All About Kids Dawson

All about Winter/Spring 2021

INSIDE Dawson County offers a variety of activities for local children.

From basketball to Taekwondo, theater to painting or singing and acting, there’s a spot for your child. Let this guide show you the way.

ALL ABOUT KIDS 2020 1

WE’RE HERE TO SERVE DAWSON COUNTY!

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Where Rising Stars Grow Shining Smiles.

Taking interest in each child, their personalities and preferences, is an important part of any dental visit. Dr. John Haffner and his professional pediatric dental staff believe your child’s visit to the dentist should be fun and educational. Our all star team members have been specially trained to treat children with all needs and abilities.

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Located just a mile from GA 400 and Exit #17 in the Publix Shopping Center. Intersection of Keith Bridge Road and Brown’s Bridge Road.

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770.292.9441

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All about

K ids

2021

Dawson County is growing fast, and the number of options for programs to help your kids grow to their fullest potential is growing just as fast.

We’ve collected information on some of the best programs in Dawson County to create the ultimate parent resource.

Inside, you will find information on various sports and other programs include painting and drawing, music and theater, science, reading and more.

Inside Dawson County Public Library................................................................................Page 4-5 Dawson County Parks and Recreation...................................................................Page 6

This magazine is a product of the www.dawsonnews.com

Chestatee Regional Library System

Our libraries continue to grow and excel, providing the residents of Dawson and Lumpkin Counties with quality opportunities to free access of information and entertainment. Our employees are here to help you locate anything you might want or need, and we take pride and joy in making sure you are happy with the services provided.

LOCATIONS & HOURS: • Dawson County Library: 342 Allen Street Dawsonville, GA 30534

706-344-3690

Hours - Mon.-Thu. 9am-5:30pm - Fri. -Sat. 9am - 2:30pm • Dawson County Satellite Branch: 145 Liberty Drive Dawsonville, GA 30534

706-216-3800 Ext. 71200

Hours - Mon.-Thu. 9am-5pm - Fri. -Sat. 9am - 2:30pm • Lumpkin County Library: 56 Mechanicsville Road Dahlonega, GA 30533

706-864-3668

Hours - Mon.-Thu. 9am-5:30pm - Fri. -Sat. 9am - 2:30pm • Headquarters: 56 Mechanicsville Road Dahlonega Ga 30533

706-864-3668

Hours - Mon.-Fri. 8am-4:30pm Find out more information at chestateelibrary.org 4

ALL ABOUT KIDS - Winter/Spring 2021

ProgramS 1000 Books B4 Kindergarten Giving Young Children the Tools to Become Successful Readers 1,000 Books B4 Kindergarten is a new library partnership program with Georgia Public Library Services that encourages all Lumpkin & Dawson County families to read 1,000 books with their young children before they enter kindergarten. Studies have shown that families who start reading aloud to their children at birth help to strengthen their language skills and build their vocabulary, important tools for learning to read when they enter kindergarten.

ABC Mouse The award-winning ABCmouse.com curriculum is designed to help young children (ages 2–7+) build a strong foundation for academic success. ABCmouse. com is 100% educational, with more than 4,000 learning activities across all major subject areas-reading, math, science, social studies, art, and music. Best of all, kids love it. And it’s free to use inside the library!

Dawson County Wee Books Program Wee Books is a literacy program that provides Dawson County children with a free monthly age-appropriate book every year until they reach the age of five.

The book arrives by mail every month, creating excitement and a love for reading.

If you are interested in registering your child for this program: Stop at the library and pick up a registration form, or call 706-216-0173.

If you are interested in sponsoring a child, contact Carol Barry at 706-216-6323.

Dawson County Wee Books Program PO Box 1883 Dawsonville, GA 30534 eRead Kids Build confidence, improve reading skills, and have fun with eRead Kids, a digital library available through all public libraries in Georgia.

This free collection of ebooks and audio books is for kids pre-K through fourth grade. It’s a mix of fiction and non-fiction titles that can be downloaded onto computers, tablets, and smartphones, giving young readers access to over 15,000 books.

Contacts For more information about early literacy and other children’s programs, please contact: Dawson County Library Leah Weber 706-344-3690, ext. 24 lweber@chestateelibrary.org

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Parks & Recreation

Programs Spring Sports Walk-in Registration Dawsonville Parks and Recreation • Baseball • Soccer • Softball • T-ball

• Track and Field • Swim Team • Volleyball

EARLY REGISTRATIONS! Don’t Wait!

Walk-in registration is held at the main office at Rock Creek Park, located at 445 Martin Road Dawsonville, GA 30534. Walk-in registration hours are Monday-Thursday 8:00AM-5:00PM, Friday 8:00AM-8:00PM, and the final Monday 8:00AM-8:00PM. Walk-in registration is not available on weekends.

Online registration is available 24/7 through midnight on the final day of registration, at https://secure.rec1.com/GA/dawson-county-recreation/catalog

Save the Date Spring Sports Opening Day

March 20, 2021 Rock Creek Sports Complex

COVID-19: Dawson County Parks & Recreation will follow guidelines set forth by local, state, and federal authorities as related to COVID-19. As a result, same activities and events listed in the publication may be postponed or cancelled. Additionally, access to certain facilities and services may be limited or temporarily suspended. Please connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, dawsoncounty.org/parkrec, or Remind for updates. Remind: text @97ba66d to 81010.

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ALL ABOUT KIDS - Winter/Spring 2021

W o M a

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Free Assessment

(A savings of $35 good through February 2021)

Mathnasium of Coal Mountain 2667 Freedom Parkway Cumming, GA 30041 (470) 567-6284

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Activities to keep kids entertained!

What parent hasn’t heard their child utter the familiar phrase “I’m bored” at some point? Despite a seemingly vast array of toys, electronics and other items at their disposal, children can be quick to sulk and say there’s nothing to do.

Here are eight boredom-busting activities that are certain to help pass the time in entertaining and sometimes educational ways.

1. Craft time: Pick a theme and gather the materials for the project.

For example, kids can evoke a trip to the ocean by creating handmade sea creatures. Paint a paper plate and hang brightly colored yarn underneath it to create the “tentacles” of a jellyfish. Kids can use salt dough clay to fashion seashells, sea snails or crustaceans.

2. Painting: Shaving cream is a great sensory material that is relatively easy to clean up. Kids can whip up a batch of shaving cream paint and use it to finger paint on a table or even in the bathtub. Simply mix shaving cream with food coloring in a bowl or use a muffin tin to separate the colors.

3. Build a birdhouse: Birdhouses or bird feeders can be made from scraps of material found around the house. Scavenge for spare lumber or other supplies in the shed or garage. An adult or older sibling can help cut the wood into pieces.

Young children may enjoy painting the house. Wood adhesive or screws can be used to assemble the project.

4. Plan a garden: Kids can help to design a garden the entire family will maintain and even be 8

ALL ABOUT KIDS - Winter/Spring 2021

responsible for a special parcel that’s all their own. Gardens can grow food, flowers and more. Add a touch of whimsy with figurines for a fairy garden or even small superhero figures for a spot for boys to tend.

5. Box makeovers: Tissue boxes or cereal boxes can be made into many different creations with paint or construction paper. Use a few craft supplies like pom-poms or wiggly eyes to turn boxes into “monsters.”

6. Boat races: Build a small sailboat for each member of the family. Fill up a long, shallow container and take turns racing the boats by blowing on the sails.

7. Leaf art: Gather leaves and twigs from around the yard and then combine pieces to make them look like various animals.

8. Spray park: Create an at-home spray park with a garden hose and a pool noodle. Poke several small holes into the pool noodle on all sides. Stick a garden hose into the end of the pool noodle and hotglue a wine cork into the hole at the other end. Turn on the water and let kids run through. Head off kids’ boredom by having plenty of ideas at the ready.

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We offer: Homeschool Education Mainstream Classes Advance Placement (AP) Excellent SACS Accredited Christian Education SAT&ACT Testing Center

Find us: www.ppaga.org Call us: 678-807-8103 Visit us: 6470 Georgia 400 Cumming, Ga 30028

Family- Friendly Outdoor activivties

Children who spend a lot of time outdoors benefit from exposure to nature in myriad ways, some of which may surprise even the most devoted outdoorsmen. According to a study published in the journal Human Dimensions of Wildlife, fifth graders who attended school at a local prairie wetlands where lessons in science, math and writing were integrated in an experimental way had significantly stronger reading and writing skills than their peers who attended more traditional schools. Another study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found that holding a class outdoors one day a week significantly improved the 10

ALL ABOUT KIDS - Winter/Spring 2021

daily cortisol patterns of students, reducing their risk of stress and improving their ability to adapt to stress. Parents who want their children to reap the rewards of being exposed to the great outdoors can encourage educators to incorporate nature into school curriculums and embrace these family-friendly outdoor activities.

• Nature treasure hunt: A treasure hunt in nature can keep kids engaged on family hiking excursions and provide an excellent opportunity for parents to teach children about the assortment of plants, birds and wildlife that live in the parks and along the trails near their home.

• Outdoor art class: Families don’t even need to leave their properties to spend quality time together outside. Pick a pleasant afternoon and set up an outdoor painting station, encouraging everyone to paint what they see.

• Bonfire: Outdoor activities need

not be limited to daylight hours. A post-dinner backyard bonfire can entice everyone outside, where families can tell scary stories as they make s’mores.

• Stargaze: Stargazing is another

way families can spend time outdoors and learn a few things at the same time. Some blankets, a thermos of hot cocoa and a chart of constellations can provide the perfect complement to a sky full of bright stars. If visibility is compromised in the backyard, find a local spot where everyone can get a clear view of the night sky.

• Fruit picking: Visit a local farm

during its harvest season, teaching children about how the foods they love are grown and eventually make it to the family dinner table.

Families looking to spend more time together in the great outdoors can look to activities people of all ages can enjoy.

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How parents can help young athletes lower their injury risk

How parents can help young athletes lower their injury risk Athletes are at risk of injury any time they step onto a field or court or into another competitive arena.

Adults competing in sports may recognize that risk, but children often do not, which can make it difficult for young athletes to cope with injuries that prevent them from playing their favorite sports.

Stanford Children’s Health notes that roughly 30 million children in the United States participate in some form of organized sports every year.

Parents who want their children to get all the benefits of organized sports participation can take steps to reduce young athletes’ risk of injury.

• Schedule down time. The

American Academy of Pediatrics advises parents to plan at least one day off from training per week and at least one month off from training per year. These breaks allow young bodies, even those who haven’t suffered injuries, to recover.

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ALL ABOUT KIDS - Winter/Spring 2021

• Increase flexibility. Stretching

should be part of everyone’s daily fitness routine, and young athletes are no exception. Stretching exercises after games and practices can increase flexibility.

The Mayo Clinic notes that stretching may improve range of motion in the joints and decrease risk of injury.

• Make sure the right techniques

are followed and the right gear is worn. The right gear, which includes protective cups, eyewear and mouthpieces, also should be worn at all times. Parents can periodically inspect gear to ensure it’s not worn down.

• Discourage the attitude to “play

through pain.” Professional athletes often cite the necessity of playing through pain. But young athletes should never play through pain, as their bodies are still developing and could suffer considerable damage if they try to play through injuries, however minor such injuries may seem. Parents must work together with their children to reduce youngsters’ risk of suffering sportsrelated injuries.

REGISTRATION BEGINS FEBRUARY 1 FOR 2021 - 2022 SCHOOL YEAR Our program is designed to nurture the development of each child as a unique and special individual created in the image of God.Through interaction with others, children learn to express their ideas and respect themselves while building self-esteem and social skills. Every aspect of our program is geared toward developing an environment where children are encouraged to explore, problem solve, discover, and practice newly emerging skills.

Current Class Schedule

Offer 1 to 4 Days Per Week – 9:00AM till 1:00PM 2’s & 3’s – PreK – Young 5 to PreK

Call Preschool Director Tricia Brown or Assistant Director Leah Stuckey At 770.889.7440 ext.204 to schedule a tour We Follow The Forsyth County School Calendar 4815 Dawsonville Hwy. Gainesville, GA 30506 770-889-7440 • info@newhopeumc.org

Follow the WildeWood Farm, Inc.

Horse or Adventure Camp Dates For Boys and Girls Ages 4+ April 5-8 (9:00-1:00) May 31-June 4 (8:30-12:30) June 7-11, 14-18, 21-25 (8:30-12:30) July 5-9, 12-16, 19-23, 26-30 (8:30-12:30) Other school breaks TBA

2021-2022

Accredited by the GAC, Inc

Full three months of summer

New building project underway, to be completed August 2021- Check out our building plans online

• Affordable tuition • Multi-student discounts • Qualified, caring teachers • Dual Enrollment

Accredited by the GAC, Inc. GICAA sports. K4-12th grade.

706-705-4459 329 Harmony Church Road, Dawsonville, GA 30534 office@lcadawsonville.com LCADawsonville.com