School is back in session in most area school districts, Labor Day is right around the corner and it will soon be time to put away your whites and shorts. But this last unofficial weekend of summer still has many outdoor activities for you to enjoy. The Nationals are offering $5 tickets and the Maryland Renaissance Festival opens its 39th year along with many other events.

This weekend, Green Line trains will operate at regular weekend intervals. Red Line trains will operate every 20 minutes. Orange, Silver, Blue and Yellow line trains will operate every 18 minutes with Yellow Line trains operating between Huntington and Mount Vernon Square only.

Adam LaRoche (25) follows through on a two-run home run against the Miami Marlins last year. (Photo: Alan Diaz/AP)

Fanfare

The Washington Nationals host Fanfare this weekend as they take on the Miami Marlins. Tickets for the Friday, Saturday and Sunday games are $5 each and are only available online while supplies last. On Friday, the first 25,000 fans receive a Nationals T-shirt courtesy of American University. Saturday is ‘80s Night so bust out your legwarmers and tease your hair. And Sunday the first 25,000 fans receive a “Great Moments in National History” bobblehead, featuring Jayson Werth’s Game 4 walk-off home run from the 2012 NLDS. There will be a school supply drive Sunday and fans are encouraged to bring new school supplies to the Center Field Gate. Supplies will be donated to D.C. area students, and kids 4-12 are invited to run the bases on the field following the game.

Aug. 28 at 7:05 p.m., Aug. 28 at 7:05 p.m. and Aug. 30 at 1:35 p.m. at Nationals Park, 1500 S. Capitol St. SE. Admission is $5 online on a first-come, first-served basis.

Jazz in the Garden

Concertgoers enjoy Jazz in the Garden among works of art in the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden.
(Photo: National Gallery of Art)

With summer winding down, so is Jazz in the Garden, the National Gallery of Arts’ weekly summer jazz concert series. Afro Bop Alliance of Annapolis, an Afro-Cuban jazz septet, performs the final show. The seven members of Afro Bop infuse the jazz sound with the rhythm of Afro-Caribbean music. You can bring your own food and non-alcoholic beverages, but beer, wine, sangria and mixed drinks must be purchased from the Pavilion Café. A special menu of appetizers, entrees and salads is also available at the café, while an outdoor grill will serve barbecue pork sandwiches, beef and chicken kabobs and chicken sausages. A gelato cart will also be available.

Aug. 28 from 5-8:30 p.m. at the National Gallery of Art’s Sculpture Garden, Seventh Street and Constitution Avenue NW. Admission is FREE!

Reel Affirmations Film Festival

Fabricating credentials to score a last-ditch job as a high school guidance counsellor, a boozing, drug-addled former child star (Pat Mills) becomes an improbable hit with his students by dispensing the worst advice possible in Guideance, the close film at Reef Affirmations. (Photo: IMDB)

Reel Affirmations, the GLBT film fesival, is back after a few years off. This year it is at the Gala Hispanic Theatre in Columbia Heights. The opening night film at 7 p.m. on Friday is While You Weren’t Looking with the short film The Other Woman and at 9 p.m. Those People with short film Best. The closing night film at 7:15 pm. On Sunday is Guidance.

Aug. 28-30 at various times at the Gala Hispanic Theatre, 3333 14th St. NW in the Tivoli Theater. Opening night films are $25 and include a reception and one free cocktails. General admission tickets are $10, a three-pack of tickets is $20, a six-pack of tickets is $50, a festival pass for all 12 films except opening and closing night films is $110 and an all-access pass with all 12 films and either opening night or closing night is $135. Tickets can be purchased by going to the website and clicking on the day you want to see a movie.

This year Rosslyn’s outdoor film festival features films with memorable lines. (Photo: DC-365)

Rosslyn Outdoor Film Fest

It’s the final Friday for the Rosslyn Business District’s Rosslyn Outdoor Film Fest. The season wraps up with Zoolander. Arrive early for preshow games and prizes, and take part in the scavenger hunt to win VIP seating and snacks. Take a picnic or enjoy dinner and drinks at one of the nearby restaurants.

Aug. 28 beginning at dusk at Gateway Park, 1300 Lee Highway. Admission is FREE!
 

Maryland Renaissance Festival

King Henry VIII in the Royal Parade at the Maryland Renaissance Festival. (Photo: Marty Magic)

School has started in the District and Maryland, Labor Day is next weekend and the Maryland Renaissance Festival opens its 39th season this weekend. This year, the Ren Fest is set in 16th century Revel Grove, Oxfordshire, England, as the village prepares for a royal visit from King Henry VIII and his queen. Dress appropriately, frolic with your family and feast on meat on a stick. There’s entertainment on 10 stages including sword swallowing, jousting, minstrels, musicians, jugglers, mimes and more.

Weekends from Aug. 29 through Oct. 25 and Sept. 7 from 7 a.m. -10 p.m. at 1821 Crownsville Road, Annapolis. Advance tickets are $19 for adults, $16 for senior citizens and $8 for children ages 7-15 through Sept. 13, however this weekend children 15 and younger are free with any paid adult ticket this weekend. After Sept. 19, prices increase to $24 for adults, $20 for senior citizens and $10 for children ages 7-15.

Capital Dragon Boat Regatta

Teams compete in last year’s dragon boat race. (Photo: John Soule)

The second annual Capital Dragon Boat Regatta sails out of National Harbor to the Washington Channel this weekend, Teams of 20 rowers on long, colorful boats will compete in races of 500, 1,000 and 2,000 meters. Spectators will have access to a beer garden and food from King Rib.

Aug. 29 from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at the Southwest Waterfront, 600 Water St. SW. Admission is FREE!

Silent Disco Dance Party

People dance at June’s Silent Disco Party at Dupont Circle.
(Photo: The Mues)

Show up. Plug in. Press Play. Dance. The Silent Disco Dance Party at Dupont Circle fountain is that easy. Participants download the playlist ahead of time and simultaneously fire up that music and start dancing – all while wearing head phones. That’s the silent part. Hundreds of people flocked to the fountain in the circle for the first party in June. Expect more people dancing and watching this time around.

Aug. 29 from 8-9:30 p.m. at Dupont Circle. Admission is FREE! You can download the playlist here.

Yoga in the Park

This is the last Sunday to practice yoga in Dumbarton House’s East Garden. (Photo: Washingtonian)

This is the last Sunday for Dumbarton House’s Yoga in the Park, a guided yoga session. The session is in Dumbarton’s East Park — an oasis from the summer baked brick that surrounds D.C. The class is 60 minutes followed by a meditation. Be sure to take advantage of that limber state and tour the historic Federal Period home when the museum opens at 11 a.m. Take a yoga mat and wear something comfy to enjoy a relaxing experience in one of the lovely gardens.

Aug. 3 from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at Dumbarton House, 2715 Q St. NW. There is a $5 suggested donation to the instructor that will be collected during each class. RSVP here.

BBQ, Bourbon, Blues

Enjoy barbecue and bourbon at Bourbon Steaks’ BBQ, Bourbon, Blues. (Photo: The Paupered Chef)

BBQ, Bourbon, Blues at Bourbon Steak features and all-you-can-eat menu of picked pork shoulder and Memphis-style dry rubbed pork ribs, Texas-style braised beef brisket along with hush puppies, mac and cheese, coleslaw and jalapeno cornbread. There will also be live music and bourbon cocktails.

Aug. 30 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at Bourbon Steak, 2800 Pennsylvania Ave. SW. Admission is $55 at the door.
 
 
 

Movies on the Potomac

Bruce Willis and Spencer Breslin star in Disney’s The Kid, which will be shown at National Harbor on Sunday. (Photo: Disney)

Nothing says summer like an evening under the stars, and there’s no better way to enjoy the season than Movies on the Potomac at National Harbor. Pack your chairs, grab food to go from one of the area restaurants and meet at the Plaza’s jumbo screen. This week’s screening is Disney’s The Kid starring Bruce Willis.

Aug. 30 from 6-8 p.m. at National Harbor’s Plaza, 165 Waterfront St., Oxon Hill, Md. Admission is FREE!

It’s the time of year when parents are celebrating the return to routine as their children return to school – unless you have a teenager. For parents of teens, getting their children to go to bed on time and get up on time can be a struggle. A lack of sleep can cause poor academic performance due to poor concentration, behavioral issues due to irritability, physical symptoms like fatigue and headaches, or mental issues like depression.

Students who don’t get enough sleep have poor concentration at school. (Photo: ThinkStock)

Recent recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggest that teens would benefit from a later school start time. As the decision on when classes start is not up to parents, how can they combat a teen’s natural habits?

Dr. Cheryl D. Tierney, section chief of behavior and developmental pediatrics at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital, says back to school preparations should include gradually adjusting bed and wake-up times by 30 minutes every two to three days, over a couple weeks. “It’s very hard – you’re combating the fact that teenagers think ‘I only have two weeks left, I want to enjoy them,’” Tierney said.

Dr. Harish Rao, director of the Pediatric Sleep Program at the Children’s Hospital, suggests that parents not make the mistake of letting teens catch up on sleep on the weekends. “On the weekends, they’re waking up on California time and on weekdays they’re waking up on Eastern time,” Rao said. “Because their internal clocks do not shift very easily, there should be some consistency.”

Both doctors agree that weekend and weekday sleep and wake times should remain within a two-hour range.

Good light exposure upon waking helps internal clocks and brains to sync with outside time. Parents can help by scheduling their children’s activities to finish early enough to allow time to wind down and get enough sleep. Additionally, drinks with sugar or caffeine should be avoided, especially after 3 p.m.

Parents should not let teens take their smartphones and electronics into their bedrooms. Every person, regardless of age, should stop using devices at least an hour before bed so the light the devices produce does not interfere with the body’s natural melatonin production. That time can instead be used to engage in a relaxing activity like listening to music or reading to promote sleep.

According to Rao, many of his patients and their parents make the mistake of skipping breakfast. “This compounds the problem, as they’re getting to school sleepy and they don’t have the energy,” he said.

Adolescents need between 8.5 and 9.5 hours of sleep each night. However, teens are often up until 11 p.m. or later because of sports, after-school activities and homework. Because of this, school start times of between 7 and 8 a.m. are not ideal. “It’s just impossible to get the number of hours that are necessary for teens to have an optimal night’s sleep to be able to function and learn,” Tierney said.

It all comes down to hormones. “Their natural circadian rhythm, as they get older, is to go to bed later,” Tierney said.

This is the basis for the CDC’s report. Younger children naturally go to bed earlier and wake up earlier so the elementary school students would do much better going to school earlier, coming home earlier and getting to bed earlier. This recommendation is new and any changes that result will not happen overnight.

In the meantime, Tierney recommends children exercise, eat right and do their best to sleep well. “It all plays a role together for them to have maximum performance in school and for them to be able to retain the information,” she said.

Rao also believes that educating both parents and children, particularly teenagers, about the importance of getting adequate sleep is important. “If they realize that getting enough sleep will result in better grades and help them feel better, they’ll probably do it,” he said.

Article by Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration, from 2004 through 2013, 1,344 people died in school transportation-related crashes — an average of 134 fatalities per year.

With back-to-school time approaching, parents should talk to their children about school bus safety. (Photo: iStockPhoto)

“As families begin to prepare for children returning to school, it’s important for parents and children to go over school bus safety tips together,” says Dawne Gardner, injury prevention coordinator at the Comprehensive Children’s Injury Center of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. “This will help ensure a safe, enjoyable start to the school year for everyone.”

According to Gardner, many injuries happen when children are boarding or exiting the bus. “A blind spot extends about 10 feet in front of the bus, obstructing the driver’s view,” she says. “Often times, children are not aware of this blind spot and might mistakenly believe that if they can see the bus, the bus driver can see them,” she explains.

Gardner offers the following suggestions to parents on how they can ensure their child is safe before, during and after their school bus ride.

While waiting for the bus

• Children should arrive at the bus stop at least five minutes before the bus is expected to arrive. Early arrival helps children avoid running across the street to catch the bus or running after the school bus if it has already left the bus stop.
• Parents should encourage their child to avoid horseplay while waiting for the bus to keep children and/or their belongings out of the road and away from traffic.
• Teach kids to stand at least three giant steps back from the curb as the bus approaches and to never move towards the bus until it has stopped and the driver opens the door.
• Children should avoid the school bus “danger zone” by staying 10 feet away from the front or back of the bus so that the driver can see them.

During the bus ride

• If a child drops something, they should tell the bus driver and make sure the bus driver is able to see them before they pick it up.
• Children should always use the hand rail when entering the bus.
• Check that drawstrings, backpack straps, scarves and loose clothing cannot get caught on the bus handrail, door or seats.
• Parents should teach children to never push or shove other students.
• All children can help prevent falls on the bus by keeping the aisles clear of backpacks or books that can trip someone or block the way to the emergency exit.
• Children should remain seated, facing forward at all times during the bus ride.
• Shouting should be avoided to avoid unnecessarily distracting the bus driver.
• Parents should discuss the importance of never throwing any objects into, out of or inside the bus.

After the bus ride

• Children should never leave their seat until the bus makes a complete stop.
• Remind kids to use handrails when exiting the bus.
• If your child needs to cross the street after exiting the bus, he or she should take five giant steps in front of the bus, make eye contact with the bus driver and cross when the driver indicates it’s safe.
• The child should not talk to strangers when walking to and from bus stop.
• Teach kids to look left, right and left again before crossing the street.

 
Article by Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center

As students savor the last precious weeks of summer vacation, parents are out making the final run for school supplies. When back-to-school shopping this year, there is one essential item that requires very special attention: your child’s backpack.

A major cause of back pain in children is due to carrying backpacks that are too heavy, too large, or not used properly. (Fuse/Thinkstock)

 
In 2013 alone, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission cited 5,415 backpack-related injuries treated at emergency rooms. In light of statistics like these, doctors of chiropractic point to the dangers of heavy backpacks, noting injuries ranging from acute back pain to chronic back pain to other types of damage.

“In my own practice, I have noticed a marked increase in the number of young children who are complaining about back, neck and shoulder pain,” says Scott Bautch, doctor of chiropractic, of the American Chiropractic Association’s Council on Occupational Health. “The first question I ask these patients is, ‘Do you carry a backpack to school?’ Almost always, the answer is ‘yes.'”

According to Bautch, parents should limit the backpack’s weight to no more than 5 to 10 percent of the child’s body weight. A heavier backpack will cause your child to bend forward in an attempt to support the weight on his or her back, rather than on the shoulders, by the straps.

The ACA offers the following backpack safety checklist for parents ahead of back-to-school season:

• Is the backpack the correct size for your child? The backpack should never be wider or longer than your child’s torso, and the pack should not hang more than 4 inches below the waistline. A backpack that hangs too low increases the weight on the shoulders, causing your child to lean forward when walking.
• Does the backpack have two wide, padded shoulder straps? Wide, padded straps are very important. Non-padded straps are uncomfortable and can dig into your child’s shoulders.
• Does your child use both straps? Lugging the backpack around by one strap can cause the disproportionate shift of weight to one side, leading to neck and muscle spasms, as well as low-back pain.
• Are the shoulder straps adjustable? The shoulder straps should be adjustable so the backpack can be fitted to your child’s body. Straps that are too loose can cause the backpack to dangle uncomfortably and cause spinal misalignment and pain.
• Does the backpack have a padded back? A padded back not only provides increased comfort, but also protects your child from being poked by sharp edges on school supplies (pencils, rulers, notebooks, etc.) inside the pack.
• Does the pack have several compartments? A backpack with individualized compartments helps position the contents most effectively. Make sure that pointy or bulky objects are packed away from the area that will rest on your child’s back.
• Are all those materials really necessary? If the backpack is still too heavy, talk to your child’s teacher. Ask if your child could leave the heaviest books and electronic items such as iPads and laptop computers at school, and bring home only lighter hand-out materials.

 
Article by the American Chiropractic Association

After a summer of lazy afternoons and late bedtimes, parents of school-aged children face the deadline for helping their young ones transition to not only a new routine and schedule — but also the academic and social challenges a new school year brings.

A teacher works with an elementary student. (Photo: Penn State)

“The bigger the transition, the younger the child and the less experience with school, the more potential there is for anxiety,” said James Waxmonsky, associate professor of psychiatry and division chief of child psychiatry at Penn State Hershey.

The transition from pre-school to kindergarten — or from a partial-day to full-day program — is a big milestone for many children. “It has the most physical changes — they are riding a bus for the first time and learning how to order food in the cafeteria from a stranger,” Waxmonsky said.

His tips for easing the transition:

• Take advantage of opportunities to gain experience. School tours and meet-the-teacher events, practice ordering food in the cafeteria or riding a school bus provide exposure and experience that help both children and parents keep anxiety at bay.
• Keep your own emotions under control. “Kids mirror parental reactions, so if you show a lot of anxiety, distress and worry, you are inadvertently going to trigger that in your child,” Waxmonsky said. “If they see you calmly negotiating stressors, it certainly makes it easier.”
• Avoid the urge to linger. “Let the school professionals take over once the child is at the school building,” Waxmonsky said. “And if you have a concern about something, work it out in advance or afterward — not in front of the child.”
• Start schedule changes early. “You can realistically expect to change bedtime by about 30 minutes per night, so figure out how far you need to get,” Waxmonsky said. One key to making that work is waking the children earlier in the morning as well: “Otherwise, you won’t get them to bed on time.”
• Explain expectations. Talk about things like what goes in the backpack, where they can find your phone number, packing their own book bag and picking out clothing the night before — all that can ease the morning chaos.

For older elementary children — and those transitioning to middle school — there are other things to consider:

• Get their brains back in gear. Have children read or practice math a little bit each day, especially as the summer break winds down. “Every child benefits from a little ongoing academic work throughout the year,” Waxmonsky said. “Think of school as a skill set – if you took three months off from anything else, you’d lose what you learned.”
• Prepare for what you can, don’t worry about what you can’t. Find out where the bus stops, what time it comes and how long middle school students have between classes. Buy a combination lock and let your new middle-school student practice opening it quickly to prevent stress and anxiety during quick class changes. But don’t try to figure out who will be the best teacher for your child. “You don’t have that control, and every child has individual reactions to particular teachers,” Waxmonsky said.
• Have some fun with the transition. Let children have input in back-to-school shopping and make time to do fun things as you prepare for the return to school. Let kids vent about summer being over and school starting up. But then remind them of positive things they have to look forward to such as seeing friends and participating in extracurricular activities they enjoy.

Article by Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center