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Help with Butterfly Conservation by Creating a Backyard Habitat
A backyard flower garden is a fun family project that can be enjoyed throughout the year and, with a little planning, it can also serve as a habitat for butterflies native to the southeastern US. Butterflies are both beautiful to observe and are plant pollinators essential to the ecosystem. When a butterfly lands on a flower to drink nectar and then leaves, it takes some of the flower’s pollen with it. The pollen then ends up on the next flower the butterfly visits. Some of the foods humans eat could not be produced without plant pollinators like butterflies. In recent years, scientists have noted a concerning decrease in butterfly populations. The decrease may be a result of a loss of habitat and a reduction in the availability of food sources suitable for butterflies. – To create a garden that butterflies will want to live in year-round, provide the essentials of food, shelter and water and avoid pesticides. – Select flowers that provide nectar for adult butterflies and host plants that serve as food for butterflies in the caterpillar stage. To make it friendly for Monarch butterflies, plant butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa), the only plant Monarch caterpillars will eat. Plants that serve as […]
1. Aug 2020
Inspire the Love of Veggies with Gardening
One question I hear over and over from parents is: “How can I get my child to eat more vegetables?” Helping our kids build strong bodies and healthy immune systems can seem tricky if you’re dealing with a picky eater, especially as we all try to adjust to this “new normal.” One way we can help our kids become more willing to eat vegetables while spending time at home is to start a small garden. This is a great family activity that incorporates many of the components of a healthy child: time spent outside, physical activity, eating fresh, whole foods and a bonus science lesson built right in! No room for a small raised garden bed? No problem! Several of these can be grown in pots in a sunny area on a doorstep or driveway. A great starter plant is cherry tomatoes. You can buy a sprouted cherry tomato plant at one of our local garden centers, and they are great for young children’s short attention spans as they tend to produce fruit quickly. These can be grown in a garden bed or even a medium pot. Cherry tomatoes are fun for young children as they make a healthy sweet […]
1. Aug 2020
And Inside Look at: Sleep in Heavenly Peace
In 2012, Luke Mickelson’s kids were bored over Christmas break, the new Christmas gifts were not cutting it. So, Mickelson, of Kimberly, Idaho, decided to do a service project. He grabbed some wood from his shed and his family built a bunk bed. Afterward, he went to his church to find someone in need. One of the parishioners raised their hand, confessing their children sleep on the floor. Mickelson was shocked, attending an affluent church, he did not expect “bedlessness” to be an issue. After doing some more research, he learned children sleeping on the floor is a big problem. Mickelson started Sleep in Heavenly Peace with the mission of “No Kid Sleeps on the Floor in Our Town.” However, the non-profit has rapidly expanded internationally, with over 200 chapters throughout the U.S., Canada and Bermuda. In Columbus, Sleep in Heavenly Peace got its start after the founder, Michael Wood, heard about the non-profit on Joy FM. After attending a build in LaGrange, he was hooked and created a local chapter in September 2019. “Right now, the demand has been keeping up with supply,” explains Wood. “We’re still growing, I wouldn’t even say growing, we’re still trying to get the […]
1. Jul 2020
Summer Fun on the Farm is Back at the Rock Ranch
This summer, the Rock Ranch, a 1,500-acre cattle ranch located about an hour from Columbus, is offering the opportunity for families to visit and enjoy fun farm activities and the ranch’s beautiful scenery. The ranch is open to the public on Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10am-4pm. Adam Pugh, general manager of the Rock Ranch, says, “In our new normal, guests have multiple options. They can visit simply to have lunch or enjoy our famous strawberry Icedream® and walk about the farm on marked walking paths. They may choose to extend their stay by purchasing a punch card to enjoy select attractions and food items, make an appointment online for a zipline experience…or make a reservation for a personal guided VIP experience.” There is no admission fee to enter the farm and enjoy the walking paths. Guests who would like to enjoy the attractions are encouraged to make reservations for the zipline and purchase punch cards online. There is a discount for buying the punch cards online. Pugh says, “There is a limited quantity for each time slot throughout the day and tickets may sell out, so we really advise guests to buy online in advance of their visit.” The […]
1. Jul 2020
Highlight on Columbus Junior Cotillion
Does your child know how to set a table? How to hold a fork and knife correctly? How about the confidence to introduce his/herself to someone new? Do they look people in the eyes when speaking and put their device away when eating? Do they feel comfortable and confident in social situations? Columbus Junior Cotillion, now in its 26th year, helps teach area young people good manners and the importance of knowing, through practice, why etiquette is important in today’s world. We focus on character education, so each child can be the best version of his/herself during the formative years. Our programs are about learning and showing honor, dignity and respect for others. They teach the tools so young people can be more self-confident. Many of the topics covered in our programs include interview skills, social media etiquette, manners for the home, theatre etiquette, sports etiquette, restaurant etiquette, flag etiquette, team-building and much more. Their goal is to develop: 1) well-rounded members of society that are confident and poised in social situations; 2) aware of appropriate boundaries within society; 3) able to respectfully conduct oneself in an appropriate manner. The Cotillion’s programs are for students in grades 5-12. The small classes […]
1. Jul 2020
Project Linus, Giving Comfort Through Blankets
If you enjoy crafting, the Columbus chapter of Project Linus has a volunteer opportunity for you. Project Linus is a non-profit organization that, as the name suggests, seeks to provide comfort to kids in need by giving them gifts of donated handcrafted blankets and afghans. In the past seven years, the Columbus chapter of Project Linus has delivered over 6,000 blankets to kids in the Chattahoochee Valley area. The organization delivers blankets to Damascus Way, Twin Cedars, Russell County Child Advocacy Center, Piedmont Regional NICU and the Piedmont Regional children’s department. The Columbus chapter of Project Linus is planning to expand its outreach to other agencies in the Chattahoochee Valley area and to increase the number of blankets delivered to hospitals. However, to make this possible, the organization needs more volunteers to handcraft blankets. Project Linus volunteers create blankets and afghans at home and take them to the drop-off location at Joann Fabrics in Columbus or to the monthly meeting of the Columbus chapter of Project Linus. The monthly meeting takes place on the second Saturday of each month at the Gallop Center at 1212 15th Street at 10:30am. This meeting is also a good opportunity for volunteers to swap […]
1. May 2020
Should I be my child’s best friend?
By Linda Ligon, Family & Kids Magazine The work of parenting is not easy. As children grow, the amount of guidance they need from their parents is constantly evolving, and it is hard work to adjust and enforce boundaries as situations and a child’s maturity changes. It is very unpleasant to be the target of your child’s anger when you made a decision he does not like. Would being your child’s friend be more effective, since one could assume that if your child likes you, he will be more likely to openly share and listen to your advice? Parents should spend time together with their kids having fun and engaging in friendly conversations. However, there are some important reasons you should not swap your parenting role for that of your child’s best friend. Children with structure and boundaries feel more secure and confident When parents decide to take on a friend role, they step back from the task of defining and enforcing limits. Kids are then left to make most decisions with a lack of maturity and full knowledge. Without someone to guide them from making dangerous mistakes, kids can feel more stressed and vulnerable. To develop into confident, successful […]
1. May 2020
Kids Subscription Box Reviews
By Maria Phillips, Family & Kids Magazine Literati (literati.com) In each box, you receive five age-appropriate books, cardstock printed art and adorable book labels with your child’s name. Since the library closed during the pandemic, having new books delivered to our doorstep was a great treat. You can buy the books you love and return the ones you don’t. Cost: $9.95 per month + the cost of books Kiwi Co (kiwico.com) They have project crates based on your child’s age and interests. In addition to craft crates, they also offer “tinker” STEM crates and art design crates. The best part, these crates are even available for adults! Personally, for my four-year-old, I love that the crates are interesting enough to keep his attention and easy enough to create a nice memento. Cost: $19.95 per month Raddish (raddishkids.com) This recipe subscription box comes with beautifully illustrated and laminated recipe cards, a utensil for cooking, crafts to go with your themed meal night and tableside conversation starters. Plus, Raddish Kids sends your grocery list before the box is delivered, so you’re prepared for your child’s meal night! Cost: $24 per month Sensory Theraplay (sensorytheraplaybox.com) This box is specially designed with sensory needs in mind. The items are […]
1. May 2020
Life During Social Isolation
When the ball dropped on 2020, none of us could have predicted in a few months we would be living in fear of a virus, shutting down schools, locking up businesses and spending major holidays with our family over video chat. Many of us heard of the coronavirus, but I don’t think we understood the severity until it started to affect our daily lives. Now, after a month of living in fear and uncertainty, we’ve adapted to a new norm. To “flatten the curve” we’ve been given an opportunity to slow down and spend more time with our families. We’ve returned to a simpler time when we didn’t have so many choices to occupy our times, and we are spending our days enjoying the earth and family given to us. During this time, I’ve been able to reflect on myself and the distancing a bit, and this is what I’ve learned: The definition of social distancing Despite what I thought, I’m not a good cook If Walmart shut down, I wouldn’t be able to survive I am incapable of shopping for long-term meals I really need to learn how to grow vegetables A bidet would be a good investment I […]
1. May 2020
Scheduling for Kids at Home
Creating a daily routine and having a list of activities to keep kids occupied helps provide the structure needed to be at home all day. Here are a few tips on creating a daily routine for your family and some fun activities that will exercise both mind and body. Create a routine that is realistic and flexible Your family’s daily routine does not have to be extremely detailed. Trying to create a schedule that fills each hour of the day with a very specific activity is likely to just leave you frustrated. Instead, aim for an outline that assigns a time frame for key parts of the daily routine. Before you create your outline, observe your family’s rhythm for a few days. This will help you assign a time frame to certain activities. For example, does your preschooler still consistently need a nap? If so, nap time may be the perfect opportunity to do a more complex activity with your older kids. One of the goals of the daily routine is to ensure everyone gets enough sleep. Give your kids a few days to ease into the routine and slowly adjust their sleep schedule if they have been staying up too late or […]
1. May 2020
An Inside Look at the Civil Air Patrol – Today’s Cadets, Tomorrow’s Aerospace Leaders
The Civil Air Patrol (CAP) was originally established as the civilian auxiliary to the Air Force during World War II to support the wartime effort. Today, members of the Civil Air Patrol continue to serve communities in the United States by providing emergency services such as search and rescue, disaster relief assistance and youth programs. Currently, the Civil Air Patrol has about 60,000 members nationwide. The Civil Air Patrol cadet program helps kids explore future careers The program offers education and training for kids ages 12-18 in the four focus areas of aviation and aerospace engineering, emergency services, physical fitness and leadership. Cadets can choose one of the areas to specialize in but receive some training in all four areas. The cadet program provides an opportunity for kids to earn real-world certifications in their areas of interest and explore their future careers. About 8% of Air Force Academy cadets participated in the Civil Air Patrol program. How the Civil Air Patrol cadet program is structured Cadets participate in weekly meetings that last about two and a half hours, plus a Saturday event each month. Each summer, cadets also participate in a one-week encampment. At the weekly meeting, cadets work on […]
1. May 2020
Resources for Online Learning
Georgia Pre-K Resources Provided by GA Pre-K, they update the website every day with new activities. Plus, storytime, virtual field trips, and tips to making at-home learning successful. Scholastic at Home Learning Organized as a weekly calendar, this website provides learning resources divided by age group and grade. It provides interesting lesson plans and colorful, intriguing sources for learning. Kahn Academy Kahn offers free lessons in math, science and humanities from kindergarten through the early years of college. Students can use Kahn’s exercises, quizzes, and instructional videos to learn and master skills. They will get immediate feedback and encouragement. Ted-Ed From the creators of TedTalk, TED-Ed emails lesson plans to your inbox based on your needed criteria. TED-Ed is working with expert educators and TED speakers throughout the world to create and share high-quality, interactive, video-based lessons on a daily basis, for free. StarFall Best for Pre-K-3rd grade. StarFall started as a free interactive way to teach young children to read using phonics, kids can play games, watch short videos on letters and sounds, and flip through “books” of stories. It’s free, easy yo use and offers bright colors and engaging images. Virtual Field Trips This huge list compiled by […]
5. Apr 2020
Smart Steps to Financial Literacy
A study with Gallup World Poll tested 15,000 adults on financial literacy. The study covered basic concepts such as interest rates, compounding and risk. The results of this study were alarming, 1 in 3 adults are financially illiterate. Not surprisingly, studies show the typical American couple with children carries an average credit card balance of $8,145. Overall, Americans are living off borrowed money and it’s costing them. This April, Kinetic Credit Union is celebrating Financial Literacy Month and offering its digital financial education program, Smart Steps to the general public. Smart Steps is a simple, narrated, short online course that offers members the opportunity to learn about financial basics. The course guides users to become more financially educated in order to gain better financial control of their future. Even non-members of Kinetic Credit Union can benefit from this course. To start Smart Steps, visit https://www.kineticcu.com/smart-steps. The Smart Steps Course Covers: Starting out: The basics of responsible banking, budgeting, building credit, protecting your credit, and effectively using a savings and checking account. Money Basics: These courses include education on building emergency savings, protecting yourself from over-drafting, how taxes impact your pay and necessary insurances to keep you protected. Loans & Payments: This section […]
31. Mar 2020
Do We Need a Protein Supplement?
By Adrienne Greenwalt of Lean Life Health Coaching in Columbus; Certified Health Coach, RN MSN, and mother of three It’s hard to walk through an aisle at the grocery store these days without seeing ‘now with PROTEIN!’ splashed across packages of bread, yogurt, cereal, ice cream and more. But is all this protein beneficial or even necessary? Protein is the major building block of all of our body’s cells and is broken down into amino acids through digestion. There are nine essential amino acids that we cannot make in our bodies and must get from our food. All nine are provided in animal sources of protein such as meat, fish, dairy products and eggs. Plant-based sources of protein like whole grains, legumes (like lentils, split peas and peanuts), beans, nuts and seeds are all valuable sources of protein, but since each contains only some of the nine essential amino acids, the vegetarian diet needs to be varied enough each day to ensure you get all of them. Since these amino acids are necessary for vital functions of our body, you may be left wondering how much protein you and your children really need, and if you’re getting enough. The good news is, if […]
31. Mar 2020
Wee Blessing Does the Shopping for You! Local Mom Created Shop & Style Business
Each new season I find myself in the same predicament, my child has outgrown his clothes. As a boy mom and a bargain shopper, I find clothes shopping for my four-year-old, Ben, incredibly difficult. I try to avoid gender-stereotypical clothes and I never want to pay too much, since they’re only good for a season, and well, the clothes probably won’t survive the season. I usually put a day aside to bargain shop store-to-store, but it’s become a task I truly hate. So, when I discovered a local company, WeeBlessing, I decided to try their personal styling service. The concept is simple. WeeBlessing does the shopping and it arrives at your doorstep. This personal styling service is available for kids and adults. Basically, you log onto their website, fill out a cleverly-crafted questionnaire that asks likes, dislikes, style taste, budgets and BAM, you receive a box full of clothes matching your needs. The cost? For only $8, you receive a box full of personally picked clothes from brands you know and love. You decide which clothes you’d like to purchase and return the rest. The $8 fee includes shipping and returns, there is no styling fee. The clothes are discounted, […]
31. Mar 2020
Are they ready for a Smartphone?
Many kids assume that once they reach the tween years and enter middle school, they will be given a smartphone. However, parenting experts caution that just because your child is entering middle school, it does not mean he is ready for the responsibility of a smartphone. What to consider before giving your child his first smartphone The peer pressure can seem overwhelming to your child and you may desire the convenience of being able to contact your child at all times and track his location. However,v there are a few risks to consider before providing your child with a smartphone. Does your child have the maturity to care for a smartphone and avoid losing or damaging it? You do not want to find yourself constantly hunting down his phone or having to replace an expensive smartphone that was stolen when your child accidentally left it someplace. If your child has difficulty keeping track of his school backpack or his equipment bag for sports practice, imagine your dismay when he misplaces his backpack or his bag and his smartphone is inside it. Is your child mature enough to follow good smartphone etiquette? For example, will he realize that sensitive conversations should be conducted face-to-face, […]
31. Mar 2020
Columbus Lions Return
The Columbus Lions are set to kick off their new indoor football season this spring at the Columbus Civic Center (initial April 17 start date has been postponed). The Columbus Lions games are a family-friendly outing that kids of all ages will enjoy. Indoor football is played on a padded floor and is 50 yards long by 85 feet wide. There can be eight players on the field at a time and the football used is the same size and weight as in NFL games. The other rules of the game are similar to outdoor football. Players to watch during the 2020 season include Mason Espinosa at quarterback, Kamryn Pettway from Auburn at running back and Lonnie Outlaw at wide-receiver. The Lions often arrange for special guest appearances at the pre-game show. Halftime and times-outs are filled by family-friendly performances that will keep everyone in your family entertained. After the game, players are available on the field for pictures and autographs. Kids can join Leo’s Cub Club and get special access to the field at home games during player introductions and have the opportunity to high-five their favorite players as the players walk onto the field. Club members also get a […]
31. Mar 2020
The annual Chattahoochee Valley March for Babies Walk
The annual Chattahoochee Valley March for Babies Walk is on April 25 (Event now virtual at www.marchforbabies.org/event/chattahoocheevalleyga) at Woodruff Park in Columbus. Join more than 450 people at this event that raises money for the organization’s programs. Registration starts at 8:30 am and the walk/run begins at 9:30 am. Lunch will be provided for participants and there will be a fun zone for kids. During the event, there will also be an opportunity to remember angel babies and show support for babies that are fighting health issues or have overcome them. What is the March of Dimes? The March of Dimes is a nonprofit organization that provides support for moms and babies at every stage of pregnancy and post-delivery. The money raised by events such as the Chattahoochee Valley March for Babies Walk helps fund the organization’s mission to fight for healthy moms and babies. One in ten babies in the US is born too early (prematurely). Babies born prematurely (before 37 weeks of pregnancy) can have serious health issues and may not even survive. Every year, 14,756 babies are born prematurely in Georgia and 7, 090 babies are born prematurely in Alabama. Also, the United States has a maternal morbidity rate […]
31. Mar 2020
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Welcome to Family and Kids Magazine‘s online parenting resource, serving families of Columbus, Fort Benning, Phenix City and the rest of the Chattahoochee Valley. We strive to be your #1 local magazine for family news, parenting tips, local events and business referrals. Check out our online localized directory for things to do, places to eat, where to shop and almost every other resource a growing family in the Chattahoochee Valley could need. While you’re here, enter our monthly giveaway or submit your child’s photo to be featured in our Hoo’s Cute section of our magazine. We welcome all families coming into our area, whether for a temporary stay or a new place to call home, and hope our magazine guides you through our large community. Pick up a copy of our Family and Kids magazine at our many distribution locations, including all local Chick-fil-as or read the latest issue here.
