WORK IT! ANNUAL SCHOOL GUIDE MENTAL FLOSS...PHOTOGRAPHY NICK PRENDERGAST INTERVIEW BY MARGIE JACINTO...

T H E M A G A Z I N E PA R E N T S L I V E B Y I N D E N T O N C O U N T Y

january 2016

januaryREASONS TO LOVE

64

helping your child grow a healthy brain

MENTALFLOSS

THE ANNUAL

PRIVATE SCHOOL

GUIDE

WORK IT!THE CASE FOR WORKING MOTHERS

who to see at

KIDFILMWALKYTALKY’S JOANNEDALHEIM

mom nextdoor meet

http://www.texasteachers.org

n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d / j a n u a r y 2 0 1 6 3

10 12

34 Manifesto words Rudy Klancnik

REAL MOMS 5 Mom Next Door / Joanne Dalheim 6 Finding the Perfect T-shirt 6 Fresh Fizz 6 Stout Workout 8 Routines / Rachel Kaiser

KID CULTURE 23 Festival of Flicks 25 Agenda 27 EveryDay

BUILD A BETTER BRAINHow to optimize your child’s most important organwords Shelley Hawes Pateillustrations Elliot Stokes

FEATURES

COLUMNS

DEPARTMENTS

ON THE COVER: 4-year-old Charlieof Coppell Photography: Nick Prendergast Hair/Makeup: Shane Monden, Wallflower Management Styling: Meredith Mosshart

NorthTexasChild is published monthly by Lauren Publications, Inc. NorthTexasChild is distributed free of charge, one copy per reader. Only NorthTexasChild authorized distributors may deliver or pick up the magazines. Additional or back copies of NorthTexasChild are available for $2 per copy at the offices of Lauren Publications, Inc. We reserve the right to edit, reject or comment editorially on all material contributed. We cannot be responsible for the return of any unsolicited material. NorthTexasChild is ©2016 by Lauren Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without express written permission prohibited.

THE PRIVATE SCHOOL LISTOur comprehensive guide to North Texas’ private elementary schools compiled by Julia Bunch

Finding the right balance of food, sleep, exercise and technology can help your child’s brain work better, p. 10

T H E M A G A Z I N E PA R E N T S L I V E B Y I N D E N T O N C O U N T Y

january 2016

januaryREASONS TO LOVE

64

helping your child grow a healthy brain

MENTALFLOSS

THE ANNUAL

PRIVATE SCHOOL

GUIDE

WORK IT!THE CASE FOR WORKING MOTHERS

who to see at

KIDFILMWALKYTALKY’S JOANNEDALHEIM

mom nextdoor meet

page s / J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 6

PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEFJoylyn Niebes

CREATIVE DIRECTORLauren Niebes

EDITORIALExecutive EditorWendy Manwarren Generes

Web EditorJulia Bunch

Calendar EditorElizabeth Smith

Contributing Copy EditorCarrie Steingruber

ARTGraphic DesignerSusan Horn

Editorial DesignerKatie Galasso

ADVERTISINGAssociate PublisherDiana Nelson

Account ExecutivesSamantha Barnhart, Mary Beth Fitzgerald, Lisa Hammel, Susan Hassel, Nancy McDaniel, Sandi McKean, Kerensa Vest

Advertising CoordinatorAmy Klembara

PR/MARKETINGAudience DevelopmentKristen Niebes

ADMINISTRATIONOffice ManagerRobbie Scott

4 j a n u a r y 2 0 1 6 / n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d

FW ChildJanuary 20153.5 x 4.688”

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P H O T O G R A P H Y N I C K P R E N D E R G A S TI N T E R V I E W B Y M A R G I E J A C I N T O

ven before Joanne and Cullen Dalheim’s 2-year-old daughter, Harper, was born, the North Texas couple had a very clear picture of what they wanted for her — in terms of the nursery, outfits

and accessories. Unfortunately, no one carried exactly what the two had in mind.

“All the girl stuff was super girly, with bows and ruffles, and all the boy things were all Tonka trucks, dinosaurs and robots,” says the 33-year-old mom. She and Cullen were looking for something in between. And so Walky Talky was born. The hip fashion line for tots features reversible bandana-style bibs, French terry cloth sweatpants and more. Even with their full-time jobs — Joanne is a retail consultant and Cullen is a designer specializing in residential architecture — Walky Talky is fast flourishing. Aside from their store online (walkytalky.co), you can find the local label at nearby St. Bernard Sports. And while Joanne has her hands full with Harper, Walky Talky and her day job, she’s also gearing up for another big life change: the birth of her son, Jack Edward (due January 31).

ON A SCALE OF 1–10, HOW EXCITED ARE YOU RIGHT NOW ABOUT YOUR LIFE? 10. Maybe 12 because I’m coming into the last weeks of my pregnancy. I’m excited to meet my son and excited to see how my daughter’s going to be with him. Just embarking in this whole new adven-ture — I can’t wait!

CAN YOU IMAGINE LIVING ANYWHERE ELSE? San Francisco. It’s our favorite place — that’s where we were married. It’s a mix between Los Angeles and New York. It has everything.

IF YOUR LIFE WERE A SONG, WHAT WOULD IT BE? “She Works Hard for the Money” by Donna Summer

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE ACTIVITY? Taking my daughter to the park or picking her up from school. [I love] seeing my daughter’s face when I pick her up from school.

HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO LAUNCH YOUR FIRST WALKY TALKY COL-LECTION — FROM INCEPTION TO SEEING THE ACTUAL PRODUCT LINE? About a year

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THE NAME WALKY TALKY? Because that’s what we were living at the time with Harper. She was just start-ing to walk and just starting to talk. It was a play on our ’80s childhood with the Walkie Talkie (two-way radios). It felt playful and youthful, and it could grow with us as the line grows.

BABY TREND THAT YOU WISH WOULD GO AWAY: Glitter, glitter, glitter! Glitter shoes, glitter headbands and glitter on T-shirts. My daughter loves it, and I just love vacuuming up my purchase!

BABY TREND THAT YOU LOVE: I love the Mini-Me trend — everything my husband or I would wear in a little nugget size.

DO YOU COOK DIN-NER AT HOME? I’m a frequent EatZi’s visitor. They have this sticker on the door that says “See you tomorrow,” and I swear they’re talking to me. But I’d rather do something fast and healthy like EatZi’s and spend the rest of my time with my daughter.

THREE THINGS MOMS SHOULD NOT FEEL GUILTY ABOUT: Having a glass (or two) of wine after you put your child to bed; wanting to sleep in on the weekend; eating cereal for dinner because you’re too exhaust-

ed to make diner for you and your husband. FAVORITE COUNTRY TO VISIT: I love

London for the fashion, the food, the people — it has an edge to it.

THOUGHTS ON THE WORK-AND-MOTH-ERHOOD BALANCE: I’m really lucky to have Harper in a day care program that allows me to feel very secure about her environment when I’m not with her, and I’m able to focus profes-sionally. But then, when I go pick up her up, everything workwise needs to stop. The balance is when you’re in one [aspect], you do that in full, and when in the next, you do that in full.

WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU HAD MORE TIME FOR? More time to travel as a family. There is nothing better than experiencing something new with your husband and child.

ONE SUPERPOWER YOU WISH YOU HAD: I wish I could time travel and go back to certain stages [of Harper growing up].

THE MOST TREASURED GIFT YOU’VE RECEIVED: My daughter ntc

MOM NEXT DOOR /

entrepreneur

I’M EXCITED TO MEET MY SON AND EXCITED TO SEE HOW MY DAUGHTER’S GOING TO BE WITH HIM. JUST EMBARKING IN THIS WHOLE NEW ADVENTURE — I CAN’T WAIT!”E

real moms.

ABOVE / JOANNE DALHEIM WEARS MANY HATS — RETAIL CONSULTANT, CO-OWNER OF HIP TOT FASHION LINE WALKY TALKY, WHICH SHE STARTED WITH HUSBAND CULLEN (PICTURED ABOVE), AND HER FAVORITE, MOM TO DAUGHTER HARPER, 2.

Joanne Dalheim


It seems so simple: a plain soft wardrobe staple moms can wear casually or dress up. But for so many women, the per-fect T-shirt is all too elusive. University Park mom Amy Graham listened to friends’ complaints about flimsy fabrics and unflattering fits and designed a luxury line of T-shirts that fit well, are comfy (not clingy or see-through) and are made of a supersoft, silky bamboo blend. There are four styles — each fashioned for a certain body type, such as curvy and voluptuous or narrow shoulders and lean upper body — tailored to conceal extra holiday weight in problem spots, like the tummy, waistline or derriere. Shop the collection (which also includes scarves) online.

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Get your namaste on with a Nemesis India Pale Ale at Audacity Brew House’s Morning Buzz yoga. On Sunday mornings from 10−11am, Karma Yoga hosts a class for all levels for $5 per person in the taproom or on the patio when weather permits. Karma Yoga

is Denton’s own feel-good yoga movement that partners with local businesses to offer yoga classes all over town, and then donates the proceeds to Little D charities. And since your $5 admission benefits the Denton Animal Support Foundation in January, you can indulge in Evil Cream Soda Spiced Ale without an ounce of guilt. No need to register online; just show up on Sundays with a mat (or borrow one for free).

STOUT WORKOUT

real moms / 3 T H I N G S …W O R D S J U L I A B U N C H

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For a physician referral or for more information about women’s services at a location near you, call

1.800.4BAYLOR or visit us online at BaylorHealth.com/Women.

Eve Wiley’s pregnancy went from easy to scary when a sonogram showed the umbilical cord wrapped four times around her baby’s neck, posing a serious threat. “Our world turned upside down,” says Eve. The doctor checked her into a high-risk pregnancy unit at her local Baylor Scott & White Medical Center for 24/7 monitoring and immediate access to the delivery room. “Just in case,” adds Eve. She credits the nurses with being her “calm in the storm.” Then, 17 days into her hospital stay, the storm clouds cleared as her baby managed to unwrap himself. Eve spent the rest of her pregnancy back home, returning to Baylor for the birth of what she calls her “miracle baby.”

All services are not available at all locations. Physicians are members of the medical staff at one of Baylor Health Care System’s subsidiary, community or affiliated medical centers and are neither employees nor agents of those medical centers, Baylor Health Care System, or Baylor Scott & White Health. ©2015 Baylor Scott & White Health BSWWOM_13_2015 CE 12.15

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real moms / R O U T I N E S

Diaries are penned by moms (and dads) in the North Texas area. The authors volunteer to share a day of their choosing and are not paid or endorsed by NorthTexasChild. Send your diary to

[email protected]. All submissions are subject to editing and may be cut for space.

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yet. I tell him he better get up before I have to make my way up there and get him up.6:55AM “Project Get Child Out of Bed” take two. I go upstairs, turn on the lights and fan, pull the sheets off his body and give him another warning.7:05AM “Project Get Child Out of Bed” take three. I pull the sheets off his body again, warn him that he is going to be late for school and tell him he has 10 minutes to get his behind out of bed, get dressed and get downstairs for breakfast before he starts losing privileges.7:15AM Brooks finally makes his way downstairs. His hair looks like a complete rat’s nest and the breakfast argument begins, the same one we have every morning. Me: “What do you want for breakfast this morning?” Brooks: “I’m not hungry.” Me: “Eating breakfast is not a choice. You will eat something.” This goes on for five minutes until he usually ends up having a protein shake or banana.7:35AM Finally everyone is ready for school. My husband is dressed, and we all ride our bikes as a family. The kiddos are dropped off, and my day as a stay-at-home mom/full-time volunteer begins.8AM I arrive at Get You In Shape Boot Camp. I absolutely love boot camp. It’s outside, the people are fun and friendly and the trainers are motivating. One hour of an intense mixture of core work, cardio and weights. 9AM Boot camp is over, and I head home to shower, make a protein shake, check emails and answer a bazillion questions from parents about soccer practices and/or games. Then I head out to volunteer at the boys’ school.10:30AM I would say I’m at the school three to four times a week volunteering in the front office, library, cafeteria or classroom in some capacity. I truly treasure this time, seeing my children at school and feeling engaged in their learning experience. 3:05PM Make my way through the chaos of hundreds of kids to finally find my boys, get a hug from at least one of them and ride our bikes home. 3:15PM Backpacks get thrown on the counters, snacks are grabbed and the boys immediately head outside to play soccer. Soccer rules our world. This is what we do every day, seven days a week. Soccer = life. 4:30PM The boys come in from outside, grab more food to eat and ask if they can play on the computer. I remind them that the rules haven’t changed and we still do not allow technology during the week. As they sigh and groan, I tell them to grab a book or play a game before we head out for soccer. I scramble to get soccer bags in order, water jugs filled and lunch bags packed with that night’s dinner since we won’t start heading home from practice until 7:30pm.5PM We’re off to our nightly soccer practices. Most of the time, my husband goes one way and I go the other. One of my favorite activities is watching my boys excel in a sport they are so devoted to playing. Brooks already has his future

Rachel is an advertising and marketing account

supervisor turned stay-at-home mom. She manages

five soccer teams and spends most of her

days volunteering at her kids’ school. She lives in

Coppell with her husband Alex and their two boys,

Brooks, 8, and Colt, 6.

rachel kaiser

4 :15AM My alarm goes off and I roll out of bed quietly so as to not wake up my other half. I brush my teeth, throw on my running clothes, fill up my water bottle and head out

the door to meet my girlfriend for our regular morning therapy session filled with talk of kids, husbands, school, life and whatever else we can muster up in an hour-and-a-half run.6AM After my run, I stretch a bit and head home to start the day. I feel refreshed and ready to take on whatever comes my way. 6:15AM I quietly enter the house so I don’t wake up the still sleeping kiddos and husband. I sit at the computer and check email and tootle around on Facebook for a couple of minutes, enjoying every drop of quiet time I can get. I get the boys’ lunches made, snacks packed and water bottles in bags all before that first alarm sounds and wakes up the rest of the house. 6:45AM The alarms get turned off, and I hear the pitter-patter of little footsteps upstairs. Unfortunately, it is only one set of footsteps I hear because the oldest of the two boys has to be dragged out of bed almost daily. One little guy comes down the stairs fully dressed and ready to give Mom a big hug and get breakfast. I get him settled eating a gourmet breakfast of waffles and veggie sausage.6:50AM “Project Get Child Out of Bed” begins. First, I yell upstairs and ask Brooks if he is awake

A MONDAY IN THE L IFE OF

mailto:[email protected]


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FAVORITE INDULGENCE Brownies YEARLY DESTINATION Crested Butte, Colorado, for five to six weeks in the summer NICKNAMES FOR HER KIDS Brooksie and Coltie, Bug, Bubba, Sweet Pea WHAT’S ON HER DVR Modern Family, Impractical Jokers, Grey’s Anatomy, The Blacklist STORE WE MIGHT CATCH HER BROWSING IN Any running store SIGNATURE MEAL Grilled chicken thighs, baked red potatoes, fruit salad and green salad FAVORITE MOVIE Moulin Rouge RESTAURANT SHE FREQUENTS WITH HER FAMILY Chick-fil-A COFFEE OR TEA Tea PRIZED POSSESSION Running medals HER BIGGEST CHALLENGE Patience — I don’t have much INSPIRATIONAL WORDS TO LIVE BY “To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift” —Steve “Pre” Prefontaine WHAT’S ON HER IPOD Beatles, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Janice Joplin, Depeche Mode, Police, Prince, Michael Jackson FAVORITE FAMILY BOARD GAME Monopoly HER FAVORITE APP Facebook WHAT SHE’S READING The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins BEAUTY PRODUCT SHE CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT Derma e face cream HER GO-TO UNIFORM Jeans and T-shirts PERSONAL HERO My parents BY HER BED Book and a bottle of water

planned as a professional soccer player and Colt plans to follow in his footsteps. You can see the pure joy on their faces as soon as we enter the practice complex. 7:30PM We head home and talk about the practice and the boys’ favorite parts on the way before turning on a movie and letting the boys eat their dinners in the car.8PM The boys take quick showers, brush their teeth and read for 15 minutes. We talk a little bit about the best parts of our day before we turn out the lights.8:30PM Lights out. I lie in bed and snuggle with the boys for a few minutes until they are relaxed and fall asleep. I head downstairs to spend some time with my husband, chatting about our days and watching whatever TV shows we’ve got on the DVR. 10PM My eyes can barely stay open. Time for Mommy’s lights to go out and get some rest just to repeat tomorrow. I love my life. ntc

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I L L U S T R A T I O N S E L L I O T S T O K E S

W O R D S S H E L L E Y H A W E S P A T E

unter Deal is a typical 13-year-old. The Richardson teen gets good grades as an eighth

grader, he’s obsessed with video games and, well, he doesn’t open up about his feelings much. But his dad Fred says something started to unravel this year. He brought home B’s instead of A’s, languished for hours in frustration over home-work and even submitted a single sentence in lieu of a developed argument on a take-home essay.

“Everything about him screamed lack of focus,” Fred Deal says. “He didn’t seem capable of filtering out the insignificant from the significant. There was so much going on and it was hard for him to concentrate.”

Worse yet, “it was obvious he didn’t care,” Deal divulges. “I’m not sure if it was because he didn’t feel challenged or he wanted to rush through his work to get back to his games.”

The Deals started to wonder: How can we boost our adolescent’s brain power? Is it too late?

SURPRISING BRAIN FACTSAccording to Dr. Cynthia Keator, a neurologist with the John and Jane Justin Neurosciences Center at Cook Children’s in Fort Worth, the majority of brain development (90 percent) occurs between birth and age 3. In fact, 60 percent of a baby’s energy fuels neural activity in the first month of life.

“If a baby’s body would grow at the same rate as her brain, the baby would weigh 170 pounds at one month,” Keator marvels.

Early experiences play a vital role in the formation of brain waves and neural pathways. Parents, therefore, can sculpt faster brain development with basic parenting skills, Keator stresses. It’s a simple, intuitive recipe that includes talking, read-ing, singing, caring, loving and giving ample affection.

“You don’t need any special toys or videos to stimulate a baby’s brain,” urges Keator, who adds that the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) warns against any type of screen usage before age 2.

Even though more than 90 percent of brain development is achieved by the age of 5, the brain continues to mature throughout childhood as cells generate extra connections, notes Dr. Lori Cook, who oversees the pediatric brain

injury research programs at the Center for BrainHealth at the University of Texas at Dallas.

However, optimizing this intri-cate 3-pound mass of matter only gets more complicated as your child grows.

Research has shown that chil-dren’s brains are not like those of adults. The brain undergoes more change during the teenage years than at any other time except for the first two months of life. According to Cook, the human brain is still developing until 25 years of age, put-ting preteens and teens like Hunter in a vulnerable position.

Cook explains that adolescence is a critical time when the frontal lobe — often called the CEO of the brain — is primed to undergo rapid development of important, lifelong executive functioning skills, such as planning and organization,

How to optimize your child’s most important organ

BUILD a BETTER BRAIN

H


higher-order reasoning and deci-sion-making, as well as emotional growth and personality.

And there is a major road-block for a lot of kids on their way to better brains: addiction to technology. Cook cites recent research that indicates a child will have spent a full year glued to screens by the time she reaches 7.

Shockingly, the average American child spends seven hours a day in front of a screen, while the AAP recommends no more than two hours. Worse yet, kids are glued to their screens right up until bedtime, caus-ing disrupted sleep hygiene, Cook says — the blue light cast from mobile devices is thought to have the same effect as caf-feine. Sleep, by the way, is the

most important thing for brain health, according to experts, who recommend at least 8–9 hours of sleep every night for adolescents. Children ages 5–12 need 10–12 hours, ages 3–5 require 11–13 hours, and babies anywhere from 12–15 hours.

Our digital dependence is clearly shaping the way children learn, develop and behave.

Cook believes that access to so much information via the Internet is creating what the Center calls “Google brain.” There is a “constant sense of information overload,” she explains. Cook offers the analogy of students highlighting text for salient information: Their pages are filled with solid lines of yel-low. Everything seems equally important and there is less impe-tus to engage the brain.

“Technology is wonderful in that it gives kids global access and perspective,” notes Cook, who

acknowledges that strategic screen time is OK and even beneficial for learning. “However, while they can go wide in breadth of information, they are hindering the ability to dive deep in knowledge.”

What happens is that kids don’t develop the ability to think critically (pivotal to holistic brain development). The brain also suffers with “too many tabs open,” Cook says. Kids are toggling from screen to screen and juggling multiple devices at once. It leaves them prone to irrelevancy. (How many of us have started reading one thing on the Internet only to fall down the rabbit hole chasing another, completely random thought?)

The fallout, Cook says, is that technology rewires our brains to be addicted to distraction.

Multitasking, once thought to be a desirable habit, is actually “toxic at a brain level” in this new age of social media and computer gadgets, Cook declares.

BACK TO BASICSDr. Matthew Housson, a clinical psychologist in Dallas, acknowl-edges that technology is a hot topic when it comes to children's brain health right now. It’s also not going anywhere, so parents need to be thoughtful in how they approach its use, starting with kids at a young age.

“Screen time should be relax-ing. There shouldn’t be any tension surrounding it,” advises Housson. “TV episodes and video game or computer playtime should be limited” to no more than two shows or about 50 min-utes per day.

Housson adds that if kids seem demanding with screen time, take it away during the week and have a scheduled plan for weekends. “Bored kids want screens,” he submits. “Kids who know they are going to a museum, having a picnic in the park or playing family board games don’t request screen time even on weekends.”

Experts stress that there are several other habits parents should adopt to enhance brain develop-ment throughout childhood.

“I always talk about sleep first with parents. It’s an anchor point to a healthy brain,” Housson says.

“The way to tell if your child is getting enough rest is to ask, ‘Do they wake up on their own?’ If they don’t, they’re not getting enough sleep, and a child who doesn’t get enough sleep is rest-less, inattentive, moody and they worry more,” he explains.

The brain is actually work-ing just as hard during slumber (when learning locks in) as it is during the day, Cook says. “It’s a time when the busboys of the brain come out and flush out the toxins. If a child doesn’t get enough sleep for this process to work properly, they will start out at a disadvantage the next day,” she explains.

Nutrition is certainly key to feeding the thinking muscle. In addition to a balanced diet low on sugar and simple carbs, Housson suggests parents serve kids pro-tein first thing in the morning, a small step that stimulates cog-nitive function. “Protein helps boost your child’s attention span, concentration and memory,” Housson informs.

Also important to brain health is exercise — and not just school recess and PE. Parents should reinforce at least 30 minutes of activity at home each day, such as bike riding and playing outside. “Exercise is multipurpose. It serves as a relaxation tool, a stress reliever; plus, there are the physical ben-efits,” explains Housson, who specializes in the assessment and treatment of children with vari-ous learning, academic, atten-tional and behavioral difficulties. “There’s research that says that kids with attention issues thrive if they have 30–45 minutes of aerobic activity in the morning.” So let the kids walk the dog with you before heading to school.

“YOU DON’T NEED ANY SPECIAL TOYS OR VIDEOS TO STIMULATE A BABY’S BRAIN”


DO AS I DOBrain training can begin at home, starting with quality engagement.

Dave Thompson sees a recurrent theme at all ages as a psychologist in the Lewisville Independent School District: parents very concerned about their kids and their behaviors or school performance who try to “fix” the problem by giving their kids “things” to keep them busy. But what they really need is unfettered time with the parent, Thompson stresses. “Parents just hand kids an iPad when what the child really wants is their atten-tion,” he says.

Thompson says kids will then act out at school with behaviors that are exhibited through anxiety and depression. “Parents have good intentions but they don’t spend enough time connect-ing with their kids,” he reports. “Either they don’t have the time or they are not committed to doing it.” Brain wiring is affected when kids don’t get enough sero-tonin, dopamine, oxytocin and endorphins (“feel-good chemi-cals”) that are released when they experience validation, security and affirmation, Thompson insists.

Social interaction and bonding are integral to brain development. He urges parents to limit their own distractions at home and spend at least 15 minutes talking to their children about their daily high and lows, dreams and hopes. He also recommends “filling their love bank” with words of appreci-ation and a real voice (versus text) when you can’t be together.

GETTING SMARTERDriven to nurture and unlock the unfathomable potential of the mind, UTD’s Center for BrainHealth set out on a quest to improve brain health fitness.

Instead of focusing on memo-rization and over-reliance on media, BrainHealth scientists developed the Strategic Memory and Reasoning Training (SMART) program that teaches kids in grades seven through 12 to think critically and focus on how to learn rather than what to learn.

With SMART, which is based on more than 30 years of cognitive brain research,

students discover how to syn-thesize information, uncover deeper meaning and discard irrelevant information. “Any child interested in becoming more efficient with their cogni-tive capital can benefit from this high-level training,” says Cook, who conducts assessments and intervention with the program.

SMART focuses on top-down processing of information rather than bottom-up learning, a unique twist on other train-ing approaches, Cook explains. The research behind the SMART program shows that generalized meanings are more powerfully stored and retrieved than specific details, which are rapidly lost. The result of this training? Higher performance in school.

Currently SMART is offered at various local public middle schools as part of a research initiative funded by institutions where teachers are trained to apply the principles in class. It’s also available to individ-ual students at the Center for BrainHealth for a fee that ranges from $1,200–$1,800.

Fred Deal first encountered SMART during a real estate meeting in Dallas’ medical dis-trict. Desperate for intervention for his own son, he was immedi-ately spellbound by the premise of the program.

He enrolled Hunter much to the teen’s chagrin. But soon his study habits and attitude improved dramatically. Deal says Hunter learned to mini-mize distractions. It took him half the time to complete home-work (self-directed) and his drive returned.

SMART offers a series of seven cognitive strategies to improve brain efficiency that can be applied

to any learning context. The train-ing, which instructs participants how to think strategically, enabling deeper understanding and creativ-ity, has been successfully adapted not only for students, but also for healthy adults and individuals with traumatic brain injuries.

Cook shares one of her favor-ite approaches: brain “interval training” or bursts of high-intensity studying followed by a quick cool down/recovery. That might mean breaking up home-work into blocks of time, such as an intense 30 minutes spent on Spanish followed by a 10-minute scroll through Instagram.

The program also advocates what Cook calls “brain breaks.” We’re not talking about flop-ping down in front of the tube or another screen but rather a full-on reboot. Kids are encouraged to refresh their minds, not their Snapchat scores; otherwise, they end up wiring their brains to be in a constant vigilant state rather than in the present moment.

Cook encourages practicing the “brainpower of none.” Take short breaks throughout the day to give the brain a chance to reboot. The idea is not “zero thought” but rather “zero effort.” Your brain solves complex problems when you step away to reflect on ideas instead of pushing when overloaded.

Deal reveals that Hunter is less inclined to reach for his screen as a default distraction fol-lowing the SMART program — a welcome side effect that is com-mon among participants, Cook says. Kids who take the program also start to withdraw from friends who are still hooked to their devices. They learn to cultivate attachments (priming right brain development) versus hashtags.

STRATEGIC ATTENTIONWhile brain development may seem complicated, by implement-ing what Cook calls “strategic attention,” or laser focus, and adopting healthy screen, sleep, exercise and eating habits, families can harness the immense potential of a developing mind.

It’s never too late to “empow-er children to be their own neuro-engineer,” Cook asserts. ntc

The Deal family might have gone look-ing for neurotherapy for Hunter after his academic focus waned, but there are many reasons to seek increased brain fitness for your kids. Training exercises help reduce anxiety, manage stress and strengthen attention spans. Give your child’s mental well-being a checkup, and perhaps a tuneup, at one of these local centers. Therapies and methods vary by practice, but all focus on the same end product: a well-adjusted, rested, focused and sharp child brain. —Julia Bunch

Acuity Brain CenterColleyville, 817/355-8000acuitybraincenter.com

Brain Performance CenterIrving, 817/500-4863Southlake, 817/500-4863thebrainperformancecenter.com

The Center for Biofeedback and Behavior TherapyAddison, 469/358-1309onlinebiofeedback.com

Crossroads Counseling and NeurofeedbackGrapevine, 817/268-0015Richardson, 972/918-9100neurotherapydfw.com

Focus for LivingBurleson, 817/295-8708focusforliving.net

Neurotherapy Associates of TexasDenton, 940/243-7586neurotherapyassociatestx.com

Neurotherapy Center of DallasDallas, 972/991-1153neurotherapydallas.com

The Sams CenterPlano, 972/733-3009greatbrain.com

BRAINTRAINING

“TECHNOLOGYREWIRESOUR BRAINS TO BE ADDICT-ED TO DIS-TRACTION”

Coram Deo Academy 4900 Wichita Trail Flower Mound 75022 coramdeoacademy.org 1999 Christian Pre-K–12 $4,000–$7,000 Y N 5% 600 Y 15 12 to 1 CPAA, ISEE, Stanford ACCS, AdvancED, NAUMS

Denton Calvary Academy 1910 E. University Drive Denton 76209 dentoncalvary.org 1999 Christian K–12 $5,000–$8,000 N N N/A 320 Y 15 15 to 1 Stanford AdvancED, TAAPS

Explorations Preparatory School 1501 Flower Mound Road Flower Mound 75028 explorationsprep.org 2002 None Pre-K–8 $6,975–$9,225 N N N/A v Y 16 16 to 1.5 Iowa AdvancED

Faustina Academy 1621 W. Grauwyler Road Irving 75061 faustinaacademy.com 2003 Catholic Pre-K–12 $4,800–$6,100 N N N/A 203 Y 16 16 to 1 Stanford NAPCIS

Grace Christian Academy 3200 Firewheel Drive Flower Mound 75028 gcapatriots.org 1970 Baptist K–12 $5,250 N N N/A 61 Y v 7 to 1 OLSAT, Stanford NAPS

Highlands School, The 1451 E. Northgate Drive Irving 75062 thehighlandsschool.org 1986 Catholic Pre-K–12 $9,800–$14,100 Y Y 15% 450 Y 15 15 to 1 CogAT, Iowa, Stanford AdvancED, TCCED

Holy Family of Nazareth Catholic School 2323 Cheyenne St. Irving 75062 hfns.com 1965 Catholic Pre-K–8 $5,995 Y Y 45% 130 Y 11 11 to 1 CogAT, Iowa AdvancED, TCCED

Immaculate Conception Catholic School 2301 N. Bonnie Brae St. Denton 76207 catholicschooldenton.org 1995 Catholic Pre-K–8 $4,880–$5,980 Y N v 237 Y 18 v CogAT, Iowa TCCED

Lakeland Christian Academy 397 S. Stemmons Freeway Lewisville 75067 lakelandchristianacademy.org 1994 Baptist Pre-K–12 $2,000–6,000 N N N/A 560 Y 8–16 16 to 1 Stanford ACSI, AdvancED, TEPSAC

Liberty Christian School 1301 S. Highway 377 Argyle 76226 libertychristian.com 1983 Christian Pre-K–12 $5,936–$17,940 Y N 17% 1,320 Y 17 16 to 1 CTP4, ERB AdvancED

Montessori Country Day School 7400 Hawk Road Flower Mound 75022 mcountryday.com 1987 None Pre-K–5 Varies N N N/A v N v v Iowa v

Redeemer Montessori School 2700 Warren Circle Irving 75062 redeemermontessori.org 1978 Episcopal Pre-K–6 $6,000–$8,950 Y N 5% 125 Y v v Iowa AdvancED, AMS

St. Francis Montessori 1018 W. Pioneer Road Irving 75061 stfrancisirving.org 2009 Catholic Pre-K–5 $3,500–$5,500 Y Y 50% 50 N 20–30 20 to 1 Iowa AMI

St. Luke Catholic School 1023 Schulze Drive Irving 75060 stlukeschool.us 1955 Catholic Pre-K–8 $5,045–$6,424 Y N 50% 140 Y 15 v CogAT, Iowa TCCED, AdvancED

Selwyn College Preparatory School 3333 W. University Drive Denton 76207 selwynschool.com 1949 None Pre-K–12 $3,000–$15,000 Y Y 20% 160 N 10 12 to 1 ERB, Woodcock-Johnson AdvancED, ISAS, TAAPS

Sloan School, The 3131 N. O’Connor Road Irving 75062 thesloanschool.com 1985 Christian Pre-K–5 $7,800–$9,200 N N N/A 147 Y 13 21 to 1 Stanford ACSI

Temple Christian Academy 2501 Northshore Blvd. Flower Mound 75028 templechristian.com 1980 Baptist K–12 $6,410 Y Y 10% 112 Y 10 10 to 1 TerraNova ACSI, AdvancED

SCHOOL

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KEY: ACCS = Association of Classical and Christian Schools; ACSI = Association of Christian Schools International; AMI = Association Montessori International; AMS = Ameri-can Montessori Society; CogAT = Cognitive Abilities Test; CPAA = Children’s Progress Academic Assessment; CTP4 = Comprehensive Testing Program; ERB = Educational Records Bureau; Iowa = Iowa Tests of Basic Skills; ISAS = Independent Schools Association of the Southwest; ISEE = Independent School Entrance Exam; NAPCIS = National Association of Private Catholic and Independent Schools; NAPS = National Association of Private Schools; NAUMS = National Association of University-Model Schools;


ThePRIVATEPRIVATEOur comprehensive guide to North Texas’ private elementary schools1220

★

EST.

Coram Deo Academy 4900 Wichita Trail Flower Mound 75022 coramdeoacademy.org 1999 Christian Pre-K–12 $4,000–$7,000 Y N 5% 600 Y 15 12 to 1 CPAA, ISEE, Stanford ACCS, AdvancED, NAUMS

Denton Calvary Academy 1910 E. University Drive Denton 76209 dentoncalvary.org 1999 Christian K–12 $5,000–$8,000 N N N/A 320 Y 15 15 to 1 Stanford AdvancED, TAAPS

Explorations Preparatory School 1501 Flower Mound Road Flower Mound 75028 explorationsprep.org 2002 None Pre-K–8 $6,975–$9,225 N N N/A v Y 16 16 to 1.5 Iowa AdvancED

Faustina Academy 1621 W. Grauwyler Road Irving 75061 faustinaacademy.com 2003 Catholic Pre-K–12 $4,800–$6,100 N N N/A 203 Y 16 16 to 1 Stanford NAPCIS

Grace Christian Academy 3200 Firewheel Drive Flower Mound 75028 gcapatriots.org 1970 Baptist K–12 $5,250 N N N/A 61 Y v 7 to 1 OLSAT, Stanford NAPS

Highlands School, The 1451 E. Northgate Drive Irving 75062 thehighlandsschool.org 1986 Catholic Pre-K–12 $9,800–$14,100 Y Y 15% 450 Y 15 15 to 1 CogAT, Iowa, Stanford AdvancED, TCCED

Holy Family of Nazareth Catholic School 2323 Cheyenne St. Irving 75062 hfns.com 1965 Catholic Pre-K–8 $5,995 Y Y 45% 130 Y 11 11 to 1 CogAT, Iowa AdvancED, TCCED

Immaculate Conception Catholic School 2301 N. Bonnie Brae St. Denton 76207 catholicschooldenton.org 1995 Catholic Pre-K–8 $4,880–$5,980 Y N v 237 Y 18 v CogAT, Iowa TCCED

Lakeland Christian Academy 397 S. Stemmons Freeway Lewisville 75067 lakelandchristianacademy.org 1994 Baptist Pre-K–12 $2,000–6,000 N N N/A 560 Y 8–16 16 to 1 Stanford ACSI, AdvancED, TEPSAC

Liberty Christian School 1301 S. Highway 377 Argyle 76226 libertychristian.com 1983 Christian Pre-K–12 $5,936–$17,940 Y N 17% 1,320 Y 17 16 to 1 CTP4, ERB AdvancED

Montessori Country Day School 7400 Hawk Road Flower Mound 75022 mcountryday.com 1987 None Pre-K–5 Varies N N N/A v N v v Iowa v

Redeemer Montessori School 2700 Warren Circle Irving 75062 redeemermontessori.org 1978 Episcopal Pre-K–6 $6,000–$8,950 Y N 5% 125 Y v v Iowa AdvancED, AMS

St. Francis Montessori 1018 W. Pioneer Road Irving 75061 stfrancisirving.org 2009 Catholic Pre-K–5 $3,500–$5,500 Y Y 50% 50 N 20–30 20 to 1 Iowa AMI

St. Luke Catholic School 1023 Schulze Drive Irving 75060 stlukeschool.us 1955 Catholic Pre-K–8 $5,045–$6,424 Y N 50% 140 Y 15 v CogAT, Iowa TCCED, AdvancED

Selwyn College Preparatory School 3333 W. University Drive Denton 76207 selwynschool.com 1949 None Pre-K–12 $3,000–$15,000 Y Y 20% 160 N 10 12 to 1 ERB, Woodcock-Johnson AdvancED, ISAS, TAAPS

Sloan School, The 3131 N. O’Connor Road Irving 75062 thesloanschool.com 1985 Christian Pre-K–5 $7,800–$9,200 N N N/A 147 Y 13 21 to 1 Stanford ACSI

Temple Christian Academy 2501 Northshore Blvd. Flower Mound 75028 templechristian.com 1980 Baptist K–12 $6,410 Y Y 10% 112 Y 10 10 to 1 TerraNova ACSI, AdvancED

GRADES

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OLSAT = Otis-Lennon School Ability Test; Stanford = Stanford Achievement Test; TAAPS = Texas Alliance of Accredited Private Schools; TCCED = Texas Catholic Conference Education Department; TEPSAC = Texas Private School Accreditation Commission; TerraNova = TerraNova Tests & Assessments; Woodcock-Johnson = Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Cognitive Abilities; v = Information not provided // Schools that aren’t listed either don’t offer grades 1–5 or couldn’t be reached by email or phone. Information is based on the 2015–2016 school year and subject to change. Tuition rates could reflect 2014–2015 numbers; many schools will not announce tuition changes until spring of 2016.


SCHOOLSCHOOL ListPRIVATEPRIVATEOur comprehensive guide to North Texas’ private elementary schools C O M P I L E D B Y J U L I A B U N C H '16'16

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27Dallas • 10am–3pmShelton School, 15720 Hillcrest Rd.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28Fort Worth • 12–4pm

Trinity Valley School, 7500 Dutch Branch Rd.

camp2016

DFWCHILD CAMP FAIRS

benefitting

20TH ANNUAL

FREEEVENT

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

The importance of school leaders to the success of our children’s education is often underestimated.Their philosophies, aspirations and initiatives are key to a thriving educational model. Meet some of these

visionaries and gain some insight into the workings of a flourishing school.

HEAD OFMEET THE

SCHOOL


People often ask me the differences between private and public education. This question is multifaceted and, to some degree, philosophical, as parents have to define for themselves the type of education they want for their child.

The National Center for Education reports that there are over 6 million students that receive their education through private schooling. Here’s what the experts that study the differences between private and public education report regarding a private school education.

1. Private schools offer curricula rich and vast in content and experiences.2. They don’t have the pressures to “teach to the test” for federal funding.3. Between 60–80% of private school educators have an advanced degree.4. They are culturally diverse which provides opportunities for great learning.5. They typically have fewer student behavioral issues.6. They offer small class sizes.7. Life at school often mirrors family life so relationships have depth and are meaningful.8. Fine arts are generally part of the curriculum and aren’t subject as often to budget constraints.Each family determines for themselves what differences they deem significant.

Clariden offers those qualities that many families search for in a quality education for their child. I’m looking forward to another successful year that reflects the Clariden difference.Sources: NAIS Member School Facts At A Glance 2009–2010; Private School Universe Study

Sallie WellsHead of School

The Clariden School of Southlake100 Clariden Ranch Rd., Southlake, TX 76092682-237-0400 • [email protected]

www.claridenschool.org

St. Luke Catholic School welcomes each child in

Jesus’ name, developing within each student a love for

God, learning and others. As a historically rich school,

St. Luke’s offers multiage teaching in grades 1–4 in

language arts and math. We offer faith-based educa-

tion, small classes, outstanding academics, a nurturing

environment and a dedicated and experienced staff.

100% of our eighth grade students have gone on

to high school and of those 100% have graduated.

1023 Schulze Dr., Irving, TX 75060972-253-8285

www.stlukeschool.usKathy Carruth, Principal

http://www.claridenschool.org

http://www.stlukeschool.us



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At Explorations Preparatory School, we believe students learn best when

they are challenged, engaged and enjoying their learning. We accomplish this

by providing our students with opportunities to learn through exploration and

hands-on lessons and projects. Students are encouraged to learn and apply new

concepts, creating a deeper and more meaningful understanding. At EPS, we don’t

focus on having students simply memorize facts for a test; we want to see what

our students can actually do with the information they’ve learned. Problem solving

and critical thinking are central to all learning at EPS.

Beyond academics, Explorations also puts a high priority on students’ social

and emotional growth. To be successful, students must develop a healthy outlook

for learning and the ability to collaborate with others. EPS’s small, family-friendly

environment is a warm and caring place for students to learn and grow into

successful, motivated, lifelong learners.

EPS students score in the top 1.3% of schools nationwide on the Iowa

Assessment (2015).

PreK–8th Open House: Thursday, January 21, 6–7:30pm

Middle School Preview: Thursday, January 7, 6–7:30pm

Andrea M. Slaughter, M.Ed.Director

Explorations Preparatory School 1501 Flower Mound Rd., Flower Mound, TX 75028

972-539-0601 • [email protected]

The Novus Academy is a college and career preparatory school for students in grades 1–12. Our excellent staff and faculty provide a much sought-after academic program, school environment and culture. Novus instruction is designed to ensure that no student is ignored, overlooked or left behind. We recognize the individual strengths, needs and talents of our students. They learn to understand their difficulties without becoming defined by them and build upon their existing and developing skills.

Kathy Edwards, the founder and head of The Novus Academy has 28 years of extensive experience within public school, private school, therapeutic and university settings.

204 N. Dooley, Grapevine, TX 76051817 488-4555

www.thenovusacademy.org

Kathy EdwardsFounder and Head of School

In his fifth year as principal and his twentieth year in Catholic education, Matt demonstrates a passion for developing the full potential of each student as well as a desire and willingness to express and model his Catholic faith for the students, faculty, staff and parents. His leadership, along with outstanding faculty and strong academic curriculum, fosters a foundation for lifelong learning through the development of mind, body and spirit.

Open HouseTuesday, January 19, 2016 at 9am

Matthew J. KrausePrincipal

Mary Immaculate School14032 Dennis Ln., Farmers Branch, TX 75234

(one mile NE of I-35 and 635)972-243-7105 • www.mischool.org

http://www.explorationsprep.com

http://www.thenovusacademy.org

http://www.mischool.org



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As we begin the honor of celebrating its 30th year, I have reflected on what makes The Westwood School different. Our foundation is one of believing in the uniqueness of each student, and Westwood is the embodiment of the small school, big experience sought at every age level. Students from toddler through grade 12 connect with the world as they choose to conduct a class meeting or confidently climb a mountain in adventure leadership. I am proud to serve this nurturing community in a school that inspires students to achieve a voluntary joy in learning through

our highly regarded Montessori International Baccalaureate education. I invite you to discover The Westwood Way. Admission Preview: Thu., Jan. 7, 6–7:30pm

14340 Proton Rd., Dallas, TX 75244972-239-8598

www.westwoodschool.orgHeather Lourcey

Head of School

Grapevine Faith exists to develop and graduate authentic Christian leaders. In partnership with Christian families, we educate children ranging from Pre-K through 12th grade. Faith offers a unique educational opportunity for students through a challenging, Christ-centered, biblically based school program with excellence in academics, athletics and creative arts. We strive to infuse a biblical worldview in every aspect of the school experience, and encourage ministry and mission mindedness to the local community and beyond. Grapevine Faith is independent and inter-denominational. We serve families on our campus near historic downtown Grapevine. Faith is coeducational, evangelical and college preparatory with selective admission.

We invite you to visit our campus, meet our faculty and talk to our students. We would love to show you Faith in action! Upcoming Open Houses: January 19, February 23, March 22 and April 19. Please visit grapevinefaith.com for complete details and to register for an Open House.

730 E. Worth St., Grapevine, TX 76051817-442-1605

[email protected] C. Smith, Ed.D.

President

Happy New Year! Did you make a New Year’s resolution? Maybe you have resolved to spend more time with family, exercise more or to eat healthier. Other resolutions may have included getting organized or managing stress better. A poll I read recently indicated almost half of us make a resolution, but less than 10 percent are successful.

At Prince of Peace Christian School, we are 100 percent committed and 100 percent resolved to being a school ministry of continuous improvement. We are excited and blessed to see our campus expanding to better serve nearly 1,000 children and their families. Construction will be completed on our new school dining space and kitchen this spring. The athletic field expansion, including the on-campus baseball/softball field, is

another way we are improving our campus for our students.

As we partner with our POPCS community to equip our children for their next academic steps, we remain committed to providing an exceptional educational experience and developing lasting relationships.

Chris HahnHeadmaster

4000 Midway Rd., Carrollton, TX 75007972-447-0532

www.popcs.org

Want more information?

Learn more about these schools and their leaders on our website: dfwchild.com

http://www.westwoodschool.org

http://www.grapevinefaith.com

http://www.popcs.org

4311 Oak Lawn Avenue, Ste. 450Dallas, Texas 75219

214/526.5234 | vbmmp.com

* Thomson Reuters 2011-15

Put me in, coach!Jim Mueller is a husband, father and youth sports coach. He is also a highly experienced family lawyer.

When the welfare of children is paramount in a divorce, Jim is the attorney you want. Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, he has made the exclusive list of Texas Super Lawyers.* But even more important, he coaches families in conflict on how to raise well-adjusted children. “It’s something my kids teach me every day,” says Jim Mueller. “I coach them, but they’ve taught me much more about what makes your kids happy and healthy.”

If you are facing a di�icult familylaw matter, contact Jim Muellerat 214 526-5234 [email protected].

FAMILY LAW CONTESTED DIVORCE COMPLEX PROPERTY SETTLEMENTS CHILD CUSTODY / VISITATION LITIGATION / APPEALS

http://www.vbmmp.com

or one young mother, the dreaded moment finally ar-rived when she had to admit that her marriage was failing after 11 years and the birth of three daughters. How will she manage the changes? What

will she say to the girls? Her friends warned her about the divorce process. Will it leave her kids scarred for life? Will she and her soon-to-be ex-husband become enemies engaged in pitched battles until the girls grow up and have their own lives?

Studies indicate that about 40 percent of all marriages in this country end in divorce. State totals are not very exact, but Texans have always been among the most divorce-prone. Dallas attorney Jim Mueller sees people like this mom caught in the chaos of family law matters every day, and he is dedicated to mak-ing certain that parents and children withstand the process.

“You have to understand that you are in a marathon and not a sprint,” Jim says, “espe-cially if you have small children who will be in your care for many years.” He believes that most parents want to act in the best interest of their children, even when divorce is imminent. To help them craft a more civilized divorce that doesn’t destroy the kids, Jim offers the follow-ing six tips to those starting down that road.

You are free to decide what type of divorce you will have.

Will it be a nasty, conten-tious divorce or a civilized one? Begin with both parents telling the chil-dren about the divorce together. Let them know this is not their fault, and that both parents still love them. This is a very crucial first step.

Never speak ill of the other parent to the kids.

This can hurt the relationship between the chil-dren and the other parent, but it can also cause problems for you. If the other parent is so bad,

your children may wonder why you married that person. Judges also don’t like a parent who inten-tionally works to foul that other relationship.

Understand that possession for both parents is presumed to be in the best interest of the children.

In Texas, joint custody of children is the norm. Un-less your spouse is a bad person, and you can show it in court, both of you will get visitation anyway. Show that you are reasonable and it may pay off in some other negotiation. Besides, later on you may need the ex’s help as a sitter.

Mediate as many issues as youcan outside the courtroom.

In Dallas County, nearly every divorce case goes to mediation. Mediation can be less expensive and produce less angst than going directly to court. To avoid the courtroom

altogether, you may opt for a more formal mediation process known as collaborative law. Ask your attorney about it.

You should prepare your kids for the new normal.

Life will change for everyone in the family. Schedules will need to be worked out. You will need to set boundaries and make as many rules as possible to avoid conflict in this new environment.

Look to the future.

Your children may be small now, but soon enough they will be teenagers and have a say about where they live. As they get older, kids have friends and activities that become as im-portant as parents. And in many cases, parents remarry or move outside the local area.

Moms and dads who follow these guide-lines, Jim Mueller says, will show their children how to handle difficult transitions. “You want to have the divorce that no one talks about, the boring divorce with no drama.”

Larry Upshaw is a writer and CEO of Texas Law Marketing who has published seven books on divorce.

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REGISTER FOR THE GRAND PRIZE DRAWINGAdmission $8, Children 12 & Under FREE / Scouts in Uniform are FREE

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kid culture.

an insider’s guide to kidfilm

Whether you’ve got junior Hollywood hopefuls or mini movie buffs in your clan, KidFilm, the longest-running annual film festival for kids in the U.S., presented by USA Film Festival of Dallas, is

an event the whole family can enjoy. Running the weekend of January 23 and 24 at the Angelika Film Center in Dallas, this collection of children’s cinema works and events — 12 feature and short films, animations, and comedies — offers something for all ages and tastes (yes, even for pre-K kids with very short attention spans). Oh and the best part? Every show and event at KidFilm is free. Pick up tickets an hour before the flick begins (showtimes are 12:30pm, 2:30pm and 4:30pm each day) at the box office. Tickets are given on a first come, first served basis. No reservations. Find the full schedule online starting in early January.

Here, we’re sharing our top three picks off-screen for interactive events, including readings, meetings and a sing-a-long during the festival. Keep an eye on the festival’s website for final event details, including dates and times, which weren’t finalized at press time. PH

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flicksfestival of

Chocolate Me!, came out in September 2011.

Bonus: Get a free signed copy of Mixed Me! at the event.

Meet the McMullans

Even if you don’t know Kate and Jim McMullan by name, you’ll certainly recognize their

books on your child’s bookshelf.

The onomatopoeia-filled books such as I’m

Dirty!, I’m Fast! and I’m Mighty! have kids sounding out words and syllables and learning all about dinosaurs and trucks. Meet and mingle with author Kate and her illustrator husband Jim as they chat about their new book about an ice-cleaning machine, called I’m Cool!.

Bonus: Snag free signed copies of various books by the author and illustrator. ntc

USA Film Festival of Dallas’ Kid-Film // January 23−24 // Angelika Film Center, 5321 E. Mockingbird Lane, Dallas // 214/821-6300 // usafilmfestival.com // Free

Fa La La with Lisa Loeb You may not have heard much from North Texas native and mom Lisa Loeb, the voice behind the 1994 hit “Stay” off the Real-ity Bites soundtrack, but your kids likely have. That’s because the local mom and songstress recently released her fourth (yes, fourth) children’s album, Nursery Rhyme Parade! which features 37 classic bedtime hits like “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star,” “Skip to My Lou” and “Itsy Bitsy Spider.” Join Loeb as she sings the ditties.

Bonus: Score free copies of Loeb’s CD Nursery Rhyme Parade! and signed posters of the artist.

Read-a-Long with Taye DiggsActor and author Taye Diggs reads his new children’s book Mixed Me!, a sto-ry about a day in the life of a biracial child. Diggs and the book’s illustrator, Shane Evans, collaborated on the

story after being inspired by their own mixed-race

experiences and back-grounds (Diggs has a son, Walker, with ex-wife Idina Menzel). The duo’s first book,

Baby Bonanza

It’s a FREE play date for all babies newborn to 3 years and their families!• Fun playtime activities at the best

equipped Baby Gym In the Metroplex!

• Plan to let the entire family swim at Emler Swim School’s newest location at WinKids.

• Win Free Prizes, Swim Parties and giveaways!

Adorable Baby ContestDress your baby in their favorite sports outfit and show off their stuff to the judges to win this cutest baby contest ever! A GRAND PRIZE worth over $500 will be awarded! Call Win Kids or go to winkids.net for details.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Donna Tidwell at Win Kids 972-355-9988, [email protected]

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Photos By:Scott Young Photography

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WANT TO FIND

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ENTERTAINMENT

IN NORTH TEXAS?

SIGN UP FOR THE

WEEKEND GUIDE

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NEWSLETTER.

playOn January 30–31, the

Harlem Globetrot-ters land at the Ameri-

can Airlines Center for

three performances

of trick shots and ball

handling wizardry you

won’t see anywhere

else in the world. See

the red-, white- and

blue-studded basket-

ball team for tickets

starting at $28.50, and

get the Magic Pass for

an additional $22 to

shoot hoops with the

Globetrotters on the

court and learn tricks

during a half-hour,

pregame event.

Dallas, 800/745-3000americanairlinescenter.com

giveBefore flipping on the

Super Bowl, help tackle

hunger by registering

your family online for

the Souper Bowl of Caring, a national cam-

paign running January

18 through game day

on February 7. You’ll

receive a free packet

of resources, including

posters, a soup pot

sticker and fliers, to help

you collect donations

of food items and/or

funds. Then donate

them to the local

hunger-relief charity of

your choice.

800/358-7687souperbowl.org/dfw

seeIf your kids watched

Wild Kratts – A Creature

Christmas on PBS over

the holidays, don’t

miss the chance to see

Martin and Chris Kratt in

person for Wild Kratts Live! Watch as the two

goofy brothers share

fascinating facts about

animals and animal sci-

ence on stage on Mon-

day, January 18, at the

Bass Performance Hall.

Tickets start at $27.50.

Fort Worth, 817/212-4280basshall.com

goIt’s boots, chaps and

cowboy hats at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo,

coming January

15–February 6 for

its annual run at the

Will Rogers Memorial

Center. Download the

free smartphone app

to help navigate you

toward the children’s

barnyard and petting

zoo. Only have one

day to go? Make it

January 16 when the

All Western Parade

runs through down-

town. General admis-

sion is $10 adults; $5

for ages 6–16.

Fort Worth, 817/877-2400fwssr.com

doJoin the CCA Hope

Dash on Saturday,

January 9, to help make

this a happier, healthier

year for local families.

Register online now for

the race/walk hosted

by the Lewisville-based

nonprofit Christian

Community Action. The

event begins at 9am at

Highland Village’s Unity

Park. Stick around after

the race for a free pan-

cake breakfast. 5K is $40

for adults, $20 for kids;

$10 for 1-mile fun run.

Highland Village, 972/221-1224

ccahelps.org/hopedash

kid culture / A G E N D A

5 best things to do this …W O R D S

E L I Z A B E T H S M I T H

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Physician’s panel is from 8:30am to 9:30am

Keynote Speaker Janine Turner at 10am

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kid cultureeveryday. E D I T E D B Y E L I Z A B E T H S M I T H

$18 for children ages 2–17. Includes general admission.

EXHIBIT Critter Kingdom Fort Worth Museum of Science

and History, 1600 Gendy St., Fort Worth. 817/255-9300. fortworthmuseum.org/critter-kingdom. 10am–5pm Mon–Sat; 12–5pm Sun. Through Feb 28. See bugs, butterflies and birds in this exhibit highlighting artifacts from the museum’s vast collection of natural wonders, presented in celebration of the museum’s 75th anniver-sary. $15 adults; $11 children ages 2–12.

PARADE Fort Worth Herd Fort Worth Stockyards, 130 E. Exchange Ave., Fort Worth. 817/625-9715. stockyardsstation.com. 11:30am and 4pm daily, weather permitting. Line up along the streets and watch genuine cowhands drive a herd of about 15 Texas longhorns through the stockyards. FREE

EXHIBIT International Pop Dallas Museum of Art, 1717 N. Harwood St., Dallas. 214/922-1200. dma.org. 11am–5pm Tue–Wed and Fri-Sun; 11am–9pm Thu. Through Jan 17. See works by artists from across the globe in this exhibit that chronicles the global emergence of pop in the 1960s and early 1970s. $16 special exhibition admission; free for children ages 11 and younger.

CHRISTMAS Lone Star Christmas and ICE! Gaylord Texan Resort, 1501 Gaylord Trl., Grapevine. 817/778-1000. gaylordtexan.com. Open through Jan 3. Hours vary by day. See ICE! featur-ing Christmas Around the World, the holiday display hand-carved into more than two million pounds of ice, ride down ice slides, sit in Santa’s sleigh, watch Chinese artisans carve in the interactive Frostbite Factory and go snow tubing. ICE! tickets start at $21.99 for adults; $12.99 for children ages 4–12. Prices vary by other activities.

1 FRIDAYRECREATION

First Day Hike Ray Roberts Lake State Park – Isle du Bois Unit, 100 PW 4137, Pilot Point. 940/686-2148. tpwd.state.tx.us/state-parks/ray-roberts-lake. 2–4pm. Kick off 2016 by joining a park ranger on a 2.2-mile hike along the paved Randy Bell Scenic Trail and learn about some of the native flora and fauna of North Texas. Strollers are welcome. Meet at the Haw-thorn Campground parking lot. $7 adults; free for ages 12 and younger.

FESTIVAL Day 1 Dallas Fair Park, 1121 First Ave., Dallas. 214/368-8686. day1dallas.com. 10am–7pm. Celebrate New Year’s Day at this kid-friendly family fair with activities centered on the 10 most popular resolutions, plus performances and a fireworks show. Proceeds benefit Vogel Alcove, a nonprofit child care center for homeless children. $10 adults; $5 children.

CHRISTMAS Christmas Sparkle Settlement to City Museums, 206 W. Hudgins St., Grapevine. 817/410-3185. grapevinetexasu-sa.com/christmas. Open daily through Jan 3. 10am–4pm Tue–Sat; 11am–4pm Sun. Join an ornament scavenger hunt, get a hair glitzing and make your own sparkle paintings, sparkle ornaments and cotton wreaths, plus custom sparkle prints on the 1881 printing press. FREE

EXHIBIT Creatures of Light – Nature’s Bioluminescence Perot Museum of Nature and Science at Victory Park, 2201 N. Field St., Dallas. 214/428-5555. perotmuseum.org. 10am–5pm Mon–Sat; 12–5pm Sun. Through Feb 21. Learn how a vast array of organisms use a natural phenomenon to attract mates, lure prey or fight off predators. $26 adults;

ON STAGE Lone Star Circus’ Zingari Dallas Children’s Theater, 5938 Skill-man St., Dallas. 214/740-0051. dct.org. 1:30 and 7:30pm Jan 1; 1:30 and 5:30pm Jan 2; 1:30pm Jan 3. See the brand new production, a tribute to the old Gypsy roots of many circus families that features acrobats, aerialists, equilibrists, jugglers, clowns and four-legged stars. Tickets start at $22.

RECREATION Panther Island Ice Coyote Drive-In, 223 N.E. Fourth St., Fort Worth. 817/698-0700. pantherislandice.com. Daily through Jan 18. General hours: 3–10pm Mon–Thu; 3–11pm Fri; 11am–11pm Sat; 11am–10pm Sun. Open holidays; hours vary by day. Ice skate on real ice at Fort Worth’s only outdoor ice skating rink and get free access to the Coyote Drive-In concession stand. $11 includes admission and ice skates. Movie theater tickets are sold separately.

NATURE Penguin Days Dallas Zoo, 650 S. R.L. Thornton Fwy., Dallas. 469/554-7500. dallaszoo.com. 9am–4pm daily through Feb 29. Ages 3 and up can visit the African penguins and all the other animals at the Dallas Zoo for a discounted price. $5; free for ages 2 and younger.

ON STAGE Peter Pan 360 Threesixty Theatre, 2450 San Jacinto St., Dallas. 214/880-0202. peterpan360.com. 7:30pm Jan 1; 11:30am, 3:30 and 7:30pm Jan 2; 1:30pm Jan 3. See this innovative live stage production in the Threesixty Theatre, a 100-foot-tall tent structure lit with a high-resolution projection that immerses the audience into a virtual Neverland. Recommended for children 5 years old and older. Adult tickets start at $35. Children 12 and younger get a $15–$20 discount per ticket.

JANUARY01/29 A YEAR

WITH FROG AND TOAD @ DALLAS

CHILDREN’S THEATER

kid culture / E V E R Y D A Y


ON STAGE Shen Yun Winspear Opera House, 2403 Flora St., Dallas. 888/974-3698. shenyun.com. Multiple showtimes Jan 1–3 and 6–10. Discover 5,000 years of Chinese civilization through this grand production featuring classically trained dancers, an orchestra and ani-mated backdrops. Appropriate for ages 4 and older. Tickets start at $66.

EXHIBIT The 12 Days of Christmas Dallas Arboretum, 8525 Gar-land Rd., Dallas. 214/515-6615. dallasarboretum.org. 9am–5pm daily through Jan 3. Nighttime viewing of the illuminated gazebos 6–9pm Jan 2. See the dramatic exhibition of 25-foot-tall gazebos designed for each day of the popular carol, featuring life-sized Victorian-costumed mannequins and whimsical animals. Daytime admission: $15 adults; $10 children ages 3–12. Nighttime admission: $20 nonmember adults; $10 nonmember children.

CHRISTMAS The Trains at NorthPark NorthPark Center, 8687 N. Central Expy., Dallas. 214/631-7354. thetrainsatnorth-park.com. 10am–9pm Mon–Sat and 12–6pm Sun through Jan 3. See the miniature toy trains exhibit with steam engines, coach cars, a ticket booth, a train station and cityscapes on 1,600 feet of track. Proceeds benefit the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas. On level two outside the Nordstrom entrance. $7 adults; $3 for children ages 2–12.

EXHIBIT Think – An Exploration into Making the World Work Better Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, 1600 Gendy St., Fort Worth. 817/255-9300. fwmuseum.org. 10am-5pm Mon–Sat; 12–5pm Sun. Open through Oct. See this 6,600-square-foot interactive exhibit designed by IBM to showcase how technology and innovation have transformed the world. Free with admission: $15 adults and $11 children ages 2–12.

CONTINUING: See dfwchild.com for more events.

2 SATURDAYNATURE

Butterfly House Discovery Tours Texas Discovery Gardens, 3601 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Dallas. 214/428-7476. texasdiscoverygardens.org. 11am every first Sat. Join entomologist John Watts for a family-friendly tour of the Rosine Smith Sammons Butterfly House, followed by the daily butterfly release at 12pm. Free with admission: $8 adults; $4 children ages 3–11.

ARTS & CRAFTS Kimbell Kids Drop-In Studio Kimbell Art Museum, 3333 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth. 817/332-8451. kimbellart.org. 1–1:45pm Jan 2, 9 and 16. Discover great cities during this program for children ages 12 and younger and their adult companions. Sign-up begins one hour prior to the program. FREE

ON STAGE Pokemon – Symphonic Evolutions Bass Performance Hall, 525 Commerce St., Fort Worth. 817/212-4280. fwsymphony.org. 7:30pm. See carefully timed visu-als from recent and classic Pokemon video games as the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra performs new arrangements. For all ages. Tickets start at $50.

ARTS & CRAFTS Target First Saturdays Nasher Sculpture Center, 2001 Flora St., Dallas. 214/242-5100. nashersculpturecen-ter.org. Open 10am–5pm. Activities 10am–2pm. Join a train-themed art project and explore the big idea “part/whole” at this family day for preschoolers and elementary-aged children. Listen to a story reading, join a yoga session in the garden and enjoy more family programming. FREE

CONTINUING: Christmas Sparkle See Jan 1. Creatures of Light See Jan 1. Critter Kingdom See Jan 1. Fort Worth Herd See Jan 1.

International Pop See Jan 1. Lone Star Christmas and ICE! See Jan 1. Lone Star Circus’ Zingari See Jan 1. Panther Island Ice See Jan 1. Penguin Days See Jan 1. Peter Pan 360 See Jan 1. Shen Yun See Jan 1. The 12 Days of Christmas See Jan 1. The Trains at NorthPark See Jan 1. Think See Jan 1.

3 SUNDAYCONTINUING:

Christmas Sparkle See Jan 1. Creatures of Light See Jan 1. Critter Kingdom See Jan 1. Fort Worth Herd See Jan 1. In-ternational Pop See Jan 1. Lone Star Christmas and ICE! See Jan 1. Lone Star Circus’ Zingari See Jan 1. Panther Island Ice See Jan 1. Penguin Days See Jan 1. Peter Pan 360 See Jan 1. Shen Yun See Jan 1. The 12 Days of Christmas See Jan 1. The Trains at NorthPark See Jan 1. Think See Jan 1.

4 MONDAYCONTINUING:

Creatures of Light See Jan 1. Critter Kingdom See Jan 1. Fort Worth Herd See Jan 1. Panther Island Ice See Jan 1. Penguin Days See Jan 1. Think See Jan 1.

5 TUESDAYARTS & CRAFTS

First Tuesday at the DMA Dallas Museum of Art, 1717 N. Harwood St., Dallas. 214/922-1200. dma.org. 11am–2pm. Enjoy art activities, story readings, performanc-es and gallery activities. Designed for children ages 5 and younger but open to all ages. FREE

ARTS & CRAFTS Pictures and Pages Kimbell Art Museum, 3333 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth. 817/332-8451. kimbellart.org. 10:30–11:30am. Listen to a reading of The Colors of Us by Karen Katz and do simple art activities for ages 4–6. Maximum of two children per adult. Registration is required. FREE

CONTINUING: Creatures of Light See Jan 1. Critter Kingdom See Jan 1. Fort Worth Herd See Jan 1. International Pop See Jan 1. Panther Island Ice See Jan 1. Penguin Days See Jan 1. Think See Jan 1.

6 WEDNESDAYEDUCATIONAL

Read to Rover Emily Fowler Central Library, 502 Oak-land St., Denton. 940/349-8752. dentonlibrary.com. 4:30–5:30pm. Practice reading one-on-one with a certified therapy dog. For children reading on their own, ages 6–11. Registration is required. FREE

CONTINUING: Creatures of Light See Jan 1. Critter Kingdom See Jan 1. Fort Worth Herd See Jan 1. International Pop See Jan 1. Panther Island Ice See Jan 1. Penguin Days See Jan 1. Shen Yun See Jan 1. Think See Jan 1.

7 THURSDAYON STAGE

Beauty and the Beast, Jr. Medical Center of Lewisville Grand Theater, 100 N. Charles St., Lewisville. 972/219-8446. friscoyouththeatre.org. 7:15pm Jan 7–8; 2:15 and 7:15pm Jan 9; 2:15 and 5:15pm Jan 10. Watch the kids of Frisco Youth Theatre act and sing songs from the award-winning animated movie. For all ages. Run time is two hours. $10 in advance; $12 at the door; $20 for front row.

SCIENCE First Thursday Late Night – Color Perot Museum of Nature and Science at Victory Park, 2201 N. Field St., Dallas. 214/428-5555. perotmuseum.org. 7–9pm. Explore rainbows, investigate the color spectrum and create projects with LEDs in conjunction with the traveling exhibition Creatures of Light – Nature’s Bioluminescence. For all ages. Free with admission: $19 adults; $12 children ages 2–17.

http://www.ticketmaster.com


ARTS & CRAFTS JumpstART Stories & Art Irving Arts Center, 3333 N. MacArthur Blvd., Ste. 200, Irving. 972/252-2787. irvingartscenter.com. 10am. Celebrate Winnie the Pooh Day and the birthday of author A.A. Milne and read stories about the beloved bear from the Hundred Acre Wood. Then browse the galleries in this program for ages 2 and older. FREE

NATURE Stories and More Texas Discovery Gardens, 3601 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Dallas. 214/428-7476. texasdiscoverygardens.org. 11am every first Thu. Read a children’s book, make crafts and eat themed snacks, then watch the daily butterfly release at 12pm. For ages 5 and younger. $8 adults; $8 kids ages 3–11; $3 kids ages 1–3.

CONTINUING: Creatures of Light See Jan 1. Critter Kingdom See Jan 1. Fort Worth Herd See Jan 1. International Pop See Jan 1. Panther Island Ice See Jan 1. Penguin Days See Jan 1. Shen Yun See Jan 1. Think See Jan 1.

8 FRIDAYGAMES

Lego Builders Club Emily Fowler Central Library, 502 Oakland St., Denton. 940/349-8752. dentonlibrary.com. 4:30pm. Drop in and get creative by building with the library’s Legos. For ages 6 and older. FREE

DANCE Step It UP Georgia Farrow Recreation Center, 530 Davis Dr., Irving. 972/721-2519. ci-tyofirving.org. 6–9:30pm. Watch youth and teens perform elaborate synchronized group stepping routines that incorporate cheerleading, military and drill team moves. $5 in advance; $10 at the door.

CONTINUING: Creatures of Light See Jan 1. Critter Kingdom See Jan 1. Fort Worth Herd See Jan 1. International Pop See Jan 1. Panther Island Ice See Jan 1. Penguin Days See Jan 1. Shen Yun See Jan 1. Think See Jan 1. Beauty and the Beast, Jr. See Jan 7.

9 SATURDAYNATURE

Bird Walk Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area, 201 E. Jones St., Lewisville. 972/219-3930. llela.org. 7:30–10:30am each second Sat monthly. Bring your own binoculars and watch for hundreds of bird species in LLELA’s forests, prairies and marshes. For children ages 10 and older. Register online. $2 program fee; $5 gate admission. Cash or check only.

SCIENCE Discovery Days Perot Museum of Nature and Science at Victory Park, 2201 N. Field St., Dallas. 214/428-5555. perotmuseum.org. 10am–4pm. Build circuits, travel near the sun via a portable planetarium, learn how to grow your own plant and explore the world of light in the Creatures of Light traveling exhibition. For all ages. Free with admission: $19 adults; $12 for ages 2–17.

HISTORY Dutch Oven Cooking Log Cabin Village, 2100 Log Cabin Village Ln., Fort Worth. 817/392-5881. logcabinvillage.org. 1–4pm. Watch a cooking demonstration presented by the Prairie Dogs Chapter of the Lone Star Dutch Oven Society. $5 adults; $4.50 ages 4 and older.

PLAYTIME Family Winter Games Lee Park Recreation Center, 3000 Pamela Dr., Irving. 972/721-2508. cityofirving.org. 10am–2pm. Join games of friendly competition, win prizes and get snacks and refreshments. For ages 6 and older. Register by Jan 4. $5 per person.

NATURE Family Zoo Adventures Dallas Zoo, 650 S. R.L. Thornton Fwy., Dallas. 469/554-7500. dallaszoo.com/education/camps-classes/family-programs. 9:15–11:15am. Discover how some of the smallest creatures on earth have some of the most important jobs during this insect investigation-themed program with activity stations, animal encounters and special zoo tours for kids ages 4–12. $15 zoo members; $20 nonmembers.

FILM Planetarium Shows UNT Sky Theater, 1704 W. Mulberry St., Denton. 940/369-8213. skytheater.unt.edu. 2 and 8pm each Sat. Watch short films about space explora-tion on the planetarium’s high-definition projection system. Check the website for scheduled shows. $5 for adults; $3 for ages 12 and younger. Cash only.

CONTINUING: Creatures of Light See Jan 1. Critter Kingdom See Jan 1. Fort Worth Herd See Jan 1. International Pop See Jan 1. Panther Island Ice See Jan 1. Penguin Days See Jan 1. Shen Yun See Jan 1. Think See Jan 1. Kimbell Kids Drop-In Studio See Jan 2. Beauty and the Beast, Jr. See Jan 7.

10 SUNDAYCONTINUING:

Creatures of Light See Jan 1. Critter Kingdom See Jan 1. Fort Worth Herd See Jan 1. International Pop See Jan 1. Panther Island Ice See Jan 1. Penguin Days See Jan 1.

This exhibition is organized by the American Museum of Natural History, New York in collaboration with the Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa, Canada and The Field Museum, Chicago. The Perot Museum is an AAM-accredited institution, supported in part by the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs and the Texas Commission on the Arts. Satellite image of globe used within the Perot Museum logo provided courtesy of NASA.

COME GLOW WITH US!Make time to experience the magic of “living light” with your children. Come and immerse yourselves in a bioluminescent world filled with flickering fireflies, iridescent deep-sea creatures, glowing mushrooms and more!

creatures ofLIGHTnature’s bioluminescence

PURCHASE TICKETS AT PEROTMUSEUM.ORG TO SKIP THE BOX OFFICE LINE! WE’LL SCAN TICKETS STRAIGHT FROM YOUR SMARTPHONE AT ENTRY.

20160101_DFWChild_January_HalfVert_COL.indd 2 12/4/15 12:15 PM



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Shen Yun See Jan 1. Think See Jan 1. Beauty and the Beast, Jr. See Jan 7.

11 MONDAYCONTINUING:

Creatures of Light See Jan 1. Critter Kingdom See Jan 1. Fort Worth Herd See Jan 1. Panther Island Ice See Jan 1. Penguin Days See Jan 1. Think See Jan 1.

12 TUESDAYPLAYTIME

Family Fun Night Coppell Public Library, 500 Southwestern Blvd., Coppell. 972/304-3658. coppelltx.gov/library. 7pm. Join this all-ages program for stories, songs and activities. FREE

STORY TIME Twilight Toddler Time Emily Fowler Central Library, 502 Oakland St., Denton. 940/349-8752. dentonlibrary.com. 6:30pm. Enjoy stories, songs and activities in this evening story time for toddlers ages 12–36 months and their caregivers. FREE


13 WEDNESDAYARTS & CRAFTS

Wonderful Wednesdays The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, 3200 Darnell St., Fort Worth. 817/738-9215. themodern.org. 4–4:45pm. Visit the work of Anthony Caro during this docent-led program for families with young children ages 4 and older. Includes a story and short gallery project. Sign up at the information desk on the day of the program. FREE


14 THURSDAYGAMES

Random Fandom Flower Mound Public Library, 3030 Broadmoor Ln., Flower Mound. 972/874-6167. fmlibrary.net. 4–5:30pm. The Teen Advisory Group is selecting one fandom to feature with crafts, games and trivia. FREE


15 FRIDAYRODEO

Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo Will Rogers Memo-rial Center, 3400 Burnett Tandy Dr., Fort Worth. 817/877-2400. fwssr.com. Gates open 8am–8pm. Daily through Feb 6. Watch the rodeos and western parade, play midway games at the carnival and discover the farm animals inside the children’s barn-yard and petting zoo at the annual festival. General admission: $10 adults; $5 for ages 6–16. Rodeo tickets sold separately.

HISTORY Frugal Farm Wife Series Nash Farm, 626 Ball St., Grape-

vine. 817/410-3185. nashfarm.org. 10am–2pm. Step into a 19th-century home to witness the domestic duties of a farm family. See costumed interpreters use tools and techniques of the period for sewing, spinning, weaving, dying, ironing, laundry and

making candles. Registration is required. $3 for ages 3 and older.PLAYTIME Kids Rock Denton Civic Center, 321 E. McKinney St., Denton. 940/349-8733. dentonparks.com. 7–10:30pm. Play basketball and soccer, dance to music from a DJ and have fun with a bounce house, video games on the giant screen, dance contests and ping-pong. For kids in first–fifth grades. $10 per child.ARTS & CRAFTS Late Night at the DMA Dallas Museum of Art, 1717 N. Harwood St., Dallas. 214/922-1803. dma.org. 6pm–12am. Join the museum’s annual birthday party and the closing weekend of the International Pop exhibit. Enjoy family-friendly activities, sing karaoke and listen to a live music group play songs from The Beatles to Michael Jackson to Lady Gaga.

Free admission. International Pop admission is $16; free for kids 11 and younger.


16 SATURDAYSAFETY

MLK Day of Service and Safety Rally Georgia Farrow Rec-reation Center, 530 Davis Dr., Irving. 972/721-2519. ir-vingevents.org. 10am–1pm. Learn about community organizations, join a bike rodeo from 11am–1pm for Irving elementary students, learn about bike safety and earn free bicycles and helmets. FREE

MUSIC UNT Instrument Petting Zoo Emily Fowler Central Library, 502 Oakland St., Denton. 940/349-8752. den-tonlibrary.com. 3pm. Learn how to play woodwind, brass and percussion instruments in this program led by North Texas Student Music Educators. For ages 8–14. FREE

CONTINUING: Creatures of Light See Jan 1. Critter Kingdom See Jan 1. Fort Worth Herd See Jan 1. International Pop See Jan 1. Panther Island Ice See Jan 1. Penguin Days See Jan 1. Think See Jan 1. Kimbell Kids Drop-In Studio See Jan 2. Planetarium Shows See Jan 9. Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo See Jan 15.

17 SUNDAYSPECIAL EVENT

Martin Luther King Jr. Observance Irving Arts Center, 3333 N. MacArthur Blvd., Irving. 972/252-2787. irvin-gevents.org. 6–7:30pm. Enjoy a program featuring live musical and theatrical performances in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. FREE

MUSIC Peter and the Wolf White’s Chapel United Method-ist Church, 185 S. White Chapel Blvd., Southlake. 817/665-6000. fwsymphony.org. 2pm instrument petting zoo; 3pm concert. Listen to an orchestra concert in which a different instrument portrays each character from the classic story. Run time is about 45 minutes. Come early to see, touch and play various instruments. $10.

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CONTINUING: Creatures of Light See Jan 1. Critter Kingdom See Jan 1. Fort Worth Herd See Jan 1. International Pop See Jan 1. Panther Island Ice See Jan 1. Penguin Days See Jan 1. Think See Jan 1. Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo See Jan 15.

18 MONDAYSPECIAL EVENT

Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Lewisville High School Auditorium, 1098 W. Main St., Lewisville. flower-mound.com. 6:30pm. Honor the legacy of Dr. King at this 23rd annual celebration with entertainment and a keynote speaker. For all ages. FREE

SPECIAL EVENT MLK Jr. Day Celebration Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center, 1300 Wilson St., Denton. 940/349-8575. dentonparks.com. 11am. Honor the legacy of the late civil rights leaders at this annual event with a flag football game, a rally at the UNT Union Building, march and program. FREE

ON STAGE Wild Kratts Live! Bass Performance Hall, 525 Commerce St., Fort Worth. 817/212-4280. basshall.com. 6:30pm. See Martin and Chris Kratt from the animated televi-sion series live on stage in an all-new show, learn fun facts about animals and watch the brothers activate their Creature Powers with Creature Power Suits. Tick-ets start at $27.50. A limited number of VIP meet and greet tickets are available.

CONTINUING: Creatures of Light See Jan 1. Critter Kingdom See Jan 1. Fort Worth Herd See Jan 1. Panther Island Ice See Jan 1. Penguin Days See Jan 1. Think See Jan 1. Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo See Jan 15.

19 TUESDAYEDUCATIONAL

Legos and littleBits North Branch Library, 3020 N. Locust St., Denton. 940/349-8752. dentonlibrary.com. 6:30–8pm. Explore electronics and invention by building and creating with electronic modules that snap together. For ages 8–17. Registration is required. FREE

CONTINUING: Creatures of Light See Jan 1. Critter Kingdom See Jan 1. Fort Worth Herd See Jan 1. Penguin Days See Jan 1. Think See Jan 1. Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo See Jan 15.

20 WEDNESDAYPLAYTIME

Spring Preschool Dance Party Emily Fowler Central Library, 502 Oakland St., Denton. 940/349-8752. dentonlibrary.com. 10am. Dance to kid-friendly music and have fun with shakers, scarves and bubbles. For ages 1–5. FREE


21 THURSDAYHOME-SCHOOL

Home-School Science Emily Fowler Central Library, 502 Oakland St., Denton. 940/349-8752. dentonlibrary.com. 2:30pm. Explore the science of bridges, sky-scrapers and structures and learn about tightrope walker Philippe Petit by reading The Man Who Walked Between the Towers by Mordicai Gerstein. For ages 6–11. Registration is required. FREE


22 FRIDAYEDUCATIONAL

Legos and littleBits Emily Fowler Central Library, 502 Oakland St., Denton. 940/349-8752. dentonlibrary.com. 4:30pm. Explore electronics and invention by building and creating with electronic modules that snap together. For ages 10–17. Regis-tration is required. FREE


23 SATURDAYARTS & CRAFTS

Children’s Workshop Kimbell Art Museum, 3333 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth. 817/332-8451. kimbellart.org. 10am–12pm. Connect with artworks, new friends and creative activities during this workshop for children ages 6–12 and their adult partners in the Pavilion education studios. Call to register. $15 nonmem-bers; $12 members.

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1. Think See Jan 1. Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo See Jan 15.

29 FRIDAYON STAGE

A Year With Frog and Toad Dallas Children’s Theater, 5938 Skillman St., Dallas. 214/740-0051. dct.org. Multiple showtimes Jan 29–31, Feb 6–7, 13–14, 21 and 27–28. See this Tony-nominated Broadway musical that follows two unlikely best friends from hibernation to planting, swimming and sledding. Tickets start at $15.


30 SATURDAYEDUCATIONAL

Big Denton Playdate Emily Fowler Central Library, 502 Oakland St., Denton. 940/349-8752. dentonlibrary.com. 10–11:30am. Enjoy a playtime and learn how to turn ordinary household objects into your child’s favorite toy. For ages 1–5. FREE

SPORTS Harlem Globetrotters American Airlines Center, 2500 Victory Ave., Dallas. 800/745-3000. americanairli-nescenter.com. 2 and 7pm Jan 30; 12:30pm Jan 31. See the star-studded roster perform ball handling wizardry, basketball artistry and one-of-a-kind family entertainment for the team’s 90th anniversary tour. Tickets start at $28.50.

CONTINUING: Creatures of Light See Jan 1. Critter Kingdom See Jan 1. Fort Worth Herd See Jan 1. Penguin Days See Jan 1. Think See Jan 1. Planetarium Shows See Jan 9. Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo See Jan 15. A Year With Frog and Toad See Jan 29.

31 SUNDAYEXHIBIT

David (Shannon) Goes to the Museum Irving Arts Center, 3333 N. MacArthur Blvd., Irving. 972/252-2787. irvingartscenter.com. 1–5pm. This is the last day to see the exhibit of works by internationally acclaimed picture book creator David Shannon, organized by the National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature. FREE

CONTINUING: Creatures of Light See Jan 1. Critter Kingdom See Jan 1. Fort Worth Herd See Jan 1. Penguin Days See Jan 1. Think See Jan 1. Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo See Jan 15. A Year With Frog and Toad See Jan 29. Harlem Globetrotters See Jan 30.

NATURE Travel to the Tropics Texas Discovery Gardens, 3601 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Dallas. 214/428-7476. texasdiscoverygardens.org. 10am–3pm. Wear bright, tropical clothes to the climate-controlled butterfly house and learn about tropical butterflies and the countries they come from. Free with admission: $8 adults; $4 kids ages 3–11.

CONTINUING: Creatures of Light See Jan 1. Critter Kingdom See Jan 1. Fort Worth Herd See Jan 1. Penguin Days See Jan 1. Think See Jan 1. Planetarium Shows See Jan 9. Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo See Jan 15.

24 SUNDAYON STAGE

Curious George – The Golden Meatball Charles W. Eise-mann Center for Performing Arts, 2351 Performance Dr., Richardson. 972/744-4650. eisemanncenter.com. 2:30–3:30pm. Watch the actors of Theatreworks USA in this new musical about George’s adventure to Rome, where he discovers the secret ingredient to cooking. Part of the Family Theatre Series. Tickets start at $13.


25 MONDAYEDUCATIONAL

Batteries Not Included Flower Mound Public Library, 3030 Broadmoor Ln., Flower Mound. 972/874-6167. fmlibrary.net. 3:30–4:30pm every fourth Mon. Explore the world through nonfiction books and STEAM activities during this program for kids in K–third grades. FREE


26 TUESDAYCONTINUING:

Creatures of Light See Jan 1. Critter Kingdom See Jan 1. Fort Worth Herd See Jan 1. Penguin Days See Jan 1. Think See Jan 1. Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo See Jan 15.

27 WEDNESDAYSTORY TIME

Mo Willems Story Time Emily Fowler Central Library, 502 Oakland St., Denton. 940/349-8752. denton-library.com. 11am. Celebrate the works of award-winning author Mo Willems at this special story time featuring Pigeon, Elephant, Piggie and more. For kids ages 1–5. FREE


28 THURSDAYEDUCATIONAL

Measuring Pennies South Branch Library, 3228 Teasley Ln., Denton. 940/349-8752. dentonlibrary.com. 3:30pm. Make life-sized drawings and learn about the different units of measurement. Best for ages 5–8. FREE

CONTINUING: Creatures of Light See Jan 1. Critter Kingdom See Jan 1. Fort Worth Herd See Jan 1. Penguin Days See Jan

FREE denotes free event admission. Other costs, such as parking, may apply. Times, dates and locations are subject to change. Please call ahead before every event. If you have an event that you’d like us to consider for the next calendar, please go to dfwchild.com and click on calendar to submit your event. Or fax to 972/447-0633 by the 10th of the month prior to the month of publication. Events must be open to the public and of interest to families in the North Texas area. Please include name and description of event, address, phone number, website, time, date, cost and age served. We reserve the right to edit or withhold submissions.

Want to see even more events? Search our up-to-the-minute online calendar by date, location and event type at dfwchild.com.

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manife sto

his will be the first presidential election that truly resonates with both of my kids as they’ve reached an age

where they’re starting to take notice of all the noise on TV about politi-cians. And man, I’m having a really tough time trying to help them navigate through the rhetoric.

When I was a kid, I remember something about President Nixon waving as he got into his chop-per and President Ford taking his place. But honestly I only remember President Ford because he played football at Michigan, my all-time favorite team.

When President Reagan took over for President Carter, I still didn’t really worry about who occupied the Oval Office. Of course, once you graduate from college, get a real job and start paying for a house, a car, insurance, property taxes, etc., you care a lot more.

My kids certainly have some time before that. For now, they’re just asking a lot of questions about all the folks wanting to be the next president of the United States.

In my lifetime, never has a presi-dential race been so, well, depressing. I don’t love any of the candidates. But wanting to be a good steward of the democratic process for my kids, I put together a cheat sheet so they can keep the presidential lineup straight as we steam toward the second Tuesday in November.

Hillary Clinton My daughter asked me why she wears so many pantsuits. I couldn’t answer that one, but she certainly is in dire need of a stylist who was born after 1960. For better or worse, she’s the front-run-ner. I remind my kids that Clinton’s husband was the two-term president who had a questionable relationship with a certain intern and the truth. My high school-aged daughter un-derstood. It went right over my son’s

head (he’s in middle school). I tell them that Clinton won’t likely see many votes from our great state, but it won’t matter. She’s got tons of cash and name recognition, and her husband will likely be the most wheels-off First Man ever. Who wouldn’t want to watch that reality show?

Donald Trump Speaking of reality shows, The Appren-tice star stirs up several questions from my kids: “Is his hair real? What’s the deal with this wall on the Texas border he keeps talking about?” When I try to explain that his candidacy seems as plausible to me as me taking the White House, I’m met with skepticism. After all, he’s already on TV all the time for some hokey comment or stunt. I’m hoping Trump is just a bad dream that we’ll all wake up from in the near future. But considering every-one’s frustration with Washington, D.C., sideshows like Trump are likely here to stay.

Ted Cruz He’s from Texas. He

scares me. I don’t tell them much more than that.

Bernie Sanders My daughter loved Larry David’s parody

of Sanders on Saturday Night Live, so that’s enough to capture her vote. If they could, you know, vote. I tell

her that Sanders will probably be Clin-ton’s running mate, which will keep him out of her way.

Chris Christie My son likes him be-cause he resembles my son’s uncle and because he roots for the Cowboys despite

being the governor of New Jersey. Sure he’s polling just higher than my high school baseball coach right now, but he may have a connection to Tony Soprano so please don’t count him out.

Ben Carson Dr. Carson doesn’t engender questions from kids because I think he’s forgettable. If I were sick, I might want Carson on my team, but when I’m voting for the next president of the United

States, I don’t think he’s the guy for the job.

Marco Rubio My daughter digs him because he’s young and decent looking. My son likes him because he’s from Florida, where his favorite NFL team, the Dolphins, plays. I tell them that Senator Rubio is the Republican version of the guy currently in the White House and that he’s my personal front-runner since he’s fiscally conservative —

and because I’m a Dolphins fan too. Jeb Bush I really thought I’d be

talking to my kids about him be-ing our next president. But …

Carly Fiorina I didn’t realize the term RBF existed until someone tweeted a photo of Fiorina next to those three letters. I’ll let you figure out what it stands for, but suffice it to say that Fiorina should smile a bit more. My daughter likes that she was a big-time business woman, al-though that big-time business didn’t do very well under her leadership. My son likes that she’s as aggressive in debates as Gary Patterson is on the sideline.

At the end of the day, it’s not ex-actly an all-star presidential lineup card. I explain to my kids that with the long road leading up to this job, there’s a lot of media scrutiny, which likely scares off this country’s best and brightest from even throwing their hats in the ring in the first place. And the prize at the end is a thankless job that doesn’t pay all that much considering the hours, the pressure and the liabilities that come with it.

Luckily, we still have lots of time to hear debates, understand positions and make decisions — all very adult things. But kids are paying attention too, and it’s our job as parents to help them understand the candidates and the process in the race for the White House. Now let’s cross our collective fingers and hope that the best man (or woman) for the job wins. ntc

T

W O R D S R U D Y K L A N C N I KI L L U S T R A T I O N M A R Y D U N N

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WORK IT! ANNUAL SCHOOL GUIDE MENTAL FLOSS...PHOTOGRAPHY NICK PRENDERGAST INTERVIEW BY MARGIE JACINTO...

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