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table of
August 2020
4 REASONS YOU SHOULD VACCINATE YOUR CHILDREN
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BUILDING BRIDGES
COMMUNICATE AND CONNECT WITH YOUR CHILD’S TEACHER
14 18
WELCOMING THE NEW KID TO SCHOOL
20
WHEN RELATIVES ARE RACIST
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HOW MINDFULNESS HELPS KIDS MANAGE STRESS CONFRONTING HATEFUL SPEECH IN FAMILIES
PANDEMIC TEACHING THROUGH PLAY
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HOW BOARD GAMES ENCOURAGE BRAIN DEVELOPMENT Magazine
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volume 36 • number 8
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CONTENTS
Magazine
PUBLISHER Rudy Riojas 210-526-0312 DISTRIBUTION Taspas Delivery
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OUR KIDS MAGAZINE LLC is a locally owned magazine published monthly. Advertisements in this magazine are paid for by the advertisers, which allows this magazine to be free to the consumer. Limit of one free copy per reader. Unless specifically noted, no advertisers, products or services are endorsed by the publisher. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertising are available on an equal opportunity basis. OUR KIDS MAGAZINE LLC copyright 2015. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited.
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Feature
4 Reasons You Should Vaccinate Your Children By Cheryl Maguire
“I’m going to test him for Whopping Cough,” the doctor said. “But he was vaccinated for it right? How could he have it?” I asked The doctor did a few clicks on the laptop and then confirmed that my son received all the immunizations for Whooping cough (also known as pertussis). “Even though your son got his shots there is still a small possibility he could have it. Since your other children have been vaccinated, it is unlikely they could get it, but if he has it, they would need to treated with antibiotics as a precaution.” My son did not have Whopping Cough. During the few days it took to receive the results, I was grateful all of my children were most likely protected from it. According to the CDC immunizations can help protect your child from contracting 16 different diseases. Some of these illness could be deadly including the flu. You can see a list of recommended vaccinations and the age it should be administered here. Some parents are worried about their child contracting Autism from receiving vaccinations. A study conducted in 2014 of 1.2 million children concluded there was no link between Autism and vaccinations.
Saves your child’s life and others
In 2014 the CDC released a press statement which stated over the past 20 years immunizations have 4
Our Kids Magazine | August 2020
prevented 21 million hospitalizations and 732,000 deaths. These successful statistics are related to the creation of Vaccines for Children program (VFC) which was developed in response to a reemergence of measles in 1994. This program is a federally funded program that provides vaccines at no cost to children who qualify due to lack of insurance or income. More specifically Diphtheria, Polio, Influenza (flu), Measles, bacterial meningitis are all diseases that have been deadly for children, but due to vaccinations the number of deaths has either decreased or is nonexistent. In the 1920’s every year over 150,000 worldwide would die from Diphtheria but due to immunizations today there are only a few cases a year. Similarly during 1916 Polio caused 6,000 deaths a year in the US but today it is considered eradicated due to vaccinations with the last known case in 1979. There is a vaccination for the HPV infections. The HPV infection can lead to cancer in both men and women (cervical cancer). HPV infections cause over 17,000 cancers in women, and over 9,000 cancers in the men each year in the United States. By receiving this immunization it would prevent contraction of the HPV infection and then in turn you would not get cancer. By getting your child vaccinated you are also saving other lives of people who did not get immunized which is referred to as heard immunity. If a certain percentage of a community is immune from a disease it protects
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those people who are not immune. An excellent example of when heard immunity does not work, is in 2010 ten infants under the age of 3 months (they would not have received shots yet) died of Whooping cough. The reason they were exposed to the illness is because there were 5,978 confirmed cases of Whooping Cough in California due to either children not receiving immunization or adults immunity who wore off over time.
nearly $295 billion in direct costs and $1.38 trillion in total societal costs. The annual loss to the U.S. economy due to the flu is $87.1 billion dollars. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has made a commitment to increase access to vaccines in poor countries. This is estimated to save $6.2 billion in treatment costs and $145 billion in production losses.
Saves you and your child time and money
Side Effects are Rare
Doctors’ visits, trips to the hospitals or medications are expensive. Even if you have health insurance in the United States a hospital visit could cost hundreds if not thousands of dollars. Every year in the United States 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu-related complications. Most medical insurances will cover the flu shot in full which would be free for the individual. Being sick will an illness which could have been prevented with a vaccination also results in missing time for work or school. Some people miss up to ten days of work when they are sick with the flu. And if your child is sick you might also have to miss work to care for them.
Economic Benefits for Society
According to an analysis by the CDC, hospitalizations avoided and lives saved through vaccination will save
It is rare to have a serious side effect from receiving vaccinations. The most common side effect is soreness in the area where the shot was administered. The benefit of preventing a possible deathly disease far outweighs the mild side effects of the immunization.
The Science Supports the Decision
There is a significant amount of research and statistics which supports the benefits of receiving immunizations for children and adults. It also have been scientifically proven to be safe and effective against preventing contraction of the disease.
Cheryl Maguire holds a Master of Counseling Psychology degree. She is married and is the mother of twins and a daughter. Her writing has been published in The New York Times, Parents Magazine, AARP, Healthline, Your Teen Magazine, and many other publications. You can find her at Twitter @ CherylMaguire05
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Feature
Building Bridges: Communicate and Connect with Your Child’s Teacher By Janeen Lewis
Do you feel intimidated when you think of talking with your child’s teacher? What if your child complains about problems with his or her teacher? What do you do then? I’m a parent and a teacher, so I’ve been on both sides of the teacher’s desk. Here are some tips to help you communicate and connect with your child’s teacher so that all involved can have an amazing school year.
Meet and greet the teacher. Teachers like to meet parents at the beginning of the school year so that if a problem does occur, a teacher’s first encounter with a parent isn’t a call about misbehavior or academic struggles. If your school hosts a Back-to-School Night in the days before school starts, make it a priority to attend. If your school does a virtual get-to-know you instead, connect to that meeting. Introduce yourself and show your support for the teacher. There will probably be several parents waiting to meet the teacher, so you may not be able to have a lengthy discussion, but making this initial contact, either in person or virtually, helps break the ice. 6
Our Kids Magazine | August 2020
Be involved. One of the best ways to get to know your child’s teacher is to be involved with the school and classroom. When school starts, let the teacher know if you can volunteer. Because the beginning of school is a busy time for teachers, wait the first couple of weeks until the class is settled in, and then contact the teacher and ask “How can I help?” If you can’t volunteer during the day, or your school is limiting visitors due to the Covid-19 outbreak, offer to organize donations or supplies for projects by setting up a parent sign-up list online. Ask if you can cut out items the teacher has laminated or track down supplies for a lesson and send in with your child. Come to afterschool events, school productions and parent-teacher conferences so that you are visible and can touch bases with your child’s teacher. If your career is related to something your child’s class is studying, offer to come in or videoconference and answer questions. Many employers build in time for employees to volunteer in schools so they don’t have to take time off from work. Connect With US @ facebook.com/OurKidsMagazineSA
Keep communications open and positive.
Teachers welcome questions and concerns and are proactive. As a teacher, I would much rather know about a problem early so that I can deal with it in the best way for all concerned. Your child’s teacher should be open to your questions and suggestions, so don’t be too intimidated to ask. Keep up with written teacher notes, permission slips, report cards and any other written communications the teacher sends home. Sending a quick response to the teacher’s requests makes the teacher’s job easier. Remember to keep communications positive. If you have concerns or think the teacher has dealt unfairly with your child, don’t dash off a negative note and send it first thing in the morning. For sensitive conversations, call and set up a time to meet after school. Of course, encouraging notes brighten a teacher’s day!
Get to know the teacher’s digital platform.
This may be the most unusual school year we will know. Familiarize yourself with your child’s teacher’s digital platform if he or she has one. Make sure the teacher has your email and other contact information so you do not miss any electronic notifications about your child’s class. Tap into free trainings or tutorial videos about the digital tools the teacher uses. Investing time
at the beginning of the year will help later if there are school closures.
Try to understand both sides.
Teachers have a lot to manage in their classrooms, and with several students to supervise, sometimes they make mistakes or don’t see every problem. Your child may think something happened in class that wasn’t fair, and it’s easy as parents to react emotionally and blame the teacher. But support the teacher as much as possible while you gather information about what happened. Try to help your child see the teacher’s point of view, and talk about how people can have differences and still work together to succeed.
Advocate for your child.
Don’t be afraid to speak up if a problem in your child’s class becomes pervasive. If your child’s grades start to slip, he or she is continually unhappy or you suspect your child is being bullied by a classmate, work with the teacher to devise a plan to help.
Make a change as a last resort.
Sometimes children have personality conflicts with their teachers. This actually offers an opportunity for growth if teachers and students can work together in a respectful and productive manner. After all, this is what children will need to be able to do when they grow up.
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But if problems persist, it may be time to request a conference with the teacher and an administrator. Discussing your options with a school counselor or administrator may help you navigate a tough year.
Understand that teachers are human. Most of the teachers I know are caring individuals who want to make a difference in the lives of the children they teach. Often, they are parents too, and although it is hard to imagine, at one time they were students who lived through awkward growth spurts, problems with peers, lost homework and braces. They understand what parents and kids are going through, and they strive to build a positive connection between school and home.
How to be an A plus chaperone During the year your child’s class will more than likely take a field trip. Teachers really appreciate the help of parents when they venture outside school grounds with a group of students, and this is a great way to get to know your child’s teacher better. Here are seven quick tips to help you be an ace chaperone.
1. Show up on time so you can get information from the teacher and meet your group. 2. If possible, take a picture of your group so that if someone becomes separated, you know what they are wearing and can show the picture to other helping adults. 3. Learn the names of all the students in your group, and encourage them to pay attention, be on task and stay together. 4. If a child is consistently ignoring the rules, alert the teacher. 5. Take head counts often, especially after bathroom breaks and lunch. 6. Keep your cell phone with you at all times. Get the teacher’s number and numbers of other parent chaperones so that you can stay in contact if you split up. 7. Remember you are there to help the teacher and students foremost. While you should model participation and have a positive attitude about the trip, don’t slip away to that new exhibit you’ve been dying to see and leave your group. Janeen Lewis is a teacher, writer and mom to Andrew and Gracie. She has been published in several parenting publications across the country, and in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Teacher Tales.
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Learning Disabilities and ADHD: What Parents Need to Know By Kimberly Blaker
Approximately 10% of American school-age children suffer from a learning disability (LD) and/or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to a report by the Centers for Disease Control. About 4% of children have both. But for many kids, these disorders go undetected despite their ongoing struggles with school work and behavior issues that often accompany the conditions. Often, parents don’t suspect learning disabilities because many people associate it with low IQ. But LDs affect children of all intelligence levels and has nothing to do with IQ. In fact, it isn’t uncommon for a child with a learning disability to excel in one or multiple subjects, while struggling in another. Also, kids with LDs or ADHD may do well under certain conditions. Yet, in other situations, they have great difficulty. Depending on the LD and severity of it, a child might struggle in all areas. Forms of learning disabilities There are multiple forms of LDs. Some pose input problems, which means a child struggles with either sound or visual input. What happens is the information isn’t processed correctly or gets stored incorrectly in the brain. This can pose problems with the retrieval of information as well as short or long-term memory. An LD can also cause output problems. This can sometimes be seen in motor skills such as handwriting difficulties. Another common problem is verbal output. This is usually evident in kids that have trouble organizing their thoughts either in writing or orally. Punctuation, grammar, and spelling may also suffer as a result. Dyscalculia is a math learning disability. Kids with dyscalculia may have difficulty learning to tell time, counting
money or counting in general, learning math facts, calculating, understanding measurement, or performing mental math. Dyslexia is a reading disability, although the symptoms are not exclusive to reading. Children with this disorder may have difficulty with spelling, vocabulary, or comprehension. They may read slow, have trouble learning left from right, or have organizational problems with both written and spoken language. Dysgraphia is a writing disability. Poor handwriting and often, an awkward style of holding a pencil or even contorting the body while writing are hallmarks. A child may also have trouble drawing lines. With dysgraphia, kids can often better express their understanding of the material through speech than in writing. Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) is a problem with input. It isn’t a hearing problem. Instead, the brain has difficulty processing sounds. As a result, kids with APD can be distracted by loud noise or struggle to follow conversations. This can be especially problematic when there’s a lot of background noise, which makes it difficult to distinguish sounds. Visual Processing Disorders (VPD) are also a problem with input. But VPD isn’t a vision problem. It’s actually a problem with the brain processing what the eyes see. It can result in a child bumping into things or being unable to distinguish the shapes they see. It can also pose difficulty in identifying letters or numbers or result in problems with visual sequencing, among other symptoms.
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Nonverbal Learning Disorder (NLD) is similar to Asperger Syndrome and shows up as difficulties with social skills. Academic problems are sometimes present as well. But often, these don’t show up until kids reach higher grade levels. Those with NLD may be afraid of new situations, struggle to make friends, lack common sense, and experience social withdrawal. Academic problems can include reading comprehension and working out math story problems. ADHD is marked by attention problems and/or hyperactivity and impulsivity. Girls often have only attention issues, while boys are more commonly impulsive or hyperactive. Symptoms can include difficulty staying on task or paying attention. Yet, they often hyperfocus on stimulating activity. Children with ADHD may fidget or have trouble staying seated, interrupt, and act without thinking. The symptoms listed above for each of the LDs aren’t exhaustive. You can learn more about symptoms by visiting the website of the Learning Disabilities Association of America at https://ldaamerica.org/ types-of-learning-disabilities/.
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What to do if you suspect your child has an LD or ADHD The first step is to talk with your child’s teacher and find out what the teacher has observed. Then speak to the school principal. Public schools are required by law to provide an assessment. This should include an IQ test, assessments of math, reading, and writing, and testing of processing skills. If your child is in a private school and it doesn’t offer this service, you can request it through your public school district. Once your child has received a diagnosis, your school psychologist should be able to recommend and help you set up services or accommodations for your kid. Depending on the specific learning disability, your child may qualify for special education services under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) or accommodations through Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Keep in mind, you are your child’s best advocate. So read books and articles on your child’s LD and learn how you and your school can help. Talk to your child’s teacher about additional ways the teacher can assist your child. Most teachers are eager to help. Although, depending on the student-teacher ratio and the school’s resources, it’s sometimes challenging for teachers to do as much as they’d like. There are likely other kids in their classrooms with special needs as well. If you feel your child isn’t getting the help needed, talk to the school administrator. Connect With US @ facebook.com/OurKidsMagazineSA
SCHOOLS Anne Frank Inspire Academy 11216 Bandera Road, San Antonio, TX 78250 Elementary School - (210) 638-5910 Middle & High School - (210) 638-5900 AnneFrankIA.com AFIA will offer multiple instructional formats for the 20202021 school year including full remote, Face2Face and combination options. Additional flexibility will allow families to alternate between models on a week-to-week basis as requested. Remote learning is recommended for every Friday and the entire month of December. New health and social distancing policies include temperature checks twice daily and mask policies by age group. Campus cleaning and sanitization measures will be implemented daily.
BASIS Texas Charter Schools Learn more about our locations! (480) 289 2088 enrollBASIS.com Type of School: Charter. Grades Served: K–12. Before/ After School Programs: Yes. Student—Teacher Ratio: Approximately 15:1. BASIS Charter Schools are consistently ranked among the top K–12 schools in the nation. Our accelerated liberal arts curriculum builds on strong foundations and organizational skills to develop independent, resourceful problem solvers who are prepared to succeed in a globally competitive workforce.
Bexar County Academy Charter School 1485 Hillcrest Dr. San Antonio, TX 78228 210-432-8600 www.bexarcountyacademy.org Bexar County Academy is a TUITION FREE charter school, serving grades Pre-K3 to 8th grade. At Bexar County Academy Charter School our mission is to provide an Academia Environment that prepares students to function as Entrepreneurs, Workers, and Citizens in a Globalized World. Our blended-learning model provides our scholars with the opportunity to develop entrepreneurial and life skills not often offered in traditional public-school districts. Our life skills-based curriculum provides the tools to develop character, creative, critical, and innovative thinking. Apply Today! www.enroll.bexarcountyacademy.com
Bright Ideas Enrichment Center 9433 Fredericksburg Rd. San Antonio, 78240 210-694-4622 brightideasdaycare.com We realize that each child is unique with a specific set of needs. It is our sincere desire to accept the challenge and work toward the goal of meeting each of those needs. We offer Infant and Toddler care, Pre-K 3 and Pre-K 4 and Private Kindergarten, with breakfast, lunch and afternoon snack provided. We also offer Swimming lessons, Ballet, Gymnastics, Karate and Spanish for Tots.
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Brooks Academies of Texas 4802 Vance Jackson Road 210-541-0051 brooksacademy.org
“Across our four campuses, we will do everything possible to make the learning environments friendly and safe for our children. We will provide two different learning models for the 2020-2021 school year. We have a 100% in-person model with reduced class sizes, social distancing, and other precautions. We will also have a 100% virtual model available for all grades Pre K-12. Visit our website for more details and enroll today!
Cardinal Montessori Academy 6506 W Hausman Rd San Antonio, TX 78249 (210) 558-3627 www.cardinalma.com
We offer an authentic Montessori experience with an emphasis on S.T.E.A.M. in beautiful, clean, and prepared classrooms. Our curriculum follows the child, focusing on their individual needs and interests. Our school day is structured with a fair amount of fun, excitement, and free play mixed in! We are accepting enrollment for our summer program (July- August) and 2020-2021 academic year (August 25, 2020-May 30, 2021)
Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church & Early Childhood Center 5323 Blanco Rd. San Antonio TX 78216 210-732-7223 – Church 210-733-9444 Daycare www.christoursavior-sa.org
Sharing and teaching the love of Christ as we reach out to all people. “Viviendo,compartiendo –y- ensenando el amor de cristo mientras alcanzamos a toda persona. Our acre supplements the home by providing a place in which the child may develop in an arranged environment with trained staff. Opened all year round.
Colonial Hills United Methodist School 5247 Vance Jackson San Antonio, TX 78230 210-349-1982 www.chums-sa.com
CHUMS is NOW REGISTERING for the 2020-2021 school year. Tours available by appointment only. 18 months through Kindergarten. Please call the school office to schedule - 210-349-1092.
Cornerstone Christian Schools 17702 NW Military Hwy San Antonio, TX 78257 210-979-9203 • sa-ccs.org
At Cornerstone Christian Schools, we face adversity and make history every day. At the onset of this pandemic, we led the way in adopting digital learning instruction within a week and the first to hold a physical graduation on campus. And now once again, CCS is leading the way by welcoming students on our beautiful campus for in person teaching this Fall. Learn how by visiting sa-ccs.org or call 210-979-9203 today.
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A Better Approach to Public Education! Serving Pre-K(4) Graduation; offering College Credit, Career Readiness and Character Development. There are six Jubilee locations in San Antonio – call for the one nearest you.
Keystone School 210-735-4022 119 East Craig San Antonio, TX 78212 www.keystoneschool.org Keystone school has been a haven for bright, motivated children since 1948. Master teachers lead small classes with an accelerated, college-preparatory curriculum. Academics, extracurriculars, arts, outdoor education and technology combine in a challenging, nurturing environment to develop academic excellence, ethical growth, community involvement, and responsible leadership. Grades PK3-12.
KIPP Texas Public Schools- San Antonio kipptexas.org 210-880-8080 KIPP Texas Public schools focuses on protecting the health and safety of our students, staff, and families to the fullest extent possible. Provides our students with an academically excellent, joyful, and equitable learning experience with a consistent focus on college readiness regardless of whether we are inside or outside of our school buildings. Show care for our entire Team & Family so we can thrive in the new normal.
Mount Sacred Heart School 619 Mt. Sacred Heart Rd San Antonio, TX 78216 210-342-6711 www.mountsacredheart.org Mount Sacred Heart’s school year begins on August 17th and with great joy we begin our inaugural year of the Mother Cabrini Formation Center. The MCFC will increase the involvement of religious Sisters at Mount. Please give us a call and schedule a tour to see why Mount’s rich tradition and innovative learning environment is the school for your family. Visit our website or call us at (210) 342 - 6711.
Play Today Drop-In Daycare 17319 IH 35 N. Suite 302 Schertz, TX 78154 210-651-3610 Playtodaydropin.com Play Today is a unique child care facility that offers flexible drop-in care for children 12 months to 12 years. We believe that children are unique individuals who need to be respected and cared for in a safe, nurturing environment. Your child will enjoy a fun learning facility with songs, finger play, games, arts and crafts, and sensory play. After school pickup available. Mother’s Day Out available for 2-5 years with age appropriate curriculum.
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Positive Solutions High School 1325 N. Flores, Suite 100 San Antonio, TX 78212 210-299-1025
www.facebook.com/positivesolutionshighschool Brief Description: Positive Solutions High School, chartered by the State of Texas in 1998, is an open enrollment charter school offering an accelerated high school diploma program for grades 9-12 as well as a GED program (4 hour sessions available in AM or PM). Positive Solutions High School students will succeed academically and in society.
Pre-K Academy at West Avenue North East Independent School District 3915 West Avenue San Antonio, TX 78213 210-407-8600 www.neisd.net/prekacademy
learning options for students for the 2020-21 school year. Enrollment is now open at www.swprep.org.
St. Matthew Catholic School 10703 Wurzbach Rd. San Antonio, TX 78230 (210) 478-5044 www.smcssa.org
St. Matthew Catholic School is dedicated to the mission of educating a strong, faith-centered community through a commitment to the spiritual, moral, intellectual, social and physical development of each child. Register now for Pre-K – 8th grade.
St. Peter Prince of Apostles School 112 Marcia Place San Antonio, TX 78209 210-824-3171 stpeterprince.org
A recently renovated campus dedicated solely to prekindergarten students. Each classroom has a certified teacher and an instructional assistant. Students learn important skills through exploratory play and ageappropriate steps for resolving conflicts. We have a full-time physical education teacher, music teacher, librarian, STEAM teacher, counselor, family specialist, registered nurse, and instructional coaches for our teachers. We offer a two-way dual language program, transportation service, and afterschool care. School begins August 17.
St. Peter Prince of Apostles School in Alamo Heights has on-campus and virtual class options for the 2020-2021 school year. Ideal class sizes for distancing and outstanding parent reviews during distance learning. Call today for more information!
Pre-K 4 SA North 210-206-2800 East 210-206-2850 South 210-206-2700 West 210-206-2900 https://prek4sa.com/
Pre-K 4 SA is San Antonio’s premier pre-kindergarten program that is changing the educational and workforce trajectory of our city in one generation. Pre-K 4 SA offers full and extended-day prekindergarten for 4-year-olds in San Antonio. With four Education Centers with stringent safety protocols, as well as a distance learning model, Pre-K 4 SA supports a foundation in concepts like math, science, language, and art through a play-based learning environment. Contactless Application Process. Apply now!
Suburban School, a place where children can learn in a unique, natural setting and are encouraged to become independent, caring individuals. Suburban School exceeds State Minimum Standards and follows national accreditation (NECPA and NAEYC) guidelines. Suburban School embodies a relaxed, comfortable learning atmosphere with an emphasis on our outdoor environment to enhance gross motor development. We believe that a happy and successful childhood with clear expectations leads to a positive selfimage. Our program is designed to be age level appropriate, blending traditional and progressive styles of learning. We use hands-on experiences and learning centers to encourage creativity and a better understanding of concepts. Time is spent learning in a group setting as well as one-to-one with a teacher.
San Antonio ISD 141 Lavaca Street San Antonio, TX 78210 210-554-2660 www.saisd.net
Sunshine Cottage 603 E. Hildebrand San Antonio, TX 78212 (210) 824-0579 www.sunshinecottage.org
SAISD will start school on Aug. 17, and for the first three weeks, all instruction will be 100% remote. After Labor Day, parents can continue with the teacher-led, online learning or transition their children to on-campus learning – both will provide your child a high-quality option. Students learning remotely will be provided devices if they don’t have one at home. We prioritize safety, strong academics and socialemotional learning for our students.
Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran School & Child Care 6914 Wurzbach Rd. MEDICAL CENTER San Antonio TX 78240 210-614-3741 www.shlutheran.org
Shepherd of the Hills is a Christ-centered, family focused, community dedicated to serving children ages Infants through Grade 8. We provide a faith-based, fully accredited educational program in addition to a state-licensed Early Childhood Center. In accordance with state education and healthcare guidelines, we plan to begin the 2020-2021 school year in August, with children in classes on campus! We are currently enrolling for the fall! Call today!
Southwest Preparatory Schools 4 Campuses listed below 210-829-8017 www.swprep.org
Southwest Preparatory School is an open enrollment tuition free charter school serving grades PreK-12 with four campuses in San Antonio and Seguin. All four campuses have current plans to include both remote and in-person
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Our Kids Magazine | August 2020
Suburban School 210-696-0213 5409 Encino Park Road general@suburbanschool.com www.suburbanschool.com
Sunshine Cottage offers a listening and spoken language environment for all children with hearing impairment as well as for typically hearing children. Sunshine Cottage provides students the opportunity to excel and experience new learning adventures each day. Pre-school through fifth grade.
The Circle School 217 Pershing Ave. San Antonio, TX 78209 (210)822-0461 http://thecircleschool.org
Academies (PK/K-8th): Woodlawn and Fenwick*; Middle Schools: Harris and Longfellow; High Schools: Burbank and Jefferson. (*IB Candidate school).
The Montessori School of San Antonio 210-492-3553 17722 Rogers Ranch Pkwy San Antonio Texas 78258 www.montessoriSA.org At the Montessori School of San Antonio, we guide children to be passionate learners, independent thinkers and engaged citizens. We partner with parents, guiding students to achieve their full potential in academic, social, physical, intellectual, aesthetic and moral development from early childhood through adolescence.
The Winston School San Antonio 8565 Ewing Halsell Drive San Antonio, Texas 78229 (210) 615-6544 www.winston-sa.org Description: Winston is a college preparatory school for students with learning differences, including but not limited to ADHD, dyslexia, and dysgraphia. Teachers focus on providing a personalized education to every student. Winston is continuing with plans to open the school for inperson classes this fall, and will be adhering to all safety and health guidelines.
SPECIAL NEEDS AdBAnce Behavioral Health ABA Therapy 844-568-2001 www.AdBAnce.com ABA Therapy can help students with Special Needs to maintain and generalize skills already learned. ABA can also be used as a teaching tool and a preventative tool to address challenging behaviors
Sunshine Cottage 603 E. Hildebrand San Antonio, TX 78212 (210) 824-0579 www.sunshinecottage.org Sunshine Cottage offers a listening and spoken language environment for all children with hearing impairment as well as for typically hearing children. Sunshine Cottage provides students the opportunity to excel and experience new learning adventures each day. Pre-school through fifth grade.
The Clowvazar Academy (210) 690-4800 12746 Cimarron Path #120 San Antonio TX 78249 www.clowvazar.com
The Circle School plans to open campus but is prepared to pivot as this unpredictable year unfolds. Our existing structure of small classes and time outdoors will be amplified with evidence-based guidance. Campus access will be limited to staff and children only, cohorts will be separated, and cleaning enhanced. Everyone will pledge to limit exposure outside of school and answer daily health questions. Short-term virtual learning will be available during high risk periods or self-quarantine.
The Clowvazar Academy is a private year-round school for kids with learning differences. Students are placed in each subject according to ability, not by age. We accept students with a wide range of struggles in three broad programs: General Ed., Special Ed. and Gifted-and-Talented students. We work with kids with anxiety, ADD, ADHD, mild Autism, Autism and other learning challenges. With a wide range of electives, including Culinary Arts, Fine Arts, and Job Readiness Internships, our students are given amazing opportunities to excel in different ways.
The International Baccalaureate Schools of the San Antonio ISD Nine, centrally located IB and IB Candidate schools IB@saisd.net, www.saisd.net/ib
Brainiacs Academic Enrichment and Support 210-570-5611 www.mybrainiacs.com
San Antonio ISD’s International Baccalaureate (IB) Schools are tuition-free, in-district charter schools offering innovative, rigorous education with a global perspective. IB Programmes are known around the world for their focus on the personal development of all students. Limited seats are still available. Apply now at www.saisdchoice.com. Elementary Schools (PreK-5th): Briscoe, Huppertz* and Woodlawn Hills*;
Brainiacs provides one-on-one mentoring services. Our mentors tutor in targeted subjects, but also establish a supportive connection with a student. GRIT & GROWTHMINDSET are organically woven into conversations around life strategy and long-term academic success. Brainiac also offers small group programs in Reading & Literacy, Study & Organizational Skills & ACT/SAT Test Prep.
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Inspiring Excellence 210-722-4947 InspiringExcellenceTutoring.com
With affordability in mind, I teach step-by-step methods, helping my students learn effective strategies to improve their confidence and become independent learners. Parent(s) are invited to be a part of every session which further enhances the learning process!
AFTER SCHOOL Abby’s Attic Sewing & Crafting Studio North Central at 281/Thousand Oaks 210-375-5241 Far West Side at Culebra 210-541-5088 www.abbysatticsewingschool.com
Abby’s Attic provides in-person and online sewing classes for ages 8-16. Learn beginner and intermediate sewing skills, with your machine or by hand. Introduce your child to a dying art while they work on fine and gross motor skills, pattern reading, problem solving, mathematics skills and more! Moms, we have a great variety of classes for YOU to learn to sew, too!”
Artworks Art Studio 1840 Nacogdoches Rd, San Antonio TX 78209 210-826-2787 www.artworksartstudio.com
New Wording: NEW Arts Enrichment & Academic Assistance for Home Learners - we offer Small Class Sizes with StudentCentered Curriculum and Unique Learning Experiences!
Boy Scouts of America, Alamo Area Council 2226 NW Military Hwy, San Antonio, Texas 78213 210-341-8611 www.AlamoAreaBSA.org
The BSA continues to prepare young people for life by providing the nation’s foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training, utilizing
outdoor activity, citizenship, and fitness. The Alamo Area Council manages over 1,500 acres of outdoor adventure for boys and girls from 5-20 years of age at three premier camps – Bear Creek Scout Reservation, Mays Family Scout Ranch, and McGimsey Scout Park. Also Check out our Virtual Merit Badges and other Scouting at Home programming.
Clowvazar After School Tutoring 210-690-4800 12746 Cimarron Path #120 San Antonio TX 78249 www.clowvazar.com We provide One-on-One tutoring for kids with high functioning autism, dyslexia, dyscalculia et cetera. Tutoring & Coaching sessions available for both Students and Parents. We provide comprehensive assessment and affordable packages.
Code Ninjas Shavano Park 12651 Vance Jackson Road, Suite 101 210-570-2467 www.codeninjas.com/tx-shavano-park Your kids will have a blast Learning to Code! At Code Ninjas San Antonio (Shavano Park), kids learn to code by building their very own video games. Our flexible coding programs for kids make it easy on parents with convenient drop-in hours on weeknights and weekends.
Country Home Learning Center 210-687-1002 www.countryhome learningcenter.com Quality childcare 6 weeks – 13 years. Students enjoy our water park, indoor playground, putt-putt golf course, and gymnasium. After school care with pick-up from area schools available. Check out our website for location near you.
Dorothy Keck Dancers 210-829-8454 1532 Austin Hwy www.dorothykeckdancers.com
We are a dance instruction studio offering classes in ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, tumbling/acrobatics, and dance team. Enjoy our 55 years of teaching experience, flexible hours, and fair prices that are sure to keep us a San Antonio favorite.
First Tee Greater San Antonio 915 East Mulberry, San Antonio, TX 210.736.9592 www.firstteesanantonio.org
First Tee Greater San Antonio will be hosting fall programming both online and in-person. On-site programming adheres to local, state and federal safety and health protocols to ensure a safe environment for participants and families.
Jump Rope Express 269-0725 coachbobby7755@gmail.com www.coachbobbysports.com
Let Jump Rope Express get your child in top form. We offer one-hour jump rope classes that keep kids active with unique jump rope games, activities, challenges and drills developed by Coach Bobby. The kids will have a fun-filled time and get a lot of exercise! Contact Coach Bobby at 210269-0725 / coachbobby7755@gmail.com for availability ad pricing. www.coachbobbysports.com
Witte Museum 3801 Broadway San Antonio, TX 78209 210-210-357-1910 www.wittemuseum.org
The Witte Museum is developing programs for schools and families for the fall. We are open and encourage families to visit us when they are ready for an outing! We have a wide variety of educational videos available on our website. “Witte Where You Are” brings a little bit on the museum to you! Watch our website for new program announcements.
Drop In Licensed DayCare Mother’s Day Out Program Full Day Summer Camps Ages 5-12 yrs Now Offering – After School Care with pick up!! Open late on Friday nights for Parents Night Out
210-651-3610 Playtodaydropin.com
EST. 1963
• 15 months – Kindergarten • Afterschool Care 1st through 5th grades • Summer Camp 5 through 10 year olds • Located on six wooded acres with pool
(210) 696-0213 www.suburbanschool.com
5409 Encino Park Rd. San Antonio, Tx 78240
To Advertise Call 305-4181
August 2020 | OurKidsMagazine.com
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Feature
YOUR PUBLIC
Welcoming the New Kid to School By Christa Melnyk Hines
Who will I sit with at lunch? Will I be able to find my locker or my classroom? Being the new kid isn’t easy, but fortunately many schools and their students love rolling out the welcome mat to help new students feel like a valued part of the community. Make a new friend. “New students need and want to feel special because they are special. They also want friends,” says school counselor Tara Walrod. Build empathy by talking to your child about any feelings they experienced when they were new to a classroom, club or sports team. “Students who are willing to embrace a new friend and invite them to play with, sit with or even just smile at will make a difference in someone’s life,” Walrod says. “All of us have a role in helping to make the transition as easy as possible.” Thoughtful touches. Offer a warm welcome to new classmates. Walrod suggests students write short letters or draw pictures. They can collect their notes and place the packet on their new friend’s desk for when they arrive at school. Or, they might sign and mail a “welcome to our class” postcard to a new student’s home. Walrod says some teachers also create electronic books for new students and their families to use as a resource, highlighting their background and interests, class rules/procedures, and photos of classmates with their names (to help a new student learn names). Ronee Vrooman, a fourth grade teacher, makes goody bags that welcome new students. She also makes friendship bracelets for the whole class to wear the first day- or as long as they’d like- to symbolize new friends. She attaches cards that say: “This is to remind you that our class would ‘knot’ be the same without you.” Goody bags work well at the middle and high school levels too. They might contain items like a school t-shirt/keychain, a welcome letter, the student’s schedule and lists of clubs and extracurricular activities. Of course, adjusting to middle or high school as a new student has its own set of challenges due to larger school settings and multiple classes. “Since your child will have a different teacher for each class 14 Our Kids Magazine | August 2020
HEALTH THRIVIN A HEALT COMMU
and a different group of students, your child may have more complex feelings/experiences,” Walrod says. New student orientations, resource folders and ambassador programs can be instrumental in managing nervous anticipation and helping kids get familiar with the school. Lead by example. At some schools, students can apply to be student ambassadors or greeter leaders, who welcome new students and distinguished guests to the school throughout the year. “A lot of times we’ll have a greeter leader who has been a new student. That empathy piece is huge because they know what it’s like to be in their shoes,” says Stacy Scalfaro, school counselor. Some students are naturals while others grow into the role, giving them an opportunity to gain new skills throughout the year. Scalfaro and her greeter leaders host new student gatherings monthly to help enhance a sense of connection. One month, with the help of his mom, an exceptionally generous fifth grader purchased donuts for new students with his own money. School counselor Kathleen Feist kicks off a Welcoming Buddy program each year before school starts, pairing each new student with a current student. While a parent visits with their child’s teacher, their child’s “buddy” helps them with a scavenger hunt to locate important areas around school like the library, the cafeteria and the nurse. Plus, their buddy offers a friendly, known face on the first day of school. Feist says that often many students are eager to help welcome a new student and like to take turns sitting with the student at lunch or playing at recess. She recommends that the welcoming buddy program continue for about six weeks or until the new student is adjusted. “Each child is different,” Feist says. While some kids will acclimate quickly, others may “need help throughout the whole school year.” Integrating families. Feist’s school also sponsors a Buddy Family program in which existing school families are paired with new families to help them transition into the community. They introduce them to other families, answer questions and make them aware of available activities, resources, events and traditions. (Check with your school PTO to see if they offer liaisons to help new families get involved.)
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YOUR PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT
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PUBLIC HEALTH IS EVERYWHERE WHILE A DOCTOR TREATS INDIVIDUALS, PUBLIC HEALTH LOOKS AT THE HEALTH OF A COMMUNITY. AT METRO HEALTH, WE RESEARCH THE RISK OF ILLNESS AND TAKE ACTION TO STOP THE SPREAD OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES. WE INTRODUCE PREVENTION AND EARLY DETECTION ACTIVITIES THAT HELP INCREASE LIFE EXPECTANCY. WE PROTECT AGAINST ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH HAZARDS THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY.
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August 2020 | OurKidsMagazine.com
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The Clowvazar Academy ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION • K-12 • YEAR-ROUND
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www.clowvazar.com | 210-690-4800 12746 Cimarron Path #120, San Antonio TX 78249
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Our Kids Magazine | August 2020
“It’s traumatic for a child to start a new school. The more support you give, the better the adjustment can be,” Feist says. “They’re going through a lot of loss and families don’t always move because of a good reason. It could be there was a death and so now they’re moving closer to family. It could be a job loss or financial stress. So sometimes children are bringing in a certain amount of stress to the already stressful situation of starting a new school.” Connect 1:1 10 x 2. Nope, that’s not a weird math formula. It’s a community-building technique Scalfaro implemented for kids who are new and struggling with the adjustment. For two minutes, ten days in a row, the student can sit and chat about whatever they wish with an adult other than their homeroom teacher, like a music or PE teacher. “Two minutes of just letting them tell you whatever they want to tell you-that’s been really powerful,” Scalfaro says. “When teachers have 20 plus kids in their classroom, sometimes it’s really hard to just pause and get to know somebody. When you pair a child with another adult in the school, it takes the pressure off the teacher and also builds that community within the school. We don’t ever want kids to feel like they just have one adult. We want them to feel like they have several trusted adults within our building.” Advocate. If your child struggles with the transition and their new school doesn’t offer a new student program, ask the counselor or your child’s teacher if your student can be paired with a helpful classmate. Also, check in periodically with teachers and the school counselor to learn how your child is managing recess, lunch and in the classroom. Raised in a military family, freelance writer Christa Melnyk Hines was the new kid several times growing up. While the adjustment wasn’t always easy, she appreciates the resiliency skills she gained along the way.
Keeping Kids Socialized from a Distance By Kerrie McLoughlin 6The “new normal” can be disorienting and frustrating at times. Your kids have friends who they have only seen physically from the end of their driveway. Your parents have been staying inside since the COVID crisis began, and your kids miss seeing Nana and Poppy in person. Lessons, camps and even school are being done in front of a screen – and it could continue at least through the end of the year. This is no time to despair! At first my kids were super sad about not being able to do as many social things in person, but soon they got busy and crafty (oh, the lovely paintings hanging on my walls!) while also finding creative ways to keep in touch with friends and family. Check out some of these ideas! 1. The drive-by birthday celebration. Make sure your child’s birthday is recognized while you all stay safe and healthy. Secretly organize a group of friends to meet at a close-by location (like a mall parking lot) and then they can caravan by your Connect With US @ facebook.com/OurKidsMagazineSA
house honking and waving balloons and streamers. Friends and family can drop a gift or card by, but remind them to make sure it’s something non-perishable which can be set aside for up to 72 hours if you hard-core need to avoid germs. 2. The social distancing playdate. Unfold those comfy camping chairs on the driveway or in the yard for some six-feet-apart chat sessions. We do short visits when we are out and about to drop something off or pick something up at my girlfriend’s house, and the kids also get to give each other some shout-outs from afar. Consider coming together for a book club for kids or a sewing/knitting circle. Melissa R., mom of three, says they do “meet-ups at local creeks. With neighbors, they play outside, distanced with FaceTime going so they don’t have to yell across the spaces. In the fall, we will continue much the same. We try to get a group together of similar risk tolerance levels for outdoor activities.” 3. Video chatting. Cathie Maschler, mom of four, says, “My kids are staying in contact with friends through Zoom meetings and FaceTime chats mostly.” Don’t forget about Skype, Facebook Messenger, Instagram and any other supervised way kids can connect “face to face.” This is easier for my teens, who have their own phones. The other three kids take turns using my phone for their social visits, and I appreciate the screen break for myself. My daughter does origami tutorials with her friend after another friend has taught her some new things to make. Katie D., mom of four, shares that they “visit with friends electronically while they craft, watch a show or exercise.”
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How should I greet another person to avoid catching the new coronavirus? To prevent COVID-19 it is safest to avoid physical contact when greeting. Safe greeting include a wave, a nod, or a bow.
4. Snail mail. Now is the time to send those things made in the sewing circle and during the video socializing tutorial sessions to the grandparents and other friends and relatives! Oldfashioned letters and surprises in the mail are such a treat! One of my daughters went nuts with some 12x12 blank canvases and painted pictures for her grandparents, which I will be popping in the mail or dropping on their porches. 5. Words. Texting, emailing, blogging, oh my! There are so many ways to stay in touch without touching. Bonus: it helps them practice reading, writing, grammar, graphics, editing and typing skills. 6. The Marco Polo app! Check out the Marco Polo app for a FaceTime-meets-voicemail experience, where you get to leave and receive video messages, and they don’t disappear… you can save them on Marco Polo indefinitely and also save them to your phone or forward them to other family members. 7. Online activities. Melissa R. shares, “We are doing online summer camps, which are going well. Sleepovers, chats, and playdates with friends are all done virtually.” I know families who are continuing activities like ballet, Irish dance and karate online – and loving it! Kerrie McLoughlin’s special kind of chaos can be observed at TheKerrieShow.com To Advertise Call 305-4181
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August 2020 | OurKidsMagazine.com
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Feature
How Mindfulness Helps Kids Manage Stress Christa Melnyk Hines
When kids are stressed, they ruminate about past problems and worry about future what-ifs. These negative thought patterns rob their ability to focus on the present. Because stress feeds anxiety, impulsive behavior and lack of focus, more schools are adopting simple mindfulness techniques that parents can also foster.
Why are kids stressed? Academic pressures, overstuffed schedules, unstable home life, economic hardship, social media and peer issues can all affect a student’s physical and mental health. According to the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, prolonged stress not only harms healthy development, it interferes with learning, behavior and health throughout life. Michelle Landy, a third grade teacher, says student stress is especially prevalent during mandatory state testing. “State tests are scary for many of the kids,” Landy says. “Their anxiety hinders their ability to remember what they’ve learned.” She recalls one panicked student who insisted she didn’t remember learning any of the material that was on the test. “The concepts had been previously taught to her that week-and she aced them,” Landy says. After Landy led her students through a calming, schoolapproved mindful breathing exercise, the third grader “ended up remembering what she knew and got the entire next set of questions correct!” Landy was first introduced to the practice by Lauren Wessinger, who facilitates the Mindful Project, an eight week school-based program geared toward K-5 grade students.
What is mindfulness, anyway? “Mindfulness is not a control mechanism or behavioral modification. It can be a calming technique, but not always. It’s more of helping a child become actively aware of how they are feeling and use some of their tools to manage those feelings,” Wessinger says. Mindfulness gives children-and adults- simple strategies to intentionally and without judgement notice what they’re feeling in the moment, observe their surroundings and self-regulate their behavior. 18
Our Kids Magazine | August 2020
Does it work?
To learn more about the effects of the practice on students, researchers at the University of California, Davis, partnered with Mindful Schools, a non-profit organization that teaches educators, parents and mental health professionals how to integrate mindfulness into everyday learning at K-12 schools around the globe. Among students who participated in a mindfulness program, the researchers found significant improvement in paying attention and class participation. Initial studies also suggest that mindfulness changes the brain’s architecture by helping kids become less reactive. They are better equipped to manage feelings like anger, sadness, fear and worry. “When they can’t control much outside of them, they can absolutely regulate what’s happening inside of them if they know how,” says Wessinger, who received her training through Mindful Schools. Furthermore, the practice can enhance their compassion toward others and for themselves. “If kids can grow up knowing how to manage intense emotions and not let this intensity completely consume them, then maybe it will cause one child, who is then an adult, to make a different decision in the moment,” Wessinger says.
Begin with you.
When you feel calm, your children will likely respond in kind. As part of her daily practice, Wessinger takes three deep breaths before she picks up her children, ages 8 and 12, from school. “I’m more of a receptive, calm container. They don’t consciously know why, but their nervous system is like, ‘okay, everything is cool. I’m safe right now.’ It’s like a nervous system to nervous system language,” she explains. Connect With US @ facebook.com/OurKidsMagazineSA
Start with just three to five minutes a day of quiet breathing and observing your emotions. Try challenging yourself by doing 10 days in a row for three minutes a day and add a minute as the practice becomes easier. Teach your child deep breathing. Begin with a simple practice. For one to three minutes, have your child place their hand on their belly and feel the movement when they breath. “The tension going down into that movement is about as present as you can get. Nothing’s really going on except belly moving, eyes closed, feeling the breath in the hand,” Wessinger says.
Mindful listening. Through intentional listening, kids learn to become more aware of their surroundings. Begin with three long and deep breaths. Suggest they close their eyes. Ring a bell or chime and have them listen for the sound until they can no longer hear it. “When the noise goes away, they raise their right hand and then they take three deep breaths and then put their hand down,” Wessinger says.
Mindful seeing. In this exercise,kids stare at a point on the ground for about a minute. If they lose focus, encourage them to return back to the point on the ground. “I tell them you have super strong eye strength now.
What is an animal that has great vision? They always say a bird,” Wessinger says. She then has them use their eagle eyes to look around the room, noticing things they’ve never noticed before. Practice heart awareness. In this visualization exercise, your child imagines reaching out to help a lonely friend. Ask questions like, “how does that feel in your body when you are helping your friend?” Then, walk them through a visualization of them not helping their friend (but not doing anything cruel either). Perhaps instead of acknowledging their friend, they ignore them. Again, ask your child how that feels in their body and in their heart.
Walking mindfulness. Wessinger also takes her students on walking heartfelt meditations in which the kids walk silently around the school and send out kind thoughts toward anyone they see. “In our heads, we think ‘may you be happy, may you be peaceful, may you be free,’” Wessinger says. “They love it. This is the piece that felt inspiring to me. It helps them understand ‘when I do this action, I feel this way. Don’t I want to feel the good way as often as possible?’” Christa Melnyk Hines is a nationally published freelance writer and the mom of two teenaged sons.
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August 2020 | OurKidsMagazine.com
19
Feature
When Relatives Are Racist:
Confronting Hateful Speech in Families By Malia Jacobson
You’re enjoying time with your child and a beloved relative when you hear it: The relative casually uses a hateful term, makes a racist joke, or expresses a privileged perspective that stops you in your tracks. Your cheeks flush as you grasp for the right response—do you say something? When? Now? In front of your kid, or later? Could confronting them end up making things worse? Just as quickly as it appeared, the moment fades, but your questions linger. Like many parents, I’ve been in this situation more than once. And I haven’t always been happy with the way I’ve responded. In some cases, my swift and heartfelt response wound up alienating my relative, effectively shutting down communication. Other times, I was shocked into silence or simply unsure how to explain my stance with one kid on my hip and another tugging on my arm. Confronting racist beliefs, words, or actions in friends and family is always hard, but maybe never more than we begin hearing the comments in the presence of our own children. When the person spouting hateful speech is someone our child loves and admires, we don’t want to create or intensify family conflict. And countering such comments from older relatives means stepping outside of family norms and rejecting our own internalized beliefs about not questioning or disrespecting our elders, says 20
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Seattle-based parenting coach and speaker Sarina Behar Natkin, LICSW. We might wonder whether confronting a relative’s beliefs will make a difference. And well-intentioned parents who aspire to the “colorblind” ideal may squirm at the thought of bringing their child’s attention to racial oppression. These concerns are real, but they’re no reason not to act, says Orchid Fowler, a teacher at Chavitos Spanishimmersion nature school in Tacoma who spent her undergraduate years teaching anti-racism in Boston schools. Raising children who champion equity means countering racist beliefs within family systems, despite the difficulty. “We know that racism is handed down to children over time, through family members who view the world through the lens of racism,” she says. Recognizing and fighting racism, and raising children who do the same, means resisting any urge we might feel to keep quiet. “Let the child witness you standing up for a person of color or people with a different background tells them that as an adult and parent, you don’t stand for oppression,” she says. “You’re shifting the ignorance that is passed down through our parents.” But that doesn’t mean you should respond with hostility, or even necessarily respond immediately, she notes. Connect With US @ facebook.com/OurKidsMagazineSA
Thinking about your response as two or more separate conversations can help. “As educators we take the stance that children don’t perceive things in the same way adults do,” she says. “Around third grade and younger, you might address it later with your child by saying the comment was hurtful and that words matter. Then, with the relative, you can explain how you’re having a conversation at home about racism and this is what you’re learning, then ask them for their perspective. Later, after fourth grade or so, children can understand systemic racism and are ready for deeper conversation.” Even with very young children, talking about why a relative’s comment was hurtful is important, says Natkin. “Not understanding isn’t the same as not noticing. Younger kids do notice, and store these things away.” What happens when you’ve respectfully requested that your relative stop making these comments in front of your children, and they don’t? Parents should keep in mind that they get to choose who their children spend time with, Natkin says. “If I had parents or grandparents who continue to use language or act in ways that don’t align with our values, I’d tell them that I was concerned.” Parents can choose to set boundaries with relatives who can’t shift their behavior, she notes. Confronting racist language means having difficult conversations with relatives, but those conversations can opportunities for connection, learning, and growth. “I think we only have influence through connection,” says Natkin. “Shocking or shaming our relative may seem to work in the short-term, but what about the long term?” “I do my best to model compassion, and meet people where they are,” says Jennifer Dumlao of Tacoma. “I’m not going to educate my relative on white fragility when he doesn’t understand how using stereotypes is racist”. “I used to never say anything, but having a kid has made me stronger,” she says. “I’m trying my best to speak up.” Malia Jacobson is a parenting and family journalist.
Resources for families who want to recognize and resist racism Teaching to Transgress by Bell Hooks Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? by Beverly Tatum White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo “Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack” by Peggy McIntosh ReThinking Schools educational publisher and magazine Me and White Supremacy Workbook by Layla Saad Seeing White podcast So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paolo Freire Between The World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates To Advertise Call 305-4181
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Pandemic Teaching Through Play Board Games Encourage Brain Development By Jill Morgenstern
With concerns about Covid still prominent, parents are looking for productive ways to make the most of family time. In these days of uncertainty board games provide not only a cozy family memory but learning and brain development in many different areas. This is good news to parents who are facing the unknown when it comes to school starting in the fall. A 2008 study from Germany found that children who were given an extra hour of chess per week had an increased ability in basic math skills over their counterparts who were given an extra hour of traditional math instruction. Some homeschoolers have already realized the many benefits of board games and rely heavily on them to educate their children.
Math Skills
As the study from Germany demonstrated, math skills learned during board games may be even more beneficial than doing actual homework! But it’s not only chess that improves children’s math ability. They get practice counting points or board movements in all sorts of games. Other games, such as Yatzee also teach patterns such as those on the dice. Recognizing the patterns on dice helps children learn to count both quickly and accurately as explicitly taught in some schools in first grade. Additionally, children actually begin to learn about probability as they roll the dice or spin the spinner in many games. Even the simplest board game can reinforce math skills. During the game of Chutes and Ladders, for example, children are beginning to internalize the idea of going back and forth on a number line as well as recognizing the patterns on the dice and the numerals on the board.
Social skills
Social skills are an integral part of playing board games. Children begin with the very basics of learning to take a turn and give a turn. This helps them gain patience as they wait for other players. As they grow, they can begin to internalize a sense of fairness from board games. Will the youngest player get to go first? How does it make other families feel if someone cheats? What does it mean to be a good sport? These types of questions come up frequently when playing
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board games and help children understand what it means to treat someone fairly and be treated fairly. Board games also foster communication skills as players discuss whose turn it is, their plans for their next move, and strategy.
Critical thinking Board games can also foster critical thinking skills. More advanced games such as Risk and Clue have greater opportunity for this type of thinking. In these more complicated games children must use advance planning to decide how they will make their moves to have the best chance of winning. Games such as Battleship and Stratego require deductive reasoning as players attempt to analyze each other’s strategy.
Language and vocabulary Some games such as Scrabble or Balderdash are obvious choices for building vocabulary. In Scrabble children practice dictionary skills when they challenge an opponent. But even board games with less of a language focus can teach new words. Not only are children gaining language skills negotiating with fellow players, but even the very playing pieces and boards can offer chances to expand vocabulary. Clue, for example, hosts a lounge, a conservatory and a billiard room, rooms that probably aren’t present in a child’s day to day life experience. Board games may also encourage reading as children read the rules of the game or read off a card they have drawn on their turn.
Spatial skills Certain games such as Blokus, Kaboom and Jenga expand children’s special skills as they build, balance and explore how game pieces fit together. If board games are already a part of your family night, you can count on the fact that these are hours well spent. If you are not yet playing games as a family, you may want to consider it, especially as the topic of how and when to safely open public schools remains steeped in confusion. The advantages are many and are all accomplished while having fun and connecting as a family. Connect With US @ facebook.com/OurKidsMagazineSA
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