Kid's Directory Winter Edition 2025

Kid’s Directory of Central Arkansas of Central Arkansas

Winter Edition 2025 | KidCentralAR.com

Expert Pediatric Care for Every Stage.

Our staff and providers of the Baptist Health Pediatric ClinicConway are dedicated to delivering high-quality pediatric care in a friendly and compassionate environment backed by the state’s most trusted health care system.

Call (501) 358-6892 to schedule your child’s appointment today!

Conveniently located at 625 United Drive on the campus of Baptist Health Medical Center-Conway, directly behind the hospital.

baptist-health.com

5611 Kavanaugh Blvd. in the Heights (501) 280-0553 paintedpigstudio.com

Pleasant Ridge • 11525 Cantrell #912 • 501-414-0804 Please say you saw it in Kid’s Directory • 3

OUR ADVERTISERS Arkansas Childrens Hospital, Nutrition........................ 25 Arkansas Childrens Hospital, Research........................ 30 American Heart Association.................................... 26, 27 Arkansas Skatium......................................................... 14 Arkansas Soccer Club.................................................... 10 Ballet Arkansas.............................................................. 11 Baptist Health..................................................................2 Barksdale Federal Credit Union......................................6 Camp Aldersgate.......................................................... 12 Central Arkansas Pediatric Dentistry............................ 31 Dancers' Corner............................................................ 15 DHS – Better Beginnings.............................................8, 9 Duck Duck Goose Consignment......................................5 Fancyful............................................................................7 Girl Scouts..................................................................... 32 Grow Learning.............................................................. 30 Jacksonville Parks................................................... 14, 15 Jax's Gym...................................................................... 29 Lake Nixon.................................................................... 16 Lisa Academy...................................................................6 Little Rock Zoo..................................................................7 Old Statehouse Museum................................................6 Quality Child Care......................................................... 11 Salon Jadore................................................................. 17 The Painted Pig................................................................3 Yours Truly Consignment.............................................. 28

PLUS Health: Adopting Healthier Food Habits..................... 18

Published by Kid’s Directory, LLC A KD Consulting Company Information: (501) 975-6776 kat@kidcentralar.com KidCentralAR.com

This Directory is copyrighted and no part may be reproduced without permission of the publisher.

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YOUTH ACCOUNTS!

Join our Barksdale Buddies!

bfcu.org | 800-647-2328 Federally Insured By NCUA.

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Character Entertainment FANCYFUL.COM

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Discover the value of a yearly membership for your family.

Save now: LittleRookZoo.com

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NEW YEAR RESOLUT

Help your child m Getting ready to start school Families help their child prepare for school from birth. Daily interactions with family and other caregivers promote learning.

Talking, reading, and playing may seem simple but are critical activities that help children’s minds and behaviors develop.

If your child or grandchild is starting kindergarten in Fall 2025, it’s time to focus on their readiness for school.

Kick off 2025 with your guide to kindergarten readiness Better Beginnings provides hands-on kindergarten readiness activities for fun family learning.

The Getting Ready for Kindergarten Calendar guides families, week-by-week, with activities and suggested reading that help children learn literacy, science, and math basics. Creative

Sponsored editorial, written by Kelli Hilburn, Better Beginnings Program Administrator 8 • Find us online at KidCentralAR.com

Better Beginnings is administered by the Arkansas Department of Education.

TION:

make a confident start in school. projects help them develop the fine motor control needed to hold a pencil correctly and use scissors – essential skills for kindergarten.

Activities in the calendar also encourage children to develop self-help, problem-solving and social skills.

We encourage families to partner with their child’s early educators to help their child start kindergarten with confidence.

Looking for your early education partner?

Click the orange banner at ARBetterBeginnings.com to find Better Beginnings star-rated quality early care and education providers who help children get ready for kindergarten through age-appropriate and positive learning experiences.

The Kindergarten Readiness Checklist helps families discover areas of development their child may need help with before starting school. All resources are free and available online for download.

Scan the code to discover kindergarten readiness resources in the Better Beginnings Family Resource Library.

Kindergarten Readiness Indicator Checklist for Families

Pre-Kindergarten Suggested Reading

Kindergarten readiness occurs when families, schools, and communities support a healthy foundation for school success and lifelong learning.

Rhymes and Words That Sound Alike

All children grow and develop at their own pace. The Kindergarten Readiness Indicator Checklist identifies the skills, knowledge, and behaviors that help children be prepared to enter school with confidence. Use this checklist to focus on the areas you can help your child with to be ready for kindergarten.

If you have concerns about your child’s development, contact your primary care physician or the county health department in your community.

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Skills Measured at Kindergarten Entry ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ These skills are often formally assessed by kindergarten teachers early in the year to determine a student’s readiness and the support they will need to succeed.

Language Development ❏ Understands an increasing number and variety of words for objects, actions, and ways to describe things ❏ Comprehends who, what, why, and where questions Emergent Literacy ❏ Decides if two words rhyme (e.g., cat and bat) ❏ Recognizes and names letters, especially in their own name or on road signs, storefronts, and restaurant signs ❏ Produces the correct sounds for some of the letters of the alphabet ❏ Writes some letters correctly, especially those in their own name ❏ Holds books right-side up; turns pages one at a time from front to back

Barnyard Banter by Denise Fleming Jamberry by Bruce Degen My Very First Mother Goose by Iona Opie, Rosemary Wells, illustrator The Napping House by Audrey Wood, Don Wood, illustrator Read-aloud Rhymes for the Very Young by Jack Prelutsky, Arnold Lobel, illustrator The Random House Book of Mother Goose by Arnold Lobel Silly Sally by Audrey Wood There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly by Simms Taback Tomie dePaola’s Mother Goose by Tomie dePaola The Wheels on the Bus by Maryanne Kovalski

Counting

The Doorbell Rang by Pat Hutchins The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed by Eileen Christelow Gingerbread Boy by Paul Galdone Mr. Gumpy’s Outing by John Burningham Roll Over! A Counting Song by Merle Peek

About Colors and Shapes

A Color of His Own by Leo Lionni Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin, Jr., Eric Carle, illustrator Little Blue and Little Yellow by Leo Lionni Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh Mouse Shapes by Ellen Stoll Walsh Mixed: A Colorful Story by Arree Chung When I Build With Blocks by Niki Alling

Mathematical Thinking ❏ Says numbers in order up to 20 ❏ Compares whether the objects in one group are more than, less than, or the same as objects in another group ❏ Counts objects using one number for each object ❏ Recognizes up to four objects in a group without counting ❏ Recognizes numerals 1-10 ❏ Sorts objects by color, shape, and size ❏ Recognizes and repeats patterns such as triangle, square, triangle, square ❏ Measures and compares the height of objects ❏ Arranges objects from shortest to longest (e.g., shoe sizes or different lengths of yarn) ❏ Recognizes and names familiar shapes such as a square, triangle, circle, or rectangle ❏ Understands and uses words such as inside, outside, up, down, over, or under

Imagination and Problem Solving

The Carrot Seed by Ruth Kraus, Crockett Johnson, illustrator Growing Vegetable Soup by Lois Ehlert If You Give a Pig a Pancake by Laura Numeroff, Felicia Bond, illustrator What If Everybody Did That? by Ellen Javernick and Colleen Madden

Friends and Family

Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman Ask Mr. Bear by Marjorie Flack Families are Different by Nina Pellegrini Happy Birthday Moon by Frank Asch Peter’s Chair by Ezra Jack Keats The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant, Stephen Gammell, illustrator

Getting Ready for Kindergarten

Going to School

The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn Timothy Goes to School by Rosemary Wells My First Day of School by Michelle Medlock Adams What Should Danny Do? by Adir Levy & Ganit Levy I Wish You More by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld

Scan or click to get the Getting Ready for Kindergarten Calendar for families.

ARBetterBeginnings.com 1-501-320-6161 1

Click here for free literacy tips and activities that make learning fun.

A calendar of family activities | August – July Click here to download the Getting Ready for Kindergarten Calendar for Families.

ARBetterBeginnings.com • 1-501-320-6161

Click Kindergarten Readiness in our website footer to get these family tools.

ARBetterBeginnings.com • 501-320-6161 Please say you saw it in Kid’s Directory • 9

WINTER Indoor Camp West Little Rock at

Est. 2003

www.ArkansasSoccerClub.com or call 501-954-9549 arkansassoccerclub@yahoo.com 10 • Find us online at KidCentralAR.com

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Camp Aldersgate: Camp WhereAldersgate: Families Thrive &

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Screens Take a Thrive Back Seat Re Where Families & kid Screens Take a Back Seat

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For over 77 years, Camp Aldersgate has been a cornerstone of connectionth and inclusion for its community. Founded in 1947 by a group of women For over 77 years, Camp Aldersgate has been a cornerstone of connection from the Little Rock Methodist Council, the camp began on a 100-acreA and inclusion for its community. Founded in 1947 by a group of women turkey farm. Initially created for interracial fellowship, church gatherings,wi from the Little Rock Methodist Council, the camp began on a 100-acre and youth and seniorcreated programs, Camp Aldersgate since grown into a turkey farm.

Initially for interracial fellowship,has church gatherings, Ca unique place dedicated for individuals with special needs. and youth and senior programs, Camp Aldersgate has since grown into a unique place dedicated for individuals with special needs.

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In 1971, Dr. Kelsy Caplinger organized the camp’s first medical summer In 1971, Dr. Caplingerwith organized the Today, camp’s Camp first medical summer program forKelsy 12 children asthma.

Aldersgate hosts program for 12 children with asthma.

Today, Camp Aldersgate hosts camps serving children and young adults with a variety of medical S m camps serving and young adults with a variety of medical conditions, from children muscular dystrophy and diabetes to spina bifida and ou conditions, from muscular dystrophy and Kota diabetes to spina bifida and of cardiac conditions.

It also offers inclusive Camps, where children cardiac conditions.

It also offers inclusive Kota Camps, where children of all abilities can share the experience with a friend or sibling. all abilities can share the experience with a friend or sibling.

While summer camp remains at its heart, Camp Aldersgate provides While summer camp remains at its heart, Camp Aldersgate provides year-round programming with spring and fall Weekend Camps, making year-round programming with spring and fall Weekend Camps, making it ita ahub for families familiesthroughout throughout the year. of only hubofofopportunity opportunity for the year.

As As oneone of only eight Association-accreditedcamps camps Arkansas—and eightAmerican American Camp Camp Association-accredited in in Arkansas—and the only one specifically designed for individuals with special needs—it20 the only one specifically designed for individuals with special needs—it continues forinclusion inclusionand and excellence. continuesto toset setthe the standard standard for excellence.

Beyondits itsrich rich history, history, Camp something increasingly Beyond Camp Aldersgate Aldersgateoffers offers something increasingly rare in today’s tech-driven world: the chance to unplug.

Outdoor activities rare in today’s tech-driven world: the chance to unplug. Outdoor activities like fishing, ropes courses, and exploring nature not only give kids a break like fishing, ropes courses, and exploring nature not only give kids a break fromscreens screensbut butalso also foster foster creativity, and social connection. from creativity,confidence, confidence, and social connection.

Kids Directory Article 2025.indd 1

Kids Directory Article 2025.indd 1

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For parents, Camp Aldersgate provides peace of mind. With experienced staff, accessible facilities, and a deep commitment to its mission, the camp offers: For parents, Camp Aldersgate provides peace of mind. With experienced staff, accessible facilities, and a and deepcaregivers commitment its knowing mission, the Respite and Support: Parents can to relax their camp offers: kids are cared for by trained staff.

Respite and Support: Parents andgain caregivers can relax&knowing their Skill-Building Activities: Campers independence self-confidence kids are cared for by trained staff. through adaptive activities.

Skill-Building Campers gain independence self-confidence A CommunityActivities: of Understanding: Campers are able&to relate to peers through adaptive activities. with similar life experiences.

A Community of Understanding: Campers are able where to relate to peers Camp Aldersgate is more than a camp—it’s a place campers can with similar life experiences. create lasting memories and parents can recharge. Ready to unplug and connect? Let the journey begin.

Camp Aldersgate is more than a camp—it’s a place where campers can create memories and parents can recharge. Ready to unplug and Scanlasting to learn SUMMER 2025 SCHEDULE: connect?

Let the begin. more about journey Diabetes Camp: June 8-13 our programs!

Muscular Dystrophy Camp: June 15-20 Scan to learn SUMMER 2025June SCHEDULE: Kota 1 Camp: 22-27 more about Diabetes Camp: June 8-13 Kota 2 Camp: July 6-11 our programs!

Muscular Dystrophy June 15-20 Young Adult Camp:Camp: July 13-18 Kota 1 Camp: June 22-27 Spinal Disorders Camp: July 20-25 Kota 2 Camp: July 6-11 Chronic Health Conditions Camp: July 27-August 1 Young Adult Camp: July27-August 13-18 Audiology Camp: July 1 Spinal Disorders Camp: July 20-25 Health Conditions Camp: July 27-August 1 2000 Aldersgate Rd. Chronic Little Rock, AR 72205 501-225-1444 Audiology Camp: July 27-August 1 2000 Aldersgate Rd. Little Rock, AR 72205

501-225-1444

s k n.y s k n.

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NEW classes begin January 20 Age 2-3, Parent-Child Class Thurs. 5:15 - 5:45 pm

Age 3-4, Ballet & Tap Sat. 10:00 - 10:45 pm

Limited availability in classes for ages 5 & up.

Open enrollment for Adult classes! Drop in anytime.

B a l l e t | P o i n t e | Ta p | J a z z | M o m m y & M e

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6215 Ranch Drive Little Rock, AR 72223

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feature

getting back to

BASICS Adopting good food habits for healthy families.

by Lisa Fischer Journalist and Certified Health Coach lisafischersaid.com

“When my health started tanking with my third child, I started looking at food dyes and eating real, whole foods. I noticed that European and U.S. ingredient labels are vastly different.”

Social media and the political messaging of the past few years have affected our psyche in many ways. Besides introducing us to a catchy TikTok dance here or there, they have awakened parents to the role of what their kids eat, how their eating influences their behavior, and, more importantly, how they navigate health and avoid chronic illness.

That was photographer May Talbert’s impetus to solve the riddle of illness with her 6-month-old son. Talbert is the mom of three boys and the wife of a pastor at Christ Community Church in Little Rock. Active children and a busy family life motivated her to keep healthy options on the table for her family. Still, more importantly, it was about mitigating disease and trying to find out why her son was sick. When her first son had “so many food allergies,” she figured she would need to be proactive about their diet to get to the bottom of it. She is thankful she found a pediatric allergist at Arkansas Children’s. He’s Dr. Robert Pesek. He and his team were able to get the initial allergies diagnosed, but as a mom, it had to go deeper than allergy testing and doctor’s visits.

She said, “In the beginning, I spent so much time just detoxing him. I used detox baths to help him through that process.” When he had a “huge reaction at 6 months of age with all-over eczema, I had to work really hard. Even Dr. Pesek was impressed with my son’s ability to reverse his allergies.” It took plenty of family involvement and getting back to nature.

She continued, “Our family’s lifestyle helped heal him. We prioritize sleep; they don’t play video games until the weekend. They play outside. I don’t use sunscreen on my kids either because of its toxic ingredients, and the sun isn’t dangerous.” Her boys are active 10, 8, and 7-year-olds.

She started noticing her health issues around seven years ago. She said, “When my health started tanking with my third child, I started looking at food dyes and eating real, whole foods. I noticed that European and U.S. ingredient labels are vastly different.” It is almost cliche now for the many travelers and those in the health space who say that when traveling to Europe, people don’t have GI distress or other immunological reactions from the foods there, including oft-inflammatory bread and wine. Is that a coincidence? Talbert doesn’t think so.

“My youngest son would be medicated if any other family raised him. But we noticed how his behavior changed when we removed food dyes, and we began adding magnesium to his diet to help calm him,” she said.

Talbert Family, Little Rock, AR

Ingredients banned by the European Union and allowed in the United States include titanium dioxide, which is found in cereals, candy, and some alcoholic beverages; BHA and BHT, which are found in some frozen foods and certain ultra-processed foods like Bugles and Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix; rBST, a product found in many American-sold dairy products; and artificial food dyes—the very dyes that Talbert says affected her child.

So, if behavior is altered by food, what else? Cancer research facility MD Anderson in Houston, Texas, says there is a link between certain foods and cancer. Clinical dietician Alyssa Tatum listed them on their website, including alcohol (a type I carcinogen) and ultra-processed foods.

So what do their kids eat?

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“Tis the season to eat a bunch of cancer-causing and behaviorinterrupting foods.” She said, “Sure, they eat candy on Halloween, and birthdays are typically with a cake,” but she makes cakes with no preservatives and uses almond flour when possible. Almond flour has no gluten, and gluten can cause inflammation for many people.

Then, she challenged herself and her family. “For six months now, we have been solely eating a carnivore diet, which is meat-based, and the kids eat what we put in front of them, so they eat a lot of grilled meats and fruits, and they love that. When you don’t overload them with Oreos, they realize fruit is so sweet and love it.” She said they did that to help reduce or reverse some other conditions.

For the mom, dad, or guardian thinking, " How can I do this?”

The answer is that it’s in your mindset. Talbert said, “I control the controllable, which is my home.” She said they eat popcorn on movie night (they get organic corn kernels from Whole Foods), and she packs their lunches for school. But she gets creative with “beef sticks, lots of protein, almond flour crackers instead of one with lots of unfamiliar ingredients, and she makes what the boys call ‘homemade Lunchables.’

Plus, they eat leftover burger patties, fruit, and lots of electrolytes in their water because they play sports.” Staying educated about what they are eating is very important to Talbert, who steers clear of seed oils, which have been reported to cause many health conditions. Those are highly processed oils, and Talbert prefers things that aren’t. So she cooks with butter, beef tallow, or even lard. These oils come from animals.

Interior designer and mom of three Jessica Bernard admits to using technology for her food education. She uses the Yuka app, which scans the labels at the grocery store and helps her make the best choices for her family.

Bernard Family, Little Rock, AR

Avoiding toxic ingredients is priority number one for her, and the app tells her if something is good, bad, or has hazardous ingredients. She said, “It makes you think about buying certain items. I left the General Mills cereals and went to Cascade Farms for healthier options.” She added, “Reading labels helps a lot, and that app helps. If you can’t pronounce it, it’s probably not good. I use the app for everything, and nobody sponsors it.”

Bernard says her mother began influencing her to make the right food choices when she was younger. Then that segued to eating right when she was pregnant with her first child. Her kids include a 13-year-old stepson, an 11-year-old son, and a one-year-old daughter. Their food choices are what she and her husband, André, like to eat, too. She said, “We always eat organic free-range eggs and some form of protein, mainly bacon, for breakfast.” She uses her design creativity for her pancakes, using organic oat flour and adding banana and a little syrup to sweeten them. She is insistent. The baby “gets no added sugars.” Thankfully, baby girl “likes vegetables including peas, and the boys like green beans and broccoli.” Their dinner is with organic meats, produce, and a healthy carb.

Tonight, “I am cooking a beef stew with vegetables.” She said they hardly eat out and make eating at home a priority.

Juice, once the nectar of the gods, is now maligned among moms on social media. For the Bernard family, “There is no juice for the baby, and with the boys, we limit the juices and have them drink water. Sometimes they want juice, so I get organic pineapple juice and freshly squeezed tangerine juice from Fresh Market.”

It’s more challenging for the older children. But Bernard finds herself teaching her kids. “I tell the big boys the dangers behind certain foods, and I talk to them about many harmful things without trying to scare them. I don’t frighten them about kids who get cancer, but you have to be mindful about what you put in your body. We use the car analogy; we wouldn’t put bad gas in a good car.”

SIGN UP FOR - USDA Food Safety Recalls & Public Health Alerts: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls?f%5B0%5D=year%3A606

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Dr. Amy Beard is both a dietician and a medical doctor who practices functional medicine (getting to the root cause of the illness). She is often asked what to feed kids, which sounds pretty simple. “I tell them to start feeding their kids real food, which means foods in their natural form. I do not hate any food group but prefer eating things like fruits and vegetables seasonally.” She said she prefers children eating whole fruit instead of fruit juice.

The challenge is often with snacks. What does the doctor recommend for that? She said, “Fruits in season, whether berries, apples, oranges, are good options. I found that a great way to get them to increase their vegetable intake is to make very nutritious dips. Maybe it’s hummus or yogurt-based dips, and I often find that Pinterest has a lot of great recipes.”

She does like knowing families are eating grass-fed beef when available or chicken that is pasture-raised. She has been known to say, “You are what you eat EATS.” She is a proponent of local dairy and eggs if they are well tolerated.

“I’m a big fan of making my trail mix for an easy snack. That way, you can put in whatever your child likes, whether nuts or dried berries, and you could even throw in a few good quality dark chocolate chips in there just for a special treat.”

All parents will admit that finding the right eating program for their family is challenging but worth the fight. Start by eating real food and you should see significant changes, including saving money and maybe even making trips to the doctor.

Amy Beard, MD, IFMCP

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IS YOUR KIDDO 8-12 YEARS OLD? THEY MAY QUALIFY FOR A 3 TO 4 VISIT STUDY Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center is seeking volunteers for a study examining the effects of stevia-sweetened beverages on the weight gain of children aged 8 to 12 years.

For more information call us at (501) 364-3309 or email us at ACNCSTUDIES@ARCHILDRENS.ORG Please Pleasesay sayyou yousaw sawititininKid’s Kid’sDirectory Directory• •25 3

Empowering Students Through

SERVICE The LEARNS Act and the American Heart Association’s Challenge Starting with the graduating class of 2026-2027, Arkansas high school students will need to complete 75 hours of community service to graduate, as mandated by Arkansas Code Annotated §6-16-1901. This requirement, part of the LEARNS Act, aims to foster a sense of civic duty and community involvement among students.

One innovative way students can fulfill these hours is through the American Heart Association’s American Heart Challenge. This program not only provides a platform for students to earn community service hours but also equip them with lifesaving skills and the opportunity to contribute to a significant cause.

Students can earn up to 10 hours per year by completing Finn’s Mission online, a component of the American Heart Challenge. This mission teaches Hands-Only CPR (HOCPR), a crucial skill that can save lives in emergencies.

By learning and promoting HOCPR, students become advocates for heart health in their communities, spreading awareness about the importance of immediate response during cardiac events.

Participation in these challenges is often spearheaded by student organizations such as BETA, NHS, and Student Council. These groups play a pivotal role in promoting the programs on campus, encouraging their peers to get involved. Beyond the immediate benefit of fulfilling community service requirements, juniors and seniors who participate are also eligible to apply for scholarships, adding an extra incentive.

The overarching goal of these initiatives is to build a network of lifesavers within local communities. By empowering students with knowledge and skills, the American Heart Association aims to create a ripple effect of awareness and preparedness. Each student trained in HOCPR represents a potential lifesaver, ready to make a difference in critical moments.

Through the LEARNS Act and the American Heart Association’s challenges, Arkansas students are not only meeting graduation requirements but also becoming vital contributors to their communities, one heartbeat at a time.

For more information, contact Tracy Shephard at Tracy.Shephard@heart.org

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❧ Girl Scout Cookie Season is Here!

Sales begin January 10 | Booths open February 21

www.GirlScoutsDiamonds.org/FindCookies

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