October 2020 Oklahoma’s Award-Winning Magazine for Parents & Families www.tulsakids.com

MASK UP FOR UNDERSTANDING HALLOWEEN! CREATIVE WAYS TO A CHILD WITH USE FACE MASKS AUTISM FEARS! WHAT SCARES PARENTS NOW? SPECIAL SECTION: CORONAWEEN: INCLUSIVE RESOURCE GUIDE HOW TO CELEBRATE SAFELY PUMPKIN RECIPES TO SPICE UP FALL

October 2020 SHORTS tulsakids 7-8 NEWS & NOTES 16-17 COVER FEATURE Understanding a Child with Autism By Betty Casey what’s inside 24-25 FAMILY FUN Volume XXXIII, Number 10 www.tulsakids.com It’s Time for CoronaWeen By Kristi Roe Owen

26-27 HALLOWEEN MASK-ERADE 7 Ways to Mask Up for Halloween By Tara Rittler

33-35 PUMPKIN PATCHES & HALLOWEEN EVENTS! UNDERSTANDING By Tara Rittler

46-47 PARENTING TIPS What Scares Parents? ACHILDWITH Local professionals answer parents’ fears.

48-49 SPECIAL EDUCATION DURING THE PANDEMIC: AUTISM Know Your Child’s Rights IN EVERY ISSUE BY BETTY CASEY 10-11 STAGES: Babies & Toddlers Teaching Children About Money at an Early Age Pays Off 16 -17 By Kiley Roberson 12-13 STAGES: School Age Unicorns, Rainbows and the Sugar High By Mary Beth Ritchie, LCSW

14 -15 STAGES: Tweens & Teens High School Senior Turn Passion into Possibility By Julie Wenger Watson

28-32 COMMUNITY CALENDAR By Tara Rittler

36-37 GREEN COUNTRY GROWN-UP Hanna Howard: Sharing a Message of Perseverance By Nancy A. Moore

42-43 GET COOKING Pumpkin-Inspired Recipes for Fall By Natalie Mikles

40 HOMESCHOOL 7 Ways to Mask Up for Halloween Pumpkin-Inspired Recipes for Fall Creating Traditions When Everything Feels Non-traditional 26-27 42 -43 By Natalie Hanson

44-45 BOOKS Space Archaeology? Call Me Curious! By Laura Raphael

50 TULSAKIDS.COM What’s Going On(line)? Enter Our Mask Up! Contest!

52 I’M A TULSA KID Jesamine Katzman: Performer By Sheeba Atiqi

21-22 SPECIAL SECTION: What Scares Parents? It’s Time for CoronaWeen INCLUSIVE RESOURCE GUIDE 46 -47 Local professionals answer 24-25

WWW.TULSAKIDS.COM OCTOBER 2020 5 editor’s note tulsa kids FOR PARENTS. FOR FAMILIES. FOR LIFE.

PUBLISHER :CHARLES FOSHEE

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER On Our Cover and On the Spectrum… & E DITOR IN CHIEF : BETTY CASEY TREASURER & I had the pleasure of meeting Jack, our cover model this month, and our COMPTROLLER DEBBIE TALLEY Cover Kid Contest overall winner this year. He came to the cover shoot with WEB EDITOR : TARA RITTLER his mom, an aunt, and his two siblings, Olive and Huck. Jack is on the autism ADVERTISING SALES : BRANDI MOORE spectrum and is non-verbal. He is also loving, a little silly, pure and sweet. LINDSEY COPES PRODUCTION : CHARLES FOSHEE

We started out doing a costume shoot with Huck and Olive, but not-quite- COVER PHOTO : LESLIE HOYT two-year-old Huck had a mind of his own (as most toddlers do) and kept PHOTOGRAPHY wandering out of the picture. Animated by Huck’s antics, Jack needed some DISTRIBUTION : JOAN PEREZ calming hugs from his aunt as the photo shoot continued. EDITORIAL & S PECIAL DANIELLE HILL PROJECTS ASSISTANT

We moved on to shooting Jack alone to give little brother and sister a break CONTRIBUTING WRITERS : from posing. Besides big hugs, Jack likes to hang upside down to calm him - KRISTI ROE OWEN self, and the cover photo resulted from that. It’s such a fun, kid-like thing to do. KILEY ROBERSON I love the shot. Even though Jack is non-verbal, his personality and willingness MARY BETH RITCHIE JULIE WENGER WATSON to connect shone through. NANCY A. M OORE I asked Jack’s mom, Erin, to tell me about Jack, explain some misconceptions NATALIE MIKLES NATALIE HANSON people may have about autism and to share her wishes for him. You can read LAURA RAPHAEL what she has to say in this issue – and see the beautiful photo of Jack upright SHEEBA ATIQI by photographer Leslie Hoyt. Having a disability shouldn’t mean invisibility. Since this is the month of Halloween during the pandemic, we have some fun, safe ways to celebrate, and a few ideas for incorporating facemasks into your child’s Halloween costume. And, you can’t think about Halloween OR the Coronavirus without feeling a little fearful. We asked our TulsaKids and Tulsa Parents Facebook friends to tell us what they’re afraid of these days. Not surprisingly, the top concerns were COVID related. We reached out to professionals in the community to respond PUBLISHING inc. to parents’ fears. You’ll find those responses in these pages. TK Speaking of masks, be sure to go to tulsakids.com to enter your child in our TulsaKids is published monthly by Mask Up! Photo Contest sponsored by The Children’s Hospital at Saint Francis. TK Publishing, Inc., 1622 So. Denver Ave., Stay well! Tulsa, OK 74119 (918) 582-8504 FAX (918) 583-1366 Website: www.tulsakids.com ©TK Publishing, Inc. 2020. All Rights Reserved. Volume XXXIII, Number 10

PUBLISHER [email protected] EDITOR -I N-C HIEF Betty Casey [email protected] associate publisher and CALENDAR editor in chief (submit by 10th of the month prior) [email protected] Articles and advertisements in TulsaKids do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the magazine or TK Publishing, Inc. We do not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. The acceptance of advertising by TulsaKids does not constitute an endorsement of the prod - ucts, services, or information. We do not If you like to read TulsaKids, you may not know that knowingly present any product or service you can watch us, too! Every Thursday morning on which is fraudulent or misleading in nature. ON OUR COVER Tulsa’s Channel 8, the local ABC affiliate, join Editor CONGRATULATIONS TO TULSAKIDS Betty Casey on Good Day Tulsa for tips to plan your 2020 COVER KIDS CONTEST WINNER family’s weekend and more. Watch Good Morning JACK RAMSEY. Oklahoma on Tues - MEMBER OF days for tips on timely PHOTO BY LESLIE HOYT topics and family in - www.lesliehoyt.com formation you’ll want to know.

6 OCTOBER 2020 WWW.TULSAKIDS.COM news & notes

SAME AND NEXT DAY COVID-19 TESTS AVAILABLE The Oklahoma City-County Health Department and Tulsa Health Department announced that residents can receive same or next day appointments for COVID-19 tests at the health department testing operations in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Results for Tulsa Health Department testing operations are received within three business days, depending on lab capacity. THD uti - lizes a combination of public and private labs to test specimens. Both health departments stress testing as critical to identifying the impact of the virus on their communities. The CDC states the following individuals should get tested for COVID-19: • People who have symptoms of COVID-19 • People who have had close contact (within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes) with someone with confirmed COVID-19 • People who have been asked or referred to get testing by their healthcare provider, local or state health department. “The Tulsa Health Department offers specimen collection for COVID-19 testing in north and south Tulsa to provide convenient access for community residents. There is no cost for testing, and it’s easy to quickly make an appointment,” said Leanne Stephens, public infor - mation officer for THD. Individuals needing a test in Tulsa County may call 918.582.9355. The Tulsa Health Department is also launching a digital platform for test scheduling, results and contact tracing soon.

BEST BUDDIES VIRTUAL FRIENDSHIP WALK Best Buddies International, an organization that encourages volunteerism to create opportunities, one-on-one friendships, intergrated employment, leadership development and inclusive living for indi - viduals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), is now in Oklahoma. There are currently four school chapters in Oklahoma. Jennifer Sollars Miller is Best Buddies Oklahoma Director of Mission Advancement. “To be inclusive isn’t just a state of mind, it’s a lifestyle,” Miller says, “and Best Buddies nurtures that value in its volunteers, from youth to adulthood.” The first-ever Friendship Walk in Oklahoma is Sat., Oct. 31, 10 a.m., and it will be virtual. To learn more or to register, go to www.bestbuddies.org/oklahoma/friendship-walk.

HARDESTY DONATES TO DISCOVERY LAB Hardesty Family Foundation announced a $3 million gift to Discovery Lab’s $45 million capital campaign for a new children’s museum/science center to anchor the southern end of Gathering Place. The donation will fi - nance a 300-person, outdoor amphitheater to be set at the entrance of the museum facing Gathering Place. The Hardesty Family Foundation Amphitheater will feature regular museum events and programs with an outdoor stage and seating built into the landscape. The space fits with Hardesty Family Foundation’s goals to support local programs and projects that meet the needs of Tulsans and to create a better future for residents of the region. Discovery Lab broke ground on the new site this spring with an expected opening date of fall 2021.

WWW.TULSAKIDS.COM OCTOBER 2020 7 news & notes

TULSA ZOO HOURS AND COVID CARE During the summer months, the Tulsa Zoo opened early for visitors to beat the heat. After Labor Day, the zoo’s hours moved to 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. All guests, including members, are required to reserve advance tickets online at tulsazoo.org/tickets, with 2–2:59 p.m. being the final guest entry timeslot. The main gate will be the entry and exit. Zoo guests will leave through the Gift Shop Exit instead of the West Gate. “Based on three months of operating with safeguards, we have a better understanding of traffic flow around the zoo,” says Patrick Weisz, director of guest services. “This change will allow for social distancing and improve the guest experience with one entry and exit point. “We are getting overwhelmingly positive feedback from guests about the changes we’ve made. We appreciate our community’s flexi - bility and understanding as we continue to make changes to keep everyone within our gates healthy and safe.” Buildings and attractions will continue to close at 4:30 p.m. to allow time for guests to exit zoo grounds by 5 p.m.

M.E.T. LAUNCHES DIGITAL RECYCLING DIRECTORY A new digital recycling directory, RecycleThisTulsa, allows citizens to find where they can recycle various items, using a search bar on their computer or mobile phone. The directory also offers information on curbside recycling as well as other en - vironmental resources. Find RecycleThisTulsa at www.recy - clethistulsa.com.

CORRECTIONS Terence Crutcher’s name was misspelled in the Sept. Green Country Grown-up article. The correct website for Tyler Thrash in the same article is https://tylerthrasher.com. advertiser in the news

WE ARE STILL HERE! MILLER SWIM CELEBRATES 60 YEARS! C & J School Uniforms has been Tulsa’s premier one-stop shop for Miller Swim school uniforms for more than 24 years. The owners, Chari Edwards School is celebrating and Joyce Fuller, met when their children were in need of school uni - 60 years of teaching forms. Edwards and Fuller soon discovered a shared desire to provide swimming and water quality brand, affordable school uniforms and accessories to area fami - safety to Tulsans and lies. the surrounding com - At C & J, you can shop locally for new and consigned slacks and munity. Miller Swim shirts, skirts and jumpers, jackets, sweaters, and blazers. This year, has locations in Tulsa school-specific masks have been added to the usual accessories of and a newly opened socks, backpacks, headbands and bows. In addition to merchandise, C Jenks facility that & J provides alterations and monogramming services, and the shop is offer classes for in - currently offering curbside pickup on phone orders. fants through adults. “Even those students who will be learning remotely may prefer to They also have swim go back to school in uniform to set a more serious tone for studies,” teams, birthday parties, lifeguard certification classes and water safety suggested Fuller. information. “We are grateful to our customers who have continued to shop Miller Swim School’s philosophy has always been to encourage with us through these difficult times, and we look forward to serving year-round fitness, confidence, independence and safety by teaching them for many years to come,” said Edwards. children and adults to swim. C & J SCHOOL UNIFORMS JENKS: 525 W. 91ST ST. S; TULSA: 6415 S MINGO RD. PHONE: FONTANA SHOPPING CENTER 918.254.1988; MILLERSWIMSCHOOL.COM 4984 SOUTH MEMORIAL DRIVE, TULSA 918.610.7470 WWW.CJSCHOOLUNIFORMS.COM

8 OCTOBER 2020 WWW.TULSAKIDS.COM

stages: babies & toddlers

BY KILEY ROBERSON teaching children about money at an early age pays off

t was a Star Wars Lego set smarts? Experts recommend the that did it. It was a Saturday following strategies: afternoon and I had stopped Explain how money works. by the store with my preschool Like my son, kids need to know Ison in tow to pick up a few things that bank cards don’t equal end - for the upcoming week. A quick less funds, and there isn’t a tiny jaunt past the toy aisle was all it printing press inside every ATM. took for him to zero in on a Lego You can help them understand by set with his favorite Star Wars explaining that the bank is like a characters, which was swiftly fol - piggy bank where you keep your lowed by pleading and whining money until you’re ready to use it. for the rest of our shopping trip. Tell your child that when you This certainly wasn’t the first spend what’s in your account, it’s time this had happened, so when gone until you get paid by your I gently told him that we weren’t work and can replenish the cash. there to buy toys that day, I ex - They should understand that you pected his usual frustrated under - can’t buy whatever you want, standing. What I didn’t expect and that you make careful choices was for him to look at me and say, about how you spend your “Come on, just put it on your money. card.” Build your child’s money Yep, that’s when I decided skills. Play store by putting price that our little guy was old enough tags on items around the house to learn about the value of money (50 cents for a pencil, 75 cents for and how that card was more than a rubber ball, $2 for a Hot Wheels a magic pass to get anything I car). Help your child figure out wanted. There is definitely a de - the cost to “buy” each one. Then bate among parents about when hand him two one-dollar bills and to start talking about money with explain that he has enough for your kids. Some believe that intro - the pencil and the ball or just the ducing concepts of money to chil - car, but not all three. Let him TEACHING YOUNG CHILDREN ABOUT THE VALUE OF A DOLLAR WILL HELP choose. dren places too much strain and THEM DEVELOP HEALTHY MONEY HABITS. adult anxiety on children. While I Give your child a small al - certainly understand the concern, tage in developing healthy money grasp basic money concepts and lowance. It should be enough for recent research has shown that habits as they grow older. A 2018 by age 7, many of their money her to buy minor items, such as waiting to talk money with kids study conducted by a group of habits are already set. trading cards, hair clips, or ice- actually puts them at a disadvan - psychologists at Purdue Univer - So how can we do better at cream bars. The next time you go sity found that by age 3, kids can increasing our children’s money shopping, tell your child to bring continued next page

10 OCTOBER 2020 WWW.TULSAKIDS.COM Mask Up! Photo Contest sponsored by her money if she thinks she might want to purchase something. If your child wants something big, such as a new hardcover book or a toy, help her figure out how much she needs to save each week in order to buy it. It’s impor - Masks make a difference! tant to note that the majority of experts agree that a child’s al - Honor your kid’s contribution to lowance should not be tied to public health by entering them in household chores. Children TulsaKids’ Mask Up! Photo Contest. should help out around the house because they are part of the fam - Submit a photo of your child ily, not because they are being wearing a face mask from paid. October 1-31. Teach generosity. While you’re at it with the money les - One winner will receive a sons, it’s a good idea to teach kids $100 gift card. to do more with their money than Plus, any photos entered by just spending it on themselves. October 15 might Encourage them to donate part of appear in our their allowance to charity. You November magazine! can help them pick out a charity that’s special to them and teach Get the entry link at them to give back. tulsakids.com/contests.

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WWW.TULSAKIDS.COM OCTOBER 2020 11 stages: school age

BY MARY BETH RITCHIE, LCSW unicorns, rainbows and the sugar high

s there really such a thing as a that children hear adults talking sugar high? Many parents and about how sugar makes children teachers believe that eating “hyper,” and children live up to sugar causes children to be hy - this expectation. It almost gives Iperactive and to misbehave. You children a legitimate excuse to may be surprised to learn that misbehave. I have had my stu - this is a myth that has been re - dents tell me things like, “Sugar peatedly debunked since the makes me bounce off the walls!”, 1990s. Yet, it is still widely be - something they’ve likely heard at lieved today. home. They will frequently make How did this myth begin? In these statements before class - the 1970s, doctors were begin - room parties. I regularly respond ning to treat children who suf - by telling them that they should fered from ADHD (Attention avoid the sugar if it will cause Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) this behavior. Since they don’t with stimulant drugs. Parents want to refrain from enjoying the were concerned about the side ef - treats, they manage to eat the fects of Ritalin and amphetamine. sugar without becoming hyperac - A 1975 best-selling book, “ Why tive. Your Child is Hyperactive ” by Dr. Both of my sons were very Ben Feingold, described how a active, and were diagnosed with child would become wild and un - ADHD, as children. They were controllable after birthday parties IF YOU THINK EATING SUGAR MAKES YOUR CHILD HYPERACTIVE, both born in the ‘90s, and were and during holidays. Feingold YOU MIGHT WANT TO THINK AGAIN. diagnosed well after these stud - linked the hyperactivity to the in - ies were published. Yet, I remem - children received a diet high in an analysis of all published stud - ber being advised to limit their creased level of sugar intake dur - sugar, while the placebo group ies came to the same conclusion. ing these events. Concerned sugar intake. I did experiment was given a diet sweetened with Studies continue, but no correla - with the idea. I never noticed a parents wanted to help their chil - artificial sweeteners, such as as - tion has ever been found be - dren without the negative effects difference in their behavior. They partame. Parents, children and tween sugar intake and behavior seemed to be hyperactive all the of drugs, and they began to re - the members of the research or cognitive function. strict sugar instead. time, regardless of their sugar in - team were not aware which chil - In spite of the scientific evi - take. In 1994, a rigorous study dren belonged to which group. dence, this myth remains popular was done to explore the possibil - Many of these “sugar high” Urine tests were given in order to today. Some parents are con - episodes seem to involve birthday ity of sugar affecting the behavior confirm that the diets were being vinced that they see their chil - of children. This study included parties, holidays and other spe - followed properly. The study, dren become hyperactive after cial occasions. Isn’t it possible children whose parents described published in the New England eating sugar. One theory is that them as having sensitivity to that the children are just excited Journal of Medicine, concluded parents are seeing this because about these events? Armed with sugar as well as children who that sugar had absolutely no ef - it’s what they are expecting to didn’t show these signs. This was this new information, parents fect on a child’s behavior or cogni - see. As a parent, and a teacher, I may need to reexamine their ex - a large double-blind study. Some tive function. The following year, have my own opinion. I believe continued next page

12 OCTOBER 2020 WWW.TULSAKIDS.COM pectations for the behavior of their children. If you have dis - cussed this myth with, or in front of, your children, you might want to tell them that you’ve now dis - covered that it wasn’t accurate. This will let children know that you expect their good behavior, even after eating sugary treats. You might even wish to tell them that, if they are going to bounce off the walls, they need to avoid the sugar. This method has worked wonders for me in my classroom. Too much sugar can lead to many other health problems, such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease, so there are many good reasons to limit the amount of sugar your children consume. However, the mythical sugar high isn’t one of them.

WWW.TULSAKIDS.COM OCTOBER 2020 13 stages: tweens & teens

BY JULIE WENGER WATSON high school senior turns passion into possibility

lthough Rolling Stone ally doing this kind of thing,” he ranks Bob Dylan as one says. “I thought about where I of the greatest song - could go to talk to somebody writers of all time, about it.” ABooker T. Washington senior Wagman remembered meet - Dylan Wagman is less than im - ing Tulsa drummer and recording pressed. Despite being named studio owner David Teegarden, after the ‘60s folk hero, Wagman’s Sr. at one of BTW’s career days, own tastes run more to alterna - so he decided that was a good tive music. place to start. It was a wise “My dad is a big Bob Dylan choice. Teegarden knows a thing fan,” Wagman explains. “I went or two about music. Among many to a Dylan concert with him, and noteworthy items on his resume, it was terrible. I was around 6, Teegarden drummed for a num - and it was just so loud at the ber of years with Bob Seger & the Brady. I was just like, ‘Get me out Silver Bullet Band, acquiring a of here.’” Grammy in the process. Despite Wagman’s lack of re - With his mom’s encourage - gard for his namesake, perhaps ment, Wagman delivered a letter it’s inevitable that he developed a to Teegarden’s studio and was passion for music, even if the in - quickly rewarded for his efforts. spiration was his mom’s not-so- Teegarden invited Wagman to secret love of AC/DC rather than visit him at the studio, and that his dad’s appreciation for the fa - soon turned into a regular gig for mous troubadour. the aspiring sound engineer. “When I was 8, my mom “I was actually surprised to said I should play drums because hear back,” Wagman recalls. “But I wasn’t doing anything with my then it turned out he’s just such a life. I’ve been playing drums ever nice guy. I guess we’re friends since,” Wagman laughs. “My now, and I see him all the time.” mom was a big AC/DC fan, and While Wagman wouldn’t de - that kind of got me into it. The scribe the arrangement as an in - first song I learned to play was ternship in the traditional sense ‘Back in Black.’ On my eighth DYLAN WAGMAN’S LOVE OF MUSIC LED HIM TO PURSUE A UNIQUE INTERNSHIP of the word, he’s learned a lot WITH MUSICIAN DAVID TEEGARDEN. PHOTO CREDIT: DAVID TEEGARDEN, SR. birthday, I got my first pair of from his time at the studio. drumsticks.” “It’s really informal. I just tion with the technical end of pro - “When I first started getting Since that time, Wagman’s ask him if he has anything going ducing music and all the gear in - into the audio stuff, I knew there musical interests have expanded on, and he says, ‘Yeah, we have a volved in that process eventually were videos on YouTube and to include the guitar and audio session here,’ and I go, and it’s pushed Wagman to look for an other things online I could look for engineering as well. His fascina - pretty friendly,” he says. “The opportunity to learn more. because nobody my age was re - sound engineer there, Brett Bald - continued next page

14 OCTOBER 2020 WWW.TULSAKIDS.COM win, is a really nice guy, too.” ing lineup of musicians there to At the studio, Wagman record. helps ready the space for record - “It’s just so comfortable,” ing sessions, running cables and Wagman says of the studio’s placing stands. He helps with the lounge area. “It’s like a living teardown, too, although handling room. You walk in and there are the high-end microphones still some chairs and a couch, a fridge, makes him a little nervous. and a coffee pot brewing. You “I’ve learned a lot just look around, and there’s this watching them mix with the con - triple-platinum plaque here and a sole and the computer,” he says. gold plaque there, and five other His time at Teegarden Studio platinum plaques over there and has also helped him contemplate a Grammy over here, and all of his future. He hopes to eventually these awards and photos of him.” own his own recording studio. While Wagman is reluctant “It makes it seem more pos - to offer career advice to his peers, sible than it was before,” Wag - he does encourage them to take man says. some chances when chasing their After graduation, Wagman dreams. plans to head to college to pursue “Write something up, drive his musical interests while also over and put it in the mailbox, obtaining a business degree. then run away,” he laughs. “And Until then, he’s enjoying his time then pray.” at the studio, hanging out and learning all he can from Teegar - den, Baldwin and the ever-chang -

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WWW.TULSAKIDS.COM OCTOBER 2020 15 cover feature

BY BETTY CASEY PHOTOGRAPHY BY LESLIE HOYT UNDERSTANDING ACHILDWITHAUTISM

TULSAKIDS COVER KIDS CONTEST WINNER JACK RAMSEY.

continued next page

16 OCTOBER 2020 WWW.TULSAKIDS.COM cover feature

utism affects everyone then I got to work. My goal is to he would insist that the doctor the Jacks of the world.” differently,” says Erin give back to my community in evaluate him instead, saving her While Jack struggles aca - Ramsey, mom of Jack, whatever way I can. If I have a from the torture he felt at the demically, he excels on the play - this month’s cover kid. skill, I want to teach it. If I have doctor’s office. If she had to take ground, ahead of his peers in “There isn’t a one-size- an expertise, I want to share it.” medicine, again he had to take athletic ability and gross motor fits-all approach to un - Ramsey turned her energy to that bullet for her. Kids with skills. He loves playing baseball, “A derstanding autism helping families who have chil - autism interpret the world differ - horseback riding and the trampo - and my son, Jack, is a perfect ex - dren with developmental disabili - ently, but it’s often misinterpreted line park. ample of this.” ties find a community and a by others as indifference, or a lack “Jack can climb faster, jump According to psychiatry.org, school district that fit their needs. of caring. I promise you, he cares. higher and run further than his autism spectrum disorder (ASD) She earned her real estate license They all care.” friends, and that is where you’ll “is a complex developmental con - and began using her personal Another myth that others see him really thrive,” Ramsey dition that involves persistent knowledge about schools and may have about those with ASD says. “Gross motor is the only challenges in social interaction, neighborhoods to assist families is that they don’t want to make category Jack has never been de - speech and nonverbal communi - in finding a supportive commu - friends. Because Jack is nonver - layed in, and he can put the other cation, and restricted/repetitive nity where their children can bal, Ramsey worries that class - kids to shame.” behaviors.” As a spectrum disor - thrive. mates may think that he isn’t To Ramsey, it’s more impor - der, people with autism vary Understanding a child with interested in friendships. tant for Jack to enjoy school widely in the severity and type of autism can be difficult for those “Jack is completely nonver - throughout his life and to have symptoms. who are not familiar with ASD, so bal,” Ramsey says. “He has no friends who will include him than Jack has a form of autism Ramsey finds that another part of idea how to make friends and, to be on target in academics. called Regressive autism, which her role as an advocate is to dis - based on his behavior, you would “My hopes for Jack are the affects around 25 percent of those pel myths that others may have assume he doesn’t want to. This same ones that he has for him - diagnosed. about children and adults with is another common myth in our self,” Ramsey said. “Neither one “Jack was a very advanced ASD. world. Jack loves to have friends, of us care that he can’t do any of child and spoke nearly 15 words the academics that are taught in at merely 8 months old,” Ramsey “People assume that because people school. I don’t care if he knows says, “but lost it all seven months the alphabet, I don’t care if he can later. Jack was formally diag - with ASD don’t react to emotions as a write his name, but I want him to nosed at 20 months; by then he enjoy school. I want him to have lost the ability to speak, respond neurotypical person might, that they an army of students who will care to his name and make eye con - about him, and I want this army tact.” don’t feel those same emotions. This to follow him through school Ramsey says that Jack’s di - couldn’t be further from the truth.” helping him to fight the battle of agnosis changed her life. Not only inclusion and acceptance until he did she have to let go of previous “Unlike a common autism but he needs friends to thrust graduates. expectations for her child, she myth, Jack is great at showing af - themselves upon him. They need “My hope is that as Jack had to define new ones. And, she fection,” Ramsey says. “He loves to decide to be his friend, and not gets older, these kids remember found herself in the role of advo - hugs and snuggles. Another mis - ask permission. He loves it.” the impact Jack had on them and cate. conception revolves around em - Jack’s sweet personality at - they carry it with them, treating “I am a Special Needs Par - pathy. People assume that tracts other children, and he has everyone with kindness and ent,” she says. “My identity has because people with ASD don’t amassed a group of friends de - teaching their kids to do the never been as defined by one react to emotions as a neurotypi - spite their differences. That ac - same. It’s easy to be nice to the specific aspect as much as this cal person might, that they don’t ceptance makes all the difference cute chirping kid, but it gets in - one. My son has severe nonverbal feel those same emotions. This with Jack’s school experience. creasingly difficult to keep the autism, and when he was diag - couldn’t be further from the truth. “I’m not sure how he did it, same level of patience with the nosed, I was forever changed. I People with ASD feel things very but my quirky, nonverbal kid, grown man who is jumping excit - was immediately handed a new strongly; it just might not register who likes to jump excitedly in the edly in the corner. Jack is bliss - passion, a new mission.” in their facial expressions.” corner is somehow the cool kid in fully ignorant to the harsh world Letting go of the child you Jack shows deep affection class,” Ramsey says. “He’s the around him and a good part of me thought you had, and then em - for his two younger siblings, and kid that the girls want to take hopes he always will be.” bracing the one you do have in - that affection takes a variety of care of and the boys want to be Ramsey fervently hopes volves a period of mourning, but forms, from hugging his brother friends with. As a mother of a that, through knowing Jack, his Ramsey says the letting go must and sister to expressing empathy child with autism, this is my friends and classmates will make happen in order to move forward. in unique ways. dream. Jack can’t keep up aca - the world a more inclusive place She wants parents to know that “When Jack’s younger sister demically, but his friends don’t for people like him. The world they are not alone as they navi - was born, we quickly learned the care. And that says so much was not built for children like gate the personal and painful magnitude of the love and empa - about how far the world has Jack, so Jack and I going to re - process of loss and acceptance. thy he had for her,” Ramsey says. come and I have so much grati - build it together. Every child de - “My mourning period was “If she got hurt, he would get tude to the amazing parents who serves a fighting chance and short lived,” Ramsey says, “and upset. If she went to the doctor, are raising their kids to include every child deserves the best.”

WWW.TULSAKIDS.COM OCTOBER 2020 17

24/7 pediatric emergency center Oculoplastic surgery Adolescent medicine Ophthalmology Allergy/Immunology Oral/Maxillofacial surgery Cardiology Orthopedic surgery Child abuse pediatrics Otolaryngology (ENT) TULSA’S ONLY CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL. Critical care Palliative care Eating disorders Pathology Endocrinology/Diabetes care Pediatric stroke team Gastroenterology With an emphasis on family-centered care, The Children’s Hospital General surgery Physical medicine and rehabilitation Plastic and reconstructive surgery at Saint Francis provides state-of-the-art technology and a dedicated Genetics Hematology/Oncology Psychiatry (child and adolescent) staff to meet the medical needs of children. Our pediatricians and Infectious disease Pulmonology pediatric subspecialists work as a team, so you can rest assured Maternal-Fetal medicine Radiology Neonatal transport team your child will receive the most comprehensive medical care available Sports medicine Neonatology Trauma care in eastern Oklahoma. Neurology Urology Neurosurgery

The Children’s Hospital at Saint Francis 6161 South Yale Avenue | Tulsa, Oklahoma 918-502-6000 | saintfrancis.com/childrenshospital

SAINT FRANCIS HOSPITAL | THE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL AT SAINT FRANCIS | WARREN CLINIC | HEART HOSPITAL AT SAINT FRANCIS | SAINT FRANCIS HOSPITAL SOUTH | LAUREATE PSYCHIATRIC CLINIC AND HOSPITAL SAINT FRANCIS HOSPITAL MUSKOGEE | SAINT FRANCIS HOSPITAL VINITA | SAINT FRANCIS BROKEN ARROW | SAINT FRANCIS CANCER CENTER | SAINT FRANCIS HOME CARE COMPANIES | SAINT FRANCIS GLENPOOL Advertising supplement INCLUSIVE RESOURCE GUIDE

A GUIDE FOR FAMILIES OF ALL ABILITIES BEST BUDDIES OKLAHOMA CLARK YOUTH THEATRE’S PENGUIN PROJECT Contact: Jennifer Sollars Miller, Director, Mission Advancement, OK 4825 S. Quaker Ave. Best Buddies International Headquarters Tulsa, OK Expansion Team: Oklahoma 918.596.1412 100 Southeast Second Street, Suite 2200 www.clarkyouththeatre.com Miami, FL Now in our sixth year, the Penguin Project at Clark Youth Theatre offers not only 918.231.7737 theatre, but also fun and friends! Artists with disabilities and their volunteer www.bestbuddies.org/oklahoma peer mentors gather each year to present a fully staged musical like Aladdin, Jr., [email protected] The Music Man, Jr., Seussical, Jr., The Little Mermaid, Jr., or The Lion King, Jr.! [email protected] No previous experience required, just a willingness to show up and participate in the fun. Weekly rehearsals culminate in a full performance in the spring or Mission early summer. Best Buddies International is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to es - Artists and Mentors should be ages 10 and up, with some exceptions if space is tablishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one available in the program, and parents are very welcome to attend - we love our friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, and inclusive liv - parent volunteers! During the 2020-2021 season, our Penguin Project work will ing for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). be both online and socially distanced, in person in the Park surrounding Clark Who We Serve Youth Theatre. Full participation is allowed either way - we will have filmed and The IDD community that Best Buddies serves includes, but is not limited to, live portions of our showcase production this year! people with Down syndrome, autism, Fragile X, Williams syndrome, cerebral Don’t forget Clark Youth Theatre for all of your youth theatre programming palsy, traumatic brain injury and other undiagnosed disabilities. needs! In addition to the Penguin Project, we offer a full range of free-to-partici - School Friendship Programs pate theatre productions, Saturday Classes (again online or in the park during Best Buddies Friendship programs represent one of our organization’s four key the 2020-2021 season), Homeschool Classes on Tuesday and Wednesday, and mission pillars. These programs build one-to-one friendships between people 11 weeks of Summer, Fall and Spring Break Camp! For more information, call with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), offering social 918-596-1412 or visit www.clarkyouththeatre.com. interactions while improving the quality of life and level of inclusion for a popula - tion that is often isolated and excluded. Through their participation, people with IDD form meaningful connections with their peers, gain self-confidence and self-esteem, and share interests, experiences and activities that many other in - DYSLEXIA CENTER OF TULSA dividuals enjoy. Dr. Penny Stack e-Buddies ® 8988 S. Sheridan Rd, Suite D-1 Provides a safe place online to develop one-to-one friendships between people Tulsa, OK with and without IDD. By joining e-Buddies, participants become more comfort - 918.313.5518 able using technology to communicate with friends, gain computer literacy [email protected] skills, and are better equipped to socialize online. www.dyslexiatulsa.com Your child’s reading success is our passion! Our expert team of occupational and speech therapists as well as teaching staff bring the perfect blend of evi - BRAIN BALANCE OF TULSA dence-based research supported medical and educational theory to address the 6022 S. Yale Ave. “why” of reading struggles and the “how-to” reading mechanics. To ensure Kingspointe Village your child achieves their maximum learning potential we also provide services for printing and cursive handwriting, test strategies, organizational skills, time Tulsa, OK 74135 management, test prep and much more! 918.488.8991 www.brainbalancecenters.com The Brain Balance Program is the leading drug-free program designed to help kids improve focus, behavior, social skills, anxiety, and academic perform - J.D. MCCARTY CENTER ance. The Brain Balance Program offers a comprehensive, non-medicated op - Contact: Sharla Bardin tion that goes beyond the more traditional, mainstream approaches you may 2002 E. Robinson St. have tried before to help your child get to the root of their challenges versus Norman, OK masking them. The Brain Balance program is specifically designed to strengthen 405.307.2800 and build brain connectivity with a unique combination of physical, sensory, and www.jdmc.org cognitive activities. When you work these brain functions together, different net - The J.D. McCarty Center for children with developmental disabilities serves chil - works in the brain fire together. Over time, this changes the speed and effi - dren from birth to 21 years old. The center is a pediatric rehab hospital that pro - ciency in the brain’s communication pathways. These new, efficient and vides medical care and physical, occupational, speech and language therapy for effective connections in the brain lead to improvements in our executive func - children on an inpatient and outpatient basis. tioning and our ability to complete cognitive tasks. If your child suffers with be - havioral issues, ADHD or a learning disability, then you’ve experienced their painful frustration and lack of confidence both academically and socially. Brain Balance can help! Call today to schedule an assessment.

WWW.TULSAKIDS.COM OCTOBER 2020 21 Advertising supplement INCLUSIVE RESOURCE GUIDE

A GUIDE FOR FAMILIES OF ALL ABILITIES

MILLER SWIM SCHOOL help you to find the right solutions. We are happy to work with families in tran - 6415 S. Mingo Rd. sition due to adoption, foster care, divorce or separation. Family, couples and in - dividual therapy sessions available. Play therapy is offered for our younger Tulsa, OK clients, or just the young at heart. Call or text to schedule a free consultation to 918.254.1988 discuss your needs. (918)-520-7022. Sarah Chaudhry, Owner and Therapist, MS, LPC-S, NCC, RPT-S, NC-TFCBT MILLER SWIM SCHOOL JENKS 525 W. 91st St. S. Tulsa, OK SOARING ON HOPE 918.254.1988 4908 S. Sheridan Rd. www.millerswimschool.com Tulsa, OK Miller Swim School has been teaching Tulsa and surrounding communities 918.984.9153 about water safety for over 60 years. We offer private or group swim lessons with our highly trained instructors for students with disabilities or special needs. www.soaringonhopetherapy.com Individuals with special needs can benefit from swimming to increase confi - At Soaring On Hope our passion is to help your child be the best they can be. dence and self-respect, as well as improve physical strength and coordination. We celebrate with you every step of the way as they work on goals and skills. Most importantly, ongoing swimming lessons reduce the risk of drowning by We believe that every child can enjoy a life that brings them joy and happiness. 88%, an incident students with special needs are at a higher risk for. Swim les - We understand each child is different and unique. This is why we thoroughly sons offer social interaction, joy, friendship and a sense of accomplishment. We evaluate and provide custom treatment plans for each and every child we see at offer year-round swim lessons for ages 6 months to adult, as well as a Special SOH. If your child needs more than one type of therapy, your child is given a Olympics swim team, and a partnership with Autism Tulsa to scholarship swim - success team of therapists who work together on a very special treatment pro - mers on the Autism spectrum. Miller Swim School is an authorized American gram and set goals just for them. We offer ABA Therapy, Speech, Occupa - Red Cross provider and a member of the United States Swim School Associa - tional Therapy, Physical Therapy and Counseling. We invite you to experience tion. the difference SOH can make in the lives of you and your child. Learn how we can help your child overcome behavioral, learning and social challenges. We can’t wait to celebrate as your child learns new skills, meets goals and conquers challenges! PATHWAYS ADULT LEARNING CENTER Soaring on Hope, Where Hope Takes Flight! 4102 E. 61st St. Tulsa, OK 918.859.0060 SPEECH AND BEYOND PEDIATRIC THERAPY www.pathwaysok.org 1911 W. C Street Helping adults (16 years+) with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) Jenks, OK to live happier, healthier and more enriching lives, Pathways Adult Learning Cen - 918.409.0157 ter has been making a difference in the Tulsa disability community for the past 11 years. Pathways enhances the quality of life for adults with I/DD through con - [email protected] tinuing education, life skills training, community volunteerism, health and fitness www.tulsaspeech.com activities, and worship and bible study. Pathways offers small student-to-teacher Looking for individualized therapy in a more intimate setting for your child? ratios, a variety of schedule options from 3 hours per week to 40 hours per Speech and Beyond Pediatric Therapy provides Speech, Occupational and Phys - week, and low tuition costs. Scholarships are also available. Pathways students ical Therapy to children at our out-patient clinic, conveniently located in Jenks. grow socially and academically, building confidence and independence in a safe, We also provide Dietary services, Feeding Therapy from SOS-trained therapists loving environment. A few student favorites include Special Olympics competi - and Counseling. tions, weekly volunteering at the food bank and various assisted living facilities, We serve children of all ages and abilities, up to the age of twenty-one. Our science experiments, choir performances and our special mentorship program! therapists provide a multi-disciplinary approach to meet every child’s individual To learn more, visit www.pathwaysok.org/program or call 918-859-0060 today! need.

SEVEN RIVERS COUNSELING 6440 S. Lewis Ave. Suite 2000 Tulsa, OK 918.520.7022 [email protected] 7rivers.net facebook.com/sevenriverscounseling Children today are dealing with many new challenges. It can be overwhelming for parents to know how to help and what is really at the root of problematic be - havior. When you are looking to have someone on your side to support your family in its journey toward better mental health, please contact Seven Rivers Counseling. Professional services include assessment for anxiety, depression ADHD, trauma and other mental health issues. Finding the right diagnosis can 22 OCTOBER 2020 WWW.TULSAKIDS.COM Pathways Adult Learning Center helps adults (16 yrs+) with intellectual disabilities to live happier, healthier and more enriching lives.

• Continuing education • Life skills training • +HDOWK DQG ¿WQHVV • Volunteerism • Worship and bible study

Program adapted to a virtual environment for Covid19 safety.

Enroll today at pathwaysok.org/program or call 918-859-0060

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WWW.TULSAKIDS.COM OCTOBER 2020 23 family fun

BY KRISTI ROE OWEN it’s time for CoronaWeen

’ll ask your forgiveness for can still look forward to this Hal - you can find being the bearer of bad news loween in Tulsa: loads of re - that trick-or-treating is a bad 1. Overdecorating our Houses sources for idea this year. Our family typi - and Lawns it on Pin - Ically loves nothing more than get - If you love driving by looking terest. ting dressed up and hocus at Christmas lights, this is going 3. Au - pocusing our way through more to be the best Halloween ever. I tumn affluent neighborhoods with predict this will be the year that Leaves HOAs that host lawn decorating Halloween decorations become Al - contests. For a brief minute, I bigger and better than ever be - though thought that trick-or-treating fore. Think lawns decked out in Tulsa should be fine because kids are ridiculous cheesy inflatables, gor - doesn’t mostly outside and they could geous orange, gold, purple, blue, reach its wear masks. But then I realized and green holiday lights. I’m ex - full color something: many of the sweet cited to see how people go all out until folks giving out Halloween candy to make Halloween extra special. Novem - are older folks. With the recent And just because you can’t ber, by study indicating that kids are ac - trick or treat doesn’t mean you Octo - tually silent spreaders, it seems can’t still get all dressed up and ber like if we want to enjoy Christ - walk around the neighborhood we’ll mas cookies from our adorable lit - snapping pics. Pack up some hot still tle grandmas, we should probably cocoas, glow sticks and treats for have plenty of gor - find an alternative to tricks and the kids. You can even end up at geous autumn treats for our little Peanuts this a beloved friend’s or relative’s leaves to take in. year. house for socially distanced Hal - This year, I’m plan - We’ve tried to teach our kids loween tidings. ning to take our fam - that feeling sad about what we’re 2. Booing ily out for autumn missing out on will only make the Booing is when people ring leaf tours complete COVID year feel longer. Instead, I the doorbell and sneakily drop off with hot apple cider. choose to look at this year as an Halloween treats, gifts and notes. 4. Pumpkin opportunity to really take our hol - It’s normally an anonymous pay- Patches iday game to the next level. it-forward game, but it doesn’t I’ve always Maybe we have to make a few have to be this year. Ask your wanted to do the adjustments, but what we lack in grandparents, cousins, pals and whole photo shoot in a close-quarter monster mashing PTA frenemies to participate in a pumpkin patch thing. boo bombing on Halloween, and This year, in my quest to deck my PHOTO CREDIT: and elbow-to-elbow wassailing, LESLIE HOYT PHOTOGRAPHY we’ll make up for with good old- in return, make a list of kids you front yard in Halloween good - fashioned patriotic throw-down - want to boo as well. The great ness, I’ll be making a point of 5. Halloween Parades ing and American ingenuity. thing about booing is that mom stopping by a few of our favorite Creative parents answered Here are a few things we bloggers love a good booing, and local pumpkin patches. the rallying cry to save birthdays

continued next page

24 OCTOBER 2020 WWW.TULSAKIDS.COM this year with some of the coolest birthday parades. Why not take that creativity to the streets once again with a neighborhood Hal - loween bike or car parade to give kids a chance to show off their awesome costumes? 6. Scary Movie Marathons If you’ve read my blog, you may already know that our kids love a good scary movie or sci-fi. This year, I’m already working on the perfect haunted holiday movie bucket list that transcends eras and genres from sweetly spooky to psychologically terrify - ing. Don’t worry, folks. I’ll be sure to share! [Editor’s Note: Keep an eye out for for Kristi’s Haunted Movie Bucket List at tulsakids.com/blog/coffee-neb - ula.] 7. The Haunted Castle in Muskogee One of our favorite things to do every holiday season is to spend an evening at the Castle’s Halloween Village in Muskogee. The great thing about The Haunted Castle is that you can enjoy visiting without ever get - ting close to anyone or even going indoors. I spoke with a Cas - tle representative who told me the attractions will be slightly modified and there will be fewer attractions this year, but that they will still have plenty of awe - some Halloween magic for us in store, including our favorites, the shopping village, Halloween train, and haunted hayride. You Expecting a new addition to can bet your Great Pumpkin that I’ll be there on opening weekend. your family? Next time you’re feeling a case of the Rona Blues, stop by Don’t be scared! one of my new favorite YouTube channels, Autumn Cozy, and pick out an enchanting autumn or Hal - TulsaKids’ Baby Guide loween background and start provides an thinking about all we have to look extensive list of forward to. Are you feeling it yet? local prenatal We all know the holidays go by and too fast, and that’s exactly what postpartum the world needs right now. resources to help your growing family!

Find it at tulsakids.com/baby

WWW.TULSAKIDS.COM OCTOBER 2020 25 halloween mask-erade

BY TARA RITTLER 7 ways to mask up for halloween

asks have long been mask using glow-in-the-dark fab - a Halloween tradi - ric paint. tion. According to history.com, people 3. Match the Merch Mbegan wearing masks on Hal - If your child is dressing up loween to hide their identities like a popular character – think from the ghosts believed to visit Spider-Man, Hermione, etc. – Earth on October 31. This year, chances are, you can find fabric masks are helping protect fami - from the exact franchise you’re lies from something more tangi - looking for! A quick Google ble and scary: COVID-19. search will reveal whether or not Although door-to-door trick- you’re in luck. or-treating may not be the best idea this year, hopefully your kids 4. Decorate, If You Dare! will still get a chance to show off A pack of fabric pens plus a their Halloween costumes. And plain fabric mask equals endless while it might seem like a shame opportunities for creativity! Write to cover the face of your whimsi - a ghostly greeting such as “Have cal witch, dashing knight, etc., a fang-tastic night!” “Happy rest assured that the right face haunting!” or even “Trick or mask can totally complete your Treat!” then decorate the rest of JOSS RITTLER AS A NINJA TURTLE. the mask until you have a mes - merizing masterpiece. child’s costume! nately, draw on a plain fabric Here are just a few ways to 5. Bats, Black Cats, Rats and mask up for Halloween. And, if More! you want to try making your own Is your child dressing up like facemask, go to an animal for Halloween? There tulsakids.com/how-to-make-your- are lots of “animal face” face - own-face-masks. masks available. And if you can’t find one, you can always make 1. Pump(kin) It Up one: Simply take a plain fabric Pair any costume with a mask, and add a nose, mouth and mask made out of generic (but any other details you desire using cute!) Halloween fabric. Look for fabric paint. This look seamlessly pumpkins, bats, ghosts…you get incorporates the facemask into the idea! the costume.

2. Ghoul-worthy Glow-Up Glow-in-the-dark fabric can JUNE PAGE IN A BAT COSTUME WITH STARLING JARIS IN A SPARKLING really light up your look! Alter - GLOW-IN-THE-DARK MASK. SPIDER-WEB DRESS AND PUMPKIN MASK continued next page

26 OCTOBER 2020 WWW.TULSAKIDS.COM ADELINE CARTER AS A QUINTESSENTIAL RAVENCLAW, AND SISTER ELSA CARTER AS A TOTALLY TERRIFIC TIGER! TIGER MASK AND HOODIE FROM CUBCOATS.COM. PHOTO BY MARISSA CARTER.

JOSS RITTLER IS READY FOR BATTLE SYBIL TOM DEFENDING THE GALAXY AS A KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR! AS REY AND ZELLA TOM AS PRINCESS LEIA.

6. Thrilling Themes Does your child love Princess Leia If you can’t find the perfect AND pink leopard print? They licensed fabric to pair with your don’t have to choose! This is the child’s costume-of-choice, you can perfect opportunity to let your always stick to a theme. For ex - kids incorporate their many inter - ample, don your Donatello in a ests into one unique costume. mask made out of turtle fabric. Or After all, it’s Halloween! dress your mermaid in an en - chanting under-the-sea mask.

7. You Do You, Boo On the flip side of sticking to a theme: Just let your kids wear their favorite mask. For example:

WWW.TULSAKIDS.COM OCTOBER 2020 27 COMMUNITY CALENDAR I OCTOBER

DIVE INTO MERMAID DAYS AT OKLAHOMA AQUARIUM, OCTOBER 3 AND 17! ENJOY MERMAID- THEMED GOODIES, SCAVENGER HUNTS – AND EVEN MEET A MER - MAID! DETAILS AT OKAQUAR - IUM.ORG. PHOTO COURTESY OF OKLAHOMA AQUARIUM

[FREE, W] = FREE WEEKLY [W] = WEEKLY

• ALERT • *Please note: This information is correct to the best of our knowledge. However, please always check with the event organizer ahead of time to confirm details, as information could change due to COVID-19 or other factors.

DRINKS are allowed in the gym. animals with a knowledgeable pro - THEATRE TULSA “BROADWAY October 1 Thursday Bikes and Balls is cancelled on fessional guide. Guests on this UNDER THE STARS” school holidays. Please note: Due to unique walking tour will gain insight Theatre Tulsa will produce a block - AUTUMN IN THE GARDEN health protocol, a limited number of into the animal world with engaging buster collection of several of the - [DAILY THROUGH OCT. 29] people will be allowed in the gym stories, interesting facts and animal atre history’s top Broadway musical Over 5,000 pumpkins, hay maze and during each session. Please call observations about some of Tulsa songs in an outdoor concert Oct. 2- scarecrows will ring in fall Tulsa ahead for reservations. Adults are Zoo’s most popular animals. Tulsa 3. The concert, entitled “Broadway Botanic Garden. Visitors can take required to wear masks at all times. Zoo, 6421 E. 36th St. N., 9:30 and Under the Stars,” features many of lots of fun photos while strolling It is also recommended, but not re - 11:15 a.m. $7 per person (ages 3 Theatre Tulsa’s highest-profile per - through the Garden and vote for quired of children between the ages and older) + zoo admission. tul - formers paired with the songs that their favorite scarecrow to win the of 2 and 5 years. Meets Tuesdays sazoo.org/tickets have made musical theatre history People’s Choice award. Tulsa and Thursdays from 9-10 a.m. and over the past several decades. It is Botanic Garden, 3900 Tulsa Botanic 10:10-11:10 a.m. Whiteside Com - GARDEN ACTIVITY BOOKLETS part of the Tulsa Performing Arts Dr., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Reserve tickets in munity Center, 4009 S. Pittsburg Each Friday in October, Tulsa Center’s “Arts in the Air” concert se - advance at tulsabotanic.org. Ave. cityoftulsa.org Botanic Garden will offer DIY Kids’ ries presented by Williams Compa - Activities as part of their Autumn in nies. This is a pay-as-you-can event. BIKES, BALLS & YOU (AGES 1-5) the Garden celebration. Activity kits Learn more at theatretulsa.org. Tulsa [FREE, W] October 2 Friday can be picked up all day, from 10 PAC, 110 E. 2nd St., 8 p.m. This open gym time for preschoolers FRIDAY WALKING TOURS AT a.m.-5 p.m. Tulsa Botanic Garden, is a great way to socialize with other TULSA ZOO [W] 3900 Tulsa Botanic Dr. Reserve tick - kids. Families must bring their own Make your zoo visit even more ets in advance at tulsabotanic.org. riding toy and NO FOOD or memorable by learning about our 28 OCTOBER 2020 WWW.TULSAKIDS.COM COMMUNITY CALENDAR I OCTOBER

liance; and books to check out, like October 3 Saturday real atlases and fictional books that include maps. 1313 N. Canton Ave., MERMAID DAYS tulsalibrary.org Mermaid Days are back at the Okla - homa Aquarium! Take an enchanted trip to the aquarium with mermaid- October 6 Tuesday themed goodies, scavenger hunts, TO-GO ACTIVITY KIT: BATS, BATS, and decorations. From 10 a.m. - 12 BATS [FREE] p.m. and 2 p.m. - 4 p.m., you can October is for the bats! Stop by the even meet a mermaid all while sur - Judy Z. Kishner Library this week to rounded by our beautiful aquatic pick up a bat kit. Make your own bat life. Included in general admission. and learn about why these flying Oklahoma Aquarium, 300 Aquarium creatures associated with spooky Dr., Jenks, okaquarium.org night-time deeds are actually pretty cool. Kits are limited on a first-come- HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH first-serve basis. Check our Face - PERFORMANCE: AHIMSA book page TIMOTEO BODHRÁN [FREE] at www.facebook.com/judyzkishner - Join Tulsa City-County Library library for updates. For toddlers to at www.facebook.com/tulsalibrary fo elementary-age students. Repeats r this livestream multimedia per - daily, October 5-10. 10150 N. formance featuring Ahimsa Timoteo Cincinnati Ave., Sperry, tulsali - Bodhrán, Welana Queton, Yvette MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR OCTOBER 7, WHEN PHILBROOK MU - brary.org Wiley and José Emmanuel Vega. SEUM’S VILLA REOPENS TO THE PUBLIC ALONG WITH THEIR Bodhrán is a solo/collaborative mul - NEWEST EXHIBITION, NATIVE WOMEN ARTISTS: HEARTS OF OUR SPECIAL EDUCATION WEBINAR timedia artist, activist/organizer, PEOPLE. PHOTO INFORMATION: ROSE B. SIMPSON (KHA’P’OO SERIES: SCHOOL EVALUATIONS critic and educator, orchestrating vi - OWINGE (SANTA CLARA PUEBLO), B. 1983). MARIA, 2014. 1985 [FREE] sual, acoustic, performative, textual CHEVY EL CAMINO, 57 X 75 X 201 5/8”. COURTESY OF PHILBROOK Join The Arc of Oklahoma, formerly and terrestrial techniques to pro - MUSEUM OF ART. © ROSE B. SIMPSON. TARC to learn what to expect during duce work across the Américas, the school evaluation process to de - Africa, the Arab world, Asia, Europe, termine if your child is eligible for chase tickets and reserve your spot place by the waterfall outside the Australia and the Pacific. For teens special education services. We will in advance online. Thomas Gilcrease House, and will and adults. explore and explain each step of the be accompanied by live music. Be - evaluation process from beginning October 8 Thursday ginners and children are welcome; October 4 Sunday to end. For more information about donations are appreciated. Bring registration for the webinar series, CELEBRATE: WORLD OCTOPUS your own yoga mat. While you do ART FAIR AT TULSA BOTANIC follow The Arc of Oklahoma’s Face - DAY! not need to purchase museum ad - GARDEN book page at @TARC.Tulsa. 12 p.m. Visit Oklahoma Aquarium’s new “Se - mission to attend the class, if you Shop the beautiful works of local ddadvocacy.net cret World of the Octopus” exhibit want to visit the museum before or artists while strolling in the Garden. to get a 360-degree view of their after the class, reserve your space in Booths will be spaced out in lawn October 7 Wednesday giant Pacific octopus! Learn more at advance at gilcrease.org. Gilcrease areas along walking paths from 10 okaquarium.org. Museum, 1400 N. Gilcrease Mu - a.m. to 5 p.m. Art will include paint - CHILD-CAREGIVER YOGA seum Rd., 6-7 p.m. ings, pottery, mosaics and more! Re - With music and movement, you and DAMION SHADE TRIO AT TULSA peats October 3 and 4, 10 a.m.-5 your child are bound to have fun BOTANIC GARDEN October 9 Friday p.m. Tulsa Botanic Garden, 3900 during this short yoga practice to - Each Thursday evening in October, Tulsa Botanic Dr., tulsabotanic.org gether. Learn breathing practices Tulsa Botanic Garden will host live TAKE-AND-MAKE BIRD FEEDERS and poses you can do as a family at music on the lawn as well as a food Each Friday in October, Tulsa October 5 Monday home. This event is included with truck! The Damion Shade Trio will Botanic Garden will offer DIY Kids’ regular admission and there is no play October 8. Other performers Activities as part of their Autumn in KIDS READ: TAKE-HOME KIT/CU - pre-registration required. Discovery include Jesse Aycock (October 1), the Garden celebration. Activity kits RIOUS WORLD: MAPS & CONTI - Lab, 560 N. Maybelle Ave., Tulsa, Stephanie Oliver (October 15) and can be picked up all day, from 10 NENTS [FREE, DAILY] 10:30-11 a.m. discoverylab.org Branjae (October 22). Tulsa Botanic a.m.-5 p.m. Tulsa Botanic Garden, Stop by the Maxwell Park Library Garden, 3900 Tulsa Botanic Dr., 5-8 3900 Tulsa Botanic Dr., tulsab - and pick up a kit for your elemen - OPENING DAY: NATIVE WOMEN p.m. tulsabotanic.org otanic.org. tary-aged child to have fun with ARTISTS maps! The kit includes worksheets, Philbrook is re-opening the Villa and YOGA IN THE GILCREASE GAR - like country name word searches debuting its newest exhibition, DENS and word scramble; postcards to “Hearts of Our People: Native Enjoy a Thursday evening yoga class mail; a sign-up form to register for a Women Artists,” on October 7! Pur - with Ana Berry. The class will take pen pal through Tulsa Global Al -

WWW.TULSAKIDS.COM OCTOBER 2020 29 COMMUNITY CALENDAR I OCTOBER

YOGA FOR EVERY BODY [FREE, player; children 6 and under are October 10 Saturday October 12 Monday W] FREE. Get more information at lets - Join Tulsa City-County Library via goandhunt.com. 2ND SATURDAY SILENTS: THE I CAN’T BUILD AN OFRENDA Facebook Live COVERED WAGON (1923) [FREE] WITH LIVING ARTS [FREE] at www.facebook.com/tulsalibrary The 2nd Sat Silent Series will remain Think you can’t do something, like October 15 Thursday for a free beginner-friendly yoga Virtual Screenings for the rest of draw, write a song, or dance? Think class taught by certified yoga in - BUILD A READER STORYTIME/EL 2020. Watch through Circle Cin - again! Step outside your comfort structor Christine Von de Veld. For MINUTO DEL CUENTO [FREE, W] ema’s YouTube Page for a FREE zone with Tulsa Community Col - all ages. 6-7 p.m. Join Ms. Emily on Martin Regional screening of this 1923 western lege’s McKeon Center for Creativity Library’s Facebook page, www.face - drama with an original score played and try something new at the I Can’t book.com/martinlibrary, for a song, by Bill Rowland on Circle’s restored workshops. Learn to build an October 14 Wednesday a rhyme or a story in English and 1928 theatre pipe organ. About the ofrenda—an altar that is used to DANCE & SING-ALONG Spanish to help your child develop film: Two wagon caravans converge honor someone who has passed Every second Wednesday of the important early literacy skills. // Jun - at what is now Kansas City, and during the Dìa de los Muertos holi - month, join Executive Director Ray tamos en el Facebook para cantar, combine for the westward push to day. 12-12:45 p.m. Details at face - Vandiver and the Discovery Lab jugar con los dedos, o escuchar a un Oregon. On their quest the pilgrims book.com/livingartsoftulsa band as they sing classic children’s cuento. Hacer estos ejercicios le will experience desert heat, moun - songs. Dance with scarves, play ayuda a tu niño con el desarrollo del tain snow, hunger, and opposition. STAR NIGHT: MARS along with instruments, and be alfabetismo. 11 a.m.-12:45 p.m. circlecinema.org Enjoy the Garden at night! Bring ready to get your groove on! This your own chairs or blanket to spread event is included with regular admis - HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH: out on the lawn and look up at the October 16 Friday sion and there is no pre-registration LANTIX IDENTITY DIALOGUE night sky. A telescope will be set up required. Discovery Lab, 560 N. BLACK CAT PUMPKIN ACTIVITY [FREE] at the top of the Tandy Floral Ter - Maybelle Ave., 10:30-11 a.m. dis - Each Friday in October, Tulsa Join Tulsa City-County Library for a races, with Garden staff on hand to coverylab.org Botanic Garden will offer DIY Kids’ panel discussion with diverse lead - facilitate viewings of stellar, plane - Activities as part of their Autumn in ers from the Latino community tary and deep sky objects. Learn FAMILY DAY AT AHHA TULSA the Garden celebration. Activity kits where we will ask: “What does it more and purchase tickets at tulsab - Join ahha Tulsa for an afternoon of can be picked up all day, from 10 mean to identify as Hispanic, Latino otanic.org. Tulsa Botanic Garden, hands-on learning for families with a.m.-5 p.m. There is a $5 materials or Latinx?” This event will be 3900 Tulsa Botanic Dr., 8-11 p.m. children of all ages! Parents/care - fee for the Black Cat Pumpkin kit. livestreamed to the Hispanic Re - givers and their children and teens Tulsa Botanic Garden, 3900 Tulsa source Center Facebook page October 13 Tuesday will enjoy interactive activities in THE Botanic Dr., tulsabotanic.org at www.facebook.com/TCCLhispani - GALLERY and THE EXPERIENCE, cresourcecenter. For all ages. 6-7 BUILD A READER STORYTIME: explore new ideas in THE STUDIO, JUST BETWEEN FRIENDS – p.m. PRESCHOOL WITH MISS TATIANA and dive deeper into artmaking OWASSO [FREE] FROM CENTRAL LIBRARY [FREE] processes in the Creative Labs. The Shop for gently used kid’s items at POETRY SLAM CONTEST [FREE] The best in children’s literature, pre-registration price ($7 per adult Just Between Friends – Owasso’s Come play a “game” of Poetry songs, games, finger plays, rhymes and child) is available only online; Fall/Winter Sale! This HUGE kids’ Karaoke with the Mused Organiza - and other reading-related activities full ahha admission will be charged consignment event features every - tion. Speakers will bring their fa - are shared with your preschooler. at the door. Preregister at ah - thing from maternity clothes to toys, vorite poem and read live from the Join Miss Tatiana here: www.face - hatulsa.org. ahha Tulsa, 1010 E. kid’s clothes and more. October 16- stage while a musician plays behind book.com/tulsalibrary. 10:30-11 a.m. Archer St. 12-4 p.m. 17, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. October 18, 1-5 them. Contemporary, local and clas - p.m. 9341 N. 129th E. Ave., sic poems will be at the ready for SPECIAL EDUCATION WEBINAR FALL BREAK SCAVENGER HUNT Owasso, owasso.jbfsale.com the hungry participants. This SERIES: BEHAVIOR IN SPECIAL WITH LET’S GO URBAN [DAILY] evening will also include a Poetry EDUCATION [FREE] Get outside this Fall Break with a so - STRANGER THINGS TRIVIA [FREE] Slam hosted by Living Arts! Prizes Join The Arc of Oklahoma, formerly cial-distancing friendly self-guided Grab some waffles and Farrah Faw - range from $100 for third prize to TARC to learn about the appropriate scavenger hunt! Complete missions cett-approved hair product. It’s $400 for first prize. 8 p.m. Learn steps to address your child’s behav - by answering trivia, solving clues, Stranger Things trivia time! Register more at tul - ior issues in special education. We finding objects, and completing online at www.tulsalibrary.org/events sapac.com/events/2002/poetry- will explore the functional behavioral video challenges. Each mission is with your email address to get the slam-contest. assessment, positive behavior inter - worth points so complete the right Zoom link for this pub-style game. vention plan and keeping your child missions to score more points than For adults and teens. 7-8 p.m. in school. For more information October 11 Sunday the other teams to reach 1st place about registration for the webinar and earn bragging rights! The hunt FIND MORE EVENTS AT series, follow The Arc of Oklahoma’s October 17 Saturday can start and end on your own time - TULSAKIDS.COM/CALENDAR! Facebook page at @TARC.Tulsa. 12 line and can take place anywhere MERMAID DAYS p.m. ddadvocacy.net you need fun! Cost is just $10 per Mermaid Days are back at the Okla -

30 OCTOBER 2020 WWW.TULSAKIDS.COM COMMUNITY CALENDAR I OCTOBER

homa Aquarium! Take an enchanted BLACKOUT POETRY CONTEST trip to the aquarium with mermaid- [FREE] themed goodies, scavenger hunts, Blackout Poetry! What is it? It is and decorations. From 10 a.m. - 12 where you take a page from a book, p.m. and 2 p.m. - 4 p.m., you can magazine or even a newspaper and even meet a mermaid all while sur - find words that are relevant to you, rounded by our beautiful aquatic and then use a marker to black out life. Included in general admission. all the others. Your goal is to have a Oklahoma Aquarium, 300 Aquarium poem. You can use a book, maga - Dr., Jenks, okaquarium.org zine or newspaper you have at home, or the library can send you a INDIGENOUS FASHION SHOW page or two from one of their WITH KRISTIN GENTRY [FREE] books. After you have finished your Living Arts of Tulsa presents and In - poem, snap a picture of it and the digenous Fashion Show with Kristin book, magazine or newspaper it Gentry as part of its Flip the Gallery came from, and then email it to initiative. Follow @livingartsoftulsa [email protected]. We’d love to on Facebook for more details! share them on our Facebook page too. First prize is a $20 gift card to FAMILY DAY AT THE WILL Magic City Books, second prize is a ROGERS BIRTHPLACE RANCH $10 gift card to Magic City Books, Enjoy an afternoon of basket weav - plus the library will also have some ing demonstrations as well as other books to give away. Entries are ac - CELEBRATE “AUTUMN IN THE GARDEN” DAILY AT TULSA BOTANIC special 19th century activities. Will cepted October 19-31. For ages 10- GARDEN THROUGH OCTOBER 29. WITH OVER 5,000 PUMPKINS, A Rogers Birthplace Ranch, 9501 E. 18. tulsalibrary.org HAY MAZE, SCARECROWS AND OTHER FUN ACTIVITIES, TBG IS THE 380 Rd., Oologah, 1-3 p.m. will - PLACE TO WELCOME FALL! TULSABOTANIC.ORG rogers.com October 20 Tuesday

SPECIAL EDUCATION WEBINAR October 18 Sunday at www.facebook.com/tulsalibrary. SERIES: ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY October 21 Wednesday Can’t make it live? The video will be AUTUMN BLOOMS TOUR [FREE] saved on the library’s Facebook Tulsa Botanic Garden’s horticultural Join The Arc of Oklahoma, formerly SCIENCE DEMO page for your children to enjoy staff will lead a tour through the gar - TARC, to understand more about Enjoy a scientific demonstration at later! 10:30-11 a.m. den each Sunday in October. Tours assistive technology for learning in Discovery Lab, 560 N. Maybelle are geared more toward teens and the special education classroom. Ave., 10:30-11 a.m. discoverylab.org October 23 Friday adults. The October 18 tour will We’ll explore the basics to assistive VIRTUAL STORY TIME WITH focus on Autumn Blooms. Other technology tools and how to find MAKE YOUR OWN NATURE TULSA ZOO [FREE, W] tours include: Tour of the Tandy Flo - the right tools to help your child in JOURNAL Every Wednesday tune in at the ral Terraces with Curator Dustin Stoll different subject areas. For more in - Each Friday in October, Tulsa Tulsa Zoo’s Facebook for a new (October 4); Ornamental Grasses formation about registration for the Botanic Garden will offer DIY Kids’ Story Time. These short, kid-friendly (October 11); Tour of the Lakeside webinar series, follow The Arc of Activities as part of their Autumn in virtual programs are free and last Promenade (October 25). Tulsa Oklahoma’s Facebook page at the Garden celebration. Activity kits about 15 minutes. Meet a new ani - Botanic Garden, 3900 Tulsa Botanic @TARC.Tulsa. 12 p.m. ddadvo - can be picked up all day, from 10 mal that has something to do with Dr., 2 p.m. Free with admission. cacy.net a.m.-5 p.m. Tulsa Botanic Garden, the book each week. 10 a.m. face - Geared toward teens and adults. 3900 Tulsa Botanic Dr., tulsab - book.com/tulsazoo tulsabotanic.org FALL FESTIVAL [FREE] otanic.org Enjoy family friendly fun at Jane A. October 19 Monday Malone Center in Chamberlain October 22 Thursday OUT-LIT: YA BOOK CLUB [FREE] Park’s first ever Fall Festival! Activi - Join Tulsa City-County Library to BLACKOUT POETRY: TEEN BUILD A READER STORYTIME: ties include: A community scarecrow chat about “The Rules and Regula - TO-GO CRAFT KIT [FREE] FAMILY WITH MISS TANZY contest, treat bags for kids, games, tions for Mediating Myths & Magic” Stop by the Brookside Library to FROM THE ZARROW REGIONAL arts and crafts and more! Jane A. by F.T. Lukens, available in print and pick up a blackout poetry kit while LIBRARY [FREE] Malone Center in Chamberlain Park, on the Hoopla app. Register online supplies last. Make it creepy to cele - Tune in for this real-time birth-5 sto - 4940 N. Frankfort Ave., 6-8 p.m. at www.tulsalibrary.org/events for brate the season, or let your imagi - rytime! Enjoy simple songs and cityoftulsa.org the Zoom link. For ages 12-18. 4:30- nation run free. For ages 10-18. books for little ones and more inter - 5:30 p.m. 1207 E. 45th Pl. tulsalibrary.org active stories and activities for older children. Join Miss Tanzy

WWW.TULSAKIDS.COM OCTOBER 2020 31 COMMUNITY CALENDAR I OCTOBER

MISTAKES TO MASTERPIECES: tor center. Walk will last approxi - p.m. ddadvocacy.net FAMILY FRIENDLY PAINT-ALONG mately 30-45 minutes. Tulsa Botanic HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH: October 29 Thursday [FREE] Garden, 3900 Tulsa Botanic Dr., 2-5 LATINX CRAFT SERIES [FREE] Join on Zoom for a family-friendly p.m. tulsabotanic.org Join TCCL staff and the Hispanic Re - FIND MORE EVENTS AT paint-along. Each month, partici - source Center for a series of crafts TULSAKIDS.COM/CALENDAR! pants will paint a new, original piece October 26 Monday celebrating Latinx cultures. They will that is beginner-friendly! Register demonstrate how to create masks, October 30 Friday online at www.tulsalibrary.org/events BUILD A READER STORYTIME: sugar skulls and an altar. Register for Zoom link. 5-6 p.m. BABIES & TODDLERS WITH MISS online at www.tulsalibrary.org/events TECH TALK: 3D MODELING FOR KENA FROM CENTRAL LIBRARY to receive materials and information BEGINNERS [FREE] October 24 Saturday [FREE] on what you will need. The events Join Tulsa City-County Library for Ready, set, READ! This beginning will be livestreamed to the Hispanic this Zoom webinar and learn the ba - FAMILY STORYTIME YOGA [W] storytime focuses on helping your Resource Center Facebook page sics of 3D modeling for 3D printing Join Philbrook and I AM KIDS Yoga baby or toddler develop important at www.facebook.com/TCCLhispani - with free web and for family storytime yoga! Bring your literacy skills while emphasizing the cresourcecenter. Repeats daily, Oc - downloadable tools. The talk will own yoga mat, or borrow one of fun of reading. Join Miss Kena tober 27-29, 6-7 p.m. briefly cover how to use tools like Philbrook’s Turkish towels. Advanced at www.facebook.com/tulsalibrary. Tinkercad and Thingiverse, and then tickets required. Philbrook Museum, 10:30-10:50 a.m. October 28 Wednesday how to download files, change set - 2727 S. Rockford Rd., 11-11:45 a.m. tings and preview files using Cura. philbrook.org October 27 Tuesday MOVE-IT! This talk will be of interest to you Move to music, play a game, and whether you are a technology ex - October 25 Sunday SPECIAL EDUCATION WEBINAR read a book! All activities center pert or enthusiast, or just want to SERIES: TRANSITION SERVICES around a theme and are designed learn more about how technology WALK & TALK: LAKESIDE [FREE] for young children’s physical, men - works. Register online at www.tulsal - PROMENADE Join The Arc of Oklahoma, formerly tal, emotional, and social develop - ibrary.org/events for Zoom login Lakeside Promenade curator Andy TARC, to learn more about the tran - ment. This event is included with info. Registrants will need to provide Fusco will lead a walk around the sition services each special educa - regular admission and there is no an email address. The Zoom login Lakeside Promenade, which features tion student is entitled to receive. pre-registration required. Discovery information will be emailed out an some of the first plantings ever in - We will explore the services avail - Lab, 560 N. Maybelle Ave., 10:30-11 hour prior to the program. A record - stalled at Tulsa Botanic Garden. He able to help students transition to a.m. discoverylab.org ing of the talk will be uploaded to will also share some of the plans for the full range of post-school activi - YouTube. For ages 10 to adult. 12-1 future plantings around the lake. ties, including post-secondary edu - CLARY SAGE: DAY OF THE DEAD p.m. Please note - some area of this walk cation, vocational training, FACE PAINTING [FREE] may be on gravel path. Free with employment, adult services, inde - Join Living Arts and Clary Sage for a October 31 Saturday Garden admission. Limited to first pendent living and community par - Day of the Dead Face Painting twenty participants. Participants will ticipation. For more information demonstration! Follow @livingartsof - HAPPY HALLOWEEN! Don’t miss be asked to wear masks during tour about registration for the webinar tulsa on Facebook for additional de - our roundup of family friendly Hal - and physically distance from others series, follow The Arc of Oklahoma’s tails. loween events in our October not in their group. Meet behind visi - Facebook page at @TARC.Tulsa. 12 magazine and online at tul -

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32 OCTOBER 2020 WWW.TULSAKIDS.COM Where your child is more Than a number! ers ponsive teach Nurturing, res math, c curriculum: Academi panish ics, art, and S science, phon Take a Trip to the ing centers te learn Age-appropria oom Pumpkin Patch! inin eacheach classroomclassr rom jack-o’-lanterns to pie, pumpkins are the star of the season! Plus, pumpkin patches offer plenty of outdoor fun for families. Here are RhemaChildCare.com Fsome local favorites! Carmichael’s Pleasant Valley Farms Call to enroll your child today! Dates: Opening day is September 26. Winter Squash & Pumpkin Festival Open daily: Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-7 Dates: Open daily in October, p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. 9 a.m.-7 p.m. daily 1025 W. Kenosha, Broken Arrow, OK 74012 (918) 258-0594 Location: 17137 S. Mingo Rd., Bixby Location: 22350 W. 71st St., Sand Website: Springs www.facebook.com/Carmichaels-Pump - Website: kin-Patch-130583043658966/ www.pleasantvalleyfarmsok.com Attractions: : Cane maze, dark house maze, Attractions: Pumpkin patch, 20-acre corn 2n animal feeding, parakeet feeding en - maze, kiddie corn maze, pumpkin chuckin’, 4 . counter, pony and camel rides, pumpkin pumpkin chalkin’, duck races, two 20-foot 1988 patch, homemade jams, jellies, pickles, slides, over 20 photo ops, and more. Don’t fudge available for purchase. Admission is miss the 10th annual Pleasant Valley Farms October 10-11 free; some activities cost extra. Winter Squash and Pumpkin Festival Octo - ber 17 and 18, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday 9am - 6pm Renowned Arts & Crafts Vendors Livesay Orchards Sunday 10am - 6pm Dates: Opens the last weekend in Sep - Pumpkin Patch at Shepherd’s Cross LIVE MUSIC SHOW CASE tember and open weekends throughout Dates: September 22-November 7, 10900 S Louisville Ave, Tulsa Food Trucks October. Saturdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun - 2020; Tuesday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-6:30 Family Fun Outdoor Event Coffee Vendors & More! days, 1-5 p.m.; Open Fall Break Thursday p.m.; Closed Sundays; Mondays by ap - and Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. pointment only Family, Fun, Fall, Tradition Visit brushcreekbazaar.org Location: 39232 E. 231st St. S., Porter Location: 16792 E. 450 Rd., Claremore Website: www.livesayorchards.com Website: www.shepherdscross.com Sponsore B Attractions: Pumpkin patch, hay bale Attractions: Pumpkin patch, petting zoo, maze, a corn maze honoring Oklahoma’s farm museum and games, pumpkin stroll, medical professionals, a farm-related learn - hay maze, 4-floor educational silo, festival ing center, games, photo ops and more. games, hands-on learning station, picnic area, coloring contest, Shepherd’s Shop Oklahoma Heritage Farm and more. Admission is donation based, Annual Fall Festival and there are also different activity pack - Dates: Oct. 3 through Nov. 1 (times may ages available for purchase. What’sW a vary; visit Facebook page for details) Location: 38512 US 75 Hwy., Ramona The Patch @ Sand Springs & Glenpool smartsmamartr way Website: ohffallfestival.com Dates: Open daily in October: Monday- to buildld your kids’ Attractions: Pumpkin patch, 11-acre maze, Saturday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sundays, 12-7 financial foundation? games, rides, entertainment, concessions, p.m. Life insurance from Modern Woodmen country farm store, contests and prizes Where: Two Locations: 17516 W. 8th St., ElizaEliza WWoods,oods, FIC Sand Springs; 17902 S. Highway 75, of America.A It’s a gift that can last a 918-378-2703 Glenpool lifetime.ime. Let’s talk – I can help you [email protected]@ Website: facebook.com/sand - plann for life. springspumpkinpatch mwarep.orgmwarep.org Attractions: Photo ops, pony rides, petting ServingServing NortheastNortheast OOklahomaklahoma reps.modernwoodmen.reps.modernwoodmen.dmen. zoo, festival games, kids hay maze, and of org/ewoodsorg/ewoods course, pumpkins! Admission is free; op - tional $8 unlimited activity pass for kids.

WWW.TULSAKIDS.COM OCTOBER 2020 33 FAMILY FRIENDLY HALLOWEEN EVENTS

appy Halloween from Tul - rounding exhibits. Dress up in your HallowZOOeen is back with more Carter/Sherry Families Tree Fort. saKids! No matter how you’re best Halloween costume for a days, more social distancing and Tickets are limited to this event. Hcelebrating this year, we chance to win prizes, and join us for more animals. Tickets are $3/child (12 and under) hope your Halloween is frightfully the opportunity to interact with Favorites return, new favorites for Garden members, member fun! Find more family-friendly Hal - some of the ocean’s most curious added! adults are free but require ticket; loween events at tulsakids.com/Hal - creatures from the deep! Burger King Royal Castle $6/child (12 and under) for non- loween. This year’s event will include new INSURICA Pumpkin Patch Playroom members, regular admission ($8) for protocols to ensure the health and QuikTrip Pirate Island non-member adults. Pre-purchase Please note: This information is cor - safety of our guests, vendors, staff, PLUS see your favorite animals. The tickets at www.tulsabotanic.org. rect to the best of our knowledge. and volunteers. Safety measures in - entire zoo will be open for Hallow - However, please always check with clude nightly admission caps, mask ZOOeen guests to explore. COMMUNITY ART PROJECT: the event organizer ahead of time requirements, and glove require - Members: $7. General Admission: HALLOWEEN VILLAGE to confirm details, as information ments for vendors, in addition to $17. Price includes regular admis - When: Ongoing through October. could change due to COVID-19 or our ongoing safety efforts. okaquar - sion to the zoo PLUS Hallow - ahha is open Wednesday-Satur - other factors. ium.org ZOOeen activities. Reserve your day, 12-9 p.m.; Sunday, 12-7 p.m. spot at tulsazoo.org/zoo-events/hal - Where: ahha Tulsa, 101 E. Archer St. HALLOWMARINE HALLOWZOOEEN lowzooeen. Add your own structure or monster When: October 16-18, 23-25 and When: Friday, October 16 – Sun - to ahha Tulsa’s Halloween village! 29-31, 6-8:30 p.m. day, October 18; Friday, October BOO-TANICAL Film your own creepy stories that Where: Oklahoma Aquarium, 300 23 – Sunday, October 25; Thurs - When: October 29, 5-7 p.m. will run in THE STUDIO all month Aquarium Dr., Jenks day, October 29 – Saturday, Octo - Where: Tulsa Botanic Garden, long; make felt masks or watercolor For the first time, the Oklahoma ber 31. 2-6 p.m. each evening. 3900 Tulsa Botanic Dr. eyeballs; create your own character Aquarium will host nine nights of in - HallowZOOeen lasts from 2-5 Kids can wear their costumes and by rolling a Dungeons & Dragons door trick-or-treating for kids of all p.m., but the zoo will remain trick-or-treat at six, non-scary sta - dice; celebrate Inktober; and use ages! Guests can follow the Trick-or- open until 6. tions in the Children’s Discovery other spooky materials available. Treat trail for loads of candy and see Where: Tulsa Zoo, 6421 E. 36th Garden. Pete Tomshany will be Learn more at ahhatulsa.org. our fascinating marine life in the sur - St. N. playing fun, funky music in the continued next page

34 OCTOBER 2020 WWW.TULSAKIDS.COM SPOT LITE MAGIC & COSTMES that Ouija board, grab your LET’S GO URBAN TULSA ZOMBIE glow, ghostly portraits and more! When: Ongoing planchette and get ready for SCAVENGER HUNT There will be scary movies outside Where: 6808 S. Memorial Dr., spooky trivia! Costumes are encour - When: October 28-31 (anytime) as well as to-go candy bags. Cos - Suite 220 aged. Register online at www.tulsali - Where: Downtown Tulsa tumes encouraged! ahhatulsa.org Spot Lite Magic & Costumes has brary.org/events to receive a Zoom Cost: $45 for 6 players been serving the Tulsa area since link. Questions? Contact Re - Looking for your 2020 Halloween HALLOWEEN NIGHT 1976, offering fun costumes for chil - [email protected]. For plans? Let’s Go Urban has your en - AT THE MUSEUM dren and adults. Spot Lite has it all; adults and teens. tire family covered with their Tulsa When: October 31, 6-8 p.m. from spooky to funny, they will have Zombie Scavenger Hunt! Where: Will Rogers Memorial Mu - you covered. Children’s costumes PUMPKIN PAINTING Answer trivia, solve clues, find ob - seum, 1720 W. Will Rogers Blvd., starting at $9.99. They also provide When: Saturday, October 17 jects, and complete video chal - Claremore the following items: Wigs, masks, (12-3 p.m., 3-6 p.m. or 6-9 p.m.) lenges with a fun, zombie-themed Families can share an evening of professional make-up for special ef - Where: ahha Tulsa, 1010 E. Archer scavenger hunt. Solve the right Halloween fun, trick or treating and fects, hats, hundreds of costume ac - St. clues to try to stop the zombies, a costume contest in the safety of cessories for the DYI costume Paint a pumpkin at ahha Tulsa! 10 and you may win the Grand Prize! the grounds surrounding the Will creators, costume rentals, magic pumpkins will be available for every This social distancing-friendly hunt Rogers Memorial and in the beauti - tricks, jokes, and much more. Dur - admission time slot. You can pur - is only as scary as your imagination ful sunken gardens. Free admission. ing the Halloween season Spot Lite chase pumpkins for $5 to paint in and is perfect for kids of ALL ages! www.willrogers.com also offers many Halloween decora - THE STUDIO; supplies and pump - www.letsgoandhunt.com/zombies tions and animated props. Spot Lite kins are available on a first-come, is your One Stop Halloween Cos - first-served basis. Learn more at ah - HALLOWEEN AT AHHA tume Shop, locally owned and fam - hatulsa.org. When: October 31, 12-9 p.m. ily operated. Location is 68th and Where: ahha Tulsa, 101 E. Archer Memorial directly behind Red Lob - SO-CO FLASHLIGHT St. ster, between ShoGuns and Tandy SCAVENGER HUNT Spend Halloween day or night at Leather. 6808 S. Memorial Drive, When: October 23, 7-8 p.m. ahha! Create spooky hands that Suite 220. Text the word “start” Where: South County Recreation to 918-791-0175 and receive a dis - Center, 13800 S. Peoria Ave., count on your Glenpool purchase. www.spotlitemagic.com FREE! Calling all families of Super Heroes, Princesses, Zombies, Mum - HALLOWEEN FESTIVAL AT mies, Daddies and more! Don’t miss CASTLE OF MUSKOGEE out on your chance to search for When: October 2-31, 2020; Fri - candy and toys at the SoCo Soccer days and Saturdays; gates open at Fields. DON’T forget your flash - 5:30, ticket sales end at 10 p.m. lights. Age groups 0-3, 4-6, 7-9 & Where: Castle of Muskogee, 3400 10-12. parks.tulsacounty.org W. Fern Mountain Rd., Muskogee Castle of Muskogee’s annual Hal - O’BRIEN PARK HALLOWEEN Homework loween Festival has attractions for FLASHLIGHT HUNT people of every age and desired When: October 23, 7:15-8 p.m. Help Now! scare level. Kids can enjoy Hal - Where: O’Brien Park, 6149 N. POWERED BY BRAINFUSE loweenland, the Enchanted Board - Lewis Ave. Featuring Live Tutors walk, a Halloween Train and more, Bring your flashlight for a Halloween (2-11 p.m., daily CST) Get EXPERT one- while those who can’t get enough candy hunt in the dark! Costume WRRQH VXEMHFWVSHFLÀF KHOS IRU VWXGHQWV make-believe horror can sign up for Contest at 7:15 pm. Hunt begins in grades K-12 … plus college! Domus Horrificus, Casa Morte and promptly at 7:30 pm. parks.tul - 6SDQLVKVSHDNLQJ WXWRUV DYDLODEOH WRR the Trail of Blood. Plus, you can pur - sacounty.org chase Halloween decor and cos - )5(( %UDLQIXVH $SS tumes on-site as well as food and BIXBY MUMMY & ME DANCE $YDLODEOH LQ $SS 6WRUH RU *RRJOH 3OD\ beverages. Learn more at www.ok - When: October 24, 6-9 p.m. castle.com. Where: Bixby Community Center, 9LVLW ZZZ7XOVD/LEUDU\RUJKRPHZRUNKHOS 211 N. Cabaniss Ave., Bixby and use your Tulsa City-County Library FANDOM FRIDAY TRIVIA: Mummys of all ages! Bring your card to access Homework Help Now! SPOOKY! sons and daughters in costume to When: October 16, 6:30-8 p.m. an exciting Halloween Dance. There '21·7 +$9( $ /,%5$5< &$5'" Where: Zoom will be costume contests, dance $SSO\ RQOLQH DW We’re focusing on things that go competitions, games and refresh - www.TulsaLibrary.org/application and get bump in the night. Think you know ments. No pre-ticket sales, $5/per - LQVWDQW DFFHVV WR WKLV VHUYLFH DQG PRUH “Night of the Living Dummy” from son. Tickets available at the door. “Night of the Living Dead”? parks.tulsacounty.org Stephen King from Joe Hill? Set up

WWW.TULSAKIDS.COM OCTOBER 2020 35 green country grown-up

BY NANCY A. MOORE PHOTO CREDIT: ANNA SCHROEDER Hanna Howard: sharing a message of perseverance

anna Howard is shining a ety. Can you share your journey bright light during the about being diagnosed with COVID pandemic dark - Clinical Anxiety and Seasonal Hness through her new Affective Disorder? book Ignite the Sun . Ten years in Howard: I remember the the making, it offers a timely mes - exact day I had my first panic at - sage that resonates well with its tack. It was Nov. 1, 2010, the first teenage audience and pushes day of National Novel Writing readers into another world that is Month (NaNoWriMO) where the imaginative and inspiring. The goal is to write 50,000 words in storyline is unique and impactful one month. Prior to this point, I – even incorporating a character had been focused hard-core on who struggles with anxiety. The getting published. That morning, premise teaches readers that de - I woke up at 5 a.m. and got ready cisions have consequences and to write. I was rushing around, while taking action might be diffi - getting breakfast, when all of a cult, it will eventually yield the sudden, I had a physically crush - desired results if they persevere. ing feeling and felt like I was TK: Tell us about yourself: going to die. Howard: I grew up in Tulsa My Seasonal Affective Disor - and graduated from Jenks High der was intense, especially dur - School in 2004, then I attended ing that time. I remember the college at Oklahoma Baptist Uni - outside weather being a mirror of versity. I got married in 2017 and my internal feelings – cold, dark the day that Tulsa went into and oppressive. I also remember quarantine, I had my first baby writing most of every day during (born on St. Patrick’s Day!). to see how my writing was going ber that your encouragement is a the ice storm. It was therapeutic TK: How did you become in - that day. powerful thing. I would never for me because I was dragging terested in writing? TK: Being a new parent, do have fought through 12 years of things out and processing them Howard: I’ve always been a you have any advice for parents literary rejection (incidentally, not through the lens of the story, reader, and really got into writing on how to support their kids an unusual amount of time in the which in the end helped me to in high school, after my best dreams/goals? publishing industry) if it hadn’t understand myself and my inter - friend encouraged me to start Howard: Parents, encourage been for my parents’ spoken be - nal experiences much better. writing down the stories I made your kids to do what they love. If lief in me. My dad’s texts every TK: Tell us about the book: up. Both my parents were always you push them exclusively to - morning - usually something as Howard: It’s a teen fantasy very supportive, too. My dad was ward monetary success, and ig - simple as “You up? Writing?”- intended for ages 12-18 years old. himself an artist and encouraged nore their actual interests and were like a stimulant to my perse - It’s about a 16-year-old girl who us kids to pursue our passions in - talents, you might just stifle verance when it was lagging. grew up in darkness, but finds stead of money. When my dad something that could be of real TK: The main character in out she has an elemental magical was still living, his morning rou - value to the world. And remem - your book struggles with anxi - connection with the sun, and be - tine always included a text to me cause of that she might be able to continued next page

36 OCTOBER 2020 WWW.TULSAKIDS.COM FALL FAMILY FUN WITH GILCREASE MUSEUM During the month of October, enjoy a wide range of free activities including a pumpkin patch photo station on the Gilcrease grounds, a watercolor print activity and more! Find more information at gilcrease.org/fall-family-fun

restore sunlight to the place flying by the seat of my pants. TK: What was the publish - want to be a writer, make sure where she lives. Now, I’m a “plotter” so I do more ing process like for you? you love the craft, because the My first idea about this book outlining before I write and feel Howard: Getting published process just isn’t worth it other - came when I was walking my more organized that way. was a long process. I had been wise. dog in the springtime. Every time TK: Any tips on your writ - pursuing a couple of projects in - TK: What’s next for you? I walked into the sunlight it just ing schedule? cluding a book that I was trying Howard: More books, I hope! felt wonderful – eventually I felt Howard: Ideally, I try to to publish prior to this one. The I’ve always wanted to be a writer an uplifted feeling in the sunlight write every day, which admit - agent rejections were in the hun - and I want it to continue! I’m en - and that got me thinking about tedly is much harder with a small dreds, which most people are joying the process of promoting flight. The second thought child! My favorite time to write, stunned to hear is incredibly com - this book, but have also started sparked while at work at South - though, is in the early morning. mon for an unknown debut working on the project that I wood Nursey when I thought I My old apartment had a balcony, writer. Once I eventually signed hope will be next. heard a little boy mention The and I used to get up and watch with my agent on this book, we Check out Hanna on Insta - Darkness, which sounded like the sun rise as I was writing. got to work on the hardest (and gram @hannachoward and some kind of entity. I wondered Building a routine helps your best) revisions of my life, which www.hannachoward.com. Signed what that sort of Darkness could body become used to the sched - took an additional three years to copies of her book are available at be, which led me to wondering ule you want to keep. finish before we were ready to Magic City Books. what it would be like to be only in TK: Which of your charac - pitch the book to publishers. the dark. Eventually, I realized ters can you most relate to and TK: What advice would you that I could put those thoughts why? give to aspiring writers? together into one story. Howard: Although my main Howard: Perseverance is the TK: Can you shed some character, Siria, looks the most number one trait you must have. light into the process of writing like me and also suffers from anxi - The publishing world can be bru - this book? ety, I can relate most to Linden, tal, and it’s really easy to get dis - Howard: It took almost 10 her friend and eventual love inter - couraged. The people who get years! Unfortunately, I took the est. His earthiness, interest in published are not necessarily any slowest, most meandering route I gardening, and mostly unruffled better than the others – they just could have taken. I think of my - attitude probably reflect more of don’t give up. Also, whatever you self as a recovering “pantser” – my adult personality. do, you have to love it. If you

WWW.TULSAKIDS.COM OCTOBER 2020 37

homeschool

BY NATALIE HANSON creating traditions when everything feels non-traditional

ur family’s tradition has out of my element here, as I’ve always been to not be never been an over-the-top birth - too traditional. For the day mom, holiday mom, or any of Omost part, we come by that, but I realize that when it this naturally as my husband and comes to the attitude of my fam - I are both spontaneous and have ily, I am the one in the driver’s never clung too tightly to our seat. And right now I need to plans. It also has been somewhat take the wheel. So I am doing necessary to be flexible due to whatever I can to keep the tears the nature of his work as a musi - away and the celebrations com - cian in the band Hanson. It is one ing! That is what we are doing of the reasons homeschooling has over here, and having everyone always been a good fit for our home for school gives me lots of family. We’ve all had to have a opportunities to make a seem - birthday in a weird place, and an - ingly normal day feel special. niversaries and holidays have had One way I’m accomplishing to move and adjust based on this right now is by celebrating whatever direction life decides to the change of the seasons using go. We have taken the good with some adorable seasonal lesson the bad, enjoying the moments plan supplements by Home and when they come, while trying not Haven. I purchased the fall bun - to dwell much on missed tradi - dle, which includes projects suit - tions. It is a part of our family able for ages pre-k through identity. In fact, I have always carried a sense of pride in our seventh grade. It has units on ability to pivot and take whatever leaves, pumpkins, bats and ap - ples. So fall-y! comes our way. However, recent VERY LITTLE IS TRADITIONAL WITH NATALIE HANSON AND HER FAMILY, events have forced me to reexam - BUT THE PANDEMIC HAS FORCED THEM INTO A MORE “NORMAL” Of course, I’m sure we will ine this part of our family culture. KIND OF NORMAL. SHE IS USING HOME AND HAVEN SEASONAL all be happy when we’re back to When you are in the busi - LESSON PLANS FOR A MORE TYPICAL FALL CURRICULUM. our normal, not-normal schedule, but for now I’m thankful for being ness of large, close-contact gath - since we have been married! realizing it, our non-traditional- reminded to celebrate all of the erings, social distancing isn’t Yikes. ness had become our tradition, lovely things right here in our good for business. Almost every One day recently, when the and we were having much of that home. show and event planned in what news of the cancellation of a par - taken away by the pandemic. was supposed to be a very busy ticularly fun annual gig came in, Those tears pulled at my mom year for us has been cancelled. In one of my children started crying. heartstrings big time. I decided fact, my husband and I realized Hard crying. More than seemed right then that I would put a new this is the longest we have ever appropriate for the situation. It hit kind of effort into turning our lit - consistently been in the same city me in that moment that without tle world into a tradition fest. I am

40 OCTOBER 2020 WWW.TULSAKIDS.COM ASK THE EXPERTS

MILLER SWIM SCHOOL I SARAH MILLER ON THE CUSP PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY & O RTHODONTICS I DR. R YAN ROBERTS , DDS

Q: Safer Water, Safer Swimmers – How your swimmers can stay Q: What are good dental habits to begin at birth for children? safe in the water this winter! A: Cavities are contagious! Avoid sharing utensils or food, blowing on food to A: Experts say that drowning knows no season. During this season of cool it off, tasting from the spoon, putting pacifiers in your mouth, or kissing on COVID-19, drownings have increased significantly. With the increased the lips. Do make cleaning part of your feeding routine, clean your baby’s mouth amount of time spent at home and the lake, now is the time to focus on after each feeding with a moistened gauze or washcloth, even for infants with no water safety with your families. Regular, comprehensive swim lessons re - teeth. There are even infant finger toothbrushes you can buy! Do use fluoride! duce the rate of drowning by 88%. Furthermore, according to the CDC, Use fluoride toothpaste once your child starts getting teeth, brush with a soft pools with proper levels of chlorine and UV filtration systems are one of toothbrush with a smear of the fluoride toothpaste, twice a day. Try not to let the cleanest environments to be in. Therefore, we encourage families to participate in weekly your child fall asleep with a bottle of milk or juice, it is like bathing your child’s swim lessons at a facility, like Miller Swim School, that promotes safe water and safe swim - teeth in a puddle of sugar, which we do not want to do! By the time your child is a year old, it is time to mers in a safe, clean environment for families. throw that bottle out and drink from a cup. Tooth decay can occur as early as 6 months old, so do not Miller Swim School, 6415 S. Mingo Rd., Tulsa, OK., wait until your child is 2 or 3 years old before taking them to the dentist. Lastly, give breastfeeding your 918-254-1988 Website: www.millerswimschool.com best effort! The action of breastfeeding helps to form the palate (roof of mouth), help build jaw muscles, and encourages nasal breathing which helps avoid crowding.

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HTR P EDIATRIC THERAPY I ASHLEY DOZIER , PTA DYSLEXIA CENTER OF TULSA I DR. P ENNY STACK , F OUNDER & O WNER Q: My son hates going to reading tutoring and honestly isn’t making much When my child had her physical therapy evaluation done, she was seen by a progress, but he needs the practice. Do you have any suggestions? physical therapist. Now, however, she is being seen by a physical therapist as - sistant. Will she still receive quality care? A: Dyslexia is so much more then reading struggles. If it were as simple as just Yes! A practicing physical therapist assistant has received an Associate of Applied Sci - re-teaching how to read, long-term tutoring would not be in the experiences of ence in Physical Therapy, completed at least 520 hours of clinical experience under a li - those who struggle with dyslexia. Tutoring focuses on the issue at hand. This censed clinical instructor, and most importantly, passed the National Physical Therapy could be current schoolwork or re-learning a concept to keep up with school as - Exam. All therapists are also required to take continuing education courses each year to signments. Occupational and Speech Therapy delves much deeper to explore keep knowledge fresh and up-to-date with new and innovative treatment ideas. The the “why” behind the struggles you see and your child experiences. There is al - physical therapist creates goals specific to your child. Then, the physical therapist assistant uses his or her best ways an underlying reason why someone has difficulty with reading. For some, clinical judgment to help your child achieve those goals. The supervising physical therapist and treating physi - reading difficulties are due to less-than-average ability in memory, or they may be unable to accurately cal therapist assistant are working as a team behind the scenes to make sure your child is receiving the best pos - process what they see or hear or unable to associate sounds with letters. Understanding the “why” is the sible therapy they can for their specific needs! At HTR Pediatric Therapy, our aim is provide the best therapy first step to reading success. Accommodations and strategies are only a piece of what of is helpful. With - team for your child to meet his or her goals. Rest assured, your physical therapist assistant is equipped with the out treating the “why,” many children go from one reading program to the next without ever making knowledge and heart to provide your child with quality care. permanent change, leaving them frustrated and often on an academic or career trajectory that does not really reflect their true potential. Ashley Dozier, PTA We can help. Contact HTR Pediatric Therapy for more information at 918-806-0106. Dr. Penny Stack, OTD, OTR/L, CLT, 8988 S. Sheridan Rd #D1, Tulsa OK 74133, 918-313-5518, HTR Pediatric Therapy • 6715 E. 41 st St., Tulsa • 918.806.0106 • htrpediatrics.com wwwdyslexiatulsa.com

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WWW.TULSAKIDS.COM OCTOBER 2020 41 get cooking

BY NATALIE MIKLES pumpkin-inspired recipes for fall

umpkins are as much a • 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice part of fall as apples and • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract falling leaves. • 2 eggs P 1. Preheat oven to 325 de - But the idea of pumpkin- grees. Place muffin cup liners in a spice everything is a relatively muffin tin. Place a gingersnap new phenomenon. As soon as fall cookie in the bottom of each liner. hits, you see it in everything from 2. Beat cream cheese, pump - brownies and bagels to candles kin, sugar, pumpkin pie spice and and soaps. And of course, it’s in vanilla until well blended. Add the ever-popular pumpkin spice the eggs and beat well. latte. 3. Divide the batter equally It’s likely the PSL, which among the 12 muffin cups. Bake Starbucks put on its menu in for 20 to 25 minutes or until set. 2003, that pushed the pumpkin Cool in the pan on a wire rack. spice flavor into ubiquity. Remove from the pan, and chill Marketers have even in - before serving. cluded children in the trend, fla - voring kids’ snacks, like yogurts Pumpkin and a little pump - and cookies, with pumpkin spice kin pie spice add a bit of sweet - in the fall months. ness to this chili. If you like it The spices that make up the spicy, add more chili powder. pumpkin spice blend are as old as PUMPKIN CHILI time, so there’s nothing trendy Parmesan cheese. in a small bowl. Fold into dry in - Makes 6 to 8 servings about them. And even if you feel gredients, then add pumpkin. • 1 pound ground beef an annoyance with pumpkin Here are some pumpkin-in - 3. Scoop mixture into lined • 2 celery stalks, finely chopped spice infiltrating your fall, con - spired recipes to try this month. muffin tins, filling about 2/3 full. • 1 medium onion, finely chopped sider pulling back to basics, strip - PUMPKIN MUFFINS Bake at 400 degrees for 15 to 18 • 1 red bell pepper, finely ping some of the sweetness of Makes about 18 muffins minutes or until golden brown. chopped pumpkin spice, and embracing • 3 cups flour • 2 garlic cloves, minced the pumpkin itself. • 1 teaspoon salt These little tarts are easy to • 1 (29-ounce) can tomato sauce Pumpkin provides great nu - • 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder make and pretty to serve. The • 1 (15-ounce) can crushed toma - trition and can be used in both • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon crust is a snap to make – a ginger - toes sweet and savory recipes. Add it • 1/2 cup granulated sugar snap cookie in the base of each • 1 (15-ounce) can solid-pack to a baked French toast for week - • 1/4 cup brown sugar tart. pumpkin end brunch. Or, roast chunks of • 1 stick butter, melted PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE TARTS • 1 teaspoon sugar fresh pumpkin with Brussels • 2 eggs, beaten Makes 12 • 1 1/2 tablespoons chili powder sprouts and other root vegeta - • 1 cup mashed pumpkin (fresh or • 12 gingersnap cookies • 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice bles. This mixture is great on its canned is fine) • 1 (8-ounce) package cream • 1/2 teaspoon salt own or when tossed with warm 1. Combine all dry ingredi - cheese, softened • 1/2 teaspoon pepper pasta drizzled with a balsamic re - ents in a large bowl. • 1 cup mashed pumpkin • 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, duction and a sprinkle of grated 2. Combine butter and eggs • 1/2 cup sugar rinsed and drained

42 OCTOBER 2020 WWW.TULSAKIDS.COM Kids will love the slight then leave it out) sweetness of pumpkin in this • 1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt hummus. It’s great with sliced • 2 teaspoons ground cumin vegetables, pita or crackers . • Roasted, salted pepitas (for gar - PUMPKIN HUMMUS nish) • 1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin 1. Combine all ingredients • 2 (15-ounce) cans chickpeas, (except pumpkin seeds) in a food drained and rinsed processor. Blend until smooth. • 1/4 cup tahini Check consistency, and add olive • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil oil if you want a thinner hummus. • 2 tablespoons minced garlic Garnish with toasted pumpkin • 4 teaspoons maple syrup (if you seeds. want to add sweetness, if not

Pumpkin Picture Books If you’re learning from home this fall, kids will enjoy a simple pumpkin unit study: Read a pumpkin book, make a fun recipe and then visit a pumpkin patch. Too Many Pumpkins by Linda White Pumpkin Moonshine by Tasha Tudor Strega Nona’s Harvest by Tomie dePaola 1. In a Dutch oven, cook the toes, pumpkin, sugar, chili pow - Pumpkin Soup by Helen Cooper ground beef, onion, bell pepper der, pumpkin pie spice, 1/2 tea - The Pumpkin Book by Gail Gibbons and garlic over medium heat 8-10 spoon salt and pepper; bring to a The Roll-Away Pumpkin by Junia Wonders minutes or until beef is no longer boil. Reduce heat, then simmer From Seed to Pumpkin by Wendy Pfeffer pink and vegetables are tender, (uncovered) for 45 minutes. Stir The Great Pumpkin Contest by Angie Rozeleaar breaking up beef into crumbles; occasionally. Pumpkin Circle by George Levenson drain. 3. Stir beans into chili and How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin? by Margaret McNamara 2. Stir in tomato sauce, toma - warm through before serving.

WWW.TULSAKIDS.COM OCTOBER 2020 43 books

BY LAURA RAPHAEL, MA, MLIS, CHILDREN’S SERVICES COORDINATOR, TULSA CITY-COUNTY LIBRARY space archaeology? call me curious!

uring these uncertain One resource that parents times, capture your kids’ may not know about is the li - curiosity with library re - brary’s deep database collection Dsources (www.tulsalibrary.org/research/d Curiosity in cats can be dan - atabases) where you and your gerous, or so the famous axiom child can find short and interest - tells us. Curiosity in kids is some - ing articles from a variety of mag - thing different – an infinite re - azines and other periodicals. source to be encouraged and As part of Kids Read Curious grown. When we support chil - World, every month we find the dren’s natural desire to ask best articles in our databases “Why?” or “What is that?”, we about each topic and give you a help them broaden their knowl - taste of each article, which we edge of the world and develop as hope will awaken your child’s cu - independent thinkers and intel - riosity (and maybe your own!) to lectual explorers. learn more by either finding the In order to capture that BCE full article in our database or – Big Curiosity Energy – the Tulsa checking out related books. City-County Library has launched Here’s one example, from a monthly initiative called Kids September’s Kids Read Curious Read Curious World , housed on World, of an article about Vikings the library’s Kids web page at and the use of something called www.tulsalibrary.org/kids-read- “space archaeology.” curious-world. A Viking Discovery? Every month, children’s li - January 9, 2017 Junior brarians and staff will focus on Scholastic gathering and developing a vari - “A band of sea travelers ety of fun learning resources called the Vikings were the first about one specific topic at a time, Europeans to arrive in the Ameri - including reading lists, short cas. A recent discovery may help videos, fun activities to do at answer age-old mysteries about home, and other learning re - these early explorers.” sources. In the 1960s, archaeologists We want to give kids a mil - found evidence that Vikings came lion different ways to get curious to eastern Canada around the about interesting topics so they 1100s. (That was a long time will want to learn (and of course ago!) read) even more. But thanks to some pretty September’s topic was Dig World is Buddy tles . sophisticated science, they found Into Archaeology. Bookworm?/Maps & Continents . December is Wolves in Fact new proof that they were also October’s is Where in the November is Knights & Cas - and Fiction . much further west in Canada. continued next page

44 OCTOBER 2020 WWW.TULSAKIDS.COM colored soil and changes in vege - lot more questions than it an - tation. These variations often indi - swers. But that’s what any new cate the presence of human-made discovery is supposed to do.’” structures from the past.” Check out more fun learning In the past, space archaeolo - resources and curiosity starters at gists had learned more about an - Kids Read Curious World cient groups in Egypt, but they www.tulsalibrary.org/kids-read- didn’t think they would find curious-world today - and keep Vikings, too! coming back for more each Looking at satellite images month! of Canada, they saw “dark spots and straight lines, which hinted that human-made structures might be buried underneath.” That’s when the archaeolo - gists started to dig! “They have unearthed sev - eral artifacts they think may have belonged to the Vikings, including a stone hearth – or fireplace – and mangled scraps of heated iron. (Melting iron was one way that Vikings produced nails to build their ships.)” They don’t know yet what it How did they find this out? above Earth, scientists have un - all means, just that it will take a Something called “space archae - covered ancient structures and long time and more digging. ology”! settlements all over the world. “ ‘This is going to take years “By studying satellite images Space archaeologists look for vari - of careful excavation,’ [archaeolo - taken from cameras 400 miles ations in landscape, including dis - gist Sarah Parcak] said. ‘It raises a

WWW.TULSAKIDS.COM OCTOBER 2020 45 parenting tips

what scares parents?

o doubt about it. This is peers, utilize those opportunities. an uncertain and scary The child’s sense of belonging time for everyone. The from school has been Npandemic has shifted interrupted. our lives in ways that we could not have imagined in 2019. We The two responses above are asked our TulsaKids and Tulsa - from Chantelle Lott, M.S., preven - Parents Facebook friends to tell tion coordinator, Center for Family us what their top concerns are Resilience, College of Education right now. Not surprisingly, the and Human Sciences, OSU-Tulsa highest number of responses were about COVID and its conse - I worry that I might become quences. ill and not be there for my child, We reached out to profes - or I might die. sionals in the community to ad - When working with parents dress those fears here: that are terminally ill, we have How do I as a working par - worked on a “will” of what will ent, navigate between being a happen to their child. This is a good employee, but also being pro-active discussion that helps there for my kids academically? alleviate the anxiety of not having • Set realistic expectations a plan. The plan can be reviewed for yourself and your child(ren). It • If you know ahead of time Should I be concerned that with both the caregivers to be is not possible to educate a child that your child requires attention having to be my child’s teacher and the children so everyone properly while also being atten - and you have to attend a meet - will change our relationship? It knows what will happen. Parents tive in a meeting. ing, schedule assisting your child seems like he will do more for should be careful not to catastro - • Have a family “orientation” around your meetings. Provide his teachers than he will for me. phize the situation and frighten of what to expect while mommy them with other activities such as • Keep in mind, as parents, their children. This should be part and daddy are working. On the reading, puzzles, or something we have always been our chil - of family planning that is good weekend, walk through a day of else that will keep them busy dren’s first teachers. family hygiene. what it’s like to work and learn while you are able to meet. • It is okay to set new expec - from home AFTER setting clear • Schedules and routines are tations. Have a conversation with I worry that my child or a expectations. important. your child about the importance loved one will become ill. • Include the children in this • Fix lunches ahead of time of everyone working together to Continue to do the things process of setting expectations. so that it doesn’t interrupt a great do their part in the home, includ - that keep us safe such as wash - “If you see headphones on, deal of the work/school day. ing children learning and parents ing our hands, wearing a mask, don’t interrupt mommy or • Learn how to use the edu - working, which now includes par - watching our distance, and then daddy.” cational platforms together and ents helping their children with practice these activities over and Place a sign on your laptop encourage your child to navigate learning from home. over to give you some control that says, “Please don’t inter - on their own. • If there are ways to stay over worry. This is like a fire drill rupt” or use red and green for connected to the teachers and at school we practice so we are younger children. prepared and know what to do if continued next page

46 OCTOBER 2020 WWW.TULSAKIDS.COM an emergency erupts. screen time are increased when a by their favorite You-Tuber. This est Lego creation. If everyone is caring adult helps facilitate chil - season of life is hard for all of us, not overloaded by screens al - What can I do to help allevi - dren’s engagement with the con - parents included, and taking time ready, some video games such as ate these fears? tent of the video or show by for yourself will help ensure you online Yahtzee or more complex Talk, reassure and be honest having a conversation about what can continue to be a great parent games like Animal Crossing can about your worries to help nor - is happening on the screen. Just in the days ahead. provide a way for children to have malize that the fear is real and like you can build your child’s a shared play experience and in - normal. Children look to you as an knowledge in the grocery store I’m worried about my child teraction with friends or family. example. If you are wringing your when you describe the color, tex - being too isolated. She is only 5, Perhaps the best way to get hands in worry, they will follow ture, and size of the produce you but is normally outgoing and some socialization while fighting your lead. If you are talking about are looking at, the same parent - friendly. Since she hasn’t been off the blues your child is experi - how you feel while managing ing strategies can be used to talk around friends or classmates, encing is to get outside and find a your anxiety, they will also follow about what your child notices and she seems to be getting quieter. chance to meet up with a friend. your lead. wonders about what they’re see - Should I be concerned about her Scientists report that the likeli - ing on the screen. Distance learn - lack of socialization, and what hood of catching the virus is The three responses above ing is also providing a vehicle for are the long-term effects? much lower outdoors, so I feel are from Faith Crittenden, MSW, some interaction with teachers It is so hard to watch our comfortable letting my child play LCSW, Senior Director of Chil - and peers, which is helpful even children navigating this really with friends outdoors as long as dren’s School-Based Mental when the other people are on a unique time in history. Everything they are not right in one another’s Health Services, Family & Chil - screen. In short, I’m not terribly we all knew about life in this faces. Friends can find plenty of dren’s Services worried about the screen time as - world changed rapidly, and it’s safe ways to interact at a play - pect of distance learning. completely understandable that ground, playing mini-golf, or rid - My 6-year-old doesn’t really Most children are adept at our tiniest humans might have a ing bikes in the neighborhood. know how to use a mouse or navigating touchscreens at a very hard time adjusting. When rou - Not only can this give some social how to type on a keyboard. He is young age, but as you noted, tines are disrupted and the world time, fresh air and sunshine will unfamiliar with the technical re - using a mouse or keyboard is not is turned upside down, the most yield benefits for your child’s quirements of distance learning. as common and may be a new ex - important thing we can do for our physical and mental health, and How can I help him learn these perience for elementary school children is to provide a warm and you can soak up some sunshine things? Should I be worried children. If your child’s teacher is nurturing environment for them as well. about him spending so much not giving assignments that help and try to introduce some sem - As hard as it can be to see time learning using a screen? children develop these skills, you blance of routine and predictabil - your child sad, make sure to let No one thinks distance is the can provide opportunities for your ity in our current new normal. them know that their feelings are ideal learning environment for child to practice their mouse skills During the pandemic, one completely normal and okay. You any child, but at this point in the using a digital paint program or particularly hard part for all of us, can give your child the words to pandemic, scientists and health- online games at free sites like adults and children alike, has understand that what they are care professionals advise that it is coolmathgames.com or been the lack of interaction with feeling is disappointment or lone - the lesser of two evils until we pbskids.org. Keyboarding can people outside of our families. liness and admit that you might can ensure children’s health also be practiced with free online Adults can talk by phone, but it is be feeling some of the same won’t be at risk by attending resources, although hunting and pretty difficult for children to en - things. Encourage your child to school face-to-face. Still, even pecking is likely sufficient for a gage for more than a few minutes express their emotions through knowing that it is the better op - first grader’s distance learning as - even on a video call and may dancing, drawing, or pretend tion, it is completely natural for signments. leave the adults feeling like the play. Letting your child process parents to be concerned about Overall, remember that kids effort is not worth the benefit. I these feelings is one of the best their child’s experiences in this are resilient, and you can build do think, though, that the benefit gifts you can give them during new educational context brought their capacity for resilience by of connecting your child with this time and will help protect on by COVID-19. being a warm, interactive parent other people is important and their emotional well-being now Although pediatricians and in the gaps between distance worth the effort to work through and into the future. developmentalists have been learning sessions and when the challenges, whether virtual or Hopefully these ideas will raising concerns about children’s school is over for the day. With in person. help, but if none of these tips time in front of screens in recent your support and efforts to pro - To provide your child with work and you remain concerned years, not all screen time is cre - tect some time for free play and opportunities to socialize during about your child’s emotions, call ated equally. Even outside of the time outdoors, your child will con - the pandemic, you may need to your pediatrician to describe distance learning context, chil - tinue to progress in their healthy, think outside of the box. Video what you’re seeing and get their dren’s use of screens can expose well-rounded development. calls can be one good option, and input. them to meaningful content such One last thing, parent to par - creative possibilities might in - as different languages or distant ent: If you find yourself depleted clude grandparents reading a The two responses above are places. These experiences, as from supporting distance learning story to the child or playing cha - from Sherri Castle, assistant direc - well as those without a clear and all of the other stressors of rades with a friend. Children can tor of research at the Early Child - learning component, can have a pandemic life, don’t feel guilty if also interact with friends or hood Education Institute, positive effect on children’s devel - you need to let your child chill out adults on video chat by showing OU-Tulsa. opment. The potential benefits of with cartoons or unboxing video their doll’s new style or their lat -

WWW.TULSAKIDS.COM OCTOBER 2020 47 special education

special education during the pandemic: know your child’s rights

Editor s Note: This Month Released By The Oklahoma State Tulsakids Is Partnering With The Department Of Education After Arc Of Oklahoma (Formerly Tarc) The Pandemic Hit. It States That To Provide Information About A Student s Iep Can Be Revised Special Education Here And On Due To The Effects Of The Covid- Tulsakids.Com 19 Pandemic. If Some In-Personal Services Such As Physical Or Oc - There Is No Denying That Covid- cupational Therapy Are Not 19 Has Been Particularly Disrup - Available Now, Set An Agree - tive To Nearly 7 Million Children ment For When The Service Can With Special Needs Across The Resume. Country. It s Important For Par - 3. Fact: Schools And Vocational ents To Understand That Schools Rehabilitation Agencies Are Re - Must Still Provide Their Children sponsible To Work Together To With Special Education Even Dur - Help Students With Disabilities ing The Pandemic. Under Federal Transition To Adulthood, Includ - Law, Every Child, Regardless Of ing Providing Pre-Employment Need, Is Entitled To A Free, Ap - Transition Services Even Amid propriate Public Education. With The Pandemic. The Fall Semester In Full Swing Advice: The Iep For Each Student Amid The Ongoing Pandemic, With A Disability Must Address Here Are Five Facts To Know: Transition Services Requirements 1. Fact: To Date, The U.S. De - Beginning Not Later Than The partment Of Education Has de - First Iep To Be In Effect When clined to Make Any Changes To The Child Turns 16, Or Younger If The Individuals With Disabilities Determined Appropriate By The Education Act (Idea) Due To The Iep Team, And Must Be Updated Pandemic Or The Closures Re - Annually Thereafter. The Iep sulting From It. Must Include: (1) Appropriate Advice: Experts Say Parents PHOTO CREDIT: PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ARC Measurable Postsecondary Goals Should Fight For The Services Based Upon Age-Appropriate Their Kids Need. Parents Have fused Its Services. It s Up To The Laws Surrounding Individualized Transition Assessments Related The Right To Fight For The Best District To Figure Out How To Education Programs (Ieps) Re - To Training, Education, Employ - Individualized Educational Envi - Make It Work, Even During The main Unchanged Regardless Of ment, And, Where Appropriate, ronment For The Child Including Pandemic. Under The Federal Whether Education Occurs In The Independent Living Skills; And (2) In Classroom, Virtual Or A Combi - Law, A Lack Of Funding For Spe - Classroom Or Virtually. The Transition Services (Including nation. The Only Way A School cial Education Is Not A Legal Ex - Advice: The Guide Special Edu - Courses Of Study) Needed To As - District Can Be Excused From cuse For A District. cation And Related Services Dur - sist The Student With A Disability Fulfilling Their Obligation Of Spe - 2. Fact: Just Like With Idea, The ing The 2020-21 School Year was In Reaching Those Goals). cial Education Is If The Family Re - 4. Fact: Idea Allows Parents To continued next page

48 OCTOBER 2020 WWW.TULSAKIDS.COM Seek Compensatory Services If Due Process Complaint Proce - Students With Disabilities Do Not dures. Due Process Should Be Receive The Free Appropriate The Last Resort As Legal Costs Public Education To Which They Are Considerable. Are Entitled. Tarc Has Become The Arc Of Advice: Experts Say Parents Oklahoma, A State Chapter Of Should Remind Schools Of This The Arc, A National Advocacy Now As A Means To Get Services Nonprofit Promoting And Protect - Back On Track Rather Than Wait - ing The Human Rights Of People ing For The Pandemic To End With Intellectual And Develop - And Seeking Compensatory Serv - mental Disabilities And Actively ices At That Time. Supporting Their Full Inclusion 5. Fact: The Number Of Special And Participation In The Commu - Education Lawsuits Are Growing nity Throughout Their Lifetimes. During The Pandemic. Hundreds The Arc Of Oklahoma Provides A Of Families Have Signed On To Family Support Program Offering Lawsuits alleging That Schools Special Education And Iep Assis - And State Education Depart - tance To Families At No Cost. ments Are Illegally Denying Chil - Services Are Also Available In dren The Services Spelled Out In Spanish. For More Information, Their Federally Mandated Ieps. Please Contact Sherilyn At Swal - Advice: If A School District Is Not Meeting Requirements And Ef - The Arc of Oklahoma will offer forts Between Parents And a special education webinar School Prove Unsuccessful, Par - series every Tuesday at noon ents Can Seek Idea s Three Dis - during October. For more de - pute Resolution Mechanisms: tails follow them on social Mediation, State Complaint And media.

WWW.TULSAKIDS.COM OCTOBER 2020 49 tulsakids.com WHAT ’S GOING ON(LINE )? CONTESTS + GIVEAWAYS MASK UP! PHOTO CONTEST SPONSORED BY THE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL AT SAINT FRANCIS Masks make a difference! Children can help protect their community from the spread of COVID-19 by wearing masks and social distancing. To honor your kid’s contribution to public health, enter them in TulsaKids’ Mask Up! Photo Contest. Simply submit a photo of your child wearing a facemask to our contest page from October 1-31. One lucky winner will receive a $100 gift card. Plus, any photos entered by October 15 have a chance of appearing in our November magazine! Get the entry link at tulsakids.com/contests. ENTER TO WIN A SIGNED COPY OF “IGNITE THE SUN” BY HANNA C. HOWARD! This month’s Green Country Grown-Up column features an interview with new author Hanna C. Howard. From October 5-11, enter to win a signed copy of her Young Adult fan - tasy novel, “Ignite the Sun.” Book description: “Once upon a time, there was something called the sun … In a kingdom ruled by a witch, the sun is just part of a legend about Light-filled days of old. But now Siria Nightingale is headed to the heart of the darkness to try and restore the Light—or lose everything trying.” Enter at tulsakids.com/contests.

GUEST BLOGGER: ELEANOR’S BOOKSHOP Eleanor’s Bookshop is a new children’s bookstore located at the corner of FROM BABY TO 11th and Lewis in The Shops at Mother Road Market. Follow TulsaKids on social media (@tulsakidsmagazine on FB or @tulsakids on IG) so you don’t GRADUATION miss a special Guest Blog post from Eleanor’s Bookshop. Founders Matt & TulsaKids.com has resources to support your family, from preg - Kelsey McAfee will be sharing their recommendations for children’s books nancy through your child’s high school graduation! Find our about living with disabilities. Visit their website, eleanorsbookshop.com, local resource directories at tulsakids.com/guides. Plus, don’t or follow them on social media, @eleanorsbookshop. miss our annual Baby Guide at tulsakids.com/baby, and our College & Career Planner at tulsakids.com/college!

50 OCTOBER 2020 WWW.TULSAKIDS.COM Congratulations to our TulsaKidsTulsaKids Cover Kid Contest Winners!Winners!

JackJack JonathonJonathon Alyssa Connor Ramsey WhiteWhite Martin Beers

Peyton Quinn JaydaJayda + JordanJordan Stelling Boswell Logan

Olivia Ronan Raiden Sofia Mutagamba WheelerWheeler Xiong Macias

Thank you to TulsaTulsa ER & Hospital for sponsoring our 2020 Cover Kid Contest!

WWW.TULSAKIDS.COM OCTOBER 2020 51 I’M A TULSA KID

WORDS BY SHEEBA ATIQI PHOTO: PROVIDED

cast in this show has only shown to me, even more, how important it is to never give up no matter how many times I have been told “no.” This is so important to do for everything in our lives, not just working towards a career in entertainment. I have had many no’s along the way, and there are opportunities I would not have had, most recently, this one, if I had given up. TulsaKids: What advice do you have for others who are interested in theatre? Jesamine: Find as many opportunities as you can. I am in drama class at school. You can be in your school plays and musicals. There are local theatre groups that have auditions for shows and also have education programs to introduce and train youth in theatre in the summer and during the school year. I just want everyone to know how important it is to keep working towards what they want to achieve. It might seem hopeless at times, but keep at it. You never know where it will bring you! TulsaKids: Where have you performed locally? Where can we see you per - form? Jesamine: I have been onstage at the Tulsa PAC with American Theatre Company and Theatre Tulsa. I have performed with Tulsa Project Theatre, Broken Arrow Community Playhouse, Sand Springs Community Theatre and Sapulpa Community Theatre, as well as with Clark Youth Theatre and Encore! Tulsa. I also have been a part of the cast in my high school’s musical since ninth grade. Prior to the pandemic, I could be seen at Tulsa Spotlight Theatre as Mary Morgan in their Drunkard & the Olio show that happens every Sat. evening. I also have had the opportunity to work with Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma in OKC. Last summer, I was able to attend a by audition/invitation only Sing Center Stage Masterclass Intensive in St. Louis, training with Broadway vocal coach Celeste Si - mone. Jesamine Katzman: Performer Next month, virtually, you can see me as part of the featured ensemble for STICKS As the crowd cheers for her and the stage lights illuminate her dreams, 16-year-old AND STONES Musical Concert and Benefit show for Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Jesamine Katzman knows she was born to perform. The Broken Arrow High School Foundation. I also have the amazing opportunity to perform as part of Sing Center sophomore has been making waves through the theatre scene locally, but now can Stage, during The Cabaret Project of St. Louis’s Gateway to Cabaret Virtual Gala be seen in the Sticks and Stones Virtual Concert and Benefit Show for Lady Gaga’s and Benefit next month. Born This Way Foundation. TulsaKids: What other hobbies do you have? TulsaKids: At what age and how did you start in the theatre scene? Jesamine: I love to cosplay. During the pandemic, I really started learning how to Jesamine: My parents tell me that when I was 4, maybe a little older, I was pulled create costumes. I am also a singer and dancer. I love hip-hop, tap, Broadway jazz onstage during a Poison concert by the lead singer, Bret Michaels. I remember the and lyrical. And I play piano/keyboard. Spending time with my friends and family is lights, the crowd and not being scared at all. They say that I told them after also important to me. I also volunteer at the Oklahoma Aquarium. that, that I wanted to do that, be on stage. TulsaKids: What do you want to be when you grow up? I was 5 or 6 when I was cast in my first show with Tulsa Project Theatre. It was Jesamine: I am really working hard to have a professional career in the performing Seussical the Musical, and I was in the children’s ensemble. At the same time, I arts, especially being a Broadway performer. I plan on going to college for a degree was taking a Broadway Baby Musical Theater class at Theatre Arts in Broken in Musical Theatre. I have been looking at so many different schools and programs Arrow. I have been in about 30+ shows in and around the Tulsa area over the past all across the country. Fingers crossed, I am accepted at one of my top schools in 10 years. NYC. TulsaKids: How were you cast in the Sticks and Stones virtual concert and TulsaKids: Who inspires you? benefit show for Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation? Jesamine: My mom inspires me to never give up and keep striving to obtain my Jesamine: My mom saw a casting notice online in Broadwayworld.com and asked goals no matter how many obstacles are in front me. She’s one of my biggest fans. me if I wanted to submit an audition video. It looked like an amazing opportunity. My dad motivates me to be the best version of me. I have always had their love and It’s for a great cause to raise money for Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation support. Family, friends, my drama teacher, my voice coach — I am lucky to have whose mission is to prevent teen bullying and promote youth mental health. There each and every one of them in my life. are also some well-known Broadway performers headlining this show It was a long On a professional level, Broadway performer Jeremy Jordan also inspires me. Re - shot, but I thought why not? It couldn’t hurt. cently, I saw an interview with him about his career and he said, early on, he had TulsaKids: How did it feel when you found out you were cast? really bad auditions. Today, he is a phenomenal performer with beautiful vocals. He Jesamine: I was shocked at first. I wasn’t expecting to get that congratulations is proof that hard work, dedication and determination pays off. email. Over 1000 audition videos were submitted and only 95 were cast. I felt — TulsaKids: What is a fun fact about you? and feel — very lucky, thankful and so excited to be able to work with an incredible Jesamine: I was just inducted into National Honor Society. I am taking ASL Ameri - cast from all over the world and well-known performers. Rehearsals started earlier can Sign Language at school so that I can use it in my career as a performer. I also this week and it was unbelievable to work with composer, conductor, orchestrator, started working as a haunt actor two years ago and love it. You can see me at In - record producer, Grammy and two-time Emmy Award-winner John McDaniel. sanity Farms in Tulsa this season as one of their principal actors. TulsaKids: What did you learn from this experience? To learn more about Jesamine and keep up on the latest news: Instagram: @je - Jesamine: We are still in rehearsals and the show will not air until October. Being saminekatzman_official.

52 OCTOBER 2020 WWW.TULSAKIDS.COM for Business!

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Pumpkin Patch Playroom Pirate Island Royal Castle

Special thanks to these zoo partners for building a better zoo through their continued support.