HEALTHYFAMILIES: TOP TIPS FROM PROFESSIONALS - Tulsa Kids
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February 2020 Oklahoma’s Award-Winning Magazine for Parents & Families www.tulsakids.com
HEALTHYFAMILIES: PAYING FOR GRADES: HEALTH,WELLNESS
THE PROS AND CONS OF AN &FITNESSGUIDE
TOP TIPS FROM PROFESSIONALS
ACADEMIC ALLOWANCE
FAMILYFRIENDLY
F&CS ART CONTEST WINNERS: VALENTINE’S DAY
READ THEIR STATEMENTS ON FAMILY TRADITIONS EVENTS
Deciding tto
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Allll rrights
ights reserved.
r e s e r ve d .
What
makes
Holland
Hall
unique?
Learn more at hollandhall.org.
Join us for a Welcome Wednesday
open house and see all that
Holland Hall has to offer.
February 5, March 4 or April 15.
4th-12th grade tours from 8:15-10:00 a.m.
Early PreK-3rd grade tours from 9:15-10:30 a.m.
RESERVE YOUR SPOT NOW! Call Monica Martin
at 918-879-4755 or go to hollandhall.org/open-house
Experience the wildest camps in town! ZoO Camps tulsazoo.org/camps
Did you know
that for many people the first
symptom of heart disease is a
heart attack?
LIFE
LIFE
ESSAVING
AVING
V G ia c CT Scan Oklahoma
klahoma Heart InsInstitute
titute off
offers
ers a
Ca rd
le for
Availab car
ardiac CT angiogr
cardiac ogram scan perf
angiogram formed
performed
499
*
$ with multi-slice,
ith a 128 multi-slic ultrafast
slice, ultr afast sscanner
canner
l Februa
ry offer tha
thatat is more than
more n 95%
95% sensitive
sensitive in
*Specia half the
ss than r
This is le ket expense fo
oc . detecting
det
etecting heart disease with lo loww
out-of-p with insurance
patients
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adiation e xposurre.
exposure.
What
Wha
at is a Cardiac
Cardiac CT
C Scan?
Scan? Who
Who should have
have a Car
Cardiac
diac CT Scan
Scan?
?
Anyone 40 y
Anyone years
ears or older
der with ssymptoms
ymptoms c
concerning
onc
ncerning ffor
or
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cardiac
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diac CT scan is a painless
painles
nless imaging heart disease or risk ffactors
actors such as:
ttest
est that
tha
hat provides
provides many
many detailed
etailed pictur es
pictures
• Diabetes
Diabetes • Smoking history
history
y
of your
ur heart and art
your eries in
arteries n just
just seconds.
seconds. • pressurre •
High blood pressure Family history
Family history
This means easy
This easy and early det ection of
detection • High cholesterol
cholesterol of heart disease
heart disease
disease..
Call 918-5
918-592-0999
8-592-0999
99 by
by February
February
bruary 29
9
tto
o schedule
hedule your
your
o appointment.
ntment.
918-592-0999
918-592-0999 1120 S. Utica
aAAve.,
ve., T
Tulsa
ulsa O
OklahomaHeart.com
klahomaHeartt.com
tulsakids February 2020 SHORTS
6-7 NEWS & NOTES
what’s inside
18-22 FEATURE
Healthy Families
Keeping Kids Healthy at Every Age
24-25 BIOFEEDBACK
Volume XXXIII, Number 2 www.tulsakids.com Could Biofeedback Be for You?
By Staff
Healthy
42-43 HEALTH
Head Lice Myths and Solutions
Laura Lyles Reagan
Families
32-33 ART CONTEST WINNERS
Family & Children’s Services Art
Contest Winners Artists’ Statements
52-53 FAMILY-FRIENDLY
VALENTINE’S DAY EVENTS
WE’RE INUNDATED WITH HEALTH INFORMATION THAT TOO OFTEN CAN BE IN EVERY ISSUE
12 STAGES: Babies & Toddlers
CONFUSING, UNRELIABLE AND EVEN DOWNRIGHT CONTRADICTORY.TUL- Toddler Independence: “I do it!”
SAKIDS WENT TO THE LOCAL HEALTH EXPERTS TO ASK THEM TO PROVIDE By Kiley Roberson
BASIC TIPS AND ADVICE FOR HEALTHY FAMILIES. SOMETIMES IT’S NOT THE 14-15 STAGES: School Age
Paying for Grades: The Pros and Cons
COMPLICATED TREND OF THE MOMENT, BUT THE SCIENCE-BASED, of an Academic Allowance
STRAIGHT-FORWARD ADVICE FROM PROFESSIONALS THAT CAN HELP US By Mary Beth Ritchie, LCSW
GET HEALTHY AND STAY THAT WAY. 16-17 STAGES: Tweens & Teens
Tulsa Term: Where Street Smarts
Meet Book Smarts
Starting on Page 18 By Julie Wenger Watson
30-31 GET COOKING
Budget-stretching Pasta Is
Perfect for Families
By Natalie Mikles
35-39 COMMUNITY CALENDAR
By Tara Rittler
40-41 FEBRUARY SHOWTIMES
By Tara Rittler
44-45 BOOKS
Cooking with Kids!
By Melody Palmer
46 HOMESCHOOL
What About Socialization?
By Natalie Hanson
Paying for Grades: The Pros and 50-51 FROM THE HIP
Budget-stretching Pasta Is
14-15 Cons of an Academic Allowance 30-31 Perfect for Families
The Hip Mom Searches for Romance
By Jill VanTrease
50-51 GREEN COUNTRY GROWN-UP
Dr. Emerson: For the Love of Kids
By Nancy A. Moore
55 TULSAKIDS.COM
What’s Going On(line)?
56 I’M A TULSA KID
Illia Arapov: Family & Children’s
Services Art Contest Best of Show
Winner
By Sheeba Atiqi
Family-Friendly 26-27 Special Advertising Section: 2020
52-53 Valentine’s Day Events 56 Illia Arapov: F&C Art Contest
Best of Show Winner Health, Wellness and FitnessGuide
W W W.T U L S A K I D S . C O M FEBRUARY 2020 5
editor’s note tulsakids
FOR PARENTS. FOR FAMILIES. FOR LIFE.
PUBLISHER: CHARLES FOSHEE
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
An Ounce of Prevention….. & EDITOR IN CHIEF: BETTY CASEY
TREASURER &
When I took my dog in for a 1-year checkup last week, I was reminded how im- COMPTROLLER DEBBIE TALLEY
portant preventive medicine is. Not that kids are dogs, but there are some sim- WEB EDITOR: TARA RITTLER
ilarities. For example, adults have to be responsible for their basic health and ADVERTISING SALES: BRANDI MOORE
welfare, and preventing a problem is easier than treating it after the fact. LINDSEY COPES
I pointed out to my vet that my doodle had developed a raw area on her back, PRODUCTION: CHARLES FOSHEE
right at the base of her tail, because she had been gnawing at it. Noticing that COVER PHOTO: LESLIE HOYT
the dog was no longer wearing her flea collar, the vet asked about it. I said,“I PHOTOGRAPHY
took it off when I gave her a bath a couple of weeks ago and didn’t put it back DISTRIBUTION: JOAN PEREZ
on because I didn’t think fleas were a problem in the winter. I’ve never seen EDITORIAL & SPECIAL DANIELLE HILL
any fleas on her.”Wrong. Evidently, our milder weather these days has made PROJECTS ASSISTANT
fleas a year-round issue. CONTRIBUTING WRITERS:
LAURA LYLES REAGAN
Lesson learned. Prevention is cheaper and easier than paying for medications, KILEY ROBERSON
not to mention that my poor dog was miserable. MARY BETH RITCHIE
JULIE WENGER WATSON
It’s the same with children. Besides following basic nutrition and health guide- NATALIE MIKLES
lines, checking in with your child’s healthcare professional, the dentist, and the MELODY PALMER
eye doctor before your child has a problem can prevent small things from be- NATALIE HANSON
coming larger problems, or even prevent problems altogether. JILL VANTREASE
NANCY A. MOORE
Those yearly (or more often, depending on the age of your child) visits will also SHEEBA ATIQI
give you an opportunity to ask questions. Maybe you’re not sure if your child is
developing at the proper rate.Your child’s doctor can monitor that.Write down
questions and concerns before you go for an office visit, and discuss them with
your child’s doctor.
In this issue, you’ll find some top tips from doctors to keep children healthy.
There are also places, such as the Tulsa Health Department, where you can get
speech/hearing and developmental screenings for your children. Getting
away from gimmicks and focusing on the basics of general health and well-
ness will give your children the foundation for a lifetime of good health.
And, if a problem does crop up, you’ll have the relationship with your health-
care professional to be able to discuss changes or concerns with someone TK PUBLISHING inc.
who already knows your child’s medical history.
While kids don’t need flea collars, there are plenty of other things you can do TulsaKids is published monthly by
TK Publishing, Inc.,
to keep them healthy. 1622 So. Denver Ave.,
Tulsa, OK 74119
(918) 582-8504
FAX (918) 583-1366
Website: www.tulsakids.com
©TK Publishing, Inc. 2020.
All Rights Reserved.
Volume XXXIII, Number 2
PUBLISHER
publisher@tulsakids.com
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Betty Casey editor@tulsakids.com
associate publisher and CALENDAR
(submit by 10th of the month prior)
editor in chief calendar@tulsakids.com
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-
COVER ART BY ILLIA ARAPOV, BEST ucts, services, or information. We do not
If you like to read TulsaKids, you may not know that OF SHOW, F&CS ART CONTEST
knowingly present any product or service
which is fraudulent or misleading in nature.
you can watch us, too! Every Thursday morning on
Tulsa’s Channel 8, the local ABC affiliate, join Editor
Betty Casey on Good Day Tulsa for tips to plan your
family’s weekend and more.Watch Good Morning
MEMBER OF
Oklahoma on Tues-
days for tips on timely
topics and family in-
formation you’ll want
to know.
6 FEBRUARY 2020 W W W .T U L S A K I D S . C O Mnews & notes
33RD ANNUAL TOUR DE TULSA
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN
The 33rd annual Tour de Tulsa presented by St. John Health System/As-
cension registration is now open. More than 800 cyclists from across the state
and region will descend upon Tulsa on Saturday, May 2, to participate in this
annual go-at-your-pace biking event.
Cyclists will begin their ride at OSU Center for Health Sciences, 1111
West 17th Street, on the west bank of the Arkansas River at 8 a.m. Cyclists
will complete their choice of an 8-mile family ride, 20, 36, 50, 61 and 101 mile
routes. More than 70 volunteers will be working rest stops along the routes
serving fruit, granola bars, water and Gatorade. Tour de Tulsa is hosted annu-
ally by the Tulsa Health Department and the Tulsa Bicycle Club as a way to
promote health in the community.
Proceeds from Tour de Tulsa benefit Pathways to Health (P2H), which
unites more than 90 local agencies, organizations, corporations and health systems to improve health outcomes in Tulsa County. Last year, this
fundraiser ride raised over $36,000 that directly improved the health and well-being of Tulsa residents.
Early bird registration is $40 for those 13 years of age or over and $15 for those 12 and younger. The Family Fun Ride cost is $15 for partici-
pants of any age. Register online at www.tulsabicycleclub.com/tdt. Register by April 15 for a free t-shirt
ADULT AND BABY BRAINS ON
THE SAME WAVELENGTH
A study on how baby and adult brains interact during natural
play showed measurable connections in their neural activity. The
study, done by a team of researchers at Princeton University and pub-
lished in Psychological Science (Dec. 17, 2019), suggests that you and
your baby might quite literally be ‘on the same wavelength,’ experi-
encing similar brain activity in the same brain regions, those areas
known to be involved in high-level understanding of the world.
“While communicating, the adult and child seem to form a feed-
back loop,” said Elise Piazza, an associate research scholar in the
Princeton Neuroscience Institute. “That is, the adult’s brain seemed to
predict when the infants would smile, the infants’ brains anticipated
when the adult would use more ‘baby talk,’ and both brains tracked
joint eye contact and joint attention to toys. So, when a baby and adult
play together, their brains influence each other in dynamic ways.”
PHILBROOK ANNOUNCES
ACCESS PROGRAM FOR
LOW-INCOME FAMILIES KIDS WATCHING COOKING
Philbrook Museum of Art has joined Museums for All, a signature
access program of the Institute of Museum and Library Services
SHOWS WITH HEALTHY FOOD
(IMLS), administered by the Association of Children’s Museums MORE LIKELY TO EAT IT
A study in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior found
(ACM), to encourage people of all backgrounds to visit museums regu-
that kids who watched a television program featuring healthy foods as
larly and build lifelong museum-going habits. The program took effect
the key ingredient were more likely to make healthier food choices
January 1, 2020.
now and into adulthood.
The daily program supports qualified guests visiting Philbrook for
Researchers asked 125 10- to
a minimal fee of $1 per person, up to four people, with the presentation
12-year-olds, with parental consent,
of a SNAP Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, WIC (Women, In-
at five schools in the Netherlands to
fant, Children), and SoonerCare. Children 17 and younger are always
watch 10 minutes of a Dutch public
free for general admission.
television cooking program designed
Similar free and reduced admission is available to eligible mem-
for children, and then offered them a
bers of the public at more than 400 museums across the country. Mu-
snack as a reward for participating.
seums for All is part of Philbrook’s broad commitment to seek, include,
Children who watched the healthy
and welcome all audiences.
program were far more likely to
Museums for All helps expand access to museums and also raise
public awareness about how museums in the U.S. are reaching their choose one of the healthy snack op-
entire communities. More than 400 institutions participate in the initia- tions — an apple or a few pieces of
tive, including art museums, children’s museums, science centers, cucumber — than one of the un-
healthy options — a handful of chips
botanical gardens, zoos, history museums, and more. Participating mu-
or a handful of salted mini-pretzels.
seums are located nationwide, representing 48 states.
W W W.T U L S A K I D S . C O M FEBRUARY 2020 7Homework
Help Now! POWERED BY BRAINFUSE
Featuring Live Tutors
(2-11 p.m., daily CST) Get EXPERT one-
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in grades K-12 … plus college!
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and use your Tulsa City-County Library
card to access Homework Help Now!
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8 FEBRUARY 2020 W W W .T U L S A K I D S . C O M%QPƂFGPEG +P /CVJ
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W W W.T U L S A K I D S . C O M FEBRUARY 2020 9Mr. Henry’s Books
EDU CATO R WO R KS H O P
Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020 • 9-11 a.m.
Pocahontas Greadington Learning and Creativity Center
Central Library • Fifth Street and Denver Avenue
Attention, upper-elementary and
middle-school teachers and librarians!
You are invited to this continuing-
education workshop focusing on the
works of renowned author Katherine
Applegate, winner of the 2020 Anne
V. Zarrow Award for Young Readers’
Literature. You will:
• Receive 50 copies of The Last by
Katherine Applegate for your students
to keep as their own.
• Learn how to incorporate various
elements of The Last into your
classroom and receive lesson plans
on how to use Applegate’s works
in a variety of school subjects.
• Be introduced to Tulsa City-County Library’s Anne V. Zarrow Award for
Young Readers’ Literature.
• Gain an opportunity to win a classroom visit by Applegate on
Friday, May 1, 2020.
Continental breakfast will be provided. Every participant will receive
their copies of The Last at the end of the workshop, as well as an official
continuing-education certificate.
Participants must be employed by a
school district within Tulsa County.
Mr. Henry’s Books is a program of the
Tulsa City-County Library, sponsored
by the Tulsa Library Trust, made
possible by a grant from the Anne and
7LI W EPVIEH] HVIEQMRK
Henry Zarrow Foundation.
SJ KVEHYEXMSR R E G I S T R AT I O N I S R E Q U I R E D
1EOI WYVI WLI W VIEH] Registration Deadline: Friday, Feb. 7, 2020
JSV [LEX GSQIW RI\X Registration Fee: $10
REGISTER/PAY ONLINE
www.tulsalibrary.org/mr-henrys-books-registration
REGISTER ONLINE/PAY VIA MAIL
Complete and submit the online registration form, make your check
or money order payable to Tulsa City-County Library, and mail to:
*MRH 8YPWE/MHW
Tulsa City-County Library Registration fees are
'SPPIKI 'EVIIV
Mr. Henry’s Books nonrefundable, but teachers
400 Civic Center may send a substitute if
4PERRIV EX Tulsa, OK 74103 unable to attend.
XYPWEOMHWGSQGSPPIKI
10 FEBRUARY 2020 W W W .T U L S A K I D S . C O MRECYCLE
RECYCLE E NOT
TH IS
THIS THAT
Steel
S teel Cans
Cans
n Electronics
Steel cans are perfect for recycling, but
electronics are NOT acceptable for the blue recycling cart.
LEARN
LEARN
MORE AT
MORE AT tulsarecycles.com
tu lsare
ecycles.com
METRO CHRISTIAN ACADEMY INVITES YOU TO AN
OPEN HOUSE
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23RD
2 PM - 4 PM
REGISTER AT
VISITMETRO.COM
GET TO KNOW METRO
METRO CHRISTIAN ACADEMY IS A
COLLEGE PREPARATORY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
SERVING STUDENTS IN PRESCHOOL THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL.
6363 S. TRENTON AVE. 918.745.9868 METROCA.COM
FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK @METROCHRISTIANACADEMY
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ALL THE GREAT THINGS HAPPENING AT METRO.
METRO CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
A T H R I V I N G C O M M U N I T Y O F S T U D E N T S , F A M I L I E S , A N D F A C U LT Y W I T H S H A R E D VA L U E S A N D F A I T H .
W W W.T U L S A K I D S . C O M FEBRUARY 2020 11stages: babies & toddlers
B Y KILEY ROBERSON
toddler independence:
“I do it”
but keeping the peace can be just
A
s parents, we ulti-
mately want to raise as beneficial.
smart, healthy and in- Sneaky Suggestions
dependent children. If your child is determined not to
Children that will grow into confi- let you help them, try to slip in
dent individuals ready to take on some subtle tips when you can. “I
the world around them. But, even like to scoop my cereal with a
with all this in mind, it still came spoon instead of a fork.” “It’s
as a shock to me the first time my raining outside, I’m going to wear
daughter yanked the spoon out of my boots.”
my hand at dinner and yelled, “I Work-Arounds
do it!” Her confidence level was We can’t always allow children to
most certainly there. An entire try everything they want, but we
bowl of cereal all over her face can try to find acceptable substi-
later, and she and I were both a tutes. If he really wants to cuts
little frustrated. It took a few his own food, give him a butter
weeks and a few tears, but she knife. She insists on dressing her-
got the hang of it and has slowly self — buy elastic-waist jeans and
conquered that motor skill one Velcro shoes.
bite at a time. Give in When You Can
Today my daughter is a ce- Stand your ground when it comes
real-eating pro. However, her to flip-flops in February, but make
quest for independence has only peace with the crazy color and
expanded. I’d like to say the same print combos. If she wants to
for my patience level, but let’s be dress herself, let her, as long as
honest, watching her tediously it’s reasonable. No parents are
dress herself only to realize that going to judge you for taking your
she had her pants on backwards daughter to the store wearing a t-
and shoes on the wrong feet, was shirt and tutu. We’ve all been
very difficult to do. Especially there. And if they do, who cares,
since it often added about 30 she’s learning to be her own per-
extra minutes to our morning rou- son.
tine, and that’s on a good day. Perhaps the most important
As frustrated as I would ence is a good thing, and a devel- a few trips on the “I do it” train thing to remember is that just like
sometimes get with her inde- opmental rite of passage. But sav- and survived. anyone learning a new skill, your
pendent outbursts, I had to re- ing yourself from a mommy Toddler Savings Time toddler needs practice to perfect
mind myself that this was exactly meltdown while your little angel Build in extra time for her extra it. Help them through their frus-
what I wanted. I don’t want to is pouring her own milk “by her- efforts to keep the pressure off trations, celebrate their determi-
have a child that I am still hand self” (all over the floor) is also a both of you. If you usually get up nation and pat yourself on the
feeding at 15 or dressing for col- good thing. Below are some tips at 6 a.m., set the alarm for 5:30 back for raising a confident, inde-
lege each day. Overall, independ- from other parents who’ve taken a.m. We all love the extra sleep, pendent little person.
12 FEBRUARY 2020 W W W .T U L S A K I D S . C O MW W W.T U L S A K I D S . C O M FEBRUARY 2020 13
stages: school age
B Y MARY B ETH RITCHIE, LCSW
paying for grades:
the pros and cons of an
academic allowance
proud you are of his effort. Let
S
hould we pay our chil-
dren for making good him know you are impressed with
grades? Parents fre- the way he didn’t become dis-
quently disagree on this couraged and give up. Then, pro-
subject, and good arguments can vide some assistance with the
be made on both sides. Research assignment. Help your child to
suggests that paying students for understand the mistakes that
good grades can be effective, but were made. Remind children that
the results are often only tempo- we learn by making mistakes. If
rary. Approximately half of the we never made mistakes, we
parents in the U.S. do provide wouldn’t be learning anything
monetary incentive for good new.
grades, while about half do not. One of the most common ar-
Sometimes referred to as an “aca- guments against an academic al-
demic allowance,” amounts vary lowance is that children won’t
by household, but an example develop a love of learning. They
would be that students would re- will only be motivated to learn in
ceive $10 for A’s and $5 for B’s. In order to earn monetary compen-
order to be transparent, I’ll share sation. I haven’t seen the re-
that I was given monetary re- search on this, but I can speak to
wards for my report cards, and I it personally. As an adult, I still
incentivized my sons in the same while I work with some small This will also give parents the op- have a tremendous love of learn-
way. groups who are struggling with portunity to see what the child is ing. Paying me for my grades cer-
Some parents are opposed to something in particular. There are learning in school. Parents may tainly never squelched that.
the idea of paying for good written assignments to complete also spot areas in which students Parents who don’t wish to
grades. Some may find that their before the computer assignments are experiencing difficulties. This pay for grades may consider some
children aren’t motivated by this are begun. I have found that is a wonderful chance for parents other options. If the child does
incentive. These parents may some students will rush through to provide assistance when bring home a good report card,
want to focus their attention in the written material in order to needed. the parents may wish to suggest
different directions. For example, get to the computer assignments. Parents on this side of the a special celebration. Dinner at a
parents might want to insist that You don’t want your child to rush fence will want to provide praise favorite restaurant or a trip to the
all homework is complete before through the homework assign- and verbal encouragement. Re- ice cream parlor may be in order.
screen time or another reward is ments in order to obtain screen member to praise the effort as This should be treated as a cele-
allowed. As a classroom teacher, time. You will likely need to pro- much as the results. If the child bration of a goal having been
I’d like to offer a word of wisdom. vide some quality control by worked diligently on the assign- achieved.
My students have a list of morn- checking over the homework be- ment, but didn’t do very well, be Some parents do see advan-
ing assignments to complete fore allowing the screen time. sure to tell the student how tages to paying children for their
continued next page
14 FEBRUARY 2020 W W W .T U L S A K I D S . C O Mgrades. There are a number of
reasons to consider this option.
Many parents view school as the
AH
HEART-HEALTHY
HEART-HEAL
ALLTHY DESSERT?
DES
SSERT?
current occupation of the child.
This is a way for children to actu-
LOVE AT
LOVE AT FIRST
FIRST BITE.
TE.
ally earn their money, rather than
just having it given to them. This Chocolate
C hocolate Cherry
Ch e rr y H
Heart-Smart
ear t-Smar t Cookies
Coo
o kies
may help to foster a good work
ethic. Additionally, the child is
getting paid more when she
achieves better results. In some
ways, this mirrors real life.
Providing an academic al-
lowance can also demonstrate to INGREDIENTS
INGREDIENT S INSTRUCTIONS
ONS
INSTRUCTIONS
children that education is valued - 1/3 cup
1/3 c all-purpose flour Pr eheat o
Preheat ven tto
oven o3 50° F
350° F.. Spoon flours
by the parents. In general, we into measuring cups; le
into vel with a knif
level e.
knife.
spend money on those things - 1/3c
1/3 cup whole whea
wheatt flour
C ombine flours and ne
Combine x 3 iingredients
xt
next ngredients
that we prioritize in life. - 1 1/
/2 cups rrolled
1/2 olled oats
oats in a large bo
large wl. S
bowl. tir with a w
Stir hisk.
whisk.
Once students have earned
their reward, there are more life - 1 tteaspoon
easpoon
spoon baking soda Me
Meltlt butt
butterer o ver lo
over w heat.
low hea
at. Remove
Remove
lessons to be learned. For exam- - 1/
/2 tteaspoon
1/2 e
easpoon salt from hea
from heat.t. Add br
Add own sugar;
brown ugar; sstir
tir until
ple, the child learns about the smooth. A Adddd sugar mixtur
ture to
mixture to flour
amount of work involved in earn- - 6 tablespoons
blespoons unsalted
unsalted mixtur
mixture; e; bea
beatt aatt mediumm speed until
ing this money. This may encour- butte
er
butter w ell blended. A
well dd cherries,
Add ries, vanilla,
vanilla,
age children to spend and save and egg; bea beatt until c ombined.
mbined.
combined.
-3/4 c
3/4 cup packed light
packed
more wisely as they grow. F old in choc
Fold olate.
chocolate.
brown
w sugar
brown
While we would all like for
the intrinsic reward and the love - 1 cup
p dried cherries D rop d
Drop ough ont
dough o baking
onto g sheets
of learning to be enough motiva- c oated with c
coated ooking spr
cooking ray, tw
spray, twoo
- 1 tteaspoon
easpoon
spoon vanilla e
vanilla xtract
extract
tion, there are times when it sim- inches apart. BakBakee at
at 350°
350°
5 F ffor
or
ply isn’t. We aren’t all interested - 1 larg egg, lightly bea
ge
large ten
beaten 12 minut es. C
minutes. ool on panss 3 minut
Cool minuteses
in every subject. One of my sons or until almos
almostt firm, thenen c ool on
cool
has never enjoyed math. There -3o z. bitt
oz. ersweet
bittersweet
wir
wiree rracks.
acks.
was never any intrinsic motiva- choccolate, c
chocolate, oarsely
coarsely
tion for him to learn math. He is chopped
pped
currently a senior in college, and
he has even chosen a major that
requires little math. Perhaps the
extrinsic motivation is particularly
helpful to children in the subject IS YOUR HEART
YOUR T IN THE RIGHT PLACE?
?
PLACE?
areas that don’t interest them. 1. Aim
m ffor
or 30 minut es of ph
minutes ysical activity a day
physical day
There are valid arguments (60 ffor
or kids ).
kids).
on both sides of this controversy.
Whether monetary compensation 2. Fill
ll half
h lf your pla
your l te with
plate h ffruits
ts and
dv eggies a
veggies att every
every meal.
l
works well may depend upon the 3. Choose
oose w ater o
water ver sugary drinks.
over
individual child involved. If you do
choose to provide an academic al-
lowance for your child, I think it is
important that you explain your
reasoning. Take time to explain
your thinking and have a discus-
Find
nd mor
more
e heart-health
heart-healthy
y rrecipes
ecipes and ph
physicalactivity
ysicalactivity
y ideas a
at:
t:
sion with the child. Providing an
academic allowance without a
thorough explanation will likely
not produce the results you are
seeking.
W W W.T U L S A K I D S . C O M FEBRUARY 2020 15stages: tweens & teens
B Y JULIE WENGER WATS ON
Tulsa Term: where street
smarts meet book smarts
two teachers joined forces to cre-
I
magine the city is your class-
room. No longer restricted by ate Tulsa Term.
four walls, you navigate down- “Tulsa Term is a deeper dive
town on foot, exploring the and a more holistic approach to
community around you. The op- what started in seventh grade,”
portunity to learn expands from Beckwith explains.
the pages of your textbooks to The program, which is in its
real-world experiences in art gal- second year, is offered for the
leries, community facilities and ar- spring semester and is open to
chitectural landmarks. Interacting juniors and seniors. Tulsa Term
with city leaders, business own- accepts up to 12 students, with a
ers and creative entrepreneurs, goal of half from Holland Hall and
you think critically about your city the other half from TPS. This
and begin to wonder what and year’s cohort, the second in the
how you can contribute. What new program, includes TPS stu-
sounds like the daydream of a dents from Webster, McLain and
restless teenager anxiously Booker T. Washington high
counting the minutes until the schools.
school bell rings is actually a real- The program is housed
TULSA TERM IS TAKING APPLICATIONS
ity. Tulsa Term, a new innovative FROM HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THIS MONTH. downtown in Tulsa’s City Hall,
and immersive learning experi- which serves as home base for
Williams McKnight taught aren’t we out in our own city?
ence, created and supported by the students.
for a number of years at Why aren’t we in these places
Holland Hall in collaboration with “We start within the City be-
CITYterm before moving to Tulsa and in these buildings, looking at
Tulsa Public Schools, is an oppor- cause they are doing amazing
and joining the faculty at Holland this architecture and talking to
tunity for high school juniors and work, and they’re very welcoming
Hall. Beckwith first encountered people who experience these
seniors to leave the classroom be- to us,” says Beckwith. “We have
the program when she traveled to things in the real world?”
hind and take their education to classroom space there. We al-
New York City in the summer of Eventually, Beckwith, along
the streets. ways meet there, and we always
2009 through a professional de- with two other Holland Hall
Holland Hall teachers Jane end the day there. Sometimes we
velopment program for teachers. teachers, developed a curriculum
Beckwith and Eder J. Williams spend the day working there. But
She returned home from the trip for the school’s seventh graders
McKnight are co-directors of the a lot of days, we are all over the
contemplating what she’d known as “Downtown Studies.”
program, which they also helped place, walking around, talking to
learned and how it might fit in to The program, which began in
develop. Tulsa Term is inspired in people.”
her own classroom. 2011, takes students downtown
part by CITYterm, a New York Tulsa Term meets five days a
“It was such an awakening to learn about the city firsthand.
City-based educational experi- week from 8:30 a.m.-2:45 p.m.
for me,” recalls Beckwith, who After Beckwith moved to Holland
ence that uses the city’s urban Students work on both individual
was teaching seventh grade at Hall’s Upper School and Williams
core as its classroom. and group projects, earning cred-
the time. “I kept thinking, why McKnight joined the faculty, the
continued next page
16 FEBRUARY 2020 W W W .T U L S A K I D S . C O Mits and grades for English, Ap-
The youngest minds deserve the greatest attention.
plied Statistics, History and Sci- A child’s natural curiosity is boundless. By nurturing that with a thoughtful
ence. In addition to Beckwith and
balance of play and structure, we spark lightbulb moments every day.
Williams McKnight, experts from
a variety of disciplines contribute Learn how our approach inspires a lifelong love of discovery.
to the students’ educational ex-
perience. For example, Dr. Jen-
nifer Clark, a physician and
faculty member of the University
of Tulsa Institute for Health Care
Delivery Sciences, and James
Spicer, owner and operator of
Green Country Permaculture, will
both contribute their expertise
this semester.
Tulsa Term concludes with a
“Capstone” project, which allows
the participants to use their
newly acquired knowledge and
skills to explore a particular area
that interests them.
“The students design their
own Capstone,” Beckwith ex-
plains. “They get to pick a topic
that has been particularly mean-
ingful to them during the semes-
ter and also dive into things they
are curious about. They get to de-
cide for themselves, using all the
skills they’ve practiced.”
According to the Tulsa Term
materials, the program’s learning
philosophy is “student-centered,
place-based, and transdiscipli-
nary” and uses “academic skills
and experience to encounter the
places and people of Tulsa, face
real problems, create solutions,
and make a difference in the
city.”
Beckwith believes the stu-
dents themselves, and what each
brings to the group, are a large
part of the program’s success.
“Watching them run with a
concept, or apply it in a way you
didn’t expect, or make a connec-
tion in a way you hadn’t thought
Primrose School of South Tulsa
of before is really what it’s all
about,” she notes. “Watching
each individual student recognize 10185 S. 85th E. Ave.
their own capacity for creativity, Tulsa, OK 74133
innovation, and change making 918.364.0021 | PrimroseSouthTulsa.com
and how they define their own in-
telligence and their own way in
the world – it’s a really remark- Call for a tour.
able thing to witness.”
For more information on
Each Primrose school is a privately owned and operated franchise. Primrose Schools is a registered trademark of Primrose School Franchising SPE, LLC.
Tulsa Term, as well as an applica- ©2019 Primrose School Franchising SPE, LLC. All rights reserved.
tion for Spring 2021 (due Feb. 21,
2020), visit www.hollandhall.org.
W W W.T U L S A K I D S . C O M FEBRUARY 2020 17Healthy
Families
WE’RE INUNDATED WITH HEALTH INFORMATION THAT TOO OFTEN CAN BE CONFUSING, UNRELIABLE AND EVEN DOWNRIGHT
CONTRADICTORY.TULSAKIDS WENT TO THE LOCAL HEALTH EXPERTS TO ASK THEM TO PROVIDE BASIC TIPS AND ADVICE
FOR HEALTHY FAMILIES. SOMETIMES IT’S NOT THE COMPLICATED TREND OF THE MOMENT, BUT THE SCIENCE-BASED,
STRAIGHT-FORWARD ADVICE FROM PROFESSIONALS THAT CAN HELP US GET HEALTHY AND STAY THAT WAY.
Infants
Top Infant Health Concerns
understand whether or not it’s
time to call the doctor. Here are
the five most common concerns
she sees from parents and the
best way to handle them.
1. Pooping. Commonly
talked about in the pediatric
world, pooping is often a concern
of new parents and toddlers. A
good rule of thumb is that it’s not
the timing that so much matters
as long as each poop is soft. In-
fants can have a hard time figur-
ing out how to poop in the early
days, and they may look uncom-
fortable or even cry and strain,
DR. COURTNEY SAULS but if it’s soft then no need to
worry. Concerning issues you
arenting an infant is never
P easy, especially when it
comes to keeping them
healthy! Dr. Courtney Sauls from
should always bring to your pedi-
atrician’s attention are black, red
or white poops or if they are hard
like pebbles.
approved medicines for infants
under 2 months for cough and
Above 2 months there are all nat-
ural cold syrups like Zarbees, or
Ascension Medical Group St. congestion. The best you can do infant chest rubs without men-
John Pediatric & Adolescent Med- 2. Congestion. The bane of
is frequent nasal suctioning with thol. I also recommend honey if
icine has seen it all when it comes every parent’s existence in the
nasal saline and a nasal aspirator they are older than 1 year. A cool
to infants, and she can help you winter months. There are not any
such as a blue bulb or Nose Frida. mist humidifier will also help. The
continued next page
18 FEBRUARY 2020 W W W .T U L S A K I D S . C O Mbiggest things to look out for are growing well and healthy, spit know how. Periods of incon- serious. The best way to take a
too fast or troubled breathing, ups are most likely more of a solable crying can start to in- temperature in an infant is rec-
prolonged fever or dehydration. laundry problem than a problem crease around 4-6 weeks of age tally. If the reading is 100.4 or
3. Reflux. Spitting up is a that needs medicine. Children and is called The Period of Purple above and your infant is less than
common issue among infants. typically start spitting up less Crying. This is a social develop- 30 days old, see a doctor immedi-
Some babies spit up more than when they start eating more mental stage and often confused ately. Fevers in infants can be
others. It becomes problematic solids around age 6 months and with colic. Make sure your baby is from something as simple as a
when infants are not gaining most grow out of it entirely by comfortable, has had a diaper cold to something as serious as
weight well or having so much age 12 months. If your child ever change, is fed and swaddled. meningitis or sepsis. If you ever
pain with spitting up that they re- vomits blood or dark green bile, Gently rock, sing and take shifts have concerns about fever in your
fuse to eat. Projectile spit ups see a doctor immediately. with another caregiver. Never child, a quick call to your doctor’s
after every feeding are concern- 4. Crying. Crying is a way shake your baby. office is always welcomed.
ing and you should see your doc- for new babies to communicate 5. Fever. In infants younger
tor. Otherwise, if your child is and often the only way they than 1 month of age, fever is very
Pregnancy
Tips for a Healthy Pregnancy
well as identify and discuss any servings of fish a
risk factors before you and your week is part of a
partner get pregnant. And, once healthy diet, but
you’re pregnant, the earlier you doctors recom-
start getting prenatal care, the mend limiting fish
better. with high mer-
2. Prenatal vitamins are an cury content such
important way to ensure that you as salmon or
are getting the appropriate tuna. Making sure
amount of folic acid. Folic acid de- you’re eating reg-
creases the risk of birth defects to ularly, like every
your baby’s spinal cord and brain. couple of hours,
Dr. Buffin suggests that women will help with
of child-bearing age take a prena- nausea and keep
tal vitamin because it’s important your blood sugar
to have the folic acid before preg- level.
nancy and during early preg- 5. Weight.
nancy. The recommenda-
3. Stay Active. Dr. Buffin en- tion on weight
DR. TANIESHA BUFFIN
courages women who have been gain is 25 to 35
active before pregnancy to re- pounds if you are
xpecting a baby is an excit-
E
main active. If you’re not active, normal weight,
ing time but, let’s be honest, don’t do something intense, but and 15 to 25
it can also be a worrisome mild to moderate exercise will pounds if you are
time. If you’re pregnant or think- help you maintain your energy overweight.
ing of getting pregnant, here are level and keep your blood sugar 6. Finally Dr.
some basic tips from Dr. Taniesha
stable. Talk to your healthcare Biffin I recom-
Buffin, an OBGYN with Utica Park
Clinic, to keep you healthy during professional about exercise dur- mends getting a
your pregnancy. ing pregnancy. flu shot.
1. Dr. Buffin suggests that 4. Maintain a Healthy Diet.
if you’re thinking of getting preg- Talk to your provider about eat-
nant, it’s a good idea to make a ing. Avoid soft cheeses and un-
preconception visit with your pasteurized food and drink. If you
physician. That way, you can get eat lunchmeat, remember to heat
all these great tips and more as it before you eat it. A couple of
continued next page
W W W.T U L S A K I D S . C O M FEBRUARY 2020 19Emergencies
Common Childhood
Emergencies and What to Do
A
n emergency can cause con- model this for their children.
fusion and panic in even the 2. Shortness of breath –
calmest parent. Under- This can just mean a faster respi-
standing what is (or might be) an ratory rate than usual or labored
emergency before you face it can breathing. Signs include retrac-
help you know what to do. Dr. tions where the space between or
Mark Blubaugh, medical director
with Tulsa ER & Hospital shared below their ribs suck in when
some of the top reasons that par- children are breathing. This could
ents seek emergency care for also mean difficulty getting air in.
their children. Always call your This always needs to be evalu-
healthcare professional if you are ated emergently. It could be
concerned about your child’s caused by an infection, obstruc-
health, but here are some com- tion, or even metabolic process.
mon emergency occurrences from 3. Trauma – (potential
Dr. Blubaugh. break/fracture/head injury) – An
1. Fever – A fever in a child obvious deformity of an extremity
is anything 100.4 or higher. The or refusal to use an extremity or
degree of fever does not neces- walk needs to be seen right
sarily correlate with severity of ill- away. As for head injury, if it is
ness. Tylenol and Motrin are the accompanied by vomiting, a
usual treatments. Do not bundle seizure, loss of consciousness, or
your children. Do not use alcohol altered mental status a trip to the
baths. Most fevers are caused by emergency room is a must. To
viruses; however, if accompanied prevent trauma, wear safety gear Pain in the right lower quadrant should be identified and brought
by other symptoms should be when playing sports and a hel- could be appendicitis. However, to the emergency department if
seen emergently – such as met as well when riding a bike. appendicitis in children does not possible. Ways to prevent the in-
headache or neck stiffness, al- 4. Abdominal pain – Most always follow this rule. gestion of objects or medications
tered mental status, severe ab- abdominal pain is functional in 5. Ingestions – (in small chil- include childproofing, keeping po-
dominal pain, bloody diarrhea, children; however, if accompanied dren) – Any ingestions in small tentially dangerous items far out
shortness of breath. The best by fever or intractable vomiting, children need to be seen immedi- of reach, and locking up medica-
way for virus prevention is fre- or bloody diarrhea, the child ately. If a child has ingested a tions.
quent hand washing. This is so needs to be seen emergently. medication, the medication
important and parents should
Healthy Familes
Kids in the Kitchen
he best way to teach kids cooking activities to try with your • Stirring ingredients - they wash in the sink - this can provide
T about eating right is to get
them into the kitchen to pre-
pare healthy meals together.
child.
The medical experts at the
OU/TU School of Community
should be at room temperature
• Mashing with a fork or po-
tato masher - again watch out for
lengthy entertainment while you
cook.
Cooking is a valuable life skill that Medicine Culinary Medicine offer temperature 3-5 year-olds
teaches children about nutrition these tips: • Sprinkling - flour, cake dec- Young children love helping
and food safety, as well as build-
ing math, science, literacy and orations and icing sugar, put a out, but need very close adult su-
fine motor skills. Younger than 3 years old tray underneath to avoid too pervision since their motor skills
Encourage your child’s inter- • Washing vegetables - this much mess are still developing. Teach these
est and excitement in healthy is a great way of teaching them • Spooning ingredients into youngsters the importance of
foods by teaching them how to the names of vegetables and scales - you’ll need to help! washing produce and using clean
cook safely with this guide of age- sparking an interest which will Another way to keep young appliances and utensils.
appropriate kitchen activities. hopefully encourage them to try children occupied is to give them • Weighing - pouring or
Here are some age-appropriate different foods plastic containers and utensils to spooning ingredients into scales.
continued next page
20 FEBRUARY 2020 W W W .T U L S A K I D S . C O MUsing measuring spoons Food Safety Basics
• Washing fruit and vegeta- Before you enter the kitchen,
bles remember to cover the ground
• Cutting soft ingredients rules with children first:
e.g. mushrooms, strawberries • Wash hands in warm,
using a strong plastic knife soapy water before and after han-
• Breading and flouring - you dling food.
can set up three stations with • Pull back long hair, off the
flour, beaten egg and bread- shoulders.
crumbs • Keep counter tops and
• Mixing - using either a working surfaces clean.
spoon or hands to mix together • Teach children to wait until
ingredients food is cooked before tasting.
• Tearing and squashing - Don’t let them lick their fingers or
tearing herbs and lettuce or video • Deseed tomatoes and put their hands in their mouths,
squashing fruit • Cutting with scissors - if cooled, roasted peppers with a especially when working with
• Using a pestle and mortar - you can get smaller scissors or spoon raw foods such as cookie dough
a light wooden one is better than children’s scissors, use them to • Snap green beans and raw meat or poultry.
a heavy one snip herbs • Shuck corn and rinse be- • Avoid double dipping or
• Kneading - light kneading • Grating - fingers can easily fore cooking putting spoons back into food
can be fun, but you’ll need to step be grated so keep watch and • Setting the table - encour- after using them for tasting.
in to complete the task make sure they don’t get too age them to cherish the ritual of Remember, young cooks need
• Rolling, shaping and cut- close to the end of whatever family meals supervision.
ting dough - choose plastic cut- they’re grating • Load the dishwasher Follow the four simple steps:
ters and a small rolling pin • Measuring - even the very 1. Wash hands, surfaces and
• Spreading - buttering youngest children can do this but 8-11 year-olds kitchen utensils.
bread and spreading icing as children learn to read and do • Planning the family meal 2. Keep raw meat, poultry
• Rinse and cut parsley or and seafood separate from
green onions with clean, blunt cooked and other ready-to-eat
kitchen scissors. foods.
• Following a simple recipe 3. Cook to proper tempera-
• Finding ingredients in the tures.
cupboards and fridge 4. Refrigerate promptly to
• Using a peeler 40°F or lower.
• Whisking, using a balloon These food safety basics are
whisk or handheld mixer helpful guidelines for children and
• Using heat on a hob, oven adults of all ages.
and microwave
• Making salads Sources: Academy of Nutrition
• Opening cans and Dietetics; BBC Good Food
• Podding, picking and basic math, this is a great oppor-
hulling - podding broad beans, tunity for them to do this with
picking leaves, tomatoes or less supervision
grapes off the vine and hulling • Beating and folding - show
strawberries children how to beat cake mix-
ture with a wooden spoon or fold
5-7-year-olds in egg whites without knocking
Most 5-7-year-olds have de- out too much air
veloped fine motor skills, so they • Greasing and lining a cake
can handle more detailed work, tin or tray
but they will still need food safety • Peel oranges or hard-boiled
reminders. eggs - make sure eggs aren’t too
• Cutting using a small knife hot, run them under the cold tap
- children should learn how to first and be careful of residual
form their hand into a claw to heat
keep fingertips out of danger, • Scoop out avocados after
take a look at our knife skills sliced in half by an adult.
W W W.T U L S A K I D S . C O M FEBRUARY 2020 21Healthy Kids
Tips for Keeping
School-Aged Kids Healthy
1. Diet: A healthy, balanced For more tips like these vacy. Get some resources for talk- risk of obesity, sleep problems,
diet is always key to a child’s visit ShapeYourFutureOK.com ing to your children about pu- difficulty at school, etc. Not to
health. According to the Ameri- berty and sex at mention the risk that children
can Academy of Pediatrics, 2. Exercise: The Depart- tulsakids.com/age-appropriate- could be exposed to cyberbully-
school-aged children should typi- ment of Health and Human Serv- books-to-talk-to-your-kids-about- ing, predators or additional peer
cally get the following per day: 3- ices advises children and sex. pressure to engage in risky be-
5 servings of vegetables; 2-4 adolescents (ages 6+) to get at havior. To help your child use
servings of fruits; 6-11 servings of least one hour of physical activity 4. Sleep: On average, school- screens in a healthier way, the
bread, cereal or pasta; 2-3, 2- or 3- each day. Find out how much aged children need 9-11 hours of AAP recommends creating a
oz. servings of lean meat or other physical activity your children get sleep each night. There are many Family Media Use Plan, establish-
protein (beans, peanut butter, at school through recess, P.E., ways to help ensure your child ing screen-free times (such as
etc.); 2-3 servings per day of dairy etc., and think about how you can gets an adequate amount of meal times and before bedtime)
products. Additionally, try to limit supplement that at home or by sleep, including: turn off cell and talking with your kids about
your child’s salt and sugar intake. enrolling them in an extracurricu- phones and electronic devices at online citizenship and safety.
Learn more at healthychildren.org. lar activity. least one hour before bedtime; Learn more and get additional
Other ideas for helping your avoid caffeine, especially in the tips at healthychildren.org.
child maintain a healthy diet in- 3. Puberty: Girls typically evenings; establish a bedtime
clude discussing their lunch op- begin puberty between ages 8 routine. This bedtime routine 6: Handwashing and vac-
tions and choices at school, and and 13, and boys between ages 9 should include brushing teeth cines. Teach your children proper
letting your child help you plan and 14. Help your child prepare and reading time. Get more tips handwashing techniques to avoid
and prepare meals! Also, avoid for puberty by researching and at tulsakids.com/is-your-child-get- getting or spreading illnesses.
watching media at meal times. discussing ahead of time the ting-enough-zzzzzs. Talk to your child’s doctor about
Watching television while eating changes they will experience. getting the flu vaccine and make
can distract your child, causing The American Academy of Pedi- 5. Media: Spending too sure other vaccinations are up-to-
them to keep eating even after atrics recommends tracking your much time on screens can have a date. For more information, visit
they are full. child’s bodily changes—while negative influence on your child’s www.cdc.gov.
making sure to respect their pri- health. This includes increased
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22 FEBRUARY 2020 W W W .T U L S A K I D S . C O MBiofeedback
Could Biofeedback
Be for You?
can be used to help athletes,
W
hile many people may much Delta brain wave in the stars Kerri Walsh-Jennings and
have heard the term neu- frontal cortex; when we see that, artists or even just regular stu- Misty May-Treanor to win the
rofeedback or biofeed- we target the treatment to bring dents improve their focus and London 2012 Olympic gold medal.
back, they often don’t know what
the Delta down to improve focus help them perform better. Can One professional MLB base-
it involves and what uses it has.
To find out more, we sent some and attention. you talk a little about this, and ball player, treated by RenuYou
questions to Cyndie Gardner, At RenuYou, we use reward maybe give a brief example or said that, “when I am in the
who owns RenuYou Biofeedback, biofeedback, based on self oper- two from your experience? zone…the baseball looks like a
along with her husband Dr. Barry ant conditioning. The client A: Neurofeedback can re- bowling ball.” Another young
Gardner. Marie McCabe, MA, watches a video of his choice. train brainwave activity to en- student who played soccer, and
LMFT, BCN, a partner with the hance optimal performance in
The video fades slightly, in and came in to treat ADHD, was
Gardners at Renu You in Tulsa,
answered the questions below. out as the brain increases the de- athletics, acting, choreography, thrilled when his coach noticed
sired frequencies while decreas- dancing and music…in fact, virtu- that he was sharper focused and
Q: Briefly explain what neu- ing undesired frequencies. ally every area that involves the asked him what he was doing to
rofeedback is and how neuro- improve so much.
feedback works. We also have treated many
A: Neurofeedback, also football players who have suf-
called EEG Biofeedback, is a fered from mild to severe concus-
state-of-the-art, non-invasive sions and helped them get past
method for teaching the brain to the rage and anger often associ-
function in a more balanced and ated with traumatic brain In-
healthful way. It does so by shift- juries.
ing the way the brain produces Q: Neurofeedback has been
and distributes its electrical en- used to help children and adults
ergy. cope with anxiety. Can neuro-
Q: How does it work? feedback help students who
A: Everything in our brain is have test anxiety?
electric…every thought you think, A: Severe test anxiety can be
every sensation and emotion is a performance-inhibiting and
due to the electrical firing of neu- traumatic experience for some
rons. We begin with a qEEG students. According to a 2010
(quantitative electroencephalog- study, test anxiety affects 10-40
raphy), also called a “Brain Map,” Neurofeedback takes advan- need for calm, sustained atten- percent of students and it ap-
which measures the electrical ac- tage of the brain’s ability to tion. Neurofeedback can quiet the pears that the higher the stakes,
tivity in the brain using sensors change itself through a process mind, improve concentration, such as SAT or ACT, the greater
placed on your head to measure known as neuroplasticity. It uti- focus, improve cognitive function the anxiety. At RenuYou, we have
the brain-wave activity of the var- lizes the same learning process and emotional control. countless testimonies of students
ious frequency bands. Our equip- that occurs whenever we acquire It is extremely helpful follow- who have achieved a more calm
ment will then analyze this a new skill. The brain learns by ing concussions and head in- and focused brain, which in turn
information and generate a series forming connections between juries, and increases physical allows for a more relaxed test-tak-
of images that will identify which nerve cells and utilizing impor- balance in gymnastics, ice skat- ing experience. If you or your
areas of the brain may be too ac- tant pathways that connect dif- ing, skiing, golf, tennis, football, child feels a rapid heartbeat,
tive or not active enough. ferent locations in the brain. baseball and many other sports. shortness of breath, sweating,
The Brain Map provides an Quite simply, neurofeedback of- One of the most well-known ex- stomach pain or lightheadedness
invaluable overview of what is fers the perfect learning condi- amples is the Italian Soccer team before a test…then you could be
going on in the brain and will be tions, since it facilitates that won the 2004 World Cup a good candidate for neurofeed-
used in conjunction with informa- awareness of when the brain is final in Germany against France. back. In addition, research shows
tion provided by the client to de- producing healthier brainwave To prepare for the tournament, that ACT scores can increase 3-7
velop the training plan. Using patterns, provides reinforcement Italian soccer players used neuro- points. The most recent report
sophisticated computer software, for the positive change and multi- feedback techniques to train we received was an increase of
a customized protocol is devel- ple opportunities to provide prac- focus, concentration and getting an ACT score from 23 to 29 upon
oped to address the individual’s tice during a training session. “into the zone.” The Wall Street completing a neurofeedback pro-
unique needs. For example, Q: There is some research Journal also reported how neuro- tocol of about 30 sessions.
ADHD is often the result of too that shows that neurofeedback feedback helped beach-volleyball Q: What about other anxiety
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