Plan A Stop With Tiger Bookmobile Summer 2013

Tiger Bookmobile Summer 2013

You can’t miss the 48’ mobile unit when it is traveling down the street. With a brightly colored exterior aesthetic featuring children and animals all enjoying reading, the unit has been outfitted with mobile satellite technology, thousands of books, iPads, Kindle e-readers, reading benches and seats, flat screen television, Wii gaming, bean bag chairs and colorful rugs. The look is complete with an additional exterior seating area featuring a canopy, bean bag chairs and more fun rugs. 

Open Monday thru Friday from 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., the Tiger Bookmobile will travel throughout the community to various partner sites from June 17 thru August 23. A story hour will be featured at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. daily. Tour dates & locations are: 

 July 15, July 22, July 29, August 5, August 12, August 19:
     The Oaks at Rosehill - 2100 West 12th Street
 July 9, July 23, August 6, August 20:
     Hands On Texarkana – 1915 Olive Street
July 10, July 17, July 24, July 31, August 7, August 14, August 21:
     Splash Pad at Spring Lake Park – 4303 North Park Road
July 11, July 25, August 8, August 22:
     Nash Elementary School – 100 Burton
July 12, July 19, July 26, August 2, August 9, August 16, August 23:
     Pecan Ridge at Rosehill – 2210 West 15th Street
July 16, July 30, August 13:
     Highland Park Baptist Church – 2401 Hazel Street
July 18, August 1, August 15: ONLY OPENED FROM 9:30 A.M. - NOON
     Salvation Army – Center of Hope – 316 Hazel Street

For more information on the Tiger Bookmobile and their 2013 Summer Tour, contact: Tina Veal-Gooch, 903.794.3651 ext. 1013 or visit www.txkisd.net.

Protect Your Children From Extreme Heat

Protecting Children from Extreme Heat: Information for Parents

By www.healthychildren.org

Extreme heat can cause children to become sick in several ways. Make sure to protect your child from the heat as much as possible, watch for symptoms, and call your doctor if you see any develop.

Preventing Effects of Extreme Heat:

There are several steps you can take to protect your child from heat-related illness: 

• Plan to have a cool, air-conditioned space for your child. If your home does not have air-conditioning, find a nearby building that does. Libraries can be a great place for a cool retreat from the heat. 
• Make sure your child stays hydrated. Encourage her to drink water regularly, even before she asks for it.
• Plan for more time to rest than usual; heat can often make children feel tired.
• When your child is feeling hot, give him a cool bath or water mist to cool down.
• Don’t forget about the effects of sun exposure.
• Never leave children in a car or other closed motor vehicle, especially when temperatures are high. The temperature inside the car can become much higher than the outside temperature, and can rise to temperatures that cause death.

When to Call Your Child’s Doctor:

Call your child’s doctor immediately if he or she develops any of the following symptoms. Your child’s doctor can advise you on the next best course of action and whether an immediate evaluation is needed.  

• Faintness
• Extreme tiredness
• Headache
• Fever
• Intense thirst
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Breathing faster or deeper than normal
• Skin numbness or tingling
• Muscle aches
• Muscle spasms

For more information on how recognize and treat these heat related illnesses, click here.

Carnival Under the Stars Raises Money for Arkansas Children's Hospital

Carnival Under The Stars 

Interested in helping out with a worthy cause? Come join the fun at 
Carnival Under The Stars, benefiting Arkansas Children’s Hospital.

Saturday, April 20
7:00 p.m.
Ramage Farms 5600 FM 560, Hooks, Texas

You are invited to an evening full of food, music and more. Ten of 
Texarkana’s finest establishments will be present with samplings of 
their delicious food. Roger Sheppard will be there performing his 
magic, there will be a silent auction as well as a live auction, and 
the band One Night Stand will be playing! Tickets are $50 per person. 
Contact Melissa Massey at 903-293-7734, or any member of Texarkana 
Circle of Friends, to purchase tickets. This is a wonderful 
opportunity to have a fun filled night, while also benefiting a place 
in great need. Come out and help Circle of Friends raise money for 
Arkansas Children’s Hospital!

The Great Wolf Lodge - A Howling Experience!

Great Wolf Lodge is as great as you might imagine! For us, it was closer, quicker and more convenient experience than heading down to Disney World - but the same "Wow" factor for the kids.

We do have little ones, so I have to say, the trip probably would have been a little easier if we had ages 8-13. Since only one of ours can swim, we had to be hands-on the entire time. But everyone had a blast and slept great because we played so hard!


Tips & Need To Know:
1. If you know someone who has been recently, see if you can borrow their "Magic Wands" ...what you don't know is that a Quest will be the coolest thing you do while there. You need a "Wand" to participate, and it is not included in your hotel accomodations. $20 a wand can get expensive if you have numerous kids. Then there is a approximate $20 activation fee. I would happily let someone borrow our two wands!

2. Does your child have sensory issues? My daughter typically is oversensitive to sound. The water park is very LOUD! Thankfully, she was having too much fun to be bothered by it. We eased her into the situation which helped. But, you might want to consider this if you are aware of your child having sensory issues.

3. Pack a cooler and keep in your room. Maybe you don't mind eating each meal out. But we brought cereal and milk, fruit and snacks. Not only does it save money, but you want to be the first person at the water park which opens at 9 a.m.!

4. If you are trying to avoid lines in the water slides arrive when the park is open (9 a.m.) and take an afternoon break returning late in the day, maybe even after dinner so that you catch the last few hours before the park closes (9 p.m.). Those are the quietest and least crowded hours.

5. If you want to plan a trip and have the park to yourself - the lifeguards told me the entire park is empty on Wednesdays. Just like DisneyWorld, if you can manage a weekday trip - the crowds will be a lot less...just be careful of Spring Break season.

6. Just a heads up ....no one looks good in a swim suit in the indoors lighting.

7. Bring a ponytail - don't dress up...and spend the trip getting soaked right beside your kids.

8. If you have little ones (under 8) don't forget to attend storytime in the lobby at either 8 p.m or 9 p.m. - my daughter still talks about the show. And it is a good way to calm everyone down for the night.

9. Bring as little as possible. We dressed our kids in swim suits, they did wear coverups - but we let them go without shoes to the park. I suggest bringing as little as possible to the park, there's really just no point. You go from your hotel room to the water and there's not much in between.

10. Niffty idea: You don't have to worry about carrying your wallet or room key the entire trip. So, lock your valuables in the room safe. Then you use your arm band to buy everything, and you even scan your arm band to get into your room. I was amazed and couldn't get over that the entire time - so cool and convenient.

11. Just so you know - they have life jackets for all sizes and towels (okay...the towels are so very small, but you can grab as many as you want).

12. The resort will send you an email before going. On that email will be interactive games and activities for your kids to do before going or in the car there - DO IT! Build the excitement and let them get to know the characters that they will see there.

...and have fun! We would love to hear your "insider" resort tricks...especially if it is a money saving idea. Please post comments for our readers.

Clifford The Big Red Dog - Will Appear At The Perot Theatre

The Perot Theatre in Texarkana is expecting a BIG guest - Clifford The Big Red Dog!

He will be appearing:

Saturday, March 3rd @ 1:30pm

Tickets can be purchased here:

http://www.trahc.org/other-events/161-clifford-the-big-red-dog

If you are interested in winning free tickets - print off the above color sheet and return it to the Perot office by Thursday, February 23rd. One lucky winner will receive 4 free tickets!

Is your child a big Clifford fan? Be sure to check out PBS's web site for interactive learning and games at:

http://pbskids.org/clifford/index-brd-flash.html