Emerald Coast Parent Magazine September+October 2019 by Rob Williams

September+October 2019

Visit us at itsyourmagazine.com

September+October 2019

contents

5 12 INSIDE THIS ISSUE

FAMILY BUILDERS

Simplify Your Halloween and Savor Every Spooky Moment A classic approach to Halloween

How Parents Can Make Good Manners Cool Again: Giving the next generation a manners nudge

12 16 22

How to Protect Your Kids from Cyberbullying: Real-world advice for parents Road Trip! Oh the places we can go Real Estate Insight Buying vs. Renting, and When Is the Best Time to Buy a Home?

Spark up some lively conversation with your kids. Take the FamilyChatter Challenge.

Family Chatter ��28 Book Reviews and Activities ��29 That’s Good to Know! ��30 Show Her You Care, Show Him You Care ��31-32 Teach Your Kids Something New! ��34 Snacks—Recipes for Tasty Get-togethers ��36 Crafts—Get Creative with Your Kids ��40

Teen Talk Helpful Advice from One Teen to Another

FAMILY FUN GUIDE

Get to know the people, places, and things that make the Emerald Coast special! Seasonal | The Arts ��45 Runs, Walks, & More | Sounds Fun ��46 Reoccurring Local | Volunteer �� 47

parent Emerald Coast

Editorial Director Tasha Williams info@itsyourmagazine.com Subject Line: Editorial Snacks & Crafts Coordinator Carol Eide info@itsyourmagazine.com Subject Line: Snacks and Crafts Contributing Authors Sandi Schwartz Cheryl Maguire Tanni Haas, PhD Betsy Tait Shannon Wade Henley Calendar of Events and Resource Guide Suzanne Bratton info@itsyourmagazine.com Subject Line: Calendar Proofreader Jennifer Cullis

In everything we do, we believe in inspiring families to live, laugh, love and enjoy life—TOGETHER! Publisher Nathan Wilson nathanwilson@itsyourmagazine.com Phone: 503-710-1720 Social Media Manager Lexy Cruz lexycruz@itsyourmagazine.com Creative Director Rob Williams robwilliams@itsyourmagazine.com

Would you like to write for Emerald Coast Parent? Please contact our editorial director with your request. A submission does not guarantee publication. We reserve the right to edit all submissions. © 2019 It’s Your Magazine. All rights reserved. Emerald Coast Parent content may not be used or reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopy, without the express written permission of the publisher. Emerald Coast Parent is not responsible for the loss of or damage to unsolicited manuscripts, unsolicited artwork or any other unsolicited material. Unsolicited material will not be returned. It’s Your Magazine and its affiliates, contributors, writers, editors, publisher and designers accept no responsibility for errors or omissions with information and/or advertisements contained herein. It’s Your Magazine’s liability in the event of an error is limited to a printed correction. It’s Your Magazine does not assume liability for products or services advertised herein and assumes no responsibility for claims made by the advertisers.

4 • September+October 2019 • EC Parent Magazine

Simplify Your Halloween and Savor Every Spooky Moment By Christina Katz

Halloween becomes more commercialized every year. But a classic approach to Halloween will keep your budget intact and a grin on your face throughout the spookiest time of year. If you want to restore the playful spirit of Halloween and spend more quality time with your family, let these reminders help you center your celebration on old-fashioned frightening fun. Make memories this Halloween, rather than too many trips to the store. Pump Up Your Pumpkin Power What's Halloween without those bright orange globes of autumn spirit? I'm referring to pumpkins, of course. Set a date for that trip to the pumpkin patch where family members can each select a choice carving pumpkin. Then set aside a few hours one week before Halloween for jack-o’-lantern carving. Here are some classic pumpkin designs to inspire you:

• Smiling Jack • Evil grin • Cat in profile

• Flying bat • Spooky ghost • Spider with web • Puking pumpkin • Wise owl

Go Green When Choosing Costumes When it comes time to brainstorm costume ideas, challenge your kids to pull costumes together from scratch rather than purchasing pre-made. Try to inspire more creative self-expression from them and less of you making it all happen for them. You'll find ample tutorials on the Internet and lots of costume accessories to choose from at your local resale shop. Here is a list of costume types to get the ideas popping:

• Animals • Bugs • Heroes • Celebrities

• Monsters • Professions • Magical creatures

• Foods • Cartoons • Fictional

characters

Use Down to Earth Décor Don't go over the top with Halloween décor. Often a few naturallooking items added to a front porch are all you need. Or search online for easy craft tutorials related to the following images. Build up a repertoire of decorations that you expand gradually over the years rather than going over the top with Halloween decor.

• Bats • Crows

• Pumpkins • Spider webs

• Ghosts • Skeletons Continued on page 6

ItsYourMagazine.com • EC Parent Magazine • September+October 2019 • 5

Continued from page 5

• Witches • Cats • Owls

• Branches • Tombstones

Compile a Halloween Playlist Spooky songs are to Halloween what Christmas carols are to Christmas. Recruit your kids' help and make a Halloween playlist. Here are some blasts-from-the-past many parents will recognize. Turn them on to turn chore time into a dance party.

• "The Monster Mash" by Bobby Pickett • "Thriller" by Michael Jackson • "This Is Halloween" by Danny Elfman • "Superstition" by Stevie Wonder • "Werewolves of London" by Warren Zevon • "Ghostbusters" by Ray Parker Jr. • "Time Warp" by Richard O'Brien • "Abracadabra" by The Steve Miller Band • "Don't Fear the Reaper" by Blue Oyster Cult

• "Spooky" by Andy Williams • "Witchy Woman" by The Eagles • "I Want Candy" by Bow Wow Wow • "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" by The Charlie Daniels Band • "The Addams Family" by Victor Mizzy • "Purple People Eater" by Sheb Wooley • "Witchcraft" by Frank Sinatra • "Ding Dong, the Witch Is Dead" by Arlen & Harpburg • "Bad Moon Rising" by Creedance Clearwater Revival Create Annual Movie-watching Traditions Sharing family films is a terrific way to chillax during a busy time of year. So gather the crew and get in the Halloween mood with movies that startle without scaring the pants off anyone. For the Whole Family to Watch Together

• The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown (not Rated, for ages 4 and up) • The Wizard of Oz (not rated, ages 8 and up) • ET (rated PG, ages 8 and up) • Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone (rated PG, ages 9 and up) Family Movies to Watch with Teens

• The Goonies (rated PG, ages 11 and up) 1985 • Hocus Pocus (rated PG, ages 11 and up) 1993 • Edward Scissorhands (rated PG-13, ages 13 and up) 1990 • The Addams Family (rated PG-13, ages 13 and up) 1991

party themes. Here are some ideas to get you brainstorming. Search online for easy homemade décor ideas.

• Salem witches • Sleepy Hollow headless haunts • Roswell aliens • Black-and-white horror movie

• Transylvania vampires • Zombie apocalypse • Shakespearean tragedies • Dancing skeletons • Wizard school • Mystical journey

Serve Satisfying Potluck Meals If you plan to bring a meal to a potluck or just want to fill bellies with savory sustenance, serve something simple. Trick or treaters need substantial meals to counterbalance all the sugar typically consumed on Halloween. Try your hand at the following favorites.

• Chili with corn muffins • Sweet-potato soup with zucchini bread • Pulled-pork sandwiches with cole slaw • Chicken and dumplings • Beef stew with crusty bread • Shepherd's pie • Chicken & cheese enchiladas • Meatball subs with

• Lasagna and Caesar salad • Vegetable soup with pumpkin muffins • Clam chowder with apple muffins v

potato salad

Transform Candy into Decor Halloween candy isn't merely for eating. Display some classic candy choices in glass jars from the dollar store to inspire seasonal fun. Or use classic candy to decorate a wreath form to hang on your front door during trick-or-teating. Search for photos online and choose the wreath style that matches your level of ambition. Here are some candies that can add visual sweetness minus the calories and cavities:

• Candy corn • Candy pumpkins • Black and orange Mary Janes • Autumn-colored Gummies • Autumn-wrapped candy • Jelly Belly autumn mix

• Chocolate eyeballs • Black and orange hard candy sticks • Caramel-apple lollipops • Harvest-blend M&Ms • Gummy worms

Brainstorm Imaginative Party Themes Hosting a Halloween party? Keep it simple with classic Halloween

Author, journalist and writing coach Christina Katz always thinks of Halloween as the kick-off to the busy holiday season, followed swiftly by Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, and New Year's Eve. So she tries to take it slow and simplify as much as she can

ItsYourMagazine.com • EC Parent Magazine • September+October 2019 • 7

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How Parents Can Make Good Manners Cool Again By Sandi Schwartz

Have you noticed that kids these days do not have the best manners? When I volunteer at my daughter’s school at lunch time, I rarely hear the children saying please and thank you, although they are certainly not shy about requesting more ketchup or cheese for their plate. Sometimes I like to give them a manners nudge by serenading them with the phrase “more cheese please?” My husband and I have always made teaching manners to our children a priority in our house. While we do not expect to flash back to the 1950s and have our children address every adult they meet as Mrs. or Sir, we do ask that they say please, thank you, and excuse me. Sure, it takes quite a bit of training (and sometimes nagging as well) from the time they speak their first word, but we know that having good manners will help them be kinder, nicer, more successful people throughout their lives.

that teachers do not need to be responsible for giving lessons about manners. That means it’s up to parents to instill these values with the limited time they have with their children. Also, many parents feel guilty about all the time they spend at work, so they try to act like their children’s best friend instead of their disciplinarian.

Technology gets blamed a lot for kids’ lack of politeness.

Reason for This Trend A 2016 survey by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs found that 74 percent of Americans think manners and behavior have deteriorated in the United States over the past several decades. Interestingly, clear differences between what older Americans and younger Americans consider to be rude behavior were revealed in the study. For example, almost half of Americans age 18 to 29 think it is perfectly acceptable to use cell phones in restaurants, while only 22 percent of those over age 60 agree. This discrepancy indicates a clear trend in how manners and rudeness have changed over generations. What is the reason for this change? Experts blame technology and busy parents for this trend. When both parents work long hours and children are raised by other caregivers, like nannies and daycare or after-school staff, they do not receive the same guidance and skills to help them form good manners. It also seems to be widely accepted

Second, technology gets blamed a lot for kids’ lack of politeness. According to Alex J. Packer, PhD, author of the book How Rude! The Teen Guide to Good Manners, Proper Behavior, and Not Grossing People Out, today’s electronic devices and social media lead to a culture of rudeness. Communicating in brief snippets with texts and tweets can distort the intended meaning of words and can cause bad manners. Spending so much time on devices also pulls kids away from personal interaction with their peers and adults. This means they are not practicing how to speak to others kindly. Finally, when kids communicate through electronics, they

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have more freedom to be rude since they can be anonymous and removed from the situation.

Why Good Manners Are Important If it’s becoming widely accepted that manners no longer matter, then why should we care whether our kids have good manners at all? Just because everyone’s doing it doesn’t mean we should follow the downward trend. Good manners are still critical to a child’s successful growth and their ability to build positive relationships throughout their lives. At the core, good manners reflect respect for ourselves and others. When we say please and thank you, we are taking the time to make someone else feel appreciated. Additionally, Dr. Pier Massimo Forni, professor and co-founder of the Civility Project at Johns Hopkins and author of Choosing Civility: The 25 Rules of Considerate Conduct, explains that it is crucial for children to learn to connect civility with strength and determination. This is achieved through character development in the home, and these positive traits can be applied to other situations in their lives. Our children depend on us to show them how to be trustworthy, considerate, and kind to others so that they can take these skills with them throughout school, the workplace, and in their relationships.

How to Teach Children Good Manners It’s never too early to teach your children good manners, but you may reach a point when it becomes a major struggle if you wait too long. One etiquette expert suggests teaching kids the basics of good manners by the time they reach eight or nine years old when they completely understand what respect means. Some of the main concepts to teach your children include:

Using nice words. Teach them how to say magic words like please when they ask for something and thank you when they receive something. It is also important that they learn to say they are sorry and “excuse me” when appropriate. Bottom line—they should try to be as kind as possible to others and treat them as they would want to be treated. Meal-time etiquette. Work with your children to develop appropriate behavior during meals and special occasions, such as doing the following: qq Put away electronics. qq Wait until everyone is served before eating. qq Use your utensils and your napkin. qq Take small bites. qq Chew with your mouth closed. qq Don't talk with your mouth full. qq Keep your elbows off the table. qq Don't pick food out of your teeth in public.

Interpersonal connection. Give them the skills to be able to communicate and connect with others. Some guidelines include: qq Not interrupting others while they are talking. qq Speaking in complete sentences instead of oneword answers. qq Give full attention to someone talking to them, which includes looking them in the eye. qq Be sure to smile to appear inviting and interested in what others have to say. qq If comfortable, shake hands or hug the person.

Good sportsmanship. Teach your children to lose gracefully and to always thank their opponent at the end of a game. By focusing on the positive aspects of sports and games, like taking turns, learning new skills, playing as a team, and reaching their goals, there will be fewer bad manners when they lose. You don’t need to invest hundreds of dollars in an etiquette class for your little one like some parents are doing; you really can do this yourself. It’s all about being consistent and modeling the positive behavior. Be mindful of using kind words when you speak to your children and other people, like servers in restaurants. If you repeatedly say please and thank you to them, they will start mimicking your language. You can also use some fun, creative ways to instill good manners in your children. qq Ask them to write real thank-you notes after they receive gifts. qq Create a charades-like game by teaching them signals when they need to use better manners, such as tapping the corner of your mouth when they should to use a napkin or putting your pointer finger up to your lips when they need to stop talking and give someone else a turn. qq Make a good-manners collage by cutting out words and images that can be hung up as a reminder. qq Read books about manners, such as Manners, May I Please Have a Cookie?, My Mouth Is a Volcano!, The Thank You Book (An Elephant and Piggie Book), Penguin Says "Please", Richard Scarry's Please and Thank You Book, Excuse Me: A Little Book of Manners, Manners Time v

Sandi Schwartz is a freelance writer/blogger and mother of two. She has written extensively about parenting, wellness, and environmental issues. You can find her at www.happysciencemom.com and www.sandischwartz.com. Get her free course on raising happy, balanced kids at bit.ly/2i53TDV.

ItsYourMagazine.com • EC Parent Magazine • September+October 2019 • 11

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR KIDS FROM

CYBERBULLYING By Tanni Haas, PhD

One of parents’ greatest fears is that their kids will become the victims of cyberbullying, and for good reason: research shows that almost half of all middle and high school students are cyberbullied at some point. If that’s the case, what can you do to protect your kids? First, monitor your kids’ online behavior on a regular basis and pay close attention to which sites they’re on, who they interact with, and the nature of their interactions. As Sarah Brown, an expert on children’s use of technology, says, “Being familiar with their online world is the best way for you to notice if something is wrong.” Research shows that parents who don’t monitor their kids’ online behavior are more likely to be unaware that their kids are being cyberbullied. There are many ways to monitor what your kids are doing online, including setting up their online accounts together with them so that you know their usernames and passwords, creating Google Alerts with your kids’ names, installing monitoring software on their devices, and requiring them to allow you to “friend” or “follow” them online. If you notice any interactions that could be a cause for alarm, speak to your kids right away. Since kids often try to hide the fact that they’re being cyberbullied, assure them ahead of time that they can always come to you with any problem, no matter how big or small. It’s very important, say Drs. Sameer Hinduja and Justin Patchin of the Cyberbullying Research Center, to “cultivate and maintain open, candid lines of communication with your children, so that they’re ready and willing to come to you whenever they experience something unpleasant or distressing in cyberspace.” Assure your kids ahead of time that you won’t ban them from going online if they come to you for help. As Dr. Michael Nuccitelli, a well-known child psychologist and expert on cyberbullying, says, consistently remind your kids that “they’ll not lose their online privileges, interactive online gaming time, mobile devices or social network site privileges due to cyberbullying issues provided they Continued on page 14 12 • September+October 2019 • EC Parent Magazine

Continued from page 12

are open, honest and forthright.” Try not to overreact to situations as this will make your kids think that you’ll overreact if they tell you about being cyberbullied. When you speak to your kids about their online activities, encourage them not to respond in kind to wannabe cyberbullies; this will only exacerbate the problem. Tara Fishler, a prominent expert on mediation and conflict resolution, says that “responding lets the bully know they affected you. Not posting a response gives you some control so you are not sucked into their harmful activities.” Instead, help block any wannabe cyberbullies from reaching your kids. As part of your regular conversations with your kids, teach them safe online habits. This includes such basic online security measures as never revealing identifying, personal information like their home addresses, phone numbers, and where they go to school; not sharing their usernames and passwords with others; not leaving online accounts accessible and vulnerable on public devices; and never opening messages and links from people they don’t already know. Your kids should also learn to select appropriate privacy settings on their online accounts so that they only accept friends or follow requests from people they personally know, and allow posts to be broadcast only to their circle of friends or followers. As Mrs. Brown succinctly puts it, “Limiting online exposure helps keep the bullies at bay.” More generally, teach your kids to think carefully before they post anything online. They need to understand the potential repercussions from anything they post, including how certain posts could

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be used maliciously. A good rule of thumb is to say and do online only what you would say and do face to face to someone. Your kids should understand that as soon as they post something, it’s out of their control. Their posts can be forwarded without their knowledge or consent. Ruth Carter, a lawyer who specializes in social media and internet law, says, “Kids should be taught early and often that they have no idea when a post will take on a life of its own and go places they can’t control.” A stricter but no less useful approach would be to establish actual rules for your kids’ online activities, including by deciding which sites they’re allowed to access, for how long, and what they are permitted to do on those sites. A final way you can protect your kids from becoming the victims of cyberbullying is to stay in regular contact with their teachers. Since a kid’s cyberbullies are often to be found among his or her class or school mates, teachers are some of the best sources of information about any potential problems at school. It’s important that you speak to their teachers not just about how they’re doing academically but also socially. Teachers may notice troubling interactions inside or outside the classroom. v

Tanni Haas, PhD, is a professor in the Department of Communication Arts, Sciences & Disorders at the City University of New York – Brooklyn College.

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By the Wilson Family

Roads were made for journeys, not destinations—it’s all the wild stuff that happens along the way. This road trip required a couple of things: a well balanced diet, caffeine, salt and sugar, and an excellent selection of tunes—oh, and directions!

OH THE PLACES WE CAN GO I don't know if it's an urban myth or fantasized nostalgia (think Route 66) but the desire to experience the great American road trip seems to burn inside so many of us. The idea of the open road, beautiful scenery, and family bonding while exploring our vast country seems amazing. Being able to look at the 50 states and check off the ones we've been to in a competitive fashion with ourselves and others is a way to validate the traveler we desire to be. This was the year and summer my family and I accomplished the big dream: nine states in three weeks, from Florida to California and back. It was definitely one for the books! Let’s start off by mentioning that we are a family of nine, with five adults and four kids! This journey was quite interesting and adventurous because we were all together in our conversion van. I’m sure many of you are not sure about taking long road trips, but what made this road trip so incredible were the places we got to

see, the memories we got to make as a family, and every experience along the way. As we considered this road trip, weeks of planning were involved. We had to figure out hotel stays, food spots, places to visit, and areas to sightsee. As a family, together we mapped out every destination along our way, all nine of us doing some individual research as to what interesting places we would like to see, visit, and eat at. We looked at each list and blended them into one master list for a more cohesive trip. Our family is crazy, fun, and adventurous. The first challenge, and most time consuming, was all of the planning that had to be done in advance. This was the biggest surprise because I didn't realize how much time it was going to take to organize such an adventure. It is critical to look at a map and establish a route with exactly what destinations you want to drive to and how long it takes to get to the next one from the previous one. We made several adjustments to our initial plan when we saw Continued on page 18

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Continued from page 16

how long it would take to get there from where we were going to be. Then we had to see what cities, places and things were most intriguing, which then led to how long to stay in each location. Once this was accomplished, we had to include sleep in the equation: hotels or camping. We chose hotels as we felt the car would be like mobile camping. Once every hotel was booked in every city chosen for the specific days we would be there, it was time to meal plan.

Day 1, Long drive We had to decide whether to eat out or pack for picnic in the car, choose a fast-food or sit-down restaurant, and more. Each of these have pros and cons but must be planned in order to maintain a schedule and budget, or so I thought. Out of all my planning, this was the one that ended up being completely random. Eating, sleeping, and bathroom breaks were chaotic as everybody was on their own schedule. Add in gas breaks and the driver stopping for energy boosts (coffee, soda, candy) and it put a strain on the schedule and meal plans.

Day 2, Hello Austin The night before our departure, we were all packed and ready to go! The kids had blankets, pillows, books, games, snacks, and electronic 18 • September+October 2019

devices to amuse them for the long ride. We took off on Monday morning and stopped in Biloxi, Mississippi, at a lovely Italian restaurant for lunch. We arrived in Houston about 12 hours from when we started and were famished. We stopped at Chipotle before going to the hotel to spend the night. The next day we loaded up the van and headed for Austin, which is one of the cities that we decided during our planning to stay for multiple days. We stopped to eat at a barbecue place outside of Houston called Chisholm’s Trail BBQ, in Lockhart, Texas. (You can check them out on our Its Your Magazine Youtube channel as we made a video of that experience.) Having a vegetarian on this trip, this wasn’t her first choice for food, but she was able to eat some of the sides and watch the rest of us enjoy chicken, turkey, sausage, brisket, ribs, and steak so tender and full of flavor—some of the best BBQ we ever had.

Some of the best BBQ we ever had! Afterward, we arrived in Austin and stopped at Butterfly bridge. The bridge is beautiful, and the scenery around it is just as lovely. The bridge has arcs that resemble butterfly wings. After crossing,

you are in the downtown area of Austin. The family and I found ourselves staring at all that was around us with wonder and delight. We walked around another part of Austin and at night got the most delicious and funnily-named treats at VooDoo Doughnuts.

Day 3, Time to explore The first stop the following day was at CuvĂŠe Coffee Shop. This made my daughters, wife, and mother very happy, as they love coffee and enjoyed their selection of non-dairy milks and specialty blends. We then went to a large park called Bouldin Creek. This led to an unplanned walk, all the way from the park to Barton Springs, about two miles of battling heat and humidity, and seeing beautiful nature and many dogs along the way. The springs were extremely cold but so refreshing as we were so sweaty and hot. We spent a good amount of time there. When we finally walked back to our car, we ventured out to a German restaurant called Scholz Garten. (You can check them out on our Its Your Magazine Youtube channel as we made a video of that experience.) They had a vegan burger that our vegetarian would recommend! Their authentic pretzel was a big hit for the rest of the family and an absolute must if you go to Austin! Special tip: it's always a good idea to chat with the locals because they can provide

special secret places to see and experience in the city that aren't always known on the Internet research. That's what we did with our waiter, and from there we drove to a place called 360 Overlook.

We were able to watch the majority of the sunset here, which was breathtaking! We parked on the side of the highway and then hiked up a short but steep mountain overlooking a lake where we could see beautiful shimmering water and the bridge below. We were able to watch the majority of the sunset here, which was breathtaking. An unexpected bonus: we got to witness a spontaneous marriage proposal between two people we didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know right in front of us, which was adorable. Closing the evening with a drive to Butler District Park, we found ourselves lost at first but then made it to an enormous hill that, once climbed, had a gorgeous view of the city buildings and skyline lit up with lights. There were little benches that I laid on to see the stars and building lights while my family looked at fountains below the hill. It was such a tranquil and magical moment. It was the perfect Continued on page 20

Continued from page 19

end to the night. My highlight in Austin was stopping at Antones, a blues music bar where the Fabulous Thunderbirds and other blues legends played, including hometown favorite Stevie Ray Vaughn whose statue I took a picture with in the park earlier that day.

that experience.) The scenery was impeccable and I was amazed at the enormous pool and numerous red rock skylines and lush green areas to admire. The entire resort exceeded my expectations and I found myself in awe the entire time. I highly encourage you and your family to stay here if ever visiting Tucson!

Day 4, Travel across Texas The next day was spent in the car as the adventure continued to El Paso, Texas. This was the start of the stomach bug that some got and made for many small podunk stops for emergency bathroom breaks. Along the way, neither the view nor the drive were very interesting. When we got there it was straight to our hotel room and time for sleep. The next morning we had a smoothie breakfast as we walked around the college campus at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). It was a very beautiful campus with plenty of cacti and places to take photos.

Day 5, Roaming the college campus After we finished walking around, we got back into the van and drove to Tucson, Arizona, a multi-day city. We stayed at a resort called El Conquistador that was outstanding, with picturesque hills and our very spacious multi-room suite. (You can check them out on our Its Your Magazine Youtube channel as we made a video of

We stayed at a resort called El Conquistador that was outstanding. I highly encourage you and your family to stay here if ever visiting Tucson! Day 6, Tucson is an attractive city When we awoke the next morning, we visited Diamondback bridge, a metal bridge installation that resembles a rattlesnake. It was very cool to see, but the temperature was very hot, so we did not stay long. To refresh, we stopped to get drinks at Dutch Bros Coffee, a hit spot for unconventional drink creations; the experience was fantastic for our family. The next few hours of our day included stopping Continued on page 24

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ItsYourMagazine.com • EC Parent Magazine • September+October 2019 • 21

R E A L

E S TAT E

I N S I G H T

Buying vs. Renting A home may be the most significant purchase you will make in your lifetime. Home ownership as opposed to renting has many advantages, but it also brings many new responsibilities. Let's consider a few differences in buying vs. renting:

You might want to rent if:

• You're new to the area and need to decide where you want to live • You move frequently with your job and desire flexibility • You have little desire to own a home • You don't want to spend a large sum of money for a down payment • You are not interested in the maintenance responsibilities of a home • You enjoy the potential amenities that many rentals provide • You hate the idea of spending your weekends at Home

By Betsy Tait

• You would like to improve your financial independence • You feel it's a good investment • You want your own yard • You want to be creative with the interior and make it your own • You don’t want to worry about somebody forcing you to move • You want to establish roots and/or start a family Please bear in mind that your reasons to buy a home are not only a financial one. There are many emotional reasons for wanting to own the home you live in. Consider the benefits and the differences between homeownership and renting to determine if owning a home is right for you. And I'd love to help you on your way! v

Depot/Lowes

You might want to own a home if:

• You want the feeling of security that comes with homeownership • You have a good record of paying your bills on time • You pay as much or more in monthly rent as you would a monthly mortgage

1. Thou shalt vacate the house for all showings. 2. Thou shalt assume every day is a showing day. Keep it clean and clutter free, with pets properly secured. 3. Thou shalt not turn off utilities before closing. 4. Thou shalt fill out property condition disclosure completely and disclose all known defects. 5. Thou shalt not stop paying the mortgage. 6. Thou shalt not rely upon Zillow to determine your sales price (that’s what your agent is for). 7. Thou shalt make all beds before all showings (which includes NOT being in bed during showings). 8. Thou shalt send anyone inquiring about the property to your agent. 9. Thou shalt not call your agent at 11 PM. 10. Thou shall not cook broccoli.

22 • September+October 2019 • EC Parent Magazine

R E A L

E S TAT E

I N S I G H T

When Is the Best Time to Buy a Home? One question that pops up constantly from both first-time and seasoned homeowners alike is “When is the best time of year to buy a home?” Potential homeowners want to know the best time of year to get the best home for the lowest price—and ideally at a time that makes sense for their life. It would be great if there were a simple and straightforward answer, such as “the best time of year to purchase a home is between April 1 and April 7.” But unfortunately it’s not that simple. THE FIRST FACTOR TO CONSIDER WHEN BUYING A HOME IS CONVENIENCE. Let’s take a look at the factors that play into answering the question: The first factor to consider when buying a home is convenience. This is particularly important if you have a family. If you have schoolaged children, you ideally want to move in between school years, so sometime between May and August. Pulling a child out of school in the middle of the year can be challenging, and children might have a hard time adjusting to a new school in the middle of the year. However, because so many potential homeowners have families that want to move during this time period, it drives up the prices, making the summer the most expensive time of year to buy a home. So, if your main concern is convenience for your family, then summer is a good time to buy—just be prepared to pay a higher price than you would at other times of the year. If your top priority is having a lot of houses to choose from, you’ll want to buy a house during the time of year when the most homes are on the market. That way, you’ll have your pick of multiple properties and are much more likely to find a home that has all the items on your wish list. In most areas, the highest inventory peaks in the spring, right before the end of the school year. Inventory stays high throughout the summer and then starts to fall in early autumn, with the lowest inventory happening in late autumn and winter. IF YOU WANT A VARIETY OF HOMES TO CHOOSE FROM, LOOK TO BUY IN THE SPRING. If you want a variety of homes to choose from, look to buy in the spring. If your main goal is to get an amazing home at a low price, the best time of year to buy is when competition is low. When there aren’t as many people looking to buy, it drives down the prices of homes, and you can purchase property at a significantly lower price. On average homes cost less in January and February than they do in June, July, and August. EC Parent Magazine • September+October 2019 • 23

By Shannon Wade Henley

If you were looking at purchasing a $500,000 property, that would bring the price down $42,250 for a sale price of $457,750. That kind of price drop could save you a significant amount of money over the course of your mortgage and lower your monthly payments. If you’re looking to get the most house for your money, purchasing a home in the winter is definitely your best bet. The best time of year to buy a home is largely dependent on your needs and priorities. If you’re looking to buy at a time that’s most convenient for your family (and, in particular, your children), then buying during the summer is a great option. If you want to see as many homes as possible in order to find a property that has everything you’re looking for in a home, then you’ll want to buy a home in the spring, when inventory is at its highest. And if your bottom line is that you want to pay the lowest price possible, then purchasing a home in the winter, when prices are significantly lower, will be the most advantageous. Just keep in mind that finding and purchasing a home takes time, patience, and planning. On average, people spend 30 to 60 days looking for a home and another 14 to 60 days from contract to close, so make sure to give yourself plenty of lead time to take advantage of the time of year that’s best for you to purchase.v

Continued from page 20

at a beautiful rose garden to “stop and smell the roses,” our family motto, and of course for photos at Reid Park, which also has some stunning waterfall trails. Then we had a family swim back at our resort’s incredible pools, which also had a featured Dive-In movie night for families with kids. They also had a special treat going on: an outdoor fire pit with S'mores. What a great way to end a perfect Friday summer night at the resort.

mountainous landscapes, and wind twisters resembling tornados that frightened me. Arriving in San Diego late, we decided on pizza at our hotel. We walked to pick it up because the air was magical—65 degrees and zero humidity. Hello, California!

Day 8, Beautiful beach towns

My highlight in Tucson was the phenomenal restaurant Gourmet Girls, a gluten-free cafe and bakery that my mother wished she could eat at for the rest of her life. (You can check them out on our Its Your Magazine Youtube channel as we made a video of that experience.)

The next morning was so wonderful. It was 68 degrees outside when we began driving up the California coast, seeing numerous beach towns along the way: San Diego, La Jolla, Del Mar, Carlsbad, Oceanside, San Clemente, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, and Huntington Beach. On our drive, Christmas music was played as a joke because of the temperature being so low compared to the southern states we had been in, which was very fun. We stopped in Huntington Beach, where we went to Philz Coffee. This was proclaimed by my daughter to be “the greatest coffee in the world.” After eating lunch and walking around exploring the area, we drove to Los Angeles. We met up with some more family and headed to my oldest daughter's college graduation at Staples Center. It was such a wonderful event.

Day 7, Off to California

Day 9, Vegas, baby

The next day was another long drive all the way to San Diego, California. There was a lot to see on this drive, including red rocks,

The next morning we ate at a small cafe for breakfast, which was delicious, before driving to Las Vegas, Nevada. A very long but

My highlight in Tucson was the phenomenal restaurant Gourmet Girls.

24 • September+October 2019

extremely beautiful drive, the topography was magnificent. We arrived late, so we drove through the Vegas strip, and my daughters were fascinated by all of the lights, hotels, people, and shows. The next morning it was time to explore the strip. The day was spent walking the strip for a good 10 hours, visiting each hotel and all of the wonders they had to offer inside. We weren’t sure if we would make it back to the hotel at the end because our feet hurt so much. It was a lot of fun touring the hotels, seeing the skyline of New York at its namesake hotel, and finding the hidden pizza place at the Cosmopolitan.

Day 10, Viva Las Vegas The day we spent in Las Vegas was exciting and we made many memories, including the water fountain and musical show at the Bellagio and the Atlantis show at Caesars Palace. The Fall of Atlantis Show is an animatronic display of fire, water, and nine-feet-tall talking statues. The story is set in the kingdom of Atlantis, and King Atlantis has to decide which of his bratty kids will rule the throne. Who will he choose? You have to come see for yourself! The Fountain of the Gods at the Forum Shops is pretty stunning and always a sight to behold. The favorite casino our family saw was the Venetian because it resembled Italy, somewhere we have always

dreamed of going. They have beautiful hand-painted frescos and architecture. The gondola ride looks so authentic, like a romantic glide down the Grand Canal in Venice. They offer this inside and outside, giving the feeling of daytime or nighttime. St. Mark’s Square is a sight, displaying ancient and modern icons that are historical and distinctive. We got a family photo taken on a unique, bold and inspiring art installation that spelled “L.O.V.E.”

It was an extraordinary sight, with painted rocks in fun colors stacked on top of one another. It was so awesome to see, but hurry! This is only a two-year exhibit.

Day 11, Amazing sightseeing The next day we drove to a rock installation called Seven Magic Mountains just outside of Vegas. These feature seven 30- to 35-foot-high day-glow totems, comprised of painted locally sourced Continued on page 26

Continued from page 25

boulders. It was an extraordinary sight, with painted rocks in fun colors stacked on top of one another. It was so awesome to see, but hurry! This is only a two-year exhibit. After that we made a pit stop at another Dutch Bros Coffee which was one of the best parts of that day because there was a coffee war brewing as my oldest daughter proclaimed, “Their coffee is hands down the best there is in the universe.”

Day 12, Worst day of the trip On our way to Albuquerque, New Mexico, we drove to the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead, which is beautiful and another must-see sight. When we got to our hotel, it was 3 a.m.! As soon as we checked in everyone passed out and we all slept in until noon. We were supposed to have a chill day but the hotel was the absolute worst hotel we have ever been in. The pool was closed, the media center was closed, they were remodeling, and worst of all the AC was broken. The room temperature reached 88 degrees and everyone was beyond uncomfortable, hot, and irritable. That day was miserable and it drove us nuts, so we packed up and left at midnight to our next destination: Cadillac Ranch, a public art installation and sculpture that was created in 1974 by Chip Lord, Hudson Marquez, and Doug Michels, who were a part of the art group Ant Farm. 26 • September+October 2019

Day 13, Redemption The installation is located in Amarillo, Texas. The drive was extremely long and frustrated me because the kids could hardly sleep and were cranky. However, it was well worth it because we made it to Cadillac Ranch right at sunrise. It was very beautiful, easily one of the best sights we saw. It was a bunch of Cadillacs buried in the ground nose first that were all spray painted graffiti like. Spray-paint cans were lying all around for us to contribute to the art installation. It was the best time; the kids spray painted half a heart, a peace sign, my name, and a bunch of other stuff— great lifetime memories! Once we finished that, we started our drive to Ft. Worth,Texas. We stayed at Homewood Suites, and I strongly recommend this hotel to all families traveling. We had the best chill night of the trip and made pasta for dinner with the in-room kitchen. This knocked everyone out for bed quite early. Hallelujah! The next morning we got ready and stopped at Fort Worth Water Gardens by Sundance Square, which is a really incredible park with massive water fountains, fun things to climb, and lots of grass and trees. We climbed down this really cool set of rock stairs into the heart of one of the fountains, which was amazing. Then all the kids played hide-and-seek in the park; it was so much fun to see their smiles, joy, and laughter.

Day 14, Three Texas cities in one fabulous day After that we made a quick stop to see the home of the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium, where I paid homage to my favorite team before heading to Waco, Texas, where we saw the outside of the HGTV (we all love to watch) bakery/cafe, which was very pretty from the outside. After that, we ate at a hidden gem called Twisted Root Burger Company. It seemed like a little restaurant in the middle of nowhere but it was so sick. It looked like it was previously a warehouse and they had it all decked out with neon signs, fun music, projectors on the walls with music videos playing, really cool seating, a bar, and even an area that had five barrels with five types of seasoned pickles: dill, atomic, sweet & spicy, ranch, and bread & butter. The bread & butter was the best, but my mother loved the ranch. The food was, hands down, some of the best Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve ever had. I got a buffalo burger with chipotle ranch sauce, fried onion rings, and a fried egg. It was so delicious and I would love to go back there.

Days 15 & 16, Remember the Alamo We then drove from there straight to San Antonio, Texas, which is one of the cities during our planning that we decided to stay in for multiple days. We spent the night relaxing in the hotel after our long

drive. Our first day spent there was really cool! We went to the San Antonio RiverWalk, a15-mile urban waterway tucked quietly below street level, and it was breathtaking. We found it by walking down a little alleyway and then following some stairs to the bottom, which were almost fairy tale like. It was exactly what I had pictured in my imagination, with cute little walkways everywhere and the river running through, with riverboats of people taking guided tours. On the sidewalk, there were a bunch of restaurants, shops, and little cafes. My favorite part of the RiverWalk was all of the plants and waterfalls that they had all throughout. It was truly so beautiful and made me want to make my future backyard similar to that. After some lengthy exploration, we had worked up an appetite, so we stopped at this pretty good Mexican restaurant overlooking the river that had amazing queso and horchata.

Day 17, Magnificent meditation The Alamo was next, and for history buffs, it was amazing! This is a former Roman Catholic mission and fortress compound, and the site of the Battle of the Alamo in 1836. It was pretty rad with all their architecture and artifacts from fighting in this historic war. The next day in San Antonio, we went to the Japanese Tea Garden, located in Brackenridge Park, which was stunningâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;one of the Continued on page 44

Our FamilyChatter Challenge is simple— just do your best. Here are some easy questions that will hopefully inspire your family to engage in great conversations whenever, however, you can. Enjoy!

Live, Laugh, Love, and TALK TOGETHER! What is your favorite part of school and what makes it your favorite?

What was your favorite Halloween costume ever and why?

What is your favorite food? Would you rather get up early and watch a sunrise or stay up late and watch shooting stars?

What is your favorite board game and does it matter to you whether you win or lose?

What is your favorite sport? Do you prefer to watch sports or play sports?

What is the best book that you have ever read? If it was made into a movie, was the book or movie better?

If you could get any animal for a pet, what would it be?

Do you like having meetings /sports/groups in the evening or would you prefer to stay home?

28 • September+October 2019 • EC Parent Magazine • ItsYourMagazine.com

Keep the Conversation Going with Follow-up Questions: I nteresting. What else can you tell me about that? o Now what are you going to do? o No way! Can you tell me more? o Seriously? Then what happened? o How do you feel about what happened? o How does this make you feel? o What’s your next step? o

Th e Ear ly L e ar n in g Co alitio n o f th e Emer al d Coast's mi ssi on i s to su ppo rt th e su cce ss o f e ve r y ch ild an d th e i r fami l y thr ough qu ality ear ly edu catio n an d car e.

Enroll in Florida’s FREE VoluntaryCWhei lpdr Co vairdee Qf rueees trieosnosu? r c e a n d r e f e r r a l s e r v i c e s t o l o c a l f a m i l i e s regarding childcare. Prekindergarten Parent Line: (850) 833-9333 Edu ation Progra Ear ly L ear n in g Co aliti on of the Eme r al d Coa 113 0 N Eglin Par kway, Shal i mar , FL 32579 (8 5 0 ) 8 3 3 -3 6 2 7 www.el c-ec.o rg

Get ready, set a time, and read!

Voluntary Prekindergarten

Florida offe rs fr ee pr eki n der gar ten fo r all 4 -ye ar-o lds re gardle ss o f family income.

At the Early Learning Coalition of the Emerald Coast, our mission is to support the success of every child and their family through quality early education and care. Enjoy the books and the activities chosen for this edition to support your child’s early literacy skills.

Children must l i ve i n Fl o r i da an d be 4 ye ars o ld o n o r be fo re September 1 of th e cu r r en t year to be e ligible . If th e ir birth day falls from Fe bruary 2 th r o u gh S eptembe r 1, yo u may wait to e n ro ll yo u r child the followi n g year wh en th ey are 5 . Apply online by vi si ti n g: www.familyse r vi ces.fl o r i daear l yl e arn in g.co m

PEEK-A-BOO FOREST

R e se ar ch sh o ws that c hildren who parti ci pate i n h i gh -qu al i ty pr e kin de rgarten pr ograms ar e be tte r pr e pare d fo r schISBN-13: oo l and By Lamaze, de ve l o p l i fe l o ng soci al an d e mo ti on al ski l l s.

1890647276

This is a fun and interactive infant book with engaging crinkle sounds and consistent rhyming: “Who is that sleeping under there? Peek-a-boo! It’s a bear!” Crinkling flaps encourage infants to use their motor skills and engage in page turning. Th e Early Le arn in g Co alitio n of the Eme r al d Coast's mi ssi on i s to

su ppo rt th e su cce ss o f e ve ry chi l d and the i r fami l y thr ough ACTIVITY: Talking to babies is imperative to language development. Describe the world around them. Talk qu ality e arly e du catio n an d car e .

about what is happening. While reading the story to your infant, describe the book. “Look! The bear is underneath the leaf.” Encourage little hands to grab the crinkly pages and say “peek-a-boo” each time they find the animal. Emphasize the rhythm of the story by keeping a beat as you read. The repetition holds attention and helps them home Child Care Questions? in on W e the p r o vwords i d e f r ebeing e r e s o usaid, r c e awhich n d r e f eencourages r r a l s e r v i c e semergent t o l o c a l f aliteracy. milies regarding childcare. Parent Line: (850) 833-9333

TEN LITTLE LADYBUGS

By Melanie Gerth and Laura Beith, ISBN-13: 1581170912

oll in Florida’s EE Voluntary ekindergarten

ation Progra

Early Le ar ni ng Coal i ti on of the Eme r al d Coast Young children adore interacting and pointing to the page! Now they can count each lady bug and watch them fly 113 0 N Egl i n P ar kway, S hal i mar , FL 32579 away one by one from left to right. This helps young children develop early literacy and math skills. (8 5 0 ) 833-3627

ACTIVITY:

www.el c-ec.o rg

While reading, encourage your toddler to count out loud. The rhyme and rhythm of the story will help your little ones know what number comes next. Do all ladybugs look the same in the book? How are they alike? How are they different? Do all ladybugs have the same number of dots? Take your child outside and look underneath some leaves; walk around and look in the grass to see what can be found. What creatures did you find? How many? Did your child find a ladybug?.

WIGGLING WORMS AT WORK

By Steve Jenkins and Robin Page, ISBN-13: 9780618997138

The perfect combination of education and suspense, this interactive collage book prompts the reader to play along in a guessing game. Open-ended questions encourage your child to guess the name of the animal body part displayed on the page and then try to figure out what that animal might be doing. Your preschooler will learn advanced vocabulary while they are having fun predicting the animal actions on each page.

ACTIVITY: When reading to your preschooler, engage them by asking lots of questions about the story. Take their questions outdoors and begin digging! Document their findings and encourage them to take pictures of the items or creatures under the ground. Later, encourage your child to draw a picture of what they found. Create an outdoor adventure journal and write what your child describes underneath the pictures. Discuss what they find each day they go outside.

1130 N EGLIN PARKWAY, SHALIMAR, FL 32579, (805) 833-3627 | WWW.ELC-EC.ORG

EC Parent Magazine • September+October 2019 • 29

Getting Along with BROTHERS and SISTERS In a house with more than one kid, there are bound to be some problems. Brothers and sisters borrow stuff and don't always return them in top condition. Younger kids sometimes feel like the older kids get to do whatever they want. Older brothers and sisters think that the baby of the family gets more attention.

These are typical problems found throughout the ages, everywhere in the world. When brothers and sisters don't get along, it's called sibling rivalry (say: SIH-bling RYE-vul-ree). A sibling is a brother or sister, and rivalry means competition. It's normal, but too much competition can make for an unhappy home life. Continued on page 33

30 • September+October 2019 • EC Parent Magazine • ItsYourMagazine.com

Cut out this page. Then cut it down the middle. He takes his half, she takes hers. Keep it simple. Don’t keep score. Just enjoy life and each other— as often as you remember!

Let’s face it, most of us could use a little jump start now and then when it comes to relationships. That’s why we’ve included this section. Simple acts of kindness are a great way to say, “I care about you.” Date nights are great, but when life gets busy, sometimes all that’s necessary are little reminders!

10 WAYS to sh w

R E H y u care Find a common type of exercise and do it together. Hiking, biking, walking, skiing… Discuss her goals with her and help her to pursue them. Wake up early and cook her breakfast. Write her a love letter and mail it to her. Pitch in more than normal when the house gets out of control. Help the kids with their homework. Buy her a bath bomb or bubble bath and draw a bath for her. Be sure to supply chocolate, candles and a good book.

Challenge yourself to complete all 10 ideas in each issue. Don’t just focus on the easy ones!

Look into her eyes and tell her that she looks pretty. When she looks harried, ask her what you can do to help and then do it. Buy her a gift certificate for a pedicure.

EC Parent Magazine • September+October 2019 • 31

Cut out this page. Then cut it down the middle. He takes his half, she takes hers. Keep it simple. Don’t keep score. Just enjoy life and each other— as often as you remember!

10 WAYS to sh w

M I H y u care Find a common type of exercise and do it together. Hiking, biking, walking, skiing . . . Encourage him to spend time with his family. Encourage him to pursue a favorite hobby, even if he hasn’t done it in a long time. Watch his favorite television show with him. Discuss his goals with him and help him to pursue them. Brag about how great he is to your friends. When he leaves for work, tell him that you will miss him.

Challenge yourself to complete all 10 ideas in each issue. Don’t just focus on the easy ones!

Send him encouraging texts at work when you know he is working on a difficult project. Buy him a new shirt because you know it will look good on him. Ask him for help with something you know he is great at (but you are not). 32 • September+October 2019 • EC Parent Magazine

Continued from page 30

Let's talk about getting along with brothers and sisters. They're not so bad, are they?

What Is Sibling Rivalry?

A little competition isn't a bad thing. Sometimes it can keep you working hard—like when you and your brother spend time shooting hoops. If he's good at it, it may make you want to improve, too. But some sibling rivalry involves arguing, like when you think your brother is hogging the ball. People who love each other might argue sometimes, but too much fighting is unpleasant for everyone. Have you ever heard of the green-eyed monster called jealousy? Sometimes brothers and sisters are jealous of one another. For instance, if your sister always does well at school, it may be frustrating for you, especially if your grades are lower. Although you're probably proud of your sibling or siblings, it's normal to be a little jealous, too. It may make you feel better to focus more on doing your own personal best rather than comparing yourself with a brother or sister. All kids want attention from their parents, but sometimes you need to take turns. If you're feeling ignored or like your sibling is always in the spotlight, talk to your mom or dad. If a parent knows you're feeling left out, together you can figure out ways to help you feel better again.

Don't Lose Your Cool

Sometimes when you're jealous and frustrated, it's easy to lose your temper. Try to follow these tips to avoid getting into a fight with your brother or sister:

• Take a deep breath and think a bit. Try to figure out if

you are angry with the person or just frustrated with the situation. • Remind yourself that you have special talents. Your sister may have won an art contest, but you might be better at basketball, or math, or singing. Eight-year-old Marisa says her brother "always wins running races, but I always get gold stars for good homework grades and that makes me feel better." • Try to congratulate your siblings on their achievements and share their happiness. If you do this for them, they'll be more likely to do it for you. Hopefully, these tips will work. But if the situation gets out of control and you and your brother or sister start fighting a lot, you may need to talk to someone. Mean words can lead to hitting and physical fighting. If this is going on with you and your sibling, talk to a parent or another trusted adult.

Future Friends

It may be hard to believe now, but your brother or sister may turn out to be your best friend someday. Many brothers and sisters fight and compete with each other while growing up but become very close when they get older. As you grow up, your friends might change, but your family is your family forever. v © 1995- 2015. The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth®. Reprinted with permission. Reviewed by: D’Arcy Lyness, PhD. Date reviewed: September 2013 EC Parent Magazine • September+October 2019 • 33

TEACHING YOUR CHILD HOW TO SWALLOW PILLS Swallowing a pill is an important skill that many of us take for granted until we have a child who needs to swallow a pill. Many things—from anxiety to stubbornness—can make it harder for some kids to swallow pills. But don't worry. Just like any skill, learning to swallow a pill takes practice. If you teach your child at the right time and in the right way, it can be a positive experience that builds your child's confidence. In no time, it'll be something that you both take for granted.

Why Pills?

While a lot of medicines come in chewable or liquid form, some medicine is best taken as a pill or tablet. In fact, certain pills that are meant to be swallowed whole should never be crushed or chewed, as this can be dangerous. And some medicines are meant to work over a few hours instead of all at once. That may be impossible to do if the medicine is a chewable or a liquid.

Before giving your child any medicine, follow the directions on the medicine label and talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

When Should Kids Learn?

Every child is unique, so the age at which kids learn to swallow a pill will vary. Try to avoid comparing your child with other kids, even siblings. In general, kids should be at least 4 years old and at a stage when they seem cooperative and motivated to learn new skills. Ideally, you'll want to practice before your child needs to take medicine so that there is no pressure. Start with something very small like an ice cream or cake sprinkle. After a few successful attempts, gradually increase the size of the candy (mini-chocolate chips or chocolate chips may work). Then you can move on to a pill, such as a non-chewable vitamin. Practice when things like TVs and cellphones are turned off and there are no other distractions. Don't expect your child to learn this skill overnight: practice for 5 to 10 minutes a day for about 2 weeks. Continued on page 37

34 • September+October 2019 • EC Parent Magazine • ItsYourMagazine.com

Enroll in Florida's FREE Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program!

The Early Learning Coalition of the Emerald Coast's mission is to support the success of every child and their family through quality early education and care. Research shows that children who participate in high-quality prekindergarten programs are better prepared for school and develop lifelong social and emotional skills. Florida offers free prekindergarten for all 4-year-olds regardless of family income. Children must live in Florida and be 4-years-old on, or before, September 1 of the current year to be eligible. If their birthday falls from February 2 through September 1, you may wait to enroll your child the following year, at the age of 5.

Apply online by visiting: www.familyservices.floridaearlylearning.com 1130 N. Eglin Pkwy · Shalimar, FL · 850.833.3627 · elc-ec.org

Apple Caramel Parfait YOU'LL NEED

• Caramel topping in a squeeze bottle • Cinnamon apple sauce • Vanilla ice cream

• Cinnamon flavored granola • Whipping cream • Ice cream scoop • Ground cinnamon

• Apple cut into bite-sized chunks • Clear plastic cups • Spoons

DIRECTIONS

• Drizzle caramel topping around the inside of each clear cup. • Alternate layers of the following ingredients: apple sauce, apple chunks, granola, vanilla ice cream. Repeat layers until the cup is full. • Top the parfait with whipped cream, a piece of apple, a sprinkling of granola, and a sprinkle of cinnamon. • Add a spoon and serve immediately

Donut Monsters YOU'LL NEED

• Glazed and/or chocolatefrosted donuts • Candy eyes • Candy corn • Chocolate candy melts (small package) • Green candy melts (small package)

• Butterscotch baking chips • Squeeze bottle for candy making • 2 microwaveable bowls • Paper plates • 2 spoons • Toothpicks

DIRECTIONS

• Place each donut on a paper plate. • Follow the package directions to melt candy melts in microwaveable bowls—one flavor in each bowl. Stir the melted candy with spoons. GREEN, ONE-EYED MONSTER DONUT:

• Scoop melted green candy into the squeeze bottle. Immediately squeeze melted candy around the hole of the glazed donuts to make a mouth and squeeze a swirl of green above the mouth to outline where the eye will be placed. • Apply a small amount of the melted green candy to the wide end of a candy corn and press it into the bottom edge of the hole of the donut to make a tooth. • Apply a small amount of melted green candy to the back of a candy eye and then apply it to the green swirl on the donut above the mouth. CHOCOLATE MONSTER DONUT:

• Dip the wide end of 2 pieces of candy corn into melted chocolate and press the wide ends into the outside edge of the donut to make horns/ears. • Dip the wide end of 2 pieces of candy corn into melted chocolate and press the wide ends into the top edge of the hole of the donut to make fangs. • Use a toothpick to apply a small amount of melted chocolate to the back of 2 candy eyes and apply the eyes to the donut below the horns/ears. Repeat with a butterscotch chip to make a nose below the eyes. 36 • September+October 2019 • EC Parent Magazine • ItsYourMagazine.com

Continued from page 34

What to Do

Before kids swallow their first real pill, remind them of other skills they have mastered (like riding a tricycle or tying a shoelace), and explain why taking medicine is important in the first place so that they'll feel good about taking it. Then model the behavior. If possible, let your child see you take one of your own medicine pills or a multivitamin before it's his or her turn. When it's your child's turn to swallow a pill, remember to stay calm. If you're nervous, your child will be, too. Stay positive, even if things don't go right the first time, and avoid any negative feedback. You also want to avoid negative experiences related to pills. For example, trying to sneak a pill into food and getting caught may actually backfire by creating mistrust. To swallow the pill, have your child:

• sit up straight with the head centered and straight • avoid tilting the head too far back, which can make swallowing more difficult

• have your child take a few sips of water to "practice" swallowing

• then, put the pill on your child's tongue and have him or

her drink the water again. (Sometimes having kids drink through straws can help distract them by focusing on something different.)

Check the directions to see if a pill can be taken with food. If the pill does not have to be taken on an empty stomach, you can have your child take sips with something thicker than water, like milk or

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a milkshake. You also can try putting the pill in a semi-solid food like pudding or applesauce. Praise your child if he or she swallows the pill successfully. If not, calmly tell your child that it's okay and try again. If your child refuses, stop and take a break. You can always try again later. If the pill seems too large for your child to swallow, ask the pharmacist if it's safe to cut the pill into smaller portions.

When to Seek a Doctor's Advice

Chances are that with enough patience and practice, most kids will learn the skill of swallowing a pill. Some kids, though, might have trouble with it, including:

• kids who are very anxious about new medicines or new experiences

• kids who had a bad prior experience (like gagging or vomiting) when they tried to swallow a pill

• kids with developmental delays; oral-motor problems (such as speech problems or refusal to eat certain food textures); or behavioral problems (which could include refusing to take any medicine)

For these kids, it may be wise to delay training and to speak to a doctor first. v

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Teddy Graham Canoe YOU'LL NEED

• Celery stalks cut into 4-5-inch lengths • Teddy Grahams, any style, or other animal crackers • Pretzel sticks • Creamy peanut butter

• Plate • Table knife • Spoon • Optional—pastry bag with star tip

DIRECTIONS

• Use the table knife to fill the inside of the celery sticks with peanut butter. Optional—scoop peanut butter into a pastry bag and pipe peanut butter into the celery stick. • Spread peanut butter along the bottom of each filled celery stick and stick them to a plate. • Press Teddy Grahams into the peanut butter inside the celery canoes. • Use peanut butter as needed to attach the pretzel sticks to the figures in the canoes. These will act as paddles for the canoes.

Celery, peanut butter and bears—oh my! Perfect for preschool-aged children.

Peanut Butter Spiders YOU'LL NEED

• Chocolate-flavored rice cakes • Creamy peanut butter • Pretzel sticks

• Candy eyes • Chocolate chips • Table knife

DIRECTIONS

• Use the table knife to spread peanut butter over the top of each rice cake. • Press 8 pretzel sticks into the peanut butter to make spider legs—4 legs on each side. • Press 2 candy eyes into the peanut butter at one end between the sets of legs. • Add chocolate chips to the peanut butter around the edge of the rice cake between the legs and around the bottom of the spider.

These tasty spider treats are easy to make, taste great and are perfect for any fall gathering!

38 • September+October 2019 • EC Parent Magazine • ItsYourMagazine.com

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Antennae Headbands YOU'LL NEED

• Plastic headband • 12-inch metallic pipe cleaners— 2 each of 2 colors • 2 ping pong balls (optional— 2 silk flowers, or 2 metallic pompons)

• Wooden spoon • Permanent markers • Scissors • Hot glue gun and glue sticks • Optional—wiggle eyes, black felt

INSTRUCTIONS

• Use a permanent marker to draw an iris and pupil on each ping pong ball. Optional—if you are using silk flowers or pompons, hot glue a wiggle eye to the center of each flower or to each pompon. If you are using ping pong balls, you may want to cut eyelashes from felt and hot glue them to the back of the ball opposite the iris. • Loosely twist 1 of each color of pipe cleaner together. Repeat to make a second pipe cleaner rope. • Spiral each pipe cleaner rope around the handle of the wooden spoon to make spring shapes.

Reuseable Bags YOU'LL NEED

• Youth-sized T-shirt, any color or design • Fabric scissors

• Optional—sewing machine • Optional—fabric ribbon or trim

INSTRUCTIONS

• Cut off the hem and sleeves of the shirt. • Cut around the neckline in the shape of an 8-inch deep “U”. • Optional—use a sewing machine to sew the bottom of the shirt closed 4 inches from the bottom edge. • Cut 3 ½ inch slits, 1 inch apart, through the front and back of the shirt along the bottom edge to make fringe. • Tie together the front and back of each pair of fringe, knotting securely. • Optional—use fabric ribbon to tie a bow at the shoulder seams at the top of the handles of each bag

Reusable bags are a must! Create these cute bags for trips to the park, store and more.

40 • September+October 2019 • EC Parent Magazine • ItsYourMagazine.com

Giant Spider YOU'LL NEED

• 6.5-foot length of black giant chenille pipe cleaner • 1 tennis ball • 1 ping pong ball • 2 18mm wiggle eyes • 8 yellow pompons, about ½ inch in size

• Black craft paint • Yellow 3-D fabric paint • 1-inch sponge brush • Paper plates • Wire snippers • Hot glue gun and glue sticks

INSTRUCTIONS

• Squeeze black paint onto a paper plate. Use the sponge brush to paint the tennis ball and ping pong ball black. Let dry. You may need to paint more than 1 coat to get a solid black color. Let the paint dry between each coat. • Cut the chenille pipe cleaner into 4 equal lengths. Twist the centers of all 4 wires together to form 8 legs. • Use the hot glue gun and glue sticks to glue 1 yellow pompon onto each end of each chenille wire. • Hot glue the twisted center of the chenille wires to the tennis ball. • Hot glue the ping pong ball to the tennis ball just above the center of the chenille wires. • Hot glue the wiggle eyes to the ping pong ball. • Use the 3-D paint to add yellow dots of color to the body of the spider. Let dry.

Tic-Tac-Toe Magnets YOU'LL NEED

• Sculpey brand oven-bake clay, 2 ounces each of 3 colors • Toothpicks • Waxed paper • Baking sheet • Wire cooling rack • Oven and oven mitts

• 8 self-adhesive button magnets • Colored tape, 1/2 to 3/4-inch wide • Scissors • Optional—small cookie cutters

INSTRUCTIONS

• Use Sculpey clay to create 2 distinct flat shapes, 4 copies of each shape (e.g., four birds and four fish). Shapes should be no more than 2 inches in length. Directions for shaping and baking Sculpey can be found at www.sculpey.com. Optional—use small cookie cutters to make basic shapes. Use small bits of Sculpey to add details, or draw lines and add dots with toothpicks. • Line a baking sheet with waxed paper. Place the completed shapes on the waxed paper-lined sheet and bake according to the manufacturer’s instructions (about 15 minutes at 275 degrees F). Let cool completely. • Apply a self-adhesive button magnet to the back of each shape. • Use colored tape to create a tic-tac-toe grid, each section at least 2 inches square, on your refrigerator or other metal surface (like the inside of a school locker). • Use the shapes to play tic-tac-toe on the grid. 42 • September+October 2019 • EC Parent Magazine • ItsYourMagazine.com

TEEN TALK

dvice from Helpful A Another! to One Teen

OFF TO COLLEGE It is now September and school is back in full swing. Everyone is getting back in the groove of things, whether that be elementary, middle, or high school. However, for those of us starting our first year as college students, we are more terrified and nervous than we might let on. The pressure is intense for those of us who have moved to a new city and have to navigate new roads, obstacles, and lifestyles. There is also stress for those of us who are struggling to find employment. We experience confusion about finding our classes and being around a group of entirely new people. There are some of us who are and feel prepared, but the reality we are hit with is much more daunting. Keeping in contact with our parents is especially helpful for kids my age feeling similar ways. I call my parents frequently, and their advice is very helpful. I would encourage all parents with children

away at college to reach out! Just be careful to not be overbearing. We are trying to figure out the next steps of our lives, and we have a strong motivation to do it on our own. However, we still need guidance and care for all of our questions and concerns. Quick pep talks are extremely helpful when heading to a new class or a new job. It is going to be challenging to always understand and support the decisions your child makes as they venture off into new places, but we are having difficulty understanding ourselves as well. Overall, this stage in our life is a delicate one and somewhat difficult to comprehend. The relationship between parent and child may drift some, or strengthen massively, but maintaining a supportive, helpful, and respectful relationship is crucial for both sides, because both the parent and child are feeling some sadness and confusion being away from each other. v

Nia

COLLEGE FRESHMAN, AGE 18

Continued from page 27

most breathtaking places I have ever seen! It was free to get in and I’d definitely recommend it as it was one of the prettiest sights and a must-see.

Day 18, Celebrating the 4th of July The next morning was the Fourth of July, and there was an authentic southern parade taking place in Roundtop, Texas. Driving through the country to get to Round Top, we arrived to see an old-fashioned celebration parade. It was full of good ole boys, horses, and classic hot rods. Kids got candy and had a lot of fun. We then enjoyed treats at a cute, charming small-town pie shop called Royers Pie Haven! (You can check them out on our Its Your Magazine Youtube channel as we made a video of that experience.) Royers Pie Haven is a place to go if you want some really delicious homemade pie! My favorites were the apple pie and the blueberry lemon pie. Eat.Pie.Love is the theme, with quotes written all over the walls. Then it was on to Houston, where fireworks lit up the sky at the corner behind our hotel, so we had a pretty great view and didn’t need to go anywhere to see a fireworks display—no need to drive and deal with traffic. Some free BBQ, leftover Pie Haven, pool time and fireworks—what a great end to our Fourth of July evening.

Day 19, Houston’s Aquarium We stayed an extra day in Houston and visited Tapioca Master to start the day with some coffee/tea. They had a brilliant idea to have baskets of sample tastings of their coffee, teas, smoothies, and slushies to avoid your children ordering a drink they don’t like.

They get to pick what kind of drink they like because they get to sample it just like sampling gelatos. I had Thai Iced Tea of course! Special thanks to the Downtown Aquarium for allowing us to experience their amazing place. It was all about sea life, including touch pools, a shark tank, displays of aquatic ecosystems, and fun rides. It was a great experience! They have beautiful white tigers living in a fancy ruined Maharaja’s temple. We all went on a shark tour aboard a train. We got to ride a few rides like the Grasshopper, the Lighthouse Dive, and the Ferris Wheel. I showed off by ringing the bell at the sledgehammer game. The next morning we were homeward bound. What a great three-week family road trip adventure! It was definitely worth the drive to have the opportunity to explore different cities, and what surrounded them was very interesting. Driving through each state, seeing how each state’s scenic views change, is unbelievable. As we drove we saw palm trees, mountains, rocks, the desert, imperial sand dunes off Kumeyaay Highway 8 in California, and so much more. We made so many memories and captured beautiful places around us that caught our interest. Documenting our entire trip was well worth it! Our trip gave us a perspective of what is possible and the things we can do. It was an amazing summer adventure, and although people fear long road trips because of having to sit in a car for hours, it’s actually not as bad when you can stop every three to four hours to stretch, use the restroom, get a bite to eat, and explore while driving to your destination. Home, sweet home! My bed and my home have been missed! Time to detox my body and rejuvenate after this long trip and get back to business. I highly recommend this adventure to all families! v

44 • September+October 2019 • EC Parent Magazine • ItsYourMagazine.com

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FUN GUIDE CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Making the Most of Life on the Coast! We live on a beautiful coast that has so much to offer, and we’re here to make sure you know what’s going on in your own backyard. Enjoy!

Crestview Fall Festival

Sat, Oct 26 – Crestview (1:00p.m.) Head to downtown Crestview for their annual Fall Festival, Crestview's biggest event with tons of candy, vendors, games, costume contest, and more! This event is free. For more information, visit www.downtowncrestview.org.

Trick-or-Treat Street

Thurs, Oct 31 – Baytowne Wharf (6:00p.m.)

Seasonal Kitty Hawk Kites Fall Kite Festival Sat, Sept 21 – Fort Walton Beach

Enjoy larger-than-life show kites, professional stuntkite flying demonstrations, free stunt-kite flying lessons, and special activities at the Kitty Hawk Kites store at The Boardwalk. For information, visit www.fwbchamber.org.

Hocus Pocus

Thurs, Oct 24 – Baytowne Wharf (6:30p.m.) Grab your lawn chairs and your favorite people and head to Baytowne Wharf for their spooky Throwback Thursday Cinema. For information, visit www.baytownewharf.com.

Halloween Haunt

Fri, Oct 25 – Destin (6:00p.m.) Enjoy kids’ creepy crafts, face painting, trick-ortreating, and a costume contest. Come dressed to impress and you just might win a ghoulish prize! For information, visit www.destinchamber.com.

Calling all ghouls and goblins to the Village of Baytowne Wharf for a spooktacular extravaganza! Trick-or-treat through the Village streets, enjoy music by Steve Hall (who will play frighteningly good tunes on the main stage), crafts, balloon animals, face painting, a costume contest, and more! End the night with a spooky fireworks display at 8:00p.m. For more information, visit www.baytownewharf.com.

Love & Marriage

Sat, Oct 12 – Mattie Kelly Arts Center (7:30p.m.) The NFSO will follow the lead of Manfredo Schmiedt for their presentation of Love & Marriage. Featuring music from Grieg’s popular Peer Gynt Suite and the epic Symphonie Fantastique by Berlioz, this evening full of music is sure to enchant and entertain. Steinway artists, and husband and wife duo, Marina Lomazov and Joseph Rackers will join the NFSO as guest artists with Poulenc’s Concerto for Two Pianos. For more information, visit www.mattiekellyartscenter.org.

The Arts “America’s Got Talent” Top 5 Finalist Preacher Lawson

Thurs, Sept 19 – Mattie Kelly Arts Center (7:30p.m.) Get ready for a night of fun and laughter with Preacher Lawson! Preacher Lawson was a Top 5 Finalist on America’s Got Talent’s highest-rated season to date, and is sure to make for an evening that will have you laughing all night long! For information, call 850-729-6000.

Take Flight: NFSO Concert Season 33

Sat, Sept 28 – Mattie Kelly Arts Center (7:30p.m.) The NFSO Concert Season kicks off with Take Flight, featuring music from Planets, Star Wars Suite 1, E.T. Adventures on Earth, and other works saluting flight, outer space, and heroes of flight! For tickets and more information, visit www.mattiekellyartscenter.org.

President’s Speaker Series: Winston Scott, Former NASA Astronaut

Fri, Oct 18 – Mattie Kelly Arts Center (7:30p.m.) This President’s Speaker Series will feature former NASA astronaut Winston Scott, who will speak about his journey through the stars. Seating is limited. For more information, visit www.mattiekellyartscenter.org.

ItsYourMagazine.com • EC Parent Magazine • September+October 2019 • 45

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year’s run will take place on the campus of Northwest Florida State College in Niceville. Registration is $30, and the race entry fee includes one 2019 "One Run 5K" T-shirt. After the run, participants will enjoy food, music, and children’s activities. For more information, visit www.destinchamber.com.

Children in Crisis. For more information, visit www.funpokerrun.com.

Arts & Drafts

Fri, Sept 13 – HarborWalk Village (6:00a.m.) Kick off your weekend with live music, brews, and art at Arts & Drafts at HarborWalk Village. Stroll the Harbor, sample seasonal beers, shop local art, and enjoy a beautiful fall evening! For more information, visit www.emeraldgrande.com.

Bubbly Baytowne

Thurs, Sept 19 – Baytowne Wharf (5:00p.m.) Sip and shop through the village streets during Bubbly Baytowne. Stop in various retail merchants and enjoy a selection of premium champagnes. The village will be open to the public during this event. For more information, visit www.destinchamber.com.

Dog Man the Musical

Mon, Oct 21 – Mattie Kelly Arts Center Head to the Mainstage Theater for Dog Man the Musical, based on the beloved character Dog Man, the crime-biting sensation who is part dog, part man, and all hero! For more information, visit www.mattiekellyartscenter.org.

International Talk Like a Pirate Day

Fri, Sept 20 – Baytowne Wharf (5:30p.m.) Enjoy an evening full of adventure with Captain Davy. Come dressed in your best pirate costume and get ready for a scavenger hunt, magic show, costume contests, and more! For information, visit www.baytownewharf.com.

Beginnings: A Chicago Celebration

Thurs, Oct 24 – Mattie Kelly Arts Center (7:30p.m.) Beginnings presents three decades of inspired music in a show that includes nearly every charted song that captured the hearts of traditionalist CHICAGO fans. For tickets and more information, visit www.mattiekellyartscenter.org..

Runs, Walks & More Sacred Heart Hospital's 19th Charity Golf Classic Fri, Sept 20 – Miramar Beach (8:00a.m.)

Sacred Heart Hospital is hosting the 19th Charity Golf Classic at Burnt Pine Golf Club, and proceeds will be directed to the expansion of the Comprehensive Spine Program at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast. Proceeds raised will be used to purchase state-of-the-art robotic surgical equipment for a new operating room dedicated to the robotic spine program. The Spine Center surgeons perform more than 75 surgical cases each month. For more information, visit www.destinchamber.com.

5th Annual CMSAF James C. Binnicker Memorial Run Sat, Sept 21 – Shalimar (7:00a.m.)

The CMSAF James C. Binnicker Memorial Run offers a 9K, 5K, and 1-mile fun-run, and a 5K walking option. All take place in Poquito Bayou and around the Bob Hope Village campus in Shalimar. This race is in memory of the 9th Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, CMSAF James C. Binnicker, the Air Force Enlisted Village’s President and CEO from 2000 to 2015. For more information, visit www.destinchamber.com.

8th Annual ONE Run 5K

Sat, Sept 21 – Niceville (7:00a.m.) Put on your running shoes and get ready for the 8th annual ONE Run 5K, to support Emerald Coast Autism Center’s One Campaign! This

Living Autism and Regatta Bay Golf and Yacht Club Golf Tournament Sat, Sept 21 – Destin (7:30a.m.)

Regatta Bay Golf and Yacht Club presents the 1st Living Autism Golf Tournament in support of communities developed by Living Autism US for persons with autism. Enjoy 18 holes of golf, breakfast, lunch, cash prizes, contests, awards, and more! For more information or to register, visit www.livingautismgolf.com.

Oktober Biker Fest

Sat, Sept 21 – Crestview (3:00p.m.) Mark your calendar for this year’s Oktober Biker Fest in downtown Crestview. Enjoy vendors, German music, delicious food, and more! A benefit run will be held to support Bikers Against Child Abuse. For more information or to register, visit www.downtowncrestview.org.

7th Annual Golf Outing Benefiting Fore Her Fri, Sept 27 – Santa Rosa Beach (9:00a.m.)

Golfers can expect special prizes, food and drink samples on the course, breakfast, lunch, a silent auction, and more! Registration is $125 per golfer and $450 for a team of four, and includes green and cart fees. For more information, visit www.foreher.org.

Destin Charity Cornhole Tournament Sun, Sept 29 – Destin (12:00p.m.)

Head to the Destin Commons for the 4th annual Destin Charity Cornhole Tournament benefitting the Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center. Registration includes access to World of Beer’s Beer Garden, with bottomless craft beer, mimosas, bloody Marys, Belgian pretzels, wings, and corndogs. Teams have the chance to win $750 in cash and prizes, and each team of two will receive a swag bag with event T-shirts and other goodies. For information, visit www.destinchamber.comm.

Sounds Fun 6th Annual FunPoker Run

Sat, Sept 7 – Destin (9:00a.m.) The 6th annual FunPoker Run is the only Poker Run in the area that caters to the watercraft demographics. All of the proceeds from this family-friendly event will be donated to

46 • September+October 2019 • EC Parent Magazine • ItsYourMagazine.com

Throwback Thursday Cinema

Thurs, Sept 26 – Baytowne Wharf (7:00p.m.) Grab your lawn chairs and your favorite people and head to Baytowne Wharf for their Throwback Thursday Cinema featuring Tarzan. For information, visit www.baytownewharf.com.

Arts & Drafts

Fri, Sept 27 – HarborWalk Village (6:00a.m.) Kick off your weekend with live music, brews, and art at Arts & Drafts at HarborWalk Village. Stroll the Harbor, sample seasonal beers, shop local art, and enjoy a beautiful fall evening! For information, visit www.emeraldgrande.com.

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Hospital. This year’s theme is “The Wild, Wild, West,” so get your costumes ready and prepare for a doggone good time! For more information, visit www.fwbchamber.org.

Bubbly Baytowne

Thurs, Oct 17 – Baytowne Wharf (5:00p.m.)

Farmers’ Market. There will be fresh-from-thefarm produce, local seafood, homemade dips and salsas, organic juices, homemade soaps, and more! There will even be organic pet treats for your furry friends. For more information, visit www.destinchamber.com.

Sip and shop through the village streets during Bubbly Baytowne. Stop in various retail merchants and enjoy a selection of premium champagnes. This event is free, and for ages 21 and up only. The village will be open to the public during this event. For more information, visit www.destinchamber.com.

9th Annual Duck Regatta

Sat, Oct 19 – Baytowne Wharf (10:00a.m.) Get ready for the 9th annual Emerald Coast Duck Regatta, and adopt a duck for your chance to win $5,000! This family-friendly event includes a scavenger hunt, face painting, kids’ activities, free carousel rides, and the duck race beginning at 1:00p.m. For more information, visit www.baytownewharf.com.

Reoccurring Local Poetry & Music Jam

Every second Tuesday of each month – Crestview (6:00p.m.) Poets and musicians are invited to bring their work and instruments to a free-form open-mic poetry reading and jam session. For more information, call 850-682-4432.

Eggs on the Beach

Sat, Sept 28 – Miramar Beach (10:00a.m.) Eggs on the Beach is an official Big Green Egg Grilling Competition, being held at Seascape Resort in Miramar Beach. Guests will enjoy resort amenities, live music, and more! Proceeds will benefit Food for Thought and the Fisher House of the Emerald Coast. For more information, visit www.destinchamber.com.

41st Annual Destin Seafood Festival

Fri, Oct 4–Sun, Oct 6 – HarborWalk Village A Destin tradition, the 41st annual Destin Seafood Festival on the Destin Harbor will be a weekend full of entertainment, live music, arts and crafts, and fresh seafood. For more information, visit www.emeraldgrande.com.

12th Annual Baytowne Wharf Beer Festival Fri, Oct 11–Sat, Oct 12 – Baytowne Wharf (6:00p.m.)

The Village of Baytowne Wharf is hosting the 12th annual Baytowne Wharf Beer Fest, featuring American specialty brews from around the country. The event will feature over 200 domestic and international craft beers, the opportunity to learn about the different types of lagers and ales, and live music. For more information, visit www.baytownewharf.com.

Dog Daze 2019

Sat, Oct 12 – Fort Walton Beach (9:00a.m.) Grab your furry friends and get ready for Dog Daze 2019, presented by Friendship Veterinary

BOTE Wednesday Paddle

Every Wednesday – Destin (5:00p.m.) Join the BOTE team every Wednesday for a paddle at Norriego Point. Take in the beautiful Destin scenery and make memories that will last a lifetime. For more information, call 850-460-2250.

Wednesday Night Concert Series

Every Wednesday – Baytowne Wharf (7:00p.m.) The Wednesday Night Concert Series is back at Baytowne. Enjoy the great weather and live entertainment! The concert series features local and regional talent on the Events Plaza Stage. For information, visit www.baytownewharf.com.

Downtown FWB Street Fest

First Friday of each month – Fort Walton Beach (6:00p.m.) The Downtown FWB Street Fest is a new, fun, and exciting way to spend your Friday night downtown! Enjoy amazing vendors, live entertainment, live music, and more. For more information, visit www.fwbchamber.org.

Concerts at The Landing

Every Friday – Fort Walton Beach (6:00p.m.) Grab a chair and head to The Landing in Fort Walton Beach for Concerts at The Landing. Guests will enjoy live music from local favorites, vendors, and more! This is a family-friendly event. For information, visit www.fwbchamber.org.

Farmers’ Market at Grand Boulevard

Every Saturday – Miramar Beach (9:00a.m.) Start your Saturday at the Grand Boulevard

Why Volunteer?

Part of being a great volunteer is loving what you’re doing. Find something that you’re passionate about or something that inspires you, and then find a need in your community. There are dozens of reasons why you should volunteer you just need to find the one that feels right.

Volunteer Opportunity Place

Contact CC Fearson at 850-659-3190.

Socks

Contact Nikole Wood at 850-863-8999.

PAWS

Contact Alicia Sikes at 850-243-1525.

Salvation Army

Contact Lisa Martinez at 850-243-4531.

Habitat for Humanity

Contact Mark McEnaney at 850-685-0686.

Florosa Fire Department

Contact Tom Peele at 850-581-2900.

VFW

Contact Harvey Eckoff at 850-244-3834.

Goodwill

Contact John at 850-837-8516.

Destin Community Center

Contact Lisa Firth at 850-654-5184.

Waterfront Rescue Mission

Contact Tina or Sharron at 850-244-2726.

Destin History & Fishing Museum Contact Kathy Blue at 850-837-6611.

Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge

Contact Susan Leivelle at 850-650-1880.

Boys & Girls Club

Contact Rita Cummins at 850-862-1332.

ItsYourMagazine.com • EC Parent Magazine • September+October 2019 • 47

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