What is a mom to do when the child get’s sick in the wee hour, plus what to keep in the medicine cabinet (and the Dopp kit)–and when to call the doctor

Why does your Child’s fever or cough always strike on a weekend, and seems so much scarier at 4:30 A.M.? Sickness in the middle of the night can seem harder to deal with, because it’s disorienting. It’s dark, no one else is awake; doctor’s offices aren’t open–so you feel more helpless and on your own. Sheer exhaustion, especially for parents of small babies, adds to the confusion. To help you and your child through those murky predawn hours, we asked some doctors (all moms or dads of course!) for advice on how to soothe and treat five common conditions.

FEVER

The fever itself isn’t the worry. It’s a sign the body is responding to an illness, such as the flu. Don’t panic if the number is high: Even temperatures of 104 degrees and higher usually aren’t associated with brain damage.

how to treat it–Talk to your doctor about trying a natural fever reducer. A high fever can take as long as two to three hours to come down, but you’ll often see some response–and your child will feel a lot better–within half an hour. If natural remedies are not addressing the fever, you might need to use ibuprofen or acetaminophen, but try Nature’s way first.

when to call the doctor–If a fever reducer hasn’t worked after a few hours or your child is very uncomfortable–for instance, he has difficulty breathing, is unresponsive, shows signs of confusion, or has a stiff neck or a severe headache–call a doctor. And if your newborn (under 3 months old) has a fever of 100.4 or higher (taken rectally for the greatest accuracy), go to the emergency room; it could be a sign of meningitis.

COUGH/CROUP

Most coughs in kids are from postnasal drip [when mucus runs down and irritates the back of the throat] from a cold, rather than an infection in the lungs. It it’s a barky cough, it’s probably croup, an infection of the upper airway and voice box, but not the lungs.

how to treat them–The most common type of croup is viral, so antibiotics won’t treat it. Put a humidifier in the bedroom, or run the shower and sit in the steamy bathroom for a few minute with your child. As for coughs, the FDA recommends that children under 2 not take any over-the-counter cough medicines. Try treating sinus congestion with a saline nasal wash (try for naturals).

when to call the doctor–Call if you see signs of labored breathing, wheezing, skin sucking in above and below ribs, chest pain. If your child is leaning forward and still not getting air, go to the ER.

VOMITING/STOMACHACHE

Vomiting can be caused by many things, including viral stomach infections and bladder infections.

how to treat them–Guard against dehydration. Once vomiting has subsided, give toddlers a teaspoon of water, Pedialyte, or Liquilyte every 15 minutes. Try giving bigger kids a little more, up to three ounces. If you have Gatorade on hand, that’s okay too, as long as you mix it with an equal amount of water because of the sugar content. Flat ginger is acceptable in a pinch. We love chamomile, ginger, and especially peppermint teas to soothe upset stomachs.

when to call the doctor–If your child has severe pains, especially in the lower right of the stomach–or if that area feels rigid and hot–it could be appendicitis, and you should call a doctor. Ditto if your child can’t even keep small amounts of fluid down, if he vomits for longer than 24 hours, or if there’s blood or bile (a yellowish green fluid) in the vomit. Blood could mean a small tear in the intestine that will heal on its own, and bile can be a sign of bowel obstruction. Either way, a doctor needs to evaluate the child.

DIARRHEA

Common causes are diets (lots of fiber, too much juice), an inability to digest certain foods (such as lactose), infection, and gallbladder disease.

how to treat it–As with vomiting, you want to protect against dehydration: Replenish the fluids they’ve lost with Pedialyte, Liquilyte, or equal parts Gatorade and water. While antidiarrheal medications like Children’s Immodium are okay to give to much older kids, if they’ve recovering and don’t have a fever but have lingering diarrhea (to help them get back on a regular schedule), they’re not recommended for kids younger than 3. Try changing you child’s diet to starchy foods, bananas, and rice for the duration. To give kids antidiarrheal to stop the diarrhea is not recommended, rather get rid of the infection that’s causing it!

when to call the doctor–Get medical attention if there’s blood in the diarrhea. It could be a sign of bacterial infection. Call as well if your child is especially sluggish or too weak to take fluids–she may be severely dehydrated.

EARACHE

An earache can be painful for a child and harrowing for a parent. Your child might writhe in pain and act unusually cranky, but it’s rarely a medical emergency, so you can wait until the morning to have it looked at.

how to treat it–Make sure your child is comfortable. Give a pain reliever, and place a warm washcloth or hot-water bottle over the ear. You can try numbing ear drops or mullein- or garlic-oil drops, but don’t use them on a ruptured eardrum. Keep in mind that 80% of all ear infections go away without antibiotics, opt to go without for as long as your child can tolerate it, as only antibacterial infections respond to drugs–viral one’s won’t.

when to call the doctor–If there’s blood or pus (signs of a rupture), call the doctor in the morning. If you see signs that the infection has spread–the area behind the ear is red or swollen if the child has a fever–call the doctor right away.

USE SAVINGS ACCOUNTS
Instead of keeping the bulk of your money in a zero-interest checking account, put it in a savings account that’s accessible online. The money will be earning interest while you decide if and when you want to invest it somewhere–and since you can make an online transfer to checking via computer anytime you like, you won’t have to worry about tying up the cash.

HIDE FUNDS FROM YOURSELF
Before your salary ends up in your checking account, have a percentage deposited directly into either an investment or a savings account (5 percent is a good start). The “hiding” will help ensure that you don’t spend everything you earn right away. Lastly, if you have a 401(k) through work, make sure you’re investing as high a percentage of your salary in it as you can afford.

PAY YOUR BILLS ONLINE (and on time!)
When you’re busy, services that remember bills for you (thereby protecting you against late fees) are a godsend. Go online to arrange automatic bill payments. And if you employ a nanny, check out Paycycle.org, which calculates employees’ hourly rates for you, reminds you to pay them, and can even set up direct deposit.

CAN’T DO IT ALONE?

Call a Stockbroker, an Accountant or a Credit Counselor. What’s the difference?

A Stockbroker: If you’re uncomfortable doing (and understanding) your own research on the stock market, consider hiring a broker, who can educate and advise you on your investments. Ask that friend with the brand-new pool whom she trusts (as long as you trust her).

An Accountant: A professional can be helpful if you’ve recently been audited; you run your own company; your children have their own assets; or you’ve recently gone through a job change, marriage, divorce, or move. Ask coworkers for referrals; their CPAs should be familiar with your type of business expenses.

A Credit Counselor: If collection agencies are hassling you, it’s probably time for outside help. To find a reputable counselor, ask friends for referrals. The Federal Trade Commission says organizations that offer face-to-face meetings are often more trustworthy than those that work only online or by phone.

“People who sit at their computers for hours every day — they’re in for serious medical problems,” says Sharon Hame, MD, associate clinical professor at UCLA’s department of orthopaedic surgery. “We’re seeing more things than carpal tunnel; those pains go up the arm to the elbow and shoulder and then translate to the neck and back. It’s a huge problem.” You think?

So what can you do to ward off pain and stiffness and boost your energy and alertness? WebMD consulted orthopaedic surgeons and exercise specialists for 12 simple stretching exercises at your desk that will release tension from head to toe. They take only a few minutes. Set the alarm on your cell phone or computer to go off every two to three hours to remind you it’s time to get up and stretch.

The 12 Best Stretching Exercises at Your Desk

1. Just stand up and sit down — no hands
   • You might have gotten a gold star in preschool for sitting still, but it just goes to show you (best sellers notwithstanding) that not all of us learned everything we need to know in kindergarten. “If you stand up and sit down (over and over) — without using your hands — it can be a challenge,” says Smith. “Do it while you’re on the phone; no one will know.”
2. Substitute exercise for sitting — while you work
   • Get rid of your desk chair and substitute an exercise ball (with frame/stand!), suggests Smith. “I used it for a while when I was having low-back problems; it was great,” Smith says. “All day you are engaging all the muscles in the back, legs, butt, everything, to stay balanced.”
   • Hame knows one man who put a treadmill in his office and conducted all his business while walking. (He lost weight, too, Hame says.)
3. Shrug your shoulders — to release the neck and shoulders
   • Inhale deeply and shrug your shoulders, lifting them high up to your ears. Hold. Release and drop. Repeat three times.
   • Shake your head slowly, yes and no. You might as well amuse yourself while you do it to relax even further. Ask yourself silly questions: “Is your boss an idiot?” Move your head up and down, “Yes, yes, yes.” Side to side: “No. No. No.” (Shedding tension is as much mental as physical.)
4. Loosen the hands with air circles
   • Clench both fists, stretching both hands out in front of you.
   • Make circles in the air, first in one direction, to the count of ten.
   • Then reverse the circles.
   • Shake out the hands.
5. Point your fingers — good for hands, wrist, and forearms
   • Stretch your left hand out in front of you, pointing fingers toward the floor. Use your right hand to increase the stretch, pushing your fingers down and toward the body. Be gentle.
   • Do the same with the other hand.
   • Now stretch your left hand out straight in front, wrist bent, with fingers pointing skyward. Use your right hand to increase the stretch, pulling the fingers back toward your body.
   • Do the same on the other side.
6. Release the upper body with a torso twist
   • Inhale and as you exhale, turn to the right and grab the back of your chair with your right hand, and grab the arm of the chair with your left.
   • With eyes level, use your grasp on the chair to help twist your torso around as far to the back of the room as possible. Hold the twist and let your eyes continue the stretch — see how far around the room you can peer.
   • Slowly come back to facing forward.
   • Repeat on the other side.
7. Do leg extensions — work the abs and legs
   • Grab the seat of your chair to brace yourself and extend your legs straight out in front of you so they are parallel to the floor.
   • Flex and point your toes five times. Release.
   • Repeat.
8. Stretch your back with a “big hug”
   • Hug your body, placing the right hand on your left shoulder and the left hand on your right shoulder.
   • Breathe in and out, releasing the area between your shoulder blades.
9. Cross your arms — for the shoulders and upper back
   • Extend one arm out straight in front of you. With the other hand, grab the elbow of the outstretched arm and pull it across your chest, stretching your shoulder and upper back muscles.
   • Hold. Release.
   • Stretch out the other arm in front of you — repeat.
10. Stretch your back and shoulders with a “leg hug”
    • Sit on the edge of your chair (if it has wheels, wedge the chair against the desk or wall to make sure it does not roll). Put your feet together, flat on the floor.
    • Lean over, chest to knees, letting your arms dangle loosely to the floor. Release your neck.
    • Now bring your hands behind your legs, right hand grasping left wrist, forearm (or elbow if you can reach that far), left hand grasping the right. Feel the stretch in your back, shoulders and neck. Hold.
    • Release your hands to the floor again.
    • Repeat three times or as often as it feels good.
11. Look up to release upper body
    • Sit up tall in your chair, or stand up. Stretch your arms overhead and interlock your fingers.
    • Turn the palms to the ceiling as you lift your chin up, tilt your head back, and gaze up at the ceiling, too.
    • Inhale, exhale, release.
12. Substitute walks for email — and don’t eat at your desk
    • Instead of emailing a colleague “and copying 25 people who don’t want to be copied anyway,” Smith says, “walk over to the colleague you really want to talk to.”

Instead of a lunch meeting at your desk, walk together to a neighborhood sandwich shop or park. “Talk while you walk — it’s more efficient and productive,” Smith says. “You’re getting more oxygen to the brain, you have no distractions, and you’re more likely to remember what is said.”

CATEGORY: Sporting Goods

COMPANY/BRAND: Triple Eight Distribution, Inc.

THE DANGER: Product testing demonstrated that these helmets do not comply with CPSC safety standards for impact resistance. Consumers could suffer impact head injuries in a fall. No injuries have been reported.

DESCRIPTION: This recall involves about 30,400 helmets. They are multi-purpose helmets also sold for use as bicycle helmets. Little Tricky helmets are marketed for children and youth, and feature a large Little Tricky logo on both sides of the helmet. They come in one size and in black, white, pink, and green. Triple Eight S/M EPS Liner helmets feature a hard black inner EPS foam liner and come in black, white, bone, blue, and army green. Sector 9 S/M EPS Liner helmets feature the same EPS liner and come in gray, white, black, blue, and green. Both the Triple Eight and Sector 9 helmets have an interior label indicating the size “S/M” for small/medium and a manufacture date indicated as month/year (ex. APR/2011). Only Triple Eight and Sector 9 size “S/M” EPS Liner helmets are affected.

SOLD AT: Bicycle and sports stores and other retailers nationwide and online from August 2006 through November 2011 for about $40.

WHAT TO DO: Stop using the product immediately and contact Triple Eight for a full refund toll free at (888) 548-8518 between 9 A.M. and 5 P.M. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s website at www.triple8.com.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml12/12082.html

We share our planet with well over 75,000 different chemicals and at least 5,000 of these identified harmful chemicals are used in the cosmetic industry alone. We don’t know all the effects of exposure to every chemical. We learn about the health effects of many chemicals from human exposures and animal studies, and any chemical exposure can be poisonous or cause health effects.

People are generally concerned about chemicals like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dioxin which can be found at some hazardous waste sites. Products that we are exposed to daily, such as household cleaners, prescription and over-the-counter drugs, gasoline, alcohol, pesticides, fuel oil and cosmetics, can also be toxic. Any chemical can be toxic or harmful under certain conditions.

Health effects: toxic or hazardous?

Chemicals can be toxic because they can harm us when they enter or contact the body. Exposure to a toxic substance such as gasoline can affect your health. Since drinking gasoline can cause burns, vomiting, diarrhea and, in very large amounts, drowsiness or death, it is toxic. Some chemicals are hazardous because of their physical properties: they can explode, burn or react easily with other chemicals. Since gasoline can burn and its vapors can explode, gasoline is also hazardous. A chemical can be toxic, or hazardous, or both.

How can toxic substances cause harm?

Since chemicals can be toxic, it is important to understand how they can affect health. To determine the risk of harmful health effects from a substance, you must first know how toxic the substance is; how much, and by what means, a person is exposed; and how sensitive that person is to the substance.

Sensitivity

All people are not equally sensitive to chemicals, and are not affected by them in the same way. There are many reasons for this.

• People’s bodies vary in their ability to break down or eliminate certain chemicals due to genetic differences.
• People may become allergic to a chemical after being exposed. They may react to very low levels of the chemical and have different or more serious health effects than nonallergic people exposed to the same amount. People who are allergic to bee venom, for example, have a more serious reaction to a bee sting than people who are not allergic.
• Factors such as age, illness, diet, alcohol use, pregnancy and medical or nonmedical drug use can also affect a person’s sensitivity to a chemical. Young children are often more sensitive to chemicals for a number of reasons. Their bodies are still developing and they cannot get rid of some chemicals as well as adults. In addition, children absorb greater amounts of some chemicals (such as lead) into their blood than adults.

Why is it so important that you are aware of what you put on your skin? Our skin absorbs up to 60% of what comes in contact with, allowing harmful chemicals to more freely move past the outside layer of the skin. These chemicals can circulate throughout our bodies damaging our skin and putting us at risk for developing serious health concerns.

Do you know your DIRTY 30? This list is just the tip of the ice-berg; these are the most toxic of the chemicals presently being used in the skin care and cosmetic industry.

THE DIRTY 30

Acetone – active ingredient in nail polish remover.

Artificial colors (synthetic) – labeled FD&C or D&C with a color and then number.

Benzalkonium chloride – a preservative.

Benzene – used in aftershave and is an additive in skin care products.

Benzoyl Peroxide – used to treat acne.

Coal Tar – primarily in products used to treat psoriasis and dandruff.

Diethanolamine (DEA), Triethanolamine (TEA), Monoethanolamine (MEA) – used as emulsifiers and foaming agents.

Ethylenediamine – used in moisturizers, sunscreens, and deodorants.

Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) – a common preservative.

Formaldehyde – created when other synthetic ingredients are used including quanternium-15, DMDM, and ureas.

Fragrances (synthetic) – made of up thousands of different chemicals to create one compound.

Isopropyl alcohol – most dangerous in skin care cleansers.

Lanolin - only the pure form should be used.

Mineral Oil - derived from petroleum.

Monoethanolamine (MEA) – adjusts skin pH.

Nitrosamines – toxic impurities formed when chemicals such as DEA and TEA are used in cosmetics and skin care products.

Octyl dimethyl PABA (also known as padimate-O or p-aminobenzoic acid) – often used in sunscreens.

Parabens (methyl-, propyl-, butyl- and ethyl-) – most common preservatives used in skin care.

Petrolatum (petroleum jelly) – suffocates the skin.

Phenylenediamine (PPD) – used in hair dyes.

Phthalates - simply labeled as “fragrances” or used in nail polish, hair spray, and perfumes.

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) – a chemical used to make things thicker or stickier.

Propylene glycol (PG) – commonly found in moisturizers.

Quaternium 15 - a preservative that also creates toxic by-products such as formaldehyde.

Sodium lauryl (laureth) sulfate – often disguised in “natural” products, as coconut derivative, extracted using harmful petroleum solvents.

Sodium cyanide - toxin used create EDTA.

Stearalkonium chloride - often used in hair conditioners and creams.

Talc/talcum powder - proven to cause respiratory problems.

Triclosan - often used in antibacterial cleansers and toothpaste.

Ureas (imidazolidinyl, diazolindinyl, and/or DMDM) – most commonly used preservatives after parabens.

EFFECTIVE AND NON-TOXIC INGREDIENTS (as substitute):

Essential Oils, Herbal, Floral, and Natural Food Aroma Extracts.

D-Alpha Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Plantservative from Honeysuckle, Vitamin C (and high levels of other antioxidants), L-Ascorbic Acid.

Tee Tree Oil, Sulphur, Zinc, Lemongrass.

Plant Waxes, Xanthan Gum, Cetearyl Oliva.

Lecithin, Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B5), Organic Vegetable Glycerin.

Sugar Compounds and Natural Coconut Oil Compounds.

Enzymes, Amino Acids, Oregano, Fruit Extracts.

Source MyChelle + Department of Health

Among fresh local produce, Urban Patchwork offers farm start-up programs, workshops for residents on nutrition, home food production and storage, training and job creation, and more. She’s also eager to invite our Hero Fit families to her back yard garden harvest day and teach them how they can grow some of their own food and reduce their food bills!

Paige’s take on the growing relationship between farmers and residents: “Someone who never related to farming can now show up on a bike, harvest tomatoes, and keep going.” Sounds good to us.

MAKE WAY FOR AG SCHOOL

Law School is so 90’s. More and more students are heading to one of the countries sustainable agriculture school, drawn by new curriculum emphasizing organic methods, sustainability, and the business savvy they’ll need to thrive.

Texas A&M University in College Station and its College of Agriculture and Life Sciences is offering a formal college major in sustainable agriculture, merging theory with roll-up-your-sleeves farm time. Outside of Texas, the Washington State University now offers one of the country’s first major in organic agriculture, while Cal Poly San Luis Obispo lets any undergrad, no matter what her major, minor in sustainable agriculture.

Right here in Austin, TX, our award winning, accredited Austin Community College has a popular Continuing Education series on Urban Farming with course descriptions touting, “focus on raising edible food crops in the urban landscape…water management and rainwater collection.”

They have an Urban Livestock course with topics including, “Rabbits, Chicken/Fowl, Goats/Sheep, Aquaculture, Vermiculture and Apiaries…Discussions will cover zoning, HOA rules, animal health and keeping peace with the neighbors.”

Probably most surprising of all is an entire course on ”Turf Alternatives” in which “Students will understand the environmental issues surrounding the overuse of standard turf grasses and learn alternative solutions…”

Employers and Government agencies are catching the bug by creating new positions such as the CONSERVATION PROGRAM COORDINATOR (SUSTAINABLE URBAN AGRICULTURE COORDINATOR) in the Austin Parks and Recreation Department (PARD). The position and a related assistant position were created in direct response to a new City ordinance allowing interested urban residents to use City land to create new community gardens and urban farms while taking advantage of reduced and waived fees.

Photo By Randal Ford

Because I was asked to write this article, I was inspired to write this article.

Because I loved music as a child, I was inspired to write songs.

Because I was a child of creative parents, I was inspired to be a creative parent.

Because I’m a creative parent, I’m inspired to write music for my children, which led to a desire to perform for all children to inspire them to enjoy being present with their families. Because I’ve witnessed suffering in orphanages and hospitals, I was inspired to bring spiritual hope and healing. As I move among the dying, I’m inspired to bring loving comfort to those afraid of the great beyond.

Because I live in the moment, passion presents itself and realities manifest. I just believe, I make calls, and things unfold.

As State Musician of Texas, I asked 38 Texas musicians—from Willie Nelson to Betty Soo—to cover my songs for a CD benefiting Theatre Action Project, a non-profit empowering kids to express themselves through the arts. I envisioned Family Time Rocks!, a musical interactive trio that encourages families to “create together so they can be great together,” and we created a 38-track, freely downloadable cd/supplemental projects page at www.familytimerocks.com. I plan to report back to the legislature and ask them to keep this ball rolling by reinstating arts funding in schools.

Look, there isn’t much time. Laugh, sing, play, write, paint, cook yummy food, bowl, write letters, teach, travel—everything returns to laughing! My children and all children deserve to see the world as uncharted territory—where’ll they go, what’ll they make, who will they meet?! Such an exciting time to be alive, to be an artist/musician who changes lives simply by believing it’s possible. So here I am, sitting with you. Please, tell me: Where is your life leading you? What will you make today? Write that song, tap that dance, hug that friend, holler at the wind—now. Don’t delay. You’re nodding your head because you know you inspire. So tell your story…because…

Find out more about Sara and her creative projects at http://www.sarahickman.com/

Physiologically, eating may just be the most complicated thing we do.

Swallowing, alone, involves 26 muscles, and every meal engages the respiratory, endocrine and metabolic systems, as well as the entire GI tract and all 5 senses. Eating triggers psycho-emotional associations, and affects both the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. It is no small wonder that things often go wrong. It is extremely important for both professionals and parents to read children’s cues and look for patterns with food refusal.

As a general rule, kids don’t refuse to eat simply to be difficult, but they do have difficulty articulating why they are not eating. They may not have the language to express why it is difficult (it hurts, it makes me gag, I don’t like the texture, I am afraid) or lack the understanding that their eating habits are atypical. Many picky kids have unknown medical conditions, like acid reflux, iron and zinc deficiencies, diarrhea, or constipation. A kiddo with undiagnosed food allergies may experience pain when eating. He may not even be aware that it does not have to be painful to eat. You must also take into account a child’s motor skills, as sometimes children are not developmentally ready to advance textures even though it may seem age appropriate. Sensory Food A version, a commonly seen feeding disorder characterized by consistent refusal to eat certain foods based on taste, texture, smell or appearance, may produce strong visceral reactions that leave a child unable to eat. Some children may only refuse a few foods while others may exclude entire food groups such as vegetables, fruits, or meats. Children with Sensory Food A version can become very distressed at meals, often leading to heightened anxiety for both the child and the parent or caregiver.

Typically, these kids will eat preferred foods, but their diet may be lacking in key vitamins and minerals. Often these preferred foods are predictable to them, meaning that the food will look, taste, smell, and feel the same way every time. Typically, sensory related aversions are not isolated to food. These children will often refuse touching certain textures such as sand, playdoh, or wet grass, and have adverse reactions to brushing their teeth or washing their hands or face.

Psychologically, children may have negative memories associated with a past food experience. They may associate food with fear, pain or discomfort. Furthermore, children may lack the confidence to try new foods or to experience new textures that cause them fear, anxiety or scary sensations. Children often look to their parents for modeling and reassurance. I f the parent is anxious, coaxing, bribing or bargaining, this can lead to increased anxiety for the child and less eating. W hen children have a negative association with eating they are in react mode, leading to increased adrenaline. Elevated adrenaline in turn causes suppression in appetite, an inability to calm, and increased difficulty with swallowing.

Kids eat when they feel well, when they feel confident with their skills, and when they have positive social interaction with their parents, peers, and caregivers. Appropriately addressing any issues with choosy eating should include treating any contributing medical condition, correcting any resulting malnutrition, and empowering children to feel safe with new foods in order to build a solid foundation for a lifelong healthy relationship with food. If your child seems fearful or anxious at the table, you may want to consult with a feeding expert for guidelines to ensure your child will become a healthy, happy eater. Remember to create regular meal times, provide a variety of food (keeping in mind that children get overwhelmed with more than three choices,) let your child choose what and how much they will eat, and praise your child for self-feeding skills and being brave about exploring new foods!

nutritiontherapyforkids@gmail.com

All Images © WHOLE KIDS LIFESTYLE L.L.C. / WHOLE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

The activity booths inside Austin Kiddie Limits proved to be very popular with the younger festival-goers. Many of the kids running around and playing inside AKL had bright pink and orange hairdos, including some impressive Mohawks, courtesy of 77Kids by American Eagle.  The tattoos to complement the hairstyle were provided by Kati Hammitt and Hip Tattoos.  Once the proper look was established, kids took their talents to the Rock Star Video Karaoke booth (also provided by 77Kids) and got a chance to record a video singing and rocking out.

Dance, Drumming, and Hip Hop Workshops were held throughout the day during the festival, giving kids a chance to bang on some hand drums with Michael Marcionetti at Drumzone, or learn some new Zumba dance moves with the help of the Fuzemoze team.  Walking by the Hip Hop booth, one could hear The Q Brothers leading kids through call-and-response rapping over beats and samples. The schedule was managed well so that there was always some kind of interactive activity happening in between the music sets on the Austin Kiddie Limits stage.  H-E-B Kids provided healthy snacks at their Snack Shack, and also offered shade under the tent in the H-E-B-sponsored Zilker Beach area, which included a roped-off section for kids only.  Lifeway Probugs gave away samples of their Organic Kefir to the delight of many AKL attendees.

For the artists in the family, Abrakadoodle offered a rare chance to throw and splatter paint (with protective suits to cover clothing and head) and create a large work of art.  Kids had a blast working with the paint, and doing something they couldn’t get away with at home.  In addition, Café Monet had a booth set up for kids to decorate a Rockn’ Magnet to keep for themselves. Theater Action Project provided the interesting Alter Ego Factory, where they showed aspiring actors how to get into a wide array of characters and costumes.

All of this was trumped by the fantastic musical artists playing on the Austin Kiddie Limits Stage.  Here is a quick review of some of our favorite sets.

Brady Rymer and The Little Band That Could played two great sets of music.  The front of the stage was crowded with kids who were having a blast with his songs “I Found It” and “Love Me for Who I Am.” The band featured some accordion and mandolin to back up Brady on guitar and vocals for his fun-filled tunes, and Tor Hyams sat in for several songs on keyboard. See our feature on Brady Rymer here.

Recess Monkey really engaged the crowd with their superhero-themed set of songs.  They had the kids acting out the motions as they flew, jumped, and threw imaginary objects up in the air.  Three elementary school teachers from Seattle, the trio delighted the kids with their wacky and high-energy music.  A giant banner with their monkey logo flew behind the drumset.

Quinn Sullivan plays the blues guitar at a level beyond his years.  At the age of 12, he has already toured with the legendary Buddy Guy, and one of his original songs that he performed told the story of meeting him for the first time.  He sounded like a polished player already as he worked through some originals and a solid cover of Derek & the Dominos’ “Why Does Love Got to Be So Sad?”

Mariana Iranzi brought a skilled band and some bilingual flavor to Austin Kiddie Limits.  She encouraged dancing and participation as she declared in English and Spanish, “I have the rhythm in my hands, I have the rhythm in my feet.”  She showed off her talents on the bass while the band played a rocking set.

Heidi Swedberg and the Sukey Jump Band delivered some Hawaiian-influenced flair on her ukulele-led folk songs.  Heidi started playing and teaching children’s music after a successful acting career.

School of Rock received the honor of closing out Austin Kiddie Limits with the final set, and they were up for the task. In addition to performing a set earlier in the festival (and throughout all three days at the School of Rock tent), they put their stamp on some classic and modern hits with a resounding confidence to wrap up the festival.  The band consisted of all-star music students from the local School of Rock, and they served to inspire and entertain the kids and parents in attendance, with a strong take on Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train,” and a clever mash-up of The Rolling Stones’ “Gimme Shelter” and Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep.”

Sara Hickman played two set’s with her band Family Time Rocks!. Sara and her bandmates, Jason Molin and Gray Parsons, use interactive performances to show “how fun, easy, and rewarding it is to make music and art with your family”. How cool is that? Sara’s latest projects include a new CD “Best of Times” (all proceeds for Theatre Action Project) and “Family Time Rocks” (music for families/”Big Bird, Little Bird” (animated DVD). She’s an advocate for the homeless, youth education and an amazing visual Artist.

Peter DiStefano & Tor Hyams put together an all-star band of their own featuring some of the School of Rock musicians, and they creatively put a family-friendly spin on some classic rock songs.  In addition to JJ Cale and Peter Tosh covers, they played the song “Pets” from DiStefano’s band “Something for Pyros” (as he introduced it – probably a wise choice).  During that song Peter invited the kids to line up and join him on stage, and they got a chance to strum his guitar while he took an extended guitar solo.  The School of Rock players really did a great job of keeping up with Peter and Tor, and holding down a steady groove.

Tor Hyams is the mastermind that makes Austin Kiddie Limits happen.  Tor is everywhere, acting as MC up on the stage, directing events in between the music sets, coordinating backstage activity, and playing keyboards live with several of the bands on the bill.  He also puts on a similar show for the Lollapalooza Festival up in Chicago every year called “Kidzapalooza,” which has grown to be its own separate event.  In addition to putting on festivals, Hyams is a music producer and songwriter, and you can read our feature on Tor here.