LIVE | LOVE | PLAY
PLAYGROUND a lifestyle magazine for central florida's modern parents
AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2020
THE ENRICHMENT GUIDE Page 36
THE
EDUCATION ISSUE
DIY: FIZZY SCIENCE THREE LOCAL FAMILIES'
WORLD SCHOOLING adventures
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Spread LOVE, Not Germs: 5 Local Places to Find Stylish Masks for Kids Looking for cute masks for kids? Your favorite local boutiques have stocked up on masks designed especially for little ones. Your kids will feel their best in masks that reflect their unique personality. Here are five local businesses helping to keep your kids safe and stylish!
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PLAY @ Home Online Articles PlaygroundMagazine.com Stay & PLAY Guide Sign up for our weekly e-newsletters for tips to keep the kids happy and you sane while practicing social distancing. playground-magazine.com/ the-weekend-playguide
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Visit our website for ways to PLAY at home. We've done the research and gathered the info you need all in one place! Here are our favorite articles to entertain your crew at home: Make Your Own Candy Sushi
Create a Family Mission Statement
Healthy Snack: Apple Donuts
Recycling Quiz for Kids
Nice Cream Bowls
Managing Sibling Spar Wars
3 Steps to Your First Family Fishing Adventure
15 Things to Do in the Orlando Area While Avoiding Crowds
Homework Help: Ease Frustration & Boost Focus Great Hikes for Kids: The Florida Trail
@PLAYorlando 2 PLAYGROUND Aug / Sep 2020
Stay and PLAY: Online and Local Resources to Entertain Kids While Social Distancing
@PLAYmag
@ PlayMagCF
With your own customized birth plan and concierge services to add those special touches, we’re dedicated to making your birth day experience all you want it to be. And should you or your baby need a little extra support, we offer the most advanced level of maternal and neonatal care. Choose the most trusted hands in town – in a hospital designed just for women and babies – for your memorable miracle.
WinniePalmerHospital.com/Babies
CONTENTS August / September 2020 Issue
Calling All PLAYers... Stay connected between issues by signing up for our free Weekend PLAYguide e-newsletter at playgroundmagazine.com or on Facebook @PLAYGROUNDMagazine
The Education Issue LIVE
• 8 Talk of the Playground • 12 8 Ways to Turn a Bad Morning Around • 14 Coping with COVID: Self Care and Pampering at Winter Park Village
LOVE
• 16 Alternative Education • 21 The World Is Their Classroom • 28 Player: Jessica Barisano of Collaborative Corner for Exceptional Children
PLAY
• 30 D.I.Y. Fizzy Science • 32 See/Saw: Enchanted Fairy Doors Exhibit at Leu Gardens and Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center at the St. Pete Pier
• 34 Maker Spaces • • • SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION • • •
ENRICHMENT GUIDE
Local Families Share Their Worldschooling Adventures
Your guide to the coolest extracurricular programs for kids! PAGE 36
Page 21 Photo: FullTimeFieldTrip.com
Subscribe now to get all six issues of PLAYGROUND Magazine delivered to your door for $15 per year. PlaygroundMagazine.com/Subscribe 4 PLAYGROUND Aug / Sep 2020
Now Now Enrolling Enrolling for for Fall Fall Preschool Preschool
Kiddie Academy has the teachers, tools Kiddie Academyithas thetoteachers, tools and inspiration takes nurture oversized and inspiration takes to nurture oversized confidence anditbig ideas. It’s all part of confidence and big ideas. It’s all part of with becoming an amazing adult, and begins becoming an amazing adult, and begins with ® our Life Essentials philosophy: ® our Life Essentials philosophy:
Learn more at kiddieacademy.com Learn more at kiddieacademy.com Apopka Apopka Phone: 407-605-5410 Phone: DCF License407-605-5410 #:C09OR0993
Hunters Creek Hunters Creek Phone: 407-664-2073 Phone: 407-664-2073 DCF License #: C09OR1065
Orlando-Conway Orlando-Conway Phone: 407-601-3366 Phone: DCF License407-601-3366 #: C09OR1160
Sanford-Heathrow Sanford-Heathrow Phone: 407-732-0080 Phone: DCF License407-732-0080 #: C18SE0334
DCF License #:C09OR0993
DCF License #: C09OR1065
DCF License #: C09OR1160
DCF License #: C18SE0334
Clermont Clermont Phone: 352-356-4217 Phone: DCF License352-356-4217 #: C05LA0088
Longwood-Lake Mary Longwood-Lake Mary Phone: 407-332-0045 Phone: DCF License407-332-0045 #: C18SE0249
Oviedo Oviedo Phone: 407-554-3816 Phone: DCF License407-554-3816 #: C18SE0325
Winter Park Winter Phone: Park 407-664-2072 Phone: DCF License407-664-2072 #: C09OR1199
DCF License #: C05LA0088
DCF License #: C18SE0249
DCF License #: C18SE0325
DCF License #: C09OR1199
INFANTS • TODDLERS • PRESCHOOL • PRE-K INFANTS TODDLERS • PRESCHOOL PRE-K BEFORE &• AFTER SCHOOL • SUMMER•CAMP BEFORE & AFTER SCHOOL • SUMMER CAMP
PUBLISHER'S NOTE Team Playground (L to R): Alicia McKee, Jessica Friend, Alisha Champ, Heather Reneau, Brant Muekeley, Jessica Ventura, Wendy Meyer, Cortney Thekan; Photo by Amy Smith
PLAYGROUND LIVE | LOVE | PLAY Heather Reneau Founder and Publisher heather@playgroundmagazine.com Chrissy Allen Co-Founder Brant Muekeley Financial Manager brant@playgroundmagazine.com Jessica Ventura Advertising Manager jessica@playgroundmagazine.com Cortney Thekan Editor cortney@playgroundmagazine.com
Back to School Like No Other What a long, strange summer it's been. I hope you have been able to manage stress and stay positive and present during this pandemic. Our kids are great at leading the way on that front.
The PLAYER spotlight on Collaborative Corner for Exceptional Children offers useful information for families who need help finding local resources for exceptional kids (page 28 ).
Like many small businesses struggling to stay afloat, we're also feeling the pinch. This issue is smaller than usual, but we still tried to pack it with valuable information for you and your family.
For some fun, check out the D.I.Y. Fuzzy Science experiment (page 30) and tips for maker-minded kids (page 34). We've also included some great ways for families to PLAY in our See/Saw articles (page 32).
Our feature article spotlights Central Florida families who've set off on inspiring worldschooling adventures (page 21). To help you navigate the school year, we've included tips about tweaking your morning routine (page 12) and exploring alternative education options (page 16).
This issue features the annual Enrichment Guide (page 36), which is also available online at PlaygroundMagazine.com along with other helpful guides. If you haven't done so yet, please subscribe online to have each of our issues mailed to you directly: PlaygroundMagazine.com/ subscribe.
- Heather Reneau
LIVE | LOVE | PLAY
PLAYGROUN a lifestyl e magaz ine for centra l florida 's moder n parent s
ABOUT THE COVER ...
D
THE
EDUCATION ISSUE
We loved the photos submitted by the worldschooling families featured on pages 21-27. These adventurous families inspire us to seek a little more outdoor therapy and live in the moment with our loved ones. This photo of Jessica Perlaza and her boys on top of the nostalgic VW bus gives us all the go-with-the-flow vibes. Cover photo: Jessica Perlaza @kindleroflgow
AUGUST / SEPTEMB
ER 2020
THE ENRICHMENT GUIDE Page 36
DIY: FIZZY SCIENCE THREE LOCAL FAMILIE
S'
WO RLD SC HO OL ING adventures
Jessica Friend Graphic Design & Photography jessica.friend@playgroundmagazine.com Alicia McKee Sales Assistant & E-newsletter Coordinator alicia@playgroundmagazine.com Wendy Meyer Social Media Coordinator & Events Editor wendy@playgroundmagazine.com Contributing Writers: Amy Nielsen, Betsy Jewell, Erin Sullivan, Janeen Lewis, Rebecca Hastings, Wendy Meyer Contributing Photographers: Amy Smith Ann Buoy Jessica Friend Photo Design Jessica Perlaza Regina Knabe PLAYGROUND Magazine is published bimonthly by Playground Media Group, LLC, 10151 University Blvd., Ste. 326, Orlando, FL 32817. Telephone 407-221-4932. PLAYGROUND Magazine does not assume liability for products or services advertised herein. The content of PLAYGROUND Magazine is copyrighted by Playground Media Group, LLC. Subscribe to PLAYGROUND Magazine at playgroundmagazine.com/subscribe. To update subscription information, email subscriptions@playgroundmagazine.com.
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6 PLAYGROUND Aug / Sep 2019
Performing Arts Classes Starting September 19
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In partnership with UCF
The Talk of the Playground The inside scoop and what’s happening around town for Orlando families!
Words by Wendy Meyer @LittleRebelMom
PLANT THERAPY Petals and Stems Market: A pop-up
floral market putting smiles on our faces
Tracy Post, a momprenuer and local floral guru, brings us Petals and Stems Market — a pop-up floral market and workshop that you don’t want to miss. This Parisianstyle flower cart lets you create your own bouquet, but the fun doesn’t stop there. They offer workshops for people of all ages to get their hands dirty and create something special to take home. Having an event? Invite Petals and Stems Market to charm your guests. We love everything about this fresh idea, and we cant wait to see what they come up with next! petalsandstemsmarket.com
New Self Care Option for Parents Sweat out the stress with the latest and greatest wellness trend at Perspire Sauna Studio. Whether your goal is to burn some calories, get glowing skin, or just enjoy some alone time, each session is sure to bring some relief from the summer. Stressed-out parents can have access to one of 10 private rooms, each equipped with a stateof-the-art infrared Clearlight Sanctuary® constructed of antimicrobial and antibacterial cedar. The saunas also feature premium amenities, including smart TVs with Hulu and Netflix, and a cold eucalyptus-infused towel after each session. The first location is now open in Winter Park, and the Lake Mary location is set to open later this year. perspiresaunastudio.com
Kinder Konsulting
Park Maitland Is Growing! After 52 years of educational excellence and wonder-filled learning, Park Maitland School is thrilled to announce the opening of the Park Maitland Preschool. Teachers provide a warm, caring, joyful environment that encourages preschoolers’ natural curiosity and instills confidence in their innate abilities. By balancing traditional instruction in reading, writing and math with art and music, Park Maitland Preschool teaches 21st century skills of communication, collaboration, problem-solving and analysis. The open, caring, familyoriented atmosphere at Park Maitland Preschool helps preschoolers feel safe – physically and emotionally – and nurtures the whole child, both mind and heart. parkmaitland.org
8 PLAYGROUND Aug / Sep 2020
From a strong foundation, good things will grow. Kinder Konsulting is a holistic practice that believes in treating the whole child, not just the symptom. The practice offers family support with issues ranging from dayto-day worries to complex psychological conditions. Their highly trained therapists provide mental health and behavioral support services in the home or at school. Kinder Konsulting also provides telehealth, which brings virtual services to your family. Kinderkonsulting.com
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Hours: Tues, Thrs & Fri: 10-5 • Wed & Sat:10-4 • Sun & Mon: Closed 122 N 4th Street, Ste. 1014, Lake Mary • 321-926-3677
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Creating relationally rich experiences of WONDER while encouraging a LOVE of learning.
TALK OF THE PLAYGROUND
Adulting Break: Orlando Science Center Stellar Wine Cellar We know you need a break from the craziness that is 2020, and we have a super cool solution for your online get-togethers with your friends and family. Make a donation of $125 or more to the Orlando Science Center and receive a bottle of wine, two wine glasses, discount food offers and a private link to Stellar Wine Cellar, which is an online resource of videos and activities to create your ultimate online wine party. Virtual Moms Night Out just got even more awesome! osc.org/stellar-wine-cellar
Online Classes? Blue light glasses may help. Families who have opted for online classes may want to consider Pixel Eyewear’s collection of blue light glasses, which offer stylish protection precisely engineered to reduce eye strain from digital screens. The lens technology filters 50 percent of blue light and up to 95 percent of the strongest wavelengths. Lenses also use nanotechnology that reduces smudges and repels water and dust. For comfort, each lens has an antireflective coating, eliminating computer glare and reducing stress on kids’ eyes. Human eyes are not designed to be continuously exposed to the blue light emitted by computer screens, phones and television. Symptoms of overexposure include eye fatigue, dry eyes, blurred vision and headaches. Blue light can also disrupt the circadian rhythm that is critical to falling and staying asleep and impair the quality of your child’s sleep cycle. pixeleyewear.com
JW Marriott Opens New Orlando Resort with New Family Suites! Bliss is only a short drive away. The ultimate staycation is waiting for you at the new JW Marriott Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa. This family-friendly property features family suites with views of the theme park firework displays as well as convenient shuttle services to the Disney theme parks. The new Family Suites are designed to make stays more comfortable and convenient for multi-generational families, featuring lofted beds for an array of sleeping arrangements, spa-like bathrooms and larger living areas. The Activity Garden and Kids Conservatory will keep the little ones entertained come rain or shine. Parents can indulge in a decadent day at the spa or enjoy the resort's delicious restaurants. There's something for everyone at this new place to stay and PLAY in your own backyard. marriott.com/hotels/travel/mcojb-jw-marriott-orlandobonnet-creek-resort-and-spa 10 PLAYGROUND Aug / Sep 2020
When learning begins in wonder, there’s no end to excellence. Private Preschool through Sixth Grade
1450 S. Orlando Avenue Maitland, FL ParkMaitland.org 407.647.3038
Park Maitland™ School provides a complete educational experience with an emphasis on academic, social, emotional, and physical development. Our whole child education is designed to be challenging, enlightening, and enriching, suiting the needs of children whose abilities range from high average to gifted. In an ever-changing world, our curriculum offers relevancy, balancing character with academic excellence.
NOW ENROLLING • New Preschool Campus Opening August 2020! 2440 Howell Market Lane
•
Winter Park, FL 32792
LIVE
8 Ways to Turn a Bad Morning Around Every parent has been there. The bowl of cereal is spilled on the floor, the homework is missing and everyone is going to be late. We’ve all had bad mornings. But a bad morning doesn’t equal a bad day. Words by Rebecca Hastings
I thought it was an ordinary Tuesday — just a normal day full of hope and promise. But then I looked at the clock. One minute, it said we had plenty of time to get everyone ready and out the door. The next minute, it seemed to be screaming, “Hurry, hurry, hurry! We’re all going to be late!” There was a missing shoe and cereal spilled on the floor. Then there was a stuck backpack zipper and a forgotten math test. I didn’t even hear myself yelling until I was well into a rant about how we’re always late and we can’t keep doing this. And where in the world was that missing shoe? We did what we always do. We let the dog clean up the cereal. I insisted (rather forcefully) that my youngest switch to a different pair of shoes. I started spouting out math facts as I worked on the zipper. We were getting it done, but no one was happy. And this was not the way I wanted to send my family off on their day.
Have you had mornings like this? 12 PLAYGROUND Aug / Sep 2020
A bad morning does not mean a bad day. Here are 8 ways to turn things around. #1: EXHALE Seriously. It helps. Let out all that you’re holding onto and breathe. It sounds so simple, but research shows that breathing can change your state of mind, and perhaps that’s the best change to turn things around.
#2: PICK ONE THING Many of us wear our multitasking crowns with pride. After all, we are parents, and there is so much to get done. Multitasking is often counter-intuitive, making us less productive because we are unable to organize information well. Plus, it increases the stress hormones in the body. When things are going badly, the one thing we don’t need is stress. So pick one thing you can do. Address the broken zipper. And then move on to the next. Find a shoe solution. Picking one thing at a time and working through your micro-emergency list in a serial fashion will help you get more done with less stress for everyone involved.
#4: APOLOGIZE
#7: BE LATE
This one feels hard for many of us because it means we are human and we are admitting it to our children. I’ll let you in on a secret: they already know.
Before I say anything else, you should know that I hate to be late. I’m the person that considers on-time to be 15 minutes early.
Saying you’re sorry for the way you spoke to them or the way you tossed all the shoes out of the shoe bin shows that it’s okay to make mistakes. Plus, it will help you let go of any mistakes and move on. Kids are usually a pretty forgiving bunch.
#5: STOP Take 30 seconds and have everyone freeze. Stop looking for the shoe. Stop cleaning up the cereal. Stop huffing around the house. We have 86,400 seconds in a day; we can spare 30. If you feel up for it, do a few deep belly breaths together. Or get everyone to do a 30-second wiggle to shake the harried feeling out. Once they get past the shock of actually stopping the frantic rush to beat the clock and start doing something fun instead, they will likely start giggling. Laughter releases stress, and you will all be in a better shape to take back your morning. Anything that lets you create a pause in the frantic downhill slide of the morning will help.#6
#3: VERBALIZE
#6: BE GRATEFUL
Being honest goes a long way, especially with kids. They know you’re upset just by a look or the sound of your voice. It is okay to tell them the morning isn’t going well. It’s good for them to see that we can identify things that aren’t ideal.
It may sound cliché, and it may be the last thing you’d think of doing, but that’s part of why it works. Think of something you are grateful for right in the moment. Better yet, say it out loud. You can shift those feelings of stress and a lack of control just by being grateful.
Saying something like, “This morning is not going the way I hoped it would. Can we turn it around together?” shows your child that you recognize how things are and that you need their help to make it better. Let them be an active participant in turning things around. You’re giving them useful skills for later in life. And while you are at it, get them in the habit of prioritizing and serializing the task list instead of frantically trying to do five things at a time. Think aloud. “Alright, let’s see how we can go about this. First, the broken zipper. Then the shoe. And on the way to school, we can look at math facts.”
The easiest one that works every time? “I’m grateful for you.” Not only will it change your mood, but it will change your child’s mood. The day will be looking better already. Another one I love (because it also lets me expend all that I-MUST-rant-now energy): “Boy, this morning is rough, and we’re all being such goofballs. But am I glad I have you goofballs to share the morning with. I do so love my family of goofballs...” “Goofballs” is what works for my family. Pick anything else that gets the giggles out of your family and go all out with it!
13 PLAYGROUND Aug / Sep 2020
But the truth is, it is OK to be a few minutes late now and again. What’s the worst that can happen? Your kids will be late to school and perhaps get a tardy slip. Let them. They will learn to make better choices and will be motivated to get out the house early next time without you having to nag them. You will be a few minutes late to work. So be it. You will choose to wake up a little earlier tomorrow. Or you will learn to be better organized. Or you may just learn that it really isn’t that big a deal to be late once in a while and learn to lighten up. Either way, everyone is learning something important. So take a deep breath, and say out loud for the benefit of everyone involved: “We’re going to be late today. We’ll deal with the consequences, learn from it and try not to let it happen again in the future, OK?”
#8: HUG Whatever happened and whatever is to come, hug your kids. Taking a moment to hug your child helps bring stress levels down and lays the foundation for what really matters to you. You love your child. Choosing that moment, even in all the busy chaos, reminds you both how important you are to one another. Making space for these eight tips will turn even the craziest morning around. On average, there are 180 days in a school year. Each of your kids will be in school for 12 years. That makes 2,160 mornings with the potential to be rushed and harried. And I’m not even counting multiple kids, daycare days, summer camps and what not.
So, bad mornings will happen… it’s a given. But you can turn it around for you and your kids to have a better day!
SPONSORED CONTENT
COPING WITH COVID:
Self Care and Pampering at Winter Park Village It is normal to feel overwhelmed during these uncertain times, but that does not mean you can stop taking care of yourself. Winter Park Village offers many luxurious options to help keep you feeling beautiful, relaxed, and looking your very best during these changing times. Take a day of manipedis, shopping and some recovery from the past few months of chaos. You deserve it! Words by Wendy Meyer
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Stop in for a mani/pedi at this clean, safe and serene nail lounge that will cater to your every need. This nail salon prides itself on customer service, cleanliness and making sure they are up to date on the latest nail trends and techniques. Tired feet and weathered hands will thank you. pristinenailswinterpark.com
• Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa We know you need a massage to relieve tension, soothe tired muscles and temper migraines. Hand and Stone offers several choices including Swedish, Deep Tissue, Sports and more! Don’t forget to ask about their additional service like hair removal and skin care, too. handandstone.com/locations/fl-winter-park-village
As with every experience at the Winter Park Village, each business is exceeding customers’ expectations to keep you and your family safe, healthy and happy during your visit to their unique outdoor mall. Masks are required indoors, social distancing is practiced, and sanitization and cleanliness is of paramount importance for every location. • ULTA Beauty This is your one-stop-shop for all things beauty and grooming. From the associates trained in the latest makeup trends, an eyebrow bar and full salon offering a range of services and wall to wall the best selection of beauty brands and products on the market, Ulta Beauty is a haven in post quarantine shopping. ulta.com
• Stella Luca Salon This leading salon offers the best quality in service and styling. The warm and welcoming environment will have you relaxing as you pamper yourself with a new look and a refreshed attitude. Voted Orlando’s best salon 15 years in a row! stellaluca.com
• The Bar Method The Bar Method workout creates a long, lean, firm, sculpted body by combining the practice of dance conditioning, the science of physical therapy, and the intense pace of interval training into a powerful exercise. Give yourself the ballerina glow-up! barmethod.com
• Clean Juice Self-care starts within so grab a fresh juice or smoothie at Clean Juice that will have you feeling healthier, balanced and beautiful with every sip. Tip: Order your juice, bowl or smoothie on the app and pick it up on your way. Text “CLEAN” to 888111 to download today. cleanjuice.com
About Winter Park Village Live, work, eat, shop and PLAY! Winter Park Village is a luxury lifestyle center that offers something for everyone. From their popular eateries to a wide selection of shopping, and salons for unwinding, you and your family will enjoy every moment of their upscale ambiance. ShopWinterParkVillage.net
510 Orlando Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789 | 407.571.2700 Instagram: @WinterParkVillage | Facebook: ShopWinterPark | Twitter: @ShopWinterPark 14 PLAYGROUND Aug / Sep 2020
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TheParke Parke House Academy House Academy Inspiring ExceedingExpectations Expectations Inspiring Learning, Learning, Exceeding
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Now Enrolling for the 2020/2021 School Year. Call for•aLimited Private Tour. Now Enrolling for Our New 1 & 2-Year-Old Program Availability
www.ParkeHouseAcademy.com • Winter Park, FL • 407-647-1121 • 1 Years Old-5th Grade www.TheParkeHouseAcademy.com The Parke House Academy admits students of any race, creed, national RATIO or ethnic origin, gender or religiousBY affiliation. FCIS and FKC . DCF License Pending LOW STUDENT-TEACHER • ACCREDITED FCIS,Accredited KFC, &byDCF 407-647-1121 • Preschool-5th Grade • 1776 Minnesota Ave. • Winter Park, FL 32789 The Parke House Academy admits students of any race, creed, national or ethnic origin, gender or religious affiliation. Accredited by FCIS and FKC.
LOVE
iStock.com | AleksandarNakic
Homeschooling for Newbies: Let’s Get Started! Ready to try homeschooling but not sure where to start? We’ve gathered some resources to help smooth the transition. Words by Betsy Jewell
W
e are living in a world where everything we have come to know as normal, including how and where our children are educated, has been turned on its head. Because of the global pandemic, parents, teachers and the entire education system are being pushed to reinvent the way we educate our kids. We’re all trying to figure out what this looks like together, and predicting exactly how this coming academic year will play out is impossible. We have no choice but to pivot and adapt. The thought of homeschooling can be intimidating, but it’s important to understand that what we all went through at the end of the 2019-2020 school year was not homeschooling; that was crisis schooling. With time to research and plan how you want education to look for your kids, you might find that the flexibility and creativity that homeschooling allows is a perfect fit for your family.
Your first question may be where to begin. I’ve pulled together a list of resources to help you get started. In addition to this list, you’ll find countless blogs, Facebook groups and podcasts where you can learn from those who have firsthand knowledge and experience. There are plenty of books written by experts in education to help guide you. And there are established local and state unschooling and homeschooling organizations to help you navigate the process. In an unexpected way, I believe the pandemic has revealed that education does not have to be a one-size-fits-all endeavor. As parents, we can create an environment at home that will inspire, encourage and facilitate self-directed learning. We can allow our kids the freedom to explore ideas and topics that interest them. We can help our kids learn to treat mistakes and failures as learning opportunities. And we can allow our children to drive their own learning by acting as advisors rather than as instructors. u
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NEA
-VIRTUAL EVENTS AUGUST 23- SEPTEMBER 13
. . .
Pretty Monsters- Kelly Link
VIRTUAL CONTESTS AT HOME CRAFTS OPPORTUNITIES TO GET A FREE COPY OF PRETTY MONSTERS AND TO MEET AUTHOR KELLY LINK VIRTUALLY ON AUGUST 23, 2 p.m.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT: OCLS.INFO/BIGREAD
NEA Big Read is a program of the NationalEndowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest. For more information on this speaker, please visit prhspeakers.com
LOVE
Orlando Area Homeschool Programs, Co-Ops, Classes & Other Resources SUPPORT GROUPS:
ONLINE RESOURCES:
• Florida Unschoolers Facebook.com/ groups/218913864804730
• Florida Laws and Policies fldoe.org/schools/school-choiceoptions/home-edu
• Homeschool Friends of Central Florida Facebook.com/ HomeSchoolFriendsOf CentralFlorida • Florida Homeschooling Florida-Homeschooling.org • The Homeschool Mom TheHomeschoolMom.com • Raising Lifelong Learners Facebook.com/RaisingLifelongLearners • Wildschooling Facebook.com/groups/wildschooling • Blue Collar Homeschool bluecollarhomeschool.com
• Florida Parent Educators Association fpea.com • Homeschooling Florida homeschoolingflorida.com
• The Homeschool Mom thehomeschoolmom.com/ homeschooling-in-florida
• Central Florida Academy of the Arts, Winter Springs (Non-Religious) winterspringsarts.org
• Blake Boles blakeboles.com
• The Dreamers' School Orlando (Non-Religious) thedreamersschoolorlando.com
• Homeschoolers of Central Florida Facebook.com/groups/ HomeschoolersofCentralFlorida
• Orlando Science Center Homeschool Program osc.org/learn/education/ homeschool • Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens Homeschool Zooventure Classes and Family Workshops centralfloridazoo.org/education/childrenadult-programs/homeschool
• Watermark Homeschool Enrichment at Sactuary Church homeschool-life.com/fl/watermark
• City of Oviedo Homeschool Activity Program cityofoviedo.net/532/ Homeschool-Activity-Program • Homeschoolers Day at Planet Obstacle planetobstacle.com • Homeschool Arts Hub at Penguin Point Productions Oviedo Mall penguinpointproductions.comhomeschool-arts-hub • Art in the Park Orlando artintheparkorlando.com
• International Community School Winter Park (Religious) icsfla.org • Circle Christian School Winter Park (Religious) circlechristianschool.org
CO-OPS & LEARNING LABS:
• Florida Film Academy Home School Studio flfilmacademy.com/home-school
• Walden Community School Winter Park (Non-Religious) waldencommunityschool.com
• Raising Lifelong Learners raisinglifelonglearners.com
COMMUNITY CLASSES & DISCOUNT DAYS:
• Orange County Regional History Center Home School Days thehistorycenter.org/education/homeschool-days
PART-TIME (HYBRID) SCHOOLS:
• Altamonte Springs Homeschool Village Facebook.com/groups/ altamontehomeschoolers • O2B Kids Virtual Learning Lab: On Site Support for Distance Learners Oviedo & Altamonte Springs • Cranium Academy Learning Lab East Orlando & Winter Garden/ Windermere craniumacademy.com
THEME PARK PROGRAMS: • WonderWorks Homeschool Days wonderworksonline.com/orlando/ homeschool • Madame Tussauds Homeschool Days madametussauds.com/orlando/en/planyour-visit/homeschool-days • LEGOland Homeschool Days Ticket Discounts legoland.com/florida/planning-your-visit/ groups-parties/school-group-programs/ home-school-days • Disney Youth Programs disneyyouth.com/programs/education
REGISTRATION & CURRICULUM • Seminole County Homeschool Registration scps.k12.fl.us/district/ departments/home-education • Orange County Homeschool Registration ocps.net/departments/ school_choice/home_education • FLVS Flex Registration flvs.net • 4-H At-Home Activity Guide 4-h.org/about/4-h-at-home • Khan Academy khanacademy.org
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iStock.com | Fly View Productions
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Modern Lifestyle Photography simplyshelbyphoto.com 561.654.4339 Photography: Simply Shelby Photography Wardrobe: tugboat and the bird
VIRTUAL Learning Lab On-Site Support For Distance Learning Our staff will provide academic support, answer questions, and help keep your child on track with their school assignments...all in a safe & positive learning environment. COVID Safety Procedure Socialization & Recess Snacks & Hot Lunch Included
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The Buoy Family Photo: OurBasicEssentials.com
The
World Is Their
Classroom Local families share their “worldschooling” adventures. Words by Betsy Jewell
The term “homeschooling” indicates that learning takes place at home, but for some adventurous families, the absolute opposite is true. “Worldschooling” is the combination of education and travel. This method allows families to provide an educational experience for their children by experiencing and interacting with the world around them. Now may not be the time to start traveling the world, but the Central Florida families interviewed for this article began their worldschooling journeys long before the COVID-19 pandemic. We’re sharing their stories here as inspiration for families who may be considering all of the possibilities that exist for nontraditional education in the future.
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You can learn more about the Buoy family and their nomadic lifestyle at OurBasicEssentials.com. 22 PLAYGROUND Aug / Sep 2020
Living Off the Grid in the Southwest Desert Photos courtesy of The Buoy Family | OurBasicEssentials.com In the middle of the New Mexico desert, Ann and Mike Buoy and their two boys, Bryce, 13, and Brooks, 11, are social distancing in their 340 square-foot home, a recreational vehicle (RV). This high-tech home-on-wheels, which they affectionately named ChronicNomadness, allows the family to live, work and adventure from anywhere. In addition to typical RV campgrounds, the Buoys often “boondock” by camping off the grid on public lands such as national forests. The Buoys weren’t always worldschoolers. Up until 2015, the family lived in Altamonte Springs, Florida. The boys were attending public school, Ann and Mike had a thriving photography business, and by all accounts, their life was good. But then things began to unravel. Ann was in a terrible car accident, diagnosed with fibromyalgia and then suffered a serious medical scare. After healing herself naturally, Ann decided to change careers and earned her certification as a holistic health coach. Mike works in instructional technology and design. During this time, Brooks was suffering with headaches 90% of the time, and Bryce started asking to be homeschooled. Knowing that Mike could do his job from any location, the family decided to take the leap and hit the road. They sold their house along with most of their belongings, purchased a truck and RV and began their adventure. This was a new world for the Buoys — they had no experience RVing or worldschooling, but they knew it was the right decision for their family. Ann does most of the schooling as Mike works full-time remotely. The family has an assortment of technology and gaming devices with parental controls in place, and both boys are voracious readers. They have plenty of time to read books of their choice. The boys are different in their interests and learning styles, so the family
started out using a mix of resources, including Easy Peasy, Minecraft Homeschool (now called GamED Academy), Khan Academy, IXL, BrainPop videos, TED Talks and educational apps. In 2017, Ann enrolled both boys in Florida Virtual School (FLVS). Bryce enjoys being able to work at his own pace, which allowed him to complete 7th and 8th grade science in one year. He usually finishes his FLVS schoolwork in just a few hours each day. Living nomadically is rewarding but can have its challenges. The Buoys need to find locations with reliable internet so Mike can do his job. Sometimes things break and go wrong. In the beginning, Ann struggled with getting the boys to respect her as the teacher. When they pick up and move to a new location, the boys don’t enjoy having to say goodbye to their friends. In their current location, the Buoys are completely off the grid with no power or water. They generate their own power using solar panels and must drive 15 minutes to fill their RV’s water bladder and buy supplies every week. The Buoys have gotten good at “unplanning” and don’t map out their location in advance. Sometimes they choose a city and figure out a specific location later. But no matter where they are based, the Buoy family loves to adventure, taking lots of day trips to explore the local area. They enjoy being active, whether it’s hiking, paddle boarding, snowboarding, rock climbing or mountain biking. Even though they can’t visit national parks or other public places right now, they always find time to get outdoors and enjoy the scenery. Ann has lots of helpful advice for parents who are considering homeschooling or worldschooling their children. “Be sure to take breaks. Go outside. Give yourself some grace. Homeschooling isn’t bringing the classroom to the home. It’s about creating an environment that facilitates your child’s love of learning.”
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Family of Seven Learning on a Full-Time Field Trip Photos courtesy of FullTimeFieldTrip.com Johor Bahru is the southernmost city in Malaysia and the place Regina, Tom and their five children, Txanton, Trevor, Trace, Tucker and Tyleigh, currently call home. Ranging in age from 7 to 16, all five children were born in the United States and have been homeschooled since day one. Tom and Regina decided early on that homeschooling was the best choice for their family. Their original plan was to buy an RV and travel the states. They kept putting it off because it never felt like the right time. Regina started researching international travel and what it might look like for her family. What she found led her to a life-changing moment. “I realized that we can travel the world full-time cheaper than we can live in the United States.” Regina and Tom both had a yearning to travel the world. About two years ago, while living in Central Florida, Regina and Tom began investigating ways they could fund travel for their family. Tom owned and operated a handyman business, and Regina had an education background. They thought long and hard about the transferrable skills they already possessed that could help them make their travel dream a reality. First up, an opportunity in Thailand to do work exchange. Tom was able to use his handyman skills to rehab a house that was sitting empty, and the family was able to live in the house during the project. Regina says that work exchange and bartering are ideal for finding a place to stay. Next stop, Egypt, where Tom utilized his handyman skills while working for a street dog rescue. In Spain, they traded babysitting for housing by working as live-in nannies. Regina and Tom also have steady income earned through renting their home back in Florida on AirBNB. Regina and Tom have always asked their children what they want in their education journey. Their family typically takes a unit study approach that allows them to anchor their learning to one topic and then customize the lessons to be age-appropriate for each child. The family classifies their learning into three types of experiences: fast travel, which is where they visit a city and do a lot of sightseeing; slow travel, which is where they stay in one place and soak up as
much as possible for as long as their tourist visa will allow; and expat life, which is what they did while in Thailand. They enrolled their kids in school, and Regina took a teaching position. This was a much deeper educational experience for the whole family. Regina says that the longer you stay in any one place, the more you know what types of cultural aspects to look for and experience with your children. While traveling from one destination to another, Regina, Tom and their children have created friendships all over the world. There are some formal organizations that offer worldschooling conferences with seminars, workshops and group housing. Also available are more informal meetups where someone posts a location and others in the area attend. Either way, these gatherings are a great way to connect with other families. The hardest thing about worldschooling for Regina, Tom and their kids is missing their friends and family back in the states. They stay connected online but wish they could see them in person and give them a hug. As of right now, their family is staying put in Malaysia as they wait to see what the pandemic brings. One of the best things about worldschooling? Deepening family connections. Because Regina and her family are living differently than they were in the U.S., they have opportunities to connect on a deeper level. They are living in the world in a whole new way. More than anything, says Regina, “Travel teaches you resilience. You have to be willing to go with the flow. Roll with the changes. Deal with the disappointments. You learn to live with uncertainty. Surrender to the uncertainty. Whatever comes up, you just find a way to make it work.” Regina’s best piece of advice for families planning to worldschool is, “You only need half of what you are packing. It’s so easy to think that we need all these just-in-case items or need to recreate our homes in our suitcases. Everything you think you will need can be found wherever you go in the world.”
Follow the adventures of Regina, Tom and their children at FullTimeFieldTrip.com. 25 PLAYGROUND Aug / Sep 2020
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Turning Real World Experiences into Learning Opportunities Photos Photos courtesy courtesy of of Jessica Jessica Perlaza Perlaza @kindlerofglow @kindlerofglow Jessica Perlaza had always wanted to live abroad but felt rooted in Orlando. In 2008, when the recession hit, Jessica and her husband, Mayo, decided to leave their careers in Central Florida and move to Korea to teach English. Once in Asia, their minds were opened to a whole new world, and they couldn’t see themselves returning to their home in Florida. They stayed in Korea for four years and traveled around Asia. In 2013, their first son, Joa, now 7, was born, and Jessica felt the pull to be near family. So they moved back to the U.S. for a few years, spending their time in Orlando and Chicago. Shortly thereafter, their second son, Tao, now 5, was born. The Perlaza family enjoyed having the support of family members nearby but started to feel like they sacrificed what they wanted for themselves and their children. Their family values have always been to have more time together — Jessica and Mayo never felt that they needed much monetarily or materially. They wanted to go back to their old lifestyle living abroad, but they were filled with fear and doubt about making the right decision for their family. Then one day while on Facebook, Jessica came across a worldschoolers group. She read through some of the conversations and was inspired by what other families were doing. It gave her the motivation to make a change. Her husband was teaching online, so he could work remotely from anywhere in the world. In 2017, the Perlaza family embarked on a journey to travel around the world for a year, finishing their trip in Portugal. Their current home is nestled in the mountains, about 30 minutes away from the town of Aljezur (population 5,000). Portugal is part of the Schengen
Area, where Americans are allowed to stay 90 days, leave for 90 days, and then return for another 90 days. It can be a bit confusing, but there are apps to help calculate the days and keep track. No matter where they travel, the Perlazas love having a home to return to. Jessica believes it is important to maintain balance. She admires families who keep moving around continuously, but for her family, it is crucial have a home with familiar surroundings where they feel balanced and can build a community. Jessica doesn’t like to label how their children learn. Homeschool vs. worldschool vs. unschool — they flow through all of those depending on where they are in their lives and in the world. When moving around, they spend a lot of time outdoors. The boys are very curious and inquisitive. On a recent trip to a nearby river, Tao discovered that he could make colors and write with some of the rocks. So Jessica ran home, grabbed some paintbrushes and paper and turned the experience into an art lesson. Sometimes they will sit at the table and practice more traditional learning, but they try to stay flexible and adapt as needed. When the Perlazas arrived in Portugal, they looked into forest schools. These are schools where children spend almost all of their time learning outdoors in natural environments. The forest school in Portugal has a small schoolroom that they use in the case of terrible weather, but otherwise, the kids are outside. The school has a tent where children can sit and read; it also has a garden and animals. When asked what her hope is for her boys, Jessica replied, “My hope is that they will be happy. The most important value in our family is time together. I hope they will always hold onto that.”
Follow the Perlazas’ story through Jessica Perlaza's photography on Instagram @kindlerofglow.
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Collaborative Corner Panelists (L to R): Nikki Waitt, Amy Moncion, Dr. Karen Hans, Jessica Barisano, Alyssa Bloxam, Aubrey Kohler, Susan Robins, Leslie Haynes, Erica Clark, Blaire Harter
Jessica Barisano Founder of Collaborative Corner for Exceptional Children Words by Amy Nielsen | Photos by Jessica Friend Pictured: Jessica Barisano (left) and Alyssa Bloxam (right)
J
essica Barisano is the founder and president of Collaborative Corner for Exceptional Children, a nonprofit organization that provides support to the special needs community. As passionate as she is about her work at Collaborative Corner, Jessica never anticipated her life would have taken this completely unexpected yet rewarding turn. What led to Collaborative Corner is both a heartbreaking and heartwarming story filled with loss and love, and ultimately the unwavering determination of a mother to dedicate her life to ensuring no parent had to go through what she did. Jessica, a competitive swimmer who grew up in the Florida panhandle, said, “My parents instilled the values of hard work and responsibility in my sister and me from an early age.” Those values led her to begin working in the hospitality industry at the age of 14, and she quickly fell in love with the diversity she found within it. She went on to graduate from the Rosen College of Hospitality Management at the University of Central Florida in 2006 and began her career in Los Angeles. There she met her husband, Jonathan, who is also in the hospitality industry. Eventually, a job opportunity brought the couple back to Florida, where they planned to start what they hoped would be a large family.
At that time, Jessica was pregnant with her first son, Trent. Her pregnancy was considered high risk due to a rare genetic disorder. Holoprosencephaly, which took her brother’s life shortly after his birth, impacts the brain’s ability to develop into two hemispheres properly. To Jessica and Jonathan’s relief, Trent and their second son, Jake, were not affected. Sadly, the couple later lost two sons in utero: one due to unknown causes and one due to holoprosencephaly. Despite their loss, Jessica and Jonathan still longed to grow their family. The couple pursued in vitro fertilization, but Jessica wasn’t a good candidate for the procedure. Next, they explored adoption, which also ended with disappointing results. Amid that grief, the family also had growing concerns about their oldest son, Trent. They noticed he wasn’t hitting certain developmental milestones within the normal range. He was also much smaller than his same-age peers. Doctor after doctor either dismissed the family’s concerns or labeled him “failure to thrive,” which meant he wasn’t growing as expected. However, no one could explain why. This uncertainty set Jessica on a journey for answers. Those answers were difficult to find; that is, until she met Dr. Stacey McConkey, a complex care pediatrician.
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“It is my hope that, together, we can provide the families of children with exceptional needs a sense of community and understanding, and in addition, arm them with an abundance of credible resources all in one place.” -Jessica Barisano In Dr. McConkey, the Barisanos found what they had never experienced: a doctor who listened. After hearing the parents’ concerns, Jessica said Dr. McConkey told her something no other specialist ever had, “I don’t know what is going on with Trent. But something is, and I will find out what it is.” Dr. McConkey delivered on that promise and soon diagnosed Trent with Hormone Growth Deficiency (HGD), a rare disorder in which the pituitary gland doesn’t function properly, as well as a Rathke’s Cleft Cyst on the base of that gland. Trent eventually received additional diagnoses of Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Sensory Processing Disorder. Later, the couple’s youngest son, Jake, would also be diagnosed with a milder case of HGD. Jessica’s experiences of grief and loss, coupled with the overwhelming challenges of uncovering Trent’s diagnoses, began to transform into a passion for helping families like her own. Together with Alyssa Bloxam and Kristen Bencomo, she came up with the idea for Collaborative Corner for Exceptional Children. Collaborative Corner is a nonprofit organization that provides resources and access to a panel of industry-leading professionals at no charge to families of special needs children. The organization also provides educational advocacy and other helpful services. Parents can reach out to the panel, which includes experts such as speech therapists and behavior analysts, to ask questions and receive quick responses. Jessica’s vision was that no parent would ever feel the way she once did: overwhelmed, undersupported and unable to get answers. She said, “It is my hope that, together, we can provide the families of children with exceptional needs a sense of community and understanding, and in addition, arm them with an abundance of credible resources all in one place.” For Jessica, creating Collaborative Corner was how she was ultimately able to grow her family because each family she works with becomes part of her own.
Collaborative Corner Panelists: JESSICA BARISANO Founder | Special Education Advocate ALYSSA BLOXAM Co-Founder | Speech-Language Pathologist DR. KAREN E. HANS Panelist | Board Certified Behavior Analyst, Education Advocate BLAIRE HARTER Executive Director | Speech Language Pathologist, Feeding Specialist , Education Advocate LESLIE HAYNES Panelist | Special Education Teacher & Parent Advocate AUBREY KOHLER Director of Community Affairs | Occupational Therapist ALYSHA SKUTHAN Panelist | Pediatric Occupational Therapist SUSAN ROBINS Panelist | Pediatric Physical Therapist NIKKI WAITT Associate Director | Registered Behavior Technician & Special Education Teacher AMY MONCION Qualified Supervisor | Licensed Clinical Social Worker AMY NIELSEN Panelist | Early Intervention Specialist and Parent Advocate ERICA CLARK Panelist | Speech Language Pathologist with Certification in Listening and Spoken Language
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DIY: FIZZY SCIENCE Learn about chemical reactions with this easy DIY activity you can try at home. Words by Erin Sullivan, Public Relations Administrator, Orange County Library System
Science doesn’t just happen in the classroom. It takes place all around us. What better way to illustrate that than to practice some simple experiments at home. With this easy and fun activity, kids can learn how chemicals in a couple of common household products interact when exposed to one another. GET CREATIVE! Use food coloring to add a vibrant splash to your experiment. You can even combine colors to create new hues. iStock.com | deucee
INSTRUCTIONS:
WHAT YOU’LL NEED: • A small plastic, aluminum or glass tray • Baking soda • Vinegar • Food coloring • Eyedroppers or pipettes
1. Fill the bottom of your tray with a thin layer of baking soda. 2. In different cups, mix a few tablespoons of vinegar with a drop or two of food coloring. Use more drops for a deeper color, less if you prefer a lighter shade. 3. Use the eyedroppers to drop the colorful vinegar on the baking soda and watch as the tray erupts into colorful, fizzy magic. Try mixing yellow and blue to make green. Mix red and blue to make purple!
This activity is one of the Orange County Library System’s many virtual events that kids can participate in over Zoom. To find out about instructor-led activities that bring STEAM concepts to kids in a fun and engaging way, visit the library’s website at ocls.info. 30 PLAYGROUND Aug / Sep 2020
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PLAY SEE/SAW
Enchanted Fairy Doors Words by Wendy Meyer | Photos by Jessica Friend The fairies are back! The Enchanted Fairy Doors exhibit at Leu Gardens (from August 1 through October 31) features 20 oneof-a-kind, whimsical fairy doors that will inspire your child’s imaginative world of enchanted forests and secret gardens. Each door is created by a special fairy. All you have to do is find these beautiful doors and let your child’s creativity do the rest. A map of the fairy doors and a narrative of each fairy will be given out to every guest visiting the gardens. Daytime garden admission: $10 adult, $5 child (ages 4–17 years), which includes the Enchanted Fairy Doors. Free admission (and story time) the First Monday of each month. Leu Gardens is located at 1920 North Forest Ave., Orlando. Visit leugardens.org or call 407-246-2620 for more info.
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PLAY SEE/SAW
Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center Educates Visitors at the New St. Pete Pier The Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center is a new environmental and educational experience in downtown St. Petersburg designed to provide guests with an opportunity to explore the Tampa Bay marine ecosystem. With soaring rooflines, floor-to-ceiling glass walls and an outdoor wet classroom, the Discovery Center creates a dynamic visitor experience centered on environmental stewardship. An exhibit-rich gallery of live marine habitats, hands-on interactive displays and video presentations tell the story of Tampa Bay and share the history of this unique ecosystem. Photos Courtesy of Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center and Visit St. Pete Clearwater.
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iStock.com | Nadezhda1906
Maker-Minded: Raising DIY Kids When your electronic gadgets break, does your tween fix them? Do you have a child who builds elaborate housing for pets and dolls out of scraps of craft materials and cardboard boxes? Maybe you’re raising entrepreneurial teens with ideas that could make them the next Facebook or Snapchat inventor, app creator or Shark Tank winner. Words by Janeen Lewis If any of this sounds familiar, you may have a maker on your hands. But what exactly does that mean? WHAT IS THE MAKER MOVEMENT? The Maker Movement is a quickly growing culture that embraces the idea that learning is done best through doing. It includes do-ityourself individuals and groups that create things, and its members are producers more than consumers, says Irm Diorio, executive director of a maker space. While some makers work in maker spaces, others tinker in their homes and garages. Some maker interests include robotics, electronics, metalworking, woodworking and traditional arts and crafts. With affordable access to 3-D printers and computers, technology is often a part of the Maker Movement, but it doesn’t have to be, says Diorio. “Everyone is a maker,” she says. “It’s about finding what really inspires you — gardening, baking, sewing, anything that you would build with your hands. It’s fun and can be functional, but it doesn’t have to be. It’s all about letting your creativity take you for a ride.”
WHY DO MAKERS USE MAKER SPACES? Some makers discover their tribe at maker spaces, where adults and children find the community and supplies they need, including equipment and tools that are hard to store at home. Maker spaces often house equipment like 3-D printers, laser cutters, wood lathes, saws, welding equipment and sewing machines. Maker spaces offer community, encouragement and expertise for those working on projects. Maker spaces are also becoming popular in schools because parents, teachers and administrators want to include this creative outlet in the learning process. HOW CAN PARENTS SUPPORT A MAKER-MINDED LIFE? How you help your child flourish at being a DIY kid depends on his or her age. Here are some suggestions that will help guide kids as they grow. Preschool: • Encourage natural curiosities, inclinations or interests. • Start coding with and without technology (there are lots of ideas at code.org). • Give kids the tools of their trade even if they’re in junior size. •
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Think miniature tool box with tools, junior sewing machine or real gardening tools small enough to fit their hands. Don’t be afraid to introduce sophisticated vocabulary — don’t dumb it down. Elementary: • Set up a maker space and fill it with the best tools you can afford. • Volunteer to start a maker space at your child’s school. • Create an invention station where your kids can do STEM challenges. Check out a cool design spinner at PBS Kids Design Squad Global Build. • Participate in a science fair. • Encourage participation in a maker faire. • Have a STEAM closet or basket at home that allows kids to pull out supplies and invent, build or create. • Provide a coding robot that can be programmed with a tablet. • Join a LEGO robotics club. Middle and High School: • Encourage an apprenticeship in a trade or with a family member or friend who is an expert (such as a computer science expert, car or airplane mechanic, fashion designer or seamstress). • Sign up to attend a certified STEM high school. • Join a robotics club. • Try low-cost technology like Raspberry Pi or Arduino to experiment and create technology products. • Check out conductive thread to make clothes that light up. • Try Makey Makey, an invention kit that can turn items as simple as bananas or staircases into computer touchpads.
ORLANDO MAKER SPACES Learn how to use 3D printers, laser cutters and etching, CNC Routers, electronics, sewing, vinyl cutting and more at these hands-on collaborative spaces. • Factur: factur.org • The Hive at Orlando Science Center: osc.org/visit/exhibits/ makerspace • FamiLAB: familab.org
iStock.com | Daisy-Daisy
• Maker Faire Orlando: makerfaireorlando.com • MakerFX Makerspace: makerfx.org
About the Author: Janeen Lewis is a certified educator with experience teaching STEM. She is also a writer with degrees in journalism and education.
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The Cornell Fine Arts Museum’s Art Explorers Club is a fun way for kids ages 5 to 17 to learn about art. Families who purchase our children’s book Stories and Studios: Conversations and Projects can join the club, where the youngest patrons can unlock games and prizes on repeat visits. The club is part of the museum’s commitment to serve art lovers of all ages. 1000 Holt Ave., Winter Park Rollins.edu
Creative Core Art Program is dedicated to nurturing your child’s love for creating. An after-school program where children can explore basic to advanced art techniques and play with the process of making. Students learn with a professional artist; small class sizes offer personal attention. Creative Core Art Classes @ FAVO Arts Village: 221 E. Colonial Dr., Studio 142, Orlando 321-297-1617 ccArt.studio
Creative Jane Art Studio is located in Winter Park, FL and exists to inspire artists of all ages! From toddlers to adults, we curate and create art projects that grow the imagination and focus on the process rather than the finished product. Visit our website for the latest classes and Open Studio times. 1781 W. Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park 321-972-9100 creativejaneart.com
At O2B Kids, we know that you want to raise happy, successful kids, and we are your partner! We understand that you want your kids to be academically ready to succeed, socially ready to build great friendships, and emotionally ready to face life. These are the reasons we started our innovative, nationally accredited Preschool & School-Aged Programs over 20 years ago. Multiple locations in Central Florida o2bkids.com
Orlando Shakes Explore, play and perform at Orlando Shakes’ youth and teen classes! Choose what’s right for your family with online or in-person options for students Age 4 - Grade 12. Young actors will dive into a world of self-expression through the performing arts while learning from theater professionals. Orlando Shakes’ Fall Session begins September 19. 812 E. Rollins St., Orlando orlandoshakes.org
37 PLAYGROUND Aug / Sep 2020
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Painted Oaks Academy offers the most extraordinary horse riding lessons for all ages! Painted Oaks will teach your child all the basics to English riding, including trotting, cantering, posting, jumping and more! If you’re looking for an extracurricular activity to improve your child’s stress levels, confidence, and mental focus, be sure to book riding lessons today. 407-929-0970 Paintedoaks.com
School of Rock With programs for students as young as 6 years old, our resultsdriven programs combine one-on-one lessons (either at the school or remotely) with group band practices, making School of Rock the ultimate music school for aspiring musicians! We have multiple locations: 6700 Conroy Windermere Rd., #140, Orlando 5420 Deep Lake Rd., #1024, Oviedo SchoolofRock.com
At Tutor Doctor, our private tutors understand the importance of your child’s education. Your child is embarking on a journey that will not only provide them with the educational building blocks they need to succeed, but will help shape the very person they become. We are here to guide students through this sometimes challenging journey, helping them succeed in academics and in life. 407-792-4575 TutorDoctor.com/sanford
YMCA At the Y, kids are just as likely to have a reading coach as a soccer coach. The Y’s before and after school programs help kids close the achievement gap, teach values and wellness, reduce stress on busy families and build the foundation for a lifetime of learning in a safe and caring atmosphere developed for kids of all ages. Locations across Central Florida 407-896-9220 ymcacentralflorida.com/school-programs
Looking for local resources for kids and families? Check out our helpful guides in each issue and online at PlaygroundMagazine.com 38 PLAYGROUND Aug / Sep 2020
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Private School Guide Pediatrics Guide Camp Guide Party Guide Enrichment Guide Food Guide Family Favorite Awards
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