love’s kiss. Ursula unsuccessfully tries to trick Eric into falling in love with her. Ultimately, Eric and Ariel fall in love and live happily ever after on land together. Original story by Hans Christian Andersen - 1837 This story starts off the same as Disney’s version. She sees the prince from afar on a ship and rescues him from drowning. She visits the sea witch who takes her tongue in exchange for legs, a curse that can be broken if she finds true love’s kiss. Unlike the Disney version, she will not turn back into a mermaid if she fails, but will instead die. In the book she wants to become human, not only because she loves the prince, but because humans have eternal souls and mermaids do not. The penalty for having legs is excruciating pain with each step she takes. At first it seems like they will fall in love but he falls in love with someone else. The witch tells her that if she kills the prince she can return to being a mermaid, but she cannot go through with it. At the end, she throws herself into the sea and

turns into sea foam, destined to spend eternity in purgatory where she has to do good deeds until she earns a soul which could take 300 years. I don’t think Flounder and Sebastian would approve of this version.

Sleeping Beauty Disney movie - 1959

Baby Princess Aurora is given gifts by fairies. The evil witch, Maleficent, is struck with jealousy and curses the princess to prick her finger on a spindle and die at the age of sixteen. The last of the fairies changes the curse to a deep sleep rather than death. The curse will be broken by true love’s kiss. After pricking her finger falling into a deep sleep the prince fights his way through the thick thorny forest to save the princess and defeat the witch who has turned into a dragon. The story ends with them dancing at their wedding and they live happily ever after. Original story by Giambattista Basile - 1634 Sun, Moon, and Talia by Basile is the original version of Sleeping Beauty that both Brothers’ Grimm and Disney are based on. While the Grimm version is similar to Disney, the original is quite different. The story starts off the same and the princess is sleeping in a castle awaiting her true love. A king happens upon the castle and enters through a window where he finds Sleeping Beauty. He carries her to the bed and forces himself on her. Months later she awakens after birth to twins. The king returns and the two fall in love but he is married to someone else. When his wife finds out she is furious and tries to have the twins killed, cooked, and fed to the king and have the princess burned at the stake. She is unsuccessful and the king and princess do get married and live happily ever after. Although the king and princess end up together, I wouldn’t call this a happy tale.

Rapunzel

Disney movie (Tangled) 2010 Flynn Rider, a fugitive on the run, happens upon a tower hidden in the woods and decides to take refuge where he becomes Rapunzel’s captive. Rapunzel and her magical long hair have been trapped there for years and she is eager to explore. While her “mother” (who is really an evil witch) is away she talks Flynn into taking her on an adventure. They eventually fall in love, the evil witch’s deceit is revealed, and she is returned to her true family. Flynn becomes an upstanding citizen and they are later married and live happily ever after. Original story by Brothers’ Grimm -1812 In the real version, Rapunzel becomes pregnant by the prince before they are married. The evil sorceress figures out she is expecting, cuts off Rapunzel’s hair, and throws her into the wilderness. The prince returns to see her and the sorceress dangles Rapunzel’s hair out the window to lure him into the tower. She tells him he will never see her again and, in despair, he throws himself out the window and lands in a patch of thorns, which cause him to go blind. He then wanders aimlessly through the forest. Meanwhile, Rapunzel gives birth to twins. He is eventually guided back to Rapunzel by the sound of her voice. Her tears restore his sight and they return to the kingdom and live happily ever after. At least it has a happy ending, right?

Snow White and the Seven Dwarves Disney movie - 1938

In Disney’s first animated feature, the jealous and wicked queen orders the murder of her beautiful stepdaughter, Snow White. She later discovers she was not killed but safely hidden

among seven dwarves. The queen disguises herself as a hag and gives Snow White a poisonous apple which sends her into a death-like sleep that can only be broken by a kiss. Prince Charming arrives and saves Snow White. They are married and live happily ever after. Original story by Brothers’ Grimm - 1812 In this version, the evil stepmother asks a hunter to take Snow White into the forest and kill her and bring back her lungs and liver. The man cannot go through with it so he brings her a boar’s lungs and liver instead, which the queen eats believing they belong to her stepdaughter. The queen later finds out she is alive and gives her the poisonous apple. Snow White faints and cannot be revived. She is placed in a glass coffin and the prince comes to take her away. The pallbearers slip and drop the coffin causing the bite of apple to become dislodged from Snow White’s throat and she awakens. Snow White and Prince Charming fall in love and get married. The evil queen is invited to the wedding and as a punishment she is forced to wear burning hot iron shoes and dance before them until she drops dead. Yikes! Historically fairy tales were told to entertain, educate, preserve culture, and instill moral values. These traditional stories are not something we would share with our children in today’s society but they are interesting to look back on and study. Fairy tales have changed and evolved into versions we all love to share with our children. What stories do you love to share with your kids? Do you use stories to teach them lessons?

Sarah Lyons is a mother of six, including two year old triplets, who loves to share stories she loved as a child with her kids.

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family fun | E D I T O R I A L

AT HOME HALLOWEEN PARTY: Not in the mood to go out and face the crowds? How about spending the day making yummy treats with the kids, dress up in costumes, have a monster mash dance party and wind down the evening with some family friendly Halloween themed movies.

houston family magazine

October 2020

Halloween Alternatives to the

Trick-or-Treat written by Casey Johnson

This year Halloween is going to look a little different for many families due to safety restrictions surrounding Corona. Trying to find fun things for the kids to do and not break their spooky spirit doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to be a challenge. Here are some alternatives to traditional Trick-or-Treating for you to explore.

HALLOWEEN CANDY SCAVENGER HUNT: Similar to an Easter Egg hunt, candy can be hidden around the house, yard or your neighborhood. For even more fun, create clues to help the kids search for the candy or create a treasure map. Be sure to package the candy in festive treat bags.

Tables can also have some candy grab bags for the kids to enjoy as they walk around looking at all of the awesome pumpkins. If you can get your whole neighborhood involved, each street could have a theme and families could go around looking at all the different pumpkins.

HALLOWEEN PET PARADE: Get your neighborhood together to participate. Dress up the family pet in their most spooky attire and take them for a walk throughout your neighborhood. Be sure to set up a time and location to begin the parade.

GHOST STORY LANE:

PUMPKIN CARVING BLOCK PARTY: Set up tables in your driveway or cul-de-sac in a socially distant manner. Have each participant design their pumpkin according to a theme.

Who doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t love a good ghost story! Get your neighbors together to host a spooky storytime in each driveway. To make it even more special, adults can dress up in costumes or create a halloween themed area for the kids to listen to the story. Go beyond and hand out goodie bags to the kids who come and listen.

FAMILY BONFIRE: What better way to enjoy all Hallows eve than by lighting a bonfire and roasting some hotdogs and marshmallows! Let the kids dress up in their costumes and tell spooky stores around the fire or do some Halloween sing-a-longs.

For even more ways to celebrate the season flip over to our October calendar of events. October 2020

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family life | F E AT U R E

Day of the Dead celebrations

ccording to Wikipedia, “The Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico developed from ancient traditions among its preColumbian cultures. Rituals celebrating the deaths of ancestors had been observed by these civilizations perhaps for as long as 2,500–3,000 years. The festival that developed into the modern Day of the Dead fell in the ninth month of the Aztec calendar, about the beginning of August, and was celebrated for an entire month. The festivities were dedicated to the goddess known as the “Lady of the

Dead”, corresponding to the modern La Calavera Catrina. By the late 20th century in most regions of Mexico, practices had developed to honor dead children and infants on November 1, and to honor deceased adults on November 2. November 1 is generally referred to as Día de los Inocentes (“Day of the Innocents”) but also as Día de los Angelitos (“Day of the Little Angels”); November 2 is referred to as Día de los Muertos or Día de los Difuntos (“Day of the Dead”). According to Francis Ann Day, “On October 31, All Hallows Eve, the children make a children’s altar to invite the angelitos (spirits of dead

children) to come back for a visit. November 1 is All Saints Day, and the adult spirits will come to visit. November 2 is All Souls Day, when families go to the cemetery to decorate the graves and tombs of their relatives. The three-day fiesta is filled with marigolds, the flowers of the dead; muertos (the bread of the dead); sugar skulls; cardboard skeletons; tissue paper decorations; fruit and nuts; incense, and other traditional foods and decorations.” While obviously this is a Mexican tradition, it has gained popularity in the states over the years. You will be hard pressed, especially in Houston, to attend a party or trick or treat without

seeing at least one family dressed up with the Day of the Dead look. The Day of the Dead has a specific style of makeup that is traditionally associated with the holiday. The style is known as “sugar skull” makeup because of the way it mimics the skull candy which is used in the celebration. Check out our tutorial by Maria Perez of Hues & Do’s Beauty. National Museum of Funeral History has a permanent Day of the Dead exhibition on display. 415 Barren Springs Drive Houston, 77090 or www.nmfh.org

Shop local!

movies to watch!

Looking for decor or inspiration, visit Casa Ramirez Folkart Gallery in the Heights. 241 W. 19th Street, Houston 77008 • casaramirez.com

Get in the spirit with CoCo and or The Book of Life.

houston family magazine

October 2020

Sugar Skull Tutorial by Maria Constantina Perez | Hair & Makeup Artist Hues & Do’s Beauty | huesndosbeauty.com Maria is located in the Willowbrook area of NW Houston and specialoizes in Hair and Makeup for Weddings and Special Events.

Watch the Video Tutorial at www.HoustonFamilyMagazine.com

MEHRON PARADISE MAKEUP AQ PALETTE $45 • alconemakeup.com

ASSORTED PAINT BRUSHES $8 • amazon.com

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family life | F E AT U R E

HFM Kid Ambassador Giovanni Brito-Salcido Location: David Wayne Hooks Memorial Airport Photographer: CiCi Loo Photography www.ciciloophotography.com houston family magazine

October 2020

fun ways to teach kids about civic RESPONSIBILITY written by Sand Schwartz | photo by CiCi Loo Photography

Sometimes we need a shake up to wake up. One major positive that has come out of this interesting time in American history is the immense uptick in people getting involved in politics and their local communities. This is major progress since a Washington Post article just before the election in September 2016 discussed how many Americans know nothing about their government. For example, the article referred to a survey by the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania that found how only a quarter of Americans could name all three branches of government (executive, legislative, and judicialâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;in case you were wondering). But this trend has been taking place for many years. Since the 1950â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, Americans have drifted apart and been less engaged in their communities. A report even back in 2001 explained how Americans sign fewer petitions, belong to fewer organizations that meet in person, do not know their neighbors, meet with friends less frequently, and socialize with family members less often. This has only gotten worse with technological advances. Spending all our time glued to televisions and communicating in brief snippets on our computers and phones does not make for much personal interaction and civic engagement. But now that more and more people are concerned about what is happening in Washington, D.C. and throughout our country, they are coming out from behind their screens to organize together. Local groups are

sprouting up all over, and people are really connecting and talking about their hopes and fears. This new energy is ultimately a positive change for society because research shows that we are happier when we build relationships and open up with others in our community. How can we use this time to teach our children the importance of civic engagement?

BENEFITS OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT There is a clear link between social connection and happiness, so when we interact with our neighbors on issues that impact our lives we can experience a greater sense of connection to those we otherwise would not have met. Experts have found that civic involvement helps us build personal connections in addition to the typical October 2020

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ones we have through family, work, and leisure activities. When we participate in social action, community service, and political groups, we increase personal satisfaction as we engage with others on issues of mutual interest. These activities also involve participating in the decision making process, which has been found to boost our happiness as well. Another connection with happiness comes from helping others less fortunate than ourselves because it gives us a sense of living a meaningful life. The largest survey on American civic engagement from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government revealed that quality of life and happiness are highest in communities where residents are more socially connected. About 30,000 individuals were asked about their community involvement. The survey found that levels of civic engagement—such as how much residents trusted, socialized, and joined with others—predicted the quality of community life and residents’ happiness better than education or income. The survey also showed that if other individuals in a community had higher civic engagement, the whole community was happier overall. The connection between community involvement and happiness for children and teens has also been evaluated. According to youth.gov, • Youth who volunteer are more likely to feel connected to their communities, do better in school, and are less likely to engage in risky behavior. • Youth are more likely to volunteer if their entire family is involved and this experience results in strengthened family bonds. • Students who performed voluntary community service were 19 percent more likely to graduate from college than those who did not. Additionally, Tufts University Professor Peter Levine studied houston family magazine

October 2020

HFM Kid Ambassador Giovanni Brito-Salcido Photographer: CiCi Loo Photography www.ciciloophotography.com

the relationship between civic engagement and psychosocial well-being among college students. He concluded that people are happier if their daily activities tend to be helpful to and valued by society. They also need to feel a sense of belonging and support from their community. Moreover, students who engaged in civic activities that impacted social change had significantly better happiness scores. They felt more connected to others, were more motivated to learn, and managed stress more effectively. He expects civic engagement programs to boost happiness.

FUN WAYS TO TEACH YOUR KIDS ABOUT CIVIC ENGAGEMENT Our children will spend some time in school learning about American history and government, but you can enhance their experience from a young age by doing the following: • Read books about American politics and government based on their

• • • • •

age and interests. Here is a wonderful book list developed by the United States Senate. Watch movies and documentaries about history and government. Volunteer together as a family to instill community service values. Encourage them to join the student government or debate team at school. Bring them to a political event or rally. Learn together online using these amazing resources:

iCivics provides a platform to engage students in meaningful civic learning. They provide free inventive resources to ensure every student receives a high-quality civic education. As the largest provider of civics curriculum in the country, it is used by in 50 states by over 110,000 teachers. www.icivics.org Kids in the House is a public service website provided by the Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives. Its mission is to provide educational and entertaining

information about the legislative branch of the United States Government to students of all ages. Topics covered include the role of the U.S. House of Representatives, the legislative process, and House history. https://kids-clerk.house.gov/ Kids.gov is the official kids’ portal for the U.S. government. It links kids, parents, and teachers to information and services from government agencies, schools, and educational organizations, all geared to the learning level and interest of kids. It is organized into four audiences: Kids (Grades K-5), Teens (Grades 6-8), Teachers, and Parents. Each audience tab is divided into educational subjects like Arts, Math, and History. www.usa.gov/ education?source=kids

Read more parenting tips online at

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SPECIAL DELIVERY FALL/WINTER

2020

Houston Baby Magazine celebrates this special time your family's life! From Pregnancy to Pre-K, there are many milestones and magical moments. We are here to offer practical advice, education from local experts, new parent hacks, product reviews on the latest in baby essentials and more. Let us be your village. www.houstonbabymagazine.com

October 2020

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ATTORNEY PROFILE Being a full-service family law firm, the attorneys of Stepp & Sullivan are committed to helping clients overcome a variety of complex legal matters, including divorce, custody, support and mediation. We understand every situation is unique and work passionately to deliver quick, personalized solutions for families during their time of need. With over 70 years of combined trial and litigation experience and a reputation for excellence – including numerous 5-star reviews – we want to be the trusted partner who fights on your behalf. At Stepp & Sullivan, P.C., we make it Personal. Powerful.

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mind body and soul | E D I T O R I A L

Elizabeth Irvine: Nurse, educator and award-winning author. She is the founder and owner of Truewellbeing Inc. houston family magazine

October 2020

Meditation 101

a workshop to learn the basics written by Elizabeth Irvine

You are about to learn about something sacred. This is something that will not only relieve stress and anxiety but will bring you more peace in your life and lead you to a better version of you. TWO AND A HALF DECADES OF PRACTICE I first came to know about meditation in 1995. For the past 25 years I have been meditating most eve-ry day. This practice has become a precious lifeline for me— more serenity, ease and grace are in my life because of it. And, this practice can be one for you too. There are techniques to share that will keep you connected to the bigger picture, to let go more, and to remember that in times of vulnerabil-ity-- we are supported and comforted from the ‘coming-home-groundedfeeling’ that spending time in heightened awareness and quiet stillness cultivates. Trust me on this one, it’s worth every ounce of effort.

WHAT IS MEDITATION? Meditation really boils down to any activity in which you control your attention. Meditation include mind-body techniques that help you feel relaxed and can even produce physical benefits, such as de-creased heart rate, respiration rate and blood pressure. There are two general forms of meditation: con-centration meditation and mindfulness meditation.

TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION Transcendental meditation (TM) is a popular form of concentration meditation. In this practice you sit in a comfortable position and

focus your attention on one thing—such as your breath, or a mantra, a sound or phrase that is silently repeated. A mantra can be as simple as “I am peace” or “Ohm” or even a whole prayer repeated over and over. The idea is to keep a passive awareness as you are the “ob-server” of your thoughts. If your mind wanders off to other thoughts or sensations, you gently and firmly bring your attention back to your breathing or your mantra. For best results, it is suggested to medi-tate twice daily for about 20 minutes. However, as a beginner I recommend to start out simple— five minutes in the morning and five minutes in the latte afternoon, gradually increasing until you reach approximately 20 minutes ( this can happen over months). A meditation practice can be as simple as dedicating 5 minutes lying in bed before going to sleep and five minutes after waking up to do a body and breathing relaxation.

MINDFULNESS MEDITATION Mindfulness meditation is known as intentional momentto-moment awareness, what I term “present moment.” It is a non-judgmental awareness of your thoughts and actions throughout your day. Staying focused at the task at hand is an example of practicing mindfulness meditation: as you wash the dishes, focus on the soap and water cleansing the dish, notice if your mind

wanders off to another thought and then gently and firmly bring your attention back to the fact that you are washing a dish. Mindfulness becomes a “moving meditation” throughout your day. For some, and maybe you count yourself in this group, it may be initially breaking through the barrier of thinking that meditating is for gurus or is a granola-hippie thing or thinking that you just don’t have the right personality to be still. But meditation can be as simple as dedicating five minutes to breathing and body awareness. Another option, or a complementary idea to silent meditation, is the practice of “pre-sent moment”— mindfulness meditation. I find that present moment is an effective way of quickly and surely pulling myself out of a frenzied, overwhelmed, “busyness” feeling and replace it with a delicious sense of calm. In time, focused attention becomes a “moving meditation,” if you will. Because when my thoughts are pattered in several different directions, it’s as if I am walking around half-asleep, functioning on auto-pilot. For example, have you ever driven somewhere and on arriving thought to yourself, how in the heck did I get here?

AN INTIMACY WITH AWARENESS This morning I took a shower. However, I wasn’t really in the shower. My thoughts were

already in the future, pondering what I would make for dinner, and organizing my days to do list and work schedule. Like many of us, I was nowhere near being present with the task at hand, in the shower. By noticing my wandering thoughts and bringing my attention back to the shower, I began to feel the cleansing wa-ter’s soothing sensation on my skin, allowing the warmth of the water to relax my stiff muscle. I became aware of the moist air, smelled the fish mint scent of my shampoo as I managed my scalp, and took in the aroma of my lavender body soap washing away the staleness of the previous day. This awareness became heightened and beautiful — a meditation, when I brought my attention back into the present moment. After my shower, when I truly stayed in the shower, I stepped out clean, refreshed, relaxed, and ready to greet the day.

A WINNING COMBO Attentiveness to the present moment combined with a daily ritual of guided relaxation or concentration meditation—is the step to create more peace and serenity in your life. Just as you diligently recharge your phone’s battery, this carved-out time is equally essential. It’s an authentic and natural way to cre-ate a quiet, still space inside you and build capacity for tackling the unexpected. LET GO of any guilt for taking time for yourself. In this place of uninterrupted surrender, you October 2020

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rest, recharge, and bring much needed clarity and joy into your everyday. You become the best version of you, and I assure you that it ripples out for everyone around you to enjoy. Simplicity is key. Here are two of my all-time favorite techniques to begin a closedeye meditation prac-tice.

ABDOMINAL BREATHING WITH THE MANTRA “SO-HUM” Abdominal breathing is the quickest, single thing you can do to relax your body and therefore your mind. I use it constantly in my private practice in teaching other how to relax. Bring your attention to your breath. Follow your breath, and allow your mind to be the observer, just watch your breath come in and out. Place your hand on your abdomen with your thumb on your navel and let your other four fingers fan below. Feel your breath in your abdomen and notice how your ab-domen is gently rising and falling in rhythm with your breathing. As you breathe in, your abdomen ris-es. As you breathe out, your abdomen falls. This takes some concentration. It becomes much easier with practice. Focus on your natural rhythm, smooth and effortless, breathing in and out. Let your breath soothe you, taking you to a place of comfort; the thoughts of the day disappear.

ADD A MANTRA This option can really help you stay focused. I learned this variation through the Bihar School of Yoga in Munger, India. Imagine there is a line that connects your navel to your throat. As you breathe in, your breath travels from your navel to your throat. As you breathe out, your breath travels from your throat to your navel. Add in the words SO-HUM. Breathing in from your navel to your throat, you say the word (to yourself) SO; and breathing out from your throat to your navel, you say the word HUM. In Sanskrit SO -HUM means “I houston family magazine

October 2020

am that” beyond the limitations of body and mind, at one with the absolute.

BREATHING IN COLORS Breathing in the colors of the rainbow is a simple and effective way to treat yourself to a mini relaxation. Take a few minutes to practice now. In your imagination, hold each color individually in your mind and “breathe in” each color, one at a time. Begin with the color red. Breathe in the color red. Exhales as it fades away. Orange; breathe in the color orange. Exhale as it fades away. Yellow; breathe in the color yellow. Exhales as it fades away. Green; breathe in the color green. Exhales as it fades away. Blue; breathe in the color blue. Exhales as it fades away. Purple; breathe in the color purple. Exhales as it fades away. Gold; breathe in the color gold, now envision the gold color shimmering throughout your body. Exhales as it fades away. Notice how you feel? Do you feel relaxed, peaceful, energized?

BALANCING TIME AND SPACE Can I encourage you to create a ritual for your day? To dedicate a time and specific space to self-care—a welcomed habit that at first softly whispers in your ear, “Come and use this time and space.” Eventually with some dedication, it comes to feel like such an essential part of your day— as necessary as the air you breathe. In the beginning, I often felt awkward or guilty for taking this “me” time, and there were days I let other things become priority. However, I am proof in the pudding that the carvedout commitment to caring for body and soul pays back in huge dividends of energy, clarity, and joy—more than enough to nur-ture oneself and still have plenty to share.

For upcoming workshops visit www.elizabethirvine.com

WHAT’S NEXT STARTS NOW.

All of us are going through something different, but wondering the same thing: “What’s my next step?” We’re helping people get through unexpected challenges and come out the other side even stronger. Now’s the time to regain certainty and confidence. Let’s connect and start planning what’s next for you. LET’S GE T STARTED Jennifer Steil, CFP®, ChFC®, CLU®, RICP® Wealth Management Advisor jennifersteil.nm.com 07-1011 © 2019 Northwestern Mutual is the marketing name for The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company (NM), Milwaukee, WI (life and disability insurance, annuities, and life insurance with long-term care benefits) and its subsidiaries. Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC (NMIS) (securities), a subsidiary of NM, broker-dealer, registered investment adviser and member FINRA and SIPC. Jennifer Steil is an Insurance Agent(s) of NM. Jennifer Steil is a Registered Representative(s) of NMIS. Jennifer Steil is a Representative of Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company®, (NMWMC) Milwaukee, WI (fiduciary and fee-based financial planning services), a subsidiary of NM and federal savings bank. All NMWMC products and services are offered only by properly credentialed Representatives who operate from agency offices of NMWAC. Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, Certified Financial Planner™ and CFP® (with flame design) in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.

A New Fitness Series and Bike Exhibit Perfect for all ages! thehealthmuseum.org/GEARUP

BOOK BITES

CELEBRATE FALL with these books picked by Valerie Koehler of Blue Willow Bookshop. See more at BlueWillowBookshops.com

Honey

by David Ezra Stein Bear has awoken from his winter nap with only one thing on his mind: honey! While he waits for it, he enjoys warm grass, berries, and rain.

GRAMPS CAMP OCT.23-24, 2020

Leif and Fall by Alison Grant

Leif is a leaf. It is autumn, and Leif is afraid to fall. What will happen when a gust of wind pulls Leif from his branch?

Spend some quality time with your grandchildren in the piney woods of Camp Allen at this overnight retreat. Enjoy hotel style accommodations, three buffet meals, and activities both grandparents and children will love!

RETREAT RATES:

Grandparent $100 Child (6-16 yrs old) $60 Retreat begins Friday at 5PM and ends Saturday at 5PM

We’re Going On A Pumpkin Hunt by Mary Wilcox

For more info visit campallen.org or call 936.825.7175

A spooky nighttime hunt for the biggest pumpkin in town results in a fright but also a great adventure. Laugh out loud at the sweet silliness.

The Gold Leaf by Kristen Hall

A gold leaf appears in the forest, and the animals fight over it. When it’s destroyed, they wonder if they’ll ever see another leaf like it.

Alice’s Farm by Maryrose Wood

Alice and the other cottontails combine forces with other animals and humans to help save the Harvey family’s farm from a greedy developer.

Forever Glimmer Creek

by Stacy Hackney

When future filmmaker Rosie, age twelve, decides to make a documentary about the miracles in her town in hopes of connecting with the father she never knew, she discovers what true magic is. October 2020

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family fun | S P O T L I G H T

Dewberry Farm Texas Size Fun For The Whole Family! written by Kimberly Davis-Guerra | photos by Amy Garrett of Pop of Color Photography

Need to get out of town? Dying for the weather to turn cooler and yearn to throw on a sweater? Looking to get outside, but not sure where to go. Well, if you think 115-acres is enough space for you to social distance, then we have the place for you! Dewberry Farm in Brookshire, TX. Kicking off their 18th season this year, Dewberry Farm opened its gates on Sept. 26th to a gorgeous Texas weekend. While the fall temps haven’t quite kicked in yet, they are coming. And you know what that means…….pumpkin patches and corn mazes! And Dewberry Farm has the best corn maze around. Built on 8-acres, this corn maze is specially designed each and every year for hours of fun. Be careful though, your little ones will probably be able to make it through faster than you can! The corn maze is just one of 50+ attractions that the kiddos will want to check out. All the rides are designed around pieces that can be found on a farm. These attractions and rides are unlike anything you can find anywhere else. Plan on spending many hours chasing the kids from the pumpkin patch to the

houston family magazine

October 2020

petting zoo to the gigantic slide and back! Don’t worry about the kids getting hungry while you are there. They have lots of great food for all ages to enjoy. Be sure to pick up some fresh lemonade and yummy BBQ! Save room for dessert, because there are lots to choose from. My son’s favorite is the fudge! Did I mention, you will definitely want to have your camera handy for this excursion. There are SOOO many photo ops your kids’ cheeks are going to get tired from all of the smiling they are going to do! The pumpkin patch is an obvious choice, but be sure not to miss the pumpkin house! It’s amazing. Whatever your fancy, this place is a must for at least one of your fall weekends!

TICKETS

Discounted Friday tickets for $18 Weekend pass for $29.95 Season pass for $59.95 for unlimited visits! Discounts available for Seniors age 60+, Military and First Responder families, groups of 15+, Always Free Admission for children age 2 and under. Free Parking!

Season Dates:

Sept. 26 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Nov. 15, 2020

Hours:

Saturdays: 10am - 6 pm. November 7, 14 10am - 9 pm. October 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 Sundays: 11 am - 6 pm. Advance reservations are required this year. Daily attendance is limited to 50% due to COVID-19 mandates. Reservations are first come, first serve basis. If you are not able to visit one weekend, please try for another! Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worth the trip!

www.dewberryfarm.com

October 2020

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

the big to do Pirate Ship Museum

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Houston Family Kid Ambassadors

Cameron, Emily, Noelle, Eva, Charlotte, Tatum, Jayson, Bailey, Eshaan, Lucas, Trevion Photos by Heart & Lens Photography | www.heartandlens.com houston family magazine

October 2020

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All events listed are FREE unless otherwise noted.

2020 Texas Renaissance Festival Schedule OKTOBERFEST October 3-4 1001 DREAMS October 10-11 ROMAN BACCHANAL October 17-18 PIRATE ADVENTURE October 24-25 ALL HALLOWS EVE October 31 & November 1 HEROES & VILLAINS November 7-8

Fall is an amazing season; the weather cools down and it’s a wonderful time to spend outdoors with the family. Don’t forget to enjoy some family fun at Texas Renaissance Festival and Dewberry Farm to make those lasting memories. OCTOBER 1 Virtual Storytime at the Blue Willow Bookshop Join Valerie and Leona, our storytime librarian from the Houston Public Library, every Thursday. facebook.com/BlueWillowBooks/live/ Virtual Event 10am. All ages

BARBARIAN INVASION November 14-15

The public rollout of the torpedo bomber includes weekend-long events celebrating its return to the museum collection. lonestarflight.org

Get Your Tickets at www.texrenfest.com

Tomball Fall Festival Bring the family and enjoy the thrill of going through a corn maze and enjoy family friendly activities all day long. tomballcornmaze.com/events 22601 Lutheran Church Rd., Tomball 77377 All day. All ages

Concert in the Park - Fall Series Bring family and friends, chairs and blankets to enjoy live music under the stars. thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov

Northshore Park, 2505 Lake Woodlands Dr., The Woodlands, TX 77381 5:30pm. All ages

OCTOBER 5 Virtual bayou city art festival (October 5 - 11) You will have the chance to bid on art, shop and purchase art directly from our 300 artists, learn hands-on kids activities, watch art and food demonstrations while listening to your favorite festival performances. www.artcolonyassociation.org Virtual All day. All ages

OCTOBER 6

Lone Star Flight Museum 10am. All ages. General admission ticket required.

It’s the 19th year of Texas-sized fun at Dewberry Farm! You’ll find old favorite attractions (the Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch!) and some delightful new ones — plus a whole lotta good things to eat and drink! Wine and beer in the BierGarten this year! dewberryfarm.com Dewberry Farm Every Day. All ages

The Woodlands Family YMCA Virtual Kids Triathlon (thru October 24) Experience the fun and excitement of a triathlon. A Virtual event provides the participant all the fun swag of an inperson event, (Shirt, Bib, Finisher Medal, Results, Awards, etc.) rdavis@ymcahouston.org Virtual. Ages 5–15

Boo on the Boardwalk (thru October) Free events include creepy crafts, trick or treating, costume contests, special performances, and ghoulish fun on Freaky Fridays, Spooky Saturdays, & Scary Sundays. Galveston.com

Tower Slide

TBM Avenger rollout

CELTIC CHRISTMAS November 27-29

TRF will enforce patron mask requirements per the guidelines and mandates of the State of Texas.

Houston Botanic Garden Opening Season (October 2, 3, 4 – Celebrating Asia)

Houston Botanic Garden 9am-5pm. All ages. Weekdays: $12.50 adults, $8 students & children Weekends: $15 adults, $10 students & children

HIGHLAND FLING November 21-22

Please Note: There will be NO gate ticket sales. ALL tickets are DATE SPECIFIC and will need to be purchased in advance.

OCTOBER 2

Oc t ob e r 2 02 0

Kemah Boardwalk 5-10pm. All ages

Boo on the boardwalk (October 2-31) Halloween fun with themed activities for the family, live music, and trick-ortreating every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. kemahboardwalk.com/featuring/boo-onthe-boardwalk Kemah Boardwalk. Al day. All ages

OCTOBER 3 Texas renaissance festival opens October 3rd. Through November 29 Step back into medieval times and enjoy the endless entertainment. www.texrenfest.com All ages; check website for tickets

OCTOBER 4 Bayou Bikers Bikers meet at Market Square Park on the first Sunday of the month for 25- to 40-mile bike rides exploring the waterways of Houston (mountain bikes or bikes with fat tires required). www.marketsquarepark.com Market Square Park 8am. All ages

Virtual Brunch & Books Join local female business owners and discuss the ups and downs of operating a business. We’ll take a deep dive into what it takes to build a business, turning your passion into a full-time job and we will hear the stories on how each owner pivoted their business in the time of COVID-19. facebook.com/midtownHOU/ Virtual 11:30am-1pm. Age: 15+

Virtual Teach You Tuesday Are you looking for classes that inspire, motivate, and teach you? Join in a class to be taught techniques on pumpkin painting, just in time to get into the Halloween spirit. facebook.com/midtownHOU/ Virtual 5:30pm. All ages

Family Storytime and Craft: We are Water Protectors Join the staff for a virtual storytime and make a wave bottle using basic household items. Supplies needed: clear bottle, white vinegar or water, food coloring, canola or baby oil. facebook.com/LevyParkHou/ 10am. All ages

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the big to do | C A L E N D A R O F E V E N T S OCTOBER 7 Music in the Gardens Children partner with their parents and experience rhythm and music principles in a natural outdoor setting in various locations throughout the garden. Classes use Kindermusik curriculum’s songs, instruments, and movement. hcp4.net/parks/mercer Mercer Botanic Gardens 10:30am. Age: 4-5

Homestead Open House Enjoy a look around the park’s historically accurate 1830s Redbud Hill Homestead and Akokisa-Ishak Village. Learn about two very ways of life. Open Wednesdays and Saturdays. www.hcp4.net Jesse H. Jones Park and Nature Center 1-4pm. All ages

OCTOBER 8 Craft: Catching Good Dreams and the Early Bird Make your very own dreamcatcher Let the bad dreams disappear through the web so you can catch a good night’s sleep. Stop by the center and pick up a craft kit. hcp4.net/mhc Mangum-Howell Center

Rock the Row - Fall Series Experience Hughes Landing on scenic Lake Woodlands with live music Thursday evenings! Rock the Row features local and regional bands playing a variety of favorites from classic rock and pop to Motown. thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov Hughes Landing, The Woodlands 7:00pm. All ages

OCTOBER 9

Movies in the Park Bring family and friends for a movie in the park. westutx.gov Colonial Park 7pm. All ages

Yarn Dolls Learn the art of creating a yarn doll for yourself or young ones. Materials are provided. hcp4.net/jones Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center 10am. All ages

Artful Anniversary: “Songs on the Water” with Houston Grand Opera” Grab your party hat, tune in to our website or visit the park on your own, and enjoy the music, dance and art along Houston’s 160-acre award-winning green space. All 5-Year Artful Anniversary programs are free and available online. buffalobayou.org Virtual 7pm. All ages

October Family Fun Series: Robert Greaney Join Galveston Railroad Museum for an after-hours event! guests will be able to take a “haunted” tour of the Anacapa Pullman car. Live music will be featured in the Garden of Steam Courtyard, and local authors will be on hand to sign books. Fun treats will be available. Galveston.com

Ellington Airport, Houston All day. All ages. Ticket prices vary.

houston family magazine

October 2020

Concert in the Park -Flashpoint Bring family and friends, chairs and blankets to enjoy live music under the stars. thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov

Northshore Park, 2505 Lake Woodlands Dr., The Woodlands, TX 77381 5:30pm. All ages

OCTOBER 12 Detective Days in the Gardens There’s mystery afoot take selfguided activity sheets that provide a focused activity, challenging a child’s observational skills and critical thinking. mfah.org

Hughes Landing, The Woodlands 7:00pm. All ages

Bring your chairs and sit back to enjoy a movie under the stars. facebook.com/ events/326696918520571/ Kings Harbor 7:30pm. All ages

OCTOBER 16 Houston Botanic Garden Opening Season (October 16, 17, 18 – Celebrating Africa)

Galveston Railroad Museum 6pm. All ages

OCTOBER 10

and pop to Motown. thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov

Movies Under the Moon: Halloween Edition

Join Galveston Railroad Museum for an after-hours event! Guests will be able to take a “haunted” tour of the Anacapa Pullman car. Live music will be featured in the Garden of Steam Courtyard, and local authors will be on hand to sign books. Fun treats will be available. Galveston.com

OCTOBER 11

One of the top air shows in the United States, this premier Houston event is dedicated to showcasing vintage World War II aircraft, along with the thrills of modern aviation, and has supported a variety of local and national charities during its 35-year history. wingsoverhouston.com

OCTOBER 13

October Family Fun Series: Danielle Reich

Galveston Railroad Museum 6pm. All ages

CAF Wings Over Houston Airshow (October 9-11)

Bayou Bend Gardens All day. All ages

Fall into a Funnel Cake Treat Stop by the center for a sweet treat to dig into. Just the aroma of perfectly fried sweet dough covered with powdered sugar is enough to take you back to childhood memories at the state fair or carnival. hcp4.net/mhc Mangum-Howell Center 11am-1pm. All ages

Family Storytime and Craft: Where’s my mommy Join the staff for a virtual storytime and make a mummy decoration using basic household items. facebook.com/LevyParkHou/ 10am. All ages

OCTOBER 14 Virtual Lunch Bunch: Fabulous Figs! Celebrate regional fig culture with Brazoria County. During this virtual presentation, Stephen will speak on the local and global history of figs, provide tips for tree management, and recommend varieties for home production. facebook.com/pg/ MercerBotanicGardens/events/ Virtual 12pm. Age 12+

Family Day: Sources of Energy In addition to petroleum, learn about nine other energy sources and how each one is important to you at any moment of every day. See if you can put together the energy puzzle and discover how renewable and non-renewable energy affects your life. oceanstaroec.com 11am-3pm. All ages

OCTOBER 15 Rock the Row - Fall Series Experience Hughes Landing on scenic Lake Woodlands with live music Thursday evenings! Rock the Row features local and regional bands playing a variety of favorites from classic rock

Take the family on a stroll among beautiful plants and trees as you engage your senses while discovering the unexpected in Houston’s new living museum for plants and discover an oasis of learning. hbg.org Houston Botanic Garden 9am-5pm. All ages. Weekdays: $12.50 adults, $8 students & children Weekends: $15 adults, $10 students & children

Full Moon Fest Have a spooky good time at our Full Moon Fest. westutx.gov Colonial Park 5:30pm. All ages

October Family Fun Series Join Galveston Railroad Museum for an after-hours event! Guests will be able to take a “haunted” tour of the Anacapa Pullman car. Live music will be featured in the Garden of Steam Courtyard, and local authors will be on hand to sign books. Fun treats will be available. Galveston.com Galveston Railroad Museum 6pm. All ages

OCTOBER 17 Stargazing Spend an evening learning about the planets and stars with the North Houston Astronomy Club. Participants are encouraged to bring telescopes or binoculars. hcp4.net/jones Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center

Fall Festival & a Virtual performance of “The Wizard of Oz” Fall Festival craft packets will be available for pick-up. Some of the activities may be downloaded. Inside each craft packet is an activity book, a tree activity, and a sun/leaf project. A video on how to complete the craft activities will be posted on the FBCL online calendar. fortbend.lib.tx.us First Colony Branch Library All day. Various times. All ages

Oc t ob e r 2 02 0 Volunteer Work Day Join Buffalo Bayou Partnership for community-wide volunteer days at Buffalo Bayou Park happening the third Saturday of each month. buffalobayou.org Buffalo Bayou. Email for more info. volunteer@buffalobayou.org 8:30am. Age: 9+

Artful Anniversary: “Songs on the Water” with Urban Souls Dance Company Grab your party hat, tune in to our website or visit the park on your own, and enjoy the music, dance and art along Houston’s 160-acre award-winning green space. All 5-Year Artful Anniversary programs are free and available online. buffalobayou.org Virtual 7pm. All ages

Kids Thursday- Make a Mask Halloween is just around the corner! If your costume needs a mask- or you just want a super cool mask in general- stop by for a free template you can customize and decorate with our supplies! Houstonlibrary.org Aldine Branch Library 6pm. All ages

Virtual ARToberFest in Galveston Enjoy live music performances, artist demonstrations from the comfort of your own home artoberfest.com Virtual All day. All ages

Galveston Island Shrimp Festival There will be a Gumbo Tasting and competition, following all CDC protocols. Galveston.com Saengerfest Park, Galveston All day. All ages

OCTOBER 18

Concert in the Park Route 66 Band

Hughes Landing, The Woodlands 7:00pm. All ages

Bring family and friends, chairs and blankets to enjoy live music under the stars. thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov

Craft: A Charming Charm Bracelet and Butterfly Photo Holder

Northshore Park, 2505 Lake Woodlands Dr., The Woodlands, TX 77381 5:30pm. All ages

OCTOBER 19 Beginner Spanish I (Virtual) Learn Spanish online with a native speaker at the Barbara Bush Branch Library. hcpl.net

There is something charming about a charm bracelet. Enhance any outfit with the colors of this autumn crystal bracelet kit. hcp4.net/mhc Mangum-Howell Center 11am-1pm. All ages

OCTOBER 23

The National Historic Landmark 1892 Bishop’s Palace takes on a new light with this special moonlight tour. Enjoy a guided tour of all floors, including the typically closed third floor. Complimentary beer and wine will be served on the porch before the tour. Galveston.com

Virtual. 2-3:30pm. Age: Adult

Virtual Teen Book Club Join us as we discuss our favorite fall, mystery, and spooky reads and play a fun game using the books we have on hand. hcpl.net

1892 Bishop’s Palace 8:30pm. All ages

Kingwood Branch Library. email kwteens@hcpl.net for an invite. 4:30pm. For kids in grades 6-12

OCTOBER 20 VIRTUAL Children’s Story Time Virtual sing-a-long and reading. facebook.com/midtownHOU/ Virtual. 11:30am. All Ages

Houston Jazz Festival: Streamed Performances This year’s Jazz Fest opening performance will be The Houston Jazz Collective’s own Shelley Carrol, who has assembled a supergroup of contemporary jazz. milleroutdoortheatre.com

6pm. All ages Family Storytime and Craft: A Color of his Own Join the staff for a virtual storytime and make a lizard using basic household items. facebook.com/LevyParkHou/ 10am. All ages

Moonlight Tour of the 1892 Bishop’s Palace

OCTOBER 24 Galveston Ghost Stories The 1838 Menard House, serves as your host for a tour and talk of some of the island’s most haunted history. Complementary beer and wine will be served on the porch before the tour. Galveston.com 1838 Menard House 7pm. All ages

Celebrate Bats! Kick-off Bat Week with a family-friendly celebration of bats. Explore a replica of the oldest known bat fossil in the world, marvel at the intricacies of a real bat skeleton, listen to chirping bat echoes, take home bat-themed kids’ crafts, and more. hcp4.net/parks/mercer Mercer Botanic Gardens. 9-11am. All ages

S E E E V E N M O R E FA M I LY F R I E N D LY E V E N T S I N O U R ONLINE EVENTS CALENDAR! houstonfamilymagazine.com/event-directory/

OCTOBER 21 Music in the Gardens

Bayou Bend Family Days: Let it Grow An afternoon of fun and entertainment awaits! Find activities, games, demonstrations, and performances throughout the gardens and historic mansion. Enjoy tours of the first floor of the house, hosted by volunteers from Houston Junior Woman’s Club. mfah.org/calendar/series/bayou-bendfamily-days Bayou Bend Gardens 1-5pm. All ages

Children partner with their parents and experience rhythm and music principles in a natural outdoor setting in various locations throughout the garden. Classes use Kindermusik curriculum’s songs, instruments, and movement. hcp4.net/parks/mercer Mercer Botanic Gardens 10:30am. Age: 4-5

OCTOBER 22 Rock the Row - Fall Series Experience Hughes Landing on scenic Lake Woodlands with live music Thursday evenings! Rock the Row features local and regional bands playing a variety of favorites from classic rock and pop to Motown. thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov October 2020

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the big to do | C A L E N D A R O F E V E N T S NOW EXHIBITING | MUSEUM CALENDAR

Pumpkin Patch Train Ride (October 24 & 25)

Saengerfest Park Mini-Monster Bash

Children go in search of the perfect pumpkin and do a little trick or treating. Tiny boos and ghouls will enjoy trick-ortreating on our very own “Trick or Treat Street.”

Families and children of all ages will be welcomed to take part in a variety of Halloween-themed events and activities. Galveston.com

Each child receives one pumpkin to take home! texasstaterailroad.net/events/pumpkinpatch/ At the Rusk, TX Train Depot Trains will depart at 10:00am, 1:00pm, 4:00pm. All ages. Ticket prices vary

2nd Annual Fall Festival

Houston Museum of Natural Science photo: Brandy Dykes photography

MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS HOUSTON

mfah.org

Temporary Hours of Operation

Wednesday 11am-5pm, Thursday 11am-9pm, Friday & Saturday 11am6pm, Sunday 12:30pm- 6pm Monday- closed except selected holidays, Tuesday – closed

Radical: Italian Design 1965–1985, The Dennis Freedman Collection This exhibition examines Italy’s postwar explosion of disruptive design. Radical: Italian Design 1965–1985 presents furniture, lighting design, architectural models, paintings, and other objects drawn from the landmark collection of Dennis Freedman. Through November 1, 2020

Glory of Spain: Treasures from the Hispanic Society Museum & Library The collections of the New York–based Hispanic Society Museum & Library focus on the art and culture of Spain, Portugal, Latin America, and the Philippines, from antiquity to the early 20th century.

HOUSTON MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCE

hmns.org

9am-5pm Mon-Sun

Cockrell Butterfly Center

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

Mandela: Struggle for Freedom The U.S. premiere of Mandela: Struggle for Freedom, a rich sensory experience of imagery, soundscape, digital media and objects, explores the earthshaking fight for justice and human dignity in South Africa – and its relevance to issues of today. Through January 3, 2020

houston family magazine

Dress your pups up in their cutest or spookiest costume to participate in a costume contest. Enjoy games and local vendors. cityofkaty.com

Katy Dog Park 9-11am. All ages. Entry into the event is a donation of dog food OR a donation to the American Cancer Society.

Body Worlds & The Cycle of Life

Sterling Ridge Park and Ride, 8001 McBeth Way, The Woodlands, TX 77382 12-6pm. All ages

The exhibit delivers a breathtaking encounter with the inner workings of the human body and shows the effects of poor health, good health and lifestyle choices. October 17 – May 31, 2021

Mars by Luke Jerram Distinctive features, like craters, canyons and Rover landing sites, are displayed in stunning resolution on this unique installation.

Enjoy a spook-tacular drive-thru version of the annual community-favorite Trick or Treat Trail! thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/

Tricks & Treats Among the Trees Learn about some of the different animals associated with Halloween. Programs will include Creepy Crawly Critters programs and evening Nature Hikes. Goodie bags will be provided for registered children. Call for times and more information. hcp4.net/jones

Through October 7

Jesse h. Jones Park & Nature Center Throughout the day

THE HEALTH MUSEUM

Artful Anniversary: Performances by DACAMERA

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

GEAR UP: The Science of Bikes This interactive exhibition tells the story of the bicycle from inception to present day. Visitors learn how bikes work; what the history/evolution of the bike is; the science and technology behind the machine; and how bikes have impacted our culture. Through May 19, 2021

October 2020

Howl-O-Ween

Trick or Treat Trail Drive-Thru Event

www.thehealthmuseum.org

hmh.org

32818 Tamina Rd., Magnolia 10am-2pm. All ages

Embark on a tropical adventure in a living butterfly habitat! The rainforest conservatory, complete with thousands of live butterflies, tropical plants and a zen waterfall is enjoyed by guests of all ages.

Through January 3, 2020

HOLOCAUST MUSEUM

Trunk or Treat, Crafts, Games, Kids Situational Awareness Lesson “Tricky People”. Fun Free Community Event for The Whole Family! facebook.com/events/295445518556367

Grab your party hat, tune in to our website or visit the park on your own, and enjoy the music, dance and art along Houston’s 160-acre award-winning green space. All 5-Year Artful Anniversary programs are free and available online. buffalobayou.org Virtual 7pm. All ages

4th Annual ARTumn Fest at CityCentre (October 24-25) Stop by to enjoy this art festival for live music, family fun, and a variety of artistic vendors. citycentrehouston.com City Centre 11am-6pm

Saengerfest Park, Galveston 1pm. All ages

Bike Around the Bay (October 24 & 25) This two-day, 170-mile ride completes a full circle around scenic Galveston Bay and proceeds go towards protecting this vital natural resource. Galveston.com Galveston Bay, 717 Logistics Drive, Baytown All day. Age: 10+

Movie under the moon: How to Train Your Dragon Bring your family, friends and lawn chairs to the Plaza to enjoy a free Movie Under the Moon brought to you by our friends at First Colony Church of Christ! sugarlandtownsquare.com/events/ Sugarland Town Square 7:15pm. All ages

OCTOBER 25 Concert in the Park - Morgan McKay (Country/Blues) Bring family and friends, chairs and blankets to enjoy live music under the stars. thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov

Northshore Park, 2505 Lake Woodlands Dr., The Woodlands, TX 77381 5:30pm. All ages

OCTOBER 26 BooFest Join the Festivities and savor candy at every booth, enjoy 2 bobbing for apples tubs, a mini pumpkin patch, bouncy house, shopping and music and a costume contest. facebook.com/ events/854405474734289/ Kingwood Town Center Park, 8 N. main St. Kingwood Dr. 4-9pm. All ages

OCTOBER 27 Family Storytime and Craft: Fletcher and the Falling Leaves Join the staff for a virtual storytime and make a leaf bookmark using basic household items. facebook.com/LevyParkHou/ 10am. All ages

OCTOBER 28 Waugh Bridge Bat Colony An estimated 300,000 Mexican free-tailed bats emerge from the Waugh Bridge every evening at dusk to find food. Buffalobayou.org Waugh Bridge. Dusk. All ages

Oc t ob e r 2 02 0 OCTOBER 29 Rock the Row - Fall Series Experience Hughes Landing on scenic Lake Woodlands with live music Thursday evenings! Rock the Row features local and regional bands playing a variety of favorites from classic rock and pop to Motown. thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov Hughes Landing, The Woodlands 7:00pm. All ages

Harvest Moon Regatta The 150-nautical mile race begins at the Pleasure Pier (Flagship Hotel Pier) in Galveston and follows the Texas coast to Port Aransas when the night sky is dominated by the beautiful harvest moon. Galveston.com Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier Dusk. All ages

OCTOBER 30 Houston Botanic Garden Opening Season (October 30, 31, Nov. 1 Celebrating the Mediterranean) Take the family on a stroll among beautiful plants and trees as you engage your senses while discovering the unexpected in Houston’s new living museum for plants and discover an oasis of learning. hbg.org Houston Botanic Garden 9am-5pm. All ages. Weekdays: $12.50 adults, $8 students & children Weekends: $15 adults, $10 students & children

Special Event: Honk for a Treat Mangum-Howell Center is calling all superheroes to pick up their mask and sweet treats. Wear your favorite costume and we will help you save the day when you honk for your treat. hcp4.net/mhc Mangum-Howell Center 1-3pm. All ages

Costume Karaoke Grab your costume and warm up those vocals, because it’s Costume Karaoke time in the Plaza! sugarlandtownsquare.com Sugarland Town Square 7:30pm

OCTOBER 31 Halloween in the Hangar 2020 has been such a Fright! But Halloween in the Hangar will be Fun! This Halloween have a spooky good time among some incredible aircraft. lonestarflight.org/halloween-hangarback Lone Star Flight Museum 11am-1pm. All ages. Kids under 12 get in free. All activities are free with general admission.

Monster Mash Trick-or-Treat Stop Celebrate Halloween! Trick or treating with dressed-up recreation staff, inflatables, games, crafts, costume contests and more! It will be a spooktacular time. hellowoodlands.com/calendar/

P U M P K I N PAT C H E S & FA L L F E S T I VA L S

Rob Fleming Recreation Center, 6464 Creekside Forest Dr, The Woodlands, TX 77389

Tree T’s Use fallen leaves and fabric paints to make an artistic autumn T-shirt. Participants bring a plain white T-shirt. hcp4.net/jones Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center 10am. All ages

Live from Jones Hall: Ghosts, Ghoul and Goblins Don your costume and gather the whole family for a morning of haunted musical fun with music from Harry Potter, Pirates of the Caribbean, Ghostbusters, and more! Watch from home with this special Halloween-morning livestream. Get into a spooky spirit with kid-friendly, concert-themed activities, delivered right to your inbox! houstonsymphony.org Virtual. 11am. All ages

Trick or Treat Family Event Bring your kids to this family friendly event! The shop owners will be passing out candy to our little trick or treaters! So get dressed up and get some extra use out of that costume right here in Old Town Spring! www.discoverspringtexas.com Old Town Spring 11am-4pm. All ages

Trick or Treat Trail Calling all ghosts and goblins! Trick-orTreaters of all ages are invited out. Local businesses and organizations will line the “trail” to pass out candy and other goodies. pearlandtx.gov Independence Park, 3449 Pearland Parkway 5:30pm. All ages

1838 Menard House Trick or Treating Galveston’s oldest residence opens its gates for one night of ghostly fun. Bring your kids by for treats. Be sure to bring your ghost hunting equipment! www.galvestonhistory.org 1838 Menard House 5pm. All ages

Magic in the Plaza Houston’s most popular magical variety show featuring magic, juggling, illusions, balancing, singing, dancing, special effects, games, comedy & much, much more. sugarlandtownsquare.com Sugarland Town Square 7pm. All ages

Dewberry Farm photo: Pop of Color Photography, Amy Garrett Dewberry Farm (thru October 31st)

The Great Pumpkin Hunt (October 29)

Enjoy the thrill of choosing the perfect pumpkin and delight in the acreage of kid activities and open space. dewberryfarm.com

Come dressed in your Halloween best and hunt for toys, candy, & prize filled pumpkins! bellairetx.gov/901/The-Great-PumpkinHunt

7705 FM 362, Brookshire Every Day. All ages

Zoo Boo at the Houston Zoo (thru November 1st) We’re inviting all little ghouls and goblins to celebrate fall festivities at the Houston Zoo for our month-long Zoo Boo presented by LyondellBasel! Costumes are strongly encouraged. Houstonzoo.org Houston Zoo All day. All ages

Pumpkin Patch Express (thru October 31st) Unleash the kids in a Pumpkin Patch full of games, hayrides and spooky tunes. Trick-or-treating on a “Trick or Treat Street” and pick out a pumpkin for jacko-lantern texasstaterailroad.net/events/pumpkinpatch/

Texas State Railroad, Rusk depot to the Maydelle Turntable. 535 Park Rd 76, Rusk, TX 75785 9am. All ages

Bellaire Great Lawn, 7008 S. Rice Ave. 4-5:30pm Age: 10 and under

31st Annual St. Andrew’s Craft (thru October 31st) Fair and Pumpkin Patch Get a jump start on holiday shopping with local vendors and artisans. Don’t forget to stop by the pumpkin patch.

pumpkinchurch.com/2019-craftfair.html St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 2535 East Broadway, Pearland All ages

Pumpkin Patch and Fall Festival at Grace Methodist Church (October 13- 31) Bring the kiddos for some traditional family fall fun. graceintheheights.org

Grace United Methodist Church, 1245 Heights Blvd Monday - Saturday 8am to 7pm Sunday 1 pm to 7 pm. All ages

Nature Discovery Center’s Pumpkin Patch & Fall Festival (October 17-18) Plump pumpkins, family portraits, fun raffle items, and a festive pumpkin decorating contest will ensure your family can celebrate fall with typical Pumpkin Patch comforts, but without the crowds! naturediscoverycenter.org/event/ pumpkin-patch/ Russ Pitman Park All ages

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Now offering COVID-19 testing! Use our virtual care platform to see and speak directly to one of our providers from the comfort of your own home. We know that when your child is sick, having immediate access to a trusted and convenient after-hours resource is critical. You can now access the same care your little one experiences in our clinics straight from your phone.

COVID-19 Clinic Hours Weekdays 3 p.m. - 7 p.m. Weekends 12 p.m. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 4 p.m.

NightLightPediatrics.com/Telemed Telemedicine Hours* Weekdays / Weekends 6 a.m. - midnight *Telemedicine is available for newborns to 21-year-old patients all across Texas. Shouston ugar Land - Cy-Fair - Pearland family magazine October 2020 42

Your night, made brighter.

Humble - Webster - Tanglewood - Garden Oaks - Katy

Generosity of space. Millions of twinkling lights and our soaring 48-foot Christmas tree. Hundreds of enhanced cleaning protocols. Boundless family-friendly holiday events, from snow tubing and ice skating to our brand-new I Love Christmas Movies™ immersive pop-up experience featuring ELF™, THE POLAR EXPRESS™, and more! November 13 – January 3 | ChristmasAtGaylordTexan.com ELF and all related characters and elements © & ™ New Line Productions, Inc. (s20) · THE POLAR EXPRESS and all related characters and elements © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (s20)

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43 houston family magazine

SEEING A PRIMARY CARE DOCTOR Is Still Important

For everything from annual checkups to managing chronic conditions, taking care of your health should always be a priority. Houston Methodist primary care doctors are still available to provide personalized care for you and your family â&#x20AC;&#x201D; safely. We offer a variety of convenient ways to get care from us, from same-day sick visits to extended hours at select locations. And, you can be confident that we are taking every necessary precaution to keep you safe during your visit, including: Screening all patients, and seeing COVID-19 patients virtually only â&#x20AC;&#x201D; allowing us to treat everyone safely

Ensuring social distancing in waiting rooms

Wearing masks while providing care

Offering video visits with your doctor

Enhanced cleaning of equipment and surfaces

Adding evening and Saturday hours to space out appointments

houstonmethodist.org/pcg Call or text: 713.394.6724

houston family magazine

October 2020

Houston Family Magazine October 2020 Issue

Articles inside

Meditation 101 A workshop to learn the basics

Fun Ways To Teach Our Kids About Civic Responsibility

Helping Kids Learn to Make Good Decisions

The History of Spooky Fairy Tales

Helping kids focus and stay focused during remote instruction

Dia de los Muertos: Celebrating The Day of the Dead

Halloween Alternatives to Trick or Treating

Organizing Kids' School Papers & Art Projects

Protecting Children and Teens from the Stress of Cyberbullying