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FREE! TAKE ONE CENTRALPENNPARENT.COM JUNE/JULY 2019 GoneGone fishin'fishin' FOR summersummer Gaming PLAIN YOUR 2019 at school MEDICINE Family Favorites! CENTRAL PA, THANK YOU for making us one of your favorites in 2019! WINNERS RUNNERS UP HOSPITAL PEDIATRICIAN FAMILY DOCTOR UPMC Pinnacle Harrisburg PinnacleHealth Heritage Good Hope Family Physicians Pediatrics PLACE TO HAVE A BABY UPMC Pinnacle URGENT CARE UPMC Pinnacle Harrisburg FAMILY COUNSELING AllBetterCare PinnacleHealth Psychological Associates UPMCPinnacle.com | 717-231-8900 WINNER CENTRAL PENN 1500 PAXTON ST., HARRISBURG, PA 17104 CENTRALPENNPARENT.COM | 717-236-4300 Editor's Note My obsession with rare, recessive disorders. with Th eranos and In the facility’s lower level, with neither fanfare ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER its beleaguered nor secrecy, sits a new Plain Insight Panel, a DNA Cathy Hirko [email protected] founder Elizabeth “sequencer” which can identify from one blood Holmes began with an early spring snow storm. My sample some 1,300 diff erent gene mutations found husband was out of town and my strong son was in Plain populations. Next-generation sequencing is EDITORIAL conveniently felled by a fever. Th e driveway wasn’t brand-new and hugely benefi cial; previously, separate EDITOR, Leslie Penkunas going to shovel itself. lab tests would have to be run to look for each [email protected] Looking for something, anything, that would keep mutation. Some of the dedicated staff at the Clinic my mind preoccupied during the arduous task before for Special Children, including both its executive and DESIGN me, I came upon the then-recently released, six-part laboratory directors, walked me through the ground- GRAPHIC DESIGNER, Kady Weddle podcast, ‘Th e Dropout.’ Halfway through the fi rst breaking research being done there. While I’d love to AD DESIGNER, Erin Roper episode, I became so engrossed that I looked forward see their work celebrated in a podcast series, an HBO to the still-falling snow and long-ish driveway; I movie, or a gripping book, at least we can share the AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT needed ample time to listen to subsequent episodes. Clinic’s story within these pages. By the time the driveway, walkway and back patio Another type of innovation happening right here MANAGER, Tracy Bumba were cleared, I’d listened to the entire series. in our region is competitive gaming. Harrisburg Th ose who had the misfortunate to be in my University has led the way with esports, and will be ADVERTISING company in the weeks that followed (during which hosting the 2019 National Association of Collegiate SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER, Carley Lucas I also devoured a bestseller about Th eranos, Bad Esports in July. Writer Lisa Maddux explores how [email protected] Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Start- local school districts are embracing this quickly up) heard me express my fascination with Holmes evolving sport that welcomes all students and can and her duplicitous ways. Th e secrecy. Th e blind even yield college scholarships. It makes me think ambition. And what I found most mind-blowing, the twice about kicking my son off his computer this groundbreaking technology (or, as it turned out, the summer, now that I know there might be money in lack thereof) that helped make Holmes such an instant that passion. media darling. Speaking of summer: it’s here! If your kids are Th e house of cards upon which Th eranos was built already bored, turn to our Summer Fun Section. It has was an innovative product that could quickly run 39 fun destinations to check out, as well as tons of free hundreds of diagnostic tests with just a few drops things to keep the little ones entertained. of blood. It was a fascinating prospect, one which Finally, we’re thrilled to announce your picks for Central Penn Parent is published six times a year by BridgeTower Media™, Holmes promoted to anyone who would listen. She the 2019 Family Favorites. Did yours make the list? with a circulation of 22,736. Distribution of this publication does not certainly didn’t lack publicity; instead, she lacked a Maybe you’ll fi nd some new favorites to check out constitute an endorsement of information, products or services. Central Penn Parent reserves the right to reject any advertisement or listing which is not working product. Details. this summer. Alas, we didn’t include favorite podcasts; in keeping with the publication’s standards. Manuscripts and photographs, if Meanwhile, here in the countryside of Central if we had, I’d have cast a vote for ‘Th e Dropout.’ Th is they are to be returned, must be accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Copyright 2019 by Central Penn Parent. Reproduction in whole or Pennsylvania sits a quiet, unassuming post-and- summer I vow to become obsessed with something in part without permission is prohibited. Pick up your copy of Central Penn beam structure where truly revolutionary lab work new. I promise. Parent in more than 700 locations in Central PA! is being conducted. Th e Clinic for Special Children, Libraries Book Stores established 30 years ago as a niche pediatric practice Schools Children’s Retail Shops Happy parenting! Daycare Centers Museums for Lancaster County’s Amish and Mennonite Pediatricians’ Offi ces And so many more! communities, today off ers up the latest in genetic Recreation Centers counseling, molecular diagnostic testing and dietary Leslie Penkunas | PUBLISHED BY MEMBER OF support to treat infants, children and young adults EDITOR JUNE/JULY 2019 | CENTRALPENNPARENT.COM 3 JUNE/JULY 2019 Contents 5 MIND ON HEALTH Screening your kids’ screen time 7 EDUCATION MATTERS The growth of competitive esports 10 MOM-ISH A heart-to-heart with the laundry 34 SEASONAL FUN 11 Our guide to pick-your-own berries Features 37 NEWS & NOTES 11 SUMMER FUN GUIDE Dozens of great destinations, tons of free fun, and a guide to regional 39 CALENDAR festivals. 42 JUNE & JULY BIRTHDAYS! 19 2019 FAMILY FAVORITES SPECIAL SECTION Check out all of the winners and runners up! 36 PLAIN AND COMPLEX A local clinic conducts ground-breaking work in diagnosing and treating rare genetic disorders. ON THE COVER: Seasoned bass fisher Gage Holmes, 7, and his younger brother Sawyer, 3, try their luck in the Yellow Breeches Creek near Children’s Lake in Boiling Springs. For more ideas for free summer fun, see page 12. Photo by Kara Clouser. 4 JUNE/JULY 2019 | CENTRAL PENN PARENT 19 MIND ON HEALTH This summer, screen your child’s screen time By Dr. James Waxmonsky After the initial excitement of ice cream runs, water recommended to have no more than an hour a day in examine the effect of different screens or the content balloon fights and trips to the park fizzles, make sure front of a screen. of what children were watching. It is likely that your children’s best playmates this summer don’t It’s a challenge to avoid screens, considering that content matters in terms of negative effects. become Paw Patrol or SpongeBob SquarePants. some estimates say 95 percent of children under It’s easier to keep an eye on content when the In other words, make sure they aren’t filling their age 8 have a smartphone and 42 percent have their screens are in a common area of the house like the free time with endless screen time. own tablet. Today, the average child starts regularly living room TV than a phone or tablet designed to YouTube, virtual games, TV shows and smart phone apps are becoming increasingly pervasive in the lives of our little ones – and an all-too-easy babysitter, sure to keep them occupied for hours if we allow it. Most American children are very proficient at navigating technology before the reach kindergarten. Multiple studies confirm that screen time – whether on a TV, tablet or phone – isn’t worthwhile. Some research shows it can be detrimental, with risks that increase with the degree of exposure. All through early childhood, the brain is very responsive to the environment and, like a muscle, it will shrink and grow in response to how it is used and what it is used for. This is a critical time for young minds to engage with parents and others to acquire language and social skills. These interactions promote brain development. You want to do everything you can to promote the brain to develop in a positive way. Early exposure to screens, especially for fast-paced, rapidly changing images as seen in most shows and games designed for school-aged children, may lead to disorganized and scattered growth in the millions of nerves making up the brain. In animal studies, hours of screen time per day early in life has been associated watching TV at age 4 months, compared with 4 years direct them to links to a wide variety of sites that can with changes in brain development and problems of age back in 1970. cost money or expose them to inappropriate content. with attention and impulsivity. So, we know that screen time directly impacts the However, there is no evidence that any content early The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) developing brain and social skills, but it also can in life is good for the child no matter how “child recommends no screen media for children younger contribute to other problems. friendly” it appears. than 18 months of age, and nothing other than The most recent literature continues to show an There’s some evidence that excessive screen time high-quality programming like PBS for children up association between screen time and behavioral exposure can contribute to behavioral problems to 2 years of age.