August 2023
nola family Parent Fearlessly August 2023 Theater Benefits,
Etiquette, and More PARENTING WITH COURAGE SERIES
97+ Extracurriculars for Everyone
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Publisher BRANDON FOREMAN Associate Publisher AMY L. FOREMAN Senior Executive Administrator ALEXIS ALEXANDER Director of Operations SARAH MILLER Client Relations Coordinator BRITTANY DUPLESSIS Accounting Coordinator Editorial AMANDA MILLER Managing Editor SARAH BATROUS AUSTRIA COHN EMILY DREZ Assistant Editors ANTHONY BUI Web Editor Art/Production GRACE KNOX Senior Graphic Designer MADISON GRAHAM ALEX HERRING Graphic Designers Advertising CRYSTAL BARRETT CAMILLE CAVIN Business Operations LAURIE ACOSTA JENNIFER HOFFMANN MARTINE MELANCON RYN WHITESIDE Account Executives JADE GRAY Business Development Representative Community Development TERI HODGES Director of Community Partnerships ROXANE VOORHIES Community Outreach Contact Us: editorial@ familyresourcegroupinc.com Office: 4300 S. I-10 Service Road Suite 103R Metairie, LA 70001 (504) 866-0555
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AUTISM AND LANGUAGE RESEARCH Taylor Huntley focused on autism language research priorities regarding
WATER FUN! The sun is shining high. It’s the perfect time for some fun in the water! Check out this article to find all the best spots in and near New Orleans. PREPARING FOR A WALK WITH CHILDREN Do you have energetic children running around the house and you don’t have any idea what to do? Try taking them out on family walks!
autistic children for her thesis. WHY LOUISIANA DESERVES A BASEBALL TEAM
Sports in Louisiana is a huge thing that brings the entire state together. Sadly, we do not have a MLB team. Why is that?
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August 2023 Issue 145
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nola family CONTENTS AUGUST 2023
18
FEATURES
16
18
20
22
24
Parenting with Courage: Brain Science
The Truth About Dance Moms: Uncovering the World of Dance Competitions
The Dos, Don’ts, and Benefits of Taking Children to the Theater
Keeping Costs Low for After-School Activities
After-the-Bell-Rings Activities
IN EACH ISSUE
From the Publisher 08
10 12 14
30 34
From the Bookshelf
Spotlight
Mom About Town
Out & About
Things We Love
NOLA FAMILY i s published monthly by FAMILY RESOURCE GROUP INC. and distributed free of charge. Subscriptions accepted. Only authorized distributors may deliver and pick up the magazine. We reserve the right to edit, reject, or comment editorially on all materials contributed. We cannot be responsible for the return of any unsolicited material. NOLA FAMILY Copyright © 2023. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission prohibited. Photo: Freepik.com. This content page has been designed using some assets from Freepik.com
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from the publisher
While I hate that summer is coming to an end and the hectic life of school is fastly approaching us, I am ready to get back to a routine. We have been so busy this summer and unorganized. It’s like a mad dash to finish the required reading and summer packets before the first day of school. I don’t know about y’all, but we started out strong, but by that third week, we had completely gone off schedule. With school back in session, extracurricular activities are back: fall sports, dance, cheer, all the things that keep your afternoons and evenings busy. My boys are soccer players, however we will be taking this season off and trying new things before we start middle school sports next year. I’m sure you all know by now that I am a dance mom. We are starting our 13th year of dance and third year of competitive dance. While we always talk about sports like football, soccer, basketball, softball, all the ball sports, we never talk about dance. Dance is a performing art, however these girls are in better shape than most football players. The conditioning and hours of practice these girls put in is crazy, and it is all for three minutes on stage for one number. Now last season, we had eight numbers, so it was cray-cray on competition weekends. In this issue, we gathered all after-school and performing arts activities for you and made a comprehensive listing so you can plan for the school year. We also took a deep dive into competitive dance and competitions. I really think Abbey Lee has built a bad reputation for dance moms and dancers alike. I wanted to show the more realistic side to competitive dance. While it has its ups and downs, some of these moms I have made friends with over the years are amazing, and our team is one big family that supports one another on a daily basis–on and off the dance floor or backstage. GOODBYE SUMMER, HELLO SCHOOL
Associate Publisher Email amylynn@familyresourcegroupinc.com to tell me about topics you'd like to see in future issues.
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DANCE INTO THE LIBRARY
from the bookshelf
There’s usually at least one budding performer in every family, and what better way to inspire their love of the stage (or help quell their fears) than with a book about their craft! Check out these great titles from the New Orleans Public Library to grow their passion for dance, music, acting, and more. Children Dive into the fascinating history of one of our city’s iconic instruments with your little ones in Lesa Cline and James E. Ransome’s The Story of the Saxophone . Starting in 1840s Belgium, the once shunned invention makes its way across Europe, into Mexico, before finally landing in a New Orleans pawn shop where it first
became the symbol of jazz we know today. For your family’s tiny dancer, try out This is Tap! Savion Glover Finds His Funk by Selene Castrovilla and Laura Freeman or Finding My Dance by Ria Thundercloud and Kalila J. Fuller. Both tell the true stories of two dancers –– one Black and the other Indigenous – and how their love of dance brought them closer to their heritage, history, and culture. Middle Grade Jabari Asim’s approachable Child’s Introduction to Jazz: the Musicians, Culture, and Roots of the World’s Coolest Music is a fun, interactive way to get young
readers interested in their city’s most famous genre. From swing and Dixieland to the blues and bebop, Asim takes audiences back in time to meet Jazz icons, while also hearing some really cool sounds via download links sprinkled throughout the book. Show your aspiring dancer that not all ballerinas have to look the same with Black Ballerinas: My Journey to Our Legacy by Misty Copeland and Salena Barnes. Copeland, the first Black American Ballet Theatre principal dancer, shares stories of trailblazing dancers of color who made her own success possible. In Kayla Miller’s endearing graphic novel,
Click , readers follow Olive’s journey to self-discovery as she navigates the changing social dynamics of her fifth grade class as she desperately searches for friends to perform within a school variety show. Not wanting to be alone on stage, Olive gets a crash course in friendship, family, and how to take the stage in the most important role of all. Teens K-pop-loving teens are sure to fall for the fan-favorite tropes littering Lyla Lee’s YA romcom, Flip the Script , which follows rising K-drama star Hana as she lands a role in the next hot show and has to navigate the industry while trying not to fall for her on-screen rival IRL. Readers
can also armchair travel to South Korea alongside Hana as she takes
them through popular spots. Music lovers of all
genres are sure to be inspired by Ashley Walker and Maureen Charles’ Music Mavens: 15 Women of Note in the Industry . From composing and songwriting, performing and conducting, audio engineering, producing, and rock photography, this biographical collection reveals how these extraordinary women turned their passions into platforms and how they use their power to uplift others.
Kacy Helwick is the youth collection development librarian for the New Orleans Public Library’s collections and acquisitions department. Marie Simoneaux is the media and communications coordinator for the New Orleans Public Library.
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spotlight
GENERATION HOPE
By Sarah Batrous
Nicole Lynn Lewis is the CEO of Generation Hope, a nonprofit organization set on helping young parents find success by bettering their access to resources and proper support through a variety of means. Lewis herself was a teen mom, so she knows the struggle of balancing being a new parent with needing to succeed both to survive and to thrive. During her senior year of high school, Lewis discovered she was pregnant while receiving acceptance letters to colleges and universities. Though this discovery led to a very difficult future to navigate through, she was determined to find her way through. “I ended up taking a year off from school, and it was one of the most difficult times of my life. I was homeless for periods of time, and I was in a really tumultuous relationship with my daughter’s father. We didn’t have food to eat or places to sleep at night sometimes. Nothing about my life said ‘college,’ but in the midst of all that, I applied to college to try to work towards that goal of being a college graduate, even as a young mother,” shares Lewis. Through her own strength and tenacity, she was accepted into The College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia where she graduated in four years with high honors. After her educational pursuits, Lewis knew she could use her life experiences to help others, and it soon became apparent that there were lots of struggling youth in need of resources and guidance. Unfortunately, statistics prove time and time again that the odds are stacked against young parents, with Generation Hope noting in their mission statement that “fewer than 2 percent of teen mothers earn a college degree before age 30, and more than half of
all parenting college students leave school without a degree.” In order to combat these statistics, she founded Generation Hope in Washington, D.C. As Generation Hope grew and became deeply rooted in the D.C. area, Lewis knew that it was likely her nonprofit would expand into new cities, and this was recently achieved as it expanded into New Orleans where they offer young parents a chance to join The New Orleans Scholar Program. This program provides a variety of services including mentoring, tuition assistance, a sense of community through gatherings of peers, and other support-based services to help participants achieve their college graduation goals. The scholar program as a whole follows a holistic model meant to combat the two biggest barriers for young people to tackle if they want to be college graduates: lack of financial support and lack of emotional support. To help solve these issues, the nonprofit provides up to $2,400 a year in tuition assistance to each of its scholars and an emergency fund allows Generation Hope to relieve those in a housing crisis, not having enough money for groceries, or those facing domestic violence incidents. On top of funding, Generation Hope accepts donations of tangible items like diapers, laptop computers, gas cards, and other helpful items that help relieve the financial burdens of being a parenting college student. An Adopt-A-Family program put on during the holiday season allows volunteers to provide gifts to these families in
need and really makes the season that much more magical. For career-based needs, the organization makes sure scholars have opportunities to apply for internships, network, and pad their resumes all to allow them the best chance to find family- sustaining careers. In the future, the nonprofit hopes to kick off its Next Generation Academy, an early education program that benefits the children of their scholars. “This is a home-visiting program where we come into the home, we do developmental assessments, screenings, and really provide information and skill-building for our scholars to be their children’s first teacher by bringing books into the home and setting goals for their children to work towards and achieve those goals together,” says Lewis. Interested in getting involved or know someone who might benefit from joining Generation Hope? Visit generationhope.org for more information.
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mom about town
THINGS I’M LOVING RIGHT NOW 5
Kelley Lockhart Delaune is married to her husband, Ronnie Deluane, and the pair have two boys, Roman, 9, and Remy, 7. She is also a therapist and the founder of Modern Therapy and Wellness, a group practice that provides therapy to people who want to work on themselves and their relationships. KELLEY LOCKHART DELAUNE A QUICK GETAWAY Our family loves game night! Game GAME NIGHTS
Bay St. Louis, Mississippi is a quick getaway from New Orleans. Our family enjoys taking the trip to the Mississippi Gulf Coast to explore the restaurants, the beach, the shops, and the slower pace there. We went last year between Christmas and New Year’s, and we may make a ritual of it. Exercise is a big part of my life. It helps me physically and mentally. It has always been one of my greatest stress relievers. I am in my 40s and now more than ever I value the importance of taking care of my bones, joints, and muscles. Clockwork Strength and Performance provides an individualized program that I follow for four-week cycles. It has been life-changing to go to a gym that values injury prevention as much as strength gains.
night gives us the opportunity to gather, laugh, and learn together. Sometimes we play together as a family and other times we invite friends over to play with us. BLUE OAK BBQ IN MID-CITY My kids and my husband love BBQ. They get BBQ, while I get a salad with Brussels sprouts on top, and we all share the delicious, loaded nachos. My kids love to sit outside at the picnic tables under the twinkling lights.
MOVEMENT
FRIDAY PLAY DATES AND SNACK BOARDS
My husband is a woodworker, so we love charcuterie boards. Friday afternoons have become our new time to have play dates. We make a snack board with popcorn, fruit, cheese and crackers, and other fun snacks.
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Parenting with Courage: Brain Science
By Dr. Chrissy Chard, parenting coach and educator, and the founder of Courageous Parents
Welcome to the second installment of our four-article series on Parenting with Courage. Last month, we explored values- based parenting, and your homework was to spend time during the month clarifying your family’s values. Each month for the next three months, we will explore a different pillar of Courageous Parenting, along with actionable steps you can take to implement each one in your family life. The goal of courageous parenting? To find a values-based approach to parenting where you can access ease, joy, and self-trust by parenting with awareness and choice, rather than constantly being reactive. So, let’s get into this month’s pillar of Courageous Parenting. Now, brace yourselves because I’m about to share a parenting secret that can, if you allow it to, completely transform how you parent, and therefore how much peace you experience in your home. Ready? The first pillar is that ALL BEHAVIOR IS THE RESULT OF AN UNMET NEED. Understanding this truth will bring generosity, empathy, and a renewed feeling of connection to your family life. How do I know? Well, countless studies
have shown that when we delve beneath the surface of our children’s behavior and address their unmet needs, pure magic happens. Improved communication, stronger connection, reduced behavioral challenges and long-term feelings of worthiness and self-trust are just a few of the many benefits that result from the willingness to see underneath children’s behaviors to the unmet need. For an excellent resource on this topic, check out Dr. Mona Delahooke’s book, Beyond Behaviors: Using Brain Science and Compassion to Understand and Solve Children’s Behavioral Challenges. Now, just as I ask parents to do with their children, let’s dig a bit deeper. Our children’s behavior is like a secret language, an intricate code they use to express their needs. When they “act out,” throw tantrums, or withdraw, they’re speaking to us in their unique way (the best way their brains know how, given where they are in their development). Another way to think about this is that when children are born, they come wired to feel all the same feelings we experience, but none of the strategies to feel them in productive,
healthy ways. When we expect our children not to “act out,” we’re literally expecting them to do something they have not yet developed the capacity to regularly do. Our job as parents, after all, is to teach them the skills to effectively communicate their feelings and needs to us. But how will they learn? Through us compassionately getting curious about what the need might be underneath, and modeling this process ourselves. So what exactly are those needs? I like to think about needs as two levels: the basic and the advanced. The basic level needs are things like food, water, sleep, temperature regulation. So, you might ask, are they tired? Hungry? Thirsty? Too hot/cold? If you can check those off, then you go to the advanced-level needs, which include safety, variety, belonging, play and fun, connection, autonomy, growth, and contribution.
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I want to tell you about a client of mine named Shay, who was finding themself constantly battling their five-year old’s meltdowns and aggressive behaviors. They couldn’t help but feel lost and overwhelmed, and sometimes wondered if they were failing as a parent. But Shay’s journey took a remarkable turn when they embraced the concept that behavior is a form of communication. By deciphering their son’s need for autonomy and variety, they completely transformed their relationship. Shay came to realize that they’d been home the entire summer together, and their son had very little say in what they did. He was also feeling bored by the same day-to-day routine. Through understanding and compromise, power struggles gave way to cooperation and problem-solving, and meltdowns transformed into moments of growth and connection. Shay’s son was able to share that he wanted more variety, which included visiting new playgrounds, having picnic lunches, and seeing grandpa more often. Working together to add these things into their week profoundly shifted how they related to each other. Shay’s son not only stopped having such intense meltdowns, but he also became more helpful around the house, knowing that he had a voice, that his ideas mattered, and that
he was making important contributions to the family. As we wrap up this month’s installment of Parenting with Courage, I invite each of us to commit to decoding our children’s behaviors to see the need underneath. When your child’s behavior baffles you, take a moment to breathe, don your detective hat, and uncover the hidden messages of their tender hearts. Respond with compassion, love, and a genuine desire to meet those needs. As we do this, we help them understand that their feelings and needs matter, and that they’re worth figuring it out. Importantly, from this place of connection we can also guide them to find behaviors that are more productive in getting their needs met, all while modeling clear, compassionate communication. This simple (not easy!) shift in perspective will nurture a parenting journey filled with confidence, warmth, and connection. And finally, let’s remember that we are not alone on this path. Together, we create a web of love, laughter, and beautiful moments that our children will remember as they grow. If you’re in need of support to help make this pillar more sustainable, I’ve got you covered.
Safety: The need to feel secure and free from physical and emotional harm. Variety: The need for unique experiences, change, and access to new information. Belonging: The feeling of being seen, understood, and appreciated by others. Play/Fun: Opportunities for unstructured time to socially engage for its own sake. Connection: Feeling that we belong to a community and that we give and receive love. Autonomy: Having ownership over the choices and decisions we make. Growth: The desire to do better, to gain expertise in areas of life that matter to us. Contribution: Being of service to others and making the world a better place.
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THE TRUTH ABOUT DANCE MOMS Uncovering the World of Dance Competitions
for the past two years,” Amy says of her daughter, who competes with DeFrances Academy of Dance. Her competitions range from local to across the South, from Biloxi to Texas or Florida. No matter where they take place, they are an all-day affair. “It’s months and months and hours and hours of prep,” says Stephanie Simeon, director of LA Dance. “I like my kids to have a home-dance balance, so I don’t have them rehearsing every weekend, but it’s somewhere between four to seven hours per week of technique and choreography training.” Kylee has four to five competitions per year. On top of that, she has two conventions where she learns different dances. The competitions require about three days of practice per week, but for a national competition, they are practicing for two weeks straight, four hours per night. By Emily Drez Photo by Kleinpeter Photography
For the big day, dancers will perform the routines they have worked on all year in front of several judges, depending on the competition. Dance competitions are undoubtedly an exhausting sport, but the hard work pays off when your team is awarded a trophy, medal, or even a scholarship. Even if you don’t win, there are still plenty of benefits to being a competitive dancer. Understanding the Benefits Speaking of winning, your dancer will learn all about how to handle life’s wins and losses as a competitive dancer. They’ll learn how to take turns, build tenacity, and develop empathy for those who aren’t on their team. An even greater development takes place within the team. “They learn teamwork and how to work out conflicts,” Amy notes. “They are constantly
The benefits of enrolling your child in dance classes are many: while they are being physically active, they are also making friendships, learning important life skills, and establishing routines in their young lives. If your child loves these dance classes, you may want to consider enrolling them in a competitive dance team. Competitive dancing is a big, yet rewarding, commitment for dancers looking to take their passion to the next level. You may even find it rewarding as the dancer’s parent. Amy Foreman, our associate publisher, discusses what it means to be a “dance mom” and what it takes to be a competitive dancer.
A Day in the Life of a Dance Competition
“Kylee has been dancing since she was two-and-a- half years old, and she’s been competitive dancing
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critiquing each other and building each other up.” Competitive dancing will also help your child develop social skills by interacting with other children. This camaraderie will in turn give your child a confidence boost as they develop a support system that will extend beyond the studio. Plus, your child will be prepared to take on life’s challenges. “It’s lots of team building and creating relationships with each other,” Simeon says. “They get to hang out with each other, win together, lose together, and also learn about how to take criticism. There are lots of life skills that go into the competitive side of dancing just because they are dancing more often than those who come to class once a week.” The cons, however, should be considered as well. Dance competitions are a big financial and time commitment. So, if you have the funds for your child to enroll in a competitive dance team, keep in mind that your child will be spending more time away from home and in the studio or at a competition, which can take place over the course of multiple days and require them to miss classes. Debunking Stereotypes & Myths The biggest stereotype of parenting a child who dances competitively is that you are a “dance mom,” which refers to the TV show, Dance Moms , in which
moms are notoriously too demanding of their daughters, who participate in dance competitions across the world. However, this doesn’t make the reality TV show, well, a reality. “It is not this Abby Lee situation,” Amy laughs. “I have only encountered one group of crazy ‘dance moms’ in the last two years, and nobody liked it. We did our changes and got out as fast as we could. Otherwise, I’ve made a lot of friends with these moms. We are there to support our girls, even if we are on different teams.” “Because of Dance Moms , that’s what most people think of when they think of dance competitions. There is some truth to it, and some scripted parts as well, but as far as the overall cattiness, for us those attitudes don’t normally happen,” Simeon notes. “Moms can take it to heart if their child doesn’t do well, and the stress of the whole weekend can bring out that cattiness, but I don’t personally do that to my students. I don’t even give them critiques until we get back to a studio space. If a parent is concerned about that kind of atmosphere, my advice is to interview the studio before you enroll your child.” Mental Effects & How They Combat These Issues
Being a dancer requires a lot of work on your self- esteem; you have to build yourself up and accept critiques of your craft. These critiques will ultimately make your child a better dancer and learn that nobody is perfect, but it can be detrimental to a young person’s mental health if you are not careful. “Kids get up there and get personally critiqued by three to four people they don’t know,” Simeon says. “Nowadays with social media, the stress can be a lot for some dancers because they compare themselves to others.” Simeon has witnessed a few dancers battle depression-related illnesses and emphasizes the importance of open communication and sitting down with the student to figure out what is best for them. “Sometimes it’s not the dance aspect that’s stressing them out,” she says. “Most students find dance as a release, but they need some kind of help. Parents or teachers can push them to learn all these dances, but we need to step back and figure out what’s best for that student.” It’s important to understand that winning isn’t everything because dancers grow in technique, strength, and confidence whether they win or lose. If your child is ready for the commitment, dance competitions can be a rewarding experience, even if you don’t bring home a trophy.
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The Dos, Don’ts, and Benefits of Taking Children to the Theater
Much of the benefit of experiencing theatrical performances is what you and your child can learn from them. In terms of becoming “cultured,” plays explore a modicum of things: life experiences, morality, good and evil, reflections, and hope for (or fear of) the future. Beyond the content of the actual performance, going to the theater is a chance for children to see human error. Assaf believes it’s important for kids to see live humans making mistakes like a dancer tripping or seeing stage lighting change as a sensory experience. Seeing a live performance is an ocean’s width of difference from seeing it in its perfected glory at a movie theater or on TV. By Sarah Batrous Photo by Kleinpeter Photography
The performing arts are an integral part of human history. For hundreds of years, this is the medium used by our ancestors to tell stories, share history, and express their interpretations of the world around them. As a storytelling tool and as a way to explore historical context (both ancient and modern), it’s important to take children to the theater for a variety of reasons. But how does it benefit your child? And how do you explain the basic etiquette of attending? Dennis Assaf, the Founder and Artistic Director at Jefferson Performing Arts Society (JPAS), weighs in with his expertise. Theater is an educational tool.
“I view the performing arts in various categories. Yes, it’s entertainment for sure, but it’s also education. It should also reflect life experiences– it’ll tell a story, and hopefully that story has an effect on the listener, the audience, in a positive way, hopefully or maybe in a constructive, uncomfortable way,” shares Assaf. When Assaf first started JPAS, they’d put on children’s concerts and serve thousands of children; now, it’s much less. Worryingly, kids today have very little exposure to performing arts, and people like Assaf depend on those students to get on the stage and be performers, and more importantly, be audience members.
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His own children are prime examples of the benefits of going to the theater and being involved in the arts. “My three girls grew up in the theater. My eldest daughter is a special needs child–she’s got autism and a seizure disorder–but she loves music and she loves live theater, even opera. She watches all of these foreign language operas. She doesn’t know what’s being sung, but she enjoys it,” shares Assaf. “My three girls, the two youngest ones, as they grew up they got up on stage and participated in shows. In fact, in 2003 I took the entire family to the Lake Como region of Italy, and we did the opera La Traviata by Giuseppe Verdi. I conducted it, my wife was the star of the opera, and the two younger girls were working backstage while the oldest one was in the audience with her grandfather.” Of course, learning doesn’t end once the curtains close. Assaf encourages parents to bring the program home so that they can discuss the show. “Spend some time with your kids and ask them, what did you see? What did you experience? What did you think about Beauty
and the Beast ? What did you think about the fact that Belle, the beauty, in spite of the Beast’s horrible appearance, loved him and cared for him to the point that it broke the spell? That’s a wonderful lesson to share with your child. I don’t know how many parents would do that or even think about doing that,” says Assaf. So, how do you become a good audience member? There are both spoken and unspoken rules when it comes to attending a performance. Teaching your child proper theater etiquette requires discussing it with them and modeling from you. Be quiet and observe it . Not talking during the performance is about respecting the theater itself, the performers, and others around you. If you really must say something, say it quickly, and say it quietly. Using your “inside voice” (or better yet, library whisper) means you and your family aren’t going to disturb other audience members or, worse yet, the performers. Keep your cell phone or child’s tablet tucked away in your pocket or purse. Most theaters have a strict no photography or videoing rule.
It’s distracting to your seatmates and to the performers on stage who can absolutely see you. Arrive on time and minimize exits. Arriving late means scrambling to find your seats, disturbing others by shuffling in front of them when you do find your seats, and possibly missing important information provided prior to the show (where bathrooms are, where the emergency exits are, etc.) along with context for the performance. Clean up after yourself. A huge problem when people bring outside food and drinks to the theater is leaving a mess behind. This largely stems from movie theater etiquette where leaving behind food, drinks, and spills is accepted. At a performing arts theater, this is not the case. Before leaving, make sure your space is clean and nothing has been left behind. All-in-all, going to the theater is an enriching experience that opens doors for your child to explore the arts, get involved, and give back to their community by finding something they really enjoy and may like to pursue themselves.
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Keeping Costs Low for After-School Activities
By Rachel Namoff Photo by Freepik.com
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Between the fees, uniforms, and equipment, kids’ extracurricular activities can be expensive. These expert tricks and tips will help you save a substantial amount of money, while your child still reaps all of the benefits of participating. Know what you’re getting into . Before you register, calculate the costs associated with an activity over the course of the season or year. If you are unsure of the various expenses, ask the coach, group leader, or another parent. Add 10 percent to cover surprises and see if it fits into your budget. If it doesn’t, move to more cost-effective options. Prioritize activities. My children want to do every activity you can think of at one time. Look for activities that allow you to drop in once before signing up for a full commitment. After they have tried it and decide to commit, stick to it and resist adding any new activities until the session is over, or for a certain length of time you decide. Find cheaper options. Nonprofit or school-based programs tend to be a fraction of the cost of private offerings. Many schools offer sports and arts for a small fee or no fee at all. Find introductory classes for music, language, or individual sports like ice skating, at local recreation centers and libraries. Rent or buy gently-used equipment. Kids grow quickly and can lose interest often, so used equipment is typically in good condition. Craigslist.com, second-hand stores, and equipment swaps are great options to find inexpensive equipment, for sports, music lessons, and more. Volunteer, barter, and ask kids to pitch in. You may be able to exchange services to help cover the costs of extracurricular activities. Ask the organizer or studio owner how you can help to offset costs, and if scholarships are available. Also, consider having your children chip in some allowance money for fees or equipment. At a minimum, talk about what trade-offs you have to make to pay for their lessons. Extracurricular activities can be expensive, but they don’t have to break the bank. The trick is to be proactive both in your budget and your choice of activities.
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After-The-Bell-Rings Activities
All graphics for the After-School Listings by Freepik.com
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ARTS City Park Movement and Art 4300 Dumaine St., New Orleans cityparkmovementandart.com New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, The 2800 Chartres St., New Orleans (504) 940-2787 nocca.com New Orleans Museum of Art Ogden Museum of Southern Art 925 Camp St., New Orleans (504) 539-9650 ogdenmuseum.org Posh Paint Pub 1640 Hickory Ave., Harahan (504) 835-4155 poshpaintpub.com Young Aspirations | Young Artists (YAYA) 3322 LaSalle St., New Orleans (504) 529-3306 yayainc.org 1 Collins C. Diboll Cir., New Orleans City Park (504) 658-4100 noma.org Young Rembrandts of Southeast Louisiana (504) 533-8485 youngrembrandts.com/selouisiana BASEBALL & SOFTBALL Carrollton Boosters Various locations throughout New Orleans execcb@gmail.com carrolltonboosters.org DANCE Articulate Motions Dance Academy 337 W. Harrison Ave., New Orleans (504) 410-4999 articulatemotions.com Cindy Ory Dance Studio 9029 Jefferson Hwy., River Ridge (504) 737-3345 orydance.com Creative Dance & Music Studio 716 Belle Meade Blvd., Gretna (504) 390-2552 creativedanceandmusic.com
Dancer’s Pointe 5101 W. Esplanade Ave., Metairie, (504) 455-5975 6268 Vicksburg St., New Orleans, (504) 265-8350 dancers-pointe.com Dancing Grounds 3705 St. Claude Ave., New Orleans (504) 535-5791
nobadance.com New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, The 2800 Chartres St., New Orleans (504) 940-2787 nocca.com New Orleans Dance Academy 5956 Magazine St., New Orleans (504) 899-3780 neworleansdancelessons.com Off Broadway Dance Studio 8125 Saint Charles Ave., New Orleans (504) 861-1749 obdsnola.com Ryan School of Irish Dance, The 4732 Sanford St., Metairie Lydia Spreen Dance Dimensions Studio 19352 N. Second St., Covington, LA Dance Academy irishdancelouisiana.com Schramel Conservatory of Dance 920 Terpsichore St., New Orleans (504) 826-0646 neworleansballettheatre.com The Studio School of Dance 3116 N. Arnoult Rd., Ste. N, Metairie (504) 941-7345 thestudionola.com DRAMA & THEATER Crescent City Lights Youth Theater (504) 598-3800 crescentcitylights.org Jefferson Performing Arts Society 1118 Clearview Pkwy., Metairie (504) 885-2000 jpas.org Le Petit Theatre 616 St. Peter St., New Orleans (504) 522-2081 lepetittheatre.com Mahalia Jackson Theater 1419 Basin St., New Orleans (504) 287-0351 mahaliajacksontheater.com Orpheum Theatre 129 Roosevelt Way, New Orleans (504) 274-4871 orpheumnola.net New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, The 2800 Chartres St., New Orleans (504) 940-2787 nocca.com NOLAFAMILY.COM | AUGUST 2023 25
dancingrounds.org Debby Dillehay Dance Studio 3745 Florida Ave., Kenner (504) 468-3368 debbydillehaydance.com Encore Studio of
Dance, Tumbling, Music & Theatre 1999 Hickory Ave., Ste. 102, Harahan (504) 737-5977 dancetumblemusic.com Giacobbe Academy of Dance 6925 Veterans Blvd., Metairie (504) 889-0940 giacobbeacademydance.com
Lelia Haller Ballet Classique 4916 Canal St., New Orleans (504) 905-3430 lhballet.com
Louisiana Academy of Performing Arts
River Ridge School of Music & Dance, 2020 Dickory Ave., #200, Harahan (504) 738-3050 Mandeville School of Music & Dance, 105 Campbell Ave., #3, Mandeville (985) 674-2992 Covington School of Music, 1111 Village Walk, Covington (985) 590-4545 laapa.com Loyola Preparatory Arts Program 6363 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans (504) 865-3627 cmm.loyno.edu/prep-arts Mari Milnar Dance Academy 900 Terry Pkwy., Ste. 310 & 320, Terrytown (504) 362-3503; (504) 251-0600 marimilnardanceacademy.com MOVE! New Orleans’ Best Summer Camp and After School Program 4714 Paris Ave., New Orleans (504) 376-7009 neworleansbestafterschool.com New Orleans Ballet Association 935 Gravier St., Ste. 800, New Orleans (504) 522-0996
Saenger Theatre 1111 Canal St., New Orleans (504) 287-0351 saengernola.com EDUCATION: LANGUAG E CLASSES Alliance Française de La Nouvelle-Orléans 1519 Jackson Ave., New Orleans (504) 568-0770 af-neworleans.org New Orleans Sign Language Services, LLC 5324 Canal Blvd., New Orleans (504) 722-2967 (Voice/Text) (504) 273-1152 (Videophone) neworleanssignlanguageservices.com ¡Vamonos NOLA! 600 Eleonore St., New Orleans (504) 495-2345 vamonosnola.com EDUCATION: TUTORING & EDUCATIONAL SERVICES Kumon Math & Reading Centers Various locations throughout New Orleans kumon.com Reading Enrichment and Development (R.E.A.D.) Early Literacy Program 921 S. Carrollton Ave., New Orleans (504) 495-0233 readnola.com GYMNASTICS & CHEERLEADING
NOLA Gymnastics 1725 Dufossat St., New Orleans gretchen@nolagymnastics.com nolagym.com HORSEBACK RIDING Cascade Stables 700 East Dr., New Orleans,
NOLA Learning Support 8131 Oak St., Ste. 100, New Orleans nolalearningsupport.com Therapeutic Learning Center 3329 Metairie Rd., Metairie 524 Elmwood Park Blvd., New Orleans (504) 565-7300 tlcnola.com MARTIAL ARTS Chris Benoit’s Martial Arts Institute of Louisiana 7575 Westbank Expy., Marrero (504) 328-4000 facebook.com/Martial.Arts.Institute Church’s Karate Academy 4716 Paris Ave., New Orleans (504) 376-7009 churchskarateacademy.com Hayashi Judo School 4521 Magazine St., New Orleans (504) 319-9409 nolajudo.com Louisiana Karate Association 706 Phosphor Ave., Metairie (504) 835-6825 lkakarate.com New Orleans Shotokan Academy (504) 432-8667 nosakarate.com New Orleans Karate Club 8611 Hwy. 23, Ste. 2C, Belle Chasse (504) 391-7200 neworleanskarate.net NOLA Aikido 3909 Bienville St., New Orleans (504) 208-4861 nolaaikido.com Shogun Martial Arts 5021 Fairfield St., Metairie (504) 982-1371 shogunnola.com Tiger Rock Martial Arts International 3828 Veterans Blvd., Metairie (504) 455-9699 1813 Veterans Blvd., Ste. A, Metairie, (504) 831-1110 tigerrockmartialarts.com Yonsei Martial Arts Academy 2530 Florida Ave., Kenner (504) 465-5353 info4yonsei@yonsei.us MUSIC
Audubon Park (504) 891-2246 cascadestables.net Equest Farm 1001 Filmore Ave., New Orleans, City Park
(504) 483-9398 equestfarm.com Pony Tales 156 Bertucci Ln., St. Rose (504) 469-0148 ponytalesbirthdays.com Splendor Farms 27329 Mill Creek Rd., Bush (985) 886-3747 splendorfarms.com INCLUSIVE NEEDS/THERAPY Chatternola 2901 Ridgelake Dr., Ste. 102, Metairie (504) 354-8078 chatternola.com Crane Rehab Center 8300 Earhart Blvd., Ste. 100, New Orleans (Pediatric Facility), (504) 866-6990 3923 Bienville St., New Orleans (Center for Behavior, Language & Learning) (504) 593-6900 cranerehab.com Gulfsouth Autism Center 7252 Lakeshore Dr., New Orleans (504) 323-3450 3013 27th St., Metairie (504) 291-6200 9063 Siegen Ln., Baton Rouge (225) 294-1600 17520 Old Jefferson Hwy., Prairieville (225) 300-6710 2000 Covington Centre, Covington (985) 237-1921 gulfsouthautismcenter.com Kim4Kids 4317 El Dorado St., Metairie (504) 517-5437 kim4kidsnola.com
All Star Gymnastics 2073 Bonn St., Harvey (504) 328-3838 allstargymnola.com
Elmwood Gymnastics Academy 700 Elmwood Park Blvd., Harahan (504) 733-4496 ochsner.org/locations/elmwood- gymnastics-academy Empire Gymnastics Academy 4925 Jefferson Hwy., Jefferson (504) 734-0644 empiregymnastics.net
Beckwith Guitar Systems 2515 Williams Blvd., Kenner
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(504) 559-5229 beguitarsys.com Carla’s Musikgarten New Orleans Uptown, New Orleans (504) 717-5044 carlasmusikgarten.com Greater New Orleans Youth Orchestra 7100 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans (504) 861-1801 gnoyo.org Lafargue Music School 1828 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie (504) 831-3008 River Ridge School of Music & Dance 2020 Dickory Ave., #200, Harahan, (504) 738-3050 Mandeville School of Music & Dance 105 Campbell Ave., #3, Mandeville (985) 674-2992 Covington School of Music 1111 Village Walk, Covington (985) 590-4545 laapa.com Love’s Music Therapy 3380 State Street Dr., New Orleans (504) 281-8968 lovesmusictherapy.com lafarguepianos.com Louisiana Academy of Performing Arts Loyola Preparatory Arts Program 6363 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans (504) 865-3627 cmm.loyno.edu/prep-arts New Orleans Children’s Chorus 5580 Canal Blvd., Ste. A, New Orleans (504) 482-2883 neworleanschildrenschorus.org School of Rock Metairie/New Orleans 1907 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie (504) 618-7625 locations.schoolofrock.com/metairie Upbeat Academy 715 Girod St., Ste. 100, New Orleans (504) 722-8762 upbeatacademy.org RUNNING
Youth Run Nola 4035 Washington Ave., New Orleans (504) 256-5523 youthrunnola.org SCIENCE/STEAM ENRICHMENT Challenge Island (504) 913-9451 neworleans@challenge-island.com challenge-island.com/neworleans Code Ninja 3501 Severn Ave., Ste. 5B, Metairie (504) 235-4100 codeninjas.com/la-metairie Electric Girls 2045 Lakeshore Dr., Ste. 352, New Orleans (512) 554-1145 electricgirls.org NOLA Kidsground 5700 Citrus Blvd., Ste. D, New Orleans (504) 354-9528 nolakidsground.com SOCCER Carrollton Booster Club, Inc. carrolltonboosters@gmail.com carrolltonboosters.org FNA-NOLA Locations in the Quad at City Park and in La Salle Park Jefferson Playground (504) 616-8833 playfna.com/League/CityParkNOLA Junction Place Sports 5620 Crawford Ave., Harahan (504) 356-1812 (504) 465-8224 lafiresoccer.com Soccer Shots 2920 Kingman St., Ste. 206, Metairie (504) 441-9216 soccershots.org/neworleans SPORTS FACILITIES Junction Place Sportsplex 5620 Crawford Ave., Harahan (504) 356-1812 junctionplacesportsplex.com Ochsner Fitness Center KIDSPORTS junctionplacesports.com Louisiana Fire Juniors 1918 18th St., Kenner 1200 S. Clearview Pkwy., Harahan (504) 842-9544 or (504) 733-1200 ochsnerfitness.com/kidsports
YMCA of Greater New Orleans (504) 568-9622 ymcaneworleans.org/locations SWIMMING Harry’s Dive Shop-Swim Smart 4709 Airline Dr., Metairie (504) 909-2220 swim-smart.com Little Fins Swim Academy 325 Colonial Club Dr., Harahan littlefins.net Love Swimming 5221 S. Front St., New Orleans (504) 891-4662 loveswimming.com NU WAVE Swim Club Various locations around New Orleans Ochsner Fitness Center Aquatics 1200 S. Clearview Pkwy., Harahan (504) 733-1200 or (504) 842-9544 ochsnerfitness.com/kidsports South Louisiana Swim Team 4828 Utica St., Metairie (504) 256-6554 teamunify.com TENNIS Audubon Park (504) 895-1042 audubonnatureinstitute.org/tennis City Park Tennis Center 5900 Marconi Dr., New Orleans (504) 483-9422 (719) 649-1606 teamunify.com Henry Crocker (504) 919-5599 premiertennisnola.com YOGA City Park Movement and Art 4300 Dumaine St., New Orleans (504) 390-7482 cityparkmovementandart.com Kidding Around Yoga with Bella (504) 909-8881 kiddingaroundyoga.com/bella Lolo’s Youth Yoga + Art Studio 6117 Magazine St., New Orleans (415) 786-3317 lolosstudio.com NOLAFAMILY.COM | AUGUST 2023 27 neworleanscitypark.org Premiere Tennis Nola
Carrollton Booster Club, Inc. carrolltonboosters@gmail.com carrolltonboosters.org Girls on the Run New Orleans 5500 Prytania St., Ste. 528, New Orleans (504) 272-7786 gotrnola.org
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August
out & about
Photo by Freepik.com
Wednesday. visitjeffersonparish.com MOVE BABY, MOVE. Central City Library at noon. Improve your posture and strengthen your core with Move Baby, Move’s founder, Aaron Palmer. neworleans.libnet.info STORYVILLE STOMPERS. New Orleans Jazz Museum at 2 p.m. Come see a free performance featuring the Storyville Stompers. nolajazzmuseum.org TWEEN CHESS CLUB. Children’s Resource Center Library at 4 p.m., every Wednesday. Learn the basics of chess. Make new friends and try out your skills against them. neworleans.libnet.info TWILIGHT AT LONGUE VUE: JUMBO SHRIMP JAZZ BAND. Longue Vue House and Gardens at 5-7 p.m. Bring drinks, snacks, picnic seating, or just your walking shoes to enjoy the cool hours of the day in the Longue Vue Gardens. $10; $5 for members. longuevue.com 3 Thursday ACTIVATE STEAM AFTERNOON: ART SMARTS. Mid-City Library at 4 p.m. neworleans.libnet.info ACTIVATE STEAM AFTERNOON: SEED SPROUTING. Cita Dennis Hubbell Library at 4 p.m. neworleans.libnet.info LAGNIAPPE CLASSIC: ALL-BREEDS DOG SHOW. Pontchartrain Convention & Civic Center in Kenner through August 6. Louisiana and Metairie Kennel Clubs stage a four-day dog show with a Summer Junior Clinic. Pet food donation are requested for local shelters. Free. nola.com MEDITATION SUPPORT GROUP CLASS. The Gayle and Tom Benson Cancer Center at 6 p.m., every Thursday. This class is open to all cancer survivors, men & women. Free. ochsner.org RIVERTOWN FARMERS MARKET. Rivertown Railroad Parking Lot in Kenner from noon-6 p.m., every Thursday. Come shop for crafts, fresh produce, delicious food (including sweets), and much more! kenner.la.us THE NEW ORLEANS ANTIQUES FORUM 2023. Williams Research Center in New Orleans through August 6. Attendees of the 2023 New Orleans Antiques Forum will be immersed in the objects and art that embody the development of “southern sound.” $150. my.hnoc.org THE TAYLOR SCHOLARS FAMILY FREE DAY.
Audubon Zoo in New Orleans from 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Taylor Scholars and four guests can enjoy complimentary admission to the zoo. audubonnatureinstitute.org THURSDAYS AT TWILIGHT. Pavilion of the Two Sisters in New Orleans from 6-8 p.m., every Thursday. Music lovers are invited to enjoy an indoor concert. $15/person. neworleanscitypark.org YOGA WITH A VUE. Longue Vue House and Gardens at 9:30 a.m. Whether you’re new to yoga or been practicing your whole life, bring your yoga mat and come on out; all levels are welcome! $15. longuevue.com 4 Friday ABITA BREWERY FOOD TRUCK ROUNDUP. Abita Brewing Company at 5:30 p.m. Forget about cooking, have a great time and some good eats at the brewery. It’s family-friendly, so everyone is welcome. Free admission. abita.com BLOCK PARTY. Cita Dennis Hubbell Library at 4 p.m., every Friday. Enjoy the most epic set of blocks you have ever seen while learning how to use open-ended questions and play techniques. For children 5 and under. neworleans.libnet.info O FIRST FRIDAY. Ogden Museum of Southern Art from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. On the first Friday of every month, college students can explore the world’s largest collection of Southern art free of charge. ogdenmuseum.org PARENTS’ NIGHT OUT. Culinary Kids in Mandeville from 6-9 p.m. Kids bring blankets and pillows for carpet time and enjoy a mini cooking class as they make their dinner, desserts, and snacks with our teachers! Ages 5-12. $35. culinarykidsns.com SUMMER MOVIE NIGHTS! Westwego Community Center at 7 p.m. Come watch Steel Magnolias (1989, PG). $8. jpas.org 5 Saturday COOK YOUR CULTURE. Southern Food and Beverage Museum in New Orleans at 2 p.m. Dominican University students will share the healthy roots of their regional cuisine and help you identify yours. Free. eventbrite.com EXPRESSIONS OF AMERICA FAMILY NIGHT.
1 Tuesday ACTIVATE STEAM AFTERNOON: ART SMARTS. Robert E. Smith Library at 4 p.m. Experiment, create, and craft at this hands-on STEAM event for children ages 6–12. neworleans.libnet.info ACTIVATE STEAM AFTERNOON: SEED SPROUTING. Algiers Regional Library at 4 p.m. Experiment, create, and craft at this hands-on STEAM event for children ages 6–12. neworleans.libnet.info ARROWHEAD JAZZ BAND . New Orleans Jazz Museum at 2 p.m., every Tuesday. See a free live performance of the Arrowhead Jazz Band. nolajazzmuseum.org FREE CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION TRAINING. Children’s Advocacy Center - Hope House at 6 p.m. Any adult is welcome, regardless of whether they work with children, have kids of their own, etc. Registration is required, as free sandwiches, salad and refreshments will also be provided. eventbrite.com KIDS’ COOKING CLASS. Culinary Kids at 5:30 p.m. Local Chefs and cooking instructors take older kids through a detailed course of beginner culinary skills. For ages 7-10. $165. culinarykidsns.com NATURE EXPLORERS. Bayou Lacombe Visitor Center at 9:30 a.m. Join the Southeast Louisiana National Wildlife Refuge staff for a free, fun-filled educational program for young children 0-6 years old. fws.gov TEEN STEAM AFTERNOON: SHRINKY DINKS. Rosa F. Keller Library and Community Center at 3:30 p.m. Embrace creativity with various craft-based programs for teens ages 11-18. neworleans.libnet.info YOGA WITH A VUE. Longue Vue House and Gardens at 9:30 a.m. Whether you’re new to yoga or been practicing your whole life, bring your yoga mat and come on out; all levels are welcome! $15. longuevue.com 2 Wednesday ACTIVATE STEAM AFTERNOON: SEED SPROUTING. Alvar Library at 4 p.m. neworleans.libnet.info LAFRENIERE PARK FARMERS & ART MARKET. Lafreniere Park in Metarie from 1-6 p.m., every 30 AUGUST 2023 | NOLAFAMILY.COM
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