Emerald Coast Parent Magazine November+December 2019 by Rob Williams

November+December 2019

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EX PER I EN C E

this Holiday Season BY

S H O P P I N G

L O C A L !

November+December 2019

contents

5 12 INSIDE THIS ISSUE

FAMILY BUILDERS

5 10

8 Tricks to a Trouble-free Thanksgiving with Kids: Avoid the most common pitfalls that can thwart a tranquil Thanksgiving

FAMILY FUN GUIDE

Real Estate Insight: 9 Tips for Buying a Vacation Home, and Real Estate Superstitions

More Joy, Less Stress: 10 Ways to Simplify the Season 5 Benefits of Hands-on Learning in a Tech-Crazed World: Help your child learn more effectively Stop Doing Everything for Your Kids: Set Your Children on the Path to Independence

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

Family Chatter ��28 That’s Good to Know! ��30 Show Her You Care, Show Him You Care ��31-32 Teach Your Kids Something New! ��34 Snacks—Recipes for Tasty Get-togethers ��36 Crafts—Get Creative with Your Kids ��40 Book Reviews and Activities �� 41

Teen Talk Helpful Advice from One Teen to Another

Get to know the people, places, and things that make the Emerald Coast special! Seasonal ��44 The Arts ��45 Runs, Walks, & More | Sounds Fun ��46 Reoccurring Local | Volunteer �� 47

parent Emerald Coast

Editorial Director Tasha Williams info@itsyourmagazine.com Subject Line: Editorial Snacks & Crafts Coordinator Carol Eide info@itsyourmagazine.com Subject Line: Snacks and Crafts Contributing Authors Janeen Lewis Sandi Schwartz Shannon Dean Christina Katz Lisa A. Beach Betsy Tait Shannon Wade Henley Calendar of Events and Resource Guide Suzanne Bratton info@itsyourmagazine.com Subject Line: Calendar Proofreader Jennifer Cullis

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

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

4 • November+December 2019 • EC Parent Magazine

10 W AYS TO SIMP LIFY THE SEAS ON By Janeen Lewis

MORE JOY, LESS STRESS It’s supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, full of friends, family and festivities. But research confirms a different reality—most Americans have elevated stress levels during the holiday season. Instead of being full of good tidings and cheer, families often feel drained of time, energy and peace. Stressors such as crowds and lines, party planning, financial concerns, and trying to make the holidays perfect can make the end of the year hectic and overwhelming. These ten tips will simplify the season and make it merry and bright. 1. Focus on your reason for the season. Why are you celebrating? Is it for spiritual reasons? Maybe you want to spend time with friends and family or enjoy the spirit of giving during the holidays. Keep what is most important about the holidays at the center of your celebration. Reconsider any task or commitment that takes your time, energy, enjoyment or finances away from your reason for celebrating in the first place.

Reconsider any task or commitment that takes your time, energy, enjoyment or finances away from your reason for celebrating in the first place.

2. Set firm boundaries around your time. With all the holiday volunteering, office parties, and family gatherings, it’s easy to overcommit yourself. This year, pick one project you want to volunteer your time to, or pick a variety of simple acts of kindness you can do with your family. Spend time with your friends and loved ones, but don’t feel guilty if you don’t go to every party or gathering.

3. Let go of Martha. One of the most stress-relieving things you can do at the holidays is set the bar a little lower. Martha Stewart is an elegant hostess, but Continued on page 6

Continued from page 5

you don’t have to do everything the way Martha would to have a beautiful season. Embrace simpler decorations, meals, and gift giving than you have in the past. Try quick shortcuts or holiday hacks. If you let go of expectations, you may be pleasantly surprised to find yourself content with a celebration you hadn’t even envisioned.

time to clean the house? Hire a cleaning service just for the holiday season or ask for this service as a gift.

Buy desserts from your local bakery.

4. Farm out your to-do list. At the beginning of the season make a to-do list of what you want to accomplish. If you find that it is too long for the amount of time that you have, consider delegating some of the items. If you contribute to a Christmas club at your bank, you might even consider setting aside some of the money specifically so you can hire others to help with your holiday tasks. Have groceries delivered, and buy gifts online to avoid the holiday rush. Grocery stores also have a plethora of pre-packaged holiday foods that make delicious sides, cutting down on your time in the kitchen. Buy desserts from your local bakery, and shop at stores that provide wrapping stations. No

5. Gift others with experiences. Shopping at the holidays can be time-consuming and nerve-wracking with crowds and traffic. If you don’t start early, coveted items sell out, leaving you scrambling for another gift. Ask those you give gifts to if there is an experience they would like to have. Tickets to the theatre? Family passes to an amusement park or aquarium? A relaxing day at the spa? Experiences give friends and family the opportunity to make memories and pamper themselves—unique gifts that are much appreciated.

6. Set a holiday tea time. Recent research shows that drinking green and black tea has many health benefits, including promoting relaxation. Herbal teas, while not true tea, still help with anxiety and stress. In keeping with the holiday spirit, sip some calming peppermint tea, or try chamomile, lemon balm, or passionflower.

See Page

25 7. Do something kind for someone else. You don’t have to overcommit yourself to a charity or fundraiser to be kind. Small random acts of kindness can make someone’s day. Let someone in front of you at the supermarket line, or let someone drive their car in front of yours in the parking lot. Send an anonymous Christmas card with cash or a gift card to a college student or elderly person who you know is struggling financially. Throw change in Salvation Army buckets when you pass them. Having a kind spirit chases away stress and keeps the season warm and hope filled.

8. Take a hike. One way to tell your stress to take a hike might be to actually take one yourself. When you exercise, your body releases chemicals called endorphins that trigger a happier, more relaxed mood. Aerobic exercise outdoors away from screens, phones, and to-do lists can clear your mind and help you keep what’s important in perspective.

10. Celebrate memories more than material possessions.

9. Reconnect with long-lost friends and relatives. Meet with an old friend you haven’t talked to for years, and catch up. Take some time off and visit relatives you miss seeing on a regular basis. Surrounding yourself with people you enjoy is powerful when you want to combat holiday stress.

Material gifts are nice, but most of us quickly forget gifts we have received in past years. The things that we remember the most are the memories we make with friends and family. Make some happy memories this holiday season and bid stress goodbye. v Continued on page 25

ItsYourMagazine.com • EC Parent Magazine • November+December 2019 • 7

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5 Benefits of

Hands-on Learning in a Tech-Crazed World By Sandi Schwartz

Kids today are spending an exorbitant amount of time glued to their electronics. A survey published by Common Sense Media found that nearly all children aged 8 and under live in a home with some type of mobile device and spend an average of 2.25 hours a day on screens. This media time only increases with age—tweens use an average of 6 hours, not including time spent using media for school and homework, and teens are up to an average of 9 hours daily.

Interestingly, when children are physically engaged in an activity, they process the information differently and learn more effectively. Being tied to phones, tablets, and computers takes away from handson learning time, which is unfortunate since these types of experiences provide so many critical benefits to children as they grow and develop. As media becomes the go-to teaching tool in classrooms, it is imperative that we find fun and creative ways for kids to experience more hands-on, interactive learning opportunities at home. First, let’s dive into five key benefits of hands-on educational experiences for children.

Enhances Learning

When children are primarily learning by reading, listening, and watching, they miss out on a key component of the educational experience that can only happen by doing. Kids of all ages thrive when they are provided with interactive, engaging, meaningful educational experiences. According to Brookings Institution, students who are engaged in hands-on learning are much more likely to remember what they were taught.

Interestingly, when children are physically engaged in an activity, they process the information differently and learn more effectively. Simply reading about a concept in a textbook or watching a demonstration in class is just not the same as physically experiencing what you are learning about. A research study from the University of Chicago measured this concept using brain scans and found that students who engaged in a hands-on approach to learning scientific concepts were more activated in the sensory and motor-related parts of their brain. This also led to better quiz scores.

Stimulates Curiosity

When children are part of something so fascinating that it fills them with awe, like a science experiment or art project, they get excited about it and want to learn more. Hands-on experiences like these can spur curiosity in children, which is so critical to their growth and success. Even though their constant questions may be exhausting for us at times, their curiosity is exactly what we want to see from

10 • November+December 2019 • EC Parent Magazine • ItsYourMagazine.com

them so that they continue to crave and seek out new knowledge. “One of our most important jobs as parents is to nurture kids’ innate curiosity. Not only is curiosity linked to academic achievement, it is tied to happiness in the long-term as well,” says Sandy Polu, PhD, founder of plumsparkkids.com, a creative learning subscription box for kids. “The key is to encourage curiosity in a way that is relevant and appropriate for the child.”

Improves Social Interaction

Part of the problem with all of this technology is that kids are losing the ability to communicate and interact with others in person. When they hide behind their devices instead of talking face to face with their friends and family, they miss out on a major chance for emotional connection. According to Psychology Today, this kind of communication interferes with actual conversation and undermines our ability to connect with others. As children are constantly exposed to these

quick and impersonal ways of expressing themselves, they miss out on learning how to accurately convey their thoughts and feelings. When we engage our children in fun hands-on activities, it opens a whole new world to them in which they need to ask questions, explain directions, and talk to others about the project. These projects also provide a special bonding time for parents and children or siblings to take on a challenge and work together. Whether it’s baking in the kitchen, working on a garden, or conducting a science experiment, kids will learn so many important social skills from the experience. These types of projects are also a great opportunity to invite over some neighbors or friends for a playdate so that the kids can work on a creative project together instead of staring at screens.

Expands Creativity

It’s one thing to observe art in a museum or watch a building being constructed in a video, but it’s another thing for kids to actually create masterpieces with their own hands. These types of activities allow children to tap into their own creativity and explore as they Continued on page 24 ItsYourMagazine.com • EC Parent Magazine • November+December 2019 • 11

By Sandi Schwartz

STOP DOING EVERYTHING

for Your Kids: Set Your Children on the Path to Independence 12 • November+December 2019 • EC Parent Magazine • ItsYourMagazine.com

Imagine spending all this time and energy raising your kids and then when you send them off to college someday, you still have to call to wake them up every morning to make sure they get to class on time. Sounds shocking, right? When I was in college twenty years ago, I can recall going multiple days, maybe even up to a couple of weeks, without communicating with my parents. Sure, this was before cell phones, text messaging, and Facebook, but it just wasn’t necessary to talk to my parents that often. They gave me plenty of freedom to live my own life and to explore and grow during those incredible years as I blossomed into an independent adult. Somehow, I figured out how to register for classes, study, eat, do laundry, meet new friends, get over breakups, and handle bad grades all on my own. Nowadays high school graduates enter college as children, incapable of taking care of themselves. According to Julie LythcottHaims, author of How to Raise an Adult, overparenting and prolonged childhood are an epidemic in this country. As the Dean of Freshman at Stanford University for 10 years (one of best universities in the world), Julie Lythcott-Haims witnessed firsthand some disturbing trends of college students. Although they were more successful on paper than ever before, with pages of accolades such as awards, high test scores, leadership roles, varsity letters, overseas experiences, unique community service projects, etc., these students were also less familiar with who they were and their own goals and dreams. So many of them appeared to be robot-like, blindly following the directions of their parents to participate in certain activities and take classes that would land them acceptance letters from the finest institutions possible.

So many of them appeared to be robot-like, blindly following the directions of their parents to participate in certain activities and take classes that would land them acceptance letters from the finest institutions possible.

She also noticed that these kids couldn’t do much for themselves and still relied on Mom and Dad to help them. They were constantly on the phone with their parents asking for advice and requesting that they take care of basic tasks, such as registering them for classes, sending them special packages, advising them on their homework, and even contacting professors if they did not receive the perfect grade. How on earth will these young adults ever hold a job and function in the real world if they can’t take care of themselves during college? We hear a lot about how millennials are difficult to work with in the job market—self-entitled, narcissistic, lazy, and tough to manage.

Lythcott-Haims makes it very clear: we have no one to blame but ourselves. The patterns that lead to this detrimental behavior start right now, even if your kids are in kindergarten. Are you one of these types of parents? view the world as unsafe, • Overprotective: You scary, and unpredictable, so you do everything possible to protect your children instead of preparing them to learn how to handle life’s challenges themselves. parent: You provide fierce direction to your • Tiger kids, telling them that you know what’s best for them to achieve success in this world. hand-holder: You do everything for • Excessive your kids to make life as pleasant as possible for them. You are their concierge, chauffeur, handler, scheduler, and secretary. These helicopter parenting styles are impeding our children. So many parents today feel like their kids can’t be successful without them helping at every turn and hovering over them. They spend so much time planning, protecting, directing, and nagging that they are ultimately stunting their children’s growth. We are taking away the ability for our children to learn self-efficacy, says Lythcott-Haims. This incredibly important skill is a fundamental aspect of the human psyche. It is when individuals realize that their own actions lead to outcomes, that they have the power to direct their own lives. “If our children are to build self-efficacy, then they need to do more of the thinking, planning, deciding, hoping, coping, trial and error, dreaming, and experiencing life for themselves. We may ensure some short-term goals by over-helping, but it comes as a long-term cost to their sense of self. We should be more concerned that they have the habits, skillset, mindset, and wellness to be successful no matter what their future holds,” she announces. This is worrisome because we all want our children to be able to function without us, to fulfill their dreams and live happy, healthy, successful lives. Listening to her presentation really opened my eyes. So, how can we stop doing everything for our kids? Here are some steps to get started on this whole new parenting perspective. Continued on page 14

ItsYourMagazine.com • EC Parent Magazine • November+December 2019 • 13

Continued from page 13

Stop Making Everything About You Many parents try to live through their children because they are unsatisfied with their own childhood. They may even refer to their child’s grades and activities as “ours.” Learn to separate what’s yours from what’s theirs. We also have to stop trying to mold our kids into something they are not. We will all be much better off if we love our children for who they are and support them.

Teach Them New Skills The only way our children will learn to do things for themselves is if we provide opportunities for them to learn new skills. This starts during pre-school when we ask our children to dress themselves and use a fork properly. With each new year, there are so many chances to help develop their skillset. The best way to teach our kids a new skill is to: (1) do it for them, (2) do it with them, (3) watch them do it on their own, and (4) let them do it on their own. Wouldn’t you rather gradually teach your kids and not have to cram everything in on the way to college move-in day?

Let Them Fend for Themselves and Learn from Their Mistakes It is so important that our children learn how to speak up for themselves and communicate with authority figures and peers alike. We have to stop trying to clean up all their messes for them and protect

them from failure. The only way they will grow is if they make mistakes and learn how to handle them.

Give Your Kids Experiences Even if it is totally out of your comfort zone, try to let your kids experience activities without you that will help them build selfconfidence and independence. Sleepovers, all-day sports or other competitions, camping trips, and sleep-away camp are some good examples. Last summer my son went off to sleep-away camp for four weeks, and it was very difficult for me. I cried for days worrying about him. But you know what? When I saw him on visiting day, I was blown away by how happy he was and how mature he acted. I was petrified that he would pick up bad habits and become a rotten kid, but the opposite happened—he became an even more amazing version of himself. By adjusting some of our parenting techniques now, we can better prepare our kids for a successful life ahead of them. v

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

14 • November+December 2019 • EC Parent Magazine • ItsYourMagazine.com

8 TRICKS TO A TROUBLE-FREE THANKSGIVING WITH KIDS By Shannon Dean

According to several polls, Thanksgiving is the world’s second favorite holiday, right behind Christmas. Many of us love the holiday so much that we romanticize it and then set the bar very high. Understandably, we want our kids to experience warm holiday traditions that they will pass on to their own families. So we envision a sumptuous meal, a beautiful table, and loving conversation. Unfortunately, reality may fall short of expectations. Kids may melt down. Your covered dish may be a disaster. Disappointment may creep into the day. Although it sometimes seems impossible to have a perfect Thanksgiving Day with children, perfection is not required for a happy, memorable holiday. Below are tips to avoid the most common pitfalls that can thwart a tranquil Thanksgiving. Continued on page 18

16 • November+December 2019 • EC Parent Magazine • ItsYourMagazine.com

St. Jude patient Keeton, blood cancer pictured with his mom St. Jude patient Keeton, blood cancer pictured with his mom

Keeton’s family didn’t give up. We won’t either. Keeton’s family didn’t give up. We won’t either. When Keeton was found to have blood cancer, his family was referred to St. Jude for treatment, where he’s undergoing two-and-a-half years When Keeton was found to have blood cancer, his family was referred to of chemotherapy. “St. Jude means everything to me,” said Keeton’s mom. St. Jude for treatment, where he’s undergoing two-and-a-half years “They’re saving my baby’s life.” Treatments invented at St. Jude of chemotherapy. “St. Jude means everything to me,” said Keeton’s mom. have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from “They’re saving my baby’s life.” Treatments invented at St. Jude 20% to more than 80% since it first opened more than 50 years ago. have helped overall cancer survival rate from We won’t stoppush until the no child dieschildhood from cancer. 20% to more than 80% since it first opened more than 50 years ago. We won’t stop until no child dies from cancer.

Learn more at stjude.org Learn more at stjude.org

Continued from page 16

Use Politeness to Downplay Picky Eating.

Thanksgiving often centers around a formal meal that requires a significant amount of work. Many parents worry about offending the chef when a kid rejects a world-famous dish. Politeness is key. If your children are young, try to introduce Thanksgiving staples before November. Make sure they understand the importance of keeping negative comments about the food to themselves, saying please and thank you, and attempting polite conversation. Most of the time, guests won’t notice that your picky eater only has a roll and macaroni and cheese on his plate as long as he’s pleasant. Don’t be shy about providing dishes you know your children enjoy.

Make sure they understand the importance of keeping negative comments about the food to themselves.

Keep Kids Busy. Many experts suggest involving kids in

Thanksgiving preparation or giving them age-appropriate activities to keep them busy. Let them make placemats, set the table, or complete a Thanksgiving Day project. It’s unrealistic to expect them to remain seated and in good spirits for extended periods without an outlet. Try to find time to take a walk, throw a ball, or play a game to blow off steam. Invite others to join you so that you can talk and bond while the kids are playing.

Lower Expectations. We often inform our kids about what to expect but we don’t set our own intentions. Dr. Daisy

Sutherland, author of 21 Ways to Enjoy a Stress-Free Holiday Season, says it’s very important “to remember that a great deal of the stress we feel at the holidays is of our creation.” In truth, very few of us have a Thanksgiving like those portrayed on commercials or in magazines. But by embracing imperfection, we can still have a wonderful holiday. Focus on what you value the most and let the rest go. Roll with the unexpected and watch your enjoyment increase and your stress decrease.

Disarm Dysfunction. Your kids may be on their best

behavior but other guests may have forgotten their manners. Do your best to shake off any drama. You have no control over the behavior of others, but you can control your own reaction. Try to remember that your goal is to connect with family, so respond with kindness and deflection. Your kids are learning how to diffuse tension by watching you, so teach them to look at the big picture rather than overreacting to small annoyances. Losing your cool on a holiday that focuses on gratitude isn’t worth it.

Be Proud of Your Parenting. A recent survey out of the University of Michigan found that nearly two-thirds of mothers felt criticized for their parenting, with the most concerns coming from family. On a day that brings many generations together, you may receive unsolicited parenting advice. Try to remember that the concerned family member is probably trying to gain involvement in your child’s life, however awkwardly. Because you may only see this person on special occasions, be careful that your response doesn’t divide a family already separated by physical distance. Alissa Marquess, author of Bounce Back Parenting: A Field Guide for Creating Connection, Not Perfection, suggests a quick, light response like, “Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind.” This restraint honors your love for the other person but makes it clear that you don’t intend to debate your choices. Know you are doing a great job, and change the subject to something more pleasant. Continued on page 20

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Focus on Family. No matter what the day brings, being

with those we love can be a rare blessing. It’s not every day that everyone is together at the same table, so pause and take it in. Sure, parts of the day may bring challenges. But take a step back from all of the work and juggling to see the day for what it is: an opportunity to see the people we value the most, some of whom may not live close by. Now is the time to share, catch up, and enjoy one another—warts and all.

Give Back. Whether you deliver a pie to a neighbor, invite another family to dinner, rake leaves at a community center, or volunteer at a local shelter, do something nice for someone else as a family. The act of giving during the holiday season is likely to increase your own family’s genuine joy. Cap It Off with Gratitude. After most of the activities have died down, talk to your child about gratitude, and

remind him that the purpose of Thanksgiving is to count one’s blessings with those we love. Ask him to list a few things he is most grateful for and share some of your own to stress the true meaning of Thanksgiving. Your table may not look like Martha Stewart’s, and your kids may shun the cranberry sauce, but that’s perfectly fine. Perhaps we put so much pressure on Thanksgiving because we want to re-create the nostalgia we’ve carried from childhood. The good news is that our kids will have similar special memories, and we only need to relax and let it happen. We may not remember every table setting or dish from our childhood Thanksgiving, but we remember the love and the warmth. So will our kids.v

Shannon Dean is the mother of two. Following her son’s birth, five generations of family gathered at the Thanksgiving table.

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ItsYourMagazine.com • EC Parent Magazine • November+December 2019 • 21

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Smudging

Ever heard of smudging? That’s when you burn a sacred plant (often sage), and walk around the house wafting the smoke in order to get rid of negative energy in a house.

IF IT IS A CONCERN FOR MY CLIENT,

THEN IT IS A CONCERN FOR ME! Does that sound crazy? Sound like someone’s been smokin’ the smudge? As a real estate agent, I wouldn’t call it crazy. While an agent may not believe in a client’s superstition, or even understand it, they won’t consider it crazy. It’s a real estate agent’s responsibility to represent their clients’ best interests. So I wouldn’t consider any of the above examples (or anything else you could throw at me) crazy, because if it is a concern for my client, then it is a concern for me.v

Lucky numbers

Real estate agents sometimes find themselves working with clients who have superstitions based upon lucky (and unlucky) numbers. This is often a cultural superstition. And the lucky or unlucky numbers are different from culture to culture. This can affect whether or not someone will buy a house if the street address is an unlucky number—or even adds up to an unlucky number. It can also affect the specific dollar amount they will offer or accept for a house.

What direction a house faces

Does your house face east? If it does, that’s great—for some potential buyers. But others may not see it that way and would never buy a house unless it faces south. Again, these superstitions are typically cultural, and no one direction is right for every culture. So, don’t worry what direction your house faces; there’s always someone who will be fine with whatever direction it is facing.

Mercury in retrograde

This is less cultural and more a matter of whether someone is into astrology. It is believed that when the planet Mercury is in retrograde (backward), it is a bad time to enter a contract. So, if a client is sensitive to this, there is a good chance there isn’t a deal good enough to get them to buy or sell a house while Mercury is in retrograde. EC Parent Magazine • November+December 2019 • 23

Continued from page 11

go. It gives them a direct sensory experience, which offers a more in-depth way of learning about a subject. It also provides a chance to stretch their imagination as much as possible.

Boosts Confidence

When a child has the opportunity to directly work on a project, such as a science experiment, from start to finish, they can feel a sense of accomplishment when they see the results. They then become empowered, which leads to more confidence when they face the next challenge. They also learn from their mistakes and failures, which only makes them more resilient in the future. If the experiment does not come out as planned, they will learn to ask why and make adjustments the next time they work on it. Finally, the encouragement they will get from accomplishing a hands-on project will increase their self-esteem, which will seep into all aspects of their life, such as sports, school work, and relationships.

Fun Hands-on Learning Ideas for Kids

There are a number of ways for us to share hands-on learning experiences with children of all ages.

Science experiments. Working on science experiments is one

of the best ways for kids to get excited about STEM in a hands-on manner. By working together on the experiments, your children will have the chance to get creative, follow directions, work with new science tools, challenge themselves to learn something new, and have fun being fascinated by science. Polu believes that doing science experiments at home is a great way to demonstrate that science is all around us. “A good experiment shows kids that science is fundamentally about understanding the world we live in—whether it’s figuring out fun concepts like why milk chocolate melts in our hands or testing which sunblock works the best.”

Gardening. Working on a family garden together is another

great way for children to grab some hands-on learning. By getting their hands dirty—literally—they learn to appreciate nature, hard work, and where the food we eat comes from. Because they play a direct role in growing the fruits and vegetables that they see with their own eyes, touch with their own hands, and taste with their own mouths, they are filled with accomplishment and joy.

Arts and Crafts. Art projects are one of the easiest ways for

children to experience tactile learning. Yes, they can color on an iPad by swiping their finger from side to side, but that does not compare to actually holding a crayon in their hands and using different types of pressure to transfer colors onto the paper. Arts and crafts help stimulate a child’s creativity and imagination that can’t be replicated by any electronic program.

Baking/Cooking. Inviting the kids into the kitchen to help

cook a meal or bake some treats can be a wonderful hands-on learning experience for them. Preparing a meal involves choosing a recipe, following directions, tracking time, measuring, and even working on simple math equations. Kids also have the chance to touch and feel the different ingredients. Although there are apps for baking cookies and making ice cream sundaes, nothing beats whipping up a delicious treat with your own hands! v

24 • November+December 2019 • EC Parent Magazine • ItsYourMagazine.com

10 HOLIDAY HACKS TO MAKE THE SEASON BRIGHT

Continued from page 7

• If you have an artificial tree, wrap the center pole with a

strand of lights before you add the branches. This will make the tree shine brighter from the inside.

• Use a wastebasket to hold rolls of wrapping paper. • Use egg cartons to store small ornaments and ornament hooks. Use wine boxes to store larger, fragile ornaments.

• Spread a thick layer of whipped cream on a cookie sheet.

Freeze it for several hours and remove. Cut hearts out of the whipped cream with a cookie cutter and serve in hot cocoa.

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• Put a ball of sugar cookie dough between two sheets of

wax paper. Roll it out between the papers so the dough doesn’t stick to the pin. While it’s still in the wax paper, put the flattened cookie dough in the refrigerator until y ou are ready to cut cookies out.

• Store cookies in an airtight tin with flour tortillas between layers to keep cookies from drying out. You can also use a slice of bread.

• If you don’t want to put nail holes in your fireplace mantel,

fit a tension rod in the wood frame and hang your stockings with shower hooks. You can also purchase nail-free stockingholder hooks.

• Hang lightweight ornaments on long ribbons from your light

fixture or chandelier to make an elegant holiday decoration.

• Skip expensive candles and potpourri. Add water and

natural ingredients, such as apples, oranges, cinnamon sticks, or cloves, to a crockpot and heat. Enjoy holiday scents that aren’t overpowering.

• To keep Christmas lights from getting tangled, wrap them around a clothes hanger or power-cord holder.

Janeen Lewis is a freelance journalist, teacher and mom to Andrew and Gracie. She has been published in several parenting publications across the country and in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Christmas Magic.

Outside Deck Our large deck with lots of seating allows you to bring your whole family—even your dog, and enjoy a cool drink in the Florida sun.

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alls Chocolate Peanut Butter B

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o many years ag to my mother who asks. pe ci re is th n gave yone Adeline Melvi share it with an est—that she qu re e on ith w

YO U NE ED • 6 Cups Crispy Rice Cereal ky Peanut Butter • 40 Ounces or 5 Cups Chun • 2 Pounds Powdered Sugar • 1 Cup Melted Butter t • 4 Teaspoons Vanilla Extrac ips • 60 Ounces Chocolate Ch x (food grade) • 1 Cup Grated Paraffin Wa • Plastic Tablecloth • Tongs DI RE CT IO NS er, t chocolate and wax) togeth • Mix all ingredients (excep balls. ed siz roll into Ping-Pong with hands if necessary, and the in ts near the canning produc • Shred paraffin Wax (sold cessor or by hand. grocer y store) in a food pro wavewax together in a large micro • Mix chocolate chips and at a tes nu mi wave for only 1 or 2 safe bowl. Melt in the micro to not l efu car roughly melted. Be time, mixing often until tho will clump and burn. overheat the chocolate or it m lted chocolate and place the me • With tongs, dip balls into . on a plastic tablecloth to dry h. es om too thick to work wit • Reheat chocolate if it bec dling. han for several hours before • Let the balls cool and dry e-out in a plain white Chinese tak Tip: Place about 10 balls t. a fun holiday gif box with a bow on top for count to 10 as they put the Tip: Preschoolers love to balls in the boxes.

FAMILY

BUILDERS

Strong Families Don’t Just Happen

Spend a little time talking to each other every day—take our Family Chatter challenge. Have some messy fun in the kitchen or at a craft table making some of our featured Snacks & Crafts. Teach your children what to do with leftover Halloween candy with our Teach Your Kids Something New. Learn all about good dental hygiene in That’s Good to Know. ENJOY LIFE—TOGETHER!

36 40 TEEN TALK

vice from Helpful Ad er! to Anoth One Teen

Visit Us Online! ItsYourMagazine.com

Our FamilyChatter Challenge is simpleâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; just do your best. Here are some easy questions that will hopefully inspire your family to engage in great conversations whenever, however, you can. Enjoy!

Live, Laugh, Love, and TALK TOGETHER!

What is your favorite subject at school?

Do you prefer to spend time with people or alone?

Do you want to live in your home town forever or move somewhere else?

Do you think you want to go to Sleep-away camp this year?

Who is your favorite person at school and why?

What was the best field trip you have ever been on?

Do you prefer to play board games or video games? What is your favorite game of each?

Do you like having your day scheduled out or having lots of free time?

What new sport do you think you might want to try?

Do you want to go to your parentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s college or choose one of your own?

If you could go back and visit any relative in the past, who would it be and what would you do?

Do you prefer Thanksgiving or Christmas?

If you could buy anything at the dollar store, what would it be?

Do you wish that you had more siblings? Aunts? Uncles?

What was your favorite Halloween costume that you saw this year?

Keep the Conversation Going with Follow-up Questions: I nteresting. What else can you tell me about that? o Now what are you going to do? o No way! Can you tell me more? o Seriously? Then what happened? o How do you feel about what happened? o How does this make you feel? o Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s your next step? o

HOLIDAY 911 FOR PARENTS:

Rekindle Your Spirit in Ten Minutes Flat By Christina Katz

Here come the holidays barreling down the calendar track. Are you frozen like a snowman in the headlights? Or are you frantic, checking an endless litany of musts off your overloaded holiday to-do list each day? Even if you feel great about the approaching holidays and are mostly on top of all of the extra tasks that come with them, you can still hit your limit now and then. Once your holly-jollies start running on fumes, these steps will remind you how to hit the reset button so you can make a quick comeback:

STOP IT. The frenetic pace is undeniable at this time of

year—planning, shopping, parties, travel. However, all day, every day, you get to choose whether to act, react, respond, or detach. If you are often not feeling like you can invoke your power of choice, and if you find yourself reacting to situations you would prefer to detach from, then maybe you need a break. You’ll know you need a break if you feel consistently grumpy and stressed out. When this happens, take ten minutes to reevaluate your day. No matter how much you still have to do, anyone can spare a few minutes.

DROP IT. You may be attempting to accomplish too much

most days because of holiday pressure coming from inside and out. But your holidays are more likely to be imperfect rather than perfect. Ironically, the more we try to jam into our waking hours, the less we feel like we are in the flow. If we are pushing all day, using will to power through a series of tasks, it may feel as though each task grows larger and more daunting than the last. The key is to stop pushing. Striving is tiring, and constant striving turns quickly into exhaustion. So drop the willpower and try to relax yourself back into a more natural flow of tasks instead.

SIT DOWN.

Find a chair or sit on the floor against a wall. Breathe in and breathe out. Just sit for a few moments, relax, and do nothing except breathe. What you are doing is using breath to slow down time. Of course, you can’t really control the clock, but you can change how time feels to you by getting back in touch with your senses. Breathing slowly and deeply is a shortcut back to sanity when you feel stressed. If something of tragic proportions happens, like forgetting to put the turkey out to thaw or neglecting to mail a package early enough to arrive on time, just keep breathing. When you panic and start berating yourself, it’s game over for your holiday spirit. So, when inevitable stresses strike and mistakes happen, simply sit, breathe, and take a few moments to collect yourself. Continued on page 33

30 • November+December 2019 • EC Parent Magazine • ItsYourMagazine.com

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

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

Encourage her to do something outside of her comfort zone. Dream together about your future. Take a drive looking for fall leaves. Make a list of 10 things why you are thankful that she is in your life. Take out the trash. Draw a bath for her– bubbles, chocolate and all! Get her car washed and fill it with gas. Send her an “I love you” text.

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

Tell her that she is beautiful. Buy her flowers for no reason.

EC Parent Magazine • November+December 2019 • 31

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

Compliment him on how well he takes care of you and the family. Put an “I love you” note by the coffeemaker. Let him sleep in on the weekend. Cook his favorite meal. Encourage him to pursue a new hobby. Bring him lunch when he is having a busy day at work. Get his truck (or car) detailed. Watch his favorite sports game on television with him.

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

Give him time to hang out with the guys without feeling guilty. Wear an outfit that you know he loves.

32 • November+December 2019 • EC Parent Magazine

Continued from page 30

TUNE IN. Once you can maintain a feeling of calm, pay atten-

tion to what is going on inside you. There may be a swirl of Black Friday competitive shopping going on all around you, but you can transcend any amount of external static by getting a grip on what’s happening within. What you are looking for is your inner compass. Some folks call their intuition the still, small voice; others may rely on their inner Jiminy Cricket. Some people have a spiritual attitude toward their intuition, whereas others may prefer a more religious approach. It really doesn’t matter what you call your intuition, as long as you can tune in to it. Practice staying tuned in whether in calm or busy environments. If you can stay tuned in and trust your gut no matter what else is going on, you’ll be the happiest person around.

APPRECIATE SOMETHING. Now that you are

calm, cool, and collected, take a moment to appreciate one thing. Consider something simple: notice a pretty wreath, feel the magic of watching falling snow, or appreciate the warmth of your coat on a brisk day. Once you get a grip on one thing you can enjoy thinking about, why not go ahead and think about it as long as you appreciatively can. When you feel done, move on to the next natural thing to appreciate. You may feel grateful for something right in front of you or for something more abstract. Whatever you genuinely feel positive about counts. Take a couple of moments to appreciate little things until you feel a smile spread across your face.

LET GO. No doubt, once you stop thinking about good

things, a few stressful things that have been lined up waiting for your attention will pop into your mind and start jumping up and down and waving their arms. But here’s the thing: You just got yourself into a pretty good place; do you really want to go back to square one all over again? I’m sure you don’t. And don’t feel badly about wanting to milk feeling good as long as possible. It’s good for you. So keep it up. Don’t revert right back into a stress monster. If nagging worry keeps dogging you, just acknowledge the concern

and gently wave it to the side as though clearing a butterfly from your path.

ACT THOUGHTFULLY. Ease back into your day,

moving forward mindfully. Drop the list for now. What is the single most important thing to do next? Intersperse actions with self-care. Do a task, then put on some cheerful tunes. Do another, then light a wood wick candle. Do another, then put the water on for tea. Take short breaks after completing a series of tasks. Have small snacks throughout the day so you don’t overeat at mealtime. Maybe put your list away for a little while. Later, pull your list back out, and check a few more things off of it. But don’t become a slave to your to-dos. Remember, you set the tone for your holiday. And you can stay in charge by taking excellent care of yourself. v

10 STEPS TO A MORE JOYFUL HOLIDAY SEASON 1. Go to bed by 10 pm each night. 2. Get up an hour earlier and have some daily you time. 3. Watch all your favorite holiday movies. 4. Take a long winter’s nap. 5. Put a stack of inspirational books on your nightstand. 6. Write down your blessings. 7. Make a list of gifts you want and distribute it. 8. Take a long, hot bath with music and bath salts. 9. Listen to inspirational talks, podcasts, or books on tape. 10. Say kind things to yourself all day long. Author, journalist and writing coach Christina Katz loves to savor the day during the most magical time of the year.

SOMETIMES OUR SON JUST NEEDS A PUSH — E V E N T O H A V E F U N By Lisa A. Beach

My stubborn sophomore basically planted himself in front of his PS4 most weekends during ninth grade. He didn’t attend any football games, plays, concerts or any events other than soccer games and track meets because he was on the team. It’s a transition year, everyone kept telling me. He’ll come around, they said. So, most weekends he would hang out at home, usually playing video games by himself or with his older brother. As I watched his tenth grade social life go down the same path, I put my foot down. It was Homecoming weekend, packed with a Friday football game and a Saturday dance. Getting him to attend the dance would be a harder sell, so I focused on the football game. True to form, he refused to go. Now, there are worse problems than having your teenager want to stay home on a Friday night. I get it. But I wanted him to be a bigger part of the school community, so I drew a line in the turf.

My usual ploy of appealing to his logic was an epic fail: “It will be the best game of the year!” “You can leave at half-time if you’re not having fun.” And what I thought would hit pay dirt: “I’ll give you money for candy and soda.”

GETTING NOWHERE FAST WITH THIS KID. Finally, I tried another tactic: “Okay, you don’t have to go to the football game, but if you stay home, you can’t play video games.” Well, that was the shot heard ’round his teenage world. Holy moly, did this send him into a tailspin. Continued on page 37

34 • November+December 2019 • EC Parent Magazine • ItsYourMagazine.com

Enroll in Florida's FREE Voluntary Prekindergarten Education Program!

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

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

Apricot Bites YOU'LL NEED

• 2 flat prepared pie crusts, thawed (not in a pie pan) • 30 dried whole apricots • 1/8 cup white sugar • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

• cooking oil spray • pizza cutter • baking sheet • small bowl • spoon

DIRECTIONS

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. • Spray the baking sheet with oil. • Lay the pie crusts on a clean flat surface. Use the pizza cutter to cut the crusts into ½-inch strips. • Combine the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. • Coat each apricot in cinnamon and sugar mixture. • Wrap each coated apricot in dough strips and place on the baking sheet. • Lightly spray the wrapped apricots with oil, then sprinkle the tops with the remaining cinnamon and sugar. • Bake for 20-22 minutes or until golden brown. • Let cool, then serve.

Popcorn Mix YOU'LL NEED

• 2 7-ounce bags of popped kettle corn • 2 cups Goldfish crackers • 2 cups small pretzel twists • 1 cup sweet or savory salted nuts • 1 cup dried cranberries

• 6-8 paper lunch bags • colored markers • waxed paper • large mixing bowl or clean grocery sack • large spoon or spatula • optional—holiday stickers

DIRECTIONS

• Cut a piece of waxed paper to fit inside one side of the paper bag. Insert it in the bag along one long wide side of the bag. This will keep the markers from bleeding through to the other sides of the bag. • Use the markers to draw holiday designs on the bottom half of one wide side of each bag. Optional—use stickers to decorate the bags. • Fold down to the outside the top of each lunch bag—2 to 3 1-inch turns. • In the mixing bowl or grocery sack, combine the kettle corn, crackers, pretzels, nuts, and cranberries. Mix with a spoon or spatula until evenly distributed. • Divide the mix between the bags and serve. If storing the mix, place in an airtight container or resealable bag.

36 • November+December 2019 • EC Parent Magazine • ItsYourMagazine.com

Continued from page 34

“ARE YOU KIDDING ME?” HE SHOUTED. “THAT’S SO NOT FAIR! WHY ARE YOU PUNISHING ME? NO ONE I KNOW GOES TO THE FOOTBALL GAMES.” ON AND ON HE RANTED. My husband, Kevin, and I tried to reason with him (again), but this only made him dig his heels in deeper. That is, until Kevin’s cell phone rang. It was his friend Todd, whose son Brandon is one of my son’s best friends. “Oh, Brandon’s already at the football game?” Kevin asked loudly so my son could overhear. After getting a few more details, Kevin hung up. We decided to press the issue one more time. We wanted our son to do more than just go to school. We wanted him to get involved. So we pushed a little more.

“FINE, I’LL GO,” MY SON RELENTED AS HE RAN UPSTAIRS TO CHANGE HIS CLOTHES.

WITHIN FIVE MINUTES, HE WAS OUT THE DOOR, IN THE CAR, AND ON THE WAY TO HIS FIRST HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL GAME. THREE HOURS LATER WHEN WE PICKED HIM UP, HE WAS ALL SMILES AS HE GAVE US A QUICK RECAP OF THE NIGHT. We could have just let the issue slide, allowing our son to stay in his comfort zone. But we knew he needed a push, even if it was to get out and have some fun. v

Lisa Beach is a freelance journalist and copywriter. Her work has been published in The New York Times, USA Today Go Escape, Good Housekeeping, Parents, Eating Well, and dozens more. Check out her writer’s website at www.LisaBeachWrites.com.

SHE SNORES MORE THAN I DO, BUT I STILL LOVE MY HUMAN. — BANDIT adopted 11-26-09

Melted Snowman Cookies FOR EACH COOKIE YOU NEED

• 1 marshmallow • 1 fudge-covered graham cracker • white cookie icing in a squeeze bottle • 5 mini chocolate chips

• ½ of a piece of candy corn (use sharp knife to cut a whole piece lengthwise to make 2 pieces) • 1 pretzel stick broken into 2 pieces • sharp knife

DIRECTIONS

• As needed, prepare cookie icing according to package instructions. • Use cookie icing to glue two chocolate chips to the side of the marshmallow to make eyes—one eye lower than the other. • Squeeze cookie icing onto the top of the fudge graham to create a puddle shape. • While the icing is still wet, press the marshmallow head onto the icing in one corner of the fudge graham. • Press the candy corn piece into the icing puddle at the base of the marshmallow to make a nose. Add a line of chocolate chips to the puddle for buttons and add pretzel stick pieces to make arms.

Watching Frosty the Snowman? These tasty cookies will be the perfect treat for your kids to enjoy!

Cookie Sticks YOU'LL NEED

• Pirouline crème-filled cookie wafers • ½ cup candy melts, any color • ½ cup mini M&Ms • waxed paper

• microwaveable 1 cup measuring cup • paper plate • optional—spoon

DIRECTIONS

• In the measuring cup, melt the candy according to package instructions. • Dip one end of a cookie into the melted candy, then immediately roll the candy-coated end in mini M&Ms and place on the waxed paper. Repeat for the remaining cookies. Note: the cookies can be fragile, so you may want to use a spoon to drizzle the candy onto one end of each cookie. • Let cool completely, then serve.

These Cookie Sticks are a fun, easy-to-make treat— perfect for last-minute holiday parties.

38 • November+December 2019 • EC Parent Magazine • ItsYourMagazine.com

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Holiday Gift Bag YOU'LL NEED

• solid-colored gift bag in a holiday color • 3 feet of seasonal ribbon • a variety of holiday stickers, ribbon scraps, artificial fall leaves or flowers, flat ornaments • double-stick tape • scissors • hot glue gun and glue sticks INSTRUCTIONS

• Use the materials to create a design on the gift bag. Use transparent tape to apply strips of ribbon and the hot glue gun to attach ornaments and artificial leaves and flowers. • Tie a length of seasonal ribbon to the handle of the bag.

For those special gifts that deserve a personal touch.

Cinnamon Pinecone Buddy YOU'LL NEED

• 6-8 inch pinecone • gold or silver glitter paint • ground cinnamon • 2 cinnamon sticks • 2 large wiggle eyes • 3/4-inch pompon for a nose • 6-inch length of ribbon,

twine, or chenille wire (to make a mouth) • small paint brush • 2 paper plates • hot glue gun and glue sticks • 3-foot length of 1½-inch wide holiday ribbon • scissors

INSTRUCTIONS

• Squeeze glitter paint onto a paper plate. Use the paint brush to apply glitter paint to the tops and tips of pinecone petals. • While the paint is still wet, place the pinecone on a paper plate and sprinkle with ground cinnamon. Shake off excess cinnamon. Let dry. • As needed, add more glitter paint and let dry again. • Wrap the seasonal ribbon around the petals at the top of the pinecone and tie a half knot. Then tie the ribbon around the center of the cinnamon sticks to form a bow. Optional—the cinnamon sticks may be hot glued to the sides of the pinecone to make horns or arms instead of tying them with the ribbon. • Use the glue gun to add wiggle eyes and a pompon nose to the tips of pinecone petals. Use a 6-inch length of ribbon, twine, or chenille wire to make a mouth (trim as desired) and hot glue it onto the pinecone 40 • November+December 2019 • EC Parent Magazine • ItsYourMagazine.com

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

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

Get ready, set a time, and read!

Voluntary Prekindergarten

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

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

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

SNUGGLE PUPPY: A LITTLE LOVE SONG

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

9780761130673

Full of joy, hugs and smooches! This delightful story also combines with a tune that infants will enjoy. Parents, cuddle up to your infants while reading this tender-hearted rendition of what the joy of love is all about. Th e Early Le arnDeveloping in g Co alitio naofrelationship the Eme r al disCoast's on i s brain to ACTIVITY: crucialmi tossi infant development. Creating a strong bond encourages su ppo rt th e su cce ss o f e ve ry chi l d and the i r fami l y thr ough social development and trust. As you sing the story, hug and give your baby “smooches” as the book details. Then mainqu ality e arly e du catio n an d car e . tain eye contact with your infant while talking and smiling. Infants 6-8 months old will consciously smile back at you. Child Care Questions?

We provide free resource and referral services to local families HAPPY

e g a r d iDodd, n g c h iISBN-13: l d c a r e . 0763696420 By rEmma

Toddlers P a r e n t enjoy L i n e : ( eye-catching, 8 5 0 ) 8 3 3 - 9 3 3 3short, and sweet stories, and this book certainly has what they want. A mother owl and a baby owl are depicted enjoying their everyday happy moments. This provides toddlers with relatable ideas about what it means to be happy.

oll in Florida’s EE Voluntary ekindergarten

ation Progra

ACTIVITY:

Early Le ar ni ng Coal i ti on of the Eme r al d Coast

Create113 a 0happy a sad N Egl iface n P arand kway, S hal face i mar , together FL 32579 using paper plates and crayons. Hold a happy face in front of your face and play (8 5 0 )peek-a-boo 833-3627 with the plate. Do the same for the sad face. While playing the game, model www.el c-ec.oto rg the plate. Ask toddlers what makes them happy. If they need a nudge answerthe facial expression that connects ing, discuss things they do that make them feel happy. Give your toddler a turn and match their chosen paper-plate expression with your own. This helps children understand how they are feeling so one day they will be able to communicate how they feel to the people around them.

SUGAR COOKIES: SWEET LITTLE LESSONS ON LOVE

By Amy Krouse Rosenthal, ISBN-13: 0061740721

Baking cookies will never feel the same after reading this book to your preschooler. The rich language described in the book matches the rich character-building actions when baking up ideas of ways to give to other people.

ACTIVITY: Roll up your sleeves and bake! What better way to teach the joy of giving than by showing action! Ask your preschooler who they would like to give cookies to. Provide examples of people who have helped them or could use a kind gesture—from teachers to police officers. Even friends and family would love a nice cookie. Create a cookie recipe together on a large sheet of paper, say the words as you write them down, and let your preschooler make plenty of suggestions. What type of cookies will you make? How many? How will you wrap the cookies? The possibilities are endless—just like the joy of giving.

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

EC Parent Magazine • November+December 2019 • 41

Light-up Ornament YOU'LL NEED

• battery-operated tea light • 2 small wiggle eyes • 6-inch length of narrow ribbon • permanent markers— red and black

• variety of colors of card stock • 2 green pompons (if making snowman) • hot glue gun and glue sticks • scissors • pencil

INSTRUCTIONS

• Hot glue the ends of the ribbon together to the back of the tea light to form a loop for hanging the ornament. • Hot glue the wiggle eyes to the top of the light above the bulb (nose). • To make ear muffs, cut a strip of card stock and hot glue the ends so it lays across the top of the head. Hot glue a pompon to each end of the paper strip to make muffs where the ears would be. • To make reindeer horns, draw a simple horn shape on card stock and cut it out. Use this horn as a pattern to cut a second horn. Hot glue the horns to the back of the tea light. • Use permanent markers to draw a mouth and add color to the cheeks.

Character Candy Bar Wrapper YOU'LL NEED

• wrapped candy bar (about 2½ x 6 inches) • white card stock • 2 small wiggle eyes • 1 small pompon nose • solid-color cuffed baby sock • 8-inch length of narrow ribbon

• colored markers • scissors • transparent tape • ruler • pencil • hot glue gun and glue stick

INSTRUCTIONS

• Draw a rectangle on the card stock equal to the length of the candy bar and the distance around the bar plus 1 inch. Cut out the rectangle. • Wrap the cut card stock around the candy bar and crease along the edges of the bar. The ends of the card stock should overlap at the back of the bar. Remove the wrapper from the bar. • Lay the wrapper with the outside facing up. Use the pencil to lightly draw a line on the front of the wrapper 1 inch from the top (to reserve space for the hat). • Below the line on the wrapper, put dots where each eye and the nose will be attached. • Use the markers to draw the hair, mouth, clothes, etc., of a holiday character. • Use the hot glue gun to attach the wiggle eyes and pompon nose. • Wrap the character around the candy bar and use transparent tape to close the ends in the back. • Slide the cuff of the baby sock over the top of the candy bar. Tie the narrow ribbon around the sock into a bow to form a hat shape. Trim off the toe of the sock and fringe the end of the sock above the ribbon. 42 • November+December 2019 • EC Parent Magazine • ItsYourMagazine.com

TEEN TALK

OFF TO COLLEGE As the cool temperatures approach and the holiday season is taking shape, freshman like me are wrapping up our first semester in college. The first few months have held many adventures and teachable moments, including being flexible between our class schedule and work, balancing budgets, or keeping our dorms/apartments together. Adulthood has taken on many forms. There have been lows, like having the air conditioning go out three times in one week, or needing to go to the grocery store after a long shift. There have been highs, like the freedom to make your own decisions, and the exciting bonding with coworkers. There’s been stress; there’s been laughter; there has been a roller coaster of emotions. Yet we are learning and growing all on our own. We are experiencing life in all of the best and worst ways.

I have found myself becoming very nervous over certain class projects, or working by myself for the first time. I have had to find new routes to drive and new ways to shop for food or housing items. I have had to tend to simple issues such as a slow dryer or broken vacuum all on my own, things that my parents always took care of. It has been completely foreign and strange to be responsible for all of these things, especially regarding working or driving. While it is helpful to have our parents to assist us and give advice, it is also helpful to allow us the space we need to create our own path—to help us by quietly letting us become who we are going to be. It makes me feel wonderful to know I have completed something on my own and solved these issues as an adult. As the new year approaches, things are changing. It is intricate, chaotic, and intense, but it is lovely and much needed. Make sure to listen to those you love, to be there, and to show your understanding for the stressful parts. Make sure to check in; move away from judgmental language or behavior, and offer support whenever you can. Your children are going to need you, but they’re also going to need to find help within themselves. Growth is coming; allow it the space to do so. v

Nia

COLLEGE FRESHMAN, AGE 18

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FUN GUIDE CALENDAR OF EVENTS

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

Holiday Baking Class

Tues, Nov 26-Wed, Nov 27 – Destin Chef Jim Shirah is teaching a holiday baking class at the Destin Community Center for children aged 8-14. Each student will learn how to bake and bring home several holiday cookies, treats, and more. For information, call 850-654-5184.

Thanksgiving at Harbor Docks

Thurs, Nov 28 – Destin (11:00a.m.)

Seasonal Baytowne on Ice

Sat, Oct 26-Sat, Feb 1 – Baytowne Wharf Get out the old ice skates and get in the winter spirit. Baytowne’s seasonal ice rink is the perfect opportunity to share some of your favorite holiday traditions! For more information, visit www.baytownewharf.com.

Silver Sands Santa Arrival

Sat, Nov 23 – Miramar Beach (11:00a.m.) Ring in the holiday season with Santa’s arrival, featuring Kris Kringle’s grand entrance on a fire truck! Kids can gather around the courtyard in front of Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH for photos, face painting, and other surprises. The first 50 families to arrive at the event will receive a complimentary goody bag with a $20 Disney Store Outlet gift card. For information, visit www.destinchamber.com.

Harbor Docks Restaurant, in partnership with Habitat for Humanity in Okaloosa County and Destin Harvest, is providing a free traditional Thanksgiving Day feast for anyone in the community. Volunteers will serve the meal and donations will benefit the two participating charities. For more information, visit www.destinchamber.com/events.

will be music, refreshments, and a visit from Santa Claus. Donations of canned food will be collected for families in need. For more information, call 850-654-5184.

Food for Thought Brunch with Santa

Sat, Dec 7 – Santa Rosa Beach (10:30a.m.) The Food for Thought Outreach Full Circle Kitchen is hosting brunch with Santa. Tickets include brunch, bottomless mimosas, beer, or cocktails, holiday crafts, holiday décor, music, and photos with Santa. For more information, visit www.destinchamber.com.

Here Comes Santa Claus

Sat, Nov 30 – Baytowne Wharf (6:00p.m.) Get in the winter spirit at Baytowne Wharf! Cheer Santa on as he makes his way to Baytowne, and watch as he lights the Village tree. Enjoy face painting, kids’ crafts, fireworks, and more. For more information, visit www. baytownewharf.com.

12 Nights of Lights

Wed, Dec 4-Sat, Dec 21 – Baytowne Wharf Enjoy a festive light show every Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday leading up to Christmas. Watch three dazzling shows on the Village tree at 6:00p.m., 7:00p.m. and 8:00p.m. For information, visit www.baytownewharf.com.

Destin Christmas Tree Lighting Thurs, Dec 5 – Destin (6:00p.m.)

Head to the Destin Community Center for their 33rd annual Christmas tree lighting! There

44 • November+December 2019 • EC Parent Magazine • ItsYourMagazine.com

A Downtown Holiday 2019

Sat, Dec 7 – Fort Walton Beach (12:00p.m.) This event is fun for the whole family. The event kicks off with a tree lighting at 5:30p.m. There will also be shopping with local vendors and businesses, food vendors and restaurants, live entertainment, kids’ activities, and more! For information, visit www.fwbchamber.org.

The Living Nativity

Sat, Dec 14 – Laurel Hill (5:30p.m.) Head over to the Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church where they will be having their annual Living Nativity. After enjoying the Nativity, there will be refreshments and Christmas cheer in the fellowship hall. For more information, visit www.crestviewchamber.com.

Tuba Christmas

Baytowne Countdown | NYE

Tues, Dec 31 – Baytowne Wharf (6:00p.m.) Bring in the new year with The Village of Baytowne Wharf’s end-of-the-year celebration! Enjoy the family-friendly evening with face painting, kids’ activities, live music, and fireworks displays at 8:00p.m. and midnight. Featuring live music until 1:00a.m. For information, visit www.baytownewharf.com.

Sat, Dec 14 – Baytowne Wharf (5:00p.m.) Enjoy this unique holiday event with some of your favorite holiday classics, and visits with Santa! For more information, visit www.baytownewharf.com.

33rd Annual Destin Boat Parade

Sun, Dec 15 – HarborWalk Village (1:00p.m.)

Christmas Parade

Sat, Dec 7 – Crestview (5:30p.m.) Head to historic downtown Crestview for the annual Christmas parade! The theme this year is “Toyland.” For more information, visit www. crestviewchamber.com.

Ice Skating Extravaganza

Fri, Dec 13 – Baytowne Wharf (6:00p.m.) Baytowne on Ice is hosting its 4th annual Ice Skating Extravaganza! This event will feature two performances by Dylan David Moscovitch and Kristin Cowan. For more information, visit www.baytownewharf.com.

Destin Christmas Parade

Sat, Dec 14 – Destin (10:00a.m.) The City of Destin’s 35th annual Christmas parade is back and better than ever! This year’s theme is “Santa’s Workshop.” Call 850654-5184 for more information.

The celebration begins at Boshamps where boats festively decorated with holiday lights head down the harbor. This event is fun for the whole family, and ends with a bang as fireworks light up the sky! For more information, visit www.emeraldgrande.com.

Noel Night

Thurs, Dec 19 – Crestview (6:00p.m.) Head to the Crestview Public Library for an evening full of holiday traditions, music, crafts, activities, games, and more, from multiple cultures. For more information, visit www. crestviewchamber.com.

Winter Wonderland

Sat, Dec 21 – Baytowne Wharf (9:00a.m.) The Village of Baytowne Wharf’s Event Plaza is turning into a winter wonderland full of real snow! Slide down the ice slide, make snow angels, and enjoy a day of frosty fun. For information, visit www.baytownewharf.com.

The Arts Elf Jr.

Sat, Nov 9 – Miramar Beach If you believe that the best way to spread some Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear, then the Emerald Coast Theatre Company has a role for you! “Elf Jr”—touching and hilarious story of Buddy the Elf. The cost is $375 per person. For information, visit www.destinchamber.com.

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Prejudice, honoring the legacy of Jane Austen’s humor and wit. Find out what lies ahead in Miss Bennett’s future as she explores the complexities of family and love. For more information, visit www.destinchamber.com.

NFSO Presents: Holiday Pops

Fri, Dec 13 – Mattie Kelly Arts Center (7:30p.m.) Maestro Christopher Confessore leads the Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra’s annual Holiday Pops concert featuring the Northwest Florida Symphony Chorale. Holiday tunes will fill you with the holiday spirit! For information, visit www.mattiekellyartscenter.org.

12th Annual Blues, Brews, & BBQ

Sat, Nov 9 – HarborWalk Village (12:00p.m.) This barbecue block party will fill the docks with the delicious aroma of smoky ribs and pulled pork. Over 15 of the area’s finest restaurants will compete in a spirited and fun BBQ competition, offering samples of barbecue and specialty sauces. Prizes will be awarded to the top winners in each category. Bring the family for a day of food, fun, and music! Visit www.emeraldgrande.com.

Touch a Truck

Disney’s Aladdin Kids

Sat, Nov 9 – Destin Commons (12:00p.m.)

Tues, Nov 12 – Defuniak Springs

Bring the little ones to the Destin Commons for a day of family fun at this year’s Touch-aTruck event, where they will be able to check out their favorite trucks. This event will benefit the Junior League of the Emerald Coast. Visit www.destinchamber.com/events.

Emerald Coast Theatre Company invites you to explore a whole new world with fun characters, music, adventure, and more! This production is adapted from the classic Disney animated film, and the cost is $360 per person. Visit www.destinchamber.com.

13th Annual Holiday Craft Show

Mad for Mozart

Fri, Nov 15 – Pensacola (10:00a.m.)

Sat, Nov 23 – Destin (7:30p.m.) The Young Concert Artists Award winner, violinist SooBeen Lee, will join Sinfonia to perform Mozart’s Concerto for Violin #4, K. 218, D Major at Grace Lutheran Church. Also on the program are the Overture to Don Giovanni, K. 527 and the iconic Symphony no. 41, Jupiter, K. 551, C Major. Visit www.destinchamber.com.

to the Events Plaza Lawn for a jam-packed weekend of incredible talent. For a musical line-up and more information, visit www.baytownewharf.com.

Head to the Destin Community Center for their 13th annual Holiday Craft Show. There will be hand-crafted jewelry, woodcarvings, watercolor paintings, and more. Admission to the public is free. For more information, call 850-654-5184.

Pensacola Maker Faire

Runs, Walks & More 40th Annual Toys 4 Tots Ride on the Emerald Coast Sun, Nov 17 – Destin

The parade and festivities will begin at the Mullet Festival site at 11:30 a.m. There will be music, food, games, and more! All proceeds will benefit the Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center and Children in Crisis. Both organizations will have booths at the Mullet Festival site, where people are encouraged to drop off toy donations. For information, visit www.destinchamber.com/events.

Sat, Nov 16 – Destin (9:30a.m.) Maker Faire is a gathering of fascinating people who enjoy learning and who love sharing what they do. From engineers to artists, Maker Faire is a venue for these makers to show off their hobbies, experiments, and projects. For more information, visit www.destinchamber.com.

Bowling for Business Tournament and Lunch Fri, Dec 6 – Destin (11:00a.m.)

Mystery Science Theater 3000 LIVE: The Great Cheesy Movie Circus Tour

Mon, Dec 2 – Mattie Kelly Arts Center (7:30p.m.) Join show creator Joel Hodgson and his movieriffing robots Tom Servo, Crow, and Gypsy, as they take you on a hilarious roller-coaster ride through some of the cheesiest films ever made. Experience this comedy phenomenon at this universally acclaimed live event. Visit www.mattiekellyartscenter.org.

Miss Bennett’s Christmas at Pemberly

Thurs, Dec 12-Sat, Dec 14 – Miramar Beach (7:30p.m.) This holiday tale is a charming celebration of fan-favorite characters from Pride and

Take your lunch break at Hurricane Lanes for the Bowling for Business Tournament and Lunch. This event is a mini-bowling tournament with the opportunity for business networking. Reservations are required. For more information, call 850-837-6241.

Sounds Fun Tribute Weekend

Fri, Nov 8-Sun, Nov 10 – Baytowne Wharf The Village of Baytowne Wharf is bringing back Tribute Weekend! Rock out the weekend and enjoy live music from great tribute bands. Grab your blankets and lawn chairs and head

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Sparkling Wine and Holiday Lights

Sat, Nov 16 – Baytowne Wharf (4:00p.m.) Start the holiday season with a special sparkling event during the 7th annual Sparkling Wine and Holiday Lights. This event features more than 30 champagnes and delicious appetizers at featured Village restaurants. Guests can enjoy live music and a sneak peek of our first tree lighting of the season. For more information, visit www.baytownewharf.com.

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

7th Annual Bourbon at the Bay Thurs, Nov 21 – Destin (5:30p.m.)

Kick off the holiday season in style at the 7th annual Bourbon at the Bay. Sample bourbon, scotch, champagne, and bourbon-infused fondue from The Melting Pot. For information, call 850-837-6241.

Emerald Coast Science Center’s Anniversary Celebration Tues, Nov 26 – Fort Walton Beach (10:00a.m.)

Celebrating their 5th anniversary in their Memorial Parkway location, the Emerald Coast Science Center is gearing up for a major celebration. Prepare for a fun-filled day for your whole family and free cake! For more information, visit www.fwbchamber.org.

Fall for All at Emerald Coast Science Center Wed, Nov 27 – Fort Walton Beach (10:00a.m.)

Bring the family to the Emerald Coast Science Center and spend fall break with fun Makerspace crafts, games in SMALLab, a Creature Feature! Visit www.fwbchamber.org.

Reoccurring Local Poetry & Music Jam

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

Wednesday Night Concert Series

Every Wednesday – Baytowne Wharf (6:00p.m.) The Wednesday Night Concert Series is back at Baytowne. Enjoy the great weather and live entertainment! The concert series features local and regional talent on the Events Plaza Stage. For more information, visit www.baytownewharf.com.

BOTE Wednesday Paddle

Every Wednesday – Destin (5:00p.m.) Join the BOTE team every Wednesday for a paddle at Norriego Point. Take in the beautiful Destin scenery and make memories that will last a lifetime. For more information, call 850460-2250.

Farmer’s Market at Grand Boulevard

Every Saturday – Miramar Beach (9:00a.m.) Start your Saturday at Grand Boulevard Farmers’ Market. There will be fresh-from-thefarm produce, local seafood, homemade dips and salsas, organic juices, homemade soaps, and more! There will even be organic pet treats for your furry friends! For more information, visit www.destinchamber.com.

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

20 GREAT REASONS TO VOLUNTEER 1. Help others 2. Make a difference 3. Find purpose 4. Enjoy a meaningful conversation 5. Connect with your community 6. Feel involved 7. Contribute to a cause that you care about 8. Use your skills in a productive way 9. Develop new skills 10. Meet new people 11. Explore new areas of interest 12. Meet good people 13. Impress your mom 14. Impress yourself 15. Expand your horizons 16. Get out of the house 17. Make new friends 18. Strengthen your resume 19. Feel better about yourself 20. [ Your favorite reason ] For more information about volunteering, visit VolunteerMatch at https://www.volunteermatch.org/

ItsYourMagazine.com • EC Parent Magazine • November+December 2019 • 47

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