1December 2014

Amidst the Baubles

Finding Christmas - 7

parenttalk

Diary ofa Dad

Social Media - 12

December 2014

2 Parent Talk Magazine

3December 2014

The Toy BoxHappy PlatesDevelop & Thrive

Knowledge Is PowerPrincipal's List: Tina Guidry

Let's Get Fit

Amidst the Baubles

Diary of a Dad

4

5

ON THE COVER: CARONLINE SITS ON SANTA'S LAP AT SOUTHLAND MALL IN HOUMA

PHOTO: CRYSTAL SANDERSON

PublishersBen Jones Jr

Cody J. Blanchard

MANAGING EDITORKara Domangue

CONTRIBUTING WRITERMichelle Gautreaux

CONTRIBUTING COLUMNISTSJasmine Richard, Joni Bascle, Anne Marie Naquin,

Kim Thompson, Katherine Toups, Rob Bower,

Michele Bower

TO ADVERTISEKara Domangue

985.209.4933

karad@fathomla.com

PHOTOGRAPHYCrystal Sanderson, Brian Waitz

December 2014VOLUME 2 | ISSUE 3

Copyright © 2014 by Fathom Media, LLC.All rights reserved.

Reproduction in whole or in part withoutpermission is strictly prohibited.

Business Address

Fathom Media, LLCP.O. Box 5702 | 1214 Canal Boulevard

Thibodaux, LA 70302

Parent Talk Magazine cannot be responsible for the return of unsolicited material such as manuscripts or photographs, with or without the inclusion of a stamped, self-addressed envelope.

Information in this publication is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the accuracy and completeness of the information cannot be guaranteed.

The opinions expressed in Parent Talk Magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Fathom Media, our employees or any of our advertisers.

The Christmas holidays are right around the corner, and the new year is quickly approaching. Now is a time to be thankful for what we’ve been given this year and reflect on what we’ve learned and been through in 2014.

In this issue of Parent Talk you will read about the importance of yourself; about teaching the importance of being YOU to your children. Each of us and our children has a gift, something positive and joyful to offer to this world - to our family and friends and those in need. Teach them this holiday season to express and share their gifts and talents to bring joy to the world.

We hope you enjoy this issue of Parent

Dear ParentsTalk. We have wonderful columnists full of insight and knowledge into raising kids in the 21st century.

May you and your family have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! We’ll be back in January to ring in 2015 with more Parent Talk!

Keep talking, parents!

Kara Domangue, Managing Editor

In This Issue

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parenttalk

Insights From The Inside14

4 Parent Talk Magazine

internet homeschooling

home-based or onsite

customized education plan

elearningk12.com | 985-223-9077220 civic center blvd, houma la806 North Acadia Road, Thibodaux la

our After School Program assists students with homework completion

individualized instruction

self-paced learning

one to one tutoring

The

Toy BoxJasmine RichardSocial Media Librarian

Free; iPhone and iPad; Ages 3+A fun, cute phonics-based letter recognition app that teaches English and Spanish. “Research shows that early exposure to foreign language sounds strengthens children’s reading skills in their first language while jump-starting their ability to learn a new one.” Kids can learn letters and reading skills using Rosetta Stone’s immersion techniques.

App of the MonthLingo Letter Sounds by Rosetta Stone

Cost: $199 / $99 for Amazon Prime MembersThe new Amazon Echo is a home audio device that acts as a Bluetooth speaker and virtual assistant. Always on with multiple speakers, you can talk to Echo using the wake name “Alexa” and ask any questions, add to lists, play music, etc. like you would with a smart phone, but it’s hands free and can be used at any time by anyone in the house.

Toy of the MonthAmazon Echo

Kindergarten – 3rd GradeCajun twist on the classic trickster tale includes a recipe for Alligator Sauce Piquant and a Cajun French to English Glossary. The alligators want to eat ‘Ti Beau, so he must find a way to negotiate or outsmart them. Great book for reading aloud.

Book of the MonthCajun 'Ti Beau and the Cocodries by Cay Gibson; illustrated by Colleen D'Antoni

5December 2014

Ingredients:

— Bananas

— Grapes

— Carrot

— Apple

— Bamboo skewers

— Mini chocolate chips

— Pretzel sticks

Cajun 'Ti Beau and the Cocodries by Cay Gibson; illustrated by Colleen D'Antoni

Preparation:

You will need three thick slices of bananas, a grape, a sliver of a carrot and a triangular piece of apple for each snowman. (Tip: Use the bamboo skewer to poke a hole in the apple, so it will be easier to assemble.) Let your kids slide the fruit onto the skewer. Then use the carrot slivers for the noses, the mini chocolate chips for the eyes and buttons, and use the pretzel sticks for the arms. pt

Source: www.kidfocused.com

Happy PlatesBuilding A Healthy Snowman

BY KATHERINE TOUPS, THIBODAUX

Try this fun, healthy snowman recipe with your kids! This is a great activity for them to do over the holidays!

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It’s that time of year again…SHOPPING SEASON! Anyone who knows me

knows that this is one of my favorite activities so I have a lot of info to share on the subject. This is especially true when it comes to shopping for children (I have 3 of my own and many more that I call my own every day).

Our kids need a few toys that are just for entertainment purposes without much need for thinking or developmental play…rather just to make them smile. On the other hand, we are living in a world where we have access to a myriad of internet tools to find ideas on the perfect toys to help our children develop while also being FUN and very interesting! We must try to think about this when buying their pile of entertainment loot this year.

The following ideas are awesome ways to incorporate developmental play into your Santa list:

— Crayola and other art companies have a ton of art kits, paint making kits, glitter machines, build a wax car, design a robot…you name it and they have it…creation kits! I love these ideas and most

Develop and ThriveDevelopmental Gifts for the Holidays

BY MICHELE R. BOWER, PT, PCS, THIBODAUX

kids can really get into these.

— Riding toys and bikes are a great way to build endurance, coordination, and strength for children. We are seeing a larger and ever growing number of kids coming into the clinic who cannot ride a bike. Please do your child a favor for their future coordination (and even sports ability – that’s for you dads) and have them learn to at least pedal a tricycle or bike on their own before allowing Santa to drop off a power toy.

— A gift of sports and outdoor equipment such as an extra ball, a soccer goal, a basketball goal, a tennis racket, swing set or golf clubs is an awesome way to help stay active during the holidays.

— Musical instruments are always a great idea for hand-eye coordination and rhythmic interaction. Even though they may not pick up that new guitar or bongos immediately, I often find them tinkering with them when friends come over or when they don’t think I am watching.

— Puzzles, blocks, shape sorters, stacking toys, and matching sets are wonderful

ways for younger children to build ideas of same/different, matching, learn colors and shapes. I am always amazed when I see small children in therapy how many do not have these basic toys at home.

— Imagination building toys such as teaching sets, kitchen sets, dress up costumes, pretend play doll items, play vacuum cleaners and now even pretend barbeque pits help your child to participate in daily activities and pay attention to what you are doing to carry over to their own imagination.

— Lastly I love the idea of fine motor manipulative toys which include things like Legos, building sets, pop beads, stringing toys, jewelry making kits, dolls with extra clothes for dressing and connecting puzzles.

Hopefully you can all find at least one developmentally challenging and fun toy on this list that suits your child. Last, but not least, please keep in mind our local stores when shopping this season. You can find many of these toys at Lee’s Teachers’ Supply in Thibodaux, Bricks 4 Kidz in Houma, and the Bayou Country Children’s Museum gift store in Thibodaux. pt

7December 2014

Amidst the baubles, lights, garland and candy canes, beneath the tree and skirt, behind the carefully wrapped presents with

big red bows stands strong the trunk of a beautiful Christmas tree. A tree that once it is decorated magically brings Christmas spirit to a room that eventually spreads spirit into our lives. Yet that trunk behind the sparkle and glitter goes unnoticed. It is dull and most likely brown or green and maybe even artificial. Either way, it stands alone where no one can see. Imagine for a moment, an entire tree farm full of trunks. Hundreds of brown trunks standing tall high above your heads with a few below your knees. It is doubtful that

BY MICHELLE GAUTREAUX, LOCKPORT

Amidst the Baublesthese trunks would ever turn heads and stop cars to purchase them. Without the branches there would be no place to hang the garland or the baubles or the lights. Regardless, the trunks remain providing the framework for possibility. I myself, love a beautifully decorated tree. I get very excited about putting it altogether with the family and have been known to stare gazingly at its’ lights and decorations late into the evening. Being inspired by its’ beauty I can’t help but smile as I settle down from my long day. Yet it goes without saying, that tree would not be what it is without its’ trunk.

Good ol’ Charlie Brown recognized the potential that a very small

PHOTO: CRYSTAL SANDERSON

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tree with a single branch had in Charlie Brown’s Christmas. He truly believed it would work for the play and said, “Linus is right. I won’t let all this commercialism ruin my Christmas. I’ll take this little tree and I’ll decorate it. And I’ll show ‘em it really will work in our play.” Charlie Brown was inspired by his friend Linus’ interpretation of Christmas to him. He wasn’t interested in Lucy’s request of the aluminum sparkly trees that shone brightly. He wanted something real. Not just a real tree, but just something real amid the hustle and bustle of it all. Everyone seemed to be confused by his choice. Not understanding what he was doing, they argued with him about his tree. They complained and said the tree just wouldn’t work. It isn’t until Linus realizes, “I never thought it was such a bad little tree. It’s not bad at all, really. Maybe it just needs a little love,” and pulls the gang together to understand just what Charlie Brown was trying to share with them.

If only we could feel that way about everything. If we could look at the tree farm full of trunks and understand its’ potential, its’ purpose and its’ importance. If only we could look at things like Linus, Charlie Brown, and Cindy Lou and look beyond the brown dull bark or the thick green fur. See the trunks, see the person within and spread love upon it. We have to start somewhere. There has to be a beginning. There needs to be a first. Why couldn’t that be you or even me? They say a smile can change the world. ONE – SIMPLE – SMILE. It doesn’t require a whole lot of money, it doesn’t require lights or garland, and it doesn’t even require a bow. You are the trunk. You have the potential to shine brightly, spread cheer and bring good tidings to all. So make it your mission this Christmas and throughout the year to share what is at your core. Whether it is on Facebook, in a text, or in a conversation in the local market, share the joy that is YOU. pt

TAKE YOUR PHOTO WITH SANTA AT SOUTHLAND MALL5953 West Park Ave, Houma, LA | southlandmallonline.com

9December 2014

With toy store shelves overflowing and catalogues filled with the latest gadgets, the search for the perfect toys and

games can be a daunting task for parents. Luckily, the holiday season provides a great opportunity for parents to give the gift of learning that will last throughout the year!

While toys and games are fun for children, they also help kids develop valuable skills including imagination, creativity, problem solving, and confidence. When selecting educational toys and games, parents are encouraged to consider gifts that are appropriate for their children’s ages and skill levels as well as their specific interests.

Children who regularly engage in play are more likely to be emotionally, mentally, and physically fit. From a very early age, infants use play to develop motor skills, recognize shapes and colors, and improve hand-eye coordination. As children grow, they become more interested in formal games with rules, opponents, and explicit instructions.

Here are a few suggestions to help parents identify toys that encourage active learning and make the most of play this holiday season:

Pre-School Students — Consider puzzles to help build critical thinking and reasoning skills.— Pre-school students are beginning to recognize colors, letters, textures, and sound. To encourage these skills, look for magnetic letters and numbers, flash cards, or games like See ‘n Say® or A to Z Puzzles™.— To develop motor skills, try activity mats, building blocks, and Tinker Toys®. As infants become more advanced, parents should find more challenging games and activities and recognize when it’s time to retire certain toys.— To spark creativity and imagination, consider arts and crafts kits and toy musical instruments. With a Kids’ Play Workshop® Itty Bitty Puppet Show™ children can have fun creating, decorating, and playing with finger puppets.

Elementary School Students— Elementary school-aged students are beginning to understand and use strategy and probability skills. To foster these developments, look for board games and computer games, including Connect Four®, Scrabble, Monopoly®, and The Game of Life®.— Science kits, chemistry sets, and telescopes help develop

Knowledge is PowerDoes Your Child Need a Tutor?

BY ANNE MARIE NAQUIN, HOUMA

critical thinking skills.— To build, boost, and bolster self-esteem, play The Self-Esteem Game™.— Consider project-based toys such as model airplanes, ships or jewelry kits to help improve fine motor skills. Not only do these projects reinforce motor skills, children also learn to follow instructions and have a project they can work on for days.

Middle and High School Students— Science kits become more advanced for older children – and provide an opportunity for children to experiment, be creative, and follow directions.— Encourage a combination of group and individual play – team sports like a baseball or soccer team and individual activities like reading, scrap booking, or journal writing.— Help children improve vocabulary skills with board games such as Dictionary Dabble® and Buzzword®. pt

SHWEIKIMEDIA

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What made you decide to join the school system?I had a high school English teacher that inspired me to want to

be a teacher, and my mom owned a daycare center as I was growing up until I was in 8th grade, and I used to love to read to and play with the children at the daycare center. I knew very early on that I was born to teach.

Tell me about your school.Our school is known as “the big pink school on Hwy. 308”.

It is actually a historical landmark. It was the old Raceland High School. We have approximately 350 students, and we include grades 3-5. We are 3 stories, and we are currently having Raceland Lower Elementary being built in our own back yard.

What has been your greatest joy in being a part of an elementary school?

My greatest joy in being part of an elementary school is seeing the twinkle in a student’s eye when they are learning something

Principal s ListTina Guidry, Raceland Upper Elementary

BY BEN JONES JR

new for the first time, to hear laughter in the building as the students enjoy their school experience, and to get hugs daily and told “Good morning Ms. Guidry”, “You look beautiful today”, or “You sure do smell good”. This is what makes me love my job and want to come every day to work.

What is the #1 characteristic you hope to instill in your students before they move on?

We hope to instill leadership in our students before moving on. If we can develop leadership in each student, then they are in charge and responsible for their own learning and future if they are leaders.

What was your favorite book or favorite characters as a child and why?

My favorite book was Gone with the Wind and my favorite character was Scarlett O’Hara because I loved Scarlett’s independence, and I enjoyed the romance in the story. pt

PHOTO: BRIAN WAITZ

,

11December 2014

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I know lots of people are worried about Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snap Chat

and so on taking over their lives and the lives of their children. You can go anywhere, look around at everyone, and you’ll notice peoples’ noses buried in their phones texting and surfing away. Are families becoming disconnected? I’m not so sure…in a weird way, even though it appears as if you and your kids are spending a tremendous amount of time zoning out of reality, they are actually in the lives of more people than any previous generation. Family members and friends from across the globe can share in the birth of a cousin instantaneously. Pictures, videos, comments are shared and experienced as soon as the event occurs. Before, you’d hear about it on the telephone and perhaps you’d

Diary of a DadTo Social Media Or Not To Social Media…

BY ROBBIE BOWER, THIBODAUX

get a picture in a few weeks to see what the new baby looks like. It’s an amazing time to be alive on this planet. My parents live in Tennessee and my kids are able to Facetime with them now and again to have face to face interaction in real time. They can “walk” their grandparents around the house showing them toys and other treasures they want to share. It’s awesome!

Along with all the joy that instant communication can provide, it can also be a source of harm, either through cyber bullying or provocative texting. In the most tactful way possible, I’m already letting them know that the things they put out in the digital world will never, ever go away. A note intercepted in class 20 years ago may have been passed around and shared with

a handful of people. A picture texted to a friend now can literally be shared with every person in the world who has a cell phone. Please don’t put your head in the sand about this. Speak to your kids about these dangers. It’s uncomfortable and downright unpleasant but that’s what we’re supposed to do, right? We’re supposed to offer our children advice and share our experiences with them so they can avoid as much of the unpleasantness we may have gone through.

Like it or not, instant access to information is transforming the world. We need to help our kids understand all the good and bad that comes along with it. Maybe send them a text and schedule an appointment to sit down and speak face to face. pt

13December 2014

It's the most wonderful time of year! It's also one of the most stressful times of year! Let me help you with one huge stressor -

shopping! I actually enjoy Christmas shopping and gift buying, but the key is to have a plan. There's a cute little rhyme that I've always thought was a great idea to help with Christmas shopping. It's the rhyme of 4 gifts: One thing they want, one thing they need, one thing to wear, and one thing to read. Isn't that adorable and just a perfect gift giving guide for your children? Well, ALMOST perfect!

I've decided to add to it a little. My amended version goes like this: one thing they want, one thing they need, one thing to wear, one thing to read. One thing to groove, and one thing to move! I personally love music and believe it encourages movement as well as making every activity better so why not add it to the list? And of course I believe we should give a gift that encourages any and every child to move! I'm sure the kids won't mind their list going from 4 gifts to 6 gifts either.

Let s Get FitGiving the Gift of Fitness

BY JONI BASCLE, THIBODAUX

In my opinion, this gift guide can apply to adults too! Maybe the one thing to move can be a family gift - bikes for everyone! What about roller skates for the entire family? Or maybe you pick something that will encourage each person in their own individual way. Maybe mom would love a gym membership, or dad might love gadgets, so how about an activity tracking device? Did you know that the LeapFrog Company even has an activity tracker called the LeapFrog LeapBand that encourages and rewards kids for moving and completing activity challenges? How great is that? I truly believe that encouraging an active and fit lifestyle from an early age will increase the chances of raising healthy future generations. Get a jump-start on a healthy new year, starting on Christmas morning and keep making your family's fitness life a fun way to spend quality time together. Merry Christmas! pt

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Sugar? Spice? Everything nice? Well ... sort of. The answer is GRATITUDE! Of all the things you create and share

with holiday hosts, an attitude of gratitude is the most important ingredient this time of year (well, actually, all year long).

In recent years, research has proven that positive emotional expression can lead to a sense of life and relationship satisfaction and decrease rates of depression and anxiety. Gratitude, a positive emotion, is defined as a sense of valuing and recognizing the best in people or the world around us. Similarly, appreciation means to be thankful and express admiration, approval, or gratitude.

Throughout history, in various religions and cultures, we have been taught virtues such as to love one another; to treat others as we wish to be treated (with compassion); and to be thankful for our blessings. Now, through a recent movement called positive psychology, experts link virtues like gratitude to positive physical and mental health. Grateful people tend to engage in protective behaviors such as regular exercise, healthy diet, and regular

Insight from the InsideDon't Forget the Most Important Holiday Ingredient

BY KIM THOMPASON, THIBODAUX

checkups. Such preventative lifestyle patterns help “proactivists” manage stress better, improve cognitive performance, and even protect the immune system. In fact, adversity can boost gratitude. Following 9/11, surviving Americans reported a surge in a sense of grateful belongingness, which catalyzed various grassroots community building efforts and protected them against post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms.

Positive psychology promotes cultivation of positive emotions like gratitude, as well as reduction of negative emotions. Two techniques to foster optimistic appreciation include what the Institute of HeartMath calls Freeze Frame and Heart Lock-In (combined here). Used in real time, these positive refocusing techniques can be used when negativity is triggered. Six steps are (1) Take an immediate time-out to disengage from your thoughts and feelings. (2) Shift your focus to the area around your heart. Take 10-20 deep, cleansing breaths directed toward your heart and out through your solar plexus (a “chakra” in the mid abdomen). (3) Make a sincere effort to activate a positive feeling,

15December 2014

such as appreciation for someone or something, radiating this out to others. (4) Ask yourself what effective action or attitude could de-stress and balance your system. (5) Keenly sense any desirable change in perception or feeling and work to sustain that improvement. (6) If you catch your mind wandering or negative feelings returning, gently focus your breathing back through the heart and solar plexus and refocus on care and appreciation.

Additional ideas include a daily gratitude journal, keeping a list of benefits in your life, talking to yourself in an optimistic and grateful way, surrounding yourself with people who uplift you, and reframing negative thoughts and experiences into “best case scenarios”. For example, instead of seeing your 6 year-old son as hyper and headstrong, think of him as energetic and passionate about his beliefs, which can take him far in life if taught to use them in a POSITIVE way!

One more thought restructure for the day … When Ben Jones, Jr. emails to remind me of my deadline, instead of thinking, “Wow, another duty calls,” I gleefully think, “Wow! Another golden opportunity to learn something myself with which I would love to impart and impact the community!”

If we could all make gratitude our most special secret ingredient, our recipes would be lifetime treasures for generations to come! pt

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