FT Parent Winter 2012-13

activities

Five Quick Day Trips

health

First Trip to the Dentist

life & learning

Math Without Tears

media

Music! Books! Movies!

Children Learn Fast, Eat Better When They Help

Cooking with Kids

winter 2012-13

Midlands’ Magazine for Smart Families

essexhomes.net/ebuilt

A better way of building for your today,and their tomorrow.

Since 1976, 89.7 WMHK has been a source of encouragement for central South Carolina. Through music, teaching, and outreach we are helping to make South Carolina a better place to live and raise a family.

The 89.7 WMHK Family Friendly Promise.We Promise to never say anything that will embarrass you in front of your kids. We Promise to keep you informed of what’s happening in a way that’s friendly to your entire family. We Promise to play music that will encourage you. And, that as we’re having fun, it will always be good, clean fun. We Promise to keep this radio station designed to bring you closer to God.

We’re committed to being a radio station that’s safe for your whole family. That’s our promise to you. If you ever hear us notliving up that promise, we’d love to hear from you. Our phone number is 803.754.5400.

Just another reason 89.7 WMHK is Helping to Make South Carolina a Better Place to Live and Raise a Family.

At our website, wmhk.com, you’ll find a lot of great resources for you and your family!Concert Calendar - Your friends will wonder how you always seem to know when and where all the great events will be.Events Page - Find out what your local church is doing: festivals, concerts, support groups, yard sales, etc.Music Team - We value your opinion! Every 2 weeks, you’ll get a chance to vote on the music played on WMHK!“WMHK Pink Link” - A place that’s uniquely for women! Find out where women’s Bible studies are taking place,

talk about women’s health issues, crafts, recipes, and much more!

wmhk.comfacebook.com/897WMHK • twitter@897WMHK • 89.7 WMHK app is available for your smart phone• listen online at wmhk.com

14374 General full-page ad_14374 General full-page ad 11/1/12 1:15 PM Page 1

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contents activities 6 Family-Friendly Trips

10 Polygraph Lounge

12 Listings

health 17 Happy Meals for Real

21 Preparing for the First Dental Visit

23 Listings

Published by Portico Media SC1534 Main Street, Columbia, SC 29201

(803) 765.0707 free-times.com

EDITORIAL EDITOR: Dan Cook

[email protected] | ext. 133

LISTINGS EDITOR: Patrick Wall

CONTRIBUTORS: Allison Caldwell, Anna Gelbman Edmonds, Heather

Green, Kevin Oliver, Jonathan Sharpe, Katie Alice Walker, Rodney Welch

PRODUCTIONPRODUCTION MANAGER: Lisa Willis

GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Wilbert Fields

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ADVERTISING ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER: Kerry Powers

[email protected] | ext. 128

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PORTICO MEDIA SCFrank Dubec, Group Publisher Bill Chapman, Chairman

calendar 29 Events and Programming

life & learning 33 Dating Your Spouse

37 Math Without Tears

38 Listings

media 41 Book Reviews

43 Music and DVD Reviews

44 Apps

45 Listings

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6 activities

If you’re looking for something new and different to do as a family, consider taking a field trip. Teachers

know that getting kids out of the classroom and hitting the road not only stirs up excitement, but also encourages learning. Lessons in science, math, literature and history are a lot more fun when you put the paper, pencils and books away. Parents can borrow this principle when looking for unique and fun activities to enjoy with their children.

Below are suggestions for family-friendly day trip destinations for kids aged 5 to 75.

Historic Brattonsville1444 State Road S-46-165 (McConnells, S.C.)803-684-2327 chmuseums.org/brattonsvilleAdmission: FreeDrive time: 1 hour, 24 minutes

Historic Brattonsville offers a historical look at Upcountry culture and African-Ameri-can history through historical plantation struc-tures and farming techniques presented by costumed interpreters. The main attraction on this 775-acre site is Hightower Hall, the Bratton family plantation home built in 1856. Ques-tions and hands-on exploration are encour-aged. Be sure to click on the Kids & Families link of the website for fun activities that will keep the younger set busy along the river and nature trails — and in the car on the way home. Special events and exhibits, including candle-light tours, are listed on the website.

Monetta Drive-In Theater5822 Columbia Highway North (Monetta, S.C.)803-685-7949thebigmo.comAdmission: Adults $7, Kids $4 (ages 4 to 11)Drive time: 49 minutes

The Big Mo is the best movie deal around: a double feature for less than the price of a single movie in an indoor theater. And you’re welcome to bring your own food, though plenty is available at the full-service conces-sion stand. Remember sitting in a packed car listening to the crackle of the window speaker?

Family-Friendly Day Trips

By Anna Gelbman Edmonds

Kids learn old-time dancing (above) and about farming (below) at Historic Brattonsville. Courtesy photos

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Well, bring your lawn chairs, lift the tailgate or stretch out in the bed of your truck and turn on your vehicle’s radio to listen to the movie in clear stereo. Trivia contests during intermis-sion offer winners free food and other prizes. The website answers every possible question you might have, including current showings and coming attractions.

Swan Lake Iris Gardens822 W. Liberty St. (Sumter, S.C.)803-436-2500sumtersc.gov/swan-lake-iris-gardens.aspxAdmission: FreeDrive time: 1 hour, 4 minutes

The time for Japanese irises will be in the spring, especially from mid-May to early June. But Swan Lake Iris Gardens is beautiful all year round: The blackwater Swan Lake draws some 250,000 visitors per year and is the only public park in the country where you’ll find all eight species of swans. You’ll be tempted to bring bread, crackers or popcorn to feed the

the keeper, trail trivia tours and vulture feed-ings are included in the price of admission. (A behind-the-scenes tour of the bird hospital and other sights is not included on the nature trail, but is offered for $5 above regular admission.) Beyond being fascinated by the birds and sur-roundings, visitors will learn about the center’s efforts in environmental stewardship and the conservation of birds of prey. Don’t miss the Osprey Observation Deck, and check the web-site for special events and exhibits.

Dupont Planetarium471 University Parkway (Aiken, S.C.)803- 641-3654rpsec.usca.edu/planetarium/Admission: General Shows: $4.50 Adults, $2.50 students 4K-12Digital Shows: $5.50 Adults, $2.50 students 4K-12Drive time: 1 hour

The fun begins while waiting in line with the walk-in kaleidoscope and planet scales that tell how much you weigh throughout the solar system. More than 20 different shows are offered on various aspects of astronomy, including weather, telescopes and ancient lore. Learn how runaway slaves used astronomy and song to travel the Underground Railroad, join explorers on a Hawaiian volcano observa-tory, or drive a space truck through a virtual space station. In December, the Tis the Season show explains the connection between astron-omy and religious and cultural holiday cus-toms. The observatory that houses the Bechtel Telescope is open for viewing after each show. Reservations are encouraged. Children under age 4 are not permitted in the planetarium. See website for discount and special admis-sion prices.

Above left Carolina Raptor Center. Above right: Swan Lake Iris Gardens. Below left: Dupont Planetarium. Courtesy photos

birds, but please don’t — they’re already fed a balanced diet and eating food provided by guests can make the birds unhealthy. Ducks, turtles, frogs and other wildlife — including, occasionally, alligators — abound. Look for the whimsical, life-like sculptures of children at play along the garden paths. During the month of December, more than 1 million twinkling lights illuminate the garden in the Fantasy of Lights display.

Carolina Raptor Center6000 Sample Road (Huntersville, N.C.) 704- 875-6521carolinaraptorcenter.orgAdmission: Adults $10, Students $5 (5K through college)Drive time: 1 hour, 48 minutes

Hawks and falcons are only the tip of the iceberg: Over 25 species of raptors are on display at this outdoor exhibit. A three-quarter-mile self-guided nature trail is set up like a zoo. Live bird presentations, meeting

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winter workshopsThursday, December 20 and Friday, December 21, 2012

For information on this and other family programs, contact the CMA at 803.799.2810 or columbiamuseum.org

Unicorns, Yetis, Dragons – Oh My! (Ages 4 – 5k) 9:00am – NoonExplore the galleries looking for all of the Museum’s magical creatures. Then in the studio, using a variety of materials, young explorers will become absorbed in a world of imagination as they create unique projects based on the mythical creatures found in the museum. $75/$60 for Kids Plus! Members and above.

Ready, Set, Rothko! (Grades 1 – 5) 9:00 am – 4:00 pmGet ready to mix it up during this two day workshop! Young artists will learn the basics of paint by studying color theory, mixing their own paint colors and making paint glazes. Participants will explore the concepts of complementary colors, analogous colors and luminosity while creating their very own works of art. $90/$72 for Kids Plus! Members and above.

The Alchemy of Art (Grades 6 – 8) 9:00 am – 4:00 pmYoung artists become Renaissance masters as they learn the history and science behind works of art while touring the galleries. In the studio, get your hands dirty learning to make your own materials, from paints to pastels! Students will use these materials and others to create masterpieces inspired by centuries of traditional art forms. $90/$72 for Kids Plus! Members and above.

Portfolio Building 101 (Grades 9 – 12) 9:00 am – 4:00 pmLearn how to build your own portfolio in this workshop taught by Adjunct Professor of Fine Arts at Winthrop University, Dustin Shores. Participants will learn how to photograph, organize and present artwork to colleges and universities. This class is not to be missed by aspiring art students. $90/$72 for Kids Plus! Members and above.

Celebrate winter at the CMA with two-day Art School workshops just for kids. Winter Workshops enrich the lives of students on break with a variety of

opportunities that make learning about art fun!

1515 Main Street in downtown Columbia, SC Family programs presented by

10 activities

For parents, what passes as family entertainment these days can sometimes be a true test of endurance. If you can actually name

all the creatures of Gabba Land and shudder to think of Max and Ruby on ice, make plans now to step into the Polygraph Lounge.

Polygraph Lounge is the second of three Family Series performances during its inau-gural season at Harbison Theatre at Midlands Technical College. The group will hit Colum-bia on Feb. 23. These family-friendly, weekend matinees are designed to entertain children and their parents with high-caliber perfor-mances that bring a certain high-tech, theatri-cal panache to the kiddie show genre.

“Mike Harley, of USC’s Southern Exposure Music Series, and I were discussing ways for our organizations to partner, and I tossed out the idea of his visiting artists being a part of our family series, if appropriate,” says Katie Fox, director of theatre operations. “‘I know

just the group,’ he said. ‘Polygraph Lounge.’”“Mike was right,” Fox says. “Polygraph

Lounge represents exactly the sort of smart, innovative, engaging performances that MTC believes all young people deserve. The content will be kid-friendly, but the artistry will be what parents would expect for themselves.”

So what (or who) in the world is Polygraph Lounge? Enter Mark Stewart and Rob Schwim-mer. Their names might not sound familiar, but you know the musicians they’ve backed for the past 40 years: Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder, Queen Latifah, Antonio Carlos Jobim and oth-ers. This talented music and comedy duo “spe-cializes in musical mayhem with didjeridoo, theremin, melodica, grand piano, tin whistle, electric guitar, two fine singing voices, a pair of rapier-sharp wits, choreography for the whole audience, and a battery of handmade, one-of-a-kind instruments.”

The end result? A funny, clever, fast-paced rock concert-slash-variety show that pleases the whole family — and that’s no joke.

Polygraph Lounge: A Kid’s Show for ParentsHarbison Theatre’s 2013 Family SeriesBy Allison Caldwell

Polygraph Lounge performs at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 23. Tickets are $10 each and available online at harbisontheatre.org.

The final Family Series show of the season will be the Southeast Family Puppet Slam, a summit of avant-garde puppeteers from throughout the Southeast, on May 11. This mesmerizing show is organized by local professional puppeteers Lyon Hill and Kimi Maeda, who also presented the Spork in Hand Puppet Slam seen at the 2012 Indie Grits Festival.

Two-ticket packages for both shows are available for $18 each.

To schedule your appointment, call 803-520-5580 or visit SouthLakeDMD.com 1223 South Lake Drive, Lexington

12 activities

All4Fun Party Rentalall4funbouncehouses.com

Rents bounce houses and slides.

Bouncerific921 Longtown Rd.865-7939, bouncerific.com

No, Bouncerific isn’t a place to send your kid to learn to be a doorman; it’s an indoor party and play center for kids and families. Inflatable bouncers, slides, dress-up, games, more.

Capital Karatecapitalkaratesc.com

Develops character, discipline and focus as well as physical conditioning and skills.

Carolina CrossFit1804 Blanding St., carolinacrossfit.com

Offers kids’ Crossfit classes.

Chuck E. Cheese’s1775 Burning Tree Dr.772-0435, chuckecheese.com

The motto of the nationwide family entertainment center chain: Where a kid can be a kid. Often home to birthdays, play groups and school fundraising

events, Chuck E. Cheese’s features games, rides, prizes, food and entertain-ment for all ages.

City of Columbia Parks & Recreationcolumbiasc.net/parksandrec

Family-friendly Columbia boasts 52 public parks where your wee ones can run and jump and skip and play, plus a host of community gardens, three swim-ming pools, one splash pad water park, and a public skate park. The city also offers a host of youth sports — baseball, basketball, football, golf, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, volleyball — and out-door environmental programs.

Colonial Life Arena801 Lincoln St.coloniallifearena.com

When Disney princesses and the Sesame Street gang come to Columbia, this is where they play.

Columbia Arts Academy787-0931, columbiaartsacademy.com

The largest music school in the state of South Carolina, the Columbia Arts Academy boasts a large and qualified staff to train your kids in electric and acoustic guitar, voice, piano, bass, drums and year-round rock band classes.

Columbia Blowfish254-3474, blowfishbaseball.com

Take ‘em out to the ballgame: During the summer months, Capital City Stadi-um hosts the Columbia Blowfish, which play in the Coastal Plain League, a col-legiate wood-bat summer league. And, yes: They sell peanuts and Crackerjack.

Columbia Children’s Theatre3400 Forest Dr, 691-4548 columbiachildrenstheatre.com

Professional theater company for young audiences and families.

Columbia Marionette Theatre401 Laurel St., 252-7366cmtpuppet.org

Founded in 1988 by famed puppe-teer Allie Scollon and her son John, the Columbia Marionette Theatre has es-tablished itself as a premiere children’s theater in South Carolina. Its mission is to entertain and educate children and adults through the long-standing tradi-tion and artistry of puppetry.

With the myriad options for children’s programming on television these days, it’s tempting to plop your kid down in front of the flat-screen to keep him or her occupied. But kids like to be active, and we know you

dig that whole quality-time shebang. So we have put together a select list of places where you and junior can play … and play together.

Columbia Museum of Art1515 Main St.799-2810, columbiamuseum.org

Offers plenty of fun programming for kids, from its Passport to Art semi-monthly open studio program to its weekly Wee Wednesday art exploration sessions to its summer camps and school programs.

Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum301 Gervais St.737-8095, www.crr.sc.gov

For more than a century, the Confed-erate Relic Room and Military Museum’s has collected and preserved the military history of this state.

Congaree National Park776-4396, nps.gov/cong

This 22,000-acre park boasts the largest old-growth, floodplain forest on the continent. It’s also an International Biosphere Reserve, a Globally Important Bird Area and a National Natural Land-mark. Activities include hiking, boating, camping, canoeing, fishing, kayaking, nature walks and more. Located in Hop-kins, 20 miles southeast of Columbia.

Cottle Strawberry Farm2533 Trotter Rd.695-1714, cottlestrawberryfarm.com

This 30-plus-year-old strawberry farm tucked in Southeast Columbia is open to the public every spring — usu-ally from April through May, and some-times into June. Mmm … freshly picked strawberries.

Dreher Island State Recreation Park3677 State Park Rd.364-4152, southcarolinaparks.com

Located 30 miles northwest of Co-lumbia in Prosperity, the Dreher Island recreation area consists of three islands encompassing 12 miles of shoreline on Lake Murray. Especially popular for fish-ing and boating, Dreher Island also offers lakefront camping, cabin and villa rent-als, water skiing and picnicking.

Drew Park Splash Pad2101 Walker Solomon Waydrewwellnesscenter.com

Sure, there’s a playground, a jogging track and a gazebo, but you’re coming here to get wet in the gigantic spray pad and lighted fountain. (Many of the city’s public parks offer smaller spray pools, too.)

EdVenture Children’s Museum211 Gervais St.779-3100, edventure.org

The South’s largest children’s muse-um, with more than 70,000 square feet of cool stuff to keep the kids occupied.

Plex Indoor Sports has two locations: by the Village at Sandhill and in Irmo, off the Peak exit on I-26. Courtesy photo

Come see why kids love living in Columbia’s most successful master-planned community!

Homes from the low $100’s - $1M+

Countless places for yourSuper Hero to play, grow, explore . . .and still be home in time for dinner.

Office: (803) 736-5253 100 Lake Carolina Blvd. Columbia, SC 29229

www.lakecarolina.com

Scan QR Code to find our moreabout Lake Carolina!

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Frankie’s Fun Park140 Parkridge Dr.781-2342, frankiesfunpark.com

This Harbison-area entertainment center packs three go-kart tracks, three 18-hole mini-golf courses, bat-ting cages, bumper boats, an arcade, a 5,000-square foot multi-tiered laser tag arena and a super-tall drop zone that says “In your face, gravity!” into 14 acres filled with fun for all ages. What, do you hate fun or something?

Flying High Academyflyinghighacademysc.com

Dance, tumbling, gymnastics and cheerleading programs.

Harbison State Forest896-8890, state.sc.us/forest/refharb.htm

If you didn’t know it was there, you’d never expect to find 2,177 acres of forest along the sprawling mess that is Broad River Road. But there it is — one of the largest public green spaces inside the city limits of a metropolitan area in the eastern United States. Features more than 16 miles of roads and trails (popular for biking) and a canoe landing.

Irmo-Chapin Recreation Commissionicrc.net

The Irmo-Chapin Recreation Com-mission offers kids sports, programs and

activities at Crooked Creek Park, Saluda Shoals Park and Seven Oaks Park.

Laugh N Leap647-960, laughnleap.com

Need to buy or rent an inflatable bounce house, water slide, dunk tank or obstacle course? Laugh N Leap has you covered.

Lexington County Recreation Commissionlcrac.com

Offers youth sports, programs and activities at parks, playgrounds and activity centers in Lexington County.

Lexington County Soccer Clublexingtoncountysoccerclub.org

Live in Lexington Country? Think your kid’s the next Ronaldo? Sign him or her up with this club team, which offers playing options from recreational to elite traveling squads.

Little Gym2005 N. Beltline Blvd., 738-1115thelittlegym.com

The Little Gym is an experiential learning and physical development center offering children’s physical activi-ties centered on movement, music and learning.

The Mad Platter3101 Millwood Ave.771-8080, mymadplatter.com

Art, studies have shown, makes kids smarter. So take your tykes here, a paint-your-own pottery studio, where they can throw clay, paint plates and explore their creative sides.

Monkey Joe’s171 Newland Rd.788-1102, monkeyjoes.com/columbia

For kids, Monkey Joe’s offers a place to monkey around, with wall-to-wall inflatable slides, jumps, climbing walls and obstacle courses. And for parents, there’s comfortable seating, free Wi-Fi, concessions and sports on large, flat-screen TVs.

My Gym110 Forum Dr., 788-1230, my-gym.com

A non-competitive gymnastics and play center keeping children healthy by making fitness fun.

Owens Field Skate ParkJim Hamilton Blvd.

The 14,500-square-foot custom concrete park, when it opened in 2010, replaced a small skate park many lo-cal skaters considered bogus. Ramps, bowls, rails, more.

Palmetto Children’s Musicpalmettochildrensmusic.com

Offers Music Together classes — Music Together is an internationally recognized early childhood music and movement program for infants through five-year-olds and the grownups who love them.

Palmetto Falls Waterpark3381 Marion Ave., 751-3475fortjacksonmwr.com/waterpark/

Tucked just inside of Fort Jackson’s Gate 2 entrance, Palmetto Falls Water Park offers a 10,000-square foot family pool, two water slides, a 600-square foot splashdown pool, a 2,500-square foot kiddie pool, a lazy river stretching 800 feet, and a snack bar. Open to the public Tuesdays through Fridays during the summer.

The Patch3807 Augusta Hwy., 359-3276

This Gilbert strawberry patch is open for picking during strawberry season, typically April through May.

Patchwork Playhouse1508 Columbia College Dr., 333-0372patchworkplayers-sc.com

A long-running children’s theater featuring child-sized puppets and actors.

activities

Plex Indoor Sportsplexindoorsports.com

There are two locations of this local indoor sports complex franchise: The San-dhills location, by the Village at Sandhill, of-fers indoor soccer, basketball courts and a skate park; the Irmo location, off the Peak exit on I-26, features an ice rink, an indoor soccer field and an remote-controlled car track. Both locations offer summer camps, birthday party packages, after-school programs and youth sports.

Richland County Recreation Commissionrichlandcountyrecreation.com

Offers youth sports, programs and activities at parks, playgrounds and ac-tivity centers in Richland County.

Riverbanks Zoo & Gardens500 Wildlife Parkway779-8717, riverbanks.org

It’s a natural fact that kids love animals. And Riverbanks Zoo — one of the nation’s finest, according to TripAd-visor — offers plenty of ‘em, from el-ephants to gorillas to ibexes to an aquar-ium and reptile complex stocked with fish, frogs, lizards are more. Riverbanks also offers myriad educational programs, day camps, overnight adventures and other fun kids’ events.

Saluda Shoals Park5605 Bush River Rd., 731-5208, icrc.net

Situated on 270 acres downstream from the Lake Murray Dam, Saluda Shoals features a popular water park, an environmental education center, canoe trips, nature hikes, biking trails, fishing spots, picnic shelters, art exhibits, summer camps, health and wellness programs, meeting facilities and more. Good trout fishing, too, if your wee ones are into that.

Samurai Karate Studiosamuraikaratestudio.net

Offers classes for children and adults, as well as conducting stranger-danger and anti-bully workshops.

Sesquicentennial State Park9564 Two Notch Rd., 788-2706, www.southcarolinaparks.com

This 1,419-acre park features a 30-acre lake surrounded by trails, picnic areas and campsites. Also offers boat-ing, fishing, swimming, meeting facilities and trails. Trails include a 6.1-mile moun-tain bike trail, a 1.9-mile nature trail, and a 3.5-mile walking and jogging trail.

South Carolina State Museum301 Gervais St.898-4921, scmuseum.org.

The South Carolina State Museum, named one of the top three museums in the Southeast by readers of Southern Living, offers a wide variety of kids pro-gramming, such as camp-ins, birthday parties, summer camps and living his-tory re-enactments.

Talbot Swim School792-7298, talbotswimschool.com.

Before you can run, you gotta walk, right? Well, before you go to the pool, you gotta learn to swim, and Talbot Swim School offers private lessons year-round.

Topspin Racquet and Swim Clubtopspinsc.com

Clay tennis courts in Lexington offer-ing family clinics.

Trenholm Little Leagueeteamz.com/trenholmbaseball

Fun, intensive baseball league. Par-ents can choose clinics only or clinics and team play. Fall and spring seasons.

U.S. National Whitewater Center5000 Whitewater Center Pkwy., Charlotte, N.C., 704-391-3900usnwc.org

OK, so the U.S. National Whitewater Center isn’t in Columbia; it’s a little more than an hour north in Charlotte. But it’s worth the trip up I-77: An official Olympic Training Site for whitewater slalom rac-ing, the nonprofit U.S. National Whitewa-ter Center is a huge outdoor adventure and environmental education center dedicated to promoting healthy and active lifestyles and developing environ-mental stewardship. Offers whitewater rafting and kayaking, flatwater kayaking, mountain biking, rock climbing, zip lines and more.

YMCAcolumbiaymca.org

The YMCA in downtown Columbia was one of the first 50 Ys in the United States. It now has five branches — in-cluding locations in Northeast Columbia, Lexington, Irmo and Orangeburg —with which to provide childcare, camps and after-school programs.

activities

Sunday, December 24pm & 7pm

SHANDON BAPTIST CHURCH | 5250 FOREST DRIVE, COLUMBIA, SC 29206 | 803.782.1300 | SHANDON.ORG

Friday, December 7 at 7pmSaturday, December 8 at 4pm & 7pmSunday, December 9 at 4pm & 7pm

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So, how can parents avoid — or at least minimize — mealtime meltdowns? Keep the kids in the kitchen.

“Kids are more willing to try foods if they have a hand in preparing it,” says Katherine Shavo, director of Columbia’s Cooking!, a hands-on training kitchen made possible through USC’s Cancer Prevention and Control Program. “They build a sense of accomplish-ment and confidence in their ability to do things. If a child is taught to cook healthy, they are more likely to eat healthy as an adult.”

Chef John Militello of Let’s Cook Culinary Studio agrees.

“I often hear parents say that ‘my child will not eat what we prepare.’ Those parents get

Happy Meals — for RealTips for Cooking with Kids

By Allison Caldwell

frustrated, and fall into the trap of fast food. Get your child involved in daily preparation of a meal. Once kids are engaged, you’ll be sur-prised what they will eat.”

Baby Steps: What Kids Can Do“What kids can do in the kitchen depends

on their age and interest,” says Shavo. “They can do a lot with a little direction. If your child has a short attention span, don’t give them a task that takes a long time. They can get things from the cupboard, open cans, peel onions or garlic, separate celery stalks, peel carrots, count out pieces, measure rice or other grains, pour water in a pan, put food scraps in [the] garbage or compost or shred cabbage.

Don’t forget setting and clearing the table, which are also important parts of the meal.”

Weeknight meals can be especially hard to prepare if parents are working 9-to-5 jobs. So, start easy: Get the kids to set the table and pour the drinks during the week, then spend more time teaching cooking skills when you have more time to spend — on the weekend. Once they learn a few skills, they’ll be able to help throughout the week, too.

“It’s amazing how quickly kids can learn new things — like how to grate an apple, safely cut fruits, crack eggs, measure, mix or pour,” says Jan Pinnington, founder of Healthy Hands Cooking, a national organization offer-ing nutrition, healthy cooking, and fun fitness programs for kids.

“I find that most kids are open vessels just waiting for the opportunity to be a ‘big kid,’” says Pinnington. “Teaching kids to cook is a priceless gift that empowers them with im-portant lifelong skills. Kids who can cook un-derstand the importance of nutrition typically

“Once kids are engaged, you’ll be surprised what they will eat.” — Chef John Militello, Let’s Cook Culinary Studio

health

We’ve all heard the warnings about processed junk and the virtues of buying fresh, local food. We know that healthy eating habits start at home. But family meal times can be so hectic: Supper from a sack or a microwaveable box can easily become the norm, and even the most cherubic angels can turn into holy terrors at the thought of trying something other than nuggets and fries.

19health

show improved skills in math, reading and problem solving, and become self-sufficient adults who don’t need to rely on pre-packaged convenience foods and drive-throughs to survive.”

Local Classes, Camps and CoursesIf you’re skilled in the kitchen yourself, and

good at working with kids, then you’re ready to get started already. But if you need a jumpstart — or if your child shows an aptitude you’d like to develop more fully — you might want to consider cooking classes or camps.

Columbia’s Cooking! offers kids’ classes on the second Friday of every month during the school year (ages 9 and up), and culinary camps throughout the summer. Their training kitchen is located at 915 Greene St., behind the Colonial Center, and offers year-round classes for adults as well.

“Our nutrition lesson is experiential, and we teach all types of healthy recipes,” Shavo says. “We want kids to know the basics of kitchen safety and be comfortable using whole foods. We don’t use mixes, and we use Rawl brand Versatile Veggies to allow younger children to

work with vegetables without the risk of cut-ting themselves.”

Founded by a mom-turned-nutritionist in Irmo, Healthy Hands Cooking is an eight-hour nutrition and healthy cooking program that gradually builds skills for children ages 9 to 13. Led by trained and certified instructors, kids learn how to make healthy meals and snacks for themselves. Parents can register for classes — or apply to become instructors themselves — online.

Most programs at Let’s Cook Culinary Studio are geared toward adults (including parties, showers and even wedding rehearsal dinners), but Chef John Militello says his Assembly Street kitchen also offers private one-on-one classes for parents and children; a seasonal gingerbread house decorating class for kids and parents the Friday after Thanks-giving; and has offered week-long summer camp programs in the past.

“We’re trying to find a more suitable location for Camp Wanna Cook, somewhere with plenty of outdoor space to take breaks and have other activities outside of the kitchen,” Militello says. “We hope to find a church or school and offer summer camps again in the near future.”

Patience is a VirtueNow that you’re armed with plenty of

resources and information, it’s time to get cooking. Before you start, consider these final words of advice from the pros.

“Be patient,” Shavo says. “In the beginning, [kids] have to be told every little thing, and it can be exhausting. [But] in a short period of time, your child will be able to implement simple requests. Providing age-appropriate tasks that build self-confidence is important to keep them interested and coming back.”

“Kids can work in a kitchen and do almost any skill an adult can do, sometimes much bet-ter,” Militello says. But, he cautions: “Remem-ber safety first with knives and hot objects.”

“I grew up in a home where my mom cooked dinner every night,” says Pinnington. “I’ve since come to realize that the time spent cooking with her was a precious gift. So many parents today just don’t have the luxury of time to spend teaching their children such an important life skill. Set aside a specific amount of time each week to teach your kids how to cook, just like you would if you were commit-ted to a sport or dance team. Ask for their in-volvement in meal planning and preparation, and start with simple duties such as cutting, cleaning produce, and making salads.”

Food for ThoughtColumbia’s Cooking!cpcp.sph.sc.edu/cooking, 576-5636Healthy cooking classes for kids 9 and older and adults.

Creative Cookingcreativecookingsc.comClasses and camps for children ages 3 to 12.

Healthy Hands Cookinghealthyhandscooking.comClasses include DVD, recipes and supplies.

Let’s Cook Culinary Studioletscookculinary.com348-5874Most cooking classes for adults, but private parent-child classes available.

Cooking with My Kidcookingwithmykid.comOne Mom’s quest to transform picky eaters into healthy young chefs.

PBS Parents: eat Smartpbs.org/parents/food-and-fitness/eat-smartRecipes, activities, nutritional information and cooking tips.

Young Chefs Academyyoungchefsacademy.comMulticultural cooking classes for kids ages 4 to 14.

20

Actual patient of Vista Smiles of Columbia

21

For some of us, nearly any trip to the dentist causes anxiety. That anxiety is only heightened when you’re thinking

about taking your child for their first trip to the dentist. But fear not: We spoke with three in-town dentists who know the ins and outs of children’s dentistry. That first trip doesn’t have to be as scary as you think — for you or your little one.

When to Go?First things first: When exactly do you take

your child to the dentist for the first time? “The American Board of Pediatric Den-

tistry recommends that children start going to the dentist by age 1,” says Dr. Robert H. Ellis with Columbia pediatric dental practice Drs. Ellis, Green and Jenkins. “Children who begin visiting the dentist at an early age typically have a positive outlook of the dentist and be-gin practicing good hygiene at an early age.”

One year of age is probably a lot earlier than you were at your first dentist’s visit, and maybe even earlier than your older children were. But the first appointment is typically short and easy, and there are reasons why dentists are recommending earlier first visits these days. And if your child is already past age 1 but hasn’t been to the dentist yet, don’t worry: Dentists see plenty of older toddlers coming for the first time.

Prepping for the First Dental VisitBy Katie Alice Walker

“This appointment is both a psychological and educational aid,” says Dr. Nicholas Gee, a dentist with Advanced Dentistry Columbia. “It helps get a child accustomed to going to the dentist early in life and also serves to educate the parents on oral hygiene practices to keep their children’s mouth and teeth healthy and prevent damage.”

At Children’s Dental Group, dentists do a show and tell of dental instruments for the kids, says Dr. Benetta Bell.

Before the VisitWhen preparing your little one for their

first trip to the dentist, you’re not totally help-less. If your child has an older sibling, that’s an invaluable resource for explaining what a visit is like.

Also, “There are many books with first den-tal appointment themes, which can help ease anxiety,” Gee says. “Parents can even ask the dentist if they can come by and view the office. This will help ease a parent’s anxiety, which children pick up on, helping them in turn.”

Dr. Bell encourages parents to have fun with the visit.

“Let them know the dentist is going to count their teeth and that they’ll get a new toothbrush and prizes,” she says.

Gee says dentists want to make the patient as comfortable as possible, even it means the child sits in the parent’s lap. “It all depends on the child’s disposition. If a child is very coop-erative, the dentist may be able to complete a full exam and the child’s teeth may also be cleaned gently.”

health

Like having a pediatrician you can trust, Ellis says the first visit is important for estab-lishing a dental home for your child. Should a dental emergency arise, an established re-lationship with a dentist you trust will ensure the best possible outcome.

Dental Care Starts at HomeProper dental care can begin at home, be-

fore that first visit. Ellis says it’s never too early to begin keeping your child’s mouth clean. In fact, parents can wipe a baby’s gums with a soft cloth before teething begins. This elimi-nates bacteria growth and helps children be-come comfortable with cleaning their mouths.

At that first visit, your dentist will teach you how to manage day-to-day oral care at home. And if you have questions, don’t hesitate to ask.

“Non-fluoridated toothpastes should be used to clean teeth until your child is able to spit,” Ellis says. “And once teeth are touching, it is important to begin flossing.”

Bell encourages parents to help their chil-dren, perhaps for longer than you might think.

“Parents should always look after a child brushes their teeth,” Bell says. “Children don’t have the dexterity to brush on their own until around the age of 7 or 8.”

While we’re just talking about first trips to the dentist, like college funds, it’s never too early to doing what you can to prevent un-necessary orthodontic work. Gee says “parents should try to get children to stop thumb habits as early as possible, to help prevent destruc-tion to the child’s bite.”

Cut Down on SugarIt almost goes without saying, but just in

case: Avoid sticky, sugary foods and drinks. “Water is, of course, the best drink. How-

ever, if they’re going to have other drinks, it should only be at meal times, followed by wa-ter,” says Bell.

“Foods that are real sticky will stay on the teeth longer,” says Gee. “It’s frequency of sug-ar, not quantity. Because bacteria create dam-age 30 minutes after sugar consumption, I tell parents it is literally better for a child to have a lot of candy in one sitting rather than a little amount of candy all day long.” But he also is realistic. “Moderation is key: I don’t want par-ents to feel guilty or deprive a child of some of the fun things in life.”

Return VisitsOnce the first visit to the dentist is behind

you, how often should you return? As with adults, dentists recommend children visit the dentist at least every six months.

Ellis says, “This is a good way to ensure that the patient’s teeth are growing in correctly, and answer any questions the parent might have.”

Afterschool at the Y engages kids in physically active, learning and imaginative activities that encourage exploration of who they are and what they can achieve. Our kids participate in interactive learning models that help build healthy habits, active lifestyles and continued learning. Visit us online atcolumbiaymca.org/afterschool to learn more about Afterschool!

YMCA OF COLUMBIA columbiaymca.org

BUILDING A “FUNDATION”

23

Advanced Dentistry Columbia1701 St. Julian Place, 254-6763advanceddentistrycolumbia.com

Super-friendly, family owned practice led by Drs. Nicholas and George Gee.

Ballentine Pediatrics11134 Broad River Rd., 732-0920ballentinepediatrics.com

Ballentine Family Dentistry3533 Dreher Shoals Rd., 732-3001

Camden Family Care1017 Fair St.,424-1260camdenfamilycare.com

Capital Children’s Dental Center655 St. Andrews Rd., 252-7775

Carolina Children’s Dentistry7701 Trenholm Rd., 736-6000carolinachildrensdentistry.com

Carolina PediatricsDowntown: 2113 Adams Grove Rd., 256-0531Irmo: 7033 St. Andrews Rd., 376-2838carolinapediatrics.com

Carolina Teen Healthcarolinateenhealth.org

Questions about sex and STDs answered in a teen-oriented format.

City of Columbia Community Gardenscolumbiasc.net/communitygardens

Five-by-12-foot publicly owned plots available for lease to residents and organizations. Cost is $20 per year.

Chapin Family Practice1612 Chapin Rd., 345-3414

Children’s Choice Pediatrics6108 Garners Ferry Rd., 647-1265childrenschoicepeds.com

Children’s Dental Group of South Carolina7210K Broad River Rd., 781-5141scchildrensdentalgroup.com

Chrysostom Family Dentistry3308 Platt Springs Rd., 350-9124, drdeno.com

Columbia’s Cooking!cpcp.sph.sc.edu/cooking, 576-5636

Healthy cooking classes for kids 9 and older and adults.

Colonial Family Practice3930 Devine St., 256-1511colonialfamilypractice.com

Part of a Sumter-based practice group.

Creative Cookingcreativecookingsc.com

Classes and camps for children ages 3 to 12.

Eat Smart Move More South Carolinaeatsmartmovemoresc.org

Offers events, live training and web training to assist local organizers in creating, managing and maintaining obesity prevention programs.

Family Medicine Centers of South CarolinaDowntown: 1910 Gregg St., 931-0100Hardscrabble: 300 Rice Meadow Way, 227-7777Irmo: 7611 St. Andrews Rd., 724-1100Lexington: 3630 Sunset Blvd., 239-1600Northeast: 1721 Horseshoe Dr., 788-7884Southeast: 813 Leesburg Rd., 783-4433fmcofsc.com

Private family practice group.

Five Points Pediatric & Walk-in Care1228 Harden St., 748-7002, ecchc.org

Part of the Eau Claire Cooperative Health Centers.

Girls on the Rungotrcolumbia.org

Inspires pre-teen girls to be joyful, healthy and confi-dent through a fun curriculum that creatively integrates running.

Hutchinson Family Dentistry209 W. Main St., 359-0566, lexingtonscdentistry.com

Kids First Dental2700 Broad River Rd., 772-4949, kidsfirstdentalsc.com

The Kids Group206 Medical Cir., 796-9200, thekidsgroup.com

Kool Smiles5422 Forest Dr., 753-8064, mykoolsmiles.com

Lake Murray Pediatric Dentistry740 Old Lexington Hwy., 345-2483

Lexington Family PracticeBallentine: 1846 Dutch Fork Rd., 781-3843,

lfp.lexmednetwork.orgIrmo: 7037 St. Andrews Rd., 732-0963Lake Murray: 2006 Augusta Hwy., 785-4747,

lfplakemurray.lexmednetwork.orgLake Ridge: 557 Columbia Ave.,

lakeridge.lexmednetwork.orgLexington: 122 Powell Dr., 957-0780Northeast: 76 Polo Rd., 699-7255,

lfpnortheast.lexmednetwork.orgSandhills: 811 W. Main St., 358-6420,

sfm.lexmednetwork.orgSpring Valley: 229 Longtown Rd., 419-4949

svfp.lexmednetwork.orgWest Columbia: 3314 Platt Spring Rd., 791-3494,

lfpwestcolumbia.lexmednetwork.org

health

If your kid has a legitimate emergency, you take him or her to the emergency room. If your kid has a bad case of the sniffles, you go to an urgent care facility. But for check-ups, vaccines,

boosters and general wellness, you’ll need a family practitioner or pediatrician. Here’s a list to help get you started, along with a list of dentists, orthopedists and other health-related resources to keep your kids fit as fiddles.

continued on page 26

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White Knoll: 5535 Platt Spring Rd., 951-1880, lfpwhiteknoll.lexmednetwork.org

The Lexington Family Practice network is an um-brella group of the Lexington Medical Center.

Lexington Medical Center2720 Sunset Blvd., 791-2000, lexmed.com

A frequent winner of Best Hospital in Free Times’ Best of Columbia poll.

Dr. Samuel J. Marsh Pediatric Dentistry2302 Bush River Rd., 798-8675wemakekidssmile.com

Medcare Urgent Care Center110 Medical Cir., 509-7316, medcareurgentcare.com

Midlands Orthopedics1910 Blanding St., 256-4107, midlandsortho.com

Milestones Pediatrics120 Wildewood Park Dr., 788-7882

Moore Orthopaedic ClinicColumbia: 14 Medical Park, 227-8000Columbia: 114 Gateway Corp., 227-8000Lexington: 104 Saluda Pointe Dr., 227-8000

Northeast Children’s Dentistry147 Summit Cir., 865-1421northeastchildrensdentistry.com

Palmetto Healthpalmettohealth.org

A frequent runner-up for Best Hospital in Free Times’ Best of Columbia poll.

Palmetto Health Children’s Hospital7 Richland Medical Park Dr., ch.palmettohealth.org

A state-of-the-art children’s hospital with comfort-able family-centered spaces, age-appropriate play areas and therapeutic diversions to help reduce stress and encourage healing.

Palmetto Health Family Medicine PracticesHarbison: 190 Parkridge Dr., 407-3857Irmo: 190 Parkridge Dr., 749-0693Lakeview: 1316 N. Lake Dr., 358-1191Northeast: 115 Blarney Dr., 736-6262South Hampton: 5900 Garners Ferry Rd., 695-5450Twelve Mile Creek: 4711 Sunset Blvd., 356-3609University: 4311 Hardscrabble Rd., 419-6334palmettohealth.org

Family practice wing of Palmetto Health.

Palmetto Pediatric & Adolescent ClinicDowntown: 140 Park Central, 779-4001Harbison: 16 Woodcross Dr., 732-0140Lexington: 1970 Augusta Hwy., 358-2370Northeast: 74 Polo Rd., 788-4886Rice Creek: 300 Rice Meadow Way, 788-6360

Affiliated with Richland, Baptist, Palmetto Richland Children’s and Lexington Hospitals.

Palmetto Smiles139 Whiteford Way, 951-9100, palmetto-smiles.com

Pediatric After Hours Care114 Gateway Corporate Blvd., 865-4900

Open 6-10 p.m., Mon-Fri; 2-8 p.m., Sat-Sun.

Pediatric Dentistry8905 Two Notch Rd., 788-9353wecaredentalsc.com

Providence HospitalsDowntown: 2435 Forest Dr.Northeast: 120 Gateway Corporate Blvd.

Another of Columbia’s top-flight hospital systems.

Providence Northeast Family300 Long Pointe Ln., 462-7193providencehospitals.com

Rice Creek Family Dentistry101 Rice Bent Way, 788-2676, ricecreekdmd.com

Safe Kids Midlandssafekidsmidlands.org

Coalition of volunteers formed by Palmetto Health Children’s Hospital to prevent childhood injuries. Pro-grams range from car-seat checks to health fairs.

Smile Columbia690A Columbiana Dr., 781-9090, smilecolumbia.com

South Carolina Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancyteenpregnancysc.org

Provides information and resources for teens, par-ents, educators and community organizations.

South Carolina Dental Center2020 Laurel St., 254-4543southcarolinadentalcenter.com

South Lake Family Dental1223 S. Lake Dr., 520-5580, southlakedmd.com

Sterling Sharpe Pediatric Center4605 Monticello Rd., 252-7001, ecchc.org

Part of the Eau Claire Cooperative Health Centers.

Teen Talkpalmettohealth.org/teentalk296-2273

Offers numerous resources for teens, including Teen Talk newsletter, peer-to-peer discussions and an ask-an-expert program.

USC Family Medicine Center3209 Colonial Blvd., 434-6113familymedicine.med.sc.edu

Offers complete care for children and adults with a focus on prevention.

USC Sports Medicine CenterTwo Medical Park, Suite 104, 434-6812uscsportsmedicine.com

Open to athletes at all levels — recreational to high school, college and professional.

Vista Smiles515 Richland St., 779-9666vistasmilesofcolumbia.com

Offers full range of family dental services with ad-vancing technology in a welcoming environment.

Wellspring Family Medicine114 Gateway Corporate Blvd., 865-9655wellspringfmed.com

Wild Smiles203 N. Lake Dr., 356-1606, wildsmiles.net

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29

ExhibitionsSnowville!EdVenture Children’s Museumedventure.org

Nov. 19-Feb. 24. Pack your mittens for a frosty, fun-filled trip to Snowville. Popular EdVenture seasonal exhibition.

Ongoing EventsCity of Columbia Ice Skating RinkBoyd Plaza545-3100

Runs Nov. 22-Jan. 6. Open-air public ice skating rink.

Calendar

Parents’ Survival NightThe Little Gymthelittlegym.com/ColumbiaSC

Fridays. Parents call it a break from the kids. Kids call it a break from their parents. That sounds like a win-win situation.

The Patchwork Playerspatchworkplayers-sc.com.

Performing children’s theatre group; visit website for performance venues and schedule.

Toddler TuesdaysEdVenture Children’s Museumedventure.org.

Tuesdays. Arts and crafts, music, movement and stories.

Wee WednesdaysColumbia Museum of Artcolumbiamuseum.org

Jan.-May. Participants ages 2-5 and their adult companions explore art through the introduction of elementary art terms such as color, line, shape and texture.

World of WorkEdVenture Children’s Museumedventure.org.

EdVenture Children’s Museum’s kid-sized city with a “working” farm, market, diner.

NovemberThe Christmas DollColumbia Children’s Theatrecolumbiachildrenstheatre.com

Through Dec. 2. Won the 2007 National Youth Theatre Award for Out-standing Play/Musical.

The NutcrackerKoger Centercolumbiaclassicalballet.org

Nov. 29-30. School performance by the Columbia Classical Ballet.

DecemberAfternoon of PuppetsRichland County Public Library, Main Branchmyrcpl.com

Dec. 14. Watch your favorite stories performed by the Children’s Room pup-pets.

Art School: An Easy, Hand-Built Face Jug WorkshopColumbia Museum of Artcolumbiamuseum.org

Dec. 8. For ages 12 and up. earn hand-building techniques, create your own jugs or pots and design unique facial features for each one.

Breakfast with SantaRichland Mallrichlandcountyrecreation.com

Dec. 1. Get your picture with Santa, have a great breakfast from Chick-fil-A and enjoy a performance from the Co-lumbia Children’s Theatre.

Breakfast with SantaRobert Mills Househistoriccolumbia.org

Dec. 22. Enjoy a continental break-fast while listening to seasonal music, view the decorated halls of the Hamp-ton-Preston Mansion, see a Victorian Christmas tree, make a holiday craft to take home, and get your picture taken with Victorian Santa Claus.

Breakfast with St. NicholasOur Lady of the Hills Catholic Church772-7400

Dec. 2. Kids’ breakfast with Papa Noel. Open to the public at large.

EdVenture Children’s Museum’s Snowville! Courtesy photo

Holiday Lights on the RiverSaluda Shoals Parkicrc.net

Through Dec. 31. Saluda Shoals Park comes alive in a blaze of more than a million sparkling lights, with over 400 themed, animated light displays on a two-mile loop of the park.

Lights Before ChristmasRiverbanks Zooriverbanks.org.

Through Dec. 30. Annual Riverbanks Zoo Christmas light display; nearly one million twinkling lights and countless animated images representing some of Riverbanks’ most loveable residents. Closed Nov. 22, Dec. 24-25.

This is by no means a comprehensive list — institutions like the Columbia Museum of Art, EdVenture Children’s Museum, Riverbanks Zoo, the Richland County Public Library and the parks departments of the City of Columbia

and Richland and Lexington County offer myriad events for kids on a daily basis. Check the What’s Happening section of Free Times for weekly listings or visit the websites of institutions offering children’s programs.

The emblems, seals and other marks used to identify the City of Columbia, its departments, programs and initiatives are the property of the City and may not be reproduced in any form without the written express permission of the City. Additionally, any use of these emblems, seals and other marks must be in strict conformance with graphics guidelines as adopted by the City of Columbia. C E N T E R

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A Charlie Brown ChristmasColumbia Children’s Theatrecolumbiachildrenstheatre.com

Dec. 6-9. A live production of the beloved television story about one boy’s search for the meaning of Christmas.

Christmas Around the WorldRichland County Public Library, North Main Branchmyrcpl.com

Dec. 1. A Christmas celebration of stories, music, and multicultural exhibits with international students.

Columbia Christmas PageantFirst Baptist Churchcolumbiachristmaspageant.com

Dec. 6-9. Annual Christmas pageant with a cast of 400 children and adults including the First Baptist 200-voice choir and full orchestra.

Congaree National Park StorytimeRichland County Public Library, Main Branchmyrcpl.com

Dec. 1. Enjoy storytime with a Con-garee National Park Ranger as a guest reader.

Cooper Puppet PlayhouseRichland County Public Library, Cooper Branchmyrcpl.com

Dec. 5. The latest production of the Cooper Puppet Playhouse.

Family Fun Day at Columbiana CentreColumbiana Centrecolumbianacentre.com

Dec. 11. Enjoy a make and take art project, kindermusic, story time and a puppet show.

Family Movie NightRichland County Public Library, St. Andrews Branchmyrcpl.com

Dec. 4. Bring the family for a movie night at the library. Snacks are provided.

Festivals of SharingEdVenture Children’s Museumedventure.org.

Dec. 8-9. Columbia’s only multicul-tural holiday event for children.

Hansel & GretelColumbia Marionette Theatrecmtpuppet.org

Through Dec. 29. The classic tale of Hansel and Gretel, told with marionettes. Visit website for showtimes.

Holiday Celebrations Around the WorldKoger Centercolumbiacityballet.com

Dec. 6-14; Thu-Fri. School perfor-mance by the Columbia City Ballet.

Family Day: Historic HolidaysRobert Mills Househistoriccolumbia.org

Dec. 8. Enjoy the holidays in the decorated Robert Mills House and learn how the Christmas tree appeared in South Carolina and how a South Carolin-ian made the poinsettia a well-known holiday decoration.

LEGO Madness!Richland County Public Library, Northeast Branchmyrcpl.com

Dec. 17. Create robots, cities, crea-tures and more using LEGOs!

New Year’s Eve at NoonEdVenture Children’s Museumedventure.org

Dec. 31. As the countdown to noon begins, the giant illuminated ball de-scends and lands at the foot of Eddie, kicking off the biggest mid-day celebra-tion in town. Hey, it’s not like the kids know any different, anyway.

One Room School House: Monotype MadnessColumbia Museum of Artcolumbiamuseum.org

Dec. 14. For kids 4 and up. Home school students travel through the gal-leries looking and learning about texture, line, and pattern.

Passport to Art: Blurred LinesColumbia Museum of Artcolumbiamuseum.org

Dec. 9. Free drop-in studio program allows participants to immerse them-selves in Mark Rothko’s world by creat-ing a mixed media piece using ink and pastels and enjoy a guided family tour.

Safari SaturdayRiverbanks Zooriverbanks.org

Dec. 15. A learning adventure de-signed to teach your youngster new concepts that are appropriate for young minds.

Silver Bells, Golden Harps, Brass MagicDreher Performing Arts Centersandlappersingers.org

Dec. 4. Young Sandlapper Singers performance.

Toddler TakeoverEdVenture Children’s Museumedventure.org

Dec. 3. Columbia’s only multicultural holiday event for children.

Winter Workshop: The Alchemy of ArtColumbia Museum of Artcolumbiamuseum.org

Dec. 20-21. For grades 6-8. Learn the history and science behind works of art while touring the galleries.

Winter Workshop: Portfolio Building 101Columbia Museum of Artcolumbiamuseum.org

Dec. 20-21. For grades 9-12. Learn how to photograph artwork, organize and present your artwork to colleges and universities.

Winter Workshop: Ready, Set, Rothko!Columbia Museum of Artcolumbiamuseum.org

Dec. 20-21. For grades 1-5. Creative minds will explore the concepts of complementary colors, analogous colors and luminosity.

Winter Workshop: The Alchemy of ArtColumbia Museum of Artcolumbiamuseum.org

Dec. 20-21. For ages 4-5. Explore the galleries looking for all of the museum’s magical creatures. Then in the studio, create cool projects based on the mythi-cal creatures you find.

Winter Zoo Camp Riverbanks Zooriverbanks.org

Dec. 20-21. For 5- to 10-year-olds. Explore the world through the eyes of Riverbanks’ tree-huggers.

JanuaryAfternoon of PuppetsRichland County Public Library, Main Branchmyrcpl.com

Jan. 16. Watch your favorite stories performed by the Children’s Room pup-pets.

Beauty and the BeastColumbia Marionette Theatrecmtpuppet.org

Jan. 12-May 2013. The classic tale of a beauty and a beast, told with mari-onettes. Visit website for showtimes.

Congaree National Park StorytimeRichland County Public Library, Main Branchmyrcpl.com

Jan. 19. Enjoy storytime with a Con-garee National Park Ranger as a guest reader.

Wild Winter Zoo ProgramRichland County Public Library, Main Branchmyrcpl.com

Jan. 17. What do animals do when the winter gets wild? Come join Emily from the Riverbanks Zoo to find out.

Columbia Museum of Art offers kids’ art workshops. Courtesy photo

activities

Five Quick Day Trips

health

First Trip to the Dentist

life & learning

Math Without Tears

media

Music! Books! Movies!

Children Learn Fast, Eat Better When They Help

Cooking with Kids

winter 2012-13

Midlands’ Magazine for Smart Families

FT Parent is a quarterly magazine for the smart, engaged parent doing their best to navigate the ever-changing landscape of raising a child.

to advertise, call Kerry Powers at 803-765-0707 x128 or email [email protected].

33

We fall in love, get married and have kids — and then won-

der where our dating life went. Let’s face it: While it used to be a priority, romance goes by the wayside after babies come along.

Who has time for dates when we barely have time to bathe ourselves during a 24-hour period? Or when we’re only getting three-to-five hours of sleep per night for months? Or when we’re working eight- or nine-hour days, then have to figure out what’s for dinner, check the kids’ homework and act as a taxi service for our children’s multiple after-school activi-ties? Must I go on?

Dating Your SpouseIdeas on How to Get a Night AwayBy Heather Green

Over the past five years or so, I have searched for some creative dating ideas so that I can actually have dates with my husband again. As far as where to go out, that’s the easy part. (If you need some ideas, pick up a copy of Bites and Sights.) The list below has more to do with how to go out — different ways to handle childcare while you’re on your date.

You don’t have to go out for hours or spend tons of cash to enjoy time alone with your love. Finding a few hours here and there will make a big difference in your relationship.

Here are a few of my ideas.

Cheap Option No. 1: The SwitchSo you want to go on a date with your

significant other, but by the time you pay the babysitter and pay for the restaurant and bar tab, you could have gone on a cheap vacation, right? When a night out to a movie costs you

life & learning

around $100 dollars plus dinner, you begin to wonder if you can even afford to date your spouse. Here’s a solution: Trade nights with your friends and neighbors who have kids. You can take Friday-night babysitting duties and go out on Saturday night. Heck, you can even trade afternoons if nights are too much of a hassle. While having multiple sets of kids can sometimes be hectic, it’s affordable and you get a night out for a real date.

Cheap Option No. 2: Friends and RelativesThis option seems pretty obvious, right?

But do we sometimes feel bad about asking our friends and relatives to babysit for us? Yes, we do. I say, no more guilt: We all deserve a few hours away from our kids and I bet most of your friends and family wouldn’t mind hanging out with your kids while you and your significant other reconnect. Reach out to your

Alexa Alphin, left, prepares plates of chicken fingers and tater tots for children in the private dining room at Solstice while her co-worker, Megan Taylor, both 17, holds a toddler. When they aren’t handling babysitter night duties at Solstice, Alexa and Megan work as hostesses at the restaurant. Photo by Jonathan Sharpe

34

friends and family: Maybe they will offer free services or maybe you’ll have to pay them — either way, reach out. Perhaps you could offer to take them out to dinner in exchange for a few hours of babysitting. Either way, a few hours alone with your best friend are well worth it.

Solstice Kitchen’s Babysitting NightsSolstice Kitchen841-4 Sparkleberry Lane788-6966, solsticekitchen.comCost: $7 per childMonthly on select Monday nights

After hearing some fellow parents rave about this date-night option, I knew I had to try it out. Fellow parents, you were right: While my two children ate chicken fingers, watched movies and played, my husband and I ate a great meal and had a chance for some conver-sation that didn’t include any baby talk.

If you haven’t been to Solstice, here’s a taste of what you’re in for: entrees and specials ranging from Angus ribeye, duck and pork tenderloin to shrimp and grits, salmon, mahi-mahi, scallops and more, as well as extensive cocktail and wine lists. This is a great option for a truly romantic night out.

Here are a few things you should know about these special babysitting nights: there is a $7 cost per child, space is limited, and no-shows are charged. While I could not af-ford this every week, the benefits of a relax-ing dinner date greatly outweighed the costs involved.

Capital Karate Movie Nights2728 Rosewood Drive, 212-7111capitalkaratesc.comCost: $30 for students and $15 dollars for each additional family memberAges: 4-11

Capital Karate hosts a once-a-month movie night for their students on select Fridays from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Kids have fun learning ka-rate, watching movies and eating pizza. Mean-while, you and your date get to go out and have a nice dinner, grab a drink and talk in peace. (Now there’s a radical idea.) For roughly the same as you might be paying a babysitter, you don’t have to find one, and you know your kid will be involved in lots of activities while you’re out. For this mom, a once-a-month op-portunity to hang out with my husband is well worth it.

Little Gym’s Parent Survival Nights2005 N. Beltline Boulevard, 738-11155347 Sunset Boulevard, 951-7235thelittlegym.comCost: $25 for non-members, $30 for membersAges: 3-12

Kids have fun with gymnastics while par-ents get to go on a movie date, eat a quiet meal and reconnect. Survival Nights are held on select Friday and Saturday nights. Call a Little Gym near you to register.

DaycareAnother great babysitting resource is your

own childcare development center. Many childcare organizations have babysitter lists for those caregivers who are also willing to babysit. Some daycares also have drop-off hours on nights and weekends so that parents can have a few hours off. Ask your childcare agency if they offer after-hours babysitting ser-vices. This is a great resource for using sitters with whom your children are already familiar and trust.

Heather Green works at the Ballentine Branch of the Richland County Public Library.

life & learning

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have flexibility!

Provost Academy South Carolina is a tuition-free online school that lets you attend high

school from anywhere.

Learn more at sc.provostacademy.com

or call 877-265-3195

37

For parents of middle-school students, nightly math homework can be a

source of mutual frustration, and for a lot of reasons.

Sometimes, students understand assign-ments perfectly but find the work tedious. Sometimes the students don’t get it and their parents do, but the two have a hard time com-municating.

Often, of course, the parents don’t get it either. They’ve hit their own wall of knowledge from 20 years ago.

Also, the teaching of math has changed. Thanks to a more computer-driven, tech-nology-based society, “they’re putting more statistics and probabilities in courses that my kids never got,” says Jean Redfearn of Cam-den, who has long taught and tutored both middle- and high-school math students, and now teaches in both physical and virtual envi-ronments.

“They’re getting into more depth earlier,” Redfearn says. “A lot of what I learned in col-lege is now in high school.”

So what’s a parent to do when their kids are struggling?

For Redfearn, the worst thing a parent can say is “I’m no good at math,” because it all but gives the child permission to fail.

Instead, she advises parents to focus more on working with their children to find a solu-tion. For example:

l See if your child can set up a time to work with his or her teacher after school, be-fore school or during lunch. “The sooner they get in the habit of doing something like that when they hit a snag,” she says, “that just puts them on a more successful road in their future academics.”

l Find a “study buddy” — someone your child can work with to figure out tough con-cepts. Who they choose is important, though: Some kids work very well together, while oth-ers might be more inclined to chat than study.

l Hire a private tutor.

Another key point is patience. If you’re working with your child on their homework, be patient, understand that they are encountering concepts for the first time — and ask for their patience, too, as you might need some time to re-learn concepts you haven’t thought about in decades.

Math Without TearsNavigating the Middle-School Math YearsBy Rodney Welch

Besides all this, students have an advan-tage their parents likely did not: the explosion over the past few years in math and science tutorial websites (see sidebar).

Commensurate with all these sites, of course, is just plain old Google, as there are a plethora of interactive websites — with videos, practice sheets and sample tests — that have been created by schools and colleges across the country.

From her own years of experience, Red-fearn believes students learn best when concrete examples are used to demonstrate abstract principles.

“There’s more of a push now to have higher-level thinking skills, and so consequently they’re bringing in real life applications and relevance. I see this more than what I saw in the 1980s and 1970s, with hopes that that motivates them more. And that’s a good thing. It’s tougher, because guess what? It’s a lot of words. And ones that excel at math [some-times] don’t like English. But as long as they get it sooner and the more they practice it, the easier it gets.”

Recently, Redfearn led a class in determin-ing the average unemployment rate in ten random counties. One student came to realize why her uncle, who lives in a county with a high unemployment rate, was having such a hard time finding a job.

“I hate to say it,” she says, “but they have to be entertained in order to be focused. We as teachers have to become more creative in that process, and that’s why I love this Internet situ-ation, because it has all these wonderful things for you to choose as a teacher.”

life & learning

Khan Academykhanacademy.org

This free website offers thousands of two- to three-minute videos explaining ev-erything from the simplest math concepts to the most advanced. It has become a revolu-tionary teaching tool both in and out of the classroom.

Brightstormbrightstorm.com

Where Khan Academy videos are focused on demonstrating concepts with a teacher supplying the narration, Brightstorm is more visually oriented, with a teacher on camera, sometimes illustrating real-world applica-tions by way of graphics or demonstrations. It has a monthly subscription price of $29.99.

VirtualNerdvirtualnerd.com

Features teachers on camera, with the added advantage of key concepts printed on the screen as the teacher says them. The cost is $19 a month, though students who need some quick help can access it for a day at $3, or for a week at $9, and zero in on specific trouble areas.

Teacher Tubeteachertube.com

A free site where teachers post instruc-tional or classroom videos. Lots of informa-tion from all over, but less organized and harder to navigate than some of the other sites above.

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Aim High Education4801 Hardscrabble Rd., 788-6894aimhigheducationsc.com

Customized after-school education programs and tutoring.

The Afterschool Zonetheafterschoozone.com

Offers afterschool pickup from Lexington/Richland 5 and Richland 1 schools. Students engage in physical and educational activities.

ASY Counseling Services1825 St. Julian Pl., 254-1210asycounseling.com

Providing quality mental health services to children and families in the Columbia area.

Behavior Consulting Services3227 Sunset Blvd.behaviorconsultingservices.com

Serves children with a variety of spe-cial needs, including autism spectrum disorders, behavioral difficulties and academic difficulties.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Columbiabbbs.org

Oldest and largest youth mentoring organization in the United States. Serves children ages 6 through 18.

life & learning

Life is full of tough questions. How best does your child learn? Is your 4-year-old ready for a sleepover? Should your 12-year-old be on Facebook? How many sports are too many? How do you talk about sexting — and when? To

help your kid learn — and learn how to live — check out the following.

Boys & Girls Club of the Midlandsbgcmidland.org

Formed in 1959, operates 31 clubs, eight summer camps and a teen center serving youth and families from Fairfield, Lexington and Richland Counties.

Bright Start720 Gracern Rd., 929-1112brightstartsc.com

Provides quality comprehensive ser-vices to all individuals with special needs and developmental delays.

Challenger Learning Center2600A Barhamville Rd.929-3951, thechallengercenter.net

The Challenger Learning Center of Richland County School District One is an aeronautics- and space-themed learning program designed to provide interactive learning experiences, inte-grating science, technology, engineering and math curricula with 21st century life skills.

Children’s Chance609 Sims Ave., 254-5996childrenschance.org

Children’s Chance’s mission is to improve the quality of life of children and families who are dealing with the trauma of pediatric cancer.

Children’s Trust of SC1634 Main St., 733-5430scchildren.org

Aims to promote healthy, nurtur-ing relationships between children and adults — because strengthening families is the best way to prevent abuse, neglect and unintentional injuries.

Christian Counseling Center1500 Lady St., 779-1995christiancounseling.ws

Offers counseling on a variety of topics; also offers spiritual and religious counseling. Offered by First Presbyterian Church.

Columbia Counseling Center900 St. Andrews Rd., 731-4708columbiacounseling.accountsupport.com

A Christian perspective on counseling.

Crossroads Counseling Center130 Whiteford Way, 808-1800solutionsforlife.org

Counseling for adults, adolescents, children and marriages.

Discovery Program of South Carolina8807 Two Notch Rd., 419-0126discoveryprogramsc.org

Noted as a program of excel-lence with the National Institute for Learning Development (NILD), the Dis-

covery Program helps those struggling to learn — whether via learning disabilities or other learning disorders — to become independent students.

Family Connections of South Carolina2712 Middleburg Dr., 252-0914familyconnectionsc.org

Statewide organization of parents helping parents of children with disabili-ties, developmental delays, and chronic illnesses.

Family Service Center of South Carolina2712 Middleburg Dr., 733-5450fsconline.org

A multi-service non-profit agency offering adoption services, consumer credit counseling, child dental clinics, an eye care clinic and more.

Glenforest Schoolglenforest.org

Works with K-12 students who have not thrived in traditional learning envi-ronments, including students with dys-lexia, attention-deficit disorder or other developmental challenges.

Head Start1400 St. Andrews Rd., 898-2550

A comprehensive school readiness program serving kids 0-5 that has a strong focus on ensuring that they start school ready to learn.

Lake Murray Counseling Center7511 St. Andrews Rd., 781-1003lakemurraycounseling.com

Offering counseling for children’s and adolescent issues.

Lango South Carolinalangosouthcarolina.com

At Lango, your child will learn an-other language, make developmental strides, explore other cultures. At vari-ous Midlands locations.

The Language Buzz1921 Henderson St., 252-7002thelanguagebuzz.com

A unique foreign language learning center that promotes the early com-mand of languages through language immersion, contextualized learning, and the learning and acceptance of different cultures.

Leadership Institute at Columbia Collegecolumbiacollegesc.edu/

leadership_inst/

Girls Empowered and LEAD residen-tial programs.

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Lexington-Richland Anti-Drug Abuse CouncilLexington County: 1068 S. Lake Dr.,

726-9400Richland County: 2711 Colonial Dr.,

726-9300lradac.org

Alcohol and drug abuse authority offering a wide array of prevention, intervention and treatment programs, including child and adolescent programs.

Mathnasiummathnasium.com

Offers math help for students from grades 2 through 12.

Mental Health America of South Carolina1823 Gadsden St., 779-5363mha-sc.org

My Amigosmyamigosbec.org

Language immersion programs for ages 30 months to 5th grade.

NAMI Mid Carolinanamimidcarolina.org

Local chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

Palmetto Counseling Associates1911 Gadsden St., 254-9767palmettocounseling.com

Pearson Professional Centers107 Westpark Blvd., 798-3001

Offers GMAT testing.

Personal Pathways to Successscpathways.org

Provides educational and career planning resources.

REACHreachgroup.org

A support group for Columbia-area home schoolers; provides information

and activities, offers information about academic résumés and transcripts.

Richland County First Stepsrcfirststeps.org

Works with kids, parents, schools and childcare providers to promote health, literacy and school readiness in young children.

South Carolina Youth Advocate Program779-5500

Nonprofit child-placing agency offer-ing training, support and compensation to qualified families who provide a home to a foster child.

Study SCstudysc.org

StudySC is a website that provides online content to support K-12 South Carolina-specific curriculum standards.

Sylvan Learning CenterIrmo: 1270 Bower Pkwy., 781-7323Northeast: 130 Forum Dr., 741-0999sylvanlearning.com

Franchise supplemental learning centers providing personalized instruc-tion in reading, writing, mathematics, study skills, homework support, and test preparation for college entrance and state exams.

Three Rivers Behavioral HealthWest Columbia: 200 Ermine Rd.,

791-9918West Columbia: 2900 Sunset Blvd.,

796-9911threeriversbehavioral.org

Provides comprehensive residential treatment for children and adolescents providing treatment for psychiatric and chemical dependency related illnesses.

University of South Carolina Speech and Hearing Research Center1601 St. Julian Pl., 77-2614sph.sc.edu/shc/

Provides a variety of evaluation and treat-ment programs for individuals of all ages.

life & learning

41

Booksmedia

eric Litwin (author) and James Dean (illustrator), Pete the Cat Saves Christmas(HarperCollins, 40 pages, $17.99)

Ages: 4 and older

Santa is sick and an emergency call is made to a surfing Pete the Cat. Litwin’s sing-song

style gets us grooving as Pete the Cat’s mini-bus is filled with toys for boys and girls. A fun remix to an old Christmas classic. — Heather Green, Ballentine Branch

r.J. Palacio, Wonder (Knopf, 320 pages, $15.99)

Ages: 8 and older

Wonder is the story of 10-year-old Auggie Pullman, who has a horribly deformed

face caused by rare genetic problems. Despite 27 surgeries that have rendered him better able to function, his appearance is still dis-turbing to others. Previously homeschooled, Auggie enters a small private school where he forms tentative friendships, braves ridicule and endures shunning. When he hears his friendship betrayed, his sister goads him into persevering at school despite his pain and loss.Incidents told from the perspectives of his sister, classmates and old friends help us examine the motives behind the confusing and sometimes hurtful behavior Auggie experiences. Most shocking is one mother’s fight against Auggie’s right to attend the private school. When the community becomes aware of this confrontation, people start to examine their motives and reactions toward a child who is just trying to live as a normal kid. — Becky Dickey, Southeast Regional Branch

Judith Viorst (author) and Lane Smith (illustrator), Lulu Walks the Dogs(Atheneum, 160 pages, $15.99)

Ages: 6 and older

In this sequel to Lulu and the Brontosaurus, Lulu is back, full of dreams and schemes.

When she asks for a “superspecial thing,” Lulu is surprised to find that her parents won’t buy it for her. Despite her best efforts to convince her parents otherwise (like suggesting they sell their car and take the bus), they tell her that she will have to work to earn the money.

After much consideration, Lulu decides that she would make an outstanding dog walker. Right away, she has three customers and three problems: Brutus, an enormous dog; Pookie, a super-sensitive lapdog; and Cordelia, a dachs-hund who loves playing hide-and-seek (well, mostly hide). When things go wrong the first day, she is unsure what to do (except yell) until she gets help from a surprising person. What’s that “superspecial thing” that Lulu wanted to buy? Don’t worry — all will be revealed. This short chapter book is a terrific read-aloud for the whole family and a perfect reminder of what’s really valuable. — Heather McCue, Main Branch Children’s Room

raina telgemeier, Drama(GRAPHIX, 240 pages, $10.99)

Ages: 10 and older

Callie is a theater nerd: she whisks between tasks as a purplish streak of hair, staying

up all night to complete just the right special effect for her middle school’s production of Moon Over Mississippi. However, there’s no shortage of drama in front of or behind the

curtain, as different relationships form and fall apart before Callie’s eyes. This is a story for those who relish tales of first crushes and the sanctuary of a large creative project that pulls everyone together. As in Telgemeier’s previous comic, Smile, she brings a wealth of warmth to a cast of young people still discovering their own personalities. — Thomas Maluck, North-east Regional Branch

Melinda Long (author) and tatjana Mai-wyss (illustrator), The Twelve Days of Christmas in South Carolina (Sterling, 32 pages, $12.95)

Ages: 5 and older

The classic Twelve Days of Christmas goes all-South Carolina! From the South Carolina

State Museum to the Lowcountry’s Frogmore Stew, this book takes on South Carolina’s cul-ture in a holiday style. Beginning with “a wren in a palmetto tree,” we see South Carolina’s history and sights through a child’s eyes. Pub-lished in 2010. — Heather Green

42

erica Silverman (author) and Steven D’Amico (illustrator), The Hanukkah Hop!(Simon & Schuster, 32 pages, $12.99)

Ages: 3 and older

Rachel’s family is busy preparing for their first Hanukkah Hop. Everyone gathers

around the piano as the menorah is lit. Latkes are eaten, stories are told, children play with dreidels — but the real party begins with the klezmer band. A modern Hanukkah story with a sweet, rhyming cadence that will get your child up and dancing at the Hanukkah Hop! — Heather Green

Giles Andreae (author) and Vanessa Cabban (illustrator), There’s a House Inside my Mummy(Orchard, 32 pages, $13.69)

Ages: 4-8

Told from a little boy’s point of view as he observes his mommy physically changing,

a cute story about the excitement as one waits for a new brother or sister. — Heather Green

Sharon Draper, Out of My Mind(Atheneum, 320 pages, $6.99)

Ages: 10 and older

Melody is a girl born with cerebral palsy and a photographic memory. Despite being

trapped inside a body that will not walk, talk, laugh or sing, her parents expose Melody to a world of beauty and ideas that feed her active mind.

At school, Melody is warehoused in the spe-cial education classroom where she is relent-lessly entertained with preschool activities. She communicates through eyes that try to express her likes and her need to engage more actively. Gradually her parents and caregivers realize that Melody has the ability to respond and provide more tools to help her.

Melody’s world really opens up when a spe-cialized talking computer and a school aide as-sist her in showing what she really knows. Her hard-won inclusion in a regular class and a school quiz team trip to a national competition show that there are still many human frailties that cause barriers to true acceptance. — Becky Dickey

media

Volunteer at RCPL

Looking for something to do? Volun-teer! The Richland County Public Library relies on volunteers to help serve the community. Last year, more than 1,100 volunteers contributed more than 22,000 hours — a new record. Volunteers do a variety of things, from shelving books to helping with programs and special projects — all of which make a positive impact. Share your time and talent: Chil-dren in fifth grade or higher, teens and adults are needed. Contact Cathy Dolan at 929-3426 or [email protected].

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Ben rudnick & Friends, Love Is a SuperpowerBartlett Ave. Records

Dubbed “The Grateful Dead for kids,” Ben Rudnick & Friends create the kind of loose-knit, vaguely funky, jam-band-style mu-sic that one might expect from that nickname. Incorporating bluegrass, Western swing, reg-gae, country, folk and rock, the band melds it all into a great depth of layered sounds and textures guaranteed to hold any kid’s interest. Mom and dad might be interested to know that the “Friends” include Entrain bassist M’talewa Thomas, Jerry Garcia Band fiddler Kenny Kosek and Cowboy Junkies multi-instrumen-talist Jeff Bird.

The title track hearkens back to the 1970s, with a horn section and a trippy groove, while “Where are the Dragons?” employs a pop-reggae beat. If you’ve ever had slow-to-rise kids, “Wake Up Happy” ought to make your day with its Beatles-inspired tunefulness. For a real blast of Beatles, Rudnick-style, however, there’s also their country-rock version of “Here Comes the Sun.”

There’s little of educational value in Rud-nick’s music, so don’t count on using this to augment those multiplication lessons. Instead, save it for the car rides where distracting the kids is a priority — they’ll groove to the music all the way home.

Mister G, ChocolalalaCoil

Ben Gundersheimer is Mister G, a bilingual children’s artist who tours Latin America and soaks up the musical genres he finds there, incorporating many of them into his upbeat, rhythmic songs for children.

The best albums for children are the ones that don’t forget their audience but also don’t pander to or patronize it. Mister G takes the sounds of bossa nova, funk, ska, pop, folk and even rap music and wraps them around songs

Music & DVD ReviewsBy Kevin Oliver

simple enough to understand and sing along with — yet complex and musical enough to hold even older children’s interest. There are songs about counting (“Uno Dos Tres”), colors (the bossa nova “Colores”), dancing (the ska-fest “Bailamos”, which name-checks countries and cities in an informal geography lesson), and chocolate (the acoustic pop of the title track).

The bilingual aspect of the songs, with Mister G alternating lines in Spanish

and English, means that even chil-dren with no Spanish language skills ought to be able to understand what he’s singing and learn a few words in the process of being enter-tained.

Complete Fractured Fairy TalesClassic Media

The Rocky & Bullwinkle cartoons from the 1950s and ’60s were delightfully subversive and entertaining at the same time; part of the show included parodies of fairy tales referred to as “Fractured Fairy Tales,” in which classic stories such as the Three Little Pigs, Cinder-ella, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and Jack and the Beanstalk are given irreverent re-castings that retain the original storyline

media

while embellishing it with details and updated references.

For example, in Rumpelstiltskin the title character presents himself as a public relations specialist, while in the Three Little Pigs the wolf ends up as the butler to the ‘Piggs’ family. Some are even retitled, as in Little Fred Riding Hood and Cutie and the Beast.

The simple animation from the creators of Rocky & Bullwinkle and the wonderful voi-ceover narration from Edward Everett Horton are as effective as they ever were. If your chil-dren are familiar with the original fairy tales, these off-kilter versions will have them both indignant at the changes and howling with laughter.

This two-disc set collects all of the classic animated shorts, with 500 minutes of video across the two volumes.

44 media

WattPadAvailable for Apple, Android, BlackBerry

and Kindle devices

If you’re a fan of both reading and treasure hunting, then Wattpad is not to be missed: Think of this free app as a YouTube for aspir-ing novelists. Amateur authors share their writing via the website, where stories are then made available for others to read either online or through this easy-to-use app. Browsing couldn’t be easier with works organized by more than 20 genres, with sortable categories within.

Want to skip the most amateurish works and get to the good stuff? Check out the readers’ top-rated selections. The community-building component of WattPad adds to the fun as readers can leave comments and sug-gestions for the authors, as well as interact with other WattPad members to discover mu-tual preferences and new favorites.

With over 100,000 free original titles, you might stumble upon the latest rags-to-riches writing phenomenon (a la E.L. James’ Fifty Shades of Grey). Reviewed by Amber Conger, Main Library.

Mango LanguagesInterested in learning a new language?

Planning a trip to another country? Mango Languages and RCPL can help.

The Mango Mobile Library edition works together with your RCPL account, allowing you to access free content to help you learn dozens of different languages, including French, Italian, Spanish, Russian or even Pirate (which might come in handy for your 6-year-old son). Listen to native speakers as you practice practical vocabulary, pronuncia-tion and grammar. Frequent cultural notes help to keep things interesting while helping you acclimate to your future travel destina-tion.

Add the 3M Cloud Library app to your mobile device and you can download e-book titles such as The Everything Learning Ger-man Book, Learn French in a Hurry or The Everything Conversational Japanese Book. These books are simple to use and can help children learn a language more quickly or adults brush up on that rusty high school French.

Both apps are available in the Apple App Store and Google Play. For help getting started with these apps, stop by or call your nearest RCPL location. Reviewed by Kelly L. Jones, Main Library

AppsGET YOUR HEAD IN THE CLOUDA new way to discover ebooks free at your library!

R I C H L A N DC O U N T YP U B L I C L I B R A R Y

..................

Search cloud library in your app storeor go to myRCPL.com/3M to get started!

45

and teacher involvement. The key was having educational video games, but video games also improve hand-eye coordination, teach basic skills, improve multitasking and can promote exercise and social play. There are some 15 GameStop locations in Columbia, so buy Junior that Zelda title if he does well in school, OK?

Heroes and Dragons510 Bush River Rd., 731-4376

Like video games, comic books, too, provide benefits, stimulating the imagi-nation and creativity. So don’t toss your kids’ Avengers comics.

Lexington County Library Main Branch: 5440 Augusta Rd., 785-2600Batesburg-Leesville: 203 Armory St.,

532-9223Cayce-West Columbia: 1500 Augusta Rd.,

794-6791Chapin: 129 NW Columbia Ave., 345-5479Gaston: 214 S. Main St., 791-3208Gilbert-Summit: 405 Broad St., 785-5387Irmo: 6251 St. Andrews Rd., 798-7880Pelion: 206 Pine St., 785-3272Swansea: 199 N. Lawrence Ave., 785-3519South Congaree: 200 Sunset Dr., 785-3050lex.lib.sc.us

Books are invaluable to a child’s development. The 10-branch Lexington County Library system stocks tons of books for kids, but will also help your child understand them, too. Offers classes, book clubs, homework help, kids’ events and much more.

Rainy Day Pal Books711 E. Main St., 951-2780

Located on the bottom floor of Lexington’s historic Old Mill, Rainy Day Pal Used Books is known for its wide selection, and it specializes in children’s books.

Richland County Public Library Main Branch: 1431 Assembly St., 799-9084Ballentine: 1321 Dutch Fork Rd., 781-5026Blythewood: 218 McNulty Rd., 691-9806.Cooper: 5317 N. Trenholm Rd., 787-3462Eastover: 608 Main St., 353-8584North Main: 5306 N. Main St., 754-7734Northeast: 7490 Parklane Rd., 736-6575Sandhills: 1 Summit Pkwy., 699-9230Southeast: 7421 Garners Ferry Rd.,

776-0855St. Andrews: 2916 Broad River Rd.,

772-6675Wheatley: 931 Woodrow St., 799-5873myrcpl.com.

For many years running, the Richland County Public Library won the Best Place to Expand Your Mind category in the Free Times Best of Columbia awards. Like the library system across the river, the 11-branch Richland County Public Library system stocks tons of books for kids, but will also help your child under-stand them, too. Offers classes, book clubs, homework help, kids’ events and much more.

Rolling Video Gamesrollingvideogamescolumbia.com

Rolling Video Games delivers what it promises: a mobile video game theater stocked with the latest titles available for birthday parties, bar mitzvahs, whatever.

Silver City Comics538 Knox Abbott Dr., 791-4021

Remember what we said about He-roes and Dragons? Ditto for Silver City.

South Carolina State Library 1430 Senate St.statelibrary.sc.gov

The South Carolina State Library is home to the South Carolina Center for the Book, which co-sponsor adult and adolescent literary events, such as the South Carolina Book Festival, the State Library Read-In, Letters About Literature, and many workshops.

Thomas Lee Hall Library 4679 Lee Rd., 751-5589fortjacksonmwr.com/library

Military kids don’t have to go off-post to find a great library.

We know we just said, not three listings sections ago, that active kids are happy kids. But the mind and imagination are

to be nurtured, too, and here are a few places where you can do just that.

Barnes & NobleForest Acres: 3400 Forest Dr., 787-5600Harbison: 278-A Harbison Blvd., 749-9009barnesandnoble.com

The mega-chain bookstore stocks tons of reading material for kids, sure, but it hosts kid-friendly events — story-times, games, etc. — too.

The Book Dispensary710 Gracern Rd.,798-4739mybookdispensary.com

The best books, often, are ones that have been treasured and cared for, and Columbia’s oldest specializes in pre-loved books.

Books-A-MillionForest Acres: 4840 Forest Dr., 782-4475Harbison: 275 Harbison Blvd., 749-9378Northeast: 164 Forum Dr., 788-4349booksamillion.com

The mega-chain bookstore stocks tons of reading material for kids, sure,

but hosts kid-friendly events — story-times, games, etc. — too.

Books Revisited7366A Two Notch Rd., 865-9990booksrevisitedsc.com

A quality source for quality used books; also hosts storytimes, book clubs, writing workshops and more.

Ed’s Editions406 Meeting St., 791-8002edseditions.com

This quaint, family-owned bookstore is a nigh-yearly winner in the Free Times Best of Columbia awards.

GameStopgamestop.com

A recent study, ABC News reported, from the Education Development Center and the U.S. Congress-supported Ready To Learn Initiative found that a curricu-lum that involved digital media such as video games could improve early literacy skills when coupled with strong parental

media

Richland County Public Library on Assembly Street. Courtesy photo

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FT Parent Winter 2012-13

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