July 2017

tampabayparenting.com

PAGE 52

LOCAL MUSEUMS

your kids will love

NEW at The Florida Aquarium

THE SPLASH PAD PAGE 42

CHILDHOOD MILESTONES Reading & Writing

BULLYING

the power to make a change

THE IMPORTANCE

of Early Childhood Education

GUEST EDITOR:

Dr. Steve Knobl

THE EARLY LEARNING COALITION OF HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY

SOUTH TAMPA Edition

10TH ANNUAL BACK TO SCHOOL FAIR Free backpacks to the first 500 kids!

Six $500 Back To School Cash Prizes!

• • • • • • •

Over 60 Booths and Exhibits Prizes Raffled Off Every Half Hour!

Learn About Community and After-School Programs Live Entertainment Free Fun Activities for Children of All Ages Face Painting, Mascots, and Characters Sales Tax Holiday Weekend

Saturday, Aug 5 10 am to 3 pm WestShore Plaza Registration & Info at

backtoschoolfair.com or call 813.949.4400

2 TampaBayParenting.com | JULY 2017

FREE

START PLAYING TODAY

Sometimes, the best way to conquer our fears is to view things in a different way. At St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital, we give kids and parents new ways to look at going to the hospital, because when we understand the things that scare us, the monsters don’t seem so bad after all.

UnMonsters.org JULY 2017 | TampaBayParenting.com 3 BC1605316-0916

Contents

LIFE + HOME 08 MAGIC AT HOME Ethan Allen's Disney Collection 11 STOP BULLYING The Power to Make a Change 12 KIDPRENEUR TIPS You’re Never Too Young to Start Your Own Business 14 PET TALK Tips for Adding a Pet to Your Family

16 19

14

FOOD + DRINK ON THE GO LUNCH Parents Dish on Favorite Food Containers BLUEBERRY RECIPES Local Mom Shares Family Favorites

EDUCATION

20 GUEST EDITOR FEATURE Importance of Early Childhood Education 24 FIDGETS AND MOVEMENT A Moving Proposition 26 CHILDHOOD MILESTONES Reading and Writing 29 MORNING ROUTINE 5 Tips to Prepare for Back to School

32

BEAUTY + STYLE

32 AMERICAN DREAMERS Runway Translator Highlights Local Momtrepreneurs 35 WHAT’S IN YOUR BAG? with Madison Harrison of Photos with Madison

HEALTH + WELLNESS

37 WEIGHT LOSS SUCCESS Lifelong Healthy Habits with Dr. Urshan 39 ASK THE DOCTOR HPV Vaccine 40 BACKPACK SAFETY Tips for a Better Back

42

FAMILY FUN

42 SPLASH PAD New at The Florida Aquarium 44 MUSEUM FUN 7 Local Museums Your Kids Will Love 46 TAMPA'S RETIRED TODDLERS Trekking the Globe 48 STAYCATION The Groves Resort in Orlando

WHAT'S HAPPENING

50 AROUND TOWN Highlights from Around Tampa Bay 52 FOURTH OF JULY Special Events 54 TOP PICKS Our Favorite Things to Do in July in Tampa Bay

46

FROM THE COVER: JULY COVER KID WINNER: NATALIE, 2 Natalie and her family had a blast playing in The Florida Aquarium’s brand new water play area, 'The Splash Pad!' She and her brothers loved climbing on the new dry play areas too!

Images by Darlene Barlows Photography 4 TampaBayParenting.com | JULY 2017

PARTY LOUDER

PLAY LATER When the sun goes down, the fun comes up at Busch Gardens Summer Nights. Live it up even later with multiple DJs throughout the park. Keep the party going all summer.

ANNUAL PASS

STARTING AT

14

$

PER MONTH WITH EZPAY

UNLIMITED ADMISSION JULY 2017 | TampaBayParenting.com 5

EZpay available to Florida residents only. Parking, taxes and service fees not included. Other restrictions apply. ©2017 SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc. All rights reserved.

Guest editor note

GUEST EDITOR

Dr. Steve Knobl

CREATIVE DIRECTOR AND EDITORIAL MANAGER Laura Byrne

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Anu Varma Panchal

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Sarah Stoulil

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Dr. Steve Knobl Anu Varma Panchal Sommer Stiles Clara Reynolds Dr. Wendy Rice Jill Hechtman, M.D., FACOG Madison Harrison Michelle Bremer Tracie White Cardwell Julianne Henrickson Merris Pope Gonzalez Carley Boyette

CALENDAR Chris Kuhn

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Ralf Gonzalez Craig Collins

INTERN

Genesis Rivera

LAYOUT & DESIGN

Page Four Creative

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Darlene Barlows Photography Theresa NeSmith Photography Madison Harrison, Photos with Madison

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 AT:

tampabayparentingmagazine @Tampabayparenting @TBParenting

For the love of

family and learning

F

irst and foremost, I am the father of two amazing sons, and the husband to an incredible wife.

Laura and I have been married for 21 years and blessed with Drew, 15, and Nate, 12. Faith, family and friends are the most important things in our lives. Early childhood education has been a priority for my family for several generations. My family has a deep appreciation and respect for education and life-long learning. My wife and I created quality learning environments and experiences for our sons from a very early age. One of the best ways to teach our children is through play and experiencing the world around us.

We enjoy watching our sons play soccer and flag football. Sports were very influential in my upbringing and taught me life skills such as dedication, commitment, perseverance and team work, to name a few. Raising two loving, respectful and hard-working young men is our mission as a family. Establishing routines, rules and responsibilities with your children is one of the most powerful and important exercises we focus on as parents. Teaching our

children how to set goals, how to achieve them, and what that means for their personal development is so important. We also believe that our children have developed personal responsibility and accountability that will help them through adolescence and into adulthood.

We enjoy family trips to the beach, the mountains and love exploring new places together. Laura is a firstgrade teacher in Pasco County and has more than 15 years in the Pasco County School System teaching at the kindergarten and first grade levels.

I am committed to working with our community and stakeholders to create a long-term impact through innovative programs and support systems. There’s no reason why Hillsborough County can’t become the top-rated quality early learning community in the state of Florida.

DR. STEVE KNOBL CEO, The Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County

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.

6 TampaBayParenting.com | JULY 2017

MORE WITH DR. KNOBL ON Page 20

When the sun goes down, we turn up the fun.

TAMPA’S LOWRY PARK ZOO

JUN 23-JUL 29 FRI & SAT TIL 10PM

See wildlife in a whole new light at Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo!

•

Zoo Members free

At Sunset Celebration, enjoy entertainment for the whole

•

Event included with day admission – pay for a day, get the rest of the year free!

family and live bands every night, savor a variety of tasty

•

$22.95 after 4PM

dishes throughout the Zoo and celebrate the sunset over Tampa’s most unique setting.

DINOS AFTER DARK!

Learn more at tlpz.org/sunset

SPECIALTY DINING

LIGHT SHOW FINALE

JULY 2017 | TampaBayParenting.com 7

Life + Home | Magic at Home

SPONSORED

Designed by Ethan Allen

inspired by Mickey & Minnie Mouse Disney is different from anything we’ve ever done before. It’s of our core strengths of craftsmanship, style and quality, paired with Disney’s rich storytelling.

The collection is designed for every room in the home—and everyone who lives there. Many of our accessories—art and wall décor, rugs, lighting, bedding and chic, clever storage pieces— feature cool nods to retro Disney designs, playful shapes and signature Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse details.

In fashion, a statement piece is the first thing people notice, like an eye-popping accessory or swoon-worthy heels. In home décor, it’s the element that inspires a space: a painting, rug, bedcovering or compelling piece of furniture. It may not be the first thing you notice, but it’s always the thing you can’t unsee (in a good way).

Discover how these statement-making pieces from our Ethan Allen | Disney collection can make an unforgettable impression.

DON’T BE SO SERIOUS A graphic black-and-white bedding ensemble featuring our Midi Dotty bedding adds a lighthearted touch to a grown-up space.

KICK BACK AND RELAX This supercomfortable, low-tothe-ground Meeting Place Sectional is designed to dictate the mood in the family hub: your cozying up, hangingout space, wherever that is.

8 TampaBayParenting.com | JULY 2017

EMBRACE THE UNEXPECTED We transformed an original Disney image into a statement piece like no other.

The sweet threedrawer Character Chest is as much at home in an entryway as it is in the nursery.

GATHER TOGETHER The Lenox Trestle Table has all the classic charm of the earliest trestle tables with modern proportions that just may tempt you to sit around talking all day long.

NOT YOUR TRADITIONAL RUG Bring a pop of color into a neutral space with this bold yet elegant rug. Its traditional design and timeworn look add a touch of the traditional, while the hidden Minnie Mouse silhouettes keep it light and fun.

bringthemagichome

It’s fab! It’s fresh! It’s smiles by the gallon!

Designed, made, and curated only by Ethan Allen.

On sale now!

CITRUS PARK 8314 CITRUS PARK DRIVE (ACROSS FROM CITRUS PARK TOWN CENTER) 813.920.9696 BRANDON 10015 ADAMO DRIVE HIGHWAY 60 (1/2 MI. WEST OF BRANDON TOWN CENTER) 813.621.7585 Ask a designer or visit ethanallen.com for details. Sale going on for a limited time.

©2017 Ethan Allen Global, Inc. ©Disney JULY 2017 | TampaBayParenting.com 9

There are six Children’s Board Family Resource Centers located throughout Hillsborough County offering programs and services emphasizing Child Development and Health & Safety. The project is funded by the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County and administered by the Healthy Start Coalition.

HAPPIER

Developmental Playgroups including ASQ screenings are provided at no cost by Baby Bungalow, to help your child become Happier!

HEALTHIER

Health and Safety services and classes provided by St. Joseph’s Children’s Wellness and Safety Center are provided at no cost to help your family become Healthier!

STRONGER Center-Driven events and activities that are designed for all ages to help make the whole family Stronger!

Here’s a Snapshot of Summer Classes at the Centers BRANDON

CENTRAL TAMPA

JULY 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 JULY 19 & 21 10:30am 10:00am Learning Labs myON Story Time JULY 10 JULY 19 2:00-3:30pm 11:00am-12:30pm Tips for Losing Weight Healthy Smoothies and Keepin it Off JULY 19 JULY 17 4:30-6:30pm 2:00-3:30pm Creative Art Workshop Making Eating Healthy JULY 25 Part of Your Lifestyle 4:00-5:30pm JULY 20 Quick, Healthy 10:30am Meals & Snacks Teddy Bear Clinic JULY 26 JULY 24 10:00-11:00am 2:00-3:30pm The Little Book Bus Physical Activity is the AUGUST 10 Key to Living Well 10:00am JULY 25 myON Story Time 1:00pm AUGUST 23 myON Story Time 10:00-11:00am JULY 26 & 27 The Little Book Bus 1:00pm Bricks for Kidz AUGUST 29 JULY 27 4:00-5:30pm 10:00am Enjoying Healthy Food Lucky Cat Yoga that Tastes Great

10 TampaBayParenting.com | JULY 2017

EAST COUNTY

JULY 3 10:00-11:00am Heroes Breakfast JULY 8 10:00am-12:00pm Movie Time JULY 13 2:30-3:30pm Magic Show & Making Balloons JULY 19 2:00-4:30pm Pint Size Art Class JULY 22 11:00am-12:00pm Bricks for Kidz JULY 25 10:30-11:30am & 12:00-1:00pm Mad Science AUGUST 7 10:30am-12:00pm Tiny Tots Finger Painting AUGUST 9 10:30-11:30am Mad Science

NORTH TAMPA

JULY 1, 12, 18 & 25 11:00-11:45am Game Time JULY 3, 11, 17 & 27 10:00am-12:00pm Movie Time JULY 6, 13, 20 & 28 12:00-12:45pm Arts & Crafts and Story Time JULY 7 & 21 11:00-11:45am Building with Blocks JULY 8, 14 & 26 1:00-1:45pm Ice Cream Social JULY 10 & 24 10:30am myON Story Time JULY 15 10:30am-12:00pm Teddy Bear Clinic JULY 22 10:30-11:30am Bricks for Kidz

SOUTH COUNTY JULY 7 10:00am-12:30pm Managing Aggression JULY 12 11:30am myON Story Time JULY 13 3:00pm & 3:45pm Mad Science JULY 19 2:00-3:30pm Mugs with the Pottery Patch JULY 20 10:30-11:00am Lucky Cat Yoga JULY 24 6:00-7:00pm Drum Circle AUGUST 1 10:30-11:00am Lucky Cat Yoga

TOWN ‘N COUNTY JULY 7 10:00-11:00am myON Story Time JULY 11 10:00-11:00am Mad Science JULY 14 10:00-10:45am Activities with Ronald McDonald JULY 20 10:00-11:00am Germaine the Germ Thing JULY 26 10:00-11:00am I Can Eat A Rainbow

Classes require registration and are subject to change. For more information, visit www.familysupporthc.org or call a Center:

Brandon - 740-4634 Central Tampa - 204-1741 East County - 752-8700 North Tampa - 558-1877 South County - 641-5600 Town ‘N Country - 356-1703

Stop Bullying | Life + Home

you tell me more about that?”

Be mindful of both your child’s body language and your body language so you can reinforce a calm environment. After each conversation, provide positive reinforcement and thank your child for sharing with you.

DOCUMENT THEIR STORY

There’s nothing like the power of the pen. After you have conversations with your child, privately document their story and log specific bullying incidents and examples. If cyberbullying is part of the problem, obtain images of specific comments, texts or posts.

You may even want to ask your child to document incidents in a notebook you keep at home.

PROVIDE SOLUTIONS

Bullying

Need emotional support and information about community resources? Call 2-1-1.

Additional helpful information about bullying can be found at stopbullying.gov

The Power to Make a Change

By Clara Reynolds

The negative impact bullying can have on a child’s life can be severe. Side effects of bullying can range from difficulty finding friends, bad grades, low self-esteem and serious emotional problems.

If your child is being bullied, you have the power to change the circumstances. Here are some tips to help.

KEEP YOUR EMOTIONS IN CHECK

When you first learn your child is being bullied, it will be tempting to go into full “momma bear” or “papa bear” mode. It’s best to take a breath and approach things calmly and purposefully.

If you remain calm, your child will more likely open up to you, and other parents and teachers will be more open to your feedback.

In approaching teachers and parents of the bully, be collaborative. Be ready to provide constructive potential solutions to the situation and be open to their ideas. Most parents and teachers are going to want to solve the problem. If no one feels defensive, it will increase the likelihood of open communication and a positive outcome.

WHAT ABOUT CYBERBULLYING?

Social media and mobile technology have created an assortment of new weapons bullies can use to harm a child. It can be very difficult to monitor everything that is taking place.

Take steps to understand the online lingo and codes used by youth. It’s also a good idea to have regular one-on-one conversation time with your kids either through family dinner or a quiet activity they enjoy.

Through these conversations, your child may reveal when a problem is taking place.

HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH YOUR CHILD

CLARA REYNOLDS is president and

Do what you can to get the full story from them.

Be a good listener and ask open-ended questions like “How does that make you feel?” and “Can

CEO of the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay.

JULY 2017 | TampaBayParenting.com 11

Life + Home | Kidpreneuer Tips

Here are eight helpful tips to becoming an kidpreneur.

No kidding!

Tips for Budding Kidpreneurs

I

By Madison Harrison

started my photography business when I was 7 years old. Some people thought I was too young to start a business, but it didn’t stop me. I figured, “Why wait?”

Even though I’ve had the opportunity to photograph Former President Barack Obama, Former First Lady Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey, I focus on creating memories and capturing special moments for other children. I remember that when my mom started her business, it made me want to start a business too. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, but after watching my mom’s friend take photos of my grandmother in her photography studio, I thought, that’s it! I’ll start a photography business. Seeing the reaction on my grandmother’s face when she saw the photos inspired me to pursue photography as a business. I wanted to photograph little girls and I wanted them to look at their pictures the same way my grandmother looked at hers.

12 TampaBayParenting.com | JULY 2017

Find what you are passionate about or find something that you like to do and do it. I found out that I liked photography and that’s what I pursued and I am happy that I did!

Turn your passion into a business so you can serve people and make money doing what you love. When I realized at 7 years old that I really loved photography and I loved how people reacted to seeing themselves in the photos I took, I realized that it was the right time to start my business.

Start a social media account and make it look professional. As a photographer, it was important for me to show my photos so that anyone who was thinking about hiring me could see my work.

Find partners to help and support you and your business. For example, my mom and my dad are my biggest supporters and encouragers. Whenever I come up with ideas for photoshoots, or my next big dream, my parents always help me to make it happen.

Choose a charity to work with. While you are helping to raise money and awareness for the organization, it allows all their supporters to learn about you as well.

Don’t EVER give up! It took almost two years before my dream to photograph the President of the United States came true.

Last summer, I was invited to photograph him at the United State of Women summit, a conference attended by 5,000 women and hosted by Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey. You must believe in yourself and your business and you cannot give up when it seems like things are taking forever. It was because of photographing the president that Steve Harvey had me on his show. If I would have given up, my dream would not have come true and I probably wouldn’t have been on a national talk show.

Don’t forget to start a business account with a bank or a credit union so you don’t start spending all your money on stupid stuff like candy and dolls. I chose Grow Financial because when I went there I liked how they treated me as a real business customer even though I’m a child entrepreneur.

Be a Mentor! When I first started, someone helped me get to where I am and you should be that someone to help another kid to follow their dreams.

I know I am just a kid and I don’t have all the answers. I can only share with you what I’ve learned over the past two years. I hope I have inspired you to follow your dreams. Always remember to have fun with your business and don’t forget the most important thing, help others.

MADISON HARRISON is the owner and founder of Photos With Madison, LLC. She is a 10-year-old photographer, entrepreneur, public speaker and published writer. Madison is currently a contributing writer for Thrive Global and KidFash Magazine. Follow her on Instagram and Facebook: @photoswithmadison

JULY 2017 | TampaBayParenting.com 13

Life + Home | Pet Talk

ByBy Sommer Stiles

Expanding Your Family Four Legs at a Time

By Sommer Stiles

The first few weeks are the hardest. Prepare yourself for interrupted sleep. Anticipate separation anxiety and seek out opportunities for socialization. Be inclusive of older siblings, engaging them in the process while helping them transition.

These words of advice would lead one to think that bringing

14 TampaBayParenting.com | JULY 2017

home a puppy is much like welcoming a child. While it’s similar, it is not the same, and it can be a surrendering and selfless act of love for the whole family.

"Kids need animals in their lives," says Carie Peterson, Adoption Manager, Humane Society of Tampa Bay. Not only does it teach responsibility but the child can have a best friend to play with, talk to, love and feel love back. She advises parents to involve children in every aspect of adoption. From meeting the potential dog, affirming compatibility and training at home, all family members should be included.

My daughter is about to be 5 (so she has told me for months) and my son is 3. My husband and I recently popped the bubbly and celebrated having a diaper-free, full-night-sleep kind of home. And then, in a moment of pure sanity, we decided it was time to add to our family again – this time with a dog. As an initial step, we focused on socializing our children around dogs as well as dog-sitting for friends.

This informed our decision and prepared us for the dog days ahead. When the time came, we shared the news with family and friends. There was no shower or gender reveal, just an announcement: We’re getting a dog—a golden retriever.

The response was nonchalant and positive, but nevertheless cautionary. We proceeded knowingly and realized the benefits far outweigh the challenges. The threat of a sleepless night was not a deterrent. Even when our children began sleeping through the night, REM sleep was a dream of the past. After toilet training toddlers, a pooper-scooper seemed more hygienic. And now, our dog is a brother to our son and a loyal friend to our daughter, another excited face running to greet my husband at the door and a companion to me throughout the day. Cubby completes our family and shapes us as much as we impress upon him. And for that I will gladly let him chew my favorite pair of shoes.

SOMMER STILES is a creative professional with a background in journalism and a career devoted to storytelling through type and design. She enjoys collaborating with fellow creatives, most importantly her husband, Henry, and their two children, Isa and Harris.

SUMMER FAMILY FUN

JUL 20-23

AUG 4-6

JUN 22 – JUL 2

@STRAZ CENTER

PATEL CONSERVATORY

813.229.STAR(7827) patelconservatory.org

JULY 2017 | TampaBayParenting.com 15

Food + Drink | On The Go Lunch

On the Go Lunch Summer Picnic and Back-to-School Perfect!

We asked local parents to share their favorite lunch boxes and food containers to inspire you during your next shopping trip, whether it’s for back-to-school, work or even lunch on the go.

1

1 JULIANNE HENDRICKSON, TAMPA BAY PARENTING LIFE & HOME CONTRIBUTOR

“I like the Bentgo boxes! They have divided spots that fit right into the pottery barn lunchboxes.”

2

GRAYSON KAMM, TAMPA BAY PARENTING JUNE 2017 GUEST EDITOR, MOSI COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR

“We have lunch boxes from Pottery Barn Kids that are pretty solid. Our best pickup has been Thermos Funtainers for milk and water. Everything else seems to leak for us!”

3

BENTGO KIDS lunch box: $27.99 bentgo.com

4

SOMMER STILES, TAMPA BAY PARENTING CONTRIBUTOR

“My all-time favorite are the ones made by Wildkin. My daughter’s first lunch box was their "Out of this world" design. I like them for their design, quality and affordability.

Thinking inside the (lunch) box, I prefer stainless steel options such as Lunch Bots.”

SHERISS CROSSKEY, FOUNDER OF TAMPA BAY MOM'S BLOG, TAMPA BAY PARENTING'S MAY COVER MODEL

"My favorite is the Yumbox bento box and resuable ice packs from Container Store!"

2 3

WILDKIN lunch box: $17.99 wildkin. com, LUNCH BOTS: starting at $18.99 lunchbots.com

POTTERY BARN KIDS lunch box: $22.50-29.50 potterybarnkids.com, THERMOS FUNTAINER 12 oz bottle: $15.29 amazon.com THERMOS FUNTAINER FOOD CONTAINER 10 oz: $14.53 amazon.com

4

5

“My favorite lunch boxes are from the SoYoung brand. They are soft, durable, easily washable, and you can monogram the back with the child’s initials or entire name.”

5 YUMBOX: $28.00 yumboxlunch.com, CONTAINER STORE Ice Packs: $7.99 4-pack containerstore.com

6

6 16 TampaBayParenting.com | JULY 2017

JENNIFER BURBY, TAMPA BAY PARENTING JANUARY 2017 GUEST EDITOR AND CREATOR OF THE BLOG, THECHAMPAGNESUPERNOVA.COM

GO GREEN Lunch Box set: $34.99 gogreenlunchbox.com

SOYOUNG LUNCH BOX: $30 us.soyoung.ca

MARISA LANGFORD, TAMPA BAY PARENTING FAMILY FUN CONTRIBUTOR AND CREATOR OF TAMPAMAMA.COM

“Go Green Lunch Boxes! I have been using them for 8 years! Two pieces. And the canteen it comes with keeps everything cold.

There are great colors to choose from and the white board inside is genius!”

July Belongs to

Blueberries D I D Y O U K N O W Florida is the world’s primary producer of blueberries

during its harvest? Whether they are fresh, frozen or dried, blueberries pack a nutritional and beneficial punch. Support Florida’s blueberry farmers and enjoy a handful of health this summer with this super juicy, superfood!

SPONSORED BY

www.thisfarmcares.org

JULY 2017 | TampaBayParenting.com 17

18 TampaBayParenting.com | JULY 2017

Blueberry Recipes | Food + Drink

For the love of

BLUEBERRIES! The blueberry is the perfect berry to incorporate into your summer menu and lucky you— this favorite fruit is in season in Tampa Bay! We went straight to local farmers, Carley and Brooks Boyette of Boyette Family Farms in Wesley Chapel, to share their favorite blueberry recipes that have been tried, tested and approved by their great aunt and uncle, who grow blueberries on their property.

BLUEBERRY REFRIGERATOR JAM INGREDIENTS

5 cups fresh blueberries Zest of 1 lemon 5 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice 1 1/2 cups granulated white sugar DIRECTIONS

1. Place a small ceramic plate in the freezer. Place 2 cups of blueberries in a high-sided saucepan, and mash with a potato masher. Add the remaining blueberries along with the rest of the ingredients. Set the saucepan over medium-high heat, and bring mixture to a boil.

2. Once the blueberries start boiling vigorously enough that the bubbles don't dissipate when you stir, set the timer for 12 minutes and continue boiling the berries at the same rate, stirring frequently.

3. When the jam begins to thicken, pull the plate from the freezer and place a small amount of the jam on the plate. Run your finger through the jam, and if it jells and seems thick, remove the pan from the heat. If the jam is not thick enough, place the plate back into the freezer, and continue to cook the jam for a minute or two longer. Test again. Repeat until the jam is thickened (I ended up having to cook mine for about an additional 10 minutes to get it to the right consistency).

4. Divide the jam into clean glass jars. Allow to cool for about 2 hours, then top with lids. When the jam cools to room temperature, store in the refrigerator and enjoy within 2 weeks.

BLUEBERRY BREAD INGREDIENTS

¾ cup sugar ½ cup butter 2 eggs 1 cup milk 2 cups flour 2 tsp baking powder 1 ½ cup blueberries

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Combine sugar and butter. Add eggs and milk.

3. Mix well. Add flour and baking powder. Gently add blueberries, taking care not to break them.

4. Pour batter into a greased loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 70 minutes.

JULY 2017 | TampaBayParenting.com 19

Education | Guest Editor Feature

Why Is Early Learning So Important?

Because Brains Are Built Not Born Dr. Steve Knobl

There are hundreds of differing opinions and studies about the impact of formal prekindergarten education for young children. What is consistently concluded, however, is that young children absolutely benefit from receiving some type of education during their early developmental years – the higher the quality, the better.

Babies begin to learn about the world around them before they are even born! Children’s experiences — the bonds they form with their parents and their first learning experiences — profoundly impact their future physical, cognitive, emotional and social development. The major building of a child’s brain happens between birth and 3 years old. The connections, or wiring, that form for a child’s vision and hearing peak at four months. Those for language peak at nine months and higher cognitive functions at a year. A child’s experiences and environment 20 TampaBayParenting.com | JULY 2017

determine which connections get used more and strengthened. Those used less fade. A child’s interactions with the world determine how these connections are formed, providing a strong or weak foundation for all future health and learning.

Some parents may think, “I’m a parent, not a teacher.” The Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County (ECLHC) believes that parents are a child’s first and most important teacher. By the time a child is a year old, parents will spend about 8,700 hours with their child. By the time a child is 5, a parent will have accumulated approximately 44,000 hours with their child. During this time, development and learning are continuously occurring for the child. The ELCHC not only provides education and supports to early learning professionals, but we also provide support, information and programs that help parents gain an understanding of their child’s early developmental years and the vital role that they play in ensuring that their child has the best foundation for future academic and life success.

Whether or not a parent chooses to place their child in an early learning program outside the home depends on the needs of the family and the child.

Parents should know that, as with

school-age children and even adult learners, there is no one-size-fits-all instruction model or method best suited for all young children. However, we do know that learning opportunities must be provided to children beginning at birth and if children are in programs outside of the home, those programs must provide high-quality learning opportunities to be most beneficial to children, families and our community.

Contact your local Early Learning Coalition to learn more about school readiness, VPK and other early childhood programs: HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY: elchc.org PINELLAS COUNTY: elcpinellas.net PASCO/HERNANDO COUNTIES: phelc.org POLK COUNTY: elcpolk.org

DR. STEVE KNOBL is the CEO of the Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County

JULY 2017 | TampaBayParenting.com 21 Untitled-1 1

6/9/17 4:13 PM

delivering UNCONDITIONAL LOVE

PERSONALIZED BIRTH EXPERIENCE

PRIVATE ROOMS

EXPERT CARE

FAMILY FRIENDLY

As a future parent, we know you have great expectations. That’s why you can trust the highly experienced team of nurses and physicians at St. Pete General Hospital’s Family Beginnings to deliver your baby with care. Our one-to-one focus provides you and your family the specialized attention you deserve during one of the most momentous occasions of your life. Whether you are expecting your first child or adding to your family, begin this new life with us. At St. Pete General Hospital’s Family Beginnings, we deliver more.

Celebrate your special delivery at Family Beginnings … where St. Pete babies are born.

Visit us at www.StPeteGeneral.com/Family-Beginnings. #StPeteBabies CONNECT: 22 TampaBayParenting.com | JULY 2017 #StPeteBabies

Join us for these

FUN, FREE, FAMILY EVENTS!!

Fun In The Sun July 15, 2017 11:00am - 2:00pm at Sun West Park 17362 Old Dixie Hwy, Hudson, FL in Pasco & Hernando Counties

Family Health Day August 5, 2017 11:00am - 2:00pm Boys and Girls Club West Unit 5404 Applegate Dr., Spring Hill, FL More info at www.phelc.org

The Early Learning Coalition of Pasco & Hernando Counties Inc. believes that a good start means a great future and that children are our community’s most precious resource.

Early learning and strong family connections build a strong foundation for kids to grow on.

Did you know???

By age 4 a child’s brain is 85% developed. facebook.com/phelc

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FREE!!

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High quality pre-kindergarten educational programs prepare children for school and build the foundation for their educational success. All children living in Florida who turn 4-years-old on or before September 1st are eligible for VPK. | TampaBayParenting.com 23 To register go to www.phelc.org or callJULY for2017 more info 727.233.8291

Education | Fidgets and Movement

Why a little movement in the classroom is a good thing

In Christy Gupta’s fifth-grade classroom at Clark Elementary School in New Tampa, students don’t sit to learn. They stand, bounce and even cycle, and, according to Gupta, they learn better and fidget less than they ever did before. Just ask her students. “Regular seating makes you zone out,” says Maya Seepersad, 11. “This makes you focus.” The kids—who choose daily from a menu of standing desks, a cycling desk, yoga balls, floor seating and wobble stools (among others)—say that their flexible seating helps them exercise, pay attention, be more comfortable and creative, choose the level of interaction they want to have with their peers and most of all: focus .

By Anu Varma Panchal

INTERESTED IN CREATING A MOVEMENT-FRIENDLY STUDY AREA IN YOUR HOME? CONSIDER THESE OPTIONS TO GET YOUR MUNCHKIN TO FIDGET PROPERLY:

HOKKI Stool from Kaplan Early Learning, about $100

Bouncy Bands for Elementary School Chairs, about $14 for one on amazon.com. For a cheaper DIY option, pick up a pack of mini bungee cords for your local hardware store that can retail for as little as $3 for an eight-pack.

Inflated Stability Wobble Cushion, about $16 on amazon.com

24 TampaBayParenting.com | JULY 2017

Gaiam Kids Stay-N-Play Balance Ball, about $20

With those ubiquitous fidget spinners on everyone’s mind, grownups are wondering: Is fidgeting actually good for you?

“Kids have to move,” says Amy Ragg, school manager at Academy Prep Center of Tampa. “[Kids] need to be able to sit and listen and take notes. To give them that little bit of movement helps focus them.”

Ragg had a brilliant student who stood in the back of the classroom for days, jittery and fidgeting. Ragg wrote a grant for yoga disks—blowup, pancake-like discs with a nubby surface on one side. Being able to sit on one of those and shift in her seat helped the girl’s focus to improve markedly, Ragg said, inspiring the teacher to buy a bag of bungee cords and tie them around the legs of the classroom chairs so kids can push against them with their feet.

Psychologist Wendy Rice says that movement has been proved to help kids focus, partly because of an increase in oxygen. Although fidgeting has no official science to back it up, anecdotal evidence of its effectiveness abounds. Rice herself keeps a basket of squeeze toys and one-handed puzzles in her office that she encourages kids to play with when they talk to her because she feels it’s helpful, particularly for children with ADHD. “It’s not a cure and it’s not a treatment,” Rice cautions, “But being able to stand or kneel or move even a little bit helps discharge energy and helps us to think better.”

While she knows of parents who integrate movement into study routines (using techniques such as writing a question on a panel of a beach ball and bouncing the ball over to a child who then writes the

answer on a panel before continuing the game), she cautions against fidgeting with something that makes noise or is visually distracting in a classroom. If parents do give their children something to fidget with at school, it should be used discreetly and silently.

“At first it was hard for me to get used to the movement, but then I started to notice less pencil tapping, less toe tapping,” says Gupta, who has no plans to go back to traditional seating again. “The rest of the body is moving, so there’s much less of distracting. I just put myself in their shoes—and I don’t like to sit still that long.”

When ANU VARMA PANCHAL isn’t writing, editing or volunteering on the board of her kids' PTA, she’s usually in her minivan driving her two daughters (12 and 9) around Tampa to school and their activities.

JULY 2017 | TampaBayParenting.com 25

Education | Childhood Milestones

SPONSORED

Is Your Child’s

READING & WRITING

Up to Par?

By Dr. Wendy Rice

W

hen working with parents of elementary school children, we hear these questions and comments daily when it comes to their reading and writing skills.

• I have a hard time reading my son’s handwriting; is that normal?

• My daughter struggles to form her letters when she is writing.

• My daughter reads well, but it doesn’t seem like she comprehends what she reads.

• I’ve been having my son read out loud to me, and I want to cringe when I hear him read.

Some kids pick up reading and writing quickly and never have issues and other kids take a bit longer. As a parent, it is important for you to know what to expect from your kids at each age level. Knowing when your child is experiencing unusual struggles and perhaps not meeting the milestones for his or her age can help you identify learning issues early on. Earlier is definitely better when it comes to reading and writing intervention. When a child is behind,

26 TampaBayParenting.com | JULY 2017

taking a wait-and-see approach is not usually advised.

Your child’s teacher will probably be the first to recognize any issues and may bring it to your attention. However, as a parent you may start to recognize areas where your child may not be up to par when it comes to his or her writing or reading skills.

Here are some basic milestones that can help you gauge if your child is on track.

Basic Writing & Reading Milestones AGES 3-5

Once your kids are talking, singing and “reading” books with you, observe whether they can rhyme and repeat short phrases, sentences or even numbers. You can do this by having them finish sentences that they have memorized in rhyming books such as “Goodnight Moon” and anything Dr. Seuss. It’s understandable that young children mispronounce longer words but take note if they seem unable to actually hear and/or reproduce sounds. Do they say “aminal” for animal or “furcus” for circus? Some kids have trouble actually processing sounds in words and

others struggle with saying or properly “articulating” them. At these ages kids should be learning to say the alphabet, beginning to recognize some letters, counting to 10 and even experimenting with crayons and pencils.

AGES 5-7

At this age your child should be able to hold and use a pencil correctly (or reasonably so) when writing. As they move from age 5 to 7, they should also be increasingly able to recognize and write sight words. These are words like cat, dog, boy or girl. These are words that children recognize by their shape and can pick out while reading.

They should recognize up to about 200 words within this age group. They also start ‘self-correcting’ when they make a mistake by going back and re-reading. Ideally when they encounter unfamiliar words, they are using strategies such as sounding them out and/or considering the context to help figure out the words.

AGES 7-9

When your child reaches this age, they are writing better. Their handwriting continually improves and they are starting to understand spacing between words, capitalizing letters and using punctuation in their sentences. They will start to recognize words and can read out loud without hesitation. This is when kids also begin to read to themselves, silently or in their heads and have truly the begun the shift from learning to read to reading to learn.

What Do You Do If You See A Problem Keep in mind these are general guidelines of what is considered typical and should not be used to diagnose a learning disability.

Children learn and comprehend at different levels and not all children learn at the same pace.

If your child is struggling, it doesn’t mean that they aren’t intelligent or that they aren’t interested. It could be the sign of a learning or attention issue. When a child experiences a learning or attention issue it can affect their reading, writing, concentration, listening and many other areas of their life.

It can be hard to put your finger on the problem if you aren’t aware of what skills are typical for his or her age. If you do see an issue, it can be beneficial to reach out to your child’s teacher to see if they have noticed the same issues. Do they have any concerns with their level of learning? Your child’s teacher will usually be able to either confirm your thoughts or put your mind at ease.

However, even if a teacher tells you that they don’t see a problem, or maybe they just feel that your child is being lazy, you know your child, so trust your gut. Speak to your child’s doctor or a child psychologist to rule out any learning or attention issues even if a teacher makes you feel that you are over reacting.

Should an issue be detected such as ADD, ADHD or dyslexia, it’s always better to know as soon as possible. Identifying issues early can better prepare the child, their teachers and the parent for a smoother learning experience free from excessive frustration and confusion.

Strategies for Success!

Mention our Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine ad for 10% off your first appointment!

AGES 9-11

This age is where you will see your child writing stories, letters and working on book reports.

You’ll find homework at this age consists of learning to write better through proofreading drafts and creating final drafts. Your child should be able to summarize what they’ve read and understand what they are reading.

We Also Offer Adult Therapy!

DR. WENDY RICE is the Founder of Rice Psychology Group. The psychologists at RPG understand that a learning disability, no matter what type, can keep you or a loved one from finding success. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t improve with the right help. Our team of psychologists will evaluate you in

Evaluation, Testing & Therapy CALL (813) 969.3878

a relaxing and comfortable setting to help you feel at ease and put you one step closer to the solution you’ve been waiting for.

2 Office Locations for your Convenience:

www.RicePsychology.com JULY 2017 | TampaBayParenting.com 27

28 TampaBayParenting.com | JULY 2017

South Tampa Parenting YOU R N E I G H BO R H OO D

SPLASH PAD FUN

South Tampa Splash Pads to put on your summer of fun bucket list!

1 The Splash Pad at The Florida Aquarium 701 Channelside Drive 2 Ballast Point Park 5300 Interbay Blvd. 3 Water Works Park 1710 Highland Ave. 4 Anderson Park 821 S Rome Ave. 5 Cotanchobee Fort Brooke Park 601 Old Water St. 6 Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park 600 N Ashley Dr. 7 Perry Harvey, Sr. Park 1201 N Orange Street

Placing Your Home

Stage Three tips on how to set up your home when showing it to buyers

By Julianne Hendrickson

SOUTH TAMPA EDITION

Spring begins a wave of buying and selling homes across the nation, and by summer, it is in full swing. With it comes a homeowner dilemma: How to “stage” a home to sell. It can be difficult for the homeowners to stage their own home as they have an emotional attachment to every article within the home.

They’ve also lived with it looking the way it does for (most likely) quite a while, and don’t usually see anything wrong with it.

When staging your home, if you choose to do so yourself, keep in mind a few things: declutter, create flow and create an atmosphere.

Good luck, and remember these tips will help the buyer feel “at home” when they walk through the door, which is exactly what you are hoping to do.

DECLUTTER. Do it once, then do it

CREATE FLOW. Remove any non-

again. Have a friend come over for a walkthrough and note anything remaining that needs to be cleared out. Prospective buyers do not want to see personal photos on the walls, or your eclectic menagerie of figurines.

They want to see clean countertops so that they can envision their own items in the home. If you have a beautiful piece of art, keep it up. As for that large family portrait over the fireplace, better to swap it for a simple framed landscape.

necessary furniture from the room. Children’s chairs, extra side tables, and even accent chairs should be stored. Make sure it is easy for prospective buyers to walk through your space without being uncomfortable. Bedrooms should be kept simple with a bed, nightstands and a single dresser (long, preferably).

If you need to store some of your furniture while you show your home, rent a POD and have them store it at one of their locations.

CREATE AN ATMOSPHERE. Prior to a showing, take out the trash (especially diaper cans), light a candle or use a diffuser with essential oils and vacuum the house. No one wants to walk into a house that smells of last night’s dinner and has dustballs rolling across the wood floors. It makes a potential buyer wonder what else you don’t take care of within the home.

These are photos from a home for sale right now in South Tampa. It is located

JULIANNE HENDRICKSON is founder of Tampa-based Hendrickson Interiors. You can reach her at Julianne.hendrickson@gmail.com.

at 3404 W. Sevilla St. Contact Carlyn Neuman with 360 Realty if you are interested. carlyn@360RealtyTampa. com or 813-508-2715.

SOUTH TAMPA EDITION

MUSICAL ARTS PIANO CONSERVATORY JUDITH CATALDO, DIRECTOR

Piano lessons and classes for every age Private Lessons, Group Classes

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look good. do good. feel good.

Nicole DeLoach Hubbard Junior League of Tampa President

(813) 968-2483

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SOUTH TAMPA EDITION

PROGRAMS TO PREP YOUR PRESCHOOLER

for school

By Merris Pope, Founder of Hulafrog-South Tampa Managing Editor

TAMPA KIDS THERAPY has a

Pre-K Readiness class, Kindergarten Readiness class and fun camps for ages 3 and up. They also have occupational therapy services and a super cool sensory gym!

At ALLISONGS FOR TOTS, your child (and you!) can enjoy music classes. Music Together is an internationally recognized early childhood music and movement program for children from birth through age 7—and the grownups who love them.

BABY BUNGALOW and VILLAGE SQUARE offer a range of classes from Spanish to social skills, while GYMBOREE has a school readiness program and KUMON is your go-to place for tutoring and math skills.

Do you have a young child who’s not heading back to school next month, or who only goes part-time? The transition to preschool can be tough, so we put together a list of programs to prep your preschooler for school. South Tampa has a fantastic variety of enrichment classes for children ages 18 months to 5 years to help them learn, socialize and prepare for school.

The newest business on this list, YELLOW BIRD STUDIO, has classes designed to develop early creativity in your child from Sensory Play & Learn for ages 18 months to 3 years to Reggio Time drop-off class for older preschoolers. You can’t go wrong with any of these great enrichment classes.

PRESCHOOL READERS offers accelerated reading instruction for 3-5 year olds, and they have a knack for making learning to read fun for your child. Bonus: they come to your house and work one-on-one with your child!

SOUTH TAMPA PRESCHOOL PREP PROGRAMS HOT LIST

1 2 3

Preschool Readers Allisongs For Tots Tampa Kids Therapy

4 5 6

Baby Bungalow Yellow Bird Studio Village Square

MERRIS POPE is the founding managing editor of Hulafrog South Tampa, a community guide that provides a daily list of activities, weekend events, local classes, camps and more! Proud mom to Avery, 6 and Miles, 3.

SOUTH TAMPA EDITION

FOLLOW Hula Frog-South Tampa at hulafrog.com/south-tampa-fl to find more Hula Frog Hot Lists.

SUBSCRIBE to their newsletter and discover more family-friendly events and activities in South Tampa!

SOUTH TAMPA EDITION

Things to do in south tampa For more events, see our full calendar at TampaBayParenting.com

ART OF THE BRICK TAMPA, Through Sept. 4 View what has been deemed the world’s largest display of LEGO art when the touring exhibit by Nathan Sawaya is brought to the Bay area by the Vinik Family Foundation and opens to the public at 802 E. Whiting St. in downtown Tampa. The exhibit is accompanied by an interactive build space for guests of all ages. Free admission and parking. artofthebricktampa.com Everyone

FRESH MARKET AT HYDE PARK VILLAGE, July 2, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Shop locally produced foods and handcrafted items at this monthly South Tampa outdoor market. Browse nearby stores while listening to live music and try one of the many neighborhood restaurants for lunch. Admission and parking are free. Leashed dogs are welcome. hydeparkvillage.com Everyone

4TH OF JULY AT THE HISTORY CENTER, July 4, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Celebrate Independence Day at the Tampa Bay History Center with $5 admission on the 4th of July for all visitors. Costumed reenactors representing several eras of American military history will be on hand as well as historical interpreters to share hands-on displays of artifacts, uniforms, crafts and music. tampabayhistorycenter.org Everyone

SCIENCE TASTIC DAY: CHEMISTRY, July 14 Enjoy a full day of chemistry programming at Glazer Children’s Museum in Tampa. Get an up-close view and learn how chemicals interact. glazermuseum.org Everyone

WALK TAMPA: THE YBOR CITY STORY, July 15, 10-11:30 a.m.

Take a 90-minute guided walking tour of historic Ybor City led by a Tampa Bay History Center-trained docent. Tours meet in front of the Cuban Club and focus on the founding and development of Ybor City in the late 19th century and early 20th century. Cost is $20 general admission, $16 members, $10 youth ages 4-10 and free for children younger than 4. tampabayhistorycenter.org Everyone

KIDS GASPARILLA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, July 21 Get inspired at Glazer Children’s Museum’s first ever film festival created especially for kids in partnership with the Gasparilla International Film Festival. The event features short films and animations from the NY Children’s International Film Fest. glazermuseum.org Everyone

NERDY DERBY RACE, July 22, 2-4 p.m.

Design and create your own mini derby racer and test it on a track against others at John F. Germany Library in downtown Tampa. Participants can use any of the supplies provided from the workshop or bring their own to make a car as creatively and quickly as possible. Bring the whole family and see where your car places. For more information, call 813-273-3652. 5 & Older

SOUTH TAMPA EDITION

Streamline Routines | Education

de-stress Your Morning Routine

By Tracie T. White Cardwell

Mornings are already tough, even if you’re a morning person! Add in children or pets and the needs of a spouse, and you could have a recipe for maximum chaos before 9 a.m. It doesn’t have to be that way!

Here are a few tips to help you get you and your family out the door in the morning on time and in relatively good spirits.

PREP, PREP AND OH YEAH, PREP! What can be done the night before should be!

Have the kids participate in packing backpacks, bags and other items. Baths can be taken, lunches prepared and clothing laid out the night before. Set aside a time window before bedtime and make it part of your child’s nightly ritual right before bedtime or story time.

ESTABLISH A FAMILY “LAUNCH PAD” Create a space where all items that are to ‘go with’ in the morning are placed. Back packs, books, lunches, signed permission slips, purses and computers should all be in a container or area by the door where everyone enters and exits. It’s easier to assess if you have everything if it’s in one place.

EARLY TO BED MEANS… It could be challenging, but try to make sure that everyone in your family, especially your children, go to bed at a reasonable hour and get the maximum amount of sleep that they can.

This makes for easier wake up calls, even for hard sleepers. Having enough rest ensures a better attitude in the morning.

CREATE A MORNING ROUTINE CHARTS Sometimes visual aids help — no matter how old you are! Depending on the size of your family, a morning routine chart could prove to be a life saver. Let your kids help create the chart. The chart should have all major morning activities: get dressed, comb hair, brush teeth, put on shoes, etc. Use images on the chart for young pre-readers so that they are part of the process too. This also allows your children ownership of the process and they are more likely to comply.

RISE AND SHINE…BEFORE EVERYONE ELSE If possible, be the first one to awake. If you share the morning routine with your spouse, make sure they’re up too – before the kids. This will allow you some quiet time and time to dress yourself, get your coffee and get breakfast going before you wake up your children. Make wake-up time a time to connect with your kids and mentally prep them to have a great day.

Those that can dress themselves should! It’s one less thing you have to do and helps them build some self-reliance.

STAY COOL, STAY CALM If your kids begin to dawdle, stop what you’re doing and see what the issue is. If they need a hand, lend it. Connect with your kids at eye level to assess the issue and suggest solutions.

Once you connect with your child, compliance isn’t far behind.

Tracie T. White Cardwell is director of communications and outreach for the Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County.

JUNE JULY 2017 | TampaBayParenting.com 29

30 TampaBayParenting.com | JULY 2017

Christmas in July ANNUAL DONATION DRIVE

Friday, July 28 Having to be in a health care setting is often a stressful and frightening experience for children and families. Recreation and play therapy give kids strategies for coping and bring a momentary escape from their illness. Donations to Christmas in July help dramatically alter a child’s hospital experience.

Here’s how you can make a difference: Sponsor an extraordinary child experience: Visit StJosephsChristmas.org Drop off toys and donations: Join Santa and his elves at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital on Friday, July 28, from 7am to 1pm.

3001 W. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. | Tampa | (813) 872-0979 | StJosephsChristmas.org 17-92091_0617

It starts with inspiration... and The Learning Never Ends.

Visit MontessoriHouseDaySchool.com to:

Give your child the gifts of a lifelong love of learning and an individualized curriculum at one of the leading schools in Tampa for 1½ to 12 year olds.

1

Find articles and videos explaining why an authentic Montessori education is better for children in today’s world.

2

Discover why accreditation is so important (American Montessori Society, Florida Council of Independent Schools, & Florida Kindergarten Council).

3

Understand that any school can call itself Montessori and why only one school in Tampa is actually accredited by the American Montessori Society.

4

Learn how The Montessori House began 45 years ago and why its rich history of quality education is prompting alumni to enroll their own children now.

5

Locate the two Tampa campuses. Call the Carrollwood campus at (813) 961-9295 or the Westchase area campus at (813) 884-7220 to schedule a personal tour.

Children are inspired to think at The Montessori House Day School.

Visit today.

Toddler, Pre-K (including VPK), Kindergarten, Elementary Grades 1-6, and Summer Camps are open for enrollment.

Non-Discriminatory Admissions Policy.

JULY 2017 | TampaBayParenting.com 31

Beauty + Style | American Dreamers

PHOTOS BY THERESA NESMITH PHOTOGRAPHY

By Michelle Bremer

MICHELLE BREMER is a busy full-time working wife and mother of two active children.

She

owns Runway Translator, a full-service fashion styling firm. She also volunteers in the community with The Junior League of Tampa and Dress for Success Tampa Bay. RunwayTranslator.com 32 TampaBayParenting.com | JULY 2017

Exclusive retail partner for this shoot.

In the dictionary, ‘entrepreneur’ is defined as “one who organizes, manages and assumes the risks of a business or enterprise.”

But there’s so much more to it. In order to be successful at any venture, one must work hard, put in the hours and fully commit to the big picture, and if the stars are aligned just right, you might make your dreams come true. Now let’s add a little spice to the mix and say that in addition to hustling your ideas, your products or your services, you are also in charge of delivering the most precious commodity this world has to offer. Let’s say it’s also your fulltime job to manage, train, feed and look after other human beings who may someday discover the cure for cancer or run a country.

You’re a parent. You have to balance your

1

1. Loralee Koontz, MPAS, PA-C Owner/Founder of U South Tampa Creighton (11), Asher (9), Edan (6) 4. Natasha Bernard Award-Winning Blogger/Chief Creative Officer at Fashionably Fabulous Kristian (7)

4

passion for success with your most important role in life, and this is truly a dance that takes much skill to master. Many women here in Tampa and beyond are part of this elite force; they are a special breed and they pave the way for business owners who are also parents. They wake up early and stay up late, making strides and sacrifices most people would be unequipped to make. They move through each day knowing that there are little eyes watching their every move— and they MUST succeed.

We should acknowledge and celebrate these folks. They hold tight to the promise that in America we can be whoever we want to be, we can do whatever we want to do, we can succeed or fail and get back up and try again!

They are the American Dreamers!

'Girlfriends Portrait Experience'

by Theresa NeSmith Photography and Michelle Bremer of Runway Translator

2

5

3

6

2. Desiree Noisette CEO/Creative Director of Cerulean Blu AJ (3), Emmett (5 months)

3. Irina Bilka Owner of Irina Bilka Hair and Makeup Sebastian (8)

5. Elena Bensonoff, CRPh Founder of Wholistic Inc, Orali Perfume Sasha (19), Andrew (16), Mark (14), Sophia (12)

6. Sayh Davis Owner of Sweet Southern Chic Cameron (19) JULY 2017 | TampaBayParenting.com 33

There’s Still Plenty To Do This Summer

TM

“I Love Summer at Mary Jo’s Performing Arts Academy!”

Delphi Academy of Florida 1831 Drew Street Clearwater, FL 33765 (727) 447-6385 www.delphifl.org TM

Register today at MJPAA.com/summer



NOW ENROLLING FOR 2017-2018 © 2017 Delphi Academy of Florida. All Rights Reserved. Delphi Academy of Florida admits students of any race, color and national or ethnic origin. Delphi Academy of Florida is licensed to use Applied ScholasticsTM educational services and materials. Applied Scholastics and the Applied Scholastics open book design are trademarks and service marks owned by Association for Better Living and Education International and are used with its permission.

AUDITIONS

Performance Team & Competitive Team Ages 5 & Up

The 2017-2018 Universal Movement Performing Arts Company

FlipTeam, Hip Hop Crew and Vocal Intensity Ages 8 & Up

Saturday, July 29th at 1:00PM

Audition Cost $20

Register at mjpaa.com/umteam

What if there was a school where empathy and respect were the rule, not the exception? A school where your child could feel safe, appreciated, and confident?

ACADEMY IS THAT SCHOOL.

Core Value #4

INCLUSION We are a compassionate community composed of many different beliefs and traditions.

#AATLvalues 34 TampaBayParenting.com | JULY 2017

PreK3-Grade 12

2331 Collier Parkway, Land O’ Lakes, FL 813-909-7919

Learn more about our core values and schedule a tour at

academyatthelakes.org/values

What’s In Your Bag? | Beauty + Style

What's in your Bag? with Madison Harrison

As a kidpreneur and homeschooled student, what’s in my bag changes depending on where I go and what I do.

I haven’t always been homeschooled. In fact, it was only last year at the beginning of fourth grade that my parents decided it was the best option for me. I love to learn, so my mom and I school all year round. Learning is fun and every experience is different. My favorite subjects are history and science. I love to do research, I am always experimenting, and I love to read. I also LOVE to write! It doesn’t matter if I am going to a photoshoot for a client or if I am writing an article or a story, I ALWAYS have a NOTEBOOK, A VERA BRADLEY JOURNAL, MECHANICAL PENCILS AND ERASERS with me no matter what! I prefer mechanical pencils over regular pencils, and as far as my erasers go, the more interesting the better.

Since I school year-round, we shop for school supplies often, depending on where our learning experience takes us. However, COLORFUL BINDERS AND WATER CONTAINERS are a staple for me!

As you do your back to school shopping, I encourage you to pick up a small pocket notebook as well. You never know when you’ll want to write down a really inspiring quote you’ve read, an interesting fact you’ve learned or a really cool idea that you don’t want to forget!

Journal by Vera Bradley

Colorful mechanical pencils and erasers, Target

Pencil pouch, Target

Water bottle, Target

READ MADISON'S STORY ON PAGE 12

JULY 2017 | TampaBayParenting.com 35

36 TampaBayParenting.com | JULY 2017

Before and After | Life + Home SPONSORED

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Dr. Urshan

A Real Patient’s Journey of Success and Developing Lifelong Healthy Habits AFTER

BEFORE

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She wasn’t significantly overweight, but she struggled to lose the extra pounds she was carrying no matter how hard she worked out or how many calories she cut. “When I got into my 40s, I was told weight gain was normal because of the hormonal changes and that it would just get worse,” she said. “I was at a loss and felt defeated.”

Her husband heard about the Dr. Urshan Health and Weight Loss Center on a radio commercial and she decided to give it a try. “I wanted to feel better and look better, and generally be healthier,” she explained. “Once I started Dr. Urshan’s plan, I could not believe that it began to work so quickly. The weight began to come off and I started to feel better.”

McCay didn’t see success with a fad diet, the use of hormones, drugs, HCG and B12 shots common among programs offered through weight loss clinics.

What makes Dr. Urshan’s program different? The 40day proprietary plan is custom built to get your body into an optimal state of healing and restore health at a cellular level by teaching you how to make better choices and restoring key nutrients and trace minerals through organic whole foods supplements.

“When I first started the 40 days, I had to sit down and really plan out my week. It seemed difficult at first, but when I got through the first week, it all made sense to me and I found it very easy to follow. Plus, the staff at Dr. Urshan’s office was always there if I needed help. At first, I did miss some things like a glass of wine or a piece of chocolate, but I quickly lost any kind of craving for those things. I saw how quickly the weight was coming off and even better than that, how awesome I started to feel. I never felt hungry or deprived during the first 40 days,” said McCay. If you ask Dr. Urshan, he’ll tell you: It’s not about the number on the scale. What inspires him is helping to teach people to live healthier lifestyles. The added benefit is when the patient’s lifestyle changes trickle down to other family members, including the patient’s children as they begin to pick up the healthy living habits.

McCay used to hate getting on a scale, but now she embraces it. “A number on a scale no longer matters to me.

It’s just a number, not a definition of who I am.”

What does matter is how she feels. “I sleep through the night with no problems. I feel clean inside and I love how I look and feel.”

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT DR. URSHAN HEALTH AND WEIGHT LOSS CENTER: getthintampa.com or call (813) 518-8827.

JULY 2017 | TampaBayParenting.com 37

we are

TAMPA meet your neighbors sixty-five years of teaching, learning and working shoulder-to-shoulder in the Tampa community

open house

November 7 • 6:00 p.m.

www.stjohnseagles.org • information@stjohnseagles.org

38 TampaBayParenting.com | JULY 2017

HPV.Your Questions Answered.

Ask the Doctor | Health + Wellness

By Dr. Jill Hechtman, M.D. FACOG, Medical Director Tampa Obstetrics

What do I need to know about the HPV vaccine?

HPV, the human papilloma virus, is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States. There are many different types of the HPV virus, and approximately one in four people is infected with the virus, which is spread through sexual contact. Most of the infections don't cause symptoms and go away on their own. More than 50 percent of men and women have been exposed to HPV at some point in their life. HPV has been associated with cancers of the cervix, vagina, vulva, penis, anus and throat as well as with genital warts.

There are more than 150 different strains of the HPV virus but the Gardasil 9 vaccine prevents against the most common ones. It covers seven of the most common cervical cancer strains, and two of the most common strains that cause genital warts.

The CDC now says that only two doses of the HPV vaccine are needed if children receive the vaccine before the age of 15.

If over the age of 15, all three doses are still recommended.

In the two-dose series, the vaccines are given six months apart. With the three doses, the vaccine is given at zero, two and six months. The CDC recommends that the target age is 11 or 12 years old, and that it is given to both boys and girls. Each year, approximately 17,000 women and 9,000 men will develop cancers from HPV. Here are some questions I often encounter about HPV and Gardasil:

Do you still need pap smears if you have already had the vaccine?

YES! Because there are over 150 strains of HPV, you might contract a strain not covered by the vaccine.

Is getting this vaccine associated with increased sexual activity?

No, it has not been shown to do so. Some parents were worried about having to have "the talk" with their kids if they get the vaccine. In my honest opinion, they should be getting the talk about that age.

I would much rather have my child hear about sex from me than their friends!

What are the common side effects?

In general, there are very few side effects with this vaccine.

Mild symptoms could include pain at the injection site, redness or swelling, mild fever, and itching at the injection site.

Severe side effects are related to allergic reactions. Symptoms could include high fevers, behavioral changes, difficulty breathing, wheezing, hives, weakness and dizziness.

There are more than 150 different strains of the HPV virus but the Gardasil 9 vaccine prevents against the most common ones.

DR. JILL HECHTMAN

DR. JILL HECHTMAN is medical director of Tampa Obstetrics, board certified by the American Board of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, former Board of Trustees member at HCA Hospital Brandon and Chairman of Obstetrics and Gynecology at St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital. Dr. Jill is a frequent medical contributor on News Channel 8.

JULY 2017 | TampaBayParenting.com 39

Health + Wellness | Backpacks & Posture

A HEAVY Is your child’s backpack too heavy?

By Anu Varma Panchal

With a new school year around the corner, we’ve probably all gone over schedules, planned lunches, stocked up on school supplies and uniforms and made sure our vaccination forms are signed and ready to go. But how many of us think seriously about one issue that could be affecting our kids’ health—the weight of their backpacks?

Every year, we see our kids bounce happily out of the house at the beginning of the year, only to watch them drag themselves home hunched under a bookbag piled with what looks like every textbook ever published hanging off their slender shoulders. This could be causing real harm, according to Dr. David Siambanes, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon with St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital.

As a child growing up in Chicago, Siambanes recalls going to school with just a few books because lockers were provided and easy to access. Today, many schools around the country have dispensed with lockers, citing vandalism and safety concerns, and schools are increasingly larger, making it difficult for kids to get to their lockers between classes, he says. In his practice and during research he conducted, Siambanes has noticed that adolescent children do suffer from non-specific and often chronic and recurring back pain, and one Danish study pointed to a 58 percent correlation between carrying heavy backpacks and such pain.

In 2002, Siambanes conducted a study of 3,498 11- to 15-year-olds from four large middle schools in California. His results?

Sixty-four percent of the kids reported back pain with 41 percent of children reporting

40 TampaBayParenting.com | JULY 2017

SPONSORED

From Dr. David Siambanes' 2002 survey

64% reported back pain with 41 % of children reporting back pain while carrying their backpacks.

Of the children who reported pain reported it as BAD OR VERY BAD.

had missed SCHOOL or SPORTS due to their back pain.

87% 16.1%

and 16.9%

had seen a doctor for it.

GIRLS were more likely to report back pain.

back pain while carrying their backpacks. Of the children who reported feeling pain, 87 percent of them reported it as bad or very bad, while 16.9 percent had seen a doctor for their pain and 16.1 percent had missed school or sports due to their back pain. Girls were more likely to report back pain, and he thinks this is because girls are further along in the maturity process, making them more susceptible to pain.

Two of the schools he studied had funds allocated to distribute two sets of books to the children so one could be kept at school and one at home, but the policy was rarely enforced, he says. Also, children who walked to school reported more back pain, probably because they spent a longer amount of time carrying a heavy weight.

Is there a magic backpack out there that can help? Unfortunately not, says Siambanes, who has turned down offers from backpack companies to design one because he does not feel that the answer lies in anything other than reducing weight.

When ANU VARMA PANCHAL isn’t writing, editing or volunteering on the board of her kids' PTA, she’s usually in her minivan driving her two daughters (12 and 9) around Tampa to school and their activities.

What might help is if schools allow rolling backpacks—although then everyone would have to somehow overcome a tween or teen’s disdain for pulling one along behind them.

Putting more material online could dispense with the need to lug around textbooks, as could giving out two sets of books, one to keep at home and one to keep at school. Also, if schools take greater care to schedule classes around the location of a child’s locker, that might increase the likelihood of a child using the locker.

As is usually the case, the fix has to come from the home and from parents. In his study, Siambanes found that as much as 30 percent of the items carried inside a child’s backpack was non-school related. Parents should play a role in checking to make sure kids aren’t carrying unnecessary items in their backpack, he says. Make sure backpacks are worn with both straps as close to the body as possible and carry the least amount of weight possible. Parents also can try and carpool more to avoid their children walking for long distances with heavy loads.

JULY 2017 | TampaBayParenting.com 41

family fun | Splash Pad

SPLASH, LEARN AND PLAY AT THE FLORIDA AQUARIUM'S BRAND NEW ‘THE SPLASH PAD’!

42 TampaBayParenting.com | JULY 2017

The Florida Aquarium recently opened its new and improved splash area and it is hands down our favorite place in Tampa Bay to splash, learn and play! The Splash Pad features a giant lily pad climbing structure, along with multiple water features and even two covered bug-themed dry play areas. The sandbox is also returning, but not the one you may remember! You'll find two rowboat sandboxes next to the splash pad and snack shack food truck to nourish empty tummies while you play.

The changes to the splash area are exciting, but the Aquarium isn’t done yet! They will add a 4-D theater this fall and are working on a bar area that will resemble the Sail Pavilion in downtown Tampa, but on a smaller scale. So next time you visit The Florida Aquarium, don’t forget to pack your swimsuits, towels, sunscreen and water shoes!

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JULY 2017 | TampaBayParenting.com 43

family fun | Museum Fun

Summer at the MUSEUMS

Adults and kids can enjoy our area’s museum offerings all summer long

Tampa Bay is home to some pretty awesome museums. Some are just for children, but even the ones you think are for adults have some great kid activities. So if you ruled out places like The Dali until the kids are older, think again. Try visiting some of these great museums for some summer fun and re-visit the museums you already know because the kids will love them too.

By Anna Tataris De Jesus

THE DALI

Want to explore the famous work of Salvador Dali? The Dali museum offers a free event called DillyDally with Dali which takes place on Saturdays and teaches children about Dali's creative world through arts and crafts, games and puzzles. Storytime at the Dali is a chance for children to hear stories from books found in the museum's library. It’s a free event and the dates are listed on the museum's website.

Check out the children and families section on the website for more activities at TheDali.org.

ST. PETERSBURG MUSEUM OF HISTORY

Do you have a baseball fanatic in your home? If so, this is the place to visit this summer. The St. Petersburg Museum of History located on the downtown waterfront has the largest collection of baseballs of its kind certified by Guinness World Records. The Schrader's Little Cooperstown exhibit has nearly 5,000 baseballs. You'll find stories and artifacts from baseball legends like Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson, "Shoeless" Joe Jackson and Joe DiMaggio and learn about more than 100 years of Tampa Bay's own history as a spring training destination. Prices and hours can be found at Spmoh.com.

THE TAMPA MUSEUM OF ART

If you're looking for something to do on a Saturday morning, drop

by The Tampa Museum of Art for a program called Art Spot, a free drop-in program that lets children make art projects inspired by works of art on display in the galleries.

There is a different facilitator-guided project each week designed by art instructors. The museum also holds several Family Days each year with activities inspired by the museum’s current exhibitions. On Family Days, you can enjoy drop-in docent-led tours, pay-as-you-will admission to the galleries and more. Each Family Day highlights a different exhibition so be sure to check the calendar at TampaMuseum.org.

THE TAMPA BAY HISTORY CENTER

Children can learn about 12,000 years of Florida History here not just by immersing themselves in the exhibits, but also by jumping in the saddle and riding with cattle ranchers or playing with tiny Tampa trains. The Tampa Bay History Center offers a variety of family-friendly days throughout the year. This month you can celebrate Independence Day with $5 admission on the 4th of July for all visitors. Costumed reenactors representing several eras of American military history will be on hand to interact with guests. For more information, visit tampabayhistorycenter.org.

ANNA TATARIS DE JESUS is an Emmy nominated television journalist with a passion for traveling with her family. After 15 years on camera in television news, Anna gave up hard news for travel reporting. In 2012, she and husband Roy, a web anchor for Bay News 9, created “The Great Escape Plan.” Together they create videos for social media and their website TheGreatEscapePlan.com to inspire other families to travel.

44 TampaBayParenting.com | JULY 2017

GREAT EXPLORATIONS CHILDREN'S MUSEUM With

MOSI

24,000 square feet of exhibits and activities to stimulate learning through creativity, play and exploration, this museum allows kids to pretend to be firefighter, news anchor or just use their creative imagination. The museum even has a supervised Summer Play Time for kiddos ages 3-5. This is an opportunity for kids to enjoy the museum while parents work or run errands. The museum is located next to the historic Sunken Gardens on Fourth Street in St. Petersburg.

Prices for the museum and its programs are listed on Greatex.org.

GLAZER CHILDREN'S MUSEUM

Can you identify the sounds the body makes? Or correctly place teeth back into a giant mouth? How do you create a balanced meal? Kids will learn the answers to these questions and more at this museum, which is all about the kiddos. Whether it's pretending to care for animals in the vet clinic, shopping for groceries or using bed sheets and pillows to make their own forts, children will have hours of fun, imaginative play. Gadget Garage is a dynamic prototyping exhibit that allows kids to dabble with robotics. The Hospital exhibit exposes children to medical wonders. You can find prices and event times at Glazermuseum.org.

Explore every corner of the planet and beyond to the farthest reaches of the galaxy at Tampa's Museum of Science and Industry.

Exhibits include The Saunders Planetarium so you can connect with the universe in a stargazing show, touch a huge 352-pound meteorite, fly a microdrone at the Touch the Future exhibit, and play with 3D printing and augmented reality. Also this summer, participate in Cardboard Space Adventures where kids get to combine engineering and art to create a huge outpost in outer space with cardboard. You can schedule your visits to take in one of the many IMAX movies. And for the big kids, did I mention the Sky Trail® Ropes Course and Zip Line?

Get your adrenaline pumping and defy gravity, 65 feet overhead! For more information visit Mosi.org.

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www.sciencecenterofpinellas.org JULY 2017 | TampaBayParenting.com 45

family fun | Retired Toddlers Schomp family in Cambodia

Tampa’s

Retired Toddlers Trekking the Globe and Conquering the Family Bucket List FOLLOW THEIR JOURNEY ON Instagram, YouTube and Facebook @RetiredToddlers

or RetiredToddlers.com

46 TampaBayParenting.com | JULY 2017

We love following the @RetiredToddlers globetrotting adventures on Instagram so much that we had to get the scoop from their parents Michelle and Jake Schomp of Tampa. We asked them to share what inspired this once- in-a-lifetime opportunity to travel the world with their “retired toddlers” and how they managed to make this trip happen in the first place!

TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAMILY.

Our two little Retired Toddlers are Henley (4) and Jagger (2). They are the best little travelers we could ask for.

While they do have numerous typical tough toddler moments, we feel these stages would happen wherever we are, so why not be gone?

WHAT INSPIRED THIS WORLDWIDE TRIP? HOW LONG WILL YOU BE GONE?

Jake: I like to blame my mom for this trip. A while back I told her that when the kids get into their elementary school routines, I would like to

stop traveling for work and spend more time with them. Her response really stuck with me. She told me that this young age is when the kids are most in need of their parents' presence instead of when they are older and less reliant. She noted how much toddlers need their parents, want to be around their parents, and how much they can absorb from their parents at this early age. That conversation kept repeating itself in my head, and I finally realized that I will never get this time back; this is my one chance to spend this time

Visiting a castle in South Wales Australia's Sydney Opera House

with them while they have this distinct littleness to them.

We also realized that we aren't guaranteed our health in the future and we don't want to wait until 'retirement age' to explore distant parts of the world to check off our bucket list.

So we just lined up our life in a way that made this big trip possible. We didn't plan for it to be this long of a trip, but we are enjoying so many aspects of it that we aren't ready to put away our passports anytime soon.

HOW WERE YOU ABLE TO MAKE IT HAPPEN?

We've always worked hard, saved harder, and have tried to avoid extra expenses: We've always shared one car, we didn't go out to eat often, and had no daily $5 coffee habits.

Once we felt we had a decent base put away in our retirement funds, kids' college funds, emergency reserves, and cash, then we started budgeting for a trip. We never planned for it to be more than a few months, but we find that beyond flights and accommodations, we don't spend nearly as much money on "stuff" like we did back in Tampa. If anything we are regularly trying to get rid of stuff out of our luggage to lighten our load rather than buy anything new. No souvenirs on this trip!

We do need to have some self-restraint while traveling and we do often get tempted to see and do everything, as if we were on a one-week vacation. We have to remind ourselves that in order to travel full time, we need to take it slower and not feel the urge to see everything and to go all out spending on high dollar dinners and drinks. If we tried to keep up with those daily celebrations, we'd have blown our budget a long time ago.

Instead we may pick up a couple drinks at a grocery store and piece together a dinner in our rental's little kitchenette.

We save on things that aren't as important to us and spend on things we feel are worth it. This type of full time travel isn't for everyone and we realize that, but for us if it means we can stretch our trip out another few months (maybe even an extra year) then it's worth it!

WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? ANY FAVORITE SPOTS? ANY LOCATIONS YOU'D RECOMMEND OTHER FAMILIES TO VISIT?

We sold our home in Tampa in June 2016 and spent the whole summer in New England; then we took a long trip to California and Hawaii before spending holidays with family in Cincinnati.

In January of this year we flew to Seattle and took a ferry to Victoria for the kids' first time out of the country.

We took a small Harbour Air seaplane to Vancouver which was a highlight on its own. Next we flew overnight to New Zealand for a month exploring the north and south islands. We did a short week in Australia around Sydney and the Blue Mountains. We spent a few nights in the jungle off the grid on the island of Borneo in Malaysia. We had really nice villas in Bali, Indonesia. We explored a lot of Cambodia's treasured temples, crowded cities and laid back beaches in just under a month. In the UK we spent time in southern Wales exploring castles and some long daytrips into England/London. Scotland was another highlight with dramatic mountain and coastal vistas around every curve. We were able to do a lot of little hikes and nature walks all over the western Highlands there.

We wandered Copenhagen by foot and ferry. We spent a month in Norway, visiting friends in Oslo, we took the train to Bergen, and we took an incredible Hurtigruten cruise into the Arctic Circle exploring every little fjord port town right up to the Russian border.

Right now we are island hopping the 'ABC' islands of the Azores, Baleares and Canaries off of the Iberian Peninsula (not exactly short hops!). We'll spend the rest of this month drinking vinho verde and port wine in Portugal's Douro River Valley with a stint in the Algarve along their sunny southern coast.

TRAVEL TIPS YOU'VE LEARNED WHILE ON THIS ADVENTURE--WHAT CAN OTHER PARENTS LEARN FROM YOU?

The majority of questions we get from parents revolve around sleep and things to do for kids. We go into each travel day with a fun attitude. We know those days are long days and we strive to all get a lot of sleep the night before. We try to prep the kids on what to expect and that helps immensely. Even something as simple as "We will be going through customs, where you are expected to hold my hand the entire time" or "Once we get on the airplane, take your seat, buckle up and I'll give you a snack. You can then pick an activity for 10 minutes and then it is nap time". Easier said than done for sure, but you'll be surprised what a little prep talk can do.

Kids like to know what to expect.

As far as sleep goes on various time zones, we don't try to negotiate time zones before we arrive. Once we arrive, we just do our best to get on that new time zone. It may mean an extra nap at times or an early or later bedtime and we just go with it. We do try to stick to a nap, wake/ eat/sleep schedule. It just may fluctuate by an hour or two.

JULY 2017 | TampaBayParenting.com 47

family fun | Staycation SPONSORED CONTENT

The Grove Resort and Spa Orlando A New Orlando Getaway

By Anna Tataris De Jesus

48 TampaBayParenting.com | JULY 2017

Whether you are planning a family getaway or a couple's escape, this brand new resort offers the perfect mix of adventure and relaxation. Take the kids to visit Walt Disney World® (just a 10-minute drive away) or spend the day at the resort where the activities for the kids are endless.

Kids can enjoy everything from scavenger hunts and crafts to dive-in movies. The Grove Resort & Spa is Orlando’s newest vacation destination and is located on the serene and beautiful Lake Austin, so it's also the perfect spot for a peaceful couple's getaway or family adventure.

The views of the lake and the conservation area alone provide pure relaxation. Enjoy a picnic on the lake's pier or

try your hand at boating and fishing. You may also relax poolside at the Springs Pools, where you can lounge in a cabana, savor a cocktail or even get a manicure and pedicure.

Enjoy a spa day at Escape Spa or plan a golf getaway at one of Orlando's top courses.

Regardless of whether you come as a family or a couple, this resort is a home away from home. It offers a mix of spacious suites that range from one to three bedrooms. You'll have everything you need from a full kitchen to full-size washer and dryer.

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What's Happening | Around Town

Hillel Academy eighth graders have just returned from an amazing 17-day trip in Israel where they had many incredible experiences, such as riding donkeys and camels, a Jeep ride at Golan Heights, sleeping in a Bedouin tent, swimming in the Dead Sea and hiking at Sataf Springs, among other things.

Glazer Children’s Museum MathAlive! ribbon cutting. The nearly 5,000square-foot immersive exhibit brings math to life through robotics, sports, video gaming, fashion, and more. MathAlive! is designed to inspire, spark the imagination and reveal the endless possibilities through math. Glazer Children’s Museum will be free for active military families during the run of MathAlive!, May 27-July 9, sponsored by Raytheon.

Internationally-known animal expert, "Jungle Jack" Hanna, shared animal facts and his travel tales during his animal shows in Stanleyville Theater at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay during the Memorial Day weekend. Hanna’s hands-on approach has won him widespread acclaim as a conservationist, author, television personality and lifelong adventurer.

Glazer Children's Museum President and CEO Jennifer Stancil appeared on WFLA News Channel 8 to talk about the new exhibits at the museum like Math Alive, Forts and more!

50 TampaBayParenting.com | JULY 2017

Tampa Bay Buccaneer’s tightend Cameron Brate celebrates with draftees at Florida Hospital’s 3rd Annual Bucs Babies Birthday Party.

Around TOWN The Straz Center received two prestigious awards from the Tampa Bay National Association of Catering and Events (NACE). The Straz Center fundraiser, the 2016 Broadway Ball, received the award for Event of the Year and Lainey Dunn, catering sales manager, received an award for Young Professional of the Year.

Captain Sergio Atones, Ciro Gigante and Scott Childers, Vice President of Florida Hospital, West Florida Division Foundation of the Adventist Health System, display their trophy for the “Heaviest Catch” at the “Fishin’ for the Mission” Tournament benefiting Florida Hospital,

Adventist Health System, West Florida Division.

St. Joseph's Children's Hospital patients traded their WFLA's Stacie Schaible interviewed Grayson Kamm of MOSI , our June guest editor, but his son Collier stole the show!

hospital gowns for formal attire and danced the night away during a Superhero-themed prom held in the hospital's auditorium Friday, May 19.

JULY 2017 | TampaBayParenting.com 51

What’s Happening | Independence Day Celebrations

Fourth of July Events

MOSI’S ROCKETS’ RED GLARE FESTIVAL July 1-2, all day

4TH OF JULY AT THE HISTORY CENTER July 4, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Build cardboard rockets and send them soaring through the sky with the power of air pressure as part of this special event at MOSI. Guests can discover the science of fireworks with live demonstrations all weekend long inside MOSI’s latest summer experience, Cardboard Space Adventures. mosi.org Everyone

Celebrate Independence Day at the Tampa Bay History Center with $5 admission on the 4th of July for all visitors. Costumed reenactors representing several eras of American military history will be on hand as well as historical interpreters to share hands-on displays of artifacts, uniforms, crafts and music. tampabayhistorycenter.org Everyone

LEGOLAND KNIGHT LIGHTS July 1-2, 4, 8-9, 15-16, 22-23, 29-30 Enjoy extended park hours, unique LEGO light displays and meet and greet opportunities with the heroes of LEGO NEXO KNIGHTS at LEGOLAND Florida in Winter Haven. Event is being held Saturdays and Sundays all month as well as on the 4th of July, which includes a special patriotic show and spectacular themed fireworks display over Lake Eloise. legolandflorida.com Everyone

KIDS VISIT MOSI FOR $4 July 4, all day Bring the kids to MOSI for a special admission promotion on the Fourth of July. Kids ages 3-12 can celebrate America’s history of discovery with hands-on science for a $4 admission with a paid full-price adult ticket. Kids ages 2 and younger are free. mosi.org 3-12

LIGHT UP TAMPA BAY July 4, 6-10 p.m.

Celebrate Independence Day at Channelside Bay Plaza with live music, entertainment and plenty of family-friendly acitivities. 2,500 wristbands are first come, first served. Fireworks show will be at 8:45 p.m., pending the Hillsborough County Burn Ban.

BRANDON FOURTH OF JULY PARADE July 4, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Don’t miss this annual community event!

The parade starts at 10 a.m. and steps off at Parsons and Lumsden and will continue north to Robertson Street where it will turn west and end at Buckingham Place.

INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION AT GREAT EXPLORATIONS July 4, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Challenge friends in a red, white and blue relay and explore underwater "fireworks" during a day of patriotic activities at Great Explorations in St. Pete. Create red, white and blue visors, design stars and stripes flag mosaics and join in the fun at a dance party. Free admission to all members of the military (active and retired) and first responders (with proper ID). All activities are included with admission. greatex.org Everyone

52 TampaBayParenting.com | JULY 2017

FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION AT GLAZER CHILDREN'S MUSEUM July 4, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Enjoy patriotic programs and special guests at Glazer Children’s Museum in downtown Tampa. Admission is $4 all day. Active military families can enjoy free admission. glazermuseum.org Everyone

SAFETY HARBOR PARADE AND FIREWORKS CELEBRATION July 4, 10 a.m. & 5 p.m.

Find your spot along Main Street for a parade from 10 a.m. to noon and head back to Safety Harbor Marina in the evening from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. for a celebration for the whole family.

Event features children’s activities, live entertainment and food vendors with fireworks to blast off at 9 p.m. Free admission. cityofsafetyharbor.com Everyone

TEMPLE TERRACE 4TH OF JULY PARADE AND FIREWORKS July 4, 10 a.m. and 6-9 p.m.

Head to the Temple Terrace Family Recreation Complex to reserve your spot along the parade route. Parade begins at Whiteway and Gillete, runs south to Druid Hills, west to Ridgedale and south to the Temple Terrace Little League Fields. Enjoy family festivities in the evening with fireworks at 9:15 p.m. templeterracechamber. com Everyone

CLEARWATER CELEBRATES AMERICA July 4, 4-10 p.m.

Celebrate America’s independence with a patriotic concert and a huge 9:30 p.m. fireworks display at Coachman Park in Clearwater. Night includes vendors, food and drink concessions and a children’s play area. myclearwater.com Everyone

JULY 4TH CELEBRATION AT AVALON PARK WEST July 4, 5-9 p.m.

Come out for a free Independence Day celebration hosted by Avalon Park West in Wesley Chapel. Event features a bike parade, wet and dry slides, an Apple Pie Bake-Off, stilt walkers, food trucks and more, with a fireworks show to launch at 9 p.m. avalonparkwest.com Everyone

2017 CITY OF ST. PETE FOURTH OF JULY FIREWORKS CELEBRATION July 4, 5-9 p.m.

Join friends, families and neighbors for this city-wide party to honor America taking place at Vinoy Park and North Straub Park in downtown St. Pete. Evening will include live music, kids’ games and activities, face painting, food trucks and more. Stop by Q105 doing a live broadcast in North Straub Park and take in the sounds of performers AudioStar. Fireworks start around 9 p.m., weather permitting. stpete.org Everyone

PLANT CITY JULY 4TH CELEBRATION July 4, 6-9:30 p.m.

Join in the city’s annual event to honor America’s independence hosted by Plant City Stadium. Festivities include climbing wall, bungee jumps, balloon art, bounce houses, food vendors, raffles and more. Stick around for the fireworks at 9:15 p.m. Free admission; $5 per car parking. plantcity.org Everyone

LARGO FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION July 4, 6-9:30 p.m.

Gather the family for a night of food, entertainment and fun activities for all ages at Largo Central Park. Enjoy a pie-eating contest, t-shirt decorating for $5 and inflatable activities with a $10 wristband. Stay for the fireworks at 9:15 p.m. Free admission. largo.com Everyone

JAZZ IN JULY: TAMPA RED, WHITE & BLUE FESTIVAL July 4, 6-10 p.m.

Celebrate America at this special music event at Cotanchobee Fort Brooke Park in downtown Tampa. Event features live music, fun family competitions and activities, face painting, crafts, giveaways, all-American Food Court and more. Free and open to the public. cityfestivals.org Everyone

JULY 4TH CELEBRATION AND FIREWORKS AT THE FLORIDA AQUARIUM July 4, 9 p.m.

See dazzling displays in the sky and sea at The Florida Aquarium in Tampa. Evening includes family-friendly entertainment and all-American dinner options. Soak up the fun at the Splash Pad and get ready for fireworks at 9 p.m. with extended hours at the Aquarium until 9:30 p.m. flaquarium.org Everyone

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What’s Happening | Top Picks

JULY

Our favorite events and things to do for families in Tampa Bay! For even more family fun, visit TampaBayParenting.com to see our full calendar!

CARDBOARD SPACE ADVENTURES Through Aug. 13, various times Get ready to explore the galaxy or jump into the cardboard spaceship at Tampa’s MOSI. Guests can help create a huge outpost in outer space using hands-on creativity, engineering and art, constructing all entirely from cardboard. mosi.org Everyone

CHRISTMAS IN JULY AT ST. JOSEPH’S CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL July 1-31, various times

THE ART OF THE BRICK June 23-September 4 Wed. - Sun., 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

ISLAND NIGHTS AT ADVENTURE ISLAND Through Aug. 5, 5 p.m.

View what has been deemed the world’s largest display of LEGO art when the touring exhibit by Nathan Sawaya is brought to the Bay area by the Vinik Family Foundation and opens to the public at 802 E. Whiting St. in downtown Tampa. The exhibit is accompanied by an interactive build space for guests of all ages.

Free admission and parking. artofthebricktampa.com Everyone

Enjoy the tropical vibes after work all summer long at Adventure Island in Tampa. Guests can enjoy the water park and watch amazing sand sculpture artists create masterpieces. The celebration offers extended hours from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. adventureisland.com Everyone

MATHALIVE! Through July 9, various times Check out this popular traveling exhibit at Glazer Children’s Museum in Tampa before it moves on as visitors get to experience real math at work in sports, nature, robotics, music, dancing, movie making and more, with special extended hours. Active military families also get free admission during the exhibit’s run. glazermuseum.org 10-Teen

DINOS ALIVE! Open through August Return to the Jurassic and Cretaceous Eras at this unique exhibit at Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo. See life-size dinosaurs that move, roar and interact at this attraction open through August.

Price is included with Annual Zoo Membership, “Pay for a Day” ticket and single day admission.

Some blackout dates apply. lowryparkzoo.com 6 & Older

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BUSCH GARDENS SUMMER NIGHTS Through Aug. 6, various times Party louder and play later at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay with three party zones at Cheetah Hunt Plaza, Pantopia and Stanleyville.

Dance into the night at each themed location and indulge in summer fare inspired by the party zone. buschgardenstampa.com Everyone

Take part in this fundraiser by donating, starting an online fundraising team or hosting community events to benefit St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital’s efforts to bring mid-year holiday cheer to kids who need it most. On Friday, July 28 from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., community partners, sponsors and donors are invited to celebrate.

For any questions, call 813-8720979. Everyone

MAKE & TAKE SATURDAYS AT MFA July 1 and 15, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Create your own masterpiece inspired by works in art collections and special exhibits inside the Museum of Fine Arts in St. Pete every first and third Saturday monthly. Free with museum admission. Registration is not required. mfastpete.org 5 & Older

DILLY DALLY WITH DALI July 1, 8, 15 and 29, 11:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Take the kids to The Dali in St. Pete for the opportunity to discover the creative world of Dali through games, puzzles and arts and crafts. Families are encouraged to stay and join in the fun.

Event is not available July 22. Free. thedali.org 5-12

COBB THEATRES FREE SUMMER KIDS SHOWS July 4-6, 11-13, 18-20, 25-27 10 a.m.

Participating Cobb Theatre Bay area locations offering two free movies weekly. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 10 a.m. Films include “Trolls,” “The Peanuts Movie,” “The Croods,” “Home,” “Ice Age: Collision Course,” “Kung Fu Panda 3,” “Alvin & The Chipmunks: Road Chip” and “Penguins of Madagascar.” cobbtheatres.com 4-12

SUMMER CLASSICS MOVIE SERIES AT TAMPA THEATRE July 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30, 3 p.m.

Experience this summer tradition at Tampa Theatre as classic film entertain families Sundays.

This month, check out “All Quiet on the Western Front” (July 2), “The Sting” (July 9), “Saboteur” (July 16), “Young Frankenstein” (July 23) and “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World” (July 30).

Tickets are $10 adults and $7 for Theatre members. tampatheatre. org Everyone

SUNSET CELEBRATION AT TAMPA’S LOWRY PARK ZOO July 7-8, 14-15, 21-22, 28-29 Experience sunsets in a unique way as part of these special evenings at Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo for Friday and Saturday Nights this summer. See wildlife in a whole new light, enjoy entertaining activities for the whole family and indulge in tasty, one-of-akind dishes created by the Zoo's rock star chef. tlpz.org/summer Everyone

SPECIAL NEEDS EVENTS TRAMPOLINE PARK SENSORY SATURDAYS July 1 and 15, 9-10 a.m. bring the memorable characters and music to audience members.

Tickets start at $15. strazcenter.org Everyone

KIDS GASPARILLA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL July 21 DISNEY’S THE LITTLE MERMAID July 11-16, various times Sing along to the Academy Award winning songs of this animated Disney classic in a lush musical production at Tampa’s Straz Center. Come early for Kids’ Night on Broadway Wednesday, July 12 when families can enjoy free activities and entertainment before the show and stay after for a talk-back with cast members.

Plus, kids 12 and younger save up to 50 percent on their ticket when purchased with a full-price ticket.

Tickets start at $29. strazcenter. org Everyone

SHARKCON July 8-9, various times Meet up with others who love the ocean for a weekend of education and fun at this event sponsored

by The Florida Aquarium and held at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa. Check out a huge interactive exhibit from the Aquarium including games, trivia and a shark tooth sand dig. Busch Gardens will bring touch tanks, and Clearwater Aquarium will teach guests about marine mammal rescue. Kids can enjoy the pirate ship bounce house and 22-foot shark slide, and take part in 12 different activities. shark-con.com Everyone

CHILDREN’S BOARD FREE TUESDAY July 11, noon to 7 p.m.

Take part in this free admission promotion at Glazer Children’s Museum. The event aligns with the Children’s Board’s mission to promote the well-being of children and families. Guests can join the museum with partners like WEDU PBS for free family fun every month. glazermuseum.org Everyone

THE GREAT MESS-PLORATION July 15, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Explore messy art and science and let Great Explorations clean up the mess. Kids will have fun with giant shaving cream art, shake painting, tie-dye, sticky sand castles and more. Guests can also take part in messy science experiments hourly starting at 10:30 a.m. All activities are included in admission. greatex.org 4-12

POP ART STUDIO Opens July 17 Experiment with Pop Art techniques at Glazer Children’s Museum in downtown Tampa.

Learn about silkscreen, rubber stamping and more as you create and add your masterpieces to the museum’s collaborative gallery wall. glazermuseum.org Everyone

PATEL CONSERVATORY PRESENTS DISNEY’S THE LION KING JR. July 20-23, various times Experience the African savannah with Simba, Rafiki and an unforgettable cast of characters as they journey from Pride Rock to the jungle and back again courtesy of Patel Conservatory students in the TECO Theater at Tampa’s Straz Center. Students in grades 3-8

Get inspired at Glazer Children’s Museum’s first ever film festival created especially for kids in partnership with the Gasparilla International Film Festival. The event features short films and animations from the NY Children’s International Film Fest. glazermuseum.org Everyone

SHARK WEEK KICKOFF July 23 Kick off Shark Week at The Florida Aquarium and get to know the remarkable and threatened ocean predators as part of a kickoff weekend for Discovery Channel’s Shark Week. Enjoy fun sharkthemed activities all day long. flaquarium.org Everyone

PAW PATROL LIVE! July 29-30, various times Meet up with this awesome rescue team when Adventure Bay’s Mayor Goodway turns up missing as this popular Nickelodeon animated series visits Tampa’s Straz Center with its first ever live tour.

Watch the Patrol members use their unique skills and teamwork to crack the case. Tickets are $21.50 ($10 lap tickets for children younger than 1 available on day of performance at box office). Shows are 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. each day. strazcenter.org 1-8

9TH ANNUAL BACK TO SCHOOL FAIR Aug. 5, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Stop by this fun and informative Tampa Bay Parenting event at WestShore Plaza in Tampa and get the information you need to prepare your kids for another fun year of learning. First 500 kids to arrive will receive a free back to school book bag. Day includes live entertainment, hands-on activities, workshops, speakers and more. backtoschoolfair.com Everyone

Stop by Altitude Trampoline Park in Tampa for a sensory-friendly morning of trampoline fun. The park offers a less crowded environment and reduced music volume. altitudetampa.com Everyone

WARRIORS FOR AUTISM – SENSORY WARRIORS PROGRAM July 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29, 11 a.m. to noon Sign up for adaptive martial arts training at Warrior Fitness & Sensory in Tampa with programming designed for children on the autism spectrum and their siblings in a safe and supportive learning environment. Classes include kickboxing, martial arts, flexibility, anti-bullying, speed and agility drills, discipline, self-defense and more. Cost is $15 per class. warriorsensory.com 5 & Older

DESPICABLE ME 3 SENSORY SCREENINGS July 8, various times Families have two opportunities to check out a sensory-friendly screening of this new release at two Tampa Bay locations on Saturday, July 8: 10 a.m. at AMC Veterans 24 in Tampa and 11 a.m. at Studio Movie Grill at University Mall in Tampa. Screenings are shown with reduced lights and lowered volume. For more information, visit amctheatres.com and studiomoviegrill.com Everyone

GREAT CONNECTIONS July 9, 10 a.m. to noon Visit Great Explorations and roam the museum with special early access for children with special needs and their families to enjoy sensory-friendly activities and crafts. Activities are included with admission. greatex.org 6 & Older

SUNSHINE SUNDAY July 30, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Spend time at Glazer Children’s Museum with special programming available for those with special needs to enjoy the museum during this exclusive access.

Free admission for members and $5 nonmembers. glazermuseum.org Everyone

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Florida Hospital and Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital have an exclusive affiliation that brings nationally ranked expertise and pediatric emergency care to each of our six emergency rooms. Additionally, we offer 24/7 access to on-site All Children’s Specialty Physicians at our Florida Hospital Tampa location.

ER4Children.com 56 TampaBayParenting.com | JULY 2017