Whether you are a parent, a teacher, or just someone else who cares about children in some way, you might well be keen to know exactly what it is that children need in order to have the best start possible in their lives. As it happens, there are a few things in particular that you might want to be aware of which can be particularly useful to children early on. In this post, we’ll look at four examples of things that kids generally need in order to have a strong start in life.
Encouragement First of all, most people need plenty of encouragement, and especially when they are young. If you are able to provide this to your kids, then it’s going to make a world of difference to how much they feel they are capable of and what they are generally able to achieve, which in itself will affect their life considerably from here on out. So make sure that you are encouraging them in all they do, and especially where you notice any particular skills or interests that seem to be developing. That could make a world of difference to their lives.
Communication Having the ability to communicate well is something that can set a person up very well in life, and it’s certainly the kind of thing you should be aiming to encourage in your kids as best as you can. There are many ways to do this. First, if there is anything specifically getting in their way of easy communication, then you might want to find them some help with that, perhaps through something like the Scottish Rite Foundation or similar. Then it’s about making sure that you are personally communicating well, so that they do the same in return. It’s amazing how much this can help.
Friendship Nobody can do very well without people around them, and so this is something that you definitely need to make sure you are thinking about too. If you want your kids to be as happy as possible, it’s always going to be important for them that they have friends, but some kids find it naturally easier than others to make friends. If you happen to have children who are finding it somewhat difficult to do this, then you can help them along, and helping them is going to give them a much brighter start on the whole.
Education Overall, a good, strong education is obviously one of the most important things of all. You can encourage and ensure this in a few ways, including finding them a good school, making sure that you give them the necessary motivation to actually learn well, and making sure that you help them with any areas of education that they tend to find difficult. If you can do those simple things, it’s going to mean that they have a much stronger, happier and well-rounded start in life, and the ongoing effects of this can be really quite profound.
Briscoe Storytime Stampede offers young children a FREE fun way to learn about the west. Photo: Briscoe Western Art Museum, used with permission.
Families and caregivers of young children can enjoy Western fun and stories each month at the Briscoe Western Art Museum’s new Storytime Stampede. Featuring 30 minute programs designed for young children ages 18 months to 5 years, Storytime Stampede will include stories told and acted out, books read aloud, movement activities, songs and art fun. The new program series kicks off Saturday, September 16 and will be held 10:30a.m. – 11a.m. the third Saturday of each month. Adults bringing children to the Storytime Stampede will receive half-off general museum admission and children 12 and under always receive free admission at the Briscoe, turning Storytime Stampede into affordable family fun.
Storytime Stampede is designed to foster art awareness, fine motor development, language and literacy, cognitive development and social-emotional growth. Providing an excellent opportunity for families to unplug and practice their social skills, children can also work on language development and listening skills. Listening to stories provides children with a chance to be introduced to new words. As they learn new words their vocabulary will build – all while they’re having fun.
Stories and topics for the series include:
September 16: Hear “Bertie the Buffalo,” by Wendy H. Jones and make bison masks so you can play buffalo at home.
October 21: Enjoy “The Three Little Javelinas,” by Susan Lowell and make maracas to enjoy the sounds of the West.
November 18: Listen to “Shaped by Her Hands: Potter Maria Martinez,” by Anna Harber Freeman and Barbara Gonzales, then make Native American pinch pots to celebrate National Native American Heritage Month.
December 16: Mark the holiday season with “The Gingerbread Cowboy,” by Janet Squires, then craft gingerbread cowboys from paper.
January 20: Hear “Fry Bread,” by Kevin Noble Maillard, then make drums to start the new year off on a musical note.
February 17: Learn the story of Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, the groundbreaking Black tap dancer through “Rap a Tap Tap: Here’s Bojangles – Think of That!” and craft rhythm instruments to mark Black History Month.
March 16: Squeeze some learning fun into Spring Break with special programming.
April 20: Enjoy a Western twist on a classic story with “There Was a Coyote Who Swallowed a Flea,” by Jennifer Ward and Steve Gray, followed by coloring and creativity.
May 18: Get prickly with “Cactus Hotel,” by Brenda Z. Guiberson and have fun crafting cactus art as you learn about the desert.
June 15: Giddy up for “Cowboy Camp,” by Tammi Sauer and decorate a cowboy boot together.
July 20: Add some sweet to your summer with “Rio Ruby Invents the Pecan Pie,” by Robin Davis, then have fun coloring the official small mammal of Texas, an armadillo.
August 17: Meet the coolest coyote around with “Way Out West Lived a Coyote Named Frank,” by Jillian Lund, then stay cool with some bandana art.
Full STEAM Ahead on the First Sunday: Free Education Series Offers Hands-on Fun The Briscoe also offers “Full STEAM Ahead,” a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics) learning experience to educate and entertain families about the West. Full STEAM Ahead is paired with the museum’s monthly Locals Day on the first the Sunday of every month, giving locals free admission to the museum and free hands-on educational opportunities. Learners of all ages work together and learn about the American West, with each activity tying back to the Briscoe’s art and artifacts to bring the West to life in a new way.
From transportation and weather to animals, astronomy and engineering, each program explores an aspect of life in the West to engage and inspire learning. Full STEAM Ahead is designed for all ages to enjoy, making it a terrific family activity. Enjoy STEAMing with your family 1p.m. – 3p.m. on the first Sunday of every month at the Briscoe.
Upcoming programs include:
September 3: Full STEAM Ahead – Art in the Sky – Study the night sky through Kim Wiggins’ “Colonel Crockett’s Return to Cibolo Creek”. After a short study of the painting, everyone will create a bedroom planetarium to take home.
October 8: Full STEAM Ahead – Pottery of the Southwest – Learn more about the pottery made by Native Americans in the southwest, including the techniques they used to craft their pieces. Use those techniques to create a piece of pottery of your own.
November 5: Full STEAM Ahead – Native American Homes – Native Americans lived in a variety of homes. The type of home they built fit their culture and lifestyle. While learning about these different homes, put your engineering skills to the test and use materials provided to try to build a tipi, longhouse, wigwam or other types of Native American shelters.
December 3: Cowboy Christmas – Join the Briscoe to celebrate the holidays and meet Cowboy Claus as he makes a stop at the Briscoe to hear what all of the cowpokes want for Christmas. Cowboy Christmas at the Briscoe is free holiday fun, making the Briscoe the perfect way to make holiday memories with your family.
Dancing serves as a form of exercise and stress reliever. Photo: Michael Zittel, used with permission.
It is never too late to learn something new. In fact, it is encouraged at all ages to help keep the mind sharp and expand your skills. With so many different skills to know and learn, you will never be short of new hobbies or passions to indulge in or learning opportunities you can take up.
While some hobbies can be solely for fun, many can help you expand your skills and support and enhance your quality of life. Read on to find out more.
Cooking and Baking
Everyone needs to learn how to cook and taking up cooking or baking, or even both, as your new hobby can give essential skills you can use every day to support yourself. Whether you want to wow your friends by whipping up a three-course meal worthy of a place on MasterChef or you try this lemon slice recipe to practice for a spot on the Great British Bake Off, learning kitchen skills will serve you well. Whether you self-learn at home using recipe books, online tutorials or via food bloggers or by taking classes, you can find something that works for you positively.
A New Language
Many people learn languages in schools, but not as many carry on these skills as adults. New languages can help you massively when travelling around the world or when conversing with people who have a different native language than you. The most common spoken language in the world is English, followed by Mandarin Chinese, Hindi and Spanish, but there are over 6,5000 spoken languages in the world for you to try to learn if you so wish.
Sewing and Knitting
Sewing and knitting are skills that were once commonplace in schools across the world but, in recent years, have been removed from the curriculum. However, lately, these skills seem to be having somewhat of a revival, with more and more of the younger generations taking up knitting and sewing for pleasure. These skills can help you be more creative and give you valuable skills to help you repair items at home and even create your own clothing.
Dancing
Dancing is an excellent form of exercise and can be an important stress reliever and mood enhancer. Suppose you struggle to get the motivation to move or do much exercise, or you simply like to express yourself through music. In that case, taking music classes to teach yourself different dance styles at home can help you learn how to express yourself better and stay fit, healthy, and more enjoyable if the gym does not interest you. Dancing means paying attention to how you hold your body, the beat of the music and how to stay in time with a beat. Being more agile and fluid in your movements can help you avoid accidents and injuries and set you up for a physically healthy body that can cope with your daily activities.
Whatever hobby you take up, ensure you do it for the right reasons. While some can give you invaluable skills you can implement in your life, you need to enjoy what you must do to get maximum pleasure and benefits from it, or it will not be worthwhile.
Schoolhouse Rock Live opens at the Magik Theatre this weekend. Photo: Magik Theatre, used with permission.
Tour the solar system with Interplanet Janet. Go shopping for adverbs at the Lolly family store. Take a ride on the Conjunction Junction railroad or hang out with Bill on Capitol Hill to learn about lawmaking. Yes, the gang is all here when Schoolhouse Rock Live! comes to the Magik Theatre from April 15-June 4. The musical shorts, which began airing on ABC in 1973, taught Generation X a wide range of educational facts through skits and catchy tunes but most of all, it eventually taught nostalgia. An entire generation tuned in at the same time every Saturday morning for that brief bit of airtime that was designed just for them. Perfect for the entire family, this retro revue introduces a new audience to the songs and characters that made Saturday mornings great for over a decade. (Magik Theatre, 2023)
From 1973-1985, children of all ages tuned into ABC on Saturday mornings for the Emmy-award-winning Schoolhouse Rock, a series of short, animated videos that combined education with entertainment. The concept was simple: take subjects like grammar, math, science, and history and make them infinitely more interesting to children by setting them to music. Originally developed by David McCall to help his son who was struggling with multiplication tables, Schoolhouse Rock has stood the test of time and is now enjoying a new iteration via musical theatre.
Directed by Anthony Runfola, Schoolhouse Rock Live! follows Tom, a teacher anxious about his first day of school. To calm his nerves, Tom turns on the television, where his favorite show, Schoolhouse Rock, suddenly comes to life right before his eyes. Through their catchy songs and creative imagery, the Schoolhouse Rock gang reminds Tom that learning can be fun while exploring themes including self-confidence, problem-solving, and overcoming fears.
The original ABC series was produced by George Newall and Tom Yohe and featured songs written and performed by Bob Dorough. It has been adapted and produced for the stage by Theatre BAM and presented through a special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). Based on McCall’s original concept, it features music and lyrics by Dorough, Newall, and Yohe, along with Lynn Ahrens, Dave Frishberg, and Kathy Mandry. The cast of five features Ian Eller performing in the lead role of Tom. Alyssa Dossett accompanies him as Dori, Rosa Gardner as Dina, Alaia Adriana as Shulie, and Digger Howard as George with stage management by Alyssa Snow. Together they are the Magik formula for this celebration of learning through the power of music and theatre. This production marks the return of School House Rock Live to Magik Theatre from its original debut in 2018. Patrons can expect to see the same iconic shorts with exciting new elements to engage, educate and entertain while having tons of fun.
Throughout the week, Magik Theatre offers the opportunity for schools to come to the theatre on a field trip. Rather than simply a “snippet” of a show, Magik Theatre field trip performances are the same as public performances. These productions offer as many as 70,000 children per season the opportunity to see a live performance that they might not be able to experience otherwise. It is part of the company’s commitment to inclusivity in the arts. Additionally, a Schoolhouse Rock Live study guide will be available on the website to educators with ideas for bringing the experience into the classroom in fun, engaging ways.
Magik Theatre is committed to making theatre accessible to everyone. “We are here to make theatre accessible to every family and remove any existing barrier,” says Magik Theatre CEO Frank Villani. In keeping with that commitment, the 2023 season boasts some upgrades to include the special performances below.
American Sign Language Interpreted Performance | Saturday, May 6, 2p.m. – Robert Cardoza, the San Antonio theatre community’s primary sign language interpreter, will be available during this performance for patrons that require ASL as their primary form of communication.
Sensory-Friendly Performance | Wednesday, May 24, 10:30a.m. – Sensory-friendly performances create a welcoming environment for people who are on the autism spectrum or who have other sensory sensitivities. Modifying certain production elements to accommodate these individuals allows families and friends of those with autism or other disabilities to enjoy an authentic performance experience together.
Pay What You Wish Performances |Saturday, May 13, 2p.m. andSaturday, June 3, 2p.m. – Magik’s way of giving back to the community and providing an opportunity for families to experience live theatre with a donation of any amount.
Flex Passes and Single Tickets are available online by calling (210) 227-2751. You can also purchase at the box office, 420 S. Alamo, from 9a.m.- 5p.m., Monday through Friday. If a child under two uses a seat, even a car or booster seat, the patron must pay for a general admission ticket. Group rates are available to parties of ten or more people. For questions and further inquiries, contact information.
Flex Passes are on sale now, $170 – 10 Flex Pass Tickets ($17 per ticket – A savings of 32% off single ticket prices) and $300 – 20 Flex Pass Tickets ($15 per ticket – A savings of 40% off single ticket prices)
Single Tickets are $18.50 for children (ages 2-17), Military, Seniors, and Educators. Adult tickets are $22.50, and children under two are free.
A professional theatre for young audiences established in 1994, Magik Theatre’s mission is to use the power of theatre to create Magikal storytelling for children that Activates imagination, Grows young minds, and Inspires creativity and a love of learning that is the Key to a more literate future for our community.
The Briscoe brings together locals day and full STEAM fun and a fantastic new exhibition. Photo: Briscoe Western Art Museum, used with permission.
The Briscoe Western Art Museum is steaming into spring by pairing its monthly free days for local visitors with its popular “Full STEAM Ahead” educational series. The new double feature means locals can enjoy the museum for free, while families enjoy free, hands-on – and fun – educational activities. The new combination kicks off Sunday, April 2. (Briscoe Western Art Museum, 2023)
The Briscoe campus includes the McNutt Sculpture Garden and features 35 sculptures portraying various aspects of Western life in the garden and around the museum’s beautifully restored historic building that once housed the San Antonio Public Library. The collection spans 14 galleries with Western art and artifacts, including Santa Anna’s sword, works by Frederic Remington, Pancho Villa’s last known saddle, a fantastic Alamo diorama and artifacts, contemporary and historic paintings, sculptures, an impressive spur collection, and other cowboy and Native American relics, weapons, and photography. Best of all, locals can enjoy it all for free on the first Sunday of each month.
The Briscoe continues to tip its hat to its neighbors with the first Sunday of each month greeting Bexar County residents with free admission. The museum’s “Locals Day” waives museum admission so everyone can enjoy heading West without ever leaving San Antonio.
Bexar County residents can enjoy the Briscoe’s Locals Days through 2023, with free admission on April 2, May 7, June 4, July 2, August 6, September 3, October 8, November 5 and December 3. Online registration for Locals Day is recommended. If you can not stop in on Locals Day, children 12 and under receive free admission to the Briscoe every day, as do active-duty members of the military, making the Briscoe a terrific spot for everyone to enjoy any time.
The Briscoe’s free monthly education series “Full STEAM Ahead” will now educate and entertain on the first Sunday of every month as well. Learners of all ages work together and learn about the American West by engaging in hands-on, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics) learning experiences. Each activity ties back to the Briscoe’s art and artifacts, bringing the West to life in a new way.
From transportation and weather to animals, astronomy and engineering, each program explores an aspect of life in the West to engage and inspire learning. Full STEAM Ahead is designed for all ages to enjoy, making it a terrific family activity. Enjoy STEAMing with your family 11a.m. – 1p.m. on the first Sunday of every month at the Briscoe.
New 2023 Full Steam Ahead dates and topics include:
• April 2: Full STEAM Ahead – Painting Inspired Poetry Celebrate Poetry Month and Fiesta at the Briscoe. After studying Kim Wiggins’ “Fiesta Day on the Plaza,” a vibrant, activity-rich painting showing a fiesta – families will create a poem about their favorite part of the painting. Bringing those words to life, they will then create their own artwork to illustrate their poetry.
• May 7: Full STEAM Ahead – Exploring Art in Nature Learn about a form of art called “mandala,” a geometric configuration of symbols. After a short presentation, participants will go on a short nature walk through the Briscoe’s McNutt Sculpture Garden, where we will search for and collect interesting objects from nature. Those objects will be used to create a mandala. Digital photographs will be taken to capture each work of art.
• June 4: Full STEAM Ahead – Add Lightning to your Art Learn about how electrical currents, including lightning, work. After a short presentation, create a piece of art with a light feature, then make the art glow by creating a paper circuit.
• July 2: Full STEAM Ahead – Tools of the (Cattle) Trade The cattle industry is a vital part of the West. Hear more about the cattle industry and the simple machines cowboys used in their daily work, then create a simple machine using found and recyclable materials.
• August 6: Full STEAM Ahead – Gone for the Winter Learn more about wildlife and the fall migration of hummingbirds. After a short presentation, families will have the opportunity to create a hummingbird feeder using found and recyclable materials.
• September 3: Full STEAM Ahead – Art in the Sky Study the night sky through Kim Wiggins’ “Colonel Crockett’s Return to Cibolo Creek.” After a short study of the painting, everyone will create a bedroom planetarium to take home.
• October 8: Full STEAM Ahead – Pottery of the Southwest Learn more about the pottery made by Native Americans in the southwest, including the techniques they used to craft their pieces. Use those techniques to create a piece of pottery of your own.
• November 5: Full STEAM Ahead – Native American Homes Native Americans lived in a variety of homes. The type of home they built fit their culture and lifestyle. While learning about these different homes, put your engineering skills to the test and use materials provided to try to build a tipi, longhouse, wigwam, or other types of Native American shelters.
• December 3: Full STEAM Ahead – Gingerbread Cowboy Storytime at Cowboy Christmas Join the Briscoe to celebrate the holidays with story time and a visit with Cowboy Claus. Families will listen to “The Gingerbread Cowboy” by Janet Squires. After the story, create a gingerbread cowboy of your own and make sure Cowboy Claus knows what you want for Christmas. Cowboy Christmas at the Briscoe is free holiday fun, making the Briscoe the perfect way to make holiday memories with your family.
The Briscoe is open Thursday through Monday, 10a.m. – 5p.m. and closed to the public on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Admission is free for children 12 and under and for active duty members of the military. The museum is proud to participate in Museums For All, Blue Star Museums and Bank of America Museums on Us. The Briscoe is located on the south end of the River Walk, near the Arneson River Theatre and La Villita, with convenient parking at the Riverbend Garage directly adjacent to the museum or one of many downtown surface lots. Museum hours, parking and admission details are available online.
Part of the Kids Should Know series, this book teaches kids basic safety rules such how to safely cross a street and the importance of wearing a helmet when bike riding. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
“Top 20 Safety Rules: The Ultimate Guide for Kids & Children”is an informative guide for parents and caregivers who want to teach children the essential safety rules to keep them safe from harm. The book provides simple, easy-to-understand safety rules that cover a wide range of potential hazards that children may encounter in their daily lives. The book’s focus is on teaching kids basic safety rules, such as crossing the street, wearing helmets while riding a bike, and not talking to strangers. (Divan Publisher, 2023)
The book begins with an introduction that highlights the importance of safety and explains why it is essential to teach children safety rules. The author emphasizes that the goal of the book is to provide parents and caregivers with the tools they need to keep children safe and protect them from harm.
The safety rules presented in the book are divided into several categories, each covering a different aspect of safety. For example, the first chapter focuses on safety rules for crossing the street, such as looking both ways before crossing, using crosswalks, and walking facing traffic. The chapter provides clear explanations of each rule and offers tips for parents and caregivers to reinforce these safety habits with their children.
The second chapter focuses on safety rules for riding bikes, scooters, and skateboards. The author emphasizes the importance of wearing helmets and other safety gear, obeying traffic rules, and being aware of one’s surroundings. The chapter includes helpful illustrations to demonstrate safe riding practices and provide visual aids to reinforce the safety rules.
The book also includes a chapter on fire safety, which covers essential safety rules such as creating a fire escape plan, staying low to the ground during a fire, and not playing with matches or lighters. The chapter provides valuable information for parents and caregivers to teach their children about fire safety and prepare them for emergencies.
Another chapter in the book covers safety rules for playing outdoors, such as avoiding areas with high traffic, staying away from bodies of water without adult supervision, and not climbing on fences or trees. The chapter provides practical advice for parents and caregivers to ensure that children play safely outdoors.
The book also covers safety rules for interacting with strangers, such as not accepting gifts or rides from strangers, not giving personal information to strangers, and seeking help from a trusted adult if approached by a stranger. The chapter provides clear explanations of each safety rule and offers tips for parents and caregivers to reinforce these safety habits with their children.
Overall, “Top 20 Safety Rules” is an informative and practical guide that provides parents and caregivers with the tools they need to teach children essential safety rules. The book is well-organized, easy to read, and contains valuable information, stories and illustrations that parents and caregivers can use to keep their children safe from harm. Whether you are a parent, grandparent, or caregiver, this book is an essential resource for teaching children basic safety rules and helping them stay safe in their daily lives.
In celebration of National School Choice Week, families can visit with nearly 30 participating schools. Photo: San Antonio Charter Moms, used with permission.
San Antonio Charter Moms continues the School Discovery Day event series with its largest event yet to be held at The DoSeum on Saturday, January 21 from 11a.m. to 2p.m. In celebration of National School Choice Week (January 22 – January 28), families will have the opportunity to meet school representatives from nearly 30 top San Antonio choice schools, ask questions, get on interest lists and learn about application processes and deadlines. School Discovery Days are free events that connect families with schools in a face-to-face format that enables them to interact directly with multiple school representatives in one convenient location. Families can receive hands-on guidance from the San Antonio Charter Moms team on navigating the nonprofit’s online tools and resources designed to simplify the search and application process. (San Antonio Charter Moms, 2023)
With over 150 schools of choice in the San Antonio area alone, parents and caregivers can quickly become overwhelmed trying to find the right fit for their child’s individual learning needs. Considered the leading authority for assisting local families in their school search, San Antonio Charter Moms (SACM) is designed to help parents and caregivers make informed decisions by providing easy access to extensive school resources such as online discussion groups with over 10K members, articles, live videos, enrollment guides, podcasts, a school finder app and perhaps the most anticipated and impactful of all, their in-person School Discovery Day Series held annually during enrollment season. The series is the largest of its kind in San Antonio, a free school fair event series focusing on charter and choice schools in the area. The events are free, open to the public, and a huge asset to families trying to make sense of the myriad of great school options in San Antonio.
School Discovery Day at the DoSeum (Flagship Event | National School Choice Week) The theater at The DoSeum, 2800 Broadway, San Antonio, TX 78209 School Discovery Day is a free event in The DoSeum’s theater space. Guests will be greeted by the beats of the young DJs of The AM Project. With admission, guests can navigate The DoSeum’s 68,000 square feet of wow-worthy galleries designed to cultivate curiosity, ignite learning, and discover the power of play through interactive fun.
National School Choice Week, January 22–28, is a celebration of the process of allowing every family to choose the K–12 educational options that best fit their children. SACM will host nearly 30 schools during this, the flagship event of the series.
Participating Schools: Anne Frank Inspire Academy, BASIS Charter Schools, Brooks Academies of Texas, CAST Schools, Compass Rose Public Schools, Edgewood ISD Schools of Innovation, Essence Prep, The Gathering Place, Great Hearts of Texas, Harmony Public Schools, IDEA Public Schools, Jubilee Academies, KIPP Texas – San Antonio, Learn4Life Edgewood, Legacy Traditional Schools – Texas, Lighthouse Public Schools, New Frontiers Public Schools, Pre-K 4SA, Prelude Prep, Promesa Academy, Royal Public Schools, SA Prep, SAISD Choice Schools, School of Science and Technology and Southwest Prep.
Other scheduled events: School Discovery Day at Second Baptist Church – Saturday, February 4, 11a.m. – 2p.m. Second Baptist Church Community Center, 3310 E. Commerce St., San Antonio, TX 78220 Second Baptist Church is a historic Black congregation dating back to 1879 now located on the Eastside of San Antonio near the AT&T Center. Inside the Community Center, event guests can sample specialty hot dogs by Doolittle’s Mobile Kitchen, dance to the beats of The AM Project, catch Once in a Wild mobile zoo’s animal program, and get creative with face painting.
School Discovery Day at Hangar 9 – Saturday, February 18, 11a.m. – 2p.m. Hangar 9 at Brooks, 8081 Inner Circle Dr., San Antonio, TX 78223 Hangar 9, built in 1918, is the oldest wooden aircraft hangar of its kind still standing in its original location; now it is an event space at Brooks, a vibrant community on the site of a former Air Force base. Guests at School Discovery Day at Hangar 9 can meet with 25 top schools as they sample specialty hot dogs by Doolittle’s Mobile Kitchen, dance to the beats of The AM Project, catch Once in a Wild mobile zoo’s animal program, and get creative with face painting.
School Discovery Day at Hemisfair (Spring) – Saturday, March 4, 11a.m. – 2p.m. Central Games Plaza in Yanaguana Garden at Hemisfair, 434 S. Alamo St., San Antonio, TX 78205 Hemisfair is a landmark park in downtown San Antonio. Families visiting School Discovery Day at Hemisfair can meet with over 15 top schools as they enjoy the fantastic amenities of Yanaguana Garden, including a splash pad, sand play area, table games, swings, climbing structures, picnic area, restaurants, and more.
DreamWeek with Mental Health and Identity/Representation Workshop will take place on Thursday, January 19, 2023. Photo: Google
Blue Star Contemporary and Ruby City proudly announce a collaboration for a mental health and identity/representation workshop on Thursday, January 19 from 5p.m. to 7p.m. Mental health therapist and That Gray Zine creator Erica Edmonds will be leading the workshop, which is part of DreamWeek, an annual event in San Antonio that celebrates diversity and promotes dialogue and understanding among different communities. (Blue Star Contemporary, 2023)
During the workshop, participants will have the opportunity to reflect on and express their experiences with the intersections of identity, representation, and mental health through writing or image making. Responses will be shared with the community with a display in front of the Contemporary the weekend of January 20 to 22. Interested participants will also have the opportunity to publish their expressions in an upcoming volume of That Gray Zine.
The workshop is open to all members of the community, the Contemporary at Blue Star and Ruby City believe that understanding and supporting our own and others’ mental health is crucial for building strong, inclusive communities, and both organizations are excited to provide this opportunity for learning and growth.
That Gray Zine, created in 2019 by Erica Edmonds, discusses all things mental health in order to reduce stigma, foster a sense of community, advocacy, validation, and empowerment. Erica Edmonds is a mental health therapist and has a group practice in San Antonio Texas. Inclusivity, intersectionality, social justice, anti-racism, and the decolonization of mental health are important frameworks for how she navigates her group practice and the zine.
Ruby City is a contemporary art center in San Antonio, TX dedicated to providing a space for the city’s thriving creative community to experience works by both local and internationally-acclaimed artists. Envisioned in 2007 by the late collector, philanthropist and artist Linda Pace, Ruby City presents works from the Linda Pace Foundation Collection of more than 1400 paintings, sculptures, installations and video works. The new building, designed by renowned architect Sir David Adjaye OBE, is part of a campus, which also includes Chris Park, a one-acre public green space named in memory of Pace’s son, and Studio, an auxiliary exhibition space which presents curated shows and programming throughout the year.
The Contemporary at Blue Star presents exhibitions with artists from San Antonio and around the world sharing their global perspectives that encourage understanding, empathy, change, and action, fulfilling our mission to inspire, nurture, and innovate. Like most non-collecting contemporary art spaces, the Contemporary contributes fresh insights and perspectives on larger issues affecting society and culture by highlighting trends, movements, and conversations happening in art. Admission to the Contemporary is always free.
‘In Mommy’s Cloud’ is a fun and educational book that teaches the basic concepts of cloud computing. Photo: Amazon
Lilian Shulika Tata was born in the Northwest Region of Cameroon, Nso and is a mother of two very precious girls who inspired her new book. She holds three master’s degrees and is completing her Ph.D. thesis in Information Technology, focusing on Augmented Reality. She has carried out numerous research projects and blogs about technology and careers in tech. Lilian Shulika Tata started her career as a Diplomat but her research led her to the world of technology, where she is now settled on Cloud Technologies and uses her knowledge to volunteer and teach students. She is passionate about family, education, technology, and Artificial Intelligence. An extremely creative and adventurous person, she is always eager to learn and share her knowledge with the world. Her new book “In Mommy’s Cloud: An Introduction To Cloud Computing,” inspired by true life events with her daughters Haneefa and Faizahis, is a fun book for the whole family as everyone gets to learn the basic concepts about cloud computing. (Lilian Shulika Tata, 2022)
“In Mommy’s Cloud” is the first in its series of technology books for kids, with many others to come. It takes you through a playground containing resources used in cloud computing and gives you a basic introduction to those services in a fun and playful manner. Familiarize yourself with these terms as the next parts of this series will dive deep into the main components of the resources in the cloud.
The main objective of this series is to introduce kids to the terminology and resources used in the field of information technology in a playful and fun way. This helps them interact and understand these resources and gives them a foundational basis of what these components represent in the field of technology.
‘Kindness is Wonderful’ is the new children’s book by Hanna Yameen. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Hanna Yameenis a creator of high-quality illustration books for elementary-aged children. She is a young aspiring author focused on creating easy-to-use learning resources centered around social skills, values, and difficult discussions for early-age children. Her new book “Kindness is Wonderful: A Children’s Book About Care and Empathy” teaches children the art of kindness. Kindness is powerful. Kindness is magic. It is available on paperback now and the Kindle version will be available on Thursday December 8 but is available for pre-order now. (Hanna Yameen, 2022)
“Kindness is Wonderful” – This preschool illustration book highlights the way kindness creates compassion, care, and empathy in early age children. It is designed for children ages 3 to 7 years old.
This amazing book with beautiful illustrations explains to your child in a simple and interesting way how to be kind and caring.
Guiding through characters and illustrations, the book will help your child:
express, empathy, and care for others
respect parents, friends, and classmates
help elderly people
know about nice manners
love nature and the environment
care for animals
In addition, the book contains an exercise for kids to list the acts of kindness they have done in their daily routines. This beautiful picture book shows preschoolers the way kindness, compassion and empathy help build friendship and community.
Kindness and empathy are traits best learned as young children. “Kindness is Wonderful” is an extraordinary children’s book that not only teaches children the importance of being kind, it gives them examples. It does not just “tell” them to be kind, it gives them scenarios that they may encounter “When I am dog-sitting, I make sure that I feed my little puppy. Kindness is feeding animals.” All these scenarios explain to children the meaning of kindness, like respecting others, sharing, and complimenting a friend. It also teaches them ways to be a responsible citizen, like picking up trash and recycling. The illustrations are beautiful, colorful, and professional grade. This holiday season, consider giving books as gifts, especially “Kindness is Wonderful” which helps children understand the importance of being kind with examples and an interactive page at the end where they can list ways that they can express kindness. Most importantly, it stresses the importance of parents setting an example by doing these acts of kindness with their children.
*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.
SA Examiner 