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ROAD TRIPsee big bend in an airstream

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92

ideas for each weeknight

EASYFAMILY

DINNERS

RECESS!THE CASE

FOR MORE PLAY AT SCHOOL

where to goDIGGING

FOR DINOS

AUTHOR NAOMI WOOD

meet mom next door

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14 18

38 Manifesto words Rudy Klancnik

NOTED 5 Give Kids a Break (or Four)

OPINIONATED 6 Oh, Behave!

REAL MOMS 9 Mom Next Door / Naomi Wood 10 Fancy Feet 10 Natural Beauty 10 Cowboy Crunches 12 Routines / Christy MacMaster

KID CULTURE 23 Can You Dig It? 24 Road Trip / Go West 27 Agenda 29 EveryDay

TRANSFORMING LOVEUnderstanding transgendered childrenwords Stephanie Connerillustration John J. Custer

FEATURES

COLUMNS

DEPARTMENTS

ON THE COVER

4-year-old Brooklynof Corinth Photography: Nick Prendergast Hair/Makeup: Shane Monden, Wallflower Management Styling: Lauren Niebes

NorthTexasChild is published monthly by Lauren Publications, Inc. NorthTexasChild is distributed free of charge, one copy per reader. Only NorthTexasChild authorized distributors may deliver or pick up the magazines. Additional or back copies of NorthTexasChild are available for $2 per copy at the offices of Lauren Publications, Inc. We reserve the right to edit, reject or comment editorially on all material contributed. We cannot be responsible for the return of any unsolicited material. NorthTexasChild is ©2016 by Lauren Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without express written permission prohibited.

EASY EATING5 Easy, Kid-Friendly Weeknight Dinners From Local Foodies (and Fellow Parents) words Alex Kenney Fergus

Local parents share their stories about raising their sons — both of whom used to be their daughters — and the North Texas resources that have helped along their journeys, p. 14

page s / M A R C H 2 0 1 6

PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEFJoylyn Niebes

CREATIVE DIRECTORLauren Niebes

EDITORIALExecutive EditorWendy Manwarren Generes

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Account ExecutivesSamantha Barnhart, Mary Beth Fitzgerald, Lisa Hammel, Susan Hassel, Nancy McDaniel, Sandi McKean, Kerensa Vest

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ADMINISTRATIONOffice ManagerRobbie Scott

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eah Smith describes her first-grader Noah as high energy. “Hon-estly, I worried how his hyperactive behavior would affect his school-

work when he got beyond kinder-garten,” the Irving mom admits.

But Noah goes to Brown Ele-mentary School in Irving ISD, where taking 15-minute breaks from learn-ing in the classroom to run, socialize and play games outside happens a lot — four times a day, in fact. That’s much more time on the playground than most public school kids get in the United States, where the stan-dard is one recess break a day.

Brown Elementary is just one of the North Texas schools participat-ing in Let’s Inspire Innovation ‘N Kids (LiiNK), a program introduced by Dr. Debbie Rhea, a kinesiol-ogy professor at Texas Christian University. The project is simple: Increase the amount of time North Texas kindergarteners and first-graders play outside in an effort to bridge the gap between academics

and the social and emotional well-being of the children.

The program was inspired by Rhea’s semester-long sabbatical, during which she spent six weeks in Finland studying the reasons Finnish students consistently score near the top of international educa-tion rankings in science, reading, math and overall education (for perspective, the United States ranks somewhere in the 30th percentile). Students there received several breaks throughout the school day. For every hour of content time, they enjoyed 15 minutes of unstructured outdoor play.

So Rhea brought these ideas and practices back to the States. So far, she’s implemented LiiNK at four schools in two school districts in Dallas and Tarrant counties and two private schools in Fort Worth. She has plans to expand to five more school districts, including a Denton County district, next fall. Every school that signs up starts with its youngest students and adds a grade each year thereafter.

“Besides increasing focus and attention spans, recess allows kids to develop critical thinking and socialization skills, which is teach-ing kids to be responsible for their actions,” Rhea explains.

And the results of the additional play time? Teachers report fewer disciplinary problems, less fidgeting, better listening, more concentration and improved individual problem solving inside the classroom.

Smith says Noah’s reading has improved as a result. “He’s more focused,” she says.

Letting kids release their energy and use their imagina-tions in the fresh air and natural day-light actual-ly improves brain func-tion too. According to the Ameri-can Academy of Pediatrics, regular recess helps kids behave better, be physically healthier and exhibit stronger social and emotional development.

So why hasn’t every school adopted a program with such positive outcomes? When Rhea first approached local schools with her idea, teachers were nervous about fitting in all the extra recess and

covering the basics. And admin-istrators worried the kids would be less attentive, that academic achievement would suffer and that learning time would be wasted.

“The biggest pushback has come from school administrators who want to see classroom min-utes,” Rhea admits.

There was also concern about a backlash from parents.

Tom Bryant, whose daughter Kayla is in the first grade at Town-

sell Elementary School in Irving ISD admits to

being one of those initial skeptics.

But once LiiNK was

implement-ed and students starting improving, naysaying

parents like Bryant

changed their tune.“The project

has created a nice bal-ance: Kayla cares more about

her work in the classroom, and she loves playing with her friends too,” he says.

Want to see the LiiNK program implemented in your child’s school? Visit liinkproject.tcu.edu for infor-mation and to get your school’s administration involved. ntc

W O R D S A M A N D A C A S W E L L

extra time on the playground makes for better students inside the classroom

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Besides increasing focus and attention

spans, recess allows kids to develop critical thinking

and socialization skills, which is teaching kids to be responsible for

their actions.

give kids a break (or four)

6 m a r c h 2 0 1 6 / n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d

opinionated

itting on a bench at the park, I watched a little girl stand up and toss sand into the air, showering all

the kids around her. Her dad, who was wrangling her two older brothers, jogged over to her and said, “Don’t throw sand!” Two minutes later, she did it again. Dad ran over and yelled, “You do that one more time, Sydney, and we are leav-ing the park.”

When my 2-year-old plopped down next to her, I went from having mild interest to alert. When she grabbed her next fistful of sand, I walked over. I glanced at her father, who was busy on the swings, leaned down and sternly said, “Sydney, didn’t you hear your father? He told you not to throw sand. Do you want to leave the park?”

Sydney didn’t say a thing. She just sat down and released the sand. I said, “Thank you, Sydney,” and walked back to the bench. I looked over towards her father, preparing myself for a confrontation, but he was so busy running after the two boys, he hadn’t even noticed my exchange with his daughter.

Setting and enforcing limits for my own children is part of my job description as a mom, but these days, it’s not always PC to police other people’s children.

I firmly believe that I did the right thing, but I wondered why my knee-jerk reaction was to pre-pare myself for a confrontation. Did I overstep my bounds? Should I have gone to the busy dad before

opening my mouth and saying something to Sydney?

A generation ago this wouldn’t have even been a discussion. When

we were kids, all the parents in the neighborhood had permission to function as fill-ins when Mom and Dad weren’t present. There was a universal community vibe that encouraged adults to discipline wherever it seemed warranted. Now we’re more disconnected as parents. The only collective thought seems

to be, “What my kids do is nobody else’s business.”

But let’s look at a few facts. Kids listen to other adults better than they listen to their parents. I say, “Use a napkin.” My kid says, “No.” The server at the restaurant tells him to listen to his mother and get a napkin, and he does it.

It’s also really hard to be on point with your kids 100 percent of the time. If you didn’t see your kid smack someone on the head, let the kid who got smacked’s parents remind your kid of proper play-ground behavior.

Parent-only discipline isn’t the real world. Your child’s behavior has consequences that affect people outside the family. Kids need to learn that just because Mom didn’t see it doesn’t mean it’s OK. Not everyone minds the same rules in their households, and kids have to learn that.

Back in Psychology 101, I learned that the fast-est way to socialize a child is to have multi-ple pressure points or reinforce-ments. For example, my kid is pretty good about brushing his teeth, but that’s because Mom tells him to do it, Dad reminds him to brush and books tell him to brush his teeth. That behavior is being enforced by mul-tiple people, which

ingrains the information more quickly in my child’s brain.

Parenting has changed. Our children are a reflection of us, and so it’s natural to feel that another parent’s correction of our child’s behavior is a direct condemna-tion of our parenting skills. But we have to remember that kids are constantly learning, and we want to provide an opportunity for them to learn from everyone around them, not just Mom and Dad. Let’s drop the umbrage, embrace the fact that we’re all on the same team with the same goal (not to raise little jerks) and cooperatively teach our chil-dren acceptable behavior. ntc

SI believe that if I give another parent or adult permission to have my child in their home, then they should be able to guide my child to understand their rules.”

It’s OK for very close friends and family mem-bers, but I definitely don’t like other people offer-ing unsolicited disciplining.”

managing the fine line of when and how to discipline someone else’s child

W O R D S D A N A M A L D O N A D O

Real OpinionsWe asked local parents to chime in anonymously on the issue. Here’s what they had to say.

BY THE NUMBERS:

Time Out

YES66.7%

33.3%

Do you encourage others to discipline your kids? We polled our readers to see where they stand.

NO

oh, behave!

% of readers

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n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d / m a r c h 2 0 1 6 7

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I N T E R V I E W B Y A L E X M I T C H E L L

rom J.K. Rowling to Roald Dahl, it’s pretty common for children’s book authors to dedicate their books to their kids. Rarely do you flip to a dedication page and find that not only did the author’s kid

inspire the book, she helped write it. But 8-year-old Jocelyn did just that. She helped her mom, Naomi Wood, pen the self-published children’s tale Kitty Cat Meow Pants.

Not an author by trade, Wood graduated from the University of North Texas in 2012 and has worked full time as an evaluator for the university’s graduate program ever since. Yet in between working, raising her daughter with her husband, Julian, and founding Women Do Local Politics, Wood carved out time to cre-ate a story about a funny feline, which can be purchased on Amazon or at Recycled Books, Records, & CDs in Denton.

HOW DID THE STORY COME ABOUT? It came from a place of silliness with me giving a funny voice to a toy, but Jocelyn and I wrote the story together.

WHAT WAS THE BEST PART ABOUT WRITING THE BOOK? My daughter’s response to it. She’s so proud. She took the book to school and I think felt like a bit of a celebrity. That and the community response has been so great. I don’t think I could have written this book if I didn’t live in a place like Denton, which has a flourishing community of local artists and creators and places such an emphasis on local business.

WHAT ELSE DO YOU LOVE ABOUT DENTON? I’ve lived here for more than eight years. I absolutely love the Denton square and the courthouse. It has so much history.

WILL THERE BE A SEQUEL TO THE BOOK? We’ve been thinking about doing a sequel, a similar story with different characters. I also have a more serious kids’ book idea since I’m quite political. It’s about a little girl who runs for office and wins.

SHARE YOUR MOST RECENT PROUD-MOM MOMENT I try to teach my daughter

to be really comfortable with her body and to always feel beautiful. I lead by example and never say anything negative about my weight or appearance in front of her. Recently, she was being bullied about having dark hair on her arms and legs, and she just said to them, “That’s who I am and I don’t have a problem with it.” That made me so proud.

THE HARDEST THING ABOUT BEING A MOM Jocelyn has a very strong personality. It’s hard because sometimes I need to be really strict. Kids need boundaries, but at the same time, I have be able to come back around and still show her that I truly love and care about her.

THE LAST GIFT YOU RECEIVED It was so unexpected. Jocelyn was spending some time with her grandparents, and she came back with a little charm for me that says “I love my mom.” I don’t even have a charm brace-let, but I absolutely love it.

IF YOUR LIFE WERE A BOOK WHAT WOULD IT BE? My Life on the Road by Gloria Steinem. I absolutely love her. She’s my spirit animal. I only really found out about her two years ago, but I’ve been reading this book, which is about her life and finding so many par-allels between the two of us. We both had a really hard time in our early

20s. And we are both very into activism. WHAT’S THE MOST SURPRISING THING

ABOUT YOU? That I’m a mom. I look super young. I dress super young. I shop at H&M. I ride around on my Dutch-style bike. People are always surprised to learn that I’m a mom, especially the mom of an 8-year-old.

WHAT’S ONE OF YOUR HABITS YOU WANT YOUR DAUGHTER TO PICK UP? Healthy living. I think it’s so important to take care of your body and to find a way to treat it right and exercise regularly. I think that with-out that, so many other things can spiral out of control.

WHAT’S ONE OF YOUR HABITS YOU HOPE THAT SHE DOESN’T? I can be a little messy, like leaving dishes lying around and stuff. I hope she doesn’t pick that up. It can be disrespectful to the people around you. ntc

MOM NEXT DOOR /

children’s book author

I TRY TO TEACH MY DAUGHTER TO BE REALLY COMFORTABLE WITH HER BODY AND TO ALWAYS FEEL BEAUTIFUL. I LEAD BY EXAMPLE AND NEVER SAY ANYTHING NEGATIVE ABOUT MY WEIGHT OR APPEARANCE IN FRONT OF HER.”

F

real moms.

ABOVE / NAOMI WOOD AND HER DAUGHTER JOCELYN, 8, COLLABORATED TO WRITE A CHILDREN’S BOOK.

Naomi Wood

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10 m a r c h 2 0 1 6 / n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d

If anyone understands the difficulties of squeezing in a workout when you have kids, it’s Isaiah Stanback, former Cowboys wide receiver and father of three kids under the age of 3. So he’s made his new fitness center Steadfast Fitness and Performance, a 14,000-square-foot gym in Coppell, a win-win for moms. Take advantage of hour-long child care (at an

additional cost) for the kids (ages 6 weeks to 6 years) while you sweat it out during a signature full-body conditioning, boot camp-style class. And don’t let the 40 yards of indoor turf, fully stocked weight room and NFL influence make you think that this gym is a boys’ club. Classes are 80 percent female, and there are plans to add prenatal group fitness in the near future.

COWBOY CRUNCHES

real moms / 3 T H I N G S …W O R D S A L E X M I T C H E L L

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Denton mom Caitlin

Crawford began making

her own beauty products

when she realized she

couldn’t pronounce, much

less understand, most

of the ingredients in the

products in her makeup

bag. With a little design

help from her husband,

she transformed her

passion side project into

Austin Street Apothecary, a

skincare line of all-natural,

small-batch potions.

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moisture-replenishing

serum to soothing

pink Himalayan bath

salts, every product is

handmade and free of

synthetic ingredients,

harsh chemicals and

artificial fragrances. And

on March 15, two new

products join the lineup: a

deep-cleansing clay mask

with powdered lavender

buds and a pore-refining

toner with witch hazel

and calendula.

natural beauty

It’s always a mystery: A pair of socks goes into the wash, but only one comes out. Let Foot Cardigan, a subscription sock company founded by four North Texas dads, replenish the sock drawer. You’re guar-anteed one pair of soft socks in a fun pattern (you don’t get to pick, but think whimsi-cal prints such as pineapples, flamingos and martinis) once a month. Pay monthly (and cancel whenever), opt for a three-, six- or nine-month sub-scription or pay a year upfront and get one month free. If you’re a commitment-phobe, start with a single pair of Dallas socks stamped with the iconic Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge.

fancy feet

Steadfast Fitness and Performance Classes start at $10

Coppell, 972/221-4969 steadfastfp.com

Austin Street Apothecary Starting at $4

The DIME Store, Denton, 940/381-2324

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Foot CardiganAdult subscriptions, $9/month; kids’ subscriptions, $11/month for two pairs footcardigan.com

n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d / m a r c h 2 0 1 6 11

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12 m a r c h 2 0 1 6 / n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d

real moms / R O U T I N E S

Diaries are penned by moms (and dads) in the North Texas area. The authors volunteer to share a day of their choosing and are not paid or endorsed by NorthTexasChild. Send your diary to

[email protected]. All submissions are subject to editing and may be cut for space.

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multiple naps a day. I am so thankful for this new chapter in my life! Now I make lunch — a simple turkey sandwich for Danielle and pasta for Katie and Brian. 7AM Scott takes Katie and Brian to school. I’m grateful for this time before waking up the 4-year-old for preschool.7:15AM Danielle makes the five-minute walk to her middle school. I jump in the shower.8AM I wake up Charlie for school. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, she attends our church preschool. Charlie has been the easiest of all my children. She’s the fourth child and she was born at 25 weeks. She stayed in the hospital for four months before coming home. It’s as though she was pre-programmed to wait her turn. She is the happiest and the most patient child. Within 15 minutes, she has pottied, her teeth and hair are brushed and she’s dressed with little fuss. She isn’t a breakfast eater, so it’s nice that they have morning snacks at her school. Her biggest meal is always right before she goes to bed.9AM I rush her to preschool, which is five minutes away. 9:30AM Once I’m home, Bonnie, our dog, gets walked and fed. I make breakfast and watch one of my favorite shows before starting my day. 10:15AM Forcing myself off the couch, I finish laundry and catch up on emails, hoping I didn’t forget to respond to someone. I address my jury summons. I’m trying to be excused. 12PM Being a Plexus ambassador (sales rep), I follow up with my users to make sure the products are working for them. Everyone is different, so each product will need to be tweaked to work optimally for each individual. I respond to new leads from my Facebook posts. I like to take my time on my posts so they are personal and filled with informative facts so friends and family can make an educated decision on how they choose to get healthy. After finishing up my work for Plexus, I head to my mother-in-law’s small business. I handle her accounts payable and reconcile statements. It’s a nice change to be out of the house and doing something I enjoyed doing before having children. 2PM Time to pick up my sweet Charlie.2:15PM We run to the grocery.3PM Charlie grabs a snack while I start making dinner. Mondays are busy and kids will have to eat before leaving for their Irish dancing lessons.3:15PM I just received an email about a funeral at our church. I’m a coordinator for funeral receptions and need to create a sign-up for a potluck reception. This is one less thing the deceased’s family has to worry about.3:30PM Danielle comes home from school.3:45PM Katie and Brian come home from school. I encourage them (really repeat myself over and over) to start their homework. I give them dinner.4:30PM I ask them to get ready for Irish dancing.5PM We race out of the house but still battle traffic on the way to the dance studio.

Christy does light accounting for her mother-

in-law’s printer sales business, sells supplements

through Plexus, a health and wellness company, and volunteers at St. Ann Parish.

She lives in Coppell with her husband Scott, a finance

director, and their four children, Danielle, 14, Katie,

12, Brian, 9, and Charlie, 4. 

christy macmaster

5 :52AM This was the time I set the alarm for knowing that I’d want to snooze before waking the kids and starting the morning routine.6:01AM First wake-up call for my

14-year-old daughter Danielle. Then I rouse Katie. She’s the first one in the bathroom because she likes to take her time. I wake Brian next. He sleeps on the couch until it’s his turn in the bathroom. Katie finishes and wakes up Danielle again. After Danielle is done in the bathroom, it’s Brian’s turn. Funny — we have a double sink in the bathroom upstairs, but no one uses it. 6:10AM While they are getting ready, I sneak back into bed, thinking 20 more minutes of sleep will make a difference in my day. Instead I think about my day and things I need to do. I realize it’s futile to get a snooze in so I check emails on my iPhone. My New Year’s resolution is to try to live more closely to the Gospel. So I open a Gospel meditation email that has points to ponder written by a priest and a simple resolution to live out the Gospel for that day. Then my alarm rings for the third time and I hop out of bed.6:30AM My kids are half Asian and half Scottish, so breakfast consists of ramen noodles and brewed tea. I prepare Plexus Slim, a daily supplement for my husband and me. This ritual has helped both of us stay off the blood sugar roller coaster. This time last year, I was taking

A MONDAY IN THE L IFE OF

n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d / m a r c h 2 0 1 6 13

FAVORITE MOVIES Gone With the Wind and Fever Pitch RESTAURANT SHE FRE-QUENTS WITH THE FAMILY Al Biernat’s with our favorite server, Rock INSPIRATIONAL WORDS TO LIVE BY Pray for the best WHAT SHE DOES WHEN LIFE GETS STRESSFUL Give it to God DREAM VACATION Go back to Maui with my family MOTHERHOOD IN FIVE WORDS An amazing gift from God BEAUTY PRODUCT SHE CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT Mary Kay products, especially the body lotion FAVORITE WRITER Ayn Rand FAVORITE INDULGENCE Date nights BIGGEST CHAL-LENGE Being goal oriented BLOG SHE FOL-LOWS Hisbeautifulletdown.wordpress.com INSTAGRAMMER SHE FOLLOWS Mark Bustos @markbustos HER GO-TO UNIFORM A dress or skirt with leggings BY HER BED Many books that I’ve started reading, iPhone, lip balm, eye drops, hand lotion, the baby monitor, Kleenex and a lamp

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5:30PM We arrive, and Brian heads into his class. Danielle’s class doesn’t start for 45 minutes. I sit in the car and catch up on emails, texts and Facebook, then close my eyes for a few minutes.6:15PM Danielle goes into the studio.6:30PM Brian comes out. We run an errand then head home.7:45PM Scott picks Danielle up from dance.8:15PM Everyone is home by now and eating dinner. 8:30PM Homework is checked. It’s bedtime for Brian and Katie. Brian takes daily growth hormone shots. He’s a trooper and not at all afraid of the needles. 9PM Scott takes them up to say a prayer while I feed Charlie. 9:15PM Scott and I catch up on the day and talk about tomorrow’s schedule. Danielle finishes her homework and has to be reminded to go to bed because she’s a night owl like me.10PM Charlie gets her daily meds. I tuck her in bed with her favorite owl that she’s had since her NICU days. 10:30PM I finish the dishes.11PM I decompress by doing a puzzle on the iPad and try to go to sleep by midnight.12:30AM I finally settle into bed and set the alarm for the next day. ntc

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Little Hero & Teen Scene Camps

2021 N. MacArthur Blvd., Ste. 250Irving, TX 75061

6750 N. MacArthur Blvd., Ste. 206Irving, TX 75039

We Care About Your Family!

WE ACCEPT ALL MAJOR INSURANCE PLANS

972-253-4300www.mscitx.comMonday - Friday, 8 am - 5 pm

Darlene Kurian, MDP E D I AT R I C S

Natalya Shannon, MDP E D I AT R I C S

Tammi M. Williams, MDP E D I AT R I C S

Susan Heller, MDP E D I AT R I C S

Karen Holland, MDP E D I AT R I C S

Joan Kay, MDP E D I AT R I C S

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W O R D S S T E P H A N I E C O N N E R

I L L U S T R A T I O N J O H N J . C U S T E R

ennifer and Jon Campisi thought their daughter Eva was most likely a tomboy. As a young toddler, the child pro-tested girls’ clothing. “She — we were saying she then — would bring stuff home from day care,” Jennifer says. “And it would be boy toys.”

The Dallas couple explained to her that she could be a girl and still enjoy things like soccer and trucks. They even found toy trucks that were pink to drive home their message.

But they soon realized it was about more than the toys their child wanted to play with.

“We heard him pray to be a boy,” Jennifer says. “He asked questions like, ‘Why did God make me a girl?’”

At around age 4, they heard their child tell Santa that what she wanted for Christmas was to be a boy. “He was asking to be called Adam or Jake,” Jennifer adds.

Like many parents do when we have questions, Jennifer turned to Google, typing in queries like: “My 4-year-old daughter thinks she’s a boy.”

To the Internet’s credit, she found a likely explanation: transgenderism. “I had never heard of transgender,” Jennifer says. And it’s no wonder:

A very small percentage of the U.S. population identifies as transgen-der (though the estimates that exist are considered rough at best), and resources for the transgender community have been historically lacking.

But when the Campisis started their journey with EJ, a nickname they came up with until they legally changed his name from Eva to Evan, now 9, they found a supportive community, lots of fellow parents to talk to and ample resources to help them navigate the world of raising a transgender child, all through their counselor, whom they found via an Internet search.

understanding transgendered children

TRANSFORM NGLOVE

J T R A N S G E N D E R D E F I N E DUnderstanding transgender individuals starts with understanding gender and recognizing that a person’s gender identity doesn’t necessarily corre-spond with physical biology.

“An individual who is transgender does not agree with the biological sex they were assigned at birth,” explains Dr. Oliver L. Blumer, an advi-sor to the Transgender Education Network of Texas and an advocate for transgender individuals. In Blumer’s case, for example, he was born a female but identifies as a man.

“I was a boy,” he says. “And I felt that way since I was 3.”To some parents, 3 might sound young. But these feelings of not

being born into the right gender often do start young, because, as Feleshia Porter, a Dallas counselor specializing in gender identity and transition, points out, “Gender is a hard-wired aspect of our self.”

And it’s not just about masculine or feminine traits.“To some extent you can gauge a person’s masculine or feminine

expressions when they’re younger,” says Renee Baker, a counselor in Dallas who specializes in working with the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. “But gender identity is different.”

A young girl might have masculine behaviors and typical “boy” inter-ests and identify as a girl, while another might have those same behaviors but identify as a boy.

For some individuals, it’s not a clear choice, says Dr. Ximena Lopez, a pediatric endocrinologist and founder of the Gender Education and Care, Interdisciplinary Support (GENECIS) program at Children’s Health in Dallas.

“This is a spectrum,” she explains. “There are children and adults who don’t identify in this binary form of gender. They don’t identify as one or the other.”

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Not identifying as the gender one was assigned to at birth is clinically called gender dyspho-ria. “This is something we think has existed for a long time,” Lopez says.

But for many decades, transgender individuals didn’t have the resources to help them

understand why they felt the way they did — and to know they weren’t alone. And while the resources are growing, social acceptance of trans-gender individuals is a work in progress.

E X P L O R I N G G E N D E R“There is no spe-cific diagnostic test to identify someone as transgender — no genetics, no blood test,” Lopez explains.

EJ Campisi was able to express his identity before he had the words to describe it. This is common, Lopez informs, though many chil-dren won’t express their identity until adolescence.

“Most psycholo-gists do feel that dur-ing early childhood, children fluctuate in how they express their gender,” Lopez says.

The important thing, Porter adds, is giving kids a chance to explore

their gender identity.“Until puberty hits, you don’t

have any permanent representa-tion of your gender,” she says. “That’s a perfect time for kids to explore.” And when kids get the message that it’s OK to be who they are, “they’ll stop hiding who they are,” she adds.

And that can have a profound impact. Young people who aren’t able to explore their gender iden-tity may lag behind their peers in their emotional development, Porter notes.

“That’s why we try to create an environment that allows a

child to explore how they iden-tify,” she explains.

C O P I N G W I T H T H E E M O T I O N S Every parent is different, Baker says, and that means everyone will experience emotions that are uniquely theirs, but there are some common themes.

“Parents can be hard on them-selves,” she says. “They some-times blame themselves — like they did something wrong.”

But experts say parents can’t make their child transgender. “There’s no proof that the envi-ronment has any effect,” Lopez says. “In our experience here, we see families from every type of environment — conservative, lib-eral, one parent, two parents, all different religions.

While there’s no real under-standing behind a cause, she adds, there is some data to sug-gest that gender identity happens in the brain.

In one study, published by Cerebral Cortex, an Oxford University journal, researchers conducted MRIs of the brains of adults and found that transgender adults have brains that look more like the gender they identify with.

Once they understand the research and shift away from blaming themselves, parents often have to grieve.

“They need to grieve the image they had for that child and the hopes and dreams they had,” Porter says.

When a child transitions from living as a girl to living as a boy or vice versa, the transition affects the parents too. “They have to transition from the parents of a little girl to the parents of a little boy,” she says.

Baker uses her own experience to inform and talk to parents.

“I know what my parents went through with my own transition,” she says. They have expectations and dreams for their kids, and all of a sudden, there’s a shift.”

For the Campisis, fear was another emotion they had to face.

“There was a lot of fear — fear of what other people would think. Would they be accepting?” Jennifer adds. “You want to be protective of your child.”

Working through the emo-tions as a parent is important, and part of what counseling offers is assistance in finding language for what parents are feeling.

“Being able to have a good dialogue with the child is very important,” says Michael J. Salas, a Dallas-based therapist. “The families that don’t work on that start to build distance and heavy boundaries, and they don’t feel as connected.”

As a child goes through his or her transition, Baker says, a lot of parents see their child blos-som — becoming happier and more engaged.

“And they really are able to connect at a deeper level,” she reveals. “The transition is a mental and emotional one as much as it is a physical one.”

M E D I C A L I N T E R V E N T I O N As a child explores his or her gen-der identity and families contend with the related emotions, there’s a physical reality we can’t control: puberty. It’s a confusing time for adolescents regardless of gender identity, but for young people who are faced with the idea that they are developing into some-thing they don’t want to be (and with no control over the process), it can be particularly distressing.

The good news for parents is there are medical interventions that can help. The Children’s Health GENECIS program, which has grown to more than 210 patients since opening in early 2015, brings together multiple specialties — psychology, psy-chiatry, social work, pediatric endocrinology, adolescent medi-cine and gynecology — to help transgender children (ages 4 to 17) and their families.

Lopez saw a need for the program a few years ago when she was seeing more and more patients with gender dysphoria. She no longer wanted to send patients out of town. Knowing that according to a report of the National Transgender Discrimination Survey, 41 per-cent of transgender individuals admit to attempting suicide (compared with 1.6 percent of the general population), she wanted

K E Y T E R M SGENDER IDENTITY

Our innermost perception of ourselves as male, female, neither

or both.

TRANSGENDER When a person identifies as a

different gender than they were assigned at birth.

CISGENDERWhen a person identifies as the

gender they were assigned at birth; not transgender.

GENDER DYSPHORIAReplacing the outdated “gender

identity disorder,” this clinical term refers to the distress caused when a person doesn’t identify with the

gender they were assigned at birth. Gender dysphoria is often associ-ated with depression and anxiety

and even suicide attempts.

TRANSITION The process people go through

to live as the gender they identify with. This process can include a

physical transition using medical interventions to change their bod-

ies, as well as a social transition, including using a different name or

pronouns.

Sources: Human Rights Campaign, Children’s Health

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families to have this resource in North Texas.

For the Campisis, GENECIS has been a tremendous blessing.

“It’s one place that knows our child and our family and our story,” Jennifer says. “It’s comfort-ing to know you can go to them.”

The program offers two kinds of hormone therapy for adoles-cents. The first is a puberty sup-pression therapy.

“We put puberty on pause,” Lopez explains. “It’s benign and pretty reversible.”

For girls who identify as boys, the therapy delays the development of breasts and a menstrual cycle.

“We can’t imagine how much these kids suf-fer,” she says. “They go to great lengths to hide their breasts.”

For boys who identify as girls, the therapy pre-vents physical changes like facial hair, an Adam’s apple and the deepening of the voice.

Looking the way they want to present them-selves helps give young people more confidence and can make it easier for their peers to accept them.

When Melissa Ballard’s daughter was 12, the child told her parents she wanted hormone blockers. The Little Elm mom didn’t know what they were and so wasn’t on board at first, and her daughter interpreted that as a lack of accep-tance from her parents.

“But the truth was I just didn’t know what it was,” Ballard says. Meanwhile, her daughter knew that he was a boy. And if he couldn’t live as a boy, he didn’t want to live.

The child — Ashur — was suicidal. Early last year, the family went to GENECIS for an evaluation and started hormone therapy that summer. Today, Ballard says, Ashur is happier and emotionally stronger.

The therapy allows young people the luxury of time. “They have time to continue to explore their gender before anything irre-versible is done,” Lopez says.

That time is essential, Baker explains.

“Let them have the time they need. Some parents might want to get the transition over with,” she says. “But that’s not healthy.”

The second therapy is a hor-mone replacement therapy, also called gender-affirming therapy, that helps the teenager develop as the gender he or she identifies as.

This therapy, Lopez notes, does have some irreversible effects and typically isn’t started until around age 16 following the puberty-suppression therapy.

T H E R O L E O F S U P P O R TPerhaps the most helpful thing for the Campisis was connect-ing with others.

“We’d meet other people with transgender kids, and their story was like our story,” Jennifer says. “It gave us hope that we’re not alone. At first, we didn’t know anybody, and that’s a scary place to be.”

Porter and Baker help bring families with transgender kids togeth-er. At the same time Baker runs a biweekly support group for par-ents, Porter engages the kids and their siblings in play (the counselors

share office space). The support has helped

the Campisis. “We know now that it’s not a

big deal like we once thought it was,” Jennifer says. “It’s not any-thing we did — or anything we didn’t do.”

Ballard saw a need to connect with parents and families — and for the kids to engage with one another too — beyond support group sessions. So she started DFWTKF.com (Dallas-Fort Worth Trans Kids and Families) to help families like hers connect socially.

Kids, she says, benefit from being face to face with other kids going through the same things they are. And the parents find comfort in talking to people who

truly understand their challenges and needs.

Another source of support can be extended family.

“Some parents expect grand-parents and aunts and uncles to have a negative response and might delay telling the extended family,” Porter says. “Don’t predict how people are going to respond. Allow them to have their own response.”

She says that once a child’s par-ents start educating family mem-bers, things often get smoother. “Families are pretty resilient when you give them a chance,” she says.

And while parents can find solace in support, the person who needs the most support is the child.

“It’s just about simply accept-ing the child and being there for them — loving them on a daily basis,” Baker says.

When parents reject a child, there’s a high risk of the child becoming isolated from his or her family, Lopez explains. And that can lead to a higher risk of depression and suicide as well as risky behaviors — running away from home, drugs, alcohol and prostitution.

“The main determinant is parental support,” she says. “What I suggest is to accept each child for who they are. The most important thing for parents is that they support their child.”

E M B R A C I N G O U R K I D SEJ started his transition around

the time he started kindergarten. He doesn’t feel like he has to hide who he is, and he knows he has the support of his parents.

Like a lot of third-graders, he plays sports with friends — he’s played basketball with the same team for multiple seasons, and he has a lot of friends.

“Don’t be scared. You’re still going to have a lot of friends,” EJ advises other kids. “People won’t tease you.”

For Jon and Jennifer, it wasn’t an easy road, but con-necting with the right resources made all the difference.

“Love your kids for who they are, and don’t worry about what others think,” Ballard says. “If your kid is healthy and happy and they have your support, they’re going to flourish.” ntc

G E N E C I S A T C H I L D R E N ’ S H E A L T H helps families with kids and adolescents ages 4–17 with gender dysphoria.Dallas, 214/456-5959; childrens.com/gender

It started as a parental support group, but D F W T R A N S K I D S A N D F A M I L I E S soon morphed into a larger local support and social group for transgender or gender nonconforming kids and their families (including extended family).Dallas-Fort Worth area; dfwtkf.com

The R E S O U R C E C E N T E R has lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning-focused (LGBTQ) youth programs that address challenges youths age 12–18 face with family and peers. Dallas, 214/528-0144; myresourcecenter.org

P F L A G ( P A R E N T S A N D F R I E N D S O F L E S B I A N S A N D G A Y S ) has chapters in Dallas, Fort Worth and Lewisville and allows par-ents, family members and friends of LGBT individuals to get support and receive educational materials.Multiple locations; community.pflag.org

Austin-based G E N D E R S P E C T R U M gives parents the tools to create gender-inclusive environments in their homes and communities with how-to guides, research and more.Austin, 510/788-4412; genderspectrum.org

Based in San Marcos, the T R A N S G E N D E R E D U C A T I O N N E T W O R K O F T E X A S furthers the education of gender diversity through education and networking events statewide. San Marcos, 877/792-8095; transtexas.org

T R A N S Y O U T H F A M I L Y A L L I E S provides resources for parents as printable PDFs on a wide variety of topics, such as being an effective advocate for your child.Nationwide, 888/462-8932; imatyfa.org

The H U M A N R I G H T S C A M P A I G N offers a wealth of articles, campaigns, events and information, like Ask the Expert: Transitioning in School. Search events and resources by state.Nationwide, 202/628-4160; hrc.org

R E S O U R C E S

“ W E H E A R D

H I M P R A Y T O B E A B O Y . H E

A S K E D Q U E S -T I O N S

L I K E , ‘ W H Y D I D G O D M A K E M E A G I R L ? ’ ”

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W O R D S A L E X K E N N E Y F E R G U S

5 Easy, Kid-Friendly Weeknight Dinners From Local Foodies

(and Fellow Parents)

THE TIME OF DAY THAT I DREAD THE MOST IS 4PM. That’s usually when I realize

that I have no plan for dinner, a nearly empty refrigerator and zero motivation to get the kids to the store. And so we end up order-ing food or microwaving chicken nuggets,

neither of which is cost-efficient or healthy. It has been a New Year’s resolution of mine

to do better — to meal plan, grocery shop for the week in advance and put healthy

dinners on the table. Finding meals that are easy enough to make while I have a toddler,

a baby and work deadlines hanging over me. So I chatted with some of my favorite North

Texas restaurateurs, chefs and food bloggers, who also happen to be parents, to come up

with quick, simple, kid-approved recipes. Bon appetit!

Crock-Pot Chili from Randi Dukes of Dukes & Duchesses (dukesandduchesses.com), a DIY- and craft-focused lifestyle blog that also has some of the tastiest recipes on the Internet.

Easing into the week, I rarely want to exert much energy on the Monday night meal. Enter the slow cooker and Dukes’ seriously simple recipe. “Chili is the quintessential com-fort food,” says the Flower Mound mom of five. “Nothing hits the spot like a big pot of Crock-Pot chili, a pan of cornbread and the whole family sitting together around the table.”

R E C I P E Ingredients

1 medium onion, coarsely chopped1 ½ pounds ground beef, browned and drained2 garlic cloves, minced1 green pepper, finely dicedTwo 14.5-ouce cans diced tomatoes Two 14.5-ounce cans kidney beans One 8-ounce can tomato sauce 1 teaspoon ground cumin½ teaspoon pepper1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon chili powder1 teaspoon dried basil

PreparationStep 1: Combine all ingredients in a slow cooker. Step 2: Cover and cook on low for 8–10 hours.

Enchilada Lasagna from Julie Markley of Gypsy Scoops, an ice cream parlor in Fort Worth. Visit the shop or follow Gypsy Scoops on Facebook to locate the ice cream truck (there are two) nearest you.

This hearty dish is a twist on two favor-ites: a casserole with layers of tortillas instead of traditional noodles. “The kids love it and it takes me two seconds to put together,” Mar-kley says. “I have the ice cream truck rolling all day so when I see my kids (ages 9 and 7), I don’t want to spend all day in the kitchen, and I don’t want to pick up fast food.”

R E C I P EIngredients

3 cups cooked chicken breasts (done in the slow cooker on low for 4 hours, pan cooked with olive oil or canned) One 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened 2 cups mozzarella cheese ¼ cup cilantro (“If I don’t have fresh cilantro, I flavor the cream cheese with a package of Hidden Valley fiesta dip seasoning,” Markley adds.) 1 small onion, diced12 corn tortillasOne 28-ounce can enchilada sauce

PreparationStep 1: Mix together the chicken, cream cheese, cilantro and onion. Step 2: Lightly soak the tortillas in the enchilada sauce. Step 3: Layer the tortillas and cream cheese mixture in a deep baking dish. Top with more cheese if desired. Cook at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Step 4: Serve with an ear of corn or steamed vegetables.

1 2CROCK-POT CHILI

Randi Dukes, Dukes & DuchessesENCHILADA LASAGNA

julie markley, gypsey scoops

TUESDAYMONDAY

easyeating

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Breakfast for Dinner: Homemade Pan-cakes from Landon Amis of Rodeo Goat, an ice house and burger joint with locations in Dallas and Fort Worth.

This is an Amis family favorite, passed down to Landon’s wife Sarah from her mother. This couple knows how challenging it can be to get little kids (they have a 3-year-old and a 1-year-old) to eat anything at all. “This is one that my kids will actually eat!” Landon says. “Besides being tasty, pancakes are an easy dish to get creative with, making it more fun like adding chocolate chips or making shapes. I do Minnie Mouse with a strawberry bow.”

R E C I P EIngredients

2 cups flour (“We do 1 cup whole wheat and 1 cup all-purpose,” Landon says.)2 cups milk2 eggs (separate the whites and set aside)1/3 cup olive oil (for a richer flavor, use 1/3 cup melted butter)1 tablespoon baking powder½ teaspoon salt1 tablespoon vanilla½ cup apple sauce (try the individual por-tions, which equals one serving)

PreparationStep 1: Pour flour into a mixing bowl.  Step 2: In a separate bowl, beat the milk and egg yolks together — don’t forget to save the egg whites.Step 3: Add the milk/yolk mix to the flour and beat until consistency is uniform. Step 4: Add the oil, baking powder, salt, vanilla and applesauce. Beat to consistency again.Step 5: In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites until firm, then use a spatula to gen-tly fold them into the pancake mix.Step 6: Cook on a hot griddle. Serve with butter, maple syrup and fresh berries.

Crock-Pot Root Beer Pulled Pork Sand-wiches from Wylie mom Carrie Lindsey of Carrie Elle (carrieelle.com), a lifestyle blog about Dallas, crafts, simple recipes and her never-ending attempts to get organized.

Wrapping up the week while preparing for the weekend can make it tough to also get dinner on the table. Kids love the root beer component of this dish; moms like that there’s no prep except to throw everything in a Crock-Pot. “This recipe is seriously so easy, and everyone in my family eats it — and requests it,” says Lindsey, the mother of two picky eaters.

R E C I P EIngredients

2 liters root beerOne 3-pound pork loin (not tenderloin)

PreparationStep 1: Combine ingredients in a slow cooker. Cook on low for 8 hours or until the pork’s internal temperature reaches 190 degrees. Step 2: Remove from slow cooker and let sit at room temperature for 20–30 minutes. Shred. Step 3: Serve on toasted, buttered buns with your favorite coleslaw and barbecue sauce.

Pizza Night from Neel Gibbons, cater-ing and events manager at Cane Rosso, a pizzeria with multiple locations throughout Dallas-Fort Worth.

Friday tends to be pizza night in a lot of households. As an alternative to ordering in or dragging everybody out, try these DIY personal pizzas from local pizza power couple, Neel and Joe Gibbons. “These are great because everyone can do exactly what they want,” says Neel, who juggles work and three kids (ages 10, 7 and 2). “I bet if I made them the same pizza, they would complain. But when they make it themselves, it’s a work of art!”

R E C I P EIngredients

Mama Mary’s mini thin and crispy pizza crusts (3 to a pack)Pizza sauce (Neel recommends Ragu)Fresh grated mozzarella (Neel prefers Kraft)Various toppings (“We love veggies such as olives, onions and mushrooms and meats like pepperoni, ground beef and ground sausage, all cooked ahead of time,” Neel suggests). Put each in its own bowl.

PreparationStep 1: Let the kids create their pizzas. “My daughter loves hamburger and black olives, while my husband and I like it spicy with fresh jalapeños, sausage, mushrooms and onions. My son’s choice is no sauce at all, a white pizza,” Neel says.Step 2: Throw the pizzas directly on the oven rack and bake at 425 degrees for 10 minutes.

Bonus: “This is also a proven birthday party hit,” Neel says, “We just did a make-your-own-pizza party for our son’s birthday. They all created their own pizzas, and the kids loved it!” ntc

3 5HOMEMADE PANCAKES

landon amis, rodeo goatPULLED PORK SANDWICHES

carrie lindsey, carrie elleTHIN + CRISPY PIZZA

neel gibbons, cane rosso

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Amon Carter Museum of American Art cartermuseum.org 817/738-1933

Family Fun Week is a free event for children and their families offering art exploration and artmaking, held Tuesday, March 15–Friday, March 18 from 10:30am–12pm. The theme is All-American Road Trip. See ad on page 31.

City of Lewisville cityoflewisville.com 972/219-5061

29th Annul Funny Bunny Festival: Saturday, March 19, 9:30am–12:30pm, free. Me & My Guy Sock Hop Dad Daughter Dance: Saturday, April 30, 6–9pm. $20 per person. See ad on page 32.

Dallas Opera, The dallasopera.org/family 214/443-1000

The Dallas Opera offers two fully staged productions and a concert with the TDO orchestra as part of its Family Season. Fall and spring performance dates available. Tickets are $5. Subscriptions for all three are $12. See ad on page 25.

Denton Community Market dentonmarket.org 972/536-3145

As Denton's local art and farmers market, we offer a fun and family-friendly experience every Saturday, April–November. Every week features kids activities, live music performances, food trucks and 100 local vendors.

Ennis Convention and Visitors Bureau visitennis.org 972/878-4748

Ennis Spring Events: Ennis Bluebonnet Trails, April; Bluebonnet Trails Festival, April 15–17; National Polka Festival, May 27–29; Ennis Farmers Market, Saturdays, April–October; live theatre; drive-in theatre and more! Endless fun for everyone!

Fort Worth Museum of Science and History fwmsh.org 817/255-9300

All during the month of April. Celebrate Earth Week with our All Systems Earth festival. Also join us for iMake — a fantastic exploration into invention, creativity and resourcefulness which celebrates the Maker Movement. See ad on page 11.

Frank Buck Zoo frankbuckzoo.com 940/668-4533

Public giraffe feeding 10:30am daily, weather permitting. In celebration of Frank Buck's birthday, admission is just $2 for everyone March 17 only. Join at 1pm that day for free birthday cake while it lasts! See ad on page 31.

Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier pleasurepier.com 855/789-7437

Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier features family-oriented attractions including rides, midway games, a wide selection of food venues and retail shops. See ad on page 26.

Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau grapevinetexasusa.com 817/410-3185

Day Out With Thomas aboard the Grapevine Vintage Railroad, April 1, 2, 3, 8, 9 and 10. Enjoy this special opportunity to take a ride with the classic storybook engine. Advance ticket purchase is recommended. See ad on page 25.

Kemah Boardwalk kemahboardwalk.com 877/285-3624

Kemah Boardwalk, the perfect getaway! Located just 20 miles from Houston, the Boardwalk will entice you with amusements, weekend festivals, live music, retail stores, as well as waterfront restaurants. See ad on page 26.

Legoland Discovery Center Dallas/Fort Worth legolanddiscoverycenter.com/dallasfw 877/818-1677

Legoland Discovery Center is the ultimate indoor Lego playground, featuring Lego-themed play zones, Lego rides and a 4-D cinema featuring the all-new The Lego Movie 4D: A New Adventure. See ad on page 28.

Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament medievaltimes.com 214/761-1801

Knights Training is available before all 2pm shows, March 14–18, for children ages 5–12. Doors will open at noon and training will start promptly at 1pm. Closed-toe shoes are required to participate. See ad on page 33.

Perot Museum of Nature and Science perotmuseum.org 214/428-5555

With everything from dinosaurs to DNA, the Perot Museum is your place for a day of science fun and exploration. Take part in live demonstrations and activities, plus catch an adventure in our 3-D theater! See ad on page 35.

Rainforest Cafe rainforestcafe.com 972/539-5001

At the Rainforest Cafe, it’s a feast for all the senses. Thrilling animatronics bring the jungle experience to life, while a menu of favorites — from burgers to steaks, salads and pasta dishes — satisfies all. See ad on page 11.

Spring is just around the corner. So shed your winter coats, grab the kids and check out all the season has to offer.

SPRINGFAMILY FUN

DIRECTORY

kid culture.

fossils, tracks and gotta-see-it-to-believe-it dinosaur sites in texas

f your pint-sized paleontologist loved Jurassic World when it roared into theaters last summer or obsessed over all the dino gear that came with it, it’s time to take those fossil fanatics (including you) to seek out up-close and personal encounters.

Find the state dinosaur of Texas in Fort Worth, venture west to track their footprints in Glen Rose or head south to see what beasts roamed our state.

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LEARN MORE: 512/471-1604; tmm.utexas.edu

DINOSAUR WORLD IN GLEN ROSE

Roam among more than 150 life-size dinosaurs at this 20-acre theme park. And visit the motion-activated animatronics, including a T-rex, inside

the museum before letting kids put their paleontology

skills to the test. The Fossil Dig, Dino Gem Excavation and

Boneyard activities encour-age kids to unearth faux prehistoric creatures, fossils and bones — then take them home as souvenirs.

PRICE: Adults,

from $12.48; kids, $9.30; activities cost extra LEARN MORE: 254/898-1526; dinosaur-world.com/texas

DINOSAUR VALLEY STATE PARK IN GLEN ROSE Kids — and parents — can liter-ally walk in the footprints of giants such as T-rexes, velociraptors and sauropods (like the one in Danny and the Dinosaur) along the modern-day Paluxy River, an area with some of the best-preserved tracks in the world. Pro tip: Bring galoshes for the kids because they’ll definitely want to splash around in the riverbed. Call ahead to check water levels.

PRICE: Adults, $7; kids younger than 12, free.

LEARN MORE: 254/897-4588; tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/ dinosaur-valley

MINERAL WELLS FOSSIL PARK IN MINERAL WELLSThis six-acre pit in Mineral Wells is the real paleontological deal. While you don’t necessarily need to bring any supplies with you to unearth marine fossils such as clam and oyster shells from more than 300 million years ago (which you can take home), we think it’s more fun to bring hand shovels, brushes or strainers for exploring. Pack a picnic lunch to eat under a pavilion.

Note: Mineral Wells Fossil Park is primitive, so you won’t

find running water, indoor restrooms or concessions to buy food or water.

PRICE: Free

LEARN MORE: 940/328-7803; miner-alwellsfossilpark.com

WACO MAMMOTH NATIONAL

MONUMENT IN WACO View a herd of ice age-era

adult and baby mammoth fossils from suspended walkways at the recently named national monument in Waco. Stop by the Excavation Station where kids dig and brush in a giant clay pit to find replica mammoth bones, with or without an instructor. Admission and excavating are free, but you can also take a guided tour for an additional cost.

PRICE: Free; tours, $5 for adults, $4 for kids seventh grade and older, $3 for kids sixth grade and younger and free for kids younger than 3.LEARN MORE: 254/750-7946; nps.gov/waco

FORT WORTH MUSEUM

OF SCIENCE AND HISTORY IN FORT WORTHDid you know Texas has a state dinosaur? The 12-foot-high and

60-foot-long Paluxysaurus jo-nesi, named for the town of Paluxy

near the Jones Ranch, where the bones were discovered, calls the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History home. Check out the permanent DinoLabs and DinoDig exhibits, where kids can build a dinosaur by computer, then head outside to the interactive excavation site. Bonus: If your little digger finds a fossil small enough to fit inside her hand, she can take it home.

PRICE: Adults, $25; kids 2–12, $11; kids younger than 2, free.

LEARN MORE: 817/255-9300; fortworthmuseum.org ntc

dig it?

n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d / m a r c h 2 0 1 6 23

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

ITEXAS MEMORIAL MUSEUM IN AUSTIN Home to thousands of ancient fish, dinosaur, mam-mal and bird fossils, this museum also boasts the Onion Creek mosasaur, an impres-sive 30-foot skeleton of an extinct snake relative discovered in — you guessed it — Austin’s Onion Creek in 1935. Marvel other natural wonders at this four-floor museum while you’re there, and download interactive activities for the kids from the website’s curriculum resources before you go.

PRICE: Adults, $4; kids 2−12, $3; kids younger than 2, free.

can you

24 m a r c h 2 0 1 6 / n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d

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tour big bend country in an airstreamW O R D S J U L I A B U N C H

G E T T I N G T H E R E There are numerous daily round-trip flights from both Dallas Love Field and Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport to El Paso International Airport.

W H Y I T ’ S F A M I L Y F R I E N D L Y Nearly three years ago, AIRSTREAM 2 GO , the only licensed and autho-rized Airstream rental in the world, started renting the iconic trailers for 3–14 days from outposts in Los Angeles and Las Vegas. In November of last year, Airstream 2 Go expanded to include a West Texas hub in El Paso.

Pick up a Chevrolet Tahoe (part of the package) then drive three hours to Fort Davis to pick up your roomy mobile trailer — and get an orientation on all the

need-to-knows, like hitching/unhitching, hookups and waste disposal. The retro ’Stream has a modern layout and includes a flat-screen TV, Bluetooth, an indoor/outdoor sound system, an iPad Mini (preloaded with info about the trailer should you need a refresher), running water, a refrigerator, a gas grill, a portable table and chairs (for alfresco din-ing and chilling), a shower, a toilet and lots of storage space, much of it stocked with pots, pans, kitch-enware and toiletries. And trailers sleep either four or six people.

Families can rent an Airstream and plan their own adventure. However, we suggest the custom journey organized by Montana-based Off the Beaten Path, an adventure-travel outfitter that offers more concierge-style services for

Take a throwback family trip with a modern twist by exploring Texas’ Big Bend region in a fully-equipped rented silver bullet trailer from Airstream 2 Go, a company that partnered with Off the Beaten Path travel planners to create completely customizable itineraries out of El Paso.

family travel since everyone’s idea of vacation is different.

Custom journeys start at $2,280 for three days in a 23-foot Airstream that sleeps four. Park entrance, camping and excursions are not included, with some exceptions.

W H A T T O D O Hike the Santa Elena Canyon Trail in BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK . Making the 1.7-mile trek won’t leave the littles completely worn out, and you’ll find plenty of photo opportunities atop Terlingua Creek overlooking Mexico.

Low water levels make rafting, kayaking and floating within the park tricky, but some tours can still accommodate. Entrance to the park is $25 per vehicle (you don’t pay extra for having a trailer) and is valid for seven days.

Ask your Off the Beaten Path guide to schedule a Jeep tour through the Davis Mountains, a horseback ride through a cattle ranch, a brief excursion into Mexico or a round of golf at the Lajitas Golf Resort.

L O D G I N GYou’ll pull in to a campground, RV park — like the Rio Grande Village RV Campground in Big Bend National Park — or private scenic residence (some ranchers allow overnights on their land) each day. While you might not want to forgo the Egyptian cotton sheets for the night to rough it, the kids might. Each trailer includes a tent and other camping gear.

C A N ’ T M I S SPlan to attend a two-hour star party (held Tuesday, Friday and Saturday evenings and more during the week of March 14) at the MCDONALD OBSERVATORY in Fort Davis, where you view notable stars, plan-ets and constellations through some of the world’s best telescopes. Pro tip: Bring lots of layers as the tem-perature drops quickly after dark. Cost: adults, $12; kids, $8; ages 5 and younger, free.

Or venture south to Marfa to see the Marfa Lights, West Texas’ ver-sion of the Northern Lights. ntc

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AIRSTREAM 2 GO 800/780-9880; airstream2go.comBIG BEND NATIONAL PARK 432/477-2251; nps.gov/bibeMCDONALD OBSERVATORY 432/426-3640; mcdonaldobservatory.org

EXPLORE B IG BEND NATIONAL PARK

SLEEP AIRSTREAM 2 GO

GAZE MCDONALD OBSERVATORY

go west2

3

1 / Rent one of two sizes of RVs from Airstream 2 Go that sleep four or six people. 2 / Take a low-intensity hike on the Santa Elena Canyon Trail in Big Bend National Park. 3 / The McDonald Observatory offers additional star parties during the month of March.

n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d / m a r c h 2 0 1 6 25

We’ve Got the Inside Track on Fun.

HOP ABOARD the Grapevine Vintage Railroad and ride between Grapevine’s Cotton Belt Depot and the Fort Worth Stockyards, or on the Stockyards Trinity River Ride. Travel in authentic 1920s Victorian-era coaches.

For tickets, schedules and train information visit www.GVRR.com or call 817.410.3185.

AIR-CONDITIONED FIRST CLASS

COACHES

23821_GCVB_Child_Mags_March_2016_train_ad_v3.indd 1 2/11/16 5:10 PM

KERA FAMILY ZONESUPPORTED BY DFWCHILD

EarthDayTx.org

APRIL 22-24, 2016 | FAIR PARKFREE & FAMILY-FRIENDLY

PRESENTS

n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d / m a r c h 2 0 1 6 27

WANT TO FIND

MORE OF THE BEST

FAMILY-FRIENDLY

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WEEKEND GUIDE

AT DFWCHILD.COM/

NEWSLETTER.

seeThink you need elbow-

length gloves to go to

the opera? Think again.

This high art form is

accessible to all ages

thanks to The Dallas Opera Family Season,

including two family

shows this month at

the Winspear Opera

House. So dress up

(or not!) for the comic

Bastien and Bastienne on

March 5 and Rossini and

Company on March 13,

each at 2pm with lobby

activities starting at

12:30pm. $5 each.

Dallas, 214/443-1000dallasopera.org/family

playThe Easter egg hunt

competition is fierce

at Flower Mound’s Underwater Easter

Egg Hunt on Saturday,

March 26. Bring

your swimsuit to the

Community Activity

Center pool and at

10am jump in to grab

as many of the floating

eggs as possible. Then

stick around for games,

crafts and a meet and

greet with the Easter

Bunny. $5 for CAC

members, $6 for non-

members; registration

is required.

Flower Mound, 972/874-6280

flower-mound.com/cac

doNever mind that your

kid is a decade (or more)

away from college. Take

a special trip to the Uni-

versity of North Texas

campus on Saturday,

March 12, for the new,

free Saturday Series program, open to kids

in K–12th grades. They’ll

act out the children’s

classic Town Musicians

of Bremen and then

create their own story

to perform in the UNT

Art Gallery from 1–3pm.

Register online.

Denton, 940/565-4316gallery.unt.edu/saturdays

giveThe beginning of the

new season means

volunteers across the

U.S. spring into action

to tidy up America’s

roadsides. Join Keep

Denton Beautiful’s local

effort by registering

for Denton’s Great American Cleanup

on Saturday, March 19,

starting with a morning

trash pickup around

the city and a volunteer

party from 11am–

1pm at the Denton

Civic Center with a free

lunch, live music and

bounce houses.

Denton, 940/349-8737kdb.org

hearThe nonprofit Tejas

Storytelling Association

offers its annual Texas Storytelling Festival full of sacred tales, tall

tales and ghost stories,

plus concerts and work-

shops at the Denton

Civic Center March

10–13. Help judge the

liars contest and don’t

miss the free Kids’ Day

on Saturday for a family

concert, lunch and a

kid/parent story swap.

Single concert tickets

are $10 at the door.

Some events are free.

Denton, 940/380-9320tejasstorytelling.com

kid culture / A G E N D A

5 best things to do this …W O R D S

E L I Z A B E T H S M I T H

I L L U S T R A T I O N K Y L E C O N F E H R

28 m a r c h 2 0 1 6 / n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d

Wednesday, April 20th at 6:30 p.m.

In hospital lobby

Behind Closed Doors

Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Flower Mound is a joint venture owned by Texas Health Resources and physicians dedicated to the community and meets the definition under federal law of a physician-owned hospital. Doctors on the medical staff practice independently and are not employees or agents of the hospital.

4400 Long Prairie RoadFlower Mound, TX 75028TexasHealthFlowerMound.com

Please RSVP to 469.322.7085

Please join us for an amazing and motivational seminar with Larry Myers.Behind Closed Doors is the story of how a man ate himself into a Nursing Home, weighing over 900 pounds and was told that he would never be able to care for himself, never be able to live a normal life because of his morbid obesity. He takes you from his childhood where he was bullied and picked on because of his large size and how he lived Behind Closed Doors taking comfort in food and feeling like an embar-rassment to his friends and family then explains how he slipped into a coma and doctors told his family that he would not survive but after this near death experience he woke up with the strength he needed to move forward to change his life. It is an amazing story of how one man beat the odds and took his life back.

When it comes to successful weight loss, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Flower Mound has you covered. Specialists on our staff offer many treatment options such as Medical Weight Management, Robotic Surgery, Gastric Sleeve, Gastric Bypass, Duodenal Switch and LAP Band. Make Texas Health Flower Mound your destination for better health and wellness. Let us help you navigate your way through this very important journey.

n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d / m a r c h 2 0 1 6 29

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03/26 EGG-STRAVAGANZA @ WAGON WHEEL PARK

kid cultureeveryday. E D I T E D B Y E L I Z A B E T H S M I T H

11:30am and 4pm daily, weather permitting. Line up along the streets

and watch genuine cowhands drive a herd of about 15 Texas longhorns through

the stockyards. FREE

PLAYTIME Imagination Playground Klyde Warren Park, 2012 Woodall Rodgers Fwy., Dallas. 214/716-4500. klydewarrenpark.org. 9am–12pm every Tue. Use blue, larger-than-life blocks by Imagination Playground to build your very own play equipment. FREE

ARTS & CRAFTS Pictures and Pages Kimbell Art Museum, 3333 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth. 817/332-8451. kimbellart.org. 10:30–11:45am. Listen to a reading of Extra Yarn, written by Mac Barnett and illustrated by Jon Klassen, and do simple art activities in the Piano Pavilion Education Stu-dios. For ages 4–6. Maximum of two children per adult. Registration is required. FREE

EXHIBIT The Cynthia Ann and Quanah Parker Trail Grapevine Conven-tion & Visitors Bureau, 636 S. Main St., Grapevine. 817-410-3185. grapevinetexasusa.com. 8am–5pm Mar 1–3. See more than 40 rarely shown photos and learn about the dramatic story of these two courageous people in U.S. frontier history. Located in the Tower Gallery. FREE

EXHIBIT Think – An Exploration into Making the World Work Better Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, 1600 Gendy St., Fort Worth. 817/255-9300. fwmsh.org. 10am–5pm Mon–Sat and 12–5pm Sun through Oct. See this 6,600-square-foot interactive exhibit designed by IBM to showcase how technology and innovation have transformed the world. Free with admission: $15 adults and $11 children ages 2–12.

1 TUESDAYSTORY TIME

Bella’s Book Club Botanical Research Institute of Texas, 1700 University Dr., Fort Worth. 817/332-4441. brit.org. 10:30am each first Tue monthly. Join Bella the begonia hand puppet for story readings and nature activities. $10 per family for nonmembers; free for BRIT members.

EXHIBIT Butterflies in the Garden Fort Worth Botanic Garden, 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd., Fort Worth. 817/392-5510. bitg16.org. 10am–4pm daily through Apr 3. Walk through the Fort Worth Botanic Garden Conservatory to see fluttering butterflies from around the world. Strollers are not per-mitted in the conservatory. $10 adults; $6 for ages 3–12.

FESTIVAL Dallas Blooms – The Artistry in Nature Dallas Arboretum, 8525 Garland Rd., Dallas. 214/515-6500. dallasarboretum.org. 9am–5pm daily through Apr 10. Walk through the gar-dens to see half a million spring-blooming bulbs in the Dallas Arboretum’s floral festival featuring an Artistry in Nature theme with bronze statues by American sculptor Gary Lee Price on display. $15 adults; $10 ages 3–12. $3 additional fee for Children’s Garden entry.

ARTS & CRAFTS First Tuesday at the DMA Dallas Museum of Art, 1717 N. Harwood St., Dallas. 214/922-1200. dma.org. 11am–2pm. Join thematic art-making activities, story times, perfor-mances and gallery activities in the Center for Creative Connections. Designed for children ages 5 and younger but open to all ages. FREE

PARADE Fort Worth Herd Fort Worth Stockyards, 130 E. Exchange Ave., Fort Worth. 817/625-9715. stockyardsstation.com.

PLAYTIME Tiny Tot Tuesdays Dallas Arboretum, 8525 Garland Rd., Dallas. 214/515-6615. dallasarboretum.org. 10am–2pm each Tue through Apr 5. Head to the Pecan Grove for children’s activi-ties including face painting, a petting zoo, story time and Kindermusik. $15 adults; $10 ages 3–12.

CONTINUING: See dfwchild.com for more events.

2 WEDNESDAYNATURE

Nature Nights Dallas Arboretum, 8525 Garland Rd., Dallas. 214/515-6615. dallasarboretum.org. Each Wed through Oct 19. Take a garden stroll on Wed nights when open hours are extended to 8pm. From 6–7:30pm look for Booker T. Washington art students throughout the ar-boretum for free instruction available for kids ages 6–12. $15 adults; $10 children ages 3–12.

CONTINUING: Butterflies in the Garden See Mar 1. Dallas Blooms See Mar 1. Fort Worth Herd See Mar 1. The Cynthia Ann and Quanah Parker Trail See Mar 1. Think See Mar 1.

3 THURSDAYSCIENCE

First Thursday Late Night Perot Museum of Nature and Sci-ence at Victory Park, 2201 N. Field St., Dallas. 214/428-5555. perotmuseum.org. 7–9pm. Explore futuristic technologies, parallel universes and extraterrestrial life and how these ideas are featured in movies, television and literature. Free with admission: $19 adults; $12 for ages 2–17.

ARTS & CRAFTS JumpstART Stories & Art Irving Arts Center, 3333 N. MacAr-thur Blvd., Irving. 972/252-2787. irvingartscenter.com.

MARCH03/12 PLAZA MUSIC

SERIES – ME AND MY MONKEY @ COPPELL TOWN CENTER PLAZA

kid culture / E V E R Y D A Y

30 m a r c h 2 0 1 6 / n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d

10am. Pay tribute to Dr. Seuss on his birthday by joining this story time and art program for ages 2 and older. FREE

NATURE Stories and More Texas Discovery Gardens, 3601 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Dallas. 214/428-7476. texasdiscoverygardens.org. 11am every first Thu. Read a children’s book, make crafts and eat themed snacks, then watch the daily butterfly release at 12pm. For ages 5 and younger. $8 adults; $8 kids ages 3–11; $3 kids ages 1–2.

CONTINUING: Butterflies in the Garden See Mar 1. Dallas Blooms See Mar 1. Fort Worth Herd See Mar 1. The Cynthia Ann and Quanah Parker Trail See Mar 1. Think See Mar 1.

4 FRIDAYEDUCATIONAL

First Friday at Nash Farm Nash Farm, 626 Ball St., Grapevine. 817/410-3185. nashfarm.org. 10am–12pm. Experience homesteading techniques you can incorporate into your daily routine. For all ages. Registration is required. $3 per person.

FILM First Friday Film Series Palace Theatre, 300 S. Main St., Grapevine. 817/410-3100. palace-theatre.com. 7:30pm. Watch the movie The Wizard of Oz in the historic theater. $6.

ON STAGE Hansel and Gretel Dallas Children’s Theater, 5938 Skillman St., Dallas. 214/740-0051. dct.org. Multiple showtimes Mar 4–6, 12–13, 19–20 and Apr 2–3. Watch this Kathy Burks Theatre of Puppetry Arts stage performance about two children who get lost in an enchanted forest. Tickets start at $13.

FESTIVAL North Texas Irish Festival Fair Park, Dallas. 214/821-4173. ntif.org. 6–11pm Mar 4; 10:30am–11:30pm Mar 5; 11:30am–7:30pm Mar 6. Watch top Irish musicians and dancers from around the world on 13 stages; eat Irish stew, shepherd’s pie and more traditional cuisine at the food booths; and enjoy children’s en-tertainment, a petting zoo and art activities at Urchin Street. Free from 6–7pm and $10 from 7–11pm Mar 4; $20 Mar 5; $15 Mar 6; $25 for two days; $30 week-end. Free for ages 11 and younger with family.

RODEO Stockyards Championship Rodeo Cowtown Coliseum, 121 E. Exchange Ave., Fort Worth. 817/625-1025. stockyardsrodeo.com. 8–10pm every Fri and Sat. Watch cowboys and cowgirls compete in bull riding, tie-down roping, team roping, barrel racing, bronc riding and breakaway roping and let the kids join in the calf and mutton scrambles. $17.50 adults; $10 for ages 3–12.

RECREATION Zombie Laser Tag Senter Park Recreation Center, 901 S. Senter St., Irving. 972/721-2641. cityofirving.org. 6:30–9:30pm. Join a game of zombie laser tag and dodgeball. Play a free game of dodgeball while you wait for your turn at laser tag. For ages 8 and older. $7 per game.

CONTINUING: Butterflies in the Garden See Mar 1. Dallas Blooms See Mar 1. Fort Worth Herd See Mar 1. Think See Mar 1.

5 SATURDAYARTS & CRAFTS

Adventure Asia – Family Days at the Crow Crow Collec-tion of Asian Art, 2010 Flora St., Dallas. 214/979-6430. crowcollection.org. 10am–2pm. In celebration of the museum’s newest exhibition, create your own miniature landscapes with activities like crayon cloisonné, shaving cream landscapes and salt water watercolors. FREE

ON STAGE Bastien and Bastienne Winspear Opera House, 2403

Flora St., Dallas. 214/443-1000. dallasopera.org/family. 12:30pm lobby activities; 2pm show. Watch this one-act comic opera about a shepherdess and the boy she loves presented by The Dallas Opera as part of the Family Season. Sung in English. $5.

NATURE BRIT First Saturday Botanical Research Institute of Texas, 1700 University Dr., Fort Worth. 817/332-4441. brit.org. 9am–12pm. Talk to a real botanist, join plant walks and meet Bella the begonia hand puppet for a story time and activities at this monthly event. FREE

ARTS & CRAFTS Family Art Activities Klyde Warren Park, 2012 Woodall Rodgers Fwy., Dallas. 214/716-4500. klydewarren-park.org. 10:30am–12pm. Meet at The Dallas Morning News Reading & Games Room for craft activities provided by the Nasher Sculpture Center. FREE

NATURE Family Zoo Adventures Dallas Zoo, 650 S. R.L. Thornton Fwy., Dallas. 469/554-7500. dallaszoo.com/education/camps-classes/family-programs. 9:15–11:15am. Learn about the adaptations of toads, salamanders and more amphibians during this family program with activity stations, animal encounters and special zoo tours. For ages 4–12. $15 zoo members; $20 nonmembers.

EDUCATIONAL Maker Studio Fort Worth Museum of Science and Histo-ry, 1600 Gendy St., Fort Worth. 817/255-9300. fwmsh.org/make. Drop in from 10am–5pm Mar 5; 2:15–4pm Mar 6. Members can schedule an appointment Sun from 12–2:15pm. Learn how to bend and solder metal into your own unique bubble wand and then see how you can attach motors and code with Arduino to create a motorized bubble-blowing experience. For ages 8 and older. Meet in the Innovation Studios. Free with admission: $15 adults; $11 for ages 2–12.

FILM Planetarium Shows UNT Sky Theater, 1704 W. Mulberry St., Denton. 940/369-8213. skytheater.unt.edu. 2 and 8pm each Sat. Watch short films about space explora-tion on the planetarium’s high-definition projection system. Check the website for scheduled shows. $5 for adults; $3 for ages 12 and younger. Cash only.

RECREATION SPARK! Family Day SPARK!, 1409 S. Lamar St., Ste. 004, Dallas. 214/421-7727. sparkdallas.org. 1–4pm. Play on the 6,000-foot Climb, Crawl, Slide sculpture at this event for families with children in second grade through high school. $8 in advance through Mar 4; $10 at the door.

NATURE Star Party Rafes Urban Astronomy Center, 2350 Tom Cole Rd., Denton. 940/369-8213. astronomy.unt.edu/starparties. 30 minutes after sunset, weather permit-ting. Gaze at celestial bodies through telescopes, see the Hudson Planetwalk and learn about the night sky from University of North Texas staff members and students. Check the website for an alternate route due to construction. $5; free for ages 4 and younger. Cash only.

ARTS & CRAFTS Target First Saturdays Nasher Sculpture Center, 2001 Flora St., Dallas. 214/242-5100. nashersculpturecen-ter.org. Open 10am–5pm. Activities 10am–2pm. Make a thinking cap and enjoy more innovation-themed activities at this family day for preschoolers and elementary-aged children. Listen to a story reading, join a yoga session in the garden, and enjoy more family programming. FREE

ON STAGE The Wizard of Oz Geppetto’s Marionette Theater at the Hilton Anatole, 2201 N. Stemmons Fwy., Dallas. 469/442-1925. geppettostheater.com. 11am and 2pm each Sat and 3pm each Sun through May 15. See Dorothy and friends in this marionette show recommended for ages 3 and older. Arrive early for the puppetry gift shop and old-time concession

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stand. Stick around after the show for a behind-the-scenes look at puppetry magic. Tickets start at $16 for adults and $14 for children.

PLAYTIME Touch a Truck C.H. Collins Athletic Complex, 1500 Long Rd., Denton. 940/595-4001. exploriumden-ton.org. 10am–2pm. Sit in and climb on dozens of vehicles including firetrucks, police vehicles, boats, a helicopter, a monster truck and antique tractors. Also enjoy food trucks and children’s activities. Proceeds benefit Explorium Denton and the Denton Public School Foundation. $2 suggested donation.

CONTINUING: Butterflies in the Garden See Mar 1. Dallas Blooms See Mar 1. Fort Worth Herd See Mar 1. Think See Mar 1. Hansel and Gretel See Mar 4. North Texas Irish Festival See Mar 4. Stockyards Championship Rodeo See Mar 4.

6 SUNDAYARTS & CRAFTS

Drawing from the Collection for Children The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, 3200 Darnell St., Fort Worth. 817/738-9215. themodern.org. 2–3:30pm. Bring a sketchbook and pencils to join informal drawing exercises based on the Modern’s galler-ies and led by instructors Haley Fowler and Luke Harden. Sign up at the information desk before the program. For ages 5–12. FREE

CONTINUING: Butterflies in the Garden See Mar 1. Dallas Blooms See Mar 1. Fort Worth Herd See Mar 1. Think See Mar 1. Hansel and Gretel See Mar 4. North Texas Irish Festival See Mar 4. Maker Studio See Mar 5. The Wizard of Oz See Mar 5.

7 MONDAYPLAYTIME

Mommy and Me Mondays Dallas Arboretum, 8525 Garland Rd., Dallas. 214/515-6615. dallasarbore-tum.org. 10am–2pm each Mon through Apr 4. Head to the Pecan Grove for children’s activities including face painting, a petting zoo, story time and Kindermusik. $15 adults; $10 ages 3–12.

CONTINUING: Butterflies in the Garden See Mar 1. Dallas Blooms See Mar 1. Fort Worth Herd See Mar 1. Think See Mar 1.

8 TUESDAYNATURE

Stars and Stories Fort Worth Museum of Sci-ence and History, 1600 Gendy St., Fort Worth. 817/255-9300. fwmsh.org. 10:15am. Meet in the planetarium gallery for a story reading by a librar-ian from the Fort Worth Public Library and then watch the show One World, One Sky – Big Bird’s Adventure in the Noble Planetarium. Free with admission: $15 adults; $11 children ages 2–12.

CONTINUING: Butterflies in the Garden See Mar 1. Dallas Blooms See Mar 1. Fort Worth Herd See Mar 1. Imagination Playground See Mar 1. Think See Mar 1. Tiny Tot Tuesdays See Mar 1.

9 WEDNESDAYARTS & CRAFTS

Arturo’s Art & Me Dallas Museum of Art, 1717 N. Harwood St., Dallas. 214/922-1200. dma.org. 11am–12:30pm Mar 9, 10 and 12. Choose one session to attend with your child age 3–5. Explore life under the sea and take a closer look at a colorful stained glass window. $8 for participat-ing children; $5 DMA members.

CONTINUING: Butterflies in the Garden See Mar 1. Dallas Blooms See Mar 1. Fort Worth Herd See Mar 1. Think See Mar 1. Nature Nights See Mar 2.

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10 THURSDAYFESTIVAL

Texas Storytelling Festival Denton Civic Center, 321 E. McKinney St., Denton. 940/380-9320. tejasstorytell-ing.com. 7–9:15pm Mar 10; 9am–10pm Mar 11–12; 8am–1pm Mar 13. Join kids’ storytelling workshops and listen to ghost stories, tall tales and folk tales with storytellers from across the country at the annual festival. Check the website for a complete schedule. Single concert tickets are $10 at the door. Some events are free.

CONTINUING: Butterflies in the Garden See Mar 1. Dallas Blooms See Mar 1. Fort Worth Herd See Mar 1. Think See Mar 1. Arturo’s Art & Me See Mar 9.

11 FRIDAYON STAGE

Charlotte’s Web Artisan Center Theater, 444 E. Pipeline Rd., Hurst. 817/284-1200. artisanct.com. Multiple showtimes each Fri, Sat and Tue through Apr 23. Ad-ditional 10am performances Mar 14–18. Watch local kids perform in a musical based on the book by E.B. White. $10 adults; $7 for ages 12 and younger.

ON STAGE Disney’s The Little Mermaid Music Hall at Fair Park, 909 First Ave., Dallas. 214/421-5678. dallassummermusi-cals.org. Multiple showtimes Mar 11–13, 15–20 and 22–27. See Ariel and her magical kingdom in this Broadway musical based on one of Hans Christian Andersen’s most beloved stories. Tickets start at $25.

NATURE Family Safari Night Hike Dallas Zoo, 650 S. R.L. Thornton Fwy., Dallas. 469/554-7500. dallaszoo.com/education/night-programs/family-nights. 7–10pm. Take a special zoo tour after dark, join kid-friendly activities and see some of the education animals up close. $20.

CONTINUING: Butterflies in the Garden See Mar 1. Dallas Blooms See Mar 1. Fort Worth Herd See Mar 1. Think See Mar 1. Stockyards Championship Rodeo See Mar 4. Texas Storytelling Festival See Mar 10.

12 SATURDAYNATURE

Bird Walk Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area, 201 E. Jones St., Lewisville. 972/219-7980. llela.org. 7:30–10:30am. Bring your own binoculars and join expert guides to look for hundreds of bird species along LLELA’s nature trails. For children ages 10 and older and bird watchers of all skill levels. $2 program fee; $5 gate admission. Cash or check only.

DANCE Capoeira with RCJ Machado Jiu Jitsu Klyde Warren Park, 2012 Woodall Rodgers Fwy., Dallas. 214/716-4500. klydewarrenpark.org. 10–11am. Meet on the Gins-burg Family Great Lawn for this monthly workout that combines martial arts, music and dancing. FREE

SCIENCE Discovery Days Perot Museum of Nature and Science at Victory Park, 2201 N. Field St., Dallas. 214/428-5555. perotmuseum.org. 10am–4pm. Discover the field of paleontology as you dig up fossils and bones, cast some fossil creations, examine fossils up close and learn how to identify them. For all ages. Free with admission: $19 adults; $12 for ages 2–17.

ARTS & CRAFTS Family Funday – Museum Day Live! Irving Arts Center, 3333 N. MacArthur Blvd., Irving. 972/252-2787. irvin-gartscenter.com. 12–4pm. Join hands-on art activities and watch film screenings including The Empower-ment Project to mark Women’s History Month. FREE

MUSIC Plaza Music Series – Me and My Monkey Coppell Town Center Plaza, 255 Parkway Blvd., Coppell. 972/462-5100. coppelltx.gov/events. 7–9pm. Bring your blan-

kets, chairs and a picnic basket, get free popcorn and listen to a concert by the Beatles tribute band. FREE

EDUCATIONAL Saturday Series UNT Art Gallery, 1201 W. Mulberry St., Denton. 940/565-4316. gallery.unt.edu/saturdays. 1–3pm. Act out the children’s classic Town Musicians of Bremen before creating and acting out your own story during this workshop led by Matt Ludlam, owner of Ludlam Dramatics. Register online. FREE

ARTS & CRAFTS Wild About Art Dallas Zoo, 650 S. R.L. Thornton Fwy., Dallas. 469/554-7500. dallaszoo.com/education/camps-classes/preschool. 1–2:45pm. Use a variety of materials and art techniques for an animal-inspired project. Take a zoo tour and get up close with an ani-mal encounter. For children ages 5–8 years. Online registration is required. $15 zoo member child; $20 nonmember child.

CONTINUING: Butterflies in the Garden See Mar 1. Dallas Blooms See Mar 1. Fort Worth Herd See Mar 1. Think See Mar 1. Han-sel and Gretel See Mar 4. Stockyards Championship Rodeo See Mar 4. Planetarium Shows See Mar 5. The Wizard of Oz See Mar 5. Arturo’s Art & Me See Mar 9. Texas Story-telling Festival See Mar 10. Charlotte’s Web See Mar 11. Disney’s The Little Mermaid See Mar 11.

13 SUNDAYFITNESS

Kids’ Yoga at LLELA Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area, 201 E. Jones St., Lewisville. 972/219-7980. llela.org. 10–11am Mar 13 and 27. Join instruc-tors from Imagination Yoga for a story-based yoga session for kids ages 2–12. Ages 7 and younger must be accompanied by an adult. Online registration is required. $12. $5 per vehicle entry fee.

ON STAGE Rossini and Company Winspear Opera House, 2403 Flo-ra St., Dallas. 214/443-1000. dallasopera.org/family. 12:30pm lobby activities; 2pm show. Listen to some of opera’s greatest hits, including those from the eccentric Italian composer Gioachino Rossini. Sung in multiple languages with English supertitles during this family concert. $5.

CONTINUING: Butterflies in the Garden See Mar 1. Dallas Blooms See Mar 1. Fort Worth Herd See Mar 1. Think See Mar 1. Hansel and Gretel See Mar 4. The Wizard of Oz See Mar 5. Texas Storytelling Festival See Mar 10. Disney’s The Little Mermaid See Mar 11.

14 MONDAYARTS & CRAFTS

Family Craft Night Lewisville Public Library, 1197 W. Main St., Lewisville. 972/219-3570. library.cityoflew-isville.com. 7–8pm. Meet in the Bennett Program Room for a drop-in family crafting session with provided supplies. FREE

ON STAGE Shen Yun Bass Performance Hall, 525 Commerce St., Fort Worth. 817/212-4280. basshall.com. 7:30pm Mar 14–15. Discover 5,000 years of Chinese civilization through this grand production featuring classically trained dancers, an orchestra blending East and West, and animated backdrops. Tickets start at $60.

NATURE Spring Break Safari Week Texas Discovery Gardens, 3601 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Dallas. 214/428-7476. texasdiscoverygardens.org. 11am–3:30pm Mar 14–18. Bring a picnic lunch and head to the gardens with your family to join discovery-themed activities. Free with admission: $8 adults; $4 for children ages 3–11.

ARTS & CRAFTS Spring Break Wonders The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, 3200 Darnell St., Fort Worth. 817/738-9215. themodern.org. 10am and 2pm Mar 14–17. Join a docent-led session and a gallery project that A

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focuses on selected works in the Modern’s collection. For school-aged children. Space is limited. FREE

HISTORY Spring Fling on the Grapevine Vintage Railroad Cotton Belt Depot, 705 S. Main St., Grapevine. 817/410-3185. gvrr.com. 1–5:45pm Mar 14–16; 11am–3:45pm Mar 17–18. Play interactive games and join activities on board a vintage railcar during a round-trip excursion from Grapevine to the Fort Worth Stockyards. $18 touring class; $26 first-class seating.

CONTINUING: Butterflies in the Garden See Mar 1. Dallas Blooms See Mar 1. Fort Worth Herd See Mar 1. Think See Mar 1. Mommy and Me Mondays See Mar 7. Charlotte’s Web See Mar 11.

15 TUESDAYARTS & CRAFTS

Family Fun Week – All-American Road Trip Amon Carter Museum of American Art, 3501 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth. 817/738-1933. cartermuseum.org. 10am–12pm Mar 15–18. Discover works of art depicting different regions of the United States with in-gallery activities and art making. FREE

NATURE Green Thumb Club Spring Break Fort Worth Botanic Garden, 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd., Fort Worth. 817/392-5534. fwbg.org. 10am–12pm. Walk among hundreds of tropical butterflies and release one into the conservatory. For kids in K–fifth grades. $20.

ARTS & CRAFTS Spring Break Art Extravaganza Kimbell Art Museum, 3333 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth. 817/332-8451. kimbellart.org. 10am–3pm Mar 15–17; 12–4pm Mar 18. Experience free fun all week with these drop-in programs: art activities, interactive family tours, storybook readings, teen studios and children’s films. FREE

ARTS & CRAFTS Spring Break Craftsmanship Demonstrations Bureau of Engraving and Printing – West-ern Currency Facility, 9000 Blue Mound Rd., Fort Worth. 817/231-4000. moneyfac-tory.gov. 8:30am–5:30pm Mar 15–18. Last tour at 4:30pm. Design and engrave your very own currency (open to kids ages 8–18), learn how printing plates are made and take a self-guided tour through the facility that prints over half of the nation’s paper currency. FREE

CONTINUING: Butterflies in the Garden See Mar 1. Dallas Blooms See Mar 1. Fort Worth Herd See Mar 1. Imagination Playground See Mar 1. Think See Mar 1. Tiny Tot Tuesdays See Mar 1. Charlotte’s Web See Mar 11. Disney’s The Little Mermaid See Mar 11. Shen Yun See Mar 14. Spring Break Safari Week See Mar 14. Spring Break Wonders See Mar 14. Spring Fling on the Grapevine Vintage Railroad See Mar 14.

16 WEDNESDAYSTORY TIME

Family Story Time Flower Mound Flower Mound Public Library, 3030 Broadmoor Ln., Flower Mound. 972/874-6167. fmlibrary.net. 7–8pm. Enjoy stories, music, rhyme, crafts and snacks for families with young children. FREE

CONTINUING: Butterflies in the Garden See Mar 1. Dallas Blooms See Mar 1. Fort Worth Herd See Mar 1. Think See Mar 1. Nature Nights See Mar 2. Charlotte’s Web See Mar 11. Disney’s The Little Mermaid See Mar 11. Spring Break Safari Week See Mar 14. Spring Break Wonders See Mar 14. Spring Fling on the Grapevine Vintage Railroad See Mar 14. Family Fun Week – All-American Road Trip See Mar 15. Spring Break Art Extravaganza See Mar 15. Spring Break Craftsmanship Demonstrations See Mar 15.

17 THURSDAYST. PATRICK’S DAY

St. Patrick’s Day Celebration Lee Park Recreation Center, 3000 Pamela Dr., Irving. 972/721-2508. cityofirving.org. 10–11:30am. Take part in themed activities and games for ages 12 and younger and snack on refreshments. Register by Mar 10. $5 per child.

CONTINUING: Butterflies in the Garden See Mar 1. Dallas Blooms See Mar 1. Fort Worth Herd See Mar 1. Think See Mar 1. Charlotte’s Web See Mar 11. Disney’s The Little Mermaid See Mar 11. Spring Break Safari Week See Mar 14. Spring Break Wonders See Mar 14. Spring Fling on the Grapevine Vintage Railroad See Mar 14. Family Fun Week See Mar 15. Spring Break Art Extravaganza See Mar 15. Spring Break Craftsmanship Demonstrations See Mar 15.

18 FRIDAYMUSIC

‘Til Midnight at the Nasher Nasher Sculpture Center, 2001 Flora St., Dallas. 214/242-5100. nashersculpturecenter.org. 6pm–12am. 7pm concert; 9pm film. Bring a blanket to sit on the lawn with your family, listen to live music by Kirk Thurmond & The Millennials and watch the 1990 movie Edward Scissorhands (rated PG-13). Part of the Dallas Arts District Spring Break Block Party. FREE

EASTER Bunny Brunch Northwest Park Recreation Center, 2800 Cheyenne St., Irving.

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972/721-2529. cityofirving.org. 10–11:30am. Enjoy brunch and a craft, go on an egg hunt and take an Easter Bunny photo. For ages 6 and younger. $5 per child.

ARTS & CRAFTS Crow Collection After Dark Crow Collection of Asian Art, 2010 Flora St., Dallas. 214/979-6430. crowcollection.org. 6pm–12am. Create your own free-form mirror and ink blown tiles and contribute to a large-scale community collage at this program inspired by the colorful Alexander Gorlizki – Variable Dimensions exhibit. FREE

HISTORY Frugal Farm Wife Nash Farm, 626 Ball St., Grapevine. 817/410-3185. nashfarm.org. 10am–2pm. Step inside the 19th-century home to meet with costumed interpret-ers and learn about the domestic duties of a farm family. For all ages. Registration is required. $3 per person.

ARTS & CRAFTS Late Night at the DMA Dallas Museum of Art, 1717 N. Harwood St., Dallas. 214/922-1803. dma.org. 6pm–12am. Hang out at the museum for all-ages activities includ-ing performances, concerts, readings, film screenings, tours and family programs. $15; some exhibitions require an additional ticket. Free for children ages 11 and younger and for DMA members.

NATURE Stars on the Prairie Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area, 201 E. Jones St., Lewisville. 972/219-7980. llela.org. 7:45–9:45pm. Get a view of the night sky from LLELA’s prairie restoration. Wear long pants and closed-toe shoes and bring a water bottle and a blanket or chair. Online registration is required. $5 per vehicle at the gate.

ON STAGE The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane Dallas Children’s Theater, 5938 Skillman St., Dallas. 214/740-0051. dct.org. Multiple showtimes Mar 18–20 and Apr 2–3, 9–10. Watch this production about the beautiful toy rabbit who loves only himself. Writ-ten by Kate DiCamillo, the award-winning author of Because of Winn-Dixie. For ages 7 and older. Tickets start at $13.

ON STAGE The Three Little Pigs Casa Mañana Theatre, 3101 W. Lancaster Ave., Fort Worth. 817/332-2272. casamanana.org. Multiple showtimes Mar 18–20, 25–27 and Apr 1–3. Watch this new adaptation of the classic tale from the Broadway writers of Honk! and Mary Poppins. Tickets start at $16.

CONTINUING: Butterflies in the Garden See Mar 1. Dallas Blooms See Mar 1. Fort Worth Herd See Mar 1. Think See Mar 1. Stockyards Championship Rodeo See Mar 4. Charlotte’s Web See Mar 11. Disney’s The Little Mermaid See Mar 11. Spring Break Safari Week See Mar 14. Spring Fling on the Grapevine Vintage Railroad See Mar 14. Family Fun Week See Mar 15. Spring Break Art Extravaganza See Mar 15. Spring Break Craftsmanship Demonstrations See Mar 15.

19 SATURDAYEASTER

Breakfast with the Easter Bunny Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center, 1300 Wilson St., Denton. 940/349-8575. dentonparks.com. 10am–12pm. Eat a pancake and juice breakfast and snap a photo with the Easter Bunny. $5 per person. Each additional photo costs $1.

RECREATION Campfire Program Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area, 201 E. Jones St., Lewisville. 972/219-3550. llela.org. 7:30–9:30pm. Bring a chair and cozy up around a fire for stargazing, stories, songs and s’mores. Online registration is required. $10 per person; $30 per family up to six members.

ST. PATRICK’S DAY Cowtown Goes Green Stockyards Station, 130 E. Exchange Ave., Fort Worth. 817/625-9715. stockyardsstation.com. 12–5pm. Parade at 4pm. Join the city’s largest and most family-friendly St. Patrick’s Day celebration for armadillo races, a petting zoo, face painting, games, live music, mock gunfights and a parade following the 4pm cattle drive. FREE

SPECIAL EVENT Denton’s Great American Cleanup Denton Civic Center, 321 E. McKinney St., Denton. 940/349-8737. kdb.org. 9am cleanup; 11am–1pm volunteer party. Join Keep Den-ton Beautiful in this annual cleanup effort at locations around Denton, followed by a volunteer party with a free lunch, live music and bounce houses. Call or go online to register. FREE

EASTER Easter Egg Hunt Unity Park, 2200 Briarhill Blvd., Highland Village. 972/317-7430. highlandvillage.org. The egg hunt begins promptly at 10am. Enjoy face painting, a bounce house, a fire engine and Freddy’s Frozen Custard. Bring your camera to take pictures with the Easter Bunny. FREE

EASTER Easter Egg Scramble Jake’s Hilltop Park, 4975 Timber Creek Rd., Flower Mound. 972/874-6276. flower-mound.com. 1:30pm activities; 2:30pm egg hunt. Bring the kids to Flower Mound’s 33rd annual Easter scramble for lots of candy and an appearance by the Easter Bunny. FREE

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EASTER Funny Bunny Festival Toyota of Lewisville Railroad Park, 1301 S. Railroad St., Lewisville. 972/219-3560. cityoflewisville.com. 9:30am–12:30pm. Play carnival games, visit a petting zoo, snap photos with Mr. and Mrs. Funny Bunny, and fill your Easter basket with goodies from sponsor tables and egg hunts open to kids 13 and younger. FREE

MUSIC Plaza Music Series – The Live 5 Band Coppell Town Center Plaza, 255 Parkway Blvd., Coppell. 972/462-5100. coppelltx.gov/events. 7–9pm. Bring your blankets, chairs and a picnic basket, get free popcorn and listen to a live band at this outdoor concert. FREE

CONTINUING: Butterflies in the Garden See Mar 1. Dallas Blooms See Mar 1. Fort Worth Herd See Mar 1. Think See Mar 1. Hansel and Gretel See Mar 4. Stockyards Championship Rodeo See Mar 4. Planetarium Shows See Mar 5. The Wizard of Oz See Mar 5. Charlotte’s Web See Mar 11. Disney’s The Little Mermaid See Mar 11. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane See Mar 18. The Three Little Pigs See Mar 18.

20 SUNDAYRECREATION

Canoe Fest Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge, 9601 Fossil Ridge Rd., Fort Worth. 817/392-7410. fwnaturecenter.org. 12–4pm. Take a canoe trip through the quiet waters around Greer Island. Canoes, paddles and life jackets are provided. Open to children ages 5 and older and their parents or guardians. $5 with admission: $5 adults; $2 ages 3–12.

CONTINUING: Butterflies in the Garden See Mar 1. Dallas Blooms See Mar 1. Fort Worth Herd See Mar 1. Think See Mar 1. Hansel and Gretel See Mar 4. The Wizard of Oz See Mar 5. Disney’s The Little Mermaid See Mar 11. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane See Mar 18. The Three Little Pigs See Mar 18.

21 MONDAYCONTINUING:

Butterflies in the Garden See Mar 1. Dallas Blooms See Mar 1. Fort Worth Herd See Mar 1. Think See Mar 1. Mommy and Me Mondays See Mar 7.

22 TUESDAYCONTINUING:

Butterflies in the Garden See Mar 1. Dallas Blooms See Mar 1. Fort Worth Herd See Mar 1. Imagination Playground See Mar 1. Think See Mar 1. Tiny Tot Tuesdays See Mar 1. Charlotte’s Web See Mar 11. Disney’s The Little Mermaid See Mar 11.

23 WEDNESDAYRECREATION

Full Moon Paddle Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge, 9601 Fossil Ridge Rd., Fort Worth. 817/392-7410. fwnaturecenter.org. 7–9:30pm. Look for beavers, deer, rac-coons and other wildlife during an evening canoe tour. Open to kids ages 5 and older. Some previous experience is recommended. Registration is required. $20 with admission for nonmembers; $15 members.

CONTINUING: Butterflies in the Garden See Mar 1. Dallas Blooms See Mar 1. Fort Worth Herd See Mar 1. Think See Mar 1. Nature Nights See Mar 2. Disney’s The Little Mermaid See Mar 11.

24 THURSDAYEASTER

Spring Egg Hunt and Easter Celebration Georgia Farrow Recreation Center, 530 Davis Dr., Irving. 972/721-2519. cityofirving.org. 10–11:30am. Look for eggs at this party for ages 3–12. Each child must be accompanied by an adult. Register by Mar 17. $4.

CONTINUING: Butterflies in the Garden See Mar 1. Dallas Blooms See Mar 1. Fort Worth Herd See Mar 1. Think See Mar 1. Disney’s The Little Mermaid See Mar 11.

25 FRIDAYEASTER

Easter Celebration Mustang Park Recreation Center, 2223 Kinwest Pkwy., Irving. 972/556-1334. cityofirving.org/mustang. 10–11:30am. Enjoy a variety of Easter activities including photos with the Easter Bunny, an egg hunt and more. For ages 5 and younger. Registration is required. $5 per child.

EASTER Good Friday Children’s Concert and Activities Dallas Arboretum, 8525 Garland Rd., Dallas. 214/515-6615. dallasarboretum.org. 11am and 2pm. Head to the Martin Rutchik Concert Stage & Lawn for concerts by Eddie Coker and a clarinet quartet, plus face painting, crafts and a petting zoo. $15 adults; $10 children ages 3–12.

MAKE TIME WITH YOUR KIDS FOR A SCIENTIFICALLY AWESOME SPRING! See dinosaurs tower overhead. Soar with the birds. Be dazzled by sparkling gems. Let your creative currents flow. Make robots jump at your command.

The Perot Museum is an AAM-accredited institution, supported in part by the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs and the Texas Commission on the Arts. Satellite image of globe used within the Perot Museum logo provided courtesy of NASA.

SKIP THE LINES! PURCHASE TICKETS AT PEROTMUSEUM.ORG TO SKIP THE BOX OFFICE LINE. WE’LL SCAN TICKETS STRAIGHT FROM YOUR SMARTPHONE AT ENTRY.

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PMNS_20160301_DFWChild_March_HalfVert.indd 2 2/12/16 10:51 AM

kid culture / E V E R Y D A Y

36 m a r c h 2 0 1 6 / n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d

RECREATION Night Hike Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area, 201 E. Jones St., Lewisville. 972/219-7980. llela.org. 7:30–9:30pm. Join trail guides on a twi-light stroll through forest, prairie and marsh trails. Wear long pants and closed-toe shoes and bring a water bottle. Online registration is required. $10.

EDUCATIONAL Preschool Discovery Club Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge, 9601 Fossil Ridge Rd., Fort Worth. 817/392-7410. fwnaturecenter.org. 10:30–11:30am. Learn about the underground world of worms during this program for preschoolers ages 3–5 and their adult companions. Registration is required. $10 per child with admission.

ON STAGE Texas Ballet Theater’s Cinderella Bass Performance Hall, 525 Commerce St., Fort Worth. 817/212-4280. basshall.com. 8pm Mar 25; 2 and 8pm Mar 26; 2 and 7pm Mar 27. Watch professional ballet dancers in this performance with vibrant frocks, stepsibling rivalry and fairy tale’s most coveted shoe. Accompanied by the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. Tickets start at $20.

CONTINUING: Butterflies in the Garden See Mar 1. Dallas Blooms See Mar 1. Fort Worth Herd See Mar 1. Think See Mar 1. Stockyards Championship Rodeo See Mar 4. Char-lotte’s Web See Mar 11. Disney’s The Little Mermaid See Mar 11. The Three Little Pigs See Mar 18.

26 SATURDAYEASTER

Easter Eggstravaganza Quakertown Park and Denton Civic Center. 940/349-7275. dentonparks.com. 9:30am activities; 11:30am egg hunt. Make crafts, play on a bounce house, watch a magic show and hunt for Easter eggs in lots divided by age groups. FREE

EASTER Eggstravaganza Wagon Wheel Park, 345 Freeport Pkwy., Coppell. 972/462-5100. coppelltx.gov/events. 10am–12pm. Egg hunts begin promptly at 10:30am for kids ages 6 and younger and at 11am for kids ages 7–10. Hunt for candy and toy-filled eggs and enjoy bounce houses, face painting, music and photos with the Easter Bunny. FREE

MUSIC Instrument Petting Zoo Klyde Warren Park, 2012 Woodall Rodgers Fwy., Dallas. 214/716-4500. klydewarrenpark.org. 3–4pm. See and touch a va-riety of the instruments presented by the School of Rock. Meet at the East Lawn. FREE

EASTER Irving Citywide Egg Hunt Heritage Senior Center, 200 S. Jefferson St., Irving. 972/721-2501. irvinge-vents.org. 9:30–11:30am. Egg hunt by age group: 10am for ages 3–4; 10:20am for 5–6; 10:40am for 7–8; 11am for 9–10. Gather your share of toy- and candy-filled eggs and have fun with a slide, obstacle course, petting zoo and crafts. Bring a camera for Easter Bunny photos. For children 10 and younger. FREE

EASTER Underwater Easter Egg Hunt Flower Mound Com-munity Activity Center, 1200 Gerault Rd., Flower Mound. 972/874-6280. flower-mound.com/cac. 10am–12pm. Meet the Easter Bunny, enjoy crafts and games and take a dip in the pool to hunt for floating eggs. For all ages. Registration is required. FREE

CONTINUING: Butterflies in the Garden See Mar 1. Dallas Blooms See Mar 1. Fort Worth Herd See Mar 1. Think See Mar 1. Stockyards Championship Rodeo See Mar 4. Planetarium Shows See Mar 5. The Wizard of Oz See Mar 5. Charlotte’s Web See Mar 11. Disney’s The Little

Mermaid See Mar 11. The Three Little Pigs See Mar 18. Texas Ballet Theater’s Cinderella See Mar 25.

27 SUNDAYGAMES

Lego Mania Lewisville Public Library, 1197 W. Main St., Lewisville. 972/219-3570. library.cityoflewisville.com. 2–3pm. Meet in the Bennett Program Room to play with the library’s Lego and Duplo blocks. Children 5 and younger must be accompanied by an adult. FREE

CONTINUING: Butterflies in the Garden See Mar 1. Dallas Blooms See Mar 1. Fort Worth Herd See Mar 1. Think See Mar 1. The Wizard of Oz See Mar 5. Disney’s The Little Mermaid See Mar 11. Kids’ Yoga at LLELA See Mar 13. The Three Little Pigs See Mar 18. Texas Ballet Theater’s Cinderella See Mar 25.

28 MONDAYEDUCATIONAL

Batteries Not Included Flower Mound Public Library, 3030 Broadmoor Ln., Flower Mound. 972/874-6167. fmlibrary.net. 3:30–4:30pm every fourth Mon. Explore the world through nonfiction books and STEAM activities during this program for kids in K–third grades. FREE

CONTINUING: Butterflies in the Garden See Mar 1. Dallas Blooms See Mar 1. Fort Worth Herd See Mar 1. Think See Mar 1. Mommy and Me Mondays See Mar 7.

29 TUESDAYCONTINUING:

Butterflies in the Garden See Mar 1. Dallas Blooms See Mar 1. Fort Worth Herd See Mar 1. Imagination Play-ground See Mar 1. Think See Mar 1. Tiny Tot Tuesdays See Mar 1. Charlotte’s Web See Mar 11.

30 WEDNESDAYCONTINUING:

Butterflies in the Garden See Mar 1. Dallas Blooms See Mar 1. Fort Worth Herd See Mar 1. Think See Mar 1. Nature Nights See Mar 2.

31 THURSDAYHOME-SCHOOL

Fort Worth Zoo Home School Day Fort Worth Zoo, 1989 Colonial Pkwy., Fort Worth. 817/759-7555. fort-worthzoo.org. 10am–5pm. Join more than 20 wild encounters presented by zookeepers and see the zoo’s world-class exhibits during this educational day for all home-schooled children and their families. At the gate: $7 for adults and $5.50 for children 3–12. $1 discount for advance tickets.

CONTINUING: Butterflies in the Garden See Mar 1. Dallas Blooms See Mar 1. Fort Worth Herd See Mar 1. Think See Mar 1.

FREE denotes free event admission. Other costs, such as parking, may apply. Times, dates and locations are subject to change. Please call ahead before every event. If you have an event that you’d like us to consider for the next calendar, please go to dfwchild.com and click on calendar to submit your event. Or fax to 972/447-0633 by the 10th of the month prior to the month of publication. Events must be open to the public and of interest to families in the North Texas area. Please include name and description of event, address, phone number, website, time, date, cost and age served. We reserve the right to edit or withhold submissions.

Want to see even more events? Search our up-to-the-minute online calendar by date, location and event type at dfwchild.com.

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38 m a r c h 2 0 1 6 / n o r t h t e x a s c h i l d

manife sto

ancy Lieberman is arguably one of the greatest figures in women’s profes-sional basketball.

The now assistant coach for the Sacramento Kings of the NBA hosts summer camps for girls and boys ages 5–17 in Dallas (sign up now at nancylieber-man.com).

I digress. This women’s basketball hall of famer was recently asked how parents can help their children reach the height of the sport. The ques-tion was posed by a mom about her 10-year-old son.

“Put him in the car, drive him to the inner city and find an outdoor basketball court, Lieberman advised. “Leave him there with his high-top sneakers and a basketball and come back to get him in five or so hours.” You see, that’s exactly how she learned, on the asphalt courts of Harlem, New York.

Her suggestion was met with some uncomfortable laughter from the affluent lunch bunch (Lieberman was there giving a speech), but truer words have never been spoken.

The suburbs aren’t exactly designed for toughening up our kids.

I reside in a town called Flower Mound. Not exactly the concrete jungle. We literally have a mound of flowers right next to the Tom Thumb. Not to mention two Chili’s, a couple hundred day care centers and countless dry cleaners, doughnut shops and dentist’s offices — all laid out in one endless mixed-use retail space after another.

Look, I’m not complaining about the convenience of life in The Mound or Frisco or Aledo or Argyle or Colleyville, etc. North Texas boasts some of the finest suburb lifestyles in the country. Take it from someone who was born in Detroit and has lived in West Los Angeles. The ease of being able to comfortably drive to the grocery store and actually find a parking space is com-pletely underrated.

So how can all of us helicopter parents properly prepare our sheltered kids for the real world?

Bring the game of dodgeball back to schools. Please. I’m beg-ging school boards everywhere. Dodgeball can make kids tougher than Cowboys tight end Jason Witten, tougher than a pair of Justin boots, tougher

than Buc-ee’s beef jerky. You get the picture. Bring it back now!

Reintroduce paddling in schools and at home. Look, I’m not talking about Adrian Peterson-type punishment (the Minnesota Vikings running back was accused of beating a child in 2014). I’m talking about the three paddle smacks I got when I misbehaved in seventh grade math class. I’m talking about the paddle whacks I received when I missed curfew and worried my parents.

Allow your kids to play with-out constant supervision. Go ahead and let them bike down the block to play football in the street. Or let them goof around in the woods without you being there to monitor their every move. Don’t you remember when you left the house on the weekend at 9am and didn’t re-turn until dinner? Your parents hadn’t alerted the authorities.

Some independence will do your little ones good.

Let siblings fight. Unless it’s a one-sided brawl like Mike Tyson vs. Michael Spinks (Tyson knocked Spinks out in

91 seconds), siblings kicking up some dust is often the best way for both of them

to toughen up — and resolve issues themselves.

Mandate after-school jobs for teens 16 and older. This should be the law of the land. My daughter carhops at Sonic, but a majority of her peers do nothing beyond school. I often hear the argument that teens are already so overprogrammed that making them work would mean sacrificing their grades. To that I say, “Whatever.” My daughter has learned more about people in her six months at Sonic than I (or her class-room instructors) could teach her in six years.

Push your kids into uncom-fortable situations. Make them enjoy meeting new people and speaking in front of crowds.

Make them pay for stuff they want such as a Hoverboard or drone. See how much they actually want either of those items when they have to drain their bank accounts to get them.

Encourage kids to give back. Take them into the inner city, to neighborhoods that don’t boast new fiberglass backboards or German auto-mobiles in every driveway and have them serve others.

Obviously, there’s no fail-safe way to toughen kids grow-ing up in the cozy confines of the burbs, but these suggestions are at least a start. ntc

N

Rudy lives in Flower Mound, sells stuff to make the house payment, spends weekends on dusty ballfields and recently had a GPS chip attached to his daughter. Follow him on Twitter: Manifesto10.

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