August 2022

AUGUST 2022

Finding Their Genius Music Education in Hillsborough County Public Schools

SCHOOL DAY PLAY

for toddlers in Tampa Bay Back-to-School Lunchbox Ideas

ASK THE DOCTOR: Back-to-School Bedtime Routines

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Back-to-School and Sports Physicals

Get your kids ready for school, knowing that we’ve taken steps in our clinics to help keep you safe: n Prescreening patients based on Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines n Minimizing and/or eliminating time spent in waiting rooms n Requiring all doctors, team members, patients and visitors to wear masks n Cleaning lobbies/waiting rooms, exam rooms and all public spaces throughout the day with EPA-approved, medical-grade cleaning and disinfecting agents

With more than 200 pediatricians, pediatric specialists and family medicine physicians in Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas and Polk counties, care for your family is always nearby. n Now accepting new patients. n Most major insurance plans are accepted.

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n Offering telehealth appointments when appropriate

Find a pediatrician and make an appointment online: BMGKids.org

AUGUST 2022 TampaBayParenting.com

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AUGUST 2022 CREATIVE DIRECTOR AND EDITORIAL MANAGER Laura Byrne

guest editor

Meet the

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Anu Varma Panchal Brie Gorecki EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Sarah Rigby

When I was a little girl, I would travel from Rhode Island to visit my grandparents in Alabama every summer for our family vacation: five children, two parents, one station wagon and a 24-hour drive.

The memories are priceless, and the love for an adventure on the road has filtered down to my own two children. It’s a little less noisy these days and the music has changed, but we still share an admiration for fresh scenery and curiosity piqued by different billboards, town names and historic markers we see along the way.

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jennifer Jagdmann Laura Byrne Brie Gorecki Anu Varma Panchal Laura Cross Bobbi Hopkins, M.D. Eric Hughes Hannah Geaumont Jenny P. Ciarra Johnson Dani Meyering Maggie Rodriguez Tara Payor Jennifer Katzenstein, PhD, ABPP-CN Julie Tingley ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Ralf Gonzalez LAYOUT & DESIGN Sarah Rigby CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Laura Byrne Elizabeth Griffin-Dugan Jenny P. Ciarra Johnson BOOKKEEPING James Anderson TAMPA BAY PARENTING MAGAZINE 320 W. Kennedy Blvd. Ste. 220 Tampa, Florida 33606 Phone 813-949-4400 Fax 813-315-6688 info@tbparenting.com editor@tbparenting.com BECOME A FAN tampabayparentingmagazine @tampabayparenting @TBParenting

Tampa Bay Parenting is published twelve times per year and distributed throughout the Tampa Bay community. Tampa Bay Parenting is not responsible for any errors, inaccuracies, omissions or incorrect information (or the consequences related thereto) contained within the magazine or online; readers should not rely on any information contained in the magazine and they should always consult with an appropriate professional for guidance. Tampa Bay Parenting accepts no responsibility for the consequences of error or for any loss or damage suffered by users of any of the information or materials provided by Tampa Bay Parenting. Some content published by Tampa Bay Parenting is sponsored or paid for advertising content, and some individuals quoted or cited in articles have paid for advertising or sponsorships; this content or opinions do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Tampa Bay Parenting.

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I also gained an important lesson during those summer visits that I hope to pass on to my children.

My nana was a homemaker who returned to college to earn her Master of Business Administration in her 70s, and my grandfather graduated with his doctoral degree soon after. As a teenager, I remember sitting with my grandfather and asking him why my grandparents had been so set on continuing their education when there was no obvious career benefit. My nana happily volunteered at the local Head Start Program, and my grandfather was a well-established businessman. My grandfather looked me square in the eyes. “Jennifer,” he said, “knowledge is something you may always keep. It can’t be taken from you. The more you know and the more you learn about the world around you, the more power you have to live the life you choose.”

I think about this conversation and their model of lifelong learning often. As a seasoned educator and mother, I seek to share this perspective with my students and my children. I believe that following our passions and pursuing knowledge enhances social inclusion, global stewardship and personal development. Modeling lifelong learning for our own children is one of the greatest gifts we can share.

I am grateful each day for my career as the middle school principal at Corbett Preparatory School of IDS. The setting at Corbett Prep has continually provided countless educators, including me, with opportunities to grow both personally and professionally. I completed my master's in educational leadership last summer and have since moved onto working toward my MBA. As our world once again opens to travel, I am delighted by the thought of more professional development opportunities for our teachers!

When parents and teachers are enthusiastic about education and want to learn themselves, the greatest benefactors are our kids.

Jennifer Jagdmann Middle School Principal, Corbett Prep

TampaBayParenting.com AUGUST 2022

ONE OF THE NATION’S TOP

MAJOR TEACHING HOSPITALS IS ALSO THE ONLY ONE IN FLORIDA TO BE RECOGNIZED Tampa General Hospital continues to lead the state — and the nation — with the power of academic medicine. TGH has recently been named to the 2022 Fortune/Merative (formerly IBM Watson Health) 100 Top Hospitals® list, singled out among thousands as one of the top 15 in the nation and Florida’s only major teaching hospital to be awarded.

This distinction highlights TGH’s commitment to academic medicine and excellence in patient care, including better survival rates, fewer patient complications, fewer health care associated infections and better ratings from patients. We’re honored by this recognition and proud of the dedication, quality and commitment to best-in-class care our team provides every day.

TGH.org

AUGUST 2022

GET READY FOR BACK TO SCHOOL 12 // FINDING THEIR GENIUS: Music Education in Hillsborough County Public Schools 15 // EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE: How Frameworks of Tampa Bay helps your children with these skills 16 // ASK THE DOCTOR: What to know about back-to-school bedtime routines 18 // GUEST EDITOR FEATURE: How lifelong learning begins with teachers 21 // LAUNDRY HACKS: Easy tips to keep back-to-school clothes looking new

33 // ELECTRIC ENZO: Meet the Tampa Bay teen lighting up NBC’s American Ninja Warrior 38 // A VISION FOR EYE-QUALITY: The importance of vision screenings and care for kids with Glazer Vision Foundation 41 // ORTHOPEDIC EXCELLENCE: Meet the new pediatric orthopedic surgeons joining the team at AdventHealth for Children and the common conditions they treat

22 // LEARNING AT THE LIBRARY: Amazing tools and ways to use your local library for back-to-school 25 // YMCA YOUTH SPORTS: Scoring points on and off the court

EVERY ISSUE:

26 // LUNCHBOX IDEAS: Jenny P. of @lunchboxmafia shares her back-to-school tips

8 // TOP PICKS: Our Favorite August events

45 // MIND PREP FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR: Dr. Jennifer Katzenstein at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital explains how to mentally prepare your child for back-to-school

ON THE COVER: Teachers are MUSIC to our ears and souls! Meet music teacher Ernesta "Mrs. Chick" Chicklowski and her students at Roosevelt Elementary School in South Tampa. This incredible teacher was recently nominated for the Grammy's Music Educator Award and will find out in September if she takes home the top prize. We wish her the best of luck!

This month, we're highlighting the importance of music programs in our public schools. See page 12 to read more.

TampaBayParenting.com AUGUST 2022

30 // SET SAIL WITH DISNEY: Discover the enchantment of the new Disney Wish cruise ship

42 // AWARD-WINNING CARE FOR BABY AND MOM: Tampa General Hospital was recently named one of the Best Maternity Hospitals for 2022

29 // SCHOOL DAY PLAY: Fun ways for toddlers to play while the big kids are away in school

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ARTICLES:

11 // NOTEWORTHY: What’s new and what’s cool in Tampa Bay! 34 // MOMS TO KNOW: Jaime Brown of Tampa Homestyles 37 // KIDS TO KNOW: Shloke Patel 46 // WHAT’S TRENDING ON TAMPABAYPARENTING.COM: Our top August online stories

Pediatric Orthopedic Expertise You Can Trust At AdventHealth for Children in Tampa, helping kids get back to a happy, active and fun-filled life is our whole-hearted promise. From sports injuries and complex health issues that range from scoliosis and bowing legs to dwarfism and cerebral palsy, our team of skilled pediatric orthopedic specialists and surgeons is here to support your family with comprehensive kid-focused care. Our goal is to heal your child with the most advanced treatment methods and the quickest recovery time, so they can get back to just being a kid.

AdventHealthforChildren.com/Orthopedics 844-326-2907

AUGUST 2022 TampaBayParenting.com

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AUGUST TOP PICKS Our favorite family-friendly events in Tampa Bay INTO THE WOODS AT RUTH ECKERD HALL – AUG. 4-6 The students from the Marcia P. Hoffman School of the Arts are taking you Into the Woods with this iconic tale. The timeless story follows a baker and his wife who wish to have a child; Cinderella, who wishes to attend the King’s Festival; and Jack, who wishes his cow would give milk. With tons of fairy tale spins and a witch’s curse, this Tony Award-winning musical brings together favorite classic characters and songs that are sure to enchant both adults and children. rutheckerdhall.com

2022 U.S. GYMNASTICS CHAMPIONSHIPS – AUG. 18-21 The annual national championships for artistic gymnastics will take place in Tampa this month at Amalie Arena. Fans will have the chance to cheer on some of their favorite athletes from the 2020 Olympic Games while getting to know a new generation of gymnasts hoping to represent the United States in Paris in 2024.

The competition will include the men’s and women’s junior and senior all-around and individual event national champions. The U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Teams will be named following the competition. The accompanying National Congress and Trade Show will run concurrently in the nearby Tampa Convention Center. amaliearena.com

FL!P CIRCUS – AUG. 19-SEPT. 5 Imagine a show where your seat gives you intimate, up close and personal interaction with the artists. Taking place at Westfield Brandon, Fl!p Circus is a unique show with a vintage feel. Created by the Vasquez family more than 50 years ago, Fl!p Circus takes place in a distinct red and white striped big-top tent and brings acts from all over the world. From comedic routines to aerial acts to the Globe of Death Motorcycles, there are captivating acts to entertain all ages. flipcircus.com

MICKEY’S NOT-SO-SCARY HALLOWEEN PARTY SELECT NIGHTS AUG. 12-OCT. 31 Thinking about Halloween in August might sound crazy, but Mickey's starting the celebration early so everyone gets a chance to celebrate! Beginning Aug. 12, guests can join a wickedly fun celebration at Cinderella Castle stage hosted by the Sanderson Sisters from “Hocus Pocus.” Watch the skies come to life with Halloween fireworks and a spectacular laser show. Witness a masquerade of characters—including a few faces from the Haunted Mansion—at Mickey’s Boo-To-You Halloween Parade. Enjoy special 3D photo backdrops, trick-or-treat throughout the park (which will be decked out in spellbinding Halloween decorations) and savor specialty sips and bites. Although guests are allowed to wear costumes, be sure to check the website for costume guidelines before you go. Disneyworld.go.com

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TampaBayParenting.com AUGUST 2022

PAW PATROL LIVE! THE GREAT PIRATE ADVENTURE - AUG. 13-14 The last year has been RUFF on all of us, but PAW Patrol is back on a roll! Ryder and your favorite pups are ready to hit the road and will be LIVE and in-person at The Mahaffey Theater this month! Set sail on a new adventure with the pirate pups of PAW Patrol as they take on a new highseas mission aboard the Sea Patroller to save their mateys, Carlos and Tracker. It’s up to Chase, Skye, Marshall and all their heroic pirate pup friends to save the day and find the pirate treasure before Mayor Humdinger finds it first! Performances will take place at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. themahaffey.com

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Walk-ins welcome

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Video visits available*

Fast access to affordable care

Welcoming patients 18 months and older

Online scheduling

AHExpressCare.com 844-397-0018 *Video visits not available for school physicals AdventHealth Express Care at Walgreens is operated by AdventHealth. The health care providers at AdventHealth Express Care at Walgreens are employees of AdventHealth Medicial Group.

The health care providers are not employees or agents of Walgreen Co. or any Walgreens subsidiary or affiliated company.

AUGUST 2022 TampaBayParenting.com

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Be a part of this larger than life experience at MOSI! Dinosaurs Around the World is a paleontological journey back in time to the supercontinent Pangea. MOSI guests will go on a globetrotting expedition, dropping in to see a variety of animatronic dinosaurs in an immersive environment millions of years in the making!

Going on now through September 5 th !

SPONSORED BY: ®

T F A R C E MIN

A I N A M

Put your MINECRAFT skills to the test!

Saturdays, 1pm-3pm.

Pre-registration required at MOSI.org.

Both going on now at MOSI! 4 8 0 1 E A S T F O W L E R AV E • TA M P A • 8 1 3 - 9 8 7 - 6 0 0 0 • M O S I . O R G 10

MOSI’s mission is to be the intersection of science, technology TampaBayParenting.com AUGUST 2022 and innovation in the Tampa Bay region where conversations and learning happen, knowledge is exchanged and new ideas are celebrated.

NOTEWORTHY ZUBRICK MAGIC THEATRE Experience wonders in St. Pete’s only magic theatre! The Zubrick Magic Theatre is a spectacular venue that gives audiences an intimate and unforgettable evening of magical entertainment. Illusionists Chris and Ryan Zubrick conjure up an exhilarating blend of sleight-of-hand, family-friendly comedy and breathtaking grand-scale illusions in a 70-minute performance that captures hearts and imaginations.

Conveniently located in downtown St. Petersburg, the Zubrick Magic Theatre guarantees to stretch smiles and drop jaws with a performance that will leave you walking away scratching your head in disbelief saying, “How did they do that?” Get your tickets now before they all…DISAPPEAR! zubrickmagic.com

JOIN THE JR. BUCS FAN CLUB! Kids ages 14 and under are invited to be part of the Jr. Bucs Fan Club. Welcome kits include an official membership card, a Jr. Bucs backpack, hat, football and lanyard.

Members will also get priority invites to future Jr. Bucs events and more. There is a one-time registration fee of $24.99 (plus $5 for shipping and handling). To sign up, go to buccaneers.com/fans/jr-bucs.

LAST CALL FOR BACK-TO-SCHOOL AND CHILDREN’S BOOKS SALES TAX HOLIDAYS Only a few more days left to save on back-to-school items! The Back-ToSchool Sales Tax Holiday ends Aug. 7. As in previous years, you’ll get a sales tax break on clothing items, backpacks and footwear costing $100 or less and on school supplies that are $50 or less. The first $1,500 of personal computers and personal computer related items are also included. The Children’s Books Tax Holiday ends Aug. 14 and applies to books written for kids ages 12 and under. These include board books, picture books, beginner and juvenile books, or audiobooks on CD or tape. Visit our website to learn more about these and other sales tax holidays that are currently available.

CAR SEATS AND CARLINES When making back-to-school preparations, be sure to add carline and car seat safety to your list. BayCare Kids Wellness and Safety Specialist Michelle Sterling offers these tips for keeping your kids safe during school drop off and pick up: ● Distractions down, eyes up. Make sure you are not preoccupied while driving or waiting in carlines. Children are excited and may dart out in front of your vehicle. They also mimic what adults do, so please be sure to not use your phone while driving. ● Be sure children are buckled up even while waiting in carline. ● The best child passenger safety seat is the one that is the best fit for your child, fits your vehicle and one that you will correctly use every time. » Make sure it is the correct seat for your child’s age, weight and height. » Children 13 and under should always ride in the back seat. » Older children should ride in a booster seat in the back seat of the vehicle until they are at least 4 feet, 9 inches tall. » Children should ride rear-facing in their child passenger seat until at least age 2.

THE RIBBIT EXHIBIT AT TAMPA BAY WATCH DISCOVERY CENTER Hop on over to the Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center at The St. Pete Pier and learn about native and invasive frog and toad species in thematic displays. The Ribbit Exhibit features Florida’s native frogs and toads, including green tree frogs, barking tree frogs and southern toads, which are increasingly threatened by invasive species such as Cuban tree frogs and cane toads. Visitors can learn about the importance of native species, the dangers of invasives and how to tell them apart. Guests can also learn what to do if they stumble upon invasive species outdoors. There will also be a new selection of frog-themed retail items. The center recently partnered with Viktor Bevanda, an autistic 13-year-old Florida-based artist, who designed a unique children’s t-shirt to help raise autism awareness and support the center’s sensory programs.

AUGUST 2022 TampaBayParenting.com

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COVER STORY

“Finding Their Genius” Music Education in Hillsborough County Public Schools

by Laura Cross, photos provided by Hillsborough County Public Schools

Thank you for that, Mr. Casanas.

More importantly, he is a teacher who understands elementary school is much more than math, language arts and science. “My favorite part of being a music educator is the fact that I can help kids find their genius, help them find their voice,” Casanas says. “I have worked mostly in Title 1 schools and some kids have academic challenges. They are really struggling. But they might be the lead singer in my rock band, or a natural with a guitar or drums.”

Casanas has dedicated his professional life to the students at Lanier Elementary. Is it a 7:40 a.m. to 1:50 p.m. job? Hardly. Casanas works hours before school, after school, on weekends—whatever it takes to continue to nurture the kids who have taken a passion for music. He is one of the many educators in our school district who are not limited by the state’s “requirements” for an elementary education. Instead, he uses those requirements as a jumping-off point.

Beyond teaching several music classes each day, Casanas has also started a student rock band, a world drumming ensemble, a show chorus and even a staff rock band.

His job does not come without frustrations, and at the crux of the frustrations is funding. A lack of funding can cause job insecurity for many teachers—especially teachers of the arts. Some years, Casanas was an itinerate teacher who worked three days at Lanier and then traveled to other schools to teach a class here and there. That was tough, he recalls.

Being an itinerate teacher doesn’t allow for the strong bonds that help kids thrive.

There’s also so much more he could do in the classroom with more funding.

“If someone gave me money right now, I’d love to buy more technology,” he says. “I think that’s a great way to be more culturally responsive to kids.

I’d buy more iPads to download music and allow the kids to create something with just the tip of their fingers.

Most of the music they do is done digitally, and we don’t offer them a lot of avenues to do that in school.”

Funding is tough to come by. Sometimes the Parent Teacher Association will step in with some extra money.

However, many times, teachers are left to find and write grants to get additional funds. That’s a lot of additional work, but for Casanas, it’s worth it.

He will do whatever is necessary to meet his students’ needs and help boost their self-esteem, which is a powerful advantage of the arts.

“Music education does wonders for social-emotional learning,” Casanas says. “With music ensembles, there is so much collaboration and so many interpersonal skills. Kids develop so much empathy because they play together and learn to be sensitive to others around them. Music builds a stronger community and builds those social bonds.”

And for many kids, it helps them find their genius—and through that, their place in the world.

Visit HillsboroughSchools.org/ strongschools for more information about how the millage would preserve art, music and physical education by providing a full-time teacher in every elementary school and help recruit and retain highly qualified teachers.

Students at Lanier Elementary School in Tampa making music with their teacher, Mr. Jon Casanas

istockphoto.com/ Julia August

Jon Casanas is a music educator at Lanier Elementary School in Tampa. He’s the one who gives your children the recorder in fourth grade and teaches them to play “Hot Cross Buns.”

Strong Schools – Stronger Hillsborough Like most school districts across the nation, Hillsborough County Public Schools is experiencing critical staff shortages including teachers, bus drivers, and support staff. Just this year, we have had a 240% increase in teacher vacancies. This has resulted in approximately 650 classroom vacancies leaving students with instability in our schools. Additionally, experienced teachers in our district earn salaries only slightly higher than early career teachers prompting many of them to seek new careers.

On August 23rd, Hillsborough County voters will have the opportunity to strengthen our schools and community by deciding on increasing the ad valorem tax by one mil for a period of four years. This would provide the school district with about $146 million annually to be used specifically for: • Recruiting and retaining the best teachers in the region by increasing compensation for our highly qualified teachers and staff.

• Protecting art, music, and physical education by adding teachers to our elementary schools and upgrading obsolete instruments, equipment, and supplies.

• Providing kindergarten with full-time elementary art, music, and physical education programs that currently do not exist.

• Expanding workforce development programs that align with the current and future demands of the Tampa Bay region resulting in local positive economic impact.

• Providing charter schools a proportionate share of funds based on student enrollment.

Teachers Art Music PE Workforce Education

The school district cannot afford to lose exceptional talent or the opportunity to engage students in well-rounded educational experiences as we strive to achieve our mission of “Preparing Students for Life.”

Strong Schools are the foundation for a Stronger Hillsborough.

Visit www.HillsboroughSchools.org/StrongSchools

Hillsborough County Public Schools: The Future Begins Here!

HillsboroughSchools.org 13

AUGUST 2022 TampaBayParenting.com

Strong Schools – Stronger Hillsborough During the height of the pandemic, many parents saw firsthand the true challenge of our teachers.

It’s become even more evident that teachers are heroes – the first responders that our children go to for answers or just a kind smile. But like most school districts across the nation, Hillsborough County Public Schools is experiencing critical staff shortages including teachers, bus drivers, and support staff. Just this year, we had a 240% increase in teacher vacancies.

While teachers enter the profession due to a calling, many are leaving for financial reasons. According to EdWeek, teacher salaries are not keeping up with inflation. The national average teacher salary for 2021-22 was $66,397 – a 1.7% increase from the previous year. But when adjusted for inflation, the average teacher salary decreased by an estimated 3.9% over the last decade.

Florida is ranked 48th in average teacher pay

Mid-career teachers in Hillsborough County earn salaries only slightly higher than early career teachers, prompting many of them to seek new jobs outside of education or in other school districts where salaries are more competitive.

Twenty-one Florida school districts have successfully implemented a millage referendum, gaining a competitive advantage over Hillsborough in attracting high-quality teachers and staff. Other school districts considering a referendum or renewal in 2022 include Pasco, Sarasota, Duval, Brevard, and Palm Beach.

On the August 23rd primary ballot, Hillsborough County voters will decide on increasing the ad valorem tax by one mil. What could this mean to our school heroes? 75% of the district’s share of the funds over the 4-year term will be used to increase pay for teachers, bus drivers, custodians, support professionals, and other staff. The remaining 25% will be used to protect and expand art, music, PE, and workforce education programs.

Hillsborough Schools must remain competitive as we recruit and retain the best and brightest teachers for our children.

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TampaBayParenting.com AUGUST 2022

HillsboroughSchools.org

Learning for the Mind and the Heart story and photos by Frameworks of Tampa Bay, Inc. staff

Emotional intelligence skills are critical. They are inextricably tied to a child’s ability to learn academically and interact with others. They can answer questions like, how do I persevere through a challenging math problem?

How do I develop a growth mindset? How do I set a goal for myself? How do I form a friendship? How do I resolve a conflict in a kind and productive way?

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Emotional Intelligence (EQ) involves the development of these self-control and people skills that are so vital for success in school, work and life. However, children are not born with social and emotional skills; they must be learned.

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How can you teach EQ? Through a vehicle called social and emotional learning. The five foundational competencies of social and emotional learning are:

Self-awareness | Self-management | Social awareness (empathy) Relationship skills | Responsible decision making Frameworks of Tampa Bay, Inc. is a nonprofit whose mission is to empower educators, youth services professionals, mentors, and parents and guardians with training, coaching and research-based resources to equip youth with emotional intelligence skills. As the local expert in emotional intelligence (EQ), Frameworks partners with over 90+ public, private and charter schools as well as youth-serving organizations to deliver upon its mission.

The work that Frameworks does is crucial now that the pandemic has magnified the normal stressors families and children endure. As a parent or caregiver, you are a child’s first teacher and the most important stakeholder in their growth and development. Frameworks can empower you to learn, model and teach social and emotional skills in an intentional way. Here are a few tips: ●

Acknowledge the behavior: Point out and praise a positive behavior. (“That was so kind of you to introduce yourself to the new student in school. I’m sure that made them feel welcome!”)

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Assign tasks: Put EQ into action by assigning age-appropriate tasks (“Why don’t you try to find out three things about the new student?”)

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Speak directly about a competency: This is a wonderful opportunity to talk about emotions and how we manage those emotions. (Do an “emotion check-in” with your child and use it as an opportunity to build emotional vocabulary)

EQ skill-building varies developmentally, and it is never too early to start. Parents/caregivers can keep questions open-ended and developmentally appropriate, which is key to encouraging engagement. Here are some open-ended questions to help build selfawareness by age group: ● ● ●

PreK–2nd grade: What is the best thing about you?

3rd–5th grade: What makes you unique?

6th grade+: If you could have superhero powers, what would they be and why?

What is something you need help with/doing?

If you’re interested in learning more, sign up for a workshop with Frameworks that provides user-friendly tips and tools so that parents and guardians leave with a plan.

Workshops can be held in-person or virtually, in English or in Spanish, and can be held as one-time learning opportunity or as a series. Topics include, but are not limited to: ●

Emotional Intelligence: Why Your Kids Need it, and How You Can Help

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Understanding and Addressing Bullying

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Helping Your Kids Navigate Social Media and Screen Time

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Cultivating Independence in Our Kids

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Stress, Pressure and Expectations: Identifying and Managing Emotions Related to Academic Rigor

You can learn more about EQ skill building, sign up for weekly newsletters and access more family resources at www.myframeworks.org.

Learning is important—all sorts of learning.

Being an amazing math student or creative writer or robotics champion are all wonderful, but social and emotional learning will not only help your child become a better student but help them to manage their relationships throughout their lifetimes.

AUGUST 2022 TampaBayParenting.com

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Ask the Doctor: Back-to-School Bedtime Routines

by Bobbi Hopkins, M.D., pediatric sleep specialist and medical director of the Sleep Center at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital

Sleep is a time to rest and recharge, but some children may not get the restful sleep they need. Whether this is because of trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, a lack of rest can lead to a variety of other issues, including poor performance in school and behavior problems.

MORE HELPFUL BEDTIME TIPS FOR BACK-TO-SCHOOL: Start the routine at the same time every night.

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Reduce indoor lights to encourage the release of melatonin, which will help your child feel sleepy sooner. Start this around 6 p.m. or when it starts to get dark outside. Think of it as pretending to have no electricity.

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Stop using electronics (TV, tablet, computer, phone) at least one hour before bed.

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Prepare a warm bath before bedtime. Many children may find this soothing.

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Prepare a small, quiet activity such as reading a book or singing a soft song. Be sure to keep the activity short. For example, no more than two short books.

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Be consistent between caregivers. Any change in the routine can disturb your child’s ability to rest.

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Recalling the wake time should allow the child to achieve an age-appropriate amount of sleep.

Walk your child back to their room with as little interaction as possible to help them settle back into sleep easier if they wake up during the night and come to you.

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Set a wake-up time for when your child is allowed to leave their room. If they wake up earlier, staying in their room will help them fall back asleep instead of getting up to go play or watch TV.

SETTING A BEDTIME ROUTINE

Remember, do not allow bargaining when following a bedtime routine. Children will often ask for “one more hug” or “one more song” to delay going to bed. Though it may be difficult, stick by the rules you have set so your child can be at their best the next day.

WHAT TIME SHOULD MY CHILD GO TO BED EACH NIGHT? ●

Elementary aged children should try to go to bed between 7:30p.m. and 9 p.m.

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Middle school aged children should go to bed between 8:30 p.m. and 10 p.m.

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Teens should try to go to bed between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m.

Following the same routine every night helps your child mentally prepare for sleep. A bedtime routine can be as simple as a warm bath and a little bit of reading.

Following the same pattern at the same time every night will create cues for the brain to start getting ready to sleep. Use these tips for setting a bedtime routine: ●

Consistent bedtime and wake time for two weeks prior to school.

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Dimming the light for four hours prior to bedtime and eliminating electronics for one hour prior to bed will help the child go to sleep easier and earlier.

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Exercise during the day, but not during the two hours prior to bed.

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School aged children should not take naps.

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Ensure the bedtime and wake time are age/circadian rhythm appropriate.

Along with a routine, make sure your child’s room is a relaxing environment. A TV in the room or having lots of toys in the bed can send mixed messages to the brain about if it is time to play or sleep.

During the day, encourage your child to do homework, play games, talk on the phone and do other activities off of their bed and away from the bedroom. This helps their body associate their bed with sleep and not with any other activity.

Is melatonin safe for kids?

Excellent sleep hygiene and a consistent bedtime and wake time are important strategies to ensure a good night’s sleep. For children who continue to struggle with difficulty sleeping despite these interventions, low dose melatonin may be considered if recommended by a physician.

Although melatonin is one of the best studied sleep aids for children, there are concerns it may impact the release of other hormones. In addition, recent studies note melatonin accidental ingestion or overdose is on the rise for children.

If parents and the child’s physician feel melatonin will be beneficial, it is good to have a plan to wean from it over time once the sleep problem has improved.

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TampaBayParenting.com AUGUST 2022

istockphoto.com / Elena

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istockphoto.com / olesiabilkei

As we head into a new school year, here are some basic bedtime routine ideas to jumpstart good sleep habits. But first, let’s answer the big question…

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EAGLES SOAR | THE ST. JOHN’S EXPERIENCE AUGUST 2022 TampaBayParenting.com

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GUEST EDITOR

Lifelong Learning Begins With

by Jennifer Jagdmann, Corbett Prep Middle School Principal, images provided by Corbett Preparatory School of IDS

A secret of lifelong learners is that new information energizes you. Have you ever started googling information after watching a movie or television show, eagerly seeking more details about what you watched? There is excitement in learning new things, and when you realize information is only a few steps away, you start to become comfortable feeling uncomfortable. You greet criticism with an open mind, responding respectfully and reflecting on what you hear. You’re excited to share your passions or listen to new perspectives.

Teachers—and parents—who prioritize lifelong learning become models for students in how they approach education. Is education about achieving high test scores or earning a certain degree? Or is it a process of growth, discovery and understanding that extends far beyond your last days of schooling or university?

Of course schools want students to do well academically, graduate and attend good colleges to land the perfect job. But a true education continues long after graduation. If teachers equip students with the tools to learn how to learn, they prepare them for an interconnected world, show them how to problem solve and cultivate curiosity inside and outside of the classroom.

They help themselves as well, leading to less career burnout and increasing their understanding of the subjects they teach and how to better convey that to students.

To accomplish all this, schools first have to teach the teachers.

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TampaBayParenting.com AUGUST 2022

Teachers

A CLIMATE OF LEARNING

It starts with establishing a workplace that values continuous improvement. At Corbett Prep, teachers regularly meet in divisions and as an entire school to discuss best practices, review current educational research and look for ways to build upon past successes. Teachers study, implement, refine and then start the cycle over again. Corbett’s dedication to the professional development of its teachers is paramount because research shows consistently that teacher quality is the most important factor inf luencing student achievement.

The school has created a coaching culture that celebrates successes while accepting that there is always room for improvement. Faculty and staff learn to listen to feedback without defensiveness and respond thoughtfully, a skill that when passed on to their classes helps students become open to constructive criticism and develop a growth mindset.

With a growth mindset, students can embrace how struggle often reveals new insights and discoveries. In thinking about the process of learning and looking for options, students work harder and more creatively to get the results they want. Stanford University psychologist Carol Dweck, known for her research on the growth mindset, found that students who believed their intelligence could be developed outperformed students who saw intelligence as something fixed or limited to what they were born with.

The growth mindset applies to all ages and professions: student, teacher, CEO, parent. And it’s beneficial for students to see the adults in their lives pursuing learning for the sake of learning, whether they are reading a book or enrolling in a course. This summer, Corbett Prep teachers collectively attended hundreds of hours of professional development. Some were new teachers getting up to speed on methodology Corbett Prep uses. Other teachers sought to tune up their skills or broaden their horizons for personal or career goals.

Student Success Director Cris Ferrone lights candles to induct members of Corbett Prep Middle School’s National Junior Honor Society.

Kindergar ten teacher Marla LeBlanc leads a class of astronauts to launch model rockets as they celebrate completing a unit studying space.

PREVENTING BURNOUT Teaching was a tough job even before the pandemic struck, and two full school years of pandemic teaching has taken a toll. A 2022 RAND Corporation study found that U.S. teachers and principals experienced about twice as much frequent job stress as the general population of adult workers. Teachers struggled with increased levels of uncertainty, worry and pressure, and they worried about how to best support students’ academic achievement.

At the same time, the majority of teachers reported in the State of the American Teacher survey found that they wanted to stay in their jobs. They thought it would help their stress levels to focus on core job responsibilities and building positive relationships among staff and the school community as a whole.

Professional development may seem like placing extra work on overloaded teachers. But the opposite is true.

Training opportunities can be helpful and even invigorating. The Kagan Cooperative Learning conference Corbett Prep’s new teachers attended this summer provide teachers with specific strategies for managing classrooms and motivating students. It’s designed to make teachers’ lives easier from the first day back at school and make learning more engaging and fun.

Teaching in a classroom full of smiles and engaged students goes a long way in preventing burnout.

The unique part of Corbett Prep’s dedication to professional development is that it allows teachers to pursue their personal and professional passions while strengthening their connection to their classrooms. For example, teachers passionate about curriculum and dedicated to ensuring they were responsive to students’ needs spent time in teams this summer reviewing their International Baccalaureate Programme units.

Teachers who prioritize wellness shape Corbett Prep’s social-emotional learning curriculum and seek out opportunities to work on their personal wellness as well as familiarize themselves with the latest research on emotional awareness, balance and more.

Two Corbett Prep teachers interested in environmental education became National Geographic certified educators. An avid reader found connections at a gifted education conference and used them to reinvigorate the school’s literacy program.

Middle School Design Teacher Matt Melnick looks over the wiring students have connected to their Arduino microcontrollers.

Teacher Vickii Johnson helps her four th-grade students through a squid dissection in science class last year.

Jessica Wallen, a National Geographic certified teacher, demonstrates to students how to grow a thriving garden at school.

Others have opted to return to school for higher degrees.

Many teachers have worked toward masters degrees in gifted education, educational leadership or specific content-area curriculum specialties. Four faculty members are currently working on their doctorates through a relationship between Corbett Prep and Mid Sweden University. The research they conducted for this program draws from their experiences at Corbett Prep, and they presented at conferences in Sweden and Portugal this summer (an “energizing educational experience,” one of the teachers said).

Teachers who feel inspired in their learning journeys inspire their classes with their enthusiasm for knowledge, their thrill of discovery and their ideas for new ways to engage students. School administrators enjoy happier faculty members who feel motivated to continually raise the bar. Students see that there is always more to learn, no matter how much you already know.

Educational opportunities fill teachers’ toolkits with options for responding to students’ needs. Whether learning is self-directed or school-provided professional development, everyone benefits when teachers are also students.

Corbett Prep Associate Head Mike Johnson shares his doctoral research in Sweden this summer.

AUGUST 2022 TampaBayParenting.com

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HAPPY STUDENTS S E R I O U S E D U C AT I O N

(813) 961-3087 • PreK3-8th Grade • www.corbettprep.com 20

TampaBayParenting.com AUGUST 2022

Tips to Keep Those Back to School Clothes Looking New

by Brie Gorecki

We’ve all been there. You start the school year off with a closet full of fresh, new clothes for your child, only to discover a week later that half of them are marked with unidentifiable stains. No matter how careful your kid may be, they’ll still inevitably end up victim to markers, dirt, grass and the dyed blue raspberry applesauce from the cafeteria. Whether your child has an open dress code or wears a uniform every day, we’ve rounded up some helpful hints to keep those clothes looking new.

PROTECT AND PRE-TREAT It’s an extra step, but pre-treating stains before washing can make a huge difference.

What’s great about pre-treating stains is that you don’t need a fancy product to do so.

Simple products like Purex Fels-Naptha bars and OxiClean have been around for ages and never fail to remove most tough stains. Some products to remove stains don’t even need to be purchased separately since they’re probably already in your pantry. Baking soda and Dawn Dish Soap are staples when it comes to removing stains and rubbing alcohol can work wonders. However, not all stains are created equal. Here are some helpful tried and true tips straight from the mouths of moms to help remove common stains: Food grease (French fries, pizza): Dawn Dish Soap/baking soda—apply baking soda to the stain to absorb as much of the grease as possible. Add soap to the stain using a clean cloth or toothbrush.

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Tomato sauce: Vinegar and dish soap—run under cold water. Apply vinegar and dish soap to the stain and let it sit.

Marker/ink: Rubbing alcohol—add some to a clean, white towel or paper towel and blot stain until removed (be sure to put a towel or barrier underneath the side of the clothing

CHECK THE TEMP you’re blotting so it won’t bleed through to the non-stained part of the item). This goes for permanent marker too! Fun fact: Rubbing alcohol can also remove sticker residue on clothes that have been through the dryer!

Grass: White distilled vinegar—apply warm water and vinegar and let sit.

Blood: White distilled vinegar/detergent/ hydrogen peroxide—if the garment is colored, use a mixture of vinegar and detergent to pretreat. If it’s white, use hydrogen peroxide.

Sweat: Lemon juice—scrub sweat stains with equal parts lemon juice and water and let sit.

It’s important to check the labels of your items before pre-treating them. Fabrics like cotton and polyester can be pre-treated and washed. However, more delicate fabrics such as wool or silk should be professionally cleaned. It’s also good to air-dry the stained item after the first wash to ensure the stain is removed completely and it doesn’t need to be re-treated.

Another cleaning tip: Most fabrics can also be protected with Scotchgard, particularly heavier fabrics like school uniforms. Before using, check the FAQ on their website and test a section to ensure it’s safe to use.

There’s a reason the tags say, “Wash with like colors.” Cold water is good for delicate fabrics, sweaters and clothes that might shrink, such as denim. Clothes that are dark or bright colored should also be washed in cold water to prevent bleeding. Hot water can be used for white clothing (also, bed sheets and towels).

Pay attention to the symbols on the backs of the tags as well. Though some will have labels, most of the time, they don’t. The most common are machine wash (crown-shaped symbol), tumble dry (square with a circle in the center), do not tumble dry (tumble dry symbol with an X over it), dry clean (circle) and bleach (triangle). Full laundry care symbol guides can be easily found online.

Printing one out and hanging it up in the laundry room is a great idea for a quick reference (or, if you want an aesthetically pleasing one, places like Michael’s or Etsy will have you covered).

Happy new school year!

AUGUST 2022 TampaBayParenting.com

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Back to School Season for All Ages

by Eric Hughes, Literacy Coordinator for the Hillsborough County Public Library System, photos provided by Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library

Can you believe it is already time for the kids to go back to school? Even parents with children not yet in school—or already graduated!—may still find inspiration to continue or support education during this time of year. No matter what the age, educational need or interest, the public library is a place to find tools, resources and programs that fuel that back-to-school spirit at all stages of life.

1,000 BOOKS BEFORE KINDERGARTEN Studies show that children who are exposed to 1,000 reading encounters before they start school demonstrate much better success academically. It may sound like a big number, but one book a day for three years will more than do it! Furthermore, parents or caregivers can repeat books as many times as they like, and it does not matter if your little one can read on their own or not. Parents can register with the library to track their books through the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program. HCPLC.org/1000Books

LINKEDIN LEARNING Lifelong learning and continuing education goals for adults and high school students can be achieved through LinkedIn Learning, which can be accessed for free with a library card. This is a truly comprehensive resource where users can find courses on a variety of topics ranging from the latest software, time management, copyediting, program management, and so much more. It is a great way to get the latest skills you need at work, learn about some software a potential employer is using that you are not yet familiar with, or simply for self-improvement. HCPLC.org/OnlineClasses

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TampaBayParenting.com AUGUST 2022

FAVORITE KIDS BOOK

Er ic Hu ghes rec om me nd s “C hic ke n Soup wi th Rice: A Bo ok of Month s” by Maur ice Se nd ak . Borrow a co py of thi s pic tur e bo ok cla ssic that he lps int ro du ce the month s and sea sons to ch ild ren . bit .ly/HCPLC -82 2

HILLSBOROUGH LITERACY COUNCIL Did you know that the Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library is a primary supporter of the Hillsborough Literacy Council? The library provides free tutoring and other programming to help adults with literacy challenges improve their skills, and to help people learn to speak English as a second language. This time of year, the library tends to see an increase in people seeking these services. Likewise, the Hillsborough Literacy Council is always happy to see an increase in volunteer tutor applications. They say that the best way to learn is to teach. Please contact the Hillsborough Literacy Council if you would like to make a change in someone’s life this year. hillsboroughliteracy.org The back-to-school season is a time when all of us, whether or not we are enrolled in school, can feel that energy of renewed commitment to learning and self-improvement. The Tampa-Hillsborough County Public library is committed to ensuring access to countless learning resources and support for individuals and families. HCPLC.org

MEET JELLY, BEN & POGO! The new hit PBS KIDS digital series Jelly, Ben & Pogo features besties who help their neighbors and each other by working together to solve problems. Each animated short follows the adventures of the intrepid Jelly, her brainy little brother, Ben, and Pogo, a young sea monster who is always ready to get the party started! Jelly and Ben’s family is of Filipino heritage and they share their culture, including Tagalog, music & food, in each frolicking short.

Watch online at pbskids.org or on PBS’ official YouTube channel!

SUMMER OF POSSIBILITIES! Explore and play with your child this summer with free resources from PBS KIDS! Spark curiosity and creativity with hands-on activities, tips, and games around different themes supporting literacy, math, science, and life skills.

Get started at pbs.org/parents/summer Watch your favorite shows anytime on the PBS KIDS VIDEO APP!

Play anywhere, anytime with the PBS KIDS GAMES APP!AUGUST 2022 TampaBayParenting.com 23

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TampaBayParenting.com AUGUST 2022 TFF

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Scoring Points On and Off The Court PRESENTED BY THE YMCA

by Hannah Geaumont, Communications & Social Media Manager for the Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA and YMCA of the Suncoast

At the Tampa Y, we believe every child deserves the support, guidance and encouragement to be who they are and discover who they want to become, and often, this discovery comes from sports.

Sports are instrumental in a child’s development. Practicing on a track, field, gym or court teaches more than athletic skills. As any athlete will share, learning to play within the boundaries of a game teaches invaluable life lessons that can be applied to just about any aspect of life.

Eamonn O’Sullivan, Sports and Teens Program director at New Tampa Family YMCA shares:

istockphoto.com/ Machacekcz

“The YMCA can be a great introduction to various sports for young athletes, even if they have never played before. At the Y, we focus on things so much more important than the scoreboard. While we recognize that the object of most sports is to score more points than your opponent, our volunteer coaches are focused on helping to build a foundation of lifelong health and activity that will hopefully last a lifetime.”

“While participating in youth sports at the YMCA, children are exposed to positive role models in a structured environment of weekly practices and games. This is when you will find our staff and volunteers helping to promote our core values.”

These values include caring, honesty, respect and responsibility. “Implementing our core values into our programs provides children opportunities to grow and develop their skills, handle adversity, learn the importance of following the rules and so much more,” Eamonn says. “We all know this for sure: Youth sports teaches invaluable traits and skills needed throughout life such as improved communication, teamwork, cooperation, commitment, goal-setting and patience.”

Eamonn recently coached Mike Hollenbeck, 6, in winter and spring basketball at North Tampa YMCA. Throughout his two seasons, Mike learned how to be a teammate as well as gain more knowledge about the game, says Ali Hollenbeck, Mike’s mother.

“One thing I noticed from the winter season to spring was that while in the winter he was really just trying to understand the basics of basketball and the rhythm of the game, I felt like in the spring season he really honed in on one specific skill, in his case, defense,” Ali says. “Mike grew so much as a player and teammate this past year.”

In 2021, the Tampa Y provided 15,542 young athletes with the ability to learn resilience, leadership skills, accountability, respect and patience through our youth sports programs. The Tampa Y’s youth sports include: Basketball Cheerleading Dance Flag Football Golf with First Tee Tampa Bay Gymnastics Martial Arts Soccer Volleyball The Tampa Y believes that a wellrounded child today creates a contributing and engaged adult tomorrow! Contact a Y center near you and sign your child up for one of our many fall youth sports today!

AUGUST 2022 TampaBayParenting.com

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BACK TO SCHOOL WITH LunchBoxMafia story and photos by Jenny P., @lunchboxmafia

Setting your family up for success in August is about more than just back-to-school shopping. Here are some tips to help you prepare for new schedules and ease back from the lazy days of summer:

LUNCHBOXES & GEAR: When choosing lunchboxes, keep in mind your child's age and lunchtime routine. » Younger kids (pre-K & elementary) need an easy-to-open latch. Check out Planetbox, Bentgo and Yumbox for lunchboxes, lunch bags and other accessories (linked in my bio on Instagram @Lunchboxmafia). Older kids (middle school and beyond) would enjoy the Planetbox Launch, Bentgo salad bowls, Bentgo Pop and OmieLife Go. » If you plan on sending hot lunches, remember that most kids do not have access to reheat their food. You’ll want to invest in a thermos. Check out Thermos Brand and Yumbox for thermos options. My go-to lunchbox for hot lunches is the OmieLife bento with built-in thermos. » Smaller lunchboxes or reusable snack bags are great for snacks because you save money buying bulk and they’re dishwasher friendly. If you’re a fan of stainless steel, check out Lunchbots. One of my favorite lunch bags is from PackIt Cool with ice packs built right into the bag. You store them in the freezer until ready to use.

OmieBox with removable thermos

OmieGo bento containers

Bentgo Salad Bowl

Lunchbots Large Cinco

Planetbox Rover

Yumbox

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TampaBayParenting.com AUGUST 2022

WHY I LOVE LEFTOVERS: I love cooking and my kid loves home cooked meals.

I repurpose leftovers all the time for our lunches. » Taco meat = nachos or quesadilla. » Leftover chicken can be added to wraps and salads. » Veggies can be mixed into pasta, soup or rice. » Garlic toast from dinner tonight = tomorrow’s pizza. » If you have leftover pasta, add Italian dressing with a handful of peas and corn for a quick and easy kid-friendly pasta salad.

MY EASIEST GO TO LUNCHES: » Homemade Lunchables - what’s not to love? You can customize them, use up odds and ends from the fridge, and they’re great for picky eaters. Use pretzel crisps, naan or pita chips instead of crackers. » There is something that feels so easy about sending breakfast foods. Who wouldn’t love waffles, pancakes or French toast sticks with sausage links and syrup to dip?

Add a hardboiled egg and some fruit for a satisfying brunch and one happy kid. » You can pizza-fy just about anything! Make it on an English muffin or baguette.

Add pepperoni slices and mozzarella to a salad with Italian dressing. Add pizza sauce to a grilled cheese. Slather some sauce and cheese to half of the bagel you didn’t finish for breakfast.

LUNCHTIME HACKS: » Use premade items from the deli and freezer section of Sprouts and Publix. My freezer stash usually has pierogies, waffles and chicken nuggets. » Supplement boxed meals and take out. Add a handful of peas to boxed mac and cheese or leftover fried rice. » Kabobs are just fun, aren’t they? Put cocktail meatballs, cherry tomatoes and mozzarella cubes on a stick for a super fun lunch. (Food picks are generally safe for kids ages 3+.) » Muffins and scones are so underrated! You can make them sweet or savory - just mix in berries or bacon bits and cheddar. Bake them yourself or grab them from your favorite bakery. » Freeze juice boxes, yogurt tubes and apple sauce cups. They help keep your lunch cold and they defrost just in time for lunch. » Make it mini! I love sending appetizers for lunch. Chicken sliders, mini hot dogs and pizza rolls always bring smiles. Make a “subway sandwich” using a hot dog bun for your little one. They’ll love it.

TIPS FOR HOT LUNCHES:

EASY FOOD PREP TIPS:

» Always preheat your thermos with boiling hot water.

Put the lid on and set it aside while you prepare or reheat the hot food.

» Wash and cut carrots for the lunchbox.

Store them in water just like at the store.

» When you’re reheating rice or pasta, add some broth, water or pasta sauce and put the lid on so that it warms through. » Anything previously baked or fried like empanadas should be reheated in the oven or airfryer at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes and covered with aluminum foil so that it doesn’t overcook. Cut the time in half on your airfryer. Let it come to room temperature and place a napkin underneath to absorb any moisture.

» Berries should go in airtight containers lined with paper towels until you’re ready to use them.

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» Hardboiled eggs can be stored in the fridge for up to seven days. Enjoy them for breakfast, in salad and ramen or just add them to your lunchbox with a dash of everything bagel seasoning.

» When you grill chicken, grill extra and use it in pasta, salads and sandwiches during the week.

AUGUST 2022 TampaBayParenting.com

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TampaBayParenting.com AUGUST 2022

School-Day story and photos by Ciarra Johnson

Play

for Toddlers

istockimage.com/ StudioBarcelona

Big kids may be back in school, but littles need activities too! Here are some fun weekday activities to keep your preschooler busy in Tampa Bay:

TODDLER TIME AT THE LIBRARY

Toddler time at your local public library is a great way to get out and have a good time. Times and days of the week vary by location. Almost every branch in the Tampa Bay area offers some sort of programming for toddlers like story time, baby yoga, and more!

ALTITUDE TRAMPOLINE PARK

HUMANE SOCIETY OF TAMPA BAY’S PETS AND TOTS

Enjoy story time and hands-on activities while visiting with furry friends at Pets & Tots. The class is offered once a month and is one hour long. Kids up to 4 years old are welcome and the cost is $20 per family. hstb.givecloud.co/petstots

LEARN AND PLAY TAMPA BAY

Get the wiggles out at Altitude Trampoline Park’s Junior Jumpers program. Kids 6 and under jump for $9.99 Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Kids up to 5 years old can participate in this engaging and educational program hosted at sites throughout Hillsborough County at no cost. The in-person play sessions are 10:15-11:45 a.m. each weekday at various locations. glazermuseum.org

WE ROCK THE SPECTRUM KID’S GYM

SESAME STREET SAFARI OF FUN AT BUSCH GARDENS

Take your busy tot to open play at We Rock the Spectrum.

Make the most of their sensory toys, zip line, trampoline and swings, all inside so they can play no matter the weather.

Memberships are available. Kids 1-12 are $12 with a $2 discount for siblings.

AQUATOTS AT FLORIDA AQUARIUM

Make the aquarium your toddler’s classroom with an Aquatots class. Each class is $15, or $12 for members. Classes are designed for kids ages 3 through 5. flaquarium.org

TODDLER TUESDAYS AT ZOO TAMPA

Head to ZooTampa the first Tuesday of each month for Toddler Tuesdays. Each month, explore a new letter and learn how it fits into the animal kingdom. zootampa.org

We Rock the Spectrum Kid’s Gym

Use that preschool pass you snagged for your toddler and head to Busch Gardens’ Sesame Street Safari of Fun. Splash, catch a show, ride toddler-friendly rides and experience all the animals Busch Gardens has to offer. buschgardens.com

BABY BUNGALOW

Join a playgroup based on your toddler’s age at Baby Bungalow.

Classes are designed to engage your toddler while you learn alongside them and other caregivers. cfctb.org

MINI AND ME NEW TAMPA

Learn, craft, explore and more with your toddler at Mini and Me in New Tampa. Classes vary throughout the week and are broken up by age group. Classes start at $19, with multi-class and sibling discounts available. miniandmenewtampa.com

Florida Aquarium

Toddler Tuesdays at ZooTampa

AUGUST 2022 TampaBayParenting.com

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Discover the Enchantment of the new Disney Wish Cruise Ship

by Dani Meyering, Orlandodatenightguide.com Editor, photos by Disney Cruiselines

The newest Disney Cruise Line ship, the Disney Wish, sets sail on its inaugural cruise on July 14, 2022.

We got a first look, and here’s what you need to know as a parent about the newest ship.

FACTS FOR FAMILIES:

* This is Disney Cruise Line’s largest ship. * There are three included restaurants for dinner. * Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure resembles a castle. * Songs from “Frozen” and “Frozen 2” are performed as you dine at Arendelle. * Aqua Mouse is the first attraction at sea and has a 42-inch minimum height requirement. * There are six pools for families of varying sizes and depth. * A Toy Story Splash Zone for toddlers has a wading pool. * The Oceaneers Club has five themed play areas. * A clear slide on Deck 3 can be used by kids to enter Oceaneers Club. * It’s a Small World Nursery is available for ages 6 months to 3 years old. * Tweens ages 11-14 have Edge; ages 14-17 have Vibe. ni

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Throughout the cruise, the Marvel room and the Star Wars room can be closed off from the rest of the Oceaneers Club to become really cool character greeting areas.

Top: Arendelle: A Frozen Dining Adventure Lef t: Tablets for use in Oceaneers Club

by

Swing by the Oceaneers Club on embarkation day during the open house. Even if you do not have kids who will be using the Club, there is almost always at least one character hanging out during the open house for an impromptu greeting.

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CHARACTER GREETINGS

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* Vibe is right next to Hero Zone, an indoor sports area with basketball and more that is open to everyone.

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MAGICAL DESIGN

The Disney Wish is an incredible vessel full of Disney magic around every turn. Director of Entertainment Creative for Disney Cruise Line Denise Case shared her passion for the Disney Wish. “It is the wish we never gave up on. The concept and design started four years ago, and we all know what the last two years have been like. We wished for this wish.”

HOW BIG IS THE DISNEY WISH? At 144,000 gross tons, the Disney Wish is the largest Disney Cruise ship in the fleet, though just slightly larger than the Dream and the Fantasy. It can carry 1,555 crew members and has a total passenger capacity of 4,000.

There are 1,254 total staterooms, the bulk of which have either oceanview windows or verandahs.

Disney Wish is pure enchantment, a cruise ship that only Disney could make. Its interior is like walking into a modern Cinderella Castle that happens to sail the high seas.

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AUGUST 2022 TampaBayParenting.com

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INSPIRE A LOVE OF READING ONE CRUMB AT A TIME

Open June 11 to Sept 11 at GCM

Discover an imaginative world of beloved picture books – some nostalgic, some new favorites – this Summer at GCM’s newest traveling exhibit, Storyland™ A Trip Through Childhood Favorites.

Inspire a love of reading in the exhibit’s immersive environments for children ages birth to eight.

GLAZE R M U SE U M .OR G/STORY LA N D

© 2022 Minnesota Children’s Museum. All rights reserved.

Storyland: A Trip Through Childhood Favorites™ was created by Minnesota Children’s Museum. This project is made possible by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services.

IF YOU GIVE A MOUSE A COOKIE. Text copyright © 2000 by Lauren Numeroff. Illustrations © 2000 by Felicia Bond.

Used by permission of HarperCollins Publishers.

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MADE POSSIBLE BY

LOCALLY SPONSORED BY

ELECTRIC ENZO Meet the Tampa Bay teen lighting up NBC’s American Ninja Warrior

by Maggie Rodriguez, co-host of "Daytime" on WFLA

The month of August is starting off with a high-stakes challenge for 16-year-old Palm Harbor resident Enzo DeFerrari Wilson. After being chosen among thousands to compete in Season 14 of NBC’s “American Ninja Warrior” and beating out hundreds of competitors in the first round, he’s taking on the semi-finals and hoping to earn a spot in the finals in Las Vegas. Fittingly known “Electric Enzo,” he is a force of nature—not just a strong athlete who can deliver a dynamic performance on an impossibly-challenging obstacle course and then comfortably speak on camera on national television, but also a passionate ocean conservationist and founder of O.N.E. (Ocean Needs Everyone), a growing YouTube star, a straight-A student and a humble and polite teenager, to boot!

We spoke with Enzo and his parents, Christine DeFerrari and Mark Wilson, who are also his biggest cheerleaders.

TBPM: How did this whole ninja journey begin?

EW: When I was five years old, my grandma showed me American Ninja Warrior [ANW] and basically from then on, I was hooked.

MW: Enzo loved the show and we were looking to do this… so we made a phone call and found a gym that was in a backyard, and that gym became Jungle Gym in Pinellas Park where we started to train heavily.

That was really the beginning of the journey.

CD: Enzo has always been really athletic, a great athlete. He was a star soccer player, football player. He played basketball, did karate… so when Mark’s mom found the TV show, she said, ‘this is right up Enzo’s alley’ so that really was the inspiration. There are different leagues around that have competitions and Enzo wound up qualifying.

EW: It was a regional qualifier at a local gym and there were like 20 people there and the top five qualified and I got fifth place by one second, so I was on the very brink. I think it was kind of like the world telling me, ‘You should stay in this sport.’ I moved on to the finals and basically got utterly destroyed. I had no training whatsoever. But it was kind of like a wake-up call for me, like ‘if you want to do this sport, you really gotta start training.’ That’s when we started going to that gym like twice a week.

TBPM: Besides training at Jungle Gym, you transformed your back yard into a ninja obstacle course. When did that happen?

EW: The backyard course was created almost three years ago now in July of 2019. We had the course up, but we would never really change too much, but then when we got the call for ANW, we realized, ‘OK, we’re really gonna have to start changing this up, come up with new obstacles.’ On the show, you’re always getting faced with new challenges that you’d never think of, so we always try to think of the craziest thing in our back yard.

TBPM: Christine, when you’re watching your son on the show, what’s going through your head?

CD: It’s a lot of breathing techniques and trying to remain calm. I just think it’s absolutely extraordinary that he can stand on that starting platform and not only perform as an athlete, but be a performer on a show and be able to handle the questions as a professional. I’m in awe of him because at 15 years old or 14 when he started on ANW, to be able to manage all of that and be an honor student and also be a great human… that’s really what blows me away. It’s that balance that he’s able to do that a lot of adults struggle with.

TBPM: Enzo how do you do it all?

EW: It’s a lot of planning. Every night before I go to bed, I make a list of exactly what I need to get done for the next day. Obviously it doesn’t go exactly as planned because stuff will come up that you need to do, but as long as I can get most of it done each day, then I’ll go into the next day having gotten all that done and ready to get more done.

TBPM: Mark, what is your hope for Enzo from here?

MW: My hope is that he has fun in his life, that he enjoys his life and that he continues to give back.

And be an inspiration… an inspiration for young children, to show them that failure is ok. Failure is really just a stepping stone to the next move, and you can’t be afraid to fail. I really am impressed that at this young age, he can be this type of inspiration and just looking ahead, I would bet on the fact that he will continue to be that way because I just think that’s who he is as a human being.

TBPM: Enzo, what’s your advice to the youth of Tampa Bay who are looking at you as a role model?

Photo credits: images on the left are by NBC/ANW, images on the right are by the Wilson Family.

EW: Get involved in whatever you’re interested in because if you’re interested in something and you don’t get involved in it, you’re just gonna regret it later on in life that you didn’t get started young. So go out and do it because once you do, you’re going to be a lot happier.

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Moms to Know Jaime Brown | Tampa Homestyles

TBPM: How have the last few years in this real estate market affected the juggle between professional and personal demands on you as a mother?

JB: Saying that the market has been “chaotic” for the past 2 1/2 years is an understatement. We sold just under $80 million in real estate during that time frame, which has certainly impacted our home and professional lives. There has been an influx of people moving to Tampa, historically low inventory and backlogged demand.

Flexibility for our family has been the key to staying on top of everything, and with former ways of pre-planning and scheduling out the window, our two boys have had to make adjustments as well. They do not like when Mommy leaves for showings, but they also understand that it’s needed to accomplish our collective goals as a family. They also attend showings or closings with me when it makes sense, so they’re very involved in what we do on a daily basis. My husband Chris is also a real estate broker, so he understands the rigorous and often immediate requirements.

Without his partnership and our collective buy-in on flexibility, the professional success we experienced during this timeframe would not have been possible.

TBPM: From owning a successful business to community involvement with local nonprofits and being an active and present parent at your boys’ school, many mom friends will wonder how you do it all. How do you prioritize your time?

JB: “Doing it all” is not something that can be achieved by one person. I do not believe it is healthy or even necessary to subscribe to the current societal pressures of being a mother; it is already hard enough. Pretty Instagram photos are great, but the real beauty is in the messiness, and even in the internal acceptance of that messiness. Our real estate brokerage, Tampa Homestyles,

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was created to provide our customers the highest possible service level while still having meaningful family time. Those two goals are the foundation of the business, and because of this, we can prioritize our family time and still ensure our customers get 100% of the service needed. We do not have assistants or transaction managers, so we personally manage every aspect of each sale from start to finish. We show up for our customers, and we will always show up for our boys. Those priorities are unwavering. What we accomplish outside of those two things has everything to do with the people and institutions we surround ourselves with. Our village includes incredible friends, family and the boy’s school. They support us relentlessly, and we couldn’t do it without them.

TBPM: Philanthropic give-back has always been a big part of who you are.

From Charity Polo to TRIBE Seminole Heights, you have helped impact children in need. Tell us about what you’re doing now with your sons to share this passion for service with them?

JB: That is very kind, thank you. We have an “awareness with action” mentality that permeates our parenting style. Although our boys are the center of our universe, they need to understand they are not the center of THE universe. Three years ago (at ages 4 and 6), they started a small clothing drive for Clothes to Kids (CTK).

Every year, Bronson and Brock ask their friends and family members for donations, collect and organize the items, and then drop them off at the CTK store. They have also donated pet food and toys to local animal shelters for several birthdays instead of receiving presents—which is a big deal at their ages. This small but mighty sacrifice makes my Mommy-heart immensely proud. Doing for others at such a young age gives them a sense of selfless accomplishment and joy that we expect will make service a passion and a regular part of their lives as they grow.

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With the number of people that have moved to the Tampa Bay area, it is remarkable that any of them have found a place to live given the demand. Yet, this is the life of a realtor today: creating opportunities, uncovering possibilities, and dare we even suggest…taking care of a family too. The dance can be comparable to parenting in so many ways, which is why Jaime Brown was so well-poised to meet the mayhem head-on to successfully serve her customers, the community and most of all, her two sons.

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by Julie Tingley, @weemacree

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TBPM: As a mom of boys, life can be very busy and always fun. But it hasn’t always been easy. Can you share your youngest son, Brock’s story and how you navigated the local medical system to get him the needed therapy?

JB: Brock was diagnosed with speech aphasia and apraxia at the age of 2. His speech and vocabulary started regressing around 15 months; it was a very difficult time for our family. Providers that accepted insurance were scarce. When we found them, appointments were 10-12 months out, and the number of sessions covered by the policy was insufficient to treat the condition. We had to become our own healthcare advocates for ourselves and our children, and waiting was not an option. We did a ton of research and found Speechworks, an amazing local speech-language pathologist and business owner, who had extensive knowledge of the conditions, offered reasonable out-ofpocket pricing that happened to be better than the insurance-covered options, and was incredibly accommodating. Brock gave his all in speech and occupational therapy from the ages of 2-6. Now at 7, the speech and gross motor inconsistencies are barely noticeable.

His determination and ability to work hard and overcome these challenges were awe-inspiring; we are so proud of him. In addition, Brock’s inability to verbally express himself at such a young age provided him with additional receptive communication capabilities, including being well attuned to the emotions of others. With the help of his therapists and sometimes his older brother, Brock has turned this diagnosis into a superpower. A superpower that his school and teachers noticed immediately and continue to foster.

It’s one of the many reasons we know we are in the right school. We are eternally grateful that our boys attend Corbett Preparatory School of IDS in Carrollwood. The school has a strong academic foundation but is unique, in part, because of the Yale-based approach to social and emotional wellness. As a working Mom, Corbett gives me peace of mind that our boys are well taken care of and treated appropriately. We ADORE Corbett Prep!

AUGUST 2022 TampaBayParenting.com

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With every generation, we get better at protecting our environment.

Reclamation ecologists like Ashlee work to return mined lands to productive use as wildlife habitats, public parks and more—so future generations can enjoy these lands for years to come.

Fri, Sep 30 • 6pm Ruth Eckerd Hall

Sun, Nov 20 • 12 & 4pm Ruth Eckerd Hall

RuthEckerdHall.com

Artists, days, dates and times subject to change.

Ruth Eckerd Hall, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization

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FALL CLASSES

ENROLLING NOW!

HoffmanSchoolOfTheArts.com

Kids to Know: Shloke Patel

by Julie Tingley, @weemacree

The secret of how a child discovers a passion and aligns it with purpose may lie in the hands of an elder who inspires greatness with family stories. After all, if it weren’t for Shloke Patel’s grandmother and her accounts of food scarcities in India, we may not have this opportunity to be in front of someone who is well-positioned to change the world.

If you aren’t familiar with sustainable agriculture and how one microbial fungicide could impact hunger on a global scale, then you must first know Hillsborough High School student Shloke Patel.

TBPM: For two years you have been recognized for your ongoing research and presentations on the microbial formulation you created to treat plants and provide long-term solutions to crop health and food availability. How did you initially become interested in this?

SP: I initially became interested in the field of agriculture and the issue of food insecurity because of the stories my grandmother used to tell me about her life in the village in India, which taught me the impact of food insecurity on society. I have volunteered at local food pantries and I have witnessed first-hand the effect of food insecurity.

TBPM: In addition to winning state, national and international STEM fairs, you have made incredible contributions to the local Tampa Bay community. Please tell us about your volunteer roles, nonprofit involvement, and hometown projects.

SP: I recently started building tiny science libraries in the local community parks in an effort to increase scientific literacy in our community. We are planning to install 7 small science libraries by the end of this summer throughout Tampa Bay. I am also a scientific diver for Scubanauts, an organization that aims to make the oceans cleaner and healthier through fish surveying, restoring coral reefs and research projects. Additionally, I am the president of the hugely popular Science Buddies club at my school where the members of the club and I go to local elementary schools and perform science experiments to teach the children about scientific principles and create interest in scientific methods.

TBPM: It is truly inspiring that the work you have done has attracted the attention of big names like the University of Arizona and Bristol Myers Squibb. You even inspire the love of science at school and among those younger than you. Who or what inspires you to stay connected to science?

SP: My love for food is the inspiration for my passion in agriculture. I grew up around farms and always had access to fresh produce. My love for farming combined with my interest in the scientific method inspires me to identify problems and find innovative solutions in the field of sustainable agriculture.

TBPM: Now that you have a truly innovative product on hand, what do you plan to do with it?

SP: Fungal diseases cause an estimated 30% crop loss in infected fields. I plan to develop the microbial fungicide commercially, and I have gathered a team to help me do this. We already have a provisional patent on the microbial formulations, and are looking forward to revolutionizing the fungicide industry. I have participated in science fairs since sixth grade.

TBPM: What do you plan to study next? Will you expand or continue the research on the herbal bionematicide?

SP: In college I plan to pursue material science and sustainability. I want to work on ecological solutions on a global scale. I also plan to field test the microbial formulations and test their efficacy on a variety of plants.

TBPM: What do you like to do for fun?

SP: For fun I love scuba diving, tending to my backyard garden, cooking, watching movies and fencing.

I am the co-founder of MangoUnited LLC. which provides farm-to-table solutions for customers while supporting local farmers. We source fresh fruits through sustainable farming and deliver it nationally, and educate farmers about soil health and eco-friendly alternatives.

I also participated in Boys State, which is a program that provides a simulation for the Florida legislature. I was elected to the House of Representatives and supported environmentally sustainable policies. I also won the Congressional App Challenge in which I coded an app that would track calories of in-school purchases and sync it with meals students have eaten throughout the day.

AUGUST 2022 TampaBayParenting.com

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Do You See What I See? A Vision for Eye-quality

by Tara Payor, Ph.D., photos provided by the Glazer Vision Foundation

My son was born with a congenital cataract. The chances? About one in 10,000. Becoming the one in 10,000 broadened my view of pediatric vision health. As a classroom teacher and a mother, I see the need for adults and children to understand eye health. As parents excitedly set their eyes on August’s biggest prize, sending kids back to school, ophthalmologist Dr. Amy Martino and optometrists with the Glazer Vision Foundation (GVF) share their expertise.

Once kids can read the eye chart (around pre-school), exams can be more comprehensive. Autorefractors can aide in determining the need for glasses.

TBPM: There are vision screenings and comprehensive eye exams.

What key differences should parents understand?

TBPM: How can parents be proactive in kids’ eye health?

GVF: Vision screenings detect vision issues. Not passing a screening indicates needing a comprehensive eye exam from an eye doctor. Comprehensive exams, offered by GVF’s Mobile Vision Clinic, check eye health; doctors prescribe glasses as needed. Screenings identify issues and exams find solutions.

TBPM: What ages should screenings and exams start?

GVF: Vision screenings are typical at age three and prior to kids starting school. Eye exams are recommended at 6-12 months, 3 and 5 years, and annually as recommended by an eye doctor.

Dr. Martino: Newborns’ eyes are checked while they’re still in the hospital.

TBPM: What are the most common pediatric eye issues?

GVF: Refractive errors requiring glasses such as myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), astigmatism (blurry at distance and up close), and strabismus (eye turns). Untreated, they can lead to amblyopia and permanent vision loss.

Dr. Martino: With adolescents, be mindful of eye trauma connected to paintball, sports and fireworks.

GVF: Comprehensive eye exams, the only way to identify certain eye issues, are as important as regular dentist visits.

During screen time, encourage 20 second eye breaks every half hour. Underscore the importance of protecting eyes from the sun with hats and sunglasses.

Dr. Martino: While most are nonspecific —rendering it difficult to isolate whether kids’ symptoms are related to vision—they are signs parents can monitor. Eye squinting or rubbing; head tilting to compensate for decreased vision in one eye; sitting too close to screen; headaches; clumsiness in sports; and difficulty in classroom.

TBPM: What can caretakers do to help kids develop their visual abilities?

GVF: Reading early on helps develop ocular skills like tracking. Reduce screen

time. Research points to the myopia-epidemic: looking at devices up close and for disproportionate amounts of time negatively impacts far vision and leads to needing glasses.

TBPM: What’s effective in helping kids wear their glasses?

GVF: Fun styles. Let kids pick their own frames; make it their choice. Stay positive about glasses.

A parent’s support is huge in a kid’s eagerness to wear glasses, and many kids are excited to wear them and see better. Teachers’ encouragement is key for the child with glasses and for his/her peers to witness.

Dr. Martino: Young children are mostly motivated to wear glasses because they realize glasses help them see. It’s especially important for children 7 and younger, years when the eyes and brain form key connections, to wear their glasses because not doing so can cause amblyopia.

TBPM: What resources are available to learn more about eye health?

GVF: Visit the Association for Pediatric Vision’s website, myapv.org to find resources dedicated to helping kids 5 and younger.

Online resources like InfantSEE offer free eye exams for babies 6-12 months old. Apps like BabySee show how young infants see as their eyes develop.

GLAZER VISION FOUNDATION’S MOBILE VISION CLINIC The Mobile Vision Clinic is the centerpiece of the Foundation’s commitment to providing critical eye care services to children needing them most.

The Mobile Vision Clinic takes doctors and eye care specialists, along with an on-site prescription lens lab and a full selection of eyeglass frames, directly to the students at Tampa Bay area schools.

The Mobile Vision Clinic hits the ground running when students return for the 2022-23 school year.

Visit GlazerVisionFoundation.org to learn more about providing glasses for all children.

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All fun.

No filter.

Be a Girl Scout.

Kick off the Girl Scout year with adventure at Girl Scout Fest!

We invite you and your whole family to get a sneak peek at all the fun and excitement we have in store for you this year.

Tickets for Girl Scout Fest are $5 for everyone, so grab a friend and scan here to register today!

Dont miss out on more fun and adventure. Visit gswcf/join and join Girl Scouts today!

CHRISTINA ANTON GARCIA , ESQ .

MARITAL & FAM ILY LAW Christina Anton Garcia is an award-winning Tampa Bay attorney with over 14 years of experience practicing exclusively Marital and Family Law. Mrs. Garcia has demonstrated professional achievement and garnered countless recognition in her industry. Along with numerous other honors, Christina has been recognized by Super Lawyers for many years and possesses a superb 10 out of 10 rating on Avvo.

A fourth-generation Tampa native and active member of the community, she leverages legal knowledge and extensive experience to provide her clients with the highest level of representation. Christina is focused on the best possible outcome for her clients whether in the collaborative process, the courtroom or a mediation setting.

Combining energy, conscientiousness and dedication with legal knowledge and experience, Christina Anton Garcia is dedicated to helping clients achieve the best possible outcomes in family law cases.

Education: J.D., University of Florida Levin College of Law; B.S. and B.A., University of Florida

106 S. Tampania Ave. Tampa, FL 33609

(813) 907-9807

TampaAttorneys.com

AUGUST 2022 TampaBayParenting.com

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NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK With Specialized Orthopedic Care, Your Child Will Know They Are the Center of Your World

by AdventHealth Tampa staff

Kids are not just miniature adults. They have unique needs, so when they face a health issue, it’s only natural for parents to want experts with the know-how to heal their growing bodies. AdventHealth for Children, a part of AdventHealth Tampa, provides pediatric specialists in every field of medicine to the communities we serve.

Two orthopedic surgeons recently joined the AdventHealth for Children team. Specializing in treating infants, children and teenagers, Cheryl Lawing, MD, and Maureen Maciel, MD, treat many different childhood orthopedic conditions. Some of the most common are: CLUBFOOT.

Congenital clubfoot is a very complex deformity involving malalignment of multiple joints in the foot and ankle with tightening of multiple tendons. This causes one or both feet to turn inward and downward. Treatment starts on infants with a series of casts and typically a very small surgery. During early childhood, bracing is used to prevent recurrence of the clubfoot. In some children, an additional surgery may be necessary in early childhood.

Dr. Maciel

Dr. Lawing

Drs. Lawing and Maciel are currently accepting new patients.

To learn more about their services or make an appointment, call 813-467-4280.

HIP DYSPLASIA. When the socket in the pelvis is too shallow to support the ball-shaped bone at the top of the femur, arthritis can develop over time and cause your child to need a hip replacement later in life. If identified early, the majority of children can be treated with bracing and avoid surgery. In older children, casting and/or surgery may be necessary. At AdventHealth Tampa, ultrasound is used in clinic to examine infants without the need for radiation.

LIMB DEFORMITY. When, after a certain age, the knees remain wide apart (bowlegs) or the knees touch while feet and ankles remain far apart (knock knees), a child may need treatment. This can range from small guided growth surgery to larger surgery to correct the malalignment. Limb lengthening can also be done to correct limb length discrepancies when there is a mismatch between leg lengths. It is important to note that bowlegs and knock knees do occur as normal alignment during every child’s development and typically resolve on their own. Therefore, it is important to have a pediatric expert with knowledge of when concern is needed regarding these conditions.

SCOLIOSIS.

When a child has scoliosis, their spine curves sideways. For small curves, no treatment is necessary aside from observation/monitoring. For other children, bracing is necessary to keep the curve from getting worse and hopefully prevent the need for surgery. Once a curve reaches a certain size, surgery is needed to prevent it from worsening further.

“Sometimes, the personal situation can influence the way we treat the child just as much as the disease itself,” says Dr. Maciel. “We pride ourselves on being perceptive. When discussing treatment options, we watch the parent and child closely. Whether those options include simply watching and waiting or therapy and surgery, observing the patient and their family can often give us clues about what might work best for them.

“We also know that, as female doctors, we have the special opportunity to relate to teen girls,” says Dr. Lawing.

Across the country, only 6% of orthopedic surgeons are female, and a fraction of that number specifically treat children. However, most scoliosis develops in adolescent girls who appreciate having a female doctor. “As women, we’re able to make the girls feel a little more comfortable with discussions about scoliosis and treatment options. I think it’s important for a young lady to have understanding and buy-in when it comes to treatment of her scoliosis.

This helps with motivation to wear a brace and thereby can lead to a better outcome.”

PRESENTED BY ADVENTHEALTH

As parents themselves, Dr. Lawing and Dr. Maciel understand the importance of working closely with families to make sure their young patients are cared for with a whole-person approach. This means extending care beyond physical needs to ensure every family feels heard, safe and comfortable.

AUGUST 2022 TampaBayParenting.com

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PRESENTED BY TAMPA GENERAL HOSPITAL

Award-Winning Care For Baby and Mom Tampa General Hospital shines as one of the Best Maternity Hospitals for 2022, Newsweek magazine reports.

Tampa General Hospital offers state-of-the-art, individualized care for women before, during and after childbirth. It’s that dedication to mothers and their babies that puts Tampa General again on record as a Best Maternity Hospital 2022 by Newsweek magazine.

It’s the second time in two years that Tampa General has made Newsweek’s prestigious list.

“Recognitions such as Best Maternity Hospital by Newsweek exemplify the work being done by our team members and physicians,” says John Couris, president and CEO of Tampa General.

Newsweek evaluated 350 facilities in the United States for outstanding maternity care, issuing Tampa General its four-ribbon rating.

“Together, the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine and Tampa General Hospital work extremely hard at making sure mothers and babies receive the highest possible quality of care,” says Dr. Charles Lockwood, senior vice president of USF Health and dean of the Morsani College of Medicine. “We are thrilled to see our commitment to world-class maternal and fetal care recognized nationally for sustained excellence in patient safety, satisfaction and maternal health.”

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Where you deliver your baby matters. As part of Tampa General Hospital’s vision to be the safest and most innovative academic health system in America, Tampa General works to provide the best care for mother and baby.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Tampa General Hospital at TGH.org or call 813-844-7000.

DEDICATED TEAMWORK, FROM PRENATAL CARE TO DELIVERY With 21 rooms and four operating suites, the hospital’s Labor and Delivery Unit is designed with the patient and family experience in mind to create an environment of comfort and privacy.

For complex or high-risk pregnancies where the baby may have a life-threatening health concern prior to birth, the USF Health and TGH Fetal Care Center of Tampa Bay is nationally recognized for fetal diagnosis and fetal surgery. Multiple highly trained subspecialists perform state-of-the-art procedures, including fetal surgery and twin-to-twin transfusions, and treat fetal tumors and congenital heart disease, to name a few.

The hospital’s Jennifer Leigh Muma Neonatal Intensive Care Unit features 82 beds, along with a 12-bed nursery. It is one of just 12 Regional Perinatal Intensive Care Centers designated by the state of Florida.

OTHER RECOGNITIONS EARNED BY TAMPA GENERAL HOSPITAL • In 2021, the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) and the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) named Tampa General as one of only 15 delivery hospitals in Florida to promote vaginal deliveries and reduce cesarean section deliveries for first-time mothers with low-risk pregnancies.

• Tampa General was recognized in 2020 for its achievement in maternal care during a Florida Hospital Association webinar titled Reducing Unnecessary C-Sections: Successful Florida Strategies.

• In 2020, Tampa General became the first in the United States to be named as a Maternal Center of Excellence by the Maternal Safety Foundation for both vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) and placenta accreta, a serious complication of pregnancy that occurs when the placenta grows too deeply into the wall of the uterus. A woman’s risk for developing this condition increases with the number of previous cesarean births.

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Mentally Preparing for Back to School

by Jennifer Katzenstein, PhD, ABPP-CN, co-director of the Center for Behavioral Health at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital

Starting a new school year typically comes with a range of emotions, from excitement to anxiousness, and kids might already be feeling this now. Between the pandemic and recent school/mass shootings, there is a lot on the minds of students and families. The Center for Behavioral Health at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital offers several tips to help families mentally prepare for back to school.

First, keep in mind that anxiety is contagious, and we need to keep ourselves calm and have a strategy for speaking with our children and preparing for this school year. Kids have many concerns right now, and they differ by age and schooling type. Equipping our kids with coping skills and support is key.

HOW CAN WE TALK TO OUR KIDS ABOUT ANXIETY AND RETURNING TO SCHOOL? Be a good listener and encourage kids and teens to verbalize their thoughts. ●

Early elementary: Keep it brief with simple information. Say things like, "Adults are working hard to keep you safe.”

●

Upper elementary and middle school: Assist the child in distinguishing reality from rumor or fantasy, discuss what plans leaders and teachers are doing to keep them safe, remind them of how they keep each other safe and how important it is to take care of one another.

●

Upper middle and high school: Discuss issues more in depth, encourage healthy interactions and recognizing others’ points of view. Provide honest, factual information and engage them in shared decision-making.

AS A PARENT, WHAT SHOULD I BE DOING? WHAT SHOULD WE BE WATCHING FOR AS WE RETURN TO SCHOOL? Talk to kids about safety, and review the school safety plan.

Ensure them that the school authorities are keeping them safe.

Monitor anxiety closely.

PRESENTED BY JOHNS HOPKINS ALL CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL

WHAT ARE SIGNS OF ANXIETY?

Preschoolers: Thumb sucking, bedwetting, clinging to parents, sleep disturbances, loss of appetite, fear of the dark, regression in behavior and withdrawal.

Elementary school children: Irritability, clinginess, aggressiveness, nightmares, school avoidance, poor concentration and withdrawal from activities and friends.

Adolescents: Sleeping and eating disturbances, agitation, increase in conf licts, physical complaints, delinquent behavior and poor concentration.

HOW CAN I SUPPORT MY CHILD’S MENTAL HEALTH? Practice coping skills: ●

Make deep breathing, meditation and yoga a part of the daily school routine

●

Talk about emotions and how they impact our behaviors

●

Focus on the positive

●

Establish and maintain routines, especially routine when walking in the door from school, everything from handwashing, maybe removing clothes, to snacks and homework

●

Know when concerns are escalating and begin to impact daily functioning, and reach out to your pediatrician or mental health provider

We are all anxious, but we are going to get through this new school year together. For more timely topics in pediatric healthcare, visit HopkinsAllChildrens.org/Newsroom.

AUGUST 2022 TampaBayParenting.com

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