MetroFamily Magazine July 2015

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HEADING TO BIG D? Everything you need to know for a kid-friendly weekend in Dallas AN INSIDER’S GUIDE TO FINDING THE PERFECT DAY CARE

Top spots for outdoor music & movies this summer GROW A PASSION FOR PRODUCE with your kids in the kitchen

See our calendar for 176 fabulous events!

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The ultimate OKC family fun

Volume 18, Number 7

METROFAMILY MAGAZINE | JULY 2015

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EDITORIAL

Sarah Taylor–Publisher Hannah Schmitt–Managing Editor Lindsay Cuomo–Calendar Editor Heather Davis, Jennifer Sharpe, Heide Brandes and Erin Page– Contributing Writers Emily Hart, Caroline Cohenour and Hilary Cranford– Contributing Photographers

Experts and local moms sound off on the search for quality child care in the metro

HAVE A STORY OR BIG EVENT? We are all about family activities and fun in the OKC metro. If you have a story to share, let us know!

CONTACT THE TEAM AT 405-601-2081 or email info@metrofamilymagazine.com.

NORTH PENN CREATIVE KIDS LEARNING CENTER. PHOTO BY HILARY CRANFORD

DESIGN & SALES Stacy Noakes–Art Director Callie Collins–Marketing Director Athena Delce, Dana Price & Jessica Misun–Sales Kathy Alberty–Office/Distribution Shelly Sanderson–Business Development Circulation - 35,000 Also available as a digital edition at www.metrofamilymagazine.com Articles and advertisements in MetroFamily do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the magazine or Inprint Publishing, Inc.We do not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors.The acceptance of advertising by MetroFamily does not constitute an endorsement of the products, services, or information.We do not knowingly present any product or service which is fraudulent or misleading in nature.

MetroFamily Magazine is a monthly magazine published by Inprint Publishing, Inc. 725 NW 11th, Suite 204 OKC, OK 73103 Office: 405-601-2081 Fax: 405-445-7509 info@metrofamilymagazine.com ©Inprint Publishing, Inc. 2015, All Rights Reserved.

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NEXT STOP DALLAS Kid-approved destinations worth the drive across the state line.

PLUS...

DON’T MISS ALL THIS

28

GET COOKING Learn how to involve your kids in cooking fresh summer produce.

23

CHILD CARE DIRECTORY See top options for child care in the OKC metro.

7

Special Care Celebrates 30 Years

8

Editor’s Picks: Top Outdoor Music & Movies

14 Real Mom of the Metro: Candice Montes 26 Mom Humor: I’ll Be There for You 32 Calendar of Events

Welcome FROM OUR EDITOR

This month, we help you find the best child care for your family, reveal top stops on a Dallas road trip and give you great recipes kids can help with this summer.

E

verything we do at MetroFamily is meant to strengthen local families. We do that by guiding families to fun things they can do together, highlighting Oklahoma City businesses that treat families right and giving endless inspiration and ideas to make family time more meaningful.

For most kids in the metro, a huge chunk of their day is spent away from their parents at school or day care. The magazine may have overlooked this aspect of family life in the past because our efforts have been so focused on the time families do get to spend together.

However, we’ve recently realized child care is a huge element of family life and something we cannot ignore.

This month, we’re taking a closer look at child care in the Oklahoma City metro. On page 18, find perspectives from local moms and expert advice on overcoming child care challenges and making peace with your day care decision.

On page 23, find figures and

statistics that show the state of child care in our region followed by a special directory of staff-approved child care options. We know child care selection is a daunting task, but we hope our resources make it a little easier.

In addition to providing information and resources, we know a great way to serve our readers is to let them learn from other local parents. If you want to continue a child care conversation with other parents like you, please visit our Ages & Stages Facebook groups to join the discussion. Find links to these closed groups at www. metrofamilymagazine.com/ closed-groups.

Hannah Schmitt Editor

TE A R B E L CE ITH W R E SUMM ST 200 ALMO VENTS E METRO rts on page 32

r sta Calenda

r u o r e t n E contestsig! to win b

FIND WEEKLY GIVEAWAYS AT WWW.METROFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM/CONTESTS

• 100 Days of Summer Fun Giveaways: We’re celebrating our 100 Days of Summer Fun guide by featuring a new giveaway every Friday!

Enter at www.metrofamilymagazine.com/100-Days.

100 Days of Summer Fun is sponsored by the Oklahoma Institute for Allergy & Asthma.

• Web Exclusives: Local chef and Director of the Francis Tuttle School of Culinary Arts Marc Dunham shares a few of his favorite summer recipes to get kids in the kitchen.

Find them at www.metrofamilymagazine.com/ recipes.

THIS MONTH’S COVER: Cover Kid Winner and Oklahoma City resident Camila G., 5, loves dancing, gymnastics and all things “Frozen.”

Special thanks to Macy’s Quail Springs for providing outfits for our Cover Kids winners.

!

W WO

PHOTO BY EMILY HART WWW.NINAANDBPHOTOGRAPHY.COM

family buzz We’re buzzing about

Discounted Summer Family Fun

BY HANNAH SCHMITT MANAGING EDITOR

Everyone agrees summer is a great time to get outdoors, but there comes a time in July and August when you cry out for some air conditioning.

The great news is that several local businesses offer summer specials that help families save money on indoor fun.

Topgolf (13025 N. Western Ave.) is a brand new entertainment venue with golf activities for all ages. The indoor/outdoor setting is perfect for keeping cool this summer. Golf is paramount at this state-of-the-art facility, but visitors with no golfing experience shouldn’t feel intimidated. Topgolf is all about having fun while teeing off. This summer, Topgolf is offering golfers age 12 and under half price game play from open to 11 a.m. when they use their Junior Membership cards. KidZone activities include golf games, video games and giant Jenga. Junior Membership cards are $5 and are available for purchase at the facility.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF TOPGOLF

Main Event (1441 W. Memorial Rd.) features activities like bowling, an arcade, mini golf and laser tag. This summer, the venue has a special Summer FUNpass to help give parents more bang for their buck on entertainment. Purchase the FUNpass and enjoy unlimited bowling, billiards and laser tag from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for $15.95 per person. After 4 p.m. enjoy the FUNpass for $17.95 per person.

Heritage Lanes (11917 N. Penn) is a familyfriendly bowling alley participating in a national summer bowling initiative called Kids Bowl Free. Register your kids online at www.kidsbowlfree.com and they’ll enjoy two free bowling games every day throughout the summer.

Harkins Theatres Bricktown (150 E. Reno) is offering their Summer Movie Fun Series to give families discounted movie passes all summer. Purchase a season ticket to see up to 10 movies for just $5. Individual tickets are available the day of the show for $2 each. The titles shown throughout the summer include Penguins of Madagascar and How to Train Your Dragon 2.

Warren Theatre (1000 S. Telephone, Moore) presents discounted admission during the summer with their Summer Kids Series.

Films like The Lego Movie and The Croods are shown on Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout the summer. A season pass is available for $15 or individual tickets can be purchased for $2 each.

Regal Spotlight Stadium 14 (1100 N. Interstate Dr., Norman) brings discounted movie admission on Wednesdays and Thursdays all summer with their Summer Movie Express. Movies like Mr. Peabody & Sherman and The Book of Life will be shown for just $1 admission.

AMF Windsor Lanes (4600 N.W. 23rd) and AMF Boulevard Lanes (3501 S. Boulevard, Edmond) are both offering free bowling all summer. Free games are offered on weekdays from open to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from open to 4 p.m. Kids can get three free games per day by signing up at www. bowlsummergames.com.

Keep up with other fun indoor summer specials at Oklahoma City metro businesses at www.metrofamilymagazine.com/IndoorSummer-Fun-Guide/

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Special Needs Day Care Celebrates 30 Years When Pam Newby’s daughter was approaching preschool age, she did what most moms of toddlers do and sought out great preschools in the metro area. In fact, a good preschool meant even more to Pam as her young daughter had battled leukemia and gotten a bit behind developmentally.

“She had cranial radiation and just because of that chemo and radiation to the brain, I’d noticed some developmental delays,” Newby said. “I wanted to find a school that would stop further regression and regain any developmental ground she might have lost.”

Newby did her research and proudly enrolled her daughter in a school with excellent credentials. Just two weeks in, though, she found herself back at square one. It was 30 years ago, when so little was known about leukemia that several other parents at the school were concerned it was contagious.

Newby’s daughter was asked to leave.

“It got me thinking that we needed a place where that wasn’t going to happen,” she said.

“More obstacles shouldn’t be put in front of kids with so many obstacles to begin with.”

So Newby opened Special Care, a day care center specifically for kids with special needs and disabilities.

She was determined to provide all types of kids with the important early childhood education she wanted for her own daughter.

Additionally, she wanted the kids to be able to get physical, occupational and speech

AMANDA NEWBY-ARR

OWSMITH TEACHING AT SPECIAL CARE

therapies on site. To ensure the kids at the facility never felt isolated or segregated, Newby decided to keep a third of the students at the center typically developing.

She started the center with just 12 kids and now serves almost 200 with another 300 on the facility’s waiting list.

Newby said it feels unbelievable to think back on the number of kids served over the past 30 years.

“I wanted to start it just to meet a personal need,” she said. “I wanted to help kids who already had challenges so I could ease things a bit for them and give them a hope and a future that was promising rather than discouraging. I don’t think I ever anticipated the growth.”

As for Newby’s daughter, Amanda NewbyArrowsmith, she grew up at Special Care and now teaches at the day care center.

Newby beams that her concept has come full circle with Amanda and said her daughter often gravitates to the kids with the biggest challenges.

So what’s next for Special Care? They’re developing an education trail and nature park that will allow kids in adaptive bikes and wheelchairs to explore outside.

The organization continues to raise funds to expand the services they provide. Their long waiting list proves that day care remains an enormous need for special needs kids in the Oklahoma City area.

To donate to Special Care, visit www.specialcareinc.org.

PAM NEWBY & DAUGHTER AMANDA NEWBY-ARROWSMITH

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Editor’s Picks: Top Outdoor Concerts & Movies

We all know summers in Oklahoma can be stifling, but if there’s anything worth enduring the heat for, it’s outdoor entertainment. This month, movie screens and music stages are popping up all over metro parks. We’ve rounded up a short list of some of our favorite places to soak up outdoor entertainment this month. For even more outdoor fun, see our full guide to music and movies at www.metrofamilymagazine. com/outdoor-summer-fun.

Concerts in the Park at Joe B. Barnes Regional Park 8700 E. Reno, Midwest City 739-1293 www.midwestcityok.org 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursdays Why We Love It: The venue for these outdoor concerts couldn’t be more perfect.

Joe B. Barnes Regional Park is outfitted with a dog park, basketball courts, an impressive playground and even walking trails. So go ahead and plan to spend a few hours exploring before you settle into your lawn chair when the band takes the stage.

Upcoming performances include the Roland Bowling Band, Dead Armadillos and Mike Black & the Stingrays.

Arts Council Oklahoma City Sunday Twilight Concert Series Myriad Botanical Gardens 301 W. Reno www.artscouncilokc.com Sundays from 7:30 to 9 p.m.

Why We Love It: Just before the sun sets over the downtown skyline each Sunday evening in the summer, Myriad Botanical Gardens buzzes with catchy live tunes from top local performers at this iconic summer event. This is the 35th year for the concert series and Arts Council Oklahoma City is presenting the best lineup ever. Music ranges from jazz and blues to retro rock and country.

TWILIGHT CONCERT SERIES AT MYRIAD BOTANICAL GARDENS

Art After 5 at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art 415 Couch Dr. 236-3100 www.okcmoa.com 5 to 10:30 p.m. on Thursdays Why We Love It: If you’re not keen on fighting summer crowds to see the exhibits at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, this event offers the perfect opportunity to see it all after hours. Make your way through the museum displays and end your visit ART AFTER 5 AT THE OKLAHOMA CITY MUSEUM OF ART on the rooftop where the whole family will enjoy sweeping views of the Oklahoma City skyline Edmond’s Movie Night at the Park accompanied by live music. All ages are treated to complimentary chips and salsa and Various Edmond Parks a bar is open to adults on the rooftop. Free for 359-4630 museum members; $5 for non-members.

Summer Breeze Concert Series at Lions Park Flood & Symmes, Norman www.pasnorman.org 307-9320 7:30 p.m. July 12 & 26 Why We Love It: Showcasing some of the best musicians in Oklahoma, this concert series focuses on up-and-coming talent that’s sure to get everyone in your family grooving.

Scenic Lions Park serves as the perfect backdrop for the bands featured in July: North Meets South and Adam and Kizzie.

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www.edmondok.com/parks/rec At dark the second Friday of July & August

Why We Love It: Edmond’s scenic parks come alive once a month with the sights and sounds of favorite family films. Alwayschanging venues keep this event from getting stale. July’s film, Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer, will remind your kids of all the reasons to love this season. The film will get rolling right after the sun sets at Stephenson Park (S. Boulevard & E. 4th St.).

exploring outside oklahoma

BY HEIDE BRANDES

Hitting the Road to the

Lone Star State Your ultimate guide to the top kid-friendly destinations in Dallas

DALLAS ARBORETUM AND BOTANICAL GARDEN

H

undreds of children are staring into the jaws of a monster.

The Tyrannosaurus Rex, with teeth as long and as sharp as a giant’s butcher knife, looms above. Its jaws are open, ready to snap up a meal, but the children just point, laugh and stare in wonder.

In another area, a little girl stares at the veins in her hand, made visible under an ultraviolet light. Two boys race a dinosaur in a run to the finish. The dinosaur wins.

At the Perot Museum of Nature and Science in Dallas, children aren’t just running madly through countless science and nature displays having squealing and loud fun; they are learning too.

The Perot Museum of Nature and Science is just the latest of many attractions that pull families down I-35 from Oklahoma City to Dallas. No longer is Dallas just a big city in Texas filled with towering business skyscrapers. It has become a favorite destination for families, a playground of sites, experiences, learning opportunities and fun.

Dallas encompasses about 385 square miles, but its heart is in the downtown area. The epicenter of urban revival, downtown Dallas offers shopping, dining and a wild nightlife. It is also home to the West. However, for many non-residents, Dallas is just that “really big city south of Oklahoma,” and hasn’t been known as a fun place to bring kids.

That’s all about to change.

“Twenty-three million people visited Dallas last year,” said Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings. “Tourism is big business in Dallas, and we believe it will continue to grow. Tourism is just a fancy industry word – it’s really about having fun.”

Tourism in Dallas topped $6.6 billion last year, and 50,000 jobs are supported through the tourism industry. Why? Because of its attractions and familyfriendly destinations.

DALLAS ZOO

Dallas Zoo Lions, tigers and bears, oh my! The Dallas Zoo has approximately 66 of the species managed through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plans, which means you’re practically guaranteed to see an animal you’ve never seen before when you visit. Families can roam through key exhibits like “The Wilds of Africa,” which was named “Best African Exhibit in the U.S.” by the Zoo Book; The Giants of the Savanna, which features elephants, impalas, lions, cheetahs and more and the Gorilla Trail, a one-mile trail winding to the Jake L. Hamon Gorilla Conservation Research Center, an aviary, Crocodile Isle and the Kimberly-Clark Chimpanzee Forest.

Before you leave, enjoy the antics of the Asian small-clawed otters at the Betty Moroney Norsworthy Otter Outpost and spend some time at the Lacerte Family Children’s Zoo, a three-acre facility of interactive and educational exhibits.

Location: 650 South R.L. Thornton Freeway (I-35E), Dallas, TX 75203.

Hours: Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

Admission: $15 for adults, $12 for children and seniors and free for children under age 2. Parking is $8 per vehicle. www.dallaszoo.com

Dallas is full of entertaining places to go, but here are our top three favorites:

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• • • • • • •

SWIMMING HORSEBACK RIDING ARCHERY HIKING ROCK CLIMBING CANOEING GAMES & ACTIVITIES

Perot Museum of Nature and Science Located in Victory Park near Downtown Dallas, the Perot Museum of Nature and Science is a world of wonder that inspires curiosity in visitors of all ages. A living science lesson, the museum opened its doors in downtown Dallas a few years ago with the goal to “amaze your brain through hands-on learning experience.”

Five floors at the museum have 11 permanent exhibit halls that show off video and 3D computer animation.

Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden

DALLAS ARBORETUM AND BOTANICAL GARDEN

Kids can have fun and exercise their brains through hands-on activities, interactive kiosks and educational games.

The lower level of the cube includes an education wing with six learning labs and a children’s museum. One of the most popular exhibits is located on the main lobby level. A 35-foot Malawisaurus fossil thrills children and adults alike.

Imagine being shrunk to the size of a ladybug. You wander through towering flower pots, under blooms the size of trees and hide under giant vegetation. At the Dallas Arboretum’s Children’s Garden, kids can do just that.

TIP: Take time to see all levels of the museum. Every exhibit offers kids a chance to interact and touch. Plan at least two hours at this site.

The children’s gardens are fun and filled with educational activities. With its green maze, Texas wetlands area and a state-of-the art nature center where children can extract DNA from plants, the children’s gardens are both entertaining and educational.

Location: 2201 N. Field Street, Dallas Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday

Through July 31, the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden kicks off Summer at the Arboretum, with the return of “Flower Houses: Fairy Tales with a Texas Twist.”

Admission: $17 for adults, $11 for ages 2 to 17 and $12 for seniors www.perotmuseum.org

See 15-feet-tall flower houses that highlight a Texas-inspired fairy tale like a jalapeno gingerbread man, Goldilocks’ crazy cousin and stubborn livestock.

Exploring all day will likely make you hungry. Pack a picnic or enjoy indoor or outdoor seating at the Children’s Garden Cafe. For an even fancier garden experience, make a reservation for Seated Tea at the Restaurant DeGolyer (214-515-6511).

TIP: Members of Oklahoma City’s Myriad Botanical Gardens enjoy free admission to the Dallas Arboretum through the American Horticultural Society Reciprocal Admissions Program.

Location: 8525 Garland Road, Dallas Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily Admission: $15 for adult admission, $12 or seniors, $10 for children ages 3 to 12; free for children age 2 and under. Children’s Garden admission is $10.

Parking: On-site self parking or parking garage: $15; discounted daytime parking: $8 www.dallasarboretum.org

PEROT MUSEUM

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Other Favorite Sites Dallas has many destinations to enjoy, so if you have longer than a weekend, we recommend adding these top spots to your agenda: GeO-Deck at Reunion Tower See the entire Dallas landscape from hundreds of feet in the air. The GeO-Deck caters to adventure seekers, sightseers and food lovers. It’s a great place to start your journey, because seeing Dallas from 600-plus feet in the air is unforgettable. Try out the hamburger bar at the rotating Cloud Nine by Wolfgang Puck open for lunch. Find them online at www. reuniontower.com/the-tower/ geo-deck.

6th Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza Located at the infamous Texas Book Depository Building in Dealey Plaza, the 6th Floor Museum houses an impressive collection and walking history of President John F. Kennedy and that fateful November day when he was assassinated in Dallas.

The collection is jaw-dropping and includes video, a walking headset tour, original items and an intimate look at the life of John F. Kennedy. Visit www.jfk.org for more information.

George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum Take your children on a tour through American history with the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum’s artifacts, documents, photographs and videos. Families can explore the 14,000-square-foot Museum to see the historic exhibits on education reform, the global war on terror, the financial crisis and efforts to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS. The Museum also has a piece of the World Trade Center, a full-sized Oval Office and a Texas Rose Garden. See www.georgewbushlibrary.smu.edu for more information.

Where to Stay in Dallas We road-tested the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, and we are pleased to say this high-end hotel got top marks. Famous for its Asian design and its collection of Asian art and sculpture, the Hilton Anatole also boasts of an indoor lap pool, a spa, a world-class fitness center, an outdoor pool, an outdoor walking track, squash and tennis courts, boutique shops and several restaurants.

The Hilton Anatole is easy to reach, but a bit farther from many of the attractions.

Rooms run between $149 and $219 a night.

We also asked real moms of Dallas to give us their recommendations. Cheryl Collett, founder of the www.ittybittyfoodies.com blog, recommended several hotels in the downtown area.

The Dallas World Aquarium Start an adventure in a rainforest full of sloths, toucans, giant river otters and crocodiles at the Dallas World Aquarium.

Families can then wonder at the wide variety of marine life, from Japanese crabs to jellyfish to sea dragons and more. Say hi to the resident penguins and test your bravery with the sharks. Visit them online at www. dwazoo.com.

Six Flags over Texas Go for a wild ride at Texas’s theme park with more than 100 rides and attractions, including the new Texas Giant and Titan roller coasters at Six Flags. The park features family-friendly shows and themed areas for children. Learn more at www.sixflags.com.

“The Adolphus is the grand dame of Dallas,” she said. “It is steeped in history, but they are very sweet to kids. They have a wonderful high tea.”

Collett’s other top picks for staying with kids downtown: The Magnolia 1401 Commerce St. (214) 915-6500 www.magnoliahotels.com OMNI Dallas 555 S. Lamar St. www.omnihotels.com (214) 744-6664

If you stay downtown, Collett recommends taking the free McKinney Avenue trolley to Uptown, a vibrant area of shops and restaurants.

Deck, a choice between the Dallas Zoo and The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, and a choice between the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum and the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden.

Dallas is the latest destination to partner with CityPASS, the national company that packages discounted, prepaid admission to a city or region’s top attractions.

Travelers to Dallas can use a Dallas CityPASS ticket booklet to save 41 percent off admission to the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, Reunion Tower GeO-

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Each 2015 Dallas CityPASS ticket booklet retails for $44 for adults, $30 for children, age 3-12. Passes, which can be purchased online at CityPASS. com or at any of the CityPASS partner attractions listed above, are valid for nine consecutive days, beginning with the first day of use.

Visitors who use all of the booklet’s tickets will save $30.30 on combined admission to the included attractions.

Real Mom of the Metro:

Candice Montes

BY JENNIFER SHARPE PHOTOS BY CAROLINE COHENOUR

I

f you’ve ever picked your child up from day care and wondered how in the world your child’s teacher has the patience to deal with a classroom full of toddlers all day, here’s your chance to find out.

Candice Montes owns Here We Grow Child Care in Yukon, a child development center that started at her home and grew into a fullblown care center.

Candice and her husband of 14 years, Guillermo, have four children: Angelica, 16; Adrianna, 12; Guillermo, 10 and Guyel, 4. Candice draws on her own parenting skills to serve the kids at Here We Grow. In addition, she has a variety of life experiences that have set her up to be a successful caregiver, starting with her own upbringing.

Candice was raised in the foster care system. From a very young age, she realized she wanted to create a better situation for herself. Through her rough childhood, Candice said she used to tell herself to

take note of all the negative experiences.

She grew up determined to provide a better environment for her own kids than what she had.

Beyond her determination to be loving and consistent toward children, her previous work experience and her own parenting skills guide her management of the care center. Candice worked for three years as a high school Spanish teacher and got a degree in psychology before opening Here We Grow.

“I always knew I wanted to do something with children,” she said.

After getting her degree, Candice worked as a director for a day care center. Soon after, she transitioned to running her own home-based day care, which she managed successfully for two years. Candice quickly found her home day care completely full with a growing waiting list.

Don’t let an accident spoil your summer fun!

She hated turning parents and children away, so she wanted to help accommodate more families and realized the best way to do that was by branching out from home care and expanding to owning her own day care center.

If you or your child has to wear a cast this summer, make sure it is a water cast so that swimming or bathing is not a problem!

John W. Anderson, M.D.

Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon Fellowship Trained in Pediatric Orthopedics

405-947-0911 ext 270

METROFAMILY MAGAZINE

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JULY 2015

www.okortho.com

“I felt like I was displacing families,” Candice said. “I had a waiting list, but I didn’t have spots opening. Eventually I started looking at other options.”

To accommodate more kids, she opened Here We Grow for school-age kids in March and opened it to kids of all ages in May. Candice’s philosophy about providing child care to other families closely mirrors her own parenting style. She believes in having a lot of fun at home and letting children experience natural consequences for their actions. She cares for the kids at her center as if they were her own, she said.

“My biggest thing is advocating for children,” she said, “to make sure they are happy, healthy and safe.”

As for the parents she serves, it’s important to Candice to make sure their parenting styles

and decisions are respected, even when their kids are at day care.

“I want to advocate for how you believe your children need to be raised,” she said. “So if you don’t want them to have certain things in their diet, I want to be able to help with that. If cloth diapers are your choice, then absolutely let’s do cloth diapers. There are a lot of ways that I can respect a parent’s choices.”

The center features four classrooms and 10 teachers who also adhere to Candice’s philosophies for care. Candice believes being a good mom and providing reliable care to other families has helped her move beyond the challenges faced during her own childhood.

“What do I say about being a mommy?” She smiled. “It’s the greatest thing ever.”

Describe yourself in five words.

Mother, advocate, friend, caring, intelligent.

How do you find balance?

Making to do lists.

Of what are you most proud?

Opening my first child care center.

What is your favorite indulgence?

Starbucks chai tea.

How do you describe your parenting style?

Give children opportunities within limits. I believe in natural consequences.

What is on your wish list?

To open more quality centers for kids in need.

How do you banish stress?

A long shower and sleeping in.

What motivates you?

My kids.

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The Child Care Conundrum EL GAYLORD DOWNTOWN YMCA CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER

When it comes to child care, there is no “right” choice, no one-size-fits-all option, which can feel both liberating and daunting to new and experienced parents alike. Confusing star ratings, online reviews, opinions of friends and family and waiting lists a mile long can make the process even more difficult. On the following pages, find expert tips, read about the experiences of real local moms and learn about the most important things to consider when seeking care.

C

BY ERIN PAGE

arrie Williams understands the daunting task of finding child care. Not only is she a mother herself, but sitting in her office at Rainbow Fleet, phones ring all around her. On the other end of those lines are parents hoping to connect to Rainbow Fleet’s referral specialists who will help them find the best child care.

Rainbow Fleet meticulously keeps an up-todate list of licensed child care facilities and in-home care providers in Oklahoma and Cleveland counties, ensuring families have accurate, comprehensive information when selecting child care. Referral specialists help parents clarify their child care needs, understand the types of care available and become well-informed, quality-conscious consumers. While recommendations from family and friends are important, the allencompassing nature of Rainbow Fleet’s list of child care providers means parents have greater access to all their choices.

“Picking care is so tough,” said Williams, who’s the executive director of Rainbow Fleet, a nonprofit that connects parents to child care resources. “Of course parents want something that’s safe, but beyond quality, they have to think about how far away the center is, what type of kids are there, the food they’ll be served, if it’s a positive learning environment. And then if all that checks out, can they afford it?”

“There could be a highly-rated in-home facility just down the street from you, that you’d never know about without speaking to one of our referral specialists,” Williams said.

Rainbow Fleet was founded in 1972 to connect families and child care providers with innovative child development resources.

Among a host of other child development programs, Rainbow Fleet’s referral specialists, who all hold degrees in childhood education, are available via phone or online to help families find their best child care match. Their services are completely free for families.

Safety is the top priority for most parents when selecting child care, according to Williams. Rainbow Fleet only refers families to licensed child care providers, so families can feel confident that the referrals they receive are meeting state health, safety and caregiver training standards. Williams stresses that parents should always check a facility’s licensing record before placing their child in that home or center; records can be accessed at www.okdhs.org/child care. Rainbow Fleet also provides parents with each facility’s Oklahoma Department of Human Services star rating.

Rainbow Fleet doesn’t make specific recommendations for individual daycare centers or in-home facilities; rather, referral specialists help parents determine METROFAMILY MAGAZINE

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what type of care is the best fit for their child or children.

“Our referral specialists spend a lot of time discussing each child’s individual needs,” said Williams. “One child might thrive in a large learning environment, whereas another might do better with more one-onone attention. We help parents really think through their options, and we can steer them toward a specific type of care depending on the child’s needs.”

Rainbow Fleet tailors referrals based on the age of your child, the days and hours you need care, your child’s personality, the location most convenient for you and your specific budget. Referral specialists can also provide custom referrals for children with special needs, like dietary restrictions or developmental delays. While the online tool is easy to use and offers instant results, Williams recommends calling a referral specialist to talk through options as well, especially for first-time parents, many of whom don’t realize how quickly they need to start their child care search.

“Homes and centers alike often have long waiting lists,” said Williams. “We can help parents begin their child care research process earlier in pregnancy, and we can help them get their names on waiting lists.”

Whether parents use the online tool (www. rainbowfleet.org) or call in to speak to a referral specialist (521-1426), they will receive a parent packet in the mail with information about the types of care available and the steps to choosing quality child care.

What does the OKDHS Star Rating Mean?

According to Williams, nearly 70 percent of homes have two parents who work at least part time, which has led to a jump in the number of kids in child care. Oklahoma is No. 1 in the nation in kids enrolled in preschool, which Williams says is reflective of parents in our communities expecting much more than just babysitters. Parents want learning environments that meet children’s developmental needs. The rise in the number of children in child care and parents’ increasing desire for enrichment for their children means the call for quality child care is also on the rise.

One Star Programs:

• Have a license • Will have unannounced inspections at least three times per year • Have basic standards for health and safety and limits on the number of children in care • Caregivers undergo criminal background checks, have at least a GED and earn at least 12 hours of training per year

One Star Plus Programs:

• Meet all one star requirements and are working toward two star rating • Have higher education and training requirements for caregivers • Offer enriched learning environments for children, including lesson plans, outdoor play and reading to children daily • Have family engagement and communication systems in place • Have a membership on a professional development registry

Oklahoma’s child care rating and improvement system is called “Reaching for the Stars” and is used to help parents evaluate child care and encourage continuous improvement among caregivers.

Programs are ranked from one to three stars, and the ratings are based on: compliance with licensing regulations, education and training of caregivers, enriched learning environments for children, family engagement, administrative practices and participation in national accreditation programs. All licensed child care programs in Oklahoma automatically earn one star, and a program must meet all criteria at one level before moving up to the next.

• Meet all one star and one star plus requirements • In child care centers, one master teacher is employed for every 20 children; all family child care providers meet the same requirements as master teachers • Master teachers have 15 college credit hours in early childhood education or have completed an approved credentialing program • Have higher training requirements for caregivers • Include enriched interest centers for children • Complete a program assessment as part of the program evaluation process • Have improved family engagement and communication, as well as administrative practices

Three Star Programs:

• Meet all one star, one star plus, two star requirements AND are accredited by an approved accrediting body

19

Lake Sweep Sat., August 8 • 7 – 10 a.m.

(Rainout day is Saturday, Aug. 15)

Spring Creek Park

Free Event!

Volunteer today and help keep Arcadia Lake clean.

Two Star Programs:

METROFAMILY MAGAZINE

18th Annual Arcadia

JULY 2015

Free Brunch and T-shirts!

(While supplies last) Don’t forget your gloves and plenty of sunscreen.

216-7471

For more information and large group registry.

What type of care is right for my family?

Child Care Center • Provide care for eight or more children and operate for more than 30 hours per week.

• Must be licensed by OKDHS. • Often selected by parents because larger groups, multiple caregivers and state inspections make programs feel more safe for children and make the arrangement more dependable.

• Parents may also believe more space, equipment, toys and organized activities can provide better learning environments for their children.

• In Oklahoma County, the average weekly rate for child care centers for ages 0 to just under 5 years is $146.58.

Katie Green is a project manager and mom to 5-month-old Harper. She and her husband chose a daycare facility because they value a continuum of care that isn’t interrupted if a primary child care provider is sick or goes on vacation. Green appreciates that Harper’s caregivers will text with her, even on nights and weekends, to discuss Harper’s current needs and how they can best care for her.

The options for child care are so vast, it can be difficult to know where to start. We chatted with local moms about three popular care options to weigh the pros and cons of each.

Our review of local moms’ child care choices revealed that care is an ever-evolving challenge, with needs changing as children get older, additional children enter the family and parents change jobs or employment status. Leaning on the experiences of others can help determine what is best in your current situation.

two busy work schedules, which vary from week to week, and provides her children a strong foundation for future learning. She appreciates that from an early age, they are both challenged academically and taught about giving back to the community.

Link values receiving a daily report about her children via email, and she also gets photos and videos throughout the day.

“It makes me happy at work to know what my kids are doing and to see how happy they are to be there,” she said.

She and her husband asked a lot of questions of their potential facility choices, including what type of curriculum is used, the teacher to child ratios, how much physical activity the children would get, what type of meals they serve and their severe weather precautions.

Katie Brinlee is an accounting supervisor and mom to 4-year-old Hayden and 15-month-old Noah. She and her husband both work long hours and needed a daycare center that could accommodate their work weeks and was convenient to their places of business. A large daycare center means her children have an on-site nurse for quick care emergencies, an onsite underground tornado shelter, multiple outdoor play areas, quality curriculum and bachelor’s degrees for all lead teachers.

Important factors to Brinlee in choosing a daycare facility were how long teachers had been employed, the curriculum used, child to teacher ratios, meal plans, the type of discipline used and the priority of child safety. She appreciates that her daycare is used to and willing to work with parents on redirecting typical toddler misbehavior in a loving way. She also values an iPhone app

For an infant in particular, Green recommends asking potential daycare options whether they will follow the child’s individual feeding schedule, what items are provided versus what parents must supply and what activities they provide for stimulation and development. Katie also advocates reviewing each potential facility’s DHS rating and reports.

“We toured each facility and showed up at random times, even if the facility said to schedule an appointment to tour,” Green said.

“We were better able to tell which places we could trust.”

For dental hygienist Lacey Link, mom to 2-year-old Brooks and 10-month-old Laney, a daycare center works best for her family’s

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she can access that tracks her boys’ activities, what they ate and if they napped.

Becky Endicott works as a director of development and is mom to 4-year-old Sophia and 1-year-old Julia. Using a daycare center located at her place of business has afforded her convenience, access to her girls during the workday and the added benefits of activities like dance and music offered onsite. Endicott’s proximity allows her to attend holiday parties or special recitals, get to her girls quickly when they are sick or take diapers or supplies over if they run out.

“It’s allowed me to take Sophie to lunch every Tuesday because we are so close,” she said. “There is absolutely no replacement for the memories we are building together during that time. Also, it allowed me to breastfeed Julia on my lunch break every day when she started there. This gave us special one-onone time every day and eased my transition back into the office.”

Endicott also appreciates that Sophia has been prepared for organized school, learning how to follow instructions, help around her classroom, follow a lesson plan and the basics of colors, counting and spelling.

Endicott and her husband asked questions about how their girls would receive individualized attention, if they would help potty train when the girls were ready, what curriculum was offered, how often they would play outside, what nap time is like, and how they documented and reported back to them what the girls did during day.

Family Child Care Home • Residential homes providing care for seven or fewer children (or 12 or fewer children for Large Family Child Care Homes).

• Must be licensed through DHS. • Parents often choose in-home care because they want to keep their children in a home-like environment and feel their children are healthier and more secure in a smaller group.

• In Oklahoma County, the average rate for family child care homes for ages 0 to just under 5 years is $124.18 per week.

For DHS-Child Welfare Services program supervisor Jennifer Brown, mom to 3-yearold Caroline, an in-home child care center provides the loving, family atmosphere she wanted for her daughter. Highly recommended to her by friends, the child care home provides fresh, home-cooked meals, lessons on numbers, letters and colors,

NORTH PENN CREATIVE KIDS LEARNING CENTER. PHOTO BY HILARY CRANFORD.

plenty of outdoor playtime and life skills like helping clean up and forming long-term bonds.

“The caregivers get down on the kids’ level and really listen to what the kids are saying, which I know makes Caroline feel like what she has to say is important and she feels valued,” she said.

Brown recommends asking potential in-home centers their protocol if a caregiver is sick; in her case, she appreciates that two alternative caregivers are available when needed. She also recommends asking about turnover, of the children as well as the caregivers.

“It makes me happy at work to know what my kids are doing and to see how happy they are to be there.”

Lacey Link

same in-home facility her siblings attended when they were younger. In the evenings and on weekends, Erin also relies upon the support of a “manny,” or male nanny.

“If we are going to be a two-parent working household, it is paramount that we feel confident and comfortable with where and who is caring for our children, and that they are being loved and nurtured just as we would love and nurture them,” she said.

Engelke and her husband chose an inhome provider because they wanted their children’s care to mirror what it would look like if they were home with them. They got recommendations from friends and online resources, and their biggest considerations were the comfort level of the individual caring for their children, the atmosphere of the facility, the location of the provider to their home and the cost of care. They paid careful attention to the location of sleeping quarters/cribs, the amount of space for play indoors and out, whether care included meals and snacks, and how many days the facilities were closed during the year.

“I didn’t want a place where children didn’t stay long,” she said, “and my child would be forming a relationship with another child who would move.”

She appreciates that her in-home provider knows her daughter’s likes and dislikes, can console her when she is upset, provides daily educational and development opportunities, reads books and encourages outdoor play.

Erin Engelke works as a chief external relations officer and is mom to 9-year-old Gabriel, 7-year-old Ava and 4-year-old Elin.

The ages of her children mean they employ a combination of child care options. Older children Gabriel and Ava attend an after-care program through their elementary school, while youngest daughter Elin attends the

“With three children having gone through child care over the past 10 years, I can confidently say that there’s no perfect scenario,” Engelke said. “What’s most important is finding the scenario that works best for you and your family, but also allows your children to flourish and for you to accomplish what you need to professionally.”

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Nanny Services • Care provided in the child’s home.

• Certification can be required depending on whether the nanny uses an agency for referrals.

• Oklahoma does not regulate nannyplacement agencies or in-home caregivers. The family is responsible for criminal history checks, wage and hour requirements, payroll taxes and workers’ compensation insurance.

• Parents often choose a nanny because they feel children are more secure in their own home environment and they have more control over the kind of care their children receive.

• While Rainbow Fleet doesn’t endorse either, they direct families interested in finding a nanny to collegenanniesandtutors.com and sittercity.com. According to sittercity. com, nannies in Oklahoma City charge anywhere from $10 to $30 per hour, depending on the number of children in their care, ages of children and additional services required, like laundry or meal preparation.

For registered nurse Carley McLaughlin, mom to 23-month-old Tripp and 7-month-old Quinn, a nanny means her young children’s needs are carefully met, her children experience less illness and she enjoys greater flexibility for her working schedule.

McLaughlin is appreciative of her nanny’s ability to keep in contact with her throughout the day, sending pictures and letting her know how they are doing.

“Our daughter has GI issues and needs more individualized care,” McLaughlin said. “Our nanny is very flexible with us and comes over early if my husband is traveling, as I have to leave very early for work, earlier than many daycare centers open. I know my children are

safe in their own environment and get to stick to their schedules seven days a week.”

McLaughlin and her husband recommend asking candidates extensive questions about their vehicles and driving records, especially if the nanny will be transporting children, including: the current condition of the vehicle, the maintenance schedule, quality of the tires and the number of wrecks both the nanny and the vehicle have been in.

For McLaughlin and her husband who typically must go to work even when the weather is dicey, they also wanted to know their nanny would be able to come to work regardless of the weather. They were sticklers about CPR and first aid certification, and they wanted to know about candidates’ experience caring for multiple small children at once, presenting interviewees specific scenarios in which both children need something at the same time and asking how the caregivers would respond.

Engineer Meredith Schneberger, mom to 7-year-old Jackson, 3-year-old Mitchell and 21-month-old Carter, uses multiple types of care, including a nanny, after-school care for her oldest and a Mother’s Day Out program several days a week for her two youngest.

“My hope was to find a balance between interaction with other kids and a structured classroom experience, and making sure my children got enough rest and downtime to stay healthy,” she said.

Her boys’ nanny takes them to school, keeps them when school is out, starts dinner in the evenings and helps with dishes. She takes them on outings to the library and ensures they get adequate rest at home. At her youngest boys’ Mother’s Day Out, they play inside and out, are learning sign language and enjoy frequent art projects.

Because it’s important to Schneberger to minimize screen time, she values that they don’t watch television at Mother’s Day Out. She appreciates that her boys’ teachers regularly communicate with her, even though she is rarely the one who drops off or picks them up. She stresses the importance of giving constructive feedback to caregivers to ensure children are cared

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EL GAYLORD DOWNTOWN YMCA CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER

for in the way you want, and she believes good caregivers appreciate being part of the parenting team.

“I feel like my kids have a routine that includes a lot of play and a lot of people who love them and look out for them,” she said. “I think it’s important that moms not settle for child care situations they aren’t happy with.”

While in-home care can mean a nanny, it can also mean care by a grandparent or relative.

Account director Amy Blackburn, mom to 8-month-old Everly, chose what she calls “the best of both worlds” for her daughter, three days a week at a daycare facility and two days a week with Blackburn’s mom.

“We love that Everly gets to socialize at daycare, but we also value the time she gets to spend with her grandparents,” she said.

When reviewing potential daycare options, Blackburn and her husband toured each facility and researched any violations with OKDHS. The most important factors to them were that the facility was clean and fostered a learning, creative environment. She values that her daycare facility sends photos and texts throughout her workday to keep her apprised of Everly’s activities.

Making the choice Finding child care can seem like an overwhelming task, but a tailored referral list from a service like Rainbow Fleet and recommendations from fellow moms can make it manageable. Though moms often let the guilt and pressure of finding just the right caregiver for our children take over, business owner Erica Carr offers a heart-warming perspective.

“I love that I can leave my children in a loving environment where they can thrive and grow outside the home,” Carr said. “It’s so refreshing when they come home and tell me about all the fun things they learned that day.”

The Child Care Directory This month, MetroFamily is taking a closer look at child care in the Oklahoma City area.

Child Care Aware of America reports the cost of child care in the U.S. often exceeds the cost of housing, transportation, college tuition, food and transportation. Take a look at these other important numbers concerning child care in our area:

The average annual child care expense in Oklahoma is

Unlike some areas of education, families pay the majority of early education expenses. In fact, of funding for child care in the U.S. comes directly from parents.

7,480 60%

$

178,000

There are children under 12 living in Oklahoma and Cleveland Counties.

3

$

Lack of child care options lead to employee absences that cost businesses in the U.S.

66 50% Of those children,

%

billion annually

A family of three earning anything below $20,090 a year is considered below the federal poverty level. The average annual cost of center-based infant care is nearly of that.

have working parents.

Figures sourced from Child Care Aware of America and Rainbow Fleet.

Venue

Hours

Ages

Details

Chickasha Area YMCA 725 W. Chickasha Ave., Chickasha 405-224-2281 www.ymcaokc.org

School release to 6 p.m.

5 to 12

YMCA School Age Child Care provides affordable, safe and wholesome enrichment activities during out-of-school hours. The program is centered on the YMCA mission and program objectives to help individuals grow personally, clarify values, build character, improve personal and family relationships, appreciate diversity, become better leaders and supporters, develop specific skills and have fun. Activities include homework time, snacks, interest centers, math components, literacy skills, science activities, arts & crafts, indoor and outdoor sports and games and fitness activities.

Childcare Network 4500 East I-240 Service Rd. 886-521-5437 www.childcarenetwork.com

6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

6 weeks to 12 Childcare Network is made up of six child development centers in the years Edmond and Oklahoma City Area. Facilities are three-star and nationally accredited. Childcare Network uses HighReach Learning curriculum and all facilities adhere to the USDA food program so children are provided with healthy, nutritious meals and snacks.

College Nannies + Tutors 1333 N. Santa Fe, Ste. 116, Edmond 405-513-6060 www.collegenanniesandtutors. com/edmondok

Available any time

Newborn to 18 years

College Nannies + Tutors provides customized in-home child care solutions to fit any family’s schedule and preference. The company’s nannies and sitters are fully screened, educated, active role models that are available on an on-call (as needed) basis, after school, part-time and full-time.

Earlywine Park YMCA Before & After Care at Greenbriar 1500 Kingsridge Dr. 405-378-0420 www.ymcaokc.org

6:30 a.m. to start of school & end of school to 6 p.m.

6 to 12 years

The purpose of YMCA School Age Child Care is to provide affordable, safe and wholesome enrichment activities during out-of-school hours. The program is centered on the YMCA mission to help individuals grow personally, clarify values, build character, improve relationships, appreciate diversity, become better leaders and supporters, develop specific skills and have fun.

Activities include homework, snacks, interest centers, math components, literacy skills, science activities, arts, sports and fitness activities.

Earlywine Park YMCA Before & After Care at Moore CC 301 S. Howard, Moore 405-378-0420 www.ymcaokc.org

6:30 a.m. to start of school & end of school to 6 p.m.

6 to 12 years

The purpose of YMCA School Age Child Care is to provide affordable, safe and wholesome enrichment activities during out-of-school hours. The program is centered on the YMCA mission to help individuals grow personally, clarify values, build character, improve relationships, appreciate diversity, become better leaders and supporters, develop specific skills and have fun.

Activities include homework, snacks, interest centers, math components, literacy skills, science activities, arts, sports and fitness activities.

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The Child Care Directory Venue

Hours

Ages

Details

EL Gaylord Downtown YMCA Child Development Center 1 N.W. 4th St. 405-297-7760 www.ymcaokc.org

7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

6 weeks to 6 years

The YMCA Childcare Program emphasizes care, safety and the nurture of a child’s natural desire to learn by providing ample opportunities to explore and learn through developmentally appropriate activities. The YMCA wants to help children develop to their full potentia and help children develop a healthy self esteem, learn through discovery and play, and to grow physically, emotionally, intellectually, socially and spiritually.

The Goddard School of Edmond 17440 N. Western Ave., Edmond 405-348-4442 www. goddardschool.com/ oklahomacity

7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

6 weeks to 10 years

For more than 25 years, The Goddard School has been a trusted name among families. Its classrooms are safe, nurturing environments for children, offering opportunities to explore and discover.

The Goddard School of Edmond (Northeast) 6001 E. Covell Rd., Edmond 405-330-1313 www. goddardschool.com/ oklahomacity

7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

6 weeks to 5 years

For more than 25 years, The Goddard School has been a trusted name among families. Its classrooms are safe, nurturing environments for children, offering opportunities to explore and discover.

Guthrie Kids in Action Preschool Program & Before & After Care 2001 W. Noble, Guthrie 405-282-8206

8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. for Preschool; 6:30 a.m. to 8:30am & 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. for Before & After Care

4 and 5 years for Preschool; 4 to 12 years for Before & After Care

Guthrie Kids in Action Preschool and Before & After Care is a place for Guthrie Public School students to go when they are not attending school.

The purpose of the program is to provide affordable, safe and wholesome enrichment activities during out-of-school hours. The program is centered on the YMCA mission and program objectives to help individuals grow personally, clarify values, build character, improve relationships, appreciate diversity, become better leaders and supporters, develop specific skills and have fun. YMCA activities include homework, snacks, interest centers, math components, literacy skills, science activities, arts, sports and fitness activities.

Leslie’s Child Care Rockwell & Memorial 405-773-3655 lesliebeths@gmail.com

Hours flexible based on parent needs

3 months to 4 years

Leslie’s Child Care is in-home care specifically for children of teachers backed by 13 years of experience. Fun, loving and educational care is provided for children of teachers in an intimate setting.

Mitch Park YMCA 2901 Marilyn Williams Dr., Edmond 405-330-4016 www.ymcaokc.org

6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. & 3 to 6 p.m.

5 to 12 years

The Mitch Park YMCA Before and After School Care program services the following schools in the Edmond Community: John Ross, Cross Timbers, Washington Irving, Ida Freeman, Centennial and Frontier. Transportation is provided. School Break Care is available for ages 5-12 from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on days when school is out due to holiday breaks or other planned dates. The Y’s financial assistance program ensures that everyone can participate in Y programs, despite an inability to pay. Financial assistance is provided through the Annual Campaign.

Nanny McDee’s Christian Learning Center 6009 N.W. Expressway 405-722-8902 www.nannymcdees.com

6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

6 weeks to 13 Nanny McDee’s Christian Learning Center uses Child-First Curriculum and years believes every child is unique and will grow at his or her own pace. Teachers spend time nurturing children’s strengths and encouraging them to reach new heights. Nanny McDee’s is a Christian child care facility.

North Penn Creative Kids 2000 N.W. 150th St. 405-254-2962 www.northpenncreativekids.com

6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

6 weeks to 5 years

North Penn Creative Kids is a caring, friendly and welcoming learning center.

The facility has an age-appropriate curriculum for ages 6 weeks to 5 years.

The curriculum allows children to explore the world around them through books, media (Interactive White Board) and hands on experiences. Smaller classes allows for more teacher-child interaction.

Oklahoma City Community College Child Development Center & Lab 6500 S. Land Ave. 405-682-7561 www.occc.edu

7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

6 weeks to 5 years

The OCCC CDCLS is open to the community, OCCC staff and studentparents. The facility staff believes children are unique, capable, creative problem-solvers, eager to learn. The staff is committed to designing and implementing a safe, friendly, nurturing environment, which promotes high quality care and physical, intellectual, and social-emotional developmental growth, in a collaborative effort with children, families, community and each other. Each teacher and teacher assistant holds a degree in early childhood or a related field. The CDCLS is nationally accredited with the National Association for the Education of Young Children and is an Oklahoma threestar rated child development center.

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The Child Care Directory Venue

Hours

Ages

Details

Primetime Indian Meridian YMCA 1865 Indian Meridian, Choctaw 405-733-9622 www.ymcaokc.org

6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. & 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Kindergarten to 12 years

Primetime Indian Meridian YMCA offers a program that not only provides a safe place for children to go, it also provides them with a curriculum that lets them engage with other children, be creative and challenges them all at the same time. They will receive help with their homework, while also learning nutrition and enjoying fun, interactive games throughout the day.

Primetime Nicoma Park YMCA 1200 Hickman Ave., Choctaw 405-733-9622 www.ymcaokc.org

6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

4 years to 12 years

Primetime Nicoma Park YMCA offers a program that not only provides a safe place for children to go; it also provides them with a curriculum that lets them engage with other children, be creative and challenges them all at the same time. They will receive help with their homework, while also learning nutrition and enjoying fun, interactive games throughout the day. This site also provides a pre-k program during the day with the option to participate in the before and after school program as well.

Primetime Westfall YMCA 13239 N.E. 10th, Choctaw 405-733-9622 www.ymcaokc.org

6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

4 years to 12 years

Primetime Westfall YMCA offers a program that not only provides a safe place for children to go, it also provides them with a curriculum that lets them engage with other children, be creative and challenges them all at the same time. They will receive help with their homework, while also learning nutrition and enjoying fun, interactive games throughout the day. This site also provides a pre-k program during the day with the option to participate in the before and after school program as well.

Primrose School of Edmond 15000 N. Western Ave., Edmond 405-285-6787 www.primroseschools.com/ schools/edmond

6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

6 weeks to kindergarten

Primrose School’s exclusive Balanced Learning curriculum provides children with the best early childhood education. Primrose is the first educational child care company to achieve accreditation by CITA (SACS CASI and NCA CASI), recognized as the gold standard in school evaluations. The school’s balanced approach has earned high marks for carefully blending child-initiated and teacher-directed activities. These are the two leading philosophies in early childhood education with the very special Primrose focus on character and values. The methodologies used in Primrose’s Balanced Assessment help us guide and improve instruction for each individual child.

Rankin YMCA 1220 S. Rankin St., Edmond 405-348-9622 www.ymcaokc.org

6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. & 3 to 6 p.m.

5 to 12 years

The Rankin YMCA Before and After School Care program services the following schools in the Edmond Community: Chisholm, Orvis Risner, Will Rogers, Sunset and Northern Hills. Transportation is provided. School Break Care is available for ages 5-12 from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on days when school is out due to holiday breaks or other planned dates. The Y’s financial assistance program ensures that everyone can participate in Y programs, despite an inability to pay. Financial assistance is provided through the Annual Campaign.

Child Care Resources Venue

Hours

Edmond Home Child Care Association 405-509-4843 www.edmondhomechildcare.com Rainbow Fleet 3024 Paseo Dr. 405-521-1426 www.rainbowfleet.org

Details Edmond Home Child Care Association is a professional organization for licensed family child care providers. The association works with providers to provide professional growth and promote quality care. They also help parents by providing child care and consumer guidelines on how to select the best care provider.

8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Rainbow Fleet is not a child care provider, but a child care resource for local families. This non-profit maintains important information on Oklahoma City metro child care providers and helps local parents find quality care. Additionally, their resource center features a toy library with developmental toys for all ages and stages that can be rented by families and child care providers.

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mom gets the last laugh

I’ll Be There for You

ILLUSTRATION BY EMILY BALL, WWW.EMILYMGBA

I

distinctly remember the first time I left our daughters with a babysitter who was not family. I wrote a 20-page doctrine on exactly how my children liked their frozen macaroni and cheese heated up. I also left every phone number I knew (including yours!), you know, just in case she needed to get a hold of my exstep-uncle who is a nephrologist down in Texas.

One never knows when a 2-year-old will need assistance in passing a kidney stone.

When I finally felt just a tiny bit confident that the teenager I had hired (who, the longer I stared at her, looked more and more like a girl I’d seen on Unsolved Mysteries) could take care of the girls, I kissed them, begged them not to cry as they ran into the backyard screaming something along the lines of “Momma’s gone!” and I left.

LL.COM

I sighed, grabbed my purse and retreated to my minivan. I sat in the driveway and tried to soothe my anger at my husband for having a work thing at the exact same time I had a doctor’s appointment. My mom and sister were out of town, so I couldn’t call them. After fifteen minutes of stewing about being forced to leave my child with this strange, honor society teenager we had only known for a few years, I put the minivan in reverse and backed out of the driveway.

I drove to the corner and called my doctor’s office. I rescheduled my appointment, agreeing to pay the $20 rescheduling fee. Immediately I felt completely silly for acting like such a nervous nelly. So, I put the minivan in park and sat at the corner, with a clear view of my house, and waited for an hour to return home, using approximately five dollars worth of gasoline because I couldn’t be expected to not listen to the radio or have the air conditioning on.

Then, after my hour of sitting and staring, I returned home to relieve the babysitter and pay her for her time. That’s right, folks. I paid $25

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to sit in my minivan less than 100 yards from my home. When we drove the babysitter back to her house, my girls cried and told me they wanted me to go away more often.

You can’t put a price on that kind of betrayal.

As children do, my girls grew and it became easier to be away from them. I longed, sometimes, for a chance to just go sit in the solitude of my minivan. In what seemed like the blink of an eye, my girls went from needing babysitters (sometimes plural) to being babysitters.

“Can she babysit for me on Friday night?” my friend asked about my older daughter as if she were willing to trust my baby to stay at her home, alone, unsupervised.

I stammered my approval and then she texted my daughter and booked the gig. My baby was going to be in charge of someone else’s baby from 6 p.m. to midnight for a fee of $40 plus all the chips she could eat.

The same feelings I had those not-so-many years ago the first time I left her and her sister with a sitter came rushing back to me.

When they came to pick her up that evening, I armed my kid with a wealth of information: website to check for predators in the neighborhood, a poison-control handbook, a CD I got at a health fair about what to do when encountering blood-borne pathogens and Tipper Gore’s guide to family listening (a pamphlet left over from college, but I felt like it might be timely). I also gave her all of the phone numbers she’d ever need (including yours, whoever you are).

And she was off. My husband and younger daughter were caught up in some Netflix marathon or whatever and I felt too antsy to just sit on the couch. I grabbed the keys to my trusty minivan, mumbled a “see ya soon” and took off for a drive.

I recollected the days when I longed for the solitude and autonomy to choose my own

radio station. And now it seemed as if my daughters were ready to fly from my nest.

Tonight she was babysitting. Tomorrow, she could be backpacking across Europe “finding herself” and eating exotic foods.

In no time at all, she’d be emailing me from college telling me she’d found the love of her life and would be making a run for the White House. In the blink of an eye, she’d have her own family, her own children, her own minivan, her own babysitter.

But for now, she could still be my baby, and if she needed me, I’d be there for her. In fact, I could be there quickly because I was sitting in my van just down the street from her babysitting job.

Heather Davis is a momma, a writer and a stalker. She’s the author of several humor books, all found on Amazon.com. You can reach her at minivan.momma.2@gmail.com.

Have the

BEST SUMMER EVER! Looking for the best splash pads?

Places to pick your own fruit?

Father’s Day events?

Day trip ideas?

Our website has all that and much more!

Find your summer fun at www.metrofamilymagazine.com/summer METROFAMILY MAGAZINE

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JULY 2015

To wrap up our four-part series on gardening at home, we’re giving you fresh ideas for getting your kids into the kitchen with their home-grown produce. Here, Chef Marc Dunham gets in the kitchen with his three daughters to share tips for using summer garden staples. Visit www. metrofamilymagazine.com/recipes to see Chef Marc’s step-by-step recipes created with his family for MetroFamily Magazine.

PHOTOS BY BRITTANY SMITH, WWW.BRITTSEYE.COM

BY MARC DUNHAM

very August, our hallways at Francis Tuttle School of Culinary Arts where I work are filled with a new group of high school students, nervous as they stand in line and stare at our chef instructors with trepidation. I’ve asked them from time to time, “What is going through your mind as you’re standing in the middle of this intimidatingly beautiful facility with chef eyes peering at you?” As you might expect, there are mixed reactions.

Some are filled with insecurity and fear of the unknown, some smiling with excitement, some are simply tired and looking for a bed to crawl into.

And then the ice is broken, usually by our resident comedian Chef Claes Passmark.

After all, the chefs are there to nurture, encourage and grow their passion and their ability to learn culinary arts. But here is what strikes me as a challenge every semester: to gauge a student’s experience with cooking, learning and food, we enter into a simple dialog with them so we know more about how each of them learns and how much exposure they have had with food and cooking. Time after time, the students who know the most about food have learned it by cooking with their family and friends, but most can’t identify common vegetables.

Over the years, I have been exceptionally lucky to have had opportunities to work with so many fantastic educational programs that promote cooking education for kids.

Whether it is Summer Quest at Francis Tuttle or a program I worked on several years ago with Dallas Independent School District, I’ve found these experiences to be the most rewarding and potentially the most impactful.

So here is my unsolicited advice to you reading this article based on my experiences: get in the kitchen and cook. Get in the kitchen and cook as many days during the week as you can and bring your kids with you. We live in a time where most children cannot identify the differences between a fruit and a vegetable. And forget about identifying specific vegetables. Are they going to make a mess? Of course they are, but the bonding and relationships you build with your children in the kitchen are not only educational and crucial for them to

learn, they are also moments in their life that they will remember as long as they live.

How else are they supposed to know what is good for them? How will they develop the patterns of eating in life that lead to a healthy and happy life? How will they learn to appreciate the hours of hard work put into making dinner if they don’t experience that with you first hand? And talk about fun!

There is nothing more satisfying than seeing my girls Olivia, Emily and Claire so excited that they accomplished something that their daddy does for a living. Chef Claes is famous for saying “we teach self-confidence first...The cooking is an added benefit.”

This can’t be overstated. Cooking builds character and confidence.

Full disclosure, my wife Jenny is much better at allowing our daughters to have freedom in the kitchen and make messes and learn. It’s engrained in me to work clean and organized, so I struggle with that part with my daughters. Don’t be like I was in the beginning. Just let them have fun for a while before you start trying to teach your 3-yearold about “mise en place.” Do the simple things. Keep them safe with knives (yes, you need to let them learn how to use them), keep them away from hot areas, but let them experiment. One of the best foods to start with that is fun and safe is making some sort of dough, like pizza dough or bread.

Once they get a little better and more comfortable, you can incorporate new tasks like chopping vegetables, mixing, pouring, adding seasoning and salt and tasting new foods. And guess what, my kids struggle with vegetables and fruits just like every kid I know! Just keep involving them and making it an option and eventually they will try it. The recipes our family decided to show you are simple, seasonal, beautiful, nutritious and fun to make. Even after we finished these recipes and finished taking the photos, all three of my daughters asked my wife and I if they could have some candy and cookies...The struggle continues. But keep cooking!

Marc Dunham is the Director of Culinary Arts at Francis Tuttle Technology Center in Oklahoma City. He’s also recently produced a documentary made for TV called Course of Food that won Best Oklahoma Short Film at the deadCENTER Film Festival in Oklahoma City last month. Course of Food will be airing on OETA later this fall.

For updates, follow them at http://www. facebook.com/courseoffood and on Twitter @courseoffood.

Chef Marc currently lives in OKC with his wife Jenny and daughters Olivia, Emily and Claire.

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Check out our Summer Worship Series

True Confessions of a Former

LET’S

TALK

ABOUT IT

Picky Eater

Sundays at 10:40am

Have you ever attended a church that wants to have open dialogue with you about tough questions about religion, the Bible, or Christianity, rather than tell you the "right answers?" This summer, we want to open up the conversation to anyone in worship. At Summit, you will be welcomed, loved, and included.

FREE MASTERPIECE CAMP: For kids with special needs and their siblings, grades K-12 July 27-29 from 6-7:30pm

Register today at

www.summitok.org Late registrations accepted.

Join us for worship.

Services held at Cimarron Middle School every Sunday at 10:40 am.

www.summitok.org

K

ate Taylor grew up in Edmond a picky eater. Now an awardwinning vegetarian blogger, Kate shares with us her journey out of pizza and chicken fingers to colorful, healthy meals.

Tell us a little about your blog.

I started my blog, Cookie and Kate (www. cookieandkate.com), after college when I was working at a marketing job in Oklahoma City. I had always enjoyed writing and photography, and I was feeling creatively stifled at my job, so I thought it would be a fun creative project. I quickly ran out of ideas for content and shared a salsa recipe that I had been making a lot. That recipe went over well so I started posting more, and now I’m a full-time vegetarian food blogger!

What types of foods did you most enjoy growing up? How did you feel about vegetables when you were young?

I don’t like to admit it, but pizza, spaghetti, chicken fingers and French fries were my favorite foods. I remember being suspicious of unfamiliar vegetables when I was little.

Once, I refused to eat my grandmother’s home-grown green beans because I thought green beans should come out of cans!

Fortunately, my mom always offered fresh fruit and salad at dinner, and I enjoyed those options.

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How has your attitude changed toward vegetables?

My taste buds really expanded when I went off to college. Now, I think vegetables are the best! I love them because they’re full of flavor and I feel great after I eat them. I enjoy coming up with new ways to prepare vegetables.

What are some of your favorite vegetables to use in recipes now?

I’m pretty crazy about sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower and kale.

They’re all amazing once you know how to cook them to bring out their best qualities.

In your experience cooking with produce, do you see benefits to cooking with fresh items grown at home or a local garden/ farmers market?

Yes, absolutely! Locally grown produce tends to be fresher, which means that it looks better and has more flavor. Fresher produce is typically higher in nutrients, too. Plus, shopping at farmers’ markets is a great way to support the local economy and growing vegetables is a fun family project.

Do you have any tips to help parents get kids more interested in eating fresh fruits and vegetables?

I think it’s important to offer vegetables and fruit consistently and show that you enjoy them yourself. Also, you might try changing up your preparation methods. Steamed broccoli isn’t nearly as exciting as roasted broccoli!

Get kids in the kitchen this summer to try fresh berries in Kate’s fantastic recipe for

Roasted Berry & Honey Yogurt Pops Let Emily Hart capture the art of your family….

INGREDIENTS

12 ounces (two small containers) small berries, like blueberries and raspberries 2 teaspoons sugar (preferably turbinado sugar), optional Dash of sea salt 2 tablespoons + ¼ cup honey (to taste) 2 cups whole Greek yogurt (I used Fage) ½ small lemon, juiced

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, gently toss berries with the sugar, a dash of sea salt and 2 tablespoons honey. Pour the berries onto the prepared baking sheet and arrange the berries in a single layer. Roast for 30 minutes, stirring halfway, or long enough for the berry juices to thicken but not burn (watch the edges in particular).

Let the berries cool for at least ten minutes, then scrape the berries and all of their juices into the bowl of yogurt. Use a big spoon to gently fold the mixture together (for a marbled effect, do not mix thoroughly).

While the fruit is roasting, blend together the Greek yogurt and lemon juice in a medium bowl. Mix in honey to taste, until it is barely sweet enough for your liking (keep in mind that the berries will be very sweet). Add more lemon juice if you want tart popsicles.

Use the spoon to transfer the yogurt blend into a popsicle mold and freeze for at least four hours. When you’re ready to pop out the popsicles, run warm water around the outsides of the molds for about ten seconds and gently remove the popsicles. Enjoy immediately.

Want to give your kids more opportunities for hands-on learning in the kitchen?

The Oklahoma County OSU Extension is offering a Kids in the Kitchen cooking class for kids ages 9-12. The classes are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 14 and 15 at the Oklahoma City-County Health Department Northeast Regional Health & Wellness Center (2600 N.E. 63rd St.). Preregistration and a $15 enrollment fee is required and space is limited. Lunch will be served at the class.

Visit www.oces.okstate.edu/oklahoma or call 405-713-1125 for more information.

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Now taking summer and fall portrait bookings.

Contact Emily today at:

emily@ninaandbphotography.com www.ninaandbphotography.com

calendar

july

events this OUR CALENDAR MAKES IT EASY TO FIND FAMILY FUN IN OKC. FIND IT AT WWW.METROFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM/CALENDAR

MARY POPPINS—JULY 7-11 Everyone’s favorite nanny, Mary Poppins, takes the stage at Civic Center Music Hall (201 N Walker). In this Lyric Theatre production based on the Disney classic film, Oklahoma Native and UCO graduate Lindsie VanWinkle will sing and dance to favorites like Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, Jolly Holiday, Step in Time and the Academy Award winning Chim-Chim Cheree. She will be accompanied by two local kids playing the part of Jane & Michael Banks. Ticket holders have the opportunity to take photos and get autographs from princes and princesses from classic children’s movies and books in the lobby 40 minutes prior to each performance. After each performance, one or two characters from the show will also be available for photos and autographs. The show is best suited for kids 5 and older. $25-$86. Show times are Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday, 7:30pm; Friday, 8pm; Saturday, 2 & 8pm.

MORE INFORMATION: WWW.LYRICTHEATREOKC.COM PHONE: 542-9312 Photo courtesy of Civic Center Music Hall

SEUSSICAL THE MUSICAL—JULY 16-18 & 23-25 For two weekends in July, Upstage Theatre, in partnership with the city of Edmond’s Parks and Recreation Department, presents Seussical the Musical at the Mitch Park Amphitheatre (2733 Marilyn Williams Dr, Edmond). The musical compilation of several of Dr. Seuss’ books is narrated by The Cat in the Hat and will feature other famous Seuss characters. For five summers, Upstage Theatre has taken their community performances outdoors for a unique familyfriendly summertime experience. Bring your lawn chairs, blankets and coolers for a night of theater al fresco. Tickets are $18 for adults and $10 for students. All shows start at 8 p.m.

MORE INFORMATION: WWW.UPSTAGETHEATREOK.COM PHONE: 285-5803 Photo courtesy of Upstage Theatre

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calendar FIREFLY HIKE—JULY 25 Experts at Martin Park Nature Center (5000 W. Memorial) are ready to take metro families on a memorable night hike through their scenic park.

Attend this hike and scour the woods in search of everyone’s favorite summer light source—fireflies. These illuminated insects light up the night sky and there’s no better way to learn more about them than with this exciting expert-led hike. Discover how these unique bugs send secret messages to each other and learn more about why they’re only seen during the summer season. The hike is $5 per person and recommended for ages 6 and up. Preregister. 8-10pm.

MORE INFORMATION: WWW.OKC.GOV/PARKS PHONE: 297-1429 Photo courtesy of Unsplash

INDUSTRY FLEA—JULY 26 & 27 As if you needed one more reason to go to Oklahoma City’s popular H&8th Night Market, Industry Flea in Midtown (10th & Hudson) has joined the bevy of food trucks and live entertainment to bring unique local shopping to the monthly event. Industry Flea is a casual, family-friendly vendor market open the last Friday and Saturday of the month from March to September. The event will feature a collection of local vendors selling everything from locally-made candy and pickles to clothing, jewelry and housewares. The Flea will be open from 5-10pm on Friday and 10am-8pm on Saturday.

MORE INFORMATION: WWW.INDUSTRYFLEA.COM Photo courtesy of Industry Flea

WEEKLY WALK-UPS—THROUGH AUGUST Every weekday, the Myriad Gardens (301 W Reno) features themed activities that explore and celebrate the plant world. Make-it Mondays let kids craft a variety of projects to take home and enjoy like natural paint brushes, looms and wind mobiles. Tasty Tuesdays offer a delicious adventure as they taste seasonal foods and craft creations using veggies, fruits and herbs. Reading Wednesdays feature an outdoor nature-themed story time and activities that connect with what is growing and changing in the garden. Throwback Thursdays are a time for upcycling. Transform a plastic bottle into a bird feeder, a soup can into an herb planter and more. Find Fridays lead kids on a hunt of discovery. A self-guided scavenger hunt highlights several exciting things often overlooked while visiting the Gardens. Hunt for swallowtail caterpillars chewing on some fennel, find worms in the compost bin, or climb up in the lookout “treehouse” for a game of I Spy. $2 suggested donation per child. Activities are available Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to noon.

MORE INFORMATION: WWW.MYRIADGARDENS.ORG PHONE: 445-7080 Photo courtesy of Myriad Botanical Gardens

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events this

july

THROUGH JULY 10 FREE Neighborhood Arts presents OKC Improv: Be Your Own Superhero! Tour at the Metropolitan Library System (various locations) features a completely made up comedy show.

Audience participation encouraged. MondayFriday. See website for a complete schedule.

All ages welcome. www.metrolibrary.org

THROUGH JULY 11

FREE On the Lawn at the Chesapeake Lawn (NW 62nd & Western Ave) is a family happy hour celebration featuring yard games, a moon bounce, movies & live music. 7-10pm. 293-3033, www.visitwesternavenue.com Turnpike Troubadours & Jason Boland and The Stragglers in Concert at the Zoo Amphitheatre (2011 NE 50th St) is an all-ages celebration of Red Dirt music. $25-45. 5:30pm.

602-0683, www.zooamphitheatre.com

Company at The Pollard Theatre (120 W Harrison, Guthrie) features the Tony Award winning musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Adults, $27.25; seniors & military, $24.50; students, $16.25. July 2, 3, 9, 10 & 11, 8pm; July 5, 2pm. 282-2800, www.thepollard.org

THROUGH JULY 3

JULY 1 • WEDNESDAY

JULY 3 • FRIDAY

FREE Stage Combat for Kids Workshop at The Village Library (10307 N Penn Ave) features expert instruction on hand-to-hand combat including safe throws, falls and grabs. Techniques focus on teamwork and safety and are practiced under the supervision of a trained stage combat expert. For ages 5-12. Preregister. Also held: 7/7, 14, 16 & 30 at various times & locations. 1pm.

755-0710, www.metrolibrary.org

FREE Red, White & Boom! Independence Day Concert at State Fair Park (3001 General Pershing Blvd) is the Oklahoma City Philharmonic’s gift to the community. Enjoy a free concert followed by a fireworks display.

Bring lawn chairs. Concert begins at 8:30pm; fireworks, 10pm. www.okcphilharmonic.org

JULY 1 & 2 FREE Neighborhood Arts Presents Superhero Adventures in Hip Hop! at the Metropolitan Library System (various locations). Local Emmy winning hip hop artist Jabee Williams as he takes kids on an adventure of the elements of hip hop.

For ages 12 and under. See website for a complete schedule. www.metrolibrary.org

JULY 2 • THURSDAY FREE Total Wellness Classes at Southern Oaks Library (6900 S Walker Ave) is a weekly wellness class aimed to help attendees lose weight and become more active. Multiple classes offered throughout the month. See website for a complete schedule. 10-11am. Registration required. For 18 years old and older. www.metrofamilymagazine. com/wellness-classes FREE Artist in the Park at Martin Nature Park (5000 W Memorial Rd). Explorers of all ages can discover nature through art and meet with a visiting artist to talk about their nature inspiration. 6-8:30pm. 297-1429, www.okc.gov/parks

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FREE Super Snack Attack Story Time at the Moore Public Library (225 S Howard Ave, Moore) features a story, snack and powering up activity. 2-3pm. 793-4347, www.pioneerlibrarysystem.org

FREE First Friday Gallery Walk in the Paseo District (NW 30th & 27th St, Walker & Hudson Ave) features artists, art exhibits, refreshments, live music and food trucks on the first Friday of the month. 6-10pm. 525-2688, www.thepaseo.com Charlie Daniels Band Concert at Frontier City (11501 N I-35 Service Rd) is a special live performance from Charlie Daniels that is free with park admission. 6pm. 478-2140, www.frontiercity.com FREE Newcastle Independence Day Celebration at Veterans Park (NW 10th & Veterans Pkwy, Newcastle) presents a 4th of July celebration with music, food, bounce houses and fireworks. Entertainment begins at 6pm and a fireworks display kicks off at dusk. 387-4427.

FREE Blanchard’s Independence Celebration (NE 10th & N Council, Blanchard) features fireworks, food, live music and special activities just for kids including a petting zoo, pony rides and inflatables. Begins at 6pm with fireworks show at 10pm. 802-1334.

JULY 3 & 4 FREE Freedom Fest at Chisholm Trail Park (500 W Vandament, Yukon) & Yukon City Park (2200 S Holly, Yukon) is a two-day festival honoring veterans while celebrating with live music, rodeo, children’s decorated bike contest, car show, BBQ cook-off, stunt show, triathlon, swimming, hot dog eating contest, free watermelon and ice cream and fireworks. See website for details.

350-8937, www.cityofyukonok.gov

JULY 4 • SATURDAY FREE Freedom Festival at Elmer Thomas Park (Lawton) features live music, pet adoption event, bounce houses, car show and fireworks. 11am10pm. 580-357-8386 FREE 4th of July Festival at Magnolia Park in Seminole is a day of family fun including food, games, inflatables, entertainment and fireworks.

382-3640, www.seminoleOKchamber.org FREE Norman Day Celebration at Reaves Park (2501 Jenkins Ave, Norman) in Norman includes fun activities like a doggie parade, inflatables, food vendors, live music and fireworks. Activities start at noon. Fireworks around 9:45pm. 366-5406, www.normanfun.com FREE 4th of July Celebration & World Champion Watermelon Seed Spitting Contest at Wacker Park (Park Rd & N Willow St, Pauls Valley) features food, live entertainment, watermelon seed spitting contest and fireworks. www.paulsvalley.com Annual Hometown Celebration at Leonardo’s Children’s Museum (200 E Maple, Enid) features games, prizes and lunch. Discounted admission available. Members, $3.50; Nonmember, $7.

10am-noon. 580-233-2787, www.leonardos.org FREE Cajun Festival at the Grove Civic Center (1720 S Main St) in Grove features Cajun music, food, dancing and arts & craft vendors. 10am.

918-786-8896, www.grandlakefestivals.com FREE Old-Fashioned Independence Day Celebration at Red Bud Park (Main St, Marlow) features a parade and all-day festival with fireworks. 9am-10:30pm. 580-658-2212, www.cityofmarlow.com FREE Celebration in the Heartland 4th of July Festival at Buck Thomas Park (1903 NE 12, Moore) features live entertainment, vendors, food, inflatables, children’s activities, music, car show and more. Fireworks at dusk.10am-10pm.

793-5090, www.cityofmoore.com.

FREE 2015 Bethany Freedom Festival at Eldon Lyon Park (7400 NW 36th, Bethany) celebrates our nation’s independence with a parade, pony rides, inflatables, carnival rides, games, festival food, car show, shopping, live music and fireworks. 10am-11pm. 789-2146, www.cityofbethany.org

FREE 4th of July Stars & Stripes Funfest Celebration at the Expo Event Center (4500 US-270, McAlester) features live entertainment, games and fireworks. 5:30-10pm. Fireworks at dusk. 918-420-3976, www.cityofmcalester.com FREE Tribute to Liberty at Joe B. Barnes Regional Park (8700 E. Reno Ave, Midwest City) features acoustical entertainment, live music by Dr. Irv Wagner’s Concert Band, food trucks, snow cones and fireworks.

Activities, 6pm; fireworks, 9:45pm. 735-2281, www.midwestcityok.org FREE Celebrate America at the Donald W. Reynolds Community Center parking lot (105 Reynolds Ave, Poteau) features water slides, games, giveaways, live music, food and fireworks.

6pm. 918-647-9178, www.poteauchamber.com FREE 4th of July Celebration at Claremore Lake Park in Claremore celebrates 4th of July with inflatables, food, entertainment, children’s inflatables, fireworks and more. Kids Fishing Derby at 7am. Fishing poles given to the first 400 participants. Call for details. 6-10:30pm.

877-341-8688, www.visitclaremore.com FREE Folds of Honor Tulsa FreedomFest at Veterans Park (1875 Boulder, Tulsa) features food, live entertainment and a free kids zone with inflatable play stations. 6pm. www.riverparks.org/freedomfest FREE 4th of July Fireworks in Altus at the open area east of the reservoir on Falcon Rd. Fireworks at approximately 9:45pm.

580-482-0210, www.altuschamber.com FREE 4th of July Fireworks Show at Lake Ponca Park (LA Cann Dr between Prentice Dr and Fairway Ln, Ponca City) begins at 9:50pm.

580-767-0432, www.poncacitytourism.com

See more July 4th events at www.metrofamilymagazine.com/ Independence-Day-Fun-Guide/ JULY 4-7 Oklahoma City Dodgers v. Omaha Storm Chasers at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark (2 S Mickey Mantle Dr). Saturday, Monday & Tuesday, 7:05pm; Sunday, 6:05pm. $8-22. Also held: 7/16-19 v. Round Rock Express. 218-1000, www.okcdodgers.com

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Prix De weST iNviTATioNAl ArT exhibiTioN AND SAle The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum offers its acclaimed annual exhibition featuring more than 300 works by the finest contemporary western artists

Saturday, July 25 NATioNAl DAy of The AmericAN cowboy AND rememberiNg chriS leDoux: A weSTerN uNDergrouND coNcerT Visit the website for full details about this daytime annual event in celebration of the Museum’s 50 years and a new all-ages, alcoholfree concert in tribute to cowboy, entertainer and artist Chris LeDoux

Family-Friendly activities at the cowboy in JUly

Through August 2

and there is always more!

history art shopping

dining

1700 NE 63rd St. Oklahoma City, OK (405) 478-2250

www.nationalcowboymuseum.org

events this

july

JULY 5 • SUNDAY

JULY 7-11

Light the Night: Candle Making at Martin Park Nature Center (5000 W Memorial Rd). Learn how to make candles using beeswax and essential oils.

For ages 16 and up. Preregister. $15. 2-4pm.

297-1429, www.okc.gov/active

Mary Poppins at Civic Center Music Hall (201 N Walker) features everyone’s favorite nanny and classic songs like Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, Step in Time, Jolly Holiday and Chim-Chim Cher-ee.

Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday, 7:30pm; Friday, 8pm; Saturday, 2 & 8 pm. $36-$86.

Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday, 7:30pm; Friday, 8pm; Saturday, 2 & 8pm. 524-9312 www.lyrictheatreokc.com

JULY 5-10 International Finals Youth Rodeo at the Heart of Oklahoma Expo Center (1700 W Independence, Shawnee) features up and coming cowboy and cowgirl talents in barrel racing, pole bending, roping and bull and bronc riding. See website for performances times. Adults, $12; kids (3-11), $6. All-session passes available. 275-9780, www.ifyr.com

JULY 6 • MONDAY FREE Nighttime Ninjas presented by the Oklahoma City Zoo at the Norman Central Public Library (225 N Webster Ave, Norman) features an up-close look at how night animals survive.

All ages welcome. 2 & 6:30pm. Also held: 7/14, Moore Library, 2pm. 701-2630, www.pioneerlibrarysystem.org

JULY 6-10 FREE Neighborhood Arts presents Morgan Taylor: Gustafer Yellowgold’s Show at the Metropolitan Library System (Various locations) combines music, stories and animation into a fun multi-media experience. See website for a complete schedule. All ages welcome. www.metrolibrary.org

JULY 7 • TUESDAY FREE Science of Superheroes Mad Science Class at the Edmond Library (10 S Boulevard St, Edmond). Derick & Tonette Brock with Mad Science help kids discover superhuman abilities and how superheroes make their powers work. For ages 5-12. 3-3:45pm. 341-9282, www.metrolibrary.org

JULY 7 & 8 FREE Monthly LEGO Build at the LEGO Store in Penn Square Mall (1901 NW Expressway) features a new model every month. For ages 6-14. Quantities limited. Registration required.

5pm. 840-9993, shop.LEGO.com/MinibuildRegistration

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JULY 8-23 FREE Amazing Avengers Super Hero Class at the Metropolitan Library System (various locations). Representatives from Science Museum Oklahoma will teach how to harness the Hulk’s strength, use technology like Iron Man or wield Thor’s mighty power of thunder and lightning.

For ages 5-12. Preregister. See website for a complete schedule. www.metrolibrary.org

JULY 9 • THURSDAY FREE Art Classes at State Fair Park (3001 General Pershing Blvd) features lessons in basket weaving, cooking, fabric weaving, ceramics, photography and more. Youth session for age 15 and under. Preregister. 10am-3pm. 948-6731, www.okstatefair.com FREE Super Zoo! Art Project at the Belle Isle Library (5501 N Villa). Artist Savannah Mitchell will explore the superpowers of the animal kingdom. For ages 12-18. Also held: 7/13, Edmond Library (10 S Boulevard). 3-4pm.

843-9601, www.metrolibrary.org FREE The Mix: Outdoor Concert Series at DC on Film Row (609 W Sheridan Ave) features a monthly concert with local bands on the second Thursdays each month from April to October.

Food trucks begin serving at 6:30pm. Music, 7pm. www.facebook.com/themixokc FREE Up, Up & Away Magic Show at the Warr Acres Library (5901 NW 63rd St) features master magician Michael Corley and his crazy stunts.

All ages welcome. 10:30-11:15am. Also held: 7/15, Northwest Library, 2-3pm. 721-2616, www.metrolibrary.org

JULY 9 & 10 Bring Back the Music Master Class at Millwood High School (N Eastern Ave) features Grammy Award winning artist P.J. Morton and his band. Students will receive individual and ensemble instruction and discuss the music industry’s changing landscape. The second session will conclude with a mini-concert at 1pm. $15. Thursday, 1-3pm; Friday, 9am-1pm. www.artscouncilokc.com

JULY 10 • FRIDAY FREE 2nd Friday Norman Art Walk in the Norman Arts District (downtown Norman) features a monthly celebration of the arts in Norman. 6-9pm. www.2ndfridaynorman.com FREE Play in the Park in Moore (various locations). Park staff host fun games and activities in a different park. Also held 7/17.

For ages 6-14. Parents must accompany children at all times. 9:30-10:30am. 793-5090, www.cityofmoore.com/fun FREE LIVE on the Plaza in the Plaza District (1700 block of NW 16th) features artists, live music, special events, local shopping and more on the second Friday of each month, rain or shine.

7-11pm. www.plazadistrict.org/live FREE Movie Night in the Park at Stephenson Park (S Littler Ave & E Fourth St, Edmond) features an outdoor screening of Judy Moody and the Not So Bummer Summer. Concessions available for $1. Movie begins at dark. 359-4630, www.edmondparks.com Movies on the Prairie Series at Martin Park (5000 W Memorial Rd) features an outdoor screening of The Lorax. Blankets, lawn chairs and bug spray recommended. $5 suggested donation. 9pm. 297-1429, www.okc.gov/active FREE Chick-fil-a Family Movie Nights at Andrews Park (201 W Daws, Norman). Enjoy an outdoor screening of Paddington at the Andrews Park Amphitheater. Movie starts at sunset. Premovie activities start at 8pm. Also held: 7/24 with a showing of Big Hero 6. 366-5472, www.normanfun.com Superhero Adventure at Edmond Fine Arts Institute (27 E Edwards, Edmond). Kids will create an original superhero complete with cape and mask and original story to present to parents at the end of class. For ages 5-8. Preregister. $25.

10-11:30am. 340-4481, www.edmondfinearts.com L.M.A.O. Comedy Show Part 3 at Rose State College Hudiburg Chevrolet Center (6000 Trosper Rd, Midwest City) features comedian Corey Holcomb with guests Anthony “Chico” Bean, Robert Dowell and Double D. Adults only. $35-65.

7:30pm. 297-2264, www.okcciviccenter.com

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©2015 Oklahoma Aquarium

Fish Tales № 223 Bizarre creatures. Unique

×

aquatic life. Dream-like coral reefs. The world’s oceans run as deep as your × imagination. wildest We invite you to× experience a journey that’s all your own.

events this

july

JULY 10 & 11 Survive ’N’ Thrive Single Moms Conference at Crossing Community Church (14600 N Portland Ave) is a two-day conference for single moms featuring music, speakers, breakout sessions, BBQ and dessert. Mom, $25; $5 per family for child care. Friday, 6:30-9:15pm; Saturday, 8:45am3:30pm. 203-1685, www.ariseministries.net

JULY 11 • SATURDAY FREE Hooked on Fishing Lessons at Edwards Park Lake (1515 N Bryant). Young anglers learn fishing basics including knot-tying, casting, fish identification, angler ethics and fishing regulations. Poles, tackle and bait are provided during the class. For ages 5-15.

Preregister. Also held: 7/18, Metro Tech Springlake; 7/25, Crystal Lake. 8-10am.

297-1426. www.okc.gov/lakes Oklahoma City Energy v. Orange County Blues at Taft Stadium (NW 27th & May). $8-$44.

7pm. Also held: 7/18 v. Tulsa Roughnecks, 7/31 v. Arizona United & 8/4 v. Los Angeles Galaxy II. www.energyfc.com

Experiences as fantastical as your kid’s imagination.

Inspiring Kids to Learn and Explore.

Special thanks to Kyle, from Moore, Okla. whose whimsical drawing was the inspiration for the artwork above.

�

Mermaid & Pirate Days at the Aquarium this summer.

WwW.Okaquarium.org for details.

Northeast Oklahoma’s

OKA-038 MetroFamily Ad June New Size_M.indd 1

Exploring Vanilla at Will Rogers Gardens (3400 NW 36th) explores the botanical world of vanilla and teaches about its use in medicine and cooking. Ages 6 and up. $10. 10am. Preregister. www.okc.gov/active Greater Oklahoma Bluegrass Music Society Concert at the Oklahoma Country-Western Museum & Hall of Fame (3925 SE 29th St, Del City) features three professional bluegrass bands, each playing for 45 minutes on the second Saturday each month. Adults $8; members $5; kids (12 & under), free. 6:30-9:15pm. 677-7515, www.gobms.org FREE Make + Take at Oklahoma Contemporary (3000 General Pershing Blvd) features an artmaking project inspired by works of art on view at the museum. All ages welcome. Children must be accompanied by an adult. 1-4pm. 951-0000, www.oklahomacontemporary.org FREE Life-Sized Game Day at Chitwood Park (W First & Story St, Edmond). Play life size version of CANDYLAND where players are the pieces. Food and prizes included. 2-5pm.

359-4630, www.edmondparks.com

5/7/15 2:37 PM

GREEN COUNTRY

GreenCountryOK.com

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FREE Beginner Martial Arts Seminar at National Martial Arts (11720 S Western Ave).

Learn basic punching, kicking and blocking skills, how to use those techniques for self defense only as well as character development principles of the martial arts. For children ages 4-12. Preregister.

10-11am. 692-7300, www.nmaschools.com Trucks for Tots on the lawn behind Whole Foods (62nd & Western). Meet and interact with community heroes and take a peek inside the exciting machines they drive every day to save lives and change our community. Infant Crisis Services will be accepting donations of new and genty used baby items. $2 donation suggested.

10am-2pm. 778-7619, www.infantcrisis.org REO Speedwagon Concert at Frontier City (11501 N I-35 Service Rd) is a special live performance from iconic band REO Speedwagon that is free with park admission. Time TBA. 478-2140, www.frontiercity.com

JULY 11 & 12 FREE Namron Players Theatre Summer Show in the Park at Andrews Park Amphitheatre (201 W Daws, Norman) features several short plays written by local 7th graders. Families with children welcome. Donations accepted.

Saturday, 7pm; Sunday, 2:30pm. 650-0866, www.namronplayers.com Playing Church! at Rose State College Hudiburg Chevrolet Center (6000 Trosper Rd, Midwest City) deals with unethical occurrences in today’s church. This production will take you through the lives of those who are trying to face addictions, convictions and giants alone. $20. 3pm & 7pm.

297-2264, www.okcciviccenter.com

JULY 12 • SUNDAY FREE Summer Breeze Concert Series at Lions Park (400 S Flood, Norman). Bring seating, refreshments and enjoy the music of North Meets South. Also held: 7/26, Adam and Kizze.

7:30pm. 301-9320, www.pasnorman.org

JULY 13 • MONDAY FREE Pack the Park at Mustang Town Center (1201 N Mustang Rd, Mustang) features a movie in the park, inflatable games, face painting and swimming in celebration of National Parks and Recreation Month. Food trucks and concessions available. Admission required for pool access: $5 per person per day; children under 3 swim free. 7:30pm, movie begins at dusk. 376-3411. www.cityofmustang.org

JULY 13-24 FREE Neighborhood Arts presents Cimarron Opera Tour at the Metropolitan Library System (Various locations) features The Owl, the Tree & Me. See website for a complete schedule. All ages welcome. www.metrolibrary.org

JULY 15-19

park to encounter these high flying animals.

Best suited for ages 5 and up with an adult.

Preregister by July 10. Members, $20; nonmembers, $30 for adult child pair. 8-10pm.

325-4712, www.snomnh.ou.edu

Whodunit Dinner Theater presents Win, Lose or DIE at local restaurants featuring an interactive show, full buffet, beverages and dessert. Adults, $48; kids, $24. 6:30pm. Also held 7/24. 420-3222, www.whodunit.net

JULY 16 • THURSDAY

JULY 18 • SATURDAY

FREE Dance Camp at Velocity Dance Center (11122 N Rockwell Ave). Let the kids burn off some energy and learn some new dancing skills at a short camp led by talented local dancers. For ages 3-10. 6-7pm. Also held: 8/1 from 12:30-2pm.

721-8807, www.oklahomacitydancestudio.com

JULY 16-18 Seussical the Musical at Mitch Park Amphitheatre (2733 Marilyn Williams Dr, Edmond) features a zany compilation of Dr. Seuss’ famous books. Also held: 7/23-25. Adults, $18; students, $10; kids 4 & under, free. 8pm.

582-5803, www.upstagetheatreok.com

JULY 17 • FRIDAY FREE 3rd Friday Bloc pARTy in Downtown Shawnee (Main St, Shawnee). Roam between quaint shops and stores to find unique art pieces, listen to live music and enjoy local food at this monthly event celebrating the most unique pieces of life in Shawnee. 5-8pm. 432-4131 FREE Premiere on Film Row in the Film Row District (W Sheridan Ave between Dewey & Shartel) features film screenings, live music, art exhibitions and gourmet food trucks. The monthly event highlights family-friendly businesses and attractions on Oklahoma City’s famous Film Row. 7-10pm. 235-3500, www.filmrowpremiere.com FREE Sales Tax Appreciation Day at the Oklahoma City Zoo (2101 NE 50th St) features FREE admission to the Oklahoma City Zoo for everyone. 9am-5pm. 424-3344, www.okczoo.com A Night with Bats at Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History (2401 Chautauqua Ave, Norman). Discover the amazing life of bats and the secrets of echolocation, flight and their cave homes before traveling by caravan to a local

Services Include:

Occupational Therapy SpeechLanguage Therapy Social Groups

FREE Play in the Park at Little River Park (700 SW 4th St, Moore) features supervised summertime activities including games, snacks and crafts. Parents must accompany children at all times. For ages 6-14. 10-11am. 793-5030, www.cityofmoore.com/play-park-0

Into the Woods, Jr at Oklahoma Children’s Theatre (2501 N Blackwelder Ave) features a whimsical adaptation of one of Sondheim’s most popular works designed especially for young performers. Adults, $10; students, $8; kids (2-12), $8. Wednesday, Thursday & Friday, 10am & noon; Saturday & Sunday, 2pm. 606-7003, www.oklahomachildrenstheatre.org

Third Thursdays at Gaylord-Pickens Museum (1400 Classen Dr) features a family story and craft time along with $3 admission.

Kids 5 & under are free. 10am. 235-4458, www.oklahomahof.com

Play • Learn • Thrive

FREE Storybook Hour at Cuppies & Joe (727 NW 23rd St). Children listen to a story while parents enjoy coffee and conversation. Also held: 8/1. 10-11am, 528-2122, www.cuppiesandjoe.com Historic Tours in Downtown Edmond (various locations). Learn about the structures and the city history on a 45-minute, educational walking tour. Photos will be shown on the tours, revealing changes through the decades. $5. 3:30-5:30pm.

715-1889 World Snake Day Festival at Martin Park Nature Center (5000 W Memorial Rd) features snakes, snake experts, snake tie crafts, a hunt and snake painting demonstrations. For all ages. Preregister. $4. 4-7pm. 297-1429, www.okc.gov.active Golf Family Fun Night at Kickingbird Golf Club (1600 E Danforth Rd, Edmond). Play 9-holes with the family with special junior tees set up and put around on the free putting course. $3 range tokens available as well as food and beverage discounts. $7 green fee; $7 carts. 5pm. 341-5350, www.kickingbirdgolf.com FREE Summer Block Party in Downtown El Reno (Bickford Ave, El Reno) features great food trucks, live entertainment and activities for kids on the third Saturday of July. Downtown merchants will stay open late to welcome partygoers for extended shopping. 6-9pm. 262-8888, www.elrenomainstreet.com Kids’ Tree Masks Craft Class at Will Rogers Gardens (3400 NW 36th St) features a walking trek through the gardens for inspirations to craft your own tree mask. Materials provided.

For ages 6 & up. Preregister. $10. 10am-noon. www.okc.gov/active FREE Heard on Hurd in Downtown Edmond (Broadway between Main & Hurd) is a pop-up celebration of all things local featuring local musicians, food trucks and businesses. 6-10pm.

715-5121, www.facebook.com/heardonhurd

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(405) 840-1686 www.SensationalKidsOKC.com

NOW OPEN 2nd LOCATION

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JULY 2015

Sooner Business Park, 5701 SE 74th St, on NE corner of Sooner Road and I-240 14715 Bristol Park Blvd. - OKC/Edmond

events this

july

Joan Jett & The Blackhearts at Frontier City (11501 N I-35 Service Rd) is a special live performance from Joan Jett & The Blackhearts that is free with park admission. 6:30pm.

478-2140, www.frontiercity.com Randy Rogers Band at the Zoo Amphitheatre (2011 NE 50th St) is an all-ages celebration of music featuring special guest Stoney LaRue. $2545. 5:30pm. 602-0683, www.zooamphitheatre.com

JULY 19 • SUNDAY Faith Night Concert at the Bricktown Ballpark (2 Mickey Mantle Dr) features a pre-game performance by popular Chrisitian rock band Hawk Nelson and a match up between the Oklahoma City Dodgers and the Round Rock Express. $15. Concert 4-5pm; game, 6:05pm.

218-2100, www.okcdodgers.com FREE Family Day at the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art (555 Elm Ave, Norman). Explore art in the museum’s permanent collection and temporary exhibitions and enjoy a variety of hands-on art activities for the entire family. 1-4pm. 325-3272. www.ou.edu/fjjma

JULY 20 • MONDAY FREE Masters of Disguise presented by the Oklahoma City Zoo at the Norman Central Public Library (225 N Webster Ave, Norman) features animal hide and seek where the name of the game is survival. Best suited for ages 8 & up. 2 & 6:30pm. 701-2630, www.pioneerlibrarysystem.org

JULY 21-25 Big Fish at Civic Center Music Hall Thelma Gaylord Performing Arts Theatre (201 N Walker) is presented by Lyric Theatre. The show is a Broadway musical based on the novel by Daniel Wallace, spinning magic and myth, fact and fiction. $25-83. Tuesday-Thursday, 7:30pm; Friday, 8pm; Saturday, 2 pm & 8 pm. 297-2264, www.okcciviccenter.com

JULY 23 • THURSDAY Summer Adventure Night at the Myriad Gardens (301 W Reno) celebrates summer by exploring important skills for outdoor fun like using a compass, following a map and building a tent. Best suited for ages 7-11. Preregister.

Members, $10; non-members, $13. 6:30-8:30pm.

445-7080, www.myriadgardens.org FREE Astronomy Nights at Myriad Gardens (301 W Reno) features a star gazing party with

METROFAMILY MAGAZINE

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the OKC Astronomy Club. Use telescopes to explore the moon, stars and planets from the Great Lawn. 8:30-10pm. 445-7080, www. myriadgardens.org

JULY 24 • FRIDAY A Night at the Museum at Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History (2401 Chautauqua Ave, Norman). Explore and play in the museum with your family in a whole new way. For kids 5 and up with an adult. Members, $20; nonmembers, $30 for adult child pair. 7-9pm. 3254712, www.snomnh.ou.edu

JULY 24 & 25 Loved: The Farewell Tour at the Cox Convention Center (1 Myriad Gardens) features popular speakers, powerful dramas and awardwinning music. $99-$199. Group discounts available. Friday, 7-10pm; Saturday, 9am-5pm.

888-493-2484, www.womenoffaith.com

JULY 25 • SATURDAY FREE National Day of the Cowboy at Chisholm Trail Heritage Center (1000 Chisholm Trail Parkway, Duncan) celebrates the singing cowboy with a “Grand Ole Opry” exhibit. Kids of all ages can rope a longhorn, ride a buckin’ bronc, create a brand and more. 10am-5pm.

580-252-6692, www.onthechisholmtrail.com Car Seat Basics Class at Green Bambino (5120 N Shartel Ave). Learn about the new car seat law going into effect soon and best practices. $15 per family. 10:30-11:30am. 848-2330, www.green-bambino.com Nature’s Fireworks Firefly Hike at Martin Park (5000 W Memorial Rd). Hunt and learn about these creatures during a special night time hike.

For ages 6 and up. Preregister. $5. 8-10pm.

297-1429, www.okc.gov/active National Day of the American Cowboy at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum (1700 NE 63rd St) features special activities and a concert by Western Underground. All ages are welcome at concert. Free with admission.

478-2250, www.nationalcowboymuseum.org

JULY 26 • SUNDAY Uptown Farmers Market in Uptown 23rd (Walker between 23rd & 24th) presents fresh produce and local goods the last Sunday of each month. 11am-4pm. www.uptown23rd.com

&

ages stages Connect with other parents right here in Central Oklahoma!

"This is fantastic. There are not a lot of teen parenting groups. Only troubled teen stuff. Thank you for doing this." - Local group participant

New!

Close Faceb d Grouook ps

Ages

Ages

5-9

0-4

Ages

10+ Join our Facebook closed groups to find local resources, get advice and share experiences. Learn more and ask to join one or more of the groups by going here: www.metrofamilymagazine.com/closed-groups

events this

july

JULY 27 • MONDAY Monday Night RAW at the Chesapeake Arena (100 W Reno Ave). See WWE Superstars during a flagship broadcast. $15 & up. 6:30pm.

1-800-745-3000, www.chesapeakearena.com

JULY 27-31 FREE Neighborhood Arts presents Chasing James: Words & Music Super Powers Tour at the Metropolitan Library System (Vvarious locations) features musical mom duo Lisa & Laura. All ages welcome. See website for complete schedule. www.metrolibrary.org FREE Neighborhood Arts presents Dino O’Dell at the Metropolitan Library System (various locations) features an interactive, educational and fun journey through music and storytelling in his Heroes of Outer Space Library Tour. See website for complete schedule. All ages welcome. www.metrolibrary.org

JULY 29 • WEDNESDAY FREE End of Summer Dance Party at the Moore Library (225 S Howard, Moore) celebrates the end of summer and a successful summer reading program. 2-3pm. 793-4347, www.pioneerlibrarysystem.org

JULY 29-AUGUST 1 Research Center Book Sale at the Oklahoma History Center (800 Nazih Zuhdi Dr) features books on a variety of topics including genealogy, Oklahoma history, US and military history, education, biographies and more as well as vinyl LPs, prints of historic photos and maps and periodicals. Prices vary. Wednesday, Thursday & Friday, 10-4:45pm; Saturday, 10am-3pm.

525-5225, www.okhistory.org

JULY 30-AUGUST 2 In the Heights at Sooner Theatre (101 E Main St, Norman) is an award winning musical that shares a story of the vibrant community of New York’s Washington Heights neighborhood. Thursday, 7:30pm; Friday & Saturday, 2 & 7:30pm; Sunday, 2pm 321-9600, www.soonertheatre.org FREE Native American Storytelling with Dr. Hannah at Martin Park Nature Center (5000 W Memorial Rd) features nature stories and myths from the Cherokee culture traditions. Bring a pillow. For ages 6 and up. Preregister. 297-1429, www.okc.gov/active

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H&8th Night Market in Midtown Oklahoma City (Hudson Ave between NW 6th & 10th St) is a monthly family-and-pet-friendly street festival built around a lineup of the city’s top gourmet food trucks. 633-1703, www.h8thokc.com Full Moon Bike Ride & Run at Myriad Botanical Gardens (301 W Reno Ave) features a leisurely hour ride and timed training runs. Lights and helmets required. $5 suggested donation. 8pm.

445-7080, www.myriadgardens.org FREE Native American Storytelling at Martin Park Nature Center (5000 W Memorial Rd). Grab a blanket and settle in for an evening of Cherokee heritage storytelling with Dr. Leslie Hannah of Northeastern State University. 6pm. For ages 6 and up. Preregister. www.okc.gov/active

JULY 31-AUGUST 1 Industry Flea in Midtown Oklahoma City (399 NW 10th St) is an open-air market featuring 40 plus vendors of vintage clothing and furniture, art, locally-made food and more. Friday, 5-10pm; Saturday, 10am-8pm. www.industryflea.com

AUGUST 1 • SATURDAY Outdoor Games at Martin Park (5000 W Memorial Rd) features ladder ball, scavenger hunts and more. For ages 6 & up. Preregister. $4. 3-4pm. 297-1429, www.okc.gov/active Greater Oklahoma Bluegrass Music Society at Oklahoma Country Western Museum & Hall of Fame (3925 SE 29th St, Del City) features three professional bluegrass bands each playing 25-minute sets. Adults, $8; kids under 12, free.

6:30pm. 677-7515, www.gobms.org FREE Annual Gospel Concert Series at Inspiration Hill (880669 S. 3330 Rd, Wellston) features a variety of gospel music artists on the first Saturday of each month from May to October. Donations accepted. 7pm. 356-4051 R5 in Concert with Jacob Whitesides at Frontier City (11501 N I-35 Service Rd). Free with park admission. 478-2140, www.frontiercity.com FREE Internet Cat Video Festival at Myriad Botanical Gardens (301 W Reno Ave) features a 75-minute collection of the web’s finest cat videos as well as food trucks, live entertainment, painting activities, ice cream and face painting. Pre-show fun begins at 7:30pm and Movie screens at 9pm.

445-7080, www.myriadgardens.org

Leonardo’s 20-year Celebration at Leonardo’s Children’s Museum (200 E Maple Ave, Enid) features a family friendly birthday party complete with cake for all party guests.

Admission is $5 all day long. Museum open 10am-5pm; Birthday Party, 2-4pm. 580-233-2787, www.leonardos.org

AUGUST 1-15 Run This Town Race Series in Downtown Oklahoma City (various locations) features three scenic 5K runs. Each race runs through a different part of the downtown area. Participants can race in one, two or three races. $30-$35 per race. 8pm. www.downtownokc.com/runthistown

AUGUST 2 • SUNDAY FREE Back to School Bash at Capitol Hill Baptist Church (304 SW 134th St) features music, food, games, door prizes and inflatables as well as school supplies for all children present, ages pre-k through 12th grade. 3-4pm. 799-9799, www.chbchurch.org

AUGUST 4-8

Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer July 10 | Stephenson Park | Dark

Billy Elliott at Civic Center Music Hall Thelma Gaylord Performing Arts Theatre (201 N Walker) is presented by Lyric Theatre. It’s the story of a young boy’s struggle against the odds to make his dream come true. Follow Billy’s journey, with the music of Elton John, as he stumbles out of the boxing ring and into a ballet class where he discovers a passion that inspires his family and whole community and changes his life forever. $25-83. Tuesday-Thursday, 7:30pm; Friday, 8pm; Saturday, 2 pm & 8 pm. 297-2264, www.lyrictheatreokc.com

Into the Woods August 14 | Bickham-Rudkin Park | Dark Admission is free, concessions are $1 each. In case of inclement weather, movies will be shown at the MAC at 7pm. edmondparks.com | 405.359.4630

AUGUST 7 • FRIDAY Christian Family Fun Day at White Water Bay (3908 W Reno) features We Were Fiction in concert and a screening of When the Game Stands Tall. House FM will broadcast from White Water Bay and offer families discounted admission. Use promo code “House.” $16. 10:30am-11pm. 4782140 ext 334, www.whitewaterbay.com

AUGUST 8 • SATURDAY FREE 18th Annual Arcadia Lake Sweep at Spring Creek Park (Lake Arcadia, Edmond).

Grab your gloves and sunscreen and help clean up the lake grounds. Volunteers receive free brunch and a shirt while supplies last. 7-10am. 216-7471 FREE Fish Scales and Tales Class at Martin Park Nature Center (5000 W Memorial Rd) features a discussion about native and invasive fish and how officials manage the local fish populations. For ages 8 & up. Preregister. 3-4pm.

297-1429, www.okc.gov/active

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events this

july

FREE Evening Family Playtime at the Downtown Library (300 Park Ave) features an hour of family play time meant to help children build social skills, promote learning and discover that the library is a destination for fun. Mondays, 6:30-7:30pm. 231-8650, www.metrolibrary.org

Art After 5 at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art (415 Couch Dr) presents a chance to look at museum exhibits after hours then make your way to the rooftop for live music. Thursdays, 5-10:30pm. Free for museum members; $5 for non-members. 236-3100, www.okcmoa.com

FREE Story Time at Parmele Park (1308 N Janeway Ave, Moore) features an outdoor interactive story time by the Moore Public Library. Mondays in June. Bring a blanket or lawn chair and sunblock. Stay and play at the splash pad afterward. 10-11am. 793-4484, www. pioneerlibrarysystem.org/hometowns/moore

Concerts in the Park at Joe B. Barnes Regional Park (8700 E Reno, Midwest City). Bring a lawn chair to enjoy live tunes in this scenic Midwest City park every Thursday from 7-9pm. 739-1293, www.midwestcityok.org

FREE Art Adventures at Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art (555 Elm, Norman), for ages 3-5. Young artists are invited to experience art through books.

Visit site for full list of dates, books and activities.

Tuesdays, 10:30am. 325-3272, www.ou.edu/fjjma Nature Play Group at Martin Park (5000 W Memorial Rd) introduces children ages 2-6 to nature in an encouraging environment using nature-centered play activities like hands-on games and crafts. Children must be accompanied by a caregiver. $2. Wednesdays, 10:30am. 2971429, www.okc.gov/active Wayback Wednesdays at the Oklahoma City Zoo (2101 NE 50th St). Zoo admission is $1 per person on Wednesdays in July and August. 9am-5pm.

424-3344, www.okczoo.com Toddler Story & Craft Time at Unpluggits Playstudio (575 Enterprise, Edmond) features a different story each week & a related craft time.

Free with paid admission. Wednesdays, 1111:30am. 340-7584, www.unpluggits.com

NEW! Norman office

serving Cleveland County

Okietales at the Oklahoma History Center (800 Nazih Zuhdi Dr) features a one-of-a-kind reading and storytelling time where kids can hear and see history on Wednesdays in July. Best suited for ages 5 to 9. Fee includes museum admission following program. $2. 10:30-11:30am. 522-3602, www.okhistory.org FREE Bringing Books to Life in the lobby of the Crystal Bridge in the Myriad Garden (301 W Reno) every Wednesday. 10am, for ages 2-5.

Books are nature-themed and based on the season.

Children will also create a small craft after the story. 445-7080, www.myriadgardens.org FREE Summer Concert Series at Hafer Park (1034 S Bryant St, Edmond) features local bands every Thursday night through July 30. 6:158:45pm. 359-4630, www.edmondparks.com

Find out how at

www.AngelsFosterOKC.org

405.285.6193

WEEKLY EVENTS

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JULY 2015

Dive-in Movies at White Water Bay (3908 W Reno) features outdoor movies shown in the water park on Fridays in July. See website for a list of movies. Free with admission. Show starts at dusk.

943-9687, www.whitewaterbay.com FREE Crafts for Kids at Lakeshore Learning (6300 N May) hosts a different craft each week.

Come-and-go, no reservation needed. Saturdays, 11am-3pm, ages 3 and up. 858-8778, www.lakeshorelearning.com FREE Children’s Story Time at Full Circle Books (1900 NW Expressway). Saturdays, 10:15am. 842-2900, www.fullcirclebooks.com FREE Children’s Story Time at Edmond’s Best of Books (1313 E Danforth, Edmond). Saturdays, 11-11:30am. 340-9202.

FREE Roller Skating Lesson at Skate Galaxy (5800 NW 36th St) offered each Saturday.

Noon-12:45pm. $2 skate rental. 605-2758, www.skategalaxyokc.com FREE Movies @ Mitchell at Mitchell Hall Theatre (100 N University Dr, Edmond). Watch classic movies on Saturdays. See website for a complete schedule. 7:30pm. 974-3375, www.mitchellhalltheatre.com All Star Bowling for Differently-Abled Individuals at AMF Windsor Lanes (4600 NW 23rd) invites differently-abled individuals and their friends and families to bowl on Saturdays. $8. Noon-1pm. 942-5545.

Drop in Art at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art (415 Couch Dr) features hands-on art activities for all ages. Free with paid admission.

Saturdays, 1-4pm. 236-3100, www.okcmoa.com FREE Little Big Chefs Cooking Classes at Uptown Grocery (1230 W Covell Rd, Edmond) features easy recipes kids and adults can make together every Sunday. Preregister by Friday.

Ages 5-8, 2-3pm; Ages 9-12, 3:30-4:30pm.

509-2700, www.uptowngroceryco.com

events this

july

“Magnificent!”

—The Wall Street Journal on the Dugout Canoes exhibit.

ONGOING EVENTS

JULY 17-AUGUST 15

THROUGH AUGUST 7

FREE ARTtech Exhibition at [Artspace] at Untitled (1 NE 3rd St) is a multimedia exhibit featuring computer generated, traditional, sculptural and mechanical exhibits to share the life story of Oklahoma City animation studio Skyline Ink. Wednedsay-Saturday, 10am-6pm; Sunday noon-6pm. 815-9995, www.artspaceuntitled.org

Summer Movie Fun Series at Harkins Theatre 16 in Bricktown (150 E Reno Ave). Enjoy kid favorites on the big screen every weekday.

The concession offers a kids combo including popcorn, fruit snacks and a drink to compliment the movie-going experience. All-season pass, $5; individual tickets, $2. 9:45am. www.harkinstheatres.com

THROUGH JULY 22

THROUGH AUGUST

FREE Junior Master Gardening Series at the Midwest City Library (8143 E Reno Ave, Midwest City). Experts from OSU-OKC Extension will teach how to navigate information about gardening on Wednesdays in a four-week class for kids ages 9-18. 2-3pm. 732-4828, www.metrolibrary.org

America’s Road: The Journey of Route 66 at Gaylord-Pickens Museum (1400 Classen Dr) shares the history of and fascination with one of the world’s most famous highways through paintings, photographs, narrative and music. Free with admission. Tuesday-Friday, 9am-5pm; Saturday, 10am-5pm. 235-4458, www.oklahomahof.com

THROUGH JULY 26 FREE Family Summer Camp at Bass Pro (200 Bass Pro Dr) features games, activities and workshops to help families explore the great outdoors. The entire family can learning the basics of camping, kayaking, fishing, archery, hunting and more. The workshops last about 20 minutes each. See website for a complete list of events. 218-5200, www.basspro.com

THROUGH JULY 29 Summer Movie Express at Regal Cinemas (1100 N Interstate Dr, Norman) features familyfriendly screenings of fun movies in July on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. A portion of the proceeds goes to the Will Rogers Institute. $1.

10am. 844-462-7342, www.regmovies.com

THROUGH JULY 31 WONDER Workshop at Oklahoma WONDERtorium (308 W Franklin Ln, Stillwater) features a hands-on opportunity to work with all types of raw materials along with a variety of fittings and real tools to freely create and build safely within the exhibit. Free with museum admission. Thursday, Friday & Saturday, 10am5pm. 533-3333, www.okwondertorium.org

THROUGH AUGUST 6 Summer Kids Series at Warren Theatre (1000 S Telephone Rd, Moore) features kid-friendly screening of fun summer movies on Tuesdays & Thursdays. See website for full list of movies.

All-season pass, $15; individual tickets, $2. 10am.

735-9676, www.warrentheatres.com

FREE Admission to Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art (1900 W MacArthur St, Shawnee) all summer long. Tuesday through Saturday, from 10am-5pm; Sunday 1-4pm. 878-5300, www.mgmoa.org

EXTENDED BY POPULAR DEMAND

THROUGH SEPTEMBER 27 Fabergé: Jeweler to the Tsars at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art (415 Couch Dr) gives rare access to more than 230 rare treasures by the House of Fabergé. From Imperial Easter eggs to tiny sculptures, photo frames and desk clocks, the exhibit features a hands-on station where kids can decorate their own Fabergé eggs.

Free with admission. Tuesday-Saturday, 10am5pm; Thursday, 10am-9pm; Sunday, noon-5pm.

236-3100, www.okcmoa.com

THROUGH OCTOBER FREE Orly Genger: Terra at Campbell Park (NW 11th & Broadway) is an art installment presented by Oklahoma Contemporary. The outdoor sculpture piece is made of 1.4 million feet of recycled lobster-fishing rope and painted with terracotta-colored paint. 951-0000, www.oklahomacontemporary.org

NEW PERMANENT EXHIBIT! CurioCity at Science Museum Oklahoma (2100 NE 52nd) is a thrilling science neighborhood set up inside the museum. Kids can encounter science like never before with small neighborhoods that each explore different scientific principals with interactive activities.

Free with museum admission. Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm; Saturday, 9am-6pm; Sunday, 11am6pm. 602-3760, www.sciencemuseumok.org

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JULY 2015

Explore the world exposed when 101 ancient canoes were found in a dry lake bed. The acclaimed exhibit, with videos, interactive play and canoes, old and new.

Produced by the Florida Museum of Natural History with support from the AEC Trust, Lastinger Family Foundation, State of Florida and VisitGainesville.

OPEN UNTIL SEPT. 27 Sulphur, OK 580-622-7130 canoes2015.com

resource

directories

GOT CHILDREN? THEN YOU NEED LOTS OF RESOURCES! INTRODUCING THE “YELLOW PAGES” FOR OKC AREA PARENTS. From pediatricians to special needs therapy, birthday party ideas and private schools, our resource directories—both here and online—provide local parents with the information they need to help their families and children thrive.

Check out these businesses and those you find at www. metrofamilymagazine.com/directories/ and be sure to tell them you found their business via MetroFamily Magazine.

47 48

48 49 49 49

Party (pages 47-48) Abrakadoodle Allison’s Fun Bouncin Craze Frontier City/White Water Bay Jump!Zone Mad Science of Central Oklahoma Mobile Laser Forces Paint ‘N Station Paint Your Art Out Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History Skate Galaxy Sooner Bowling Water-Zoo Indoor Water Park Special Needs (page 48) Total POSS-Abilities Family Services (page 49) Brain Balance Center of OKC Family Fun (page 49) Dodge City Paintball Stafford Air & Space Museum Unpluggits Playstudio Summer Camps (pages 49-52) Building Minds Cadence Equestrian Club Z! In-Home Tutoring

50 51 52

52 53 53 54

Fine Arts Institute Kids Kamp, Henderson Hills Baptist Church Kumon of Edmond OCU Community Dance Center Oklahoma Sport Fencing Soccer City Sooner Theatre Studio J School of Dance The Dance Department Velocity Dance Center Wake Zone Retail/Restaurants (pages 52-53) Green Bambino Jamberry Nails Jimmy’s Egg learning tree toys, books and games Once Upon a Child Pass It On Consignment Sale Medical (page 53) Just Kids Pediatrics Oklahoma Institute of Allergy & Asthma Child Care (page 54) Child Care Network College Nannies + Tutors Edmond Home Child Care Association North Penn Creative Kids Primrose School of Edmond

Find more at www.metrofamilymagazine.com/directories/ METROFAMILY MAGAZINE

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JULY 2015

PARTY MOONBOUNCES • SLIDES • OBSTACLE COURSES • WATER SLIDES

PICK-UP A MOONBOUNCE FOR ONLY $165 FOR THE ENTIRE WEEKEND!!

For more info, call or log on to

www.AllisonsFunInc.com (405) 447-1118

METROFAMILY MAGAZINE

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JULY 2015

PARTY

S!

E TI

R PA

• Party Rooms • Cubs Cove • Water Slides • Wave Pool • Splash Zone • Lazy River And Much More!

BOOK NOW! water-zoo.com

580-323-9966 x1

82º year round!

SUMMER

FUN! Wacky Wednesdays Check Facebook

bowls • bowls • bowls

 26th Family Day

405-607-4440 totalposs-abilities.com

Yes...all you monkeys!

 25-31 Christmas in July 20% off Christmas

842-7770 paintnstation.com

Paint your own pottery studio. 7906 N. May, OKC

Our innovative staff, state of the art facility and FUN gives your child Poss-ABILITIES!

Serving children living with: • • • • •

Accepting: BCBS, Health Choice, Tricare, Indian Health Services, Oklahoma Health Network, OSMA, Sooner Care and more...

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JULY 2015

ADD/ADHD, Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Developmental Delays Handwriting Difficulties Gross & Fine Motor Delays Feeding Difficulty Sensory Processing Disorder

SPECIAL NEEDS

 19th Ice Cream!

PEDIATRIC OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

2917 NW 156th ST. Edmond, OK

FAMILY FUN

Now Enrolling!

Jo Rowan, Dance Dept. Chair

Dance classes for all ages!

Jazz

Small Class Sizes

Tap

Scholarships Available

Creative Movement Stafford’s flown Apollo X spacesuit

Great Affordable Family Outing!

Named Smithsonian Affiliate, 2011 Unique Gift Shop (580) 772-5871 www.staffordmuseum.org

3000 E. Logan Rd - Weatherford, OK 73096

Trained Instructors

Hip Hop

Spring Showcase Performance

Ballet

Community Dance Center

405.208.5508

CommunityDanceCenter@okcu.edu

www.okcu.edu/communitydance

New Low Impact Paintball

PERFECT FOR YOUNGER PLAYERS

SERVING

PAINT SINCE '08

FUN FOR ALL

AGES!

New Jr. Paintball! (5yr+) 8 Field Courses!

New Picnic Area!

New Playground!

All-Weather Building!

Birthday Parties!

Indoor Playground Ceramics · Paint-N-Take Birthday Parties Parents’ Night Out Grownups Paint Nights Summer Clay Workshops

(405) 373-3745

DodgeCityPaintball.com 16425 NW 150th in Piedmont Open Year Round, Groups & Walk-ons Welcome!

405-340-7584 • www.unpluggits.com

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JULY 2015

SUMMER CAMPS

Named One of the “Must See” Attractions in Oklahoma!

SUMMER CAMPS

AN All-Student Production of The Sooner Theatre’s Republic Bank & Trust Studio Series

July 30 - August 2

101 E Main St • Downtown Norman • (405) 321-9600 • www.soonertheatre.com

Math. Reading.

Confidence.

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Schedule a free placement test now at your local Kumon Math & Reading Center:

EDMOND - NORTH

JULY and AUGUST

Covell & Kelly

405.715.1111 • kumon.com/edmond-north

REGISTER EARLY LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE

EDMOND - WEST 2nd & Santa Fe Ave.

405.216.9800 • kumon.com/edmond-west

METROFAMILY MAGAZINE

©2014 Kumon North America

50

JULY 2015

3501 NE 10TH/OKC (2 MILES EAST OF BRICKTOWN)

SUMMER CAMPS

Building Success Through Hands-On Learning Fun

Summer Camps with Lego® bricks!

Struggling kids get real help at Brain Balance.

“

The program changed everything. Jake’s improvement is undeniable.

www.Building-Minds.com

405-443-4530

- ALISON B., PARENT

”

How it works: The program balances and synchronizes left brain/right brain interaction. The newly strengthened connections improve behavior, social and academic performance.

Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.

–Benjamin Franklin

Brain Balance addresses: • ADHD • Processing Disorders • Learning Disabilities • Behavioral Issues

utor 1 on 1 T ps rou G Sma ll in B eg July 8th

R

Enroll NOW for summer camps!

• Birthday Party Packages • Indoor Soccer Leagues

Camp dates: July 13-16, August 3-6 soccercityokcity.com Beginners, recreational, and advanced 4520 Old Farm Road, OKC players welcome. (west of Meridian, south of 122nd) $95/camp; half-day sessions held from 9-12 & 1-4.

Also enroll for Lil Kickers Summer Session Open Enrollment through August 22

405-748-3888

Call TODAY!

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JULY 2015

FREE CONSULTATION

1-800-877-5500 brainbalancecenters.com Brain Balance Center of OKC 3545 W. Memorial Rd. Oklahoma City, OK 73134

FAMILY SERVICES

BUILDING MINDS

SUMMER CAMPS

GrADES

(completed)

SKY rANCH CAVE SPRINGS

AUG 3-6

A new car seat law goes into effect soon.

Learn more at the Car Seat Basics class held at Green Bambino July 25, 10:30am

Now open Sundays 12-4

HHBC.COM/KIDS-KAMP

15th & I-35 in Edmond

5120 N Shartel Ave. (405) 848-2330 GreenBambino.com

For a list of upcoming events, visit our website!

CREATING FRIENDSHIPS ONE STEP AT A TIME Now enrolling for: Summer Camps Summer and Fall Classes

Fall/Winter Sale Serving award-winning breakfasts and lunches since 1980

September 11-12

HOURS Friday - 8 am - 7 pm Saturday - 8am - 2 pm (1/2 price sale on Saturday) LOCATION Mayfair Church of Christ 2340 NW 50th / OKC

11122 N Rockwell Ave Ste A-11 OKC info@oklahomacitydancestudio.com

Consign your fall and winter children's clothing and earn 65% - 70% of your sales!

FREE

New this sale: Schedule your drop off appointment on Tuesday or Wednesday before the sale at our Edmond offices located at: 501 E. 15th St., Ste. 400A

405-721-8807

www.oklahomacitydancestudio.com

Dance Camp!

July 16: 6:00-7:00 pm August 1: 12:30-2:00 pm

Ages 3-10, Dance • Crafts • Fun

15 convenient Metro locations!

An Egg-cellent Way To Start Your Day! Open Daily 6:00am – 2:00pm

www.JimmysEgg.com

Enroll today at

www.oklahomacitydancestudio.com

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JULY 2015

Passitonkids.com For more information: Contact Lilyfield passiton@lilyfield.org 405.216.5240

Lilyfield Christian Adoption & Foster Care is excited to host the Pass It On Kids sale where all the proceeds will help more children find loving families!

RETAIL/RESTAURANT

KIDS KAMP roAD TrIP 2015 3rD-5TH

Do you want the

MANICURED LOOK for twice the wear and half the price?

Contact me today! 405-408-6077 www.got2lovemynails.jamberrynails.net

Ms. De, Jamberry

At Once Upon A Child, we pay cash on the spot for kids’ clothing, shoes, toys and baby gear. Plus, we’ve got everything your kids need at prices that can’t be beat!

Independent Consultant on FB

CHECK US OUT TODAY! www.OnceUponAChildOKCNorth.com 13801 N Pennsylvania Ave, N Oklahoma City 73134

RETAIL/RESTAURANT

We BUY & SELL used kids’ stuff

Available for birthday parties and fundraisers!

405-286-3114

ALSO: WONDERFUL product for a Jamberry Birthday Beauty Day!

You can't avoid life, let us get you back to living!

• • • • •

Pediatric and adults Highest quality therapy Friendly and caring staff Flexible office hours Convenient locations

www.okallergy.com

Edmond/OKC: (405) 607-4333 1810 East Memorial Road, OKC, OK 73131

Yukon/Mustang: (405) 265-1949 728 S. Mustang Road, Yukon, OK 73099

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JULY 2015

MEDICAL

OKLAHOMA INSTITUTE of ALLERGY & ASTHMA

like us on FB:

CHILD CARE

Encouraging Developmental Growth Through a Loving and Safe Environment.

405-509-4843

• If you’re a parent looking for childcare in the Edmond, Deer Creek and OKC areas, EHCCA can help you find a great fit for your family’s needs.

• We are professional, licensed home daycare providers who offer safe, loving and educational environments.

• Infants 6 weeks to 12 years • Bright Babies Curriculum • USDA approved Meals and Snacks • HighReach Learning Curriculum • Young Achievers Afterschool Program • Adventure Summer Camp

Cared for by Caring, 1/5 vertical: 2.25” X 6.418” Staff State Credentialed

• Providers are CPR/first aid certified, have cleared OSBI background checks and receive many hours of continuing education.

866-521-KIDS

www.childcarenetwork.com

Child Care with a

Creative Twist!

Your child’s day isn’t over when the school bell rings.

Infants - School age

Now Enrolling for NEW Full Time PreK Class

Class of 10 taught by fully certified teacher.

405-254-3147

North Penn Creative Kids Learning Center, 150th & Penn

405-922-9566

From energetic outdoor games and homework help to transportation to activities and dinner preparation, our after school nannies help make your home run smoother.

We’ll find the best care for your family’s schedule, interests and lifestyle…Nanny or Manny.

collegetutors.com/edmondok

405.513.6060

Proudly Serving Edmond, OKC, Norman + More

METROFAMILY MAGAZINE

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JULY 2015

Call or visit our website TODAY!

FOSTER CARE STARTING IN AUGUST MetroFamily’s Foster Care Series Find local resources, Q&A with local experts and foster parents and more community dialogue around this important topic.

Be part of the conversation at www.metrofamilymagazine.com/foster-care/

Candy Land life-size game day

saturday

*

j u ly 1 1

*

2015

chitwood park * city of edmond * 2–5Pm

life-size * funfilled * food * Prizes free event for all * register by calling 359-4630

race through candy land and find candy castle Scan this to visit us at edmondparks.com Follow us on