High Tech Apps Help Children With Autism
Jill Goodman’s son, Dean, used to lug around a “big and clunky” black box that helped him communicate. The now 11-year-old Orlando resident was diagnosed with autism as a toddler and is described by his mom as “marginally verbal.” When the iPad was released in 2010, Goodman jumped at the chance to obtain the portable tool for her son to “talk” and learn through applications... Read More
Makeover Madness…Is the cartoon controversy necessary? Red Hot Remarks On Disney’s Redhead Character
Brave, the animated film by Pixar Animation Studios and Walt Disney Pictures, was praised by critics and earned both a Golden Globe and Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film. After its June 2012 release, Brave also became a favorite with movie goers falling in love with yet another Disney princess. Following in the footsteps of Ariel, Jasmine, and other female heroines,... Read More
Moms On A Mission
Happy Mother’s Day! In a way, all mothers leave a legacy through their children, but some moms create a lasting legacy in honor of their children. In this issue, Orlando Family Magazine celebrates four moms on a mission ─ each championing causes to make a difference within the Central Florida community and beyond. NOAH’S LIGHT FOUNDATION Mom On A Mission: “I am an... Read More
Parents Shouldn’t Make Snap Judgments About Snapchat
Parents are hearing buzz surrounding Snapchat, the phenomenally popular, new messaging app that allows users to annotate and send photos and very short videos to their friends. Unlike other messages, Snapchats are supposed to disappear in ten seconds. Kids who are tired of having their lives searched and analyzed on Facebook love that spontaneity. As one college blogger put it,... Read More
When Daddy Travels…You Can Make It Work!
It’s definitely hard on family life when a father (or either parent) travels for his job. Not only can he miss birthdays, holidays, and special events ─ like Scout ceremonies or dance recitals ─ but his departure disrupts the normalcy of a functioning household routine. Of course, business trips are likely not a picnic for him, either. Chances are he hates being away and coming... Read More
Children’s Home Society of Florida
Embracing Children. Inspiring Lives. Advocating Change. The Children’s Home Society of Florida (CHSFL) was founded in Jacksonville in 1902 with two staff members and a budget of $400. Since then, the Children’s Home Society of Florida, now headquartered in Winter Park, has expanded its reach to 15 divisions throughout the state with over 1,800 employees. CHSFL’s mission is... Read More
Get PUMPed, Inc. Feeds Babies In Need
Families access locally donated breast milk Katie Del Giudice gave birth to her son Travis, now 15-months-old, and decided to breastfeed him, rather than use baby formula. Knowing that her maternity leave would soon elapse, Katie proactively pumped more breast milk than Travis could immediately consume and began freezing ounce after ounce for later use. Soon, she was nearly out... Read More
The Naked Truth About Sexting
Long before the availability of mobile devices and social media, kids passed flirtatious or even racy love notes to the people they liked. Sometimes those notes got dropped on the classroom floor or confiscated by the teacher and, before long, everyone was gossiping between classes about what was supposed to be a private message. Today’s technology adds cellphone cameras, text... Read More
The Incredible Burt Wonderstone
Reel Rating: 3 out of 5 Reels MPAA Rating: PG-13 for sexual content, dangerous stunts, a drug-related incident and language Released in Theaters: March 15, 2013 Genre: Comedy Runtime: 100 minutes Directed by: Don Scardino Cast: Steve Carell, Steve Buscemi, Olivia Wilde, Jim Carrey, James Gandolfini, Alan Arkin Official Site: http://www.theincredibleburtwonderstone.com SYNOPSIS:... Read More
Montessori School of Celebration
The Montessori School of Celebration is nestled among the homes in the South Village of Celebration. This did not come about by accident. In 1999, when Karen Simon and Helen DeVere founded the school, every detail was intentional. “Creating an authentic Montessori school calls for a safe, home-like atmosphere to foster a sense of belonging for children and their parents. We were... Read More
Easter Celebrations
Bunny Brunch The Mall at Millenia March 9th Come enjoy live entertainment and brunch with the Easter Bunny at The Mall at Millenia from 9 – 11 am in the Orangerie Café’s food court. A $5 donation to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Florida is required for admission. Seats will be limited and there are no advance sales. Orlando’s Favorite Easter Egg Hunt Green... Read More
Greener Classrooms Create Smarter Kids
Next time you visit your child’s school — regardless of grade level — don’t just focus on whether there are enough books and computers in the classroom; look to see how much greenery is around. Studies show that having live plants inside the classroom can boost learning skills and reduce stress. “There’s strong evidence that maintaining and enhancing green space in a... Read More
Taking Care Of Business…And More!
Local companies champion children-centered causes Business as usual? As you strolled down the aisle during your last trip to the supermarket, did you notice that some products have tweaked their packaging design to include the logo of a charity? Why? According to Cone Communications, a leader in marketing research, 79% of consumers said that they would switch from one brand to another... Read More
Reducing Food Waste: Small Change = Big Impact + Savings
Like those in many American households, your refrigerator may be stocked with food that is destined to fill your trash bin rather than the bellies of your family members. How often do you find slimy vegetables, expired jars, or containers with moldy left-overs? What about a loaf of stale bread or far too soft fruit on your kitchen countertops? Or that package of chicken that you... Read More
Project Approach to Teaching in Preschool
Transitioning a preschooler into Kindergarten requires a great deal of learning in a small period of time; especially if the child began preschool for the first time at age 4. There are different ways to teach basic learning concepts to a young child. The most traditional approaches focus on thematic teaching, integrated concepts, and teacher-directed inquiry. Whereas, a project-based... Read More
Is Your Child Mature Enough for Violent Video Games?
My daughter’s friends were buzzing with excitement when Halo 4 was released a month before Christmas. According to the Huffington Post, it made $220 million on release day, which beat the records of previous installments in the series. Forbes ranks it as the third highest selling game in 2012, following Call of Duty: Black Ops II and Madden NFL 13. The game is rated ‘mature’... Read More
SAFE HAVEN
Reel Preview: 3.5 out of 5 Reels. Not yet rated; likely PG-13. In theaters 2/14. Ok for kids 13+. Lasse Hallstrom (Dear John, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen) directs this romantic drama based on a book by Nicholas Sparks. The story centers on a young woman named Katie (Julianne Hough) whose sudden appearance in the small town of Southport, North Carolina raises questions about her... Read More
WARM BODIES
Reel Preview: 3.5 out of 5 Reels. Rated PG-13 for zombie violence and some language. In theaters 2/01. Ok for kids 13+. Are zombies the new vampires? Summit Entertainment sure hopes so. Jonathan Levine (50/50) directs this comedy-horror flick about a zombie (Nicholas Hoult) who becomes involved with the girlfriend of one of his victims. Their romance sets in motion a sequence of... Read More
Teaching Kids Not to Cheat (Even Though They Could)
It’s crunch time! Book reports and term papers are due. Science project and diorama deadlines are looming. High stakes tests are on the way. In the face of all this pressure it’s tempting for children to cheat. A study by the Center for Academic Integrity found that over 70% of high school students admitted to cheating on tests and 60% to having committed plagiarism. Although... Read More
Silver Spurs Rodeo Contest
Register for a chance to win four complimentary admission passes to the 130th Silver Spurs Rodeo starting Friday, February 15 through Sunday, February 17th 2013 at the Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee, FL. Contest ends on Wednesday, February 13th. One entry per family. Oops! We could not locate your form. Read More
Girls On The Run
While on a run, fitness enthusiast Molly Barker thought about the many years she questioned her self-worth and self-image. Armed with a master’s degree in social work, Molly felt compelled to combine her counseling expertise with her personal love for wellness and, in 1996, founded Girls On The Run (GOTR). The innovative 501c3 youth development program launched in North Carolina... Read More
