☰

Birmingham Events Calendar: June 28th – July 5th

Posted on by Angie

It’s Not Our Fault if Your Kids are Bored!

4th of July Week is here and there are lots of ways you’ll be able to celebrate this week around Birmingham! Catch a Barons game, sign up for some crafty fun at Michaels or a Kids workshop at Home Depot and of course… Thunder on the Mountain!

Have a great week and a Happy and Safe 4th of July!

Sunday June 28th

Birmingham Barons – Regions Field
vs. Jackson Generals
3:00pm

—————————————————————————————

Monday June 29th:

Birmingham Barons – Regions Field
vs. Jackson Generals
11:30am

Dynamic Duo Storytime – Hoover Public Library
Princesses and Knights
Summer story time! Perfect for children under the age of four years.
9:30am and 10:30am

Passport to Imagination, Woven Flower – Michaels Arts and Crafts
Join us on an imaginary road trip from the beach to the county fair and beyond, with fun kids’ crafts at each stop. Today’s craft: Woven Flower. $5.00 with supplies included.
Trussville Location

Class Type: Kids
Instructor Name: Renee
Skill Level: All
Recommended Age: 10-12
Supplies Included: Yes
Seats Available: 12
10am – 12pm

Member Monday – McWane Science Center
As a thank-you to all of our members, McWane Science Center offers Member Mondays.

Every Monday, McWane Science Center members receive extra perks while visiting!

  • A Special Gift for kids when checking in at the Ticketing Counter
  • 30% Discount on all Really Cool Stuff purchases
  • $1 Small Popcorns at the IMAX Concession Stand

—————————————————————————————

Tuesday June 30th:

Madcap Puppets Present Aladdin and Friends – Hoover Public Library
Amazing puppets bring classic tales to life.  In the Library Theatre.
10:30, 2pm and 6:30pm

Talent Show Shazam Family Night– Avondale Regional Library
Applause, applause, applause. Join us for our 13th annual talent show as we showcase some of the most extraordinary children in the Avondale Library. Visit the Children’s Department today to register as a performer or as a member of the audience. 24-hour advance registration required.
6:30pm

Zoo to You – Avondale North Library
We’re going to the zoo, zoo, zoo. How about you, you, you? You can come too, too, too. We’re going to the zoo, zoo, zoo. Join us as the Birmingham Zoo takes a scientific look at some of nature’s lesser-known heroes. Discover what makes these animals heroes in their own communities and how they use their super adaptation powers to survive.
10:30am

Waterplay Day – Homewood Public Library
Wear your swimsuit for this fun morning and enjoy water slides, ice cream and more!  Weather permitting.
10:30am

Doug Berkys Mime and Mask – Emmet O’Neal Library
Doug Berky’s surprising, funny, unpredictable show is a lively combination of masks, mime, and mayhem.
10:30am

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Come find out if you have what it takes to be a superhero!
11am

Family Tours, Flights of Fancy– Birmingham Museum of Art
FREE // Meet in the Main Lobby
Join the Museum educators to explore the galleries in a fun, interactive experience! Discover Bart the Art Bat’s favorite artworks during these FREE, drop-in tours. After your tour, visit Bart’s ArtVenture to make an art project inspired by what you saw. What will you discover?

Flights of Fancy: Discover fantastical creatures in the exhibition, Between Fantasy and Reality: Frank Fleming, and look for whimsy in the Museum collection!
10:30am

—————————————————————————————

Wednesday July 1st:

Madcap Puppets Present Aladdin and Friends – Hoover Public Library
Amazing puppets bring classic tales to life.  In the Library Theatre.
10:30 and 2pm

Passport to Imagination, Craft Stick Ferris Wheel- Michaels Arts and Crafts
Join us on an imaginary road trip from the beach to the county fair and beyond, with fun kids’ crafts at each stop. Today’s craft: Craft Stick Ferris Wheel. $5.00 with supplies included.
Trussville Location

Class Type: Kids
Instructor Name: Renee
Skill Level: All
Recommended Age: 3 and Up
Supplies Included: Yes
Seats Available: 12
10am – 12pm

Family Story Time with Mr Mac – North Shelby Library
Storyteller Extraordinaire – Come join Mr Mac and his musical storytime complete with puppets! All Ages, no registration required.
10:45am

—————————————————————————————

Thursday July 2nd:

Madcap Puppets Present Aladdin and Friends – Hoover Public Library
Amazing puppets bring classic tales to life.  In the Library Theatre.
10:30am and 2pm

—————————————————————————————

Friday July 3rd:

Passport to Imagination, Hot Air Balloon – Michaels Crafts
Join us on an imaginary road trip from the beach to the county fair and beyond, with fun kids’ crafts at each stop. Today’s craft: Hot Air Balloon. $5.00 per session or 3 for $12. Supplies included.
Trussville Location

Class Type: Kids
Instructor Name: Renee
Skill Level: All
Recommended Age: 10-12
Supplies Included: Yes
Seats Available: 12
10am – 12

Fireworks on the Water – Oak Mountain State Park
From 5:00 pm until 9:00 pm: Food from Dreamland BBQ, McAlister’s, Frios, Publix; Wakeboarding Demo by FlipSide Watersports; Live Music.
Fireworks show at 9:00 pm.
Normal Park admission applies before 5:00 p.m. After 5:00 p.m., pay $5 per car
Parking and Shuttle available at the Oak Mountain Amphitheater for $5 per car
No admission to park after 8:00 p.m.

—————————————————————————————

Saturday July 4th:

Thunder on the Mountain
For decades, Thunder on the Mountain, Birmingham’s Fourth of July fireworks celebration, has been hailed as one of the largest and most extravagant Independence Day traditions in the state of Alabama, and this year will be no exception. On Saturday, July 4 at 9:00 pm, Thunder on the Mountain 2015 will once again illuminate the skies above Birmingham’s beloved iron man, Vulcan. Free to the public, this year’s show will last approximately 20 minutes and will feature a variety of firework shells that will brighten the sky with new colors and patterns. The show will be choreographed to a musical soundtrack that will feature a mix of patriotic favorites and popular musical performances. Vulcan Park and Museum takes pride in organizing this highly-anticipated event each year; however, we rely on the community-at-large to help fund this outstanding show for residents of the greater Birmingham area and beyond to enjoy! Thank you for your support.

Birmingham Barons – Regions Field
Come celebrate America’s birthday with Barons Baseball at Regions Field.
Jake the Diamond Dog returns to Regions Field to celebrate the 4th of July for the 2nd year in a row.
Presented by HealthSouth
Vs Tennessee Smokies
6pm

Kids Workshop – Home Depot
Come learn how to build a Minions Scooter. FREE hands-on workshops; designed for children ages 5 – 12. All kids get to keep their craft, receive a FREE certificate of achievement, a Workshop Apron, and a commemorative pin while supplies last. Children must be present at the store to participate in the workshop and receive the kit, apron and pin.
Admission is FREE; however kids workshop activities are on a first come first served basis. It is highly recommended to register your child to ensure participation.
Trussville Location
9am – 12pm

Family Storytime – Emmet O’Neal Library
Bring the entire family and join Mr. Mac for stories and music each Saturday morning.
10:30 a.m.

—————————————————————————————

Sunday July 5th:

Birmingham Barons – Regions Field
Vs Tennessee Smokies
3pm

—————————————————————————————

Local Attractions Open Daily!

McWane Science Center:

IMAX
McWane Science Center’s IMAX® Dome Theater puts you in the center of the action by projecting breathtaking quality images onto the 5-story-tall dome screen and delivering intense surround sound through almost 3 tons of speakers and subwoofers.
Now Showing: Tornado Alley, Great White Shark, To the Arctic, Island of Lemurs: Madagascar

Birmingham Zoo:

The Birmingham Zoo offers a variety of daily activities from Giraffe and Pelican Feedings to Bird Tours and Lion Training. For a daily schedule of whats happening at the Zoo, visit their site.

Vulcan Park and Museum:

Vulcan is the world’s largest cast iron statue; made of 100,000 pounds of iron and 56 feet tall, he stands at the top of Red Mountain overlooking the city of Birmingham. But, Vulcan is more than a statue. Vulcan Park and Museum features spectacular views of Birmingham, an interactive history museum that examines Vulcan and Birmingham’s story, and a beautiful public park for visitors and locals to enjoy. With an official information center that is operated by the Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau, Vulcan Park and Museum serves as the first stop for visitors to the Birmingham area!

Railroad Park:

Railroad Park is a 19 acre green space in downtown Birmingham that celebrates the industrial and artistic heritage of our great city. Situated along 1st Avenue South, between 14th and 18th Streets, the park is a joint effort between the City of Birmingham and the Railroad Park Foundation. Hailed as “Birmingham’s Living Room,” Railroad Park provides a historically rich venue for local recreation, family activities, concerts, and cultural events, while connecting Birmingham’s downtown area with Southside and UAB’s campus.

Southern Museum of Flight:

Earn Your Wings – Bring your little pilot and soar above the clouds in our little pilots room. Kids enjoy building aircrafts, flying kites, and more.
Museum Open Tuesday – Thursday
9:30am – 4:30pm

Do you have or know of an event you would like to have added to our weekly calendar? Please email us at contact@birminghammommy.com, subject line “Events Calendar” – We would love to hear from you!

** All information listed on our calendar is subject to change without notice to us or you… We do our best to keep the information accurate and will always update as soon as we learn that something has changed. It’s always best to double check with the event via their website or a quick call,  especially when weather can impact the event.

Parenting with a PhD: Helping Your Kids Go “Inside Out”

Posted on by Angie

By Kristen Berthiaume:

First of all, if you haven’t yet seen Pixar’s “Inside Out” with your kids – GO! NOW! It’s fantastic. Take tissues, though – it’s a tearjerker for parents. “Inside Out” is the story of an 11-year-old girl, Riley, who goes through some big life changes. Consequently, her emotions – which are actual living, breathing characters – go all out of whack. Transitions are likely a particularly emotional time for your child, too, so pay attention. Pixar, along with the neuroscientists they consulted, did an excellent job making abstract concepts like “feelings,” “memories,” and “imagination” concrete and visible to help kids get a
better handle on them. Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust each have distinct personalities and style (bright green Disgust, voiced by the wonderful Mindy Kahling, looks and acts so totally over it). They live together at “headquarters” inside Riley’s head (Get it? Headquarters?) and control her words, thoughts, and reactions. At the beginning of the story, Joy, voiced perfectly by Amy Poehler (Just like Leslie Knope but on steroids), is usually in charge of Riley’s days and there’s a general feeling that things would be best if she was always in control. However, over the course of the movie, we learn that there are
important roles to be played by other feelings, too.

Here are some ideas for using “Inside Out” as a jumping off point to help your child learn and talk about emotions.

If you haven’t gone yet (or are going again): On the way to see the movie, talk to your child about feelings. What are different emotions he’s noticed in himself and others? How does his body feel when he’s angry/sad/happy/worried/etc.? Encourage him to pay attention during the movie to the different ways the main character feels and to what causes her to feel that way. Remind him to look at her facial expressions and to listen to the tone of voice she uses when she is showing those different emotions. Also, ask him to pay attention to whether anyone else in the movie also seems to be expressing various feelings. This last question is a leading one, I’ll admit – we clearly see the emotions of others in the film. But, kids don’t always pay close attention to the reactions of others, focusing more on their own. This kind of questioning can help them notice how others are feeling, which will eventually lead them to make more appropriate responses like comforting a friend, waiting until a parent is calm to talk, and using a soothing voice with a younger sibling who is afraid.

After the movie, ask generally what your child thought and use what she says as a lead-in to talking about emotions. What was her favorite part? Anything she didn’t like? What different emotions did she experience during the film? Notice if your child focuses more on Joy, Sadness (voiced by Phyllis Smith of “The Office.” Again, genius casting), Fear (Bill Hader, always wonderful), or Anger (Lewis Black – seriously, who else??). Ask her how she feels most of the time? How does she feel at home? At school? Keep this discussion light unless your child wants to go more in depth.

At home, pull out paper and art supplies like paints, markers, sequins, glitter (yes, I know glitter is the devil but we’re talking about your house – not mine), feathers, puff balls, etc. Ask your child to list his five most common emotions. Then, go through each one individually and have him draw, color, and decorate how that emotion might look. Have him give the feeling a name. If he looks stuck, ask questions like: What color is happy to you? Does happy seem like a boy or girl to you – or neither? Is it an animal, a person, or something else? What’s a name or word that reminds you of being happy? What kind of voice would happiness use? Characters could look human or might be animals or abstract forms.

They might have crazy, made-up names but encourage something your kid can pronounce and remember. This project may be too time-consuming to complete in one afternoon so feel free to have your child create one character a day and draw the discussion out over time. When you’re finished, put the pictures together to make an emotions book. Refer to your child’s emotions using the names he has picked out and look at the book together often, especially when he’s having a particularly strong emotion (or right after he has calmed down from one). Ask him what he’s like when each of the characters is at the control panel. Ask how you might be able to tell when he is sad, afraid, happy, etc. Be careful not to let your child use his emotions as an excuse for poor behavior – even if Anger is at the helm, your child still decides how to act on that feeling.

Emphasize to your child that all the feelings we have are O.K. and important because feelings tell us something about what’s going on around us. Talk about what happened to Riley in the book when some of her feelings went missing. How did she treat other people? What happened to some of her memories? For example, Sadness was gone so Riley expressed a lot of Anger. It’s very common for young children to mask their sadness by acting mad and disrespectful instead. Sometimes, the emotion you see is not the one your child is actually experiencing, which is all the more reason to help her learn about feelings and how they can be helpful to us. See if your child can explain why Joy realized that Sadness needed to be in control of Riley’s feelings sometimes. This is a difficult concept for kids to grasp but an important one. Ask your child what usually happens when she is sad? Hopefully, she’ll say that you or her teacher or friends comforts her. Ask why it is important that people sometimes show that they are sad. What can happen if we pretend to be feeling Joy when we are really feeling Sadness? Talk about how in the movie some of Riley’s most important (“Core”) memories looked like Joy but also had some parts that were Sad. In fact, the Joyful part of the hockey team memory wouldn’t have happened without the Sad part. Think together about memories that your child has and talk about the happy and the sad (or angry or scary…) parts of those. This will be particularly useful if your child has experienced loss of a loved one or pet. The memories may be happy ones but, like in the movie, they will be colored
by sadness because of the death.

Pixar has given us a great gift with this film. Making emotions concrete will enable children to better understand their own feelings and to express those in appropriate ways. “Inside Out” teaches children (and some adults…) that we don’t have to be afraid of our emotions – they’re normal and helpful. Yes – we still have to keep them in check so that we don’t go overboard but that’s why Riley’s emotions worked together – to balance things out. As parents, we hate for our kids to be sad. We often do whatever we can to distract them from feeling that way – sugarcoat bad news, give treats, change the subject. But, Sadness teaches us all that sometimes you just need to sit and talk with someone you love about a memory – even if it makes you both cry. Joy will return but it’s not always her turn to be at the control panel.

About this column: Send your parenting- and kid-related questions my way and I’ll tell you what I can: parentingwithaphd@gmail.com Please be aware that email is not a secure method of transmitting personal information so it’s best to keep your questions general. If your question is featured, your name and email will not be published. Submitting a question does not constitute a professional relationship in any way and this column is not meant to substitute for face-to-face therapy. If you feel you’re doing the best you can and still need help, it may be time to bring in a professional. Start by talking with your child’s pediatrician to get a referral.

Kristen Berthiaume, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist with Grayson and Associates. She obtained her doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Kentucky. She completed a predoctoral internship in clinical psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a post- doctoral fellowship in the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders (ADHD) Program at Duke University Medical Center. She specializes in providing assessment and treatment of children, adolescents, and families dealing with the following issues: ADHD, learning disorders, social skill deficits, organizational problems, behavioral difficulties, anxiety, and depression. She generally focuses on behavioral and cognitive- behavioral techniques, but maintains a flexible approach to therapy. Her other day job is as mom to her daughters, ages seven and one, and four-year-old son.

Road Trip Spotlight: Stone Mountain Park, Georgia

Posted on by Angie

Last week we were invited by our Friends over at Stone Mountain Park to check out their latest and greatest addition in the park, Yurts! So we loaded up and hit the road for a little excursion.

Now, I have to say that when I heard about the addition of Yurts, I was pretty unfamiliar. I had heard of them, but never really knew what they were. In case you’re wondering.. A Yurt, by definition is “a circular tent of felt or skins on a collapsible framework, used by nomads in Mongolia, Siberia, and Turkey.”

Ok, so, we aren’t nomads, and we don’t live in Mongolia, Siberia or Turkey but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy ourselves in these cool new Yurts Stone Mountain Park has added to their Campgrounds. This is totally my idea of camping!

The Yurts provide a comfortable camping experience and feature outside decks, picnic tables, charcoal grill, metal fire pit, and a water spigot for your convenience. Inside, you will find log furniture, heat/air conditioning, electrical outlets, large windows, skylight, ceiling fan, lockable doors, and will sleep up to five guests all for your comfort. You will only need to bring sleeping bags or linens, and personal items.

The Yurts are smoke free so there is no smoking inside or on the decks of the Yurt.  Pets are not permitted in or outside the Yurt. Stone Mountain Park’s Yurts will not only be charmingly furnished, but sitting right on the lake, the view from both the inside and the outside is nothing less than spectacular.

If you’re thinking this would be a great getaway for the family, you’re right! However, because these are so new, and so cool, you’ll need to book in advance. They told us that they are currently booked into the beginning of August. (I personally think this would be a great place to spend a fall weekend, so book now!)

In addition to chilling by the lake, Stone Mountain has a ton of Summer Fun happening right now, with Summer at the Rock!

From fun-filled attractions to special summer entertainment and the nightly Lasershow Spectacular in Mountainvision®, it’s the perfect destination for you and your family to unplug and reconnect this summer.

Experience what’s NEW at Stone Mountain Park daily during Summer at the Rock. Board the Scenic Railroad and check out the NEW Georgia Justice Wild West Train Show. Come be the star in the Celebrate America Parade, and prepare to be amazed while watching the NEW show Magic Time with Matt. Plus, challenge yourself on SkyHike®, the nation’s largest family adventure course, or cool off and play in the spray on Geyser Towers®…the adventures are endless!

Be sure to stay into the evening for the Lasershow Spectacular in Mountainvision®, showing nightly during Summer at the Rock, and now with NEW breathtaking fire effects! State-of-the-art graphics and awe-inspiring effects create multi-dimensional magic on one of the world’s largest outdoor screens – Stone Mountain.

We spent the entire day at the park and could have easily spent another. Our kids had a blast, and were completely exhausted by the time the lasershow finished.

This is a great idea for a quick day trip over and back or you can spend the night and make a short little vacation out of it. If you go, we would love to hear what you loved best!

For more information or to book a stay in the Yurts, visit the Stone Mountain Website here.

 

Birmingham Events Calendar: June 21st – June 28th

Posted on by Angie

It’s Not Our Fault if Your Kids are Bored!

Happy Father’s Day to all the Dads, we hope you’re having a great day getting to do exactly what you want! If you’re ready to plan your week, take a look at what’s going on around Birmingham!

Hero themed storytimes all over town, a Build and Grow at Lowe’s and the Birmingham Barons are home later this week!

Sunday June 21st

Happy Father’s Day!

Father’s Day – Birmingham Zoo
In recognition of Father’s Day, all fathers get in FREE* to the Birmingham Zoo with the purchase of a full-price child’s admission ticket. Throughout the day, guests can feed the lorikeets in the new Schaeffer Eye Center Lorikeet Aviary**, ride the new Wild Slide**, enjoy a Schaeffer Eye Center Wildlife Show, watch the Red Diamond Sea Lion Splash Show, experience Predator Zone, and much more! In honor of the Zoo’s 60thAnniversary, the first 60 fathers to enter the Zoo will receive a FREE koozie!
*This offer is exclusive for Father’s Day, June 21, only.
**Additional cost.

World Giraffe Day – Birmingham Zoo
Make your way to the Zoo for World Giraffe Day and learn about giraffe conservation! Enjoy a giraffe feeding* at the Kiwanis Giraffe Encounter, keeper chats, games, activities and more! All proceeds from giraffe feedings this day will be donated to the Giraffe Conservation Foundation. Help celebrate the longest-necked animal on the longest day of the year! *Additional cost
9:30am – 11:30
1pm – 3pm

Tannehill Trade Days – Tannehill State Park
shoppers and swappers come from far and near to Tannehill Trade Days in search of tools, clothing, jewelry, knives, furniture and other treasures.
Park admission:
$4.00 Adults (12 years and older)
$3.00 Seniors (Ages 62 and older)
$2.00 Children (Ages 6-11) ages 5 and under free
8am – 4pm

—————————————————————————————

Monday June 22nd:

Dynamic Duo Storytime – Hoover Public Library
Mighty Moms and Dads
Summer story time! Perfect for children under the age of four years.
9:30am and 10:30am

Member Monday – McWane Science Center
As a thank-you to all of our members, McWane Science Center offers Member Mondays.

Every Monday, McWane Science Center members receive extra perks while visiting!

  • A Special Gift for kids when checking in at the Ticketing Counter
  • 30% Discount on all Really Cool Stuff purchases
  • $1 Small Popcorns at the IMAX Concession Stand

—————————————————————————————

Tuesday June 23rd:

Backyard Heros– Avondale Library
Did you know that most superheroes have strengths and abilities inspired by real animals? Join us as the Alabama 4-H Coosa River Science School reveals some super astonishing facts about a few of our favorite reptiles, amphibians, and birds of prey. Who knows what super animal may be living in your backyard!
6:30pm

Ronald McDonald – Homewood Library
Ronald is back with some of his most popular magic tricks!
10:3oam

Super Hero Smash – Emmet O’Neal Library
Come by and see all your favorite superheroes save the day, then meet them after the show.
10:30am

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Firefighters help us in so many ways! Join us for a special salute to these community heroes.
11am

Family Tours, Flights of Fancy– Birmingham Museum of Art
FREE // Meet in the Main Lobby
Join the Museum educators to explore the galleries in a fun, interactive experience! Discover Bart the Art Bat’s favorite artworks during these FREE, drop-in tours. After your tour, visit Bart’s ArtVenture to make an art project inspired by what you saw. What will you discover?

Flights of Fancy: Discover fantastical creatures in the exhibition, Between Fantasy and Reality: Frank Fleming, and look for whimsy in the Museum collection!
10:30am

—————————————————————————————

Wednesday June 24th:

Zoo to You– Avondale Library
We’re going to the zoo, zoo, zoo. How about you, you, you? You can come too, too, too. We’re going to the zoo, zoo, zoo. Join us as the Birmingham Zoo takes a scientific look at some of nature’s lesser-known heroes. Discover what makes these animals heroes in their own communities and how they use their super adaptation powers to survive.
2pm

Moore Hero Magic – Springville Road Library
Discover the “Power of Reading” with Magic Man Larry Moore as he presents stories and tricks that are bound to leave you wanting “Moore.”
10am

Family Story Time with Mr Mac – North Shelby Library
Storyteller Extraordinaire – Come join Mr Mac and his musical storytime complete with puppets! All Ages, no registration required.
10:45am

—————————————————————————————

Thursday June 25th:

Birmingham Barons – Regions Field
vs. Jackson Generals
7:05pm

Skin and Bones Circus – Homewood Public Library
Our favorite clowns are bringing their pig and dog back to the library for more circus shenanigans.  Fun for all ages!
6pm – 7pm

—————————————————————————————

Friday June 26th:

Birmingham Barons – Regions Field
vs. Jackson Generals
7:05pm

Real Life Heros: Greater Birmingham Humane Society – Springville Road Library
A representative from the Greater Birmingham Humane Society will come to the library to speak about their heroic mission to find loving families for homeless pets. They will also bring a few furry friends to the library for a visit!
4pm

—————————————————————————————

Saturday June 27th:

Birmingham Barons – Regions Field
vs. Jackson Generals
6:30pm

Captain America Motorcycle – Lowe Homewood
The Avengers are back this week with Captain America! Register your child and they can build a motorcycle inspired by “Marvel’s Avengers Assemble!” Watch the Animated Series Sunday Mornings on Disney XD!
To attend this FREE  arts and crafts event the participant or participants must be registered prior.
10am

Bart’s Art Cart – Birmingham Museum of Art
This drop-in art program for kids and families features a different theme from our galleries and art activity each month. Stop by to make art with Bart!

Play with Clay: Create a sculpture in the whimsical manner of Frank Fleming! Use self-hardening clay to create an animal, a make-believe figure, or whatever comes to mind!
11am

Family Storytime – Emmet O’Neal Library
Bring the entire family and join Mr. Mac for stories and music each Saturday morning.
10:30 a.m.

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Orion is scared of a lot of things, but most of all he’s scared of the dark. Join Orion and the Dark on their mischievous, fun-filled nighttime adventure in this special Storytime!
11am

—————————————————————————————

Sunday June 28th:

Birmingham Barons – Regions Field
vs. Jackson Generals
3:00pm

—————————————————————————————

Local Attractions Open Daily!

McWane Science Center:

IMAX
McWane Science Center’s IMAX® Dome Theater puts you in the center of the action by projecting breathtaking quality images onto the 5-story-tall dome screen and delivering intense surround sound through almost 3 tons of speakers and subwoofers.
Now Showing: Tornado Alley, Great White Shark, To the Arctic, Island of Lemurs: Madagascar

Birmingham Zoo:

PELICAN FEEDING – A great way to see our pelicans in action is to witness them eating their favorite treats near the pelican boardwalk.

RHINO ENCOUNTER – Embark on an African adventure and experience one of the world’s most extraordinary animals, the Southern White Rhino. Watch from only feet away as our zookeepers engage in hands-on interaction with the animals inside their African-themed exhibit. Don’t miss this exciting encounter with one of the largest mammals on the planet!
Weekdays: 3pm – 3:30pm
Weekends: 11:30am – Noon & 3pm – 3:30 pm

GIRAFFE FEEDING – This up close and personal animal encounter is a memory you and your family will have for a lifetime.
Weekday: 11am – Noon
Weekends: 10am – 11am  & 2pm – 3pm

Vulcan Park and Museum:

Vulcan is the world’s largest cast iron statue; made of 100,000 pounds of iron and 56 feet tall, he stands at the top of Red Mountain overlooking the city of Birmingham. But, Vulcan is more than a statue. Vulcan Park and Museum features spectacular views of Birmingham, an interactive history museum that examines Vulcan and Birmingham’s story, and a beautiful public park for visitors and locals to enjoy. With an official information center that is operated by the Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau, Vulcan Park and Museum serves as the first stop for visitors to the Birmingham area!

Railroad Park:

Railroad Park is a 19 acre green space in downtown Birmingham that celebrates the industrial and artistic heritage of our great city. Situated along 1st Avenue South, between 14th and 18th Streets, the park is a joint effort between the City of Birmingham and the Railroad Park Foundation. Hailed as “Birmingham’s Living Room,” Railroad Park provides a historically rich venue for local recreation, family activities, concerts, and cultural events, while connecting Birmingham’s downtown area with Southside and UAB’s campus.

Southern Museum of Flight:

Earn Your Wings – Bring your little pilot and soar above the clouds in our little pilots room. Kids enjoy building aircrafts, flying kites, and more.
Museum Open Tuesday – Thursday
9:30am – 4:30pm

Do you have or know of an event you would like to have added to our weekly calendar? Please email us at contact@birminghammommy.com, subject line “Events Calendar” – We would love to hear from you!

** All information listed on our calendar is subject to change without notice to us or you… We do our best to keep the information accurate and will always update as soon as we learn that something has changed. It’s always best to double check with the event via their website or a quick call,  especially when weather can impact the event.

Boosting Your Child’s Creative Side

Posted on by Angie

Activities such as coloring, drawing and painting are part of most children’s lives.  Exploring visual arts is an enjoyable activity for kids, and has proven brain-boosting benefits.   In fact, making art is the perfect example of learning through play.

“Creating art can play a crucial role in strengthening the brain’s attention system, and helps children to develop fine motor and memory skills,” says Richard Peterson, Vice President of Education for childcare educator Kiddie Academy (www.KiddieAcademy).  “In addition to the cognitive benefits, parents can boost a child’s self-esteem and encourage more art activities by proudly displaying their children’s creations in an ever-changing at-home art gallery.”

Here are five tips for encouraging your child’s exploration of arts and crafts:

  1. Think beyond the white sheet of paper or a coloring book and crayons.  Provide a wide variety of mediums for drawing and creating, including newspaper, felt, foam, aluminum foil, wax paper, sandpaper, printed paper, laminated paper, chalkboards and white boards.
  2. Utilize imaginative drawing materials, such as finger paints, chalk, shaving cream, colored pencils, vegetable stamps and foods such as pudding in addition to the standard crayons and markers.   Adding a new way to draw can spark a child’s imagination.
  3. Encourage your child to use both scissors and non-toxic glue (with supervision) when creating their art projects.  Cutting and pasting are two skills every child needs in school, and each take practice in order to master.
  4. Repurpose printed materials you already have to give your child more exposure to the printed word and strengthen literacy skills.  Junk mail, catalogs, magazines and coupons are perfect starts for many creative projects.
  5. Allow for messy play on occasion.  Not every day needs to involve a bath following an art project; however, messy activities can be both educational and memorable for your child.  Whenever possible, move messy art project outside to allow for easier clean up.

For more creative art and play ideas, parents can visit Kiddie Academy’s Pinterest page at https://www.pinterest.com/kiddieacademy/, where you’ll find multiple boards full of educational activities, art projects and even recipes for DIY art materials.

Giveaway: Zoe's Giftcard

Posted on by Angie

One of our favorite lunch spots is celebrating it’s 20th Anniversary with 20 days of goodness!

Over the 20-day period from June 10 to June 29, Zoës Kitchen will host a series of special events and surprises for its employees and guests! In addition to our giveaway, take advantage of these other ways to celebrate!

  • Saturday, June 20 – FREE Commemorative Sports Cup: Every Zoës Kitchen Birmingham guest will receive a FREE 20th anniversary commemorative sports cup with purchase.
  • Monday, June 29 – Hidden Gift Card Hunt: Fans can search for the 50 envelopes containing Zoës Kitchen Gift Cards ranging from $10 – $100 that will be hidden throughout Birmingham. Follow #zoeslovesbham on Twitter and Instagram for clues!

Up for Grabs! 1 Mediterranean Family Meal for one lucky BirminghamMommy reader! A $40 value and a night off of dinner duty for Mom!

To Enter.. Leave comment here letting us know your favorite menu item from Zoe’s. We’ll draw a winner at random on Thursday, June 18th.

Good Luck and Happy Anniversary Zoe’s!! We sure are happy you’re in Birmingham

Road Trip Spotlight: U.S. Space and Rocket Center, Hunstville

Posted on by Angie

Just a quick drive north to Hunstville and you can easily make a day trip out of visiting the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Hunstsville, AL.

Home to Space Camp®, Aviation Challenge® Camp, and Robotics Camp the U.S. Space & Rocket Center (USSRC) is the most comprehensive U.S. manned spaceflight hardware museum in the world. Its large rocket and space hardware collection is valued in the tens of millions of dollars. From America’s first satellite, Explorer I, to next generation space vehicles like Sierra Nevada’s Dream Chaser, the museum showcases the past, present and future of human spaceflight. The U.S. Space & Rocket Center serves as the Official NASA Visitor Center for Marshall Space Flight Center and is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution.

The USSRC is more than just artifacts! Experience the physics of astronaut training like never before in simulators like Space ShotTM and G-Force. Our Spacedome IMAX® Theater and our National Geographic Theater transports you to different worlds with amazing documentary films like Hubble, and live demonstrations in the Discovery Theater will have you seeing space science in a whole new light.

The Robot Zoo is one of their newer exhibits that will be running through the summer.

The 5,000-square-foot exhibit reveals the magic of nature as a master engineer. Eight robot animals and more than a dozen hands-on activities illustrate fascinating real-life characteristics, such as how a chameleon changes colors, a giant squid propels itself and a fly walks on the ceiling.
The larger-than-life-size animated robots include a chameleon, a rhinoceros, a giant squid with 18-foot tentacles and a platypus. Also featured are a house fly with a 10-foot wingspread, a grasshopper, a bat and a giraffe whose head and neck alone stretch 9 feet tall.

Cutaways expose the animals’ insides as a host of easily recognizable machine parts and gadgets, such as shock absorbers and pumps, that demonstrate what makes animals work. By comparing anatomy, environments and size of the actual creatures to the mechanic counterparts, The Robot Zoo provides fantastic new insights and hands-on fun for discovering just how animals work.

So pick a day and plan a trip to see what all the USSRC has to offer! You won’t be disappointed.

Special Note: The Space and Rocket Center offers a Summer Pass that includes the following:

  • 1 adult 2 children $40.00  (add additional people for $10 Limit 3)
  • Museum admission Sunday – Thursday between Memorial Day and Labor Day
  • Includes the traveling exhibitions
  • Includes standard museum simulators
  • Can apply the $40 to upgrade to a yearly family membership
  • Science of Imagination (STEAM activity) every Thursday in June and July (geared for ages 4-6)
  • Not available to purchase online

 

Birmingham Events Calendar: June 14th – June 21st

Posted on by Angie

It’s Not Our Fault if Your Kids are Bored!

Kick your week off with a Barons Game! Sunday and Monday they’re home against Chattanooga before hitting the road again. Check out the Springville Road Library as they attempt to Build Gotham City! Lots of Superhero Activities happening at your local libraries!

Father’s Day is coming and you can celebrate with free Admission to the Birmingham Zoo for Dad on Sunday the 21st!

Have a great week everyone!

Sunday June 14th

Birmingham Barons – Regions Field
Vs, Chattanooga
3:00pm

—————————————————————————————

Monday June 15th:

Birmingham Barons – Regions Field
Vs, Chattanooga
11:30am

Dynamic Duo Storytime – Hoover Public Library
Monsters and Bad Guys
Summer story time! Perfect for children under the age of four years.
9:30 and 10:30

Member Monday – McWane Science Center
As a thank-you to all of our members, McWane Science Center offers Member Mondays.

Every Monday, McWane Science Center members receive extra perks while visiting!

  • A Special Gift for kids when checking in at the Ticketing Counter
  • 30% Discount on all Really Cool Stuff purchases
  • $1 Small Popcorns at the IMAX Concession Stand

—————————————————————————————

Tuesday June 16th:

Operation Tshirt Time Family Night – Avondale Library
Drop off a NEW white T-shirt at Headquarters (Avondale Youth Department) no later than June 14. We will screen your shirt and have it ready for you to paint during the “Every Hero Has a Story” June 16 family fun night. 24-hour advance registration required.
6:30pm

Ms Renee’s Super Summer Storytime – Homewood Public Library
Ms. Renee is here for a super special storytime in the Large Auditorium!
10:30am – 11:30am

Dinoman Presents Superheros of Science – Hoover Public Library
From T-Rex to Tesla.  In the Libary Theatre
Limited seating, arrive early.
10:30, 2pm and 6pm

Hercules and Heros – Emmet O’Neal Library
Hampstead Stage Company Theatre presents a live theatre production, Hercules and the Heroes.
10:30am

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Isabella turns an ordinary day into an extraordinary adventure when she uses her imagination to become some of the amazing women who changed history! Join us and find out how these remarkable women teach her the importance of being herself.
11am

Family Tours, Flights of Fancy– Birmingham Museum of Art
FREE // Meet in the Main Lobby
Join the Museum educators to explore the galleries in a fun, interactive experience! Discover Bart the Art Bat’s favorite artworks during these FREE, drop-in tours. After your tour, visit Bart’s ArtVenture to make an art project inspired by what you saw. What will you discover?

Flights of Fancy: Discover fantastical creatures in the exhibition, Between Fantasy and Reality: Frank Fleming, and look for whimsy in the Museum collection!
10:30am

—————————————————————————————

Wednesday June 17th:

Dinoman Presents Superheros of Science – Hoover Public Library
From T-Rex to Tesla.  In the Libary Theatre
Limited seating, arrive early.
10:30, and 2pm

Superhero Science Show – Springville Road Library
Dynamic Education Adventures will make you want to grab a cape, spin a web, put on a utility belt, and leap tall buildings in a single bound! This is a program filled with superheroes and the villains who plague them. Participants will learn about flight, super-strength, managing matter, and more.
10am

Family Story Time with Mr Mac – North Shelby Library
Storyteller Extraordinaire – Come join Mr Mac and his musical storytime complete with puppets! All Ages, no registration required.
10:45am

—————————————————————————————

Thursday June 18th:

Dinoman Presents Superheros of Science – Hoover Public Library
From T-Rex to Tesla.  In the Libary Theatre
Limited seating, arrive early.
10:30, and 2pm

Let’s Build Gotham City – Springville Road Library
This program will be a giant Lego build. Families will attempt to work together to build Gotham City and participate in related games and activities.
6pm

—————————————————————————————

Friday June 19th:

Fitness Friday– Homewood Public Library
It’s time to get moving with a special Zumba class designed for 4-12 year olds!
10:30pm

Super Blocks – Springville Road Library
Come to the library to build something awesome! We’ll have Lego blocks available for every kid to build a masterpiece. All blocks are provided for this event, no need to bring your own!
4pm

—————————————————————————————

Saturday June 20th:

Black Creek Arts Festival – Black Creek Park Fultondale
More than 40 fine artists will compete for prizes in the 5th Annual Black Creek Arts Festival.  Artist artwork will be for sale.  Musical entertainment and children’s art activities.  Musicians: Raquel Lily, Jessica Webster, Jesse Reece, One Hand Dan and The Wildwood Ruminators
9am – 4pm
Free

Bart’s Books – Birmingham Museum of Art
Bart’s Books is a storytelling program for children ages 4-7. Bart selects a new book and related work of art each month that he thinks kids will enjoy.

This month, Bart has selected Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are.
11am

Bart’s Art Cart – Birmingham Museum of Art
This drop-in art program for kids and families features a different theme from our galleries and art activity each month. Stop by to make art with Bart!

Play with Clay: Create a sculpture in the whimsical manner of Frank Fleming! Use self-hardening clay to create an animal, a make-believe figure, or whatever comes to mind!
11am

Tannehill Trade Days – Tannehill State Park
shoppers and swappers come from far and near to Tannehill Trade Days in search of tools, clothing, jewelry, knives, furniture and other treasures.
Park admission:
$4.00 Adults (12 years and older)
$3.00 Seniors (Ages 62 and older)
$2.00 Children (Ages 6-11) ages 5 and under free
8am – 4pm

Family Storytime – Emmet O’Neal Library
Bring the entire family and join Mr. Mac for stories and music each Saturday morning.
10:30 a.m.

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Orion is scared of a lot of things, but most of all he’s scared of the dark. Join Orion and the Dark on their mischievous, fun-filled nighttime adventure in this special Storytime!
11am

Father’s Day Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Join us for a special Storytime celebration for Father’s Day! Featuring How to Surprise a Dad and How to Babysit a Grandpa.
11am

—————————————————————————————

Sunday June 21st:

Happy Father’s Day!

Father’s Day – Birmingham Zoo
In recognition of Father’s Day, all fathers get in FREE* to the Birmingham Zoo with the purchase of a full-price child’s admission ticket. Throughout the day, guests can feed the lorikeets in the new Schaeffer Eye Center Lorikeet Aviary**, ride the new Wild Slide**, enjoy a Schaeffer Eye Center Wildlife Show, watch the Red Diamond Sea Lion Splash Show, experience Predator Zone, and much more! In honor of the Zoo’s 60thAnniversary, the first 60 fathers to enter the Zoo will receive a FREE koozie!
*This offer is exclusive for Father’s Day, June 21, only.
**Additional cost.

World Giraffe Day – Birmingham Zoo
Make your way to the Zoo for World Giraffe Day and learn about giraffe conservation! Enjoy a giraffe feeding* at the Kiwanis Giraffe Encounter, keeper chats, games, activities and more! All proceeds from giraffe feedings this day will be donated to the Giraffe Conservation Foundation. Help celebrate the longest-necked animal on the longest day of the year! *Additional cost
9:30am – 11:30
1pm – 3pm

Tannehill Trade Days – Tannehill State Park
shoppers and swappers come from far and near to Tannehill Trade Days in search of tools, clothing, jewelry, knives, furniture and other treasures.
Park admission:
$4.00 Adults (12 years and older)
$3.00 Seniors (Ages 62 and older)
$2.00 Children (Ages 6-11) ages 5 and under free
8am – 4pm

—————————————————————————————

Local Attractions Open Daily!

McWane Science Center:

IMAX
McWane Science Center’s IMAX® Dome Theater puts you in the center of the action by projecting breathtaking quality images onto the 5-story-tall dome screen and delivering intense surround sound through almost 3 tons of speakers and subwoofers.
Now Showing: Tornado Alley, Great White Shark, To the Arctic, Island of Lemurs: Madagascar

Birmingham Zoo:

PELICAN FEEDING – A great way to see our pelicans in action is to witness them eating their favorite treats near the pelican boardwalk.

RHINO ENCOUNTER – Embark on an African adventure and experience one of the world’s most extraordinary animals, the Southern White Rhino. Watch from only feet away as our zookeepers engage in hands-on interaction with the animals inside their African-themed exhibit. Don’t miss this exciting encounter with one of the largest mammals on the planet!
Weekdays: 3pm – 3:30pm
Weekends: 11:30am – Noon & 3pm – 3:30 pm

GIRAFFE FEEDING – This up close and personal animal encounter is a memory you and your family will have for a lifetime.
Weekday: 11am – Noon
Weekends: 10am – 11am  & 2pm – 3pm

Vulcan Park and Museum:

Vulcan is the world’s largest cast iron statue; made of 100,000 pounds of iron and 56 feet tall, he stands at the top of Red Mountain overlooking the city of Birmingham. But, Vulcan is more than a statue. Vulcan Park and Museum features spectacular views of Birmingham, an interactive history museum that examines Vulcan and Birmingham’s story, and a beautiful public park for visitors and locals to enjoy. With an official information center that is operated by the Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau, Vulcan Park and Museum serves as the first stop for visitors to the Birmingham area!

Railroad Park:

Railroad Park is a 19 acre green space in downtown Birmingham that celebrates the industrial and artistic heritage of our great city. Situated along 1st Avenue South, between 14th and 18th Streets, the park is a joint effort between the City of Birmingham and the Railroad Park Foundation. Hailed as “Birmingham’s Living Room,” Railroad Park provides a historically rich venue for local recreation, family activities, concerts, and cultural events, while connecting Birmingham’s downtown area with Southside and UAB’s campus.

Southern Museum of Flight:

Earn Your Wings – Bring your little pilot and soar above the clouds in our little pilots room. Kids enjoy building aircrafts, flying kites, and more.
Museum Open Tuesday – Thursday
9:30am – 4:30pm

Do you have or know of an event you would like to have added to our weekly calendar? Please email us at contact@birminghammommy.com, subject line “Events Calendar” – We would love to hear from you!

** All information listed on our calendar is subject to change without notice to us or you… We do our best to keep the information accurate and will always update as soon as we learn that something has changed. It’s always best to double check with the event via their website or a quick call,  especially when weather can impact the event.

Parenting with a PhD: Free-Range vs. Helicopter Parents

Posted on by Angie

By Kristen Berthiaume:

You’ve probably heard of free-range chickens – those raised with some freedom to roam so they’re happier and less-stressed (and more delicious – apparently cortisol isn’t all that tasty) but did you know there are also free-range kids? “Free-Range Parenting” is a term first coined in a 2010 book to describe a more hands-off parenting approach than is generally found in today’s society. Several Free-Range Kids have been in the news recently: a nine-year-old allowed to ride the New York subway by himself; 8-year-old children babysitting their younger siblings; a 1st grader left to play at the park alone. If these examples remind you of your own childhood, you’re not alone. On any given afternoon, we were running through the neighborhood, with no expectation of coming home until dinner. I remember walking with friends to a wooded area near our house where we’d sometimes find evidence that someone had been living there. And we told our parents. And no one freaked out. And we were allowed to go back. The argument is frequently made that the world was a safer place back then but research doesn’t really support that explanation. In fact, some studies show that kidnappings by strangers are lower now than in the 1970s and 1980s when many of us were kids. The idea behind Free-Range Parenting is that society has become “too careful” and that, in reality, children are not in danger every second of their lives. I think most parents would agree that giving our children some freedom allows them to make, and learn from mistakes and helps them grow into more confident, capable, and independent adults; however, the degree to which a parent allows their kids this freedom is what varies between a Free-Range and a typical approach. Free-Range Parenting is frequently defined as the antithesis to “Helicopter Parenting” – the very, very, very hands-on approach to parenting characterized by what might be considered over-involvement in kids’ lives and relationships. Surely some names come to mind as you mentally scroll through your friend list: the moms who volunteer for everything their children do; the dads whose faces turn purple from yelling so much at their kids’ sporting events. The media often describes children of Helicopter Parents “over-scheduled” and “over-supervised.” Parents may “hover” over their kids out of fear that something catastrophic will happen or to help ensure that their offspring will be on the “right” track in life (i.e., the best preschool, beneficial extracurricular activities, a positive peer group, etc.). On the flip side, children with very involved parents are often high-achieving and take good advantage of resources available to them.

There are potential problems with both parenting styles. Free-Range Parenting can be associated with valid safety concerns. Some children, despite their age and maturity in certain areas, still aren’t ready to handle tough or novel situations on their own and may not exhibit appropriate judgment without adult guidance. Safety research indicates that parents are frequently unaware of the key dangers their children face on a daily basis (e.g., automobile accidents, drowning, etc.) and may over- focus on less likely scenarios (e.g., stranger abduction). Even if a parent has seen her child handle a situation appropriately in the past, there could be new factors that lead her to make a poor choice. For example, just because your six-year-old walks straight home alone from school every day doesn’t mean she’ll know what to do when an older kid encourages her to go to the park instead. In addition, when supervision is less frequent, parents may not be as aware of the peer and media influences on their kids or social and psychological could go unnoticed. Helicopter Parenting can prevent children from learning from mistakes, leading them to feel unable to handle situations on their own. This approach might not adequately prepare kids to deal with heartbreak, disappointment, and difficult situations in adolescence and adulthood. In addition, children of overly involved parents may exhibit anxiety if they feel as if  they’re constantly in danger or needing to meet certain standards to please their parents.

So, where do you fall on this spectrum? Compare yourself to friends and other moms you know. Are you more lenient or more strict? Are you more aware of what’s going on with your child or kind of oblivious? Think about the stress you experience on a daily basis. Does most it come from situations involving your child or from elsewhere? Much like those quizzes you used to take in teen magazines (“How possessive are you?”), the “best” category for most of us is probably somewhere in the middle. It’s important that we be aware of where our kids are and what they’re doing and, if they’re under four, immature, or prone to behavioral issues, they should be where we can see them. We need to allow our kids to struggle with problems that arise: how to share a toy with her friend; how to fit Legos together to build a ship; how to clean up the milk he spilled. We should be slow to step in unless there’s an emergency. If your child asks for help, can you provide verbal clues for her instead of taking over entirely? If your child makes up his bed but does a sloppy job, how necessary is it really that you re-make it? One of the most valuable things we can do is talk to our kids after they have tried – successfully or unsuccessfully – to handle a situation for themselves. What went well? What didn’t go well? What could they have done differently? By debriefing after the fact, you’re letting your child know that you were there and observed what was going on. Reinforce your child’s efforts. Empathize if your child felt frustrated and explain that you didn’t step in because you felt she deserved a chance to try and handle it on her own.

Disclaimer: Sometimes, we develop our parenting style based on what we intuit that our kids need and different kid personalities pull for us to be more/less involved. Kids with special needs may require more advocacy and assistance from their parents whereas very independent and curious kids probably do better when given lots of room to wander and discover. Most all kids need some freedom, and a chance to make mistakes and figure things out for themselves. All kids under 18 need some degree of supervision and guidance (and some kids need supervision and guidance well after age 18…). If what you’re doing seems to be working well and there have been no major problems, your style is probably a good fit for your child. Challenge for Free-Range Parents: Consider areas where your supervision may be a little lax and brainstorm ideas for shoring it up. Observe your child when she is acting independently to determine if she’s handling situations the way you assume she would. Challenge for Helicopter Parents: Think about the kind of adult you’d like your child to be. If you said “happy” and “capable,” consider ways that your parenting style might interfere with those goals. If your kid is asking you to back off or seems fearful to try new things without you, those are red flags that you may be doing too much. Try bowing out and watching how your son does without your help – he may surprise you! If this feels too hard for you, consider if your own anxiety is interfering and needs to be addressed.

About this column: Send your parenting- and kid-related questions my way and I’ll tell you what I can: parentingwithaphd@gmail.com Please be aware that email is not a secure method of transmitting personal information so it’s best to keep your questions general. If your question is featured, your name and email will not be published. Submitting a question does not constitute a professional relationship in any way and this column is not meant to substitute for face-to-face therapy. If you feel you’re doing the best you can and still need help, it may be time to bring in a professional. Start by talking with your child’s pediatrician to get a referral.

Kristen Berthiaume, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist with Grayson and Associates. She obtained her doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Kentucky. She completed a predoctoral internship in clinical psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a post- doctoral fellowship in the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders (ADHD) Program at Duke University Medical Center. She specializes in providing assessment and treatment of children, adolescents, and families dealing with the following issues: ADHD, learning disorders, social skill deficits, organizational problems, behavioral difficulties, anxiety, and depression. She generally focuses on behavioral and cognitive- behavioral techniques, but maintains a flexible approach to therapy. Her other day job is as mom to her daughters, ages seven and one, and four-year-old son.

 

Family Movie Night at McWane Science Center

Posted on by Angie

If you haven’t had a chance to check out the new Toytopia Exhibit, this is the perfect opportunity to see it AND enjoy a fun movie night at McWane!

Begin the evening with a screening of TOY STORY 2 in the IMAX Dome Theater followed by dinner and playtime in the museum featuring TOYTOPIA, they’re summer exhibit!

ON THE MENU

Slinky Dogs (mini corndogs)
Buzz’s Burgers (Sliders)
Rex’s Herbivore Salad (fruits/veggie tray)
Mr. & Mrs. Potato Chips
Cowboy Cookies
Infini-TEA
Alien Juice

* Sheriff badges as a giveaway for the kiddos
* There will also be a photo op with Buzz and Woody

Reserve tickets today by calling (205) 714-8414.

SATURDAY, JUNE 13

MOVIE SCREENING: 5:30 PM
7:30 – 9:00pm – dinner and playtime

COST: $20 Adults, $15 Children (Members get $2 off)

Advertisements